Education is a hot topic this Legislative session. Here's what bills we're watching. Here are some of the hot-button education bills were tracking at the Argus Leader. Check back each day to see where they stand as we update. WHO advises countries to lift or ease international travel restrictions US sanctions against Vladimir Putin, Ruben Vardanian and members of the Russian government Armenian Foreign Ministry discusses Mirzoyan's participation in Turkey forum Thailand to resume non-quarantine travel scheme from February 1 Instagram introduces paid subscription feature NEWS.am daily digest: 20.01.22 Europe considers new strategy to combat COVID-19 Norwegian prosecutors refuse release Anders Breivik, 2011 mass murderer Erdogan urges Turks to sell foreign currency for liras Azerbaijan not yet returned about 300 sheep of Armenia villager Media: Israeli President thinks about visiting Turkey Dollar quite stable in Armenia Trade turnover between Ukraine and Armenia increases by 24% Armenia legislature speaker meets with of International Republican Institute president, and director for Eurasia Kremlin does not exclude new call between Putin and Biden EU Special Representative for South Caucasus to soon visit 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We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. If Beijing was telling the truth, the text has not yet been completed and the SAR must start engaging Beijing in order to have input into the laws to avoid the above fears. by Mary Ma Beijing's hardcore decision to directly impose national security laws on Hong Kong is bound to land the city in a dire situation, following months of violent protests and chaos in the territory. When Article 23 legislation failed to be drafted in 2003, only acts - not merely words - would constitute a crime. It's hard to imagine the new security arms will be limited to that. Will even comments be considered subversive and made a crime? And, with the benefit of hindsight, will the die-hard opposition now regret not taking the offer in 2003 which looks far more "generous" compared with the present security law? By now, it's clear that the security laws being made by Beijing are only the beginning. Hong Kong will still be required to pass local legislation according to Basic Law's Article 23 to include further curbs on top of what Beijing is going to add to Basic Law's Annex 3. Room for discussion on what will be said in Annex 3 is limited. According to reports, about two thirds of the text has been drafted, with only the National People's Congress standing committee to finalize the rest. The upcoming laws deal with secession, subversion, foreign interference and terrorism. It's a cause for grave concern that Beijing will set up security agencies here. Will agents execute the law directly without having to go through the police? And will suspects stand trial in Hong Kong courts or be tried in the mainland? These are areas that must be clarified promptly to allay people's concerns and nervousness. If Beijing was telling the truth, the text has not yet been completed and the SAR must start engaging Beijing in order to have input into the laws to avoid the above fears. It would be utterly damaging to Hong Kong if people could be arrested by mainland agents or if cases will not be tried locally. Equally worrisome would be for such trials to be conducted behind closed doors, as is the common practice in the mainland. Hongkongers face a fait accompli. The best they can do is to endeavor to argue for executing the laws by SAR institutions before Beijing hardliners move quickly to fill up the rest. It is hoped that Beijing can show the maximum respect for the SAR's independent judiciary. While it is most likely the security laws will be ready before the Legco election in September, it remains to be seen whether they will pave the way for a massive roundup of opposition activists - including those who had lobbied the West to sanction government officials - and disqualification of pro-democracy candidates to ensure Beijing-backed candidates win two thirds of the legislative seats. If this happens, Article 23 legislation on national security will follow to complete the legal net to rein in the situation. Looking ahead, several things need to be monitored: One - over the weekend, Western governments criticized Beijing, with US President Donald Trump warning he will "react strongly." How strongly will he react? Will he strip the SAR of its special trade status, killing the goose that's been laying substantial surplus for the US? In my opinion, the odds are high. Two - violent protests sprang up yesterday. Will the situation escalate to involve more explosive actions like what happened in the 1967 riots? Three - the financial market. Immediately, the Hang Seng Index dropped more than 5 percent following Beijing's move on Friday. Capital will leave the city, but will the exodus be as serious as during the Sino-British negotiations in the early 1980s? Whatever develops, a long shadow has already been cast over the financial markets. Sans any celebrations,the Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF government in Kerala sailed into its fifth year in office, resolving to steer through the COVID-19 crisis and assuring that development would not be affected. Five people have died due to coronavirus in Kerala so far and over 95,000 are under observation. The total aggregate tally of Covid cases is 847, while 322 are presently under treatment. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the unprecendented challenges faced in the last four years in the form of Ockhi cyclone in 2017, Nipah virus of 2018 which claimed 17 lives, the two devastating floods in 2018 and 2019 in which hundreds of people were killed and the COVID-19 this year had not deterred the government from achieving its goals. Listing out the government's achievements, he told reporters here that2,19,154 homes were built under the'Life Mission,'at least 14,000 schools went hi-tech and 40,000 classrooms made smart. Major projects like the Gail pipeline which were in limbo became a reality and the government fulfilled almost all the promises made in its election manifesto, he said. "Our journey to fulfil the promises made to the people of Kerala was filled with challenges. But we showed strength and resilience in the face of all such adversities," he said. The Aardram mission helped the state's healthcare establishments with the latest equipment and upgraded services. "With the advancements made in the medical field, we dealt with the Nipah virus and later established the Virology institute. This gave us the confidence to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic", he said. Such advancements came with a lot of financial burdenand this was where Kerala needed the Centre's help the most, which was lacking, he said. Hitting out at the Opposition Congress led UDF, he said they had never cooperated with the state government in the last four years. Even during times of natural disasters and pandemic, they sabotaged all efforts of the government, he alleged. "Is this how a responsible opposition should behave? They should introspect their attitude. People are watching," Vijayan said. Despite their lack of cooperation, the state government was able to continue with its development agenda, he said. Pointing out that the Left governmenttakes pride in its transparency, he said it would release a progress report on its performance. Women were recruited for the first time in the fire force and their representation in the police force was also increased. Kerala had taken a different stand from the Centre in the matter of disinvesting of Public Sector Units, he said. "The Instrumentation Limited of Palakkad, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Hindustan Newsprint Limited (HNL) are among those PSUs which the Centre wanted to disinvest. The state government has decided to take them over. However, the process is pending as the Centre is yet to grant permission in certain matters," Vijayan said. Meanwhile, slamming the government, Opposition leader in the assembly Ramesh Chennthala alleged it was a "complete failure" on all fronts and corruptionwas its hallmark. The state had still not recovered from the two devastating "man made" floods in 2018 and 2019. The various promises made by LDF in its election manifesto were yet to be fulfilled, the Re-build Kerala initiative announced in the aftermath of the floods ended only in discussions in five star hotels, he told reporters here. Though a Rs 2,000 crore coastal development package was announced, it remained only on paper and no projects had been taken up so far,he said, adding that the Chief Minister had only "boasted" about his government's achievements. Congress leaders later staged a demonstration in front of the secretariat here against the LDF 'misrule'. Chennithala and KPPC President Mullappally Ramachandran took part in the protest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The head of a town and a college student sell local produce via a livestream in a village in Hunan Province in May, 2020. Livestreams are considered effective methods of promoting sales and relieving poverty, especially in remote rural areas. [Xinhua] NPC Deputies Call for Quality Education and Increased Funding. For Tan Jianghui, a vocational training session in 2015 was a life-changing experience. The 52-year-old farmer from Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, an impoverished corner of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was born with a spinal deformity that means he stands just 1.2 meters tall. Because his family was impoverished, Tan, the middle child of seven, only made it halfway through primary school. He helped out at home for many years, but at age 37, he left Huanjiang for the first time to work in factories in nearby cities. In 2010, though, he returned home to care for his mother who was seriously ill. At the time, working away from home was the only way many of the county's residents could improve their livelihoods. Now, things have changed. In 2014, the central government started profiling impoverished people as part of a poverty relief campaign that provides aid tailored to each family's needs. Tan's family was designated as impoverished. Through the relief program, he signed up for vocational training in bricklaying and breeding cattle. In 2017, the local government arranged for him to get an interest-free loan. He used the money to begin raising cattle. He started with just one cow, but now owns five, which has lifted him out of poverty. "I am thinking adding another 10 cows," he said. Tan was one of several people from the Maonan ethnic group who recently wrote to President Xi Jinping to share their joy at poverty elimination and promise constant efforts to improve their hometown. The Maonan are one of China's smallest ethnic groups. About 70 percent, or 64,500 people, live in Huanjiang, where the poverty headcount ratio was just 1.48 percent at the end of last year. That figure saw Huanjiang removed from the list of impoverished counties this month, while poverty has been eradicated among Maonan people nationwide. Villagers work during the plum harvest in an impoverished county in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [For China Daily/Wei Shunjiang] Progress Mountainous Guangxi is one of seven poor provincial regions to benefit from the campaign to end domestic poverty by the end of the year. China has made great progress in eradicating rural poverty since late 2012, when the number of rural poor stood at 98.99 million. By the end of last year, the figure had fallen to 5.51 million, according to the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development. Meanwhile, the number of counties on the "impoverished counties" index, which tracks progress in regional poverty reduction, had fallen from 832 in 2015 to 52 by the end of last year. The counties that are still officially labeled as impoverished are scattered across Guangxi, the provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu, and the Xinjiang Uygur and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions. Guangxi, home to several ethnic groups who maintain primitive production methods and lifestyles, has eight such counties. In a circular released in February, the poverty alleviation office pledged to increase monitoring of progress in the counties and 1,113 villages under its jurisdiction. It also suggested that funding and other resources should be redirected to help places lagging behind to cast off their "impoverished" label on schedule. The monitors mainly check to see if relief efforts have met the basic requirements set out by the office to achieve the goal. The main priorities are access to safe drinking water and three basic public services affordable healthcare, safe housing and compulsory education which are collectively known as "the three securities". The monitors also assess whether people who have recently escaped poverty are earning stable incomes and if disabled or senior citizens are covered by safety net programs. Liu Yongfu, head of the campaign, said the elimination of poverty is a fundamental requirement for the construction a "moderately prosperous society". The Communist Party of China has pledged to realize this aim before its centenary next year, as one of its "Two Centenary Goals". The other goal is to turn the People's Republic of China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by its centenary in 2049. Students learn how to make steamed stuffed buns at a vocational school in a poverty-stricken county in Gansu Province in April, 2020. [Xinhua] Coronavirus The coronavirus outbreak has tested relief officials, as widespread production stoppages and travel restrictions forced millions of migrant workers usually the breadwinners in rural families to sit at home idle and unpaid. The disruption to logistics chains and flagging consumer demand have dampened sales of farm produce and other specialties that are central to rural incomes. To offset the impact, policies have been rolled out to support the rural poor by slashing the unemployment rate, promoting sales of farm produce, helping poverty relief projects to restart, and supporting the most vulnerable people. Figures provided by the poverty alleviation office show the measures are working. For example, by the end of last month, 26 million impoverished rural workers had found jobs in urban areas, nearly double the number two months ago. Many workers who were stranded in their hometowns after Lunar New Year have made it to jobs in factories and construction sites thanks to transportation arranged by authorities that allowed them to travel to urban areas without stopping, thus avoiding possible infection en route. Authorities have also mobilized government agencies, businesses and nonprofits in wealthy provinces to purchase goods from rural regions hit hard by the virus. Figures from the office show that about 40,000 "poverty relief products" whose production involves or benefits impoverished workers have been identified, and goods worth 32 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) were sold between February and the end of last month. Speaking in Beijing last week, Liu said the office will ensure that prices are fair and quality is good, and he pledged to crack down on those who profit in the name of poverty relief. Priorities Poverty alleviation has been a major topic since the campaign started in 2012. It is expected to attract more attention this year as officials have reiterated their determination to reach the zero-poverty goal on time, despite the epidemic. As part of nationwide efforts to empower the rural poor and end the cycle of poverty, authorities have worked to slash dropout rates in rural primary and middle schools. Huang Huachun, a deputy to the National People's Congress, is campaigning for more central government funding for high schools in the poorer western provinces, where authorities are struggling to keep up with rising education costs. At present, the operating costs of high schools not including funding for dormitories or tuition are paid by local governments. In light of central government requirements for less-developed regions, Guangxi has stepped up funding for high schools over the three years to 2022, with annual investment per student rising from 600 yuan to 1,000 yuan. However, Huang, deputy head of a high school in Chongzuo, Guangxi, said the increase has been dwarfed by rising education costs, which hit 1,443 yuan per high school student last year, nearly twice the 2014 figure. The money is mainly spent on projectors, other equipment and training sessions for teachers. "Many inland provinces are scrambling to keep up with the rising costs," she said. The lack of funding may see local governments divert money intended for dormitories and other areas into school operations, but insufficient dormitory facilities have already forced some schools to allow students to live off campus, driving up costs for families, she added. She suggested that the central government should contribute 80 percent of the operating costs and local government pay the rest, echoing primary and middle schools. "I recommend that the central government provide more funding for high schools in inland provinces, so students can enjoy quality education," she said. Meanwhile, Yang Jinghua, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has proposed the development of farming-related vocational education in inland provinces to facilitate local revitalization. Yang said some agricultural schools have very limited farming-related majors, and only about 10 percent of their graduates choose farming as a career. She suggested that local and central governments provide incentives, ranging from tax breaks to better financing programs, to encourage schools to offer farming majors, and also improve the image of farming via publicity campaigns. She said vocational schools should improve contacts with middle schools to offer students a wider range of opportunities, rather than simply going on to high school. Relevant majors should also be made available at colleges, so vocational school graduates can further their studies, she added. (Source: China Daily) MBABANE The further easing of South Africas lockdown will come as a relief to some of the countrys major sectors, especially the construction industry. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday night announced that the whole of South Africa would move to level three of lockdown from next Monday (June 1) to further open the economy. All manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, professional and business services, information technology, communications, government services and media services will be fully operational. Scarce Among the goods to be produced is cement, which has become scarce in the country. Major construction projects have reportedly been grounded due to lack of cement, which is imported mainly in South Africa. Reports suggest it will be available in that country under level three and it can be imported by countries. Some impeccable sources in major construction sites confirmed that they were currently grounded, as they were still waiting to order cement in bulk from the neighbouring country. Construction Industry Council (CIC) Marketing and Communications Analyst Sihle Dlaminis phone rang unanswered when sought for her reaction on the South Africas eased lockdown. About a month ago, this publication reported that some of the biggest hardware shops like Build It and Baceth Hardware had ran out of cement due to the full lockdown in South Africa and Mozambique. Meanwhile, Ramaphosa said that countrys government was still considering proposals sent by the tourism and hospitality sectors whose operations would remain largely closed in Level three as their services are high-risk and did not allow for social distancing. Orders This includes in-house dining at restaurants and bars, accommodation, flights and personal care and beauty services. However, bottle stores will open for orders for home consumption. South Africa has over 11 000 active coronavirus cases. Oxford University scientists working on a coronavirus vaccine have said it may only have a 50-per-cent chance of success. Project leader Professor Adrian Hill, of the universitys Jenner Institute, said the realisation of a working vaccine was far from guaranteed and cautioned against over promising, in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph. But the warning has not deterred pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which announced a $1.2bn (986m) deal to produce 400 million doses of the vaccine first created in Professor Hills Oxford lab. Pascal Soriot, the chief executive of the drug company, told The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that British people would be among the first to gain access to the vaccine, which could be ready by September. Mr Soriot said: Yes, we have actually received an order from the British government to supply 100 million doses of vaccine, and those will go to the British people. And theres no doubt, starting in September, we will start delivering these doses of vaccine to the British government for vaccination. But Mr Soriot said the vaccine being rolled out in autumn would still depended on two factors firstly that the drug works, and secondly that there remains a sizeable proportion of the population in the country with Covid-19 otherwise it will be difficult to demonstrate the efficacy of the inoculation. He said: The vaccine has to work and thats one question, and the other question is, even if it works, we have to be able to demonstrate it. We have to run as fast as possible before the disease disappears so we can demonstrate that the vaccine is effective. The Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group began development on a vaccine in January, using a virus taken from chimpanzees. Following an initial phase of testing on 160 healthy volunteers between 18 and 55, the study is now set to progress to phases two and three, which involve increasing the testing to up to 10,260 people and expanding the age range of volunteers to include children and the elderly. Professor Hill told The Sunday Telegraph that if the viruss spread was too low, not enough of the volunteers will catch it and the trial will be unable to definitively say if the vaccine works. Its a race against the virus disappearing, and against time, Professor Hill said. We said earlier in the year that there was an 80-per-cent chance of developing an effective vaccine by September. But at the moment, theres a 50-per-cent chance that we get no result at all. Were in the bizarre position of wanting Covid to stay, at least for a little while. Additional reporting by Press Association She never fails to turn heads with her eye-catching bikini snaps on Instagram. And Elizabeth Hurley looked radiant as ever as she showcased her lithe physique in a light blue swimsuit in a stunning Instagram snap. The actress, 54, displayed her jaw-dropping figure as she posed underneath a tree while showing off her swimwear line Elizabeth Hurley Beach. Wow: Elizabeth Hurley, 54, looked radiant as ever as she showcased her lithe physique in a light blue swimsuit in a stunning Instagram snap Letting her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders, Elizabeth wore a light pallet of makeup for the snap. Alongside the photo, she wrote: 'I love a one piece and this one is heavenly. On Special Offer til Tuesday'. The Bedazzled star has been keeping her social media followers entertained during the coronavirus lockdown with her sultry snaps. Elizabeth is spending lockdown with her mother Angela at her 6million mansion complete with 13 bedrooms. Sizzling: Elizabeth is spending the coronavirus lockdown at her 6million mansion complete with 13 bedrooms The actress is said to be holed up at the Herefordshire estate which she bought with her ex Shane Warne in 2012. She told The Mirror: 'I live near Wales now. My sister Kate lives there and my mother has moved in with me. 'I don't have my friends around. But I am more organised now than I have ever been because I have more time.' The sprawling Georgian mansion, which is now Elizabeth's main home, also boasts five bathrooms and its own lake. Close bond: Elizabeth said her mother has moved into her sprawling pad Luxury: The actress is said to be holed up at the Herefordshire estate which she bought with ex Shane Warne in 2012 She added that since moving in permanently she 'changed one room into a very large dressing room and for the first time in my life I could see my clothes'. It comes after Liz recently said she felt 'incredibly lucky' to be in her country home alongside her family during this time of social distancing. The star has been isolating with her sister Kate, mum Angela, 79, and son Damian, 18, as well as a close friend who was considered high risk. She penned: 'In these scary times I feel incredibly lucky to live in the countryside and have lots of outside space. Fortunate: Liz recently said she felt 'incredibly lucky' to be in her country home alongside her family during this time of social distancing Family time: Liz is happy to be isolating alongside her family during this time of social distancing (pictured her mum Angela, 79, and son Damian, 18) 'As well as my son, I have seven other people living with me including my 79 year old mother and her sister- also in her late 70's - and one of my best friends who is in the highest risk group with severe respiratory problems. 'Keeping everyone as safe as possible (and fed) is a full time job. 'We all are full of the highest admiration for our wonderful NHS staff and are doing everything we can to not add to their burden.' She penned: 'In these scary times I feel incredibly lucky to live in the countryside and have lots of outside space' Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of Tourism and Creative Economy Agency Ni Wayan Giri Adnyani during a meeting with Vice Governor of Bali Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, Thursday (14/5/2020) said that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is currently preparing recovery measures including compiling SOP which refers to health, cleanliness, and safety standards. "Our Ministry collaborates with the Ministry of Health and related institutions in conducting surveys, verifying the implementation of the CHS SOP properly and correctly in accordance with the established standards," Ni Wayan Giri Adnyani said. "This program aims to increase trustworthy of the tourists towards destinations and tourism industry in Indonesia after the COVID-19 outbreak so as to encourage an increased-on tourists mobility and visit in Indonesia, which in the initial stage will certainly be dominated by domestic tourists," she said. In general, Giri explained, the concept of CHS refers to health protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and the concept of sustainable tourism development as well as the implementation of Sapta Pesona which is the soul of Indonesian tourism. Separately, the concept of 'Clean' refers to a state that free from dirt, including dust, rubbish, odors, free from viruses, pathogenic bacteria, and dangerous chemical substances. While 'Health' is a service that implements health rules or regulations on humans and the environment through prevention, care, monitoring and control activities. Also promoting the improvement of environmental parameters and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly and healthy technologies and behaviors. Last, 'Safety' means a state free of risks, hazards, pollution, threats, permanent and non-permanent or physical and non-physical disruptions, in a certain place and time to manage, protect and increase the vigilance of the community, visitors and environmental quality. It also important is zero waste management in which destination management must have a strategy and implement good waste management policies. For the initial stage, this program will be implemented in Bali, because it is one of the provinces in Indonesia with a controlled distribution of COVID-19 and is very good in handling it. Although Bali is a center of tourism with many tourists visiting, it is not the epicenter area of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. "It needs to conduct a trial from the implementation of this CHS, which will later become a guide for local governments and other tourism and creative economy stakeholders. The next steps are verification, audit, and certification of CHS by involving certification institutions. And Nusa Dua Bali is the first area to be planned," she concluded. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1172380/DENY4896.jpg SOURCE Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Reuters Children have milder COVID-19 symptoms than adults and the balance of evidence suggests they may also have lower susceptibility and infectivity than adults, scientists advising the British government have said. As Europe and the United States start to return to work after lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, world leaders are trying to work out when it is safe for children and students to get back to their studies. Cautioning that there is a significant lack of high-quality evidence on children, the scientists concluded in a paper submitted to the British government that: There was some evidence that children had milder symptoms than adults but that evidence on susceptibility and transmission was as yet unclear. In another paper submitted to the government, scientists said: Evidence remains inconclusive on both the susceptibility and infectivity of children, but the balance of evidence suggests that both may be lower than in adults. In a third, 29 April, document, Professor Russell Viner of University College London and Dr Rosalind Eggo of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said UK clinical data confirmed that children have notably less symptomatic disease and of lower severity than adults. Evidence remains inconclusive on both susceptibility and transmissibility of children, but the balance of evidence suggesting both may be lower, Viner and Eggo said. Serological studies are starting to be available on child infection history with some suggesting low rates of infection, they said. These must be interpreted with caution. There is limited evidence about transmission from children, with some leaning towards lower transmission from children. Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday blamed India for the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the hill country, saying that people coming into the country from across the border without proper checks were the reason behind further spread of the virus. "Fatality in Nepal is less in comparison to other countries of South Asia. Those coming from India are coming in without proper checking, which has contributed to the further spread of Covid-19," Oli said on a day when Nepal recorded its highest single-day spike in coronavirus cases. With 72 new cases being reported on Monday, the Covid-19 tally in the country climbed up to 682. Nepal, which has extended its nationwide lockdown till June 2 to contain the spread of the deadly virus, has the least number of Covid-19 cases worldwide. So far, the country has reported only four deaths. In a televised address to the nation, Oli said that his government would expand the scope of the Covid-19 testing by at least examining two per cent of the country's total population, which stands at 30 million. "Today we are conducting Covid-19 tests at 20 labs across the country even though we had just one lab facility in the beginning," he said. During his address, Oli attributed the very low mortality rate among the Nepalese to their strong will power and eating habits. (With inputs from PTI) Burma NYDC CEO Says New Yangon City Project Will Move Forward NYDC CEO Serge Pun in Naypyitaw in 2019. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe CEO of the company slated to develop the controversial New Yangon City project on the west bank of the Yangon River says he is hopeful that the project will commence this year and that he believes there will be no changes to the project plans, despite Myanmar and Chinas economies facing significant slowdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No matter how the government makes its decisions [about the project], no matter whether the scale of the project is big or small, I think the project must proceed, said Serge Pun, CEO of New Yangon Development Company (NYDC). By looking at the Myanmar governments Economic Relief Plan (CERP), I believe the project will move forward, he said. The Yangon government-backed NYDC signed a US$1.5-billion framework agreement in 2018 with Beijing-based China Communications Construction Company, Ltd. (CCCC) to draw up a proposal for the infrastructure project. The 20,000-acre New Yangon City project is expected to be twice the size of Singapore and is one of the projects under Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, the project has been a source of controversy due to its flood-prone location as well as CCCCs involvement. The Hong Kong-listed, Chinese state-owned company has been accused of engaging in corruption and bribery relating to development deals in at least 10 countries in Africa and Asia, from the Philippines to Bangladesh to Tanzania, according to international media reports. In a livestream on his Facebook on Friday, Serge Pun responded to questions about whether BRI projects in Myanmar are delayed due to COVID-19 by saying that there should be no doubt that infrastructure projects under the BRI will continue. He added that they may even accelerate as the CERP offers support for mega-infrastructure projects to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. After reading the relief plan, Serge Pun said I am even more confident some of these mega- infrastructure [BRI] projects will proceed. Launched in early May, the CERP seeks to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic by implementing new measures and response plans. The measures include steps to expedite the solicitation of strategic infrastructure projects and measures to use fast-track procedures to approve and disclose large investments by reputable international firms that may be currently experiencing delays. Soon after the CERP launched, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai met with Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Set Aung and discussed how to move forward on the development of Chinas ambitious projects in Myanmar based on the CERP. The projects discussed included New Yangon City, Kyaukphyu Deep-Sea Port and Special Economic Zone and the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone. In a phone conversation with Myanmar President U Win Myint last Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that he is expecting the two sides will cooperate closely and speed up the implementation of projects under the BRI that were agreed to during his visit to Myanmar earlier this year. During Xis visit to Myanmar, the two sides inked a concession agreement and shareholders agreement for Kyaukphyu SEZ, a letter of intent on the development of Yangon City and a memorandum of understanding to accelerate negotiations around the Ruili-Muse Cross-Border Economic Cooperation Zone. Since late February, Myanmars economy has seen a significant slowdown due to COVID-19. Thousands of people have been laid off due to the closure of factories and companies in the tourism and garment industries, including small and medium-sized enterprises. Thousands of now-jobless Myanmar migrants have returned from Thailand, Malaysia and China since late March. It is very important to procced [with BRI projects ]because one of the major difficulties we will face post-COVID-19 is unemployment, Serge Pun said. In order to counter these difficulties, the most effective option is to create employment. In these circumstances, the most effective way to create employment is to start mega-infrastructure projects, he said. Recently, experts have warned that Myanmar should be careful about investing in BRI mega-infrastructure projects as the countrys budget is already stretched beyond capacity from efforts to revive businesses hit badly by COVID-19 and upgrade health care systems at the same time. Experts warned that because of the enormous investments required for BRI projects, the country could then easily fall into an unstable debt trap due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Serge Pun said that the New Yangon City project will benefit thousands of people by giving them job opportunities. I am really hopeful that [workers] would start [on the project] and that they would become one of the main inputs to help us and to mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19, he stressed. You may also like these stories: Suu Kyi Economic Adviser: National Interest Must Come First When Deciding Large Chinese Investments in Myanmar New Yangon City CEO Urges Govt to Act Quickly to Secure Chinese Investment Joe Biden has appeared in public for the first time in more than two months to mark Memorial Day. In contrast to Donald Trump who has not worn masks during public appearances, both Mr Biden and his wife Jill Biden wore black face masks to lay a wreath at a memorial for the Second World War and Korean War veterans in Delaware. Mr Trump and Melania Trump didnt wear masks during a Memorial Day ceremony at Baltimores Fort McHenry or while laying a wreath earlier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Mr and Ms Biden were flanked by full Secret Service protection as they laid a wreath of white flowers tied with a white bow before bowing their heads in silence at the Memorial Bridge Veterans Memorial Park. It feels good to be out of my house, Biden told reporters before saluting about a dozen veterans from a distance and thanking them for their service. It was the first time the presumptive presidential nominee has campaigned outside his Wilmington home since the start of the coronavirus lockdowns. Never forget the sacrifices that these men and women made, Mr Biden said. Never, ever, forget. Since the cancellation of a rally in Cleveland on 10 March, Mr Biden has done most of his campaigning by appearing virtually on news programmes, talk shows, and social media platforms. While the president has travelled to states like Arizona and Michigan, he criticised Mr Bidens stay-at-home campaigning. Id love to see him get out of the basement so he can speak, Mr Trump said in a telephone interview with Fox News. Donald Trump and Joe Biden took different attitudes towards face masks at their respective events to remember Americas fallen on Memorial Day (AP) Mr Biden criticised Mr Trump for playing golf over the weekend, with his campaign releasing a video of Trump at his Virginia course saying, The death toll is still rising. The president is playing golf. The presidency is about a lot more than tweeting from your golf cart, Mr Biden posted on Twitter on Sunday. Mr Trumps Memorial Day plans included a visit to the Arlington National Cemetery and the Fort McHenry national monument in Baltimore, despite pleas from the citys mayor to stay at home and not bring the presidential entourage to the Democrat stronghold. Employees from Denroy Group assemble quantities of the Hero Shield visor at the factory in Bangor, County Down. Kelvin Boyes, Presseye A group of Northern Ireland manufacturers has benefited from a 300,000 (268,000) cross-border fund as well as support packages from Ulster Bank to help it carry on making face shields for the healthcare sector. Hero Shield Ltd, which is headed by baby product maker, Shnuggle, and is currently producing 70,000 visors a week for the health sector north and south, benefited from the 300,000 Co-Innovate scheme, led by InterTradeIreland and supported by the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme. The cash injection to the group of 18 cross-border firms will help it continue the production of low-cost face shields. Meanwhile, Ulster Bank has supported two of the companies behind the scheme; Shnuggle and Minprint, with loans, including UK Government-backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans, to help support their main working lines. Hero Shield began at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak here. It used donations to cover the cost of the materials, while also tapping into participating firms' resources. From an initial idea on March 20, the collective worked at break-neck speed to re-purpose their manufacturing facilities and supply chains. Adam Murphy, chief executive of Shnuggle, said: "We saw an opportunity to use our collective skills and knowledge of precision engineering, plastics and manufacturing to create a low-cost, fast-manufacture face shield. "We wanted these to be distributed free of charge or at-cost. We will sell some product at a small profit to private companies, which will raise funds to make even more Hero Shields, allowing us to continue operating as a not-for-profit company. Funding from Co-Innovate has provided us with the financial support to keep this amazing venture running for the benefit of all in society." The partners, none of whom had ever produced face shields before, also include Northern Ireland companies Crossen Engineering, Denroy Plastics, Minprint and Ad-Vance Engineering, with support from Queen's University of Belfast. Neil Ryan, InterTradeIreland's director of Co-Innovate, said the fund will provide a "financial lifeline" for the Hero Shield. "The partners have been running at their own cost, as working capital is vital for keeping this operation going for as long as it's needed. Co-Innovate will continue to play a central role in coordinating the collective," he said. Girvan Gault, Ulster Bank's director of commercial banking, said: "Across our communities, business and personal banking customers have banded together to show their support frontline health workers by lending their skills and expertise. We're strongly committed to supporting these customers and all those who bank with us with the assistance they need during these challenging times." There's hail, there's big hail, and then there's what fell on Burkburnett, Texas, about 10 miles north of Wichita Falls, on Friday afternoon. Hail topping five inches in diameter crashed like meteors on the town, punching holes through home roofs and leaving craters in the ground. Officially, the largest recovered stone came in at a whopping 5.33 inches across, roughly the length of an iPhone 6. To put it differently, this hail was wider than many grapefruits and exceeded the diameter of a typical DVD. It weighed in at nearly a pound. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Mayor Turner moves to enforce 25 percent capacity limit for Houston businesses Social media images began circulating Friday evening of what appeared to be a chunk of ice that took both hands to hold. An 8-year-old recovered one of the whoppers after the storm passed. Another resident compared one of the stones to a softball. One of the largest hailstones was first measured by a broadcast meteorologist from a Wichita Falls station, which led to the 5.33-inch value that officially went in the books. Rick Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Norman, Okla., stopped by to investigate the hail while en route to inspect for nearby tornado damage. "I went down there to survey the tornado tracks, and was especially interested in what happened west of Bowie," Smith said. He said he was skeptical after seeing the photos on social media but was able to confirm what happened. "I held at least two (five-inch hailstones) in my hand yesterday, so it was legit," Smith said Sunday. One of the homeowners who found a five-inch hailstone reached out to the National Weather Service via Facebook. "One of the local (meteorologists) went to their house Friday night at like 10 or 10:30, they measured it, they gave us what we thought was a reliable report ... by the time I looked at it yesterday, it had sublimated a bit," Smith said. Sublimation is the process through which a material transitions directly from solid to gas. Areas that experienced the mega hailstorm wound up with significant hail damage to vehicles and structures. "I visited one home where a four-inch hailstone made it all the way through the bathroom ceiling and onto the bathroom floor," said Smith. "I was standing in their bathroom looking up at the ceiling." Insulation can be seen on the stone in a photo he took. Smith noted that a number of residents even reported craters in their yards from the giant hail. "Smartly, they didn't run out while the hail was falling. The two five-plus-inch hailstones that I got to see were fairly close together ... about a half-mile away." What impressed Smith the most was the number of large hailstones that were recovered. In hailstorms, the largest stones often fall among a much greater quantity of smaller hailstones. The fact that multiple five-inch stones were retrieved and that damage was so widely reported, at least locally, highlights the impressive nature of the event. Residents "were giving me a list of other homes that had damage," Smith said. "There's no doubt there were more holes in roofs, more hail damage than we even know about. This was not just one five-inch stone, it was probably multiple four to five-inch stones. That kind of hail is rare, but to get that volume of it is incredibly rare." PACKED WATERPARKS: Crowds descend upon Texas waterpark on Memorial Day weekend Smith also confirmed three weak tornadoes on the survey, but the specifics are still being determined. No damage to structures was reported, however. "We had a tornado west of Burkburnett, and one east of Burkburnett. And we had ... one in Clay County," in Texas, he explained. The hailstone was enormous but fell just shy of an even larger Texas hailstone found almost exactly a year ago. Hail up to 5.5 inches in diameter fell in Wellington in the Texas Panhandle on May 20, 2019. A 5.5-inch hailstone was also found in Smithville, about an hour southeast of Austin, on March 18, 2018. It came up short of the six-inch stone collected by a storm chaser near Sunray, also in the Texas Panhandle, in June 2010. Smith believes that the hail that affected Burkburnett was even bigger than 5.33 inches originally but says there's no telling how much so, because of melting and the handling of the chunk of ice. "We're going to reach out to media partners and staff and talk about how to handle these giant hailstones from a data perspective," he said. "We were very concerned about 'how do you handle this?' You're not supposed to touch (them) with bare hands. You should put in (the) freezer in (a) sealed plastic bag ... there are lots of things like this. It's quite likely (this hailstone) could have been much bigger." Officially, the U.S. hail record, and long-standing global record, comes from a hailstone that fell on Vivian, South Dakota, on July 23, 2010. It measured in at eight inches in diameter and nearly two pounds in weight. Some initial reports suggested that its spiked protrusions would have brought it to 11 inches across, but fragmentation upon hitting the ground - as well as melting and sublimation due to a power outage while storing it - made a dent in its size. Hailstones between 7.1 and 9.3 inches in diameter also fell near Cordoba, Argentina, in 2018. Hailstones over six inches in diameter are increasingly becoming the subject of scientific fascination and study, recently earning their own category title: gargantuan. Abraham Lincoln. James A. Garfield. William McKinley. John F. Kennedy. These four men are the only presidents who have been assassinated in the course of American history. However, many of the other 42 have had close encounters with death during their own presidencies. Motivated by various reasons, these would-be assassins were foiled by misfiring guns, police, bystanders, andthankfully for the presidentsbad luck. Below are the stories of ten close-call assassination attempts. Discover how a 50-page speech saved Theodore Roosevelt, how airplane wheel blocks spared Nixon, and how Gerald Ford almost fell victim to a member of the Charles Manson family. 12. Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson reportedly flung himself at his attacker to avoid assassination. www.biography.com On January 30, 1835, Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United Sates, was leaving the funeral of a House representative when he was jumped by Richard Lawrence, an unemployed house painter. Jacksons would-be killer raised a gun and pulled the trigger, but it misfired. He produced a second pistol, but against all odds, this too misfired. According to rumor, Jackson flung himself at his attacker and beat him with his cane. Lawrence was put on trial and found not guilty by reason of insanity. It was revealed that the painter believed himself to be Richard III, a 15th century English king. Lawrence spent the rest of his life in a psychiatric hospital. 11. Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt delivered a famous speech despite being shot. Image credit: vox.com Politician and professional rancher, Theodore Roosevelt served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. After losing the presidential nomination of the Republican Party in 1912 to William Taft, Roosevelt ran for the presidency under the banner of the newly established Progressive Partyor the Bull Moose Party. Prepared to give a speech in Milwaukee on October 14, Roosevelt was entering his car on his way to the venue when he was shot. The attacker was quickly apprehended, but instead of going to the hospital, Roosevelt went ahead and delivered his speech, attributing his survival to his metal glasses case and the 50-pages of speech folded in his pocket which slowed the bullet down considerably. The bullet remained lodged in his ribs until his death in 1919. 10. Franklin D. Roosevelt Chicago mayor Anton Cermak died when Giuseppe Zangara attempted to assassinate FDR. Image credit: www.courierpress.com Although he had been elected as the 32nd president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt had not been sworn into office yet when Giuseppe Zangaraan unemployed bricklayerattempted to take his life. On February 15, 1933, after Roosevelt finished giving a short speech in Miami, Zangara opened fire shouting, Too many people are starving! Chicago mayor Anton Cermak died as a result, and several others were badly wounded, but the soon-to-be president escaped without injury. Zangara was found guilty and spent ten days on death row before being sent to the electric chair. Ten years later, Soviet officials claimed to have uncovered a Nazi plot to murder Roosevelt; however, there is no evidence to confirm that Zangara was acting on the Nazis behalf. 9. Harry S. Truman White House police officer Leslie Coffelt died while protecting President Truman. Image credit: britannica.com In the fall of 1950, the White House was undergoing renovations, forcing Harry S. Truman and his wife to temporarily relocate to Blair House on Pennsylvania Avenue. On November 1, Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola attempted to storm the building with the 33rd president of the United States inside. They never made it past the entryway. White House police officer Leslie Coffelt took down Torresola before resulting to fatal injuries himself. Collazo and Torresola belonged to the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, a group of extremists fighting for full independence from the United States. Coffelt received the death penalty, but Trumanwho appeared completely unfazed by the incidenttook pity on the man and got it reduced to a life sentence. 8. Richard Nixon Samuel Byck attempted to hijack a plane so he could kill President Nixon. Image credit: www.thoughtco.com After multiple failed attempts to start his own business, Samuel Byck applied for a loan from the Small Business Administration, but was turned down. Angry and depressed, he redirected his anger on Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States. In 1974, Byck murdered a police officer outside of Baltimore-Washington International Airport and broke onto a flight to Atlanta. His plan: to hijack the plane and crash it into the White House, taking out Nixon in the process. Byck stormed the cockpit and yelled at the pilots to take off, but it was impossible to do so without first removing the wheel blocks. With his plan foiled, he shot both pilots, killing one of them. Police shot Byck twice through the window before he could kill himself to avoid being arrested. 7. Gerald Ford Gerald Ford survived two assassination attempts during his presidency. Image credit: www.biography.com Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States, survived two assassination attempts during his presidency. On September 5, 1975, Lynette Squeaky Fromme, a drug-addled Charles Manson devotee seeking the crazed mans approval, took a shot at Ford in a crowded Sacramento park while he was on his way to give a speech. The gun misfired and she was quickly apprehended by the Secret Service. Less than three weeks later, Sara Jane Moore, an unstable former FBI informant with ties to left-wing radical groups, attempted to do what Fromme could not. Her shot went wild, however, because of the intervention of a bystander, Vietnam veteran Oliver Sipple. Both Fromme and Moore were paroled shortly after Fords death in 2006. 6. Jimmy Carter Four men tried to kill President Carter in 1979. Image credit: medium.com On May 5, 1979, Jimmy Carter was scheduled to give a speech in Los Angeles at the Civic Center Mall. The Secret Service were quick to apprehend a man called Raymond Lee Harvey who was standing outside the building with a starter pistol loaded with blank rounds. Harvey claimed to be a part of a larger four-man plot to assassinate the 39th president of the United States. He and another man were expected to create a diversion with their starter pistols, while two men with rifles took down Carter in the ensuing confusion. He identified Osvaldo Espinoza-Ortiz as one of his co-conspirators. Espinoza-Ortiz was taken into custody and denied the whole thing before finally admitting to the plot. Detectives found a gun case and three rounds of ammunition in a room at a nearby hotel, seemingly confirming Harveys story. 5. Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. in 1981. Image credit: britannica.com In the early afternoon of March 30, 1981, Ronald Reagan was walking to his limousine from the Washington Hilton when John Hinckley Jr. opened fire. The 40th president of the United States was shot in the chest and suffered from internal bleeding and a punctured lung. Press Secretary James Brady took a bullet to the head, an injury that left him partially paralyzed and with extreme brain damage. Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy and police officer Thomas Delahanty were also wounded in the attack. When asked about motivation, Hinckley admitted that he hoped his actions would impress actress Jodie Foster. He was found insane and committed to a psychiatric hospital. 4. Bill Clinton Bill Clinton was the target of many assassination attempts during his presidency. Image credit: www.pewresearch.org During his eight years in office, Bill Clinton was the target of numerous assassination plots, three of which all happened in 1994. The most notable attempt on his life, however, occurred in November 1996. The 42nd president of the United States was staying in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. While his motorcade was en route to the event, intelligence agents picked up a message hinting at a possible attack on the president. The motorcade immediately rerouted. American agents later found a bomb planted under a bridge that Clinton had been expected to drive over. Further investigation revealed that the bomb was the work of Osama bin Laden. 3. George W. Bush George W. Bush survived two assassination attempts during his time in office. Image credit: wikimedia.org On February 7, 2001, George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, survived an attempt on his life when Robert Pickett opened fire on the White House. Pickett was an accountant with the IRS before being fired in 1988 for incompetence and poor attendance. He spent years trying to get reinstated, but when that failed, he redirected his anger on the newly inaugurated president. Bush was in the residential area of the White House at the time and came out of the attack unharmed. A Secret Service officer took down Pickett who was later sentenced to three years at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester. George W. Bush survived a second assassination attempt on May 10, 2005. Believing that the president was being too soft on Muslims, Vladimir Arutyunian chucked a Soviet-made hand grenade at the man while he was delivering a speech in the Freedom Square in Tbilisi, Georgia. The grenade did not detonate, because the would-be assassin had tied a red handkerchief around the weapon, ultimately preventing the safety lever from detaching. Arutyunian was sentenced to life in prison. 2. Barack Obama Obama was involved in multiple security incidents and some threats extended to his family. Its been reported that he received 4 times the threats as other presidents. While there was an increase in plots by white supremacists and other racist groups, the secret service was able to catch most attempts while the accused were still plotting against the president. What was thought to be a credible threat in Denver by Shawn Robert Adolf, Tharin Robert Gartrell and Nathan Dwaine Johnson who drove a truck filled with weapons and narcotics to an Obama rally. Secret Servie later downplayed the chances of them successfully going through with the plot due to drug use. In Tennesse, two men Paul Schlesselman and Daniel Cowart intend to go on a murder spree to kill predominantly African-American school children and then drive their vehicle to go shoot the President. They were caught because they were bragging about other crimes they had committed. 1. Donald Trump Donald Trump was sent two ricin letters Prior to Trump becoming president on June 18, 2016, at a rally in Las Vagas, Micheal Steven Sandford attempted to grab a pistol of a police officer. Standford approached a police officer who was about 30 feet away from Donald Trump and started to speak with him when he attempted to grab the officer's gun but it got stuck in the holster. After being arrested Stanford claimed the he intended to kill Trump to stop him from becoming president.There were two ricin letters that were mailed to Trump but both were intercepted before they were received. The first October 2018 by William Clyde Allen III, a U.S. Navy veteran and the second in September 2019 by a Canadian resident Pascale Ferrier. Restaurant and hospitality brands nationwide have had to adapt their service models, operating procedures and more, virtually overnight. New York's Grimaldis Pizzeria, with its roots dating back to 1906, turned into a national chain with more than 40 stores known for its traditional coal brick-oven cooking methods, the utilization of New York water at every location, and Grimaldi's famous dough recipe. Like many others in the foodservice business at this time, industry veteran CEO Joseph Ciolli has pivoted Grimaldis Pizzeria from a full-service restaurant to a solely carry-out and delivery service model. We have always been focused on providing the highest quality experience for our customers, Ciolli says. Under the current circumstances, weve refocused our efforts on continuing to provide the safest and healthiest experience for customers, which has resulted in a shift in our operational model. Above all, great customer service will go a long way to continue building trust and rapport with the brand. Related: Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza Franchise Information During this time of change in the face of this pandemic, Ciolli suggests asking yourself these questions: What can you do to adapt your business models to meet the needs of your clientele in a safe and effective manner? How are you making yourself available to the community while abiding by social distancing and sanitization needs? How are you staying connected through digital media? What goals do you have for you and your business during this time? How will you do things differently after the pandemic is over? The Grimaldis team quickly built out the brands online infrastructure to accommodate increased telephone and website orders for its 40+ locations, enabling online payment for website orders to provide contactless payment. Grimaldis expanded its delivery partnerships to include availability via DoorDash, UberEats, and GrubHub. In addition, individual Grimaldis locations have created separate carry-out and delivery pick-up areas to implement socially distanced service, with many stores establishing curbside pick-up service as space allows. While Grimaldis menu hasnt changed as a result of the shift in the service model, the company has implemented a number of special packages and promotions to provide ease of ordering for its customers. These include two different family meal bundles, offered at $25 and $40 based on providing either two or four-person family meals. In addition, Grimaldis has leveraged its inventory to offer 50% off bottles of wine, single beers for $6, and six-packs of beer for $15 for carry-out with food purchase only to round out its beverage offerings during this time. On Easter Sunday, Grimaldis offered a sweet treat to its customers with a free slice of cheesecake with carry-out orders of $40 or more. In the coming weeks, the company will also offer a Date Night In bundle for two, inclusive of a traditional cheese pizza, a house salad, a bottle of prosecco, and a slice of strawberry cheesecake to help create a special night at home. From a communications and consumer marketing perspective, Grimaldis has maintained open and frequent lines of communication with its current and future customers via email and social media. Messaging has shifted from focusing on new and promotional items to letting customers know that Grimaldis is open for business and ready to support the local community. Related: Papa John's Pizza Franchise Opportunities To date, several locations have donated meals and supported programs offering meals to first responders and front-line workers. In addition, Grimaldis has utilized social media to virtually connect with its customers to maintain strong relationships and provide a deeper brand connection to the carryout dining experience. Part of the Grimaldis brand ethos has always prioritized giving back to the community. As such, Grimaldis has continued to build on its partnership with No Kid Hungry a non-profit for which Grimaldis has raised more than $1 million through various initiatives since first partnering with the organization in 2013 to assist in supporting children in need of meals who have been affected by the school closures nationwide. In addition, Grimaldis will move forward with its much-anticipated, annual Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week from May 4 to 8. Grimaldis stores across the country will offer 15% off all orders to teachers and nurses that week as a way to say thank you for their commitment and service, especially during these uncertain times. Related: Russo's New York Pizzeria Inc. Franchise Information While the Grimaldis team looks forward to welcoming guests back into its full-service dining rooms across the country at the appropriate time in accordance with federal, state, and municipal requirements and guidelines, the company has made dedicated and thoughtful moves to adapt effectively within the current hospitality environment, ensuring the long-term success of the brand. Grimaldis is setting a good example of how we can all adapt and reach out to help keep our communities and businesses connected and active during these times of difficulty and hardship. Like them, we can find that this time is a defining time, and we can be all the stronger from it. Dig deep, work hard, and even enjoy a slice of pizza or two. Related: How New York's Legendary Grimaldi's Pizzeria Adapted to the Crisis Hot Dog Sales Are Red-Hot. These Weiner Businesses are Giving Back. Despite Relaxations, Recovery Could Be Tough For Restaurants and Food Delivery Apps Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The order prohibits the spread of inflammatory statements that are discriminatory against a particular community. In Mumbai, the police have re-issued orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) that prohibits persons from disseminating "incorrect" or factually distorted information through messaging platforms and social media sites such as WhatsApp, Twitter, and TikTok. The order also prohibits the spread of inflammatory statements that are discriminatory against a particular community and any information which could cause panic or confusion among the public. On a previous occasion, the Mumbai police had enforced a similar order, to stop the spread of coronavirus by limiting movement with the city, that had come into effect from midnight April 10 and till April 24. According to the order, action can also be taken under Section 188 of the IPC against those contravening the directives. The order signed by Dy Commissioner (Operations) Pranaya Ashok comes into effect from 12.15 am on 25 May and continues to operate till 8 June. The statement also reads, "All persons designated as Admin on messaging and social media platforms, either by self or by allowing any member of the group, shall be personally responsible for any such information being disseminated from a group administered by them." It will also be up to the 'Admins' of these groups to report any content that is derogatory in nature, to the police. What is prohibited? According to a statement released by the Mumbai Police, the order prohibits any person or group of persons from: Dissemination of information through various messaging and social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram etc. and found to be incorrect and distorting facts. Disseminating information derogatory and discriminatory towards a particular community Causing panic and confusion among the general public Inciting mistrust towards government functionaries and their actions taken in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and thereby causing danger to human health or safety or a disturbance of the public tranquillity. If a person were to flout these directives, they will be punished under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. What is section 188 of the IPC? As per Section 188 of the IPC - Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant. This section looks into offences that are related to contempt of lawful authority of public servants. It is the penal provision invoked in case of non-compliance of guidelines or directives contained therein. This provision deals with the disobedience of an order passed by a public servant and lays down the penalties for the contempt of orders such as avoiding service of summons, non-appearance or non-attendance in response to an order, etc. It basically means, if a person knows of an order passed by a government servant and they have willfully ignored it, they can be punished. According to Bar and Bench, the punishment under this Section can vary in its severity: If the disobedience of the order causes or tends to cause obstruction or annoyance or injury, or risk of the same, to a person lawfully employed, the offender might face simple imprisonment of up to one month or fine up to Rs. 200, or both; If such disobedience is of a greater nature, so as to cause or tend to cause danger to human life, health or safety, etc, the offender might face imprisonment of up to six months and fine up to one thousand rupees or both. What is Section 144 of the IPC? As per Section 144 of the IPC, "being armed with any deadly weapon, or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, is a member of an unlawful assembly, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both." According to a report in the Bussiness Standard, the Executive Magistrate of any state or territory can issue an order that can prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area. The people engaging in this unlawful assemble can be booked for engaging in rioting. Another part of this order is that people are not allowed to carry weapons in areas where Section 144 has been implemented. The maximum punishment under this act is imprisonment for three years or a fine. Section 144 was also enforced in Delhi on 23 March to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. On December 18, Section 144 was imposed in Bengaluru during anti-CAA protests but was later deemed illegal by the Karnataka High Court. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to yank the Republican National Convention from Charlotte, North Carolina, where it is scheduled to be held in August, accusing the states Democratic governor of being in a shutdown mood that could prevent a fully attended event. The president tweeted that he had LOVE for North Carolina, a swing state that he won in 2016, but he added that without a guarantee from the governor, Roy Cooper, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space. 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, May 26 : Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party on Monday said that the health infrastructure of Gujarat has completely collapsed and accused the state's ruling BJP of indulging in corruption. AAP's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh said the Gujarat High Court's observations have revealed the "fraud" behind BJP's Gujarat Model. He said that Gujarat HC has observed that the condition of the Ahmedabad Civil hospital is "pathetic" and the hospital is "as good as a dungeon, maybe even worse". "Heath infrastructure of Gujarat completely collapsed. In Gujarat, the N-95 masks which cost around Rs 49 are being sold at Rs 65. This means that corruption is happening in Gujarat in the health sector. The Gujarat government which is led by the BJP has also failed the poor migrant labourers," he claimed. Noting the BJP is ruling Gujarat for the last 25 years, he said: "It has always talked about the Gujarat model of development both across the globe and India. Till date, 865 people have died in Gujarat due to coronavirus and the number of deaths in Gujarat is the highest among all the states of India." Singh said "it is crystal clear that the health infrastructure of Gujarat has completely failed. These are not my personal observations, these are the observations made by the Gujarat High Court." He said that now it is high time for the BJP to come in front of the people and say why they have failed to better health infrastructure in Gujarat. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are from Gujarat. The Central government earlier sent a team of experts to Gujarat to look into the health infrastructure of the state but until today has not revealed the findings of the team. I think that this is high time the BJP should come clean about the real situation of Gujarat," said Singh. Romanian-American artist Mari Calai's son Samuel blows the seeds off a red-seeded dandelion in the woods located in Falls Church, Virginia, in this September 2016 file photo. Calai released a photobook titled "ADAGIO" featuring her son and daughter growing up with nature, last week, five years after the photos were taken. / Photo from Noonbit Publishing Romanian-American artist chronicles her kids growing up with nature in 'ADAGIO' By Kang Hyun-kyung Romanian-American artist and photographer Mari Calai's two children depicted in her recently published photobook, titled "ADAGIO," are very different from Korean kids of the same age group. Unlike Korean children who rush to test prep institutions once their schools are over and spend several hours there to hone their testing skills, Sofia and Samuel learn from nature. They spend most of their time in an "outdoor classroom" and have free time to explore the world surrounding them. Unlike Korean kids whose lives are inseparable from smartphones as they constantly communicate with their parents and friends through smartphone chatting apps, Calai's children live a tech-free life. Calai, 41, a Seoul-based artist, says childhood is supposed to be full of wonder and self-learning experiences, both in a positive and negative sense. "My goal of the photo project was to create a visual legacy that years down the road will mean something important for my kids," she told The Korea Times in a recent interview. "I thought documenting our children's lives through photos would be one of the best things we could ever give to them as a gift. My photos are not just portraits of them." Inspired by her own fond childhood memories, Calai said she zoomed in on their wonder of discovery, the gentleness of trust, the joy of exploring as well as frustrating moments and disappointment they have experienced. Just like the title of the book suggests, ADAGIO serenely narrates her son's and daughter's world. Calai encourages her readers to feel the whispering forest and see the carefree children playing and running around there. Moments captured in her photography include a naughty boy teasing his older sister and Sofia showing a cut on her leg. The siblings taste fruit they picked on a farm. Samuel relaxes in a bubble bath with a satisfying smile on his face. Sofia cuddles a dog. Sofia, front, and Samuel taste fruit they picked on a farm in Tennessee, in this May 2016 photo. / Photo from Noonbit Publishing Calai chose ADAGIO as the title of her book with the help of her mentor and artist Yoo Beyl-nam. "Adagio means 'in slow tempo' and it is usually used in music," she said. "It reminded me of how childhood the best and most innocent times of our lives should be remembered. It's slow and should be cherished to the fullest." The Romanian artist kicked off the photo project about her two children five years ago. It was initially her personal project. Photos were taken from 2015 in several cities of the United States, Italy and Romania. Selecting the best shots, Calai presented a collection of her photos at an exhibition in Seoul last year. Her poetic photography grabbed the attention of Noonbit Publishing founder and President Lee Kyu-sang. "Each picture she took shows unique emotion. Her photos exude feelings and poetic emotions," Lee said. He said her photos make viewers wonder who the photo artist would be, mainly because of her unique style. "Her photos captivate viewers and strike a chord with people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, regardless of culture. They remind us of our and our children's childhoods of which memories are slowly fading," he said. Drawn by Calai's photography, Lee asked her if she'd be interested in publishing a photobook of her children, an offer that made her indecisive in the beginning. She said she felt her photos were too personal. But she took courage to share them with others through a book project. Mari Calai / Courtesy of Yoo Beyl-nam This content is expired! Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat has charged Africa to strive for self-sufficiency amid covid-19. He made the call in message to commemorate AU Day being marked in Africa today, May 25. There is an urgent need for Africa to chart its own course. Its food dependency and insecurity are unacceptable and intolerable, as is the state of its road, port, health and educational infrastructure, he stated. Africa's land, forests, rich fauna, mines, energy potential, and maritime and inland waterways, hold the necessary resources to provide an adequate response to the needs of its peoples. Although the UN expects the global food import bill to decline, the import bill for sub-Saharan Africa is expected to rise. The African Development Bank projects the continent's annual food import bill of $35 billion to rise to $110 billion by 2025. This trend is expected to further weaken African economies, specifically agricultural and export jobs. To prevent this, Mr. Mahamat urged the continent to boldly opt for an innovative approach that is inward-looking rather than outward-looking. He assured that this approach will be a catalyst for the renaissance of our Nations. It is only when they are tested, that nations and states truly emerge. We are now at that point in history. The COVID-19 pandemic brutally reminds us of a major issue, which is the imperative need to put a stop to dependency on the exterior. Find below the full message: My African Brothers and Sisters, Today we commemorate the establishment, on 25 May 1963, here in Addis Ababa, of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). It will be exactly 57 years to the day. This date, which is considered as Africa Day, is, like all important celebrations, a moment not only of joy, but also of pride, reflection and meditation. 57 years ago, Africa laid the foundations for its unity that had been undermined by colonisation, by establishing a common organization, the OAU, which became the African Union in 2002. 57 years after this founding act, Africa liberated itself from the colonial presence and from apartheid. It initiated its political unity, and made significant economic, social and cultural progress. However, such progress cannot conceal the sometimes flagrant shortcomings and delays. We are constantly plagued, not without anguish, by many questions. Has Africa become the continent of freedom, peace, prosperity, and success that our Founding Fathers dreamt of? Are Africans united, interdependent and thriving? Has Africa gained a place commensurate with its immense potential and legitimate ambition in the international arena? The scorecard of the Continent's half a century of independence and freedom leaves one in doubt. In spite of its huge economic potential, and its rich, young and dynamic human capital, most African States have difficulties in ensuring the welfare of their populations. Key sectors such as education, health and security are largely dependent on foreign aid. Communitarianism and tribalism have become more marked due to multiparty systems and democratic principles that have oftentimes been perverted. Ranging from open crises, caused by terrorism and inter-tribal or inter-religious conflicts to post-electoral crises, Africa is constantly beset, here and there, by scenes of violence, fragility and uncertainty over the future. As Chairperson of the African Union Commission, one of whose key commitments is to silence the guns on the Continent, I am deeply touched by the sight of the current events in Libya, one of the founding members of the OAU, and the principal initiator and proponent of the African Union. The tragedy being played out in this country is of profound concern to us all. No-one is blameless in the failure, neither is any segment of the international community, which has a great responsibility in the persistence or even escalation of the conflict. My African Brothers and Sisters, Friends of Africa worldwide, Against this mixed backdrop, there are some glimmers of hope, insofar as there is great determination to overcome the odds, and immense resources to break the cycle of dependency and poverty. Positive developments and new impetus, as well as fierce determination, and spectacular results, have continued to emerge and pave the way forward. Regional organisations are being established, while continental flagship projects such as the AfCFTA are on the right track. The Continent's economic integration, another founding aspiration of our peoples, is now within reach. The emergence of the Continent is certainly feasible. However, the ardent wish of the peoples of Africa, particularly the youth, is that leadership and governance invest greater efforts to ensure that Africa gives and avails itself of its best. A more Africanist vision of this leadership, focusing on common and binding strategic objectives, will be required if we are to pursue the legitimate aspirations of our youth and our Founding Fathers. The reform of the African Union is intended to provide the Commission with appropriate legal and policy resources to become an effective instrument for the achievement of priority actions, the essence of which is reflected in Agenda 2063. Our common ambition, that of our leaders and hundreds of millions of Africans, is to advance with greater force and resolve towards this horizon. Brothers and Sisters of the Continent, The Coronavirus pandemic currently ravaging the entire world as has rarely been seen, has destroyed certainties, undermined assurances, and shattered most of our beliefs. Never before has humanity appeared so fragile and impotent. Perhaps the time has come for humanity to reflect on its vanities and limitations, in order to re-think universal civilisation. Right from the onset the pandemic, much to the surprise of those who have always belittled the Continent, Africa mobilised itself. A continental response strategy was developed and implemented promptly. I would like to pay a well-deserved tribute to the specialised organs of the Union in charge of this implementation, as well as to the current Chairperson of our Union, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, for the pertinent initiatives taken. My tribute also goes to all our Member States, which in a remarkable manner, promptly took appropriate measures, consistent with the continental strategy. We should however redouble efforts, determination and perseverance in strictly implementing the pillars of the strategy. We should go beyond the present situation, by preparing for post-pandemic conditions in the world. There is an urgent need for Africa to develop new forms of resilience. In a world in which multilateralism is sorely tested, Africa must stop expecting solutions from others. Africa should no longer be satisfied with this role of never-ending reservoir for some, and dumping ground for others. There is an urgent need for Africa to chart its own course. Its food dependency and insecurity are unacceptable and intolerable, as is the state of its road, port, health and educational infrastructure. Africa's land, forests, rich fauna, mines, energy potential, and maritime and inland waterways, hold the necessary resources to provide an adequate response to the needs of its peoples. We should, in full lucidity, boldly opt for an innovative approach that is inward-looking rather than outward-looking. Let us live on what we have, using what we have, in other words let us live within our means! As we embark on this path, our leaders will be closer to our citizens, and our Nations will become stronger. In my opinion, this inward-looking and self-reliance approach, will be a catalyst for the renaissance of our Nations. It is only when they are tested, that nations and states truly emerge. We are now at that point in history. The COVID-19 pandemic brutally reminds us of a major issue, which is the imperative need to put a stop to dependency on the exterior. This can be achieved through the twofold objective of living on our own resources, and resolutely focusing on our industrialisation process. Other entities with less resource than we have, were able to achieve this in record time. I strongly urge women, youth, intellectuals, academics, politicians, entrepreneurs, and civil society activists, to engage in fruitful and active discussions on the issue, which is key to our material survival, our independence, our freedom and our dignity. The only way to contain COVID-19 and its disastrous effects, is to ensure our food sufficiency, create millions of jobs, and save hundreds of millions of African citizens, who are currently seriously exposed to pandemics and various other hazards. This entails a real outpouring of solidarity for a truly strong and lasting African resilience. There is no nobler manner of celebrating Africa Day than by initiating this intellectual, moral and political venture, which is essential for the genuine renaissance of our dear Continent. God bless Africa. Additional reporting: Conall O'Fatharta The Scout Abuse Survivors group, representing victims of institutional sexual abuse in the Scouting Ireland organisation, says a criminal investigation has to be launched. A spokesperson for survivors says that victims won't stop, until they see those responsible for the abuse held to account, and brought to justice. A review into historical abuse found cronyism allowed those who had 'a sexual interest in children' to be protected within Scouting Ireland and its legacy organisations. Paul O'Toole, of Scout Abuse Survivors, says that it was 'deeply hurtful' to discover that the collusion was allowed to happen: He said: It kind of goes down deep, into your gut, to think it's there. Why isn't someone doing something about it? "It's obvious that there is the need for a criminal investigation. There's no point talking about it, and thinking about it, and not looking at it, and going, 'oh, look at that'. "You don't walk by someone lying in the street and go, 'oh, look at that'. Terrible chap, he might need a bit of help, better call an ambulance.' You go over and you help. Action needs to be taken." 'A seriously dysfunctional organisation' In the report, child protection consultant Ian Elliott said there "was cover up and there was a failure to report" when instances of sexual abuse occurred and that abusers were able to protect each other within the organisation and even facilitate abuse for each other. "Listening to the oral evidence in this case from the volunteer involved, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the scouting body involved, was a seriously dysfunctional organisation with sex offenders dominating the leadership, for decades," said the report. "Even those national officers against whom we have no allegations, we do have evidence that some of them failed to protect children and young people in the face of clear risk. Indeed, in some instances they actively suppressed the reporting of concerns so as not to cause disturbance to the system." Mr Elliott even reveals that during his probe, attempts were made "to discredit my work as a way of deflecting attention away from my recommendation that senior volunteers should be held accountable for their actions". Assam transport commissioner Adil Khan had never thought that there would be an Eid-ul-Fitr festival without any celebration and feast! But it has happened this time. With flights resuming from Monday, Khan had to leave his home early morning for the airport and kept on shuffling between the railway station and the airport the entire day to ensure smooth movement of passengers coming by the two modes. While entire Assam had a muted Eid-ul-Fitr celebration this year because of the lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, the bureaucrat could not even get time to celebrate the festival with his wife and little daughter because he chose duty over family. Very few people had visited the markets for Eid shopping in the last few days due to a huge spike in COVID-19 positive cases in Assam. Assam State Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president and Lok Sabha member Badruddin Ajmal had requested people to follow the government norms to contain the spread of COVID-19 and asked all to offer namaz from their homes. Entrepreneur Atiqur Rahman Barbhuiya said, his family did not go for shopping and distributed money to the poor people, who are suffering most in this lockdown period. He termed this year's Eid amid the lockdown as a "blessing in disguise" as women, who usually do not perform namaz at Masjids, were able to offer the special prayers with other male family members at home. "I offered my Eid namaz with my daughter and son at home. "Obviously it was a subdued Eid, but we followed 'Roja' and 'Fitra', which is giving donations to poor people," Barbhuiya said. With Eid excitement running low due to COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing lockdown, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi had appealed to the people not to come out for gatherings but offer namaz from their homes. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal too had urged the people of Muslim community to follow social distancing norms and appealed them to pray for mankind in this critical time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The afternoon sun brought out the crowds on the Ocean City, N.J. boardwalk on May 25, 2020. Read more TL;DR: Memorial Day weekend down the Shore was less crowded than usual, with amusement rides locked down, people trying to keep six feet away from each other and adding extra hand sanitizer to their beach bags. Heres what Memorial Day weekend looked like around the region. While companies plan for how to return to the office once shutdowns are lifted, property owners have shifted from emphasizing roof decks and gyms to touting high air-circulation and advanced filtration setups. Ellie Silverman (@esilverman11, health@inquirer.com) What you need to know: Philadelphia and its suburbs will move to the yellow reopening phase by June 5. Heres a reminder on what to expect in each reopening phase. There was a reopen protest held on Memorial Day down the Shore at Point Pleasant Beach. The small group of Trump supporters chanted All businesses are essential! and Open New Jersey now! A South Jersey church held Sunday service in defiance of Gov. Phil Murphys order. Other pastors are threatening to sue the governor. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Archdiocese plans to resume daily and Sunday Masses on June 6. Cops say a New Jersey man claimed he had coronavirus during a fight with police. Former Vice President Joe Biden wore a mask during a Memorial Day visit to the veterans memorial in Delaware, his first public appearance in months. The Phillie Phanatic also wore a mask today. Colleges adapted to virtual final exams. What they learned could shape the future on campuses. Watch as David Bilger, Principal Trumpet of The Philadelphia Orchestra, plays Taps for Taps Across America on Memorial Day. Local coronavirus cases The coronavirus has swept across the Philadelphia region and cases continue to mount. The Inquirer and Spotlight PA are compiling geographic data on tests conducted, cases confirmed, and deaths caused by the virus. Track the spread here. Memorial Day weekend down the Shore was less crowded than usual, with amusement rides locked down, people trying to keep six feet away from each other and adding extra hand sanitizer to their beach bags. Restaurants were open for take out only and boardwalk shops could only sell items, including hermit crabs, curbside. Read more about Memorial Day on the boardwalk here. While companies plan for how to return to the office once shutdowns are lifted, property owners have shifted from emphasizing roof decks and gyms to touting high air-circulation and advanced filtration setups. When an infected person breathes, talks, coughs, or sneezes, they produce tiny contaminated droplets. Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems flush away indoor air, which could contain those contaminated droplets, and replace it with fresh air from outside. Read about how property owners of Philadelphia office buildings with outdated systems, and those with upgraded systems, are preparing. Helpful resources You got this: What kids can do in the yellow phase Is camp allowed? Will my child have to wear a mask in day camp? What will social distancing look like in summer camp? Can we go swimming? My colleague Elizabeth Wellington answers these questions and more as she unpacks Pennsylvanias state guidance on what kids can do in the yellow phase. Heres a reminder on what to expect in each reopening phase. Voting by mail is a safe option during coronavirus. Heres what you need to know about absentee ballots in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Good karma: A South Jersey volunteers story carries on despite the coronavirus. Photos: A dance recital the coronavirus couldnt stop. Have a social distancing tip or question to share? Let us know at health@inquirer.com and your input might be featured in a future edition of this newsletter. What were paying attention to Enjoy getting our journalism through email? You can also sign up for The Inquirer Morning Newsletter to get the latest news, features, investigations and more sent straight to your inbox each morning Sunday-Friday. Sign up here. File image Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) Minister and former chief minister Ashok Chavan has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, The Indian Express has reported. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. The senior Congress leader is the second minister in CM Uddhav Thackerays cabinet to contract COVID-19 after Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad. According to the report, Chavan is currently admitted to a hospital in Nanded and his condition is stable. Coronavirus LIVE updates COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Awhad announced on May 10 that he had been discharged from the hospital after recovering from the coronavirus infection. "My ongoing battle with Corona has finally succeeded and I am going home safely. I wish your love and blessings continue to be with me. I have been advised of complete rest for next one month. I cannot meet any party workers or people outside my family. I will be back with more energy to serve people (sic)," Awhad tweeted. Awhad, MLA from Mumbra-Kalwa, had gone in quarantine as a precautionary measure on April 13 after some of the police personnel providing him security tested positive. On April 21, he got himself admitted in a private hospital and tested positive for the coronavirus a few days later. (With inputs from PTI) Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here A massive spike in ticket cancellations, along with a drop in bookings, was reported by the aviation industry for Monday's flights as several states moved to limit air operations. Consequently, in order to calm nervous passengers, the Centre said that barring just two states, the rest of the country is open to accept domestic flights. On Sunday evening, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted that states across the country will resume domestic flight services on Monday except Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Airports in Andhra Pradesh will resume services on Tuesday, May 26 and West Bengal will restart on Thursday, May 28. "It has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state govts to recommence civil aviation operations in the country. Except Andhra Pradesh which will start on 26/5 & West Bengal on 28/5, domestic flights will recommence across the country from tomorrow," Puri tweeted. Sources said that starting May 28, Kolkata and Bagdogra airports will each handle 10 arrivals and 10 departures per day. Further, according to people in the know, both Vijayawada and Vizag airports in Andhra Pradesh will have 20 per cent of both arrivals and departures as planned under the Summer Schedule. Hyderabad will resume services on Monday with 15 arrivals and 15 departures, sources said. In another tweet, the minister said that starting Monday, there will be limited flights from Mumbai and as per approved one-third schedule from other airports in the state. "As per request of state govt, operations in Andhra Pradesh will recommence on limited scale from 26 May. For Tamil Nadu there will be max 25 arrivals in Chennai but there's no limit on number of departures. For other airports in TN flights will operate as in other parts of country," Puri said. Resultantly, passengers, who had booked for flights on these and other intra-metro route segment for May 25, rushed to cancel their tickets. Notably impacted was the Delhi-Mumbai trunk route followed by flights to Bengaluru and Kolkata. Industry insiders pointed out that majority of bookings received were for flights between metro cities, due to the "pent-up demand", but now with limited operations and quarantine norms, a large number of queries have been received from passengers travelling to these cities. Even airline executives were left in lurch as state after state came out with new norms for accepting flights, thereby, distorting their network planning. Another daunting confusion was over the quarantine norm which many states said they will enforce on air travellers. This led to a cascade of calls at the customer care centres of online travel agents. Nevertheless, many passengers still wanted to travel, if they were provided with a choice for 'Home Quarantine'. Except for intra-metro routes, the total cancellations would have come to only about 15 per cent of the entire network, industry insiders told IANS. In terms of bookings, a sharp drop of over 50 per cent was witnessed on Sunday on a daily sequential basis. "All the passengers booking flights currently are travelling for their essential needs and multiple changes in the directives by individual states have left them utterly disappointed. Now with operation of only a fraction of earlier approved flights has caused a spike in cancellations and the passengers are once again left high and dry by the government," Nishant Pitti, CEO and Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip.com, told IANS. "In addition, to the continued uncertainty in their travel plan, more money will be blocked with the airlines." Aloke Bajpai, CEO & Co-Founder, ixigo, said: "There is some apprehension amongst travellers with the constantly evolving state specific quarantine protocols." "There might be a slight increase in cancellation or reschedule requests from travellers in the coming few days specifically for states that are not allowing air travel to resume starting tomorrow. We hope the state governments can take a more pragmatic and compassionate view of the situation given a vast majority of bookers are going back to their homes or travelling for essential or emergency reasons." On its part, the Centre had previously urged the state governments not to implement quarantine norms since inter-state transportation services are allowed under the provisions of lockdown 4.0. During an online question and answer session on Saturday, Puri had said: "In a receiving state, if an incoming passenger has 'Aarogya Setu' app, and if he or she is green, why would the receiving state want to quarantine them after that." "Its not that if you don't have an Aarogya Setu app, you will not be allowed to travel. We have said it is advisory, it is preferable... If you dont have Aarogya Setu you can give a self-declaration, if you don't have an app... If somebody has symptoms they will be stopped at the airport. Why would any state want to quarantine somebody after these facts." Earlier, air passengers gave an overwhelming response to the re-commencement of passenger flight services from May 25, as healthy demand was witnessed for tickets on all metro routes. The Centre had only allowed limited passenger flight operations of about one-third capacity of the summer schedule to operate between metro cities and other destinations from May 25, adding that this capacity might be ramped up in the coming period. Passenger air services were suspended for both scheduled domestic and international flights since March 25, due to the imposition of the nationwide lockdown in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. AgencyThe ancestral community of the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, on Monday, organised a special prayer session for his successful tenure. Members of the Erubu/Asunnara/Ita Aburo Community in Ilorin, Kwara State, during the prayer session led by Uthman Erubu, an Islamic scholar, thanked Allah for Mr Gambaris appointment earlier in the month by President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Erubu described the chief of staff as an illustrious son and asked Allah to guide him on the job. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other attendees also recited Quran to pray to Allah for a successful tenure in office for Gambari. In his sermon, Ridwan Olagunju of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, urged Ilorin youths to emulate the good deeds of past leaders to guarantee a better future. The past deeds of Gambari, as a reputable international bureaucrat, were responsible for his appointment, in spite of the fact that he is not a politician, he said. He advised the CoS to bring his past experiences to fore in finding solutions to the myriad of challenges currently bedevilling the country. Earlier in his remarks, Abdulrahman Mustapha of the Kwara State University, said Mr Gambari had made positive impacts in the community. He described the former diplomat as a good ambassador of the community, saying that he had represented it well in various capacities, both nationally and internationally. The don urged the youth to work assiduously for the development of their home community, wherever they might find themselves. He prayed to Allah to guide and guard Mr Gambari in the new assignment. The prayer session was attended by traditional chiefs as well as sons and daughters of the community. Mr Gambari, an Ilorin prince, was appointed the chief of staff to replace Malam Abba Kyari, who died of complications from coronavirus on April 17. (NAN) BOCA RATON, Fla. and DUBLIN, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Tower International ("Phoenix") today announced the signing of an agreement with eir to purchase over 650 wireless towers and acquire newly constructed wireless towers over 8 years across Ireland through a build-to-suit programme. This transaction positions Phoenix as the largest tower infrastructure provider in Ireland, materially expands its growing footprint in Europe, and further solidifies the company's leadership position in Europe, the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Closing is subject to customary conditions precedents for this type of transaction. Phoenix and eir have established a long-term partnership whereby eir will occupy the sites for at least twenty years. "We are excited to enter the Irish wireless infrastructure market and partner with eir on such an important transaction. The global pandemic related to COVID-19 has impacted all of our communities and highlights the importance of wireless infrastructure to support global trade, commerce and social connections. This will not diminish as economies rebound in the coming months and years ahead," stated Dagan Kasavana, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Tower International. "Ireland represents an important economic hub for Europe and the world and we are proud to support eir on their ongoing build-outs across the country. This transaction further expands PTI's global footprint and we are excited to be a long-term partner of eir," said Tim Culver, Executive Chairman of Phoenix Tower International. "We are excited to partner with eir to deliver improved wireless connectivity to its customers. This transaction exemplifies Phoenix's strategy of entering into growth markets as a partner to top-tier wireless carriers," said Jasvinder Khaira, a Senior Managing Director in Blackstone Tactical Opportunities. "Phoenix is committed to growing in Europe and finding opportunities to support carriers and usher in the 5G technology revolution." About Phoenix Tower International Phoenix Tower International ("Phoenix") owns, operates and proforma for this transaction will have in excess of 9,000 towers, 986 km of fiber and over 80,000 other wireless infrastructure and related sites throughout the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. Phoenix was founded in 2013 with a mission to be a premier site provider to wireless operators across the Americas in high-growth markets. Phoenix's investors include funds managed by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and John Hancock, as well as various members of the management team. For more information, please visit www.phoenixintnl.com. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Arthur Cox acted as legal advisors to PTI. About eir eir is the largest provider of fixed line telecommunications services in Ireland, offering broadband, voice, TV, and data services to residential, small business, enterprise and government segments. eir is the third largest mobile operator in Ireland in terms of revenue and customers. The company operates the eir mobile and GoMo services. eir's wholesale division, open eir, is the largest wholesale telecommunications operator in Ireland, providing products and services to national and international wholesale customers across a range of regulated and unregulated markets. The Group generated total revenue of 1.249 billion and adjusted EBITDA of 578 million for the year ended 30 June 2019. SOURCE Phoenix Tower International Related Links http://www.phoenixintnl.com Alleged Moscow bank hostage holder detained until late July Moskva city news agency, Sergey Vedyashkin 16:14 25/05/2020 MOSCOW, May 25 (RAPSI) Moscows Khamovnichesky District Court on Monday placed a defendant in a case over hostage taking in one of the Moscow offices of Alfa Bank in detention until July 23, the court's press service told RAPSI. The 34-year Alexey Baryshnikov pleaded guilty. Earlier investigators questioned witnesses and ordered mental examination of the accused to be conducted. On May 23, police were notified of the alleged hostage taking in one of the Alfa Bank offices in Moscow. An alleged hostage holde threatened to blast the bank. During the law enforcement operation, he was arrested; no people were injured; no explosives were found. Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed nearly 345,000 lives, with almost 100,000 people dying in the U.S. alone. In the face of these grim stats, one company that revolutionized the mining sector for women is now doing what it can to make sure people are safe as nations around the world start to ease lockdown restrictions. Covergalls, a company that began making coveralls specifically for women, is employing Ontario-based seamstresses to make reusable cloth masks. Alicia Woods, founder of Covergalls, told Kitco News that its mask production has quickly ballooned as the mining sector is trying to keep its employees and communities safe from the deadly virus. She said that production started slow, using fabric they already had to make masks for their employees and delivery people. However, the need for cloth masks quickly grew after the Ontario Mining Association reached out to the company. "The mining industry was quick to respond by donating any medical-grade PPE to the frontline health workers. They're the ones who desperately need it right now, but it left the mining employees and their families and communities without protection," Woods said. "So that's when we started to produce the fabric masks and get those into the hands of the mining employees and into their families and the communities in which they operate." Woods added that it is encouraging to see just how serious the mining sector has taken this global health threat. She also noted that it is another example of how the mining sector can lead the world in innovation. "For me, when you think mining, it means safety is number one, it is top of mind for everybody in the industry," she said. "And so naturally we want to make sure that the mining industry is doing its part to protect those who are protecting us right now. We also want to make sure that we're taking care of the employees." But its more than just protecting miners. Covergalls has developed an entire community-focused initiative with its masks, including making a youth-sized mask that they are donating to the Sudbury hospital, Sick Kids hospital in Toronto, and youth groups. As to what has been more of a challenge for Covergalls, designing a mask to protect people during a pandemic or a coverall made explicitly for women. "The team has learned that it's a little complex in terms of even the elastic on the mask that we have. There's been a number of reiterations in terms of comfort," Woods said. "People are wearing this all day long, and you know, with Covergalls, we really promote functionality and comfort." More and more companies like airlines and grocery stories are making it mandatory for customers to wear masks. Health officials around the world have recommended people wear masks especially when conditions dont allow people to observe social distancing measures. More than 1,500 Nepalese were sent to Nepal through Sharada barrage in Banbasa area of Champawat district on Monday. They were housed in relief centres set up in Champawat and US Nagar district till now, said an official. More than 1,500 migrant Nepalese were sent to Nepal from Sharda barrage on Monday. They were housed in Champawat and US Nagar districts. They were taken by buses and dropped near the international border, said SN Pandey, district magistrate, Champawat. These Nepalese had come from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, where most of them worked as labourers and workers. They were housed in relief camps in the two bordering districts. Some of them were with their families and were in a distressed condition. They were stuck in India as Nepalese government had sealed the Indo-Nepal border to check Covid-19 outbreak and was reluctant to permit their entry fearing they may bring infection into Nepal, an official said. These Nepalese citizens were anguished by the stand taken by the Nepal government. Three days ago, they shouted anti-Nepal government slogans at Jagbuda bridge for not allowing them to enter Nepal. For Coronavirus Live Updates 450 Nepalese stuck in Nainital district will leave for Nepal on Tuesday. It is decided that the entry gate at Sharda barrage in Banbasa will remain open from 6 am to 10 am daily for such Nepalese migrants. Entry gate will not be opened for all, Pandey said. He said Indians stuck in Nepal will return on May 29 and 30 as per schedule. Only those Indians will be allowed to come who have already registered their names with the embassy in Kathmandu. Sri Lanka may restrict the repatriation of its stranded citizens abroad as 80 of the recent returnees have been found to be carrying coronavirus into the country, a senior government official said on Monday. Sri Lanka has so far reported 1,148 infected cases of coronavirus with 10 deaths. Since Sunday, 56 Sri Lankans returnees from Kuwait have been found to be positive of coronavirus. Dr Anil Jasinghe, the Director General of Health Services, said that about 80 of the recent returnees have been found to be carrying the virus into the country. The government will review the frequency of flights which brings back Sri Lankans from abroad, he said. He said the repatriation of its stranded citizens abroad may be restricted. Jasinghe said a wider time gap between the flights would allow the health authorities to deal with those repatriated more closely. Sri Lanka reported its 10th COVID-19 fatality when a 51-year old woman returnee from Kuwait passed away on Monday, health officials said. Officials said nearly 6,000 Sri Lankans had been repatriated already. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pro-Beijing officials expect no delays to the passage of new law amid signs the annual June 4 vigil will be banned. Hong Kongs security chief on Monday warned terrorism was growing in the city as the local government rallied behind Beijings plan to impose national security laws on the restive territory and police fired tear gas and pepper spray at thousands of people who took to the streets to protest. Terrorism is growing in the city and activities which harm national security, such as Hong Kong independence, become more rampant, Secretary for Security John Lee said in a statement. In just a few months, Hong Kong has changed from one of the safest cities in the world to a city shrouded in the shadow of violence, he said, adding that national security laws were needed to safeguard the citys prosperity and stability. Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kongs sole delegate to Chinas National Peoples Congress Standing Committee, told the public broadcaster RTHK on Monday that said he did not expect any delay in the drafting of the national security law. Tam said members would start work on it soon after the NPC votes on the resolution on Thursday, adding that the standing committee would hold a meeting at the end of June to discuss the matter. Earlier, Ray Chan, a pro-democracy member of Hong Kongs Legislative Council, wrote on social media: Call us terrorists, whatever you want, after the Wuhan Virus outbreak, China has no more credibility in the world. Growing calls for independence On Monday, police said they arrested more than 180 people during protests on Sunday. Authorities had fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters who accused the police of using excessive force. In a return of the unrest that roiled Hong Kong last year, crowds thronged the streets of the city in defiance of curbs imposed to contain the coronavirus. In contrast with previous rallies, however, there were louder calls for independence with chants of Hong Kong independence, the only way out, echoing through the streets. Calls for independence are disliked by Beijing, which considers Hong Kong an inalienable part of the country. The proposed new national security framework stresses Beijings intent to prevent, stop and punish such acts. Hong Kong government agencies issuing statements in support of the legislation included the Commissioner of Correctional Services and Hong Kong Customs. Financial Secretary Paul Chan wrote on his blog on Sunday the national security law itself does not affect investor confidence, only the misunderstanding of it does. The central government has already said the law is targeted at the minority of people who are suspected of threatening national security and will not affect the rights of the general public. Turning point for Hong Kong Lees comments came amid growing signs that the June 4 candlelight vigil organised annually by civil society groups to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing could be banned. While declining to go into specifics, former Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung told public broadcaster, RTHK, that anything that involves activities said to be separatist in nature may well be banned. He explained that the purpose of the legislation was not to deter people from holding protests but to combat terrorism, and stamp out the activities of people who advocate independence for Hong Kong. Leung is a vice chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference. Police detain a protester during a rally on Sunday against the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong [Jerome Favre/EPA] RTHK quoted him as saying that whether the vigil itself could fall foul of the law could depend on what participants do even after the gathering is over. The United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and others have expressed concerns about the national security legislation, widely seen as a potential turning point for the city, which was guaranteed rights and freedoms unknown on the mainland when it was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. On Sunday, the US said the new legislation could lead to sanctions that would threaten the citys status as a financial hub. It looks like with this national security law theyre going to basically take over Hong Kong and if they do Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo will likely be unable to certify that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy, National Security Advisor Robert OBrien said in an interview with NBC. And if that happens, there will be sanctions that will be imposed on Hong Kong and China. Beijing, meanwhile, has warned of a new Cold War with the US, saying the country has been infected by a political virus compelling people to continually attack China. Taiwan, which has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong, said on Monday it would provide the people of Hong Kong with necessary assistance. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (May 25) allowed Air India to keep operating its non-scheduled flights with its middle seats filled for the next ten days, till June 6, to bring back Indians stranded abroad. The court observed that the government should be more worried about the health of citizens rather than the health of commercial airlines. The court said that after June 6, Air India will operate its non-scheduled flights in accordance with the interim order to be passed by the Bombay High Court. The Centre and Air India had moved the apex court challenging the interim order of the High Court by which it had questioned the airline for not keeping the middle seats vacant in international flights. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopana and Hrishikesh Roy, which took up the appeals filed urgently through video conferencing despite the holiday for Eid, remanded the matter back to the High Court with a request to pass an effective interim order after hearing all concerned on the date fixed by it, i.E. June 2, 2020, or soon thereafter. The bench observed that authorities must consider the importance of maintaining social distancing as shoulder to shoulder sitting is dangerous, due to the contagious pandemic. The bench said normally it is not inclined to interfere with the interim orders made by the courts below. The bench said it would consider it necessary for the High Court to arrive at a prima facie finding regarding the safety and health of the passengers qua the COVID-19 virus, whether the flight is a scheduled flight or a non-scheduled flight. "We make it clear that the Director General of Civil Aviation is free to alter any norms he may consider necessary during the pendency of the matter in the interest of public health and safety of the passengers rather than of commercial considerations," the bench said in its order, while disposing of the appeal. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre and Air India, said that due to the directions of the High Court a lot of anxiety and difficulties have arisen among the passengers who are stranded on foreign soil after they were issued tickets for travel. "Moreover, in some cases, the travel plans of families who were travelling together have been disrupted because those in the families who had middle seats have to be off loaded and remain behind," the bench said, while noting the submissions of Mehta, who said that passengers stranded abroad are facing difficulty due to want of proper shelter and money. The bench said it would consider it necessary for the High Court to arrive at a prima facie finding regarding the safety and health of the passengers qua the COVID-19 virus, whether the flight is a scheduled flight or a non-scheduled flight. It said institutional quarantine for seven days and seven days home quarantine is compulsory for those who have been brought back to India. The bench observed that there should not be any difference between international and domestic flights as far as social distancing is concerned. "Will the virus know it is in the aircraft and it is not supposed to infect," the bench observed, adding that there might be chances of transmission if people are sitting next to each other. The high court had on May 22 sought response from Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on a petition of Air India pilot Deven Kanani, who had claimed that the airline was not following safety measures for COVID-19 while bringing back Indians stranded abroad. The pilot, Deven Kanani, in his plea claimed that a circular issued by the Government of India on March 23, 2020 laid some conditions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while bringing back Indians stranded abroad due to the pandemic. However, the condition pertaining to keeping the middle seat between two passengers empty was not being followed by the Air India, he said in the plea. Kanani had submitted photographs of an Air India flight operated between San Francisco and Mumbai where all seats were occupied. The High Court had directed Air India and DGCA to file affidavits clarifying their stand and posted the petition for further hearing on June 2. The court had also allowed Kanani to amend his petition to challenge the circular of May 22. Over the past few days, Muslim religious leaders and institutions had been urging community members to celebrate the festival of Eid-al-Fitr indoors, owing to the coronavirus outbreak. Eid-al-Fitr marks the last day of the month of Shawwal according to the Islamic calendar, which marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramzan. The entire world, including our country, has been affected by Covid-19, with thousands of new cases coming up every day. We request you to follow the lockdown, stay indoors and not venture out for shopping, said Maulana Mehmood Daryabadi, president, Ulema Council. On Monday, as the city celebrated Eid, the Raza Jama Masjid at Phool Gali in south Mumbai, to prevent gathering of devotees inside mosques, arranged for five prayer services online, which devotees accessed through their mobile phones. At other areas of the city, socio-religious and community groups helped needy members with essentials to make sheer kurma, a sweet dish made on Eid. A group of 15 friends from Mumbai Central distributed 1,100 kits, with each of them containing milk, sugar, sevaiyan (vermicelli) and dry fruits, among other things, to the poor at Byculla, Mazagaon, Tardeo and Dharavi. By now, there are volunteers in the all slum areas, who get in touch with NGOs [non-governmental organisations] and groups, and inform them about the families who are in need of essentials. According to their list, we distributed the kits in these areas, said Ovesh Heera, a member of the group. Although most members celebrated the festivities indoors, there were reports of lockdown violations in certain parts of Phydhonie and Null Bazaar, where residents alleged that huge crowds had gathered for Eid shopping to purchase clothes, food items and footwear, on Sunday night. The claims were dismissed by senior police officers from the area, who termed it fake news. Il Ronde, the oval island at center, comprises seven acres and sits in the Prairies River, directly across from an island called Ile Verte. (Claude Duchaine) The pristine seven-acre island is nestled between two of Quebecs major cities, Montreal and Laval. AUWU Melbourne Branch Statement the Closure of the Abbotsford Centrelink Office On the 20th of May, the Coalition Government quietly announced the closure of the Abbotsford Centrelink office, with less than 24 hours notice. As an organisation dedicated to fighting for the rights of Australian social security recipients, the Melbourne Branch of the Australian Unemployed Workers Union (AUWU) is greatly concerned about what this represents to the people of Abbotsford, one of the largest public housing suburbs in Australia, and its surrounding communities. The Coalition government is refusing to build a social security system that is fully-funded, fully-functioning and works for those who need it the most. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Centrelink was underfunded by the Coalition government and undeniably dysfunctional. Anyone whos been on social security has been forced to deal with the queue times at Centrelink offices. The inadequate phone and online services that are presented as alternatives are, at best, challenging to navigate, and at worst, lead to dead ends. Social security recipients need the option to visit local Centrelink branches when these alternatives fail them. These branches need to be well-staffed and accessible to everyone regardless of age, disability, and circumstance. Any social security system that does not meet the needs of its people puts the lives and wellbeing of its recipients at risk. The increased pressure on Australias social security systems didnt create these conditions but it has aggravated them. The Coalition governments continued cuts to Centrelink and the expansion of privatised alternatives are cruel and unnecessary. The Coalition government prioritises the profits of the private sector before the vital social security systems that maintain the wellbeing of working and impoverished Australians. As Australians are neglected by these social security systems, the AUWU is preparing to expand our advocacy services and to continue the fight against austerity. Closing the Abbotsford Centrelink branch is just the latest example of the governments callous attitude towards social security recipients. Were calling on the federal government and Services Australia to fix the problem theyve created and ensure that the people of Abbotsford have access to the support they need, by reinstating a Centrelink branch in the Abbotsford area, effective immediately. vic@auwu.org.au 1800 289 848 21/05/2020 A disturbing video shows how an ugly air rage fight broke out on a Russian flight from Black Sea resort Sochi to Moscow. The punch-up came soon after landing when one male passenger got up from his seat and rushed towards the door. He crashed into seated passengers on a Ural Airlines Airbus A320 flight when social distancing was supposed to be in operation due to the coronavirus crisis, according to witnesses. A female passenger, Marina P said:'Almost immediately after landing, he jumped up and headed for the exit. 'He walked quickly between the rows, crashing into seated people. 'One man told him 'Watch out!' A disturbing video shows how an ugly air rage fight broke out on a Russian flight from Black Sea resort Sochi to Moscow. The punch-up came when one male passenger rushed to the door Flight crew are seen looking on during the foul-mouthed brawl as fists flew. They can be heard pleading for the passengers to stop fighting This led to an angry exchange between the two male passengers, one in their late teens and the other in their early 30s, at the end of the sparsely-populated two hour flight. 'Flight attendants tried to calm them but it didn't help much,' she told Komsomolskaya Pravda. 'Those two were so aggressive that other passengers were simply afraid to go near them.' Flight crew are seen looking on during the foul-mouthed brawl as fists flew. The passenger crashed into seated passengers on a Ural Airlines Airbus A320 flight (file photo) when social distancing was supposed to be in operation due to the coronavirus crisis The aircraft's captain called police to the plane at Moscow's Domodedovo airport (file photo) Tass reported that a seated passenger had been angered after he was 'touched' by the man seeking to leave the plane. The aircraft's captain called police to the plane at Moscow's Domodedovo airport. The pair were escorted into custody, said the transport department of the Russian Interior Ministry. The detained men were born in 1986 and 2001. Their identities were not revealed. The was no immediate comment from law enforcement on the incident late on Sunday. Police discovered swords and a bat studded with nails in the east Belfast home of a man accused of assaulting a mother and son, a court has been told. Vincent Vidal allegedly bit the other man when a row with his neighbours turned violent. But the 37-year-old defendant claims he was knocked unconscious himself and suffered broken fingers during clashes last Friday. Vidal, of Lendrick Street in the city, is charged with two counts of common assault and possessing an offensive weapon - namely a machete. He is further accused of cultivating a cannabis plant found at his home. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard police called to the scene were told Vidal had assaulted a man and his mother who live on the same street. He allegedly bit the other man on the finger during the incident. Officers searched Vidal's home and discovered two swords and a bat with nails in it, a PSNI officer said. Defence counsel Sean O'Hare argued, however, that his client came off worse in the altercation with his neighbours. "He was knocked unconscious, and when he regained consciousness in hospital police were waiting to speak to him," the barrister said. District Judge Mark Hamill was told Vidal sustained broken fingers, chipped or broken teeth and required seven stitches. "From the defendant's point of view he is the victim," Mr O'Hare added. With an address in north Belfast proposed, Vidal was granted bail. "There's certainly two sides to this one," Judge Hamill acknowledged. He banned Vidal from entering Lendrick Street or contacting any prosecution witnesses, and told him to appear in court again on June 22. The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos Government has disclosed plan to shut down the Marine Beach Bridge in Apapa. The Lagos State Government made this known in a statement by the states Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde. He said the partial closure to vehicular movement will begin from May 27 to October 21. Speaking on alternative routes, the Commissioner stated that motorists inward Wharf Road would be diverted to the other section of the Bridge, outward Apapa. According to the Lagos government official, a contraflow of 200 metres had been designed for vehicles to realign with a proper direction inward Ajegunle or Wharf Road, Apapa. The repair by the Federal Ministry of Works is long overdue and is vital for the safety of the people of Lagos State, especially motorists that ply the bridge to access different parts of the state. The repair work has been planned in two phases.The first phase will be handling the lane inbound Apapa while the second phase will be designated to work on the lane that conveys vehicles outside the axis. Necessary palliative works have been carried out on all alternative routes around the construction site to make them to be in good condition to ease movement during the construction period, the statement reads. He said the partial closure of the Bridge by Total Gas, inward Apapa, would last for five months. Dr Frederic Oladeinde urged Lagos residents to cooperate as operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority would be stationed at the construction locations to ease traffic. Share this post with your Friends on After being suspended for almost two months, commercial flight operations in Mumbai commenced on Monday morning in a calibrated manner. At Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), 47 flights were operated (arrival and departure) throughout the day, where seven airlines catered to 14 sectors. The first flight departed for Patna at 6:45 am and a Lucknow flight was the first arrival at 8:20 am, both operated by IndiGo. Of the total 47 flights, eleven flights were operated to and from Delhi, four Kochi, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bangalore and Patna, two were to be operated to and from Calicut, Diu, Lucknow, Nagpur, Chandigarh, Gorakhpur, Allahabad and one flight was due to take off for Jaipur. ALSO READ | Domestic flights resume today after long day of hard negotiations However, there was chaos and confusion due to last minute changes in flight schedules as a result of differences between the central and state governments. The restrictions on the number of flights placed by some states led to cancellation of scheduled services. Sudhanshu Pandey, who was on an official trip to Mumbai has been stranded for two months and was booked on an 8 am flight to Delhi on Monday. I had no idea that my flight was cancelled and it was only at 6.30 am that I learnt about my flight status while I was entering the check-in area. I had booked three cabs in advance so that I dont face issues while travelling to the airport. This is the second time that my air ticket money is blocked. At least, 4,852 passengers (3,752 departing passengers and 1,100 arriving passengers) were flown to and from Mumbai airport on Monday. The highest passenger load capacity was seen on the Delhi route departing out of CSMIA. ALSO READ | Worried but work comes first: Flight attendants as domestic air travel resumes Airport sources confirmed that the airport will be operating 44 flights on Tuesday and Wednesday. Using its A320 aircraft, low-cost carrier- IndiGo operated 19 flights (eight arrivals and 11 departures) from CSMIA on Monday. SpiceJet is expected to operate ten flights (five departures and five arrivals). The airline will be utilizing its Boeing 738 aircraft for these flights. With the help of its A320 aircraft, Air Asia India operated two departures and two arrivals. Full service carrier Vistara too operated four flights (two arrivals and two departures) from Mumbai airport on Monday. National carrier Air India operated four flights using two aircraft- A320 for arrival and departure to Kochi and B787 for arrival and departure operations to the national capital- Delhi. Using its ATRs, Air Indias subsidiary- Alliance Air operated two flights (arrival and departure to Diu) while Air India Express, which too will operate two flights and will use its B738 aircraft. Jammu resident, Prashant Sharma, who was stuck in Mumbai after an event in March said, I want to leave Mumbai as I am facing issues with my accommodation. Though I am currently residing in a friends home, the housing society members had made it clear to me that I wont be given entry into the society premises if I return from the airport in case the flight is cancelled. Hence I decided to stay home. I have not received payment for the event for which I had come to Mumbai and I have lost Rs. 12,000 only in booking my tickets. A passenger Devendra Nath Tripathi tweeted, We are at the Mumbai Airport for AI-809 and have no confirmation for the flight. Air India online status shows flight on time. Ground reality is grim... No cabs to returnno water despite boarding pass. Terrible management by #Air India. Ashwini Pandey, a banker and a resident of Chennai had purchased tickets of four airlines to reach Mumbai but all his four flights were cancelled. I have to join my work urgently on June 10. Only if I reach Mumbai now, I can join my new office after finishing my quarantine period. Two flights got cancelled today and two flights that were scheduled on Tuesday too have been cancelled. Rishi Goel, a Shimla resident who works in Mumbai said that he wanted to return as his wife delivered during the lockdown. Goel could board his Chandigarh-bound flight but termed his experience before reaching the airport troublesome. He said, My airline first messaged me that my flight was cancelled and then sent an updated message that my flight was on time. Their website, however, continued to show my flight to be cancelled. It was only at 3 am that the airline website was updated with my flight status and I could take off at 9am. It was however a happy day for Mohammad Ansari who could reach Allahabad to celebrate Eid. I had enquired about my flight status a day before departure. As the flight was on time, I reached the airport and took off on time. Resumption of flights from May 25 has caused a lot of chaos for the passengers. The problem for passengers began with individual states rolling out their guidelines relating to the operationality of airports and post travel quarantine rules that left travellers high and dry. With only a fraction of flights allowed to operate from some of the busiest airports, this resulted in a spike in cancellations with majority of travellers left uncertain about their travel. To add to this the ability of Air India to manage the current situation has added to the angst of passengers, said Nishant Pitti, co- founder, easemytrip.com. Senior airport officials revealed that the airport also handled a few non scheduled flights, Vande Bharat and cargo flights taking the total number of flights operated to around 84. Mumbai airport, which used to handle around 950 flights daily, has been shut from March 25, except for evacuation and cargo operations. According to the health ministry guidelines, all arriving passengers were screened for body temperature. All the arriving passengers will be stamped on their left hand for identification and will have to undergo compulsory home isolation for the period of seven days as per the protocol by the municipal corporation. Passengers, who are coming in for a short duration and have planned for a return or onward journey, will have to share the details of the same and will be exempted from the isolation. Furthermore, the airport has created temporary isolation centres in case any passenger shows symptoms of the deadly virus during the screening process, a MIAL spokesperson said. Business leaders make suggestions for this year's two sessions From:ChinaDaily | 2020-05-25 06:40 Gree Electric Chairperson Dong Mingzhu this year made proposals in three major areas, namely the innovation capability in the manufacturing industry, protection of intellectual property rights and patents, and threshold of individual income tax. Having been deputy to the National People's Congress for four consecutive years, Dong said she paid more attention to the social and economic development beyond the enterprise's development and considers more on how to truly reflect the greatest concerns of the Chinese people. Description GIS - 24 May 2020: The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, was congratulated, during a telephone conversation yesterday, by the Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi, with regard to Governments effective Covid-19 response which has contributed to no new cases of infections recorded in Mauritius for the last three weeks. Indo-Mauritian ties have been further reinforced in the health sector with the arrival, on 23 May 2020, of a second consignment of essential medicine supplies aboard INS Kesari, in the Port Louis Harbour. Prime Minister Jugnauth had called his Indian counterpart to convey his gratitude for this donation. In a tweet, Prime Minister Jugnauth evoked that the special relationship which Mauritius shares with India will always be special as it is based on mutual trust and common values. Tweeting back, Mr Modi thanked the latter for the warm conversation and congratulated the Government for having successfully controlled the spread of Covid-19 in Mauritius. Covid-19 figures for Mauritius Figures released by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as at Saturday 23 May 2020: There is no new case recorded and there is no current active case There are 332 positive registered cases Number of deaths is ten and 322 patients have been successfully treated A total of 26 581 PCR tests has been carried out The overall number of Rapid Antigen Tests conducted stands at 75 521 Three hundred passengers are in quarantine. #ResOuLakaz #BeSafeMoris PokerNews-Op Ed: Postle Tightlipped in Oral Arguments, Motion to Dismiss Outcome a Coinflip May 19, 2020 On Monday afternoon in Sacramento, California, the Hon. William B. Shubb listened to oral arguments regarding a trio of Motions to Dismiss filed by Mike Postle, Justin Kuraitis, and Kings Casino, LLC, the parent company to Stones Gambling Hall. If you want full details on what the Motions to Dismiss are all about, check out our previous articles recapping each: I had the opportunity to listen in on the proceedings. I was anxious to learn if Postle, who is representing himself, would speak on the matter, and whether or not the judge would make a ruling once arguments wrapped. As it turned out, Postle said precious little, instead opting to let his written motion speak for itself, while the judge did not make a ruling in favor of taking the oral arguments into further consideration before issuing an opinion at a future date. As oral arguments played out, with lawyers Mark Mao representing Stones and Richard Pachter on behalf of Kuraitis, I took the opportunity to live tweet a thread of various highlights, which you can follow below (click on the tweet to see the thread): just setting up my twttr jack (@jack) Whats at Stake? At stake is whether or not 89 plaintiffs, who allege to be victims of a cheating scheme perpetrated by Postle and an unnamed confederate (though its not hard to connect the dots on who it is), can continue with their civil lawsuit seeking millions in damages. If the judge rules in favor of the motions to dismiss he could conceivably dismiss one, two, or all three of them then thats it, Postle and company are off the hook civilly. "There is a world where Postle walks away from the situation scot-free, minus an irreparable reputation in the poker world." Criminally, there is an active investigation on the state level, but its hard to say whether or not itll ultimately lead to charges. There is a world where Postle walks away from the situation scot-free, minus an irreparable reputation in the poker world where hes already been judged guilty by public opinion. On the other side of the coin, the possibility still exists that Postle & Co. suffer steep consequences if either civil, criminal, or both matters proceed. We now wait with bated breath to see how the judge rules. Postle Checks His Option I wont reiterate the arguments laid out in the various Motions to Dismiss, nor the plaintiffs' response (you can read them in the articles linked at the top of this article), but will instead share my thoughts on how they played in court. At the start, Judge Shubb wanted to make clear that Postle, who is far from a legal scholar, understood the arguments put forth in his Motion to Dismiss. If you recall, there is a separate motion for sanctions against Postle alleging his motion was ghostwritten. The judge hinted that if Postle didn't know, he should say so at this juncture and not waste the court's time. Postle was shaky in his response but claimed that he did understand his arguments and that he would do his best. Whether or not that was the case wouldn't be confirmed, as later on when the judge gave Postle an opportunity to talk, he simply said, Im good for now, your honor. Thank you. "Instead of talking, he opted to defer to his written motion. In my opinion, it was a wise move on his part." That was it, the last we heard from Postle during oral arguments. Instead of talking, he opted to defer to his written motion. In my opinion, it was a wise move on his part. As a mere listener, the court proceeding was intimidating to me, so I cant even image how it seemed to the alleged culprit who is inexperienced with judiciary matters and was sandwiched between accomplished lawyers. I cant help but picture plucking an amateur player from a $40 nightly at the local casino and plopping them down in a $100,000 buy-in super high roller against top poker professionals. Its just not going to end well. By checking his option to talk, Postle protected himself from scrutiny from the judge, who Im confident wouldve pressed Postle and asked him some tough questions, likely ones he didnt have the answers for (i.e. specifics concerning case law and such). Don't get me wrong, I was hoping the court would hear more from Postle like I'm sure many in the poker world were, but for his own defense it's hard to argue against the line he took. How Do the Parties Feel? While Im not a legal expert (though I do have a semester of law school under my belt), I was on the call and heard the arguments for myself. I am intimately familiar with the case, and I had hoped to develop a read a feeling on which way things will go. At times the judge seemed unsympathetic to the casino on the matter of responsibility, but at other times he came off as unenlightened to the plaintiffs' theory as to how Postle allegedly cheated. Unlike so many in the poker world, the judge clearly hadnt watched Joey Ingrams videos. For me, the real crux of the case came down to the matter of damages. The defendants argue theyre too speculative and that California case law doesnt allow for a judicial remedy, while the plaintiffs argue otherwise. The latter are hoping to flesh out the topic later in the process, but for now cite the rake as an easily-determined damage that in itself should not allow for dismissal. "We appreciated the opportunity to be heard on our briefs, and look forward to the courts order." The judge seemed skeptical in the plaintiffs' ability to determine said damages, but VerStandig landed a punch upon informing the judge of livestream footage granting the ability to replay hands and reconstruction information (i.e. who was playing, size of the pot, etc.). While that was a point for the plaintiffs, the defendants countered by having the last word, a right granted to them by law. Even though theyre representing different defendants, lawyers Mark Mao and Richard Pachter are on the same side and werent afraid to team up to deliver a one-two punch enforcing their belief that precedent does not support this civil case. After oral arguments concluded, I reached out to both Maurice Mac VerStandig, counsel for the plaintiffs, and Postle himself to see how they liked their chances. We appreciated the opportunity to be heard on our briefs, and look forward to the courts order, was all VerStandig offered. At the time of publication, Postle had not responded to my request for comment. In my opinion, we have a classic race. Big Slick versus a small pocket pair. Its 50/50. Based on what I heard, I could envision the judge allowing the civil case to proceed, but I could also see him granting any number of the motions to dismiss. To put it in terms any poker player can understand, whether or not Postle & Co. prevail in their motions to dismiss is a coin flip. Check Out Oddschecker US today! Sharelines PokerNews Op-Ed: @ChadAHolloway shares his thoughts on yesterday's oral arguments in Mike Postle case What would have happened if the C.D.C. had refused to admit it had been wrong, keeping its initial recommendations instead? The answer, almost surely, is that the death toll from Covid-19 so far would be much higher than it is. In other words, refusing to admit mistakes isnt just a character flaw; it can lead to disaster. And under Donald Trump, thats exactly what has happened. Trumps pathological inability to admit error and yes, it really does rise to the level of pathology has been obvious for years, and has had serious consequences. For example, it has made him an easy mark for foreign dictators like North Koreas Kim Jong-un, who know they can safely renege on whatever promises Trump thought they made. After all, for him to condemn Kims actions would mean admitting he was wrong to claim he had achieved a diplomatic breakthrough. But it took a pandemic to show just how much damage a leader with an infallibility complex can inflict. Its not an exaggeration to suggest that Trumps inability to acknowledge error has killed thousands of Americans. And it looks likely to kill many more before this is over. Indeed, in the same week that Biden committed his harmless gaffe, Trump doubled down on his bizarre idea that the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine can prevent Covid-19, claiming that he was taking it himself, even as new studies suggested that the drug actually increases mortality. We may never know how many people died because Trump kept touting the drug, but the number is certainly more than zero. New Delhi, May 25 : The Supreme Court on Monday said there cannot be two norms -- six feet social distance outside and shoulder to shoulder travel on flights, "the government should worry about the health of citizens than the health of commercial airlines". After making the observation, the top court allowed the Centre and national carrier Air India to keep flying back Indians stranded abroad, by utilizing middle seats in each row till June 6. A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy said: "We are of the considered view that the petitioner - Air India should be allowed to operate the non-scheduled flights with the middle seats booking up to 6th June, 2020." However, the top court said after this Air India will operate non-scheduled flights in accordance with the interim order to be passed by the Bombay High Court. The bench conducted an urgent hearing on Eid holiday, through video conferencing, to hear the appeals of Centre and Air India against the Bombay High Court order. The Bombay High Court had barred the middle seat occupancy in on-scheduled international flights on Air India's pilot, Deven Kanani's petition alleging violation of social distancing guidelines. The apex court asked the Bombay High Court to decide on the matter against Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) circulars expeditiously, and insisted airlines should follow the High Court order in connection with safety measures. "We make it clear that the DGCA is free to alter any norms he may consider necessary during the pendency of the matter in the interest of public health and safety of the passengers rather than of commercial considerations," added the bench. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta contended before the court that immense difficulty has arisen because of the passengers who are stranded on foreign soil at the airports after they were issued valid tickets for travel. And, this has resulted in a lot of anxiety and difficulties arising from want of proper shelter, money, etc., at the foreign airports, he added. "Moreover, in some cases, the travel plan of families who were travelling together has been disrupted because those in the families who had middle seats have to be offloaded and remain behind," said Mehta. The top court said "at this juncture, we would consider it necessary for the High Court to arrive at a prima facie finding regarding the safety and health of the passengers qua the COVID-19 virus, whether the flight is scheduled flight or a non-scheduled flight." The top court asked the Bombay High Court to pass an effective interim order after hearing all concerned, in the backdrop of health risk posed by Covid-19 pandemic, on the next date of hearing June 2. In this article @LCO.1 @CL.1 Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards In the last two months, oil has hit two very different first-of-its kind milestones. In April West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. oil benchmark, plunged below zero and into negative territory for the first time on record. Meanwhile May is shaping up to be WTI's best month ever, going back to the contract's inception in 1983an astonishing turnaround month-on-month. Improvements on both the demand and supply side of the equation have pushed prices higher. Data shows that people in the U.S. and China are starting to hit the road again, while producers around the globe have cut output at record rates in an effort to prop up prices. The contract has jumped more than 70% in May and posted four straight weeks of gains, but some traders warn that the near-term outlook for oil remains uncertain, and that prices could head back into the $20s after settling around $33 on Friday. Additionally, part of WTI's blistering rally this month is due to the historic low from which it bounced. Prices are still about 50% below January's high of $65.65, significantly cutting into profits for energy companies, which are often saddled with debt. A number of U.S. energy companies have already filed for bankruptcy protection, including Whiting Petroleum, which was once a large player in the Bakken region. If prices stay at depressed levels, there could be more casualties. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Still, the market has shown signs of rebalancing itself, and analysts say that if demand continues to improve and producers keep wells shut-in, the worst could be over for oil. "The oil market rebalancing continues to gather speed, driven by both supply and demand improvements ... These improvements are taking out the risk of a sharp pull-back in prices although we re-iterate our view that the rebalancing will take time," Goldman Sachs said in a recent note to clients. "We believe that the next stage of the oil market rebalancing will be one of range-bound spot prices with the most notable shifts being a decline in implied volatility as well as a continued flattening of the forward curve without long-dated prices rising yet," the firm added. 'Tide is turning' While demand for petroleum products fell off a cliff in April, the outlook is improving as economies around the world begin to reopen. Raymond James, which has been tracking shelter-in-place orders, said that of the 3.9 billion people worldwide who have been under lockdown at some point since January, 3.7 billion, or 95%, have experienced some sort of reopening. Chinese demand for oil in April rebounded to 89% of what it was a year earlier, according to IHS Markit, and the firm expects May demand to be 92% of 2019s level. During February's low, demand in China, the world's largest oil importer, fell to just 40% compared to a year earlier. In the U.S., all 50 states have begun the reopening process to varying degrees, which means people are once again driving. Data from the Energy Information Administration has shown an uptick in gasoline demand, although there's still a way to go before the pre-coronavirus levels are reached. A worker on a an oil drill near New Town, North Dakota. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images "All eyes are on demand ... this is mainly a demand problem," said Bernadette Johnson, vice president of market intelligence at Enverus. She sees WTI hovering around the $20s to mid-$30s mark in the near-term, as demand continues to come back. "We're expecting Q3 will look better from a supply/demand balance standpoint. You need a market that's in equilibrium to start seeing higher prices, and so Q3 is really the first quarter where we'll see that happen, because a lot of the demand is supposed to come back," she added. Evercore ISI echoed this point, writing in a recent note to clients that supply will continue to outpace demand in the second quarter, but that by the third quarter the "tide will turn," at which point demand will exceed supply. Record production cuts On the other side of the equation, historically low oil prices forced producers to shut in production at a record rate. Beginning May 1, OPEC and its oil-producing allies took 9.7 million barrels per day of production offline, after agreeing to the deepest production cut in history during an extraordinary, multi-day meeting in April. Then, earlier in May, Saudi Arabia said that, beginning June 1, it would voluntarily cut an additional 1 million bpd, on top of its portion of the cuts agreed to by OPEC+. Kuwait and UAE were among the other cartel members that followed suit and said they would also exercise additional cuts. Norway, Canada and the U.S. are among the other nations that also announced well shut-ins as oil prices plummeted. The latest figures from EIA show that U.S. production has dropped 1.6 million bpd below the March high of 13.1 million bpd. Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are among the companies that have scaled back operations. Darwei Kung, head of commodities at DWS Group, said that the rebound in oil prices is riding on lasting production cuts. But if prices rise enough that producers, including those in the U.S., ramp up output again, there's a chance that OPEC+ could abandon its cuts in an effort to gain market share. "We view the most important consideration for the supply part of the equation is the ability for OPEC+R countries to stay with policy to maintain price stability," Kung said. "In doing so, they have to commit to the production cuts even if a third party, such as [the] U.S., increase production as the oil price recovers." Second wave of coronavirus cases? As the oil market begins to re-balance itself, traders say another big risk is a possible second wave of coronavirus cases and subsequent return to shelter-in-place restrictions. Francisco Blanch, head of global commodities at Bank of America, said this would have "devastating consequences." The firm said that the rebound in prices has come faster than expected, and forecasts WTI averaging $32 per barrel this year and $42 in 2021. Bank of America expects international benchmark Brent crude to average $37 this year. The contract settled at $35.13 per barrel on Friday and is also coming off a fourth straight week of gains. "It is not clear if the rest of the world [outside China] can successfully prevent major reoccurrence of COVID-19 spread, given the disparity between countries or states within a country on containing the disease. A second wave of infection can change the recovery for oil demand significantly," added Kung. He noted that souring relations between the U.S. and China could be another headwind for oil going forward. 'Not out of the woods' Queensland pubs, restaurants and cafes could begin welcoming dozens of people through the doors from next month. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will meet with peak bodies on Thursday to discuss how larger venues could welcome more people. The state government's road map to recovery says 20 people will be allowed to dine in from June 12, but Ms Palaszczuk said that number could swell for venues with "COVID-safe" plans in place. "They have done a lot of work and if the COVID-safe plans are in place they will be allowed to have more in," she said. You are here: China China's top political advisory body on Sunday held its second plenary meeting of the annual session. Wang Yang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attended the meeting. Twelve members of the CPPCC National Committee spoke at the meeting. Nyima Tashi said by the end of 2019, the 628,000 poverty-stricken people in Tibet Autonomous Region had all shaken off poverty, hailing that Tibet is marching toward a moderately prosperous society in all respects along with the rest of the country. Yang Weimin said that the COVID-19 epidemic has caused lots of changes, but has never changed the basic trend of Chinese economy with a sound momentum in the long term. Huang Li called for implementation of policies aiming to benefit enterprises as private firms are facing unprecedented difficulties and pressure. Noting that the global pandemic is far from over, Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun said the international community should, under the direction and coordination of the World Health Organization, further enhance cooperation. Tu Haiming called for efforts to strengthen the confidence in the policy of "one country, two systems" and never allow Hong Kong to become a risk to national security. Qi Jianguo said that obeying the Party's command is the eternal soul of the people's armed forces. Customers purchase goods at a store owned by a business household in HCMC. According to several Vietnamese lawmakers, the concept of household businesses should be excluded from the revised Enterprise Law and should be regulated by a separate law PHOTO: VNA Speaking at a teleconference which tabled the draft of the revised Enterprise Law for debate on Thursday, Deputy Cao Dinh Thuong from the northern province of Phu Tho said legalizing this type of household businesses would be akin to skipping stairs as they are different from enterprises in nature, according to local media reports. Instead, they form a distinctive business model, he said, adding that the legal conversion may create more confusion and bureaucratic hurdles, thus posing obstacles to their production and business operations. Mai Sy Dien, deputy head of the legislative delegation in Thanh Hoa Province, about 150 kilometers south of Hanoi, stressed the need to introduce a law which aims to govern this type of entities. There are over five million household businesses [in the country], but only 1.7 million of them are paying taxes, said Dien. He said the proposed Enterprise Law remains lacking in regulations which will safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. On the same note, Nguyen Van Canh, a deputy from the south-central province of Binh Dinh, pointed out a slew of impracticality that would ensue if this business model was instantly governed by the Enterprise Law. It would take more time for lawmakers to examine the impact of the proposal, according to Canh. He said the current proposal only addresses issues concerning state management among household businesses, but it fails to recognize their rights and interests. According to several lawmakers, the proposal may entail more risks and costs for household businesses. Also, there are no rules that help improve their freedom, environment and security issues. Support behind proposal Deputy Vu Tien Loc, President of the Hanoi-based Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, speaks at a conference which tables the draft of the revised Enterprise Law for debate on May 21, 2020 PHOTO: NLDO Deputy Vu Tien Loc, who is a lawmaker in the northern province of Thai Binh and serves as President of the Hanoi-based Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, threw his support behind the proposal to put household businesses under the revised Enterprise Law. Maintaining the status quo of household businesses will be no longer reasonable. They should be regarded as a type of sole proprietorship, as part of our economy, said Loc. Turning household businesses into sole proprietorship does not equate turning owners [of household businesses] into directors overnight, he added. The move is not meant to hinder household businesses, but to aid them, according to the legislator. He said they will benefit from prevailing regulations on state management, governance, tax declaration and payment, so they will neither incur costs nor go through bureaucratic administrative procedures. Authorities intend to legalize the role of household businesses so that they will be able to reap benefits and have access to support schemes from the Government, according to Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. Dung said once regulated in the revised Enterprise Law, household business will see reductions in barriers and administrative procedures, and the private sector will thus grow stronger. The law will encourage households to develop into private companies if they are capable, he said. The minister cited existing regulations as saying that a household business can only employ a maximum of 10 workers. However, according to the official, many household businesses are operating on a large scale, employing hundreds of workers and posting annual revenue worth thousands of billions of Vietnamese dong without being taxed like a normal enterprise. This leads to the Government missing a huge source of income for the State budget, he said. He predicted a new, separate law for household businesses would take up to three years. If [the proposal] is beneficial, we should do it right away. This will only benefit household businesses, he claimed. Once we finish a new law for these entities, we can simply move these regulations to the new law thats it, he said. Vietnam is home to around 5.5 million household businesses whose revenues account for around 30% of the countrys gross domestic product, according to the Vietnam Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises Association. Data also revealed their total assets are worth VND655 trillion (US$28.1 billion) while their total revenue is estimated at VND2.2 quadrillion, and tax payments are worth VND12.36 trillion. Such businesses employ more than 7.9 million people across the country.SGT Thomas Waerner won this year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in March, yet he is still waiting to return to his home in Norway. The Anchorage Daily reported Waerner and his 16 dogs have been stranded in Alaska by travel restrictions and flight cancellations caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The 47-year-old Waerner plans to fly home in early June. He has five children and 35 other sled dogs in Torpa, Norway. He missed the 10th birthday of one of his children and misses morning coffee with his wife, who left Alaska in March, shortly before health restrictions stopped travel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New York Its too early to say whether New York states regional reopening a week ago is keeping the coronavirus at bay, because the virus can take up to 10 days to result in serious symptoms, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Monday. Any increases in hospitalizations to date are likely from infections before the reopening began, he suggested. Cuomo also said hes not going to guess when the rest of the state including New York City might start to reopen. Now, people can speculate, people can guess, I think next week, I think two weeks, I think a month, Cuomo said. Im out of that business, because we all failed at that business. All the early national experts, heres my projection, heres my projection model, they were all all wrong, they were all wrong. Projections had far more hospitalizations, intubations and deaths than have occurred so far. In Central New York, a projection two months ago had the virus claiming 2,000 lives in a year under the best scenario (there have been 115 deaths so far). Now, there are a lot of variables, I understand that," Cuomo continued. "We didnt know what social distancing would actually amount to, I get it. But we were all wrong. So Im sort of out of the guessing business. Instead, the governor stood firm that regions would reopen when they meet certain metrics including Covid-19 hospitalizations, testing and virus-related deaths. The states coronavirus numbers continued their downward trend. For the second time in three days, statewide deaths dipped under 100. There were 96 more deaths reported Monday. Its still painfully high, but only the relative absurdity of the situation is that relatively good news, Cuomo said. Cuomo paid a visit to the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in the Hudson River to commemorate Memorial Day. He likened the pandemics frontline workers first responders, hospital workers, grocery store clerks and transit employees, among others to soldiers who risked their lives at war. An unknown number of frontline workers have died from Covid-19 during the crisis. On Monday, the governor announced that state or local public sector employees who died from Covid-19 while performing essential jobs would be eligible to pass along death benefits to their families. Details of the plan were not revealed, but the money would be paid out of the states pension fund, Cuomo said. Its similar to death benefits that pensioners become eligible for after retirement. The governor noted that frontline public workers were ordered to continue working often in public places at a time when everyone else was ordered to stay home. He called for the federal government to authorize funding for hazard pay for those workers. The governor repeated his plea for people to wear masks in public, saying its one of the only surefire ways to stop the spread of coronavirus. He noted that frontline workers, who have been using face masks and other protection, have a lower rate of infection than the general public, based on antibody studies. Theres no rational reason not to wear a mask, Cuomo said, calling the opposition arguments trivial. Its not smart. Its not smart, the governor said of refusing to wear a mask in public, noting that his chief of staff called it stupid. Thats another way of saying its not smart, the governor remarked. If the rate of infection goes back up, the restart will have to be put on hold, the governor warned. If all goes well, phase two including hair salons and other non-essential services will begin in many Upstate regions in a week from now. The governor touched briefly on the crisis in nursing homes, repeating the states order that workers get tested twice a week. Nursing home operators have pointed out thats a burdensome task, and it is, the governor said. Its a requirement to maintain license. As for residents, the state is in charge of testing them. Cuomo did not mandate every resident be tested repeatedly, though said that testing is ongoing. Cuomo also warned that the states budget deficit remains dire, projected at $13 billion. Without federal aid, the governor warned of 20% cuts to local governments, schools and hospitals. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources NY must own nursing home mistakes, learn from them (Editorial) Amid the din of the pandemic, retiring CNY teachers end their careers in a whisper Dozens of coronavirus patients well enough to leave Syracuse hospitals stuck in limbo Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2020 / Ovation Science Inc. (CSE:OVAT) ("Ovation" or the "Company"), is providing an update to its previous disclosures regarding its DermSafe hand sanitizer product. This release provides updates to regulatory status, sales, manufacturing, and the science which supports DermSafe. DermSafe hand sanitizing lotion provides a protective solution that is unique from other products on the market due to its patented polymer skin delivery technology Invisicare and its use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) as the active ingredient versus alcohol. DermSafe helps prevent the cross-contamination of bacteria and viruses between people and from contact with hard surfaces. CHG is a well established active ingredient as it has been used in hospitals worldwide for over 60 years in pre-surgical soaps as well as dental applications. DermSafe Regulatory Approval DermSafe has two drug identification numbers (DIN) issued by Health Canada: DIN#02310589 and DIN#02355558 (personal use and personal commercial use). Both of these DINS are exclusively licensed worldwide by Ovation Science Inc. from Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals Inc. DermSafe has also been accepted by Health Canada under its list of "Disinfectants and hand sanitizers accepted under COVID-19 interim measure". On May 1st, DermSafe received clearance from Health Canada for importation into Canada from the USA under their "Notification & Request for Importation Clearance Number" COVID19 program. Under this clearance, on May 5th, the Company commenced importation of DermSafe into its warehouse in Toronto, Canada from the United States. DermSafe Sales and Manufacturing In April, the Company announced sales of DermSafe to China, the United Kingdom and Canada. Sales to these countries totaled approximately CDN$233,000 in the initial three month introduction period for the product which began February 3, 2020. Other enquiries about DermSafe have come from potential distributors in S. Korea, Japan, Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Kuwait and Greece. Ovation has signed confidentiality agreements with the potential representatives for some of these territories and is awaiting the results of their investigation into obtaining regulatory approval to import DermSafe into those countries. On April 22, Ovation announced it had signed a distribution agreement for its DermSafe hand sanitizer with Gad Medical Equipment Ltd. (Gad Medical) for Israel. They import and market healthcare and medical equipment as well as pharmaceuticals and consumables for hospitals and clinics. Gad Medical has filed with the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Israel to receive approval for the importation of DermSafe. Ovation has submitted a purchase order to begin its manufacturing at a contract manufacturer located in Ontario, Canada and anticipates a delivery date in early July. There are many advantages to having Canadian production including pricing and proximity to potential customers. DermSafe's approved by Health Canada, allows for easier exportation to some countries. Story continues DermSafe Science DermSafe has undergone many independent studies on its effectiveness and other benefits. Although the Company has not tested DermSafe against the COVID19 virus, an envelope virus, several viral tests were carried out by an internationally recognized, independent laboratory plus US FDA compliant laboratories on other envelope viruses including H1N1, H5N1 and H3N2. Additionally, the Invisicare polymer was tested to show its ability to remain bound to the skin for extended periods of time. A list of these studies, all conducted at independent laboratories, are summarized below: 1. Tests conducted by independent lab, Retroscreen Virology Ltd., Center for Infectious Diseases Bart's & The London Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom: Evaluation of Antiviral Properties of a Product Using a Virucidal Suspension Assay: REDUCTION IN INFLUENZA VIRUSES (#PCS-003 July/06): The virucidal activity of DermSafe was assessed against A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), A/Panama/2007/99 (H3N2) and B/Guangdong/120/00 viruses. The viruses were placed for a 60 second contact time on 96-well plates which contained DermSafe. The virus titre was then measured by titration on MDCK cells and virus was detected by Haemagglutination assay. Untreated virus was used as control. The results show a > 99.9968% reduction in the virus H1N1 (swine flu), > 99.9998% reduction in H3N2 (influenza virus) and a > 99.9684% reduction in Guangdong virus (Influenza B). REDUCTION IN H5N1 AVIAN FLU VIRUS AT VARIOUS TIME POINTS (#PCF-001 Dec/05): The virucidal activity of DermSafe was assessed against H5N1 (avian flu virus) at 15 and 30 seconds as well as 1, 5 and 10 minute contact times. The viruses were placed the various contact times on 96-well plates which contained DermSafe. The results showed a 99.00% to 99.90% reduction in virus from DermSafe over the various time points. Evaluation of Antiviral Properties of a Product Testing Virucidal Activity on Skin Tissue: REDUCTION IN H5N1 BIRD FLU VIRUS / Ex-VIVO STUDY (Pig Skin) (#PCF-002 June/06): The virucidal activity of DermSafe was assessed using an ex-vivo (pig skin) study at both short-term and long term time points. The virus was placed on sections of pig skin which had been treated with DermSafe. The results showed that DermSafe killed the H5N1 virus by 99.44% at 5 minutes and 99.9% at 10 minutes. The longer term durations resulted in a 98.22% reduction in the H5N1 virus at both 2 hours and 4 hours (without reapplication). 2. Test conducted by ATS Labs., Eagan, Minnesota (US FDA compliant / independent lab): Evaluation of Antiviral Properties of a Product Using a Virucidal Suspension Assay: REDUCTION IN H3N2 INFLUENZA A VIRUS AT VARIOUS TIME POINTS (#AO3812 March/06): The virucidal activity of DermSafe was assessed against H3N2 (influenza virus) for a 15, 30 and 60 second contact times. DermSafe was placed in a tube and then the virus was added for the contact times. The results respectively showed a 99.00% at 15 seconds, 99.94% at 30 seconds and 99.98% at 60 seconds reduction in virus from DermSafe over the various time points. 3. Test conducted by Bioscience Laboratories, Inc., Bozeman, Montana (US FDA compliant / independent lab): Evaluation of the Persistent Antimicrobial Efficacy on E.coli (Anti-Bacterial) of DermSafe at 2 and 4 Hours after Application (#90864-150 Oct/09): The persistent antimicrobial properties of DermSafe was tested against Escherichia coli (e-Coli) (ATCC #43888). The hands of 13 subjects were contaminated with a suspension of e-Coli and measured. The subjects then applied DermSafe and measurements of e-Coli were taken at 2 and 4 hours following product application. This evaluation is based on ASTM 2752-10 Standard Guide for Evaluation of Residual Effectiveness of Antibacterial Personal Cleansing Products. The results at 2 hours post-application showed a 99.12% kill of e-Coli and at 4 hours post-application a 99.38% kill. 4. Test conducted by California Skin Research Institute, San Diego, CA (US FDA compliant / independent lab): Invisicare Persistence Study (#98-065 September/98): Study to demonstrate the ability of a hand sanitizer made with Invisicare polymers to adhere to skin under conditions that simulate normal working conditions (i.e. multiple hand washings in a hospital setting). The sanitizer was applied to the forearms of 30 subjects, followed by a scrub for 2 minutes with gauze saturated with 5% Ammonium Hydroxide at 3 time intervals being, 10 minutes, 2 hours and 4 hours. Results revealed the sanitizer made with Invisicare polymer was bound to skin for greater than 4 hours, even after 6 minutes of scrubbing. At 4 hours the sanitizer product began to exfoliate from the skin. These results show that the sanitizer made with Invisicare polymer has the ability to persist on skin throughout multiple hand washes and exposure to detergents, chemicals and solvents for a minimum of 4 hours. For information about Ovation Science products visit https://ovationscience.com/products/. To learn more about Ovation Science, please visit: www.ovationscience.com About Ovation Science Inc. Ovation Science Inc. is a research and development company that develops topical and transdermal consumer products including DermSafe, all made with patented Invisicare skin delivery technology. The technology enhances the delivery of ingredients to and through the skin and is protected by patents in eleven countries. With over twenty years of topical and transdermal drug delivery experience in the pharmaceutical market, Ovation's management and science team have created a unique pipeline of over twenty-five patent-protected medical / wellness topical and transdermal products along with a line of anti-aging / beauty formulas. Ovation earns revenues from licensing and development fees, royalties, the sale of Invisicare to its licensees and now revenue from its own product sales. Ovation has offices in Vancouver, BC Canada and Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Ovation trades on the CSE under the symbol OVAT. Visit our website www.ovationscience.com. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In particular there is no assurance that the Company's DermSafe product will be licensed or approved for sale in Israel, Japan, Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Kuwait or Greece and that if approval is obtained that it will result in sales in those countries. Although DermSafe has been tested against other envelope viruses there is no assurance that it will kill or be as effective against COVID-19. In addition there is no assurance the Company's level of sales will continue or will not be negatively impacted by increased competition and recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Other examples of the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to those related to: strategies, potential sales, distribution and manufacturing of the Company's product as well as its effectiveness against COVID-19, the Company's ability to receive regulatory approval outside of Canada. There are no guarantees of future performance. Ovation Science Inc. cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual results may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Ovation Science Inc.'s control. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Ovation disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information to reflect future results, events or circumstances, except as required by law. Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Ovation does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act (US.CSA). Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contact: FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS: Dave Ryan: dave@ovationscience.com 604.283.0903 ext. 2 FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & CORPORATE INQUIRIES: Doreen McMorran: doreen@ovationscience.com Phone: 604.283.0903 ext. 4 SOURCE: Ovation Science Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/591335/Ovation-Science-Provides-Update-to-DermSafe-Status-Sales-and-Manufacturing 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... NEW YORK, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Battery market for IoT is expected to grow at CAGR of 11.6% from 2020 to 2025 The global battery market size for IoT is estimated to grow from USD 9.2 billion in 2020 to USD 15.9 billion in 2025; growing at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2020 to 2025. The major factors driving the growth of the market are multi-fold rise in the use of IoT and increase in the adoption of IoT-enabled devices, increase in global demand for wireless communication, surge in R&D activities to develop advanced, flexible, and thin batteries, and rise in demand for thin and flexible batteries used in IoT-enabled devices. However, high upfront costs involved in the development of thin and flexible batteries, and the ecological implications of the disposing of battery wastes hinder the growth of the market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05897405/?utm_source=PRN Lithium batteries segment is expected to continue to account for largest size of battery market for IoT during forecast period. Lithium batteries have a plethora of applications in IoT devices such as wearables, home automation devices, retail, aerospace, and defense. Moreover, features such as high energy density is a key factor complementing its growth among other batteries Primary batteries segment is expected to witness highest CAGR in battery market for IoT from 2020 to 2025. Primary batteries are used in products that do not require high power and have a limited lifespan. These batteries are witnessing increasing applications in areas such as smart packaging, smart cards, home automation, retail, and medical and cosmetic patches, as they have low self-discharge time compared to rechargeable thin-film batteries. Home automation segment held largest size of battery market for IoT in 2019 The demand for energy-efficient solutions, enhanced security, increased venture capital funding, and the constant need for improving the living standards of individuals have led to the growth of the battery market for IoT for home automation.Building automation, which started with wired technology, has now entered the era of wireless technology with technologies such as ZigBee, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Smart revolutionizing the market. The growing awareness toward energy conservation, stringent legislation and building directives, the promotion of numerous smart grid technologies, and the availability of a number of open protocols are further driving the growth of the building automation market. Breakdown of profiles of primary participants: By Company Type: Tier 1 20%, Tier 2 50%, and Tier 3 30% By Designation: C-level Executives 30%, Directors 50%, and Others 20% By Region: North America 35%, Europe 25%, Asia Pacific (APAC) 30%, and the Rest of the World (RoW) 10% Duracell Inc (Duracell) (US), Energizer Holdings Inc (Energizer) (US), Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic) (Japan), LG Chem Ltd (LG Chem) (South Korea), Samsung SDI Co (Samsung SDI) (South Korea), STmicroelectronics N.V (STmicroelectronics) (Switzerland), Cymbet Corporation Inc (Cymbet) (US), Ultralife Corporation (Ultralife) (US), Ilika Plc (Ilika) (UK), and Imprint Energy Inc (Imprint Energy) (US) are the prominent players in the global battery market for IoT. Research Coverage: The battery market for IoT has been segmented based on type, rechargeability, end-use application, and geography. It also provides a detailed view of the market across 4 main regions: North America, Europe, APAC, and RoW. Reasons to Buy the Report: This report includes statistics pertaining to the battery market for IoT based on type, rechargeability, end-use application, and geography. This report includes detailed information on major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges pertaining to the battery market for IoT. The report includes illustrative segmentation, analysis, and forecast for the battery market for IoT based on its segments and subsegments. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05897405/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com India saw resumption of domestic flights on a substantial basis on Monday after a gap of two months even as various state governments expressed reluctance to open up their airports in view of rising cases of coronavirus. Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri hailed the resumption of flights on Twitter and said with Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal resuming flights soon, the numbers will rise. From no domestic passenger flights yesterday to 532 flights & 39,231 passengers today, action has returned to Indian skies. With Andhra Pradesh set to resume operations from tomorrow & West Bengal from 28 May, these numbers are all set to increase further.@MoCA_GoI @PIB_India Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 25, 2020 News agency PTI quoted an aviation industry source as saying that around 630 flights were cancelled due to states' restrictions. The first flight on Monday was from Delhi to Pune at 4.45 am and civil aviation authorities ensured strict regulations were followed by airlines and passengers equally. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna which took off at 6.45 am. However, a large number of flights were cancelled amid confusion as states differed in the set regulations meant for airline passengers. Sources said around 82 flights including departures and arrivals were cancelled at the Delhi airport, sparking confusion and hassles for passengers. States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, having some of the most busiest airports in the country were reluctant to allow flight services from, citing increasing cases of the coronavirus infection. The West Bengal government cited the dual crisis of coronavirus and the aftermath of the Cyclone Amphan and said the state would allow flights to resume on a gradual basis from both the Kolkata and Bagdogra airport from May 28. Andhra Pradesh too did not allow any flights on Monday. Airlines too were jittery in resuming services as different states have put in place separate norms and conditions for quarantining passengers arriving there by domestic flights. Some states have decided to put passengers in mandatory institutional quarantine while several others have talked about putting them under home quarantine. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had questioned the need for quarantine if a passenger shows green status on the Aarogya Setu app. The green status signifies that a passenger is safe. As many as 20 flights were operated to and from the Mumbai airport till 12:45 pm on Monday after Indian airlines resumed commercial passenger services after two months of COVID-19 lockdown. The airport received around 1,900 passenger, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) said in a statement. The airports in Mumbai in Maharashtra and Hyderabad in Telangana will handle 50 and 30 flights respectively everyday from Monday, aviation officials said. Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport saw the first flight leaving for Ranchi with about 176 passengers, as cancellations marred the day. According to sources, the first flight out was an Air Asia aircraft to Ranchi that departed at around 5:15 am, while the first arrival was a flight from Chennai at about 8 am with around 113 passengers. According to reports, 74 flights were cancelled suddenly or without prior notice. The airport operator has geared up to handle 215 air traffic movements a day, including 108 departures and 107 arrivals. "Of the revised schedule, 43 flights took off, 31 arrived and 74 were cancelled till 5 p.m. for operational reasons," an airport official said. Operations resumed at the Surat airport too, with four flights on Monday, said its director Aman Saini. "Two flights arrived here from Delhi and Hyderabad and departed for the same destinations. Three flights were cancelled by a private operator on Monday," she said. During the day, 40 flights were scheduled to arrive and an equal number slated to depart from the Ahmedabad airport, said a senior official. However, the exact number of flights handled by the Ahmedabad airport was not available till the evening. Domestic flight operations started from the Chandigarh International Airport too. The airport has formulated Standard Operating Procedures for safety of passengers and airport staff which include social distancing and stringent thermal screening. The security personnel of CISF have been provided with transparent plexiglass sheets to avoid any physical contact with passengers. A Delhi-bound Indigo Airlines with 116 passengers was the first flight to be operated from the Chennai airport. It left for the national capital at 6.40 am while a flight from Delhi operated by the same carrier was the first incoming one, albeit with a far lesser number of passengers, at 27.While a total of 34 flights were originally scheduled to depart, as many as 15 of them were cancelled, including some of those headed for Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. Goa's Dabolim airport saw only three services touch down, while ten others were cancelled, state Health Secretary Nila Mohanan said. Mohanan, however, said reasons of the 10 cancellations among the 13 scheduled arrivals were not known. "The first flight landed from Bengaluru while the other two were from Delhi," she said. Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport also handled nine domestic flights with over 800 passengers. The Pune international airport in Maharashtra handled arrival and departure of seven flights by Monday afternoon, a senior aviation official said. Domestic air travel resumed at the Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun, with five out of six scheduled flights leaving for their destinations amid strict adherence to social distancing norms by passengers. Six flights were scheduled for Monday, Jolly Grant Airport Director DK Gautam said. Except Guwahati and Imphal airports, no passenger flight landed at any other airport in the north-eastern states on Monday. 7 flights arrived, so far and 7 departed. The last flight lands at 7:45pm carrying 139 passengers from Delhi. Of the 7 flights - 3 from Delhi, one each from Bengaluru and Chennai, and two from Imphal, officials said. The resumption of domestic passenger flight services after a gap of two months is a favourable move in reviving the aviation sector, SOTC Travel said on Monday. "As the Indian skies opens up today for domestic passenger services, the calibrated opening up of domestic routes is a favourable move in reviving the aviation industry," SOTC Travel MD Vishal Suri said. SOTC Travel Ltd is a step-down subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Group and is held through its Indian listed subsidiary Thomas Cook (India) Ltd (TCIL). BMW & Volkswagen of Topeka honors Memorial Day by opening its doors to deals and incentives. As far as holidays go, few carry such mixed feelings as the annual observance of Memorial Day. While the Topeka community takes the time to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, many also see it as an opportunity to enjoy the simple pleasures too often taken for granted. In the spirit of the holiday, the team at BMW & Volkswagen of Topeka has reopened its showroom doors just in time to take part in Memorial Day traditions with a number of limited-time special offers. During this time, qualified car shoppers who purchase a new Volkswagen vehicle will be able to opt for deferred payments for up to 120 days on all 2019 and 2020 model-year vehicles when they finance their purchase through Volkswagen Credit. This offer can be combined with 0% APR financing for up to 72 months for most models. Loyal BMW shoppers can find special offers on many of their favorite models as well. Clients who shop from the dealerships new BMW inventory will have the option to defer their first monthly payment for up to 90 days with as little as 0.9% APR for 60 months on select models with financing through BMW Financial Services. These deals will expire soon, so those interested in taking advantage of these offers are encouraged to act fast. All incentives are subject to credit approval through Volkswagen Credit and BMW Financial Services. Interested parties looking for more information on current offers available at BMW & Volkswagen of Topeka can connect with the dealership team directly by calling 855-978-7611. Prospective clients can also view a full list of current inventory and sales specials online at the dealerships website, https://www.bmwvwtopeka.com/. BMW & Volkswagen of Topeka is located at 3030 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 21:24:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close THIMPHU, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Three more people returning to Bhutan from the Middle East have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total cases in Bhutan to 27, said the Health Ministry. All three were detected while in quarantine facilities in Thimphu and Paro. On May 23, the Ministry detected a positive case in a 33-year-old woman returning from the Middle East. The recent cases were amongst hundreds of people brought home from the Middle East and other countries through relief flights arranged by the government of Bhutan. Enditem Ive had the privilege of serving in the military and experiencing life as a startup entrepreneur. As a leader in both worlds, Ive learned that sound organizational decision-making is key to survival. Ive also learned over time through my formal business education and work experience in corporate America that group decision-making skills are not stressed as much in the business world as they are in the military. Todays coronavirus crisis is commonly referred to as a war. It may be valuable, then, to visit how military units make decisions in a real war. Related: Why Veterans Take the Initiative to Explore Entrepreneurship One hour to prepare I was serving as a Company Executive Officer (XO, second in command) in the worlds only air-droppable tank battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait on Thursday, August 2, 1990. The 82nd Airborne maintains a one-hour recall alert status that allows it to deploy anywhere in the world on 18 hours' notice. It is Americas 911 military unit. Most of us had no idea where Kuwait was as we came into work that early morning. The 82nd would never deploy to a desert environment, so we thought. Desert warfare calls for fast-moving vehicles armed with weapons systems that can shoot at targets very far away. We were too lightly armed. If you cant jump with it strapped to your body or drop it separately from an airplane, paratroopers dont take it to the battlefield. On Monday night, August 6, my pager went off at 10 p.m. (this is before cell phones) while I was out at my favorite bar. I rushed home, changed into my uniform, and was in my unit headquarters within the hour. It was my responsibility as XO to manage the arming and aircraft loading of my companys 100 paratroopers and 17 air-droppable tanks. We regularly rehearsed this sequence. This time it was for real. Aircraft containing the lead elements of our Division Ready Brigade took off starting on the next day 18 hours after notification. We were heading to Saudi Arabia to defend it from an imminent attack by Iraq. We were told that it was highly likely that the attack would likely begin while we were in the air. I found myself in a leadership position heading to an unknown, dangerous place half a world away. The world around me had changed overnight, full of uncertainty, stress, and not knowing what laid ahead. Not only was I personally concerned, but I had a responsibility to lead my organization through the situation. I was 26 years old. Related: 3 Tips for Hiring Veterans and How They'll Help Your Business Thrive The start of the startup Fast-forward to February 2003. After leaving the military and then working a decade for a few large companies, I co-founded a startup business that I still lead. I started it with another friend, mentor and highly decorated Vietnam Special Forces veteran. He would serve on our Board but not be directly involved in the day-to-day management of the business. Our third co-founder had no military experience but seemed smarter than the two of us at the time. As with most startups, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Together with my management team and the periodic input of my military co-founder, we tackled a series of crises not uncommon among startups, things like the painful separation from the non-veteran partner, which soured the relationship with our early investors. Constant cash flow challenges. Two separate episodes of banks calling back their loans, dealing with the calamity of 2008 and many other challenges in the first 10 years. Each time, it seemed as if we had no options and the end was near; uncertainty and unfamiliarity surrounded us each time. For instance, in 2006, we had a $500,000 line of credit with a regional bank Ill call Regional Bank A. To his credit, my non-military partner had an excellent personal relationship with the loan officer when we initiated the line of credit. Keep in mind this was pre-2008, so obtaining a line of credit based on a personal relationship was possible and common back then. One day, National Bank B bought Regional Bank A. Our loan officer immediately lost his job. We quickly learned that the new bank didnt have a small businessfriendly profile. Within weeks, National Bank A informed us they were calling our note based on being out of compliance with one of our loan covenants relating to a profitability ratio. I never heard of the word covenant it was in the fine print. I thought it was a place where nuns lived. By then, my non-veteran co-founder was no longer part of the company. I had to take the lead on this issue. My mind immediately kicked into decision-making mode. After a couple of months of extreme pressure to figure a way out of what seemed like a lights-out situation, my team and I figured out a way to refinance the debt while under extreme duress using the process described here. Somehow we made it through this and the other challenges that came our way. While going to war and starting and managing a small business seem like polar opposite experiences, they are similar in a compelling way. In times of crisis, the pressure of having to survive through seemingly impossible odds is something that goes with the territory. Unforeseen emergencies and the uncertainty that comes with them cause fear and anxiety in ourselves as leaders and our team. We call this the fog of war in the military. Similarly, the fog of business is alive and well today as we deal with COVID-19. Decision-making is more science than it is art. The military needs a defined decision-making process to accomplish missions. It even has a manual for it. Soldiers at all levels of rank learn it and apply it in training consistently. Its part of the culture. Its quite simple. It has to be usable and scalable within the military in units at all levels, across all branches of service. Part of its value is its simplicity. Related: 5 Ways This Veteran Used His Military Experience to Grow a $3.5-Million Beard Grooming Business Modeled on the military Theres a bit more to it than this (download the Army manual for more), but here is a summary of the model: Step 1: Define the situation as best you can by defining and separating facts from assumptions. Facts are facts. Assumptions are critical components that any plan needs to succeed, but that we cannot confirm are factual. For example, a company may assume that their new account sales will be reduced by 40 percent in a crisis like COVID-19. Its not a fact. Its an assumption were going to base our plan on. We want to document our assumptions and monitor them as the world around us changes. If an assumption turns out to be false, we modify our plan accordingly. If it turns out to be true, it moves over to the fact list. Step 2: Make two lists of tasks. Specified tasks are those tasks we know we have to do in a crisis. Implied tasks are tasks that well have to do to accomplish the specified tasks. From these two lists, we identify a handful of essential tasks. These are our critical path, must-get-done tasks that are key to success. For example, monitoring cash flow may be a specified task in a crisis. The implied task is to put a reporting system in place so that everyone knows what the cash flow situation is like every day. This may be such an important task that its deemed an essential task. Once tasks are identified, they can be grouped, delegated and assigned to team members who can be held accountable for them. Step 3: Establish an end-state goal and a clear leaders intent. This step is critical. It becomes the North Star that everyone looks to when in doubt. Decisions can be and should be made throughout the organization as long as that decision supports the intent and the vision of the end state of the leader. Too many organizations become paralyzed in a crisis simply because no one feels empowered to make decisions. In a crisis, decisions at all levels must be made at lightning speed. To enable this without creating a train wreck, leaders need to clearly articulate their intent and what winning looks like in order for everyone can make decisions with that in mind even when the leader is not around. Step 4: Use the time available to develop two to three courses of action. Take what was learned from the situation analysis, the leaders intent and associated end-state goal, and develop two to three courses of action on how to achieve the end state given the situation. This is not the domain of just the leader or the management team. This step should involve everyone in the organization as much as possible. Delegate parts of the development of different courses of action to junior members of the team. Theyll amaze you with their ideas. After comparing the courses of action, pick one as the basis of your plan. A common trap here is to rush to make decisions because making them feels like were doing something. Theres a saying in the military that you dont want to run to your death. It means that even in war, we should take the time to think through courses of action before acting. Its good advice. These basic four steps go a long way to getting everyone involved in the solution to a crisis. They build a sense of ownership in the plan throughout the team, providing leaders with ideas from multiple perspectives. Ultimately, it contributes to providing some order to the chaos and uncertainty around us. Use it as a framework for action that drives a plan for survival through the current crisis, and for the ones that follow. If it works for the military in a real war, it will work for us small business owners in the COVID-19 war. Related: Fight for Your Franchise Challenge, Week 8: No-Nonsense Techniques to Improve Your Cashflow 5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Prepare for the Post-Coronavirus Business World How New York's Legendary Grimaldi's Pizzeria Adapted to the Crisis Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Advertisement By Michael Jegede Daniel Alabrah is the acting Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Diri Douye of Bayelsa State. Diri, a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was sworn in as the governor of Bayelsa State on February 14, 2020, after he got a favourable judgement at the Supreme Court against the original winner of the last Bayelsa guber poll, David Lyon of All Progressives Congress (APC). Alabrah, in this interview with journalists, said in hundred days, Gov. Diri has demonstrated strong determination to make a difference in the governance of Bayelsa State, despite coming into office at a time COVID-19 had started threatening the world and most countries including Nigeria were locking down. The acting CPS noted that the low number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Bayelsa, has been as a result of the sound and proactive leadership provided by Diri in his effective handling of the dreaded pandemic. Excerpts: Advertisement By Sunday, May 24, your boss, Senator Douye Diri, would have spent 100 days as governor of Bayelsa State. What are some of the highpoint of his first 100 days in office? One hundred days in office is a very short time. It is just three months and ten days. It is not a period you would expect that new projects or serious infrastructure would be initiated and completed. It is generally a foundational period for the new government to begin to showcase some of its policy initiatives and direction. However, the Governor Douye Diri administration came in at a time that COVID-19 had just started ravaging our country. Nigeria had the index case on February 27 just two weeks after the Senator Diri government was sworn in on February 14. As it was beginning to settle down after inauguration, the issues with COVID-19 came up and we started hearing about lockdown, shut down your state and that people should stay at home. Regardless of these early COVID-19 warning signs, the government was determined to kick-start its urban renewal programme. So, one of the first things the governor alongside his deputy did was to visit the Edepie/Etegwe axis where you have the popular Tombia roundabout. That area had been earmarked by the immediate past administration for another flyover in Yenagoa, the state capital. During that visit, the governor, based on the already prepared construction designs, saw the need for the roundabout to be expanded. He also said that an alternative route would be opened through restarting of the work on the AIT/Elebele road that leads to Igbogene in order to decongest and reduce the traffic bottleneck at the Edepie/Etegwe roundabout. The governor equally visited the Bayelsa Mall project site at Okaka, which he said he would try to complete even within the first hundred days. Unfortunately, COVID-19 slowed him down. As you are aware, there is hardly any state (maybe one or two) in Nigeria today where serious construction work is going on. It is a huge challenge to mobilise contractors to site. There are however things that have happened that have made people to begin to see the government in a different light. For instance, before now public power supply was a big problem in our state, particularly in Yenagoa. But now most areas of the state capital enjoy better power supply than before. This was not by happenstance. Immediately the governor assumed office, he held several meetings with the management of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company just to underscore the importance he attached to provision of electricity to Bayelsans. He has consequently taken measures to ensure that whatever it was that made us have that parlous power situation in the past was corrected. Previously, in a whole week, the area I live got public power supply for not more than maybe two hours. But now, we have power supply for three or four days consecutively for about 18-20 hours a day. These days whatever you have in the refrigerator all get frozen. This had not happened in the last two or more years. And that is the testimony from across different parts of the state capital. So, the Diri government has been able to address that issue and still addressing it. There is also the issue of street light in Yenagoa, especially along the major roads. The moment the governor came in, he decided that we needed to light up the whole of Yenagoa city. He started by providing a new generator to power the lights on the Sani Abacha road, which was usually very dark at night. The solar-powered lights on the Mbiama-Yenagoa expressway, which takes you into the state capital, are now on at night. As we speak, the installation of poles on the yet to be completed Isaac Boro expressway is ongoing. At night, some of the lights are on along some portions of this major road. People are beginning to see a different approach to some of these issues. And it is based on the feedback process that has been put in place. The governor listens to Bayelsans and responds to whatever it is they are asking him to do. How is the governor handling workers welfare and the issue of payment of pension and gratuity? The issues of pension and gratuity are areas that the Senator Diri administration deserves thumbs up for, particularly in its handling of the gratuity of retirees. The gratuity backlog dates back to 2008, about 12 years. While he was campaigning, the governor promised that he would prioritise the welfare of workers in the state. Whether retirees or those currently working, he vowed to properly motivate them and ensure that those still in service are efficient and productive. Without mincing words, he is fulfilling that promise and they are all now smiling. For him, the payment of pensioners and their gratuity is a priority just as the welfare of civil servants is. He does not see it as an achievement because he believes it is a responsibility he owes the workers. But the beneficiaries see it differently and they are actually happy. To them, it is an achievement for a government that is barely three months old. The last government was actually paying the pension of retirees monthly but there were issues with their gratuity. So, what this new government is doing differently is that it sets aside about N200 million monthly to take care of the backlog of gratuity. Every month, a set of retirees gets their gratuity. For those that have unfortunately passed on, their families are invited to present their documents for payment of even their death benefits. We expect that in a few years from now we would have put behind us the issue of the backlog of gratuity as a state. It is being done equitably. It is not that some influential people are collecting theirs while others are left out. The governor directed that it must go round, local government by local government and year by year. So, it will take a while before it will be cleared. Anyone entitled to gratuity will get it. How true is the insinuation that the previous government of Hon. Seriake Dickson, under which you also served, did not leave money in the treasury for the new government? This is not a straight Yes or No answer. It is common in Nigeria for one administration or for people, often for political reasons, to accuse another administration of leaving an empty treasury. But, realistically, is it possible for a government to have an empty treasury when in actual fact government is a going concern? A new government assumes all the assets and liabilities of the previous one, including the revenue generating agencies that daily receive the income accruing to the state. Therefore, it is actually hollow talk when people say a government left an empty treasury. It is more within the realm of political talk than a reality on ground. The question I ask those who make such bogus, unfounded claim is have they seen the financial books of the state? The governor had said he would form his cabinet three months after inauguration. One hundred days after, he is yet to appoint Commissioners and Special Advisers. What could be responsible for the delay? In every state we have only one governor that appoints people into offices. Even me talking to you, Im an appointee of that one appointor, the governor. So it is his prerogative to pick his appointees, whether commissioners or advisers, when the time is right for him to do so. He has said he would make known his new cabinet at the appropriate time. I can assure you that he will make it public sooner than later. How is the Bayelsa State government responding to the COVID-19 scourge as one of the states in Nigeria with confirmed cases of the deadly virus? You will agree with me that Bayelsa is one of the states where active cases are very low. We have been able to take measures to ensure that our people are protected from the scourge. It is not a mere happenstance that the figure of Bayelsa in terms of active cases is low. It is because of conscious, deliberate efforts taken by the governor and the state task force, which he chairs. The COVID-19 team has been working very hard to ensure that our state is seriously defended and protected against the incursion of the virus. Quite a few measures have been taken. And they include locking down of our boundary points with our neighbouring states of Delta and Rivers. All the points through which people could enter into the state, we have been able to identify them, including the illegal routes. And the enforcement has been very, very strong. The governor himself had to personally visit the boundary points when he was getting information that maybe the security officials were being compromised. He had to go to the boundary points with Delta and Rivers states to personally enforce the directive on the ban on interstate movement. Within the state, we have something like a partial lockdown more or less a stay-at-home order, which started with civil servants from level 1-12 since March 26. They were asked to stay at home in order to be able to reduce the movement of people. Even schools had remained closed before we had the index case in the state on April 26. We had already taken measures in preparation against any outbreak. We set up an isolation centre at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital at Okolobiri. It was properly equipped and we ensured that the personnel were adequately trained and motivated to take care of any eventuality. To what extent has the state government sensitised the people and created awareness about the COVID-19 pandemic? Several measures have been taken to ensure that our people get aware. Awareness campaign is very important. In collaboration with civil society groups and other volunteers, the state government has gone round to sensitise our people. In local languages, we send out messages through different channels radio, social media, flyers and other ways to disseminate information. So, our people were more or less prepared. By the time we had the index case, we were already prepared for it. A few days after we had the first case, four other persons that were linked to the index case were also confirmed to be positive. That brought the figure to five. By last week, we had two more cases that made it seven. But the good thing is that by May 16, five of them had been discharged leaving the state with just two active cases at the moment. What is the level of compliance in Bayelsa to the measures put in place by the government? We have an attitude towards enforcing compliance. The governor does not believe that compliance must be done by force. He actually believes in using persuasion. And that is why even when we have cases where some persons had defaulted in terms of compliance, we were not too hard. The governor had not been too hard on them. We have situations where even the task force members were attacked when they went on enforcement. We also have persons that have defied some of the measures. But at the end of the day, we still let the people know that these measures are not punitive. They are not meant to make Bayelsans suffer. Even when the federal government warned that not wearing face mask could attract prosecution, the governor also gave that warning. But what we did was that we had to even produce face masks to distribute to the people. We had to do that because we wanted to first of all give them something before you begin to implement the action you said you want to take. That is the attitude. Our attitude is that of persuasion. There are indications that some states of the federation are not keying into the COVID-19 national response strategy mapped out by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) put up by the President. Is Bayelsa aligning with the PTF in terms of strategy for the fight against the dreaded Coronavirus? Bayelsa State has fully complied with all the presidential directives, at least the ones that affect the state. For instance, the federal government has said that wearing of face mask is now mandatory for everyone. We have ensured that the directive gets to our people. And we are also complying as government officials by wearing the face mask in public. We are also observing the curfew, which is a presidential directive, from 8pm to 6am in our state. We have gone ahead to set up our own isolation centre to ensure that infected persons in the state are properly treated. All the measures the federal government wants us to take as a state we have done them. Unfortunately, on its part, the federal government has not supported Bayelsa except for 1,000 bags of rice, which we had to go and pick up from Calabar in Cross River State with our own resources. In terms of COVID-19 support, neither the federal government nor the World Health Organisation has given Bayelsa one kobo. Even the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa that is supposed to have equipment for testing, the federal government has not been able to activate that centre. They are more or less waiting for the state government to activate a test centre that is in a federal government health institution. We are not trying to make any noise about it but just stating the fact. Can we have the details of the donations and what the Bayelsa government has done in terms of palliatives to lessen the plight of citizens in the state due to the COVID-19 plague? How much has been spent so far? The money spent on palliatives is an ongoing thing and I cannot give you any figure specifically. But I can tell you that every kobo that comes into this state as a donation is put in a special account opened for that purpose. I can give you the figures we have received as a state in terms of donations from corporate organisations. NDDC gave us N100m, Sterling Bank N100m, UBA N28.5m while the Local Content Development and Monitoring Board donated items including two ambulance vehicles, 300 bags of rice, 75 bags of beans, 70 bags of garri and pharmaceutical items. Other donors include the Nigeria Agip Oil Company and its JV partners that are building an infectious/viral disease hospital in Bayelsa to cover the whole of South South, Ecobank 350 bags of rice and 300 bags of garri, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company 300 bags of rice as well as 7Up with 2,004 packs of bottled water and 8,400 packs of soft drinks. Even Crunches, an eatery in the state, gave us 50 cartons of noodles. Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan donated 1,000 bags each of rice and beans while the immediate past governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, gave N10million. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, equally made a donation of two motorised modular fumigators while one Mr. Freeborn David donated 150 face masks. First City Monument Bank, Yenagoa branch supported with 114 cartons of instant noodles, 979 10kg bags of rice, 80 packets of face masks, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Port Harcourt zone 100 milligrams of 500 bottles of sanitisers as well as the Yenagoa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 50 bottles of 200 milligram sanitisers. The state government is very appreciative of these donations and at the appropriate time it will give account of how the funds were spent. This is a government that believes in transparency. If we have disclosed the amount received so far and also disclosed how these items were distributed, I do not think that Bayelsans should worry about how the money would be spent. It will be accounted for to the last kobo. So far, the government has shared out food items as palliatives twice to Bayelsans, non-indigenes resident in the state, the physically challenged and visually impaired as well as corps members serving in the state among others. The process was largely handled by the local government chairmen, who were responsible for distribution of the items. For as long as COVID-19 remains and the need arises, the government would make the necessary interventions to assuage the pains of the people. On April 21, Gov. Diri presented an appropriation bill of N242.3b for the 2020 fiscal year to the state assembly. It was tagged: Budget of Consolidation for Prosperity. Do you think the budget is achievable? That budget is based on current realities. It is a very modest budget. The government did not want to embark on a flight of fancy by coming up with a budget that will be difficult to execute or implement. The milestones in that budget are achievable. If you look at the allocations made to some of the sectors, like works and transport, you will see that we have identified infrastructure as one of the areas that government will lay emphasis on as we go ahead in this first year. We are starting an urban renewal programme, particularly in the state capital involving roads, flyovers and reconstruction work. A lot of things will be done. We also have about N8 billion allocated to agriculture. If you are a government of prosperity, you should be able to feed your people. Food security is an important ingredient of any government that wants to ensure that the people are properly taken care of. We are really concerned about food security, and so, we are going to be doing much in the area of agriculture. How would you describe the recent appeal court victory of Gov. Diri in a pre-election case brought against him by Timi Alaibe, the governors major opponent in the primaries that produced him as the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last Bayelsa governorship poll? The governor has had four victories already within this period. The first one was at the Supreme Court on February 13. The second one on February 26 again at the Supreme Court, then the high court victory and this one at the appeal court. He has described himself as the Miracle governor. And if you look at everything happening, these things are miraculous. There is a divine seal to all of these. For him, his attitude to all these victories is that of no victor, no vanquished. Whether you like it or not, the persons who are going to court, are expressing their legitimate right. But the truth of the matter is that a lot of Bayelsans are already saying that let us move on. Bayelsans do not like this attitude of if it is not me, somebody else must not be there. But, the attitude of the governor is that whoever is going to court is my brother. He has an open mind and has embraced even those who go to court to try to challenge his emergence. He has told them that they are part of the rebuilding process of our state. He has invited them to join hands with him to build our state. He has extended that olive branch to all of them, including our big brother, Chief Timi Alaibe, severally. This is a man who was in Alaibes political camp for about 10 years. So, they are not enemies. He had supported Alaibe very well in the past. So, now people expect that there will be reciprocity. On Monday afternoon, 18 May, centenary of the birth of Karol Wojtya, the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) inaugurated the Saint John Paul ii Institute of Culture. For the occasion, Pope Francis sent a Letter to the Rector of the Angelicum which had the young future Polish Pope among its students. The following is the English text of Pope Francis Letter. To the Reverend Micha Paluch, O.P Rector of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas On the centenary of the birth of Saint John Paul II, the most illustrious alumnus of your university, the Institute of Culture named after him is being inaugurated at the Angelicum, within the Faculty of Philosophy. In expressing my appreciation for this initiative, I cordially greet the entire academic community and all those present for the event, especially the representatives of the two Polish Foundations, Futura Iuventa and Saint Nicholas, which support the new Institute. The principal aim of the Institute is to reflect on contemporary culture. To do so, the organizers intend to seek the collaboration of eminent philosophers, theologians and men and women of culture in its broadest sense. Saint John Paul II is at once both the inspiration behind this project and its first and most important architect. This is thanks to the rich and multifaceted heritage that he left to us, and even more so by the example of his open and contemplative spirit, his passion for God and man, for creation, history and art. The range of experiences that marked his life, especially the momentous historical events and the personal sufferings that he sought to interpret in the light of the Spirit, led Saint John Paul II to an even deeper reflection on man and his cultural roots as an essential reference point for every proclamation of the Gospel. Indeed, in his first Encyclical he wrote: We approach all cultures, all ideological concepts, all people of good will. We approach them with the esteem, respect and discernment that since the time of the Apostles has marked the missionary attitude, the attitude of the missionary. Suffice it to mention Saint Paul and, for instance, his address in the Areopagus at Athens. The missionary attitude always begins with a feeling of deep esteem for what is in man, for what man has himself worked out in the depths of his spirit concerning the most profound and important problems. It is a question of respecting everything that has been brought about in him by the Spirit, which blows where it wills (Redemptor Hominis, 12; cf. Address to UNESCO, 2 June 1980). We need to keep this approach alive if we wish to be an outward-looking Church, not satisfied with preserving and administering what already exists but seeking to be faithful to our mission. I am pleased that this initiative has found a home in the University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. The Angelicum in fact houses an academic community comprising professors and students from throughout the world and is a fitting place for interpreting the important challenges of todays cultures. The tradition of the Dominican Order, with the important role given to rational reflection on faith and its content, articulated in a magisterial way by the Angelic Doctor, will certainly favour this project, so that it will be characterized by the courage of the truth, freedom of spirit and intellectual honesty (cf. Saint Paul VI, Apostolic Letter Lumen Ecclesiae, 20 November 1974, 8; Saint John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Fides et Ratio, 43). With these sentiments, I renew my encouragement and gratitude to you, dear brother, and to all those who have established the new Institute. To the professors, students and staff I send my best wishes for their work, and to all I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing. Rome, Saint John Lateran, 18 May 2020 FRANCIS After seeing 33 percent growth rate in January compared with the same period last year, Vietnams tourism witnessed sharp decreases in the next months, 22 percent in February and 68 percent in March, because of Covid-19. Experts predicted the number of travelers would drop even more sharply in April because of the travel restriction policy. The number of foreign travelers to Vietnam in upcoming months is believed to depend on when Covid-19 is contained around the world. If the epidemic ends in June, there would be no foreign travelers to Vietnam through June. The situation would improve in the last months of the year, but the number of foreign travelers would still be low and the positive growth rate not likely to happen. If the epidemic is curbed, business travel activities may recover first because of the demand for resuming business and trade activities in the world. However, the openess in travel would not be normal because countries would still fear the comeback of coronavirus. Analysts predicted that markets in Asia may recover sooner than markets such as Europe, North America and Australia. Under this scenario, inbound tourism may see a 70 percent decrease in number of foreign travelers in 2020 compared with the last year, to 5.5 million. Under this scenario, inbound tourism may see a 70 percent decrease in number of foreign travelers in 2020 compared with the last year, to 5.5 million. If the epidemic ends in July, the stagnation period would last longer, from April to September. If so, travel recovery would be very modest in the last months of the year. Under this scenario, the number of foreign travelers to Vietanm in 2020 would drop by 75 percent to 4.6 million. If the situation is even worse, i.e. the epidemic still cannot be contained by the end of December, Vietnam will have no foreign travelers from April to December. The total number of foreign travelers to Vietnam in 2020 would drop by 80 percent to 3.7 million. Experts argue about the recovery models of the economy in general and tourism industry in particular. Nhip Cau Dau Tu quoted experts as commenting that Vietnams tourism is likely to see an L-shape recovery. In both scenarios, Vietnams tourism would see a certain stagnant period. After the epidemic is contained, foreign travelers will not have much time to plan their tours for the last months of the year. VNATs deputy general director of Ngo Hoai Chung said the tourism industry would only return to normal in early 2021. Tu Linh Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Mumbai, May 25 : The indie film 'Wah Zindagi starring Sanjay Mishra, which champions the cause of Make In India, has garnered support of Union Finance Minister Nirmla Sitharaman and Dr Ashwini Mahajan, co-convenor Swadeshi Jagran Manch. Lending his support Mahajan said, "We understand that Bhartiya Economy is undergoing a serious threat from Chinese imports, which not only drains valuable foreign exchange from Bharat, but also kills our manufacturing sector, jeopardising our economy. We are pleased to know that a feature film, 'Wah Zindagi', has been made by Ashok (Choudhury), writer, conceptualiser and producer, showcasing the struggle of Morbi Ceramic Industry against Chinese competition. This feature film is based on the concept of 'Make in India' given by our respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji." The producer of the film has confirmed that the finance ministry has extended support for promotion of the film. Earlier Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had unveiled the poster of the film. The story of the film is based on the struggle of a man who aims to redeem his past, which leads him on his journey of manufacturing goods in India, and narrates how he battles stiff competition from Chinese products. Directed by FTII alumnus Dinesh S. Yadav, the film features Sanjay Misra, Vijay Raz, Naveen Kasturia, Plabita Borthakur and Manoj Joshi. Fact check: Was there anti-Modi sloganeering during his Varanasi visit? Fake: Government is not offering free laptops to all Fake: Govt has not promised a Rs 5,000 lockdown fund India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, May 25: A WhatsApp forward that promises of free Rs 5,000 in relief funds from the government as a limited time offer is fake. The message redirects to a questionable website with many red flags which is not associated with the government in any way. The similar message and similar website is viral on Kenyan social media offering lockdown benefits in Kenyan shillings instead of Indian rupees. Fake: This video of a crowded market is from Pakistan not India The message reads 'FG [federal government] has finally approved and have started giving out free Rs.5,000 Relief Funds to each citizen. Below is how to claim and get yours credit Instantly as I have just did now https://bit.ly/free---fundsNote : You can only claim and get credited once and it's also limited so get your now Instantly.' The message comes with a link that says activates the benefits. Similar to the Facebook comments section the website displays a number of comments stating that the users have received the benefits being offered by the website. No matter how many times or when one visits the website, the page will show that there are precisely 1,936 lockdown packages left to be given Also, the name of the beneficiaries, as claimed, and timestamp in the comments - always set at 'just now' for all and '2 mins ago' for one comment - never change. Fake: Image of lady on bi-cycle being passed of as Indian migrant is from Nepal Many Twitter account holders have asked the authorities about its authenticity by sharing the message. The message is being circulated at a time when people are losing their jobs and source of earning and have started demanding for relief funds from the government due to the ongoing national lockdown that started on March 25 to contain COVID-19 spread. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, May 25, 2020, 14:41 [IST] The California murder trial of of real estate heir Robert Durst will be moved to a larger court room to allow for social distancing. The 77-year-old scion of one of New York's wealthiest real estate dynasties is accused of murdering his best friend Susan Berman, in her home in Beverly Hills in December 2000. His trial is expected to move to the Inglewood courthouse from the Los Angeles Airport courthouse near Los Angeles International Airport, when the jury potentially reconvenes on July 27. His trial is currently on hold due to the coronavirus and awaiting a judge ruling on a defense motion for a mistrial. Robert Durst's murder trial will be moved from the Los Angeles Airport courthouse to the large Inglewood courthouse to accommodate social distancing. Pictured above in March 2020 In March officials closed all of the county's courthouses to all but time-sensitive essential matters. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Windham will consider the defense's mistrial motion in a hearing scheduled for June 23, court spokeswoman Mary Hearn said. Durst's defense team filed the motion in April, arguing he cannot get a fair trial because of a long pause in the proceedings brought on by coronavirus court closures. The attorneys say the stoppage makes it unrealistic the jury will be able to perform its functions. 'The risk that jurors will not be accurately able to recall the evidence introduced prior to adjournment is heightened here,' the motion says. Durst is on trial for the December 2000 murder of his best friend Susan Berman (left) Prosecutors argued in opening statements that Durst shot Susan Berman because she knew Durst had killed his wife, who disappeared in 1982. Her body was never found. Berman was killed just days before she was to give an interview to New York investigators looking into Kathleen's disappearance. Durst has never been charged in his wife's killing, and denied having any role in either death. His defense lawyer told the jury in March that his client found her body, 'panicked,' and wrote an anonymous note to the police, which included Berman's address and the word 'cadaver,' leading them to his friend's home. Berman was shot dead just days before she was set to be interviewed about the 1982 disappearance of Durst's first wife, Kathleen (pictured on their wedding day). Kathleen's disappearance is still unsolved In 2003, Durst was acquitted in Texas of the murder of his neighbor Morris Black, whom he admitted to dismembering after shooting him in self-defense during a struggle inside the Galveston apartment they shared. The trial had been in the works for five years, since Durst's arrest on the eve of the airing of the final episode of The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. The HBO documentary included interviews with Durst that helped lead to the charges against him. In one pivotal scene, Durst was overheard mumbling to himself, 'Killed them all, of course.' Listen to Outbreak Alabama: Stories from a Pandemic, above. Today, we hear from AL.com education reporter Trish Crain, who has covered every new development related to the impact coronavirus has had on the states education system. Alabama schools were closed by state order on March 19 to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Students have not been allowed to return to school campuses since then. With some Alabama schools already holding in-person graduation ceremonies where thousands of people have already attended, the state looks ahead to the fall, when the school system hopes to return to in-class learning. We talk about how graduation ceremonies play out in Alabama, the plan for reopening in the fall and the strict guidelines schools must follow to keep students safe. Outbreak Alabama will release two or three episodes per week, chronicling the experiences of those directly impacted by COVID-19s spread, including health care professionals, business owners, city leaders, artists, AL.com reporters and many others. If you or anyone you know is affected by the coronavirus and want to share your story, please email bflanagan@al.com. For all of our coverage on the outbreak and how it continues to impact Alabama, visit AL.com/coronavirus. Listen and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Acast or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like the show, please rate it and write us a review. Thank you for listening. More from Outbreak Alabama: The spike in Montgomery Astonishing disparities in the rural South Where is the nursing home data? Is it a mistake to reopen now? Whiter Thomas on staying creative during the pandemic Our successes and failures so far The return of retail A barbers dilemma Is it really time to reopen Alabama? A coronavirus survivors message to the rest of us Ivey not ready to reopen just yet Crime in the age of coronavirus What role do our churches play? The absence of sports Learning from a distance Walt Maddox on leading Tuscaloosa through coronavirus Social distancing, or not Coronavirus early impact on musicians Alabama restaurants By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) - Long divided between those pushing for a hardline stance and others advocating cautious engagement, President Donald Trumps China advisers - under the shadow of the coronavirus crisis - appear to have moved closer together on a tougher approach to Beijing. A test for this emerging consensus will be how it affects the U.S. response to Chinas Communist Party rulers proposing stricter national security laws for Hong Kong that have reignited pro-democracy protests in the former British colony. Trump, who has vacillated between the two camps in his administration, must decide if the United States will preserve Hong Kongs special status, halt privileged treatment that has helped make it a global financial hub or take lesser actions such as targeted sanctions or tariffs if Beijing goes ahead. His hard-fought trade deal with China could also hang in the balance. As Trump seeks re-election in November, his advisers have become more in sync on the need to pressure China, including over Hong Kong, according to current and former U.S. officials and a congressional source. Opinion polls show growing anti-China sentiment among U.S. voters. "There used to be really a line drawn on the ground, with the traditional free market people who werent crazy about the tariffs and understood China had the second-largest economy, and strategic national security advisers," said a former administration official. "Most people are aligned that its time to be tough on China now." Others, however, are not so sure. Its tough to get a unified message out of Washington these days, said Mark Simon, a U.S. executive for Next Media, a media group funded by pro-democracy Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai, and a Republican Party donor. The following advisers will help shape Trump's decision: MIKE POMPEO The Secretary of State has become the public face of the anti-China push. A Trump loyalist, Pompeo is likely to play a pivotal role in any response to Beijings assertion of greater control over Hong Kong, which he warned could be the death knell for the territorys autonomy. The department must issue a congressionally mandated report on whether Hong Kong has maintained a high degree of autonomy from China. ROBERT OBRIEN Story continues Trumps national security adviser has focused more on China than his predecessor, John Bolton. While taking care not to buck his boss, OBrien has become a vocal critic of Beijing. On Sunday, he made the most explicit threat yet that China could face sanctions over Hong Kong. MATT POTTINGER A former journalist and Marine, he was one of the first in the administration to accuse China of not coming clean about the novel coronavirus outbreak. Pottinger is possibly the main driver for an aggressive approach. His distrust of China stems from his work as a journalist there, where he recounted being spied on and roughed up. Pottinger started as Asia adviser before being named OBriens deputy. OBrien could have picked anybody but he picked China hawk Pottinger, the former administration official said. STEVEN MNUCHIN The Treasury Secretary has long been a voice of moderation on China. But as pressure has mounted over Chinas handling of the coronavirus, Mnuchin has shown signs of being less hesitant about stronger measures, including restricting Chinese tech company Huawei Technologies. On Hong Kong, he could still advise caution to avoid upsetting markets. He has often been allied with Trumps son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner. LARRY KUDLOW Trump's economic adviser had been more circumspect on China but this month signed off on directing the board overseeing federal workers pensions to halt plans to invest in certain Chinese companies. It is unclear how Kudlow, a free-marketeer as a television commentator, will advise on Hong Kong. PETER NAVARRO The trade adviser gained notoriety for his book and film Death by China. Navarro is known at times to have Trumps ear and is expected to push for harsh punishment of Beijing over Hong Kong. (Reporting By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland, additional reporting by Heather Timmons and David Brunnstrom, writing by Matt Spetalnick; editing by Grant McCool) The number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Northern Ireland has risen to 514 after eight more deaths were reported by the Department of Health. The department also reported a further 39 cases of confirmed Covid-19, bringing the total number of positive cases in Northern Ireland to 4,609. The number of people tested for the virus over the last 24 hours was 1,084. The figures were released as police urged members of the public to avoid visiting the beach or popular tourist spots on the bank holiday. On Monday, dozens of groups of people were spotted at Helens Bay close to Bangor. Up to 100 day-trippers, who were following social distancing guidelines, flocked to the popular beach for the bank holiday. On Sunday, PSNI issued a warning after reports that large crowds had visited a number of coastal towns, including Portrush and Portstewart. The PSNI had to close a number of roads leading into the coastal areas as hundreds of people went to visit the area. However, on Monday images posted on social media appeared to show that the public paid heed to the police appeal with only a few people spotted on the beach. We would encourage people not to travel to popular beaches or beauty spots for your daily exercise if it is not necessary, as social distancing may not be achievable where large crowds are gathered PSNI The Sunday crowds prompted the PSNI to post a plea to the public on social media. The force said: Each of us can play our part helping to stop the spread of Covid-19. Please ensure you continue to adhere to Northern Ireland Executive regulations. Police have been receiving reports of large numbers of people visiting local beauty spots, beaches and parks across Northern Ireland today and we would like to remind everyone of the advice from our public health partners and Northern Ireland Executive about social distancing and movement. We would encourage people not to travel to popular beaches or beauty spots for your daily exercise if it is not necessary, as social distancing may not be achievable where large crowds are gathered. Please help us by staying at home as much as possible so that we can be sure our roads, streets, villages, towns and cities are safe for everyone and so that we can all maintain a safe social distance. Each of us can play our part to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, protect the NHS and save lives and it is important we continue to adhere to Northern Ireland Executive regulations. Expand Close Belfasts oldest Catholic Church, St Marys in Chapel Lane, has reopened (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Belfasts oldest Catholic Church, St Marys in Chapel Lane, has reopened (Liam McBurney/PA) Meanwhile, a historic Belfast city centre church reopened for private prayer. Belfasts oldest Catholic Church, St Marys in Chapel Lane, reopened after the Northern Ireland Executive announced last week that places of worship could open for solitary prayer. In preparation St Marys placed signs to create a one-way system, installed hand sanitiser gel at the entrance, and limited the amount of pews open for parishioners to maintain a two-metre distance. ADDDDD The Department of Health has said it continues to closely monitor Clifton Nursing Home in Belfast and is being regularly updated on proposals for a new provider to take over the running of the home. On Friday, Health Minister Robin Swann announced that action was being taken to relocate residents from the care home, following recent inspections. In a statement it said: Those discussions are not yet concluded. It is hoped the plans will result in residents having the choice of remaining in the home under the care of a new management team should that be their preferred option. This is a very distressing time for residents and their families. This is a matter of great regret. The number of coronavirus cases in Assam rose to 427 on Monday after 35 more people tested positive for the disease, state Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Eighteen cases were reported from Golaghat district, six from Kokrajhar, five from Karimganj, two each from Tinsukia and Sivasagar, and one each from Jorhat and Dhemaji, he said. Of the total 427 patients in the state, 57 have recovered, while 363 are undergoing treatment. Four people have died due to the disease. Assam has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases after inter-state movement through road and rail was allowed during the lockdown period. With domestic flight operations resuming in the country from Monday after a gap of two months, health officials are expecting this spike to be sharper in the coming days. To screen all the people returning to the state, the administration has set up five zonal screening camps and similar facilities are already existing in the district headquarters and at local levels. Kokrajhar has the zonal screening camp for lower Assam districts, Tezpur for northern part of the state, Jorhat for upper part, Guwahati for central Assam and Silchar for Barak Valley. Assam has so far tested 66,444 samples for COVID-19 in seven laboratories in the state and the NIV in Pune, the state Health and Family Welfare Department said in its daily bulletin on Sunday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Newser) Faced with near-universal calls for the ouster of a top aide who flouted his own lockdown, Boris Johnson stood solidly with Dominic Cummings on Sunday, in what the New York Times calls a "blustery performance." "He followed the instincts of every father and every parent, and I do not mark him down for that," Johnson said Sunday of the 260 miles Cummings traveled to his parents house as he was showing signs of COVID-19. "I believe that in every respect, he has acted responsibly, and legally, and with integrity." The Times notes that Cummings has shown no sign of remorse, which has only served to inflame Johnson's political rivals. "The public will be forgiven for thinking there is one rule for the prime ministers closest adviser and another for the British people," says Labour leader Keir Starmer, calling Johnson's inaction "an insult to the sacrifices made by the British people." (Read more Boris Johnson stories.) A special repatriation flight from Doha carrying 146 Indians landed at Gaya international airport on Monday, as part of the Centre's Vande Bharat Mission. Of the 146 who returned from the Qatar capital, 141 are from Bihar and five from neighbouring Jharkhand, Gaya Airport Director Dilip Kumar said. Passports of all passengers were collected at the immigration counter by district officials and each of them was given an acknowledgement receipt and a 'Vande Bharat' kit comprising sanitisers, soaps among other items, he said. After completing all formalities, the district administration sent the 141 returnees of Bihar to quarantine centres here, where they would have to maintain self-isolation for the next 14 days, Kumar said. Several hotels in Gaya have been converted into quarantine centres for the purpose, a district official said. Five from Jharkhand left for their homes in a vehicle sent by the state, he said. "None of those that returned from Doha today exhibited any COVID-19 symptom during thermal screening at the airport," the official said. Earlier, on May 24, a special plane carrying 132 Indians from Muscat had landed at Gaya airport. On May 18, a group of 41 Indians from London had reached Gaya in a chartered plane. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BERLIN, May 25 (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives are in favour of bringing forward tax relief measures worth at least 5 billion euros to help companies and consumers recover more quickly from the coronavirus pandemic, a document showed on Monday. Merkel's coalition government, which in March approved an unprecedented 750 billion-euro rescue package to shield Europe's largest economy from the impact of the coronavirus, is due next week to present additional stimulus to sustain the recovery. In a position paper seen by Reuters, lawmakers from Merkel's conservative bloc called on several measures to reduce the tax burden for the private sector, including making it simpler to offset losses against tax and speeding up already agreed tax cuts. "The abolition of the solidarity surcharge is to be brought forward to July 1 and should apply in full," it said, referring to a tax introduced after the countys reunification. The document, prepared by lawmakers from Merkel's conservatives, is to be discussed on Tuesday during a closed-door meeting of the CDU/CSU parliamentary bloc. Germany's coalition parties agreed last year to abolish the 'soli' - a tax surcharge introduced in 1991 to help finance the cost of reuniting West and East Germany - for more than 90% of taxpayers from January 2021. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz from the co-governing Social Democrats has already suggested bringing this forward to July, which would cost the state around 5 billion euros. But Scholz is against granting the relief for all taxpayers. The German stimulus package is expected to include relief for municipalities struggling with lower tax receipts, cash handouts for families with small children as well as further funds for companies with fewer than 250 employees. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Giles Elgood) The mobile computing trend requires enterprises to meet consumers expectations for accessing information and completing tasks from a smartphone. But theres a converse to that arrangement: Mobile has also become the go-to digital platform companies use to market their goods and services. Align Technology, which offers the Invisalign orthodontic device to straighten teeth, is embracing the trend with a mobile platform that both helps patients coordinate care with their doctors and entices new customers. The My Invisalign app includes detailed content on how the Invisalign system works, as well as machine learning (ML) technology to simulate what wearers smiles will look like after using the medical device. Its a natural extension to help doctors and patients stay in touch, says Align Technology Chief Digital Officer Sreelakshmi Kolli, who joined the company as a software engineer in 2003 and has spent the past few years digitizing the customer experience and business operations. The development of My Invisalign also served as a pivot point for Kolli to migrate the company to agile and DevSecOps practices. The pitch for a perfect smile My Invisalign is a digital on-ramp for a company that has relied on pitches from enthusiastic dentists and pleased patients to help Invisalign find a home in the mouths of more than 8 million customers. An alternative to clunky metal braces, Invisalign comprises sheer plastic aligners that straighten patients teeth gradually over several months. Invisalign patients swear by the device, but many consumers remain on the fence about a device with a $3,000 to $5,000 price range that is rarely covered completely by insurance. To wit, marketing is a critical function for My Invisalign. In 2018, Kolli assembled a cross-functional team comprising IT, sales, marketing, commercial and other business lines. Working with an agile methodology, the team rolled out early features to a small host of patients, using DevSecOps for continuous real-time feedback and releases. The app encourages patients compliance with their treatment via a calendar feature that enables patients to create a change aligner schedule (weekly or biweekly) and reminds them during the scheduled intervals. The MyCare feature allows patients to share treatment progress with their doctors through photos, video and other virtual collaboration features that allow them to skip office visits. Early challenges required course correction. For example, some users, frustrated by registration errors during the onboarding process, abandoned the app. Kollis team simplified the registration process with one-click onboarding, enabled by image text recognition of a QR code that was added to the aligner bag and ML algorithms. After these modifications, My Invisalign adoption soared from 200 downloads to 800 downloads per week. Emboldened by the growth, the team upgraded the app last fall with features targeting prospective patients, including educational content and other features to facilitate Invisalign adoption. For instance, Find a Doctor helps people find and schedule consultations with a local doctor. The companys My Invisalign efforts have earned Align Technology an IDG 2020 CIO 100 award for technology innovation. Machine learning boosts conversions The real sledgehammer for new patient conversions has been SmileView, which blends virtual reality (VR), facial recognition, smile detection and other patterns to display side-by-side simulations of wearers before and after smiles once they upload a selfie photo. Run through ML algorithms, these images helped generate a visualization of wearers potential smiles, based on information collected from 7.5 million successful Invisalign installations. It visually tells you what is possible, which is better than doctor trying to convince you, Kolli says of the proprietary feature, which runs its algorithms through Amazon Web Services. It took a lot of engineering know-how. Thanks in large part to SmileView, as well as a healthy dose of promotion via Instagram, Twitter and other social media outlets, thousands of patients are now using My Invisalign during their aligner treatment. The app, which boasts a 4.7 user rating in Apples App Store, has been downloaded more than 200,000 times, a number that is increasing 20 percent to 25 percent month over month. Tracking and analyzing the patient journey is critical for future success. Align uses Google Data Studio to analyze patient engagement, which helps inform personalization and new My Invisalign features, as well as marketing efforts for future sales leads. Kolli credits the agile and DevSecOps operating model, including daily stand-up meetings, for procuring customer feedback, enabling Align to quickly craft new story points for myInvisalign. APIs and microservices, supported in a platform-as-a-service architecture platform, enable Align developers located all over the world to quickly create new features and touchpoints for consumers including availability in more than 15 languages across Asia, Latin America and Europe. A good platform comes from having a good API and microservices, Kolli says. The good thing about having a scalable tech architecture is that features are built easily and you can take them down easily. Recently, there has been a lot of talk about a new Cold War between China and the United States, with some even claiming that a Cold War is already underway. Indeed, there are many voices in Washington pushing for a contest for supremacy. Just this month, for example, the Trump administration delivered a report that articulates its whole-of-government approach to China under the 2017 National Security Strategy, which envisions constant competition. However, despite the hype, a new Cold War is far from inevitable. Competition is and always will be a part of international relations and therefore, by extension, a part of China-US relations, but the shift from engagement with China to all-out strategic competition sets the stage for a dangerous future. Those in Washington who believe that an across-the-board contest is not only unavoidable but also necessary for the future of American power are dragging the relationship down a dangerous path. Politicians and commentators left and right have been competing to march us into a new Cold War, argued James Hankins, a professor of history at Harvard University. According to Hankins, who explored the question of whether we really want a new Cold War, the policy elites in Washington seem all too ready to snap back into Cold War mode and the logic of competition dominates discussions about Chinas rise. The assumption that countries are stuck in an endless game of chess is an influential assumption in the Western world, but it can also be a dangerous way to frame China-US relations. As Hankins pointed out, zero-sum thinking does not really fit China-US relations today. Chinas rise is not a challenge to the United States, nor is it a part of a larger game of world domination. Certainly, there are features of competition in the relationship, but China does not seek to compete with the United States for dominance. Being the two largest economies in the world, it is in the best interests of both countries and the world for China and the United States to work together to shape a new international order in which the two giants can coexist peacefully despite their differences. On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference of the Two Sessions that some people in Washington are taking the two giants on the brink of a new Cold War. Whatever the reasoning, a lesson from the history is that both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. The two countries should and must find a way to coexist peacefully despite their differences, a point that Wang Yi drove home at the press conference. A new Cold War does not have to become the defining feature of China-US relations. The rise of China is a transformative event in world history, but the bigger problem is letting fear of China take the drivers seat in China-US relations. The more we are familiar with China, the less likely we are to demonize it. If Washington lets fear and hysteria of China to continue to chip away at China-US relations, a new Cold War could become the realitya disastrous outcome. Fortunately, however, we still have time to choose cooperation over conflict. British prime Minister Boris Johnson backed his senior adviser Dominic Cummings on Sunday, despite calls from within his own Conservative Party for the aide to resign for driving 250 miles during the coronavirus lockdown. London: British prime minister Boris Johnson backed his senior adviser Dominic Cummings on Sunday, despite calls from within his own Conservative Party for the aide to resign for driving 400 kilometres during the coronavirus lockdown. Cummings, architect of the 2016 campaign to leave the European Union, came under pressure when newspapers reported he had travelled from London to northern England in March when his wife was ill with COVID-19 symptoms during a nationwide lockdown. With Johnsons words that he had acted with integrity, Cummings was safe, at least for now. But the row in the governing Conservatives looks set to rumble on. Ive had extensive face-to-face conversations with Dominic Cummings, Johnson told a news conference, saying his aide had followed the instincts of every father when he travelled with his wife for help with childcare while isolating. I believe that in every respect he has acted responsibly and legally and with integrity. Keir Starmer, leader of the Opposition Labour Party, described Johnsons decision to take no action against Cummings as an insult to the sacrifices made by the British people. This was a test of the prime minister and he has failed it, Starmer said in a statement. A divisive figure, Cummings is seen by allies and enemies alike as Johnsons most important and influential strategist. Over the weekend, Downing Street and senior ministers all backed him, an early signal of their reluctance to succumb to the demands from several Conservatives, who said they had received angry messages from voters over the trips. Johnsons office said Cummings made the 400 kilometre journey after his wife showed symptoms, to ensure his four-year-old son could be properly cared for by relatives if he too fell ill. The newspapers have since reported that Cummings was seen in northern England on other occasions. The government has denied this and Johnson did not answer a question about whether he knew about the additional trips. The trips have fuelled anger among the millions who have stuck to the governments coronavirus guidelines that a person who displays symptoms must stay home for seven days, with the rest of that persons household doing the same for 14 days. Johnson said he understood why people might feel so confused but really having looked at what happened, I really think most people will understand what he was doing. Some Conservatives broke ranks on Sunday to call for Cummings to go. Several said they had been inundated with messages from furious constituents who had obeyed the rules under great personal hardship. As much as I despise any baying pitchfork-led trials by social media, Im unconvinced by the PMs defence of Cummings, tweeted Conservative lawmaker David Warburton. One prominent Conservative activist, Tim Montgomerie, said on Twitter: Tonight, Im really embarrassed to have ever backed Boris Johnson for high office. The coronavirus pandemic seems to have affected donations to the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust, which was constituted by the Centre for the construction of Ram temple in Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya. Devotees have donated around Rs 4.70 crore solar through online transfers in two bank accounts in the State Bank of Indias main branch in Ayodhya opened in March. One of them has around Rs 2 crore and the remaining amount is in another. The trust has received donations of around Rs 4.70 crore till date. Once the construction work of the Ram Mandir begins, donations will increase, a member of the trust, who did not want to be named, said. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has said donations made to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra are eligible for deduction under Section 80G of Income Tax Act, 1961. The trust and the VHP are optimistic that once the coronavirus scare subsides and the bhoomi pujan at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya takes place for the construction of Ram Mandir, the focus will again shift to the temple, Sharad Sharma, regional spokesperson of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to take part in the bhumi pujan or ground laying ceremony in Ayodhya in April but the ceremony was deferred due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the much-awaited ceremony is expected only after the lockdown is lifted and the virus scare subsides. The trust also has Rs 12 crore as fixed deposit in another bank, which it received from the former receiver of the Ram Janmabhoomi after its formation. It has also received some gold ornaments from the receiver and Rs 1 crore from the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, which spearheaded the Ram Mandir movement across the country since the 1990s. However, these have not yet been transferred in the two current accounts of the new trust. The Supreme Court had appointed divisional commissioner of Ayodhya, formerly known as Faizabad, as the receiver of the Ram Janmabhoomi. However, after the formation of the new trust, divisional commissioner MP Agarwal handed over the charge to Ayodhya Naresh Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, a member of the trust. In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But in any portfolio, there are likely to be some stocks that fall short of that benchmark. We regret to report that long term Amsterdam Commodities N.V. (AMS:ACOMO) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 30% in three years, versus a market decline of about 1.5%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 12% in the last 90 days. Of course, this share price action may well have been influenced by the 15% decline in the broader market, throughout the period. Check out our latest analysis for Amsterdam Commodities In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. Amsterdam Commodities saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 3.1% per year, over the last three years. The share price decline of 11% is actually steeper than the EPS slippage. So it's likely that the EPS decline has disappointed the market, leaving investors hesitant to buy. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). ENXTAM:ACOMO Past and Future Earnings May 25th 2020 It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Amsterdam Commodities's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Amsterdam Commodities's TSR for the last 3 years was -19%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective Although it hurts that Amsterdam Commodities returned a loss of 3.7% in the last twelve months, the broader market was actually worse, returning a loss of 14%. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it's worse than the annualised loss of 1.2% over the last half decade. While some investors do well specializing in buying companies that are struggling (but nonetheless undervalued), don't forget that Buffett said that 'turnarounds seldom turn'. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Amsterdam Commodities better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Amsterdam Commodities (1 makes us a bit uncomfortable) that 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 companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on NL exchanges. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The Taoiseach has issued a staunch defence of his decision to have a picnic with friends in the Phoenix Park on Sunday afternoon. In a statement, Leo Varadkars spokesperson insisted the Taoiseach broke no laws, breached no regulations and observed public health guidance. The comments came after photographs circulated on social media showing the Taoiseach and his partner Matthew Barrett picnicking with friends in the Dublin City Centre park. However, last week, Department of the Taoiseach Assistance Secretary General Liz Canavan urged people not to have picnics in public areas during the first phase of lockdown restrictions being eased. She said: "If you're visiting a public amenity try not to stay too long at the site or have picnics. Please do your exercise and then go home." Expand Close Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Phoenix Park / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Phoenix Park Read More On Sunday, Mr Varadkar and Mr Barrett met friends at the Wellington Monument in the Phoenix Park. Tonight, his spokesperson said: Last Sunday afternoon, he and his partner met two friends in the Phoenix Park. As is allowed in Phase One, this involved a group of four people meeting outdoors who were within 5km of home and stayed physically apart. Government guidelines allow people to spend time in the outdoors within 5km of their home while continuing to observe social distancing and good hygiene. There are no specific Government guidelines on eating outdoors or picnics, he added. The spokesperson also addressed the Taoiseachs decision to move to a state-owned residence on the Farmleigh Estate during the Covid-19 pandemic. Regarding Stewards Lodge, a four bedroom house on the grounds of Farmleigh, security is provided by the Taoiseach's regular Garda security detail, IT and home office supports by the Department of the Taoiseach, he said. There are no staff and no domestic services are provided. As has been the practice for many years, the Taoiseach pays a nightly fee for the use of the house, he added. Hundreds of people wearing face masks and gloves boarded early morning flights to their hometowns and workplaces from the Delhi airport on Monday as India resumed domestic services after two months. IMAGE: A passenger is screened as she arrives at the Prayagraj Airport, following the resumption of domestic flights after a gap of two months owing to COVID-19 lockdown, in Prayagraj, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo Flight operations had remained shut for two months owing to the nationwide lockdown necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic. Those who took first flights from the Indira Gandhi International Airport included paramilitary personnel, army men, students, and migrants, who failed to book a ticket on the special trains being run by the railways. Many said they shelled out more to reach the airport as there were limited public transport options available. With trains running full and inter-state buses remaining off the roads, Sandeep Singh, 19, spent Rs 5,500 to reach Delhi from Dehradun where he studies. "I remained stuck in my PG (pay guest accommodation). Mummy and papa were worried. I am taking the first flight home," he said. IMAGE: A worker sanitises the luggage of passengers leaving from Chaudhary Charan Singh airport, in Lucknow, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo Aamir Afzal, a mechanical engineer, who had come to Delhi on an official visit on May 23, was among those who took an early morning flight to reach Patna to celebrate Eid with family and friends. I had been staying in a hotel in Mahipalpur with my co-worker. The hotel charged us Rs 900 per day. We could not get a confirmed ticket on a train back home, he said. Due to the lesser number of trains, the tickets get sold out within 5-10 minutes. It is difficult for a person to book a ticket using a mobile phone, Afzal said. Afzal's friend Rahid Ali said he was happy he would be able to join his family in Bihar's Begusarai district on Eid. But it will be a muted affair as so many homeless and hungry migrants who cannot afford to travel on train or flight are still stuck in various parts of the country. It doesn't suit one to celebrate the festival in such circumstances, he said. Scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended on March 25, when the Centre imposed a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. It was announced last Thursday that one-third of pre-lockdown domestic flights will operate from Monday. International scheduled commercial passenger flights remain suspended. IMAGE: Passengers arrive to catch flights from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, on Monday. Photograph: Kunal Patil/PTI Photo Delhi airport saw its first departure at 4.45 am to Pune while Mumbai airport's first departure was at 6.45 am to Patna, according officials, who also said that the country will see around 600 services on Monday. A few people travelled long distances only to find that their flights had been cancelled. Naik Satish Kumar's Kolkata-bound flight got cancelled as the state decided not to resume operations till May 28. I travelled all the way from Ambala (in Haryana) on a bus to take a 6 am flight to Kolkata. When I reached here, I got to know the flight had been cancelled. I am returning home now, he said. Excited to meet his two-year-old daughter, Santu Mandal, a resident of West Bengal's Bardhaman district, reached the airport along with his brother, Nasiruddin Mandal, at 1 am, unaware that the flight to Kolkata had been cancelled. The Mandal brothers, who are engaged in hand embroidery, spent Rs 12,000 to book the tickets 'because we could not get a confirmed train ticket'. IMAGE: Passengers wait at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. Photograph: PTI Photo It is the first time Sudhir Kumar will be on a plane. The army man posted in Punjab's Bhatinda district says he never considered taking a flight home earlier as train travel was convenient and cheap. But trains are full already, he said. The airport staff wearing face shields and masks were seen asking passengers to follow social distancing norms. A few travellers reached Terminal-3 wearing full personal protective gear. Airline crew present at the terminal said the check-in process, printing of boarding pass, and frisking has been made contact-less. Air hostesses were seen wearing protective gear, security officials at the entry gates wore face masks, face shields and gloves, while passengers maintained physical distance in queues. The Union Health Ministry in its guidelines issued for domestic flights has advised airlines not to board anyone showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus. All passengers are required to wear face masks and download Aarogya Setu application on their mobile phones. Enrolments in Victorian TAFE courses made free by the state government have almost doubled in the past year, led by a 118 per cent surge in female students. New government data to be released on Tuesday shows its $172 million free TAFE roll-out in high-demand professions also triggered a doubling in enrolments among mature-aged and previously unemployed students. Sarah Rhodes-Smith, 52, enrolled in a nursing diploma last year having worked in admin all her life. Credit:Jason South The education union says this boom, coupled with an expected hike in demand for practical courses after the coronavirus pandemic, exacerbates the need for the government to address teacher shortages and bulging class sizes. From 2019 the Andrews government made more than 50 TAFE and pre-apprenticeship courses free for in-demand jobs such as nursing, construction and disability care. ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- Ive fallen and I cant get up from the television commercials has become a long-standing joke. But its not a joke to senior citizens or their loved ones. Among worries seniors have, two of the larger ones are of falling and not being able to get help or of dying alone and no one is aware. The press the button around your neck device is one solution. But another one is now being offered by the Ohio Department of Aging. It is a free, daily, computerized check-in call for those older than 60. Deborah Huff, executive director of the Rocky River Senior Center, said: We are so very pleased that the state has taken this initiative to offer this program to every Ohio senior. Not all seniors are connected to family and friends who are able to check on them during this COVID-19 pandemic, or even when there is not a national crisis. Huff said such a program would be difficult for individual communities to start up and administer. Calling people individually is time consuming and requires many volunteers, she said. But does a computerized call take the place of a personal call? While a computer-generated call does not take the place of personal contact, it does allow people who are socially isolated to have a connection and receive assistance if something were to happen to them," Huff said. "In most communities, a calling system has been an underutilized system, but with COVID-19, we see the value that a program like this provides. Since the state is offering this, family members can enroll people living anywhere in Ohio in the program. Rocky River Fire Chief Aaron Lenart also likes the new program. The senior check-in I feel is a good service, he said. It allows for some security for our seniors, knowing that someone is checking in to see if they are doing OK. As far as service impacts, I am OK with whatever impact may occur (to the fire department). The goal is to make sure our seniors get checked on and, if they require services, then lets get them the proper help to keep them safe and secure, he said. To register for Staying Connected, call 1-833-632-2428. A person answers the call and transfers the call to the Staying Connected program. If the line is busy, a recording says to leave a name and message with a contact number and the call will be returned. As an alternative, one can go to https://aging.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/aging/ at the Ohio Department of Aging. This is a great opportunity, said Huff. I would encourage people to help elderly family members and neighbors with sign-up. Read more from the West Shore Sun. Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and former Karnataka CM Sadananda Gowda on Monday returned from Delhi to Bengaluru after the operations of domestic flights resumed. The minister was asked about the institutional quarantine that the state has mandated, holding that there are certain exemptions with regards to his own self, citing his position of responsibility. 'There are certain exemptions' Gowda said, "Practically, the guidelines are applicable to each and every citizen of the country but there are certain exemption clauses. There are certain people who are exempted from quarantine when they hold certain responsible positions." Citing the example of doctors and nurses, he asked if doctors and nurses are not allowed to enter hospitals, will it be possible to reduce COVID-19 spread? "If the supply of medicines is not properly done, what can doctors do for patients, if supply and other things are not properly done by the government, is it not the failure of government? So I am a minister heading that ministry and I should see that there should be an efficient supply of medicines," Gowda said. He added that he could have come by a chartered flight from Delhi but he chose not to because he is a minister and he has also installed Aarogya Setu app. Gowda will also attend a meeting with Karnataka ministers regarding the supply of medicines in the state. He informed that there were 11 people in the flight along with him. Domestic flights resume in Karnataka As domestic air travel resumed on Monday after nearly two months of COVID-19 induced lockdown, the city's Kempegowda International Airport will see nearly 107 flights departing and about a hundred arrivals, as it begins operations. The first flight out was an Air Asia aircraft to Ranchi that departed at around 5:30 am with about 176 passengers, while the first arrival was a flight from Chennai at about 7:35 am with around 113 passengers. READ | Serum Institute of India begins 3rd phase clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine on patients The Karnataka government has said that the people coming from high COVID-19 prevalent states-Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh- will have to undergo institutional quarantine for a period of seven days and charges to be borne by the passengers. READ | 'CM ordered 1k aid for 23 lakh migrants; 8000 Covid violators fined, given masks': UP govt After their COVID test comes out negative (swab should be taken between 5-7 day after their arrival) using pool testing, they should be sent for home quarantine for another seven days. Those coming from other low prevalence states have been asked to follow 14 days of home quarantine. READ | Delhi Airport resumes ops but with a difference: PPE kiosks, sanitising carpets & more In special cases where businessmen are coming for urgent work, they are permitted without the necessity of quarantine if they bring the negative test report of COVID-19 from ICMR approved laboratory and it should not be more than two days older from the date of travel. In case they don't have such certificate they have to undergo coronavirus test and stay in paid institution quarantine till the test result comes out. WATCH | Staff conducts sanitisation inside Delhi-Bhubaneswar flight after passengers exit (With agency inputs) A man has been arrested after allegedly kidnapping a 17-year-old girl and forcing her to drive him and another woman through a coronavirus check point. Florida Keys residents Alexander Michael Sardinas, 37, of Tavernier and a 43-year-old woman from Islamorada attempted to enter the coronavirus highway checkpoint into the area on Thursday morning in a taxi, reported the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The pair were turned away after not being able to prove they were residents of Florida Keys - the area is currently closed to non-residents due to covid-19, reported Abc News. Florida Keys' residents Alexander Michael Sardinas, 37, of Tavernier and a 43-year-old woman from Islamorada allegedly forced a 17-year old to drive them through a coronavirus checkpoint Mr Sardinas and the woman then approached a 17-year-old girl - also a Florida Keys resident - in a Publix supermarket parking lot in Homestead, 30 miles north of Upper Keys, and allegedly threatened to harm her if she did not drive them across the checkpoint to Tavernier, said police. The victim did as asked and drove the two through the checkpoint without alerting checkpoint authorities as they checked her driving licence. Police said the victim was too scared to raise the alarm. Once she had dropped off Sardinas at a gas station, and the woman at a pharmacy, the victim, who was not injured, rang a family member who alerted police. Mr Sardinas and the woman then approached a 17-year-old girl - also a Florida Keys' resident - in a Publix supermarket parking lot in Homestead, 30 miles north of Upper Keys Both Sardinas and the woman were found and questioned by police soon after, and did not deny being in the car with the young woman, police reported. The woman form Islamorada was not arrested, however Sardinas was charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment after being identified in a line up by the victim. Police say more arrests and charges could take place regarding the case, reports Abc News. Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said in a statement: 'I am relieved this suspect is currently sitting in jail and the young victim in this case was not seriously hurt.' On Friday March 21th 2020, the Fula men, who live in the town of Gabu, in the northeast of Guinea-Bissau, did not meet to pray in their mosques. The containment measures adopted by the whole country to face the COVID-19 emergency introduced a curfew from 11 am, prohibiting people from gathering. The police have guaranteed the respect of these rules in cities but in the tabankas, the villages in the Region of Gabu, it has not been so. Saico Embalo, the central regulo of the area, held his Friday speech at 8 pm on Syntchan Occo Radio, raising the awareness of the Fula people about the imminent emergency, and inviting them to behave according to the government rules. At the end of his speech Saico spoke to the disobedient in Pulaar, the Fula language, saying fule ko rime de, which can be translated to the Fulas are honest. By using the word rime, plural of dimo, he also referred to responsibility and freedom as a blood link to genealogy, to ethics, and to good behaviour among the Fula. The task of Fula regulos is historically linked to the organization of Fula society in terms of justice, agriculture, and more broadly of any social questions of the population, and is taken into great consideration among its members. In the history of the country, the regulos have faced various conflict situations, mediating firstly with the Portuguese colonists and then with the single-party government of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), incorporating contradictory colonial and socialist logics. There is an ordinary ethics, as Michael Lambek has defined it, to which human beings cannot help submitting. In a silent pact, which puts relationships into the foreground, humans are everywhere cognitively and emotionally predisposed to a moral sensitivity, to quote Signe Howell. Referring to this quality, Jarrett Zigon has spoken of embodied moral dispositions as a non-reflexive layout of our social everyday life. Although these statements tell us little about the content of the various locally constructed moral sensibilities, they help shift the question of such sensibilities from the what to the how. Such embodied morals can be interrupted by ethical moments, or critical situations in which the right thing to do is not recognised or questioned. In these moments, in which the conscious awareness of ethical dilemmas and moral questioning arise, the debate around ethics becomes explicit. The rapid diffusion of the new coronavirus from its epicenter, Wuhan, in January and the declaration of a pandemic by the WHO, on March 11th 2020, has made the world situation critical. The protection of the value of life has become a global problem, and local responses have differed according to the severity of the health situation in different areas, as well as the different structural conditions necessary to contain the diffusion. Everywhere, however, the mechanisms of the virus action have set off reflection on peoples behaviour, responsibility and on damage minimization both in economic terms and in terms of peoples health. The ethical discourse has become explicit and shared. In Italy, after the March 9th lockdown, the call to responsibility spread rapidly online with the viral message #iorestoacasa, proposed by mass and social media, through politicians, athletes and figures in show business. The deprivation of personal freedom has been turned into a personal choice, with a growing emphasis on its ethical dimension. Whoever did not subscribe to this idea would be considered irresponsible. The fear of the infection had acquired primacy over human relationships, thereby turning social isolation into a moral obligation. On the other hand, the pandemic has reawakened new practices of solidarity and has given new life to rituals of giving, in particular to the weakest in society, through anonymous offers of food and hospitality. Moreover, the willingness to renounce a part of individual freedom cannot be seen only as a passive acceptance of the rules of a state of exception it is also based on the cooperative nature that characterizes Western moral sensitivity. If the speeches and the practices of risk-containment have been focused on the protection of life, seen as a primary, indisputable, universal good, disparities in culture, class, and age have emerged as particular demographics that the virus has targeted. In Italy, the majority of victims are old people, who are more vulnerable and are destined to die alone without a funeral. Statistically, the youngest seem to be spared even though they embody the difficulties of living with the quarantine on their skin. In order to prevent the diffusion of the virus, the adults are called to their responsibility by being asked to not go to work or be productive, which is the opposite of what is usually asked of them. This apparent inversion resides on solid continuities, such as the consideration of altruism as moral value. Regulo Embalos irony elicits this process of questioning ordinary ethics. Referring to the disobedient, he has pointed out that the Fulas are honest, free and responsible, meaning that they should not go against the government rules. At the same time, it insinuated that the right thing to do at the moment is the opposite of what is usually considered ethical by the believers: breaking the common moral and religious rules. In both the Italian and Guinean cases, the ethical message appears contradictory in different ways, proposing the reversal of ordinary moral rules amid this extraordinary moment. In both cases, the reversal of moral rules has been promoted by the authorities and epitomized by people via a top-down process, but the Regulos explicit use of irony has widened the margins for negotiation from below. Irony is a highly relational mechanism that requires inference and exempts the speaker from liability of expressing a clear view when this proves to be difficult or contradictory. Irony is the process of encountering and accepting ambiguity. The density of Saicos irony hides an extreme consideration of his interlocutors honesty, which is regarded as biologically determined. At the same time, his leadership depends on the ability to induce them to a reasonable dialogue with the historically and culturally connoted rules of the State. Looking through the Fula of Gabu, cultural relativism, usually linked to space-time coordinates, has ironically and tragically collapsed in the uncertainty of the here and now. This essay, more anecdotal than scientific, suggests how anthropology, put in check by immobility and by the strength of contingency, has the opportunity to rethink ethical categories by studying local ethical dimensions in-depth where they are made explicit. Further, irony as an ethnographic research tool deserves to be taken seriously. Viviana Luz Toro Matuk is an anthropologist, Adjunct Professor of Applied Ethics at United Campus of Malta and co-founder of LIB, Laboratorio de Investigacion Biocentrica, in the International Biocentric Popular University Scuolatoro in Italy. She obtained her PhD with a thesis on Freedom among the Fula after the Liberation War in Guinea-Bissau, in the University of Milano-Bicocca. Bibliography Howell S., (ed. 1997). The Ethnography of Moralities. New York: Routledge. Lambek, M. (eds 2010). Ordinary Ethics: Anthropology, Language, and Action. New York: Fordham Press. Zigon, J. (2009). Within a Range of Possibilities: Morality and Ethics in Social Life. Ethnos: Journal of Anthropology, 74:2, 251-276, DOI: 10.1080/00141840902940492 Share this: Share Email Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr LinkedIn [view academic citations] [hide academic citations] The Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued interim directions to completely seize the premises of LG Polymers at RR Venkatapuram village in Visakhapatnam district where the gas leak mishap took place Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued interim directions to completely seize the premises of LG Polymers at RR Venkatapuram village in Visakhapatnam district where the gas leak mishap took place. "The premises of the Company shall be completely seized and no one will be allowed to enter including the Directors of the Company," the Court directed today. "The Committee, if any, appointed wants to inspect the premises, they are at liberty but they shall put a note on the Register maintained at the gate of the Company regarding the said inspection and while returning, a note regarding the act done in the premise also be noted," the court said. "We further directed that none of the assets, movable or immovable, fixture, machinery and contents shall be shifted without the leave of the Court," the court said. "As stated before, the Court, the Directors of the Company have surrendered their passports and they are in India, however, we direct that their passports shall not be released without the leave of the Court and they be not allowed to go outside India without leave." The court said, "It be also apprised whether, during the lockdown period, any permissions were obtained to restart the operations; if not, action taken report in this regard be filed." "In regard to the grievances shown regarding appointment of various Committees by the National Green Tribunal, central Government and State Government; the Central and State Government are at liberty to apprise as to which Committee shall fulfill the purpose to answer all the queries in issue." "We direct the respondents to file the compliance report by 26 May. List these cases on 28 May," the court added. Styrene gas which leaked from the gas plant of LG Polymers in RR Venkatapuram village in Visakhapatnam district on 7 May, had claimed 11 lives and had left several people ill. London: Britain has launched a new review into using Huawei in the country's 5G networks, ahead of a Tory revolt over Prime Minister Boris Johnson's green light for the China-based vendor. Johnson's review comes just days after he flagged tougher foreign investment rules following the coronavirus pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China. Britain's decision to allow Huawei to take part in the construction of its 5G network has raised concerns in Canberra. Credit:Bloomberg A spokesperson for the British government said: "The security and resilience of our networks is of paramount importance. "Following the US announcement of additional sanctions against Huawei, the National Cyber Security Centre is looking carefully at any impact they could have to the UK's networks." Mike J. Evangelista played an expanded role at the 2020 Madison Memorial Day service compared with his duties in previous years. During a Memorial Day program held on the morning of May 25 in front of Jay Wilson Post 112 of the American Legion in Madison Village, Evangelista said he traditionally introduces a guest speaker at the annual event. But this year, Evangelista himself delivered the keynote speech, during a Madison Memorial Day program with a format revised to keep the community safe and healthy in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Instead of holding a traditional parade on East and West Main Street followed by a program with many spectators in Madison Village Park, the communitys 2020 Memorial Day event took place on a smaller scale outside of American Legion Post 112 at 6671 Middle Ridge Road. The program gave Madison residents and members of three military organizations in the community an opportunity on Memorial Day to honor Americans who have died in our nations wars, and did so in ways that complied with state-mandated social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 outbreak. This years event kicked off at 11 a.m. with a car parade during which participants drove by Post 112, where the audience for the procession consisted mostly of veterans in uniform. The car parade, consisting of about 60 vehicles, had assembled in the Madison High School parking lot on Burns Road, then proceeded east on Middle Ridge, where the caravan was viewed by a line of about 50 veterans from American Legion Posts 112 and 601, as well as Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8548, which all are based in Madison. Some of the drivers or passengers of those vehicles displayed American flags, as they smiled and waved at the veterans who stood on the north side of Middle Ridge in front of Post 112. Evangelista, who is commander of American Legion Post 112 as well as Madison Community Memorial Day coordinator, said after the ceremony that he wanted to thank everyone who participated in the car parade. Im so glad that the community came out to share this special day with us, he said. Memorial Day is to remember the ones who arent with us and they helped us remember. Fantastic we enjoyed it. All the veterans who were here appreciated it, too. After the parade, veterans from the three organizations gathered around a group of flagpoles outside the post, where a ceremony that including the laying of wreaths, an invocation, and rifle salutes took place. Although the program was billed in advance as a private function exclusively for veterans from the three Madison-based organizations, some members of the general public attended, as well. Everyone on the Post 112 property abided by social-distancing guidelines throughout the program. Traditionally, members of American Legion Posts 112 and 601 and VFW Post 8548 spend the early part of each Memorial Day by holding services at all Madison community cemeteries. However, because of COVID-19 concerns, the tributes paid during the cemetery services were rolled into the single program held at Post 112. We meet here today to remember our friends, our neighbors and our loved ones who served their country honorably, who are no longer with us, Evangelista said during his keynote speech on May 25. We also remember those heroes who are resting in our community cemeteries South Madison Cemetery, Fairview, Dock Road, North Madison, Route 20, Route 84, Middle Ridge, Arcola it is our duty. In addition, Evangelista said that all citizens should take time to honor the nations war dead on Memorial Day. Its not just the duty of one servant in uniform to remember, like us today, but every man, woman and child who woke up this morning, in the land of the free, he said. Photo credit: John Lamparski - Getty Images From ELLE Mary-Kate Olsen officially filed for divorce from French banker Pierre Olivier Sarkozy today, as New York courts began allowing lawsuits and divorces to be filed online following coronavirus closures. Earlier this month, Olsen filed "emergency" divorce proceedings from her husband of four years, but it was denied. Sources told the New York Post that Olsen was trying to rush filing the papers because Sarkozy ended the lease on their Gramercy Park apartment, which cost $29,000 a month. She was reportedly worried about being displaced from her home during a global pandemic. "My husband expects me to move out of our home on [May 18] in the middle of New York City being on pause due to COVID-19," she wrote in the filing. A judge ruled that the filing wasn't an essential matter and would have to wait; Olsen moved to the Hamptons, per Page Six. "The original filing was rejected by the New York County Clerk because they did not follow the essential matter procedure," New York courts spokesman Lucian Chalfen told E! News. "They refiled under the essential matter procedure and the matter was referred to the ex-party State Supreme Court Judge. He just decided that it is not an essential matter so they can't file anything at this point." The two were married in November, 2015 in New York City. The two are 17 years apart. "Everyone has an opinion," Olsen told The Wall Street Journal at the time. "I find it's better to focus on what's in front of you and to keep putting one foot in front of the other." You Might Also Like Wikipedia will implement a new rule and code of conduct to fight against "toxic behavior." Read More: This is 'The New Normal' for Diners, Movie Goers, and Clubber in the time of Coronavirus Wikipedia Takes Action The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs the runs site has voted on new measures to be implemented and will be finalized by the end of the year. If you don't know, Wikipedia is a site that is written and updated by the site's volunteers. Of the many volunteers, particularly women and LGBTQ, have complained about the abuse and harassment of other editors of the information site. Wikimedia's board of trustees has reiterated that maintaining civility was one of their core values. Katherine Maher, the chief executive officer of Wikimedia Foundation, has said, "We must work together to create a safe, inclusive culture, where everyone feels welcome, that their contributions are valued, and that their perspective matters. Our goal is all the world's knowledge, and this is an essential step on our journey." What New Rules Will be Implemented The foundation's code of conduct for its members will include limiting access or even banning them if they are ever caught and proven that they have violated the terms and conditions of the foundation. Doing so will create a retroactive review process for harassment, which took place before the new rules were set. Wikipedia has widely known to the world as one of the most trusted sources for gathering information. However, several complaints regarding gender inequality and harassment have been happening behind the curtain for almost a decade. There was a study performed by the University of Washington on the gender gap in Wikipedia editors, and they found that many of the female and LGBTQ editors fear for their safety. The editors got so many complaints from female editors in which male editors were the ones causing this. An article from the New York Times back in 2019 also spoke about the concerns that editors who are members of the LGBTQ community have received death threats. Read More: Over 100 People On-Board Inside a Pakistani Plane Crashes in Residential Area One Form of Harassment Received by Wikipedia Editors Unlike Facebook or Twitter, Wikipedia is not a formal social media website, but editors can interact with each other and exchange and edit the content on a page after it has been written. The harassment takes place where after one page is done being edited, another volunteer would remove or change the work just a few minutes after. This forces the writer to redo the whole thing again, which will lead to endless editing battles between both parties. The new rules would take place in two phases, by which the first would be to include setting policies for in-person as well as virtual events and policies for technical spaces to include chat rooms and other Wikimedia projects. The second phase will be to outline enforcement and sanctions as when the rules will be approved by the end of the year, that is all according to the board's plan. Read More: NASA Gives SpaceX the 'Go For Launch' on May 27 But Needs More Tests Before 'Dragon' Can Fly 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A landlord by name Victor Stephen Nana Kankam has allegedly shot and killed budding musician Spark Benjamine at Ofankor, a suburb in Accra. Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in According to a report by Myjoyonline.com, the landlord murdered his tenant because he refused to vacate a room he rented out to him. The victim was initially rushed to the police station with multiple injuries before he was subsequently transported to the Police Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. READ ALSO: COVID-19: 2,070 patients recover from 6,808 cases in Ghana DSP George Asare, the district commander and his team who went to the crime scene said they saw a pool of blood at the entrance of the deceaseds rented apartment. Four spent shells were retrieved at the scene. The police proceeded to suspect Nana Kankams residence at Ofankor and arrested him. They searched his room and retrieved two pump action guns loaded with seven and eight rounds of cartridges each. The police also retrieved 32 live cartridges. READ ALSO: University graduate makes history after flying Air Force Thunderbird The suspect has been detained to assist the police in their investigations. The body deposited at the police hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy. YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) has mounted a fierce defence for the rights of the over 15 million persons who subscribe to its communication network and other services. The defence was contained in an affidavit that the telecommunication giant filed in a case at the Human Rights High Court in Accra on May 20, 2020. Ghanaian Pastors are crying because of the lack of offerings and tithes - Woman explains | #Yencomgh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: YEN.com.gh Dear readers, On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, The Syrian Observer will not be publishing any articles Monday, May 25. We will be back in action Tuesday, May 26. Happy Eid to all our readers around the world. Thanks, The Syrian Observer Dear readers, On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, The Syrian Observer will not be publishing any articles Monday, May 25. We will be back in action Tuesday, May 26. Happy Eid to all our readers around the world. Thanks, The Syrian Observer Due to a decline in infection rate, the team at Oxford University developing a Covid-19 vaccine believe that the chances of the trial yielding "no result" is now 50 per cent, The Telegraph reported. The University of Oxford last week announced that the advance human trial of the vaccine will involve up to 10,260 volunteers across the UK. While explaining when the results of the trial will be available, the university said that to assess whether the vaccine works to protect from Covid-19, the statisticians in the team team will compare the number of infections in the ... Nigerian sentenced to 26 years after forcing Christian teen into Islamic marriage Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal court in Nigeria sentenced a man to 26 years in prison after he abducted a Christian teenager from her home and forced her into an Islamic marriage in 2015. A federal high court in Bayelsa State on Thursday sentenced Yunusa Dahiru for the abduction of Ese Oruru, according to Nigerian media outlets. Oruru was abducted from her mothers shop in the Bayelsa state in August 2015 at the age of 14 by Dahiru. The child was taken across state lines to the Muslim-majority Kano state, where she was allegedly raped, forced to accept Islam, and married to her captor. Additionally, her name was changed to Aisha, the name of one of the wives of Islam's prophet Muhammad. Her abduction gained media attention as her parents raised public awareness. Months later, state police rescued Oruru in February 2016. It was revealed that the child was five months pregnant with her daughter. Charles Oruru, Eses father, praised the sentencing decision by the court in an interview with the independent Nigerian daily newspaper The Guardian. Im very happy and grateful because I see that all my suffering is not in vain, the father said. This case will serve as a deterrent to others who traffic peoples children. I thank God that truth has prevailed. I and my family are very happy. According to the newspaper, Dahiru was charged with conspiracy to commit an abduction in violation of an anti-trafficking law. Oruru and his wife say they faced much harassment in their quest to get their daughter back. According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a nongovernment organization based in the United Kingdom that operates in over 20 countries, Rose Oruru was insulted and threatened by the chief of the village in Kano when she tried to get her daughter back. Although the mother petitioned the local emir for her daughters release, her request was unsuccessful. CSW notes that on two occasions, the mother was insulted and assaulted by people in the village as well as refused access to her daughter. According to CSW, Ese Orurus release came one day after the Nigerian newspaper The Punch launched its viral #FreeEse social media campaign. Criminal proceedings against Dahiru began in March 2016 but he was initially let out on bail. However, he was later rearrested for failing to appear in court. We welcome this conviction and hope it will mark the beginning of an erosion of the impunity surrounding these crimes, deterring potential perpetrators and their enablers, CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said in a statement. It is unacceptable that young girls in Sharia states continue to endure multiple violations of their rights to freedom of religion or belief, education, parental care and liberty and security of person, among others. In Nigeria, many girls and young women have been kidnapped on several different occasions by different actors like Boko Haram, Islamic State extremists, radical Fulani herdsmen and roadside gangs. While some abductions are for ransom payments, hundreds of schoolgirls have been abducted by Islamic extremists in northeast Nigeria, many of whom were married off to militants. The only difference between these abductions and those committed by terrorist factions in north east Nigeria is that instead of trafficking underage girls to ungoverned spaces, these abductors attempt to hide behind traditional authorities who may have condoned their actions, Thomas explained. We urge the Nigerian federal authorities to become more proactive in ensuring the immediate return of abducted minors to their families, and to consistently prosecute anyone implicated in such crimes to the fullest extent of the law. According to Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, abductions and forced marriages of Christian girls happens a lot in the non-militant context in Muslim-majority northern Nigeria. There are even cases of Christian girls who have been abducted from the south and married off in the north, an Open Doors dossier on Nigeria reads. Nigeria ranks as the 12th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. In March, The Hausa Christians Foundation reported on how a Christian girl named Sadiya Amos was able to escape from her captors and reunite with her family after she was kidnapped and forced into an Islamic marriage in January. Last October, six Christian schoolgirls and two staff members were abducted from their school by Fulani radicals in Kaduna state. They were released nearly a month later. Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a news conference on the situation of the coronavirus (COVID-2019), in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Organization on Monday temporarily suspended its trial of hydroxycholoroquine, the drug backed by President Donald Trump to combat the deadly coronavirus, over safety concerns. "The Executive Group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity Trial while the safety data is reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at a news briefing. Tweet "The other arms of the trial are continuing," Tedros said. "This concern relates to the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloraquine in Covid-19. I wish to reiterate that these drugs are accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria." Hydroxychloroquine, which Trump has repeatedly touted as a potential game changer in fighting the coronavirus, is an anti-malarial drug that's also used by doctors to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Numerous clinical trials are looking to see if it's effective in fighting Covid-19, but it is not a proven treatment. But despite the lack of scientific evidence presenting hydroxychloroquine as a viable coronavirus treatment option, Trump told reporters earlier this month that he has been taking the drug to avoid contracting the disease. "I happen to be taking it," Trump said during a roundtable event at the White House. He has since finished taking the drug, he said, NBC News reported. "Finished, just finished," he said in an interview that aired on Sinclair Broadcasting on Sunday. "And by the way, I'm still here." "A lot of good things have come out. You'd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front-line workers. Before you catch it. The front-line workers, many, many are taking it." The White House declined to comment. The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC. The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries, with more than 5.4 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 345,059 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 1.6 million cases in the United States and at least 97,000 deaths, according to the latest tallies. Japan's Nikkei gains, but Hong Kong's Hang Seng extends fall as crowds return to streets to protest crackdown bill by China. Financial markets in Singapore, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines were closed for a public holiday. Meanwhile, shares in Hong Kong decline for third day. As per reports, thousands participated in Sunday's protests after China formally proposed new national security laws on Friday during the opening session of the National People's Congress. Government departments in Hong Kong reportedly rallied behind Beijing's plans on Monday. China announced a new national security law, which, if implemented, would give Beijing more control over Hong Kong and may incite further pro-democracy protests in the city. China's announcement also drew criticism from US officials. White House national security advisor Robert O'Brien has reportedly said on Sunday that if Beijing goes ahead with implementing the controversial law, the U.S. government will likely impose sanctions on China. Two US Senators proposed sanctions on entities enforcing the law and the U.S. Commerce Department added 33 Chinese companies and institutions to a blacklist on Friday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that the US was potentially pushing toward 'a new Cold War' with China, reports added. Shares in the U.S. ended mixed on Friday, as investors gauged China-US tensions and amid ongoing uncertainty about the pace of economic recovery from the coronavirus. US markets are closed Monday for the Memorial Day holiday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Wall Street closed for the Memorial Day holiday , eyes turned to Europe with markets recording a generally positive session across the board, setting up the ASX for more gains this morning. At 6.50am AEST, futures are pointing to a gain of 47 points, or 0.8 per cent, at the open. 1. A thin days trade: Public holidays in the US and the UK made for a thin days trade in global markets. Volumes were very light, with market volatility somewhat subdued overall. Nevertheless, it proved a very positive start to the trading week. The ASX is set for more gains after a bumper Monday. Credit:Peter Rae Stocks climbed throughout Asia and Europe, while US Futures markets rallied too. Though certainly exaggerated due to lower liquidity in the market, market participants remain in a risk-taking mindset, as hopes for a rebound in the global economy continues to build. 2. Markets general look through US-China tensions, Hong Kong: The markets barely blinked at signs of greater geopolitical tensions building between the US and China over the weekend. Chinese and Hong Kong stocks finished the days trade in the green yesterday, fighting back from an early swoon, while the AUD/USD edged higher. On the first day of resumption of domestic flights on Monday amidst the lockdown, only three services touched down in Goa, while ten others were cancelled, state Health Secretary Nila Mohanan said. Mohanan, however, said reasons of the 10 cancellations among the 13 scheduled arrivals were not known. "The first flight landed from Bengaluru while the other two were from Delhi," she said. The standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the Goa government lays down that arriving passengers need to have a COVID-19 negative certificate from an ICMR-accredited lab, or must pay Rs 2,000 for testing or spend 14 days in home quarantine. Mohanan said there was no confusion among passengers about the SOP declared by the state government, adding that it would also apply to people who arrive in the state by road or train from Tuesday. She said tourists are discouraged from coming as the state government advisory clearly mentions that hotels are not operational. Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant thanked Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for keeping the number of flights low. "Thank you @HardeepSPuri Ji for considering my request to restrict the number of flights coming to Goa to bare minimum. With stringent measures in place, we expect that all non essential travel to the state will be discouraged, thereby strengthening Goa's fight against #COVID19," Sawant tweeted. The state's COVID-19 tally reached 67 on Monday after one person tested positive for novel coronavirus. Goa's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases: 67, new cases: one, deaths: nil, discharged: 19, active cases 48, Samples tested till date: 12,860. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SEATTLE, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lysosomal Storage Diseases (LSDs) are inherited disorders caused due to lack of specific enzymes that break down certain lipids or carbohydrates in the body cells. Gaucher disease is one of the most common LSDs. Fabry disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Hunter syndrome, Glycogen storage disease II (Pompe disease), and Tay-Sachs disease are some of the other examples of LSDs. The global lysosomal storage diseases therapeutics market is estimated to account for US$ 15,734.5 Mn in terms of value by the end of 2027. Market Drivers: Significant prevalence of LSDs is expected to boost growth of the global lysosomal storage diseases therapeutics market over the forecast period. For instance, according to a report updated by National Center for Biotechnology Information, in January 2020, the prevalence of Fabry disease in white, male populations was 1:17,000 to 1:117,000. Moreover, R&D in LSDs is also expected to aid in growth of the market. For instance, in March 2020, researchers from Lysosomal and Rare Disorders Research and Treatment Center U.S., reported that RANKL a biological pathway that acts as a bridge between the immune and skeletal systems on T lymphocytes, Osteopontin and MIP-1 decreased with Substrate Reduction Therapy suggesting that RANKL may be used as markers of bone disease progression in patients with Gaucher disease. Market Opportunities: Increasing awareness regarding LSDs is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in the global lysosomal storage diseases therapeutics market. For instance, MPS (Mucopolysaccrharidosis) Awareness Day is celebrated on 15th day of May annually worldwide to raise awareness among the people regarding MPS. Initiatives to collect information regarding the prevalence, treatment, and management of LSDs is also expected to aid in growth of the market. For instance, Sanofi Genzyme sponsors and administers the Pompe disease registry. Market Restraints: Although several therapies are available for the treatment of LSDs, there is no cure for the disorders, which is expected to limit growth of the global lysosomal storage diseases therapeutics market. Request for Sample PDF copy @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/3651 Key Takeaways: The global lysosomal storage diseases therapeutics market was valued at US$ 7,217.9 Mn in 2019 and is forecast to reach US$ 15,792.6 Mn by 2027 at a CAGR of 10.0% between 2020 and 2027. Increasing incidence and prevalence of Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) during the forecasted period is expected to drive the growth of the market. Enzyme replacement therapy segment in the global lysosomal storage diseases therapeutics market was valued at US$ 6,856.2 Mn in 2019 and is expected to reach US$ 14,938.7 Mn by 2027 at a CAGR of 10.0% during the forecast period. Increasing product approval during the forecast period is expected assist the growth of the segment The gaucher disease segment held dominant position in the global lysosomal storage diseases therapeutics market in 2018, accounting for 30.0% share in terms of value, followed by Mucopolysaccaridosis and Fabry Diseases, respectively. Increasing strategic collaboration of regulatory bodies for the development of novel innovative drugs is expected to boost the growth of segment over forecast period. Competitive Landscape: Major players operating in the global lysosomal storage diseases therapeutics market include, Shire plc, Pfizer, Inc., Sanofi, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Actelion Ltd., Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp., Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc., Quest Diagnostics, Amicus Therapeutics, Inc., CytRx Corporation, Orphazyme A/S, CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc., GC Pharma, and Cyclo Therapeutics, Inc. Key Developments: Major players in the market are focused on approval and launch of new products to expand their product portfolio. For instance, April 2020, CytRx Corporation highlighted that Orphazyme A/S has provided updated information regarding its projected filing of a New Drug Application (NDA) for arimoclomol in Niemann-Pick disease and its preparation for getting arimoclomol to patients. Buy-Now this Research report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/3651 Market Segmentation: Global Lysosomal Storage Diseases Therapeutics Market, By Treatment: Enzyme Replacement Therapy Stem Cell Therapy Substrate Reduction Therapy Others Global Lysosomal Storage Diseases Therapeutics Market, By Indication: Gaucher's Disease Fabry Disease Pompes Syndrome Mucopolysaccharidosis Others Global Lysosomal Storage Diseases Therapeutics Market, By End User: Hospitals Clinics Global Lysosomal Storage Diseases Therapeutics Market, By Geography: North America By Country: U.S. Canada Europe By Country: U.K. Germany Italy France Spain Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific By Country: China India Japan ASEAN Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America By Country: Brazil Mexico Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East: By Country: GCC Israel Rest of Middle East Africa By Country/Region: Central Africa South Africa North Africa The lockdown had slowed down the work of road construction in Maoist-infested pockets of Chhattisgarh. The state government had taken up a number of projects in the area, of which the road between Koleng and Netanaar was strategically most important. This is because the road would lead to the core of Tulsi Dongri village that happens to be Maoists liberated zone. The once strong influence in Koleng that Maoists had gradually subsided following the movement of security forces. But Tulsi Dongri remains a challenge for security personnel. It is still a stronghold of Maoists and ... A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crashed into a densely settled area near Karachi airport Friday afternoon, killing 97 of the 99 passengers and crew. Two passengers survived. No fatalities were confirmed on the ground, although many have been treated for injuries including burns. At least 19 houses were destroyed by the crashing aircraft. The Airbus A320 aircraft was flying from Lahore to Karachi after flight restrictions imposed as part of Prime Minister Imran Khans halfhearted lockdown measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted last week for domestic flights. Reportedly, the flight to Lahore was the second undertaken by this aircraft since the lockdown was lifted. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the crashed aircraft were recovered late Friday from the crash site in Model Colony, a residential area just a few kilometers from the Karachi airport. They are being handed over to an inquiry board formed by the government under its Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB). The board is expected to deliver a preliminary report within a month. The aircraft aborted its first attempt to land and crashed on its second attempt. There is no official explanation for the crash or the reasons for the failure of the first landing attempt. PIA CEO Arshad Malik claimed the aircraft was technically fit for flying and there was no obvious reason of accident, according to Radio Pakistan. The pilots reported a technical fault prior to the crash, according to Malik. An unnamed senior civil aviation official who spoke with Reuters suggested the plane had been unable to lower its undercarriage during the first landing attempt. Reporting in the local media is overshadowed by the accelerating spread of the coronavirus in the country, with deaths surpassing 1,150 during the weekend and over 55,000 cases. This is under conditions where Prime Minister Khan and his Islamic populist government have decided to end all lockdown measures and reopen markets and workplaces. According to a statement by Airbus, the aircraft had recorded 47,100 flight hours and 25,860 flight cycles. It entered service in 2004 and had operated under the PIA banner since 2014. The aircraft is fitted with CFM56-5B4/P engines manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture by GE Aviation, a division of General Electric, and Safran Aircraft Engines. A witness told Reuters that the aircraft first hit a mobile tower and crashed over houses. Reportedly, the plane came down on a narrow lane, somewhat minimizing the impact on the houses. However, the rescue efforts were made difficult and delayed due to the poor state of infrastructure. Fire trucks and ambulances struggled to get near the crash site, leaving the initial response to nearby residents. Most bodies recovered were charred beyond recognition and are now being kept in two Karachi hospital for the arrival of DNA records. Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan announced that 1 million rupees ($US6,206.61) would be paid to the families of each person who died in the crash and 500,000 rupees to each of the two survivors. One survivor had a broken leg and other bruises but was reportedly in good condition. He is believed to have been thrown with his seat from the plane during the crash. The other survivor, Muhammad Zubair, shared his harrowing experience with GeoTV from his hospital bed where he is receiving treatment for burns to his legs and hands. Describing the first landing attempt, Zubair said, When the pilot announced that we are landing in Karachi and he took the plane a bit down, two or three shocks were felt. The plane was in the air for 10 to 15 more minutes after its initial aborted landing attempt, according to eyewitnesses, but Flightradar24 data cited by Bloomberg shows it was nearing the ground five and a half minutes later. According to the rescue agency Edhi, some bodies recovered wore oxygen masks, indicating an emergency had been declared. Zubair said there was a hard crash minutes after the pilots announced the second landing and he fell unconscious. When he came back to his senses he saw smoke everywhere and could hear screams from all directions. I opened my seat belt and saw some lightI went towards the light. I had to jump down about 10 feet to get to safety, Zubair said. According to him the flight had been smooth until it neared Karachi. Dunya News, citing AAIB investigators, reported Sunday on scratch marks left by the aircraft on the runaway during its initial landing attempt without its landing gear lowered. The right engine touched ground first and then the left engine next. The communication between air traffic controllers and the pilots in the last moments of the flight was reported by Reuters based on a recording released by the tracking website liveatc.net. We are returning back, sir, we have lost engines, presumably a pilot is heard in the recording while the controllers clear both runaways for its landing. Moments later the recording ends with the man calling, Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! There have been several air disasters in the past decade in Pakistan. In 2016, a PIA flight crashed into a hillside, killing all 47 onboard. In 2012, a Bhoja Air flight crashed, killing all 127 onboard, leading to the shutdown of the privately-owned airline. In 2010, an Airblue flight, also privately owned, crashed, killing all 152 onboard in its attempt to land in dense fog and heavy monsoonal rain. PIA has been a longstanding target of the International Monetary Fund for privatization, but successive governments failed to sell it due to popular opposition among workers as well as the masses. The present Tehreek-e-Insaaf government hired international auditors to conduct a fresh examination of the loss-making utility, as part of the countrys IMF bailout package of US$6 billion last year. Bloomberg ranked PIA top of the list of airlines that it predicted will go bankrupt in the next two years. According to Bloomberg, a PIA representative said, losses and debt have become too much for the company to handle. New Delhi, May 25 : More than 15 young change makers from across the country who have been working on mainstreaming issues around menstrual health and hygiene participated in online workshops held by Youth Ki Awaaz as the World gears up for Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28. It was aimed to create powerful social media campaigns and scale the impact of their social justice projects online. These workshops have been running since October 2019 as part of the #PeriodPaath campaign in partnership with the Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), a body affiliated to the United Nations. Over 80 people have been trained on running successful and high-impact digital campaigns around menstrual hygiene related issues such as sustainability, gender-related issues, sanitation through the workshop online since the lockdown started in March. All of them are now a part of the YKA Action Network, which is an online community of other young change makers working to solve critical issues at scale. Prajna Raj Wankawalla, 15, from Mumbai is the founder of an NGO- Myselfesteen (MST). She started this NGO for mental health in February, 2020. MST serves as a platform for people to share their stories through short videos. This platform provides free counsellor services to women and girls if they feel low during their menstrual cycles and it is a perfect platform to share stories related to menstrual hygiene and to spread awareness about the same. Pravin Nikam, Jaipur Action Network Fellow, is a lawyer based in Pune. He is the Founder of ROSHNI Foundation which is a non-profit organisation. He plans to start a campaign with an objective to make Zilla Parishad, Ahmednagar, Pune, initiate Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) ToT sessions for Teachers in Ahmednagar, which will directly impact 600 teachers and indirectly help to reach 8,000 girls by December 2020. The trained teachers will provide psycho-social support to adolescent girls in school; and provide regular hygiene promotion classes in every school. The training will happen at district and block levels that will enable teachers to understand the importance of MHM and develop skills and capacities to address MHM in schools and at the local community level. Shalini Jha, Delhi Action Network Fellow, has started Project Alharh - a menstrual hygiene campaign which aims to normalise naturalise the idea of menstruation to create an enabling atmosphere in Bhagalpur district, Bihar, so menstruators can have stigma-free periods and can access menstrual products and services without shame. It aims to reach 6,000 adolescent girls from government and private schools and also to those out of school. Anjali Surana, 17, Kolkata, is an 11th grade student at Calcutta International School who founded a student-run organisation aiming to promote Gender Equality with a focus on Menstrual Inequity. FullStop raises funds to distribute eco-friendly reusable cloth pads to underprivileged girls alongside holding activity-based learning sessions with them to address issues such as MHM and SRH. In 2020 itself, FullStopp has directly helped over 500 girls and reached over 2,000 people. Anjali also hosted a virtual women's summit featuring lawyers, activists, actors, athletes and other accomplished women on International Workers Day to raise funds for workers affected by Covid-19. At these workshops, the young campaigners are taught how to design their own digital campaigns, define a problem statement or issue they wish to tackle; create strategies to address the different audience segments; employ social media tools and skills effectively and influence the media and target the right decision maker or policy makers to take assertive action on their demands. Over the course of next six months, each of them will be working on their own digital campaigns around a specific issue of menstrual hygiene management, which has been affected due to the Covid19 pandemic. The issues range from lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, lack of knowledge, lack of health and medical staff who can address concerns around menstrual hygiene, lack of education around menstrual hygiene since schools and colleges are shut. Each online campaign will be targeting a specific decision maker to come up with time bound and targeted solutions that address these concerns via means of a policy or guidelines. (Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in) (CNN) Boris Johnson has refused to sack Dominic Cummings, standing by his embattled chief aide despite a growing scandal in the UK over his reported decision to break lockdown restrictions multiple times. The Prime Minister said that Cummings had "no alternative" but to drive 260 miles across England to stay with his parents while his wife was sick with COVID-19 symptoms, insisting he acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity." "I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent, and I do not mark him down for that," Johnson added at the government's daily coronavirus briefing on Sunday. Cummings' movements during lockdown have sparked a scandal in Britain, quickly becoming a defining moment in the country's much-scrutinized response to the coronavirus pandemic and threatening to undermine the restrictions Johnson has spent eight weeks pleading with Britons to follow. But Johnson resisted growing political pressure to sack Cummings, batting back accusations from across the political spectrum that he has allowed his aides to disobey the rules. He sidestepped reports that Cummings subsequently returned to the north of England on multiple other occasions, saying only that he has "looked at them carefully" and was "content that (Cummings) behaved responsibly" and with the intention of stopping the spread of the virus. Johnson left many questions unanswered -- including whether Cummings visited a town 30 miles away from his parents' home, as witnesses have said he did, and whether he knew that Cummings was leaving London. Ministers have spent much of the weekend loyally defending Cummings, the enigmatic aide often portrayed as the mastermind behind Johnson's premiership, after reports of the first journey emerged. But Cummings' position became more perilous still on Sunday, after fresh claims emerged that he had in fact broken the UK's coronavirus lockdown on multiple occasions throughout April. Johnson's refusal to let Cummings go ensures the controversy will continue to overshadow the country's coronavirus response in the coming days. 'Enough is enough' Johnson's response will do little to appease critics, who have been asking why Cummings needed to drive across England to find childcare despite being healthy and free of Covid-19 symptoms. "Boris Johnson just insulted every person in this country who has made sacrifices to follow the rules he implemented to save lives in this pandemic," the Labour Party's shadow justice minister David Lammy said during Johnson's briefing. The Prime Minister said he has had "extensive" conversations with Cummings on Sunday, insisting that "Mr Cummings did isolate for 14 days or more," even if it was not at his London home. The uproar over Cummings' behavior began on Friday evening when two newspapers, The Guardian and the Daily Mirror, revealed he had traveled from London to Durham to stay at his parents' property at the end of March while his wife had coronavirus symptoms. The journey appeared a clear breach of the UK's lockdown, with Cummings' boss Johnson repeatedly urging the public to "stay at home" and "save lives," and has dominated front pages in the country throughout the weekend. But ministers have stood by the aide, insisting he needed his parents to care for his child in case Cummings also became sick with symptoms, which he later did. "Caring for your wife and child is not a crime," minister Michael Gove tweeted, one of a number of leading government figures to claim the lockdown allowed for such trips. It marked a notable shift from previous episodes regarding the lockdown. When leading epidemiologist Neil Ferguson was forced to resign from the scientific body advising the government for breaching lockdown, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was left speechless by the "extraordinary" breach. On Saturday, Hancock said Cummings' trip was "entirely right." That defense was bruised on Sunday, after the same papers dropped new details alleging Cummings had been seen in the Durham area on multiple occasions after his initial trip. Downing Street has rebutted the subsequent claims, saying in a statement that they "will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr. Cummings from campaigning newspapers." Cummings' influence over ministers is well documented in the British political press, but Downing Street's approach is no longer being followed by several of Johnson's own backbenchers, who one by one began to call on Cummings to go on Sunday. "Enough is enough," Conservative lawmaker Steve Baker wrote in an opinion piece for The Critic website. "Dominic Cummings must go before he does any more harm to the UK, the Government, the Prime Minister, our institutions or the Conservative Party." And concerns have been raised that the government's defense of Cummings' behavior has given implicit permission to the public to interpret the lockdown rules however they see fit. "There cannot be one rule for Dominic Cummings and another for the British people," the opposition Labour Party said in a statement. A scandal at the end of a torrid week The timing of the controversy is particularly unfortunate for the Prime Minister, who has overseen the deadliest Covid-19 outbreak in Europe and who was forced into an embarrassing U-turn on a controversial fee for immigrant health care workers just days earlier. On Thursday the Prime Minister was forced into his first major policy U-turn since winning a sizable majority in December's general election, agreeing to scrap a heavily criticized fee that overseas NHS and health care workers were forced to pay while simultaneously working on the front lines of the country's coronavirus battle. "We cannot clap our carers one day and then charge them to use our NHS the next," said Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is proving a formidable opponent to Johnson as he settles into the position he took over in April. Starmer was referring to the weekly round of applause for health workers that Britons have been taking part in. Johnson had defended the surcharge as late as Wednesday, telling MPs "we must look at the realities" and insisting the fee was "the right way forward" to provide the NHS with funding. But by Thursday the policy was gone, amid growing discontent among Tory backbenchers. The change in tone added to the criticism Johnson has faced over the NHS, with opponents pointing to a lack in personal protective equipment (PPE) and a slow rate of testing. Throughout the controversies, Britain's death toll has continued to climb. Though it is well past its peak of cases and deaths, the country has seen more fatalities from Covid-19 than any other country in Europe, with more than 36,000 in total. The country is entering its final week under the current phase of lockdown. From June 1, the government will look to lift certain restrictions as it paves a way back towards normality. India 'Dispatches Reinforcement Battalions to Ladakh' Amid Border Tension with China Sputnik News 11:08 GMT 24.05.2020 New Delhi (Sputnik): The recent standoff between India and China erupted over infrastructure construction near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) earlier this month. China has been urging India to be cautious and restrained over infrastructure development in the border areas, which are separated by the loosely demarcated LAC. The Indian Army has reinforced its troops in eastern Ladakh amid an ongoing standoff at Galwan Valley after Chinese troops allegedly trespassed across the border and stationed in dozens of temporary tents for the last two weeks, according to Times of India. As part of "requisite counter measures", the Indian Army has reportedly moved additional infantry battalions to Ladakh. The reinforcements have been shifted to ensure that they can replace "in rear locations the acclimatised troops shifted forward to the sites of confrontation with the Peopls's Liberation Army", sources told the publication. Other contingency plans have also been put in place. Units in the Leh infantry division comprising 12,000 soldiers have been moved to occupy forward operational alert areas from their permanent depth locations. In the wake of the month-long sporadic skirmishes on the bank of Pangong Lake, Demchok, and Galwan Valley areas in Ladakh, Indian Army Chief General M.M. Naravane visited Ladakh to take stock of the ground situation on Saturday. After deploying additional troops to "reclaim authority" over Galwan Valley, Beijing pitched 70-80 tents and parked heavy vehicles as the Chinese side considered that India's defence fortifications were "obstructing normal patrols and operations of Chinese border troops". India's Foreign Ministry countered the claim and said that it is China that is hindering the patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Even though it has been almost three weeks since a violent clash on the northern banks of Pangong left soldiers from both the sides badly injured, the deadlock continues, according to sources. There have been scuffles between the patrolling parties of both the sides after the violent clash on 5 May. Meanwhile, the Indian Army has also denied reports of the detention of one of its soldier by Chinese troops in Galwan Valley. "There has been no detention of Indian soldiers at the borders. We categorically deny this. It only hurts national interests when media outlets publish unsubstantiated news", a statement issued by the Indian Army on Sunday reads. Despite two rounds of talks between the commanders of the Indian and Chinese forces to de-escalate the situation in Galwan Valley, the matter remains unresolved. India and China share a roughly 4,000-kilometre border ranging from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WASHINGTON - The Trump administration has discussed whether to conduct the first U.S. nuclear test explosion since 1992 in a move that would have far-reaching consequences for relations with other nuclear powers and reverse a decades-long moratorium on such actions, said a senior administration official and two former officials familiar with the deliberations. The matter came up at a meeting of senior officials representing the top national security agencies last Friday, following accusations from administration officials that Russia and China are conducting low-yield nuclear tests - an assertion that has not been substantiated by publicly available evidence and that both countries have denied. A senior administration official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the sensitive nuclear discussions, said that demonstrating to Moscow and Beijing that the United States could "rapid test" could prove useful from a negotiating standpoint as Washington seeks a trilateral deal to regulate the arsenals of the biggest nuclear powers. The meeting did not conclude with any agreement to conduct a test, but a senior administration official said the proposal is "very much an ongoing conversation." Another person familiar with the meeting, however, said a decision was ultimately made to take other measures in response to threats posed by Russia and China and avoid a resumption of testing. The National Security Council declined to comment. During the meeting, serious disagreements emerged over the idea, in particular from the National Nuclear Security Administration, according to two people familiar with the discussions. The NNSA, an agency that ensures the safety of the nation's stockpile of nuclear weapons, didn't respond to a request for comment. The United States has not conducted a nuclear test explosion since September 1992, and nuclear nonproliferation advocates warned that doing so now could have destabilizing consequences. "It would be an invitation for other nuclear-armed countries to follow suit," said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association. "It would be the starting gun to an unprecedented nuclear arms race. You would also disrupt the negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who may no longer feel compelled to honor his moratorium on nuclear testing." The United States remains the only country to have deployed a nuclear weapon during wartime, but since 1945 at least eight countries have collectively conducted about 2,000 nuclear tests, of which more than 1,000 were carried out by the United States. The environmental and health-related consequences of nuclear testing moved the process underground, eventually leading to near-global moratorium on testing in this century with the exception of North Korea. Concerns about the dangers of testing prompted more than 184 nations to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty, an agreement that will not enter into force until ratified by eight key states, including the United States. President Barack Obama supported the ratification of the CTBT in 2009 but never realized his goal. The Trump administration said it would not seek ratification in its 2018 Nuclear Posture Review. Still, the major nuclear powers abide by its core prohibition on testing. But the United States in recent months has alleged Russia and China have violated the "zero yield" standard with extremely low-yield or underground tests, not the type of many-kiloton yield tests with mushroom clouds associated with the Cold War. Russia and China deny the allegation. Since establishing a moratorium on testing in the early 1990s, the United States has ensured that its nuclear weapons are ready to be deployed by conducting what are known as subcritical tests - or blasts that do not produce a nuclear chain reaction but can test components of a weapon. U.S. nuclear weapons facilities have also developed robust computer simulation technologies that allow for modeling of nuclear tests to ensure the arsenal is ready to deploy. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The main purpose of nuclear tests has long been to check the reliability of an existing arsenal or try out new weapon designs. Every year, top U.S. officials, including the heads of the national nuclear labs and the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, must certify the safety and reliability of the stockpile without testing. The Trump administration has said that, unlike Russia and China, it isn't pursuing new nuclear weapons but reserves the right to do so if the two countries refuse to negotiate on their programs. The deliberations over a nuclear test explosion come as the Trump administration prepares to leave the Treaty on Open Skies, a nearly 30-year-old pact that came into force in 2002 and was designed to reduce the chances of an accidental war by allowing mutual reconnaissance flights for members of the 34-country agreement. The planned withdrawal marks another example of the erosion of a global arms-control framework that Washington and Moscow began hashing out painstakingly during the Cold War. The Trump administration pulled out of a 1987 pact with Russia governing intermediate-range missiles, citing violations by Moscow, and withdrew from a 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, saying Tehran wasn't living up to the spirit of it. The primary remaining pillar of the arms-control framework between the United States and Russia is the New START pact, which places limits on strategic nuclear platforms. The Trump administration has been pushing to negotiate a follow-on agreement that includes China in addition to Russia, but China has rejected calls for talks so far. Trump's presidential envoy for arms control, Marshall Billingslea, warned that China is the "midst" of a major buildup of its nuclear arsenal and "intent on building up its nuclear forces and using those forces to try to intimidate the United States and our friends and allies." One U.S. official said a nuclear test could help pressure the Chinese into joining a trilateral agreement with the U.S. and Russia, but some nonproliferation advocates say such a move is risky. "If this administration believes that a nuclear test explosion and nuclear brinkmanship is going to coerce negotiating partners to make unilateral concessions, that's a dangerous ploy," Kimball said. LOUISA HARLAND had to work in a pub after shooting the first series of Derry Girls - and she was left in tears when Channel 4 staff having a Christmas party there recognised her. The 27-year-old, who plays Orla on the hit comedy show, told the When No One's Watching podcast: "After the first series of Derry Girls, I worked in a pub for a year and a half and they were playing Derry Girls on a Thursday and no one really clocked that it was me. That same year, Channel 4 had a Christmas party at the pub I worked at. "My manager came over at the beginning of the day and said, 'Put this reserved sign upstairs'. It said 'Channel 4' on it and I remember walking upstairs and being like, 'Noooo'. I was going, 'It will be the sales team, I won't know anyone. There won't be anyone I know. It will be fine', but it was friends and the executive producer, who were like, 'Isn't that Louisa? What the hell are you doing here?' "It was fine, like I could laugh it off, but I was clearing up their prosecco glasses and they were like, 'I can't watch'. Expand Close (left to right) Lisa McGee, Nicola Coughlan, Siobhan McSweeney, Dylan Llewellyn, Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Louisa Harland / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (left to right) Lisa McGee, Nicola Coughlan, Siobhan McSweeney, Dylan Llewellyn, Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Louisa Harland "I did go to bathroom and cry, although it's so fine to work in a pub. It's such a hard career and it was a bad night." Now, however, Louisa is one of the channel's most recognisable stars after Derry Girls became the most watched comedy launch on Channel 4 in a decade. She joked that the people who recognised her in the pub should have known she would have to keep working because they didn't pay her that well. "They were saying, 'What the f*** are you doing behind the bar?' And I was like, 'You should f****** know. You employ me, so you know why I'm clearing up your prosecco glasses'." Louisa lives with her co-star SAIORSE-MONICA JACKSON, who plays Erin on the show, and the pair watched each episode together. Expand Close Derry Girls cast members Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Dylan Llewellyn, and creator Lisa McGee Lorcan Doherty / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Derry Girls cast members Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Dylan Llewellyn, and creator Lisa McGee But she admits she was worried the comedy wouldn't be a hit because they had so much fun making it. "I haven't done enough work to be like, 'I don't watch my own work'," Louisa said "No one finds Derry Girls funnier than Derry girls. We really do. Everyone on the show - the cameraman, the assistant directors - they are all crying laughing. "They say if you are laughing on set when filming a comedy, it's not going to be funny, but if not, it will be, so we were saying, 'We're f*****'. We laugh all the time." The When No One's Watching podcast with Matt Richardson and Matt Willis is available on all the usual platforms. Sorry! This content is not available in your region ABC News One day after President Joe Biden appeared to cast doubt on whether the midterm election results will be legitimate without the passage of a new voting rights law, his vice president and press secretary worked to dispel any mistrust in the integrity of the vote. "Speaking of voting rights legislation, if this isn't passed, do you still believe the upcoming election will be fairly conducted and its results will be legitimate?" a reporter asked Biden Wednesday at a lengthy press conference marking the end of his first year in office. "Well, it all depends on whether or not we're able to make the case to the American people that some of this is being set up to try to alter the outcome of the election," Biden said. Kathmandu [Nepal], May 24 (ANI): The Nepal Army has deployed a 'section plus' unit near Ghantibagar of Darchula district for the construction of 87 kilometres section of the road under the Mahakali corridor or the Darchula-Tinkar Road Project. The government had last month decided to entrust the Nepal Army with the construction project. "The ministers during a meeting on April 26 had decided to deploy a section plus force of the Nepal Army with the required equipment to build the 87 kilometres section of the road. A mule track which falls under the road section will have a width of 2 meters and 450 meters length," the Nepal Army said in the statement on Thursday. The Government of Nepal in 2008 had sanctioned various contractors to build on-road which would run parallel with the India border on Dharchula side, separated by the Mahakali River. An estimated 50 kilometres of the road construction runs in parallel with the Indian border side leading to Tinkar Pass in far west Nepal for trade with China. Currently, the locals of Darchula District have to get across India to reach the other high-lying sides of the mountainous district of Darchula in Nepal's far west. "Once the army will open the 450-meter road section in between the MauriBhir and Ghanti area, around 1,200 residents of 182 households there do not have to travel via the Indian route to come to their own village within Nepal's territory," the statement read further. Last week, Nepal released an 'updated' political map including Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura within its own territory. India marked the tri-junction point within its political map last released in November 2019. (ANI) Xi gave the instructions when meeting national political advisors from the economic sector and joining a group discussion at the third session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The president also called for efforts to strive for a moderately prosperous society in all respects and poverty eradication. Building an open world economy Xi said that China's economy is in a crucial stage of transforming its growth mode and optimizing its structure, and its prospects are good. On the other hand, China's economy is under pressure with challenges and difficulties in structural, institutional, and cyclical aspects, he said, adding that COVID-19 has also hit the economy. The president stressed that China's economic situation must be analyzed from a comprehensive, rational, and long-term perspective, urging efforts to build an open world economy. To better push economic growth, Xi stressed the efforts in promoting innovation in science and technology and accelerating the development of strategic emerging industries, such as the digital economy, smart manufacturing, and new materials. The president also noticed the strong resilience of China's economy and ample policy space and tools to stabilize economic growth. Agriculture, private businesses, and employment Xi then highlighted the fundamental role of agriculture, the importance of supporting private businesses and ensuring employment. Urging more efforts in agriculture, Xi said that for a country as large as China with a population of 1.4 billion, the fundamental role of agriculture should never be ignored or weakened. Thanks to the steady supply of grain and important agricultural and sideline products, China has maintained social stability amid the pandemic, he said, reiterating the goal of lifting rural poor residents out of poverty. The president also encouraged private businesses to overcome difficulties and explore more opportunities in different periods. China will continue to foster an enabling environment for the development of the private sector and ensure private businesses have equal access to production factors and policy support, says a government work report submitted to the national legislature for deliberation on Friday. On ensuring employment, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS) has helped over 10,000 central and local key enterprises recruit nearly 500,000 people to ensure the orderly production of medical supplies and daily necessities in the first quarter of 2020. An unemployment insurance program made it possible for more than 3 million enterprises to enjoy total refunds of 38.8 billion yuan (5.48 billion U.S. dollars), benefiting nearly 81 million employees around the country, according to the ministry. Original article: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-23/Xi-visits-political-advisors-joins-discussion-at-annual-session-QISQwuLx8A/index.html Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upt-fxIiWwo SOURCE CGTN Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday shot down the idea of Staten Island reopening separately from the rest of New York City despite a push from local elected officials and small business owners. Staten Island is a place unto itself, and I understand the Staten Island mentality, Cuomo said during his daily press briefing aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in Manhattan. I love Staten Island; I have a lot of friends there. But its not a place unto itself for this purpose. If you live on Staten Island, you very well may be working in Manhattan, youre traveling through the New York City area. So Staten Island is a part of New York City. Staten Island just practically is still part of New York City, and thats the region in which the infection would spread, he added. Before New York City and regions across the state can reopen, they must first meet seven state-mandated reopening metrics, including a 14-day decline in net hospitalizations, a testing program that reaches 30 per 1,000 residents in the region and a team of 30 contact tracers per 100,000 residents. As of Wednesday, New York City only met four of those requirements. However, all of the Islands sitting Republican officials -- except for Borough President James Oddo -- want Staten Island to be looked at differently, pointing to the boroughs own metrics. When you subtract the [nursing home] cases, you see this wasnt as bad on Staten Island, said Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore). While Staten Island has the lowest number of cases in the city, the borough has the highest rate of infection after the Bronx. Half of the boroughs sitting Democratic politicians say Staten Island should reopen at the same time as the rest of the city, with the exception of centrist Democrat Rep. Max Rose, who believes if the borough hits its benchmarks ahead of the rest of the city it makes sense to allow us to safely reopen. TIMELINE TO REOPEN Mayor Bill de Blasio said recently the city could be in a position for the first phase of reopening by mid-June. Cuomo said Monday that the mayors timeline could be accurate, however, he refused to make a prediction of when the data will meet the necessary threshold laid out by experts. He also pointed to areas of the country that have begun to reopen while the number of cases have increased, stressing that the key to a safe reopening in New York is that everyone wears a mask, because they work. It is inconceivable to me that the front-line workers have a lower infection rate than the general population ... because they use the PPE, Cuomo said. Why you wouldnt use it, theres no legitimate, rational explanation. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK*** 70 Coronavirus in NYC: Photos show the fight against the pandemic BENEFITS FOR FRONT-LINE WORKERS Cuomo said Monday that families of front-line workers who died of coronavirus during the pandemic should receive death benefits, and that the federal government should issue hazard pay to those still working on the front lines. The announcement came after de Blasio called for the same benefits in New York City last week, and the city is ready to begin issuing as soon as a bill is passed in Albany," a spokeswoman for the mayor said Monday. Thank you @NYGovCuomo for endorsing our plan to provide line of duty benefits to city workers lost to COVID-19. Everyday, but particularly on Memorial Day, its so important to stop and remember those weve lost, and do all we can to support the families they left behind. https://t.co/rIgGsD7v3u Freddi Goldstein (@FreddiGoldstein) May 25, 2020 The benefits for families of public workers in the state of New York -- including city, county and state employees -- will be funded through the employees local or state pension fund, Cuomo said. Front-line workers eligible for the benefits include, but are not limited to, police, public health workers and firefighters, he said. They showed up because I asked them to show up, Cuomo said. It weighed heavily on me and it still does that I had to ask people to do that -- to put their lives literally in danger." DEATHS, HOSPITALIZATIONS The number of people who died of coronavirus in the state on Sunday was 96, down from 109 on Saturday, Cuomo said. New hospitalizations also continue to drop at medical facilities across the state, he added. Overall, more than 23,000 deaths in the state have been linked to the virus that has caused a worldwide pandemic. New Delhi, May 25 : With the government by its side and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself exhorting Indians to be "vocal about local", the RSS and its many affiliated bodies have kicked off a nationwide 'Swadeshi self reliance campaign' from Monday through which it is collecting digital signatures "with a view to connect maximum number of people in most districts and places in India" in the next 20 days and galvanise public opinion over the same. However, this time around, the RSS wants the Modi government to not just think of "GDP centric development" but also take three of its major concerns into consideration - welfare of MSMEs, boycott Chinese products and consideration of environmental concerns. Before you dismiss this as just another signature campaign, think again. A dedicated website by the name of - joinswadeshi.com - is already in place, a Google document collecting your name, mobile number, e-mail address and nationality is online where collection of digital signatures are afoot and most importantly, videos of influential persons like academicians, socio-religious organisations, MLAs, MPs will be circulated backing this campaign, through all platforms. "To speed up the digital signature campaign, photographs and videos of the important persons of society like Vice Chancellors of universities, academicians, heads of various institutions, socio-religious organisations, MLAs, MPs etc while they participate in the campaign, may be given in newspapers and social media that will inspire the people to participate enthusiastically in the campaign," reads a publicity goal by the Swadeshi Self Reliance Campaign under the aegis of Swadeshi Jagran Manch and overseen by a committee that has key functionaries from many RSS affiliates. The campaign has meticulous planning and huge human resource infrastructure engaged to make it a success. Two workers each at the state and district level who are technical and mobile efficient will be engaged in the operation to speed up the campaign. The thrust on technical and mobile efficient workers is because the SJM plans to catch the imagination of the young and old alike through every possible social media platform, some of them primarily frequented by the youngsters. So while traditional platforms like Facebook and Twitter will be used, the campaign isn't averse to push the idea to more radical platforms like Quora where people primarily ask questions and get answered by absolute strangers. Meanwhile, understanding that almost all smartphone users in India, which is estimated to reach 442 million by 2022, have WhatsApp installed, the campaign has dedicated a WhatsApp number for this purpose as well. Sources say, such public opinion will "help the government" in framing policy that will not only protect domestic business in India at a time when the government itself wants the MSME sector to stand up on its feet after the lockdown but also help Modi's vision of "self-reliant India". The goals listed by joinswadeshi.com are buy idegenous products and boycott especially Chinese products, become self employed and job creators as well as increase farmers' income, MSME and start ups through heavy reliance on new age technology. It also lists India's global trade and transfer of technology giving precedence to what is in India's interest rather than trade obligation as one key goal. Finally, it says, the new vision of "self reliant" India will be considerate of environmental concerns like land grab, water depletion and worsening air quality rather than ignoring them. It is unknown how much the government is in sync with the RSS economic wing's version of "self reliant India" and the campaign there of, particularly boycotting Chinese products and be considerate of environmental concerns, but at the moment the BJP-led Centre is not complaining as most of the SJM's non-specific goals are a reiteration of that of the government's. However, the RSS and its affiliated eco system is pretty focused that the government doesn't ignore its idea of self reliance while attaining its own version. Ashwani Mahajan, the National Co-Convener of the SJM told IANS, "We have seen that GDP-centric development hasn't done much good. The West's idea of development is not the idea of development people like Deen Dayal Upadhyay had. Their idea of development is of self reliance where welfare of Indians and environment are taken into active consideration." The fact that a committee is being created where not only SJM key functionaries will be there but other RSS affiliated body members like that of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Vidya Bharti among others will also push their version of 'Swadeshi' shows the RSS is serious to make the Modi government take note of its concern now that both are on the same page of pushing local products and making India self-reliant. A mascot of "Vibrant Gujarat Summit" and strong advocate of globalisation, Prime Minister Modi in his last address to the nation made a sharp turnaround, asking people to be "vocal about local" and uttering "self reliance" as much as 17 times. Urging Indians to respond to his call the way they did when he requested them to buy Khadi products, Modi said, "Local is not just our need, but it is also our responsibility. Time has taught us that we will simply have to make 'local' our life's mantra." Now with Modi going big on 'local' and 'self reliance', the RSS wants to push its own version of it, understanding the government will need it to create public momentum to make necessary policy framework for the same. (Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at anindya.b@ians.in) On Friday, President Donald Trump labeled churches and other houses of worship as "essential" during the coronavirus pandemic, calling on governors to reopen religious institutions for services this weekend even though some areas remain under coronavirus lockdown. Trump threatened to "override" state leaders' restrictions if they do not do so by the weekend. NEW: President Trump declares his view that houses of worship should now be essential, and calls on governors to open them right now. pic.twitter.com/2nnyu5KcNF MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 22, 2020 Trump said it was an "injustice" that some state leaders have allowed "liquor stores and abortion clinics" to stay open amid the Covid-19 pandemic while closing houses of worship. "Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics essential, but have left out churches and houses of worship. It's not right. So I'm correcting this injustice and calling houses of worship essential," Trump said during his announcement at the White House. Trump emphasized that he is calling upon governors to "allow churches and places of worship to open right now." "If there's any question, they're going to have to call me, but they're not going to be successful in that call," Trump added. "The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, this weekend. If they don't do it, I will override the governors," he continued. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would be releasing detailed safety recommendations for reopening houses of worship. The CDC guidelines include identifying space to be used to separate sick people if needed, developing an emergency communication plan to quickly distribute information to congregants, updating emergency plans with the help of local health departments, identifying actions needed if canceling events and services is necessary and promoting the practice of everyday preventative actions, such as washing hands and cleaning frequently touched objects and services. McEnany did not specify the exact legal power that Trump would have to override governors' orders to keep houses of worship closed, just saying Trump would "strongly encourage every governor to allow their churches to reopen." Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, stressed the importance of practicing mitigation measures as places of worship reopen, and said community faith leaders should be in touch with their local health departments. "I think what we are trying to say with the CDC guidance is there is a way for us to work together to have social distancing and safety for people, so that we decrease the amount of exposure that anyone would have to asymptomatic [people]," she said. "And I see it that way because I know all of you and all of Americans, if they didn't feel well, they wouldn't go to church that day." Meanwhile, evangelical pastors responded to Trump's call for churches to reopen. Jenetezen Franklin, Jentezen Franklin, author and the senior pastor of Free Chapel, a multi-site church based in Gainesville, Georgia, wrote on Twitter, "Thank you Mr President! @realDonaldTrump you always have the back of people of Faith!!!" "We appreciate this very much. We will use wisdom about reopening but it's our call, not the governments!!!!" Franklin added. Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of New Season Church in Sacramento, California, agree with trump and wrote, "The spiritual health of our nation is essential. Churches can reopen safely with all CDC recommendations in place. Thank you POTUS for federally recognizing this truth." Meteorologist Jane Bunn was a force to be reckoned with on Saturday night. The popular Australian weather presenter, 40, went wild as she enjoyed a post-isolation house party with two girlfriends in Melbourne. Sipping champagne and eating caviar, she celebrated being able to see her friends in person again after Victoria eased its COVID-19 social distancing rules. Party time! Meteorologist Jane Bunn (centre) was a force to be reckoned with on Saturday night when she enjoyed a post-isolation house party with two girlfriends in Melbourne 'Saturday night with other people,' Jane told her Instagram followers as she headed out for the evening. The Channel Seven star, who has continued working throughout the pandemic, added: 'Almost feels like pre-coronavirus.' Jane wore stylish black pants, a matching sweater and wool coat. She accessorised her look with strappy snakeskin heels and a clutch bag. Freedom! Sipping champagne and eating caviar, she celebrated being able to see her friends in person again after Victoria eased its COVID-19 social distancing rules Feeling good: 'Saturday night with other people,' Jane told her Instagram followers as she headed out for the evening. 'Almost feels like pre-coronavirus' Jane's friends Leonie and Alecia shared posts to Instagram of the TV presenter indulging in champagne and caviar. The trio laughed the night away as they documented their reunion. Jane is rarely seen outside the Seven News studio or in such a relaxed atmosphere. 'Girls night': Jane and her friends Leonie (right) and Alecia (left) laughed the night away as they documented their reunion on Instagram Secret party animal? Jane is rarely seen outside the Seven News studio or in such a relaxed atmosphere She has a cult following among middle-aged men, who regard her as the most talented and beautiful meteorologist on television. One of the reasons why she is so popular is her age-defying appearance. She looks almost identical in recent broadcasts to how she looked when she started her career on The Weather Channel in 2008. A national study estimates food insecurity will continue to increase throughout 2020, with the number of people in Western Massachusetts who lack access to nutritious food growing by more than 40,000. The study was conducted by Feeding America, the nations largest hunger-relief organization. Projections are based on the organizations annual study of local food insecurity and food costs in the U.S. This report confirms what were witnessing in our region a dramatic increase in demand for food assistance, including many new visitors to local food pantries for the very first time, said Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. The Feeding America study, titled The Impact of the Coronavirus on Local Food Insecurity, was published this week. It analyzes food insecurity rates for the overall population and children by state, county and congressional district. Before the pandemic, 86,480 people, including 22,650 children, were classified as food insecure in Western Massachusetts. The new study says this number is likely to grow by 40,610, including 13,970 children. That means approximately 127,090 people (one in seven) may experience food insecurity in 2020, including 36,620 children (one in four). As high unemployment persists, more households are at risk of hunger and food insecurity uncertain how they are going to afford buy food, Morehouse said. From March through April, the Food Bank distributed 19% more emergency food than it distributed at this time in 2019. The regions network of 175 food pantries and meal sites and the Food Bank are serving about 20% more people, of which 27% are new visitors seeking food assistance. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications at the Food Bank are up by 130%. With increased demand and decline in retail store donations, we are purchasing tractor trailer loads of food to distribute to local food pantries and meal sites, Morehouse said. In addition, we will soon begin to receive and distribute thousands of food boxes monthly through emergency food initiatives funded by state and federal governments in response to the coronavirus. The Food Bank has relationships with many of the regions farms, which makes it possible to provide fresh produce to food pantries and meal sites. While the local farm season is just beginning, we anticipate receiving more local produce from a couple dozen area farmers, Morehouse said. As in past years, we will purchase about a half million pounds of fresh vegetables with MassGrown state funding. Farmers are projected to donate an additional half million pounds. This year, we expect to receive (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Farm to Food Bank funds to incentivize farmers to donate more vegetables and milk that they might otherwise let spoil. We will use the funds to defray farmers costs to pick, pack and/or transport donated food. The Food Bank is continuing to find ways to not only provide food for those in need in Western Massachusetts, but also healthy, locally sourced options when possible. In March, it purchased its second Food Bank Farm in Hadley. The first is in Hatfield. We have contracted two large-scale commercial farmers to grow organic vegetables on our farm, Morehouse said. We will receive a share of the harvest in lieu of cash rent for distribution through our network of local feeding sites. Much of the rest will be sold to local schools such as Springfield to feed at-risk youth in the school lunch programs. Related Content: El presidente @MartinVizcarraC informa sobre la situacion del Estado de Emergencia en el #Dia71 y las acciones que realiza el Gobierno para contener la propagacion del COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/Y9AVLrcPz3 https://t.co/A0pz45xehf Afghanistan's Ghani Vows To Expedite Release Of Taliban Prisoners By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan May 24, 2020 Afghan President Ashraf Ghani launched a process on May 24 to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners after welcoming an offer by the militants of a three-day cease-fire to mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "As a responsible government we take one more step forward. I announce that I will expedite the Taliban prisoner releases," Ghani said in an address to the nation marking Eid al-Fitr. Ghani also urged the Taliban to press ahead with the release of Afghan security personnel they hold. A presidential spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, later tweeted that "President Ghani today initiated a process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a good will gesture in response to the Taliban's announcement of a ceasefire during Eid." Sediqqi added that Afghanistan's government "is extending the offer of peace and is taking further steps to ensure success of the peace process." In February, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement aimed at ending the longest military action in U.S. history. The deal lays out a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in return for security commitments from the Taliban. It also stipulates that Kabul must free 5,000 Taliban prisoners, while the militants are to release 1,000 captives -- a move expected to lead to intra-Afghan negotiations. The Taliban on May 23 announced the cease-fire would start the following day. Shortly afterward, Ghani ordered security forces to abide by the cease-fire as well. In a post on Twitter, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the movement's leadership has ordered all fighters to "conduct no offensive operation against the enemy anywhere." In addition, they have been told to ensure "the security of fellow citizens." Zalmay Khalizad, the U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan, described the cease-fire as "a momentous opportunity" to accelerate a stalled U.S.-Taliban peace process. "Other positive steps should immediately follow: the release of remaining prisoners as specified in the U.S.-Taliban agreement by both sides, no returning to high levels of violence, and an agreement on a new date for the start of intra-Afghan negotiations," Khalizad wrote on Twitter. A deadline for the Taliban to hold talks with the Afghan government passed in March amid a spike in violence and disagreements between the two sides over prisoner swaps. The prospect of direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban gained a boost on May 17 when Ghani and his political rival, Abdullah Abdullah, reached a power-sharing agreement nearly eight months after disputed elections that led to a parallel government and hampered efforts to broker a peace deal. The United States has about 12,000 troops in Afghanistan. Washington pays about $4 billion a year to maintain the Afghan military. Despite both sides vowing to observe the three-day cease-fire, a reported mortar attack has killed four civilians in the eastern Laghman Province. A further seven were also wounded in the incident that took place in the Ali Shang district of the province, the provincial governor's spokesman, Asadullah Dawlatzai, said. An investigation has been launched to find out who carried out the shelling, Dawlatzai said. No group has claimed the attack, but the Taliban has a strong presence in many parts of the district, and staged a number of deadly attacks on the Afghan security forces there in recent weeks. Taliban militants control about half of Afghanistan's territory and have continued to carry out attacks since the deal was signed. Afghan intelligence service spokesman Javid Faisal said on May 23 that at least 146 civilians were killed and 430 wounded in Taliban attacks during Ramadan. With reporting by AFP and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-s- ghani-vows-to-expedite-release-of- taliban-prisoners/30631187.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Burma Ethnic Kuki Man Killed in Northern Myanmar, Locals Blame Ethnic Shanni Army The father (sitting) and his slain son (lying) at the scene after the shooting on May 23. / The Irrawaddy PATHEIN, Ayeyarwady RegionA young ethnic Kuki man was killed and his father was injured in a shooting by five armed men in Homalin Township of Sagaing Region on Saturday. Local residents blame the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) for the fatal shooting. The Kuki are an ethnic minority living mostly in the northwestern part of Myanmar. The 17-year-old man from Manli Village in Homalin was riding to work together with his 40-year-old father on Saturday morning when the five gunmen emerged and shot at them near Aungthaw Village in Yak Pha Village-tract. According to the victims father, five men wearing plain clothes asked the victim to stop as the two approached Aungthaw Village, Yak Pha Village-tract Administrator U Lettyar Kyaw told The Irrawaddy. Because he was riding down a hill, he could not stop immediately and rode past them. He thought the men were teasing him as they were dressed casually, so he continued to ride, and was shot. The 40-year-old man was shot in his left elbow and his son was fatally shot in his left side before their motorbike plunged off the road near the bridge to Aungthaw Village. The armed men fled the scene after the shooting and the son died of his wounds at the scene as local residents were preparing to send the two to Homalin Township Hospital. Local residents claimed that Saturdays incident was the first time a civilian was killed by gunmen and blamed the SNA, which is the only armed group based in Homalin Township. Founded in July 1989 along the India-Myanmar border, the SNA set up a headquarters in 2009 on a mountain called Nwe Impha on the border. The armed group now has bases in Hkamti, Homalin and Tamu townships in Sagaing Region, which shares a border with India. The group is also active in Kachin State, in Mohnyin, Mogaung, Waingmaw, Hpakant and other townships. The SNA has three brigades891, 972 and 753and a total of over 1,000 troops. Though the Shanni people had their own monarchs and held their own territory when the British arrived in Myanmar, the SNA is not recognized by the government and has therefore been fighting to regain statehood. The Kuki Youth Network (KYN) has also accused the SNA of being responsible for the fatal shooting. This [shooting] undermines friendship between Shanni and Kuki people who have lived together peacefully for many years, as well as regional stability. I would like to ask the SNA leaders to thoroughly investigate and hold perpetrators accountable, said Say Gin, one of the KYN leaders. The KYN, the Kuki Womens Rights Organization and the Kuki Literature and Culture Committee released a joint statement on Saturday condemning the shooting. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. You may also like these stories: Two Killed, Seven Injured as Artillery Shell Strikes Ferry in Chin State, Myanmar The WHO also warned that the world is still in the middle of the pandemics first wave, and a second peak is possible. The World Health Organization (WHO) has temporarily suspended testing of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a news conference on Monday. Meanwhile, Mike Ryan, head of the WHO emergencies programme, warned in the same virtual news conference that, despite countries easing lockdowns, the world is right in the middle of the first wave of the outbreak, and a there could be a second peak within the wave. The statements come days after US President Donald Trump announced he had been taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure against the virus. The president, who has said he has since stopped taking the drug, had long touted its benefits as a possible treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, even as health experts warned it might not be safe. The executive group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity trial while the safety data is reviewed by the data safety monitoring board, Tedros said in the online briefing. The WHO had previously recommended against using hydroxychloroquine to treat or prevent coronavirus infections, except as part of clinical trials. Ryan added the decision to suspend trials of hydroxychloroquine had been taken out of an abundance of caution. Other arms of the WHOs so-called Solidarity Trial a large international initiative to hold clinical tests of potential treatments for the virus would continue, the officials said. No date for China mission The WHOs Ryan also told reporters on Monday that he has been in daily discussions with China on the origins of the coronavirus, but said there was still currently no date set for a scientific mission to the country. The US and Australia have been the most vocal proponents of such an investigation, and have accused Beijing of not being transparent. Trump and other US officials have also pushed the theory in recent weeks that the virus emerged from a lab in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the outbreak began. China has strongly denied the claims, but said it would be open to an independent examination after the pandemic has been brought under control worldwide. During last weeks World Health Assembly, member states passed a resolution calling for a probe into the international response to the pandemic, an intentionally broad mission which would include examinations of the responses of individual countries and the WHO. To date, more than 5.4 million infections have been confirmed worldwide since the virus first emerged in December of last year, with over 345,000 deaths globally. Despite an apparent downward trend in new deaths and cases in many hard-hit countries, Ryan urged countries across the world to remain vigilant. We need also to be cognizant of the fact that the disease can jump up at any time, he said. We cannot make assumptions that just because the disease is on the way down now, it is going to keep going down and we get a number of months to get ready for a second wave. We may get a second peak in this wave. Silent epidemic Also on Monday, WHO special envoy Samba Sow warned that Africa could face a silent epidemic if its leaders do not prioritise coronavirus testing. Africa has confirmed more than 112,000 cases and more than 3,300 deaths, a rate considered remarkably low. However, experts have warned the full impact of the pandemic could not be known without more widespread testing. My first point for Africa, my first concern, is that a lack of testing is leading to a silent epidemic in Africa. So we must continue to push leaders to prioritise testing, said Sow. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian held businesses reopened by his government over the past month primarily responsible for the accelerating spread of coronavirus in Armenia which resulted in another daily high of COVID-19 cases and deaths on Sunday. The Armenian Ministry of Health said on Monday morning that as many as 452 people tested positive for coronavirus in the past day, bringing to 7,113 the total number of confirmed cases in the country of about 3 million. The latest daily number of new infections is sharply up from the previous record high of 374 cases recorded on Friday. With the ministry reporting 6 more deaths, the official death toll from the epidemic rose to 87. It does not include the deaths of 39 other people infected with the respiratory disease. The ministry claims that they died primarily as a result of other, pre-existing conditions. Six such fatalities were registered on Sunday. One of the victims is a 31-year-old woman who gave birth about a week ago, according to a ministry statement. Pashinian took to Facebook late on Sunday to discuss this very dangerous situation and present further actions planned by the Armenian authorities. The main reason for the rise in the number of cases is industrial enterprises, he said in a video address. More than 75 percent and even 80 percent of [new] cases are registered in industrial enterprises and the services sector. Pashinian accused those businesses of failing to observe social distancing and hygiene rules set by the government. He said the government will now enforce tougher penalties for such violations. Those cafes, restaurants, bank branches, manufacturing enterprises or hairdresser salons which do not observe the safety rules will be harshly shut down, he declared. Pashinians government ordered the closure of most nonessential businesses and seriously restricted peoples movements as part of a nationwide lockdown imposed in late March. But it began relaxing these restrictions already in mid-April. Although the daily numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases steadily increased in the following weeks, most sectors of the Armenian economy were reopened by May 4. The government went on to lift its ban on public transport and allow kindergartens, shopping malls, indoor restaurants and gyms to resume their work. Opposition figures and other critics say that the authorities ended the lockdown too soon and never enforced it properly in the first place. Pashinian effectively acknowledged on Sunday that the lifting of the lockdown has contributed to the spread of the virus. But he insisted that the measure was necessary for economic reasons. Accordingly, the prime minister gave no indications that he may restore lockdown restrictions. He made clear instead that the authorities will continue to put the emphasis on the peoples consciousness. He again urged them to practice social distancing and wear face masks in all enclosed spaces and shops in particular. Armenians have already been required for the last few weeks to wear masks and gloves when entering shops, banks and other businesses. There has been ample evidence of widespread non-compliance with this requirement, however. Health Minister Arsen Torosian repeatedly warned last week that the number of people dying from coronavirus could rise sharply soon. He is particularly worried about an impeding shortage of intensive care beds at the Armenian hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. In a Facebook post, Torosian said on Sunday evening that 154 of 186 such beds available in the country are already occupied. He also wrote: We have 230 patients in a serious condition and 52 patients in a critical condition. Faced with the soaring number of new cases, the health authorities on Friday stopped hospitalizing or isolating infected people showing mild symptoms of the virus or none at all. Such individuals are now supposed to self-isolate at home. Accra, May 25, 2020 The Transformation Leadership Panel (TLP), an initiative of the Africa Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), will meet on the 27th of May to review COVID-19 interventions in Africa, share lessons from their own institutions and consider new avenues for more collaborative action in support of Africas governments. The Panel of 17 eminent persons, from the public, private, academic and charitable sectors in Africa and beyond, is chaired by H.E Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia. At its last meeting in February 2020 in Addis Ababa, the panel committed to charting a coordinated path to addressing Africas urgent economic challenges and this third meeting will be an opportunity for panelists to do just that. In my view, the COVID-19 crisis provides a real opportunity to collaborate around that mandate and demonstrate the full potential of the TLP, said Dr. K.Y Amoako, Founder and President of ACET, and member of the TLP. Topics will include government effectiveness, resource mobilization and management, business and investment, and digital innovation and entrepreneurship. The discussion will be guided in part by a recently published ACET paper, "Ten Policy Priorities for Africa's Recovery, Growth, and Transformation," now available on acetforafrica.org. The paper offers a different perspective from most other COVID-19 analysis to date in that its recommendations focus on actions for the longer term that should be taken regardless of the pandemic. The suggestions are now more important than ever for economies that will be struggling for recovery. "Countries need emergency measures now to save lives and preserve livelihoods, but they must also protect their future," Dr. Amoako said. "Our intention is to specifically target forward-looking policies to help ensure Africa's progress is not permanently lost." Albert Zeufack, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa, will join the meeting and lead a discussion on mechanisms for achieving policy reform goals. The inaugural meeting of the TLP was held in Accra, Ghana in 2019. The members of the TLP are Acha Leke, McKinsey and Companys Africa Region Chair; Ann Cotton, OBE, Founder and Trustee of CAMFED International; Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA; Bineta Diop, Africa Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace, and Security; Charles Boamah, Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank; Dolika Banda, CEO of African Risk Capacity; Gayle Smith, President and CEO of the ONE Campaign; and Hafez Ghanem, World Bank Vice President for Africa. The other members of the panel are Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki, former prime minister of Niger & CEO, AUDA-NEPAD; James Mwangi, Managing Director & CEO of Equity Group Holdings; Masood Ahmed, President of the Center for Global Development; Ndidi Nwuneli, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Sahel Capital; Reeta Roy, President & CEO of the Mastercard Foundation; Stefano Manservisi, former Director-General, DEVCO, European Commission and Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. About ACET The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) is an African think and do tank with an overarching goal of helping equip African governments with the knowledge and tools to transform their economies. In the long term, ACET wants African governments to achieve economic transformation and improved human well-being. China warned the US it would take all necessary measures to protect its interests after a senior White House adviser said that Washington could revoke Hong Kong's special trade privileges if China approves a new tough security law, AFP reported. China plans to pass a law that prohibits subversion and rebellion in Hong Kong. US national security advisor Robert O'Brien warned that the new law could cost the city preferential trade status with the US. The Chinese MFA said the US "no right to criticise and interfere." "What laws, how, and when Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) should legislate are entirely within the scope of China's sovereignty," said foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. "If the US insists on hurting China's interests, China will have to take every necessary measure to counter and oppose this," he added. O'Briens comments came amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing - and a day after Chinese FM Wang Yi warned that the two countries seemed to be "at the brink of a new Cold War." (Bloomberg) -- Japans state of emergency is nearing its end with new cases of the coronavirus dwindling to mere dozens. It got there despite largely ignoring the default playbook. No restrictions were placed on residents movements, and businesses from restaurants to hairdressers stayed open. No high-tech apps that tracked peoples movements were deployed. The country doesnt have a center for disease control. And even as nations were exhorted to test, test, test, Japan has tested just 0.2% of its population -- one of the lowest rates among developed countries. Yet the curve has been flattened, with deaths well below 1,000, by far the fewest among the Group of Seven developed nations. In Tokyo, its dense center, cases have dropped to single digits on most days. While the possibility of a more severe second wave of infection is ever-present, Japan has entered and is set to leave its emergency in just weeks, with the status already lifted for most of the country and likely to exit completely as early as Monday. Analyzing just how Japan defied the odds and contained the virus while disregarding the playbook used by other successful countries has become a national conversation. Only one thing is agreed upon: that there was no silver bullet, no one factor that made the difference. Just by looking at death numbers, you can say Japan was successful, said Mikihito Tanaka, a professor at Waseda University specializing in science communication, and a member of a public advisory group of experts on the virus. But even experts dont know the reason. One widely shared list assembled 43 possible reasons cited in media reports, ranging from a culture of mask-wearing and a famously low obesity rate to the relatively early decision to close schools. Among the more fanciful suggestions include a claim Japanese speakers emit fewer potentially virus-laden droplets when talking compared to other languages. Contact Tracing Experts consulted by Bloomberg News also suggested a myriad of factors that contributed to the outcome, and none could point to a singular policy package that could be replicated in other countries. Nonetheless, these measures still offer long-term lessons for countries in the middle of pandemic that may yet last for years. An early grassroots response to rising infections was crucial. While the central government has been criticized for its slow policy steps, experts praise the role of Japans contact tracers, which swung into action after the first infections were found in January. The fast response was enabled by one of Japans inbuilt advantages -- its public health centers, which in 2018 employed more than half of 50,000 public health nurses who are experienced in infection tracing. In normal times, these nurses would be tracking down more common infections such as influenza and tuberculosis. Its very analog -- its not an app-based system like Singapore, said Kazuto Suzuki, a professor of public policy at Hokkaido University who has written about Japans response. But nevertheless, it has been very useful. While countries such as the U.S. and the U.K. are just beginning to hire and train contact tracers as they attempt to reopen their economies, Japan has been tracking the movement of the disease since the first handful of cases were found. These local experts focused on tackling so-called clusters, or groups of infections from a single location such as clubs or hospitals, to contain cases before they got out of control. Many people say we dont have a Centers for Disease Control in Japan, said Yoko Tsukamoto, a professor of infection control at the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, citing a frequently held complaint about Japans infection management. But the public health center is a kind of local CDC. Burning Car The early response was also boosted by an unlikely happening. Japans battle with the virus first came to mainstream international attention with its much-criticized response to the Diamond Princess cruise ship in February that led to hundreds of infections. Still, the experience of the ship is credited with providing Japanese experts with invaluable data early in the crisis on how the virus spread, as well as catapulting it into the public consciousness. Other countries still saw the virus as someone elses problem, said Tanaka. But in Japan, the international scrutiny over the infections onboard and the pace at which the virus raced throughout the ship raised awareness and recognition that the same can happen across the country, he said. For Japan, it was like having a burning car right outside your house. Although political leadership was criticized as lacking, that allowed doctors and medical experts to come to the fore -- typically seen as a best practice in managing public health emergencies. You could say that Japan has had an expert-led approach, unlike other countries, Tanaka said. Experts are also credited with creating an easy-to-understand message of avoiding what are called the Three Cs -- closed spaces, crowded spaces and close-contact settings -- rather than keeping away from others entirely. Social distancing may work, but it doesnt really help to continue normal social life, said Hokkaido Universitys Suzuki. The Three Cs are a much more pragmatic approach and very effective, while having a similar effect. Different Strain Infectious disease experts also pointed to other determinants, with Shigeru Omi, the deputy head of the expert panel advising the Japanese government and a former chief of the WHO Western Pacific office, citing Japanese peoples health consciousness as possibly the most important factor. The possibility that the virus strain spreading in Japan may have been different, and less dangerous, to that faced by other nations, has also been raised. Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the U.S. studied coronavirus variants in a database and found one strain of the virus spreading through Europe that had several mutations distinguishing it from the Asian version, according to a paper put in early May. Although the study has not been peer-reviewed and drawn some criticism, the findings point to a need to more thoroughly study how the virus changes. Large questions still remain over the true extent of the pathogens spread. In April, a Tokyo hospital conducted tests on a handful of non-Covid patients and found that around 7% had the coronavirus, showing the danger of missing asymptomatic or mild carriers that can become the source of an outbreak. An antibody test on 500 people in the capital suggested the true outbreak could be nearly 20 times larger than figures have shown. Analog contact tracing breaks down when infection numbers are high, and reports of people unable to get tested or even medical treatment for Covid-like symptoms peppered social media during the height of the outbreak. And the fact remains that Japans response was less than perfect. While the overall population is much smaller, Asian neighbors such as Taiwan had just seven confirmed deaths from the virus, while Vietnam had none. You cant say the Japan response was amazing, said Norio Sugaya, a visiting professor at Keio Universitys School of Medicine in Tokyo and a member of a World Health Organization panel advising on pandemic influenza. If you look at the other Asian countries, they all had a death rate that was about 1/100th of Western countries. Buying Time While Japan may have avoided the worst of the health outcomes, the loose lockdown hasnt protected the country from the economic impact. Its economy, already dealing with the impact of a sales tax hike in October, officially slid into recession in the first three months of the year. Economists have warned the second quarter will be the worst on record, and the specter of deflation, which haunted the economy for decades, once again looms. Tourist numbers plummeted 99.9% in April after the country shut its borders, putting the brakes on a booming industry that had promised to be a growth driver for years. As in other countries, bankruptcies have risen sharply. Even with the end of the state of emergency in sight, authorities are warning that life will not return to normal. When case numbers slowed in early March, there was public optimism that the worst was over -- only for cases to spike again and trigger the emergency declaration. If a deadlier second wave does follow, the risk factor in Japan, which has the worlds oldest population, remains high. The country has speedily approved Gilead Sciences Inc.s remdesivir and is now scrambling to allow the use of still unproven Fujifilm Holdings Corp.s antiviral Avigan. There are calls for the country to use the time it has bought itself to shore up its testing and learn in the way its neighbors did from SARS and MERS. Officials have begun to speak of a phase in which people live with the virus, with a recognition that Japans approach has no possibility of wiping out the pathogen. We have to assume that the second wave could be much worse than the first wave and prepare for it, said Yoshihito Niki, a professor of infectious diseases at Showa Universitys School of Medicine. If the next explosion of cases is worse, the medical system will break down. As we move from the crisis phase of Australias coronavirus journey and begin to emerge into an altered world, its interesting to look at the most-read stories online from the past week for insight into what our subscribers are most engaged with. The most-read story in the past week (excluding our five coronavirus live blogs) was political and international editor Peter Hartchers Tuesday column, on the present state of our long and loyal alliance with the United States. Weve all watched agog as President Donald Trump lurched from initially rejecting that America had anything to fear from COVID-19 to the attempted coordination of a national response; the weeks punctuated by bizarre, rambling press conferences and wild - often dangerous - thought bubbles, including his advocacy of injecting disinfectant into coronavirus patients as a treatment. Loading Likening Australias global position to being like a deputy sheriff now wondering what the mad sheriff has in mind, Hartcher wrote: Now that Australia finds itself facing its most precarious geopolitical situation since World War II, the insurance policy is looking pretty threadbare. Donald Trump has shown that he is happy to ignore, insult and injure American allies whenever the mood takes him. The precariousness described, as the US and China trade blows with Australia in the crossfire, sparked a great deal of debate among readers, with more than 500 comments and some great engagement on the story online. Still in the US, our correspondent Matthew Knott has been busy covering Trumps bizarre revelation that hes been using the controversial malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to prevent him getting coronavirus (despite the medical consensus being that it can do nothing of the sort). The piece that piqued readers interest the most, also in the top five, was his report of the US President turning his defence of the drug into an attack on the Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who described him as morbidly obese. The Morrison government is being urged to overhaul its JobKeeper program to focus on jobs in the tourism and recreation sectors when the wage subsidy scheme ends as questions grow over how Treasury overestimated its cost by $60 billion. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday likened the massive miscalculation of the cost of the policy centrepiece of the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic to a builder delivering a new house well under budget while saying responsibility for the problem ultimately rested with him. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has likened a $60 billion miscalculation in the cost of the JobKeeper program to a builder delivering a new home way under budget. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Late on Friday, Treasury revealed a "significant error" in its estimates meant JobKeeper a subsidy that pays $1500 a fortnight towards the wages of enrolled workers would go to only 3.5 million people and cost $70 billion over a six-month period. When announced in late March, the government said it would cost $130 billion and cover more than 6 million workers. (Reuters) Hedge funds concentrated their portfolios even further into growth stocks including Amazon.com Inc and Microsoft Corp in the first quarter of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic pummeled U.S. markets, Goldman Sachs analysts said in a report. The two American multinationals saw the largest increase in hedge fund holdings, according to an analysis by the bank of 822 funds with 1.8 trillion in gross equity positions. To read this article: Last year, Lenovo Data Center Group (DCG) announced single-socket ThinkSystem servers using the AMD Rome generation, which has up to 64 cores per processor. Dual-socket systems are de rigueur in enterprise servers, but that's because those processors have just 20-odd cores. AMD's pitch, which Lenovo and its competitors embraced, was that it could offer more compute in a one-socket, 64-core processor than two 22-core processors, and for less money. This year Lenovo DGC is following up that launch with the 1U ThinkSystem SR645 and 2U ThinkSystem SR665 two-socket servers, featuring enhanced performance and I/O connectivity for higher performance workloads. With 128 cores/256 threads in a 1U/2U design, a whole lot of computation power can be squeezed into a small space. Lenovo is targeting industries that need dense computation, like financial services, retail, and manufacturing. "Our new Lenovo ThinkSystem servers are designed for workloads such as in-memory databases, advanced analytics, virtualization, and AI," said Kamran Amini, vice president and general manager of server, storage and software defined infrastructure at the Lenovo DCG, in a statement. "With the exceptional power, speed and onboard storage of these new servers, our customers have the ability to handle the increasing data requirements of today's workloads with the scalability to grow with their business." The ThinkSystem SR645 and SR665 servers feature PCI Express 4, which doubles I/O bandwidth from Gen 3, something essential for I/O intensive applications. It supports up to eight Nvidia T4 cards used in applications like video analytics and inference solutions for artificial intelligence. They can also hold a lot of data, with up to 40 2.5-inch drives or up to 32 NVMe SSD drives despite their low profile, making them ideal for a software-defined storage configuration. They also are available via Lenovo's TruScale pay-per-use program, which allows enterprises to rent the servers rather than acquire them outright and pay for what they use. Adding liquid cooling to GPUs Lenovo has had a liquid cooling initiative called Neptune for about two years now, focused mostly on CPU cooling. However, as part of Nvidia's launch of the Ampere A100 GPU, Lenovo is adding support for liquid cooling of Nvidia's latest GPU. Lenovo is collaborating with Nvidia to use its Neptune cooling on the HGX A100 4-GPU with NVLink baseboard. The HGX A100 is a small board that plugs into a server's PCI Express slot and functions as a GPU accelerator, with four A100 Ampere generation chips normally sporting a heat sink. Supermicro is the first out of the gate with HGX products, but other server vendors are expected to follow. The HGX A100 board comes with passive cooling, meaning heat sinks without fans. It relies on the fans of the chassis to cool them. That could be a little risky; GPUs run hot. The A100 has a thermal design power (TDP) of 400 watts, which is double that of Intel's top-of-the-line Xeon Platinum 8180 server processor. Now imagine four boards crammed onto a space that's a little bit larger than a smartphone. You could probably cook s'mores over that. So Lenovo plans to offer Neptune liquid cooling to Nvidia's new GPUs both the four-way card and the eight-way card. The company says it will bring these solutions to market later this year. In a blog post announcing the Nvidia partnership, Scott Tease, general manager of HPC & AI at Lenovo's DCG, noted the advances in technology over 12 years. "What took nearly 300 racks of floor space, 3,000 servers and $100M to achieve the petaFLOPS barrier in 2008, will be achieved in just a half of a rack of our latest Lenovo Neptune liquid-cooled servers supporting the latest NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs," Tease wrote. Authorities continue to search for a Colorado mother of two who disappeared after going for a bicycle ride on May 10. CBS Denver reports Suzanne Morphew remains missing after the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office wrapped up a three-day search at a residential construction site. Investigators dug beneath a concrete slab at the site. The property owner told CBS Denver that Morphew's husband, Barry, laid the dirt at the riverfront property. The sheriff's office says while they searched multiple locations on the property, they did not make any connection to Morphew's case. They also did not release details about the search. suzanne-morphew.jpg Suzanne Morphew Chaffee County They add the property owner was fully cooperative and not connected to the case. "Someone has that key piece of information in this case that will help us locate Suzanne, and I'm asking our community members to continue to use the tip line to provide any information, no matter how inconsequential the tip may seem," said Sheriff John Spezze. CBS News correspondent Mola Lenghi reports the search at the construction site comes a week after an emotional plea from her husband, a volunteer firefighter. "Oh Suzanne, if anyone is out there that could hear this, that has you, please, we'll do whatever it takes to bring you back," Barry Morphew said. "We love you, we miss you, the girls need you." The family says he was out of town in Denver when her wife disappeared on Mother's Day. Police recovered Morphew's bike the day she disappeared but they would not say what condition it was in. Days later, officials found a personal item of hers, but did not specify what it was. The sheriff's office has been searching for her with help from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. Morphew's family and friends are offering a $200,000 reward for any tips that lead to her whereabouts. In a phone interview with CBS Denver, her nephew Trevor said they are doing everything they can to get answers. Story continues "We have a team a force of people working on their computers and on social media ... consolidating all the information we find," he said. Taps Across America Colorado tourist attractions remain closed despite reopening plans Pro-democracy protesters clash with police in Hong Kong over Beijing's proposed law COLUMBIA After critical questions were raised about how South Carolina selects and oversees its judges, it looked for weeks like proposals to reform those systems would receive serious consideration from a legislature that has turned aside similar efforts in the past. That movement came to a halt, along with much of the rest of the states proposed legislation, when the coronavirus forced lawmakers to shut down this years legislative session in March. But the lawmakers who drafted the judicial reforms said their measures arent dead. That includes a proposal in the House of Representatives for an oversight panel to review the two South Carolina agencies that screen and police the states judges. And in the upper chamber, Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican, said his proposal to boost the legal acumen of the states magistrate judges has resonated with his colleagues. Among the reforms Davis first proposed in December were requirements to increase the legal training for magistrates, many of whom do not have a law license, and add protections for criminal defendants who appear before the judges. That particular piece I know has traction, Davis told The Post and Courier. He said he was expecting to get a Senate hearing on his bill before the outbreak shut down the session. I think well get something substantial next session, he added. Rep. Tommy Stringer, a Greer Republican, was making his own push toward reform this session in the House. He requested the Legislative Audit Council conduct a probe into the states judicial screening panel and the Commission on Judicial Conduct, which polices judges. That discussion was placed on a House agenda for the end of March but is now rescheduled indefinitely. Both the House and Senate reforms were drafted in the wake of a joint reporting project last year by The Post and Courier and ProPublica. The news organizations exposed the states cloaked system of judicial oversight that has allowed the states judges to escape virtually any scrutiny despite more than 1,000 ethics complaints filed against them over the years. In an examination of the states magistrates court, additional reporting revealed how politics and flawed oversight provided fertile ground for incompetence and corruption on the bench. That report, published in November, revealed that South Carolinas roughly 320 magistrates handle hundreds of thousands of cases each year but about three-quarters of the judges are not lawyers. To qualify for their positions, they need only to have a four-year degree and pass basic competency exams, the news organizations found. Before taking the bench, magistrates must complete 57 hours of classroom training. By comparison, the state mandates 1,500 hours of training for its barbers. When those revelations came to light, the calls for reforms came almost immediately. Davis called for more hours of required magistrate legal training. And in another measure that legal scholars point to as a key protection, his bill would also grant anyone sentenced to jail by a non-lawyer magistrate the right to request a new trial before a lawyer judge. He pointed to the newspapers reporting as a catalyst for the reforms. Inertia sets in at the Statehouse, but once you overcome the inertia, things start to move, Davis said. Even though nothing is moving through the Statehouse now, he expects the discussions to pick back up when the legislative session resumes whenever that may be. Im optimistic about it, Davis said. Hamirpur and Solan districts in Himachal Pradesh will continue with the coronavirus lockdown for a month after the current nationwide phase ends on May 31. The district magistrates of Hamirpur and Solan issued orders on Monday, extending the curfew in their areas up to June 30. The two orders did not specifically mention the lockdown itself, but its extension is implied. The state-wide curfew in Himachal Pradesh is meant to enforce the lockdown against coronavirus. Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show As in the rest of the state, the two districts allow several hours of relaxation in the curfew and the lockdown every day. Essential services remain open during the curfew hours as well. This will continue, officials said. Hamirpur has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 63 while 21 people have tested positive for the infection in Solan till now. So far, the state has reported 214 cases, including five deaths. According to officials, Hamirpur has witnessed a spurt in cases after people in large numbers recently returned to the state from different parts of the country. The district now has 57 of 142 active cases in the state. Over 10,000 people have returned to Hamirpur from various red zones in the country in the past 30 days, District Magistrate Harikesh Meena said. Meanwhile, NDTV reported that the lockdown has been extended in all 12 districts of the state. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here OTTAWAAn ad hoc transparency group is calling on governments to make crucial records related to the COVID-19 pandemic open by default as a measure of accountability to the public. The Canadian COVID-19 Accountability Group urges public officials to proactively release documents concerning health and safety enforcement, scientific and public health research, and contracts, grants, and loans provided to companies and organizations. The coalition includes academics, lawyers and representatives of groups including the Whistleblowing Canada Research Society and Anti-Corruption and Accountability Canada. In a report released Monday, it said the COVID-19 pandemic has demanded dramatic action, both politically and financially, to slow the spread of the disease. But the coalition said public and private bodies have been less than transparent with the news media and the public about those actions. Canadians are being kept in the dark about everything from how much money is being spent to fight the pandemic to basic data about where the disease is spreading, said Ian Bron, an Ottawa-based accountability advocate and former whistleblower (on Transport Canada and marine security) who co-ordinated the groups effort. We know that when governments and corporations operate without public scrutiny, the potential for negligence, fraud, and misinformation dramatically increases. During a pandemic, that puts lives and scarce dollars at risk, Bron said. The group echoed a recent call from federal information commissioner Caroline Maynard for agencies to release pandemic-related records they create, without prompting. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday the government has emphasized transparency when announcing programs to address the effects of COVID-19. But we recognize theres always more to do in terms of openness and transparency, and we will continue to demonstrate that with Canadians, he said at his daily briefing. Because we know fundamentally theres an issue of trust and of confidence. If Canadians have confidence their government is working on their behalf to support them during the pandemic, they will continue to follow public health advice, which will be beneficial to everyone, he added. Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos said Monday he has reminded colleagues and his officials to ensure whatever is possible is done concerning transparency, given the current challenges. Duclos, the minister responsible for the Access to Information Act, said he has spoken with the information commissioner about how the government can release more documentation proactively and use technology to improve openness. The accountability group seeks a clear declaration that Canadian governments will protect anyone who reports public or private-sector wrongdoing pertaining to health and safety, science or the misuse of public funds, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. It also recommended creation of a COVID-19 ombudsman to advise and support Canadians wishing to disclose any wrongdoing they see. Even those in organizations with disclosure mechanisms, such as whistleblower hotlines, may not know of (or trust) them, the report said. They would benefit from support in choosing where to go, articulating their concerns and understanding what evidence they need to make a credible disclosure of wrongdoing. The report also called for an awareness campaign to educate employees about how to report wrongdoing concerning the expenditure of public funds related to the pandemic, as well as the nondisclosure or manipulation of information on COVID-19. The coalition acknowledged its recommendations are ambitious and will require work and consistent, steady leadership. Some can be enacted quickly while others, such as the development of comprehensive whistle-blowing legislation, will require more time, it said. However, without these reforms, it will be difficult for citizens to hold bad actors accountable for their actions and inactions during the pandemic, as well as prevent future failures that could jeopardize both taxpayer dollars and Canadian lives. Hong Kong Police Use Force to Disperse Rally Against Beijing Security Law By Verna Yu May 24, 2020 Hong Kong police fired tear gas and used water cannon and pepper spray Sunday on thousands of protesters who turned out in droves to demonstrate against Beijing's plan to impose national security laws on the Asian financial hub. China Friday revealed its plan to bypass Hong Kong's legislature to impose a national security law on Hong Kong to prevent and punish acts of "secession, subversion or terrorism activities" that threaten national security. US May Impose Sanctions on China Over Hong Kong White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien says security law, proposed by Beijing, would allow China to 'basically take over Hong Kong' The move, which would also allow Chinese national security organs to set up agencies in Hong Kong, has been widely criticized around the world, with the U.S. threatening consequences for China. On Sunday afternoon, thousands congregated in the downtown shopping districts of Causeway Bay and Wanchai, chanting anti-government slogans and singing "Glory to Hong Kong" - an unofficial anthem of the ongoing anti-government protest movement, which started last June. The unapproved demonstration was originally intended to protest against another controversial law that would criminalize the mockery of the Chinese national anthem, but China's plan to introduce national security law revealed in last week's annual parliamentary meeting prompted more people to turn up on Sunday. In contrast with the jovial atmosphere of approved protests in the past, a sense of nervousness and despondency pervaded in the unsanctioned protest Sunday, as protesters said they felt helpless in the face of the imminent enactment of the national security law, which is almost certain to pass next week at China's National People's Congress. Hong Kong Ex-Governor Dubs New Security Law a 'Wake-Up Call' Britain and other Western countries have been naive in thinking they can tame China's Communist leaders by 'cozying up' to them, says Britain's last governor of Hong Kong "I know it's dangerous to come out today, but I am here precisely because the national security law is so dangerous," said a said a 63-year-old wheel chair-bound man named Wong, who would not give his first name. A 64-year-old woman who would not reveal her name said she wanted to "support our young people. "I feel so sorry for our children and grandchildren, they have to live under China's national security law," she said. A young father dressed in black who was holding the hands of his two young sons said, "We have done no wrong. It's them who are afraid, not us." A young man waved a flag emblazoned with the message "Hong Kong Independence" and said he wanted to do "the right thing," even if it meant going to jail under the new law forced upon Hong Kong. Most of the slogans protesters chanted, such as "Rejuvenate Hong Kong, revolution of our time" or "Fight for freedom, Stand with Hong Kong" were often used in past protests, but the slogan "Hong Kong Independence, the only way" was heard for the first time, indicating people's increasing antagonism towards China. Until now, protesters over the past year largely targeted the Hong Kong government, as the controversial extradition law which triggered the protests was supposedly initiated by the city's own government. Police fired the first shot of tear gas 30 minutes into the initially peaceful rally, driving protesters running into side streets as shops and buildings hurriedly shuttered. Police later unleashed water cannon on protesters. Some protesters smashed traffic lights, blocked traffic with trash bins, traffic cones and railings, dug up bricks, and set small fires. The police anti-riot vehicle shot out several bursts of a clear liquid in mid-afternoon, while more rounds of tear gas was fired on busy shopping streets. Police said some officers retreated after firing multiple rounds of tear gas, because people started throwing objects at them. They also shot pepper-balls. Police said at least three officers were hurt after they were allegedly struck by bricks thrown at the police. They said glass bottles were thrown down from buildings. By late afternoon, the police said, more than 120 people had been arrested, mostly on illegal assembly charges. "Police are taking resolute action to make arrests and to stop the unlawful and violent acts," a statement said. Earlier in the day, more than 20 pro-democracy politicians and activists staged smaller protests in groups of eight, to comply with social distancing rules in front of China's liaison office against the proposed national security law. "Under a tyrant, nobody is safe," former legislator Leung Kwok-Hung said. "Under the state security law, nobody is safe." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MP Sira moves for action after DSI probe finds Kata condo project land title, building permission unlawful PHUKET: Sira Jenjaka, a Bangkok MP for the military-aligned Palang Pracharath Party, will file an official request with the Minister of Interior to expedite proceedings to have a land use document revoked for the site of The Peaks Residences condo project in Kata. landpropertycrimecorruptionconstruction By The Phuket News Monday 25 May 2020, 06:57PM MP Sira at his press conference at Parliament House in Bangkok on Friday (May 22). Photo: MCOT The move follows an investigation by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) deeming the land document illegal, Mr Sira told a press conference at Parliament House in Bangkok on Friday (May 22), reports state news organisation MCOT. The approval by local officials of construction of the project is also considered to be an abuse of authority, MP Sira added. MP Sira said that the DSI had concluded its investigation into the project, which sits on a hillside overlooking Kata Noi Bay on Phukets west coast. The entire project, completed, was estimated to be valued at around B30 billion, he noted. The DSI had already reported that land-use document NorSor 3 Kor No. 1863 in Tambon Karon was unlawful, he said. The site was located in a hill area for which no previous land title deed, a SorKor 1, had been issued, MP Sira explained. Construction of the project was conducted on a slope exceeding 35 degrees, also making the project illegal, he said. The Nakhon Sri Thammarat Administrative Court had already handed down its verdict and ordered the Department of Lands to revoke the NorSor 3 Kor for the site, he said. At this stage, that is being contested and the case is being hear by the Supreme Administrative Court, Mr Sira noted. MP Sira also explained that the construction permission for the project had also been found unlawful, but Karon Municipality had allowed construction by Kata Beach Co Ltd to proceed. They gave B3 million as collateral for the permit and pledged that the company would demolish the buildings and restore the land to its previous natural state if the formal investigation found the project illegal. So far they have refused to do that, he noted. The Building Control Act does not give authority to local administrative officers to allow such action. The officers wrongdoing can be considered illegal according to Criminal Code Section 157 as their wrongful exercise of duties, Mr Sira said. The DSI has already filed a report to the National Anti-Corruption Commission [NACC] and the Department of Lands to proceed with action in accordance with the investigations findings. Additionally, I will file a report to Minister of Interior Anupong Paochinda to expedite the revoking of the NorSor 3 Kor and the prosecution of officers involved, he said. MP Sira also called on a newspaper, which he did not name, to explain its report claiming that on June 10 the Constitutional Court will hand down a verdict to dismiss him from his position as an MP as a consequence for him interfering with the project. If the Constitutional Court does not give a verdict as written in the newspaper, the news agency must be responsible, as they wouldve entered false information into a computer system, he said, alluding to the specific charge under the Computer Crimes Act. From my observation, the news website posted stories about me both in the morning and afternoon. Whats their purpose? How do they get information from the court? I want to ask whether I stepped on someones toes or if I am in any way involved in the news agency managers business, as I think [reports like] this is beyond the duty of the media, he added. MP Sira in August last year said he had received a death threat for publicly revealing that the condominium project had its land ownership documents revoked by the court. He also said that he had received a message claiming that two people had already died as a result of speaking out about the project. Since then MP Sira has so far held good to his promises to have the project thoroughly investigated by the DSI and to follow up with all investigative anti-corruption authorities, and to have charges brought against local officials for allowing the project. He also came to Phuket to tell Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana directly, I will also file a request with the Anti Money Laundering Office (Amlo) to investigate the properties owned by and any financial transactions involving any officers related to this project. See also: SPECIAL REPORT: PM orders probe into Phuket Kata condo project March 15, 2019 Click here Bangkok MP claims received death threats over Phuket condo project August 16, 2019 Click here NACC in Phuket over state land grab claims August 17, 2019 Click here After death threats, Bangkok MP fires up legal action over Phuket condo project August 19, 2019 Click here MP Sira warns Governor of Amlo complaint over Phuket condo project August 20, 2019 Click here The Peaks Residences owner speaks out over land claim, public controversy August 21, 2019 Click here MP Sira files complaint to DSI over Phuket condo project The Peaks August 22, 2019 Click here Thai Civilized Party joins The Peaks probe party August 26, 2019 Click here Phukets Katathani resort land investigated amid The Peaks Residences condo row September 7, 2019 Click here MP Sira returns to Phuket over Kata condo November 15, 2019 Click here As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ The way parents name their children can easily erase their innocence. Due to this, parents need to do sufficient research and ensure they name their children appropriately. The Meru community in Kenya takes child naming seriously since they believe the name plays a role in how the child will turn out to be. Some of the best Meru girl names bound to draw your attention have come about as a result of this. Image: unsplash.com (modified by author) Source: UGC The announcement of the name of a Meru baby girl is through ululation. The Meru community are thorough in their naming process, and they usually ensure that they name the girls after others who are higher in the lineage. This well-thought process has led to cute Meru female names that only bring the best melody to your ears. The following list steers you towards some of the popular Meru female names that have been able to stand the test of time. Best Meru names and their meanings Kenya Meru girl names stand out even in the global arena. Some international Meru names such as Makena and Kendi have not been enveloped only to the Meru community, and this has led to an oceanic use of these names globally. Some of the top Meru girl names and their meanings include: Makena The name means always in a cheerful mood and hardly angered by anything. Kagwira - This is synonymous to Makena and both the young and old generation, embrace the name. Kendi The name means a girl who loves and is known to do good to people. She is also known for her attractive physical appearance. Kiendi The name is synonymous to Kendi. Many parents love to use this name, hoping that their children would possess the character behind the name. Kaweria Loving one Mugure The name is common despite its meaning. Misinterpreting this name is easy. It means "Already purchased." READ ALSO: Most popular Korean girl names with meanings Image: pexels.com (modified by author) Source: UGC Interesting Meru names for baby girl Meru names in Kenya usually have a meaning behind them since the community is known to name their children after certain activities or seasons. The following are some of the Meru names for girls with fascinating Meru name meaning: Kagendi/ Kagendo This is a name given after a namesake that was known to be moving from one place to another without settling down. Kanyua This name is for potential female drunkards. The name reflects those that are notorious in taking of beer. The interesting thing with these two names is how any parent would know that their child would be a drunkard or not able to settle down. Fascinating Meru girl names that will blow your mind Being that the Meru community is known to name girls after certain activities, clans and seasons, modern parents have to realize the uniqueness in some of these names. The following list is a compilation of some of these unique names: Ruguru This means that the namesake comes from the Western side from the babys home. Umotho This means that the namesake comes from the South. Urio It means that the namesake comes from the North. Mukwanjiru The namesake belonged to a clan of Airu. Mutune The namesake belonged to a clan of Ntune. Mukwadadi The namesakes nyoni name was Dadi. Certain Meru girl names agree with their meaning. Some of them include: Konini The name means something small, and it for premature babies or girl babies that are physically small. Kangai The name is for girl babies that have cheated death narrowly due to sickness. These two names provide sufficient reason to their meaning since one can understand where they are coming from. Meru girl names are some of the unique and highly-celebrated names in Kenya. They are top-ranked in the Kenyan girl names that many modern and old parents prefer. The above list of Meru girl names and meanings show how real the names are and how they fit globally irrespective of ones nationality. READ ALSO: Brian Ogana, Luwi of Maria on Citizen TV: biography and photos Read more: 100 beautiful unique girl names with meaning Read more: Source: TUKO.co.ke A 10-year-old Florida girl has died after she got caught in a rip current and was unresponsive when she was pulled from the water. The incident took place around 6.30pm at Siesta Key Beach on Sunday, according to the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office. Witnesses reported seeing several people in distress in the water including an adult woman and two children who got caught in the current about 100 yards from the shoreline. A 10-year-old girl identified as Irys Wright died Sunday after she got caught in a powerful rip current off Siesta Key Beach in Florida She got caught in the water with an adult and another child. When she was pulled in from the water she was unresponsive. The other two who got caught in the current did not suffer serious injury Adults on the beach ran out to help those stuck people. The little girl, later identified as Irys Wright, was brought back to land unresponsive and taken to an area hospital by Sarasota County Fire rescue and did not survive, as per ABC. The other people were treated at the beach and allowed to go home. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Deputies say there is no evidence of foul play or neglect. Stock image of the Siesta Key beach above Irys' father paid a touching tribute to her on Facebook saying: 'Baby.. Daddy will forever LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART...' A Gofundme page has been made by the child's school teacher to raise funds for her funeral and has surpassed $2,000 of its $3,000 goal Irys' father paid a touching tribute to her on Facebook saying: 'Baby.. Daddy will forever LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART...' 'These two is all I had in this world. The pain hurts so much! I been thru so much in my life. Change my life for the positive and Still Get the a** end,' he added, sharing pictures of his two daughters posing together. A Gofundme page has been made by the child's school teacher to raise funds for her funeral and has surpassed $2,000 of its $3,000 goal. 'We have lost a very precious angel, Irys Wright who was one of my 4th grade students this year. I am asking for prayers and funding for the family. I want to be able to help the family give Irys the burial her beautiful heart deserves,' the page says. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office at 941-861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 941-366-TIPS. A two-faced kitten that was born with a rare condition has died after capturing the attention of thousands of adoring fans. The kitten, named Biscuits and Gravy by owners Kyla and BJ King, was born on 20 May in Oregon. He lived to be nearly four days old, said the Kings on a Facebook page dedicated to his progress. Born with a birth defect known as diprosopus, or cranial duplication, Biscuits had four eyes, two noses and two mouths. He could eat and meow from both faces and Mr King said he was a lively kitten. But felines with the defect do not have a long life expectancy, and the family acknowledged that Biscuits had beaten the longest of odds by living as long as he did. I wish I hadnt said that we wishes he was eating more. That prompted many of you to tell us what we were doing wrong, the couple wrote in a Facebook post announcing the kittens death. The fact is he was eating very well. What I meant was we wished he could put on weight. He ate a lot, and he peed and pooped a lot. He just didnt grow. Its hard work for a little guy like him to support a large head with two complete faces. We thank all of you who have been so king, prayed and wishes the best for Biscuits and Gravy, they added. Cats born with two faces are also known as Janus cats, after the ancient Roman god of time and duality. Janus is often depicted as having two faces to look into both the future and the past. Complications caused by the deformity severely shorten the lifespan of Janus cats, but the longest-lived Janus cat lived up until the age of 15. Ms King wrote in another post: I want to thank everyone so much for your kindness and love. This story has been as tory of life and how very precious it is, whether days or years, whether animal or human, life is so very precious and every single life is unique. I feel so blessed to be part of the story of Biscuits and Gravy and how he brought joy and hope to so many people. The kitten is survived by five other siblings. Colour-coding of zones based on the prevalence of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases is losing relevance in several states that are primarily focusing on containment areas instead to contain the infection, according to local officials. For example, authorities in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal and Jharkhand have decided against identifying red zone districts in the fourth phase of the lockdown that began on May 18 with the Centre relaxing guidelines to help businesses open after an unprecedented lockdown. In the latest lockdown guidelines by the home ministry, states have been given the power to define red, orange and green zones that have been instrumental in the strategy for imposing area-specific curbs in the previous phase of curbs between May 4 and May 17. While stricter curbs were implemented in red zones, orange zones got several relaxations. The rules were significantly eased for green zones. Under the new guidelines, States and Union Territories (UTs) will now delineate Red, Green and Orange zones taking into consideration the parameters shared by the Health Ministry, the government said on May 17. These zones can be a district, or a municipal corporation, or even smaller administrative units such as sub-divisions. Earlier, it was the Centre that came out with two lists on April 15 and May 1 identifying red zones (with maximum Covid-19 cases), orange zones (with fewer infections) and green zones (Covid-19-free areas), though several states expressed dismay over the process. In the first list, India had 130 red zones, while the second list identified 170 such areas. The new guidelines added that within red and orange zones, containment and buffer zones will be as demarcated by the local authorities, after taking into consideration the Health Ministry guidelines. An official in Chhattisgarh, which has identified four blocks as red zones, said: We have gone by the central government rule, which allows just a locality or a block, instead of an entire district, to be declared a red zone, said the official who did not want to be named. Till last week, four districts in the state were in the red zone defined by the central government. Now, in the four red zone blocks, Chhattisgarh has 44 containment centres, same as it had on May 17. The zones are declared keeping in mind the present situation and geographical area, the official added. The Centre has laid down some guidelines for states to help them define the zones. The parameters include active cases, active cases per lakh population, doubling rate and case fatality rate, testing ratio and sample positivity rate. Similarly, it has asked local authorities to focus on mapping of cases, geographical dispersion of cases, and enforcing strict perimeter control in case of containment zones, which can be broadly defined as epicentres of infections. On Saturday, Jharkhand placed 21 districts with Covid-19 cases in orange zones. At present, the state has no red zone district as none of the 24 districts... all 21 affected districts are placed in orange zones, and three other districts, which have not reported any case so far, are green zones, said state health department principal secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, too, have done away with the concept of zones, and have taken a cluster-based approach. Till May 17, Andhra Pradesh had five red districts and Telangana six. Now, the focus is on Andhras 341 clusters and Telanganas 130. Andhra Pradeshs nodal Covid-19 officer, Arja Sreekanth, said clusters that report several fresh cases in a five-day period are classified as very active. The two states have given powers to district collectors to identify these clusters and implement strict lockdown norms there. According to federal guidelines, lockdown relaxations across the country are not applicable to containment zones. The number of containment clusters keep changing on a day-to-day basis, depending on the increase or decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases, S Subrahmanyam, an official in Andhras Covid-19 command control room, said. Kerala, too, has discontinued the colour-coding and adopted containment strategies giving the police powers not to allow people in these areas to move out of their houses. Karnataka has adopted a similar approach. The number of containment zones is a dynamic number which changes on a daily basis, said a Karnataka health department official, who was not willing to be named. The colour categorization was needed in the initial stages to prevent quick spread of Covid to new areas in the district. We were able to contain the infection to certain areas, which shows the strategy worked...(now) the states should decide on how to manage the Covid-19 hot spots, VK Paul, member incharge of health, Niti Aayog, said last week. By Express News Service CHENNAI: The citys COVID count rose to over 11,000 on Monday with 548 new cases being reported. The total now stands at 11,131 which included a Kerala-returnee. Of these, 5135 have already been discharged, according to the official daily bulletin. Six of the seven deaths that were reported in the official release on Monday were those from Chennai and one from Chengalpattu district. ALSO READ: Flight services resume from Chennai; 116 passengers leave for Delhi This included a 33-year-old Chennai man who was admitted on May 23 to the Government Royapettah hospital and tested positive on May 24 after he had died. Chennai has reported a total of 84 deaths, so far. At the Chennai airport, a total of 2,055 people have been tested since May 9 of which 41 have tested positive. At the Central railway station, a total of 5,137 people have been tested since May 14, of which 35 have tested positive so far. As on Sunday, Royapuram had the highest number of cases when compared to other Chennai Corporation zones, at 1981. Kodambakkam zone had 1460 cases. The other zones which prove to be a challenge for city corporation are Teynampet, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Tondiarpet which recorded 1118,1188 and 1044 cases respectively. A slum-focused approach has been undertaken by the city corporation along with a micro plan for hotspots, in order to control the spread in these zones. Of the total number of people affected as on Sunday, 1174 belong to the age groups of 60-80 and upwards. 60% of those affected in the city were males. The American Legion is calling on Americans to light candles at dusk on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who fell in the nation's battles -- from Bunker Hill to Fallujah and all the nameless places in between. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is also asking for a virtual gathering, calling for a moment of silence at 3 p.m. local time throughout the nation. Read Next: Thunder's End: Rolling Thunder to Mark Final Memorial Day Event The Veterans of Foreign Wars simply asked for a period of reflection to remember "the service men and women we have lost over the course of history," said VFW National Commander William "Doc" Schmitz. The calls for personal tributes comes after many of the traditional public events marking Memorial Day were canceled or significantly altered amid restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Washington, D.C., the roar of motorcycles that was a feature of Memorial Day weekends for the last 32 years was absent. The 2019 "Rolling Thunder" tribute was the last. The AMVETS veterans service organization had planned a scaled-down version of Rolling Thunder to be called "Rolling to Remember," but the event as planned was canceled and will now go virtual. The traditional "Flags In" ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, in which members of the "Old Guard," the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, place flags at each headstone, took place as usual last Thursday, but was closed to the public. Arlington will be open only to family members on Memorial Day, and they will be limited to visiting gravesites. The central event for all Memorial Days -- the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington by the president or a designate, followed by a speech to the nation from the amphitheater -- had been canceled this year because of the COVID-19 restrictions still in effect in northern Virginia. President Donald Trump's schedule changed Sunday, however, and he was expected to lay a wreath at the tomb before continuing on to Fort McHenry in Baltimore. There, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will join Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley. Fort McHenry is best known as the place where the battle against the British during the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott to write the poem that became the "Star Spangled Banner." At the fort, Trump and the First Lady "will again lead the American people in solemn remembrance of those brave American patriots who laid down their lives so we can live in the land of the free," the White House said in a statement. One of the exceptions to the closings is the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, which will officially reopen on Memorial Day. But visitors will be required to wear face masks and observe social distancing. The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, will be closed but there will be virtual events including the tolling of a bell for the fallen. To guard against the threat of the novel coronavirus, all cemeteries overseas run by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) will be closed to the public, including the iconic cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer overlooking the D-Day beaches of Normandy. AMBC will instead have two virtual events. The 142 national cemeteries, with more than 4.7 million gravesites run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, will be open to the public, but Memorial Day ceremonies will be closed. "It is true that this Memorial Day is somewhat different," VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in his Memorial Day message. "As we fight the COVID-19 pandemic, we do not gather as we normally would to honor our nation's heroes, but we can still remember and honor them by spending a quiet moment paying homage to their courage and sacrifice." Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect changes in the president's schedule. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: Strict Rules in Place for National Cemetery Visits on Memorial Day LOS ANGELES, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology company Datch has secured $3.2 million in seed funding for its leading-edge "Voice-Visual" AI assistant for industry. Datch CEO and co-founder Mark Fosdike says Datch is thrilled to welcome Blue Bear Capital as the lead investor, along with support from Stage Venture Partners, Tuhua Ventures, Lorimer Ventures, Predictive Venture Partners, and Plug and Play Ventures. "With industry-leading partners on board from the energy and manufacturing sectors and with a focus on digital transformation, we are well-positioned to help improve the way industrial organizations capture worker-based knowledge at the frontlines," Mr. Fosdike said. The funding announcement coincides with Datch's hands-free workplace initiative, designed to reduce deskless worker dependencies on common physical touchpoints, a particularly important subject for worker health and safety, given the current environment. Formed in the UK in 2018 by Australian Mark Fosdike and New Zealanders Aric Thorn and Ben Purcell, the now US-based company is at the forefront of developing intelligent voice AI solutions for industrial environments. "We're all engineers with experience working on projects across the globe in the aerospace, shipbuilding, and energy sectors. We formed the business after witnessing the incredible amount of time and energy our companies lost when it came to filling out paperwork on the shop floor," Mr. Fosdike said. "We soon realized that not only do frontline workers lose considerable time on a daily basis carrying out paper-based work and manually undertaking digital processes, but only 5 percent of employee knowledge is retained in a business due to lack of available time, quality factors, and unstructured data collection. "What's exciting is that Datch does away with traditional process forms and instead uses a Natural Language Engine to give workers the freedom to conversationally capture their knowledge as soon as it's generated. Our platform lets them do this hands-free during the job without losing valuable tool time, resulting in significant productivity gains. Further to this, there are upstream advantages to capturing and structuring this knowledge data along with the play-by-play data, leading to important breakthroughs in asset-based insights." Datch's current funding round will be used to deliver to their growing customer base while expanding the capabilities of their voice-visual platform. Blue Bear Capital Partner Ernst Sack says they're excited to be partnering with Datch in their mission to deploy this future-proofing AI capability into industrial operations. "Voice technology brings wider context and nuance to human and digital connections by improving the quality and experience of work for the frontline and accelerates knowledge capture and sharing for the organization," Mr. Sack said. Blue Bear's Dr. Carolin Funk added, "We are particularly excited that Datch is bringing voice technologies to customers in important sectors like sustainable power generation and electric vehicle manufacturing." About Datch Datch is an intelligent voice AI for industrial environments. It uses conversations to solve business process constraints, such as time spent on work orders, logging information, and solving problems during equipment breakdowns. Datch's voice-visual interface allows staff to capture high-quality, real-time knowledge data, recording live sequence-of-events in granular detail and resulting in improved root cause analysis, informed purchasing decisions, and data-driven business intelligence. Working closely with customers across the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors, Datch identifies and obtains high-quality, structured knowledge data, driving higher uptime, increased productivity and top-line revenue. For more information, visit www.datch.io or contact us directly at: General inquiries: [email protected] Careers: [email protected] About Blue Bear Capital Blue Bear is a venture capital and growth equity firm driving digital technologies into multibillion-dollar verticals across the energy industry. The team comes together from leading energy private equity firms and features technology expertise from the tech start-up world alongside operational leadership from the NASA astronaut corps. Blue Bear's portfolio covers AI, IoT, and cybersecurity technologies, all deployed with leading enterprise customers as they improve the economics of wind, solar, and storage while driving efficiencies across the energy industry. For additional information, visit www.bluebearcap.com and @BlueBearCap. Related Files $3.2 million capital raised - Datch company announcement.pdf Related Images logo.png Logo Related Links Website LinkedIn SOURCE Datch, Inc Related Links https://www.datch.io At one point, he got out of his car to greet his brother down the street from the mosque, while maintaining a distance of about a parking space between them: It was the first Eid celebration Mohammed could remember where they didnt hug one another. How Cyclone Amphan, in the middle of a pandemic, has rendered the city of Kolkata and its neighbouring districts handicapped, with shattered homes, severed communication channels and people in search of hope. On 20 May, I woke up to photographs and videos of a 33-day-old puppy adopted by my uncle and aunt on the other side of town, allowing me to blissfully ignore Cyclone Amphan warnings jostling for space in my inbox. Thoughts of new toys, puppy food and pillow beds crowded my mind that Wednesday, as I tried introducing my three-year-old Labrador Retriever to his baby brother over video call. On the second floor of my 60-year-old home in south Kolkata, the sun was still alive and kicking a common phenomenon brought about by new life on earth even when a storm was brewing to monstrous proportions in our backyard. The (short-lived) rose-tinted filters on my eyes sugarcoated the dark skies outside my window and masked the stench of piling neighbourhood filth that had been hurled into the air by winds that were only whistling so far. Clearly, oblivion and complacency are among the many privileges afforded to us by our pucca houses, until I found out that perhaps this time, even that might not be enough to ferry us safely to the other side of the storm. By the time we were done with lunch, our WiFi had started to fumble, deferring delivery and receipt of messages. By four o'clock, both our dogs had sought shelter under furniture and in corners of their respective homes, where the rumble of the storm and battering of the rain were less audible. By 6.30 pm, phone lines and communication channels in our home were dead and the lights had begun to flicker ominously too. For the first time in my life, I caught myself feeling, smelling and touching a storm as it seeped in through bolted doors and windows. Hearing and watching it was simply not enough, it demanded our undivided attention. The asbestos sheet capping our three-storey ancestral home amplifies every drop of rain into what I call 'The Monsoon Orchestra'. It's my attempt at romanticising the otherwise dreadful, nagging phenomenon, occupying over a half of our calendars, to make it mildly more palatable. With the arrival of Amphan, I witnessed the roof threatening to break free and take off into the whirlpool in the sky. It's the same roof that had withstood the tyranny of Aila in 2009, a cyclone that left behind scars still visible in the subconscious of our everyday lives. Even after losing steam by a notch, and turning into an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm' from a super-cyclone, Amphan was set to bring about more than ten times the wreckage witnessed over a decade ago. "I am really scared. The roof will fly off any minute now," said my mother-in-law, who had turned blue in the face. I was almost defiant in my dismissal of the idea, unwilling to harbour thoughts that refused to seem outlandish anymore. As I walked into our terrace-cum-balcony, the winds bellowed and whiplashed, forcing me to take support of the walls and every other heavy object on the way. The flower pots had been overturned and the space was flooded till the ankles. Someone's window glass exploded in the distance, or maybe it was one of ours, I couldn't tell; the canopy of trees enveloping our neighbourhood's sky showed cracks exposing ghastly red clouds. In about a minute, or perhaps ten (as time had warped into an unrecognisable lump), I saw the hutment behind my house get hacked neatly into two by a giant tree that snapped from its roots. Shrieks emerging from underneath the debris were carried by the speeding winds and broadcast right into our homes floating a few feet above. As the wires and cables snapped too, a hollow of wet, pitch black swallowed us whole. I ran back into the living room and hugged my dog, as a heavy wooden door came nearly unhinged. This is how it ends, I thought to myself, and prayed to whoever would listen for my dogs to get miraculously saved, and find a loving new home once the nightmare ended. As I type this on my laptop 18 hours after electricity was properly restored in our home, my mind keeps flitting back to the moment I walked back into my room (which is where I am right now) after the storm had passed. It looked distinctly different from how I last saw it five hours ago. The passage leading to my room had flooded, with debris of unknown objects floating around and lodging themselves between our toes. On opening the door, I could hear the rain splatter onto my bed in echoing thuds rippling through the dark. Or perhaps it was the winds, now sluggish and exhausted, but just as cold. A gaping hole that once used to be a part of the ceiling stared right back at me, the ghoulish red of the sky bleeding all over me and my belongings that lay shrivelled like the wrinkling skin of an old man. My bed, books, clothes were all soaked to the bone. A tightly shut wooden window was now standing ajar, with the curtains and walls dripping from every last inch. It took me a good while to realise that the sky above my head had literally come apart, chipping away at our roof and blowing away a chunk of it. Just when we thought that the world could possibly sink no further after being ravaged by a fatal virus, our only shields of protection against the contagion the brick walls insulating us had been left battered and blown into smithereens. On venturing out the following morning in search of help, we passed by scenes of unprecedented devastation: uprooted trees, shattered buildings, splintered electric poles and listless, numb faces that had forgotten how to express or feel. "Ei gacch ta shoraate ektu shahajjo korben, dada? (will you help us move this tree, dada?)" I asked a local rickshaw-puller, who sat on one of the dismembered branches of the tree's corpse. He looked at me with blank eyes and pointed to the remains of what seemed to be his once-faithful carriage, now buried under a pile of dead leaves and wood. I didn't have an answer; we decided to take a different route. Hours later, as I watched the two kind repairmen who agreed to help us restore the missing pieces of our ancient, weather-beaten house at work, I reminded myself, yet again, to never take my privileges (especially the roof over my head) for granted. Pardon my pessimism, but if 2020 isn't out to kill us already, it surely means to teach us a lesson or two in humility. As we stumble into day five since Amphan's visit, the clear blue skies have done little to reassure us of a normalcy stable or long enough to rebuild our homes, towns and villages. Relatives, friends and acquaintances continue to remain out of reach and possibly in an impenetrable darkness with communication channels hacked to death. People wearing masks are rebelling on the streets, pleading for a way back to their mundane old lives, which now seem like distant realities, if not impossible dreams. With politicking ensuing over the 80 dead and millions displaced in Bengal, people are left in the lurch yet again, caught in the inescapable crossfire of a brutal ongoing pandemic and the ghost of a deadly natural disaster. Jaime King has accused estranged husband Kyle Newman of abusing her for the past five-and-a-half years in explosive new court documents. The Nebraska-born actress claims she is suffering from 'anxiety, fear and emotional damage' as a result of the long term abuse at the hands of her ex. King has tried to keep a low profile amid the turmoil. She was spotted Friday riding shotgun with a mystery man, who drove her car to what appeared to be his apartment in Los Angeles. Mystery man: Jaime King was spotted Friday riding shotgun with a mystery man, who drove her car to what appeared to be his apartment in Los Angeles, amid her public divorce Explosive split: She has recently found herself in the middle of an explosive divorce and custody battle with husband Kyle Newman, seen together in 2018 above The 41-year-old has claimed in court documents obtained by DailyMail.com for a temporary restraining order that Newman, 44, repeatedly abused her for the past five-and-a-half years. She said in the shocking court documents that he called her a 'c**-sucking wh***' in front of their two sons. King also claimed that her estranged husband used GPS trackers and microphone pens to keep tabs on her, and that he took $300k from her bank account. She went on to say that he's been 'gaslighting' her and that she's 'incredibly afraid' of 'what he will do in retaliation.' Repeated abuse: The 41-year-old has claimed in court documents obtained by DailyMail.com for a temporary restraining order that Newman, 44, repeatedly abused her for the past five-and-a-half years Upsetting details: She said in the shocking court documents that he called her a 'c**-sucking wh***' in front of their two sons The White Chicks star requested her two Shiba Inu dogs Peter and Wendy, which she owned before they were married, as well as their Mercedes 'so the respondent cannot track my movements through the internal tracking system.' She also asked for 'exclusive use of all home security systems so that respondent cannot continue to surveil me.' King wrote in the documents: 'He told me that he is having people watch my movements and my home.' She went on to allege that Newman is holding their sons James, six, and Leo, four, out-of-state in Pennsylvania and refuses to return them. The temporary restraining order has been granted until an upcoming court hearing in June. Tracking her: King also claimed that her estranged husband used GPS trackers and microphone pens to keep tabs on her, and that he took $300k from her bank account Incredibly afraid: She went on to say that he's been 'gaslighting' her and that she's 'incredibly afraid' of 'what he will do in retaliation' Custody battle: She went on to allege that Newman is holding their sons James, six, and Leo, four, out-of-state in Pennsylvania and refuses to return them Shared custody: The Sin City actress has also been granted shared legal custody, after Newman was denied an emergency order for sole physical custody, according to TMZ The Sin City actress has also been granted shared legal custody, after Newman was denied an emergency order for sole physical custody, according to TMZ. He also claimed that she has 'spent the last decade high' and refuses to get help for her alleged opioid and alcohol addiction. Her rep told People: 'This is another vicious, failed attempt of Kyle to continue his abuse of Jaime and manipulate the court system.' King filed for divorce and requested the temporary restraining order on Monday, following 12 years of marriage to Newman. The Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, has created a method of conducting detailed examinations online. The institute claims that this method can be deployed to hold all of types of examinations. The Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, has created a method of conducting detailed examinations online. The institute claims that this method can be deployed to hold all of types of examinations. The new technique uses available systems like the Wheebox. The system uses a virtual examination hall, actual invigilators (IITs own teachers acting as proctors in the system), question paper distribution online and submission/reception of soft copies of answer books which may be printed, if needed, said IIT Bhubaneswar. The director of IIT-Bhubaneswar, RV Raja Kumar, said the online examination system is robust and can be used for holding tests from simple computer-based ones to detailed conventional examinations. For reliability of connection, the mechanism uses two or more network connections. This technique would allow students to take the examination from home or anywhere in the world. However, students have to be equipped with gadgets to avail the advantage of the system. IIT-Bhubaneswar conducted a mock test involving about 240 students stationed across the country with question papers of 31 subjects and 20 invigilators. The institute revealed that tests can be held successfully and effectively as long a student has at least one of the two connections working at any time during the examination. IIT- Bhubaneswar has, however, decided against holding the end-semester examination of spring 2019-2020 using the method. The decision has been taken considering the fact that during the present coronavirus lockdown, all students may not have internet connection with adequate speed. The end-semester exam this time would be held in conventional form after the students return to the institute. The Washington Post is providing this news free to all readers as a public service. Follow this story and more by signing up for national breaking news email alerts. Actor Sonu Sood has earned both respect and accolades for his efforts to send migrants back to their hometowns and feed people amid coronavirus pandemic. His Twitter timeline is filled with pleas from migrants who need help to return home. However, the actor recently came across a quirky request for help on Twitter, and he replied in the same vein. A fan requested Sonu on Twitter, Sonu bhai main apne ghar me fasa hua hu. Mujhe theke tak pahucha do (Brother, I am stuck at my home, please help me reach a liquor shop). The actor replied, Bhai main theke se ghar tak to pahucha sakta hu, zarurat pade to bol dena (Brother, I can help you reach home from a liquor shop, if you need help do tell me). Many of his other fans came up with funny reactions to the tweet. A fan came up with a similar request, I am stuck at my home, please help me reach a panipuri stall. Another said, Aur mujhe India aana hai uska? Main mudda toh ignore hi kar diye. (What about me who wants to come to India? You have ignored the major issue). One more wrote, Haath diya to sidha seer par chadte hai log yaha (People try to misuse an opportunity when approached for help). Memes featuring Sonu Sood helping migrant workers to reach home keep trending on the social networking platform. We often see the actor replying on Twitter to those approaching him for help, with the words: Pack your bags or get ready to hug your mom, which eventually became the subject of memes. The actor is working actively to help migrant workers stranded in different parts of Maharashtra to reach their homes in other states. He has arranged several buses for the migrants after obtaining special permissions from the various state governments. Also read: Metro Park-Quarantine Edition review: Ranvir Shorey, Omi Vaidyas hilarious take on life during a pandemic Recently, Union minister Smriti Irani also praised the actor for helping migrant workers return home amid the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown. Tagging a tweet by Sood in which he asked a migrant to share his number so that he can arrange for his travel back home, Irani said: Ive had the privilege of knowing you as a professional colleague for over 2 decades now @SonuSood and celebrated your rise as an actor ;but the kindness you have displayed in these challenging times makes me prouder still thank you for helping those in need. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Credit: CC0 Public Domain Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday that Britain could reopen all non-essential retail stores on June 15 if the coronavirus remains contained. "On June 15, we intend to allow all non-essential retail, ranging from department stores to small independent shops, to reopen," Johnson told reporters, stressing that this "will be contingent upon progress against" the disease. Britain's official death toll of 36,914 is Europe's highest. But the number of new deaths and infections has fallen sharply from its peak and the country is on course to reopen outdoor markets as well as schools for younger children on June 1. "Because of the progress we are making, I can, with confidence, put the British people on notice of the changes we intend to introduce as we move into Step Two," Johnson said. He said classes can resume for the oldest children on June 15. "We are asking schools gradually to reopen," he said. "I am confident that the common sense of the British people will see us through." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP The COVID-19-induced lockdown, intricate protocols and copious impediments did not deter the determination of Assam's Kajol and West Bengal's Om Prakash to tie the knot after travelling a lengthy route. The lockdown and COVID-19 related rules forced the young couple to marry at an open space along the West Bengal-Assam inter-state border. "After overcoming copious hurdles Kajol Sha and Om Prakash Sha tied the knot late on Saturday night at an open ground adjoining a check-gate at Sagolia on the Assam-West Bengal border," Assam Assembly member Ashwini Ray Sarkar told IANS over phone from Dhubri, which shares borders with both West Bengal and Bangladesh. Sarkar, who took the leading role to solemnise the marriage ceremony, said that the groom travelled 175 km, the bride 55 km along with their minimalist friends and relatives at the entry check-gate and returned after the most austere rituals. Businessman-turned-politician, Ray Sarkar, who represents ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and elected to the Assam assembly from Golakgang constituency (Dhubri district), said that the district administrations of both Dhubri (western Assam) and Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) along with the local police helped out to hold the wedding ceremony. Dhubri district officials said that the couple along with their relatives and friends soon after the nuptials was driven to a COVID-19 quarantine centre in Jalpaiguri district where they are expected to spend 14 days before going to the groom's father's home at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri. Dhubri district Superintendent of Police Yuvraj Singh told IANS over phone that the marriage ceremony was solemnised following all the covid-19 and lockdown guidelines and with the permission of the Deputy Commissioner. According to a relative of the groom, before the wedding ceremony the parents of the groom and bride had to struggle for hours with the district administrations of both Jalpaiguri and Dhubri. "When the groom and his very few friends and relatives arrived at Sagolia check gate on the inter-state border, the Dhubri district police did not allow them to travel further in view of COVID-19 pandemic induced guidelines. After huge persuasion with many civil and police officials and with the help of the MLA finally Kajol and Om Prakash could tied the knot leading to the cheers of both the families besides the young couple," a relative of the groom told IANS. As per the strict protocols of Assam government, every person entering the state from any other state has to undergo a 14-day institutional quarantine. The Assam government has recently launched "Ruthless Quarantine, With Big Heart" scheme to check the spread of coronavirus, under which suspected patients must remain in quarantine. According to the ministers and officials, the exodus of thousands of people from southern and western regions of India to the northeast region has led to a steep rise in Covid-19 positive cases, especially in Assam, which so far registered 514 cases, including 162 new cases in the past 24 hours. Comments made by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald about the IRA campaign during the Troubles "hammer home concerns" which Fine Gael has about the party, according to a TD. Dublin Rathdown TD Neale Richmond said Ms McDonald's comments in a weekend interview were not fitting of a person seeking the office of Taoiseach. In a wide-ranging interview with the Sunday Independent, Ms McDonald said she wished the paramilitary campaign had not happened, but believed it was justifiable. "I wish it hadn't happened, but it was a justified campaign," she said. "It was inevitable; it was utterly inevitable and anybody with even a passing sense of Irish history could have predicted it surely as night followed day." Ms McDonald said she believed she likely would have joined the IRA had she grown up in the North. Yeah, I think thered be every chance, every possibility. I certainly understand how it was that people volunteered to [join] the IRA - anybody looking at the circumstances from partition onwards, the nature of the northern state, everything that happened, how young people in particular took the fight to the British state. And, let's face it, there have been previous chapters where previous generations of young people in a different context, but with the same impulse, had equally volunteered to the IRA and taken on that fight. Mr Richmond said the comments showed that his party's policy of not entering government formation talks with Sinn Fein was justified. "It's very hard to hear someone say a disgusting campaign of violence was justified - when you think of -Fine Gael senator- Billy Fox, killed coming home from visiting his girlfriend or the Warrington and Manchester bombings. "We all want to move on but at some point we have to say we're sorry, it was wrong and it's time to move on. Mary Lou grew up in Rathgar and was 23 at the time of some of these incidents - she wasn't a child. Neale Richmond: 'It's very hard to hear someone say a disgusting campaign of violence was justified.' "The comments certainly hammer home some of the concerns that we had before election. Such commentary from a party leader and someone who wants to be elected Taoiseach underline our concerns and those concerns are not being assuaged." Ulster Unionist Party leader Steve Aiken condemned the comments, saying they insulted all of the victims of the Troubles. "Mary Lou McDonalds comments are an insult to all the many innocent victims of terrorism - on all sides in the Troubles. If the last decades have taught us anything it is that violence is not only counter-productive, it creates an immovable reluctance for anyone to engage with or trust those who glamorise or seek to identify with those who perpetrated terrorism. Remarkably for a political leader who says she is willing to reach out to Unionists, Mary Lou McDonald has demonstrated a complete misunderstanding of the abhorrence we all feel for the Provisional IRA and its campaign of butchery and ethnic cleansing. "There are many thousands who felt aggrieved, on all sides. Instead of resorting to terror, they sought to achieve change through peaceful and democratic means. Its a pity Mary Lou McDonald didnt reflect on the anniversary of the referendum on the Belfast Agreement and its commitment to peace - maybe Sinn Fein are seeking to rewrite the history of this as well." Sinn Fein HQ did not respond to a request for a statement, but party sources said the reaction to the comments from other parties was "performative". "Everyone knows who and what Sinn Fein is, as well as its history," said one source. [May 25, 2020] MDxHealth Shareholder Transparency Declarations Press release Regulated information 25 May 2020, 20:00 CEST IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM 25 May 2020 MDxHealth SA (Euronext Brussels: MDXH) (the "Company" or "MDxHealth"), a commercial-stage innovative molecular diagnostics company, announces today in accordance with Article 14 of the Belgian Act of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of important participations in issuers of which shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market and regarding miscellaneous provisions (the "Belgian Transparency Act"), that it received the following notifications of significant shareholdings as a consequence of the capital increase announced on 27 April 2020 and completed on 15 May 2020. Valiance Asset Management Limited notified MDxHealth that the aggregate number of shares with respect to which Valiance Asset Management Limited can exercise voting rights passively crossed below the threshold of 15% of the outstanding shares and voting rights of MDxHealth. Notably, it follows from the notification by Valiance Asset Management Limited, who notified alone, that an aggregate of 11,159,202 shares of MDxHealth, representing 12.30% of the 90,691,449 outstanding shares and voting rights of MDxHealth, is held through the following entities: TopMDx Ltd, Valiance Life Sciences Growth Investments SICAV-SIF, and Valiance Holdings Limited. The notification also stated that Valiance Holdings Limited is a Guernsey company within the Valiance corporate structure, that Valiance Life Sciences Growth Investment Fund SICAV-SIF is a Luxembourg fund with multiple external investors, that TopMDx Ltd is an exempted closed-ended fund registered in British Virgin Islands with multiple external investors, and that Valiance Asset Management Limited is investment manager, is not a controlled entity, and can exercise the voting rights at its discretion for each of the aforementioned three entities. MVM Partners LLP notified MDxHealth that the aggregate number of shares with respect to which MVM Partners LLP can exercise voting rights actively crossed above the threshold of 20% of the outstanding shares and voting rights of MDxHealth. Notably, it follows from the notification by MVM Partners LLP, who notified alone, that an aggregate of 20,162,924 shares of MDxHealth, representing 22.23% of the 90,691,449 outstanding shares and voting rights of MDxHealth, is held hrough the following entities: MVM V LP (which acquired 19,755,592 voting securities by way of subscription to a capital increase by MDxHealth) and MVM GP (No. 5) (which acquired 407,332 voting securities by way of subscription to a capital increase by MDxHealth). The notification also stated that MVM Partners LLP is not a controlled entity, acts as fund manager of the aforementioned two entities, and can exercise the voting rights attached to the securities at its own discretion, without specific instruction. For further information, reference is made to the information published on MDxHealth's website (http://www.mdxhealth.com/investors/shareholder-information). Pursuant to the Belgian Transparency Act and the articles of association of the Company, a notification to the Company and the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) is required by all natural and legal persons in each case where the percentage of voting rights attached to the securities held by such persons in the Company reaches, exceeds or falls below the threshold of 3%, 5%, 10%, and every subsequent multiple of 5%, of the total number of voting rights in the Company. About MDxHealth MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Company's tests are based on proprietary genetic, epigenetic (methylation) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of urologic cancers, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. The Company's European headquarters are in Herstal, Belgium, with laboratory operations in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and US headquarters and laboratory operations based in Irvine, California. For more information, visit mdxhealth.com and follow us on social media at: twitter.com/mdxhealth, facebook.com/mdxhealth and linkedin.com/company/mdxhealth. For more information: MDxHealth [email protected] Important information The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx and SelectMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Attachment Click here for pdf [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The move came as fighting between the two sides had intensified despite the coronavirus pandemic. "Do not carry out any offensive operations against the enemy anywhere, if any action is taken against you by the enemy, defend yourself," Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, tweeted. He added that the ceasefire was declared solely for Eid festivities marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the Taliban's ceasefire announcement and extended the offer of peace. "As Commander-in-Chief I have instructed ANDSF (Afghan National Defense and Security Forces) to comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked," he said in a tweet. Last month, the Taliban rejected a government call for a ceasefire across Afghanistan for Ramadan, saying a truce was "not rational" as they ramped up attacks on Afghan forces. At least 146 civilians were killed and 430 wounded by the Taliban during Ramadan, Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the country's main intelligence and security office in Kabul, said on May 23. Domestic air travel resumed in Assam on Monday along with several other states, as the first flight arrived at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport here from Delhi in the morning, an official said. The first flight to Guwahati landed from Delhi this morning, carrying 77 passengers, who were immediately taken for screening and for collection of swabs at a hotel near the airport. Already, seven flight carrying 547 passengers arrived at Guwahati and another flight is expected to arrive later in the day with 139 people. Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the airport and the hotel to oversee the entire operation and said the Health Department in association with other departments concerned were fully capable of handling the rush. "We are expecting 600-700 people today and it will be around 1,000 tomorrow. We are prepared for this with the help of all other departments such as transport and police and the Airports Authority of India," he told reporters here. He said 32 flights were permitted to operate to Assam, of which only eight were operational on Monday, and the number is likely to increase in the next few days. The minister said the state was going to face "tough times" in the next 10 days with an inflow of thousands of people. Though Assam has six operational airports, only Guwahati has started functioning, while four more will operate from May 28 once commercial flights from West Bengal commence. Assam has imposed mandatory institutional quarantine for all air passengers, with some exceptions, and has been putting them up at different hotels across the state. On the first day, a total of eight flights would land at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati from Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Imphal, and an equal number will leave for the same places, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official told PTI. Considering arrivals and departures, Indigo will operate 10 flights, while Air Asia and SpiceJet will ply four and two flights respectively on Monday, he said. "We have information bout 600 people arriving in Guwahati today. However, the exact number is shared an hour before the departure," the official said. Sarma said around 8,000 persons are stuck at the moment in trains in different states due to cyclone 'Amphan' and they will arrive in the next few days. "So, the next one week to 10 days will be tough for us. We have set up around 70 quarantine centres in Guwahati for the people from the city. People from other places will be taken to their home districts for quarantine there," he added. On the people coming from other districts, the minister appealed to all to arrive before June 10 so that the state machinery can concentrate on flood management and other works from July onwards. "We hope to close this chapter by June. We request all those, who are willing, to come to Assam by June 10. We will have 14 days of quarantine thereafter. We do not want to linger over this for a long time," he added. The AAI official said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has not cleared flight operations for Jorhat, while four more airports at Dibrugarh, Silchar, Tezpur and Lilabari will start functioning from May 28 once West Bengal allows air traffic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 00:07:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DUBAI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, supreme council member and ruler of Sharjah, has ordered the release of 108 prisoners, according to the official WAM news agency on Sunday. The clemency was granted to prisoners from punitive and reformative institutions in Sharjah, the third largest city in the United Arab Emirates, on occasion of Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Enditem Georgia's Foreign Ministry on May 25 held the first ad hoc meeting with Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Teimuraz Sharashenidze to hear his update. Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) says the return of the Georgian ambassador to Ukraine depends on steps to be taken by the Ukrainian government. "Naturally, recalling the ambassador for consultations does not mean breaking diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the strategic partnership between the two countries is not planned to be revised," the ministry told Georgia's First Channel, according to the media outlet Georgia Online. Read alsoSaakashvili outlines main tasks in new position in Ukraine "Georgia continues work with Ukraine on a number of strategic issues be it those related to the occupation of territories, the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, cooperation on a regular basis. Naturally, we will keep track of what steps the Ukrainian authorities will take to normalize relations with Georgia, and the decision on the date of the ambassador's return to Ukraine will be made accordingly," the ministry said. Georgia's Foreign Ministry on May 25 held the first ad hoc meeting with Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Teimuraz Sharashenidze as part of consultations to hear the ambassador's update and discuss prospects for the two countries' relations. As UNIAN reported earlier, Georgia decided to recall its ambassador from Ukraine after the appointment of Mikheil Saakashvili as head of the Executive Committee of the National Reforms Council of Ukraine. At the same time, the Georgian authorities assured that the move did not mean a break-up of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Congratulations, rechargesathi.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Rechargesathi.com scored 68 Social Media Impact. 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Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND First he lit into Michigan and Nevada, threatening to withhold federal funding because of his assertion that both states were preparing to commit voter fraud through mail-in ballot applications. Then President Donald Trump followed up Sunday with two more broadly worded warnings that November would be the greatest Rigged Election in history. The Democrats are trying to Rig the 2020 Election, plain and simple! the president claimed. Trumps increasingly amped-up rhetoric surrounding the integrity of the November election is beginning to bring to center stage a previously muted conversation. With the president lagging behind Joe Biden in public opinion polls six months before the general election, his opponents are becoming increasingly anxious that Trump may attempt to undermine the results of the election if he loses or worse, might attempt to cling to power regardless of the outcome. "He is planting the seeds for delegitimizing the election if he loses," Vanita Gupta, a former head of the Department of Justices civil rights division under President Barack Obama and now president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said on Twitter on Sunday in reaction to Trump's "rigged election" claim. "Its from the playbook. Itll get more intense as he gets more freaked out." Trumps rhetoric isnt new for him. Dating back even before his entry into electoral politics, the president has had a long preoccupation with voter fraud and rigged elections. As a primary candidate, he attributed his Iowa defeat to fraud committed by Sen. Ted Cruz. Even after his general election victory, Trump made unsubstantiated claims of serious voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California three states he failed to carry and told congressional leaders that millions of illegal votes were the reason he lost the popular vote. In one of his first acts as president, Trump created an 11-member commission to study alleged voter fraud. Two years later, amid the GOPs 2018 wipeout, he was lodging complaints about electoral corruption in Arizona and missing or forged ballots in Florida. Story continues The concern that Trump might attempt to ignore the outcome of the election has persisted as an undercurrent in the Democratic Party since 2016, when Trump, during the years last presidential debate, refused to say if he would accept the elections outcome if he lost. In the years since, Democrats saw innuendo in Trumps jokes about extending his presidency beyond the constitutional limit of eight years and expressed admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinpings limitless terms. Its one of those things that I think has a very low probability, but a very high risk, said David Skaggs, a former Democratic congressman who has discussed the potential for disruption in the November election with other lawmakers and former lawmakers in recent days. So even though I dont think its likely to eventuate into some kind of intervention at the state level by the president theres still some chance of that, and therefore its wise to take it seriously. Skaggs said there are people remaining in government who take their oaths of office seriously and who are not going to be bowled over by a power grab. However, he noted the presence of a militia movement out there in the country that would probably rise to arms if the president said they should, and that would be awful. I think the more there is reporting that takes the presidents innuendo seriously about this the integrity, or the dis-integrity of the election the more people will be on alert, he said. And that is some prophylactic, better than hydroxychloroquine. While the unique and uncertain atmospheric conditions this year an election season rattled by the coronavirus crisis, which has postponed primaries and raised questions about voting procedures on Election Day in November have served to put critics of the president on edge, its his recent threats to withhold funding from Michigan and Nevada that have raised alarms. Especially significant is Michigan, which Trump won in 2016 but where he is polling behind Biden. Hes already set the stage to say its rigged, said Pete Giangreco, a Democratic strategist who has worked on nine presidential campaigns. This is part of the Trump autocrat playbook. Theres no way this guys going to win the popular vote, and its at least 50-50 hes going to lose the Electoral College. So, hes got to come up with something else. The Biden campaign is signaling an awareness of the questions it raises. The former vice president told donors at a virtual fundraiser late last month that he is beginning a transition process, saying the Bush administration worked very closely with Barack [Obama] and me, with our administration, in terms of handing over power in the transition, according to a pool report. I hope it's as smooth as it was then, he said, adding, I doubt it, but I hope so. Bob Bauer, Bidens personal lawyer, said in a prepared statement that Trump may well resort to any kind of trick, ploy or scheme he can in order to hold on to his presidency. Tim Murtaugh, a spokesman for Trump's reelection effort, called any discussion about the presidents unwillingness to leave office if defeated baseless, ridiculous conspiracy talk and they should go see [Democrats] Hillary Clinton or Stacey Abrams because they actually have openly questioned their own election results. The Trump administration recently started the process of planning for a transition of power if Biden wins, creating a transition planning group to prepare for the possibility. But Trump has rarely been encumbered by fidelity to tradition. And Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen once predicted in congressional testimony that there will never be a peaceful transition of power if Trump loses. Would I be surprised if he gets beat in November and makes noises about not going out the door? No, and then what kind of constitutional crisis would that create, and then what would you do? said Mark Longabaugh, a senior adviser to Bernie Sanders during his 2016 campaign. He likened the prospect facing Democrats to that of the 2000 presidential election, in which the Supreme Court prohibited further recounts of the Florida vote, awarding the presidency to George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore. If its narrow, thats when Trump can really create a constitutional crisis, Longabaugh said. Think about the 2000 election, and if that was the election, what would Trump do? And you know, what would Trump do if the Supreme Court went against him? Would he do what Al Gore did and put the interests of the country above his own interests whether or not the Supreme Court was correct in its behavior or not? Thats where you get into, I think, scary territory. At a minimum, Democratic doubts about Trump's willingness to accept the November results have increased the imperative to win by indisputable margins a heavy lift in an election that is widely expected to be close. "My job is to make sure he loses Wisconsin so badly that he doesnt have an argument for sticking around that passes the smell test, said Ben Wikler, chairman of the state Democratic Party in Wisconsin, a state that is critical to Trumps path to reelection. Noting that Trump has "filed a lot of lawsuits" in the past, he said, The bigger the margin, the safer democracy becomes. But outside of a court challenge, Trumps options to disregard the elections outcome are extremely limited. Theres a lot of people that need to do something to hold and implement the results of an election, said David A. Super, a professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center who has analyzed scenarios in which Trump could attempt to hold on to power. None of them is named Donald J. Trump. Theres absolutely no authority for canceling or overriding an election in the Constitution or in the statutes. And it would require the president to get multiple people to fairly blatantly disregard their oaths to uphold the Constitution. The concerns about Trumps intentions are reminiscent to some Democrats of the anxiety they felt in the 1970s, when the net was closing around Richard Nixon and some feared he may not go easily. The difference, said Les Francis, a former deputy White House chief of staff in the Carter administration, is that Nixon made an institutional decision to resign, while one thing we know about Trump, for sure, is hes not an institutionalist by any stretch of the imagination. I dont think theres any depth to which he will not go, Francis said. I dont think there are any rules that he thinks apply to him. As his behavior grows worse, I think people become more alarmed at the possibilities. As the manhunt intensified Monday for a University of Connecticut student who police say is wanted in a deadly crime spree, an attorney representing his family urged him to surrender. Peter Manfredonia, a 2015 Newtown High School grad, is wanted in connection with two Connecticut homicides, a kidnapping, home invasion and a serious assault in a spree that began Friday. Manfredonia, who police say is armed and dangerous, was last seen Sunday afternoon in eastern Pennsylvania. On Monday, Michael Dolan, an attorney representing Manfredonias family, urged the 23-year-old to turn himself in. Peter, if you are listening, your entire family loves you, Dolan said outside his Hamden law office. Nobody wants any harm to come to you. Its time to let the healing process begin. Its time to surrender. Dolan said Manfredonia has struggled with mental health issues over the past several years and has not had recent contact with his family. Hes sought the help of a therapist and hes had the support of his parents and loved ones to help him through his struggles, he said. Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Anthony Petroski said Manfredonia was last seen Sunday afternoon in East Stroudsburg, a town near the New Jersey border. Pennsylvania state police released an image of Manfredonia walking along railroad tracks carrying what appeared to be a large duffel bag. The FBI joined the search effort on Monday, assisting state police agencies in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Police say the crime spree began Friday morning when they say Manfredonia attacked two men in upstate Connecticut. Theodore DeMers was killed during the incident in Willington and another man was critically injured. Manfredonia is also accused of killing Nicholas Eisele, who is also a 2015 Newtown High grad, in his Derby home on Sunday morning. Police described Eisele as an acquaintance of Manfredonia, who is also accused of kidnapping the mans girlfriend before releasing her unharmed later Sunday in New Jersey. Police say Manfredonia walked to Eiseles home after crashing a truck he had stolen in a home invasion earlier on Sunday in Willington. Police said Manfredonia held a man captive, stealing guns, food and supplies, but did not harm him. Uncertainties There are still many unknowns surrounding the investigation, including Manfredonias whereabouts and what prompted the alleged crime spree. Police in Allentown, Pa., a town about 45 minutes southwest of East Stroudsburg, said they determined a tip was unfounded about Manfredonia asking an Uber driver for a ride to their town on Sunday. The state police agencies in the three states have declined to confirm specifics in the case, citing a need to protect the investigation, witnesses and the public. There has also been conflicting information released. Derby police on Monday said Eiseles girlfriend was found Sunday in Paterson, a city in northeastern New Jersey. However, New Jersey state police said Monday the woman was found in Knowlton Township, near the Pennsylvania border, according to LehighValleyLive.com. Connecticut state police said the woman identified Manfredonia as the person who kidnapped her from the Derby home. The individual did positively identify the captor as Peter Manfredonia, state police said. We are purposely not releasing any information of the individual to protect the safety of any potential witnesses and the integrity of the investigation. Timeline Police descended on Derby Sunday morning when they realized the truck they say Manfredonia stole during the Willington home invasion was abandoned near Osbornedale State Park. Evidence suggests that the truck became lodged on an elevated embankment at which time he abandoned it, Derby police said in a statement on Monday. Video surveillance in the area showed Manfredonia walking directly toward Eiseles home on Roosevelt Drive between 5 and 6 a.m., Derby police said. The Roosevelt Drive residence is about 1 mile from the spot where the truck was abandoned. Newtown Public Schools Superintendent Lorrie Rodrigue said in a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media that the community was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic events that unfolded over the weekend involving former Newtown students, referring to Manfredonia and Eisele. This is heartbreaking for the entire community, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Eisele family at this time, as well as other families in Connecticut who lost a loved one during this weekends incident, Rodrigue said. In a statement to parents and staff, Rodrigue said counselors and other members of the districts Pupil Services Department are prepared to support any students or staff as needed. Police began looking for Manfredonia after a deadly assault on Mirtl Road in Willington around 9 a.m. Friday. State police troopers found two victims suffering from injuries after an assault with an edged weapon, state police said. Cynthia DeMers, whose 62-year-old husband died in the attack, declined to comment about the incident when reached by Hearst Connecticut Media. She told the Hartford Courant her husband had offered to help a young man, later identified as Manfredonia, who was walking on the road. She said Manfredonia told her husband his motorcycle was about 1,500 feet down the road and Theodore DeMers offered the college student a ride on his ATV back to his motorcycle. She said about five minutes after she saw her husband drive away with Manfredonia, a neighbor drove up to her Mirtl Road home, alerting her to the incident. She told the Courant she found her husband lying on the ground with obvious injuries. She said she spoke with her husband of 42 years one last time before the ambulance took him away. He didnt respond. As of Sunday, police said the second victim in the Willington attack was still facing life-threatening injuries. Once again, we extend our sympathies to all of the families involved, Connecticut State Police reiterated Monday. The Connecticut State Police is working aggressively to bring this individual to justice. Anyone with any information is asked to call Derby police at 203-735-7811, state police at 860-896-3200 or the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI. Any sightings of Manfredonia should be called in to 911. The Founder of the International Gods Way Church (IGWC), Daniel Obinim, has debunked claims that he partied hard after his released from police custody over the weekend. Rather, sources close to the pastor, who claims to be an angel of God and has been frequenting heaven, said he had been receiving treatment at a private hospital since his release and does not have time for parties. Party Pictures Over the weekend, social and mainstream media were replete with pictures of Obinim in an Omani outfit, which coincided with Eid-ul-Fitr celebration, displaying some United States dollars. They had claimed that he was celebrating his release after being in police custody for about three nights when he was arrested and charged with publication of false news, as well as forgery of a document contrary to Sections 208 and 159 of the Criminal and other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). Flat Denial However, sources close to Obinim said the pictures circulating in the media were old and were taken during one of his private programmes. They insisted that he was recuperating after his traumatic experience and could not be said to be making merry. Arrest & Detention Obinim was granted bail by the Kaneshie Magistrate Court in Accra on Tuesday in the sum of GH100,000 with three sureties, one to be justified. The maverick pastor was not able to extricate the bail bond on time and had to remain in cells until last Friday when he finally walked home. His lawyer, Ralph Poku-Adusei, confirmed later on Friday that Obinim was able to satisfy the bail bond around 3pm and had since been released. Impeding Claim Before his release, two of Obinims supposed relatives, Elsie Asiedu and Jennifer Quartey, who said they were there to stand surety for Obinim, had accused the police of impeding their effort to get the pastor freed from custody. They alleged that the CID officers schemed to keep the pastor in their custody. Obinims lawyer appeared to confirm the impeding claim when he said that the pastor was held at the Police Hospital because of some health conditions but added that he was not receiving the needed treatment at the hospital. He said it accounted for the reasons why they had to rush Obinim to his personal doctors for immediate treatment after he was set free. The hospital conditions were not good so he is currently with his private doctors trying to check his conditions, so that he can be back to normal life. He has a peculiar heart condition that has been going on for some time so he has private doctors who have been making sure that he was well catered for; he was not receiving that treatment at the police hospital, he added. Needless Requirement The CID came up with all manner of requirements that are needless, but eventually we met all the conditions and requirements requested, and the bail was executed around 3pm this afternoon at the Kaneshie Court, and he has gone home, the lawyer said. Obinim is expected back in court on June 1, while the police conduct investigations into other offences levelled against him. Main Complainant Although the police have not released the identity of the complainant, DAILY GUIDE understands that it was through the effort of the firebrand Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, which led to Obinims arrest. The MP has vowed to expose pastors and other spiritualists that he deems to be fake and has accused Obinim of being one of them. Kennedy Agyapong has confirmed that he personally reported the pastor to the Inspector General of Police for offences including fraud, money laundering and misuse of the police logo to harass some of the boys he has been having criminal deals with. Previous Cases Obinim is no stranger to criminal prosecution, as he has had brushes with the law on at least two occasions. In the first case, he vandalized a private radio station Hot FM but was acquitted and discharged in October 2015 after the complainants had allegedly lost interest in the case. In September 2018, Obinim and two of his pastors were sentenced to a total fine of GH12,000 by an Accra Circuit Court after they had been accused of assaulting two teenagers on the premises of IGWC. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 25.05.2020 LISTEN Given the huge public interest generated by the enactment of E.I. 63 and the issues of breach of privacy of telecommunication service subscribers arising therein, the Centre for Socioeconomic Studies (CSS) has been following with serious attention an interlocutory application brought against two Telcos (MTN Ghana and Vodafone Ghana Ltd.), KelniGvG and other assigns of the Government of Ghana. However, contrary to claims by government and its assigns that no such act is being considered nor perpetuated, it is now public knowledge that Government through KelniGVG has requested the telecommunication companies to provide it with customers information. These denials even under oath by agents of Government; KelniGVG notwithstanding, credible information available to CSS show that KeliniGVG under the instructions of government has indeed carried out such directive contrary to the public denials and in open court. Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana provides that no person shall be subjected to interference with the privacy of his home, property, CORRESPONDENCE or COMMUNICATION except in accordance with the law and as may be NECESSARY in a free and democratic society for public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the protection of health or morals, for the prevention of disorder or crime or for the protection of the rights or freedoms of others. The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, the umbrella body of all the Telcos in Ghana, espouses ethical corporate citizenship, good governance, and transparency as its core values. However, issues contained in the affidavit of MTN Ghana (2nd Respondent) in response to the application for interlocutory injunction have left the CSS with grave concerns and questions begging answers from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications: The CSS seeks from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications a disclosure on whether the Government of Ghana, through KelniGVG Ltd., did request from Vodafone, AirtelTigo, Glo, and Internet Data Service Providers information on their customers in an un-hashed format such as full disclosure of mobile money transactions of subscribers, dump of merchant codes and cell reference data. This request, which breaches the NCAs guidelines on data requirements for implementation of E.I. 63, was made to MTN Ghana via an email from KelniGVG ( [email protected] ) as revealed by MTN Ghana in its affidavit available at the High Court, General Jurisdiction, Accra. The CSS understands that though MTN Ghana has declined the request due to potential data breach, it is unknown to the subscribers of Vodafone, AirtelTigo, Glo and other Internet Data Service Providers whether same request has been made on them, and if same has been complied with in breach of the privacy of their customers. What measures, as a matter of courtesy and ethical corporate responsibility has the Chamber and its member instituted to ensure the information of its customers is safe, and in line with modern constitutional and democratic values. In the public interest, the Centre for Socioeconomic Studies seek these disclosures from the above mentioned Telcos to allay the fears of their subscriber base and promote transparency and ethical corporate citizenship as espoused as core values of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications. As Citizens of Ghana we are concerned as our priceless collective individual freedoms are being pecked at capriciously, the ultimate price is unimaginable. Therefore, we call on the countrys Justice system as the custodian of the conscience of society, to use its mandate to guard the rights of the citizenry, and uphold the sanctity of the constitution in this regard. Centre for Socioeconomic Studies [email protected] The Very Reverend Solomon Bruce, Superintendent Minister in-charge of the Old Tafo Wesley Methodist Church, has proposed the postponement of the 2020 General Election as the country strived to contain the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Ghana is expected to go to the polls in December, this year, but, according to the Minister, the electoral processes regarding the massing up of voters could trigger a sharp increase in the pandemic. What about if we do not hold elections this year and instead hold it next year? the Minister quizzed, and questioned the wisdom in going ahead with the polls at the expense of the safety and life of the citizenry. Ghana recorded 125 new confirmed cases of the pandemic on Monday, May 25, bringing the total case count to 6,808 and 32 deaths, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) portal on COVID-19. This ranks the country as one of those in the sub-Saharan Africa to have recorded the most confirmed cases, having tested 197,194 persons with a positivity rate of 3.44. Very Rev. Bruce, sharing his views on whether or not Ghana should proceed with the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Old Tafo in the Ashanti Region, said the rising incidence of the disease was worrying. He indicated that the behaviour of the electorate concerning elections was highly unpredictable, explaining that postponing the polls was necessary in order to allow for the nation to effectively manage the pandemic. For now, there is no remedy for COVID-19. As a result, we need not rush unnecessarily for the sake of politics, he emphasized, stressing that care must be taken to avoid plunging the country into further calamities. The Methodist Minister took a swipe at Ghanaian politicians for being preoccupied with elections and power. All that our politicians think of is about winning the next elections, he noted. Democracy, he noted, was about serving the interest and welfare of the people, therefore, the church and clergy also had the mandate to add their voices to issues pertaining to the nations development processes. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In April 2020, photographs showing the after effects of a car fire caused by an unattended hand sanitizer bottle started to circulate on social media platforms WhatsApp and Telegram. Most of the posts were written in Portuguese encouraging people to be aware of hand sanitizers left in their cars because of the claim that it can voluntarily combust. After a month of being viral in Brazil, similar posts on English-language pages started to spread. Aside from anonymous social media users spreading the claim, these cautions have also been posted on official fire department pages. On May 21, the Western Lakes Fire Department of Wisconsin (WLFD) have shared related posts about hand sanitizers being left inside the car. A short time later, different news outlets discovered the story regarding how a fire department warned people about being cautious in leaving hand sanitizers inside their cars and produced articles about it. Even though WLFD really posted the warning, it then removed the post for stirring commotion. The circulating image has not been proven to be caused by an exploding hand sanitizer left in a car. Some experts have weighed the situation and said though hand sanitizers are alcohol-based, an enormous amount of heat is required to start up an explosion. Although the incident may be possible, official reports regarding a car fire due to left-hand sanitizer is a must-see. WLFD stated that light magnification through plastic bottles could start up a fire, which plays true for any plastic bottle, regardless of the bottle's content. WLFD removed their original post regarding the hand sanitizer warning and cut out with a message stating the goal of the department was only to provide accurate, timely, and educational information while responding to customer needs, preventing injury or fire from using hand sanitizer, and apologizing for any confusion made by the former post. Though the post has been corrected, a number of people are still confused regarding the possible danger brought by hand sanitizers. Read also: Face Shields Could Be Better Than Face Mask, Adds a Layer of Protection Against COVID-19 According to a report of the Federal Aviation Administration in 2010, hand sanitizer is flammable and could easily be ignited when placed into a pan with a common grill lighter. It burns cooler than plastic, fuel, or cellulose fires. It has been observed that liquid hand sanitizers have higher temperatures above the flame than get hand sanitizers. Vapors given off by hand sanitizers are also flammable. As stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol-based hand sanitizers contain ethyl alcohol, which at room temperature evaporates into combustive vapor. Although the recorded fire incidence related to ABHS is very low, it is important to store them safely and bulk dispensers are correctly installed and maintained. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) stated that in order for hand sanitizers to spontaneously combust, it requires to be exposed to tremendous heat over 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Guy Colonna, Director of Technical Services at NFPA, stated that spontaneous ignition could be met when a self-heating substance ignites without any outside ignition source and hand sanitizer itself is not subject to self-heating. Related article: New York Launches UV Light Program to Kill COVID-19 @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New Delhi, May 25 : With about 1,500 new beds at the GTB hospital soon, Delhi will have a total of 5,500 beds at government hospitals available for coronavirus treatment, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday. Speaking to the media, Kejriwal said currently, there are 2,500 vacant beds in government hospitals, out of about 4,000 beds. "We are preparing around 1,500 beds fully equipped with oxygen facilities in GTB Hospital. This will lead to a total of 5,500 beds (at government hospitals) available for coronavirus treatment in Delhi. We are fully prepared to handle the surge in serious cases of Covid," Kejriwal said. He said that around 2,000 new beds have been added in 117 private hospitals from Monday. "On Sunday, the Delhi government had issued an order that 117 private hospitals of Delhi should save at least 20 per cent of their beds for the treatment of coronavirus patients. This implies that around 2,000 new beds have been made available in the private hospitals from Monday." He said this gives a huge convenience to people who want to be treated in private hospitals. Kejriwal said it has been a week since some relaxations were given on May 17 and after a period of one week, he can say that the situation is under control and there is no need to worry. "We had expected a sudden rise in the number of cases after the relaxations and the same has happened, but there is no need to worry. The situation will get worrisome in two cases, first, if there is a steady rise in the death rate, and second if the cases are so severe that it leads to the collapse of our whole healthcare system." Kejriwal said he had been saying that there should be no deaths and people should recover and go back to their homes as soon as possible. "It would be a troublesome situation if the number of severe patients increases to the extent that there is a non-availability of beds, oxygen, ventilators, and other healthcare infrastructure." Kejriwal said that there were 13,418 cases in Delhi till Sunday, out of which 6,540 cases have recovered and 6,617 are active cases. There have been 261 deaths. He said that for the status of COVID-dedicated hospitals in Delhi, there are 3,829 beds in government COVID hospitals, out of which 3,164 beds have oxygen availability. "I stress the term oxygen, because there is no cure to COVID-19 currently, and there is a need to supply oxygen to severe COVID-19 patients as their respiratory rate decreases when they become infected. Only 1,478 beds out of 3,829 beds are currently occupied. Around 2,500 beds are still unoccupied. There are 250 ventilators available in the government hospitals, out of which 11 ventilators are being currently used and around 240 remain unused." He said till Sunday there were 677 beds in private hospitals, out of which 509 were occupied. He also said there are currently 72 ventilators in private hospitals, out of which only 15 are being used until now. "We are fully prepared to handle the surge in serious cases of corona." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Nagaland reported its "first" COVID-19 cases on Monday, when three persons who recently returned to the state from Chennai were found infected with novel coronavirus, a health department official said. Nagaland government has not counted a person from the state who tested positive for coronavirus on April 13 in Assam after a private hospital referred him to a government facility in Guwahati. He later recovered from the disease. Two men and a woman, all in their 20s, tested positive for COVID-19 and they are now undergoing treatment at two hospitals in Dimapur and Kohima, Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department, Menukhol John. Their condition is stable but Nagaland is no longer a green state, John said. "Unfortunately, 2 persons in Dimapur and 1 in Kohima have been tested positive for #COVID-19. Please do not panic. We need to handle it with utmost care and responsibility. Necessary action of contact tracing & containment measures are being taken and situation closely monitored," Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tweeted. "Our medical team is trying its best to contain the spread of the virus. Aggressive surveillance of the returnees has started. We appeal to the public not to panic and also not to stigmatize the patients," John said. He said the three persons who tested positive for coronavirus were passengers of the first Shramik Special train that reached Mizoram from Chennai on May 22 last. A total of 1,328 stranded citizens of Nagaland arrived in the state in that train and they were placed under quarantine in government facilities in Dimapur and Kohima districts. Earlier in the day, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy expressed apprehension that Nagaland could no longer remain a corona-free state after the return of migrant people. "Nagaland is at a very crucial stage because so far we have been Green. But with the arrival of thousands of stranded citizens from other parts of the country, we dont know what will happen. We do not know how many will turn out to be positive," Toy told media persons here. The chief secretary said COVID-19 is here to stay and people should learn how to live with it by taking precautions both at the individual and institutional levels. Recalling the initial days of HIV/AIDS breakout in the early 1990s in Nagaland, Toy said those who died of the disease were then not even allowed by the public to be buried because of panic. "But today we have people living with AIDS among us and the number of infected people is more than those days. There should not be any undue fear about COVID-19 as long as we are taking precautions. The time for panic is over and we have to get serious to begin to live with COVID," Toy said. Till Sunday, a total of 1,066 samples were tested and results of 1,001 were negative, while the outcome of 65 is awaited, he said. The state government has not considered reopening of conventional educational institutes as of now, Toy said adding that the school education department has made arrangements to teach them through television, radio and social media. "There is a huge risk and we would not like to take any decision in a hurry to open schools," he said. The current arrangement is only for classes 8 and above, and the department will soon address the problem of the students of lower classes, the chief secretary said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For many people with conditions such as arthritis, ibuprofen has long been the medicine of choice. It can be the deciding factor in patients being pain-free enough to walk, or not. But arthritis patients are now putting industrial lubricant WD-40 on their stiff and aching joints because they fear, wrongly, that ibuprofen will make coronavirus symptoms worse, a leading pharmacist has warned. Mixed messages about the safety of this painkilling and anti-inflammatory drug during the pandemic has led to others using aloe vera and snake oil lotions and potions bought on the internet, says Sid Dajani, a pharmacist in Hampshire and former treasurer of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. For many people with conditions such as arthritis, ibuprofen has long been the medicine of choice (stock image) Despite the latest NHS advice stating the drug is safe to take, sales are at around a third of their normal levels, he adds. Concerns emerged on March 14, when French health minister Olivier Veran said ibuprofen could aggravate coronavirus infections. His comments are thought to be partly based on remarks made by an infectious diseases doctor about four young Covid-19 patients with no underlying health conditions who developed serious symptoms after taking ibuprofen, as well as a letter that had been published in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine three days earlier. Mixed messages about the safety of this painkilling and anti-inflammatory drug during the pandemic has led to others using aloe vera and snake oil lotions and potions bought on the internet (stock image) The letter, from researchers in Switzerland, suggested ibuprofen makes it easier for the virus to get into the bodys cells and so could exacerbate infections. In a clarification on March 16, the authors stressed they had merely been putting forward a suspicion. But it was too late worries about the link were already rife and, on March 17, the NHS advised people with symptoms of Covid-19 to avoid taking ibuprofen and use paracetamol instead. In April, the advice changed again, after the Commission on Human Medicines, which advises the UK government on the safety of drugs, reviewed the data on whether ibuprofen might increase the risk of an infection worsening. TRY THIS EcoHydra alcohol-free hand sanitiser is said to be certified by independent laboratories as effective against coronavirus. Pack of three 50ml, 8.97, buyecohydra.com Advertisement It concluded there is insufficient evidence ibuprofen makes people more likely to catch Covid-19 or worsen symptoms. Ibuprofen was back on the table, with those with coronavirus symptoms told to take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable. Despite this, some Britons are still afraid to take the drug, says Sid Dajani. We still have lots of ibuprofen on our shelves, its not selling as well as it used to, he says. Ibuprofen is a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), that works by reducing the production of prostaglandins, hormone-like compounds involved in pain and inflammation. The medication is widely used to ease the pain or swelling of everyday conditions such as headaches, toothache and sprains and strains. Its also relied on by many people with chronic conditions, with some getting it on prescription. Weve had loads of patients on NSAIDs for arthritis coming in saying they dont want to take them any more, says Sid Dajani. Arthritis patients are now putting industrial lubricant WD-40 (pictured) on their stiff and aching joints because they fear, wrongly, that ibuprofen will make coronavirus symptoms worse, a leading pharmacist has warned Some were even using WD-40 on their joints as theyd heard thats quite good, others were relying on aloe vera. Some were looking on the internet and getting all sorts of snake oil lotions and potions. He adds that it was upsetting to see patients in pain or resorting to unproven or dangerous remedies when ibuprofen could help them. Some had been on NSAID medication for four or five years and doing well and are suffering now because they dont want to take it. [Its] a tragedy, he adds. The thinking behind the use of WD-40 is that it will ease stiff joints, in much the same way as it loosens stiff locks. But using WD-40 for arthritis is bonkers, said a Versus Arthritis charity spokesman. The charity urges people taking ibuprofen not to stop without checking first with their GP or specialist. Dr Taher Mahmud, a consultant rheumatologist at the London Osteoporosis Clinic, called it very sad and concerning that patients are resorting to home remedies such as WD-40. Failure to replace NSAIDs with other proven therapies can have a huge impact on patients lives, adds Dr Mahmud. They can be in severe pain and so stiff they are unable to wash and dress themselves, or be left bed-bound. The experience with ibuprofen highlights concerns that the speed at which the pandemic is evolving means evidence about what does and doesnt work is not always being rigorously examined. There is particular concern that pre-prints, early drafts of medical and scientific papers that have not been peer-reviewed the lengthy process of being vetted for omissions and flaws by other academics in the field are being given undue weight during the pandemic. Hugh Pennington, an emeritus bacteriology professor at the University of Aberdeen, says: Theres a mass of science coming out every day and some of it is conflicting. Sometimes it is just too early to say. We are still at a very early stage of investigating coronavirus and it is very difficult to give clear, straightforward answers that will stand the test of time. 25.05.2020 LISTEN To hold a position in Parliament, Especially on the Health Committee, is not by accident or a mistake. Even if that person doesn't belong to that field, we expect the person to crack his/her brain on health-related issues either on paper or on grounds. Those poles, which are unlike by nature was raped by my good friend, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, a ranking member on the health committee who doubles as the Minority spokesperson on Health. The Honourable member was carried away by severe mouth diarrhoea fueled by acute propaganda which resulted in total embarrassment to the fraternity. According to science, he goofed up, he failed to back his submission with science. We should condemn this on any day, because information is key in the fight against this unseen enemy. Autoimmunity and asymptomaticity are not and will never be similar as far as science is concern. These are clear different poles, apart in scope and scientific meaning. Drawing similarities between them, will be tantamount to intellectual robbery. one failing to decipher between these poles becomes problematic. I call that, an error of a meaning which doesn't call for a praise. *Autoimmunity(Attacking self)* In simple terms, autoimmunity refers to the failure of the body's immune system to recognize it's own cells and tissues as "self". Instead immune responses are launched against these cells and tissues as if they were foreign or invading bodies. Why might the immune system turn on itself? Perhaps a virus, while replicating within a human cell "borrows" proteins from the host cell's surface and incorporate them into its own surface. When the immune system "learns" the surface of the virus to destroy it, it also learns to attack the human cells that normally bear that particular protein. Another possible explanation is that Tcells never learn to distinguish self from nonself in the thymus. Normally, T cells that recognise self antigens are weeded out, by apoptosis in the thymus. If these cells persist, they can attack the body's tissues at later time. A third possible route of autoimmunity is when a nonself antigen coincidentally resembles a self antigen. For example in the rheumatic heart disease, which is a complication of rheumatic fever, antibodies attack heart valve cells that have antigens that resemble those of streptococcus bacteria.... Sometimes the immune system turns against the host, manufacturing antibodies that attacks the body's own cells and causes autoimmunity. *Asymptomatic* Asymptomatic simply means there are no symptoms. One is considered asymptomatic if: One have recovered from an illness or condition and no longer have symptoms. When one has an illness or condition (such as early stage high blood pressure) but do not have symptoms of it....... *Conclusion* How can one relate immunity to asymptomaticity...? To the extent that, after infection your immune system recognize and attack the causative organism so that it doesn't trigger any cellular or humoral response to show the presentation of symptoms..... Autoimmunity has nothing to do with asymptomaticity. One being asymptomatic doesn't mean the person is autoimmune as stated by our Honourable member. One suffering from autoimmunity doesn't mean automatically, the person will be healed from the Novel Covid-19. As I'm about to put my pen to rest, will advise all communicators to speak to the facts on the table and also be careful interms of interpretation. Science will forever be, as propaganda will always remain so. Author: *Adjei Boakye* Student Activist. Email: [email protected] . By Song Xin BEIJING, May 25 -- 2020 marks the last year of the decisive battle to overcome poverty and build a moderately prosperous society in all respects. It is also the year to realize the goals and targets in Chinese national defense and military construction. However, due to the double impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and the ever-growing downward pressure on economic growth, especially the further reduction in revenue but the increase in expenditures, the discrepancy is becoming even more prominent. In deliberating and discussing on draft central and local budgets for 2020, the deputies noted the special arrangements made, that is the appropriate adjustments to the expected targets formulated before the outbreak, in this national account book which has drawn the attention of various parties, following a comprehensive judgment on the current situation. The draft features comprehensive planning, major points highlighted, and being highly targeted, according to Deputy He Lei, the former vice president of the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, Compared to those of last year, most arrangements for this years expenditures are in reduction. This is especially true to the negative growth in the central government's spending arrangements, in which non-rigid and non-urgent expenditures are reduced by more than 50%. However, expenditures are scheduled to be increased in health, housing security, public security, and grain and oil supply reserves compared with those of the previous year. Judging from the increase and reduction, a strong signal is delivered, that is, to secure a happy life for the people, governments at all levels will tighten their belts. With local expenditures included, national science and technology expenditures are to be increased by 3.1%. On seeing this in the draft, Liu Shilei, a deputy from the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, said that in the face of multiple difficulties, the state will still increase its investment in scientific research. This is bound to greatly encourage the military, scientific research staff. Affected by the COVID-19 epidemic this year, fiscal revenue is declining, while more money is needed in multiple aspects. During the deliberation, the deputies noted that in the face of complicated and severe challenges, China still maintains a moderate increase in national defense expenditure. At present, national defense and military construction have entered a new era, the tasks of achieving the goal of a strong military are heavy, the time is quite limited, and there are many aspects in need of money. This requires careful calculation and strict budgeting to ensure that no defense spending is wasted. Major general Leng Zhiyi, an inspector of the CMC Inspection team, said that the military discipline inspection and supervision work would focus on displaying the role of political supervision, and strive to improve the comprehensive use of national defense expenditure. Stressing on managing the account book with the strictness put at first, Deputy Leng Zhiyi believed that it is necessary to consolidate the main responsibilities of the Party committees and jointly play their role of the check; to supervise the implementation of the military, financial brokerage laws, strictly enforce the various disciplinary provisions of expenditures, improve the efficiency of military expenditures, and seriously investigate and punish those who violate the financial brokerage laws; to continue to supervise the implementation of the eight-point frugality code and the ten-point regulations of the CMC, rigorously examining and dealing with corruption cases against the laws and disciplines, and putting an end to the violation of disciplines and laws in the use of national defense expenditure. Deputies stated during the deliberation that China's development faces unprecedented risks and challenges at present and in a future period. However, as long as we can rise to the challenges confidently, we are surely to get through the current difficulties. Tributes have begun pouring in for an Irish teenager killed in Australia over the weekend. Cian English, 19, originally from Carlow Town but who was living with his family in the Hawthorne area of Brisbane's eastern suburbs suffered traumatic injuries when he fell from a balcony at the View Pacific resort in Surfers Paradise. Three men have been charged with his murder and two of armed robbery on the Gold Coast - 74kms away from Brisbane. It is the second tragedy to hit the English family as the young mans grandfather John, who worked in Carlow County Council died last December. The trio charged with the murder of Cian English had their cases mentioned in court for the first time on Monday. The accused men, Jason Ryan Knowles, 22, Hayden Paul Kratzmann, 20, and Lachlan Paul Soper-Lagas, 18 - were not required to appear in court on Monday. Lachlan Soper-Lagas, 18, did not appear via video link in Beenleigh Magistrates Court today when his charges one count of murder, two counts of armed robbery and two of deprivation of liberty were briefly mentioned. Mr Soper-Lagas case will be mentioned again tomorrow. Kratzmann and Knowles's cases were briefly mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court, where they were adjourned for a committal call over in Southport Magistrates Court on August 4. Police allege the teenager was trying to escape being robbed by the three men at knifepoint, for his clothes and footwear, when he fell to his death. He had been in the Gold Coast with a friend who was also assaulted. Gold Coast police were called to an apartment complex in Surfers Paradise at around 3.15am on Saturday where Mr Englishs body was found at the base of the building. It was initially thought that the young man had died in a tragic fall but later it emerged that he fell trying to escape the men who had been staying in a unit above his. The teenager moved to Brisbane around eight years ago with his parents Siobhan Webster and Vincent English and older brother Dylan. Carlow Town Hurling Club paid tribute to the young man saying, The committee, members and supporters of Carlow Town Hurling and Camogie Club would like to extend it's sincere and heartfelt sympathy to the English and Webster families on the tragic passing of their beloved Cian. May his gentle soul rest in peace. A local politician, who did not wish to be named said: Both the Webster and English families are the nicest people and absolutely the salt of the earth. The whole town is devastated for them and I know obviously that the families are heartbroken. The Department of Foreign Affairs have said they are aware of the case and stand ready to provide assistance if required to do so. US President Donald Trump warned on Monday that he may move the Republican National Convention from North Carolina set for August if the event faces state social distancing restrictions as a result of the coronavirus. The coronavirus pandemic has forced Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden to halt campaign rallies. Some have raised concerns that the large formal nominating conventions that are typically packed with delegates could raise safety issues. Trump said on Twitter that if Democratic Governor Roy Cooper does not immediately answer "whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied," then the party will find "with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site." The conventions include prime-time TV speeches that serve to kick off the final sprint toward the November presidential election. The Republican event is set to start Aug. 24 in Charlotte. Cooper's office said in a statement Monday that "state health officials are working with the RNC and will review its plans as they make decisions about how to hold the convention in Charlotte. North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our state's public health and safety." Vice President Mike Pence told Fox News it is "absolutely essential" that Cooper gives a "swift response" or the convention could be moved to a state that is "farther along on reopening. The Democratic National Convention, which was postponed by a month because of the coronavirus, is set to begin Aug. 17 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A spokeswoman for the DNC event said this month the convention will follow health officials "guidance to determine how many people can safely gather in Milwaukee this August." Trump won North Carolina by 3.7% in 2016. Biden's campaign thinks the state is one of many that went for Trump that are up for grabs this year. Gardai are appealing for the public's assistance in locating the whereabouts of Danny Toye, 75. Danny was last seen at 12pm today at St Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. LONDON, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- International Investor is proud to announce its recognition of excellence in all industries and at all levels, across the globe. The awards recognise the businesses that remain steady in delivering first rate service, opportunity, innovation and performance. In the midst of a global pandemic, these are the qualities that clients look for more than ever and our latest award winners are the companies they trust. Sergio Camarero, Managing Partner of ARC Capital, said, "Thanks to the International Investor audience and voters for the recognition and acknowledgement of ARC Capital. We continue to strive for success and continue to push the global financial boundaries; our goal remains helping our clients achieve their goals. Just like our motto states, your growth our passion." Luca Mattiazzi, General Manager of Etica Funds, said, "This award is a great achievement that I'm very proud of. I am also proud to lead such a talented and motivated team that is spearheading an increasingly crowded and competitive market. For the future, we will strategically focus on our specific skills and our approach of continuous process improvement." The following lists our readers' choices of the organisations and people that are bringing better ways of doing business to the investment and finance community. Our Spring 2020 winners: Alpha Global Wealth - Best Client Advisor - IFA // Switzerland Excellence in Customer Satisfaction // Switzerland ARC Capital - Best Global Mid Market Investment Bank ARM Investment Managers - Investment Management Company of the Year // Nigeria Excellence in Investment Innovation // Nigeria au Jibun Bank - Neo Bank of the Year // Asia BAC Credomatic - Excellence in Digital Transformation // LATAM Bank of the Year // LATAM Best Sustainable Bank // LATAM Banque du Caire - Sustainable Bank the Year // North Africa BIC Markets - FX Broker Of The Year // Asia Currency.com - Best Crypto Exchange Deltamark - Best Boutique AIFM // Cyprus Etica SGR - Responsible Investor of the Year // Italy Euro Exim - Most Innovative Global Trade Services Bank Fope Oluleye, T Bridge - Venture Capital CEO of the Year Global Liquidity Exchange - Best ECN Broker // Asia IBH Investment Bank Ltd- Best Fund Manager // Malaysia Instaforex - Most Trusted Forex Broker Invest Durban - Best FDI Destination City // South Africa Panthera Solutions - Most Innovative Training for Investment Professionals // Europe SDB Bank - Best SME Bank // Sri Lanka Excellence in Impact Banking - Banking for Women // Sri Lanka T Bridge - Most Reliable Early Stage Venture Capital Firm // Renewable Energy Sector Turnkey Trading Partners - Best Global Regulatory & Compliance Firm Union Bank Philippines - Best Digital Wealth Management Service Provider // Philippines Whitestar Asset Management - Best Asset Management Service Provider // Portugal About International Investor International Investor provides insights, news and visual informative pieces with topics ranging from world markets and industry analysis to impact investing and so much more. All our content is dedicated to the global investment community that wants to take a step ahead. SOURCE International Investor Magazine Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 15:13:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Sunday announced travel restrictions on Brazil, the nation with the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases. "Today, the President has taken decisive action to protect our country by suspending the entry of aliens who have been in Brazil during the 14-day period before seeking admittance to the United States," the White House said in a statement. The statement said the action would "help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country," noting that this measure would not apply to the flow of commerce between the two countries. President Donald Trump had said last week that he was considering limiting travel from Brazil. The order is effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday (0359 GMT Friday), and it does not apply to legal permanent residents. A spouse, parent or child of a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident would also be allowed to enter the country, according to the White House. Brazil's Foreign Ministry called it a technical decision in the context of "important bilateral collaboration" to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting U.S. donations of 6.5 million U.S. dollars and a new White House promise of 1,000 respirators. Earlier in the day, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said in an interview with CBS News, "I think that we'll have a 212(f) decision today with respect to Brazil, and just like we did with the UK and Europe and China, and we hope that'll be temporary." "But because of the situation in Brazil, we're going to take every step necessary to protect the American people," he added. When asked if the upcoming travel restriction would also be expanded to other countries in the Southern Hemisphere, O'Brien said that the United States would "take a look at the other countries on a country-by-country basis." As of Sunday afternoon, there have been 347,398 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Brazil with over 22,000 deaths, while the United States had more than 1.64 million COVID-19 cases and more than 97,000 people have died of the disease, according to Johns Hopkins University. The Trump administration has adopted travel restrictions against Canada, Mexico, and European countries, among others. The U.S. State Department's travel advisory remains at Level 4, which instructs its citizens to avoid all international travel amid the global outbreak of the coronavirus. Data from Brazil's civil aviation agency shows there has already been a sharp reduction in U.S.-bound flights from the South American country. There were more than 700 flights from Brazil to the United States in February of this year, with the number dropping to just 140 in April. Nigerian author Reno Omokri has taken to social media to advise people who still have a job amidst the pandemic. According to Omokri, anyone who still has a job or functioning business should thank God for this. Read Also: Stop Letting Gifts From Men Cloud Your Judgement Reno Omokri If you still have a job or a business during and after this #coronavirus pandemic, you should focus your prayers on thanking God. Anything less, and you are an ingrate. You are on of the most blessed people on Earth at this material time Advertisement B oris Johnson has announced that the Government plans for all non-essential retail shops to reopen as of June 15. Speaking at the Downing Street press conference, the PM set out his plans for the staged reopening of shops in England at his Downing Street press conference. Mr Johnson also announced that outdoor markets and car showrooms can open in a week on June 1, provided they are "Covid secure". He also urged people to go to the shops to help the economy bounce back, saying: Im certainly not going to discourage them from spending at all. I think that its early days but we are very much hoping there will be a bounce back over the next few months. It comes as the PM faces an ongoing row after Dominic Cummings, his top aide, made a public statement to explain his March trip to Durham during coronavirus lockdown. UK lockdown eases as more people return to work - In pictures 1 /54 UK lockdown eases as more people return to work - In pictures A woman wearing a face mask and gloves walks on a platform at Waterloo Station in London Reuters Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn General view of roadworks on London Bridge, London PA Busy tube train between East Ham and Upton Park. PA People are seen at Waterloo Station in London Reuters People wear a face masks at Leeds station PA A worker from LNER stands beside ticket barriers that have been blocked for social distancing measures at Newcastle train station, PA Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn Police at Victoria Station as Lockdown is slowly lifted at Victoria Station Nigel Howard Nigel Howard Burnt Oak tube station. PA A Victoria line train is deep cleaned at Northumberland Park depot PA Commuters at Clapham Junction Station PA Nigel Howard Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Nigel Howard Passengers board and leave a train at a station in Bracknell, Berkshire PA Commuters and staff in and around at Clapham Junction Railway Station Daniel Hambury Police officers pictured at Colliers Wood Daniel Hambury/@stellapicsltd Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Euston Station Jeremy Selwyn Increased police and security personnel at New Street station in Birmingham PA Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn Commuters at Clapham Junction sStation PA Nigel Howard Cannon Street Station Jeremy Selwyn Commuters at Clapham Junction Station PA Busy tube train between East Ham and Upton Park PA Nigel Howard Commuters and staff in and around at Clapham Junction Railway Station, Daniel Hambury Nigel Howard Increased police and security personnel at New Street station in Birmingham PA Increased security at New Street station in Birmingham, PA Busy tube train between East Ham and Upton Park PA Commuters at Clapham Junction Station PA A sign advising passengers to wear a face mask at Clapham Junction station, PA Stickers being installed on a bus at Abellio Camberwell bus garage, as more people are set to return to offices, factories and building sites this week PA But at the daily Covid-19 press conference, Mr Johnson focusses on the Governments plans to kickstart the retail industry. He said: We will set out our formal assessment of the five tests that we set for adjusting the lockdown later this week as part of the three-weekly review we are legally required to undertake by Thursday. But because of the progress we are making I can, with confidence, put the British people on notice of the changes we intend to introduce as we move to step two. Shops on Camden High Street under lockdown / PA From June 1, outdoor markets and car showrooms will be allowed to open, provided they can do so safely. He said: We know that the transmission of the virus is lower outdoors and that it is easier to follow Covid secure guidelines in open spaces. The British high street has been hard hit by the pandemic / PA From June 15, all other non-essential retail will be allowed to reopen, contingent on progress in the fight against coronavirus and if the businesses are Covid secure. The Prime Minister said new guidance was being published for the retail sector detailing the measures they should take to meet the necessary social distancing and hygiene standards. Shops now have the time to implement this guidance before they reopen, he said. This will ensure there can be no doubt about what steps they should take. Boris Johnson said the authorities would have the powers we need to enforce compliance where that is required. I want people to be confident that they can shop safely provided they follow the social distancing rules for all premises, he added. Responding to the Prime Ministers announcement that retailers will be able to begin reopening next month, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: We welcome the announcement of the Governments road map for reopening a broader range of shops next month, which provides much needed clarity on the route ahead. Safety is the fundamental concern for all retailers and they have been working hard to implement the necessary measures to operate safely over the past weeks. Now that we know which shops can open and when, retailers can begin communicating their plans with their workforces and customers. The industry stands ready to play its part in getting the economy moving again. Former President John Dramani Mahama says the novel coronavirus pandemic has exposed the structural weaknesses in the economic paradigm of African countries. In a statement on his Facebook page to mark African Union (AU) Day, John Mahama who is also the leader and flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress stated that; "COVID-19 has exposed the structural weaknesses of our economic paradigm as exporters of primary goods and importers of finished products." "But with innovative leadership and a belief in especially our enterprising and dynamic young people, we can and we should turn the wheels of the African Economy back on track." Read full statement below; Seven years ago, I joined my colleague Heads of State in Addis Ababa to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Continental Union, the African Union. We adopted #Agenda2063 as our blueprint for transforming our continent into a future significant global partner. Across our continent, as we celebrate #AfricaDay on Monday May 25, we must dedicate ourselves as a people and governments towards realising the objectives of #Agenda2063 and building #TheAfricaWeWant. COVID-19 has exposed the structural weaknesses of our economic paradigm as exporters of primary goods and importers of finished products. But with innovative leadership and a belief in especially our enterprising and dynamic young people, we can and we should turn the wheels of the African Economy back on track. Happy AU Day. Seven years ago, I joined my colleague Heads of State in Addis Ababa to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our... Posted by John Dramani Mahama on Sunday, May 24, 2020 Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Barabanki: NCSC Chairman PL Punia rejected the reported finding of the Roopanwal Commission that Rohith Vemula did not belong to the SC community as totally wrong on Thursday. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairman said the statutory body and the district collector have, in separate reports, found that the Hyderabad Central University research scholar belonged to the Dalit community, and not Other Backward Class (OBC). The issues raised by the Congress were sidelined and now the report is being presented that Vemula was not a Dalit, Punia told reporters here yesterday. The Congress MP alleged that the commission was set up to justify what BJP ministers had been saying from day one that Vemula was OBC and not a Dalit. He said that the suicide by the Dalit scholar was painful and unfortunate. Vemula had committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of a hostel room in the university. The suicide by Vemula had triggered a huge political storm with opposition parties launching a massive attack on the Union government over the issue. They also accused the university authorities of mishandling the situation, which led to Vemulas suicide. The Justice (retd.) A K Roopanwal Commission, which was constituted by the HRD Ministry to look into the circumstances leading to the death, has submitted its report. According to reports, the commission has said that the 26-year-old research scholar did not belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A novel LED irradiation system developed by the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut aims to kill microorganisms with ultra-short wave UV light - without side effects. Prototype handed over to the Charite for initial testing. According to the Robert Koch Institute, 400,000 to 600,000 infections with hospital germs occur in Germany every year - about 10,000 to 20,000 people die from them. Since multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens often cannot be treated with antibiotics, alternative approaches are needed. One promising physical principle is irradiation with UVC light, which can be used to destroy microorganisms without allowing resistances to develop. Within the framework of their Joint Lab GaN Optoelectronics, the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) and Technische Universitat Berlin (TUB) have developed LEDs emitting in the far ultraviolet (UV) spectral range. The LEDs emit at wavelengths around 230 nm and provide more than one milliwatt output power. Such UVC LEDs are not yet commercially available worldwide due to technological challenges of the utilized material system aluminum-gallium nitride (AlGaN). Their light does not penetrate into the living layers of the skin because of their high degree of absorption. It is therefore expected that the skin - in contrast to long-wave UVC radiation as emitted by mercury vapor lamps, for example - will not be harmed at all or will be damaged so little that the natural repair mechanisms compensate for the effect. The researchers hope that this will help to kill MDR pathogens without any long-term side effects. Within the framework of the VIMRE project (prevention of infection with multidrug resistant pathogens via in-vivo UVC irradiation), FBH has developed and produced an irradiation system comprising an array of 118 of these LEDs on an area of 8 cm x 8 cm. It achieves a maximum irradiation power of 0.2 mW/cm2 with more than 90 % uniformity over an area of 6 cm x 6 cm. The first prototype was delivered to the Department of Dermatology at Charite -Universitatsmedizin Berlin for skin examinations. Another device will soon be delivered to the Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine of the University Medicine Center Greifswald to clarify the microbicidal effectiveness. VIMRE is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the consortium "Advanced UV for Life" within the Twenty20 program. Prototypes aimed to validate procedures Tests carried out by the two project partners with these devices are intended to show that UVC irradiation is suitable for killing microorganisms and especially MDR pathogens (eradication). At the same time, it is to be demonstrated that this exposure is harmless to humans as long as specific irradiation doses are maintained. This will be verified using tissue samples of human skin as well as skin and mucosa models, since the preferred habitat of microorganisms such as MDR pathogens is the anterior nasal cavity and the pharynx. For this purpose, the Charite conducts dose-dependent investigations of possible DNA damage to irradiated skin. The University Medicine Center Greifswald will determine how effectively the UV LED emitters kill MDR pathogens at 230 nm and compare the results with those of UV lamps with emission at 254 nm and 222 nm. Miniaturization and further applications - an outlook LEDs have many advantages and open up further perspectives: they are particularly small and thus permit miniaturized irradiation systems. These could be used endoscopically in body orifices or as hand-held devices. LEDs also emit only little heat and hardly put any strain on the skin. In addition, they do not require high voltage - an important safety aspect, since they are used on humans. The UV LED irradiation system is to be further developed in the future so that pathogens can be eliminated in places that are difficult to access. The device might also be interesting for corona viruses, as they can also be inactivated by short-wave UVC light. Since SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the pharynx in the first phase, it seems plausible to use such light sources in this part of the body to prevent a COVID-19 disease. Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh on Monday blamed Turkey for not showing interest in repairing a gas pipeline near the Iranian border blown up by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in March. "Iran offered to help repair the pipeline but the other side did not welcome it," Zanganeh said while maintaining that the repair work would not have taken more than a few days. The March 31 explosion in the pipeline which carried around 10 billion cubic meters of Iranian gas to Turkey annually brought Iranian gas exports to its neighbor to a halt. The pipeline had been targeted on Turkish soil by Kurdish fighters several times before. People's Defense Forces (HPG), a military wing of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), on April 1 claimed responsibility for blowing up the pipeline near the Bazargan border with Iran. According to the statement released by HPG, a fighter of the group attacked the Turkish forces guarding the pipeline and then blew herself up. According to official statistics announced by Turkey, Iran exported 7.7 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey in 2019, much less than in previous years. Turkey was among major importers of Iran's gas and one of its top trading partners but due to the U.S. sanctions re-introduced by President Donald Trump in May 2018, the volume of trade between the two countries has sharply dropped. Washington withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018, and a year later, stopped renewing its waivers for the major Iranian oil buyers, including Turkey. Iran's non-oil exports have also suffered hugely since the breakout of coronavirus in February. According to the Iranian Customs Administration, the total volume of Iran's exports and imports in April was reduced by 27 percent compared to the same month last year and reached to a little over $3.5 billion. Mayflower pilgrims remembered in new book Mayflower pilgrims remembered in new book It is 400 years since the Mayflower's pioneering voyage, which saw the Pilgrims sailing to America to seek religious freedom. A Norwich author is editing a book, to be published later this year, to commemorate this anniversary. Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth: Remembering the Mayflower Pilgrims, 1620 2020 will be available in November and is now available to pre-order. The idea for writing this came from a little book that was given to Dr John Clements, the pastor of the Old Meeting House Congregational Church, it had been published in Norwich in 1920 by Jarrolds of Norwich, to mark the 300th anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers. John said, "I wonder how many of us know about this period of Christian history. It is estimated that around 38 million Americans today can trace their ancestors back to the Pilgrim Fathers, many of whom came from Norwich and Norfolk." Jonathan Piesse, a historian who attends St Andrews Church in Norwich is one of the many contributors to the book. John Robinson, who became the Pastor to the Pilgrim Fathers for a short time was a minister at St Andrews Church. Jonathans contribution covers the teachings of Robinson which were very instrumental in developing the Christian Church in America. Another English contributor is Adrian Grey from Retford. He is an English historian who organises Christian tours which cover the places in England associated with the Pilgrim Fathers. The other contributors come both sides of the Atlantic and consist of Church Pastors and University Professors. The book will also feature a special essay by the late Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones. John Clements has been invited to write the introduction and Prof Michael Haykin and Dr Roy Paul are co-editing the book with him. The book is being published in Peterborough, Canada by H&E Publishers. Chapters will include the life of the Pilgrims in Holland; the voyage in 1620; William Bradford; William Brewster; the Mayflower Compact; the relevance of Thanksgiving Day; the encounter with the Indians; the Pilgrim Mothers; and several on the spirituality of the Pilgrim Fathers. It is hoped to have a special book launch in November but until the current lockdown is over this cannot be finalised. Please watch out for further details. About the book Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth: Remembering the Mayflower Pilgrims, 16202020 As in other histories, the history of Christianity has certain key turning-points after which the flow of historical events is profoundly transformed. Some of these moments of transitionwell expressed by the Greek term kairosare immediately pellucid to the student of church history: the Constantinian Revolution, the rise of the heresy of Islam, the Reformation, the Great Awakening. While not as immediately obvious as these turning-points, the sailing for America in 1620 of those whom historians have called the Pilgrims needs to be reckoned as a key event in the story of both the American nation and American Christianity. To be sure, there are some today who dispute its central role in the founding of America, yet generations of historians have accorded it a key place in that story, and it is in line with this older interpretation that this book of essays has been written. The various essays in this anniversary volume remember the manifold details of this historic voyage in an attempt to inform and even inspire the modern Christian as he or she seeks to be a faithful pilgrim to that heavenly country that was ever in the mind of the men and women whom these essays recall. Now available for pre-order: https://hesedandemet.com/mayflower Pictured above: an image from the book cover Helen Baldry, 15/07/2020 Swarms of crop-munching desert locusts entered deeper into Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh over the weekend and are now close to the national capital, according to officials who said on Monday that they have put farmers on high alert and deployed insecticide spraying devices through drones, SUVs and tractors. Locust invasions are common in parts of Rajasthan abutting Pakistan, but this is the first time they have reached Jaipur, a city 700km from the border, after charting a journey that experts believe began in their natural breeding ground in East Africa. There is a possibility that the locusts will move towards Delhi in the next few days if wind speeds and directions are favourable. As of today the wind speed moved them towards north, said the Union agriculture ministrys Locust Warning Organization (LWO) deputy director KL Gurjar. Gurjar said the agency was coordinating with the India Meteorological Department to determine the trajectory the insects might take. On Monday, the swarm reached Jaipur in what was described by officials as unprecedented. An agriculture department official in Uttar Pradesh said that the Jaipur swarm was one of three that was spreading. Presently three groups are in action in this area and first one among them was moving towards Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) based on wind direction. The second lot seems to be heading for Morena in Madhya Pradesh. The third in Jaipur region seem to be heading towards Gangapur city in Rajasthan, said Ram Pravesh, the district plant protection officer in Agra. Locusts can fly up to 150km in a day and a one-square-kilometre swarm can eat as much food as 35,000 people, in terms of weight, in a single day, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)s Desert Locust Information Service bulletin. Locust invasions are known to cause a considerable drop in agricultural output. A moderate infestation chewed through winter crops in an estimated 300,000 hectares in Rajasthan and Gujarat in January. According to some assessments, the locust outbreak this time is linked to climate change and unusual rain. While there are no crops in Rajasthan at present, the summer-sown season begins next month. Most of the swarm seen at present consists of pink-hued sub-adult locusts. Officials fear these may arc back to their summer breeding area in the desert between India and Pakistan, where monsoon rains can help trigger a new round of breeding. If we are not able to control the sub-adults, they will grow into adults and return to summer breeding sites along the Indo-Pak border in the desert. If there is good rainfall, moisture will make it conducive for egg-laying in sandy soil. We may have to face a second generation of desert locusts then. If they are not controlled in hopper stage then they turn into swarms which will again pose a challenge for us, said KL Gurjar, deputy director, Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage. The life of a locust varies between three and five months. These insects do not pose a direct risk to animals or humans. The LWO official said containment strategy depends upon the size of the swarm. When it enters from Pakistan, a swarm of one square km can have 80 million locusts. As it moves ahead, we keep killing many of them and the swarm becomes less dense but it will still have 40 million locusts, the joint director said. This year, the locust attack is about eight times more aggressive than last year. Last year the locust swarm was first seen in Jaisalmer district on May 21, but this time its swarms started coming in from early May, he added. According to officials in Jaipur, the swarm that arrived on Monday was spread 6km wide and stretched on for 2.5km. Locusts generally settle on vegetation around 8pm and fly off again around 9-10 am the next day, so insecticides are sprayed at them at night to kill them, he added. The LWO has a ground team of 50 persons mainly to monitor and track the swarms; drones are being used for aerial spraying of Malathion 96, an organophosphate insecticide and a potentially toxic chemical for non-cropped areas. For areas with agriculture, chlorpyrifos is sprayed by drones, fire brigades and tractor mounted sprays. This year, we are able to launch control efforts only around midnight because they are settling late. The current breed of locusts unsettles on hearing sound of tractors, making our job more difficult. An unsettled swarm is highly mobile and can travel as much as 150 km a day if winds are favourable, said Rajasthans agriculture commissioner Om Prakash. In fulfilment of his promises to renew infrastructure in critical sectors, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is to inaugurate housing, education and road projects as part of activities to mark one year on office. The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said in a statement on Sunday that some of the projects would be inaugurated virtually while the others would be on-site. He noted that Mr Sanwo-Olus administration would be one year old on May 29. The official said that a number of programmes had been slated to commemorate the anniversary. He said that the governor would visit Ikorodu to inaugurate the 360-unit Lagos Homes and visit Igbogbo Baiyeku IIB Estate, Lekki, and the Courtland Villas on Femi Okunnu Estate during the weeklong celebration. In the education sector, Sanwo-Olu will conduct virtual inauguration of completed classroom blocks in Maya Secondary School, Ikorodu; Eva Adelaja Junior School, Bariga; and Saviour Primary School, Ifako-Ijaiye, among others. Virtual inauguration of completed works such as the Concrete Jetty in Baiyeku, Ikorodu, Aradagun-Ajido- Epeme Road in Badagry, and the Maryland Signalisation project also form part of the itinerary to commemorate the anniversary Prior to May 29, Sanwo-Olu will deliver Childrens Day address on May 27, which coincides with the 53rd anniversary of the state, he said. The commissioner said that the anniversary events would not be held elaborately, in order to reflect the realities and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is not a time to engage in any elaborate celebrations. The governor, however, considers it essential to render an account of his service to Lagosians since he was voted into office a year ago, Mr Omotosho said. The commissioner said that in the next few days, the anniversary programmes would begin at the J.J.T Park in Alausa, with press briefings by some members of the state executive council. He said that commissioners and special advisers would present their scorecards in tandem with the six pillars of the states T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda. He said that the daily briefings had been scheduled to run from May 27 to June 3, with two sessions daily. Three special publications highlighting the achievements of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration and testimonies of beneficiaries of various initiatives of the government are slated for presentation to the public by the governor and his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat. Sanwo-Olu remains focused on fulfilling his campaign promises to Lagosians and determined to accomplish set targets in spite of the temporary setback occasioned by the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be an interesting alteration to our ways of life, he said. (NAN) Exceeding 2004s record level by more than 10% and boosted by the luxury segment, exports of Swiss watches passed the CHF 12 billion mark for the first time. The five main markets were the United States (CHF 2.1 billion), Hong Kong (CHF 1.8 billion), Japan (CHF 1.1 billion), Italy (CHF 842 million) and France (CHF 660 million). Buoyed by this euphoria for high-end watchmaking, the brands were firing on all cylinders, with varying degrees of success, as the following years would show. Thus, specialised magazines featured ads for brands such as Ball, Jean Dunand, Dolphin, RSW or Tiret New York. Anniversaries and beginnings It was in this stimulating context that the fabulous story of Only Watch began with Antiquorum, bringing together 35 brands at the Monaco Yacht Show and establishing itself over the years as the most important biennial watch auction. GMT immediately followed the cause and contributed to its influence. Another sign of the times: the Vallee de Joux saw the construction of the Hotel des Horlogers in Le Brassus, instigated by Audemars Piguet. It was also in this village that Blancpain inaugurated its new Manufacture on the occasion of its 270th anniversary. To mark its 250th anniversary, Vacheron Constantin entrusted Antiquorum with the task of organising an auction of 250 watches retracing the brands history. GMT Magazine Just next door, Frederique Constant inaugurated its new Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates on four floors totalling 3200m2, in the presence of Carlo Lamprecht. Among other age-old brands, Baume & Mercier celebrated its 175th anniversary with the launch of its Diamond line, arguing that Every woman deserves a diamond. Zenith, on a different tone, quoted Shakespeare in its advertisements: Time does not look the same for everyone. Entrepreneurs jumped into the fray and created their own brands, such as Maximilian Busser with MB&F, Sassoun Sirmakes with Cvstos, Guillaume Tetu with Hautlence, Olivier Muller with Villemont (presenting no less than 24 models at the same time in 3 collections!), or Jorg Hysek imagining HD3 Complication with Valerie Uhrsenbacher and Fabrice Gonet, while the engraver and jeweller Dick Steenman began offering his own watches. Star system Which brand was calling on Brad Pitt and Uma Thurmann to showcase its new watches? TAG Heuer, whose Carrera Tachymetric or the new Aquaracer Automatic Chronograph adorn the wrists of these celebrities with the slogan What are you made of?. But TAG Heuer also sponsored the first China Team in the history of the Americas Cup in order to get closer to this market, while Girard-Perregaux partnered with the Americas Cup Challenger of Record BMW Oracle Racing, targeting the American and German markets where the brand had just opened new locations. Chopard launched an Elton John Chronograph, Panerai strengthened its partnership with Mike Horn by dedicating its Luminor Arktos to his eponymous expedition, while Audemars Piguet dressed its Millenary in the colours of Maserati and IWC did the same with its Ingenieur in the colours of AMG. On the more glamorous side, Cartier chose Monica Bellucci to relaunch its Tank collection (Tank Chinoise Email, Tank Francaise, Tank Americaine, Tank Divan Email, Tankissime). GMT Magazine And watchmaking created the woman With its jewellery collection, Possession, characterised by the subtle twist of concentric rings, Piaget became the lord of the rings in the jewellery world, and extended this success to the world of watches by taking the ring from the finger to the wrist. The Possession watch was born. On the Hermes side, it featured its famous Parisian initial with the Heure H, whose case has elongated lugs forming an H. Baume & Mercier stayed subtle with the Vice-Versa collection, featuring bracelet that could can cover the watch case to hide it, as well as Jaeger-LeCoultre with a rectangular and voluminous Ideale collection. Geometric shapes also inspired De Grisogono with its iconic Lipstick collection, showing an entirely diamond-set tubular case. While Rolex did not stray from the beaten track with its new Oyster Perpetual Datejust Rolesor in gold and steel, Patek Philippe pleasantly surprised with its sparkling Aquanaut Luce set with a notched rubber strap and available in playful red, green, blue, white or grey. GMT Magazine New materials; the Big Bang effect? In the very year of its launch, Jean-Claude Biver was awarded Best Design for his Big Bang by the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve. He described it as the first watch with unanimous recognition for its kevlar inserts, set apart with its its ceramic bezel, tungsten carbide rotor, or its carbon powder-coated dial. The RM009 tourbillon by Richard Mille weighed less than 30 grams thanks to its aluminium case. De Grisogono invented the Browny Brown Gold in PVD treated gold on the Instrumentino and the Instrumento Tondo. For its Project Z2 automatic chronograph in Zalium, Harry Winston used this high-tech material combined with platinum and rubber. Jaquet Droz presented a magnificent Perpetual Calendar with a dial cut out of slate, while Van Cleef & Arpels unveiled its Monsieur Arpels Tourbillon with a diamond-set tourbillon cage and bridges covered in mother-of-pearl. Initially presented in steel, but then integrating all kinds of materials, the new square BR01 collection from Bell & Ross was inspired by the on-board instruments used in aeronautics and left a lasting impression on peoples minds. GMT Magazine Fine watchmaking still on the rise With the wind in its sails, Ulysse Nardin unveiled its GMT Perpetual, upheld by three patents relating in particular to the forward or backward adjustment by pressing the pushers (+ or 1) for all the calendar indicators of the perpetual calendar. As for Francois-Paul Journe, he added personalisation to the savoir-faire, presenting a Chronometre Souverain, in platinum 950 with a gold movement set in a personalised manner, taking account of the wearers habits and place of residence in order to improve its chronometric precision. The Chronometre Souverain is the ninth timepiece in my collection, but paradoxically it is also the one I dreamed of from the start: simple and pure, said Journe. I have always wanted to create a precision chronometer displaying only the hours and minutes, seconds and power reserve. The latter could only be the culmination of a collection, people wouldn't have understood if I had presented it earlier. GMT Magazine GMT Magazine Returning to the Gyrotourbillon, Jerome Lambert (then CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre) declared in GMT Magazine that year: The new collections offer more choice, the true grand complications have proven their worth, particularly with the Gyrotourbillon launched in 2004. The capital of tradition is an asset that cannot be invented. The will to innovate makes it possible to distinguish brands that see more than conformism in tradition. As I often say to my American clients: History without a future is just a story. GMT Magazine Still in the magazines columns, Marc Hayek talked about his previous experience at the head of his wine and cigar bar: The lover of good cigars and good wines sometimes finds himself in the shoes of a watchmaking enthusiast. For my part, it is once again a question of sharing a passion and communicating values that are not necessarily obvious. Whether it is a question of exceptional wines or timepieces, the price positioning and the discourse that accompanies it strongly condition its final success. I used to be at the counter with my retailers hat on, which now allows me to better understand their problems, motivate them and advise them more judiciously. GMT Magazine *To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2020, GMT Magazine will summarise weekly, exclusively on WorldTempus, the essence of its content published year after year in the last 20 years. The information is by no means exhaustive and refers to excerpts. For a more in-depth view of the last two decades of watchmaking, order The Millennium Watch Book produced by GMT Magazine and WorldTempus with the contribution of over twenty experts, each of whom witnessed this incomparable period in our industry. Next week: watchmaking in 2006. WorldTempus offers below the Spring 2020 GMT for download. Download GMT #66 for free A moderate 5.6-magnitude earthquake rattled New Zealand's North Island early Monday but failed to crack Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's trademark composure as she conducted a live television interview. The quake struck just off the coast before 8:00 am local time (2000 Sunday GMT) at a depth of about 52 kilometres (32 miles) near Levin, about 90 kilometres north of Wellington, the US Geological Survey said. St John Ambulance and New Zealand Police both said there were no initial reports of injuries or damage. There was no tsunami warning. But there was sustained shaking in Wellington, where Ardern was being interviewed on breakfast television from parliament's Beehive building, which is designed to absorb seismic forces by swaying slightly on its foundations. "We're just having a bit of an earthquake here, Ryan," Ardern told Auckland-based AM Show presenter Ryan Bridge, briefly looking concerned as she scanned the room around her. "Quite a decent shake here, if you see things moving behind me," she said, smiling, as she quickly regained her poise and continued the interview. "It's just stopped," she said. "We're fine, I'm not under any hanging lights, I look like I'm in a structurally sound place." New Zealand lies on the Pacific Basin "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide generating more than 15,000 earthquakes a year, although only 100150 are strong enough to be felt. A shallow 6.3 quake in the South Island city of Christchurch killed 185 people in 2011, while a 7.8 shake slightly further north in 2016 was the second strongest ever recorded in the country. Ardern canvassed the prospect of a major quake as New Zealand entered a seven-week COVID-19 lockdown in late March, saying it was always a possibility. "In my mind constantly, as the prime minister of the 'Shaky Isles', is -- no matter what's going on in our lives -- we must always be prepared for that," she told reporters. The country's official GeoNet seismic monitoring service put the strength of Monday's quake at 5.8 and said there were around 40 aftershocks. "Felt as a long, strong shake in Wellington. That was not very much fun," one Twitter user wrote. Another person reported "quite the shake in Wairarapa", east of Palmerston North. "I hope everyone else is OK," he said on Twitter. WASHINGTON When the letter came informing James Dexter that the U.S. Department of Education would be sending his 30-student nursing program $500,000 in coronavirus aid, Dexter was stunned. The funding translated to $16,667 for each student in the nursing program of the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex Board of Cooperative Educational Services. I had to look three times, said Dexter, the organization's CEO. It is so unusual for our little small program to be getting such a big allocation. Meanwhile, in the neighboring county to the south, the University at Albany was informed by the Department of Education it would receive $16.85 million in coronavirus relief. The university serves about 17,500 students. Thats $963 per pupil. The striking disparity in aid is a result of how the DOE distributed a portion of the $14 billion in higher education relief that Congress approved to help schools struggling to support their students and institutions during the pandemic. The legislation was written in a hurry and the department has moved fast to get money out the door as quickly as possible. But the inconsistent distribution has created a scenario where some small schools say they will eventually return funds to the DOE, while larger colleges and universities are desperate for more relief. Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage While most of the money was distributed via a formula that accounted for a schools enrollment and population of low-income students, about $350 million was earmarked for hundreds of the smallest schools in America so that every not-for-profit higher education institution that teaches students in person received at least $500,000 in coronavirus aid. In order to receive the funding, an institution will need to request it, a DOE spokesman said. Once the requests are processed, the remaining money will be distributed through a competitive grant process. Ben Miller, vice president of post-secondary education at the liberal think-tank Center for American Progress, said thats not how Congress planned for this $350 million to be used. He called it a complete screw up. It was supposed to go to places that demonstrated a lot of need and within that, they were supposed to give priority to smaller colleges, said Miller. The department just basically blew past any of the requirements around demonstrating need. Jason Delisle, resident fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said the bill was written to suggest $500,000 was a mandatory minimum for college aid, while allowing DOE some discretion. DOE took a pass on using discretion, he said. Doing something else, while obviously it would prevent extreme cases like youre talking about, would take a lot of time, said Delisle. This has to fall on Congress. They could have written a formula spelling out how they wanted the money allocated. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who chairs the Senate committee on education, countered that Education Secretary Betsy Devos is doing a good job implementing the law the way Congress wrote it. Where Congress gave the secretary discretion, or minimal direction, she is taking reasonable steps to implement the law fairly, effectively and efficiently, Alexander said. But Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the committee, urged Devos to reverse this distribution. This decision is unacceptable and will be detrimental to students at institutions significantly impacted by COVID-19, many of which are in desperate need of relief, she wrote to Devos. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, called for oversight and hearings over how higher education funds are being distributed. "If we're not reaching the most schools and the most students who are most in need, then we failed," he said. As a result of the DOEs choice, 121 of the smallest post-secondary schools in New York could receive $500,000 in aid. They are yeshivas, seminaries, certificate programs and small graduate schools. Seventy-eight of them serve less than 200 students; 40 serve less than 100. The smallest appears to the Talmudical Institute of Upstate New York, located in Rochester, which had six students enrolled, according to most recent data from the DOE. Thats $83,334 per pupil in aid. The school did not respond to a request for comment. One school that is slated to get $500,000 in aid is Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, which has 26 seminarians enrolled and is slated to close at the end of the school year amid allegations of sexual misconduct and severe financial deficits. The seminary does not intend to accept the funds, said Greg Tucker, interim communications director for the Diocese of Buffalo. Mary Beth Labate, president of the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities in New York, said she was glad to see that their smaller member schools were not left behind in the CARES Act. The funding was critical, Labate said. We were really concerned that some of the smaller schools that have the least capacity to respond would be left out of a formula that looks simply at the number of students. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Albany Law School, with 487 students, was made eligible for $500,000. It will use the funds to give grants to low-income students who have been hurt financially due to coronavirus and pay for the cost of moving instruction online and protecting students and faculty health. Albany Law spokesman Chris Colton said $500,000 will only cover a fraction of those costs. The nursing schools at St. Peters Hospital and Samaritan Hospital are also eligible. The schools will use the funds to award student grants and repurchase supplies like personal protective equipment that were donated, said Courtney Weisberg, a spokeswoman for St. Peters Health Partners. Dexter said he will be using the $500,000 for the BOCES nursing program similarly. The program is not likely to spend the entire $500,000 and may end up returning some of the funds to the DOE, he said. In contrast, larger colleges and universities said the aid that they are receiving from DOE hardly makes a dent in their forecasted losses. University at Albany spokesman Jordan Carleo-Evangelist said the school was crediting or refunding to students an estimated $22.4 million in room-and-board fees for the spring semester. While the CARES Act money is important, and a welcome start, it only covers a fraction of the revenue lost by colleges and universities, to say nothing of the significant unbudgeted costs associated with responding to the virus, he said. The university incurred major expenses upgrading technology for remote learning, acquiring personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies and picking up the cost to host a state-sponsored COVID-19 testing site on campus, Carleo-Evangelist said. Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, with 2,860 students, had to refund about $4.5 million in room and board costs, said spokeswoman Sara Miga. The college also canceled all on-campus summer programs resulting in a loss of just over $2 million in net revenue. The school will get $1.6 million in funds from the CARES Act, or roughly $573 per pupil. Likewise, the College of Saint Rose in Albany, with 4,619 students, saw $3.1 million in room-and-board losses, paired with further losses from canceled events and new costs associated with remote instruction, college spokeswoman Jennifer Gish said. The school will receive $3.6 million in federal relief, about $789 per pupil. About half of the coronavirus relief that larger colleges and universities receive must be spent on emergency grants to low-income students with demonstrated coronavirus-related needs. Only students eligible for federal student aid programs can apply, excluding international and undocumented students. Saint Rose received more than 1,500 applications from over 2,700 eligible students, Gish said. Skidmore had awarded $313,829 to 227 students, as of May 14, Miga said. After distributing those student grants, the schools can access the second half of their funds institutional relief that can be used to defray expenses and lost revenues. Some wealthy private schools with large endowments, like Harvard and Yale Universities, rejected the federal funding allocated for them, following public pressure. Columbia University has indicated it plans to use the funds. Cornell University said it will use all the funds to support students not just half. Education groups applaud the higher education funding in the CARES Act, but say they need more. Labate called $14 billion divvied among thousands of schools the tip of the iceberg. Debate over further coronavirus relief legislation has stalled in Congress as Senate Republicans urge a pause as funds from earlier legislation continue to be distributed. House Democrats proposed another $37 billion for higher education in the Heroes Act passed May 15. Thats far short of the $46.6 billion the American Council on Education and 40 other higher education organizations requested from Congress. Many colleges foresee enrollment declines in their future, as well as ongoing health- and technology-related costs. Strangled state budgets could pose greater challenges for public colleges and universities. The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has wielded a devastating blow to the entire sector of higher education, Gish said. The state of the COVID-19 pandemic when classes resume for fall, and to what level campus life can resemble the norm, will determine if that picture grows more concerning. by Nguyen Trung Father Joseph Le Quang Uy, a Redemptorist assists the group to help people who sell lottery tickets on the streets, abandoned people, disabled people and unhappy children, including those who living in difficult situations. Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - In the days of "social distancing" in Vietnam, Father Joseph Le Quang Uy, a Vietnamese Redemptorist priest, helped and supported the H ilng An group, the FIAT group and some other volunteer groups to organize charity lunches during the pandemic period for the poor and abandoned. Numerous Catholic volunteers are assisting people who sell lottery tickets on the streets, abandoned people, disabled people and unhappy children, including those who live in difficult situations. Ms. Nguyen Thi No, volunteer of the Hong An group of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, belonging to the Redemptorists of Saigon, says: Because of this epidemic we have seen many people facing difficulties, like many lottery ticket vendors on the street, street cleaners and street vendors. Everyone had to stay home. " All these marginalized people have had to stop working on the street. So their life is very difficult. They have no money to pay a rent. Even those who are far from their families and immigrants are in the same situation. So, we thought of a way to help these people with free meals. To overcome current difficulties, added Ms No. Some members of the Hong An group (Grace Group) also told AsiaNews about their experience: We come here because we are in solidarity with people who face many difficulties. These days, they cannot work to earn money for themselves and their children. Thus, Father Joseph Uy supported and helped us organize charitable meals for the poor, the abandoned, the lottery ticket sellers and the elderly alone in the local communities. " Father Joseph also told his experiences to the local media, I think our help and sharing with the poor and abandoned are very natural in the conscience of Christians. Furthermore, our conscience is inspired by the Good News of Jesus. It gifts mercy to all of us. We have received Mercy from God. Therefore it is inevitable for us to respond with Mercy to the poor. This describes our solidarity in our communities. " Photo-messaging app Snapchat has seen significant growth in India business, and its daily active user base (DAU) in the country has jumped 120 per cent year-on-year in March 2020, a senior company executive said. Speaking to PTI, Snap Inc Managing Director (International Markets) Nana Murugesan said the company has been expanding its team in India, which is focussing on developing culturally relevant products, community engagement, and partnerships. "We have seen significant user growth in India with a 120 per cent increase of our daily active users, comparing March last year to March this year. We have added new functions to the India team in our Mumbai office, with our first employees hired in the strategy and partnership team, sales and creative strategy team, as well as currently recruiting for our content team," he said. Snap is the parent company of Snapchat. The app allows users to share photos with friends for a specific time period after which the content disappears. It offers filters and lenses, many of which are augmented reality-enabled. More than an average of 4 billion Snaps were created by its users each day in March 2020 quarter. It had 229 million daily active users at the end of March 2020 quarter, an increase of 39 million or 20 per cent year-over-year. The company doesn't disclose country-specific user base. "Our team in India continues to focus on culturally relevant product developments, creative tools, community engagement, and partnerships. Over the past six months, we have launched support in five more languages, introduced creative tools to celebrate cultural moments and festivals, onboarded celebrities such as Taapsee Pannu as a Snap Star, added more Official Lens Creators and partnered with local media brands, advertisers, OEMs and Telcos," Murugesan said. Across all its initiatives, augmented reality remains a fundamental way it engages its users in India, he added. "We're especially excited to be hosting our first Lensathon in partnership with Skillenza to reach over five lakh developers developers in India. We see this as a big step forward in democratising creativity, building the future of AR alongside our community and making available even more compelling, relevant experiences for Snapchatters," he noted. Lensathon is an online hackathon by Snapchat in partnership with Skillenza, where participants create eye-catching lenses and AR experiences using Lens Studio by Snap. They will stand a chance to be a part of the Official Lens Creator programme along with other cash prizes, Snap Spectacles etc. Last year, the company hosted 11 Lens Studio workshops in colleges and universities in India. In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, these sessions are being hosted virtually with the Pearl Academy, ISDI, Symbiosis Pune, Thapar Institute of Technology, Manipal Institute of Technology, SRM Institute, and Deviprasad Goenka Management College Of Media Studies. New Zealand is easing back curbs on the size of gatherings to 100 people from 10, as it relaxes measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday. Authorities will reconsider the nation's alert setting, now at level 2, on June 8, with a move to level 1 to be considered no later than June 22, Ardern told a news conference following a cabinet meeting. Jeremy Wade of River Monsters shares his dream of getting the catch of a lifetime: Nessie, from Scotland's Loch Ness, also known as the Loch Ness Monster. Though he has fearlessly caught deadly piranhas and sharks from the Congo to the Amazon, he still considers Nessie the prize catch of all prize catches. The famous angler tackles Nessie in his new Mysteries of the Deep series. He desperately wants to catch her, as he believes it is merely an overgrown sturgeon. He shares that Operation Deep Scan detected large shapes through their sonar back in the 1980s. He says it is possible that it's from the sea. For instance, he says that large specimens were found in Wales and Yorkshire rivers, which are connected to the sea. Univ. of Otago's Neil Gemmell says it could be at least 10 to 12 feet in length and may simply be an unusually overgrown eel. His research team found that Loch Ness is abundant in eel DNA. This is further supported by Ness Fishery Board's video underwater, which showed what is apparently a huge eel navigating Loch Ness' murky depths. UNBELIEVABLE: Researchers Discover Mammalian Fossils of a "Crazy Beast," a.k.a. Adalatherium hui Wade doesn't believe in the eel theory. He's had eel catches from the area, and they only measured one and a half feet long. He says he doesn't think that they can grow beyond 10 pounds or more than 30 feet. He does believe it is a sturgeon that is gigantic. Regarding the humps reported in many sightings, he says that he has seen such occurrences in the wake of a passing boat. When a boat goes by, several 'humps' appear. Wade says the intrigue and fascination stirred up by the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster is partly why the River Monsters program that he hosts is such a worldwide success. Since its first episode back in 2009, it has become a smashing hit. Wade understands that people long to imagine enigmatic, strange creatures, even during the scientific age. The globally successful show has lots of kids as fans, who, Wade says, will one day grow to take up angling as well. Wade was a biology teacher and is a native of Ipswich. He started to love angling since he was little, back on River Stour in Suffolk. He took zoology at the University of Bristol, after which he worked in a Kent secondary school. CUTENESS YOU CAN'T RESIST: Meet 'Biscuits and Gravy', the Kitten With Two Faces It was in India when he first started becoming a professional angler and wrote magazine articles, which allowed him to venture into exotic expeditions. His memorable adventures include netting Congo's Goliath tigerfish, being bashed by a six-foot Amazon arapaima, getting malaria, and being accused by Thai authorities as a spy. Wade has already bagged a nine-foot sturgeon in one of his episodes, and if Nessie is indeed a giant sturgeon as he supposes, he will definitely be the man to net it. Big, primitive sturgeons lived in the Triassic roughly 245 million years in the past. He says, however, that unless the Loch Ness is drained, we can never really be sure what can be found there. His show Mysteries Of The Deep starts airing at 9 PM on Thursday on the Discovery Channel. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Sweet Dog Guards Sister's Body After Being Hit By a Car, Won't Let Anyone Come Near White eggs normally only used by restaurants and fast food chains are making a surprise comeback at Tesco after more than 40 years. The reintroduction, following a successful trial, takes place after a huge rise in demand for eggs from shoppers during lockdown. Fresh eggs sales have risen dramatically in the UK since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and with supplies selling out during the consumer stockpiling immediately before lockdown was brought in. With more people cooking and eating at home and the number of home-bakers soaring since the pandemic started, Tesco has seen demand for the versatile food - which is high in protein - rocket by 30 per cent year on year. The eggs - which are used in McDonald's breakfast McMuffins - will cost the same as the brown free-range equivalent, starting from 89p for a box of six medium eggs and 1.69 per dozen. White eggs are on the comeback trail after Tesco announced they will return to shelves after more than 40 years due to the unprecedented demand for the product Jean-Paul Michalski, the director of Noble Foods, who are supplying the UK's largest retailer with the white eggs, said: 'Generally our white eggs are sold to a very large global restaurant chain which unfortunately had to close its doors because of the pandemic. 'They are also used within egg processing where the egg is broken into a liquid to be used for food manufacturers, hotel or restaurants. 'None of our standard retail customers stock white eggs so we are really grateful to Tesco for stepping in and helping us out as the white eggs would have gone to waste.' With more people cooking and eating at home since the coronavirus pandemic started, Tesco has seen demand for eggs rocket by 30 per cent year on year Until the early 1970s white eggs which are generally medium-sized were popular in the UK. WHY ARE BROWN EGGS MORE POPULAR THAN WHITE EGGS? Up until the early 1970s white eggs which are generally medium sized - were popular in the UK but they fell out of favour by the end of the decade when shoppers began switching to the brown variety which tend to be larger. The move was mainly due to misconceptions back in the late 1970s that white eggs were of lower quality and even that they were bleached which has now been rebuffed. Since the 1980s, the UK industry has produced nearly 100 per cent brown shelled eggs for high street retailers. As a result, there are now just an estimated 250,000-300,000 white-egg laying flocks of the 40m egg-laying birds. The most popular chicken breeds that only lay white eggs include the White Leghorn, Andalusian, Polish chicken, Ancona, Egyptian Fayoumis, Hamburg and California Advertisement However, by the end of the decade they had fallen out of favour when consumers converted to the brown variety, which were larger and seen as healthier. Since the 1980s, the UK industry has produced nearly 100 per cent brown shelled eggs for high street retailers. As a result of this switch, there are now very few white egg-laying flocks in the UK; down to an estimated 250,000-300,000 of the 40m egg-laying birds. Tesco eggs buying manager Megan Kilby said: 'The initial trial during the lockdown has been a success and we will now be stocking white free range eggs for the first time in more than 40 years. 'These eggs are used throughout the restaurant industry so shoppers can be assured of their quality. 'The move could also have a massive agricultural benefit as white hens are more docile than brown ones and lay eggs for longer and more reliably too.' Britons spent 88m on fresh eggs as they stockpiled staple foods in the four weeks preceding the UK's initial lockdown, according to data from the British Egg Industry Council. During the four weeks leading to the week ending 22 March, an estimated 621 million eggs were sold which amounts to nearly 20 per cent more than the same time last year when 518m eggs worth 74million were sold. Today in history, exactly 57 years ago, on 25 May, 1963, the first African organisation after independence, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in which President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana played a prominent role. Kwame Nkrumah's speech at the founding of the OAU has since become a classic, even iconic. In front of 31 other African heads of state who met in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 25 May 1963. Heres the First President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumahs speech at the inaugural ceremony of the OAU Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1963. Your Excellencies, Colleagues, Brothers and Friends, At the first gathering of African Heads of State, to which I had the honour of playing host, there were representatives of eight independent States only. Today, five years later, we meet as the representatives of no less than thirty-two States, the guests of His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie, the First, and the Government and people of Ethiopia. To His Imperial Majesty, I wish to express, on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana my deep appreciation for a most cordial welcome and generous hospitality. The increase in our number in this short space of time is open testimony to the indomitable and irresistible surge of our peoples for independence. It is also a token of the revolutionary speed of world events in the latter half of this century. In the task which is before us of unifying our continent we must fall in with that pace or be left behind. The task cannot be attached in the tempo of any other age than our own. To fall behind the unprecedented momentum of actions and events in our time will be to court failure and our own undoing. A whole continent has imposed a mandate upon us to lay the foundation of our Union at this Conference. It is our responsibility to execute this mandate by creating here and now the formula upon which the requisite superstructure may be erected. On this continent it has not taken us long to discover that the struggle against colonialism does not end with the attainment of national independence. Independence is only the prelude to a new and more involved struggle for the right to conduct our own economic and social affairs; to construct our society according to our aspirations, unhampered by crushing and humiliating neo-colonialist controls and interference. From the start we have been threatened with frustration where rapid change is imperative and with instability where sustained effort and ordered rule are indispensable. No sporadic act nor pious resolution can resolve our present problems. Nothing will be of avail, except the united act of a united Africa. We have already reached, the stage where we must unite or sink into that condition which has made Latin America the unwilling and distressed prey of imperialism after one and a half centuries of political independence. As a continent we have emerged into independence in a different age, with imperialism grown stronger, more ruthless and experienced, and more dangerous in its international associations. Our economic advancement demands the end of colonialist and neo-colonialist domination in Africa. But just as we understood that the shaping of our national destinies required of each of us our political independence and bent all our strength to this attainment, so we must recognize that our economic independence resides in our African union and requires the same concentration upon the political achievement. The unity of our continent, no less than our separate independence, will be delayed if, indeed, we do not lose it, by hobnobbing with colonialism. African Unity is, above all, a political kingdom which can only be gained by political means. The social and economic development of Africa will come only within the political kingdom, not the other way around. The United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, were the political decisions of revolutionary peoples before they became mighty realities of social power and material wealth. How, except by our united efforts, will the richest and still enslaved parts of our continent be freed from colonial occupation and become available to us for the total development of our continent? Every step in the decolonization of our continent has brought greater resistance in those areas where colonial garrisons are available to colonialism. This is the great design of the imperialist interests that buttress colonialism and neo-colonialism, and we would be deceiving ourselves in the cruelest way were we to regard their individual actions as separate and unrelated. When Portugal violates Senegals border, when Verwood allocated one-seventh of South Africas budget to military and police, when France builds as part of her defence policy an interventionist force that can intervene, more especially in French-speaking Africa, when Welensky talks of Southern Rhodesia joining South Africa, it is all part of a carefully calculated pattern working towards a single end: the continued enslavement of our still dependent brothers and an onslaught upon the independence of our sovereign African States. Do we have any other weapon against this design but our unity? Is not our unity essential to guard our own freedom as well as to win freedom for our oppressed brothers, the Freedom Fighters? Is it not unity alone that can weld us into an effective force, capable of creating our own progress and making our valuable contribution to world peace? Which independent African State will claim that its financial structure and banking institutions are fully harnessed to its national development? Which will claim that its material resources and human energies are available for its own national aspirations? Which will disclaim a substantial measure of disappointment and disillusionment in its agricultural and urban development? In independent Africa we are already re-experiencing the instability and frustration which existed under colonial rule. We are fast learning that political independence is not enough to rid us of the consequences of colonial rule. The movement of the masses of the people of Africa for freedom from that kind of rule was not only a revolt against the conditions which it imposed. Our people supported us in our fight for independence because they believed that African governments could cure the ills of the past in a way which could never be accomplished under colonial rule. If, therefore, now that we are independent we allow the same conditions to exist that existed in colonial days, all the resentment which overthrew colonialism will be mobilized against us. The resources are there. It is for us to marshal them in the active service of our people. Unless we do this by our concerted efforts, within the framework of our combined planning, we shall not progress at the tempo demanded by todays events and the mood of our people. The symptoms of our troubles will grow, and the troubles themselves become chronic. It will then be too late even for Pan-African Unity to secure for us stability and tranquillity in our labours for a continent of social justice and material well-being. Unless we establish African Unity now, we who are sitting here today shall tomorrow be the victims and martyrs of neo-colonialism. There is evidence on every side that the imperialists have not withdrawn from our affairs. There are times, as in the Congo, when their interference is manifest. But generally it is covered up under the clothing of many agencies, which meddle in our domestic affairs, to foment dissension within our borders and to create an atmosphere of tension and political instability. As long as we do not do away with the root causes of discontent, we lend aid to these neo-colonialist forces, and shall become our own executioners. We cannot ignore the teachings of history. Our continent is probably the richest in the world for minerals and industrial and agricultural primary materials. From the Congo alone, Western firms exported copper, rubber, cotton, and other goods to the value of 2, 773 billion dollars in the ten years between 1945 and 1955, and from South Africa, Western gold mining companies have drawn a profit, in the four years, between 1947 to 1951, of 814 billion dollars. Our continent certainly exceeds all the others in potential hydroelectric power, which some experts assess as 42 percent of the worlds total. What need is there for us to remain hewers for the industrialised areas of the world? It is said, of course, that we have no capital, no industrial skill, no communications and no internal markets, and that we cannot even agree among ourselves how best to utilise our resources. Yet all the stock exchanges in the world are preoccupied with Africas gold, diamonds, uranium, platinum, copper and iron ores. Our capital flows out in streams to irrigate the whole system of the Western economy. Fifty-two percent of the gold in Fort Knox at this moment, where the U. S. A. stores its bullion, is believed to have originated from our shores. Africa provides more than 60 percent of the worlds gold. A great deal of the uranium for nuclear power, of copper for electronics, of titanium for supersonic projectiles, of iron and steel for heavy industries, of other minerals and raw materials for lighter industries the basic economic might of the foreign Powers come from our continent. Experts have estimated that the Congo Basin alone can produce enough food crops to satisfy the requirements of nearly half the population of the whole world. For centuries Africa has been the milk cow of the Western world. It was our continent that helped the Western world to build up its accumulated wealth. It is true that we are now throwing off the yoke of colonialism as fast as we can, but our success in this direction is equally matched by an intense effort on the part of imperialism to continue the exploitation of our resources by creating divisions among us. When the colonies of the American Continent sought to free themselves from imperialism in the 18th century there was no threat of neo-colonialism in the sense in which we know it today. The American States were therefore free to form and fashion the unity which was best suited to their needs and to frame a constitution to hold their unity together without any form of interference from external sources. We, however, are having to grapple with outside interventions. How much more, then do we need to come together in the African unity that alone can save us from the clutches of neo-colonialism. We have the resources. It was colonialism in the first place that prevented us from accumulating the effective capital; but we ourselves have failed to make full use of our power in independence to mobilize our resources for the most effective take-off into thoroughgoing economic and social development. We have been too busy nursing our separate states to understand fully the basic need of our union, rooted in common purpose, common planning and common endeavour. A union that ignores these fundamental necessities will be but a shame. It is only by uniting our productive capacity and the resultant production that we can amass capital. And once we start, the momentum will increase. With capital controlled by our own banks, harnessed to our own true industrial and agricultural development, we shall make our advance. We shall accumulate machinery and establish steel works, iron foundries and factories; we shall link the various States of our continent with communications; we shall astound the world with our hydroelectric power; we shall drain marshes and swamps, clear infested areas, feed the under-nourished, and rid our people of parasites and disease. It is within the possibility of science and technology to make even the Sahara bloom into a vast field with verdant vegetation for agricultural and industrial developments. We shall harness the radio, television, giant printing presses to lift our people from the dark recesses of illiteracy. A decade ago, these would have been visionary words, the fantasies of an idle dreamer. But this is the age in which science has transcended the limits of the material world, and technology has invaded the silences of nature. Time and space have been reduced to unimportant abstractions. Giant machines make roads, clear forests, dig dams, layout aerodromes; monster trucks and planes distribute goods; huge laboratories manufacture drugs; complicated geological surveys are made; mighty power stations are built; colossal factories erected all at an incredible speed. The world is no longer moving through bush paths or on camels and donkeys. We cannot afford to pace our needs, our development, our security to the gait of camels and donkeys. We cannot afford not to cut down the overgrown bush of outmoded attitudes that obstruct our path to the modern open road of the widest and earliest achievement of economic independence and the raising up of the lives of our people to the highest level. Even for other continents lacking tile resources of Africa, this is the age that sees the end of human want. For us it is a simple matter of grasping with certainty our heritage by using the political might of unity. All we need to do is to develop with our united strength the enormous resources of our continent. A United Africa will provide a stable field of foreign investment, which will encourage as long as it does not behave inimically to our African interests. For such investment would add by its enterprises to the development of the national economy, employment and training of our people, and will be welcome to Africa. In dealing with a united Africa, investors will no longer have to weigh with concern the risks of negotiating with governments in one period which may not exist in the very next period. Instead of dealing or negotiating with so many separate States at a time they will be dealing with one united government pursuing a harmonized continental policy. What is the alternative to this? If we falter at this stage, and let time pass for neo-colonialism to consolidate its position on this continent, what will be the fate of our people who have put their trust in us? What will be the fate of our freedom fighters? What will be the fate of other African Territories that are not yet free? Unless we can establish great industrial complexes in Africa which we can only do in united Africa we must have our peasantry to the mercy of foreign cash crop markets, and face the same unrest which overthrew the colonialists? What use to the farmer is education and mechanisation, what use is even capital for development; unless we can ensure for him and a fair price and ready market? What has the peasant, worker and farmer gained from political independence, unless we can ensure for him a fair return for his labour and a higher standard of living? Unless we can establish great industrial complexes in Africa, what have the urban worker, and all those peasants on overcrowded land gained from political independence? If they are to remain unemployed or in unskilled occupation, what will avail them the better facilities for education, technical training, energy and ambition which independence enables us to provide? There is hardly any African State without frontier problem with its adjacent neighbours. It would be futile for me to enumerate them because they are already familiar to us all. But let me suggest to Your Excellences, that this fatal relic of colonialism will drive us to war against one another as our unplanned and uncoordinated industrial development expands, just as happened in Europe. Unless we succeed in arresting the danger through mutual understanding on fundamental issues and through African Unity, which will render existing boundaries obsolete and superfluous, we shall have fought in vain for independence. Only African Unity can heal this festering sore of boundary disputes between our various States. Your Excellencies, the remedy for these ills is ready to our hand. It stares us in the face at every customs barrier, it shouts to us from every African heart. By creating a true political union of all the independent States of Africa, we can tackle hopefully every emergency, every enemy and every complexity. This is not because we are a race of superman, but because we have emerged in the age of science and technology in which poverty, ignorance and disease are no longer the masters, but the retreating foes of mankind. We have emerged in the age of socialized planning, when production and distribution are not governed by chaos, greed and self-interest, but by social needs. Together with the rest of mankind, we have awakened from Utopian dreams to pursue practical blueprints for progress and social justice. Above all, we have emerged at a time when a continental land mass like Africa with its population approaching three hundred million are necessary to the economic capitalization and profitability of modern productive methods and techniques. Not one of us working singly and individually can successfully attain the fullest development. Certainly, in the circumstances, it will not be possible to give adequate assistance to sister States trying, against the most difficult conditions, to improve their economic and social structures. Only a united Africa functioning under a Union Government can forcefully mobilize the material and moral resources of our separate countries and apply them efficiently and energetically to bring a rapid change in the conditions of our people. If we do not approach the problems in Africa with a common front and a common purpose, we shall be haggling and wrangling among ourselves until we are colonized again and become the tolls of a far greater colonialism than we suffered hitherto. Unite we must. Without necessarily sacrificing our sovereignties, big or small, we can, here and now, forge a political union based on Defence, Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy, and a common citizenship, an African currency, an African Monetary Zone and an African Central Bank. We must unite in order to achieve the full liberation of our continent. We need a common Defence system with an African High Command to ensure the stability and security of Africa. We have been charged with this sacred task by our own people, and we cannot betray their trust by failing them. We will be mocking the hopes of our people if we show the slightest hesitation or delay by tackling realistically this question of African Unity. The supply of arms or other military aid to the colonial oppressors in Africa must be regarded not only as aid in the vanquishment of the freedom fighters battling for their African independence, but as an act of aggression against the whole of Africa. How can we meet this aggression except by the full weight of our united strength? Many of us have made non-alignment an article of faith on this continent. We have no wish, and no intention of being drawn into the Cold War. But with the present weakness and insecurity of our States in the context of world politics, the search for bases and spheres of influence brings the Cold War into Africa with its danger of nuclear warfare. Africa should be declared a nuclear-free zone and freed from cold war exigencies. But we cannot make this demand mandatory unless we support it from a position of strength to be found only in our unity. Instead, many Independent African States are involved by military pacts with the former colonial powers. The stability and security which such devices seek to establish are illusory, for the metropolitan Powers seize the opportunity to support their neo-colonialist controls by direct military involvement. We have seen how the neo-colonialists use their bases to entrench themselves and attack neighboring independent States. Such bases are centers of tension and potential danger spots of military conflict. They threaten the security not only of the country in which they are situated but of neighboring countries as well. How can we hope to make Africa a nuclear-free zone and independent of cold war pressure with such military involvement on our continent? Only by counter-balancing a common defence force with a common defence policy based upon our desire for an Africa untrammeled by foreign dictation or military and nuclear presence. This will require an all-embracing African High Command, especially if the military pacts with the imperialists are to be renounced. It is the only way we can break these direct links between the colonialism of the past and the neo-colonialism which disrupts us today. We do not want nor do we visualize an African High Command in the terms of the power politics that now rule a great part of the world, but as an essential and indispensable instrument for ensuring stability and security in Africa. We need a unified economic planning for Africa. Until the economic power of Africa is in our hands, the masses can have no real concern and no real interest for safeguarding our security, for ensuring the stability of our regimes, and for bending their strength to the fulfilment of our ends. With our united resources, energies and talents we have the means, as soon as we show the will, to transform the economic structures of our individual States from poverty to that of wealth, from, inequality to the satisfaction of popular needs. Only on a continental basis shall we be able to plan the proper utilization of all our resources for the full development of our continent. How else will we retain our own capital for our development? How else will we establish an internal market for our own industries? By belonging to different economic zones, how will we break down the currency and trading barriers between African States, and how will the economically stronger amongst us be able to assist the weaker and less developed States? It is important to remember that independent financing and independent development cannot take place without an independent currency. A currency system that is backed by the resources of a foreign State is ipso facto subject to the trade and financial arrangements of that foreign country. Because we have so many customs and currency barriers as a result of being subject to the different currency systems of foreign powers, this has served to widen the gap between us in Africa. How, for example, can related communities and families trade with, and support one another successfully, if they find themselves divided by national boundaries and currency restrictions? The only alternative open to them in these circumstances, is to use smuggled currency and enrich national and international racketeers and crooks who prey upon our financial and economic difficulties. No independent African State today by itself has a chance to follow an independent course of economic development, and many of us who have tried to do this have been almost ruined or have had to return to the fold of the former colonial rulers. This position will not change unless we have unified policy working at the continental level. The first step towards our cohesive economy would be a unified monetary zone, with, initially, an agreed common parity for our currencies. To facilitate this arrangement, Ghana would change to a decimal system. When we find that the arrangement of a fixed common parity is working successfully, there would seem to be no reason for not instituting one common currency and a single bank of issue. With a common currency from one common bank of issue we should be able to stand erect on our own feet because such an arrangement would be fully backed by the combined national products of the States composing the union. After all, the purchasing power of money depends on productivity and the productive exploitation of the natural, human and physical resources of the nation. While we are assuring our stability by a common defence system, and our economy is being orientated beyond foreign control by a Common currency, Monetary Zone and Central Bank of Issue, we can investigate the resources of our continent. We can begin to ascertain whether in reality we are the richest, and not, as we have been taught to believe, the poorest among the continents. We can determine whether we possess the largest potential in hydroelectric power, and whether we can harness it and other sources of energy to our own industries. We can proceed to plan our industrialization on a continental scale, and to build up a common market for nearly three hundred million people. Common Continental Planning for the Industrial and Agricultural development of Africa is a vital necessity. So many blessings must flow from our unity; so many disasters must follow on our continued disunity, that our failure to unite today will not be attributed by posterity only to faulty reasoning and lack of courage, but to our capitulation before the forces of imperialism. The hour of history which has brought us to this assembly is a revolutionary hour. It is the hour of decision. For the first time, the economic imperialism which menaces us is itself challenged by the irresistible will of our people. The masses of the people of Africa are crying for unity. The people of Africa call for a breaking down of boundaries that keep them apart. They demand an end to the border disputes between sister African States disputes that arise out of the artificial barriers that divided us. It was colonialisms purpose that left us with our border irredentism that rejected our ethnic and cultural fusion. Our people call for unity so that they may not lose their patrimony in the perpetual service of neo-colonialism. In their fervent push for unity, they understand that only its realization will give full meaning to their freedom and our African independence. It is this popular determination that must move us on to a Union of Independent African States. In delay lies danger to our well-being, to tour very existence as free States. It has been suggested that our approach of unity should be gradual, that it should go piece-meal. This point of view conceives of Africa as a static entity with frozen problems which can be eliminated one by one and when all have been cleared then we can come together and say: Now all is well. Let us unite. This view takes no account of the impact of external pressures. Nor does it take cognizance of the danger that delay can deepen our isolations and exclusiveness; that it can enlarge our differences and set us drifting further and further apart into the net of neo-colonialism, so that our union will become nothing but a fading hope, and the great design of Africas full redemption will be lost, perhaps, forever. The view is also expressed that our difficulties could be resolved simply by a greater collaboration through cooperative association in our inter-territorial relationships. This way of looking at our problems denies a proper conception of their inter-relationship and mutuality. It denies faith in a future for African advancement, in African independence. It betrays a sense of solution only in continued reliance upon external sources through bilateral agreements for economic and other forms of aid. The fact is that although we have been cooperating and associating with one another in various fields of common endeavour even before colonial times, this has not given us the continental identity and the political and economic force which would help us to deal effectively with the complicated problems confronting us in Africa today. As far as foreign aid is concerned, a United Africa would be in a more favourable position to attract assistance from foreign sources. There is the far more compelling advantage which this arrangement offers, in that aid will come from anywhere to Africa because our bargaining power would become infinitely greater. We shall no longer be dependent upon aid from restricted sources. We shall have the world to choose from. What are we looking for in Africa? Are we looking for Charters, conceived in the light of the United Nations example? A type of United Nations organisation whose decisions are framed on the basis of resolutions that in our experience have sometimes been ignored by member States? Where groupings are formed and pressures develop in accordance with the interest of the group concerned? Or is it intended that Africa should be turned into a lose organization of States on the model of the organization of the American States, in which the weaker States within it can be at the mercy of the stronger or more powerful ones politically or economically or at the mercy of some powerful outside nations or group of nations? Is this the kind of association we want for ourselves in the United Africa we all speak of with such feeling and emotion? Your Excellences, permit me to ask: is this the kind of framework we desire for our United Africa? And arrangement which in future could permit Ghana or Nigeria or the Sudan, or Liberia, or Egypt or Ethiopia for example, to use pressure, which either superior economic or political influence gives, to dictate the flow and the direction of trade from, say, Burundi or Togo or Nyasaland to Mozambique? We all want a United Africa, united not only in our concept of what unity can connote, but united in our common desire to move forward together and dealing with all the problems that can best be solved only on a continental basis. When the first Congress of the United States met many years ago at Philadelphia, one of the delegates sounded the first chore of unity by declaring that they had met in a state of nature in other words, they were not at Philadelphia as Virginians, or Pennsylvanians, but simply as Americans. This reference to themselves as Americans was in those days a new and strange experience. May I dare to assert equally on this occasion, Your Excellences that we meet here today not as Ghanaians, Guineans, Egyptians, Algerians, Moroccans, Malians, Liberians, Congolese or Nigerians but as Africans. Africans united in our resolve to remain here until we have agreed on the basic principles of a new compact of unity among ourselves which guarantees for us and future a new arrangement of continental government. If we succeed in establishing a new set of principles as the basis of a new Charter or Statute for the establishment of a Continental Unity of Africa and the creation of social and political progress for our people then, in my view, this Conference should mark the end of our various groupings and regional blocs. But if we fail and let this grand and historic opportunity slip by then we should give way to greater dissension and division among us for which the people of Africa will never forgive us. And the popular and progressive forces and movements within Africa will condemn us. I am sure therefore that we should not fail them. I have spoken at some length, Your Excellences, because it is necessary for us all to explain not only to one another present here but also to our people who have entrusted to us the fate and destiny of Africa. We must therefore not leave this place until we have set up effective machinery for achieving African Unity. To this end, I now propose for your consideration the following: As a first step, Your Excellences, a Declaration of Principles uniting and binding us together and to which we must all faithful and loyally adhere, and laying the foundations of unity should be set down. And there should also be a formal declaration that all the Independent African States here and now agree to the establishment of a Union of African States. As a second and urgent step for the realization of the unification of Africa, an All-Africa Committee of Foreign Ministers be set up now, and that before we rise from this Conference a day should be fixed for them to meet. This Committee should establish on behalf of the Heads of our Governments, a permanent body of officials and experts to work out a machinery for the Union Government of Africa. This body of officials and experts should be made up of two of the brains from each Independent African State. The various Charters of the existing groupings and other relevant document could also be submitted to the officials and experts. A presidium consisting of the Head of the Governments of the Independent African States should be called upon to meet and adopt a Constitution and others recommendations that will launch the Union Government of Africa. We must also decide on allocation where this body of officials and experts will work as the new Headquarters or Capital of our Union Government. Some central place in Africa might be the fairest suggestion either at Bangui in the Central African Republic or Leopoldville in Congo. My colleagues may have other proposals. The Committee of Foreign Ministers, officials and experts should be empowered to establish: 1. A Commission to frame a Constitution for a Union Government of African States; 2. A Commission to work out a continent-wide plan for a unified or common economic and industrial programme for Africa; this plan should include proposals for setting up: A Common Market for Africa An African currency African Monetary Zone African Central Bank, and Continental Communications System; 3. A Commission to draw up details for a Common Foreign Policy and Diplomacy; 4. A Commission to produce plans for a Common System of Defence; 5. A Commission to make proposals for Common African Citizenship. These Commissions will report to the Committee of Foreign Ministers who should, in turn, submit within six months of this Conference their recommendations to the Presidium. The Presidium meeting in Conference at the Union Headquarters will consider and approve the recommendations of the Committee of Foreign Ministers. In order to provide funds immediately for the work of the permanent officials and experts of the Headquarters of the Union, I suggest that a special Committed be set up now to work a budget for this. Your Excellences, with these steps, I submit, we shall be irrevocably committed to the road which will bring us to a Union Government of Africa. Only a united Africa with central political direction can successfully give effective material and moral support to our Freedom Fighters in Southern Rhodesia, Angola, Mozambique, South-West Africa, Bechuanaland, Swaziland, Basutoland, Portuguese Guinea, etc., and of course South Africa. Ghanas first president, Kwame Nkrumah, was a passionate believer in African unity, and a living link with the historic Pan-African movement which had promoted solidarity among people of African descent everywhere against colonialism and racism. Kwame Nkrumah Speech categorically linked Ghanas independence to the continents own, recognizing that the independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the continent. Nkrumah therefore established a series of conferences hosted in Accra between 1958 and 1960 with the aims of assisting countries still under colonial rule, fostering cultural and economic ties between countries and considering the issue of world peace. Source: ghanaianmuseum.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 25.05.2020 LISTEN New York, 25 May 2020 - A Brazilian peacekeeper serving in the Central African Republic and an Indian peacekeeper who has recently completed her assignment in South Sudan have been selected to receive the 2019 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo, a Brazilian Naval officer working in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and Major Suman Gawani of the Indian Army, a Military Observer formerly deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) will receive the award during an online ceremony presided over by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on Friday, 29 May 2020. Created in 2016, the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award recognizes the dedication and effort of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in a peace operation context, as nominated by Heads and Force Commanders of peace operations. For the first time, two peacekeepers will receive the award jointly for their contribution to this important cause. This award is the recognition of the teamwork involving MINUSCA Force and civilian component, said Commander Monteiro de Castro Araujo upon receiving the news of her award. Its very gratifying for me and the Mission to see that our initiatives are bearing fruits, she added. Major Gawani also expressed gratification at seeing her work as UN Military Observer recognized. Whatever our function, position or rank, it is our duty as peacekeepers to integrate an all genders perspective into our daily work and own it, she noted, in our interactions with colleagues as well as with communities. Commander Monteiro de Castro Araujo has served as the military Gender and Protection Advisor in MINUSCA Force Headquarters since April 2019. During her tour of duty, she established and conducted a comprehensive training curriculum on aspects related to gender and protection. Through her efforts, the Mission significantly increased the number of gender and child protection focal points and their respective locations. She was instrumental in seeing gender-responsive patrols engaging with local communities increase from 574 to nearly 3,000 per month. Since her deployment to UNMISS in December 2018, Major Gawani mentored over 230 UN Military Observers (UNMO) on conflict-related sexual violence and ensured the presence of women military observers in each of the Missions team sites. By providing support, mentoring, guidance and leadership, she helped to create enabling environment for UN Peacekeepers. She also trained the South Sudanese government forces and helped them to launch their action plan on conflict-related sexual violence. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended Commander Monteiro de Castro Araujo and Major Gawani for their award. These peacekeepers are powerful role models. Through their work, they have brought new perspectives and have helped to build trust and confidence among the communities we serve, he said. Through their commitment and innovative approaches, they embrace a standard of excellence that is an inspiration to all blue helmets everywhere. As we confront todays challenges, their work has never been more important or relevant. This is the second year in a row that a Brazilian peacekeeper has received this prestigious award and the first year it goes to a peacekeeper from India. About the awardees: Commander Monteiro De Castro Araujo joined the Brazilian Navy Health Corps in 1997. She worked for more than ten years as an active practitioner dentist in the Navy Health Corps. For more than five years, she worked for the Navy expeditionary Medical Unit with an expertise in risk management and control and health support. She graduated from Staff college in 2012. Major Suman Gawani joined the Indian Army in 2011 where she graduated from the Officers Training Academy, then joined the Army Signal Corps. She holds a Bachelor of Telecommunication Engineering and a Bachelor of Education from, respectively the Military College of Telecommunication, and the Government Post Graduate College in Dehradun, India. The Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is underpinned by the principles outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) and follow-on resolutions on women, peace and security. The resolutions call on actors to mainstream a gender perspective in all aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding and to ensure womens participation in peace and political processes. They also call for the protection from and prevention of conflict-related sexual violence and for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in UN operations, including of uniformed women peacekeepers. 6.4% of the 85,000 uniformed peacekeepers serving today in our missions are women, and this number is steadily increasing. The UN is working with the Member States to increase the number and percentage of women military, police, and justice and corrections personnel that they contribute to UN Peacekeeping, including through the Action for Peacekeeping initiative. In this context, promoting the participation of women, both in peacekeeping and within the societies in which we serve, is at the centre of our efforts, in active partnership with Member States. For a better experience on our website and avoid any trouble, we strongly recommand to activate Javascript ( click here ). Hello and welcome to Journal des Palaces You are a communication or the PR manager? Click here You are an applicant? Check out our questions and answers here ! The coronavirus crisis is unlikely to make real estate affordable for young, first-home buyers despite predictions of double-digit price falls, experts say. Capital city auction clearance rates in Australia's biggest cities have also doubled to more than 70 per cent in only a month, as fewer property owners put their home on the market. In Sydney, just 1.4 per cent of home sales in May were forced or urgent, the same level as February before the COVID-19 lockdowns, property sales website Domain has revealed. In Melbourne the figure stood at 0.5 per cent, also unchanged from February, while in Brisbane the proportion of distressed sales in fact fell from three per cent to 2.8 per cent. Scroll down for video The coronavirus crisis would be unlikely to make real estate affordable for young, first-home buyers despite predictions of double-digit price falls, experts say. Pictured are prospective home buyers in Brisbane after COVID-19 restrictions were eased on open home inspections The Canberra suburbs of Gungahlin and Tuggeranong had no urgent sales in a city with an overall 0.6 per cent distress rate. While tourist-dependent places like the Gold Coast have a higher rate of distressed sales, at 5.5 per cent, Domain senior research analyst Nicola Powell said very few home owners were being forced to sell their property. 'There is little evidence to suggest an increase in urgent or distressed selling across Australia's capital cities,' she said. CoreLogic real estate sales data showed the proportion of homes on the market was 25 per cent weaker compared with a year earlier, with banks giving borrowers a six-month repayment holiday. Tim Lawless, CoreLogic's head of research, said this was more likely a sign of distressed sales being at low levels. 'In other words, not many people are selling, because not many people have to sell,' he said in an analysis piece for the Property Update website. In Sydney, just 1.4 per cent of home sales in May were forced or urgent, the same level as February before the COVID-19 lockdowns, property sales website Domain has revealed. Pictured is a house at Toongabbie in Sydney's west Home owners, who could service their mortgage or owned their home outright, were more likely to delay selling their home until the economy recovered. Distressed sales rates Sydney: 1.4 per cent Melbourne: 0.5 per cent Brisbane: 2.8 per cent Perth: 2.3 per cent Adelaide: 1.0 per cent Canberra: 0.6 per cent Darwin: 2.8 per cent Hobart: 1.0 per cent Source: Domain report on urgent home selling for May 2020 by Dr Nicola Powell Advertisement 'Due to the temporal nature of the COVID-19 downturn, vendors may hold high expectations for their property value and simply hold off selling until the economy returns to full-scale production,' Mr Lawless said. A surge in Australia's unemployment rate, as part of the worst global economic crisis since the 1930s Great Depression, would be unlikely to cause real estate values to plummet. 'Negative economic shocks do not necessarily lead to severe declines in property prices,' he said. He also predicted house and apartment prices would remain much more resilient than the share market, which plummeted by 38 per cent from its peak on February 20 to the low point on March 23. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 on the Australian Securities Exchange has since recovered from those lows and was last week 22 per cent below its all-time high. CoreLogic real estate sales data showed the proportion of homes on the market was 25 per cent weaker compared with a year earlier. Tim Lawless, CoreLogic's head of research, said this was more likely a sign of distressed sales being at low levels. Pictured are homes in Sydney's west 'Property does not see the same declines as shares during a downturn, because it is used to live in and therefore not as speculated upon as shares,' Mr Lawless 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 'Additionally, it cannot be bought and sold as quickly as shares, meaning price movements are not as volatile.' While Australia's borders have been closed since March 20 to non-citizens and non-residents, property market commentator Michael Yardney argued a return to high immigration would boost demand for housing in Australia. 'Since 60 per cent of our growth is dependent on immigration, in the short-term population growth will fall, but they should increase again as soon as overseas immigrants will be allowed to come to our shores,' he said. Nonetheless, the Commonwealth Bank is forecasting a 32 per cent fall in Australia's median house prices by 2023 in a worst-case scenario. This would see Sydney's median house prices plummet by $328,454 to $697,964 going by CoreLogic data for April. Capital city houses prices have so far weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, with Sydney's median house price rising by 0.3 per cent in April, or 15.8 per cent on an annual basis, to $1.026million. Sydney's auction clearance rates have also recovered, surging from 33.8 per cent in mid-April to 77.9 per cent in the week to May 24, CoreLogic data showed. In Brisbane, it has risen from 18.8 per cent to 45.9 per cent as Melbourne's level soared from 27.9 per cent to 72 per cent. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on human health, lives and the global economy is enormous, the World Bank has raised an alarm of the potential risk of food insecurity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Already, food insecurity is a major issue that confronts developing countries and it is imparted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. To find out more, Daniel Kaku the GhanaWeb Western Region Correspondent interviewed stakeholders to assessed Ghanas fisheries sector to understand the status in relation to food security. In an interview with, Mrs Emelia Abaka-Edu, Vice President of National Fish Processors and Traders Association (NAFPTA) also said fish landings are all-time lowest and many fishers now spend more hours fishing with fewer fish catches. "Women do not get enough fish to buy and that means Ghana cannot produce enough fish to feed the nation, therefore there is fish insecurity." She indicated that long absence of effective enforcement regime over the years has tolerated wasteful over-capacity and widespread Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. She recommended the need for effective enforcement and high compliance of the fisheries laws as some of the key actions to take for fisheries to rebound and provide the require food security for Ghanaian. In an interview with, Mr Kwadwo Kyei Yamoah, a fisheries advocate working with Friends of the Nation a Ghanaian NGO based in Takoradi of the Western Region, he stressed that the fisheries sector is in no position to insulate the country against food insecurity especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. He explained that Ghana only produces a fraction of its annual fish requirements because fish landings have already fallen over the years and Ghana now imports about 60% of fish that is over US$300 million of fish each year in order to sustain the per capita annual consumption of fish (estimated at around 24.2 kg). He explained that Ghanas Marine fishery is in crisis and that a fish stock assessments conducted in 2017 for small pelagics reported that the stocks are severely overfished and that overfishing continues to exacerbate beyond the level of sustainability. He noted that the importance of Ghanas fisheries sector is being lost for the past two decades due to weak governance and this has been a major worry for stakeholder because Ghanas marine fish stock has declined to the extent that many fishing communities are experiencing severe poverty from declined livelihoods. Mr. Yamoah, therefore, recommended that good fisheries governance framework and practice is urgently required for Ghanas fisheries to ensure adequate fish for food security during and after COVID-19 pandemic. He explained that stakeholder involvement and active collaboration is crucial to achieving the intended reforms in the fisheries sector. He noted that addressing Ghanas fisheries crisis requires leadership by government and there is the need for stakeholder collaborative effort for the application of two cardinal approaches; Voluntary Compliance and Deterrence. He explained that voluntary compliance includes the effort to secure the active support of fisheries resource users and their willingness to comply with the necessary legal, regulatory and management framework. He added that key components of voluntary compliance involve openness, transparency and effective communication to carry along the users of the resource in every step in the decision making and the implementation process. He also explained that Fisheries Deterrence involves the coercive power of the Government to enforce the fisheries laws and regulations. It includes; the show of ability to enforce, effective enforcement, arrest and prosecution. He said Voluntary Compliance and Deterrence will Ghana to rebuild is captured fisheries and ensure food security in terms of fisheries. Mr. George K. Brown Amissah, a monitor with BUSAC Funds, explained that to address the weakness in fisheries governance and arrest the fish insecurity, fisher folks must be supported to participate effectively in fisheries governance, their traditional knowledge, ideas and technical skills have to be tapped for the management of the fisheries resources. He said that will help Ghana to rebuild the fisheries resources and provide adequate fish to address the gap in fish and food insecurity. He explained that this is the reason why BUSAC FUNDS with funding from USAID and DANIDA is supporting advocacy for effective implementation of the fisheries laws and management plans. 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. Featured Video Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian-American physician Sid Mukherjee and compatriot higher education leader Satish Tripathi have been named by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo among members of a commission that will focus on plans to jumpstart the state's economy badly hit by the COVID19 pandemic. Cuomo on Sunday announced that the state's Blue-Ribbon Commission, chaired by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, will also focus on improving telehealth and broadband access using new, innovative technologies. The 15-member commission will include Mukherjee, Tripathi and other eminent leaders namely Chair of Rockefeller Foundation Richard Parsons, Ford Foundation President Darren Walker and President of Cornell University Martha Pollack and IBM Chair Ginny Rommety. India-born Mukherjee is a hematologist and oncologist and an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011 for The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.' Tripathi is the President of University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Tripathi graduated from Banaras Hindu University and holds three master's degrees - one in computer science from the University of Toronto and two in statistics from the University of Alberta and Banaras Hindu University. According to his profile on the university website, Tripathi is a leader in the national higher education community and serves on the board of directors for the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU). Cuomo had tapped Schmidt to head the commission that will look into how the state's economy can recover, taking into account lessons learnt from COVID19 pandemic. "How does that Eric Schmidt commission come up with new ideas that we can jump start to grow the economy? That is what the next chapter is going to be about. It is going to be about the government working with the private sector, with businesses to jumpstart the economy, to stimulate it, to get some big projects going that get the business sector engaged and confident and believing once again." How do you improve the mass transit system? How about new technology for education? How about new telemedicine? We talk about a new health care system that can do testing and tracing and has surge capacity and hospital beds. Let's build that new public health system and let the government get ahead of it and let the government lead the way, Cuomo said. The United States, the worst-hit country by the coronavirus, has over 1.68 million infections and 98,024 deaths. New York State currently has 361,515 coronavirus cases and 23,282 deaths. Despite high number of cases in the New York State, regions across the state are gradually beginning to re-open as daily hospitalisations, ICU admissions and daily death numbers slow down. Total number of hospitalisations is down, that's good The rolling average of hospitalisations is down, that's good The intubations are down and the new cases are up a little bit on the rolling average, but all part of the decline. That's all good Number of deaths ticked up, which is terrible news, but the overall line is still good, Cuomo said, adding that 109 New Yorkers lost their lives on Sunday due to COVID19. On Saturday, New York reported 84 deaths from the novel coronavirus, the first time since March 24 that fewer than 100 people died in a single day from COVID19. At the peak of the outbreak in April, more than 1,000 people were dying daily from the deadly disease in New York. Cuomo recalled a conversation with a healthcare professional who had told him that if the state got to the point where fewer than 100 people were dying daily in the pandemic, he can "breathe a sigh of relief." It's not official. I don't even know if it was 100 per cent accurate. But in my head I was always looking to get under 100. And under 100 doesn't do any good for those 84 families that are feeling the pain. But for me it's just a sign that we're making real progress and I feel good about that, Cuomo had said. The novel coronavirus has hard-hit New York and the state's economic health has deteriorated, and it faces a difficult and painful recovery without significant help from the federal government, according to the Voice of America. In April, Cuomo said that,"We are at a point financially where we have a USD 10 (billion) to USD 15 billion deficit. We have real financial problems right now." The northeastern state of 19.5 million people has seen a record 1.2 million unemployment claims filed in April, since the virus started spreading rapidly and the state paused its nonessential businesses and workforce to contain the outbreak, leading to a drying up of revenue, the report said. On March 25, the US Senate passed a USD 2.2 trillion stimulus package to address the negative economic impact of the coronavirus. New York, which leads the nation in confirmed cases and hospitalisations, received only USD 3.8 billion, the report added. The shuttering of so many businesses has crippled the state's thriving economy, which had a GDP of more than USD 1.5 trillion in 2017, according to the New York state comptroller's website. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent COVID-19 fatalities may be much more than what is being reported New AI-based test uses X-rays to detect Covid in a few minutes Domestic air travel resumes in India after 2 months, 630 flights cancelled India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, May 25: Domestic air travel resumed on Monday after two months even as a number of states were unenthusiastic about opening up their airports in view of rising COVID-19 cases causing around 630 flights to be cancelled. According to aviation industry sources, around 630 domestic flights of Monday were cancelled due to the Centre's Sunday night announcement that there would be no flights in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, and limited operations at major airports such as Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. Maharashtra issues SOPs for passengers of domestic flights Consequently, many passengers reached the airports on Monday only to be told by the airline staff that their flights have been cancelled. Many people took to social media to vent their anger. Covid-19: Himachal Pradesh extends lockdown till June 30th | Oneindia News Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday evening, "From no domestic passenger flights yesterday to 532 flights and 39,231 passengers today, action has returned to Indian skies. With Andhra Pradesh set to resume operations from tomorrow & West Bengal from 28 May, these numbers are all set to increase further." According to a source, on May 22, bookings had opened for around 1,100 domestic flights for Monday. The airlines, which were allowed to operate one-third of their pre-lockdown domestic services, have been busy since Sunday night to further rework their flight schedules. The first flight on Monday took off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45 am under strict regulations recommended by civil aviation authorities. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna at 6.45 am. States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling COVID-19 cases there. West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh governments did not relent to the requests by the Civil Aviation Ministry to allow flight services from Monday. It was decided on Sunday that Kolkata and Bagdogra airports in cyclone-hit West Bengal will not operate any domestic flight between May 25 and 27 but will handle 20 flights each daily from May 28. Moreover, Vijayawada and Vizag airports in Andhra Pradesh will handle just 20 per cent of their pre-lockdown flights from May 26. Mumbai airport, which is India's second busiest airport, will handle only 50 flights daily from Monday, the Centre said, adding Chennai airport will see only 25 arrivals per day. There were no limits set on departures from Chennai airport. Moreover, Hyderabad in Telangana will handle just 30 flights every day from Monday, the government said. IndiGo president and chief operating officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer visited the Delhi airport to observe operations on Monday. He said the airline's operations were running smoothly and passengers were feeling relaxed as there was much less air traffic on Monday. Domestic flights begin operations in Karnataka; cancellations mark the day "We visited some of the boarding gates. Passengers are well informed (about rules and regulations). Despite the short lead time we got from the central authorities and the states, we were able to disseminate this information," he added. An IndiGo spokesperson said 20,000 passengers will travel on Monday onboard the airline''s flights. SpiceJet said its first flight on Monday took off from Ahmedabad at 6.05 am and reached Delhi at 7.10 am. The budget carrier said it also operated 20 flights on Monday on routes awarded under the government''s regional connectivity UDAN scheme. SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh said, "We are delighted to have resumed our flight operations in a completely smooth manner and by following every safety guideline and protocol laid down by the government." Airlines were jittery in resuming services as multiple states have put in place separate norms and conditions for quarantining passengers arriving there by domestic flights. With the aviation sector reeling under severe stress due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown that began on March 25, the government had last week announced resumption of domestic flight services from May 25 under specific rules and guidelines. It had set a cap on ticket pricing, made wearing of face masks by passengers mandatory, no food served onboard planes and making available details of medical conditions by travellers through the Aarogya Setu app or by filling up of a self-declaration form. The app gives colour-coded designation to users according to their health status and travel history. It helps the users know if they were near anyone who tested COVID-19 positive. Domestic flights resume after two months; many say flights cancelled without notice Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh, among others, have announced their own quarantine measures for passengers arriving at their airports. Some states have decided to put passengers in institutional quarantine while several others have talked about putting them in home quarantine. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday had questioned the need for quarantine if a passenger shows green status on the Aarogya Setu app. The green status signifies that a passenger is safe. The Maharashtra government had requested the Centre on Sunday to keep air services in the state at a minimum possible level. "It has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state govt to recommence civil aviation operations in the country," Puri tweeted on Sunday night, adding, "Except Andhra Pradesh which will start on 26/5 and West Bengal on 28/5, domestic flights will recommence across the country from tomorrow (Monday)." Global stock markets climbed Monday, buoyed by the prospect of further easing of coronavirus lockdowns despite sharp increases in case rates in some countries such as Brazil. On the downside, an upsurge in Sino-US tensions, especially over Chinese plans to introduce a national security law in Hong Kong, made for some caution. Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump imposed travel limits on Brazil, now the second worst affected country after the United States, reminding markets that while the coronavirus outlook is better, the crisis is far from over. Japan meanwhile lifted a state of emergency in Tokyo, while Spain and Italy are preparing to reopen their borders to kickstart their crucial tourism sectors. Greece, Germany and the Czech Republic are also on course to allow bars and restaurants to resume service, while primary schools in parts of England are due to restart from next month. "Global investors are continuing to map the reopening of global economies to the overall risk narrative," said Stephen Innes of AxiCorp. "The global stock markets are moving higher with positive changes in mobility data. According to recent mobility data, the global economy has taken a giant step toward normality in the last week." In European trade Monday, Paris rose 2.2 percent and Frankfurt jumped 2.9 percent, helped by a more positive German business confidence report for May compared with a disastrous showing in April. A nine-billion-euro rescue package for Lufthansa helped shares in the airline take off by 7.5 percent, while shares in Bayer jumped 7.8 percent after reports it was close to a mass deal with American plaintiffs who say their cancers were caused by unit Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller. Public holidays in Britain and the US meant trade was relatively low key however. In Asia, Tokyo ended 1.7 percent higher, Sydney added more than two percent, Shanghai put on 0.2 percent. Hong Kong recovered from a morning drop to edge up 0.1 percent, after losses of more than five percent Friday and despite violent weekend protests at China's plan to impose a security law that would effectively suppress the former British colony's pro-democracy movement. - Sino-US 'Cold War' - The move has also raised concern about Hong Kong's future as a financial hub, with the US already passing a bill that would strip the city's preferential trading status if it no longer enjoys autonomy from mainland China. "One big threat to the recovery in markets is the escalating war of words between the US and China," said Shane Oliver at AMP Capital Investors. But he added: "The main focus will likely remain on continuing evidence that the number of new COVID-19 cases is slowing in developed countries, progress towards medical solutions, the reopening of economies and signs that economic activity is picking up." While analysts expect Trump to continue his attacks on China heading into November's presidential election, they say he is unlikely to take action that threatens the trade detente with Beijing. Oil prices bounced back from an early sell-off, winning support from the easing of lockdowns and huge output cuts by key producers. - Key figures at around 1530 GMT - Paris - CAC 40: UP 2.2 percent at 4,539.91 points (close) Frankfurt- DAX: UP 2.9 percent at 11,391.28 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 2.1 percent at 2,965.33 London - FTSE 100: Closed for public holiday New York - Dow: Closed for public holiday Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.7 percent at 20,741.65 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.1 percent at 22,952.24 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 2,817.97 (close) West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.1 percent at $33.94 per barrel Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.8 percent at $35.76 per barrel Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.0896 from $1.0904 at 2100 GMT Friday Dollar/yen: UP at 107.71 yen from 107.56 yen Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2195 from $1.2167 Euro/pound: DOWN at 89.35 pence from 89.60 pence -- Bloomberg News contributed to this story -- burs-rl/dl New Delhi: Domestic passenger flights resumed in India after a gap of two months and the country will see around 600 services on Monday, officials said. The Delhi airport saw its first departure at 4.45 am to Pune while Mumbai airport's first departure was at 6.45 am to Patna, the officials said. Scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended on March 25, when the Centre imposed a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. It was announced last Thursday that one-third of pre-lockdown domestic flights will operate from Monday. International scheduled commercial passenger flights remain suspended. The first passenger flight from Delhi airport IndiGo 6E643 departed for Pune, while the first domestic passenger flight to arrive at Delhi on Monday was from Ahmedabad and it was of SpiceJet, the officials said. The Mumbai airport's operator MIAL said in a statement: "The first flight departing out of CSMIA (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport ) will be to Patna at 6:45hrs and flight arriving from Lucknow will be the first arrival flight at 8:20hrs both operated by IndiGo." Airlines to resume about a third of their domestic flight operations from Monday, even without clarity over what quarantine rules may apply to passengers. The western state of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu in the south and West Bengal in the east business hubs and home to Indias busiest airports had said they were not prepared to open for flights as coronavirus cases rose, state government officials said. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu agreed to operate limited flights from Monday, while southern state of Andhra Pradesh would allow flights from Tuesday, Indias civil aviation minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, said on Twitter late on Sunday. It has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state government to recommence civil aviation operations in the country. Domestic flights will recommence across the country from tomorrow, he said on sunday. West Bengal urged the central government to postpone the resumption of passenger flights to Kolkata as it focuses on rescue work after Cyclone Amphan hit the city. Limited aviation operations in West Bengal will commence from Thursday, Puri said. Indias federal structure gives its 28 states flexibility to set their own rules, complicating government efforts to kickstart the economy. The health ministry on Sunday asked states to design quarantine plans based on symptoms of passengers where those with moderate or severe symptoms would be taken to dedicated facilities. Those with mild symptoms must stay at home. Kim Kardashian commemorated her sixth wedding anniversary to husband Kanye West with a throwback photo of her gently kissing his cheek. The mother-of-four, 39, and West glowed in a series of snaps, as the rapper flashed an uncharacteristically bright smile via Instagram on Sunday. '6 years down; forever to go,' the reality star captioned two throwback pictures of her arms wrapped around the Stronger hitmaker's shoulders. 'Until the end.' Six years strong: Kim Kardashian commemorated her sixth wedding anniversary to husband Kanye West with a throwback photo of her gently kissing his cheek Even the KKW Beauty founder's mom Kris Jenner joined in to celebrate the loved-up couple by posting a number of swoon-worthy photos of them over the years. 'Happy Anniversary to these two!!! I love you guys!!!!!' the momager gushed in her caption of her son-in-law and second eldest daughter on social media. The lovebirds, who share children Psalm, ten months, Saint, four, Chicago two, and six-year-old North tied the knot in 2014. '6 years down; forever to go,' the reality star captioned two throwback pictures of her arms wrapped around the Stronger hitmaker's shoulders Iconic ceremony: On her Instagram Story, Kim looked back at their special day held at Fort di Belvedere, a 16th century fortress in Florence, Italy On her Instagram Story, Kim looked back at their special day held at Fort di Belvedere, a 16th century fortress in Florence, Italy. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians vet also shared images from their photo shoot from her makeup collection called the Mrs. West Collection, which dropped on their fifth wedding anniversary last year. 'I think being with a man like Kanye, you have to learn how to be a little bit not-so-independent,' Kim said on The Alec Baldwin Show in 2018. 'Happy Anniversary to these two!!! I love you guys!!!!!' the momager gushed in her caption of her son-in-law and second eldest daughter She explained: 'I've always been so independent and working, and [had a] schedule, and when you get married and have a husband that has their career and then have kids, your independence you have to let it go..' Earlier this month, it was revealed the pair were struggling to find harmony under California's lockdown. Kim reportedly felt she needed 'some space from Kanye,' a source told Us Weekly. Struggling: Earlier this month, it was revealed the pair were struggling to find harmony under California's lockdown 'She is trying to be a great mom, focus on law school and her work commitments and it's hard to do all of this without Kanye helping as much as he can,' the insider noted. The source said Kanye's 'super-controlling' nature makes Kim feel 'as though he's been trying to impose his views on her life.' In April, the outlet also reported they had been 'arguing a lot during the quarantine.' Trouble: Another report claims that the KKW Beauty founder and the fashion designer have been 'staying at opposite ends of the house' as they face marital issues Another report claims that the SKIMS mogul and the fashion designer have been 'staying at opposite ends of the house' as they face marital issues. 'Kim and Kanye are arguing and at each other's throats during this pandemic,' a source told The Sun. They continued: 'Kim is getting stir crazy, as she's used to being on the go. It's also a lot of time alone with the kids for her. India may allow export of certain category of face masks soon as the country has a surplus capacity, claimed government sources. The final decision is expected within a next few days as mask manufacturers have requested the government to allow them to export their surplus capacities. A webinar is planned with the ministry of textiles on Tuesday. We will be discussing about the surplus production and the idle capacity available with manufacturers here. A decision on allowing exports is likely to be taken soon, said a senior government official. He further added ... Dormaa East District Chief Executive, Hon Emmanuel Kofi Agyeman, last Friday, inaugurated a police post at Nsesresu, the first town to the District, to boost security in the area. The edifice, made of an office and ancillary facilities would serve as shelter to the police who would fight crime and maintain law and order at Nsesresu, Asuhyiae, and all of its neighboring communities. Doing the inauguration, the DCE expressed gratefulness to the IGP, for beefing up the police force in his district last year, when it was being pestered by armed robbery. He said, in order to enhance security in the District, other police post and police stations are under construction at vantage points of the District, with that of Kyeremasu at an appreciable level. He reassured people of his district of their safety and development adding that the Assembly is not just improving security structures but burnt on implementing strategic measures in the combat of crime and related security issues that can mar the stability and development of the growing district. The Dormaa Divisional Commander of Police, Chief Superintendent Anthony Appiah commended the DCE and leadership of the District for the attention given to security issues of the district and measures put in place to ensure protection for the people. He spoke about how armed robbery rose up and disturbed the district and its surrounding neighbors late last year and how stakeholders on security matters of the district fast-tracked steps to clampdown the situation. He said the presence of the police post in the area would deter criminals in the catchment area and facilitate peace and stability. He appealed for continuous collaboration and support from the citizenry and leadership of the district to enhance the services of the police. The Gyasihene of Mansen, Nana Asamoah Achiaw Kumi Kokoti who expressed appreciation on behalf of the chiefs and people of the district assured the police of their assistance in the discharge of their work. He thanked the government for the gesture. Starting car cold weather winter storm Experts say it's not a good idea to warm up your car in winter. Here's why. 43% of shoppers are willing to spend more on products from brands they are loyal to. TopBrandingCompanies.com, a B2B marketplace connecting businesses with branding agencies, identified the leading agencies in Chicago that have expertise in building recognizable brands that create loyalty among clients. The top branding agencies in Chicago are: 1. Anderson Collaborative andersoncollaborative.com Expertise: Digital Marketing, Market Research, Integrated Marketing and more 2. 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In 2018, the mobile and telecom segment accounted for the highest market share in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global Millimeter Wave Technology market revenue in 2018. The increase in demand for high speed data connectivity and growth in mobile traffic worldwide majorly drives the Millimeter Wave Technology market growth. Millimeter Wave Technology is increasingly being used owing to significant increase in the demand for the bandwidth intensive applications. The increasing applications in radar and security sectors, and increasing adoption of advanced networking technologies boost the market growth. The evolution of 5G technology, and growing demand for mobility accelerate the growth of the Millimeter Wave Technology market. New emerging markets, and increasing applications in defense, aerospace, and satellite communication would provide growth opportunities in the market in the coming years. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/millimeter-wave-technology-market/request-for-sample 5G networks will be based on higher frequencies based millimeter wave spectrum. These frequencies are capable of carrying massive amounts of data at very high speeds and with very little latency. Millimeter wave spectrum is capable of accommodating increase in data demands from mobile-first users, connected homes, AR/VR devices, cloud gaming systems, self-driving vehicles, IoT sensors and other cloud-connected devices. North America generated the highest Millimeter Wave Technology market share in terms of revenue in 2018. The growing demand from the telecommunication sector, and development of 5G technology has accelerated the market growth in the region. The increasing trend of IOT, and growing demand for mobility supports the growth of the market in the region. The technological advancements, and growing demand from defense and aerospace sectors improves the Millimeter Wave Technology market growth rate. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. This is owing to significant growth in the automotive industry in the region. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/millimeter-wave-technology-market The well-known companies profiled in the Millimeter Wave Technology market report include NEC Corporation, Siklu Communication Ltd, Bridgewave Communications, Inc., E-Band Communications, LLC, Aviat Networks, Inc., Millitech, Inc., Millimeter Wave Products Inc., Farran Technology, Ltd, Keysight Technologies, Inc., and Ducommun Incorporated among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers. Millimeter Wave Technology Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Product Scanner Systems Radar and Satellite Communications Systems Telecommunication Equipment Millimeter Wave Technology Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Frequency Band 24 GHz and 57 GHz 57 GHz and 86 GHz 86 GHz and 300 GHz Millimeter Wave Technology Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by End-User Mobile & Telecom Healthcare Commercial Industrial Consumer Automotive Defense Others Millimeter Wave Technology Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/millimeter-wave-technology-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com Haiti - Politic : Chancellor Joseph requests the support of the OAS for the elections Last week in videoconference, the Chancellor Claude Joseph addressed the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council on the COVID19 situation in Haiti and outlined steps Jovenel Moises administration has taken to control the virus & keep Haitians safe. "I reaffirmed Haitis commitment to the OAS and to our role as Chair of the Permanent Council in these challenging times. Solidarity among member states is crucial for us to overcome this global health crisis. I outlined the vital role the OAS will play during the upcoming hurricane season. This dual threat posed by COVID-19 and the risk of climate disaster will undoubtedly put further strain on health services - member states must coordinate & support efforts. Finally, I reiterated President Jovenel Moises personal determination and his admin's commitment to take all necessary steps to hold elections and to continue to ensure our Nations democratic values are upheld" to this end, he requested the technical support of the OAS and the participation of the main partners in the region for the conduct of legislative elections (Parliament) and territorial communities (municipal) in Haiti. TB/ HaitiLibre An experimental vaccine developed in China has been found to be safe and able to generate an immune response against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. According to a new research published in The Lancet, the early-stage trial was conducted by researchers at several laboratories and included 108 participants aged 18 to 60. A report on The New York Times, indicates that those who received a single dose of the vaccine produced certain immune cells, called T cells, within two weeks. Antibodies needed for immunity peaked at 28 days after the inoculation. The trial is the first step in testing the vaccine and was intended mainly to verify its safety. Proof of its effectiveness will, however, require trials in thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, more people. A vaccine for COVID-19 is considered to be the best long-term solution for allowing countries to reopen their economies and return to normalcy. American business magnate, Bill Gates, had said it could take as long as two years or at least nine months before a vaccine can be found to tackle the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives across the globe. Mr Gates said as of April 9, 115 different COVID-19 potential vaccines were being developed globally. Vaccine trial The vaccine reported on Friday was made with a virus, called Ad5, modified to carry genetic instructions into a human cell. The cell begins making a COVID-19 protein; the immune system learns to recognise the protein and attack it, in theory preventing the virus from ever gaining a foothold. But Ad5 is a cold virus that many people probably have already been exposed to. About half of the participants in the trial had powerful antibodies to Ad5 before they got the vaccine. In these people, their immune systems will essentially rear up and blunt the effect of the vaccine, said Kirsten Lyke, a vaccinologist at the University of Maryland who is leading another COVID-19 vaccine trial. The researchers in China did find that people who had Ad5 antibodies were less likely to develop a strong immune response to the vaccine. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, said That may limit the use of this vaccine. If you are comparing vaccines, the adenovirus ones so far seem to be on the lower end of the spectrum. Other teams have turned to adenoviruses to develop COVID-19 vaccines, but they are using less common strains, or even animal strains, to circumvent this problem. Dan Barouch, who is working on an Ad26 vaccine, said his team has data from Africa and Southeast Asia showing that people generally do not have high levels of antibodies to that strain. Only a subset of people in the new trial produced neutralizing antibodies to th. virus, the kinds of molecules needed for immunity. Other vaccine candidates have reported better results in the levels of neutralising antibodies. Weaker immunity People between 45 and 60 years of age are said to have produced weaker immune responses following vaccination than younger participants. Ms Lyke said the responses may turn out to be even weaker among people older than 60. Thats a very important target population that they would have to examine, she said. Ms Lyke suggested that this vaccine might be best suited to younger populations and children. The results are based on data from a short period, and it is unclear how long the vaccines protection might last. Advertisements The researchers tested three doses and said the highest dose seemed to be the most effective. Experts said this dose-response is encouraging. Unfortunately, people who got the highest dose also experienced the most side effects. coron About 80 per cent of the participants reported at least one side effect, all expected with a viral vaccine, experts said. Apart from pain at the injection site, close to half of the participants reported fever, fatigue and headaches, and about one in five had muscle pain. Experts praised the researchers for publishing all of their data for others to review and said the results were promising overall. What we hope is that there will be not one vaccine but several vaccines that will be approved, Mr Barouch said. He said the world needs multiple vaccines. Bishops have hit out at the Prime Minister and say the Church of England may now refuse to work with the government after his 'risible' defence of Dominic Cummings that 'broke trust of nation'. At the daily Downing Street press conference on Sunday evening, Boris Johnson said his key adviser had 'acted responsibly, legally and with integrity' by driving 260 miles to County Durham to isolate due to childcare concerns. But bishops have reacted with fury on social media, saying his defence of Cummings is an 'insult' and that he has 'no respect for the people. Bishop of Worcester John Inge said: 'The PM's risible defence of Cummings is an insult to all those who have made such sacrifices to ensure the safety of others. Bishop of Worcester John Inge (left) and bishop of Durham Paul Butler (right) both spoke out against the Prime Minister And Paul Butler, the bishop of Durham whose diocese covers the Cummings family farm said: 'There will be those in Durham who defend Boris for his standing by Dominic Cummings. But most who have worked so hard to abide by the rules and guidance of the past week will feel hurt, angry & let down. 'For the nation's sake rebuilt it quickly.' The bishop of Manchester, David Walker, praised his colleagues for speaking out. He added: 'Unless very soon we see clear repentance, including the sacking of Cummings, I no longer know how we can trust what ministers say sufficiently for @churchofengland to work together with them on the pandemic. And Vivienne Faull, the bishop of Bristol, tweeted: 'Day 61 #livingdifferently in a nation where the PM has no respect for the people. 'The bonds of peace and our common life (which had been wonderfully strengthened during the testing by CV-19) have been dangerously undermined this evening.' At the end of the briefing on Sunday, The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, said: 'The question now is: do we accept being lied to, patronised and treated by a PM as mugs? 'The moral question is not for Cummings - it is for PM and ministers/MPs who find this behaviour acceptable. The bishop of Manchester, David Walker, pictured, praised his colleagues for speaking out. He added: 'Unless very soon we see clear repentance, including the sacking of Cummings, I no longer know how we can trust what ministers say sufficiently for @churchofengland to work together with them on the pandemic 'What are we to teach our children? (I ask as a responsible father.)' A few minutes earlier, the Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Ripon, commented in response to a critical tweet about the Prime Minister. She wrote: 'Integrity, trust and leadership were never there; just a driven misguided ideology of power that has total disregard for the most weak and vulnerable, and those who work to protect and care for us with relatively low pay.' Dr Hartley also shared some details of her experience of being unable to see her parents during lockdown. She tweeted: 'My parents live in Durham, an hour away from where we live. My father finished radiotherapy treatment just before lockdown. 'I've missed his birthday, Mothering Sunday and countless other catch-ups that would have happened. 'And that's a fraction of a story compared with others.' In an apparent reference to US President Donald Trump, The Rt Revd Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden, also tweeted on Sunday evening: 'Johnson has now gone the full Trump.' Later on Sunday night, The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield, commented on Twitter: 'I don't usually tweet politics, and I have carefully steered clear during the pandemic. But tonight I must say: the PM & his cabinet are undermining the trust of the electorate and the risks to life are real.' The Rt Revd Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, appeared to question how the Church of England could work with the Government during the coronavirus crisis. He wrote on Twitter on Sunday: 'Unless very soon we see clear repentance, including the sacking of Cummings, I no longer know how we can trust what ministers say sufficiently for @churchofengland to work together with them on the pandemic.' Commenting on Mr Baines's earlier tweet, The Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading, wrote on Twitter: 'I find myself deeply worried by the PM's judgment call on this one. 'Not from a political perspective but a moral one. 'His response lacks both integrity and respect and he has just made his task of leading us through this crisis much, much harder.' The Rt Revd Christine Hardman, Bishop of Newcastle, also wrote on Twitter that she had been left 'deeply troubled tonight' after the Prime Minister's briefing. She added: 'We can forgive mistakes and poor judgement and can understand and admire loyalty but forgiveness and understanding need openness and we did not see this tonight.' The government is unlikely to halve the physical distancing guidelines in the short-term, despite calls from within Cabinet. Friday's cabinet meeting featured what sources called "a proper ding dong" on whether Ireland could move to World Health Organisation advice that one metre distance be kept between people instead of the current two metre guidance. Cabinet members felt that one metre would allow restaurants and schools more latitude to open in the coming months. The Restaurants Association of Ireland said that the alteration in guidance would be "a game changer" for their members. It is understood that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar offered ministers a meeting with NPHET to discuss the distance. However, the Taoiseach on Saturday poured cold water on the idea of changing the guidelines. Health Minister Simon Harris told 2FM today that the rule is "constantly under review but is important to stick to for now". Sources say that there is little appetite to stray from public health advice at this time, with new cases of Coronavirus being reported daily. The assistant secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach Liz Canavan said that there had been "much speculation" about whether Ireland could either halve its social distancing requirements or move through the phased road map quicker than anticipated. She said that such decisions were a "risk-based approach" and said that two metres physical distancing was NPHET advice and was there to save lives. That advice was echoed by WHO Special Envoy on Covid-19 Dr David Nabarro, who told RTE Radio's Today Show that the two-metre rule "keeps you safe 99% of the time". "The WHO and others have said the best distance to keep away from people if you want to avoid inhaling a droplet is two metres. "That's because that will keep you safe 99% of the time but you can greatly reduce risk even at one metre because 70% of the droplets will stick within one metre." Dr Nabarro said that if a person must get closer than that, they should try to remain at least a metre away. He said that ventilation would be a key factor in deciding what to reopen and when, citing South Korea's rise in cases after reopening its nightclubs. McMaster University officials say they are not expecting a wave of deferrals after it announced that it will be taking its entire fall semester online amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter, university president David Farrar said the schools decision was aimed at creating certainty for students, faculty and staff at a time when it is impossible to predict how the pandemic will unfold. We want our students and everyone at the university to be as safe as possible, to have the support they need to be successful and to be confident that our decisions are based on public health advice, said Farrar. Sean Van Koughnett, McMaster's associate vice-president and dean of students, told The Spectator that the university has heard from parents who had concerns about the health risks involved in a bustling campus. The ability to reduce or eliminate that risk is an attractive proposition for many, said Van Koughnett. I dont expect that is going to have an impact. To facilitate the change, Farrar said the university is investing significantly in the development of high-quality online programs that will help students and instructors interact with one another from home. Van Koughnett said there will be no changes to tuition fees, as the cost to create and deliver virtual learning that matches the quality and calibre of in-person classes is much higher than traditional learning. Empty campus According to the universitys top official, there will be few exceptions in which students will have to be on campus for their courses. Some first-year undergraduate students entering health-care professional programs will be on campus, but can anticipate additional information from their departments, he added. Van Koughnett said the universitys residences and spaces will be closed but could be used on an exceptional basis. One of those reasons could be housing students that dont have access to the internet for their learning, he added. Research labs and specialized facilities will also have limited availability, with faculty and staff encouraged to find alternative ways to deliver coursework so that work in the facilities can be done so in the future. Research that can only be done on campus is expected to accelerate while adhering to public health advice and physical-distancing measures, Farrar added. Farrar said additional information will go out to students, faculty and staff in the coming days. McMaster University has approximately 33,000 students between its undergraduate and graduate programs. First-year program launched To help first-year students join the university community, McMaster has launched the Archway program. According to Farrar, the program will help students make friends and find mentors to create a memorable and successful first-year experience. Van Koughnett said all first year students will be divided into groups of 30 with a senior student leading each resembling a residence-style experience in first year. With Archway, Van Koughnett said he hopes students will be able to connect with each other and seek guidance when they need it. We want to make sure there is no first-year student that feels disconnected from the university, he said. Alongside the program, Farrar said the university will also be enhancing its well-being, mental health, and accessibility support for students. Travellers skipping between Australia and New Zealand as part of the planned Trans-Tasman bubble will be able to purchase more duty-free booze in Australia, under a proposal from the industrys lobby group. Australian Duty Free Association president Richard Goodman says the government is giving supportive initial consideration to his organisation's request to increase the duty free limits for passengers travelling to Australia to bring them in line with travellers to New Zealand. Under existing limits, travellers can purchase more duty-free alcohol when visiting New Zealand than they can when travelling to Australia. The duty free industry is calling for an increase in alcohol limits for those travelling to Australia. Credit:iStock The New Zealand limit is three bottles of spirits plus six bottles of wine, or 12 cans of beer. But travellers to Australia are limited to 2.25 litres of any alcohol, which is three bottles of wine, or about two bottles of spirits. A Maharashtra cabinet minister and senior Congress leader, who has tested positive for coronavirus, was on Monday admitted in a hospital here, a close aide said. He became the second cabinet minister after NCP leader Jitendra Awhad to test positive for coronavirus. The minister had contracted the infection a few days back and is undergoing treatment, a Health official had said on Sunday. The minister had attended some meetings in the last week in Mumbai before travelling back to his home district in Marathwada. Earlier on Monday, the minister left his home town for Mumbai, his aide said, adding that he was admitted in Lilavati hospital here for COVID-19 treatment. "After developing some symptoms, the minister's samples were tested, which came positive for coronavirus. He was admitted in Lilavati hospital for further treatment," he said. Earlier, state Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad had tested positive for coronavirus. He recovered after remaining admitted in a hospital in Mumbai for more than two weeks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. As more Covid-19 patients experience acute respiratory distress, there has been much debate over the idea of sharing ventilators, which involves splitting air tubes into multiple branches so that two or more patients can be connected to the same machine. Several physicians' associations have issued a joint statement discouraging this practice. It poses risk to patients, they say, because of the difficulty in ensuring that each patient is receiving the right amount of air. A team of researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital has now come up with a new approach to splitting ventilators, which they believe could address many of these safety concerns. They have demonstrated its effectiveness in laboratory tests, but they still caution it should be used only as a last resort during an emergency, when a patient's life is at stake. "We hope this approach, which requires off-the-shelf components, can ultimately help patients in extreme need of ventilator support," says Giovanni Traverso, an MIT assistant professor of mechanical engineering and a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "We recognize that ventilator sharing is not the standard of care, and interventions like this one would only be recommended as a last recourse." The researchers are now working to engage with third parties for the purpose of seeking emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which would grant temporary approval for using this approach on patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. Traverso is the senior author of a paper describing the new system in Science Translational Medicine, and Shriya Srinivasan, a postdoc at MIT and BWH, is the lead author of the study. Personalized flow Ventilators are machines that help people breathe by delivering oxygen through a tube placed in the mouth or the nose. The Covid-19 outbreak has raised the possibility that the number of ventilators in the United States could be insufficient for the number of patients who will need them now or in potential future waves of the disease. Additionally, other nations around the world have struggled to obtain enough ventilators to handle the Covid-19 outbreak. advertisement In late March, at least one hospital in New York City began sharing ventilators between patients by attaching a T-shaped connector that creates two branches, one that leads to each patient's breathing tube. When doctors do this, they have to match the patients very closely by size, age, and condition, because each patient receives the same volume of air (half of total produced by the ventilator). This is considered risky, in part because there is no way to adjust the flow so that patients receive different amounts of air based on changes in their condition. For example, when one patient improves, his or her lungs become "stretchier" and can absorb more air, which could take air away from the other patient. Or, if one patient experiences a collapsed lung, a strong burst of air could be diverted to the other patient, causing damage to the lungs. To overcome these challenges, the MIT team incorporated flow valves, one for each patient's branch, that allow them to control the amount of air that each receives. "These flow valves allow you to personalize the flow to each patient based on their needs," Srinivasan says. "They also ensure that if one patient either improves or deteriorates, quickly or slowly, there's a way to adapt for that." The setup also includes pressure release valves that can prevent too much air from going into one patient's lungs, as well as safety measures including alarms that go off when a patient's air intake changes. advertisement To create their setup, the researchers used parts that are normally available in a hospital. The parts could also be obtained at hardware stores and sterilized, the researchers say. A typical ventilator produces enough air pressure to supply six to eight patients at a time, but the research team does not recommend using one ventilator for more than two people, as the setup becomes more complicated. Simulated scenarios The researchers first tested their setup using a ventilator to split airflow between a pig and an artificial lung -- a machine that simulates the function of the lungs. By changing the properties of the artificial lung, they could model many of the changing conditions that might occur in patients; they also showed that the ventilator settings could be adjusted to compensate for them. They later showed that they could ventilate two animals on one ventilator and maintain the necessary airflow to both. This system should make it easier for health care workers to change the settings as patients' conditions improve or deteriorate, the researchers say. The researchers also showed that if one patient experiences lung collapse, a pressure valve would automatically release the extra pressure that might flow toward the other patient. The researchers are now working with pandemic response teams at Brigham and Women's and Massachusetts General Hospital to deploy this approach if it becomes necessary. They have also created a website with tutorials on how to set up the system and obtain the right parts. Although they believe that this approach overcomes many of the challenges that usually make sharing ventilators too risky, the researchers caution that it still remains a last resort. "In terms of the safety and personalization concerns that have been brought up, this system is definitely an improvement," Srinivasan says. "However, we don't recommend it unless it's a dire need." The research was funded by the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness (MassCPR), the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, in-kind services from Philips, and discretionary funds from the MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Another weekend of death and violence at Moria in Greece An Afghan man is hospitalized just hours after woman's death (ANSAmed) - ATHENS, 25 MAY - The misery of Greece's Moria migrant camp on the island of Lesvos shows no sign of abating after a weekend of yet more violence saw one Afghan woman killed and another Afghan man rushed to hospital and put on life support. Both of the asylum seekers were stabbed in separate incidents within 24 hours of each other. The first incident took place on Saturday when a 23-year-old unnamed Afghan woman died at the camp's medical center after being stabbed by another Afghan woman, according to local media reports. Initial reports stated that the victim was stabbed in the neck by the other women following an argument between their children. The perpetrator was still at large on Monday after fleeing into the local countryside to avoid police and authorities. Meanwhile, less than 24 hours later, a second incident occurred, this time on Sunday and again involving two people of Afghan origin. A 21-year-old Afghan male was stabbed with a knife by a compatriot and at the time of writing on Monday he was fighting for his life with severe injuries. The man is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the Mytilene hospital, while local police said that the 18-year-old perpetrator who was responsible for the stabbing has been arrested. Outbreaks of violence are a frequent occurrence at Moria, as well as other similar camps on the North East Aegean islands of Chios and Samos due to tension between ethnic groups, the desperate living conditions and mass overcrowding. Greece's government has been constantly criticised by human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) for its handling of the ongoing migrant crisis and failure to ease the burden being carried by the island camps where thousands of people have been stranded for months on end. The Greek state has also been accused of "neglect" and "risking migrants' lives" by the human rights organisation HRW over what they claim has been the additional poor handling of the Covid-19 crisis relating to health and safety measures at refugee and migrant camps around the country. HRW said that the Greek authorities have simply not done enough to address the dangerous overcrowding and lack of health care, access to basic human needs such as adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene products to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in camps. Workers at the reception centers and other NGOs have also joined the chorus of criticism, attributing the frequent outbreaks of violence and fires to pressure on the migrants due to the poor living conditions, many different nationalities living in the same area and the impact of Covid-19.(ANSAmed). Good luck, persistence and international co-operation has delivered a rare trove of data from two endangered leatherback turtles tagged off Nova Scotia last summer. The turtles, Ruby and Isabel, were carrying a tracking transmitter and a device that stored a huge cache of precise GPS locations accumulated during their 12,000-kilometre migration from Canada to Trinidad, off South America. This month, when the nesting leatherbacks crawled ashore on separate beaches, researchers and volunteers on the island managed to intercept them, retrieve their tags and 10 months of stored data. "We're really excited," says Mike James, lead scientist with the sea turtle unit at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. "In the case of Isabel's data, it downloaded yesterday and we had over 12,000 GPS positions that have been collected for that turtle since she was tagged last July." The data allows scientists to reconstruct the movements of the sea turtles throughout their migration, including where it's needed most in and around Trinidad, the nesting destination for most of the declining northwest Atlantic population that are in Canadian waters. Fisheries and Oceans "We know that there are a lot of threats to the turtles in those areas and there are a lot of interactions with local artisanal fisheries, and there are a lot of places where there happens to be a lot of human impact on the turtles. But we just don't have the data to understand that very well," James said. Recovering an archival tag, as it is known, is rare. Sometimes the tags fall off during mating or are otherwise lost on the journey. In the 20 years leatherbacks have been tagged in Atlantic Canada, archival tags have been recovered only four times: in Panama, French Guiana and twice in Colombia. The most recent case was seven years ago. Within a single week in May, two were recovered in Trinidad. "I have never recovered this much data from leatherbacks at one time," James said. Story continues Nature Seekers, Trinidad It took 10 hours to process the data Isabel was carrying. Ruby and Isabel were tagged two days apart in waters south of Halifax in July 2019. Ruby is one of the biggest leatherbacks ever captured in Atlantic Canada. She is the size of a pool table and weighs a tonne. A flipper tag told scientists she had previously nested in Trinidad. Isabel had no markings. In the summer and fall, leatherbacks feed on jellyfish in Atlantic Canada before migrating south to breed. Data shows Isabel travelled 12,252 km and Ruby 12,891 km after being tagged. Fisheries and Oceans Canada/Canadian Sea Turtle Network The recovery operation was run out of Mike James's Halifax home, where he's been working since the pandemic. When it became clear where the turtles were headed, James got in touch with the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Fisheries, and conservation groups on the island. Finding the tagged turtles was not a sure thing. Female leatherbacks nest on 10-day cycles, spending 90 minutes laying eggs on shore at night before heading back to sea and returning again several more times to nest. "Generally they return to the same stretch of coastline and if you're lucky to the same beach on that stretch of coastline. And in both cases, both these animals did that," James said. "We found out when and where they laid their initial nest. They were successfully intercepted and their instruments were removed and new instruments were deployed on the turtles which is the next chapter." Fisheries and Oceans Canada James gives credit to teams in Trinidad that spent nights waiting for the turtles. One of the researchers was Kyle Mitchell, of Nature Seekers, a conservation group that pays for itself by conducting ecotourism. He was in Nova Scotia on an exchange last summer and on board to help tag Ruby. Ten months later, he was on hand when Isabel first came ashore at Matura Beach. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to remove the tag, so he watched her crawl back into the ocean in the hopes of getting a second chance. "We were a bit skeptical that we might find her back again because usually, to get that much luck twice in a row, is not something that happens that often," Mitchell said. "I was very fortunate to be a part of both sides. It was definitely overwhelming. Overwhelming and tiring, but definitely worth it." Canadian Sea Turtle Network The Las Cuevas Turtle Group and Nature Seekers recovered Ruby on the north coast. With new satellite transmitters attached, scientists will be able to track the complete year-long migration loop when Isabel and Ruby return to Nova Scotia sometime in August. But that too was a close call. Normally, Canadian scientists with tracking tags would be in Trinidad for the nesting period. But this year, COVID-19 kept them, and their equipment, in Nova Scotia. When Ruby and Isabel showed up, tags were rushed by courier from Nova Scotia and from colleagues in Florida. They arrived in the nick of time. Nature Seekers, Trinidad "Both packages were received the week that they were needed. The one tag [from Florida] arrived the day that it was needed for the deployment on Isabel. So it was that tight," James said. "Our box arrived a day or two later, but we had about 48 hours of comfort zone in the end before that second instrument was needed for Ruby. "But it was an Amazing Race-situation, tracking information on the various courier providers websites." With Fisheries and Oceans Canada shut down by the pandemic, it's not clear whether leatherback tagging will happen in Nova Scotia this summer. The program starts in July and no decision has been made. Ruby was named after the mother of noted Acadia University scientist, Sherman Bleakney, an academic who first proposed that leatherbacks were regular visitors to Atlantic Canada back in the 1960s. Bleakney died last October. Isabel was named by children attending an annual sea turtle summer camp in Halifax. MORE TOP STORIES Terrorists who planned and executed the February 14, 2019 Pulwama attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy took advantage of pilferage in mineral blocks and stone quarries to procure about 500 gelatin sticks, purchased ammonium nitrate and ammonium powder locally in small tranches, and managed to smuggle in military grade RDX from across the border, according to people familiar with the investigation who gave granular details of the explosives used in the attack that took India and Pakistan to the brink of war last year. The Pulwama attack -- in which an explosive-laden Maruti Eeco was smashed into the CRPF convoy by suicide bomber Adil Ahmed Dar, killing 40 troopers -- led to India retaliating with an aerial attack on a terror camp in Balakot and a subsequent dogfight between the air forces of the two countries. A counter-insurgency official, sharing details of how explosive material was collected for the Pulwama bombing, said Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander Mudassir Ahmed Khan (killed in an encounter in Pinglish on March 11, 2019), Ismail Bhai alias Lambu (currently the main JeM commander in Kashmir), Sameer Ahmed Dar (Jaishs second-in-command in the Valley) and Shakir Bashir Magrey (arrested by the National Investigation Agency on February 28, 2020) collected the gelatin sticks from the mining blocks and locations used by factories for blasting rocks in the Khrew (Pulwama), Khunmoh (Srinagar), Tral, Awantipora and Lethpora areas over a period of time. These gelatin sticks, which have nitroglycerin, were collected in tranches of 5kg to 10kg to avoid raising red flags among the intelligence agencies, said the official, who asked not to be named. The ammonium nitrate (around 70 kg) and the ammonium powder were also procured locally in tranches, while around 35kg military grade RDX was brought in from Pakistan, the official added. Some of the ammonium powder was ordered by another Jaish operative, Waiz-ul-Islam (arrested in March 2020 first week), he said. Forensic experts probing the case have already confirmed that ammonium nitrate, nitroglycerin and RDX were used in the suicide attack. A senior ministry of home affairs (MHA) official confirmed that NIA had gathered all the evidence on how the explosive material was collected, and who the people behind the delivery were. The RDX, the official said, was brought to India in tranches by JeM terrorists who sneaked into India from Pakistan. Gelatin sticks are prohibited for sale in the open market, and only authorised companies or government departments {that} have permission from geology department can use it. However, it has often been seen that there arent proper checks at these sites, and explosives used at quarries for blasting mountains/rocks etc. reach the hands of criminals and terrorists. Several advisories have been issued in the past in this regard, said the MHA official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The NIA has so far arrested key players in Pulwama attack including Magrey, Mohammad Abbas Rather, Waiz-ul-Islam, Insha Jan, and her father Tariq Ahmad Shah. They were picked up in the last week of February and first week of March this year. The agency has also found definite technical evidence against the JeM leadership including Maulana Masood Azhars brother Abdul Rauf Asghars communications with outfits commanders in the Valley through which it was established that he was giving directions for the Pulwama conspiracy, a third person familiar with the matter said. The first charge sheet in the case is expected to be filed in August. HT reported on March 4, 2020 that the Pulwama attack was originally set to be carried out in the first week of February last year. However, when bad weather in the Valley forced a suspension of the convoy movements , the JeM terrorists waited for the next CRPF convoy to use the Jammu-Srinagar highway on February 14. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With a total of 2,376 cases and dozens of new infections each day, Ivory Coast is yet to contain the virus. But authorities are confident pupils can study together in safety after the introduction of extra hygiene measures. In Abidjan's Adjame neighborhood, children in backpacks queued to wash their hands under a teacher's watchful eye before entering their school, where they sat just one to a desk with bottles of sanitising gel within reach. At first we were a little scared. When we saw that the protective measures were being respected, the fear went away, said 14-year-old Samira Cisse. Nearby countries are likely to follow closely whether the Ivory Coast's decision to reopen schools causes a spike in infection. With millions of children still at home, aid agency Save the Children says many could face serious setbacks due to limited options for distance learning in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. The Ivorian education ministry told Reuters it appreciated the seriousness of its decision. We also have an imperative duty to ensure that the children entrusted to us can complete their education, said ministry official Assoumou Kabran. Reopening classrooms also means thousands of pupils and their teachers must be ferried back to boarding schools outside Abidjan, epicentre of the epidemic. French teacher Patrick Yobouet, 38, waited with hundreds of others in a sun-baked stadium to board buses out of the city. We're a bit worried as we leave because we don't know if we have the coronavirus or not or if the children are contaminated or not, he said. ---af.reuters.com Vacationers flocked to the Lake of the Ozarks over the holiday weekend, flouting social distancing guidelines as they packed into yacht clubs, outdoor bars and resort pools in the Missouri tourist hot spot. Images of the revelry rippled across social media, showing people eating, drinking and swimming in close quarters. In one picture shared by the news station KSDK, dozens of people could be seen crammed on an outdoor patio underneath a sign reading, "Please practice social distancing." The scenes underscored how some have interpreted the loosening of the coronavirus restrictions ahead of the Memorial Day holiday as an invitation to return to a pre-pandemic version of normal. Amid varied and sometimes conflicting orders from state and local officials, people across the country have been left to decide on their own how strictly to follow the rules. The images elicited a barrage of criticism from people angered by the open disregard for the guidelines that public health experts have spent months promoting. "I don't even know what to say anymore," Meghan McCain, co-host of ABC's "The View," tweeted. Like most of the country, Missouri has allowed some businesses to reopen and rolled back pandemic-related bans on nonessential activities, even as researchers warn the virus is still spreading at epidemic rates in Missouri and 23 other states. After Missouri's stay-at-home order expired May 3, Gov. Mike Parson. a Republican, said a range of businesses, including large venues, could resume service as long as seating was spaced out to enforce social distancing. State guidelines mirror those issued by the federal government, instructing people to stay six feet apart when they are outside their homes. Many businesses around the Lake of the Ozarks closed in the spring when the pandemic hit. But as the state moved to reopen, they allowed guests to rebook reservations. Several hotels and resorts told local media last week that they were fully booked through the weekend. In videos shared widely on social media, people could be seen lined up outside Backwater Jack's, waiting to enter the already packed bar and grill. "Corona-free," one man in line shouted in as the camera panned to him. The waterfront establishment hosted a pool party Saturday called "Zero Ducks Given" that featured DJs and live bands. A Facebook page described the event as a summer kickoff party and showed nearly 400 people had attended. A representative from Backwater Jack's did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday. The event organizer said in a May 7 Facebook post the venue had "worked with and taken the advice of government officials and management teams and will be following social distancing guidelines," adding, "extra precautions and safety measures will be taken." Missouri has reported more than 11,700 cases of the coronavirus and 676 deaths. A study by researchers at Imperial College London said it was one of 24 U.S. states that had yet to rein in the coronavirus and risked a second wave of infections. Thick crowds also were seen at beaches and other attractions on the East Coast, including the Ocean City boardwalk and a beach on the reopened Jersey Shore. - - - The Washington Post's Meryl Kornfield contributed to this report. The IL&FS group said on Monday that it has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) for the purchase of its stake in ONGC Tripura power plant joint venture. The group holds 26 per cent interest in the gas-based power plant. According to people in the know, ONGC could also bid for this stake. In order to monetise the investment made by the IL&FS group in ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC), EoIs are invited for the acquisition of its 26 per cent stake, subject to necessary approvals, ILFS said in a statement. The last date to submit bids is June 8. IL&FS has engaged Arpwood Capital and ... Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Police are asking for help to identify an unknown woman with serious head injuries after she was hit by a car in Melbourne's eastern suburbs on Monday evening. Police have been told a car was entering a driveway on Elmhurst Road in Bayswater North and hit a pedestrian shortly after 6.30pm. A spokeswoman from Ambulance Victoria said a woman was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition with head injuries. Police said the woman, believed to be 40 to 50 years old, was in a life-threatening condition. Jailed drug trafficker Francesco "Frank" Madafferi wants to use the Informer 3838 scandal to secure his release on appeal but prosecutors say he might be confused about what led to his conviction. Madafferi was jailed for a decade in 2014 on a single charge of trafficking 57,000 ecstasy pills worth almost $450,000. Convicted drug trafficker Frank Madafferi. Credit:Paul Rovere The drugs were imported in a larger shipment by notorious crime figure Pasquale Barbaro in 2008, months after police uncovered the infamous 15-million-pill, tomato tin shipment. A number of people tied to the tomato tin import are now appealing their convictions after it was revealed Ms Gobbo, the criminal barrister turned police informer, provided a key piece of evidence to help police uncover the $122 million drug stash. In the Kitchen with Video Series Join Darina Allen in her home kitchen as she shows us how to make her famous Ballymaloe mince pies. You'll have enough mincemeat left over to gift to friends and family over the Christmas season, and mince pies that can be frozen and reheated for guests over the festive period. Join Darina Allen in her home kitchen as she shows us how to make her famous Ballymaloe mince pies. Tyson Foods, the largest meat processor in the United States, has transformed its facilities across the country since legions of its workers started getting sick from the novel coronavirus. It has set up on-site medical clinics, screened employees for fevers at the beginning of their shifts, required the use of facial coverings, installed plastic dividers between stations and taken a host of other steps to slow the spread. Despite those efforts, the number of Tyson employees with covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has exploded from under 1,600 a month ago to more than 7,000 today, according to a Washington Post analysis of news reports and public records. What has happened at Tyson - and the meat industry overall - shows how difficult getting the nation back to normal is, even in essential fields such as food processing. Meat companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars - on protective gear, paid leave, ventilation systems and more - because they were forced to shut dozens of plants that were among the top covid-19 hot spots outside of cities. But the industry has still experienced a surge in cases, and some of the companies say they are limited in how much they can keep workers separated from one another. A small portion of the industry's labor force has gone back to work - some workers kept away on purpose - and the nation's meat supply remains deeply strained as barbecue season gets underway. A May report from CoBank, which specializes in serving rural America, warns meat that supplies in grocery stores could shrink as much as 35%, prices could spike 20% and the impact could become even "more acute later this year" as the effects on the U.S. agriculture supply chain are felt. Grocery stores have been able to partially meet consumer demand thanks to meat already in the supply chain in March, when the pandemic broke out, but the report said those supplies were quickly being used up. The prospect of long-term shortages is giving rise to an intensifying debate about whether the industry should reopen faster or safety should be prioritized, even at the cost of the nation's food supply. With an April 28 executive order encouraging meat plants to reopen, the Trump administration has said the food supply must be weighted equally with safety. Over the past month, more than half of the 30 meat processing plants that had shuttered because of covid-19 have reopened. "Our objective is two equal goals," Vice President Mike Pence said in a meeting with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican. "Number one is the safety and health of the workforce in our meat processing plants, and, two, there's strength in our food supply and getting people back to work." But others say safety must be the paramount concern - and the industry still has a long way to go before facilities are safe again. "Absolutely, positively, no worker's life is worth my getting a cheaper hamburger. No worker's life is worth that," former vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, told Yahoo News last week. Officials with the meat processors say they are doing whatever they can to protect workers, while trying to make sure the nation's food supply remains sound. "The safety of our team members is paramount and we only reopen our facilities when we believe we can safely do so," said Gary Mickelson, Tyson's director of media relations. What's clear is the industry's efforts so far, though they may have lessened the virus's spread, have not come close to stopping it. Over the past month, the number of infections tied to three of the country's biggest meat processors - Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods and JBS - has gone from just over 3,000 to more than 11,000, according to the analysis by The Post. Throughout the entire industry, worker deaths have tripled, surging from 17 to at least 63, according to the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting, which is tracking outbreaks through local news reports. Four of the plants that reopened saw outbreaks with more than 700 positive cases, according to the Midwest Center: Tyson Foods operations in Logansport, Indiana; Perry, Iowa; Waterloo, Iowa; and a Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, coronavirus cases linked to meat workers represent 18%, 20% and 29% of the states' total cases, respectively, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit advocacy organization. Many plants that have reopened are operating at reduced capacity - either due to widespread absences or to reduce the number of workers on shift to allow for social distancing. Closures have affected 45,000 workers, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers union, the largest organization representing meatpacking workers. JBS, the second largest meat processor in the United States, said it is paying workers who could be particularly vulnerable to covid-19 to stay at home - about 10% of its workforce. The question over reopening, even amid safer conditions, can cause difficult choices for communities. Meat plants are usually located in rural communities where they are among the area's largest employers. Covid-19 infection rates in communities within a 15-mile radius of meat plants are twice the national average, according to the Environmental Working Group. The recent closures have cascaded through local economies, as farmers who supply plants are left with nowhere to take their animals. The National Pork Producers Council estimates that current plant capacities are creating backlogs of 170,000 hogs a day. "These hogs will eventually stay on farms too long and grow too large to be accepted by harvest facilities. It is estimated that up to 10,069,000 market hogs will need to be euthanized," the pork producer group said in a recent fact sheet. - - - Although companies have tried to get back to normal operations, union and local officials question whether they are ready. Tyson's biggest pork plant, in Waterloo, reopened May 7 with new safety precautions and social distancing policies. "Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, their loved ones and our communities," Tom Hart, the plant's manager, said in a news release. Tyson had just finished running a national ad campaign warning, "The food supply chain is breaking." But the Waterloo plant reopened the same day that health officials in Black Hawk County - where it is located - reported more than 1,000 employees out of 2,700 there had tested positive for the coronavirus "Tyson did not go above and beyond," said Iowa state Rep. Ras Smith, a Democrat who represents Waterloo. "They did what they already should have done." He called Tyson's handling of the outbreak "appalling." Smith and fellow Iowa Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, a Democrat, say they suspect Trump's executive order encouraged Tyson to reopen faster, a point the company disputes. The plant shuttered April 22 after weeks of resisting calls from local officials. The lawmakers said they met with the plant's human resources director on May 1 and were told the facility was weeks away from reopening. Four days later, they said, they were told production would resume May 7. They said there was no explanation for the new timeline. "It really doesn't feel like our local Tyson was in this big of a hurry to reopen," Brown-Powers said. "It became a hurry for them because of the pressure they're getting from above." Mickelson, Tyson's spokesman, said in an email to The Post that the executive order had helped Tyson by providing "clear, uniform standards" for how processing facilities should protect workers and by giving the company better access to protective gear. But he said it did not accelerate the reopening of the facility. - - - When he announced the executive order on April 28, Trump initially said it would solve "liability problems" for companies and force them to stay open during the pandemic. "Now that Trump issued that executive order, it gives plants this insurmountable feeling that they are invincible," said Kim Cordova, a local union president in Greeley, Colorado, where a JBS beef plant was shuttered in April amid a coronavirus outbreak that has killed at least seven workers. In practice, the order was more narrow, legal experts said. It designated meat producers as critical infrastructure and ordered them to follow federal guidance developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It also enabled Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to take steps to get meat companies federal contracts and access to protective gear. OSHA - the federal agency in charge of worker safety - has not issued enforceable guidelines for protecting employees, as it did during the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, instead opting for voluntary guidance. The agency has said it plans no enforcement action so as not to overly burden companies during the pandemic. Smithfield cited the Trump executive order in federal court, saying it meant local and state authorities no longer had any authority over meat processors. It was part of the company's defense in a Missouri lawsuit, which was filed by an unnamed employee saying Smithfield failed to protect employees by not accommodating social distancing and by discouraging sick employees from staying home. "The president has identified state interference with meat and poultry processors as 'undermining critical infrastructure during the national emergency,' " Smithfield's attorneys said in court documents. "State law, whether statutory or through private lawsuits, cannot be used to regulate the subject matter covered by the EO. This task belongs exclusively to the federal government." Judge David Gregory Kays dismissed the case 12 days later, citing the "significant steps" Smithfield had taken to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection at its plant in Milan, Missouri. In a news release, the company praised the outcome of the case, which it said was "frivolous, full of specious allegations that were without factual or legal merit." Less than two weeks after the case was dismissed, voluntary testing at the Milan plant revealed an outbreak at the facility, according to local news reports and the worker behind the lawsuit. She told The Post that fearful workers have been staying home, and that those who do show up for shifts are working overtime to keep up production. "They could have listened to workers and protected the company and the people by being proactive," said David Muraskin, the worker's attorney. "Now that they've failed to do the right thing, their responsibility is to make sure they take care of their workers and pay them their wages while the company puts in place the protections that should have been there all along to protect the community." Smithfield said the Milan plant is "operational" but declined to provide further details about absences and production capacity. The company said it would not confirm coronavirus cases "out of respect for employees' legal privacy." - - - On April 16, the JBS beef plant in Greeley was forced to shut down after about 100 workers came down with the virus and three died. Another worker died during the closure, and four others since it reopened on April 24. Coronavirus cases at the plant now exceed 300, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment records show. "We are raising hell because the numbers continue to rise," said Cordova, the local union president. "People are scared to go to work because people keep getting sick. There are hundreds of workers who have not come back. We don't know if they have moved on, if they are on ventilators. We can't find them." Nikki Richardson, a JBS spokeswoman, said in an email that JBS USA has adopted more than $100 million in enhanced safety measures throughout its facilities, including "increased sanitation and disinfection efforts, health screening and temperature checking, team member training, physical distancing, reduced line speeds and increased availability of personal protective equipment, including face masks and face shields." Cordova toured the Greeley plant last week and said improvements have been made on the processing side, where the beef is cut into steaks, ribs and briskets. Metal dividers have been installed between workers, and protective equipment has been placed next to workstations so employees can avoid congregating to pick up their supplies. Still, she said, additional safety measures need to be taken to lessen the risk of infection. Workers are still crowded into halls and stairways. Due to the loud noise in the plant, workers take off their masks and lean in close to speak to supervisors. In the area where cattle are slaughtered, Cordova said, plastic dividers between work stations have yet to be installed. "They are on rafters, right next to one another," she said. Richardson said the company is trying its hardest. "We are doing the best we can to ensure social distancing in the facility, but we recognize the challenges that exist to maintain social distancing in areas where people naturally congregate," Richardson said in an email to The Post. "We have hired people to be part of an employee health team that is responsible for covid-19 program management, compliance and auditing, including enforcing social distancing." - - - The Washington Post's Kimberly Kindy and Julie Tate contributed to this report. SMUGGLING syndicates have turned illegal crossing points dotted along the Limpopo River into permanent camping sites where huge consignments of goods worth millions of dollars are illegally brought in and out of the country daily, exposing communities living along the Zimbabwe-South Africa border to Covid-19. The smugglers use hired inflatable boats to ferry the smuggled goods across the river to either side of the border for varying fees ranging from R150 to R500 depending on the weight of the load. Several people, mostly regular cross border traders who make a living out of buying and selling goods sourced from South Africa, are the main culprits. They are defying lockdown regulations by illegally crossing the border, raising concerns of the spread of the coronavirus in areas lying along the border. The smugglers do not even take extra precautions to curb the spread of Covid-19 such as wearing face masks and sanitising. South Africa has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Africa. Vice President Kembo Mohadi, who leads the countrys taskforce to tackle the pandemic, recently said smugglers operating along Zimbabwes borders with South Africa and Mozambique pose a serious threat to efforts to contain the coronavirus. He urged people to take Covid-19 seriously, saying if people are allowed through the porous border line, Zimbabwe was likely to suffer the consequences since the country is not equipped to fight the scourge. Investigations by a Chronicle news crew at the weekend made startling revelations of how smuggling syndicates are carrying out their nefarious activities right under the nose of security agents. The news crew observed that the illegal crossing points are used as major conduits for smuggling goods in and out of the country such as cigarettes, beer, groceries and household property. The smuggling syndicates are capitalising on the high demand for their services as desperate cross-border traders affected by the closure of Beitbridge Border Post to human traffic, resort to border jumping. Beitbridge Border Post has since the national lockdown been closed to human traffic save for commercial cargo as part of Covid-19 lockdown regulations. The illegal activities are carried out in broad day light, raising strong suspicion that soldiers and police could be part of the smuggling syndicates. Our news crew visited selected undesignated crossing points at River Ranch and Panda Mine Gates 2 and 7 outside Beitbridge where a group of men and women are involved in assisting smugglers to illegally cross the Limpopo River into farms in the neighbouring country where they eventually board lifts to Musina. Ms Letwin Ndou of Tshingwanyani Village in Beitbridge, said they bribe South African soldiers to illegally enter the neighbouring country and upon returning with groceries, they bribe Zimbabwean soldiers for passage. Zimbabwean soldiers and police are not a problem whenever illegally crossing the river and they only demand bribes when we return from South Africa. However, on the South African side, soldiers want money to allow us entry and usually we pay between R50 and R60, she said. Ms Ndou illegally crosses the border to Musina daily to buy groceries for resale back home. Our news crew also caught up with another female smuggler at River Ranch illegal crossing point. Unaware that she was speaking to journalists, the woman revealed that she was waiting for a truck carrying her consignment of work suits worth R50 000. Some local villagers are also capitalising on increased smuggling activities by selling lunch to starving smugglers. Ms Surprise Mukwevho of Mapayi Village, frequents the Panda Mine illegal crossing point daily where she operates an illegal food vending site on the banks of the Limpopo River, targeting smugglers and people waiting to assist border jumpers. I am making a lot of money out of Covid-19 because lately this place has been a hive of activity since the closure of the border. A lot of people who want to smuggle their goods use these illegal crossing points and they are forced to spend hours waiting for their goods to be transported, she said. Posing as potential clients, our journalists approached one Mr Mpho Muleya of Makakavhule, who offered to assist them in illegally crossing the border to South Africa to buy cooking oil in Musina. Mr Muleya escorted them to South Africa using a narrow walkway across the Limpopo River. On the South African side of the border, they were escorted to Muruti Farm where a gate was opened for them together with several other smugglers who had arrived earlier. Minutes later, a South African pirate taxi pulled to a halt and three female and two male smugglers boarded the car to Musina. The taxi fare from Muruti Farm to Musina is R150 for a single trip. Inflatable boats are also used to transport smugglers to either side of the border for R50 per person. An inflatable boat operator, who only identified himself as Melusi, said he has found rich pickings in transporting smuggled goods, realising about R4 000 on a good day. There is high demand for our services because a lot of people are crossing into South Africa through illegal crossing points and they hire our boats to ferry the smuggled goods and we charge R150 per load and my boat can carry up to 25 boxes of cooking oil or green bar soap, he said. Morris Mudau of Mapayi, who is involved in assisting border jumpers, claimed he was working with police and soldiers on both sides of the border. I have been involved in this business of escorting people to illegal crossing points and assisting them to cross the river for the past five years. I have never made a lot of money like now and to me coronavirus is a blessing in disguise, he said. Asked whether he was not afraid of police and soldiers manning the border area, the seemingly unfazed Mudau replied: My friend, we are in this game together. Once I get clients (smugglers and border jumpers), I make it a point that I alert soldiers and police operating in my turf and after the job is done, I give them their share and we call it clearance fee. Like many other border jumping linchpins, Mudau says his business thrives on connections in both countries. He said on a good day, he takes home about R5 000. Makakavhule senior village head, Ms Priscilla Matike, expressed concern over the smuggling activities in her area. She said due to glaring border control laxity, communities along the border are living in fear as they are now exposed to Covid-19. As a community we are extremely worried about these smuggling activities, which are posing a health threat, especially in light of Covid-19. We had a meeting with local health workers and they conducted awareness programmes on Covid-19, but sadly smuggling continues unabated despite the presence of police and soldiers patrolling the area, she said. We now suspect that police and soldiers are working in cahoots with smuggling syndicates because these illegalities are happening under their watch. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was not aware that smugglers were working in cahoots with police patrolling the area. Iran's Exports To China Drop 61 Percent Compared With 2019 Radio Farda May 24, 2020 The latest trade figures published by China's customs shows a 61 percent drop in imports from Iran in the first four months of 2020 compared with the same period last year. Total Iranian exports to China in the four-month period reached $2.34 billion. The bulk of the decline is due to a huge drop in Iran's oil exports to China. In January-April 2019, China was one of a handful of countries that still enjoyed a limited exemption from the Unites States to buy some oil from Iran. By May 2019 the U.S. waiver ended as Washington announced a policy of bringing Iran's oil exports down to zero. Currently, China is buying just 70,000 barrels of crude per day from Iran; one-tenth of its purchase volume before U.S. sanctions were imposed in 2018. As China's imports from Iran have dwindled, its exports to the country have increased and the balance of trade is now in favor of Beijing. China increased its exports to Iran by 3.2 percent in January-April to almost $3 billion. China has been Iran's largest trading partner for many years, but since 2018 its imports from Iran have declined by more than 70 percent and its exports by 48 percent. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-s-exports-to -china-drop-61-percent-compared -with-2019/30631397.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing on Monday vowed to shield a Chinese government institute and eight companies sanctioned by the US over alleged human rights violations in the restive Xinjiang region, where China is accused of mass repression of mostly Muslim minorities. The US Department of Commerce announced the sanctions on Friday, saying they were triggered by human rights abuses against Uighurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang in China's far northwest. Beijing urged Washington to reverse the decision, saying the Commerce Department had "stretched the concept of national security" to "meddle in China's affairs and harm China's interests". "China will take all necessary measures to protect the legal rights and interests of Chinese companies," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing. The Commerce Department said the nine parties were "complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labour and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs" and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang. All nine are now subject to restrictions on exports from the US, the department added. Washington has been increasingly active in its criticism of China's treatment of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, and in October blacklisted 28 entities involved in alleged rights violation there. The US House of Representatives and Senate are yet to reconcile similar acts approved last year that would seek sanctions on officials over abuses, and restrict exports of surveillance gear and other equipment seen as assisting in repression in Xinjiang. An estimated one million mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are being held in internment camps in Xinjiang. Uighur activists say China is conducting a massive brainwashing campaign aimed at eradicating their distinct culture and Islamic identity. China describes the camps as vocational training sites intended to offer an alternative to Islamic extremism. Tensions are also growing between the world's two largest economies after President Donald Trump accused China of misleading the world on the origins of the coronavirus, which first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Beijing has furiously denied the allegation, and its foreign minister Wang Yi said Sunday that Washington was pushing both sides to "the brink of a new Cold War". Beijing has said it would take 'all necessary measures' to protect Chinese companies after the US hit nine entities with sanctions over Xinjiang Bengaluru: A reputed business family in Bengaluru is worried these days. Not because it doesnt have money or the business is not in a good shape. The source of their problem is an acute shortage of construction labourers, as a result of which two of their huge projects have come to a sudden halt. A few kilometers from the location these two projects, a contractor who works for the Bengaluru Metro is also worried. Many of his workers have gone back home in the last one month and he is finding it impossible to meet the deadlines. Some contractors who do city civic body the BBMP work are also worried as most of their workers have returned to their home states by special trains. The monsoon is likely to arrive in the next three weeks and most of pre-monsoon maintenance works are pending across Bengaluru. The COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent reverse migration of poor workers to their respective states is expected to prove double whammy for the economy, which is already heading south for various other reasons. Though there are no accurate figures of migrant workers in Bengaluru, according to an estimate, at least 10 lakh are employed in housing and infrastructure sector alone. They are into private housing projects to huge public infrastructure building works like metro and highways. Most of them are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. In the last two weeks, over 2.5 lakh of them have returned home by 150 special Shramik trains. And a few lakhs more have gone home using other modes of transport. Most of their camp sites look deserted and hundreds of ongoing projects have come to a sudden halt. Till the Lockdown, we had about 2,000 workers with us. Over 1,000 have returned home in the last three weeks. Remaining workers might also go back. We currently have four commercial buildings under construction. If the same situation continues, we may have to shut down all our projects indefinitely. It will have a huge economic impact on us, said a well-known builder from the city. Dozens of other builders expressed similar fears about the future. Till lockdown was declared, the third Phase of Namma Metro was progressing at a good speed. But thr lockdown applied a sudden brake to the work in April. Although the work has resumed now, the contractors are facing a shortage of labour. The exodus of migrants has also affected small-time businesses in a big way. Hotels, restaurants, shops, malls, spas, salons, etc. also employ lakhs of them and at least one -third have returned home, leaving the owners high and dry. The lockdown destroyed our business in the first two months. We are now open. But half of our workers have returned home. How will we run our business and survive? asks Shilpa, who runs a salon in the city. The restaurants which have been shut for the last two months are hoping to reopen soon. But they have also lost much of their workforce. Most of the cleaning job is otherwise performed by the migrants in these restaurants. Realising that the exodus of migrants would deal a death blow to economic activities, the Karnataka government initially tried to prevent them from going home by stopping the special trains. But after it became a huge issue, the government had to allow the trains to run. We cant stop them. That is not possible. We are hoping that they would return in the next few months, said a senior minister. Praveen Sood, Karnataka DGP, also expressed a similar sentiment after the flagging off 100th special train on Saturday. Some Kannada activists are now demanding that the government use local poor Kannadigas to continue the work. But the construction and infrastructure experts say it is not going to be easy as the demand is high and the supply is low. The exodus has also affected the local economy which was dependant on the spending of migrants. The shops, eateries, etc near the camp sites have lost business and the landlords who have built small hut-like structures to house them have no tenants. We dont expect any improvement during the monsoon season. We are hoping for the situation to improve after Diwali, said a builder. With air and rail travel starting in a graded manner, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu reviewed the preparedness of the secretariats of both Houses of Parliament for regular meetings of department related parliamentary standing committees, sources said. It has been decided that officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and those of ministries appearing before such committees would be kept bare minimum, they said. Naidu had held detailed discussions with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, secretary generals of both Houses and other senior officials on Saturday over the availability of rooms. The Rajya Sabha chairman had also discussed norms to be followed amid regulations imposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi also attended the review meeting as the two presiding officers discussed the feasibility of regular meetings of the committees of Parliament with the resumption of air and train travel. It was decided that participation of officials from both the secretariats and ministries appearing before these committees would be kept to a bare minimum to comply with social distancing norms, the sources said. During the hour-long meeting with the speaker, nine rooms in the Parliament House and its annexe building have been identified for holding regular meetings of 24 department related standing committees and another six rooms for other committees of both the Houses. Naidu and Birla have directed officials to arrange for extra seating with microphone facilities in other rooms to maintain social distance. While each department related standing committee has 31 members comprising 10 from the Rajya Sabha and 21 from the Lok Sabha, the other standing committees of both the Houses have lesser MPs. Sources said the Rajya Sabha chairman has also directed the officials of the secretariat to draw up a schedule for enabling taking of oath and affirmation of 37 new members after the fourth phase of the lockdown ends on May 31 These members have already been elected unopposed. Naidu has spoken to the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, in this regard. The Rajya Sabha chairman also spoke to the Election Commission of India about the elections for 18 more vacancies in seven states which were deferred after the coronavirus outbreak. He was informed that the commission was examining the matter. The 18 vacancies include four each in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, three each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, two in Jharkhand, and one each in Meghalaya and Manipur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the novel coronavirus hanging over us like a shroud, every day has felt like Memorial Day. We have become a nation of mourners, young and old, black and white, conservative and liberal united, amid all our differences, by the death we see every day. As the death toll in the United States continues to climb, we pray that the next victim will not be a loved one, a friend, a neighbor. The truth is, despite protests and certain political statements, we are all neighbors now, strangers linked by this pandemic, fighting an enemy we can neither see nor understand. Memorial Day. Yes, every day feels a bit like Memorial Day now. But, today, we celebrate the day, the official day. Today, we honor our fallen soldiers, the brave men and women who died to ensure that we continue to enjoy the precious freedoms that birthed our nation. Throughout the country, Americans will raise their flags, honor our soldiers and visit their gravesites. All of these acts, quiet but heartfelt, will seem especially poignant this year, one of the hardest the nation and the world has experienced. Fighting a phantom enemy, we have a better understanding of what our brave men and women have gone through. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them, President John F. Kennedy said of our fighting men and women. Those words have never been truer than they are today. Our soldiers have fought in noble wars, the Civil War and World War II, and unpopular wars, Vietnam and Iraq. But they have always responded courageously, always answered the call of their nation, and we are grateful. We politicians and everyday citizens alike must support our veterans and our soldiers, ensuring they have the health care they deserve, the social programs they have earned. They return from war, many of them, only to confront an enemy on a different battlefront, this one in their psyche. About 15 percent of Vietnam veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, what was once termed shell shock, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The number is believed to be as high as 20 percent for those in the Iraq War. We must recognize that, for the soldiers, a return to society does not necessarily mean a return to normalcy. The Department of Veterans Affairs has been accused of incompetence and an ability to properly organize itself. The result has been tragic: In 2015, the VA issued a report acknowledging that more than 300,000 veterans had died while waiting for the agency to process their enrollment requests. It is such numbers, as sickening as they are tragic, that should recall the eloquent words of President Kennedy. Reforms have been slow in coming. We must support politicians who support our veterans, and we must see they follow through on their positions, their promises. Our veterans deserve no less. So, on the day we remember our fallen heroes, let us remember, too, the heroes in the medical field, the brave men and women who served us, sacrificing their lives so that we might live. And let us remember, also, that those heroes include the brave men and women who continue to toil in the hospitals and clinics and ambulances. They are warriors, too. After all, in these times, every day is Memorial Day. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korean students began returning to classes Wednesday as the country counted 32 new coronavirus cases. It was the first time in nine days that the daily increase was above 30. South Korea relaxed much of its social distancing rules in early May, but then saw a spike in new infections linked to nightclubs in Seoul. Hundreds of thousands of high school seniors were allowed to return to classes under new rules: temperature checks before entering school and masks at all times. Some schools installed plastic partitions at each desk. The Education Ministry said lower-level students will go back in phases in coming weeks. The new school year was supposed to start in early March, but was delayed several times. About 5.4 million students have been taking classes online. In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region: FIVE CASES IN CHINA: China is continuing to combat a virus cluster in its northeastern province of Jilin, with four out of five new cases reported Wednesday in the region north of Beijing. Authorities believe the outbreak may have begun among a group of family members and friends who gathered for dining and drinking without social distancing. Just 87 people are still under treatment, while 375 others are under isolation and monitoring. China has recorded a total of 4,634 deaths from the virus among 82,965 cases. SINGAPORE'S PHASED REOPENING: Singapore, which has one of the highest infection rates in Asia, plans to exit a partial lockdown June 1 over three phases. Officials say businesses that do not pose a high risk of transmission can reopen June 2 but some retail shops, personal services and dining at restaurants will remain shut. Schools will reopen in phases and families can visit each other, but are limited to one visit a day and not more than two guests in a household. The city-state has reported 28,794 cases with 22 deaths. Most are linked to foreign workers who remain locked down in their crowded dormitories. The government said it expects infections to rise with the increased activity next month. If the transmission remains low and stable, and the infections among foreign workers under control, more activities will gradually resume including gyms, tuition centers and retail outlets. All restrictions will eventually be eased but with strict guidelines. Story continues MORE TRAINS FOR INDIAN MIGRANTS: In major relief for tens of thousands of migrant workers eager to return to their home villages, Indian Railways announced plans to double the number of special trains and add 200 new trains from June 1. The railway said it has transported more than 2.1 million laborers in over 1,600 trains in the past 19 days. Passengers are required to wear masks and undergo health screenings before boarding. The return home of a huge number of workers has raised fears that many could carry infections with them. The number of coronavirus cases in India has surged past 100,000 with nearly 4,000 deaths. Indias 2-month-old lockdown has been extended until the end of May. TAIWAN LEADER TAKES STOCK OF PANDEMIC: Taiwans president said the coronavirus pandemic has changed the global political and economic order, accelerated and expanded the reorganization of global supply chains, restructured the global economy, and changed the way we live and shop. In an address Wednesday on her inauguration to a second term, Tsai said such changes present both challenges and opportunities, particularly for Taiwan, which has received praise for its handling of the outbreak even while being excluded from the World Health Organization at the insistence of China. Beijing claims the self-governing democratic island as its own territory. With virus threats still looming, only those who can end the pandemic within their borders, lay out a strategy for their countrys survival and development, and take advantage of opportunities in the complex world of tomorrow, will be able to set themselves apart on the international stage, Tsai said. As an aging society, Taiwan needs to bolster disease prevention and treatment capabilities and link industries to make more breakthroughs in vaccine and new drug development, she said. UNDERGROUND CLINIC CLOSED IN PHILIPPINES: Philippine police raided a small clandestine hospital and a drugstore catering to Chinese citizens suspected of being infected with the coronavirus and arrested two Chinese administrators. Police said they found a Chinese patient in the seven-bed hospital at a residential villa at the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone northwest of Manila. The Chinese patients who were brought there may still be walking around in public and can infect other people, said police Brig. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento. The Philippines has reported nearly 13,000 coronavirus infections, including 837 deaths, among the highest in Southeast Asia. INDIA TO RESUME DOMESTIC FLIGHTS: India will resume some domestic flights starting Monday after a nearly two-month suspension under the country's coronavirus lockdown. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in a short tweet Wednesday that all airports and air carriers in the country are being told to be ready for operations. India eased the lockdown early this month, allowing the reopening of shops and factories. It is also running special trains to take millions of stranded migrant workers back to their villages from big cities and towns. However, schools, shopping malls, movie theaters and religious places remain closed. India has reported 106,750 virus cases with 3,303 deaths. It says it is now testing more than 100,000 people per day and has covered more than 2.5 million people across the country. SRI LANKAN COURTS MOVE TO VIDEO: A Sri Lankan court held hearings by video for the first time Wednesday. Defendants appeared from the prison where they were detained, the Justice Ministry said. It said the program will be implemented across the nation, which is under a coronavirus lockdown. The lockdown has been eased in much of the country, but a 24-hour curfew remains in two high-risk districts, including the capital, Colombo. Protest erupts in Hong Kong over proposed security law Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 8:11 AM Hong Kong is witnessing a renewal of protests over a newly-proposed security law as a lockdown imposed over the coronavirus outbreak gradually loosens. Police on Sunday fired tear gas at protesters who had gathered for a march against the proposed bill between the districts of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. Hundreds of protesters were participating, ignoring earlier police warnings against assembly. The proposed law was recently submitted for deliberation to the National People's Congress (NPC) and it aims to boost security measures and safeguard national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) after violent protests rocked the region for months last year. Anti-government protests began last year over a now-shelved extradition law and escalated in June. The protesters often heavily vandalized shops and public property and attacked citizens believed to be pro-government. However, since the government imposed a ban on public meetings to curb the coronavirus outbreak, Hong Kong had been relatively calm. Meanwhile, officials have assured Hong Kong investors that businesses will not be negatively affected under the law. The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong said in a statement that the city's high degree of autonomy "will remain unchanged, and the interests of foreign investors in the city will continue to be protected in accordance with the law." It said the proposed law was aimed at creating the framework to stop the acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, external interference, and other acts undermining national security. The statement stressed that the law would in no way harm the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents, but enable them to better exercise their legitimate rights and enjoy freedoms in a safe environment. It said some countries were interfering in China's internal affairs by obstructing and sabotaging Beijing's efforts to maintain sovereignty and security. Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam also defended the proposed law, saying it was necessary to protect national security and punish "violent political elements." Another top Hong Kong official also assured that the region's autonomy would remain and that mainland law enforcement would not operate in Hong Kong without approval from local authorities. "I'm not worried about anybody being arrested by a police officer from the mainland and then taken back to China for investigation or punishment," Maria Tam, a Hong Kong law advisor to the Chinese parliament, told AFP. "It is not, not, not going to happen." US taking relations with China 'to brink of new Cold War' Separately, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that Hong Kong was an internal affair and no foreign interference would be allowed. "Aside from the devastation caused by the novel coronavirus, there is also a political virus spreading through the US," Wang said. "This political virus is the use of every opportunity to attack and smear China. Some politicians completely disregard basic facts and have fabricated too many lies targeting China, and plotted too many conspiracies." Wang also said that the US was taking relations with China to the "brink of a new Cold War." "It has come to our attention that some political forces in the US are taking China-US relations hostage and pushing our two countries to the brink of a new Cold War," China's top diplomat said. The US Senate recently passed a bill demanding that companies confirm they were not owned or controlled by foreign governments, which could prevent many Chinese companies from listing their shares on American exchanges. During a daily briefing in Beijing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian also defended the proposed legislation and expressed opposition to any kind of foreign interference in China's domestic affairs. "Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The issue of implementing Hong Kong's national security law is purely China's domestic affair. No foreign country has the right to interfere," Zhao said. The Chinese government is firmly committed to protecting its sovereignty, security, and national interests, and to implementing the "one country, two systems" form of rule, he said. On Saturday, dozens of Western figures from around the globe claimed the proposed law for Hong Kong would harm it. In a joint statement organized by former Hong Kong governor Christopher Patten and former British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind, nearly two hundred figures claimed the proposed law was a "comprehensive assault on the city's autonomy, rule of law and fundamental freedoms" and a "flagrant breach" of the Sino-British Joint Declaration that returned Hong Kong to China in 1997. Hong Kong has been governed under the "one-country, two-system" model since the city a former British colony was returned to China in 1997. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection issued payments valued at 202.8m to 579,400 people in respect of their application for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). This is a reduction of 5,200 on the number of people paid at the same point last week. Included amongst this weeks recipients are 33,400 people who will be receiving their last payment as they are returning to work. As well as those on the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, there are now almost 56,300 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) with at least one subsidy being paid in respect of over 482,800 people under that scheme. The above payments are in addition to the 214,700 people who were reported on the Live Register as of the end of April. Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty today said: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment provided families throughout the country with immediate assistance at breakneck speed following the overnight loss of hundreds of thousands of incomes. It was the very definition of an emergency response and played a pivotal role in ensuring the high level of public compliance with the health restrictions introduced to tackle the virus without the relief provided by the payments. Today, after a few weeks of plateauing, the indications are that the numbers receiving the payment will now fall as the country gradually reopens. While we did not have the luxury of time to design in detail the income supports we could provide to people as health restrictions were introduced, we now do have the space to plan out and tailor our ongoing response to the pandemic. As we gradually move through the phases of reopening our society, we need to now review the nature of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and how it fits into cross-Government plans to keep Ireland healthy and get the country working again. Any future decisions will be based on our commitment that everyone who needs help will get the most appropriate assistance and also based on the evidence we receive from the reopening of the economy. All Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment payments issued will be in recipients bank accounts or at their local post office tomorrow, Tuesday 26th May. County Breakdown People returning to work Last week, some 44,000 people closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment of which about 35,600 reported that they were returning to work. The balance relates primarily to overlaps with the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Of those 35,600 returning to work, approx. 33,400 are receiving their last unemployment payment this week and are included in the 579,400 people reported above. There is a one week lag in how closures due to people returning to work are reflected in the payment data because most of the people concerned will receive a payment tomorrow as the PUP payment is made weekly in arrears and the people concerned were unemployed in the week for which the payment is due. The main sectors in which people are returning to work are Construction with 12,700 workers back in work. In Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor vehicles and motorcycles, 5,500 have returned to work and 3,700 have returned to their jobs in the Manufacturing sector. A full breakdown of the sectors is set out at Appendix 6 below. With the first phase of the Governments Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business now in place and the gradual reopening of the economy, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is advising workers who are returning to work that they must close their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). In order to ensure that their claim is processed correctly, workers who will be returning to work must 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. Any worker returning to work with an enquiry about closing their claim, can contact the Departments dedicated income support helpline at 1890 800 024 (Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm). Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment Checks As is the case, for all social welfare schemes, the Department conducts a series of pre and post payment checks for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, including: - Integrity checks made against records already held by the Department including Public Service Information data and cross checks with payments on other schemes. These help to verify if a person is who they claim to be and that they are entitled to claim payment. - a reconciliation process between the Departments payment file and Revenues payment file for the Covid-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. - A prior employment status check by comparing all claims for PUP against prior earnings and employment records from Revenue data. - As with other welfare schemes, the Department contacts recipients to ensure that they continue to satisfy the eligibility criteria of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. - Data analytics - The Departments inspection staff also participating with Garda and Customs staff, in security checks on major transport routes and transport hubs. Following the application of these checks and controls the Department has this week paid 579,400 people out of the 675,600 unique claims processed, with no payment due to the remaining claims. The vast majority of the claims were paid within a week of receipt. This indicates the efficiency of using data analytics to both identify incorrect claims and ensure prompt processing of valid claims. To date, around 156,000 people have contacted the Department to close their Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme There are now almost 56,300 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). Workers whose employers have registered them on the scheme are not eligible to receive a pandemic unemployment payment. In addition workers who were in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment but who have now been registered by their employers on the TWSS are no longer eligible to receive a payment pandemic unemployment payment. Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit Payment There are now 46,500 people medically certified for receipt of the Covid-19 enhanced Illness Benefit. This predominantly relates to applications in respect of people who have been advised by their GP to self-isolate together with a smaller number in respect of people who have been diagnosed with Covid-19. Apply online at www.MyWelfare.ie The Department wishes to thank its customers for submitting the majority of applications through our online portal www.MyWelfare.ie. This is the quickest and easiest way to submit an application and enables the Department to allocate resources to contacting those who submitted invalid applications. Individuals can close their Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment online at www.MyWelfare.ie. In the interests of the public health advice and the restrictions on movements please if at all possible do not attend your local Intreo Centre as opening hours have now been restricted. Instead please apply through www.MyWelfare.ie. The National People's Congress, Chinas top legislature, is advancing national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) from the state level in accordance with the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law. The decision will make sure that the one country, two systems principle is fully applied in the right direction. This means that Hong Kong, almost without any national security legislation before, will gain an institutional foundation for national security under the leadership of the central government following the return of Hong Kong to the motherland. China must improve the weakness and plug the loopholes from the state level. National security legislation falls within the authority of the central government. In the course of drafting the HKSAR Basic Law, the central government, out of confidence in the HKSAR and out of respect for the original legal system, authorized the HKSAR through Article 23 of the HKSAR Basic Law to enact laws on national security by itself to prohibit seven types of acts that endanger national security. However, local legislation involving Article 23 of the HKSAR Basic Law has been delayed and even severely stigmatized and demonized in the past 20 years or so since the establishment of the HKSAR. The relevant provisions of the existing laws of the HKSAR have not been effectively implemented. They have basically gone into hibernation, with obvious weaknesses and shortcomings in the institutional set-up and personnel allocation for the maintenance of national security. This has made the HKSAR defenseless in terms of national security, which is rarely seen in the world. Its also an important reason for rampant activities damaging national security in the HKSAR. Therefore, its impossible for the central government to stand idly watching. Its also imperative for China to improve the weakness and plug the loopholes from the state level. Since the anti-extradition protests in last June, Hong Kong independence and radical separatist activities in the city have grown increasingly rampant, and violent terrorism ramped up. Meanwhile, some external forces openly meddled in Hong Kong affairs, and severely challenged the bottom line of the principle of one country, two systems. The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed strong indignation over and condemned a recent online speech by Chris Patten, former governor of Hong Kong, at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in the city, which heaped accusations onto the HKSAR government's governance, distorted one country, two systems and the Basic Law, smeared the Chinese central government's Hong Kong policy, and tarnished China's international image. Such outrageous behaviors meddling in Hong Kong affairs by some Western politicians are the result of Hong Kongs loopholes in safeguarding national security. Some Western anti-China forces have colluded with Hong Kongs rioters, which has seriously threatened Chinas national security. Therefore, its necessary and urgent to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. To safeguard Chinas national security, Hong Kong should play its role. Facts demonstrate that the HKSAR has become a major weakness and potential risk for China to safeguard its overall national security, which also directly affect safety of Hong Kong residents. Addressing the shortcoming as soon as possible contributes to the long-term peace, stability, and prosperity of the HKSAR, the wellbeing of the local residents, as well as the long-term stability of the one country, two systems principle. When its difficult for the HKSAR to enact national security laws on its own for a long time, the legal system for the city to safeguard national security should be put into place as soon as possible. Its imperative for the central government to provide an institutional guarantee in this regard to effectively prevent national security risks, which is also a fundamental measure for the long-term stability of the one country, two systems principle. Nearly four lakh Muslims in Tripura on Monday celebrated Eid-Ul-Fitr by maintaining social distancing norms, amid the coronavirus triggered lockdown, the president of Tripura State Jamiat Ulama (Hind) said. There was no big assembly of people to offer namaz on the occasion of Eid, he said. Most of the masjids allowed only five people at a time to offer namaz. "Eid is being celebrated in the country in lockdown situation. It is a festival joy, but the lockdown has dampened the festive spirit. But, we had ourselves assured the state government that social distancing would be maintained during celebration of Eid. There was no big assembly of people and we adhered to social distancing norms", the Ulama president, Mufti Tayebur Rahaman told reporters. A press statement issued by the Ulama on Saturday said, a delegation of the Muslims including Rahaman, President of Tripura State Wakf Board, Baharul Islam met state minister for minorities, Ratan Lal on the day and assured that Eid would be celebrated by maintaining social distance and adhering to the norms of the lockdown. Abdul Sattar, a local journalist said, "A fear psychosis of infection of the deadly virus was clearly visible on the faces of the people. We generally hug each other after performing namaz and visit neighbours or friends place, eat together, but we had to avoid all these things to maintain social distancing this time". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The University System of Georgia is working on multiple possibilities for reopening in the fall. A 31-page USG memo details four possible plans for the fall: in-person classes with limited social distancing, in-person classes with social distancing, fully online learning and online learning for part of the semester. Its likely that some social distancing provisions will happen in the fall. The memo, which The Red & Black obtained through an open records request, said universities should fully develop a plan for in-person classes with social distancing expectations, which is what the 26 USG institutions are currently planning for. Any return to campus in fall 2020 will not be normal even if significant social distancing expectations are not present, the memo said. Under the in-person social distancing plan, class sizes must adhere to the social distancing measures required in the fall. The memo said options to maintain social distancing include moving to larger classrooms, finding other classes for students in larger classes and flipping classrooms when students learn material outside of class while participating in activities and discussions during class time. Faculty should have flexible office hours under this plan to allow for one-on-one interactions with students, according to the memo. Schools wont be provided with any extra funds to make these changes. USG, like other state entities affected by revenue loss from the coronavirus, is required to cut its budget by 14% for fiscal year 2021. Due to the varying nature of dining halls across USG institutions, the only specific guidance for dining halls the memo gave is that they must allow for social distancing and discourage students gathering in groups. Students will be allowed to live in residence halls whenever possible, whether class is in-person or online. Visitors in shared areas should be limited. The memo said cleaning supplies, such as soap, hand sanitizer, tissues and trash baskets, should be provided in common areas, but students are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting their individual rooms. The move-out procedures from the end of the spring semester will be used to move students into residence halls with social distancing. Under these plans, students signed up for appointment slots and could only bring two people to help move out. In the spring, each appointment slot was two hours long. If there is a temporary shelter-in-place order or emergency declaration, classes may have to move online, the memo said. USG will make decisions about moving online with help from Gov. Brian Kemps office, the governors COVID-19 task force and the Georgia Department of Public Health. Universities will develop alternatives to programs with lab or clinical requirements to accommodate students progression in the program, the memo said. Each school also has to submit plans for COVID-19 testing, screening, contact tracing and isolation. The memo said students who test positive for COVID-19 should leave campus immediately and go home until they meet DPH guidance for stopping isolation. Students with a COVID-19 diagnosis must receive accommodations from faculty to continue enrollment. They can also medically withdraw from classes. Swab samples of 31 persons out of 60, who had travelled with a COVID-19 positive man from Delhi in buses, have tested negative in Arunachal Pradesh, a senior health official said on Monday. The result of 26 samples is awaited and samples of three more persons will be examined, the official said. Arunachal Pradesh, which was declared COVID-19 free over a month ago, reported a fresh case on Sunday as a 30- year-old student who returned with them from Delhi tested positive. The student, who used to live in West Patel Nagar area of Delhi, has been kept at a dedicated covid care centre (DCCC) as per standard operating procedure, Health secretary P Parthiban said. Sixty-one passengers had reached the state on May 18 from Delhi in two buses travelling through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. The 60 other passengers are not showing COVID-19 symptoms till date, State Nodal Officer for COVID-19 Lobsang Jampa said. As on Monday, as many as 5,428 swab samples were tested out of which 4,557 were found to be negative while results of 868 are awaited. Reacting to a report that three returnees from Maharashtra had tested positive for COVID-19, which went viral on social media, Jampa termed it as "fake news". RT-PCR tests were conducted on the three persons and the results were negative. Jampa said, anyone found spreading such fake is liable to face imprisonment of one year under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. "I request the people not to panic and avoid sharing such information with others," Jampa said. The nodal officer further said that the health department has been issuing bulletins on a daily basis. "If anyone is found infected with the virus, the people will be duly informed," he added. Of the 11,000 people who had registered online for returning to the northeastern state from across the country, 5,600 have reached Arunachal Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nicola Sturgeon blasted Boris Johnson today for choosing 'political interest ahead of the public interest' by refusing to sack Dominic Cummings. Scotland's First Minister accused Mr Johnson of jeopardising public health messaging by backing his political adviser over alleged repeated trips to Durham during the lockdown. The First Minister drew comparisons between Mr Cummings' situation and that of Scotland's former chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood, who breached the guidance with two visits to her second home. Ms Sturgeon initially backed Dr Calderwood after the Scottish chief medical officer issued an apology, but was later forced to resign after a public outcry. Ms Sturgeon told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that Mr Cummings should leave his post or risk undermining people's trust that following the coronavirus guidance was a collective effort. 'I'm very concerned and - I say this with a very heavy heart - I really do fear that Boris Johnson has decided to put political interest ahead of the public interest,' she told the radio station. 'The consequences of that are potentially very serious. Scotland's First Minister accused Mr Johnson of jeopardising public health messaging by backing his political adviser over alleged repeated trips to Durham during the lockdown Ms Sturgeon told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that Mr Cummings (today in London) should leave his post or risk undermining people's trust that following the coronavirus guidance was a collective effort. 'Trust in public health messaging is very important and arguably, as we go into the phases where we start to lift lockdown, that becomes even more important because we rely less on the letter of the law, and much more on guidance and appealing to people's good judgment.' Asked about Mr Cummings driving from London to Durham with his young child and symptomatic wife, Ms Sturgeon said: 'I think there will be families up and down the length and breadth of the UK who have had these same dilemmas, but they stuck to the rules because the rules were the rules. 'Of course everybody sympathises with parents who are worried about children and how their children will be looked after if they fall ill, but he was not alone. 'I think that is the issue here, that others follow the rules with all of the difficulty and all of the agonising that has come with that. 'The sacrifices people have made in recent weeks - not seeing ill family members, not being with family members perhaps before he passed away, not being able to attend funerals - these are enormous sacrifices and everybody has had to make them. 'I think that has been important and getting a sense... that we are all in that together.' The First Minister drew comparisons between Mr Cummings' situation and that of Scotland's former chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood, who breached the guidance with two visits to her second home. The First Minister drew comparisons between Mr Cummings' situation and that of Scotland's former chief medical officer DR Catherine Calderwood, who breached the guidance with two visits to her second home Ms Sturgeon said she had to sack Dr Calderwood once it became clear that the public health message was being affected. She said Dr Calderwood did not 'try to save her own skin at the expense of the public health message', and argued that the Prime Minister and his political adviser 'should probably now come to the same conclusion'. 'I didn't defend [Dr Calderwood's] breach of the guidelines, I didn't try to retrofit the guidance,' Ms Sturgeon added. 'She recognised she'd made a mistake and apologised. I made an argument to the public at that time that she'd made a mistake but her advice was so important, given what we were dealing with, that she should stay in office. 'But when it became clear to me that the public, understandably, were not prepared to accept that I judged that integrity of the public health message was more important and actually, to her great credit, so did Catherine Calderwood.' WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 4DMedical, an Australian medical technology company specializing in medical imaging innovation software, announced today it has received clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to market its XV Technology, a patented four-dimensional lung imaging process that rapidly and automatically analyses any functional lung impairment from a single X-ray. 4DMedical's U.S. operations are based in Woodland Hills, California. "Our XV Technology is a valuable new respiratory diagnostic tool," said 4DMedical founder and CEO, Andreas Fouras, Ph.D. "It provides critical information about the functional and structural state of a patient's lungs in the treatment of illnesses such as COVID-19, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and lung cancer." The clearance comes at a time when there has never been a greater focus on respiratory health around the world, as countries deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. "FDA clearance means we can fast track our 'go-to-market' strategy to ensure hospitals and doctors in the United States have almost immediate access to our XV Technology Ventilation Reports," added Fouras. 4DMedical's XV Technology process is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) diagnostic tool, available through secure cloud subscription, and can be implemented immediately, utilizing existing hospital and clinical infrastructure with no capital expenditure or training required. Imaging departments simply electronically send an X-ray (using existing fluoroscopy equipment) to 4DMedical. XV Technology is not intended to replace molecular tests as the primary diagnosis method for COVID-19; however, 4DMedical believes its ventilation reports will prove essential in providing quantitative support for diagnosis and follow up examinations for patients with, or recovering from COVID-19. 4DMedical software then rapidly and automatically analyzes and applies its proprietary algorithms to identify and quantify any functional impairment. The software generates a ventilation report and sends it to the hospital to enable clinicians to determine the most effective treatment course of action and allocation of finite hospital resources. The end-to-end process can be completed and a report generated within three hours. 4DMedical's XV Technology is supported by 15 years of preclinical and clinical trials and ongoing collaborations with leading hospitals worldwide. It has also been validated via an extensive vetting process as part of the Australian Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Frontier Health and Medical Research Program (including international scientific peer review) with the technology being awarded an MRFF Stage One Frontiers grant in 2019 and now being considered for a Stage Two grant. "The clinical trials and peer reviews undertaken over the past 15 years in conjunction with the FDA's 510(k) clearance provide a solid foundation for 4DMedical to obtain regulatory approval to offer its XV Technology in other geographic markets such as Australia, Europe and Asia," said Fouras. About 4DMedical: 4DMedical (founded in 2013) changed name to 4DMedical in May 2020. 4DMedical is a medical technology company aiming to deliver the global gold standard in respiratory diagnostics for all lung disorders including: coronavirus, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and cancer. The unique 4DMedical technology accurately and quickly scans lung function as the patient breathes, to provide sensitive, early diagnosis and to monitor changes over time. Our Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) scans deliver much more complete results, showing even subtle variations in lung function down to the finest details, using lower levels of radiation than traditional methods. Respiratory diagnosis is a $30 billion per annum global industry. Through its technology 4DMedical provides clinicians with greater insights into diseases of the lung. 4DMedical is focused on providing better information to doctors and patients about lung function. Better information means better decisions, and better outcomes. SOURCE 4DMedical Indian and Chinese troops remained engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in several disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, signalling that the confrontation could become the biggest military face-off after the Doklam episode in 2017. Top military sources said India has further increased its strength in Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley -- the two contentious areas where Chinese army is learnt to have been deploying around 2,000 to 2,500 troops besides gradually enhancing temporary infrastructure. "The strength of the Indian Army in the area is much better than our adversary," said a top military official on the condition of anonymity. The biggest concern for Indian military has been the presence of Chinese troops around several key points including Indian Post KM120 along the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley. "It is serious. It is not a normal kind of transgression," former Northern Army Commander Lt Gen (Retd) DS Hooda told PTI. He particularly emphasised that Chinese transgression into areas like Galwan was worrying as there was no dispute between the two sides in the area. Strategic Affairs expert Ambassador Ashok K Kantha too agreed with Lt Gen Hooda. "There have been multiple incursions (by Chinese troops). This is something which causes concern. It is not a routine standoff. This is a disturbing situation," Kantha said. Sources said diplomatic efforts must be ramped up to resolve the escalating tension between the two armies and that both sides are eyeball-to-eyeball in several areas including Pangong Tso, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie. The Chinese side has particularly strengthened its presence in the Galwan Valley, erecting around 100 tents in the last two weeks and bringing in heavy equipment for construction of bunkers. The sources said Indian troops are resorting to "aggressive patrolling" in several sensitive areas including Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldi. The situation in Eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to "disengage" following a meeting at the level of local commanders. Over 100 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in the violence. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9. India last week said the Chinese military was hindering normal patrolling by its troops and asserted that India has always taken a very responsible approach towards border management. At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava also strongly refuted China's contention that the tension was triggered due to trespassing by Indian forces on the Chinese side. India's response came two days after China accused the Indian Army of trespassing into its territory, claiming that it was an "attempt to unilaterally change the status" of the LAC in Sikkim and Ladakh. On May 5, the Indian and Chinese army personnel clashed with iron rods, sticks, and even resorted to stone-pelting in the Pangong Tso lake area in which soldiers on both sides sustained injuries. In a separate incident, nearly 150 Indian and Chinese military personnel were engaged in a face-off near Naku La Pass in the Sikkim sector on May 9. At least 10 soldiers from both sides sustained injuries. The troops of India and China 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. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. China has been critical of India's reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, and has particularly criticised New Delhi for making Ladakh a union territory. China lays claim over several parts of Ladakh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first informal summit in April 2018 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, months after the Doklam standoff. In the summit, the two leaders decided to issue "strategic guidance" to their militaries to strengthen communications so that they can build trust and understanding. Modi and Xi held their second informal summit in Mamallapuram near Chennai in October last year with a focus on further broadening bilateral ties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement Dominic Cummings will make a public statement this afternoon to directly address claims he broke lockdown rules by travelling to Durham, Downing Street has confirmed, as Boris Johnson faces growing calls to sack his top aide. In an extraordinary development, the unelected adviser is expected to take questions from the press in the Number 10 Rose Garden about his conduct which has plunged the Government into a state of crisis. Such an address by a special adviser is unprecedented in recent history with the Government's code of conduct expressly stating that aides 'must not take public part in political controversy, through any form of statement'. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said it was 'absolutely outrageous' for Mr Cummings to be given 'preferential treatment' as she jibed 'anybody would think hes the unelected PM'. It is likely to be the most significant political event in the famous Rose Garden since David Cameron and Nick Clegg announced the formation of the Coalition government there in May 2010. Earlier today Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner urged the local chief constable to launch a formal investigation into Mr Cummings' lockdown visit to the city. Acting PCC Steve White has written to Jo Farrell to ask her to probe the facts around Mr Cummings' trip and to determine wether there was 'any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter'. Mr White said there was a 'plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination'. Durham Constabulary later said it had 'received further information and complaints from members of the public and we are reviewing and examining that information'. It came after one of the Government's scientific experts said the 'debacle' over the lockdown journey had 'fatally undermined' the nation's fight against coronavirus. Professor Stephen Reicher, who is a member of the Government's advisory group on behavioural science which feeds into SAGE, said the result of 'undermining adherence to the rules' will be that 'more people are going to die'. Despairing police chiefs have warned the row means enforcing lockdown is now 'dead in the water'. Mr Johnson is facing an increasingly furious backlash from ministers, Tory MPs and even bishops after he yesterday attempted to mount an extraordinary defence of Mr Cummings. Mr Johnson has effectively staked his political reputation on trying to protect Mr Cummings but the calls for the adviser to be sacked continue to grow. One cabinet minister claimed the PM had 'sacrificed his own credibility' to 'save' Mr Cummings. At a dramatic press conference in Downing Street last night, the Prime Minister claimed his chief aide had acted 'responsibly, legally and with integrity' while making a controversial 260-mile trip from London to Durham during lockdown. Mr Johnson insisted Mr Cummings had 'followed the instincts of every father' by driving to his parents' farm after his wife developed symptoms of coronavirus. But he refused to deny that while in the North East, Mr Cummings had also driven 30 miles to go for a walk in the countryside in an apparent second lockdown breach. He also failed to say whether he had given permission for the trip. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson this morning tried to assuage Tory and public anger as he insisted 'at every stage Dominic Cummings followed and his family followed the guidance'. Mr Johnson will this afternoon try to get the coronavirus response back on track as he chairs a meeting of the Cabinet at which ministers are expected to discuss lockdown restrictions which could be eased in the coming weeks. Mr Cummings ignored questions as he left his London home this morning. The car in which he was travelling then arrived at the back entrance of Number 10 having seemingly been hit by an egg at some point on the journey. Boris Johnson is facing a mounting backlash over his defence of Dominic Cummings. The under fire PM was seen jogging with his dog Dilyn near Lambeth Palace in central London this morning Mr Cummings (pictured today in London) has sparked a political firestorm after travelling 260 miles from London to Durham (above) to see his parents during lockdown The car in which Mr Cummings travelled to Downing Street today arrived at a back entrance having seemingly been struck by an egg during the journey The PM's top aide, pictured arriving at No10 this morning, will make a public statement this afternoon to respond directly to criticism of his conduct The unanswered questions in the Dominic Cummings row 1. How many ministers, including the PM, knew Mr Cummings had travelled to Durham and was self-isolating there? 2. Did Mr Cummings ask for advice or permission from No 10 before he travelled? 3. Why did Mr Cummings insist neither he nor his family had been spoken to by Durham Police, when his father had contacted the force himself? 4. Can Mr Cummings explain where he was on April 12, when he was allegedly spotted at Barnard Castle? 5. Can Mr Cummings provide details of his whereabouts on April 19, when he was allegedly seen in Houghall Woods? 6. What reason can Mr Cummings provide for allegedly travelling to Durham for a second time after his return to London, given he and his wife had recovered from their symptoms? 7. Why didnt another family member near Mr Cummingss London home care for their child when his wife displayed virus symptoms? 8. How many times did Mr Cummings travel between London and the North East during lockdown? Advertisement Tory MPs who believe Dominic Cummings should be sacked An estimated 20 Tory MPs have now suggested they believe Dominic Cummings should be sacked. They are: Steve Baker, Peter Bone, Damian Collins, Sir Roger Gale, Robert Goodwill, James Gray, Simon Hoare, Peter Aldous, Andrew Jones, Tim Loughton, Paul Maynard, Jason McCartney, Caroline Nokes, Bob Stewart, Julian Sturdy, Sir Robert Syms, Craig Whittaker, Martin Vickers, David Warburton and George Freeman. Advertisement The row over Mr Cummings's trip to Durham came as: Weston General Hospital in Weston-super-Mare announced it could not take any more admissions because of 'a high number' of coronavirus cases. Sun-worshippers descended on parks and beaches amid an expected 79F heatwave as they declared, 'If Dominic Cummings can break the rules, we can too'. Bishops hit out at the Prime Minister and said the Church of England may now refuse to work with the government after his 'risible' defence of Mr Cummings which 'broke trust of nation'. Nicola Sturgeon blasted Mr Johnson and accused him of choosing 'political interest ahead of the public interest' by refusing to sack his aide. Mr Williamson said schools face a 'long journey' before they will be able to open as normal ahead of a phased reopening on June 1. Mr White, the acting Durham Police, Crime and Victims Commissioner, said in a statement issued this morning: 'I am confident that thus far, Durham police has responded proportionately and appropriately to the issues raised concerning Mr Cummings and his visit to the County at the end of March. 'It is clear however that there is a plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination. 'I have today written to the Chief Constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter at any juncture. 'It is vital that the Force can show it has the interests of the people of County Durham and Darlington at its heart, so that the model of policing by consent, independent of government but answerable to the law, is maintained. 'It will be for the Chief Constable to determine the operational response to this request and I am confident that with the resources at its disposal, the Force can show proportionality and fairness in what has become a major issue of public interest and trust.' A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: 'We can confirm that, over the last few days, Durham Constabulary has received further information and complaints from members of the public and we are reviewing and examining that information.' Earlier, Prof Reicher had warned that Mr Cummings' trip could harm efforts to fight coronavirus. He told ITV's Good Morning Britain programme today: 'If you look at the research it shows the reason why people observed lockdown was not for themselves, it wasn't because they were personally at risk, they did it for the community, they did it because of a sense of "we're all in this together". 'If you give the impression there's one rule for them and one rule for us you fatally undermine that sense of "we're all in this together" and you undermine adherence to the forms of behaviour which have got us through this crisis.' He added: 'The real issue here is that because of these actions, because of undermining trust in the Government, because of undermining adherence to the rules that we all need to follow, people are going to die. More people are going to die.' Mr Williamson said this morning that it was his 'understanding' from Mr Johnson that Mr Cummings did not break the law in making the trip to Durham during lockdown. He told BBC Breakfast: '(The Prime Minister) has been absolutely categorically assured that both Dominic Cummings and his family both followed the guidance and also followed the rules... 'The guidance is incredibly extensive and at the heart of that guidance is always the issue of safeguarding children and making sure that children are always absolutely protected. 'My understanding is from what the Prime Minister said yesterday... is that at every stage Dominic Cummings followed and his family followed the guidance and at no stage did Dominic Cummings or his family break the law.' Mr Williamson said Mr Cummings should not resign 'because he has made it clear that he's broken no rules and he's broken no laws'. But there is growing fury among Tory MPs who believe the aide did break the rules, with 20 now having suggested he should be sacked. Tim Loughton, the former children's minister, became the latest to break cover as he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I was hoping that we were going to get some answers either from Dominic Cummings or then from the Prime Minister when he took on that press conference yesterday afternoon. But I fear I didnt get that and what is more worrying is my constituents didnt get that and so I got swamped with even more emails from people who dont have a political axe to grind, who say look, hold on, this sends out a very bad message, it looks as though it is one rule for them and one for us, why should we now abide by Government guidance? I think that is deeply worrying. The only show in town at the moment is how the Government continues to deal with coronavirus and anything that deflects from that or distracts the Prime Minister from the work he needs to do from that is damaging and needs to be dealt with. Timeline of Cummings' lockdown row March 23: As the coronavirus crisis escalates, the UK is placed into lockdown with strict limitations on travel. The Government guidelines state: 'You should not be visiting family members who do not live in your home.' Those in a household with symptoms must 'stay at home and not leave the house' for up to 14 days. March 27: Both Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock test positive for coronavirus, while chief medical officer Chris Whitty says he has symptoms of the disease and is self-isolating. March 30: Downing Street confirms Mr Cummings is suffering from coronavirus symptoms and is self-isolating. March 31: Durham police are 'made aware of reports that an individual had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city'. The force said officers 'made contact with the owners of that address who confirmed that the individual in question was present and was self-isolating in part of the house. 'In line with national policing guidance, officers explained to the family the arrangements around self-isolation guidelines and reiterated the appropriate advice around essential travel.' April 5: An unnamed neighbour tells the Mirror and the Guardian Mr Cummings was seen in his parents' garden. 'I got the shock of my life as I looked over to the gates and saw him,' they said. March 30 - April 6: The period Mr Cummings' wife Mary Wakefield describes the family's battle with coronavirus in the April 25 issue of the Spectator. She makes no mention of the trip to Durham and describes the challenges of caring for their son while suffering the symptoms of Covid-19. She says their small son nursed Mr Cummings with Ribena. April 12: Robert Lees, a retired chemistry teacher, claims to have seen Mr Cummings 30 miles away from his parents home in Barnard Castle. April 14: Mr Cummings returns to work for the first time since news he was suffering from Coronavirus emerged. Questions are raised about his adherence to social distancing advice as he is photographed walking down Downing Street with fellow aide Cleo Watson. April 19: A passer-by claims to have spotted Mr Cummings and his family admiring bluebells with his wife, back in Durham. May 22: News breaks in the Mirror and the Guardian of Mr Cummings' trip to Durham. May 23: Downing Street stands by the PM's chief aide, saying in a statement: 'Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for.' That evening, a joint Sunday Mirror and Observer investigation reveals the two new eyewitness claims. Advertisement There is now anger over Mr Cummings' actions and Mr Johnson's handling of the fallout from the top to the bottom of the Conservative Party. One cabinet minister told The Times: 'He [Mr Johnson] has sacrificed his own credibility to save Dominic Cummings. He is burning away his personal brand, his trust, to save Dom. Dom needs to go.' One ministerial source said the affair risked torpedoing public trust in the government at a time of national crisis, saying: 'You can lose popularity, you cannot lose trust.' Another warned the PM was 'bleeding credibility' to protect an aide who had delivered both the Brexit referendum result and his stunning election win last year. One senior minister branded Mr Cummings an 'arrogant idiot', adding: 'The fact that he is still there just shows how dysfunctional No 10 is. I am being bombarded with emails from constituents who are angry that while they have been making these incredible sacrifices and not seeing family, he's just done whatever he wants. It is breathtaking that the PM is defending him.' A senior Tory MP told The Guardian: 'The PM is losing his instinct, he might be losing the plot and we could lose the country over this virus.' One senior Tory source told The Telegraph: 'Boris has put his credibility and the Government's credibility on the line by sticking up for Dom. How can we tell people they must abide by the lockdown now? 'The lockdown is effectively over because this makes it unenforceable.' A normally loyal senior Tory MP told MailOnline the situation was 'an utter s**t storm and the PM made it worse'. Veteran Conservative Sir Roger Gale said the PM had failed to 'put this to bed' and 'I fear that now the story is simply going to run and run'. Simon Hoare, who had already called for Mr Cummings to go, later lamented Mr Johnson's press conference, saying: 'The PM's performance posed more questions than it answered. 'Any residual hope that this might die away in the next 24 hours is lost.' New Tory MP David Warburton said: 'As much as I despise any baying pitchfork-led trials by social media, I'm unconvinced by the PM's defence of Cummings.' Blackpool North MP Paul Maynard said: 'It is a classic case of "do as I say, not as I do" - and it is not as if he was unfamiliar with guidance he himself helped draw up. It seems to me to be utterly indefensible and his position wholly untenable.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has demanded an inquiry, and warned that failure to sack Mr Cummings would 'undermine confidence' in the lockdown. 'It is an insult to sacrifices made by the British people that Boris Johnson has chosen to take no action against Dominic Cummings,' he said. 'The public will be forgiven for thinking there is one rule for the Prime Minister's closest adviser and another for the British people.' Nicola Sturgeon, who forced out her chief scientific adviser for breaking lockdown rules, said: 'I know it is tough to lose a trusted adviser at the height of crisis, but when it's a choice of that or integrity of vital public health advice, the latter must come first.' Meanwhile, police are concerned that the row, and Mr Johnson's decision to stand by Mr Cummings, will make it almost impossible to enforce lockdown rules on social distancing. Mike Barton, ex-chief constable of Durham Police, told The Daily Telegraph: 'How on earth are the police supposed to enforce the rules now? Protestors showed up outside Mr Cummings' London home today carrying a sign with a quote from George Orwell's Animal Farm Members of the media congregated outside the home of Mr Cummings' parents in Durham today. A Sky News correspondent is pictured using disinfecting wipes on the keypad after apparently being asked to do so 'If Dominic Cummings can break the rules, we can too!' Fears lockdown will collapse with crowds hitting parks and beaches Sun-worshippers descended on parks and beaches today amid an expected 79F heatwave as they declared, 'If Dominic Cummings can break the rules, we can too' after Boris Johnson's Svengali got away with a 260-mile trip during lockdown. The PM last night defended his senior aide over the journey from London to his parents' home in Durham while he and his wife were self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms, prompting a furious reaction from Britons who have been making huge sacrifices to abide by the restrictions. With parts of the country set to bask in temperatures hotter than Athens, Nice and Barcelona today, critics said that Mr Johnson's decision to stand behind Mr Cummings risked sending out the dangerous signal that 'lockdown is finished' - potentially leading to a second wave of infections. Russell Martin tweeted: 'So are you telling us that the lockdown is now officially over and we can do whatever we like whenever we like? Because if Dominic Cummings can break the rules with impunity, the rest of us can too.' Meanwhile, surfers in Woolacombe, Dorset, claimed they had every right to defy appeals to stay at home from locals at tourist spots, with Jen, 26, from Warwick, telling MailOnline: If Dominic Cummings can travel from London to Durham during the height of lockdown, then really no one can say anything. Her friend, Liching, 26, from London, added: I was a little apprehensive of what the locals would think and worried we might upset them but I've not left my house, except for daily walks, since lockdown started. I feel that if Dominic Cummings thought it was acceptable to drive that distance in lockdown, no one can get upset at us for driving now when the government have also said that it's ok. Some of the Government's scientific advisers also weighed into the debate, with Professor Stephen Reicher saying the PM had 'trashed' all the advice he'd been given, while a former police chief argued that his failure to condemn Cummings meant enforcing lockdown is now 'dead in the water'. This morning, crowds formed outside the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park, as beaches in Sussex, Essex and Dorset quickly filled up with visitors looking to enjoy the dry and sunny conditions forecast to last the whole of Bank Holiday Monday. People in England are now allowed to travel for day trips but must stay at least six feet away from people who are not from their household, something that could be impossible in crowded areas. Advertisement 'What has happened has completely holed the legislation that was introduced to keep people safe below the waterline. It is dead in the water.' Mr Barton told BBC Breakfast today that the PM's chosen course had 'made it exponentially tougher for all those people on the front line... enforcing the lockdown'. 'We are in the middle of a national emergency and people who make the rules cannot break the rules, otherwise we are going to have chaos,' he added. Gloucestershire's independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl echoed a similar sentiment, telling the BBC: 'I think it makes it much harder for the police going forward - this will be quoted back at them time and time again when they try to enforce the new rules. 'But I think more importantly it makes something of a mockery of the police action going back when the message was very, very clear: stay at home.' In a sign of just how difficult the situation facing Number 10 is, the PM has also been criticised by senior Church of England figures. The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, said: 'The question now is: do we accept being lied to, patronised and treated by a PM as mugs? 'The moral question is not for Cummings - it is for PM and ministers/MPs who find this behaviour acceptable.' Members of the public have also expressed their anger with some pointing out that they had missed deaths of loved ones because they had stuck to lockdown rules. One Twitter user published a letter he had sent to his local MP in which he set out his 'rage' at Mr Cummings and detailed that he had been unable to visit his wife in hospital before she died of coronavirus as he adhered to restrictions. Last night's Number 10 press conference was originally due to be taken by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick but Mr Johnson stepped in amid a rising backlash. The PM attempted to use the briefing to draw a line under the row as he insisted Mr Cummings had acted 'with the overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives'. Mr Johnson said his adviser had 'followed the instincts of every father and every parent' in travelling to a place where he could get help caring for his four-year-old son if he and his wife came down with the virus at the same time. The PM denied that Mr Cummings was guilty of double standards, saying he had faced 'very severe child care difficulties' that could only be resolved by leaving his home in London and taking his family to Durham. His wife Mary developed symptoms of the virus in late March and the couple feared they might be unable to care for their young son if Mr Cummings also came down with the illness, which he later did. The family stayed on a property at the farm owned by Mr Cummings parents. In the event they did not need help with child care but did receive food deliveries from his sister while they were isolating for 14 days. The decision to travel hundreds of miles while his wife was ill appeared to break government rules telling families they must stay at home for 14 days as soon as a member of the household develops symptoms. But Mr Johnson said: 'I have concluded that in travelling to find the right kind of childcare, at the moment when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus - and when he had no alternative - I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent. And I do not mark him down for that.' On Saturday, the Government said Mr Cummings had acted 'reasonably and legally' after he drove 260 miles from London to Durham with his wife to self-isolate at the end of March amid the nationwide lockdown. Retired chemistry teacher Robin Lees then claimed he saw Mr Cummings and his family on April 12 walking in the town of Barnard Castle, according to The Guardian and The Mirror. The town is 30 miles from Durham, where the aide had been self-isolating. Mr Lees has reportedly made a complaint to the police. Mr Cummings was photographed back in Downing Street on April 14 before a passerby claimed to have seen him in Houghall bluebell woods near Durham on April 19. No 10 yesterday denied claims that Mr Cummings had made a second visit to Durham after returning to work in No 10. Retired chemistry teacher Robin Lees claimed he saw Mr Cummings and his family on April 12 walking in the town of Barnard Castle, according to The Guardian and The Mirror The footpath next to the river Tess in Barnard Castle where Robin Lees claims to have seen Mr Cummings and his family Mr Cummings was photographed back in Downing Street on April 14. A passerby claimed to have seen him in Houghall bluebell woods near Durham on April 19 Mr Cummings' decision to go to Durham has sparked a debate over adherence to lockdown rules. Beachgoers are pictured enjoying the sunshine in Southend on Sea today Nicola Sturgeon accuses Boris Johnson of choosing 'political interest ahead of public interest' Nicola Sturgeon blasted Boris Johnson today for choosing 'political interest ahead of the public interest' by refusing to sack Dominic Cummings. Scotland's First Minister accused Mr Johnson of jeopardising public health messaging by backing his political adviser over alleged repeated trips to Durham during the lockdown. The First Minister drew comparisons between Mr Cummings' situation and that of Scotland's former chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood, who breached the guidance with two visits to her second home. Ms Sturgeon initially backed Dr Calderwood after the Scottish chief medical officer issued an apology, but was later forced to resign after a public outcry. Ms Sturgeon told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that Mr Cummings should leave his post or risk undermining people's trust that following the coronavirus guidance was a collective effort. 'I'm very concerned and - I say this with a very heavy heart - I really do fear that Boris Johnson has decided to put political interest ahead of the public interest,' she told the radio station. 'The consequences of that are potentially very serious.' Advertisement Prof Reicher, a University of St Andrews academic, had tweeted last night to savage Mr Johnson's performance at the daily Number 10 press conference. 'I can say that in a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control Covid-19,' he said. 'Be open and honest, we said. Trashed. Respect the public, we said. Trashed. Ensure equity, so everyone is treated the same, we said. Trashed. Be consistent we said. Trashed. Make clear 'we are all in it together'. Trashed.' Shortly after the comment was shared, three other government advisers, two from the same committee, echoed Professor Reicher's anger. Susan Michie, professor of health psychology at University College London said: 'I don't want science to be dragged down by association with dishonesty. 'My fear is that science, which is key to getting through this pandemic, will be diminished in the eyes of the public.' Robert West, also part of the advisory group, backed his colleagues as he shared Professor Michie's post. Professor West had earlier tweeted: 'Conservative MPs and supporters must be feeling alarmed at what is going on in government. It is nothing short of a shambles with Trumpian levels of deceit. 'The people of this country are being treated like idiots and I doubt that they will stand for it.' He also implored the public to continue following the guidance on the lockdown, adding: 'There is a natural human tendency to say, 'If someone else can flout it, so can I', but who will suffer? Dominic Cummings won't suffer if we abandon it, the Prime Minister won't suffer it will be the people who we love who will suffer. Adam Kucharski, an epidemiologist on the Government's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, added: 'I spent this weekend refining our contact tracing analysis. 'One of the things that's always stood out is that for these targeted measures to work, we need public adherence to quarantine to be very high. But I fear it's now going to be far more difficult to achieve this.' How retired chemistry teacher holds Dominic Cummings' fate in his hands after spotting him 30 MILES from Durham family home - as Gavin Williamson says PM's aide insists he only made ONE trip during lockdown By David Wilcock, Whitehall Correspondent for MailOnline He is the most powerful unelected figure in the Government, but Dominic Cummings' future as Boris Johnson's indispensable Svengali could rest in the hands of a retired chemistry teacher. Robin Lees and his walk in Barnard Castle on April 12 could prove pivotal in forcing the Prime Minister's hand despite his astonishing defence of his friend, adviser and enforcer last night. The Durham local alleges he saw someone who 'looked like' Mr Cummings at the Teesdale town 30 miles from Durham that day, and the 'distinctive' number plate he took down corresponds to Mr Cummings' car. Mr Cummings, 47, admits he took his wife Mary Wakefield and four-year-old son 260 miles north to his family's farm from London at the end of March, when she was suffering from coronavirus-symptoms. Reasons given have ranged from childcare fears to the death of his uncle, but Mr Johnson said last night he acted with 'integrity' and 'as any father would'. But he and Downing Street have remained silent over an alleged trip out during his northern isolation for a walk in the picturesque village on April 12 - his wife's 45th birthday. Mr Cummings has flatly denied any second trip north in April, despite the claim he was strolling the secluded bluebell glades at Houghall in Country Durham on April 19 - after he had been seen back at work in London. Critics say the first, admitted trip north, during which the police spoke to Mr Cummings' father, broke the lockdown, something Downing Street disputes. The trip to Barnard Castle and the second trip north later in April - when none of the family were ill - would both appear to be clear breaches of the rules being followed by millions of Britons. Were they to be irrefutably proven, even still friendly - or at least silent - Tories may have no option but to demand his head, for lying to the Prime Minister if nothing else. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was sent out to bat for the Government and Mr Cummings today. His comments in interviews today left wriggle room for Mr Johnson to axe him if more revelations come to light that disprove his version of events. Mr Williamson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was his 'understanding' that 'Dominic Cummings made absolutely clear there was only one trip to Durham'. 'I have not had a conversation with Dominic Cummings. The Prime Minister had an extensive discussion with Dominic Cummings yesterday - he did a press conference yesterday,' he added. 'He made it absolutely clear at the press conference that Dominic Cummings had given him the reassurance that no rules or no laws had been broken but I don't have any more details than that.' Pressed on whether he knew if Mr Cummings left the house during his isolation in Durham, Mr Williamson said: 'Dominic Cummings has, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, has at every stage, Dominic Cummings operated within the rules. 'He abided by the rules, he abided by the law and that's what the Prime Minister said yesterday.' The row threatens to cost the Government vital credibility at a time when it is trying to arrange an orderly easing of the lockdown. Mr Cummings (pictured today in London) has flatly denied any second trip north in April, when none of his family were ill Robin Lees says he saw someone who 'looked like' Mr Cummings here in Barnard Castle on April 12, and the 'distinctive' number plate he took down corresponds to Mr Cummings' car Mr Cummings has flatly denied any second trip north in April, despite the claim he was strolling the secluded bluebell glades at Houghall (pictured) in Country Durham on April 19 Mr Williamson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was his 'understanding' that 'Dominic Cummings made absolutely clear there was only one trip to Durham'. Never before has an unelected Government adviser been so powerful and divisive. The Prime Minister's right-hand man and self-proclaimed architect of Brexit, Dominic Cummings, has already been depicted in a TV film by Benedict Cumberbatch and was the subject of a BBC documentary this year. He has seemed to revel in his reputation as the 'dark puppeteer' complete with his scruffy attire, abrupt tone and disdain for the Press. But to many, revelations that he may have breached lockdown rules are a controversial step too far. Here we analyses the allegations against him. March 23: The day Britain was placed into lockdown. Boris Johnson told Britons they should only leave home for one of four reasons: To shop for essential items, to exercise once a day, to travel to and from work where it was 'absolutely necessary' or to fulfil medical or care needs. Those who had any symptoms of coronavirus were told to stay at home for at least seven days. Other members of that household were told they must self-isolate for 14 days. The Government unveiled its message 'Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save lives' which would have been drafted with the help of Mr Cummings. March 27: March 27: Dominic Cummings is pictured running out of Downing Street on the day Mr Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock test positive for coronavirus Mr Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock test positive for coronavirus, while chief medical officer Chris Whitty says he has symptoms of the disease and is self-isolating. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has told the BBC he believes Mr Cummings was last seen in Downing Street on the same day and speculates he may have travelled either on the 27th or 28th. Such a move would have been hugely at odds with Government guidance as Mr Cummings could have looked after their young child in London while his wife recuperated. This was also the day Mr Cummings was seen sprinting out of Downing Street. March 30: Downing Street confirms Mr Cummings is suffering from coronavirus symptoms and is self-isolating. March 31: Parents' home: The home of Cummings's parents in Durham, 260 miles away, which he visited during lockdown Asked about Mr Cummings's health, the Prime Minister's official spokesman tells reporters: 'He's in touch with No10 but he is at home, he is self-isolating, he has some symptoms.' The same day Durham police are 'made aware of reports that an individual had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city'. The force says officers 'made contact with the owners of that address who confirmed that the individual in question was present and was self-isolating in part of the house'. 'In line with national policing guidance, officers explained to the family the arrangements around self-isolation guidelines and reiterated the appropriate advice around essential travel.' Mr Cummings has insisted the Durham trip was necessary for the well-being of his son. The boy would likely have contracted a mild version of the illness, if at all, by staying with his parents. In contrast, Mr Cummings' elderly parents were at a much higher risk of contracting a severe and potentially fatal form of Covid-19 making his actions appear all the more reckless. Family friends have pointed out that his wife, Mary Wakefield, has a brother, Jack, who lives in London with his own young son. She also has a half-brother, Max, who lives in the capital. It has also been suggested it may have been more sensible for a family member to travel from Durham south to help the Cummings. April 5: At around 5.45pm, an unnamed neighbour spotted him in his parents' garden with his son with Abba's Dancing Queen being played in the background. The neighbour said: 'I got the shock of my life. I was really annoyed. I thought 'It's OK for you to drive all the way up to Durham and escape from London'. It's one rule for Dominic Cummings and one rule for the rest of us.' In response to questions last week, No10 said Mr Cummings travelled to Durham as his sister and nieces had volunteered to look after his four-year-old son. At the weekend deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said travelling during lockdown was permissible if 'there was an extreme risk to life' with a 'safeguarding clause' to prevent vulnerable people being stuck at home with no support. She added that a small child could be considered vulnerable. But rather than Mr Cummings' son staying with other family members, he was in fact with his parents in a farmhouse adjoining the main property. Food was left by Mr Cummings' sister at the door. The trip would appear to fly in the face of strict lockdown rules as both parents were showing symptoms and could have taken advantage of help elsewhere in London. March 30 to April 6: The period for which Mr Cummings' wife Mary Wakefield describes the family's battle with coronavirus, in the April 25 issue of the Spectator. She makes no mention of the trip to Durham and describes the challenges of caring for their son while suffering the symptoms of Covid-19, as well as the apparent severity of her husband's illness. 'Day in, day out for ten days he lay doggo with a high fever and spasms that made the muscles lump and twitch in his legs. He could breathe, but only in a limited, shallow way,' she wrote. 'After a week, we reached peak corona uncertainty. Day six is a turning point, I was told: that's when you either get better or head for ICU. 'But was Dom fighting off the bug or was he heading for a ventilator? Who knew? I sat on his bed staring at his chest, trying to count his breaths per minute. 'The little oxygen reader we'd bought on Amazon indicated that he should be in hospital, but his lips weren't blue and he could talk in full sentences, such as: 'Please stop staring at my chest, sweetheart.' April 7: Dominic Cummings continued absence from Downing Street is noticed. Downing Street said at the time that he was working but not from Number 10 and insisted Number 10 is 'fully operational'. April 10: Number 10 is again contacted for comment regarding Mr Cummings' trip by the Guardian. Instead of defending the journey, officials decline to comment. April 12: On April 12, his wife's birthday, Mr Cummings and his family were allegedly spotted 30 miles from Durham in the town of Barnard Castle (pictured above, today). Retired chemistry teacher Mr Lees, 70, said he was 'gobsmacked'. Although Mr Cummings could have theoretically completed a 14-day isolation period to recover from symptoms, the Government guidance were still clear: Stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel. Mr Lees told Sky: 'They looked as if they'd been for a walk by the river. It didn't seem right because I assumed he would be in London. You don't take the virus from one part of the country to another.' Sky News yesterday confirmed the car number plate as belonging to Mr Cummings. April 14: Mr Cummings returns to work for the first time since news he was suffering from coronavirus emerged. Questions are raised about his adherence to social distancing advice as he is photographed walking in Downing Street with fellow aide Cleo Watson. April 19: A witness claimed to have seen Mr Cummings at Houghall Woods, a beauty spot near his parents' home in Durham, on April 19. He was overheard remarking that the bluebells are 'lovely.' The witness said: 'We were shocked and surprised to see him because the last time we did was earlier in the week in Downing Street. 'We thought 'He's not supposed to be here during lockdown'. We thought 'What double standards, one rule for him as a senior adviser to the Prime Minister, another for the rest of us.' When asked yesterday whether he had been to Durham a second time in April, Mr Cummings said: 'No I did not'. The claim is reported by the Observer and Sunday Mirror on May 24. April 25: Like all good journalists, Mary Wakefield did not miss an opportunity to turn personal difficulty into tantalising copy. As commissioning editor of political magazine The Spectator, the baronet's daughter described her and her husband's battle with coronavirus for a late-April edition. She said she initially contracted symptoms before Mr Cummings rushed home and 'collapsed.' She explained: 'I felt breathless, sometimes achy, but Dom couldn't get out of bed. Day in, day out for ten days he lay doggo with a high fever and spasms that made the muscles lump and twitch in his legs. He could breathe, but only in a limited, shallow way.' Then, in a conclusion which contradicts the sightings in Durham, she said the family 'emerged from quarantine into the almost comical uncertainty of London lockdown.' Mr Cummings also gave his own short account of their time together in isolation, branding it 'sticky' - but in reference to their home being 'covered in a layer of spilt Ribena, honey, peanut butter and playschool glue'. May 10: Rumours begin to circulate on social media that Mr Cummings had again been seen in the Durham area. A police source yesterday told the Telegraph officers contacted Mr Cummings' father around this time but were assured the sightings were not true. May 13: The Government lifts the restriction on how far people can drive to reach the countryside and take exercise, but visits and overnight stays to second homes remain prohibited. May 22: News breaks in the Mirror and the Guardian of Mr Cummings' trip to Durham. While there is no comment from Downing Street, close friends of Mr Cummings say: 'He isn't remotely bothered by this story, it's more fake news from the Guardian. There is zero chance of him resigning.' May 23: Downing Street appears to be standing by the PM's chief aide, saying in a statement: 'Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for. 'At no stage was he or his family spoken to by the police about this matter, as is being reported.' Speaking to reporters outside his home, Mr Cummings says: 'I behaved reasonably and legally.' When a reporter suggests his actions did not look good, he replies: 'Who cares about good looks? It's a question of doing the right thing. It's not about what you guys think.' Later at the daily Downing Street briefing, Mr Shapps says Mr Cummings has the PM's 'full support' and that Mr Johnson 'knew that he was unwell and that he was in lockdown'. Mr Shapps says it had always been permissible for families to travel to be closer to relatives as long as they 'go to that location and stay in that location'. Meanwhile, the deputy chief medical officer for England, Jenny Harries, says travelling during lockdown was permissible if 'there was an extreme risk to life', with a 'safeguarding clause' attached to all advice to prevent vulnerable people being stuck at home with no support. In a new statement released later in the evening, Durham police say officers were made aware on March 31 that Mr Cummings was present at an address in the city. The force adds that the following morning an officer spoke with Mr Cummings' father at his own request, and he confirmed his son had travelled with his family to the North East and was 'self-isolating in part of the property'. It says the force 'deemed that no further action was required. However, the officer did provide advice in relation to security issues'. In another evening statement, a No 10 spokeswoman accuses the Mirror and Guardian of writing 'inaccurate' stories about Mr Cummings, including claims that he had returned to Durham after going back to work in Downing Street on April 14. 'We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers,' the spokeswoman says. May 24: Asked by a journalist outside his home whether he had returned to Durham in April, Mr Cummings says: 'No, I did not.' A host of Tory MPs call for him to resign or for Mr Johnson to sack him. But the PM, who fronts the daily Downing Street briefing, firmly backs Mr Cummings, saying his aide acted in the best interests of his child, in a way 'any parent would frankly understand'. He insists Mr Cummings 'acted responsibly, legally and with integrity'. But the PM's comments fail to quell anger among Tory MPs, opposition parties, scientists and even bishops - one of whom accuses Mr Johnson of treating the public 'as mugs'. Durham councillor Amanda Hopgood says she has written to Durham Constabulary's Chief Constable Jo Farrell after being made aware of a number of sightings of Mr Cummings in the area in April and May. Mr Cummings' parents Morag and Robert defend him in an interview with the New Statesman, with his mother saying the family had been grieving after her brother - Lord Justice Laws - died on April 5 after contracting Covid-19 while ill in hospital, and his father saying he was 'disgusted' at the way the press had treated his son during the coverage. May 25: Education Secretary Gavin Williamson adds his support for Mr Cummings, saying he should not resign 'because he has made it clear that he's broken no rules and he's broken no laws'. Gloucestershire's independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl says Mr Cummings' actions make a 'mockery' of police enforcement earlier in the lockdown 'when the message was very, very clear: stay at home'. Tory MP David Warburton says his own father died alone as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, and that the Cummings story gives an impression of 'double standards'. Beach-goers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe on the beach and play in the sea at a packed beach today in Southend, Essex Friends Amy Louise Thomas, 20 and Elli Wilson, 20, enjoying the hot bank holiday weather on Formby beach in Merseyside this morning At least 15 Conservative backbenchers have called for Mr Cummings to go, while several others have spoken out against his actions. Conservative former minister Paul Maynard said he shared people's 'dismay' at the PM's response, and was one of many MPs who insisted Mr Cummings should quit or be sacked. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she fears Mr Johnson is 'putting his political interest ahead of the public interest' and adds that she hopes he will 'reflect further' on the matter. Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner today urges the local chief constable to launch a formal investigation into Dominic Cummings' lockdown visit to the city Acting PCC Steve White writes to Jo Farrell to ask her to probe the facts around Mr Cummings' trip and to determine wether there was 'any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter'. Mr White says there was a 'plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination'. If the chief constable agrees to look into the matter it raises the prospect of the police examining ANPR or phone data to determine the aide's movements. Moscow Russian prosecutors asked a Moscow court on Monday to sentence former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan to 18 years in prison on espionage charges, wrapping up a high-profile trial that has put additional pressure on the country's relations with Washington. Whelan, 50, was arrested at a central Moscow hotel in December 2018. Investigators claim he was caught red-handed after receiving a USB drive containing classified information. Whelan, who also holds British, Irish and Canadian citizenship, has insisted throughout the trial that he was framed by the Federal Security Service (FSB) agent who gave him the drive. Both the prosecution and Whelan's defense teams gave their closing arguments Monday. Whelan pleaded not guilty and asked the court to clear him of all charges, according to his lawyer Olga Karlova. "In his moving closing remarks he spoke about how much he loves Russia and Russian people, and he never wished them ill," Karlova told CBS News after the hearing. Whelan's twin brother David said in a statement last week that he believes there is no real evidence in the case to support the charges, but he doesn't expect an acquittal. "We expect a wrongful conviction and can only hope that the sentence is at the lighter end of the range," he said. U.S. officials have condemned the trial and called for Whelan's release. The trial, which began in March, has been held mostly behind closed doors due to the classified materials in the case. Proceedings continued despite coronavirus-related restrictions imposed across Russia on most businesses. The Kommersant business daily reported, citing an anonymous source at the trial, that Whelan told the court the FSB major, who was a key witness for the prosecution, set him up to avoid repaying a debt of $1,400 (100,000 rubles). Paul Whelan appears in a photo provided by the Whelan family Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen detained in Russia for suspected spying, appears in a photo provided by the Whelan family on January 1, 2019. Handout Story continues At the time of his arrest, Whelan was the director of global security for Michigan-based auto parts supplier BorgWarner. He spent 14 years in the U.S. Marine Corps before being discharged in 2008 for bad conduct, according to the military. He served in Iraq for several months in 2004 and 2006. The Moscow City Court is expected to hand down a verdict on June 15. Taps Across America Firefighters battle massive fire at San Francisco's Fisherman Wharf NASA astronauts conduct trial run before historic launch of SpaceX rocket Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Donald Trumps disdain for the people, country and values his office is supposed to represent is unmatched in recent memory. And he has found in the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, a kindred spirit who has embraced his role as Trumpisms number one proselytizer to the world. Pompeo doesnt wield nearly as much power or have the jurisdiction to inflict damage on as wide a range of issues as the president. Hes not as crass or erratic as Trump, and his Twitter feed seems dedicated more to childish mockery than outright attacks. But when it comes to foreign policy, Pompeos penchant for undermining Americas credibility is top-notch. At Pompeos recommendation, Trump fired the state departments inspector general, who is supposed to be an independent investigator charged with looking into potential wrongdoing inside the department. Steve Linick was just the latest in a series of inspectors general across the government that Trump had fired in an attempt to hide the misconduct of his administration but it also shone a spotlight on how Pompeo has undermined his agency. Related: Watchdog was investigating Pompeo for arms deal and staff misuse before firing According to news reports, Pompeo was being investigated by the inspector general for bypassing Congress and possibly breaking the law in sending weapons to Saudi Arabia, even though his own department and the rest of the US government advised against the decision. He was also supposedly organizing fancy dinners paid for by taxpayers with influential businesspeople and TV personalities that seemed geared more towards supporting Pompeos political career than advancing US foreign policy goals. And he was reportedly being scrutinized for using department personnel to conduct personal business, such as getting dry cleaning and walking his dog. But these revelations merely reaffirm a pattern of activities by Pompeo unbecoming of the nations top diplomat. When the House of Representatives was in the process of impeaching Trump over his attempt to extort Ukraine for personal political purposes an act that Pompeo was aware of Pompeo defended Trump while throwing under the bus career state department officials, like the ousted US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who spoke out. Pompeo has regularly ignored Congress, withholding documents from lawmakers including during the Ukraine impeachment investigation and refusing to appear for testimony. In 2019, the IG released a report detailing political retaliation against career state department officials being perpetrated by Trump officials. And Pompeo has spent considerable time traveling to Kansas and conducting media interviews there, fueling speculation that he has been using his position to tee up a run for the Senate, a violation of the Hatch Act. Story continues Pompeo is a natural Trumpist. In her fantastic profile of the secretary of state, Susan Glasser notes of his first congressional race: Pompeo ran a nasty race against the Democrat, an Indian-American state legislator named Raj Goyle, who, unlike Pompeo, had grown up in Wichita. Pompeos campaign tweeted praise for an article calling Goyle a turban topper, and a supporter bought billboards urging residents to Vote American Vote Pompeo. Later, as a member of Congress, Pompeo made a name for himself by helping to fabricate the Benghazi conspiracy theories that shamelessly used the memory of a deceased foreign service officer to undermine the state department. Trump is undermining American leadership in incalculable ways, and Pompeo has weaponized the state department on the presidents behalf. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Next to Trumps assault on US values, Pompeos role as top Trump lackey may seem insignificant. But the secretary of state is often the most senior US official that other countries and publics hear from on any number of issues. Even with Trump in the Oval Office, a secretary of state that was committed to the constitution - not Trump - would at least be able to fight for the values that US foreign policy should embody, and shield the departments day-to-day business from Trumps outbursts. The work that department professionals conduct around the world helping American citizens abroad get home in the early days of the pandemic or coordinating assistance to other countries to cope with the coronavirus is vital to American national security, and at the core of the image that America projects abroad. Trump is undermining American leadership in incalculable ways, and Pompeo has weaponized the state department on his behalf The world today needs principled and active US leadership as much as ever. In a normal world, the US secretary of state would be working through international organizations like the WHO to lead the response to the coronavirus, not threatening to withdraw from the global body. The secretary would be pushing for robust foreign assistance to help other countries fight the pandemic, not cutting funding. They would be trying to find a path that balances working with China on responding to the pandemic with pushing back on the Chinese Communist partys disturbing behavior like signaling it may end Hong Kongs autonomy instead of scapegoating China. But Trump is undermining American leadership in incalculable ways, and Pompeo has weaponized the state department on the presidents behalf. Like Trump, Pompeos behavior is sending signals to other countries that the US government is acting more like the autocratic and corrupt regimes that Pompeo so regularly calls out. As Trump hurls daily attacks on the media, Pompeo has taken to berating journalists. These assaults by Americas leaders on the free press are giving cover to dictators around the world to criticize their countries media. Firing government watchdogs who are investigating top officials is exactly the kind of behavior that the United States would normally criticize in its annual human rights reports. The fish, they say, rots from the head. And Pompeo, like his boss, is actively undermining the values embodied by the state department, its professionals and the Americans they represent. The Trump administration on Sunday suspended the entry of travelers from Brazil citing widespread human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus there and the threat infected individuals from there pose to the United States, which is staring at the grimmest of Covid-19 records of 100,000 deaths. The travel ban goes into effect from Friday and applies to immigrants and non-immigrants from Brazil, same as earlier orders suspending travelers from China, Iran, the Schengen area, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Citing the World Health Organization, which the United States has threatened to defund if it does not fix its China skew, the White House said in an official proclamation Brazil is currently number three in the world in number of infections at 310,087 (its No 2 at 363,211, according to the Johns Hopkins University Covid-19 tracker, behind only the United States). The potential of infected people from Brazil entering the United States undetected, President Donald Trump said in the proclamation issued under his name and seal, threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security. Trump has touted his ban on travel from China, effective February 2, as the lynchpin of his administrations response to the coronavirus outbreak, as he continues to be accused of a later a delayed and botched response. US fatalities from Covid-19 stood Monday morning at 97,722, just shy of the 100,000 mar, up by 633 over the past 24 hours. Infections went up by 20,634 over the same period to 1.66 million. President Trump, who has called himself a cheerleader for keeping up the spirits of Americans during these times of despair and despondency with his optimism, tried to focus on the positives. Cases, numbers and deaths are going down all over the Country! he wrote on twitter Sunday morning, which is true, but so is the eventuality of the US crossing 100,000, accounting for a third of the toll worldwide, which he did not acknowledge. The US president has sought to shift as much of the blame for the outbreak away from himself and his administration as he can, with an eye on the November elections. He has accused China of being slow to alert the world and threatened to punish the WHO for helping China cover up its alleged mishandling of the epidemic from the start, and downplaying it. Robert OBrien, the US national security adviser, told an NBC TV interviewer Sunday China unleashed a virus on the world thats destroyed trillions of dollars in American economic wealth that were having to spend to keep our economy alive, to keep Americans afloat during this virus. The cover-up that they did of the virus is going to go down in history, along with Chernobyl, he added, referring to the worlds worst nuclear disaster yet at a nuclear plant in erstwhile Soviet Unions Ukraine in 1986. Moscow is alleged to have covered up the exact extent of the devastation. Truck loses food pantries along Costa Maya highway Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R. A truck loaded with food pantries that was heading to the municipality of Jose Maria Morelos ended up losing its load in the Costa Maya municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto. The truck ended up accidentally dumping the pantries, which were scattered across the asphalt along the federal highway. Dozens of motorists who were held up in the long line of traffic, stopped to help the driver collect the food baskets which are still being delivered to the needy due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. Police were also on scene to help collect the scattered packages of food destined for families in Jose Maria Morelos. There were no injuries reported in the incident. The Senate chamber as the Louisiana Legislature convened at 11 am for a short time to move bills on legal calendar and to introduce contingency measures for budget and capital outlay Tuesday March 31, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. Everyone was sitting with a space between them and keeping the social distance guidelines. 25 May 2020 Type Media Article A simple tool that can be used by farmers to assess the impact of low milk prices on their farm is to calculate the breakeven point. Patrick Gowing has advice and information on how to do this calculation. In any downturn on milk price some farms may experience cash flow difficulties. It is important for each farm to establish the impact of low milk prices on their farm. A simple tool that can be used is calculating the farms Breakeven Point. This will help identify at what point the farm may have cash flow issues. The breakeven milk point is the base milk price (milk price at 3.3% protein and 3.6% fat) your farm requires to be in a neutral cash position for the year. That is where the cash out and cash in for the farm business including family drawings, bank commitments and taxation are equal. If your breakeven milk price is above what you expect milk price to be in 2020 (using a conservative estimate) there is a requirement to take action immediately within the business, if it is below the expected milk price there is less urgent action needed. Breakeven milk point calculator The breakeven milk point calculator helps farmers to establish their breakeven point for their farm each year. This will help indicate at what price their farm may have cash flow issues. To calculate your breakeven milk price download the Breakeven Calculator View video below for an example of how to use the calculator LIDL is planning to open a new store at the Dock Road, the Limerick Leader can exclusively reveal today. This is hot on the heels of Aldi unveiling plans to open in Roches Street. Its rival German discounter has confirmed to this newspaper a planning application is imminent for a site in the Dock Road. The site in question is at the former National Rusk Factory, which is located at the junction of the Dock Road and St Alphonsus Street. Local Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney welcomed the application, but urged that it must fit into an overall plan to develop the docklands area in Limerick. There was a plan to develop the docklands for office space and accommodation. How is this going to fit into this plan, he asked, Any investment is welcome. But it's important that it links in with this. The building has been largely empty since June 2013 when the Kerry Group acted to close down the National Rusk Factory. It had provided seasonings and other food materials to suppliers across Limerick for more than 60 years. The large site was opened by the family of former mayor Ted Russell, who brought the business over from Edinburgh. A Lidl spokesperson confirmed: Lidl is in advanced talks around the Dock Road site in Co Limerick and can confirm that a planning submission is imminent. Its understood pre-planning meetings have been held with council bosses on this basis. However, business sources have indicated Lidl may face challenges around vehicular access to the site from the Dock Road, which at normal times would be a busy arterial route into the city centre. Lidl will no doubt be hopeful of picking up traffic coming in from the county, however. As with Aldis announcement last week, its likely Lidl will also face opposition from smaller retailers. Cllr McSweeney says its important Limerick Council properly engages with them around this application. He said: I think, in the past, Limerick Council has not engaged enough with the traders in my view. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Jock Zonfrillo has revealed that he was forced to be apart from his wife for a number of weeks while in lockdown on the set of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win. Speaking to New Idea this week, the judge says he had never been away from his third wife, Lauren Fried, for more than a day. To make things more difficult, Lauren is currently heavily pregnant, with the couple's second child due in September. Close: In an interview with New Idea, Jock Zonfrillo has revealed that he was forced to be apart from his third wife, Lauren Fried, for a number of weeks while in lockdown on the set of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win in Melbourne. Both pictured The 43-year-old told the publication: 'We had to spend five weeks apart because I was in Melbourne filming MasterChef and she and the kids isolated at our place in Adelaide because it has acreage'. Jock has two daughters, Ava, 19, and Sophia, 14, from previous relationships, and shares son Alfie, two, with Lauren, who he married in January 2017. He added: 'I've never been away from my wife for more than a night. I've never been happier to see everybody than when we got to reunite recently.' Distance: To make things more difficult, Lauren is currently heavily pregnant, with the couple's second child due in September. The couple married in January 2017 The 43-year-old told the publication: 'We had to spend five weeks apart. I've never been away from my wife for more than a night. I've never been happier to see everybody than when we got to reunite recently' The Scottish chef added that he relishes being a father, explaining: 'I always wanted to be a dad. It's a way of life. I couldn't imagine life without kids.' On Monday's episode of MasterChef Jock explained that social distancing rules would be going into effect on the set of the cooking show due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He told the cast: 'Welcome to a brand new week and a whole new world. A lot has changed in recent days due to the coronavirus. None of us have ever experienced anything like this before. But we are all in this together. Family: Jock shares son Alfie, two, with Lauren. Both pictured 'Therefore, there's a few rules that I wanna speak to you about. In and out of this kitchen. So we're gonna do things a little bit differently from now on in here.' He added: 'You might notice we're standing a little bit further apart. That's the first new rule. You must keep a safe distance from each other at all times. Got it?' The new measures include no farewell group hugs or high-fives, spacing between contestants, no cutlery or plates shared and additional sinks for washing hands. MasterChef continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten IDFC First Bank on Monday said that it's senior management has volunteered to take a 10 per cent cut in compensation in FY21. The bank's chief executive officer (CEO) V Vaidyanathan is taking a 30 per cent cut, including fixed and allowances, IDFC First Bank said in an exchange filing. "Such paycut forms part of the Bank's austerity measures which start at the top.Further, we feel the pain our customers, big, small, micro enterprises and people at large are going through, and we also want to be empathetic to the situation," Vaidyanathan said. The bank also said that it has honoured all offers that were made to new hires before the pandemic including lateral and 550 management trainees. It has paid 100 per cent of the variable pay to 78.2 per cent of its employees for FY20, it noted. "The Bank also paid 100% of the variable pay to 78.2% of employees for the period pertaining to FY 19-20 despite the arrival of the pandemic. Variable pay for FY 19-20 was cut more, progressively, for employees with greater seniority, and bonus for senior management was cut by 65% of the eligible amount," it said. IDFC FIRST Bank's employees voluntarily contributed one day's salary amounting to Rs. 3.29 crore to the PM CARES Fund. In addition, the Bank contributed Rs 5 crore to the PM CARES Fund to support the nation's fight against coronavirus. Earlier in May, Kotak Mahindra Bank had announced a 10 per cent cut in salaries for employees earning over Rs 25 lakh per year. Also read: Delhi heat wave: Red alert for NCR, Punjab, Haryana; temp to reach 47 degrees Also read: Domestic flights resume: Returning to your hometown? Check out guidelines, quarantine rules Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2020 - 14:36 | All, Japan Japan is watching the situation in Hong Kong "with strong concern" after demonstrators took to the streets to protest China's plan to enact a controversial security law, the top government spokesman said Monday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference that a free and open system ought to be maintained in Hong Kong under the "one country, two systems" framework, adding the semi-autonomous region should be allowed to thrive in "a democratic and stable manner." "We are closely following developments regarding deliberations on the bill and protests in Hong Kong with strong concern," Suga said. "We hope that the Chinese side will address this issue in a sensible way." Hong Kong police on Sunday used tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of demonstrators decrying China's proposal of a bill that would crack down on what Beijing considers subversive activity in the former British colony, the scene of violent large-scale protests since last June. As tensions between China and the United States heighten over a range of issues including the true origin of the coronavirus pandemic and the situation in Hong Kong, Suga said the nations must develop a stable relationship to safeguard regional and international peace and stability. U.S. President Donald Trump has been stepping up his anti-Chinese rhetoric, warning of reacting "very strongly" to Beijing's planned national security law. China hit back, saying a "political virus" is spreading in the United States. "Every opportunity, this political virus is used to attack and discredit China," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday during a press conference on the sidelines of the country's annual legislative meetings. Related coverage: Hong Kong police fire tear gas, water cannon at protestors China's declaring security law in Hong Kong draws global concern Japan calls for free, open Hong Kong as China eyes security bill [May 25, 2020] JEOL: Release of a New Schottky Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope JSM-IT800 JEOL Ltd. (TOKYO:6951) (President & COO Izumi Oi) announces the release of a new Schottky field emission scanning electron microscope, JSM-IT800 in May 2020. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200524005002/en/ JSM-IT800 (Photo: Business Wire) Development Background Scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) are used in various fields, such as nanotechnology, metals, semiconductors, ceramics, medicine, and biology. As SEM applications are expanding from research and development to quality control and product inspection at manufacturing sites, SEM users are in need of faster high-quality data acquisition and simple compositional information confirmation with seamless operation. To meet these demands, the JSM-IT800, with the Intelligence Technology (IT) platform, incorporates our In-lens Schottky Plus field emission electron gun for high resolution imaging to fast elemental mapping, and an innovative electron optical control system "Neo Engine", as well as a seamless GUI "SEM Center" for full integration of a JEOL energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS (News - Alert)). Furthermore, the JSM-IT800 offers two versions with two types of objective lens: the Hybrid Lens (HL) for general-purpose SEM and the Super Hybrid Lens (SHL) for enhanced resolution observation and various analyses. Moreover, the SHL version coms with a new Upper Hybrid Detector (UHD) realizing higher signal-to-noise ratio images. A new Scintillator Backscattered Electron Detector (SBED) and a Versatile Backscattered Electron Detector (VBED) are also available with the JSM-IT800. Features 1. In-lens Schottky Plus field emission electron gun Enhanced integration of the electron gun and low-aberration condenser lens provides higher brightness. Ample probe current is available at low accelerating voltage (100 nA at 5 kV). The unique In-lens Schottky Plus system enables various applications from high resolution imaging to fast elemental mapping, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, and soft X-ray emission spectroscopy (SXES), without the requirement to change lens conditions. 2. Neo Engine (New Electron Optical Engine) Neo Engine is a cutting-edge electron optical system that accumulates JEOL core technologies of many years. Users can perform stable observation even when changing observation or analytical conditions. High operability for automatic functions is further enhanced. 3. SEM Center / EDS Integration A GUI "SEM Center" is fully integrated as well as JEOL EDS for seamless and intuitive operations. The JSM-IT800 can be enhanced by incorporating optional software add-ons, such as SMILENAVI to assist novice users and the LIVE-AI filter (Live Image Visual Enhancer - AI) for a higher quality of live images. 4. Hybrid Lens (HL) version and Super Hybrid Lens (SHL) version Based on a combination of the electrostatic and electromagnetic-field lens, two types of objective lens versions are available to satisfy various needs of users, achieving high spatial resolution imaging and analysis of a broad range of samples, from magnetic materials to insulators, with the features of the JSM-IT800. 5. Upper Hybrid Detector (UHD) The UHD, built into the objective lens for the SHL version, greatly improves detection efficiency, leading to acquisition of images with a higher signal-to-noise ratio. 6. New Backscattered Electron Detectors The Scintillator Backscattered Electron Detector (SBED, optional) has high responsiveness and is suitable to acquire material-contrast images at low accelerating voltage. The Versatile Backscattered Electron Detector (VBED, optional) with a segmented detector element design, allows the user for the choice to configure the individual segments or use preprogrammed detector settings to acquire images with three-dimensional, topographical, or compositional information. Sales target 1) JSM-IT800 SHL version: 90 units/year 2) JSM-IT800 HL version: 50 units/year JEOL Ltd. 3-1-2, Musashino, Akishima, Tokyo, 196-8558, Japan Izumi Oi, President & COO (Stock code: 6951, Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section) www.jeol.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200524005002/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Canadian REITs have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly those which own retail and hotel real estate. However, this shouldnt deter you from adding REITs to your portfolio with many Canadian REITs now trading at attractive valuations. One which stands out is NorthWest Healthcare Properties (TSX:NWH.UN). The REIT has seen its stock plunge 16% since the start of 2020. This has created an attractive opportunity for investors seeking to boost capital returns and income. Quality REIT NorthWest Healthcare owns a globally diversified portfolio of 183 medical properties in Canada, Brazil, Australia and Western Europe. Despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the company reported some solid first quarter 2020 numbers. These included a 5% year-over-year increase in net operating income (NOI) and adjusted funds from operations (AFFO). Net income soared to $116 million compared to a $54 million net loss for the equivalent period in 2019. Notably, Northwest Healthcare finished the first quarter with a 97% occupancy rate and weighed average lease to expiry of 14 years. That highlights the quality and hence demand for the REITs properties while boding well for earnings. Solid financial position NorthWest Healthcare finished the first quarter in a healthy financial position. It had $96 million of cash on its balance sheet and $2.7 billion of debt. That level of debt is manageable, as indicated by Northwest Healthcares debt to gross book value of 49.5%. Along with NorthWest Healthcare bolstering its liquidity through strategic asset sales, which will generate $145 million, it is well positioned to survive the pandemic in good shape. Nevertheless, the pandemic will impact NorthWest Healthcares second-quarter results. For the month of May, 84% of gross rent payments had been met but rent deferral agreements were being conducted with tenants. Attractively valued REIT with solid growth ahead NorthWest Healthcare, after seeing its stock plunge sharply because of the coronavirus pandemic, is trading at a deep 25% discount to its normalized net asset value (NAV) of $12.50 per unit, underscoring the considerable capital gains ahead and why now is the time to buy NorthWest Healthcare. Story continues According to investment bank Goldman Sachs U.S. hedge funds are boosting their exposure to healthcare stocks to record levels. This is in response to the profits that can be made by many hedge funds that have made poor investment decisions over the last decade. The pandemic has substantially bolstered demand for healthcare, medications and medical services. It has also highlighted many of the weaknesses in many countries, which will likely lead to greater depending on healthcare infrastructure. Both will serve as powerful tailwinds for Northwest Healthcare. Aging populations in many developed nations where NorthWest Healthcare operates including Canada, Australia, Germany and the U.K. will also propel earnings higher over the long term. Notably, demand for healthcare and medical services is relatively inelastic making Northwest Healthcares earnings resistant to the economic fallout from the coronavirus and economic slumps. Foolish takeaway NorthWest Healthcare is a best-in-class investment among Canadian REITs. It will emerge from the current crisis in solid shape and go onto to deliver significant value. While waiting for the companys stock to appreciate, youll be rewarded by its monthly distribution yielding 8%. While the payment is under pressure because of weaker earnings, NorthWest Healthcares payout ratio of AFFO has been gradually falling to be 100% on a diluted basis. This indicates that unless there is a sharp impact on Northwest Healthcares earnings, it will maintain the distribution. The post 1 Top Canadian REIT to Beat Coronavirus appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor Matt Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends NORTHWEST HEALTHCARE PPTYS REIT UNITS. 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 Author Introduction Im going to lean into the Smexy brand here and share my skinny dipping scene. What is smarter or sexier than skinny dipping? When you dont wear a swimsuit you dont have to worry about drying it so that has the added bonus of not needing to do laundry which is probably good for the environment. So all that is firmly in the smart column. Now for an M/M romance with a skinny dipping scene in a crystal clear spring-fed stream we are going to have to deal with a word I like almost less than co-morbidity shrinkage. Lets face this truth head on and be patient. The right combination of glistening beads of perspiration on sunlit muscles, intimate pre-dip conversation about forgiveness and culmination of years of unrequited love can make shrinkage an obstacle easily overcome. Nothing to worry about. The Hideaway Inn is the first book in my Seasons of New Hope series. I hope youll leave your swimsuit on shore and jump in. Excerpt I grab the rock above me and were face to face. Naked. Ive gotten a lot off my chest today and it makes me feel light and open to anything. I kick my legs back and forth underneath me and the frigid cold of the deeper water swirls around my lower body while the humidity engulfs my head and all of the body parts above the water. The contrast almost makes me dizzy. I tread water just looking at Vince. He seems more naked today than he has since he showed up and not just because he isnt wearing any clothes. The macho bravado that kept him at a distance seems to have weakened a bit. His hair droops over his forehead and he isnt wearing a fitted dress shirt that has been perfectly tailored to stretch over ever thick muscle in his arms. Vince dips under the water and when he bobs up he pushes his hair back from his face and the water drips off his thick stubble. He bites his lip and I can tell he is fighting a gentle smile. He loses and the corners of his mouth push across his face. I smile back but I dont make any attempt to hide it. I let it shine across my face. I want him to know how happy I am to be here with him, for us to be together like this. Thank you, for letting me open up about myself. No problem, he says a bit more coldly than I would like. But I cant let this moment pass without letting him know how much it means to me. I want to show him. I plunge under the water and the let the cold deliver a jolt to my entire body. When I rise out of the water my mouth searches for his and I kiss him on the lips. At first he is tentative. Im sure its a surprise but also not really a surprise. I flash to my hand almost touching his in the truck, the way he looked at me on the side of the road, his eyes through the crack in the door during my first long shower in the suite. As my tongue gently moves against his lips I feel his mouth open. His tongue moves past mine and as soon as we are connected my whole body responds. He turns his head to the side and I turn mine in the opposite direction so we can go deeper. We both have an arm stretched above holding the rock and our feet are paddling to keep us afloat. Our mouths are connected. I take my free arm and go to hold him but he dissolves in front of me, dipping down below the surface. It feels like Im waking up from a dream but he appears again. The water drips down his face and off his nose and chin and he looks at me with confusion but I can tell there is a smile growing in his face. He might be fighting it but there is no denying it. Vince and I are locked together finally. I cant stop exploring his mouth with my own, going deeper inside him and unlocking places I never thought I would explore. We tread water facing each other. The sunlight bounces and refracts as it hits the ripples in the stream. A rush of wind rustles the leaves and birds call out to each other in the distance. There is a world of life around us but in this moment all that is in front of me is Vince. Im glad you decided to move back, I say. He smiles at me as the sunshine makes the water dripping off his face look like shiny diamonds. Right now hes just my old pal Vinny. Or maybe hes more than that. About the Book High school wasnt the right time or place for their relationship to grow, but now, fifteen years later, a chance encounter changes both of their lives forever. No one in the charming river town of New Hope, Pennsylvania, needs to know that Vince Amato plans on flipping The Hideaway Inn to the highest bidder and returning to his luxury lifestyle in New York City. He needs to make his last remaining investment turn a profiteven if that means temporarily relocating to the quirky small town where he endured growing up. Hes spent years reinventing himself and wont let his past dictate his future. But on his way to New Hope, Vince gets stuck in the middle of nowhere and his past might be the only thing that can get him to his future. Specifically Tack OLeary, the gorgeous, easygoing farm boy who broke his heart and who picks Vince up in his dilapidated truck. Tack comes to the rescue not only with a ride but also by signing on to be the chef at The Hideaway for the summer. As Vince and Tack open their hearts to each other again, Vince learns that being true to himself doesnt mean shutting down a second chance with Tackit means starting over and letting love in. One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance youre looking for with an HEA/HFN. Its a promise! Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories featuring beloved romance tropes, where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters. A new Carina Adores title is available each month: Buy Links Amazon B&N iTunes Kobo Google About Philip William Stover Philip William Stover splits his time between Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and New York City. He has an MFA in writing and is a clinical professor at New York University where he is the former chair of the writing curriculum. As a freelance journalist, his essays and reviews have appeared in Newsday, The Forward, The Tony Awards, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and other national publications. Philip grew up tearing the covers off the romance novels he devoured so he wouldnt get teased at school. Now he enjoys traveling the world with his husband of over twenty years and sitting in front of the woodstove with their half-Bassett, half-Sharpei rescue pup and he would never consider defacing any of the books he loves. He is thrilled to be returning to romance and loves to write cozy, warm-hearted stories served by hairy forearms with a side of fries. He can be found on social media as Philip William Stover. Connect with Philip William Stover Website: https://www.philipwilliamstover.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/PWStover Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipwilliamstover/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philipwilliamstover Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19293791.Philip_William_Stover Like this: Like Loading... Domestic air travel resumed in the country on Monday, after a gap of two months and the first flyers experienced the revised protocol of entering the airport at Delhi. Those who took first flights included paramilitary personnel, army men, students and migrants, who failed to book a ticket on special trains being run by the railways, reported news agency PTI. Aamir Afzal, a mechanical engineer from Patna, who had come to Delhi on an official visit on March 23, was among those who took the flights to celebrate Eid with family and friends. I had been staying in a hotel in Mahipalpur with my co-worker. The hotel charged us 900 per day. We could not get a confirmed ticket on a train back home, he told PTI. Many said they shelled out more to reach the airport as there were limited public transport options available. The air travel was stopped and all flights grounded since March 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The flights to Mumbai and Patna were among the first to take off on Monday morning. Both the flights are operated by private carrier IndiGo. The airline staff members, who reached the Delhi airport early on Monday, said they are worried but work comes first. We are a little worried but work comes first. We will get PPE kits from the airline, said Amandeep Kaur, a flight attendant. Passengers were screened using a thermometre gun at Delhi airport before boarding Vistara flight to Bhubaneswar (Odisha). The food & beverage (F&B) and retail outlets, which were closed for the past 63 days, opened at Terminal 3 of Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The flight services resumed after a day of long and hard negotiations between the Centre and the states on Sunday. All states finally agreed to accept at least some flights but announced varied quarantine and self-isolation rules for arriving passengers to address misgivings about infections being brought in from other cities. Instead of following the national guidelines issued by the Union government for all departing and disembarking passengers, many of the states chose to set their own rules: Karnataka, for instance, requires mandatory institutional quarantine for passengers from worst-affected states, while Punjab and Meghalaya have made a swab test mandatory for arrivals. Some other states, such as Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh, said that only state residents will be allowed to enter the city from the airports. Three states - Maharashtra, West bengal and Tamil Nadu - urged the Centre to reconsider the decision to allow domestic flight operations to resume as it could lead to a spike in infections. On Sunday, the ministry held several discussions with these states and airline representatives. On Sunday evening, the ministry announced that some 50 flights will operate from Mumbai. Flights to and from West Bengal will resume on May 28. After initially seeking time till May 31, Tamil Nadu came on board with the Union governments plan early on Sunday. It was a frightening moment for actor Devoleena Bhattacharjee, who received death threats on social media last month for supporting actor Rashami Desai in her fight against her ex-boyfriend Arhaan Khan. The actor immediately raised her voice by not only filing a police complaint but also tweeting about it. To @MumbaiPolice @MahaCyber1 please look into this message where i am getting killing threats from this lady.Urge you to take action against it asap. pic.twitter.com/EFYCIks5FJ Devoleena Bhattacharjee (@Devoleena_23) April 21, 2020 It is necessary to complain because blocking them is not a solution. Trolls can easily make a separate account to continue to bully you. This woman was not from India and she was trolling many other people, not just me. But after filing the police complaint, and blocking her, I havent got any more such messages. I do get calls from the police station sometimes to update on this case, she says. Commenting on the recent Bois Locker Room incident, Bhattacharjee, feels that every person, who is facing threats and cyberbullying, should raise their voice. Its important to expose such people and incidents. The mentality they have needs to be reformed and I wonder what kind of environment they have been brought up in. Whats the use for them to be on Twitter if they cant do anything good? They only gang up to troll and spread negativity, she says. And as if all this negativity wasnt enough to shake her confidence, a Covid-19 case cropped up in her building last week. The scariest aspect was that the house help, who used to work at my place, was also working at the Covid-19 positive patients house. He has been sent to self-quarantine at some other place. The entire building is sealed and were inside our house for a 14-day self-quarantine. Whenever I need something, I tell the guards, and they get it for me, says the actor, 34. While Bhattacharjee is grateful that she is safe and the virus didnt spread any further, the fear of Covid-19 always lurks in the head. Follow @htshowbiz for more Pipeline 25 May 2020 The PuYun Hotel and Spa's scheduled opening in 2022 will add to URC's global portfolio of award-winning ultra-luxury hotels and resorts, including The PuLi Hotel and Spa, Shanghai, The PuXuan Hotel and Spa, Beijing and The RuMa Hotel and Residences, Kuala Lumpur, with eight further properties under development in Dubai, Bangkok, Phuket, Kota Kinabalu, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Xi'An and S hanghai. Located 45 kilometres northeast of Zhejiang province's capital Hangzhou and 130 kilometres southwest of Shanghai, The PuYun derives its name from the Chinese characters for beautiful un-carved jade; one that has been hidden away in the earth (mountain). Bearing the healing and restorative properties of its namesake, the resort will serve to invigorate both physically and emotionally those who discover it, offering a transcendent experience for guests in search of rejuvenation. Moganshan's cool mountain air and idyllic, natural setting has been drawing Shanghai's elites and their families from as early as the 1800s as a reprieve from the sweltering summer heat, thus earning its moniker "Hamptons of China". A dense bamboo forest, rolling tea plantations and serene lakes dominate the ethereal mountain landscape that has entranced so many that came before, providing a fitting all-year round escape for those seeking time off-the-rada r and the perfect foil for URC's one-of-a-kind, contextual interpretations of storied destinations in a luxurious resort setting. World-renowned British architect Sir David Chipperfield, sought after for his numerous award-winning masterpieces of startling simplicity and clarity of design, will honour the cultural narrative of the hotel's exceptional surrounds, while celebrating the natural beauty of its setting with his characteristic sensibility. The philosophy follows through the resort's interior, brought to life by long-time URC collaborator, Shanghai-based design firm MQ-studio. Each area within the resort exemplifies URC's hallmark design principles of a luxuriously understated, contemporary and soothing aesthetic, uniquely crafted with distinct accents of its colourful and rich natural environment, all while blending the interiors with architecture and nature within. The region's vibrant past and present as well as its artisan tr aditions will be transported into the context of today, allowing guests of The PuYun unprecedented access to the emotional properties of the environment through all aspects of the hotel, including the food and beverage and wellness offerings as well as the countless activities offered to its guests. URC's proprietary UR SPA will provide an all-encompassing wellness journey along with a yoga pavilion, two swimming pools and a fitness centre. Two restaurants and a lobby lounge will showcase resolutely local provenance, paired with exciting gastronomic innovations while discrete meeting, event, retail and wedding spaces will establish the hotel as the destination for holidaymakers and business travellers looking to escape from the hurried pace of city life. As with all of URC's properties, be it in Shanghai, Beijing or Kuala Lumpur, The PuYun embraces the guest experience philosophy of Hostmanship, premised on a guest-centric experience underpinned by genuine and intuitive care, with services designed around their needs. 24-hour check-in and check-out allows guests to linger longer while taking advantage of the many generous benefits including complimentary breakfast, high-speed WIFI, mini bar replenished daily, pressing services and much more. A Kentucky couple were killed in a car accident on their way home from watching their son graduate from high school over the weekend. Nancy Barnett and her husband Lyndon died in the fatal collision just moments after their son Dalton received his high school diploma from Fleming County High School, in Flemingsburg, on Saturday morning. Dalton, 18, was injured in the crash alongside his brother, 26-year-old Michael Barnett, who are both currently being treated at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. The extent of their injuries remains unclear, though family friends have said both of the brothers required 'urgent surgery' and are now recovering. Fleming County High Principal Stephanie Emmons announced the tragic incident in a statement posted to the schools Facebook page, in which she asked members of the local community to uplift this family. There was a car accident involving he and his family shortly after his graduation ceremony, Emmons wrote. We have learned that his mother, Nancy Barnett, and his father, Lyndon Barnett, both passed away as a result of the accident. Nancy (pictured with Lyndon), 53, had been driving the familys car near the intersection of Ky.-11 and Ky.-599 at 9:15am on Saturday morning when it collided with a pick-up truck as she was making a left turn They were killed just moments after their son Dalton received his high school diploma from Fleming County High School Nancy, 53, had been driving the familys car near the intersection of Ky.-11 and Ky.-599 at 9:15am on Saturday morning when it collided with a pick-up truck as she was making a left turn, Kentucky State Police said. The family had been on their way to a celebratory breakfast when the fatal accident occured, friends of the family have said. Nancy was pronounced dead at the scene, while Lyndon, 56, died shortly after being transported to hospital. The driver of the pick-up truck, 52-year-old Anthony Bailey, and his passenger, Nancy Bailey, were unharmed in the incident, police said. An investigation is currently underway to determine precisely how the collision occurred. A DailyMail.com request for more information regarding the fatal crash has not yet been returned by the state police department. Nancy Barnett was said to be ecstatic to watch her son graduate on Saturday, even wearing a shirt to the ceremony that read: Senior Mom: Some people wait their entire lives to meet their inspiration. I raised mine. Class of 2020, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. This speaks volumes to the kind of mother Nancy was and to the Barnetts and how proud they were of their family, Emmons and Fleming Superintendent Brian Creasman said in a joint statement. The Barnetts mean a lot to our Fleming County Community and we will be here to support Dalton and his brother as they face the difficult times ahead. Dalton, 18, was injured in the crash alongside his brother, 26-year-old Michael Barnett (center), who are both currently being treated at the University of Kentucky Medical Center Nancys final Facebook post featured a picture of a beaming Dalton, dressed in his graduation cap and gown, with a caption that said, So proud of my senior. Emmons and Fleming described Dalton as a sweet young man who has aspirations to serve in the US Military. He is always a joy to be around and his family has always been very proud of him, the two educators wrote. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and a number of other state officials have reached out to the school to offer their assistance and payers, Emmons said. Our faith tells us to hold strong and provide comfort to those in need, pain, and during loss of loved ones, Emmons and Creasman said. This is precisely the time that we must be strong for Dalton and his brother. The Facebook post has since elicited hundreds of responses offering messages of support for the family from people all over the country. A day that was supposed to be filled with joy turned into a devastating tragedy, wrote Georgia resident Shannon Carpenter. They definitely need prayers from around the country. My heart absolutely is BROKEN for this family!! I just cannot imagine the horrible pain they are experiencing. Prayers from NC!! Chaille Clemmons Brice wrote. Emmons and Fleming described Dalton as a sweet young man who has aspirations to serve in the US Military Other tributes flooded in directly to Nancy, via her post of Dalton, which credited both her and Lyndon as being wonderful people and devoted parents. Nancy you and your Husband were a wonderful People, wrote Vicky Gray Corbin in tribute. You were always smiling the same every time I saw you. You will be missed. According to a post on her social media page, Nancy and Lyndon recently celebrated their 35th Wedding anniversary in March. A GoFundMe set up to help the family with funeral costs said Nancy worked as a head chef at a nearby nursing home, while Lyndon was a mechanic for Honda. '[Lyndon] and Nancy were big parts of the community in Flemingsburg and Maysville,' the post says. ' [Lyndon] worked at Honda for 20+ years where he found his love for working on trikes - he loved his toolbox. 'Nancy literally knew everyone within her radius. When we'd be in a grocery story, she would stop and talk to anyone and know them from somewhere and something. 'If you knew about Nancy, you knew she cared about everyone.' Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and a number of other state officials have reached out to the school to offer their assistance and payers, Principal Emmons said The fundraiser had received nearly $6,000 in donations as of Monday afternoon. Fleming County Highs graduation ceremony reportedly lasted for 12 hours as only one senior and a maximum of six family members were allowed on campus at a time due to social distancing restrictions brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The first student graduated just before 8am. The Barnetts familys tragic crash occurred shortly afterwards, just after 9:15pm. Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium is following in the footsteps of her father, King Philippe. The Belgian Royal Palace just announced that the 18-year-old will attend the Royal Military Academy in Brussels this fall. While there, Princess Elisabeth (who is first in line to the throne) will learn extensive details about the countrys four major defense components: Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical. The announcement is a pretty big deal for many reasons. First, the academy holds a special place in the royal familys heart, since several of Elisabeths relativesincluding her father, cousin and unclewere educated at the facility. Its important to point out that all of her predecessors are men, making her acceptance that much more noteworthy. Not to mention, the Brussels Royal Military Academy is highly competitive, even for members of the royal family. After passing a basic military test, applicants must take a challenging exam, which includes both French and Dutch sections. The school only admits 150 students per year, so its highly selective. The royal family confirmed Princess Elisabeth will still carry out official duties when she begins classes, which sounds a bit extreme. Then again, the only military school weve encountered is the George Washington Academy from Disney Channels Cadet Kelly (which seemed pretty legit, in our humble opinion). Introducing Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, the Royal Military Academy class of 2024. RELATED: Listen to Royally Obsessed, the Podcast for People Who Love the Royal Family It's not quite a case of coitus interruptus, but efforts to create a very special baby are definitely on hold. Blame the pandemic. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino subspecies population, two by in-vitro fertilization has been stalled by travel restrictions. And time is running out. The two northern white rhinos are female. The goal is to create viable embryos in a lab by inseminating their eggs with frozen sperm from dead males, then transfer them into a surrogate mother, a more common southern white rhino. As of January, three embryos had been created and stored in liquid nitrogen. But further key steps now have to wait. It has been disrupted by COVID-19, like everything else, said Richard Vigne, managing director of Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, home of the two remaining rhinos. That is, the process of collecting more eggs from the females as well as the process of developing the technique to introduce the northern white rhino embryo into the southern white rhino females. It's an international effort that includes conservationists from Kenya, the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy many affected by closed borders or restricted travel. For those involved in the effort, acutely aware of time, the delay can be painful. The procedure to create viable embryos has proven to be safe, they say, and can be performed regularly before the animals become too old. In January, the transfer of the embryos to surrogates had been planned for the coming months. In March, the plan had been to collect another round of eggs from the two remaining females. Because those eggs are limited, scientists are working with embryos from southern white rhinos until they can establish a successful pregnancy. Seven or eight transfers so far have failed to take hold. A receptive female is needed, along with the knowledge of exactly when she ovulates. We know time is working against us, said Cesare Galli, an in-vitro fertilization expert based in Italy. The females will age and we don't have many to choose from." He hopes restrictions on international travel will loosen in the coming weeks so key steps can resume in August. The problem is quite serious, he said. Certainly as soon as international travel is resumed, it will be the first priority to go to Kenya and collect more eggs from the two females. Even when travel can resume, another problem looms. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy also is home to primates non-human primates which are susceptible to the coronavirus, Galli said. If you bring in the virus accidentally, it's an additional risk, he said. You threaten one species to save another. So for now, the two northern white rhinos wait. Fatu and her mother, Najin, roam and graze within sight of rangers in the company of one intended surrogate mother, a southern white rhino named Tewa. One of the rhinos' keepers, Zachariah Mutai, was sympathetic. They won't have a chance anymore to have babies in a natural way, but the only hope is to save them with the scientific way, he said. The ultimate goal is to create a herd of at least five animals that could be returned to their natural habitat in Africa. That could take decades. Decades of poaching have taken a heavy toll on rhino species. The animals are killed for their horns, which have long been used as carving material and prized in traditional Chinese medicine for their supposed healing properties. The last male northern white rhino was a 45-year-old named Sudan, who gained fame in 2017 when he was listed as The Most Eligible Bachelor in the World on the Tinder dating app as part of a fundraising effort. He was euthanised in 2018 because of age-related ills. This effort to keep the northern white rhino subspecies alive has been a good way to draw the world's attention to the issue of extinction, Vigne said. The rate of extinction of species on this planet is now the fastest that has ever been recorded, much faster than the rate dinosaurs went extinct, and that is as a result of human activity, he said. So there comes a time where we have to draw a line and say no more. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was Eid-ul-Fitr with a difference in Bihar on Monday which none had anticipated and, is being wished by all, may never recur in future which holds out the spectre of "social distancing" becoming the new normal on account of the long shadow cast by the COVID-19 pandemic. With mosques remaining closed, the familiar sight of children donning new clothes and skullcaps, marching to the places of worship clutching the fingers of their elder ones similarly dressed for the occasion, and erupting in joyous shrieks of 'Eid Mubarak' amid hugs and handshakes after the prayers, remained conspicuous by its absence. Nor did the sprawling Gandhi Maidan bear witness to thousands of people gathering in the morning to perform namaz, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar himself making an appearance, donning a skullcap and with a scarf around his shoulders in a gesture of communal solidarity. Eid greetings from the chief minister also carried a salutary reference to the need for avoiding any laxity, celebrating the festival while staying at home and while observing "social distancing" since the menace of COVID-19 was far from over. The straw in the wind was visible during Ramadan when the chief minister and other leading political figures refrained from hosting 'Iftaar' parties, which have for long served the dual purpose of a goodwill gesture and pointers to changes in political equations. The clerics, too, have risen to the occasion and the Imaarat-e-Sharia, which has a substantial following in the state, had a few days ago issued a statement urging Muslims, barring the muezzins, not to throng mosques for namaaz on 'Alvida Jumma' (the last Friday of the holy month) and Eid but observe all customs at their homes. Shopkeepers dealing in vermicelli 'sevai' being the most popular delicacy associated with the festival did rue the much lower than usual sales since the highly contagious virus has taken a toll on social gatherings like family feasts. "May Allah save us from this calamity, by his grace we can hope for celebrations in the future regaining the earlier gaiety and the whiff of sevai, pulao, korma which are confined to peoples homes this year, may once again permeate the streets," ruminated Faiz, a vermicelli trader in Sabzi Bagh locality of the city. The customary visits by relatives as well as friends cutting across religious affiliations, have also given way to pleasantries exchanged through communication tools. Retired IAS officer Amanullah Khan, who is now the Chairman of the states Real Estate Regulatory Authority, said, "Phone calls, WhatsApp and SMS have replaced the gatherings this year as it is indeed an Eid with a lot of difference. "It is the same everywhere, not just in Bihar or India. A cousin of mine living in Canada has also said that he has never seen the festival being celebrated in such a subdued manner. "But, these are times when the biggest thing on our minds is the health and safety of our near and dear ones. If that means giving up jubilations for some time, then so be it. Nobody resents such a sacrifice," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Princess Eugenie has thanked global artists whose uplifting work has been shown on Tomes Square billboards to encourage 'public safety, gratitude, pride and solidarity' amid the coronavirus pandemic. Taking to Instagram, the royal, 30, re-shared American artist Hank Willis Thomas's appreciation post - before expressing her own gratitude to those who have got involved. In his initial post, the conceptual artist penned: 'We love NY and the essential workers keeping us safe! 'To show our thanks, weve partnered with @tsqarts, @posterhousenyc and artists from around the world to bring messages of public safety, gratitude, pride, and solidarity to Times Square, across all five boroughs of NYC, and Boston and Chicago.' Princess Eugenie, 30, re-shared American artist Hank Willis Thomas's appreciation post - before expressing her own thanks to those who have got involved (pictured) The royal has taken an active role in recent weeks to express her gratitude for those working tirelessly on the frontline amid the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, Princess Eugenie arriving at Westminster Abbey, London, on 18 July 2019 Amongst the artists who have helped in delivering important messages during this time of uncertainty includes Pedro Reyes, Jenny Holzer, Mel Chin, and Carrie Mae Weems. Hank Willis Thomas also went on to thank all of the advertisers who had generously donated space. It comes a day after Princess Eugenie shared a snap of an inspirational framed drawing as she encouraged her fans to be kind for Mental Health Awareness Week yesterday. The Queen's granddaughter posted a picture of the Charlie Mackesy artwork to her Instagram stories. The conceptual artist penned: 'To show our thanks, weve partnered with @tsqarts, @posterhousenyc and artists from around the world to bring messages of public safety, gratitude, pride, and solidarity to Times Square, across all five boroughs of NYC, and Boston and Chicago' (pictured) Princess Eugenie shared a snap of an inspirational framed drawing (above) as she encouraged her fans to be kind for Mental Health Awareness Week on Saturday Offering her 1.1million followers a glimpse of the gift given to her by a friend, Princess Eugenie asked them to share their 'messages of kindness or hope' with her so she could re-post them to her social media account. Mr Mackesy, a South London-based artist, was catapulted to worldwide fame last year for his sketches of children and their animal companions, which include heart-warming phrases. His book, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, topped the best-seller chart for weeks over Christmas 2019. Prince Eugenie's framed sketch shows a girl sitting on a tree next to an animal pal, who asks: 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' '"Kind' said the girl."' is then penned underneath the adorable black and white scene. Shared with the label #MentalHealthAwareness, the post marked one of last days of Mental Health Awareness week, which marked the theme of kindness and took place from 18-24 May 2020. Princess Eugenie wrote: 'My friend sent me this and I thought it would be good to post. If anyone has messages of kindness or hope then I'd love to share them. The royal's post comes after it was revealed her in-laws were told to 'expect the worst' when her husband's father battled life-threatening coronavirus. Pictured: Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank 'DM me or tag me in some of the posts you are looking at during this challenging time and I will repost them on here for us all to see a bit of kindness.' The royal's post comes after it was revealed her in-laws were told to 'expect the worst' when her husband's father battled life-threatening coronavirus. Jack Brookbank's father George, 71, who lives in London, fell ill with the disease in mid-March after a trip to France. He spent five weeks on a ventilator fighting for his life at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital before having a tracheotomy, and has now recovered from the disease. His wife Nicola, 66, who also contracted coronavirus but did not need hospital treatment, paid tribute to doctors who saved his life, saying: 'We were not able to see him throughout his treatment and more than once we were told to expect the worst.' George, whose son Jack married the Queen's granddaughter in 2018, ended up being in hospital for nine weeks, said a spokesman for Eugenie's mother Sarah, Duchess of York. B oris Johnson is facing a revolt from within his own party amid growing anger among MPs over revelations the prime ministers most senior aide broke the Governments own lockdown guidelines. The storm of protest comes on the back of reports over the weekend which suggested Mr Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings travelled to County Durham in March to self-isolate with his family while official guidelines warned against long-distance journeys amid the coronavirus pandemic. It is understood Mr Cummings feared that he and his wife could be left unable to care for their son. Further reports also suggested he took a second trip to the North East in April. Defending Mr Cummings' actions at the Downing Street coronavirus press briefing on Sunday, the prime minister said his aide had acted responsibly, legally and with integrity and that any parent would frankly understand what he did. He added that Mr Cummings had "no alternative" but to make the journey at the end of March for childcare "when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus". But the prime minister's response to the growing crisis has only appeared to fuel dissent inside Conservative Party ranks, with many MPs insisting Mr Cummings should now quit or be sacked. Among them was former minister Paul Maynard, the Conservative MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, who said he shared peoples dismay at Mr Johnson's reaction. It is a classic case of do as I say, not as I do and it is not as if he was unfamiliar with guidance he himself helped draw up, he said. It seems to me to be utterly indefensible and his position wholly untenable. Boris Johnson backs Dominic Cummings over trip to Durham Veteran Conservative Sir Roger Gale meanwhile told PA news agency: Im very disappointed, I think it was an opportunity to put this to bed and I fear that now the story is simply going to run and run. Senior Tory MP Simon Hoare, who had already called for Mr Cummings to go, later lamented Mr Johnsons press conference, telling the Daily Mail: The PMs performance posed more questions than it answered. Any residual hope that this might die away in the next 24 hours is lost. Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton said he was unconvinced by the PMs defence of Mr Cummings. Tory grandee Lord Heseltine said it was very difficult to believe there isnt a substance in the allegations about Mr Cummings movements. I think these unanswered questions are now on the agenda, he told the BBC, and I dont think that this anxiety about the Governments position will end until we know the whole story. Covid-19 victim: Dominic Cummings' actions show a complete lack of respect for us all Another Tory MP, Jason McCartney, said while it was important for people to show compassion during the crisis, Mr Cummings had to go because the perceived hypocrisy of the rule makers potentially threatens the success of any future measures under a second wave of the coronavirus. We must have confidence that we are doing the right things for the right reasons and that we are all truly in it together. For that reason I believe Mr Cummings position is now untenable, Mr McCartney said in a Facebook post. Drawing attention to the moral hazard of Cummingsgate, Tory MP George Freeman retweeted an article from The Spectator which said Mr Johnsons judgement was now the issue. In another tweet, Mr Freeman appeared to bemoan what was missing from the responses of the PM and his main adviser, saying: Today we needed: some humility; a clear acknowledgement that people would be rightly angry if they sensed double standards; a sincere thank you to the millions of people (including fathers) who have made sacrifices Dominic Cummings didnt; and a public apology from him. Condemnation also came in from across the wider political spectrum, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer saying in a post on Twitter that Mr Johnson had failed a test of leadership, saying his decision to take no action against Mr Cummings was an insult to sacrifices made by the British people. Sir Keir Starmer: Boris Johnson treated the British public with contempt in not sacking key adviser Labour MP Paul Blomfield echoed his leader, saying Mr Johnson had treated the British people with contempt. And Labours shadow health minister Justin Madders said it appeared Mr Johnson was now alone in supporting Mr Cummings, saying the matter was now a question of the PMs judgment and leadership. Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Cummings should either resign or be sacked, pointing out she had had to accept the resignation of Scotlands chief medical officer adviser Catherine Calderwood last month for her own lockdown breach. I know it is tough to lose a trusted adviser at the height of crisis, but when its a choice of that or integrity of vital public health advice, the latter must come first, Ms Sturgeon tweeted. Thats the judgment I and, to her credit, Catherine Calderwood reached. PM and Cummings should do likewise. Acting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey tweeted Cummings must go, saying the public would be confused and angry that he is still in his position. The LibDems Jamie Stone called the Cummings affair a disgrace that stinks in the nostrils of all decent people. And LibDem peer Lord Rennard called for Mr Cummings sacking and for his full disclosure, citing Mr Cummings handling of last years sacking of Treasury media adviser Sonia Khan as a precedent. Additional reporting by the Press Association. Sir Richard Henriques, one of Britains most distinguished lawyers, played a leading role in some of the most notorious trials of recent years. In extracts from his new book in the Mail, Sir Richard has given a gripping account of his role in the trial of Dr Harold Shipman, and his forensic review of Operation Midland, the shambolic police investigation into an alleged VIP paedophile ring. Today, he reveals why the savage murder of toddler James Bulger by two schoolboys haunts him to this day . . . Aged 11, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were the youngest children to stand trial for murder in the 20th century, accused of abducting two-year-old James Bulger from his mother in a Liverpool shopping precinct and subjecting him to a prolonged and terrible attack before killing him. The two small figures sat in the specially raised dock of the imposing courtroom in Preston. Often referred to as the Old Bailey of the North, it was one of the largest in the land with seating for 100 members of the public and Press benches for 34 journalists. More were listening to a relay of proceedings in a nearby office block, such was the worldwide interest. The case had received a lot of publicity, and emotions ran high among the public. Sir Richard Henriques reveals why the savage murder of toddler James Bulger by two schoolboys haunts him to this day In the street outside, crowds regularly gathered jeering and shouting as the defendants were driven from court. But the judge, Mr Justice Morland, was fastidious in ensuring that the most appropriate arrangements were made for the defendants, given their age. We sat school hours with no session exceeding 45 minutes. The boys were not locked in cells and they were accompanied throughout by social workers. Junior defence counsel for Thompson even took the commendable step of bringing their own Nintendo games in order to play with him when he was not in court, to put him at ease. As leading counsel for the Crown, I opened the prosecution case on November 1, 1993, by describing how the two boys walked the toddler some two and a half miles across Liverpool, from the shopping centre in Bootle where they abducted him to a railway line in Walton. There, stones and a piece of metal were thrown at him, fracturing his skull. His lower clothing was removed, his body was placed across the railway line and sometime later he was run over by a train and cut in two. A pathologist concluded that death occurred before the impact of the train. Notwithstanding their ages, I told the court, both intended either to kill James or at least to cause him really serious injury and they both knew their behaviour was seriously wrong. I described how, before taking James that day in February, they played truant from school, visited a number of shops and tried to abduct another two-year-old boy who was in the same shopping precinct but whose mother intervened just in time. They stole some modelling paint that was later daubed on James. Aged 11, Robert Thompson (pictured) and Jon Venables were the youngest children to stand trial for murder in the 20th century The jury were shown CCTV pictures of him being led away from the shopping centre. Numerous witnesses saw the three of them together, and some stopped to ask what was going on but were fobbed off with the lie that they were taking their little brother home or that he was lost, theyd found him and were taking him to the police station. I told the jury that Jamess blood had been found on Venabless shoes and that marks on Jamess face closely matched the shape of the laces on Thompsons trainers, consistent with a kick to his face. In lengthy police interviews, each boy blamed the other one. In a witness statement read to the court, Jamess mother, Denise, described how her son was by her side in a butchers shop but when she then looked down after being served he was gone. She went frantically into neighbouring shops, but could not find him. She asked people if they had seen him and nobody had. She then reported him missing to the police. Thirty-eight witnesses gave evidence of seeing the defendants walking through the streets with James in tow. The last to see him alive was a 15-year-old girl, who saw one of the boys pick him up and carry him towards the railway embankment. The defence challenged them, claiming their accounts were inaccurate and that they had been influenced by media reports of the case, but such suggestions were robustly rejected. These were independent, honest witnesses, many of whom were visibly distressed by the realisation that their intervention could have saved Jamess life. This was not evidence about which they could be mistaken, nor could they ever forget such a tragic event. Henriques told the jury that Jamess blood had been found on Venabless (pictured) shoes and that marks on Jamess face closely matched the shape of the laces on Thompsons trainers A Home Office pathologist gave evidence of finding 42 injuries on Jamess body, 15 of them to his face. There were at least 30 separate blows to the body from heavy blunt objects, probably bricks. He had also been kicked in the face. Psychiatrists who had interviewed Thompson and Venables stated that the youngsters knew the difference between right and wrong and would have recognised it was wrong to take a child from his mother, wrong to cause a child injury and wrong to leave an injured child on a railway line. Teachers from the boys school gave unchallenged evidence that pupils were specifically taught the difference between right and wrong. Thompson and Venables elected not to give evidence. In my closing speech, I submitted that a child half the age of the defendants would know what they did was seriously wrong, and it was clear from their police interviews that each knew abducting and killing a child was seriously wrong. I submitted that a manslaughter verdict would grossly understate the gravity of this crime. This was a murderous, prolonged attack on a small, defenceless child. Then the defence put their case. Thompsons lawyer argued the boy had played his part in taking James onto the railway track, but the attack was carried out from start to finish by Venables. I submitted that a manslaughter verdict would grossly understate the gravity of this crime. This was a murderous, prolonged attack on a small, defenceless child Venabless lawyer attacked Thompson as a liar who tried to put the blame on Venables and shuffle it off himself. He described Thompson as unprincipled and callous, whereas Venables had shown genuine remorse for Jamess death. Venables, he said, had deliberately missed James with bricks and thrown only small stones, not wanting to hurt him. If he was guilty of any crime, it was manslaughter and not murder. In his summing-up, the judge told the jury that a child was exempt from criminal responsibility between the ages of ten and 14 unless the prosecution could prove the child knew when committing the offence that it was seriously wrong. To convict them both, the jury had to be sure that both took an active part and that, whichever of them inflicted the blows to Jamess skull, both intended that James should either be killed or suffer really serious harm. The jury retired and the same day came back with their verdict: guilty of murder. The judge then passed sentence for what he described as this act of unparalleled evil and barbarity, ordering Thompson and Venables to be detained during Her Majestys pleasure. After they were taken below, he continued: How it came that two normal boys of average intelligence committed this terrible crime is very hard to comprehend. I suspect that exposure to violent video films may in part be an explanation. Earlier, counsel acting for Associated Newspapers [owners of the Daily Mail] had asked for the order forbidding the naming of the defendants to be lifted if they were convicted. They had been known simply as A and B throughout the trial. Jamess mother, Denise, described how her son was by her side in a butchers shop but when she then looked down after being served he was gone I supported this application, submitting that publicity is a deterrent to those who may be minded to commit grave crimes. The public also had a right to know who the culprits were. The judge now lifted that anonymity order. The media were at liberty to name both defendants and did. The trial was over, but it continued to divide public opinion, notably when Sir Louis Blom-Cooper QC argued in a newspaper article that what he called the grinding mill of the criminal process had been an inappropriate way to deal with the two boys. He contended that the facts of the killing should have been established by a public inquiry, while the killers were placed in the care of the local authority and kept in secure accommodation until they were adults. I do not agree with Sir Louis. Failure to prosecute these boys would not have been fair to Jamess parents and his family. The importance to them of convictions in a criminal court is inestimable. Significant, too, was the fact that feelings were high in Merseyside and not prosecuting Venables and Thompson could well have resulted in civil disorder. Thompsons lawyer later spoke publicly about the hatred of the people of Liverpool for the two boys, saying: They loathe them and I believe that if they ever came back to Merseyside, their lives would be at risk. I agree, and so did the then President of the Family Division, Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, when in January 2001 she granted them new identities once they were freed and anonymity for life. She said she was convinced that their lives are genuinely at risk as well as their physical safety if their new identities and whereabouts became public knowledge. Sir Louiss real point was that, in his opinion, the age of criminal responsibility in this country at ten is too low and is out of step with a number of European countries which fix it at 13 or 14. He argued that it fails to deal with the problem of immaturity. A Home Office pathologist gave evidence of finding 42 injuries on Jamess body, 15 of them to his face Yet in the case of Thompson and Venables, the evidence from the boys headmistress was that children of four or five would know it was seriously wrong to stone a young child to death. Sir Louis gives precedence to the interests of violent children ahead of their wholly innocent victims. Moreover, having been involved in criminal trials in Manchester and Liverpool for almost 50 years, I know nine-year-olds are often used to deliver drugs, or more rarely firearms, and they are sent out on shoplifting expeditions. Blom-Cooper also criticised the trial judge for not resisting the temptation to deliver a homily. His view that the murder of James Bulger disclosed unparalleled evil was out of place. Again, I disagree. On any view of the facts, this was an evil act or series of acts and it was without parallel in the judges experience. But controversy about the case continued, with a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights in December 1999. The judges in Strasbourg rejected the argument advanced on the boys behalf that they were too young to comprehend criminal responsibility, stating that the age of ten does not differ disproportionately to the age limit followed by other European states. They also rejected the claim that a three-week public trial in an adult court subjected the boys to degrading treatment in breach of the Human Rights Convention. They did, however, rule the trial had been unfair on the grounds that the formality and ritual of the Crown Court must at times have seemed incomprehensible and intimidating for a child of 11 and the boys found the trial distressing and frightening and had not been able to concentrate. Raising the floor of the dock to enable the applicants to see what was going on had the effect of increasing their sense of discomfort since they felt exposed to the scrutiny of the Press and the public. The court awarded costs and expenses of 15,000 to Thompson and 29,000 to Venables. I found this criticism somewhat harsh. The floor was lifted by no more than one foot and without this the boys could not have seen out, thereby giving rise to an alternative complaint. The possibility of the defendants sitting outside the dock alongside their counsel was impractical, due to the public animosity towards them. They would not have been safe. James had his life taken from him, while the defendants later enjoyed one-to-one tuition (James' parents Ralph and Denise are pictured above in the aftermath of the horrific murder) With the benefit of hindsight, I now accept that alternative arrangements would have been more appropriate. Should a similar trial now be ordered, it would be held in a smaller court. Wigs and gowns would not be worn. A family member would sit with the accused throughout, and there would be regular and frequent breaks in proceedings to take account of a defendants ability to maintain concentration. Not that such changes would, in my opinion, have made any difference to the verdicts in the Bulger case. When Id read the papers before the trial and seen the strength of the evidence placing both boys at the scene, I had expected them to admit the killing, but to seek verdicts of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, and blame everyone in sight, not without a degree of justification. Both boys could reasonably claim a deprived, even abused, childhood. Thompsons father was said to be an aggressive alcoholic, who punished his children, including Robert, with sticks and belts. He abandoned his family for another woman, and his wife had turned to drink. She fought with other women in public houses and occasionally with men. Before the killing, Roberts situation was giving the authorities much concern. The whole family were well known to social services and a major irritant to neighbours. At the age of ten, Robert was often out after midnight. Venabless upbringing was little better, if at all. His parents split up when he was three. His mother was a regular visitor to public houses, leaving three young children alone and unsupervised. Jon became unruly, kicking and punching other children, and provoking the family rottweiler to bark at other young children. Their conduct at school gave much cause for concern. Both boys were habitual truants and both had been placed in the year below their contemporaries, not because of any lack of intelligence, but because of non-attendance. Finally, there can be little doubt both boys were exposed to numerous potentially harmful videos, not only in the video shop where they spent much of their time, but also at Venabless fathers house, where Jon spent a few days each week. His father had rented over 400 videos in the few years before James was killed. It was open to these two boys to say to the jury: This is the way society has brought us up. We have been deprived of any proper upbringing, of all moral guidance, of an education, and of any responsible supervision. We have been exposed to numerous damaging videos to such an extent that our understanding of criminal responsibility has been substantially reduced. Having treated us in this irresponsible way, society now seeks most unfairly to convict us of murder. There were two possible impediments to this line of defence. Firstly, their defence was that they played no part in the killing and they had done nothing wrong. Thus mitigation because of ill-treatment was irrelevant. The other possible impediment was the absence of a psychiatric opinion that either defendant was of diminished responsibility which is a necessity for such a defence to run. With a full admission of their participation in the killing, a psychiatrist may have concluded there was diminished responsibility on their part, given their dreadful upbringing, while a jury might well have decided they were doli incapax unable by reason of age to appreciate the seriousness of their admitted conduct. In the street outside, crowds regularly gathered jeering and shouting as the defendants were driven from court That is not my view. I am satisfied this was a premeditated murder. A large crowded courtroom, wigs and gowns, and an elevated dock made no difference to a verdict that, nearly 30 years later, I remain sure was correct. The sentence they received has always seemed to me to be a far more difficult problem. When the judge sentenced them to be detained at Her Majestys pleasure, the practice of announcing the minimum term in open court had not yet come into being. Mr Justice Morland wrote to the Lord Chief Justice with his recommendation a minimum of eight years which the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Taylor, increased to ten years. Later the Home Secretary Michael Howard raised it further to 15 years, in response to public pressure expressed in petitions and newspapers. This 15-year tariff was then quashed by the Lords on the grounds that fixing minimum terms should be a judicial rather than political function. The end result was that both boys were released in June 2001, when both were aged 18, after eight years in custody. Mr Justice Morland had had in mind a minimum term that would avoid the defendants facing a transfer to an adult prison an approach that was both pragmatic and responsive to their deprived upbringings and the exposure to violent videos. On the other hand, eight years as a minimum term gave an appearance of underestimating the gravity of this crime, as indeed did Lord Taylors recommendation of ten years. Since then, new Sentencing Guidelines introduced in 2003 have provided a starting point of 12 years as the minimum term for murders committed by those under 17. The judge must then consider both aggravating factors and mitigating factors. In my judgment, the aggravating factors are that, first, there was a significant degree of premeditation and, second, the vulnerability of the victim, and the mental and physical suffering inflicted and dismemberment of the body. The aggravating factors outweigh the mitigation and were these facts to be replicated today, I would expect a minimum term of around 15 years. From the perspective of Jamess family, any minimum term must appear derisory. To them there is no semblance of retribution, nor indeed justice, in events as they have unfolded. James had his life taken from him, while the defendants enjoyed one-to-one tuition in circumstances far superior to those they would have experienced but for this crime. They have had hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money spent upon them and have been granted anonymity to allow them to enjoy a full adult life as educated free men, absolved by their new identities from the disgrace that necessarily attaches to those who commit grave crime. I have seen Jamess mother more than once on television and I sympathise with her unreservedly. No sentence can adequately recompense a bereaved and loving family. Every time I see a toddler, thoughts of James are rekindled. No one who played any part in this trial will ever forget such a tragedy. On May 18, the state of Minnesota purchased a 75,000 square foot refrigerated produce warehouse with the capacity to store 5100 bodies of persons expected to succumb to the surge of COVID-19 in the coming weeks. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the state paid $5.5 million for the Bix Produce Company cold storage facility to serve as an emergency morgue. Operational and improvement costs for the repurposing of the property are estimated to bring the total to about $6.9 million. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is expected to reimburse the state of Minnesota for 3/4s of the expense. The property had been for sale for over a year. When the Minnesota Department of Administration approached warehouse owners in the Twin Cities seeking lease agreements for buildings suitable for the macabre project, none could be persuaded to rent for the stated purpose. The Bix Produce Company is headquartered in Little Canada, Minnesota, a northern suburb of the Twin Cities. The company had used the recently acquired warehouse as a distributing facility for the bulk trucking of pre-cut fruits and vegetables to supermarkets, hotels, schools and restaurants in the greater metro. The Department of Administration explained the building was needed to accommodate a surge in demand for the timely, dignified, and temporary storage of human remains. A surge in deaths is expected as the direct consequence of the abandonment of any and all effective public health preventive measures across the country to protect the population against coronavirus. Minnesota and other states government officials are doubtless mindful of horrid scenes in Americas major cities in which funeral homes in recent weeks were completely overrun and resorted to piling decomposing corpses in trucks, such as on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. The assistant commissioner at the Department of Administration, Curtis Yoakum, announced that, the facility will be used if available mortuary facilities are overwhelmed and would not be limited to COVID-19 victims. At the departments direction, emergency managers across Minnesota have surveyed hospitals, medical examiners, and funeral homes as to storage capacity. The available storage for the deceased is half full presently. The Department of Administration consulted varied pandemic models for the expected surge of spread. They expect the peak of casualties to jump between now and August to as many as 1000 deaths a week, with half of those total fatalities coming in a 4 to 5 week period. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported on May 9 that the initiative and authorization to acquire the Bix warehouse came from the Minnesota Legislative COVID-19 Response Commission. A ten member legislative panel of Democrats and Republicans unanimously approved the acquisition. Governor Tim Walz (D) said of the announced plan, We will not allow our dead to be set somewhere undignified, which is a horrible worse case scenario. Joe Kelly, director of the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management agency, providing a rationale for the buying of the warehouse, I know this is a sensitive topic, but we need to have a plan for a large number of deaths. On March 19, Governor Walz signed an appropriations bill for $200 million allegedly for resources to protect the population from the pandemics onslaught. Sixty-five million remains in the fund, and $135 million was used to buy testing equipment and related materials to acquire alternate care sites, and to purchase personal protective equipment for health care workers. The state government reportedly counts on federal reimbursement for these outlays. Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) announced May 23 that the state had seen the greatest jump in COVID-19 cases in one day since the outbreak, with a record number of persons hospitalized. On Saturday, there were 847 new cases bringing the confirmed state total to 19,845, including another 10 deaths for a total deceased of 852. Most of the states deaths have come from long term care units. State public health officials have pleaded with persons to use face masks in public and maintain social distancing practices in the opening of businesses, reiterating that the spread of COVID comes from the reservoir of asymptomatic individuals of all ages. Minnesota health commissioner Jan Malcolm reported May 22 that several of the Twin Cities hospitals are approaching capacity in their intensive care units (ICUs). The Minnesota State Fair, a 12 day annual event late summer, was cancelled this year. Last years fair attendance was 2 million, and the last time the fair was called off was for the polio epidemic in 1946. Malcolm reported that she laid out the risks to the state fair and government officials, saying it would have been a pretty predictable accelerator of community spread. Lobbyists for tavern and restaurant owners and church officials have been demanding loosening of restrictions on populations congregating at their facilities. Governor Walz to date has said all eateries must serve only outdoors. Minnesota Catholic and Lutheran church representatives said they would defy Walzs congregating bans and resume services. Anti-hunger activists confirmed to MPR that many more Minnesotans are depending on food emergency services with the pandemic. In 2018, Hunger Solutions of Minnesota reported food insecurity in one of twelve families. Presently, Blue Cross Blue Shield reports that one in three state residents are food insecure. Jackson County in southern Minnesota has seen a doubling of monthly food shelf use in the last year. Even before the pandemic, use of food pantries in Minnesota surged 775% in the last 5 years. Food pantries saw a jump in usage in 2008 and has been steadily increasing ever since. Minnesotas hungry have made visits to food relief units 3 million times in 9 consecutive years. With the states lockdown for the pandemic, 692,000 applied for unemployment. Gary Colburn, a 66 year old veteran accessing food at a pantry and homeless 3 times in the last decade, told MPR Were all just one paycheck away from the street. The Minnesota Department of Health reports that, before the pandemics onset, 4 of 10 children qualified for free or reduced cost public school lunches. The Sheridan House, a non-profit supplying food to children on weekends and extended school breaks, saw an overnight increase in calls for food of 400 percent. Rob Williams, Sheridans director, said with the pandemic and state schools closure, the increased need was instant. Pre-COVID, Sheridan supplied children 25,000 meals a week, and presently they provide over 100,000 a week. WALWORTH Using 3-D printing, Walworth Elementary School is creating plastic bands designed to prevent aching ears from wearing protective face masks for prolonged periods. Comfort bands are thin strips of plastic with hooks that hold elastic face mask bands behind the head instead of around the ears. For employees and others wearing tight-fitting face masks for up to eight hours a day, the bands can prevent relief from elastic pulling on the ears for long stretches. So far the school has distributed about 110 bands to staff at the Golden Years retirement home, Daniels Sentry Foods, and the Walworth Fire and Rescue Department. Brent Wilson, leader of the Innovation and Design Center at Walworth Elementary, said he found a design for the comfort bands on the National Institute of Health website and decided to begin printing and distributing them to community groups. Wilson said even while wearing a face mask during quick trips to the grocery store, he has noticed soreness around his ears. He hopes the bands can prevent aching for those wearing masks all day. Ive moved to using the comfort band, and it makes a huge difference, he said. The backs of my ears arent sore, and the mask actually fits on my face a lot better as well. Cory Schultz, a firefighter and advanced EMT with the Walworth Fire and Rescue Department, said when the states Safer At Home order was implemented in March, the department adopted a policy that masks should be worn whenever responding to a call. With some masks fitting more tightly than others, Schultz said, the bands provide comfort for first responders in the department. He added that the department is grateful for the 30 bands received, and officials are pleased to see Walworth Elementary reach out to offer assistance. With the school being shut down, they didnt have to go there and do this for us, but they felt it was something they can do, he said. This was their little calling, and we graciously accepted it. Three-D printers operate by melting plastic that quickly cools after being printed layer after layer in accordance with a digital design until a physical object is formed. Using the one 3-D printer in the schools Innovation and Design Center large enough to produce the bands, Wilson said he was able to produce about one band in a just over an hour. But as more community workers expressed interest in comfort bands, Wilson said he spoke with school principal Phill Klamm about how the process could be expedited. Klamm said community demand for the comfort bands presented a perfect opportunity for the school to put a $750 donation from the Lakeland Community Church in January to good use. After some research, the school found an additional 3-D printer that could almost double production of the new face mask comfort accessories. It just seemed to fit, Klamm said. When this came up, it almost seemed like this was supposed to happen this way. With the original and new printer operating at the same time, Wilson said he is now able to produce 25 bands in a single day. In addition to the 110 already distributed, about 80 additional bands have been stockpiled for distribution to other interested groups or to students if masks need to be worn in schools this fall. Klamm said he hopes to distribute the bands to those in need, and he encourages groups to reach out to the school with requests. The idea is that, if there is anyone out there that this might help, its the least we can do, he said. Wilson said he is also waiting for supplies to begin making plastic face shields using the Innovation and Design Centers laser cutter. He added that the 3-D printers can be used to create the head straps for the face shields. Theres a lot of excitement around 3-D printing and what you can do with it, he said. This is just a great example that the tools were using in the classroom have a huge benefit to the world today. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The victims include six fatalities and 38 injuries. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine says 44 people have become victims of the conflict in Donbas. "Between May 4 and May 17, the SMM recorded about 10,500 ceasefire violations, including approximately 2,000 explosions. This compares with about 9,800 and 2,750, respectively, in the previous two-week period," the SMM said in a report as of May 18, 2020. "The Mission corroborated reports of nine civilian casualties all injuries, including five children, bringing the total since the beginning of 2020 to 44 (six fatalities and 38 injuries)," reads the report. It is also reported members of the armed formations continued to deny the SMM passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Read alsoTorture, 15-year "sentence" for insulting tweets about Russian-controlled forces in Donbas "Overall, the Mission's freedom of movement on the ground was restricted 38 times (all but one in areas not controlled by the Government). In particular, on May 8, armed members of the armed formations stopped an SMM patrol in Horlivka and prevented its departure for almost three hours," the report says. At the same time, SMM UAVs were subjected to signal interference on both sides of the contact line on 30 occasions, and were targeted by small-arms fire six times (all but one in nongovernment-controlled areas). As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia's hybrid military forces on May 24 mounted 12 attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. A raging fire ripped through warehouses at San Francisco's Pier 45 in the early hours of Saturday morning: NBC Bay Area A fire ripped through warehouses on Pier 45 in San Franciscos Fishermans Wharf in the early hours of Saturday morning. Flames and thick, black smoke could be seen from across the city when the alarm was raised at approximately 4.20am. A quick response from the fire department, including a fire boat, managed to prevent the blaze from spreading, but a quarter of the pier has been lost. Fire crews were able to save nearby tourist areas and the SS Jeremiah OBrien, a historic World War Two ship. The fire is now contained. No injuries have been reported and there is no word yet of the cause of the blaze, believed to have started inside a warehouse. More to follow... Who is Firhad Hakim? Know Kolkata's New Mayor Age, Education, Family and Other Details Cyclone Amphan: Kolkata residents continue to stage protest to restore power, water supply India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Kolkata, May 25: Protests continued in parts of the city over restoration of electric and water supply five days after cyclone Amphan wreaked havoc in the city. However, the state Home Department on Sunday said that power had been restored in several areas of Kolkata. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has pinned the blame on Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, which provides power to residents of Kolkata and Howrah, for not being able to restore power supply on time. Cyclone Amphan: Death toll rises to 85; Kolkata residents stage protest over basic needs Domestic flights resume, but chaos at Delhi airport as some flights cancelled | Oneindia News The Home Department, in a series of tweet, said, "The Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) has reported to the government that major parts of the following areas have been restored power: Jadavpur, Selimpur, Mukundapur, Survey Park, Patuli, Regent Estate, NSC Bose Road, Behala Chowrasta, James Long Sarani, Silpara, Lake Town, Jessore Road, Nagerbazar, Rash Behari Connector, BB Chatterjee Road." The department also said that the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) had restored power in major parts of the following areas, including Garia, Kestopur, Bansdroni, Baguihati, Salt Lake, Teghoria New Town, Barasat, Tamluk, Kalyani, Egra, Contai, Krishnagar, Santipur, Ranghat and Gayespur. India now stands at fifth position globally in terms of active COVID-19 cases "WBSEDCL further reports that power has been restored in major areas of Nadia and East Midnapore. Power has been restored to most of the PHE water supply and hospitals. Most of the irrigation pumping stations are operational now," the department added. The Home Department also said the state government had been trying to restore power and essential services in rest of the areas. It had given firm directions to WBSEDCL and CESC. Several uprooted trees were being removed by civic and state bodies with the help of Army and NDRF. Meanwhile, in several areas of the city people put up road blockades on Sunday, demanding immediate restoration of power supply. The residents also held protests at prominent areas such as Behala, New Alipore, Regent Park and Jadavpur. BoJo Allegedly Has Cunning Plan to Allow Hong Kong Citizens to Emigrate to UK Sputnik News 18:42 GMT 24.05.2020 The revelation follows moves by China to introduce a resolution improving the Basic Law that sets out the framework of ties between Hong Kong and Beijing, which could include a national security convention banning "treason, secession, sedition and subversion", and may be passed without consultation with the region's legislature. Boris Johnson has allegedly hatched secret plans to allow hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens to flee to Britain should Beijing pass any further legislation which has already provoked another wave of protests as some are afraid that the bill would curtail the city's liberties and undermine its special position within China. The Sunday Express claims the idea of spiriting away disaffected Hong Kong citizens was outlined by the Prime Minister earlier this year at his official country residence - it's unclear unclear if this will extend merely to the 315,000 who hold a British National (Overseas) passport and their extended families, or members of the island's 7.5 million-strong population - most of whom had such a passport until 1997. At present, the passport allows visa-free travel to the UK, but not residency. The meeting at Chequers was reportedly in unanimous support of the move, and comparisons have been made to the move to provide full citizenship to Ugandan Asians in the 1970s, after they were expelled from the country by Idi Amin. Since then, a letter signed by 183 politicians, prime ministers, legal and human rights pundits, and diplomats who have condemned China's latest move has been published - the effort is led by former Hong Kong governor Lord Patten and former foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind. North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen, one of the 183, claimed the UK has a "moral obligation" to residents of Hong Kong, "especially those with British overseas citizenship". However, Evan Fowler, a fifth generation Hong Konger and founder of Hong Kong Free Press, said the move was "essentially a symbolic gesture". "There's anger at the fact BNOs are non-transferable and don't apply to children or spouses. The elite have other passports too but they're highly invested there and won't be looking to leave unless the Chinese close down the Hong Kong Club. Of the rest, 90 percent aren't financially able to relocate and, even if they were, they wouldn't leave their families behind," he lamented. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Rajasthan, the menace has now engulfed 18 districts, while in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the locust spread has widened even as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned of several attacks at least until early July. FAO in its latest report said that as vegetation dries out, more swarms will move to their summer breeding areas along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border in ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Migrant labourers protested in Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib district on Monday after they came to know that a Bihar-bound train was cancelled. Senior Superintendent of Police Amneet Kondal said a rumour spread that buses will leave for Bihar from the Khalsa School in Mandi Gobindgarh town, following which a large number of migrant labourers assembled at the spot. The police reached and told the labourers that there was no such schedule, following which the agitated people protested against the district administration and shouted slogans. Civil and police officials rushed to the spot to control the situation. Mandi Gobindgarh police station incharge Mohinder Singh pacified the agitated migrants, Kondal said. According the SSP, misleading information was shared on social media that the labourers were beaten, they damaged police vehicles, and labourers and officials were injured, but nothing happened. Legal action is being taken against such persons who is misleading people on social media, Kondal said. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amloh Anand Sagar Sharma said after coordinating with railway authorities, special buses were arranged and around 300 migrant labourers were sent to the Ambala railway station, from where they will leave for Bihar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Corrects name to Andrew instead of Mario, paragraph 7) By Jonathan Allen NEW YORK, May 25 (Reuters) - Americans paid a mostly low-key tribute to those who died serving in the U.S. Armed Forces on Monday, with many Memorial Day events canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak that has killed nearly 100,000 people in the United States alone. In some places, scaled-down ceremonies were broadcast over the internet. But the virus overshadowed the national holiday, which is normally a time of flag-waving parades and events to commemorate fallen soldiers. In Fort Walton Beach, Florida, a small group of veterans in uniform gathered in Beal Memorial Cemetery to recite the names of the dead and weave flowers into a wreath in a ceremony that was streamed online. Some of the attendees shook hands with each other and few, if any, wore the face masks that have been recommended as a key measure to stop the spread of the virus. "Instead of parades or large memorial events, we can remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in a more private way," Colonel John Sannes, the commander of the U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group, told the gathering. Inside the rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, a candle was lit and veterans took turns, two at a time, to silently stand sentry on either side of a wreath over the course of a 12-hour livestreamed ceremony. In New York City, organizers of a usually large parade on Staten Island instead arranged to have a smaller convoy of vehicles drive the route. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has vaulted into the national spotlight for his handling of his state's outbreak, the worst in the country, took part in a brief ceremony at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum aboard an aircraft carrier in New York City's Hudson River. President Donald Trump, who has been criticized for initially downplaying the threat posed by the coronavirus, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, a military cemetery outside Washington. He was joined by Vice President Mike Pence, their wives, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper, among others. Trump, who is eager to have the pandemic-stricken economy in at least somewhat better shape by the fall to bolster his chances of winning re-election in the Nov. 3 vote, did not wear a face mask during his visit to the cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Story continues PACKED BEACHES The Memorial Day weekend, which is the unofficial kickoff of the U.S. summer and a time when many head to beaches or outdoor barbecues, has seen Americans largely adhering to warnings to maintain social distancing guidelines. This year's event is particularly somber because of the rising death toll from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, and the economic devastation brought on by the lockdowns imposed in March and April to stem the pandemic. Economic activity in April ground to a virtual standstill and more than 20 million Americans lost their jobs that month. Total U.S. cases of COVID-19 are more than 1.6 million, the highest in the world, and a total of 97,637 people have died in the United States, according to a Reuters tally. Despite nearing that grim milestone, there are Americans who are eschewing the social distancing recommendations. Some beaches in Florida and other nearby states were packed this weekend, forcing authorities to break up large gatherings. Videos posted on social media showed parties in other states where people crowded into pools and clubs elbow-to-elbow. All 50 states have relaxed coronavirus restrictions to some degree. In some states, like Illinois and New York, restaurants are still closed to in-person dining and hair salons remain shuttered. In many southern states, most businesses are open, with restrictions on capacity. A plea by health officials and many state governors to wear masks in stores and in public is being met with protest and resistance from some Americans. Social media is filled with videos of businesses turning away a few angry customers who refuse to cover their mouths and noses. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen Writing by Paul Simao; Editing by Tom Brown) SHENZHEN, China, May 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntkey, a leading provider of power solutions, has recently introduced its lightning charging cable for Apple devices. It is 100cm (3.3Ft) long and features a USB-C connector. Paired with a fast charger, it supports fast charging and data transferring speeds. Huntkey's latest charging cable for Apple devices: https://en.huntkey.com/product/usb-c-to-lightning/ The cable is specifically designed for lightning-powered devices, which is compatible with iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, XS, XR, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. It supports many advanced charging protocols to achieve fast-charging speeds while connected with a USB-C Power Delivery charger, for instance, the Huntkey 30W USB-C charger. The Huntkey 30W USB-C charger: https://en.huntkey.com/product/30w-usb-c-port/ The cable is made with premium components that superior wiring is covered with durable shielding. It is confirmed by laboratory testing to withstand over 2,000 bends and 10,000 insertions. To prove its quality, it is offered with a 18-month warranty. For more information, please visit: https://en.huntkey.com/ About Huntkey Huntkey Enterprise Group, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Shenzhen, is a member of The International Power Supply Manufacturer's Association (PSMA) and a member of The China Power Supply Society (CPSS). With branch companies in the USA, Japan and other areas, and cooperating factories in Brazil, Argentina, India and other countries, Huntkey has specialized in the development, design, and manufacturing of PC power supplies, industrial power supplies, surge protectors, adapters and chargers for many years. With its own technologies and manufacturing strength, Huntkey has served Lenovo, Haier, DELL, Bestbuy and many other large enterprises for years, and has received unanimous recognition and trust from most of the customers. SOURCE Huntkey Related Links https://en.huntkey.com/ As the series of Visiting China Online virtual shows were launched in March by many China Cultural Centers around the world, the exhibitions have explored a variety themes about China, including both natural and cultural heritage. From May 8, the China Cultural Center in Tokyo joined the event, and launched its first virtual exhibition, Beautiful China, on its website and social media. About 70 pictures display China's beauty in landscapes, achievements in environmental protection, and contributions to the global conservation. Considering the impact of COVID-19 on local people's daily lives, the center planned to have more mutual cultural exchanges both online and offline, with an addition of livestreams and short videos in the future. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2020 / Due to America's unusual tax system, all American citizens, including Americans living abroad, are required to file US taxes, reporting their global income. For expats, this often means having to file two tax returns, one to the IRS and another in the country where they live. Expats often also have additional US filing requirements, such as reporting any foreign registered bank accounts, investments, and foreign business interests they may have. International tax treaties don't prevent US expats from having to file. Instead, to avoid double taxation, the IRS has introduced provisions such as the Foreign Tax Credit and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion that expats must claim when they file. After having claimed them, most expats won't end up owing any US tax. Expats who don't file and claim these provisions though are considered to owe US tax on their worldwide income, even if they're paying foreign taxes. What about the many expats who haven't been filing US taxes from abroad because they weren't aware of (or misunderstood) the requirement for them to do so? There is a voluntary IRS amnesty program called the Streamlined Procedure available to these non-compliant expats that allows them to catch up without facing penalties. The program requires non-compliant expats to file their last three US tax returns, and their last six Foreign Bank Account Reports (FBARs). They must also submit a statement explaining why they haven't previously filed. Expats catching up under Streamlined Procedure can claim the Foreign Tax Credit or the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion retrospectively, allowing them reduce their back taxes (often to zero). Some expats (such as expats parents who claim the refundable Child Tax Credit) may even find that they're owed a refund. Expats who catch up with their US filing using the Streamlined Procedure can also receive a Coronavirus Relief Stimulus Check. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, expats who are up to date with their US tax filing can receive a Coronavirus relief Stimulus Check, a one time payment in 2020 worth up to $1,200 for an individual, or $2,400 for a married couple, and a further $500 per child. While every expat's situation is different, and expats should always seek professional advice to ensure that they file in the most beneficial way for their particular situation, the Streamlined Procedure presents an excellent opportunity for the many expats who haven't been filing. Story continues Contact: Company Name: Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Services Contact Person: Hugo Lesser Email: h.lesser@brighttax.com Website: https://brighttax.com SOURCE: Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Services View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/591251/Expats-Who-Havent-Filed-US-Taxes-Can-Catch-Up-and-Still-Receive-a-Stimulus-Payment South Africa: Continent celebrates 57th Africa Day As the continent marks the 57th Africa Day, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, President Cyril Ramaphosa - as African Union Chair - will lead the continents celebrations, which include a special virtual broadcast and the Africa Day Solidarity Concert for the COVID-19 Response Fund. Africa Day is celebrated on 25 May 2020 and marks the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). This years celebrations will include a special virtual broadcast featuring speeches by President Ramaphosa; the AU Commission Chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat; the President of the Pan African Women Association, Eunice Ipinge, and the AU Youth Envoy, Aya Chebbi. The broadcast also brings one of the champions of Africa's Liberation, the only remaining founding fathers of the OAU, Dr Kenneth Kaunda of the Republic of Zambia. KK, as he is known, walked and worked side by side with other gallant giants of Africa's liberation in establishing the organisation that strived to free the whole continent from the shackles of colonialism. He served as Zambia's first president and as the chairman of the OAU from 1970 to 1973. This event will be broadcast at 13h00 (Central African Time) today on all major broadcasters and digital media platforms. The OAU was established on 25 May 1963 with the aim of promoting political, economic and social integration among the family of African States, and to eradicate colonialism, apartheid and neo-colonialism from the African continent. The organisation was transformed into the African Union on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, to achieve greater unity, cohesion and solidarity between African countries and nations. Africa united in COVID-19 fight This years celebration coincides with South Africas one-year tenure as Chair of the African Union. It also takes place amid the continents advancing efforts to combat the spread of Coronavirus. South Africa is celebrating Africa Month under the theme: Silencing the Guns, Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development and Intensifying the Fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic. The celebration of Africa Month and Africa Day provides an opportunity to promote African unity, deeper regional integration and a recommitting of Africa to a common destiny. It is also an opportunity to educate the people of the continent on the African Unions initiatives to fight the pandemic. The African Union has developed a comprehensive COVID-19 strategy, established an African Union COVID-19 Response Fund and strengthened the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Celebrations of Africa Day will continue throughout the day on a number of platforms anchored by various entities from the continent and across the world. President Ramaphosa will be featured delivering a message of support on the Africa Day Solidarity Concert for the COVID-19 Response Fund. The concert, which will stream on all Trace stations from 17:00 (CAT) will raise funds for the AU COVID-19 fund. The President will also feature on the MTV base Africa Day benefit concert, which is working with UNFPA and UNICEF Africa to ensure that the proceeds of the concert go towards food security for vulnerable children and families, which are hardest hit by COVID-19. This virtual concert starts at 18:00 (CAT) on youtube.com/mtvbaseafrica322 and again at 21:00 (CAT) on MTV base DSTV channel 322. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-05-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Gujarat government has so far sent back 12.28 lakh migrant labourers to their home states onboard 839 Shramik Special trains, an official said on Monday. This figure will rise to close to 13 lakh by Monday night as more Shramik Special trains are lined up for operation amid the coronavirus-enforced lockdown. The government has so far arranged 839 trains for migrant workers and another 43 will leave Gujarat by Monday night, the official said. "Out of the 2,989 Shramik trains operated across the country till Sunday midnight, Gujarat operated 839 trains, and on Monday it made arrangement for 43 more trains, sending a total of 12.96 lakh migrant workers," said Ashwani Kumar, Secretary to the Chief Minister. "The state government has ensured to arrange safe return of around 12.96 lakh migrant workers through 882 special Shramik trains by Monday," he told reporters. Gujarat has already operated 839 Shramik trains for 12.28 lakh labourers and additional trains will be operated by Monday night to carry 68,000 more migrants, he said. Out of the 43 trains arranged on Monday, 17 were for UP, 13 for Bihar, eight for Odisha, three for Jharkhand, one each for Andhra Pradesh and Tripura, Kumar said. All necessary safety protocols are being observed in these trains in addition to making provision for food and potable water for passengers, Kumar said. Shramik Special trains were started by the Railways in early May to transport migrant workers stranded due to the lockdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Open source Crimean authority controlled by Russia warns that the Crimeans who come from abroad will be put on observation at their own expense. The same experience is introduced for people who come to the peninsula from Russia, as Krym.Realii reported citing Russias Vice Prime Minister Elena Romanovskaya. Due to the fact that the majority of international flights arrive in the cities of other constituent territories of the federation, we got information from them that the observatories will be chargeable, including these for our citizens. That is why we warn that Crimeans coming from abroad will be obliged to pay for a stay in the observatories, Romanovskaya said. In his turn, so-called Head of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov stated that these rules would also act on the territory of the peninsula. You should not travel to the seaside if you're just bored, as you will create a problem for us, he told Russian tourists. Earlier, Aksenov said that there were more people infected with COVID-19 than it had been detected. According to him, only those who have obvious symptoms of SARS, influenza, and pneumonia are tested for coronavirus. Lashkar terrorist from Pakistan sentenced to 7 years in jail for plotting attacks in India Lashkar off-shoot TRF kills 3 civilians in J&K, says more to come Top Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist killed in J&K India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 25: A top Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist has been killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorist who was killed was classified as Category A. He was active in the Valley for several years. The encounter broke out between the terrorists and a joint team of the 34 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF. Prior to the encounter, the security forces along with the local police cordoned off the area and evacuated civilians at the Mirwani village. J&K: Hardline separatist's son among two terrorist killed in encounter in Srinagar city It may be recalled that earlier this month, top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Riyaz Naikoo was killed in an encounter at Beighpora in Awantipora. The forces had launched a search operation, following which the gun battle broke out in Beighpora in South Kashmir. The operation was launched after the forces received a tip-off about the presence of top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists. In the past two months, several operations have been launched in Kashmir. However, in the last three days, eight security personnel have been martyred in different encounters. Naikoo, 35 was the oldest surviving members of the Hizbul and was categorised as an A++ terrorist. Naikoo was dreaded and was responsible for the killing of several police personnel in the valley. Beijing: The Chinese military today said India should not do anything "contrary" to the consensus reached between the two countries to maintain peace and stability in border areas, a remark which comes in the backdrop of reports that India plans to deploy Brahmos missiles along the border with China. "To maintain peace and stability along the India-China border is an important consensus reached by the two sides," spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defence Colonel Wu Qian told a media briefing. "We hope the Indian side can do more for peace and stability in the border region rather than contrary," Wu said. His comments came after reports said the Indian government has sanctioned induction of additional BrahMos supersonic missiles, with steep dive capability and 290 km range, to be deployed in the Eastern sector to ramp up its capabilities along the border with China. Defence sources in New Delhi had said the government has cleared the fourth BrahMos regiment at a cost of over Rs 4,300 crore. Responding to a question about a commentary in the PLA Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military, criticising the decision to deploy the Brahmos missiles at the border, Wu also played down threats of countermeasures mentioned by the commentary. Quoting reports, The PLA Daily commentary said the Indian government has approved the Army's procurement of nearly 100 upgraded-version of Brahmos supersonic missiles that will be deployed in the northeastern region of the country. "This news has gained widespread attention. India?s move to deploy missiles at the national boundary has already exceeded its defence needs and poses a serious threat to Tibet and Yunnan," it said. "The deployment of Brahmos missile is bound to increase the competition and antagonism in the China-India relations and will have a negative impact on the stability of the region," it said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his taking office and discussed with him the unification of efforts in fighting COVID-19. The leaders discussed these issues during a phone call on Monday, May 25, the presidential press service reported. "I congratulate you on your appointment as prime minister and the formation of your government. I am impressed by your political skills - the history of forming a unity government is incredible," Zelensky said. According to the report, the sides discussed areas for further cooperation and agreed to unite efforts between the two countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. "Israel is an example of an effective fight against the pandemic. I would be grateful to your government for providing humanitarian assistance, as well as for sharing best practices in the fight against coronavirus," Zelensky said. Netanyahu, in turn, said the Israeli government would consider this request from Ukraine, emphasizing friendly relations between the two countries. Zelensky also said that in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, support for bilateral trade was especially important to countries. He called on the Israeli side to complete the ratification of the bilateral free trade agreement signed on January 21, 2019 as soon as possible. The sides also discussed projects in Ukraine that are of interest to Israeli investors, in particular the prospects of the Israeli side's participation in the construction of an international airport in Cherkasy and a highway. According to the President's Office, Netanyahu invited Zelensky to visit Israel after the situation with the pandemic gets stabilized. op Three in 10 negative coronavirus tests may be wrong, which doctors fear could fuel the spread of the disease in hospitals. The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) says between two and three people who have Covid-19 may test negative. This is dangerous because it means the patients may go outside and spread the virus to others, under the belief they are free of the infection. Hospital staff incorrectly declared to be virus-free may even return to work and pass the infection on to vulnerable patients, the HCSA fears. The HCSA, which represents thousands of frontline medics, said there is a 'shroud of secrecy' over how accurate the swab tests are. Public Health England (PHE) has never disclosed how accurate its antigen testing is, despite publishing public papers on the accuracy of antibody tests. Experts say false negatives will be a result of incorrect swabbing because there will be variances in how medics and those taking a test at home do it. Three in 10 negative coronavirus tests may be wrong and fuelling the spread of the disease in hospitals, a doctors' union has warned. Pictured: A home testing kit from PHE The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) says between two and three people who are positive for the virus test negative. Pictured: A drive through test facility in England In a letter to Duncan Selbie, the chief executive of PHE, Dr Paul Donaldson, general secretary of the HCSA, expressed his 'deep concern and frustration' at the 'systematic lack of information' over the reliability its tests. He said: 'A wall of silence seems to have been erected around the issue, with only the occasional claim or hint emerging regarding the testing regime. 'Separately, statements by PHE officials and others place the incidence of false negatives somewhere between 20 and 30 per cent. 'If confirmed, this is a worryingly high rate that raises the prospect of many infected individuals, possibly without symptoms, being passed fit to return to healthcare settings where they will transmit Sars-CoV-2 to colleagues and patients. 'If the chance of false negative results is as high as reported then in our view, without repeat PCR testing to confirm a negative result, staff should not be told to return to a clinical setting where they would risk passing SARS-CoV-2 to vulnerable patients and fellow staff. 'This could become a particularly acute issue as the NHS plans to significantly increase its non-Covid work and wider lockdown measures are eased.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned hospital acquired COVID-19 has caused an 'epidemic' of deaths during the pandemic. NHS bosses say up to a fifth of Covid-19 patients in several hospitals have contracted the disease while already being treated there for another illness. Dr Donaldson demanded an end to the 'wall of silence' on testing accuracy from PHE and called for transparency about whether the tests were 'inadequate'. He added it was 'striking' PHE has publicly published information on the accuracy of antibody tests - but had not done the same for swab tests it has used for months. Dr Donaldson has made a number of attempts, including writing to Mr Selbie directly a month ago, to answer 'a series of pertinent questions' about the testing regime. Following the letter, Dr Nick Phin, PHE's incident director, said: 'The testing system is built on strong foundations using latest scientific evidence and advice. 'The different tests in use have been assessed as performing to manufacturers' specifications.' Nose and throat swabs are considered an acceptable way to take a sample. PHE provides instructions for the 40,000 or so people who are sent home kits every day in the UK (pictured). The accuracy of viral RNA swabs depends almost entirely on the quality of sampling Home testing kits tell people to take two swabs; one from the nostril and another of the back of the throat through the mouth 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 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 A statement given to MailOnline on the matter previously, from Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at PHE, 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.' Test results are key to understanding how the outbreak is unraveling. But they are only part of the picture because tests have been inaccessible to almost everyone other than hospital patients, key workers until very recently. PHE uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which are a form of antigen tests conducted to see if someone has the virus, SARS-CoV-2, at any given time. These viral RNA tests use samples taken from a suspected patient's throat, mouth or nose with a swab. The accuracy of viral RNA swabs depends almost entirely on the quality of sampling and when the sample is taken in the course of disease, which will vary greatly, experts say. Research by the University of Bristol found between two per cent and 29 per cent of COVID-19 tests produced false negatives. The number of 'true positive' results from swabs taken from the nose was as low as 63 per cent, and 32 per cent taken from the throat, the researchers wrote in the British Medical Journal. A review of five studies, involving almost 1,000 people, found Covid-19 swabbing produced false negative results the first time round 29 per cent of the time. The pre-print paper by Public Health Madrid, in Spain, urged to repeated testing to check results are correct. One study showed nasal swabs correctly identified 73 per cent of severe Covid-19 cases and 72 per cent of mild cases in the first week of symptoms. When throat swabs were collected eight days after symptoms, the rate dropped to 50 per cent in severe and 30 per cent in mild cases. Eight days may seem like a long wait for a test. But in the UK, accessing swab tests has shown to be challenging. Home test kits and slots at facilities have sold out within minutes online, leaving many waiting days to get tested for Covid-19. PHE provides instructions for the 40,000 or so people who are sent home kits every day in the UK. The preferred way and most accurate, doctors say is for trained medics to take a nasopharyngeal swab 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 test is so uncomfortable it's been described like 'being stabbed in the brain'. It can cause people to gag and suffer nosebleeds. Photos of drive through centres show healthcare workers opting for the less invasive option of a nose or throat sample. Lawrence Young, a virologist and infectious disease expert at Warwick University who has previously warned false negatives are in the region of 30 per cent, told MailOnline: '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. 'I think that the doctor's union letter is fair. There's a lot of concern about the accuracy of the test and how numbers of tests per day are being counted. The drive to an arbitrary target (e.g. 100,00 tests per day) has been a major distraction.' Professor Young said saliva tests, whereby a patient spits into a tube, are being evaluated as more accurate alternatives. Beachgoers setup along the beach at a safe social distance while enjoying the weather at Margate City Beach on Saturday, May 23, 2020. The Jersey Shore opens up for the first holiday weekend amid the coronavirus. Read more New Jersey reported 965 new coronavirus cases and 16 more deaths on Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced, noting that the low numbers may be due to a reporting delay during Memorial Day weekend. At least 11,144 New Jerseyans now have died after contracting COVID-19, the nations second-highest state death toll, behind New York, according to coronavirus-tracking authorities at Johns Hopkins University. New York had 29,141 deaths and Massachusetts placed third with 6,372. Pennsylvania ranked fifth with 5,139. Memorial Day marked the 19th straight day that New Jersey has reported fewer than 2,000 new cases during a 24-hour period, despite the increased availability of testing. The new cases reported Monday pushed the state total to 155,092. READ MORE: At the Jersey Shore, brisk winds, sparse crowds, and worry for whats ahead A small group of people who support President Donald Trump protested Murphys coronavirus restrictions at Point Pleasant Beach on Monday, chanting All businesses are essential! and Open New Jersey now! State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, a North Jersey Republican, told the mostly maskless demonstrators their freedoms were being denied under the guise of public health. Since when do we curb our businesses? We curb our dogs, not our businesses, Pennacchio said. State Assemblyman Jamel Holley, a North Jersey Democrat, was scheduled to speak but announced Monday afternoon that he was skipping the event to avoid mixing politics with the Memorial Day commemoration. Its a choice I personally made once the focal point of my attendance changed as I saw the issues I stand for: civil rights, freedom rights, and justice begin to be distorted in a way that is not becoming of what I represent as a person, Holley wrote on Facebook. Murphy told CNN on Monday that he wants to open all businesses, but when it comes to indoor facilities like gyms and hair salons, Were not there yet. I dont begrudge their right to protest, but they dont sway me, Murphy said. The only thing that sways me is the facts and the science and the data. The number of Americans killed by COVID-19 has now surpassed 98,000. Across the nation, movement toward reopening has been defined by divisiveness, as demonstrators demand a quick restart of the economy and health authorities plead for more obedience to social-distancing guidelines. States including Texas, North Carolina, and Arizona have seen increases in coronavirus cases as they try to reopen. Two more Philadelphians have died after contracting coronavirus, the city announced Monday, raising the total to 1,235 deaths. Officials announced 407 new cases, increasing that number to 21,641. READ MORE: With the pandemic, a possible end to a program that gives immigrants a fighting chance in court Philadelphia and its suburbs the hardest-hit areas in Pennsylvania will move to the yellow phase of the states color-coded reopening by June 5, Gov. Tom Wolf announced last week. Most businesses may then reopen, but gyms, salons, malls, and movie theaters must remain closed. Limits on public gatherings will continue, and restaurants and bars will remain shut to in-person business. Pennsylvania authorities reported 15 more deaths from COVID-19 on Monday, raising the toll to 5,139, and 473 more people tested positive, increasing the caseload to 68,186. The number of new daily cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth has declined overall since reaching a peak of nearly 2,000 in early April. As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social-distancing and mitigation efforts in place, Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said in a statement. We must continue to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, which includes our seniors, those with underlying health issues, our health-care workers, and our first-responders. New Delhi, May 25 : The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday said that it is ensuring quality of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by stringent protocol. The response came as the ministry was reportedly alleged about the quality of the PPE coveralls. It said that the product under reference had no relevance to the procurement being made by the Central Government. "HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL), the procuring agency of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is procuring PPE coveralls from manufacturers or suppliers only after getting them tested and approved by one of the eight labs nominated by the Ministry of Textiles (MoT). It is only after their products qualify in the test prescribed by the technical committee (JMG) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, that they are procured," said the Health Ministry. The ministry said the procuring agency HLL is also undertaking random sampling of the supplies being made, for which a testing protocol has been devised, failing to which the is being disqualified for any supplies. The ministry has asked states also to procure the PPE only after following the prescribed testing for PPEs from MoT nominated labs. The Health Ministry said the manufacturers got their products qualified from these labs are also being on-boarded on Government e-Marketplace (GeM). "The manufacturers who have got PPEs qualified have been advised by the MoT to on-board on to the GeM so that the procurement by States can be carried out accordingly. For the private sector also, the dynamic information of manufacturers whose products have qualified the tests is available on MoT website," said the ministry. It further said that the country has significantly ramped up its domestic production capacity of PPEs and N95 masks, and the requirements of the States and UTs are being sufficiently met. As on Monday, the country is producing over three lakh PPEs and N95 masks per day. States and UTs as well as Central Institutions have been provided with around 111.08 lakh N-95 masks and around 74.48 lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Additionally, guidelines for rational use of PPEs have been issued by MoHFW and can be seen at its website. MEXICO CITY, May 25 (Reuters) - Japanese automakers Toyota, Nissan and Honda said they are gradually restarting in Mexico as the nation's automotive industry reboots in line with a broader economic reopening, despite still-high numbers of new coronavirus cases. Mexican officials in mid-May said the automotive industry could exit the coronavirus lockdown before June 1 if approved safety measures were in place. The three Japanese firms have yet to announce official re-launch dates. Toyota Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co Ltd told Reuters on Monday that they were preparing to gradually resume operations, and Honda Motor Co Ltd last Friday said it had begun a gradual return to operations. Mexico has reported 68,620 total infections and 7,394 deaths since the pandemic reached the country in late February, prompting worries over re-opening the economy too soon. Last week the governor of Puebla state, home to major Volkswagen and Audi factories, said conditions "do not exist" for the auto industry to reopen. U.S. auto part maker Lear Corp asked 600 employees to report for work on Monday at its Rio Bravo plant in northern Mexico that supplies Daimler AG and Ford, it said in a message to workers. The plant had been the site of a coronavirus outbreak that Lear said killed 18 workers. The company told Reuters it was implementing safety protocols, but that no production had begun in any Mexican facility. Three Lear employees said they worked over the weekend at Rio Bravo. In a message directed at workers who had completed safety training, Lear offered a 300-peso ($13.30) bonus per 12-hour shift on Saturday and Sunday. ($1 = 22.5550 Mexican pesos) (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon, Anthony Esposito and Sharay Angulo, Editing by Franklin Paul) Vidya Iyer and her 12 year old son, Neel Shukla, were photographed in West Deptford on May 13, 2020. Read more AmeriHealth Caritas prides itself on employee volunteerism. In 2017, the Philadelphia-based, medical assistance managed-care plan launched a program called Care Crew that encourages its over 7,300 employees to volunteer at least four hours a year as a way to give back to the communities they serve. In 2018, AmeriHealth employee Vidya Iyers first full year in Care Crew, she blew that four-hour suggestion out of the water. In 2019, she volunteered more than any other employee in the entire company, donating 533 hours of her own time, energy, and skills to nonprofits and causes that speak to her heart. Thats about 10 hours a week the equivalent of a part-time job. And the pandemic hasnt slowed her pace. While Iyer, an information technology manager for AmeriHealth Caritas, is not one to brag, she concedes that shes loved volunteering since she was a child in her native India, where family members routinely spent time helping others. Thats how we grew up, said Iyer, 45, who lives in Thorofare, Gloucester County, with her husband, Patanjali Shukla, 45, and their son, Neel, 12. So she probably would have volunteered the same amount of hours last year whether shed logged them for Care Crew or not. Its just who she is. Her son is her main motivation for being involved. She wants to instill in him a love of serving others. Your kids do what they see you doing, rather than what you tell them" to do, she said. So in 2012, she started volunteering at the India Temple Association in Berlin, Camden County, a social, religious, and cultural organization that her family is involved in. She taught a Sunday school program, Balvihar, that focuses on teaching children about Indias rich cultural heritage, history, and values. She went on to volunteer at her sons West Deptford district school as a classroom helper, an event chaperone, a party organizer, spelling bee judge, and fund-raiser. READ MORE: Full-time family and full-time work during the coronavirus has led to stress and unexpected joy Then her scope widened. She collected and donated food to a food pantry. She did toy-sorting and distribution for the Salvation Army, food-sorting for Philabundance, card-making for the St. Ignatius Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Her volunteering with the India Temple Association also took off. She participates in its charitable endeavors, like American Cancer Society fund-raisers. She leads events like the childrens celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. And she lends her IT expertise to help the association keep pace with technology. Her family follows her lead. Husband Patanjali also volunteers at India Temple, serving on the Sunday schools food committee and helping with events that Iyer leads. And Neel is making his parents proud with his own donation of time and energy to various causes. For the past three Halloweens, for example, he has collected canned goods for a food bank, instead of trick-or-treating for sweets for himself (he sends fliers to neighbors beforehand, so theyll be prepared). And each year, he and his mom volunteer at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, where he sells refreshments to raise money for the society. At the last one, having sold out all of his cookies and lemonade but still full of enthusiasm, he talked other volunteers into letting him sell the doughnuts that were supposed to be their own snacks. He was just so excited! Iyer said. ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters. Neel isnt the only young person Iyer has motivated to think about how to help the larger world. Mehul Malik, a junior at Moorestown High School, was mentored by Iyer while helping out with the Indian Temples childrens education program. Ms. Vidya was inspiring and encouraging, Malik said. As a result, I have become a better leader overall, and I look forward to working with her in the future. With the impact of COVID-19, Iyers IT talents are more sought after than ever, especially by the association. Shes managed to get its prayer meetings, social groups, classes, and Sunday school sessions up and running on Zoom or YouTube, acting as host, troubleshooter, and tutor. If they have any issues, they can call me, she said. Shes also helping ramp up the associations electronic communication to members. The once-monthly newsletter now goes out weekly sometimes more frequently, depending on the need. That includes the grim but important task of informing recipients about deaths of community members. There were four in one recent week passings that, in quarantine, might go unnoticed. People are much more isolated, but technology has done a lot," Iyer said. READ MORE: Chalk artist brings smiles by drawing on different canvas Govind Modi of Mount Laurel, coordinator of the associations senior social group, said that Iyers work is relieving the isolation of once-active older members who are now homebound. She has taught the seniors how to use Zoom, and they now meet weekly, glad to see each other again. We are so grateful to Vidya, said Modi, who runs the Zoom meetings. God bless her. And Iyer is grateful for what volunteering has brought to her life. The best part is, you make many friends who share the same vision," she said. These friends have now become part of my extended family, away from my home country. They are her good karma, she said the entire South Jersey community. Just days after noting its growing business in Africa, especially in the high-definition realm, Eutelsat has revealed that its HOTBIRD video hotspot has been selected by Travel Africa Network for the broadcast of its first HD African travel channel. The multi-year contract will enable Travel Africa Network to broadcast throughout Europe and MENA 100% African content dedicated to promoting tourism and hospitality. Topics covered will include African gastronomy, culture, the best places to travel and stay and destination documentaries.Operating at the 13 East neighbourhood, HOTBIRD satellites deliver content to more than 135 million TV homes in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Commenting on the deal, Nicolas Baravalle, regional vice president, Sub Saharan Africa of Eutelsat said: We are proud to welcome Travel Africa Network to the HOTBIRD line-up. Their confidence reflects the unparalleled reach of our 13 East of both installed households and luxury hotels, and we hope it will lead the way for more African channels targeting Europe and MENA.Maggie Mutangiri, CEO of Travel Africa Network added: We are delighted to launch the first dedicated African travel channel on HOTBIRD, enabling us to broadcast high quality content to the widest-possible audience to promote African travel experiences and attract more visitors to our beautiful continent. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Eutelsat as we look to expand our offer in the future. Nobel Laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo on Sunday said the Indian government should soon begin cash transfers of Rs 1,000 per person to fight the coronavirus crisis. The cash transfer must be started immediately as universal-basic income (UBI) along with the implementation of one-nation, one ration card scheme, the two eminent economists also said at the online version of Jaipur Literature Fest. The cash transfer of Rs 1,000 per person each month is expected to make a big difference as it would help the common man to pay for all the emergency needs, Banerjee said. Since India is likely to face a substantial demand shock in coming days, putting money in people's hands would help to save the economy amid the coronavirus crisis, he also said. Banerjee also praised the efforts of the government to provide one nation, one ration card. However, he stressed that the implementation needs to be done urgently now. Earlier this month, Abhijit Banerjee had said the coronavirus outbreak is 'probably bigger' concern for the Indian economy against the balance of payments crisis in 1991. The GDP growth may fall by 10-15 per cent as a result of pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, Banerjee told HuffPost India. The government should focus on spending money on anti-poverty programmes and look towards printing money in view of a limited fiscal room, said noted economist. He had also called for an increased spending through fiscal easing amid the current scenario. On the probability of economic recovery by next year, Banerjee had said that a quick rebound is possible if the government takes the right steps to make sure there is no demand shortfall in the economy. The government should focus on reviving demand and therefore, spend more, he had stated. Also read: Delhi heat wave: Red alert for NCR, Punjab, Haryana; temp to reach 47 degrees Also read: Domestic flights resume: Returning to your hometown? Check out guidelines, quarantine rules Police have named a man who was the victim of a shooting in North Ayrshire. Paul Cairns, 42, died at the scene of the gun attack in Nithsdale Road, Ardrossan after a gunman entered the house at around 4.50pm on Sunday. A 46-year-old woman was also inside the home when the gunman fired, leaving Mr Cairns fatally injured. A 42-year-old man was later arrested in Dirrans Terrace, Kilwinning, in connection with the shooting. Police Scotland cordoned off the road in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire after Paul Cairns died from serious injuries shortly after the incident. Paul Cairns, 42, was fatally wounded by a gunman who entered a house in Nithsdale Road, Ardrossan, North Ayrshire at about 16:50 on Sunday Police cordoned off a road in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire after a man was shot dead inside a home on Sunday evening A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: 'Around 4.50pm on Sunday, 24 May, 2020 a 42-year-old man and 46-year-old woman were within a house in Nithsdale Road, Ardrossan when a man entered the house and discharged what is believed to be a firearm before leaving the house. 'The 42-year-old man was then found with serious injuries and died at the scene a short time later. 'Inquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of the incident and we are currently searching the surrounding area for the suspect and viewing CCTV in the area.' Chief Inspector Brian Shaw said: 'Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Paul Cairns at this very difficult time, and they ask to be left alone to come to terms with what has happened. 'It would appear to have been a targeted attack and I would like to reassure the community that we do not believe that there is an ongoing to risk to the public. 'Additional officers have been deployed to the area and high visibility patrols will continue to provide further reassurance in the community. 'Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding this death are ongoing and we are keen to talk to anyone who may have information that would help our investigation or who may have seen anything before or after the incident.' Police officers remained in place at either end of the cordon on Sunday night. A cordon was put in place on Sunday as police investigated the shooting of a 42-year-old man Several police cars were parked up at the scene as officers carried out enquiries Locals all reported seeing police at a nearby church as a search of the area continued, while another reported seeing the police helicopter searching from above. Ardrossan residents paid their respects to the victim, with one commenter writing: 'Thoughts go out to all the family.' Another wrote: 'Absolute madness. Thoughts go out to the family and friends.' Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that the coronavirus situation in the national capital is under control and there is nothing to panic. The chief minister said that although cases are rising, people are getting treated and recovering from the disease. Kejriwal said the number of deaths due to Covid-19 is not high and not many severe cases of coronavirus are being reported, as a result, not many hospital beds across the national capital are occupied while most Covid-19 patients are getting treated at their homes. The chief minister added that the administration is getting ready to tackle a sudden spike in severe cases of coronavirus for which over 5,000 hospital beds will be made available. Here are key takeaways from Kejriwals address: 1) Of around 4,000 hospital beds available with the government, around 1,500 are occupied while nearly 2,500 beds are unoccupied, Kejriwal said. 2) Private hospitals across the national capital have been directed to keep 20% of their beds reserved for Covid-19 patients. This will lead to the availability of 2,000 more beds for Covid-19 patients, he said. 3) Delhis Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital will provide another 1,500 hospital beds for Covid-19 patients. In total, more than 5,000 beds will be available for fresh Covid-19 patients. Also read: Not many severe cases, low death rate - Kejriwal says Covid-19 situation is in control 4) The administration has placed an order for 2,000 hospital beds with oxygen. Severe Covid-19 patients require oxygens hence the availability of such beds is very critical, the chief minister said. 5) CM Kejriwal said that most new cases of coronavirus are either showing mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. Over 3,000 active cases are currently being treated at home. 6) Of over 13,000 Covid-19 cases in Delhi, over 6,000 have recovered from the disease while roughly 6,000 are currently being treated for Covid-19. 3,414 Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms are getting treated at home, Kejriwal said. 7) The administration is working on a system which will help a severe Covid-19 patient track the availability of hospital beds for treatment. We will share the details in the coming days, the chief minister said. 8) Ever since lockdown curbs were partially lifted last week, the national capital has reported around fresh 3,500 Covid-19 cases while nearly 1,500 patients have recovered. Fresh cases are being reported but patients are also recovering and going home, he said. Also read: With nearly 7,000 Covid-19 cases in 24 hrs, India records biggest surge for 4th day 9) As many as 1,750 Covid-19 patients were admitted in hospitals on May 17. The figure has risen to 2,000 at present. Only 250 new patients have occupied beds across various hospitals in one week, Kejriwal said. 10) Of 250 ventilators at government hospitals, only 11 are currently in use while 15 of 72 ventilators in private hospitals are being occupied by Covid-19 patients. Last week, Premier Doug Ford announced the closure of overnight summer camps and schools for the next three months, with a tentative plan to reopen schools in September. Premier Ford provided a simple and compelling rationale for the announcement, noting that the safety of our children is my top priority. But does closing camps and schools protect children? This is what we know so far about COVID-19 and children. Children are less likely to get infected. As of May 20, less than 3 per cent of all Ontarians who have tested positive for COVID-19 are 19 years old or younger, and there has been no pediatric mortality reported. In the U.S., although at the time of writing 13 children have tragically died of COVID-19, this number is less 0.2 per cent of the 7,864 children who died in the same period. There are ongoing concerns about the unknowns. A small number of cases of COVID-related multi-system inflammatory illness in children have been described that may be related to COVID-19, but such inflammatory conditions can occur after other typical infections, and are likely treatable. In short, there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is any more dangerous to children than any other respiratory virus like the common cold. While the direct impact of COVID-19 on child health is minimal, the indirect impact of prolonged school closure, camp closures, and home confinement on children is potentially catastrophic. Children locked down lack the critical social interactions with friends, classmates, and teachers that are essential for their healthy growth and development. Many are reporting symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. Children are lacking the structure and routines that they rely on in times of stress; they are staying indoors, spend much of their time in front of screens, and their sleep is disrupted. Online learning platforms have not been deployed universally, putting children from marginalized families at even higher risk. Their parents are tasked with supporting their childrens well-being and education, all while trying to make ends meet themselves with limited support from child care, afterschool programs, and their own extended family that they typically rely on. Stressed parents translate into stressed children. Absence of any oversight in the school or other settings outside the house, children are at risk of unrecognized child maltreatment. Many kids are crying for help. Calls for to Kids Help Phone have more than doubled. It is quite clear that public health initiatives to physically distance children are meant to protect vulnerable adults. It is generally thought that respiratory viruses like influenza tend to circulate in schools and day cares, so this idea has merit. However, it is not clear if this is true to the same extent with COVID-19. Studies of household clusters conducted in countries without school closures, such as Singapore, have shown that children are rarely the source of infection in the home. Denmark opened its schools in April, and have not seen a spike in COVID-19 cases. We are sorely lacking fundamental information on transmission of COVID-19 itself among children and between children and adults, nor the impact of the isolation measures on our children. Reopening schools and daycares and camps in Ontario can happen gradually, starting with parts of the province with lower disease burden. Quebec has initiated this with their schools outside the Montreal area and may serve as a model to learn from. There need to be restrictions in place, like keeping desks apart, encouraging outdoor learning, and countless recitations of Happy Birthday during handwashing time. The health and education sectors must work together along with children and their parents to develop creative solutions to enable a safe return to school in September. These solutions need to be guided by community-level evidence. Clusters of cases will likely happen and require a robust approach of testing and contact tracing to help mitigate their impact and spread. But waiting until September to develop a plan does little to allay risks or fears. COVID-19 is not going to disappear over the summer. We know that experiences in childhood are critical to long-term health and well-being. We must all stay firm to creating a clear and transparent plan that puts the best interests of children first. Anything otherwise would be putting their future at risk. Poor weather has threatened the Space X launch on Wednesday which is set to send two American astronauts to the International Space Station in the first crewed mission from US soil in nine years. The scheduled takeoff has only a 40 per cent chance of liftoff due to a thick cloud cover and the potential for Space X's Falcon 9 rocket to fly through the rain. Weather forecasts predict Kennedy's Space Center in Florida, where the launch will take place, will see continued thunderstorms starting this week and into the next. Thunderstorms and thick cloud cover may delay Space X's anticipated launch on Wednesday. Pictured: The Falcon 9 rocket that will carry the Dragon capsule into space 'On launch day, remnant moisture' from a tropical wave will stay in the area, the Launch Mission Execution Forecast said, according to United Press International. The latest potential delay came a week after SpaceX had to postpone the latest launch of its Starlink satellite system because of Tropical Storm Arthur. Tropical Storm Arthur crept towards the East Coast as the first named storm in the Atlantic Ocean this year. The NOAA later downgraded it to a post-tropical cyclone that was heading away from the US. 'Standing down from the Starlink mission, due to tropical storm Arthur, until after launch of Crew Demo-2,' SpaceX tweeted on Monday 18th May. 'The primary launch weather concerns remain flight through precipitation, the thick cloud layer rule and the cumulus cloud rule associated with the remnant tropical moisture and proximity of [a] developing low,' Launch Mission Execution Forecast added. Liftoff can't happen if it's raining at the launch pad or detected in the flight path. Also, a layer with clouds within five nautical miles and at least 4,500 feet thick is also a deterrent. Such conditions could be dangerous for crew members and damage equipment. 'You could trigger lightning,'Tim Garner, a meteorologist in charge at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said in a 2017 podcast. '[A rocket's] mere presence in a high electric field will be that thing that sets off the lightning strike.' American astronauts Robert Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley (right) with NASA will make the trip to the International Space Station Pictured: This illustration made available by SpaceX depicts the company's Crew Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket during the uncrewed In-Flight Abort Test for NASA's Commercial Crew Program Weather forecasts at Kennedy Space Center in Florida (pictured) show a series of thunderstorms will hit Treasure Coast this week and the next Space X CEO Elon Musk said that high-altitude wind shear 'hits like a sledgehammer' and can cause 'control problems.' NASA has implemented the 'Good Sense Rule,' which states: 'Even when constraints are not violated, if any other hazardous conditions exist, the launch weather officer will report the threat to the launch director. The launch director may hold at any time based on the instability of the weather.' Benji Reed, the company's director of Crew Mission Management, told Business Insider that Space X monitors weather at 50 separate locations. They even watch wave and height velocity in the Atlantic Ocean. 'We need to make sure that if the crew had to come down, in a launch escape scenario, that they would come down in a sea state that would keep them safe, and that the rescue forces would be able to come and get them,' said Reed. 'We don't launch until we know that we're ready.' If the highly anticipated manned launch is delayed, NASA said it will make another attempt to fly the Crew Dragon capsule to the ISS on Saturday. On Saturday, space officials completed the final rehearsal for their historic mission. It is the first astronaut launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center since the last shuttle flight in 2011. NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley, left, and Robert Behnken, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A during a dress rehearsal prior to the Demo-2 mission launch on Saturday NASA astronauts Robert Behnken, 49, and Douglas Hurley, 53, both veteran space travelers, will crew the capsule Wednesday. Hurley piloted Atlantis on its last trip. The two astronauts performed their 'dress rehearsal', Hurley said. They arrived at the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida wearing their SpaceX-designed spacesuits and in a Tesla with the license plate ISSBND, ISS Bound. They then climbed into their Crew Dragon spacecraft at Launch Complex 39A. SpaceX also successfully tested their Falcon 9 rocket Friday. Behnken wrote on Twitter Friday: 'Exciting couple of days here at NASA Kennedy! 'Crew arrival in Florida was awesome, seeing our vehicle roll to 39A was epic, and watching our SpaceX Falcon 9 1st-stage fire one more time before our mission still has a smile on my face!' A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on Friday on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A during a brief static fire test ahead of NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission this week The rocket is set for a Wednesday, May 27, launch that will send two astronauts to the International Space Station for the first crewed flight from the U.S. in nearly a decade Astronauts Doug Hurley, left, and Robert Behnken pose in front of a Tesla Model X car during a SpaceX launch dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station. With American shuttles no longer in use, the US has had to rely on Russia for rides to the station President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will be among the spectators at Kennedy Space Center in Florida Wednesday to witness the launch, which has been given the green light despite months of shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. It's unclear if a delayed launch will change plans for the White House officials. The general public, in a nod to virus restrictions, has been told to watch via a livestream as Crew Dragon is launched by a Falcon 9 rocket toward the International Space Station. Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station. With American shuttles no longer in use, the United States has had to rely on Russia for rides to the station. At 4:33pm on Wednesday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to take off from Launch Pad 39A with the Crew Dragon capsule at its top. NASA's Commercial Crew program, aimed at developing private spacecraft to transport American astronauts to space, began under Barack Obama. But his successor sees it as a symbol of his strategy to reassert American domination of space, both military - with his creation of the Space Force - and civilian. He has ordered NASA to return to the moon in 2024, an unlikely timetable but one that has given the storied space agency a boost. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken, 49, and Douglas Hurley, 53, both veteran space travelers, will crew the capsule Wednesday. Hurley piloted Atlantis on its last trip NASA astronaut Robert Behnken rehearses putting on his SpaceX spacesuit in the Astronaut Crew Quarters inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley rehearses putting on his SpaceX spacesuit on Saturday Douglas Hurley, left, and Robert Behnken, wearing SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they depart for Launch Pad 39A on Saturday during a dress rehearsal prior to the mission launch, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida The two astronauts performed their 'dress rehearsal' Saturday, Hurley said. They arrived in their SpaceX-designed spacesuits after arriving at the launch pad in a Tesla with the license plate ISSBND, ISS Bound The Launch Pad 39A and the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of the rocket, Saturday In the 22 years since the first components of the ISS were launched, only spacecraft developed by NASA and by the Russian space agency have carried crews there. NASA used the illustrious shuttle program - huge, extremely complex, winged ships -to carried dozens of astronauts into space for three decades. But their staggering cost - $200 billion for 135 flights - and two fatal accidents finally put an end to the program. The shift to private companies allows NASA to zero in on deep space travel. The space agency is working to return astronauts to the moon by 2024 under orders from the White House, but that deadline appears increasingly unlikely even as three newly chosen commercial teams rush to develop lunar landers. Mars also beckons. The White House portrayed the launch as an extension of Trump's promise to reassert American dominance in space. He recently oversaw creation of the Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. 'Our destiny, beyond the Earth, is not only a matter of national identity, but a matter of national security,' Trump said in a statement. NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley (L) and Robert Behnken pose while participating in a dress rehearsal for launch at the agency's Kennedy Space Center NASA astronaut Bob Behnken in his spacesuit at SpaceX headquarters in California In this August 2018 photo made available by SpaceX, NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken familiarize themselves with SpaceX's Crew Dragon, the spacecraft that will transport them to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program The Crew Dragon spacecraft and the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket are pictured at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 21, 2020 This February 2020 photo shows the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule after its arrival to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral The last shuttle, Atlantis, landed on July 21, 2011. After, NASA astronauts learned Russian and traveled to the ISS in the Russian Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan, in a partnership which survived political tensions between Washington and Moscow. But it was only ever meant to be a temporary arrangement. NASA had entrusted two private companies - aviation giant Boeing and upstart SpaceX - with the task of designing and building capsules that would replace the shuttles. Nine years later, SpaceX, founded by Musk, the outspoken South African entrepreneur who also built PayPal and Tesla, in 2002, is ready to launch. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley pose for pictures after arriving at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ahead of SpaceX's Demo-2 mission, May 20, 2020, in Florida. In this Thursday, March 19, 2020 photo astronauts Doug Hurley, foreground, and Bob Behnken work in SpaceX's flight simulator at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral NASA has awarded SpaceX more than $3 billion in contracts since 2011 to build the spacecraft. The first astronauts launched by SpaceX are breaking new ground for style with hip spacesuits, gull-wing Teslas and a sleek rocketship - all of it white with black trim. The color coordinating is thanks to Musk, the driving force behind both SpaceX and Tesla, and a big fan of flash and science fiction. NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken like the fresh new look. They'll catch a ride to the launch pad in a Tesla Model X electric car. 'It is really neat, and I think the biggest testament to that is my 10-year-old son telling me how cool I am now,' Hurley told The Associated Press. 'SpaceX has gone all out' on the capsule's appearance, he said. 'And they've worked equally as hard to make the innards and the displays and everything else in the vehicle work to perfection.' SpaceX has confounded expectations with its space craft, built using more than $3 billion of NASA contracts SpaceX tests its StarHopper, successfully hovering 500 feet above the launch site and safely landing at the company's facility in Brownsville, Texas in August 2019 Nineteen hours after takeoff the two men will dock at the ISS, where two Russians and an American are waiting for them. The weather forecast remains unfavorable, with a 60 percent chance of bad conditions, according to Cape Canaveral forecasters. The next launch window is Saturday, May 30. The launch has taken five years longer than planned to come about, but even with the delays SpaceX has beaten Boeing to the punch. Boeing's test flight of its Starliner failed due to serious software issues, and will have to be redone. Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station. With American shuttles no longer in use, the United States has had to rely on Russia for rides to the station SpaceX founder Elon Musk speaks during the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2016 'It's been a real success story,' Scott Hubbard, former director of NASA's Ames Center in Silicon Valley who now teaches at Stanford, told AFP. 'There was huge skepticism,' Hubbard, who met Musk before the creation of SpaceX and also chairs a SpaceX safety advisory panel, recalled. 'Senior people at the legacy companies, Lockheed, Boeing, would tell me at a conference that these SpaceX guys don't know what they don't know,' he told AFP. SpaceX finally came out on top with its cheaper Falcon 9 rocket, the first stage of which comes back to land vertically on a barge in the Atlantic. The bulky, orange ascent and entry suits worn by shuttle astronauts had their own attraction, according to Behnken, who like Hurley wore them for his two previous missions. Movies like 'Armageddon' and 'Space Cowboys' stole the orange look whenever actors were 'trying to pretend to be astronauts.' On launch day, Hurley and Behnken will get ready inside Kennedys remodeled crew quarters, which dates back to the two-man Gemini missions of the mid-1960s. SpaceX techs will help the astronauts into their one-piece, two-layer pressure suits. Hurley and Behnken will emerge through the same double doors used on July 16, 1969, by Apollo 11s Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins - the Operations and Checkout Building now bears Armstrongs name. But instead of the traditional Astrovan, the two will climb into the back seat of a Tesla Model X for the nine-mile ride to Launch Complex 39A, the same pad used by the moonmen and most shuttle crews. It's while they board the Tesla that they'll see their wives and young sons for the last time before flight. Making a comeback after three decades is NASAs worm logo - wavy, futuristic-looking red letters spelling NASA, the 'A' resembling rocket nose cones. The worm adorns the Astro-Tesla, Falcon and even the astronauts' suits, along with NASAs original blue meatball-shaped logo. The white-suited Hurley and Behnken will transfer from the white Tesla to the white Dragon atop the equally white Falcon 9. 'Its going to be quite a show,' Reed promised. A Falcon 9 SpaceX heavy rocket lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in 2018 Since 2012, SpaceX has been resupplying the ISS for NASA, thanks to the cargo version of the Dragon capsule. The manned mission, called Demo-2, is crucial for Washington in two ways. The first is to break NASA's dependence on the Russians. But the second is to catalyze a private 'low Earth orbit' market open to tourists and businesses. 'We envision a day in the future where we have a dozen space stations in low Earth orbit. All operated by commercial industry,' said NASA boss Jim Bridenstine. Musk is aiming higher: he is building a huge rocket, Starship, to circumnavigate the Moon - or even to travel to Mars and ultimately make humanity a 'multi-planet species'. DECATUR Macon County officials announced one more confirmed case of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the county's total to 186. Of those, 68 people have been released from isolation. Three are hospitalized, 96 are recovering at home and 19 residents have died. More data about the cases is here: Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and loss of taste or smell. Do not go to an emergency room or doctor's office unless it is a true emergency. Call your primary doctor first. If you don't have a primary doctor, you can call: DMH Medical Group at (217) 876-2856 HSHS Medical Group Patient Advocate at 844-520-8897 Crossing Healthcare at (217) 877-9117 SIU at (217) 872-3800 For COVID-19 screening, the following resources are available: Crossing Healthcare (217) 877-9117 HSHS St. Marys Hospital 24/7 COVID-19 Hotline at (217) 464-2966. HSHS Medical Group offers free virtual assessments for COVID-19 at www.anytimecare.com PHOTOS: PawPrint Ministries comfort dogs spread joy to senior residents Contact Allison Petty at (217) 421-6986. Follow her on Twitter: @AllisonAPetty Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has been requested by the House of Representatives to ensure that all schools in the country, whether public or private are fumigated before they open for school activities. Adamu Adamu was also urged by the House to reach students in rural areas with online teaching which was recently introduced to keep the students busy. This was contained in a letter written to the Minister by the Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere. READ ALSO Schools Will Resume Soon But No Date: Education Minister Advertisement The House said further we want to further direct the management of schools to make provision for water/borehole with a view to promoting washing of hands and personal hygiene among the pupils. Clear instruction should be issued to schools to avoid all contact sports until further notice. For the time being, all social/extra-curricular events should be suspended. These should include excursions, birthday celebrations. A striking survey of doctors is the latest piece of evidence that Russia's official coronavirus numbers may not reflect reality. And five days after Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was reportedly hospitalized in Moscow with a suspected COVID-19 infection, there's not much more clarity than there was last week. RFE/RL Moscow correspondent Matthew Luxmoore joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss. Despite a turbulent end to their high school careers, Spring Branch ISD seniors will still have the opportunity to walk in front of their families, classmates and teachers to receive their diplomas next week. The ceremonies will have strict guidelines to maintain the health and safety of all those in attendance. Traditionally held at NRG Stadium, Spring Branch ISD has moved its graduation ceremonies to the districts Tully Stadium for outdoor events in compliance with novel coronavirus guidelines. The ceremonies are being held outdoors in alignment with guidance from Gov. Greg Abbotts office regarding graduation ceremonies and social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas Education Agency Commission Mike Morath provided guidance about graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020. In a previous announcement, Spring Branch ISD Superintendent Jennifer Blaine said, We were excited to learn that school districts may now plan to hold outdoor graduation ceremonies beginning June 1, while abiding by very strict health and safety guidelines. Happily, we can plan to honor our seniors with an experience that more closely aligns to our traditional graduation celebration. District seniors will have the opportunity to participate in outdoor graduation ceremonies beginning June 1. The ceremonies are scheduled for one per night June 1 through June 6. No ceremony will be held June 5 so as to not conflict with a planned city of Houston event honoring graduates in the city. It is important for our families to understand there will be many caveats and restrictions connected to successfully holding these outdoor ceremonies amidst the ongoing pandemic. Attendance will be limited, and other restrictions and guidelines will apply, Blaine said previously. The recent guidance was specific in affirming should there be a spike or any kind of surge in COVID-19 numbers, we could be directed to cancel these celebrations. We hope that wont be the case. An extensive list of restrictions and rules for attending graduation were posted on the Spring Branch ISD website for graduates and attendees, including: A limit of four non-transferable tickets for seniors to give to family and friends. Gates at Tully Stadium will open at 6 p.m. each day for the 7 p.m. ceremony. Only one car per family. Items which will not be allowed include flowers, gifts, food or drink, signs, balloons and noisemakers. Bags are prohibited, including purses, backpacks or other bags unless needed for health reasons. If needed, bags should be small and clear. Attendees will be asked by an Spring Branch ISD employee if they have any COVID-19 symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or fever, among others. Strict social distancing guidelines will be in effect. Masks with high school logos will be provided for graduates, who will be expected to wear them throughout the ceremony. All attendees are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings over the nose and mouth while at the event, per TEA guidelines. For those unable to attend a graduation, the events will be live-streamed at https://tinyurl.com/yd4vyxxf. Outdoor graduations will be held at 7 p.m. at Tully Stadium, 1050 Dairy Ashford. The schedule includes: Memorial High School on June 1. Northbrook High School on June 2. Stratford High School on June 3. Spring Woods High School on June 4. Westchester Academy on June 6. Other graduations may be held on June 6 if any ceremony is rained out. For more information on Spring Branch ISD, go to www.springbranchisd.com. rkent@hcnonline.com One of the fallouts of COVID-19 during the long lockdown in Wuhan, China was the exponential increase in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) or Domestic Violence. Here in Ghana, we simply call it sound beatings! The lockdown and its aftermath have revealed that, while Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) have reduced drastically, Domestic Violence in Ghana has increased. Radio phone-in calls by both men and women confirm that, while sound beatings are far more regular in marriages than we think, COVID-19 brought in more beatings. Conservatism For a long time, I thought rather conservatively that, beating a spouse was the exclusive preserve of men, hence the numerous reports of wife-beating, and not husband-beating! However, over time, I have revised my thinking in the face of new knowledge that, some wives pummel their husbands admirably. Indeed, at a seminar sponsored by an NGO, a traditional ruler stated rather humorously that, our Ghanaian culture does not allow a man to admit, let alone complain publicly that, his wife has beaten him. Revision My married students helped educate me out of that old-fashioned thinking of male monopoly in beatings. I have learnt that, while generally, men are guilty of beating their wives, the roles are reversed in some, though fewer cases, where women beat their husbands beautifully. Similarly and as an aside, I have been educated that marital infidelity has also undergone a tremendous change from the conservative view that men are the only guilty parties. Again, beating is no respecter of education or status and that it takes place across the board. So, while beating takes place at sea level of society for average people some with little education, it also takes place in stratospheric high places of very educated big men and women! Travels Having lived in other countries, I know that certain ethnic groups produce very physically strong and assertive females who resolve issues with their husbands with their fists. Some of these strong women confidently go in for a fight and inflict sound beatings on their husbands. Retired wife-beaters I was particularly amused about examples given of old retired wife beaters who now mount the moral high ground pontificating and flying the flag of family virtues. Sometimes, they are ably assisted by their wives who behave like they have never been at the receiving end of their husbands ferocious punches. What they may not know is that, while providing good amusement in acting their roles well, they make a laughing stock of themselves behaving like ostriches to those who know them. Mauritania Such women perhaps may have the psychology of beaten Mauritanian wives who show off the injuries inflicted on them as a sign of love by their husbands. Indeed, Mauritanian mothers encourage their daughters to marry young men from families with a known track record of wife-beating. Since beating is now not a uni-polar activity but initiated by either sex, I have revised my original question from have you stopped beating your wife to have you stopped beating your spouse? Dangerous Question! A respondent described it as a dangerous question! The reason is that either a simple yes or no answer could put the interviewee in trouble. A yes answer implies that one used to beat ones wife, but has now stopped. A no answer, on the other hand, implies that beating is still in progress! The same logic holds for husband beaters. Why COVID beatings? Having established the fact that Domestic Violence takes place even in the best of times, the question one asks is, why has this increased under COVID-19 in Ghana? Routinely, couples leave home for work early in the morning and return home at night. Weekends are busy with the ladies going for marketing on Saturdays and doing their major cooking for the week. Time permitting, they join their husbands for weddings or funerals. Sundays are spent at church and later visiting or receiving visitors. Contact between couples is therefore minimal. During the lockdown, this routine changed. Staying at home in quarantine tested tempers and generated its stresses and conflicts. Economics In Ghana, an estimated 80% of workers work in the informal sector. Many must work daily to ensure their daily bread in what is called hand to mouth existence. With the lockdown, the inability to work daily raised tempers easily among couples leading to violence. Again with the slow-down in the economy, some workers have been laid off, putting a strain on tempers at home. Conclusion A hike in domestic violence which was noticed in Wuhan, China with the advent of COVID-19 has replicated itself here in Ghana, though on a much lower scale. While the reasons for violence in couples lives may be understandable, the fact still remains that, violence against each other by couples will not solve the problem. What is needed is the understanding and hope that COVID-19 is manageable if we observe all the safety protocols including regular handwashing with soap under running water, social-distancing, wearing face masks and above all, staying at home. Fellow Ghanaians, this too shall pass! Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association Nairobi, Kenya Council Chairman Family Health University Hospital Teshie, Accra [email protected] Source: Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Vineet Upadhyay By Express News Service DEHRADUN: With 160 cases being reported within 24 hours from Uttarakhand, the rate of doubling of cases has reduced to 4.18 days, lesser than the national rate of around 13 days. Yugal Kishore Pant, additional secretary for medical health in the state, said, "Doubling rate of cases has changed in the last few days, with the number of cases increasing steadily due to increased testing. Rate of infection in the state is comparatively lower than the national average." Till date, a total 332 cases of Coronavirus have emerged in the state. The rate of doubling of cases has been decreasing gradually in the state over the past one week. This has become a matter of concern as 87 patients, who travelled in the same train from Maharashtra to Haridwar and then from there to Haldwani on a bus, tested positive altogether in Nainital district on Saturday. "We have issued instructions to all district authorities to increase sampling and conduct maximum tests. All districts have been asked to conduct a minimum of 200 pool sample tests every week, especially for those deemed at high risk, including healthcare workers, pregnant women and attendants of OPD patients, Pant said. Dr Abhishek Tripathi, chief operations officer of the state COVID-19 control room, said that pool testing is being done on a much larger scale as several returnees have tested positive for the contagion. Tripathi added that infection in 87 people, who tested positive in Nainital district, was detected through pool testing. Officials also added that everyone returning from red zones will be mandatorily kept in institutional quarantine for a minimum of seven days. - Germany allowed places of worship to resume after they were shut in March in bid to contain spread of COVID-19 - However, places of worship were required to observe 1.5m social distance which saw Dar Assalam mosque in Berlin run out of space - Nearby, Lutheran church offered to host the worshippers for their Ramadan prayers A church in Germany has opened its doors to Muslims who ran out of space in their mosque following implementation of the social distancing rules. The European nation allowed religious services to resume on May 4 but worshippers were required to maintain a distance of 1.5m (5ft) apart. READ ALSO: Nairobi man loses KSh 37M in fake tender to supply masks, thermometers to Health Ministry Members of the faithful from Berlin's Dar Assalam mosque pray in Martha church which had opened its doors to Muslims during Ramadan. Photo: Dar Assalam mosque Source: UGC READ ALSO: Magazeti ya Jumatatu, Mei 25: Rais Uhuru ana hamu ya kufungua uchumi nchini Following the directive, Dar Assalam mosque in Berlin city's Neukolln district which hosts up to 1,000 worshipers could only hold a fraction of its congregation, BBC reported. Martha Lutheran church which is barely a mile away came forward to save the situation and offered to host the Muslims for their Friday prayers marking end of the Ramadan period. "It is a great sign and it brings joy in Ramadan and joy amid this crisis. This pandemic has made us a community. Crises bring people get together," the mosque's imam said. The church has now reportedly been offering two different prayer services for the Islamic worshippers, one in German and one in Arabic. READ ALSO: Archie Williams: Man wrongly convicted for 36 years warms hearts with melodic voice Worshippers were required to wear masks and maintain six feet of distance during the prayers. "It was a strange feeling because of the musical instruments, the pictures. But when you look, when you forget the small details. This is the house of God in the end," said congregation member Samer Hamdoun said, noting the contrast to Islamic worship. Representatives of Dar Assalam say that the events have helped them to double the amount of people attending their services while simultaneously raising valuable funds to support the mosque during the lockdowns. 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 It is the Legco that must legislate on the matter. Compliance with the UN Convention on civil and political rights is at risk. The central government cannot interfere in affairs that are the exclusive responsibility of the city authorities. The independence of the judges is threatened. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Beijing cannot impose the security law under discussion at the National People's Congress (NPC) on the city, according to the Bar Association. it notes that under the Basic Law, the Chinese government controls only Hong Kong's foreign policy and defense. It is up to the Legco - the local Parliament - to legislate on national security issues. Hong Kong has not yet equipped itself with such a legislative instrument. In 2003, a bill on the subject was withdrawn after strong opposition from citizens, which saw it threatening their rights. According to Hong Kong lawyers, the law wanted by Beijing could violate the UN Convention on civil and political rights, to which the Basic Law expressly refers. The Chinese central government cannot interfere in affairs that fall under the jurisdiction of the former British colony. This means that if Beijing wants to deploy its own security officers to the city, they will have to comply with the laws of Hong Kong and not those of the motherland. The new law also requires Hong Kong courts to intervene in preventing, stopping and punishing actions that threaten national security. The Bar Association notes that this provision violates the independence of the judicial system, a key element of the special autonomy granted to the city after its return to Chinese hands. In the plans of the Chinese regime, the new measure will be approved by the NPC Standing Committee and promulgated by the Hong Kong executive. For almost a year, the region with special status has been shaken by pro-democracy demonstrations, which Beijing condemns as subversive. In June 2019, Hong Kong lawyers were among the first to demonstrate against the (later withdrawn) bill on extradition, which kicked off months of demonstrations in favor of democratic freedoms. Yesterday hundreds of people took to the streets against the proposed security law, the first real demonstration after months of lockdowns in which the government prohibited gatherings of more than 8 people. Police arrested 180 demonstrators; at least 10 activists were injured and taken to hospital. Aurora Expeditions is now facing a potential class action from the Australian passengers, while crew who claim they were unnecessarily infected are considering legal action against Miami-based crewing agency CMI/SunStone Ships. Redfern resident Antony Philip, who has joined the class action, does not believe the Greg Mortimer should have left port on March 15. He was among several passengers who questioned whether it would go ahead, but were assured it was safe. "We were all well aware that if we said 'no' to the trip, the money we had paid wasn't coming back," he said. From left: Antony Philip, Jan Richards and Pascal Le Vot in Patagonia the day before flying to Ushuaia, Argentina, to join the ill-fated Greg Mortimer cruise ship. Lucasz Zuterek, the ship's safety officer and third-in-command, was also dubious about whether the voyage was advisable. He had returned the night before from a month at sea and spent the night updating himself on the pandemic. As he briefed the new crew on safety procedures that morning he felt sick. "I looked at them and I couldn't find the breath," Mr Zuterek said. "I could hardly concentrate on how I was supposed to brief them when there was this other subject." P&O Cruises Australia, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Seabourn had suspended their cruises two days earlier. On the same day that the Greg Mortimer sailed out of the Argentinian port of Ushuaia, Argentina announced it was closing its borders. Dr Mauricio Usme was responsible for treating coronavirus patients on the Greg Mortimer. Credit:Facebook "All the ships in the port are putting their passengers outside, disembarking, disembarking, disembarking," Dr Usme said. "Nobody brought on-board new passengers. Just our ship." As the Greg Mortimer steamed south, the company was already forced to start planning how to get passengers home. Within three days, passengers learned the trip would be cut short. Aurora managed to organise a charter flight, but no port in South America would accept the ship. Then on March 22, a female passenger in her 50s developed fever. This put Aurora's negotiations in a delicate position. The Australian government was working with Uruguay to put passengers on a flight out of Montevideo. But if coronavirus was believed to be on board, Dr Haifer later wrote to Dr Usme, there could be a public outcry and wharf workers might not allow the ship to berth. "Please bear in mind that how you write the health declaration will influence the way that this is viewed," Dr Haifer wrote on March 26. "We don't know we have COVID-19. We are taking precautions as if we do. Give limited information truthfully." Loading Dr Usme was already under pressure. An executive from the crewing agency had asked the captain to get Dr Usme to change the health declaration a day earlier. He refused to do it. "I am the only person on board who is medically responsible for any eventuality that happens," he replied to Dr Haifer. "As a doctor you can also sign this statement and send it on your own, or ask Dr Jeff [Dr Jeff Green, an expedition team medical specialist] to ... sign it. He works directly with Aurora. For my part, this statement will continue to reflect the reality we live in ... All of this started when the global recommendations to stop any flow of people between continents were not followed." Dr Haifer bought into Aurora Expeditions in 2008 when its founders, mountaineer Greg Mortimer and his wife Margaret, stepped back from the operation. The business, which is also part-owned by healthcare investors Michael Alscher and Neville Buch via a series of corporate structures, is slightly anomalous within Dr Haifer's portfolio of pharmaceutical, laboratory and clinical trial companies. But it has made a virtue of its approach to healthcare, with an Australian medical specialist joining expeditions. Loading It is on the surface a lucrative business. In 2017 it commissioned a purpose-built, ice class expedition ship with a patented hull design that would allow it to pierce tall waves on its polar expeditions: the Greg Mortimer, which launched last year. On March 27, Uruguay allowed the Greg Mortimer to anchor and on April 10 most passengers disembarked, but the crew remained aboard and the virus circulated, ultimately infecting 128 people among the 217 on-board. On April 17, engine room worker Ronnie Lorenzo died. An Aurora spokeswoman said the decision to sail on March 15 was made on the basis of the best information available at the time. "Aurora Expeditions was at all times transparent with information provided to government bodies, passengers and crew and factually briefed and sought assistance from health authorities, the governments and diplomatic embassies of many countries involved including the host country and those with passengers or crew on-board," she said. The logo of German car maker Volkswagen A top German court has ruled against Volkswagen over its "dieselgate" emissions scandal, paving the way for car owners to receive compensation from the automotive giant. The Federal Court of Justice passed a ruling on Monday that would force Volkswagen to reimburse a customer in full for the cost of a car in a case that could set a vital precedent for other owners to receive compensation. The case brought by Herbert Gilbert, who paid 31,500 for a Volkswagen Sharan, is a fresh blow for the German carmaker, which has struggled since the scandal first came to light in 2015. Volkswagen admitted to manipulating the engines of 11 million diesel cars built between 2009 and 2015 with software that helped the company cheat tests designed to measure emissions. The US Environmental Protection Agency first discovered the unlawful defeat devices that allowed the cars to detect when they were being tested and adjust emissions of harmful nitrogen oxide pollutants to pass critical regulatory standards. To date, the scandal has cost the company more than 30bn euros following hefty fines, and damage to its reputation after criminal charges were issued by German prosecutors. The ruling from Germanys highest court for civil disputes could pave the way for affected customers to return their vehicles for a lump sum. Currently, there are around 60,000 related lawsuits against Volkswagen in lower German courts. It comes as the carmaker faced a major blow last month in the UK, after the High Court sided with lawyers representing more than 91,000 customers fighting Volkswagen. The victory marked a preliminary step for UK customers hoping to receive a payout from the German firm, which could be expensive. Volkswagen is considering an appeal of the judgment. Volkswagen said the ruling will "bring closure for the diesel proceedings in Germany" and that it is now seeking to bring the pending proceedings to a "prompt conclusion" in agreement with the plaintiffs. Story continues In a statement, a Volkswagen spokesperson said: "We will offer the plaintiffs a pragmatic and simple solution with one-off payments. How high these payments will be depends on the individual case. Waiting for a verdict would have considerable disadvantages for both sides. "A ruling means that the plaintiff would ultimately have to return his vehicle to Volkswagen. However, many people want to keep their vehicle because it works well and do not wish to purchase a new vehicle. Moreover, a judgment takes time, questions of detail can be contentious, and the needed lawyers support in this context represents costs and effort." It added that there are important issues still to be addressed, including whether there are grounds for a claim in case of a purchase of a vehicles after September 2015. ATLANTA - A lawyer for the family of Ahmaud Arbery said Monday that a federal prosecutor told the slain mans mother federal officials are investigating potential misconduct by local officials who handled the case. Lawyer Lee Merritt said U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine, whose jurisdiction includes southern Georgia, met with him and Arberys mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, on Thursday. They wanted us to know they had already been involved in the investigation, Merritt said. Barry Paschal, a spokesman for Christine, declined to confirm or deny whether the meeting happened. Our office does not discuss active investigations, including addressing whether or not those investigations exist, Paschal said. Arbery was fatally shot Feb. 23 when a white father and son pursued the 25-year-old black man after spotting him running in their subdivision just outside of Brunswick. They told police they believed he was responsible for break-ins in their neighbourhood. More than two months passed before Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, were arrested on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault. Brunswick Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson has defended her offices involvement. The elder McMichael worked for her as an investigator before retiring a year ago, which required the office to step away from the case. She handed the case to Waycross Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill. That prosecutor also recused himself, but not before writing a letter saying he believed the McMichaels had been justified in trying to hold Arbery until police arrived and their actions were perfectly legal. 'Gangara, a social activity observed by Muslims to signify the end of Ramadan (30-day fasting), was conspicuously missing for the first time this year since Ghanas independence. This was due to the ban on social gathering, following the COVID-19 pandemic. The usually packed-to-capacity streets in Zongo communities in the Ashanti Region were virtually empty as the Muslim community observed strict adherence to the laid-down protocols. As law-abiding citizens, the Muslim community has decided to respect the existing social and health protocols, Sheikh Bun Bida, Public Relations Officer in-charge of the Ashanti Regional Eid Planning Committee, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi. The Gangara, coinciding with the Eid-ul-Fitr (a sacred day on the Islamic calendar symbolizing the end of Ramadan), under normal circumstances brings all tribal groups in the Zongo communities together to revel. They usually move in processions through the principal streets amid drumming and dancing, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the various tribes. A visit by the GNA to some communities, including Sabon Zongo, Akwatialine, Aboabo Number One and Two, saw the streets virtually empty as most revelers stayed at home in compliance with the COVID-19 protocols. Sheikh Bun Bida said the Committee was working with the security agencies to ensure that the protocols were followed to the letter. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Stunned spectators have spotted an unidentified flying object over the skies of Nimbin. Locals in far north New South Wales town, known for its bohemian lifestyle, reported a mysterious 'black ring' hovering in the sky on Wednesday afternoon. Kaz Woodall, who was walking her dog with a friend at the time, told the Northern Star the ufo rose from behind the mountain ridge at Nimbin showgrounds. 'We were both like, "what the f**k is that? I've never seen anything like this",' she said. Kaz Woodall spotted a black ring in the sky (pictured) in Nimbin in far north New South Wales on Wednesday Ms Woodall said the object was spinning on its axis. She approached the caretaker at the showgrounds to take a look through his telescope. 'We were in awe, but we weren't scared, it was a positive uplifting experience,' she said. The trio said they watched as the object rotated over the hills for forty minutes before it floated over and stopped directly above them in the sky. Ms Woodall said the object stopped rotating while it was above the group before disappearing over the horizon. She said she spent hours researching UFOs after her sighting and claims she found an article of a similar incident from New York. Ms Woodall posted pictures of the black ring on a Nimbin community Facebook page looking for an explanation. Many comments on her post claim the ring was a drone. One user joked that aliens had peered over the town before deciding against visiting. 'They were looking for signs of intelligent life. So they left,' they said. TORONTO - If you were hoping to get out of putting on a face mask to visit stores and other businesses demanding customers wear one, think again. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (604 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks during his daily updates regarding COVID-19 at Queen's Park in Toronto on Monday, May 25, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO - If you were hoping to get out of putting on a face mask to visit stores and other businesses demanding customers wear one, think again. Experts agree with remarks Ontario Premier Doug Ford made on Friday, reminding Canadians that companies have the right to ask you to slip on a face covering or seek products and services elsewhere. "Any business has the right to refuse anyone. That's their business," Ford said on a teleconference last week. "I highly highly encourage that people put on a face shield." He said he knows of two large grocery chains that have already adopted the "no mask, no service" policy meant to quell the spread of COVID-19. The Canadian Press has been told by Longo's and T&T supermarkets, Air Canada and Uber that shoppers, travellers and riders will be confronted with the mandatory policy at their stores and businesses. Richard Powers, a University of Toronto associate professor with expertise in business law, says the policy is well within a company's rights. "The safety of retail workers and staff trumps the customers right to refuse wearing a mask," he said. "Businesses have a legal responsibility to create a safe working environment and if having people wear masks is a reasonable accommodation, which I think it is, to provide that safe environment, I believe that the retailer can refuse entry to someone who will not don a mask." City of Toronto spokesperson Diala Homaidan confirmed in an email that "no mask, no service" policies do not contravene any bylaws, but said such rules are not a requirement of business licensing and are left to the discretion of individual companies. However, businesses that do implement such policies are likely to face concerns from Canadians with health conditions that are aggravated by masks. Wearing a mask could contribute to an asthma attack for some, she said, while others with autism spectrum disorder may have trouble with sensory processing, as well as tactile, olfactory and nervous-system hypersensitivity that wearing a mask could trigger. "Be very aware of those with different types of cognitive, intellectual disabilities, those who are hearing impaired and others," Canada's top health official said recently. "Don't assume that someone who isn't wearing a mask or is wearing something different doesnt have an actual reason for it," chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said. Powers believes this is a sign some retailers could be in for a fight. "Someone will challenge that on whatever grounds discrimination perhaps and that creates a hassle for the retailer and an expense, if they choose to fight it," he said. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Adam Savaglio, a partner at business and employment law firm Scarfone Hawkins LLP, said the policy creates "a dance" for companies, especially because governments are advising them to take precautions to protect people from COVID-19. "It can create a potential discrimination claim because one of the grounds in Ontario, at least under the Human Rights Code, where an individual may have a claim, is they're being adversely treated on account of a protected ground, in this case, disability," Savaglio said. "They may have a personal right of action against the owner of that business for denial of service." That can be juxtaposed with health and safety legislation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which says companies have an obligation to protect its employees from all reasonable or forseeable risks of harm. "That creates a competing rights issue," he said. "Who triumphs if the individual refuses to adhere to the protocol?" This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. 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. Photo: Minnesota Historical Society/Corbis via Getty Images When [Donald] Trump assumed the presidency after a 2016 election that Democrats should have won by a landslide writes John Nichols in his new book, the crisis came into focus. It was not the Republican Party that was ruining our politics. Rather, the lack of a coherent and appealing opposition to the Republicans was the problem. You have probably seen versions of this argument hundreds of times. It is the standard left-wing critique of the Democratic Party. The feckless Democrats keep losing because they stand for nothing. Having abandoned their progressive principles and sold out to the corporate Establishment, they have forfeited the trust voters had given them during the glorious New Deal era. Most of these critiques point to the 1970s as the moment when the party turned neoliberal and set itself along the path of political and moral ruin. But Nichols advances a different argument. In his new book, The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party, Nichols, the Nations national correspondent, locates the pivotal moment some three decades earlier. The Democrats lost their way in 1944, when they removed vice-president Henry Wallace from the ticket, denying him his place as Franklin Roosevelts successor. Wallace, argues Nichols, would have kept alive the New Deal flame that was instead extinguished by the moderate Harry Truman. Instead, Trumans great betrayal (in Wallaces words, which Nichols endorses) of Roosevelts legacy veered the Democrats onto the neoliberal path. The lost soul of the Democratic Party was a man, he argues, and his name was Henry Wallace. Nichols has ambitions beyond mere historical reinterpretation. He presents his history as a blueprint for the revival of the Democratic Partys left wing, concluding with a rousing chapter casting Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as heirs to the Wallace tradition. His blurbs from progressives like Sanders, Ro Khannna, Ilhan Omar, and Democratic Socialists of America director Maria Svart, rather than from historians underscore Nicholss vision of his protagonist as a redemptive model. Nichols is correct to see parallels between Wallace and the left-wing movement built around Sanders. What he fails to understand is that many of the same errors that destroyed Wallace as a political force also drove Sanders to his demise. ++ Nicholss emphasis on Wallace as a model has one clear advantage over the traditional left-wing focus: He is able to account for the tension between liberals and leftists that long predated the 1970s. After all, if the neoliberal turn took place only after Nixon appeared on the scene, what would explain the lefts contempt for what it called the corporate liberals of the Kennedy-Johnson era? Or the bitter attacks on Truman that Nichols documents? Both the international economy changed and the Republican Partys economic program changed in the 1970s, but the Democratic Partys ideological orientation was relatively stable. It did not stop being a social democratic or labor-dominated party in the neoliberal era because it was not one before then, either. But Nicholss attempt to make Wallace the rightful heir to FDR runs into problems of its own. The most obvious one is that, if Wallace was a faithful adherent of Roosevelts legacy, and Truman a Judas, why did Roosevelt throw Wallace off the ticket and replace him with Truman? Nichols tries to explain this away as a devious scheme foisted upon an unwitting Roosevelt by the partys conservative elements. The bosses took advantage of an ailing and distracted Franklin Roosevelt to force [Wallace] off the ticket, he writes. This explanation gives too little credit to Roosevelt (who was ailing, but who was not too distracted to spend time in Georgia with his mistress). When recounting the narrative, Nichols notes in passing that Wallace himself was gone on a strenuous trip across Siberia and China before the convention where he was replaced. He does not mention that Roosevelt sent Wallace on this trip in order to keep him from campaigning to save his job. Second, Nicholss attempt to bracket Roosevelt with Wallace as visionary progressives, and Truman as the first of a long line of corporate sellouts, requires him to judge Roosevelt and Truman by very different standards. Truman, to be sure, accomplished relatively little in the domestic sphere. But this was because he inherited a Congress dominated by a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats. Roosevelts New Deal reforms had already ground to a halt before Truman took office. Nichols gets around this problem by judging Roosevelt by his rhetoric, and Truman by his practical results. He lavishes praise on Roosevelt for his soaring Four Freedoms speech, without acknowledging Roosevelt did not (and could not) turn those principles into policy. He doesnt credit Truman for his own soaring populist rhetoric (like his proposal for a Fair Deal, which would have created national health insurance, public housing, aid for education, and a rollback of Taft-Hartley anti-union legislation.) At one point, Nichols does acknowledge that Roosevelt, too, was hardly a consistent liberal: He would lurch left and then edge back; he would welcome the hatred of the bankers and plutocrats and then meet the investors and business owners whose buy-in he needed to retool the economy. And yet he generally falls into the progressive trap of treating Roosevelt as if his lurches to the left constituted the entirety of his political identity. Roosevelts self-definition was generally that of a liberal, counterpoised between radicals (who supported him sporadically) and conservatives. Roosevelt once observed that a radical was a man with both feet firmly planted in the air, and a conservative a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward, while, a liberal is a man who uses his legs and his hands at the behest at the command of his head. Trumans habit of tacking between left and center, market and state, and conciliating business and labor was a more faithful continuation of Roosevelts political style than Wallaces. ++ After Roosevelt replaced him on the ticket in 1944, Wallace rejoined the cabinet. But he left in 1946 when he broke with Truman, whose administration was reorienting its foreign policy around resistance to the Soviet Union. After a stint as editor of the (then) left-wing New Republic, where he built his following, he ran against Truman as a left-wing splinter candidate in 1948. The movement that grew around Wallace in the middle and late 40s many ways resembles the one built by Sanders over the last five years. Both Wallace and Sanders presented themselves as the true heir to Roosevelt, proposing to steer the party back to its New Deal roots after it had lost its way. Wallace, like Sanders, mobilized a passionate base whose intensity at times obscured how few people the movement actually represented. Both came to rely on the energy supplied by their most passionate and ideologically extreme supporters, some of whom were hostile to the Democratic Party and had no use for it except as a vehicle for a left-wing takeover. And both Sanders and Wallace tended to delude themselves into thinking they represented the true sentiment of the partys voters, and by mobilizing a populist rebellion, they could seize it back from the corrupt nexus of financial interests that had gained nefarious control. Nichols rightly credits Wallace for his moral clarity in denouncing segregation. Barnstorming the South and holding integrated rallies, Wallace was well ahead of his time in an era when the Democratic Party had a devils bargain with Jim Crow. But Nicholss emphasis on civil rights is difficult to square with his valorization of Roosevelt. While the New Deal drew northern black voters into the Democratic Party with economic relief, Roosevelt did almost nothing to challenge white supremacy. He allowed Southern Democrats to bottle up even meager steps toward civil rights like anti-lynching laws, and (as Ira Katznelson documented) was forced to craft many of his social-welfare measures to deny helping disenfranchised black voters in the South. Meanwhile, it was Truman who took the first real steps toward making Democrats the party of civil rights. Trumans outrage at lynchings of returning black soldiers drove him to integrate the military. Truman fought for a strong civil rights platform at the 1948 Democratic convention, where Hubert Humphrey declared, The time has arrived in America for the Democratic Party to get out of the shadow of states rights and to walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights. Wallace dismissed integration of the armed forces as an empty gesture. But the partys lurch toward civil rights was significant enough that Strom Thurmond left to run a splinter campaign as the Dixiecrat, foreshadowing the demise of the Solid South. The disparate way Nichols describes the behavior of Roosevelt and Truman is telling. He gently chides Roosevelts civil rights record (FDR had fallen far short) while crediting him for attracting black voters. Later he attacks Truman as cautious and calculating. Its difficult to reconcile his gentle treatment of Roosevelt and harsh treatment of Truman, when Trumans civil rights record undeniably surpassed Roosevelts. Its even harder to understand how Nichols can castigate Truman and his Democratic successors for forfeiting Roosevelts massive New Deal coalition. The overwhelming reason white voters left the party was that the party moved left on race. Nichols blames Democrats for losing white voters while blaming them for failing to move farther and faster on the very issues that caused white voters to defect. Wallace had an answer to this contradiction. He believed moving left would attract, not repel, white Southern voters. He believed white racism was nothing but a plot by economic elites from the North. When his Southern rallies faced violence, he blamed northern industrialists who dominated these communities for inciting it, and claimed whenever one found racial injustice in the South there look for the long string of dividends that lead to Wall Street. (Here, and in some other places where I provide context Nichols omits, I am citing Thomas Devines 2013 history, Henry Wallaces 1948 Presidential Campaign and the Future of Postwar Liberalism.) Wallaces insistence of dismissing racism as a metaphenomenon driven by economic concerns, and his inability to take it seriously as an authentic belief system, anticipated the errors Sanders has made in 2016 and 2020. Both men believed that if white racists were told they were being duped by Wall Street, they would awaken from their false consciousness and vote their class interest. Both likewise failed to understand the calculations of African-American voters, who preferred to leverage their vote with political allies who could promise and deliver concrete steps in the right direction. More than three-quarters of black voters supported Truman in 1948, and rather than question his flawed assumptions of his candidacy, Wallace bitterly concluded the black vote had let him down. ++ It was foreign policy that drove Wallace out of Trumans cabinet in 1946 and formed the most irreparable breach with his former party. From Wallaces point of view, Truman was betraying Roosevelts alliance with the Soviets. It is of course correct that Trumans policy toward Moscow was more hostile than Roosevelts. The error made by Wallace and his supporters is to attribute that difference to Truman abandoning Roosevelts vision, rather than the two presidents facing very different circumstances. Had Roosevelt survived his fourth term, his posture with Stalin would have surely changed after the Nazi threat had disappeared and the Soviets began gobbling up Europe. Nichols defends Wallaces warning about the rise of fascism in the United States, pointing to Donald Trumps right-wing authoritarianism as an indication that Wallace was prophetic. But Wallaces definition of fascism was far broader than anything that might be traced forward to Trumpism. He insisted that American support for a democratic government in Germany was a plot to revive Nazi-style fascism. Wallace insistently described American foreign policy actions as offensive and Soviet actions as defensive. Nichols justifiably credits Wallace for his unvarnished denunciations of British imperialism, but fails to note that Wallace turned a blind eye to Soviet imperialism. When the Soviets sponsored a coup in Czechoslovakia, Wallace blamed Truman for provoking them, and compared Russias actions to the American position in France. When the Soviets imposed a blockade on Berlin, Wallace assailed Truman for airlifting in supplies. Nichols, incredibly, credits Wallace with forcing Truman to temper the bombastic Truman Doctrine in favor of the more cooperative Marshall Plan to give billions of dollars in aid to rebuild Europe. He does not inform his readers that Wallace opposed the Marshall Plan. It was a blueprint for war concocted by militarists and Wall Street monopolists to suppress the democratic movements in Europe that would convert western Europe into a vast military camp, with freedom extinguished, he testified. Nichols has no affection for Soviet expansionism. Rather, he echoes the same view of communism that was articulated by Wallace and many of his enthusiasts. They viewed communists as allies, and viewed almost any attack on them as unfair red-baiting. Wallaces anti-anti-communism consisted more of an intense suspicion of any anti-communist policy than a positive defense of Stalins regime. Their method was very similar to the anti-anti-Trumpism that defines many conservatives today. The debate over communism dominated American politics at the time. There were essentially three positions. The center-left, epitomized by Truman, proposed instead to contain communism, through a combination of aid for non-communist states and military deterrence against further Soviet expansion. The right wanted to roll back communism, going to war if necessary (which it would have been). Conservatives denounced containment as a form of appeasement. Richard Nixon mocked Trumans foreign policy as the cowardly college of communist containment. Wallaces left, which was far smaller than either of the other two camps, opposed containment as a provocation that would, and was designed to, lead to war. The domestic analogue to this debate centered on the increasingly paranoid form of anti-communism that Joe McCarthy stoked. McCarthys tactic was to equate New Deal liberals with communism, asserting that Roosevelt and Truman had been manipulated by Soviet spies. Wallace, for his part, equated all anti-communism with McCarthyism. From the right, anybody who opposed rollback and McCarthyism was a communist sympathizer. From the left, anybody who opposed communism was a warmonger and a red-baiter. In both their foreign and domestic aspects, both the right and the far left sought to flatten three-sided debates into a more convenient binary. ++ Wallaces political crusade was not merely about left-wing domestic or foreign policy. It was an attempt to revive a political strategy called the Popular Front, a strategic alliance that joined liberals with the far left, including avowed communists. During the 1930s and 40s, the Communist Party line was set in Moscow and followed by communists across the world. At some points in time, communists refused to cooperate with any other left-of-center party, believing that it was better to allow fascists to destroy them to hasten the revolution. (The pursuit of this course helped Hitler crush the German Social Democrats.) At other times, they urged communists to support other anti-fascist parties by forming a Popular Front. Many American communists and fellow travelers joined Roosevelts government, an arrangement that was tenable while the United States was fighting a world war on the Soviet side, but became untenable as the end of the war drew within sight. The logic of the Popular Front was often summarized in an expression no enemies to the left, and its ethos of refusing to draw lines of contrast against the left was foundational. The two Bernie Sanders campaigns have both followed a version of this strategy. Sanders brought into his campaign organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America, and some radical activists, who otherwise view the Democratic Party with indifference or outright hostility. Nichols admires Wallaces method of absorbing smaller left-wing parties into a broad left-wing movement to capture the party. What Nichols does not seem to recognize is that this very practice helped lead to Wallaces demise, and had the same effect on Sanders. Wallace stirred wild passions among his enthusiasts, who packed stadiums for his speeches and could mobilize impressive armies of volunteers. One demonstration of strength came in February 1948, when a Wallace-backed candidate won a special election for a House seat in the Bronx against the Democrat. The jubilant left interpreted the result as a wholesale repudiation of the Truman administration, recounts Devine much like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs shocking primary upset, which many progressives saw as a harbinger of a nationwide uprising against the party leadership. But most Democrats recognized that Wallace had merely activated a fervent but tiny faction. Removed from the hothouse atmosphere of the liberal civil war, they were less likely to overestimate the former vice-presidents potential strength or the electoral clout of the Democratic Partys left wing, writes Devine, in a passage written several years before Sanderss first presidential campaign, but which nonetheless captures it perfectly, even though Wallace claimed to have the backing of the common man, his primary base of support had always been limited to a relatively small group of left-leaning intellectuals, middle-class professionals, and CIO labor leaders. The Wallace campaign was a debacle. He won just 2.37 percent of the national vote, and 37 percent of his votes came from New York City. Whatever passions he had stirred among the intelligentsia, Wallace gained almost no inroads among regular Democrats, despite having served four years as vice-president and eight more years as a high-profile cabinet official. Nichols criticizes Wallaces decision to run as a third-party candidate, arguing instead for a Sanders-style popular-front strategy within the Democratic Party. But he fails to understand that Wallaces refusal to distance himself from the far left made him toxic to the party base. For instance, 90 percent of the public opposed his plan to let the Soviets take Berlin. Nichols instead attributes his problems mainly to the machinations of segregationists and party bosses, not to any genuine distrust his message might have created with the voters. He does allow that Wallaces communist-dominated campaign may have committed some mistakes. Yes, an argument can be made that taking less advice from the Communist Party tacticians who hung around the progressive party headquarters in New York might have made for more strategically sound choices, he concedes. But he reels back even that remarkably tepid criticism in the next sentence: But a parallel argument can be made that many of the ablest grassroots campaigners for Wallace in the campaigns closing days were Communists, fellow travelers, or independent leftists who refused to abide any form of anti-communism. (There were very fine people on both sides of the Stalin issue.) This seems more like a description of the problem that comes with handing your campaign over to its most extreme adherents than a persuasive defense of doing so. Social movements can change the world. But they can also become powerful vehicles for self-delusion. Wallace tapped into a movement that came to believe it represented The People, and lost all ability to see what the actual people outside the movement thought about them. Inevitably they came to see their defeats as the product of a scheme. Nichols detects many parallels between Wallaces movement and the Bernie movement. But the lessons he draws seem to be mostly the wrong ones. More than 340 Vietnamese citizens returned to the Southeast Asian country from the Netherlands and France on Sunday morning, as part of the governments plan to bring home citizens stranded overseas due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. A plane operated by national carrier Vietnam Airlines departed from Hanoi, stopped in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris cities in Germany, the Netherlands, and France, respectively before landing in Ho Chi Minh City. As part of the outbound flight, the aircraft also transported about 330 foreigners to Germany and the Netherlands. According to a Vietnam Airlines representative, a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner was used to operate the trips, which took a total of 32 hours. It was also the first time Vietnam Airlines had operated a flight across the three European countries. The Vietnamese passengers included children under the age of 18, the elderly, people with medical issues, pregnant women, university students, stranded tourists, and people whose visas had expired but could not leave the countries. All of them had had their body temperature checked before boarding and were brought to quarantine camps after their arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. Previously on Saturday evening, a flight operated by budget carrier Vietjet Air brought home 240 Vietnamese citizens stranded in Myanmar because of the COVID-19 epidemic. Between May 25 and June 1, more flights are expected to bring home Vietnamese citizens from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and New Zealand. Vietnam has recorded 325 COVID-19 patients so far, with 267 having recovered. No deaths associated with the disease have been reported in the country to date. No new community infections have been documented in the Southeast Asian country for 39 days. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Eight foreign crew members kidnapped from a container ship off Benin's coast last month have been freed, the Nigerian Navy says. The eight include nationals from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and the Philippines. They were freed in a rescue operation on May 23, Nigerian Navy Admiral Oladele Daji told AFP, adding that it was premature to give any details on their captivity and release. They are on medical observation and one of them is receiving medical treatment for malnutrition," Daji said on May 25. The owner of the ship, Hamburg-based shipping firm Transeste, confirmed that the detained crew members had been released and would be repatriated back to their families. Transeste has said the vessel, the Tommi Ritscher, had been boarded by pirates on April 19 while at anchor off the coast of Benin. Eleven crew members were able to hide in the ships citadel and were later freed in a joint Benin Navy and Nigerian Special Forces operation. However, 11 crew members remained missing, including three Russians, one Ukrainian, and the Bulgarian captain. The West African country lies in the Gulf of Guinea, which has been the scene of pirate attacks, lootings, and kidnappings for ransom. Many of the pirates come from Nigeria. Based on reporting by AFP Space Exploration Technologies Corp. -- commonly known as SpaceX -- is slated to send two astronauts into space on Wednesday. Despite not yet being 20 years old, the company has already developed a creation myth: on September 28, 2008, its first rocket Falcon 1 launched for the fourth time. "I messed up the first three launches, the first three launches failed. Fortunately the fourth launch -- that was the last money that we had -- the fourth launch worked, or that would have been it for SpaceX. But fate liked us that day," said Elon Musk, the company's founder and chief engineer, in 2017. "We started with just a few people, who didn't really know how to make rockets. The reason I ended up being the chief engineer... was not because I wanted to, it's because I couldn't hire anyone. Nobody good would join," he added. Born in South Africa, Musk immigrated to Canada at age 17, then to the US, where he amassed his fortune in Silicon Valley with the startup PayPal. SpaceX's aim, when it was incorporated on March 14, 2002, was to make low-cost rockets to travel one day to Mars -- and beyond. The 11th employee hired that year turned out to be someone good: Gwynne Shotwell, who was in charge of business development, soon established herself as Musk's right-hand woman. SpaceX founder Elon Musk (pictured with the Dragon capsule in May 2014) said the company started with "just a few people, who didn't really know how to make rockets" / AFP/File In the space industry, the two are given the rock star privilege of only being referred to by their first names. "Elon has the vision, but you need someone who can execute on the plan, and that's Gwynne," said Scott Hubbard, a professor at Stanford University and former director of NASA's Ames Research Center. Hubbard met Musk in 2001, when the thirty-year-old entrepreneur was making his first forays into the space industry. The 56-year-old Shotwell, who became SpaceX president and chief operating officer in 2008, is a self-described nerd. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in mechanical engineering and was elected in February to the National Academy of Engineering. When Elon talks about colonizing Mars, it's Gwynne who makes commercial presentations and secures contracts. "I have no creative bones in my body at all," Shotwell told a NASA historian in 2013. "I'm an analyst, but I love that." - Reusable rockets - Gwynne Shotwell (pictured 2014), who became the SpaceX president and operating chief operating officer, is a self-described "nerd" / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File The team started to gain credibility in 2006. SpaceX had only 80 employees (compared to 8,000 now) and had yet to achieve orbit. But NASA awarded them a contract to develop a vehicle to refuel the International Space Station (ISS). "The crowd went crazy," Shotwell recalled. SpaceX succeeded in 2012: its Dragon capsule docked at the ISS, the first private company to do so. Then, in 2015, after multiple crashes and failures (spectacles often webcast live), SpaceX landed the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket, the successor of Falcon 1, safely back on Earth. The era of non-disposable rockets had begun. "Falcon 9 is simpler and lower-cost," said Glenn Lightsey, an engineering professor at Georgia Tech. The rockets were built completely under one roof, in Hawthorne in the Los Angeles area -- breaking with the long supply chain models of giants such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The SpaceX formula proved seductive to clients: in the past three years, the company has launched more rockets than Arianespace. In 2018, SpaceX launched more rockets than Russia. For an operator, launching a satellite on a Falcon 9 costs half as much as on an Ariane 5, according to Phil Smith, an analyst at Bryce Tech. Having conquered the private launch market, SpaceX has claimed a bigger piece of the pie for public and military launches. Still funded by NASA, SpaceX is set this week to become the first private company to launch astronauts into space. Two of the boosters land at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after the launch of SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on February 6, 2018 in Cape Canaveral, Florida / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File Despite a few years' delay, its Crew Dragon is ready before Boeing's Starliner. Musk also wants to build NASA's next moon lander. Industry giants have criticized the company for "arrogance," but "the real reason was that it threatened their way of doing business and their livelihoods," Lori Garver, NASA's former deputy administrator, told AFP. It's now Shotwell who lectures her competitors: "You have to learn those hard lessons," she said in a NASA briefing at the start of the month, recalling the multitude of problems that plagued SpaceX's start. "I think sometimes the aerospace industry shied away from failure in the development phase." 25.05.2020 LISTEN The Deputy CEO of MASLOC and NPP Parliamentary Aspirant for Yendi Constituency, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah has responded to the dire propaganda by her political detractors and opponents, who blatantly misconstrued the disbursement of MASLOC loan - for vote buying. Hajia Abibata was officially assigned to disburse an approved total loan amount in excess of GHC1,000,000.00 on 21st May, 2020 to eligible Applicants in the Yendi. Notable among the beneficiaries were farmers and market women, who are being adequately empowered economically to support their families with profits from their enterprise. The said amount was meant to be disbursed among 30 groups of 25 members and individual beneficiaries, bringing the total numbers of Applicants to 776. The MASLOC loan according to the Deputy CEO was to alleviate their challenges presented by the COVID-19 slowdown of economic activities. However, the social media is awash with all kinds of scathing malicious, mischievous and verminous attacks which Hajia Abibata confirms are being masterminded by her main opponent in the NPP parliamentary primaries, Farouk Aliu Mahama. She said the attacks on her person were misplaced and did not support the facts of the official disbursements. As Deputy CEO of MASLOC in charge of the Northern sector of Ghana, Hajia Abibata said she had the responsibility to supervise the smooth disbursement of loan facilities within her catchment area, which undoubtedly includes Yendi, her birth land. The NPP Parliamentary Aspirant did not understand why her detractors could mislead the public in a bid to score cheap and underserving political point, which also fell flat. She indicated that it was not the first time MASLOC was disbursing group loans to applicants in their localities in a bid to avoid ghost names. According to her, similar disbursements had been carried out in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and all other regions of Ghana. The disbursements in Yendi present no difference whatsoever, and it will be unfair if it should be singled out for criticism. However, she said, there is always room for improvement and a myriad of suggestions have been noted from positive contributors on this issue in discussion and I believe MASLOC is a listening and learning institution, which will consider some of the contributions opined, in a bid to improving our modus operandi. That is the reason why MASLOC launched its digital platform last week aimed at reducing significantly, the manual inclusions in their activities like disbursements on table-top, as the status quo. Hajia Abibata described it as very shameful and unfair for anybody to want to play mischief or dirty politics with her good efforts towards the economic empowerment of the people of Yendi. "I am very proud to have been able to lobby for such a huge loan facility from MASLOC for my people. I didn't secure the loan for political reasons but to transform the lives of the people who are ready to work to feed their families and humanity but hitherto did not have the capital or needed a boost". The Deputy MASLOC CEO said the voters in Yendi had enough trust and confidence in her abilities, and were already satisfied with her numerous supports and interventions. She indicated that her footprints were very visible in every community in the Yendi Constituency as she has secured employment for close to 2000 youth and employable persons and supported several farmers, provided water, electricity, and also supported in the health and education sectors in the Constituency among others. It is common knowledge that my opponents and detractors have always got it wrong each time they attack me because the good people of Yendi have noticed that my opponents do not fight to improve the lot of the people but they rather try to fight and block my interventions. The question really is: why dont they bring their quota of development- however small it may be? Remember what Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney, an American Universalist educator and poet said, Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. Hajia Abibata who recently donated 1000 hampers and other food items to her Yendi constituents said that it was never too late and that there was room for her opponents to focus on development in Yendi. Attacking me each time I bring development is paltry and vile. The NPP Parliamentary Aspirant noted that she would not lose focus of always understanding and prioritizing the needs of her people and deepening her interventions for the constituency. Meanwhile, some personalities including Madam Afia Akoto, a Deputy CEO of MASLOC have come out to straighten the records and saw as unfortunate, the needless attacks on Hajia Abibata by her opponents. She maintained, I believe her position is simple - Yendi disbursement is no different from other disbursements nationwide. Its that plain and simple. The late Frances Fitzpatrick The death has occurred of Frances Fitzpatrick, Rioch Street/Tommy Martin Place, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny, May 23, unexpectedly, at her home. Frances, pre-deceased by her father Frankie, much loved mother of Craig, Ava, Nicky and Hazel, sadly missed by her loving childen, her mother Betty, partner Patrick, sisters Margaret, Helen, Mary, Lisa and Leanne, brothers Pat, John and James, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. Due to current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place in the coming days. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence to the family can do so on RIP.ie. The family request that the house is strictly private and thank everyone for their understanding and support at this difficult time. Frances' Funeral Mass can be viewed at 11 am on Wednesday, May 27 at www.stmaryscathedral.ie/webcam. The late Patrick (Paddy) Mernagh The death has occurred of Patrick (Paddy) Mernagh, Forristalstown, Glenmore, Kilkenny, May 24. Paddy beloved husband of Bridget, father of Peter, Seamus, Dermot, Paul, Ray, Denise and Louise, grandfather of Cian and Leah. Predeceased by his parents Peter and May, brothers Jack, Tom & Louis, his sister Biddy. Deeply regretted by his loving family sisters Maureen & Sissy, brothers Fr Michael O.S.A., Liam & Seamus, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. Due to current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place on Tuesday 26th May in St James' Church, Glenmore, with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. A Memorial service will be held at later date. The Funeral will pass Paddy's residence (Forristalstown) at 11.40am on Tuesday, May 26. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence to the family can do so on the condolence link at RIP.ie. The late Catherine (Kitty) Carey (nee McDonald) The death has occurred of Catherine (Kitty) Carey (nee McDonald), Riverside Drive/John Street, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny. May 23, peacefully, in the wonderful care of Anne and the staff at Drakelands House Nursing Home, Catherine (Kitty), predeceased by her husband Nicholas and brother Sean, much loved mother of Renee and John, sadly missed by her daughter and son, brother Paddy, son-in-law Michael, daughter-in-law Nichola, grandchildren Grace, Tom, Erin, Mark, Aisling and Eimear, great grandson Arthur, sister-in-law Phyllis, nephew Paul, extended family and friends. In keeping with current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family Funeral will take place in the coming days. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence to Kitty's family can do so on RIP.ie. Kitty's family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their understanding and support at this difficult time. The late Finbarr Hickey The death has occurred of Finbarr Hickey, Milepost, Slieverue, Kilkenny, who died on May, 23, peacefully, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Finbarr will be sadly missed by his loving wife Nancy (nee Griffin), son Barry, daughters Mary (Serff), Ann (Donnelly), Jeanne (Hickey), Pat (Curtin) and Deidre (Freyne), sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren Shane, Ciaran, Eoghan, Dean, Clara-Jane, Ross, Joyce, Mariana, Juliana, Amanda and Sharon, great granchildren Molly, David and Mario, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. In keeping with current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private funeral will take place for Finbarr on Monday, May 25, leaving from his home at 12.45pm to the Church of the Assumption, Slieverue, for Funeral Mass at 1pm, a celebration of Finbarr's life will be held at a later date. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence to Finbarr's family can do so on RIP.ie. The late Michael (Mickie) O'Shea The death has occurred of Michael (Mickie) O'Shea, Crobally, Mullinavat, Kilkenny. Pre-deceased by his son Joseph, sisters Cathy and Ellie and brother Geoff. Deeply regretted by his loving wife Brigid, son Richard, daughters Mary and Mairead, brothers Pat, Dick and John, son-in-law Liam, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. In keeping with government guidelines regarding public gatherings, Mickie's remains will leave his residence on Monday morning and arrive at All Saint's Church, Knockmoylan for private funeral at noon. Burial after in the adjoining cemetery. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence, can use the on-line service on RIP.ie. The late Agnes Purcell (nee Campion) The death has occurred of Agnes Purcell (nee Campion), Hazel Grove, Loughboy, Kilkenny City, and formerly of Clifden, Clara, Kilkenny, May 23, peacefully, at Aut Even Hospital, after a long illness bravely borne, Agnes (Aggie), sadly missed by her daughter Susan, sons Thomas and Mark, her partner of 30 years Peter (Minchin), sisters Kitty and Margaret, brothers Danny, Pat, Stephen, Sean (Jack) and Peter, son-in-law Paddy, grandchildren and great grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends. In keeping with current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place in the coming days. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence to Aggie's family can do so on RIP.ie. Aggie's family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their understanding and support at this difficult time. The late Kim Quigley The death has occurred of Kim Quigley, Upper House, Ballyshane, Inistioge, Kilkenny and formerly 1 Woodgrove, Tullow Road, Carlow passed away peacefully, on May, 22, at St Lukes Hospital, Kilkenny. Beloved partner of Brian, much loved mother of Jade and Ruby, adored daughter of Brendan and Olive and cherished sister of Brendan and Holly. She will be sadly missed by her loving partner, daughters, parents, brother, sister, her partners mother Biddy, aunts, uncles, extended family, relatives and her many friends. Kims family would like to thanks the doctors and nurses of The Mater Hospital, Dublin, Waterford University Hospital and St Lukes Hospital, Kilkenny, for their wonderful care of Kim during her illness. Kims family understand and appreciate that people would like to offer their condolences. However, due to the current situation, all funeral arrangements will be private. Those who wish to leave a personal message of condolence may do so in the Condolences section on RIP.ie. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. -- commonly known as SpaceX -- is slated to send two astronauts into space on Wednesday. Despite not yet being 20 years old, the company has already developed a creation myth: on September 28, 2008, its first rocket Falcon 1 launched for the fourth time. "I messed up the first three launches, the first three launches failed. Fortunately the fourth launch -- that was the last money that we had -- the fourth launch worked, or that would have been it for SpaceX. But fate liked us that day," said Elon Musk, the company's founder and chief engineer, in 2017. "We started with just a few people, who didn't really know how to make rockets. The reason I ended up being the chief engineer... was not because I wanted to, it's because I couldn't hire anyone. Nobody good would join," he added. Born in South Africa, Musk immigrated to Canada at age 17, then to the US, where he amassed his fortune in Silicon Valley with the startup PayPal. SpaceX's aim, when it was incorporated on March 14, 2002, was to make low-cost rockets to travel one day to Mars -- and beyond. The 11th employee hired that year turned out to be someone good: Gwynne Shotwell, who was in charge of business development, soon established herself as Musk's right-hand woman. In the space industry, the two are given the rock star privilege of only being referred to by their first names. "Elon has the vision, but you need someone who can execute on the plan, and that's Gwynne," said Scott Hubbard, a professor at Stanford University and former director of NASA's Ames Research Center. Hubbard met Musk in 2001, when the thirty-year-old entrepreneur was making his first forays into the space industry. The 56-year-old Shotwell, who became SpaceX president and chief operating officer in 2008, is a self-described nerd. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in mechanical engineering and was elected in February to the National Academy of Engineering. When Elon talks about colonizing Mars, it's Gwynne who makes commercial presentations and secures contracts. "I have no creative bones in my body at all," Shotwell told a NASA historian in 2013. "I'm an analyst, but I love that." - Reusable rockets - The team started to gain credibility in 2006. SpaceX had only 80 employees (compared to 8,000 now) and had yet to achieve orbit. But NASA awarded them a contract to develop a vehicle to refuel the International Space Station (ISS). "The crowd went crazy," Shotwell recalled. SpaceX succeeded in 2012: its Dragon capsule docked at the ISS, the first private company to do so. Then, in 2015, after multiple crashes and failures (spectacles often webcast live), SpaceX landed the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket, the successor of Falcon 1, safely back on Earth. The era of non-disposable rockets had begun. "Falcon 9 is simpler and lower-cost," said Glenn Lightsey, an engineering professor at Georgia Tech. The rockets were built completely under one roof, in Hawthorne in the Los Angeles area -- breaking with the long supply chain models of giants such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The SpaceX formula proved seductive to clients: in the past three years, the company has launched more rockets than Arianespace. In 2018, SpaceX launched more rockets than Russia. For an operator, launching a satellite on a Falcon 9 costs half as much as on an Ariane 5, according to Phil Smith, an analyst at Bryce Tech. Having conquered the private launch market, SpaceX has claimed a bigger piece of the pie for public and military launches. Still funded by NASA, SpaceX is set this week to become the first private company to launch astronauts into space. Despite a few years' delay, its Crew Dragon is ready before Boeing's Starliner. Musk also wants to build NASA's next moon lander. Industry giants have criticized the company for "arrogance," but "the real reason was that it threatened their way of doing business and their livelihoods," Lori Garver, NASA's former deputy administrator, told AFP. It's now Shotwell who lectures her competitors: "You have to learn those hard lessons," she said in a NASA briefing at the start of the month, recalling the multitude of problems that plagued SpaceX's start. "I think sometimes the aerospace industry shied away from failure in the development phase." The launch of SpaceX's rocket Falcon Heavy on June 25, 2019 SpaceX founder Elon Musk (pictured with the Dragon capsule in May 2014) said the company started with "just a few people, who didn't really know how to make rockets" Gwynne Shotwell (pictured 2014), who became the SpaceX president and operating chief operating officer, is a self-described "nerd" Two of the boosters land at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after the launch of SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on February 6, 2018 in Cape Canaveral, Florida Actors Renuka Shahane and Ashutosh Rana are celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary. On Monday, they took to Twitter to share lovely messages for each other. Renuka shared a picture of them from their wedding in 2001.The couple are seen dressing in their wedding robes, flashing bright smiles to the camera. You and I....what a beautiful world....19 years ago today......love eternal @ranaashutosh10," she wrote in her tweet. Retweeting her post, Ashutosh wrote a lovely few lines for her in Hindi. You are my love requests, you are the meaning of life. You are my highest consciousness, and you are the extension of it. Forever yours, thank you from my heart, he wrote. Urmila Matondkar, Varun Grover and other commented on their post. Awww happy anniversary, wrote Urmila. Many many congratulations, wrote Mohd. Zeeshan Ayub. A fan joked, HATS OFF to ur guts mam. He is a very nice human being but anyone else would rethink after his dangerous looks in films hahah. The couple first met for Hansal Mehtas movie Jayati, which did not ultimately take off. The film never released but at least we met. And, once we were introduced we were attracted to each other as we both have similar interests, Renuka had told Mumbai Mirror in 2018. Also read: Eid 2020: Priyanka Chopra, Sara Ali Khan wish Eid mubarak, Sonam Kapoor says Thank you for praying for us Our worlds are poles apart. He is from a rural region in Madhya Pradesh and I am born and raised in Mumbai. There are a lot of differences. He comes from a joint family; I am from a nuclear family. He comes from a very patriarchal family, but the respect all the women in my married family and I have received is immense,she had said. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Cochin Shipyard on Monday said projects delay on account of COVID-19 will have an adverse impact on financial performance and profitability of the company during FY21 but the assessment of the blow will be possible only after stabilisation of operations in the yard. However, there will not be any additional impact due to liquidated damages for delay in running projects as the company has already invoked force majeure clause available in all the contracts, by which the contractual delivery dates will get automatically extended to compensate the lockdown period, it said in a filing to the BSE. "As the operations were stopped w.e.f. from 23rd March 2020, only six days production was lost in FY20, hence the impact on the financials of FY20 will be minimal. Delay in running projects will have an adverse impact on financial performance and profitability of the company during FY21," it said. It said there are delays in capex projects in Kochi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Port Blair as well as subsidiaries of company viz. Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited and Tebma Shipyard Limited which was acquired by bidding at NCLT in March 2020 and will result in consequent loss of production. Withholding of future projects/cancellation of few running enquiries and potential projects have to be put on hold citing liquidity issues, it said. With effect from May 6, 2020, the company started its operations at the main unit at Kochi with entire permanent workforce. The Kochi unit alone contributes more than 90 per cent of the turnover of the company in a year. The units in Mumbai and Kolkata are still closed due to the lockdown and will be opened only after the restrictions are over, the company said. It said all permanent employees of the company are reporting to work from May 6, 2020 onwards in two shifts, the company said adding, each each shift contains not more than 50 per cent of the total strength. To catch up with the lost production days, the second and fourth Saturdays which were closed holidays have now been declared as normal working days until further notice, it said and added, henceforth there would be six working days in a week, the company said. "As the company is practically zero debt company except for the tax free bonds of Rs 123 crore, debt servicing does not pose any serious impact," the statement said. While there is a delay in collection of receivables from the customers especially from the government, the company does not foresee any credit risks, it said and added that the company does not foresee any liquidity challenges to meet its supplier obligations. "Ongoing capex will not be impacted on account of liquidity," it said and added that the company has set up a crisis war room which proposes a zero based budgeting and other austerity measures. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Midwich Group Plc (LON:MIDW). Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. Simply put, it is used to assess the profitability of a company in relation to its equity capital. Check out our latest analysis for Midwich Group How Is ROE Calculated? ROE 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 Midwich Group is: 28% = UK18m UK65m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019). The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. That means that for every 1 worth of shareholders' equity, the company generated 0.28 in profit. Does Midwich Group Have A Good ROE? Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, Midwich Group has a superior ROE than the average (10%) in the Electronic industry. AIM:MIDW Past Revenue and Net Income May 25th 2020 That's what we like to see. Bear in mind, a high ROE doesn't always mean superior financial performance. Aside from changes in net income, a high ROE can also be the outcome of high debt relative to equity, which indicates risk. To know the 3 risks we have identified for Midwich Group visit our risks dashboard for free. How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity? Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. Story continues Midwich Group's Debt And Its 28% ROE Midwich Group does use a high amount of debt to increase returns. It has a debt to equity ratio of 1.02. There's no doubt the ROE is impressive, but it's worth keeping in mind that the metric could have been lower if the company were to reduce its debt. Investors should think carefully about how a company might perform if it was unable to borrow so easily, because credit markets do change over time. Conclusion Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE. But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The preliminary findings of the test for the coronavirus vaccine being developed by CanSino Biologics have shown favourable results, a study showed. The potential COVID-19 vaccine appeared safe and triggered an immune response in healthy adults in the early trials, the study published in the health journal The Lancet said. The early trials showed that the experimental vaccine, Ad5-nCoV, may help train the human body to resist infection by the new SARS-CoV-2 virus. The study includes 108 participants aged between 18 and 60 years and with no history of coronavirus infection. The phase 1 trials were conducted in Wuhan, Hubei province. It comes days after biotechnology company Moderna had said that the preliminary findings of its test for coronavirus vaccine development have shown favourable results. The experimental vaccine appears to be safe and able to trigger an immune response against the infection, Moderna had said. There are more than 100 coronavirus vaccines being currently developed globally. Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Varshan on Sunday said that at least four of the candidate coronavirus vaccines are soon expected to enter the clinical trial stage. "There are over 100 candidate vaccines which are at different levels of development. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is coordinating the efforts. India is also actively contributing in it," Vardhan said in a social media interaction with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader G V L Narasimha Rao. "As far as I know, four of our fourteen vaccines will soon be in the clinical trial stage, within 4 to 5 months. All the 14 are right now at the pre-clinical trial stage," he added. Also read: Delhi heat wave: Red alert for NCR, Punjab, Haryana; temp to reach 47 degrees Also read: Domestic flights resume: Returning to your hometown? Check out guidelines, quarantine rules The Kuwait Port Authority has joined hands with the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) for the design and construction of an industrial port in the south of the country, reported Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). The MoU, which also includes a joint study for the project, aims to elevate Kuwaits position worldwide and enhance its local manufacturing capability, stated the report. A public sector body run on a commercial basis under the Ministry of Communications, the Kuwait Port Authority manages three commercial ports in Kuwait namely Shuwaikh, Shuaiba and Doha ports. The PAI was set up by the government to develop the industrial activity in Kuwait and romote it besides supervising it and develop the industrial base so that the strategic national economic goals are achieved. The final agreement will be inked after getting the official nod from the boards of both authorities, remarked its General Manager Abdulkarim Taqi after signing the MoU with PAI Director General Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Al Sabah. As per the deal, PAI will be responsible for the design, construction, and operation of the new port when the project's studies are approved, while the Kuwait Port Authority will choose and supervise industrial activities, he added. Local and regional policies will be required to ease the economic burden in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, a new UCC study has warned. The research warned against a 'one-size fits all' approach, with affluent urban areas better primed to succeed in the new economic reality than less urban areas or those reliant on tourism and hospitality. Dublin and the provincial cities will be best suited when it comes to implementing social distancing or remote working, according to 'Covid-19, Occupational Social Distancing and Remote Working Potential in Ireland', which has been published by UCC academics Dr Frank Crowley and Dr Justin Doran. The study uses occupational data and economic indices to determine which workplaces have the most potential to adhere to social distancing requirements or to continue working remotely. It found the potential for social distancing and remote work favours occupations located in the Greater Dublin region and provincial cities. At a town level, more affluent, larger, more densely populated, better educated and better broadband provisioned towns have more occupations with potential to adhere to social distancing measures or implement remote working. The study identified areas like agriculture, forestry and fishing as those with the least remote working potential, while it suggests those in education, media, information and communications, or finance and insurance could all cope well with remote working arrangements. Social distancing will be most challenging for those in transport, health and frontline services such as gardai or the fire service, but it should be an option for those working in research, engineering, technology and customer service, they said. As a result of the different requirements and challenges of different sectors, a varied strategy will be needed, the study warns. For instance, areas which are more reliant on tourism or hospitality could see their economies devastated by containment measures and would need a different approach than large urban centres. "The Irish government needs to consider carefully how local and regional policy settings could be redesigned in order to better accommodate the impacts of increased social distancing and remote working on society over the short term and how it can help deeply affected workers and businesses recover in the medium to longer term," the study states. Co-author of the report, Dr Frank Crowley, economist and co-director of the Spatial and Regional Economics Research Centre (SRERC) at Cork University Business School, said a varied economic approach could be key in aiding the recovery in different parts of the country. "Due to occupational and industrial clustering and the associated social distancing and remote working potential required; the economic crisis is likely to play out differently across places," he said. "A one-size fits all policy approach to the crisis is unlikely to resolve regional inequalities.The government needs to consider carefully how local and regional policy settings could be redesigned in order to better accommodate the impacts of increased social distancing and remote working on society over the short term and how it can help deeply affected workers and businesses recover in the medium to longer term." China's defence budget likely to grow despite economic cost of coronavirus FILE PHOTO: Military delegates leave the Great Hall of the People after a meeting ahead of NPC in Beijing By Yew Lun Tian BEIJING(Reuters) - China, facing what it sees as increasing military pressure from the United States, is likely to shrug off the pall hanging over its economy from the novel coronavirus and increase its defence budget again this year. China's military spending, due to be announced at the opening of the annual meeting of parliament on Friday, is closely watched as a barometer of how aggressively it will beef up its military capabilities. China set a 7.5% rise for the defence budget in 2019, outpacing what ended up as full-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.1% in the world's second-largest economy. Its economy shrank 6.8% in the first quarter of 2020 from a year earlier, as the novel coronavirus spread from the central city of Wuhan where it emerged late last year, and the government has said economic conditions remain challenging. Despite the coronavirus outbreak, the armed forces of China and the United States have remained active in both the disputed South China Sea and around Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Xie Yue, a professor of political science at Shanghai's Jiao Tong University and a security expert, said that while it is hard to predict if the defence budget would grow at a higher or lower rate than last year, it would definitely rise. "From the national security point of view, China needs to appear strong to the West, especially the United States, which has been putting more pressure on China on all fronts, including militarily," he said. The coronavirus has worsened already poor ties between Beijing and Washington, with accusations from the Trump administration of a Chinese cover-up and delayed release of information about the outbreak. The Ministry of State Security warned in a recent internal report that China faced a rising wave of hostility in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that could tip relations with the United States into armed confrontation. "Even if the government cuts everything else, it won't cut defence," said Tang Renwu, dean of Beijing Normal University's school of public administration. Story continues The Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. China routinely says spending is for defensive purposes only, is a comparatively low percentage of its GDP, and that critics just want to keep the country down. 'UNBEARABLE COSTS' China reports only a raw figure for military expenditure, with no breakdown. It is widely believed by diplomats and foreign experts to under-report the real number. Taking the reported figure at face value, China's defence budget in 2019 - 1.19 trillion yuan ($167.52 billion) - is about a quarter of the U.S. defence budget last year, which stood at $686 billion. China has long argued that it needs much more investment to close the gap with the United States. China, for example, has only two aircraft carriers, compared with 12 for the United States. Hu Xijin, editor of the ruling Communist Party-backed Global Times newspaper, wrote in a WeChat post on Monday that he anticipated the defence budget would rise. "China needs more military power as a deterrent, to ensure the U.S. will not act on its impulses because of unbearable costs," Hu said. Hu had previously argued that China should expand its stock of nuclear warheads to 1,000, including "at least 100 DF-41 strategic missiles", an intercontinental missile capable of striking the continental United States. Experts point out that the benefit of increasing defence spending when the economy is weak is that it can give the economy a much-needed shot in the arm, with manufacturing struggling and domestic consumption slack over worries about job security. China's 2019 defence spending represented slightly over 5% of total government expenditure and about 1.2% of GDP for the year. Xie said investing in home-grown military technology research and development would be money well-spent, as tightening sanctions meant it was increasingly hard for China to buy technology on the global market. "With nationalist sentiment running high, not only will the increase in military expenditure not be criticised too much, it may even lead to citizens feeling more pride in the country," he said. (Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Robert Birsel) It was a virtual Memorial Day Monday, with a Bay Area ravaged by the coronavirus replacing the in-person parades and cemetery services with videos and online commemorations of those who have given their lives in service to the country. But that didnt stop people from crowding into parks and beaches on a hot holiday afternoon. While public health concerns canceled large-scale ceremonies, veterans groups still honored service members in nonpublic events across the the Bay Area, including a virtual memorial hosted by the USS San Francisco Memorial Foundation, and with private wreath-laying and ceremonial bell-ringing services in San Bruno and San Francisco. Standing in front of the tarnished, weatherworn bridge of the memorial at Lands End, John McKnight urged people to remember the lives that were lost aboard the heavy cruiser during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942 during a commemoration. I want to make sure that even amidst the COVID crisis and the need for us to remain isolated at home, that we take a little time to recognize them and never forget, said McKnight, president of the ships memorial association. So were here today to keep their memory alive, to ring the bell and to ... keep all of this sacred. From the grounds of parks across the country, park rangers recited the Gettysburg Address as part of the National Park Services all-day virtual commemoration program. Under towering trees, in front of historic airplanes and cannons, with many standing amid rows of tombstones, rangers recited the address, a long-standing tradition in national cemeteries, to honor the countrys fallen veterans, parks service officials said. The Presidio Trusts annual in-person ceremony was canceled at the former military installation , so officials shared virtual content for people eager to honor those who have given their lives in military service, such as a historical look at how Memorial Day commemorations have evolved over the past 152 years. The historic bell housed in the Presidio Chapel rang 21 times Monday as part of the San Francisco National Cemeterys private service. The 21-ring salute is a nod to the customary 21-gun volley to honor service members who died, said Kathleen McCall, the director of the San Bruno and San Francisco national cemeteries. A group of six people including four veterans gathered, 6 feet apart and masked, as part of the private ceremony, said Gerard Choucroun, founder of the Bay Area nonprofit Heart and Armor Foundation and ceremony organizer. He told The Chronicle that he felt the absence of the many people who typically attend the annual commemoration, but said officials were compelled to honor veterans even under the most trying of circumstances. Every Memorial Day you feel the 30,000 headstones. You feel the absence of those 30,000 people. This year was different in that there are typically 2,000 people at the ceremony. You really felt the loss of those people, too, Choucroun said. You have the military laws intersecting with a pandemic so it was very stark. So in the midst of COVID, it had a very different feel. When the clock struck noon Monday, veterans raised the main flag at the Presidio cemetery from half-staff to full-staff, and one veteran recited the poem titled, The Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak. Choucroun said the poem is read every year, but this year, the global health pandemic brought new meaning to the tradition. The idea is that it is up to us to give military its meaning. Its incumbent on all of us to honor them by being good citizens, Choucroun said. This year, when there are so many questions about what we owe each other, its a particularly salient day. In a video tribute shared by the Golden Gate National Cemetery, Ella Tarara, a U.S. Naval Sea Cadet who plays the bugle with the Corps Band of the West, played taps from the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno. San Bruno firefighters and police officers who served in the Navy, Army and Air Force went on to thank veterans who have served and continue to serve the United States. San Bruno firefighter Salvador Campos, who served in the Navy aboard the Enterprise aircraft carrier, thanked those who served and perished. Jeremy Whiteaker, a San Bruno firefighter who was a firefighter in the Air Force, said, Its important on Memorial Day to stop and think about those who made the ultimate sacrifice. As part of the tribute, Vietnam veteran Leo McArdle, the 2019 San Mateo County Veteran of the Year, stood next to a superimposed black-and-white photo of himself in uniform, a cigar hanging from his mouth. Memorial Day is important to me because as a combat veteran, I have seen what the men and women of our military have sacrificed to keep this country free, McArdle said. Our military is our only protection, and in the process, many will die or live with horrible memories. That is why we need to honor and remember those who served and gave their all. 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. Across the Bay Area, residents seized the holiday to log off Zoom, forget about work and head outside for the warm weather. Parks, beaches and other open spaces anywhere that wasnt off limits because of shelter-in-place rules drew large crowds, though park administrators said most visitors maintained adequate space between themselves and others. People are happy to have a place to go, and theyve fallen with the program, said Ian McLorg, a chief ranger at Marin County Parks, who on Monday was overseeing such destinations as McInnis Park in San Rafael and Stafford Lake in Novato. People are being really mindful of social distancing. People are bringing coverings with them. In San Francisco, Ocean Beach and its cool breeze was a big attraction, as were the usual popular spots of Golden Gate Park and Dolores Park. Despite the crowds, police reported no widespread problems with social distancing. The East Bay was the same: holiday crowds at the parks but few problems, even as picnic and barbecue areas at the East Bay Regional Park Districts 73 properties were closed to prevent spread of the virus. Those are traditional activities on Memorial Day, but most people seem to be doing the right thing, said Dave Mason, spokesman for the park district. Correction: The military vessel the San Francisco was incorrectly described in an earlier version. It was a Navy heavy cruiser. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Kurtis Alexander contributed to this report. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez A new campaign will seek to galvanise support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations voice to Parliament, with polling suggesting half the country would vote in favour of the proposal at a referendum. The From the Heart project, being launched on the third anniversary of the landmark Uluru Statement, will spearhead a public education campaign to unify support for the proposal and ultimately get a referendum back on the political agenda. Dean Parkin is the project director of the From the Heart campaign. Credit:Brian Cassey The campaign is run by Noel Pearsons Cape York Institute, with the backing of corporate strategists Crosby Textor and a host of prominent advisers including constitutional lawyer Megan Davis, law firm boss Danny Gilbert and Aboriginal health advocate Pat Anderson. "I think given the opportunity, Australians will see this as a moment in time, a unifying moment for the nation," project director Dean Parkin said. "When we get this right, we'll think differently about ourselves as a nation, so that's the great prize that sits there before us. It's time that we have this conversation with the people of Australia and move this forward." Army and NDRF teams on Sunday helped forest department and civic agencies to get cyclone-ravaged West Bengal back on its feet. The teams reached areas likes Salt Lake, Behala and Golpark in the morning to clear the arterial and other link roads blocked by uprooted trees. Army personnel equipped with road and tree clearance equipment started working at Roy Bahadur Road and Parnashree in Behala, Ballygunge in south Kolkata and Salt Lake area, a Defence official said. The Army was deployed in Kolkata and neighbouring districts on Saturday, hours after the West Bengal government sought its help and other support for immediate restoration of essential infrastructure and services in the state ravaged by Cyclone Amphan. Five columns of the Army were deployed in different parts of the city and North and South 24 Parganas districts, a Defence official said. These three parts of the state reported the maximum damage due to the cyclone which claimed 86 lives, flattened homes and damaged crops. The Forest department and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation have also engaged their staffers in the road clearance work. Electricity and water supply remained affected in many parts of the city. Agitated residents blocked roads in several areas in south Kolkata on Saturday, demanding restoration of electricity and water supply which are not available since Wednesday afternoon. In places like Mudiali in south Kolkata, locals stepped in with saws to clear roads blocked by uprooted trees. Mobile and internet services were restored in some areas of the city even as many places in South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore remained cut off. On Friday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the situation as "more than a national calamity" and put the estimated loss at more than Rs 1 lakh crore. She had stated that more than six crore people have been affected by the cyclone. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Banerjee had conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas in South and North 24 Parganas districts on Friday. President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, according to the Azerbaijani presidential press service. The Turkish leader congratulated and extended his wishes for prosperity to Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Ramadan holiday. President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the congratulations and attention and extended his congratulations and best wishes to the Turkish President and the people of Turkey on the occasion of the holiday. During the conversation, the heads of state highlighted the measures taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic, and emphasized that the two brotherly countries and peoples, as always, stand by each other at these difficult times. Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed their confidence that Azerbaijan-Turkey friendly and brotherly relations would continue to develop successfully in all areas. Chinese military urges US to immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan PLA Daily Source: China Military Online Editor: Chen Zhuo 2020-05-24 23:03:54 BEIJING, May 24 The Chinese military expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on Sunday to the US selling Taiwan $180 million of equipment including torpedoes, and strongly urged the US side to immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan and stop military ties with Taiwan. "The US act is a grave violation of the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques. It seriously interferes in China's internal affairs," said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), in a written statement on May 24. At present, the cross-Strait relations are complex and grave, as the Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen refuses to recognize the 1992 Consensus, attempts to raise her status by bonding with foreign forces, intensifies the cross-Strait antagonism, and damages the cross-Strait relations. "Under such a situation, the new-round US arms sale to Taiwan sends out seriously wrong signals to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, seriously undermines China's sovereignty and security, the peace and stability across the Taiwan straits, as well as the China-US military relations," said Senior Colonel Wu. Wu reaffirmed his standpoint in the end of statement, saying that the national rejuvenation and national reunification are the common aspirations of 1.4 billion Chinese people, and also the irresistible trend of history, no one or any force can stop it. Wu strongly urged the US side to immediately stop the arms sales to Taiwan and stop military contacts with Taiwan, in case of further undermining the relations between the two countries and the two militaries. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, Wu stressed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ho Chi Minh City police officers have arrested a 70-year-old man for an investigation into his opposition to the Vietnamese State. Nguyen Tuong Thuy had been apprehended on charges of making, storing, spreading information, materials and items for the purpose of opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam State, the municipal Department of Police said on Sunday. Thuy, 70, hails from the northern province of Nam Dinh but he lives in Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh City police had earlier arrested Pham Chi Dung, a 54-year-old man from the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap who redides in Ho Chi Minh City, on November 21 on the same charges. Officers said that Dung had blatantly broken the law, adversely impacting social stability and negatively influencing the security and order of the city. The municipal police then expanded their probe into Dungs case and captured Thuy on Saturday. Police officers searched Thuys home in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi and confiscated many documents and exhibits in association with his violations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Akinwumi Adesina is accused of handing contracts to acquaintances and appointing relatives to powerful positions. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin rejected plans by the African Development Banks board to end an investigation into its president, Akinwumi Adesina, and called for an independent probe into allegations against him. In a letter dated May 22 and addressed to Niale Kaba, chairwoman of the banks board of governors, Mnuchin said the Treasury disagrees with findings by the banks ethics committee that totally exonerated Adesina. Kaba confirmed receipt of the document and declined further comment. The intervention by the Treasury, the AfDBs biggest non-African shareholder, comes two weeks after the ethics committee found no evidence to support allegations of favoritism by Adesina. The 60-year-old bank chief, who has repeatedly refuted the allegations, is the only candidate up for election as president at an annual general meeting scheduled for August. We have deep reservations about the integrity of the committees process, Mnuchin said. Instead, we urge you to initiate an in-depth investigation of the allegations using the services of an independent outside investigator of high professional standing. The U.S. Treasury didnt immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Clear Mandate Adesina was accused by a group of unidentified whistleblowers of handing contracts to acquaintances and appointing relatives to strategic positions at the Abidjan-based lender. Considering the scope, seriousness, and detail of these allegations against the sole candidate for bank leadership over the next five years, we believe that further inquiry is necessary to ensure that the AfDBs president has broad support, confidence, and a clear mandate from shareholders, Mnuchin said. The U.S. has a 6.5% stake in the lender, the largest shareholding after Adesinas home country of Nigeria as of November 2019, according to the AfDBs website. U.S. criticism of the banks internal processes follows comments by World Bank President David Malpass in February that multilateral lenders including the AfDB tend to provide loans too quickly, and, in the process, add to African nations debt problems. The bank rebutted the statements as inaccurate and not fact-based. The AfDB is Africas biggest multilateral lender and has an AAA rating from Fitch Ratings, Moodys Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings. Its shareholders are Africas 54 nations and 27 countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia. In March, the lender issued a $3 billion social bond to help African countries deal with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Bids for the securities on the London money market exceeded $4.6 billion. The bank also launched a $10 billion crisis-response facility for African nations. NEW YORK and WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Memorial Day, the Marcum Foundation in partnership with BurgerFi is delivering meals to VA hospital medical staff and National Guard service members supporting the response to the COVID-19 crisis around the country. These deliveries are part of Marcum and BurgerFi's larger effort to deliver up to 20,000 meals to healthcare heroes working at the heart of the pandemic in cities throughout the U.S. during the month of May. On Memorial Day, Marcum and South Florida-based BurgerFi will begin delivering 625 meals to the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Food will also be delivered to service members of the National Guard working at several COVID-19 testing sites in Southeast Florida. Executives and teams from both companies, including Shaun Blogg, chairman of the Marcum Foundation and Marcum's office managing partner in West Palm Beach, and Kevin Cooper, Director of Leadership and Development from BurgerFi, will help to deliver the meals, arriving at the VA hospital on the iconic Marcum bus. The campaign to feed the coronavirus frontlines kicked off on May 14 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic. Marcum and BurgerFi delivered 2,000 fresh-made meals to Mount Sinai healthcare workers who lined up around the block. Hospitals throughout New York City, including New York Presbyterian Children's Hospital, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn, have received meal deliveries throughout the month of May, culminating on May 22 at the Brooklyn Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System in honor of Memorial Day. "We feel it is a very fitting Memorial Day tribute to honor the sacrifices being made by those who serve, whether in the armed forces or in the healthcare system, to help battle the COVID-19 pandemic here at home. All of the healthcare heroes working on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis deserve our recognition and our thanks. We are privileged to partner with BurgerFi in this effort to let them know that we are here for them as they continue to be here for us," Mr. Blogg said. "We have immense gratitude for our partnership with Marcum and the honor to feed our heroes on the frontlines who are protecting both our communities and veterans," said Kevin Cooper. "These efforts have brought the entire BurgerFi family incredible joy and we couldn't be prouder of our teams around the country for their dedication in making it happen." About Marcum LLP Marcum LLP is a national accounting and advisory firm with offices in major business markets throughout the U.S., as well as select international locations. Headquartered in New York City, Marcum provides a full spectrum of traditional tax, accounting, and assurance services; advisory, valuation, and litigation support; managed accounting services; and an extensive portfolio of specialty and niche industry practices. Visit www.marcumllp.com for more information. About the Marcum Foundation The Marcum Foundation supports local nonprofit organizations providing critical assistance to those in need through programs and services delivered at the community level. Local charity beneficiaries are nominated by Marcum employees. For more information, including a current list of beneficiaries, visit www.marcumfoundation.org. About BurgerFi BurgerFi is among the nation's fastest-growing better burger concepts with nearly 125 BurgerFi restaurants domestically and internationally. The concept was chef-founded and is committed to serving fresh food of transparent quality. BurgerFi uses only 100% natural Angus beef with no steroids, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals or additives. BurgerFi was named "Best Burger Joint" by Consumer Reports and fellow public interest organizations in the 2019 Chain Reaction Study, listed as a "Top Restaurant Brand to Watch" by Nation's Restaurant News in 2019, included in Inc. Magazine's Fastest Growing Private Companies List, placed in the top 20 on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers list for the past 7 years and ranked on Entrepreneur's 2017 Franchise 500. To learn more about BurgerFi or to find a full list of locations, please visit www.burgerfi.com. Media Contacts: Julie Gross Gelfand [email protected] (516) 729-8067 Rich Turer [email protected] (813) 442-3667 SOURCE BurgerFi International Related Links http://www.burgerfi.com Beijing, May 25 : China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has accused the US of spreading "conspiracies and lies" about the coronavirus pandemic, ratcheting up tensions between the two nations, it was reported. Speaking at an annual news conference during China's parliamentary session on Sunday, Wang said that "some political forces in the US are taking China-US relations hostage", the BBC reported. He did not specify what those forces were, but said they were trying to "push our two countries to the brink of a new Cold War". "Aside from the devastation caused by the novel coronavirus, there is also a political virus spreading through the US," he said. "This political virus is the use of every opportunity to attack and smear China. "Some politicians completely disregard basic facts and have fabricated too many lies targeting China, and plotted too many conspiracies," the BBC quoted Wang as saying. But he called for co-operation between Washington and Beijing in tackling the outbreak. "Both of us bear a major responsibility for world peace and development... China and the US stand to gain from co-operation, and lose from confrontation." US President Donald Trump and China have traded repeated barbs in recent weeks, on issues from the World Health Organization (WHO) to potential lawsuits against Beijing over its alleged cover-up of the outbreak. The two world powers have experienced longstanding friction over issues such as trade and human rights, but tensions have risen dramatically amid the pandemic, said the BBC report. On Sunday, Wang said the suggestion that US states could bring legal action against China was "a daydream" and lacked any precedent. He also defended the WHO and its head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has been the target of recent US criticism. Last week, President Trump accused the WHO of being a "puppet of China" that had let COVID-19 spin "out of control" at the cost of "many lives". He then shared a letter he had sent to Tedros, which outlined specific issues the US had regarding the WHO's COVID-19 response. The coronavirus pandemic first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December and was widely reported to have originated in a food market. Since then, however, some senior US politicians have suggested that the source was a research facility in Wuhan that had been carrying out research on bat coronaviruses. China has dismissed the idea. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, May 25 : Government proposes to further streamline and simplify the processes to deal with corporate and tax related frauds by identifying and instituting lead investigating agency for each case and only allowing that body to undertake the preliminary work. This is expected to improve the overall quality of investigation while prevent inter departmental issues from resulting in delays. At present, corporate frauds including tax related and economic crimes see involvement of multiple investigative agencies such as Income Tax Investigation, Directorate of Anti Evasion, Enforcement Directorate (ED), SFIO, CBI, GST Investigation, Customs, DRI etc. This often results in duplication of effort and confusion with case being tossed between one investigative arm to the other without credible progress. Sources said that government has discussed implementing the concept of lead investigation at a high level inter ministerial meeting and will prepare a draft for implementing it once views sought from other stakeholders come. Several countries globally has the concept of lead investigative agency that established preliminary direction of investigations and brings in other agencies purely as a need based approach. "Lead investigation agency concept is good. It needs study about the criteria for deciding the lead investigation agency to avoid inter departmental issues," said a former top official of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) who did not wish to be named. Government has been looking at different ways to remove the clutter from tax and corporate laws as part of its efforts towards 'Ease of Doing Business.' As part of this, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently announced the decriminalization of minor technical and procedural defaults under the Companies Act. She also dropped a few compoundable offences and put others to be dealt under alternative framework. It is expected that the Finance Ministry in cooperation with other related ministries will prepare detailed guidelines for institution of lead investigative agency for a particular class of crime. Once this is put in place, every case will be handled by only one agency and others would be involved purely on need based for specialised support. Also, as part of operational streamlining of investigative process, database may also be prepared by one investigation agency and shared with other agencies to avoid duplicacy. Like data sharing with GST, Banking and income tax department, will minimise duplicacies in investigations. Moreover, all department would require to have manuals for investigation. If they don't have one, it would have to be drafted while old manuals would need to be revisited for making necessary changes for streamlining the whole process. (Subhash Narayan can be contacted at subhash.n@ians.in) The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) is at the scene of a blaze involving two bungalows in Portstewart. The fire broke out shortly before 2.30pm on Monday at Winston Drive in the town and five fire engines were dispatched to the scene, two from Coleraine, one from Portstewart and two from Portrush. A specialist command support unit is also in attendance at the incident, which is ongoing. Expand Close The fire broke out shortly before 2.30pm. Credit: Michael Cooper Michael Cooper / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The fire broke out shortly before 2.30pm. Credit: Michael Cooper A NIFRS spokesperson said the fire involves two semi-detached bungalows and has spread to the roof spaces of both properties. The spokesperson added that an old tank is also involved and that the occupants of both houses have been accounted for. SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said her thoughts are with those affected by the fire. I have just returned from the scene of a fire in Portstewart, which has caused shock and distress for residents and the community," she said. "Fortunately nobody appears to have been injured which is due to the swift work from the fire service. We are very grateful for their dedication, particularly at this challenging time. My thoughts are with those who live in the properties affected in what is a very difficult time for them. Selling fresh food online is a service provided by supermarkets, but e-commerce firms and technology platforms have jumped on the bandwagon recently. A representative of Lotte Mart Vietnam once told the Vietnam National Television (VTV) that there were not many e-commerce firms involved in selling fresh food, but Lotte had been doing it very well. However, things have become different over the last two months. Many businesses in other fields have joined the market, including Bach Hoa Xanh, a brand of The Gioi Di Dong (Mobile World), Grab and Now, the e-hailing platforms, and Lazada, an e-commerce firm. Lazada began distributing fresh food on April 14, committing to deliver products within two hours. According to James Dong, CEO of Lazada Vietnam, e-commerce firms start with electronics sale, then expand their business into fashion, cosmetics, groceries distribution, and finally fresh food. With the cooperation with 10 partners supplying fresh food, Lazada now sells a wide range of products from meat to milk. The goods are delivered to customers several hours after Lazada receives orders. Distributing fresh food is a part of the plan to expand our business and Covid-19 just accelerates the implementation of the plan, he said. With the cooperation with 10 partners supplying fresh food, Lazada now sells a wide range of products from meat to milk. The goods are delivered to customers several hours after Lazada receives orders. At Bach Hoa Xanh, there are 5,000 online orders each day, or 50 percent higher than the days before the epidemic outbreak. The Gioi Di Dong plans to set up three distribution centers, understood as hypermarkets storing goods to serve online orders. Nearly one year ago, Vingroup decided to take part in the competition of selling fresh food online through the virtual store project. Customers just need to open VinID app, choose Scan&Go and scan QR codes of the products they want to buy at VinMart 4.0 and make payment with VinID app. The supermarket chain has committed to deliver goods to customers within 2-4 hours. According to Hexa Research, the global food delivery market would have value of nearly $9 billion by 2025 with the CAGR of 18 percent. Experts believe that in Vietnam, the demand for ordering fresh food always exists, but there are too few businesses which can do business well to stimulate the market development. The Covid-19 pandemic has created opportunities for businesses to gather more strength in the business field. In Japan, Aeon, the well known supermarket chain and fresh food retailer, in late 2019 joined hands with Ocado, which proclaims itself as the worlds largest online supermarket with robots and high technologies. Experts believe that the cooperation model can also be implemented in Vietnam to optimize the quality of service. Mai Lan Vietnamese food: Com Tam - Broken rice If you take a trip to HCM City, you must try broken rice. And don't be fooled by its name, there's nothing whatsoever about this dish that needs fixing. Last year, supermodel Naomi Campbell made headlines when she shared a video of herself very thoroughly sanitizing her Qatar Airlines seat. There were disinfecting wipes involved, plastic gloves and a face mask. And that was before the coronavirus pandemic. With the world battling a highly contagious global health threat, Campbell has taken her in-flight hygiene habits a step further by wearing a hazmat suit on board. Campbell is not alone in wearing hazmat suits on planes. The behavior is becoming more common for regular air travelers, as well as airline staff. Disposable PPE suits can cost less than $20 online, but health experts aren't advocating wearing them on planes during the pandemic. "Wearing a hazmat suit on an airplane is unnecessary and could cause undue concern for other travelers," Scott Pauley, a press officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told The Washington Post by email. "CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain." Nonetheless, multiple carriers are requiring flight attendants to wear hazmat suits on planes, including Philippine Airlines, AirAsia and, most recently, Qatar Airways, CNN reported. On May 18, Qatar Airways announced it would require members of its cabin crew to wear disposable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits over their uniforms in addition to other gear including safety goggles, gloves and a mask. "At Qatar Airways, we have introduced these additional safety measures onboard our flights to ensure the continued health and well-being of our passengers and cabin crew, and to limit the spread of coronavirus," Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said in a statement. "As an airline, we maintain the highest possible hygiene standards to ensure that we can fly people home safely during this time." According to Adrian Hyzler, chief medical officer for Healix International, a company specializing in security and international medical and travel-assistance services, neither the European Union Airline Safety Association (EASA) nor the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recommends hazmat suits for airline crew unless they're dealing with sick passengers. Hyzler said one concern with wearing hazmat suits is improperly getting out of them. If there's any trace of the coronavirus on the suit, wearers may come into contact with it as they take off their PPE. The CDC did say recently, "coronavirus primarily spreads from person to person and not easily from a contaminated surface," The Washington Post reported. Another issue is they can give the wearer a false sense of security. "This is something with all PPE that makes the wearer think that they are somehow better protected," Hyzler said. Hyzler warned there are downsides to wearing hazmat suits beyond being ineffective for protecting wearers from coronavirus. "There are hundreds of different kinds of hazmat suits, and unless they're sophisticated ones, they may be very hot as well," said Hyzler. "You're kind of touching your face quite a lot with your gloves, and it's just uncomfortable." Wearing a hazmat suit at the airport won't necessarily get you stopped at security. "Travelers are screened at checkpoints regardless of what they are wearing. If they trigger an alarm, it could likely result in a pat-down," TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said in an email. According to Farbstein, whether you have to take the suit off at airport security depends on "what type of hazmat suit in terms of whether a pat-down would resolve the alarm." Hyzler, and the CDC, discourage wearing hazmat suits on planes but still recommend face masks. "If everyone's wearing a mask, there's reduced risk of (coronavirus) transmission," Hyzler said. Two Pinjra Tod women activists, who were granted bail on Sunday in a case related to the northeast Delhi communal violence, were sent to two days of police custody moments later in a separate murder case linked to the riots. Two Pinjra Tod women activists, who were granted bail on Sunday in a case related to the northeast Delhi communal violence, were sent to two days of police custody moments later in a separate murder case linked to the riots. When Metropolitan Magistrate Ajeet Narayan granted bail to Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita in a rioting case, a Delhi Police crime branch investigating officer moved an application for their interrogation and arrest in a separate case of a murder of a local during the riots. The two members of Pinjra Tod, a collective of women students and alumni of colleges across Delhi, were arrested on Saturday in connection with a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Jaffrabad area in February. The judge granted them relief in the rioting case on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 20,000. "Facts of the case reveal that the accused were merely protesting against the NRC and CAA, and the accused did not indulge into any violence," the court said. "Also, the accused have strong roots in the society and they are well educated. Accused are ready to cooperate with the police regarding the investigation." Considering the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the court was not inclined to give police remand of the accused and declined the application seeking custody. It said both the accused shall cooperate and join the further investigation as and when required by the investigating officer. "They shall not commit an offence similar to the offence which he has committed. The accused shall not make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquaintance with the facts of the case," it said. During the hearing, the police had sought two days of custody of the accused, saying it was necessary for interrogation as they are "active in anti-national activities" and also for arrest of co-accused in the rioting case. The counsel for the accused opposed the application, saying police had pressed charges with mala fide intent and are "not maintainable." The lawyer had said the FIR was filed on 24 February, subsequent to which Narwal and Kalita had cooperated with the investigative authorities and orally prayed for grant of bail. The case, in which they were arrested on Saturday, was registered under sections 147 (rioting), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience of order by public servant), 283 (danger or obstruction in public way), 109 (abetment), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code. Moments after the court pronounced its order in the case, the investigating officer of the Crime Branch moved an application before it for their interrogation and formal arrest in the murder case. The police told the court that both the accused have disclosed their involvement in the second case and are named in the disclosure statement of the co-accused. After interrogating them for 15 minutes, the police moved an application seeking 14 days custody in the murder case, saying accused have to be thoroughly interrogated at length to know the conspiracy behind the incident and the identity of other accused has to be established, and police remand was necessary to arrest the co-accused. The counsel for the accused opposed it, saying that Narwal and Kalita were implicated in the case with "malafide" intent. This time, the court granted two days custody of the accused to the police, saying the investigation was at its initial stage. The case was registered under sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 283 (danger or obstruction in public way), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 332 (causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 307 (attempt to murder), 302 (murder), 427, 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 188 (disobedience of public servant's order) of the IPC. The case was also registered under relevant sections of the Arms Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on 24 February after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High around 65F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. India's Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan speaks at a road show organised by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbon in Mumbai By Nidhi Verma NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is looking at storing some low priced U.S. oil in facilities there as its local storage is full, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan told CNBC TV18 news channel. India's plan could be similar to a move by Australia, which last month said it would build up an emergency oil stockpile initially by buying crude to store in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to take advantage of low oil prices. "We are exploring some possibility if we can store some of our investment in a different country ... we are exploring the possibility in the USA if we can store some of the low priced oil," Pradhan said. Oil prices have dropped more than 40% so far in 2020 but have picked up in the past few weeks partly due to efforts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies to reduce supply. [O/R] Pradhan said India, which is the world's third biggest oil consumer and importer, had already filled its 5.33 million tonnes of strategic storage and parked about 8.5-9 million tonnes of oil on ships in different parts of the world, primarily in the Gulf. Indian refiners have also filled their commercial tanks and pipelines with refined fuel and oil. Pradhan said stored oil and products amounted to about 20% of India's annual needs. India imports more than 80% of its oil requirements. India plans to build new strategic storage to expand capacity by 6.5 million tonnes. Pradhan said India was keen to have participation from global investors in building these facilities. India's fuel demand nearly halved in April to its lowest level since 2007 as a nationwide lockdown and travel curbs to combat the spread of novel coronavirus eroded economic activity. So far in May India's petrol and diesel demand is about 60%-65% of what it was in the same month last year and in June fuel consumption will return to the same level as June 2019, he said. (Reporting by Nidhi Verma. Editing by Jane Merriman) Microsoft stunned the gaming industry when it announced this week it would buy game publisher Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, a deal that would immediately make it a larger video-game company than Nintendo. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Office landlords are grappling with how to reopen bathroom facilities for workers to shower after they cycle or jog to work. Australia's largest office landlord Dexus said the challenges around physical distancing on public transport had meant it was getting lots of requests to reopen end-of-trip common shower and bathroom facilities. Cyclists at the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway at Millers Point. Workers are calling for the reopening of office showers so they can clean up after riding or jogging to work. Credit:James Brickwood "We'd like to see them open and are currently reviewing how we could do this in a safe way," a Dexus spokeswoman said. Dexus said it has been working with thousands of tenants to ensure bathroom cleaning and hygiene was ramped up to meet the needs of returning workers and Safe Work Australia guidelines. A man of Pakistani origin who had vandalized a Gurudwara in England's Derby has been arrested by the police. A note on Kashmir which was posted there has also been recovered. The attack took place on Monday morning at Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gurdwara in Derby. A man, who has been identified to be of Pakistani origin, has been arrested by Police in England's Derby after he vandalised Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara there today morning. pic.twitter.com/934vYi6p3H ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 The note recovered was written in English and had the message: "Try to help Kashmir people otherwise problem everyone (sic)" and also had a phone number scribed on it. The unidentified man had broken the Gurudwara's windows and local media reported that vandalism resulted in damages worth hundreds of pounds. More details are awaited. READ | J&K: Suspected 'spy' Pigeon From Pakistan Captured In Kathua; Probe On READ | Paks COVID-19 Cases Steadily Go Up To 56,349; Death Toll At 1,167 Boris Johnson is facing demands from blue wall Tory MPs who helped him win last years general election to launch an inquiry into Dominic Cummingss actions during lockdown. The calls came after the prime minister staked his authority on a full-throated defence of his most senior adviser, saying the public would understand why he drove 260 miles while they were being told to stay at home. Addressing the controversy at the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said Mr Cummings had acted with integrity and had to travel to seek childcare for his young son. The prime minister had earlier come under mounting pressure to sack Mr Cummings after a series of Tory MPs broke ranks to suggest he had to go. However, Mr Johnson made it clear that Mr Cummings would remain in his post, saying he had acted legally and responsibly and followed the instincts of every father and every parent. But he skirted over questions about allegations Mr Cummings took a 30-mile day trip from his family home at the height of the coronavirus outbreak. The day Mr Cummings was spotted in Durham was the day his uncle, Lord Justice Laws, died, his parents told the New Statesman. The former senior judge had Covid-19 when he died. Questions also persist about whether or not Mr Cummings stopped during the journey from London to Durham. Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have already called for Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, to launch an official inquiry. One MP from the so-called blue wall of seats in the north of England, which switched to the Conservatives during last Decembers general election, told The Independent: We are absolutely f*****g livid. Our feelings have been made widely known, to the whips and to others. They have to launch an inquiry into what exactly the hell happened. We need to know the facts. And it needs to be done by Sedwill or someone like that. Somebody needs to get to the bottom of this and quickly. An inquiry was good enough when it came to Priti [Patel], after all. What none of us can understand is why facts are still in dispute. Whether it is the trip to [Barnard Castle] or broader questions of why it is good enough for our constituents, isolating at home, but is not good enough for Dominic Cummings. On Sunday night No 10 declined to comment on calls by Tory MPs for an inquiry. Priti Patel, the home secretary, is currently the subject of an inquiry into her conduct following allegations of bullying. Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Show all 7 1 /7 Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the hot weather at Bournemouth beach in Dorset on 20 May PA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the hot weather at Bournemouth beach in Dorset on 20 May PA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Beachgoers bask in the sun on Brighton Beach in Brighton on 20 May EPA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the sunshine on Birling Gap beach on 20 May near Eastbourne Getty Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Seagulls are perched on a street lamp as beachgoers bask in the sun on Brighton Beach EPA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People head to the beach as England basks in sunshine in Blackpool Getty Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Parts of the country were expected to reach 29 degrees celsius, luring sunbathers and testing the capacity of parks and beaches to accommodate social distanced crowds. Getty In an apparent effort to distract from the Cummings controversy, Mr Johnson also used the press conference to announce his intention for early-years centres to reopen and primary schools to restart lessons for pupils in reception class, year one and year six from 1 June in England. The decision must be formally confirmed at the nine-week review of lockdown due on Thursday, but the prime minister said he wanted to give teachers and parents time to prepare. Unusually, journalists at Sundays briefing were given only a single question with no chance to challenge the PMs answers. Ministers had expressed hopes that Mr Johnsons defence of Mr Cummings would draw a line under the row, but after the press briefing yet another Tory, Paul Maynard, the MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, tweeted to say Mr Cummingss position was untenable. Tory grandee Sir Malcolm Rifkind also said he was saddened that Mr Cummings was not big enough to do his duty as an official and resign even if he believed he was innocent. Tory MPs further complained they were facing a flood of angry emails from constituents, a significant proportion of them Conservative Party members, over the controversy. One former Conservative cabinet minister said that Mr Johnson had screwed MPs by tying this to himself. Now you are either for him or against him. There were more woes for the prime minister late on Sunday as Mr Cummings was reported to police for an alleged breach of lockdown and an ex-chief constable accused him of risking lives by selfishly ignoring the rules, according to The Guardian and The Daily Mirror, which jointly broke the original story. An eyewitness told The Observer and The Sunday Mirror he had seen Mr Cummings in Barnard Castle on 12 April, at the height of the pandemic. The Independent has contacted Durham Police for more information. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said Mr Johnsons defence of Mr Cummings was an insult to the sacrifices made by the British people during lockdown, and added: If I was prime minister I would have sacked him. In an appearance on Sky News earlier in the day, transport secretary Grant Shapps said he did not know if Mr Cummings had taken the day trip. He told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: I certainly know that the first [allegation] you mention, of travelling back up, I know that is not true. Im afraid I dont know [about Barnard Castle] but if that date was true that would have been outside the 14-day period. But Im afraid I dont have the information on that. Professor Neil Ferguson, the epidemiologist whose modelling prompted the lockdown, quit as a government adviser for flouting the rules when he was visited at his home by his alleged lover. The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Monday refused to grant interim bail to HDIL promoters Rakesh and Sarang Wadhawan in connection with the 6,117.93-crore money laundering case being probed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank fraud. The duo cited health issues and claimed that there are no proper facilities in the jail amid the Covid-19 outbreak. EDs counsel, Hiten Venegaokar, objecting their plea argued that the Arthur Road jail is in the red zone, and thus no one is permitted to either enter or exit the prison premises. It was further submitted that it is not advisable to allow a prisoner to go out in society and put others at the risk of contamination. Venegaokar also argued that the high-power committee of the Bombay high court has barred interim bail for those accused in cases under PMLA. The special court, after hearing both the sides, rejected the plea of Wadhawans made for interim bail. The central agency initiated probe against the father and son after it came to light that the two obtained loans unlawfully from PMC Bank with the help of other bank officials. ED probed the money laundering allegations against the Wadhawans and listed 19 subsidiary companies of HDIL Group as accused, which allegedly were used by the Wadhawans to launder money. The duo had obtained the loans under the names of these companies. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON SCOOP 2020 Day 22: Rui Sousa Bags Huge Thursday Thrill Chip Lead May 22 2020 The 2020 SCOOP continued on May 21, crowning several champions and whittling down the massive Thursday Thrill SE event from 1,047 entrants to only 61. That last event saw Rui Sousa bag a massive chip lead under the watchful eyes of the PokerNews Live Reporting team. Continue reading to discover more. Follow all the latest from the SCOOP - LIVE! The PokerNews live reporting team is on top of all things SCOOP. Don't miss a beat! FOLLOW HERE PokerNews Live Reported Events SCOOP-85-H: $1,050 NLHE [8-Max, PKO, Thursday Thrill], $1M Gtd A field of 1,047 starters were reduced to a more manageable 61 after the first days action in the SCOOP-85-H: $1,050 NLHE [8-Max, PKO, Thursday Thrill], $1M Gtd. Rui sousinha23 Sousa is the man to catch when play resumes at 7:00 p.m. CET on May 22. Sousa finished Day 1 with 8,974,565 chips in his stack, more than double that of his nearest rival G A W of Romania. Sousa was involved in a massive hand that threatens to shape the entire tournament. Brazils Alisson heyalisson Piekazewicz had been the chip leader for most the the previous levels so the pot this pair was involved in was massive. It took place 15,000/30,000/3,750 level and Piekazewicz opened to 50,000 from early position with king-queen of clubs. Sousa called in the big blind with king-nine of spades. Sousa flopped two pair and check-called a 91,410 continuation bet. Another nine on the turn gifted Sousa a full house and he led for 102,840, which was called. The deuce of club river gave Piekazewicz a flush, but was a very expensive second-best hand. Sousa bet 198,280, it was raise to 1,075,000 before Sousa jammed for 3,002,507. That shove was called, Piekazewiczs stack was decimated and Sousa soared to the top of the chip counts where he remained. While Sousa is in pole position for the $73,596 (plus bounties) top prize, he wont have it all his own way when play resumes. A whole host of talented grinders are among the returning players, each will have a major role to play in where the title calls home. The likes of Jamie Ship it 2010 OConnor, Felipe Fepoker20 Meister, Even PURPLEK99 Parkes, Mike gorodski Gorordinsky, Luke Bit2Easy Reeves, and Pete psxfrcndhe Chen are all still in the hunt for SCOOP glory. Place Player Country Chips 1 Rui sousinha23 Sousa Croatia 8,974,565 2 G A W Romania 4,004,932 3 Neyko348 Serbia 3,510,006 4 DaanOss Austria 3,390,550 5 Jamie Ship It 2020 OConnor United Kingdom 3,384,432 6 L1VeYRdrEamS Canada 3,341,113 7 Furadan Brazil 3,214,496 8 William Kabatajoe Roger Germany 3,162,436 9 Felipe Fepoker20 Meister Brazil 2,871,875 Exclusive Thursday Thrill Coverage Day 22 Results SCOOP-81-L: $5.50 NLHE [6-Max, Midweek Freezeout], $50K Gtd Entries 15,832 Prize Pool $77,576 Winner ederson 1308 (Brazil) First place prize $8,635 SCOOP-81-M: $55 NLHE [6-Max, Midweek Freezeout], $250K Gtd Entries 5,703 Prize Pool $285,150 Winner k9 rmoeu (Brazil) First place prize $40,534 SCOOP-81-H: $530 NLHE [6-Max, Midweek Freezeout], $350K Gtd Entries 630 Prize Pool $350,000 Winner zufo 16 (Ireland) First place prize $61,202 It was an Irish one-two in this event with the pair from the Emerald Isle banking a combined $103,958. zufo 16 was the player who was crowned champion after defeating Marc 14alonso14 Macdonnell heads-up. Pete psxfrcndhe Chen (3rd - $29,870) and Joao IneedMassari Simao (12 - $4,223) were just two stellar names to make it into the money places. SCOOP-83-L: $22 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO], $250K Gtd Entries 22,224 Prize Pool $444,480 Winner 17neffetS_BR (Brazil) First place prize $28,495 SCOOP-83-M: $215 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO], $500K Gtd Entries 3,691 Prize Pool $738,200 Winner pudelpower (Germany) First place prize $77,026 Must Read: SCOOP Top Tips From the Pros Boost your MTT knowledge with these awesome SCOOP tips Read these SCOOP tips from the pros! SCOOP-83-H: $2,100 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO], $500K Gtd Entries 227 Prize Pool $500,000 Winner Nacho124441 First place prize $92,000 Nacho124441 got their hands on $92,000 and a SCOOP title on May 21, They topped a field of 227 in the $2,100 buy-in PKO event. The Mexican defeated KKing James of Brazil heads-up for the lions share of the prize pool, leaving the runner-up to pad their bankroll with $68,990. Two of pokers superstars narrowly missed out on a final table appearance. Mike SirWatts Watson fell in 10th place for a total prize worth $8,772 while Niklas Lena900 Astedt busted in ninth for $10,294 with bounties included. In-Play Events SCOOP-84-L: $5.50 NLHE, $75K Gtd Entries 17,340 Players left 151 Prize Pool $84,966 Chip leader 99ifonly99 (United Kingdom) First place prize $9,083 SCOOP-84-M: $55 NLHE, $250K Gtd Entries 6,134 Players left 195 Prize Pool $306,700 Chip leader silskyer (Netherlands) First place prize $43,590 SCOOP-84-H: $530 NLHE, $350K Gtd Entries 745 Players left 49 Prize Pool $372,500 Chip leader Kabatajoe (Germany) First place prize $63,440 Germanys Kabatajoe is going to have a busy day on May 22 thanks to juggling being chip leader in this event and being among the final 61 of the Thursday Thrill SE. Superstars such as this are used to playing multiple tables against the worlds best players. It could turn out to be an amazing Friday for the German. SCOOP-85-L: $11 NLHE [Progressive KO], $150K Gtd Entries 20,302 Players left 192 Prize Pool $198,959 Chip leader zuturunga (Argentina) First place prize $8,625 (plus bounties) SCOOP-85-M: $109 NLHE [Progressive KO, Mini Thursday Thrill], $500K Gtd Entries 6,758 Players left 209 Prize Pool $675,800 Chip leader Barrelbloff (Norway) First place prize $40,847 SCOOP-86-L: $22 NLHE/PLO [6-Max], $75K Gtd Entries 5,174 Players left 140 Prize Pool $103,480 Chip leader PULP_F1CTION (Finland) First place prize $14,724 SCOOP-86-M: $215 NLHE/PLO [6-Max], $150K Gtd Entries 1,072 Players left 114 Prize Pool $214,400 Chip leader politm69 (Romania) First place prize $34,515 SCOOP-86-H: $2,100 NLHE/PLO [6-Max], $300K Gtd Entries 188 Players left 23 Prize Pool $376,000 Chip leader Elkku35 (Finland) First place prize $74,995 Events Scheduled on May 22 Time (EDT) Time (GMT) Tournament Guarantee 1:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. SCOOP-87-L: $5.50 NLHE $100,000 1:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. SCOOP-87-M: $55 NLHE $350,000 1:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. SCOOP-87-H: $530 NLHE $500,000 2:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. SCOOP-88-L: $5.50 PL Fusion [6-Max] $15,000 2:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. SCOOP-88-M: $55 PL Fusion [6-Max] $40,000 2:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. SCOOP-88-H: $530 PL Fusion [6-Max] $100,000 3:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. SCOOP-89-L: $11 NLHE [8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO] $100,000 3:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. SCOOP-89-M: $109 NLHE [8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO] $250,000 3:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. SCOOP-89-H: $1,050 NLHE [8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO] $400,000 This is perhaps how the coronavirus is slipping through the GHMC's containment zones in Secunderabad. (DC Photo: PS) Hyderabad: Have the lockdown relaxations done any good to Hyderabad? Well, reckon with this: since the central and Telangana governments eased the lockdown, the city has recorded 620 Covid-19 cases and 15 deaths in a span of 14 days. And coronavirus cases, which were earlier restricted to Charminar, Karwan, Malakpet and LB Nagar, have now spread to Secunderabad and Khairatabad. However, unlike other states, the spread to new areas and the eruption of new cases is not due to infection transmission by those who returned from abroad and are in paid quarantine, or by guest workers who have returned to state or are transiting through Telangana. According to officials monitoring the Covid-19 situation in the city, the disease is being locally transmitted due to crowding at liquor shops, wholesale outlets, hospitals, weekly markets, banks and private organisations. Take Musheerabad for instance. Until last week, the locality, which straddles Hyderabad and Secunderabad, was Covid-19 free. But over 15 cases have been reported there in two days. And in the Secunderabad zone, officials have had to notify over 25 containment areas including house-level clusters there. One official told Deccan Chronicle: So we are just following the standard operating procedure (SOP), without notifying the cases to the higher authorities who asked us to just follow the guidelines without irking them often. So Deccan Chronicle asked senior officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and asked them the question: Do you know how many containment areas or house clusters there are? One senior official at the GHMC HQ said he did not. The numbers fluctuate daily. What I remember is that we had 165 containment zones two or three weeks ago. We have no clue after that. We have not been keeping count. The local teams have been asked to follow the SOPs, the official said. Further, he said that the corporation could not officially give out the compiled data because there were instructions from the higher authorities not to do so. We see Covid-19 being transmitted to other parts of the city but we do not understand how to curtail the transmission due to the relaxations, he added. By Trend Iran is getting closer to curbing the COVID-19 virus due to people's cooperation and this should continue, said Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Trend reports via IRNA. "People should follow the health instructions and with the current conditions, we can hope for reopening of holy shrines," said Rouhani. "It can not be conveyed to the public opinion that health precautions have been reduced and people should still follow the instructions," he said during the phone conversation with the Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli. Fazli has provided a report on the coronavirus situation and number of people that got infected due to ignorance of health protocols and social distancing in some provinces. "The reopening of businesses should not reduce the importance of following health instructions," he added. "Some provinces and cities haven't been following the health protocol, and faced the growth of COVID-19 cases, so it is possible that previous restrictions will be pub back into place," said Rouhani. The president has insisted that the National Headquarters of Fighting Coronavirus continues to monitor activities in cities and provinces. Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 135,000 people have been infected 7,417 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 105,000 have reportedly recovered from the disease. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) An association composed of 744 private hospitals asked President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Francisco Duque III as health secretary and head of state health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth with "someone who can deliver the good better in addressing the health concerns of the country." We have high regards for him as one of our esteemed colleagues in the healthcare industry, but he seems to be already so exhausted that there is need for a fresh blood and a fresh mind to lead the Department of Health and the PhilHealth, said Dr. Rustico Jimenez, president of Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) in a letter to Duterte. The association said Duque should be let go over delays in the release of the interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM), which stands as financial aid to hospitals hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Although some have already received their share, most, however, are now so financially drained as they are still waiting for the promised IRM, Jimenez said. Duterte said in his ninth report to Congress on his administrations response to COVID-19, PhilHealth has released P13.278 billion to 562 accredited healthcare institutions though the IRM as of May 20. PHAPi was among the four medical groups that backed Duque as health secretary when senators asked for his resignation over his supposed incompetence at handling the COVID-19 crisis. Duterte rejected the senators calls and merely told Duque to work harder on the countrys COVID-19 response. But things appeared to have changed in Malacanang as Duterte is reportedly scouting for someone to replace Duque, according to a Philippine Star report. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he is not aware of any reports that Duterte is looking for Duques replacement, but said that Cabinet members can be removed anytime if Duterte loses trust in them. Senators are hoping that the rumors are true, saying that the publics trust in the Department of Health has eroded over Duques supposed flubs. The secretary may consider taking the initiative to quit his post as an act of sacrifice especially for the sake of those outside of the [873] dead Filipinos and [14,319] others so far confirmed by DOH as officially infected, Senator Panfilo Ping Lacson said. Evidently, organizers -- who were expected to take a decision in late May -- are now confident the fest is able to go ahead as planned, although the look of the event will be different this year, as public health safeguards must be taken into consideration. The festival has not yet commented on plans for September. Marine researchers have officially recognized a brand-new species of pygmy seahorse off the coast of eastern South Africa. The tiny seahorse, roughly the same size as a grain of rice, is the first of its kind ever seen in the Indian Ocean. Marine biologist Richard Smith described the discovery of the African or Sodwana Bay pygmy seahorse as like finding a kangaroo in Norway, reports National Geographic. The extraordinary find was announced on May 19, 2020, as part of a study published in the scientific journal ZooKeys. The seahorse first made its presence known three years prior to the announcement when dive instructor Savannah Nalu Olivier saw the tiny creature on the sea floor of the extremely biodiverse Sodwana Bay in 2017. Olivier took photos and shared them with her colleagues; the photos reached Smith in 2018. Hippocampus nalu South African pygmy seahorse, Sodwana Bay (Richard Smith OceanRealmImages.com) Smith, alongside researcher Louw Claassens, visited Sodwana Bay to collect two species specimens for confirmation. They named the new seahorse hippocampus nalu, using Oliviers middle name in honor of her role in the discovery. The ancestors of all known pygmy seahorse species are thought to have come into existence over 12 million years ago, and the tiny African pygmy seahorse is a resilient example of its kind. They regularly get sand-blasted, said Smith, acknowledging the African pygmy seahorses rough environs amid the swells of Sodwana Bay. These tiny creatures, he praised, are built of sturdier stuff than their larger relatives. The official study explained that when Claassens and Smith visited Sodwana Bay in October 2018, they found a pair of seahorses grasping onto fronds of microscopic algae amidst raging surge at a depth of 15 meters. The divers nearly lost the seahorses when a large oceanic swell almost buried them underneath a storm of sand, read the anecdote. On another dive, Claassens and Smith located a juvenile measuring just 1 centimeter in length; two juveniles, they surmised, would barely stretch across a U.S. nickel if laid tail to snout. Claassens noted both how special it was to find this elusive seahorse species and how much must remain undiscovered. The recent discovery of such a notable fish in shallow coastal water highlights how little we still know about the marine life around Africa, and about the extended seahorse family, she told Business Insider. Ichthyologist Graham Short, the co-author of the study that announced the African pygmy seahorse, helped analyze Claassenss and Smiths specimens and extrapolated on the creatures main characteristics. Hippocampus nalu South African pygmy seahorse, Sodwana Bay (Richard Smith OceanRealmImages.com) The seahorse, Short said, can be differentiated from other pygmy seahorses by a set of spinal barbs with sharp points; the seven other known species of pygmy seahorses all have flat-tipped spines. Short admitted that marine biologists do not yet know what these sharp barbs are used for. Many species of seahorses in general are spiny, he explained to National Geographic, so their presence could be possibly due to sexual selection; the females may prefer spinier males. Other characteristics of the African pygmy seahorse include having two wing-like structures as opposed to one and having only one gill slit on the upper back as opposed to two, as is the case for larger seahorses. The official study, published in ZooKeys, informed readers that this new species grows to just over 2 centimeters in length and has a honey-brown color, a white netted pattern, and a pink-colored tail. Juvenile Hippocampus nalu South African pygmy seahorse, Sodwana Bay (Richard Smith OceanRealmImages.com) Thomas Trnski, head of natural sciences at the Auckland Museum in New Zealand, revealed that most species of pygmy seahorse have been identified since the year 2000. Hippocampus nalu lives an astonishing 5,000 miles away from the seven other known species of pygmy seahorse, all bar one of which inhabit the biodiverse coral triangle in the southwestern Pacific. Short speculated that pygmy seahorses may have remained at low risk for harvesting for use in traditional Chinese medicine, a fate that other species of seahorses fall victim to, because they are so tiny and so hard to locate. However, he added, further population data is needed before scientists can truly know how many African pygmy seahorses exist in the wild. Even into the 21st century, there are immense treasures to be discovered on every seabed. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc Thousands of protesters swarmed some of Hong Kongs busiest neighbourhoods on Sunday, singing, chanting and erecting roadblocks of torn-up bricks and debris as police repeatedly fired tear gas, pepper spray and a water cannon during the citys largest street mobilisation in month Hong Kong: Thousands of protesters swarmed some of Hong Kongs busiest neighbourhoods on Sunday, singing, chanting and erecting roadblocks of torn-up bricks and debris as police repeatedly fired tear gas, pepper spray and a water cannon during the citys largest street mobilisation in months. The protest, the first since China announced plans to tighten its control over Hong Kong through security legislation, was planned as a march between the citys bustling Causeway Bay and Wan Chai neighbourhoods. But when the police blocked the route, firing multiple rounds of tear gas in quick succession, the protesters quickly splintered into smaller groups, setting off more than seven hours of scattershot confrontations. While the protesters were largely peaceful, periodic clashes left the area choked with haze and littered with broken glass, furniture and police tape. The police patrolled the districts main thoroughfare with a water cannon, escorted by an armoured truck with two officers seated on top, pointing guns loaded with rubber bullets. Police said they had arrested at least 180 people, mostly for unlawful assembly, and at least four officers were injured. The citys hospital authority said that six people had been hospitalised, including one woman in critical condition. The protest on Sunday the citys first large-scale demonstration since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic underscored the depth of many residents outrage and fear about Beijings national security push. The protesters flouted social distancing rules and police warnings against illegal assemblies to show their solidarity against the security laws, which many fear would strangle the civil liberties that distinguish the city from the mainland. But the demonstration also made clear the challenges before the pro-democracy movement. Attendance was far lower than for the massive rallies last year against a bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. Some protesters have expressed hopelessness or a new fear of participating in public opposition. Police also showed that they planned to continue a new pattern of assertiveness toward the protests, trying to stop mass gatherings before they occur. I keep coming out to protest, said one attendee, Hanna Ng, 16. Bad things keep happening, but I dont know what else to do. Crowds began forming around 1 p.m. as hundreds of people milled beneath the gleaming facades of Causeway Bay, Hong Kongs shopping district. Ignoring police warnings about the citys social distancing regulations, which prohibit public gatherings of more than eight people, the protesters taunted police officers, hoisted signs denouncing the Chinese Communist Party and sang Glory to Hong Kong, the unofficial anthem of the pro-democracy movement. Several protesters waved flags calling for Hong Kong independence a call that, though still considered fringe, has gained some traction in recent months as anger at Beijing has grown. As the crowd thickened, trams sat immobilised on the rails, with passengers poking their phones out to film the activity. One protester jammed traffic cones under the tyres of a minibus to prevent it from moving. Shortly before 1.30 pm, the police fired several rounds of tear gas, sending the crowds that had been trying to march westward fleeing into stores and side streets. But the protesters, many of whom had been trained by last years street battles to bring gas masks, reassembled as quickly as they had dispersed. The result was several hours of start-and-stop encounters, with long stretches of tense quiet interrupted by sudden bouts of police officers sprinting down a street, firing pepper balls or tear gas to clear the way. At times, they fired pepper spray in close range of protesters and journalists, according to videos on social media. The police said in a statement that it had deployed tear gas to disperse protesters who blocked traffic and threw umbrellas, water bottles and other objects at officers. Some rioters have set fire to debris and hurled glass bottles from rooftops, causing danger to residents and business owners nearby, police said, adding that protesters had charged into roads, removed street barriers and damaged traffic lights. Protesters also reportedly beat a lawyer who had expressed pro-establishment views; they also smashed the glass of at least one storefront. Some protesters piled umbrellas, wooden boards and overturned trash cans to barricade streets, and a few threw objects at police vehicles. Groups of police officers pinned protesters to the ground and conducted random searches on passersby. Still, the clashes were relatively restrained compared to violent clashes that marked the later months of protests last year. The march Sunday was planned before Beijing announced its national security plans Thursday. It was originally intended to oppose a separate bill, in Hong Kongs legislature, to criminalize disrespect of the Chinese national anthem. Anti-government groups see that proposal as yet another indication of the mainlands encroachment on Hong Kong. But after the security push was announced, the event took on added urgency for protesters eager to show they would not be cowed. I came out today to protest against the evil law China will impose on Hong Kong, Billy Lai, a 34-year-old social worker, said. If every one of us can do a little bit more, I hope we can bring changes to the society. Ricky Chun, a retiree, said he had not planned to attend Sundays march when it was first announced. But after the national security push, he knew he had to attend. This is the only way we can express ourselves, he said. We cannot just keep ourselves quiet and take whatever they give to us. In Beijing, Chinas foreign minister, Wang Yi, said that the protests that roiled Hong Kong for much of last year had posed a grave threat to national security, demonstrating that such legislation was long overdue. We must get it done without the slightest delay, he said at a news briefing. He sought to assuage concerns that the rules would be used as cover for squelching anti-government dissent in the city, saying that the move targeted a very narrow category of acts. Instead of becoming unnecessarily worried, people should have more confidence in Hong Kongs future, he said. In a statement Sunday evening, an unnamed spokesperson for the Hong Kong government called the protesters thugs and the clashes atrocities. The days events confirmed the necessity and urgency of national security legislation, the statement said. The Hong Kong government previously tried to introduce security laws in 2003 but backpedalled after mass protests. The citys government has since avoided reintroducing such legislation, and Beijings move signalled its impatience with its local proxies. It remains unclear how the protest movement will move forward and whether it will able to replicate last years victories. Although the protesters in 2019 forced the Hong Kong government to withdraw the extradition bill, many said the aggressiveness of the Communist Partys actions had dimmed their faith in the power of protest. In addition, even as the coronavirus pandemic has waned in Hong Kong, some in the pro-democracy camp have said they prefer to express their discontent in potentially safer ways, such as boycotting businesses seen as sympathetic to Beijing. Still, those who attended the march said protesting remained one of the most viable options. I wouldnt use optimistic, Michelle Chung, 45, a theatre artist, said of her outlook on the protests. But I would say that if we do not insist, we will not see hope. Its because we insist, that hope will remain out there. Vivian Wang, Austin Ramzy and Tiffany May c.2020 The New York Times Company Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) A "modified" general community quarantine (MGCQ) in Metro Manila by June 1 is one of the options being tabled by the government to further ease restrictions and recover from economic losses brought by the COVID-19. Metro Manila Development Authority General Manager Jojo Garcia said a location or sector-specific lockdown would be more "manageable" for local communities should the national government decide to downgrade from a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) by then. Should that proposal push through, Metro Manila would be under the most loose of four quarantine scenarios, even more lax than a barangay-wide lockdown. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said Metro Manila will likely be placed under the GCQ where there are more restrictions than MGCQ by June 1. But he said areas that still have infections may remain under more stringent control. "Modified ECQ, I think that's what we're doing right now. If ever pwedeng may modified GCQ siguro, meaning open ang ating...ating mga establishments,(If ever we enforce a modified GCQ as well, meaning, establishments would be open) but the mayors can decide if they're going to lock down certain sectors or place," Garcia told CNN Philippines' New Day. "Sabi ko nga, nung huli kami nag -usap, it's better mas maliit ang i-lockdown mo, mas manageable, mas controllable," Garcia said, referring to his previous meeting with Metro Manila mayors. [Translation: Like I said the last time we talked, it's better if you implement a lockdown on a smalleter unit, it's more manageable, more controllable.] In Quezon City, for example, there's one barangay with a population of 200,000, but Garcia said you cannot lock down 200,000 people. "Siguro yung mga purok purok, they call it sectors lang, kalsada," he added. [Translation: Perhaps that could work for districts, they call it sectors or roads only.] Some areas of Quezon City have been placed under a 14-day special concern lockdown since May 13 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases. Quezon City has the biggest population among cities in Metro Manila, and currently has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the region, according to the Department of Health. Metro Manila, along with Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan and other provinces are still all considered "high-risk" areas under the MECQ until May 31. Currently under GCQ are areas where COVID-19 infections are considered to be "low-risk." Residents below 21 years old or 60 years old and above, pregnant women and people with health risks such as immunodeficiency conditions, are not allowed to leave home in GCQ areas, unless their circumstance requires them to head out to get essential goods and services. The Metro Manila Council, composed of mayors of 16 cities and the municipality of Pateros, will be meeting on May 27 to come up with a recommendation on the capitals lockdown status after May 31. MMC chairman Edwin Olivarez said easing quarantine restrictions will have to be balanced with ensuring the health of the public. To date, there are over 14,000 confirmed cases of the viral disease in the Philippines, with over 800 deaths and more than 3,000 recoveries. A glass frog's translucent skin and legs allows it to blend in with its leafy surroundings in an unusual form of camouflage dubbed 'edge diffusion'. Scientists observed changes in brightness in the South American amphibians depending on their background, affording them improved protection. The study was carried out research teams at the University of Bristol, McMaster University in Canada and Universidad de las Americas in Ecuador. The internal organs of a glass frog are revealed in these photographs. Their camouflage changes in brightness, helping them blend in The frogs would be better described as translucent, scientists said, as they also have green pigmentation to help them blend in 'The frogs are always green but appear to brighten and darken depending on the background,' said lead author Dr James Barnett, who began the research as a PhD student. 'This change in brightness makes the frogs a closer match to their immediate surroundings, which are predominantly made up of green leaves. 'We also found that the legs are more translucent than the body and so when the legs are held tucked to the frog's sides at rest, this creates a diffuse gradient from leaf colour to frog colour rather than a more salient sharp edge. 'This suggests a novel form of camouflage: "Edge diffusion".' He continued that their skin is better described as translucent owing to its sparse green pigmentation. Transparency is commonly used by aquatic animals where their tissue shares a similar refractive index to surrounding water, but is rare on land as the refractive indices are predicted to be less effective. A glass frog underneath a leaf. The light shines through the amphibian, giving it a translucent appearance Professor Nick Scott-Samuel, an expert in visual perception from the University of Bristol's School of Psychological Sciences who supervised the project, added: 'Our study addresses a question that has been the topic of much speculation, both among the public and the scientific community. 'We now have good evidence that the frogs' glass-like appearance is, indeed, a form of camouflage.' Professor Innes Cuthill, from Bristol's School of Biological Sciences, added: 'Animal camouflage has long been a textbook example of the power of Darwinian natural selection. 'However, in truth, we are only beginning to unravel how different forms of camouflage actually work. Glass frogs illustrate a new mechanism that we hadn't really considered before.' Fairjet was fined N1m for violating COVID-19 lockdown order The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has been criticized by Nigerians for imposing a mere N1m fine on a British private charter company, Flairjet for violating COVID-19 airport directives in Nigeria. Recall that Sirika on Sunday directed FlairJet to pay the Nigerian government the sum of one million Naira for violating COVID-19 airport directives. The airline was charged after being found guilty of violating civil aviation regulations IS 1.3.3(a) Table 2(IV) 7(a) and IS 1.3.3 (a) Table 2 (VIII) (4). However, some Nigerians have taken to Twitter, describing the fine as too small for such a crime. They called for the review of the extant law against such violation. Here are some comments gathered by DAILY POST from Twitter: @Magma11 Hon Sirika, please initiate the review and amendment of the relevant laws. The fine for such a gross violation of our aviation law is damn too meagre. The penalty is not commensurate to this act of misbehavior. @Kraft Please Sirika, please initiate the review of this obsolete law. This should attract nothing less than 5M Naira. @Laar03 Are you kidding me, thats just 1000 GBP, what stops them from doing it again? This law needs to be reviewed to work properly as a deterrent control. @MallamTafida Glad the maximum fines were applied. But there is clearly a need to revise the current laws and increase the penalties. I can only imagine what would have happened to a Nigerian airline. @Bolsaid 500k pere as in for violating a national law, so na the law since 1970 when Naira was almost bigger than Pounds you guys are still using. @Fashybou Can we have the law reviewed so the penalty can be higher. @Pilotemi Just N500k (<$1500) for such violation? They probably researched our law (& penalty) before embarking on such a journey. @CMgbeadichie How is this a penalty? This is just a slap on the wrist. But again, the Nigerian govt vs the UKs is like a rat v Lion. We are puppets. If the situation were to be reversed, I am sure the penalty that would have been slammed on Nigeria could cause the company to fold. @AkinolaFestus Very unfortunate! This company will disobey our law and regulations again. Come to think of it, the airline will think it is better to pay the fine and operate the commercial flight and reap cool profit.Some of our laws need review to reflect present realities. @Diddiepappie This is disregard to the whole country. N500,000 aint it. It should be way more than that. I think Nigeria should review that. Changing the JobSeeker payment could topple thousands into homelessness. Images: Getty The Australian government has doubled the level of the JobSeeker payment to address the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, but when it reduces, or even returns to its previous level, it spells trouble for thousands of Australians. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the JobSeeker payment will not remain at its current level beyond the promised six months, and for Womens Community Shelters CEO Annabelle Daniel, this raises a terrifying question. What were seeing at the moment through our network is that there are women who have had that payment doubled, and because they can access some of their superannuation this financial year and next year, theyre locking themselves into rentals which in around six months time are going to be very difficult to afford, Daniel said. The temporary increase to JobSeeker, and the ability for struggling Australians to access up to $20,000 of their superannuation early, isnt solving Australias homelessness problem, she said. Its just kicked the homelessness crisis for women down the road. Prior to Covid-19, two-in-three Australians accessing homelessness services remained homeless after receiving support, while 21,000 people were unable to access crisis accommodation. Australia currently has a deficit of around 500,000 social and affordable housing dwellings, and the problem is especially dire for women and families attempting to escape domestic violence situations. Women escaping domestic violence need permanent housing to enable them to ensure a safe environment for themselves and their families, Domestic Violence NSW spokesperson Renata Field said. It is great to see the NSW Government extending rental subsidies during Covid-19 for women who have experienced domestic violence. However many women and their children will still find private rental accommodation is unaffordable or not available which means, with such limited social housing, they will end up either homeless or having to return to a violent home. Story continues Daniel said single older women are the fastest growing group of homeless Australians, often due to paltry superannuation balances and unaffordable housing. Women retire with around 31 per cent less in their savings than men. And Daniels concerned that the governments early access to super plan will compound that issue for generations to come. Modelling performed by Industry Super Australia found a 20-year-old woman who took the full $20,000 from their super could lose as much as $120,000 from their balance by retirement due to foregone interest earnings. Whats the solution? There are two things that need to be done: increase the base rate of JobSeeker and increase the amount of social and affordable housing. Whats been really heartening is that there has been a quick response during the pandemic, Daniel said. There has been that action to increase the base rate of JobSeeker and to support women both into temporary accommodation if they need it and then to provide housing pathways. But the challenge will be sustaining that for the long term. She said people need long-term housing security, and more affordably housing is key. We need to fix the deficit of 500,000 social and affordable housing homes. We also need widespread education and community involvement in solving domestic and family violence which is one of the primary drivers of womens homelessness. We solve that by working from community to community on local responses and community education. Womens Community Shelters has a tripartite funding model which sees it receive funding from government, philanthropy and community fundraising and donation. Daniel said the community portion of it ensures that each local community is heavily involved in owning and supporting the shelter. Weve been really heartened by each communitys response to wanting to support women who are homeless or leaving domestic violence, Daniel said. Domestic and family violence is a whole-of-society problem, and it needs a whole-of-society solution. It cant be only the governments job to solve it, because that wont work. She said shes seen communities work to support the shelters and to educate around domestic violence, so that ultimately it becomes a question of preventing, rather than addressing violence. If we did those two things [addressing domestic violence and increasing affordable housing], wed achieve the Australia that wed like to live in. Follow Yahoo Finance Australia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. The meaning of the term front line worker has shifted dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic, to include not just cops, EMTs and firefighters, but municipal workers such as teachers, nurses at public hospitals and train operators. Now, the states understanding of what it means to die in the line of duty could shift as well. Following calls from the New York City Council and state lawmakers, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week that he supports granting line-of-duty death benefits to the families of municipal workers who have died from COVID-19. So far, at least 277 New York City employees have died from the coronavirus. This measure would automatically classify those deaths as happening in the line of duty under the presumption that the worker contracted the virus while on the job. That workers family and beneficiaries would then be entitled to receive death benefits and their pensions. But a complex and potentially lengthy road lies ahead to pass necessary state legislation to allow deaths of government employees from COVID-19 to be classified as line-of-duty deaths. Heres how line-of-duty death benefits for government employees would work: Whats the benefit of line-of-duty benefits? Written into many government pension funds as accidental death benefits, a line-of-duty classification means that a worker has died while on the job. In many government pension plans, additional death benefits like health insurance for spouses are made available when a worker dies in the line of duty. Their survivors wouldnt otherwise be entitled to these benefits if the person died of natural causes. But the kinds of death benefits granted to government employees vary widely based on the category of work. The survivors of New York City Police Department detectives, for example, are entitled to a portion of the deceaseds salary and health benefits for life, whereas if they die of an unrelated illness their survivors would typically get a lump-sum payment or monthly allowance of roughly three times their salary. But benefits often vary based on how long a person has held that job, and they can differ greatly in other public sector occupations, including teachers, nurses and sanitation workers all public servants who have died from COVID-19. While death benefits for other government positions are often less generous than they are for police officers, other categories of government workers still receive them. The survivors of emergency medical technicians who already make less than other first responders are entitled to just three years of the EMTs full salary if the person died in the line of duty. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has already approved death benefits of $500,000 and three years of health coverage to the spouse or beneficiary of transit workers who died from the coronavirus. As of Wednesday, 123 transit workers had died of the coronavirus. But proving that a worker died from an illness contracted while on the job is more difficult than drawing that obvious conclusion when a cop is shot in the line of duty or a firefighter dies of asphyxiation in a burning building. One of the hurdles in giving COVID-19 deaths the line-of-duty designation is having to prove that the worker contracted the coronavirus while on the job, even though its probably safe to assume that they did. The same is true of proving that any other kind of illness was contracted while on the job. One of the best known examples of this challenge is the case of Tracy Allen Lee, an EMT who contracted HIV while treating a patient in 1989, and later died from AIDS. Despite filing a report when she realized she may have been exposed to HIV on the job, her request to have her illness diagnosed as a line-of-duty injury and receive added benefits including two years of workers compensation was denied by New York City. After she died, she did receive the line-of-duty designation and was given a city-funded funeral. The state then passed a law in 1998, one year after Lees death, requiring that all emergency responders who contracted HIV on the job be automatically classified as line-of-duty cases. A similar law was also passed in 2005 to ensure that workers who responded to the terrorist attacks on September 11 and developed illnesses related to working at Ground Zero like respiratory diseases or cancers be classified as line-of-duty. Non-uniformed workers who aided in the clean-up effort at the World Trade Center were added last year. But for the most part with the exception of cases where its already presumed the person was injured or killed in the line of duty, including workers who developed 9/11-related illnesses a city employee, their beneficiary or the union that represents them has to make a case in front of on of the citys five pension boards that an accident occurred while on the job to receive line-of-duty benefits. Part of the goal of classifying all deaths from COVID-19 as line-of-duty deaths is to avoid the need to make each individual case in front of the pension boards. Though the coronavirus outbreak has hit New York City particularly hard, other parts of the state and their workers havent escaped the virus worst effects. While death benefits vary based on the kind of government job, the state retirement system also includes additional death benefits for employees that are determined to have died as a result of an on-the-job accident. What has to happen to extend line-of-duty benefits to include COVID-19 deaths? Though de Blasio previously responded to calls for COVID-19 line-of-duty death benefits by saying that the federal government should be responsible for paying death benefits, on Tuesday he said he would push Albany to get this done. But in order for the city to release line-of-duty benefits to the families and beneficiaries, the state Legislature first has to pass whats being referred to as a presumption bill. This bill the final version of which is still in the works would make clear that any government employee who died of COVID-19 contracted it while on the job. While the onus is typically on workers or unions to prove that an injury or death happened while on the job, this bill would relieve survivors from having to trace a COVID-19 infection to prove that a sanitation worker or teacher, for example, contracted the virus while at work. Assemblyman Peter Abbate, who chairs the Committee on Governmental Employees, has already introduced an early draft of this bill. If the death certificate says they died of the COVID virus, they qualify, Abbate, who represents Brooklyn neighborhoods including Bensonhurst and Borough Park, told City & State, of how the legislation would work. Theyre presumed to have gotten it on the job. And 99.9%, thats where they got it. They didnt go on a vacation to China or Italy or Spain and catch it there. They were working. But Abbates bill is unlikely to be the final version that the Legislature ultimately aims to pass because he is working on a new version with his counterpart in the Senate, Andrew Gounardes, who represents a first-responder heavy district in southern Brooklyn. The new bill is expected to address in more detail how death benefits for those who have died from COVID-19 would work. Both offices told City & State that theyre drafting that bill now. Abbate added that the measure would apply to government workers across the state, not just in New York City. Who will pay for these benefits? Abbate told City & State that the funds to pay line-of-duty death benefits to families of workers who died from COVID-19 would come out of state or city pension funds, depending on whether the worker had a New York City pension, or a pension under the state retirement system. Laura Feyer, a spokesman for de Blasio, said that providing line-of-duty benefits to families of city workers who have died from COVID-19 is estimated to cost $15 million per year. And though de Blasio has been pushing for a new federal stimulus package with more funding for state and local governments, Feyer said that granting line-of-duty benefits to these workers wouldnt be dependent on that stimulus money coming through. Members of New Yorks congressional delegation have, however, introduced their own legislationmodeled after the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, which would provide additional benefits to essential workers (or their families) who have gotten sick or died from COVID-19. Financial assistance provided by that compensation fund could be used for medical bills, burial costs or loss of employment, among other things. The legislation, co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth from Illinois, would not just apply to New York but would extend financial assistance to workers affected across the country. How soon can this bill be passed in Albany? Abbate told City & State that while he aims to pass the legislation as soon as possible, a bill has yet to be introduced in the Senate, meaning Abbate will likely be submitting a new bill to match the Senate version as well. Its a very technical bill, Im sure there will be a number of drafts so we dont exclude anyone. There were like 15 drafts of the 9/11 bill, Abbate said. Well probably make some changes on it, and well both put in the same bill. Part of what will take a while, as Abbate suggests, is figuring out how to include all government employees.We're taking a very expansive look at this, Gounardes said. I think any public worker who was reporting for duty during this COVID crisis, and who passes away from COVID, should be entitled to full recognition that their death was caused by their work. Both the Senate and Assembly plan to reconvene on Tuesday, and City & State reported earlier this week that there are about a dozen COVID-19-related bills that lawmakers in both houses want to pass this year. Its not a given, however, that this bill will definitely pass this session, because of how long its expected to take to work through the details. Still, its a measure that has so far proven popular among lawmakers, including 13 state lawmakers who applauded de Blasios support of the measure. Meanwhile, unions for public sector workers including NYPD officers and EMTs continue to push for the legislation to be passed as soon as possible. Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detectives Endowment Association, the union for NYPD detectives, said that five detectives so far have died from COVID-19. Their families will be dependent on the state Legislature passing the bill, he told City & State. These families health was put in jeopardy because their husbands were New York City detectives that went out on the front lines and contracted this virus, and brought it home to their families, and ultimately died from the coronavirus, DiGiacomo said. I hope and pray that they come back in time for this bill. Zach Williams contributed reporting. State-owned lender Bank of Baroda reportedly plans to move the Karnataka High Court (HC) seeking ban on sales of assets, even those not pledged as collateral to the lender, by NMC founder and billionaire businessman BR Shetty. The bank seeks to recover loans worth more than $250 million from Shetty and his companies. The bank wants to ensure that Shetty does not sell his assets, even those not listed as collateral to the public sector lender, Mint quoted sources close to the development as saying. Earlier this month, a session court in Bengaluru had frozen the asset of the founder of the NMC Health group, restricting Shetty and his wife from selling or transferring properties claimed as partial security against loans that bank said are personally guaranteed by the businessman. The lower court in Bengalaru will next hear the case on June 8. According to May 16 court documents reviewed by Reuters, the 16 properties in several Indian cities including Bengaluru were among guarantees put up by Shetty and his wife against Rs 1,913 crore ($253 million) loans. Also Read: NMC founder BR Shetty owes $250 million to Bank of Baroda Shetty, a Padma Shri recipient, flew to India in March this year after legal problems increased on NMC Health, one of the leading healthcare chain and distribution business in the United Arab Emirates. The company was placed under administration by a London court in April after the private healthcare provider disclosed that it had debts of $6.6 billion. Adding to the woes, Finablr, in which Shetty owns a controlling stake, disclosed in April it may have nearly $1 billion more in debt than previously reported, as per Reuters report. Also Read: Coronavirus impact: IDFC First Bank's senior management to take 10% pay cut The Bank of Baroda reported a spike in bad loans during the December quarter. The bank's gross non-performing assets rose to Rs 73,140 crore in Q3 FY20 from Rs 69,969 crore in Q2 F20. The figure at end-December 2018 stood at Rs 74,322 crore. The gross bad loans as a percentage of its total advances stood at 10.43 per cent in the December quarter of FY20, compared to 10.25 in the September quarter of FY20. The bank is yet to announce its earnings for the March quarter. By Chitranjan Kumar Sahnewal airport at Ludhiana resumed operations after a gap of two months on Monday with an Air India flight (9I-837) arriving here from Delhi around 2.35pm. The flight carried a total of 11 passengers, including one female child aged four. The return flight to Delhi ((9I-838) left from the airport at 3.20pm carrying just five passengers. According to Sahnewal airport director SK Sharan, 15 passengers had booked tickets for the flight from Delhi to Ludhiana but four did not take the flight for reasons not known to him. As there were only a few passengers, social distancing was easily followed and the passengers were allotted seats at a distance from each other by the airline. Thermal checks were in place and all guidelines were followed, he added. The passengers who arrived at Sahnewal airport, included residents of nearby towns of Doraha and Moga as well. One of the passengers, Dolly, said she had gone to Delhi in March to spend some time at her grandmothers place. But since the lockdown was announced, she couldnt return home to Ludhiana. From sanitising luggage to providing face shields to passengers, the airport as well as the airline staff was on its toes to ensure all government guidelines were followed. The flight was very neat and clean and it was a pleasant experience. Social distancing was properly followed and we were also given a face shield by the airline as protection, said Dolly. On September 16, 2012, Peter Fitzek, a former karate teacher and slot machine owner, crowned himself the "King of Germany," succeeding the last true monarch Kaiser Wilhelm II. It even says so on his passport -- at least, the one he makes himself for his tiny kingdom of NeuDeutschland or "New Germany." And for a few hundred euros, anyone can buy a "membership" into this petty kingdom, which has its own flag (the regular German one with a sun decal on it) and its own currency -- Engelgeld or "angel money," the only money in the world that has a standard denomination of sevens. Together with his Queen Annett Ullmann, who serves House Kartoffel (or is a server at the local Kartoffelhaus, in modern parlance), King Peter rules over a vast demesne of a couple of abandoned factories southwest of Berlin which he has transformed into a definitely-not-a-cult compound. What kind of king is Peter? A very old school one -- half paranoid megalomaniac, half religious nutjob. An Alex Jones type with a fake passport, Peter believes a corrupt deep state conspiracy (read: Jewish people) is out to get him and that every pebble against his windshield's a deflected assassination attempt. He also believes he is in a war with Satanists and claims he can cleanse those tainted by the dark arts with his divine hands. At least 38 migrant workers were on Monday injured when a Kolkata-bound bus overturned on a sharp bend in Ramgarh district, the police said. The mishap took place on Ormanjhi-Gola state highway near Kulhi village when the driver of the bus, carrying at least 77 passengers, lost control of the steering wheel while negotiating a sharp bend, Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar said. The police, with the help of villagers, rescued the migrants with 25 injured being sent to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi while others were admitted to a primary health centre in Gola block, the SP said. An injured migrant worker, Azim Bittu, said that they had booked the bus from Mumbai to Kolkata for Rs 3 lakh with each migrant contributing Rs 6,000 to return to their homes in West Bengal. A fortnight ago, a trailer-truck carrying migrant workers from Jamshedpur to Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh had overturned on NH-33 under Ramgarh town police station and hurtled down into a gorge, killing three migrants and injuring five others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An important judgment will be delivered tomorrow on Tuesday over the case of two Armenian nationals against Azerbaijan and Hungary. The case concerns the presidential pardon given to a convicted murderer and his release following his transfer from Hungary to Azerbaijan to serve the rest of his sentence. The applicants are two Armenian nationals, Hayk Makuchyan and Samvel Minasyan, who is now deceased, who were born in 1975 and 1958 respectively. Mr Minasyans widow and their two children are pursuing the case in his stead. In 2004, Mr Makuchyan and Mr Minasyans nephew, G.M., both members of the Armenian military, attended an English-language course in Budapest organised by the NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace programme. The course included two participants from each of the former Soviet states, including Azerbaijan. During the course, R.S., a member of the Azerbaijani military, murdered Mr Minasyans nephew while he was asleep by decapitating him with an axe. R.S. also tried to break into Mr Makuchyans room before being arrested by the Hungarian police. R.S. was convicted of exceptionally cruel and premeditated murder and preparation of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Hungarian courts, with a possibility of conditional release after 30 years. During the criminal proceedings R.S. showed no remorse, admitting that he had murdered Mr Minasyans nephew on account of his Armenian origin and because the Armenian participants in the course had provoked and mocked him. In 2012, following a request by the Azerbaijani authorities, R.S. was transferred to Azerbaijan, in accordance with the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, to serve the rest of his sentence. However, upon his arrival in Azerbaijan, R.S. was informed that he had received a presidential pardon and was released. He was also promoted to the rank of major at a public ceremony, granted a flat and paid eight years of salary arrears. The applicants allege that Azerbaijan was responsible for substantive and procedural violations of Article 2 (right to life) of the European Convention on Human Rights because the attack had been carried out by an Azerbaijani military officer and because he had been granted a pardon which prevented the full enforcement of his sentence. They complain that Hungary also violated Article 2 of the Convention by granting and executing the request for the officers transfer without obtaining adequate binding assurances that he would complete his prison sentence in Azerbaijan. They further allege under Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) in conjunction with Article 2 that the attack was an ethnically motivated hate crime which the Azerbaijani Government had acknowledged and endorsed by granting the officer a presidential pardon and a promotion. Lastly, the applicants complain that both Governments failed to disclose documents requested by them in the proceedings before the Strasbourg Court, in breach of Article 38 (obligation to furnish necessary facilities for examination of the case). The judgment will be published on the Court's website at 10:00 Strasbourg time on Tuesday. Mumbai, May 25 : The Maharashtra government has formally written to the Kerala government seeking assistance to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the worst-hit Mumbai-Pune industrial-commercial belt. The development came days after Maharashtra's Health Minister Rajesh Tope spoke to Kerala's Health and Social Welfare Minister K. K. Shailaja and discussed the Covid-19 pandemic challenges. Now, the Maharashtra government has sent an official letter seeking doctors and nurses for the pandemic crisis here. Dr T.P. Lahane, Director, Medical Education and Research, -- who is the Nodal Officer, Covid-19 -- has said in the near future, the number of cases are expected to increase in Mumbai and Pune. He has requested Minister Shailaja for a 50-member team of specialist doctors and nurses to assist the Maharashtra health authorities. For their services, Maharashtra is prepared to pay MBBS doctors Rs 80,000 a month and Rs 2 lakh per month for MD/MS specialist doctors, which include physicians and intensivists. For the Trained nursing staff, the state will pay Rs 30,000 a month. The Maharashtra government will also provide accommodation, meals, required medicine and personal protective equipment to all the visiting doctors and nurses. "In view of the emerging situation, the Maharashtra government has decided to set up a 600-bedded COVID Health Care Center at Mahalakshmi Race Course in Mumbai City. It also included a 125 bedded ICU," says the letter by Lahane. The state has also made available the service of private medical practitioners but still requires the service of many more doctors and nurses. Lahane also mentioned that he spoke with Santhosh Kumar, Vice President of Doctors Without Borders in South Asia, who had agreed to help in providing the required healthcare professionals to this state. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text China has decided to evacuate its citizens, including students, tourists and businessmen, from India who are facing "difficulties" in the country and want to return home in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Chinese embassy put out a notice on its website on Monday, asking those wanting to return home to book tickets in special flights. The move to evacuate its citizens comes in the wake of India emerging as the 10th worst-hit country by the deadly virus, which has infected nearly 1.40 lakh people in India. The coronavirus, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has spread to over 190 countries, infecting over 54 lakh people and taking lives of 3.4 lakh. India had evacuated around 700 Indians from Wuhan in February. The notice by the Chinese embassy said the people opting to return home will have to accept all quarantine and epidemic prevention arrangements during the flight as well as after entering China. The notice in Mandarin said people treated for coronavirus infection or having symptom of the infection like fever and cough in the last 14 days should not take the special flights. "Through the unified arrangement of the ministry of foreign affairs and relevant departments, the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in India will assist international students in India, tourists, temporary business visitors who have difficulties and are in urgent need to take a temporary flight back home to China," according to the notice. It suggested that people from some other countries may also be evacuated. The notice said the cost of flight ticket and quarantine in China will have to be borne by the evacuees "If your body temperature exceeds 37.3 degrees (inclusive) before boarding or if you have suspected symptoms, you will be refused boarding by the airline," the notice said. China's decision to evacuate its citizens from India also comes at a time when troops of both the countries are locked in a tense standoff in the disputed areas of Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh for over two weeks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Liberal Party senator Sarah Henderson has filed defamation proceedings against a former Geelong councillor who denies having any link to an aggressive and anonymous Twitter account. In a writ filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria last week, Senator Henderson alleges former councillor Jan Farrell is responsible for two defamatory tweets on the @Geelong_Elite account. Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Ms Farrell denied having any connection to the account and said she first learned of the defamation suit when contacted by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. The tweets criticised Senator Henderson in the days after the 2019 election, when Ms Farrell says she was overseas. NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will organise a series of programmes both online and on the ground to mark its first year in office on May 30, said functionaries aware of the details. A letter with Prime Minister Narendra Modis message to the countrymen will also be distributed to about 100 million households by booth-level workers. This distribution will be limited to those areas that are not Covid-19 containment zones. In other places, the letter will be delivered electronically and on social media platforms, the functionaries quoted above said on condition of anonymity. According to a senior party functionary, party president JP Nadda will inaugurate the anniversary functions with an online address to workers. A virtual rally will be organised, as will 1,000 online interactions across the country. This is not the first time that the party is relying on the virtual world to connect with the masses, but now it is being scaled up, said the functionary on condition of anonymity. The focus of the rallies and the interactions will be the message of self reliance or Aatmanirbhar Bharat given by PM Modi; the Rs 20 lakh crore financial package announced to revive the economy and the efforts made by the government to contain the spread of the pandemic, the functionary added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON UP assembly polls will be about '80 per cent vs 20 per cent'; BJP will win: Yogi Adityanath UP CM moots two-pronged strategy for migrant workers India pti-PTI Lucknow, May 25: In a two-pronged strategy to help migrant workers, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to set up a Migration Commission for their employment in the state and made it clear that any other state that wants labourers from UP has to seek its permission. With around 25 lakh workers and migrants having returned to the state till Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that a Migration Commission be set up, according to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi. Adityanath also directed officials that migrant workers be given insurance so that their life is secured, Awasthi said. Domestic flights resume, but chaos at Delhi airport as some flights cancelled | Oneindia News If states want UP migrant workers back, they have to seek permission: Adityanath The chief minister suggested that a scheme be launched to ensure their job security, he said. About the commission, Adityanath said it has been proposed to look into various factors associated with migrant workers' rights and to prevent exploitation while providing an official framework to ensure socio-economic and legal support for them. "Insurance, social security, re-employment assistance, provision for unemployment allowance are some of the factors that will be looked into by the commission," he said. Upset that migrant labourers were "not properly taken care of" by various states in the wake of the coronavirus-induced lockdown, Adityanath said, "These workers are our biggest resource and we will give them employment in Uttar Pradesh as the state government is going to set up a panel for their employment". The chief minister further said, "They are our people... and if some states want them back, they have to seek permission from the state government". There is a need to ensure their socio-legal-monetary rights, the chief minister said. According to an official spokesperson, the Adityanath government will make manpower available to other states only on guarantee of job security. The other states will not be able to use manpower from this state without the permission of UP government, the spokesperson said. As per the instructions of Adityanath, skill mapping of about 14.75 migrant workers has so far been completed of which the maximum over 1,51,492 are real estate workers, the spokesperson said. The skill mapping which is being done to provide them employment has also found that a large number of workers are furniture and fitting technicians, building decorators, home caretakers, drivers, IT and electronic technicians, home appliance and automobile technicians, paramedics and pharmaceutical workers, dress makers, beauticians, handicraft and carpet makers and security guards, the spokesperson said. The state government will also give training once the skill mapping is completed during which training allowance will also be provided to them, the spokesperson said. During an interaction with the RSS-affiliated publications 'Panchjanya' and 'Organiser' on Sunday, Adityanath said as per the feedback received from the migrant workers who returned to Uttar Pradesh from across the country, safeguarding their rights should get utmost attention and importance. "All migrant workers are being registered and their skills mapped. Any state or entity interested in inviting migrant workers will need to assure and provide for their socio-legal-monetary rights," he said. PTI SMI SAB RDM RDM Actor Anil Kapoor says his 1987 blockbuster "Mr India", which completed 33 years on Monday, will always remain a landmark film for him. The movie, written by Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, featured Kapoor as Mr India and late Sridevi as a journalist, with veteran actor Amrish Puri playing the iconic villain Mogambo. It was directed by filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. Taking to Instagram, Kapoor uploaded the video of the song "Zindagi Ki Yahi Reet Hai" and shared how the track came into being. "'Mr India' was and always will be a very important film for me. I remember even 34 years ago when we began the journey became obsessed with every detail. From the time I heard the tune of 'Zindagi Ki Yahi Reet Hai' I could only imagine Kishore Da's voice singing it. "At the time, Kishore Kumar and Laxmikant Pyarelal did not want to work together. It took months to even get in touch with Kishore da. When I finally did, I went to Kishore Kumar's residence and mediated their patch up... the end result was this beautiful melody which is so uplifting during these tough times," Kapoor captioned the video. The 63-year-old actor said even after 33 years of its release, "Mr India" and its message is still "as important, if not more so." "Be kind to each other, do the right thing; life may get tough, but in the end, good will prevail. 'Zndagi Ki Yahi Reet Hai Haar Ke Baad Hi Jeet Hai Thode Aansu Hai, Thodi Hasi Aaj Gham Hai To Kal Hai Khushi.'" Earlier this year, there was a tussle over the reboot of "Mr India" when it was announced that the film will be remade in the form of a trilogy, to be directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. The decision didn't go down well with the makers of the original, with actor Sonam Kapoor Ahuja saying it was "disrespectful" that the architects of the the 1987 blockbuster -- director Shekhar and her father Kapoor -- hadn't been consulted for the remake. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Groups Will Sue Unless DOE Updates 26 Overdue Energy Efficiency Standards Schools Reopening: Lets Make This a Catalyst for Change BP to EWG on Net-Zero Carbon Pledge: No turning back! Well See. Study: Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water May Increase Risk of Low Birth Weight Infants Even More Billions in U.S. Farm Bailouts Risk Violating Trade Agreements At Hillsborough County Commission Candidate Virtual Forum, All Candidates Voice Support for 100% Renewable Energy Energy Dept. Sued Over Hiding Details of Loan Guarantee for Appalachian Gas Liquids Project Smaller Farms Hit Hard by COVID-19 but Get Little Help From USDA Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Harmful NEPA Rules A police officer who was falsely accused of assault by a 14-year-old boy two years ago will finally be able to return to his frontline duties. PC Paul Evans, 52, from Bridgend, South Wales, a hate crime officer in the community engagement team for South Wales Police, was left having to prove the schoolboy had lied about the bogus attack in court and at a disciplinary hearing. Today Police Federation chiefs hit out at the 'unacceptable' two-year delay for highly-commended officer PC Evans to return to work. The police officer, who was acquitted of using unnecessary force on the boy on May 22, was called to the domestic incident at the family's home in January 2018 because the boy was 'smashing the place up' in an argument with his mother. PC Paul Evans (pictured outside Cardiff Magistrates' Court), 52, from Bridgend, South Wales, was taken off duty for two years after a 14-year-old boy falsely accused the officer of assault The boy - who has the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - later accused PC Evans of grabbing his throat and punching him three times in the face. The schoolboy claimed he suffered a bleeding nose, chipped tooth and bruising on his face when the PC lashed out at being called a 'pig' and 'p***y'. However PC Evans always insisted the teenager had falsified the assault while being arrested for affray - and instead 'face-planted' the floor in a struggle after he locked himself in the bathroom. The officer, who trained to deal with hate crime confrontations in the force's community engagement team, told the court: 'It was a lie. It was all fabricated.' The court heard how the boy had a history of false allegations including making a hoax call to police claiming to have found 'nail bombs' at his school. But it has taken PC Evans since January 2018 to clear his name of misconduct in order to return to frontline work in South Wales. PC Evans, who always insisted the teenager had falsified the assault, was acquitted of using unnecessary force on the boy on May 22 South Wales Police Federation Chair Steve Treharne said: 'The length of time in bringing this misconduct case, like so many others we see, is not acceptable. 'The time delay alone causes anxiety and stress to our colleagues, who are human beings like everybody else. 'There is also a cost to the people of South Wales Police - who were denied the frontline service of this highly commended and capable officer for over two years. 'It is absolutely right that police officers are accountable for their actions and decisions. PC Evans was cleared by a court and by a misconduct panel after careful consideration of all the evidence. 'He is greatly relieved that nearly two and a half years of worry uncertainty are at an end - but it has been a hugely stressful ordeal for PC Evans and his family.' The force said the constable had been under 'intense scrutiny' and its focus was now on getting him back to work on frontline duty. South Wales Police assistant chief constable Andy Valentine said the misconduct panel had found no case to answer. The police officer was found not guilty of common assault by beating at a three-day trial at Cardiff Magistrates Court in October 2018 He said: 'The allegation made against PC Evans was subject to an independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct which found the officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct. 'However, a misconduct panel, comprising of a legally qualified chair, a police superintendent and an independent member, has concluded that the officer has no case to answer. 'The officer has been subject to intense scrutiny over the two years since this allegation was made and our focus now will be to offer him the support he needs to return to serving the communities of South Wales.' PC Evans faced both criminal and misconduct hearings after the house call in January 2018. He was found not guilty of common assault by beating at a three-day trial at Cardiff Magistrates Court in October 2018 - and on Friday cleared of misconduct in a four-day hearing by a disciplinary panel. A spokesman the Police Federation said: 'Police Officers must make split second decisions. They do not have the luxury to digest and scrutinise all the evidence and then decide after many days, weeks or months.' PC Evans' Federation representative PC Darran Fenton added: 'PC Evans is relieved that the panel found he had not breached any misconduct matters in this case. Over the past two years this investigation has put an immense strain on him and those close to him.' Catrin Evans, Independent Office for Police Conduct director for Wales, said it was 'appropriate' to carry out a thorough investigation. She said: 'While we found a case to answer following our investigation, it is not for us to determine the outcome and this has been decided by a panel.' The biggest problem was her hip. Surgery was an option, but Shields had already endured an excruciating loss of independence over the past two years, Hargrove said. Recovery from surgery two to three months in a rehab center with no visitors because of efforts to slow the virus in most facilities would have been a nightmare, Hargrove said, and would not have returned her to normal functioning. She said she and Shields had reached an understanding during the past year that her disease had progressed so far that we were beyond the point of fixing things. Before the coronavirus pandemic arrived, 2020 seemed fated to be a great year for Siko Setyanto's dance career: touring Germany and South Korea, performances in Indonesia, classes and more classes. Now this man in motion has spent over two months holed up at home. "For dancers, it is like the blood has stopped in our body," he says. "I cannot move freely, I have no more job...while my economic responsibilities do not stop." He was rescued by two choreographers in Indonesia's capital who have given a traditional system for tipping artists saweran a modern twist by posting video recordings of dancers' work on YouTube and asking for donations to keep the dancers and their art alive. "We remember a long time ago when we watched performances with the saweran system," said Rusdy Rukmarata, who masterminded the project with Yola Yulfianti. "No ticket box, no promotion, only space in the market and the musicians. People can watch them for free, if they like it, they give the tip to the performers," Rukmarata said. So Rukmarata and Yulfianti, members of the Jakarta Arts Council, started Saweran Online on the Indonesian Dance Network channel. On this digital stage, dancers can show their work; the shows are free, but viewers are encouraged to donate. There are more than 60 videos by individuals and dance groups from various backgrounds and genres. Included are traditional Indonesian dance, contemporary ballet and even dance workouts. Some dancers provide videos, while others record performances at Rukmarata's studio. Each donation is divided: 75% for the performer, 20% to other needs in Indonesia to fight COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, and the rest to pay for the project's costs. Setyanto, the dancer, saw money deposited in his bank account two weeks after his video went up. The cash is important, but so is the opportunity to show his art. The two have been joined in their effort by independent art producer Ratri Anindyajati, who has recovered from the COVID-19 and is renowned as the third case in Indonesia. Anindyajati said her survival has inspired her to do more for others during the pandemic. "As I grew up with the dance community, I would like to help them. Moreover, it is not only helping people around the dance community," but also others who need aid, Anindyajati said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, May 26 2020 Business as usual: An aerial photograph shows people attending Idul Fitri prayers, marking the end of Ramadan at Baiturrahman Mosque in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, on Sunday. (AFP/Adi Gondronk) Many Indonesian Muslims celebrated this years Idul Fitri under a very different vibe from previous years because of the COVID-19 epidemic over the last two months. While some Muslims in safe green zones like Tegal, Central Java, were still able to attend the congregational Idul Fitri prayer on the first morning of the holiday, those in red zones like Jakarta and East Java worshiped at home. Most Muslims were also unable to hold the traditional family reunion during Idul Fitri because of the social restrictions and the mudik (exodus) travel ban imposed to prevent the further spread of the disease. So this year, they held virtual reunions using video communication apps on their smartphones or through video conferences on their computers. It has been a rough couple of months for all Indonesians, and it can only be hoped that all holidaymakers not just Muslims adhered to the emergency health measures to prevent the emergence of new infection clusters after Idul Fitri. Out of the ordinary: Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta is unusually empty during this years Idul Fitri celebration on Sunday. Thousands of Muslims ordinarily gather at the mosque for Idul Fitri prayers, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual event was cancelled. (JP/Donny Fernando) to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Usually, at this time of year, the design world is hanging out in New York City for Design Week and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. I used to go every year and cover it, and would always admire the big booth in the center showing the winners in the Wilsonart Student Design Challenge: Wilsonart, a world leading creator of beautiful engineered surfaces, developed the year-long program, which is both a sponsored class and a competition. Students learn how to design and build a one-of-a-kind chair, as well as how to prepare for a major trade show. Wilsonart introduced the program more than a decade ago, making it the longest-running sponsored student design class in the U.S. I may have admired the student work, but I never wrote about it; at the time I wasn't convinced that laminate was exactly TreeHugger correct, and would tend to promote designs made with natural woods instead. Lloyd Alter/ Grace Jeffers presenting/CC BY 2.0 Then I met Grace Jeffers, who taught me a lot about wood, and how trees may be a renewable resource, but forests are not: "Yes, we cut down trees, replant them, they grow, and in this way wood is a renewable resource. But by cutting down trees, we are destroying forests and their unique, unquantifiable ecosystems; therefore, a forest cannot be renewable." Of course, we still love wood and promote wood construction, but that wood comes from sustainably managed forests that are more like plantations, a very different material from what you often see in furniture. Jeffers tells architects and designers that they must ask three questions every time they specify wood: What is this woods conservation status? From where did this wood originate? What is the state of the forest from which the wood was harvested? My attitude toward laminate changed as I learned about how much of our wood used in furniture comes from badly managed forests and endangered species of trees, and that perhaps plastic laminate was actually a good thing, letting designers get creative and build useful and beautiful things without solid rare or endangered woods and fancy veneers. ( laminates are also 78 percent certified paper held together with phenolic resin, which is why it is still my favorite kitchen counter.) I also note that in these pandemic times, having furniture that you can wipe down and clean like you might a kitchen counter makes a lot of sense. Grace Jeffers manages the Wilsonart Student Design Challenge, and a few years ago invited me on to the jury. I also teach Sustainable Design at Ryerson University of Interior Design, so I encouraged them to go international with the competition and come to Toronto, where Professor Jonathon Anderson, director of the Creative Technology Lab at FCAD, guided students through the design and prototype process. So all of my conflicts of interest are declared here: I was a juror and many of these students took my course. Part of the challenge also was to learn "how to prepare for a major trade show," which is no small matter for designers, but because of the 19 pandemic, they didn't get to hang out at the Javits. Being on TreeHugger isn't quite the same thing, but here it is. Winner: The Not Loveseat, Amy Yan The not loveseat/ Amy Tam A HAIRDRESSING chain has joined a national campaign group to help fight its rejected 500,000 insurance claim. Marc Antoni, which has salons in Henley and Caversham, is one of more than 400 businesses in the Hiscox Action Group. The company has five sites in the south east and made a claim of 100,000 for each salon as part of their business interruption cover with Hiscox. Despite the document stating they would be protected in the event of any human infectious or human contagion disease their claim was refused. The company has asked for the Financial Conduct Authority, the industry regulator, to assess their claim and if this proves unsuccessful they will take the matter to court. Marc Antoni has been unable to trade since the coronavirus lockdown started and directors are now concerned about the future of the business. Julie Giamattei said: Everyone in the industry is trying to help each other, because a lot of people are told they have had their claim rejected and just sit back and take it and we are trying to tell them not to accept it. Get your name down and start fighting for your rights. We are waiting for the FCA. We put everything in on May 15 and I have still not heard anything from any of the MPs we contacted, which is not great. They have not helped us one bit. The FCA will look at it and make a decision and if they are not going to pay we will get lawyers involved. It is going to cost a lot of money to fight this. It is reassuring to be in a group with lots of other people in the same position, but it is still worrying because you are only going to get a percentage of what you are owed. We are hoping the FCA will see the light and if not it will just be more stress. I dont know how long this will take, but they have all the policies, so hopefully they can make a decision soon. I am optimistic. We are trying to be positive and I am quite confident, but you also have your doubts as well. It is just another waiting game. The family business has been running for more than 50 years and they have applied for a bank loan of 300,000 to avoid any closures. Marc Antoni has furloughed about 60 staff, but the six company directors will not receive any money as they are paid by dividend. The Hiscox Action Group is set to start an arbitration claim against the insurance company, with around 40 million in claims from all of the businesses combined. Mrs Giamattei, who lives in Woodley, said the business is looking at how it might reopen salons after being told by the Government they may be able to return in July. However, the added cost of PPE and the stress of having to reassure staff about returning to work was worrying her. She added: It is stressful. You are touching clients and how does that work? They are saying we can open on July 4, as long as everyone is sensible, but the logistics of opening up are difficult to overcome. We have 60 staff that are worried about going back into the workplace do they want to carry on as hairdressers and that is our concern. We have got to reassure them as well and they are young people and you have to tell them everything is going to be alright. The Hiscox Action Group is managed by volunteers and it has teamed up with the Night Time Industries Association to fight the insurance company. Collette Osborne, who started the action group seven weeks ago, said: My background is in finance and business and we just want to help people through this awful time. We offer very practical steps and advice and we offer free advice. A lot of us have business interruption insurance and it has been an absolute nightmare. The companies are being evasive and it has been a constant battle with them. The treasury committee asked the FCA how they would handle it and they said they would put a case in. They had already given the insurers a consultation period of two weeks and they gave the policy holders three days and how can that be a fair case. All of the people who took these policies out did it in good faith and to protect themselves against unforeseen circumstances. She has her own hair salon group based in Nottingham called Hairven, which she started in 2012 in memory of her mother, who died a year earlier. An online fundraising page seeking donations of 40,000 has been started to support salons who are preparing for potential legal costs Mrs Osborne added: It doesnt just hit the businesses now, but also going forward. In the nicest possible way it feels like we are being stitched up. It is the equivalent of having a car accident, telling your insurers you hit a blue car and them saying sorry you are only covered if you hit a red or yellow one. When the Government tell you to close, surely that is a big enough interruption, but their claim is it has got to be the local authority. A lot of salon owners have just accepted it because they are too scared to challenge it and now they are having to fight for their business. Grants and furlough money dont even scratch the surface. Some people have just decided to close the doors because they cant see a way forward. A spokesman for Hiscox said: Hiscox's core policy wordings do not provide cover for business interruption as a result of the general measures taken by the UK Government in response to a pandemic. In determining any response to claims or complaints Hiscox reviews every case individually. Sohum Shah puts an end to speculations around Tummbad 2, says he's working on another project Ontario is extending a line of credit of up to $500 million to its lottery and gaming agency. The province says the loan will temporarily support the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporations operational costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan will also help OLG meet its contractual obligations over the short term as its operations remain closed. The government says the loan will ensure the OLGs casino operations can quickly resume after shutdown orders lift in order to generate revenue for the province. A spokeswoman for the provinces finance minister says the government is confident OLG will be able to repay the line of credit once emergency orders loosen. She says OLG will remain in contact with public health officials to determine when it is safe for its facilities to reopen. Read more about: Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: In the wake of rising number in coronavirus cases, the Ghaziabad district administration has decided to re-seal its border with Delhi on the lines of lockdown 2.0 from Monday midnight. The authorities will allow only the pass-holders to enter and exit Ghaziabad, DM Ajay Shankar Pandey said, adding that he decided to seal the border on the recommendation of CMO Dr NK Gupta. Moreover, the DM has decided to implement lockdown restrictions strictly in the containment zones and hotspots. On Sunday, 7 persons had tested positive for the virus in the district taking its tally to 232 with 58 active cases and two deaths. As many as 172 COVID-19 patients have been discharged after treatment so far. "In Ghaziabad district, there is an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the last few days. A large chunk of these cases are linked to those who travel between Delhi and Ghaziabad," the administration said in an order on Monday. The sealing orders will be implemented as strictly as they were during lockdown 2, said the sources in the administration. As per the norms, those dealing with essential services would be allowed the passage, said the sources. However, doctors, paramedical staff, police, and bank employees were exempted. They can move by producing their identity cards. Even the Central government employees up to the rank of joint secretary and above would require to show their identity card to be allowed to go to Delhi from Ghaziabad. The same rules are applicable to the lawyers practising in Delhi courts. Vehicles related to banking services and those carrying essential commodities are allowed to cross the border without any pass or questioning, said the sources. Those employed in Delhi should leave Ghaziabad before 9 am by showing their passes till they are issued with passes. Those coming from the Delhi hotspot areas would not be allowed into Ghaziabad. Similarly, the movement of people from Delhi to Ghaziabad hotspot areas would also be restricted. Uttar Pradesh so far has 6,300 cases of which 2606 are active with toll standing at 165 and over 3500 discharged after treatment. The state witnessed a surge after the influx of migrant labourers in lakhs. So far, around 24 lakh migrants have returned to their respective native places in the state from different corners of the country. A war of words has broken out between Union Minister for Railways and Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal and Shiv Sena member of Rajya Sabha Sanjay Raut over an alleged 50% less number of Shramik Special trains being provided daily to ferry stranded migrant workers out of Maharashtra, which has reported the maximum number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive cases in the country. On Sunday, hours after Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said the rail authorities have managed to provide only 50% of the trains required to ferry stranded migrant workers back to their home states, Goyal tweeted that they could arrange 125 trains on conditions that they dont run empty and also sought a list of passengers. Earlier, the CM had said that though he had requested the rail authorities to run 80 Shramik Special trains daily, only 40 are operating. Goyal put out a flurry of tweets in response to Thackerays plea and sought various passenger details such as their boarding stations, medical certificates, etc., over the next hour. Later, he again tweeted that the Maharashtra government has been unable to provide the required information even after one and a half hours. He cited that planning 125 trains would take time and the rail authorities would be unable to accede to the state governments request unless they have full details. Raut sprang to the CMs defence and took on Goyal. Maharashtra government has submitted a list to the rail authorities. There is only one request to Piyush Goyalji that the trains should reach their destinations. The train going to Gorakhpur should not end up in Odisha, Raut said. He took a potshot at Goyal and was referring to last weeks incident where hundreds of migrant labourers travelling to their native Uttar Pradesh were instead taken to Rourkela in Odisha. Later, the rail authorities claimed that it was a planned diversion due to congestion on some routes. On Monday, too, Goyal kept up the heat on the state government. Where is the list for 125 trains from Maharashtra? As of 2am, I received a list of only 46 trains of which five are to West Bengal and Odisha, which cannot operate due to cyclone Amphan. We are notifying only 41 trains for Monday, despite being prepared for 125 !!!, he tweeted. Raut replied to Goyal via a tweet. Piyushji, what list was sought for Nagpur-Udhampur train that left on May 14. Please share what efforts have been made to arrange trains first and then to gather passengers? Now, which list are you seeking? Dont forget that you represent Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Italian police on Sunday corrected a report that a record 400 migrants had landed on a beach in Sicily, saying the number was only around 70, the ANSA news agency reported. A single wooden fishing boat some 10 metres (35 feet) long was found on the beach near the southern Sicilian city of Agrigento, and a coastguard search backed by a helicopter failed to find the much larger vessel they were searching for at sea. Witnesses had earlier told security forces that some 400 migrants had arrived aboard two boats. The mayor of the nearest village spoke to some of the migrants, telling reporters later that some 300 migrants might have arrived, and that they were probably all Tunisians. The migrants had left the beach in small groups, setting off across the island, local press reports said. Some stopped motorists to ask for water or for a ride, according to the Agrigento Notizie daily. It has been years since arrival figures in the hundreds have been seen in a single day in Sicily, with human smugglers increasingly avoiding Italy. Reacting to the initial reports, the anti-immigration League party of Matteo Salvini said: "Italy has become a refugee camp again." Smaller groups, mostly from Libya, are frequent arrivals. Italian authorities said 52 people, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, arrived Sunday aboard a boat no more than 10 metres long on the small island of Linosa near Italy's southernmost island Lampedusa. According to interior ministry figures as of Friday, 4,445 migrants have arrived in Italy since the start of the year. Ever wondered what the best selling phone of all time was? No, its not an iPhone, or a Samsung Galaxy. Its not even a smartphone. According to Wikipedia, the phone thats found its way into more palms and back pockets than any other is the humble Nokia 1100. Yep, not even one of the cool Nokias. In fact, Nokia's handsets make up eight of the top ten best selling phones of all time. (The iPhone 6 and Samsung E1100 being the other two.). Of course, right now (and in the US) the most popular handsets most certainly are made by Apple and Samsung. Theyre all smartphones, and they have a lot more in common with each other than really any of Nokias phones ever did. Phones got boring, samey and very large. Something that in recent years inspired smaller companies to make more niche phones. But when was the last time you saw someone with something like a Nextbit Robin, a Yotaphone or a Fairphone? Despite these alternative companies struggling to find a place to sell their phones (or an audience to buy them) theres a rising trend of individuals picking up the baton. What if you or I wanted to make a phone? Is it even possible? Maybe, but not without many, many challenges. One of the people trying to save us from corporate boredom is French product designer Pierre-Louis Boyer. Technically, Boyer doesnt make phones. Yet. He has, however, released a few products with some modest success. His company 8Bcraft makes retro gaming handhelds which are popular within that scene (I wrote about one of them here). He also started a company that made thermal plastic. Now, hes setting his sights on the gadget we all use the most, and hes hoping to convince people that small is cool again. Pierre-louis Boyer Every time I upgraded my phone I was like, Well, this phone is very big. How can I handle it? So that's actually one reason why I kept my iPhone 4 for a long time. It's because it was small and it was working so I was going to keep it, Boyer told Engadget. Its a sentiment you may have heard before, and one that even pops up at Engadget HQ (some of us are very fond of the original iPhone SE, for example). But take a look at any mobile operators phone selection, and the message is clear: Big phones rule, and Android or iOS are likely your only options. The phone that Boyer plans to make -- working title: OneDevice -- isnt just a small smartphone. Though at about 4-inches tall, it is also that. In fact, its the same height as his beloved iPhone 4, just a little wider. During our interview, he held up his old Apple handset, with a pencil taped to the side, to illustrate the dimensions of the phone he envisions. The OneDevice would come in two models, one of which would sport a Yotaphone-like e-ink display on the back. The main display would be 4.7-inches across -- incidentally the same as this years, taller, iPhone SE -- but with a 16:9 aspect ratio, which Boyer points out is optimized for video viewing. Then theres Alex Davidson, whose Boring phone is an (ironically) interesting take on the smartphone. Unlike other anti-distraction devices that just offer the basics (usually no browser or social media), the Boring phone is a legit smartphone (a modified Xiaomi A1), just with a limited operating system. Or, theres the security and privacy-focused Volla phone from a German company of the same name. Volla (not to be confused with Jolla) is similar to Boring phone in that it uses a customized handset from an existing manufacturer -- Germanys Gigaset -- but totally changes the experience with bespoke software. Both Boring phone and Volla had successful crowdfunding campaigns, with Boring already shipping, while Volla is on track to be in backers hands this fall. Davidson says his Boring phone has two main audiences: People who want fewer distractions, and parents that want a capable, yet internet-free phone for their kids. As he tells it, having a dumb phone is social suicide for many tweens and teens these days, so a somewhat capable handset, just with a stripped back operating system, could keep parents and overwhelmed professionals happy. While the Boring phones Kickstarter goal was modest -- it only needed around 75 backers to hit its target -- Davidson is confident more people are looking for something like this. It's a little bit of a strange one for people to get, he explained, but once people get it, and they sort of say, Yeah, right. So I have all the useful things and I just don't have an option to have anything that's going to waste my time. Volla is the brainchild of Dr. Jorg Wurzer. His vision was to make a phone that balances privacy with a smart, yet simple, operating system. Like the Boring phone, it too is based on a heavily modified version of Android at its core, but has no Google services and a completely rethought user interface (it will run most Android apps if you want). I realized that it's almost impossible to decide on my own with whom I share which data if I use stock Android or iOS. Wurzer told Engadget. Alex Davidson Taking an existing phone and modifying the experience is an obvious route. Making your own handset is fraught with challenges. For one, you need access to reference designs from the chip makers. And according to Boyer, getting those from the market leaders is nigh on impossible as an independent. Plus its costly. For example, the hardware development and software development is around, between 500,000 and one million Euro said Boyer. Even tweaking an existing design requires deep pockets. The minimum order for a phone, for getting one made where they change the chipset at the factory for you, is about 3,000. Which is like $100 a phone for a base model, that's $300,000 upfront according to Davidson. This is even before you consider selling the phone in the US. Boyer is in France, speaking with local operators there. Davidson is in New Zealand, and Wurzer is from Germany. None of them mentioned any plans to sell their phone in America, and theres likely a good reason why. We are focused on Europe because FCC certification costs about $150,000 and this is, for a startup, challenging, Wurzer explained. Then, of course, you need somewhere for people to buy it. Mobile operators have close relationships with the big companies and a limited amount of shelf space in terms of the number of phones they can offer and support at any one given time. I think we will start with online sales channels, then with other commonly known sales channels in Germany: Supermarkets, electric markets and in the end, the operators, Wurzer said. Davidson points out that just getting visibility on crowdfunding platforms can be difficult. We were a little bit disappointed that the algorithms within Kickstarter [...] I guess that they just use an algorithm and whatever is getting the clicks is what gets to the top of the list. Kickstarter, for its part, explains how its Magic filter works here in this blog post. Boyer is exploring crowdfunding as well as traditional investment routes. Hes been speaking with Xavier Niel, a French investor who founded Free, one of the countrys largest carriers. It was Niel who told him that about 15 percent of customers expressed an interest in a smaller phone. But Neil drives a hard bargain and told Boyer that for his phone to be considered for Frees network, it would need to sell for around 200 ($220), which is a very low price for a new company to meet. And its not just how marketable your phone is. There's all of the stuff with the cellular networks between countries, and how they're all just different enough to make that difficult, Davidson added. Having a large network offer your phone to its customers is likely the holy grail for an independent, and while its not easy, its also not impossible. We need to be confident that there will be customer demand for a particular product and that it, therefore, makes commercial sense for us, but the customer is at the heart of our decision making. Magnus McDonald, Director of Product and Category Management at O2 (UK) told Engadget. He admits some brands (Apple and Samsung) make up most of what customers want, but indies arent off the table. We would absolutely consider smaller companies making interesting phones he added. Id encourage any new and emerging brands to contact my Hardware Category Management team on LinkedIn, providing some detail on the product, the marketing strategy, and investment that will enable them to achieve cut-through in the UK handset market. The sad truth is, some of the most interesting phones from the last few years have struggled to gain any traction. Whether thats the curious Yotaphone, Razers gaming phone or even the promising (and relatively thoroughbred) Essential phone. It seems were losing our appetite for (or access to) anything outside of the norm. Of course, thats with regard to the Western market. Chinese manufacturers arent afraid to try out new and bold ideas, but often in a way that doesnt resonate with US buyers either. It turns out, Chinese manufacturers pose something of a challenge for independent phone-makers, too. When I checked Kickstarter for recent projects, quite a few come up, but its not long before you realize that many (if not most) of them are either the same kinds of phone you might find on Wish, likely made by an ODM in Shenzhen or similar. You only have to look at a few Kickstarters, and you'll quite quickly start to realize what's really homegrown and what's kind of pretending to be homegrown, Davidson said. Jorg Wurzer For Wurzer and Volla, using a local manufacturer had other benefits. With Gigaset, because they are able to produce highly customized, small batches through the way they're produced. It's not manufactured by people in Asia, it's a highly automated way to produce them with robots and people and because of that, it's possible to produce high quality and low price and high customization He said. And what you can't underestimate is the legal and the business security you have, if you have a vendor in the same country that is 90 car minutes away. What all three of these projects have in common is the desire to solve a problem. I'm not trying to push a vision, what I'm trying to do is to solve a pain point which is, you have a lot of people, which is 15 percent of the population, which want a small smartphone and there isn't any smartphone available for them, Boyer said. For Davidson, its productivity: I just found that I was just spending more and more time on the phone and not able to control it. And most of the things that I tried to do to stop it, just wouldn't work out. As for Wurzer? It's the usability and privacy for my freedom. Meanwhile, the big companies are trying to create solutions to problems were not sure exist. Take the new wave of foldable phones for example. Samsungs Galaxy Fold didnt exactly make a gracious entrance, but the Galaxy Z Flip has given us a hint at what our bendy future might look like. But that doesnt help much if youre one of Boyers 15 percent or one of the people seeking to get more done, or just wanting to have control over your data. Of course, adding bespoke software to an existing handset isnt exactly the same as the quirky Nokia see what sticks days, but what it does tell us is that whats out there right now, running the same grid-of-apps style software isnt what everybody wants. Both Davidson and Wurzer indicated they would like to get more involved with hardware customization further down the line. With the OneDevice, meanwhile, Boyer is taking that challenge on directly. Whatever the approach, the end goal is ultimately the same, to slowly chip away at the current cadre of companies that dominate the current market. In our independent developers eyes, nothing can change unless action is taken. Or as Wurzer puts it. In five years' time, we want Volla to have developed and serve a third market segment alongside Apple and Google. I deliberately speak of a market segment instead of a market niche. I see a market segment for alternative products to the current duopoly, which will not only enable sustainable economic growth but survival for a single brand. No one expects building your own phone to be as easy as building your own PC, but it also shouldnt be as prohibitively difficult as it currently is. With people like Boyer, Davidson and Wurzer around, though, maybe, just maybe, there is hope that phones from smaller companies with interesting ideas can find a place in the market. But if the challenges our independents have described continue, then we might be waiting a little while longer. "Getting to meet them, and hear their stories, is just something super special. I know from speaking with other people that they enjoyed our presence just as much as we enjoyed theirs, and they inspire us to be better." Cadet Second Lieutenant Alexis Nyce. - Ibrahim Adan was approached by his friend for financial assistance for him to supply medical equipment to Health Ministry - The two agreed Adan would instead supply on his behalf and once the deal is over they would share the profits - Adan was linked up with alleged officials from the Ministry of Health at Afya House where he was given a Local Purchase Order - There was a complication that saw Adan pay KSh 2.3 million bribe for the deal to be sealed after inspectors allegedly realised the equipment were approaching expiry - Once the goods were supplied, Adan tried to follow up for payment and that is when he realised he had been conned A Nairobi businessman is counting losses amounting to KSh 37 million after supplying masks, thermometers and gloves to the Health Ministry in what could be another major scandal similar to the one that involved former CS Rashid Echesa. All was well for Eastleigh businessman Ibrahim Adan until the day he was approached by his friend who had allegedly won a tender to supply the equipment worth KSh 37.5 million. READ ALSO: Coronavirus update: 22 more cases confirmed, Kenya's count races to 1,214 The suspects lured Ibrahim Adan to Afya House offices where they held a meeting in one of the boardrooms being sued by human resource department. Photo: The Star Source: UGC READ ALSO: Makachero warudi nyumbani kwa afisa Kenei, wasema kuna mwanya kwenye uchunguzi His friend informed him he did not have enough money to supply the items and instead sought for financial help for him to deliver in the lucrative deal, Daily Nation reported. The two agreed that Adan would supply the equipment and then they would share the profits. A meeting was organised the next day at Afya House where he met one of the suspects in a boardroom which was apparently being used by the Ministry's human resource department. The businessman was given a fake Local Purchase Order (LPO) by one Mercy Waihiga Wanjiku, aka Linda Masake Mugundu but there was a slight complication with the equipment to be supplied. Adan was informed that inspectors had established that his goods which were at a store in Ngara were approaching expiry, but there was a way out. READ ALSO: There are no permanent friends or enemies in politics - Senator Mwaura advises ousted Kithure Kindiki He was asked for KSh 3 million bribe and only managed to raise KSh 2.3 million which he handed over to the suspects and immediately a lorry and a truck with AP service colours and another alleged to be from Kemsa carried the items away in the escort of rogue police officers. The suspects made away with over 20,000 boxes of hand gloves, 1,000 pieces of non-contact infrared thermometers and 579 boxes of face masks worth KSh 37 million. On following up for payment, Adan was informed he had been dealing with fraudsters and that there were no such employees in the ministry. Interestingly, whenever Adan asked to meet the Ministry of Health officials, he was asked to visit Afya House where he found them waiting and they would quickly whisk him past the security officers at the reception. Health CS Mutahi Kagwe during a apst press conference on coronavirus briefing at Afya House. Photo: Health Ministry Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Archie Williams: Man wrongly convicted for 36 years warms hearts with melodic voice Once in the building, he would be taken to the boardroom to which Wanjiku, who has since been arrested, allegedly had keys. I did not suspect anything because I was never stopped by security officers at Afya House whenever I went for meetings. These people would come down and take me past the guards into the boardroom for meetings, Adan said. Apart from Wanjiku, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had also arrested two other people in connection to the scandal as investigations gathered steam. Wanjiku was arrested by Parklands DCI detectives while two other suspects, George Otieno Otanga and an accomplice were held at the Kilimani Police Station. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested three suspects already. Photo: K24 Source: Twitter READ ALSO: My greatest gift: Mike Sonko, wife celebrate adopted Satrine Osinya on his birthday Detectives established that the con game was based on a fictitious restricted Ministry of Health tender MOH/DPPH/DNMP/001/GF-ONT/2019-2020 dated May 4, 2020, supposedly awarded to Rocketway Construction Ltd. The company was to supply 20,000 non-powdered hand gloves worth KSh 19 million, 1,000 pieces of non-contact infrared thermometers worth KSh 18.5 million and 575 boxes of face masks. Wanjiku who does not work at Afya House and who is accused to have had keys to the boardroom was arrested in the room. Two of her accomplices, however, managed to escape the police trap. She was presented before senior principal magistrate Martha Nanzushi of the Milimani Law Courts on Friday, May 22, and released on KSh 200,000 cash bail. Investigators asked for 14 more days to conclude investigations into the fraudulent scheme. Being sought are two people believed to be Administration Police drivers and another who claimed to be from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa), who used vehicles alleged to be from the two institutions. 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 Plus-sized influencers have been complaining for a while about their posts being flagged on Instagram In 2018, Katana Fatale posted a picture she took of herself in Hawaii. Fatale has been posting and advocating for plus-sized bodies on Instagram since 2014. "It got amazing traction. I felt so beautiful. I remember I was just on the beach and I went to go check it again and I had this alert pop up that it had been removed, she told BuzzFeed News. While Fatale was nude in the photo, she had followed Instagrams community guidelines that ban female nipples, sexual acts, genitals and close-ups of nude butts. As long as your photo does not show any of these things, its good to go. Instagram does allow images of breastfeeding, post-mastectomy scarring and nudity in paintings and sculptures though. Fatale was confused as to why she was being told that further violations would lead to her account being taken away, especially when there were other women posting similar images with no issues whatsoever. However, it is not just Fatale. There have been numerous reports of people like Fatale, other plus-sized influencers, who had their photos and videos flagged and removed from the platform. Famous women arent spared either. Performer Lizzo complained that TikTok was taking down posts of her in a bikini while other thinner women posting similar videos were getting away with it. While there is no hard data that shows that images of plus-sized people get flagged more often than thin people, there have been enough anecdotes of it happening for influencers to see a pattern. "Its just too many. Where theres smoke, theres fire. Theres absolutely something going on where fat people are singled out," said Fatale. Experts told BuzzFeed News that they are possibly right. Content moderation on social media apps is usually a mix of artificial intelligence and human moderators, and both methods have a potential bias against larger bodies, BuzzFeed News points out. Mathieu Lemay, the cofounder of Lemay.ai which is an AI consulting firm, says that the first thing to understand is that AI is far from perfect and, in fact, sort of lazy. "Technology and discrimination goes way back. Anytime you design a new project or a new prototype you have to think about how it is going to break, Lemay said. Companies like Facebook build their own proprietary image and video moderation AI by feeding it millions of images so it can identify patterns and learn what is acceptable and what is not. It learns, for example, to identify pornography, or a nipple, or a bikini. As it scans images uploaded by users, it decides how likely that image is to contain banned content. If it's very sure, it can automatically flag the content. If it's only sort of sure, it can forward that content along to a human to double-check, BuzzFeed News explains. The problem is there are so many gray areas, and the AI can only make its guesses based on what it's been taught. That's where the first potential problem arises. If the AI wasn't fed many images of plus-size women, which is a possibility given the bias against larger bodies in media, that could be the start of a problem. The AI could not know the difference between a smaller, nude body and a plus-size body in a bikini, Lemay pointed out. "If you take two models, one plus-size one not plus-size, there's a chance there are more pixels related to skin," he said. Since the AI doesn't know the context of what it's seeing, this could lead to incorrect categorisation. However, more importantly, these AI systems are built by people and people are biased. Shoog McDaniel is a Florida-based artist who focuses on nude photos of large bodies. Like Fatale, McDaniel knows the rules nipples and genitals are covered, butts are only bare from a distance. Yet, there have been times when their posts being removed has been a weekly occurrence. "This was a trend that I think the community at large has been talking about for a while, which is that when these bots or whatever go in searching for nudity, its a percentage of skin compared to the rest of the body," they told BuzzFeed News. "I think that that is a big part of it, and its a part of the systemic fatphobia that we face and it is completely unacceptable, but what can we do?" McDaniel said. McDaniel said they have never successfully been able to repeal an image takedown. Facebook, which owns Instagram, is tight-lipped on how its moderation process works. We want our policies to be inclusive and reflect all identities, and we are constantly iterating on our policies to see how we can improve. We remove content that violates our policies, and we train artificial intelligence to proactively find potentially violating content," a Facebook spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. "This technology is not trained to remove content based on a persons size, it is trained to look for violating elements such as visible genitalia or text containing hate speech, the spokesperson added. TikTok had a similar message. "TikTok is an inclusive platform built upon the foundation of creative expression and of our users are held to the code of conduct outlined in our Community Guidelines," a spokesperson said. But McDaniel is not convinced. "As it stands right now, more and more are being censored and work that is vital and life-giving is being taken down at a rapid rate," they said. McDaniel also knows the human element of this all too well. Their work is often subject to brigades of body-shaming trolls who report their images. However, platforms like Instagram are certainly aware of this phenomenon and say the number of reports doesn't automatically trigger anything, but not everyone is so sure it doesn't play a part. Kat Lo, a researcher who studies content moderation and online harassment, said reports may play some part in the larger machinery of moderation, but so do people. "Thats what so insidious about technological systems that are so big. Theres so many steps and so many opportunities for even small instances of bias to creep in," Lo said. It's very possible that when an image of a larger person falls before a human moderator, they're more likely to mark it as "obscene" or sexualized than an image of a smaller person, Lo said, explaining that this was due to a bias present in society. "Theres thousands and thousands of little reasons rather than broader reasons like 'I see a nipple,'" she said. Because of all these gray areas, and because of the sheer scale of these moderation databases, actually fixing a potential problem like this would be expensive and time-consuming, and companies have very little motivation to do it, BuzzFeed News writes. Lo pointed out that apps like Instagram or TikTok are under pressure to keep things PG, both to keep themselves available on app stores, but also due to laws like FOSTA-SESTA or the resources it takes to remove terrorism-related content. It's just easier to err on the side of caution. And that can leave people like Fatale in limbo. "It makes me sad that Instagram can afford to totally ignore this issue," she said. "I shouldnt be silenced and erased because you are hypersexualising my body because its bigger. If they think this issue is going to go away, if they think the fat community is going to give up on this issue, theyre in for a long headache, she added. The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has reviewed the curfew in the state and also promised to commence mass testing of the people. The governor had put in place a 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew to curb the spread of COVID-19 but this has now been reviewed to 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. despite increase in the number of recorded cases. According to the chief press secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, the decision was reached at the COVID-19 Task Force meeting presided by Mr Makinde on Sunday. The Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force headed by His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde has approved that the curfew currently in force in the state runs from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The new directive replaces the initial order which pegs the curfew at between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. He also said efforts have been made to provide more beds for the isolation centre in the Oyo capital, Ibadan. Agreement has been struck with the management of a facility in Ibadan to provide bed spaces for a number of positive cases, whose status have been well considered by the experts, his statement read. He also said the government was renovating isolation centres located in Agbami, Jericho, Ibadan, Igbo-Ora, Ogbomoso, Saki and Aawe, near Oyo town. Mr Makinde said the planned community testing, which could not be kickstarted at the weekend owing to the festivities and public holidays would commence by the end of the week. He said training of health workers who will participate in the exercise will also begin soon. Health bosses are facing a fresh care home scandal as it emerged nine residents of a nursing home owned by disgraced Runwood Homes have died with Covid-19. Efforts are under way to appoint a new company to run Clifton Nursing Home in north Belfast after Runwood Homes failed to improve infection control measures first identified last April. It is hoped this will mean residents will not have to move to new accommodation during the pandemic. Care home safety campaigner Julieann McNally said the emerging crisis in the north Belfast home has galvanised calls for an inquiry into the official response to prepare care homes across Northern Ireland for the Covid-19 pandemic. She continued: "Now is the time for Health Minister Robin Swann to finally terminate all contracts with Runwood Homes." Ms McNally also urged him to commission an investigation into company's operations over the years in Northern Ireland. She also hit out at a decision by the Belfast Trust to place a 64-year-old nurse in the home, despite the fact it was battling a deadly Covid-19 outbreak and was not meeting minimum infection control standards. The nurse is currently fighting for her life in hospital after she contracted Covid-19. The daughter of the nurse last night expressed her horror at the latest revelations about the home. "It makes me sick to think that nine residents have died and someone saw fit to let my mum work in there," she said. "I have questions I wanted answered, I have questions for the Health Minister that I want answers to." Read More Meanwhile, solicitor Kevin Winters has also said the situation at Clifton Nursing Home has reinforced the need for an inquiry into care homes. Mr Winters is representing a number of families with loved ones affected by the crisis at Clifton Nursing Home and said one family is distraught as they have been left in limbo over the health of their mother. He also hit out at the fact that care homes have admitted new residents known to have Covid-19, without informing families of existing residents of the heightened risk to their loved ones. "I think this highlights a complete communication failure across the whole system, which breeds suspicion and a lack of trust," he said. "Whilst the news of new ownership of Clifton Nursing Home is welcome, it doesn't really address immediate concerns on the ground. "One family has asked repeatedly for their mother to be tested for Covid-19, but despite purported assurances, nothing has happened. "They have nil confidence and they can't see how things will just change overnight. "For them, the damage is done. Their mother went in there for respite only and in reasonable health. "Since then, they have gone to a funeral home to make arrangements for her passing - that's an extraordinarily depressing turn around in the space of a few weeks." Read More Runwood Homes has been at the centre of a series of high-profile scandals in recent years. In June 2018, the Commissioner for Older People published the findings of his investigation into Dunmurry Manor, now renamed Oak Tree Manor, which contained a devastating series of failings and resulted in a PSNI investigation. Months later a nursing unit at Rose Court in Ballymena shut amid claims of a staff walkout over concerns for the safety of residents. And in 2019, regulators closed another, Ashbrooke Care Home, with immediate effect amid "serious concerns for life". The home was subsequently allowed to reopen under the name Meadow View. A spokeswoman from the Department of Health last night said relocating residents from Clifton Nursing Home was unavoidable and health bosses are working hard to address the situation. Runwood Homes said that 29 of the 89 residents of Clifton Nursing Home were diagnosed with Covid-19. It said the nine residents who died all had pre-existing or underlying health conditions "and we extend our sincerest condolences to those families affected". Twenty other residents have since recovered, the statement said. "The RQIA visit did raise an issue with management oversight at a local level, this was in the latter stages of a very difficult time for the service and the wider sector," it continued. "All staff worked incredibly hard to maintain good standards of care within the service. "At no point, was resident care noted to be anything but of a good standard and the willingness and professionalism of staff is acknowledged." The company said the home has always had a good stock of personal protective equipment, which was distributed by the health service and "is exactly the same as that found in hospital settings and came from the same supply source via Belfast HSC Trust". "We provided a full overstock of supplies at Clifton Nursing Home," a statement added. "To provide details regarding infection control - The total number of residents diagnosed with Covid-19 was 29. We had 89 residents living with us at Clifton Nursing Home. We have three separate units in this service two units had the virus and one remained, and continues to be, completely clear, indicating positive infection control in line with transmission being managed. " Of the 29 residents positive, we have 20 residents who have now recovered from the virus, testament to the care delivery. All residents have been re-swabbed and only two remain under the care of the COVID-19 team and appear to be recovering well." The physiotherapist involved in some of Kerrys most memorable All-Ireland SFC successes is playing a leading global role in assisting patients rehabilitate from coronavirus. Through her Tralee-based company Salaso, Aoife Ni Mhuiri, who worked with Paidi O Se and Jack OConnor for almost 10 years, has developed as part of her software platform physio programmes that recovering Covid-19 patients and their medics can access remotely. Employing 20 people, Salaso has blossomed as it has provided evidence-based physical therapy via its app, which incorporates video technology so that physical rehab sessions can be conducted virtually. However, Covid-19 has increased the demand for the expertise provided by the company. Everybody has been focused on the acute needs of people on ventilators and so on, says Ni Mhuiri, but what people dont understand is if you have been on a ventilator you are going to need rehab possibly for a couple of months and maybe up to even a year. Professor Mick Thacker in London has been invaluable to us in creating our evidence-based strategy and we were speaking to a group in the UK recently who claimed that if everybody that needs rehab post-Covid was to get rehab in the traditional sense that alone would bankrupt the NHS. Theyre actually calling it in the UK the tsunami of rehabilitation needs of patients for the next 12 to 18 months. If you think about who are at most risk of this disease, they are the ones who are most in need of rehabilitation anyway and then add to it the after-effects of the disease. People are going to have significant requirements for rehabilitation and exercise prescription and so on. The one thing about Covid is its not one size fits all; you have to individualise and customise. What our platform effectively does is increase the capacity of individual services. For one physiotherapist, you can reach the information and expertise to a lot more patients. The crisis has opened the medical worlds eyes to how it can operate more efficiently and safely, according to Ni Mhuiri. Covid has changed the mindset not just of the physicians but the patients so people are more open to linking in with your physio over a video call and getting your physio to show you exercises or sending you videos of what you need to do because people dont necessarily want to be going to hospitals or clinics at this point in time, and thats going to continue because were not going to get a vaccine anytime soon. There are many people who will benefit hugely from the increased wifi technology of hospitals and clinics so if you are based in Ballyferriter or the Beara Peninsula you can actually do a video call now with your consultant. Think of the time, effort and money that is going to save many people and the benefit of access to healthcare for people in rural communities. In the NHS now, theyre not talking about a recovery but a reset and taking this opportunity and what theyve learned from keeping people out of hospitals and using those ideas to see how they can set themselves up for the future. If we can take ownership of what we can do to make ourselves better, it will ease the burden on the health system and there is more expertise with the patient themselves. Among the groups working with Salaso are the HSE, the NHS as well as New Yorks No1 healthcare network Northwell Health, which is run by former Limerick hurler Michael Dowling. We put this right across the platform so that any of the Irish or English hospitals using our system could keep their patients out of hospital and continue to deliver services. We actually took the decision at the start of March to make available for free for two months. Connemara native Ni Mhuiri has fond memories of her work with the Kerry seniors especially O Se. I had huge time for him and would have soldiered with him. The thing about Paidi was I had a great working relationship with him and huge respect for him but you couldnt time him. You did not know what he was going to say when the phone rang. It was unpredictable. You learned to live with the unpredictability. He was Kerry to the core. Everything he ever did, any instruction he gave me, it was always for Kerry. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. A detailed analysis report of the Global Toys and Games Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments. The report offers a value chain analysis that gives a comprehensive outlook of the toys and games market. The attractiveness analysis of this market has also been included so as to evaluate the segments that are anticipated to be profitable during the forecast period. Geographically, the toys and games market has been segmented into regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The study details country-level aspects based on each segment and gives estimates in terms of market size. Final Report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. Browse the complete Global Toys And Games Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/8858-toys-and-games-market-report The report also covers the complete competitive landscape of the global Toys And Games market with company profiles of key players such as: Dream International Inc Hasbro, Inc. Integrity Toys, Inc JAKKS Pacific Inc. Kids, Inc KNEX brands, L.P Konami Corporation LeapFrog Enterprices, Inc. SEGMENTATIONS IN REPORT: Toys and Games Market Analysis by Product: Plush Toys Infant/Pre-School Toys Activity Toys Dolls Games & Puzzles Ride-On Video Games Others Toys and Games Market Analysis By Demography: Young Children (Population Aged up to 6) Pre-Teens (Population Aged 7-12) Teenagers (Population Aged 13-19) Adults (Population Aged Over 20) Toys and Games Market Analysis by Type: Electronic Non-Electronic Toys and Games Market Analysis by Geography: North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the World Download Free Sample Report of Global Toys And Games Market @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-8858 The Global Toys And Games Market has been exhibited in detail in the following chapters Chapter 1 Toys And Games Market Preface Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Toys And Games Industry Analysis Chapter 4 Toys And Games Market Value Chain Analysis Chapter 5 Toys And Games Market Analysis By Product Chapter 6 Toys And Games Market Analysis By Demography Chapter 7 Toys And Games Market Analysis By Type Chapter 8 Toys And Games Market Analysis By Geography Chapter 9 Competitive Landscape Of Toys And Games Companies Chapter 10 Company Profiles Of Toys And Games Industry Purchase the complete Global Toys And Games Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-8858 Other Reports by DecisionDatabases.com: Global Console Games Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 Global Serious Games Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 About-Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 9028057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Syria's Health Ministry is reporting 20 new cases of coronavirus in the country, the highest daily count since the new virus was first reported here in late March. Monday's announcement raises to 106 the number of confirmed cases. There have been four deaths. The ministry said all 20 new cases are of Syrians who returned from abroad. They comprise 15 people who came back from Kuwait, three from Sudan, one from Russia and one from the United Arab Emirates. Syria recently began easing restrictions imposed over the past weeks. Earlier in May, President Bashar Assad issued a decree postponing the country's parliamentary elections until July the second such delay in light of restrictions in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The APL England, a ship with the capacity to carry over 5,000 shipping containers, lost 40 containers in rough seas off the east coast of Australia on Monday, May 25, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. An additional 74 containers are damaged and collapsed on the deck of the ship, while a further six containers are reported to be protruding from starboard side and three containers from the port side of the ship, said the authority in a Facebook post. The Singapore-flagged vessel was travelling from China and was en route to Melbourne. It returned to dock at the Port of Brisbane following the incident. Credit: Australian Maritime Safety Authority via Storyful Called 'Tianwen', the Chinese mission will put a probe into orbit around Mars and land a rover to explore and analyse the planet's surface China is targeting a July launch for its ambitious plans for a Mars mission which will include landing a remote-controlled robot on the surface of the red planet, the company in charge of the project has said. Beijing has invested billions of dollars in its space programme in an effort to catch up with its rival the United States and affirm its status as a major world power. The Mars mission is among a number of new space projects China is pursuing, including putting Chinese astronauts on the moon and having a space station by 2022. Beijing had been planning the Mars mission for sometime this year, but China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has confirmed it could come as early as July. "This big project is progressing as planned and we are targeting a launch in July," CASC said in a statement issued on Sunday. CASC is the main contractor for China's space programme. Called "Tianwen", the Chinese mission will put a probe into orbit around Mars and land the robotic rover to explore and analyse the surface. It will take several months to cover the roughly 55 million kilometres (31 million miles) distance between Earth and Mars, which is ever-changing due to their planetary orbits. China has already carried out a similar mission to the Moon, and in January 2019 landed a small rover on the dark side of the lunar surface, becoming the first nation to do so. Graphic on current active satellites and rovers on and around planet Mars The US, which has already sent four exploratory vehicles to Mars, intends to launch a fifth this summer. It should arrive around February 2021. The United Arab Emirates plans to launch the first Arab probe to the Red Planet on July 15 from Japan. 2020 AFP A mother has shared how to clean a microwave in just minutes, removing dirt, grime and baked-on food. Posting on Tik Tok, the Australian woman who goes by Mama Mila said all you need is one cup of water and one teaspoon of washing detergent. Then mix them together inside a jug and put it inside the microwave for four minutes. Scroll down for video A mother has shared her simple trick to clean her microwave from dirt, grime and old food - and it will only take you four minutes (her trick pictured) Posting on Tik Tok , the Australian woman who goes by Mama Mila said all you need is one cup of water and one teaspoon of washing detergent (pictured) Once you take the jug out of your microwave, you should simply wipe down the inside and door with a clean cloth. 'No more scrubbing,' Mila captioned her video. 'Gently wipe the microwave and watch the grime slide off. The steam environment softens all the stubborn, baked-on food and makes it very easy to clean.' Then, simply mix them together inside a jug and put the jug inside the microwave for four minutes (pictured) The clip was a huge hit online, with more than 22,000 views and scores of comments from other impressed homeowners. 'Wow, thank you,' one woman posted - while others said this trick helps to make their microwave 'spotlessly clean'. This isn't the first handy hints video Mila has shared either, with others on the subjects of cleaning the oven and also making your bed 'smell like a dream' for the best night's sleep. Mila explained that the steam environment softens all the stubborn, baked-on food and makes it easy to clean; the video was a huge hit with others online (pictured) To get the best night's sleep, Mila recommends you strip the bed and vacuum the mattress, before you mix baking soda with essential oil and sprinkle over the mattress before leaving for several hours. 'Wash the linen and sheets and don't forget to wash your actual pillows and doonas every three to six months,' she wrote. Then, vacuum up the baking soda mixture, put back on your bedding, and finish with a linen spray to add a hotel-style finish. The woman said you can also brighten your sheets with baking soda, which is a fantastic product for softening and brightening without leaving any residue. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Julie Jammot (Agence France-Presse) San Francisco, United States Mon, May 25, 2020 08:03 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9e86c7 2 Science & Tech Silicon-Valley,united-states,technology,audio-call,audio-chat,startup,Clubhouse Free It's a secret, almost. But Silicon Valley is buzzing over a new audio-chat social network which is struggling to keep people out even as it hits an eye-popping value. The invitation-only platform called Clubhouse lets people drop in on conversations ranging from weighty topics such as artificial intelligence to light-hearted trivia contests. Silicon Valley venture capital colossus Andreessen Horowitz reportedly invested $12 million in Clubhouse at a valuation of $100 million, edging out rivals eager to get into the hot startup. Clubhouse has won devotees even though it remains in a "beta" test mode and only has some 1,500 users as it tunes its platform for the masses. The service has struck a chord with people longing for a return to the time when people could casually engage new acquaintances in banter or discussion. The startup has been helped by some celebrities such as actor Kevin Hart popping in to conversations which have been growing during the pandemic as people turn increasingly to social media. "With social distancing, we're all so craving being out and meeting people that, for people who miss that, it's like a godsend," said Nathan Baschez, a business strategy specialist who accepted a Clubhouse invitation two months ago when there was just a single virtual room. Clubhouse founders Paul Davison and Rohan Seth have been noticeably out of the media spotlight as they seek a niche for the new social platform, which has no website or media team. Andreessen Horowitz has not commented publicly. Read also: Staying safe, and sane, as Silicon Valley locks down for virus 'Dinner Party' Sheel Mohnot, a Silicon Valley investor who joined Clubhouse about six weeks ago, said he came out a cash winner in a trivia game being played in one room, and was the topic of a "discussion party" about a dating contest in which he was a participant. This handout photo taken on May 23, 2020 shows Sheel Mohnot, a fintech investor based in San Francisco, listening to a conversation on Clubhouse, an invitation-only app that has been the talk of the Silicon Valley for a few weeks. Clubhouse has won devotees even though it remains in a 'beta' test mode and only has some 1,500 users as it tunes its platform for the masses. (Handout/AFP/File) "It really feels like a great dinner party," Mohnot said. "It's a product I am really enjoying, at the expense of Netflix." Mohnot conceded that Clubhouse is benefitting from users having more time available due to the pandemic keeping them at home. He estimated he spends about 15 hours weekly on the service. "Normally, I have dinner plans several times a week and can't spend all that time talking with strangers on the internet," Mohnot said. Clubhouse joins other startups vying for consumer attention as Facebook, Google, and Microsoft ramp up online meetings and collaboration offerings. But in the case of Clubhouse it's not looking for the popular Silicon Valley term "eyeballs", since it frees users from needing to be in front of screens. Read also: Facebook unveils scam warnings for Messenger users Elitist or cautious? Some who haven't been admitted to the Clubhouse, and even some who have been invited, have called the platform elitist. But users interviewed by AFP countered that Clubhouse is limiting users while it tunes the freshly launched service to handle the load. If Clubhouse crashes after opening to the world, people might leave and not return. "The reason it is locked down is not because they want to create a velvet-rope, VIP type atmosphere," said Baschez. "The founders don't think like that. It does build the buzz, but I genuinely believe they don't like the buzz." One room calling itself "Back of the Bus" underscores the notion that Clubhouse is more about conviviality than celebrities or events. "Back of the Bus", favored by Mohnot among others, is a riotous, unrestrained chat where moderators make sure everyone has the chance to talk about anything -- other than tech. When it opens to all, Clubhouse will likely face challenges including maintaining a sense of community; preventing abusive behavior, and dealing with misleading content. It will also need to find a way to make money without tainting the experience. "I think with the funding and celebrity relationship they have built, they won't die any time soon," said Bobby Thakkar, a tech industry product manager who confided that he spends 25 hours or more at Clubhouse weekly. - The Call Center Has Generated 268 New Customers with Over $5 Million in Sales Being Booked Since April 1st - SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AMMO, Inc. (OTCQB: POWW) (AMMO or the Company), a premier American ammunition and munition components manufacturer and technology leader, is providing an update on the recently established call centers strong performance since opening at the beginning of April 2020. AMMOs call center began operations on April 1st with 11 full-time inside sales reps being led by a proven sales leader and industry veteran, Matt Nicholson. Since the creation of the center, the Company is pleased to report that it has generated 268 new customers from the call centers efforts in less than two months, which equates to over $5 million in sales being booked. The new customers represent more than 500 retail stores and a significant ecommerce presence from notable brands, including Rural King, Bi-Mart, Cascade Farm and Outdoor, Shoot Point Blank, and many other regional chains. Establishing a dedicated sales call center in our headquarters was an important milestone for AMMO, and it has already significantly exceeded expectations less than two months since opening, said Fred Wagenhals, AMMOs CEO. Matt Nicholson and his dedicated team have been doing an excellent job driving our expansion into smaller, regional chains and further assisting our larger customers as they respond to the recent influx of demand. We expect this success to continue going forward as we have not seen any signs of demand subsiding anytime soon, and we look forward to introducing our unique products to a broader customer base. About AMMO, Inc. AMMO was founded in 2016 with a vision to change, innovate and invigorate the complacent munitions industry. The Company designs and manufactures products for a variety of markets, including law enforcement, military, hunting, sport shooting and self-defense. AMMO promotes branded munitions, including its patented STREAK Visual Ammunition, /stelTH/ subsonic munitions, O.W.L. Technologies, and Night OPS (One Precise Shot) a lead-free frangible tactical line of munitions for self-defense. The Companys corporate offices are headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Manufacturing operations are based in both northern Arizona and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. For more information please visit: www.ammoinc.com . Forward Looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including, but not limited to, any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies, goals and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning proposed new products and services or developments thereof; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward looking statements may include the words may, could, estimate, intend, continue, believe, expect or anticipate or other similar words, or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements present our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this report. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made. We do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the dates they are made. You should, however, consult further disclosures and risk factors we include in Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Reports filed on Form 8-K. In our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, references to AMMO, Inc., AMMO, the Company, we, us, our and similar terms refer to AMMO, Inc. and its wholly owned operating subsidiaries The Enlight Group (d/b/a Jagemann Munition Components), SNI, LLC and Ammo Technologies, Inc. Many children, of course, place their teeth under their pillows hoping the fairy will replace it with money while they sleep. But just last semester, an insightful undergraduate student at Indiana University shared an interesting variation with me. The student reported that she placed her lost teeth in a cup of water and left it on the kitchen counter. Over the span of a few days, the tooth fairy would fill the cup with a few coins each night until the tooth finally disappeared. Only then could she retrieve her money. New Delhi, May 25 : Restaurant chain Sagar Ratna has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against a man who allegedly spread a rumour that around 40 delivery boys of the food chain have tested positive for Covid-19. Sagar Ratna has filed a complaint with the Defence Colony police station, though no FIR has been registered so far. "We have asked the food chain for some screenshot to verify the allegation following which further action will be taken," a police officer told IANS over phone. The south Indian food chain alleged that the person was spreading rumour for publicity to gain attention. Speaking to IANS, Jayaram Banan, Chairman, Sagar Ratna Group, said, "I think this person is trying to demand something from us by spreading fake news and rumour. Even the President of the Defence Colony RWA and the market association has denied the allegations." Banan also stressed that the food chain has been in the business for more than 40 years and it is committed to keep its employees safe and sound. The President of the Defence Colony RWA, Major (retd) Ranjeet Singh, said, "After these rumours, we collectively decided to file a complaint with the police as we can't allow people to defame our colony, markets and such big food chains without facts." Sagar Ratna opened its first branch in Defence Colony in 1986. At present, the food chain has more than 90 restaurants in Delhi-NCR. A spat was brewing Monday between Germany's federal government and state governors over plans by some regional leaders to end pandemic-related restrictions despite fresh clusters of cases across the country. The country has seen a steady decline in the overall number of COVID-19 cases thanks to measures imposed 10 weeks ago to limit personal contacts. But as restrictions have slowly been lifted there have also been case spikes across Germany linked to slaughterhouses, restaurants, religious services, nursing homes and refugee shelters. Current general coronavirus rules are due to expire on June 5, and on the weekend, the governor of the state of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, said he hopes to lift the remaining statewide lockdown rules on June 6 and tackle outbreaks locally. In Germany, state governments are responsible for imposing and lifting lockdown restrictions. All 16 states currently have coronavirus rules, including physical distancing requirements and an obligation to wear masks on public transport and shops, and Thuringia's new approach would raise pressure on other states to ease their lockdowns further. Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told reporters a planned meeting of Merkel's special Corona Cabinet had been called off Monday because there wasn't agreement on the issues yet. He denied reports the cancellation was linked to the Thuringia proposal. Seibert said Merkel wants to continue bravely, and carefully with easing restrictions, noting outbreaks after a Baptist service in Frankfurt and at a restaurant in the country's northwest as examples of what can happen if rules aren't followed. Following Ramelow's announcement, the neighbouring state of Saxony said Monday that it, too, is aiming for a paradigm change on pandemic rules from June 6 if infections remain low. Federal and state officials agreed earlier this month that restrictions would be re-imposed if there are more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in a city or county within a week. As it stands, Germany's public health agency, the Robert Koch Institute, said Monday that several states reported no new cases overnight, and that the overall total grew by only 289. The seven-day reproduction factor, defined as the mean number of people infected by an infected person, remained under 1 at 0.93, indicating a contraction of new cases. Health Minister Jens Spahn cautioned, however, against giving the impression that the pandemic is over. Spahn told tabloid paper Bild that on the one hand we are seeing whole regions where there are no new reported infections for days. And on the other hand local and regional outbreaks in which the virus is spreading quickly again and immediate intervention is required. Germany has reported more than 180,000 cases of the coronavirus and nearly 8,300 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, May 25 : In an urgent notice, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi has informed its citizens residing in India that special flights would be available to fly them back home. The Chinese plans to evacuate its citizens catches attention amid growing border tensions between India and China besides rising cases of Covid-19 in parts of western and northern India. The notice says that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made elaborate plans specially for students and tourists who have been facing difficulty in taking flights to China. The notice, published in Mandarin on the embassy's website on May 25, suggests several health precautions for the passengers flying home, while also stressing those who opt to return home will have to pay the fare, to be determined by airlines according to business model, and isolation fees. It also says those returning will have deemed to have consented to bear any risks while returning and accepting various quarantine and epidemic prevention arrangements during the flight and after entry by purchasing the tickets. The embassy will register the passengers till May 27. The order said that in order to ensure public health and safety, diagnosed or suspected cases, those who have fever and cough symptoms within the past 14 days, and those who are in close contact with Covid positive people should not book and take flights. If the body temperature exceeds 37.3 degrees (inclusive) or there are suspected symptoms before boarding, the airline will refuse boarding, the notice says. As per the notice, strict quarantine inspection will be carried out at the port of entry. If a passenger conceals his illness and contact history or it is found that he has taken antipyretics and other inhibitory drugs during the quarantine inspection, he will be held liable for the crime of endangering public safety. Chinese citizens working in different Chinese companies in India would require a clearance certificate from the parent company to leave India. Sources said that though Chinese Embassy has suggested that flights back home have nothing to do with escalating border tension, it is being said that notice was published on the website after taking stock of the recent development on Indian borders. Moreover, the recent spike in corona cases in India has also compelled the Chinese government to arrange urgent flights from New Delhi to Beijing in a bid to evacuate its citizens. The embassy notice also reminds the applicants of furnishing certain formalities at the airport once they reach China. "The passenger must agree to accept the Chinese Customs' sampling of nucleic acid and blood tests. The minor's domestic guardian must agree to the Chinese Customs to conduct nucleic acid testing and blood testing for its guardian, as well as cooperate with the guardian's isolation for medical observation in accordance with the relevant requirements of the local government," says the notice. FRANKFORT The Frankfort City Council has decided to cancel events for the Fourth of July. The decision was made at a May 19 council meeting. Canceled events include the parade, carnival and fireworks. The city is still looking into whether or not to hold some smaller events. "We all agreed to it because we couldn't find a way to host the events while keeping people safe from the virus," said Liz Thielman-Dobrzynski, mayor of Frankfort. "It is hectic and busy and we couldn't figure out a way to social distance and have the events safe without jeopardizing people's health." Dobrzybski said the council talked with the Frankfort-Elberta Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Foundation about canceling the Fourth of July events, and that the foundation agreed it was for the best. "It would not be safe to have them because of the areas around us are not hosting Fourth of July activities, and if we were to have them, all of those people would be coming here, which would increase the number of people that we normally would have," said JoAnne Holwerda, a member of the Frankfort City Council. "There is no way would people keep a safe distance." The Village of Beulah has yet to make any announcements regarding the Fourth of July activities. As the country reopens, employers are looking into how to safely bring back their workers. One recurring question: Should they be tested for the new coronavirus? Some businesses are moving ahead. In Indianapolis, family-owned Shapiro's Delicatessen tested about 25 employees in its parking lot this month. Amazon plans to spend as much as $1 billion this year to regularly test its workforce while laying the groundwork to build its own lab near the Cincinnati airport. Las Vegas casinos are testing thousands of employees as they prepare to return to work, collecting nasal samples in convention halls. And MLB, eager to begin its season, is proposing a detailed regimen that involves testing players and critical staff members multiple times a week. While public health experts and government officials have emphasized that widespread testing will be critical to reopening, there is little clear guidance from state and federal agencies on the role employers should play in detecting and tracking COVID-19. As a result, businesses are largely on their own in sorting out whether to test and how to do it to reassure employees and customers. For now, many companies are just waiting. "It is a really hard conversation because people want absolutes: 'If I do this, will it guarantee I'll have a safe workplace?' None of the testing is going to provide that right now," said John Constantine, chief executive of ARCPoint Franchise Group, a nationwide lab network offering virus testing to employers. He added that if done smartly, testing could reduce health risks. "Even if it's not perfect, some testing is better than no testing." Despite rapid advancements in testing, there are still limitations. Diagnostic tests, for example, only detect infections during a certain period. And while blood tests administered after an infection can find antibodies that might offer some immunity, they should not be used alone to make decisions about when people can return to work, the Association of Public Health Laboratories and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists warned this month. Some companies have been sensitive about announcing such plans because of the shortages that left many patients and health care workers unable to be tested in hard-hit areas. While capacity has dramatically increased in recent weeks, it is unclear whether labs can keep up with demand if employers nationwide repeatedly test workers. Some public health officials say broad-based testing might have unintended consequences. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "We don't want people to get a false sense of security," said Karen Landers, a district medical officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health, which is not recommending employers test all workers as they come back. "You might have a negative now and later be exposed." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not offered guidelines on the issue, although it released checklists to help various industries decide when to reopen. A checklist for workplaces asks if monitoring is in place, noting that businesses should implement procedures to check employees daily. Many employers have adopted protective measures like checking temperatures, disinfecting surfaces after every shift, requiring masks and social distancing. For employers trying to decide whether to test staff, their decisions may depend on how much contact workers have with one another and how prevalent the virus is in the surrounding community. Photo-messaging app Snapchat has seen significant growth in India business, and its daily active user base (DAU) in the country has jumped 120 per cent year-on-year in March 2020, a senior company executive said. Snap Inc Managing Director (International Markets) Nana Murugesan said the company has been expanding its team in India, which is focussing on developing culturally relevant products, community engagement, and partnerships. "We have seen significant user growth in India with a 120 per cent increase of our daily active users, comparing March last year to March this year. We have added new functions to the India team in our Mumbai office, with our first employees hired in the strategy and partnership team, sales and creative strategy team, as well as currently recruiting for our content team," he said. Snap is the parent company of Snapchat. The app allows users to share photos with friends for a specific time period after which the content disappears. It offers filters and lenses, many of which are augmented reality-enabled. More than an average of 4 billion Snaps were created by its users each day in March 2020 quarter. It had 229 million daily active users at the end of March 2020 quarter, an increase of 39 million or 20 per cent year-over-year. The company doesn't disclose country-specific user base. "Our team in India continues to focus on culturally relevant product developments, creative tools, community engagement, and partnerships. Over the past six months, we have launched support in five more languages, introduced creative tools to celebrate cultural moments and festivals, onboarded celebrities such as Taapsee Pannu as a Snap Star, added more Official Lens Creators and partnered with local media brands, advertisers, OEMs and Telcos," Murugesan said. Across all its initiatives, augmented reality remains a fundamental way it engages its users in India, he added. "We're especially excited to be hosting our first Lensathon in partnership with Skillenza to reach over five lakh developers developers in India. We see this as a big step forward in democratising creativity, building the future of AR alongside our community and making available even more compelling, relevant experiences for Snapchatters," he noted. Lensathon is an online hackathon by Snapchat in partnership with Skillenza, where participants create eye-catching lenses and AR experiences using Lens Studio by Snap. They will stand a chance to be a part of the Official Lens Creator programme along with other cash prizes, Snap Spectacles etc. Last year, the company hosted 11 Lens Studio workshops in colleges and universities in India. In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, these sessions are being hosted virtually with the Pearl Academy, ISDI, Symbiosis Pune, Thapar Institute of Technology, Manipal Institute of Technology, SRM Institute, and Deviprasad Goenka Management College Of Media Studies. HALIFAX - As police continue their investigation into a mass killing that claimed 22 lives last month in rural Nova Scotia, newly released documents reveal the RCMP recently seized and searched the killer's computer, cellphone, tablet and navigation devices. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A fire-destroyed property registered to Gabriel Wortman at 200 Portapique Beach Road is seen in Portapique, N.S. on Friday, May 8, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX - As police continue their investigation into a mass killing that claimed 22 lives last month in rural Nova Scotia, newly released documents reveal the RCMP recently seized and searched the killer's computer, cellphone, tablet and navigation devices. The search warrants, unsealed by a judge on Monday, do not provide details about what police found because their investigation has yet to be completed. As a result, the documents are heavily redacted. The warrants say police were looking for firearms, ammunition, explosives, chemicals, surveillance systems, computers, electronic devices, police-related clothing, human remains and "documents related to planning mass murder events" and the acquisition of weapons. Each of the warrants is accompanied by a grim recounting of the events that started on the night of April 18, when 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman allegedly assaulted his common-law spouse at one of his seasonal homes in the village of Portapique, N.S. Armed with several semi-automatic weapons, he set fire to properties and killed 13 people in Portapiqe before he left the area, disguised as a Mountie and driving a vehicle that looked exactly like an RCMP cruiser. He killed another nine people the following day in several other communities in northern and central Nova Scotia before an RCMP officer fatally shot him at a gas station in Enfield, N.S., about 90 kilometres south of Portapique. The suspect remained at large for 13 hours. "Gabriel Wortman showed a complete disregard for human life as he shot at people sitting in their cars, people walking along the side of the road, and at people in their private homes," says a document prepared by RCMP Sgt. Angela Hawryluk. Investigators have said little when asked what may have motivated the killer. The RCMP documents say police seized a Samsung cellphone, Toshiba laptop, Acer tablet, a data-storage card and a Garmin global positioning device from the gunman's denture clinic in Dartmouth, N.S., on April 20, the day after he was killed by police. As well, the warrants and other documents say police have obtained data from the infotainment systems inside two vehicles seized from the same property: a 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor and a 2015 C-300 Mercedes-Benz. Police say these systems can store synchronized cellphone data regarding navigation, texting, phone calls and internet-enabled content including traffic conditions and weather. Meanwhile, the RCMP have filed a so-called production order with telecommunications provider Telus Communications Inc., based in Scarborough, Ont. The order says the Mounties are seeking documents and data from Telus Mobility, but the specific requests have been redacted. Investigators obtained warrants to search at least four other properties owned by the killer, two of them in Portapique. Police confirmed that nothing was seized from 287 Portapique Beach Road, which was destroyed by fire. At another burned property, 136 Orchard Beach Drive, police found something they described as "rounds," but the description on either side of that word has been blacked out. At 200 Portapique Beach Road, Wortman's main seasonal residence, police found an ammunition box with a burnt $100 bill, a black plastic bag, a burnt receipt box and burnt pieces of a rifle. Police were also granted permission to search a second denture clinic at 3542 Novalea Drive in Halifax, where they hoped to find another computer. But the search turned up nothing. The documents released Monday were unsealed after a media consortium, including The Canadian Press, went to court. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Last week, the court released other documents that revealed statements from witnesses who described Wortman as an abusive "sociopath" who had suffered a mental breakdown and was stockpiling guns while displaying paranoid behaviour because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One witness said Wortman "had been disturbed and that he was severely abused as a young boy," adding he was "very smart, cheated and was a psychopath." Another witness said Wortman had described ways to get rid of bodies using chemicals. The document confirmed Wortman had purchased used police cars at auctions and had obtained decals to make one vehicle, another Ford Taurus, look exactly like an RCMP cruiser. In the reasons given for seeking search warrants, Hawryluk describes how the first two officers to arrive in Portapique on the night of April 18 encountered a wounded witness who told them he'd been fired upon by a man in uniform driving what they thought was an RCMP vehicle. The witness told police his "first suspicion was that (the gunman) was Gabe (Wortman) because his barn was on fire and he had a look-a-like Taurus that he was calling a police car." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy, subscribe for or otherwise acquire any new ordinary shares of Mainstay Medical International plc in any jurisdiction Terms used and not otherwise defined in this announcement have the meaning given to such terms in the circular published by Mainstay Medical International plc on 14 April 2020 Regulatory News: On 7 April 2020, Mainstay Medical International plc (the "Company" or "Mainstay") announced that it intended to establish a new Irish holding company for the Mainstay group (the "Mainstay Group"), Mainstay Medical Holdings plc ("Mainstay Holdings") and to delist Mainstay's ordinary shares from Euronext Paris and the Euronext Growth market operated by Euronext Dublin (the "Delisting"). It is intended that this new corporate structure will be a corporate reorganization implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement under Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Companies Act 2014 (the "Scheme" Mainstay today applied to the High Court of Ireland (the "Court") to set a date for the Court hearing, at which the Court will be asked to approve the terms of the Scheme. The hearing will take place in the High Court, sitting at the Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7, Ireland at 11.00 a.m. on 4 June 2020. Further information in relation to the hearing, including with respect to the steps to be taken by any person intending to appear at the hearing, will be available on the Company's website at http://www.mainstay-medical.com/en/investors/governance. About Mainstay Mainstay is a medical device company focused on commercializing an innovative implantable restorative neurostimulation system, ReActiv8, for people with disabling Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP). The Company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. It has subsidiaries operating in Ireland, the United States, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands, and is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (MSTY.PA) and Euronext Growth operated by Euronext Dublin (MSTY.IE). About Chronic Low Back Pain One of the root causes of CLBP is impaired control by the nervous system of the muscles that dynamically stabilize the spine. ReActiv8 is designed to electrically stimulate the nerves responsible for contracting these muscles to improve dynamic spine stability, allowing the body to recover from CLBP. People with CLBP usually have a greatly reduced quality of life and score significantly higher on scales for pain, disability, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Their pain and disability can persist despite the best available medical treatments, and only a small percentage of cases result from an identified pathological condition or anatomical defect that may be correctable with spine surgery. Their ability to work or be productive is seriously affected by the condition and the resulting days lost from work, disability benefits and health resource utilization put a significant burden on individuals, families, communities, industry and governments. Further information can be found at www.mainstay-medical.com. CAUTION in the United States, ReActiv8 is limited by federal law to investigational use only. Forward looking statements This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements. These forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "should," "will," or "explore" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear throughout this announcement and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the establishment of a new holding company of the Mainstay Group and the delisting of the Company's ordinary shares from Euronext Paris and the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Dublin. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and the actual results of the Company's operations, the development of its main product, and the markets and the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from those described in, or suggested by, the forward looking statements contained in this announcement. In addition, even if the Company's results of operations, financial position and growth, and the development of its main product and the markets and the industry in which the Company operates are consistent with the forward looking statements contained in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. A number of factors could cause results and developments of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements, including, without limitation, shareholder approval of the scheme of arrangement, the outcome of the Company's interactions with the FDA on a PMA application for ReActiv8 and the successful launch and commercialization of ReActiv8. As a result, investors should not rely on such forward-looking statements in making their investment decisions. No representation or warranty is made as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on, such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements herein speak only at the date of this announcement. None of Mainstay, the Mainstay Board, Mainstay Holdings or the Mainstay Holdings Board assume any obligation to update or correct the information contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required. Nothing contained in this announcement shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of the Mainstay Group except where expressly stated. Important Notices The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness. The contents of this announcement are not to be construed as legal, financial or tax advice. Each prospective investor should consult his own legal adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial or tax advice, respectively. Disclaimers This announcement and the information it contains does not constitute and shall not be considered as constituting a public offer, an offer to subscribe or an intention to solicit the interest of the public for a public offering of Mainstay's securities in Ireland, France, the United Kingdom, the United States or any other jurisdiction. This announcement does not comprise a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent document. With respect to Member States of the European Economic Area, no action has been taken or will be taken to permit a public offering of the securities referred to in this announcement which would require the publication of a prospectus in any Member State. There will be no offer to the public of Mainstay Holdings Shares in any Member State of the European Economic Area and no prospectus or other offering document has been or will be prepared in connection with the issue of Mainstay Holdings Shares. J&E Davy, trading as Davy, which is authorised and regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland, is acting exclusively for the Company and Mainstay Holdings and no one else in connection with the Reorganization and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company and Mainstay Holdings for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing any advice in relation to the Reorganization or any matter referred to herein. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement and the documents referred to herein in jurisdictions other than Ireland, France and the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession any of this announcement and the documents referred to herein come should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable restrictions or requirements. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Mainstay and Mainstay Holdings disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such requirements by any person. Notice to investors in the United States The Reorganization relates to the shares of an Irish company (a "foreign private issuer" as defined under Rule 3b-4 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")) and is proposed to be made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under, and governed by, Irish law (the "Scheme"). Neither the proxy solicitation rules nor the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act will apply to the Scheme. Accordingly, the Mainstay Holdings Shares to be issued pursuant to the Scheme have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") or under the relevant securities laws of any State or territory or other jurisdiction of the United States, and are expected to be offered in the United States in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by section 3(a)(10) thereof and exemptions provided under the laws of the States of the United States in which eligible Scheme Shareholders may reside. For the purpose of qualifying for the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by section 3(a)(10) thereof with respect to the Mainstay Holdings Shares issued pursuant to the Scheme, Mainstay will advise the Court that its sanctioning of the Scheme will be relied upon by Mainstay Holdings as an approval of the Scheme, following a hearing on its fairness to Scheme Shareholders at which hearing all Scheme Shareholders are entitled to attend in person or through counsel to support or oppose the sanctioning of the Scheme and with respect to which notification has been given to all such Scheme Shareholders. The Mainstay Holdings Shares to be issued under or in connection with the Scheme to a Scheme Shareholder who is neither an affiliate, for the purpose of the Securities Act, of Mainstay or Mainstay Holdings on or prior to the time the Scheme becomes effective nor an affiliate of Mainstay Holdings at the time the Scheme becomes effective (the "Scheme Effective Time") would not be "restricted securities" under the Securities Act. Scheme Shareholders who are affiliates of Mainstay or Mainstay Holdings on or prior to the Scheme Effective Time or affiliates of Mainstay Holdings after the Scheme Effective Time may, under Rule 145(d) under the Securities Act, be subject to timing, manner of sale and volume restrictions on the sale of Mainstay Holdings Shares received in connection with the Scheme. For the purpose of the Securities Act, an affiliate of either Mainstay or Mainstay Holdings is any person who directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with Mainstay or Mainstay Holdings respectively. Whether a person is an affiliate of either Mainstay or Mainstay Holdings for the purpose of the Securities Act depends on the circumstances. Persons who believe that they may be affiliates of either Mainstay or, after the Scheme Effective Time, Mainstay Holdings should consult their own legal advisers prior to any sale of the Mainstay Holdings Shares received upon the implementation of the Scheme. The Scheme is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in Ireland to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the disclosure and other requirements of U.S. securities laws. Mainstay and Mainstay Holdings are both incorporated under the laws of Ireland. Some or all of the officers and directors of Mainstay and Mainstay Holdings may be residents of countries other than the United States. It may not be possible to sue Mainstay and Mainstay Holdings in a non-U.S. court for violations of U.S. securities laws. It may be difficult to compel Mainstay, Mainstay Holdings and their respective affiliates to subject themselves to the jurisdiction and judgment of a U.S. court. It may not be possible to enforce in Ireland a judgment of a U.S. court in respect of violations of U.S. securities law. None of the securities referred to in this announcement have been approved or disapproved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other U.S. regulatory authority, nor have such authorities passed upon or determined the adequacy or accuracy of the information contained in this announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005237/en/ Contacts: PR and IR Enquiries: LifeSci Advisors, LLC Brian Ritchie Tel: 1 (212) 915-2578 Email: britchie@lifesciadvisors.com FTI Consulting (for Ireland) Jonathan Neilan or Patrick Berkery Tel.: +353 1 765 0886 Email: mainstay@fticonsulting.com Euronext Advisers: Davy Fergal Meegan or Barry Murphy Tel: +353 1 679 6363 Email: fergal.meegan@davy.ie or barry.murphy2@davy.ie Meghan Markle was 'convinced there was a conspiracy theory' and courtiers were working 'against her' once she joined The Firm, according to a royal expert. The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, stepped back from royal duty in March and moved to actor Tyler Perry's $18 million Hollywood home with their son Archie, one, last month having stepped back from royal duty in March. But one of her friends has now revealed how the Duchess 'felt like an outsider from the start' of her time in The Firm. Speaking to royal editor Katie Nicholl for The Times, the source explained: 'She was convinced there was a conspiracy against her and so she basically put herself in isolation when they moved to Frogmore.' Meghan Markle, 38, became convinced 'there was a conspiracy theory against her' within the royal family, a royal insider has told reporter Katie Nicholl (pictured, with her assistant Amy Pickerill in October 2018) The insider revealed how Meghan became 'convinced there was a conspiracy against her' and that courtiers within The Firm were 'working against her (pictured, with her aide Samantha Cohen in 2018) They went on: 'I think she felt like an outsider from the start. This wasnt the life she was used to and she wanted out.' Another insider explained how the Duchess had struggled after giving birth to Archie, feeling 'lonely' in Windsor and 'unfulfilled' by royal duty. Katie detailed how friends worried Meghan was 'burning out' as she threw herself into two huge work projects, from guest-editing the September issue of Vogue to launching the Smart Works collection. After announcing their plans to step back from royal duty in January, the couple initially moved to Canada, before they went on to relocate to LA as countries shut down borders amid the coronavirus pandemic. The royal editor reported that Meghan believed some royal courtiers were working against her (pictured left, a royal aide picks the royal's coat from a puddle, and right, a female bodyguard leads Meghan through a crowd in Fiji in 2018) Prince Harry and Meghan are currently living in Los Angeles, with insiders saying the Duke feels 'lonely and directionless' in the city Sources said that after the Queen refuted their desire to be 'half-in, half-out', the couple had their sights set on moving to LA. An insider detailed how Canada was 'never going to be their forever home', adding: 'The big plan, for Meghan at least, was always LA.' Meanwhile another friend explained that it was 'not easy' for Prince Harry in the states, without an 'established life'. They added that the Duke feels 'lonely and directionless' in the US, similar to how Meghan had felt in the UK. Insiders revealed that Meghan started to feel 'lonely' and isolated at Frogmore Cottage (pictured, earlier this month with one-year-old son Archie in Los Angeles) But royal biographer Omid Scobie said the couple still have big plans for the next few years, and are basing their working model on Barack and Michelle Obama. He said their plans were 'not too dissimilar' from what the former president created after leaving the White House and setting up Higher Ground production company. He pointed to the Obama's multiyear production deal with Netflix to produce films and documentaries covering topics like race, class and civil rights. Royal biographer Omid Scobie revealed the couple have plans 'not dissimilar' from Barack and Michelle Obama's working model It comes after Katie claimed that the Duke and Duchess 'had an agenda from the outset' to become international 'roving royals'. She told Australian website 9Honey: 'I was told from a very early stage in their courtship, they had told a friend of Harry's that Meghan met quite early on that they wanted to international roving royals and that was going to be their focus.' Royal expert Katie Nicholl called it 'inevitable' that the couple would move overseas but said the speed at which their lives had turned around had 'surprised everybody.' Expressing gratitude towards front line health, sanitation and security personnel, two members of a Delhi-based rock band Nazm are giving live musical performances before Covid warriors in Uttarakhand, appreciating their contribution to saving lives while risking their own in these testing times. From hospitals, medical centres to police stations, the rock band members, Raghav Raja, vocalist and Rohit Joshi, guitarist--who hail from Haridwar-- are letting the Covid warriors know with their music that the country is in their debt. Stuck at their homes since March-end when the lockdown began, Raghav Raja and Rohit Joshi decided to motivate and provide some musical solace to the frontline workers by penning patriotic and motivational songs. Their Rock band Nazm specializes in Sufi, Bollywood, folk and alternative rock music We have performed in various Indian cities as well as in foreign countries like Dubai but its a unique feeling performing for health, sanitation and police workers who are actually a solid wall between us and coronavirus. Smile and appreciation we receive from these personnel is the best reward for us. We know they rarely get time out for any recreational activity as Covid-19 has severely affected the whole of humanity for the past three months, said Raghav and Rohit. Appreciating their initiative, Haridwars chief medical officer Dr Saroj Naithani said, We allowed them to perform as their intention is noble and we are getting good response from the health personnel. From showering of petals, garlanding, clapping to being praised through musical performances by these youths, we all feel motivated and get the inner strength to carry on our war against the coronavirus pandemic, said Dr Saroj Naithani. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 Raghav and Rohits initiative is also getting appreciation and backing from their families and neighbours in Haridwars Vivek Vihar Colony, where they live. From local devotional song evenings, enactment of Ramleela, performances in marriages to social and cultural events, both Raghav and Rohit, over the years have become known faces in our city. They are affectionately called 2-R. We feel proud when officials and health personnel applaud their musical performances, said Anusha, Raghavs sister, who herself plays tabla and harmonium. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Senthyl Aboodai Krishan, who gave permission to the duo to perform at police stations, said such sentiments for the people fighting the epidemic is a good sign for the society and it motivates and encourages the professionals at the front line to even risk their lives in the line of duty. Domestic flight operations started from the Chandigarh International Airport on Monday, as passenger air travel resumed within the country after a gap of two months. The airport has formulated Standard Operating Procedures for safety of passengers and airport staff which include social distancing and stringent thermal screening. The security personnel of CISF have been provided with transparent plexiglass sheets to avoid any physical contact with passengers. The Chandigarh airport had earlier announced to resume operations in a phased manner with a total number of 13 domestic flights from Monday onwards. On Sunday, the Mohali district administration had said thatall Punjab-bound air travellers must be tested for COVID-19 upon their arrival at the Chandigarh airport and then mandatorily home quarantined for 14 days. In case, the test comes out to be positive, the person will be shifted to an isolation facility, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Manitoba government announced no new case of COVID-19 over the weekend, which means the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive instances remains at 292. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/5/2020 (606 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us The Manitoba government announced no new case of COVID-19 over the weekend, which means the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive instances remains at 292. Moreover, public health officials confirmed that, as of Sunday afternoon, nobody is currently in a Manitoba hospital or intensive care unit due to the virus, even though there are still 17 active cases in the province overall. This marks the first time in almost two months that Manitoba health officials havent had to treat or monitor the virus in a hospital setting. The first report of someone being hospitalized due to COVID-19 can be traced back all the way to March 25. To date, 268 people have recovered from the virus. Meanwhile, the Prairie Mountain Health regions caseload remains at 26 and the provinces overall death rate due to the virus continues to sit at seven. Because of the number of new COVID-19 cases have slowed to a crawl in Manitoba, the provincial government also decided to loosen up some public gathering regulations on Friday. Now, up to 25 people are allowed to gather inside and 50 individuals can meet-up outside, provided that physical distancing measures are put in place. As of Saturday, an additional 729 laboratory tests were performed to help detect the virus, which brings the total number of tests performed since February to 38, 599. For up-to-date information on testing criteria and community screening sites, visit manitoba.ca/covid19/locations.html. To access the online screening tool for COVID-19, visit sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/. The Brandon Sun River towns across west-central Illinois are watching, waiting and hoping for the best this week as rain-swollen waterways inch toward crests significantly above flood stages. Sandbagging efforts have been under way in Meredosia since last week, according to Morgan County Emergency Management coordinator Phil McCarty. The Illinois River at Meredosia was at 24.8 feet Sunday, according to the National Weather Service National Hydrologic Prediction Service, with a crest expected near 25.6 feet Tuesday afternoon. While that would be below the historic 28.86-foot crest of July 2, 2015, and a 28.4-foot crest during last years flooding, it still would result in major flooding. If it reaches 26 feet, there could be damage to buildings in Meredosia and the U.S. Coast Guard will consider closing the river between LaGrange and Montezuma, according to the National Hydrologic Prediction Service. Flood stage at Meredosia is 17 feet. Upstream, at Beardstown, a flood warning continued as moderate flooding was occurring. The Illinois River at Beardstown was at 26.4 feet Sunday morning and was projected to rise to near 26.8 feet by this morning and then begin to fall. At 27 feet, the Coal Creek Levee overtops and damage begins at Frederick and Browning. Flood stage at Beardstown is 14 feet. Emergency officials were closely watching forecasts because rainfall heavier than forecast could cause river levels to rise even higher than predicted, according to the National Weather Service. Showers and thunderstorms were forecast through Thursday for most of the region. Heavy rain across west-central Illinois the past few weeks has saturated the soil, which could compound flooding potential, according to forecasters at AccuWeather. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has declared Morgan, Scott and Pike counties as disaster areas, which allowed for crews from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Army National Guard to help local authorities. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2020) - Pharmadrug Inc. (CSE: BUZZ) (OTC: LMLLF) ("Pharmadrug" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Acquisition Agreement") pursuant to which Pharmadrug will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of privately-held Interrobang Ltd. (doing business as Super Smart). ("Super Smart"), to be effected by way of a three-cornered amalgamation between Pharmadrug, Super Smart and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pharmadrug (the "Proposed Transaction"). Following completion of the Proposed Transaction Super Smart will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pharmadrug. It is anticipated that the Proposed Transaction will be completed in early June, 2020. Super Smart As noted in the Company's press release dated May 20, 2020, Super Smart is an early-stage retail company focused on consolidating the fragmented Dutch smartshop market. Smartshops are retail establishments in The Netherlands that specialize in the sale of psychoactive substances including psychedelic truffles, which are an underground grown version of magic mushrooms that have psilocybin and are legal in The Netherlands. Super Smart will seek to acquire smartshops and deploy disciplined business expertise, retail best practices and consistent branding across multiple locations to capture in market share and improve margins in this rapidly growing segment. Super Smart's management team is well suited to pursue the smartshop consolidation strategy and brings a proven track record in retail, marketing, brand building, web sales and customer education. The Company views the Proposed Transaction as a complementary acquisition of a proposed business which the Company anticipates will be synergistic with Pharmadrug's existing European cannabis distributions business. The Company currently operates as a Medical Cannabis distributor in Europe and views psychedelics as part of the emerging natural based medicine trend. The Company is fully committed to its business in Germany and considers it to be the hub of its business activities in Europe. As mentioned in the press release dated April 24, 2020, the Company's German operations are seeing volume growth and the Company expects volumes to continue to grow with plans to introduce medical cannabis under its own brand in the next 3 to 6 months. The acquisition of smartshops in The Netherlands is seen as a move towards vertical integration of its existing cannabis business insofar as smartshops act as retail outlets for cannabis products such as CBD products and cannabis paraphernalia. Furthermore, the Company believes the acquisition provides an opportunity to expand its existing operations into the psychedelics space as permitted by law. Management believes the Proposed Transaction is also a platform to potentially acquire synergistic assets. Story continues At the time of the Proposed Transaction, the Company expects Super Smart's assets will consist of a brand and strategy to acquire smartshops in The Netherlands and approximately CAD $2.6 million of cash with liabilities of CAD $2.5 million in outstanding convertible debentures that will be amalgamated into Pharmadrug's capital structure as per terms discussed below. Terms of Acquisition Agreement Pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, each issued and outstanding share of Super Smart (a "Super Smart Share") will be exchanged for one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Pharmadrug Share"). It is expected that at the time of the closing of the Proposed Transaction, Super Smart will have 44,000,000 Super Smart Shares issued and outstanding together with $2,500,000 principal amount of senior secured convertible debentures (the "Super Smart Debentures"), 33,000,000 common share purchase warrants ("Placement Warrants") and 3,478,400 finder options (the "Finder Options"). The Super Smart Debentures shall bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the date of issue and payable monthly in cash and shall rank pari passu with one another and senior to all other indebtedness. The Super Smart Debentures shall mature on the date (the "Maturity Date") which is three (3) years from their issuance (which is anticipated to be on or about closing of the Proposed Transaction). Super Smart will have a right to prepay or redeem a part or the entire principal amount of the Super Smart Debentures at par plus accrued and unpaid interest at any time by providing written notice of the date (the "Redemption Date") for such redemption to the holder at least a minimum of 30 days and a maximum 60 days' prior to the Redemption Date. Each Super Smart Debenture will be convertible into units (each, a "Unit") at the option of the holder at any time prior to the close of the third business day prior to the earlier of: (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) the Redemption Date at a price of $0.05 per Unit with each Unit consisting of one Super Smart Share and one-half of one Super Smart Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Super Smart Share at an exercise price of $0.05 for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance of the Super Smart Debentures. In the event that the Super Smart Shares have a closing price on such exchange on which the Super Smart Shares may be traded at such time of greater than $0.15 per share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days, Super Smart will be able to cause the Super Smart Debentures to be converted into Units. Each Super Smart Debenture will, following completion of the Proposed Transaction, entitle the holder thereof to acquire equivalent securities of Pharmadrug in place of the securities of Super Smart on conversion of such debenture. In addition to the outstanding Super Smart Shares and Super Smart Debentures, Super Smart will also have outstanding prior to closing (i) 3,478,400 Finder Options which will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Unit at a price of $0.05 and (ii) 33,000,000 Placement Warrants issued in connection with a private placement of units of Super Smart with each such Placement Warrant entitling the holder to acquire one Super Smart Share at a price of $0.05 at any time on or before the third anniversary of the closing of the Proposed Transaction. Each Finder Option and Placement Warrant will, following completion of the Proposed Transaction, entitle the holder thereof to acquire equivalent securities of Pharmadrug in place of the securities of Super Smart. Following completion of the Proposed Transaction the security holders of Super Smart and the Company immediately preceding the Proposed Transaction will hold approximately 47% and 53%, respectively, of the fully diluted share capital of the Company. It is expected that all Pharmadrug Shares (including Pharmadrug Shares issued upon conversion of Super Smart Debentures and the exercise of Super Smart Warrants and the Finder Options) issued pursuant to the Proposed Transaction, except those issued to U.S. persons, will be freely tradable under applicable Canadian securities legislation. The Acquisition Agreement contains representations, warranties, covenants and conditions typical for a transaction of this nature. The Proposed Transaction is subject to, among other things, receipt of all applicable shareholder and regulatory approvals, the final approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the conditions described below. A copy of the Acquisition Agreement will be filed by Pharmadrug with the Canadian securities regulators and will be available for viewing on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. A description of the Acquisition Agreement will also be set forth in P material change report to be filed on SEDAR. Conditions to the Proposed Transaction Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to certain conditions precedent including, among other things: the receipt of all required approvals by the respective boards of directors of Pharmadrug and Super Smart; the receipt of approval of the Proposed Transaction by shareholders of Super Smart; the receipt of all required consents, approvals and authorizations of any regulatory authorities, including, without limitation, the Canadian Securities Exchange; each of the parties shall have complied with each of its obligations, covenants and agreements in the Acquisition Agreement; there shall be no material adverse effect with respect to either of Pharmadrug or Super Smart; the receipt of all required consents and approvals of third parties. Management and Board of Directors The Company does not anticipate reconstituting its Board of Directors in connection with the Proposed Transaction. Daniel Cohen will remain as Chairman and CEO and Keith Li will continue in his role at CFO. Together, they will continue to oversee general corporate activity, the running of Pharmadrug GmbH in Germany as well as the integration of Super Smart into the combined corporate strategy. Howard Brass has resigned as COO of Pharmadrug effective immediately to pursue other ventures. We thank him for his past contribution to Pharmadrug and wish him well with all his future endeavours. It is expected that current members of the Super Smart management team will join the Company and occupy roles as senior business unit managers. Most notably, Harry Resin who is the current CEO of Super Smart will join and continue to run the Super Smart division within Pharmadrug. We believe Mr. Resin is uniquely positioned to run the Super Smart strategy. As a founding member of an original Amsterdam seed company, Mr. Resin dealt extensively with and provided consulting work to Amsterdam's smartshop industry. He has a deep established network and a fundamental understanding of the smartshop business model. Mr. Resin has also served as a staff writer for High Times and also wrote for numerous cannabis publications including Cannabis Now, Skunk and a Medical Cannabis Journal. Further Information Although the parties have entered into a definitive Acquisition Agreement in connection with the Proposed Transaction, completion of the Proposed Transaction remains subject to a number of conditions as set forth herein. If such conditions are not satisfied it is possible that the Proposed Transaction will not be completed on the terms set forth herein or at all. About PharmaDrug Inc. PharmaDrug Inc. is building an internationally focused cannabis business focused on Europe. The Company owns 80% of Pharmadrug GmbH, a German medical cannabis distributor, with a Schedule I European Union narcotics license allowing for the importation and distribution of medical cannabis to pharmacies in Germany and throughout the EU. For further information, please contact: Daniel Cohen, CEO dcohen@pharmadrug.co (647) 202-1824 Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information: THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED NOR DOES IT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results of the Company. Forward looking statements in this press release relate to the potential to complete the Proposed Transaction and the timing thereof, the integration of the Smart Shop business and the completion of the debt restructuring, anticipated volume growth in the Company's German business and the introduction by the Company of its own brand of medical cannabis. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. The Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulations under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein, such as, but not limited to dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; the ability to locate additional supply of medical cannabis, owning interests in companies or projects that are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under United States federal law; changes in laws; limited operating history, reliance on management, requirements for additional financing, competition, hindering market growth; regulatory and political change. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/56491 First Iranian Tanker 'Fortune' Reaches Venezuelan Coast Escorted by Bolivarian Armed Forces Sputnik News 00:38 GMT 24.05.2020(updated 03:30 GMT 24.05.2020) Iran has sent five ocean-going tankers loaded with an estimated 1.53 million barrels of gasoline to Venezuela, a move that has reportedly received threats from Washington. Tehran, in response, promised "retaliation" if the US moves to act against the ships. The first of five Iranian fuel tankers, the 'Fortune', entered the Venezuelan exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on late Saturday, according to data from Refiniv Eikon. Later, Iranian embassy in the country announced that the tanker has successfully reached the coast of the country. "The first Iranian tanker reached the Venezuelan coasts. Grateful to the Bolivarian Armed Forces for escorting it", the embassy said in their Twitter account. Ealier, Iran sent the tankers to the Latin American country amid an oil crisis fueled by sanctions imposed on both Venezuela and Iran by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The other four tankers - the Clavel, the Forest, the Faxon and the Petunia - are currently en route to the country, amid fears in Caracas that Washington could use military force against the Iranian vessels detailed in a letter to UN Security Council. The flotilla is thought to be carrying, by some estimates, about 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate, a key fuel additive. According to reports, the Fortune was escorted by the PO-13 Yekuana Navy vessel before entering the exclusive economic zone of Venezuela. Hours before the Fortune reached the Venezuela's EEZ, reports emerged that PO-11 Guaiqueri would overtake and escort the Fortune, as PO-13 Yekuana had reportedly been set to return for the escort of the next Iranian vessel in line. Before the Fortune reached the EEZ of Venezuela, videoclips of one of its escorting vessels, the PO-13 Yekuana - while waiting for the boat to arrive - were shown on the country's national TV and then shared on social media. Tehran has warned Washington that the Trump administration will "face retaliation" if the Iranian fleet en route to Venezuela is challenged. "If our tankers in the Caribbean or anywhere in the world face trouble caused by the Americans, [the US] will also be in trouble", Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said. The warning came as the White House, according to a report by Reuters, is mulling additional penalties to prevent Iran from delivering fuel to the country. No official announcements from the president's office on intentions to act against the tanker have emerged. The Venezuelan oil sector is currently facing a crisis amid sanctions imposed on the country by the Trump administration, leading to fuel shortages in the South American nation. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two elderly women died of COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh as the number of people testing positive for the infection rose to 224 with 20 fresh cases on Monday. A seven-month-boy and her 28-year-old mother are among the 20 new cases, officials said. So far, six people have succumbed to COVID-19 in the state. According to officials, while a 65-year-old woman from Mandi's Ratti village died at Nerchowk's Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Hospital (SLBSGH) on Monday, a 72-year-old woman from Hamirpur died at Shimla's Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) on Sunday night. They said both women were suffering from other ailments too. The Mandi woman had suffered renal failure and was undergoing dialysis, Chief Medical Officer Jeevanand Chauhan said. The CMO said she tested positive for the infection on May 20 but it could not be traced from where she contracted the virus. IGMC's Senior Medical Superintendent Janak Raj said the Hamirpur woman was referred to their hospital after her condition worsened. Her husband too had tested positive for the virus on Thursday, he said, adding the woman had gone to Jalandhar in Punjab for the treatment of other ailments. Upon her return, she was admitted to the Government Medical College in Hamirpur. All 20 fresh patients had returned from other states recently. Ten of them returned from Maharashtra, four from Tamil Nadu, three from Delhi and two from Gujarat's Ahmedabad recently. Eight of them had returned to Kangra, four to Chamba, four to Shimla, three to Bilaspur and one to Hamirpur. In Kangra, a seven-month-old boy and her 28-year-old mother are among the eight people tested positive on Monday, a district official said. The woman had returned from Delhi on May 19 in a taxi and quarantined at her mother's place in Kuther village of Jawali tehsil. They are being shifted to the Dadh COVID care centre. Besides, four men who returned from Maharashtra and two from Ahmedabad, tested positive for the infection in Kangra. In Bilaspur, two Mumbai and one Delhi returnees tested positive for COVID-19. The four Chamba men, aged between 21-32, had returned from Tamil Nadu recently, a district official said. Two of them had returned on May 18 in a special train from Chennai. Three men in Shimla's Chopal Tehsil had returned from Mumbai in a special train on May 18, Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap said, adding that they were institutionally quarantined at Deha. The fourth man from Kotkhai also returned from outside and was institutionally quarantined, Shimla SP Omapati Jamwal said. In Hamirpur, a 25-year-old woman tested COVID-19 positive for the virus, Deputy Commissioner Harikesh Meena said. She had returned to her in-laws' house from Mumbai on May 22, he said, adding that her 29-year-old husband too had tested COVID-19 positive a few days ago. Of the total 224 cases reported so far, 67 have recovered, leaving only 151 patients behind, according to officials. Hamirpur has the highest number of active cases in the state at 56 followed by 42 in Kangra, 13 in Una, 11 in Solan, eight in Mandi, seven each in Chamba and Bilaspur, four in Shimla, two in Sirmaur and one in Kullu, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, an outspoken skeptic of coronavirus even as his country becomes the second-worst hit after the US, was jeered at as he tried to eat a hot dog and posed for a photograph with a young girl despite not wearing a face mask. The incident took place Saturday night when Bolsonaro and Government Secretary Luiz Eduardo Ramos left the president's residence, Palacio da Alvorada, and walked up at food truck in Brasilia. Area residents disapproved of the far-right leaders presence by banging on pots and called him 'murderer,' 'trash' while a bystander shouted, 'go back to work, you bum,' according to local media reports. After munching down on the hot dog, known in Brazil as 'cachorro quente,' Bolsonaro washed it down with a can of Coke before he obliged a woman's request for a picture with a girl, who had her mouth and nose covered with a mask. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro eats a hot dog next to a food truck in Brasilia before visiting the home of his government secretary President Jair Bolsonaro poses for a photo with a young girl in Brasilia, Brazil During the photo opportunity, Bolsonaro kept the face mask resting under his chin while it was tied around his ears and bid farewell to the child by giving her a fist pump. Following the tense moment, Bolsonaro headed over to Ramos' home. In a tweet, Ramos called the meeting a 'joy and privilege.' Bolsonaro has been dismissive of social distancing measures and quarantine orders imposed by Brazilian state governors in a continuing effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. On Sunday, he greeted supporters in Brasilia who were protesting some of the preventive measures that are still in place in Brazil due to the global epidemic. The COVID-19 pandemic, which he once labeled a just a 'little flu,' has left 22,666 people dead and produced 363,211 confirmed cases in Brazil - the second-highest rate behind the United States. The outbreak also drove President Donald Trump to ban entry to foreigners from the Brazil. The Brazilian leader's public appearance came after the Supreme Court released an expletive-filled video on Friday that shows Bolsonaro attacking at his enemies. Brazilian media counted 31 presidential swear words during the two-hour April 22 cabinet meeting, in which Bolsonaro called two governors who imposed lockdowns a 'piece of s**t' and a 'pile of manure' respectively. One pundit raged at Bolsonaro for 'never mentioning the pandemic as a problem that concerns him' in a two-hour meeting littered with obscenities. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro greets supporters upon arrival at Planalto Palace in Brasilia during Sunday's demonstration held by his supporters, who just like him opposed social distancing and other measures that have been set in place by state governments to slow down the spread of the coronavirus Brazilian Government secretary Luiz Eduardo Ramos (right) with his wife and President Jair Bolsonaro (top left) Bolsonaro was jeered by residents in Brasilia on Saturday night when he stopped to eat a hog dog on a street. Dissidents called him "murderer" and "trash" while they banged on pots Footage of the meeting was released by the country's supreme court as part of a probe into Bolsonaro, who is accused of interfering in the federal police. Bolsonaro is heard saying that he would not 'wait for my family or my friends to get screwed' by his inability to fire officials - but he denies wrongdoing and claims he was referring to personal security staff. In the video, Bolsonaro rails against the federal police for failing to give him information and says, 'I'm not going to wait for them to screw my family and friends.' Police are reportedly investigating multiple cases involving Bolsonaro and his inner circle, his son Carlos, a Rio de Janeiro city councillor. Bolsonaro denies trying to stifle investigations, and said the video proved the accusations against him were a 'farce.' [May 25, 2020] HIIG Appoints Andrew Robinson as New Chief Executive Officer The Westaim Corporation ("Westaim") (TSXV: WED) and Houston International Insurance Group, Ltd. ("HIIG" or the "Company") announced today that the HIIG Board of Directors has appointed Andrew Robinson as Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of HIIG effective immediately. Mr. Robinson takes over from HIIG's founder and outgoing CEO, Stephen L. Way, who has resigned as Chairman of the Board but will continue to serve as a Director of the Company. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005133/en/ Robinson is a highly experienced and successful global insurance executive with a 30+ year track record of growth, financial improvement and strategic and operational leadership working globally in the insurance industry and in management and strategic consulting. His career includes ten years with The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., where he was President of Specialty Insurance, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Chief Risk Officer and subsequently at Crawford & Co. where he was Global Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice-President. While at Hanover, his responsibilities included all aspects of the company's U.S. specialty businesses, including profit and loss and strategic and operational oversight. He was also responsible for acquisitions, divestitures, business integration, and enterprise risk management for the broader enterprise. Prior to his time at Hanover, he was managing partner of Global Insurance at Diamond (now PWC) Consulting, and most recently as Executive in Residence and Senior Advisor at Oak HC/FT. J. Cameron MacDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer of Westaim and a director of HIIG, said: "Andrew is the right leader for HIIG at this stage in its development. His extensive industry background and business skills should help HIIG strengthen its business and expand its presence. We believe his strong leadership experience will help focus HIIG, especially in the current economic environment. We would also like to thank Stephen Way for his leadership n founding HIIG and bringing HIIG to the level of success it has attained. The Board and I appreciate his many accomplishments." Robinson commented: "I am genuinely honored to lead HIIG and its team of very talented professionals. Given the recent equity capital raise via a rights offering, we are well positioned to seize the market opportunity that is in front of us today, and to become one of the handful of truly premier specialty insurance groups." About Westaim Westaim is a Canadian investment company specializing in providing long-term capital to businesses operating primarily within the global financial services industry. The Company invests, directly and indirectly, through acquisitions, joint ventures and other arrangements, with the objective of providing its shareholders with capital appreciation and real wealth preservation. Westaim's strategy is to pursue investment opportunities with a focus towards the financial services industry and grow shareholder value over the long term. Westaim's investments include significant interests in HIIG and the Arena Group. Westaim's Common Shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol WED. For more information, contact: J. Cameron MacDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer or Robert T. Kittel, Chief Operating Officer The Westaim Corporation [email protected] (416) 969-3333 About HIIG HIIG is an insurance holding company formed in 2007. Based in Houston, Texas, HIIG has underwriting segments focused on Accident & Health, Commercial, Excess & Surplus Lines and Specialty. At December 31, 2019 HIIG had total assets exceeding $1.75 billion and shareholders' equity of more than $370 million. HIIG's subsidiary insurance companies consist of Houston Specialty Insurance Company; Imperium Insurance Company; Great Midwest Insurance Company; Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company; and Boston Indemnity Company, Inc. These insurance companies are rated A- (Excellent) Financial Category IX by A.M. Best Company. Contact: For more information, contact: Linda Madden Pierpont Communications [email protected] (713) 410-2869 Certain portions of this press release as well as other public statements by Westaim contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements concerning the investment strategies and expected rates of return; and strategic alternatives to maximize value for shareholders. These statements are based on current expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and Westaim can give no assurance that these expectations are correct. Westaim's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by forward-looking statements for various reasons generally beyond our control, including but not limited to those risk factors set forth in Westaim's 2019 Audited Annual Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis, quarterly reports or annual information form. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these "forward-looking statements". Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Westaim expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The information provided herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation regarding any investment products offered by Arena Group. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005133/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Afghan president to free up to 2,000 Taliban inmates as 'goodwill gesture' Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 5:25 PM Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has initiated a process to release up to 2,000 imprisoned Taliban militants as a "goodwill gesture" in response to a three-day ceasefire offered by the the militant group. A peace deal inked between the United States and the Taliban on February 28 stipulated that the Taliban stop their attacks on international forces in return for the US military's phased withdrawal from war-wracked Afghanistan and also a prisoner exchange between the group and the government in Kabul, which was excluded from the talks. The Afghan government, which is not a signatory to the deal, is required to release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners. The militants, for their part, are obliged to free 1,000 government captives in return. Kabul has so far released some 1,000 Taliban prisoners while the group has freed around 300 Afghan security force personnel. "President Ghani today initiated a process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture in response to the Taliban's announcement of a ceasefire during Eid [al-Fitr]. The AFG Gov is extending the offer of peace and is taking further steps to ensure success of the peace process," Ghani's spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said on Twitter on Sunday. In his televised statement on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, Ghani announced earlier in the day that the release of the Taliban prisoners would be expedited and that Kabul called on the militant group to expedite the release of the government security and defense captives. He also wished a happy Eid al-Fitr to all Afghans and said the peace process required cooperation between the two sides and work to remove its hurdles. "I once again welcome the ceasefire announced by the Taliban, I also instructed the Afghan Security Forces to observe ceasefire, too," the Afghan president further said, stressing that Kabul's negotiating team was ready to commence intra-Afghan talks as soon as possible. The prisoner swap is regarded as a confidence-building move ahead of long-awaited peace talks between Kabul and the militant group, which rejected a government offer of truce for the duration of Ramadan and continued its attacks. The Afghan government negotiators are henceforth headed by Ghani's former bitter rival, Abdullah Abduallh, after the two inked a power sharing agreement last week that put an end to a months-long political crisis in the war-ravaged country. Nearly 14,000 US troops and 17,000 troops from NATO allies and partner countries remain stationed in Afghanistan years after the invasion of the country that toppled a Taliban regime in 2001. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank (WB) is conducting a Business Tracker Survey from tomorrow, Tuesday, 25 May to 20 June 2020 to track the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on businesses in Ghana. The survey (business tracker) which involves the use of telephone interview for data collection will identify and measure the impact of the coronavirus disease on small, medium and large scale establishments operating in the country. The survey will also assess measures put in place by businesses to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 as well as efforts to build better recovery for businesses. The outcome of the survey will enable government and development partners come out with measures to alleviate the impact of the disease on businesses. Commenting on the survey, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician noted that results from the survey will inform policy directions in protecting jobs and safeguarding progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings will also provide insights into keeping the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) alive as a tool to handle future pandemics and protect jobs/businesses. The Ghana Statistical Service wishes to assure owners of establishments that information provided on businesses will not be disclosed to anyone or entity in any form. The data collection does not require payment of money, and under no circumstance should an establishment be required to pay any amount to any person. Ghana Statistical Service counts on the cooperation of establishments, media and the general public to ensure the success of this exercise. Source: goldstreetbusiness.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Chennai, May 25 : After a gap of two months, domestic air services began at the Chennai airport on Monday as an Indigo airlines flight with 116 passengers left for Delhi. The domestic flights were suspended as part of the Covid-19 lockdown measures. While 120 passengers were scheduled to travel in the Delhi-bound plane, authorities did not allow four passengers to board as they showed symptoms of cough and cold. Later, a SpiceJet plane took off for Delhi. Air India is also scheduled to operate its flight from here. According to officials, several incoming and outgoing flights are set to be operated on Monday. The departures are to cities like Delhi, Kochi, Madurai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. A passenger has to show his ticket to a camera connected to a big TV screen, which is then viewed by security personnel concerned who clear the passenger. The passengers have to wear a mask and maintain social distancing at the airport. On Sunday, the Tamil Nadu government had came out with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for domestic air travellers. As per the SOP, asymptomatic persons shall undergo home quarantine for 14 days. All passengers will be stamped with 'quarantine' word along with the date in indeliable ink before they are allowed to move out of the airport. Passengers who do not have a home in Tamil Nadu and choose for paid quarantine (hotels) will be sent to the designated hotels. In case a passenger develops coronavirus-like symptoms, he/she shall inform the district call centre at 1077 or report to the nearest government hospital, on intimation to the district nodal officer. Pre-paid taxi service authorised by the Airports Authority of India will be lined up and details of vehicle numbers, drivers names and phone numbers shall be entered and linked to the passenger details of TN e-Pass System before allowing a passenger out. All passengers should wear masks, use hand sanitisers, and maintain social distance. The taxis should be disinfected before and after use. The Tamil Nadu government was initially reluctant to allow domestic inbound flights at the airports in the state. The SOP lays down some stringent norms mainly for inbound airline passengers. As per the SOP, after obtaining the flight tickets, the travellers shall register their details in TN e-pass portal following the link: https://tnepass.tnega.org, duly selecting the airport of arrival. While registering on the portal, travellers have to give declarations about their good health, that they do not live in containment zone and others. The other SOPs include thermal screening of passengers at airports, passengers to be sent to the health desk in a group of not more than 20, and luggage to be disinfected by airport authorities. Officials directly dealing with passengers will have to wear personal protective equipment and masks. Symptomatic passengers should be segregated to be sent to isolation facilities in designated ambulances. Meanwhile, travellers going out of Tamil Nadu will undergo thermal screening as stipulated by the airport authority and only persons without symptoms will be allowed to board the flights. Boarding passes will be used as documents for movement of passengers from their homes/places of stay to the airports. Dairy farmers have submitted evidence to the Migration Advisory Committee after they launched a six-week call for evidence on skills shortages in the UK. The responses will be used to support the recommendations delivered to the Home Secretary in September 2019, which did not include dairy workers on the MAC Shortage Occupation List. A failure to include foreign dairy workers on the list following the latest consultation could leave the sector with a shortage from next year when a new immigration policy is implemented. The points-based system will give priority to those with the highest skills and greatest talents, with dairy workers not falling into these categories. The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) has explained that dairy workers are not classed as highly skilled and they are not listed on the MAC Shortage Occupation List. This failure to recognise dairy workers will leave dairy with a severe shortage with some of the largest dairy producers in the UK relying on skilled foreign labour, the group's managing director Matt Knight said. There are real concerns that post-2021 some of our largest, most technically advanced dairy farms could be lost due to their reliance on foreign labour. "Should this happen the repercussions would be felt right across the industry, with associated businesses such as feed companies and veterinary practices also affected, let alone the impact on milk supply," he said. A survey by RABDF in 2016 found over half of the respondents employed staff from outside of the UK in the last five years a 24% increase on 2014. Almost two-thirds said this was due to insufficient UK staff being available. More than 50% of migrant workers on dairy farms were classed as highly skilled or mainly highly skilled, something the UK government fails to recognise. The New York Stock Exchange will reopen its iconic trading floor on Tuesday, but visitors will be subject to new rules if they wish to enter, the Wall Street Journal reports. The state of play: The trading floor closed on March 18 as New York City became one of the worst-hit coronavirus hotspots in the world. The NYSE will only allow one-fourth of its usual population to enter, and will require traders to wear masks, avoid public transport, and avoid handshakes. New York state loosens restrictions on gatherings as COVID-19 eases People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:55, May 24, 2020 NEW YORK, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. state of New York now allows gatherings of up to 10 people for non-essential purposes, two months after a statewide order banned such gatherings of any size to curb spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order late on Friday to loosen the restrictions, stressing that people have to follow social distancing protocols and cleaning and disinfection protocols required by the state's Department of Health. Earlier this week, the governor permitted gatherings of such scale during the Memorial Day weekend for memorial ceremonies. Religious gatherings of the same scale have also been allowed since Thursday. Cuomo said on Saturday that Long Island and Mid-Hudson could reopen next week, leaving New York City the only region in the state that will remain in the "PAUSE" order for a while. New York City has not yet met two of the seven metrics the state-designed for reopening, which are the numbers of hospital beds and ICU beds available. But Cuomo said he expected the city to reopen in early June. On Friday, New York City unveiled three key metrics set by itself to track the progress toward reopening, which are daily new hospital admissions, the current number of ICU patients and the percentage of people testing positive, each with a single indicator threshold. The daily death toll in New York State fell to 84, said Cuomo on Saturday, the first time that figure has dropped below 100 since the state went into a lockdown two months ago. The overall statewide caseload rose to 359,926, with 1,772 new cases, said the governor. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Supports advancement of its immune-oncology programs Enables portfolio expansion/product acquisitions Intention to proceed with consolidation (reverse stock split) TORONTO, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Portage Biotech Inc. (CSE: PBT.U, OTC Markets: PTGEF) ("Portage" or the "Company") wishes to announce that, in addition to completing its previously approved plan to consolidate (reverse stock split) its common shares, it will be conducting a non-brokered private placement of post-consolidation common shares for gross proceeds of up to US$10,000,000 (the "Offering") at a price of US$10.00 per post-consolidated common share (the "Offering Price"). The Offering Price is based on a 20 day weighted moving average of the common shares on the CSE less a 10% discount. The Offering may close in one or more tranches at the discretion of the Company. The Company also has the discretion to increase the maximum offering amount by up to 10% to cover over-subscriptions. Two of the Company's directors, Dr. Gregory Bailey and Mr. James Mellon, have agreed to provide standby commitments in respect of the Offering by subscribing for that portion of the Offering not otherwise subscribed for by outside investors, up to an aggregate of US$2,000,000. This commitment would be reduced if the Offering is oversubscribed. Ian B. Walters, MD, CEO of Portage, said "this financing expands our investor base while existing investors continue to support the mission. As released recently, several portfolio companies have achieved development milestones and we are advancing products into human testing requiring more funding. Our discussions with institutional investors and banks have necessitated the consolidation in an effort to prepare for movement to a senior exchange. We are excited by the prospects that this financing will bring for the future growth of Portage and its shareholders." This Offering is only open to residents of the United States and Canada who are "Accredited Investors" as defined under applicable securities legislation in the United States and Canada and for accredited investors in other international jurisdictions pursuant to applicable exemptions from prospectus and registration requirements. The minimum subscription amount is US$25,000 per investor. Accredited investors who are interested in participating may obtain offering materials from Ian Walters, CEO, at [email protected]. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for a number of different purposes including: (i) further development of the Company's immune-oncology portfolio towards clinical testing; (ii) the formation of one to two new companies; and (iii) enable the Company to pursue an additional listing of its common shares on a senior stock exchange. Prior to and as a condition of closing, the Company will be completing, subject to CSE approval, a consolidation (the "Consolidation") (also known as a reverse stock split) of its issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of 100 pre-consolidation common shares for each post-consolidation common share. The Consolidation was approved by shareholders at an annual meeting held on January 8, 2019 with the consolidation ratio being approved by the directors of the Company on May 19, 2020. More details regarding the effective date of the Consolidation and other relevant information including a new CUSIP number for the post-consolidated common shares will be disclosed in a separate news release. Closing of a first tranche of the Offering is expected to occur on or about June 8, 2020 (the "Closing") subject to completion of the Consolidation and any regulatory approval including that of the CSE. The Company may pay a finder's fee on the non-insider portion of the Offering within the amount permitted by the policies of the CSE. The potential issuance of any securities to Messrs. Bailey and Mellon at the closing of the Offering will be considered related party transactions within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on appropriate exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in respect of any insider participation. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. About Portage Biotech Inc. Portage is a unique entity in the world of biotechnology, enabling research and development to produce more clinical programs and maximize potential returns by eliminating typical overhead costs associated with many biotechnology companies. We nurture the creation of early- to mid-stage, first- and best-in-class therapies for a variety of cancers, by providing funding, strategic business and clinical counsel, and shared services, to enable efficient, turnkey execution of commercially-informed development plans. Our portfolio encompasses nine subsidiary companies whose products or technologies have established scientific rationales, including intratumorals, nanoparticles, liposomes, aptamers, cell penetrating peptides, and virus-like particles. In collaboration with our subsidiaries, we create viable product development strategies, to cost-effectively deliver best-in-class R&D, clinical trial design, and financial and project management, to ultimately build value and support commercial potential. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements about the Company's information that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. We seek Safe Harbor. SOURCE Portage Biotech Inc. Related Links www.portagebiotech.com Movie star Idris Elba will on Monday evening host a star-studded virtual concert to mark Africa Day and raise funds to feed the continent's hungry. The MTV Base Africa Day Benefit Concert at Home will host the continent's top music stars including Angelique Kidjo, Burna Boy, Salif Keita, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Diamond Platnumz and Sauti Sol. It will be streamed on YouTube and ViacomCBS Networks. Idris Elba told the BBC's Newsday programme that he hoped that corporations on the continent would contribute to the initiative. To have these corporation dig deep and help Africa at this point is really the focal point. I'm really not asking the ordinary man to help in this. If they can of course we will take up that help. But really we're digging deep into the corporations that live on the continent and can afford it. The priority is to try and get as many real-time meals into people's mouths. At the moment hunger is the main fear as opposed to actual Covid-19The priority is to try and get as many real-time meals into people's mouths. At the moment hunger is the main fear as opposed to actual Covid-19 So trying to get people something to eat, at least some ways of getting food, is really the number [priority]... In terms of money you can't put a number on itSo trying to get people something to eat, at least some ways of getting food, is really the number [priority]... In terms of money you can't put a number on it As far as donations are concerned, we're really expecting that people - if they can give , they give... We are asking people to really dig deep into their hearts even just to attend this concert, even just to show there is solidarity amongst Africans at this point, that's among the things we're looking for."As far as donations are concerned, we're really expecting that people - if they can give , they give... We are asking people to really dig deep into their hearts even just to attend this concert, even just to show there is solidarity amongst Africans at this point, that's among the things we're looking for." The actor, whose late father grew up in Sierra Leone and whose mother is from Ghana, tested positive for coronavirus in March and has since recovered. Africa Day is an annual commemoration of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963. The organisation transformed into the African Union on 9 July 2002. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video When it comes to the royal family, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has always seemed to be the one who has received the most criticism from fans. Sure, other members of the royal family have faced their fair share of backlash for some of their actions. However, when it comes to Meghan Markle, a lot of the times, it seems as if she can never do anything right in the eyes of the public. This point was proven when she was asked to guest-edit on an issue of British Vogue. As soon as fans saw the issue that Markle had edited, they immediately criticized the inappropriate subjects that were discussed in the magazine. Markle is not the first person in the royal family to guest-edit a popular publication, and she will not be the last either. Princess Anne will reportedly be guest-editing an upcoming edition of Country Life. So, will Prince Charles sister experience the same backlash that his daughter-in-law received? Here is what we know about the situation so far. Meghan Markle | Daniel Leal-Olivas/ WPA Pool/Getty Images RELATED: Meghan Markle Could Become the Most Prominent Influencer in the World With the Markle Sparkle, Expert Claims Meghan Markle received harsh criticism for guest editing the British Vogue Well just leave this here for all those trolling Meghan Markles guest edit of British Vogue before its even hit stands https://t.co/YPqf7jlrDN pic.twitter.com/RPA3agigMT Channel24 (@Channel24) July 30, 2019 Last year, Markle was given the opportunity to guest-edit the September issue of British Vogue. Given Markles strong stance on womens equality, it was not surprising to see that the cover of the magazine was filled with powerful women from all over the world who have taken a political stand in the past. Some of the people that were featured on the cover included Greta Thunberg, Jane Fonda, and New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Before the magazine had even made it to the newsstands, critics were already fuming mad about Markles decision to edit a national publication. When many fans saw the subject matter of the magazine, they thought that it was too politically-charged for a royal to take part in. The sun wrote: MEGS LEFTIE ISSUE: Meghan Markle slammed for wading into politics by promoting Trump-hating celebs in left-wing edition of British Vogue. According to BuzzFeed News, reporter Dan Wootton went onto the British talk show, Lorraine, and said that he felt that Markle had decided to guest-edit a fashion magazine because she was from Hollywood. And that guest-editing any magazine was simply something that royals do not do. Remember Meghan doesnt want to be a celebrity, she says she wants to be a royal. Royals dont guest-edit magazines, celebrities guest-edit magazines. Do you get me? Do you see the point that Im making? How many other royal family members have guest-edited a magazine in the past? Prince Charles to guest edit a special issue of Country Life magazine, to be published on his 65th birthday Nov 13 pic.twitter.com/dYKEqISph0 Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) April 9, 2013 RELATED: Meghan Markle Is Going to Relaunch Lifestyle Blog The Tig, Says Royal Insider While Wootton may feel that it is unbecoming for a royal to guest-edit a magazine, BuzzFeed continued by pointing out that Markle isnt the first person in the royal family to take this particular role. Both Prince Charles and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have done some guest-editing in the past. In fact, Kate Middleton had even done some extensive collaboration with the same fashion magazine that Markle received criticism for working with. In the past, Middleton had posed for pictures, helped to pick out certain articles and topics, and had published a letter with British Vogue. Markles father-in-law, Prince Charles, has also guest-edited two different issues of Country Life. Prince Charles had also highlighted several different political issues, including climate change, but he didnt really receive any type of criticism for the topics that he chose. Instead, the issues that he guest-edited ended up selling more copies than other issues in the past. Will Princess Annes guest-editing work come under fire like Meghan Markles work did? Princess Anne to guest edit Country Life in July to mark 70th birthday https://t.co/DtIPt7p9Up pic.twitter.com/lMm994S7iF Country Life (@Countrylifemag) May 6, 2020 Like her older brother, Princess Anne will also be guest-editing an issue of Country Life as a way to commemorate her 70th birthday. Its not clear exactly what type of articles Princess Anne will include in her issue, however, it is rumored that she will be highlighting her family as well as her love of horses and Olympic equestrian riding. Other tabloids and media outlets have not really commented on Princess Annes upcoming Country Life issue. However, the magazine expects that it will be just as well-received as Prince Charles work was a couple of years ago. Veteran Bob Pease salutes on Memorial Day at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, on May 25, 2020. (Harry How/Getty Images) US Lawmakers Honor Soldiers and Their Families on Memorial Day Lawmakers throughout the United States honored military veterans on May 25, Memorial Day, with Democrats and Republicans alike sending out messages of gratitude and praise for the military personnel who died while serving their country. An Iraqi combat veteran herself, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), spoke on the Senate floor in honor of Americas fallen soldiers to mark the occasion. Just like every year, this Memorial Day, lets commemorate the service members and families who have sacrificed in defense of our freedom, said Ernst. The freedoms we cherish, but are so often taken for granted, did not come without a price. For generations, American patriots have secured our blessings of liberty by willingly laying down their lives in defense of our great nation, she continued. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) shared Ernsts emphasis on the price the fallen men and women have paid for American freedom. Let us be reminded that we drink deeply from wells of freedom that we did not dig. Today we honor the memories of the heroic Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. #Memorial Day, Booker said. Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States set aside to honor and mourn the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Since 1971, the holiday has been observed on the last Monday of May. For the 102 years prior to that, it was observed on May 30. Many of the lawmakers thanked not only the fallen service members, but also their families for their sacrifice and devotion to their country. This Memorial Day, we remember those who gave the last full measure of devotion serving our country. We owe them and their families a debt we can never repay, said Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). On this Memorial Day, I hope everyone takes time to remember the brave men and women who have served and died for our freedoms, and that we all recommit to honoring our nations promise to take care of those who have served and their families, Patty Murray (D-Wash.) Barbara and I pray for our service men and women who lost their lives protecting our freedoms, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said, referring to his wife. We also pray for their families and friends who survived them Our great country wouldnt be what we are w/out the selfless sacrifice of so many God Bless America. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) invoked the image of Arlington National Cemetery, where in April, 1866, The U.S. Army began its effort to locate its fallen service members buried in temporary cemeteries across the United States. Memorial Day reminds us of the patriots whove died in defense of our country, he said in a statement. The orderly rows of white headstones at resting places like Arlington National Cemetery impress upon us the magnitude of their sacrifice-yet each headstone pays tribute to an individual who left his own heroic saga and loving family here on Earth. Memorial Day is a moment to reflect on these brave men and women, and, through the act of reflection, commit ourselves to emulating their courage and patriotism. The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 142 national cemeteries in 40 states. States are in various phases of social distancing and will have different rules for visiting cemeteries. Speaking at a Memorial Day event at Bakersfield National Cemetery in California on May 23, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said veterans have made the ultimate sacrifice for future generations of Americans. Educate the future generation that an individual that they did not meet changed their life, changed the course of history, not just for our community, but for our country and our world. That they [gave] the ultimate sacrifice of their own life [to] freedom and liberty. We must never forget them, said McCarthy. In preparation for Memorial Day, Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to allow small groups of volunteers to continue the longstanding tradition of placing American flags on all national cemeteries. This coordinated display of patriotism comes together with hours of planning and preparation, designed to bring comfort to those whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice. If small groups of volunteers are able to abide by necessary safety restrictions, I believe their work to honor our service men and women should continue as planned on Memorial Day, wrote Loeffler. Arlington National Cemetery is a place that would be teeming with visitors on this day, but instead is closed to tours and large groups, including volunteers, due to the CCP virus pandemic. The national site for burying American military is only open to their family members. While #MemorialDay this year is different than what weve all been accustomed to due to #COVID19, we will continue to honor the families who have lost loved ones in defense of our country. Please take a moment today to thank our Gold Star Families for their incredible sacrifice, wrote Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) Heat, sun, satisfactory river currents. The stars were aligned for an ideal start to tubing season in Central Texas last year. Tubers headed to New Braunfels to capture a day of fun in the sun at the Comal and Guadalupe rivers. Fast forward to Spring 2020 and a little thing called coronavirus threatened the annual tradition. However, river outfitters on the Guadalupe, Comal, and San Marcos rivers announced they would open for business with social distancing measures in place, per Gov. Greg Abbott's guidelines. Planning to hit the rios? Here's what you need to know for Memorial Day tubing this year. If this weekend seems #toosoon, just start planning your future excursion with our ultimate guide to tubing in Texas rivers. And get a little inspiration from the 2019 photos below. Head Pastor of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil has been asked to stop watching the National Geography channel and rather concentrate on national issues. Pastor Mensa Otabil in 2018 said it was depressing to listen to Ghanaian media and that he would rather watch a channel that is less depressing. It is very depressing. It will contaminate your soul . . . I dont watch Ghanaian TV much. I watch a little . . . one, two, three, and I say Oh nothing has changed, go back. I will watch animals. Ill watch cheetah, Ill watch lion, Ill watch antelope anytime . . . Ill watch giraffes anytime because at least theyll tell me how to hunt, how to get to your goal, how to avoid being eaten. Ill learn that from an antelope. At least Id come back and say: nobody will eat me," he said. Two years down Sam George says it is time for Pastor Mensa Otabil to stop 'watching animals' and address the 'rot' in the country. The Ningo Prampram MP who was interacting with Adakabre Frimpong Manso on Neat FM's Me Man Nti programme said "since he says hes not following the rot in the system and he only watches national geography, I would have been grateful if Pastor Otabil was still preaching about the rot in the system. Ato Essien Lawyers of William Ato Essien, the founder of the defunct Capital Bank, who is standing trial for allegedly collapsing the bank, has told the Accra High Court that their client is willing to refund GH27.5 million back to the state. Counsel for Ato Essien, Mr Baffour Gyewu Bonsu told the court Thursday that his client had already paid GH1.4 million of the GH27.5 million to the state. Speaking to this, Sam George said: "I will be happy if he preaches a sermon on Sunday about the CEO of the bank that he was board Chairman who has admitted guilt that hes chopped peoples money and wants to pay some. What Ato Essien says he wants to pay; I would want to hear what Dr Otabil has to say, because as Chairman of the board what did he know about the rot in the bank. Today hes quiet hes only watching animals". Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 100 years Ago 1920: A number of persons who entered the Chester Times Census Contest during the winter months have inquired at this office what became of the prizes, which were offered by their paper or the nearest guess to the official government figures for the city. Unlike hundreds of other cities and towns, no announcement has yet been made the Census Bureau of the population of Chester. Hundreds of guesses were submitted, ranging from pessimistic hazards to the 100,000 mark. 75 Years Ago 1945: Nan L. Dutton is marking her 50th anniversary as a reporter on the Chester Times. To try to write a story about Miss Nan is difficult, for while she knows all about Media, past and present, and the comings and goings of everybody in the town, Miss Nan is unusually reticent about herself. As she puts it, rather succinctly, I have been connected with the Times for 50 years, having been in the Media office for 41 years. I began writing items in 1895 without any compensation and was put on the payroll later. 50 Years Ago 1970: Senate Minority Leader High Scott, R-Pa., said in Middletown Saturday that American troops will be withdrawn from Cambodia by July 1. Speaking at the dedication of the Franklin Mint, Scott said virtually every American solider will be out of Cambodia before July 1 and most will be out before then. The $10 million mint was dedicated during the ceremonies under a huge tent surrounded by the billowing flags of the 50 states. 25 years Ago 1995: Chester City Council has delayed rehiring any of the 16 furloughed police cadets until it receives written confirmation the city has received a waiver of the $200,000 in matching funds for the $675,000 Crime Bill grant it received. Earlier this year, 14 men and two women graduated from the Police Academy only to be laid off the next day after the city could not afford the matching funds for the grant which was to have paid for their hiring. 10 Years Ago 2010: The spate of new American with Disabilities Act-compliant corners being installed around the county by PennDOT contractors may be helping the states legal department rest easier, but Parkside borough officials and residents are not happy with the new curbing and curb cuts along Edgmont Avenue and Upland Road. (HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that it has filed an emergency action and obtained a temporary restraining order and asset freeze against a California-registered investment adviser and his entities to halt an ongoing Ponzi scheme targeting senior citizens in Southern California. According to the SECs complaint, from at least January 2018 through the present, Paul Horton Smith Sr. offered and sold securities in his company Northstar Communications LLC, and used his investment advisory firm eGate LLC and insurance and estate planning company Planning Services Inc. to market the securities. Smith and Northstar through free workshops and other investor events allegedly promised investors guaranteed annual interest payments between 3 percent and 10.5 percent if they invested in so-called private annuity contracts. In reality, as the complaint alleges, Smith did not invest the funds raised in any securities and instead used new investor funds to pay investor returns in a Ponzi-like fashion. According to the complaint, Northstar raised more than $5.6 million from at least 35 investors and paid out $5.2 million to those investors as interest payments or principal returned. Smith also allegedly used investor funds to settle investor fraud lawsuits. The SECs complaint, filed on May 19 and unsealed late yesterday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, charges Smith, Northstar, eGate, and Planning Services with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. The complaint seeks injunctions, the return of ill-gotten gains plus interest, and civil penalties. On May 20, in addition to granting a temporary restraining order and an asset freeze, the court ordered an accounting and appointed a temporary receiver. A hearing is scheduled for June 3, 2020, to consider continuing the asset freeze, issuance of a preliminary injunction, and appointment of a permanent receiver. As alleged in our complaint, Paul Horton Smith Sr. raised millions of dollars by touting his purported investment expertise and guaranteeing returns, said Michele Wein Layne, Director of the SECs Los Angeles Regional Office. Investors should be wary of investments promising no risk and high returns, which are classic warning signs of investment fraud. The SECs Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has issued investor alerts on frauds targeting seniors and Ponzi scheme red flags. Additional information is available on Investor.gov and SEC.gov. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California announced on May 21 that it filed a criminal complaint against Smith. At a hotel-turned quarantine centre in Kashmir, the distant sound of a muezzin calling devout Muslims to prayer was all that reminded the inmates that it was Eid. That, a faint ache in the heart and a yearning for home and family. For the 13 migrant returnees cloistered in a gloomy floor of the hotel Munwarabad, home was still several moons away. Srinagar resident and physical training teacher Mohd Shafi, 57, was attending the wedding of a friend's daughter in Delhi when the government announced a nationwide lockdown to fight COVID-19. Within hours, all borders were sealed and inter-state travel suspended, leaving Shafi with no way to return. It was only after May when the government eased restrictions and allowed "shramik special" trains to ply interstate when Shafi managed to book his passage home. "All I wanted was to get home in time for Eid to be with my two daughters. Well, we did reach Kashmir but didn't reach home," the school teacher tells News18 over a telephonic interview. Shafi is one of the hundreds of migrants and travellers from Jammu and Kashmir who boarded the Rajdhani Express from New Delhi railway station on Tuesday after nearly 60 days of a nationwide lockdown. Though Shafi is glad to finally be back in Kashmir and among his own people, he fears that it still might be a few days before he gets to see his family. Only after he and all others quarantining with him test negative for COVID-19 will he be allowed to return home. But with a growing number of cases, the demand for testing kits seem to have outnumbered supply. Shafi and other inmates at the centre tell News18 that it may well be ten days before they even get the results. "No social distancing" When the shramik special train pulled out of Delhi on Tuesday evening, many such as 27-year-old Saifi* was anxious. In Delhi to finish work on a foreign exchange program, Saifi's plans of going abroad had been put on hold after COVID-19 brought all international travel as well as economic and institutional activities to a halt. After months of waiting, Saifi bought herself a first-class ticket to return home. Though Saifi followed all the precautions such as using hand sanitiser and wearing a mask, she was afraid that the lack of social distancing protocols throughout the journey may have exposed her to the deadly virus. "There was a lot of confusion caused by lack of planning. We were not tested properly at neither Delhi nor Jammu stations," the woman tells News18. She also said that the common bathrooms on the train remained unclean after individual use. Upon reaching Jammu, the passengers underwent basic thermal testing for COVID-19 symptoms before boarding buses that were waiting to take them to various districts across Kashmir. But a day's journey stretched on for two nights after a freak landslide in Panthal Pass en route to Srinagar cut off the road, stranding about 20 buses midway along with hundreds of passengers as well as other private cars and goods trucks. "While we maintained social distancing on the bus, there was no way to do the same once the buses stopped due to the blockage," Saifi recalls. (The roadblock caused by a landslide in Panthal Pass) It took district authorities two days to reach the spot and clear the obstruction before the buses could finally resume on Friday. While authorities supplied essential food supplies such as biscuits, water and simple packaged meals, many had to take matters in their own hands and seek the help of locals and truck drivers to procure meals. "There are no specific security measures for women and children. The police in Panthal where we were stuck for two days was unresponsive," she said. A small Hindu temple in the vicinity threw open its doors to women passengers who needed to use the bathroom. Saifi tells News18 she would always be grateful to the temple priests who came to her and other women's' aid at a time when the government failed. Returning to chaos While the rest of India and other Muslims in some South Asian countries celebrated will celebrate Eid on Monday, Kashmiris celebrated Eid on Sunday. For 29-year-old web designer Mirza*, this was rather symbolic. "The moon decided to be kinder to us. Well, at least some of us," he tells News18. He and others at the quarantine centre had been unable to see the moon from the hotel. But while the crescent shone bright on the rest of Kashmir, heralding the end of the holy month of Ramzan, festivities across the state remain solemn. Mirza had left Srinagar in August last year, weeks after the controversial abrogation of Article 370 that accorded special status to the former state of Jammu & Kashmir. Since then, several analysts and observers have sensed seething anger among locals who endured one of the longest media blackouts in living history after the abrogation. According to Mirza, who had left for Delhi to find work after his projects were stalled due to the political lockdown, the ensuing unemployment and economic stress have caused a lot of resentment, especially among the youth. "Now, with coronavirus, even jobs in other states have dried up. I am returning home because I couldn't find work in Delhi anymore," Mirza says. When asked what he thought about his job prospects back in Kashmir, the IT professional remains unsure. While Mirza might still manage to source work online if internet services are allowed to smoothly function, migrant, daily wage workers and artisans like Shabir Ahmed foresee a future far bleaker. Originally from Chatpal village in southern Kashmir, Ahmed worked as a maker and seller of fur bags in Delhi. But with the lockdown, Ahmed ran out of work. Forced to live on his savings for two months, Ahmed worries about how he will survive and feed his family of three upon reaching home. While the Narendra Modi government made a stream of announcements under a Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package to revive the dipping economy and aid those hit by the crisis, Ahmed who doesn't hold a Jan Dhan account worries that the benefits might get lost in implementation before seeping down to him. This Eid, all he hopes for is the assurance of a job and government aid in case of crisis. As of Sunday, Kashmir recorded over 1,400 confirmed cases of coronavirus and at least 23 deaths. Despite the threat of a pandemic, however, security action and militant attacks have continued unabated. The month and a half leading up to the encounter of former teacher and Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo on May 6 saw intense violence and counteraction in the valley and the recent weeks have been tense with repeated violence and deaths of both militants and security personnel. With the lockdown and threat of coronavirus, many such as Mirza and Ahmed fear the economic repercussions might cause ruin beyond repair. Makeshift families Meanwhile, residents of the quarantine centre in Munwarabad burn lamps and offer prayers in the isolation of their floors. Resigned to the wait, the 13 inmates on the floor that Shafi, Saifi, Mirza and Ahmed have started to act like a well-oiled unit. They take turns to use the utilities, maintain social distance and protect their floor from incursions of residents from other floors. At night, they share WhatsApp messages with each other regarding the latest developments on coronavirus. "Every year on Eid, my mother cooks her famous Goshtaba and Tabakh-Maaz. This year, all we were offered to eat was rice and dal in tinfoil," Saifi rues. But she believes that the sacrifice is essential to ensure their own safety as well as that of their families. After all, it wasn't all bad, she reminds herself. All of Sunday, families of quarantined inmates poured in to meet their loved ones and bring them food, albeit from a distance. Mothers met sons after months, brothers threw gifts and children cried at not being able to touch their parents. Though her mother's mutton koftas were missing, Saifi and the others managed to pool in the dishes and put about eight dishes on the collective quarantine Eid menu. "We have all stood in support of each other and helped in whatever way we can. In the absence of our families, we have managed to provide each other with a degree of warmth". Kashmiriyat, it seems, will survive even a pandemic, Saifi says, even as the faint sounds of the muezzin float in once again through the static of the mobile phone, indicating maghrib namaz and the end of the interview. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:12:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian police killed seven suspected armed gangsters in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam after their robbery attempt became abortive, a senior police officer said on Monday. The suspected gangsters were killed at midnight on Sunday as they planned to raid a warehouse for construction materials in the business capital, said Lazaro Mambosasa, the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander. "Acting on intelligence reports, a special anti-crime police task force trailed a vehicle in which the suspected bandits were driving towards Mwenge area," Mambosasa told a news conference. He said when the suspected gangsters realized that they were being followed by the police they started firing at the law enforcers who fired back killing the suspects on the spot. "When police searched the vehicle used by the suspects they found a pistol with three rounds of ammunition, two gas cylinders, machetes, a mobile telephone and a rope," said Mambosasa. He said the gas cylinders were to be used for breaking into the warehouse. On May 11, police gunned down four suspected armed robbers after an exchange of fire in the east African nation's western region of Kigoma. Enditem Ontario Premier Doug Ford promises to deliver a plan for COVID-19 testing this week. That is to say, a new plan, or an expanded plan. This one, he says, will involve testing more people those at work and those who may have the disease but arent showing any symptoms. We look forward to that, but cant help but point out two obvious issues: First, the new plan will come out more than a week after the province started to emerge from lockdown, when the streets are a lot busier and the chances of a resurgence in the disease are rising. In fact, there are worrisome signs that may already be starting. The daily toll of new cases in the province has stopped falling, and actually ticked up in the past few days. Its no crisis, at least not yet, but its not what anyone wants to see. So why wasnt the plan for expanded testing in place and announced in conjunction with the reopening? The two must obviously go together; public health officials were clear on that from the beginning. So why the delay in rolling out a comprehensive plan? Second, how can the public have confidence in whatever new plan is unveiled this week when the provinces efforts thus far on the testing front have fallen so short? No need to believe us on that. The man in charge, Premier Ford himself, has been completely open about his own disappointment with the provinces testing program. Six weeks ago, on April 8, he went public with his anger, saying the public health systems failure to meet testing targets day after day was absolutely unacceptable. Since then hes said hes beating the drum for more testing (April 22), called the situation frustrating (May 5), and said hes disappointed (May 6). Hes called himself a dog with a bone on the issue, escalating last week to an 800-pound gorilla. Who knows what other large mammals hell invoke as the crisis unfolds? But after so many weeks, Fords rhetoric rings hollow. He is, after all, the guy in charge. The disconnect between his words and his governments actions looms larger by the day. Its fine for him to show his frustration, but at this point Ontarians expect results, not another plan replete with testing targets that may or, judging by past performance, more likely may not be met. This is even more pressing considering the fact that Ontario has launched itself on the reopening adventure without any clear idea of why people are still getting infected with COVID-19. As Kenyon Wallace, Jenna Moon and Kevin Donovan reported in the Star, the province cant account for the source of exposure of more than two-thirds of reported cases of the coronavirus. Those cases have been classified as due to community transmission, with the source determined to be unknown, or simply as information pending. Public health, in other words, simply doesnt know how all those people are being exposed to COVID-19. And with such incomplete and vague information, how can it respond in the precise and targeted way that comprehensive testing and contact tracing are supposed to ensure? The answer, surely, is that it cant. We need a much more rigorous system, and so its encouraging that the federal government is offering support and money to provinces struggling to put in place comprehensive testing and tracing. The need is greatest in Ontario and Quebec, which have been hit hardest by COVID-19, but all provinces could benefit. Thats because we need not just a system that works well in each province, but one that will be effective right across the country. We must do better than develop a patchwork system with incompatible standards and technology in different provinces. As we ramp up the public health safeguards that will allow for safe reopening, we should make sure they can work together. We can no longer tolerate the kind of stumbles that have marred Ontarios efforts so far. New Delhi: The 128-kilometre journey back to his home village of Kargalo in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand almost killed Ugan Shaw, 50. The father of two walked for 19 km, hitched a ride on a motorbike and then clung to the side of a packed truck with 50 other returnees. Migrant workers walk to board a special train to return to Agra in Uttar Pradesh state, during a nationwide lockdown. Credit:AP His joy at being reunited with his family was short-lived - unable to stand and suffering from a fever, he was rushed to hospital where he tested positive for COVID-19. He remained in hospital for 20 days before he was discharged on April 22. Shaw believes he came into contact with more than 100 people during his journey home and in his village. India has incrementally relaxed its lockdown since May 1 to boost its ailing economy. This has made it easier for 40 million stranded migrant labourers to return home from the cities. Not only did they take their meagre belongings with them, but, like Shaw, many are carrying coronavirus to India's vulnerable rural hinterlands, where healthcare provision is some of the worst in the world. The Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Monday donated a ventilator to Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Charitable Hospital, Model Town. Chairman of CIIs Punjab chapter, Rahul Ahuja, and CICU president Upkar Singh Ahuja said they had established a coronavirus relief fund and collected donations worth Rs 1.5 crore with the help of the members of both the associations. ASSOCIATIONS SERVING FOOD TO NEEDY A large part of this fund has been donated to police department, district administration, Red Cross Society and various hospitals, including Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, for various relief and rehabilitation measures. Apart from this, members have been directly contributing to the cause by distributing food packets and running community kitchens serving hundreds on daily basis, he said. Nihil Smith pays respect to his longtime friend U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Kenneth Pipes at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego on May 24, a day before Memorial Day. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) Memorial Day 2020 in California will be one like no other. With social distancing rules in place, large memorials in Los Angeles and Orange counties are being replaced by virtual ones, as well as a flyover of vintage planes. In San Diego, home to a large number of veterans and active military person, and which traditionally observes the holiday with four large public events, the event will move online in one coordinated effort to bring the remembrances to audiences at home safely. Phil Kendro, a board member of the Mt. Soledad memorials board of trustees, said the one-hour joint event is unique. We recognized that we would not be able to conduct our normal Memorial Day commemorations this year, so we built a partnership with four iconic San Diego sites to create a unique virtual commemoration that is the only one of its kind, Kendro said in a statement. The plan to go virtual has been in the works for weeks, said David Koontz, marketing director of the Midway Museum. We had to think out of the box to pay tribute but at the same time allow people to tune in and attend, Koontz said. Were really looking forward to being able to do this. Despite the unique circumstance of the pandemic, it is important to remember the sacrifices of members of the military, said Carlos Inot, president and CEO of the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation. On a Memorial Day, unlike any our country has experienced before, we hope that all who view this program will be inspired to take a moment to remember and pay their respects to our veterans and active duty military, and to their families who have sacrificed so much for our country, Inot said. Here are some key events around the region: Memorial Day will also be marked by a flyover of an 18-plane formation of historic war birds. The 70- to 90-minute flyover will begin at noon near Loma Linda University Medical Center, then fly over the Riverside National Cemetery and several locations in Orange County. In Los Angeles County, the aircraft will fly over the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach, the Queen Mary, the battleship Iowa, which is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, Zamperini Airport in Torrance, Los Angeles International Airport, Santa Monica Airport, Los Angeles National Cemetery, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center and City of Hope National Medical Center. Story continues The 131st Memorial Day Celebration at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood will begin at 10 a.m. and be broadcast on KABC-TV Channel 7 and streamed on abc7.com. The ceremony is described by KABC as a distanced experience. The station will use multiple cameras and drones to produce a broadcast of the featured guests' presentations, performances and dedications. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez will celebrate a Memorial Day Mass at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mortuary in Culver City honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. The Mass will also include a tribute to those who have died during the coronavirus pandemic and have not had funeral Masses. The Mass will be livestreamed on CatholicCM.org and Facebook.com/lacatholics. Forest Lawn will hold a live virtual celebration at 10 a.m. on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ForestLawn. It will include a message from Los Angeles Controller Ron Galperin, patriotic music and a Scottish bagpipes and drums performance by Harry Farrar. City News Service and Andrew Dyer of the San Diego Union Tribune contributed to this report The Eid-ul-Fitr celebration in Arunachal Pradesh remained a low key affair as people offered namaz at home with mosques remaining closed for congregational prayers in the wake of the lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak. Abdul Hamid, a resident of Niti Vihar area here said that his family members stayed indoors in the interest of society amid the "coronavirus scare". "This morning I joined my elder brother and his son for offering Eid prayer via teleconferencing. "My brother conducted the prayer from my home town," said M Arif Siddiqui, an engineer from Changlang district. Residents of the state capital did their festival eve shopping on Sunday by maintaining social distancing, with local markets being allowed to open now. Traditional delicacies were prepared at home for family members, friends and was shared with the needy. Meanwhile, Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra and Chief Minister Pema Khandu extended their Eid greetings to the people. The governor in his message expressed hope that the festival would inspire all to follow the path of peace, harmony and tolerance. "May the noble ideals of Eid-ul-Fitr fill our lives with amity, love, prosperity and happiness and strengthen the bonds of our composite society," the governor said. Khandu in his message said, "On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, we are reminded of the importance of mercy, compassion, and goodwill. "It is also a time to give thanks for the spiritual growth and the blessings received throughout the holy month," he said. The chief minister appealed for upholding the spirit of Eid while spreading the message of universal peace, forgiveness and unity in the world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BRIDGEPORT The lawyer for four top city police officials, seeking to overturn the appointment of Rebeca Garcia as assistant police chief, said he will appeal a court ruling delaying the case to October. Thomas Bucci said his clients, Captains Brian Fitzgerald, Steven Lougal and Roderick Porter, and Deputy Police Chief Anthony Armeno, are being retaliated against because of the stand they have taken against Garcias appointment. He would not say what that retaliation has been. In the meantime, Councilwoman Eneida Garcia, who had been an ardent supporter of the assistant police chief, said Friday the council had been misled by the mayor and his administration into approving Garcias appointment. Personnel matters like this come up at times. It is a consistent policy for the city to withhold comment on these types of incidents that are pending litigation, said the mayors spokeswoman, Rowena White. Garcia did not return calls for comment. In December, the captains and Armeno filed suit in state Superior Court one day after the City Council approved Garcia as assistant police chief. Garcia, the first female Hispanic to hold the post, was chosen by Mayor Joe Ganim and Police Chief Armando Perez for the $142,425 a year job. The suit claims the appointment of Garcia to assistant chief is unlawful and invalid, because it was not done under the provisions of civil service. The right to make a unilateral appointment to a position of assistant chief doesnt exist under the city charter nor under the civil service provisions, Bucci said at the time he filed the lawsuit. The trial before a judge was scheduled for March but then the pandemic hit. It was rescheduled for May 27 and then on Thursday, Judge Barry Stevens continued it to Oct. 22. My clients are interested in a date earlier than October but we have to wait until the courts are up and running again, Bucci said on Friday. He said the concerns about retaliation are one of the reasons he will be seeking an earlier trial date than October. Bucci admitted that the delay in the case has enabled them to discover new evidence that he said makes their case stronger. That new evidence, he said, is a memo that was put out by Police Chief Joseph Gaudett just before he retired in February 2016, eliminating the position of assistant chief. Bucci said Gaudett had the authority to make such an order and the order was still in place when Garcia was promoted. Councilwoman Eneida Martinez said the council was not told of Gaudetts order by the mayor or his administration when they were urged to approve Garcias appointment. We were misled on this position, that in 2016 Gaudett had eliminated the position, Martinez said. When (the appointment) was brought in front of us by the mayor, that was not given to us and we were misled. At the time, only Councilwoman Maria Pereira cast a no vote against the appointment, questioning the legality of it. I am not opposed to Garcia. I have a problem with the process used to appoint her, Pereira said on Friday. Every other position in the Police Department had to go through the Civil Service Commission except this one and thats not right. When they selected the last assistant chief (James Nardozzi), it was after a nationwide search and going through civil service. The lawsuit states that under the city charter the position of assistant chief is considered a classified service and must follow the competitive hiring provisions of the charter starting with a list of people eligible for the position and the scheduling of a competitive test for the job. The plaintiffs possess qualifications, in the least, equal to those of Captain Rebecca (sic) Garcia, and, under the City Charter must be allowed to compete for the position of assistant police chief, unless legitimately disqualified, the suit states. Beaches and tourist spots in the United States were filled up this weekend as thousands celebrated the Memorial Day 2020, according to a recently published article. Beaches and Other Tourist Spots Filled for Memorial Day 2020 Thousands of people flocked together in the different beaches and tourist spots across the country this weekend for the Memorial Day 2020. This caused an alarm to the health officials and experts that it may be the cause of the second wave. In the Tampa Area, County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri deployed 300 deputies to patrol the different beaches to make sure that people would not get too close. Authorities also have to close the parking lots because of the increasing number of people who were coming on that day. One of the beachgoers in Alabama's Gulf shores told a news outlet, "there are literally thousands of people out here on the beach, and what I'm really pleased to see is that many of these folks, almost all of them, are doing a great job with social distancing." However, it is not what is seen in the pictures and videos that went viral online. A video from a pool party at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, showed hundreds of people crammed together inside and outside the pool without observing social distancing. Additionally, people in the same state were also seen crammed in bars and restaurants not wearing their face masks. Meanwhile, the 700-mile Hatfield-McCoy network of all-terrain vehicle trails was allowed to reopen again last weekend. Campgrounds and Cabins were also reopened. Their opening led many people to flock in the area. Warnings and Concerns from the Health Officials and Experts The state reopening and the scenes that happened over the weekend where thousands of people flocked together in the different beaches and tourist spots in the country raised different concerns from the health officials and experts. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus taskforce, said on Sunday: "We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you can't social distance and you're outside, you must wear a mask." She also added: "There is clear scientific evidence now, by all the droplet experiments that happened and that others have done, to show that a mask does prevent droplets from reaching others." In an interview with her from another news outlet, Birx said: "There's asymptomatic spread. And that means that people are spreading the virus unknowingly. And this is unusual in the case of respiratory diseases. So you don't know who's infected. And so we really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you can't social distance and you're outside, you must wear a mask." Meanwhile, Dr. Stephen M. Hahn, commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, also made a statement and said: "With the country starting to open up this holiday weekend, I again remind everyone that the coronavirus is not yet contained. It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community. Social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks protect us all." Read related articles: This Memorial Day, during the time of COVID-19, will be different from all others. Many cemeteries probably have new restrictions, making it more difficult for visitors to pay their respects. Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for more than 400,000 active-duty service members, veterans, and their families, is closed to the public, although family members of the fallen can still visit. Many Americans, even if they wanted to, might not be able to visit a memorial or a cemetery due to stay-at-home restrictions. Flags normally placed with care at military graves might not be there this year. Big Memorial Day parades with marching bands like the one that Chicago traditionally has have been canceled. And amid the grief caused by the deaths of more than 93,000 Americans from the deadly virus, the economic devastation accompanied by the loss of millions of jobs, and for some, the despair of home isolation, some might feel less inclined than normal to pause and remember those who sacrificed their lives in the defense of the country. That would be unfortunate. (Photo : Kon Karampelas on Unsplash) Tinder Date Fatally Stabbed By A Utah Man Hours After Meeting; The Increased Conversation Risks The Use Of Tinder During The Pandemic (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @today_karnataka) Tinder Date Fatally Stabbed By A Utah Man Hours After Meeting; The Increased Conversation Risks The Use Of Tinder During The Pandemic A tinder date was fatally stabbed just hours after meeting her date. The police arrested the suspect, a Utah man, on Sunday, May 24, after he called 911 saying that he murdered a 25-year-old woman whom he just met on the popular dating app Tinder. Single individuals are facing a hard time during the lockdown caused by the global coronavirus pandemic since all public places for meetups are currently out of bounds. However, many of these people have found an outlet online that they can still use. According to CNBC TV 18's previous report, experts have seen an increase in conversations and time spent on the popular dating app. According to Eli Seidman, CEO of Tinder, the increase in conversations on the dating platform has set a new record, with users making 3 billion swipes worldwide on March 29--the highest record of the company in a single day since it was launched. The CEO pointed out the three things that stood out for Tinder during the global coronavirus pandemic. Seidman said that the difference between online dating and normal dating is vanishing as dating platforms become more popular. "You can get emotional connection digitally and the third thing is that it is very inspiring creatively for us to see the way in which people around us are hacking these digital experiences. Especially, look at the way in which the show Bachelor was launched on Zoom using real people," the CEO said. Tinder date fatally stabbed by a Utah man hours after meeting; The increased conversation risks the use of Tinder during the pandemic According to the Layton Police, Ethan Hunsaker, a 24-year-old Utah citizen, called 911 stating that he killed someone inside a home in Layton early on Sunday. A woman was found dead by the police respondents. The victim was lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds to her torso as reported by the police. The woman, whose name has not yet been released, died at the scene because of her injuries. Hunsaker could not be reached for comment since the authorities stated that it wasn't immediately clear if he already obtained an attorney. According to the report provided by the police department, the man who called 911 met the woman last Saturday night, May 23, on the popular dating app. The motive is still under investigation as stated by the officials handling the case. The latest report showed that the attack appears to have been unprovoked. Hunsaker is was being held in the Davis County Jail, and was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Trend Turkey's daily COVID-19 death toll Sunday reached 32, as new confirmed cases stand at 1,141 with 24,589 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. The total death toll in the country now stands at 4,340, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced. Currently, there are a total of 156,827 confirmed cases in the country with 118,694 of them having recovered, Koca said as he urged for controlled social life. According to the Health Ministrys latest coronavirus numbers on Sunday, 1,092 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Koca, along with other experts, has repeatedly warned citizens in the past that the easing of measures did not mean the threat of the virus was over; but rather meant the beginning of a new lifestyle to which citizens would have to adapt. The Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, traditionally a time of gathering was marked by a nationwide lockdown, the first of its kind in Turkey to combat the coronavirus. Previous weekend and holiday lockdowns affected a maximum of 31 out of 81 provinces. Senior citizens above 65 were allowed out for a few hours for a third Sunday. People under 20 and above 65 have been under full lockdown, but days and times outside have been allotted according to age groups as part of easing efforts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Only a small sliver about a quarter of U.S. stock is taxable, because most equities are held in tax-exempt retirement accounts or by tax-exempt nonprofits or foreigners, according to the Tax Policy Center's Steven M. Rosenthal and Lydia Austin. Sales of assets that are taxable are taxed at preferential rates (that is, lower than what you pay on your wage or salary income) if the investments are held for more than a year. Wife stabs husband with broken bottle over refusal to fix fan PHUKET: A woman at a construction camp in Thalang yesterday (May 24), outraged that her husband remained drinking with a friend instead of repairing an electric fan as she had repeatedly asked, attacked her husband with a bottle, leaving him with a serious gash to his head. Stabs to his chest with the broken bottle also left him with a punctured lung. violencealcoholcrimepolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Monday 25 May 2020, 01:02PM Police have yet to confirm which charges Ms Chanchira will face for the attack. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The broken neck of the bottle Mr Sunthorn was stabbed with. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Mr Sunthorn suffered a serious gash to his head and a punctured lung in the attack. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Ms Sunthorn kneed his wife in the stomach twice during the fight. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Lt Phattarakorn Pongpaiboon of the Thalang Police was called to the scene, in Moo 7, Srisoonthorn at 1pm. Arriving at the scene, police and rescue workers found the man, Sunthorn Petthong, 37, a garbage truck driver for Kathu Municipality, with blood streaming from his head. Sunthorn was holding his hand over one of the wounds to his chest. He was rushed to Thalang Hospital, where it was confirmed that one of his lungs had been punctured, prompting doctors to have him taken immediately to the better-equipped Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. At the scene of the stabbing, Chanchira Boonkong, 31, from Phitsanulok, surrendered to police and was taken to Thalang Police Station for questioning. The couple had been together for more than 13 years, and had three children, one 10 years old, another eight years old and the youngest just four years old, said Lt Phattarakorn. "Mr Sunthorn was drinking beer in front of the house with his friend Sanan Wongkaew, 41, when Ms Chanchira came up to ask him to fix the fan in their room, but he refused, he explained. Ms Chanchira later sent Mr Sunthorn a message by LINE telling him to fix the fan, he added. "But he still did not go. She got angry, and walked up to him from behind and started hitting him on the head with an empty Sangsom bottle, he said. During the fight, the bottle broke and Ms Chanchira stabbed her husband in the chest several times, Lt Phattarakorn explained. Mr Sunthorns friend, Mr Sanan, intervened and pulled Ms Chanchira away to stop the fight. The attack was caught on CCTV, which showed that while Mr Sanan was grappling with Ms Chanchira to stop her attack, Mr Sunthorn took the opportunity to knee his wife in the stomach twice. Lt Phattarakorn said that he had yet to decide on which charges Ms Chanchira is to face. I first need to be sure of the injured husbands condition and receive a report from the doctors before we can file the correct charges, he said. Places of worship in California can reopen with limited attendance 25% of building capacity Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday in new state guidelines that he issued as the states coronavirus cases continued to climb and President Trump pressed governors to allow religious gatherings. Churches and other places of worship are not obligated to open under the directive, and the California Department of Public Health said it is strongly recommended they continue to provide remote services when possible. Recent outbreaks in at least two counties, Mendocino and Butte, have been tied to church services. The state guidance leaves it up to counties to decide whether religious facilities within their jurisdictions may open. Attendance must be limited to 25% of building capacity or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is lower. The restrictions will be in place for 21 days after a county approves the opening, and then health officials will assess the impacts and adjust the guidelines accordingly. Also on Monday, the state loosened its guidelines around retail, which previously required counties to get state approval for meeting certain benchmarks before allowing in-store shopping. Now all counties in the state may decide when they allow retailers to open. The new guidance does not include personal services such as hair salons, nail salons and barbershops. Additionally, the state said in-person protests and events designed for political expression can go ahead if attendance is restricted to 25% of an areas maximum occupancy or up to 100 attendees. The new guidance says the vast majority of large gatherings like concerts and conventions are still prohibited under the stay-at-home order. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle When it comes to houses of worship, state health officials outlined details on screening, cleaning and physical distancing though it was not immediately clear how, or whether, they will be enforced. The guidelines also encourage workers and volunteers to wear gloves, and state that places of worship should consider modifying practices that are specific to particular faith traditions that might encourage the spread of COVID-19. Examples the guidance gave are discontinuing kissing of ritual objects, allowing rites to be performed by fewer people, avoiding the use of a common cup, offering communion in the hand instead of on the tongue, providing pre-packed communion items on chairs prior to service, etc., in accordance with CDC guidelines. Among its other points, the guidance called on houses of worship to: Screen for temperature and symptoms upon arrival, and ask congregants and visitors to use hand sanitizer and wear face coverings. Shorten services when possible to limit the time people spend inside the facility. Thoroughly clean high-traffic areas, like hallways, chapels, lobbies and bathrooms. Discourage staff, congregants and visitors from regular greetings, like handshakes and hugging. Discourage sharing of items typically used in worship and services, like prayer books, cushions and prayer rugs. Refrain from holding potlucks or similar family-style eating and drinking events. Strongly consider discontinuing singing, group recitation and other practices and performances. Officials say these practices increase the likelihood of transmission. The new state guidelines come three days after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Newsoms earlier ban on in-person church services after a challenge to the ban by a church in San Diego. It also comes as at least six new cases in Mendocino County were tied to an outbreak at the Redwood Valley Assembly of God, and at least two cases were linked to a Mothers Day church service in Butte County, according to the Chico Enterprise-Record. Reopening churches has become a hot-button topic, even more so over the past few days as Trump called on governors to allow people to gather in places of worship and deemed the facilities essential. The president threatened to override governors who do not allow such gatherings though it is unclear what authority he has on that matter. Also Monday, a group of black pastors and clergy members in the Bay Area called on local churches in the black community to stay shut as a way to curb COVID-19 risk. Black communities in the Bay Area and around the country have been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus, and local leaders worry how reopening black churches could exacerbate the spread. The group called for more testing, medical services and educational support. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani Around the world, special health workers are playing a part in efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. They are serving as contact tracers. Contact tracing involves investigative and nursing skills, among others. Tracers seek information from COVID-19 patients about their contacts with other people. The goal is to create a map of every place an infected person has been and whom they have met. Some countries have developed national systems. In the United States, programs are created by the states. Mackenzie Bray is a contact tracer in the state of Utah. She usually investigates sexually-passed diseases. Now, she is one of 130 people at the Salt Lake County health department ordered to track coronavirus cases in the Salt Lake City area. The investigators, many of them nurses, each work on 30 to 40 cases at a time. They try to talk to every person who came within 1.8 meters of the infected person for 10 minutes or more. On one recent case, Bray called a retired man just confirmed to have COVID-19. She said she asked him many questions about whom he had been near in the seven days before the call. She also suggested that he go through his bank statements to help him remember which stores he might have visited. During the call, the mans wife said that family members had come to the couples home on Mothers Day. Bray asked if the group had shared food or drinks. The answer was yes. Suddenly, the contact tracer had more people to call. Tracers try to contact every person who came within two meters of an infected person. They remain in touch with some of the people throughout the 14-day virus incubation period. A single telephone call can take 30 minutes or more as tracers must ask a long list of questions. Some experts estimate that 300,000 contract tracers might be needed in the U.S. to limit the spread of the coronavirus. States like Utah say they have enough, but other states say they need hundreds or even thousands more. The contact tracers often deal with a lot of conflicting information. Language and culture barriers can add misunderstanding into the data. Sometimes people do not answer questions from tracers truthfully, by accident or purposely. Health investigator Maria DiCaro was in contact with one infected man who suddenly stopped returning DiCaros calls. She discovered he had been sleeping in his car because of marriage problems. DiCaro found out when she questioned the mans child. DiCaro said she needs people to cooperate with her. No one is legally required to answer questions. So, she has found that treating people with kindness works better than strong words. Bray, the Utah investigator, said, People sometimes think contact tracing is black and white but there is a lot of gray that goes into it. Anissa Archuleta and members of her family were exposed to a man infected with coronavirus at a birthday party. DiCaro called the family every day for two weeks. During that time, the family was tested and found not to have the coronavirus. But, DiCaro learned a lot about the family. After a while, Archuleta began asking DiCaro about how she was doing and thanked her for caring about her and her family. DiCaro said it made her feel good to hear the praise and thanks for her work. Its nice to be appreciated, she said. Im Mario Ritter Jr. Brady McCombs reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story incubation n. the time it takes for an organism or virus to become fully developed black and white --idiom arundas wrote: Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument? > Schools that have instituted new approaches attract the best performing students. > Schools without outside playgrounds have lower levels of student performance than schools that do. > Studies show that student performance corresponded most directly with the education of the students families. > School employees, by an overwhelming margin, said that the system performed well. > Researchers in education have shown that students from school districts with high per-capita spending tend to receive higher scores on standardized tests. Show Spoiler If students from school districts with high per-capita spending tend to receive higher scores on standardized tests, then the assumption that higher spending does not improve school systems may be wrong. For years, the debate over public education reform has centered on financing. Many claim that pouring more money into the public schools will improve student performance. However, the only way to fix our school systems is to inject new ideas and new approaches. Today the schools are organized to benefit their adult employees rather than the students.Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?> Schools that have instituted new approaches attract the best performing students.> Schools without outside playgrounds have lower levels of student performance than schools that do.> Studies show that student performance corresponded most directly with the education of the students families.> School employees, by an overwhelming margin, said that the system performed well.> Researchers in education have shown that students from school districts with high per-capita spending tend to receive higher scores on standardized tests. It's a background statement for the passage. It gives a background that a debate has centered on financing. Then, the passage given two counter-views of the debate. This is view of one side of the debate. This is view of other side of the debate. The author is on this side of the debate. The use of word "only" makes this view completely counter to the other view. Presence of "only" means that this view of the debate means two things: new ideas and new approaches are needed to fix the system and pouring of money "cannot" fix the school systems. This opinion is used to mean that the current school systems are not doing what they are supposed to be doing and thus, they need a fix. In addition, "... benefit their adult employees rather..." could also mean that the way (financial) resources are used currently is benefiting employees rather than the students. Thus, this opinion would also support the viewpoint that putting more resources will not help; new ideas and approaches are required. The question asks us to find an option which most weakens the argument. But what is the argument here? From our above understanding, the argument is like: Conclusion (Claim): new ideas and new approaches are needed to fix the system and pouring of money "cannot" fix the school systems. Premise (supporting opinion): the way (financial) resources are used currently is benefiting employees rather than the students Supports the conclusion rather than weakening it. It means that students with outside playgrounds have higher level of student performance than schools that do not. So, if the absence of outside playgrounds in schools is due to lack of funds, then putting more financial resources will help them to build playgrounds and thus, achieve higher level of performance. So, by making an assumption (that the absence of outside playgrounds in schools is due to lack of funds), this statement works as a weakener. Generally saying, education of students's families is not being talked in the passage. Even if this statement is considered correct, it could mean two things in different scenarios: 1. Scenario One: If education of families can't be changed - In this case, we can't really do anything to improve student performance, which makes the whole debate irrelevant. 2. Scenario Two: If education of families can be changed - In this case, we can work on educating the families while simultaneously working with students. Doing such a thing could be characterized as a "new idea", which would support the given argument. Thus, this statement doesn't weaken the argument. This is irrelevant. Opinion of school employees on the argument is irrelevant. If higher capita spending means higher spending per student and if higher scores on standardized tests means higher performance, then this statement weakens our conclusion that pouring of money cannot fix the system. So, by making these assumptions, this statement can act as a weakener. Very interesting discussion going on here. Let me add my two cents to it. Let's first dissect the passage, line by line:For years, the debate over public education reform has centered on financing -Many claim that pouring more money into the public schools will improve student performance. -However, the only way to fix our school systems is to inject new ideas and new approaches. -Today the schools are organized to benefit their adult employees rather than the students. -Now, let's look at each of the options:A. Schools that have instituted new approaches attract the best performing students. -B. Schools without outside playgrounds have lower levels of student performance than schools that do. -C. Studies show that student performance corresponded most directly with the education of the students families. -D. School employees, by an overwhelming margin, said that the system performed well. -E. Researchers in education have shown that students from school districts with high per-capita spending tend to receive higher scores on standardized tests. -From the analysis above, we see that both options B and E can be weakeners, if we make the required assumptions. However, we need to select the options which weakens the argument the most. Therefore, we need to find the stronger weakener of these two.A strong weakener is one which weakens the argument without making any assumptions. In this case, both the statement make assumptions. The stronger of the two would be the one whose assumptions are easy to justify within the context of the argument.In this case, I think assumptions for option E are easier to justify:- Assumption 1: Since we are primarily talking about public finance, per capita spending should refer to spending per student by the public machinery, rather than spending per individual- Assumption 2: Generally whenever performances are measured and compared, they are through standardized tests. Thus, higher scores on standardized tests should mean higher performance, in this context.In case of option B, absence of outside playgrounds could be due to reasons other than financial ones. It's actually not easy to justify that the only reason for absence of playgrounds would be lack of financial resources.Thus, the correct option should be E.Cheers,CJ_________________ Hong Kong residents voice support for national security legislation - Xinhua | English.news.cn A petition activity was launched on Sunday in support of national security legislation for Hong Kong, with the number of participators quickly amounting to tens of thousands. More than 1,000 street stands were set up across Hong Kong to collect public signatures for the petition. At a street stand in Sheung Wan area on Hong Kong Island, a total of 456 signatures were collected in only two hours on Sunday. Piana He, a volunteer at the street stand, told Xinhua that the petition was welcomed and supported by many Hong Kong residents as they believed that national security legislation at the state level will provide crucial support for maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and safeguarding Hong Kong residents' well-being. The petition activity was launched by a newly established organization jointly initiated by thousands of people and hundreds of groups representing various sectors in the Hong Kong community. The petition, to be held for one week starting from Sunday, was also launched online. As of Sunday evening, more than 100,000 people had participated in the online petition. After a draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security was submitted to the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation, many Hong Kong residents have voiced support for the legislation. Chung Pui-lan, a retired kindergarten teacher who participated in the petition, said she supports the legislation and hopes that it will help protect Hong Kong from scourge caused by external forces and restore its prosperity and stability. The prolonged disturbance has dealt a serious blow to Hong Kong's economy and people's livelihood, and many innocent residents were brutally assaulted by rioters just for holding different views, a Hong Kong resident surnamed Lau said, adding that she hopes national security legislation will help protect Hong Kong residents' freedoms and safety from being threatened by violence. Suen Ming-fung, a retired civil servant, agreed that it is necessary for the central authorities to take action since Hong Kong failed to enact laws for safeguarding national security on its own. Suen said he believes the legislation will help Hong Kong restore prosperity. "Only when its security is ensured can Hong Kong attract more foreign investment and develop more vigorously." Fung Kuen-kwok, a doctor living in Yau Ma Tei area in Kowloon, said since the social unrest started in June 2019, many of his neighbors and clients have been worried about their own safety due to rampant violence. Many countries around the world have relatively complete legal systems to safeguard national security, Fung pointed out, adding that it is the duty of every citizen to safeguard national security, but Hong Kong as a special administrative region of China has been slow in completing national security legislation "We have been looking forward to this (national security legislation) for a long time," he said. "I believe that after the completion of the legislation, it will have a deterrent effect on violent elements and help the residents to resume normal life and work." Getting the word out after that was easy, he said. He had Velez post to several of the towns event pages at about 11:15 a.m. Monday. Word got out just far enough that about 30 people showed up and kept their distance from each other. Cecilia Dalfonso of Glassboro, NJ does a flip on the beach in Wildwood, NJ on May 25, 2020. A gray windy morning would later turn into a perfect sunny day. Read more Under a cloudy sky, vacationers wheeled down Ocean Citys boardwalk on beach cruisers Monday afternoon, past the amusement rides locked behind security gates and signs warning patrons to be kind, don masks, and wash their hands. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and continued fears of the virus spread, the crowds on the traditional first day of the summer season were smaller, and a bit subdued. But there was a determined line of patrons outside Manco & Mancos pizza shop, a handful of souvenir stores selling T-shirts curbside, and families lining the beach mostly keeping at least 6 feet away from one another, though hardly anyone wore a mask. Several beachgoers said they were taking more precautions than usual, adding masks and hand sanitizer to their beach bags. This weekend was the first time beaches had opened since New Jersey eased restrictions it had put in place to reduce the spread of the virus. We have extra wipes, hand sanitizer, and face masks, and were definitely keeping our distance, said Elizabeth Martinez, of Millville, N.J., sitting on the beach with a few friends. READ MORE: At the Jersey Shore, brisk winds, sparse crowds, and worry for whats ahead Jessica and Steven Schaller, of Downingtown, traveled to their home in Ocean City this weekend but were concerned about avoiding crowds. We were worried we figured we would come down and see how crowded it was. If it was too crowded, we probably would have headed back home, Jessica Schaller said. But theyd been pleased to see that their neighbors at the Shore had been making efforts to keep their distance from one another. Others on the beach said they had brought sanitizing supplies and face masks even as their frustration grew over lockdown measures to contain the virus, and the political fight thats ensued over reopening the economy. The Democrats are trying to keep [the lockdown] going, said Paul Miller, of Philadelphia. But he said he was still wearing his mask into stores, and thought it was too soon to be reopening major gathering places like stadiums and movie theaters: You dont want to spread it as much. For businesses at the Shore, the weekend had been unlike any other. Restaurants on Ocean Citys boardwalk were allowed to open for takeout only. Shops on the boardwalk were cleared to sell items curbside, but couldnt allow anyone into the store itself so they set out tables full of T-shirts, sunglasses, and hermit crabs, with employees at the ready to grab customers sizes from the back. Gabrielle Laboy, a 17-year-old from Galloway, N.J., started her first summer job on the boardwalk just this week, at the T-shirt store Jillys. She was taking orders from behind a folding table and a cloth mask, while trying to wash her hands often and not touch customers as she handed over T-shirts. I was really nervous we wouldnt open, but we had a plan set forward for whatever quarantine brought, she said. Its been a lot of fun, a little bit busy, but we like busy. Everyone is going stir-crazy. Down the boardwalk, Don Milora, who has owned the souvenir shop By The Sea for more than 25 years, said he had made about 30% of the profits hed see on a normal Memorial Day. Seasonal businesses at the beach we have essentially a 100-day season, he said. And to lose a weekend. He was frustrated, he said, that big-box stores like Walmart and Target had been able to remain open but that small businesses like his had been hit hard by closures. We did what they asked us to by closing shop at the height of the pandemic, he said. And now they keep moving the finish line on us." Behind him, over the boardwalk loudspeakers, a voice reminded vacationers to practice social distancing. Beachgoers squirted hand sanitizer from the dispensers that were affixed to the boardwalk railings at every block. Outside Manco & Mancos, patrons waited for pizza on Xs taped 6 feet apart. Megan Willis, of King of Prussia, who has been quarantining in Ocean City with her boyfriend, Jonathan Casterline, waited on one of the Xs. She and Casterline were some of the few on the boardwalk wearing masks. This is the first time weve been on the boardwalk, she said, and just because were picking up food. Were not going to be up here going out anytime soon. Utah authorities have identified a woman who was allegedly choked and stabbed to death by her Tinder date, who then called 911 to report her death and asked police to shoot him early Sunday morning. Ethan Hunsaker, 24, was arrested on suspicion of murder in the death of a 25-year-old woman identified by police on Monday as Ashlyn Black. Hunsaker called 911 at 3.19am on Sunday to report that he killed someone inside a home in the area of 1300 N. Reid Avenue in Layton, police say. During the call, Hunsaker told a dispatcher to tell officers to shoot him, according to an affidavit by an officer explaining his arrest. He also allegedly asked officers to shoot him after they arrived, the document said. When officers arrived to the scene they found a woman lying on the floor with multiple stab wounds to her torso. Emergency workers tried to resuscitate her, but she died of her injuries at the scene. Utah authorities have identified Ashlyn Black (pictured), 25, as the woman who was allegedly choked and stabbed to death by her Tinder date, Ethan Hunsaker, 24, who asked police to shoot him Hunsaker said he met the woman on the dating app Tinder late Saturday night. He and Black began communicating Saturday night around 9pm. Hunsaker picked her up from her home and they went to a Layton bar together. A short time later they went back to Hunsakers home. Hunsaker told police he woke up during the night with a woman laying on his left arm and he began choking the woman for about a minute and she fought back, according to a probable cause statement filed by police. Cops said this was consistent with the marks on Hunsakers arms, neck and shoulders. Hunsaker then walked into his kitchen and grabbed a pocket knife and stabbed the woman, who was lying on the floor. He stabbed her multiple times in her chest, side and back, cops say. He called 911 about 10 minutes later. Hunsaker (pictured) called 911 at 3.19am on Sunday to report the killing. During the call, he told a dispatcher to tell officers to shoot him, according to an affidavit by an officer explaining his arrest. He also allegedly asked officers to shoot him after they arrived, the document said Cops reported that the date had been normal and there was no argument to incite the killing. 'The motive behind this homicide is under further investigation; however, the attack appeared to be unprovoked,' police said. Police said Hunsaker has a history of mental health problems. He told police he has 'daily thoughts' of suicidal and homicidal ideations. Hunsaker was arrest on suspicion of first degree murder and is being held at the Davis County Jail without the ability to post bail. Court documents do not indicate if he was being represented by a lawyer yet. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:09:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SOFIA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian customs officers at the country's Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint near the border with Turkey have seized 100.44 kg of heroin and arrested three suspects, authorities said here on Monday. The drug, split into 200 packets, was found on Sunday night in the driver's cab of a truck carrying auto parts to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the National Customs Agency and the country's Prosecutor's Office said in a joint statement. Authorities estimated that the value of the heroin on the black market would exceed 5 million U.S. dollars. The driver of the vehicle, a 33-year-old BiH citizen, was arrested at the scene. Authorities also arrested two other BiH citizens who were his accomplices, the statement said, adding that they were moving almost in parallel with another truck, but no drugs were found in it. The investigation is ongoing. Enditem Precarious and worsening financials of some of India's biggest airlines, including the state-owned Air India's - may have been a key reason behind the Centre's sudden decision to start flights even before working out crucial details with state governments. With states refusing to play ball, some due to political rivalry while others for fear of spreading coronavirus, it's the unsuspecting flyer who is bearing the brunt of the Centre-state disharmony. Keeping the passengers' issue aside for a moment, the question that arises is: why did Centre restart commercial flights without consulting state governments? Why was there a rush to re-start flight operations without tying up the loose ends? An aviation analyst points out the Union Civil Aviation Ministry was perhaps anticipating bankruptcies in the sector, particularly for some carriers, if the airlines stayed grounded for a few more weeks. Airlines like SpiceJet and GoAir are literally on a wing and a prayer. SpiceJet, for instance, had negative net worth of Rs 773.4 crore in December 2019. As per Mumbai-based Centrum Broking, SpiceJet is expected to report net loss of Rs 1,178 crore in FY20 which is more than the annual net profits that the airline has ever generated since it was acquired by Ajay Singh in 2015. The no-frills airline was incurring some of the costs - employee expenses and depreciation - even when it was grounded for two months during the lockdown. As a result, it reportedly paid only part salaries for most employees while sending others on furloughs to bring down the fixed costs. ALSO READ: Over 90,000 passengers book flight between May 25-31; Mumbai, Kolkata register highest bookings Domestic carriers are losing Rs 75-90 crore per day, and their debt level is expected to rise to Rs 46,500 crore in FY22, according to rating agency ICRA. Airlines have a long list of creditors (lessors, airports, oil companies) who are waiting to get paid. They also have Rs 3,700 crore of pending refunds to the passengers. Some airlines have stopped paying staff salaries from April. Ironically, just two days before formally giving a go-ahead signal, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had tweeted that it's not up to the civil aviation ministry alone to decide on resuming domestic flights. "In the spirit of cooperative federalism, the government of states where these flights will take off and land should be ready to allow civil aviation operations," Puri had tweeted on May 19. It seems that the minister was aware of a probable resentment from some state governments for these flights. By putting a start date, the minister has perhaps worked backwards in convincing 'opposing states'. His strategy of doing a formal launch (on May 21) paid off because otherwise it would have been challenging for the central government to bring these states on the same page. But why did states agree? In a pandemic like this, no state government can afford to abandon its natives when a majority of other states would not be doing so. A couple of weeks ago, a chief minister wanted to urgently travel to a state district for some emergency. The request to fly was made at 6am in the morning to the regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), but the permission didn't come through till 12noon. While the actual reason for the delay never came out, it was rather unsurprising to see that this particular state did oppose to the central government's recent plan to restart domestic air services. The way in which the government has decided to re-open the skies for scheduled domestic airlines could not have been worse. On May 21, the Puri announced the re-commencement of domestic flight operations in the country by May 25. Although the minister didn't specifically mention the states and the routes that will be re-opened, he said that the airlines would be allowed to fly one-third of their approved summer schedule for 2020 which essentially covered all the states. ALSO READ: Domestic flights cancelled status: Around 80 flights in Delhi, nine in Bengaluru cancelled on Day 1 While the decision cheered the travel and tourism sector momentarily, a whole lot of confusion ensued when some states refused to allow air services in their respective states. Others like Assam insisted on quarantine for all passengers coming by air. After several rounds of haggling between the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and the state governments, a settlement was reached. For instance, Andhra Pradesh allowed flights from May 26, and West Bengal from May 28. Maharashtra government, which had initially opposed to any flights, gave permission for 25 arrivals and 25 departures in a day. By that time, it was already too late. The passengers had already booked the tickets. With the cancellations of flights, especially to Maharashtra, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, the stranded passengers who were eager to move to their safe zones are stuck again. Some airlines, like national carrier Air India reportedly didn't even bother to update the status of its cancelled flights on the website leading to passengers reaching the airports, and then returning back. With so much inconvenience caused to the passengers, it almost seems like they are not even a stakeholder in this whole re-start plan. Even though the flights have now started, and people have begun to travel across the country, there are several imponderables that influence the continuity of the domestic flights operations - whether from the airlines' profitability viewpoint or the (health) safety of such flights. A series of goof-ups and uncertainties have already prompted a large number of people to put off their travel plans for some more weeks. One can only hope that any future decisions on this matter will be taken by keeping passengers in the focus. ALSO READ: In pics: Domestic flights resume after two months of coronavirus lockdown YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed a congratulatory message to the school graduates, the PMs Office told Armenpress. The message says: Dear graduates, I warmly congratulate you on graduating from school. Unfortunately, this year you have to celebrate this very important day for you in unusual conditions due to the novel coronavirus disease. Today you do not have an opportunity to celebrate your day in the same place, but I am confident that you are together with one another psychologically. I hope this situation will normalize soon with joint efforts and upon returning to the normal life you will be able to celebrate your day although with a delay. Dear graduates, the Armenian government will create new opportunities for education and self-demonstration for you and we will do everything for Armenia to be the place where you will be able to fully exercise your talent. At this wonderful period of life you need to use all opportunities which will allow to get professional knowledge, experience and new skills. My call on you is to put all efforts so that later you will be able to easily overcome all difficulties, become highly-qualified specialists and contribute to the development of our country with your abilities. Dear teenagers, you are the future of our state and we are confident that in the person of you we are going to have new professionals in different areas. At this new stage of life I wish you all the best, energy and happiness. Love you all. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Bengaluru, May 25 : Returnees from domestic travel to Maharashtra continue to test Covid positive and add to Karnataka's caseload, while even as two patients succumbed to the virus and 93 turned positive, raising the state's tally to 2,182, an official said on Monday. "New cases reported from Sunday 5 p.m. to Monday 5 p.m. - 93," said a health official. On Monday, 51 people got discharged across the state - 19 in Bengaluru Urban, 10 in Kalaburagi, nine in Belagavi, four in Davangere, three each in Vijayapura and Bagalkote and one each in Haveri, Uttara Kannada and Mandya. As many as 1,431 of all the cases are active, including 17 patients in the ICU. In the past 24 hours, Karnataka tested 13,581 people for Covid, out of which 13,330 were negative. In total, 2.19 lakh samples were tested, out of which 2.15 lakh were negative. Among the 93 cases on Monday, 69 had travel history to Maharashtra, a share of 74 per cent. Unlike before, most positive cases in the state nowadays are people with travel history to Maharashtra, India's Covid hotspot. Daily positive cases with contact history have significantly plummeted, with only 14 on Monday. Among the new cases, Udupi contributed 32, followed by Kalaburagi (16), Yadagiri (15), Bengaluru Urban (8), Dakshina Kannada and Dharwad (4 each), Ballari (3) and Belagavi, Hassan, Vijayapura, Uttara Kannda, Tumkur and Ramanagara (1 each). There were 15 children below 10, including a 2-month-old infant boy. Of all the cases, 40 were women and 53 men. Among the new cases, a 30-year-old man from Udupi was also suffering from Influenza Like Illness (ILI). On Monday two patients succumbed to Covid, one from the city and another from Dakshina Kannada. "A 55-year-old female patient resident of Bengaluru Rural died due to ARDS on Sunday," said the official. The woman was also suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). This was the state's 43rd Covid death and Bengaluru Rural's first. Similarly, a 43-year-old man from Dakshina Kannada also died of the virus. The man, a known case of cirrhosis of liver got admitted to designated hospital in Dakshina Kannada on Saturday and died on the same day and the lab report confirmed positive for Covid on Sunday, said the official. This was Karnataka's 44th Covid death and Dakshina Kannada's eighth. Top five places with active cases in the state include Mandya (227), Yadagiri (126), Bengaluru Urban (114), Chikkaballapura (106) and Udupi (104). Incidentally, Chamarajanagar is the lone green zone in the state now. Bengaluru Urban has seen nine deaths, followed by Kalaburagi and Dakshina Kannada (7 each), Davangere and Vijayapura (4 each), and remaining from other districts. Of the 2,182 cases, 8 per cent were senior citizens, and 61 per cent men and 39 per cent women. The state's patient discharge rate has fallen to 32 per cent. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pub owners have gone to court in a row over insurance cover during the Covid-19 pandemic. Several test actions brought by publicans on whether their insurance policies with FBD Insurance Plc cover the disruption in their trade caused by Covid-19 have been admitted to the fast track Commercial Court list. Mr Justice David Barniville was today told there could be as many as 1000 pubs and bars all over the country affected by the dispute which arose after the insurer refused to provide them with cover since the pandemic resulted in the closure of businesses in mid-March. The pub owners claim under their policies of insurance taken out with FBD they are entitled to have their consequential losses covered by what they claim is an insurable risk. They claim the insurance policy they have taken out with FBD has a clause that states the pub owners will be indemnified if their premises is closed by order of the local or government authority if there are "Outbreaks of contagious or infectious diseases on the premises or within 25 miles of same." That interpretation is disputed by FDB, who in April informer the pub owners that a pandemic does not fall within the scope of the clause. The court heard FBD considers the closures did not occur as a result of an outbreak of disease at the premises or areas where the pubs are located. The closures occurred as a result of measures taken at a national level that involved a nationwide closure of business. The actions that came before the court today have been taken by Dublin bars Aberken, trading as Sinnotts Bar; Hyper Trust Ltd, trading as The Leopardstown Inn and Inn on Hibernian Way Ltd trading as Lemon & Duke, which were represented in court by Michael Cush SC. A fourth action has been taken Leinster Overview Concepts Ltd, which trades as Sean's Bar, in Athlone, Co Westmeath, which is represented by Eoin McCullough SC. They all dispute FBD's refusal to indemnify them, or its stance that the policy of insurance does not cover the Covid-19 pandemic, and claims that the insurer is acting in breach of contract. In what are separate actions, the pub owners seek various orders and declarations including orders directing FBD Insurance Public Limited Company to indemnify the pubs in respect of the losses they suffered due to their closure following the outbreak of Covid-19. They also seek declarations from the court, including that the pub owners are entitled to an indemnity from FBD under the provisions of their policy of insurance in respect of claims they have made to the insurer. In a sworn statement to the court, Mr Chris Kelly, a director of Aberken, trading as Sinnotts Bar, in central Dublin said the company is losing about 30,000 per week due to the closure. He added other pubs within the same group of companies are in a similar position with the insurer. Stephen Cooney a director of the company that runs the Leopardstown Inn, which employs 70 staff, said the firm is losing 56,000 per week since it closed. Mr Noel Anderson, a director of the firm operating the Lemon and Duke, said he feared that the business could lose in excess of 1m. While pubs can re-open in mid-August, he said that there was every likelihood they could be forced to close again if there were more cases of the virus detected, he said. Mr Justice Barniville admitted all four cases to the fast-track commercial court list. There was no objection to the applications. Paul Gallagher SC for FDB said that there are arbitration clauses in the policies. However, FDB was not objecting to a date being set for what were "test cases" being heard. Counsel accepted that given the large number of pubs involved It was "in the public interest" that the court issues a judgement in relation to the interpretation of the insurance policy. Noting the urgency of the applications by the parties, the judge agreed to fix a hearing date in early October in respect of the actions brought by the owners of Sean's Bar, Sinnotts, and the Leopardstown Inn. Those actions will take between six and 12 days to hear, the court heard. The judge also adjourned the action regarding the Lemon and Duke to a date next month to allow a mediation in that particular action to take place. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ludovic Ehret (Agence France-Presse) Beijing, China Mon, May 25, 2020 11:59 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9f1f08 2 World US,trump,Xi-Jinping,COVID-19 Free China said Sunday that its relations with the United States were "on the brink of a new Cold War," fuelled partly by tensions over the coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 350,000 people worldwide and pitched the global economy into a massive downturn. Fresh tensions between Beijing and Washington emerged as virus restrictions continued to shape and remake lives around the world, and in very different ways. They muted celebrations by Muslims of the end of Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan; and they produced a decidedly mixed picture on newly reopened US beaches, with masks common on some and drawing jeers on others. One jam-packed pool party in Missouri, footage of which went viral, was a joyful bedlam of bodies just feet or inches apart from each other. More European nations meanwhile moved to ease their lockdowns, with virus trends improving and summer nearing. They loosened restrictions that have kept restaurants, bars and hotels shuttered, devastating tourism, and they moved toward reopening more schools. Globally, more than 5.3 million people have been infected by the virus, which most scientists believe jumped from animals to humans -- possibly late last year at a market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. US President Donald Trump has accused Beijing of a lack of transparency over the outbreak, suggesting the virus may have leaked from a top-security Chinese laboratory. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday that Washington seemed infected by a "political virus" but that Beijing would nevertheless be open to an international effort to find the coronavirus source. "Some political forces in the US are taking China-US relations hostage and pushing our two countries to the brink of a new Cold War," Wang said. While once hard-hit European nations relax lockdowns as they work to salvage battered economies, other countries such as Brazil are emerging as new centres of the pandemic. Trump on Sunday suspended travel to the US by non-Americans leaving from Brazil. There was no immediate comment from the Brazilian government, run by Trump ally President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been dismissive of the virus and of lockdown measures. The US death toll rose Sunday night to 97,686, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, with more than 1.64 million cases of infection. The US is by far the country worst hit in both categories. Two of Co. Leitrims most innovative Irish food and drink producers have won a new contract to supply Aldis 142 stores through its Grow with Aldi supplier development programme. Dromod Boxty (Dromod) and Jinnys Bakery (Drumshanbo) have successfully won a place on the Grow with Aldi supplier development programme with the following products: - Dromod Irish Homemade Boxty - Jinnys Bakery Irish Stout Bread Mix Their exciting products will now go on sale nationwide as part of an Aldi Specialbuys event, kicking off on Sunday, 31st May for two weeks only. Aldi is investing 500,000 in the Grow with Aldi programme this year, and to date, has invested over 2.5million with small and medium Irish suppliers since it began in 2018. Aine Faughnan from Dromod Boxty told leitrimobserver.ie "We at Dromod Boxty are delighted to be part of the 2020 grow with Aldi programme. This opportunity has given a great boost to our small family run business in such unpredictable and uncertain times. "We are over the moon that our Homemade Traditional pan Boxty has been selected for this programme with 47 other great producers across the country. Grow with Aldi gives us a chance to win a 12 month contract from September this year. Our ongoing customer support is greatly appreciated and if you want to see us on Aldi shelves in the future pop in on the 31st of May and grab yourself a pan while stocks last." Sinead Gillard of Jinnys Bakery commented: Covid-19 caused our business to contract substantially like so many others across the country. The Grow with Aldi contract means so much to our business, our staff and our family. It is giving us support, opportunity and hope at a time when it was so badly needed. 45 suppliers, supplying a diverse range of over 75 products have been selected for this years Grow with Aldi. Products include Cordials, Artisan Chocolate, Baking Mixes, Piedmontese Beef Sausages, Irish Farmhouse Cheeses and Frozen Pizzas. The new artisan additions will compliment Aldis existing portfolio of Irish products. Aldi already works with over 200 Irish suppliers and will sell over 750 million worth of Irish goods this year. Developed in partnership with Bord Bia, Grow with Aldi supports small and medium Irish suppliers in listing with a national retailer. Suppliers receive tailored mentoring, workshops from the Aldi Buying Team and Bord Bia technical experts, teaching them the skills to help grow and develop their product, brand and business. Five of the Grow with Aldi suppliers will then be given a further opportunity, winning a contract for their product to be sold in Aldis Irish stores year-round. In 2019, All About Kombucha, Galway (Kombucha), Funky Monkey Foods, Dublin (Curry Mix and Salt & Chilli Mix), Walls Honest Chips, Cork (Chips), Ballyvourney Pudding, Cork (Black and White Pudding), Pizzado Pizza, Co. Down (Fresh Pizza Bases) and Mama Bear Ketchup, Cork (Low Sugar Ketchup) all won a core listing in all 142 stores nationwide. Commenting, John Curtin, Aldi Group Buying Director, said: Now in its third year, Grow with Aldi has consistently delivered for everyone involved. Small and medium sized Irish suppliers get the opportunity to have their product sold nationally, shoppers get to enjoy the best Irish-made products being created and Aldi gets to work with even more Irish suppliers. With everything that has happened worldwide over the past few months, we couldnt think of a better time to be supporting Irish suppliers more. These fantastic products that represent the very best of Irelands food industry. Tara McCarthy, Bord Bia CEO, said: As a nation, we love to purchase locally sourced products; recent research from Bord Bia showed that 76% of people use Irish produce where possible and over two thirds of those surveyed agreed that food of Irish origin was worth paying a little more for. Now more than ever this is hugely important, and Grow with Aldi not only helps meet consumer demand for Irish products, but also supports small and medium Irish suppliers as they develop the skills and capabilities their businesses need in the current climate. The above products are available in 142 Aldi stores nationwide from Sunday, 31st May for two weeks only. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Both Democratic candidates vying in the primary race for the 9th Congressional District list healthcare and education reform as top priorities in their campaigns. Laura Quick, born and raised in Lebanon County, and Gary Wegman, a lifetime Berks County resident, are squaring off for the spot on the November ballot, where one of them will seek the seat currently occupied by Republican Dan Meuser. This is Quicks second time running for the state seat, which covers Carbon, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour and Schuylkill counties, as well as portions of Berks, Luzerne and Northumberland counties. The 53-year-old UPS package delivery driver moved back to Lebanon County in 2013 and ran in the primary race in 2018. Quick began her career working for the U.S. Information Agency in Washington D.C., which is when she first got interested in politics. She said that she believes her daily interactions through her current job with government offices as well as large and small business clients, as well as her experience on the board with the United Way Capital Region has uniquely prepared her to serve as a congresswoman representing the 9th district. I know for a fact we can make peoples lives easier here, she said. Not by raising taxes or any type of increase in the national debt but just by using incentives in the tax policy and to encourage companies to pay their employees a living wage. She calls the ability to listen something that many politicians lack her superpower, in that she has an innate ability to match needs with service. Campaigning this year, which has been very different due to the effects of the coronavirus, she said has given her more opportunity to reach out to small and family-owned businesses in the district, asking what theyre going through, and also working with Congressional members to help them help us better. Wegman, 63, said his family traces its history in Berks County back to the 1800s, when his great-grandfather began farming the farm that Wegman lives on today. His understanding of business and agriculture, as well as his experience serving on municipal and redevelopment authorities, connects him with the needs of the 9th District, he believes. In addition, as a practicing dentist for 36 years, he also understands the ins and outs of healthcare and the effects that a broken healthcare system has had on Americans [It] has taken all the growth from wages and plowed it back into the middleman the insurance industry, he said. Doctors and patients have become commodities in this game. Small businesses in the 9th District and all over the country cannot afford to buy healthcare. He said large businesses are at a competitive disadvantage. In addition, school districts have been raising property taxes, he said, because half of their budgets are for staff healthcare plans. Fixing healthcare fixes a whole lot of things that have been going wrong in America, he said, adding that he doesnt want to change the way healthcare is practiced Im just going to change the way we pay for it. He wants to see doctors and patients making the decisions; for example, he said, a person should not have to be stuck with a certain provider just because it is what their employer offers. Its not going to be a Democratic healthcare plan, Wegman said. Its not going to be a Republican healthcare plan. The solution to healthcare is not a partisan answer. Its going to be when representatives choose to represent. We see so many things going on in healthcare that are treating problems other than healthcare, he added. They move the pawns around the chessboard but they dont really address healthcare. The issues start with debilitating deductibles for the average family, he said. In addition, prevention is not incentivized and doctors are unable to spend more time with patients as they would like to because theyre on the clock. Quick also believes that a major problem is that many people have insurance that is connected to their employment. We need to decouple that whole idea, she said, a move that she believes is especially important in light of the effects COVID-19 has had on many people. This pandemic when people are worried about their health and their job when they have to worry about spreading the disease to other people or not feeding their family thats a serious problem. This is Laura Quicks second time running for the state seat. The 53-year-old UPS package delivery driver moved back to Lebanon County in 2013 and ran in the primary race in 2018. In addition, she said, When we take the onus of healthcare off the backs of the employer, hopefully theyll be able to pay their people a [better] wage and increase retirement and pension plans and paid sick and family leave. She said the expense of healthcare on small businesses presents a dangerous struggle. They cant compete with large companies healthcare packages, she said. Quick and Wegman both support education reform as well. The high cost of higher education is no longer affordable for the average American, Wegman said. He also wants to see nationwide funding for pre-kindergarten and daycare facilities. He also challenges the traditional ages for public schooling, supporting a 4 to 16 model,vs. the current 6 to 18, saying older teens should already be trending toward a career path. Get them out of the classrooms, he said, and throw them into a work experience environment. They might just like it. Wegman also wants to see countywide school districts and more districts partnering with private, local businesses. A former teacher, Quick said education is near and dear to my heart. I dont hear anyone talking about the incredible amount of student debt nationwide, she said, and how thats shackling our young people early in life Wegman said his campaign is also focused on investing in transportation and infrastructure, digitalizing the largely rural district and to prevent a further brain drain of the region. He also supports the development of hemp processing facilities and supporting the agriculture that is already available in the region. Wegman said he would hold regular town halls with his constituents and that he is willing to work with his political colleagues across the aisle. Were all tired of the gridlock were seeing in government, he said. People playing partisan games and not representing their constituents. Special interest lobbying groups funding their campaigns. But we can win with a great ground game. I respect my neighbors of all political stripes, he said, and just as been his work ethic on his farm Im willing to work on their behalf, from sunup until way past sundown. Meanwhile, Meuser is looking to secure another term and continue his work, especially as in the face of difficulties of the recent pandemic. The people face great uncertainty in the midst of this economic slowdown, he said, and much of my work over the past three months has centered on helping hospitals, families, employees and employers access the resources they need to weather this storm. We must protect both lives and livelihoods and begin a safe reopening of our economy, he added. The federal government needs to be supportive of our kids to go back to school, which will require testing. We need to be supportive and have plans to open businesses and we need to be supportive of President Trumps Operation Warp Speed plan to find a vaccine. Meuser, 56, wants to continue working with state and local elected officials, which he said are working for the betterment of their communities. Republican Dan Meuser is the incumbent, representing Pennsylvanias 9th Congressional District. He also wants to be part of an effort among Republicans to win back the U.S. House in order to truly advance our country for all Americans, he said. The Democratic leadership is focused on fighting against border security, and advocating for government shutdowns, government takeocver of elections, government control over healthcare, government-run Green New Deal initiatives and impeachment. We are going to work on an even stronger economy that is inclusive of all people, he added. This will include executing on the trade deals to sell American products all over the world, lowering the cost of healthcare, strengthening our military, workforce development initiatives, making our education system more accountable for our young people and keeping government from infringing on peoples constitutional rights, including the 2nd Amendment. Congress can also be part of rebuilding American with a large-scale transportation and infrastructure bill. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. The Mumbai police on Sunday issued an advisory warning netizens and social media-users of strict action if they disseminate fake news, rumours, misinformation in connection withe coronavirus outbreak. The advisory said such content can cause panic among people, and incite mistrust towards government functionaries trying to control the outbreak, an official said. "All persons designated as admin on messaging and social media platforms shall be held responsible for any such information being disseminated in a group administered by them," the official said. The diktat came into force from Monday and violators will be booked under section 188 of IPC for disobedience to official order, he added. Coronavirus has crippled the illegal drug trade and is costing the Mexican cartels millions of dollars as they get caught moving stock and bundles of illicit cash. From March 1 to May 8, the amount of cash seized by the DEA in the Los Angeles area more than doubled from $4.5 million last year to $10 million in 2020. 'When there's less hay in the haystack, it's easier to find the needle.' Bill Bodner of the DEA's LA field office told NBC. 'It's caused the drug cartels and money launderers to take more risks, and that's where we can capitalize.' And in New York City's DEA office cash seizures are up by more than 180 percent for the year, with the majority since the lockdown started. Drugs seized at Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan, on April 17 Along the 2,000-mile US-Mexico border through which the vast majority of illegal drugs cross, the normally bustling vehicle traffic that smugglers use for cover has slowed to a trickle. Bars, nightclubs and motels across the country that are ordinarily fertile marketplaces for drug dealers have shuttered. And prices for drugs in short supply have soared to gouging levels. Cocaine prices are up 20 percent or more in some cities. Heroin has become harder to find in Denver and Chicago, while supplies of fentanyl are falling in Houston and Philadelphia. A $1million seizure of cartel cash made by the DEA in Los Angeles In Los Angeles, the price of methamphetamine has more than doubled in recent weeks to $1,800 per pound. 'They are facing a supply problem and a demand problem,' said Alejandro Hope, a security analyst and former official with CISEN, the Mexican intelligence agency. 'Once you get them to the market, who are you going to sell to?' Methods for laundering money have also been disrupted because many businesses are closed. The DEA offices say they would normally net $100,000 in big busts, but are now seeing much bigger cash stacks of more than a $1million as the Mexican cartels take greater risks. 'The godfathers of the cartels are scrambling,' said Phil Jordan, a former director of the DEA's El Paso Intelligence Center. Traffickers are stockpiling narcotics and cash along the border, and the DEA even reports a decrease in money laundering and online drug sales on the so-called dark web. 'You have shortages but also some greedy b******s who see an opportunity to make more money,' said Jack Riley, the former deputy administrator of the DEA. 'The bad guys frequently use situations that affect the national conscience to raise prices.' Synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl have been among the most affected, in large part because they rely on precursor chemicals that Mexican cartels import from China, cook into drugs on an industrial scale and then ship to the U.S. 'This is something we would use as a lesson learned for us,' the head of the DEA, Uttam Dhillon, told AP. 'If the disruption is that significant, we need to continue to work with our global partners to ensure that, once we come out of the pandemic, those precursor chemicals are not available to these drug-trafficking organizations.' Cartels are increasingly shifting away from drugs that require planting and growing seasons, like heroin and marijuana, in favor of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which can be cooked 24/7 throughout the year, are up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and produce a greater profit margin. This March 2020 photo provided by the U.S. Border Patrol shows drugs seized from a tunnel under the Otay Mesa area of San Diego, Calif. Federal authorities seized a panoply of narcotics inside the newly discovered underground passage connecting a warehouse in Tijuana with south San Diego. The bust of $30 million worth of street drugs was also notable for its low amount of fentanyl - about 2 pounds Though some clandestine labs that make fentanyl from scratch have popped up sporadically in Mexico, cartels are still very much reliant upon Chinese companies to get the precursor drugs. Huge amounts of these mail-order components can be traced to a single, state-subsidized company in Wuhan that shut down after the outbreak earlier this year, said Louise Shelley, director of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center at George Mason University, which monitors Chinese websites selling fentanyl. 'The quarantine of Wuhan and all the chaos there definitely affected the fentanyl trade, particularly between China and Mexico,' said Ben Westhoff, author of 'Fentanyl, Inc.' 'The main reason China has been the main supplier is the main reason China is the supplier of everything - it does it so cheaply,' Westhoff said. 'There was really no cost incentive for the cartels to develop this themselves.' But costs have been rising and, as in many legitimate industries, the coronavirus is bringing about changes. Advertised prices across China for precursors of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cutting agents have risen between 25% and 400% since late February, said Logan Pauley, an analyst at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, a Washington-based security research nonprofit. A US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officer walks among bundles of cocaine seized during a press conference held by Spanish National Police in Madrid, Spain So even as drug precursor plants in China are slowly reopening after the worst of the coronavirus crisis there, some cartels have been taking steps to decrease their reliance on overseas suppliers by enlisting scientists to make their own precursor chemicals. 'Because of the coronavirus theyre starting to do it in house,' added Westhoff. Some Chinese companies that once pushed precursors are now advertising drugs like hydroxychloroquine, which President Donald Trump has promoted as potential treatment for COVID-19, as well as personal protective gear such as face masks and hand sanitizers. Meanwhile, the gummed up situation on the U.S.-Mexico border resembles a stalled chess match where nobody, especially the traffickers, wants to make a wrong move, said Kyle Williamson, special agent in charge of the DEAs El Paso field division. 'Theyre in a pause right now,' Williamson said. 'They dont want to get sloppy and take a lot of risks.' Some Mexican drug cartels are even holding back existing methamphetamine supplies to manipulate the market, recognizing that 'no good crisis should be wasted,' said Joseph Brown, the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Texas. 'Some cartels have given direct orders to members of their organization that anyone caught selling methamphetamine during this time will be killed,' said Brown, whose sprawling jurisdiction stretches from the suburbs of Dallas to Beaumont. This April 16, 2020 image from a website shows an offer for the chemical xylazine made in China. According to C4ADS, a Washington research group, the price of the chemical, which can be used as a cutting agent for heroin, has risen since late February 2020. (AP Photo) This April 17, 2020 image from a website shows an offer for a chemical known as "99918-43-1" made in China. According to C4ADS, a Washington research group, the price of the chemical, which can be used to make fentanyl, has risen since late February 2020. (AP Photo) To be sure, narcotics are still making their way into the U.S., as evidenced by a bust last month in which nearly $30 million worth of street drugs were seized in a new smuggling tunnel connecting a warehouse in Tijuana to southern San Diego. Shelley said that bust was notable in that only about 2 pounds of fentanyl was recovered, 'much lower than usual shipments.' Trump announced earlier this month that Navy ships were being moved toward Venezuela as part of a bid to beef up counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean following a U.S. drug indictment against Nicolas Maduro. But the pandemic also has limited law enforcements effectiveness, as departments cope with drug investigators working remotely, falling ill and navigating a new landscape in which their own activities have become more conspicuous. In Los Angeles County, half of the narcotics detectives have been put on patrol duty, potentially imperiling long-term investigations. Nonetheless, Capt. Chris Sandoval, who oversees special investigations for the Houston-based Harris County Sheriffs Office, said theres a new saying among his detectives: 'Not even the dope dealers can hide from the coronavirus.' New York Governor Andrew Cuomo finally gave a green light to allow gatherings, but the maximum number of people in a group should only be 10.This decision came after a lawsuit challengedGov. Cuomo's directive that only gave permission to Memorial Day celebrations and religious services. The lawsuit that changed the guideline The New York Civil Liberties Union sued Gov. Cuomo on behalf of a woman from Brooklyn who was arrested twice outside the City Hall for protesting the coronavirus shutdown in the state. The change took effect on May 22. The union argued that the governor's initial order that was signed a day earlier infringed on the First Amendment rights of the New Yorkers by allowing certain gatherings but limiting demonstrations and protests during the coronavirus pandemic. Christopher Dunn, the NYCLU legal director and lead attorney on the case said that they are glad that Gov. Cuomo reversed the course on his executive order. He added that the right to protest and being able to exercise free speech is the foundation of all other liberties, and during a crisis it is exactly what must be protected. On May 22, Gov. Cuomo signed an amended executive order allowing all gatherings of up to 10 people for any lawful purpose or reason provided that they are six feet away from each other and they follow the cleaning and disinfecting protocols released by the Department of Health. Also Read: New York Governor Cuomo's Administration Released $10 Billion to Pay Out Unemployment Claims The NYCLU provided a copy of the new order, but it is not released on the governor's website yet. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Brooklyn woman named Linda Bouferguen, who was arrested twice outside City Hall for protesting Gov. Cuomo's order of a statewide lockdown and his stay-at-home rules. Both times that Bouferguen protested, there were less than 20 people, and all of the participants were 6 feet away from each other, some even wore masks, according to the lawsuit. Earlier in the week, Gov. Cuomo announced that New York will allow Memorial Day ceremonies honoring those who died while serving the military, however, there will be limits due to the coronavirus outbreak in the state. The governor added that religious gatherings of 10 people or less will be permitted, as long as the participants stay at least six feet apart and wear masks. Coronavirus in New York As of May 2020, the United States has recorded a total of 1.6 million coronavirus cases, and the state of New York has the highest number with a total of 360,000 people infected and 23,282 deaths. The city of New York has a total number of 197, 000 coronavirus cases with 16,149 deaths. On May 22, the death toll connected to coronavirus was below 100. Gov Cuomo said on May 23 that the Long Island and Mid-Hudson could reopen if the death toll continues to decline. Mid-Hudson could reopen on May 26 and Long Island on May 27. The governor cautioned people to remain vigilant by wearing masks and practicing social distancing as the state being to slowly reopen. Related Article: Trump Does Not Want to Close US Borders Again if Second Coronavirus Wave Hits @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) - President Rodrigo Duterte told the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the Omnibus Corporation, the local distributor of the test kits purchased by the government for the Department of Health, for the alleged overpricing of its items. The NBI should study the matter very carefully [] Lets look at it on what it is legally, said Duterte in a late night address Monday. Senator Panfilo Lacson recently flagged the alleged overpricing, citing that an automated extraction machine from the manufacturer Sansure Biotech should only cost 1.75 million, but the one purchased by the government is 4 million per unit. An earlier report claimed that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III centralized all the purchases of test kits and machines through the Omnibus Corporation, which the Budget Department identified as the exclusive distributor of Sansure Biotech. The distributing company is reportedly owned by couple Van William and Emily Co. When asked by Duterte if he knows the couple, Duque said that he is not familiar with them. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque noted that profiteering is punishable by law through the Price Act and Bayanihan Law. Bangkok, May 25 (IANS) A security researcher alerted Thailands national computer emergency response team, known as ThaiCERT, after he found a database exposing over eight billion Internet records on millions of Thai internet users. Although it is not clear who owns the database, the researcher, Justin Paine, believes that a subsidiary of a major Thailand-based mobile network operator named Advanced Info Service (AIS), likely controlled the database. The database, containing DNS queries and Netflow data, was lying on the internet without a password. "Using this data it is quite simple to paint a picture of what a person does on the Internet," Paine wrote in a blog post on Monday. According to a report in TechCrunch, Paine alerted AIS to the open database on May 13. After not getting any response for a week, Paine reported the matter to ThaiCERT on May 21. The database was secured on May 22. "Based on data available in BinaryEdge this database was first observed as exposed and publicly accessible on May 1, 2020. I discovered this database roughly 6 days later on May 7, 2020," Paine wrote in the blog. Although DNS queries do not carry sensitive information like passwords and private messages, they can give away which websites and apps a user uses. --IANS gb/na India registered biggest single day spike of COVID-19 cases for the fourth consecutive day on Monday with 6,977 new infections, reported in the last 24 hours, taking the country's tally to 1,38,845, while the death toll rose to 4,021, according to the Union health ministry. IMAGE: Foreigners, wearing masks ride on bicycles during the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo A total 154 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours till Monday 8 am. The number of active COVID-19 cases climbed to 77,103 while 57,720 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. "Thus, around 41.57 per cent patients have recovered so far," a senior health ministry official said. The total confirmed cases includes foreigners. Of the 154 deaths reported since Sunday morning, 58 were from Maharashtra, 30 from Delhi, 29 from Gujarat, nine in Madhya Pradesh, eight from Tamil Nadu, six from Uttar Pradesh, four from Telangana, three each from Rajasthan and West Bengal, two from Bihar and one each from Punjab and Uttarakhand. Of the total 4,021 fatalities, Maharashtra tops tally with 1,635 deaths followed by Gujarat at 858 deaths, Madhya Pradesh at 290, West Bengal at 272, Delhi at 261, Rajasthan at 163, Uttar Pradesh at 161,Tamil Nadu at 111 and Andhra Pradesh at 56. The death toll reached 53 in Telangana, 42 in Karnataka and 40 in Punjab. IMAGE: A medic takes samples from an Indian national arriving from Myanmar at Anna International Airport in Chennai. Photograph: PTI Photo Jammu and Kashmir has reported 21 fatalities due to the disease, Haryana has 16 deaths while Bihar has registered 13 and Odisha has seven deaths. Kerala, Jharkhand and Assam have reported four deaths each so far. Chandigarh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh each have recorded three COVID-19 fatalities each while Meghalaya has reported one fatality so far, according to the ministry data. According to the ministry's website, more than 70 per cent of the deaths are due to comorbidities. 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Many might not know that before doing serious drama movies like Bharat and Raajneeti, Katrina Kaif had successfully marked her entry into Bollywood through comedy movies. Films like Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?, Partner, Welcome were some of the super hit films that she did at the start fo her career. Take a look at some of the films she did in collaboration with director Anees Bazmee. Anees Bazmee had last directed Pagalpanti and will be seen as a director for the upcoming Kartik Aaryan movie Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. ALSO READ| When Katrina Kaif Underwent Intense Training For Action Scenes In 'Tiger Zinda Hai'; Watch Welcome Welcome was Katrina Kaif's 8th film in Bollywood. It was a romantic comedy film released in the year 2007. The film revolved around the story of a man played by Akshay Kumar who falls in love with the sister of a gangster, who is played by Katrina Kaif. The film was written and directed by Anees Bazmee. Welcome is duly considered one of the iconic comedy films in Bollywood and people still enjoy the film even after many years have passed post its release. Welcome starred actors like Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, and Paresh Rawal, amongst others. The character of Uday portrayed by Nana Patekar is one of the iconic movie roles Nana has ever done in his Hindi film career. The major fun plot starts when the don takes on the responsibility of getting his sister married into a non-criminal family. ALSO READ| Katrina Kaifs Movies That Will Definetely Inspire Wanderlust In You Katrina Kaif in Singh Is Kinng Katrina Kaif portrayed the role of Sonia Singh in the comedy movie Singh Is Kinng. The Anees Bazmee directed comedy film featured an ensemble cast of Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, and Om Puri, amongst others. Katrina played the role of a lady who is very much interested to kill the criminals. Akshay Kumar played the role of a simpleton who pledges to bring back a dreaded gangster to his parents. The movie had hilarious comic sequences as well as some iconic songs including Jee Karda, Teri Ore, and the title song Singh Is Kinng. ALSO READ| Katrina Kaif's BTS Video Of Her Most Famous Actions Scenes From 'Tiger Zinda Hai' ALSO READ| Katrina Kaif's Best Scenes From The Film 'Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya' Promo Image courtesy: Katrina Kaif Instagram Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and discussed the situation emerging out of the coronavirus pandemic. "Conveyed Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to His Highness @MohamedBinZayed and the friendly people of UAE," Modi wrote on Twitter. The prime minister also thanked the crown prince, who is also the deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates armed forces, for the cooperation extended to Indian citizens in the UAE. "India-UAE cooperation has grown even stronger during the COVID-19 challenge," he said. During his conversation with Prime Minister Hasina, Modi wished her and the people of Bangladesh a happy and prosperous Eid-ul-Fitr. "We discussed the impact of cyclone Amphan and the present COVID-19 situation. Reiterated India's continued support to Bangladesh in this challenging time," he said in another tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BMTC's new flat fare system will minimise contact in buses during travel amid the coronavirus pandemic The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has introduced a new flat fare system for passengers purchasing tickets from conductors. The move comes days after BMTC faced flak for forcing travellers to buy daily passes worth Rs 70 for short distance travel. The new flat fare system will minimise contact in buses during travel amid the coronavirus pandemic, reported ANI. It will come into effect from 26 May. Deccan Herald reported that as per the new fare chart, passengers can travel up to 2 km by paying Rs 5, a ride till 4 km will cost Rs 10 while the charge for travelling between 5 and 6 km will be Rs 15. For 7 to 14 km, the fare will be Rs 20 and for 15 to 40 kms it will be Rs 25. A passenger has to pay a maximum fare of Rs 30 for travelling up to 41 km and beyond. The report cited a BMTC release which said that in view of public demand, a proposal was sent to the government for the introduction of a flat fare system and it was approved. Earlier, the corporation had introduced daily, weekly and monthly passes that were compulsory to avail city bus services. The move had attracted a lot of criticism, with travellers saying that they cannot spend Rs 70 for daily passes for short distance travel. Officials said the pass system was introduced as a measure to avoid cash transactions that may spread COVID-19 in buses. In a conversation with The Hindu, MD of BMTC C Shikha said that while the earlier system was introduced to maintain social distancing and minimal contact between conductors and passengers, the new system is being started because they received complaints from various sections of the society. For the benefit of passengers we have come out with new fare structure. We appeal to the passengers to tender exact change and buy tickets for single trip, Shikha was quoted as saying. The new fare scheme has been introduced for the time being and a further decision on continuing it will be taken later. The Karnataka government has recently appealed the central government to drop Bengaluru rural district from the list of COVID-19 Red Zones. The state said that there has been no fresh case of coronavirus in the area. Karnataka has reported 42 deaths and over 2,000 cases of COVID-19. The state has given a few relaxations to its citizens during the lockdown 4.0 that will be effective till 31 May. The Dems will not allow any semblance of normalcy to return until Trump and recalcitrant Republicans in the Senate agree to bail out Democrat-run states facing fiscal insolvency. Democrat socialist policies have left states like California and Illinois with unsustainable pension obligations and exponentially growing deficits too dear for a shrinking tax base to sustain. Buying votes ain't cheap. Yet why would citizens, prudently residing in red states, acquiesce to paying for votes Democrats have bought in the past and wish to purchase in the future? They would not unless forced to. Democrat governors, in particular Newsom (Calif.), Pritzker (Ill.), Murphy (N.J.), and Cuomo (N.Y.), are like terrorists, unwilling to release their states from lockdown unless they get their ransom. The heck with the little people, the deplorables who refuse to see. They need to be shown the error of their ways. Should they perish in the process, they brought it upon themselves with their constant pleas of "I beg of you, let me work" and "I need to feed my family." Pelosi, with her three-trillion-dollar dream bill, demands just shy of a trillion dollars for state and local governments you know, as a gift to balance their books. This is the crux of her ask: bail out liberal mistakes and bad policy, or they and their minions in the media will counsel the wisdom of remaining closed indefinitely while blaming Trump for the all the misery. Certainly, should she get her state bailout money, all of Nancy's other demands will slough away like all the dead skin she leaves on her pillow every morning. Pelosi is no dope. She knows that with a trillion dollars, Dem states can jump right into the double-down-circle by buying votes for the 2022 midterms and 2024. In a way, however, in getting the dough for the states, she will be ceding the 2020 presidential election to Trump. She thinks that is an artful deal Trump will make. She would be betting that with the help of media, she can hamstring the president with investigations and false narratives long enough to neuter his second term, while the shameless Dems can throw around so much money buying votes to guarantee her party the Senate in November or 2022 and the presidency in 2024. She wants us deplorables, to understand that if we want our country back, we will have to pay for it. Democrats believe they hold the trump card and are determined to play it. Intense, unrelenting hatred of the president, as well as an all-consuming lack of respect, have led leadership to an epiphany: they think Trump can be extorted into sacrificing our future to purchase his today. Despite always underestimating the man, it is true that Trump is most proud of his stewardship of the nation's economy. They believe they can negate that success by remaining closed and killing the country. If we lose a war with China, so be it. It will not make Nancy Pelosi any less comfortable in her estate, Sanders will still have his three homes, and Feinstein can rehire her personal Chinese spy. Having ceded the jewel in his crown of presidential achievement to fight the Chinese pandemic, Trump cannot trumpet his economic prowess to the electorate when the economy is not growing and people are suffering. Many believe he would still win re-election against an addle-pated Biden and the lockdown Dems, who have a record of sending elderly mothers and grandmothers to certain death with their nursing home policies. Yet California alone can sink this economy merely by doing nothing, and Newsom can maintain his alibi by professing, "Every life counts." If Trump wants his growing economy, the price is budgetary surrender to Dem state demands to support their ongoing profligacy. The president, forever at the mercy of the near 100% media antipathy and its attending canard of illegitimacy created through serial scurrilous innuendo, while being battered by the very real suffering Americans have endured under the predations of the Xi-Flu, realizes that his once almost guaranteed re-election is now in jeopardy. Democrat states like California have mutated into antebellum secessionists. Yet, the civil war this time will be between lockdown states, almost exclusively run by Dems, who make decisions about people's lives based solely on political calculations and open-up, Republicans, who want to give Americans a shot at pre-Xi-Flu normal lives. The right understands that people can evaluate risk and make rational decisions on going back to work. There is a chance free states will flourish to an extent that Dem states' lockdown play will become an obvious loser. Grow enough soon enough, and Dem governors will fold. Then we can hope that by November, the economy will be strong enough to re-elect the president. Yet if wishes were nails, the Chinese would have long ago bought all the world's hammers with the Democrats cheering them on. Democrat overseers will make us pay to be free. They do not understand suffering, and they like control. They know not the absolute terror of being afraid you cannot pay your bills or feed your children. All Democrats are like Barack Obama, whose hardest day was when there was not a Marine available to hold his umbrella. Oh, the horror... They do not care what happens to us; they care only about being in power. In a desperate bid for affirmation from total strangers the author asks that you follow him on Twitter (@williamlgensert) and tweet this article and please, try to say something nice... To me, summertime is synonymous with swimming. Growing up, I spent most of July and August at my town's community pool, perfecting my strokes and working up the nerve to attempt a backflip from the high dive. Beating the heat, grabbing lunch at the snack bar, and spending time with friends while getting a little fresh air and exercisewhat's not to love? I've carried on this tradition with my children. While my teenage kids have outgrown the thrill of attending a community pool with their middle-aged mother, my 12-year-old, who I'm convinced is part dolphin, is always ready and willing to accompany me. This kid eats breakfast in his bathing suit. But, this year, as COVID-19 threatens to delay the opening of swim clubs and close beaches and lakes to the public, I'm concerned that we may be in for the longest, hottest summer of our lives. With that in mind, I'm considering getting a backyard swimming pool. And as I've quickly learned, I'm far from alone. Why COVID-19 has people snapping up swimming pools It's not exactly surprising that I'm not the only one who's hoping to set up my own wonderful watering hole as this pandemic drags on. In fact, according to an Amazon.com spokesperson, April pool unit sales nearly doubled compared with last April. The market right now has been tremendous, says Dick Covert, executive director of the Master Pools Guild, an international group of about 100 pool builders, in a recent interview with MarketWatch. This makes total sense, adds Sabeena Hickman, president and CEO of the trade group Pool and Hot Tub Alliance: With COVID-19, and the trepidation with travel, people are taking that money and investing it in a backyard pool. Like bicycles and other summer-saving products in this season of the pandemic, pools aren't easy to find these days. But it may be worthwhile to start looking at your options now. How much does a swimming pool cost? Of course, a custom, in-ground pool would be a dream come true, but it doesn't come cheap. The average pool installation costs $22,000and that's for a 32-by-16-foot, in-ground pool. Because that's too steep for me, I'm focusing on quick-install, above-ground pools that won't break the bank. And since shopping in an actual store is risky in terms of COVID-19 transmission, ordering online seems to be the safer bet. Sites such as the Pool Factory will deliver above-ground and partly above-ground pools right to your doorstep. There will also be additional expenses. Derek Lenze, founder of Floating Authority, notes that in-ground pool maintenance costs can average anywhere from $70 to $160 per month. Stewart Vernon, founder and chief operating officer of Americas Swimming Pool Co., says ongoing maintenance is a must for ensuring satisfactory water chemistry, sanitation, and overall appearance of your pool. "If left untreated, your pool water could grow algae blooms or become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and serious bacteria like E. coli," says Vernon. Yikes. So how do you keep your pool water crystal-clear and free of potential hazards? Before you start, grab yourself a water testing kit, says Lenze. "This will be crucial for when you are testing the three most important parts: pH levels, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels," he explains. "The pH level measures how basic or acidic the water is. Adding alkalinity acts as a buffer to the pool to prevent spikes in the pH of the water being too basic or too acidic. The right level is usually in the range of 80 ppm (parts per million) to 140 ppm. The last is sanitizer levels, or in most cases the amount of chlorine in your pool comes down to the size of your new pool." Lenze suggests consulting this table for guidance on chlorine levels. "Dont forget to use shock (a powdered form of chlorine) after a downpour of rain," he says. "This helps maintain the ongoing sanitation of your pool." Circulation is key to the health of your pool, says Lenze, who recommends using a pool pump and running it for a minimum of 10 hours a day. Of course, you'll also need to skim the surface to remove leaves and debris. Additionally, on a weekly basis, you'll want to have a pool brush and/or a vacuum hose and vacuum head for vinyl pools to loosen film or dirt, which can then be filtered out. Ready to begin? Here are some relatively inexpensive and easy-to-install pools to help you beat the heat this summer. The best swimming pool for cheap "Intex is a good above-ground pool manufacturer to go with," suggests Lenze. "Their prices range from $100 to $700." I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could have this Intex Easy Set (Walmart.com, $173.99) set up in less time than it would take me to drive to the local swim club. In fact, all you need to do is inflate the top ring, fill the 8-by-30-foot pool with water, and you're good to go. It comes with a filter pump and hoses to keep your water clear. Made from puncture-resistant, three-ply material, this small but mighty pool can withstand some serious splashing. This polygonal pool comes with a pump and can be easily packed away at the end of summer. walmart.com The best large DIY swimming pool At 32 feet by 16 feet (and over 4 feet deep), this above-ground pool (Amazon.com, $2,599.99) offers plenty of space. Plus, the pieces snap together without tools. Add the liner and filter, and it should be ready for some Marco Polo in 90 minutes. That's impressive as far at DIY pools go, plus it comes with a two-year warrantee. If you're looking to make a big splash, this will give you plenty of room. amazon.com Best swimming treadmill Can't imagine spending the summer without swimming laps? This lap swimming pool (Hammacher Schlemmer, $2,000) is so compact, it takes no more space than your average SUV. A harness system wraps around your waist with a flexible tether that suspends you above the water, so you can practice your strokes while staying in one place. The pool comes with a filter, works with chlorine or saltwater, and requires no tools or plumbing supplies to set up. It's so compact, you can even set it up in your garage. hammacherschlemmer.com Best inflatable hot tub Not ready to take the plunge and purchase a large pool? You can still relax and enjoy a low-level commitment with an inflatable hot tub (Lowes.com, $575.81). With seating for up to four and 140(!) bubble jets, this hot tub can be ready with just 25 minutes of setup. And this DIY spa doesn't require much maintenance, as it comes with two easy-to-replace filter cartridges, which keep your water clean while the built-in, hard-water treatment system ensures it's gentle on your skin. Ready to relax? This sets up in less than 30 minutes. lowes.com A wading pool for your pup Don't leave Fido out of the fun! This portable pool for your pooch (Chewy.com, $59.95) is perfect for letting Rover take a relaxing dip or giving him a bath. This canine cooling center is made of high-grade, industrial-strength PVC material so it can withstand any pup's most vigorous doggy paddles. No inflating is requirejust fill with water, then remove the twist-off cap once done to drain. Get your pup paddling in style. chewy.com The post Should I Get a Swimming Pool To Survive Quarantine This Summer? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, on May 24, began a process to release nearly 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture" after the militant organisations proposed a three days ceasefire as the Islamic holy month of fasting comes to an end. In addendum, Ghani also said that the Afghan government was ready to hold peace talks with the Taliban. Announcing the decision on Twitter, Ghani's spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi wrote that the government of the county was taking steps to ensure the success of the peace process. Pres. Ghani today initiated a process to release up to 2000 Taliban prisoners as a good will gesture in response to the Talibans announcement of a ceasefire during Eid.The AFG Gov is extending the offer of peace and is taking further steps to ensure success of the peace process. pic.twitter.com/So0UEB5Bpi Sediq Sediqqi (@SediqSediqqi) May 24, 2020 US-Taliban deal on standstill This announcement comes just a day after Ghani, in his Eid al-Fitr message announced that he would expedite the release of Taliban prisoners as taking another step forward towards a truce with the insurgent group by responsible government. The release of prisoners of the group held by the Afghan government, which was also mentioned in the US-Taliban peace deal as confidence-building measure, has been at a standstill over a disagreement. The Taliban has demanded at least 5,000 prisoners to be freed at one go in exchange for 1,000 Afghan security officials detained by the extremist group. Read: UN: Civilian Deaths By Taliban And Afghan Forces On The Rise Read: Afghan President Pledges To 'expedite' Release Of Taliban Prisoners Amid Eid Ceasefire This is only the second time that both sides have agreed to not carry out any attacks and maintain a temporary truce since 2001. The United States peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad reportedly had travelled to Kabul and Doha just days before the three-day ceasefire was announced. He has welcomed the declaration as momentous opportunity. Earlier, Khalilzad reportedly had urged both the Taliban and Afghanistan government to refrain from violence and move ahead with the peace negotiations. According to an international news agency, a spokesperson for Afghanistans main intelligence and security office in Kabul Javid Faisal said on May 23 that at least 146 civilians have been killed during Ramadan and 430 were injured as Taliban ramped-up its attacks. Moreover, since the United States invaded the ongoing conflict in 2001, there has only been one other ceasefire announcement in 2018 between Taliban and Afghan government for the religious festival, Eid. Read: Taliban, Afghan Govt Declare 3-day Ceasefire For Eid; US Peace Envoy Calls It 'momentous' Read: Afghan Taliban Leader Says Committed To Deal With US (Image credits: AP) Australian shoppers have voted for their favourite butter brands of 2020, with Aldi taking out the top spot for the fifth year in a row. Consumer review website Canstar Blue put well-known supermarket brands such as Western Star, Devondale, Aldi's Beautifully Butterfully, Coles and Woolworths to the test to find the best tasting butters on the market. More than 2,000 customers surveyed in the annual butter review were asked to rate the popular staple based on taste, texture, ease of spread, packaging, value for money and overall satisfaction. Beautifully Butterfully, which is one of Aldi's exclusive brands, edged out the competition with the only five-star rating for overall satisfaction. Australian shoppers have voted for their favourite butter brands of 2020, with Aldi taking out the top spot for the fifth year in a row Best butters of 2020 1. ALDI Beautifully Butterfully 2. Mainland 3. Western Star 4. Devondale 5. Lurpak 6. Woolworths Essentials 7. Coles 8. Bertolli 9. Allowrie Advertisement 'ALDI Beautifully Butterfully remains the only brand to win the top spot since we started rating the category back in 2016,' the experts said. It also scored a stellar five-star rating for value for money and packaging design, with four stars for taste, texture and ease of spreading. Prices for Beautifully Butterfully butter start from $2.79 for 250g or $3.49 for 500g. Mainland finished as the runner-up, earning a creditable five stars for taste, texture and ease of spread. The brand finished on four stars for overall satisfaction and packaging but fell short in the value for money category with three stars. A 250g of Mainland butter can set you back $4.50 or 375g for $6.70. Beautifully Butterfully (left), which is one of Aldi's exclusive brands, took the lead with the only five-star rating for overall satisfaction, while Mainland (right) finished runner up Western Star (left) and Devondale (right) both scored four stars for taste, texture, ease of spread, packaging, and overall satisfaction but landed on three stars for value for money In third place, Western Star earned four stars for taste, texture, ease of spread, packaging, and overall satisfaction but finished on three stars for value for money. Prices for Western Star butter start from $4 for 250g, $5 for 375g or $6 for 500g. Devondale scored four stars for taste, texture, ease of spread, packaging, and overall satisfaction but landed on three stars for value for money. A 250g of Devondale butter costs $4.30, 500g for $5.70 or 750g for $7.50. Lurpak scored four stars across taste, texture, ease of spread, packaging, and overall satisfaction but received just three stars in the value for money category. Prices for Lurpak start from $5 for 250g of butter. Lurpak (left) scored four stars across taste, texture, ease of spread, while Woolworths Essentials (right) earned four stars for value for money and overall satisfaction Coles (left) own brand of butter received a satisfactory four stars for overall satisfaction and value for money, while Bertolli (right) finished on three stars for taste, texture, and packaging Supermarket-owned label Woolworths also made the top nine, scoring four stars for texture, value for money and overall satisfaction. It received just three stars for taste, ease of spread and packaging. A 250g of Woolworths Essentials butter costs $2.80 or 500g for $5. Coles own brand of butter received a satisfactory four stars for overall satisfaction and value for money but scored just three stars in the remaining categories including taste, texture and ease of spread. Prices for Coles butter start from $3.25 for 250g or 500g for $5.60. Bertolli scored four stars for ease of spread and overall satisfaction, but finished on three stars for taste, texture, value for money, and packaging. A 400g tub of Bertolli butter costs from $4.50. Allowrie rounded out the results, scoring three stars across all categories, including taste, ease of spread, value for money and overall satisfaction. A 250g of Allowrie start from $4.50. By Bahk Eun-ji The Supreme Court has overturned an appeals court ruling in favor of a doctor who gave a prescription to a patient, who he had never met in person but had consulted with over the phone, Monday, which now sees the case returning to the appeals court for a rehearing and possible presentation of new evidence. The Supreme Court building in Seocho, southern Seoul. / Korea Times file AGAWAM Kathleen Duquette had never heard of the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam until her father asked to be buried there. It was a request he made to us before he died and ever since I have just loved coming here, said Duquette, who visited her father, retired U.S. Army veteran Normand Harnois, on Monday in honor of Memorial Day. The coronavirus pandemic altered the landscape of Memorial Day traditions this year, with many events canceled and some held online, including a virtual ceremony video created and posted by the state. Others went on. The 152nd Florence Memorial Day parade was small and solemn, with masked spectators watching from sidewalks as the caravan passed. A series of flyovers by F-15s from the Air National Guards 104th Fighter Wing in Westfield originally scheduled from Cape Cod to the Berkshires and through far northwestern Connecticut was delayed by weather, and limited the jets to a much shorter route. It would have been great to see them, but I completely understand the pilots safety comes first, said Stephen Cary, of Springfield, who stopped by the Agawam cemetery visit his father U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Robert J. Cary, a pilot during World War II. The planes eventually flew over Agawam about an hour later than scheduled. Cary said his fathers burial at the military cemetery was a meaningful experience for him and his family. It was brief, incredibly structured, but it really let you understand some of the honor that this cemetery gives to veterans, he said. It was very emotional. Duquette said she had a similar experience during her fathers burial, which made her want to become a member of the Friends of the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Several days ago the group placed thousands of flags on every single grave at the cemetery in honor of Memorial Day. Usually we get community members, Boy Scouts troops and others to help us, but this time it was closed to the public so it was just the members of the Friends as well as the firing squad and cemetery staff, she said. Duquette said she hopes families who come to the cemetery and see the flags on the graves of their loved ones will know how much they are appreciated. Its a small way to honor those who gave their lives for this country, she said. Related content: Police in Durham will investigate fresh reports they have recieved about Dominic Cummings in the past few days since the news first broke that he travelled 260 miles to a family home in the county during lockdown. The probe follows a request from the county's Police and Crime Commissioner Steve White who has demanded ANPR cameras and mobile data is checked against the No10 aide's story. After a weekend of MPs and the public calling for Mr Cummings' resignation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson backed his senior adviser yesterday when he spoke to Britons over allegations he breached lockdown up to three times. Durham Constabulary today confirmed that police did speak to Mr Cummings's father who confirmed that the PM's aide, his wife and son were at the house. The statement said that while the family were advised on security issues, no warnings relating to coronavirus were given to any family member. Dominic Cummings drove to Durham at the end of March with his and wife and son, witnesses later claimed to have seen him breaching lockdown rules in April In the first statement released today by police, a spokesman said: 'We can confirm that, over the last few days, Durham Constabulary has received further information and complaints from members of the public and we are reviewing and examining that information.' The police added to their statement later in the afternoon confirming that they spoke to the father of Dominic Cummings. They said: 'Mr Cummings confirmed that his son, his son's wife and child were present at the property. 'He told the officer that his son and son's wife were displaying symptoms of coronavirus and were self-isolating in part of the property. 'We can further confirm that our officer gave no specific advice on coronavirus to any members of the family and that Durham Constabulary deemed that no further action was required in that regard. 'Our officer did, however, provide the family with advice on security issues.' Former Durham chief constable Mike Barton, who stepped down last year, told The Guardian: 'I cannot think of a worse example of a breach of the lockdown rules. For it then to be defended by the government just beggars belief.' It comes as Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner today urged the local chief constable to launch a formal investigation into Mr Cummings' lockdown visit to the city. Acting PCC Steve White has written to Jo Farrell to ask her to probe the facts around Mr Cummings' trip and to determine whether there was 'any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter'. Acting PCC Steve White has written to Jo Farrell to ask her to probe the facts around Mr Cummings' trip and to determine whether there was 'any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter' He said there was a 'plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination'. If the chief constable agrees to look into the matter it raises the prospect of the police examining ANPR or phone data to determine the aide's movements. Mr Cummings and Downing Street have accepted he drove from London to his parents' home in Durham at the end of March with his four-year-old son and his wife. However witnesses claim to have seen Mr Cummings at Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday and admiring bluebells in Durham's woodland days after he was back in London in April - both allegations have been denied. On Friday Durham Police announced its officers had spoken to the Cummings' family about a potential breach of lockdown at the end of March. Number 10 initially denied this and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday said it was Mr Cummings' father who contacted police, amid security concerns for his son. Durham Police's statement on Friday read: 'On Tuesday, 31 March, our officers were made aware that Dominic Cummings had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city. At the request of Mr Cummings' father, an officer made contact the following morning by telephone. 'During that conversation, Mr Cummings' father confirmed that his son had travelled with his family from London to the north-east and was self-isolating in part of the property.' A source has told The Times senior policing figures in the country are angry that the government's gave an account that 'Durham have been anything other than fully truthful and sensitive in the handling of this.' They added: 'The minutiae of who called who and when is irrelevant.' Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Barton criticised ministers, saying: 'People who voted for them, I'm not sure they wanted to bring into power this conceited self-privilege that has been on display for the past 48 hours.' How retired chemistry teacher holds Dominic Cummings' fate in his hands after spotting him 30 MILES from Durham family home - as Gavin Williamson says PM's aide insists he only made ONE trip during lockdown By David Wilcock, Whitehall Correspondent for MailOnline and Glen Keogh, James Tozer and David Churchill for the Daily Mail He is the most powerful unelected figure in the Government, but Dominic Cummings' future as Boris Johnson's indispensable Svengali could rest in the hands of a retired chemistry teacher. Robin Lees and his walk in Barnard Castle on April 12 could prove pivotal in forcing the Prime Minister's hand despite his astonishing defence of his friend, adviser and enforcer last night. The Durham local alleges he saw someone who 'looked like' Mr Cummings at the Teesdale town 30 miles from Durham that day, and the 'distinctive' number plate he took down corresponds to Mr Cummings' car. Mr Cummings, 47, admits he took his wife Mary Wakefield and four-year-old son 260 miles north to his family's farm from London at the end of March, when she was suffering from coronavirus-symptoms. Reasons given have ranged from childcare fears to the death of his uncle, but Mr Johnson said last night he acted with 'integrity' and 'as any father would'. But he and Downing Street have remained silent over an alleged trip out during his northern isolation for a walk in the picturesque village on April 12 - his wife's 45th birthday. Mr Cummings has flatly denied any second trip north in April, despite the claim he was strolling the secluded bluebell glades at Houghall in Country Durham on April 19 - after he had been seen back at work in London. Critics say the first, admitted trip north, during which the police spoke to Mr Cummings' father, broke the lockdown, something Downing Street disputes. The trip to Barnard Castle and the second trip north later in April - when none of the family were ill - would both appear to be clear breaches of the rules being followed by millions of Britons. Were they to be irrefutably proven, even still friendly - or at least silent - Tories may have no option but to demand his head, for lying to the Prime Minister if nothing else. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was sent out to bat for the Government and Mr Cummings today. His comments in interviews today left wriggle room for Mr Johnson to axe him if more revelations come to light that disprove his version of events. Mr Williamson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was his 'understanding' that 'Dominic Cummings made absolutely clear there was only one trip to Durham'. 'I have not had a conversation with Dominic Cummings. The Prime Minister had an extensive discussion with Dominic Cummings yesterday - he did a press conference yesterday,' he added. 'He made it absolutely clear at the press conference that Dominic Cummings had given him the reassurance that no rules or no laws had been broken but I don't have any more details than that.' Pressed on whether he knew if Mr Cummings left the house during his isolation in Durham, Mr Williamson said: 'Dominic Cummings has, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, has at every stage, Dominic Cummings operated within the rules. 'He abided by the rules, he abided by the law and that's what the Prime Minister said yesterday.' Mr Cummings (pictured today in London) has flatly denied any second trip north in April, when none of his family were ill Mr Williamson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was his 'understanding' that 'Dominic Cummings made absolutely clear there was only one trip to Durham'. Never before has an unelected Government adviser been so powerful and divisive. The Prime Minister's right-hand man and self-proclaimed architect of Brexit, Dominic Cummings, has already been depicted in a TV film by Benedict Cumberbatch and was the subject of a BBC documentary this year. He has seemed to revel in his reputation as the 'dark puppeteer' complete with his scruffy attire, abrupt tone and disdain for the Press. But to many, revelations that he may have breached lockdown rules are a controversial step too far. Here the Mail analyses the allegations against him. March 23: The day Britain was placed into lockdown. Boris Johnson told Britons they should only leave home for one of four reasons: To shop for essential items, to exercise once a day, to travel to and from work where it was 'absolutely necessary' or to fulfil medical or care needs. Those who had any symptoms of coronavirus were told to stay at home for at least seven days. Other members of that household were told they must self-isolate for 14 days. The Government unveiled its message 'Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save lives' which would have been drafted with the help of Mr Cummings. March 27: March 27: Dominic Cummings is pictured running out of Downing Street on the day Mr Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock test positive for coronavirus Mr Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock test positive for coronavirus, while chief medical officer Chris Whitty says he has symptoms of the disease and is self-isolating. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has told the BBC he believes Mr Cummings was last seen in Downing Street on the same day and speculates he may have travelled either on the 27th or 28th. Such a move would have been hugely at odds with Government guidance as Mr Cummings could have looked after their young child in London while his wife recuperated. This was also the day Mr Cummings was seen sprinting out of Downing Street. March 30: Downing Street confirms Mr Cummings is suffering from coronavirus symptoms and is self-isolating. March 31: Parents' home: The home of Cummings's parents in Durham, 260 miles away, which he visited during lockdown Asked about Mr Cummings's health, the Prime Minister's official spokesman tells reporters: 'He's in touch with No10 but he is at home, he is self-isolating, he has some symptoms.' The same day Durham police are 'made aware of reports that an individual had travelled from London to Durham and was present at an address in the city'. The force says officers 'made contact with the owners of that address who confirmed that the individual in question was present and was self-isolating in part of the house'. 'In line with national policing guidance, officers explained to the family the arrangements around self-isolation guidelines and reiterated the appropriate advice around essential travel.' Mr Cummings has insisted the Durham trip was necessary for the well-being of his son. The boy would likely have contracted a mild version of the illness, if at all, by staying with his parents. In contrast, Mr Cummings' elderly parents were at a much higher risk of contracting a severe and potentially fatal form of Covid-19 making his actions appear all the more reckless. Family friends have pointed out that his wife, Mary Wakefield, has a brother, Jack, who lives in London with his own young son. She also has a half-brother, Max, who lives in the capital. It has also been suggested it may have been more sensible for a family member to travel from Durham south to help the Cummings. April 5: At around 5.45pm, an unnamed neighbour spotted him in his parents' garden with his son with Abba's Dancing Queen being played in the background. The neighbour said: 'I got the shock of my life. I was really annoyed. I thought 'It's OK for you to drive all the way up to Durham and escape from London'. It's one rule for Dominic Cummings and one rule for the rest of us.' In response to questions last week, No10 said Mr Cummings travelled to Durham as his sister and nieces had volunteered to look after his four-year-old son. At the weekend deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said travelling during lockdown was permissible if 'there was an extreme risk to life' with a 'safeguarding clause' to prevent vulnerable people being stuck at home with no support. She added that a small child could be considered vulnerable. But rather than Mr Cummings' son staying with other family members, he was in fact with his parents in a farmhouse adjoining the main property. Food was left by Mr Cummings' sister at the door. The trip would appear to fly in the face of strict lockdown rules as both parents were showing symptoms and could have taken advantage of help elsewhere in London. March 30 to April 6: The period for which Mr Cummings' wife Mary Wakefield describes the family's battle with coronavirus, in the April 25 issue of the Spectator. She makes no mention of the trip to Durham and describes the challenges of caring for their son while suffering the symptoms of Covid-19, as well as the apparent severity of her husband's illness. 'Day in, day out for ten days he lay doggo with a high fever and spasms that made the muscles lump and twitch in his legs. He could breathe, but only in a limited, shallow way,' she wrote. 'After a week, we reached peak corona uncertainty. Day six is a turning point, I was told: that's when you either get better or head for ICU. 'But was Dom fighting off the bug or was he heading for a ventilator? Who knew? I sat on his bed staring at his chest, trying to count his breaths per minute. 'The little oxygen reader we'd bought on Amazon indicated that he should be in hospital, but his lips weren't blue and he could talk in full sentences, such as: 'Please stop staring at my chest, sweetheart.' April 7: Dominic Cummings continued absence from Downing Street is noticed. Downing Street said at the time that he was working but not from Number 10 and insisted Number 10 is 'fully operational'. April 10: Number 10 is again contacted for comment regarding Mr Cummings' trip by the Guardian. Instead of defending the journey, officials decline to comment. April 12: London-to-Durham: The 260-mile journey that Cummings made to reach the home of his parents in Durham On April 12, his wife's birthday, Mr Cummings and his family were allegedly spotted 30 miles from Durham in the town of Barnard Castle. Retired chemistry teacher Robin Lees, 70, said he was 'gobsmacked'. Although Mr Cummings could have theoretically completed a 14-day isolation period to recover from symptoms, the Government guidance were still clear: Stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel. Mr Lees told Sky: 'They looked as if they'd been for a walk by the river. It didn't seem right because I assumed he would be in London. You don't take the virus from one part of the country to another.' Sky News yesterday confirmed the car number plate as belonging to Mr Cummings. April 14: Mr Cummings returns to work for the first time since news he was suffering from coronavirus emerged. Questions are raised about his adherence to social distancing advice as he is photographed walking in Downing Street with fellow aide Cleo Watson. April 19: A witness claimed to have seen Mr Cummings at Houghall Woods, a beauty spot near his parents' home in Durham, on April 19. He was overheard remarking that the bluebells are 'lovely.' The witness said: 'We were shocked and surprised to see him because the last time we did was earlier in the week in Downing Street. 'We thought 'He's not supposed to be here during lockdown'. We thought 'What double standards, one rule for him as a senior adviser to the Prime Minister, another for the rest of us.' When asked yesterday whether he had been to Durham a second time in April, Mr Cummings said: 'No I did not'. The claim is reported by the Observer and Sunday Mirror on May 24. April 25: Like all good journalists, Mary Wakefield did not miss an opportunity to turn personal difficulty into tantalising copy. As commissioning editor of political magazine The Spectator, the baronet's daughter described her and her husband's battle with coronavirus for a late-April edition. She said she initially contracted symptoms before Mr Cummings rushed home and 'collapsed.' She explained: 'I felt breathless, sometimes achy, but Dom couldn't get out of bed. Day in, day out for ten days he lay doggo with a high fever and spasms that made the muscles lump and twitch in his legs. He could breathe, but only in a limited, shallow way.' Then, in a conclusion which contradicts the sightings in Durham, she said the family 'emerged from quarantine into the almost comical uncertainty of London lockdown.' Mr Cummings also gave his own short account of their time together in isolation, branding it 'sticky' - but in reference to their home being 'covered in a layer of spilt Ribena, honey, peanut butter and playschool glue'. May 10: Rumours begin to circulate on social media that Mr Cummings had again been seen in the Durham area. A police source yesterday told the Telegraph officers contacted Mr Cummings' father around this time but were assured the sightings were not true. May 13: The Government lifts the restriction on how far people can drive to reach the countryside and take exercise, but visits and overnight stays to second homes remain prohibited. May 22: News breaks in the Mirror and the Guardian of Mr Cummings' trip to Durham. While there is no comment from Downing Street, close friends of Mr Cummings say: 'He isn't remotely bothered by this story, it's more fake news from the Guardian. There is zero chance of him resigning.' May 23: Downing Street appears to be standing by the PM's chief aide, saying in a statement: 'Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for. 'At no stage was he or his family spoken to by the police about this matter, as is being reported.' Speaking to reporters outside his home, Mr Cummings says: 'I behaved reasonably and legally.' When a reporter suggests his actions did not look good, he replies: 'Who cares about good looks? It's a question of doing the right thing. It's not about what you guys think.' Later at the daily Downing Street briefing, Mr Shapps says Mr Cummings has the PM's 'full support' and that Mr Johnson 'knew that he was unwell and that he was in lockdown'. Mr Shapps says it had always been permissible for families to travel to be closer to relatives as long as they 'go to that location and stay in that location'. Meanwhile, the deputy chief medical officer for England, Jenny Harries, says travelling during lockdown was permissible if 'there was an extreme risk to life', with a 'safeguarding clause' attached to all advice to prevent vulnerable people being stuck at home with no support. In a new statement released later in the evening, Durham police say officers were made aware on March 31 that Mr Cummings was present at an address in the city. The force adds that the following morning an officer spoke with Mr Cummings' father at his own request, and he confirmed his son had travelled with his family to the North East and was 'self-isolating in part of the property'. It says the force 'deemed that no further action was required. However, the officer did provide advice in relation to security issues'. In another evening statement, a No 10 spokeswoman accuses the Mirror and Guardian of writing 'inaccurate' stories about Mr Cummings, including claims that he had returned to Durham after going back to work in Downing Street on April 14. 'We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers,' the spokeswoman says. May 24: Asked by a journalist outside his home whether he had returned to Durham in April, Mr Cummings says: 'No, I did not.' A host of Tory MPs call for him to resign or for Mr Johnson to sack him. But the PM, who fronts the daily Downing Street briefing, firmly backs Mr Cummings, saying his aide acted in the best interests of his child, in a way 'any parent would frankly understand'. He insists Mr Cummings 'acted responsibly, legally and with integrity'. But the PM's comments fail to quell anger among Tory MPs, opposition parties, scientists and even bishops - one of whom accuses Mr Johnson of treating the public 'as mugs'. Durham councillor Amanda Hopgood says she has written to Durham Constabulary's Chief Constable Jo Farrell after being made aware of a number of sightings of Mr Cummings in the area in April and May. Mr Cummings' parents Morag and Robert defend him in an interview with the New Statesman, with his mother saying the family had been grieving after her brother - Lord Justice Laws - died on April 5 after contracting Covid-19 while ill in hospital, and his father saying he was 'disgusted' at the way the press had treated his son during the coverage. May 25: Education Secretary Gavin Williamson adds his support for Mr Cummings, saying he should not resign 'because he has made it clear that he's broken no rules and he's broken no laws'. Gloucestershire's independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl says Mr Cummings' actions make a 'mockery' of police enforcement earlier in the lockdown 'when the message was very, very clear: stay at home'. Tory MP David Warburton says his own father died alone as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, and that the Cummings story gives an impression of 'double standards'. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she fears Mr Johnson is 'putting his political interest ahead of the public interest' and adds that she hopes he will 'reflect further' on the matter. Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner today urges the local chief constable to launch a formal investigation into Dominic Cummings' lockdown visit to the city Acting PCC Steve White writes to Jo Farrell to ask her to probe the facts around Mr Cummings' trip and to determine wether there was 'any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter'. Mr White says there was a 'plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination'. If the chief constable agrees to look into the matter it raises the prospect of the police examining ANPR or phone data to determine the aide's movements. It really upsets me when I read that about a third of people tapping into their superannuation accounts are those under 30 ("Long-term fears as young tap into their super early", May 25). If industry estimates are correct, this will mean that a 30-year-old withdrawing $20,000 now will retire on $100,000 less. And that is even if they have $20,000 in super given the gig economy and the casualisation of the workforce. So I really have no time for seniors (and I can be included in this group) whose incomes are dwindling at this time. They are cash poor but asset rich. As the family home is excluded in the pension means test, this would suggest that there are other assets (for a couple up to the value of $870,000) available to liquidate. Well, that's life; liquidate when necessary. Ask the 30-year-old withdrawing from super now for their thoughts on the matter. - Bernadette Scadden, Earlwood Isn't it ironic? Retirees opposed to changing the franking credits system helped return the PM to office. Now they want the PM to change that same system so they can get the pension. OK Boomers, what's next? Surely not negative gearing? - Jeremy Spinks, Baulkham Hills Discretion wanting Using amazing data sets about retail spending, Matt Wade makes the point ("Pending cuts jeopardise spending", May 25) that the current private sector support and government subsidies can't be allowed to both stop at the same time or the latest rise in spending will collapse. My interest was also drawn to the chart that showed little difference in the discretionary spending by those who have mortgage relief and those who don't. Wouldn't you expect those who have mortgage relief to be keeping their belts tightened? - Ian Shepherd, Elizabeth Bay School run dilemma for grandparents Transport Minister Andrew Constance is urging parents to drive their children to school ("High alert tempers glimpses of liberty", May 25. But many drop-offs and pick-ups are done by grandparents as parents are working. And grandparents, many of whom are over 70, are still being advised by the government to stay at home. The reduction in sporting activity means that children will be leaving earlier than usual, which makes it even more likely that grandparents will be required. - Andrew Smith, Lane Cove Experts are at odds over whether schools should prioritise academic assessment or well-being as schools resume ("Schools back in full swing amid equality fears", May 25). The educational disadvantage that some students experience is a consequence of a wide variety of individual, structural and socioeconomic factors. In addition, as an educator myself, effective learning and well-being go hand in hand. Without one, you don't have the other. - Cheryl Zussa, North Strathfield Some pupils may emerge from the COVID-19 restrictions a couple of weeks behind in their basic skills learning. But who knows what that really means in the context of 12/13 years of formal education? More importantly, they, their parents and grandparents are alive to tell the tale. Let's get things into perspective, eh? - Irene Buckle, Glenwood The PM is concerned that National Cabinet did not mandate border closures and wants the states to justify them on economic grounds ("Border friction", May 25). National Cabinet did not approve school closures either so it leaves one wondering if his real concern was (and always has been) economic without regard for the health of students, teachers and parents. - Arthur Cooper, Alstonville Doesn't add up Scott Morrison's explanation that "the shortfall in cost of the JobKeeper program was similar to a housing contractor originally quoting $350,000 to build a new home but the ultimate bill being $250,000", confirms suggestions that he has little if any personal experience with the construction industry. The two iron rules of building are that the work invariably takes longer and costs more than the original quote ("$60b mistake puts focus on stimulating hardest hit", May 25). - Maurice Critchley, Kenthurst Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: Morrison likened the staggering JobKeeper costing error to a builder delivering a new house under budget, in an attempt to turn a massive bungle into a virtue. The only way a builder could deliver such an underspend in the real world be if the roof, kitchen and bathroom were omitted from the finished product. - Denis Minehan, Cooma Andrew McPherson (Letters, May 25) has his numbers wrong in his analysis of the governments explanation of the JobKeeper error. He calculated that the size of the error from the government explanation would be $292 billion. But the amount of the error, based on Andrew's numbers, would be $29 billion. Get a new calculator, Andrew or maybe you are vying for a job at the ATO. - Ken Boyle, Gymea I filled out a JobKeeper application, online, on behalf of a company with one employee. Immediately after declaring one employee I was asked for his Tax File Number. When I supplied this the program automatically provided his name. I presume that if an employer declared he had 1500 employees he would have been asked for 1500 TFN's. Surely this would have alerted the applicant that there was an error and the application could have been amended. - Jim Simpson, Arcadia Use your head on helmets Quite apart from police using bike helmet laws to hassle young people in poor areas, the Berejeklian government is dishing out hefty fines ("No bike helmet is 'fast route to a police search", May 25). A $10 fine for cycling without a helmet would suffice, if fines were really ever about encouraging road safety and not simply revenue raising. - John Synnott, Enmore NSW police issue around five hundred fines each month to cyclists who do not adhere to the mandatory wearing of a helmet. This non-adherence potentially harms no one but the helmetless cyclist. Science unequivocally establishes that vaccines have been responsible for the elimination of diseases that cause widespread death and disability. Yet, we allow conscientious objection to individuals who deny all the benefits vaccination has to the whole community. - James Laukka, Epping Heat turns up The new Eden-Monaro Liberal candidate's pledge on climate action can only be seen as an empty promise ("Lib hopeful opens byelection drive with pledge on climate", May 25). If elected, she will join a party room that is about to waste billions of dollars in a widely-criticised attempt to "capture" and bury carbon emissions underground; is proposing "voluntary" carbon-cutting ("Carbon cutting voluntary under Taylor 'safety net'", May 25); has had no climate change or energy policy for over a decade; and still has an active cabal calling for more coal-fired power stations to be built. Good luck, Fiona Kotvogs; getting yourself elected will be an easier battle than dealing with the climate change deniers within your own party. - Alan Marel, North Curl Curl Train of thought With all due respect to Marion Terrill's thoughts ("Super-fast trains no silver bullet for regions", May 25), I would suggest that if we had extra rail lines in all directions out of Sydney to regional NSW and electrification of the railway beyond Campbelltown-Macarthur to at least Moss Vale, that might encourage more population and development growth in regional areas. Convenient rail transport brings an improved quality of life to the country regions. It's time to get serious about rail infrastructure development for the long-term benefit of the nation. - Peter Kahn, Clovelly Special circumstances I thought the Coalition was against secondary boycotts (Letters, May 25)? Or is that only when they are aimed at environmentally-irresponsible businesses? - Andrew Taubman, Queens Park Surfing the memories Back in the '60s, in my glory days, the best days at the beach were days with huge swells ("Huge waves off Sydney's coast", May 25). We'd hang onto the chains that bounded the sea pool at Bronte to challenge the waves to knock us off. Great times indeed. And without a wet suit! - Genevieve Milton, Newtown Clean money I stopped at a Kariong cafe for a coffee and was asked to place my $20 note in a large jar of sanitiser on the counter. There were four or five other notes swimming in the liquid. Change was provided from the till. Is this legal or is it money laundering? - John Gilford, Gladesville Eye-opener required I hope it is not climate-induced DSD (dissociative identity disorder) that Maree Nutt (Letters, May 25) thinks the government has. My search engine says this is a chronic condition that can be lifelong and has no cure. I pray that it is only myopia, which can be remedied. - Micheal Traynor, Bellambi Name check I hope Jodie Given pointed out to her parents that Phoenix is a city, not a state ("Parents assert naming rites and some are just wrong", May 25). - Peter Miniutti, Ashbury The internet has been a worthy companion throughout our adventures of staying home under lockdown and finding ways to inspire and motivate ourselves, or just learn the art of doing nothing and embracing peace, away from traffic and daily stress. With 1.5 M followers and counting, Chef Kobe, a one-year-old kitchen wizard is entertaining fans worldwide under lockdown. Kobes videos feature the cherub in a chef hat and apron, cooking everything from mac and cheese to butter chicken and naan. Kobe also has brand tie-ups on the account which might make the little chef the youngest Instagram influencer! Besides, he tastes everything he cooks and gurgles with laughter every time he looks into the camera. It might be befitting to say that Kobe is an absolute delight to watch as he continues to make people smile with his cutesy antics. Managed by his parents, the first video on the Instagram account was posted on February 25, 2020, and Kobe Eats is now a viral account with 1.5 M followers and counting. Each video of his has managed to amass thousands of reactions by way of likes, comments and views from gushing viewers. With some help from his mother, Chef Kobe cooks every dish with a smile on his face. Talk about delivering the best under pressure! Speaking to CNN, Chef Kobes mother, Ashley Wian said, Cooking is just one of many practical things that Kobe does at home. He has so much fun doing it and such a big, animated personality, I decided to record it to share originally with friends and family. Kobe Eats Instagram following has grown manifold in just the last two months, which is a clear hint at how much Kobes videos have been putting a smile on peoples faces as they face uncertainty and stress in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown. It makes us feel like were doing something right as parents to be raising a child who has the capability to make anyone smile with just a laugh! We always get messages from people saying how infectious his personality is, she said. We also love that it has encouraged parents to get their kids in the kitchen and sit down and eat as a family, something that is extremely important in our home, Wian continues. He investigates new ingredients, feels new textures, learns practical skills like pouring, scooping and measuring. That is why this all started, another practical thing that he can learn so much from. He has fine tuned so many motor skills just by helping me. Yes it gets messy but thats it. A mess is just a mess! It can be cleaned! The memories we make will last forever, adds Ashley. A little over a year ago, we were completely taken by Baby Chanco, the then 1-year-old from Japan who pretty much broke the internet in late 2018 when we saw her cuteness and her beautiful hair. For someone who doesnt have enough hair remaining on my crown, a look at Baby Chanco in the new campaign rolled out by Pantene Japan, raised a lot of hope. Fortunately, Baby Chancos got the right genes and we are hopeful that her tresses dont give her the stress at any point in her life. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON [May 25, 2020] Somalia's telecom sector to gain direction through new licensing regime Sydney, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Somalia outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Somalia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Somalias telecom market has been sustained despite tremendous difficulties. The countrys economy has made it difficult to sustain investment in infrastructure, and the Al Shabaab Islamic militant group has on occasion forced the closure of internet services in many areas of the country. Furthermore, there has been a lack of guidance from a central government or sector regulatory entity since 1991, when a dictatorial regime was overthrown. However, some progress may be expected following the passing of the National Communications Law in October 2017, aimed at setting a legal and regulatory framework for the telecoms sector. The Law made provision for a National Communications Agency charged with encouraging market competition and overseeing the use of ICTs in promoting economic development. A Director for the Agency was appointed in 2018. Through the anarchy which continues to disrupt the country, the telecoms market, dominated by the competitive mobile sector where seven networks compete for customers, has flourished. Some of these mobile services operators also offer fixed-line and internet services. Tariffs are among the lowest in Africa, and although the absence of regulation led to problems with frequency spectrum coordination and interconnection between networks these issues are to be addressed by the new telecom regulator. The countrys access to international submarine fibre optic cables was delayed until 2014, largely due to concerns resulting from piracy as well as to social difficulties and political anarchy. The landing of the first cable ended Somalias dependence on expensive satellite connectivity for internet access. Consequently, Somalias Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have been able to provide much improved services, though international bandwidth remains very limited. This is set to change with two key submarine cables: the 1,500km G2A cable (with a terrestrial connection to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, expected to be ready for service at the end of 2018), and the 5,500km DARE cable. There are also fibre-optic broadband links connecting Somalia across the Kenya border and linking to directly into Hormuud Telecoms network. The forming of a new government in 2017 has given rise to hopes that the country may stabilise and become more attractive to foreign investment, which is needed to take the telecoms and broadband sector to the next level. The new government is beginning to regulate the sector and is planning to issue new spectrum licences that will allow the operation of high-speed mobile broadband technologies. BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress toards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions. Key developments: Somtel launches LTE-A services; National Communications Law passed to reform the telecoms sector; Regulator opens consultation on the Unified Licensing Framework; Government to set up an IXP in Mogadishu; SomCable completes first stage of 1,200km terrestrial backbone network; Contracts signed to build the DARE and G2A submarine cable systems; Liquid Telecom builds the country's first fibre-optic broadband link; SEACOM cable lands in Somalia; Three mobile operators agree to interconnect their networks; Report includes Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Dalkom, Golis Telecom, Hormuud Telecom, Nationlink, Netco, Somafone, Somtel, Telcom Somalia, Telesom, Thuraya. Key statistics Regional Africa Market Comparison TMI vs GDP Mobile and mobile broadband Fixed and mobile broadband Country overview COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure Telecommunications market Market analysis Regulatory environment Historic overview Regulatory authority Unified licenses Mobile market Mobile statistics Mobile broadband Mobile infrastructure 4G (LTE) Mobile content and applications m-banking Broadband market Market analysis Broadband statistics Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network National infrastructure developments International infrastructure 2Africa submarine cable Appendix Historic data Glossary of abbreviations Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Somalia 2019 (e) Table 2 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2009 2024 Table 3 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate 2012 2024 Table 4 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers 2012 2024 Table 5 Growth in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2009 2024 Table 6 International bandwidth 2012 - 2017 Table 7 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2000 2009 Table 8 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate 1999 2015 Table 9 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1999 2009 List of Charts Chart 1 Overall Africa view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita 2018 Chart 2 North Africa - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita 2018 Chart 3 Africa Middle-tier Telecoms Maturity Index (Market Challengers) 2018 Chart 4 North Africa Telecoms Maturity Index by country 2018 Chart 5 North Africa mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration 2018 Chart 6 North Africa fixed and mobile penetration rates 2018 Chart 7 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2009 2024 Chart 8 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate 2009 2024 Chart 9 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rate 2009 2024 Chart 10 Growth in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2009 2024 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment Exhibit 2 North Africa - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country Exhibit 3 Map of Somalia and Somaliland Exhibit 4 2Africa submarine cable Exhibit 5 2Africa landing stations Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Somalia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Within Australia (02) 8076 7665 Outside Australia +44 207 097 1241 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SheKnows When Kim Kardashian became famous, she ushered in an era of highly curated and airbrushed photos and she even influenced makeup trends with a heavily contoured face. But what we should be celebrating is how gorgeous she looks without all of the editing. The SKIMS founder was spotted in longtime friend Allison Statters birthday [] Humans are not the only ones who miss dining out. As restaurants and other businesses have closed during the coronavirus pandemic, rats may become more aggressive as they hunt for new sources of food, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned. Environmental health and rodent control programs may see an increase in service requests related to unusual or aggressive rodent behavior, the agency said on its website on Thursday. The rats are not becoming aggressive toward people, but toward each other, Bobby Corrigan, an urban rodentologist who has both a masters degree and Ph.D. in rodent pest management, said on Sunday. Theyre simply turning on each other. Dr. Corrigan said there are certain colonies of rats in New York that have depended on restaurants nightly trash for hundreds of generations, coming out of the sewers and alleys to ravage the bags left on the streets. With the shutdown, all of that went away, leaving rats hungry and desperate. The term Civil Society is not something unknown among the Indian Citizenry today. From the cloistered walls of academia, the term has now fully penetrated our everyday discourse. During the time of Covid-19, Civil society has come to the forefront to deal with the unprecedented challenges. NGOs have now become the preferred institutional model of civil society and I would like to articulate my thoughts from the prism of our NGO Samarpan which has worked relentlessly during the lockdown to reach out to migrant workers, daily wagers, and other vulnerable sections of the society. The lockdown has made the NGOs realign their roles and repurpose themselves to fill in the gaps in the public service delivery, spread awareness about the disease and personal hygiene, arrange transport and food for the migrants, provide protective gear to the health workers and essential service providers etc. For eg, Samarpan has been working in the sectors of inclusive education and primary healthcare in the rural India impacting around 10,500 children in the states of Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra. But in the wake of Covid-19, we have reoriented ourselves and remodeled our strategies for COVID relief to provide dry ration, cooked meals, sanitation kits comprising of soaps, sanitizers, face masks and sanitary pads. During the last 50 days, we have seen that there are numerous organizations working in different areas in silos. Each organization works in a particular area and has all the necessary details of the demographics, requirements in terms of ration, sanitation needs, social-economic indicators etc. But these organizations being small are resource crunched in terms of manpower, finances or technology. These may just fall short of reaching that critical mass to bring about a sustainable impact. On the other hand, there are bigger organizations which are funded by the Government or the corporates but which may or may not be having the detailed information on the ground. The need is to link such ground-level smaller organizations with the bigger and funded organizations so that the funds are channelized to the right beneficiaries. The need is to have an interconnected Civil Society where data, expertise and resources can be pooled and be made accessible. This will amplify the individual efforts, build up the resilience of the communities to face a crisis and translate into more concrete and sustainable outcomes. The lockdown posed severe challenges in the relief measures carried out by Samarpan owing to the restrictions in movement and transport. The civil administration and the police played a major role to help us in reaching out to the most needy specially in the high population density containment zones of Dharavi, Sion Koilwada, Worli, Andheri West etc. This clearly points to the fact that there has to be an open channel of communication between the civil society and the administration. With the experience of NGOs working at the ground level, the role of the civil society is to work along with the administration in filling up the gaps in service delivery by providing essential services, documenting data and advocating policy change. When the entire world is reeling under the pressure of a pandemic induced economic crisis, there will also be a question of dwindling funding of the NGOs. As per the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, CSR spending in India has decreased from Rs 14,547 cr in FY 2015-16 to Rs 14,333 in FY 2016-17 and Rs 13,708 cr in FY 2017-18. In the coming times, it is very likely that the CSR and other funding will dry up further, thus jeopardizing the subsistence of the NGOs. The funds which were pumped into the NGOs in the form of an Emergency relief measure have been used to sustain the activities till Lockdown 4.0. This will pose a challenge to the NGOs and calls for a need for immediate rethinking in terms of their operations and prioritizing the areas and nature of their functioning. Reducing the operational capacity would be catastrophic in the current times when the needs have escalated more than ever. The government may think of aiding the NGOs in implementing welfare measures announced as a part of the Covid relief package. The popularity of the crowdfunding platforms is a positive phenomenon and an indicator of the changing landscape of philanthropy in India. It sensitizes and motivates the growing Indian middle class and gives them an opportunity to engage in social change and cultivate the virtue of giving. This is the time when the Civil Society can rebuild its legitimacy. Often, the Civil society is looked upon as a hindrance to the government functioning. The CSOs can serve as an excellent feedback mechanism for the Government to see as to how the decisions made in the aftermath of pandemic impacts the citizens on the ground. There is also a need for bottom up accountability to ensure that the allocated funds are used for the intended beneficiaries. The need of the hour is to build upon the lessons learnt from our experiences and calls for innovation and transformation. As per the Sustainable Development Goal 17, a successful sustainable development agenda requires partnerships between governments, private sector and civil society which are built upon a shared vision and shared goals that place people and the planet at the centre. In this very spirit of collaboration, Samarpan has collaborated with the Government, private sector and other NGOs. Till date, we have reached out to 28,000 families with dry ration and sanitation kits and around 5.5 lakh cooked meals in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Anand, Jodhpur and Ujjain. We have also provided sanitary kits to 10,000 women and around 9000 face masks and hand sanitizers to the essential service providers. It is being said that the post covid-19 world will be different from that of yesterday. Let that new world be laid on the foundations of justice and equality and a humane perspective towards solving the problems of those whose voices have been unheard till now. Dr. Megha Bhargava (IRS) Deputy Commissioner Income Tax, Mumbai Views are personal For all the latest Opinions News, download NewsX App Astrazeneca's bid to produce the world's first Covid-19 vaccine is facing a moment of truth, with results from a major trial expected within weeks. The British drugs group has teamed up with scientists from Oxford University, who are developing the potential shot, and on Thursday last week it was handed a 1billion boost from the US government. It is the latest big bet made by Astra boss Pascal Soriot, who has overseen the company's transformation from laggard to industry leader over the past eight years. Astrazeneca has teamed up with scientists from Oxford University, who are developing the potential shot, and on Thursday last week it was handed a 1bn boost from the US government Under the Frenchman, Astra prioritised research and development of potentially lucrative cancer drugs which have gone on to become blockbuster hits, generating billions of pounds in revenues to replace its medicines that have lost patent protection. The scale of the turnaround was underscored recently when Astra overtook Unilever and Shell to become the UK's most valuable listed company, worth 118billion. Arch-rival Glaxosmithkline, although bigger in terms of revenue and headcount, trails behind with a valuation of 83billion. And analysts said Astra's resurgence has also vindicated Soriot and chairman Leif Johansson's defence of the company against a hostile takeover bid attempted by US rival Pfizer in 2014. They rebuffed Pfizer's attempts to buy the British firm for just 5500p per share or 69billion going against the wishes of major investors who wanted them to engage. However, since then shares have more than doubled in value and outperformed the FTSE 100 index. They are up 107 per cent since May 2014, when the Pfizer bid was dropped, compared to the blue chip index's rise of just 11.8 per cent over the same period. According to analysis by investment platform AJ Bell, when dividends are included Astra's returns to shareholders represents an increase in value of 163.4 per cent. Russ Mould, AJ Bell's investment director, said: 'The performance of Astrazeneca's shares over the five years since Pfizer scrapped its bid offers a good example of how stock markets are get-rich-slow schemes when they are used properly. 'The healthy returns made by shareholders are also a timely reminder that investors and company executives should always focus on the development of products and services that serve a purpose and not financial engineering.' Results from Oxford University vaccine trials are expected next month. In a note to clients, analysts at UBS said Astra was on course to make its first deliveries of the shot in September. The analysts added: 'With capacity in place or at least committed, the vaccine now needs to work.' New Delhi, May 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called up the heads of two of India's close allies, the UAE and Bangladesh, to wish them on the occasion of Eid. Modi tweeted: "Conveyed Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to His Highness @MohamedBinZayed and the friendly people of UAE. Thanked him for the cooperation extended to Indian citizens in UAE. India-UAE cooperation has grown even stronger during the Covid-19 challenge." Modi is known to share a cordial relation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. When Modi took oath of office for a second term last year, the iconic Adnoc Group headquarters in Abu Dhabi was lit up with the Prime Minister's face. Later that year, he also received the Order of Zayed, the highest civil decoration of the UAE. Meanwhile, the Prime Minster also dialled his Bangladesh counterpart, Sheikh Hasina. "Spoke to PM Sheikh Hasina to wish her and the friendly people of Bangladesh a happy & prosperous Eid-ul-Fitr," tweeted Modi. "We discussed the impact of cyclone Amphan and the present Covid-19 situation. Reiterated India's continued support to Bangladesh in this challenging time," Modi added. Interestingly, the specific tweets mentioning his outreach to two Islamic nations came in the wake of Maldives thwarting Pakistan's attempt to single out India at a virtual meet of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Islamophobia, accusing India of actively promoting Islamophobia, something that was outrightly denied by Malvides. Latest updates on Eid al-Fitr 2020 Sydneys public transport system withstood its first major test since the coronavirus lockdown as hundreds of thousands of students returned to school, but crowding on buses through the citys inner south and Parramatta has been identified as a concern. More than 280,000 people moved through the citys public transport network during Mondays morning peak hour, only 34,000 more than last week and about 70 per cent less than pre-lockdown. The roads were 3.5 per cent busier than last week, but remain 11 per cent down on average, according to government figures. However, up to 200 buses across Sydney were running above capacity in the morning peak hour and 100 in the afternoon peak hour. NSW recorded three new coronavirus cases for the start of the week, bringing the state's total number of confirmed cases to 3090. Ho Chi Minh City on Monday morning saw rain and thunderstorm hinder its residents on their way to work and taking their children to school. Satellite images and radar statistics indicate the development of cumulonimbus clouds in the early morning, predisposing the city to a rainstorm, according to the Southern Region Hydro-meteorological Observatory. The southern metropolis experienced rainfall on a citywide scale, with nimbus clouds sustaining showers until 8:00 am. Precipitation measured in Districts 1, 3, 10 and Phu Nhuan District varied between ten and 15 millimeters, while Binh Thanh District and the outlying western districts of Binh Tan and Binh Chanh saw 5-10mm. Rainfall early in the day caught commuters in Thu Duc District off guard as the majority did not prepare raincoats and had to shelter under bridges, sideway stalls, and storefront awnings. On the same day, the northern and north-central areas may see severe heat build up during daytime and chances of showers and thunderstorms from dusk to evening, with downpours taking place in some localities, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. Weather forecast by regions for May 25 Skies will become mostly cloudy over northwest Vietnam, but heatwaves may develop and even get extreme in the day. There is a chance of thunderstorms overnight, with local occurrences of heavy downpours. Temperatures mostly range from 34 to 37 degrees Celsius and may reach highs of 38 degrees. Northeast areas are cloudy early, heatwaves expected later in the day and showers plus thunderstorms at night. Midland and mountainous areas may see torrential downpours entailing chances of lightning strikes, hailstorms, and gusts. Highs are between 34 and 37 degrees Celsius. Traffic moves in the rain at the Hang Xanh intersection in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, May 25, 2020. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre Hanoi is cloudy early with heatwaves arriving later in the day and showers plus thunderstorms at night, while heavy downpours are expected in some localities. Lightning strikes and strong gusts may accompany the rain. Highs are expected to reach 34 to 37 degrees Celsius. North-central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue are forecast to be cloudy with heatwaves expected later in the day, accompanied by regional occurrences of severe heat. Nighttime may see showers and thunderstorms with accompanying lightning strikes, hailstorms, and gusts. Heat highs vary from 34 to 37 degrees Celsius and may go up to 36 to 39 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas. The south-central provinces from Da Nang to Binh Thuan will encounter cloudy weather, heat arriving later in the day and local occurrences of severe heat. Nighttime may see torrential downpours, lightning strikes, and gusts. Highs range from 34 to 37 degrees Celsius and may go beyond 38 degrees in some localities. Central Highlands provinces are cloudy, may have showers and thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning strikes and gusts. Highs are from 31 to 34 degrees Celsius and may go beyond 34 degrees in several localities. Southern areas are cloudy, threatening showers and thunderstorms, especially during dusk and nighttime. Lightning strikes and strong gusts may accompany the rain. Highs are to fluctuate between 32 and 35 degrees Celsius and may go beyond 35 degrees in several locales. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Hyderabad: Back in 1987, a liquor bottle filled with explosives and placed in a carry-on bag in an overhead bin helped terrorists crash a South Korean airliner. All 115 on board died. Then, in 1994, Al-Qaeda member Ramzi Yousef, architect of the first World Trade Center bombing, detonated liquid nitroglycerin that he had taken on board a Philippine Airlines flight in contact lens solution bottles. One passenger was killed and several were injured in the incident. In August 2006, a major terror plot was busted by the British police wherein terrorists plotted to detonate liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks carried on board airliners travelling from the United Kingdom to the US and Canada. Terrorists using liquid explosives to blow up airplanes was a major challenge to aviation security starting the late 1980s which continued through the early 2000s. But now, in the post Covid-19 scenario, as flight services resume across the country from May 25, the Ministry of Civil Aviation's (MoCA) move to allow hand sanitizer bottles (not more than 350 ml) inside aircraft has re-ignited the debate over liquid explosives. While MoCA decided to allow hand sanitizers inside aircraft after much brainstorming over the security threat it can pose to airplanes, there has not been a single instance to suggest that hand sanitizers, when combined with other chemicals, can be used as explosives. But the fact that is a cause of worry is that some of the ingredients in alcohol-based sanitizers are highly flammable. What if terrorists carrying hand sanitizers, travelling separately on a plane, are able to ignite hand sanitizers? This is the new concern for the security agencies. Highly placed sources who took part in the brainstorming sessions which led to flight services being resumed, told Deccan Chronicle that among the many concerns that were raised by various agencies, the aspect of allowing passengers with 350 ml hand sanitizers inside aircraft was a cause of concern, especially as it is flammable. The brainstorming among officials over liquid explosives and its quantities, the chemicals used in them and past incidents of terrorists using it all were discussed threadbare. One of the ingredients in alcohol-based hand sanitizers is a combination of isopropyl alcohol and ethanol, which is flammable. For alcohol-based sanitizers, the flash point is 63 degrees fahrenheit, If stored at room temperature, it could ignite if it comes in contact with flames. With hundreds of passengers carrying hand sanitizers, the agencies are looking at yet another challenge in aviation security. ''Across all airports, the terror threat has always been real and imminent. We have ETD checks (Explosive Trace Detection) in place besides all the advanced systems at the airports to detect explosives. Passengers were being allowed to bring quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in their carry-on bags but they were limited to travel-sized containers. Now, we will have every single passenger carrying hand sanitizers inside the aircraft which means presence of large quantities of sanitizers in the aircraft. It is a unique situation and will pose a huge challenge,'' a senior official from New Delhi said. An explosives expert told Deccan Chronicle that though hand sanitizer is a high-energy material, there is no evidence so far to suggest that it can be used as an explosive. ''Though it does not explode, it can be ignited with just a spark. Even if it burns, it is low-flame but 350 ml may be enough to create a scare inside the aircraft. But if a group of terrorists were at work inside the aircraft, then obviously the quantity of flammable liquid is much higher which means more damage. It can pose a major threat,'' he explained. While Deccan Chronicle's attempts to reach out to the Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation and Security Rakesh Asthana proved futile, sources said that keeping the threat of liquid explosives in view, both BCAS along with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will take up regular reviews of this aspect of hand sanitizers. ''Once the flight services resumes in a calibrated manner, only limited number of people will travel. The real challenge will be once all flight services are resumed,'' he said. Sources explained that though hand sanitizers are flammable, the temperature inside the aircraft is generally maintained between 22 degrees Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius which is more or less the same temperature maintained in most office environments. ''In extreme heat conditions, hand sanitizers can catch fire when exposed directly, which is not possible in the aircraft as it is cold inside,'' they explained adding that various scenarios involving terrorist operations too were discussed keeping in mind the chemicals in hand sanitizers. Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being responsible for the ... Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being responsible for the rise in cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Omokri said if Buhari had listened to the advice of Atiku Abubakar, a former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, COVID-19 wouldnt have risen to the level it is. In a tweet, the former presidential aide insisted that Buharis refusal to close Nigerias airspace in February as advised by Atiku led to COVID-19 increase in the country. According to Omokri, Buhari allegedly refused to close Nigerias airspace because his daughter and late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari were abroad. Dear General @MBuhari, You are shedding crocodile tears. You caused the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria by refusing to close Nigerias airspace in February, despite @Atiku asking you, because your daughter and Abba Kyari were abroad! Meanwhile, Nigeria has recorded a total of 7526 COVID-19 cases. This was as Nigeria recorded 265 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday night. B oris Johnsons chief adviser Dominic Cummings will make a public statement this afternoon after allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Downing Street confirmed the top aide to the PM will be making the rare statement and also taking questions about his trip to Durham. He has been accused of breaching lockdown rules by travelling 260 miles from London to Durham. Reports also emerged, which he denied, of travelling back up to Durham after returning to London. On Saturday Mr Cummings was asked by reporters if travelling more than 250 miles from his London home during lockdown "looked good. He responded: Who cares about good looks? Its a question of doing the right thing." He then added: "Its not about what you guys think. He was also seen giving social distancing advice to the reporters and photographers outside his house in the capital. Boris Johnson faces sustained pressure to sack Dominic Cummings Opposition MPs have accused Number 10 of a cover-up and called for Mr Cummings to resign. Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said his inbox is "chockablock with emails from constituents furious about Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnsons blase endorsement of his action". "The hypocrisy stinks and people know it," said Mr Ashworth. But Downing Street has defended Mr Cummings' actions , insisting he "acted in line with guidelines" and that his journey was "essential" because he needed childcare. A host of Tory MPs have sided with opposition MPs with some saying they changed their mind after an overwhelming number of their constituents complained. Peter Aldous, MP for Waveney, said he "revised his opinion" after receiving emails from constituents "highlighting the sacrifices that families have made during the pandemic". Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said Boris Johnsons top aide should not quit because he has made it clear that hes broken no rules and hes broken no laws. Meanwhile one of the Governments own scientific experts said a debacle over the advisers alleged two 260-mile trips to Durham has fatally undermined Mr Johnsons Covid-19 message and will mean more people are going to die. Steve White, acting Durham police and crime commissioner has formally written to Durham Constabulary to request that they "establish the facts" about Mr Cummings' visit and whether he broke the law. He said in a statement: "I am confident that thus far, Durham police has responded proportionately and appropriately to the issues raised concerning Mr Cummings and his visit to the County at the end of March. "It is clear however that there is a plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination. "I have today written to the Chief Constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter at any juncture." Published on 2020/05/24 | Source Some sectors of business have unexpectedly benefited from the coronavirus epidemic, most bizarrely perhaps cosmetic surgery clinics and bicycle makers. Advertisement According to a report by Hana Bank based on analysis of credit card spending on Thursday, the travel industry was hit hardest by the lockdown. Duty-free shops' sales plummeted 88 percent on-year in March, when infections peaked in Korea. Travel agencies and airlines also saw sales decline 85 percent and 74 percent. Other victims included music and dance schools (down 67 percent), karaoke rooms (down 50 percent), bars (down 39 percent) beauty salons (down 30 percent). Restaurant spending also plunged, but this benefited butchers' shops, whose sales grew 26 percent in March, and grocery stores, with 10 percent. Cash-and-carries' sales rose 20 percent as people dined and drank at home. Online retailers were the biggest beneficiaries of the lockdown in the first quarter with sales surging 41 percent. Home shopping channels' sales rose 19 percent. But among unexpected beneficiaries were cosmetics surgery clinics (up nine percent) and ophthalmic clinics (up six percent). The researchers speculated that they benefited simply because people had more time on their hands and opted for non-essential treatments they might otherwise have put off. And as fears of infection on public transportation increased, bicycle sales surged 69 percent on-year in March. Movie star Idris Elba will on today Monday evening host a star-studded virtual concert to mark Africa Day and raise funds to feed the continents hungry. The MTV Base Africa Day Benefit Concert at Home will host the continents top music stars including Angelique Kidjo, Burna Boy, Salif Keita, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Diamond Platnumz and Sauti Sol. It will be streamed on YouTube and ViacomCBS Networks. Idris Elba told the BBCs Newsday programme: The priority is to try and get as many real-time meals into peoples mouths. At the moment hunger is the main fear as opposed to actual Covid-19 So trying to get people something to eat, at least some ways of getting food, is really the number [priority] In terms of money, you cant put a number on it As far as donations are concerned, were really expecting that people if they can give, they give We are asking people to really dig deep into their hearts even just to attend this concert, even just to show there is solidarity amongst Africans at this point, thats among the things were looking for. The actor, whose late father grew up in Sierra Leone and whose mother is from Ghana, tested positive for coronavirus in March and has since recovered. Africa Day is an annual commemoration of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963. The organisation transformed into the African Union on 9 July 2002. --- China on Monday threatened counter measures against the United States if it was punished for plans to impose a sedition law on Hong Kong, that the business hubs security chief hailed as a new tool that would defeat terrorism. Beijing plans to pass a new security law for Hong Kong that bans treason, subversion and sedition after months of massive, often-violent pro-democracy protests last year. But many Hong Kongers, business groups and western nations fear the proposal could be a death blow to the citys treasured freedoms and thousands took to the streets on Sunday despite a ban on mass gatherings introduced to combat coronavirus. As police dispersed the crowds with tear gas and water cannon, Washingtons national security advisor Robert OBrien warned the new law could cost the city its preferential US trading status. But Chinas foreign ministry said Beijing would react to any sanctions from Washington. If the US insists on hurting Chinas interests, China will have to take every necessary measure to counter and oppose this, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters on Monday. Hong Kong has become the latest flashpoint in soaring tensions between the worlds two super powers which China has likened to the brink of a new Cold War. The refusal to grant Hong Kongers democracy has sparked rare bipartisan support in an otherwise bitterly divided Washington during the Trump administration. Beijing portrays the citys protests as a foreign-backed plot to destabilise the motherland and says other nations have no right to interfere in how the international business hub is run. - Mainland agents? - Protesters, who have hit the streets in their millions, say they are motivated by years of Beijing chipping away at the citys freedoms since it was handed back to China by Britain in 1997. Hong Kong enjoys liberties unseen on the mainland, as well as its own legal system and trade status. Campaigners view the security law proposal as the most brazen move yet by Beijing to end free speech and the citys ability to make its own laws. Of particular concern is a provision allowing Chinese security agents to operate in Hong Kong, with fears it could spark a crackdown on those voicing dissent against Chinas communist rulers. On the mainland, subversion laws are routinely wielded against critics. The proposed law, which Chinas rubber-stamp legislature is expected to act on quickly, will also bypass Hong Kongs own legislature. The citys influential Bar Association on Monday described the proposed motion as worrying and problematic -- and warned it may even breach the territorys mini-constitution. The proposal has spooked investors with Hong Kongs stock exchange suffering its largest drop in five years on Friday. On Monday it had yet to recover, closing just 0.10 percent up. - Restore social order - Hong Kongs unpopular pro-Beijing government has welcomed the law. Terrorism is growing in the city and activities which harm national security, such as Hong Kong independence, become more rampant, security minister John Lee said in a statement welcoming the planned legislation. Police chief Chris Tang cited 14 recent cases where explosives had been seized and said the new law would help combat the force of Hong Kong independence and restore social order. Last years protests were initially sparked by plans to allow extraditions to the mainland but soon snowballed into a popular revolt against Beijing and the citys police force. Beijing has dismissed protester demands for an inquiry into the police, amnesty for the 8,500 people arrested and universal suffrage. The demonstrations fizzled at the start of the year as mass arrests and the coronavirus took their toll. But they have rekindled in recent weeks with Sundays rally producing the most intense clashes for months and police making at least 120 arrests. During last years huge pro-democracy rallies, mob attacks were common on both sides of the political divide and a video of protesters beating a lawyer at Sundays rally was seized on by Chinas state media. Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the nationalist tabloid Global Times, posted the video on Twitter -- a platform banned in mainland China. Lets see what the Washington-backed Hong Kong democracy really looks like, he wrote. su-jta/rbu All health care workers in Massachusetts are able to fill up their gas tanks free of charge today thanks to New World Gas Stations. The Massachusetts gas company is offering free gas fill-ups to nurses, doctors, paramedics, medical assistants and supporting staff as a thank you for their work during the coronavirus battle. The New World family would like to thank all health care professionals providing services to COVID-19 patients," the company announced online. We truly appreciate your tireless efforts in supporting the community. Please accept this as a token of appreciation for everything you do. The company asks all health care workers bring a valid hospital ID from them their employer to show before pumping gas. The full list of participating gas stations is provided below: Gas Depot, 1123 Main St., Brockton, New World Gas, 273 Littleton Rd., Chelmsford, 4 Corners Citgo, 197 Milton St., Dedham, Speedy Mart, 1507 Lakeview Ave., Dracut, New World Gas, 340 Milliken Blvd., Fall River, New World Gas, 710 Lakeview Ave., Lowell, New World Gas, 460 Turnpike St., South Easton, New World Gas, 570 Sumner Ave., Springfield, New World Gas, 527 Allen St., Springfield, Mutual Gas, 397 Middlesex St., Tyngsboro, New World Gas, 487 Main St., Waltham, Watch City Petro, 790 Main St., Waltham, New World Gas, 359 Bedford St., Whitman, and Corner Store Mobile, 635 Chandler St., Worcester. Related Content: Today, Jennifer Aniston is one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood. Known for her roles in Friends, The Morning Show, Horrible Bosses, and The Break-Up, she has won an Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards. Before making it big as an actress, Aniston worked as a telemarketer. Jennifer Aniston | David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Apple Jennifer Aniston worked as a telemarketer In a 2019 interview with InStyle, Aniston discussed the jobs she had before becoming successful in Hollywood. I had moved away from home. I had been on six failed television shows. I waitressed for years in New York before I got anything. And I was a telemarketer selling time-shares in the Poconos. I didnt make one sale. I was terrible at it. I was like, Why do we have to call people at dinnertime?' She said. When she was younger, Aniston also gave people haircuts to make money. I cut hair for 10 bucks a head in junior high I cut my dads hair, and he was on a soap opera. But then he admitted to me 15 years ago that he would go in and have the hairdresser on set clean it up, Aniston said. RELATED: Would Jennifer Aniston Join Big Little Lies if Season 3 Happens? Reese Witherspoon Hopes So How The Morning Show came to be The Morning Show is a drama series on Apple TV+. The show premiered in November 2019 and stars Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, and Mark Duplass. In the show, Aniston plays Alex Levy, an anchor on a fictional news program called The Morning Show. Carell plays her on-air partner Mitch Kessler who is fired for sexual misconduct, and Witherspoons character Bradley Jackson is brought on as Mitchs replacement. The show gives you a behind-the-curtain peek at a lot of things what it takes to pull off a morning show, the unique lifestyle of these anchors, the obsession with celebrity culture, and humanity in the midst of corruption. Plus were addressing the ugly truths of how men have treated women in our society, particularly in the workplace, for all these years, Aniston told InStyle. She continued, Were looking at the ways in which weve all normalized this behavior and how were all by-products of our environment, having grown up with sexism encoded in our messaging, however extreme or subtle. This show looks at how a culture of silence can slowly evolve and how we sometimes participate without even realizing it. Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon pitched the show before the #MeToo movement While one might assume The Morning Show was created as a response to the #MeToo movement, the show was actually pitched before it. After the sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, and Matt Lauer, Aniston feels the show is even more timely. The show was always about the abuse of power, and women and sexism. We sold it in the summer, and then Harvey [Weinstein] happened in the fall, Aniston said. Reese and I were likeThe show is writing itself. It was as if the universe were begging for this patriarchal society to be exposed. Its crazy. The actress also hopes the show will start a conversation and lead to real change in the workplace. Theres a new playbook thats being written in real time, and this show looks at how were finally taking steps to acknowledge and dismantle the old, dysfunctional ways of doing business so we can level the playing field, she told InStyle. It is the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend, and clearly Alessandra Ambrosio is in the spirit already. The 39-year-old supermodel from Brazil shared three flashback images taken in the Maldives pre COVID-19 where she has on a stunning white bikini while on a beach at sunset. The Chanel model's suit of choice was from her GAL Floripa line which she launched with her sister and best friend; the looker is known for modeling the designs on her Instagram account and her business account much to the delight of her fans. Pinup power: It is the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend, and clearly Alessandra Ambrosio is in the spirit already. The 39-year-old supermodel from Brazil shared three flashback images taken in the Maldives pre COVID-19 where she has on a stunning white bikini while on a beach at sunset The first image showed the catwalk queen on her knees as she held her hands up to her hair. The star showed off her tiny waistline and abs as well as long, sculpted arms. The image looked as if it could be the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine. The brief caption read: 'To the moon and back, remember?! #WAVEbikini #MILKYWAYcolor.' Horray! The Chanel model's suit of choice was from her GAL Floripa line which she launched with her sister and best friend; the looker is known for modeling the designs on her Instagram account and her business account much to the delight of her fans The skimpy suit is called the wave bikini because there is a slight wave design in the briefs. The good friend of Gisele Bundchen was next seen putting her arms in the air while making double peace signs as she had on a white shirt and red sunglasses. The sun was setting behind her as the surf seemed mellow. 'Magical sunset dance,' write the Vogue cover girl. A leap: The good friend of Gisele Bundchen was next seen putting her arms in the air while making double peace signs as she had on a white shirt and red sunglasses. The sun was setting behind her as the surf seemed mellow In the most recent image the mother of two had the shirt falling off her shoulders as she wore a gold necklace. 'The answer is blowing in the wind... Bob Dylan,' said the caption. Alessandra was using flashback images from 2019 when she was in the Maldvies to take photos for her Gal Floripa line. She often models the line in faraway beach locations. The beauty has been seen for the past several weeks in Los Angeles with her beau Nicolo Oddi as well as the two kids - Anja and Noah - she had with photographer Jamie Mazur. With her little ones and mama: The siren has posed an image with her mother and her two kids Anja and Noah this month The star used to model for Victoria's Secrets but in the past year has devoted her time to GAL Floripa. On her web site she said that her bond with her co-creators had built 'confidence' in the brand. 'Growing up in Brazil, Gisele, Aline and I spent most of our summers together by the beach, immersed in the natural beauty of Florianopolis, known as The Magic Island, and spending almost every moment of the day in our swimwear,' said Alessandra , co-founder of the brand. 'It makes sense that swimwear became like a second skin.' It is also claimed: 'The spirit of GAL Floripa is aligned with Mother Natures essence; its many rhythms and flows, mysteries and magnificence, as well as connection of its elements with womens lives.' A core group of top Opposition leaders on Tuesday are likely to take a call on the next course of action on the government's "faulty" COVID-19 response after 22 non-BJP parties joined hands to target the Narendra Modi dispensation. Track live updates on coronavirus here During the Friday meeting, it was decided that a core group consisting of senior leaders of Congress, NCP, CPI(M), RJD and DMK would put their heads together to soon to decide the next step. The core group includes senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel as well as CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury. The opposition parties had on May 22 announced an 11-point charter of demands, including junking the "misleading" Rs 20 lakh crore package for a new one that reflects "true fiscal stimulus", cash transfer of Rs 7,500 per month for six months to non-Income Tax paying people and free food grains for the needy. The Tuesday deliberations would decide whether to write a joint letter to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlining their concerns and demands on tackling the coronavirus pandemic. Sources said one of the options before them would be the letter while they would also discuss ways of protest to register their demands. There have been vocal demands for aggressively targeting BJP, with top RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav saying that the Opposition should "aggressively advertise" BJP's failures in handling the COVID-19 crisis. Former BJP leader and a Modi-critic Yashwant Sinha also said on Saturday that there is a need for the Opposition to be aggressive. "Opposition parties should hit the streets instead of petitioning the govt which is deaf and blind to the suffering of the poor. Mere 'statement-bazi' (issuing press statements) will not suffice any more," Sinha tweeted referring to the joint statement issued by the 22 parties. While SP and BSP refused to be part of the joint Opposition programme, AAP was not invited to it. BSP chief Mayawati also launched an attack on Congress putting the blame on the plight of migrant workers on it. This was the first meeting of joint meeting of the Opposition parties this year, especially after national lockdown was imposed since March 25. Opposition parties are also concerned about the manner in which some states have gone ahead with suspending labour laws, which included measures like increasing working hours from eight hours to 12 hours. Congress-led Rajasthan government has now withdrawn the order allowing employees to make their employees work up to 12 hours. The joint statement issued by the Opposition parties also said the government should "present a clear and meaningful economic strategy focused on revival and poverty alleviation instead of propaganda. The Rs 20 lakh crore package and its contents mislead the people of India. We demand that government present a revised and comprehensive package that will be a true fiscal stimulus in order to stimulate demand in the economy". It also raised questions about the official COVID-19 data and demanded that accurate and relevant information on Covid-19 infections and goalposts vis-a-vis testing, infrastructure and containing spread should be provided. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The 2008 financial crisis led the public to discover the limits of economics. The Covid-19 pandemic risks having the same effect on scientists and medical doctors. Since the start of the outbreak, citizens have struggled to get clear answers to some basic questions. Consider masks, for example: The World Health Organization said early on that there was no point in encouraging healthy people to use them, but now most doctors agree that widespread mask-wearing is a good idea. There was also confusion around lockdowns: In the U.K., scientists argued for weeks over the merits of closing businesses and keeping people at home a quarrel that may have cost the country lives. And now that the outbreak is fading in Italy, there is growing debate between the countrys public health experts and doctors over whether the virus has lost strength or remains just as deadly. These disputes are only natural since we are dealing with a novel coronavirus that caught most Western health-care systems off-guard. Meanwhile, scientists across the world have raced to share data, and a number of companies have ramped up work on a vaccine, which could be one of the fastest-developed in human history. And yet, the pandemic has reminded us that science and medicine in particular has limits. In a way, the last few months have resembled what occurred in the 2008 crisis, as economists fought over the right response to the crash. The academic community split between those who said the U.S. government should save all large banks and those who said it should let Lehman Brothers go bust. In Europe, the controversy centered around whether countries should pursue austerity or run large-scale budget deficits. These divisions, and the ensuing policy mistakes, dented economists reputation in the eyes of the general public. The comparison with 2008 is fitting because economists are faring relatively well during this pandemic. True, there was some initial support, including from the European Central Bank and the U.K. Treasury, for the idea that the outbreak would be followed by a rapid V-shaped recovery and this hypothesis has lost ground as weve braced for a longer and deeper slump. However, economists were quick to reach consensus that governments and central banks should expand fiscal and monetary policy, to boost demand as lockdowns crushed economic activity. Regulators, too, acted swiftly, giving banks greater flexibility to keep lending to companies and individuals. It is still early days, but the overall impression of economics is that of a united professional and academic body, one that did not let the financial crisis go to waste but instead learned from it. Story continues On the other hand, scientists and medical doctors have struggled to convey a unified message to the public. This does not mean they have failed in their duty. Far from it. Health-care professionals are the true heroes of this crisis, risking their lives to protect the rest of us. But on a range of issues from containing the virus to prescribing effective treatments we have seen some scientists and doctors jump to conclusions, only for others to give immediate rebuttals. (The contention over the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine is one example.) This seesawing has added to the sense of panic and confusion among ordinary citizens. It is often said that economics is not a science, because one cannot make hard predictions. As the pandemic has shown, even the natural sciences struggle when faced with a new phenomenon. Research does not produce immediate answers. Scientists, doctors and public health experts should not be afraid to say clearly how much they do not yet know. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Ferdinando Giugliano writes columns and editorials on European economics for Bloomberg View. He is also an economics columnist for La Repubblica and was a member of the editorial board of the Financial Times. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Members of the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin, New Jersey attend service on Sunday morning, May 24, 2020. The church defied New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's shutdown order and opened the church for in-person service. Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday that he would allow outdoor crowds of up to 25 people from 10 and permit campgrounds to reopen just before Memorial Day weekend. Read more Read the latest Philadelphia-area coronavirus updates here // Timestamp 05/26 06:00am New Jersey reported 965 new coronavirus cases and 16 more deaths on Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced, noting that the low numbers may be due to a reporting delay during Memorial Day weekend. At least 11,144 New Jerseyans now have died after contracting COVID-19, the nations second-highest state death toll, behind New York, according to coronavirus-tracking authorities at Johns Hopkins University. New York had 29,141 deaths and Massachusetts placed third with 6,372. Pennsylvania ranked fifth with 5,139. Memorial Day marked the 19th-straight day that New Jersey has reported fewer than 2,000 new cases during a 24-hour period, despite the increased availability of testing. The new cases reported Monday pushed the state total to 155,092. LIVE COVERAGE FOR MAY 26: Pandemic takes no holiday as coronavirus cases and deaths grow in N.J. and Pa.; survey finds reopening alone will not restore consumer confidence WHO stops study of anti-malaria drug Trump touted as game changer // Timestamp 05/25 10:27pm The World Health Organization announced Monday that it would temporarily drop hydroxychloroquine, the unproven drug that President Donald Trump promoted as a game changer in treating the coronavirus, from its global study into experimental COVID-19 treatments. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that in light of a paper published last week in the Lancet medical journal, which showed people taking hydroxychloroquine were at higher risk of death and heart problems, there would be a temporary pause on the hydroxychloroquine arm of its global clinical trial. Tedros said the executive group behind WHOs global trial met on Saturday, and decided to conduct a comprehensive review of all available data on hydroxychloroquine. Last week, Trump announced he was taking hydroxychloroquine although he has not tested positive for COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned health professionals last month that the drug should not be used to treat COVID-19 outside of hospital or research settings due to numerous serious side effects, which can include death. Associated Press In Ocean City, Memorial Day crowds smaller and a bit subdued // Timestamp 05/25 3:45pm Under a cloudy sky, vacationers wheeled down Ocean Citys boardwalk on beach cruisers Monday afternoon, past the amusement rides locked behind security gates and signs warning patrons to be kind, don masks and wash their hands. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and continued fears of the viruss spread, the crowds on the traditional first day of the summer season were smaller, and a bit subdued. But there was a determined line of patrons outside Manco and Mancos pizza shop, a handful of souvenir stores selling t-shirts curbside, and families lining the beach mostly keeping at least six feet away from each other, though hardly anyone wore a mask. Several beachgoers said they were taking more precautions than usual, adding masks and hand sanitizer to their beach bags. We have extra wipes, hand sanitizer, and face masks, and were definitely keeping our distance, said Elizabeth Martinez, of Millville, N.J., posted up on the beach with a few friends. Jessica and Steven Schaller, of Downingtown, traveled to their home in Ocean City this weekend but were concerned about avoiding crowds. We were worried we figured we would come down and see how crowded it was. If it was too crowded, we probably would have headed back home, Jessica Schaller said. But theyd been pleased to see that their neighbors at the shore had been making efforts to keep their distance from each other. Aubrey Whelan Phillie Phanatic dons a mask for Memorial Day parade // Timestamp 05/25 2:50pm With baseball on pause, the Phillie Phanatic donned a mask to take part in a socially distant Memorial Day parade in Montgomery Township Monday. The Phanatic joined members of the townships police, fire and public works departments, who escorted veterans through neighborhood streets in honor of Memorial Day. Unfortunately, the beloved mascot who underwent a few changes during the offseason had some trouble getting out of the jeep. Earlier this month, Gritty also appeared in public wearing a mask to take part in a parade of first responders through Delaware County. Look at this. Its awesome! It brings back a sense of normalcy, Sean McDade, a pharmacist who attended the parade, told the Inquirer. When Gritty is your baseline for normalcy, you know were living in wild times. Rob Tornoe Reopen New Jersey protest held in Point Pleasant // Timestamp 05/25 2:15pm A small group of Trump supporters protested Gov. Phil Murphys coronavirus restrictions at Point Pleasant Beach on Monday, chanting All businesses are essential! and Open New Jersey now! State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, a North Jersey Republican, told the mostly maskless protestors their freedoms were being denied under the guise of public health and claimed there was very little science involved in the states restrictions. Since when do we curb our businesses? We curb our dogs, not our businesses, Pennacchio said. State Assemblyman Jamel Holley, a North Jersey Democrat, was also scheduled to speak, but announced Monday afternoon he would be skipping the event to avoid mixing politics with the message of Memorial Day. Its a choice I personally made once the focal point of my attendance changed as I saw the issues I stand for: civil rights, freedom rights and justice begin to be distorted in a way that is not becoming of what I represent as a person, Holley wrote on Facebook. Murphy said during an interview on CNN Monday morning that he wants to open all businesses, but when it comes to indoor facilities like gyms and hair salons, were not there yet. I dont begrudge their right to protest, but they dont sway me, Murphy said. The only thing that sways me is the facts and the science and the data. Rob Tornoe New Jersey posts 19th straight day of less than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases // Timestamp 05/25 1:19pm New Jersey reported 965 new coronavirus cases and 16 new deaths, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday, noting the low numbers may be due to a delay in reporting over Memorial Day weekend. At least 11,144 New Jerseyans have now died after contracting COVID-19, the second-highest death toll in the country, behind New York. According to Johns Hopkins University, the states that have suffered the most COVID-19 deaths as of Monday afternoon are: New York: 29,141 deaths New Jersey: 11,144 deaths Massachusetts: 6,372 deaths Michigan: 5,228 deaths Pennsylvania: 5,139 deaths Its the 19th straight day New Jersey has reported fewer than 2,000 new cases over a 24-hour period, despite increased testing. The 965 new confirmed COVID-19 cases pushed the states total to at least 155,092. 2,755 New Jerseyans were hospitalized, down over 65% from a peak of 8,084 patients on April 14. 719 New Jersey residents remained in critical or intensive care on Monday, and 540 were on ventilators. Rob Tornoe Philadelphia reports two new coronavirus deaths as region nears yellow reopening phase // Timestamp 05/25 1:19pm Two more Philadelphians have died after contracting coronavirus, the city announced on Monday. At least 1,235 Philadelphia residents have succumbed to the virus, with a little more than half the deaths occurring among residents of long-term care facilities. There have been a total of 21,641 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city, which announced 407 new cases on Monday. Todays numbers reflect the new cases since Saturday, as the city has supped released updates on Sunday. Philadelphia and its suburbs the hardest hit areas in Pennsylvania will move to the yellow phase of the states reopening plan by June 5, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday. That would allow most businesses to reopen, but gyms, salons, malls, and movie theaters would remain closed. There will also still be limitations on public gatherings, and restaurants and bars will remain closed to in-person business. Rob Tornoe 15 more Pennsylvanians have died of COVID-19, hospitalizations slightly up // Timestamp 05/25 12:58pm As Pennsylvanians across the state celebrate a socially distant Memorial Day, the commonwealth reports 15 more residents have died of COVID-19. At least 5,139 Pennsylvanians have died of coronavirus since the pandemic forced the state to shutdown in mid-March. 3,379 of the deaths have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. 68,186 have tested positive in the commonwealth with 473 new positive cases reported Monday. Despite increased testing, the number of new daily cases of COVID-19 has declined overall since reaching a peak of 1,965 on April 9. The number of coronavirus patients hospitalized has dropped by nearly 1,000 since May 8 from 2,618 to 1,628. But the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized by coronavirus has increased by 68 patients since Friday, with a total of 334 patients currently on ventilators. As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place, Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said in a statement. We must continue to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, which includes our seniors, those with underlying health issues, our healthcare workers and our first responders." Rob Tornoe NHL moving to Phase 2 of its plan to return to play // Timestamp 05/25 12:10pm The National Hockey League announced on Monday it is ready to move to Phase 2 of its plan to return players to the ice, which includes allowing players to train in small groups at team facilities. The NHL said it is targeting early June for a return to practice in a memo released Monday, noting it will continue to monitor developments in each of the clubs markets, and may adjust the overall timing if appropriate. The NHL has been self-quarantining since March 12. A maximum of six players will be allow to train together at team facilities. Coaches and other team personnel wont be allowed on the ice, and players are required to wear facial coverings while not exercising. The NHL said the plan is voluntary, and teams cant require players to return to their teams home city. The NHL players union approved a 24-team return-to-play format Friday. The top four teams in each conference would probably play each in a round robin setup to determine seedings. The Flyers are currently seeded fourth in the East, behind Boston, Tampa Bay, and Washington. Rob Tornoe Biden wears a mask during Memorial Day visit to veterans memorial in Delaware // Timestamp 05/25 11:40am Former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, donned masks during a Memorial Day visit to lay a wreath at the Delaware Memorial Bridge Veterans Memorial Park on Monday morning. Its the first time Biden has left his house in Wilmington, Del. in two months, since the coronavirus pandemic forced him off the campaign trail in mid-March. It feels good to be out of my house, Biden told reporters. Bidens son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, served in Iraq as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard and was awarded a Bronze Star President Trump Vice President Mike Pence also honored fallen veterans during a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Monday morning. He also traveled to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Md. with First Lady Melania Trump to attend a Memorial Day Ceremony. Rob Tornoe Cops: New Jersey man claims he has coronavirus during fight with police // Timestamp 05/25 10:30am A New Jersey man claimed to spread coronavirus to two officers during an arrest in Gloucester Township, according to police. Officials said Randall Rivers, of Sicklerville, N.J., claimed he was infected with COVID-19 as he kicked, cursed, and fought with Gloucester Township police officers responding to a call involving a physical dispute between family members. According to police, Rivers, 55, became irate and uncooperative and refused to be handcuffed before assaulting the two officers, yelling that he had exposed them to the virus. Rivers was charged with harassment, making terroristic threats, resisting arrest, failure to submit to identification procedures, and two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Police say Rivers was briefly hospitalized for evaluation before being taken to the Camden County jail. Both offers were treated for minor injuries. Rob Tornoe Trump threatens to pull Republican convention out of North Carolina due to COVID-19 restrictions // Timestamp 05/25 09:40am President Trump is threatening to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina, claiming Gov. Roy Cooper is unable to guarantee the capacity due to coroanvirus restrictions. Starting his Memorial Day on Twitter Monday, Trump demanded a guarantee the convention will be allowed to go on as planned, with Cooper becoming the latest Democratic governor targeted by the president. Vice President Mike Pence called Trumps demands reasonable during an interview on Fox News Monday morning, saying the president is intent on gathering in August in a safe and responsive venue. We look forward to working with Gov. Cooper getting a swift response, and if needs be, moving the national convention to a state that is farther along on reopening and can say with confidence we can gather there, Pence said. Its unclear where Republicans could move their convention that would allow 50,000 people to gather at once. Its also unclear how such an event could be planned under such short notice. On Friday, restaurants, barber shops and salons are among the business that will be allowed to reopen in North Carolina with limitations, but gatherings remain limited to 10 people. The convention is scheduled to begin August 24, and both Cooper and Charlotte mayor Vi Lyles have said all decisions will be guided by data and science. "We cant go into this with just, Well, we agreed to something in 2018 and were going to continue to do it, Lyles said on MSNBC last week. That is not the world today. Rob Tornoe Murphy: South Jersey church that held Sunday service will face repercussions' // Timestamp 05/25 08:45am New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said there will be repercussions after a South Jersey church held Sunday service in defiance to the states coronavirus closure orders. Parishioners of the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin gathered yesterday for what its clergy said prior to the service would meet or exceed safety recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There will be repercussions in any case where someone willful violates out executives orders, Murphy said. But putting the specifics of that aside, I want to get churches going as well Murphy said the response to defying the states executive orders typically involve summons, either from the Department of Health or the attorney generals office. He cited Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, which was issued summons for several days before a judge forced the facility to close. Its a fairly straightforward process, Murphy said. We got to make sure were all in this together and do it the right way. In New Jersey, churches are currently barred from holding in-person services indoors, but can hold outdoor services limited to 25 people. Dozens of pastors throughout the state have threatened to sue. READ MORE: South Jersey church bucks coronavirus closure orders and holds Sunday service Rob Tornoe At the Jersey Shore, sparse crowds and worry for whats ahead // Timestamp 05/25 06:00am It felt like fall at the Jersey Shore on Sunday, but the clouds and cool weather did more than chase away beach-goers during the traditional start of the summer season. They underscored the sudden fragility of a Shore economy thats been pounded by pandemic-driven store closings, hotel-room cancellations, and dining limits. On Sunday, as some hardy ocean-lovers set out towels on beaches, and others on benches snuggled inside down coats, the boom of Memorial Day weekend turned quiet. Our business is down 70% over last year, said Bill Bumbernick, owner of the Surfing Pig marina, bar and restaurant in North Wildwood. Thats partly due to the weather. But were very concerned. Our customers are great, they really get it. But 70% just doesnt cut it. READ MORE: A Tough Shore outlook: The show did go on sort of Jeff Gammage, Erin Arvedlund, and Pranshu Verma, Todays Front Page // Timestamp 05/25 05:00am Washington Coast Waters Open to Crabbing, Fishing May 26 Published 05/23/2020 at 3:44 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Washington Coast) - Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials announced this week that Washington coast waters will reopen for fishing starting May 26, with crabbing on the Washington side of the Columbia River restarting that day as well. (Above: Willapa Bay area, courtesy Wallapa Harbor Visitors Center). WDFW noted marine areas 1 through 3 will be open, not area 4. Halibut and razor clam harvest will remain closed in these areas for now due to continued port closures and concerns about the spread of coronavirus in local communities. Areas 1 3 include Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor for bottomfish, shellfish, mussels, clams, oysters, and other species as described in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) remains closed to all recreational fishing and shellfish harvesting. WDFW continues to communicate with public health experts, port commissioners, and tribal co-managers regarding these opportunities in the future. Weve continually said we will only open fisheries when local communities feel it is safe to do so, and with the full cooperation of public health officials, said Larry Phillips, director of WDFWs coastal region. While not everything is reopening right away, this is a huge step toward returning to typical fishing seasons along the coast. Some of Washingtons best fishing takes place in the ocean, and were excited to see people getting back out there, even if the experience is somewhat different. The open marine areas include waters off Washingtons Pacific coast from the mouth of the Columbia River on the Washington-Oregon border north to Cape Alava on the Olympic Peninsula, as well as Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor. Anglers should check ahead of time if their preferred destination or launch is open. Some local marinas or facilities including tribal lands remain closed, and anglers should be prepared to change plans if their first choice is closed or too congested. Notably, the Makah and Quileute reservations, including marinas and all services, remain closed to visitors. Anglers should not attempt to access the ocean from these areas. Additional fishery closures may be implemented if anglers attempt to launch from closed access sites. WDFW said anglers will also need to adhere to state guidelines by sticking closer to their homes, traveling only with family or other members of their immediate household, and practicing physical distancing by keeping 6 feet apart. Were reopening in consultation with local public health officials, and consistent with the governors phased approach, Phillips said. Its extremely important that we all continue to do our part to keep ourselves and our communities safe and healthy. Digging for razor clams along the Washington coast is not allowed, just as with the Oregon coast. Governor Jay Inslees Stay Home, Stay Healthy order prohibits large gatherings through May 31. Razor clam digs can draw thousands to congregate in small coastal communities and on public beaches. Along the states Puget Sound beaches (marine areas 5 13), harvesting of clams, mussels and oysters remains closed as well. The Governors Office authorized guide and charter fishing services to reopen on May 14, though they are subject to a number of new requirements, including a limit on the number of passengers depending on their home countys phase of reopening. More information about those requirements can be found at this pdf link. See https://wdfw.wa.gov/ More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted The death of a "gentle giant" whose body was found in bushland over the weekend is being treated as suspicious by detectives. Jarrad Lovison (left) with friend Adam Reddiex. Police on Monday confirmed remains found 160 kilometres east of Melbourne on Saturday afternoon are those of missing man Jarrad Lovison, who was last seen in mid-April. Jarrad Lovison's death is being considered suspicious. Credit:Victoria Police The body, found near Moondarra, a remote area about 27 kilometres north of Moe, was formally identified on Monday and his family have been notified. Geoffrey Paschel has become the outcast of this season of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days. Most viewers do not trust him, and for good reason. Before the show even started airing, details of Pashcels checkered past began coming out and people were shocked that TLC even allowed him to be on the show. As the episodes began to air, Paschel failed to tell his girlfriend Varya Malina about most of the charges against him, which made fans wonder what else he was hiding. Geoffrey Paschel | Instagram@90DayGeoffrey RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Why Geoffrey Paschel Hasnt Responded to Domestic Abuse Claims Geoffrey and Varyas relationship and breakup When Paschel went to Russia, his goal was to get engaged to Malina. Unfortunately, when he got there, things were awkward between him and Malina. When they finally had gotten used to one anothers presence, Paschel told her that he had spent some time in jail. He failed to bring up the most recent charges against him, which are kidnapping, domestic assault, vandalism, and interference with emergency calls. Even though Malina only knew a fraction of what Paschel had done in his past, she was still uncomfortable with his criminal history. So, when Paschel proposed, she told him that she was not ready yet. Instead of giving her time, Paschel broke up with her. The best thing for me to do is just ignore it and try to move on with my life, he told the cameras after he got back to America. I feel like shes messing with my heart. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Will Babygirl Lisa Hamme be on The Other Way? Geoffreys new relationship Just three weeks after he left Malina, Paschel was already starting something serious with his old friend, Mary. I want to find happiness and I want somebody to find that happiness with me, he told the cameras. I really do see a future with Mary so Im hoping the closer I get with her, Ill naturally start forgetting these feelings I had with Varya. Maybe I didnt need to go all the way to Russia to find love, he said later. Maybe Mary is my life partner. Just as he was getting comfortable with Mary, Malina showed up on his doorstep, wanting to mend their broken relationship and fight for their love. Is Geoffrey married? People are wondering how legitimate Paschels relationship with Malina was in the first place since he was able to move on so quickly. And now, there is a rumor going around that Paschel was actually married the whole time he was in Russia. You should feel bad for HER! a fan wrote in a comment on Instagram. He went to Russia as a married man! Hes married to a woman from Tennessee. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: How Does David Murphey Have So Much Money to Spend on Ukrainian Dating Sites? Paschel doesnt respond to every allegation made against him, but this time he did. This is news to me, he responded. I can assure you, no matter what little YouTube video youre watching or posting to my page, I am not married to a woman from Tennessee. Though he claims to not be married now, Paschel has been married before, which was part of the reason that Malina did not want to rush into a union with him. But there is also a life experience that stops from impulsive and rash acts, she said on Instagram of why she didnt accept Paschels proposal. I was married, so was Geoffrey and not once. How can I say yes and then change my mind? Its betrayal. I decided to be completely honest. Number of officially registered unemployed people in Ukraine exceeds 500,000 Liga.net As of May 20, 2020, the number of unemployed in Ukraine was 501,000 people. This was reported by the press service of Ukraine's State Employment Center. It is reported that the number of unemployed in May 2020 has increased by 196,000 (64% more than during the same period last year). "The increase in the number of registered unemployed took place in all regions, most significantly in Khmelnytskyi, Zaporizhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Lviv, Zakarpattia regions (2.1 - 2.3 times) and Kyiv (3.5 times)," the message reads. At the same time, it is reported that 104 thousand people have been employed since the beginning of the quarantine (70,000 of them were unemployed). As we reported earlier, Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed on the new stand-by program (five billion dollars for 18 months). "All the prerequisites for the beginning of practical work under the IMF program have been met, the fund's money is used to maintain the balance of payments and support the budget," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated during his phone talk with President of Finland Sauli Niinisto. Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan is a cut above the rest in Indian politics today, precisely in his remarkable ability to look beyond the horizon. His was probably the only government that began planning for the incoming pandemic as early as in February, notes M K Bhadrakumar. IMAGE: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Photograph: Kind courtesy keralacm.gov.in The huge outpouring of greetings from all over the country to Pinarayi Vijayan on his 75th birthday, especially from Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, bears testimony to his extraordinary political personality both at the regional as well as at the national level. The birthday fell on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the government Vijayan leads in Kerala. There is universal acclaim today among Malayalis that the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist has been one of the best governments -- arguably, in my opinion, the best -- the state has seen since 1956. That is saying a lot since Kerala has also had more than a fair share of good administrators heading the governments in these past six decades and more. But then, Pinarayi stands out as exceptional as a strong and decisive leader who gives the highest importance to performance. Kerala's handling of the pandemic has been noticed world over and has won praise from even the Bharatiya Janata Party, the CPI-M's ideological rival, whose Maharashtra unit has demanded that the state government in Mumbai should emulate Pinarayi's stellar example. It is a rare happening in the highly polarised political atmosphere in the country. The BJP and CPI-M are at loggerheads and occupy opposite ends of the political and ideological spectrum. But what draws attention is that Pinarayi crosses the divides in the body politic with merry abandon, nonchalantly. And what makes this possible is his commitment to the idea of India. IMAGE: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan meets state officials. Photograph: Kind courtesy keralacm.gov.in Pinarayi it was who first drew national attention in the wake of the pandemic to an impending social upheaval in the country unless the plight of the migrant workers was addressed. He stressed at the PM's videoconference with chief ministers the urgency of deploying special trains to transport the migrant workers to their home states. Looking back, the delay in implementing Pinarayi's suggestion has cost the Modi government heavily in political terms. To my mind, no matter the criticism by the Opposition parties and other detractors of Modi, he has handled the pandemic crisis almost optimally so far under the circumstances, considering the heavy odds in terms of lack of resources and the state of the economy and so on. But the tragedy of the migrant worker has come to blight the overall performance. Where Pinarayi is a cut above the rest in Indian politics today is precisely in this remarkable ability to look beyond the horizon. His was probably the only government that began planning for the incoming pandemic as early as in February, no sooner than the first reports from Wuhan began drifting in. And when the lockdown was announced on March 25, the juggernaut was already on the move in Kerala thundering into the countryside to battle the medieval virus. The result is plain to see: When India utilised the lockdown to mobilise for the warfront, Kerala was already at the barricade on the frontline. This must be Pinarayi's finest hour in a tumultuous career of some six decades. Nothing would have given him greater satisfaction than that he could save precious human lives. Only someone who is intensely conscious of the human condition can be so fanatically devoted to the welfare of people's lives. Only someone who knew abject poverty in his personal life would understand the exhilarating joy of life. Pinarayi reminisced recently on his Facebook page on Mother's Day on the sheer struggle to survive in his childhood and the great sacrifices his mother had made to bring him up, with an iron resolve to educate him, her youngest son, with a burning ambition borne out of infinite love. It was a rare peep into Pinarayi's inner world, and it was profoundly moving for anyone who ever understood the seamless love in life that only a mother could give. On a personal note, I can claim familiarity with Pinarayi only over the past decade-and-a-half after I left the diplomatic service and joined the Communist Party of India-Marxist. Pinarayi struck me for his Churchillian will power and his 'fight them on the beaches' moments in Kerala's highly competitive politics and that certain brusqueness that is innate to all self-made men. But in the most recent years, Pinarayi has transformed. Albert Einstein once said, "'Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.' Pinarayi apparently did that. The 2018 Kerala floods and the current pandemic brought him face to face with nature, and by discovering nature 'red in tooth and claw', the Communist may have discovered himself. Nature mellowed Pinarayi. Nature's secret is patience. But, in the process, as he took a walk in the woods, he has come out taller than the trees. Lal Salam, Comrade Pinarayi. Happy birthday! Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar is a frequent contributor to Rediff.com Production: Mahipal Soni/Rediff.com We were invited to stay overnight at SoDos newest boutique hotel The Delaney Hotel, located across from Orlando Health just south of downtown Orlando, and it was simply amazing, to say the least. We absolutely loved our experience. The Delaney Hotel is hospitality reimagined. It is like home, but so much better. Delaneys Tavern restaurant on-site is just icing on the cake. The 54-room boutique hotel features new, innovative designs such as over-sized rooms, walk-in showers, room service combined with advanced technologies in-room tablets, digital concierge, mobile keys, room automation, bathroom mirrors with integrated clocks, 55 smart tvs with guest-device streaming, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center and business center. Although they just opened this past August, they certainly know what they are doing in terms of giving guest the ultimate hotel experience. The Delaney Hotel strives to create a new commitment to authentic hospitality and genuine service with individualized accomodations. In regards to COVID-19, your safety is their first priority. The Delaney Hotel + Delaneys Tavern is founded by local physicians that own their own practice right next to the hotel property so they are very active with their business ventures. They want to keep guests informed about the precautions that they are taking to ensure a healthy and relaxing stay. Some of their guidelines are as follows: Housekeeping: Our staff uses an EPA registered Peroxide product to quickly and effectively disinfect our guest rooms. This solution kills 99.999% of germs and bacteria including Norovirus and Coronavirus in as little as 45 seconds! An additional layer of protection is employed through the use of BetONE RTU a broad spectrum disinfectant cleaner designed for hard, non-ports inanimate surfaces. If that wasnt enough to kill these germs, Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that we deploy which uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions. All of the air filters throughout the hotel have been switched to MERV 13 rated, anti-bacterial/viral air filters from Nordic Air. Weve installed Advance Gel Sanitizer Stations throughout the property to provide fast, proven antimicrobial efficacy against a wide range of microorganisms. The Delaney Hotel All rooms include: Express Check-in + Checkout 55 Smart TVs In-Room Tablet In-Room Safe Julius Meinl Gourmet Coffee Maker Herbal Bath Amenities Private Work Space Individual A/C Controls Complimentary Super Fast WiFi Complimentary, Local & Long Distance. To enhance our stay, we upgraded in style to their Posh Luxury Suite. Extra space, extra spiffy, and only for a bit extra. With a generous, separate living area including a super-comfy sofa, dining table, and luxury amenities that combine the luxurious and the local. I was so grateful for the LED mirror with a digital clock on it. It was very helpful in making sure I was on time to all of my appointments. This hotel is family-friendly or business professional-friendly for individuals like myself. I thought this complimentary amenity was very thoughtful. I have never seen makeup remover available in any hotel room before. I definitely used them to wipe my makeup off at the end of the night. Modern and sleek walk-in shower. My overnight stay was so peaceful and relaxing. I honestly did not want to leave. Cheers! The in-room tablet was very resourceful. It was nice to have everything right at my fingertips. You could look up hotel information on it and order anything on it from food to complimentary toiletries like q-tips, shaving kits, ear plugs, etc. It even had the Bible app on it. Room service breakfast the next morning was a real treat. Breakfast was prepared by the hotels on-site restaurant Delaneys Tavern, which provides all of their room service and catering. Beef Short Rib Skillet with Over Easy Egg. This is their #1 breakfast item and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Texas Style Brioche French Toast. I had some leftover so I took them home and reheated it the next morning for breakfast. They were amazing, even the next day. Highly recommended! 3 Egg Omelet. It was fresh and scrumptious. Poblano & Potato Hash, Sausage Links, Pecan Smoked Bacon. I ordered these as my sides items and they were all delicious! I washed everything down with fresh-squeezed orange juice. Yum! Breakfast in bed. There is no better way to start the day than like this. The fitness center was conveniently just a few steps away from our room. It was very clean and had every equipment that I needed. Their business center is located next to the fitness center. The Tavern and staff are applying the same precautions as the hotel to insure the safety of their patrons. Every employee wore masks and they have transitioned to single-use menus. If you decide to not take a menu, you can scan their QR code on your phone and view the full menu from there. Small plates and shareables featuring New American cuisine is the cornerstone of Delaneys Tavern. Delaney Taverns microbrew and craft cocktail menu. Champagne and wine list. New Fashioned & Delaney Rita. Recommended by the bartender. My dining companion consumed these and although he is picky about his cocktails, he approved of these and gave them both two thumbs up. Tuna Tartare with Wonton Chips. Executive Chef Anthony Albino let me preview this new dish and it was perfection. There was not a speck left behind. If you are a tuna lover like me, you will love this appetizer! Lychee gastrique, raspberry chipotle, avocado, green onion, cucumber, micro greens, sesame seeds, black sesame seeds. Blue Crab Beignets Apple fennel slaw, horseradish aioli. It was light and savory. Vegetarian French Onion Soup. It was warm and comforting. Diver Scallop, Shrimp & Grits Local Jacksonville parmesan purple grits, tasso ham, sun-dried tomato cream sauce. It was rich and creamy. Tavern Burger. I have had this twice and it my favorite dish. Highly recommended! Brisket, chuck, short rib blended patty, smoked gouda cheese, chipotle bbq, caramelized onion aioli, crispy onion frizzle, brioche bun. I ordered mine with a side of crispy seasoned potato wedges. Tiramisu. Executive Chef Anthony Albino let me preview this new dessert and the presentation was super cool. Chef Anthony Albino had the tiramisu in a cylinder container and then he lifted the cylinder to let all the sauce fall down into the dessert for a cool dripping presentation. Lounge areas with plush seating and walls decorated with vibrant Orlando paintings and celebrity paintings provide a chic atmosphere. They offer fun outdoor seating as well. Playful, unscripted experiences awaits you. Take a break from your typical 9-to-5 and pamper yourself in lush accommodations, swanky service, and convivial ambiance. You will not regret it. Highly recommended! A female student repatriated from France was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus by the Health Ministry Monday evening. "Patient 326", a 20-year-old female resident of Ward 19, Binh Thanh District in Ho Chi Minh City, landed Sunday at the Tan Son Nhat Airport on Vietnam Airlines flight VN008. She was quarantined upon arrival at the Division 317 military camp in HCMC's Hoc Mon District. She tested positive Monday and is being treated at the city's Cu Chi field hospital. The latest patient takes the nation`s Covid-19 tally to 326, of whom 54 are active cases. The other 272 have been discharged after treatment. On Monday, five patients were confirmed recovered and were discharged from hospitals. A Vietnamese woman who was repatriated from Russia two weeks ago was confirmed Covid-19 free Monday afternoon. The 47-year-old woman recovered after 12 days of treatment at Hospital No.2 in the northern province of Quang Ninh. With her recovery, Quang Ninh, home to the popular Ha Long Bay, is now free of Covid-19 patients. On Monday evening, the health ministry confirmed that four patients in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu have recovered. They have tested negative multiple times and will be monitored for 14 additional days at the Bac Lieu General Hospital, the ministry said. Bac Lieu is currently treating 13 patients. The four new recoveries are part of the 17 patients who had returned from Dubai on flight VN88, which landed at the Can Tho Airport on May 3. Of Vietnam's Covid-19 cases, 186 have been imported and the remaining found in the community. Vietnam has gone through 39 days without recording any community transmission. Of the 54 active patients, seven have tested negative once and four others twice. The country has more than 15,000 people under quarantine. Of these, 58 are isolated in hospitals, 8,000 are in centralized facilities and the rest are quarantined at home. The fear of Covid-19 has taken a big casualty. BJP, RSS, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah supporters did not get to celebrate the completion of the year in power for Modi 2.0 a momentous year. The year Jammu and Kashmir was untangled from Article 370 and the Ram Janmabhoomi from a legal tangle. The first punched a hole in the Islamist ideology that, through a calculated strategy using every means, from political parties to the secular provisions of the constitution, dodged the polity since Independence. Few of us believed Article 370 could be knocked off in our lifetimes. That was the greatest achievement of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Together with the vexing Ram Mandir tussle, the exclusionist provisions of Article 370 fuelled an Islamist undercurrent in Indian politics, and Wahhabism ran rampant with its pan-Islamism. Its sinister designs can only be understood by a speech of a Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) leader, SQR Iliyas, now known as the father of JNU student leader Umar Khalid. Iliyas, a former president of the now-banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and also a member of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board for years, gave this speech on January 1, 2006, at Ahmedabad's Mehdi Nawaz Jung hall to a gathering of JEI. A momentous year of Modi 2.0. (Photo: Reuters) I was present on the occasion when Iliyas openly lamented how Muslims had failed to convert entire India into Islam despite being in India for 800 years, and called upon them to create a situation wherein no party can form a government at the Centre or states without the support of Muslims. Iliyas openly called for Islamising the nation in that speech. I had started tracking Iliyas in 2003 after I read an interview of his, in which he said that nationalism was a fascist idea as it divides humanity, and that there was nothing wrong about a SIMI poster saying 'Destroy Nationalism and Establish Khilafat' (Khilafat means an Islamic kingdom based on Sharia laws). SIMI was banned but its ideology has not only survived, but flourished, and one could see them getting articulated in various speeches at the Shaheen Bagh protests. Coming back to the BJP's singular most important achievement in Modi 2.0: Removal of Article 370. The irony is that the BJP lost the Jharkhand and Delhi state elections despite the momentous step. Even more shocking was that the Shiv Sena left the BJP alliance and formed a government with the Congress in Maharashtra in the very year in which the Modi-government had removed Article 370. Some part of the blame for the losses goes to the BJP also, as it admitted turncoats in large numbers at the expense of party loyalists, and tried to win the Delhi election by giving it a communal tinge, when it could have fought the polls on Prime Minister's pet slogan of good governance. The BJP's pitch united both the hardline Wahhabi Muslims and the Barelvis, who abandoned the Congress and voted en masse for AAP seeing it as the winning party. Had the BJP fought the polls on the good governance slogan, Muslims would have also voted for the Congress, making the Delhi polls a three-cornered contest. This would have brought BJP more seats, or the party could have even come close to victory. In the process, the BJP also failed to enlist the support of non-Islamist Muslims who have been alienated along with those who traditionally oppose the party. The Ram Mandir verdict in which the Modi government played the role of a facilitator was also a historic event that a large mass of people should have appreciated as a great achievement of Modi 2.0's one year in office. The discovery of broken idols from the excavation work at the site in the first few months of the verdict shows how the legitimate rights of the majority community were being held to ransom all these years at the altar of pseudo-secular politics, and that too in a country which had let go of its land now called Pakistan, to satisfy the religious aspirations of the Muslims of undivided India. But a typical lack of sense of history has marked India's growth right from the time of the Independence movement when Congress's appeasement became the fodder of Muslim League, resulting, finally, in Partition and the birth of Pakistan. However, there is one silver lining that after the advent of ultra-Wahhabis like ISIS and the al-Qaeda, there is a significant section of Wahhabis in India and the world that rejects ultra-Wahhabism/terrorism through remaining wedded to Pan-Islamism. The way members of the Indian Wahhabi families cooperated with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for getting their ultra-sons back after they joined the ISIS is proof of this fact. The losses in Delhi and Jharkhand shouldn't, however, deter the BJP from pursuing its nationalist goals impacting national security, but with a rider that while fighting pan-Islamist elements in India's biggest minority community, it shouldn't end up targeting a large number of moderates in the community. The party seems to be on the right path at the moment in the way the Union Home Ministry under Amit Shah is tracking and zeroing in on the instigators of the post-Shaheen Bagh communal violence in Delhi. Any trace of separatism will have to be stamped out for a secure India in future, even while identifying the non-separatist sections in the minority which are quite significant and taking them along. Also Read: Modi gives a mantra before the stimuli Hong Kong's security chief said "terrorism" was growing in the city, as government departments rallied on Monday behind Beijing's plans to introduce national security laws and after thousands took to the streets to protest against the move. Police said they arrested more than 180 people on Sunday, when authorities fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters as unrest returned to the Chinese-ruled city after months of relative calm. "Terrorism is growing in the city and activities which harm national security, such as 'Hong Kong independence', become more rampant," Secretary for Security John Lee said in a statement. "In just a few months, Hong Kong has changed from one of the safest cities in the world to a city shrouded in the shadow of violence," he said, adding national security laws were needed to safeguard the city's prosperity and stability. In a return of the unrest that roiled Hong Kong last year, crowds thronged the streets of the city on Sunday in defiance of curbs imposed to contain the coronavirus, with chants of "Hong Kong independence, the only way out," echoing through the streets. Calls for independence are anathema to Beijing, which considers Hong Kong an inalienable part of the country. The proposed new national security framework stresses Beijings intent "to prevent, stop and punish" such acts. Agencies issuing statements in support of the legislation included the Commissioner of Correctional Services, and Hong Kong Customs. Financial Secretary Paul Chan wrote on his blog on Sunday the national security law "itself" does not affect investor confidence, only the "misunderstanding" of it does. The central government has already said the law is targeted at the minority of people who are suspected of threatening national security and will not affect the rights of the general public. The United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and others have expressed concerns about the legislation, widely seen as a potential turning point for China's freest city and one of the world's leading financial hubs. Taiwan, which has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong, will provide the people of Hong Kong with "necessary assistance", President Tsai Ing-wen said. On Monday morning, 18 May, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass at Saint John Paul IIs tomb, for the 100th anniversary of his birth and conclude the broadcast of daily Mass from the chapel in the papal residence. Next Mondays 7 AM morning Mass will be the last in a series that has accompanied millions of people throughout the world daily, for over two months. As Masses with people resume in Italy, Francis has in fact decided to stop the live broadcast of his morning Mass. The occasion will be special because 18 May marks the 100th anniversary of Karol Wojtyas birth, and for this reason Francis will celebrate Mass at the tomb of his Predecessor, the Pontiff-Saint, who was born in 1920, elected Bishop of Rome in 1978, died in 2005 and was canonized in 2014. The live broadcast by video, radio and streaming of the celebration of morning Mass at Santa Marta and the decision to celebrate it daily throughout this period of quarantine, was an unexpected and beautiful gift. Many people, even those who are far from the Church, felt accompanied and supported by the Pope who quietly knocked on the doors of their homes at the start of each day. Many discovered the importance and comfort of the daily encounter with the Gospel. Never before had so many people followed weekday liturgies on TV, offered without commentary and with several moments of silent adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament. The beauty and simplicity of the off-the-cuff homilies delivered by the Pope allowed us to enter the pages of the Gospel, as if we were present when those events took place. During the emergency that has forced us to remain confined within the walls of our houses, the importance of this daily magisterium has been confirmed, and made even more decisive in moments of uncertainty, suffering, anguish, and of so many questions about the future. The Santa Marta homilies represent a significant aspect of Francis service as Bishop of Rome. Many had already been accustomed to following them through the summaries offered by Vatican Media and in the volumes of the Vatican Printing Press, which collects them annually. In the last two months, however, it has been different, because the live broadcasts offered the opportunity to participate, albeit at a distance, in these daily celebrations, watching the Pope as he preaches and comments extemporaneously on Scripture. Many millions of people entered into contact with these Masses each day. Countless people have written to express their thanks. Now, as celebrations resume with people in Italian churches, a new phase has begun. Many, we can be sure, will miss this daily appointment. But, as Francis himself has said, we need to return to communal familiarity with the Lord in the Sacraments, participating in the Liturgy in person. Let us not forget another invitation from the Pope: that we visit the pages of the Gospel every day, with the daily contact to which we have by now grown accustomed through the televised Masses at Santa Marta. Andrea Tornielli Download Strong in the Face of Tribulation, the LEV's digital collection of all the homilies delivered by the Pope at Santa Marta during the time of pandamic Several passengers said their flights were cancelled and complained they did not get any intimation from airlines as domestic services resumed after a gap of two months on Monday. Officials said nearly 80 flights to and from Delhi were cancelled due to restrictions by states, officials said. Several passengers in Mumbai and Bengaluru also complained about cancellations. Follow latest updates on coronavirus here Only when our boarding passes were scanned at the airport entry we were told that boarding has been cancelled. We dont know what to do now, a passenger of an Air India Bengaluru-Hyderabad flight said, according to ANI. Also Watch | From aircraft to airports, sanitization increased to tackle Covid threat All commercial passenger flights resumed, except in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, after being suspended towards the end of March when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic. The first flight out of Delhi since lockdown was to Pune, which flew out at 4:45am, and the second was from Mumbai to Patna that departed at 6.45am. Both the flights were operated by IndiGo. The first flight departing out of CSMIA (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport ) will be to Patna at 6:45hrs and flight arriving from Lucknow will be the first arrival flight at 8:20hrs both operated by IndiGo, Mumbai airport operator MIAL said in a statement. Also read| 14-day quarantine to 7 days home isolation: Guidelines for air travellers The first domestic passenger flight to arrive at Delhi airport on Monday at 7.45am was from Ahmedabad. It was operated by SpiceJet. Thermal screening, shields Hundreds of passengers wearing masks were seen at airports across the country on Monday as security and airport personnel in protective gears screened them. News agency ANI tweeted photographs of passengers standing in long queues and wearing face shields inside an aeroplane. I was in Delhi since the Parliaments Budget session. Now, I am returning to my state Odisha, Anubhav Mohanty, the Biju Janata Dal lawmaker, said, according to ANI. He was on a Vistara flight from Delhi to Bhubaneswar. Cabin crew members were also seen in blue personal protection equipment (PPE) inside flights. I was nervous before the flight but all passengers were taking precautions. Very few people travelling right now, a passenger who arrived in Pune told ANI. The flights resumed after the ministry civil aviation held several discussions with states and airline representatives on Sunday. It has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state governments to recommence civil aviation operations in the country. Except Andhra Pradesh which will start on 26/5 and West Bengal on 28/5, domestic flights will recommence across the country from tomorrow, civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri said in a tweet on Sunday evening. State governments have issued their dos and donts, including thermal screening, quarantines, social distancing at the airport and no-contact check-in. The government had announced last Thursday that one-third of pre-lockdown domestic flights will operate from Monday. Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri has indicated that international flights could begin in June. Work comes first Flight attendants were also seen wearing masks at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airports Terminal 3 in Delhi. A flight attendant said they will have to interact less with passengers now in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. We are a little worried but work comes first. We will get personal protective equipment (PPE) kits from the airline, Amandeep Kaur, a flight attendant, told ANI. Food and beverage and retail outlets also opened at the airport as domestic flight services resumed. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had last Thursday issued standard operating procedures (SOP) for airports as part of preparations for the recommencement of domestic commercial flight operations/ Airports have been advised to ensure that passenger seating arrangement shall be done in such a manner so as to maintain social distancing among passengers using chairs by blocking those seats that are not to be used, with proper markers or tapes. All passengers also must compulsorily be registered with the Aarogya Setu app on their phones as per the directives. Apart from this, alternate check-in counters should be used to avoid congestion. The airport staff must be provided PPE kits, face masks etc, and should also be provided with hand sanitisers. (With agency inputs) Advertisement Floyd Mayweather was among thousands of people who flouted social distancing guidelines over the weekend to attend Memorial Day parties despite the ongoing threat of coronavirus and mounting death toll. The boxer and his entourage were seen at a nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona, huddled around a table, drinking and dancing while hundreds of others watched. Arizona is one of the few states to completely reopen its bars without restrictions aside from advice on staying in small groups. Mayweather and his friends were at International Boutique Nightclub. None wore masks or gloves, nor were they concerned with staying 6ft apart. His outing came as shocking footage emerged on Sunday of events at bars from the Ozarks to Florida and Long Island where revelers flouted the rules on wearing masks and maintaining a 6ft distance from others while bar and business owners turned a blind eye. The gatherings over the weekend happened as the US coronavirus death toll surpassed 97,000 and the case count hit 1.6million. Dr. Deborah Birx, part of the White House coronavirus task force, has refused to rule out that another lockdown will be needed despite President Trump vowing he will not shut down the country. He left the decision to enforce lockdowns to state governors in March but closed the border and declared a national state of emergency. More scenes from inside the packed Arizona nightclub where Mayweather was seen on Saturday night More videos are now emerging of tubing parties on Texas rivers and one particularly busy pool club in Houston. The bar, Cle Houston, was only allowed to open on the basis that it operated a 25 percent capacity but videos and photos shared on social media showed it brimming with people. Angry critics took to social media to call the hordes of people who gathered together 'stupid' and 'arrogant'. One called it a 'colossal slap in the face 'to any and everyone who has lost income, their job, a loved one due to COVID 19.' In New York, secretary to the governor, Melissa DeRosa, fumed at a different group which gathered at the Dublin Deck Tiki Bar and Grill in Patchogue. 'From what I understand, the photos show people were in this space and they werent wearing masks. Thats stupid. Stupid for you, its stupid for your surrounding patrons, its stupid for the bar,' she said. After footage emerged of people gathering inside, which is prohibited under New York's lockdown orders, the bar's owner said people were sheltering from the rain. Long Island will start loosening restrictions this week but eating in or drinking inside bars and restaurants is still prohibited. Police in Houston received more than 300 calls over the weekend reporting people for flouting social distancing rules. Nowhere was it more intense than at the Cle pool party. In Texas, dozens of people flocked to rivers to go tubing. The tubing businesses were allowed to open and they warned people to only stay in small groups but the rules were ignored on the water People gather at the Guadeloupe River in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday Before the weekend, the club advertised two parties - one on Saturday night and a day party, between 2pm and 8pm, on Sunday. Dieontray Napoleon said of the virus: 'If I get it, everybody else is getting it. Hey, that's life' Virtual flyers for the events made no mention of social distancing guidelines. It is unclear if the party was shut down or what kind of penalties the bar faces, if any. On Sunday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said any establishment that broke the rules faced being temporarily shut down. 'There are too many people that are coming together to some of our clubs, our bars, swimming pool parties, no social distancing, no masks. 'You are forcing us to step in for public health reasons to say no, were not going to allow that.' Dieontray Napoleon was one of hundreds who went tubing on the Delmar River in San Antonio. He shrugged off the risk of catching or spreading the virus and said: 'If I get it, everybody else is getting it. Hey, that's life.' Cle Houston drew hundreds to a pool party on Sunday despite being told to only operate at 25 percent capacity People at Cle Houston, a nightclub in Houston, Texas, which threw a day party on Sunday that attracted hundreds In Florida, two people were shot and four were hit by shrapnel in the Florida incident around 7.30pm Saturday on South Ocean Avenue near Breakers Oceanfront Park. MAYOR DEFENDS PARTYGOERS AT LAKE OF THE OZARKS Osage Beach Mayor John Olivarri The Mayor of Osage Beach has defended hordes of people who gathered at the Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend and flouted social distancing rules. 'This is one of our big weekends. Everyone knows that. 'So, if people made the conscientious decision to come down here and to participate at whatever level they elect to participate, they have made that decision. Are we going to make everybody happy because we are 'open? Probably not,' he said. 'Do I feel bad that our businesses have opened up and giving our employees the opportunity to go back into work and feed their families? Absolutely not,' Osage Beach Mayor John Olivarri said. St Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson disagreed and said it was 'irresponsible' and 'dangerous'. 'It is irresponsible and dangerous to engage in such high-risk behavior just to have some fun over the extended holiday weekend. 'Now, these folks will be going home to St. Louis and counties across Missouri and the Midwest, raising concerns about the potential of more positive cases, hospitalizations, and tragically, deaths,' she said. Advertisement Gunfire erupted along the beachside road where more than 200 people were seen partying and dancing as lockdowns eased up. Several people were wounded and taken to the hospital but the injuries are not life-threatening, authorities said. Police said no suspects were arrested and the victims were not cooperating with the investigation. Authorities had been expecting in influx after last week Governor Ron DeSantis said businesses could operate at 50 percent capacity. In the Tampa area along Florida's Gulf Coast, the crowds were so big that authorities took the extraordinary step of closing parking lots because they were full. 'Disney is closed, Universal is closed. Everything is closed so where did everybody come with the first warm day with 50% opening? Everybody came to the beach,' Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at a Sunday news conference, referring to crowds in the Daytona Beach area. Memorial Day weekend got off to a rainy start in New York City, but that wasn't enough to keep stir-crazy residents inside. Dozens of people were seen congregating outside bars and restaurants in the Big Apple on Saturday to kick off the three-day weekend as many grow increasingly weary of isolating inside their homes. Public drinking is strictly prohibited in the state and offenders can be slapped with fines, but the pandemic has sparked a defiance among many residents who - unable to sit inside their favorite watering holes - are setting up shop on sidewalks. More restaurants and bars have started reopening with takeout beers and cocktails in recent weeks as a way to keep the lights on as New York City has not yet met all the requirements necessary for a safe reopening of non-essential businesses. Thousands of people flocked to Lake of the Ozarks in Missorui where they packed into swim up bars and pool parties Revelers are seen celebrating Memorial Day weekend at Osage Beach at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri on Saturday A man and woman are seen kissing at Shady Gators, a multi-level bar and grill restaurant on Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri The owners of the Dublin Deck Tiki Bar and Grill in Patchogue were forced to apologize after footage showed the venue packed full of people on Friday; Suffolk County police responded but no summonses were issued In Long Island - where bars and restaurants remain takeout only - footage emerged of the Dublin Deck Tiki Bar and Grill on Friday. POLICE DEPARTMENTS REFUSE TO ENFORCE GOVERNORS' ORDERS AND LET BARS STAY OPEN In several counties across the country, local law enforcement agencies are refusing to enforce state lockdown orders to allow bars to stay open and serve people. It is a trend that has been seen since the start of the pandemic. In North Carolina, 4,000 maskless fans packed into a raceway despite police's orders not to. The alarming scenes at Ace Speedway, in Alamance County, came just 24 hours after Sheriff Terry Johnson said he would not interfere with the event, calling Governor Roy Coopers stay-at-home orders unconstitutional. As many as 4,000 people were believed to have attended the event on Saturday, and some 2,500 the night before. Ace Speedway co-owner Jason Turner said social distancing was recommended by organizers but was not enforced. He also said very few patrons appeared to be wearing facemasks or any other kind of personal protective equipment. Not a lot of people showed up with masks on. A lot of people are ready to get back to normal. We spoke and the racing community answered, Turner told At a biker bar in Illinois, another police department refused to enforce the law. Poopy's in Illinois, a biker's bar, opened and welcome large crowds. Advertisement Crowds stand close to one another, without masks, and appear to drink inside the establishment. Apologizing on their Facebook page, the bar owners wrote: 'We apologize to anyone who may have been offended by the videos that surfaced. 'We assure you it was not intended and will not happen again. 'We are looking forward to being able to allow guests to take their 'to-go' orders to a table on-site to enjoy while still practicing social distancing. 'But until that time we will remain 'to-go' only and do our best to ensure that our guests follow stricter guidelines and do not gather.' Co-owner Frank Mills added: 'Everybody hunkered down. We did what we were supposed to do.' Suffolk County police said in a statement: 'We are taking reports of noncompliance very seriously and is following up throughout this weekend with Dublin Deck, other locations in Patchogue and other downtowns in our jurisdiction. 'As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, the department asks for continued cooperation from Suffolk County businesses and residents, and asks people to adhere to the guidelines outlined by New York State.' For some New Yorkers the global health crisis seemed to be a distant memory while they enjoyed a drink with friends outside bars amid cloudy, rainy weather on Saturday. Photos showed people with their state-mandated masks pushed down around their necks as they sipped beverages from plastic cups outside popular haunts like Elio's Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side, Jasper's Taphouse in Hell's Kitchen and LOULOU in Chelsea. Some groups appeared to be ignoring social distancing guidelines as they huddled together, never straying too far from the takeout table for easy access to refills. The party continued after sundown as constant queues were seen outside bars like Benson's NYC in Lower Manhattan. In Atlanta, people were more cautious and observed social distancing rules by staying in their own small groups while wearing masks A group on Jones Beach, one of New York's State Pars, which was open this weekend for the holiday People stayed mostly away from one another on the beaches of New York and New Jersey, where the cooler weather kept many indoors Women wearing masks on the boardwalk at Belmar Beach in New Jersey on Sunday Many food and drink establishments that shuttered when the outbreak ramped up across the state and when the stay-at-home order was issued are now reopening for takeout service, as the lockdown rumbles on and they seek new ways to keep their businesses afloat. The restaurant and bar industry has been hardest hit by the pandemic, with stark data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and collated by the National Restaurant Association revealing that a staggering six million restaurant workers have lost their jobs during the pandemic. Three decades of restaurant jobs have been lost in two months and industry employment has fallen to its lowest level since 1989. In New York City alone, lockdown has thrown the jobs of more than 150,000 people working in restaurants and bars into jeopardy. Experts have predicted that one in four restaurants will go out of business as a result of the weeks-long lockdown measures put in place by the majority of US states to stop the spread of COVID-19. New York restaurants and bars were first shuttered more than nine weeks ago on March 16, with the exception of staying open for takeout service. As the weather warms up more businesses are reopening for takeout as they wait for Governor Andrew Cuomo to allow dine-in service to resume. New York City is expected to remain closed at least until mid-June, while officials caution that a true reopening could not happen until the fall. Over 6,000 criminal cases are being investigated under the supervision of the prosecutor's office in Luhansk region. Ukrainian prosecutors in Luhansk region have identified about 600 victims who have suffered torture in Russia-occupied Donbas. "The prosecutor's office in Luhansk region provides procedural guidance in more than 6,000 criminal cases related to offenses committed by illegal armed formations being controlled by Russia's occupying administration," Luhansk region's prosecutor, Oleksiy Liashenko, said, according to Radio Liberty's Ukrainian Service. Read alsoOSCE reports 44 civilian victims in Donbas hostilities since early 2020 According to him, all the information is included in the register of victims of crimes committed amid Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. "To systematize and accumulate data on victims of crime from individuals and legal entities, the prosecutor's office has launched a respective register," he said. Also, according to him, at present, information on more than 4,200 victims of criminal offenses related to the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine is included in the register of pretrial investigations. As UNIAN reported, 44 civilians have fallen victim to hostilities in Donbas since the beginning of the year, according to the OSCE. People walk past a Huawei Technologies shop in Bejing, April 22. / AFP-Yonhap By Baek Byung-yeul Huawei Technologies didn't request any hurriedly-arranged "special meeting" with senior executives from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix as the trade dispute between the United States and China escalates further, sources directly involved with the matter told The Korea Times, Monday. "Reports that claimed Huawei requested a special meeting with senior executives at Samsung Electronics and SK are simply untrue. As the trade dispute between Washington and Beijing has been escalating further, Huawei representatives recently met with their Samsung Electronics and SK counterparts for discussions on issues of mutual interest. However, no senior executives were in attendance at the meeting which itself was part of their usual activities," an industry official said in a telephone call. An official at Samsung Electronics' memory chip division downplayed the significance of the recent meeting, saying, "Business meetings always take place and, yes, we had a meeting with Huawei representatives, however, that doesn't mean the key topic touched upon was something related to the U.S-China dispute." Huawei is one of the top memory chip clients for both Samsung and SK hynix. Concerns were that Washington's tightening curbs on chip technology may have a negative impact on the South Korean duo's business ties with the Chinese network equipment giant. On May 15, the U.S. announced overseas semiconductor manufacturers using its equipment and software technology would be required to obtain a U.S. license before supplying chips to Huawei. Washington added it will allow chips that are already in production to be shipped to the Chinese company within 120 days from May 15. Stock market analysts speculated that the deepening tensions between the world's top two economies, may have forced Huawei to ask the South Korean memory chip-makers to maintain a stable supply of memory chips despite the U.S. attempt to isolate it. Industry analysts are weighing in on the possibility of Huawei stockpiling memory chips before Washington's tougher stance against the Chinese company takes effect. Samsung and SK collectively control more than 70 percent of the DRAM memory chip global market. "Huawei accounts for the mid-10 percent of total memory chip sales of Korean chip makers, so the U.S. government's curbs on Huawei would become a negative factor for them in a short-term perspective," Song Myung-sub, an analyst at Hi Investment & Securities, said. In the mid- to long-term, Song said watching how things proceed was necessary as there is the chance that the U.S. government could withdraw the restriction after the presidential election on Nov. 3. "In the long run, Samsung and SK will be able to supply their memory chips to other smartphone makers. Also, if Huawei attempts to increase its inventory level, the two companies can expect a sudden increase in sales over the short term," the analyst added. TrendForce, a market researcher specialized in the IT sector, also forecast the U.S. sanction would have little impact on Huawei. "TrendForce believes that the latest updates to the sanctions will have a relatively low impact, in the short term, on Huawei's shipment of smartphones, notebook computers and servers," the researcher said. "Instead, the sanctions are likely to primarily affect Huawei's 5G business. The U.S. government could impede Huawei's product shipments related to the construction of 5G base stations and networking devices in the future." The U.S. has been accelerating its decoupling efforts to push Chinese companies out of the global value chain. The commerce department announced May 22 that it would add 33 Chinese firms and institutions to an economic blacklist. Among 24 companies added to the list, 18 are related to high-tech software businesses ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity to robotics. Though the U.S. said the decision is the Trump administration's latest effort to crack down on firms whose goods might support China's military activities, this also shows the U.S. is ramping up its efforts to contain China's technology advances not only in the hardware sector such as in memory chips, network equipment and smart devices but also in software technology. A CLAREVIEW man is taking on an immense challenge in memory of a pal who sadly died in February. Paul Ryan, 36, is running 10 kilometres a day, every day for the month of May to raise money for the Irish Heart Foundation, which exists to support those with heart conditions and strokes. Three months ago this week, a giant of a man Mikey Doran died from a heart condition aged just 30 years. I saw a guy in England who was looking to walk 150km during May while he was minding dogs to raise money. I wouldnt be a big fan of walking. But Ive been doing some runs since Ive been off work because of the coronavirus outbreak, so I thought Id put it to good use, Paul explained. So far, hes raised more than 2,000, having initially set a target of 500. Its hard to put into words what Mikey was like, Paul said of his friend, If you met him once, thats all it would take. He was likeable, he went out of his way to help anyone else. Such a lovely guy. Each day, Paul ventures down to Shelbourne Park, where he runs 15 laps a day, which equals 10km. So far, hes done 150 kilometres and is half way to his target. To get behind Paul and donate to the cause, visit www.gofundme.com and search 300km in May for Mikey. Alternatively, telephone the Irish Heart Foundation at 01-6685001. Some investors rely on dividends for growing their wealth, and if you're one of those dividend sleuths, you might be intrigued to know that Telekom Austria AG (VIE:TKA) is about to go ex-dividend in just 2 days. If you purchase the stock on or after the 28th of May, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 2nd of June. Telekom Austria's next dividend payment will be 0.23 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of 0.23 per share. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Telekom Austria stock has a trailing yield of around 3.7% on the current share price of 6.24. 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! As a result, readers should always check whether Telekom Austria has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut. View our latest analysis for Telekom Austria Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. Telekom Austria paid out a comfortable 46% of its profit last year. Yet cash flows are even more important than profits for assessing a dividend, so we need to see if the company generated enough cash to pay its distribution. What's good is that dividends were well covered by free cash flow, with the company paying out 21% of its cash flow last year. 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. WBAG:TKA Historical Dividend Yield May 25th 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. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. With that in mind, we're encouraged by the steady growth at Telekom Austria, with earnings per share up 6.0% on average over the last five years. Management have been reinvested more than half of the company's earnings within the business, and the company has been able to grow earnings with this retained capital. Organisations that reinvest heavily in themselves typically get stronger over time, which can bring attractive benefits such as stronger earnings and dividends. Story continues Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. Telekom Austria's dividend payments per share have declined at 11% per year on average over the past ten years, which is uninspiring. It's unusual to see earnings per share increasing at the same time as dividends per share have been in decline. We'd hope it's because the company is reinvesting heavily in its business, but it could also suggest business is lumpy. Final Takeaway Should investors buy Telekom Austria for the upcoming dividend? Earnings per share growth has been growing somewhat, and Telekom Austria is paying out less than half its earnings and cash flow as dividends. This is interesting for a few reasons, as it suggests management may be reinvesting heavily in the business, but it also provides room to increase the dividend in time. We would prefer to see earnings growing faster, but the best dividend stocks over the long term typically combine significant earnings per share growth with a low payout ratio, and Telekom Austria is halfway there. Overall we think this is an attractive combination and worthy of further research. With that in mind, a critical part of thorough stock research is being aware of any risks that stock currently faces. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Telekom Austria 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. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The Interpol has placed the Red Corner Notice against fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's brother Nehal in public view again, after he recently lost an appeal against its issuance by the international police cooperation body last year, on the request of Indian agencies, officials said. A Belgian citizen, Nehal Deepak Modi is wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a case of alleged fraud committed by his elder brother, Nirav, in the Punjab National Bank (PNB), they added. Nehal Modi's name figured as the accused number 27 in the supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI, which charged him for destroying evidence in Dubai to cover the tracks of the alleged crime, the officials said. Based on a request from Indian agencies, the Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Nehal Modi and put it up for public viewing to enable gathering of information about him. AnN is a request to law-enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. Nehal Modi challenged it before the Commission for Control of Interpol's Files (CCF), an independent body that ensures that all personal data processed through Interpol's channels conforms to the rules of the organisation. Any individual can approach it with a request for deletion or correction of information held in the Interpol Information System. Once the request challenging theN was received from Nehal Modi last year, the Interpol hid it from public glare but kept it alive, only to be accessible to the law-enforcement agencies of member countries, the officials said. The CCF had sought clarifications on Nehal Modi's arguments from the CBI, which provided a strong counter-argument against his plea. After going through the exhaustive response filed by the agency, which keenly followed up the matter, the CCF rejected Nehal Modi's plea recently and theN was again put in public domain, the officials added. In its chargesheet, the central agency has alleged that Nehal Modi had threatened the directors of Dubai-based shell companies, used by Nirav Modi to show fair businesses, to prevent them from joining investigations. It is alleged that he forcibly shifted them from Dubai to Cairo, after destroying their mobile phones, laptops and the server to cover the tracks. These persons, employees of Nirav Modi Group companies, were forced to sign certain documents to show that they were the real owners of those companies in Dubai and Hong Kong, which were shown as engaged in export and import with the three accused firms -- Diamonds R US, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamond -- all controlled by Nirav Modi, the CBI has alleged. The three companies benefitted from the buyer's credit obtained from overseas banks on the strength of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) fraudulently issued from Mumbai's Brady House branch of the PNB, in connivance with bank officials. When some of these directors were questioned by the CBI, they said gold weighing approximately 50 kg as well as the funds lying in the accounts of dummy companies in Dubai, amounting to 40 lakh dirhams, were taken away by the accused persons after filing of FIRs. Billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, currently in a UK prison, and his uncle and promoter of the Gitanjali group, Mehul Choksi, currently in Antigua, fled India after allegedly perpetrating a USD-2 billion bank fraud on the state-run PNB, the officials said. The duo fled the country in the first week of January 2018, along with some family members, nearly a fortnight before the PNB detected the fraud -- which is said to be biggest in the country's banking history, they added. The CBI, in its chargesheets filed on May 14, has alleged that Nirav Modi, through his companies, siphoned off funds to the tune of Rs 6,498.20 crore, using fraudulent LoUs issued from PNB's Brady House branch in Mumbai. Choksi has allegedly swindled Rs 7,080.86 crore. It is alleged that Nirav Modi and Choksi, through their companies, availed credit from overseas branches of Indian banks using fraudulent guarantees of the PNB given through LoUs and letters of credit, which were not repaid, bringing the liability on the state-run bank, the officials said. An LoU is a guarantee given by an issuing bank to Indian banks with branches abroad to grant a short-term credit to the applicant. The instructions for transferring the funds were allegedly issued by a bank employee, Gokulnath Shetty, using an international messaging system for banking called SWIFT platform and without making their subsequent entries in the PNB's internal banking software, thus bypassing any scrutiny in the bank, the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MANZINI A driver who was tempted to drink alcohol while accompanying his friend to a drinking spree has been arrested. Colani Dlamini (31) of Matsapha appeared before Manzini Magistrate Lucia Lukhele yesterday, charged with five counts. He committed all the offences on Saturday at Ndlunganye along MR3 Public Road while driving a Honda sedan registered CSD 074 AL. In count one, Dlamini was charged with the offence of unlawfully driving his motor vehicle on the public road while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs. The particulars of his drink-driving charge were said to have been that he could not stand properly as he was staggering when he was apprehended for the offence. He is one of 12 others who were arrested for a similar offence. It was also said that he had a strong smell of liquor coming from his mouth and that he could hardly pronounce words when talking. Moreover, Dlamini was said to have in count two, resisted to board a police car when ordered to do so, while in count three, he was said to have unlawfully driven an un-roadworthy motor vehicle. He was in count four charged with the offence of driving an unlicensed car, while in count five, he was charged with the offence of failing to furnish his address and his age when asked to do so by the police. During his court appearance, Dlamini preferred to conduct his own defence. guilty He pleaded guilty to count one, three and four and he pleaded not guilty to count two and five. He was found guilty as per his own pleas in counts one, three and four and not guilty in count two and five. In mitigation, he stunned the court when he pleaded for a lenient sentence based on the fact that temptation lured him to drink and drive. He said he was accompanying his accomplice who had asked him to be his sober driver. However, he told the court that upon arrival at the drinking spot, he was tempted to drink only to be stopped by the police who later arrested him on their way back. lenient In connection to the other offences, he pleaded with the court to be lenient when passing sentence on grounds that he was not in his sober senses. Your Worship, I was not aware of what I was doing, given that I acted under the influence of alcohol, he said. When quizzed on why he was driving an unlicensed motor vehicle, he told the court that this was because he had just bought the car and was in the process of securing a valid licence to drive it. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison or to pay a fine of E2 000 in count one, while in count three and five, he was sentenced to six months in prison or to pay a fine of E600 on each count. Former Real Housewives Of Orange County star Kara Keough Bosworth has paid tribute to her son by getting his initial tattooed on her wrist, almost two months after he died during childbirth. Baby McCoy, Kara's second child with husband Kyle Bosworth, passed away on April 12, six days after a home birth in which he tragically became stuck in the birth canal. The reality star, 31, has since honoured his memory with the small inking, which she revealed with Instagram followers on Sunday evening. Always with us: Former Real Housewives Of Orange County star Kara Keough Bosworth has paid tribute to her son by getting his initial tattooed on her wrist, almost two months after he died during childbirth Posting an update, Kara showed off the design, made with traditional tattoo ink and some of McCoy's ashes, while holding a teddy bear with a ribbon bearing her son's name. Captioning the post, she revealed it had been gifted by a designer friend and created to weigh exactly the same as her son at birth. She wrote: 'This bear weighs exactly 11 pounds and 4 ounces. Exactly the size of the hole in my heart. But thanks to this thoughtful gift, my arms dont feel so painfully empty. Devastating: Baby McCoy, Kara's second child with husband Kyle Bosworth, passed away on April 12, six days after a home birth in which he tragically became stuck in the birth canal 'I cant quite articulate how much carrying the exact weight of McCoy against my body grounds me. I think my physical need for him will be there forever, the heaviness of his absence always present. But this sure helps. Thank you @kylieraedesigns for this big dude and thank you @mb_jackets for the custom ribbon.' She added: 'Also feeling thankful for my new (first) tattoo, with my sons ashes in the ink... so that my baby can be with me always. He can stay forever in my arms this way, in the place he last rested. 'I know Im privileged in my grief, to have the support of so many. Its very hard to feel lucky right now, and yet, somehow, I know I am. That being said, Im very much ready for the dick kicks to stop.' Never forget: Kara has promised she will keep her son's memory alive for his sister Decker, four Kara also admitted there had been a series of unintentionally painful encounters with well-wishers in the weeks following her son's death. She added: 'To the poor Shipt shopper who remarked the baby should have been born by now, right? and the shocked insurance agent, and the others who didnt mean to throw the grenades they did... when I say Its okay, I dont mean Im okay, Im saying I know you didnt know. 'But I promise, youre not upsetting me by reminding me, Ill never need a reminder. Im just sad that the answer to your question isnt what I hoped it would be. It should be a joyful Q&A, not a landmine. It should be different. 'Instead, here I am, clutching a stuffed toy wishing it was a real boy. To my Instead Mamas, I thank you especially for all the continued comfort, encouragement, and love. And youre right, it is getting easier to bear. (Look! I even did a pun. Good for me.)' Trauma: Talking to Good Morning America in May , Kara said she was 'literally begging God to save my baby' as she fought to push out her son with the help of a licensed midwife The post comes after Kara promised she would keep her son's memory alive for his older sister Decker, four, Taking to Instagram on May 14, she wrote: 'I promise that this girl will hear about her baby brother. She will love him. She will miss him. When people ask how many kids I have, she will hear an answer that includes McCoy. Shell hear me wishing him a goodnight and saying I love you when I tuck her in.' She went on: 'He was here. He matters. And saying his name will always make my heart leap for joy. It might hurt for awhile, too, maybe forever. But itll also bring happiness and pride.' Kara concluded: 'I will always be Decker & McCoys mama. For as long as Im living, my babies theyll be.' Talking to Good Morning America , Kara said she was 'literally begging God to save my baby' as she fought 'a Herculean effort' for nine minutes to push out her son with the help of a licensed midwife. Siblings: Kara made sure that her daughter Decker got to meet her baby brother even as he lay in hospital with severe brain damage with no hope of recovery Love: She and husband Kyle Bosworth said goodbye to their son six days after his birth and decided to donate his organs to help others She had committed to an unmedicated delivery and entered a birthing pool during labor with her husband Kyle by her side. When it came time to push, the baby got stuck after his head was delivered, a condition known as shoulder dystocia, and it caused his umbilical cord to be compressed, cutting off his oxygen supply and causing devastating brain damage. The midwife called 911 when it became apparent the infant was not breathing and he was rushed to hospital. Although medics managed to get his heart beating again, the newborn suffered traumatic brain damage and couldn't be saved. Kara is the daughter of Jeana Keough who was a housewife on RHOC from season one to five and continued to make friend or guest appearances on the Bravo show up until season 12. The arrest of 21-year-old Tye Anders last weekend has stirred debate about racial profiling within the Midland Police Department. In an interview with the Reporter-Telegram, former city councilman John Love III said law enforcement should receive training on why minorities often fear the police and how that fear can affect some situations. Love represented District 2, a predominantly minority district and where Anders was arrested on May 16. A video posted on social media showed five Midland police officers pointing guns at Anders while he lay in the grass with his hands behind his back; the city later said in a statement that Anders was charged with evading arrest, a third-degree felony, after allegedly running a stop sign and failing to exit his vehicle when an officer initiated a traffic stop. In dashboard camera footage released Friday night, Anders could be heard saying he was afraid to get out of his car because he believed the arresting officer had been following him. Love said many African-Americans are similarly afraid of law enforcement officers. Most African-Americans feel this way, he said. They don't want to be pulled over in an isolated situation. They want to be pulled over so that there's some protection, so if anything goes wrong, they wont be a victim. And I think that the police need to understand this context instead of just pulling a gun out. WARNING: These videos contain explicit language. Love said interactions with police can end differently depending on ones race, and minorities see these interactions play out through social media and the news media. He pointed to recent Second Amendment rights protests at the state Capitol, where attendees openly carried rifles, as an example of these differences. He said African-Americans are often afraid to open carry because they believe theyll be perceived as a threat. According to Love, law enforcement should be conscious of and knowledgeable on the history of these distinctions. They need to have that training, that there are certain circumstances that they need to be aware of -- a contextual history that they need to be aware of -- that sometimes we react to, because we dont want to be hurt or threatened or shot or end up dead, he said. While Love served on the city council, he tried several times to create a police review board but did not receive enough support from the other council members. The review board would have had no power over the police department, Love said, but would have consisted of a diverse group of residents who could have reviewed incidents and recommended policy changes. He said a plan for the board was created with the assistance of the city attorney. His efforts to create a review board fell on deaf ears, Love said. He said he hoped the publicity surrounding Anders arrest would lead to a productive dialogue between residents and the police department. People make the mistake that if you want to improve the police and if you want to stop any perceived policeman mistreatment, or police brutality, that that makes you anti-police. And that is not the case, he said. History is not equitable, and that's why citizens are upset, because we continue to be treated differently. And all we want is to be treated like every other citizen. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Chennai Airport sources said the operation of aircraft would be stressful as many States have put forward restrictions on flights from Chennai.With Kolkata operations resuming from May 28 and Telengana likely to permit air operations from May 26, there has been a restriction on operation of flights from Chennai. It is learnt that Hyderabad has permitted not more than 15 incoming flights and 15 departures per day while Mumbai has agreed for not more that 25 incoming flights and 25 departures a day. All other airports in Maharashtra will be handling 33 per cent of their capacity. Spicejet has opened bookings from Chennai to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Coimbatore, Madurai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Indigo airlines has opened bookings from Chennai to Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru. Similarly, Vistara has opened booking from Chennai to Mumbai and Delhi. Air India has not opened any booking on May 25. It is learnt that the booking will resume after May 31. On Saturday, 17 people were shot, five fatally, police said. A 35-year-old man was killed and three others were injured around 6:30 p.m. in the 3900 block of West Grenshaw Street in the Lawndale neighborhood, police said. The men, ages 23 to 43, were outside a residence when a vehicle approached and someone inside sprayed them with bullets. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr to his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina as the two leaders shared their assessment of damage caused by cyclone Amphan in both countries. Modi, who spoke on telephone with Hasina, also discussed the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing collaboration between the two countries. Modi reaffirmed Indias support to Bangladesh in addressing these challenges, the external affairs ministry said. He conveyed his best wishes for the good health and well-being of Hasina and the friendly people of Bangladesh. Modi also spoke on telephone with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and conveyed greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at effective cooperation between the two sides during the Covid-19 pandemic. Modi thanked the Crown Prince for support extended to Indian citizens in the United Arab Emirates. What The Bogota Post got right about America before COVID-19 rings just as true during the pandemic maybe even more true. In a May 2019 article, The List of Things Americans Take for Granted, the newspaper examined some of the freedoms and blessings that too many Americans forget they have. Amid the pandemic as we all get a taste of having some of our freedoms curtailed perhaps it should be easier to remember how good weve had it. Free speech is one right we ought never take for granted. As we have seen recently in America, political tensions are running at an all-time high, reported The Post. But people are entitled to their opinion and in America, you can express this without fear of repercussions . Some refer to our leaders with vulgar, crass expressions. Some make allegations about politicians that facts dont support. Others a regrettably small percentage take the high road by making reasoned arguments about what they think of ideas or policies. Whatever Americans say publicly or post on social media, nobody fears government hit squads kicking down their doors in the middle of the night. Try that in many other countries and see what happens. In China, Thailand or, as has recently been seen in Hong Kong, expressing your political views, even in a diplomatic way, can lead to your imprisonment or even worse, the death penalty, reported The Post. Another right too many Americans take for granted is voting choosing our governments leaders and policies. The integrity of the vote is central to a well-functioning republic. It lets us settle our differences at the ballot box, not on the battlefield. Our two-party system has its flaws, but, said The Post, some countries have a one-party system where you can only vote for candidates who stand for that party. Other countries dont even (have) an illusion of democracy they have a dictator in charge and his or her word is what makes the law. Comparing the U.S. to developing countries, The Post noted that clean tap water and abundant electricity are taken for granted. Both result from the freedoms that unleash massive wealth creation. Our economic horsepower funds massive projects that deliver power and drinking water across our great land. Before COVID-19 did a number on our economy, some Americans took abundant jobs for granted. Our robust free markets enable entrepreneurs to innovate, creating jobs that enable millions to thrive. Earlier generations were happy just to have a good-paying job. Todays Americans can choose paths that are meaningful to them. Dont like what youre doing? Try something else open a restaurant, start an online business, get training for the job you want. The Post article captures well the great irony of America: The better off we become, the more we complain about how bad things are. Americans often take for granted these freedoms and privileges and with social media and a consumerist society it is easy to feel unhappy with what you havent got rather than what you have got. Exactly. COVID-19 is temporarily restricting some of our freedoms and blessings. Lets make sure theyre fully restored when that challenge has ended. Lets make sure we preserve them for future generations to fully experience and appreciate. Tom Purcells column is distributed by the Cagle Cartoons Inc. syndicate. Readers may write to him via email at Tom@TomPurcell.com. Sunil Kujur, a retired government employee, was woken up by an early morning call informing of his fathers demise. Kujur, a resident of west Delhis Uttam Nagar, reserved two seats for himself and his daughter on an Air India flight to Ranchi. Just when they were about to leave home, they learnt the flight had been cancelled. I had to take an afternoon flight. I was late for my fathers last rites, Kujur said. Having a reservation in the same cancelled Air India flight was a government hospital doctor, whose father had died on Monday morning. He later another flight to Ranchi but said there was no intimation about the cancellation. There was not a single message or mail informing me about the cancellation. All of us who reached the airport today are mostly travelling in emergencies. If the airlines cannot keep the schedule on time, they must at least keep their passengers posted. This is sheer mismanagement, said the doctor, who wished not to be named. Kujur and the doctors were among scores of passengers whose flights were cancelled due to a multitude of reasons as airlines resumed operations across India on Monday. Instead of following the national guidelines issued by the Centre for all passengers, many set their own rules: Karnataka requires mandatory institutional quarantine for passengers from worst-affected states, while Punjab and Meghalaya have made a swab test mandatory for arrivals. Three states Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu requested the Centre government to reconsider the decision to allow domestic flight operations as it could lead to a spike in infections. At the Delhi airport, at least 82 flights, both departures and arrivals, were cancelled. According to Air India, flight schedules had to be redrawn late last evening by all airlines due to last-minute decision on general flight operations to certain states, inconveniencing passengers of multiple airlines. Air India is doing its best to extend all support to its esteemed pax, according topmost priority to all safety norms, and in sync with the flight movement and operational issues prevailing throughout its network, said an airline spokesperson. Domestic flight operations has been shut completely on March 25 when the Prime Minister had announced a nationwide lockdown in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Monday was the first day when airports in the country resumed domestic services since the lockdown. All passengers were wearing face masks. Many were seen wearing face shields and gloves. A few were even spotted wearing full-body protective suits. Most people flying out of Delhi on Monday said they were travelling because of emergency. Anil Mahapatra, an advocate who practises at a sessions court in Delhi, said he was going to Bhubaneswar to meet his mother who has been unwell for the past month. My wife, who used to stay with my mother, had come to meet me in March and got stuck here due to the lockdown. Despite my mother being unwell we couldnt visit her. She is old, Mahapatra said. The lawyer, who travelled to the airport from Gurugram, said cabs were easily available and there was no overpricing. A majority of the people who were left stranded because of the cancelled flights complained that the operators cared little to inform them of the changes. Seva Singh, who was in Bhiwani of Haryana and runs a transport business in Raipur, was to board a Vistara flight. My brother dropped me at the airport. There wasnt any problem crossing the Gurugram border, but about an hour later, I found out that my flight had been cancelled. If the airline had alerted us in advance, it would have saved us time and money, Singh said. The Delhi airport operator and the airlines took to social media to connect with their fliers. Due to restrictions implemented by various local authorities, flights have got cancelled today. Stay in touch with the airline concerned for updated flight info. Planned flight operations for today are as follows: Departure- 118 flights, Arrival- 125 flights, DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd) tweeted on Monday. Vistara airlines also took to Twitter, posting, #ImportantUpdate: Many Indian states have issued their respective state-wise protocols that all entering passengers must follow. We advise to follow these guidelines for travel. A few passengers, who had landed in Delhi, and were planning to travel further, were stuck on Monday. Among them was Komal Jaswal, who was stuck in Delhi because her flight to Pathankot was cancelled. Jaswal said she planned to hire a taxi to reach Punjab, where her family has been waiting for her for the past two months. I work at a private firm in Pune. I had booked an IndiGo flight from Pune to Pathankot but it was cancelled. I had to book another flight with SpiceJet to reach Delhi and from here, I plan to hire a cab. It is better to travel for six to seven hours in a cab and reach home instead of spending a day at the airport, she said. A spokesperson for IndiGo said, IndiGo operations ran smoothly and as of today afternoon, 85% of our flights have reached their final destination within 30 minutes of scheduled arrival time. There were no major delays or any other disruptions. Due to the change in state guidelines, affected passengers were provided flexibility to either re-book on alternative flights or transfer their complete booking amount into credit shells for future bookings. IndiGo is ensuring to provide courteous and hassle-free travel experience for its passengers by following additional measures website updated with all state requirements and SOPs for travel, and multiple mock drills for the staff to facilitate the new guidelines for flying, the spokesperson added. A yoga instructor, Anjali Rai, who travelled from Bangalore to Delhi in a Vistara flight, claimed passengers were not following social distancing norms. Despite the government advertising so much and holding repetitive campaigns, people are still negligent, said Rai, who travelled wearing gloves, a face shield and a face mask. Rai, who lives in Panipat, said she was waiting for her brother to pick her up, as cabs were charging higher prices. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WA recorded four new virus cases overnight, taking the total to 564, with six active cases. Health Minister Roger Cook said a Victorian family, who had travelled to Perth from Doha on Qatar flight QR900 on May 17, tested positive while in hotel quarantine. He said the parents and two teenagers would remain in quarantine until they were cleared for travel to Victoria. These new cases are a timely reminder that the virus is still very much active and were still very much at risk, it only takes one person, he said. Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said he was relieved common sense was starting to prevail. Businesses have been at breaking point, he said. He said the purpose of the intrastate travel restrictions had always been to help hospitals get ready for patients to present with COVID-19. Geraldton hospital now stood ready and there had been no new cases in the Mid West for seven weeks. Mr Van Styn called for the lifting of restrictions on beauticians, pubs and skate parks, as well as the upping of the 20-person limit at venues able to hold more people while maintaining social distancing. Its just vitally important that restrictions ... be lifted so our tourists have something to do when they arrive, he said. So our tourism economies can cater for the tourism coming our way. Most businesses in Geraldton have continued to trade in a takeaway model, so they will be more than ready to be opening for the long weekend. Broome Chamber of Commerce president Peter Taylor said people in the Kimberley were confident outbreaks could be safely managed. "Everybody in the Kimberley is pretty confident we're safe to open and we need the people here, because our tourism industry has just been decimated," he said. Mr Taylor said the easing travel restrictions was "definitely a positive move for the rest of the state". "And it's one step closer to some certainty, which Broome needs, but I urge the Premier to please confirm the lifting of the bio-security status as soon as possible so we can get that final level of certainty we need to start attracting people to Broome to save the tourist industry." Mr Taylor said the region had already lost a massive influx of people, but there was a "huge pent up demand for people wanting to come to Broome for a tropical holiday during the WA south's winter". "We're ready to welcome them, but we just need the certainty of a date when we're open so people have confidence to book," he said. "Cable Beach is somewhere you can socially isolate whether you need to or not." Opposition tourism spokeswoman Alyssa Hayden also welcomed the opening of WAs regions, but said she was disappointed the Kimberley had missed out. She said Broome and the Kimberley couldn't afford to miss out on the tourism season. "I'm asking the Premier to review the restrictions around the Kimberley given WA has still not had any community spread," Ms Hayden said. "I acknowledge the concern for the health and wellbeing of our remote communities but with the incredibly low numbers of COVID-19 cases, the risk to them at this time is negligible. "According to the Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 98 per cent of the Kimberley region's businesses benefit from visitors, with 80 per cent of those being directly involved in tourism, hospitality and retail, but they have lost more than $22 million during their forced closure." Mr McGowan said he hoped to enact Phase 3, which will loosen restrictions significantly, as soon as possible after WA Day's long weekend. A cost benefit analysis may be prudent for coastal flood-prone counties to combat potential damage from a powerful tsunami, an expert has said. Ireland suffered significant tsunami damage following a monster earthquake in Portugal in 1755, which modern scientists now believed to have registered as an 8.4 on the Richter scale. By comparison, the 2011 earthquake off Japan that caused devastating tsunamis registered as a 9.0. Portugal has seen earthquakes of severe magnitude in 1321, 1531 and 1755, with scientists believing that another is overdue, albeit not on the scale of the 1755 disaster which ravaged Western Europe. The tsunami was so powerful in 1755 that it is said to have been responsible for the partial destruction of Galways Spanish Arch, while also making an island out of Clares Aughinish, which had been connected to the mainland before that. Richard Cantwell, a senior spatial data scientist with geographical data analysis firm Gamma Location Intelligence, said although it might not be at the top of anyones agenda at present, it would be useful to assess Irish infrastructures ability to cope, considering coastal counties will suffer significant heightened flood risk by 2050. Tsunamis driven by seismic events in the Atlantic would be considered to be true 'Black Swan' events, extremely rare but also extremely damaging. "Protecting the Irish coastline against every foreseeable risk is clearly not economic, however there may be certain pieces of critical infrastructure along the coastline where a tsunami would be utterly catastrophic. It would be a useful exercise to conduct a high level risk assessment for this infrastructure, followed by a cost/benefit analysis, Mr Cantwell said. Mumbai: Maharashtra former Chief Minister and BJP MP Narayan Rane met state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on Monday (May 25, 2020) demanding imposition of President's rule in the state. Rane claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led government has failed miserably in dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Maharashtra has not only had the highest number of positive cases and deaths, and alleged that it is unlikely to be managed in future. Earlier, NCP chief Sharad Pawar too met the Governor today. It was called a non-political courtesy meeting. In the last few days, several BJP leaders including BJP leader and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have met the Governor on the issue of coronavirus crisis. Today, 2,436 fresh infections were reported while 1,186 patients were dichsrged. Maharashtra has recorded 52,667 active cases with 15,786 cured cases and 1,635 deaths till Monday morning, making it one of the worst hit states in the country. Domestic passenger flight services resumed from May 25 in a graded manner. Less than one-third of flight operations are expected to resume from May 25 and will be gradually increased. All states will open up their airports from today except Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Andhra Pradesh will resume flights from May 26 and West Bengal will restart flights from May 28. The scheduled domestic flights were suspended for a period of two months since March 25 amid a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. Mumbai will allow 25 departures and 25 arrivals from today and Chennai will also allow 25 arrivals but there is no limit for departures from Chennai. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show As per guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the thermal screening will be done at exit points. Asymptomatic passengers will be asked to self-monitor their health over the next 14 days. Those found symptomatic will be taken to the nearest health facility. Those having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to Dedicated COVID health facilities while those with mild symptoms will be given the option of home isolation or isolated in COVID care centre as appropriate. In addition to the above guidelines which will be implemented across all airports, states have also issued their own advisories and guidelines. Passengers must also keep in mind the quarantine rules of the destination state while making bookings. Here is a summarised version of quarantine rules of various states: Rajasthan All incoming passengers will undergo home quarantine for a period of 14 days. Breach of home quarantine will result in legal action or institutional quarantine or fine. Any incoming passenger who wishes to return within seven days must take RT-PCR test. Jammu and Kashmir All incoming passengers will have to compulsorily undergo a COVID-19 test followed by institutional quarantine for 14 days. They will be under institutional quarantine until they test negative. Once tested, Passengers can opt for either administrative quarantine or paid quarantine Himachal Pradesh Passengers coming from red zones will have to mandatorily shift to institutional quarantine for 14 days. Passengers coming from orange or green zones will undergo thermal screening and will be asked to home quarantine themselves for 14 days. Better quarantine facilities will be provided on payment basis. Those who will be put under institutional quarantine will undergo COVID-19 test between the sixth and tenth day of the quarantine period and if found negative, they will be sent for home quarantine. If the passenger is carrying a COVID negative report issued during three days before arrival, then the passenger will be sent for home quarantine. Uttarakhand All incoming passengers will have to undergo institutional quarantine for a specific time period. They will be allowed to choose a quarantine centre for themselves on payment basis. Punjab All incoming passengers will be home quarantined for a period of 14 days. Uttar Pradesh On arrival, the passenger will have to register here to provide details about himself or herself and the other passengers of the group. Those who do not plan to leave the state immediately will be asked to home quarantine themselves for a period of 14 days. Those who cannot quarantine themselves at home can opt for institutional quarantine. Those who want to return or travel somewhere else within the next 7 days will have to provide details of their travel plans and will not need to undergo quarantine. However, these passengers, who are on a short stay, will not be allowed to enter containment zones of hotspots. Madhya Pradesh Symptomatic passengers will undergo COVID-19 test and will be allowed to leave only on a negative test. If a symptomatic passenger tests positive in COVID-19 test, then depending on the symptoms, the person will be sent to either COVID care centre or dedicated COVID-19 hospital or institutional quarantine facility for 10 days. After 10 days, if such a passenger shows no symptoms for another three days then the person can be discharged but will have to stay in home quarantine for another seven days. Chattisgarh Symptomatic Passengers will be sent to isolation kiosks at the terminal. Their samples will be taken and they will be sent to the institutional quarantine facilities set by the district authorities. Asymptomatic passengers will be sent to either quarantine centre or home quarantine or institutional quarantine on a paid basis. They will provide an undertaking that they will follow all rules of quarantine for a period of 14 days. Odisha Every person on return from outside Odisha shall have to compulsorily stay under home quarantine for 14 days. If the returnee does not have proper quarantine facility at home, he/she shall undergo institutional quarantine or paid quarantine for a duration as directed by local authorities. Those who will be exempt from mandatory quarantine include Government officials, professionals, businessmen, or any other person travelling to Odisha on work and intending to exit within 72 hours, or this category of people travelling from Odisha for work and are returning to the state within 72 hours of departure or any returnee who has already undergone prescribed quarantine. Lakshadweep Only those who have a negative COVID-19 test report issued during two days before arrival will be allowed. On arrival, a 14-day home quarantine has been made mandatory. Valid entry permit will be needed except for those who are employed in Lakshadweep or native islanders. Dadra and Nagar Haveli All incoming passengers will be kept under institutional quarantine for a period of 14 days. Samples for COVID-19 shall be taken on the fifth day or between fifth and 14th day. If the test is negative then home quarantine is allowed for pregnant and lactating women, children below 10 years of age, elderly above 80, people with special needs and people with serious morbidities. Andaman and Nicobar Islands After thermal screening, all asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to travel to their destinations by local or private transport. All symptomatic or suspect cases will be isolated at the designated COVID-19 care centre. Meghalaya All incoming passengers should register themselves here. Passengers will be taken to Shillong or Tura for testing and will be kept under institutional quarantine for upto 48 hours till test results are known. It is important to note that Meghalaya has not allowed pick-up for incoming passengers until June 10. The state government will make transport arrangements from Shillong or Tura. Mizoram All incoming passengers will undergo mandatory quarantine for a period of 14 days as assigned by the respective deputy commissioner. All incoming Passengers will undergo screening for COVID-19 symptoms and rapid antibody test, or as prescribed by the state government. Nagaland All those who are arriving from orange or green zone will be screened on arrival and if found asymptomatic, they will undergo institutional quarantine for three days. This will be followed by 14 days of home quarantine. Passengers coming from red zones will undergo institutional quarantine for 14 days followed by home quarantine for another 14 days. Karnataka As per the latest standard operating procedure, returnees from high prevalence states coming should be kept in institutional quarantine for 7 days and after negative COVID test, they should be sent for another 7-day home quarantine. As of May 22, Karnataka government has included Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh in high prevalence states. Returnees from all other states or low prevalence states should be asked to follow 14 days of home quarantine. Kerala Asymptomatic passengers will undergo home quarantine and symptomatic passengers will be sent to either COVID care centre or hospital. All arriving passengers have to undergo a 14-day home quarantine. If home quarantine is not available, then the passenger will be sent to institutional quarantine. Delhi Delhi will follow the protocol laid out by the union ministry of health and family welfare. China, the world's top pork consumer, imported a record 400,000 tonnes in April, up nearly 170% from a year earlier, customs data showed, as buyers took advantage of low prices to stock up on meat. China imported 1.35 million tonnes of pork in the first four months of this year, surging 170.4% from the same period a year ago, after a plunge in domestic production kept prices much higher than other markets. The deadly African swine fever disease has reduced China's pig herd by at least 40%, slashing pork output and sending prices of the country's favorite meat to record highs. China has been buying from overseas markets, including the United States, where pork prices are among the cheapest in the world, and initially fell as infections with COVID-19 began spreading in the country, hitting demand. Though Chinese pork prices have also fallen steadily since early February, they are still about double where they were a year ago, and were three to four times U.S. pork prices in March, before plant shutdowns caused the latter to spike in mid-April. That U.S. price jump is likely to reduce imports in the coming month, while Chinese pork prices are also still falling on weak domestic demand. U.S. pork exports to China set a record for the period from January to March, according to USDA. China also brought in 160,000 tonnes of beef in April, up 28% from the previous year. Imports of the meat in the first four months of the year rose 54% to 680,000 tonnes, according to customs data. Also read: Coronavirus Live Tracker: India records highest ever spike of 6,977 COVID-19 cases, 154 deaths in 24 hours Also read: Coronavirus impact: Wuhan bans eating, hunting of exotic animals Amaravati, May 26 : After a long wait brought about by the nationwide lockdown, Telugu Desam Party leader and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh finally made the crossover from Telangana on Monday. Having taken the road route from Hyderabad to Amaravati after a last minute postponement of operations at airports in the state, he will participate in the 2-day Mahanadu or party conclave on zoom app. Accompanied by his son Nara Lokesh, the TDP supremo entered AP by road as party supporters lined up along the roadside to welcome his entry to the state after almost 2 months. Stuck in Hyderabad due to the national lockdown, Naidu had previously tried to go to Visakhapatnam in the wake of the LG Polymers gas leakage mishap there last week.A He was finally granted the travel pass by the state government on Sunday. With flights set to resume on Monday, Naidu was supposed to fly to Visakhapatnam to meet the victims of the gas leak there and proceed hence to Amaravati. But a last minute postponement of operations at Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada airports, to Tuesday, forced a change of plans. TDP leaders accused the YSRCP led state government of postponing the operations at the two airports. Union minister for civil aviation Hardeep Puri had tweeted that the postponement of operations at the two airports was done on the request of the state government. However, the enthusiasm of TDP supporters also saw breakdown of physical distancing norms at several places as they jostled to greet Chandrababu Naidu. Meanwhile arrangements are being made to conduct the party's annual conclave through videoconferencing, on account of the COVID-19 restrictions. Party sources said that close to 14000 party cadres would participate in the conclave, which Naidu will attend from the party office at Mangalagiri. The annual conclave coincides with the birth anniversary of party founder and former chief minister of undivided AP, late NT Rama Rao. The conclaveAwill discuss the political situation in the state and also pass resolutions signalling the party's strategy in the year ahead. The current situation in the state following the COVID-19 outbreak is expected to figure in the discussion. More support should be channeled to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Yao Jinbo, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature. Yao, also CEO of China's classified online marketplace 58.com, said SMEs had borne the brunt of the difficulties created by the pandemic unfolding around the globe, and their failure could lead to spillover effects on employment as well as social order. SMEs are the main contributors of employment and economic growth. As of the end of 2018, they contribute over 50% of the tax revenue, 60% of GDP growth, 70% of the technological innovations, and 80% of the urban employment in China, according to data of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. However, a sharp decline in consumer demand and disruptions in the global supply chain can easily drive them into the red and even total failure. In the first quarter of this year, the SME Development Index fell 10.7 points to 82.0 since the last quarter, the lowest level in the past 10 years, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). "This year's government work report has introduced many ways to protect the interests of SMEs in time of crisis, such as reducing taxes and fees and increasing financial support to keep business operations stable," said Yao, adding: "We are encouraged by those policy initiatives to help businesses navigate these challenging times." To further reduce business costs, he suggested reducing employers' contribution to housing fund and social insurance, and introducing new ways of employment models like the shared work program to help companies manage business cycles while trying to spare workers the hardships of full unemployment. Yao also proposed launching both online and offline vocational programs to help train workers better adapt to a new working environment. "Through concerted efforts, China has effectively brought the outbreak under control," said Yao. "We're confident in a final victory over the pandemic and quick recovery of socioeconomic order." Roundup: Safeguarding national security common responsibility: HKSAR gov't officials - Xinhua | English.news.cn Officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Sunday that safeguarding national security is a common responsibility that bears on the vital interests of all Hong Kong residents. A draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security was submitted to the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation on Friday. In different articles published in their official blogs, the HKSAR government's chief secretary for administration, secretary for justice, financial secretary and secretary for security expressed support for the national legislature's deliberation on national security legislation for the HKSAR. Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung said the NPC's decision is legal and constitutional and is out of both necessity and urgency. Acts deliberately challenging the bottom line of "one country" and endangering national security have been seen in Hong Kong over the past year, Cheung noted, adding that some people openly advocated "Hong Kong independence" and "democratic self-determination", incited illegal activities and committed acts close to terrorism. There are even acts of wantonly insulting and burning the national flag, defacing the national emblem, attacking the central government's offices in Hong Kong, begging foreign countries to interfere in Hong Kong's affairs, and threatening to paralyze the HKSAR government, he said. "These acts are extremely worrying." Cheung said the HKSAR government will fully cooperate with the NPC Standing Committee to complete the legislation as soon as possible, so as to fulfill its responsibility of safeguarding national security and ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under "one country, two systems". Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng noted in an online article that the decision on national security legislation for Hong Kong is to be made in accordance with Article 31 and Article 62 of the Constitution and the relevant provisions of the Basic Law. There are doubts as to whether the Standing Committee of NPC can legislate national security laws for the HKSAR. Such doubts are totally unwarranted, Cheng said. She pointed out that national security is never part of HKSAR's autonomy, but a matter that affects 1.4 billion Chinese people and is entirely within the purview of the central authorities. The four areas to be covered in this national law are secession, subversion, terrorist activities endangering national security and interference by foreign political forces, Cheng noted. "These are core national security matters of any state." "When there is no country, there is no home. These are basic principles that any right minded person will agree. To blindly vilify laws relating to national security is totally irrational," she said. "It is high time we grapple and address the need to legislate to protect national security and as the HKSAR cannot do it, it is not surprising that the NPC takes action at the national level." Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the legislation will help maintain social stability and a sound business and investment environment in Hong Kong, and stressed that Hong Kong's status as a global financial hub will not continue if it becomes a loophole in national security. It is the violent incidents, social unrest and emerging "Hong Kong independence" forces since last year that make local and foreign investors worry about the risk of political and social stability in Hong Kong, Chan said. Other global financial centers also have their own national security laws and their growth momentum is not affected, Chan said. Secretary for Security John Lee warned that the government may raise the assessment level of threats of terrorist attacks as the home-grown terrorism is emerging in Hong Kong, citing that there have been more than 10 cases related to explosives and other hazardous articles since last year. Hong Kong has sounded the alarm of terrorist activities, Lee said. Police seized explosives, nails, a pressure cooker that can be used as the explosive container, and chemicals suspected to be stolen from a college lab at a wasted school campus earlier this month. Various types of bombs and guns that are frequently used in terrorist attacks in foreign countries have been found in Hong Kong. Given the worsening situation, police will likely step up response measures, such as putting areas of high risk in lockdown, carry out more patrols, and examine personal belongings on the street, Lee said. To prevent and contain terrorist activities will help Hong Kong remain as a safe and stable city, and protect safety and property of residents, Lee said. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) is pushing a bill that would enlist a team from UC Berkeley to examine "tax expenditures" or tax breaks. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Californias state government is dishing out $73 billion in tax breaks annually to millions of people and hundreds of interests. But theres no evidence that this generosity is good or bad for the state. Does it create jobs? Attract businesses to California? Help companies expand? Youd think Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature would want to know whether the levy largess has been beneficial for California or just a giveaway. Thats especially true now as state politicians face a projected $54-billion budget deficit because the economy was straitjacketed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Tax receipts are projected to plummet by $41 billion through June 2021. We dont have a clue about the effectiveness of tax breaks, says state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). You can argue about things after you get the facts. But we dont have the facts. The [breaks] have never been subject to any kind of review. Jackson is pushing a bill, SB 956, which would authorize an economic team at UC Berkeley to thoroughly examine certain major tax breaks credits, exemptions and exclusions. Or "loopholes" if youre using common language; tax expenditures if talking in government-speak. Theyre tagged as tax expenditures because they cost the state treasury money it would otherwise collect. Were needing money, Jackson says. Were looking at $10 billion to $18 billion being cut from education. Weve also got these wildfires. Theyre not going away just because theres a pandemic. Newsom vetoed a similar Jackson bill last year, asserting the loophole study would be duplicative. He was wrong. In a veto message, the governor noted that his Department of Finance already is required to publish an annual report on so-called tax expenditures. But the department publishes only a laundry list of tax breaks and what they cost the state, not an assessment of whether theyre beneficial or a bust. Last years bill would have required the Legislative Analyst's Office to conduct the comprehensive study. But the analysts office argued it didnt have the staff or money for the job. Story continues So this year Jackson turned to UC Berkeley, which agreed to do the work for $200,000 a dirt-cheap price. This is the kind of stuff UC does, Jackson says. Its right up their alley. We have one of the finest research institutions in the world offering to do it for a minimum cost. UC would send its analyses to a newly created tax review board consisting of the state controller, legislative analyst, state auditor, finance director and head of the Government Operations Agency. The board would then recommend to the Legislature whether the loopholes should be kept as is, closed or expanded. Jackson says shes confident Newsom would sign her new bill. She has been negotiating with his staff, and two of his appointees would be on the five-member board. Last week, the bill cleared its first committee hurdle Senate Governance and Finance on a 4-2 party-line vote. Democrats voted yes, Republicans no. Jackson counts about 80 tax breaks. Many have been on the books for decades without any scrutiny or data to demonstrate they are achieving their public policy goals, she says. In truth, most are politically untouchable thankfully because theyre widely used deductions or credits involving the state personal income tax. For example, unlike the federal government, the state doesnt tax Social Security payments. Thats a $4.3-billion hit this fiscal year. Another biggie: The home mortgage interest deduction is costing the state $4 billion. The tax deduction for charitable donations is a $3-billion state loss. Jackson isnt targeting any of those. Shes singling out eight business tax breaks that dont have sunsetting clauses and have each cost the state at least $1 billion over 10 years. One is the waters edge loophole that allows multinational corporations to choose their method of taxation. Its a $2.4-billion drain on the state treasury. Another target is the tax credit for research and development worth $1.8 billion. Companies claim doing all this R&D, but what successful company in California can get away with not doing R&D? asks Lenny Goldberg, consultant to the California Tax Reform Assn., a backer of the bill. What happens is companies just throw a bunch of spending into a bucket and call it research and development. But during the committee hearing, Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose), who represents Silicon Valley, voiced a strong defense of the R&D tax credit. He asserted it has benefited California far beyond what we can see through the narrow viewpoint of lost tax revenue. Jackson replied: I suspect thats exactly what this study will show. Another tax break she wants studied is a state sales tax exemption on animals used for human food and on the feed for that livestock. The tax break also covers edible plants and their fertilizers. Its costing $661 million this year. Also on her list is the sales tax exemption for farm equipment $98 million. These arent tax giveaways. Theyre tax investments, Dennis Albiani of the Family Business Assn. testified, referring to loopholes generally. This bill has many more opponents than supporters. No one wants their current tax break closely examined. If theyre afraid theyll have their tax credits taken away, maybe they know something we dont, Jackson says. Yes, when private interests try to hide their tax benefits from public scrutiny, its a clear sign that a hard look is needed. The IMF on Friday approved a $520 million loan for Jamaica to help the island nation deal with urgent needs raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. The shock of coronavirus came after the country successfully graduated from an IMF-supported reform program, but is now hit by the need for emergency spending amid a travel shutdown, the Washington-based crisis lender said. "Despite the authorities' best efforts, the pandemic is severely impacting the Jamaican economy, as a sudden stop in tourism and falling remittances are generating a sizable balance-of-payments need," IMF Deputy Managing Director Tao Zhang said in a statement. The money will come from the IMF's Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), which allows nations to circumvent the lengthy negotiations usually needed to secure a full economic assistance program -- time most countries do not have as they struggle to cope with the coronavirus crisis. The government of the Caribbean nation, which has seen just over 500 cases and nine deaths from the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization, declared the entire island a disaster area and established a special task force to coordinate the pandemic response and recovery efforts. But without vital tourism revenue, the IMF projects the economy will contract 5.6 percent this year, although Zhang cautioned that the "outlook remains subject to an unusually high degree of uncertainty." He said the funding also will "catalyze additional support from other international financial institutions and development partners." Venezuelan Petroleum Minister appreciates Iran fuel supply IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, May 24, IRNA -- Venezuelan Minister of Petroleum Tareck El Aissami in a message appreciated Iran for fuel supply, saying energy cooperation will develop relations in all fields. On behalf of @NicolasMaduro and of all Venezuelans we salute and welcome the ships of the Islamic Republic of Iran arriving at the ports of our Homeland. This energy cooperation aims at comprehensive development for the benefit of our peoples, El Aissami wrote in his Twitter account on Sunday. The energy cooperation between Iran and Venezuela is based on the scientific exchange and the productive development of the hydrocarbon industry, in addition to the experience that unites us as OPEC countries. Thanks brothers!!, he added. Meanwhile, commanding officer of the Strategic Command Operations of Venezuela Remigio Ceballos in a message said the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela appreciates the solidarity of the Republic of Iran. by assisting the country with help that materializes in ships with fuel, escorted by our Navy and our Bolivarian Aviation! Thanks to the diplomacy of peace led by our CJ Nicolas Maduro, he said referring to escorting Iranian oil tankers by Venezuelan Navy and the Bolivarian Aviation. According to Reuters, the Iranian tanker, named Fortune, reached the country's waters at around 7:40 p.m. local time (1140 GMT) after passing north of the neighboring dual-island Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Earlier, The Venezuelan ambassador Samuel Moncada wrote in a letter to the United Nations secretary-general and the head of UN Security Council that his government alerted the "threat of imminent use of military force by the United States" against the Iranian ships carrying fuel for the Caribbean country. "The US officials have publicly admitted that they are exerting pressure on companies to refrain from supplying gasoline to Venezuela," he added. Moncada stressed that the US maintains a "maximum pressure" against Venezuela and Iran, which is a typical example of violating national sovereignty and international law. He urged the UNSC to adopt the necessary measures so that the Trump Government puts an end to its "warmongering and criminal policies." 9376**1416 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday said that Kashmir was a disputed territory and any attempt to challenge its status would be responded with full military might. Gen Bajwa made the remarks during his visit to the Puna Sector of the Line of Control where he spent Eid with troops. Addressing his troops, Bajwa said that disturbing the strategic stability matrix in South Asia can lead to dire consequences. Kashmir is a disputed territory and any attempt to challenge the disputed status including any political-cum-military thought related to aggression will be responded with full national resolve and military might, Bajwa said. Early this month, India told Pakistan that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession. The General said that the Army was fully alive of the threat spectrum and will remain ever ready to perform its part in line with national aspirations. He also lauded troops professionalism and operational preparedness to give a befitting response to alleged Indian ceasefire violations as well as their morale in the face of evolving challenges. (AP Photo) In Premier Brian Pallisters push to reopen the provinces economy, he appears to have given limited attention to the issue of resuming in-person education in the public school system. The premier would be well advised to revisit that topic immediately. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Editorial In Premier Brian Pallisters push to reopen the provinces economy, he appears to have given limited attention to the issue of resuming in-person education in the public school system. The premier would be well advised to revisit that topic immediately. When all is said and done, school-age children are a group that will have suffered the most from the pandemic disruption. They are the most innocent, the least able to process what is happening, and the most likely to suffer lasting problems as a result of being isolated from their friends and teachers. Alvaro Barrientos / The Associated Press FILES Students with special needs have been hit hardest by school shutdowns. The closure of schools was a public-health necessity. However, the reopening of schools is proving to be among the most challenging aspects of the pandemic. Some provinces, most notably Quebec, are moving aggressively with a nearly complete resumption of classes. However, the list of restrictions and public-health measures required to assuage parents concerns is long and, in some minds, excessive. What if theres a more surgical way of approaching the issue? Mr. Pallisters Phase 2 shows some promise in this regard schools will be allowed to open for staff, and some students will be able to use school Wi-Fi and computers. Outdoor school playgrounds are also going to reopen. However, whats missing from Manitobas plan is the creation of meaningful opportunities for the most vulnerable students to access much-needed in-person education, sooner rather than later. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Those with special needs, those who have struggled with virtual learning and those who lack access to computers or Wi-Fi connections need more face-to-face contact to ensure they do not fall profoundly behind their classmates. Failing them will only ensure that next fall, when it is hoped most children can return to school in some fashion, we have a large number of children whose academic progress has been stunted, perhaps permanently. It is widely understood that many children at all ages have simply ceased trying to learn within the confines of virtual education. As the schools were emptied, Manitoba students were told they could go forward into the virtual learning environment with the comfort of knowing their final marks would not be lower than what they were before the lockdown. That served as an invitation for some children to simply ignore school work. The realization that some students had been inadvertently encouraged to ignore school obligations then prompted the province to introduce "recovery learning" into the educational vernacular. The term refers to an as-yet-unidentified remedial program that will be used to support students who checked out of virtual classes. Waiting until fall to deal with these estranged students, and others who kept up their school work but have struggled with the virtual environment, is a self-defeating strategy. There is time, right now, to provide extra attention to struggling students to ensure the next school year is not severely compromised. Quebecs effort to reopen schools does not provide a blueprint for how Manitoba should proceed. But it can inform this province on some of the measures that could be put in place to give in-person support, in a safe environment, to those students who need it most. Even with the threat of COVID-19 still lurking in all aspects of our lives, Manitoba should be mindful of the perils of putting off today something so important to the tomorrows of so many children. Shashank Priya (left) and Joe Shapter (right) lead an international research collaboration aimed at developing next-generation solar technology. Credit: Penn State International collaboration powers quest for next-generation solar cells The next generation of solar cells, made from flexible, wearable material, may soon charge our devices on the go, or provide critical electricity when other power sources are not available, like during a natural disaster. An international team of scientists from Penn State and the University of Queensland, Australia, are developing new technology to help make these next-generation solar devices a reality. "With this technology, you can put an efficient, flexible solar patch on your shoulder and walk around in the sun and have a cell phone charging in your pocket," said Shashank Priya, professor of materials science and engineering and associate vice president for research at Penn State. "The flexibility and integration with common surfaces offer a new dimension for how we use solar energy." A long list of potential uses for flexible solar cells exists, but hurdles remain before the technology can compete with more traditional, rigid solar panels and other energy sources. "I think defining a very good problem is actually the first stage of making a big discovery," Priya said. "In the case of solar, there are three big problems, and they are well-definedimproving efficiency and stability and lowering cost." To address these challenges, Priya collaborates with Joe Shapter, a professor at the University of Queensland, Australia whose laboratory specializes in nanotechnology. Priya and members of his laboratory are world-leaders in designing and manufacturing paper-thin, flexible solar cells from next-generation solar materials. Shapter and his team research cutting-edge nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes and phosphorene, that can further boost the performance of solar cells like those Priya creates at Penn State. This collaboration may result in the next generation of commercially viable solar cells. "There is little doubt that we have to find ways to produce the energy we need in ways that are not damaging to the environment," Shapter said. "In parts of the world where there is significant sunlight, solar photovoltaics present a clear opportunity to do this." Collaboration in action Half a world away from home, Liam Brownlie watched as flexible solar material rolled off a printer on the Penn State University Park campus. Brownlie, a graduate student in Shapter's laboratory, spent the last year at Penn State on a Fulbright Scholarship, lending his expertise in nanomaterials and chemistry, and strengthening the relationship between the two research groups. "My work with Joe Shapter, and now here at Penn State enables me to work with front-end, cutting-edge, solar cell technology," Brownlie said. "A lot of people are just starting to understand how to print new-generation materials and Shashank's group is the best in the world at doing this kind of stuff." Using the technology, homeowners could someday stick solar patches on curtains or wallpaper to absorb stray sunlight and power electronics that once relied on batteries. The military could place the patches on tents during forward deployments or in responding to natural disasters that have destroyed power grids. "Modern science relies on collaborations like this," Brownlie said. "It's these collaborations and sharing of knowledge and skill and really helps keep science moving forward." Priya and Shapter first met at a U.S., Australia joint conference in Washington, D.C., organized by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). They said the partnership leverages both groups' strengths and has accelerated the development of solar technology. Their collaboration has resulted a series of papers published in Nano Energy, Joule and Small Methods that provide advancements in improving the stability and performance of solar cells. "International research collaborations like this strengthen science," said John Hellmann, senior associate dean for graduate education and research in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State. "We can learn from each other and share resources; by harnessing the intellectual horsepower among our collaborators, we can reduce the time necessary to make critical scientific advances." The future of solar Traditional solar cells, typically rigid devices found on roofs or solar arrays, have steadily improved over the past several decades, and today can convert about 20 to 22% of the sun's energy into usable electricity. However, scientists believe they are approaching the limits of silicon-based technology. Recent work has focused on perovskite solar cells, named for their unique crystal structures that excel at absorbing visible light. Perovskite cells are an area of intense research because they offer a more efficient and less expensive alternative to traditional silicon-based solar technology. Shapter's team is researching 1D and 2-D materials to improve efficiency and stability of perovskite cells and is developing new nanomaterials that can improve electron transport inside the cells. His team is using phosphorene, a 2-D material that is essentially a single layer of black phosphorus molecules. "The longer-term goal is to make photovoltaics that do not use silicon," Shapter said. "Our main focus has been on an 'all carbon' solar cell, which would be cheap to produce, and we think can have very high efficiencies." Materials like phosphorene are currently experimental and therefore costly, but Priya said they could eventually be cheaper to produce commercially than silicon is today. "In order to move further, we need new materials like phosphorene and 2-D perovskite single crystals," Priya said. "These are the next steps to moving technology forward." Retired Marine Tom Jankiewicz, (left) who fought in the Vietnam War, places flags at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, Pa., on Memorial Day. Jankiewicz is a member of the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Joining him from the foundation were G. Daniel Jones (in red hat) and Michael Wallace (far right). Read more On Monday, Tom Jankiewicz and two other members of the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation placed American flags in front of about 135 grave markers at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, Bucks County, to honor veterans on Memorial Day. Its a very serene place where you look at the markers and everything, Jankiewicz, 77, of Northeast Philadelphia, said by phone afterward. Today is the day to honor people who served so we can be a free country. Jankiewicz, who served in the Marines from 1965 to 1989 and who fought in the Vietnam War, said in normal times, there would have been a public service at the cemetery. But with the coronavirus pandemic, that was not possible. Because of the need to continue social distancing during the pandemic, there were no large gatherings to commemorate Memorial Day in the region. Instead, the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund posted a link to a three-minute virtual ceremony that was prerecorded last week. The Battleship New Jersey held a 15-minute ceremony, which was shown live on Facebook. And nationwide, musicians marked the holiday by playing Taps. Trumpeters in Philadelphia and across the country heeded a call from CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman and retired Air Force bugler Jari Villanueva to play the funeral and military ceremony tune from lawns and porches at 3 p.m. Monday as part of the Taps Across America event. The intention was to remember not just fallen service members but also victims of the coronavirus pandemic. Philadelphia Orchestra principal trumpeter David Bilger and Jeffrey Curnow, the orchestras associate principal trumpeter, played an echo version of taps in front of Bilgers Bala Cynwyd house. Its a chance to remember the sacrifice that makes it so we can live the lives we live, Bilger said. "For me its about capturing the solemnity of it. In a prerecorded ceremony posted online Monday by the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Mike Daily, 74, of East Falls, the groups executive director, thanked the 648 Philadelphians killed during the Vietnam War and their families for the sacrifices they made. The group was not able to hold its normal ceremony at the memorial on Spruce Street near Columbus Boulevard because of the coronavirus. Still, dozens of people visited the Society Hill memorial Monday. Matt Flannery, his wife, and two of their three daughters looked at the names of Philadelphians killed in the Vietnam War etched into the charcoal gray granite wall. Ive never been down here, said Flannery, 50, of Glenside, Montgomery County. Its important for them to see it, he said of his daughters, Dylan, 16, and Erin, 9. Normally the family would have gone to the Jersey Shore or attended the Memorial Day Parade in Wyndmoor, but they didnt want to be among crowds and the parade was canceled. We wanted to bring the girls down and pay our respects, said his wife, Susan. From all of us at WAtoday we hope you're safe and the severe weather hasn't caused too much damage to your homes and properties. This concludes our live coverage of the storm today. While strong wind gusts may still be felt in the Perth metropolitan area, they are no longer expected to be considered severe (above 90km/h). However, there is still a severe weather warning in place for areas in the South West. Stay safe and follow the advice of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Contrary to the perception that foreign aid is key to eradicating poverty in Africa, is the fact that economic freedom can only be realised through the creation of open and effective economic institutions in African countries. Foreign aid is not a requirement for development and, as witnessed in most Third World countries, it has led to overdependence on foreign aid. It does so by creating the impression that western countries are rich, which in essence are not, as seen how COVID-19 has exposed them, and thus expected to offer assistance to poor countries. Poor countries embrace foreign aid and fail to create other development incentives, which worsen the state of poverty. Another factor, which arises from foreign aid, is oppression. As argued by Bauer, contend that as recipient governments powers and authority are heightened by foreign aid, conflicts are bound to ensue due to the politicisation of life. That is, governments utilise foreign aid to fuel political agendas and develop policies that aggravate poverty and hinder growth. African countries also continue to accrue immense debt from foreign aid and this has only contributed to destabilising the countries economies. This burden also attracts economic crises, social and political problems in those countries. When Third World countries are in debt, they often expend their revenues on servicing these debts and, in turn, they are left without capital for economic growth. Furthermore, there is always the likelihood that donor countries will cease supporting development projects when these countries fail to service their loans. This action instigates a string of negative effects such as laying off workers, introducing restrictions and hefty taxes, among others, all in a bid to pay up the debt. Donors Furthermore, debt has also brought about the manipulation of Third World countries by donors. In addition to imposing conditions, donors often come in, take over government policies, and even control how financial and other levels of administration are run, the case of structural adjustment policies by international monitory institutions. Consequently, Third World countries are left feeling threatened and even more insecure about their economic capacities. There is no doubt that foreign aid has at times been of significant help to Third World countries. Western countries have helped alleviate short-term crises such as food shortages and even invested in projects that have benefited the poor. Nonetheless, it is eminent that Third World countries are worse off with the presence of foreign aid. Ideally, they do not have to rely on foreign aid in order to eradicate poverty. Even so, it is important to note that western countries are also faced with the same challenging economic and social issues. Afflicted Despite this, donors have always factored in Third World countries in their annual budgets and significantly awarded them large donations at the expense of those afflicted by poverty and other issues in their own countries. In fact, African countries would be propelled to devise lasting solutions to their domestic problems. Instead of being dependent on foreign aid and accruing immense debts, Third World countries can utilise their revenues in funding their own development projects and not paying up foreign debts. There is enough evidence that Africa has what it takes to economically empower itself. With the outbreak of COVID-19, we have already seen numerous technological innovations by African citizens, Madagascar coming up with COVID -19 medication, although it is under debate if it can be approved by the World Health Organisation, but still this is a positive innovation coming from Africa. Professor Ngomo Horace Manga UB Facebook page Professor Ngomo Horace Manga, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea, UB, says had Barrister Felix Agbor Anyior Nkongho aka Agbor Balla attended the May 6, 2020 Disciplinary Hearing, the outcome would have been different. In an exclusive interview published in The SUN newspaper last week, the Vice-Chancellor hinted that Decision No. 2020/0326/UB/DVC/TIC/AcA/AA to terminate the contract of Agbor Balla as Instructor in the English Law Department, on grounds that he breached university guidelines when he set an exam question on the socio-political situation in Cameroons North West and South West Regions, could have been avoided. The rights activist is said to have breached professional obligations when he set an exam question on the Anglophone Crisis in a first semester level one course titled Political and Constitutional History of Cameroon. The question read: The Anglophone crisis since 2016 was caused by lawyers and teachers strikes. Assess the validity of this statement. (40 marks). Expected to enter appearance in defense, Agbor Balla rather sought the services of Sheriff-Bailiff Tapa Justin Lebrin to serve the Vice-Chancellor his Appearance Under Protest. In the four-page protest, Agbor Balla picked holes in the disciplinary hearing, positing that it fell short of due process. Quizzed if Agbor Ballas fate would have been different had he attended the disciplinary hearing, Prof. Ngomos response was in the affirmative. Hear him: Why not? Why not? Why do you think the panel was there? Think of it, in the panel we would have listened and cautioned him, we wanted to listen to him! There are several ways of communicating. We could have pointed out that your questions should not wander into this area because you are a political actor, else people perceive it this waysure he would have told us Okay, this is the way I looked at it etc etc, and then we would have written to the Minister of State for Higher Education stating why we needed to keep him. The Minister was in his role to draw the attention of the Vice-Chancellor to this issue; what is missing and rightly so in the Ministers letter, is the procedure to carry that out. The Minister himself is aware that the University has its procedure. So this issue has just taken undue publicity. If Agbor Nkongho had not taken this issue to the social Media, we would have understood that we are discussing between an institution and a very mature individual, Im not saying he is immature, but I mean somebody who can exercise restraint and allow things take their natural course. There are things in the corridors that we dont send out! There are things we call intimate discussions. Mr. Agbor Balla has never come and sat with me like this, even after that. There are teachers we should sanction severely but before we convene them to the disciplinary council, they come for self-explanation which permits us to go back and modify the charges. The Vice-Chancellor insists that the question Agbor Balla set is not allowed going by article 42 of the decree creating the University of Buea. The said article is characterised as the apolitical character of the University. He had these few words for human rights lawyer Agbor Balla: In asking students about the Anglophone crisis in its current form which is still undergoing debate, not yet resolved, what were you intending to achieve? What was your expected outcome? You are an actor in it! Probably you are trying to build a critical mass of support among the students in the university because after a few years, they can become your de facto; you could be building a political base for yourself. By that question, you are asking young, gullible and impressionable university students, to trace the history of the lawyers boycott of court and the teachers strike and how it rotated dangerously to the open armed conflict we have today and in the process, you will definitely ask students to share their arguments on the key roles all the actors played in the conflict. And our sense is that, you will want the students to give prominence to the role you played, as a key actor in the conflict! He was leader of the lawyers strike. And so we see somebody who wants to carve a place for himself in the history of this country! Please dont get me wrong, I have nothing against that, thats his privilege, thats his prerogative, but he is using the narrative of students to give justification to that. And let me ask you that as a teacher, how will you correct that question? Because these are the arguments, because students were asked to give the role each of the actors played and the person asking this question was key to that event, he is not an innocent bystander, and dont forget that the Anglophone crisis is an on-going political crisis not yet resolved, divisive and marred in partisan politics! Prof. Ngomo says elsewhere, such a question will not be very troubling but given the history of the University of Buea, the intent and purpose of such a question is suspicious. He adds that by making UB apolitical, the state seeks to isolate the University from anybody that will want to import political propaganda from the public space into the university. Reacting to a similar question set by Dr. Abdoulaye Mfonka in a Political Science Masters Class at the University of Yaounde II on the subject of the Anglophone crisis, which question did not attract sanctions, UBs Vice-Chancellor said: Firstly, that individual is not a political actor, his views are not tainted by partisanship and what was the question because I have looked at those questions: The guy asked about ethnicity and nationalism, where he is making allusion to a particular virus that has plagued governance in Africa and he is inviting his students to see whether these elements were not the drivers of the Anglophone crisis, thats my understanding of that question. And who says nationalism and ethnicity in African politics, he is referring to an international plague, without referring to any country particular. So thats a valid question in Political Science and I look at it as something which has its merits in time and space because ethnicity and nationalism are longstanding problems, you will trace them even to the birth of our nations, thats the way I look at it. On why Agbor Balla was singled out for punishment when he taught the course, Law 243, with two other colleagues, Prof. Ngomo said Agbor Balla is a political actor who brought a political debate from the public space into the University. His words: Well, we were looking at two things; number one is who set the question and what was the purpose of the question? The BMD system has this evaluation requirement; for a course to be approved by the APC (Academic Planning Committee) of the University it must respect certain quality assurance criteria, there must be the outcome, the course outline etc. Why was he singled out? Was that question set by three of them? The structure of the question can be very revealing of what was taught. That course might have been taught by three of them, but if he set and propose that question which he is not refusing, he alone will be held accountable. The responsibility must lie somewhere! Well, the indictment is on grounds of that particular question. But one thing I want us to highlight is the context and the person. The person is a political actor, bringing a political debate from the public space into the University! Its not the first time this is happening in any University, lecturers have been expelled from several Universities in this country, in universities purely with the Anglo Saxon tradition. On whether there is the possibility in the University of Buea that a single lecturer can set all questions in a course taught by three lecturers, Prof. Ngomo said I wouldnt know whether that was the case but what I know is that he is not refusing responsibility, that particular question was attributed to him and he hasnt denied the fact. In reacting to claims that Agbor Ballas invite to the disciplinary panel was served late, the Vice-Chancellor laughed and said: He was not served the invitation on time but he found time to write that beautiful legal literature! Let me say that its not in the nature of the University of Buea to convene Instructors to a disciplinary panel, No! That was some kind of consideration we gave him, knowing that, like it or not, he is a public personality and on normal grounds, it is necessary to listen to anybody. We could have achieved that by just writing a Query letter and his response would constitute the outcome of the disciplinary panel. It was a gesture we thought we should do to him, not a practice. The university is grateful for his participation in teaching our students; we dont have anything against him. Before this incident, I didnt find anything to believe that he wasnt doing his work well, so what we are talking about here is not some personal vendetta because we hear some literature in the social media talking about pre-planned, ordered by government issue. North Korean leader pledges to increase 'nuclear deterrence' capabilities Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 2:29 PM North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has outlined his policies for further boosting his country's nuclear "deterrence" capabilities amid stalled denuclearization talks with the United States. After a three-week-long absence from public view, the 36-year-old leader made the comments at a meeting of his party's powerful Central Military Commission, after a previous absence that gave rise to intense global speculation that he might have health issues or even been brain-dead. According to a report by North Korea's state news agency KCNA on Sunday, the meeting revolved round measures to bolster the peninsular country's armed forces and "reliably contain the persistent big or small military threats from the hostile forces." It also discussed "increasing the nuclear war deterrence of the country and putting the strategic armed forces on a high alert operation," through adopting "crucial measures for considerably increasing the firepower strike ability of the artillery pieces," the report added. Kim's rare outings during the past two months, with his absence from a key national anniversary, have coincided with North Korea's intense measures against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Pyongyang says it has recorded no confirmed cases so far, but South Korea's intelligence agency claims that it cannot rule out that the North has had an outbreak. North Korea is under crippling US sanctions for years over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. US President Donald Trump has attempted to de-escalate tensions with Pyongyang, and although he has met with Kim three times, he has so far refused to relieve any of the harsh sanctions on the North over its military programs, and that has in turn hampered the so-called efforts to demilitarize the Korean Peninsula. The Washington-Pyongyang nuclear talks have made little progress since late last year, particularly after the global fight to curb the pandemic, which has so far infected more than 5,434, 600 people and killed over 344,500 others around the world. Kim's pledge to boost its nuclear capabilities comes at a time when Washington, according to some news reports, might conduct its first full-fledged nuclear test since 1992. Last December, Kim ended a moratorium on the country's missile tests and said North Korea would soon develop a "new strategic weapon." The ending of the moratorium came as the United States refused to relieve any of the sanctions on the North even though Pyongyang had taken goodwill steps in the course of the now-stalled diplomacy with Washington. The North is also at loggerheads with South Korea over its "provocative" military drills with the US, stressing that Seoul's war games demand an appropriate response from Pyongyang. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 20:57:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Pupils at a primary school in Shanxi, China wear one-meter-long "wings" as they return to classes. More schools are reopening in China as the COVID-19 epidemic wanes. The Victorian Labor Party used the politics of the states controversial Belt and Road agreement with China as an electoral weapon to help the Andrews government win votes in three seats with a high number of Chinese-Australians in its 2018 election victory. As the Labor government continues to shrug off pressure to walk away from its memorandum of understanding with China, a prominent Australian China-watcher has highlighted how Premier Daniel Andrews and his colleagues used the relationship with China to win votes. Paul Hamer, the successful Labor candidate for Box Hill, with a team of volunteers about ten days before the 2018 state election. A senior manager with Labors election campaign told The Age on Monday that the agreement, and the controversy it sparked, helped Labor gain the winning edge in three eastern suburbs seats with high numbers of voters of Chinese descent. Mr Andrews signed the first Belt and Road MOU in October 2018, just a month before the first-term Labor government faced voters at the election. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: The total number of coronavirus-infected people in Uzbekistan has reached 3,180, Trend reports on May 25 with reference to the Ministry of Health. To date, 2,565 patients have fully recovered in the country, 13 have died. Uzbekistan has previously divided the country into certain "red", "yellow" and "green" zones, with regards to the level of COVID-19 pandemic spread level. The Special Republican Commission for the preparation of a program of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Uzbekistan has extended the quarantine until 1 June 2020. Since May 15, the Special Republican Commission has lifted some restrictions on certain activities in Uzbekistan. The "red" zones include Uzbekistan's Karakalpakstan Autonomous Republic, Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Samarkand, Bukhara, Syrdarya and Tashkent regions (also divided into "zones"). The "yellow" zones include Khorezm region and Tashkent city. The "green" zones include Navoi, Jizzak, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions. Recently, Zarafshan city of Navoi region was transferred from the "yellow" zone to the "red" zone. Moreover, Uzbekistan declared Jizzakh, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions were declared free from COVID-19. The first case of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan was detected on March 15 in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Virology; it was an Uzbek woman who returned from France. The Ministry of Health later announced that her son, daughter, husband and grandson also tested coronavirus-positive. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini Credit: CC0 Public Domain Hundreds of Madrid residents flooded to the city's parks as lockdown measures were finally eased in the Spanish capital and in Barcelona, while beaches reopened in parts of the country after months-long closures. As well as reopening the gates of the capital's parks for the first time since mid-March, residents in the two cities can now meet in groups of up to 10 people in homes or on the terraces of bars and restaurants. The easing measures come as the Madrid region, the city of Barcelona and large parts of Castile-Leon in the northwest, formally enter the first phase of rolling back one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. These areas have been on a slower track as they bore the brunt of the pandemic in Spain, which has killed more than 28,700 people, one of the world's highest tolls. In Madrid, hundreds of people turned out to enjoy an early-morning stroll in sun in the city's famous Retiro Park, with scores of runners jogging down its wide avenues and past the boating lake. "The reopening of Retiro brings me a feeling of serenity, gives me comfort," said Rosa San Jose, a 50-year-old teacher wearing gym clothes and a mask who was out for a walk before starting the online school day. Elsewhere in the city, the San Gines coffee shop, famed for its churros and chocolate, laid out six tables on the pavement, down from its normal 13 to ensure social distancing. For now, the inside seating areas must remain shut. "We've been open for 125 years and it's the first time we've ever had to close," manager Daniel Real told AFP. "Soon we'll go back to being open 24 hours a day like before, but for now we're not working nights as there are no tourists and because the nightclub that brings us a lot of clients is closed." Freedom, with limits Elsewhere, regions incorporating just under half of Spain's nearly 47 million inhabitants were moving into phase two of the three-stage rollback that is due to be completed by the end of June. For now, all new freedoms in public must be conducted while wearing a mask where it is not possible to keep a distance of two metres (six feet). With the summer heat picking up, beaches along Spain's northern coastline as well as some areas in the south, including the Canary Islands and the Balearics, are now open for swimming, subject to safety measures. The health ministry recommends limiting the number of beachgoers, creating boundaries and spacing umbrellas four metres apart. But for now, only locals will benefit, with travel between regions still forbidden and any foreign visitors landing in Spain compelled to undergo 14 days quarantine. Spain has said it will open the borders to foreign tourists in July. But the government's slow process of lifting the restrictions have a political backlash from rightwing parties as well as a growing wave of protest on the streets. On Saturday, thousands joined protests in their cars in major Spanish cities at the call of the ultra-rightwing Vox, with drivers honking their horns, waving Spanish flags and banging saucepans to denounce the government's handling of the crisis. Explore further Spaniards aged six and above ordered to wear masks 2020 AFP The Trump administration is planning to buy 100 million swabs by the end of the year and distribute them to states to help expand the nation's testing capacity for coronavirus. The plan was laid out in an 81-page report submitted to Congress on the Sunday deadline lawmakers had set for federal health officials to submit a national testing strategy. The report reiterates the White House's existing stance that individual states, not the federal government, should be responsible for bolstering their own testing capacity. 'With support from the Federal government to ensure States are meeting goals, the State plans for testing will advance the safe reopening of America,' the report states. It recommends that every state should be able to test two percent of its population in May and June and projects that the US will be able to produce 40 million to 50 million COVID-19 tests per month by September. The plan was quickly condemned by leading Democrats who called it inadequate and said it paints a 'rosy picture' of the pandemic. The Trump administration is planning to buy 100 million swabs by the end of the year and distribute them to states to help expand the nation's testing capacity for coronavirus. Pictured: President Trump shows off a swab during a White House briefing on April 19 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, and Sen Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, issued a scathing statement about the plan on Monday. 'The Trump administration still does not take any responsibility for ramping up our nation's testing capacity, instead pushing the burden onto the states - forcing states to compete with each other to procure vital supplies to administer tests from the private market,' the statement reads. 'To reopen our economy safely, we need testing to be free, accurate, reliable and accompanied by tools like contact tracing so we can slow the spread of the virus and prevent outbreaks.' Pelosi offered her own statement on Twitter, writing: 'After six months and nearly 100,000 lives lost, the Trump Administration still does not have a serious plan for increasing testing to stop the spread of the virus. 'The Administration's disappointing report confirms that President Trump's national testing strategy is to deny the truth that there aren't enough tests and supplies, reject responsibility and dump the burden onto the states. 'To reopen our economy safely, we need testing to be free, accurate, reliable and accompanied by tools like contact tracing so we can slow the spread of the virus and prevent outbreaks.' The Trump administration submitted a report outlining its nationwide testing strategy to Congress on Sunday. The report reiterates the White House's existing stance that individual states, not the federal government, are responsible for bolstering their own testing capacity The plan was quickly condemned by leading Democrats who called it inadequate and said it paints a 'rosy picture' of the pandemic. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reacted to the report in a Twitter thread (pictured) The Washington Post was first to report on the contents of the document, called the Covid-19 Testing Plan, after obtaining it from an official who was not authorized to release it. The plan was long sought by public health experts and congressional Democrats, many of whom have criticized the Trump administration's slow and uneven response to the virus, which has sickened more than 1.65 million Americans and killed nearly 100,000 to date. Nationwide, about 350,000 to 400,000 tests have been conducted each day over the past week, according to the Covid Tracking Project, which compiles and publishes state testing data. The numbers are hundreds of thousands below what various research models say is necessary to contain the pandemic. But the testing plan, prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services, attempted to bolster the portrayal by President Donald Trump and others in his administration that the pandemic in under control. It cites epidemiologists and public health organizations as saying that if 10 percent of tests are positive for the virus over the course of a week, that is 'enough to assure broad coverage of the population'. Forty-one states have already achieved that goal, the report states. It lists the testing targets each state reported to federal officials for May, totaling 12.9 million tests nationwide, but did not outline goals the government is asking each state to meet down the road. Nationwide, about 350,000 to 400,000 tests have been conducted each day over the past week, according to the Covid Tracking Project, which compiles and publishes state testing data. Pictured: People wait to receive tests outside a CityMD in Brooklyn, New York The latest report included this graph with testing goals for each state in May. It did not outline goals the government is asking each state to meet down the road The latest report elaborates on a blueprint released by the White House on April 27. The 11-page document also placed responsibility on the states, saying that the federal government's role would be to 'provide strategic direction and technical assistance' while regulating tests and testing equipment. It said that the government would 'act as supplier of last resort' when it comes to testing equipment. The blueprint was widely panned by congressional Democrats, leading public health officials and other experts. The new report elicited a similar response as critics questioned why the Trump administration didn't address concerns already raised in response to the blueprint. The administration was required to submit the new plan to four congressional committees under a $484billion coronavirus relief package adopted by Congress in late April which included $25billion for testing. President Trump and the White House have repeatedly championed the nation's testing capacity in the face of fierce criticism over the lack of a comprehensive nationwide strategy, which has forced individual states to develop their own approaches with some parts of the country doing far more testing than others. Concerns over the patchwork testing system have heightened in recent weeks as states ramp up efforts to reopen following months of restrictions and closures. The US has conducted about 14.16 million tests as of midday Monday, according to a tally by the Covid Tracking Project. During a call with the nation's governors last week, FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor said his agency had shipped swabs and viral transport media to every state and was planning to ship another 12.9 million swabs to states in June. Adm Brett Giroir, the administration's testing czar, suggested in the same call that the administration 'may not get to' that 12.9 million swab goal by the end of the month. Giroir acknowledged that swabs and viral transport media sent out in the early weeks of the program will not be 'wrapped with a bow on them', but said 'this will evolve as more supplies become available'. Jacqueline Jossa brushed aside rumours surrounding her marriage to Dan Osborne as she promoted her with In The Style nightwear range on Instagram on Monday. The former EastEnders star, 27, was the picture of confidence as she modelled a selection of PJs, after her last collaboration with the fashion retailer became the brand's selling collection ever. Actress Jacqueline has been in the centre of headlines since moving out of her family home, but has stressed she hasn't split from her husband of three years and slammed claims he has been messaging other women. Beaming: Jacqueline Jossa brushed aside rumours surrounding her marriage to Dan Osborne as she promoted her with In The Style nightwear range on Instagram on Monday The thespian was every inch the style chameleon as she slipped into a series of comfy clothing, including polka dot print co-ords, a satin-two-piece, and long-sleeved slogan tees. Encouraging her fans to check out the new collection, the mother-of-three wrote: 'Its LIVE ladies!! My nightwear range has been restocked and its on the app right now!! 'Swipe to see some of my faves and make sure you comment and let me know which ones you manage to get hold of! Loungewear: The former EastEnders star, 27, was the picture of confidence as she modelled a selection of PJs 'I need time': Actress Jacqueline has been in the centre of headlines since moving out of her family home, but has stressed she hasn't split from her husband of three years 'So excited to see lots of you wearing them they are so comfy and cute, I wanted to do them for so long so its amazing youre loving them too!!' [sic] On Sunday, former TOWIE star Dan, 28, broke his social media silence amid reports over the state of his relationship. The fitness enthusiast took to Instagram to reveal he was spending time with his son Teddy, six - who he shares with ex Megan Tomlin. Jacqueline also took to Instagram to snap pictures with the couple's daughter. Impressive: The TV personality's last collaboration with the fashion retailer became the brand's selling collection ever Versatile: The thespian was every inch the style chameleon as she slipped into a series of comfy clothing, including polka dot co-ords, a satin-two-piece, and long-sleeved slogan tees Check it out! Encouraging her fans to check out the new collection, the mother-of-three wrote: 'Its LIVE ladies!! My nightwear range has been restocked and its on the app right now!' The post comes amid claims the Bexley native's marriage to Dan has become 'unworkable' during the coronavirus lockdown. Rumours have been swirling over what prompted Jacqueline to move out, with The Sun reporting that Dan had been caught messaging other women. However, a source told MailOnline that this wasn't the case. It had also been claimed that Jacqueline had moved out without telling Dan, but a spokesperson for the actress told MailOnline: 'Any suggestion of a secret move out or similar is completely and utterly untrue.' My boy: On Sunday, former TOWIE star Dan, 28, took to Instagram to reveal he was spending time with his son Teddy, six - who he shares with ex Megan Tomlin Family: Earlier that day, Jacqueline returned to work to promote her pyjamas range and shared a selfie with her eldest daughter Ella, five It's thought both Ella, five and Mia, 23 months, have moved out with Jacqueline while Dan has been spending time with his son Teddy. The couple's relationship has been plagued with cheating allegations and tensions between the pair have reportedly been taking their toll. But Jacqueline took to Instagram earlier to clear up the rumours, stating: 'I need some time. There is no split. No divorce. We are working together not against each other.' She made the statement after a source told The Sun: 'Jac and Dan have had their problems but lockdown magnifies everything. She needs breathing space.' 'Jac and Dan have had their fair share of problems for the past couple of years but obviously lockdown magnifies everything. 'There's still a lot of love there but quite simply, Jacqueline needs some breathing space.' No divorce! Jacqueline took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday afternoon to hit back after the Sun claimed that their marriage had become 'unworkable' while in lockdown The publication reported that Jacqueline has found it quite distressing dealing with speculation regarding the state of their marriage. It has been suggested that Jacqueline and Dan will 'reassess' their relationship once the lockdown period is over and normality resumes. They also believed it was unhealthy for the children to see them arguing while all holed up in their 1 million home together. Time for a trip? As news of the reported split broke, Dan took to Instagram Stories to share a snap of his parked motorbike Jacqueline and Dan married on 24 June 2017 at Cheshire Manor House with many of her EastEnders co-stars in attendance. The couple met and started dating in 2013, and got engaged two years later four months of the birth of their first child. Earlier this week, she revealed she would be taking a break from social media, as she told her followers she needed to 'take some time.' Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne's relationship timeline 2013: Jacqueline and Dan spark up a romance after meeting at an awards ceremony, while his ex Megan Tomlin is still pregnant with his son Teddy August 2014: The couple announce they're expecting their first child February 2015: Jacqueline and Dan welcome baby daughter Ella June 2015: Dan proposes to Jacqueline on a romantic getaway to Greece June 2017: Jacqueline and Dan tie the knot at Cheshire Manor House with many of her EastEnders co-stars in attendance April 2018: Jacqueline and Dan briefly separate after he is accused of cheating with Love Island's Gabby Allen, which they both deny May 2018: The couple announce the birth of their second child Mia October 2018: Jacqueline and Dan confirm they've reunited after a challenging few weeks March 2019: Dan is hit by claims he kissed Love Island's Alexandra Cane in a nightclub, which both denied December 2019: Dan is hit by claims he had a threesome with CBB stars Natalie Nunn and Chloe Ayling, which he strongly denied, while Jacqueline was in the I'm A Celebrity jungle December 2019: Jacqueline was reportedly left furious when campmate Myles Stephenson offered new details about his now-ex Gabby's relationship with Dan December 2019: Dan apologised to Jacqueline for mistakes that 'almost cost his marriage' in a lengthy social media post after they reunited following her winning stint in the I'm A Celebrity jungle January 2020: The couple's romance seems to be back on track as they jet to Dubai for a romantic getaway May 2020: Jacqueline announces a break from social media, days before reports she and Dan have split Advertisement Together: Jacqueline and Dan married on 24 June 2017 at Cheshire Manor House (pictured February 2020) Sweet: The couple are parents to daughters Ella and Mia (pictured) while Dan also has son Teddy, six, from a previous relationship The couple were thought to be giving their romance a fresh start after Dan apologised for doing things he wasn't proud of in the relationship. Dan lamented his past behaviour, which he did not specify, in a candid post reflecting on the last decade and seemingly referencing his recent cheating scandal. He was rocked by cheating claims after it was alleged he engaged in a threesome with his Celebrity Big Brother co-stars Natalie Nunn and Chloe Ayling last year, which he strongly denied. Strictly Come Dancing bosses are in talks with Gordon Ramsay's 18-year-old daughter Tilly, according to reports. The BBC is thought to have approached the TV host in the hopes that she will be a hit on the show with a younger demographic. A source told the Sun: 'Tilly is already popular with younger viewers from her shows on CBBC and bosses think she could bring that audience with her... Spotlight: Strictly Come Dancing bosses are in talks with Gordon Ramsay's 18-year-old daughter Tilly, according to reports 'Tilly is keen to be a star in her own right, rather than just being known as Gordon's daughter, and Strictly could be a great way for her to come out of her father's shadow. 'They've spoken to her formally and said she can take part either this year or next. They've left the ball in her court.' But is not yet known if this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing will go ahead as bosses continue to work out how to maintain social distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic. Father-daughter duo: The BBC is thought to have approached the TV host in the hopes that she will be a hit on the show with a younger demographic It comes after Gordon, 53, joked that Tilly's teen romance with Gino D'Acampo's eldest son Luciano was a 'f**king nightmare'. Joking about whether there was going to be an arranged marriage any time soon, Jonathan told the audience: 'It is Gino's son who is by the way is a very handsome man - I think Gino isn't the father.' Gordon said: 'We were driving through San Francisco and FaceTiming Luciano and all of a sudden Tilly pops up behind them and they are out having lunch. I think they are friends.' No awkwardness here! It comes after Gordon, 53, joked that Tilly's teen romance with Gino D'Acampo's eldest son Luciano was a 'f**king nightmare' 'I have heard they are more than friends', Jonathan said, drawing laughs from the audience. Gino himself had previously said he was thrilled his son was dating Tilly, especially as it gave him leverage to wind up friend Gordon. He told This Morning: 'They've known each other for a few years now. I don't really want to say a lot because it's none of my business. 'But what a great pleasure knowing my son is dating Gordon's daughter, just to really annoy him.' New beau: It appeared that Luciano and Tilly romantically parted ways the blonde teen went Instagram official with her new beau (pictured) Despite their apparent romance, it appears that either things didn't work out for Tilly and Luciano or they were just good pals, as she is now dating her current boyfriend. The budding chef shared the black and white image with the new beau tagged as Seth, which lead Gordon to comment in bewilderment: 'Wtf?' When grilled about her new man, Tilly said he was her 'real and only' beau, despite dad Gordon confirming she was dating Gino's son Luciano in a TV appearance. In the loved-up snap, Tilly was beaming with delight as she posed alongside her new man, and simply captioned the black and white image with a heart emoji. Actor Sonu Sood has been winning tremendous praise for helping migrant workers return home by arranging buses and special permissions amid the lockdown. In fact, several people have been writing to the actor on Twitter either requesting him for help or thanking him for his kind gestures. The actor has graciously been replying to these tweets as well. However, this particular exchange stands out and is making many laugh out loud. With Sonu Sood replying to so many asking for help, a Twitter user decided to try his luck as well. In a tweet posted some 17 hours ago, the Twitter user wrote to the actor with his request. Sonu bhai, Im stuck in my house. Help me reach a liquor shop, says the tweet posted in Hindi. Sood answered this tweet as well with a reply thats winning people over. Bhai, I can help you return home from the shop. Let me know if you need that, he replied. Shared last evening, the reply has collected over 40,000 likes and more than 4,700 retweets - and counting. People have posted several reactions to Soods reply. Sonu bhai ek hi dil hai kitne bar jitoge, commented a Twitter user. Superb, reacted another. What an answer, added a third. What do you think of Sonu Soods reply? PR-Inside.com: 2020-05-25 15:30:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 423 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2020 / Due to America's unusual tax system, all American citizens, including Americans living abroad, are required to file US taxes, reporting their global income.For expats, this often means having to file two tax returns, one to the IRS and another in the country where they live.Expats often also have additional US filing requirements, such as reporting any foreign registered bank accounts, investments, and foreign business interests they may have.International tax treaties don't prevent US expats from having to file. Instead, to avoid double taxation, the IRS has introduced provisions such as the Foreign Tax Credit and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion that expats must claim when they file. After having claimed them, most expats won't end up owing any US tax.Expats who don't file and claim these provisions though are considered to owe US tax on their worldwide income, even if they're paying foreign taxes.What about the many expats who haven't been filing US taxes from abroad because they weren't aware of (or misunderstood) the requirement for them to do so?There is a voluntary IRS amnesty program called the Streamlined Procedure available to these non-compliant expats that allows them to catch up without facing penalties.The program requires non-compliant expats to file their last three US tax returns, and their last six Foreign Bank Account Reports (FBARs). They must also submit a statement explaining why they haven't previously filed.Expats catching up under Streamlined Procedure can claim the Foreign Tax Credit or the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion retrospectively, allowing them reduce their back taxes (often to zero). Some expats (such as expats parents who claim the refundable Child Tax Credit) may even find that they're owed a refund.Expats who catch up with their US filing using the Streamlined Procedure can also receive a Coronavirus Relief Stimulus Check.Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, expats who are up to date with their US tax filing can receive a Coronavirus relief Stimulus Check, a one time payment in 2020 worth up to $1,200 for an individual, or $2,400 for a married couple, and a further $500 per child.While every expat's situation is different, and expats should always seek professional advice to ensure that they file in the most beneficial way for their particular situation, the Streamlined Procedure presents an excellent opportunity for the many expats who haven't been filing.Contact:Company Name: Bright!Tax US Expat Tax ServicesContact Person: Hugo LesserEmail: h.lesser@ brighttax.com Website: https://brighttax.com SOURCE: Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Services File Photo New Delhi: Bollywood actor Salman Khan has launched sanitizers under the FRSH brand in his latest commercial venture. The Bollywood megastar has announced the launch of its new beauty and personal care brand FRSH on social media late at night on May 24. In a video, Salman Khan said that he had recently launched a brand called FRSH. Advertisement PhotoSalman said that initially he had planned to launch deodorant under the brand. But as time goes on, they have brought sanitizers. The demand for sanitizers is high due to the Corona virus pandemic and sanitizers are very important in preventing this deadly disease worldwide. Corona has infected more than 5.4 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 3.45 lakh people have died. Salman Khan said that after the sanitizer, other products like deodorants, body wipes and perfumes will also be launched under the brand. Advertisement PhotoHe said that at present FRSH sanitizers are available on its official website but later it will be available in stores. According to figures released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 6,977 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours and 154 people have died. Since then, the total number of corona positive cases across the country has risen to 1, 38,845. There are 77,103 active cases in which 57,721 people have been cured and 4,021 people have died. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday greeted people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and appealed to them to stay at home and celebrate the festival. "Heartiest wishes to all on the occasion of #EidUlFitr. Let us celebrate this great festival at home. These are difficult times, but I am confident, we will overcome this challenge. My greetings to each one of you." Banerjee said in a tweet. In most parts of West Bengal, people are observing the festival indoors, sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Another rally calling for Gov. Phil Murphy to fully allow New Jerseys non-essential businesses to reopen as the spread of the coronavirus slows is scheduled to be held on Monday morning, this time in Point Pleasant Beach. At least two state legislators, including one Democrat, plan to attend the 11 a.m. Freedom March of New Jersey near the Jersey Shore towns still mostly closed boardwalk. Point Pleasant Beach police said they expected large crowds to attend the rally at the Silver Lake parking lot at the intersection of Arnold and Ocean Avenues, about a half block from the towns boardwalk. Nonessential businesses can now offer curbside pickup after Murphy, a Democrat, lifted restrictions earlier this month that had kept them closed since late March. Murphy has had widespread support for his steps to slow the coronavirus outbreak in the state, according to statewide polls earlier this month. Assemblyman Jamel Holloway, D-Union, and Sen. Joseph Pennachio, R-Morris, confirmed over the weekend that theyll be at the rally to show their support for the protesters. Two similar rallies were held in Trenton in the past month. Each drew hundreds of protesters. Murphy said more businesses could be allowed to reopen in a matter of weeks with limitations. Restaurants and bars that are limited to takeout and delivery could be permitted to have outdoor seating for dining when those restrictions are lifted, he said. New Jersey has the second most coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States after New York. As of Sunday, the coronavirus outbreak has killed 11,133 residents with 154,154 confirmed positive tests. New Jerseys 71 hospitals reported 2,755 patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases as of Sunday night, down 66% from the peak in hospitalizations on April 14, when 8,084 patients were being treated. The state had 719 patients in critical or intensive care, with 540 on ventilators, as of Sunday night. Those all are the lowest numbers since the state Department of Health began publicly reporting the hospital information on April 4. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Jersey Shore banner planes troll N.J. and Pa. governors as beaches open from coronavirus closures: On Sunday in the Wildwoods, a few banner plane ads went political, apparently over the reopening of most Jersey Shore beaches from months-long coronavirus restrictions. One aimed at Gov. Phil Murphy said: Murphys mom voted for Guadagno. (Murphy ran against Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in 2017.) And another said, "Tom Wolf likes to color - an apparent reference to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfs color-coded reopening plan. N.J. could reopen child day care sooner than later from coronavirus closures, Murphy says: Child day-care centers could reopen sooner than later in New Jersey as the state continues to roll back restrictions ordered to slow the coronavirus pandemic, Murphy said Sunday. Day-care centers have remained closed since April 1 except for those that solely serve" the kids of essential workers. Murphy said during an interview on CNN Sunday morning that New Jerseys reopening strategy needs to include day-care centers to give parents support as the economy reopens and more people return to work. Wildwood motel owner flouts rules, rents out rooms. I know I made a mistake in hindsight: The Mango Motel and the Blue Diamond Motel welcomed guests Friday night for the start of the Memorial Day weekend, the owner said, even though Wildwood isnt allowing any short-stay rentals until May 26. The owner said he received multiple summonses and could face the loss of his mercantile license. Online college isnt worth $15K? Class-action suit against Rutgers seeks refunds: A students father has brought a class-action lawsuit against Rutgers University, seeking refunds for tuition, fees and room and board after the school moved classes online to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. The suit, filed May 20 in Middlesex County Superior Court, accuses the university of breach of contract, unjust enrichment and conversion for continuing to reap the financial benefit of millions of dollars from students." House Democrats want to give you another $1,200 stimulus check. Trumps willing to consider it. That new $1,200 per person stimulus check that House Democrats want to send you? President Donald Trumps senior economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, said hes willing to talk about the measure, designed to jumpstart an economy significantly weakened by the coronavirus. Depending on the state of the economy, its something that I guess we would consider, Hassett said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union. Worldwide cases: At least 5.24 million have been infected in 188 countries with about 345,300 deaths as of 6:30 a.m. Monday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. More than 2.17 million have recovered, the center reports. U.S. cases: Nearly 98,000 of the about 1.64 million infected in the U.S have died of the virus, according to the center. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Jonathan D. Salant, Noah Cohen, Karin Price Mueller and Chris Franklin contributed to this report. Grappling with an aggressive rise in the coronavirus cases, the Maharashtra government has asked Kerala to provide 50 trained specialist doctors and 100 nurses for treatment of virus patients in the state. In a letter to the Kerala government on Sunday, The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), civic body of Mumbai, asked for medical staff on a temporary basis for its Mahalaxmi Covid jumbo facility. However, the BMC later called the letter a formality and said the Kerala government itself offered to send medical staff, and wanted an official letter for the same. It added that the state has enough medical staff, but since it was offered help, it has taken it. The state recorded 3,041 new COVID-19 cases and 58 deaths on Sunday, taking the total number of cases to 50,231, of which 33,988 are active cases. Death toll in Maharashtra stands at 1,635. Total 1,196 people recovered and were discharged on Sunday, and 14,600 patients have been discharged since the beginning of the pandemic in the state, Maharashtra Health Department said in a statement. WOOD RIVER The Madison County Health Department on Monday announced three more deaths and three new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 57 and 538, respectively. The deceased were identified as a man in his 50s and women in their 70s and 80s. The Madison County figures include 98 people hospitalized and 272 release, meaning they have completed isolation. A total of 5,212 Madison County residents have been tested. Statewide there were 1,713 new cases and 31 deaths reported during the past 24 hours. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced that, as of Monday, there were now 112,017 cases statewide and 4,884 deaths. IDPH information by ZIP code showed additional cases in the Godfrey, Granite City/Pontoon Beach and Collinsville areas. As of Monday 107 cases have been reported in 62025 (Edwardsville), 86 in 62002 (Alton), 72 in 62040 (Granite City/Pontoon Beach), 76 in 62034 (Glen Carbon), 56 in 62234 (Collinsville), 23 in 62095 (Wood River), 21 in 62060 (Madison) and 20 in 62035 (Godfrey). Seventeen were reported in 62294 (Troy) with 14 in 62052 (Jerseyville); 13 in 62010 (Bethalto), 62249 (Highland) and 62056 (Litchfield); 11 in 62090 (Venice); nine in 62024 (East Alton); eight in 62069 (Mt. Olive), 62018 (Cottage Hills) and 62062 (Maryville); 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 also were reported Monday in St. Clair, Monroe and Clinton counties in the Metro East, according to the IDPH website. One additional death was reported in St. Clair County. More Information COVID-19 cases by county St. Clair - 991 (72 deaths) Madison - 538 (57 deaths) Clinton - 177 (16 deaths) Monroe - 92 (11 deaths) Macoupin - 41 (1 death) Montgomery - 39 (1 death) Jersey County - 20 (1 death) Bond - 10 (1 death) Washington - 18 Greene - 5 Calhoun - 1 Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health and Madison County Health Department. See More Collapse The IDPH reported a total of 21,643 tests completed in the past 24 hours, for a total of 769,564. The statewide seven-day rolling positivity rate for May 16-22 is 12 percent. 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. Tamil Nadu: Boat owners want ban on fishing lifted soon by Antony Fernando May 25,2020 | Source: The New Indian Express The mechanised boat fishers have requested to lift the annual fishing ban soon as they had completed over two months of not venturing into the sea. Mechanised boats were banned from fishing since the lockdown was announced on March 23. The lockdown ban was already coinciding with the 61-day annual fishing ban. Since the two months are already complete, the fishers have requested to lift both the bans immediately. "A prolonged ban would be too much for us. At least 10-20 families depend on my boat. A prolonged ban could push them to the brink of desperation, " said S Kaliyamurthy, a mechanised boat owner from Nagapattinam. The 61-day annual fishing ban falls in the period between April 15 and June 15 every year. This year, they were made to stop nearly a month before April 15. "We respected the government's advisory on Coronavirus and refrained from fishing even before they had announced the lockdown. It is more than two months of ban now. So, it only fair to let us fish," said S Arumugam, another mechanised boat owner. The report in March 31's publication of TNIE said that the State government had sent a proposal to the Centre to advance the annual fishing ban to the period between March 23 and May 23, so that the fishers can go into the sea. But, there is yet to be a significant development in the correspondence, and the proposal is still with the Centre. Meanwhile, the annual one-time livelihood assistance of `5000 has been distributed to 1.8 lakh around fisher families in the State, including 21,000 families in Nagapattinam district. An additional amount of `2000t in two installments is also being credited as lockdown relief to the 4.64 lakh Fisheries Department's welfare board members that has 56,000 members. "The livelihood assistance is 'peanuts' in terms of our survival. The relief is also not sufficient. There are other livelihoods dependent such as that of labourers, ice boys, diesel boys, janitors, fish sellers, traders and vehicle drivers. They are affected," said RMP Rajendra Nattar, a fisher-representative. While speaking to TNIE, a senior official from the Fisheries Department said, "Our Department had proposed for the advancement of the annual fishing ban to March 23-May 23. We are still waiting for a response. The Centre may come up with a response after consulting other coastal states such as Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. We are hoping for the ban to lift in a week." The White House has announced a ban on travel to the US from Brazil due to the spread of coronavirus in Latin Americas hardest-hit country. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany says in a statement Sunday evening that the ban applies to foreign nationals who have been in Brazil in the 14 days before they sought to travel to the United States. McEnany cast it as a move by President Donald Trump to protect our country. Trump has already banned travel from the United Kingdom, Europe and China, all of which have been hit hard by the virus. Trump had said last week that he was considering imposing similar restrictions on Brazil. Brazil had reported more than 3,47,000 Covid-19 cases, second behind the US in the number of infections, according to a Johns Hopkins University count. Brazil also has recorded more than 22,000 deaths, fifth-most in the world. There have been more than 97,000 deaths in the US. - A fake letter was circulated on social media indicating MP Kanini Kega had tabled an impeachment motion against DP William Ruto - The document alleged the DP was being impeached on grounds of gross violation of the Constitution and gross misconduct - Kanini Kega dismissed the letter saying it was propaganda by Ruto's allies with the intentions of whipping public emotions Kieni MP Kanini Kega has dismissed reports on social media claiming he has sponsored a motion to impeach Deputy President William Ruto. The lawmaker said he was not interested in having the DP impeached and that the "wild allegations" were aimed at whipping public emotions and to gain sympathy for Tanga Tanga team. READ ALSO: Kimani Ichung'wa warns poisonous food branded Ruto being distributed to Kikuyu locals Kieni MP Kanini Kega dismissed the impeachment motion as fake and said it originated from Tanga Tanga team. Photo: The Star Source: UGC READ ALSO: Mbunge Babu Owino akwaruzana na mtangazaji Anne Kiguta wakati wa mahojiano Speaking to members of the press on Monday, May 25, at his office in Nairobi, the lawmaker said the documents circulating on social media on the alleged impeachment motion were fake claiming they originated from the Tanga Tanga team. "It is very fertile imagination and I want to say that for us in Jubilee, we are focused on helping the president achieve his Big Four agenda and I don't think impeaching the DP is part of the Big Four Agenda "Even from the look of it, its fake. Before a motion is tabled on the floor of the House or given notice, the House Business Committee seats and approves motions so any person trying to purport that it was done by me, it seems far fetched," he stated. READ ALSO: Kenyan newspapers review for May 25: Low COVID-19 death rate may encourage Uhuru to reopen economy The legislator claimed the entire saga regarding him sponsoring a motion to impeach the deputy president emanated from statements made by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria. National Assembly clerk Michael Sialai also issued a statement terming the document as fake and urged Kenyans to disregard it. "I wish to inform the members of the public that the document is fake and therefore has not been published by the National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya," read an excerpt of the statement. The alleged document claimed the DP was being impeached on grounds of gross violation of the Constitution and other laws and on gross misconduct. READ ALSO: Satrine Osinya: 9 captivating photos of Mike Sonko's adopted son "Pursuant to the provisions of Article 150(1)(b) of the Constitution and Standing Orders 61 and 65 of the National Assembly Standing Orders, this House impeaches Dr. William Samoei Ruto as the deputy president of the Republic of Kenya on the following grounds: (a) Gross violation of the provisions of the Constitution of Kenya and other laws; and (b) Gross misconduct," read the fake letter. On gross violation of the Constitution, the latter claimed the DP had abdicated his duty "by constantly absenting himself from the sittings of the National Security Council." It further indicated the DP had sabotaged the president's efforts by utterances that were against Uhuru's unity pact with Raila Odinga and that he had undermined the head of state by engaging in early 2022 campaigns. 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 An Indian Army officer and woman peacekeeper, who has served with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and a Brazilian woman commander have been selected for the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award (2019), with UN Chief Antnio Guterres describing them as "powerful role models." Major Suman Gawani and Brazilian Naval Officer Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo will receive the award during an online ceremony presided over by United Nations Secretary-General Guterres on May 29, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Military Observer Gawani has recently completed an assignment in South Sudan apart from her stint with the UNMISS. Araujo is working in the United Nations' Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Guterres commended Gawani and Araujo. "These peacekeepers are powerful role models. Through their work, they have brought new perspectives and have helped build trust and confidence among the communities we serve," he said. "Through their commitment and innovative approaches, they embrace a standard of excellence that is an inspiration to all blue helmets everywhere. As we confront today's challenges, their work has never been more important or relevant." This is the first time the UN Military Gender Advocate award has gone to an Indian peacekeeper. This is the second year in a row that a Brazilian peacekeeper has received this honour. Created in 2016, the award recognises the dedication and effort of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Resolution 1325 which is on women, peace and security in a peace operation as nominated by Heads and Force Commanders of peace operations. For the first time, two peacekeepers will receive the award jointly. Gawani expressed her gratitude for her work being recognised. "Whatever our function, position or rank, it is our duty as peacekeepers to integrate an all-genders perspective into our daily work and own it in our interactions with colleagues as well as with communities," she said in a statement issued here. Gawani joined the Indian Army in 2011 where she graduated from the Officers Training Academy, then joined the Army Signal Corps. She holds Bachelor of Telecommunication Engineering and a Bachelor of Education degrees from Military College of Telecommunication, and the Government Post Graduate College in Dehradun respectively. Since her deployment to the UNMISS in December 2018, Gawani mentored over 230 UN Military Observers (UNMO) on conflict-related sexual violence and ensured the presence of women military observers in each of the mission's team sites. "By providing support, mentoring, guidance and leadership, she helped to create enabling environment for UN Peacekeepers, the statement said, adding that Gawani also trained the South Sudanese government forces and helped them launch their action plan on conflict-related sexual violence. The Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is underpinned by the principles outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and follow-up resolutions on women, peace and security. The resolutions call on actors to mainstream a gender perspective in all aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding and to ensure women's participation in peace and political processes. They also call for the protection from and prevention of conflict-related sexual violence and for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in UN operations, including of uniformed women peacekeepers. The statement said that about 6.4 per cent of the 85,000 uniformed peacekeepers serving currently in the UN missions are women. The UN is working with member states to increase the number and percentage of women military, police and justice and corrections personnel. It added that in this context promoting the participation of women, both in peacekeeping and within the societies in which we serve, is at the centre of the UN's efforts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Investigators demand detention of defendant in Moscow bank hostage taking case Moskva city news agency, Sergey Vedyashkin 11:52 25/05/2020 MOSCOW, May 25 (RAPSI) Investigators on Monday seek to detain a defendant in a case over hostage taking in one of the Moscow offices of Alfa Bank, the Investigative Committees press service reports. Witnesses were questioned; mental examination of the accused was ordered, the statement reads. On May 23, police were notified of the alleged hostage taking in one of the Alfa Bank offices in Moscow. An alleged hostage holde threatened to blast the bank. During the law enforcement operation, he was arrested; no people were injured; no explosives were found. According to investigators, the hostage taker was a 34-year man born in Russian town of Nizhnevartovsk, Alexey Baryshnikov. Energy price fluctuations may accelerate talks on the common oil and gas markets in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), member of the Board on Integration and Macroeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Sergei Glazyev said. According to Glazyev, there are more than 300 measures and mechanisms in the EAEU strategic areas through 2025. "If we talk about common oil and gas markets, there is a concept that has been officially adopted. Work is underway on it. It will undoubtedly be completed in due time. No one is delaying the implementation of these tasks," he said in an interview to the Belarus 1 TV channel. Today there are strong fluctuations in energy prices. I think these fluctuations will simplify the speed of agreements. Because in the situation of unstable markets, the sooner the states agree with each other, the sooner they will ensure stability in the energy market, which is very important for all the industries," BelTA cited him as saying. The member of the EEC Board noted that such regulation should be achieved "so that energy pricing contributes to the economic growth of our union as a whole". He recalled that 2024 has been announced as a milestone year on this issue. "I am confident that we will not go beyond this year. Maybe we will be able to reach consensus on these difficult issues sooner," Glazyev concluded. NASA is on the hunt for volunteers for a social isolation mission that simulates the psychological effects of confinement. In a nod to the current virus pandemic, the space agency is after healthy participants to live together in isolation for eight months in Moscow, Russia. The ground based 'SIRIUS-20 mission will help NASA learn more about the physiological and psychological effects of isolation and confinement on humans. The chosen participants who have to be US citizens, between the ages of 30 to 55 and highly motivated will experience environmental aspects similar to those astronauts will experience on future missions to the Moon and Mars. SIRIUS is an international mission conducted in the NEK, a ground-based analog facility in Moscow. The upcoming study builds on a previous four-month study conducted in 2019, involving six participants over four months. From left to right: Reinhold Povilaitis (USA), Daria Zhidova (Russia); Yevgeny Tarelkin (Russia); Anastasia Stepanova (Russia); Allen Mirkadyrov (USA); Stefania Fedyai (Russia) Lessons from the mission could influence how astronauts are treated in the future missions namely the upcoming Artemis programme, which plans to land the first woman and the next man on the lunar south pole region by 2024. The upcoming study builds on a previous four-month study conducted in 2019. As many around the world are staying at home in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, NASA is preparing for its next spaceflight simulation study, NASA said. Results from ground-based missions like this help NASA prepare for the real-life challenges of space exploration and provide important scientific data to solve some of these problems and to develop countermeasures. SIRIUS-20 will be conducted to study the effects of isolation and confinement, as astronauts experience social isolation and confinement during their missions. Social isolation and confinement can result in higher levels of stress and damage physiological and psychological well-being, according to NASA. A crew member conducting robotic operations. The small international crew will live together in isolation for eight months conducting scientific research using virtual reality and other technologies But the space agency is after a strong team of astronauts can help counter problems like stress, sleep loss, work overload and disrupted circadian rhythms. As well as being observed for their psychological well-being, the crew will be kept busy conducting scientific research using virtual reality and robotics, which will be related to social confinement. Just as crews heading to the International Space Station must stay in a period of quarantine for two weeks to make sure they dont take a live virus into space, chosen participants will also will begin their mission with an isolation period. NASA said it will be monitoring the effects of the coronavirus on the mission, which is due to commence sometime this year at the NEK ground-based facility in Moscow. The mission facility in Moscow, Russia. Scientific International Research In a Unique terrestrial Station (SIRIUS)-18/19 is an international mission conducted in the NEK (Nazemnyy eksperimental'nyy kompleks) ground-based analog facility in Moscow As well as being a healthy American, applicants will need to be proficient in both Russian and English languages and have a masters in science or a doctorate. Participants with a Bachelors degree and other qualifications, such as military experience, will also be considered. In terms of pay, salaries will vary whether or not you are associated with NASA or if you are a NASA employee or contractor. The SIRIUS-20 mission follows on from the four-month long SIRIUS-19 mission, where a crew of six participated in simulated mission operations tasks, including docking to a space station orbiting the Moon and conducting moonwalks on the lunar surface. The crew also participated in research experiments including self-tests, questionnaires writing journals and specimen collection depositing tissue and fluids in test tubes for later analysis. A collage of the last study of isolation and confinement and the effect on group dynamics. During the course of the mission, the crew bonded and formed strong relationships One SIRIUS-20 crew member, Anastasia Stepanova, wrote in her blog: NEK is where six people in a barrel have become colleagues, friends and almost family! I began to observe the mood of the crew and noticed only one thing stability. Jokes and laughter, activity, efficiency, support for each other, optimism and inner peace all this has remained unchanged since the start of isolation. NASA is gradually building up the length of the SIRIUS missions in an effort to test human endurance a 12-month mission is scheduled for 2022. When a female astronaut first sets foot on the Moon in 2024, the historic moment will represent a step toward another NASA first: eventually putting humans on Mars (pictured) NASA already opened applications in March for the next generation of astronauts that will travel to the Moon and Mars. New astronauts are having to undergo a two-year training and evaluation period and pass a series of physical requirements to be part of the Artemis programme. For the first time in its 61-year history, NASA is also requiring prospective astronauts to have a master's degree in a STEM-related field like maths or computer science. The space agency is preparing to send the first woman and next man to the Moon though its Artemis programme by 2024. Exploring the Moon during the 2020s will help prepare humanity to ultimately send astronauts to Mars in the 2030s, NASA said. Visitors look at exhibited items in Beijiang Museum, founded by French naturalist Paul Emile Licent in 1914, reopened to the public on January 22, 2016, with more than 20,000 specimens of wild animals and fossils. [China News Service/Tong Yu] TIANJIN With more than 20,000 rare specimens, from hairy rhinoceros and wild donkey skeletons to fossils unearthed locally, the collection left by French Catholic Jesuit priest and naturalist Paul Emile Licent (1876-1952) a century ago is well preserved in the museum that he built in North China's Tianjin City. The three-story Beijiang Museum, which is the predecessor of the Tianjin Natural History Museum, was founded in 1914 and quickly became regarded as one of the finest museums in the world, collecting accolades in the 1920s and 1930s. While hosting visitors in the antique building located on the campus of the present-day Tianjin Foreign Studies University, Zhang Caixin, the incumbent curator of the Tianjin Natural History Museum, says the century-old Beijiang Museum was reopened to the public in 2016 after a 78-year hiatus. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), in 1938, Beijiang Museum was closed when Licent was called back to France. When he left Tianjin, he only brought with him his personal belongings and left all his scientific research in the museum in Tianjin. The museum still keeps matchboxes and soap boxes that Licent used to store specimens, which show how he scrambled to conduct his research with very limited funds. Based in Tianjin, Licent carried out 25 years of field excavations in North China, covering a journey of about 50,000 kilometers. A renovation of the museum was proposed in 2014 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and the 100th anniversary of Licent's visit to China. The renovation of the museum encountered difficulties, but the old building was fixed and all of the fossils were reinforced using special techniques and, when it was finally reopened, were displayed in their original exhibition arrangements, Zhang says. "It was the first natural history museum in northern China, and the museum itself has become a 'living fossil' recording the development of early Chinese museums," Zhang says. As well as technology to stabilize the temperature and humidity, the museum has introduced various digital solutions to allow visitors to enjoy virtual tours, even during its recent closure due to outbreak of COVID-19. The museum has played a key role in many exchanges between China and France, most recently on May 14 when French Sinologist David Gosset visited the museum. "It is such a great treasury, which has witnessed the science and cultural exchanges between the East and the West," he says. (Source: Xinhua) The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it currently has 6,621 staff strength both at its headquarters and across all its subsidiaries, divisions and offices nationwide. The corporation disclosed this in its report of compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (EITI) Open Data requirements, released in Abuja on Monday. The report disclosed that the 6,621 individuals comprised its total staff strength as at April 20, 2020. This meant that the recently employed 1,050 fresh graduates were captured, as their employment was concluded in February. The report said NNPC has 13 divisions/Strategic Business Units nationwide. It said that while 5,410 of the corporations workforce representing 81.7 per cent were male, 211 were women, representing 18.3 per cent of its total staff strength. The report further pointed out that the three refineries Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri refineries had 1,898 staff, representing 28.7 per cent of NNPC groups total workforce. A breakdown of the staff distribution by the report showed that 1,869 staff, comprising 28.2 per cent of its total workforce, were involved in operations engineering across all the divisions and Strategic Business Units (SBU); followed by human resources, with 818 staff. This, it said, comprised 12.35 per cent of its total workforce; while 684 staff were Health, Safety and Environment officers, representing 10.3 per cent of its total workforce. Finance, Accounts, Audit, Tax and Insurance staff across all its divisions and SBU are 605; commercial staffers are 506; general engineering staff are 466 and supply chain management staff, 337. Information technology personnel are 301; medical staff are 204; leadership staff are 196; while NNPC Groups geosciences staff are 142, it said. The report also noted that public affairs staff were 108; petroleum engineering staff 74; legal personnel 55; and well engineering staff 48. Furthermore, the report revealed that 27.2 per cent, comprising 1,801 NNPCs staff were currently employed in the corporate headquarters. It said 13 per cent of the NNPC groups total workforce were employed in the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC); while 758 individuals were currently employed in the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC). This, it said, represented 11.4 per cent of the NNPC groups total workforce. The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), which is currently shut down and awaiting revamp, has 655 staff; Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) 550 staff; the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) has 485 staff. NNPCs commercial and investment subsidiary, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) has 426 staff; while the corporations downstream subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) has 255 staff, it said In addition, the report noted that Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) has 254 staff; Integrated Data Services Limited, 175 staff; Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC and Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC) 152 staff each. While National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO) has 64 staff in its employment. Analysis of the corporations staff strength showed that of the total workforce, while one staff was in JS2, 527 others were in JS1 grade level categories respectively. It noted that 85 staff, 103 staff, 259 staff, 740 staff, 700 staff, 1,674, and 1,690 staff were in the grade level SS7, SS6, SS5, SS4, SS3, SS2 and SS1 respectively. Grade levels M6, M5, M4, M3, M2 and M1, which is the management cadre, had 408 staff, 238 staff, 143 staff, 44 staff, eight staff and one staff (chief executive) respectively. (NAN) Advertisements Editor's Note: Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news stories and expert opinions that moved the precious metals and financial markets. Sign up here! (Kitco News) Shouldn't assets like gold and bitcoin be trading higher, especially with all this COVID-19 uncertainty? This is the question one U.K. research team asked with results pointing to major market manipulation. We are witnessing financial market manipulations on a scale and frequency that have rarely been seen before. The lack of integrity by a few powerful market players is causing a major financial market melt-down from which the current form of our global economy may never recover, said University of Sussex Business School professor of Finance Carol Alexander. The analysis was conducted by the University of Sussex Business Schools CryptoMarketRisk project team, which tracked trades in financial markets and reported large-scale manipulation that went unnoticed by the busy regulators. The CryptoMarketRisk team at the University of Sussex Business School have been tracking trades on these markets in recent months and have detailed huge sell orders on gold futures, massive pump and dump on copper futures and large spoofing orders on key crypto exchanges, University of Sussex said on its website earlier in May. Some single trades on COMEX have been so large as to move prices - clear contraventions of U.S. laws on market abuse. But widespread market turmoil means regulators such as the CFTC have a lot on their plates right now, meaning even large-scale manipulation of these markets to remain below the radar of regulators, the university added. The universitys study pointed to these manipulation as the reasons why gold and bitcoin did not see a surge mid-March when markets saw major selloffs across the board. As funds flow out of equities one would expect demand for gold and bitcoin to increase. But this time around, safe havens have behaved completely differently. Gold and bitcoin have fallen at the same time as US equities, Alexander wrote. As the S&P 500 crashed in March 2020, gold had its worst week in eight years when it should have been its best, because of massive shorts on COMEX gold futures. Bitcoin has also been driven down by some pretty obvious manipulation bots on the unregulated crypto derivatives exchanges, especially BitMEX. The study also made comparisons to the 2008 financial crisis by looking at the relationship between the S&P 500 index and gold. Following the Lehman Brothers collapse in September 2008, the correlations between the S&P 500 index and gold, or the Swiss Franc, or US Treasuries were all around minus 40%. During March and April 2020 the correlation between the S&P 500 index and gold was plus 20%, the University of Sussex said. The researchers ran similar calculation with bitcoin and the U.S. dollar. Even more surprising is the behaviour of the bitcoin/US dollar rate since this cryptocurrency emerged in January 2009 its behaviour was completely uncorrelated with any traditional asset, but as the S&P 500 index plummeted in early March 2020, so did bitcoin. Their correlation was plus 63% then, and it remains unsettlingly high at 40%, the universitys post stated. Those who stand to gain the most from this are holders of the U.S. dollars and U.S. assets, the post continued. These become the main sources of positive returns for global investors in attempts to curtail the recent trend of some central banks to diversify their reserves away from the U.S. dollar, it said. After much speculation about the resumption of domestic flight operations in Maharashtra due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases, the state government has allowed 25 flights to land and 25 flights to take-off from the Mumbai airport today, according to several media reports. After much speculation about the resumption of domestic flight operations in Maharashtra due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases, the state government has allowed 25 flights to land and 25 flights to take-off from the Mumbai airport today, according to several media reports. The decision to allow limited take-offs and landings, announced on Sunday by cabinet minister Nawab Malik, came just hours after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said he'd seek more time from the civil aviation ministry to restart domestic flight services from the Mumbai airport as the state COVID-19 count crossed 50,000. "I have spoken to the chief secretary," Malik, an NCP minister, told The Times of India. "Our decision is that 25 flights to and from Mumbai will start on Monday." Malik told Livemint "this number will be increased gradually." Malik also took aim at the Centre. "The Modi government makes announcement after announcement without discussing the issue with the state government," Malik told NDTV. Follow LIVE updates on COVID-19 here Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta confirmed the development. "Details are being worked out by the concerned departments and airline firms," Mehta told The Times of India. Pune and Nagpur will see the resumption of 17 and 4 flights respectively, as per The Times of India report. Arriving passengers will be screened by government agencies and sent to 14-day home quarantine. Thackeray, in an online briefing earlier, said, "I spoke to civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri today and told him that the Mumbai international airport needs more time to resume its operations. Till the time MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Limited) plans and fine-tunes the airport operations, the aviation ministry should initiate minimum possible domestic flights from Maharashtra from 25 May, which are purely emergent in nature like for international transfer of passengers, medical emergencies, students, and cases on compassionate grounds." Thackeray said some 13 more international flights till be landing at the Mumbai airport by 7 June. Puri had announced the resumption of domestic flight services from today as part of the Centre's efforts to gradually open air travel that was suspended nearly two months ago due to a lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. State home minister Anil Deshmukh earlier said it is "extremely ill-advised" to reopen airports in red zone amid the coronavirus pandemic. "It is extremely ill-advised to reopen airports in the red zone. Mere thermal scanning of passengers inadequate w/o swabs. Impossible to have autos/cabs/buses ply in current circumstances. Adding positive passenger will add Covid stress to red zone," Deshmukh tweeted on Sunday. "Getting passengers to come from a green zone to a red one putting them to risk of exposure doesn't make sense. Keeping a busy airport up and running with all COVID-safety measures will need huge staff presence and compound risk in the red zone," the minister added. The health ministry on Sunday issued guidelines for domestic travel, advising passengers to download the Aarogya Setu application on their mobile devices and asking states to ensure thermal screening at the departure point of airports, railway stations and bus terminals. Asymptomatic passengers should be permitted to travel after being asked to self-monitor for 14 days, the ministry said. Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with tickets to travellers by agencies concerned, said the ministry's guidelines for domestic travel (air/train/inter-state bus travel). All passengers shall be advised to download the Arogya Setu application on their mobile devices, it said. With inputs from PTI Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2020) - Bluma Wellness Inc. (TSXV: GSX.H) ("Bluma" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its press release of April 15, 2020, and in connection with the proposed reverse takeover transaction (the "RTO") with CannCure Investments Inc. ("CannCure"), the Company filed articles of continuance (the "Continuance") to continue the Company out of the federal jurisdiction and into the provincial jurisdiction of British Columbia. The Continuance became effective at the close of business on May 22, 2020. RTO Update On May 22, 2020, CannCure shareholders held a special meeting where they approved the amalgamation of CannCure with a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company to effect the RTO. Approval of CannCure shareholders was a condition to the closing of the RTO. The Company also announces that CannCure and ECD, Inc., operating as "Northern Emeralds" have mutually terminated the proposed acquisition of Northern Emeralds, after the parties failed to come to an agreement on a definitive purchase agreement for the proposed transaction. If and upon the completion of the RTO, Bluma intends to remain focused on building, scaling, and operating in the State of Florida and will continue to examine and evaluate strategic expansion opportunities. Further updates on the progress of the RTO will be provided in subsequent news releases of the Company. Closing of the RTO remains subject to a number of conditions including the receipt of all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange for the listing of the Company's common shares and approval of the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use. There can be no assurances that the RTO will be completed as proposed or at all. For additional information on Bluma Wellness Inc. For more information, please contact Bluma at mgalloro@aloefinance.com. Story continues On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Bluma Wellness Inc. Michael Galloro Director Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws including statements regarding the RTO, expectations on whether the RTO will be consummated and Bluma's strategic plans. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative if these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking information is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. While Bluma considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to management, there is no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond the respective companies' control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this press release. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the receipt of all required corporate, shareholder, stock exchange and applicable government regulatory approvals; any unexpected interruptions to the business of CannCure or the Company due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the inherent risks in investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under US federal laws; changes in laws; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; inconsistent public opinion and perception regarding the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry; and regulatory or political change. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and Bluma does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/56499 States are spending billions of dollars stocking up on medical supplies such as masks and breathing machines during the coronavirus pandemic. But more than two months into the buying binge, many aren't sharing details about how much they're spending, what they're getting for their money or which companies they're paying. An Associated Press survey of all 50 states found a hodgepodge of public information about the purchase of masks, gloves, gowns and other hard-to-get equipment for medical and emergency workers. Illinois has one of the most detailed tracking websites, showing the date, vendor, purpose, quantity and price of each purchase. In most states, it's not that easy. Some provided similar information only after the AP pointed to laws requiring the release of government documents. The public can see only a piece of the procurement puzzle in many states maybe an estimate of the total spent on supplies, but not the names of the providers or the price of each item, which could show whether the state got a good deal or was ripped off. Those details are important because many states set aside purchasing safeguards amid a scramble for supplies among health care providers, states, the US government and other countries. Instead of seeking competitive bids and vetting them for months, states have closed emergency deals in days with businesses claiming to have access to supplies. In some cases, states have prepaid to ensure orders aren't diverted elsewhere. Some states say technological barriers prevent them from posting more information. Others provided no explanation for why they aren't doing so. Transparency advocates say they're troubled by the difficulty in getting details about government spending, especially during a crisis that's shaken the economy and sickened about 1.6 million in the US. "There's no reason that this information should be hard to come by, and there's no reason that the states should be keeping it under wraps. That just makes people suspicious, said Lisa Rosenberg, executive director of Open the Government, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for government transparency. After an AP request in late April and early May, 44 states provided figures showing they had ordered or spent more than USD 6 billion collectively on protective equipment and ventilators. The actual costs likely are higher, because some numbers were several weeks old and some reported only what they had spent so far, not what was in orders still to be delivered. The AP hasn't received figures from Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey and Texas. Some provided no specific timeline for releasing the information. States should prioritise requests for public records that relate to the coronavirus, said Anna Diakun, an attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. As this crisis is unfolding, the value of that information is less after the government response has concluded, Diakun said. There is still time to make course corrections, but only if the public knows they need to be taken. Several states have made changes already. Missouri canceled orders worth USD 34 million for over 9 million masks made in China after tests showed they didn't fit properly. A Chinese company refunded California USD 247 million after missing a deadline for the U.S. to certify its N95 masks were safe and effective. The AP's survey shows other states have yet to get their supplies. North Carolina placed orders for USD 253 million in protective equipment but had received just USD 21 million of it as of early May. Emergency managers say they're starting to cancel orders that probably won't be delivered. Colorado said it ordered over USD 58 million in protective equipment but has paid just USD 44,000 so far because it hasn't received most of the supplies. The state has declined to identify its vendors in case they fall victim to fraud or customs delays and can't deliver the goods, the health department said. By contrast, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has created a website tracking coronavirus-related spending. It shows what was purchased, from what business, on what date, in what amount and at what cost. Transparency, to me, is like a pathway to rebuilding trust in government, Mendoza said. The website, for example, shows that the state paid nearly USD 11.8 million to Steven MacGeachy on May 6 for 2.4 million N95 masks. MacGeachy, who does business as The Rare Group LLC in suburban Chicago, declined to tell the AP where he got the masks. He said he specializes in accessing global government institutions and wealthy people. I got involved in this particular instance in an effort to make sure that the state of which I live in was able to procure good product at fair pricing, MacGeachy said. State purchasing records show MacGeachy and numerous other businesses required full prepayment. Normally, we wouldn't be able to do that, nor would we ever even entertain the thought, Mendoza said. But we kind of had a gun to our head we didn't have the leverage to negotiate the best deals." Though not posted online, officials in Georgia, Iowa, Kansas and Louisiana provided the AP with detailed lists showing how much they paid each vendor and how many supplies they got. Other states are posting only certain information. Minnesota publishes a biweekly online COVID-19 report detailing the prices and quantities purchased, but not the vendors. Washington state posts a list of vendors it uses to buy protective equipment, but not the amounts paid or ordered from each. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - The novel coronavirus disease continues to create negative impact on public health - It has infected more than 5 million people in the world and has claimed 346 thousand lives - However, a research in Singapore showed one the greatest developments about the disease - Infected patients no longer pose a risk of spreading the dreadful virus after 11 days PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed A recent study in Singapore showed one of the greatest developments concerning the novel coronavirus disease. KAMI learned that based on the said research, people who tested positive for the virus are no longer infectious after 11 days of getting sick. They can already be discharged from the hospital after almost 2 weeks since they do not pose a risk of spreading COVID-19 anymore, the study added. Inquirer.net also shared the claim of Singapores infectious diseases experts that the discharge criteria for COVID-19 patients can already be revised. However, the countrys Ministry of Health (MOH) clarified that it does not want to immediately change the discharge criteria. It stated that an evaluation will be conducted first, taking into account all the evidence presented by the said research. The Ministry of Health will closely study the position statement and evaluate how we can incorporate the latest evidence on the period of infectivity for persons with Covid-19 into our patient clinical management plan, the MOH quipped. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Express.co.uk reiterated in its recent article that patients with weakened immune systems are exempted from getting discharged after 11 days. It stated for example COVID-19 patients who have cancer and are receiving chemotherapy. The virus in them may remain viable for a longer period. In a previous article by , skin doctors remind the public to consult experts if they have the so-called COVID toes. COVID-19 is one of the most dangerous diseases in history. It has infected more than 5 million people and it already claimed 346 thousand lives. PAY ATTENTION: Shop with KAMI! The best offers and discounts on the market, product reviews and feedback Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts! Source: KAMI.com.gh Accra, 25th May 2020 Telecom operator AirtelTigo and BIMA, a leading provider of mobile delivered health and insurance services have reached a proud milestone of paying 50,000 claims worth GHS22 million to insured families in the country since the launch of AirtelTigo Insurance. Under this programme, AirtelTigo and BIMA offer AirtelTigo customers with simple and affordable insurance policies underwritten by Allianz Life Ghana and Prudential Life Ghana. For premium payments as little as GHS2 a month, customers of AirtelTigo and their insured relative can claim GHS30 per night at the hospital up to GHS900 a year, or receive up to GHS3,000 life cover. With over two million (and growing) Ghanaians covered under the insurance, the accessibility and affordability of AirtelTigo Insurance products has played a key role in helping more unbanked and uninsured get better financial protection. This reaffirms the partnerships commitment to improving the consumers financial security. Commenting on the milestone, BIMA Ghanas Country Manager Damien Gueroult, said: We are proud of this milestone because the magnitude of the number demonstrates our commitment to helping families in challenging times. It also rewards our efforts in making the claims process quicker and simpler through the use of WhatsApp to receive documents and mobile money to send pay-outs. AirtelTigo is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of the consumer. By making insurance accessible through the ubiquitous mobile phone, the hassles involved in paperwork and claims have been reduced or eliminated. The landmark number of 50,000 paid claims has been achieved by the companys customer first obsession and its quest to make the customers life simple said the Chief Executive Officer of AirtelTigo, Murthy Chaganti. For his part, the Deputy Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission, Kofi Andoh, congratulated AirtelTigo, BIMA, Prudential Life and Allianz Life on their work in making insurance more accessible to Ghanaians. Insurance penetration in Africa is relatively low, but it is encouraging to see that Ghana has made considerable progress over the last few years. In difficult times, such as the current pandemic, the width of coverage that AirtelTigo Insurance has reached will make a difference in building financial resilience for Ghanaian families, especially those that were traditionally underserved by conventional insurance. About AirtelTigo: AirtelTigo is a dynamic and innovative brand providing a wide range of telecommunications services including mobile voice, data, mobile financial services and business connectivity solutions. With the credo of customer first, AirtelTigo constantly innovates to make life simple for its customers. AirtelTigo was launched in November 2017, from a merger between erstwhile Airtel and Tigo. www.airteltigo.com.gh About BIMA: BIMA uses mobile technology to deliver affordable insurance and telemedicine services to underserved consumers in emerging markets and families who cannot access these vital products through traditional channels. BIMAs technology platforms create a paperless experience and enable scale, while the agent force distributes services and provides customer education. This tech-enabled approach is the key to BIMAs growth, reaching 35 million subscribers in 9 markets across Africa and Asia. BIMA Ghana launched its operations in 2010 with the mobile operator Tigo (now AirtelTigo). Through this partnership, BIMA provides over 2.1 million Ghanaians with insurance. In 2014, BIMA also launched its own-branded insurance products to widen access to all Ghanaian families. BIMA offers life, hospital, and accident insurance policies underwritten by Prudential Life and Allianz Life, as well as the BIMA Doctor telemedicine service. For more information please visit on BIMA Ghana visit www.Bimaghana.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 13:52:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government spent about 615.6 billion yuan (86 billion U.S. dollars) on improving school infrastructure and facilities in less developed regions in the five years starting from 2014, with 169.9 billion yuan allocated from the central budget, Monday's China Education Daily reported. Students' study and living conditions have improved in recent years after central government agencies, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, launched programs to improve the basic conditions in compulsory education schools in poor areas amid efforts to balance the distribution of education resources. Since 2014, 224 million square meters of school buildings, 222 million square meters of outdoor playgrounds, over 29 million square meters of student dormitories, 13.16 million square meters of student cafeterias and 6.77 million square meters of toilets have been built, renovated or expanded, figures from the report show. In addition, 98.6 percent of the country's primary and secondary schools have gotten access to the internet, and more than 90 percent of them have multimedia classrooms. There are 14.03 computers per 100 students nationwide, up 51.7 percent from the figure at the end of 2013. China requires children to receive nine-year compulsory education, which covers primary school and junior middle school, usually from the age of six. Enditem Countries all over the world have adopted measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. However, some surprising daily activities have been advised to help combat the spread of Covid-19. Read More 1. Brushing your teeth A dental professor has urged people to brush their teeth before leaving the house in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Martin Addy, emeritus professor of dentistry at the University of Bristol in the UK, said toothpaste can reduce the chances of catching or spreading the disease. However, he warned the antimicrobial effect of toothpaste only lasts three to five hours. He recommended the oral hygiene practice of brushing twice a day for two minutes should be reinforced. Mr Addy said many of those who are not doing this are some of the most vulnerable to Covid-19, such as elderly people in nursing homes who rely on carers to brush their teeth. 2. Shaving While the effectiveness of men shaving off their beards has been debated, many health workers have reached for the razor. NHS guidelines state that beards interfere with the effectiveness of PPE masks. They can "prevent the mask from being able to seal to the face". Many doctors and nurses uploaded pictures to social media of their freshly smooth jawlines. 3. Flushing with lid down A research paper published in the 'Journal of Gastroenterology' found the coronavirus is detectable in faecal samples. Of the 73 patients, 39 tested positive for faecal SARS-CoV-2. The stools of 17 patients remained positive even after swabs from the throat or noses tested negative. It's highly unlikely someone would catch coronavirus directly from another person's stools, but the scientists said extra precautions can be taken. Qingyan Chen, an engineer at Purdue University, USA, told Forbes there's "one very easy way to help prevent the spread of coronavirus" - to close the lid of the toilet before flushing. 4. Cleaning your phone During the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to clean commonly touched surfaces regularly. One of the most used devices is a mobile phone. Phones, along with keyboards and door handles are a potentially dangerous source of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. Disinfecting these items daily could help to slow or prevent the spread of infection. People take their phones out to eat, on public transport, and even while in the bathroom. As a result, mobile phones carry more than 17,000 bacterial gene copies each, according to a 2017 study by researchers at the Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, the University of Tartu in Estonia. The report concluded that this "may play a role in the spread of infectious agents". 5. Stop biting your nails Nervous habits like biting your nails are hard to overcome. But this could be putting your health at risk. Putting your fingers on your mouth or making contact with your face is against all the infection control advice. An allergy and infectious disease specialist with New York University's Langone Medical Centre, Purvi Parikh, said the easiest way to catch any infection is by nail-biting. Ms Parikh says it is best to keep nails short as they can collect a lot of 'bacteria, viruses, dirt and debris' which could be transferred into your body. A Delhi-bound Indigo Airlines with 116 passengers was the first flight to be operated from the airport here on Monday when the country resumed domestic air services, officials said. It left for the national capital at 6.40 am while a flight from Delhi operated by the same carrier was the first incoming one, albeit with a far lesser number of passengers, at 27. A total of 16 flights were scheduled to arrive in the city through the day, according to the Centre's decision as Tamil Nadu government had demanded for capping such services to 25 per day, while 19 outbound services were scheduled from the city, they said. The cities covered by arrival and departure flights include Delhi, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Port Blair. All health protocols, including thermal screening of the passengers, were being followed by officials for both the arriving as well as departing air passengers. Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had last week announced resumption of domestic flight services from Monday onwards in a calibrated manner. On Sunday, he had said the Chennai airport will have a maximum of 25 arrivals but that there was no cap on departing flights. For other airports in Tamil Nadu flights will operate as in other parts of the country, he had said. On Sunday night, while apprising the Centre that incoming domestic flights to this city can be restricted to 25 per day, the Tamil Nadu government had notified guidelines, which includes 14 days home quarantine and an e-pass for entry. "Flights to Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli (the three other airports in the state) can be operated," Chief Secretary K Shanmugam had told the Centre in a letter. Due to high number of virus cases, flights from Gujarat and Maharashtra may be kept at the barest minimum level and "there is no issue for operating any number of outgoing flights from Tamil Nadu," Shanmugam had said. The Standard Operating Procedure (SoP), which has separate norms for incoming and outgoing passengers and procedures to be followed at the airport, said asymptomatic people shall undergo home quarantine for 14 days. It said if air journey was undertaken without meeting the eligibility criteria they would be liable for penal action. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Everyone has it tough during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are all in the same boat this has been a common refrain throughout the crisis. It is true that we are all on board the Titanic together. However, some are riding first class, some are riding third class, and others are in the galley below rowing Oh, and there are not enough lifeboats to go round. In reality, the super-rich are not only shielded from this crisis by their wealth, which enables them to shelter from the virus on superyachts or escape it on private jets, some are even enjoying an unprecedented bounty during these difficult times. This is especially the case in the United States. During the coronavirus crisis, US billionaires accrued a huge windfall of more than $434bn in the two months between mid-March and mid-May, according to a new report by the progressive Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies and Americans for Tax Fairness. This comes at a time when at least 40 million Americans are out of work, struggling to get by, and 265 million people around the world are at risk of dying of hunger. While front-line workers risk their health and lives to keep society functioning and care for the sick, the biggest financial winner by far is the worlds richest man, Jeff Bezos, who has seen his fortune expand by nearly $35bn thanks to the surge in the value of his company Amazon, as people trapped in lockdown have turned to online shopping. Whenever anyone, including myself, criticises the obscene wealth of billionaires, there are those who rush in to defend them, arguing that critics are just envious and that billionaires deserve this success and earned their vast fortunes. But is this actually the case? Like a superhero origin myth, there is a typical narrative that surrounds billionaires, especially those in the tech industry. It goes something like this: X, working in their bedroom/garage/dorm, came up with a brilliant idea, against the odds, brought it to market and is now enjoying the fruits of their brilliance. It is true that quite a few billionaires started off with nothing (or at least with a far more modest fortune), and many did exhibit inspiring brilliance in their early careers. However, is the acumen of these entrepreneurs really worth so much more than everyone elses labour combined? Unimaginably, it would take an American household earning the mean $60,000 a year nearly 2.5 million years to accumulate the estimated $147bn which Jeff Bezos is estimated to be worth if they did not spend a penny. A low-paid Amazon worker on the shopfloor would take more than 4 million years of saving their entire income to assemble their bosss fortune. And these are workers in the worlds richest country. Now try to imagine how long it would take a poor worker in South Asia or sub-Saharan Africa to make this kind of money. It goes without saying that nobodys ideas or work ethic or vision are worth thousands or even millions of years of everyone elses labour. This notion is particularly insulting in this time of crisis, when the people society depends on to function are not tycoons, top CEOs or hedge fund managers but nurses, doctors, emergency workers, care-givers, supermarket staff, delivery people and utility workers. Moreover, there is almost inevitably an ugly and underexposed underbelly which casts serious doubt on the idea that billionaires earned their unfathomable fortunes. While there are certainly good billionaires and bad billionaires, there are no billionaires, as far as I can ascertain, who made their billions fair and square, without employing ethically dubious practices. These practices may include underpaying or overworking staff, monopolising the productivity gains delivered by their workers, exporting jobs, stifling competition, and even exercising monopolies or near-monopolies. One area where the billionaire class and large corporations have been laughing all the way to the bank, and where the rest of society has been crying in misery, is taxation. While ordinary wage earners in advanced economies, especially those with a robust social safety net, disproportionately bear the burden of taxation, corporate tax rates and taxes on high incomes and capital have hit historic lows, with a de facto regressive tax system increasingly becoming the new normal. The results of this skewed, unjust system are clear to see. The fattest cats in America, for example, saw their wealth bloat by over 1,100 percent between 1990 and 2018, according to the Institute for Policy Studies report, yet their proportional tax obligations decreased a spectacular 79 percent over the same timescale. Over and above this, the unprecedented mobility of capital and wealthy individuals, facilitated by decades of deregulation and the absence of a global tax regimen or coordination of tax policies, has enabled many corporations and billionaires to transfer their profits to tax paradises, allowing them to dodge their tax burdens and, with them, their social responsibilities. This has also forced a race to the bottom between countries fearful of losing out to tax havens. Even though corporate tax rates are at an all-time low, the IMF estimates that governments are deprived of up to $600bn a year in corporate taxes due to the kind of clever bookkeeping that has been made possible through decades of financial deregulation and walks the fine line between legal tax avoidance and illegal tax evasion. Economists calculate that 40 percent of the profits of multinationals are artificially transferred to tax havens from higher-tax countries, especially in Europe. To add insult to injury, not only has deregulation devastated the welfare state, but also among the biggest recipients of state welfare are, paradoxically, the richest, who benefit the most from the rescue packages designed to pull us out of crises, especially in the US. This occurred during the Great Recession following the financial meltdown of 2008-2009 and is happening again during the current coronavirus crisis. More enlightened billionaires have arrived at the realisation that such vast concentrations of wealth are not only bad news for society; they are bad for the wealthy. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are both advocates of higher taxes on the rich, but the rates they consider fair are nowhere near enough to bridge the inequality chasm that has emerged, rebuild our tattered social safety nets, lift the worlds poorest out of poverty and heal the environmental devastation caused by such extremes of wealth. Another solution is for billionaires to voluntarily divest. Buffet and Gates have not only pledged to give away their money, they have established the so-called Giving Pledge, where they encourage other tycoons to also part with their fortunes. However, the response to the initiative among the mega-rich, or what I like to think of as wealth extremists, has been lacklustre at best, representing a tiny drop in the ocean compared with the total wealth billionaires control. Meanwhile, those who have signed up to the pledge are generally seeing their fortunes grow far faster than they are giving them away. Besides, philanthropy is no substitute for taxation and social justice. It puts what should be a collective decision-making process on societal priorities in the hands of unelected individuals, who may or may not be concerned about the greater good. Moreover, this gigantic concentration of wealth gives billionaires the kind of political clout that makes a mockery of the one person, one vote foundation of democracy. We are used to the business class representing a powerful oligarchy in authoritarian and autocratic regimes, such as in Russia or the Arab world. In democracies, the massive lobbying power, both direct and indirect, of the billionaires and corporations erodes democratic governance and undermines the will of the electorate. What we need are not half-baked efforts to make being a billionaire undesirable we must make becoming a billionaire impossible. This requires a collective, global effort to introduce equanomics. This can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms, from a coordinated taxation system so progressive that there remains no incentive or possibility to build up such vast fortunes, to enacting an actual cap on wealth and incomes. This will both narrow inequalities and enable societies around the world to repair and expand their social safety nets, as well as to better reward those working in neglected vital sectors. Moreover, it will enhance the incentive for constructive, socially beneficial innovation because people will feel that the fruits of their labour are not just going to make fat cats fatter. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Microsoft is to remove the Irish language as a choice across some of its products, arguing that English is better for consistency. The software giant had offered the national language as an option in its much-used Outlook for iPhones and iPads. But in a blow to native speakers, the company now says that Irish is facing the axe for those who use its popular email service on iOS. Several tech giants offer parts of their services in Irish, including Google and Apple. Irish is not the only language to be ditched by Microsoft as part of the move. It is also getting rid of support for Urdu, Filipino, Afrikaans and others. Microsoft says that it is being done to maintain consistency across the Microsoft 365 apps for iOS. It comes just after Microsoft renamed some of its services, including Office 365 which is to be known as Microsoft 365. Instagram model Jade Tuncdoruk has revealed the coronavirus pandemic has impacted her business as an influencer - but she still refuses to take a pay cut. The 25-year-old, who makes a living spruiking products to her 442,000 followers, says she has been dropped by brands she's worked with for years. 'I've collaborated / worked with a few brands over time (a long time) who as of late have asked me to work for much, much less... due to budget cuts which I understand,' she wrote on Instagram. Struggle: Instagram star Jade Tuncdoruk (pictured) has revealed that the global pandemic has affected her business as an influencer. The model has been dropped by brands she's worked with for years after refusing to lower her fees She added: 'However when I've said no which is in my opinion completely warranted [they] have completely written off the relationship. 'These are brands I've travelled with and promoted for years who just throw the relationship away because I've refused to work for free. 'I'm very surprised that these organisations are willing to throw relationships down the drain after such a long time'. Woes: 'These are brands I've travelled with and promoted for years who just throw the relationship away because I've refused to work for free,' she wrote on Instagram Lucrative: According to The Daily Telegraph, the Sydney-based fashion and travel blogger earns between $800 and $3,000 per sponsored post According to The Daily Telegraph, the Sydney-based fashion and travel blogger earns between $800 and $3,000 per sponsored post. She was the first Australian influencer to win E! People's Choice Award last year. It comes as many Instagram models struggle to make a living during the coronavirus recession. Winner: Jade was the first Australian influencer to win E! People's Choice Award last year Loved up: In December, she celebrated her second anniversary with her boyfriend, Lachie Brycki, whom she has dated since 2017 Lifestyle and beauty brands are particularly vulnerable to economic downturns, which means they are spending less money on influencer marketing. It comes after Jade celebrated her second anniversary with her boyfriend, Lachie Brycki, in December last year. The pair began dating in December 2017, after Lachie first met Jade while working as a bouncer at a nightclub. Sky News The eruption of a Tonga volcano sent "violent" waves across the Pacific and caused a boat loading oil about 6,600 miles away to topple, spilling thousands of barrels into Peruvian waters. Dozens of fishermen have protested outside Peru's main oil refinery, La Pampilla, which processes around 117,000 barrels a day and is managed by Spanish company Repsol. An Italian-flagged ship was loading the oil into La Pampilla when strong waves moved the boat and caused it to spill its cargo into the ocean. You are here: China A man was sentenced to one year in prison on Monday for taking part in unlawful assembly and possession of petrol bombs in Hong Kong's social unrest in 2019. The sentence was passed at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The 20-year-old man participated in an unlawful assembly in October 2019 in Mong Kok area of Kowloon with some radicals, and was found in possession of hammers and petrol bombs by the police. He earlier pleaded guilty to three accounts of offenses including taking part in unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapon in public place, and possessing things with intent to destroy or damage property. We arent surprised by what happened this weekend, but although it is understandable and human after two months to get out of home, we must not forget that we are still inside the covid [pandemic], and thus those who feed the nightlife are betraying the sacrifices made by millions of Italians, Boccia said. 9 found dead in well in Telangana were murdered by a man to cover up another killing India pti-PTI Warangal (Telangana), May 25: Claiming to have cracked the sensational death of nine people whose bodies were found in a well near here last week, police on Monday said it was a cold-blooded murder allegedly carried out by a 24-year old man to cover up the recent killing of a woman by him. The man, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, was arrested on Monday following investigations by six special teams and he confessed to the crime, police claimed, three days after bodies of the nine, including six members of a family, were fished out from the well at Gorrekunta village. The murders were carried out to cover up the killing of a woman, related to the family, by the accused earlier, Warangal Police Commissioner V Ravinder told reporters here. Stimulus package pure 'cheating'; Centre treating states like 'beggars': Telangana CM "To cover up one murder, he committed nine murders," the official said adding police would ensure that he got maximum punishment. Yadav, a native of Bihar and been here for the last six years, had mixed sleeping pills in the food taken by the nine, and after they fell unconscious dragged each of them and threw them into the well, located in the premises of a gunny bag manufacturing unit, police said. Covid-19: Himachal Pradesh extends lockdown till June 30th | Oneindia News Bodies of the head of the family, 48-year old Maqsood from West Bengal who had migrated here over 20 years ago, his wife, daughter and three-year old grandson, were retrived from the well on Thursday. A day later, the bodies of Maqsood's two sons, a friend and two other men, employed in the unit, were fished out from the well, sending shock waves in the area. Initially, mystery shrouded the deaths as police did not find any external injuries on the bodies but later forensic experts said there were some scratch marks and ruled out suicide angle. Investigations and CCTV footage led police to Yadav who told them that he murdered the nine as Maqsood's wife threatened to complain to police about her missing niece, whom he had killed on March 6 this year. He had killed the woman, with whom he had been living along with her three children for the last four years, after she came to know about him getting closer to her daughter, police said. Under the pretext of visiting her family in West Bengal for marriage talks, he took her in a train, gave her butter milk mixed with sleeping pills, strangulated and threw her out of the train. Later, he had returned here and told the women's children that she had gone to her relative's house in West Bengal. However, Maqsood's wife did not believe it and threatened to complain to police. Fearing that he might be caught, he planned to eliminate the couple. After coming to know that May 20 was the birthday of one of the sons of Maqsood, he reached their place on that day and chatted with them for a long time, police said. Then, he mixed sleeping pills in the food which was later eaten by the family members and the three others. When all were fast asleep, he dragged them one by one to the well located nearby and threwthem into it between 12.30 AM and 5 AM. After confirming that all of them drowned, he took their cell phones and left for his home. Egypts health ministry says it is working hard to protect health workers on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic, adding it has designated a special 20-bed floor for infected staff in every quarantine hospital since the virus emerged in the country in February. The ministry said in a statement Monday that the virus has infected 291 health workers, including 69 physicians, and killed 11 -- the first time it has provided a tally of cases among medical staff. The figure is lower than the count provided by the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, which said early on Monday that over 350 doctors have contracted the virus and 19 have died. There have been repeated calls on the ministry to allocate special hospitals for infected healthcare workers amid a surge in cases and reports of delayed response from authorities or lack of beds at isolation hospitals. The ministrys statement quoted Health Minister Hala Zayed as saying that health authorities were working hard to protect medical staff facing the coronavirus and has adopted all necessary precautions to do so, noting that all staff members undergo tests before entering and leaving hospitals. "An immediate test is conducted for anyone showing symptoms while on duty. The ministry has intensified the [coronavirus] periodical tests carried out for medical staff, with 9,578 rapid tests and 8,913 PCR tests conducted so far," she said. Infection control teams at hospitals review protective equipment stock daily and ensure medical teams comply with infection control protocols to reduce infections among medics, she added. The ministrys statement came one day after three doctors were confirmed to have died of the virus. The deaths have sparked outcry online, with doctors and families of the victims accusing the ministry of medical negligence. Many hospital staff members have taken to social media to mourn the death of the three doctors. One of the doctors was thirty-two-year-old obstetrician Waleed Yahia, who worked at Cairo's Al-Munirah Hospital and whose family says had not received the necessary healthcare before his death. "Waleed's state was deteriorating every secondeach second couldve made a difference if he had received the healthcare he deserved," Yahias brother posted on Facebook late on Sunday. The health minister has ordered an urgent investigation into the physician's death and vowed to take necessary legal measures in case of negligence. Meanwhile, the Egyptian medical syndicate held the ministry "fully responsible" for the rise in coronavirus infections and deaths among medical staff which it said is the result of the ministrys inaction and negligence to protect them. The syndicate said in a statement early on Monday that the surge in cases is the result of the ministrys refusal to conduct early tests to detect infections among hospital staff or for workers who came in contact with positive cases, and its failure to swiftly offer places for treating infected workers. It urged all doctors to insist on their right to ensure that all protective measures are implemented before they start their work, including access to personal protective gear, receiving the necessary training to deal with coronavirus cases in triage or isolation hospitals, undergoing tests if they show symptoms or have come into contact with positive cases without taking the necessary protective measures, and access to necessary supplies and medicines. The syndicate reiterated its demand for designating special isolation hospitals for medics infected with the highly contagious virus. In a separate statement earlier on Monday, the health ministry said it has ordered health authorities to increase medical supplies at all hospitals to ensure the stock is sufficient to last for the long term. The ministry said 320 general hospitals nationwide have started to offer testing to people showing symptoms of the virus, in a bid to make it easier for patients to receive healthcare services and take some burden off fever and chest hospitals, which have been receiving coronavirus patients since the outbreak hit the country in mid-February. Search Keywords: Short link: Despite being cleared of all allegations of impropriety and fraud by the ethics committee of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the banks president, Akinwumi Adesina, still has another big hurdle to cross in his bid for re-election into office. The United States government has demanded that a fresh and in-depth investigation be conducted into the allegations against Mr Adesina using an independent investigator. On May 5, the ethics committee of the continental bank, headed by Takuji Yano, said in its report that Mr Adesina was not guilty on all counts. Mr Yano is a Japanese executive director charged with the responsibility of investigating allegations by some concerned employees against the official. The committee described the allegations that he (Mr Adesina) violated the code of conduct of the institution as spurious and unfounded. Allegations In its petition, the concerned staff accused Mr Adesina of 20 breaches of the banks code of conduct, including unethical conduct, private gain, an impediment to efficiency, preferential treatment, and involvement in political activities. The group, which noted their allegations were in line with AfDBs whistle-blowing policy, said these activities adversely affected the confidence and integrity of the bank. Jeune Afrique, which said in a report that it saw the boards letter that exonerated Mr Adesina, quoted the chair of the board of governors, Niale Kaba, as saying the committee proposed to adopt the conclusions of the investigation after due consultations. U.S. kicks Regardless, the United States government expressed deep reservations about the integrity of the committees process and called for a fresh in-depth investigation of the allegations. U.S Govt and AfDB The U.S. became a member of the African Development Fund in 1976 and of the African Development Bank in 1983. Also, its bilateral cooperation with the bank has been strengthened through cooperation agreements. First, in 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with USAID to launch a five-year partnership in support of African small and medium-sized enterprises by accelerating investment. It also provides co-financing arrangements for a shared contribution of 40% for the Bank, 10% for USAID and 50% for other partnering banks. Another MoU was concluded in May 2016 with the Millennium Challenge Corporation that provides for sharing information and data particularly in the power sector, with focus on mobilizing private investment. In 2012, USAID contributed to the Migration and Development Initiative, a Multi-Donor Trust Fund aimed at improving knowledge on migrant remittances in Africa and providing support to reforms of the regulatory frameworks required to improve transfer conditions, among other mandates. In a letter dated May 22, 2020 to Ms Kaba, the U.S. government, through the Secretary, Department of Treasury in Washington, D.C., faulted the decision of the committee to totally exonerate Mr Adesina of all allegations, saying it was not yet time to make such a declaration. Excerpts of the letter signed by Steven Mnuchin is reproduced below: We have deep reservations about the integrity of the Committees process. Instead, we urge you to initiate an in-depth investigation of the allegations using the services of an independent outside investigator of high professional standing. We emphasise that undertaking an independent evaluation of facts, at any stage, is not at odds with a presumption of innocence. The allegations set out in the whistleblowers complaints submitted on January 19, 2020 raised significant issues that all relevant governing bodies of the Bank must handle with the utmost care, using all tools available to them. Had the Ethics Committee undertaken a proper preliminary examination that was in line with the Board of Governors Resolution B/BG/2008/11, standard practices at other international financial institutions, and the Banks own rules and procedures, it would have reviewed available facts that could be gathered by external counsel and found in internal Bank records. We fear that wholesale dismissal of all allegations without appropriate investigation will tarnish the reputation of this institution as one that does not uphold high standards of ethics and governance. Advertisements This is a serious risk when we need strong confidence in the AfDB to play an influential role in the current global economic and health crisis, and when many shareholders are seeking legislative support for payments under the recently-concluded General Capital Increase. Therefore, the United States cannot support dismissing the allegations at this stage. We believe the Board of Governors must demonstrate that this institution takes governance, anti-corruption, and transparency seriously. We thus request that you take steps to initiate an impartial, independent investigation into these allegations. Whatever the outcome, the AfDB will emerge stronger for having taken seriously its obligations to uphold good governance. The United States sincerely wishes the AfDB to remain a high-quality institution with the capability to address the needs of the African continent, particularly at this critical time. Considering the scope, seriousness, and detail of these allegations against the sole candidate for Bank leadership over the next five years, we believe that further inquiry is necessary to ensure the AfDBs President has broad support, confidence, and a clear mandate from shareholders. President Muhammadu Buhari has urged farmers to return to their farms in order to provide food for Nigerians, as there is no money for i... President Muhammadu Buhari has urged farmers to return to their farms in order to provide food for Nigerians, as there is no money for importation. Buhari, while speaking with State House reporters after Eid prayers on Sunday, also prayed for a favourable raining season. I hope the raining season would be bountiful so that we get a lot of food. I wish the farmers will go to farms and save our lives so that we can produce what we need in sufficient quantity so that we dont have to import food. In any case, we dont have any money to import food. So, we must produce what we are going to eat, he said. The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, used the opportunity to appreciate the efforts of the Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in containing the COVID-19 outbreak. I wish to thank the Federal Ministry of Health and also the NCDC for their efforts in combating the pandemic, she said. The second alleged victim of the 23-year-old University of Connecticut senior has been identified as his friend and police say the killer abducted the man's girlfriend over the weekend, after he brutally murdered a 62-year-old whose home he'd burglarized. Peter Manfredonia allegedly first killed Ted DeMers, then took the life of Nicholas Eisele, 23, who was known to him. He is still on the run and armed an dangerous, according to police, and the suspect's family has urged him to turn himself in and return home. 'Peter, if you are listening, you are loved,' family attorney Michael Dolan said Monday, adding that he had not been in contract with loved ones. Early on Sunday morning, state police were called to a home on Turnpike Drive in Willington, where the homeowner was held against his will just hours before. Nicholas Eisele, 23, has been identified as the second victim of a UConn murder suspect University of Connecticut senior, Peter Manfredonia (left and right), 23, allegedly killed two people and was still on the run Monday, police said Police were led to Eisele after they found out the suspect had driven to Derby on Sunday Eislele (back and third from left) was an associate of the suspect and the victim's girlfriend was abducted. He is pictured with loved ones Manfredonia is alleged to have taken the homeowner's food, three shotguns, a pistol, and his truck. The victim was not injured. State police said Manfredonia drove the stolen truck to Derby, where authorities received a report of a one-vehicle crash near Osbornedale State Park. Officers arrived on the scene and found an abandoned vehicle at around 6:45am on Sunday. It was the same truck that was stolen from the Willington home, police said. Investigators then learned that Manfredonia had an acquaintance who lived in Derby. The acquaintance was 23-year-old Nicholas J. Eisele. When police arrived at Eisele's home, they found him dead. The medical examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine cause of death. Manfredonia is wanted in connection with the death of Ted DeMers, 62, of Willington, who was killed Friday in vicious stabbing attack Manfredonia (pictured) is a 2015 graduate of Newtown High School and a senior at the University of Connecticut majoring in finance and mechanical engineering Authorities released this surveillance image that shows Manfredonia walking along railroad tracks in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, wearing dark shorts and carrying what appears to be a duffel bag Manfredonia is then alleged to have abducted Eisele's girlfriend. He reportedly stole a 2016 black Volkswagen Jetta from their home. Both Manfredonia and Eisele are originally from Newtown, according to The Hartford Courant. Manfredonia fled to Pennsylvania on Sunday hours after killing Eisele, according to state police. The car Manfredonia is suspected of stealing from Eisele was found in New Jersey at the Pennsylvania border on Sunday afternoon, police said. Connecticut State Police on Sunday released a photo of the 2016 black Volkswagen Jetta which bears a Connecticut license plate with the number CT AU78524. Police said that the driver's side of the car has a bumper sticker paying tribute to the 26 victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, which took place in Newtown. Police in New Jersey recovered the car as well as a woman who was abducted from Eisele's home in Derby. She is safe and is being interviewed by authorities. Police have not released the woman's name. Earlier on Monday, the FBI announced that agents would be helping with the manhunt for Manfredonia Manfredonia, a senior at the University of Connecticut, was last seen in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Authorities released a surveillance image of Manfredonia walking along railroad tracks near the Poconos on Sunday afternoon. He appeared to be wearing a white t-shirt with dark shorts while carrying a large duffel bag. Authorities are now searching for Manfredonia in the Poconos area. Earlier on Monday, the FBI announced that agents have joined the investigation. In a tweet, the agency wrote: 'The FBI & our law enforcement partners are working to locate Peter Manfredonia, wanted by @CT_STATE_POLICE, whose last known location was in #EastStroudsburg, Monroe County. Manfredonia is considered armed & dangerous. 'Anyone with info, please call 911 or FBI/215-418-4000 ASAP.' Manfredonia's weekend crime spree began on Friday, when local police were called to a residential area in Willington due to reports of a murder and an assault, according to the Connecticut Post. Police said Manfredonia is suspected of killing 62-year-old Ted DeMers and assaulting another man at around 9am on Friday in Willington. DeMers' wife, Cynthia DeMers, told the Hartford Courant that the two men had been attacked after they found Manfredonia walking along a road and offered him a ride back to his motorcycle. 'It could have been anybody who offered him a ride,' she said. 'It could have been any of my neighbors' husbands. It just happened to be mine.' Manfredonia allegedly cut off DeMers' arm, according to WYOU. DeMers was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The other man suffered severe wounds described as sword or machete wounds, state police said. 'We do know a weapon was used,' Trooper Josue Dorelus told WTNH-TV. 'We believe it to be an edged weapon, however the exact description I would not be able to provide.' Cynthia DeMers (left) said her husband (right) offered Manfredonia a ride after he was seen walking along a road near their home far from where he parked his motorcycle on Friday The search for Manfredonia spans three states and more than 100 miles of territory A GoFundMe account was launched to help the DeMers family in the wake of Ted DeMers' murder Police in Willington, Connecticut, on Friday are seen above gathering evidence near the area where the grisly murder and assault took place Authorities said that a black 2016 Volkswagen Jetta was located in New Jersey near the state border with Pennsylvania. Police also found a woman who had allegedly been abducted by Manfredonia. She is alive, though investigators have not revealed her identity The stolen Volkswagen was recovered at the Travel America truck stop in Knowlton Township, New Jersey, on Sunday. The truck stop is seen in the above undated file photo A GoFundMe page has been started to help the DeMers family. Manfredonia is a 2015 graduate of Newtown High School and a senior at the University of Connecticut majoring in finance and mechanical engineering, the Connecticut Post reported. Police describe him as a 6-foot-3 white man who should be considered armed and dangerous. Manfredonia (pictured) is also wanted in connection with the death of an acquaintance, 23-year-old Nicholas J. Eisele The University of Connecticut on Sunday released a statement confirming that records show Manfredonia is enrolled as a student in the joint school of engineering/school of business program. Manfredonia first enrolled at UConn in the fall of 2015, and is a senior. 'He is not attending summer courses, and had not been living on the UConn campus either at the time of the incident in Willington or during recent semesters,' UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said. Reitz said the university is in contact with authorities to provide assistance that might help the investigation. 'The university expresses its deepest, most heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their families in this horrible, incomprehensible tragedy,' Reitz said. 'They are all in our thoughts.' When asked if the university knew of any problematic behavior by Manfredonia in years past, she said the university couldnt discuss specific individuals and cases. She did say, however, that 'UConn strives to do everything possible to identify and engage with students of concern and to provide them with all the assistance and resources we can both for their own well-being and that of the wider community'. Support for Professor Glenda Gray Statement of Support for Professor Glenda Gray and the Principle of Academic Freedom of Speech. Professor Glenda Gray, Full Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, has pioneered advances in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, which has saved thousands of lives. She is an alumna of Wits Medical School and established the Wits Perinatal HIV Research Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 1996. She has been awareded South Africa's highest honor, the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver); and in 2017 TIME Magazine named Professor Gray among the top 100 most influential people in the world. She is an NRF A-rated scientist, CEO and President of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and involved in HIV vaccine research. Statement of Support for Professor Glenda Gray and the Principle of Academic Freedom of Speech: As scientists, academics and policy experts, we are committed to being part of the complex policy response and debate on dealing with the epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 (the cause of COVID-19) in South Africa. We recognize that it is impossible to have perfected the response to the epidemic, but course correction should be rapid and not defensive. With that in mind, we condemn the specific threat made against Professor Glenda Gray for expressing her opinion in public, which is totally out of step with the public pronouncements made by the President, welcoming criticism. We uphold the right to academic freedom of speech, and call on the South African government to engage openly with alternate views, and for all of us to urgently work towards constructive solutions regarding policy, in the interests of the country" Current signatures (alphabetic order): (note, this list was assembled on Saturday evening, and finalised at 6.45 pm; additional names may be added) The Wits Senate Academic Freedom Committee (SAFC): Associate Professor S Laryea (Chairperson) Professor M Byrne (Senate representative) Professor J Dugard (Senate Representative) Dr B Johnson (Acting Director: Transformation Office) Professor E Sideras-Haddad (Senate Representative) Mr A MyIchreest (Legal Office Representative) Professor R Osman (DVC: Academic and Vice-Principal) Dr T Augustine (Academic Staff Member) Adjunct Professor F Cachalia (Academic Staff Member) Professor Cathi Albertyn, School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Lucy Allais, Professor of Philosophy, University of the Witwatersrand, Henry Alison chair of the History of Philosophy, UCS Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, Director, Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, University of Cape Town Dr Duanne Blaauw, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Keith Breckenridge, WISER, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Catherine Burns, Associate Professor of Medical History; Adler Museum of Medicine; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Nithaya Chetty, Dean, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Usuf Chikte, Emeritus Professor, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University Professor Jason Cohen, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand Dr Francesca Conradie, Clinical HIV Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand Dr Aslam Dasoo, Progressive Health Forum Prof Joel Dave, Head of Division of Endocrinology, University of Cape Town Professor Ames Dhai, Professor of Bioethics, University of Witwatersrand Professor David Everatt, Wits School of Government, University of the Witwatersrand Dr Dean Gopalan, President Critical Care Society of South Africa Professor Adam Habib, Vice Chancellor, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Shireen Hassim, WISER, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Ian Jandrell, Dean, Faculty of Engineering the the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Bavesh Kana, Personal Professor, Wits University Professor Kathy Kahn, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Uma Kollamparambil, Head, School of Economics and Finance, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Naomi Levitt, Emeritus Professor of Endocrinolgy, University of Cape Town Professor Gary Maartens, Head of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town Professor Shabir Madhi, Professor of Vaccinology and Director of the MRC Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand Dr Gloria Maimela, Director: Health Programmes, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand Dr Moeketsi Mathe, private practice, lecturer, University of Witwatersrand Professor Marc Mendelson, Head of Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town Prof James McIntyre, School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Cape Town Professor Shaheen Mehtar, Emeritus Professor, Stellenbosch University Professor Mike Morris, Economics, University of Cape Town Dr Jeremy Nel, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, Head of Medicine, University of Cape Town Dr Regina Osih, Senior Technical Expert, Aurum Institute Prof Peter Raubenheimer Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Dr Haroun Rhemtula, Head of Clinical Unit and Head of Obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, CMJAH and University of the Witwatersrand Professor Guy Richards, Emeritus Professor, University of the Witwatersrand Mr Fana Sibanyoni, Chief Operations Officer, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Mark Sonderup, Division of Hepatology, University of Cape Town Professor Jantjie Taljaard, Head of Divison of Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch Professor Steven Tollman, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand Prof Imraan Valodia, Dean, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Alex Van Den Heever, Chair in the field of Social Security at the Wits School of Governance Professor Martin Veller, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand Professor Francois Venter, Ezintsha, sub-division of Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand Prof Zeblon Vilakazi, DVC Research, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Jimmy Volmink, Dean Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch university Professor Sean Wasserman, Infectious Diseases. Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town Prof Nicola Wearne, Division of Nephrology, University of Cape Town Professor Edward Webster, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand Professor Robin Wood, Director, Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town Dr Adrienne Wulfsohn, Emergency and Disaster Medicine, KZN Correspondence to Professor Francois Venter, fventer@wrhi.ac.za, venter.francois@gmail.com Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov had a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, according to the MFA press service. Elmar Mammadyarov accepted the sincere congratulations of his Turkish colleague on the occasion of May 28 Republic Day of Azerbaijan. The sides also exchanged congratulations and best wishes on the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The ministers also exchanged their views on the successful development of friendship and brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, honorable Minister of State for Education,has said that there are plans to reopen schools soon nationwide, but, it wont happen in two weeks as being speculated in some quarters. The minister, made this clarification on Thursday May 21st during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, following news which made round that the Federal Government would reopen schools in the next two weeks. Nwajiuba said there is no exact date yet for schools to resume, adding that schools will be reopened after they are resourced properly. Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Investment Company's real estate and infrastructure arm has announced the rent deferment plans for ADGM Square. This is part of Mubadalas We Are Dedicated campaign and aims to support ADGM Square commercial tenants currently leasing office spaces in the four towers - Al Khatem, Al Sila, Al Maqam and Al Sarab - located at Al Maryah Island. The campaign launched in April in response to the economic impact brought on by the Covid-19 virus outbreak in the UAE. This initiative is effective from April to the end of June 2020. Tenants will be offered a deferment of rent and service charges for a three-month period, with an option to defer their second quarter or third quarter payments. As an alternative to a deferment of rent and service charges, tenants will also be offered the ability to make their payments on a monthly basis, said the statement from Mubadala. This is in line with its earlier investment of Dh420 million ($114 million) in economic relief for tenants, out of which Dh70 million has been allocated to several relief measures for commercial tenants. This initiative complements the measures launched by Abu Dhabi Global Market, the governing body of Al Maryah Island, to support businesses operating on the island and within the financial free zone. Ali Eid Al Mheiri, Executive Director of Real Estate & Infrastructure at Mubadala, said: "As a responsible global investor, we are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our employees, partners and the communities in which we operate." "We stand side-by-side the UAEs leadership and in solidarity with the international community to support the fight against Covid-19," stated Mheiri. "Our integrated response harnesses the reach of our portfolio both at home and abroad and aims to support businesses, individuals and communities in this global effort. I am confident that by working together we can emerge stronger than ever before," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Were setting milestones for the younger ones in our families, White said. Theyre looking at us. I have to make it be something. I cant just do nothing with it. You have to take it far. Although the four women were spread at three different colleges, they still kept in touch as much as possible. White said she was lucky to have Snow at the same college. There was a lot of crying moments. There was a lot of Im here for you moments, White said. Brock-Murray said that they did their best to branch out at college, but it was always comforting to know they had each others back. Despite not getting a formal graduation ceremony due to COVID-19 restrictions, the women are hoping to celebrate their accomplishments together when its safe to do so. White plans to stay in Atlantic City for about two years to work, refine her business plan and save money, then wants to move to Atlanta to open a pork-free restaurant. Snow is currently working at the Arc of Atlantic County and planning to attend graduate school in 2021. Michael Wing Editor and Writer Follow Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news. Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro meets supporters during a demonstration, in Brasilia, Brazil - JoAdson Alves/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock President Donald Trump on Sunday further limited travel from the world's coronavirus hotspots by denying entry to foreigners coming from Brazil, which is second to the US in the number of confirmed cases. Mr Trump had already banned certain travellers from China, Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Iran. He has not moved to ban travel from Russia, which has the world's third-highest caseload. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany cast the step announced on Sunday as another "decisive action to protect our country" by Mr Trump, whose management of the crisis has come under sharp scrutiny. The US leads the world with more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases and a death toll that is expected to surpass 100,000 later this week, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro meets supporters during a demonstration, in Brasilia, Brazil - oAdson Alves/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Brazil, now Latin America's hardest-hit country, is second, with more than 347,000 cases and more than 22,000 deaths. Third on the list is Russia, with more than 344,000 reported cases and more than 3,500 deaths. On Sunday, Mr Bolsonaro hailed supporters rallying in the country's capital to back his administration as an unfolding political scandal adds to the public health crisis driven by the outbreak. Surrounded by security guards wearing masks, but not wearing one himself, Mr Bolsonaro was shown in a live streaming video on his Facebook page greeting protesters waving Brazilian flags and calling him a "Legend". Crowds gather in the US to celebrate Memorial Day Visitors crowd the beach during the Memorial Day holiday weekend as Southern California sees a relaxing of restrictions - EUGENE GARCIA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer in the US meant big crowds at beaches and warnings from authorities on Sunday about people disregarding the social-distancing rule. Sheriff's deputies and beach patrols tried to make sure people kept their distance from others as they soaked up the rays on the sand and at parks and other recreation sites around the country. Story continues In the Tampa area along Florida's Gulf Coast, the crowds were so big that authorities took the extraordinary step of closing parking lots because they were full. On the Sunday talk shows, Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said she was "very concerned" about scenes of people crowding together over the weekend. "We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you can't social distance and you're outside, you must wear a mask," she said on ABC's This Week. In Missouri, people packed bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks, a vacation spot popular with Chicagoans, over the weekend. One video showed a crammed pool where vacationers lounged close together without masks, St. Louis station KMOV-TV reported. Late on Sunday night, Donald Trump tweeted that US schools should reopen 'ASAP' as 'much very good information now available'. He named Steve Hilton in the tweet, after the former Downing Street adviser had appeared on Fox News calling for children to immediately return to school, decrying 'arbitrary' social distancing protocols and 'unscientific nonsense' of temperature checks. Revellers celebrate Memorial Day weekend at Osage Beach of the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri - Twitter/Lawler50 via REUTERS Spain easing lockdown restrictions In Spain, lockdown measures will finally be eased for people in Madrid and Barcelona from Monday, while elsewhere the first beaches are due to reopen. Residents in the two cities can now meet in groups of up to 10 people in their homes or on the terraces of bars and restaurants. The gates of the capital's parks will also be reopened, and major museums will be able to receive a limited number of visitors. Pedestrians and runners travel along the pedestrianized zone of the Paseo de la Castellana road - Bloomberg The Madrid and Barcelona regions, the most populated in the country, and a large part of Castile-Leon in the northwest are moving into the first phase of Spain's four-phase deconfinement programme, following what has been one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. These regions have been on a slower deconfinement track as they bore the brunt of the pandemic in Spain, which has killed more than 28,700 people to date, one of the world's highest tolls. Everyone must continue to wear a mask, which is already compulsory in buildings and on public streets when it is not possible to keep a distance of two metres. Millions of Aussie kids return to school In Australia, millions of children returned to schools in the states of New South Wales and Queensland as numbers of Covid-19 patients in hospitals across the country fall. The two states on Monday joined the less populous Western Australia and South Australia states and the Northern Territory in resuming face-to-face learning, instead of studying from home online. The remaining jurisdictions - Victoria and Tasmania states and the Australian Capital Territory - plan to send students back to school in stages through early June. While New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, and Queensland, the third-most populous state, agree on reopening schools, they differ on reopening their common border. Children return to campus for the first day of New South Wales public schools fully re-opening for all students and staff - Reuters India records biggest one-day rise in infections India on Sunday reported 6,767 new coronavirus infections, the countrys biggest one-day increase. Government data shows the number of coronavirus cases in the worlds second-most populous country are doubling every 13 days or so, even as the government begins easing lockdown restrictions. India has reported more than 131,000 infections, including 3,867 deaths. "The increasing trend has not gone down," said Bhramar Mukherjee, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Michigan, referring to Indias cases. "We've not seen a flattening of the curve." Mukherjee's team estimates that between 630,000 and 2.1 million people in India - out of a population of 1.3 billion - will become infected by early July. India's health ministry did not respond to a request for comment on how it will cope with the predicted rise in infections, given that most public hospitals are overcrowded at the best of times. The federal government has said in media briefings that not all patients need hospitalisation and it is making rapid efforts to increase the number of hospital beds and procure health gear. Indians shop on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, at the old quarters of New Delhi, India - AP Japan approves plan to end Tokyo's state of emergency Experts on a special government panel have approved a plan to remove a coronavirus state of emergency from Tokyo and four other remaining prefectures, paving the way for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare entirely ending the measure to allow businesses to gradually resume. Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters that experts on a government-commissioned panel approved the plan to end the state of emergency that has lasted for more than a month and a half. Social distancing curbs were removed for most of the country on May 14 as new infections fell, but the government had kept Tokyo and four other prefectures under watch. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has said the capital would swiftly move into "stage one" of the lifting of curbs when the government ends the state of emergency. That would allow libraries and museums to reopen, and restaurants to stay open until later in the evening. Subsequent stages would see theatres, cinemas and fairgrounds reopen. While the world's third-largest economy has escaped an explosive outbreak with some 17,000 infections and 825 deaths so far, the epidemic has tipped it into a recession and plunged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's popularity to multi-year lows. What you might have missed MBABANE The World Health Organisations Country Offices in Mbabane are already being flooded by traditional healers and herbalists who come with their muti and are keen to have their traditional concoctions tested. This is according to WHO Health Promotion Officer Dr Kevin Makadzange, who said the traditional healers were bringing their concoctions daily to be tested. This follows the announcement by the World Health Organisation local branch that they were ready to clinically test traditional medicine so that it would be endorsed scientifically. Dr Makadzange had said the traditional healers could contact the WHO offices to find out how their traditional medicine could be tested. The announcement was made on May 14 by Dr Makadzange, who clearly stated that local traditional healers would do this in groups or through associations. Makadzange said the traditional healers and herbalists who came to the WHO offices last week did so individually, which was not part of the requirements on how this exercise was to be carried out. It is easier to work with groups and associations than to work with individuals. It will be hard for us to assist people coming in individually, he said. Also, the health promotions officer said those who came had their muti in their possession. They should not come with their traditional medicine here. That is prohibited, he stated. He said the WHO was only working as a middle-man for traditional healers, scientists and laboratories. Our duty in this, would be to facilitate the connection between doctors and scientists who are specialists in testing herbal plants. WHO will not be solely responsible for doing tests, but will be the middle-man in overseeing that the process happens smoothly and with the rightful parties involved, said Dr Makadzange. He pleaded with traditional doctors that they should come into their offices in groups-not individually. The Ministry of Health offices in Mbabane were also not spared from the visits from the individual herbalists and traditional healers. Director of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula said he also had a handful of them knocking on his doors. They came with their muti after the public announcement that their concoctions would be tested, he said. He said interested parties should touch base with the World Health Organisation Country Office. pandemic Amid the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and globally, the World Health Organisation in Eswatini opened its arms to traditional healers to clinically test their concoctions for different diseases and infections, including the novel coronavirus. Seventy traditional medicine experts from countries across Africa held a virtual meeting with WHO on the role of traditional medicine in the COVID-19 response. Meanwhile, traditional healers and the Witchdoctors Association met last week to map a way forward on how they would send their concoctions for testing. It was agreed during the meeting that each traditional healer would be grouped according to their regions and would prepare the concoctions to be sent for testing as a group. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, it has recently come to light that Hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug Donald Trump has advocated as a possible cure for COVID-19 may have increased the chances of deaths in patients. According to reports, a new study has shown that the drug could actually be harmful to patients that have been treated with it around the world. An untested and unproven drug As per reports, the drug hydroxychloroquine and its older version, chloroquine have been given to COVID-19 patients in six continents, without proper clinical trials. Scientists believe that the drug should now only be given in the case of proper research settings so that the exact effects on the drug can be discerned. According to reports, the particular study that is questioning the use of the anti-malaria drug was published online in the Lancet medical journal. The study is not a trial and therefore was not meant to determine whether the drug was effective or not, the study does manage to show that the hurry to use the drug as a coronavirus cure may be severely ill-advised. Read: Trump Says He Has Finished Taking Hydroxychloroquine As Coronavirus Therapy Read: ICMR Issues Revised Advisory On Use Of Hydroxychloroquine According to reports, Hydroxychloroquine is a drug that is used to treat malaria patients, while it is fairly safe for patients being treated for malaria, COVID-19 is a very different disease and the drug has been known to cause heart irregularities. The authors behind the paper gathered research data on 96,000 patients in 671 hospitals, taking one of the drugs, with or without an antibiotic such as azithromycin, between 20 December and 14 April. Read: COVID-19: Trump Says His Hydroxychloroquine Regimen Finishes In 'day Or Two' Read: Trump Defends Taking Hydroxychloroquine As 'line Of Defence' Despite Alleged Health Risks As per reports, the researchers made a startling discovery, the death rate among all groups taking the drugs was notably higher than among people who were not given them. According to Prof Mandeep R Mehra, lead author of the study and executive director of the Brigham and Womens hospital advanced heart disease centre in Boston, US, This is the first large-scale study to find statistically robust evidence that treatment with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine does not benefit patients with Covid-19,. (Image Credit AP) US asks Israel to sever burgeoning ties with China: Paper Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 10:26 AM The United States has asked Israel to sever ties with China in areas which entail security risks, the Jerusalem Post reports. Citing an unnamed US official, the Israeli daily revealed that the Trump administration has asked Israel to take concrete steps to reduce its ties with China. So far, "the Israeli side has politely acknowledged our concerns without committing to action," the unnamed official said. "I don't think polite deflection will cut it anymore," the official said, adding "this is a high priority for the US." One industry that the US has pinpointed as particularly sensitive is technology, so much so that the US has been eyeing Chinese-Israeli joint academic research in the field, the report said. The US is especially concerned with the billions of dollars Chinese companies have invested in technologies that Israel has classified as commercial, but could be used by Chinese intelligence, like artificial intelligence, satellite communications and cybersecurity. The demand came just days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the occupied territories and asked Israel to reconsider its joint projects with China in areas with security risks and sensitivities for the US, including academic projects and technological research and development. In previous public statements, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and other State Department officials had focused on the establishment of a more robust review process for foreign investments that could pose risks, and a reduction of reliance on China for emergency equipment in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The US and Israel share some of the most sensitive intelligence with one another. In addition, American contractors sell Israel some of the most classified military hardware and weapons in the US like the F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, according to the Israeli daily. The US is concerned that with China building most of Israel's infrastructure roads, trains, tunnels, ports and more it will eventually gain access to the lines of communication through which Israel and the US communicate intelligence with one another. That is something that Washington will not tolerate, said the report. For too long, Israel has cozied up to China while ignoring potential ramifications or fallout with its greatest ally, the United States, the newspaper said. However, Tel Aviv could be on a collision course with Washington unless tight restrictions are imposed on Chinese investment in Israel, because the US president sees this both as a geopolitical security threat and a distraction from accomplishing the objectives of his trade war with China. According to Israel's Army Radio on Tuesday, Tel Aviv has asked Washington for compensation in exchange for reducing ties with China - an offer that the US reportedly rejected. The ongoing friction between the US and China has escalated in recent months in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the US has put pressure on many of its allies as a result. The US has accused China of hiding news of the original outbreak of the novel coronavirus from the world. President Trump has long called COVID-19 a "Chinese virus," going so far as to accuse Chinese President Xi Jinping of standing behind a "disinformation and propaganda attack on the United States and Europe." The current venomous rhetoric by Trump and his allies about China's "culpability" for the COVID-19 pandemic has led to strong reactions from Chinese officials. China's Ambassador to Israel Du Wei, who was found dead in his official residence in Herzliya last Sunday, had made a high-profile defense of his country's response to the coronavirus pandemic. In an interview with Israel's Makor Rishon newspaper in April, Du addressed the matter of Chinese investments in Israel, expressing hope for further cooperation. He also expressed hope to strengthen the ties between Israel and China, addressing the accusations leveled at his country as being the one responsible for the outbreak of the virus. Mystery and speculation surrounds the death and comments from readers under an online article in the Jerusalem Post included: "Something smells fishy here." Another said there was "a long list of suspects," and the envoy's death was like something in a spy movie, or the US murder investigation show CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). Others suggested a link to Pompeo's recent whirlwind visit to Israel, during which he was overtly critical of China, and demanded that Israel stop sharing confidential military information with Beijing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The coronavirus may still be spreading at epidemic rates in 24 states, particularly in the South and Midwest, according to new research that highlights the risk of a second wave of infections in places that reopen too quickly or without sufficient precautions. Researchers at Imperial College London created a model that incorporates cellphone data showing that people sharply reduced their movements after stay-at-home orders were broadly imposed in March. With restrictions now easing and mobility increasing with the approach of Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer, the researchers developed an estimate of viral spread as of May 17. RELATED: Texas man dies of COVID-19 in Iowa It is a snapshot of a transitional moment in the pandemic and captures the patchwork nature across the country of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. Some states have had little viral spread or "crushed the curve" to a great degree and have some wiggle room to reopen their economies without generating a new epidemic-level surge in cases. Others are nowhere near containing the virus. The model, which has not been peer reviewed, shows that in the majority of states, a second wave looms if people abandon efforts to mitigate the viral spread. "There's evidence that the U.S. is not under control, as an entire country," said Samir Bhatt, a senior lecturer in geostatistics at Imperial College. The model shows potentially ominous scenarios if people move around as they did previously and do so without taking precautions. In California and Florida, the death rate could spike to roughly 1,000 deaths a day by July without efforts to mitigate the spread, according to the report. Other models released in recent days captured a similarly mixed picture. The PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia used county-level forecasts that found much of the country was in decent shape for reopening, but worrisome areas remain, including Houston, Dallas, South Florida and Alabama. On this Memorial Day weekend, some people will visit areas that may not have had much exposure to the virus, said David Rubin, director of PolicyLab. "This is the first test of the system," Rubin said. "Those areas that succeed this weekend are going to succeed because they've developed strong regulations on how they're going to do this." RELATED: A hairstylist who worked while showing symptoms exposed 91 to COVID-19 The Imperial College researchers estimated the virus's reproduction number, known as R0, or R naught. This is the average number of infections generated by each infected person in a vulnerable population. The researchers found the reproduction number has dropped below 1 in 26 states and the District. In those places, as of May 17, the epidemic was waning. In 24 states, however, the model shows a reproduction number over 1. Texas tops the list, followed by Arizona, Illinois, Colorado, Ohio, Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa, Alabama and Wisconsin. When the R naught is below 1, it means the virus is hitting a lot of dead ends as it infects people. Someone who is infected but who follows social distancing rules or stays quarantined until recovering has a good chance of not infecting anyone else. The challenge is finding a way to reopen the economy with sufficient care to prevent the reproduction number from going over 1. This has become a geographically complex pandemic, one that will evolve, especially as people increase their movements in coming weeks. Laws and health regulations vary from state to state, county to county and city to city. There are communities where wearing facial coverings is culturally the norm, while in other places it is rejected on grounds of personal liberty or as refutation of the consensus view of the hazards posed by the virus. Political leaders have traded executive orders for appeals to individual responsibility and judgment. Even as they touted reopening water parks and beaches, some governors told their citizens not to enjoy their new freedoms too much. In a hotspot in western Iowa, "families need to make their own decisions," said Matthew Ung, chair of Woodbury County's board of supervisors. "You don't have to act one way or another because of what the government says," he said. "Look out for you and your family." About 250 miles away in Minneapolis, municipal leaders are not counting on individual responsibility alone. The mayor, Jacob Frey, this week signed an emergency regulation requiring people older than 2 to cover their faces while at "indoor spaces of public accommodation," including schools and government buildings. "We are not criminalizing forgetfulness, but we will be cracking down on extreme selfishness and disregard for the health and safety of fellow Minneapolis residents," Frey said in an interview. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, this week said he would allow only alfresco dining when restaurants and bars resume in-person service June 1. That led to an outcry from owners who said they had been preparing for weeks to seat people inside, setting up plexiglass partitions and purchasing special filters to arrest tiny particles. "None of us believed it was going to be patio only, especially in Minnesota when it rains all summer long," said Brian Ingram, the owner of Hope Breakfast Bar in St. Paul, Minnesota, a popular joint known for its mantra, "Believe in Breakfast." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In Mississippi, where the Imperial College model predicts infections are on the rise, Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, said he was ready to reopen the last few businesses that remain closed in the state - including racetracks and water parks. "We will be out of the business of closing down anybody, I hope," Reeves said. But he said that in consultation with public health officials, he is keeping restrictions on seven counties with higher case loads. In a news conference Thursday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, defended her decision to reopen concert venues, movie theaters and other businesses despite rising case numbers. "We cannot sustain a delayed way of life as we search for a vaccine," she said. "Having a life means having a livelihood, too." That said, she promised that "if we start going in the wrong direction, we reserve the right to come back in and reverse." The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said the state is preparing for a potential surge by increasing testing and constructing a 401-bed covid-19 care site in Memphis that was finished this week. David Aronoff, director of the Vanderbilt University infectious disease division, said the medical school is working with the state to track hospitalizations and deaths and is monitoring for a second surge. "We're watching for that really closely, but we haven't seen that just yet, which is reassuring," he said. Experts in Tennessee are also concerned about people from other states beginning to flock to Nashville and Memphis on summer vacations. If a surge happens, Aronoff said, "the tricky part will be putting the toothpaste back in the tube" by shutting down again. In Texas, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said he consults with doctors and experts from area hospitals, "and what they tell us is that we're reopening too fast, and we're reopening in the wrong order." Local jurisdictions in Texas do not have the authority to issue more stringent restrictions than the state, which began aggressively reopening this month. So Dallas has focused on messaging. The county has a daily "covid-19 risk level" that is currently red, for "stay home, stay safe." Officials are working on seals that businesses can display to indicate they are meeting local public health guidelines, not just state mandates. The Imperial College estimates for Texas are in line with internal modeling conducted by university experts advising state leaders. Rebecca Fischer, an epidemiologist at Texas A&M University and part of a team partnering with the governor's office, said the daily caseload was fluctuating, but "it looks like we're not cresting a peak and coming down the other side." A week ago, Texas reported a single-day high in new cases as well as deaths - about 14 days after the beginning of the state's phased reopening. The state has now reported more than 52,000 cases and nearly 1,500 deaths. [DATELINE]EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to announce the execution of an amendment to its Option Agreement with Sienna Resources Inc. ("Sienna") (TSXV: SIE), originally signed in December, 2017. The amendment will restructure the terms of the Option Agreement for the Slattberg nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) project in southern Sweden, and Sienna will enter a two year option period to acquire EMX's Kuusamo Ni-Cu-Co-PGE project in Finland in exchange for a royalty, satisfying work commitments, and making payments of cash and equity to EMX. The Kuusamo battery metals project (the "Project") is comprised of two exploration "reservation" properties located adjacent to and near EMX's Kaukua PGE royalty property in Finland, which is being advanced by Palladium One Mining Inc.1 The highly prospective Kuusamo project hosts similar styles of mineralization located within the same mafic intrusive complex and along trend of the mineralization at Kaukua. Both the Kuusamo and Kaukua properties show Ni-Cu-Co-PGE enriched sulfide horizons near the base of a mafic intrusive complex. Geologic maps of the area depicting this horizon show that it extends for nearly 30 kilometers along strike within the EMX reservation areas. Sienna and EMX have been working together to advance the Slattberg Ni-Cu-Co-PGE project in southern Sweden, a relationship that will now extend to Finland. The addition of Kuusamo as an additional property optioned to Sienna is another example of the execution of EMX's royalty generation business model. EMX forms partnerships with companies that are adept at funding exploration and advancing projects, even in challenging market conditions, to the benefit of both companies and their shareholders. Battery metals projects such as Kuuasmo, Slattberg and Kaukua have been a recent focus for EMX's exploration programs in Fennoscandia, which provide additional commodity optionality to EMX's rapidly expanding portfolio of royalty and mineral project interests around the world. Summary of Commercial Terms. Sienna can earn a 100% interest in the Kuusamo Project in Finland (the "Project"), subject to a 3% NSR royalty to EMX by: Issuing an additional 500,000 shares of SIE to EMX upon execution of the amendment agreement, Spending a minimum of C$250,000 on exploration and Project advancement over the next two years, Reimbursing EMX for its acquisition costs and expenses related to the Kuusamo project, and Issuing 1,500,000 additional shares of SIE to EMX at the end of the two year option period. If Sienna satisfies the conditions of the option agreement and elects to acquire the Project, EMX will receive annual advance royalty ("AAR") payments of US$25,000 commencing on the first anniversary of the option exercise date, with each AAR payment increasing by US$5,000 per year until reaching a cap of US$75,000 per year. Under certain conditions, 0.5% of the 3% NSR royalty retained by EMX can be repurchased. Kuusamo Project Overview. Ni-Cu-Co-PGE mineralization on the Kuusamo property is hosted by the Koillismaa Layered Igneous Complex ("KLIC"), a 2.4-2.5 billion year old layered mafic intrusive complex located in north-central Finland. The KLIC forms part of an east-west trending belt of similar intrusions and nickel, copper and PGE deposits that cross through Finland and into Russia. Ni-Cu-Co-PGE-enriched magmatic sulfide mineralization occurs near the base of the KLIC and has been mapped and drilled throughout the area. The Kuusamo Project covers substantial parts of the base of the KLIC and records show that at least five target areas have been drilled historically within the Kuusamo Project over the past 50 years, with most activity taking place in 1973, followed by drilling in 1997 and again from 2000-2005. However, almost all of the historic drilling was shallow, with most holes having reached depths of only 50-75 meters. Multiple phases of airborne and ground geophysical surveys have also been run across portions of the Project, with the data having been compiled by and acquired from the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK). EMX and Sienna will leverage this historic information and apply modern and updated geologic models to continue exploring the historic targets at deeper levels and to generate new targets on the Project. Modifications to the Slattberg Option Terms. In addition to entering an option agreement for the Kuusamo project, EMX and Sienna have also modified the terms of the Slattberg Option Agreement. The original option period will be extended to October 31, 2020, subject to the following conditions: Sienna will conduct an additional C$250,000 in exploration on the Slattberg project before October 31, 2020; and To exercise the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Slattberg project, Sienna will issue to EMX an additional 1,500,000 shares of Sienna stock (reduced from the 3,000,000 shares specified in the original agreement). If Sienna satisfies the conditions of the modified option agreement and elects to acquire the Slattberg project, EMX will receive annual advance royalty ("AAR") payments of US$25,000 commencing on the first anniversary of the option exercise date, with each AAR payment increasing by US$5,000 per year until reaching a cap of US$75,000 per year. EMX will retain a 3% NSR royalty on the Slattberg project, 0.5% of which may be repurchased under certain conditions. Plans for Further Exploration at Slattberg. Sienna announced on May 20, 2020 the signing of a drill contract for the Slattberg project and intends to immediately commence drilling (see Sienna News Release dated May 20, 2020). The current program will continue to test the down dip extensions of Ni-Cu-Co-PGE mineralization intercepted by previous drill campaigns in 2018 and 2019. Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release. About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol EMX. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information. For further information contact: David M. Cole President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (303) 979-6666 Dave@EMXroyalty.com Scott Close Director of Investor Relations Phone: (303) 973-8585 SClose@EMXroyalty.com Isabel Belger Investor Relations (Europe) Phone: +49 178 4909039 IBelger@EMXroyalty.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form (the "AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2019, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. ____________________ 1 See EMX News Release dated February 25, 2020. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/56424 Paris: France's highest administrative authority is studying whether local bans on full-body burkini swimsuits are legal, amid growing concerns in the country and abroad about police forcing Muslim women to disrobe. Images of uniformed police appearing to require a woman to take off her tunic, and media accounts of similar incidents, have elicited shock and anger online this week. Some fear that burkini bans in several French towns are worsening religious tensions. The bans, based on a strict application of secularism policies, have exposed division within the government. Prime Minister Manuel Valls told BFM television on Thursday that burkinis represent "the enslavement of women" and reiterated his support for mayors who have banned them. But Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, a feminist with North African roots, said that while she doesn't like the burkini swimsuit, bans of the garment are politically driven and unleashing racist sentiment. "My dream of society is a society where women are free and proud of their bodies," she said on Europe-1 radio. But with tensions in France high after a series of deadly Islamic extremist attacks, she said, "We shouldn't add oil to the fire" by banning burkinis. Critics of the local decrees have said the orders are too vague, prompting local police officials to fine even women wearing the traditional Islamic headscarf and the hijab, but not burkinis. The prime minister, while stressing his opposition to the burkini, urged police to implement the bans fairly and respectfully. #NEWSGRAPHIC Islamic dress has long been the subject of debate in France pic.twitter.com/bt1zF6KkXt a AFP news agency (@AFP) August 25, 2016 Two human rights groups, arguing the bans are discriminatory, have appealed to the Council of State to overturn the measures. The council is holding a hearing in the case today and is expected to rule within 48 hours. The ruling specifically concerns a ban in the Riviera town of Villeneuve-Loubet, but the decision will be binding and set legal precedent on the increasingly heated question of whether cities can tell Muslim women what to wear to the beach. The Human Rights League and the Collective Against Islamophobia in France say the mayor's decree violates basic freedoms of dress, religious expression and movement. The Villeneuve-Loubet order bars from local beaches any people whose garments don't respect the principles of secularism, health and safety rules and good moral standards. Like other local decrees, the Villeneuve-Loubet ban doesn't explicitly mention the word "burkini." For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. KV Navya By Express News Service CHENNAI: Incidents of people popping paracetamol to temporarily reduce body temperatures to get through thermal scanning without much hassle during the pandemic crisis raised concerns among various quarters. Despite the government advising pharmacies to sell paracetamol only after the buyer produces a prescription and the seller noting the name and address, none of the guidelines are being followed in Chennai. "Paracetamol is not a prescription drug. But, we have asked pharmacy owners to note down the address and phone number of customers to create a database. We send these details to Directorate of Public Health. However, we did not know that pharmacies were selling the tablets without asking for any details," said K Sivabalan, director of TN Drugs Control Department. When Express approached a medical store in Velachery and asked for 'fever medicine', the pharmacist went through the boxes, and brought back a strip of paracetamol in quick time. Incidentally, at the same time, another man bought a cough syrup. This was not a one-off incident, but the reactions of different pharmacists, even from popular medicine retail chains in Guindy, Teynampet, Adambakkam, Madipakkam and Egmore, were the same. "We are already scared looking at the number of cases everyday. If one person takes the tablet and travels, it is enough to spread the virus to hundreds. There should be some restriction on sale of these drugs," said P Radhakrishnan, an activist from Teynampet. When asked, pharmacists said that there was no official instruction from the government not to sell paracetamol over the counter. Even the information on providing details of buyers is not sent to a lot of medical shops, said a pharmacy owner in Guindy. 'Fever cure' When Express approached a medical store in Velachery and asked for fever medicine the pharmacist quickly went through the boxes, and brought out a strip of paracetamol in quick time. A LIMERICK whiskey company has come together with a similar firm in Clare to provide hand sanitiser to the emergency services. Ballyclough-based Thomond Gate Whiskey and the Glendree Distillery, based across the border, have developed bottles of the 500ml sanitiser which they have given to critical services including the HSE and An Garda Siochana who are at the coal face of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nick Ryan, founder of Thomond Gate Whiskey said: Were both passionate small businesses, with deep connections to our community, we felt there was little we could do alone but by working together we could make a small contribution to support the those working to keep us safe. He said the Covid-19 crisis has highlighted a new use for distilleries, not only to create traditional whiskey, gin and vodka, but now to provide support to critical services for high-strength alcohol. We have been able to source the ingredients and manufacture a 65% alcohol-by-volume alcohol-based hand sanitiser at the Glendree Distillery which we will be donating to the frontline. Its in times like these when its so important for local people to pull together their resources to support each other, its only a small amount donated vs what is needed but we wanted to do our part, he said. Thomond Gate whiskey is a Limerick-based independent bottler, established by entrepreneur and spirits educator Nick Ryan from Ballyclough. Hes working to revive Limericks whiskey producing heritage with future plans for a distillery. In December 2019 he launched his whiskey with the next release in the summer. Thomond Gate Whiskey represents the first drink of its kind for more than 100 years in Limerick. The heritage pot still whiskey is based on one which ceased production on Shannonside in 1919. The whiskey is on sale at Fine Wines in Limerick and at the Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin, with plans to bring it nationwide and export it in the near future. Mr Ryan returned from working in the fintech and finance industries in London to set up the whiskey business, and was a participant on the government-supported Back for Business programme. This assists entrepreneurs in starting and developing firms in Ireland. Based in Feakle, Co Clare, the Glendree distillery was set up by father and son Paul and Alex Loudon in 2019. -- Cooperation and solidarity are the most powerful weapon to prevail over the epidemic. -- A "political virus" is spreading in the United States to use every chance to attack and smear China. -- China is not a savior, but is willing to be a friend in need and a sincere partner. -- The darkest time will pass, and the light is ahead. BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat on Sunday underlined the significance of international cooperation and solidarity in fighting COVID-19 to tide over the darkest hours. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference that the novel coronavirus is the common enemy of mankind. "Cooperation and solidarity are the most powerful weapon to prevail over the epidemic." So far, the pandemic has claimed over 300,000 lives and affected more than 7 billion people in over 210 countries and regions. FIGHTING "POLITICAL VIRUS" However, the "political virus" of some politicians losing no chance to attack and smear China is now spreading in the United States, Wang said on the sidelines of the annual national legislative session. Some politicians ignored the basic facts and made up countless lies and conspiracy theories concerning China. Such lies have been recently compiled into a list and posted on the internet, he added. "The longer the list, the more it says about how low the rumor-mongers are willing to go and the more stains they will leave in history," Wang said. Wang's stern message came at a time when some U.S. politicians launched repeated attacks against China's virus response, unjustly blamed China for their own porous response, and filed unwarranted lawsuits for so-called compensation. "I want to say here: Don't waste any more precious time, and don't ignore lives," he said. Wang expressed his sympathies to the United States, with the highest number of infections of any country. "We sincerely hope that the American people will get over the epidemic as soon as possible," he said. Having claimed so many precious lives, COVID-19 serves as a stark reminder that countries must rise above differences in geography, race, history, culture and social system, Wang said. Journalists attend a press conference given by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi via video link in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) JOINT ACTIONS TO REBOOT ECONOMY As the pandemic battered the global economy, China called for cooperation and communication to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The United States and China should start to coordinate and communicate over macro-policies as early as possible to reduce the impact of the disease on both economies and the world economy, Wang said. The global economy is on track to contract by 3 percent in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, the IMF projected in its World Economic Outlook in mid-April. Wang called on countries to stand "shoulder by shoulder" and seek positive cycles of mutual success, dismissing narratives of a "knock-out race" in which there is but one winner. On Sino-Russian relations, Wang said China will stabilize cooperation in energy and step up collaboration with Russia in emerging sectors such as e-commerce, biomedicine and the cloud economy. Talking about relations with Europe, Wang said the two sides shall explore mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of connectivity, environmental protection, digital economy and artificial intelligence. Hailing China-Japan-ROK cooperation as a model of virus fight, Wang advocated raising the level of regional economic cooperation by upholding free trade, cutting tariffs, opening up markets, and tapping new growth engines in health, intelligent manufacturing and 5G. To help African countries to tackle the grim situation, China pledged to reduce debt obligations for African countries and provide further support to those countries in extreme predicament, Wang said. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations via video link on the sidelines of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) CONFIDENCE, DETERMINATION Guided by the notion of "a community with a shared future for humanity," China has mounted the largest ever global humanitarian operation in decades. China has shipped medical supplies to nearly 150 countries and four international organizations to meet their immediate needs. It has exported 56.8 billion masks and 250 million protective suits, among other provisions. "China is not a savior, but is willing to be a friend in need and a sincere partner," Wang said. Though the virus is profoundly changing the world, it will not reverse the trend of globalization, nor will it undermine China's resolve in advancing international cooperation. Responding to a question on the Belt and Road (B&R), Wang said the impact of COVID-19 on B&R cooperation is "temporary and limited," and the cooperation will be strengthened. During the past seven years, China's goods trade with B&R countries surpassed 7.8 trillion U.S. dollars and its direct investment in those countries was over 110 billion dollars. "By aiming for high-standard, people-centered and sustainable progress, we will make the Belt and Road a model of development, cooperation and health for all engaged," he said. "The darkest time will pass, and the light is ahead," Wang said. Islamabad [Pakistan], May 24 (ANI): Pakistan's count of COVID-19 cases on Sunday reached 55,447 including 1,146 deaths, said the country's Health Ministry. As per the tally cited by Geo News, 22,491 cases have been detected in Sindh, 19,557 in Punjab, 7,685 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 3,306 in Balochistan, 1,592 in Islamabad, 619 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 197 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The United States has announced a USD 6 million donation to strengthen Pakistan's response to the coronavirus. US Ambassador to Pakistan Paul Jones made the announcement through a video message wishing a Happy Eid to the people of Pakistan. "US-Pakistan health partnership has kept growing against coronavirus during Ramzan and into Eid. The US just added another USD 6 million in new funding to strengthen Pakistan's COVID-19 response," he said. (ANI) Six-month Royal Commission to investigate bushfires that killed 33 people and left billions of dollars worth of damage. Australia on Monday began its first hearings into the causes of catastrophic bushfires that swept across the country, killing 33 people, destroying some 2,500 homes and razing an area the size of South Korea. Fuelled by three years of drought, which experts have attributed to climate change, hundreds of fires, some massive in size, burned across Australias east coast for months before finally being extinguished in February. The tragic loss of life, the destruction of homes, the significant loss of livestock and millions of hectares of forest has been devastating and continues to deeply affect people and their recovery, Mark Binskin, chair of the inquiry, said in an emailed statement. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the six-month Royal Commission inquiry would investigate preparedness for future bushfires and the need for any changes to the law to clarify who is responsible for overseeing emergency authorities. A two-week hearing of the royal commission, sitting in Canberra but being conducted electronically, has started with a focus on the changing global climate and natural disaster risk. Unprecedented crisis According to estimates by the weather monitor, AccuWeather, the total damage and economic loss caused by the bushfires from September 2019 and into 2020 could be as high as $110bn. Millions of people were also exposed to months of smoke haze and poor air quality. Bush and grass fires in New South Wales were particularly damaging with 5.5 million hectares (13.6 million acres) of land area burned, equivalent to more than 6 percent of the state. The fires there also destroyed a total of 2,448 homes and killed many, including three NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers and three US firefighters in a toll unrivalled in the states history. The crisis strengthened charges that Morrisons conservative government needed to take more action to counter climate change, which experts said made the blazes worse. Morrison was also criticised for taking a holiday in Hawaii as parts of the country were burning. Discussions on housing in government formation talks have been "parked" due to consistent disagreement. Talks took a break on Sunday, after discussions on health on Saturday and will resume for what one TD says "will be a pretty grueling week". The issue of housing has been a consistent source of consternation between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Green Party negotiators, after being discussed repeatedly over the last two weeks. The issue has now been "parked for the moment" according to one negotiator because they are "not going well", in an attempt to bring some temporary relief and keep negotiations moving forward. It's understood there are "fundamental differences" between the parties on the issue, and that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are unwilling to commit to the level of "public housing on public land" policy favoured by the Greens in order to tackle the ongoing housing crisis, however as housing has not been discussed at a full plenary session yet, "it's too early to say it's a sticking point". Another TD said the parties had been "engaging intensively" on the issue: "Housing policy is a complex area and the three parties are giving it the time it needs to tease out various issues". Monday's discussions will return to the future relationship with Northern Ireland and health. Several independent TDs from the Independent Group and the Regional Group have been notified by Tanaiste Simon Coveney that they will be included in government formation talks the week after next. It's understood the three party leaders will make contact with the independent groups next week with a view to set out how more detailed talks of the formation and structure of government will go. The negotiators are said to be confident of having a programme for government ready in around two weeks time, with the talks process expected to be concluded by Sunday June 7. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said on RTE's Late Late Show, that he believed a programme for government could be signed-off "if not by the end of next week then very shortly after that". Meanwhile, the Green Party have issued a denial after an article in a Sunday newspaper claimed that the party had requested that they be given the choice of attorney-general in any new government, and touted the likely candidate as Green Party member Roderick Maguire BL. Mr Maguire was one of 200 lawyers who signed a statement calling for a no vote in the abortion referendum, a detail which sparked widespread concern on social media among Green Party members. TD Neasa Hourigan tweeted on Sunday: "With the greatest respect to this member I have never heard his name, appointments are decided by the leaders not the core negotiating team. "The Attorney General is an incredibly important role, as an active repeal campaigner this would not be an acceptable appointment to me. Shortly after, the party headquarters issued a formal statement to the media in an effort to reassure members. "The Green Party would like to clarify that no names have been put forward by the party for the role of Attorney General in any potential coalition government," a statement said. "The party has not discussed possible appointments either internally or with other parties at any level." The coronavirus has struck Middle Eastern countries in different ways, relatively moderate in some and more severe in others. According to the April 19 Johns Hopkins University (JHU) report, confirmed cases have ranged from 80,000 in Iran and Turkey with related deaths of 5,000 and nearly 2,000 the highest in the region to supposedly one case and zero deaths in Yemen. In the Arabian Peninsula countries, Saudi Arabia has the highest number of positive cases and deaths in the region with over 8,000 cases. In the Levant, Israel leads the pack with nearly 13,000 cases followed by Iraq with over 1,500 cases. Lebanon has nearly 700 followed by Jordan and the West Bank and Gaza with over 400 each, and Syria with 38 cases. Egypt leads in North Africa with over 2,800 cases followed by Morocco and Algeria with over 2,500 each, and Tunisia with nearly 900 cases. These numbers, excluding Iran and Turkey, are relatively low, but many analysts believe they are undercounted because of a lack of widespread testing, monitoring and regime transparency. COVID-19 has laid bare the fissures in Middle East societies. Because of their ethnic, sectarian and geographic marginalization, many groups have been deprived of adequate health care, unemployment benefits, testing and social services. Hunger, diabetes, heart disease and obesity have become rampant among these diverse groups, which does not bode well for the long-term stability of some of these countries. Terrorist groups have also begun to reorganize and carry out operations in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. Like this pandemic, terrorism does not recognize state boundaries. Enhancing regime control In the midst of COVID-19, many regimes have glossed over the fissures in their societies. The coronavirus has struck the vulnerable, the poor and of course the communities that cannot for economic, cultural, geographic and religious reasons isolate or maintain social distance. In most Middle East countries, health services for COVID-19 victims have been mostly provided to the ruling elites, the affluent and the politically-connected sectors of society. The rest, who must go out to eke a living, are locked down in their neighborhoods under draconian measures without pay, medicine or food. Many die without any testing, medical care or even a hospital visit. Some regimes have also used sophisticated technologies to track and surveil their citizens, ostensibly to trace the spread of the virus but in reality to track their citizens for so-called national security reasons. Communities at risk The communities at risk from COVID-19 are spread across the entire region. Akin to many minority and underprivileged communities in the United States, vulnerable Middle Eastern communities lack job security and health insurance, and are rapidly running out of food. Like their American counterparts, people living in these communities will die from COVID-19 at far higher numbers than the rest of the population. The communities include refugees, internally displaced persons, foreign workers, religious communities, homeless war victims, destitute urban dwellers and nomads. Possible scenarios Its possible to identify two scenarios as the Middle East region goes through COVID-19: stay the course and extended chaos. Under the stay-the-course scenario, regimes in the next three to five years are able to contain the fallout from the popular discontent at governmental unpreparedness for the disease, inadequate health systems, and the ever-widening gap between the powerful, wealthy minority and the poor majority. Communities at risk will remain so as these countries move forward, but regimes will be able to contain social unrest and street eruptions. Because of societal disparities, this situation, however, cannot endure beyond five years. Once citizens discover that regimes fail to reward their fealty with economic support, they will not hesitate to hit the streets. The extended-chaos scenario postulates that the gap between the haves and have-nots will grow much more rapidly, which regimes will be unable to keep under wraps. The poor will become angrier, more frustrated and more courageous to confront their regimes and security services. The drop in global demand for oil since the advent of COVID-19 has led to a dramatic collapse of oil prices. The Gulf sheikdoms are forced to cut state subsidies in education, health and welfare. Demands for regime change become the rallying cry. The vulgarity of the rich and the destitution of the poor will collide in the public square. Economic fragmentation and regime bankruptcy lead to civil unrest, which will shake the foundations of many of these political entities. COVID-19 will likely show that many of these states are no more than a house of cards. As the major powers begin to tackle their shaky economies in the post pandemic era, they are unable to provide meaningful assistance to wobbly Middle Eastern countries, thereby hastening their inevitable collapse. Emile Nakhleh is research professor and director of the Global and National Security Policy Institute at UNM and a former senior intelligence service officer at the CIA. A longer version was published on ResponsibleStatecraft.org. Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's president, looks on during a news conference at the Presidential Palace in Taipei, Taiwan, on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said late on Sunday that the self-ruled democratic island "stands with the people of Hong Kong" as she pledged "necessary assistance" to Hong Kongers who need help. Tsai commented on the situation in a Facebook post after China introduced a draft national security law for Hong Kong that would bypass the city's legislature. The measure prompted protests in the financial center over the weekend, reigniting concerns over eroding freedoms in the special administrative territory. "If the law is implemented, the core values of democracy, freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong will be severely eroded," said Tsai, who added that the Taiwanese government had already been giving humanitarian relief to Hong Kongers. Beijing has governed Hong Kong under the "one country, two systems" principle since the former British colony's return to Chinese rule in 1997, but Beijing has been increasing its oversight of Hong Kong. China says Hong Kong retains its autonomy. Some Hong Kongers have left for Taiwan amid the uncertainty. Official statistics show the number of Hong Kong immigrants to Taiwan jumped to 2,383 in the first four months of 2020, up 150% from the same period last year, Reuters reported. Relations between the mainland and Taiwan are now the frostiest in years. China claims the island as a province. Beijing has never renounced the use of force against Taiwan in what it calls a "reunification." The Chinese Communist Party has never governed Taiwan. Beijing views Tsai, a member of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, as a separatist. On Friday, Chinese premier Li Keqiang ostensibly left out the word "peaceful" when he referred to Beijing's perennial desire to "reunify" Taiwan with the mainland erasing a decades-old practice. Li said in a speech at the start of China's annual parliamentary meeting that Beijing would "resolutely oppose and deter any separatist activities seeking Taiwan independence." "We will encourage (our fellow compatriots in Taiwan) to join us in opposing Taiwan independence and promoting China's reunification," Li said, according to an offical transcript. "With these efforts, we can surely create a beautiful future for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." China's relationship with Taiwan has become increasingly strained after Tsai's re-election in January. That was further exacerbated when the island ramped up its bid to join an important World Health Organization meeting last week after its successful coronavirus containment efforts. Eichmann shouted in German to his abductors: I have already accepted my fate. by Karinne Delorme On May 11, 1960, Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was nabbed by a team of Israeli spies after years on the run in Argentina, ending a long manhunt. Ten days later, drugged and dressed as a crew member of Israeli flag carrier El Al, he was smuggled to Israel by Mossad agents and put on trial. The architect of the Nazis Final Solution, under which six million European Jews were exterminated during World War II, Eichmann was tried and hanged in 1962, aged 56. Here is an account, based on AFP coverage from the time and since, of the top-secret operation, details of which filtered out over the years. War criminal arrested by Israelis The security services found one of the great Nazi war criminals, Adolf Eichmann, prime minister David Ben Gurion announced on May 23, adding that he was under arrest in Israel and would face trial, in a masterstroke hailed by the Israeli press. Emaciated prisoners at one of the largest Nazi concentration camps at Evensee in the Austrian Alps on May 7, 1945, as Nazi commanders signed their surrender to Allied forces in a French schoolhouse, ending World War II in Europe and the Holocaust. (AP Photo, File) Eichmanns name and his role as architect of the Nazis killing machine had surfaced during the Nuremberg war crimes trials which took place from 1945-46. Eichmanns name and his role as architect of the Nazis killing machine had surfaced during the Nuremberg war crimes trials which took place from 1945-46. He had been charged with organising and coordinating the deportation of Jews to death camps in Eastern Europe. The former chief of Section IV B.4 of the Gestapo, responsible for the so-called Jewish question, had vanished after the Third Reich collapsed in May 1945. Before fleeing he had destroyed documentary evidence of his activities and photos that could identify him. The Argentinian lead A manhunt was launched in 1945, led by prominent figures in the Jewish community, including famous Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal, who himself had escaped a concentration camp. The breakthrough came in 1957 when the prosecutor of the German state of Hesse, Fritz Bauer, tipped off the Israeli secret service that Eichmann was in hiding in Argentina, under the false name of Ricardo Klement. It took Mossad more than two years to locate him, living in a home without running water and electricity in the neighbourhood of San Fernando on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. During a March 1960 mission Mossad agents, using photos, formally established that Ricardo Klement was the former lieutenant-colonel Eichmann. Mossad spy Tzvi Aharoni, who shadowed him and sat behind him on a bus said: The temptation to lean forward and strangle him was almost irresistible. But I knew he had to be put on trial and not be assassinated for those he had killed, he told AFP. A thriller unfolds With Ben Gurions green light, the abduction was planned meticulously under the leadership of the Israeli secret service chief Isser Harel. The mission was given to Mossad operative Rafi Eitan, who later recalled: When I was given this mission, I knew that if we succeeded, we would enter Israels history and the history of humanity. The abduction was set for May 11. A foreman at a Mercedes-Benz factory, Eichmann returned every evening to his home on Garibaldi Street, taking the same bus at the same time. Shortly after 8:05 pm he was nabbed as he got off the bus. He put up some resistance, and called for help before being dragged into a car and hidden under a blanket. Eichmann shouted in German to his abductors: I have already accepted my fate. He was taken to a safe house rented for the mission, where he was chained to a bed and blindfolded. In an interview with AFP, Eitan later said: I blindfolded him and checked his scars. When I was sure it was him, I shook my colleagues hand and told him: Weve accomplished our mission.' On May 20, the Mossad squad took him on a false Israeli passport on a special plane used by the Israeli delegation which had come to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Argentinas independence. The banality of evil On April 11, 1961, the captured Eichmann, facing 15 charges, appeared for the first time in public in a glass booth in a Jerusalem court, which would question some 111 witnesses. Wearing a black suit, a dark tie over a white shirt and large horn-rimmed glasses, the accused, ashen, clean shaven and tight-lipped, entered at 9 a.m. in the glass box reserved for him, AFP wrote. Writer Haim Gouri said: The trial gave the survivors of the genocide, for the first time, the possibility of being heard. Some 450 foreign journalists, 100 observers and diplomats attended the different hearings. Among them was author and concentration camp survivor Elie Wiesel and American Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt, who published in 1963 a major book on the subject, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil. Eichmann was sentenced to death on December 15 after being convicted on all counts, including crimes against the Jewish people, crimes against humanity and war crimes. On May 29, 1962, his appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court. He was hanged on May 31 at midnight and his ashes were scattered at sea. MBABANE The grace period is over. The deferred electricity hike, which was mainly meant to cushion companies and individuals from the impact of the coronavirus, kicks in next Monday (June 1). The increase was supposed to be effective April 1, 2020 but was frozen for two months. The honeymoon is over, as from next Monday, consumers will pay five cents extra for each electricity unit. General purpose and small commercial prepayment will each have to pay a facility charge of E208.46 per month, which is money the businesses have to pay before they can load units. The businesses will now buy units at E2.41 each. Pre-payment Small commercial pre-payment business will have to pay a facility charge of E416.93 per month and will also buy a unit for E2.41. Also included in the structure is the time of use (TOU) tariff which mainly caters big companies, including industries. For domestic customers it means, they will now buy a unit at E1.80. This is a five cents increase from the current rate of 1.75 per unit. For E100 you will now receive about 55 units compared to the 57 on the current tariff. As a corporate citizen, EEC has made serious consideration on the economic challenges brought about by the pandemic. As the countrys economy slows down, trade flows are curtailed and movement is partial; EEC felt the need to put some measures in place to try and assist individuals and businesses that will be suffering the consequences of the economic crisis, EEC had said in an earlier statement late in March. EEC Head of Corporate Communications Khaya Mavuso yesterday confirmed that June 1 was the agreed date for increasing the tariffs and nothing had changed. The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) approved the average tariff increase of 1.03 and 1.05 per cent for 2020/21 and 2021/22, respectively. The new tariff for 2020/21 to be implemented in six days time was expected to reflect an increase of six cents per unit if EEC implemented the maximum percentage allowed by ESERA. The increment came after a break of about a year for consumers as in 2018, Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, had suspended tariff increments. With the approved percentages, Chief Executive Officer of ESERA, Vusimuzi Mkhumane, had said in an effort to balance the approved revenue requirement, EEC would be allowed to adjust the tariffs within a range of 2.5 percentage points above and below average of the approved tariff increase for each year. In essence, this means that from the 6.2 per cent tariff hike EEC had requested for domestic users, it was allowed to increase the tariff by a minimum of 1.03 per cent. If EEC was to implement the minimum permitted by ESERA, a domestic user was going to pay E1.77 per unit. This is equivalent to a two cents increment. The wait now is for the second leg of the tariffs in 2021/22 to be implemented in April 2021. In the proposed increment that was sought by the EEC and was approved, a 6.2 per cent increase was for domestic customers while 5 per cent and 5.5 per cent was for small commercial (non time of use) and time of use customers, respectively. Requirement The electricity provider had based its request on a revenue requirement of E2.391 billion in 2020/21 and E2.793 billion in 2021/22. Meanwhile, motor vehicle licences should be renewed by Friday. About two months ago, the Ministry of Finance, Treasury Department, had extended the renewal of Motor Vehicle licences ending March 31, 2020 to May 29 (this Friday) without attracting any penalties. The Ministry had discussions with the National Road Council and the National Disaster Task Force for the transport industry and a budget was set aside to assist with a small subsidy to keep the industry going during this time. Also deferred was the renewal of trading and company licences by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade. Communications officer in the ministry Thabile Mdluli said the grace period would be up until June 30. An economist, on condition of anonymity, conceded that the hike would derail most companies in distress, but felt there was nothing to be done if EEC felt another postponement could derail them. Consumer Association Chairman Bongani Bhanyaza Mdluli felt the hike came early, as the people had not recovered from the difficulties caused by COVID-19. For us we would like to see another postponement. As we speak, people are losing their jobs and the hike comes as a double blow. There are a lot of uncertainties at this moment, he stressed. Twenty new coronavirus cases were reported in Jharkhand on Sunday, taking the Covid-19 tally to 370 in the state, according to a government bulletin. The new cases were reported from Hazaribag (four), East Singhbhum (four), Garhwa (three), Koderma (two), Ranchis Bundu block (one), Ramgarh (three) and West Singhbhum (three). Of the total 370 cases, 196 are migrants who have returned to the state since May 1, the bulletin said. A total of 218 cases are active, while 148 patients have recovered so far, it said. Four persons have died of Covid-19 in the state, it added. The recovery rate in Jharkhand is 40 per cent as against the national rate of 41.28 per cent, while the mortality rate in the state is 1.08 per cent as against the national rate of 2.93 per cent, the Covid-19 bulletin claimed. A total of 5,265 travellers are under surveillance and asymptomatic, while 3,811 travellers have completed observation of 28 days, it said. According to the bulletin, 87,100 people are in various quarantine centres across the state while 2,38,367 people are under home quarantine. The tests of swab samples are being conducted at RIMS, MGM, Jamshedpur, PMCH, Dhanbad, and Itki Arogyashala in Ranchi. With five more persons recovering of the infection in Ranchi during the day, 100 of the 115 coronavirus patients have been cured in the state capital. Now the state capital has only 13 Covid-19 positive cases. Earlier, two had died in Ranchi and one each in Bokaro and Koderma, health officials said. In a statement on Sunday, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray appealed to the people to continue following the lockdown 4.0 guidelines to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus. He said people should venture out only if there is any work and they should wear masks and maintain social distancing. Ranchi has come out of the red zone and now it is in the orange zone, the DC said. As the Chinese Army has deployed over 5,000 of its troops on the Line of Actual Control at different locations in the Ladakh sector, the Indian Army is also increasing presence of its troops to match their strength and is also enhancing its presence in other areas to deter the People's Liberation Troops from carrying out transgressions in other areas. New Delhi [India], May 25 (ANI): As the Chinese Army has deployed over 5,000 of its troops on the Line of Actual Control at different locations in the Ladakh sector, the Indian Army is also increasing presence of its troops to match their strength and is also enhancing its presence in other areas to deter the Peoples Liberation Troops from carrying out transgressions in other areas. At present, the Chinese Army has diverted its troops carrying out a massive exercise on their side of the LAC and deployed them at short notice across the Line of Actual Control in the areas under the Indian Armys 81 and 114 Brigades deployed to counter the Chinese assertions from Daulat Beg Oldie and adjoining areas. Sources in the Indian Army said that the Chinese have moved in troops and heavy vehicles across the Line of Actual Control near the Pangong Tso lake and finger area and are well within the Indian territory. In the Galwan Nala area, the Chinese have walked in with troops from its road head nearly 10-15 km from the Indian post KM120 there who have pitched tents and are stationed close to it. Sources said the Chinese have been building their roads in the area opposite to the Indian positions for which objections were also raised from Indian side but they continued building infrastructure. In the Galwan area, the Indian Army has been building a bridge near the Indian patrolling point 14 near Galwan Nala over which the Chinese raised objections and have increased their presence there. At any time, the Indian post KM120 has 250 troops including men from both the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police as convoys pass through there but now the post has been reinforced with men and equipment to counter the Chinese aggression there. India is also using the airfield in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector to ferry in troops from the reserves and other areas to match the Chinese strength in the Eastern Ladakh sector. Sources said an old proposal is being revived to build an airfield close the Indian position along a road in the DBO sector where the Chinese wont be able to monitor the aerial movement on the Indian side. In other areas of eastern Ladakh under the 70 brigade, in Himachal sector and the central sector of the LAC including the border with Uttarakhand, the Indian Army has increased the presence of its troops and patrolling to check any attempts by the PLA to transgress in other areas. Sources stressed that as per the assessment on ground, the way Chinese have increased their troops on the ground, the own side was caught in for a surprise for a brief period. The ground commanders and the senior leadership are talking to Beijing to resolve the standoff at the earliest but not much progress has been made due to the rigid stand taken by the Chinese. (ANI) For all the latest National News, download NewsX App NPC deputy proposes a national data security law for information sovereignty Global Times Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2020/5/24 21:21:54 China should speed up the process of setting up a national data security law so as to strengthen the protection over personal privacy and establish a mechanism that guarantees China's data sovereignty facing global competition, Zheng Jie, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, proposed during the ongoing two sessions. Zheng is also the chairman of Zhejiang Mobile, the local branch of China Mobile - one of China's main three mobile carriers - in East China's Zhejiang Province. "China's big data industry is booming, especially in the combat against the coronavirus outbreak where big data plays a key role in epidemic prevention. But the wide application has also created a new series of issues that pose challenges to data security," Zheng told the Global Times over the weekend. For example, the risks of personal data being leaked and abused are building up, according to Zheng. And that's why China needs a detailed data security law to regulate how sensitive personal information such as human faces and fingerprints should be collected. A national law will also provide a beacon based on which regulators could crack down on criminal activities that infringe on personal privacy and punish those illegal activities accordingly. Zheng also stressed that as global data competition heated up, a data security law could also help supervise the flow of important data and safeguard China's data sovereignty right. "The US law said that the US has data sovereignty on the markets acquired by American companies, no matter what countries they provided service. The EU regulation also stipulates that every company that provides services and products to EU citizens are subjected to the general data protection rule. We will be put in a disadvantageous position if we don't establish such a mechanism soon," Zheng stressed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi: Two months after India grounded domestic flights to halt the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), passenger jets took to the air again on Monday, but only half of the scheduled operations could resume amid widespread confusion over operations and reluctance by some states to allow inbound travellers. States agreed with the Centre on Sunday to allow a graded reopening of flight operations after putting in place local measures to quarantine and isolate passengers to avoid a spiralling of infections. Numbers of flights operating across airports have been capped, with the Centre allowing only a third of domestic operations amid a national lockdown triggered by the pandemic. On Monday, however, about half of the estimated 1,100 expected flights had to be cancelled as airlines reconciled with the varying public health rules of states and reworked their flight schedules. An official said that 82 flights departures and arrivals were cancelled at the Delhi airport, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. At least 190 departures and 190 arrivals were previously scheduled for the first day from Delhi. Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said 532 flights carried 39,231 passengers on the first day of the resumption of operations. action has returned to Indian skies. With Andhra Pradesh set to resume operations from tomorrow & West Bengal from 28 May, these numbers are all set to increase further, he tweeted. According to a person aware of the developments, on May 22, bookings opened for around 1,100 domestic flights for Monday. The first flight took off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45am under strict regulations recommended by civil aviation authorities. Among the standard operating procedures are strict social distancing norms, hand hygiene rules and the use of masks. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna and it departed at 6.45am. At Delhi airport, hundreds of people anxious to catch a flight queued from before dawn all wearing masks and standing at least a metre apart. The flight cancellations resulted in many being stranded at the facility. There was not a single message or mail informing me that my flight has been cancelled. All of us who reached the airport today were mostly travelling in emergencies. If the airlines cannot keep the schedule on time, they must at least keep their passengers posted. This is sheer mismanagement, said a doctor who asked not to be named. Sunil Kujur, a retired government employee, woke up early on Monday after a phone call about his fathers death at their house in Ranchi. Within minutes, Kujur, a resident of west Delhis Uttam Nagar, booked two seats on an Air India flight to Ranchi for himself and his daughter. When it was time to leave for the airport, however, they learnt that the flight was cancelled. Instead of my morning flight, I had to book another flight that leaves in the afternoon. I was late for my fathers last rites, he said. Security personnel behind plastic screens verified check-in documents and that passengers had the government contact tracing app, Aarogya Setu, on their phones. Scenes of chaos were also reported at the Mumbai airport. Departure and arrival of 47 flights at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport was reported, with confusion owing to last-minute changes in flight schedules being the primary reason for the chaos. The authorities have capped the total daily flights operating out of the airport at 50. While the flight operations resumed early in the day, the Maharashtra government issued detailed guidelines for travellers later, mandating 14-day home quarantine, with such people required to be stamped on the left hand. IndiGo initially planned to start with about 430 daily flights while its low-cost rival SpiceJet said it would operate 204 flights a day and AirAsia India would start with 77 flights. The final number, however, was much lower amid curtailed operations. IndiGo said on Monday it planned to fly just over 200 daily flights until May 31. Before the outbreak of the highly contagious disease, which has killed at least 345,000 people around the world and bound millions to their homes, an estimated 2,700 flights operated in India daily. Flights to and from West Bengal will resume on May 28 and those operating from Andhra Pradesh will commence from May 26. Major flight cancellations happened due to this, several flights were scheduled to these states that had to be cancelled after yesterdays announcements. Overall, nearly 500 flights scheduled for Monday were cancelled, a civil aviation ministry official said, requesting anonymity. Responding on the state of affairs on the first day of operations, a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said: All of us are struggling to get it (flights) going. There are multiple stakeholders and multiple obligations. Instead of following the national guidelines issued by the Union government for all departing and disembarking passengers, many of the states have chosen to set their own rules: Karnataka requires mandatory institutional quarantine for passengers from worst-affected states, while Punjab and Meghalaya have made a swab test mandatory for arrivals. Several states said passengers will be taken to a facility only if they show symptoms of fever or cough in line with Union government guidelines released on Sunday and some decided to additionally mandate or suggest self-isolation for either 14 or 28 days, even if a traveller is asymptomatic. Some other states, such as Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh, said that only state residents will be allowed to enter the city from the airports. Three states Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have requested the Union government to reconsider the decision to allow domestic flight operations to resume as it could lead to a spike in infections. After holding several discussions with these states and airline representatives to resume operations a day earlier, the civil aviation minister on Monday tweeted: Indians soar in the skies again! He tweeted images of aircraft being tracked on flight tracking app Flightradar24, adding: [It] shows how our skies look busy again as domestic civil aviation recommences... The confusion on state-level restrictions over the last three days led to several queries from passengers on rebooking and cancellation, according to travel website MakeMyTrip. Lack of clarity and confusion on state-level restrictions and quarantine guidelines have resulted into a significant increase in customer queries on our platform, over the last three days. The-last minute updates from the states about travel restrictions has left many flyers anxious with most enquiries coming to us around rebooking options, cancellation and refund polices of respective airlines, a spokesperson for MakeMyTrip said. State-run Air India said that due to some last-minute decisions on general flight operations to certain states, flight schedules were redrawn late on Sunday evening by airlines, which could have led to some inconvenience to passengers. Air India is doing its best to extend all support to its esteemed pax according top-most priority to all safety norms and in sync with the flight movement and operational issues prevailing throughout its network, said an airline spokesperson. Experts said potential travellers are likely to be deterred by a lack of clarity on quarantine rules in different states. Its unfortunate there was no effective coordination between the states and central government. Each state has come out with its own rules, which is confusing and will compel only a few to fly, aviation law expert Nitin Sarin, a managing partner at Sarin & Co, told Reuters. Among those who travelled on Monday was Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda, who sparked a controversy by not undergoing quarantine on arrival in Bengaluru a Delhi flight. He said he came under the exempted category, being incharge of pharmaceuticals, an essential sector. File Photo Chandigarh: Corona cases are on the rise in India but in Punjab the cases are coming down day by day which are a very good sign. Corona cases are currently coming to light in Chandigarh. In such a case, there is speculation as to when the complete liberation from Corona will take place. CoronavirusA claim has been made by Punjab Central University (PCU) Bathinda and Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) Shimla. The joint study claims that the corona is expected to be extinct in northern India in late July or August. Advertisement The Sensitive Infected Rewards (SIR) model has been used for this study. This joint study is a study of potential cases, infected cases and cured patients from the SIR model. The number could rise from a minimum of 2,548 to a maximum of 4,708 by June 10. The death toll is expected to cross 200. At the same time, the study suggests that data patterns may change in the future. CoronavirusProf. of the Department of Physics, PCU, Ashok Kumar said cases were on the rise in India so far but the corona effect in the country was likely to end by the end of October. Advertisement By June 10, Corona's influence in Haryana will be over. The corona virus is expected to be eradicated from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh by the second week of August. In Uttarakhand, the corona is expected to end in the first week of June, while in Himachal Pradesh, the corona is expected to end by June. According to a study, Kerala has taken good steps to control corona from the beginning that is why Kerala is in the final stages at the moment. CoronavirusIn Delhi, it is expected to be end by second week of October, in Gujarat in the second week of September and in the second week of August in Jammu and Kashmir. Advertisement There are many cases in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Corona could remain in effect in both states until the second week of September. West Bengal and Odisha may have to wait till the first week of November or December. The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Sunday said it will take a special miracle ... The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Sunday said it will take a special miracle from God for Coronavirus to completely leave the world. Adeboye, who spoke during a live telecast to members of his church on Dove TV, charged Christians to trust in God because He could not be caught by surprise. The man of God insisted that just like other infections, Coronavirus would not go away in haste, but would remain in the world for a while. Coronavirus will not disappear completely. Just like flu, Cholera and Ebola, it wont leave the world completely. It will take a special miracle from God for it to leave the world completely. Many people will be grateful to God after this lockdown. Some people who dont spend time with their families will be grateful to God. Trust God that nothing takes him by surprise, he knows everything from the beginning and He is in charge, he stated. Adeboye added that he had told his members at the beginning of the year that this year (2020) the world is going to behave like a child in convulsion. l also told those of you who are my children: you are going to pass through this thing without a problem. Those of you who are genuinely my children, you will pass through the sea without even a touch of water on you. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fiery furnace, even the smell of fire was not on them. I want you to believe me because my Father does not lie: You will come out of this problem safe and sound. You must take the step of faith. I want you to put yourself in the position of the Children of Israel. Moses spoke, told them tomorrow will be alright, they saw the wind blowing, they saw a path opening up in the Red Sea, but it took an act of faith on their part to work into the middle of the Red Sea because on their right and left hand, there was a huge wall of water but they marched on. May l appeal to you, if you want to pass through whatever challenges you are facing, you better cross over to the right side. Cross over to Jesus Christ, He can make a way where there is no way. His name is the way. Surrender your life to Him. EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the next installment in a monthly series that will pose a question or topic chosen by managing editor Michelle Graves, with responses presented by members of the Benzie County Democratic and Republican parties. The author is chosen by the respective party and may change from month to month. Columns will be published on the last week of each month. This month's topic is recreational marijuana. Recreational marijuana establishments are opening or beginning to open in the area. Should communities accept these businesses or continue to block them from opening as some villages and townships are? What long-term affects will these businesses have on our communities and schools, children in particular? In November 2018, voters in our great state of Michigan were asked, by Ballot Proposal One, whether they wanted to allow marijuana to be legal in Michigan for recreational use, and a majority said yes. Of Michigans 83 counties, 50 voted in favor. (Michigan had already made marijuana legal for medical purposes.) In Benzie County, 9,727 Benzie County citizens voted on the question; those voting yes were more than the nos by a margin of 939. The duty of law enforcement professionals is to enforce duly passed laws regardless of our personal opinions. The new law is no exception; since passage, Benzie County officers have been performing our duty. It is no secret that prior to its passage, most sheriffs, police chiefs and prosecuting attorneys in Michigan spoke out publicly against passage, and continued to do so after a minimum 21 year age limit was set for purchase and possession, and parameters set prohibiting recreational marijuana in public places. Some of our concerns were and are: First, passage places us in a difficult position, because now we are required to implement conflicting laws. At the federal level, recreational marijuana remains illegal. We took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, State of Michigan Constitution and laws surrounding them. Secondly, we are concerned that our youth will think it is OK to use marijuana now that it is legal at the state level. With marijuana now one more product in the list of potentially health-impacting products, such as tobacco, alcohol and vaping that already tempt our youth, we worried that legalizing it might be a disservice to our young people. Another concern is that, with marijuana legalized, more people may be tempted to drive motor vehicles in an impaired condition. We already know that driving impaired with alcohol is a huge problem nationwide. We hope history is not repeated in this regard. While a majority of Benzie County voters in 2018 favored decriminalizing possession and use, the question remained whether stores selling marijuana could be set up here. The way Proposal One was crafted, townships and cities across the state were given the option to opt out; that is, they could prohibit the establishment of marijuana stores within their local jurisdictions. Many townships in Benzie County did opt out. However, the elected officials of the Board of Trustees of Benzonia Township did allow for such, with the result that, as of this writing, there are two establishments licensed by the state to conduct sales of recreational marijuana in Benzonia Township. It is probably doubtful that Benzonia Township will become overrun with recreational marijuana establishments because there are only 17,000-20,000 residents in our county to support these businesses. Granted other folks may drive to Benzonia for marijuana purchases, but we have a very small population of full-time residents. Statewide, as of Feb. 18, there are 47 recreational marijuana establishments in operation, including the two in Benzie County. As to the long-term effects that recreational marijuana might have on our community: We can only look to other states that have had this law a few years. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2012-2017, the percentage of Colorado drivers involved in traffic deaths went from 11.43% to 21.30% after recreational marijuana was legalized. Other states that have passed recreational marijuana laws have seen a decrease in alcohol sales by 20%. In Colorado, hospitalization and emergency room visits showed a steady increase due to marijuana from 2000 to 2015. However, Colorado is not experiencing an increase in youth using marijuana, and they attribute much of this to continued youth interaction and education about marijuana and its effects. The monetary value of having these two marijuana establishments in our community is not known at this time. One would think they would support local employees, and state and local license fees would be utilized appropriately. Kyle Rosa, is a 31-year veteran of the Benzie County Sheriffs Office and is the current undersheriff. He can be reached at (231) 882-4484. [May 25, 2020] Portugal closing in on national fibre coverage Sydney, May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Portugal outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Portugal-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Publication Overview This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Portugals telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include: Market and industry analyses, trends and developments; Facts, figures and statistics; Industry and regulatory issues; Infrastructure developments; Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU; Mobile Voice and Data Markets; Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless); Mobile subscribers and ARPU; Broadband market forecasts; Government policies affecting the telecoms industry; Market liberalisation and industry issues; Telecoms operators privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences; Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G). Researcher:- Henry Lancaster Current publication date:- July 2019 (18th Edition) Executive Summary Portugal closing in on national fibre coverage Portugal has a medium-sized telecom market with a strong mobile sector and a growing broadband customer base focussed on the delivery of fibre-based services. During the last few years the country has seen improving economic growth, following several years of austerity measures. Revenue among some operators remains under some strain, though investments in network upgrades are continuing in an effort to attract customers to high-end services. Portugals broadband penetration has grown steadily in recent years, largely the result of joint efforts between the regulator and the key market operators which have invested in significant infrastructure upgrades. These operators are also focussed on fibre-based services, resulting in a migration of subscribers from DSL infrastructure. Under the ownership of the Altice Group, Altice Portugal is focussed on FttP, aiming to cover 5.3 million premises by 2020, and providing national coverage. The cable sector has also shifted towards fibre, with the principal cableco NOS investing in fibre rather than DOCSIS upgrades. In addition, Vodafone Portugal provides fibre to about two-thirds of premises. Much of the growth in the fibre segment has resulted from shared infrastructure deals, including that between Vodafone and NOS. the government has also supported two open-access wholesale networks being built by dstelecom and Fibroglobal. The mobile market is dominated by the incumbent Altice Portugal though it remains under pressure from the other network operators Vodafone Portugal and NOS. The MVNO market remains largely undeveloped, partly because network operators have their own low-cost brands. Collectively, MVNOs have about 2.1% share of the market. Population coverage by 3G infrastructure is universal and so most investment has been directed to LTE and to incremental upgrades to network infrastructure. Operators have trialled 5G technologies, with a view to launching commercial services in late 2020. This report introduces the major elements of the Portuguese telecom market, presenting statistics on the fixed telephony sector as well as an analysis of the major market players. Additional information is provided on the key regulatory issues, noting the status of interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability and carrier preselection. The report also covers the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband markets, providing subscriber forecasts to 2023. In addition, the report profiles the mobile market, including statistics on network operators, a review of the key regulatory issues, a snapshot of the consumer market, and an analysis of mobile data services and technologies. BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions. Key developments: Altice Portugal ramps up fibre roll out, aiming for 5.3 million connected premises by 2020; Vodafone developing on fibre-network sharing agreement with NOS, retails 1Gb/s devices for customers; Fibre subscriber base grows 24% in 2018; Regulator sets schedule for release of 700MHz spectrum for 5G use; Vodafone achieves 1Gb/s downlink speeds in LTE-A trials; Decline in SMS traffic in wake of messaging alternatives; Altice Portugal to replace copper network with FttP by 2020, reports continuing revenue growth in Q1 2019; Regulator imposes wholesale tariff cuts for fibre access Report update includes the regulators maret data to Q4 2018, telcos operating and financial data to Q1 2019, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Altice Portugal (MEO), NOS (Optimus, Zon Multimedia), Vodafone Portugal, CTT, Lycamobile, Sonaecom, Cabovisao. Key statistics Country overview COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure Telecommunications market Overview Regulatory environment Historic overview Regulatory authority Privatisation Interconnect Access Fibre access Carrier PreSelection (CPS) Number Portability (NP) Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) Fixed network operators Introduction Altice Portugal Oni Communications Sonaecom Novis AR Telecom Jazztel (historic) NOS Telecommunications infrastructure National telecom network Next Generation Networks (NGNs) International infrastructure 2Africa submarine cable Data centres Broadband market Introduction and statistical overview Market analysis Broadband statistics Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks NOS Nowo (Cabovisao) Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks PT Portugal (MEO) Sonaecom Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) Other fixed broadband services Broadband over Powerline (BPL) Wireless broadband Mobile communications Market analysis Mobile statistics General statistics Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G (LTE) 3G Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Internet-of-Things (IoT) Mobile voice Mobile data Short Message Service (SMS) Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Mobile broadband Regulatory issues Spectrum regulations and spectrum auctions Roaming Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) Network sharing Major mobile operators MEO Vodafone Portugal NOS (Zon Optimus) Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Mobile content and applications M-payments Appendix Historic data Glossary of abbreviations Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Portugal 2018 Table 2 Cumulative ported fixed-line numbers 2009 2018 Table 3 Fixed-telephony service revenue 2015 2018 Table 4 Total fixed-telephony service revenue 2012 2018 Table 5 Sonaecom financial data 2006 2017 Table 6 Sonaecom financial data (old format) 2006 2012 Table 7 Sonaecom fixed-line subscribers by sector (historic) 2008 2012 Table 8 Fixed line telephony subscribers 2011 2018 Table 9 International internet bandwidth 2006 2016 Table 10 Multiband auction results 2012 Table 11 MTRs 2009 2012; 2016 2018 Table 12 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1999 2009 Table 13 Historic - Internet users and penetration 2000 2009 Table 14 Fixed broadband subscribers by type 2000 2008 Table 15 Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2000 2008 Table 16 Share of broadband accesses by operator (old format) 2010 2014 Table 17 Historic - Broadband subscriber annual change year-on-year 2002 2009 Table 18 Fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic per month per customer 2008 2017 Table 19 Proportion of broadband subscribers by data rate (Mb/s) 2011 2016 Table 20 Mobile subscribers and penetration 2000 2009 Table 21 Accumulated mobile number portings 2002 2008 Table 22 Outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2002 2009 Table 23 Mobile broadband revenue 2007 2015 List of Charts Chart 1 Change in pre-selection, call-by-call and VoIP connections 2009 2018 Chart 2 Increase in fixed direct telephone customers and penetration 2009 2018 Chart 3 Decline in Altice Portugals share of direct access customers 2005 2018 Chart 4 Change in multiplay services revenue 2015 2018 Chart 5 Decline in fixed-telephony traffic 2012 2018 Chart 6 Evolution in the share of fixed-line access installations by operator 2012 2018 Chart 7 Change in Altice Portugals fixed accesses by sector 2017 2019 Chart 8 Development of Altice Portugals financials 2014 2019 Chart 9 Altice Portugals revenue by service 2017 2019 Chart 10 Sonaecom financial data 2006 2017 Chart 11 Evolution of NOS financial data 2012 2019 Chart 12 Change in NOS subscriber base by platform 2012 2019 Chart 13 Fixed lines in service and teledensity 2005 2020 Chart 14 Change in the number and type of analogue and digital access lines 2005 2018 Chart 15 Development of VoIP and mobile voice accesses 2013 2018 Chart 16 Fixed-line multiplay revenue 2015 2018 Chart 17 Development of fixed broadband subscriber growth and penetration 2009 2023 Chart 18 Evolution in broadband subscribers by access type 2009 2018 Chart 19 Proportion of broadband subscribers by access type 2007 2018 Chart 20 Broadband subscriber annual change year-on-year 2009 2018 Chart 21 Evolution of fixed broadband penetration by platform 2007 2018 Chart 22 Share of broadband accesses by operator (new format) 2011 2018 Chart 23 Evolution of fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic 2008 2018 Chart 24 Cable DOCSIS3.0 connected premises 2010 2017 Chart 25 Growth in NOS cable broadband subscribers 2004 2019 Chart 26 Change in MEO broadband subscribers by platform 2016 2019 Chart 27 Growth in FttP/B connected premises 2010 2017 Chart 28 Growth in the number of FttX subscribers 2008 2018 Chart 29 Vodafone fixed-line broadband subscribers 2012 2019 Chart 30 Evolution of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2010 - 2023 Chart 31 Development of mobile sector revenue 2015 2018 Chart 32 Steady market share among mobile operators 2004 2018 Chart 33 Change in outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2009 2018 Chart 34 Change in mobile prepaid subscribers, proportion prepaid 20010 2018 Chart 35 Decline in mobile ARPU 2010 2019 Chart 36 Long-term drop in 3G video calls and traffic 2007 2017 Chart 37 Strong growth in M2M subscriptions 2012 2018 Chart 38 M2M sessions and traffic 2013 2017 Chart 39 Continuing strong growth in mobile internet traffic 2007 2018 Chart 40 Decline in SMS messages sent annually 2009 2018 Chart 41 Decline in SMS messages per subscriber sent quarterly (Q4) 2007 2018 Chart 42 Decline in MMS messages per subscriber 2007 2017 Chart 43 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2023 Chart 44 Roaming in call traffic volume and messages 2009 2018 Chart 45 Evolution of MEOs mobile subscriber base 2006 2019 Chart 46 Change in MEOs mobile revenue 2010 2019 Chart 47 Change in MEOs revenue by quarter 2016 2019 Chart 48 Change in Vodafone Portugal subscribers, proportion prepaid 2006 2019 Chart 49 Vodafone monthly ARPU: prepaid, contract and blended 2009 2019 Chart 50 Change in Vodafone financial data (year to Mar) 2007 2019 Chart 51 Evolution in NOSs mobile subscriber base 2009 2019 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 2Africa submarine cable Exhibit 2 2Africa landing stations Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Portugal-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Within Australia (02) 8076 7665 Outside Australia +44 207 097 1241 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Standing crops and vegetables in at least five states in the country face a major threat as swarms of locust have been reported a month in advance. The Union environment ministry warned in a statement last week that locust swarms have entered Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. It said Rajasthan is the most affected state and added the swarm has entered the country earlier than expected. Uttar Pradesh has also reported the attacks and there is an alert for Maharashtra as well as Delhi. The United Nations (UN) has warned that armies of locusts swarming across continents pose a severe risk to Indias agriculture this year. What are locusts? Locusts are the oldest migratory pests in the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). These insects differ from ordinary grasshoppers in their ability to change behaviour and form swarms that can migrate over large distances. The most devastating of all locust species is the Desert Locust (schistocerca gregaria), according to the FAO. The locusts, which are considered to be among the most dangerous pests known to humanity, reproduce fast 20-fold within three months the FAO experts noted. An adult locust can eat quantity equal to its weight daily, and just a single square kilometre of the swarm can contain up to 80 million adults, they said. Locusts can fly up to 150km daily and a one square km swarm can eat as much food as 35,000 people in terms of weight in a single day. What has pushed the outbreak? The recent locust outbreak along the India-Pakistan border may have been driven by the longer-than-usual monsoon across the region, and frequent cyclones in the Indian Ocean, scientists say. The current locust outbreak is the biggest in 25 years in Ethiopia and Somalia, 26 years in India, 70 years in Kenya, Keith Cressman, locust forecasting officer at FAO told PTI. The outbreak started after heavy amounts of rains over east Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune added. Koll noted heavy rains, which drove the locust outbreak, occurred due to intense storm activity sourced from the Arabian Sea during the last two seasons. Heavy rain triggers the growth of vegetation in arid areas where desert locusts can then grow and breed, he said. Koll explained that recently climate change accentuated the phenomenon called the Indian Ocean Dipole, with warmer than usual waters to its west, and cooler waters to its east. On top of that, the rising temperatures due to global warming made the Western Indian Ocean particularly warm, he said. Cressman said the current locust invasion in India by an unprecedented number of swarms originated in southern Iran from their breeding in spring last year. Summer breeding along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border was much higher than normal due to the swarm invasion and the monsoon rains lasting one month longer than normal, allowing up to three generations of breeding, Cressman said. What is the government doing? Authorities across the country have said they have stepped up vigil, deployed drones to detect their movement and held talks with Pakistan, the most likely gateway for an invasion by the insects, on ways to minimise the damage. The government is also considering importing equipment from the UK, apart from deploying drones, satellite-derived tools, special fire-tenders and sprayers at pre-identified border locations. Whats the latest status? On Monday, locusts were seen flying over Jaipur even as officials of the agriculture department said the swarm over the city was on its way to Dausa. Officials said the swarm that flew over Jaipur city came from Nagaur. More than half of Rajasthans 33 districts are affected by invasion by these insects, which are traditionally known to be attacking western Rajasthan districts bordering Pakistan. Swarms of locusts arrived in Malhargarh area of Madhya Pradeshs Mandsaur district on Sunday. Scientists from central locust team and agricultural science department conducted an exercise and removed around 60% of them by spraying, said Manoj Pushp, Mandsaur District Magistrate. The Jhansi district administration in Uttar Pradesh has directed fire brigade to keep its vehicle ready with chemicals following a sudden movement of a swarm of locusts. The villagers along with the common public has been told to inform the control room about the movement. The locusts will go places where there is green grass or greenery. Hence, details about the movement at such places must be shared, Andra Vamsi, Jhansis district magistrate, said. Kamal Katiyar, the deputy director of the agriculture department, said the swarm of locusts, which is moving, is small in size. We have got the news that nearly 2.5 to a 3-kilometre long swarm of locusts has entered the country. A team has come from Kota (Rajasthan) to tackle the locusts, Katiyar said. At present, the locust swarm is at Bangra Magarpur in Jhansi. Spraying of insecticides will be done in the night, Katiyar said. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chennai, May 25 : The amalgamation of 10 public sector banks into four has been working smoothly for the past two months without any heartburns as the employee benefit schemes have been extended to all the employees, said a top official of All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA). The AIBEA is the largest union in the banking sector representing the workmen category. According to C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary, AIBEA, while the information technology (IT) systems of the ten banks that were amalgamated into four are yet to be integrated, the amalgamation is working smoothly till now. "Each bank had its own employee benefit schemes. The scheme that is most beneficial to the employees were extended to all the employees of the amalgamated entity. This way heartburns were not created," Venkatachalam told IANS. "The next step is to draw up the career, transfer and other policies of the amalgamated entities taking into account the policies of individual banks. Till now bank branches have not been closed. But post lockdown there will be rationalisation of branches," Venkatachalam said. He said the merger of State Bank of India (SBI) and its five associate banks has been working smoothly and the same is expected to happen in the other bank mergers. "The amalgamation has happened in a friendly manner and not in a hostile way," Venkatachalam added. According to him, at the bank level there may not be a bias towards the employees of an amalgamated entities as the policies will be properly drawn. On the pending wage talks with Indian Banks' Association (IBA), Venkatachalam said the Covid-19 has resulted in an emergency situation for the country and the people and the priority is to safeguard the interest of the people. Venkatachalam also wondered about the fate of reserves built by Indian companies out of profits and why companies were not able to pay wages to their contract workers during the two month long lockdown. "The migrant workers' problem would not have arisen had only the corporates paid them even half their wages during the lockdown period. The Indian business stands exposed now," he said. Despite recent uptick in prices, Brent and WTI are down around 45 percent from their pre-coronavirus peaks. Oil prices remained steady on Monday edging up slightly in thin trading due to holidays in Singapore, London and New York, and as the market awaits a new round of OPEC meetings just two weeks away. Global benchmark Brent rose to $35.81 a barrel by 16:59 GMT, while United States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was flat at $33.74 a barrel. There was no US settlement because of the Memorial Day holiday. Despite the recent uptick in global and US crude prices, Brent and WTI still remain down approximately 45 percent from their pre-coronavirus pandemic peaks earlier this year. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a grouping led by Russia and known as OPEC+, are due to hold an online conference on June 9. Analysts believe the gathering is likely set the pace of crude price recovery for the latter part of 2020. Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak struck an optimistic tone on Monday, emphasising that he sees global crude demand and supply balancing out in the next two months. For now, the surplus stands at around seven to 12 million barrels per day. The energy ministry is counting on the market to balance out in June-July thanks to a consumption increase, the ministry quoted Novak as saying at a state council meeting on energy. The minister also said supply has already dropped by 14 to 15 million barrels per day (bpd) thanks to the OPEC+ deal and output cuts in other countries. OPEC+ agreed last month to cut their combined output by 9.7 million bpd, or roughly 10 percent of global production. The cartel and its allies expect other large oil producers, such as the US, Canada and Norway, to commit to additional cuts. The Russian energy ministry considers non-OPEC+ countries to have already cut output by 3.5 million to four million bpd, according to RIA news agency, which also said that Russian oil output volumes were near the countrys target of 8.5 million bpd for May and June. Production in the US is down, as well. The total horizontal oil rig count or actual drilling activity widely considered an important indicator of future output and consumer confidence alike fell to 218 rigs last week, a 65 percent decline from its mid-March peak, according to data from energy services firm Baker Hughes. Most of the production that was to be shut is now already shut, and producers count down until the day they will be able to recover some of the output thats put on ice, Rystad Energy wrote in a note on Monday. It is going to be a slow path to recovery, though. Diplomatic tensions Tensions between Washington and Beijing, the worlds largest oil consumers, over trade, human rights, the coronavirus pandemic, and Beijings plans to impose security legislation on Hong Kong are creating concerns about the outlook for a crude recovery. Meanwhile in the Caribbean, the first of five Iranian tankers carrying fuel for petrol-starved Venezuela entered the South American countrys exclusive economic zone on Saturday, despite warnings from the US. Both Iran and Venezuela are under US sanctions. The tanker, named Fortune, reached Venezuelas waters after passing north of the neighbouring dual-island Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, according to vessel-tracking data from Refinitiv Eikon. Venezuelan state television showed images of a navy ship and aircraft preparing to meet it. Nicolas Maduros government pledged that its military would escort the tankers once they reached Venezuelas waters. The flotilla is carrying a total of 1.53 million barrels of petrol and alkylate to the Latin American country, according to calculations by TankerTrackers.com. Washington is considering measures in response, a senior US official on Monday said without elaborating. Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now. Boris Johnson has said he regrets the confusion and anger caused by the Dominic Cummings row as he once again leapt to defend his embattled adviser. Johnson said he continued to back Cummings, after the senior aide had attempted to face down anger over his trip to Durham during the coronavirus lockdown with a special press conference in Downing Street on Monday. Johnson said: I cannot give unconditional backing to anybody, but I do not believe anybody in Number 10 has done anything to undermine our messaging. The former Vote Leave boss refused to apologise, claimed he acted reasonably and said he had no regrets in travelling 260 miles out of London to his parents home as it was to ensure childcare for his son. He also claimed a trip to the town of Barnard Castle - where he was spotted by a witness - was to have an eye test as he was worried his vision had been affected by coronavirus. Cummings also admitted that he did not inform the PM of his plans. Johnson, who led the Downing Street daily briefing on coronavirus later on Monday, said: Do I regret what has happened? Yes, of course I do regret the confusion and the anger and the pain that people feel, he said. Dominic Cummings, senior aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, makes a statement inside 10 Downing Street, Refusing follow-up questions to journalists, Johnson insisted Cummings had done nothing wrong. The PM said: To the best of my knowledge, Mr Cummings has just subjected himself to your interrogation for quite a long time now about these very detailed matters and has produced quite a substantial chunk of autobiography about what happened in the period from March 27 to April 14. I really feel that it would be wrong of me to try to comment further. I think people will have to make their minds up. I think he spoke at great length. To me, he came across as somebody who cared very much about his family and who was doing the best for his... Continue reading on HuffPost Turkey's health minister on Sunday announced 32 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll in the country to 4,340. Fahrettin Koca also tweeted there were 1,141 new infections confirmed in the past 24 hours. The total number of infections has reached 156,827. Turkey ranks ninth in a global tally by Johns Hopkins University but experts believe the number of infections could be much higher than reported. More than 118,000 people have recovered, according to the he alth ministry statistics. The Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, traditionally a time of gathering, was marked by a nationwide lockdown, the first of its kind in Turkey to combat the coronavirus. Previous weekend and holiday lockdowns affected a maximum of 31 out of 81 provinces. Senior citizens above 65 were allowed out for a few hours for a third Sunday. People under 20 and above 65 have been under full lockdown, but days and times outside have been allotted according to age groups as part of easing efforts. Also read: New biosafety labs announced in China amid lab-leak theory of coronavirus Also read: Coronavirus lockdown: Ivanka Trump lauds Bihar girl who cycled 1200 km carrying ailing father Sydney, May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Czech Republic outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Czech-Republic-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses The Czech Republic has a sophisticated telecom market which over the years has attracted investment from a number of major European telcos. The incumbent telco O2 Czech Republic remains the dominant player though alternative operators are gaining market share, partly through organic growth and partly through merger and acquisition activity. One significant deal was the acquisition of UPC Ceska Republika by Vodafone Group, which enabled Vodafones local unit to expand its business in the fixed-line segment. UPC, as well as its portfolio of services, has been rebranded under the Vodafone moniker. O2 CR has struggled to improve revenue growth in recent years, and in response it has transitioned itself to face market challenges. Among the changes was its reorganisation into separate business divisions and the spinning off of CETIN as a separate unit to manage the fixed and mobile networks while also operating as a national wholesale network provider. While the mobile sector is showing steady growth, underlying concerns that the market is insufficiently competitive have stimulated the regulator to provide for the entry of a new player at the multi-band spectrum auction scheduled for later in 2020. In addition, the government has amended the Telecommunications Act to improve pricing for end-users, and to ease the number portability process in a bid to stimulate competition and encourage operators to improve the quality of service offerings. All the MNOs have focused on growing revenue by marketing mobile broadband and other value-added services. While most investment in recent years has been earmarked for LTE, more recently the MNOs have focussed on preparing for 5G. Services are expected to be launched by the end of 2020 after additional spectrum is allocated. Growth in the Czech Republics fixed-line broadband market has slowed in line with higher penetration. The sector has more recently seen stronger growth in the cable and fibre sectors. The migration away from DSL has largely been due to the expansion of fibre networks, which are being built out by a number of telcos. Many of them are engaged in cooperative ventures, and also access wholesale services on CETINs fibre infrastructure. Covering developments in the market and regulatory environment, this report provides insights into the evolving fixed-line telecom market of the Czech Republic, offering statistics, profiles of the major operators and an assessment of deployed infrastructure. The report also covers the mobile market, providing an overview of the MNOs as well as developments in technologies and regulatory affairs. A range of market and company statistics provide insights into the state of both the mobile voice and data markets, as well as the performance and strategies of the key network players. In addition, the report reviews the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband sectors, profiling the key players, assessing access platforms and market trends, and providing broadband subscriber forecasts. BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions. Key developments O2 CR expecting half of its broadband services to be delivered by fixed wireless by end-2020; CETIN commits to extending fibre networks to an additional 143 rural zones; Regulator delays multi-spectrum auction for 5G to mid-2020; O2 CR withdraws most payphones; UPC Ceska Republikas services rebranded under the Vodafone banner; Broadband subscriber base shows steady growth; T-Mobile CR expands home LTE broadband service; T-Mobile prepares to close 3G services; Report update includes the regulator's monitoring report to April 2020, annual report and market reports for 2018, telcos' operating and financial data to Q1 2020, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report T-Mobile Czech Republic, GTS Czech, Eeske Radiokomunikace, MobilKom, BT, ED-Telematika, EEZ ICT Services, UPC Ceska Republika, O2 Czech Republic, Vodafone Czech Republic, Nej TV, RIO Media, Nordic Telecom (MobilKom, U:fon). Key Statistics Regional Market Comparison Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier Market Leaders Market Challengers Market Emergents TMI versus GDP Mobile and mobile broadband penetration Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration Country overview COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure Telecommunications market Government support Regulatory environment Background Regulatory authority Fixed-line developments Telecom sector liberalisation Privatisation Interconnect Carrier selection and carrier preselection Number Portability (NP) Access Mobile network developments Significant market power (SMP) obligations Roaming tariffs Mobile Termination Rates (MTR) 2G licences 3G licences Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Network sharing Spectrum auctions 3.6-3.8GHz 700MHz Spectrum allocations Mobile market Mobile statistics Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G (LTE) 3G GSM Analogue networks Other infrastructure developments Mobile voice Mobile data SMS and MMS Mobile broadband Major mobile operators O2 Czech Republic T-Mobile Czech Republic Vodafone Czech Republic Nordic Telecom (MobilKom/U:fon) Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Mobile content and applications Fixed-line broadband market Broadband statistics Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks Other fixed broadband services Broadband over Powerline (BPL) Fixed wireless broadband Wi-Fi Wireless local loop (WLL) WiMAX Fixed network operators Overview of operators O2 Czech Republic Sale to PPF Group CETIN Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa) GTS Czech CD-Telematika (CD-T) VOLNY Telecommunications infrastructure O2 CR Alternative operators Wholesale Smart infrastructure Internet of Things (IoT) Appendix Historic data Glossary of abbreviations Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities Czech Republic 2020 (e) Table 2 Change in telecom sector investment 2009 2018 Table 3 Development of telecom investment by sector 2009 2018 Table 4 ICT sector revenue 2010 2019 Table 5 Development of telecom revenue 2009 2019 Table 6 Development of telecom revenue by sector 2011 2018 Table 7 Decline in the number of fixed number portings 2009 2019 Table 8 Decline in the number of broadband accesses via LLU 2009 2018 Table 9 Growth in the number of mobile number portings 2009 2019 Table 10 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2009 2024 Table 11 Decline in mobile voice revenue by type 2009 2018 Table 12 Development of mobile retail and wholesale revenue 2011 2018 Table 13 Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2009 2018 Table 14 Change in the ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers 2009 2018 Table 15 Change in the share of T-Mobile CRs prepaid subscribers 2009 2019 Table 16 Change in the share of O2 CR prepaid subscribers 2009 2019 Table 17 Change in the share of Vodafone CRs prepaid subscribers 2009 2019 Table 18 Growth in the number of M2M connections 2012 2018 Table 19 Growth in mobile voice traffic 2009 2018 Table 20 Change in mobile voice traffic by type 2009 2018 Table 21 Growth in average mobile broadband data use per subscriber 2011 2017 Table 22 Change in the number of SMS messages sent 2009 2020 Table 23 Increase in the number of MMS messages sent 2011 2018 Table 24 Decline in SMS and MMS revenue 2009 2018 Table 25 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2024 Table 26 Growth in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers by type 2007 2018 Table 27 Change in the number of O2 CR subscribers 2006 2019 Table 28 Development of O2 CRs mobile service revenue (CZK) 2012 2019 Table 29 Development of O2 CRs mobile ARPU (CZK) 2012 2018 Table 30 Growth in the number of T-Mobile CRs mobile subscribers 2006 2019 Table 31 Growth in T-Mobile CR mobile service revenue 2009 2019 Table 32 Development of T-Mobile CRs blended mobile ARPU 2009 2019 Table 33 Change in the number of Vodafone CRs mobile subscribers 2008 2019 Table 34 Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by access type 2008 2018 Table 35 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 36 Fixed broadband penetration by type 2011 2019 Table 37 Growth in the number of cable broadband connections 2009 2018 Table 38 Growth in the number of Vodafone CRs broadband subscribers 2009 2020 Table 39 Change in the number of DSL/VDSL subscribers 2009 2018 Table 40 Growth in the number of T-Mobile CRs fixed broadband subscribers 2011 2020 Table 41 Change in the number of O2 CR broadband subscribers 2010 2020 Table 42 Growth in the number of fibre broadband connections 2009 2018 Table 43 Growth in the number of Wi-Fi / FWA connections 2009 2018 Table 44 Decline in fixed-line traffic 2009 2018 Table 45 O2 CR financial data (CZK) 2012 2019 Table 46 O2 CR revenue by sector 2015 2019 Table 47 Decline in the number of O2 CR telephony accesses by type 2011 2019 Table 48 Decline in the number of fixed-lines and penetration 2009 2024 Table 49 Historic Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 1995 2009 Table 50 Historic - Annual mobile number portings 2006 2016 Table 51 Historic - SMS messages sent 2003 2009 Table 52 Historic Ration of prepaid to contract subscribers 2001 2009 Table 53 Historic - T-Mobile CR prepaid subscribers 2005 2009 Table 54 Historic - T-Mobile CRs blended mobile ARPU 2004 2009 Table 55 Historic - O2 CR prepaid subscribers 2004 2009 Table 56 Historic - O2 CR prepaid subscribers 2004 2009 Table 57 Vodafone CR prepaid subscribers 2005 2009 Table 58 Historic - O2 CR mobile service revenue () 2005 2013 Table 59 Historic - O2 CR ARPU () 2006 2013 Table 60 Historic UPC CRs broadband subscribers 2003 2009 Table 61 Historic - O2 CR financial data () 2006 2013 Table 62 Historic - GTS Czech financial data () 2010 2015 Table 63 Historic - GTS Czech fixed-line subscribers 2013 2015 Table 64 Historic - Fixed lines and teledensity 1995 2009 Table 65 Historic - Fixed voice revenue 20l1 2015 Table 66 Historic - O2 CR naked DSL lines 2009 2014 Table 67 Historic - Broadband access revenue 2011 2015 Table 68 Historic - Internet users, subscribers and penetration rate 1998 2015 Table 69 Historic - Household use of broadband by access type 2005 2013 Table 70 Historic - Market share of broadband subscribers by fixed access type 2010 2015 Table 71 Historic - Market share of broadband subscribers by wireless access type 2010 2014 Table 72 Historic - Proportion of broadband connections by data rate 2011 2014 Table 73 Historic - SMS roaming charges by operator 2010 2015 Table 74 Historic - Data roaming charges by operator 2012 2015 Table 75 Historic - O2 CR broadband subscribers 2006 2099 List of Charts Chart 1 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders (top tier) Chart 2 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers (middle tier) Chart 3 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents (bottom tier) Chart 4 Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita Chart 5 Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 6 Scandinavia and Baltics: mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 7 Northern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 8 Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 9 Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 10 Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 11 Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 12 Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 13 Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 14 Change in telecom sector investment 2009 2018 Chart 15 Development of telecom investment by sector 2009 2018 Chart 16 Change in ICT revenue 2010 2019 Chart 17 Development of telecom sector revenue 2010 2019 Chart 18 Development of telecom revenue by sector 2011 2018 Chart 19 Decline in the number of fixed number portings 2009 2019 Chart 20 Decline in the number of broadband accesses via LLU 2009 2018 Chart 21 Growth in the number of mobile number portings 2009 2019 Chart 22 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2009 2024 Chart 23 Decline in mobile voice revenue by type 2009 2018 Chart 24 Development of mobile retail and wholesale revenue 2011 2018 Chart 25 Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2009 2018 Chart 26 Change in the ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers 2009 2018 Chart 27 Change in the share of T-Mobile CRs prepaid subscribers 2005 2019 Chart 28 Change in the share of O2 CRs prepaid subscribers 2004 2019 Chart 29 Change in the share of Vodafone CR prepaid subscribers 2005 2019 Chart 30 Growth in the number of M2M connections 2012 2018 Chart 31 Growth in mobile voice traffic 2009 2018 Chart 32 Change in mobile voice traffic by type 2009 2018 Chart 33 Growth in average mobile broadband data use per subscriber 2011 2017 Chart 34 Change in the number of SMS messages sent 2009 2020 Chart 35 Increase in the number of MMS messages sent 2011 2018 Chart 36 Decline in SMS and MMS revenue 2009 2018 Chart 37 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2024 Chart 38 Growth in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers by type 2007 2018 Chart 39 Change in the number of O2 CR mobile subscribers 2006 2019 Chart 40 Development of O2 CRs mobile service revenue (CZK) 2012 2019 Chart 41 Development of O2 CRs mobile ARPU (CZK) 2012 2018 Chart 42 Growth in the number of T-Mobile CRs mobile subscribers 2006 2019 Chart 43 Development of T-Mobile CR mobile service revenue 2009 2019 Chart 44 Decline in T-Mobile CR blended ARPU 2004 2019 Chart 45 Change in the number of Vodafone CRs mobile subscribers 2008 2019 Chart 46 Fixed-line broadband subscribers by access type 2008 2018 Chart 47 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 48 Growth in the number of Vodafone CRs broadband subscribers 2009 2020 Chart 49 Change in the number of DSL/VDSL subscribers 2009 2018 Chart 50 Growth in the number of T-Mobile CRs fixed broadband subscribers 2011 2020 Chart 51 Change in the number of O2 CR broadband subscribers 2006 2020 Chart 52 Growth in the number of Wi-Fi / FWA connections 2009 2018 Chart 53 Decline in fixed-line traffic 2009 2018 Chart 54 Change in O2 CR financial data (CZK) 2012 2019 Chart 55 Change in O2 CR revenue by sector 2015 2019 Chart 56 Decline in the number of O2 CR telephony accesses 2011 2019 Chart 57 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service, and teledensity 2009 2024 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment Exhibit 2 Access, the local loop and unbundling an overview Exhibit 3 2G spectrum 1999 Exhibit 4 Multi-spectrum auction 2013 Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Czech-Republic-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses (Bloomberg Opinion) -- American oil producers have cut much more output than you think. Their reaction to market forces has been bigger than official data suggest, and that means the U.S. is actually working alongside Saudi Arabia, Russia and other big oil producers, to help balance oil supply and demand even if that wasnt quite what President Donald Trump intended. Two sets of data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that crude production is now about 11.6 million barrels a day, down by between 1.2 million and 1.4 million barrels a day, or roughly 10%, from plateau levels reached over the just-ended winter, depending on whether you use the weekly or the monthly numbers. To put those U.S. figures into perspective, the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies agreed last month that they would each cut their production by 22% from baselines that, for the most part, reflected October 2018 levels. Early evidence from tanker tracking data monitored by Bloomberg shows that some, like Saudi Arabia, have made very quick, big steps toward that target; others, like Iraq, are lagging behind. But all the big OPEC producers including Iraq have increased their prices and cut allocations of crude to key customers for June, suggesting that compliance levels will improve. By comparison, the official figures suggest the U.S. has made much smaller production cuts. But those U.S. figures are probably underestimating the size of the reduction forced on American oil companies and underestimating it by a huge amount. The flow of oil going into the supply chain must balance the volume coming out. Thats just basic math. But if you add production, imports and crude taken out of storage tanks (the supply side of the equation) in the weekly EIA data, this doesnt equal the amount processed by refiners, used, exported or put into storage tanks (the demand side). The EIA acknowledges this difference by publishing a crude adjustment factor and, in absolute terms, that number is getting very big indeed. Story continues In the data for the week to May 8, the adjustment factor was reported as -914,000 barrels a day. Thats the most negative its ever been. Put simply, the EIAs numbers for last week were either over-estimating crude supply by 914,000 barrels a day, under-estimating demand by a similar amount, or some combination of the two. The amount of crude coming into, or being sent out of, the country is pretty well documented. So too is the amount going into and out of storage tanks and into refineries. So the most likely source of the discrepancy is the production numbers. If the adjustment factor does reflect an over-estimation of crude production, American oil companies could be pumping as little as 10.6 million barrels a day. That would be an output cut of almost 2.4 million barrels a day, or 18%, bringing them much closer to the reductions agreed to by OPEC and its allies. There is plenty more circumstantial evidence that the U.S. is producing less. There are now fewer rigs drilling for oil in the U.S. than there were even during the slump of 2016, when a collapse in oil prices brought about the end of the first shale boom. Consultancy Facts Global Energy published a note on May 1 arguing that company earnings reports signaled a potential 3 million barrel a day drop in U.S. production by the end of June. We would seem to be well on the way to that figure. Even though President Trump has sought to protect Americas oil industry and cajole others into cutting output to buoy up prices, the market seems to be making sure that the pain is being shared. But those deeper cuts, though involuntary, are helping to bring global supply and demand back into balance more quickly, and setting a firmer stage for the start of oils recovery. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Julian Lee is an oil strategist for Bloomberg. Previously he worked as a senior analyst at the Centre for Global Energy Studies. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. [May 25, 2020] Cambodia prepares for the launch of 5G services Sydney, May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Cambodia outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Cambodia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Cambodia prepares for the launch of 5G services Despite its status as a lesser developed country, Cambodias efforts to expand and upgrade its telecom infrastructure are bearing fruit. There were between eight and ten mobile operators vigorously competing with each other in a market segment that was growing at a rapid rate. A process of rationalisation followed, reducing the number of operators to only six. By 2019, compared to other Asian nations, Cambodia has very low fixed line and fixed-broadband penetration and low mobile broadband penetration. The number of fixed telephone lines in Cambodia is slowly declining from a small base as the mobile segment continues to expand and fixed broadband penetration remains very low and under-developed. The fixed broadband market remains highly under-developed in Cambodia. Over the past five years fixed broadband penetration has increased moderately from a very small base. Fixed broadband penetration is predicted to grow very strongly over the next five years from this very small base. The Cambodia market is currently dominated with low-quality residential broadband services. SINET, a Cambodian ISP specialising in the business and enterprise sector, began to address this by announcing the rollout of a nationwide FttP network. The mobile subscriber market peaked in 2015, however since then has seen penetration fall due to maturing market as well as market consolidation amongst the mobile operators and stricter implementation of laws regarding SIM card registration. Over the next five years to 2023 the market will move back to positive growth but at a relatively slow rate. Cambodia is well on the way on preparing for the rollout of 5G services. Cambodia has entered into a deal with Huawei to roll out 5G mobile infrastructure. Cambodias mobile broadband has grown sharply over the past five years from a small base driven by a mature mobile market. Strong growth is predicted over the next five years to 2023 but at a declining rate. The mobile broadband market will be driven by increasingly faster speeds offered by the mobile operators as they further roll out their 4G networks and eventually launch 5G networks. BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom ervices. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions. Key Developments: Cambodia preps for 5G network rollouts; SINET announces rollout of a nationwide FttP network. Mobile broadband shows continued strong growth; Fixed broadband gaining traction though from a low base; Report update includes the regulators market data for 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Key statistics Regional Market Comparison Country overview COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure Telecommunications market Market overview and analysis Regulatory environment Regulatory authority Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications (MPTC) Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia (TRC) New Draft Telecommunications Law Agreement with Chinese Government Fixed network operators Telecom Cambodia Viettel Digi Kingtel (Emaxx) Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network Optical fibre networks International infrastructure Introduction Satellite Greater Mekong Subregion Information Superhighway (GMS-IS) Cambodian-Vietnamese Super Highway Telecoms Network Submarine cable Fixed-line broadband market Background Broadband statistics Fixed-line broadband technologies Fibre networks WiFi WiMAX Mobile market Mobile statistics Mobile broadband Regulatory issues Spectrum auctions SIM Registration Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G / LTE Major mobile operators Operator statistics Smart Axiata Metfone (Viettel) CamGSM CadComms (QB) SEATEL CooTel Historic - Mfone (CamShin) Historic - Smart Mobile Historic - Beeline Cambodia (Sotelco) Digital media Broadcasting Digital Economy e-Education Appendix Historic data Glossary of abbreviations Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities Cambodia 2020 (e) Table 2 Decline in the number of fixed telephone lines in service and penetration 2010 2020 Table 3 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 4 Increase in internet household penetration 2008 2020 Table 5 Proportion of households with a computer 2007 2020 Table 6 Increase in international internet bandwidth 2010 2018 Table 7 Lit/Equipped International Bandwidth Capacity 2015 2018 Table 8 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 9 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 10 Mobile subscribers and market share by operator 2018 Table 11 Smart Axiata: mobile subscribers 2007 2018 Table 12 Metfone (Viettel) mobile subscribers 2009 2018 Table 13 MobiTel (CamGSM) mobile subscribers 2008 2018 Table 14 Cadcomms mobile (3G) subscribers 2008 2018 Table 15 Historic - Mobile Subscribers and Penetration 1995 2009 Table 16 Historic - Mobile services sector estimated ARPU 1998 2012 Table 17 Historic - Fixed telephone lines in service and penetration 2006 2009 Table 18 Historic - Fixed telephone lines in service and penetration 1995 2006 Table 19 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2005 2009 Table 20 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2005 2009 Table 21 Total international internet bandwidth 1999 2009 Table 22 Historic - Mobile Operators and Systems Table 23 Historic - MobiTel: 3G subscribers 2006 2013 Table 24 Historic - Metfone (CamShin) mobile subscribers 2003 2012 List of Charts Chart 1 Asian Telecoms Maturity Index by Market Category Chart 2 Asian Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita Chart 3 Telecoms Maturity Index South East Asia Chart 4 - Decline in the number of fixed telephone lines in service and penetration 2010 2020 Chart 5 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 6 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 7 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Key market characteristics by market segment Exhibit 2 South East Asia - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Cambodia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WELLSTON Police reported that two people died Sunday morning after a shooting incident that spanned several areas in Manistee County and involved multiple law enforcement agencies. According to the Manistee County Sheriffs Office, a 28-year-old Bear Lake man died after suffering numerous gunshot wounds. Late Monday morning, the office identified him as Aundre Lamont Hernandez II. A news release from the office stated that deputies and EMS responders were dispatched to the 4300 block of Potter Road at about 7:31 a.m. The office stated that witnesses reported seeing someone pull into the driveway and then shot the Hernandez several times and left. Then at 8:37 a.m., Manistee County Central Dispatch received a complaint about shots being fired on the 14000 block of Coates Highway in Dickson Township. Deputies went to the scene and found no one was hit by the bullets and described the vehicle as similar to the one used in the earlier incident, reads part of the release. It is believed the suspect was attempting to car-jack a vehicle. The sheriffs office reported that a search of the area followed and the suspect was located in Wellston. Late Monday morning, the sheriff's office identified the suspect as Stephen Gene-Henry Shawnoski. Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers from the Cadillac Post also assisted with the investigation. According to a Sunday news release from MSP, Troopers converged on Wellston to an address on Spruce Street where a possible suspect vehicle was observed. As troopers approached the residence, they learned the suspect had just left there five minutes prior on foot, reads part of the MSP release. Troopers were approached by a nearby resident who stated that the suspect just attempted to steal his vehicle and then ran into a nearby swamp. Police then reportedly created a perimeter and the suspect appeared on Spruce Street walking northbound. The release said the 27-year-old male suspect pointed a firearm in the direction of a trooper before shooting himself with his own firearm. Troopers approached the suspect, took him into custody, and attempted lifesaving measures until EMS arrived and transported him to (Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital), the news release states. According to MSP, the Shawnoski was pronounced dead while en route to the hospital. Both releases stated that there is no threat to the public. According to an email from Manistee County Sheriff, Ken Falk, This investigation is ongoing and I would like to reiterate that the public is not in danger. I would also like to thank all the agencies who assisted in this investigation. Also assisting at the scenes were MSP Crime Lab, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Department of Public Safety, Manistee City Police, SSCENT Narcotics team, Onekama EMS Rescue team, Norman Township EMS Rescue and Northflight EMS. The sheriffs office news release states that an autopsy will be conducted on both who died. As of Monday, the sheriff's office said the investigation is still in progress. You are here: China The Chinese mainland reported 11 new imported COVID-19 cases Sunday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,724, the National Health Commission said Monday. The new imported cases were reported in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Sichuan Province, the commission said, adding that no new suspected cases were reported. Of the total imported cases, 1,678 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 46 remained hospitalized with one in severe condition, the commission said. No deaths had been reported from the imported cases. The coalition, which has offered proposals that helped the state make advances on homelessness in recent years after decades of inaction, is now offering a three-pronged strategy to fund more services, create more low-income housing, and move the homeless into family-supporting jobs with an annual cost of $70 million. Think of it: One in five Wisconsinites are out of work and all but the most starry-eyed believe that many of those jobs will come back any time soon, and it is still possible that we could see another wave of the virus in the fall, coalition executive director Joseph Volk said. I think Wisconsinites are going to be horrified at what they see in terms of visible homeless. They will see homeless camps populated by families with children, and I think the public pressure for the state to act will be tremendous. "Today, the President has taken decisive action to protect our country by suspending the entry of aliens who have been in Brazil during the 14-day period before seeking admittance to the US," the White House said in a statement on Sunday. Washington: The White House has announced travel restrictions on Brazil due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected 3,63,211 people in the South American country, the second highest case tally in the world after the US. The statement said the action would "help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country", noting that this measure would not apply to the flow of commerce between the two countries, reports Xinhua news agency. The order will come into effect at 11.59 p.m. on May 28, according to the White House. The entry ban affects foreigners who have been in Brazil 14 days preceding their entry into US territory, but does not affect US citizens and permanent residents of the country, as well as those who meet exceptions provided by President Donald Trump's administration. Earlier in the day, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said in an interview with CBS News: "I think that we'll have to take a decision today with respect to Brazil, and just like we did with the UK and Europe and China, and we hope that'll be temporary." "But because of the situation in Brazil, we're going to take every step necessary to protect the American people." When asked if the upcoming travel restriction would also expand to other countries in the Southern Hemisphere, O'Brien said that the US would "take a look at the other countries on a country-by-country basis". A senior Trump administration official told Efe news in a statement that between May 11-17, almost 1,800 travellers entered the country from Brazil and that each week more than 1,500 passengers arrive at US airports on flights from Brazilian territory. Trump has spoken twice in the past two months with his Brazilian counterpart, Jair Bolsonaro, about their shared fight against COVID-19, the senior official said in the statement. The Trump administration has also prohibited arrivals from China, Iran and Europe from entering the US and in the wake of the pandemic, the US also closed land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential traffic. The US State Department's travel advisory remains at Level 4, which instructs its citizens to avoid all international travel amid the global pandemic. Kyiv Sikorsky Airport facing bankruptcy amid COVID-19 without state support 17:58, 25.05.20 1671 Prior to the lockdown, the airport served 100,000 passengers per month. During a panel discussion with political advisors on Saturday, President Xi Jinping shared a story that drew a burst of laugher, when talking about lifting Chinas final remaining poor families out of poverty. President Xi Jinping visits national political advisors from the economic sector attending a joint panel discussion at the third session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing, capital of China, May 23, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua) He recalled a conversation he had when serving as an educated youth in Liangjiahe village, Yanchuan county, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, from 1969 to 1975. I was in hunger at that time, and asked the residents there what a happy life is. They gave several answers. The advisors listened to him carefully. Xi continued, The first target is no longer begging so they can feed themselves no matter what, bran or grain. The second is they wished they could have food made of just sorghum or maize, without mixing it with other coarse grains such as bran, Xi said. The third is to be able to eat whatever they want: either refined grains or meat, Xi said. But this wish was considered unattainable and they said its their wish in their next life. What Xi said aroused laughter among the audience. Within just four decades, these wishes have already come true. Problems of adequate food and clothing have been solved, and China is achieving a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Xi said after given answers of those three wishes, he asked the residents if they have any bigger wishes. They said they can do farm work with a golden shoulder pole, Xi said. The audience burst into laugh again. I think this goal is also being achieved, Xi said. The golden shoulder pole can be interpreted as the modernization of agriculture, Xi explained, adding that the key to addressing problems in agriculture under new circumstance lies in the structure of agricultural products, anti-risk capability, and the current level of agricultural modernization. Xi stressed the importance of food security. Although difficulties in grain sales have occurred due to oversupply following bumper harvests for years running, efforts to ensure grain production and security shouldn't be slacked in the slightest, Xi noted. A stable supply of grain and other key agricultural and sideline products has played a significant role in social stability amid the COVID-19 epidemic, Xi pointed out. If you have enough food, you wont panic. This is always true, Xi said. (Compiled by Huang Jingjing and Ma Wenqian) NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday met with Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari at Raj Bhavan here. The NCP claimed that the meeting took place on the invitation of the governor and no political issues came up for discussion. Speaking to reporters after leaving Raj Bhavan, senior NCP leader Praful Patel said it was a courtesy meeting at the request of Koshyari. When asked whether Pawar and the governor discussed any political issues, Patel said, "It was a routine meeting between them. It was not about any particular political issue or topic". However, the timing of the meeting is significant as it took place against the backdrop of strained relations between the Shiv Sena, which heads the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of which the NCP is one of the key constituents, and the Raj Bhavan. Pawar was one of the key leaders from Maharashtra who had openly complained about Koshyari's "intervention" in the functioning of the state administration. Recently, the governor had taken a strong objection to a letter written by state Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant to the University Grants Commission, recommending cancellation of final year university exams. In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Koshyari had said that "not conducting the final year examinations by universities amounts to breach of UGC guidelines". He also asked Thackeray to issue suitable instructions to Samant for his "unwarranted intervention". Earlier in the day, an editorial published in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' slammed the governor for being in favour of conducting final year university exams in the state, and said health of students cannot be put at risk amid the COVID- 19 crisis. The Sena had also expressed its displeasure with Raj Bhavan over "frequent meetings" between Opposition BJP and the governor. Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis had recently complained to the governor about the "failure" of the Thackeray government in handling the COVID crisis. Last week, Thackeray, who heads the Sena, had skipped a meeting called by Koshyari to take stock of the situation. Earlier, the Sena had criticised Koshyari when he did not act on the Maharashtra Cabinet's recommendation in April to nominate Uddhav Thackeray as member of the state Legislative Council from the governor's quota. Thackeray was eventually elected unopposed to the Upper House earlier this month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pennsylvania reported 473 new COVID-19 infections and 15 new deaths on Monday, continuing a recent downward trend in cases. The numbers come as Pennsylvania has entered the period where an upturn in cases triggered by Pennsylvanias gradual reopening might begin to show. State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine on Monday urged state residents to continue with social distancing and steps which state officials believe have slowed spread of the disease and prevented hospitals from being overwhelmed. As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place, she said. We must continue to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, which includes our seniors, those with underlying health issues, our healthcare workers and our first responders. I am proud of the work that Pennsylvanians have done so far, but we cannot stop now, we must continue to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from COVID-19. Monday marks the 17th day since 24 Pennsylvania counties moved into the yellow phase of reduced restrictions. Experts said it would take about two weeks for an upturn to show, since it can take that long for someone to develop symptoms and their test result to get reported to the state. However, there could be an additional lag because of some labs not reporting results over the weekend and on Memorial Day. Thirteen more Pennsylvania counties went to yellow on May 22, including Cumberland, Perry and York. Eight more are expected to move to yellow on Friday, including Dauphin, Lebanon and Franklin. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania had plenty of hospital beds and ventilators available as of noon on Saturday. According to the health department, about 38% percent of intensive care beds were available, along with 45% of the total supply of hospital beds. More than two-thirds of breathing ventilators were available. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. An outbreak of COVID-19 has infected nearly 30 percent of the Mercer County Correction Centers 302 inmates, county officials acknowledged. Positive cases of the deadly virus jumped from five as of May 12 to 88 nine days later, county officials said, with results of least another 50 tests pending. Officials insisted nearly all the inmates who are positive for the virus were asymptomatic, which is contradicted by what dozens of inmates and their loved ones told The Trentonian in interviews over the past week. Some of the inmates exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms were allowed to remain in general population for weeks until positive test results returned, increasing the chances that theyd infect other inmates, attorneys and inmates said. Many of the inmates interviewed by The Trentonian said they experienced hallmarks of the respiratory disease, including fever, body aches, chills and loss of taste and smell. Conditions have grown so dire inside county lockup that detainees organized a dayslong hunger strike to force a meeting with Warden Charles Ellis over concerns about the escalating crisis behind the jail walls. The county disputed that the hunger strike happened, but the newspaper interviewed several inmates who acknowledged participating in it. There is no organized hunger strike, county spokeswoman Julie Willmot said Monday. Staff report that everyone is accepting their meals. The hunger strike has since ended, but tensions ran so high over it that a detainee was attacked for refusing to participate, several inmates said. Making matters worse, the victim of the attack, 24-year-old Dayshawn Rattley, confirmed to The Trentonian that he was one of the 88 detainees who is positive for COVID-19. The county claimed the incident arose from a personal dispute outside the jail. Rattley did not intimately know the man who attacked, calling him an associate, and insisted the attack stemmed from his refusal to participate in the hunger strike. They been losing their mind because of the coronavirus, said Rattley, who suffered burns to his face and chest after an the inmate scalded him with hot coffee and used a mop stick to beat him over the head, requiring 16 stitches to close the wound. The crisis in county lockup is one faced by institutions across the state and country. New Jersey has one of the highest prison death tolls in the U.S. behind only Ohio, Michigan and federal prisons that have reported more deaths, according to data compiled by The Marshall Project. While Gov. Phil Murphy announced universal testing for inmates and staff weeks ago to try to stem the rate of infection and mortality, Mercer County jail officials initially resisted a union-backed push for universal testing, until after the state recently declared an outbreak at the facility. The outrage might have been ratcheted up if not but for the fact that, unlike many state corrections institutions, Mercer County jail hasnt suffered a single death something county officials point to as evidence of their success combating the virus. But detainees and their loved ones fear its a matter of time before the jail suffers its first fatality unless robust measures are adopted to stop the deadly plague. I think its going to take somebody to actually pass for this to blow up, said one detainee who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. Its being swept under the rug. Theres a lack of humanity from the medical staff. They, very bluntly, dont give a f**k, and the administration is a joke. Detainees pointed to the countys initially reported numbers as artificially low claiming the county was attempting to minimize the virus spread. Attorneys pointed to a lag in accuracy of the positive cases in sworn certifications from Ellis. In response to those concerns, the county said Monday that universal testing was underway. Level of Outbreak At least 15 corrections officers and two civilian employees tested positive for COVID-19, 10 of whom are are still out on leave, county officials said. Donald J. Ryland, president of PBA Local 167, told The Trentonian in a recent interview that the union asked the Mercer County administration to test every single correction center officer and civilian employee for COVID-19. They havent given a formal response yet, Ryland said of the administration. I believe they are examining the request of the union, but we havent had a formal response yet. They are moving to have all of the detainees tested. Theres a sense of urgency, but there is hope the county will be moving to have the staff tested as well. County spokeswoman Julie Willmot said in an email the county is working with a contracted health officer in Hopewell Township who recommended all staff who have not been tested should be tested as soon as practical. That posture changed from what it was May 12, when the county refused COVID-19 testing for all employees believing negative results provided few guarantees and testing officers daily or routinely would give a false sense of security. Reliability of COVID-19 tests has been debated, but researchers at the University of California found that the serological tests they compared had less than a 5 percent chance of producing false positives. Mercer County officials expect to begin testing staff this week at the county-run test site or at a mobile test site set up at the corrections center, Willmot said. The decision comes after more than half the detainees tested at the county jail (88 out 173) came back positive for COVID-19. Many prisoners reported learning of the results late last week. Sickened detainees have been quarantined from the general population in a dormitory-style setting that is nearly impossible to social distance, the inmates said. County officials dubbed the Medical Social Distance Unit, where the inmates are treated and observed for symptoms. Detainees exhibiting symptoms were not sent to the medical quarantine unit until positive test results came back, inmates and attorneys said. Many point to the lack of stringent quarantine protocols in the early stages of the pandemic as one of the primary reasons the jail now is contending with an outbreak. Trenton-based attorney Robin Lord said detainees were kept in a Petri dish. They had a protocol where they treated them as if they had the flu and then sent them back into general population, Lord said. If they didnt get better, then they would test them for COVID-19. Took an outbreak for them to realize what they were doing was wrong. Many inmates reported that a nurse delivered news of their positive results in a mass announcement. The inmates demanded paperwork proving the results so they could provide to their loved ones and attorneys but were delayed getting those results after jail officials demanded they sign HIPAA waivers in order to disclose the medical records. Some inmates viewed the move with increasing suspicion feeling it was a way of officials trying to keep word from getting out about how widespread the outbreak is at the jail. Furthering that school of thought, the county does not post the daily number of infected inmates and jail workers on its website, like the state Department of Corrections, and The Trentonian had to inquire about the latest numbers in order to learn of the extent of the problem. Willmot said aggregate numbers are included in the countys coronavirus ticker for Hopewell Township, and shed check with officials about whether thats something theyd consider disseminating on the website in the future. That being the case, the tracker shows an astonishing 71 percent of the townships 124 reported cases are inmates lodged at the county jail. Inmates Speak Out Lord said more than a dozen of her 16 clients at the county jail have symptoms of the virus. Walter Mason, 39, is one of the inmates represented by Lord. Hes been bothered for weeks by a constant cough and felt like he had water on my lungs, among other symptoms, for weeks. The warden was saying were safe [in here]. We caught COVID-19, he said. Theyre treating us like animals. It feels like hell. They cant quarantine us in the dorm. Theres no way to practice social distancing at all in here. Jerome Koon, 27, has been lodged at the county jail since he was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Fargo, North Dakota in October on a felony warrant for failure to appear in court for a weapons charge. Theyre trying to make it like this building is contained and they have it under control, he said. Were hoping to expose whats going on in here this is nonsense. Theyre failing us, and theyre continuing to fail us. Lord has only sprung one of her clients from the jail despite filing court papers to compel release for those not accused of violent offenses, hoping that would increase judges likelihood of taking the motions seriously. One of Lords clients compared the virus in the jail to being on death row waiting to die. Theyre literally playing god with lives, she said. Ive got mothers texting me crying. I said to them, Nobody cares. Ive made these arguments and nobody seems to care. I feel like the judiciary and the criminal justice system has turned their backs on these fellow human beings. Its just not right. In March, the state Supreme Court ordered low-risk county inmates released amid the pandemic. And Murphy signed an executive order that paved the way for medical furloughs for older and non-violent offenders most susceptible to the virus. But attorneys in Mercer County complained pretrial detainees, still presumed innocent while incarcerated awaiting trial, are among the forgotten prisoners of New Jersey. Also among those 88 infected at MCCC are Jaquan Reddick, 34, Mark Smith, 30, Charles Bethea, 50, and Andre McMullen, 29. Parole is literally making me stay in this and put my life at risk, said Reddick, who was arrested in February on weapons offenses. They arent doing anything but taking our temperature, Smith said. Bethea, 50, called the jails efforts reactive rather than proactive. Its more like a third-world country than a place in America, he said. They take our temperatures as if thats the holy grail. McMullen, 29, was arrested in Trenton on Oct. 22, 2019, and charged with drug offenses and unlawful possession of a handgun. A judge last fall ordered McMullen to be jailed without bail. He pleaded guilty to weapons offenses on March 2 and was sentenced May 8 to five years of incarceration, according to court records. McMullen tested positive for coronavirus this month and has not yet been transferred to a state prison, according to his mother. She said her son is one of 16 inmates in the southeast tier who contracted the infectious disease and that 13 more inmates in another southeast tier also tested positive. My son calls me every day, Karen McMullen said. They are in there sick. Its really sad. He said his chest and head hurts so bad. He said, Mom, youve gotta do something; they are doing nothing for me. He says, Youve gotta help me. I just broke down, because that is my son. He cant breathe. He needs to be on a ventilator. My son could die. Karen McMullen said the condition of the jail doesnt help. Officials have pushed to relocate as many as 300 inmates to Hudson County, a plan that was passed by the county freeholders but has been halted while a lawsuit brought by the state public defenders office plays out. The correction center in recent years has underwent a series of repairs for issues including broken plumbing in many living units; rust and mold present in many living units; insufficient number of operable showers, toilets, and washbasins for the number of inmates housed in most living units at capacity; and damage to walls with cracks and or missing blocks, according to a September 2019 report issued by NW Financial Group LLC. Inmates and workers are in close quarters as the jail had 219 uniformed officers and 46 civilian employees as of 2018, according to NW Financial. How jails are designed it is difficult to social distance and space detainees out just in how jails are composed, Ryland said, so we would definitely want the county to be proactive to try to get a grip on things. Lord, the hard-charging defense attorney, believes officials are reluctant to admit theyve lost control as the virus takes hold of the county corrections center. Dont ask dont tell, she said. Thats their f**king motto. Tammy Hembrow has revealed the terrifying moment she thought somebody had broken into her home. The fitness influencer, 26, was so frightened that she called police to her property on Queensland's Gold Coast. The mother-of-two described the ordeal in a YouTube video on Saturday, telling fans she had feared for her life. Terrifying: Tammy Hembrow (right) has revealed she once called the police and armed herself with a knife when she thought someone was breaking into her home. Pictured with her younger sister Starlette Thynne (left) Tammy, who lives with her children, Wolf and Saskia, in a $2million home in Benowa, armed herself with a knife as she waited for police to arrive - only to discover it was a false alarm. 'I've called the police to my house a few times,' she admitted. 'One time, I heard a noise and I was literally, like, standing in the corner of my house with a knife, ready to fight someone.' 'I was ready to fight someone': Tammy, who lives with her children, Wolf and Saskia, in a $2million home in Benowa, armed herself with a knife as she waited for police to arrive False alarm! 'I called the police and the police came and there's, like, nothing. I was just being, like, crazy,' Tammy said in a YouTube video on Saturday 'I called the police and the police came and there's, like, nothing. I was just being, like, crazy,' she added. It's not surprising Tammy was extra cautious about a potential intruder, as many celebrities are stalked by obsessed fans. Tammy's ex-fiance, Reece Hawkins, revealed in 2017 that fans had once tracked down their house by searching for their 'pool shape' on Google Maps. You can never be too careful: It's not surprising Tammy was extra cautious about a potential intruder, as many celebrities are stalked by obsessed fans In a vlog from 2017, he explained that his friend had 'overheard someone talking about how they had found Tammy's house'. 'They were like, "I went on Google Maps, found the shape of their pool from their photos, and knew they lived in that suburb,"' he said. Tammy and Reece announced their separation in June 2018. After a challenging few months, they now amicably co-parent their two children. Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week? local A Co Tyrone secondary school has paid tribute after the death of a former vice-principal. Wallace Lambert passed away peacefully at his home on Clabby Road in Fivemiletown last Tuesday. He has been remembered for his many long years of dedicated service to Fivemiletown College. The school said Mr Lambert, who had taught physics, always had a smile on his face and a kind word to say. A spokesperson said: "It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the passing of our dear friend and former colleague Mr Wallace Lambert. "Many of our current pupils will not remember him but parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles will no doubt recall our former vice-principal, who was so dedicated to our school. "Mr Lambert was a true gentleman who lived his life based on strong Christian principles, he was gracious, kind and caring. "His retirement after 38 years of dedicated service did not lessen his links with the school. "Mr Lambert remained a member of Fivemiletown College board of governors until very recent years and was a great supporter of the school, regularly attending concerts and events as well as our annual prize distribution service. "He no doubt would have featured heavily in our 60th anniversary celebrations this year, where he would have been called upon to share his memories and some of the many wonderful photographs he had of days gone by. "Mr Lambert always had a smile on his face and a kind word to say, he dearly loved the school and the local community of Fivemiletown. His legacy lives on in Fivemiletown College, a school at the heart of the community, which is continuing to go from strength to strength." Mr Lambert is survived by his wife Jean, son Jonathan, daughters Alison and Sharon, sons-in-law Matt and Adrian and granddaughters Eve and Erin. His funeral took place on Saturday. A teenager who was fined for going on a driving lesson with her mum during the coronavirus lockdown has been hit with another penalty, despite police admitting they were wrong. Hunter Reynolds, 17, was stung with a $1,652 on the spot fine for unnecessary travel while driving with her mum in April. The duo had travelled about 30km from their Hampton home to Frankston in Victoria. Police later withdrew the fine after her story sparked public outrage. However, last week Hunter got a surprise in the mail. She was sent a reminder informing her she still owed $1,652 and a late fee for not paying the fine. Hunter Reynolds was fined $1,652 for taking a driving lesson with her mother during coronavirus restrictions The teenager plans to contest the fine, which was branded 'non-essential travel' on the ticket (pictured) 'Its just disappointing for a young girl, when she opened that letter, we felt horrible when shed been told it was all done and dusted,' Hunters dad Shane Reynolds told the Herald Sun. 'I just want it fixed for her. 'She has obeyed the rules 100% during the pandemic, she hasnt seen a single friend during the lockdown, shes only been out of the house to go to work.' Victoria Police said the letter had been sent in error as the fine had been withdrawn. 'Victoria Police can confirm it has withdrawn the fine issued to a learner driver. There was an administrative error which resulted in the driver incorrectly being sent a reminder letter,' the statement said. 'This should not have happened and the issue has now been resolved.' The force would contact Hunter to apologise for the error after Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said in April it had been withdrawn. Hunter Reynolds (pictured), 17, was learning to drive with her mother in Frankston, Victoria on Sunday when a policewoman pulled them over The justice department told AAP the withdrawing of fines and the issuing of reminder notices is the responsibility of the agency which first issued it - in this case, Victoria Police. Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told a committee last week that 337 of 5604 coronavirus-related fines had been withdrawn or cancelled. It is yet to be revealed whether any other waived or cancelled fines had slipped through the cracks with the data still to be collated, police said. Bengaluru: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Sadananda Gowda got embroiled in a controversy on Monday (May 25, 2020) for skipping the mandatory quarantine regulations which is in force in Karnataka after he landed in Bengaluru from Delhi. The minister was wearing a protective visor and a face mask and he went staright to his waiting car instead of going through the procedures like his fellow co passengers. He arrived in the capital city of Karnataka on Monday afternoon, the first day that domestic flight services resumed in the country. The former Karnataka Chief Minister defended his action, saying he came under the exempted category being in-charge of pharmaceuticals, which is an essential sector. "It's not fair to ask me to go to quarantine for 14 days along with the rest of the people, as I did not have any contact with anyone. I just want to say that as a responsible minister, my aim is to do public service which may include taking risks," he said. The Bengaluru North MP also claimed that he could have chartered a special flight to Bengaluru but he chose not to do so. "If I was one of those who ignored the rules, I could have come to Bangalore by special flight too. I waited for the general service to start, I am not one of those who misuses the post for personal selfishness," he added. While Gowda's associates said that he was regularly tested in Delhi where he has been stationed throughout the lockdown period. The Karnataka government came to his defence saying the Centre had issued orders exempting such people handling essential sectors from quarantine norms. Promotional materials from the global campaign to achieve Universal Health Coverage by the year 2030. Copyright UHC2030 reproduced here under fair use for academic purposes. Health for All? critically explores global moves towards Universal Health Coverage and its language of rights to health, equity, social justice and the public good. Highlighting emerging ethnographic and historical research by both young and established scholars, the series explores the translations and frictions surrounding aspirations for health for all as they move across the globe. The series is edited by Ruth Prince. Introduction As different countries and institutions have attempted to combat and contain the COVID-19 pandemic since its appearance in late December 2019, it has become clear that the disease will have an unfathomable and tragic impact on our populations, health systems, and economies and that these impacts have been and will continue to be uneven in their distribution. In the wake of the 2013-2016 West African Ebola Epidemic, the World Bank set up the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF), a catastrophe bond-based financing scheme that has been roundly critiqued as serving private sector interests over global health security (Brim and Wenham 2019) and as privileging insurance risk over more concrete preventative measures (Stein and Sridhar 2017:2). In the context of COVID-19, the PEF is too late and too little, by design, as the triggers necessary to open up the maximum $196 million funding for the 76 countries that borrow from the World Bank have been lacking (Westfall and Jonas 2020). This includes the fact that epidemiological data from countries that do not borrow from the World Bank i.e. where the majority of deaths have occurred do not count toward triggering the scheme. Although the PEF has failed, as of April 2nd the World Bank has promised up to $160 billion in emergency funding over the next 15 months through its traditional channels of support, citing particularly the economic effect that the pandemic will have in the global South (World Bank 2020). The damage wrought by epidemics and pandemics on both health systems and economies in the past two decades makes it evident that universal health coverage is a crucial tool for preparing for and counterbalancing these catastrophic effects with health equity in mind. However, at the heart of the goal of universal health coverage (UHC) is a tension between its two core components: universal financial protection for those seeking health care services, and universal access to quality health care and health commodities. This tension is visible in the frictions between the World Bank Groups mandate to promote economic wellbeing and the World Health Organizations (WHO) mandate to promote bodily and population wellbeing mandates that can at times align and at other times be in contradiction.[v] This tension is also visible in the Banks own heterogeneous approach to UHC. In my research I have been interested in the considerable influence that the Bank as an organization whose primary goal is to support a global free market has on what defines success in UHC. In particular, have sought to understand the ways that the Bank has framed inequity, which it has placed at the center of UHC. To this end, I have analyzed policy documents produced by the Bank and health policy research supported by the Bank, interviewed current and former Bank employees, and examined extensive Bank archival materials. I have also studied how Senegal has shaped its own UHC policy, through policy and public debate analysis, interviews with key figures, and attending meetings of national and global level policy makers in and around Dakar. What has become clear is that this tension between economic and bodily or population wellbeing is at the heart of why anything seems to go, to quote Kutzin (2012), in building a national UHC policy. As many have noted (Kutzin 2012; OConnell, Rasanathan, and Chopra 2014), both the Bank and WHO have attempted to define universal health coverage in a way that makes its achievement possible in different contexts.[vi] The original call for UHC at the World Health Assembly in 2005 emphasized how to support member states development of robust health financing systems and coverage referred largely to the availability of financial protection (WHA 2005). Yet, both the Bank and WHO have directly tied the UHC movement to the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration that established the Health for All movement, which prioritized primary health care (WHO 2010; Kim 2013). Different groups at the Bank have been engaged with the concepts at the heart of UHC since it was established as a global health agenda item in 2005, including the centrality of health systems strengthening to the Health, Nutrition and Population groups 2007 strategy, Healthy Development, and research on more effective means of measuring financial protection within the health system at the Development Research Group (Wagstaff 2008). After physician-anthropologist Jim Yong Kim became president of the organization in 2012, the Bank became an advocate for universal health coverage. In a 2013 speech to the World Health Assembly, Kim asserted that the Health for All movement failed because it did not provide concrete plans or effective metrics for delivering on its admirable goals (Kim 2013). Thus, the Bank became a key promoter of the inclusion of UHC in the Sustainable Development Goals and administrator of its progress (WHO and World Bank 2015). Although people working within the Bank share a similar discomfort with the UHC movement as they had for the Health for All movement,[i] the Bank is intimately engaged in determining the shape of UHC. The Banks work in health development over many decades has helped to shift responsibility for citizen health from states to global institutions and private industry. However, the pluralistic, public-private approach of the Bank to UHC is often at odds with WHOs approach, which advocates for a greater role of the state in producing robust national health systems. In the context of UHC, the Bank has used the rhetoric of the universal right to health to assert that promoting health is a key tool for achieving economic prosperity. As the Bank doles out its emergency funding to low- and middle-income countries to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, it is likely that the existing problems within the Banks approach to UHC will remain that is: tensions between different definitions of wellbeing and the ways that UHC often becomes its lowest common denominator without careful attention to health outcomes as we will see further below. What is in a name? There was nothing inevitable about the arrival of the Bank onto the global health scene. For the first thirty-five years of its existence, the Bank provided funding for health only peripherally on reproductive health interventions and fighting Onchocerciasis (river blindness), for example and defined health as an expenditure rather than an investment. When the Bank finally entered the scene in earnest in the 1980s beginning its direct lending almost simultaneously with the freezing of WHOs budget in 1982 (Brown, Cueto, and Fee 2006; Sridhar, Winters, and Strong 2017) it put the problem of health inequity at the center of its work, promoting user charges and a pluralistic approach to health financing as a solution to that problem.[ii] However, it became clear that user charges were actually likely to exacerbate the problem of health inequity, and it looks likely that, in some contexts, different UHC policies promoted by the Bank might similarly be wolves in sheeps clothing (Russell and Gilson 1997). Part of the problem comes with the expansiveness and the connotations of the concept of universal health coverage. In an interview in July 2018 about the World Banks universal health coverage work, a former Health, Nutrition, and Population employee at the Bank expressed his discomfort with the concept at length: Ive been a critic of UHC. And the reason is that its a wonderful concept, but its an old concept. Because if you would have asked even within WHO confines [sometime before 1989] and you would have said, in terms of coverage, which country has the best health coverage in the world? The answer was absolutely evident. It would have been the Soviet Union. Because by definition, simply as part of the structure of government, everybody was covered. But it was meaningless, because, just take mental health, the moment you were politically diverse, you would be covered but you would be in an institution! And therefore, the government would even say you were covered, because you are even in one of our institutions! In my view the concept is wrong, because the term coverage has no meaning. You can have a health worker in a clinic and the mother can come and she treats you wrongly and then you die the next day and you are covered! So, its not good. You can measure it, and your measurement can show that youre fine, but please go back to the Soviet Union in 1974. Everything was covered, nobody was not covered. The word was meaningless. (Former HNP Employee, personal communication, 24 July 2018). According to this former Bank employee, the underlying philosophy of the World Bank Group is and always has been to promote a global free market economy, and that with the fall of the Soviet Union, the Bank helped push this goal forward. The vestiges of the battle between two distinct philosophies of economic wellbeing are evident in his discomfort with the concept of universal coverage, in ways that make clear that the goal of a global free market still reigns supreme at the Bank. Yet, this discomfort with the concept of coverage also points to the ways that, as a global goal, UHC often ends up meaning its lowest common denominator financial support and access to health care, with the question of effectiveness or quality most often left out. This has implications both for the Banks work and for the goal of UHC in general coverage is meaningless in the sense that, as a concept, it can hold any meaning. In the context of the Bank, as we will see in the next section, this openness has the ability to evacuate from UHC interventions the very structuring problematic of addressing health inequity itself. A heterogeneous institution and a heterogeneous approach to UHC Figure 1: World Bank approaches to UHC There is no unifying policy on universal health coverage at the Bank; rather, it is constituted by different research groups within or funded by the institution, by joint policy documents with WHO, and by different partnership platforms with other global health entities.[iii] UHC is implemented by these partnerships but also by in-country Bank officials who advocate for certain policies over others on a case-by-case basis in their consultations with country officials.[iv] In the process, what gets primary attention in the two-part goal of UHC financial protection and/or coverage of health care vacillates depending on different groups priorities. Ministries of health and of finance must balance these different philosophies of health financing and health systems to arrive at a UHC policy that works for their own health systems. The tension between limiting or expanding UHC is one of many spaces of friction within the Banks work on UHC. There are researchers and officials, both associated with the Bank and not, who advocate for more comprehensive ways of measuring and promoting robust UHC policies. They focus on how these policies actually impact population and individual health, rather than other forms of input or short-term outcome measurements (see the Banks work on quality and primary health care in Figure 1). However, there are also research groups supported by the Bank to promote policy-making tools to help countries establish essential packages of care that define an essential UHC, following a similar path to the establishment of selective primary health care in the 1980s (Figure 1). In Senegal, for example, UHC is currently measured by the proportion of the population covered by health insurance whether through employment-based schemes, community-based health insurance schemes, or other recognized risk-pooling schemes. Focusing its attention on the expansion of health insurance schemes through its Agence de la Couverture Maladie Universelle, the Senegalese state has set to the side the question of whether this approach to UHC will actually ameliorate financial insecurity or improve access to quality health care for the general Senegalese population. This has also added a layer of complication to the already entangled management of the demand and supply of health care in Senegal, by making the community-based health insurance schemes a key part of the management of citizen health care without providing the needed resources for them to do so, exacerbating existing debt loads of hospitals and other health facilities created by subsidized health care schemes and other health policies (Mbaye and Gollock 2012; Wood 2020). By promoting and measuring UHC in this way, the Senegalese state uses a proxy that captures just one part of the larger economic component for assessing universal health coverage as a whole. This flexibility of UHC policies design and implementation as different institutions and countries ideological frameworks about who is responsible for citizens health and wellbeing come into play is required for creating context-specific policies. At the same time, it creates situations where a partial economic assessment stands in for the larger goal of securing populations physical wellbeing. As UHC policies continue to unfold, it is important to recognize how policies that claim to be working to improve health can exacerbate existing health inequities. As anthropologists, we have a unique toolset for mapping how the liberating rhetoric of universal health coverage translates into actionable policy and interventions that can do the very opposite of what they were designed to do. In the months to come, as we attempt to stem the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic and begin to recover, it will be more important than ever to make explicit the tensions between definitions of economic and bodily wellbeing at UHCs heart and the conditions by which we assure that UHCs benefits are felt by all. Marlee Tichenor is a postdoctoral research fellow with the International Organizations and the Rise of a Global Metrological Field project in the Social Policy Department at the University of Edinburgh. She is a medical anthropologist interested in the politics of evidence and data in global health policy and intervention. As a part of the Global Health Governance Program, she conducted research on the World Banks role in the rise of global health metrics and universal health coverage. Her doctoral research at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco was a multi-sited ethnographic study of pharmaceutical interventions, antimalarial resistance research, and community-based approaches to the fight against malaria in Senegal. Funding source This work was supported by Wellcome Trust [106635/Z/14/Z] Notes [i] The UHC movement is probably one of the worst policy mistakes in the sector and detrimental to the poor in [lower income countries]. In practice UHC has completely displaced concern with public health in the Bank and support to capacities for core public health functions is nearly nil. The Bank has become a charity (Former Bank Employee, personal communication, 14 August 2018). [ii] In a report published in 1986, the Population, Health, and Nutrition division of the World Bank introduced an alternative approach to financing health care, which emphasized the importance of reducing government responsibility for paying for health services that benefited only a few and freeing government (or public) resources for services that benefited more of a society (Akin, Birdsall, and De Ferranti 1986:1). [iii]These include WHO; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; United States Agency for International Development; the Japan International Cooperation Agency; among many others. [iv] This work included the successful advocacy at the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) for replacing the originally chosen indicator for measuring financial protection the number of people covered by health insurance or a public health system per 1,000 population with an attempt to capture the real expenditure on health through household health expenditure as a share of total household income (or total expenditure or consumption) (Wagstaff and Kutzin 2016), which was ratified by the IAEG-SDGs in 2017. [v] Arguing that most low- and middle-income countries cannot afford to provide a comprehensive universal health coverage package, Jamison and his colleagues (Jamison et al. 2018) have applied econometrics to determining which interventions have the greatest impact for their cost, establishing economic reasoning as paramount to prioritizing a selective UHC. [vi] With WHO and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank published an influential report on the foundational importance of attending to and measuring the quality of health care in different contexts (WHO, World Bank, and OECD 2018). References Akin, John, Nancy Birdsall, and David de Ferranti. 1986. Financing Health Services in Developing Countries: An Agenda for Reform. 6563. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank. Brim, Bangin, and Clare Wenham. Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility: Struggling to Deliver on Its Innovative Promise. BMJ 367 (9 October 2019). Brown, Theodore M., Marcos Cueto, and Elizabeth Fee. 2006. The World Health Organization and the Transition From International to Global Public Health. American Journal of Public Health 96 (1): 6272. Jamison, Dean T., Hellen Gelband, Susan Horton, Prabhat Jha, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Charles N. Mock, and Rachel Nugent, eds. 2018. Disease Control Priorities: Improving Health and Reducing Poverty. 3rd ed. Washington, D.C.: World Bank. Kim, Jim. 2013. Poverty, Health and the Human Future. Speech presented at the World Health Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland, May 21. Kutzin, Joseph. 2012. Anything Goes on the Path to Universal Health Coverage? No. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 90: 86768. Mbaye, Elhadji Mamadou, and Aboubakry Gollock. 2012. Les Mutuelles de Sante et Les Indigents Au Senegal. In Experiences Africaines dacces Au Systeme de Sante Pour Les Indigents, edited by Valery Ridde and Jean-Pierre Jacob, 22342. Louvain-la-Neuve: Academia-Harmattan. OConnell, Thomas, Kumanan Rasanathan, and Mickey Chopra. 2014. What Does Universal Health Coverage Mean? The Lancet 383 (9913): 27779. Ridde, Valery. 2008. The Problem of the Worst-off Is Dealt with after All Other Issues: The Equity and Health Policy Implementation Gap in Burkina Faso. Social Science & Medicine 66 (6): 136878. Russell, Steven, and Lucy Gilson. 1997. User Fee Policies to Promote Health Service Access for the Poor: A Wolf in Sheeps Clothing? International Journal of Health Services 27 (2): 35979. Sridhar, Devi, Janelle Winters, and Eleanor Strong. 2017. World Banks Financing, Priorities, and Lending Structures for Global Health. BMJ 358 (August): j3339. Stein, Felix, and Devi Sridhar. Health as a Global Public Good: Creating a Market for Pandemic Risk. BMJ 358 (31 August 2017): j3397. Wagstaff, Adam. 2008. Measuring Financial Protection in Health. WPS4554. Policy Research Working Paper. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank. Wagstaff, Adam, and Joseph Kutzin. 2016. Health and the SDGs: Out of the Doldrums, Heading for the Rapids. World Bank Blogs (blog). 23 March 2016. Westfall, Christopher, and Olga Jonas. Pandemics and the Failure of Finance. Risk Market News (blog), 16 February 2020. https://riskmarketnews.substack.com/p/pandemics-and-the-failure-of-finance. Wood, Anna. 2020. A grand projet: Senegals Universal Health Coverage. Special Issue: Health for all? Anthropological and historical perspectives on Universal Health Coverage. Somatosphere. World Bank. 2007. Healthy Development: The World Bank Strategy for Health, Nutrition, & Population Results. Washington D.C.: The World Bank. ____. The World Bank Group Moves Quickly to Help Countries Respond to COVID-19. Feature Story (blog), 2 April 2020. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2020/04/02/the-world-bank-group-moves-quickly-to-help-countries-respond-to-covid-19. WHO. 2005. WHA58.33 Sustainable Health Financing, Universal Coverage and Social Health Insurance. Geneva: World Health Organization. ____. 2010. World Health Report 2010: Health Systems Financing: The Path to Universal Coverage. Geneva: World Health Organization. World Health Organization and World Bank. 2015. Tracking Universal Health Coverage: First Global Monitoring Report. Geneva: World Health Organization. WHO, The World Bank, and OECD. 2018. Delivering Quality Health Services: A Global Imperative for Universal Health Coverage. Geneva: WHO. Share this: Share Email Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr LinkedIn [view academic citations] [hide academic citations] Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse have reportedly broken up after three years of dating. The two allegedly ended their romance before the COVID-19 pandemic got serious and that is why they have quarantined apart, according to a Monday report from PageSix. 'Cole and Lili split before the pandemic hit, and have been quarantining separately. They remain good friends,' said the insider. Over: Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse have reportedly broken up after three years of dating. The two allegedly ended their romance before the COVID-19 pandemic got serious and that is why they have quarantined apart, according to a Monday report from PageSix; seen in 2019 As seen on the show: The stars started dating on the set of their hit TV series Riverdale where she plays Betty and he is Jughead The stars started dating on the set of their hit TV series Riverdale where she plays Betty and he is Jughead. The 23-year-old beauty and the 27-year-old actor have split before: they broke up in mid 2019 but got back together. There were rumours that he had cheated with supermodel Kaia Gerber but it was never confirmed. In April there were rumours that the two had split, but an outlet said not so fast. 'Lili and Cole are still together. They haven't been [in quarantine] together but haven't split,' an E! News insider explained. Just friends? 'Cole and Lili split before the pandemic hit, and have been quarantining separately. They remain good friends,' said the insider They seemed so happy: In April there were rumours that the two had split, but an outlet said not so fast. 'Lili and Cole are still together. They haven't been [in quarantine] together but haven't split,' an E! News insider explained Last month she found herself having to defend Cole after rumors spread that he had been cheating on her with Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia. Cole staunchly denied the 'baseless accusations' and Lili denounced 'a**holes' on 'toxic' Twitter as the conjecture did the rounds. Shortly thereafter #colesprouseisoverparty began to trend on Twitter and Lili tweeted an outburst in his defense that she then deleted. Plagued by drama: Last month she found herself having to defend Cole after rumors spread that he had been cheating on her with Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia. Cole staunchly denied the 'baseless accusations' and Lili denounced 'a**holes' on 'toxic' Twitter as the conjecture did the rounds; seen in May 2019 'Twitter is such a vile place. It's so easy to say s*** behind your f***ing phone, isn't it?' wrote the Cleveland-born actress. 'This is why people choose to keep their relationships private... this is why people don't have social media.. because of this bullying.' Lili insisted: 'I refuse to keep my mouth shut about things like this. You have no idea how destructive this can be to someone. To anyone. It's abusive.' Looking fab: Reinhart showed off her cleavage in a plunging lime green top as she posed up a storm for Instagram on Tuesday She added: 'There is no excuse for this. You need god in your life or some form of help if you participate in cancel culture.' Last week, Lili showed off her cleavage in a plunging lime green top as she posed up a storm for Instagram. The bombshell went for a wet hair look and accentuated her screen siren features with a minimalist makeup job. In her caption the Hustlers actress said: 'Wish I was at the beach,' adding a sunflower emoji for good measure. Xi stresses analyzing China's economy from comprehensive, dialectical, long-term perspective PLA Daily Editor: Chen Zhuo 2020-05-24 11:38:14 BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Saturday stressed analyzing China's economic situation from a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective, urging efforts to foster new opportunities amid challenges and make new advances amid changes. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when joining a joint panel discussion attended by national political advisors from the economic sector. The political advisors are in Beijing for the third session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Xi made a speech after hearing the remarks of political advisors. Efforts should be made to leverage China's potential and role as the world's largest market, clarify the strategic direction of supply-side structural reform, and consolidate the basic trend of steady economic growth with a sound momentum in the long term, he said. Xi called for consolidating the fundamental role of agriculture, ensuring stability on the six fronts and security in the six areas, and accomplishing the targets and tasks of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and winning the battle against poverty. The six fronts refer to employment, the financial sector, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment, and expectations. The six areas refer to job security, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments. Reiterating the necessity to view current difficulties, risks and challenges from a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective, Xi said efforts should be made to boost confidence of the whole society, especially market entities. China's economy is in a pivotal stage for transforming the growth model, improving economic structure, and fostering new growth drivers, Xi said, adding that the economic operation now faces relatively heavy pressure due to difficulties and challenges caused by intertwined structural, institutional and cyclical problems, which have been compounded by the COVID-19 outbreak. Xi stressed pursuing development against the backdrop of rising instability and uncertainties in the world, noting that China's economy is still characterized by ample potential, strong resilience, large maneuver room and sufficient policy instruments. China has the largest industrial system in the world with the most complete categories, strong production capabilities, complete supporting sectors, as well as over 100 million market entities and a talent pool of 170 million people, Xi said. The country also has a super-large domestic market of 1.4 billion people and massive potential in investment demand, he said. He called for faster progress in advancing the development of digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, life and health, new materials and other strategic emerging industries, highlighting the creation of new growth areas and drivers. Xi stressed steady progress in creating a new development pattern where domestic and foreign markets can boost each other, with domestic market as the mainstay. Xi called for unwavering efforts to make economic globalization more open, inclusive and balanced so that its benefits are shared by all, and to build an open world economy. More steps should be taken to maintain the security of industrial and supply chains, and to forestall and defuse major risks, Xi noted. He also stressed securing a complete victory in the battle against poverty. Now, China has 52 counties and 2,707 villages yet to be lifted out of poverty, representing the toughest mission of the country's battle against poverty. Xi added the fundamental role of agriculture should not be neglected or undermined at any time. China is fully capable of ensuring the supply of grain and major agricultural products, which have played an important role in maintaining social stability through the severe epidemic, Xi said. Xi stressed all localities and departments must faithfully implement the decisions, plans, policies and measures made by the CPC Central Committee, and eschew the practice of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, also attended the discussion. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address She previously revealed she was gunning for a spot on the next season of Love Island. And Georgie Clarke looked to be the perfect candidate as she cooled off with a dip in the swimming pool at her parents' home in Haslemere, Surrey, on Sunday. The former Survival Of The Fittest star, 27, flaunted her enviable physique in a white leopard print bikini as she soaked up the sunshine. Looking good: Georgie Clarke cooled off with a dip in the swimming pool at her parents' home in Haslemere, Surrey on Sunday The TV star's washboard abs were enhanced by her bronzed tan and she ensured she was camera-ready with a full face of makeup. Georgie perched a pair of sunglasses on top of her head to complete her pool-side look. Once she had finished her swim, the reality star worked her angles yet again as she posed up a storm. Strike a pose: The former Survival Of The Fittest star, 27, flaunted her enviable physique in a white leopard print bikini Georgie made a name for herself after she briefly appeared on ITV2's Survival Of The Fittest, which saw boys pitted against girls in a slew of challenges as they lived in a South African lodge. Georgie was voted off Survival Of The Fittest after just five days in the lodge but previously admitted she wouldn't rule out doing reality TV again. Speaking to the Daily Star, she said she would jump at the chance to head into Love Island, adding: 'If they would have me on Love Island I would love to do that. 'It would be great. I wouldn't do anything differently all I'd want to do is go in and be myself. 'I watched Love Island last summer and I was absolutely addicted. 'I find it fascinating to watch people's relationships grow. I think the show is going to get even better this summer.' Georgie is also still good friends with her former Survival Of The Fittest co-star, Dani Dyer, daughter of EastEnders star Danny, who previously stormed to victory on Love Island thanks to her romance with Jack Fincham. A website created by a DNA company to find the heirs of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein has heard from as many as 130 people claiming to be the convicted pedophile's children A website created by a DNA company to find any possible heirs to deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein's estate has heard from as many as 130 people claiming to be the convicted pedophile's children. If any are found to be the multimillionaire's children, they could lay claim to a piece his $635 million estate, which includes his Manhattan mansion and a luxury 75-acre estate, dubbed 'pedophile island'. Epstein, who took his life in a Manhattan jail cell in August while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, had never married and was not known to have had any children. He left his assets in a trust after his death. If any are found to be the multimillionaire's children, they could lay claim to a piece his $635 million estate, which includes his Manhattan mansion (pictured) Epstein's fortunes also include a luxury 75-acre estate, dubbed 'pedophile island' 'Jeffrey Epstein was sexually promiscuous for so long that there is a reasonable chance he may have fathered a child,' Harvey Morse, founder of Morse Genealogical Services tells the Sun. The DNA firm set up the website Epsteinheirs.com shortly after Epstein's death asking for people who thought they were heirs to his estate to come forward. Since then 386 people have contacted the website and up to 130 say they could be his children. Epstein earned his wealth as an asset manager and lived among elite circles. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution, but accepted a plea deal heavily criticized for being too lenient. The deal required him to register as a sex offender and he served 13 months in prison, although he was allowed to work from his office six days a week. Earlier this year, Epstein's estate was valued at $635 million, an increase from about $577 million after the sale of some of its assets. A screen shot from the website, Epsteinheirs.com 'Jeffrey Epstein was sexually promiscuous for so long that there is a reasonable chance he may have fathered a child,' says Harvey Morse (pictured), founder of Morse Genealogical Services, which set up the Epsteinheirs.com website to find if the deceased financier had any kids Executors sold five of Epstein's cars including a $195,000 Bentley, a $133,200 Mercedes and three Chevrolet Suburbans worth a total of $112,000. The identities of the purchasers have not been disclosed. Epstein's estate also closed four bank accounts associated with his companies. The accounts held more than $500,000 in cash combined. Epstein still owned four properties, including his Manhattan mansion and Zorro Ranch in Stanley, New Mexico, as well as the so-called 'pedophile island', or Little Saint James, based off the coast of St. Thomas. More than two dozen women who have filed lawsuits accusing Epstein of sexually abusing them could stand to receive a portion of a settlement fund, which is being created by lawyers currently managing the estate. Before that, a good portion of his wealth was believed might go to his brother Mark. The younger sibling and the lone surviving member of his immediate family seemed best positioned to inherit the majority of the estate. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 14:35:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A student prepares to enter the campus in Sydney, Australia, May 25, 2020. Some primary and middle schools in New South Wales resumed classes on Monday. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) SYDNEY, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Public school students in several Australian states returned to classrooms on Monday, as state leaders unveiled further plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions. Public schools across New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland welcomed children back after two months of remote teaching. Students in Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) also resumed face-to-face learning this week in a staggered pattern -- joining their peers in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, who had returned to classrooms full time. To ensure the safety of students, NSW deployed hundreds of extra security and marshalling officers across the Sydney transport network. Under COVID-19 prevention measures, only 12 passengers were allowed on a Sydney bus, 35 people in a train carriage and 45 on a ferry. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian thanked parents for easing the pressure on public transport by walking and dropping off students to schools on Monday. She also promised to make sure "schools have the resources and the support" to reopen safely. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk echoed her words. "We've taken extraordinary measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone attending schools, including strict hygiene practices and increased cleaning of classrooms and play equipment," Palaszczuk said. "We also have a range of resources available to support the wellbeing and mental health of staff and students as they return to school." Meanwhile, Both NSW and Victoria governments announced further easing of restrictions. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed on Sunday that beauty salons and nail bars can reopen from June 1 with "a COVID-safe plan". From the same date, Victorians will be allowed gatherings of up to 20 people at private residences and tourist accommodation. Enditem For the first time in nearly 30 years China has abandoned setting a growth target for its economy. That's not good news for an Australian economy over-exposed to China's fortunes but it is even worse news for China and its global leadership aspirations. China's Premier, Li Keqiang, in an address to the National People's Congress on Friday, cited the pandemic and the "economic and trade situation" for the absence of a specific target for economic growth. Chinese President Xi Jinping has had to deal with a trade war with the US along with a crippling pandemic. Credit:AP After claiming growth of 6.1 per cent last year, China experienced a 6.8 per cent plunge in the economy in the March quarter during the worst effects of the virus' outbreak in Wuhan. While there was a rebound in industrial activity in April as the lockdowns ended industrial output grew by 3.9 per cent and coal consumption returned to more normal levels retail sales remain well below pre-pandemic levels. A junior high school teacher in Louisiana was arrested after serving schoolchildren cupcakes laced with her husband's semen. Cynthia Perkins, 35, and Dennis Perkins, 45, were accused of feeding Westside Junior High School students baked goods tainted with bodily fluids in 2018 and 2019. According to The Advocate, the school board will also be sued in the filing. Incriminating Evidence Investigators searched their Denham Springs home and found several electronic devices with dozens of child pornography photos. In some of the pictures, Cynthia moved a sleeping child's clothes to expose the victim's private parts. They were also photographed having sexual intercourse beside the sleeping child or on top of the child. Detectives claim some of the photos also showed the couple forcing a female youth to perform oral sex on him. They also found over five terabytes of encrypted data. According to the new court filings, the data included: Acting out a fantasy of having sexual intercourse with a minor A detailed note of an alleged sexual act between an adult and a child under the age of 13 was found in Cynthia's phone. Keywords and search terms Dennis entered into various engines, most of which involved sexual acts with children. Photoshopped images of children in lewd positions Videos of naked children recorded using a "spy watch" placed in the shower room Read the court filing here. Victims' Accounts According to The Advocate, one lawsuit claims the father of a student hasn't been able to gain employment due to crippling depression. Another parent claims she and her child developed mental health issues, trauma, and difficulties in sleeping after learning they ingested tainted cupcakes. The most recent lawsuit claims their daughter was also shown sexual images and was forced to eat the semen-laced goods. She was also photographed and videotaped. All of the lawsuits claim the school board is negligent and lacked oversight on Cynthia's behavior. They also claim the school allowed her to violate policies in allowing students to be served homemade food items. Previous Claims According to reports, this week's Livingston Parish court filing marks the fourth lawsuit filed against the Perkins and the school board. Cynthia and her husband, who was a former deputy, previously had three other civil complaints filed against them. In October 2019, they were arrested on child pornography charges. Authorities found a photo where the pair posed naked with a minor after they received an anonymous tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Dennis was fired from his position as a deputy at the Livingston Parish Sherrif's Office after he was indicted on 78 counts of felony. Cynthia resigned from her teaching job following her 2019 arrest for 72 felony counts. They were also charged with producing pornography involving youth under the age of 13, rape, attempted rape, sexual battery, obscenity, and video voyeurism. The former deputy was also charged for sexually abusing an animal. Livingston Parish Schools' board attorney denied any wrongdoing for the previous cases and claimed the allegations placed on the school was "defamatory." Want to read more? Check this out: Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday became the first serving Israeli Prime Minister to go on trial, proclaiming his innocence in the corridor before walking into court to face charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The trial came a week after Israels longest-serving leader was sworn in to a record fifth term, demonstrating his knack for survival by securing an unexpected power-sharing deal with his main opponent after three inconclusive elections in a year. He says the cases against him are a left-wing plot to unseat him. Mr Netanyahu, 70, was indicted in November in cases involving gifts from millionaire friends and for allegedly seeking regulatory favours for media tycoons in return for favourable coverage. He appeared at Jerusalem District Court flanked by a clutch of cabinet ministers from his right-wing Likud party. In the courtroom, Mr Netanyahu and the judges wore face masks because of the coronavirus crisis. One of the judges asked Mr Netanyahu whether he had read and understood the indictment. He replied: Yes, your Honour. The hearing lasted an hour. The court excused Mr Netanyahu from appearing in person at the next hearing set for July 19. Israeli analysts say the trial could last months or even years. Before the hearing, Mr Netanyahu appealed to public opinion, taking off his mask to address television cameras in the courthouse hallway. These investigations were tainted and stitched-up from the first moment, Mr Netanyahu said. I am appearing here today as your prime minister, standing tall and with head high, he said. In a statement, Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit said prosecutors will continue to conduct themselves without fear, even given the preposterous attempt which should be rejected out of hand to ascribe ulterior motives to law-enforcement authorities. Supporters, some in masks, rallied outside the East Jerusalem building, their chants of Bibi, King of Israel, using his nickname, audible in the courthouse. One supporters sign read: Youll never walk alone. Many waved blue-and-white Israeli flags. Anti-Netanyahu demonstrators gathered outside his residence in central Jerusalem holding up a banner reading Crime Minister, a slogan that also appeared on some face masks. Mr Netanyahu, in power now for 11 straight years plus three in the 1990s, kept the position of prime minister by securing the power-sharing deal last month with his main opponent, the centrist former general Benny Gantz. The pact also opens the way for Mr Netanyahu to proceed towards a pledged annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, land that Palestinians envisage as part of a future independent state. Bribery charges carry a sentence of up to 10 years in jail and/or a fine. Fraud and breach of trust carry a prison sentence of up to three years. (Reuters/NAN) Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) and other tourism organisations donated Rs 50 lakh to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund to aid the government's fight against COVID-19, pooling in money from the stakeholders of the state's biggest tourism body. At a function in the state capital, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran was handed over a cheque for the amount by KTM President Baby Mathew along with fellow functionaries of the two-decade-old organisation, a KTM release said here on Monday. "It is our responsibility to contribute to society when we are facing a challenge," said Mathew. "The support we got from across KTM members was really inspiring." The Rs 50-lakh donation came from KTM and other tourism organisations including Homestays and Tourism Society (HATS), Thekady Destination Promotion Council (TDPC), South Kerala Hotel Federation (SKHF), South Indian Hotels and RestaurantsAssociation (SIHRA) besides other members. KTM conducts the biennial Kerala Travel Mart that hosts the country's largest buyer-seller meet in the tourism segment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Official White House Photo by Joyce N. BoghosianBy ELIZABETH THOMAS, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump's first message on Memorial Day was a stark warning to Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina that if coronavirus restrictions in the state are not lifted the RNC might move its 2020 convention to another state. The convention is currently scheduled for Aug. 24 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, but North Carolina -- which entered the second phase of its reopening schedule last week -- prohibits mass gathering as large venues. "I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August," Trump tweeted. "Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed full attendance in the Arena. In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space." I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020 He added, "Plans are being made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina!" ...made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020 The president for weeks has called on governors, sometimes singling them out, to reopen their states and get back to some degree of normalcy even as coronavirus cases continue to rise and officials warn that the virus is not contained. The death toll in the United States continues to inch toward 100,000 and North Carolina on Saturday reported 1,107 new COVID-19 cases -- its highest number yet. Vice President Mike Pence in an interview on Fox News' Fox & Friends Monday morning backed up the president, saying that if the state doesn't move quicker to reopen its economy, the GOP might move its national convention in August to a state "that is farther along on reopening and can say with confidence that, that we can gather there." The governors' Press Secretary Dory MacMillan responded to Trump's tweets in a statement saying, State health officials are working with the RNC and will review its plans as they make decisions about how to hold the convention in Charlotte. North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our state's public health and safety. The presidents comments come as Democrats have publicly talked about the possibility of holding an all virtual convention if necessary. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Good Governance Assembly (GGA) a foremost sociopolitical group in Akwa Ibom state, has uncovered a sinister plot to sponsor campaign of calumny against the governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel. GGA revealed that it has obtained an exclusive intelligence concerning an evil plot by certain politicians in Akwa Ibom State to sponsor a media campaign aimed at smearing and besmirching the sterling character of the Governor, Udom Emmanuel has been uncovered. According to press statement by the groups President General, High Chief Aniekan Essien, who met with some media men in Uyo, Sunday, we have obtained an exclusive and incontrovertible details received, a group of journalists were approached in Lagos by certain politicians in the State with the expressed assignment to write spurious, libellous and false stories about the Governor. The evil plot according to the details available is aimed at smearing the image and character of the Governor. The journalists, who were approached with huge sums of money to execute the evil plot, however, turned down the evil assignment. We were shocked and morally outraged that a fine gentlemen who is seen as a highly successful governor, educated, urbane, worldly and who is working so hard to industrialize the State and change the mind-set of the people; a decent gentleman blessed with Christian values and orientation, a man of peace and development could be so vilely targeted, just to settle political scores. It is outrageous and morally reprehensible and our conscience would not allow us to be used to bring down the image of this fine and capable leader and gentleman. The group applauded the governor for focusing on developments in the state When we saw the news in the media about the addition of a new aircraft to the fleet of Ibom Air, the development that is taking place all over the State, even the proactive handling of the Covid-19 pandemic by the governor, and other great achievements recorded by him across sectors, we rose to expose the agents of darkness who were bent on publishing falsehood and blackmail-laden stories on the governor. We categorically state that this is a sad commentary on the state of our politics; that a fine gentleman like the governor should be a target for smear campaign just for political purposes, this is very sad and unfortunate and we want to alert Nigerians about this style of ugly and depraved politics. The group disclosed that although the plan has failed, we are however, aware that they are shopping for media hirelings who may be willing to do their evil bidding. So, we are telling Nigerians now that any smear campaign on the person of Governor Udom Emmanuel, is the handiwork of desperate politicians from the State and should be dismissed. Governor Udom Emmanuel deserves applause and not doses of calumny or sponsored false stories in the media. This brand of politics must be rejected by the people. The statement read. Donald Trump Washington: The United States has banned travellers from Brazil in the wake of a growing coronavirus outbreak. The United States has made this decision in view of the growing record of corona virus in Brazil every day. In the last 24 hours, 16,508 new cases of corona have been reported in Brazil, bringing the total number of infected people to 3.65 million. Advertisement CoronavirusRecently, US President Donald Trump said he was considering banning travellers from Brazil. "I don't want people there to come and infect our people," Trump told reporters at the White House. I don't want the people there to be sick either. We are helping Brazil by sending ventilators. He added that it is expected to be temporary. Brazil has the second highest number of coronavirus cases in the world after the United States. Advertisement Donald Trump The total number of corona infections in Brazil has risen to 3.65 million, bringing the death toll to 22,746. It is a matter of relief that 1.5 lakh people have also been recovered from Covid-19. According to the Department of Health, a total of 16.8 million cases of corona have been reported in the United States, with 98,024 deaths and 342,000 people recovering from Covid-19. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Flight services will not resume in Andhra Pradesh on Monday. The services will resume only from Tuesday on a limited scale. This was announced by Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday night. "As per request of state governmentt, operations in Andhra Pradesh will recommence on limited scale from May 26,'' he tweeted. It appears that only 20 percent of the summer schedule will be operational from Vijayawada and Vizag airports. The reason for the state government's request to the Centre to defer resumption of flight services by a day and to resume from Tuesday only on a limited scale remains a mystery. Even airport directors appeared clueless and some on condition of anonymity told TNIE that the reason could be lack of clarity on the quarantine procedures. Utter confusion prevailed through the evening till the Union Civil Aviation Minister gave clarity on twitter around 9.30 pm. Sources said the state government may be concerned over the increasing number of COVID-19 cases among those who are returning to the State from other States and abroad. As per the medical bulletin, 17 new positive cases of foreign returnees were recorded on Sunday itself while the cumulative positive cases from other states stand at 153. Meanwhile, around 56 of the passengers who arrived from Dubai in Vijayawada recently and were quarantined at IIT-Nuzvid showed symptoms of COVID-19 on Sunday and were shifted to hospitals in Vijayawada for isolation and treatment. When contacted, Krishna district collector A Md Imtiaz said they are yet to get Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on quarantining air passengers who arrive in Vijayawada. "The district administration is ready to receive the passengers and follow the SOP,'' he said. Altogether, around 15-20 flights scheduled to and from Andhra Pradesh on Monday stand cancelled. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Ryan Howard said in an email that troopers responded to a crash on Interstate 35 in West, Tex., north of Waco, about 5 p.m. Saturday. He said an unidentified vehicle had unsafely changed lanes in front of two motorcyclists. He said one of the motorcyclists tried to break and the rear motorcyclist crashed into the front motorcyclist. A senior cardiologist at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital has alleged that he was harassed and beaten up by the police while he was en route to the hospital on May 23. The police have launched an enquiry while maintaining that the doctor had manhandled the policeman on duty. The complainant, Dr Syed Maqbool, was crossing Hawal Chowk when he was stopped by a policeman and asked to take a different route. The doctor showed him his I-card and the hospitals duty roster to show that he was the cardiologist on call that day but to no avail. On May 23, I was the cardiologist on call for SMHS and all other associated hospitals. I requested the policeman to allow me to pass as I was already getting late due to a traffic jam. However, the cop started abusing me. I got off my vehicle and asked him to confer with someone at his office, which enraged the policeman further. He started hitting me with his baton. In the meantime, the station house officer (SHO) arrived and dragged me to the policestation, said Dr Maqbool. POLICEMAN LIKENED DOCTORS TO THIEVES: DOCTOR On reaching the police station, the policeman took away my phone and the identity card. I repeatedly requested him to allow me to call my head of department and medical college principal as I was to deal with all emergency cases but the officer said all doctors were thieves who thrive by selling duplicate medicines and taking commission. It was only after I apologised that I was allowed to call my colleague and ask him to depute someone else. I was let go after my brother submitted a bond. My vehicle is still in police custody. Dr Maqbool alleged that the SHO warned him not to tell anybody about me being taken into police custody. OFFICER THREATENED TO STRIP ME NAKED The officer was extremely rude and threatened to strip me naked. I was harassed while performing my duty amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Upon being released, instead of going to home, Dr Maqbool walked six kilometers to the hospital and performed two angioplasties. I am a senior interventional cardiologist who has represented state and country at multiple and national and international forums with multiple awards to my credit and if this is how I am treated by the police, I shudder to think what will become of my juniors. All of this while the world is dealing with a deadly disease that is killing thousands of people everyday, he said. On being questioned about the manhandling charges, the cardiologist categorically refuted the charges: The police ae lying. There are CCTV cameras on Hawal chowk and the footage will reveal the truth. Should I be found guilty, I am ready to face punishment. However, the arrogant police officer must be brought to book, he said. DOCTORS DEMORALISED, THREATEN STRIKE Srinagar Medical College principal Dr Samia Rashid said she had taken up the issue with all top officials of the administration who had promised that action will be taken against the offending officer. The doctor was on call and still he was stopped and jailed. This issue has demoralised our doctors, especially those on the frontlines. We are willing to go on strike against the polices treatment of doctors. DOCTOR COMING FROM WRONG SIDE : POLICE Srinagar SSP Haseeb Mughal said the doctor had reportedly tried to manhandle the policeman. We had filed a complaint against the doctor after he reportedly manhandled a policeman who stopped him as he was coming from the wrong side. When the policeman stopped the doctor, he pushed the policemen saying he was in a hurry. Now, he has filed a complaint so I have asked the Hazratbal SP to investigate the matter. We have already taken legal cognisance of his misconduct, the SSP said. WONT ALLOW ANYONE TO MISBEHAVE WITH JAWANS If one of our jawans are found at fault, disciplinary action will be taken but at the same time we will not allow anybody to manhandle and misbehave with police personnel who are on duty 24/7. The issue has created an uproar on the social media with many doctors saying frontline workers in Kashmir were being mistreated by the police. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-19 00:34:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, May 18 (Xinhua) -- French Ambassador to Lebanon Bruno Foucher on Monday urged Lebanese officials to accelerate talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be able to unlock CEDRE funds, LBCI local TV channel reported. "Talks with the IMF and the economic strategy adopted by the cabinet are two very important steps to be able to receive funds from CEDRE," Foucher said, following a meeting held with Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab at the Grand Serail to discuss latest economic developments. Foucher noted that the coming days will constitute a very important period to continue talks with the IMF and reach positive results with regard to Lebanon's economic strategy and necessary reforms. Meanwhile, Diab said his cabinet is working hard to implement reforms requested by CEDRE and the international community in a bid to restore confidence in Lebanon. "We will be working in this direction and I am sure we will be able to restore prosperity to our economy," Diab said. CEDRE refers to the Conference for Economic Development and Reform through Enterprises, hosted by France in 2018, to help Lebanon raise funds to finance its plan to modernize infrastructure and develop economy. Lebanon has pledged during CEDRE conference to adopt certain reform measures in a bid to unlock 11 billion U.S. dollars in loans and donations to support its ailing economy. However, the previous government was incapable of taking measures to implement serious reforms. The current government is holding talks with the IMF to discuss its economic plan and receive financial and technical support from the fund. Enditem While all states in the United States eased COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, a total of 20,634 new coronavirus cases were reported on May 24. According to a tally from John Hopkins University, the new infections took the countrys total to over 1,643,000. The US also reportedly another 633 deaths, taking the total to 97,720. According to an international media outlet, the total includes cases from all the 50 states, including the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. The New York State, which is the epicentre of the virus in the country, reportedly has more than 196,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and the deadly virus has claimed over 16,000 lives. However, the governor said that the number of new cases per day is comparatively down. READ: NY Beaches Open For Windy Memorial Day Weekend NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, while addressing the daily briefing, acknowledged that the number of deaths was also down but also said that the number was painfully high at any number. He said, You see how quick that spike went up and how slow it is to come down, so we want to make sure we don't go back there ever, ever again. Cuomo recently also announced an exciting new phase in his reopening plans. As per reports, while states including Georgia and Texas rolled out aggressive reopening reaping plans, others have taken more measures approached. Sates including California and Pennsylvania are reportedly only reaping parts of their states which are reporting declines in the new cases. Meanwhile, several cities also remain under stay-at-home orders and Baltimore, on the other hand, has prohibited the gathering of more than 10 people. READ: Memorial Day Weekend Draws Crowds And Triggers Warnings US highest cases is badge of honour Meanwhile, with an increasing number of cases, US President Donald Trump said that it is a badge of honour that the country has the highest number of infections globally. Trump said, Really, it's a badge of honour. It's a great tribute to the testing and all of the work that a lot of professionals have done. Trumps comments have, however, received criticism from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) as they believe that the President delayed his response to the virus and led a corrupt recovery effort that has favoured the wealthy and well-connected over the small businesses. Joe Biden reportedly also said that Trump bears full responsibility for failing to protect the nation from the worst public health and economic crisis in our lifetime. (Image: AP) READ: Study Finds Hydroxychloroquine Increases Death Risk In COVID-19 Patients READ: US Shooting Victim's Mother Looking For Answers Aston Martin (AML.L) Chief Executive Andy Palmer is leaving the business as part of a management shake-up and will be replaced by Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday. The luxury carmaker said in an emailed statement that it is reviewing its management team but declined to comment on Palmer's fate. Palmer and Germany's Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE), which owns a 5% stake in Aston Martin and supplies the carmaker with Mercedes-AMG engines, also declined to comment. The Financial Times newspaper had reported earlier that the Aston Martin chief was going to leave as part of a shake-up of its leadership, with an official announcement expected on Tuesday. Palmer had not been informed of the upcoming announcement, the newspaper reported. Aston Martin, famed for being fictional secret agent James Bond's car of choice, has seen its share price plummet since floating in October 2018. The 107-year old British luxury carmaker earlier this month posted a deep first-quarter loss after sales dropped by almost a third due to the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak. The company has been banking on its sport utility vehicle to drive sales in a new segment, and said production was on track. In January, dire conditions forced the company to bring in Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll who bought a roughly 20% stake for nearly 200 million pounds ($263 million), as the ailing carmaker sought to raise funds. The coronavirus pandemic and shutdowns caused by it have hit demand and forced factories around the world to suspend production, negatively impacting many industries, including car manufacturers. "We were obviously fairly significantly hit by COVID-19, starting with China in January but more clearly in what we saw as it came across towards Europe and the United States," Palmer told Reuters earlier in May. Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India will see 600 flights today; COVID-19 tally rises to 1.38 lakh Also read: 21-day lockdown: Auto industry stares at a Rs 50,000 crore production loss Two residents of Mauritius who were recently repatriated from India have tested positive for COVID-19, the country's first cases in nearly a month, the government announced late Sunday. The Indian Ocean island nation initially surged ahead of other East African countries in terms of caseload, hitting a peak of 332 just shy of six weeks into its outbreak. But on May 13, after going more than two weeks without a new case, officials declared wary victory over the virus, with Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal saying the country had "won the battle" but had "not yet won the war". The two new cases are part of a group of 149 Mauritians repatriated from New Delhi and Mumbai on May 9 and placed in quarantine on their return, said Dr. Zouberr Joomaye, spokesman for a government committee formed to combat COVID-19. They are being held in the same quarantine centre and are asymptomatic, Joomaye said. The news "justifies all the precautionary measures taken by the government," Joomaye told AFP. "Can you imagine if these two people had been allowed to return home without going through quarantine here?" Mauritius has now tallied 334 COVID-19 cases, with 10 deaths and 322 recoveries. After its early steep rise in cases in March, officials imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in Africa, going so far as to close all supermarkets for 10 days. The supermarkets have since reopened, though the population has been divided into three groups based on the alphabetical order of their names, with each group authorised to shop on certain days. A state of emergency will remain in place until June 1 and schools are expected to remain closed until August 1 . But the government began easing confinement measures on May 15, allowing some establishments including bakeries, butchers and hair salons to reopen. Residents are required to wear masks and observe physical distancing rules, with violators ordered to pay a fine. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP Little-known Chinese hedge funds are betting big on an oil price recovery on the Shanghai-traded yuan-denominated oil futures and are set to fill up all available storage for delivery of those futures by the end of next month, industry sources told Reuters on Monday. The financial investorshedge funds backed by rich individualsare dubbed hermit investors by a state oil official, who spoke to Reuters. According to the Reuters sources, those investors have been betting on rising oil prices since early April, pushing the Shanghai yuan oil futures above the international benchmarks Brent Crude and WTI Crude. The rising Shanghai prices have led to major Chinese state oil firms, including PetroChina and Sinopec, delivering oil into the crude oil futures contract. This is pushing even the expanded storage capacity for delivery of the Shanghai oil futures to the limits and it could be full by the end of June, industry and trade sources tell Reuters. The storage capacity has been doubled over the past two months to 57 million barrels, while at least 50 million barrels of crude is expected to be delivered into the storage backing the Shanghai-traded Chinese oil futures contract. Since April, Chinese investors have been betting that crude oil prices will rebound, and, according to Reuters sources, the so-called hermit investors are expected to hold the crude until the market structure continues to be in contangothe state of the market in which prices for delivery at later dates are higher than prompt prices. Retail Chinese investors, however, were badly burnt last month by the negative WTI Crude prices, after they had invested in a crude oil futures-linked product of a Chinese bank. Bank of China, one of the largest lenders in the country, was selling a paper investment structured product for retail investors linked to international futures contracts, including WTI Crude and Brent Crude. But the consequences of the negative WTI Crude prices went far and wide, burning even retail Chinese investors who arent allowed to invest in the international crude oil futures markets directly. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Last of Oregon Coast Towns Set Reopen Date; Beaches Update Published 05/23/2020 at 4:44 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Astoria, Oregon) The two latest openings on the north Oregon coast at Cannon Beach and Seaside will soon be joined by Astoria, Gearhart and Warrenton, as those areas have now set a date for lodgings to resume operations. June 5 is when hotels, campgrounds and vacation rentals can again start hosting guests in those three towns, which had been the last holdouts on the Oregon coast. Southern Oregon coast beach towns first gave the OK to lodgings earlier this month, followed recently by Tillamook County and then Lincoln County. (Above: Clementine's Bed and Breakfast - Astoria) See the Oregon Coast News page for latest updates on beaches, other towns While Seaside and Cannon Beach gave the go ahead to their lodgings to start up at 100 percent capacity starting May 26, Clatsop County officials have imposed a 60 percent capacity cap on its lodgings from June 5 to June 25. After that point they can be at 100 percent of capacity. The county Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a special meeting 2 p.m. Friday, May 29 to consider the plan. A large point of confusion for many visitors is that state parks in Tillamook County and Clatsop County are still closed and apparently will remain that way when lodgings open back up in late May. While Cannon Beach and Seaside have opened their beaches to the public starting after this holiday weekend, other major attractions such as Fort Stevens, Cape Lookout, Cape Kiwanda, Manzanita Beach and others in those two counties stay cut off to the public. Nan Devlin, executive director of Visit Tillamook Coast, said Oregon State Parks and Recreation (OPRD), local mayors and county commissioners have been working together on a plan, but many mayors and local officials have requested a delay in opening those areas right away as a means of crowd control. She said it is quite likely most such parks will be opening sometime in early June, however. Devlin echoed what OPRD spokesman Chris Havel told Oregon Coast Beach Connection last month that not all facilities can be opened right away for logistics reasons and the lack of resources to properly do so. Many state park employees have already been laid off and the agency may wind up with financial issues and a lack of staff. In a recent press release, Clatsop County commissioners said the county and the three northernmost towns chose June 5 as a reopening date because that is the date that the states restriction on non-essential travel is anticipated to be eased. Hotels in Astoria/Seaside - Where to eat - Astoria Maps and Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Burundian human rights commission says general elections held fairly Global Times Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/5/24 13:33:47 Last Updated: 2020/5/24 9:33:47 The Burundian National Independent Human Rights Commission on Saturday evening said the general elections on May 20 were held in a "good and fair" manner. "I confirm that elections took place at a time when peace, security and human rights were respected," said Sixte Vigny Nimuraba, chairman of the commission, in a press statement released in Burundi's economic center Bujumbura. Nimuraba urged security forces to continue being professional in protecting human rights as they did on the polling day. He also called on political competitors to respect results of the elections once they are released. Burundi voters went to the polls on Wednesday to elect a new president, members of the National Assembly, and district councillors. According to the agenda of the National Independent Electoral Commission, provisional results for the three polls are expected to be published on May 26. Agathon Rwasa, a major challenger to the ruling party in the elections, on Thursday rejected provisional results released earlier in the day by a dozen of district electoral commissions, a small portion of the total 119 commissions nationwide, which showed the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) gained a large victory in the three elections. The presidential candidate and chairman of the opposition National Council for Liberty party said the results are a "fantasy," arguing he has evidence that he and his party win in those districts. Burundi plunged into crisis in April 2015 when the current president, Pierre Nkurunziza from CNDD-FDD, decided to run his controversial third term bid, which he won in July 2015. His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup in May 2015. The overall security of Burundi has improved, and the current situation is generally stable. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Market women at Akontanim in the Dormaa East District of the Bono Region, have praised the government for constructing for them a decent concreted market space with sheds after years of trading under the scorching sun and in the mad anytime it rained. At a brief ceremony to inaugurate the 15 number newly constructed market sheds at Akontanim on Friday, May 22, 2020, the Akyempimhenmaa Nana Ama Amponsa, as well as the market queen madam Mercy Yeboah and her fellows all in an interview, admitted that the market prior to its replacement was in shambles and had no storage facility for their unsold items. They said due to the dilapidated nature of its shelter, market activities were reserved just for the evenings and this made any meaningful business transaction undeveloped and depriving them of their livelihood from the market. They however thanked and exalted both the local and central government for listening to their plea, considering their welfare, and making funds available for the new market. The District Chief Executive Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Agyeman, who opened and handed over the market to the people of Akontanim, noted that it is part of governments plans to provide befitting and highly conducive and better conditions under which local businesses would run with the aim of ensuring economic development and better livelihood, hence the institution of one million per constituency intervention which covers such initiatives. He called on all Ghanaians to contribute their quota to the development of the country as government does its part. The authorities on Monday extended the coronavirus curfew in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur and Solan districts till June 30. Though the order did not specifically mention the extension of the lockdown, it is implied. The curfew was imposed to enforce the nationwide lockdown. Hamirpur district has over one-fourth of the total virus cases in Himachal Pradesh. While Hamirpur has reported 63 cases so far, Solan has 21. The state has till now reported 214 cases, including five deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has described the coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak on the continent as a major test of the resolve the African Union (AU) and its member countries to advance the development of Africa. In a statement to mark this years edition of the African Union Day on May 25, 2020, the Ministry says while dealing with the pandemic, Africa cannot defer urgent action on plans and programmes that will advance continental trade and development. It added that it is, therefore, only through our collective efforts and resilience that we can position Africa in the right place among the comity of nations. AU started 2020 with the theme: Silencing The Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development. The AU has maintained the above theme for the past three years. The Ministry bemoaned how the novel viral disease devastated the worlds most robust economies and heightened uncertainty amongst the investor community. Despite the relatively lower Morbidity among Africas victims, our economies, still very reliant on foreign aid and in-flows have taken a disproportionate hit. Thus, the impact of the disease on African economies have been very disruptive. Several countries in Africa Ghana inclusive have had their economic targets and rating revised. This bleak outlook notwithstanding, Africa is optimistic of riding the storm and coming out successfully from the pandemic, with as minimal damage as possible, it says. ---citinewsroom Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal plans to involve domestic diplomats, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the promotion of Ukrainian exports to foreign markets. We are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to slightly change the direction of the diplomatic service of Ukraine abroad. We will focus our diplomats on promoting Ukrainian exports. This is a kind of reform. Promotion of Ukrainian exports to global markets will become one of the key performance indicators (KPI) of Ukrainian diplomats, Shmyhal said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. According to him, attracting foreign investment in Ukraine may become another KPI. Exports abroad, investments into the country, and imports will come to Ukraine thanks to foreign diplomats, the prime minister said. As Ukrinform reported, on May 21, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held a constituent meeting of the updated Council of Exporters and Investors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. As of May 21, it included 135 companies. ish There is much to be admired about the Sinn Fein president, Mary Lou McDonald. She is an articulate politician and a staunch advocate for social change. Ms McDonald is clearly a vote-getter, but, more importantly, she is not Gerry Adams. Had her party run enough candidates in the recent Irish general election, almost certainly she could have been Tanaiste, if not Taoiseach, by now. The Irish electorate has never been bothered much by Sinn Fein's past, or the north in general, when it come to voting. Ms McDonald and her coterie of polished front-bench representatives learned a lesson from previous elections; this time putting Northern Ireland on the back-burner, while concentrating on sweeping up the anger of the Irish public against the status quo and the establishment. If current opinion polls are correct, the Irish public appear to be reverting to the safety of a traditional party of government (ie Fine Gael). But Ms McDonald seems comfortable and ready to take on the mantle of Opposition leader. Protesting too much for a few years will suit Sinn Fein. Such is the standing of Ms McDonald in the Anglo-Irish arena that she publicly acknowledged correspondence from none other than Prince Charles following her illness with Covid-19. She seemed chuffed. In the same interview with the Sunday Independent, responding to a question as to whether she would have joined the IRA, Ms McDonald did not duck the question with an evasive answer. She said, yes, there was every chance, every possibility. A remarkable answer for a woman who was privately educated behind the exclusive walls of Notre Dame de Missions in Dublin. The bullets of the IRA, which travel not only through bodies, but time, never pierced the comfortable world of the young Ms McDonald. Her retrospective view of the republican movement in the 1970s and 1980s is blurred by romanticised propaganda, jaundiced through green-tinted glasses. Her comments made me recall former SDLP agriculture minister Brid Rodgers once saying that, growing up in Donegal, she was reared on stories about the exploits of the legendary republican Dan Breen and the flying columns. Unlike Ms McDonald, Brid Rodgers did not carry through any of this hagiography into her politics, nor would she ever be found eulogising the Nazi admirer and IRA leader Sean Russell, or for that matter Dan Breen, who wasn't far behind in his Nazi sympathies. The fact that Ms McDonald, who was brought up geographically, physically, educationally, emotionally and socially miles away from the Troubles, felt the need to publicly speculate on something like joining the IRA, which was never on her radar, is testimony to the grip of the paramilitary remnants within Sinn Fein hierarchy. This is not, as McDonald claims, a sign of the progress of the peace process, but a sign of control not yet surrendered to the politicos. In the Sunday Independent interview, Ms McDonald seems to believe that, because one lived in Belfast, Tyrone or Derry, it was inevitable that one would join the IRA. She labours with the misguided notion that the majority of those who, in her words, "lived through it", flocked to the standard of the IRA. Let's dispel that whopper - they did not. As one who lived through it, like the majority of my counterparts, we were kept away from the clutches of shadowy figures in the IRA by our parents. From our housing estates in the 1970s emerged a whole legion of teachers, lawyers, doctors, tradesmen, clerks and even clergy. Our parents may not have been able to afford Notre Dame de Missions, but they made sure we got schooled. The Troubles were an everyday factor of life in Newry and certainly the British Army and the RUC were contributory factors to the violence. But, back then, the greatest fear among the majority of parents was the all-too-real prospect of their children languishing in jails because of IRA membership, so, they turned us towards education and the voice they listened to was that of John Hume, not Ruari O Bradaigh. Hume was etched in Derry and it in him and yet not once he did advocate turning to the IRA, or any other purveyor of violence to redress political issues. He asked people to expend sweat, not blood; to live for their country, not to kill, or die, for it. The contrast could not be more stark from the sterility of the IRA strategy. Ms McDonald, during her interview, also seems to believe that the IRA campaign was justified. Her timing for such comments could not have been worse. As her interview was being published, her deputy, Michelle O'Neill, and the DUP's Arlene Foster were waxing lyrical about how the Covid-19 crisis had brought them closer together. Political unionists will squirm at the thought of the Sinn Fein president trying to legitimise IRA violence. It certainly doesn't make life any easier for Mrs Foster, the First Minister. Many thousands of innocent IRA victims of the Troubles will see no justification for the conflict and even less justice for their deceased relatives. Perhaps Ms McDonald is not able to escape the justified war narrative of her mentors - especially that of Gerry Adams. She admits that she was a favourite. When all is said and done, the process of selection to the presidency of Sinn Fein was more of an anointment than an appointment; more selection than election. Indeed, there is more transparency among a conclave of cardinals than the Sinn Fein ard comhairle when it comes to choosing a leader, or for that matter, a deputy leader (as John O'Dowd found out). Ms McDonald is a pragmatist. She will know that keeping an eye to the future with a foot stuck in the past is not going to fuel the growth of Sinn Fein in the Republic of Ireland. The north is a different story. Electorally, Sinn Fein came very close to being in power on both sides of the island. Unionists were not ready for such a change. In fairness, neither was Sinn Fein. The two jurisdictions often have different - and, at times, competing - needs, all requiring bespoke solutions. Being in charge in both camps will be challenging and those differences won't be easily covered up with a rendition of A Nation Once Again at the ard fheis. Ms McDonald is a politician with much promise, but the pitfalls which lie ahead are those she appears to dig for herself. To be an agent for change, the change has to come from within. Just how much the Sinn Fein president is up for that remains to be seen. Tom Kelly is a writer and commentator Boris Johnson has pledged to "level up" the country after lockdown ends. Credit: Getty. Whitehall chiefs could be ready to launch a 25bn ($30bn) taxpayer-backed fund to reboot regional companies struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country's first ever sovereign wealth fund would see the government buy up shares in key businesses outside of London, according to a Mail on Sunday report Officials are understood to be "actively considering" the plans proposed by British economist Jim O'Neill. City investors could also support the scheme, which would form an integral part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's agenda to "level up" the entire country post lockdown. The taxpayer would recoup initial investments when the shares are returned to the original owners within 10 years. The Government could also take so-called preference shares in the businesses, meaning taxpayers would be first in line for dividend payouts and proceeds which could be diverted into public spending projects. Lord O'Neill said the scheme could help family-owned businesses reach their world-class potential whilst lifting the country out of recession. READ MORE: Britain faces jobs hell and a return to the 1980s "My feeling is you should never let a crisis go to waste. Why not use this mess to invest in British businesses while also helping manage our debt coming out of this?" said the former Goldman Sachs chief economist. As the vice chair of the Northern Powerhouse initiative Lord O'Neill believes the north could benefit from taxpayer funding into companies specialising in advanced engineering, life sciences and green energy. "The start-ups are often acquired really quickly from overseas or they fail to grow. Something like this would help in the areas where the north has world-class potential and I'm sure you could do something similar in the Midlands too," he added. Sovereign wealth funds are popular around the world including across the Middle East, where state funds are invested into companies and other assets to generate income and returns for home economies. Meanwhile Norway's sovereign wealth fund is the biggest in the world, holding 900bn worth of investments in shares, bonds and property. The Treasury declined to comment. With India sending fresh troops to Ladakh to counter the Chinese army build-up arguably within our side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a 2017 Doklam-like situation is slowly emerging. Multiple skirmishes within the past few weeks between the PLA and Indian troops in the border regions of Ladakh and Sikkim had already put tensions on slow boil. Army Chief M M Naravane needlessly complicated matters on May 14 by blaming aggressive behaviour on both sides for the stand-off before the ministry of external affairs (MEA) stepped in to correct the narrative. The MEA said our soldiers were scrupulously abiding by the LAC, emphasising it was Chinese activity that had hindered Indias normal patrolling patterns. One reason for the Chinese aggression is Indias ramping up of its border road network and building other infrastructure close to the LAC. Other theories include sulking over the bar on its investment in Indian companies and New Delhis tacit support for a probe into the coronavirus source. Whatever the reason, China is facing global heat for using Covid-19 to further its expansionary goals in the South China Sea as well as applying economic coercion for Australias plainspeak. And Hong Kong has already begun its pushback against President Xis attempts to snatch its autonomy. It is in this context that the recent comment of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who said the coronavirus came from a Wuhan lab, ought to be read. He knows Chinas allergy to the Wuhan virus label. Beijing pulled out all the stops to block any inquiry into Covid-19s origins till humongous global pressure forced it to cave in. India now has better leverage than it did in 2017 as it heads the WHO Executive Board, which has oversight over the WHO chief, who has a distinct China tilt. Further, a couple of BJP MPs attending the inaugural of Taiwan Presidents second stint in office was a calculated poke at Beijing. Weaning Maldives away from China, with Male defending India at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperations recent meet, was the diplomatic icing on the cake. As always it is diplomacy that will finally settle the border stand-off. But at some point, the dragon ought to realise that coercion does not always pay. Nine civilians were killed on Sunday in the eastern DR Congo region of Beni in another attack blamed on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia, according to local sources. The attackers fled after a gunfight with army troops, according to Anthony Mualushayi, a regional army spokesman. The fighters "burned down some houses" and people have fled, said Donat Kibwana, the region's administrator, adding that there were "some wounded on the military side". Local official Bozi Sindiwako told AFP that two women and seven men were killed. The ADF is accused of killing more than 400 civilians in six months in retaliation for a military offensive launched in October against their bases. More than 1,000 civilians have died in attacks blamed on the ADF in the Beni region since October 2014. They often target farmers returning from the fields or at home in their villages at night. The mainly Muslim movement originated in neighbouring Uganda, opposed to the rule of President Yoweri Museveni. In 1995 they crossed the border into DR Congo, which became its base of operations. "Barbaric acts" are being committed by militiamen in Beni and elsewhere in eastern DR Congo, the government said at a cabinet meeting on Friday. The government accuses the ADF as well as another armed group, CODECO, of massacring hundreds of civilians in the neighbouring Ituri province further north. The army reported Sunday the "neutralisation" of 17 fighters from CODECO, a political-religious sect that claims to defend the interests of the Lendu ethnic group. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 25, 2020 14:46 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9fcc3f 2 Business agrarian-reform,agriculture,staple-food,Jokowi,COVID-19,food-shortage Free Agriculture experts have criticized the governments agrarian reform program a lack of progress that led to low production yield and mounting food imports, pointing to possible food shortages if the COVID-19 pandemic continues. University of Indonesia (UI) senior economist Faisal Basri has voiced his concerns over the increasing number of food imports over the years, saying that the government had been overly reliant on imports to cover the shortcomings of Indonesias agriculture industry. Last year we imported US$830 million worth of meat, $1.5 billion worth of fruits and $770 million worth of vegetables. Most of our imports also came from China, on which we become overly reliant, he said during a virtual public discussion on Friday. The government data presented by President Joko Jokowi Widodo on April 28 showed that over 20 provinces faced shortages of staple food, such as garlic, sugar, chili and eggs. Read also: Virus, climate change cause food shortages in parts of Indonesia Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) secretary-general Dewi Kartika said the governments botched agrarian reform program was to blame for the shortages as a vast plots of farmland were constantly being encroached by mining concessions and corporate plantations. According to the National Land Agencys data, our farmland shrank by 650,000 hectares in 2018. Many were converted to be used by other business sectors such as palm oil, natural resources extraction and infrastructure, she said. Agrarian reform is among the National Priority Programs pushed by Jokowis first-term administration in an effort to better distribute development and improve the peoples life quality. It includes programs that are expected to alleviate poverty in villages, improve the countrys food security and land production, acknowledge ownership rights over plots of land owned by individuals, the state and the general public, including land utilization for the peoples interest. Dewi also slammed the governments plan to clear 600,000 ha of peatland in Central Kalimantan to produce buffer stocks amid the shortage, as a similar measure under former president Soeharto on 1 million ha of peatland resulted in crop failure and subsequent starvation. Read also: Rice stock in check despite low production, high demand We tried that approach during the Soeharto era, which ended with catastrophic failures. In addition, the program also created unprecedented ecological damages, she said. According to a report released in April by the Global Network Against Food Crises, a humanitarian organization initiated by the World Food Program (WFP), a total of 135 million people lived with acute hunger at the end of 2019. The number was likely to jump to 265 million as countries enforcing quarantines amid the pandemic, the report said. As Indonesia relies on imports, market protectionism, especially during COVID-19 outbreak, could prompt other countries to halt their food exports. Such a policy could cause food shortages in countries that relied on the exports to fulfill their needs, said agriculture expert Sofyan Sjaf. The [WFP] has warned that millions of people could face food shortages as agriculture production yields drop due to the pandemic, he said during the same discussion. We saw Vietnam take a precautionary step to prevent a potential shortage by clamping down on exports. Read also: Lawmakers, farmers object to provision on food imports in omnibus bill on job creation Sofyan also urged the government to curb the COVID-19 outbreak in rural areas to prevent a decrease in food production, as the majority of farmers are vulnerable to the disease. More than 22,000 people have contracted COVID-19, with the death toll reaching at least 1,300 as of Sunday afternoon. Around 61 percent of our farmers are over 45 years old. We should increase our testing in rural regions and should not relax large-scale social restrictions [PSBB] when the infection rate is still high, he said. The Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wings Flying Fortress, the iconic Texas Raiders, has been a fixture on the U.S. air show circuit since 1967. Originally built as B-17G 44-83872, the aircraft never saw combat, but it did fly airborne early warning operations with the U.S. Navy as PB-1W Bu.77235 for a decade following WWII. The PB-1W was designed to give the U.S.Navy a long-distance radar platform to detect the approach of enemy aircraft from a far greater distance than a seaborne radar ever could. Essentially, the PB-1W was the very first iteration of the modern day AWACs aircraft, a key player on every modern military battlefield. But Texas Raiders military history is not the focus of this article. This is the story of how Texas Raiders has changed over the past six decades of warbird flying. The author, Kevin Michels, is a present member of her flight crew, and the CAF Gulf Coast Wings historian. We hope you will enjoy the story! B-17 Texas Raiders Nose Art Evolution Setting the Record Straight by Kevin Michels All of us at the Gulf Coast Wing (GCW) are very proud of our B-17 Flying Fortress, Texas Raiders (TR). Her distinctive nose art separates her not only from other B-17s, but from all other aircraft too. Whereas most CAF aircraft with nose art have pretty much carried the same or similar artwork during their entire careers with the organization, Texas Raiders is a notable exception. In fact, TR has worn eight-and-a-half different versions of her famous nose art since she began her CAF career in 1967. Whats that a half, you say? Well, maybe its eight, and maybe its nine. Stick with me and see how you count it. The CAFs B-17, registered N7227C, didnt even have a name when she arrived with the organization. B-17 co-pilot and GCW Executive Officer Eddie Burke is officially credited with naming the aircraft Texas Raiders in 1973. The nose art didnt come until the following year though. It consisted of simple text and a small Texas flag. Regardless of its simplicity, this nose art remained unchanged for as long as the aircraft maintained her 305th Bomb Group markings. Note in the image (left) that each side of the nose has only a single small window and no cheek gun ports. Sometime in August 1977, TR received an entirely new 381st BG paint scheme. Photo evidence from this time indicates that the aircraft may have flown the rest of the 1977 season without nose art. What is now referred to as the Raiders of the Lost Ark nose art first appeared in 1978 . Oddly enough, TR received this artwork three-and-a-half years before the famous Harrison Ford movie about the swashbuckling archeologist came out. Ironically though, this nose art disappeared a year before the movie release in June 1981, so they never coexisted; a lost marketing opportunity! In 1980, TR received cheek gun emplacement windows, one of the many updates on her long journey returning to B-17G configuration. The photo (left) shows the installation close to completion; is comes from the May/June 1980 CAF Dispatch newsletter. With her old nose art partially obscured by the restoration update, she received some new artwork, the short-lived Large Flag design. Of special note, at this time, the left side of TRs nose only has one small window next to its cheek gun emplacement, while the right side has no small windows at all. Late in 1980, TR received further modifications installing both small windows to the right side of her nose, and an additional small window on the left, thus completing her nose window reconfiguration. The photo (left) is from the May/June 1981 CAF Dispatch. Since this upgrade obliterated the nose art for a second year in a row, the restoration team painted on another iteration, essentially just a smaller flag graphic, as the text appears unaltered in appearance and location. In 1982, two slight changes appeared. This is what I refer to as the Half Version of the nose art. The first change is a slight re-imagining of the Texas flag for reasons unknown, and the second marks the inaugural appearance of yellow bomb mission markers. Fifteen is the mission count although the reasons for this number, if there ever were any, are now lost to time. Arguments could be made to count this nose art version as no change, a ninth, or the eight-and-a-half, as I have. You can decide for yourself! 1983 was a landmark year, for this was when the first Bomb Girl nose art graced Texas Raiders fuselage. The number of bombing mission markers increased to 21; again the reason for this count is unknown. This configuration was short-lived, however, as Texas Raiders began her three-year, nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip, restoration that fall. In late 1985, while the all-encompassing restoration project was entering its final stages, artist Otto Dickey applied what is now known as the Airbrushed Bomb Girl artwork. No yellow bomb mission markers were initially included. However, in 1988, Col. Everett Gibson and Wing Staff came up with the idea of putting 34 bomb mission markers on the aircraft. This time there was meaning behind the count. Thirty-four was a nod to the 35-mission tour of duty for 8th Air Force bomber crews during WWII, while keeping in mind Texas Raiders ongoing 35th mission of honor, inspiration, and education. The 34 mission markers have remained on the aircraft ever since. In 1993, just seven years after the restoration project finished, Texas Raiders underwent further maintenance for corrosion abatement, corrosion repair, and a full re-painting. Sadly, one of the casualties to corrosion control was the panel containing Otto Dickeys nose art. The TR team removed this panel which Jack Amuny then preserved and raffled off at $20 per ticket. This raised over $1,000 for the Wing, and the panel is now a prized family heirloom for the son of longtime GCW member and contributor, Everett Gibson. Prior to the 1994 airshow season, the GCW brought in Jackie Newcomer, a renowned warbird artist, to repaint TRs nose art using a period-accurate paintbrush technique. Jackies previous work is immortalized on many aircraft in the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, and her freehand-painted nose art on TR was both exceptional and enduring. Having graced TRs fuselage for 23 years, this nose art served longer than all previous versions combined. In 2017 Texas Raiders underwent her most recent corrosion abatement, corrosion repair, and full re-paint. As a result, all markings, including nose art, had to be reapplied. This time, Wing Staff decided to noted warbird artis Gary Velasco to do the job of repainting TRs nose art. Velasco is a well-known Vargas-like professional artist with a long resume of warbird nose art to his credit, including many CAF aircraft. The results were stunning and we expect TR to wear this nose art for the foreseeable future. See below for a visual quick-reference of TRs Nose art History: In another blow for the Libyan National Army (LNA), the Russian fighters have been flown out of the town south of Tripoli by their Libyan allies after stepping back from the frontlines of the capital. The towns mayor reportedly told an international news agency that the Russian troops were flown in three military planes to Jufra where the armys vehicles were driven. Even though LNA spokesperson Ahmed Mismari has reportedly denied the involvement of any foreign fighters in his force, United Nations official in Libya had just recently warned about an escalation in the conflict and cited foreigners. The retraction of Russian fighters is reportedly a setback for LNA headed by eastern Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar along with his foreign allies. Haftars forces are reportedly supported by Egypt, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates who were aiming to acquire the capital for over a year. However, the LNA has suffered multiple defeats in its fight against the Turkey-backed forces of the Tripoli government. Read - Libya's Hifter: Tripoli Campaign To Continue Despite Losses Read - Trump And Erdogan Discuss 'worsening Foreign Interference In Libya LNA has withdrawn from multiple positions According to international media reports, in the past two days, Haftars forces have withdrawn from some of its in the southern Tripoli as a humanitarian gesture. Meanwhile, forces backing the internationally recognised and United Nations-supported government have even recaptured some of those areas. Libya has been without a central government for over nine years and since 2014 the governments are divided into two rival parts, right and left who are trying to attain power. However, the disagreement has turned into a proxy war between the foreign allies backing opposite sides. The Russian fighters backing LNA retreated with all their heavy equipment from the capital to the airport of Bani Walid, a town south-east of Tripoli, according to Bani Walids mayor Salem Alaaywan. The UN-supported Libyan government, known as GNA is backed by Turkish troops and the spokesperson for their forces Mustafa al-Muije had confirmed that the Tripoli forces acquired a military camp as well as the southern suburb of Saleh el-Din. Moreover, they are now aiming to take charge of other conflicted districts of Mashrou and Ain Zara. Read - UN-supported Libya Gov't Takes Back Tripoli Area From Rivals Read - Libyan Official: Tripoli Forces Seize Another Key Town Image source: AP The stricken battleship loomed out of the smoke and wreckage that morning, hurrying past sunken and burning ships, straining to get out of Pearl Harbor and into the open sea. Past the doomed USS Arizona, which exploded in a fireball, the old ship rushed. It had a hole the size of house in its hull, and its captain was ashore. The frantic crew had chopped the mooring ropes and got the ship underway as Japanese planes swarmed overhead. The USS Nevada raced to escape the unfolding catastrophe of Dec. 7, 1941. "Out of this pall came a sight so incredible that its viewers could not have been more dumbfounded had it been the legendary Flying Dutchman," historian Gordon W. Prange wrote. Earlier this month, undersea explorers announced they had found the wreck of the famous Nevada: It had failed to make good its escape at Pearl Harbor, but it had survived, was repaired and returned to sea to serve out World War II. It had been found in 15,000 feet of water, purposely sunk by the Navy in 1948 after a career that spanned three decades of service, from World War I to the atomic bomb. The Nevada had fought on D-Day in 1944 off Normandy and, re-equipped with guns from the shattered Arizona and USS Oklahoma, fought again at the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in the Pacific. After the war it had been painted orange and used as a test ship at the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb detonations in 1946. The Nevada survived again, but in 1948 the vessel, possibly still radioactive, was sunk by naval guns, explosives and torpedoes 65 miles southwest of Pearl Harbor, said maritime archaeologist James P. Delgado, of SEARCH Inc., one of two firms that found the wreck in April. It took the Navy 4 days to hammer the Nevada to the bottom. Afterward, a funeral, with chaplain and crew, was held on the USS Iowa over the site where the ship had gone down, Delgado said. The "Ol' Maru," as its crews called the Nevada, was 34 years old. Delgado, former head of the Maritime Heritage Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, had studied iconic ship wrecks around the world and knew roughly where the Nevada was. (The Nevada's band was famously playing "The Star Spangled Banner" on deck on Dec. 7 as the attack began. The band hurried through the piece and ran to battle stations.) He had wanted to search for the wreck because "ultimately, finding where most of these ships lie and looking at them again is a reminder of the past," he said. "It connects this, and future, generations with those stories in a powerful way. ... For many of us who are archaeologists, we've always known that the greatest museum we have is at the bottom of the sea." Delgado said the project started "with a chance phone call" with Ocean Infinity, a marine survey and robotics company that had found other famous wrecks and happened to have a search vessel stationed near Honolulu, Delgado said. The two firms were planning to work together, and Ocean Infinity agreed to have its ship, the Pacific Constructor, look for the Nevada, he said. Ocean Infinity said the ship had been working commercial projects in the Pacific since early this year and because of the pandemic had stayed at sea. "They said, 'Let's just go do this,'" Delgado said. "We drew a box that was 10 by 10 miles and said 'that's where to go,'" he said. The Pacific Constructor went to the site and searched with underwater robots. Delgado, based in Jacksonville, Florida, followed along from his computer and provided historical and archaeological guidance. "Nobody got paid for this," he said. "We all did this because we felt it was the right thing to do at this time." The Nevada, built in Quincy, Massachusetts, and launched in 1914, had 36 painted on its bow and stern. It had guarded convoys during World War I, lost several crewmen to the 1918 flu pandemic, and helped escort the ship carrying President Woodrow Wilson to France to negotiate the Treaty of Versailles. On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, the Nevada was moored by itself at the end of a line of ships tied up two-by-two at Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor. The enemy arrived as the Nevada band played, and the six Patten brothers - Gilbert, Marvin, Bick, Allen, Ray and Bruce, all from Odebolt, Iowa - were stationed in the engine room, according to historian Craig Nelson. They were talking about who would win the coming 1942 Rose Bowl, Duke or Oregon State, when the ship started to shake, as if in an earthquake. The brothers heard machine gun fire, Allen Patten recalled. Then a cook yelled down, "Hey you guys, we're being attacked!" "I caught a glimpse of a torpedo plane flying from the east very low over the water," Ensign Joseph K. Taussig remembered. "The bomb bay doors were open and out dropped a 'fish.'" The assault was on. Other ships were shackled to each other, but the Nevada was by itself, and one of its six boilers was already lighted. The crew cut the mooring lines and within 10 minutes all the boilers were going. "Record time," Allen Patten recalled. Like the other ships in the harbor, the Nevada was being pounded by enemy aircraft. It had already been hit by one torpedo and two bombs, Nelson wrote in his 2016 book, "Pearl Harbor, from Infamy to Greatness." But at 8:18 that morning, about 20 minutes after the attack began, the Nevada got underway with no senior officers on board. "How could the ship move?" Steward 1st Class Ben Holt remembered. "It took hours to get up enough steam to get the ship to go. And this ship was moving! All of us were just kind of, 'Hallelujah!'" The Nevada, itself smoking, made its break for the sea. "As we cleared the burning Arizona the harbor became visible to us," recalled Ensign Robert Thomas Jr., who had been knocked down when the Arizona blew up 300 feet away. "Good God! The West Virginia was awash and burning, the Oklahoma had capsized, the California was listing and afire. ... I thought, 'We are the only ones left!'" But the big ship with two towering masts quickly caught the attention of the Japanese pilots. They couldn't let the Nevada get away to menace their ships. If they could sink it, they could block the entrance to the harbor. The fight was now between clouds of enemy planes and the crippled battleship. The Nevada fought back, but the diving planes hit home with as many as 10 bombs. The ship started to list, and officers realized that it might indeed go down in the harbor entrance. Orders came to end the escape attempt and beach the ship out of the way near Hospital Point. Fifty crewmen already had been killed and 109 wounded. None of the Patten brothers was hurt, Nelson wrote. And 3 years later Bruce Patten was on a destroyer that steamed into Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender in 1945. Last month, James Delgado watched on his computer screen as an underwater robot examined a mysterious collection of wreckage about three miles beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Eerie color images of a debris field were beamed from the darkness as the robot scoured the bottom. A target had been identified by sonar earlier, and the robot was moving in to check it out. One part of it certainly looked like the hull of ship upside down and missing the bow and stern, he said. But was this the Nevada? "We went out into the debris field," Delgado said, and spotted two other likely objects. These were probably the separated bow and stern. "The bow still had wood decking on it," Delgado said. The anchor chain was there. Then the robot maneuvered around to check the stern. As Delgado watched, he said he exclaimed: "There it is!" Still painted on the side was the hull number, 36. President Donald Trump began Memorial Day with a threat, warning that he was seriously considering moving the Republican National Convention from Charlotte, North Carolina, if there are no guarantees that the state will have lifted any restrictions on how many people can gather in closed spaces by late August. In a series of tweets on Monday, Trump said he needed guarantees from the Democratic governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, that Republicans would be able to fill Charlottes Spectrum Center to capacity during the convention. Advertisement Trump wrote that he was the one who had insisted on holding the convention in Charlotte at the end of August. But the states Democratic governor is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed full attendance in the Arena. That means the Republican Party might have to spend lots of money without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ...full attendance in the Arena. In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space. Plans are being.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Cooper, Trump insisted, must immediately give Republicans an answer as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied, Trump wrote. If he cant guarantee that then the GOP will have to reluctantly pick another site for the convention, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings. ...to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020 Advertisement Trumps threats came after North Carolinas Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen said the Republican National Committee should hope for the best, but plan for the worst when it came to the convention. The state has just entered Phase 2 of its reopening, meaning some businesses, including restaurants, are allowed to open but at lower capacity while gyms and bars remain closed. A day after the new phase began, the state reported 1,107 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, marking the largest single-day increase for North Carolina since the pandemic began. Advertisement Advertisement The presidents tweets also come a few days after the New York Times reported that Trump was open to participating in a smaller convention, although he reportedly often wondered to aides why they couldnt simply move it to Florida, where the reopening process is moving along more quickly. Trump has also openly wondered whether North Carolinas Democratic governor would try to hurt Republicans with rules regarding the convention. Its got a Democrat governor, so we have to be a little bit careful with that, because theyre playing politics, Trump told a Washington Examiner columnist earlier this month. Theyre playing politics, as you know, by delaying the openings. Cooper has insisted that his decisions regarding COVID-19 restrictions have nothing to do with politics. A pandemic cannot be political, Cooper told CNN. If it is, we lose that ability to work together. Tbilisi is not planning to review the strategic partnership with Ukraine, the Georgian Foreign Ministry has said. The ministry held the first working meeting with Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Teimuraz Sharashenidze who was recalled from Kyiv for consultations after former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was appointed chairman of the Executive Reform Committee under the President of Ukraine, according to the News-Georgia website. "At today's meeting, we heard a report by the ambassador and discussed issues and prospects for bilateral relations between Georgia and Ukraine, taking into account the current situation. We would like to clarify once again that the recall of the ambassador to the capital for consultations is a step taken in diplomatic practice. The Georgian side made this decision in connection with the appointment by the Ukrainian authorities to a public position of a person convicted in Georgia, which, in the opinion of the Georgian side, does not correspond to the spirit of cooperation between the two countries," the Georgian Foreign Ministry said. At the same time, the ministry emphasized that Tbilisi does not plan to review the strategic partnership between the two countries. "Georgia continues to work with Ukraine on a number of strategic issues - the occupation of territories, the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as usual. Of course, we will monitor the development of processes in Ukraine, what steps the Ukrainian government will take in terms of normalizing relations with Georgia, and in view of this a decision will be made on the date of the ambassador's return to Ukraine," the Georgian Foreign Ministry said. According to the statement, the term of the Georgian ambassador's return to Kyiv depends on the steps taken by the government to normalize relations with Georgia. Sharashenidze himself stated before the consultations that his recall had been chosen as a form of protest. "I handed over a note of protest to the Ukrainian authorities. The recall of the ambassador for consultations was chosen as a form of protest. I arrived, and today we begin consultations. Ukraine accepted our protest as a strategic partner and was not surprised by such a decision," the ambassador said. The Georgian government recalled Ambassador to Ukraine Teimuraz Sharashenidze for consultations in Tbilisi on May 8 after Saakashvili was appointed chairman of the executive committee of the National Reform Council. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said on May 9 that Georgia did not intend to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine due to Saakashvili's appointment to a high position in Ukraine. op Midland and Gladwin counties added no new cases on Monday, the the daily afternoon state report. The totals remain at 79 cases and eight deaths and 18 cases and one death, respectively. Bay County added four new cases, bringing its total to 286 cases and 19 deaths. Isabella County added no new cases, remaing total at 74 cases and seven deaths. Saginaw County added eight cases, bringing its total to 997 cases and 106 deaths. The state added 202 new cases and 12 deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 54,881 cases and 5,240 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 33,168 cases, as of May 21, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to April 22, 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; 37% Caucasian and 17% unknown, and the top three races in deaths as 40% Black/African American; 51% 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." 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. Motorcycles and cars travel on a street in Danang City. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has proposed launching support policies and preferential programs for the use of vehicles powered by renewable energy to ease air pollution PHOTO: VNA The ministry noted that the leader of the ministry had written this report based on international studies on the management and development of environmentally friendly vehicles. To reduce air pollution from vehicle emissions effectively, the ministry proposed the prime minister consider and submit its plan to offer preferential policies and programs to incentivize the consumption of renewable energy and electric vehicles to the National Assembly. The ministry also proposed the prime minister assign other ministries and departments to prepare to follow new regulations in the amended Law on Environmental Protection on air pollution control, greenhouse gas emission reduction and support for the production and the use of eco-friendly vehicles. Accordingly, the Ministry of Transport should cooperate with the relevant ministries and agencies to step up the strategy to develop environmentally friendly transport services, VietnamPlus news site reported, citing the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments proposals. Also, the Ministry of Finance should work with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to submit a plan to the prime minister to add environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric automobiles, hybrid vehicles and those powered by bio-fuels and compressed natural gas, to the preferential automobile accessories import tax program. SGT Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Reducing crime and restoring the local economy are among the top priorities of the four Republican candidates seeking to replace Republican Lonnie Talbert as the District 4 representative on the Bernalillo County Commission. Business owner George Walt Benson; former County Commissioner E. Tim Cummins; real estate broker Sean Kesani; and Bernalillo County contact center manager Tina Tomlin are seeking the Republican nomination in the June 2 primary. Talbert, the only Republican currently serving on the commission, is term-limited. The winner will face Democrat Wende Schwingendorf in the general election in November. The district is in the north-central part of the county. My top priorities are job creation and fighting crime, creating a safer community, the 43-year-old Benson said of his candidacy. He voiced concerns that some regulations make it hard for businesses to start and remain competitive. He also said there should be more of a focus on working with the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office on solutions to reduce crime. Benson said the countys crime rate may hinder the recruitment of new businesses. Cummins, 63, voiced a similar opinion. He said that while ensuring health and welfare should be the highest priority, We must be equally focused on rebuilding our economy and creating new jobs. He also said crime in the community has grown unchecked. We must act quickly and decisively to reduce crime which in turn will make our community stronger and more economically sound, he said. Kesani, 35, said reducing crime is his top priority. He pledged to work with his fellow commissioners, the Sheriffs Office, Albuquerque city councilors and the Albuquerque Police Department to find solutions. Cutting down on panhandling and restoring the economy after the pandemic are also priorities. Weve got to do something about whats going on on our street corners, he said about panhandling, which he said is spreading across Albuquerque. Tomlin, 49, said economic resiliency and public safety have equal billing. But public safety is crucial to our health and prosperity, she said. Benson, Cummins and Kesani said they would not support a tax increase. Tomlin said she would support a tax increase only to maintain basic infrastructure and security and to protect citizens from criminals, but only if every other option had been exhausted. The four are not in favor of Metropolitan Detention Center staff withholding information from immigration authorities under the countys current immigration policy. Benson, Cummins, Kesani and Tomlin said they are open to working with the city of Albuquerque on the areas homeless problem; Benson said the issue should be addressed after the economy recovers from the pandemic. In terms of chipping in to pay for it, it shouldnt be our top priority, he said. Weve got to get our economy going. Kesani feels the county can help the city find a location for the center to ensure that the community feels safe. Cummins described homelessness as an epidemic in the community that has to be addressed. It contributes to our crime issues and hinders economic growth, he said. While I believe the city and county should coordinate closely and cooperate on the issue and look for opportunities to partner when appropriate, I believe it is better to provide facilities and services separately. Cummins served as commissioner from 2000 to 2008. He also served on the Albuquerque City Council and said he has the experience to help drive the economic development we need to prosper and thrive. But Benson believes the county Board of Commissioners needs new leaders who could bring a new perspective to the table. As a business owner, he said, he is used to problem-solving. He also calls for more transparency in the way the county conducts its business. Kesani said being a Realtor has given him knowledge of the challenges different parts of the county face. He said the county needs to focus on infrastructure. We have roads that need to be addressed, he said. Tomlin said as the countys former 911 director, she has insight into public safety issues. You are not alone if you thought Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams were the perfect match. Fans fell in love with the couple after The Notebook, and everyones wishes seemingly came true when they dated in real life in the mid-2000s. Although their relationship fizzled out and Gosling went on to partner with Eva Mendes, the actors uncle also thought that McAdams was The One. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams | Lee Celano/WireImage Inside Ryan Goslings romance with Rachel McAdams Gosling and McAdams met while working on The Notebook in 2003. Although they had great chemistry during the casting process, People reports that Gosling and McAdams did not get along on the set. Director Nick Cassavetes once revealed that things got so bad that Gosling requested that he cast another actress to play the lead. Luckily, Cassavetes convinced Gosling to give McAdams another chance and the pair put aside their differences to finish the movie. Maybe Im not supposed to tell this story, but they were really not getting along one day on set. Really not, Cassavetes shared. And Ryan came to me, and theres 150 people standing in this big scene, and he says, Nick come here. And hes doing a scene with Rachel and he says, Would you take her out of here and bring in another actress to read off camera with me?' It would be another two years before Gosling and McAdams started dating. The two sparked up a romance in 2005 and famously kissed each other on stage at the MTV Movie Awards that same year. From that point on, Gosling and McAdams appeared together on quite a few red carpets, though their relationship came to an end in the fall of 2007. They briefly reunited in 2008 before calling it quits altogether. Why did Gosling and McAdams break up? Gosling and McAdams never revealed why their romance did not work out, but we do know that they split on good terms. In an interview from 2007, Gosling revealed that they did their best to stay together before calling it a draw. The only thing I remember is we both went down swingin and we called it a draw, Gosling stated, adding that fans were very disappointed by the news. RELATED: Ryan Gosling Wanted To Get Rachel McAdams Kicked Off the Set of The Notebook In the summer of 2008, McAdams attended Ryan Goslings first foray into the world of DJing. At the time, an insider revealed that Gosling was happy to see McAdams at his show, which took place in a Hollywood venue. The former couple was spotted a few weeks after the event enjoying dinner in Toronto, Canada. The sighting sparked hope that Gosling and McAdams would eventually reunite, something that his uncle also apparently thought would happen as well. Goslings uncle thought McAdams was The One In an interview with Heat World, Goslings uncle, Kevin Gosling, opened up about his thoughts on his nephews romance with McAdams, Without mincing any words, he admitted that he always thought the two were perfect for each other. It sure seemed like [Rachel] was The One for him, he stated. Ryan Goslings uncle went on to say that he first met McAdams during a family get-together for Christmas. He revealed that McAdams was very down-to-earth and did not act like a Hollywood star. He then noted that she hung out for several hours drinking beer and laughing all the time. He didnt say why things didnt work out between them, but it was clear that he still had fond memories of the actress. It was amazing how comfortable we were, just sitting around the kitchen table, talking, he added. Ryan Gosling finds happiness with Evan Mendes Following his breakup with McAdams, Gosling went on to date Mendes, with whom he now shares two children. While Gosling and Mendes are an A-List couple, they rarely step out in public together. In fact, their only red carpet appearance was for the 2012 movie, The Place Beyond The Pines. Gosling and Mendes have made a deliberate decision to keep their romance out of the public eye. With their relationship still going strong after all of these years, the tactic is clearly paying off. RELATED: Inside Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes Ultra-Private Home Life Although they usually keep things low-key, Mendes recently praised Goslings acting credits with a heartfelt post on social media. What a tough question, Mendes shared after a fan asked about her favorite movies that feature Gosling. He was so incredibly heartbreaking in Bladerunner. Such an impossible role to play and he did it so beautifully! And his portrayal of Armstrong [in First Man] was so subtle and powerful and emotional. I got lost in his performance in that film. Ryan Gosling has never commented on his uncles comments about his relationship with McAdams. - Miljan Mrdakovic had struggled with depression and anxiety for some time - It was gathered the former striker pulled the trigger on his head to take his own life - Sources say the player earlier claimed he could not take it anymore A former Partizan Belgrade and Anderlecht striker Miljan Mrdakovic has taken his own life after he reportedly said he could not take it anymore, Mirror reports. It was gathered the 38-year-old died on the spot after he reportedly took his own life in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. READ ALSO: Ronaldo recalls Man United's Champions League title win over Chelsea with iconic photo READ ALSO: Robin van Persie reveals Louis Van Gaal once slapped him after he refused to be subbed Local media are reporting his girlfriend Ivana Stanic dashed out of the house immediately the incident occurred calling on emergency services. He could have killed himself the night before. He was drunk and that had a big effect on him. He was depressed and anxious in the last period. He behaved like he was struggling with something, but I don't know what," Stanic told reporters. READ ALSO: Shari Halliday: Model says Usain Bolt begged for naughty pics days before sprinter welcomed child His son lived with us for a period. We had plans for the future and now he is gone. I can't go back to the apartment, I will take my stuff from there, but I can't go there yet," she added. She also posted a photo on social media of the striker, captioning the image: Sleep tight, my love. PAY ATTENTION: Install Pitch Football app for FREE to easily access stats, news and live updates Regarded a journeyman, Mrdakovic played for more than a dozen clubs, also featuring for Maccabi Tel Aviv and with Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal. He played nine matches with Serbia U21s and three times for Serbia at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news. I slept with multiple women, did all sorts of drugs before God changed me - Pastor Chris Chege Source: TUKO.co.ke DETROIT Hannah Peck doesn't know how or when her son was exposed to novel coronavirus. He never had any symptoms of COVID-19, and her family has been following social distancing guidelines during the stay-at-home order. So when Levi Nobles got sick in early May, a few days after his seventh birthday, she didn't suspect it had anything to do with the virus. "I thought it was just a stomach bug going on," said Peck, 29, of Shelby Township. He was vomiting and had a fever, so, "that's what I thought it was." But when Levi's symptoms dragged into the fourth day, Peck brought him to the pediatrician. The doctor was concerned there could be COVID-19 involvement. Reports had emerged from around the world about children like Levi who were exhibiting symptoms of a newly identified pediatric inflammatory syndrome linked to the virus with some symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease. Levi had a couple of its identifying symptoms, too: red, dry, cracked lips and unusually bloodshot eyes. Levi Nobles, 7, of Shelby Township, was among the Michigan children hospitalized with the newly identified disease associated with the novel coronavirus. Called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, it's sickened hundreds of kids nationally and can be deadly. Levi is now continuing to recover at home. At least 33 children in Michigan now have been diagnosed with the same rare condition as of May 22, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Nationally, there have been hundreds of cases reported just in the last few weeks. As of May 22, New York state reported 161 children with symptoms and three deaths. Of the New York cases, 92% tested positive for COVID-19 either by a diagnostic swab testing, antibody testing, or both, according to the state Department of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dubbed it Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C, and issued an advisory May 14, asking doctors to watch for and report cases to public health officials. Children with this condition can have any of the following symptoms: Fever Bloodshot eyes, cracked lips or bright red tongue Rash Abdominal pain Diarrhea Vomiting Neck pain Extreme exhaustion The syndrome also can cause inflammation in different parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal organs. Story continues When the disease attacks children's hearts and lungs, it can be especially dangerous. Some of the kids who've developed this condition have needed intensive care, and have been so sick they needed a ventilator to help them breathe or an artificial heart and lung machine known as ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation). "The hallmarks seem to be a very sick child, and generally speaking, a child with low blood pressure and evidence of shock," said Dr. David Kimberlin, editor of Red Book, the Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics. "There may be some abdominal pain, some diarrhea. ... They also may have a rash. They may not. They may have red eyes. They may not." Dr. David Kimberlin is editor of Red Book, the Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics. He also is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It also affects a wide age range of children from the very young to older teens, Kimberlin said, citing research that suggests the average age of those affected is 8-10 years old. 'Almost all the kids are treatable': What parents should know about new COVID-related inflammatory disease Is there a link?: More kids fall ill to mysterious Kawasaki-like disease as officials test for coronavirus While an association has been made between this syndrome and novel coronavirus, it's too soon to say definitively that they're connected. "This hyperinflammatory syndrome ... has been showing up in areas of the world where, within the prior three or four weeks, the COVID-19 virus had started circulating, and most but not all of these children test positive in some form or fashion for the COVID virus," said Kimberlin, who also is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "So there's a temporal association COVID in the community, three or four weeks later, these rare cases of children with this hyperinflammatory syndrome being recognized but there's not a causal association yet. "My suspicion is that there will be, but it's not proven yet. ... I don't think we've quite connected those dots." Symptoms seemed to change daily Levi's pediatrician urged Peck to bring her son to the hospital. "The doctor looked at him and said, 'You need to get ... him checked out for what all these kids were getting, this Kawasaki-like syndrome going on," Peck said. She took him to Beaumont Hospital, Troy, but was soon transferred by ambulance to Beaumont Children's in Royal Oak. There, Dr. Bishara Freij, chief of pediatric infectious disease, evaluated Levi for MIS-C. So far in the pandemic, Freij has treated six kids with the condition, and they all had similar symptoms: persistent fever, gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea or vomiting, and red eyes. Some, but not all, have had rashes, too. Dr. Bishara Freij, chief of pediatric infectious disease at Beaumont Children's Hospital. "Most of them have had heart function problems," said Freij. "So the heart muscle is not functioning as well based on echocardiograms and some laboratory tests. They all have markedly inflamed body systems. Based on the markers we use ... they're not just high, they're quite high. "We're seeing rapid progression as well." The children Freij has treated all have tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, too, which means they had previous coronavirus infections, even if they didn't know it. "They might have acquired the COVID-19 infection, had no symptoms and then suddenly they show up with these illnesses, which is basically the immune system going haywire on them, overreacting, going into overdrive, and, in the process, hurting the child," Freij said. The disease is new, Freij said, so doctors don't know what might trigger it in some children, but not others. But some of his patients are participating in research to try to find immune system clues that may answer those questions. For Levi, the symptoms seemed to change daily. When he was admitted to the hospital on May 5, his primary problems were fever and vomiting. But by the next day, Peck said his abdominal pain worsened. Levi Nobles, 7, of Shelby Township, was among the Michigan children hospitalized with the newly identified disease associated with the novel coronavirus. Called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, it's sickened hundreds of kids nationally and can be deadly. Levi is now continuing to recover at home. He had developed what's called peritonitis, an inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal wall, Freij said. Imaging tests also revealed that Levi had inflammation of the small intestine. Then, his lungs filled with fluid. He developed pneumonia, and needed supplemental oxygen to breathe. He was moved to the intensive care unit. "His blood pressure started dropping," Freij said, "and he had not only pneumonia, but he had heart dysfunction. ... And he developed extensive lung disease." Peck described the ordeal as "scary." "It just was one thing after another," said Peck, who is a dental hygienist. She's been off work for months because the governor's executive order required all dentists in the state to temporarily shut down their practices during the height of the pandemic. Negative for coronavirus, positive for antibodies Levi was swabbed three times to test him for coronavirus. All three times, the test came back negative. But an antibody blood test showed that the first grader had antibodies in his blood from the virus. That means he likely contracted it but was asymptomatic until this cascade of inflammatory problems struck. That was surprising to Peck. "He hasn't really gone anywhere," she said. "He goes outside, but it's just me and him. He doesn't play with anybody or do anything with anyone. When we go to the grocery store, we do the Kroger pickup. We don't go inside. ... We haven't been around anybody, so I'm not really sure when or how any of us could have even picked it up." And that's something everyone needs to keep in mind, Kimberlin said, as states begin to reopen. The virus is circulating in communities and all of us are vulnerable. Levi Nobles, 7, of Shelby Township, was among the Michigan children hospitalized with the newly identified disease associated with the novel coronavirus. Called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, it's sickened hundreds of kids nationally and can be deadly. Levi is now continuing to recover at home. "Every American should do their part to keep it from spreading," he said, "That includes social distancing. It includes density reduction, which right now is less than 10 people. That number may change, but the principle of not being around large groups is going to stay with us for months if not years. "It includes wearing a mask when you're not in your car or not in your home or your immediate personal workspace. Always wear a mask. It includes hand hygiene, washing your hands very frequently and thoroughly ... and being mindful of surfaces where droplets that could have the virus hitch a ride ... to your face." Mask wearing: How to clean, reuse or hack a coronavirus mask Coronavirus symptoms: How does the coronavirus cause COVID toes or loss of smell? Here's how the immune system reacts. Ignoring social distancing guidelines: Memorial Day weekend pool party in Ozarks draws national attention More cases expected Freij said as coronavirus continues to spread through the country, there undoubtedly will be more cases of children sickened by this syndrome. But in a country of 330 million people, even if only 1 in 10,000 children who contract COVID-19 go on to develop MIS-C, "the numbers will look big," Freij said. "But relative to the population, it's a low attack rate, an uncommon event." Kimberlin agreed. "This is still very rare," he said. "Parents are understandably scared about this. They're scared about so much as we all are with the pandemic. ... But this is something that is highly unlikely to impact any given child and we need to learn a whole lot more about it. "We're obviously taking it very seriously, but parents should not add this to the list of yet one more thing that they need to be worried about. "Many of these children get better really quite quickly given how sick they are when they're coming into the hospital." That's what happened to Levi. After nearly a week in the hospital, he was able to go home again to finish his recovery. He's back to Zoom calls with his classmates and teacher, playing video games and outside, too. Levi Nobles, 7, of Shelby Township, was among the Michigan children hospitalized with the newly identified disease associated with the novel coronavirus. Called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, it's sickened hundreds of kids nationally and can be deadly. Levi is now continuing to recover at home. And though there are still follow-up appointments and tests in Levi's future to ensure there are no complications, he's likely to make a full recovery, Freij said. Peck said her advice to parents is this: "If your child is sick, get them in. Get them checked out." Follow Kristen Jordan Shamus on Twitter: @kristenshamus. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: COVID-19 in kids: Michigan boy, 7, recovers from rare syndrome MIS-C People in Suriname went to the polls on Monday with strongman President Desi Bouterse seeking a third term, battling to hold onto power months after being convicted of the murder of political opponents. The former military dictator turned politician has dominated his tiny South American country for four decades but polls suggested his National Democratic Party (NDP) was likely to lose its majority in the 51-member parliament which elects the president. Voting was extended by two hours beyond the 7:00 pm (2200 GMT) closing, with many voters still lining up to cast their ballots. At some polling stations, voters had stood in line for up to three hours. First results were not expected until Tuesday. Local election observer groups reported irregularities at several polling stations, including the names of deceased people on the voter rolls. "It is chaos. With every election you have spots, but these are like a big pool of oil that spreads in the sea," said Jennifer Van Dijk-Silos, chairwoman of the Independent Electoral Bureau, confirming the extension. Earlier, the 74-year-old Bouterse and his wife Ingrid Waaldring were among the first people to vote at a school in the capital Paramaribo, surrounded by supporters and media. Authorities lifted a partial coronavirus lockdown for the day and voters lined up at 1.5-meter (five-foot) intervals before the polls opened. However, a ban on public transportation remained in place, meaning people in rural areas had difficulties getting to vote, relying on political parties to help them. "Just a few more hours then we have liberated Suriname," said Bouterse's main rival Chandrikapersad Santokhi as he walked from his house to vote. An IDOS survey predicted the NDP's overall share will fall from 26 seats to between 14 and 17, with opposition parties claiming 12 of the 17 seats in the capital. - 'Heart and soul' - Bouterse is a controversial figure who last year was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a military court for ordering executions during a previous military dictatorship. He first took power in a 1980 coup and in 1982 allegedly rounded up and executed 15 political opponents, including lawyers, journalists and businessmen. The incident, known as the "December killings," was investigated by Santokhi, who now leads the main opposition Progressive Reform Party (VHP). Bouterse appealed his conviction and the case was postponed until June due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a separate case in 1999, a court in the Netherlands -- Suriname's former ruler -- sentenced Bouterse to 11 years in prison in absentia for cocaine smuggling, a charge he denies. Just over 380,000 people were eligible to vote in this Dutch-speaking and ethnically-diverse South American nation of 600,000 people. Many voters turned out in their party's colors or wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the faces of candidates. Rudy Cederburg, a senior citizen, wore purple and white, with purple sport shoes. "I'm a true NDP in heart and soul," he told AFP. "I want this party to continue the development path it has taken, continue their development plans for this country." The NDP campaigned on its strong track record of substantially increasing social welfare, introducing mandatory health and pension insurances, carrying out major infrastructure projects and granting property to the landless. Opposition parties, though, accuse the Bouterse administration of numerous corruption scandals and have warned that the country cannot afford the NDP's spending. "The current government, NDP, has made a big mess of it in the past 10 years. Things are not going well in the country," said Consuela Prade, 34, who said she was still undecided as to which opposition party to vote for. - Voting along ethnic lines - Special coronavirus measures meant officials dabbed blue ink on the voters' fingers with an ear swab rather than letting them dip their fingers in an ink pot. A special mobile polling station was set up at the Zorghotel in Paramaribo for 187 people in coronavirus quarantine. The Organization of American States and the Caribbean Community are monitoring voting in the country, where ballots are often cast along ethnic lines. Many parties have publicly ruled out a coalition with the NDP as they blame the Bouterse administration for a financial crisis in the gold-and-oil-exporting nation. While a party or coalition needs only a simple majority to take control of the National Assembly, a president requires two-thirds of the votes to be elected. Surinamese are also electing 118 district and 772 local representatives, with 17 parties and more than 5,700 candidates on ballot papers. Amid social distancing measures put in place to fight the coronavirus pandemic, case numbers have flatlined for a number of other diseases. But experts warn with the easing of movement restrictions, people have to keep following social distancing measures to ensure they dont come back. Measures put in place to halt coronavirus have also taken out a range of other diseases. Credit:AP Rates of influenza have been squashed flat after initially hinting at another serious year for case numbers. The numbers went so low Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said residents of the state were more likely to get COVID-19 than a flu in 2020. T he UK coronavirus death toll across all settings has risen by 121, bringing the total to nearly 37,000, according to the Department of Health. Of those who have tested positive for Covid-19, 36,914 have died across all settings as of 5pm on May 24, the figures show. Meanwhile the Government has missed its testing target of 100,000 tests a day with only 73,726 taking place on May 24. In total. 261,184 people have tested positive - an increase of 1,625. Meanwhile, the number of people who have died in hospitals in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen by 77. NHS England announced 59 new deaths on Monday of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19. Loading.... It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 25,750. Scotland reported an additional three coronavirus deaths, with a total of 2,273 Covid-19 linked fatalities now reported. The First Minister said 15,156 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 55 from 15,101 the day before. Loading.... The number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Northern Ireland has risen to 514 after eight more deaths were reported by the Department of Health. Wales reported an additional seven coronavirus deaths bringing the total to 1,274. The figures published today by NHS England show April 8 continues to have the highest number for the most hospital deaths on a single day, with a current total of 891. It comes after the latest deaths announced on Saturday revealed a 12-year-old with underlying health conditions had died after contracting Covid-19. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien speaks to reporters outside of the West Wing of the White House in Washington on May 21, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Trumps National Security Adviser Compares Chinese Regimes Coverup of COVID-19 to Chernobyl President Donald Trumps national security adviser on Sunday compared the Chinese regimes response to the CCP virus pandemic to the Soviet Unions handling of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. This was a virus that was unleashed by China. There was a coverup that someday theyre going to do an HBO show like they did with Chernobyl on this virus, White House adviser Robert OBrien claimed during an appearance on CBSs Face the Nation, referring to a 2019 television miniseries on what is considered the worlds worst nuclear accident in the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. OBrien said that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intentionally gave false information to the World Health Organization (WHO) about the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan. He claimed that the Chinese regime had failed to disclose information about the virus since November, and that it has blocked foreign experts from accessing information. They unleashed a virus on the world thats destroyed trillions of dollars in American economic wealth that were having to spend to keep our economy alive, to keep Americans afloat during this virus, OBrien said on NBCs Meet the Press. He said that CCP officials, following in the footsteps of Soviet officials after the 1986 disaster, covered up the extent of the pandemic as they kicked out all reporters and they wouldnt let [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] investigators come in. Theyre still stonewalling investigators, he said. National Security Advisor Robert OBrien walks after being interviewed at the White House in Washington on May 24, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) The disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant released radioactive nuclear material that killed dozens of people within weeks and forced tens of thousands to flee. It doesnt matter if it was local officials or the Chinese Communist Party, it was a coverup and well get to the bottom of it eventually, he added. OBrien alleged that the delay into an investigation into the origins of the CCP virus has cost many, many thousands of lives in America and around the world. The Epoch Timess previous reporting has documented the Chinese authorities lack of transparency surrounding the virus. In the initial stages of the outbreak, the Chinese regime downplayed the risk of human-to-human transmission in public, while internal government documents showed that authorities were scrambling to contain the virus from spreading. Local authorities have also consistently underreported virus infections, keeping internal tallies of diagnostic results that differ from officially released data. Similarly, in the early weeks of the first SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak, Chinese officials withheld information and did not warn the public for months. OBrien said Trumps order on Jan. 30 to block travel from China was a profile in courage that saved countless lives. Weve also learned that, at the time, they [the CCP] cracked down internally and refused to allow people from Hubei and Wuhan to travel throughout China. But they allowed those folks to travel to Europe, OBrien said. China has denied the accusations against it. Its foreign minister, Wang Yi, told the countrys rubber-stamp legislature on May 24 that the United States was spreading lies and attacking China. He said that from the CCPs perspective, U.S. actionssuch as its call for an independent investigation into the origins of the virus and its opposition to Beijings proposed national security law for Hong Kongwere pushing our two countries to the brink of a new cold war. Nicole Hao and Reuters contributed to this report. With the resumption of flight services, 19-year-old Raibul Sheikh and his two friends, who had not been paid by their employer in Delhi since the lockdown began on March 25, decided to return to their loved ones back home in West Bengal on Eid. Their joy, however, was shortlived as barely five km away from the Delhi airport, they received a message from the airline informing them that their flight had been cancelled. Sheikh and his two friends -- Shariful Haq (18) and Mohammad Rafique (19) were supposed to fly to Kolkata on a 5.55 pm flight thus bringing an end to their two-month long ordeal. The trio, who worked at a showroom in a mall on the Delhi-Haryana border, had paid Rs 2,000 to an auto driver to ferry them to the airport, while their family members had somehow managed to arrange the money to buy airline tickets for them. However, with the flight getting cancelled and the expensive auto-rickshaw ride to the airport, the migrant workers said they had no money left to return to their accommodation as they stood outside the departure gate with their heavy backpacks. While domestic passenger flights resumed after a gap of two months on Monday, a large number of them were cancelled across the country. States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling cases of the coronavirus infection in their states. But it was people like Sheikh and his friends who were at the receiving end of the decision. Hailing from Malda district in West Bengal, the three had come to Delhi in search of greener pastures. They were drawing a monthly salary of Rs 15,000 each, but had not been paid for the last two months since the lockdown began. "I had no work for the last two months and was stranded in Haryana. My family from Malda was sending money so that I could arrange food for myself, said Haq. The disheartened migrant workers said they had no information about the rescheduling of the cancelled flight or if and when will they refunded. We were asked to reach the airport four hours prior to the departure of the flight. Just five kilometres before we could reach the airport, we received a message from the airline that our flight has been cancelled, Rafique said, adding that he was clueless about what will happen to money paid for the tickets. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WuFlu puts Jesus in intensive care By Michael R. Shannon The most remarkable impact the Flu Manchu 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 couldnt 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. Its 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 cant 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, its tough, but isnt 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 havent even been willing to risk getting a visit from the Flustapo, much less make a personal sacrifice. Defender of the Faith evidently doesnt include risking the wrath of the bureaucracy. JustTheNews has covered Christian leaders who arent ready to rely on God for protection just yet, but might be willing to file a lawsuit. In Maine Calvary Chapel has gone to federal court. They hope to reopen for Mothers Day a Hallmark Holiday not found in the Bible but missed Easter entirely. Two Kansas churches got a judges 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. Its 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 Hes 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 believers world. Some pastors know this. In Chicago, Metro Praise International knows the stakes and has been demonstrating passive resistance to the state. The pastor doesnt plan to sue, he plans to preach. GraceBuilt Church in Waynesboro, VA is finally defying Gov. Blackface Northam. And Louisiana pastor Tony Spell preached last week with an ankle monitor on as he defied a judges order to stay home and stay silent. That is what shouldve been 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 cant, 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 well call them snakehandlers 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, Christianityhostile left in decades. A victory facilitated by docile, fearful, spirituallylacking pastors who sat passively while the powers and principalities that rule this earth convinced Christians that God and worship were nonessential. Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker. He can be reached at mandate.mmpr (at) gmail.com. He is also the author of Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!). Home A Chinese virologist famous for her work on researching coronavirus in bats has said in an interview on Chinese state television that new viruses being discovered are 'just the tip of the iceberg'. She also called for greater international cooperation in the fight against epidemics, such as we are seeing now with Covid-19, despite accusations that China covered up the danger posed by coronavirus. Shi Zhengli, the deputy director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology also known as China's 'bat woman', said that research undertaken in viruses needs governments and scientists to be transparent with their findings, and cooperative. She added that it is 'very regrettable' when science is politicised. Speaking to CCTN, Shi told the television network CHTN: 'If we want to prevent human beings from suffering from the next infectious disease outbreak, we must go in advance to learn of these unknown viruses carried by wild animals in nature and give early warnings. 'If we don't study them there will possibly be another outbreak,' she said. Shi Zhengli, the deputy director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology also known as China's 'bat woman', has said 'if we don't study them there will possibly be another outbreak' Her interview comes as the National People's congress, a yearly meeting of China's top leadership, begins in the capital Beijing China's relationship with the US been growing more tense in recent months amid accusations from Trump's administration that the virus originated from the Wuhan lab, and that the country covered up the initial outbreak. Both President Trump and his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have suggested Covid-19 is linked to the Wuhan laboratory. The accusations have been rejected in Beijing, as has Shi. The virologist has said that the characteristics of the viruses that she has worked with do not match the genetics of the one currently spreading in humans across the globe. The P4 laboratory in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province, where Shi Zhengli had studied coronavirus in bats since 2004 In a post of social media, she wrote that she would 'swear on my life' that the pandemic had nothing to do with the coronavirus pandemic and the virus that was first discovered in December, 2019 in Wuhan. Wang Yanyi, the director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology has said that the accusations that the virus originated from the lab in Wuhan are 'pure fabrication'. Shi Zhengli's research reportedly started in 2004 to study the SARS outbreak. Since then, she has studied all kinds of bats, and made a breakthrough in 2013 when she found bat feaces 96.2 per cent identical to the SARS COV-2. She has also reportedly done research on whether or not coronavirus can jump from one species to another, and in 2015 she confirmed that it was possible for a SARS-like virus to jump from bats to humans. Shi Zhengli has called on greater international cooperation when in the fight against all viruses. Pictured: Wuhan Institute of Virology, P4 laboratory On May 3, Trump suggested that the coronavirus pandemic is the result of a 'horrible mistake' made by China and that Chinese officials tried to cover it up. The president continued to point the finger at Beijing and fueled growing suggestions that COVID-19 spread from a Wuhan laboratory before snowballing into a worldwide pandemic. His fiery remarks at a Fox News virtual town hall meeting at Washington's Lincoln Memorial came hours after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was a 'significant amount of evidence' the disease had escaped. Trump also said there was enough evidence to prove President Xi Jinping's regime misled the global community. 'Well, I don't think there's any question about it. We wanted to go in, they didn't want us to go in. Things are coming out that are pretty compelling. I don't think there's any question,' the president said Sunday. 'Personally, I think they made a horrible mistake, and they didn't want to admit it,' he added. Trump has called the coronavirus the 'Chinese virus' on numerous occasions. On March 18 when confronted about his use of the term, he said: 'It's not racist at all. No, it's not at all. It's from China. That's why. It comes from China. I want to be accurate.' President Trump (right) and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) have both blamed the outbreak on China, criticizing the country's response, and sharing the theory that the virus originated in a laboratory Critics have pointed out that the use of this language fuels hatred towards Asian Americans and other ethnic groups, and Trump has since said he would stop using the phrase. On May 6, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and close ally of Trump renewed his aggressive criticism of China, blaming it for the coronavirus outbreak and demanding again that it share information about the outbreak. 'They knew. China could have prevented the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. China could have spared the world descent into global economic malaise,' Pompeo told a State Department news conference. 'China is still refusing to share the information we need to keep people safe.' Experts, including Dr Anthony Fauci, the United States' chief virologist, have refuted the claims that the virus could have originated from the lab. Speaking in May to the National Geographic, Dr Fauci said: 'If you look at the evolution of the virus in bats and what's out there now, [the scientific evidence] is very, very strongly leaning toward this could not have been artificially or deliberately manipulated 'Everything about the stepwise evolution over time strongly indicates that [this virus] evolved in nature and then jumped species.' Venezuelan authorities celebrated Monday as the first of five Iranian tankers loaded with gasoline docked in the South American country, delivering badly needed fuel to the crisis-stricken nation that sits atop the world's largest oil reserves. The gasoline shipments are arriving in defiance of stiff sanctions by the Trump administration against both nations and they mark a new era in the burgeoning relationship between Venezuela and Iran, which is expanding its footprint in the Western Hemisphere. We keep moving forward and winning, Venezuela's Minister of Energy Tareck El Aissami tweeted. State TV played images of the ship pulling through Caribbean waters as Venezuelan fighter jets flew overhead. Aissami posted photographs on his Twitter account of the sun rising over the tanker docked at El Palito refinery. Washington says both Iran and Venezuela are ruled by repressive regimes. It recently offering a $15 million reward for Maduro's arrest on drug smuggling charges in a maximum pressure campaign against the socialist leader. Washington recognizes opposition politician Juan Guaid as Venezuela's legitimate leader in a coalition of nearly 60 nations, which consider Maduro's election a fraud because his most popular rivals were banned from running. The first Iranian ship to arrive, the Fortune, is trailed by four other tankers expected to arrive in the next few days. The shipments, however, only carry enough fuel for two or three weeks, analysts say. Russ Dallen, head of the Miami-based investment firm Caracas Capital Markets, said the Iranian shipments were anything but a victory for Venezuelans. The first tanker carries an estimated 11 million gallons of gasoline to a nation with roughly 5 million cars, he said. Venezuela, the country with the largest oil reserves in the world, is now reduced to importing millions of gallons of gasoline from another failed pariah state halfway around the world, Dallen said. Venezuela also has one of the world's largest refineries, which has fallen to disrepair. The country produces a fraction of oil it did when Maduro's predecessor, the late Hugo Chvez, rose to power two decades ago and launched Venezuela's socialist revolution. Critics blame corruption and mismanagement amid an economic crisis that has led to huge migration by Venezuelans seeking to escape poverty, shortages of basic goods and crime. Deep gasoline shortages have plagued Venezuela for years, though the problem had until recently largely spared the capital of Caracas. Despite Washington's objections, the first ship arrived with no interference from US ships patrolling the Caribbean on what officials call a drug interdiction mission. Maduro on Sunday expressed gratitude to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the Iranian people, from the bottom of my heart. He said Iran and Venezuela have a right just like any other nations in the world to engage in trade. We are two rebel nations, two revolutionary nations that will never kneel down before US imperialism, Maduro said. Venezuela has friends in this world, and brave friends at that. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Like their counterparts south of the border farmers in Northern Ireland have been designated key workers and play a vital role in making sure food supplies get to us during the Covid-19 pandemic. Linda Stewart asks three families how their lives have changed. Damien Tumulty and Jackie Gibson at Castlescreen Dexter Farm in Downpatrick specialise in grass-fed Dexter beef, grass-fed lamb and free-range pork, selling into farmers' markets and events such as the Balmoral Show, as well as in their farm shop. They are in lockdown with Jackie's children, Sophie (17) and Jack (13), and Damien's children, Nathan (17) and Hayden (14) Damien is the third generation of his family to farm the land, after inheriting it from his uncle and converting it from commercial beef to a more environmentally friendly meat-producing enterprise with their own on-farm butchery. While the farm shop has remained open during the Covid-19 outbreak, 90% of the business has moved to deliveries. "Normally we go to big shows like the Balmoral Show, plus regular farmers' markets - but those are all gone," Jackie says. "Our biggest change is that we've moved to delivery and it has really taken off. It's easier to do now because people are at home all day and we've added other products. "If they are elderly people and they want bread or milk, we just get it for them. "We still have people coming into the shop, so we have social distancing - one in, one out - and use hand sanitiser." The farm also has sheep and free-range pigs and they have just started experimenting with pasture poultry, an environmentally friendly system that farms poultry on pasture that has been grazed by cattle. Jackie says they haven't needed the vet out and are fortunate to have undergone TB testing just before lockdown. The only animal transport that has needed to be done is bringing the cattle to the abattoir and that can be done by one person driving a trailer and allowing the abattoir workers to unload for them. Jackie says they won't know until later in the farm year how their finances will have been affected. "At the minute we're busier than we would have been with regular farmers' markets, but whether that will cover what was lost, we don't know. We don't know what will happen when the restrictions start to ease." They came under a lot of pressure at the start of lockdown when they started doing deliveries and the butcher wasn't able to come in as much, but thankfully that has eased off. "Now it's a happy balance, but at the start it was chaotic - people panicked," says Jackie. "We started doing deliveries very quickly and the first month was really busy. "We were under a lot of pressure but now we're more into the swing of things. On certain days, we have deliveries for certain areas." Meat box deliveries are left on customer's doorsteps and they pay with bank cards via mobile phone link: "It's been a Godsend, actually." Jackie says it can be a bit stressful at times and family life has good days and bad days. "It's easier with teenagers because you can trust them to do their school work but they're struggling not seeing their friends," she says. "The young ones are very lucky in that they can go outside and look after the animals, but Sophie is struggling not seeing her friends. "The boys are easier because they're all into the farm and they have pets, they own chickens and they all have things that they have to do." The farm was also one of the producers featured by Northern Ireland Food Tours and was due to host 300 American visitors in September, but that has been cancelled now. Jackie is very concerned about the Agriculture Bill that is going to the House of Lords and the failure to include protections for local farmers against lower quality imports that have lower animal welfare standards. "That will have an impact on farmers here. It seems insane that it's got as far as it has," she says. "At the minute everybody is saying that we're key workers and how good a job we've done and then they turn round and possibly do that." 'The mental strain is tough, knowing that every day youre producing milk to lose money Widower and father-of-four William Cromie (70) is a dairy farmer outside Banbridge and has been in lockdown alone, with three or four workers a week helping at the farm. He farms around 150 dairy cattle and some beef cattle William Cromie says he tries to maintain the two-metre rule, but social distancing can be difficult when it comes to many of the tasks that need to be done on a farm. "That's one of the worries - nobody knows who has it or who hasn't it. You can't do the work on your own and you depend on the workers," he says. "To be quite honest, if there is a cow in difficulty and somebody is standing looking at you from two metres away, that isn't much use. "If you're dealing with livestock, it's very hard to social distance on a farm. "Lockdown has the same effect on me as on anybody. You are basically on your own and the work has to go on." William says it is an advantage to be on a farm where it's easier to keep your distance, but says you can't get as much work done. "It's difficult to get somebody to fix something. If they can fix it, they can't get the parts to fix it," he says. When his boiler burst, he was able to get a second-hand one which needed some plumbing fittings, but had to queue for an hour and a half outside a plumbing shop to get the parts, taking him away from farm work. William says vets are only dealing with urgent cases and all TB testing has been postponed. "There's very little testing being done to identify reactors and get them off farms and that could lead long-term to a spread of the disease," he says. "We try to keep away from our neighbour - we stay away until his cows come out of the field and then we put the cows on. If our stock is coming nose to nose, the TB could flare up when they come back to test." Marts are still operating , so farmers drive their cattle there but don't get out of the vehicle. "You hand over your paperwork at arm's reach, they take the cattle and you come home and they sell them. It's not as good as the way we were, but we can't be there just yet." William sells his milk to Dale Farm and says that due to the virus, milk prices have dropped while costs have gone up. "The milk price has dropped to 23p which is well below the cost of producing it - at least 5p a litre below - and you can only do that for a while. It's not sustainable," he says. "It's the mental strain which is tough to cope with, knowing that every day you're producing milk to lose money, as well as working longer hours to produce it." He admits he's anxious about workers coming down with the disease and everyone having to isolate. "You just accept where you are - you do your best and you have to go forward. But milk prices would be the biggest worry. The price of red diesel in 1995 was 14p a litre and milk was 25p a litre. Today red diesel is 38p a litre and milk is 23p. "Unless the milk price goes back up to a sustainable level, farmers aren't going to be able to survive on it - they can't do it. That's one of the main concerns in everybody's mind. If you were getting a price that was good and that would pay all your boys, that would be the biggest load off anybody's shoulders." 'We have never sold as much oil to shops, people have started cooking at home again which is great' Leona Kane (40) produces Broighter Gold rapeseed oil alongside her husband Richard at Broglasco Farm in Limavady on the shores of Lough Foyle. The family grow wheat, barley and oilseed and are home schooling their children Jacob (11) and Emily (8) in lockdown Not only is Leona and Richard Kane's business navigating unprecedented times, but they've just diversified into carrot growing after acquiring the processing equipment from a Magilligan-based carrot business, and have planted 20 acres of carrots this spring. Leona says at this time of year, Richard employs two men on the farm and has been busy spraying, fertilising and getting the spring oilseed and five new carrot crops into the ground, as well as building new production facilities for the carrots. Normally, she says, he would be sitting alongside workers on the machinery to show them how to use it, but the social distancing rules have made that much trickier. "You have to clean everything down when you get into the tractor," she says. "Richard would normally get into the machine to show anyone how to do it, and he can't do that. "He also bought a new hydraulic access platform for safety for building a new roof that was going on the carrot production facilities, that also enabled the men to work on their own." Leona says the Broighter Gold business has also been going through a tricky time. The four staff who worked there had to go on furlough at the start of lockdown as restaurants that used the oil shut their doors. "It was one of the craziest times I've ever been through. We've been doing this for nine years and to build something up like this and in one day turn the key on it was hard," she says. Leona says they won't know the impact lockdown has had on the business until later in the year. "It's impacted my business in that we don't have restaurants any more, or even distribution, but we still have some business coming in, which helps to keep us going," she says. As people settled into the lockdown, Leona and Richard found that supermarkets were starting to buy more of their oil, as well as smaller food shops and butchers. "We thought no one was going to be ordering, but two weeks later the orders started coming thick and fast," she says. "We've never sold as much oil to shops before and people are cooking again at home, which is fantastic." The PR side has kept them busy as well - they've been posting lots of cooking content on social media, including chef videos, and have been contributing to newspaper and broadcast coverage of how lockdown is affecting farming. Leona has now been able to take two of her staff off furlough, but says social distancing rules mean people have to work alone. "I feel sorry for Gwen and Martina. Gwen is doing all the production on her own and Richard or I are coming in at night to do boxes or get bottles ready for the next day," she says. As a result, she is working different hours, partly because the children are at home - these days she starts work at 7am and has to rely on the children getting on with their own school work. "Jacob would be very studious, but Emily would rather see what tractors are coming into the yard and where the kittens are, or where the dog is," she laughs. "They're just doing what they can and they know mum and dad have to work. I feel very guilty that I'm not sitting beside them doing their work with them. "I'm working probably earlier in the morning, so that I can get away earlier and at lunchtime, so that the kids aren't on their own all day." Leona is urging people to buy local so that they know where their food is coming from and is very concerned that MPs have voted against legislation that would prevent imports of food produced to a lower standard than that in the NI. "I think we have some of the best food that is farmed and I don't think people always realise that," she says. Dela Coffie, an activists of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the flagship free SHS programme by President Akufo Addos government as riveting, touching, transformational and inspirational. According to Dela Coffie, the Free SHS programme is not just about access and equity but quality assurance. In his facebook page, he stated that; I know the cynics will discount it, but in my estimation, this is by far the best social intervention ever rolled out by any government. read full statement below; These #FreeSHS stories are quite riveting, touching, transformational and inspirational. It is not just about access and equity but quality assurance. I know the cynics will discount it, but in my estimation, this is by far the best social intervention ever rolled out by any government. He who feels it knows it. These #FreeSHS stories are quite riveting, touching, transformational and inspirational. It is not just about access... Posted by Dela Coffie on Sunday, May 24, 2020 Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Hundreds of stranded tourists gathered in Peru's capital on Monday to secure seats on humanitarian flights for their return home after more than two months of the country's coronavirus lockdown. Citizens from the Netherlands, India, Ukraine, among other countries, boarded buses headed for a military airport to board a flight organised by the Dutch embassy. Many of the individuals were tourists who arrived in Peru to travel to popular destinations such as Machu Picchu, and others were there for special events. Babulal Marotia, Indian citizen who was waiting to board the bus, said he had been in Peru for an Indian festival and became stranded during the lockdown. A second humanitarian flight was being organised by the Turkish embassy. In mid-March, Peru closed all its airports, allowing only a few humanitarian flights. It also enforced a mandatory nationwide quarantine. Despite strict measures to control the coronavirus, Peru has become one of the countries worst hit by the COVID-19 disease. Peru has 119,959 confirmed cases, and 3,456 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. A look at licensed distilleries shows that many have connections with politicians and influential business families. Among politicians, a minister owns a distillery. Two others are owned by ex-Congressman Venod Sharma and ex-Akali MLA Deep Malhotra. It started recently with bad blood between Punjab chief secretary Karan Avtar Singh and the states finance minister, Manpreet Badal. Within a few hours, the connection of the chief secretarys son to the liquor business came to light. With Punjabs top bureaucrat also holding the post of financial commissioner (taxation), Chief Minister Amarinder Singh faced yet another potential public humiliation, triggered by internal dissent in the midst of a raging pandemic. With allegations of conflict of interest and charges of presiding over declining excise revenues flying thick and fast, the chief secretary was divested of the responsibility by virtue of which he decided liquor taxation policy in the state. Eventually on May 13, the Punjab government tweaked its excise policy to introduce concessions for liquor contractors. The dust hasnt settled yet. His (Karan Avtar Singhs) attitude wasnt right at all before and during cabinet meetings. The conflict-of-interest charges are too serious to be brushed aside easily, said Raja Warring, Congress MLA. This seems to have laid bare the states dependence on alcohol in more ways than one. First, even though the chief secretary has stepped aside from lording over taxation issues, the subsequent changes to excise policy, providing concessions to liquor contractors, are not in the spirit of the ministers conflict of interest charges against the officer. A look at licensed distilleries shows that many have connections with politicians and influential business families. Of the 16 distilleries in the state, at least eight are connected with influential persons, including family members of the late Ponty Chadha and his brother Hardeeps daughter (the brothers died in a gunfight in 2012). Among politicians, a minister owns a distillery. Two others are owned by ex-Congressman Venod Sharma and ex-Akali MLA Deep Malhotra. Reportedly, the retail liquor business also has a significant political presence with Malhotra, along with Congress leaders Amrik Dhillon and relatives of Punjab Health Minister Balbir Sidhu, being in the trade. Another politician, Shiva Lal Doda, who fought as an independent in 2017 and is believed to be close to the Akalis, is also entrenched in liquor retail. Doda is currently serving a life term for murder. Second, while the production and sale of liquor are heavily politicised, the trade plays a crucial role in augmenting the states precarious finances. At 40 per cent, Punjab has the worst debt to gross domestic product ratio (GDP) among larger states. In 2019-20, the state earned Rs 5,676 crore from excise duties on the sale of liquor and licence charges a fifth of its tax revenues. After state goods and services tax (SGST), nothing earns more revenue for Punjab than its taxes on liquor. In 2018-19, the state earned almost Rs 100 crore less from liquor than in the previous year, with businesses calling for a crackdown on smuggling from neighbouring states like Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. The allocation of licence for liquor vends, dominated by a few influential families and politically connected persons, generates immense buzz each year. In 2018-19, over 40,000 individuals and firms reportedly applied for around 5,700 vends in the state. Lastly, of all states in India, after the lockdown was imposed, Punjab was the first and the most enthusiastic one to call for lifting the ban on selling alcohol. The state has now allowed home delivery of alcohol, giving liquor vends the freedom to plan the timing and logistics. While the bureaucrat-politician tussle may have brought out the role of an invisible yet powerful lobby at work to force policy changes, it has also revealed a darker side of a society already battling the scourge of opioid abuse. A recent survey by AIIMS estimated 29 per cent of the people of Punjab drink, the proportion being the highest in the country after Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. More children consume alcohol in Punjab than in any other state. As many as 44 per cent of alcohol users in the state are dependent on it - the highest after Puducherry; 10 per cent of its 2.7 million drinkers need medical help. Photograph: PTI Photo Nine is appealing a $3.6 million payout awarded to a Toowoomba family, following a legal ruling last year. Queenslands Wagner family were defamed by a 2015 60 Minutes story on the 2011 Grantham floods, which insinuated they were responsible for the deaths of 12 people, including 2 children, during an inland tsunami that devastated the town. A court awarded them a total of $3.6 million in damages. China decides to evacuate its citizens from India amid rise in coronavirus cases India pti-PTI New Delhi, May 25: China has decided to evacuate its citizens, including students, tourists and businessmen, from India who are facing "difficulties" in the country and want to return home in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Chinese embassy put out a notice on its website on Monday, asking those wanting to return home to book tickets in special flights. The move to evacuate its citizens comes in the wake of India emerging as the 10th worst-hit country by the deadly virus, which has infected nearly 1.40 lakh people in India. India, Israel to conduct join R&D for rapid coronavirus testing The coronavirus, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has spread to over 190 countries, infecting over 54 lakh people and taking lives of 3.4 lakh. India had evacuated around 700 Indians from Wuhan in February. The notice by the Chinese embassy said the people opting to return home will have to accept all quarantine and epidemic prevention arrangements during the flight as well as after entering China. The notice in Mandarin said people treated for coronavirus infection or having symptom of the infection like fever and cough in the last 14 days should not take the special flights. Covid-19: Himachal Pradesh extends lockdown till June 30th | Oneindia News "Through the unified arrangement of the ministry of foreign affairs and relevant departments, the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in India will assist international students in India, tourists, temporary business visitors who have difficulties and are in urgent need to take a temporary flight back home to China," according to the notice. WHO pauses trial of hydroxychloroquine drug in Covid-19 patients, says experts need to review It suggested that people from some other countries may also be evacuated. The notice said the cost of flight ticket and quarantine in China will have to be borne by the evacuees "If your body temperature exceeds 37.3 degrees (inclusive) before boarding or if you have suspected symptoms, you will be refused boarding by the airline," the notice said. China's decision to evacuate its citizens from India also comes at a time when troops of both the countries are locked in a tense standoff in the disputed areas of Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh for over two weeks. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Mon, May 25, 2020 10:40 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9edbce 2 World trump,Jair-Bolsonaro,Brazil,COVID-19,travel-ban Free President Donald Trump on Sunday suspended travel from Brazil, which has emerged as a major new hotspot in the coronavirus pandemic, the White House said. Non-Americans who have been in Brazil in the 14-day period prior to when they seek admittance to the US cannot come to America, said White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Trade is not affected by the new rule. "Todays action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country," she said in a statement. With more than 360,000 confirmed cases, Brazil now has the second-biggest caseload in the world, after the United States. It has registered more than 22,000 deaths. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is a political ally of Trump and with his brash, not politically correct way of speaking, he has been dubbed the "Tropical Trump." And, like Trump, Bolsonaro has downplayed the health crisis, famously comparing the virus to a "little flu" and arguing that stay-at-home measures are unnecessarily hurting Latin America's largest economy. Brazil downplayed Trump's move as standard procedure. "The decision... is identical to measures taken previously that suspended travel from other countries affected by COVID-19, including China, Iran, the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as the European Union's Schengen zone," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Brazil had itself already barred foreigners from entering the country because of the pandemic. A new species proposed to be classified as Critically Endangered of miniaturised stump-toed frog of the genus Stumpffia, found in Madagascar, is named Stumpffia froschaueri after "the man from the floodplain full of frogs", Christoph Froschauer. The namesake of the new frog is famous for being the first, and European wide renowned, printer from Zurich, famous for printing "Historia animalium" and the "Zurich Bible". Christoph Froschauer's (ca. 1490 - April 1564) family name means "the man from the floodplain full of frogs", and the printer used to sign his books with a woodcut, showing frogs under a tree in a landscape. Amongst his publications are works by Zwingli, Bullinger, Gessner, Erasmus von Rotterdam and Luther, and as a gift for his art, the printer was given citizenship in Zurich in 1519. Now, scientists have also honoured Froschauer's great contributions by naming a new frog species after him. The discovery, made by an international team of scientists from CIBIO (Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources) of the University of Porto, Zoological Society of London, University of Lisbon, University of Brighton, University of Bristol, University of Antananarivo and Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, is published in the open-access peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. The new species is reliably known only from a few specimens collected in three forest patches of the Sahamalaza region, an area severely threatened by fire, drought and high levels of forest clearance. "In Anketsakely and Ankarafa this species has been found only in areas with relatively undisturbed forest, and active individuals were found during the day within the leaf-litter on the forest floor, where discreet calling males were also detected", shares lead author Dr. Angelica Crottini from CIBIO. Even though two out of the three forest patches where Stumpffia froschaueri occurs are now part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, there is a lack in forest border patrols and the area remains under strong pressure from slash-and-burn activities and timber harvesting. Habitat loss and fragmentation are likely to represent a huge threat to the species' survival and cause population declines, unless remedial actions to enforce the protection of these habitats are taken. The scientists suggest to classify Stumpffia froschaueri as a Critically Endangered species according to criteria of the IUCN Red List. "We here reiterate the need to continue with field survey activities, giving particular attention to small and marginal areas, where several microendemic candidate species are likely waiting to be discovered and formally described. This description confirms the Sahamalaza Peninsula as an important hotspot of amphibian diversity, with several threatened species relying almost entirely on the persistence of these residual forest fragments", concludes Dr. Crottini. ### Original source: Crottini A, Rosa GM, Penny SG, Cocca W, Holderied MW, Rakotozafy LMS, Andreone F (2020) A new stump-toed frog from the transitional forests of NW Madagascar (Anura, Microhylidae, Cophylinae, Stumpffia). ZooKeys 933: 139-164. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.933.47619 Update: May 29, 2020 OPPO today confirmed that the Reno 4 and Reno 4 Pro smartphones will be announced on June 5th. It has also confirmed punch-hole screen for the phone. Earlier: May 25, 2020 After live images that surfaced recently, OPPO has started teasing the upcoming Reno4 series in a new video. This shows the phones glass back with Reno Glow and OPPO branding, large triple rear cameras along with a laser autofocus, in addition to flash. Another image confirms a metal frame, secondary microphone on the top, power button on the right side. Next to the cameras it says Ultra Steady. The company says that the phone is capable of shooting perfect videos even in low lighting conditions with super low light video mode. The company has confirmed 5G support for the phone, and this is rumored to be powered by Snapdragon 765G SoC compared to MediaTek Dimensity 1000L SoC in the 5G version of the Reno 3 in China and MediaTek Helio P90 in the 4G version that was released in some markets. The Reno4 has been certified by TENAA with the model numbers PDPM00 and PDPT00, while the Reno4 Pro has been certified with the model numbers PDNM00 and PDNT00, but the complete specifications have not been revealed yet. However, a weibo user has posted the specifications of the phones. Check out the rumored specifications below. OPPO Reno4 5G rumored specifications 6.43-inch (2400 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 2.5D 90Hz AMOLED display Octa Core (1 x 2.4GHz + 1 x 2.2GHz + 6 x 1.8GHz Kryo 475 CPUs) Snapdragon 765G 7nm EUV Mobile Platform with Adreno 620 GPU 8GB RAM with 128GB / 256GB storage Android 10 with ColorOS 7.0 Dual SIM 48MP rear camera with LED flash, 8MP Ultra Wide Lens, 2MP mono lens, laser autofocus 32MP front-facing camera, secondary 2MP camera In-display fingerprint sensor Dimensions:159.374.07.8mm; Weight: 183g 5G SA/ NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, NFC, USB Type-C 4000mAh battery with 65W VOOC 4.0 fast charging OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G rumored specifications 6.55-inch (2400 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 3D 90Hz AMOLED display Octa Core (1 x 2.4GHz + 1 x 2.2GHz + 6 x 1.8GHz Kryo 475 CPUs) Snapdragon 765G 7nm EUV Mobile Platform with Adreno 620 GPU 8GB RAM with 128GB storage / 12GB RAM with 256GB storage Android 10 with ColorOS 7.0 Dual SIM 48MP rear camera with OIS, LED flash, 12MP camera for video, 13MP telephoto lens, laser autofocus 32MP front-facing camera In-display fingerprint sensor Dimensions: 159.672.57.6mm; Weight: 172g 5G SA/ NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, NFC, USB Type-C 4000mAh battery with 65W VOOC 4.0 fast charging Source 1, 2, 3 Mr Emmanuel Bombande, a Senior UN Mediation Advisor, has called on African countries to coordinate its actions together in engaging global players as the world seeks measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic. He said when Africa repositions itself better, it would be able to remain at the centre of the global negotiations table. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday, Mr Bombande, who is a former Deputy Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, said it is also important for African states to raise their voices on the issues about global justice, as well as to embark on diplomatic and political engagement with these global powers. In the international arena nothing happens if it is not happening around the negotiating table so you are going to see that the big players in the world, the United States, China and Europe- everybody is thinking about what measures they are taking to accelerate their economies and lessen the negative impact of COVID-19. Where was Africa at that global table: raising issues of global justice, Mr Bombande said and urged Africa countries to strive to be at the negotiation table to increase its voice around the globe. He said at the local level, countries should ensure that good governance, equality and justice continues to be respected at the country level, adding that these are some of the things that each government could do to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not erode progress made. Mr Bombande said the one way that Africa could overcome its challenges was to go back and refer to the traditional African understanding, sitting as a family to talk about confronting issues, the more you talk, the more creativity and innovations come out for you to have a consensus that brings everybody together. He said in the course of the year, many of the countries in Africa, including Ghana would be organizing elections, hence the need for coordination and consensus building rather than allowing conflicts and disagreements to erode the peace gained. Mr Bombande urged African countries to endeavour to put mechanisms of fairness, equity and credible elections in place, so they could come out stronger and be better at responding to the impact of COVID-19. We have come from a long way and we should never allow ourselves to fall on the wayside and go back to the period in which our ancestors and those that fought for our independence struggle, lay their lives for us then. For us and our children the responsibility then is to create a better Africa for their future, he said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Delhi airport was thrown in chaos on Day 1 of operations after a gap of two months as several flights were cancelled. Around 80 flights to and from Delhi were reportedly cancelled due to restrictions from other states. Flights were scheduled to and from multiple states including West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Chennai. According to a report in ANI, a Mumbai-Delhi flight was also cancelled today. A passenger told the news agency said that the flight was cancelled without any prior notice. An Air India Bengaluru-Hyderabad flight was also cancelled. Passengers told the news agency that only when their boarding passes were scanned at the airport entry were they told that the flight has been cancelled. Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India will see 600 flights today; COVID-19 tally rises to 1.38 lakh At the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, nine flights have been cancelled. As per the agency, five flights have reached Bengaluru, 17 have departed and nine have been cancelled. Hari Marar, Managing Director & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said that all measures are being undertaken to ensure safety. "Today morning onwards processes have been working very well. All processes have been made contactless. We are screening all passengers. All the surfaces are being sanitised every 20-30 minutes," he said. Maharashtra allowed resumption of air travel late night on Sunday after much deliberation. Moreover, West Bengal that is currently undertaking rehabilitation work in the aftermath of Cyclone Amphan, has pushed back resumption of air travel. Flights to and from Kolkata would be resumed on May 28. Tripura also had to cancel its flights that were connected to Kolkata. Separately, passengers onboard the flights were seen wearing face shields as precautionary measures. Airline crew were also seen wearing PPEs. The government has also asked passengers to reach the airports much ahead of the departure time. State governments have also stated that incoming passengers would be subjected to 14-day quarantine upon arrival. Also read: Domestic flights resume: Returning to your hometown? Check out guidelines, quarantine rules Also read: Mumbai airport commences operations after two months; first flight departs for Pune The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has indicated that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is ready to contest the 2020 elections on the phenomenal record and leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Speaking during an interview on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday morning, the Vice President said elections should not be a contest of insults and acrimony, but a presentation of record and vision to the people of Ghana. "We want a very free, fair and violent-free election. We won the power or mandate of the people when we were in opposition. And so, we have to just send a message of what did we do when we had the opportunity to serve the people. What exactly have we been able to do," said Dr. Bawumia. "That is what the election should be fought on; the record. Record of what you have been able to do and what you have planned to do." Dr. Bawumia added that going into the elections, the principle of the NPP is to resort to a decent and fair conversation, which will bring about peace and understanding to the people. He urged other stakeholders to also emulate such progressive way if campaigning, not acrimony. "In terms of what we say, the President has always made the point that we should make sure that how we speak and what we say to the public bring about peace, bring about understanding." "I think if we all focused on that, there should be no acrimony. And allow the electoral commission to do its work and we will all come in and participate in this great expression of democracy during this election." Phenomenal Akufo-Addo record Dr. Bawumia touted the leadership and achievements of the Akufo-Addo government in the past three and half years, saying the government will fight the election on that record. "In terms of our management of the economy, we are very happy and we are willing to fight on the record of what we have achieved across board," he said. "We are really looking forward to discuss our record and the record of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the last three and a half years. It is a splendid record; a fantastic record that we are willing and able to discuss and fight the election on any time." Extolling the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia said the achievement of the Nana Addo government is acclaimed globally and also stands tall among first-term governments in the history of the fourth republic. "It is a phenomenal record and I am very proud of the president and his leadership that has brought us this amazing record. It is a record that is being touted the world over by the way, not just us." "It is a great record when you look at the history of the fourth republic. When I actually look at it, I am amazed sometimes how much has been accomplished in just three and a half years." Source: Ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 19:14:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A China-Europe freight train carrying hundreds of tons of medical equipment from China arrives in Belgrade, Serbia on May 26, 2020. The train left Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, on May 9, loaded with 294.42 tons of anti-epidemic supplies. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu) HANGZHOU, May 25 (Xinhua) -- As of Monday, a total of 2,118.93 tonnes of mail have been transported by China-Europe postal trains from China to 36 European countries, including to Spain, Denmark, Switzerland and France, according to Hangzhou Customs. On Sunday, a train carrying 100 TEUs and loaded with 343.15 tonnes of international mail from four Chinese cities and provinces including Shanghai and Zhejiang, left the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu in Zhejiang Province and headed for Vilnius, capital of Lithuania. It is the sixth international postal train since the service was launched. After its arrival in Lithuania, the mail will be distributed across Europe. Affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, a large number of international flights to and from China have been suspended or reduced, which has caused a huge impact on international mail delivery and a serious backlog of mail. In response, Hangzhou Customs launched the China-Europe postal train service to help transport the mail. "The China-Europe freight train service has obvious logistical advantages in terms of relatively stable logistical costs and transportation time amid the epidemic," said Shang Chunyan, a staff member with Yiwu Customs under Hangzhou Customs. Statistics show that by the end of April, a total of 129 China-Europe freight trains departed from Yiwu this year. The trains carried 10,842 TEUs of goods, up 44.1 percent year on year. Enditem "It's the names," remarked Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C., when asked why it had such a deep emotional impact on people. "The names are the memorial. No edifice or structure can bring people to mind as powerfully as their names," Lin said. Sadly, for this Memorial Day, there are still 74 names of sailors (Lost 74) from the USS Frank E. Evans missing from the 58,000+ names on The Wall. The Lost 74 died in the worst naval disaster of the Vietnam War, when the Evans was cut in half from a collision with an Australian aircraft carrier on June 3, 1969. The destroyer was participating in a 40-ship armada "show of force" war exercise to intimidate the North Vietnamese. The Evans crew was deployed to the Vietnam War, and the destroyer had served in several naval bombardment missions to support ground troops in Vietnam, including the Tet offensive, and would have returned after the war exercise. They are not on The Wall that is a sacred pilgrimage site for Vietnam veterans and relatives who had lost loved ones a place of healing that is visited by an estimated 5.6 million people annually and where more than 400,000 items have been left in remembrance. Medals, flags, dog tags, crosses, uniforms, letters, and helmets to name just a few, all have been left there. Pictures of these 74 men are not found on the "Wall of Faces" a heartbreaking massive virtual photo album of the thousands of men and women whose names are on The Wall. The Lost 74 are not on The Wall because they died outside the arbitrarily described "combat zone." This "imaginary line" in the ocean was described with coordinates in President Johnson's Executive Order 11216 issued for combat pay purposes. The USS Frank E. Evans Association has been fighting for years to get its shipmates honored on The Wall and have been denied again and again by Congress and the Pentagon. Steve Kraus, a survivor and president of the Evans Association, remarked, "They deserve to be on that wall, so anything else other than that is just a slap in the face." There is legislation in the Senate (S.849), "The USS Frank E. Evans Act," that would authorize the names of the Lost 74 to be inscribed on The Wall. The bill now has 20 cosponsors. Last week, Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) spoke in favor of passage of the bill. But it took only Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to block unanimous consent passage. Murkowski claimed: "There remain practical, legal and technical considerations that we have to resolve." Murkowski chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which oversees the National Park Service (NPS) that maintains the memorial. The NPS believes there is not enough room on The Wall for a large addition of names. Senator Cramer, who is the sponsor of S.849, said, "The idea that we should continue to turn a blind eye to forgotten veterans because the work would be 'substantial' is ludicrous." But how were these names chosen to be on The Wall in the first place? The answer is complicated, with many exceptions made. For example, according to Johnson's Jan. 1, 1964 executive order, there was "the commencing date of combatant activities" Jan.1, 1964. But The Wall has names dating back to 1959, when there was no official combat zone established. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund was the nonprofit group that built The Wall from private donations. It was an incredible undertaking that was led by Jan Scruggs, a Vietnam veteran. Robert Doubek, another Vietnam veteran, and a founder of the VVMF, "was tasked with identifying all of the names to be included on the Wall." There is no official listing of casualties from the Vietnam War, but Doubek "tried to make the best call he could when adding names to the list." Doubek has written a book on his experience building the Vietnam Memorial and determined that a multitude of deserving men had died outside the official "combat zone" In his own words, he says: "I added those names" to the Wall. This included: 1. Deaths from an Air Force bomber from Guam exploding over the Pacific. 2. Deaths from the SS Mayaguez incident in Cambodia 3. Deaths that occurred in Thailand and Laos Doubek confirms that these deaths were technically "outside the war zone." The coastal waters combat zone was approximately 100 miles off the Vietnam shoreline. I want to emphasize that this was an arbitrary zone that could have been placed at 200 miles off of Vietnam, which would have put the Evans disaster in the combat zone. Tim Tetz from VVMF said, "We have room for about two more long names, about two dozen medium sized names and several hundred short names." Since the mid-1980s, Tetz says the DOD was given the authority to determine if a veteran meets a specific criteria to have their name on The Wall. There have been 375 names added to The Wall since it was dedicated in 1982. The additional names are placed in the margins between the wall slabs. A few years ago, Hannah Ackerman, a high school student from Cedar Falls, Iowa, won an essay contest writing about the plight of the Lost 74. "So a difference of about 100 miles keeps them from being honored," Ackerman said. "And there are no boundary lines for heroes, I say." Amen. There are no boundary lines for heroes. Our country needs to honor these 74 forgotten sailors. It's the names. Their names deserve to be on The Wall. The writer is a USAF veteran and the son of a decorated WWII air combat veteran who was listed as MIA in March 1945. Image credit: Pixabay public domain. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Bloom Brothers will open for curbside pickup on Tuesday. PITTSFIELD, Mass. Bloom Brothers opened on Merrill Road in early March only to close a few weeks later because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. With the state now entering Phase 1 on its reopening plan, the marijuana dispensary plans to reopen on Tuesday, May 26. "We will only be allowed to open for curbside pick up at this time but we hope to increase our operations as the different phases roll out and are allowed according to the governor," said one of the owners, Nathan Girard on Friday. The family business wants to brings variety and customer service to the forefront to benefit Berkshire County and plans to keep its operations only in the Berkshires, Girard said in an interview shortly before the state went into lockdown because of COVID-19. "All of us have moved out to the Boston area for years but our community called us back to the area to raise families, be closer to our family, and build this business to grow in this community," Girard said at the time. "We could of taken this opportunity elsewhere to a more populated area or an area with better proximity to Boston but we chose this area because we truly do care about this area. We want this area to benefit from the economic impact of what this retail store can bring." Girard owns the business with his wife, Migdeliz, and two brothers Ben and Nick. He has primarily worked in real estate and development and also operates Royal Property Group with his wife and brothers. "We had invested significantly into real estate locally with purchasing and rehabbing many buildings and we were thinking what is something else we could potentially invest in," Girard said. "Real estate was a very slow process and was more of a local platform for us to be known for good work and hard work." He said they saw "the writing on the wall" about two years ago when the legalization of recreational marijuana looked to be a real possibility. They were lucky to already own the property at 92 Larch St. that sits in Pittsfield's marijuana overlay zoning and, after receiving many calls from developers, they thought about selling it. They had originally thought about opening a dispensary in Cheshire at the former Country Charm restaurant, which they also own, but this proved to be a much larger project with challenges accessing utilities. So they turned their focus back to Pittsfield. "Pittsfield made a lot of sense to us because the city was completely on board," Girard said. "We were able to sit with decision-makers from day one and they had a roadmap for us to follow to get open compared to other communities we were looking at. While the process did take quite a long time; the city of Pittsfield was great to work with and made their end very smooth for us." He said they quickly became experts in all things marijuana while going through the tedious process of acquiring a license. He added that the process brought his family closer and they had to rely on each others individual expertise. "We became a family more than ever before going through this process together and without every single one of our subject matters expertise we would of never made it to this point," he said. Mig Girard has a background in compliance and inventory management. Ben comes from an education and financing background. Nick has a background in computer science and had a knowledge of cultivation. Nate Girard said he supplied the business expertise and together they were ready to run a successful bussiness that he admitted took a lot of work to get off the ground. "This process wasnt only difficult it is not for the faint of heart or someone who gets frustrated easily," he said. "The process, all in all, took a solid 18 months and four people focusing on it full time to achieve all of the stuff we have been able to achieve to this point." He said they not only had to build a new building but develop partnerships with suppliers and attend conferences. All this on top of running a real estate brokerage, and managing more than 35 properties. But the hard work paid off and Girard said as of early March, they had the largest menu in the entire state with 259 items. Sixty-five of them are accessory related while 194 are cannabis-derived products. He said they are working with 16 different suppliers and carry 27 strains of flowers. The list goes on: 37 different options in pre-rolls, 51 types of concentrated marijuana products, 10 topical options, 19 vape cartridge options, and 66 different types of infused edibles "We have from one reviewer online been called the Cheesecake Factory of marijuana," Nate said. "Our menu is ever-evolving; for instance just this week we added 20 new items to the menu and we are always listening to what the customers are telling us." He said they treat every customer like family and that his focus on customer service is important to Bloom Brothers because they want to "break the negative stigma of marijuana and doing whatever it takes to do so." "It is our responsibility as a business as well to care for everyone from the moment they enter the door to the moment they leave and beyond," he said. "Our mantra and our hashtag we live by is #WELCOMETOTHEFAMILY and we mean it." This also spreads to employees and Bloom Brothers look to hire local and offer high-quality jobs with salaries and benefits that actually support their workers. He said their priority in all aspects of the cuisines is to take care of people. In the future, Bloom Brothers hope to open a grow facility in Lee. Girard added that he would also like to see the business become "intertwined" with the hospitality industry that would create "420 friendly" tourism. But whatever the future brings, Girard said it will take place in Berkshire County. "This industry is poised to become a multibillion dollar statewide industry and I firmly believe the roots of that industry be born and groomed in Berkshire County," he said. "Why not? The opportunities are endless if people are willing to reach up and grab them and I hope that we can be involved in some, any, all capacities." This article was originally scheduled to run the week Gov. Baker ordered nonessential businesses closed, including recreational marijuana dispensaries. They are allowed to reopen this week for curbside service only. Two NASA astronauts gearing up to ride SpaceX's new space taxi will now be on a mission planned to last more than a month, instead of a week, to help the short-handed crew aboard the International Space Station, the U.S. space agency said on Friday. The launch is scheduled for May 27 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and will arrive at the ISS the following day. The mission, SpaceX's first carrying humans, marks the company's climactic test before NASA can certify its Crew Dragon capsule for regular operational flights. Space Shuttle veterans Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are set to be the first astronauts launched from American soil since the shuttle program was terminated in 2011. The mission's extension allows Hurley and Behnken to help swap out the station's batteries, a task that requires an outside spacewalk the current U.S. resident on the ISS, Chris Cassidy, could not do alone. The two astronauts embraced the mission extension, with Hurley saying it could last anywhere from one to four months. "I think that it being in the summertime, hopefully with a May 27 launch date, we're hitting a good time so that my son will be able to follow the mission a little more closely than he would if he was in school," Behnken said. SpaceX and Boeing Co BA.N. have been awarded a combined $7 billion to build separate crew transportation systems under the Commercial Crew Program, NASA's flagship campaign to use the private sector for ISS missions and curb its reliance on Russia's Soyuz rocket. "We currently are supporting the station with the bare minimum," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said on Friday. "Without the presence of Behnken and Hurley, we otherwise would likely defer such an operation until additional NASA crew members are available." Kirk Shireman, NASA's ISS program manager, told reporters on Friday that the agency is basing the length of Hurley and Behnken's mission on how quickly SpaceX can finish preparations on its next capsule. Delays with development of both SpaceX and Boeing vehicles have led NASA to extend its reliance on Russia, forcing the space agency to buy additional seats on the Soyuz rocket to ferry more astronauts to space. Also read: Coronavirus Live Tracker: India records highest ever spike of 6,977 COVID-19 cases, 154 deaths in 24 hours Also read: Coronavirus crisis: Auto players must adopt innovation to succeed, says Ratan Tata Shimla, May 25 : Tourism -- a crucial engine of Himachal Pradesh's economic growth and important source of earning for tens of thousands in the hill state -- has ground to a halt as the pandemic nose dives summer holiday plans. Members of the hospitality industry say in recent times they have never seen such a disaster as the arrival of tourists has almost stopped, and hotel bookings vanished as states closed their borders and imposed lockdown. "Tourism is one of the industries that has been worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic and the hotel industry is on the edge to collapse," Mohinder Seth, state convener for the All Himachal Associations of Hospitality and Tourism Forum, told IANS. He said the tourism could take at least 12 to 18 months to get back on track in the state and such a long period is a matter of concern for the tourism entrepreneurs without earning. "Revenue of around 60 per cent of tourism units in the state is earned from April to June only. This eases out the entrepreneurs to meet the fixed expenses for the whole year," said Shimla-based hotelier Seth. Tourism stakeholders were expecting a special package from the Central government to keep the tourism industry alive. "In the recent announcement of the relief packages, nothing has been given to tourism due to which the stakeholders have been disappointed," he said. Himachal Pradesh is a major tourism destination. The contribution of the tourism sector to the state GDP is about seven per cent, a significant one. A delegation of the hotel and tourism industry led by Legislator Vikramaditya Singh met Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here last week and apprised him that in the past three months the tourism units have not been able to generate any revenue. Now they are no more capable of paying their fixed costs like salaries, electricity and water charges and taxes. They sought a special financial package from the state for their survival as they have already lost its peak season unlike other tourist states like Goa, Rajasthan and Kerala where it is low summer season. The package for all categories of hotels comprises interest-free loans from the state cooperative and state-owned banks, waiver of interest on existing term loans, etc. Officials of the state-run Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) said the occupancy in most of their hotels in all tourist destinations is almost negligible. "A few of our properties, mostly in Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala, have been turned into private quarantined centres for those with travel history either from abroad or within states," state-run Hotel Holiday Home Deputy General Manager Nand Lal told IANS. He said a 50 per cent discount is given on room tariff for those who want to quarantine in the hotel. "Our hotels are totally dependent on the tourists mainly from the north Indian states of Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana and Delhi," he said. "At this point in time, the occupancy, other than those availing quarantine facility, is almost nil compared to almost packed to capacity in the previous year. This lockdown has pushed the entire hospitality industry to the brink," Nand Lal said. He said Hotel Holiday Home, a prominent hotel in the state capital, is going to start food delivery at the doorsteps for the first time from June 1 to boost its revenue. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the focus of the state now is to fight the coronavirus. "We are concerned that the state's tourism industry is passing through a bad phase owing to the pandemic. We will try to revive it once the virus is under control," Thakur told IANS. Contrary, Seth of the All Himachal Associations of Hospitality and Tourism Forum said till the tourism industry did not stand on its feet, its employees should be provided employment under some schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). "The monthly salary bill in the state's hospitality industry stands at nearly Rs 50 crore. It is almost impossible for the tourism units to bear this huge amount of salary. If there is no relief from the government, we may be forced to opt for staff retrenchment," he added. Corporate executive Shweta Ahuja from Chandigarh said she had cancelled her bookings in Manali owing to coronavirus epidemic. Now she is planning her visit not before the next summers. Himachal Pradesh's economy is highly dependent on tourism, besides hydroelectric power generation and horticulture. State's tourist footfall last year increased to 172.12 lakh, which included 3.83 lakh foreigners, from 164.50 lakh in 2018. The highest arrival in 14 years was at 196.02 lakh in 2017. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday condemned a fresh wave of intercommunal violence in the worlds youngest nation, South Sudan, that has left hundreds dead across 28 villages in Jonglei State, according to local authorities. The reports from Jonglei State are appalling, Michelle Bachelet said of fighting that broke out between 16 and 17 May, forcing thousands to flee their homes. This recurring pattern of violence, which continues to claim lives in South Sudan, has to stop, she said. I urge the Government to ensure measures are in place to investigate this violence and to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted, and that victims and their families have access to justice, truth and reparations. Intercommunal fighting has been on the rise across South Sudan. In the first quarter of 2020, it was the main source of violence affecting civilians, having led to 658 deaths, 452 injuries, 592 abductions and 65 cases of sexual violence. The nature of intercommunal fighting long driven by tensions over access to water and grazing land for cattle has taken on a militarized character in recent years, with military style tactics and military-grade weapons. State authorities must act to end these cycles of retaliatory violence, including by holding those responsible to account and promoting peacebuilding between individual communities, Ms. Bachelet stressed. Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Alain Noudehou, reported that a Medecins San Frontieres staff member, and two staffers from another humanitarian organization, were killed during intense fighting in and around the town of Pieri, in Jonglei. Several aid workers are still unaccounted for. As a physician, I have been doing tele-health visits with our COVID-19 patients for the last several weeks in the city of Bridgeport. The list that started with three patients grew to 65 at its peak. In my naivety, I initially impugned the general public that did not follow strict social distancing. Why else would the cases keep increasing if everyone was following the prescription of social distancing hailed by medical and political leaders of our country? But while conversing and caring for my COVID-19 patients, I unraveled layer after layer of problems deeply seeded in the United States social strata. And I wonder, are we destined to fail in our battle against the SARS-CoV2 virus? One Saturday morning, a 45-year-old lady who works at a nursing home called me for fever and cough. My heart sank when I heard that she had been feeling unwell for at least a week, yet had continued to go to work. In my initial wave of anger, I blamed her; how could she continue to go to work? But soon I realized that she didnt have sick leave and risked lay off if she took time off. She shared how they worked without masks in the outbreaks initial weeks. In light of above information, she wouldnt be solely responsible for spreading the contagion to elderly folks at the nursing home. It is the United States system that has to take responsibility. We are relying on people to report symptoms as a means to control the COVID-19 beast, people who themselves are weakened and defeated to make their ends meet. People who are conflicted between their survival needs and bigger societal responsibilities. I recently cared for a lady in her 90s with COVID-19 infection, who has transitioned to Hospice care. I discovered that her son was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit fighting a life-and-death battle. But the pain of this family didnt stop here; her granddaughter, who stays with them, is carrying the unimaginable burden as she brought this infection home while working as a patient care technician in a hospital. Was it her workplaces responsibility to provide the granddaughter a separate accommodation? Lately, I have also heard emphatically about increasing the number of tests done per day to be a miraculous measure to control COVID-19 and how it will help reopen the United States. A few weeks ago, I called a lady in her early 50s diagnosed with COVID-19, I reviewed home isolation guidelines. She shared that she lives in a small apartment with her husband and 80-year-old mother-in-law who has colon cancer and cannot safely isolate. She pleaded for us to arrange a room for her, sadly I had no resources to offer. Sadly, I have at least one and sometimes more such cases every day. The community where our primary care center is located is similar to many communities in America. There are many households with multi-generational family members, sharing a compact living space. As a physician, prescribing medicine for an ailment comes naturally to me, but if the prescription is self-isolation, which pharmacy should my patients go to get it? So I ask myself the question: Are we destined to fail in this battle against SARS-CoV2 virus even as the cases decline in our state of Connecticut? Yes, this battle that we are fighting with just weapons of social isolation and increasing availability of tests is destined to fail unless we add other arms in our armamentarium. We need the arms of providing paid sick leave, job security, providing accommodation for front line workers. Until we have the ability to quarantine people who have the disease, and until we have a way to keep our elderly and vulnerable folks safe, the second wave of the infection will be huge. Thus far the cost of this pandemic is unimaginable, but the half-hearted actions we have taken so far will only amplify human suffering beyond any measure as we all wait for the second wave of pandemic to hit us, guaranteeing a defeat in our battle against COVID-19 infection. Dr. Manisha Gupta is medical director at Bridgeport Hospitals Primary Care Center. 6. Hazel Scott (1920-1981) Scott was born in Trinidad and Tobago but spent the majority of her life in the States after her family moved to New York City. After a handful of years spent in Harlem, Hazel Scott was considered a prodigy at the ripe age of 8, much like Elizabeth Cotten. Unlike Cotten, Scott was taken on by a professor from Juilliard. Even though Scott was considered the premiere jazz pianist of her time and the host of her own show, she disappeared out of public view after facing the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, choosing to flee to France after her life and career was picked apart. She stayed there for ten years, '57-'67, returning to an America that was in the throes of the Civil Rights movement. She wasn't just a brilliant pianist, but an awe-inspiring performer, a true show-woman. 7. Henri-Pierre Noel (19??-present) I sincerely hope you have the time to spare...and you should because it's quarantine, baby! Haitian born Henri-Pierre is probably the most notorious name in music obscurity because of this TedTalk by Alexis Charpentier, a music archaeologist who chanced upon Henri-Pierre's music and was so blown away by it, he got involved in its re-issue. I don't know what else to write other than the fact that Henri-Pierre recorded his early work in the '70s, lived, and was truly found thirty years later. 8. Beverly Watkins (1939-2019) As requested! Beverly "Guitar" Watkins enjoyed momentum in the early parts of her career as she played with acts like B.B. King, James Brown, and Ray Charles. Much like Ed Lewis, Watkins never broke out on her own until 1998 when her work was thrust back into the spotlight. Watkins spent the last twenty years of her life playing festivals, right up until her death last year. 9. Fats Waller (1904-1943) Fats Waller wasn't lost in the shuffle of his time, but his premature death makes his oeuvre that much more noteworthy. Waller's career was kickstarted by selling a tune to a white man to be used on a successful show in 1928, an act that was mirrored at the end of his life when he composed a Broadway musical that had a predominantly white audience called Early to Bed. He passed away from complications related to pneumonia. 10. Azealia Banks (1991-present) Honestly, I'm Indian. I am that curry-scented bitch and while Azealia has consistently disappointed me, I can't stop her from making music because I get this look on my face... ...I forgive you, Azealia. My unconscious anti-blackness has been a conscious unlearning process. We are all learning to be better to one another. Ms. Banks is dealing with some mean colorism that exacerbates her mental illness which, for some reason, is the price for sheer brilliance. Azealia might put up a front, but she is obviously a pure, unadulterated artist which means she is wayyyyyyy too soft for this world. Doja Cat could never! We all know that Azealia is 100% behind these tracks because no one wants to work with her, meaning no one can take the credit away. Azealia did not molest someone's child, she did not rape someone in the studio. There is a chasm in music without that follow up and I am not here for a world where...everything that is being allowed to happen is allowed to happen because of colorism. That being said, I'm sure she is about to do something that will make me change my mind yet again. Honorable Mention: Hako Yamasaki (1957-present) If you're still with me, and I hope you are, please take some time for Yamasaki's 1975 album, Tobimasu. It's jazz that was too far ahead of its time when it was released and still doesn't quite mesh well with the music landscape in Japan. It's an album meant for the world, proving that you don't need to know the language to understand the emotional depth behind every breath. Yamasaki was 18 years old when she laid out the vocals on this magnificent piece of *chef's kiss* art. London, May 25 : Due to a decline in infection rate, the team at Oxford University developing a Covid-19 vaccine believe that the chances of the trial yielding "no result" is now 50 per cent, The Telegraph reported. The University of Oxford last week announced that the advance human trial of the vaccine will involve up to 10,260 volunteers across the UK. While explaining when the results of the trial will be available, the university said that to assess whether the vaccine works to protect from Covid-19, the statisticians in the team team will compare the number of infections in the control group with the number of infections in the vaccinated group. For this purpose, it is necessary for a small number of study participants to develop Covid-19. "How quickly we reach the numbers required will depend on the levels of virus transmission in the community. If transmission remains high, we may get enough data in a couple of months to see if the vaccine works, but if transmission levels drop, this could take up to 6 months," the university said This is the reason why recruitment of those who have a higher chance of being exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is being prioritised, such as frontline healthcare workers, frontline support staff and public-facing key workers, in an effort to capture the efficacy data as quickly as possible. "It's a race against the virus disappearing, and against time," Professor Adrian Hill, director of the university's Jenner Institute, told the Telegraph. "We said earlier in the year that there was an 80 per cent chance of developing an effective vaccine by September. But at the moment, there's a 50 per cent chance that we get no result at all." The professor told the newspaper that if fewer than 20 of the 10,000 volunteers in the trial test positive, the results may be useless. However, Professor Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, last week assured that "the clinical studies are progressing very well". Earlier, drugmaker AstraZeneca finalised its licence agreement with Oxford University for the recombinant adenovirus vaccine. The licensing of the vaccine, formerly ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and now known as AZD1222, follows the recent global development and distribution agreement with the University's Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group. Kim Kardashian West is one proud auntie. On Monday, the 39-year-old reality star shared an adorable picture via her Instagram of her son Saint and sister Kourtney's son Reign, alongside the caption: 'OMG I cant with these two.' Rein Aston Disick, five, and Saint West, four, looked too cute as they posed in the snap, shared to her 172 million followers on Monday. Too cute: Kim Kardashian, 39, shared an adorable picture via her Instagram Monday of sister Kourtney's son Reign (Left) and her son Saint (Right) The post comes a day after Kim commemorated her sixth wedding anniversary to husband Kanye West with a throwback photo of her gently kissing his cheek. The mother-of-four and West glowed in a series of snaps, as the rapper flashed an uncharacteristically bright smile via Instagram on Sunday. '6 years down; forever to go,' the reality star captioned two throwback pictures of her arms wrapped around the Stronger hitmaker's shoulders. 'Until the end.' Close: Despite Kim and Kourtney's recent fall-out on their reality show, it seems their kids bring them closer (pictured above last year) Even the KKW Beauty founder's mom Kris Jenner joined in to celebrate the loved-up couple by posting a number of swoon-worthy photos of them over the years. 'Happy Anniversary to these two!!! I love you guys!!!!!' the momager gushed in her caption of her son-in-law and second eldest daughter on social media. The lovebirds, who share children Psalm, ten months, Saint, four, Chicago two, and six-year-old North tied the knot in 2014. Proud auntie: Kim also recently shared this snap of her nephew Mason Disick Family matters: Kim and Kourtney pose with their grandmother Mary Jo and their kids in a recent snap On her Instagram Story, Kim looked back at their special day held at Fort di Belvedere, a 16th century fortress in Florence, Italy. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians vet also shared images from their photo shoot from her makeup collection called the Mrs. West Collection, which dropped on their fifth wedding anniversary last year. 'I think being with a man like Kanye, you have to learn how to be a little bit not-so-independent,' Kim said on The Alec Baldwin Show in 2018. Six years strong: Kim also commemorated her sixth wedding anniversary to husband Kanye West yesterday with a throwback photo of her gently kissing his cheek Iconic ceremony: On her Instagram Story, Kim looked back at their special day held at Fort di Belvedere, a 16th century fortress in Florence, Italy She explained: 'I've always been so independent and working, and [had a] schedule, and when you get married and have a husband that has their career and then have kids, your independence you have to let it go..' Earlier this month, it was revealed the pair were struggling to find harmony under California's lockdown. Kim reportedly felt she needed 'some space from Kanye,' a source told Us Weekly. The coronavirus pandemic may have witnessed crime rates dropping drastically in wake of people staying home, but petty thieves still seem to be on the prowl. A burglar, decked in a hazmat suit tried to steal a painting by Banksy, which had been donated to a National Health Services hospital in the UK. The thief attempted to steal the painting with a cordless, power drill and was seen by security guards prowling around it for a while before the attempt, according to The Sun. The painting by the popular street artist was estimated to be at a price of 5 Million. Called 'Game Changer,' the picture showed a young boy holding up the figurine of a healthcare worker with a cape, as Batman and Spiderman figurines are seen discarded. The heist was attempted May 8, two days after Banksy left the artwork at the hospital with a note, "Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if its only black and white." A 34-year-old man with childlike appearance is a the successful investors in tourism in Ly Son District, Quang Ngai Province. Cao Ngoc Canh Everyone in Cao Ngoc Canh's family has normal height but Canh was special with a height of 1.26 metres and a child-like face and voice. "My mother said I weighed 3kg at birth and cried really loudly. But for some reasons, my body just couldn't grow up. During high school, I was only one metre tall. I just I grew a bit more after walking and travelling around a lot," he said. In 2006, Canh studied at the Information and Technology College in HCM City. After graduation, he worked for an IT company in HCM City but the travelling passion never disappeared. Since 2010, he has organised trips to various locations in Vietnam including Mount Fansipan, A Pa Chai Border Marker Zero and Lung Cu Flag Tower with friends. He always took photos and wrote about their experiences on the internet as a guide for others. When he turned 30 years old, Canh was determined to conquer the Fansipan as a birthday gift to himself. "When I set foot on the peak, I decided to return to my hometown in Ly Son and make a career there," Canh said. Canh (R) with a group of children on a trip to Ha Giang At first, he opened a restaurant but failed. In late 2017, he joined a start-up programme held by Quang Ngai authorities and won a reward for his home-stay topic. In early 2018, his parents let him use the house for business. Canh spent VND100m (USD4,300) to renovate and turn it into a 20-room house. He also bought many bikes for rent. "I contacted the bus, boat, restaurant owners to link the businesses," he said. Thanks to seven years of travelling, Canh knows every corner of his hometown and more. Along with his charisma, Canh is a popular tour guide of many tourists. However, there are many occasions which he was mistaken for a child. Once a customer called to book a room. But when she heard Canh's child-like voice, she asked him to put her through to his parents and didn't believe that Canh is the owner. Another time, Canh was a tour guide for a Vietnamese-American group. A woman also told him to ask his parents for help when she saw him. However he had worked with a group member before so the other tourists were persuaded. According to Canh, summer is the best season in Ly Son when tourists can watch the reefs and catch sea cucumbers. At night, bonfires can be held at the beach. However, because of Covid-19, all businesses have been affected since March. In early May, Canh received customers but fewer since everyone is still wary. "We mostly have family groups of three to four members," he said. He went on to say that the tourism season in Ly Son only lasts for eight months because of storms and bad weather. During the social distancing period, Canh focused on his hobby which is collecting ornamental trees. VietNamNet/Dtinews The first of five tankers carrying Iranian fuel for gasoline-starved Venezuela reached the countrys waters during the weekend, Reuters has reported, noting that the vessel Fortune entered Venezuelas exclusive economic zone on Saturday. Venezuela is in the grips of a major gasoline shortage as refineries are unable to operate at run rates higher than 10 percent because of a shortage of diluents necessary for the production of fuels as well as an urgent need for repairs. Iran, a fellow target of U.S. sanctions, last month sent to Venezuela two plane loads of equipment and chemicals necessary for the production of gasoline as it agreed to help Caracas restart one refinery, with a capacity of 310,000 bpd. At the time, sources told the AP that 14 more flights were scheduled to arrive from Iran to Venezuela, some of them carrying refinery technicians. The gasoline tankers are the next step in the support plan, for which, according to reports, Venezuela is paying in gold. The ships from the fraternal Islamic Republic of Iran are now in our exclusive economic zone, Venezuelas new oil minister, Tareck El Assaimi said in a tweet. The tankers, whose total load is about 1.53 million barrels of mostly gasoline but also some alkylatea gasoline blending stockwill be escorted by the Venezuelan military because of threats made by the United States, according to Venezuelan officials. A U.S. official told Reuters that Washington was indeed considering moves in response to the tanker deliveries, but they did not elaborate on the nature of these moves. Venezuela suspended imports of gasoline from the United States last year as the political row between the two escalated. Since then, a shortage of the fuel has been building. The state of disrepair into which Venezuelas refineries have fallen due to underinvestment has not helped, either. Meanwhile, a former Iran OPEC ambassador has suggested that countries under U.S. sanctions should set up a club to facilitate trade amongst themselves. "The increase in the number of countries sanctioned by the United States has provided a better capacity to create alternative solutions to supply demands," Mohammad Ali Khabtibi told Fars news agency. A barter form of trade, he said, could make the foundation of this club. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Casual employees who received a short term pay rise when the government introduced the JobKeeper subsidy will be subjects of a 'secret audit'. A Treasury review hopes to determine just how many Australians are now receiving more cash than they were prior to the coronavirus crisis. Some officials believe the government should adjust the subsidy to avoid 'overpayments', but others believe it is too late, particularly given the government recently admitted JobKeeper was running $60b under budget. The Australian Treasury Regulatory Reform Taskforce is assessing all options for the scheme, and will report back with an estimate of how many workers are better off with the payments. People who weren't entitled to JobKeeper were forced to go on the JobSeeker Centrelink payment. Pictured: Lining up out the front of a Centrelink in Melbourne on March 23, the day pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and gyms closed Teenagers appear to have been the biggest winners during the crisis, with some recording a 16 per cent pay rise as a result of the scheme. The current format offers all eligible employees a $1,500 per fortnight flat rate, regardless of what they were earning prior to the pandemic. The Australian Taxation Office will be able to obtain information about workers' usual pay compared to their JobKeeper allowance using the Single Touch Payroll system. Australian businesses are slowly reopening as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions ease nationwide. Prime Minister Scott Morrison hinted he may consider extending the $1,500 a fortnight cash splash for industries worst impacted during the pandemic. Unemployment hit 6.1 per cent last month as thousands of businesses were forced to close in coronavirus shutdowns. Many more companies shed staff in the general economic downturn prompted by the pandemic 'Now, there are many challenges that the economy will face beyond September. We know that and there are particular sectors that will feel this for longer, particularly those who are dependent on international borders,' Mr Morrison said. 'As the economy reopens, large parts will no longer need to be dependent upon government subsidies and they'll be able to stand on their own two feet. JobKeeper figures Enrolled: 910,055 businesses Claims processed: 759,654 Total payments approved: $8.7 billion Employees paid: 2.9 million As of 20 May Source: Treasury Advertisement 'As more and more businesses can do that, we'll be able to target more of our assistance to those areas in greatest need, and that has always been the plan.' But the PM has refused to discuss expanding the scheme to casual workers and foreign visa holders who haven't been entitled to anything. Even though a clerical error saw the amount needed for the scheme slashed from $130 billion to $70 billion on Friday - a $60 billion saving - Mr Morrison said the government shouldn't automatically look to spend the extra money. Thousands of businesses were forced to close amid the coronavirus lockdowns - including this restaurant in Newtown Instead, he said Australians should welcome a smaller debt, given coronavirus stimulus spending has blown out to more than $300 billion. 'There were many unknowns and Treasury did the best they could to estimate what the cost would be,' he said on Sunday. 'Sure the estimate was overstated and the process with the taxation office to keep us updated on that had a flaw in it, we acknowledge that, I acknowledge that.' The Federal Government estimated 6.5 million Australians would be receiving the $750-a-week payments based on forms filled out by eligible businesses. But 1,000 companies incorrectly reported the number of their employees by accident, meaning the figure was more like 3.5 million. K Shiva Kumar By Express News Service MYSURU: Tipplers from Kerala can sure hold their liquor in more ways than one. They hold the liquor bottles bought in Karnataka and race back home for the happy hour. With the prices being cheaper here, these spirited people have stopped 'wining' -- they have found the river route to sneak in and buy their daily dose from wine stores. You can see them advancing in boats. Since the Kabini river stretch is quite long, there are several points from where they can enter the border villages quite easily. What is agitating the locals and the authorities is the fear of the risk of the spread of COVID-19. With Kerala reporting over 50 cases on Sunday alone, the people are worried as these tipplers dont follow corona norms like social distancing. Although the district administration has sealed the inter-state border and has deputed health and police officials round-the-clock at Bavali checkpost, the people living across the border are crossing into Karnataka wading in knee-deep water and walking along dried patches. The Mysuru district administration, closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Wayanad district and knowing that there were three cases near the border, has cancelled boat points at DB Kuppe as hundreds from Kerala cross in boats to line up near the wine shops. Based on a plea from the villagers, the Revenue and Excise officials have closed wine shops in DB Kuppe and Machur. There are also reports that a few are reaching out to liquor shops near Karapura. It is not just liquor that makes Keralites come here. Foresters must step up vigil, say villagers Somanna, a farmer, said that hundreds of people from Kerala side cross to Karnataka as many cultivate land on lease and are into ginger and banana cultivation in hundreds of acres. He said that the authorities should constitute teams to keep a vigil on those slipping from Kerala side in the wake of too many active cases there. The crossing of the river has stopped near DB Kuppe as the river level has increased by 1 ft following rains in Wayanad district. Health officer Ravikumar said that they are educating the people near the Bavali check posts and are tracking the arrival of migrant people reaching to remote villages across the border. The villagers charged that the forest personnel have not stepped up patrolling and are not keeping vigil on those illegally entering from Mananthawady village or fields on Karnataka side. Beechanahalli Police Station Sub Inspector Ramachandra has refuted the allegations. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2020 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. ("ServiceMaster" or the "Company") (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 Company's 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, ServiceMaster's 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. Story continues SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/591300/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-Pomerantz-Law-Firm-Investigates-Claims-On-Behalf-of-Investors-of-ServiceMaster-Global-Holdings-Inc--SERV The body of a young mother allegedly murdered by her Mafia-linked boyfriend has finally been returned to her family in Tasmania. Ellie Price's body was found in her townhouse in South Melbourne on May 4. The 26-year-old's partner Ricardo 'Rick' Barbaro, 33, has been charged with her murder. Her heartbroken family have had to fundraise to have her body flown back to Hobart. More than $6,000 was raised through a Gofundme page, which was created by her cousin Rebecca Lehner. Half the money raised will go into a trust for Ms Price's four-year-old son Mostafa. Ricardo 'Rick' Barbaro (left), 33, is accused of murdering is on-off girlfriend Ellie Price (right), 26, who was found dead in their south Melbourne townhouse on May 4 Ms Price's four-year-old son Mostafa (pictured with his mother) only just learned about his mother's death 'Ellie was living in Melbourne pursuing her dreams but her heart was in Tasmania with her friends and family,' Ms Lehner wrote. 'This is a terrible and tragic event that should never have happened and now here I am trying to raise funds to ensure my cousin makes her way back home and is laid to rest surrounded by the people who love her.' Ms Price's four-year-old son only just learned about his mother's death. Ms Price's mother Tracey Gangell has revealed that she was forced to finally tell her grandson, Mostafa, that his mum was in heaven. 'He walked up to her photo on the fridge and kissed it and said 'I love you mum',' she told the Herald Sun. Sporting a cut to his head and wearing bright red runners, Barbaro was led away in handcuffs ahead of a return to Melbourne to face charges of murdering his girlfriend A nationwide manhunt for Barbaro was launched shortly after Ms Price's body was discovered. Barbaro was eventually found in Sydney and extradited back to Victoria to face court. During his first appearance in Melbourne Magistrates Court, Barbaro said he was withdrawing from Xanax and Valium, the Daily Telegraph reported. Xanax and Valium are prescription drugs from the benzodiazepine family, which are commonly used to treat anxiety. Barbaro, from Southport in Queensland, was asked whether he needed a nurse. 'Yeah I'm seeing a doctor,' he told the magistrate. Barbaro's lawyer Campbell MacCallum dialled into the hearing from Queensland but no application for bail made. His next court date is in September. It is alleged that Barbaro murdered Ms Price between April 29 and May 4, court documents show. Ms Price's body was in her apartment for days before it was discovered on May 4. Some members of the Melbourne Barbaro family have links to the Calabrian mafia, centred in the New South Wales town of Griffith. Photograph: Rhona Wise/AFP via Getty Images Former president Barack Obama has dipped his toes into the 2020 presidential campaign recently and is positioned to do more in the coming months as Joe Bidens effort to defeat Donald Trump gathers steam. Interviews with about a dozen Democratic strategists, officials and people close to Obama indicated members of the party want the popular former president to use his powerful online presence and focus on rallying key Democrat constituencies that are critical to a Biden victory. Obama is regarded as one of the most popular figures in American politics and a huge asset within the Democratic party. He left the White House with a near-60% approval rating. His endorsement for any candidate is the political campaign equivalent of an oilman and hitting a gusher. Obama would be most effective, interviewees said, in highlighting his former vice-presidents resume, rallying key Democratic groups like African American women, and pushing voters to register. The situation is unique. There hasnt been a popular former two-term president eager to hit the trail for his former running mate for years. On top of that, the coronavirus pandemic limits in-person campaigning and rallies. Still, the strategists interviewed say Obama is valuable and should be used everywhere. You rarely have a former president that is more popular than the now-sort-of-nominee, Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher said. Barack Obama is the most popular political figure in America right now. Joe Biden and Barack Obama before a presidential primary debate in 2007. Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters Valerie Jarrett, who served as a senior adviser to Obama during his time in the White House, said Obama is committed to helping Vice-President Biden in any way the Biden campaign thinks is helpful. The pandemic is forcing everyone to be more creative since the conventional ways of doing business, including campaigning, are not possible. Obama has a robust social media presence with millions of Twitter followers, and Jarrett pointed to Obamas endorsement of Biden, which took the form of an online video now that campaign rallies have become a thing of the pre-pandemic past. Story continues I think you can tell from the video that he rolled out with his endorsement, one very useful platform is President Obamas social media platform where he has more followers than any other politician by far. According to a Democratic strategist familiar with Obamas thinking, the former president is eager to campaign for Democrats up and down the ballot in 2020. He plans to follow the lead of the Biden campaign as well as that of the main Democratic campaign arms the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and other umbrella organizations. Obama was an active surrogate to boost Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections but since then has taken a more restrained approach to the national spotlight. He has only waded into current politics a few times and mostly on an indirect basis. Most recently, though, he delivered a commencement speech for college graduates where he said the coronavirus pandemic had finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what theyre doing. Obama didnt mention Trump by name but the speech was widely regarded as a direct allusion to the president. It could also herald what Obamas public appearances in the final months of the 2020 presidential campaign would be like. Separately, during a closed event with thousands of supporters and Obama alumni, the former president warned that the justice departments decision to drop charges against the former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn put the rule of law at risk. Campaign veterans and strategists say Obama is useful less as an attack dog going head to head with Trump and more as someone who highlights a positive vision of why voters should elect Biden. To me, Obama is the worlds best character witness, said Teddy Goff, who was digital director for Obamas second presidential campaign. Yeah, he can make the case that Trump is bad. He can certainly validate the case for Bidens policies. But essentially hes the most popular political figure on planet Earth and the one guy he entrusted with the single most important appointment of his life was Joe Biden. But Obama could also persuade more people to vote. Meg Ansara, who was national regional director for Obamas first presidential campaign and more recently battleground states director for Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign, said one of the key priorities, especially in this environment, is voter registration. I think voter registration is a huge place, Ansara said, adding that persuading undecided voters is important for someone like Obama as well. Im a big believer that you need to do both in the bulk of these battleground states. There have been moments during the last three years when Democrats had wondered why Obama didnt speak out more against Trump or weigh in more during the Democratic primary. Thats actually an asset now and adds weight to when Obama does speak out, said Guy Cecil, who runs the Priorities USA Super Pac. I think in some respects the Biden campaign benefits from the fact that Obama has not spent three and a half years in the political limelight, attacking the president, attacking the administration, engaging in a back-and-forth with [Trump], Cecil said. Corey Platt, a veteran Democratic strategist and campaign manager, said that Obama and Biden have done a good job of appearing together so far and he should keep doing that rather than just focusing on going head-to-head with Trump. I think he if continues to remind people about competency and progress under his administration it will make people feel good about Biden, change and sanity. If he engages Trump I think that could backfire, Platt said. He can help articulate Bidens vision for what happens next year and promote confidence in getting through this crisis together. A Sunday afternoon shooting at a west Birmingham business left one man dead. Birmingham police and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded just after 5 p.m. to Nu Vision in the 2800 block of Bessemer Road. Nu Vision is a car detailing shop and was the scene of homicide just 13 months ago as well. Authorities later Sunday night identified the victim as Tyler Rashard Busby. He was 27. Birmingham police Sgt. Rod Mauldin said when officers arrived at the business, they found the victim lying on the ground. Fire medics pronounced Busby dead on the scene. Busby, Mauldin said, was patronizing the business when he stepped outside to take a phone call. The unknown assailant then emerged from a vehicle and fired shots. There are multiple shell casings, Mauldin said. There were other customers at the business at the time. Detectives are interviewing witnesses and canvassing the area. No suspects have been identified or arrested. It is the second slaying at the business in a little more than a year. On Sunday, April 28, 2019, 28-year-old Omari Sharad Pollnitz who was in a wheelchair from a previous shooting was found shot to death inside a bay at Nu Vision. The death was ruled justifiable. Busbys slaying is Birminghams 47th homicide this year. Of those, five have been ruled justifiable and therefore are not deemed criminal. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 71 homicides, including the 47 in Birmingham. Anyone with information is asked to all Birmingham police homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 03:21:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close AMMAN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Both the public and private sectors in Jordan will resume work on Tuesday after more than two months of stoppage as part of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, the government said Monday. The working hours for the public sector will be from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., the prime minister's office said in a statement. The work stoppage in Jordan started on March 21. Meanwhile, the Jordanian health ministry said three cases of coronavirus were reported on Monday, bringing the overall number to 711. The kingdom has so far carried out 165,109 tests for coronavirus after 1,936 were added on Monday, according to the ministry. On April 27, China's State Development & Investment Corporation, a key partner of Jordan's Arab Potash Company, donated medical supplies worth 1.2 million U.S. dollars to help Jordan fight COVID-19. Also in April, Urumchi, capital city of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, also donated a batch of medical equipment to Jordan's Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority. Enditem Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photos Getty So many shocking things have become normal now under this administration that its kind of hard to imagine what would genuinely jolt the nation at this point. And with regard to Novembers election, the shocking-but-normal reality is that we know Donald Trump will cheat. There was a terrifying piece in the Times on Sunday laying out all the different moves he could pull to steal the election that his opponents are war-gaming to prepare for and counter. One little nugget from it: Trump could issue orders that impact cities in battleground states like declaring a state of emergency, deploying the National Guard or forbidding gatherings of more than 10 people. Everyone knows hell cheat. Even his supporters know hell cheat. His cheating is one of the things they love about him. So that hell cheatwhile loudly accusing the other side of cheatingis a given. We just dont know yet exactly how. Here are five all-too-plausible scenarios. Trigger warning: They may literally make you sick, especially the last one. Scenario One: He steals it fair and square. In other words, he wins like he did in 2016, eking out a 78,000-vote, three-state Electoral College margin (or something along those lines) while losing the popular vote. Except this time, hes likely to lose the popular vote by more than last time, perhaps far more. Why? Because Joe Bidens margins are likely to be bigger than Clintons were in the large blue states, and Trumps margins are likely to be smaller in the big red states like Texas and Georgia. So he could lose the popular vote by five or six million this time instead of the 2.8 million of last time. This Is How Republicans Steal an Election, and Maybe Kill Some Dems in the Process The result would not, strictly speaking, be cheating, since these are the effed-up rules of our democracy, though there would still be the usual, run-of-the-mill cheating hed do during the electioncolluding with Russia, blocking vote-by-mail, doing the kinds of things the Times article suggested hed do to put a few of his short, vulgar fingers on the scale. So thered be plenty of cheating done on the way. Story continues Scenario Two: The Florida felon option. Remember how Floridians voted nearly 2-to-1 in 2018 to allow felons whod served their time to vote, with even a majority of Republicans agreeing? Then remember how the Florida legislature passed a law in 2019 saying felons had to pay all costs and arrears before they could vote? Fortunately, the latest news seems to be that a federal judge is leaning toward siding with the voters over the legislature. But the right-wingers are going to fight this tooth and nail. I have no idea what theyll come up with, but imagine a scenario, say, where Biden narrowly wins Florida, the Trump campaign declares fraud and demands a recount, the governor agrees, the courts agree, and lo and behold just enough ex-felon votes are invalidated to flip the result. If you think that sounds too outlandish, all I can tell you is that youre not paying attention. Scenario Three: The Supreme Court steals it. The Florida scenario is one of several that could involve the Supreme Court handing Trump a second term. The sickest and most shameless SCOTUS scenario would involve the following. Remember how in Bush v. Gore the five conservative justices in essence ruled against states rights, that supposedly time-honored conservative principle? That is, Florida wanted to recount the votes, but the courtin an unsigned decision that they insisted did not set precedentoverruled the state. Well, this time, they might do the exact opposite! In other words, lets say Trump ekes out a really narrow win in a red state, Arizona perhaps, and it is that win that put him over the top, and there are questions about the validity of the tally such that some people are demanding a recount, but the state says no. It goes all the way up to the Supreme Court, and the court rules 5-4 with Arizona because hey, states rights! Again, if you think this is outlandish Scenario Four: The faithless elector possibility. Team Trump has already teed this one up, and Ill actually be surprised if we dont see this happen to some extent. As you know, even though we cast votes for presidential candidates, the president is officially elected by the states electors when they meet in December. In any Republican-controlled states that Biden may win, the state can simply appoint electors who might refuse to vote for Biden. Of course the Democrats could do the same, but come on, which side do you think is more likely to do this?The Supreme Court is expected to hand down a decision next month on whether electors have to vote for the candidate who won their state. Wanna bet its 5-4, with the conservatives saying electors can do as they please? Scenario Five: The House of Representatives steals it. This is the mother of all nightmare scenarios, one Im really not sure this county would survive. Imagine, first, an Electoral College tie, 269-269. Yes, it can happen. Under the 12th Amendment, a tie goes to the House, which votes for the next president. Easy-peasy, right? The Democrats control the House, so President Biden, your day has come. Not so fast. First of all, its not the current Congress that votes, its the next one, the one the nation will elect on Nov. 3 (yes, Im correct about this). OK, but that Congress is still likely to be Democratic, so whats the problem? Heres the problem. The 435 members of the House dont vote as individuals. They vote as state delegations, each delegation getting one vote. Thats right. So for this vote, Lynne Cheney (Wyomings lone legislator) will have a voting power equal to that of the 45 California Democrats (and seven Republicans). Let that sink in. Cheneys vote on this matter would carry more than 50 times the weight of Nancy Pelosis. It is completely insane. Why is it this way? It was a compromise designed to placateyou guessed itstates rights advocates, who feared the big states would push the small states around but who won so many arguments that its actually the small states that push the big ones around (see United States Senate). So who controls state delegations? Right now, the Republicans do, 26-25 (the District of Columbia counts here). But as I said, it would be the next Congress that would vote. So Democrats would need to flip one state, and of course hold all the seats in states where they have majorities now. Democrats are up one seat in Pennsylvania, 9-8. Republicans are up one in Florida, 14-13. In Michigan, its Democrats by 7-6-1, the one being Justin Amash. How would he vote, assuming hes re-elected? But if Democrats cant flip a state delegation, then the 26-25 Republican edge will hold. So picture it. Trump has lost the popular vote by five million. Through rampant voter suppression and other dirty tricks like those mentioned in that Times piece, he manages to finagle an Electoral College tie. Then it goes to the House, where this nutso scheme they came up with in 1803 when state population differentials werent anywhere near what they are today is used to hand Trump re-election. And to really rub salt in the wound, under the terms of the 19th century law that still governs this process, presiding over all this would be a smirking Mike Pence. We. Are. So. Screwed. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:52:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, May 25 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi army helicopter was slightly hit by a machinegun on Monday during an operation by Islamic State (IS) militants in the western province of Anbar, the Iraqi military said. The incident took place when an army force destroyed IS positions and seized weapons and explosives during an operation to hunt down IS militants in a desert area near the two of al-Rutba, some 400 km west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement. It said that the troops were backed by two helicopter gunships and during the operation the helicopters pounded three IS vehicles, but one of the vehicles was carrying a heavy machinegun and opened fire at the helicopters. One of the helicopters was slightly damaged, but managed to return to the base safely, the statement added. Earlier in the day, an Iraqi army source told Xinhua that one helicopter was shot down after being attacked by the extremist IS militants in south of al-Rutba. The incident came as the Iraqi security forces are carrying out operations to hunt down IS militants in the desert and rugged areas in the provinces of Anbar, Salahudin and Nineveh as well as the border areas with Syria. 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 deserts and rugged areas, launching frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Enditem The Goa government has made Covid-19 negative certificate mandatory for people who want to come to the state, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday. "We have decided that whoever wants to come to Goa if they bring an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) approved Covid-19 negative certificate issued within 48 hours prior of arrival, they will be allowed to go to their homes," Sawant said at a press conference here. "Around 4,000 more people will come to Goa tomorrow, by air, railway and road passengers will come. Goans have made arrangements for their stay. ... A 23-year-old University of Connecticut senior hacked a 62-year-old man to death with a machete, murdered an acquaintance and abducted a woman before fleeing in a stolen car, police say as they warn he is armed and dangerous. Connecticut troopers said Peter Manfredonia was last seen in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. His weekend crime spree began on Friday, when local police were called to a residential area in Willington due to reports of a murder and an assault, according to the Connecticut Post. Peter Manfredonia, 23, is being sought by police in three states as of late Sunday. He is wanted in connection with the slayings of two people, the assault of one other person, the abduction of a woman, and the theft of guns and two vehicles Manfredonia, a senior at the University of Connecticut, was last seen in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Police say he is armed and dangerous Manfredonia is wanted in connection with the brutal murder of 62-year-old Ted DeMers of Willington, Connecticut Cynthia DeMers (left) said her husband (right) offered Manfredonia a ride after he was seen walking along a road near their home far from where he parked his motorcycle on Friday Police said Manfredonia is suspected of killing 62-year-old Ted DeMers and assaulting another man at around 9am on Friday in Willington. DeMers' wife, Cynthia DeMers, tells the Hartford Courant that the two men had been attacked after they found Manfredonia walking along a road and offered him a ride back to his motorcycle. 'It could have been anybody who offered him a ride,' she said. 'It could have been any of my neighbors husbands. It just happened to be mine.' The search for Manfredonia spans three states and more than 100 miles of territory DeMers was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The other man suffered severe wounds described as sword or machete wounds, state police said. 'We do know a weapon was used,' Trooper Josue Dorelus told WTNH-TV. 'We believe it to be an edged weapon, however the exact description I would not be able to provide.' A GoFundMe page has been started to help the DeMers family. Early on Sunday morning, state police were called to a home on Turnpike Drive in Willington, where the homeowner was held against his will just hours before. Manfredonia is alleged to have taken the homeowner's food, three shotguns, a pistol, and his truck. The victim was not injured. State police said Manfredonia drove the stolen truck to Derby, where authorities received a report of a one-vehicle crash near Osbornedale State Park. Officers arrived on the scene and found an abandoned vehicle at around 6:45am on Sunday. It was the same truck that was stolen from the Willington home, police said. 'It could have been anybody who offered him a ride,' Cynthia DeMers said. 'It could have been any of my neighbors' husbands. It just happened to be mine.' A GoFundMe account was launched to help the DeMers family in the wake of Ted DeMers' murder Police in Willington, Connecticut, on Friday are seen above gathering evidence near the area where the grisly murder and assault took place Investigators then learned that Manfredonia had an acquaintance who lived in Derby. The acquaintance was 23-year-old Nicholas J. Eisele. When police arrived at Eisele's home, they found him dead. The medical examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine cause of death. Manfredonia is then alleged to have abducted Eisele's girlfriend and stolen a 2016 black Volkswagen Jetta from their home. Both Manfredonia and Eisele are originally from Newtown, according to The Hartford Courant. Manfredonia fled to Pennsylvania on Sunday hours after killing Eisele, according to state police. A car Manfredonia is suspected of stealing from Eisele was found in New Jersey at the Pennsylvania border on Sunday afternoon, police said. Connecticut State Police on Sunday released a photo of the 2016 black Volkswagen Jetta which bears a Connecticut license plate with the number CT AU78524. Police said that the driver's side of the car has a bumper sticker paying tribute to the 26 victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, which took place in Newtown. Police in New Jersey recovered the car as well as a woman who was abducted from Eisele's home in Derby. She is safe and is being interviewed by authorities. Police have not released the woman's name. Authorities said that a black 2016 Volkswagen Jetta was located in New Jersey near the state border with Pennsylvania. Police also found a woman who had allegedly been abducted by Manfredonia. She is alive, though investigators have not revealed her identity The stolen Volkswagen was recovered at the Travel America truck stop in Knowlton Township, New Jersey, on Sunday. The truck stop is seen in the above undated file photo Manfredonia (pictured) is also wanted in connection with the death of an acquaintance, 23-year-old Nicholas J. Eisele. Police found Eisele dead in his Derby, Connecticut, home on Sunday Manfredonia is a 2015 graduate of Newtown High School and a senior at the University of Connecticut majoring in finance and mechanical engineering, the Connecticut Post reported. Police describe him as a 6-foot-3 white man who should be considered armed and dangerous. The University of Connecticut on Sunday released a statement confirming that records show Manfredonia is enrolled as a student in the joint school of engineering/school of business program. Manfredonia first enrolled at UConn in the fall of 2015, and is a senior. 'He is not attending summer courses, and had not been living on the UConn campus either at the time of the incident in Willington or during recent semesters,' UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said. Reitz said the university is in contact with authorities to provide assistance that might help the investigation. 'The university expresses its deepest, most heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their families in this horrible, incomprehensible tragedy,' Reitz said. 'They are all in our thoughts.' When asked if the university knew of any problematic behavior by Manfredonia in years past, she said the university couldnt discuss specific individuals and cases. She did say, however, that 'UConn strives to do everything possible to identify and engage with students of concern and to provide them with all the assistance and resources we can both for their own well-being and that of the wider community.' Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations remained muted on Monday in Madhya Pradesh under the COVID-19 shadow, with Muslims choosing to offer prayers inside their homes across the state. With the coronavirus-induced lockdown restricting public gatherings, the traditional scenes of faithfuls offering prayers at mosques and on open grounds, and greeting each other with celebratory hugs, were not seen this time. Eid remained a low-key affair in Bhopal, Burhanpur and Indore districts, with a sizable Muslim population, which have seen a large number of COVID-19 cases. Similarly, Old City in Bhopal missed the traditional fervour associated with the biggest festival for Muslims. On the eve of Eid, Muslim clerics had appealed to members of the community to offer prayers at their homes in view of the unprecedented situation. When asked about the muted celebrations, senior journalist and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) fellow Rasheed Kidwai turned philosophical and said the low-key Eid was perhaps the wish of the Almighty. "It was the first time in my life that I missed a steady stream of visitors at my residence and rejoicing together," he said. SK Muddin, national convenor of the RSS-affiliated Muslim Rasthriya Manch, said Muslims followed the lockdown norms strictly. "The Muslim community which has clung to virtues like patience since the beginning of Ramzan (the holy month of fasting that culminates with EID) maintained and manifested it today," he told PTI. The community has followed the Islam dharm and the Rashtriya dharm, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi recorded 635 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total number of positive cases to 14,053 with 276 deaths so far in the national capital. The number of active patients of COVID-19 was 7,006 while 6,771 patients have either recovered and been discharged or migrated to other places, according to Delhi government's daily health bulletin. Earlier in the day Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the COVID-19 situation is under control in Delhi even after lockdown relaxations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A pennant from the 1913 centennial from Spectator reader, Murray Aikman. There hasnt been much to celebrate with the coronavirus pandemic continuing to force the cancellation of public events across the city, the country, and around the world. On May 8, the 75th anniversary of VE-Day, one of the biggest moments of jubilation from the 1900s, there was no major commemorative event in Hamilton. Victoria Day weekend went off without public displays of fireworks. Last weekend, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders would have blown out the downtown with the regiments bagpipe band to mark a change of command. But not this year. Local commemorations have been affected, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said in a statement earlier this month. Be this as it may, these observances are as important to us as ever. It may involve online or virtual experiences or celebrations. It may mean in-person celebrations at a later date. Be assured we will find ways to observe this (VE-Day), and other events of local and national significance, during the pandemic. Well see what happens in these dragged on days of social isolation. At some point rescheduled anniversaries conflict with new ones. These things can be a bit forced, just like someone blowing out candles months after the persons birthday. Yet, there was a time when celebration was so enthusiastically endorsed in Hamilton that temporal considerations were even fabricated for the sake of a big party. Take the City of Hamiltons Centennial celebrations of 1913, something I was reminded about by Spectator readers who sent me photos of souvenirs from the event. As many have noted over the years, there is no way the year 1913 could possibly be construed as a centennial year for Hamilton. The community became a police village in 1833 and a city in 1846. The significance of 1813? Nothing. It seems an alderman at the time cooked up a tall tale that George Hamilton, the father of Hamilton, came to the Head-of-the-Lake in 1813. Thats a bit of a stretch for two reasons: Most hold that he came to the area in 1815 after purchasing 257 acres in what was known as Barton Township. And, even if he did arrive in 1813, so what? He didnt get involved in laying the groundwork for the city until a couple of years later. Perhaps there was not the questioning in those times like there would have been today, says Murray Aikman, who has a pennant from the event hanging in humorous reminder at his home. I think the centennial was tied to the city taking off in terms of progress, the industrialization, the availability of electricity. They were kind of pounding their chests a little bit. Looking through a 340-page hardcover book produced for the occasion, there can be no other conclusion than people were getting a little carried away with boosterism. The book, Hamilton Canada its History, Commerce, Industries and Resources, even features a portrait photo of George Hamilton that was later revealed to be a fake. As the late Margaret Houghton pointed out in the first volume of her book series, First Here, no photo exists of the man who started the city because the first photographer to come to Hamilton had arrived in 1842 and George Hamilton died in 1836. So to review: The city, in 1913, hosted a major 100-year celebration for a city that was only 67 years old. People rallied around a top-hatted, big bearded portrait of the founder of Hamilton that was actually a photo of somebody else. They hosted parades, festivities and even took on a bizarre Ripleys believe it or not feat of constructing a house in one day. And the commemoration was all built on a deception. Talk about fake news. Well, in 1946, the city did get it right with a legitimate centennial. And there was an even bigger celebration, the largest the city had ever seen. After six years of world war, and troops finally returning home, everyone was hungry for a major party. But there was one minor setback. Gov. General Viscount Alexander, who was brought in to give the commemoration some regal authority, apparently became confused about why he was there. In his speech from the front of Hamiltons old City Hall, he looked out at the assembled crowd and officially opened James Street by mistake. Well, hopefully when the pandemic ends and people can walk in crowds again the city will host an even bigger celebration. And we wont be deterred by missteps weve had with these things in the past. Did you know? I was driving around the Mountain the other day and came upon the ironic scene of a CAA tow truck in need of roadside assistance. It was jacked up with a wheel removed from the back. The driver wasnt around. Not sure where he went. It reminded me that Hamilton was the first city in Canada to establish an automobile club. It was the brainchild of John Moodie Jr., who brought the first automobile to the city in 1898. The Hamilton Automobile Club was created in 1903 and the organization now known as CAA South Central Ontario has expanded exponentially since then. And one expects, with all that growth, its own broken down tow trucks would not be stranded for long. Relatives of a murdered Armenian army officer killed with an axe by an Azerbaijani counterpart on a NATO training program in Budapest are hoping the European Court of Human Rights will hand down rulings against Hungary and Azerbaijan on Tuesday, The Guardian reports. Gurgen Margaryan was murdered in February 2004 by Ramil Safarov, while both men were attending a three-month Nato English-language training course in the Hungarian capital. At Safarovs subsequent trial, he said he was motivated by hatred for Armenia and Armenians, due to the war between the two countries. He was jailed for life by the Budapest court. However, in 2012 Hungary sent Safarov back to Azerbaijan to complete his sentence. On arrival, he was promptly pardoned, released and given a heros welcome. Though this heinous incident happened 16 years ago, it still remains alive in my memories, said Hayk Makuchyan, another Armenian officer on the course, whom Safarov had also wanted to kill. He and Margaryans relatives are the claimants in the current ECHR case. They are not seeking financial compensation from either government. We have sought justice rather than compensation. What matters to us is the acknowledgment of the fact of grievous violations, putting an end to impunity and the prevention of hatred against Armenians, said Makuchyan, in emailed comments. Nazeli Vardanyan, the claimants lawyer, said although Margaryans family were struggling for money, they made it clear they did not want financial compensation. They only want justice, she said. The Guardian reports that tens of thousands of people were killed in a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the early 1990s over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. A ceasefire was agreed but there is still periodic fighting in the area. Since then, the two countries have had no diplomatic relations and there are no travel links between them. The 2004 murder further increased tensions. When Safarov arrived back in Baku in 2012, he was given an official pardon by the president, Ilham Aliyev, a promotion in rank, a free apartment and back pay for the eight years he had spent in a Hungarian jail. He is believed to still be in active service with the Azerbaijani army. Azerbaijans shameful act seriously endangers the security of the entire south Caucasus, said the then president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, shortly after Safarov was released. Making a hero out of a criminal is unacceptable. Ideally, wed like the court to order him transferred back to Hungary or a third country, to complete his sentence, because in Azerbaijan he is treated as a hero, said Vardanyan. Philip Leach, the director of the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre, which is also representing the claimants, said the case covered new legal territory and the court ruling could have profound consequences for future cases of prisoner transfers. Its quite common around the globe that people are pardoned or amnestied for political reasons, but when states issue amnesties or pardons, it is often in breach of their human rights obligations, he said. A report by the Hungarian ombudsman in 2012 found Hungary had not infringed any international norms, but nevertheless concluded that the Hungarian government was not sufficiently prudent when it did not require any guarantee from Azerbaijan. The decision came shortly after Hungarys prime minister, Viktor Orban, had travelled to Baku. The Hungarian government denied allegations of impropriety in the case. With regards to Hungary I have conflicting feelings: gratitude to the judiciary of Hungary, which was strong enough to administer justice [and] disappointment for the extradition of a murderer against court decisions and persistent risks of impunity, said Makuchyan, who now works in Armenias defence ministry. Lisa LaFlamme, Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor, CTV National News, will present the awards alongside previously-announced CJF Awards host Rick Mercer, the longtime star of the former CBC show The Rick Mercer Report. To watch the ceremony, register at this link. With COVID-19 pandemic measures constantly evolving and given the uncertainty with respect to larger gatherings, the CJF has pivoted its programmingincluding its popular J-Talks speaker seriesto an online format. The CJF Awards celebrates excellence in journalism by honouring those who have made significant contributions to the profession and by recognizing emerging talent. "It's more important than ever to showcase the vital work of journalists and to honour them in this new reality," says Natalie Turvey, CJF President and Executive Director. "We appreciate it's a challenging time for everyone, which makes the CJF all the more grateful for the continued and generous support of our sponsors in helping us celebrate one of the cornerstones of a healthy democracy." The online event will feature a CJF Tribute to Anna Maria Tremonti, Host of the CBC podcast More, for her exceptional CBC broadcast career covering conflict zones and current affairs. Kim Bolan, Investigative Reporter with the Vancouver Sun, will be recognized with the CJF Lifetime Achievement Award for her fearless commitment to truth in the face of life threats and intimidation covering gangs and organized crime stories. Both will deliver thank-you remarks from their homes. Winners will be announced for the following prestigious awards: - CJF Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism, in the small and large media categories; - The Landsberg Award; and - Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy. Other awards recognized during the virtual ceremony include: - CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships; - CJF-Facebook Journalism Project News Literacy Award; and - Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award. Visit the website to view all shortlists and winners. The CJF Awards thanks the generous support of presenting sponsor Scotiabank. The CJF also thanks sponsors BMO Financial Group, Google News Initiative, Labatt Breweries of Canada, the Jackman Foundation, Facebook Journalism Project, Medtronic, Accenture, Rogers, Thomson Reuters, CBC/Radio-Canada, RBC, General Motors of Canada, Intact Financial, Coca-Cola Canada, CTV News, Sobeys, CIBC, Maple Leaf Foods, Fasken and Huawei Canada. Thanks also to in-kind supporters The Globe and Mail, Postmedia Network, Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun, The Canadian Press, Porter Airlines and Cision. #CJFawards About the Canadian Journalism Foundation Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes, celebrates, and facilitates excellence in journalism. The foundation runs a prestigious annual awards and fellowships program featuring an industry gala where news leaders, journalists and corporate Canada gather to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievement and the value of professional journalism. Through monthly J-Talks, a public speakers' series, the CJF facilitates dialogue among journalists, business people, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research. SOURCE Canadian Journalism Foundation For further information: Natalie Turvey, President and Executive Director, The Canadian Journalism Foundation, [email protected] Related Links http://www.cjf-fjc.ca The charismatic president stands a fair chance of holding onto power as the country elects a new National Assembly. Few leaders have the sort of shadows that hang over Surinames President Desi Bouterse: a former coup leader and strongman, convicted of murder and drug smuggling, overseeing a dire economy. Yet the charismatic 74-year-old president stands a fair chance of holding onto power as the small South American nation elects a new National Assembly on Monday a body that will choose the next president in August. Bouterses National Democratic Party has built deep support among the countrys poor, many of them Black or of mixed race, who feel Bouterse is the first politician ever to pay attention to them. Their economic pain is eased somewhat by food parcels distributed to party supporters, and many credit Bouterse for recent oil discoveries off the Surinamese coast, which give some confidence in their future. Recent polls in the former Dutch colony have shown a swing towards the opposition United Reform Party the VHP by its Dutch initials which has worked for years to broaden its base beyond its original focus on the descendants of East Asian immigrants, who make up just over a quarter of the population. This is the last chance for Suriname. Bouterse cant be president anymore! said a man dressed in the VHPs orange flag who was first in line to vote at the Clevia Public School. But the opposition is divided among more than a dozen parties, and there are believed to be a large number of undecided voters. Opposition activists are also worried that the coronavirus pandemic has reduced the number of international election observers, and some believe the virus-prompted ban on mass meetings favours Bouterse, who has continued to make official visits to poor neighbourhoods. Protestors demonstrate against corruption in the government of President Desi Bouterse in Paramaribo, Suriname [File: Ranu Abhelakh/Reuters] Bouterse first came to power in a 1980 coup and ruled for seven years, marked by the December 1982 murders of 15 political opponents. Last November, a Suriname court convicted Bouterse of murder and sentenced him to 20 years in prison, although it made no move to arrest him and he is appealing the sentence. He also faces an 11-year sentence in the Netherlands for drug smuggling. The presidents son, Dino, meanwhile, is serving a 16-year prison sentence in the United States on drug trafficking charges and charges related to helping Hezbollah. After leaving office, Bouterse built up his party and won democratic elections in 2010, as well as reelection five years later. In recent years, Suriname has slipped into a deep economic crisis. The aluminium company Alcoa has left. Wood, gold and oil yield too little revenue to cover government expenditures. Critics allege widespread corruption and mismanagement. But China has stepped in to help, lending hundreds of millions of dollars to finance bridges, roads and hospitals and a planned new airport. The 51-seat National Assembly is due to choose a new president in August, though that requires a two-thirds vote and likely the formation of complex coalitions. Bouterses main rival is the VHPs Chandrikapersad Chan Santokhi. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, poll workers are wearing masks and are supposed to keep a distance of 1.5 metres (five feet) from one another. The country has reported 11 confirmed cases of the disease and one death. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has already disrupted farming, India is facing one of the worst locust attacks in decades which are destroying crops on a large scale and undermining food security of the country. The desert locusts have damaged crops in various parts of the country, including the heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Soon after invading districts of the heartland states, locusts have now reached Gujarat, Punjab and other parts of the country, forcing the government to declare a state-wide alert. The locusts, which bred and matured in Iran and Pakistan's Balochistan, reached India last year. The farmers were taken unaware as it took place after decades. The Central and State governments are working together on the desert locust control measures to check its spread. Normally, with the arrival of the monsoon, locust swarms enter the scheduled desert areas of India via Pakistan for breeding in the summer of June-July, but this year, presence of locust hoppers was reported from April 11, 2020; and pink adult swarms were reported since April 30 in border districts of Rajasthan and Punjab, which have been controlled while control operations against new swarms is going on. One reason for this was the uncontrolled swarms of the previous season in Pakistan that breed continuously. Swarms of pink immature adults fly high and travel long distances with strong winds coming from Pakistan. Most of these pink immature adults settle on trees during the night and mostly fly during the day. Also Read: India should immediately start cash transfers of 1,000 per person: Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo Earlier this month, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar held a meeting with representatives of pesticide manufacturing industry and asked them to fine tune a strategy to prevent locust attacks on agricultural fields. He said agriculture is a priority sector and the government will leave no stone unturned to ensure uninterrupted sowing and harvesting operations. New machines have been ordered from the United Kingdom and will arrive soon, he said. So far, locusts have been controlled in more than 14,000 hectares of land in Rajasthan and Punjab, the minister said. What are locusts? Locust is an insect that belongs to species of grasshoppers. The desert locust is one of the species of short-horned grasshoppers in the family Acrididae that have a swarming phase. These insects are usually solitary, but under certain circumstances they become more abundant and change their behaviour and habits. As their population become dense, they form swarms and start damaging the crops. Locusts swarms can fly up to 130 km in a day and each locust can eat around two grams of crop i.e. equivalent to its own weight. These swarms destroy crops and disrupt agricultural economy in what is commonly referred to as locust plague. India has reached out to Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Africa for a joint effort at the international level to contain the spread of locust which pose a major threat to food security in the region. A high-level virtual meeting on desert locusts in Southwest Asian countries (Afghanistan, India, Iran and Pakistan) was held on March 11, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Also Read: Coronavirus effect: 40% travel, tourism companies may shut down in 3-6 months, says report Despite the prevailing COVID-19 lockdown, the Locust Control Offices are working since April 11, 2020 with 50 spray equipment/vehicles, in coordination with officials of District Administration and State Agriculture Department, according to Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister. Tractor mounted sprayers and fire-tender vehicles deployed at various locations are being used in locust control. Additional equipment are also being procured to increase the control capacity of Locust Control Organisations. Last year, the state governments had assisted farmers through schemes focusing on the use of pesticides and tractor mounted sprayer. During the year 2019-20, there was a massive locust attack in India, which was successfully controlled by the Locust Circle Office personnel with the State Agriculture and District Administration officials. Control operations were conducted from May 21, 2019 to February 17, 2020; and a total of 4,03,488 hectares of area were treated and locust swarms controlled, as per the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. On a consolidated basis, Chambal Fertilisers & Chemicals' net profit surged 115.13% to Rs 197.55 crore on 24.6% decline in net sales to Rs 1969.09 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. Profit before tax (PBT) stood at Rs 160.77 crore in Q4 FY20, up by 41.4% from Rs 113.66 crore in Q4 FY19. During the financial year 2018-19, the company had provided for Rs 197.27 crore due to delay in implementation of Modified New Pricing Scheme -III (NPS-III) for payment on account of additional fixed cost to urea units by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India (MOCF). During the quarter ended 31 March 2020, MOCF has amended Modified NPS-III. Accordingly during the quarter and financial year ended 31 March 2020, the company has reversed the aforesaid provision of Rs 197.27 crore and has also written off an amount of Rs. 91.70 crore towards subsidy receivables accrued during the previous years, in pursuance of such amendment in Modified NPS-III. Accordingly the company reported an exceptional income of Rs 105.57 crore during the quarter. The chemicals manufacturer has written back taxes to the tune of Rs 40.30 crore in Q4 March 2020 after the company opted for the lower tax rate permitted under the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019 and re-assessed its deferred tax liability. The firm had reported a tax expense of Rs 24.46 crore in Q4 March 2019. Chambal Fertilisers' net profit jumped 107.8% to Rs 1226.19 crore on 20.9% increase in net sales to Rs 12,205.95 crore in the year ended March 2020 (FY20) over the year ended March 2019 (FY19). PBT stood at Rs 1327 crore in FY20, up by 59.4% from Rs 832.27 crore in FY19. Anil Kapoor, managing director of the company, said, "Our newly commissioned urea plant achieved the rated capacity during the first full year of operation. Towards the end of the last quarter, the company faced the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic. The priority was to continue operations of all the three Urea plants. Since we took many pro-active steps before and after the lock down to keep all the critical employees within our factory premises, we were able to keep the plants running. During the last year, the Government met the long pending demand of the Urea industry by approving additional fixed cost of Rs 350 per MT of Urea. Although not sufficient enough, the increase does mitigate some of the concerns of the Industry. The effect of the increase has been accounted in the last quarter of the FY 2019-20." In its outlook, the company said farming sector is likely to get a boost this year, with the forecast of good monsoon. The firm expects production in all its plants to be normal. The demand of the products looks encouraging and the firm is comfortable on the logistics side also. The company does not foresee any challenge in terms of availability of manpower. It expects to comfortably meet all its obligations towards interest and term loan repayments for the current year. Chambal Fertilisers & Chemicals manufactures ammonia, urea, pesticides and other products for farming and other agricultural applications. The company also provides consulting services to farmers on their seeding programs. Shares of Chambal Fertilisers fell 1.73% to Rs 139.05 on Friday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Azerbaijan has substantial buffers to mitigate COVID-19 impact on economy, the Black Sea Trade and Development (BSTDB), BSTDB President Dmitry Pankin told Trend. "Azerbaijan is facing an additional challenge in the form of the fall in the oil prices. Given the share of the oil and gas sector in the economy, falling oil prices naturally impact Azerbaijan negatively, as the external trade balance and consolidated fiscal balances are hurt. However, foreign exchange reserves accumulated over the previous years to the tune of 100 percent of GDP must help to ease pressures from these factors. For example, in case oil prices remain low and/or pandemic lasts longer, Azerbaijan might face consolidated budget deficit both due to the oil price and to weak economic activity. At the same time, unlike most countries of the region, Azerbaijan can finance these deficits with the accumulated reserves, rather than resort to debt instruments. So, Azerbaijan has substantial buffers that it can use in case of need. Still, we believe that rather than to exhaust the reserves, Azerbaijan will likely adjust its economic policy and adapt necessary measures, so that the reserves are saved for the long period ahead, which is the purpose of the Oil Fund," he said. Pankin went on to add that most countries are doing what needs to be done . "Given that lives of people are at stake and public health priorities determining economic policies, there are too many uncertainties to be able to say what to do and when to do it. From the economic perspective, it is necessary to provide support and devise mechanisms so that enterprises remain afloat and are able to start operations as soon as restrictions are lifted. Azerbaijan has done a lot in that direction. Measures have been taken to support people in need with cash payments, tax reliefs incentivized companies not to fire employees, etc.," he said. To sum up, first, policies should be in place to protect public health and, second, emergency measures should be implemented to help people, enterprises, and all economic agents to overcome the pandemic and to restart their activities, noted the BSTDB President. The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB), an international financial institution with headquarters in Thessaloniki, Greece, was established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. --- Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_Zeyn Every so often, the world of tennis is thrown into the spotlight for reasons that have littl Advertisement Press Statement The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to immediately step aside and submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation over allegations of financial impropriety, including reported discovery of 64 accounts allegedly linked to his Bank Verification Number (BVN). The PDP lampooned the All Progressives Congress (APC) for not speaking out on the allegations in the public space that the said bank accounts allegedly operated with multiple names in various banks are being used to siphon funds belonging to the people of Lagos state. Advertisement The PDP said the allegation has further called to question the sincerity of the APC, particularly in a state like Lagos, where the struggling residents had come under axphyxiating taxes that are largely unaccounted for. Our party is however not surprised that the APC and its leaders have remained silent on an allegation, which had already gained national and international prominence; a development that only points to the complicity of a party that brims as sanctuary of corruption with unequaled proclivity for concealment. This is especially when viewed with the exposed humongous sleazes in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development; Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); among others, under the APC administration. At this point, the expectation of Nigerians, particularly Lagosians, is for the Speaker to immediately step down and allow the matter to be openly and freely investigated. In other words, in support of the claimed anti-corruption stance of his party and the government in which he serves, as well as being a representative of the people who are bearing the brunt of APCs corruption, it behooves on the Speaker to step aside and submit himself to the EFCC for investigation. Any thing short of that places a huge moral burden on both the Speaker and the Lagos state House of Assembly. Signed: Kola Ologbondiyan National Publicity Secretary By PTI MUMBAI: After a gap of two months, domestic passenger flight operations resumed on Monday amid reluctance by various states to open up their airports in view of rising cases of the novel coronavirus. The first flight took off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45 am under strict regulations recommended by civil aviation authorities. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna and it departed at 6.45 am. A large number of flights were cancelled on Monday across the country. For example, aviation industry sources said, around 82 flights -- departures and arrivals -- have been cancelled till now at the Delhi airport. States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling cases of the coronavirus infection in their states. The West Bengal government did not relent to a request by the civil aviation ministry to allow flight services. It was decided on Sunday that the state will gradually permit domestic flights from May 28 under strict guidelines. Andhra Pradesh too did not allow any flights on Monday. Airlines were jittery in resuming services as multiple states have put in place separate norms and conditions for quarantining passengers arriving there by domestic flights. The government last week announced the resumption of domestic flight services from May 25 under specific rules and guidelines like a cap on ticket pricing, wearing of face masks by passengers, no food served onboard planes and making available details of medical conditions by travellers through the Aarogya Setu app or by filling up of a self-declaration form. The app gives colour-coded designation to users as per their health status and travel history. It helps the users know if they are near anyone who has tested COVID-19 positive. The government's decision came as the aviation sector was reeling under severe stress triggered by the coronavirus lockdown that began on March 25. Many states have expressed serious reservations about the Centre's decision to start flight services. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh, among others, have announced their respective quarantine measures for passengers arriving at their airports. Some states have decided to put passengers in mandatory institutional quarantine while several others have talked about putting them under home quarantine. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday had questioned the need for quarantine if a passenger shows the green status on the Aarogya Setu app. The green status signifies that a passenger is safe. Bookings had opened for around 1,050 domestic flights planned for Monday but the revised measures announced on Sunday have led to the cancellation of several flights leaving hundreds of passengers disappointed. The airlines, which were allowed to operate one-third of their capacity, have been busy since Sunday night in further reworking their flight schedules. Government officials said on Sunday evening that airports in Kolkata and Bagdogra in cyclone-hit West Bengal will not operate any domestic flights between May 25 and 27 but will handle 20 flights each per day from May 28. The airports in Mumbai in Maharashtra and Hyderabad in Telangana will handle 50 and 30 flights respectively everyday from Monday, they said. The Maharashtra government had requested the Centre on Sunday to keep air services in the state at a minimum possible level. Mumbai is the country's second busiest airport. All the flights account for an equal number of arrivals and departures, the officials said. There will be "limited" flights from Mumbai starting Monday and as per approved one-third schedule from other airports in the state, said Puri on Twitter on Sunday night. Puri also tweeted to say that maximum 25 flights per day can arrive in Chennai from Monday and there will be no limit on the number of departures. For other airports in Tamil Nadu, flights will operate as in other parts of the country. The minister said operations will resume on a "limited" scale in Andhra Pradesh from Tuesday following a request from the state government. Flights operate to Vijayawada and Vizag airports in the state. The Health Ministry on Sunday issued guidelines for domestic travel, advising passengers to download the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices and asking states to ensure thermal screening at the departure point of airports, railway stations and bus terminals. Asymptomatic passengers should be permitted to travel after being asked to self-monitor for 14 days, the ministry said. Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with tickets to travellers by the agencies concerned, said the ministry's guidelines for domestic travel through any means - air, bus or train. A man scans an Alipay QR code to get e-vouchers at a store on March 27, 2020 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. Shang Zeyang | China News Service | Getty Images Like most businesses around the world, start-ups are encountering challenging times as the coronavirus hurts business sentiment and dries up funding. Small- and medium-sized businesses have been more adversely affected in most places, but large corporations have also started slashing jobs. Entrepreneurs currently trying to build their businesses have to understand how the pandemic is going to shift user behavior in the future and adapt, Rajan Anandan, a managing director at Sequoia Capital India, told CNBC. He oversees the venture firm's Surge program which provides seed capital of up to $2 million and community access to selected start-ups in Southeast Asia and India. In the first quarter of the year, as infection cases around the world began ticking up, there was an overall decline in fundraising activities, data from CB Insights and Crunchbase showed. The data points to worse times ahead as the current quarter could see a more pronounced slowdown. Currently, there are more than 5 million people worldwide who have been infected by Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. The pandemic has pushed the global economy into a downturn as most governments clamped down on business activities to contain the virus. Make sure you don't run out of cash For start-up founders, the immediate priority is to ensure there is sufficient "runway" the amount of time they have before their businesses run out of cash, said Anandan. "Once you have adequate runway, focus on reimagining your business. If you're in a sector that's been deeply impacted, you may consider ... pivoting to an entirely different segment," Anandan said. He explained start-ups may also need to revamp the way they sell, where they spend their marketing dollars and where they can find new customers. "Try to understand how the consumer and buying behaviour is likely to change in light of COVID-19 and align your strategies in line with what the likely new scenario is going to be," Anandan said by email. "If you have runway, then this is also the time to build to set yourself apart from your competition." Complete funding rounds quickly Hemant Mohapatra, a partner at venture capital firm Lightspeed India, said that start-ups currently raising funds need to close their rounds as soon as they can. "Our advice to founders is to close their rounds as quickly as possible, not to wait on multiple term sheets, not to wait on the best possible terms they can possibly get, not to shop around and just close the round quickly," he told CNBC's "Street Signs" last Thursday. He added that in the current climate, valuations for start-ups will likely fall, but he predicted the market will bounce back faster than expected. Find opportunities as behaviors change While the pandemic derailed several sectors including travel and tourism this year, other areas such as e-commerce, digital payments, remote work, online learning, and health-care technologies have seen a positive impact. Vinod Nair, an angel investor in early-stage start-ups, told CNBC the ongoing crisis has led to two types of changes in behavior: First, a tactical shift in consumption habits that are expected to last up to two years. Secondly, there are some structural changes taking place like more people will probably be working from home even after the pandemic is over, according to Nair. Having been through multiple crises back in late-90s and also in 2008 we have seen the best companies and the best founders come out of these crises. Hemant Mohapatra partner at Lightspeed India "I look for (investment) themes where there is either a structural change or where a change that was already anticipated has just got accelerated a lot," he said. For example, the use of online marketplaces, digital payments and electronic health services from online workout classes to consulting with doctors over the internet will likely increase, he said. Look for growing trends Facebook shareholders have been urged to rebel against the company's "dysfunctional" governance structure by opposing its board compensation policy this week, ousting Mark Zuckerberg as chairman and withholding support for some directors. Influential investor groups ISS and Glass Lewis have advised shareholders to support a resolution requiring an independent board chairman at its annual meeting on Wednesday (US time), a proposal that would effectively block Facebook's founder and chief executive from also holding the position. Influential investor groups are railing against the "dysfunctional" structure of Facebook. Credit:AP ISS has said that shareholders should withhold their votes on re-electing Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel, two high-profile Silicon Valley investors, due to their roles on its compensation committee. The group said pay for top executives was based on "vague metrics" such as "making progress on the major social issues facing the internet and our company", and "build[ing] new experiences that meaningfully improve people's lives today". Agartala, May 24 (IANS) The Kuwait government would deport 136 Indians belonging to Assam and Tripura and they would reach Guwahati by June 4, a Tripura Minister said on Sunday night. Tripura's Law and Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath said that all the 136 Indians now in Kuwait jail for violation of law of that country. He said that the External Affairs Ministry has informed this to the Tripura government. Nath, spokesman of the Tripura government, said that 105 Indians, stranded in Bangladesh, would return to Tripura by bus on May 28. "After arrival of the people from Kuwait and Bangladesh, their swab samples would be tested. If they tested positive for COVID-19, all the people would remain in the institutional quarantine center," the minister said. --IANS sc/rt Charleston, SC (29403) Today Sunny skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 72F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 39F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. This data security software company, formerly known as Autotask Corp., helps IT organizations worldwide work smarter with a complete, cloud-based IT business management platform that enables efficiency, accountability and access to the metrics that drive intelligent business decisions. With built-in best practices and workflow automation, Datto Inc. speeds time to revenue while continually improving service delivery. Headquarters: East Greenbush Year founded: 2001 Ownership: Private Sector: Hardware and software as a service Employees: 153 local, 1,701 in U.S. Number of years named a Top Workplace: 9 Website: datto.com HANYS (Healthcare Association of New York State) This advocacy group works to advance the health of individuals and communities by providing leadership, representation and service to health providers and systems across the entire continuum of care. HANYS represents and advocates on behalf of 500 hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and other provider organizations throughout the state. In this era of health care reform, HANYS is a leader in helping New York's providers overcome hurdles to transform health care delivery and create a more patient-centered and efficient system. Headquarters: Rensselaer Year founded: 1925 Ownership: Nonprofit Sector: Advocacy Employees: 151 local, 190 in U.S. Number of years named a Top Workplace: 9 Website: hanys.org Center for Internet Security This forward-thinking, nonprofit group harnesses the power of a global IT community to safeguard private and public organizations against cyber threats. CIS runs a national 24/7 cyber security operations center that provides threat intelligence and incident response to every state in the country, along with hundreds of local governments and several U.S. territories and tribal governments. Headquarters: East Greenbush Year founded: 2000 Ownership: Nonprofit Sector: Technology Employees: 228 Years named a Top Workplace: 6 Website: cisecurity.org OCFS Human Services Call Center The HSCC, a division of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, provides telephone, email and chat customer service on behalf of 10 state agencies. Representatives handle an average of 5,000 calls a day on 49 lines, providing information about a wide variety of topics including the state's Excelsior Scholarship, medical marijuana program and the paid family leave programs. Headquarters: Schenectady Year founded: 2013 Ownership: Government Sector: State government Employees: 159 Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Years named a Top Workplace: 5 Website: ocfs.ny.gov Crisafulli Bros. Plumbing and Heating Contractors Inc. For 80 years, Crisafulli Bros. has provided plumbing, heating and air conditioning design, installation, service and scheduled maintenance to residential and commercial clients throughout the Capital Region. Crisafulli Bros. is a NYS certified Women's Business Enterprise and spans three generations. Headquarters: Albany Year founded: 1939 Ownership: Private Sector: Plumbing, heating, air conditioning, indoor air quality Employees: 171 Years named a Top Workplace: 3 Website: crisbro.com Albany Gastroenterology Consultants PLLC This medical practice provides the highest level of hepatic and digestive disease care to its patients in a compassionate and responsive environment, working in partnership with patients, families, providers and employees. Headquarters: Albany Year founded: 1995 Ownership: Partnership Sector: Physicians Practice Employees: 110 Years named a Top Workplace: 6 Website: albanygi.com President Donald Trump on Sunday further limited travel from the worlds coronavirus hotspots by denying entry to foreigners coming from Brazil, which is second to the U.S. in the number of confirmed cases. Trump had already banned certain travelers from China, Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Iran. He has not moved to ban travel from Russia, which has the worlds third-highest caseload. Trump had said last week that he was considering limiting travel from Brazil. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany cast the step announced Sunday as another decisive action to protect our country by Trump, whose management of the crisis has come under sharp scrutiny. The U.S. leads the world with more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases and a death toll that is expected to surpass 100,000 later this week, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Brazil, now Latin Americas hardest-hit country, is second, with more than 347,000 cases and more than 22,000 deaths. Third on the list is Russia, with more than 344,000 reported cases and more than 3,500 deaths. The White House is however yet to respond to queries about whether a travel ban would be imposed on Russia. Todays action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country, McEnany said. Filipe Martins, who advises Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on international affairs, said the U.S. was treating Brazil as it had other populous countries and suggested the news media were overplaying Trumps ban. By temporarily banning the entry of Brazilians to the U.S., the American government is following previously established quantitative parameters that naturally reach a country as populous as ours, Martins tweeted. There isnt anything specifically against Brazil. Ignore the hysteria from the press. Bolsonaro has downplayed the coronavirus by repeatedly calling it a little flu and insisting that closing businesses and issuing stay-at-home recommendations will ultimately cause more hardship by wrecking the economy. Bolsonaro fired his first health minister for going against him and backing restrictions put in place by Brazils governors. His second minister also resigned after openly breaking with Bolsonaro over widespread prescription of the antimalarial drug chloroquine for coronavirus treatment. Trump said in an interview broadcast in the U.S. on Sunday that he had completed a course of a related drug, hydroxychloroquine, as a line of defense against becoming infected. Bolsonaros approach has mirrored that of Trump, who in the early days of the outbreak sought to downplay the severity and suggest the few cases that existed in the U.S. would just disappear. After agreeing to encourage Americans to practice social distancing, Trump began to say the cure cant be worse than the problem itself. He has been aggressively pushing governors to allow businesses to reopen and traveling more himself. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Bengaluru, May 24 (IANS) With 130 new positive cases, Karnataka's COVID-19 tally rose to 2,089-mark, while 46 were discharged from hospitals taking the number of cured persons to 654, said an official, here on Sunday. "The total number of COVID-19 cases across the state is 2,089, with 130 more testing positive during the past 24 hours," said a state health official. The number of active cases in the state is 1,391 and COVID-19 deaths 42, including two for non-COVID cause. No death was reported during the last 24 hours in the southern state. Of the 46 discharged, 20 were in Uttara Kannada district, 18 in Davangere, four in Chitradurga, three in Bagalkote and one in Haveri across the state. A significant proportion of the new cases comprise women and children. The new cases on Sunday include 57 women and 28 children below 20 years. "Of the new cases, 100 are returnees from Maharashtra, the worst affected Covid-hit state in the country, with 47,190 cases till Saturday," said the official. Among the 30 Karnataka districts, Chikkaballapura recorded the highest cases with 27 new cases, followed by Yadigir (24), Udupi (23), Mandya (15) and Hassan (14). Chikkaballapura, about 70 km northeast of Bengaluru, is the home district of Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar, a doctor by profession, who is spearheading the fight against the pandemic. From a total of 749 foreign returnees who were tested at the airport on landing on Saturday, 214 are from Jakarta in Indonesia, 148 from Singapore, 207 from Melbourne in Australia and 180 from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With 10,117 people tested on Sunday across the state, 9,851 were found negative and 130 positive. So far, 2,06,313 tests have been conducted since March 10 in the state, with 2,01,978 reported negative and 2,080 positive. On Saturday, the state's tally shot up to 1,959 due to 196 new cases, the highest single-day rise, with 195 of them crossing over from Maharashtra through the inter-state border, which has been opened up as part of partial relaxation of the extended lockdown. --IANS fb/rt Fears have been raised that a new round of bank branch closures will result from the pandemic. It comes as the virus has fast-tracked a shift from the use of cash to digital payments, and a move away from branch banking to online transactions. Bank of Ireland has temporarily closed 101 smaller branches, mainly in rural areas. It declined to give a commitment to reopen them. The Financial Services Union said greater use of technology in favour of branch transactions should not be used as an excuse for wholesale closures of branches by the banks. A survey commissioned by the Banking & Payments Federation found the pandemic has meant that just 12pc of people are going into branches to access their accounts. There has been a move to contactless payments and online and mobile app banking. Some 64pc of bank customers now use branches less than once a month. Some say they never use a branch. Although most people expect to revert to branch banking post Covid-19, there are fears that many will never go back to using them. Chairman of the Consumers Association, Michael Kilcoyne, said bank branches were an essential part of our cities, towns and communities. "There is a huge fear that banks will scale back their branch network and services to ordinary people now that digital banking and contactless payments have grown so strongly." He said communities were worried about the loss of more branches. Some 142 branches were closed in the State between 2007 and 2017. General secretary of the Financial Services Union, John O'Connell, said members got reassurances that branches temporarily closed during the pandemic would reopen. "While online banking activity has grown as a consequence of Covid-19, we would hope that no one would suggest that the availability of technology is an alternative to the availability of essential, local banking services in our towns and cities." Business owners and residents in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, believe the pandemic is being used as a "smokescreen" to close their local branch of Bank of Ireland for good. Solicitor Evan O'Dwyer has written to Bank of Ireland CEO Francesca McDonagh on behalf of a number of businesses. The townspeople take issue with bank claims that the branch is too small to accommodate social distancing. "As the sole provider of bank services in the town, Bank of Ireland has an extra responsibility to facilitate the commerce of the town and a responsibility to the loyal customers of the branch to prioritise keeping it open," he said. Bank of Ireland said it had temporarily closed branches that were too small to practise social distancing. But a spokesman said the situation was too challenging for it to be definitive about the future of its branches. "We're seeing shifts in customer behaviour as we move through the pandemic. We will continue to assess all developments so we can provide the best possible services, while at the same time offering the maximum protection to our colleagues and customers." It said 161 branches nationwide were open as normal. AIB, which has 200 branches with another 70 EBS branches, said footfall in AIB branches was down around 50pc since the crisis started. However, CEO Colin Hunt said: "There is still a cohort who want to bank in branch, we are not going to close our doors on them." Hanoi: A Vietnamese woman paid a friend to cut off her hand and foot in a bid to claim a handsome insurance payout, state-run media reported on Thursday. The woman, identified only as LTN, checked into a Hanoi hospital in May with one third of her left foot and one third of her left hand severed, but doctors told her they could not reattach the limbs. She later told police she was struck by a train as she walked on the tracks and was rescued by her friend Doan Van D., according to Tuoi Tres English edition. The 30-year-old submitted a claim to her insurance company for 3.5 billion dong ($130,000), a huge sum in Vietnam where the average monthly income is $2,100. But authorities smelled a fraud. N hired D to cut her hand and foot, and then continued to have him report false information to the police, said Bac Tu Liem police chief Nguyen Thanh Tung said, according to the newspaper. Hanoi police declined to comment about the case, but reports said the woman offered her friend around $2,000 to perform the bloody deed. The greatest shame is that N, instead of claiming the money, has suffered a huge loss by losing both her hand and foot, Tung was quoted as saying. The woman is being treated for the wounds, the newspaper added, and police are looking into whether she should be charged with conspiracy to steal assets. Her case sends a warning that people should not attempt insurance fraud at the expense of their own health, said Tung, adding it was the first case of the kind he had ever seen in Vietnam. It was not clear if D. was promised a cut of the insurance payout before the scheme unravelled. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. English French OTTAWA, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Small to medium-sized businesses, not-for-profit organizations and charities are among those most impacted by the current pandemic and will now have direct access to a network of qualified business advisors to help guide them courtesy of a new, government-funded program from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The program, called the Business Resilience Service (BRS), is run through the Canadian Chambers Canadian Business Resilience Network in collaboration with EY and with support from Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada ( CPA Canada ) and Imagine Canada . The BRS will provide options for any vulnerable small to medium-sized business, not-for-profit or charity to immediately connect with experienced accounting and tax professionals across the country from professional services firms. The program, delivered to organizations free of charge, will: Provide guidance on program options and eligibility Rapidly direct businesses including enterprises involving Indigenous peoples, women and diverse groups to the most appropriate support organizations Help organizations make decisions to support recovery plans Provide real time insights and feedback to policymakers The BRS program, coordinated by EY, will be provided for four weeks from Monday, May 25, and will involve support from approximately 125 business advisors from across the accounting profession. Organizations can access the BRS seven days a week by calling 1-866-989-1080. The Business Resilience Service is about business helping business. CPAs speak the language of business. They understand the financial pressures on small to medium-sized businesses, not-for-profits and charities and are uniquely qualified to help them navigate federal and regional support programs and help their organizations survive the economic impacts of COVID-19. Canadas accounting and advisory firms are mirroring Canadians everywhere by offering to help their neighbours. Its what makes Canada great, and its how well get through this together, said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce. "Canadas small- to medium-sized businesses, not-for-profits and charities are the lifeblood of our country and need our support more than ever. Were thrilled to unite business advisors from professional services firms of all sizes to share knowledge and guidance to help these organizations come out stronger from the pandemic, said Kirsten Tisdale, Government & Public Sector Leader, EY Canada. We understand the incredible difficulties all business owners are facing during these challenging and uncertain times. That is why our government has rolled out the largest relief effort in Canadian history to give direct support to the businesses who need it. We want to ensure they can weather through this period and bounce back once were on the other side of this. The Business Resilience Service will help the smallest and most vulnerable businesses in pressing need of finance planning advice amid this pandemic and as they plan for their recovery, said the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. Canadas accounting profession is proud to advise small- and medium-sized businesses, not-for-profits and charities during these challenging times. Our members provide their expertise across all sectors of the Canadian economy and the profession has a history of stepping up. In addition, CPAs from firms of all sizes will be invited to participate as advisors in the BRS trial, said Joy Thomas, President and CEO, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada). This new alliance of companies and organizations formed to support the leaders of charities, not-for-profits and businesses is a terrific demonstration of Canadians seeking to support each other in a time of crisis. said Bruce MacDonald, President & CEO, Imagine Canada. For more information, businesses can visit the Business Resilience Service or call 1-866-989-1080. About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Because Business Matters The Canadian Chamber of Commerce helps build the businesses that support our families, our communities and our country. We do this by influencing government policy, by providing essential business services and by connecting businesses to information they can use, to opportunities for growth and to a network of local chambers, businesses, decision-makers and peers from across the country, in every sector of the economy and at all levels of government, as well as internationally. We are unapologetic in our support for business and the vital role it plays in building and sustaining our great nation. About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca . Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada . EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. About CPA Canada Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) represents the Canadian accounting profession, both nationally and internationally. Operating in the highly complex and global accounting ecosystem, CPA Canada is a convener, facilitator, contributor and disseminator of information that advances the profession. The organization works closely with the provincial, territorial and Bermudan CPA bodies to champion best practices that benefit business and society. With more than 217,000 members, CPA Canada is one of the largest national accounting bodies in the world. The organization supports the setting of accounting, auditing and assurance standards, advocates for economic and social development in the public interest, and develops leading-edge thought leadership, research, guidance and educational programs. cpacanada.ca Imagine Canada Imagine Canada is a national charitable organization whose cause is Canadas charities. Our three broad goals are to amplify the sectors collective voice, create opportunities to connect and learn from each other, and build the sectors capacity to succeed. www.imaginecanada.ca | Twitter: @ImagineCanada | Facebook: /ImagineCanada Richa Sharma By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Can respiratory, cough and speech sounds diagnose COVID-19 carriers? A group of scientists from the IISc, Bengaluru experimenting on sound-based diagnostics for coronavirus, are confident that it can help in faster and economical detection as limited sample study show that cough of a COVID patient is different from those suffering from other respiratory ailments such as bronchitis or upper respiratory infection. For large data collection to test the hypothesis, they got a nod from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). The project, Coswara, attempts to provide a simple tool for COVID diagnostics based on respiratory, cough and speech sounds. The team aims to release the diagnosis tool as a web/mobile application. Similar to the dataset creation stage, the application requests for recording the voice samples, and preferably provides a score indicating the probability of COVID infection. Sriram Ganapathy, Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering, IISc, along with a seven-member team is working on the project since March-end, when COVID-19 cases in the country picked up. The team started collecting data (voice, cough sample on smartphone) of people affected with Covid-19 and other respiratory infections. Cough has lot of variants and we found some interesting differences in the cough of the healthy subject to those suffering from respiratory ailments. But the sample was very small to make any conclusion and we decided to reach out to hospitals for data sharing. But due to internal regulations, there were issues related to data sharing and that is when we approached the ICMR for data collection approval, said Ganapathy. During the research for the project, the team found an interesting US-based research paper showing that cough of COVID-19 patient is very different from other respiratory ailments like bronchitis or upper respiratory infection. "It showed 95 per cent accuracy using voice and cough based data for Covid-19 detection. I shared the paper published early May with the ICMR during the virtual presentation and they were like this can help public based health system and will be a significant boost, added Ganapathy. Margaret Adiya Ikumu, an 19-year-old girl, who lives in Lagos, has recounted how she faked her own death on social media just to escape financial pressure from her mother. Bala Elkana, spokesperson of the Lagos state police command, said the news of her death was subsequently posted on social media which led the family to petition the command. In a statement released on May 24th, Bala Elkana said that the command on May 15, received a petition signed by one Tony Iji on behalf of Margarets family that their attention was drawn to a post on Facebook stating that Margaret died a few days ago and was secretly buried by two of her friends, Marvelous Mary and Nneka Buddy at Ajah area. The family further stated that they were able to establish contact with the said friends who confirmed to them that their daughter had died. In the course of the investigation, the police discovered that Magaret was actually alive, and simply fake her death because of her mothers financial demands. They told the police that the friends informed them that they were instructed by Margaret not to allow members of her family to know anything about her death and that they were authorized by Margaret to secretly bury her. To make them believe that the girl is dead, they sent WhatsApp chats to a member of the girls family with picture of a casket showing that the girl is buried. The known phone number of the girl was permanently switched off. The family also got in touch with a man on phone who claimed to be her boyfriend. He corroborated the claim that she is dead. the statement read Margaret was reported to the police by her employer who she worked for as a house help in Ajah. According to the police, she is angry with her mother and uncles, over their inability to sponsor her education. On May 24, Pope Francis held the Sunday prayer in presence of believers - first time since the epidemic of coronavirus reached Italy. According to Vatican News, the pontiff held the ceremony in the library of the Apostolic Palace, like he always did during the quarantine. Then, he stepped onto the balcony for blessing those who showed up for the holiday mass. The crowd welcomed him with the applause. The Pope reminded it was the day of memory in the Catholic Church in China, expressing his solidarity with Chinese churchgoers. About 200 people gathered at St. Peter's square; they wore masks and kept distance during the prayer. Certain quarantine restrictions in Italy were lifted on May 18. That included lifting the ban on holding public church services. In March, when the epidemic raged on in Italy, Pope Franics took a brief walking pilgrimage in the city of Rome, and prayed for an end to the coronavirus pandemic during a surprise visit to both the Basilica of St. Mary Major and a cross that traversed Rome during a 16th-century plague. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have viewed the work done as part of the renovation of Pirsaat Baba shrine in the city of Shamakhi. Presidential Aide Anar Alakbarov informed the president and first lady of the reconstruction and repair work carried out here. The shrine which is under reconstruction on the initiative of President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, is one of the most visited sacred places in Azerbaijan. President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the grave of Pirsaat Baba. The president and the first lady have further viewed the transport vehicles and special machinery allocated to Shamakhi region. The region was provided with 10 buses for proper organization of passenger transportation, as well as communal farm machinery was purchased. Ambulances and other heavy equipment were also allocated to the region. President Ilham Aliyev instructed to prepare proposals in order to supply other cities in the country with such equipment and vehicles. Giving instructions on preparation of proposals to provide other cities of the country with the same machinery and vehicles, President Ilham Aliyev said: - Buses should go on the line today. Then the ambulances. At the current stage, work on equipping Shamakhi district is enough. Funds were allocated both from the Contingency Fund of the President and from the state budget. In principle, we need to achieve a high level of technical equipment in all our cities. In this respect, Shamakhi is the first city. I have already said that in other cities, in many places city transport is in terrible condition. The lack of the necessary machinery creates problems. Prepare proposals to ensure that all our cities are provided with modern machinery passenger vehicles, utility vehicles and ambulances. This issue has been resolved in Baku. There are still old buses in Baku, but they are being gradually replaced with new ones. Ambulances were dispatched to many cities. But time doesnt stop, their service life expires, they fall into disrepair and get into accidents. In the example of Shamakhi district today, we see how much equipment is needed with a view to population figures. Therefore, we must address this comprehensively and gradually how much machinery is needed in other districts as well. Assistant to the President Anar Alakbarov: Alright, Mr. President, everything is clear. President Ilham Aliyev: I have given instructions on measures to be taken to renovate roads in the city of Shamakhi. Many rural roads have been asphalted. Asphalt roads have even been laid to remote villages, but city roads are not in very good condition. Therefore, it is necessary to take additional measures both to continue the construction of rural roads and modernize the road infrastructure of the city of Shamakhi. Bus stops are also in poor condition. New equipment will serve to modernize the entire city infrastructure. The main thing is the health and safety of our people. These modern ambulances are needed everywhere. They are manufactured by leading companies. Of course, new buses will bring comfort. It is also very important from a safety point of view. Anar Alakbarov: Thank you, Mr. President! Furthermore, they attended the opening of the orphanage-kindergarten No2, the construction of which was initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. All conditions were created at the 110-seat kindergarten. All rooms in the kindergarten were supplied with necessary equipment. A new kindergarten was also inaugurated in Meysari village as part of the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Shamakhi region. Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva have also visited a 51-apartment building constructed to improve the housing and living conditions of citizens who live in unfit buildings in the city of Shamakhi. The head of state and first lady then enquired about conditions created at the newly constructed multi-storey buildings for the earthquake-affected families. They were informed that all conditions were created in 44-and-20 apartment two buildings which were constructed for the earthquake-affected families at the initial stage. They also visited Pir Omar Sultan shrine in Shamakhi. The restoration and conservation works are underway here under the project of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Cian English, 19, (right) fell from a fourth-floor Surfers Paradise balcony while allegedly trying to escape from a vicious assault at the hands of three men A teenager who was allegedly bashed at a party before his friend fell to his death from a high-rise balcony was allegedly told 'your mate was dead' when he regained consciousness. Cian English, 19, was partying in a unit at the View Pacific resort in Surfers Paradise when he fell from the balcony at about 3am on Saturday. He died at the scene. He was allegedly trying to escape a group of young men - Jason Ryan Knowles, 22, Lachlan Paul Soper-Lagas, 18, and Hayden Paul Kratzman, 20 - who have been charged with murder and armed robbery. They allegedly held a knife to Mr English's throat as they demanded the pair hand over their phones and clothing. When the duo refused, the group began the alleged beating. The friend, who has not been identified, was allegedly being beaten unconscious when Mr English stepped in to help, The Courier-Mail reported. The trio then allegedly turned on Mr English who ran towards the balcony to escape. He was allegedly chased by the group before falling to his death. When the friend eventually regained consciousness, they allegedly told him: 'Your mate is dead'. Lachlan Paul Soper-Lagas, 18, is one of three young men charged with murder over Mr English's death Hayden Paul Kratzman, 20, is another of the trio charged with murder and armed robbery A 16-year-old girl who tagged along with the three accused is believed to have filmed the alleged violent assault, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported. The video allegedly shows a teenage girl saying that a man has plunged from the balcony. Police believe the three accused were staying inside a nearby unit in the apartment complex and had been communicating with Mr English's party throughout the evening. It will be alleged the two groups had been partying together and taken prescription drugs, but relations soured with things eventually turning violent. Jason Ryan Knowles, 22, is the eldest of the three who allegedly beat Mr English while trying to rob him, and is accused of causing his death Four other teenagers were taken to hospital to be treated for drug overdoses following the wild party Four other teenagers aged between 16 and 19 were found in the same apartment in varying states of consciousness and were taken to Robina Hospital for treatment for drug overdoses. 'What we will be alleging is... the three main offenders have robbed the victim and his friend at knifepoint and in the course of this the victim has attempted to escape and gone over the balcony and died,' Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith Smith said. The other alleged victim safely escaped the complex. 'We believe that all persons in the premises were under the influence of drugs at the time,' Detective Smith said. Mr English (right) fell to his death from a Surfers Paradise balcony in the early hours of Saturday morning after allegedly being held at knifepoint A 16-year-old girl who tagged along with the three men, aged 18, 20 and 22, is believed to have filmed the alleged violent assault Detectives said Mr English was running from the men who allegedly stormed the unit he was partying in Jason Knowles, Lachlan Soper-Lagas and Hayden Kratzman were on Sunday morning charged with murder and two counts of armed robbery. Police are investigating whether the alleged murder was linked to a series of break and enters at chemists in Logan and the northern Gold Coast where prescription drugs were stolen from the premises. 'Given the circumstances, the consequences of the robbery and the threats made to the victimthe three offenders are being charged with murder,' Detective Smith said. The cases against Knowles and Kratzmann were heard in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. Both cases were adjourned to Southport Magistrates Court on August 4. Spoer-Lagas' case was heard in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Monday, he is expected back in court on Tuesday to determine his next hearing date. Mr English pictured left. After his body was discovered, four other teenagers in varying states of consciousness were found in the apartment By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 23 times, Trend reports on May 25 referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Russian mercenaries used the weapons banned by Minsk agreements Over the last 24 hours, Russian armed gangs opened fire in Donbas combat area 12 times. They opened fire from the weaponry that is banned by Minsk agreements, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported. The enemy used 120 mm and 82 mm mortars, 122 mm artillery, heavy caliber machine guns and small arms. In Donetsk region, the pro-Kremlin mercenaries opened fire from 122 mm cannons near Kamyanka. 82 mm mines hit the vicinities of Avdiivka; in that case, the enemy used anti-tank grenade launchers and small arms. In Krasnohorivka, the occupants shelled Ukrainian positions from 82 mm mortars, automatic grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. They also attacked Starohnativka, Vodyane and Novotroitske. 82 and 120 mm mines hit Vodyane. In Luhansk region, the enemy fired 120 mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. No casualties were observed among Ukrainian fighters. We previously reported that on May 24, Ukraine's military servicemen in Donbas went under attack from large-caliber weaponry. The corner of Coleridge Street and Coso Avenue in Bernal Heights never appeared in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Its not memorably crooked, and no one from the Grateful Dead lived there. That makes it perfect for the Western Neighborhoods Project poster project, an act of guerrilla history responsible for hundreds of historic photos that have been showing up on telephone poles in far-flung city neighborhoods over the past two weeks. The often hastily hung posters show homes, streets and views that are often more than a century old, positioned so passersby can get a then-and-now view of their neighborhood. Were getting out in the streets in places where people might not think theres any history, said David Gallagher, the project director, as he stapled two photos to telephone poles on Coso. Its not Portsmouth Square and its not the Financial District, but out here people lived and did important things and went about their lives and they created what we have today. The project was designed for the coronavirus shelter-in-place, offering a crowd-sourced history lesson for those who prefer not to venture from their own neighborhoods. Instructions on the www.opensfhistory.org site allow anyone to find photos in their neighborhood, print and post them. Its also an attempt by the small nonprofit to pivot during a pandemic that has robbed historic organizations of their greatest outreach: in-person history lessons. Western Neighborhoods Project had more than 30 events last year, with big plans to celebrate Golden Gate Parks 150th anniversary this spring and summer. Instead, theyve received attention for the most grassroots of projects, executed by a group of masked, mostly anonymous history lovers. Ive been joking with some of my colleagues. Weve been around 21 years doing really thoughtful, hard investigative history work, and we might forever be known as the group that taped photographs to telephone poles, said Nicole Meldahl, the projects executive director. And thats totally fine. The greater recognition of what were doing on a hyper-local level is totally astounding. I never saw that coming. Guerrilla history has been at the core of the Western Neighborhoods Project, which was founded in 1999 and gained fame in 2002 by leading a community effort to save four 1906 earthquake cottages. The group has almost 50,000 historic images cataloged on the OpenSFHistory site, including many from far-flung neighborhoods, which have fueled the poster project. Peter Hartlaub / The Chronicle When the shelter-in-place began March 16, Gallagher said he remembered an earlier history walk in West Portal, framing old neighborhood photos that many businesses put in their windows. I really felt like it was bringing it to the people, and letting people tell the stories of their own neighborhoods, rather than me dictating a story to them, Gallagher said. The first poster went up May 10 in Noe Valley, showing the now-defunct Castro cable car line at the turnaround on Castro and 26th streets. Gallagher made adjustments to the OpenSFHistory site, already searchable by neighborhood, so anyone could print a poster. Even the project leaders arent sure of the makeup of their neighborhood history army. But based on social media accounts, the posters have been hung by an eclectic collection of old guard San Francisco natives, transit activists in their 20s and 30s and parents looking for a productive distraction for their kids. 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. Using the hashtag #GuerrillaHistorian, posters have appeared in less-celebrated San Francisco neighborhoods, including Ingleside, Sunnyside, Corona Heights and Presidio Terrace. San Francisco videographer Joey Yee put up 30 photos in the Richmond District over the weekend, sharing a video of the process. Put up some @OpenSFHistory posters around The Hub tonight, biking advocate Parker Day tweeted Friday, after posting a photo where Haight and Market streets intersect. It was so windy that they all ended up crooked, but hopefully they bring some joy to my neighbors. Another landmark for the project was reached Sunday, when across the bay the Emeryville Historical Society started posting its own historical photos in that citys Park Avenue District. 2 1 of 2 Peter Hartlaub / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Peter Hartlaub / The Chronicle Show More Show Less You dont have to be a historian to practice public history, Meldahl said. Were all in this together. This worldwide pandemic probably made that more obvious than anything in the past 50 years. Were really glad people are getting involved with this. Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicles pop culture critic. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @PeterHartlaub Signs SPA on 23 May 2020 ITC has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) on 23 May 2020 to acquire 100% of the equity share capital of Sunrise Foods (SFPL), a company primarily engaged in the business of spices under the trademark 'Sunrise', subject to fulfilment of various terms and conditions as specified in the SPA. The proposed acquisition is aligned with ITC's strategy to rapidly scale up its FMCG Businesses in a profitable manner, leveraging its institutional strengths viz. deep consumer insight, a deep and wide distribution network, agri-commodity sourcing expertise, cuisine knowledge, strong rural linkages and packaging know-how. ITC's Aashirvaad range of spices is already a market leader in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and the Company is one of India's leading producers and exporters of high-quality food safe spices. The proposed acquisition will augment the Company's product portfolio and is aligned to ITC's aspiration to significantly scale up its Spices business and expand its footprint across the country. The deep consumer connect and distribution strength of SFPL in the focus markets, together with synergies arising out of the sourcing and supply chain capabilities of the Company's Agri Business and its pan-India distribution network, will provide significant value creation opportunities for the Company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moscow wraps up trial of Paul Whelan, who is accused of receiving state secrets, with verdict expected on June 15. Prosecutors in Russias spy trial have asked a court to sentence former US Marine Paul Whelan to 18 years in prison for allegedly accepting state secrets, according to his lawyer. Mondays court session in Moscow saw lawyers on both sides make their closing arguments, ending a proceeding that has strained ties with Washington and fuelled speculation of a prisoner exchange. Paul Whelans lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told reporters that the prosecutor had requested 18 years in a harsh regime colony for his client. To be honest, we are in shock, he said outside the court, where the trial was held behind closed doors. Whelan reacted calmly to the prosecutors very harsh demand, the lawyer said. He is behaving with dignity. Zherebenkov said the prosecutor believed Whelan to be an officer at least a colonel at the US defence intelligence agency. Whelan said in court that he did not do any spying and was not collecting any secret information, the lawyer said. The sentencing of the 50-year-old US national, who also holds British, Canadian and Irish passports, is expected on June 15. Whelan was arrested in December 2018. He has said he visited Russia to attend a wedding and was framed when he took a USB drive from an acquaintance thinking it contained holiday photos. Lack of evidence In a just system, the court would acquit Paul based on the lack of evidence, Whelans brother David said in a statement before the hearing. But we expect a wrongful conviction and can only hope that the sentence is at the lighter end of the range. The trial, which began in March this year, has continued behind closed doors in a Moscow courtroom despite the coronavirus pandemic and diplomatic protests. The US has condemned Whelans detention saying there was insufficient evidence to hold him. US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan criticised Whelans treatment in detention last month, saying it was intolerable that he was being barred access to medical care and has not been allowed to speak to the family. Whelan, who was head of global security of a US auto parts supplier at the time of his arrest, last year asked for the prosecutor and judge to be removed from the case. He claimed that evidence he provided was ignored and the court was biased in favour of the prosecution and security services. He used earlier court hearings to appeal to journalists and US President Donald Trump, and claimed he was being mistreated, not given full translations of documents and rarely granted access to his lawyer. Russian authorities have barred journalists and embassy employees from attending recent hearings because of the coronavirus epidemic. Zherebenkov said three defence witnesses failed to show up to a hearing last week over coronavirus fears. Whelans case has raised speculation that the US and Russia could be positioning themselves for a prisoner swap, possibly involving Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, imprisoned in the US on drug smuggling charges. A man has been charged with murder after the body of a four-year-old girl was found inside her home. The girl was found dead at a property in Cannon Hill in Brisbane's east on Monday morning - with police immediately setting up a crime scene after being called to the address at about 9.20am. A 43-year-old man was later charged with her murder and denied bail to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Investigators are working to understand the events leading up to her death, with it believed the young girl may have already been dead for 'some time'. The girl was allegedly left to starve to death and did not receive crucial medication that she needed, Seven News reported. Forensic crews at the scene where the body of a four-year-old girl was found at a house in Cannon Hill on Monday morning. A 43-year-old man has been charged with her murder Police at the scene of the tragic discovery on Monday. It is believed the young girl may have been dead for some time Police spent the day at the Bent Street address and interviewing members of the girl's family. A neighbour said a family had rented the home in the quiet suburban street - which was the site of forensic teams and a sizeable police presence on Monday. 'I have never heard much from them. It is quite a quiet street its a bit of a shock,' the resident told The Courier-Mail. About 10 police cars and two ambulances arrived on the scene shortly after 9am and began speaking with neighbours Parents at Cannon Hill Anglican College, down the road from the crime scene, were informed of police in the area and warned it would cause delays in dropping off and picking up students. 'Should you hear of this incident through the media, please be assured there is no reason to be fearful of any threat to the school and your children are safe and are being kept totally unaware of the police presence outside the college,' the email to parents read. Locals said about 10 police cars and two ambulances arrived on the scene shortly after 9am and began speaking with neighbours. Police are seen at the crime scene on Monday. Parents at nearby Cannon Hill Anglican College were warned of the police presence One neighbour said the death was a shock for the usually quiet neighbourhood. 'I've seen a boy jumping on the trampoline outside before but he would be 10 or 12 years old,' he said. 'I have never heard much from them.' Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have information to come forward. Mike Pompeo tells Greg Laurie he depends on God to help him protect Americans; pastor talks End Times Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In an interview with Pastor Greg Laurie of the California megachurch Harvest Christian Fellowship, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he reads two books each morning the Bible and the day's intelligence report about threats to Americans at home and around the world. Juxtaposing the two, he shared, is difficult. I manage to synthesize them knowing that the Lord gives me the capacity to work, to be diligent, Pompeo said in the pre-recorded interview that was featured Sunday. I hope Hell give me the wisdom and the perseverance to meet these challenges head-on in a way that protects the American people. The secretary of state said he goes back to that most important book every day and remind myself that the Lord is looking out over this world The Lord is watching us. He said whenever hes stressed or preparing for a meeting, hes confident that the Lord is watching over everyone in the room. In his sermon on Sunday, Pastor Laurie addressed the question: Is coronavirus a sign of the End Times? We can feel the fear, the anxiety and the stress, he said. All the news stories are about COVID-19, and new words have entered our vocabulary: pandemic, sheltering in place, self-isolation, social distancing, community spread, herd immunity and plagues. Plagues, Laurie said, will increase when the End is near, according to the Bible. To suggest that God expects believers to know when the time is near, the pastor read Matthew 16:1-3, which reads, The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. He quoted a recent national poll: A stunning 43 percent of poll respondents said they believe the coronavirus and resulting economic meltdown is a wake-up call for us to turn back to faith in God. It is a wake-up call, he stressed. Laurie cautioned against listening to those who claim they know the exact time, quoting Luke 21:8-11, which reads, He replied: Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. Then he said to them: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. Over the last 40 years, the pastor pointed out, COVID-19 is the sixth infectious plague unleashed on the planet. As we can see these things beginning to happen, we have two options: You can freak out ... or you can look up, he said. He explained what could be the order of events of the End Times. The next event on the prophetic calendar is the Rapture, he said, explaining that it is when Christ descends from Heaven and we are caught up to meet Him in the air. And after some time, the devil will appear as a very persuasive, charismatic leader of the world with a peace plan that works for three and a half years. And around mid-way during these seven years, called the Tribulation Period, the anti-Christian will show his true colors. And he forces people to take his mark. Thats when the judgment of God begins to come and builds up until the final battle of humanity, known as the Battle of Armageddon, the pastor said. And as the world is at war, the Second Coming takes place." Thats when Jesus will establish His Kingdom, which will be the beginning of the Millennium, a thousand-year reign of Christ. After that, the Heaven and the earth will become one. However, Laurie cautioned, We should not be looking for the anti-Christ, we should be looking for Jesus Christ. He quoted C.S. Lewis as once saying, A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. As many churches have been livestreaming their services online as large physical gatherings are temporarily halted due to government-issued social distancing orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Laurie said in mid-April that the move to digital means of worship might portend a Great Awakening. The pastor wrote in an op-ed published in Newsweek that he and his team were pleasantly surprised to see that their first week of shifting services to online-only drew over 250,000 viewers and has been growing ever since. "Last week, we had over a million people tune in for church. These are people literally from all around the world, from every age and background, who are missing church. So, to the best of our ability, we are bringing church to them. Whats more, hundreds of thousands of them are people whom marketers would refer to as the 'target demographic' between the ages of 18 and 34." San Antonio police are searching for individuals involved in a triple shooting Monday morning on the East Side. Officers responded to a shooting in progress at the Viridian Apartments near the 5400 block of Foster Road at 2:43 a.m. When they arrived they found 21-year-old Saul Gonzalez sitting in a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds and an extended handgun magazine, according to a report. Police also discovered a second vehicle nearby with multiple gunshots to the exterior and multiple shell casings as well as fresh blood inside, police said. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox As officers investigated, Willie Henderson, 20, approached and told police he too had been shot along with Gonzalez and a third man. Officers then contacted the third victim, Jyquon Mackey, 20. Gonzalez told police the three were going to pick up a girlfriend when someone started shooting at them, according to the report. However, police said stories of the three victims weren't consistent with where the shooting occurred and the three couldn't provide any suspect descriptions. Officers searched the area described to them by the victims but could not find a crime scene, according to the report. Police say investigators also located handguns and narcotics inside a bag that Gonzalez had been holding, according to the report. All three victims were transported to Brooke Army Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Steve Carell has said his new Netflix comedy is politically fluid rather than hyper-political. The workplace comedy is inspired by the new branch of the US armed forces announced by Donald Trump, and is about the men and women responsible for setting it up. He said: I dont think the intent of the show was to be hyper-political. The show is not apolitical, but I would say its more political fluid, it gives time to both sides of the equation and there is fault and humour to be found on both sides of anything, so that was really more of our intent. In terms of the political climate as reflected in comedy, thats always ebbing and flowing. I dont do stand up, so I dont do that sort of comedy, but you would think yes, in a volatile political climate its easier for comedians. But I dont think thats necessarily the case because sometimes the more subtle comedy that can be found in the microscopic adjustments of politics is actually funnier than these over the top comments on whats going on in our world. But it wasnt our agenda in any way, its more of a workplace comedy than anything else. Nowhere to go but up. pic.twitter.com/EhP8CLN9S9 Space Force (@realspaceforce) May 12, 2020 Carell said it was conscious decision that the show, which he created with Greg Daniels who was behind the US version of The Office, did not appear to be mocking the military. He said: Both Greg Daniels and I have close relatives and friends in the military, my dad was/is a WWII veteran, so theres a lot of ingrained respect for the military. Video of the Day The show itself you know, we had no axe grind that way, but I think it was fertile in other ways, in terms of creating an environment for some comedic situations. So it certainly wasnt our agenda to make fun of the military, but just to use it as a backdrop for this kind of comedy. if this doesn't get you pumped for May 29th, we just don't know what to tell you pic.twitter.com/0u0qa3cCIT Space Force (@realspaceforce) May 9, 2020 He added: I want it to be fun. Greg and I, when we first started creating this, didnt want to do anything too heavy handed or alienating. We wanted to make some points, we wanted to have some fun, we wanted to be mildly satirical, but most of all we just wanted it to be a fun, funny show that people can sit down and laugh with. So if thats the takeaway, then Id be happy. Space Force will be available on Netflix on May 29. Four cities -- Jaipur, Indore, Chennai and Bengaluru -- could serve as possible role models for other urban centres in handling the Covid-19 pandemic that India is striving to control while moving to restart the economy. In the last few days, the Centre has organized meetings between different municipal bodies to share their experiences in two broad aspects of Covid19 management: effective practises in handling a very high number of positive cases and keeping the mortality rates low, said officials aware of the developments. It identified Jaipur and Indore metropolitan areas for innovate ways of tackling a high caseload and Chennai and Bengaluru as examples of large cities that are able to keep their mortality rates low. Also read: Surge in Covid-19 cases pushes Mumbai to the brink Many Indian municipalities are facing challenges such as shorter case-doubling time, higher confirmation rates and higher mortality rates than the national average while issues like perimeter control of containment zones, mapping of buffer zones and house-to-house surveillance require more effective management. Slums and other high-density pockets inside the municipalities pose higher risk in Covid-19 management in the top urban centres. Both Indore and Jaipur are aggressively conducting house-to-house surveys and contact tracing. While Indore has formed special patrolling teams for by-lanes, Jaipur has limited groceries or vegetable vendors in different localities to curb the potential super spreaders. As shops or milk booths see a large number of footfalls during the day, municipal workers and the local police are keeping a close eye on these places to ensure regular sanitizing and other measures. Chennai and Bangaluru account for a sizeable number of Covid cases i but have been able to keep the mortality rate to about just 1%-- much lower than the Indias national average of around 3%. Also read| Covid-19: What you need to know today A senior official said that the two southern cities had led by example in the treatment of Covid-19 patients. Both Chennai and Bengaluru have optimized the use of ventilators and patient triage or assigning the degree of urgency in cases while handling a large number of patients, said the official, who requested anonymity . We have seen some cities where ventilators have been used irrationally. But the patient management in southern states, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, has been much better, he added. The strategy adopted by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation was also lauded in the recent meetings. The city has established a network of private hospitals and municipal authorities for pooling health infrastructure. The city is also working to make a portal to display online the availability of beds in different hospitals apart from GPS-enabled ambulances for real-time tracking. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Saubhadra Chatterji Saubhadra Chatterji is Deputy Political Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on both politics and policies. ...view detail Published on 2020/05/24 | Source More and more couples cooped up in lockdown are getting on each others' nerves to the extent that the divorce rate is feared to spike. Advertisement In Japan, a new business has already sprung up offering people places to stay away from their pesky families. The founder of the business got the idea when he had an argument with the woman he was living with in lockdown. "Conflict between couples could become an issue when family members spend extended periods of time together because irritating traits of other family members become more pronounced", said Jeon Hong-jin, a psychiatrist at Samsung Medical Center. "This is similar to couples suddenly spending all their time together after retirement". Han Seung-min, a psychiatrist at a clinic in Seoul, said, "If couples have a good relationship they don't suddenly start fighting just because they spend more time together. It's couples who have a history of quarrelling or harbor grudges against each other who can find themselves increasingly in conflict". He encourages accentuating the positive. "We should focus on each other's good points, express gratitude more often and have frank conversations". In other words, stop thinking that staying at home is claustrophobic, and use the opportunity to boost communication with your spouse. "We can spot our spouse's weak points when we're together, but good points stand out too". The brain tends to rationalize decisions people make once they have announced them. "If we say thank you even though we don't really feel that way, we come to think that way and conflicts can be reduced", Han added. Jeon proposes taking three minutes before blurting out negative emotions, which tend to flare up and die quickly. "Take three minutes to breathe slowly when you're angry, which helps control emotional outbreaks". But if fighting still persists, the help of a professional might be the best option. New Delhi: US biotechnology major Monsanto on Thursday say it has withdrawn application seeking approval for the next generation genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds in India because of regulatory uncertainties. The application seeking environment clearance for commercial cultivation of Bollgard-II Roundup Ready Flex technology was withdrawn on July 6. Our decision to suspend this introduction in India is an outcome of the uncertainty in the business and regulatory environment, which includes the regulation of trait fees and introduction of the draft compulsory licensing guidelines, Monsanto Spokesperson said in a statement. This decision has no impact on our current cotton portfolio being sold in India, it said. In March, Monsanto had warned of re-evaluating its presence in India and holding back new technology if the government cuts trait fee of Bt cotton seeds drastically through arbitrary and potentially destructive interventions. But the government went ahead and capped royalty for the new GM traits at 10 per cent of the maximum sale price of BT cotton seeds for the first five years. In May, the government withdrew a notification capping royalty for new genetically modified (GM) traits amid opposition from crop biotech industry. Monsanto sells cotton seed in India via Mahyco Monsanto Biotech Ltd (MMBL), a joint venture with Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds. MMBL has sub-licensed Bt cotton seed technology since 2002 to various domestic seed companies. Monsanto, however, said it is committed to Indianagriculture and plans to continue bringing innovative research in corn seeds, vegetable seeds and crop protection chemistries. "We plan to continue bringing innovative research in our businesses in corn seeds, vegetable seeds and crop protection chemistries, enabling farmers by providing high quality seeds and solutions as they make their planting decisions," the company said. Monsanto claimed that its Bollgard cotton technologies have transformed India from a net importer in 2002 to becoming the second largest producer of cotton globally. The technology has helped farmers increase cotton yields from 302 kg per hectare lint in 2002-03 to 552 kg per hectare lint in 2013-14, thereby generating additional farm income, it added. For all the Latest Business News, Economy News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday asked UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to explain the basis of the statement in which he has reportedly claimed that a large number of workers returning from other states are infected with coronavirus. The Congress leader also shared a clip on the CM's statement on her Twitter handle. In the video uploaded by Priyanka Gandhi, Adityanath is seen stating that 75 per cent of the migrant workers who are returning from Mumbai are infected with the virus. Fifty per cent of the workers coming from Delhi are such who have infection. Cases of widespread infection have been reported in 25-30 per cent workers coming from other states, he claimed in the video. This is a challenge for us and all our teams are strongly working on it. Over 75,000 medical teams are working in the entire state. The result of the screening, testing and treatment is that today we have been able to control it (COVID-19) to a great extent, the CM claimed in the video. Launching an attack against Adityanath, the Congress general secretary said in a tweet, "Does the chief minister mean to say that over 10 lakh people in UP are infected by corona? However, his government's figures tell that there are 6,228 infection cases. What is the basis of infection statistics. From where has this percentage of infection among the migrant workers who have returned to the state has come, and if this is the case, then why so less number of tests are being conducted," she added. In a direct question to the chief minister, the Congress leader said if there is truth in the statement of the chief minister, then the government should share the data pertaining to testing, infection and other preparedness with the public and tell that what is its readiness to control the disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CarDekho has laid off employees and slashed salaries as the automobile portal looks to tide over the disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic that has badly hit the Indian auto sector. While the company did not comment on the number of employees being laid off, reports suggest the number is as high as 200. When contacted, Girnarsoft Group - that runs CarDekho - said COVID-19 has led to disruptions across industries and auto is one of the worst hit sectors. "We were constrained to look at rightsizing and salary cuts in a few businesses given period of slow recovery and in some cases permanent change in pattern of consumer spends," it said in an e-mailed statement. The company said through the month of March till recently, teams across the board took measures to control costs, including the leadership team taking voluntary salary cuts effective April. According to the reports, salaries have been slashed by 12-15 per cent depending on the pay packages, while senior management has taken a 45 per cent salary cut. "To help this transition, we not only cover the impacted employees financially but have also set-up an intermediary support system to guide them towards opportunities inside and outside the organization. We are also encouraging and are providing well-rounded support for entrepreneurial opportunities with the organisation. These are testing times and we hope we come out of this much stronger than before," it said. In the past few weeks, a number of tech-led businesses like Uber, Zomato and Swiggy have announced layoffs as the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown dried up demand and ravaged businesses. Last week, Ola had said it is laying off 1,400 staff from rides, financial services and food business, while ShareChat handed pink slips to 101 employees. According to a survey by industry body Nasscom, about 90 per cent startups said they are facing a decline in revenues, and about 30-40 per cent indicated temporarily halting their operations or in the process of closing down. About 70 per cent startups surveyed said they have a cash runway of fewer than three months, the most affected being the early stage and mid-stage start-ups. With businesses seeing significant impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic, startups are forced to freeze hiring, slash salaries and lay off people to steer through the crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - The violators were paraded to the media on the afternoon of Sunday, May 24, at Remera metropolitan following their arrest on Saturday evening - Police in Rwanda said the suspects and proprietors of the business had violated COVID-19 containment measures issued by President Paul Kagame - A female suspect nabbed inside the sauna claimed she was lured to the hotel while jogging after being attracted by a scent that emanated from it - As of Monday, Tanzania was the only member of East African Community that had fully opened up its economy with the hope of recovering from the COVID-19 shock At least 20 people have found themselves in trouble after police arrested them while at a hotel offering sauna and massage services. Authorities in Rwanda said the suspects were arrested at Lebanon Hotel in Remera, Gasabo District where they were found enjoying sauna and body massage. READ ALSO: 3 children reject mother who abandoned them while still toddlers: She isn't our mother The violators were paraded to the media on the afternoon of Sunday, May 24. Photo: Rwanda National Police. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Mbunge Babu Owino akwaruzana na mtangazaji Anne Kiguta wakati wa mahojiano Rwanda National Police (RNP) Spokesperson John Bosco Kabera said the clients and the owner of the business premise had disrespected the government's order that closed gymnasiums, saunas and massage parlours to curb spread of coronavirus. "Sauna and massage parlour are among prohibited services in this period. These people were in the same room where if one of them was infected with the virus, he or she could have infected others; it was risky and unlawful. At this level, we expect everyone; owners and managers of business facilities and the public, in general, to be at the peak of positive response. But of course, we still have such people whose actions hamper the government response to the problem in our midst, and putting the lives of other people at risk," said Kabera. READ ALSO: Kimani Ichung'wa warns poisonous food branded Ruto being distributed to Kikuyu residents Among those arrested was Raymond Bizwinayo, the hotel proprietor, Christopher Tuyishime, the manager and Alexis Nyiridandi who is in charge of the sauna. Bizwinayo distanced himself from the unlawful act arguing that sauna and massage services were under different management although they were operating within the same facility. A female suspect nabbed inside the sauna claimed she was lured to the hotel while jogging. Uwase claimed she was attracted by a scent that emanated from sauna and after following it, she ended up in the hotel and police descended on them shortly. "I followed the sauna smell to Lebanon Hotel. I was arrested inside with other people, few minutes after I had entered," read a statement from Rwanda National Police. As of Monday, May 25, Tanzania was the only East African Community (EAC) member that had opened up its economy after at least one month of economic recession caused by the global pandemic. President John Pombe Magufuli said COVID-19 cases in the country had greatly reduced and as such, there was no more reason to continue issuing strict containment measures. "God has heard our prayers. I call upon anyone who has been touched by this to use Friday, Saturday and Sunday to give special thanks to God. Dar es Salaam only has 132 cases, Arusha has 11, Mwanza six patients while Dodoma only had two down from 40 confirmed cases. The majority are in stable condition but still test positive for the virus," Magufuli said. Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli. Photo: John Magufuli. Source: Facebook Kenya, which had registered 1,286 cases out of which 403 were recoveries and 52 deaths, was still under the cessation of movement and dusk to dawn curfew orders. The directives are set to be reviewed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on June 6. President Yoweri Museveni-led Uganda had registered 212 cases of the respiratory disease out of which 86 were recoveries with no fatalities. Rwanda had 327 cases which included 237 recoveries and no death. 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. I slept with multiple women, did all sorts of drugs before God changed me - Pastor Chris | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke Bayer has reached verbal agreements to resolve a substantial portion of an estimated 125,000 US cancer lawsuits over use of its Roundup weedkiller, according to people familiar with the negotiations. The deals, which have yet to be signed and cover an estimated 50,000 to 85,000 suits, are part of a $10bn (9.2bn) Bayer plan to end a costly legal battle the company inherited when it acquired Monsanto in 2018, the sources said. While some lawyers are still holding out, payouts for settled cases will range from a few million dollars to a few thousand each. Bayer is likely to announce the settlements, which need approval from the supervisory board, in June. None of the deals are signed, though plaintiffs lawyers are expected to do so the day of the announcement. The shares surged and closed 8% higher in Frankfurt trading. Getting past the Roundup drama is a top priority for chief executive Officer Werner Baumann, who orchestrated the $63bn Monsanto takeover and has suffered the legal consequences ever since. The surge of Roundup claims, along with three big US court losses, hammered the companys stock, wiping tens of billions of dollars from the market value and prompting shareholders to issue Mr Baumann an unprecedented rebuke last spring. But since last summer, the CEO has kept the company out of more jury trials while engaging in high-stakes mediation talks. Last month, he won the annual confidence vote from 93% of shareholders amid signs that Bayer might soon reach a resolution. Markus Mayer, an analyst at Baader Bank, said: A settlement of all US lawsuits for $10 billion should be a major share price trigger for Bayer. Once a resolution is in place, Mr Baumann will have to prove that his strategy of pairing pharmaceuticals, consumer health and agriculture makes sense. Some investors have doubts about the approach. Bayer declined to comment on specifics about the talks. While the exact number of settlements so far wasnt immediately clear, the estimate of at least 125,000 claims is more than twice the amount of Roundup litigation cases Bayer has previously disclosed. The company has only acknowledged filed and served cases of about 52,500 as of April. Tens of thousands more are being held in abeyance by plaintiffs lawyers under agreements with Bayer, people familiar with the negotiations said. Ken Feinberg, the chief Roundup mediator, said in January the total was 85,000 and would likely increase. Bayer has said it will earmark $8bn to resolve all current cases, including those held in abeyance, according to some of the people familiar with the settlements. Another $2bn will be set aside to cover future suits linking the weedkiller to non-Hodgkins lymphoma, people familiar with the talks said. Bloomberg Caracas: Venezuelan authorities celebrated on Monday as the first of five Iranian tankers loaded with petrol docked in the South American country, delivering badly needed fuel to the crisis-stricken nation that sits atop the world's largest oil reserves. The petrol shipments are arriving in defiance of stiff sanctions by the Trump administration against both nations, and they mark a new era in the burgeoning relationship between Venezuela and Iran, which is expanding its footprint in the Western Hemisphere. Iranian oil tanker Fortune is anchored at the dock of the El Palito refinery near Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. Credit:AP "We keep moving forward and winning," Venezuela's Minister of Energy Tareck El Aissami tweeted. State TV played images of the ship pulling through Caribbean waters as Venezuelan fighter jets flew overhead. El Aissami posted photographs on his Twitter account of the sun rising over the tanker docked at El Palito refinery. - Samuel Ofori's wife has reacted to allegations against her husband - Ofori has been accused of sleeping with ladies in Germany - His wife has defended him by blasting those ladies Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Popular Kumawood actor, Samuel Ofori, has been in the news for the wrong reasons. As reported by YEN.com.gh, Ofori dominated the headlines after a lady who claims to have dated him revealed some of his dirty secrets. According to audio, the main job of the actor in Germany is to deceive ladies with love and then end up defrauding them. Samuel Ofori: Kumawood actor's wife speaks on allegations against husband Source: Original READ ALSO: McBrown, Emelia Brobbey, Lil Win, other stars drop beautiful photos for Eid al-Fitr The jilted lady in Germany stressed that she is not the only one who has been treated that way by the actor. She then blasted the actors wife for coming out to defend him when they decided to inform her of his behaviour. Now, Ofori's wife in Ghana has decided to reply to those wild allegations against her husband. Watch the video below: READ ALSO: Moesha Boduong shows off her natural hair in new photo; Shyngle, Tracey Boakye react In a video seen by YEN.com.gh, the actor's wife insulted the ladies who claimed to have had a thing to do with her husband. Meanwhile, Kumawood actress and movie producer Tracey Boakye has shown off her newly born baby girl for the first time. Tracey Boakye announced the birth of a baby girl on Thursday, May 14, 2020, to the surprise of many on social media. READ ALSO: Maame Serwaa shows off new rasta hair in new photo; fans react As earlier reported by YEN.com.gh, Tracey made the announcement by sharing a beautiful baby bump photo. Her announcement, however, fell short of any details as about the newly born except to inform fans and express gratitude to the Almighty God. But it looks like the voluptuous actress is revealing the newborn baby bit-by-bit to her fans on social media. In her latest photo, Tracey showed herself standing with the little girl in front of her in a baby sling. Madam Yaa Botwe seems to have a lot to say about the novel "KWABENA-19" | #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 Mark Makela/Getty Donald Trumps allies in conservative media have a new villain in the coronavirus fight: contact tracing, the rigorous efforts to track the viruss spread that public health experts say is essential to safely restarting society. Fox News host Laura Ingraham devoted much of her show Thursday night to raising questions about contact tracing, the process where interviewers try to figure out who has been exposed to the virus by literally figuring out whom the infected had contact with. As a Fox News chyron warned that contact tracing should concern all Americans, Ingraham claimed that calls for more contact tracers were just an excuse to keep businesses closed, and compared being interviewed by a contact tracer to being groped by a Transportation Security Administration agent. Instead of rummaging through your luggage, these contact tracers will be prying through the most intimate details of your life, Ingraham said. A wide range of public health officials and experts have insisted that the country needs to vastly expand contact tracing, with one Johns Hopkins study calling for the hiring of at least 100,000 additional contact tracers. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said earlier this month that coronavirus deaths will of course increase without additional tracing and testing. Workplace contact tracing is included in the White Houses own reopening plan. But Ingraham isnt alone on the right in sowing doubts about contact tracing. Conservative columnists Andy and John Schlaflybest known as the sons of late right-wing activist Phyllis Schlaflyco-authored a column at Townhall.com criticizing Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) for budgeting nearly $300 million for contact tracing. The Schlaflys laid out a dystopian vision of contact tracing, comparing it to a dark episode in the history of the communist Soviet Union and claiming that contact tracing could be used to separate children from infected parents. Story continues They even imagined contact tracing details being used to embarrass Republican candidates. The real goal of the contact tracing is to use COVID-19 as a pretext to monitor the whereabouts of every American, perhaps through our smartphones, and take away our liberties, the Schlaflys wrote. Republican political candidates will be tracked and leaks of their private information to the media would be inevitable under this scheme, while Democrats such as Joe Biden are given a pass on their far greater misconduct. Instead, the Schlaflys called for Abbott to flood the state with hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug thats become a darling of Trump supporters as a potential coronavirus treatmenteven as clinical studies suggest it has no effect on the virus and actually increases mortality. The $295 million that Abbott is spending on contact tracing could have purchased HCQ treatments for half of the entire State of Texas, to reopen the state without the need for oppressive monitoring, the Schlaflys wrote. Emerald Robinson, the White House correspondent for conservative Newsmax TV, which is run by a close Trump confidant, compared contact tracing to mandatory vaccination and 5G towers, which conspiracy theorists have claimed spread coronavirus. Pro-Trump activist Tom Fitton, the head of conservative activist group Judicial Watch, put contact tracing on a list of his coronavirus grievances, declaring: Im done with it. Other concerns on the fringe right about contact tracing have been driven by outright hoaxes about H.R. 6666, legislation from Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) that would put $100 billion into coronavirus testing and contact tracing. The bills number alone puts it perilously close to the supposedly Satanic number 666, right as conspiracy theorists have become convinced that any coronavirus vaccine would be the Mark of the Beast. Prominent conspiracy theory outlet InfoWars declared that the bill was the Bill of the Beast, while rumors spread on social media claiming that the bill would authorize contact tracers to abduct children. Privacy watchdogs have raised legitimate concerns about how contact tracing data could be used, especially when the data is collected through apps. On Monday, the ACLU called for additional safeguards to protect contact tracing data. A report on a North Dakota contact tracing app found several privacy flaws. But much of the fearmongering about contact tracing seems to be driven by ignorance of what it actually is. Failed Republican congressional candidate and QAnon conspiracy theorist DeAnna Lorraine Tesoriero, whose call to #FireFauci Trump retweeted in April, has urged her fans to not get tested for COVID-19. She also appears to misunderstand contact tracing, claiming that contact tracers go through phone contact lists, rather than in-person contacts. I dont want people to get tested, because I dont want to be in their phone, in their contact list, and if you guys are all following me on Twitter and following me on YouTube, then Im probably going to be in your contact list, Tesoriero told her fans in a video. So I would prefer not to be there. They specifically said if they find one person, then theyre going to make sure they call all of that persons contacts, whether they have 5,000 contacts or 5 contacts. And I really dont feel like being called, I want to get off the grid of this system. On her Thursday night show, Ingraham positioned herself as perhaps conservative medias leading contact tracing skeptic. But her guests went even further than her, with Claremont Institute senior fellow John Eastman adopting what was meant to be a German or Russian accent to imitate a contact tracing interviewer. Ingraham guest Wesley J. Smith, a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute's Center on Human Exceptionalism, claimed that contact tracing meant that the French revolution is attacking the American revolution. Ingraham agreed, comparing contact tracers to radical French revolutionaries. The Jacobins, theyre back, she said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. BRADY ANDERSON, Chariho, Wrestling, Sophomore; Anderson finished first in the 152-pound weight class at the Griswold Midseason Invitational tournament. Anderson went 3-0 in the tournament, pinning all of his opponents in the first period. Anderson is 10-4. LYDIA LASKEY, Stonington, Gymnastics, Senior; Laskey finished first in all four events in meets against NFA and Westerly. Laskey had an all-around score of 33.75 against NFA and 34.60 against Westerly. RILEY PELOQUIN, Westerly, Girls Basketball, Sophomore; Peloquin scored 22 points and had 19 rebounds in two games. Peloquin is averaging 7.6 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs. DEONDRE BRANSFORD, Wheeler, Boys Basketball, Sophomore; Bransford scored 25 points and had 28 rebounds in a pair of Wheeler victories. Bransford is averaging 10.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per contest for the Lions. Vote View Results Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge termed on Monday the Centre's stimulus package to revive the economy hit by COVID-19 a "rude shock" and urged it to instruct banks not to initiate insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings against farmers unable to repay loans. He said the government should ensure that farmers don't fall into the clutches of local money lenders because the banks are hesitating to give them fresh loans. Kharge alleged that in the name of agriculture reforms, the government was "happy to allow private traders into agricultural produce and livestock market committees (APMCs). In a statement, he also said, "In the name of land reforms, it wants industrialists selling and buying farmers' land." "If the government can announce that no insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings will be initiated against businesses that are affected due to coronavirus outbreak, then it should instruct banks to treat farmer loans the same way. Farmers should not fall into clutches of local money lenders because banks are hesitating to give them fresh loans," he said. The Congress general secretary said it has been 60 days since the COVID-19 lockdown was imposed and every sector of the Indian economy was facing a grave crisis. "We needed a sector-wise plan and the government had 60 days of lockdown to plan for this. Sectors like tourism, hospitality, airlines, transport, retail, restaurants, construction needed very specific measures, given they employ a large number of people. "But, it is clear from the measures announced last week that the government has either no sense of the crisis or has plainly refused to address it to revive the economy," he said. Kharge claimed that India's GDP growth rate has been declining for the last six years. The crisis was brewing even before the coronavirus pandemic, but the sudden shock of the lockdown has "pushed the economy from a slowdown to a complete shutdown", he said. He said the government needed to revive the economy by reviving supply, demand and credit cycle with its financial package. "Instead, the economic package doesn't just prove the government is insincere but has failed on all fronts." The former Union minister said announcements made by the prime minister should be done with a lot of deliberation and seriousness, especially during such an unprecedented crisis. "The so-called Rs 20 lakh crore economic package has now been analysed by experts, and its total cost works out to less than 1 per cent of the GDP. It has come as a rude shock for anyone who was expecting some respite," Kharge said. "The PM only intends to make grand headline without taking his colleagues into confidence. That is perhaps why the finance ministry was unprepared and put together such a shoddy package," he said. The Congress general secretary in-charge of the party's affairs in Maharashtra said the economic package had no immediate relief for the agriculture sector and it just talks about reforms. Farmers have already lost fruit and vegetable produce due to the lockdown. They have sold crops at below minimum support price because they could not transport their harvest and a sincere government would spend money to procure harvest, he said. "The misery inflicted by the lockdown on migrant workers is unmissable as there has been no relief provided to them and the government has openly mocked their plight in their press conferences. "If the government had announced direct cash transfer to these migrant workers when the lockdown was first announced, probably they would not have felt the need to walk hundreds of kilometres," Kharge noted. Kharge lamented that the government "simply does not want to provide any direct relief to the poor because it would mean endorsing the NYAY scheme that Rahul Gandhi had proposed". Regarding finances by states, Kherge said if the Union government was sincere, it would have helped the states borrow from the open market through RBI at the same rate at which the Centre can borrow. "The agenda of the government under the cover of coronavirus relief in the name of reforms seems to be selling PSUs when the markets are down, removing the protection of labour laws, and allowing the rich to freely buy the distressed farmer's only asset his land. "The government has lost a big opportunity to provide relief to crores of migrant workers, the poor on one end and the industries on the other end. The relief package and the press conferences have not only exposed the apathy of the government towards the migrant workers but also its arrogance and hypocrisy," the Congress leader said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I am heartbroken and furious. In Mississippi, a church was just burned to the ground. They had been trying to open services. There was graffiti on the lot which read Bet you stay home now you hypocrites. What is this pandemic doing to us? We need prayer for this country. pic.twitter.com/TdGHqs9evv Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) May 21, 2020 The police are investigating a possible arson after a church in Mississipi burned down this week. A message found at the scene read "bet you stay home now," leading investigators to believe the fire was intentional. According to detectives who responded at the scene, they found a spray-painted message on the ground near the church's doors after the blaze had been put out on early Wednesday. The message was allegedly signed with the letter "A" - a symbol often associated with atheist groups. The police also found a can of white spray paint and flashlight at the crime scene. Federal government agencies were called in to collaborate with the Sherrif's Department in investigating the incident. Free Speech The First Pentecostal Church had previously sued the city of Holly Springs after claiming the strict shelter-in-place orders violated the church's right to free speech. They also argued the restrictions made it difficult for the members to worship. According to the lawsuit, local police officers disrupted a "peaceful Bible Study" and forced it to stop "on the threat of criminal citations." The church claimed the attendees were observing social distancing guidelines and were complying with health requirements. The First Pentecostal Church also called for "relief from an unconstitutional order" after law enforcement authorities interrupted an Easter Sunday worship and issued a citation to Pastor Jerry Waldrop for violating COVID-19 restrictions. Judge Michael P. Mills addressed the suit, claiming the members staged a protest at a local Walmart to demonstrate their frustration with the executive orders. The protest was captured on video. "This court considers the visit depicted in the video to have been highly reckless in light of the ongoing pandemic," Mills said. Nick Fish, the American Atheists, denounced their association to the church burning. In a statement, he called it a heinous act of destruction and claimed it was against the values their community believes. Worship Services The First Pentecostal Church was granted an injunction to hold in-person gatherings a few days after the building burned to the ground. In April, U.S. District Judge Mills allowed the Mississipi house of worship to hold drive-thru services following the Easter Sunday Mass. However, Senior Counsel Stephen Crampton, who represented the church in court, urged the judges to grant them the right to hold in-person gatherings. The U.S Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted the order, earning a scathing remark from Judge Don Willet who claimed the city used the act of arson to render their case void. "One might expect a city to express sympathy or outrage (or both) when a neighborhood house of worship is set ablaze," Willett wrote. "One would be mistaken. Rather than condemn the crime's depravity, the City seized the advantage, insisting that the Church's First Amendment claim necessarily went up in smoke when the church did... This argument is shameful." On the other hand, Crampton thanked the Fifth Circuit for "restoring the right to worship in person" and for honoring the country's First Amendment rights. Want to read more? Check these out: Strict safety measures will guarantee the health safety of churchgoers attending mass in Luxembourg, auxiliary bishop Leo Wagener stressed. The number of new infections rose steeply after a mass in Frankfurt two weeks ago. According to the local minister of health, 107 people tested positive for the virus after the mass. Luxembourg's diocese reacted with ease to the incident in Germany. Auxiliary bishop Leo Wagener stressed that it was unlikely that a similar incident could take place in the Grand Duchy. Wagener maintained that he was "not worried" about similar developments in Luxembourg. "Our church services are structured very differently and the precautions that we take will be strict." Worshippers will for instance be required to wear face masks, perform hand disinfection and keep at least 2m of physical distance between each other. Luxembourg's clergy stressed that the unfortunate Frankfurt incident should not be used an argument to oppose the reopening of Luxembourg's religious sites. Wagener argued that the incident in Frankfurt was an isolated case. He stressed that other churches had been holding masses for two weeks without increased infections. Churchgoers have to register with the secretary's office before attending a mass. The key requirement, it seems, to fully comprehending the sordid tale of Jeffrey Epstein is the ability to remain interested even when it becomes apparent that the whole story cannot be told. There's no way to avoid getting lost in its details. Some find fuel in the ongoing outrage of it, on behalf of Epstein's many alleged victims - young women and teenage girls who have said they were lured into an abusive existence of criminal sexual acts and prostitution. Others tend to be more intrigued by the boldface names who were, to varying degrees, caught in Epstein's orbit, including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Britain's Prince Andrew and billionaire clothing magnate Les Wexner, to name just a few. Still others want to know something definitive about the slipshod circumstances surrounding Epstein's apparent suicide in August while he was in custody awaiting federal charges of sex trafficking minors. It's a lot to sort through (and get angry about), but, in Lisa Bryant's four-part Netflix docuseries, "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich" (premiering Wednesday), the urgency gives way to long stretches of recapping, becoming less-than-riveting stuff. Nauseating, sure. But in the three episodes provided for this review, there's never a unifying theme or reason that helps a viewer understand why the Epstein saga still merits four hours of our undivided attention. "Filthy Rich" often plays like a longer, fancier episode of NBC's "Dateline," in which facts that are mostly already known are recounted by victims, investigators, attorneys and journalists (including The Washington Post's Marc Fisher), and then arranged in the most logical manner, with an emphasis on the sex crimes and the courage of victims who are speaking out. It's possible that fresh findings await in that fourth hour; if so, the price of admission is to endure the first three. Has Bryant perhaps located the still-hiding Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime girlfriend and associate, whom victims say helped procure young girls and women for him? Then by all means, reveal it. Even a nation restricted to Netfix for excitement has a limit to how long it can sit and watch. Co-produced by "Paradise Lost's" Joe Berlinger and best-selling novelist James Patterson (who co-wrote the 2016 book version of "Filthy Rich" with author John Connolly and Florida journalist Tim Malloy), the series starts off in the early 2000s, when Vanity Fair reporter Vicky Ward was assigned to write a profile of a ubiquitous billionaire investor - Epstein, who kept showing up to all the right parties with all the right people, yet nobody really knew much about him. As Ward recounts, her reporting on Epstein's background quickly led to a rumor that he acted inappropriately with an employee, Maria Farmer, and her younger sister, Annie. An FBI investigation into that in the 1990s had fizzled, but Ward pressed further and tracked the sisters down. Her findings, which were indicative of other allegations yet to come, were edited out of the article. This becomes "Filthy Rich's" recurring theme - how one oddly captivating man lied his way into influence, amassed a dubious fortune and thereby reaped hideous degrees of privilege. Epstein's galling slipperiness becomes most apparent in the 2008 quashing, by then U.S. District Attorney (and President Trump's former Labor Secretary) Alexander Acosta, of charges against him for sex trafficking of minors. The evidence that prosectors were building in that case, thoroughly recounted here, would probably land anyone else a long prison sentence. Thanks to a high-profile legal team that included Alan Dershowtiz, Epstein emerged mostly unscathed, with a bizarre plea deal that granted him and others in his circle unprecedented immunity from future charges. His jail sentence was remarkably light and included the right to leave the jail six days a week. The only taste we get of Epstein's demeanor in this and ensuing legal scrapes comes mainly from videotaped depositions for civil suits, in the early 2010s. What we see of him is curiously banal - no hint of the Svengali-like figure others describe. Bryant and her team briefly trace this phenomenon back to Epstein's beginnings, first as a teacher in the 1970s at Manhattan's elite Dalton School (where he lied about his education credentials), to his unlikely hiring at investment powerhouse Bear Stearns. "One of my important mistakes in my career," says Michael Tennenbaum, a Bear Stearns executive who hired Epstein - and kept him on even after he found out Epstein's resume was bogus. "Filthy Rich" loses interest in Epstein's origins as both a psychopath and a sex offender, and it seems hamstrung (perhaps legally so) in its glancing attempts to define the extent of Epstein's reach with the VIPs to whom he's been linked. It assures us that he became essential to his powerful friends, but was it really all just about providing girls to wealthy pervs? Is that what explains the special treatment - perhaps all the way to a death that made it possible for him, at age 66, to escape earthly punishment? Or is it something worse? While the docuseries makes a solid case that Epstein was gross, there's a missed opportunity to further probe this story's most disturbing and lasting aspect: How and why such a person emerges, fails upward for decades, criminally exploits others along the way and continually thrives, while always seeming to elude those who not only seek justice, but also the whole truth. Without that sort of information, how will we recognize the next Jeffrey Epstein? - - - "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich" (four episodes) available for streaming Wednesday on Netflix. Syria: Turkish minister first visit to north Aleppo - media Without making arrangements with the Damascus government (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, MAY 25 - A Turkish minister visited Syrian territory Monday for the first time in the modern history of Syria and Turkey without making arrangements with the Damascus government. The visit took place at the Syrian border area of al-Rai, in northern Aleppo, an area under the direct control of the Turkish military and Syrian militias co-opted by Turkish forces. Syrian media from the anti-government opposition widely reported the visit by Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, two of his deputies, and members of the Turkish military apparatus. The official objective of Soylu's visit was to greet troops on the first day of the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. From the time Turkey took de facto direct control of broad areas of northwestern Syria, Turkish military members and representatives from southern Turkish regional administrations have visited this area of Syria, which has been outside of the authority of Damascus for some time. However, Monday was the first time a Turkish minister visited Syrian territory in an official capacity since the start of the war in 2011.(ANSAmed). Schematic representation of a sandwich compound with a bottom ring composed of various elements. (Graphics: KIT) Thanks to their special properties, rare earths are used in many high-tech products. Scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are now working on new applications of these elements. The team produces so-called sandwich compounds based on rare earths, which might serve as novel molecular materials for more efficient storage media or displays in future. The German Research Foundation (DFG) funds this groundbreaking study with EUR 500,000 under a Reinhart Koselleck Project. Sandwich compounds are chemical molecules, whose properties still are largely unknown. The compounds consist of two ring struc-tures, between which a single metal atom is trapped. Simply speaking, the compounds look like minute sandwiches. To study whether the molecules may serve as a basis of innovative future materials, Professor Peter Roesky, Head of the Chair for Inorganic Functional Materials of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry (AOC), and his team produce different types of these sandwich complexes at the laboratory. As metal atoms in the center of the compounds, the scientists use various elements from the rare earths group. The test molecules also differ in their ring structures. The rings consist of carbon and a variable proportion of other elements. Experiments are carried out with different ring sizes. Within the project, the re-searchers plan to systematically vary the size and structure of the rings in order to derive a structure-effect relationship. We will study the influence of the structure of the sandwich compounds on their physical properties, Roesky explains. In particular, we will focus on magnetism and luminescence of the molecules. So far, rare earths have usually been applied in solid materials used in high-tech products. The elements can be found in LED lamps, mobile displays, or magnets of wind turbines, to mention a few examples. Production of the molecular compounds from rare earths by Roesky is an approach that has hardly been considered so far. In the ideal case, researchers might obtain molecules behaving like minute magnets. Such compounds are also referred to as single-molecule magnets. Some day, these novel complexes might be used to produce storage media of considerably increased storage capacity in case of the same physical dimension. Roesky and his team also test rare-earth elements already used in luminescent mate-rials. Sandwich compounds containing such elements might be used to produce optimized displays in future. Our project serves to obtain basic understanding of these novel materials, Roesky says. Special Funding of Higher-risk Research As the project of the scientists is still at the very beginning of a new research field, success is not guaranteed. Within the framework of Reinhart Koselleck Projects, DFG specifically funds such higher-risk projects and gives researchers with a proven scientific track record the opportunity to implement innovative ideas. Across all disci-plines, only eight of such innovative ideas were funded within Rein-hart Koselleck Projects in Germany in 2019. Roesky is the first sci-entist of KIT to receive such funding. The funds scheduled for a duration of five years may be used freely. Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle Report More people around the world have been tested for the new coronavirus and found to have COVID-19. As a result, doctors and other health care workers are reporting new COVID-19 symptoms. The most common symptoms are a high temperature (or fever), a dry cough and shortness of breath. However, less common symptoms also are being reported. These include a loss of smell, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, swelling and skin problems. COVID-19 in children The Associated Press (AP) reports that children are the latest group to be affected with new symptoms. Health care workers say some children who have tested positive for the coronavirus are having abdominal pain and swelling. However, they do not have the more common breathing problems that affect older adults. The governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, told the AP recently that his state is now investigating about 100 cases of a COVID-related condition in children. It affects blood vessels and organs and has symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States says Kawasaki disease usually affects children age five and younger. The symptoms include: fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, and redness of the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and in the neck, and irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat. Health officials in New York City have reported that at least 52 children have become sick with the condition. Three deaths have been reported. Hospitals in the state have been advised to place high importance on COVID-19 testing for children showing these symptoms. Parents are urged to call their doctor immediately if their children show symptoms including long-lasting fever, rash, abdominal pain and vomiting. Children in other parts of the U.S. and Europe have also been hospitalized with a similar condition. Skin conditions There also are reports of COVID-19 patients having skin conditions, such as rashes. In one report, doctors looked at 88 COVID-19 patients in an Italian hospital. Italy has one of the highest numbers of infected people. They found that one in five patients had some kind of skin problem. These symptoms were mostly red rashes over the area of the body between the neck and the waist. In another report, Spanish doctors reported that 375 confirmed virus patients had skin problems. These included different kinds of rashes and swollen toes. Skin doctors, or dermatologists, were expecting to see more skin problems as the virus continues to spread. A dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital explained to the Associated Press that viruses often affect the skin. Dr. Esther Freeman said seeing skin rashes become a symptom of COVID-19 did not surprise her. However, one probable symptom did: COVID toes. COVID toes COVID toes are red, painful and sometimes itchy, swollen areas on the toes. Doctors say the condition looks like tissue problems on the feet of people who have spent a long time outdoors in the cold. Dr. Freeman directs an international COVID-19 registry for doctors to report cases of possibly virus-linked skin symptoms. Of 500 cases reported since late March, she said about half involved red, swollen spots on the feet. It is still not clear when COVID toes might appear in coronavirus-infected patients. For some people, it is the first or even the only symptom they notice. Others see the toe problem at the same time or even a few weeks after experiencing more common and serious COVID-19 symptoms. Another dermatologist said that COVID toes are showing up in young people too. Amy Paller is a childrens dermatologist at Northwestern University. She is collecting pictures of patients toes to learn more about the possible condition. At this time, doctors do not know how the virus causes COVID toes. However, doctors at the American Academy of Dermatology gave advice on how to deal with concerns about COVID toes. The first step is a meeting, possibly by video conferencing, with a doctor. The next step is to find out if the person has other COVID-19 symptoms. If there is no other reason for urgent care, the doctor would then decide whether a patient should stay at home or get tested. However, doctors should discuss each patients overall health and history before moving on to testing and other care. Whatever a persons symptoms might be, doctors remind us of this warning: People can carry and spread the virus without experiencing any symptoms. And thats the Health & Lifestyle report. Im Anna Matteo. Lauran Neergaard and Mary Esch reported on these topics for The Associated Press Health. Anna Matteo adapted their stories for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. Quiz - Possible New Symptoms, Problems Linked to the Coronavirus Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story symptom n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present cough n. forcing air through your throat with a short, loud noise often because you are sick abdomen n. the part of the body below the chest that contains the stomach and other organs : abdominal adj. relating to the addomen swell v. to expand (as in size, volume, or numbers) gradually beyond a normal or original limit lymph gland (node) medical n. : any one of many rounded masses of tissue in the body through which lymph passes to be filtered and cleaned irritation n. a condition of irritability, soreness, roughness, or inflammation of a bodily part inflammation n. a condition in which a part of your body becomes red, swollen, and painful rash n. a group of red spots on the skin that is caused by an illness or a reaction to something itchy adj. something that makes an uncomfortable or unpleasant feeling on your skin or inside your mouth, nose, etc., that makes you want to scratch Researchers have stumbled across a colossal feral cat while investigating animal carcasses near the Queensland-Northern Territory border. It might look like a picture of a saber-toothed tiger, but this image of an enormous feral cat was actually captured by University of Sydney researcher Emma Spencer in the Simpson Desert. Ms Spencer is using CarcassCam to find out what happens to the remains of animals killed by vehicles, drought and bushfires. Thats when she stumbled across a photo of a large cat carrying a goanna in its mouth. The photo was taken in 2018 but the team only recently came across it in the background of a shot. A big fat cat wandered past the camera carrying a sand goanna in its mouth, she told Yahoo News Australia. It was quite a find when I came across it. An enormous cat takes off with a sand goanna in its mouth. Source: Emma Spencer Ms Spencer added its quite unusual to see a cat carrying such a large sand goanna as most feral cats hunt birds and rodents. They will go for reptiles but its unusual to see a feral cat hunt for animals that are strong and large like sand goannas, she said. It shows how versatile cats are. Its not known how big this tenacious tabby is, but Ms Spencer said some feral cats can weigh more than 7kg, much bigger than most domestic cats. Another feral cat wanders the desert. Source: Emma Spencer While it might be quite remarkable to see, Ms Spencer said it could come as bad news for our native species. Dr Sarah Legge, lead author of the study published in the journal Wildlife Research, told Guardian Australia last week it is estimated domestic cats alone kill 230 million Australian birds, mammals and rodents each year. In August, the Northern Territory Government shared disturbing footage of a cat mauling a wallaby. The NT Government used the footage to explain why people to keep cats inside. Ms Spencer added while it can be a sensitive issue for cat owners its imperative people keep their pets indoors. 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. EDGERTON This is where reminders of this citys tobacco past are preserved with faded lettering on exterior brick walls. The T.W. Dickinson & Sons building stands out on the corner of West Fulton Street and Highway 51. A few hundred feet away, a warehouse towers above South Main Street with wording that eulogizes the Wisconsin Leaf Division. Other former tobacco warehouses in this city of 5,620 souls have been converted to apartments, but the majority have vanished along with most of the areas tobacco fields. A 79-year-old mural in the Edgerton post office, however, offers up in vibrant color the story of tobacco for all to see. Weve had people come in and take pictures of it, but a lot of people probably dont even notice it, said Jon Buchholz, Edgertons postmaster for the past six years. It shows Edgertons farming culture. Family and farming. Thats what its all about. Painted by Vladimir Rousseff, who emigrated from Bulgaria in 1911 and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, the 13-foot-long, 4-foot-high mural zeros in on the tobacco harvest and the celebration of its bounty that for generations was a way of life in this northeastern corner of Rock County. The mural is one of 35 works of art commissioned for post offices across Wisconsin in the 1930s and early 1940s as part of a federal New Deal program to beautify new post offices, provide work for struggling artists and share their creations with the masses. That work is now the subject of a book written by an Illinois man who has ventured to each of the post offices, taken photographs and traveled to Washington, D.C., where he dove into the National Archives to learn more about the projects, the artwork and the artists. But for computer technology pro turned full-time author David Gates Jr., his 165-page book, Wisconsin Post Office Murals, and a 43-page companion guide book, also provided a way to check out historic buildings, eat in local diners and walk the main streets of Wisconsin. Hes now working on a book about post office art in Tennessee, scheduled to be published by the end of the year. His ultimate plan is to chronicle each of the more than 1,100 pieces of art that adorn post offices in all 50 states. Its really been great to actually have that additional time to devote to converting this so-called hobby into a full-fledged business, Gates said during a phone interview last week from his home in Crystal Lake. Its something Ive been passionate about for a long time and something I really love. These small post offices are quite unique in some cases. A brief history The post office murals and other artworks were not part of the Works Progress Administration but of the Section of Fine Arts, established in 1934 and administered by the Procurement Division of the U.S. Treasury Department, according to the Smithsonian Institution. About 1% typically $400 to $600 of a buildings cost was reserved for public art, with the artists selected through anonymous competitions. In many cases the decision was left with the postmaster, maybe a member of the architectural firm and a prominent citizen. Once chosen, the artists were provided guidelines and asked to submit sketches for approval before actually creating the finished piece. Post offices were located in virtually every community and available for viewing by all postal patrons, which made post office murals a truly democratic art form, according to a 1997 Smithsonian article. Artists were constantly reminded that the communities were their patron and they went to great lengths to satisfy the desires of everyone involved in the project in order to save their commissions. The discovery Gates took his first picture of a post office in 2003 in Athelstane as a reminder of the small town while in northeastern Wisconsin for a whitewater rafting trip on the Peshtigo River, but at the time was unaware of any post office artwork. He discovered his first post office mural in 2007 in Irwin, Tennessee, while hiking the Appalachian Trail and became enthralled with the art. He began researching, discovered the New Deal murals and began to write about post offices on his blog, Post Office Freak. He changed the name to Post Office Fans in 2017 when he began to get more serious about book publishing. The website provides background on the murals and chronicles his trip to each. Theres also a map with easy-to-navigate links to each of the 35 locations. Gates book includes more details about the mural, the artists, the history of each community and vibrant photos. The history is absolutely amazing, said Gates, 35. Theres lots of people that really appreciate these things. A sampling The Edgerton post office was built in 1939 for $58,775 and features hardwood floors behind the front counter, while the lobby has its original woodwork and marble floors. Gates visited the post office on a Sunday years ago only to find the lobby closed. He returned in 2013 when he was able to view in person the mural, installed in 1941, above Buchholzs office door. In Park Falls, a mural pays homage to the logging industry and the Flambeau River, while in Columbus a mural depicts farming and the settlement of the community in 1840. The Ricard Brooks mural in Richland Center is titled Decorative Interpretation of Unification of America through the Post and was installed in 1937. In Mayville, the mural by Peter Roiter, who grew up in northern Wisconsin, is of a fall harvest of hay using horse-drawn wagons. Santos Zingale painted a mural in his Milwaukee studio in 1937 and 1938 and then had it shipped to Sturgeon Bay, where it hangs in the post office and tells the story of commercial fishing. He later was commissioned by the Wisconsin Art Project to create a 40-foot mural based on the founding of Racine for the citys Mitchell High School. In Stoughton, a mural about airmail covers part of a wall of the post office nestled in the citys downtown across the street from Fosdal Home Bakery. I think they did (an airmail theme) because we were close enough to Madison and they flew a lot of mail in, said Dennis Jones, who has worked at the post office for 21 years and has a copy of Gates book. Its pretty interesting. We try to point it out to people. The post office was constructed in 1938 and 1939 and the mural painted in 1940 by Edmund Lewandowski, who studied at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee. Like Edgertons mural, its located above the door to the postmasters office. Its the children that notice it, said Beckie Endrizzi, who was working behind the front counter with Jones last week. The adults just come in and theyre all business, but the kids point to it. Other genres But not all of the artwork consists of murals. In Prairie du Chien, there are plaster reliefs by Jefferson E. Greer, while in Fond du Lac, Boris Gilbertson created 11 limestone reliefs on the exterior of the post office in 1938. The building, at 19 E. First St., no longer houses the post office, but the artwork remains. Gilbertson also created four aluminum panels, each about 4-feet square, for the Janesville post office when it was located downtown. The panels, which feature wild ducks, were moved in 1990 when the post office moved to a larger facility on Milton Avenue. Gilbertson, who was born in Evanston, Illinois, but lived for several years in the far northern Wisconsin Bayfield County community of Cornucopia, was awarded a $2,350 commission for his work. I dont want them to disappear, Gates said of the artwork. Im hoping that by writing about them in book form, people can see and appreciate them and know that theyre out there. Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Representative image Forty-six new COVID-19 positive cases were recorded on Sunday in Assam taking the total to 392, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. A day after the state recorded the highest spike of 87 cases, the rise in numbers continued with 133 positive cases detected since Saturday. Fourteen cases were recorded on Sunday night with five each from Hojai and Kamrup, two from Kamrup (Metro) and one each from Nagaon and East Karbi Anglong, the Minister said. Earlier, 20 new cases were reported with six from Nalbari, five from Kamrup, four from Hojai, two each from Kamrup (Metro) and Nagaon and one from Morigaon. Eight cases, all from the Sarusajai Quarantine Facility, were reported in the evening and four, two from Tezpur Quarantine Centre and two from Jorhat with travel history to Chennai, in the morning. There has been a "dramatic increase in the number of positive cases in the state during the last few days but almost 90 per cent of the positive cases are from, the quarantine centre", the Minister said at a press conference here. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show "If we had not followed the ruthless policy of quarantine, the infection would have spread to the community", the Minister added. Out of the 392 cases, there are 328 active cases, four deaths, three migrated out of the state and 57 of them recovered and have been discharged from the hospital. The state recorded 285 cases in a single week since May 18. Hojai district has the highest number of 86 positive cases followed by Kamrup (Metro) with 48 cases, while Dhemaji is the only district in the state with no cases so far, he said. The Assam government's ongoing surveillance exercise has covered 25,000 villages and found only 23,000 people which is "very less and 6,000 of them were found to be suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) and Influenza Like Illness (ILI)", he said. Out of 6000 cases, 4000 samples were taken and tested and not a single tested positive and "with this we can claim that so far we have been able to save the community due to our quarantine policy", Sarma said. The Minister said that though the number of cases are increasing, "there is no need to panic as we are prepared with facilities to serve five thousand people". "We have been planning meticulously for the last two months and the Assam government is adequately prepared to deal with five thousand patients", he said. During the last two months "we were working with a strategy to create facilities. We have opened enough doors and have adopted the policy to open one door after the other as the situation arises", the Minister said. Doctors have come forward to volunteer and "we have doctors, nurses, paramedics and cleaners ready to deal with the rising number of cases", he said. "We have also ramped up the testing facilities and we felt proud that yesterday with 59,553 tests completed so far we had surpassed Kerala, considered a model for healthcare", the Minister said. The seven laboratories in the state are so far testing 2,500 tests daily but "we expect to reach 5000 in the next few days as automatic extraction machine is being acquired for the purpose", Sarma added. KITCHENER Dan Eckert has worked in Kitchener cemeteries for 38 years. He digs graves, comforts families and keeps cemeteries beautiful. Eckert is still doing this essential work during the pandemic, but the most meaningful part of his job to comfort grieving families is something he cant do anymore. We used to be so involved in the service, but now we cant be, said Eckert, who works at Willamsburg Cemetery in Kitchener these days. Only 10 people are allowed at a funeral service. Eckert has to stand at a distance and wait until everyone leaves to lower the casket and fill the grave. He used to be a part of the process, at the ready to help the family with whatever they may need. Its been kind of hard, we just hope everyone can understand. In popular culture, cemetery workers jobs are depicted as lonely and isolating, but Eckert said that stereotype is far from reality. Weve made some amazing friendships, he said. There are people who visit gravesites of loved ones on a regular basis, and they will often stop by the cemetery office to chat with cemetery workers. I miss that, Eckert said. The office is closed to the public during the pandemic. Eckert said six full-time cemetery workers split their time in different areas of the cemetery, including at the on-site crematorium. Spring is a busy time at the cemetery as workers usually plant flowers and trim the grass that grows around headstones. Williamsburg Cemetery is known for its natural beauty. It is hard work to maintain and even more difficult without any seasonal workers. Eckert said staff from other departments are helping to maintain the grounds as much as possible. Maintenance has been hard to keep up with, said Eckert, who takes pride in this beautiful cemeterys lush, rolling grasses and vibrant flower beds. I hope people can understand that. Eckert said he has never seen the cemetery as busy as it has been during the pandemic. Many people walk and cycle through the cemetery. It is something Eckert hopes will continue after the pandemic ends. Its nice to see. WASHINGTONThrough its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has poured billions of dollars in loans into low-income countries to help build their massive infrastructure projects. And now with the COVID-19 pandemic, concern about a looming debt crisis has increased in developing nations, as most of them are already bent under massive Chinese debt. Launched in 2013, Chinas BRI, also referred to as One Belt, One Road or the New Silk Road, is one of the worlds most ambitious and controversial development programs. In recent years, the initiative has been perceived as a debt trap, due to Beijings predatory lending practices. The BRI has contributed to the substantial external debt buildup in many low-income countries, according to a recent report by the Institute of International Finance (IIF). Over the past two decades, China has become a major global lender, with outstanding debt exceeding $5.5 trillion in 2019more than 6 percent of global gross domestic product, the IIF report stated. The BRI has played an important role in driving Chinas lending activity in recent years, making Beijing the worlds largest creditor to low-income countries. Since its launch, the initiative directed more than $730 billion to overseas investment and construction projects in over 112 countries, according to the report. Among the BRI countries, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Laos, the Maldives, and Tajikistan are rated at high risk of debt distress by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), meaning they are likely to default or face problems servicing their massive debt. In addition, a recent academic study published by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy suggests that the Chinese overseas loans may be higher than reported. The study says that up to 50 percent of Chinese loans are hidden, as theyre not reported to the IMF or World Bank. Chinas nontransparent lending practices amplify debt vulnerabilities in poor countries. Amid a looming financial crisis, Sri Lanka is currently piling on more Chinese debt. Although the debt-ridden country must make $4.8 billion in loan repayments this year, it has reached an agreement with China for at least $1 billion in additional lending, according to Nikkei Asian Review. Sri Lanka is often cited as a clear example of becoming trapped in Chinese debt and being forced to hand over strategic assets to China. A Chinese state-owned firm took control of Sri Lankas southern port of Hambantota in 2017 on a 99-year lease after the country defaulted on its loans. Ports have dual use in almost every countryfor civilian use as well as for military use, Bonnie Glick, deputy administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, told The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program. And the way China has mapped out the globe, it has been very strategically looking at the most valuable ports first and approaching those countries accordingly. The same thing happened in the East African country of Djibouti, she noted, where China built a concessionary port. The country is located at the entrance to the Red Sea, where the United States has strong defense interests. Nearly 10 percent of the worlds oil exports and 20 percent of all commercial goods navigate through the Suez Canal, passing close to Djibouti. Djibouti defaulted on its loan, and China ultimately controls operations in the port in Djibouti, Glick said, calling the BRI One belt, one road, one-way trip to insoluble debt. Debt Relief Both the World Bank Group and the IMF have urged the G-20 economies including China to provide debt relief to the worlds 76 poorest countries and allow them to redirect funds toward fighting the pandemic. China is a signatory to the debt service suspension initiative agreed to by the G-20 nations, which provides a freeze of debt repayments for the poorest nations upon request. The suspension will run from May 1 through the end of 2020. According to Glick, the initial Chinese response to debt forgiveness was positive. But later, they started putting all kinds of conditions on what type of debt would be considered for debt forgiveness, carefully trying to thread the needle to keep bilateral debt owed to China off the table, she said. BRIs massive construction projects are financed mainly through a wide range of Chinese local government and state-controlled institutions. The Trump administration has voiced a hard line against Chinas ambitions to grow its footprint in emerging markets, and the pandemic has amplified these concerns. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the whole world is waking up to the challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party. Chinas been ruled by a brutal, authoritarian regime, a communist regime, since 1949. For several decades, we thought the regime would become more like us through trade, scientific exchanges, diplomatic outreach, letting them in the WTO as a developing nation, he told reporters on May 20. That didnt happen. We greatly underestimated the degree to which Beijing is ideologically and politically hostile to free nations. From The Epoch Times Two people were killed and five others injured after gunfire broke out during a large party to celebrate the end of the school year in South Carolina on Saturday night. Major Scott Coffer of the Union County Sheriff's Office said up to 1,000 people attended the gathering. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster's mandatory stay-at-home order expired on May 4, allowing shops and restaurants to reopen with certain restrictions. Major Coffer said police were unable to enforce social distancing orders as the party was on private property. The victims have been named as 17-year-old Jabbrie Brandon of Union and Curtis Lamont Bomar, 21, of Spartanburg, WSPA reports. Two people have been arrested, Coffer said. Shaquille OBryant Barber, 26, of Jonesville, faces charges of unlawful carry of a firearm and public disorderly conduct. Darnell Deandre Beacham, 35, of Buffalo, was charged with public disorderly conduct. Other charges may be pending, and an investigation is ongoing. Two people were killed and five others injured after gunfire broke out during a large party to celebrate the end of the school year in South Carolina on Saturday night Shaquille OBryant Barber, 26, left, of Jonesville, faces charges of unlawful carry of a firearm and public disorderly conduct. Darnell Deandre Beacham, 35, right, of Buffalo, was charged with public disorderly conduct. Deputies responded to the scene near the intersection of Highway 114 and Highway 9 at a little before 8pm because of reports of a large gathering and vehicles parked illegally along the road. Police were working to get cars moved when they heard gun shots and called for backup. Coffer said that more than one gun was involved in the shootings. He told ABC: 'They were still shooting when I got there and I had to come from my house.' 'About this time of the year, end of the school year, they always have a party there,' Coffer said. 'But nothing like this.' South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster's mandatory stay-at-home order expired on May 4, allowing shops and restaurants to reopen with certain restrictions. Coffer said: 'Being a private party on private property, we couldn't do anything about it anyway. 'We've run into that before when this first started in March with the COVID-19. We can't tell people who can be at their house and who can't.' Major Scott Coffer said up to 1,000 people attended the gathering. He said police were unable to enforce social distancing orders as the party was on private property 'Parties like these on private property are not uncommon and can cause a problem when people drink and want to gather with one another from being under quarantine,' Sheriff David Taylor said. He added: 'It was a private party and there was no law against it.' DailyMail.com has contacted Gov. McMaster's office for comment. One anonymous partygoer said: 'There was this girl that fell on the ground, and the crowd just trampled her. We hear hundreds of people screaming and people start running in the road, and that's when the gunshots went off.' South Carolina more than 10,000 confirmed coronavirus cases with 435 deaths. Pompeo Urges Afghan Rivals to Refrain From Violence After Eid Truce By Ayaz Gul May 24, 2020 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has hailed the temporary Eid cease-fire in Afghanistan as a "tremendous opportunity" for advancing peace efforts in the war-torn country. The Taliban insurgency announced the truce just hours before the three-day Eid al-Fitr festivities began Sunday, marking the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani swiftly reciprocated by ordering government forces to cease fighting during the holiday and also "initiated a process" to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners. "We worked hard to achieve this moment," Pompeo said Sunday while welcoming the break in Afghan hostilities that have killed and injured hundreds of people in recent weeks. The chief U.S. diplomat underlined the need for Afghan government and Taliban leaders to desist from escalating violence after Eid and instead expedite a prisoner swap to move urgently to intra-Afghan peace negotiations. "Peace is the consistent and overwhelming desire of the Afghan people. We hope this ceasefire can build trust," Pompeo said. He emphasized the need for Ghani government to accelerate a prisoner swap with the Taliban, removing a remaining obstacle in the way to the proposed talks. A landmark U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in February stipulated that Kabul would release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 government security personnel held by the insurgents to build mutual confidence ahead of the dialogue The Afghan government, however, released 1,000 insurgent inmates as of Sunday and the Taliban has freed about 300 detainees. Ghani and his aides have expressed concerns released insurgents would return to battlefield. The Taliban, however, has dismissed those concerns. "I expect the Taliban to adhere to their commitment not to allow released prisoners to return to the battlefield," Pompeo said. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen welcomed as a "good step" the release of 2,000 insurgent prisoners by Kabul, saying his group is also committed to free government detainees. "This process should be completed in order to remove hurdles in the way of commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations and to pave the way for further progress which is to follow," Shaheen emphasised in a tweet Sunday. The proposed intra-Afghan talks, which were originally scheduled for March 10, would seek a permanent ceasefire and future power sharing arrangement in Afghanistan, say U.S. officials. The U.S.-Taliban pact requires American and coalition troops to leave the country by mid-July 2021, ending the nearly 19-year-old Afghan war and America's longest overseas military intervention. In return, insurgent leaders have pledged to prevent terrorist groups from using Taliban-held areas for international terrorism and seek political reconciliation with fellow Afghans. Pompeo said Sunday Washington remained committed to the implementation of the U.S.-Taliban accord and a joint declaration recently reached with Kabul to promote Afghan peace and security. The Eid ceasefire is being widely praised by international partners of Afghanistan amid expectations it would lead to an end to years of bloodshed and enable health workers to effectively counter the coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic has infected more than 10,500 people in Afghanistan and killed 218 others, though officials fear the actual numbers could be much higher. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Usman Hamid and Veronica Koman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 25, 2020 16:23 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bda02bec 3 Opinion Amnesty-International,Yasonna-Laoly,prison,prison-overcapacity,physical-distancing,prisoners-of-conscience,political-prisoners Free The United Nations is right: Its impossible to practice physical distancing and self-isolation in an overcrowded prison. We therefore applaud the decision by Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly to release almost 40,000 prisoners at risk from the COVID-19 pandemic. As this devastating virus sweeps across the globe, prisons are at risk of becoming a very dangerous hotspot for COVID-19 outbreaks. Minister Yasonnas policy however falls crucially short: Prisoners of conscience are excluded from the policy, despite the UN urging that political prisoners should be among the first released. It is more important than ever that states take urgent measures to protect all those who are deprived of their liberty, especially by releasing all individuals who are held simply for peacefully exercising their rights. President Joko Jokowi Widodos government has detained 69 prisoners of conscience (PoCs) on treason charges, a record in recent times for Indonesia. The majority of them, 54, are indigenous Papuans. Five of the PoCs will be released Tuesday after completing their jail terms. One Indonesian of Batak ethnicity, Paulus Suryanta Ginting, is the first non-indigenous West Papuan to be charged with treason over the self-determination cause. Meanwhile, a Polish man, Jakub Skrzypski, is the first foreign national to be charged with treason under Indonesian law and has been recognized by the European Parliament as a political prisoner. His crime was having met with pro-independence Papuan activists while traveling. The 12 other PoCs are from Maluku. All are peaceful activists who have been detained for political expression -- simply carrying flags, or organizing or participating in peaceful protests, or being members of political organizations. Eleven of them have been sentenced, 15 are on trial, and 40 others are awaiting trial. No one should ever be arrested or detained solely for exercising their human rights. The majority of these PoCs, 54 people, were arrested during and in the immediate wake of the 2019 West Papua uprising that took place from Aug. 19 to Sept. 23 last year. These protests against racism and for self-determination, likened to an earthquake of anger and hope, took place in towns and villages throughout Papua. Demonstrations of solidarity broke out in cites all over Indonesia too, and garnered international attention for the Papuan situation. Jakartas response was a crackdown so brutal that the UN human rights office issued not one but two statements of concern. Authorities made a series of mass arrests ahead of further protests on the Dec 1, 2019, when Papuans commemorate their national day. By the end of the uprising, more than 10,000 extra police and military had been deployed to Papua. Armed paramilitary police patrolled universities and residential areas. No further public gatherings were allowed in the province. Self-determination protests have since abated, because almost all student leaders and key leaders of Papuas civil movement were either detained or forced into hiding. There are at least seven prominent PoCs currently on trial in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. Two of them, Buchtar Tabuni and Stevanus Itlay, are imprisoned for their political activities for the third time. On Oct. 4 last year, they were transferred, in breach of criminal procedures law and without prior notice to their lawyers and families, from Papua to Kalimantan for security reasons. The defendants have been questioned in court as to who had shouted Free West Papua slogans and who had brought Morning Star flags to the protests. Their hearings, held online as the pandemic rages, showed they are on trial for expressing their political beliefs. On May 11, the four PoCs in Jakarta were almost released by prison authorities implementing the COVID-19 safety policy, as more than two-thirds of their sentences had been served. All four had signed release letters confirming their assimilation, had tested negative for COVID-19 and were holding a package of rice and instant noodles to take home. As they awaited the door to freedom, a prison staffer arrived and apologized; a political decision had come from above canceling their release. One can only imagine the mental anguish not only for the prisoners but also their families, arising from this cruel move by the Indonesian government to quash their release. The PoCs are detained in different prisons and detention centers. Conditions vary, but they are all characterized by overcrowding, poor sanitation and extremely limited healthcare services. The government has been criticized for its COVID-19 handling. Prisoners of conscience have not committed any crime and yet they continue to be arbitrarily detained, in conditions that are now becoming increasingly dangerous. As a sitting member of the UN Human Rights Council, Indonesia needs to respect international human rights law by releasing these prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally. *** Usman Hamid is the director of Amnesty International Indonesia. Veronica Koman is a human rights lawyer representing 63 prisoners of conscience under the UN special procedures. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Yahoo Life is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Book smart indeed: Read these 10 bestsellers for free right now. (Photo: Amazon) Craving a new book? Youre in luck: Now through June 30, Amazon is offering two months of Kindle Unlimited for free. Thats 60 days to read all the e-books you can handle. After the trial is over, plans start at $10 per monthbut you can cancel before then. (You probably wont want to, though). We love e-books. Theyre less expensive than traditional versions (especially when free) and the gratification is instantyou dont have to wait days to get them in the mail. There are lots of ways to access Kindle Unlimitedcheck out a complete list of all compatible devices here. Ready to read? Peruse these Kindle Unlimited bestsellers and your next chill-out session will be one for the books. by Barbara O'Neal (Photo: Amazon) Gracing various bestseller lists, When We Believe in Mermaids is author Barbara O'Neals 11th novel. It follows Kit, a woman who believes she found her sister Josiewho was presumed dead after a terrorist attackin the city of Auckland. Kit travels to New Zealand to discover the ghosts that have haunted her past. Shop it: When We Believed in Mermaids: A Novel, Free with 60-day Kindle Unlimited trial, amazon.com by Gregg Olsen (Photo: Amazon) Written by Gregg Olsen, If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood has topped the bestseller charts at the Wall Street Journal, Amazon, USA Today and the Washington Post. The true crime story follows three sisters inspirational tale of escaping abuse and torture at the hands of their mother, as they stick together to find independence and freedom. Shop it: If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood, Free with 60-day Kindle Unlimited trial, amazon.com by Suzanne Redfearn (Photo: Amazon) Published in March 2020, In an Instant follows Finn Miller, a 16-year-old girl involved in an accident with 10 others when their car tumbles over a mountainside. She survives but struggles to reclaim her life as she grieves for those who didnt make it. Story continues Shop it: In an Instant, Free with 60-day Kindle Unlimited trial, amazon.com by Elle Marr (Photo: Amazon) The Missing Sister is author Elle Marrs debut novel and follows Shayna Darby, a woman coming to terms with her parents untimely death when she learns that a serial killer murdered her estranged twin sister Angela. While cleaning out her sisters apartment, Shayna discovers a mysterious message that leads her on a course to Paris to discover the truth about Angelas life and death. Shop it: The Missing Sister, Free with 60-day Kindle Unlimited trial, amazon.com by Luanne Rice (Photo: Amazon) Last Day is author Luanne Rices latest mystery novel. It follows sisters Beth and Kate Lathrop after losing their mother in a grisly murder. Years later, the detective on the case has deja vu when he arrives at a crime scene and finds Beth as the next murder victim. 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Shop it: The Dressmaker's Gift, Free with 60-day Kindle Unlimited trial, amazon.com by Victor Methos (Photo: Amazon) Published in March 2020, A Killers Wife is the latest thriller from author and lawyer Victor Methos. It follows Jessica Yardley, a prosecutor rebuilding her life after her husband was sent to prison for a string of brutal murders. But her past comes back to haunt her when a copycat killer threatens her family and career. Shop it: A Killer's Wife, Free with 60-day Kindle Unlimited trial, amazon.com by Glendy Vanderah (Photo: Amazon) Where the Forest Meets the Stars, the debut novel for bird specialist-turned-author Glendy Vanderah, tells the story of Joanna Teale, a graduate researcher who throws herself into her work as a way to cope with her mothers death. However, when a mysterious little girl named Ursa shows up at her doorstep, Joannas life is turned upside down when the child claims to be sent from the stars and must witness five miracles on Earth. This novel has graced the bestseller lists for Amazon, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. Its also a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award. Shop it: Where the Forest Meets the Stars, Free with 60-day Kindle Unlimited trial, amazon.com by Colleen Hoover (Photo: Amazon) Released in December 2019, Regretting You is the newest book from award-winning author Colleen Hoover. The novel follows Morgan Grant and her 16-year-old daughter Clara. Their dueling personalities make it tough to live together, but when Chris, the patriarch of the family, gets into a tragic accident, mother and daughter have to work together to rebuild their lives. Shop it: Regretting You, Free with 60-day Kindle Unlimited trial, amazon.com The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Read More from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyle's newsletter. The CEO of China Ludao Technology Company Limited (HKG:2023) is Yuerong Yu. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. View our latest analysis for China Ludao Technology How Does Yuerong Yu's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, China Ludao Technology Company Limited has a market capitalization of HK$516m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth CN1.1m over the year to December 2019. That's a modest increase of 6.0% on the prior year year. Notably, the salary of CN1.1m is the vast majority of the CEO compensation. We took a group of companies with market capitalizations below CN1.4b, and calculated the median CEO total compensation to be CN1.6m. Now let's take a look at the pay mix on an industry and company level to gain a better understanding of where China Ludao Technology stands. Speaking on an industry level, we can see that nearly 86% of total compensation represents salary, while the remainder of 14% is other remuneration. China Ludao Technology pays a high salary, concentrating more on this aspect of compensation in comparison to non-salary pay. This would give shareholders a good impression of the company, since most similar size companies have to pay more, leaving less for shareholders. While this is a good thing, you'll need to understand the business better before you can form an opinion. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at China Ludao Technology has changed from year to year. SEHK:2023 CEO Compensation May 25th 2020 Is China Ludao Technology Company Limited Growing? Over the last three years China Ludao Technology Company Limited has seen earnings per share (EPS) move in a positive direction by an average of 1.6% per year (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 1.9%. Story continues I'd prefer higher revenue growth, but the modest improvement in EPS is good. Considering these factors I'd say performance has been pretty decent, though not amazing. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you might want to assess this data-rich visualization of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Has China Ludao Technology Company Limited Been A Good Investment? Since shareholders would have lost about 26% over three years, some China Ludao Technology Company Limited shareholders would surely be feeling negative emotions. So shareholders would probably think the company shouldn't be too generous with CEO compensation. In Summary... China Ludao Technology Company Limited is currently paying its CEO below what is normal for companies of its size. It's well worth noting that while Yuerong Yu is paid less than most company leaders (at similar sized companies), performance has been somewhat uninspiring, and total returns have been lacking. I am not concerned by the CEO compensation, but it would be good to see improved performance before pay increases. CEO compensation is an important area to keep your eyes on, but we've also identified 2 warning signs for China Ludao Technology (1 is potentially serious!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Important note: China Ludao Technology may not be the best stock to buy. You might find something better in this list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Memorial Day Weekend is usually a time in which banner planes buzz up and down the Jersey Shore advertising drink specials, pizza deals or local businesses to the sun-seekers below. On Sunday in the Wildwoods, a few went political, apparently over the reopening of most Jersey Shore beaches from months-long coronavirus restrictions. One aimed at Gov. Phil Murphy said: Murphys mom voted for Guadagno. (Murphy ran against Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in 2017.) And another said, "Tom Wolf likes to color - an apparent reference to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfs color-coded reopening plan. Wolf was at odds with fellow Democrat Murphy last week, saying Pennsylvania residents should stay away from the Jersey Shore and Maryland beaches. I am not sure why the governors of Maryland and New Jersey have opened their beaches, but they have...I wouldnt go to the beach," Wolf said. A second plane flew past the North Wildwood beach Sunday, pulling a sign saying "Wolf likes to color" An employee at Paramount Air Service, an aerial advertising company, confirmed to NJ Advance Media a client had paid for the two signs to fly along the coast, but would not disclose more information. Further north, in Sea Isle City, beachgoers saw planes that displayed, "Resist Murphy, and Wolf is the Nerd King. A few businesses have garnered media attention for opening before New Jersey restrictions allow, and on Monday, a rally in Point Pleasant Beach will call for businesses deemed nonessential top reopen. Apparently the banner planes in Sea Isle arent happy with the Governor of Pennsylvania ... this sign was preceded by a Resist Murphy banner plane ... weird times indeed pic.twitter.com/Grc0TKxYVy SteveB (@SJB414) May 23, 2020 Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Assam recorded its highest single-day spike of 122 cases on Monday, taking the total past the 500-mark, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. With these fresh cases, the total number of COVID-19 infections has gone up to 514 in the state, of which 445 are active cases, Sarma said in a tweet. "Alert ~ 48 new cases of #COVID19+. 16 Karimganj, 8 Lakhimpur, 8 Ghy Qrnt, 5 Cachar, 4 Hailakandi, 3 South Salmara, 2 Nalbari, 1 each Morigaon/Goalpara," he tweeted. In a series of tweets earlier during the day, Sarma said samples of 74 people from across different districts tested positive for the virus. Of these, 53 are from Golaghat, six from Kokrajhar, five from Karimganj, four from Dhemaji, two each from Tinsukia and Sivasagar, and one each from Nagaon and Jorhat districts, he added. On the other hand, five patients recovered and were discharged from different hospitals in the state, the minister said. "Five patients have been discharged today after testing negative for #COVID19 twice. Three from Guwahati and two from Jorhat medical college. Best wishes," he tweeted. Sarma said mostly returnees have tested positive for coronavirus. "It is clarified that all swabs are collected from people soon after they arrive from outstation. Subsequently they are transferred to the quarantine centres. Therefore, most of the positive cases in Assam are imported and not home- grown!" he said in a tweet. Of the total 514 cases, four patients have died due to the deadly disease, while 62 have been cured, Sarma said. Besides, three patients have migrated to other states, the minister said. After inter-state movement through road and rail networks was allowed during the lockdown period, Assam saw a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. With domestic flight operations resuming from Monday, the health officials are expecting this spike to be even more sharper in coming days. To screen all the people coming from outside the state by road and rail network, the government has set up five zonal screening camps besides those already existing at the district headquarters and local levels. Kokrajhar has the zonal screening camp for Lower Assam districts, Tezpur for North Assam districts, Jorhat for Upper Assam districts, Guwahati for Central Assam districts and Silchar for Barak Valley districts. A total of 66,444 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in seven laboratories in Assam and NIV in Pune, the state Health and Family Welfare Department said in its daily bulletin on Sunday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You are here: China China's top legislator Li Zhanshu Monday said he is confident of completing an important legislative task on safeguarding national security for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Li made the remarks when he delivered a report on the work of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee to the third session of the 13th NPC for deliberation. A draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security is under deliberation at the session. Police on Monday arrested a leader of a fringe right wing outfit in connection with the alleged vandalism of a cinema set near Kochi on May 24, an incident which drew a sharp reaction from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. A district level leader of the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal was arrested in connection with the incident, police said. He has been charged under various sections of the IPC, including 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language anddoing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony). "We have registered a case. A Special Investigation Team has been constituted. The culprits will be arrested soon", Ernakulam Rural Superintendent of Police K Karthick told reporters. He asserted that all the culprits involved in the incident would be arrested. Expressing anguish over the attack, actor Tovino Thomas, who is starring in the film, said the "contractual set" of the film "Minnal Murali" was destroyed by a group of "racialists". Police said the arrest was part of the probe by the Special Investigation Team formed for the purpose after a case was registered against six people allegedly involved in damaging the set erected for the Malayalam film. In a Facebook post, Hari Palode, the leader of a right wing group AHP, congratulated a district leader of "Rashtiya Bajrang Dal" for destroying the set raised on the sand bed of the Periyar river in Kalady, near a temple. He has also posted photos of the alleged vandalism on his Facebook page. The incident drew a sharp reaction from Vijayan. "Such an act should not have happened in our state," he told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram in response to a query. Referring to incidents of targeting film sets and crew of movies in other parts of the country, allegedly by certain 'communal elements' as part of implementing their communal agenda, the Chief Minister said, "This was not accepted by the people of this country." "All these are done by a particular sect of communal elements in our country. A common sentiment prevails against them in the country," he said. Noting that the movie set was constructed in March by spending lakhs of Rupees and shooting was stopped due to the lockdown, Vijayan sought to know "what religious sentiment was hurt" due to the erection of the film set there. "Everyone knows why such a set was created. Kerala is not a place for such communal elements to indulge in vandalism. Strong action will be taken against this act," Vijayan said. Actor Thomas said the film's first schedule at Wayanad had been in progress when the construction of the set for the second schedule began at Kalady. It was carried out by art director Manu Jagad and team, under special instructions by stunt choreographer Vlad Rimburg. "For this, we had the rightful permission from the authorities concerned. And as we were about to start shooting in this set, which was built at a considerable cost, the whole country went into lockdown, following which our shoot was paused, just like all others", he said. "It is during this prevailing uncertainty that this contractual set was destroyed by a group of racialists. The reasons they cite for this unceremonious act are not understood to our senses till now," the actor wrote on his Facebook page. "We have heard of movie sets being vandalised by religious fanatics in northern parts of the country. Now its happening to us right here. It has caused us a lot of distress and even more of anxiety. We have decided to go ahead with the legal proceedings," he said. AHP General Secretary Hari Palode said complaints were filed with the authorities against erecting the film set near the temple. The set reportedly resembled a place of religious worship. Left cultural organisation "Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham" and Kalady Shivratri Aghosha Samiti, a committee associated with the temple, also condemned the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Tao Heung Holdings Limited (HKG:573) Founder, Wai Chung, recently bought HK$316k worth of stock, for HK$1.05 per share. Nevertheless, it only increased their shareholding by a minuscule percentage, and it wasn't a massive purchase by absolute value, either. Check out our latest analysis for Tao Heung Holdings Tao Heung Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Notably, that recent purchase by Founder Wai Chung was not the only time they bought Tao Heung Holdings shares this year. Earlier in the year, they paid HK$1.35 per share in a HK$800k purchase. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of HK$0.98. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Wai Chung was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months. Wai Chung purchased 7.42m shares over the year. The average price per share was HK$1.34. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! SEHK:573 Recent Insider Trading May 25th 2020 Tao Heung Holdings is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Insider Ownership of Tao Heung Holdings I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Tao Heung Holdings insiders own 58% of the company, currently worth about HK$580m based on the recent share price. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At Tao Heung Holdings Tell Us? It is good to see the recent insider purchase. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Tao Heung Holdings insiders are well aligned, and quite possibly think the share price is too low. Nice! So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. At Simply Wall St, we've found that Tao Heung Holdings has 2 warning signs (1 can't be ignored!) that deserve your attention before going any further with your analysis. 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. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts began their 2020 Medallion Ceremony Friday morning with an invocation by Jose Lucero, the singing of the national anthem by Nixons valedictorian Vivian Coleman and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Zoe Alvarez. The curbside ceremony allowed for students to receive their medallion but still upheld safety guidelines. As the ceremony continued, friends and family who could not attend the on-site ceremony still caught their graduate being honored on the VMT Facebook page. The livestream gave teachers and administrators the opportunity to speak to the students being celebrated. The ceremony is an early indicator of what the UISD and LISD graduations may look like. It presented the names of students who were chosen to receive scholarships, the awards earned by the seniors and the names of the students celebrated during the Medallion Ceremony. Photos of the students who received scholarships and awards, such as the Womens City Club VMT Excellence in Character Scholarship or the Presidential Award, were shown in the presentation. The gold presidential award signifies a high GPA and an all A Honor Roll, and the silver signifies a high GPA and an A or B Honor Roll, VMT counselor Ana Laura Guajardo said. Most of the livestream was about the students who were named in honor of their accomplishments. As the sections changed, their teachers gave heartfelt comments about the students futures and their time at VMT. Senior class of 2020, congratulations for accomplishing what you have, and congratulations to your parents, VMT Art Teacher Gilbert Rocha said. I want to thank you for years of dedication. For my art students, I just dont have enough words to express all the emotions that I feel. I am so grateful for having you guys as my students. From dance, choir, music, theater and art, teachers from every department gave their thanks and love to their students after each section was finished. After the names were presented, Coleman who was not just the NHS valedictorian but also the senior speaker and a 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholar by the U.S. Department of Education presented a speech for her class. With the class of 2020, a lot was taken out of our hands. This year, we read about loss, regret and indecision. However, the contrast can also be stated, Coleman said. Without realizing, we as a student body evolved. We grew into ourselves to attain accomplishments never thought possible. As a 2020 Presidential Scholar, she is one of 161 students in the nation chosen for her scholastic achievement, artistic excellence, career preparation, community service, demonstration of leadership, strong character and her commitment to high ideals, LISD stated. Only two students per state are chosen in recognition of their accomplishments. When I received the email, I dropped my AP Macroeconomics study guide and I ran downstairs to tell my parents the good news. My stepmom, Nora Coleman, cried as she held me, and I felt completely overjoyed, Coleman said. This recognition is a testament to the hard work my grandmother, Jessie Williams, put into raising me when I was a little girl growing up. This proves that my grandmothers efforts to help me memorize the multiplication tables were not squandered. By receiving this honor, J.W. Nixon High School makes history. This recognition is for Laredo and for all those in our community. Im glad to be able to pave the way for others within our community. I want to encourage students to attain the impossible. I never thought I would make it this far, and Im so thankful for this opportunity. I want to thank everyone who made this possible and who believed in me. Coleman was also Nixons Class President from 2017-20, National Honor Society President in 2019-20, Eco-Mustang/Pepsi Co Recycle Rallying School Founder and President for 2018-20, Thespian Society Secretary in 2016-20, and UIL Coordinator Assistant during 2018-20. Vivian is a staff writer/columnist with the Trevino Magnet Schools Magnet Tribune and a treasurer for VMTs Concert Choir. She also volunteers her time with Return of the 100 Acre Trees, Spanish National Society Drive, Communities in School, Veterans Shelter, Teens Against Domestic Violence, Junior Achievement and South Texas Blood Bank. Vivian is so deserving of this accolade. This honor is a testament to her dedication in the classroom, leadership skills and her involvement in community activities, Nixon High School Principal Cassandra Mendoza said. She has brought recognition to Nixon High School, the Laredo Independent School District and the City of Laredo. I am beyond proud of Vivian. Never forget the fond memories you made at VMT, VMT Principal Dr. Martha Villarreal said. Go and make your dreams come true, but remember to set your goals, make your plan, apply discipline and consistently work on your plan and dont be afraid to fail. Get up and try again. Christian Ocampo may be reached cocampo@lmtonline.com If you could urge your government to do more to protect the most vulnerable residents in our society from the ravages of COVID-19, would you? Even Americans who generally oppose more government regulation make some exceptions when lives are at stake. And thats exactly the case right now at nursing homes and long-term care facilitates across the country, which account for about 30,000 COVID-19 deaths. In Texas, 3,011 residents at 311 nursing homes have tested positive and 490 have died. The reason residents in these facilities are most vulnerable isnt just because theyre elderly, medically frail and often unable to advocate for themselves. Its also because state and federal governments have failed for decades to provide the regulatory oversight needed to keep them safe, and as we speak, proposals are in the works to dismantle some of the few safeguards implemented during the previous administration. The spread of infection was a threat to nursing home residents even before anybody ever heard the term COVID-19. A recent analysis by Kaiser Health News found that 63 percent of nursing homes had violated infection control standards and many had repeated lapses. Yet, few facilities faced disciplinary action. All but 1 percent of violations were classified as minor and didnt earn fines, Kaiser found. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration was working to weaken oversight even further, including proposing rule changes that would loosen Obama-era infection control standards and lowering fees for violations that put residents in harms way. The administration has already imposed a moratorium on civil penalties for violating many of the Obama-era standards, which were the first major overhaul of nursing home regulations in decades, as the agency rewrites the rules. The Obama-era reforms had imposed a range of staffing requirements and other steps to improve care for residents, and bolstered enforcement. One key change was to require every nursing home to employ one infection control specialist at least part-time. But that reform was on the chopping block by last summer when, after fierce lobbying by the nursing home industry, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, proposed letting nursing homes use consultants instead and require only that the specialists spend sufficient time at the facility. That proposed rule change, a CMS spokesperson told the editorial board, is not yet final and is part of the Trump administrations effort to allow nursing homes to devote more of their time and resources to residents instead of unnecessary paperwork by eliminating obsolete or excessively burdensome regulations and allowing commonsense flexibilities. More Information "We have too many infections, too many deaths, too many hospitalizations. Not all are inevitable. Some of them could be avoided if we did a better job." - Toby Edelman,Center for Medicare Advocacy. See More Collapse That rationale doesnt hold water. Since when is controlling infection obsolete or excessively burdensome? Its more important than ever. Thats why, back in 2018, attorneys general in 17 states wrote to CMS in 2018 and called efforts to roll back the Obama regulations a threat to the mental and physical security of some of the most vulnerable residents of our states. Now, we can see all too clearly how quickly an infection can spread through nursing homes, long-term care facilities and other facilities for the elderly. The infection preventionist is a really important concept. I thought it was one of the most important things that came out of the Obama regulations because we were going to be more serious about this, Toby Edelman, a senior policy attorney at the nonprofit Center for Medicare Advocacy, told the editorial board. We have too many infections, too many deaths, too many hospitalizations. Not all are inevitable. Some of them could be avoided if we did a better job. The Trump administration has also put nursing home residents at greater risk by lowering the fines imposed on facilities when they violate safety standards. Instead of fining homes for each day they were out of compliance as was done under the Obama administration regulators are encouraged to issue a single fine per instance. An NBC News investigation found that change resulted in a 34 percent drop in the overall amount of nursing home penalties from 2017 to 2018. That gives unscrupulous or lax nursing home owners little incentive to fix deficiencies. That is even more dangerous now, when family members and other visitors are barred from seeing nursing home residents. Under normal circumstances, those visits can help ensure that residents are getting the care they deserve. Even government surveyors, whose job it is to inspect facilities, currently have limited access, which may allow violations to go unchecked and put residents at risk. Federal and state officials have taken action to combat the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. The Trump administration this week released guidelines for safe reopening of nursing homes, which include regular testing for residents and staff, providing protective gear for staff and banning visitors until no new cases are reported. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered COVID-19 testing for all nursing home residents and staff in the state. Those are good and necessary steps and they show what can be done to safeguard the health and well-being of the people we love: the elderly and ailing grandparents, parents, and relatives who are residents in nursing homes, along with the staff who care for them. Such efforts should not be limited to halting COVID-19. This pandemic has shown that we need more regulation of long-term care facilities, not less. Now and after this public health crisis has been contained. BAGHDAD The new Iraqi government has begun procedures to reinvestigate the violent acts during the popular protests that broke out in October and killed more than 700 people and injured over 25,000. The decision was greatly welcomed at home and in the international arena. The United Nations Security Council called for transparency during the investigation. Following the first meeting of his government May 9, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Khadimi announced the formation of an investigation committee, whose members have not been disclosed so far. He said that the committee will work on uncovering the names of the parties responsible for killing hundreds of protesters who have been calling for reform and the trial of corrupt politicians. The committee is currently being formed and its members will be announced at a later stage. This is the second committee of this kind, following the one that was formed by Adel Abdul Mahdi, former prime minister who resigned at the end of November 2019, which did not yield satisfactory results for the protesters and failed to indict any party behind the bloody events that took place in central and southern Iraq. The head of the Bayariq al-Khair parliamentary bloc, Mohamed al-Khaledi, had said Dec. 1, 2019, that the families of the victims can now file a complaint against the former prime minister. However, Ultrairaq had reported in February that the two largest parliamentary blocs, the Sairoon Alliance and Fatah Alliance, had assured Abdul Mahdi to stand against any attempt of trying the former prime minister. The political parties for the most part support the government in conducting an investigation into the ongoing violence that started last fall. The parties, however, have different stances in regard to the responsibility of Abdul Mahdi and his government, since he also served as the supreme commander of the armed forces, accused of using excessive force against the demonstrators, and was supposed to take a decision based on internal voting as per the constitution. Thus, the investigation entails the accountability of all involved ministers. The Sairoon Alliance led by Muqtada al-Sadr stressed that the outcome of the current investigation will not be conclusive. Badr al-Ziyadi, a member of parliament of the alliance, told Al-Monitor, Under concordant governments, independent investigations remain far-fetched. Investigation committees will most likely be politically motivated and yield false results. He added, Yet we hope that the new government would be able to track down the perpetrators who have been targeting protesters across different parts of the country. Ziyadi expressed hope that an investigation would be launched into corruption cases in the previous government in order to prove its seriousness in implementing the government investigation. It seems the parliament is heading to make a decision banning accused politicians from leaving the country, he added. Raad al-Dahlaki, member of parliament for the Iraqi Forces Alliance, said that his alliance also demanded the prime minister to reveal the names of those involved in violence against Iraqis and ban them from traveling until the completion of the investigations. Meanwhile, the Fatah Alliance, which includes the leaders of the Popular Mobilization Units and is led by Hadi al-Amiri, considered that any indictment of Abdul Mahdi's government entails the accusation of all the political blocs that participated in his government, according to Hanin al-Qaddu, a member of the alliance. Per the constitution, indicting the Iraqi government ought to happen for the entirety of the government, which means holding accountable all the political parties that were involved, he told Al-Monitor. Qaddu said the investigation into the killing of the protesters is a difficult and complicated process that involves several considerations. I do not believe the current situation is conducive for such a step. He added, Should the investigation committee be able to make a breakthrough and prove the involvement of certain parties in the killing of protesters, then it would be easier to pinpoint the parties behind the targeting of the security forces and the headquarters of political parties. The protest coordination committee set a time frame to conduct similar investigations into the wounding and killing of thousands of protesters. Zulfiqar Hussein, member of the Baghdad coordination committee, told Al-Monitor, Former Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi represented the head of the executive authority and is the first to blame for the violence that happened against protesters during that period. He should be tried for the intentional and unintentional killing of innocent people. Any other explanation or interpretation of the events is merely an attempt to protect him. Ali al-Tamimi, head of the Constitutional Center for Legal Research and Studies, told Al-Monitor, Prosecuting security forces and even the prime minister in the killing of protesters is totally legal and constitutional based on a set of laws, including the Military Penal Code, the Internal Security Forces Law, the Civil Penal Code as well as the International Criminal Court Law, which do not exempt the prime minister who serves as the commander of the armed forces. This holds true even if he did not give direct orders to kill demonstrators. He concluded, The crimes that are being investigated do not fall under the statute of limitations according to the Iraqi law and the International Criminal Court. The prime minister has the right to file a request to form a specialized court to try the accused of killing the protesters as crimes against humanity." Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 03:26:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A security guard locks the main gate of an amusement park during Eid al-Fitr holiday as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 24, 2020. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 222 on Sunday, as 10 new cases were confirmed. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) ADEN, Yemen, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 222 on Sunday, as 10 new cases were confirmed. The Yemeni Health Ministry said in a brief statement that "during the past 24 hours, 10 cases of COVID-19 were detected in four provinces controlled by the government." The ministry said that the number of recoveries in the government-controlled areas increased to 10 since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus on April 10. Also, the government announced that the death toll from the virus climbed to 42 in different areas under its control, including the southern port city of Aden. The Yemeni government has taken several measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including imposing a partial overnight curfew in Aden and other major cities under its control. The government called on donors and relevant international humanitarian organizations to provide support to help contain the pandemic. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa. Enditem The campaign to reopen the iconic Bewley's cafe on Grafton Street begins officially today. Fans of the famous coffee shop which opened in 1927 will gather outside at 11am. The shop shut earlier this month with the loss of 110 jobs. The closure has been blamed on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 1.5m annual rental cost. The building is leased from a company controlled by developer Johnny Ronan. Damien Cassidy who is spearheading the campaign says it needed to be taken over by someone who cared not about money, but about people. We need someone who will come in there with a genuine interest, he said. 1001492[/readmore[ Gorstein later found himself taking a stab at opening up his own store in his 20s after ending a short stint in the financial services and investments industry. A position he had taken in Los Angeles ironically relocated him back to Chicago and after realizing the financial services industry wasnt for him, Gorsteins father offered to let him work at his furniture store in Evergreen Park while he looked for a new job. At the time, Gorsteins older brother had just opened up his own furniture store, J&B Bedding in Roselle, and Gorstein thought if his brother could do it, he could too. National carrier Air India will resume its operations from Mizoram from Thursday, though domestic passenger flights restarted services across the country after a gap two months on Monday, an official said. GoAir and IndiGo, two other airlines having services in Mizoram, were yet to announce their schedule for recommencement of flights from Aizawl, he said. All scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended since March 25 when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic. The flights resumed on Monday. "Air India will operate Airbus 319 on the Kolkata- Imphal-Aizawl sector thrice a week - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The service will start from May 28," Nagaland principal consultant for civil aviation, Wing Commander J Lalhmingliana told PTI. The West Bengal government did not allow operation of domestic flights between May 25 and 27 from Kolkata airport after the city was lashed by cyclone Amphan last week, he said. Lalhmingliana said only residents of Mizoram and those outsiders who obtained special permission from the state home department will be allowed to enter the state as the issuance of Inner Line Permit (ILP) on arrival at the Lengpui airport here has currently been suspended. According to the Standard Operating Procedure, any stranded Mizoram resident intending to return by flight will have to obtain movement permit from the state government before they arrive at Lengpui airport, he said. Private airlines GoAir and IndiGo were yet to inform the authorities their schedule for resuming flight services from Aizawl, Lalhmingliana said. GoAir, which operates on the Kolkata-Guwahati-Aizawl sector, had earlier said it would restart operations from September. On March 1, IndiGo launched flights on Aizawl- Guwahati-Agartala route. Meanwhile, the state government has decided to write to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to arrange for additional flights on May 29 and 30, under secretary in the state home department Zahmingthanga told PTI. He said the state home department has so far received applications from 106 stranded residents who intended to return by flight. The state government has deployed medical teams and installed thermal camera at the Lengpui airport. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Deakin University will cut 400 staff roles in the latest hit to the tertiary education sector from the COVID-19 crisis. Vice-chancellor Iain Martin briefed Deakins staff on Monday, telling them the university expects to lose between $250 million and $300 million in revenue next year. Deakin University vice-chancellor Iain Martin says the university will have to spend much more than it earns in the next three years. Credit:Rob Gunstone The budget blow is almost equivalent to the Geelong-based institutes entire revenue from international students in 2018. The university also has campuses in Warrnambool and Burwood. Visitors take photos at "Encountering Goguryeo through Images on Stone Walls" of Immersive Digital Gallery 3 at the National Museum of Korea. Courtesy of National Museum of Korea By Kwon Mee-yoo The 10-story Stone Pagoda from Gyeongcheonsa Temple Site, national treasure no. 86, tells a story of honor and shame. The stone pagoda, known for its elaborate carvings of Buddha, bodhisattvas and scenes from the classic novel "Journey to the West," was initially built at the Gyeongcheon Temple in Hwanghae Province in 1348 during the Goryeo period. However, it was smuggled to Japan in 1907 by Tanaka Mitsuaki, then-Japanese Minister of Imperial Household Affairs, and returned to Korea in 1960. Upon its return, the pagoda was reconstructed at Gyeongbok Palace, instead of its original place, and then moved to its current location in the National Museum of Korea (NMK) in 2005 after a 10-year restoration project. Now the pagoda gets a new life with the museum's digital immersive project "Stories from Each Level of the Gyeongcheon Temple Pagoda." As the sun goes down and darkness falls in the museum, colorful, moving images breathe new life into the stone tower. Iconic images from "Journey to the West" as well as Buddhist assemblies and rituals carved on each level of the pagoda come to life through a media art projection, complete with a dramatic finale with the Buddha's attainment of Nirvana. During the day, when the projection is not available due to lighting conditions, visitors can use a mobile application to see details of the pagoda and digitally restored images. The NMK opened three Immersive Digital Galleries Wednesday, adding digital images, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to enhance the appreciation of cultural properties. "By the museum adopting new immersive technology, such as VR and AR technologies, we hope to offer the people new and unprecedented ways to experience our cultural heritage," Culture Minister Park Yang-woo said at the opening ceremony of the new galleries. "Climbing Mt. Geumgang" at Immersive Digital Gallery features landscapes by Jeong Seon and Kim Hong-do. Courtesy of National Museum of Korea At Immersive Digital Gallery 1, visitors can experience traditional paintings in a new way as media art featuring notable art pieces is projected on a 60-meter-wide, five-meter-tall three-sided screen. The four videos depict a king's procession based on "Uigwe: The Royal Protocols of Joseon Kingdom;" the Korean perspective on afterlife based on "Ten Kings of the Hell"; banquets of Taoist immortals based on "Paintings of Immortals' Party at the Jade Pond"; and trips to Mount Geumgang based on Jeong Seon's "Album of Mt. Geumgang in 1711." Korean-Japanese musician Yang Bang-ean provided music for the gallery. Visitors can also create their own "Chaekgado," or scholar's accoutrement painting, using a variety of objects both traditional and contemporary. "Such media art was featured in some special exhibitions, but this is the first time for it to become a permanent installation. It is a museum gallery without actual artifacts," said Lee Tae-hee, associate curator of the museum's digitization division. "Previously, text connected exhibits and viewers. However, images have grown in importance in this digital era and immersive contents like this can bridge cultural heritage and museumgoers." The contents are produced in partnership with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KCCA). "We have extensive knowledge and data on cultural heritage, and the creators from the KCCA can turn this into more interesting content," Lee said. Immersive Digital Gallery 2, located on second floor, is themed "Into the Day of Supreme Peace." A late Joseon-era folded screen painting "The City of Supreme Peace," which is scheduled to be exhibited in the Gallery of Calligraphy and Painting 2 from September to December, is transformed into a digital installation that animates over 2,100 characters in the painting in 8K Ultra HD quality. Viewers can magnify certain parts of the painting and participate in interactive events such as moving the flowerpots and putting horseshoes on horses. Visitors can also have a peek at restricted areas such as the museum's storage and conservation science office through VR headsets. "Despite the state-of-the-art technology we used for the Immersive Digital Galleries, technology should not come to the front, but connect the humans with cultural properties," Lee said. "Stories from Each Level of the Gyeongcheonsa Temple Pagoda" projects images related to the pagoda's history onto it. Courtesy of National Museum of Korea Voters enter and exit the Austin City Hall during the presidential primary in Austin, Texas, on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images) Federal Judge Rules Florida Cannot Bar Ex-felons Who Cannot Pay Fines, Fees From Voting A Florida law that requires convicted felons to pay off outstanding fines and fees related to their sentences before they can register to vote was in part unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled. With the November election ahead, the decision by U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle on May 24 could potentially give way to hundreds of thousands of ex-felons who have completed all terms of their sentence including probation and parole the ability to register to vote, possibly expanding voter rolls in a battleground state. In his 125-page ruling (pdf), Hinkle declared that parts of Floridas law were unconstitutional. He also ordered the state to put in place a new process that would help ex-felons determine whether they are eligible for vote. This pay-to-vote system would be universally decried as unconstitutional but for one thing: each citizen at issue was convicted, at some point in the past, of a felony offense, the judge wrote in his opinion. A state may disenfranchise felons and impose conditions on their re-enfranchisement. But the conditions must pass constitutional scrutiny. Whatever might be said of a rationally constructed system, this one falls short in substantial respects. In November 2018, Florida passed an amendment, commonly referred to as Amendment 4, to the states constitution that allows ex-convicts to vote upon completion of all terms of sentence including parole or probation, but excludes those who were convicted of murder or felony sexual offense. Before the amendment, all former convicted felons were permanently disenfranchised without a grant of executive clemency. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis subsequently signed Senate Bill 7066 in 2019, mandating that all formerly incarcerated people pay off restitution, court fees, and fines before their voting rights are restored (pdf). The law faced intense opposition from voting rights advocacy groups, who argue that it denies people with felony convictions the right to vote and penalizes them based on their inability to pay off fees and fines. Several ex-felons and advocacy groups then brought a lawsuit against state officials, challenging the constitutionality of the requirement to pay off all legal financial obligations (LFO). The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida consolidated the cases and issued a preliminary injunction in favor of the ex-felons, prompting the state to appeal. The court of appeals upheld the injunction in February. Hinkle sided with the plaintiffs, saying that requiring ex-felons who are otherwise eligible to vote but are genuinely unable to pay the required amount was unconstitutional. He also said the requirement to pay fees and costs as a condition of voting is also unconstitutional because it amounts to a tax, which violates the 24th Amendment. He said that the state can condition voting on payment of fines and restitution that a person is able to pay but cannot condition voting on payment of amounts a person is unable to pay or on payment of taxes, even those labeled fees or costs. The judge also ordered the division of elections to adopt a new process that allows ex-felons to request an advisory opinion on whether theyre eligible to vote and to request a statement of the fine or restitution that must be paid by the requesting person. If within 21 days an answer is not given or if the division of elections doesnt show that the requesting person is able to pay, and it doesnt provide a factual basis for the assertion, then the person should be allowed to vote. Daniel Smith, chair of the department of political science at the University of Florida, previously did an analysis that found more than 774,000 people from Florida with felony convictions who had been released or are under county supervision owe some amount of LFO (pdf). The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is representing the plaintiffs along with other civil rights groups, welcomed the federal courts decision in a statement. Todays ruling is a powerful reminder that no one can trump the U.S. Constitution. Our democracy requires that every eligible voter have equitable access to the ballot box, Daniel Tilley, legal director of the ACLU of Florida, said in the statement. The Florida governors office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Chinas anti-epidemic measures were right and set an excellent example to the world, said Stephen Perry, the chairman of the 48 Group Club, a British business association committed to promoting China-UK trade. In an exclusive interview with Peoples Daily Online, Perry expressed high hopes for Chinas two sessions and looked forward to closer Sino-British relations in the future. With the global economy contracting as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this years two sessions are being more closely watched by foreign observers. Perry expressed his interest in the Chinese governments plan to keep moving the economy forward and the preparations being made to avoid new outbreaks. Perry gave high praise to Chinas swift and effective actions against the virus, which helped all Chinese and foreign people alike. He noted that the countries that have done well have followed Chinas example, stopping the virus from spreading through testing and social distancing. Perry said the Chinese government made the decision to take action from the outset of the outbreak after listening to experts advice and respecting senior leaders experience in making such decisions. The measures have been right and China has set an excellent example to the world. It is unfortunate that some countries do not have the experience, and did not follow the advice and many people have died, he noted. This is a decisive year for China in its bid to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and to end extreme poverty. No nation ever managed the forces of capital as China has done, and [China] has done very successfully, he said. Perry said the development of Sino-British trade and economic relations are assured from the Chinese side. The British are hit by a bad blow from the virus and distractions from Brexit. We hope the British will respond well but no one knows what shape the British economy is going to be in, so it will take time to make suitable arrangements for the concrete conditions still to emerge, he said. On the subject of Sino-British relations, Perry looked forward to enhanced bilateral cooperation in the future. According to Perry, the two countries' bilateral relations in all fields have progressed very well and the British have a lot to gain from the Chinese market, BRI and third country cooperation, as well as investment from China. Due to the virus and the American trade war, the global situation is a little uncertain, which is having an effect on some parts of British society and its economy, Perry said. In the end, the new world will become clearer to the British and they will turn the right way. FEMA offering many forms of assistance to residents in disaster areas By PTI NEW DELHI: He quit his job in Dubai and returned to India to spend time with his ailing mother but life doesn't always go according to plan or COVID-19 restrictions - and news of her death came shortly before his 14-day quarantine in Delhi was ending. A heartbroken Aamir Khan said his mother died on Saturday and he could not even attend his mother's last rites at their home in Rampur on Sunday. His quarantine would end soon but he wasn't allowed to leave. It was a series of narrow misses, the 30-year-old, who had moved to Dubai six years ago to work as a product consultant and returned to India on May 13, told PTI. On Sunday, the day of his mother's funeral, the government announced revised guidelines for international arrivals. It divided the 14-day quarantine into two -- seven days paid institutional quarantine at the traveller's own cost, followed by seven days' isolation at home with self-monitoring of health. The government also announced that home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days in exceptional and compelling reasons such as cases of human distress, pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parents accompanied by children below 10 years, as assessed by the states. "I showed the news updates to the authorities. that the guidelines have been revised and I should be allowed to go and will take all precautions. I was ready to take a test too but nothing worked in my favour," Khan said. Khan had initially planned to come to India in March and spend a month with his mother who had been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November last year. "We will learn to live with the virus but the emotional losses it is causing will remain with us forever. I spent last two months with only one agenda, that I have to meet my mother. I put everything at stake because I was determined to do this," Aamir told PTI in a phone interview from the Delhi hotel where he is quarantined. But there were hurdles aplenty, including the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, strict quarantine rules and workplace complications. "I struggled for two months, making several rounds to the embassy, to come home. Finally I could board a repatriation flight on May 13 from UAE to Delhi," he said,. In accordance with protocol, he was sent to a quarantine centre, a private hotel he is paying for, for 14 days". On the eighth day, I told the representatives from SDM office that I really need to go to meet my mother. They told me they need to take special permission. More days went by and I got a call that my mother passed away. I pleaded the authorities to let me go for the last rites but I wasn't allowed to," he said tearfully. Recounting his ordeal, Khan said his plans to come in March were put on the backburner after international travel was suspended due to lockdown restrictions to contain spread of COVID-19. When he finally got a ticket for the repatriation flight after several rounds to the India Embassy, his office in Dubai said they could only give him leave for 20 days. "I was surprised with their response, I told them there is a compulsory 14-day quarantine period and I won't be left with much time. Bosses were unsure about when will flights resume and when I will be able to get back. Not paying heed to what is at stake, I decided to quit and move back in the hope of spending some months with my mother. I had no clue that she did not have any time left," he said. According to official data, 2.59 lakh people have registered to return from 98 countries under the Vande Bharat Mission, announced to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in different countries due to travel restrictions imposed in view of the COVID-19 spread. The galaxy, which has roughly the mass of the Milky Way, is circular with a hole in the middle, rather like a titanic doughnut. Its discovery, announced in the journal Nature Astronomy, is set to shake up theories about the earliest formation of galactic structures and how they evolve. The galaxy, named R5519, is 11 billion light-years from the Solar System. The hole at its centre is truly massive, with a diameter two billion times longer than the distance between the Earth and the Sun. To put it another way, it is three million times bigger than the diameter of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy Messier 87, which in 2019 became the first ever to be directly imaged. NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley (left) and Robert Behnken (right) participate in a dress rehearsal for launch at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 23, 2020, ahead of NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station. Demo-2 will serve as an end-to-end flight test of SpaceX's crew transportation system, providing valuable data toward NASA certifying the system for regular, crewed missions to the orbiting laboratory under the agency's Commercial Crew Program. Liftoff is targeted for 4:33 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 27. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett Larger image https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/49928071692/ Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. President Muhammadu Buhari A pro-All Progressives Congress body, APC Mandate Defenders, has accused some ministers of the Buhari administration of carrying themselves like they own the federal ministries, Daily Post has reported. The group expressed dismay on Sunday in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Ifeanyi Emeka. Recall that in December 2019 the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, sacked two senior officials within 24 hours. They are Marilyn Amobi, Managing Director of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) and Damilola Ogunbiyi, former Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency. Interestingly, President Muhammadu Buhari overruled Mamman in both cases. In canceling Ogunbiyis suspension, the presidency tweeted: Her resignation effective 31 December 2019 has been accepted to enable her to take up her new UN appointment. Just recently, Communication Minister, Isa Pantami allegedly chased staff of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission NIDCOM headed by Abike Dabiri-Erewa out of the Nigerian Communications Commission building. In a strongly-worded complaint, the APC group recalled that Buhari himself directed that all executive matters be forwarded to him through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha. They noted that collaboration will enable the government achieve quicker results, but lamented that certain ministers and heads of agencies were working in contrast at the expense of efficient service delivery. The group restated that the main duty of a minister is to articulate and guide the implementation of government policies as well as represent his/her ministry at the Federal Executive Council (EFCC) meeting. Some ministers now see themselves as lords over their subordinates instead of working together to achieve Mr. Presidents vision and plans for the country. Just recently, the immediate past female managing director of an intervention agency of the Federal Government said she was removed by the minister in charge of her ministry simply because she refused to yield to the ministers unpatriotic and irrational demands from her. We have seen several instances where unnecessary bickering and personal differences between a minister and a chief executive have brought embarrassments to the government, despite an existing public service rule which had already addressed the issue. The group condemned how Mustapha, who supervises and coordinates government programmes and policies, has been under attack for reminding ministers of an existing process to be followed before any chief executive is removed. Contents of the Public Service Rules were not written by Boss Mustapha but were formulated by the Government of Nigeria to ensure effective service delivery and prevent arbitrary removal of any chief executive who a minister does not like his or her face as well as to promote national interest over personal interest. Is it something that should warrant the barrage of attacks and campaigns of calumny against the SGF by some vested interests and influence peddlers in the power sector, the statement asked. As India crosses the 1 lakh tests per day milestone and begins work on the next, a senior government official on Monday underlined that Indias testing strategy had evolved to try remain ahead of the virus despite the healthcare infrastructure constraints and ensure that the testing facilities were not overwhelmed in any part of the country. It has been a tough balancing act sometimes in the face of criticism from the media, the official said, requesting anonymity because he isnt authorised to speak with the media. Do remember that the public health system wasnt paralysed this time as it was in 2009 when one of the worst flu pandemics Swine flu reached India. Hundreds died in this pandemic, a government official said. But the 2009 experience led to some attention being paid to strengthen the molecular diagnostic facilities for viruses in India. That came in handy when Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the early days of the Covid-19 outbreak, told the countrys top scientists in and outside the Indian Council of Medical Research to expand testing facilities. You have to work day and night to save peoples lives. Make every effort. You have my full support, PM Modi told them. And then, he and his office kept following up. For this outbreak, we are answerable to the highest level and are being watched by the highest level (officialese for Prime Minister, Dr Nivedita Gupta, the ICMR scientist who executed the effort to set up labs across the country, told Vogues India website, earlier this month. The difficult decision of the national lockdown bought them time as it slowed down the spread of the virus and gave the government time to prepare the healthcare infrastructure to trace, track, test, quarantine and treat people. We adopted an intelligent testing strategy to remain ahead of the virus. So in the beginning when the infection was entering the country from abroad, we centered our efforts to set up the initial burst of laboratories in cities. This focus kept on shifting on the basis of our analysis of the likely hotspots of the infection, a government official explained. Like before the government started allowing the migrants to go back home, testing facilities preceded them in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha. That was the most difficult part since India doesnt have a medical college at the district level, and district-level hospitals dont have the specialised set-up. This has been quite challenging as the labs outside the medical college systems have meager experience of handling human infectious material, a health ministry official recalled. All underserved areas were mapped and Covid-19 molecular diagnostic capacity reached in difficult to reach areas such as Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Ladakh, Goa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. In the big picture, India moved from 13 labs in the first week of February to 123 labs on March 24, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown. Days before the lockdown is formally lifted later this month-end, India has 609 testing labs in all states and UTs. Jugaad, or a frugal innovation, certainly helped when the imported Chinese testing kits didnt. TrueNat a diagnostic machine used for testing drug-resistant tuberculosis was tested and validated by ICMR to screen people for the Sars-Cov-2 virus (which causes the coronavirus disease) to boost testing capacities. Since TrueNat platform comes with an inbuilt sample collection in viral lysis buffer, the virus is inactivated and the biosafety requirements are minimal while handling the sample. There were 367 of these machines in different states for TB diagnosis. These are being used for Covid-19 also . Besides, supplies of 608 additional TrueNAT machines - each has a capacity for 10-12 tests in a day - are also being mobilised to be ready for deployment in June. With supplies of these machines, it would be possible to have Covid-19 testing capacities in districts with no capacity for carrying out the RT-PCR tests, or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test that is considered the gold standard for detecting Sars-Cov-2 virus. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 25.05.2020 LISTEN The consequences of the curveball President Nana Akufo-Addo threw at Ghanaians on that 9th of April 2020 by lifting the three weeks partial lockdown are still fresh in our archives. So, anytime there is a hint of any decision which wont be backed by science and valid data, we are quick to start pointing to the future consequences such decisions will have on the lives of the people of Ghana. The Ghana Education Service and for that matter the Government of Ghana is set to act against all professional advices from the certified Teacher Unions in Ghana, the National Council of Parent-Teacher Association, the Africa Education Watch and other key stakeholders in the education sub-sector, to reopen schools as the Ministry of Information dropped hints on such a decision. The Ministry of Information added that government will ensure that schools and pupils adhere to the existing protocols as it prepares to reopen schools. It is recalled that the Director General of Ghana Education Service, Prof Opoku Amankwa, requested for inputs from the stakeholders in the education sector to inform its decision to reopen schools in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. In its letter dated 18th May, 2020, and signed by the Executive Director, the Africa Education Watch has warned the Government of Ghana not to risk the lives of innocent children and teachers by reopening the schools as planned. Among the four concerns raised by the Africa Education Watch is the caution that any such decision must be based on science and backed by data generated by experts, and this should be done after a consensus reached by all stakeholders. The African Education Watch bemoaned the poor hygienic conditions in our school coupled with poor infrastructure which will obviously cause congestion in times when the government is enforcing other protocols including social distancing. The civil society organization finally warned that any attempt to reopen schools without consensus from all stakeholders including PTA, SMC, will suffer patronage since parents will fear to expose their children in a school environment which cannot be properly controlled in these times. The National Council of Parent-Teacher Association (NCPTA) equally frowns on governments resolve to reopen school against experts cautions. The NCPTA describes any such decision as premature and that there is no sufficient data from the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Medical Association to back a decision to reopen schools. Parents and school managements also foresee a huge risk as compliance on protocols amongst children especially wearing of nose masks for a long period of time and social distancing cannot be guaranteed. In furtherance, the NCPTAs in its press release dated 20th May, 2020, admonished government to still monitor the situation up to August or September to ascertain a downward trend of infection before considering the reopening of schools. The NCPTAs recollects events of the Tema Factory infection which happened as a result of concentration of people at a closed place for a long period of time. This the NCPTA says should be a warning to the government. In the midst of all these resistance by the key stakeholders including PTAs, SMCs and other civil society organizations, the government of Nana Akufo-Addo is bent on acting against all odds. To make matters worse, the Ghana Education Service which is supposed to work and act in the interest of Ghanaians especially innocent school children, has rather allowed itself to be polarized and compromised by this desperate NPP government. This is why the Ghana Education Service is only applying what the NPP government puts forward for implementation and not based its decision on valid data, science and common sense. We had a similar case when the President lifted the three weeks partial lockdown without any consensus from experts even at a time the cases of infection assumed a horizontal trend and community infections kept growing in larger proportions. Prof Agyeman Badu Akosa, Former Director General of GHS described the decision to lift the lockdown as reckless and one not backed by data. He was at the time advocating for an extension of the lockdown and even extended to other parts of the country. The cases of infection has not plateaued and the community spread in almost all the regions is getting alarming. This is the time we require an agile government which can assume a strictly responsive position with the ability to timely review policy instruments and options to meet the exigencies of the time. We cannot sit back and allow this polarized Ghana Education Service to sacrifice the lives of innocent school children, teachers and parents for President Nana Addos appetite to remain in power at all cost. To the President and his allies, lives of school children dont matter once their interest gets served. Ghanaians must resist any daring attempt of the GES and government to reopen schools. By Issifu Seidu Kudus Gbeadese (0244198031) [email protected] Hertz Global Holdings Inc., the car-rental company which filed for bankruptcy late Friday, said the collapse in air travel amid the coronavirus pandemic hit its biggest source of rental revenue. The overall impact of the COVID-19 crisis devastated our revenue, according to a court filing dated Sunday signed by Jamere Jackson, an executive vice president and chief financial officer of Hertz. The company, whose counters are common in airports across the globe, said the pandemic not only hit its revenues but also placed substantial new demands on its cash. In April, the first full month after the health crisis took hold in the U.S., its global revenue dropped 73 per cent from the same month in the previous year, according to Hertz. The bankruptcy filing in Delaware allows Hertz to keep operating while it forms a plan to pay creditors and turn around the business. While all travel-related companies have been hurt by the pandemic, a big factor for Hertz is its strategy of owning or leasing a large portion of its fleet outright instead of acquiring them through buyback agreements with manufacturers. Asset-backed debt In the U.S. and in some other countries, Hertz used asset-backed debt to help finance its rental fleet. A drop in used vehicle values because of the pandemic fuelled the companys woes, because of requirements to make payments corresponding to estimated market depreciation into those financial structures to prevent a cut in funding access. While the car rentor was able negotiate a short-term reprieve from creditors until May 22 on some payments, it wasnt able to work out longer-term agreements and made the difficult decision to commence these Chapter 11 cases, Hertz said in the filing. The company has already let go about 14,400 employees, cut marketing spending and consolidated some outlets, as many of its approximately half a million rental vehicles in the U.S. stand idle. It has sufficient funds to finance operations at least through the initial stage of bankruptcy proceedings, but may seek additional borrowings as the case progresses, it said. Hertzs financial debt load, including $14.7 billion of which relates to vehicle financing activities, is no longer sustainable, according to the filing. With little hope of returning to the type of business conditions seen before the outbreak any time soon, that debt must be restructured, it said. Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - It is a quiet day in the precious metals market, with prices drifting lower as two of the world's largest trading hubs are closed for holidays. Momentum is weak Monday with New York and London markets enjoying a long weekend. Still, analysts note that there is enough bullish sentiment to continue to support prices through the slow summer months. In low trading activity during the holiday session, June gold futures last traded at $1,727.20 an ounce, down 0.48% on the day. Meanwhile, silver prices, which captured everyone's attention last week, last traded at $17.635 an ounce, down 0.33% on the day. Some analysts have noted that gold is just seeing some further technical selling after prices pushed to a fresh 7.5-year high last week. Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex, noted in a report Sunday that profit-taking after last week's highs is not surprising as momentum indicators have not signaled a breakout move. He added that $1,700 has been an area of support he is watching as the price has held above that level since May 13. "We still see the next important target near $1800," he said. Analysts at Commerzbank said that they are also watching support at $1,700 an ounce. They also said that it is not surprising the gold market has leveled off after last week's multi-year high. "We believe that the price is merely taking a breather within an intact upwards trend. Only if it were to dip below this threshold [$1,700 an ounce] would any prolonged correction phase be likely. There is little to suggest that this will happen at the moment, however," the analysts said. Analysts at IG Markets said that they remain bullish on gold as long as prices hold critical support above $1,692 an ounce. Although gold appears to be holding above critical support, Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said that the market needs a spark to ignite a new rally higher, which could come from weak equity markets. "Gold remains bid near the $1725 per ounce, as investors believe that the upside potential could be unlocked with a renewed landslide across global equities. Yet, anything less than a sizeable and durable risk sell-off should maintain the top-sellers in place approaching the $1750 mark," she said in a note Monday. According to some market analysts, this will be a big week for economic data. Tuesday, markets will see how consumer sentiment is fairing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to some market analysts, this will be a big week for economic data. Tuesday, markets will see how consumer sentiment is fairing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "The gradual pace of recovery, even in states that have eased social distancing policies, is consistent with our view that the U.S. faces a long road ahead to any type of normalization," economists at Nomura said in a report published last week. In April, the U.S. Conference Board saw its most significant decline in consumer sentiment on record. Economists will be anxious to see if there has been an improvement as states have eased some lockdown measures. "Despite the stabilization of sentiment, a slower-than-expected recovery in demand or a second wave of COVID-19 cases continue to present significant risks to the outlook. In addition, with partisanship returning to fiscal negotiations, a failure to extend fiscal support later this summer could result in a sharp deterioration in the consumer outlook. Stubbornly elevated initial jobless claims this week highlight continued labor market strain that will likely persist," analysts at Nomura said. Later in the week, markets will get the second reading of first-quarter gross domestic product data. The first reading showed that the U.S. economy declined 4.8% in the first three months of the year, just as the economy was starting to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Minister Greg Hunt says states and territories are not likely to return to a lockdown situation again once restrictions to curb COVID-19 are lifted. Mr Hunt said in the case of any future outbreak of the coronavirus, "localised rings of containment" would instead be deployed. "That is the model we have for Australia. If there is a suburban, facility-based, or regional outbreak, we want those localised rings of containment," the Health Minister said. Mr Hunt added that it would only be "if there was systemic, statewide" community transmission that a state or territory would revert back to a lockdown. Quzhou, a city in eastern China's Zhejiang province, has joined other Chinese cities and social organizations to donate medical supplies to its sister cities around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 30, Quzhou sent a batch of donated medical supplies to three of its sister cities Catanzaro in Italy, Sumqayit in Azerbaijan, and Murcia in Spain to help them combat COVID-19. The supplies included 60,000 masks and 600 protective suits. Quzhou donates medical supplies to Catanzaro in Italy, Sumqayit in Azerbaijan, and Murcia in Spain to help them combat COVID-19 on March 30, 2020. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] Later in April, the city donated to Sano in Japan, Red Wing in the U.S., and the Children of the Doolittle Raiders organization. According to an official from the Quzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the city received a lot of support and assistance from its sister cities and organizations at the very beginning of the outbreak, and now it's "our turn to extend a helping hand to them when some of them are facing big pressure from the prevention and control of the virus." Moreover, in order to address a market shortage of masks, the city encouraged some of its qualified enterprises to shift their businesses to the production of masks. Zhejiang Pan Casa Co., a local famous manufacturer of furniture products, said it has set up 10 production lines of KN95 masks and three lines of disposable masks. The company's daily production capacity can now reach up to 500,000 KN95 masks and 500,000 disposable ones. For product info and contact: http://qz.china.com.cn/2020-05/21/content_41157068.html http://qz.china.com.cn/2020-05/21/content_41157082.html Contact: Wu Xuemei / Shino Telephone and WeChat: (+86) 18905703682 Email: shino@lmerihome.com Know more about Quzhou: http://qz.china.com.cn/node_1008163.htm VANCOUVER - Metro Vancouver appears to have developed an industry with the "sole purpose" of laundering money and moving cash across borders, a public inquiry heard Monday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Commissioner Austin Cullen listens to introductions before opening statements at the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia, in Vancouver, on February 24, 2020. Money laundering in British Columbia will be under scrutiny again this week when a public inquiry resumes today. Over the next 3 1/2 weeks, expert witnesses ranging from academics to police officers are expected to shed light on how dirty money is quantified and the regulatory models that are being used to fight it around the globe. The B.C. government called the inquiry amid growing concern that illegal cash was helping fuel its real estate, luxury car and gambling sectors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck VANCOUVER - Metro Vancouver appears to have developed an industry with the "sole purpose" of laundering money and moving cash across borders, a public inquiry heard Monday. Criminologist Stephen Schneider said that while criminal organizations have traditionally laundered the proceeds of crime as part of their broader operations, separate money service businesses are now facilitating them. "The whole sort of 'Vancouver model' revolves around professional money laundering," said Schneider, an associate professor at St. Mary's University in Halifax. Schneider made the comments to commissioner Austin Cullen as the first expert witness during the part of the inquiry dedicated to an overview of money laundering and regulatory models during the next 3 1/2 weeks. The Cullen Commission heard opening arguments in February and the main hearings in September will delve into specific industries. Schneider's testimony is based on his review of commissioned reports, media clippings and academic studies, including his own research into RCMP investigations on money laundering. In addition to cleaning dirty money, British Columbia's third-party businesses are also alleged to facilitate "capital flight" from China, or the movement of funds out of the country beyond the US$50,000 per-person limit imposed by the Chinese government. It's estimate that billions or even trillions of dollars have been moved out of China against local rules in the phenomenon known as "capital flight," Schneider said. While those funds may not have been earned through crime, they are intermingled with criminal proceeds via third-party businesses, he said. "This is something that is fairly new in the context of money laundering," Schneider said. "It's inextricably part of the so-called Vancouver model and contributed to investments in the real estate market being intermingled with the proceeds of crime." Broadly speaking, money laundering is a "tactical imperative" that criminal entrepreneurs, drug traffickers and organized crime have developed to avoid suspicion, he said. "In order to enjoy the fruits of their labour they need to be able to take that cash and try to convert it into more of an asset that's less suspicious all the while trying to hide the illegal source." British Columbia is an attractive place to do that, he said. Not only is it near California, which is an entry point for the Mexican drug trade, but the Port of Vancouver provides a trade hub with Asia and B.C. has a homegrown marijuana industry of its own. Metro Vancouver is also home to many substance users, providing a built-in clientele, he said. Although you might think mass amounts of money would require intricate plans to clean or conceal it, a lot of money is literally carried in suitcases across borders, he said. Cash is still king, especially in the drug trade, and small denominations of $20 and $50 bills are most common, even in very large transactions. "It's not unusual to have multi-kilos of cocaine or marijuana being purchased with stacks of $20 bills." At the same time, the digital world is creating new opportunity in the form of cryptocurrencies and even multi-player games. He gave the example of games like "Second Life," where in-game currency can be used to purchase virtual products or advance to the next level. That currency has real value attached and could be used to launder money, he warned. But while there have been a small number of cases of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin being used in the drug trade, cash remains the preferred payment. Schneider also issued a warning that while money laundering is a problem, he believes a much bigger one exists in financial crimes. Financial crimes like securities fraud or stock market manipulation can be harder to investigate and prosecute, and Canada "has never been very good at addressing them," he said. Gangs and the street-level drug trade are "low-hanging fruit" relative to the massive offences that occur within commercial crimes that may be committed by corporations and private businesses that appear legitimate, he said. "When we think of serious crimes that have significant impact on society, we just can't think of drugs. We have to think of commercial crimes as well," he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. 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Cummingss, the former Vote Leave chief who was the architect of Johnson's Brexit strategy, is facing calls to resign after it emerged that he travelled from London to his parents' home in Durham with coronavirus symptoms during the lockdown, reports the BBC. Speaking at Sunday's Downing Street briefing, Johnson said he believed Cummings had "no alternative" but to make the journey at the end of March for childcare "when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus". The Prime Minister said he held "extensive" discussions on Sunday with Mr Cummings, who he said "followed the instincts of every father and every parent - and I do not mark him down for that". However, the BBC report said that the Prime Minister was finding it difficult to shift the political focus away from his key adviser. Speaking to the BBC, Acting Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said that the row over Cummings was "preventing the government from getting on and doing its job, and doing it better". He said that Johnson should sack Cummings "so the government has more credibility in what it says about public health". "The instruction the Prime Minister gave us all to stay at home has been breached by his top adviser and that's what you can't get away from in this story, its pretty simple. "I hope the prime minister will come to his senses, recapture his judgement and reinstall authority on this crisis by acting," he told the BBC. Meanwhile, some of the scientists that advise ministers were also concerned that Johnson's decision to back Cummings would undermine the message on controlling the virus. Stephen Reicher, a professor of social psychology who has advised the government on behavioural science during the pandemic, told the BBC that trust was vital to maintaining public health measures, adding: "You can't have trust if people have a sense of them and us, that there's one rule for them and another rule for us." Also responding to the row, Bishop of Leeds, the Right Reverend Nick Baines, said Johnson was treating people "as mugs" and the Bishop of Bristol, the Right Reverend Vivienne Faull, accused the Prime ,inister of having "no respect for people". The trial of Paul Whelan, the former United States Marine held in Russia on spying charges, wrapped up in a Moscow court on Monday, with lawyers making their closing arguments and Russian prosecutors asking the court to sentence Whelan to 18 years in a Russian prison colony close to the maximum possible sentence for espionage. The judge is expected to give a verdict at a June 15 hearing. The prosecutor asked for a very tough punishment, 18 years in a high-security penitentiary, Whelans Russian lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said after the hearing on Monday. Whelan, a security director for the American auto parts supplier BorgWarner, was arrested in his hotel room in late December 2018 by Russias FSB domestic intelligence service while he was visiting Moscow for a friends wedding. Since then he has been held in the citys Lefortovo prison, which houses suspected spies and high-profile prisoners. Whelans family and his lawyers have insisted that he is not a spy and have accused Russia of framing the 50-year-old in order to use him as a political bargaining chip. Trial of Paul Whelan, ex-Marine held in Russia, begins Whelans case is classed as secret and Russian authorities have never publicly described what he is accused of. The trial began in mid-April and has been held behind closed doors. The coronavirus lockdown has prevented journalists from even being present at the court building. But the outlines of the case have emerged from Whelans lawyers and through leaks to the Russian media. According to them, Whelan is accused of receiving classified materials from a longtime Russian friend on behalf of U.S. intelligence. Whelans lawyers have said in reality those charges are based around a crude frame up, set up by Whelans friend who was working with the FSB. The friend, they said, brought a memory card to Whelans hotel room in December 2018 visit which Whelan had believed would contain photos of a trip the two had taken the previous winter to a monastery town near Moscow. Story continues Instead, unknown to Whelan, it contained the classified materials, and minutes after it was given to him FSB agents burst in and detained him. In the days before the sting, the friend had unexpectedly picked Whelan up at the airport when he arrived, Zherebenkov said, and had plied him with whiskey. He had secretly recorded Whelan, while trying to lead him to say incriminating things, the lawyer said. PHOTO: In this Oct. 24, 2019, file photo, Paul Whelan, a former US Marine accused of espionage and arrested in Russia in December 2018, holds a message as he stands inside a defendants' cage before a hearing at the Lefortovo Court in Moscow. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) The lawyers have not named the friend due to the trials secrecy rules, saying only that he works in the Russian security services. But Whelans family members have named him as Ilya Yatsenko, someone Whelan had known for 10 years. Last week, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported he was a major in the FSBs Department K, the powerful unit responsible for combating economic crimes. Yatsenko has testified twice in court. Last week, Whelan testified that he believes his friend was motivated to betray him in part because he owed Whelan over $1,000 for two iPhones he bought for him, Zherebenkov said. Whelan, who left the Marines on a bad-conduct discharge in 2007, is a self-described Russophile, who had traveled for years to Russia on vacations and had made many friends there, according to his family. In addition to the U.S., he also holds Irish, British and Canadian citizenship. In his closing statement on Monday, Whelan told the judge he greatly respected Russian culture and had never conducted any spying activity, Zherebenkov said. Swap or not, Russia seeks 'reciprocity' with 'spy' arrest: Ex-officials The United States in recent months has repeatedly called on Russia to release Whelan, saying it has never provided any evidence to support his detention. Former U.S. intelligence officials have said Whelan does not fit the profile of an American spy and have said his case resembles that of classic KGB stings during the Cold War. There has been speculation that Russia may have seized Whelan with the hope of exchanging him for Russians imprisoned in the U.S. on criminal convictions. Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly denied Russia engaged in hostage-taking but then noted that any exchange could only be possible once Whelan was convicted. Whelans other Russian lawyer, Olga Karlova, told ABC News last week that Whelan hoped the U.S. would seek to rapidly trade him after his conviction. But she said there was no indication that would happen. Russian prosecutors seek 18-year sentence for ex-Marine Whelan originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Tan Jieqing, a member of Chinas parliament, or National Peoples Congress, has recommended setting up a national, government-backed blockchain development fund. Jieqing believes that blockchain technology has huge economic potential and can generate employment opportunities, Beijing News reported on Saturday. The current number and scale of blockchain firms in China are small and that needs to be strengthened, according to Jieqing. To that end, he has suggested setting up a blockchain development fund that would help cultivate a number of quasi-unicorn enterprises in the industry. Jieqing also wants blockchain to be included in Chinas Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for industrial development. The countrys five-year plans are a series of national development agendas focused on social and economic development. China's first five-year plan was issued in 1953 and the fourteenth plan is scheduled to get approved and published by next year. Jieqing wants China to promote blockchain for the modernization of governance capabilities, and therefore, has suggested developing a clear national blockchain development plan with information on technical standards, industrial application development, and top-level system design. China has been increasingly focusing on blockchain development since last October when president Xi Jinping said the country should take the leading position in the technology. Last month, China announced a 71-member national blockchain committee, including executives from Chinese tech giants Baidu and Tencent. Most recently, the Chinese government-backed think tank State Information Center launched the Blockchain-based Service Network to help companies deploy blockchain applications faster and cheaper. 2020 The Block Crypto, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Today we are going to look at BSA Limited (ASX:BSA) to see whether it might be an attractive investment prospect. Specifically, we'll consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires. First of all, we'll work out how to calculate ROCE. Then we'll compare its ROCE to similar companies. Finally, we'll look at how its current liabilities affect its ROCE. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it? ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. Generally speaking a higher ROCE is better. In brief, it is a useful tool, but it is not without drawbacks. Author Edwin Whiting says to be careful when comparing the ROCE of different businesses, since 'No two businesses are exactly alike. So, How Do We Calculate ROCE? Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) Or for BSA: 0.33 = AU$17m (AU$141m - AU$89m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019.) So, BSA has an ROCE of 33%. See our latest analysis for BSA Does BSA Have A Good ROCE? ROCE can be useful when making comparisons, such as between similar companies. Using our data, we find that BSA's ROCE is meaningfully better than the 12% average in the Commercial Services industry. I think that's good to see, since it implies the company is better than other companies at making the most of its capital. Putting aside its position relative to its industry for now, in absolute terms, BSA's ROCE is currently very good. The image below shows how BSA's ROCE compares to its industry, and you can click it to see more detail on its past growth. ASX:BSA Past Revenue and Net Income May 24th 2020 When considering ROCE, bear in mind that it reflects the past and does not necessarily predict the future. ROCE can be deceptive for cyclical businesses, as returns can look incredible in boom times, and terribly low in downturns. ROCE is only a point-in-time measure. What happens in the future is pretty important for investors, so we have prepared a free report on analyst forecasts for BSA. Story continues Do BSA's Current Liabilities Skew Its ROCE? Liabilities, such as supplier bills and bank overdrafts, are referred to as current liabilities if they need to be paid within 12 months. Due to the way ROCE is calculated, a high level of current liabilities makes a company look as though it has less capital employed, and thus can (sometimes unfairly) boost the ROCE. To counter this, investors can check if a company has high current liabilities relative to total assets. BSA has current liabilities of AU$89m and total assets of AU$141m. As a result, its current liabilities are equal to approximately 63% of its total assets. BSA's high level of current liabilities boost the ROCE - but its ROCE is still impressive. The Bottom Line On BSA's ROCE So we would be interested in doing more research here -- there may be an opportunity! BSA looks strong on this analysis, but there are plenty of other companies that could be a good opportunity . Here is a free list of companies growing earnings rapidly. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Egypts medical union blamed the government for the rise in coronavirus infections and deaths among healthcare professionals, warning of a complete collapse of the countrys health system. Citing growing frustration about a lack of protective equipment, testing and hospital beds for front-line doctors, the union on Monday described the Egyptian health ministrys negligence as a crime of killing by irresponsibility. The union reported 19 doctors have died and 350 contracted the virus, according to official figures, although testing of medical staff remains limited. The syndicate is warning that the health system could completely collapse, leading to a catastrophe affecting the entire country if the health ministrys negligence and lack of action towards medical staff is not rectified, the Egyptian Medical Syndicate (EMS) said in a statement. The EMS holds the health ministry entirely responsible for the mounting deaths and infections among doctors due to its negligence that is tantamount to death through a dereliction of duty. Egypt, the Arab worlds most populous country, has officially recorded 17,967 infections and 783 fatalities due to COVID-19. 200521201418904 In an apparent response to the torrent of criticism, Health Minister Hala Zayed said the government was following up to provide the best possible care to medical staff. Authorities have allocated 20-bed capacity floors at quarantine hospitals for staff who have fallen ill, she said, and provided sufficient stocks of protective gear. The EMS statement came after 32-year-old doctor Walid Yehia died on Saturday after being unable to secure a bed in an isolation hospital. Eid extended curfew Over Eid al-Fitr, the festival that concludes the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, authorities extended the nightly curfew and halted public transportation until May 29. The prime minister has said the country would gradually reopen after the holiday. In speeches and statements, the government has repeatedly reassured Egyptians it has the virus under control. But it has also tightened its grip on information about the pandemic. Those who challenge the states official virus count have been expelled or detained. The Egyptian government has resisted the kind of total lockdown seen in other countries in the region, hoping to stave off the worst economic repercussions. But calls have grown for stricter measures as infections show no signs of abating. The number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases hit a new high on Monday in the country as India reported 6,977 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally of infections to 138,845, data from the Union health ministry showed. Monday is the fourth-straight day that India has reported the biggest one-day rise in the number of infections and more than 6,000 Covid-19 cases across the country. There were 77,103 active cases on Monday morning, nearly four months after the first patient of the coronavirus disease was reported in India in January from Kerala. Also read: Centre identifies 4 cities as role models for handling Covid-19 pandemic The death toll from the highly infectious disease rose to 4,021 after 154 people died between Sunday and Monday morning, according to the health ministry dashboard. There were 57,720 patients who have been sent home from hospitals, up from 54,440 patients from Sunday, taking the recovery rate to 41.57% so far. The latest 10,000 infections were recorded in two days. India recorded its first 10,000 Covid-19 cases in nearly 43 days, with a wave of infections beginning in March after three isolated cases were first reported in Kerala in January. It took seven days for the cases to climb from 20,000 to 30,000. The diseases doubling rate, which is defined as the average period it takes for a twofold rise, decreased from 13.9 days on May 18 the day the cases hit 100,000 to 13.1 on Sunday. Also read: Surge in Covid-19 cases pushes Mumbai to the brink The doubling rate, which is calculated over the last seven days, was four days at the beginning of April. Several experts say the peak of the outbreak in India is yet to come. India had on Sunday overtook Iran to become the 10th biggest hotspot of the pathogen after a surge of more than 6,700 new Covid-19 cases. Maharashtra has breached the grim 50,000-mark and reported 1,635 deaths. In Tamil Nadu, more than 16,000 cases have been reported and Delhi has over 13,400 infected people so far. Also read| 14-day quarantine to 7 days home isolation: Guidelines for domestic air travellers Gujarat, the fourth worst-affected state, has seen over 14,000 cases and 858 deaths till date. Globally, more than 5.4 million infections have been recorded and 345,060 people have succumbed to the respiratory disease. An upsurge in bloody tribal clashes in Sudan has killed at least 59 people and wounded over 100 this month, heaping more pressure on the country's fragile transitional government. More than a year since the fall of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir, who ruled over ethnically diverse regions with an iron fist, the joint civilian-military administration has struggled to steady a politically and economically unstable Sudan. In the latest inter-ethnic violence, 30 people were killed in clashes on May 7 between the Arab Rizeigat tribe and the Falata, who trace their roots to western Africa, sparked by a dispute over livestock. Three days later, three people died, 79 were wounded and several homes were burnt down in violence between members of the Bani Amer and Nuba tribes in the eastern city of Kassala, near Sudan's border with Eritrea. This was followed by yet more lethal confrontations that left 26 people dead and 19 injured on May 13 in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan province. Tribal grievances spilling over into bloodshed have been a mainstay of Sudan's numerous ethnic conflicts since independence from British and Egyptian rule in 1956. Sudan's most notorious violence shook the Dafur region in 2003 when Bashir's Arab-dominated government crushed an ethnic minority uprising in a scorched-earth campaign that killed 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million. More broadly, Sudan's nomadic tribes, who mostly drive herds of cattle or camels over extremely arid lands, have often fought over scarce grazing lands, water and livestock. But regional experts and tribal sources say the latest armed violence is different because the young Khartoum transitional government has been unable to exert political control and a security presence. - 'Culture of war' - The new prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, embarked on peace talks with rebel groups last year, seeking to make the peace efforts a key plank of his mandate to govern. The United Nations warned in a March report that even though armed rebel activity had declined, intercommunal tensions must be resolved to avert further violence. But analysts see tensions now flaring again in the wake of years of wider political turmoil, including last year's popular revolution in Sudan and the 2011 breakaway of South Sudan. "Previous conflicts were taking place under a state that imposed its control over all of Sudan's territory," veteran analyst and newspaper publisher Mahgoub Salih told AFP. "But after the secession of the south, these clashes are taking place in a country that has witnessed wars in a third of its provinces. "A culture of war has escalated with the spread of illegal arms and the number of militias has increased." The bloodshed has fuelled talk of sinister plots to sow discord. Falata tribal leader Youssef al-Samani insisted the recent clashes were an aberration, telling AFP that "our relationship with the Rizeigat has been solid over many decades, but other parties sowed this discord between us". Saleh Hussein, a Kassala resident, also maintained there is "absolutely a third party whose interest is to cause turmoil and fuel conflict". - A shadowy force? - Military general and ruling council member Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemeti, has also described the recent violence as "all part of a prior plan" to foment instability. He charged the goal of this "hidden hand" was "not only to target the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) but also to destroy Sudan". The RSF is the paramilitary group he leads, which is accused of war crimes in the Darfur conflict. Al-Nur Hamad, a political analyst, also alleged a "third party" was at play but linked it to remnants of the Bashir regime. "It is clear to everyone who has monitored the security situation in the country in the past few months that there are hands tampering with its security and stability," he told AFP. However, Aref El-Sawy, a Nairobi-based journalist specialising in ethnic conflicts in East Africa, dismissed the idea of a shadowy force stoking tribal conflicts. "Conspiracy theories and the third party narrative can't just be accepted at face value," he said. A security expert who spoke on the condition he not be named said tribal disputes during Bashir's reign "were in remote rural areas and were about farms, water supplies or even turf wars over the land. "But now they have entered urban areas." He argued that the tribal tensions now threaten the country's already stalled peace talks with rebel groups. Further escalating the danger, he said, is the fact that tribes are able to easily purchase weapons thanks to a thriving cross-border arms trade with Ethiopia and Eritrea, another sign of the new government's lack of reach. A child looks on as Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok visits a camp for internally displaced people in North Darfur state in November 2019 Writer JK Rowling, bishops and top scientists on a key government committee joined millions across the United Kingdom to express fury at Prime Minister Boris Johnson defending his chief adviser Dominic Cummings, who breached lockdown rules in end-March. Cummings, who has been close to Johnson since the successful Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 EU referendum, travelled to Durham in north-east England with his family when the official advice followed by Britons was to stay home, prompting accusations that there is one rule for those in power and another for others. The Johnson government has been grappling with growing number of coronavirus cases and deaths due to Covid-19. As of Sunday evening, there were 36,793 deaths and 259,559 cases across the UK. As the storm rose across the country, including in usually Conservative supporting sections and tabloids, Johnson insisted on Sunday evening that Cummings had done no wrong, defying many who sought the aides resignation. More than 10 bishops said Johnsons defence of Cummings was risible, that he had no respect for the people, lacked integrity, and risked undermining the trust of the public. Pete Broadbent, the bishop of Willesden, tweeted: Johnson has now gone the full Trump. As police chiefs said it would now be difficult to enforce curbs, at least three experts -- Stephen Reicher, Robert West and Susan Michie - on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies influencing government moves on the coronavirus pandemic deplored Johnsons remarks. Reicher said: If you look at the research it shows the reason why people observed lockdown was not for themselves, it wasnt because they were personally at risk, they did it for the community, they did it because of a sense of were all in this together. If you give the impression theres one rule for them and one rule for us, you fatally undermine that sense of were all in this together and you undermine adherence to the forms of behaviour which have got us through this crisis, he said. Closely following the government response to the pandemic, writer Rowling tweeted: Watching Johnson, This is despicable. Parents all over this country have abided by the lockdown rules, even while ill themselves. Hundreds of thousands managed toddlers while shut up inside cramped accommodation, purely for the common good AS THE GOVERNMENT TOLD THEM TO DO. I cant remember a clearer demonstration of contempt for the people from a sitting Prime Minister. Johnson might as well had shambled into shot, give us all the finger and walked off again, she added. Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon added: I fear, and I say this with a heavy heart, Boris Johnson is putting his political interest ahead of the public interest. And when trust in a public health message and public health advice is as important as it is right now the consequences of that could be serious. --- eom Pune, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global skin cancer treatment market size is projected to reach USD 14.55 billion by the end of 2027. The increasing prevalence of non-melanoma cancer across the world will have a huge impact on market growth. According to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled Skin Cancer Treatment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Disease Indication (Melanoma and Non-Melanoma), By Therapy (Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy, Chemotherapy, and Radiation Therapy), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027, the market was worth USD 8.19 billion in 2019 and will exhibit a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period, 2019-2027. Skin cancer is a serious form of disorder that normally affects the part of the skin that is exposed to the sun. The severity of the disease has led to an emphasis on early detection and treatment. As a result, there is a huge awareness regarding the ways to prevent the diseases as well as the options available for treatment. Increasing number of regulatory approvals for treatment options associated with the disease will emerge in favor of market growth. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/skin-cancer-treatment-market-102806 The high prevalence of skin cancer across the world will open up a huge potential for the companies operating in this market. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, 1 in every 5 people in the United States suffers from skin cancer. The numerous treatment options associated with the disease, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy will favor growth of the skin cancer treatment market in the coming years. An Overview of the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market: The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic. We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future. To get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/skin-cancer-treatment-market-102806 Growing Regulatory Approvals Will Aid Growth of the Market The report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the skin cancer treatment market in recent years. The high emphasis and subsequently high investment on the development of efficient treatment options associated with the disease will have a huge impact on the growth of the overall market in the coming years. Among all factors, the increasing number of regulatory approvals has made the highest impact on market growth. In April 2018, Tafinlar+Mekinist announced the approval for a new therapy used in the treatment of BRAF V600-mutant melanoma. The therapy received allocates from several researchers for its exceptional capabilities in the treatment of the disease. It was awarded the breakthrough designation in 2017 and was submitted for priority review in the same year. US FDAs approval for this therapy will certainly encourage other companies. Increasing number of such regulatory approvals will bode well for the growth of the skin cancer treatment market in the forthcoming years. Quick Buy - Skin Cancer Treatment Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/102806 North America Dominate the Market; High Prevalence of Skin Cancer has Emerged in Favor of Companies The report analyzes the ongoing market trends across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Among these regions, the market in North America currently holds the largest skin cancer treatment market share. The high prevalence of skin cancer in the United States is a major factor that has contributed to the growth of the regional market. The emphasis of major companies on introducing innovative treatment options and drugs will aid the growth of the market in the coming years. The increasing prevalence of non-melanoma skin cancer in several parts of North America will contribute to the growth of the market. As of 2018, the market in North America was worth USD 3.04 billion and this value is projected to increase further in the coming years. The skin cancer treatment market in Europe also held a considerably high share in recent years, owing to the presence of several large scale companies in numerous countries across this region. List of key companies profiled in the Skin Cancer Treatment Market Research Report are: Merck & Co. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Novartis AG F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Amgen Inc. GlaxoSmithKline plc. Pfizer Inc. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Other prominent players Industry Developments: February 2019: Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/skin-cancer-treatment-market-102806 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Prevalence of Skin Cancer - by Region Key Mergers, Acquisition, and Partnerships Pipeline Analysis New Product Introductions/ Approvals- by Major Players Overview of Regulatory Scenario - Key Countries Global Skin Cancer Treatment Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Disease Indication Melanoma Non-melanoma Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Therapy Immunotherapy Targeted Therapy Chemotherapy Radiation Therapy Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacy Retail Pharmacy Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa TOC Continued.!!! Request for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/skin-cancer-treatment-market-102806 Have a Look at Related Reports: Oncology Biosimilars Market Size , Share And Global Trend By Drug Class (mAb, G-CSF, Hematopoietic Agents, Others), By Type of Cancer (Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Blood Cancer, Brain Cancer, Others), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies), And Geography Forecast Till 2026 Cancer Cryotherapy Market Size , Share and Global Trend By Product (Cryoablation System, Cyroablation Needles, Cyroprobes), By Disease Indication (Retinoblastoma, Skin Cancer, Prostate Cancer,Cervical Cancer, Actinic Keratosis, Bone Cancer), By End User (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centers) and Geography Forecast till 2026 Breast Cancer Therapeutics Market Size , Share and Global Trend By Therapy (Targeted Therapy, Hormonal Therapy, Chemotherapy), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies), By Cancer Type (Hormone Receptor, HER2+), and Geography Forecast till 2026 Non Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market Size, Share and Global Trend by Therapy (Targeted Therapy, Immunotherapy, Chemotherapy), Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies), Cancer Type (Adenocarcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, Large cell carcinoma), Geography Forecast till 2026 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. 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Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Fortune Business Insights LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Mid-2020 saw the world at war, actual strategic war as far as the Forbidden Palace in Beijing was concerned. This was almost disbelievingly acknowledged by some in Washington, DC, London, Canberra, Ottawa, New Delhi, and Tokyo. It was a war that was viewed tentatively and with incredulity in much of the West because it was a war of a very new type. And it was a war in which the West for the first time in a century or more did not write the rules of engagement. Indeed, because it had emerged from covert war to overt war, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) leadership was aware, certainly by early May 2020 (and probably even by January of that year), that it had to move quickly to use the cover of the global coronavirus preoccupation and lockdown in order to make and consolidate some key strategic advances while it could do so unopposed. These initial objectives for Beijing included: Locking down control of the autonomous Hong Kong region a significant source of the PRCs access to foreign exchange generation once and for all, and hoping to do so with minimal foreign reprisal; Rebuilding a PRC position whereby it could resume domination of global supply chain origination manufacturing, something which it had essentially been losing even before the 2020 crisis; Consolidate military domination of the South China Sea region; Break up the revival of a coherent US alliance structure in the Indo Pacific (including the Middle East) and ensure that there were no viable options to allow the Russian Federation to expand its rapprochement with the West. Essentially, it needed to end the prospect that the second Silk Road, dominated by Russia and supported by Japan (in particular) would not be strategically threatening to Beijing; Make progress in shortening the timescale for a military-led option to remove Taiwan the Republic of China (ROC) from any chance of depending on strategic military cover from the United States and Japan. There were no immediate, clearcut successes visible for Beijing by late May 2020, but the urgency was there, and so was the momentum. The PRC had no option but to make gains quickly, and it was clear that it had, despite reviving fear, distrust, and counteraction by the US, UK, and Australia, in particular. Beijings economic position and outlook, worsening for at least the previous decade, could not sustain the PRCs strategic competitiveness visavis the US and its allies much longer unless the crisis could be used to actually ruin the relative economic and military positions of its opponents. It was, then, a decision that, if Beijing could not succeed in recovering its economic (and therefore strategic) competitiveness, then all others needed to lose their ability to compete. It was a war plan consciously written by the Communist Party of China (CPC), and particularly in the image of the CPC and PRC leader, Xi Jinping. It had its ideological origins in the globalism pioneered by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), but it took on Maoist characteristics (consolidated by the updated Maoism of Xi Jinping), including the clarity of the 1999 doctrinal watershed of the publication of the Unrestricted Warfare total war strategy. So the new war doctrine the 21st Century version of total war was a long time in coming. Its development was also, most importantly, an evolution of the Allied victory of World War II, with its development of global supply chain thinking: logistics and industrialization. The CPC, starting with Deng Xiao-ping, learned to truly create socialism with Chinese characteristics, but that meant something very much modernized over historical Marxist-oriented interpretations. This led, progressively, to the understanding by Beijing that it needed to rebuild the traditional global supply chain pattern through which the Middle Kingdom had made itself the central power through much of ancient history. Its supplicant, or tributary vassals, had depended on the Silk Routes, overland through Eurasia and by sea through the Indo-Pacific (and beyond), and must be made to do so again. This became Xi Jinpings One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, which in May 2017 became the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) when it was clear that Moscow, Tokyo, and Washington were attempting to create a second Silk Road across Russia, bypassing Beijings attempted domination of the South China Sea (to control the Silk Road at Sea). But in the period up to mid-2020, the new total war was viewed particularly in the West as nebulous. This new total war format is, by definition, amorphous, and deliberately so, as I note in my new book, The New Total War of the 21st Century and the Trigger of the Fear Pandemic. Direct, kinetic confrontation the measure by which the uniformed military and much of society viewed war was absent, although the threat of it had finally emerged by April/May 2020, and this galvanized thinking among Western leadership. It even generated enough alarm to see the deep internal political schisms in the US and Australia heal at least to a degree. In the US, the emerging threat saw Democratic Party and Republican Party politicians coming together in relative unanimity largely unreported in the US media to reject the PRCs threat to US and Western interests. It also caused the UK Government to finally be able to move, with broad public acceptance, to end the PRCs strategic leverage in Britain, including ending the question of reliance on the PRCs 5G communications technology from Huawei. However, it was, to use the term at the start of World War II, a period of phony war, just as it appeared from September 1939, until May 10, 1940. And it was akin to the thinking which, after World War I was enjoined in August 1914, saw soldiers happily reassuring their families that they would be home by Christmas. Both those episodes of wishful thinking characterized the start of the two total wars of the 20th Century. But in both those conflicts, as with the new total war of the 21st Century, those who had long planned secretly for an offensive war knew that their canvases extended beyond the mere vision of formal military conflict. They planned for a victory which had global, and indeed globalist, ramifications: a total world system unified under the nexus of the visionary power. But these titanic struggles are usually won or lost by factors determined well in advance of the opening shots of kinetic war, and during the phony war period before the targets of the initial aggressor are aware that they have been caught at a disadvantage. In the Napoleonic Wars, World Wars I and II, and the Cold War, the aggressors (France, Germany twice, and the Soviet Union coupled with the Peoples Republic of China) sensed that they were at a significant strategic disadvantage. This caused them to undertake strategic preparations and operations without and well before any formal declaration of war. They needed to steal a march on their adversaries. Significantly, in all of those total wars and the Cold War was even more total than the earlier great wars the initial aggressor never overcame its fundamental lack of comprehensive strategic strength. Is the new total war of the 21st Century likely to be different? Related: Putin To Bail Out Russian Oil Industry Is it likely to be as protracted as the four-decade Cold War? Certainly, given technologies and the extent to which some three decades of peaceful globalism had allowed Beijing to dominate supply chains so that its trading partners became dependent on it, it was to be a far more amorphous war than even the Cold War. Pres. Xi had some cause for optimism, but also because of the PRCs fundamental and increasing economic weakness cause to accelerate the timescale for initiating operations which he knew would bring about a major strategic response, a pushback, from his adversaries. The late 2019 outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID19) viral epidemic provided the trigger point for open offensive operations by the PRC, but they were operations that were still within the boundaries of amorphous warfare. Beijing, going into the 2020 breakout, understood completely the limitations and strengths of its existing formal military capabilities. In the words of the US Country and Western song, it knows when to hold em, knows when to fold em, knows when to walk away, knows when to run. Beijing knew that it must essentially win the new total war before it became globally kinetic, and therefore it must preclude the formation (or the rejoining) of Western alliances and strategic economic gains against it, and prevent Russia, in particular, from being drawn into the Western camp. Although the PRC had depended heavily (and resentfully) on Moscow during the Cold War, by the 21st Century it was Russia still, in many ways, technologically more innovative than the PRC which now depended on Beijing. Russia was, to draw an imperfect parallel from World War II, Italy to Beijings Germany in the new total war. Relative Foundational Strategic Capabilities One-time US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said: You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time. While that is as true today as it was in the early post-Cold War period when Rumsfeld made his comment, it is also true that all aspirant powers discreetly attempt to gain as much force development and strategic technology as possible before having to show their hand in a major war. This was the case with the PRC in the 21st Century, and particularly since Pres. Xi Jinping came to supremacy in 2012. It may not be reasonable to say the same about the Russian Federation in this timeframe. Russia was indeed, in the post-Cold War era, able to step out from the shadow of the Soviet-era to prepare its forces, doctrine, and technology to a state where the US regarded it as its pacing threat: the capability which most challenged US capabilities. But it was the PRC that worked discreetly to pose the actual threat. To a significant degree, the economics of Eurasia and the Russian dependency on cashflow from the PRC meant that Beijing largely had access to Russian technology during its critical buildup period for war against the US and its allies. But the PRC also had access (even in the pre-Xi era) to much Western strategic technology through the intelligence-driven acquisition of Western intellectual property. This included the very technology of strategic precision targeting and guidance for ballistic weapons and hypersonic weapons which threatened US and allied capabilities in the offshore oceans of East, and Southeast Asia, by 2020. Beijing knew that, if it needed to force the US to go to war with the army it has, rather than the defense force it needed to have, it had best do so before the defense modernization plans driven by the US Donald Trump Administration could take effect. Beijing had clear confirmation by early 2019 that the intended Trump upgrades to the US defense capabilities had not yet taken hold, and that some of the US capability improvements were unlikely due to longterm commitments to, for example, the Lockheed Martin F35series combat aircraft. On March 7, 2020, a RAND organization warfare analyst, in a speech to the (significantly, Democratic Party-controlled) Center for a New American Security, announced that RAND conflict simulation had seen the US fail to prevail in a comprehensive military engagement with either the PRC or Russia. RAND analyst David Ochmanek noted: We lose a lot of people. We lose a lot of equipment. We usually [in these engagements] fail to achieve our objective of preventing aggression by the adversary. The conclusions were supported by a presentation by former US Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work. In every case I know of, said Work, the F35 rules the sky when its in the sky, but it gets killed on the ground in large numbers. But subsequent failures of the F35 to achieve anything like acceptable operational readiness rates do not even justify DepSec Works qualified optimism. A gathering of the Aspen Security Forum in the US in July 2019 brought further reinforcement of the relative weakness of US forces in the Pacific. Much of this analysis was based on the 2015 RAND study, The US-China Military Scorecard: Forces, Geography, and the Evolving Balance of Power, 1996-2017, but with follow-on simulation strengthening the case. The 2018 bipartisan official study for the US Defense Department, entitled Providing for the Common Defense: The Assessment and Recommendations of the National Defense Strategy Commission, noted: If the United States had to fight Russia in a Baltic contingency or China in a war over Taiwan, Americans could face a decisive military defeat. The Commission highlights the PRCs and Russias ongoing efforts to develop advanced anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) weaponry, systems which could result in enormous losses for the US military in a conflict. It went on: Put bluntly, the US military could lose the next state versus state war it fights. The Trump Administration, however, was moving rapidly to attempt to rectify the challenge, moving belatedly to accelerate the introduction of maneuverable hypersonic weapons for offensive and defensive operations. Indeed, the speed with which the Trump White House was committed to recovering US defense capabilities clearly played a key role in spurring Beijing to action to achieve essential objectives in the near-abroad before the US could rectify its disadvantage. Already, Xi had moved the PRCs defense emphasis from ground force operations of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) toward the PLA Navy (PLAN) and the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and even more importantly the Strategic Rocket Force and the Strategic Support Force. Essentially, the PRC was attempting to do something which it had not achieved since the first half of the 13th Century: to become a (if not the) globally dominant maritime power. But the first order of business was to dominate the First Island Chain (and particularly Taiwan) and subdue the US control of the Central Pacific (based on Guam) into defeat or at least a defensive impotence. That a window of opportunity continued to exist into 2020 for the PRC to use its largely mobile ballistic missile capabilities to neutralize both US fleets at sea within around 1,000 n.miles from the PRC coastline and against US air (particularly B52, B2, and B1 bomber) and missile assets on Guam and the Japanese islands was evident. An open report in the UK newspaper, The Times, on May 16, 2020, indicated that continuing US simulation exercises showed that US forces would be overwhelmed, and that the situation was worsening with the introduction of new PLAN attack submarines, aircraft carriers, and destroyers through 2030. The Times article quoted Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, and a consultant for the US Government on East Asia, as saying: Every simulation that has been conducted looking at the threat from China by 2030 have all ended up with the defeat of the US. ... Taiwan is the most volatile issue because that could escalate to a war with the US, even to a nuclear war. In the Pentagon and State Department and the White House, China is now seen as the biggest threat. We have been too passive in the past. PRC military and intelligence analysis clearly recognized that short-term military success would not necessarily equate to longterm victory. The Japanese decision to strike at US naval and air assets at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, actually ensured longterm Japanese defeat in World War II, and Beijing had no desire to create a similar outlook for itself. But Beijing had no option but to initiate conflict with the US alliance at this time if it wished to avoid short term implosion due to economic and internal resource shortcomings. There is no doubt that Beijing has had a decade to consider this, and to formulate its broader strategic plan to help foment a more broadly-based collapse of US and Western strategic and economic resilience, at least sufficient to enable the PRC to consolidate its geostrategic space and sufficient economic strength to ensure domestic population control. Initial PRC Targets Xi Jinping needed, by May 2020, to show early strategic progress for substantive and prestige reasons. Both are critical to ensure domestic support and compliance and to move regional and global competition into a defensive and possibly conciliatory posture. Consolidation and demonstration of PLA capabilities in the South China Sea and against the ROC on Taiwan were ongoing, but did not yet reach the level of a definitive, iconic, and durable outcome for Beijing. Related: Driving Season Wont Save Gas Demand Beijing, through its National Peoples Congress on May 22, 2020, introduced a new national security law for Hong Kong to suppress sedition, secession, and subversion as well as foreign involvement, terrorism, and autonomy. Despite Beijings denial, this represented the effective end of the one nation, two systems policy guaranteed under the terms of the July 1, 1997, handover of Hong Kong to the PRC by the United Kingdom Politicians from 23 nations had, by May 24, 2020, signed a petition of complaint against Beijing for the action, but the real test of how much it would impact the economy of the PRC would be determined by whether the US ended its special economic relationship with Hong Kong. That would be a significant blow for Beijing, but the CPC leadership had already calculated that the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong had already effectively destroyed significant contributions by Hong Kong to the PRC economy, and the coronavirus shutdowns had merely cemented that reality. So bringing Hong Kong under direct Beijing control was worth the loss of whatever economic benefits the territory might still have had. And it would send a firm indication of Beijings resolution to Taiwan. But real questions persisted as to how much the act would calm or enflame unrest against Beijing in Hong Kong, and whether it would caution or enflame anti-Beijing sentiments being aroused by economic and COVID19 related issues around the rest of mainland China. Again, clearly, Beijing could not accept the situation in Hong Kong, and had no option if the CPC wished to retain control but to suppress by force the pro-democracy movement which had refused to bend to any other entreaties. Similarly, internal security in the rest of the PRC would be undertaken forcefully. And Beijing was aware of the escalation of US and Turkish fomenting of the Uighur (Turkic) population of Xinjiang (with the East Turkestan independence movement). The now naked USPRC hostilities meant that Washington would be less discreet in its support for the Uighurs against their suppression by Beijing. The question there was how much Beijing could pressure Moscow to make Turkey cease cooperation with the US on this issue. Ankara sees itself as the pan-Turkish patron of the East Turkestan movement. Beijing had, by early May 2020, begun (once again) to probe a military flexing against India in the Pangong Tso Lake and Galwan Valley areas of Eastern Ladakh, part of Kashmir, along the Line of Actual Control in the unresolved border area. The Indian Army immediately matched the PLA buildup which had taken place in the two weeks to May 22, 2020. At least five rounds of talks at local levels there had, by May 22, 2020, failed to calm the tensions, and there had been violent confrontations between the Indian Army and PLA forces on May 5, 2020, and a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9, 2020. From the PRC perspective, this manageable exercise was a form of probasila (Soviet term): reconnaissance to the point of contact, to gauge enemy strength, reaction, and resolve. It gave Beijing an option to escalate or distract, and possibly to divert India away from broader cooperation with the US and other SouthEast Asian nations on the question of PRC advances. But the PLA operations were also key to its resolve to support Pakistans claims to its part of Kashmir which determines the PRCs critical overland access to the Indian Ocean, something threatened by Indias 2019 invasion of Kashmir. So the Ladakh escalation was a key indicator of Beijings need to ensure consolidation of its close geographic links in the Indo-Pacific region. But of overriding importance to Beijing was its campaign to ensure that US Pres. Donald Trump was not re-elected to the Presidency in the November 3, 2020, election, and that the Republican Party would lose its majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In some respects, and using the contrived narrative of US initiation of, engagement in, and mismanagement of the COVID19 crisis, the CPC was able to make common cause with such anti-Trump US influencers as The New York Times and the CNN cable network. Yet as tempting as this tactical alliance was in helping the Democratic Party to seek the ouster of Trump and the Republicans in November 2020, it was clear by mid-May 2020 that many in the Democratic Party leadership were also turning against Beijing over the COVID19 issue and its hostility toward both the US and its allies, and Hong Kong. To be sure, Beijing would never have expected an overt alliance with anti-Trump elements in the US, but it aimed at achieving sufficient net effect that it could sustain momentum against a Trump/Republican victory in November 2020. There was little doubt in Beijing that had Hillary Clinton defeated Trump in the 2016 election, the PRC would not have seen the sharp end to two decades of unopposed PRC strategic expansion in the Indo-Pacific and the AfricaMiddle East regions. Initial Strategic Operations Beijings initial strategic operations in the new total war had been underway for some time before the 2020 watershed. However, with the watershed of the COVID19 crisis, the PRCs most urgent initial strategic operation was to ensure that it consolidated its hold on markets around the world. It had been losing market share gradually to other manufacturing states as labor costs mounted in the PRC. The initial strategic operation of the CPC in early 2020 was to ensure that the PRCs factories returned to full production as quickly as possible so that an abundance of PRC-made goods could be dumped at concessionary prices onto the world market. This would, if done rapidly and at enticing prices, make it more difficult to stimulate the reestablishment of manufacturing in the major pseudo postindustrial client states of North America, Europe, and Australasia. This operation was a race against time for Beijing. It relied on the marketplace lure of cheap goods to overturn the instinct to resist Beijing and recreate and incentivize and protect revived local industry. The ability of client states to resist the dependence on the PRC would require legislation and government programs, and Beijing hoped that, over time, the urgency of those efforts would fade and the client states would fall back into the slumber of dependency on the PRC as the supplier of goods. Beijing also hoped that by returning to robust economic production early in 2020 it could reinforce its claims that its form of governance had triumphed over the chaos of liberal democracy as evidenced by the COVID19 malaise in Western and other Western-style democracies. These were reasonable strategic exercises, but there was no evidence by May 2020 of success, or that, on the other hand, the US and its allies would have the ability to regrow their independent strategic capabilities in the near-term. And Beijing clearly hoped that, by dampening a return to vigorous Western dominance in the short term, it could then deliver, with kinetic operations as well as ongoing splitting operations within target societies, a further process of reducing USled abilities to withstand the relative growth and dominance of the PRC. Initial Kinetic Operations Pres. Xi was, in May 2020, clearly hoping to postpone the initial kinetic operations of the new war for as long as possible. It was in his interests to make as much progress as possible before his opponents began their own strategic revival That strategic revival by Beijings opponents was the prospect that the US and other PRC client states would reduce or substantively end their supply chain and general trade reliance on the PRC quickly. In fact, the public and governmental reaction against the PRC in Beijings trading partners was swift and strong. Beijings attempts to bully the Australian Government into withdrawing its demand for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus epidemic were successful in that the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on May 1819, 2020, dampened down the Australian-led call for an independent inquiry in favor of a World Health Organization (WHO) commitment to a lessons learned inquiry soon. This actually only served to anger the US and its allies further, something compounded by a statement on May 19, 2020, from the PRC embassy in Canberra noting that the terms of the COVID19 resolution were totally different from Australias proposal of an independent international review All those who know the consultation process that led to the resolution understand this. To claim the WHAs resolution [as] a vindication of Australias call is nothing but a joke. PRC Ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye had, until a few months earlier, been able to get lead articles in Australian national media to berate Australians into thanking Beijing for Australias economic success. By mid-May 2020, every appearance or statement by Amb. Cheng generated more Australian calls to rebuild the Australian industry and reduce reliance on trade with the PRC. Beijing had numbed, or paralyzed, North American, European, Australasian, SouthEast Asian, and other target audiences for a decade. It had made resistance to the rise of China unthinkable. But that period was now over. The war had been enjoined. So where and how would kinetic operations begin? It seems clear that Beijing is reluctant to initiate military action, but is ready to engage once it has begun. Both the PRC and the US see advantages and disadvantages in delaying decisive tactical or theater action. The path to escalation to nuclear engagement is also far less clear and deterrence far less sure than during the NATO Warsaw Pact mutually assured destruction era. There seems a greater willingness by the PLA to engage in nuclear capabilities (ie: against military targets). Military action in the near-term could well consolidate the PRC position in its near abroad. It could even achieve de facto or de jure control of Taiwan, a critical legitimizing goal for the CPC, if the US did not rush in tripwire assets and support to show a preemptive tripwire to deter PRC escalation. But what after that? Would it give Beijing the breathing space to fight another day, given that had it left matters as they were it would not have had that chance, given its growing economic difficulty (and the potential for collapse)? Like Japan in 1941, the CPC must buy time if it is to survive and consolidate control over markets and sources of supply. But, like Japan in 1941, would a precipitate action cause not just the US, but a variety of its allies to rebuild in the longer-term? The wager is now in the air. By Gregory R. Copley via Defense and Foreig Affairs More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A Utah man is accused of fatally stabbing a woman hours after they went on their first date, via the meet-up app Tinder, in an "unprovoked" attack, authorities said Sunday. Image: Ethan Hunsaker (Layton Police Department) The man, Ethan Hunsaker, 24, has been cooperative with investigators in explaining how he killed Ashlyn Black, 25, police in Layton, Utah, said. The two met through Tinder and went on their date late Saturday at a bar before they went back to his home near 1300 N. Reid Ave., about 25 miles north of downtown Salt Lake City, police said. Hunsaker called 911 at about 3:19 a.m. and police found Black, who had "sustained multiple stab wounds to the torso," according to a police statement. "Despite efforts to revive the victim, she was pronounced deceased on scene," police wrote. The victim of Sunday mornings homicide was 25 year old Ashlyn Black of Layton. We have included a picture of her at her familys request and extend our condolences to all of them. pic.twitter.com/8lRFwQWkh6 Layton Police (@laytonpolice) May 25, 2020 Hunsaker was being held without bail at the Davis County Jail on Tuesday, booked on suspicion of murder. "The motive behind this homicide is under further investigation; however, the attack appears to have been unprovoked," according to the police statement. Black's family called the crime "as senseless as it was evil." "A monster has taken away the life of our little girl in a crime as senseless as it was evil," according to a family statement. "Our hearts are broken and our lives are forever changed due to the despicable acts of another person. In just a few senseless and selfish minutes, a life of an amazing, fun loving young woman was taken, one who had a passion for being the voice of those who could not speak out for themselves. And a gift for working with those who have special needs. The lives of her friends and family are permanently altered. No time can fill the emptiness we feel, and the hole it has left in our hearts." The headline of a recent Baltimore Jewish Times article reads as follows: "Jewish Republicans Tackle a Thorny Question: What To Do About Republicans Like Steve King?" A saner question might be, "Why should Jewish Republicans or any Republican, for that matter have a problem with Iowa congressman Steve King?" Certain Republican insiders, using The Republican Jewish Coalition as a wedge, are trying their damnedest to defeat King in a June 2 primary. In doing so, they not only threaten to unseat one of Israel's most solid defenders in Congress, but also risk creating a backlash against Jews. Reporter Ron Kampeas acknowledges how GOP leadership is using the Republican Jewish Coalition. Writes Kampeas, "The RJC [is] making a case that a Republican trafficking in anti-Semitism or white supremacism carries more weight than when it comes from an outside group." What makes this strategy all the more odious is that King has trafficked in neither. In the spirit of full disclosure, I contracted with King in December to help him finish a book project he had been working on. This article is not part of that contract. It comes from the heart. In the course of the project, I have reviewed every single "controversial" comment that King has made during his eighteen years in Congress. Having reviewed them all in their proper context, I would endorse King in a heartbeat and challenge any Republican who feels otherwise to a public debate on what it means to be a conservative. In the way of background, I have a Ph.D. from Purdue in American studies. More to the point, I wrote a book five years ago called Scarlet Letters that documented the left's use of race, sex, and other identifiers to subvert the right. As I noted in the book, "[a]n awkward phrase, a misunderstood joke, a manufactured quote, a frank look at data, a persistent belief in a revered tradition could earn a sinner any one of many scarlet letters as ablaze with 'awe and horrible repugnance' as Hester's own Scarlet A." King was felled by a manufactured quote. The quote was published in a January 2019 New York Times article headlined "Before Trump, Steve King Set the Agenda for the Wall and Anti-Immigrant Politics." Deep in the article, reporter Trip Gabriel quoted King as saying, "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization how did that language become offensive?" Gabriel did not tape the interview. Neither did King. In a later taped conversation, King's assistant got Gabriel to admit he was the one who introduced the phrases "white nationalism" and "white supremacism," but by that time, the tumbrils were rolling, and they have not stopped since. Five days after the initial article, Gabriel wrote an exhaustive piece headlined, "A Timeline of Steve King's Racist Remarks and Divisive Actions." The article deserves an honored spot in a media time capsule showing just how thoroughly the Times had corrupted the language by 2019. Gabriel documented King's twenty-year history of alleged racist and divisive acts. These included such offenses as King's successful introduction of a bill making English Iowa's official language, his assertion that "preventing babies being born is not medicine," and his description of multiculturalism as "a tool for the Left to subdivide a culture and civilization into our own little ethnic enclaves and pit us against each other." The left's strategy works only when Republicans join the witch hunt. In King's case, the witch-hunters know who they are. I will mention only one by name: House Leader Kevin McCarthy. Joe McCarthy never deserved the designation "McCarthyism." Kevin McCarthy does. Curiously, in the lengthy Jewish Times article about King's racism, reporter Kampeas does not attribute to King a single racist quote. The best he can do is quote McCarthy saying, "Congressman King's comments cannot be exonerated." This raises the question, "which comments?" In his outspoken 18 years in Congress, King has never said anything as quotable as "If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black." He never said about Jews, "It's all about the Benjamins." He did not even say, "Why don't they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came?" The last of those quotes came from a tweet by President Trump. It was far more provocative than anything King has ever said. To his credit, McCarthy refused to denounce Trump when asked to do so at a press conference. As a result, the hashtag "KevinMcCarthyIsARacist" promptly trended on Twitter. Weak-kneed Republicans like McCarthy live in fear of such labels. To appease the left, they routinely serve up the occasional sacrificial lamb a Todd Akin, a Richard Mourdock, a Steve King forgetting that the left is never appeased. Despite the lack of quotes in the Jewish Times article, King is entirely quotable. I have found King to be more thoughtful in his defense of Western civilization than most Republicans and more candid than just about all of them. Some relevant quotes: On Israel CNN, November 2018: "I am a person who has stood with Israel from the beginning, and the length of that nation is the length of my life. And I've been with them all along." On White Supremacy and White Nationalism House Floor, January 2019: "I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define. Further, I condemn anyone that supports this evil and bigoted ideology which saw in its ultimate expression the systematic murder of 6 million innocent Jewish lives." On Judeo-Christianity: House Floor, February 2012: "We derive our strength from free enterprise capitalism, Judeo-Christianity, Western civilization. That is the core of America, the vigor of America, and that is what we must continue to protect, regrow, and refurbish." In the wake of Gabriel's article, Mark Steyn took up King's cause while hosting the Rush Limbaugh show. "He's not a white supremacist. He's not a white nationalist. It's all stupid talk," said Steyn. "So you've just surrendered the phrase 'Western civilization.' I don't get that. I don't see what's in it for conservatism in surrendering that phrase, in accepting the leftist's view that the term 'Western civilization' is beyond the pale." I don't get it, either. Jack Cashill's newest book, Unmasking Obama, is available for pre-order at Amazon. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 02:19:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People grieve at a memorial of the Manchester Arena attack in Manchester, Britain, May 22, 2020. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua) -- UK COVID-19 deaths rise to 36,914 as another 121 patients die; -- Italy's death toll from coronavirus rises by 92 to 32,877; -- Spain revises down coronavirus death toll; -- Belgium enters new deconfinement stage with more students returning to school. BRUSSELS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in European countries. LONDON -- Another 121 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Sunday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 36,914, the Department of Health and Social Care said Monday. The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community. A staff member reminds visitors to keep social distancing at the Colonna Palace in Rome, Italy, May 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting) ROME -- A further 92 COVID-19 patients had died in the past 24 hours in Italy, bringing the country's toll to 32,877, out of total infection cases of 230,158, according to fresh figures on Monday. Nationwide, the number of active infections dropped by 1,294 to 55,300 cases, according to the Civil Protection Department. Of those who tested positive for the new coronavirus, 541 are in intensive care, 12 fewer compared to Sunday, and 8,185 are hospitalized with symptoms, down by 428 patients from Sunday. Operators modify the circulation of vehicles to widen the sidewalks and ensure social distancing on pedestrians in Barcelona, Spain, May 19, 2020. (Barcelona City Hall/Handout via Xinhua) MADRID -- The coronavirus death toll in Spain rose by 50 to 26,834, said the Spanish Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare on Monday. The death toll is nearly 2,000 fewer than that of 28,752 reported on Sunday after the ministry corrected the number, citing errors in calculation from some of Spain's Autonomous Communities. Meanwhile, the ministry reported 132 new infections on Monday, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 235,400. A man wearing a face mask visits the Autoworld in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) BRUSSELS -- Belgium entered in a new stage of the government's Phase-2 deconfinement plan Monday, with more pupils filing back to the classroom. The wearing of masks is not compulsory for children under 12 years old. However, hygiene measures and physical distance will have to be respected. The new stage also concerns prisons. Visits will resume there under the strict conditions of one visit per prisoner and once a week. A senior doctor was allegedly detained and humiliated for a day by policemen here while he was on his way to the hospital last weekend, triggering outrage in the medical fraternity. Dr Syed Maqbool, a senior cardiologist, said the incident took place on Saturday when he was heading to work. "On (May) 23rd morning, I was the cardiologist on call for SMHS hospital and all associated hospitals. I was stopped by a policeman at the Hawal crossing and asked to go back. I showed him my identity card and duty roster, and pleaded that I be allowed to pass as I was already late due to the traffic jam there," the cardiologist said. He claimed that the policeman started hurling abuses at him. "I got off from my vehicle and wanted to speak to the officer but the policeman hit me on my stomach with the plastic cane," the doctor alleged. Within no time, Dr Maqbool, along with his vehicle, was allegedly taken to the police station by the SHO. "The first thing he (the SHO) did was snatch my phone," he said. Dr Maqbool told the police officer that he had to inform his superiors about his situation as he was the doctor on call for the day. "Since I was at the police station, I had to inform my seniors so that alternate arrangements could be made. The officer allowed me to make one call on the condition that I would not disclose that I am at Zadibal police station. He threatened to strip me and book me," the doctor alleged. Dr Maqbool said he was released after spending a day at the police station and after signing a surety bond. The incident has sparked outrage in the medical fraternity with Principal Government Medical College Srinagar Dr Samia Rashid calling for a swift action. "The behavior of the police has been deplorable to say the least - we as frontline workers have been working day in and day out risking our lives and families only to be harassed. We as the administration have raised the issue with concerned authorities and hope for swift action," she tweeted. While ordering an inquiry into the incident, SSP Srinagar Haseeb Mughal said a police complaint has been registered against the doctor for preventing a policeman from doing his duty. "An inquiry has been ordered. A legal action has been initiated against him called 'istighasa' -- if you assault or prevent a police man from acting in the manner that he is doing his job, then a complaint is filed against him. That has been filed against him (doctor) in police station Zadibal," Mughal said. The SSP said after he was released from the police station, the doctor took the matter to social media. "May be in a way to defend himself only. So he also forwarded a complaint to me wherein I assured him that if you have some grievance, we will get it inquired by SP Hazratbal who is an IPS officer," he said. The police officer said that could have closed the chapter but the doctor started making the issue political which a government servant should not have done. "There are only two ways for a government servant -- either to look for an administrative redressal or to look for a legal redressal, a media trial is not open for a government servant. He has violated the service conduct rules," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It doesn't seem to make much sense. China's President Xi Jinping tried to get tough with Hong Kong and Taiwan last year. The people in both places responded emphatically. They stood up to his bullying. They rejected his efforts to push them around. The only thing Xi achieved was to alienate the smartest and freest Chinese populations within Beijing's claimed sphere. Many ordinary middle-class people were so incensed that they turned out to vote and to protest for the first time. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ratcheted up the heat on Hong Kong and Taiwan. Credit:AP Xi's response? His regime has now made new threats against both Taiwan and Hong Kong. And formalised them in the executive's annual work report to the National People's Congress over the past few days. "It's sad to hear," says the veteran Hong Kong-based political analyst Willy Lam, "a nation going down the wrong path". It also seems bizarre that Xi should want to persist on such a losing course. Business Ombudsman proposes to permit interrogation of persons outside Russia RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 17:36 25/05/2020 MOSCOW, May 25 (RAPSI, Alena Savelyeva) Russias Business Rights Commissioner Boris Titov has proposed to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure with a provision making it possible to conduct distant interrogations via videoconference systems approved by law enforcement agencies, according to the Ombudsmans press service. Titov believes that the changes in the legislation are to permit interrogation of persons, when they are abroad. The fact that Russian citizens outside Russia, among them those on the London List, when involved in criminal processes heard by national courts, face the problem of being unable to properly defend themselves has been frequently registered in the annual reports of his office, the Business Rights Commissioner notes. According to the Business Ombudsman, the move is to prevent unlawful and unmotivated refusals to conduct distant interrogations on the part of investigators. The so-called London List is a conventional name for a register of ex-Russian entrepreneurs residing abroad while under criminal investigation in the Russian Federation, who wish to return to their home country if provided guarantees that they are not to be placed in detention. Dublin, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Active Packaging Market - Forecasts from 2020 to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The active packaging market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.74% to reach US$30.145 billion by 2025, from US$20.386 billion in 2019. Active packaging is aimed at improving the performance of the package by infusing subsidiary constituents to the package (material or space). This emerging packaging system ensures that the food remains fresh and free from contamination. This package also provides information with respect to temperature, theft or counterfeiting of the product. The active or intelligent package can also pass shelf-life related information to the consumer to enable him to make an informed decision. By packaging technology, Oxygen scavenger is expected to hold around 40% share (as per 2018) of the Active Packaging Market which is employed mainly in Energy and Power, Petrochemicals, Pulp and Paper and Water Treatment Applications. Moisture controllers account for the second share. Desiccant is a major product used in the packaging of consumer electronics to control moisture which might destroy them. Rising disposable income is driving the growth of packaged goods. Besides the food and beverage segment, the healthcare sector is also booming with technological advancements happening across the globe. With the rising complexity of the products to be stored or transported to distant places while maintaining its integrity, the market for active package is estimated to elevate throughout the forecast period. Another trend following the changing consumer lifestyles is the robustness of E-commerce platforms which have to deliver the goods right at the doorstep of the consumer. These companies have to maintain the track record of the goods until it reaches the customer safely. Active Packaging can fulfill such needs of e-commerce suppliers. A major reason for the growing demand for active packaging is growing health-related concerns. The growing geriatric population, increasing number of chronic diseases and rising demand for OTC drugs are augmenting the growth of the Healthcare segment. Owing to strict regulations in packaging the pharmaceutical products, the investments in active packaging solutions are rising. Also, growing dependence over packaged or ready-to-eat foods is driving the demand for active packaging to provide sustainable solutions to the rising demands. The beverage industry incorporating bottled water, pouches for drinks, among others is also expected to positively impact this market. Asia Pacific is estimated to provide rapid growth opportunities. The Asia Pacific region, with India, Australia, China, and Japan, is expected to witness extensive growth opportunities for Active Packaging Market due to expanding applications of this type of packaging in line with rapid urbanization and rising health concerns. India and China mainly use active packaging solutions in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient packaging. The American region is estimated to hold a significant share of the active packaging sales due to the presence of major players in that region, even though the market is still developing robust systems, while in Europe, due to stringent regulations regarding food safety and security, technological advancements and increasing number of retail chains might be fueling the growth of this market. The rising number of diseases and viruses throughout different regions is expected to boost the demand for this market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 4.1. Market Drivers 4.2. Market Restraints 4.3. Porters Five Forces Analysis 4.3.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers 4.3.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers 4.3.3. Threat of New Entrants 4.3.4. Threat of Substitutes 4.3.5. Competitive Rivalry in the Industry 4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis 5. Active Packaging Market Analysis, by Packaging technology 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Oxygen Scavengers 5.3. Moisture Controllers 5.4. Antimicrobial Agents 5.5. UV Blocking 5.6. Temperature Indicators 5.7. Others 6. Active Packaging Market Analysis, by Application 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Food 6.3. Beverages 6.4. Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare 6.5. Electronic Products 6.6. Consumer Care 6.7. Others 7. Active Packaging Market Analysis, by Geography 7.1. Introduction 7.2. North America 7.2.1. North America Active Packaging Market, By Packaging Technology, 2019 to 2025 7.2.2. North America Active Packaging Market, By Application, 2019 to 2025 7.2.3. By Country 7.2.3.1. United States 7.2.3.2. Canada 7.2.3.3. Mexico 7.3. South America 7.3.1. South America Active Packaging Market, By Packaging Technology, 2019 to 2025 7.3.2. South America Active Packaging Market, By Application, 2019 to 2025 7.3.3. By Country 7.3.3.1. Brazil 7.3.3.2. Argentina 7.3.3.3. Others 7.4. Europe 7.4.1. Europe Active Packaging Market, By Packaging Technology, 2019 to 2025 7.4.2. Europe Active Packaging Market, By Application, 2019 to 2025 7.4.3. By Country 7.4.3.1. UK 7.4.3.2. Germany 7.4.3.3. France 7.4.3.4. Others 7.5. The Middle East and Africa 7.5.1. The Middle East and Africa Active Packaging Market, By Packaging Technology, 2019 to 2025 7.5.2. The Middle East and Africa Active Packaging Market, By Application, 2019 to 2025 7.5.3. By Country 7.5.3.1. Saudi Arabia 7.5.3.2. United Arab Emirates 7.5.3.3. Israel 7.5.3.4. Others 7.6. Asia Pacific 7.6.1. Asia Pacific Active Packaging Market, By Packaging Technology, 2019 to 2025 7.6.2. Asia Pacific Active Packaging Market, By Application, 2019 to 2025 7.6.3. By Country 7.6.3.1. Japan 7.6.3.2. China 7.6.3.3. India 7.6.3.4. Others 8. Competitive Environment and Analysis 8.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis 8.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness 8.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations 8.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix 9. Company Profiles 9.1. BASF SE 9.2. DuPont 9.3. Amcor Ltd. 9.4. MicrobeGuard Corporation 9.5. Sealed Air Corporation 9.6. Dessicare Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wwknu1 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Advertisement The first of five tankers loaded with gasoline sent from Iran reached Venezuelan waters late Saturday, expected to temporarily ease the South American nations fuel crunch while defying Trump administration sanctions targeting the two U.S. foes. The oil tanker Fortune encountered no immediate signs of U.S. interference as it eased through Caribbean waters toward the Venezuelan coast and Venezuelan officials celebrated the arrival. Iran and Venezuela have always supported each other in times of difficulty, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza tweeted. Today, the first ship with gasoline arrives for our people. The tanker and four behind it were finishing a high seas journey amid a burgeoning relationship between Iran and Venezuela, both of which Washington says are ruled by repressive regimes. Advertisement Russ Dallen, head of the Miami-based investment firm Caracas Capital Markets, confirmed the Fortunes location using ship tracking technology. He said the Clavel, the last of the five ships, was about 3 1/2 days behind the lead tanker. Venezuela sits atop the worlds largest oil reserves, but it must import gasoline because production has crashed in the last two decades. Critics blame corruption and mismanagement by the socialist administration amid an economic crisis that has led to huge migration by Venezuelans seeking to escape poverty, shortages of basic goods and crime. The Iranian tankers hold what analysts estimate to be enough gasoline to supply Venezuela for two to three weeks. Deep gasoline shortages have plagued Venezuela for years, though the problem had until recently largely spared the capital of Caracas, the largest population center and political seat. Drivers must wait for days in lines that snake through neighborhood to fill up with government-subsidized gasoline that costs less than a penny for a tank. Wealthier drivers with U.S. dollars turn to the black market, where gas costs up to $12 a gallon. Thats a small fortune in Venezuela, where the monthly minimum wage equals less than $5. The U.S. accuses Iran and other nations of propping up Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Its among nearly 60 nations that back opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelas legitimate president, contending that Maduro illegitimately won a 2018 election that banned his most popular opponents. In a new relationship between Caracas and Tehran, Iran recently also flew shipments of a key chemical needed to help jump start a Venezuelan oil refinery and produce gasoline. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned Saturday that the United States should not to interfere with the shipment of oil bound for Venezuela. In a statement, Rouhani said that the U.S. had created unacceptable conditions in different parts of the world, but that Iran would by no means be the one to initiate conflict. If our tankers in the Caribbean or anywhere in the world face any problems caused by the Americans, they will face problems as well, he added. We hope the Americans will not make a mistake. U.S. officials had announced no plans to try to intercept Irans tankers. However, the Trump administration has increased pressure on Maduro, recently offered a $15 million bounty for his arrest after a U.S. court indicted him as a narcotrafficker. The U.S. also recently deployed a force of ships, including Navy destroyers and other combat ships, to patrol the Caribbean on what U.S. officials call a drug interdiction mission. The Maduro government considers it a direct threat. Maduro holds on to power with support from Venezuelas military and his international allies, also including Cuba, Russia, and China. The U.S. says these nations are engaged in malign activities and meddling around the world. We will not abide by their support of the illegitimate and tyrannical regime of Nicolas Maduro, the Trump administration said in a statement, citing its maximum pressure campaign against the socialist leader. Will continue until Maduros hold on Venezuela is over. A defiant Maduro appeared on state TV days ahead of the ships arrivals, vowing a tough response to any U.S. aggression against the Iranian tankers. He showed images of soldiers firing antiaircraft missiles streaking across the Caribbean. They want to enslave us, Maduro said Thursday. If you want peace, you must be prepared to defend it. Maduros defense minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, said Venezuelas armed forces would welcome the five Iranian tankers, escorting them with ships and planes through the nations maritime territory and into port. Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Council of the Americas and Americas Society research center, said he didnt expect the U.S. would act against the Iranian tankers. Such an act could too easily escalate, he said, especially in the Persian Gulf where Iran could retaliate against U.S. ships. (That) would needlessly undermine the narrative that Venezuela, with the worlds largest proven oil supply, has to import gasoline from Iran of all places because they have become such an international pariah, Farnsworth said. If they dont, Caracas claims a great victory for the fatherland and tries to portray the U.S. as impotent. Durban, May 25 : Hard-hitting South African batsman David Miller has said it was like a dream come true for him when he got to play under Australian legend Adam Gilchrist whom he has grown up watching. Wicketkeeping great Gilchrist led Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at a time Miller was drafted in the side in 2011. "Adam Gilchrist was the captain at that time, growing up I always looked up to him and Matthew Hayden, I watched Australia play at 3 am in the morning, Gilchrist was captaining me, we had a lot of greats in our side, so it was a dream for me," Miller, 30, said during an Instagram Live session with former Zimbabwe pacer-turned-commentator Pommie Mbangwa. "In my first year, I did not get a single game at the IPL. Halfway through my second year, I got three games and then in my third year, Adam Gilchrist was retiring, he actually pulled his both hamstrings, I then got a game and that's when I played my 101 run (unbeaten) knock against RCB," Miller said. The white-ball specialist left-hander also revealed that an injury to England pacer Stuart Broad brought him to the IPL for the first time. "The first year, I went into the auction and I did not get picked. Literally 10 days before the IPL, I got a call from Kings XI Punjab and they said we are selecting you and you need to come over as soon as possible, there was an injury to Stuart Broad so I packed my bags and I went to India. "That's where it all started. It was an incredible journey, firstly it was a just a one-year deal, but then they retained me for the next two years at my base price. The first three years of mine at IPL were incredible," Miller said. In 79 matches, Miller scored 1850 runs at 34.26 and a strike-rate of 138.78 in the IPL. He was released by Kings XI before last year's auction. The Chinese troops have come in about three kilometres inside Indian territory South East of the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, ThePrint has reported. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. Contrary to inputs of a large number of Chinese troops positioned at Galwan Valley, their presence is within the Chinese Claim Line (CCL), the report further suggests. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. India has conducted mirror deployment on its side to match moves made by the Chinese forces, the report adds. The report adds that Chinese troops have not crossed the CCL in these areas. However, they did accept that these locations were about three km within Indias perception of the LAC. Reports earlier suggested that the Chinese military was fast increasing its troops in areas around Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley along the LAC in Ladakh, sending a clear signal that it was not ready to end its confrontation with the Indian Army anytime soon. A report by news agency PTI has suggested that the Chinese had bolstered its presence in the Galwan Valley by erecting around 100 tents in the last two weeks and bringing in heavy equipment for construction of bunkers, notwithstanding the stiff protest by Indian troops. In the midst of the escalating tension, Army Chief General MM Naravane paid a quiet visit to the headquarters of 14 Corps in Leh on May 22 and reviewed with the top commanders the overall security scenario in the region including in the disputed areas along the LAC the de-facto border between India and China. The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to "disengage" following a meeting at the level of local commanders. Over 100 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in the violence. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9. Last week, local commanders of both the sides held at least five meetings during which the Indian side took strong note of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) erecting a large numbers of tents in areas in Galwan Valley which India felt belonged to its side of the LAC. Reports also suggest that a patrol party of the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were detained and later released by the Chinese forces earlier last week. The situation was defused after a border meeting of commanders from both sides. The Indian Army has however denied these reports. (With inputs from PTI) Eric Farina, 20, was charged with battery and disorderly conduct in relation to the incident that occurred on Saturday evening, while WGN reporter Gaynor Hall was recording a live segment on a recent windstorm in Shorewood, Illinois A man who reportedly grabbed a Chicago news reporter during a live broadcast and yelled obscenities at the camera has been arrested by police and now faces assault charges. Eric Farina, 20, was charged with battery and disorderly conduct in relation to the incident that occurred on Saturday evening, while WGN reporter Gaynor Hall was recording a live segment on a recent windstorm in Shorewood, Illinois. Footage of the exchange shows Hall delivering the lead-in for her prepared news package when a man, purported to be Farina, suddenly runs into frame, grabs the reporter around the shoulders and shouts f*** her right in the p****, down the camera lens. Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the man wasnt wearing a facemask or any other personal protective equipment when he accosted Hall. The man then ran from the scene. Police later described the man's comments as 'profane and disturbing'. Scroll down for video Footage of the exchange shows Hall delivering the lead-in for her prepared news package when a man, purported to be Farina, suddenly runs into frame, grabs the reporter around the shoulders and shouts f*** her right in the p****, looking down the camera lens The station quickly cut away from the broadcast to a video package of Halls report, later offering an apology for the mans bad language. WGNs anchors also assured viewers that Hall was fine. But in a Facebook post referencing the incident, Hall revealed she was left shaken up by the mans actions. It was not funny. You violated my personal space. You grabbed me, she wrote. You scared me. Was it worth it? Farina was arrested at his home in Minooka early Sunday, police said. He allegedly confessed to the crime and was released on $2,500 recognizance bond. The stunt, which police said was intended to be a prank, was made in reference to a worn-out viral gag that first emerged online in 2015, in which members of the public trolled live broadcasts by uttering the same profane statement as Farina did. Farina was arrested at his home in Minooka early Sunday, police said. He allegedly confessed to the crime and was released on $2,500 recognizance bond. The station quickly cut away from the broadcast to a video package of Halls report, later offering an apology for the mans bad language. WGNs anchors also assured viewers that Hall was fine Celebrating Farinas arrest on Facebook, Hall offered appreciation for her fans for their kind messages in the days since. Thanks to your help, he was identified and arrested, Hall wrote. Thank you all so much for your kind words and support. I am ok and I appreciate you more than you know. Halls post was quickly inundated with comments offering similar messages of support. Im embarrassed that this happened in our village, wrote local Erica Uribe. Yesterday after we got hit with the storm I was so proud of how all the neighbors pulled together and we were all helping each other out with the clean-up but then this one ignorant person goes and does this repulsive stunt and gives us all a bad name. Similarly, Beth Paluzzi wrote: Im so sorry this happened to you in our town. We are better than that! We have the best community with wonderful, kind people that care for and respect each other. As part of our #LockdownLessons series, Bizcommunity is reaching out to South Africa's top industry players to share their experience of the current Covid-19 crisis, how their organisations are navigating these unusual times, where the challenges and opportunities lie, and their industry outlook for the near future. Lerato Pooe, general manager of the South African Institute of Valuers What was your initial response to the crisis/lockdown and has your experience of it been different to what you expected? Comment on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on your organisation or economy as a whole. How is your organisation responding to the crisis? Comment on the challenges and opportunities. How has the lockdown affected your staff? / What temporary HR policies have you put in place regarding remote working, health & safety, etc.? How have you had to change the way you operate? Any trends youve seen emerge as a result of the crisis? Your key message to those in the sector? What do you predict the next six months will be like? We chatted to Lerato Pooe, general manager of the South African Institute of Valuers (SAIV), to get her take.Given what was going on globally, it was inevitable that we would be affected as a country. But having said that, nothing couldve prepared us mentally for what was before us in terms of the restrictions.We are a voluntary association that looks after the interests of property valuers in South Africa.Our members operate within the broader economy and have been significantly impacted as they have only been able to operate where the valuations are supporting valuations for essential services; which has meant a loss of income for a lot of our valuers who are commission earners.As an institute, one of our core objectives is to provide continued education and training for our members through hosting events and seminars. Due to the pandemic, all scheduled physical contact events had to be cancelled, and will remain cancelled until the foreseeable future, or until were at Level 1 Lockdown. This has meant a loss of revenue for our organisation.Weve had to vigorously seek alternative ways to engage with our members and beef up the already existing platforms such as our website, social media and email communication. Weve also had to look at online conferencing platforms to ensure continuity with learning and knowledge-sharing with our members.Challenges: Being a voluntary association and being the eyes and ears of valuers and having to filter out information and ensuring that valuers are equipped with correct information was somewhat challenging in that there have been some grey areas in as far as government regulations were concerned, more so when people are eager to work and generate an income.Opportunities: With every challenge, therein lies an opportunity. As an organisation, we had been planning on introducing webinars and online platforms for engagement and Covid has now forced us to adapt and introduce this as a way of doing business.Were perhaps a few of the fortunate organisations who havent been affected from an HR perspective. Were a small team and could very easily and immediately implement a work-from-policy without many hassles. From the get go weve been able to work from home, notwithstanding having to deal with the kids forcibly becoming a part of the online meetings. But its all been part of the journey and one has to take some humour from it all.Weve also had to look at online conferencing platforms to ensure continuity with learning and knowledge sharing with our members.The adaptation to technology stands out. Increased webinars from all organisations, regular messaging not just on business but also checking in on people.Keep safe, practice social distancing, monitor systems and, above all, reach out to those in need. Use the time to watch webinars and get involved in collabinars. Be kind to yourself.Depending on the lockdown period, I would say an eagerness for people to work and hopefully support of local, small companies. Compassion for fellow humans and the firing up of the entrepreneurial spirit to ensure that all are given opportunities to feed and keep their families safe. Employees of a major group of French nursing homes on Monday took part in protests across France to call for better pay amid the coronavirus crisis. Protesters gathered outside homes owned by the Korian group in Paris, Lille and other French cities in response to a call from several far-left unions. The government is formally opening on Monday two months of talks with healthcare workers over changes to France's public health system, which has suffered from decades of cuts. Korian is one of the market leaders in the provision of care for older adults. It has more than 850 facilities in Europe, employing more than 53,000 people and caring for 300,000 people in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands and Spain. In France, where Korian manages nearly 300 care homes, the group is facing several lawsuits filed by families who have lost loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic. Prosecutors have opened police investigations. France has counted more than 14,000 COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents, accounting for nearly half of the country's total of more than 28,300 deaths. Facing anger from healthcare workers, President Emmanuel Macron promised a massive investment plan for France's public health sector. Details will be unveiled in July. The government said that all staff working in public hospitals and nursing homes in the regions hardest hit by the virus will get a 1,500-euro ($1,632) bonus from the state. Doctors and nurses have long denounced low salaries, staffing shortages and overwhelmed services in hospitals. Before the virus crisis, emergency room workers held strikes and protests for months demanding more hiring and funding. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- The market leader in mobile app security AppSealing has announced the introduction of a new feature to its suite of security services. Now, it protects hybrid apps as well. It's new and existing clients, which include industry bigwigs in the fields of fintech, gaming, OTT, ecommerce, etc., can add an AppSealing security layer between the native shell and the web app to secure their hybrid apps and protect their network infrastructure and their users' devices and data. Following DevOps logic, hybrid apps are essentially web applications wrapped in a native shell of a mobile operating system. Their popularity rests on the promise of reduced development time and cost. Developers focus on delivering updated apps to clients in the shortest possible time and, hence, do not bother enough about its security features or are not equipped to address security concerns. It makes hybrid apps vulnerable to security attacks. Noticing this gap, AppSealing now offers its cutting-edge technology to protect both the JavaScript source code and the Android native code in hybrid apps, just as it protects native apps. James Sungmin Ahn, CEO of INKA Entworks, the company that owns AppSealing, says, "There is pressure on developers to release feature-heavy apps quickly. The developer community has responded by adopting DevOps and rolling out hybrid apps. AppSealing equips developers to fill the security gap that emerges out of adopting this approach. AppSealing's trademark features, like real-time threat monitoring, ability to stop reverse engineering, and code protection, are available for hybrid apps now." An important proposition in the security set-up of native and hybrid apps is the use of a secure web browser, since attackers tend to exploit security holes in browsing habits of users. AppSealing's secure WebView for android is the only unique solution that plugs this gap and delivers Chromium-based WebView security, which is compatible with android WebView API, integrated with NAVER XWhale (WebView) used for NAVER apps. Hyo Kim, Whale Leader of NAVER Corporation, says, "AppSealing is the preferred choice of mobile app developers for securing apps in real-time. Our Whale browser has made a name for itself in protecting susceptible users against phishing and malware attacks. Hybrid app developers can benefit from this partnership by using the secure browsing promise of NAVER X Whale (Webview) and real-time threat monitoring mechanism of AppSealing." This association shows to the developer community how even hybrid apps can be made safer without compromising on the ease of development and cost adjustments they offer. AppSealing Hybrid App Security v1.0 offers hybrid apps with JavaScript and native code protection that prevents code theft, information leakage, malware insertion, reverse engineering, and stealing of premium features, while its RASP feature pre-empts hacking attempts at runtime. All these multi-layered security is uniquely available to AppSealing clients through an SDK, which adds a WebView protection layer to their hybrid apps and encrypts their JavaScript and native code. AppSealing is constantly adding new features which developers use for fast and secure delivery of apps and creating beautiful and user-friendly interfaces. Its next cycle of protection will involve apps created through React Native, Ionic, and Flutter frameworks. About AppSealing A trusted player in the world of application security, AppSealing, as part of INKA Entworks, utilizes RASP and In-app protection to build scalable security solutions in Android and iOS mobile apps without requiring any coding. Its powerful security suite ensures real-time source code protection against reverse engineering and hacking. It protects 800M+ devices and 800+ mobile apps. It is headquartered in South Korea, with regional offices in the USA and India. For more information, visit https://www.appsealing.com. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The New York Times got a lot of publicity on Sunday because it chose to fill the front page of its print edition with the names and brief obituaries of 1,000 people identified as having died from the Wuhan virus. The text filled the entire page and included a reminder that almost 100,000 people may have died from the virus since it landed on American shores. As with all things Times, this was a dishonest attempt to disparage President Trump, as well as a sign of disrespect to those whom we honor on Memorial Day. Astute people instantly noticed that one of the people named in the article was not a Wuhan virus victim, but instead a murder victim. That's a fun, nitpicky thing to hang on to the Times. What's more important is what's behind those names and numbers. (You can see an interactive online version here.) First, we don't actually know how many people have died from the Wuhan virus. John R. Lott, an economist and data-cruncher, details how the U.S. is overstating Wuhan virus deaths. These overstatements include those who died with but not from the virus, deaths with negative postmortem virus results, overcounting due to political pressure, and overcounting for financial reasons. Second, we do know that, by any count, the vast majority of deaths (39,589 as of May 22) have been in New York and New Jersey. While residents of those two states, including Times reporters, may feel as if they're in a charnel house, that's not the case for the rest of America. The front-page gimmick reflects the view from New York and New Jersey, not the view of America as a whole. Third, the Times and other Democrat media outlets have done their utmost to blame virus deaths on Trump. Within hours of the Times publishing its front page, the following image started circulating on social media: The image gives President Trump way too much blame. Because he respects federalism, Trump allowed the various states to set their own approaches to the virus. He confined himself to closing the borders, facilitating supplies, speeding research, and generally providing nationwide support. The governors put in place day-to-day policies to address the virus. At the state level, the chart below shows that the likelihood of a resident dying from the Wuhan virus in a Democrat-run state was four times greater than the likelihood for a resident in a Republican-run state: Wuhan death information drawn from Statista's data for May 22, 2020. Wuhan viruses aren't a Trump problem; they're a Democrat problem. Fourth, the deaths in Democrat-run states occurred disproportionately in nursing homes. That isn't just because nursing homes contain a vulnerable patient population. It's because Democrat governors forced nursing homes to accept patients with the Wuhan virus. One of those governors, Andrew Cuomo, has tried to blame Trump, saying the president's guidelines said that "nursing homes should admit any individuals that they would normally admit to their facility, including individuals from hospitals where a case of COVID-19 was/is present." Only a very stupid person would read that sentence to mean "nursing homes must admit individuals who have COVID-19." It's obvious that it means that a patient who would typically enter a nursing home a disabled person, a pneumonia patient, a stroke patient, etc. can still enter the nursing home even if that patient is discharged from a hospital that, somewhere on the premises, had a Wuhan virus case. Sixth, the Times is showing great disrespect for those who died serving our country. Any death that occurs for a reason other than old age is a tragedy for those who die and those who are left behind. This is especially true when the death occurs because of epidemic disease, and it's even worse when a state governor's policies exacerbated the death toll. Those dead deserve to be acknowledged. Nevertheless, these deaths should not be conflated with Memorial Day observations. There is a difference between those who die from disease and mismanagement and those who have lost their lives fighting in a war to defend American liberty. There's nothing wrong with honoring the Wuhan virus dead. There is something very wrong with using them as the Times did, to score political points against the president and to overwrite Memorial Day to score those points. Police fire tear gas on protesters during a planned protests against a proposal to enact a new security legislation in Hong Kong on May 24, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Issac Lawrence) As the demonstrators and police were facing off in the semi-autonomous financial hub, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi insisted in Beijing that the proposed law must be imposed "without the slightest delay". The planned legislation - expected to ban treason, subversion and sedition - comes after Hong Kong was shaken last year by months of massive, often-violent protests, and repeated warnings from Beijing that it would not tolerate dissent. With campaigners warning the proposal could spell the end of the city's treasured freedoms, thousands gathered and chanted slogans in the busy Causeway Bay and Wan Chai districts, while some masked protesters set up makeshift barricades to stop police vehicles. "People may be criminalised only for words they say or publish opposing the government," 25-year-old protester Vincent told AFP. "I think Hong Kongers are very frustrated because we didn't expect this to come so fast and so rough. But ... we won't be as naive as to believe that Beijing will simply sit back and do nothing. Things will only get worse here." Riot police were deployed after protesters ignored earlier warnings from authorities against unauthorised assembly and violated the city's current coronavirus-linked law banning public gatherings of more than eight people. As the number of protesters swelled, police fired tear gas and pepper spray to try and disperse the crowd, and later deployed water cannon and armoured vehicles against pockets of protesters. At least 180 people were arrested, police said, the majority in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai districts. Other protesters were detained at a smaller demonstration in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Hong Kong government condemned the "extremely violent and illegal acts" of the protesters and said they reinforced "the need and urgency of the legislation on national security". It also accused protesters of injuring at least four police officers. The scenes on Sunday were the most intense in months. The Hong Kong pro-democracy movement had fizzled at the beginning of 2020 as arrests mounted and, later, large gatherings were banned to stop the coronavirus. More than 8,300 people have been arrested since the protests erupted last year. Around 200 were detained during small rallies at malls on Mother's Day earlier this month. Hong Kong residents enjoy rights - including freedom of speech - unseen on the Chinese mainland, as well as its own legal system and trade status. Fears had been growing for years that Beijing was chipping away at those freedoms and tightening its control on the city, and campaigners have described the new proposal as the most brazen move yet. Of particular concern is a provision allowing Chinese security agents to operate in Hong Kong, and that they could launch a crackdown against those dissenting the mainland's communist rulers. "I'M VERY SCARED" "I'm very scared, but I still have to come out," said protester Christy Chan, 23. "Aside from being peaceful, rational and non-violent, I don't see many ways to send out our messages." Despite the alarm in Hong Kong and in some Western capitals, Chinese and city officials have insisted the proposed law is needed to prevent unrest and protect national security. A top pro-Beijing official claimed Saturday that mainland Chinese law enforcement would not operate in the city without "approval" from local authorities. "I'm not worried about anybody being arrested by a police officer from the mainland and then taken back to China for investigation or punishment," Maria Tam, a Hong Kong law advisor to the Chinese parliament, told AFP. "It is not, not, not going to happen." Hong Kong's unpopular pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam has defended the new proposal, saying it was necessary to protect national security and punish "violent political elements". But there is deep mistrust of China's opaque legal system in Hong Kong and of how Beijing might use the proposed regulations in the city. The massive protests last year were sparked by a now-scrapped Bill that would have allowed extraditions to the mainland, and there are fears the new motion would be even more wide-ranging. The new proposal could prove even more wide-ranging than that plan, and several Western governments have voiced alarm. China's legislature is expected to sign off on the draft resolution on Thursday, the last day of the annual parliamentary gathering, before the details are fleshed out at another meeting at a later date. Officials have said the law would then be implemented locally. Foreign tourists at Po Nagar Towers in Khanh Hoa (Photo: VNA) The press conference was held by the provinces Departments of Tourism and Information and Communications and the Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association to launch the programme, which primarily sets its sights on domestic visitors. The move aims to help Khanh Hoa revive the local tourism industry, which has been majorly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic for nearly three months. Trung said participating companies, including 50 accommodation providers, 13 tourist sites, 10 tour operators, and a transport firm, have vowed to offer visitors discounts ranging from 20 to 50 percent. The province is calling on local tourism companies to develop new high-quality products and services to spark demand. The tourism department plans to hold promotional events in several domestic markets, such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, while a seminar will be organised to seek solutions to improving the quality of tourism in Khanh Hoa. Khanh Hoa is home to over 770 accommodation providers with more than 42,000 rooms in total, including 86 hotels rated three to five stars with nearly 19,000 rooms. Because of the impact of COVID-19, the province expects to welcome just 3.2 million visitors this year, including 1.5 million foreigners. It received 7 million holidaymakers last year, including more than 3.5 million from overseas. By PTI BHOPAL: With more than 13.74 lakh migrant labourers having returned to their homes in Madhya Pradesh so far during the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, the state government faces a big challenge of providing them jobs. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a televised address last week said Madhya Pradesh's economy has collapsed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Labourers Chhidami Kushwaha (35) and his wife Sagun Devi (32), who returned to their native Gopalpura village in Tikamgarh district from Kanjhawala village in Delhi on May 18, claimed on Monday that they have so far not received any help from the Madhya Pradesh government. Chhidami Kushwaha's brother Suraj Kushwaha (28) also returned with them. "We three worked as building construction labourers in Delhi and Haryana. We have not received any financial help from the state government yet. My father Sukhlal Kushwaha is looking after our needs now," Chhidami Kushwaha told PTI. FOLLOW COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES HERE The three of them do not have active job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Tikamgarh, he said. "We migrated to Haryana a couple of years ago for a better livelihood. But, we had to return last week because of the coronavirus outbreak. So, we did not renew our job cards. If we had active cards we would have got Rs 202 wages a day for work under MGNREGA. Right now we are jobless," he said. Another migrant worker Parmanand Kushwaha, who worked as a welder in building constructions in Delhi, also returned to Gopalpura recently due to the lockdown. He also said that he has not yet received any financial help from the state government so far. A panchayat secretary in Tikamgarh, who did not wish to be named, said jobs under MGNREGA have shrunk due to mordernisation of the construction sector. Nowadays, vehicles, machines are used in construction work and other things instead of workers, he rued. Tikamgarh is part of the impoverished Bundelkhand region. To make things worse for migrant workers who have returned home, local labourers are opposing their entry in workplaces due to the fear of COVID-19. Motilal Kewat (45), a farm labourer from Mohaniya village in the state's Sidhi district, said local labourers are against working with migrants as they feel those who have come back might be carrying the coronavirus disease and may infect others. However, Madhya Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (panchayat and rural development) Manoj Shrivastava said the state government was facilitating jobs for migrant labourers who have returned to the state. The state government is working hard and providing jobs, food and health care on priority to migrant labourers who have returned home, he said. "More than 13.74 lakh labourers have returned to the state. Of them, over 10 lakh were home quarantined," the official said. An operation is underway to give them job cards and renew (non-active) them, he said. The migrant labourers on their return have been medically examined and taken care of, he said, adding that 198 labourers in the state have so far tested positive for coronavirus. He claimed Madhya Pradesh has provided jobs to 37 lakh labourers under MGNREGA, the highest by any state so far. The Madhya Pradesh government last month said it provided Rs 1,000 each to nearly 7,000 migrant labourers from 22 states who were stranded in view of the lockdown. Asked about complaints of migrant labourers that they have not received a monetary help of Rs 1,000 from the state government, Shrivastava said the labour department looks after giving financial help. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Authorities can begin distributing the second tranche of cash aid to millions of families severely affected by the coronavirus crisis, Malacanang said on Monday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the distribution of the second batch of financial assistance through the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to 17 million families should be underway after Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued the memorandum on May 22. "Puwede na pong ipamahagi ang second tranche ng SAP. So kasama na po diyan yung 5 milyon mga bagong pangalan na bibigyan po ng ayuda at yung 12 milyon na dati na pong nakakuha ng ayuda during the first tranche. Dapat po patuloy na po ang proseso, umuusad na," Roque said in a virtual briefing. [Translation: The second tranche of the SAP can be distributed now. That will include 5 million new beneficiaries and the 12 million families who initially received financial help during the first tranche. The process should be moving along.] The Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Privacy Commission, was tasked to expedite the creation of an online portal with the list of all eligible beneficiaries of the cash aid program. Members of the Armed Forces will lead the second tranche of distribution. Low-income families are entitled to 5,000 to 8,000 worth of assistance for April and May under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. As earlier announced, priority would be given to households under enhanced community quarantine and modified ECQ. The Palace memorandum clarified that "households most affected by the continuing restrictions in the operation of certain industries and sectors in areas under a general community quarantine may still be considered for the second tranche." The list is subject to validation by national government agencies and local government units, according to the order signed by Medialdea. Much of the country is under general community quarantine, while Cebu City and Mandaue City are under enhanced community quarantine. Metro Manila and the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Zambales are under MECQ considered as a transition phase toward the more relaxed GCQ. Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 : With the commercial domestic aviation services restarting in the country on Monday, it appears the Aarogya Setu app is not a requirement at the Thiruvananthapuram airport. A passenger who arrived from Delhi on the first flight that landed here on Monday told IANS that no one asked him about Aarogya Setu app inside or outside the airport here. "When I entered the Delhi airport, I was asked if I have Aarogya Setu app and I said yes. Then I was allowed to enter the airport. In the aircraft what I could see was social distancing was maintained. There was no in-flight service of any sort during the flight," said the passenger who did not wished to be identified. After landing at the airport here, all were asked to pass through a thermal scanner. "After that there is a health desk with a doctor and a few others. They asked me a few questions and I was let off as I had no symptoms. Then I had to fill a few forms and then went to a counter where I showed the pass that I had received when I first registered online two days back, before I booked my air ticket. The person manning the counter asked me all my details of where I will be staying and such things. After the registration was over, I got another pass and was allowed to go out of the airport," said the passenger and added no one asked him about the app. "Outside I could see buses of the state-owned Transport Department and I took a car and reached my home, where I have been asked to be in quarantine for 14 days. Now I will be staying indoors till my quarantine period is over," added the passenger who works in Delhi. According to rules here, anyone arriving in Kerala on flights, can go into state run quarantine centres, if they so wish or if they have a separate attached bathroom at their home can remain in it for two weeks, when the quarantine period will end. A Life Flight major collision involving two vehicles occurred Sunday night on State Highway 6 at Pavillion Pt. The driver of one vehicle had allegedly been drinking. Two vehicles traveling on State Highway 6 on Sunday night crashed into each other after the teenage driver of a black Nissan Maxima failed to yield right of way. Kevin Lozano, 18, a 26-year-old female passenger and a 7-year-old child in the backseat were traveling southbound in the 7800 block of State Highway 6 at Pavillion Pt. when Lozano turned in front of a black Honda Accord, causing the two vehicles to collide in the inside lane. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your Inbox An unidentified 21-year-old male was behind the wheel of the Accord, with a 20-year-old female in the front passenger seat. Lozano reportedly left the scene temporarily. He said he felt bad and left but he returned to the scene on his own, said Sgt. Dashana Cheek of Harris County Sheriff's Office. Lozano complained of injury, while the two passengers in the Maxima were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital by Life Flight. The female passenger suffered a broken right leg, while the 7-year-old suffered facial, skull and basal fractures. Both are reportedly in stable condition and expected to survive. The two passengers in the Accord were transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Katy by ground. Although the driver sustained a broken right arm and the passenger sustained a broken leg, they are both reportedly in stable condition. Lazano allegedly showed signs of impairment and admitted to drinking prior to the collision. He has been charged with four counts of failure to stop and render aid and four counts of Intoxication Assault. File Photo Karachi: A preliminary report on the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash, in which 97 people were killed, has raised serious questions about the pilots handling of the aircraft. According to the report, prepared by the countrys Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Airbus A-320s engines had scraped the runway thrice on the pilots first attempt to land, causing friction and sparks recorded by the experts. Advertisement PhotoAfter the third impact, the pilot took the aircraft off into the air again, which officials found very strange as the crew in the cockpit did not inform the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at the Jinnah International Airport of any problem with the landing gear. When the aircraft scraped the ground on the first failed attempt at landing, the engines oil tank and fuel pump may have been damaged and started to leak, preventing the pilot from achieving the required thrust and speed to raise the aircraft to safety, the report said. The pilot made a decision on his own to undertake a go-around after he failed to land the first time. It was only during the go-around that the ATC was informed that landing gear was not deploying, it said. Advertisement PhotoExperts said that the failure to achieve the directed height indicates that the engines were not responding. The aircraft, thereafter, tilted and crashed suddenly. The plane descended too fast, almost plunged, sources familiar with the report said. The investigators were trying to establish why the pilots not once informed the ATC of any emergency, malfunction, engine failure or fire despite the visible problems the aircraft was facing, the report said, adding that it is rare to have so many technical problems at the same time. Advertisement The ATCs conduct is also being probed. The report added that at this point, there are more questions than answers with the most serious being why and how the alarm systems inside the cockpit failed to warn the pilots of an impending emergency. PhotoPIA chief executive officer Arshad Malik has said that the black box of the plane has been handed over to the investigation team. The team, headed by Air Commodore Muhammad Usman Ghani, President of the Aircraft Accident and Investigation Board, is expected to submit a full report in about three months. Advertisement In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pakistan government had allowed the limited domestic flight operations from five major airports Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta from May 16. After the plane tragedy, the PIA has called off its domestic operation. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. The World Health Organization is pressing pause on its trial of hydroxychloroquine as treatment for COVID-19 out of fear for the drugs potential danger. The medication best known for its use against malaria and autoimmune disorders has been at the heart of controversy as President Donald Trump, among others, has touted its use to fight the coronavirus. But WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at a news briefing Monday that the organization would temporarily suspend its trial of the drug over safety concerns. Advertisement In explaining the decision, Tedros cited the British journal The Lancet, which published findings last week that showed there was no positive effect of the drug on coronavirus patients. In fact, the study found that those who took hydroxychloroquine or its related drug chloroquine were more likely to die or develop an irregular heart rhythm. Not only is there no benefit, but we saw a very consistent signal of harm, said one study leader. Other studies had already raised question about the drugs effectiveness. The executive group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity Trial while the safety data is reviewed by the data safety monitoring board. The other arms of the trial are continuing, Tedros said. He did emphasize though that the drugs are accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Executive Group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity Trial while the data is reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board"-@DrTedros #COVID19 World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 25, 2020 Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHOs chief scientist, noted that investigators within the organization, as well as regulators in member countries, had raised enough questions about the safety of the drug to warrant the pause in the study. So the steering committee met over the weekend and decided that in the light of this uncertainty, that we should be proactive, err on the side of caution, and suspend enrollment, temporarily, into the hydroxychloroquine arm, she said. For now, the WHO will gather more data before deciding how to proceed. Advertisement Trump said in an interview that aired Sunday that he had just finished a two-week course of hydroxychloroquine. Finished, just finished, he said in the interview that aired on Sinclair Broadcasting. And by the way, Im still here. When asked about why he would take a drug that was still being studied, Trump said he heard great things. I believe in it enough that I took a program because I had two people in the White House that tested positive, he said. I figured maybe its a good thing to take a program. You know, we take a little bit of a period of time, I think it was two weeks. But hydroxy has had tremendous, if you look at it, tremendous, rave reviews. The Food and Drug Administration has warned against using the drug outside of a hospital setting due to the risk of heart problems. Selena Gomez has been enjoying some family time with her parents as she quarantines amid COVID-19. And the former child star recently showed appreciation for her brood and their 'American story.' She opened up about her Mexican-American family Saturday as she gave a heartfelt speech for Define American's Immigrad 2020, a virtual commencement for immigrant graduates. Graduation day: Selena Gomez opened up about her Mexican-American family Saturday as she gave a heartfelt speech for Define American's Immigrad 2020 The 27-year-old said: 'Congratulations to all of the immigrads! I know that this is a virtual ceremony, but it's very real, and it's very real to all of the families and all of you and your communities. 'I want you guys to know that you matter and that your experiences are a huge part of the American story.' She continued: 'When my family came here from Mexico, they set into motion my American story as well as theirs. I'm a proud, third-generation American-Mexican, and my family's journeys and their sacrifice helped me get me to where I am today. 'Mine is not a unique story. Each and every one of you have a unique tale of becoming an American, so regardless of where your family is fun, regardless of your immigration status, you have taken action to earn an education to make your families proud and to open up your worlds.' American story: The 27-year-old said: 'I want you guys to know that you matter and that your experiences are a huge part of the American story' Proud Mexican-American: She continued: 'When my family came here from Mexico, they set into motion my American story as well as theirs' (pictured circa 1999 with grandfather Ricardo Gomez, father Ricardo Gomez and grandmother Mary Gomez) Supportive family: Gomez added: 'I'm a proud, third-generation American-Mexican, and my family's journeys and their sacrifice helped me get me to where I am today' (pictured with mother Mandy Teefey in February, 2010) Gomez concluded: 'So I'm sending all of my love to you guys today, and congratulations and I hope you guys are set off to be everything that you want to be.' She previously served as executive producer on Living Undocumented, a Netflix documentary series that premiered in October. It featured eight immigrant families as they struggled with the constant looming threat of deportation. Gomez wrote about her family in a personal essay for Time: 'In 1992, I was born a US citizen thanks to their bravery and sacrifice. Over the past four decades, members of my family have worked hard to gain United States citizenship. 'Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance.' O pposition leaders are to meet on Tuesday morning to discuss public health messaging amid the ongoing row over Dominic Cummings trip to Durham, it is understood. Scientists, members of the British public and MPs across the political spectrum have called for Boris Johnson's top aide to resign. The backlash intensified after Mr Cummings made a public statement at Downing Street on Monday, where he tried to explain his trip to the North East in March despite the coronavirus lockdown. The 48-year-old said he travelled to Durham to self-isolate with his family, because his four-year-old son fell ill and he feared that he and his wife would be left unable to care for him. Dominic Cummings returns home after his "car crash" press conference / AFP via Getty Images Mr Cummings told reporters that he had not offered to resign nor had he considered it as well as refusing to apologise for his actions. He said: I do not regret what I did but added that reasonable people may well disagree. Both Cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister have continued to rally around the special adviser, saying he acted "reasonably, legally and with integrity". However, Labour have continued to lead calls for Mr Cummings to be removed from his post, with a party spokesman saying: The British people were looking for at least an apology from Dominic Cummings for breaking the lockdown. They got none Millions of people have made extraordinary sacrifices during the lockdown. Families have been forced apart, sometimes in the most tragic of circumstances. They stayed at home to protect the NHS and save lives. And yet, the message from this Government is clear: its one rule for Boris Johnsons closest adviser, another for everybody else. TODO: define component type apester Several opposition MPs then posted identical tweets, rehashing the spokesman's closing sentence. Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted during Mr Cummings' statement: This is actually painful to watch. He clearly broke the rules, the Prime Minister has failed to act in the National interest. He should have never allowed this situation with a member of his staff. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford MP said Boris Johnson had no option but to sack Dominic Cummings, and his failure to do is a gross failure of leadership. Responding to the press conference, Mr Blackford said: What should have been a resignation statement turned out to be a botched PR exercise that changes nothing. It is now beyond doubt Dominic Cummings broke multiple lockdown rules. There was no apology and no contrition from Mr Cummings for his behaviour and now, following this unrepentant press conference, there are no excuses left for him. He has done nothing but double down on the double standards he has displayed and which millions of people across the UK are furious about. Meanwhile, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas said: "Cummings believes he did the right thing but accepts others may disagree. The right thing to do now is accept that most of us do disagree, and that his behaviour undermines the Governments public health message. He should resign." And acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey tweeted: "Cummings statement confirms he broke the guidelines When millions kept to those rules The PM must now terminate his contract - if he wants to regain any credibility in leading the country on dealing with the Coronavirus crisis." Also calling for his departure was Northern Ireland's SDLP leader Colum Eastwood who said: It is right that those who hold positions of responsibility in public life are held to a high standard for their behaviour. Given the unprecedented opportunity for an adviser to address the public, it appears that Dominic Cummings failed to meet the very basic standards required of people during this public health crisis," the Foyle MP said. Boris Johnson 'regrets' pain caused by Dominic Cummings saga Scientists also joined the stinging criticism of Mr Cummings and the Government, with a neuro radiographer with almost 30 years of NHS experience expressing outrage over his refusal to apologise. Gareth Wright, who works at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, and is also a Labour Party activist said: No apology, no acceptance that he may have been at fault! The messages this sends out to people is that it is OK to do pretty much whatever you like. I suppose we will only find out the affect (sic) in three weeks when we see more people dying. Prof Jackie Cassell, the deputy dean of the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, also condemned his actions, saying: London has lots of ITU (intensive treatment unit) and hospital beds as a major population centre. Its residents should not be decamping to places where they might need and in this case did need to use another regions hospitals and health care facilities. 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 This is an important reason why Cummings should have stayed put, and he like all senior government advisers will have been well aware of this. Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said: The statement from Cummings really only reinforced his clear disregard for public health guidance, with regards these movement of hundreds of miles by Covid-infected individuals. "There are also issues of taking up emergency healthcare resource in an area of the country where you are not resident this makes a mockery of healthcare planning where ideal number of intensive care beds are based on population numbers in the local area. Meanwhile, Cabinet ministers including Dominic Raab, Michael Gove, Robert Jenrick, and Rishi Sunak all tweeted messages of support towards Mr Cummings with many urging people to return their focus to tackling Covid-19. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "Dom Cummings was right today to set out in full detail how he made his decisions in very difficult circumstances. Now we must move on, fight this dreadful disease and get our country back on her feet." But shadow Health Minister Jon Ashworth hit back at Mr Hancock saying: "He completely undermined your public health messaging and rules. If everyone had behaved like that this lockdown would have collapsed. And I hope youre not endorsing going for a 30 mile drive if youre worried about your eyesight." Mr Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, wrote: Its clear now that allegations were made which were untrue and Dominic Cummings acted legally and reasonably. Lets concentrate on the work necessary to deal with the consequences of Covid-19. Chancellor Rishi Sunak tweeted: Dominic Cummings has made clear he was motivated by trying to protect his son and he took steps to be safe. I understand people had serious questions about his actions indeed many of you have made huge sacrifices but I do believe today he explained himself. During Monday's Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said that he could not give anyone unconditional backing when asked if he was prepared to revisit his decision to support Dominic Cummings. But he stressed that he did not believe that his any of his staff in Downing Street had done anything to undermine the lockdown messaging. He said: I cannot give unconditional backing to anybody, but I do not believe anybody in Number 10 has done anything to undermine our messaging. China's move to strip away another layer of Hong Kong's autonomy was not a rash impulse. It was a deliberate act, months in the making. It took into account the risks of international umbrage and reached the reasonable assumption that there would not be a significant geopolitical price to pay. As a provocative move, it is just the latest. With the world distracted by the coronavirus pandemic's devastating toll, China has taken a series of aggressive actions in recent weeks to flex its economic, diplomatic and military muscle across the region. China's coast guard rammed and sank a fishing boat in disputed waters off Vietnam, and its ships swarmed an offshore oil rig operated by Malaysia. Beijing denounced the second inauguration of Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, and pointedly dropped the word "peaceful" from its annual call for unification with the island democracy. Chinese troops squared off again last week with India's along their contentious border in the Himalayas. All are long-standing tensions, but the decision to impose new national security laws on Hong Kong, bypassing the semi-autonomous territory's own legislative process, shows what can happen with an unbridled China, no longer restrained by the fear of international rebuke. "There was this idea before about China being cautious and trying to cultivate its soft power around the world," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University and author of "China Tomorrow: Democracy or Dictatorship?" "Those times are gone with Xi Jinping." Xi, who in seven years in power has pursued a "great rejuvenation" of the Chinese state, has emerged from the pandemic newly emboldened, seizing on nationalistic themes to deflect from the government's early failures in stopping the coronavirus' spread. But he still faces enormous economic and diplomatic challenges. New protests erupted in Hong Kong on Sunday, and resistance to greater control by Beijing could threaten the territory's role as a financial center. Officials and state media outlets have lashed out at the United States and other countries, accusing them of supporting "separatists" and "terrorists" in an effort to weaken the power of the Communist Party. On the defensive over their handling of the virus, President Donald Trump and his aides have sought to blame China for the pandemic's toll in the United States. The criticism, by all appearances, has done little to moderate Xi's actions. It may even have emboldened them, as Chinese officials point to the failures in the United States and other countries as evidence of the Communist Party's better model of governance. The Trump administration has, in turn, intensified its actions against China, imposing restrictions on trade and technology, praising Tsai's inauguration and even marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism. "The United States, in fact, is pouring oil on the fire, barrel by barrel," Tian Feilong, a professor of law at Beihang University in Beijing, said in a telephone interview. "The central government is therefore actually just safeguarding its own most basic national security interests." China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, said Sunday that the two countries could still work together to promote global peace and stability, but he denounced those in the United States who seek American hegemony. "It's time for the United States to give up its wishful thinking of changing China," Wang said, accusing American officials of having a Cold War mentality. Xi's move against Hong Kong has nonviolent echoes of President Vladimir Putin's forceful seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, which was a violation of international law and of Russia's previous diplomatic commitments. The annexation made Putin an international pariah for a while, but Russia still remains firmly in control of Crimea. While Xi is using legislation rather than military force in a territory already under Chinese rule, it is nonetheless a brash move by an autocratic leader willing to risk international condemnation to resist what he views as foreign encroachment on his country's security. "The Communist Party doesn't care anymore about the reactions because it's about survival, the stability of the one-party system, avoiding the fate of the Soviet Union," Cabestan said. "Hong Kong is being perceived more and more as a base of surveillance, as a factor in the destabilization of the Chinese state." The challenges facing Xi come at a time when China's major rivals, the United States above all, are in disarray, giving Xi more room to maneuver. Britain, which is a signatory to the 1984 treaty that promised Hong Kong its former colony basic freedoms until 2047, issued a statement with Australia and Canada saying that they were "deeply concerned." Senior Trump administration officials also denounced Xi's gambit, warning that they could reconsider the territory's special trade privileges or impose other sanctions. Trump, whose few comments about Hong Kong have been inconsistent, said little. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. For those who support Hong Kong's unique status as Asia's commercial and cultural crossroads, warnings no longer suffice in the face of determined pressure from Beijing. Victoria Hui, a political scientist at the University of Notre Dame and author of a book on the 2014 Hong Kong protests known as the Umbrella Movement, said the international community had often spoken out against China's steady accretion of power over the territory but had exacted no real punishment. That has been the case for the most egregious violations of basic rights in Hong Kong in recent years, including extrajudicial kidnappings, excessive use of force by the police last year and the arrests of leading democratic leaders a week ago. "The international pushback has been so weak," Hui said. "Beijing is daring foreign governments to continue to issue words but take no actions." China's tactics under Xi today contrast those of his immediate predecessors, who prioritized China's reforms and opening over confrontation with its neighbors or the broader world. "Hide our strength, bide our time" was Deng Xiaoping's adage a generation ago. When Taiwan was moving to hold its first presidential elections in 1996, China conducted intimidating missile tests in the Taiwan Strait. It was forced to back down when President Bill Clinton ordered U.S. aircraft carriers to the waters in a show of military support for the island's defense. Xi has steadily built up China's air and naval power, making a similar move by the United States today much riskier. Chinese forces routinely menace the island, as its first operational aircraft carrier did last month, forcing Taiwan's military to scramble jets and ships. The seventh similar incident this year, it signaled China's determination to block Taiwan from formally establishing its independence. For Beijing's leaders, China's sovereignty over Hong Kong is as emotionally charged. Under the Basic Law, the miniconstitution that governs the territory, Hong Kong is obliged to adopt rules "to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition and subversion" against the Chinese government. When the city's legislature tried to do so in 2003, Beijing retreated in the face of huge street protests. "China was in a very different place globally," said Rana Mitter, director of the University of Oxford China Center. "China's economy was growing in 2003, but it wasn't the second-biggest economy in the world and quite the economic behemoth it is today." There is also a more subtle difference that the pandemic has accentuated. Beijing spent years deflecting criticism of its system by saying that China was not yet ready for more democratic freedoms, effectively leaving open the possibility for greater liberalization of the political system, as many inside and outside the country hoped. China, Mitter said, is now a "state which no longer apologizes for being authoritarian." Yang Changqin, middle, teaches trainees techniques of bamboo weaving at the training center in Chishui, Southwest China's Guizhou province, in May 2020. [Photo by Wang Hong/provided to chinadaily.com.cn] NPC deputy Yang Changqin, an inheritor of Chishui bamboo weaving, an intangible cultural heritage (ICH), proposes tapping distinctive local resources as a shot in the arm for rural vitalization. What Yang, a member of the Miao ethnic group from Chishui, Southwest China's Guizhou province, has been doing over the past decade is exactly in line with her proposal. Supported by the local government, Yang founded her bamboo weaving company in 2012 and named it "Hand in Hand" in the hopes she could hold more locals' hands, pull them out of poverty and help them get rich. Founded with only four employees, the company now has more than 100 full-time employees, mostly "left-behind" women from poor households, Yang said. Delicate and creative bamboo products including vessel covers, bags and paintings, are sold under the brand Absolute Bamboo through physical stores, expos and e-commerce platforms. "Last year, our company's sales exceeded six million yuan ($843,063), two million ($281,021) more than that in 2018," Yang said, adding 60 percent of her company's products were sold overseas. A top Pakistani information officer and his two relatives were killed by some unidentified gunmen on Eid in the country's restive northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Zabiadullah Dawar, who was posted as the Director of Pakistan Housing Society, was on his way home in North Waziristan after Eid prayers along with his two cousins when the bike-borne assailants struck, district police officer Shafiullah Gandapur said. The gunmen opened indiscriminate fire at the trio and fled the spot. The officer, who had come to his village from Islamabad for Eid celebrations, died on the spot. His cousins were also killed in the incident. The police launched an enquiry but no arrests were made. Eid was celebrated in the country on Sunday at open places, mosques and Eidgahs in all major cities and towns while following strict standard operating procedures of social distancing and other precautionary measures. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of residents of Karajan, a small town in southeastern Armenia, took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the arrest of four local men linked to its mayor. The mayor, Manvel Paramazian, led the daylong protests after condemning the unfounded arrests and claiming that they are part of his political persecution by law-enforcement authorities. Paramazians protesting supporters gathered outside a police station in Kapan, the nearby capital of the countrys Syunik province, where the arrested men were held on suspicion of violent assault. Angered by rumors about their ill-treatment in police custody, the crowd tried to stop the local police from transferring the suspects to Yerevan. Syunik Governor Hunan Poghosian addressed it, promising that the criminal investigation will objective. The protesters refused to disperse, however. Paramazian added to their fury after being allowed to enter the police station and see the detainees. He alleged that they were indeed tortured by policemen. Still, the protesters agreed to unblock the entrance to the police station at Paramazians urging at around midnight. The mayor said local officials assured him that the probe will be fair and that the men connected to him will not be subjected to violence. In a late-night statement, Armenias Investigative Committee clarified that the arrested men are suspected of kidnapping and beating up another Kajaran resident late last month. It said investigators also found large quantities of marijuana in a house belonging to one of the suspects. The statement indicated that Paramazian is also regarded as a suspect in the case. It said investigators are now trying to verify and ascertain the mayors possible involvement in the violence. Paramazian, who has run the industrial town since 2016, confirmed that the police searched his home last week. Meanwhile, prosecutors in Yerevan said on Monday that they have instructed another law-enforcement body, the Special Investigative Service, to investigate the torture allegations. Also, the national police chief, Aram Sargsian, ordered an internal inquiry for the same purpose. A lawyer representing one of the arrested men, Khoren Mirzoyan, told RFE/RLs Armenian service that his client did not claim to have been ill-treated by policemen when they spoke on Sunday. He also said that Mirzoyan denies any involvement in the alleged violence. Located about 370 kilometers southeast of Yerevan, Kajaran is home to Armenias largest mining enterprise. The Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) employs more than 4,000 people. Many of them are Kajaran residents. According to the Investigative Committee, the four arrested men also work at ZCMC. Spain says it will lift a 2-week mandatory confinement for all travelers arriving from overseas starting July 1. The government said in a brief statement that Cabinet ministers made the decision to lift the mandatory quarantine during a meeting Monday. Prime Minister Pedro Snchez had already announced over the weekend that his nation was ready to welcome some foreign visitors in July. The government is looking to establish safe corridors between parts of Spain that have the outbreak under control and similar areas in Europe that are an important source of tourists. There has been no talk so far of reopening to travelers from outside the European Union. Spain is one of the world's most visited countries, attracting over 80 million international tourists each year. The industry represents 12% of Spain's GDP and employs 2.6 million people. Its economic importance is even greater on Spain's Canary and Balearic archipelagos. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam recorded its highest single-day spike of 147 cases on Monday, taking the total past the 500-mark, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. With these fresh cases, the total number of COVID-19 infections has gone up to 539 in the state, of which 470 are active cases, Sarma said. "Alert ~ 13 new cases of #COVID19+ reported. Swabs for testing taken before people sent for quarantine. 7 Kamrup Metro, 6 Golaghat," he tweeted. In a series of tweets earlier during the day, the minister said samples of 134 people from across the districts tested positive for coronavirus, highest being in Golaghat with 53 COVID-19 cases. Karimganj district saw 21 positive cases, followed by 17 in Lakhimpur, eight in Guwahati, six in Kokrajhar, five each in Cachar and Sivasagar, four each in Dhemaji and Hailakandi, three in South Salmara Mankachar, two each in Tinsukia and Nalbari, and one each in Nagaon, Jorhat, Morigaon and Goalpara, he added. Five patients recovered from COVID-19 and were discharged from different hospitals in the state, the minister said. "Five patients have been discharged today after testing negative for #COVID19 twice. Three from Guwahati and two from Jorhat medical college. Best wishes," he tweeted. Sarma said most of the latest cases are returnees from outside the state. "It is clarified that all swabs are collected from people soon after they arrive from outstation. Subsequently they are transferred to the quarantine centres. Therefore most of the positive cases in Assam are imported and not home- grown!" he said in a tweet. Of the total 539 cases, four patients have died due to the deadly disease, while 62 have been discharged from hospitals after recovery, Sarma said. Besides, three more patients have migrated to other states, he said. After inter-state movement through road and rail networks was allowed during the lockdown period, Assam saw a significant increase in COVID-19 cases. With domestic flight operations resuming to Assam from Monday, the health officials are expecting this spike to be even more sharper in coming days. To screen all the people coming from outside the state by road and rail networks, the government has set up five zonal screening camps besides those already existing at the district headquarters and local levels. Kokrajhar has the zonal screening camp for Lower Assam districts, Tezpur for North Assam districts, Jorhat for Upper Assam districts, Guwahati for Central Assam districts and Silchar for Barak Valley districts. A total of 66,444 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in seven laboratories in Assam and NIV in Pune, state the Health and Family Welfare Department said in its daily bulletin on Sunday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A nurse who worked at a coronavirus-hit care home whose residents are being moved due to safety concerns is critically ill with Covid-19. Serious concerns have been raised over why the 64-year-old nurse, who came out of retirement to support the pandemic response, was asked by the Belfast Trust to work in Clifton Nursing Home while it was failing to meet minimum infection control measures. At least one resident of the home is known to have died from Covid-19, less than a week after the nurse started working there. Her daughter said: "When I saw the news about what was happening at Clifton, it made my blood boil. "Mum worked as a nurse from she was 17 until three years ago and as soon as they asked for people to come back she couldn't wait to sign up. "She actually thought she would be volunteering, she didn't realise she was going to be paid, that's how much she wanted to go back to work. "I don't want to point any fingers, but it's a worry that my mum is fighting for her life on a ventilator. Expand Close Peter McNaney Presseye / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Peter McNaney "Our main concern is that mum gets better, but we also have a lot of questions that we want answers to." Runwood Homes, the company that owns Clifton Nursing Home, has been repeatedly warned to raise standards at the unit, in particular over infection control procedures. On March 3 the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) gave it a third and final warning to address infection control failings after first raising concerns in April last year. In parallel to the RQIA inspections, the Belfast Trust has also been closely monitoring the situation at Clifton Nursing Home. In November chair of the Belfast Trust board Peter McNaney said the trust was "concerned that the home does struggle to sustain improvements" and that it had been working with Clifton Nursing Home for 18 months "on issues that affect care quality and the lived experience of residents". Despite the ongoing concerns about infection control practices at Clifton Nursing Home and the fact that older people are more vulnerable to Covid-19, the nurse was sent to work there earlier this month. Her daughter continued: "She was originally told she would be going to the Royal Victoria Hospital, but then with nursing homes having problems with staff levels, she ended up going to Clifton. "She would never have said anything specific about her work, although she told me she was glad she was only going to be there for two weeks. "She told me they had said to her they didn't like staff from the trust being in the home." The nurse worked her first shift at the home on May 8 and had to leave work on May 12 as she was feeling so unwell. She was subsequently diagnosed with Covid-19 and placed on a ventilator last week when her condition deteriorated. Her daughter added: "I spoke to my mum constantly from when she was admitted to hospital until she went to ICU and she told me she was scared, she cried with fear, she was scared she wouldn't get back out of hospital and scared she would die. "Hearing that broke my heart - a strong woman with many years of nursing behind her being so frightened and me having to reassure her when I don't know what will happen next. "She rang me before she went to ICU and again I had to reassure her, I had to tell her she wouldn't die. "I made these promises and now she's in an induced coma on a ventilator. "I'll be interested to see what measures were taken at any level to ensure the safety of residents, staff and my mother. "She was risking enough going back to working in a care setting during this pandemic." A Belfast Health Trust spokesperson said: "Unfortunately a member of our staff is very ill with Covid-19, they are currently in our care and we are supporting their family at this very difficult time." Health Minister Robin Swann announced on Friday evening that steps were under way to find alternative accommodation for residents at Clifton Nursing Home. It is the second time officials have taken drastic steps to ensure the safety of residents of a home owned by Runwood Homes. Ashbrooke Care Home was shut with immediate effect in 2018 after RQIA inspectors uncovered "catastrophic" failings. A spokeswoman from Runwood Homes said she could not comment on staff employed by Belfast Trust and added: "We'd like to extend our thoughts and wish this lady a full and fast recovery." Scientists have developed plant probiotics that help fight disease without the use of expensive pesticides. UK researchers say beneficial bacteria in soil supports plants immune systems in a similar way to positive gut bacteria in humans. By injecting probiotics into a plants growth medium, they hope to create ideal growing conditions for herbs, fruits and vegetables while avoiding bugs. Somewhere between 20 to 40 percent of global crop production are lost to pests, while diseases cost the global economy around $220 billion, according to the UN. Researchers say plant probiotics will particularly benefit crops grown without soil in enclosed and sterile conditions that are susceptible to disease. Experts at the Universitys Institute for Sustainable Food have launched a study into how beneficial bacteria protect plants health in a similar way to gut bacteria in humans Using tomato plants, the team will now use genetics and biochemistry to gain an understanding of how roots interact with beneficial microbes in soil. This will be used to develop good bacteria for plant growth that fight off pests and diseases thanks to their enhanced immune system. Scientists have learned a lot in recent years about how beneficial bacteria in our guts keep use healthy and we believe the same is true for plants, said Professor Duncan Cameron, director of the Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield. By investigating how tomato plants interact with good bacteria in the soil through their roots, we hope to be able to develop plant probiotics to boost their immune systems and help them fight diseases without the need for harmful pesticides. Coupled with synthetic foam soils, this completely new approach could help farmers to grow healthy and sustainable fruits and vegetables out of season and in the urban areas where most people live. Today, fruits and vegetables are grown without soil in vast greenhouses and plastic covered tunnels covering 948 hectares in the UK, allowing produce that used to only be available at certain times of the year, such as strawberries, to grow out of season. But because the plants are grown in sterile conditions, any diseases that get inside these growth chambers can devastate crops. Fruits and vegetables particularly tomatoes and soft fruits like strawberries are grown hydroponically, meaning without soil, in vast greenhouses and polytunnels - but these are susceptible to disease With concern about the impacts of pesticides on human health and the natural world, the University of Sheffield is hoping to find a chemical-free solution. By introducing beneficial bacteria in these greenhouse environments, scientists say can prevent these outbreaks, improve productivity and avoid food waste. Plant versions of pro-biotic drinks are now being investigated as part of a 1.5 million project at the university, which specialises in hydroponics plants grown without soil. In normal agricultural processes, soil supports a plants roots, but in a hydroponics system plants are supported artificially and suspended away from the ground. As part of the hydroponics efforts, scientists have already developed foam soils that grow up to 10 times more produce than normal soil because they dont suffer from soil degradation. The research could help grow produce in urban areas that dont have an abundance of soil, relieving the massive demand on agricultural land. Specially developed foams could help avert a global food security crisis by replacing fast-degrading soils, according to scientists Professor Cameron said investigations into beneficial bacteria to plants starts with synthetic soils and could eventually be applied to real soil. 'What were trying to do is to isolate the good bacteria from soils that naturally suppress disease and grow them in our synthetic soil to understand how they do it in a simpler system than actual soil, our synthetic soil,' he told MailOnline. 'This is immediately applicable in hydroponics so UK growers should be able to quickly adopt the technology, reducing their costs and removing the need for pesticides. 'Once we understand how it works and the conditions that are needed to make it work in our synthetic soul then weve got a shot at applying the idea beyond just hydroponics and into real soil.' Experts from Sheffields Institute for Sustainable Food revealed last week that crops planted in polyurethane foams at an urban farm grow two to 10 times faster than plants grown in soil. Scientists say their fake soil, which chemically, physically and biologically resembles the real thing, can grow everything from salad to tomatoes. The system has already been demonstrated by the university using used mattresses at a refugee camp in Jordan, which have nutrients and water pumped into them. Hydroponics helps feeds residents of dense, concreted areas of vast cities with very little of the required land to feed a growing population. Professor Duncan Cameron (left) at Sheffield's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences inspecting mattresses, which are being used to grow plants But even in areas where there is soil, the world is facing a growing soil fertility crisis a loss of soil that is fertile enough to support plant growth. Every year 24 billion tons of fertile soil are lost globally to erosion, according to a UN report. The world is facing a crisis of soil fertility, said Professor Cameron. If were going to fix this, we need to do something radically different. Urban farms that use foam instead of soil could take a lot of pressure off existing agricultural system, and because this system is so efficient, it enables us to feed our growing population using fewer resources. In the future, I hope we can see farms like this all over the world, optimised for local conditions and producing cheap, healthy and sustainable food. Advertisement The President of Senegal, H.E. Macky Sall, President of Liberia, H.E George Weah and United States Senator Chris Coons will form part of a high-level leadership panel to be moderated by the Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, to discuss Africas economic recovery in the 2020 edition of UBAs Africa Conversations. The African Presidents and global leaders will be joined on the panel by other global leaders including the President & Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African ExportImport Bank (AFREXIMBANK), Professor Benedict Okey Oramah; President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer and President and Founder, Africa CEO Forum, Amir Ben Yahmed. With over 60% of Africans living below the poverty line, the pandemic poses an existential threat to Africas economic growth and this session will define the lessons learned and the roadmap to economic growth and sustainability. Advertisement Together, the leading voices will speak on Monday, May 25th, 2020, on the theme UBA Africa Day Conversations 2020: Growth, Jobs, and Sustainable Development Amidst a Global Pandemic, This will be the second edition of the symposium organised annually by UBA, in celebration of Africa Day. The open event will be held virtually starting at 3pm WAT and interested participants can register on the UBA website here. Africa Day is celebrated worldwide on May 25th, to showcase the diversity and beauty of Africa and its people. The United Bank for Africa, with its pan-African footprint spanning 20 African countries, New York, Paris, and London, continues to lead the conversation and focus on the the development, growth, and unity of the continent. Additional reporting: Kevin O'Neill The Government is under mounting pressure to relax social distancing guidelines as the retail and hospitality sectors warn of thousands of permanent job losses unless the two-metre rule is changed. The warning comes as the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) predicts the decline in household spending could reduce indirect tax Read More: The Department of Health confirmed Read More: One metre social distancing has been advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and has been adopted in a number of European countries. However, the Government insists the public should stay two metres apart in order to stop the spread of Covid-19. Retail and hospitality representative bodies have continued to call on the government to reduce social distancing to one metre in order to save their sector from recession amid deep concern about the liquidity of retailers post Covid-19. Businesses argue the change would be the difference between a commercially non-viable outlet and a viable one. The Restaurants Association of Ireland and Irish Hotels Federation are two of the bodies who have lobbied for the reduction, arguing the two metre rule is "not workable" for their sectors. They issued a request a number of weeks ago to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) for a review of the guideline. Adrian Cummins from the Restaurants Association of Ireland said "somewhere along the way" Ireland deferred from WHO, and the public should be told why. "We went into this crisis under WHO guidelines and now we've changed to Irish guidelines," he said. "When you look at other European countries, Finland or Norway for example, they have one metre social distancing guidelines. "If we do not have this conversation, hundreds of businesses will not open because it's not viable to open. Thousands of jobs will be lost. People want to get back to work, and they need to know why Ireland is not looking at WHO guidelines. "We agree that we're in a public health emergency but every business owner and society in general is asking these questions." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted the current two-metre social distancing rule will remain in place and there has been "no change" to the public health advice. However, several cabinet ministers have argued in private for the adoption of WHO guidance, which states that a one-metre distance is considered to be safe. Halving the current two metre social distancing rule to one, would "no doubt" provide "significant" extra capacity according to the HSE chief executive, Paul Reid. "Obviously, the two metre rule did have significant implications for the health authority in terms of capacity in emergency departments and outpatient waiting rooms," Mr Reid said at the HSE's weekly media briefing. "There is no doubt that one metre would certainly give us significant extra capacity in terms of managing our outpatient departments or managing our EDs or, generally, managing our services, but we will be guided by what is the current guidance from government through the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET)." The concerns come as new research from the ESRI states the decline in household spending caused by the Covid-19 pandemic could reduce indirect tax revenue this year by more than one-fifth even in the "most optimistic scenario considered". Conor OToole, co-author of the report and a Senior Research Officer at the ESRI, said: "A new normal with ongoing physical distancing would lead to a 13% fall in spending while a second wave may see spending cut by one-fifth." A spokesperson for the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he adhered to public health guidance while he was visiting the Phoenix Park in Dublin yesterday afternoon. A video emerged on Twitter of Mr Varadkar meeting friends with his partner Matthew Barrett in the popular Dublin park. It has not been confirmed when the video was taken. Photos have also emerged on social media of the Taoiseach in the park with his partner and two friends. A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said: "The Taoiseach was in the Phoenix Park with his partner Matt and two friends on Sunday Afternoon, in line with public health guidance. He was within 5km of the Stewards Lodge, where he is staying during the Covid Emergency." The spokesperson added the Taoiseach was staying at Stewards Lodge as it has secure office and video conferencing facilities. He is paying a nightly fee to stay there. This story was updated at 6pm Allowing entry of non-Goans from areas infected by COVID-19 led to Goa moving from a 'green to red zone', Independent MLA and former minister Rohan Khaunte said on Monday. He said it was a mistake on part of the Pramod Sawant- led BJP government to allow "outsiders" from coronavirus-hit areas to enter Goa which has reported COVID-19 cases after being declared a green zone in April. Addressing a press conference here, the former revenue minister said the state government has drawn separate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Goans and non-Goans. Khaunte urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to adopt corrective measures to ensure the state does not face "disastrous" situation on COVID-19 front in the near future. We should immediately seal the border with Maharashtra, the cases are increasing in that state and people from that state are entering Goa, he said. Khaunte said while Goans who are entering the state have to pay Rs 2,000 for COVID-19 test and undergo home quarantine, non-Goans can move out by just submitting self declaration forms. He said industrial workers who are being brought to Goa to help in economic revival are made to merely submit an affidavit, saying they are not COVID-19 positive, and then they are allowed to join work immediately. If anyone of them is positive for the infection, then he can spread it to more people, he said, adding the chief minister should revisit the "faulty" SOPs. "Are we ready to face anything more than what is there as far as the COVID-19 situation is concerned? Our medical fraternity is under tremendous pressure, Khaunte said. The coronavirus count in the coastal state stood at 66 as on May 24. Earlier, Goa was declared a green zone after more than half a dozen COVID-19 patients had recovered and discharged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The funeral of Andrew Abraham at his home in Waringstown Mourners at the funeral service of Waringstown farmer Andrew Abraham heard how the father-of-four was "devoted to his family", as he was laid to rest on Saturday. Mr Abraham died on Thursday following a farming accident. The private funeral service for the 46-year-old man was held at Blackskull Methodist burial ground. Read More The husband of Alison and father to Jacsen, Brooke, Carter and Farrah, Mr Abraham was a devoted member of the Bethany Free Presbyterian Church in Portadown. Speaking after the service, Reverend Darryl Abernethy described Mr Abraham as being hard working and "dedicated to his profession". "Faith, family and farming sum up his life," he said. Seventy-five years since its end, World War II continues to shape the world By Mark Wegierski World War II and one of its main ideological results the general discrediting of Western traditionalism -- continue to shape events in the world today. Among the long-term effects of the war, there is the ongoing erosion of meaningful historical memory in most Western societies, and the delegitimizing of the possibilities of a democratic Right -- or of a social conservatism of the Left -- that is to say, various possible symbioses of traditionalism and liberal democracy. Indeed, a country such as Canada today can be seen to be on the cutting edge of late modernity. It has perhaps not yet felt its full impact and practical consequences. Nevertheless, it can be seen that Canada is increasingly becoming a nation without history, or historical memory. Lacking a context or mooring in a richly textured sense of history, most persons in Canada today are cast adrift on an ever-thinning, improvisational present moment, driven by consumerism, pop-culture, and a few politically correct cliches about the past. Although it may seem quite remote from many persons (especially young people) today, we are in fact living in the shadow of what have become the anti-traditionalist consequences of the Second World War. In our recoiling from the horrors of Nazism, an evil ideology that was clearly buried in the rubble of Berlin, Western countries such as Canada have increasingly plunged themselves into new kinds of nightmares. Most Western societies have reacted viscerally against anything smacking of right-wing or traditional notions, often conceived as grotesque caricatures, with the result that an almost continual, uninterrupted, unremitting left-liberal surge has overtaken those societies. As a person of Polish descent and having studied history extensively, it may be hoped that one has a certain insight into totalitarianism whether of the Nazi, Soviet, or politically-correct left-liberal varieties. Although the latter is ostensibly non-violent not producing mounds of corpses it can nevertheless be seen as extremely thoroughgoing in the upholding and imposition of its ideas, as well as being what its critics would call soul-killing. And some would indeed criticize the vast number of abortions in current-day Western societies as suggestive of actual mass-killing. As J.R.R. Tolkien has acutely observed -- evil always takes on another shape and grows again. The new evil was not only the manifest cruelty of the Soviet empire, to which East-Central Europe had been notoriously betrayed, but also a rising miasma of trends and tendencies which would eventually drive most Western countries into a socially disintegrative mode. Three major prophets of this new mode were Dr. Kinsey (who -- according to critics like Judith Reisman -- manifestly misrepresented the reality of sexual behavior in an attempt to create the very tendencies he purported to describe); Dr. Spock (who introduced highly distempering errors into the understanding of how to raise children); and Timothy Leary (the Sixties' guru and "youth drug culture" advocate). As of 1945, the entire "right-wing option" stood as discredited in the eyes of the broad masses of most Western countries, although very many European patriots, conservatives, and traditionalists had fiercely opposed Nazi Germany. In todays world, those who continue to hold the ideals of such World War II heroes as Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, or Wladyslaw Sikorski (the preeminent leader of the Polish Government-in-Exile and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish armed forces in the West) are often seen as retrograde reactionaries. Therefore, it is possible to see the respective histories of a country like Poland since September 1939 (the beginning of an ongoing calamity for that nation whose consequences continue even to this day) and Canada since the 1960s as being tragic in the case of Poland and tinged with tragedy in the case of Canada -- owing in both cases to forces, which although apparently dissimilar, often end up being quite alike in their disdain for living, breathing, actual societies and peoples. Many Western countries such as Canada under the direction of their politically-correct elites (or pseudo-elites) -- appear to have lost their confidence and belief in themselves. They have been brought to embrace low birthrates, and high immigration policies, which, when coupled with the refusal to exert meaningful assimilatory pressures on the new immigrants, may indeed render their long-term future as increasingly problematic. What may be particularly troubling is the unidirectional nature of developments such as social liberalism, multiculturalism, and high immigration, all of which tend in one direction seemingly, i.e., towards the ever-increasing subversion of traditional society. Indeed, it did not take too long for the Left's "long march through the institutions" to get underway. During one year at the alleged height of "McCarthyism" in the United States, a young William F. Buckley, Jr. went around talking to thousands of professors in the social sciences and humanities at prestigious U.S. universities. Only about two or three actually admitted being "conservative" to him. And that was at the height of the "reactionary Fifties"! What may be concluded from this is that, in almost every sector of society one can think of, left-liberalism has been winning one spectacular victory after another, rapidly pushing further and further into all areas of social terrain. Authentic traditionalist conservatism in the U.S., but especially so in Canada, has, despite some apparent electoral successes, been running ragged for at least the last quarter century. As to the outlook for some parts of Western Europe, it is quite dystopic indeed. The only exception to this appears to be the economic sector. However, it should be understood that, with their manifest social prevalence in educational, academic, media, cultural, judicial, and administrative sectors, especially in Canada, left-liberals can well allow the existence of a large, dynamic private sector that functions to efficiently produce the economic goods that they want to give to themselves and to their client-groups. There is also a major difference between social conservatism (emphasizing family, nation, local communities, and traditional religion), and fiscal/economic conservatism. If one looks closely enough, one can see that fiscal/economic conservatism alone can, in fact, coexist with a fair number of varieties of left-liberalism (as typified by the many technocrats in the Canadian Liberal Party today). And, while the Canadian Liberal Party held the federal government for many decades of the Twentieth Century, it embraced, for most of that time, what could be called a traditionalist-centrist consensus. So-called right-wing Liberals (such as John Turner, who invoked residues of a more substantive Canadian patriotism in his resistance to the Canada U.S. Free Trade deal), as well as social conservative Liberals, had fragmentarily persisted into the later decades of the Twentieth Century. However, by today, it is manifestly clear that such residual tendencies in the Canadian Liberal Party are being driven out, especially social conservatism. It may also be noted that such parties as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (the predecessor to todays ultra-politically-correct New Democratic Party in Canada) were social democratic in economics, but mostly socially conservative on issues of family, nation, and religion. Some of these residues may be considered to have persisted in the NDPs criticisms of globalization, and their stated concern for average, ordinary Canadians. As for todays Conservative Party, it in fact appears to have embraced fiscal/economic conservatism as virtually the sole permissible manifestation of conservatism. The leadership of the party has been running away from any overt manifestations of social conservatism. There is also today the somewhat unfortunate situation that sees social conservatism defined almost solely by the two highly-charged, flashpoint issues of opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage issues which (especially in Canada now) seem to be entirely resolved in public debate. What gets lost in that definition of social conservatism is any notion of a more robust patriotism, a concept that has almost no register on the political scene in Canada today, but might putatively have a more widespread, non-denominational appeal. We have come to a social environment in Canada today where any more substantive notions of traditionalism and conservatism, have been purged with particular thoroughness from the academic world as well as from the education system, of course, from most of the news media, and from the (so-called) high- and pop-culture. And, for a number of decades now, it could be perceived that the Canadian administrative and juridical structures have been deployed mostly on behalf of left-liberalism. The result of this is that conservative and traditionalist ideas, especially those embracing a more substantive patriotism, are usually only inchoately expressed, in an untutored fashion, by some of the general populace, and so can be easily subjected to pejorative scorn and discredited. The question that now faces Canada is sharp. Is it going to be "politics-as-usual", a continuing slide in the direction the country has been going for at least the last thirty years, or will there be a belated attempt to generate some real countervailing tendencies such as an attempt to tame the excesses of multiculturalism and of social and cultural anomie? It is possible that an uninterrupted continuation of the slide will result, in the next twenty to forty years (a mere sliver of time in terms of world-history), in the almost-inevitable social and cultural dissolution of Canada. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Turkmenistan and Turkey attach great importance to bilateral cooperation in trade, economic and humanitarian spheres, Trend reports with reference to Turkmenistans State News Agency. The issue was discussed by via phone call between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The presidents congratulated each other with Eid al-Fitr, and wished well-being and prosperity to both the Turkmen and Turkish citizens. The participants also discussed the most important areas and prospects of partnership. The president of Turkmenistan noted that relations between Turkmenistan and Turkey are reaching new level, which is facilitated by the implementation of joint projects. The parties discussed issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the desire to consolidate all countries to defeat the coronavirus. The president of Turkmenistan noted the importance of international cooperation, especially in the medical field. Berdimuhamedov thanked Erdogan for actively organizing international videoconfereces, which help to unite all countries in countering the pandemic. Turkmenistan also noted the positive experience of Turkey in improving the methods of diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus infection. During the talks, the parties noted that, despite the current objective difficulties, countries continue to cooperate in transport sphere and agreed to give instructions to the foreign ministries of the two countries to further develop relations and strengthen their trade and economic component. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva The National Weather Service extended its flash flood warning for areas of Bexar, Comal and Kendall counties until 12:30 a.m. after Doppler radar indicated between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen in the area following a rash of severe storms that stuck south central Texas Sunday night. A chance of showers continue for the area with wind gusts up to 50 mph possible. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for counties east of Bexar. And though the number of customers without power fell to 35,229, CPS Energy reports the number of outages climbed to 347. According to the San Antonio River Authority's Bexar Flood project, 34 local roads prone to flooding were currently closed because of high water conditions. UPDATE |10 p.m. According to CPS Energy, there were 236 outages in San Antonuio affecting 42,413 customers after thunderstorms swept through the area. San Antonio firefighters responded to at least eight high water incidents as of 10 p.m. Though no details were immediately available. According to the San Antonio River Authority's Bexar Flood project, 21 local roads prone to flooding were currently closed because of high water conditions. UPDATE | 9:15 p.m. The National Weather Service issued an emergency alert at 9 p.m. warning San Antonio-area residents of flash floods and to avoid flooded areas. The alert expires at 12:15 a.m. A severe thunderstorm watch is also in effect for eight counties in central Texas, including Bexar County. It expires at midnight. According to the San Antonio River Authority's Bexar Flood project, 18 local roads prone to flooding were currently closed because of high water conditions. CPS Energy reported an increase in the number of outages to 193, affecting more than 30,000 customers. UPDATE | 8:30 p.m. The National Weather Service reported that San Antonio and Bexar County remain under a tornado warning until 9 p.m. The area is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 10 p.m. At 8:25 p.m., the NWS reported a storm capable of producing a tornado was located over Shavano Park moving east at 45 mph. CPS Energy reported there there 56 outages affecting more than 16,000 customers at 8:45 p.m. 3:40 p.m. San Antonio will continue to stay in an active weather pattern over the next couple of days. On Sunday night, a line of strong to severe thunderstorms will develop to our west near the Rio Grande and move eastward toward San Antonio late in the evening. These storms will carry large hail and damaging winds. Storms should weaken as they more closer to San Antonio, however we are still under a slight risk for severe weather. Memorial Day, San Antonio has another chance for to see showers and thunderstorms, especially during the evening. These storms will again have the capability to produce hail and gusty winds. Temperatures will be cooler on Memorial Day in the mid 80s. Chances of storms will stay in our forecast through Tuesday and heavy rainfall bringing 1-3 inches with 4-5 inches in some isolated areas. Flash flooding and river flooding is also a concern. Teresa Velasco is a digital producer for mySA and the San Antonio Express-News. She has a bachelors degree in broadcast meteorology. She uses data provided by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others for her forecasts. Highlights BSNL unveiled a special Rs 786 prepaid plan for its users. While the Rs 699 plan has a validity of 160 days, the 786 prepaid plan is only valid for 90 days. BSNL had also launched a 699 prepaid plan that offers a total of 500 MB data per day Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited came up with a lot of prepaid plans recently. On the occasion of Eid, the government-backed telecom operator unveiled a special Rs 786 prepaid plan for its users. Interestingly, 786 is considered a holy number by the Muslims. The other plan launched by BSNL is priced at Rs 699. Along with these, the company had earlier unveiled an STV 118 and a Combo 18 prepaid plans. Ever since the lockdown was announced, BSNL came up with many interesting plans that would help its customers in quarantine. While the Rs 699 plan has a validity of 160 days, the 786 prepaid plan is only valid for 90 days. The .plans are available in all circles Let's have a look at what these plans have to offer BSNL Rs 786 Eid special plan The Rs 786 was specially launched for the occasion of Eid-ul-fitr. The plan offers a talktime of 786 and it comes with total internet data of 30GB data. Unlike other plans it doesn't come with daily data benefits, it is more a calling plan, where you get a talktime of Rs 786 for Rs 786. The plan has a validity of 90 days. Users can recharge their numbers with this prepaid plan between May 23, 2020, to June 21, 2020, as per TelecomTalk. BSNL Rs 699 prepaid plan Along with the Eid special plan, BSNL had also launched a 699 prepaid plan that offers a total of 500 MB data per day along with unlimited calls to any network. The plan also offers 100SMS per day. The Rs 699 prepaid plan will also ship with Personalised Ringback Tone The Rs 699 prepaid plan has a validity of 160 days as opposed to 786's 90 days. However, BSNL is providing an additional validity of 20 days as an additional offer. BSNL Combo 18 data plan The Combo 18 prepaid plan is basically a short term plan with a validity of 2 days. The plan is available in 22 circles including Puducherry and Lakshwadeep. In order to get this plan, a user will have to shell out only Rs 18. The plan offers high-speed data of 30GB, post the exhaustion of the data, the speed will be reduced to 80Kbps. The plan also offers limited free calls up to 250 minutes to other networks. Yesterday clerics from the three Churches that manage the Holy Sepulchre were able to visit the church, which remains closed to the public. For the Custody of the Holy Land, the three Churches are working out the public safety guidelines, which will include a closed number, social distancing, and safety measures. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) After the official announcement, the Holy Sepulchre was supposed to reopen to the public on Sunday after a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the restrictions imposed after the lockdown was lifted have made it virtually impossible to visit one of Christianitys greatest symbolic venues. Only a small number of clergymen from the Latin, Armenian, and Greek Orthodox Churches were allowed to visit the church, whilst worshippers were left disappointed at the entrance. Brother Alessandro Caspoli, communication director of the Custody of the Holy Land, gave AsiaNews the official explanation for the limited access, namely "organisational and logistical issues" among the three Churches. To solve them Church leaders are meeting to agree on guidelines that would gradually regulate access, social distancing, and maximum number of people allowed inside. The Greek Orthodox, Armenians and the Custody should strike a deal in a few days to allow access to the holy site, said Br Caspoli. This will come with precise guidelines such as the ban on kissing or getting too close to the icons, statues or religious symbols. The State of Israel has set a 50-person restriction for indoor spaces, he added. A few days ago, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III, the Custos of the Holy Land Brother Francesco Patton and the Armenian Patriarch Nourhan Manougian issued a statement announcing the reopening of the Holy Sepulchre on 24 May. In reality, Church leaders and religious officials have always had access to the place of worship, which was off limits to all other visitors, including worshippers, pilgrims and tourists. For safety reasons, the Basilica will be accessible only to those who have no fever or symptoms of infection and are wearing suitable face coverings, reads the aforementioned statement. It will also be necessary to keep a minimal distance of 2 meters. According to the Times of Israel, some worshippers gathered in front of the Holy Sepulchre hoping to enter and pray but Church authorities prevented them. Although the church is officially open, access to it will be done gradually according to agreed guidelines, said Br Caspoli. In fact, the church was never closed, because the friars and clerics have remained active inside. Now the question is laying down some rules, and checking how they work. Before the COVID-19 emergency, due to the "great number of pilgrims, people queued up for hours" to get inside the Holy Sepulchre and other holy sites, even in early February when the number of visitors drops considerably. Br Caspoli expects large number of pilgrims to return to the Holy Land by next Christmas, especially from abroad. Some agencies are already booking ahead. However, everything remains linked to the local and global evolution of the pandemic. Texas Equusearch Search and rescue organization Texas EquuSearch is asking for the public's help in finding a Houston teenager who was last seen on May 15, 2020. Marco Antonio Perez, 18, was last spotted in the 12000 Block of Fallbrook Drive in mid-May. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico could soon become a global hub for the worlds rapidly emerging hydrogen economy, thanks to technology developed by Albuquerque startup BayoTech Inc. The company, which was launched in 2015, has built the worlds first compact, mobile, hydrogen generators that can produce hydrogen anywhere, and at a fraction of the cost of todays massive, centralized facilities. The company just signed its first commercial contract with Nutrien, which bills itself as the worlds largest supplier of production inputs for agricultural operations. That company will start using BayoTechs hydrogen generators this year to produce ammonia, and possibly nitrogen fertilizer, which require hydrogen as a base chemical. BayoTech also forged a new partnership in April with Netherlands-based DLL, a $30 billion subsidiary of Rabobank Group that provides global vendor financing. DLL will market BayoTechs hydrogen units on credit to end users who lease or rent the generators. And BayoTechs newly formed global sales team is lining up contracts worldwide, with $200 million in proposals in the pipeline, said president and CEO Mo Vargas. Weve built a world-class sales team in North America, Europe and East Asia, Vargas said. As commercial promotion ramps up, BayoTech and its manufacturing partner, Farmington-based Process Equipment & Service Co., expect to rapidly expand their workforce. BayoTech almost doubled its workforce from 16 to 30 since last year, nearly all of them housed at the companys 15,000-square-foot facility near Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park. It will hire up to 10 more people this year, and between 20 and 30 in 2021, Vargas said. The real job growth, however, will happen in Farmington, where PESCO spent $3 million for a 60,000-square-foot facility next to its current 100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant to scale up production of BayoTechs hydrogen generators, said PESCO business development manager John Byrom. Weve been working with BayoTech for three years to help build prototypes and provide engineering-design support, Byrom told the Journal. Now were getting close to actually producing the commercial units. Well add 30 to 50 people to start, but over the next two or three years, I can see adding 100 to 200 more employees, given the production volumes BayoTech is looking at. Thats a godsend for PESCO, which has traditionally focused on building components and machines for the oil and gas industry. It recently reduced its workforce through layoffs and furloughs from about 450 to 170 because of the pandemics economic impact and subsequent collapse of the oil and gas industry, Byrom said. Cottonwood Technology Funds managing partner David Blivin said BayoTech has progressed from product development to commercialization. Cottonwood was one of the first investors in the company, which has raised about $16 million. Its a long process to take a unique, disruptive idea and develop it, test it, demonstrate reliability and produce it cost-efficiently, Blivin said. BayoTech has successfully done that. The company licensed its base technology from Sandia National Laboratories, which invested $50 million to advance the original concept and platform. BayoTech further developed it with the goal of building a modular, three-stage reactor that produces hydrogen in the first chamber, processes it into ammonia in the second, and then converts the ammonia into nitrogen fertilizer in the final chamber. That nestedflow reactor could be marketed to fertilizer makers for on-site production near agricultural operations, greatly reducing costs. But after building the first-stage hydrogen-generating unit, BayoTech realized the hydrogen market alone is huge, so it pivoted to focus on that while continuing to develop the next stages of the reactor. The hydrogen unit offers immense advantages over todays centralized production plants, which produce hydrogen at $12 or more per kilogram, said BayoTech chief commercial officer Stewart Stewart. That compares with under $2 per kilogram with BayoTechs mobile generators. BayoTech employs traditional steam methane reforming, or SMR, which is a pressurized heating and cooling process that most chemical plants use to separate hydrogen from methane. But the compact unit, housed in a 40-foot cargo container, immensely improves production efficiency compared with traditional plants. And its mobile units can be located directly at end user sites, such as hydrogen filling stations, reducing or eliminating shipping costs. The companys first commercial reactor, the H2-200, can produce up to 200 kilograms of hydrogen per day. By year-end, BayoTech will unveil its H2-500 and H2-1,000 machines, followed by H2-10,000 and H2-30,000 units next year, Vargas said. BayoTech is targeting many markets, including hydrogen-based passenger and commercial vehicles, backup power for things such as cell towers that currently rely on batteries, and heavy industry such as steel makers seeking to reduce costs and carbon emissions. For the vehicle market, hydrogen suppliers can either install BayoTech units at their own plants or at fueling stations. Most fuel-cell cars use 4 kilograms of hydrogen to fill up and get about 60 miles per kilogram, meaning the current H-200 unit could provide fuel daily for about 50 cars, Stewart said. In California, drivers now pay between $12 and $18 a kilo for hydrogen and thats when its available but we can offer it at just $2 per kilo, Stewart said. Its super-competitive technology that can help turn the hydrogen economy from science fiction to reality. We can make it cost-competitive today with liquid fuels like diesel and gasoline. The Oregon Health Authority on Monday reported 23 new cases and no new deaths from the novel coronavirus, keeping the states death toll at 148 while known cases climbed to 3,949. Of the 23 total new known cases, 19 were confirmed by positive test results and four were presumptive cases, officials said. The cases reported Monday are in eight counties: Clackamas (4), Deschutes (1), Jackson (3), Josephine (1), Marion (3), Multnomah (5), Umatilla (1) and Washington (5). Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter Death toll: People have died from the virus in 12 counties: 58 people from Multnomah, 25 from Marion, 17 from Washington, 10 from Polk, 10 from Clackamas, nine from Linn, seven from Yamhill, five from Benton, three from Umatilla, two from Lane, and one each from Josephine and Wasco. Their ages ranged from 41 to 100. Among those who have died, 63 were women and 85 were men. [Read about Oregon coronavirus deaths. Help us learn more.] County case totals: Seven counties -- Multnomah, Marion, Washington, Clackamas, Linn, Deschutes and Umatilla -- have reported 100 coronavirus cases or more, and Polk County is nearing that mark. Gilliam, Lake and Wheeler have yet to document a single coronavirus case. Heres the overall count -- confirmed and presumptive cases -- by county: Baker (1), Benton (55), Clackamas (294), Clatsop (45), Columbia (16), Coos (31), Crook (5), Curry (6), Deschutes (120), Douglas (25), Grant (1), Harney (1), Hood River, (12), Jackson (60), Jefferson (25), Josephine (26), Klamath (41), Lane (67), Lincoln (9), Linn (115), Malheur (28), Marion (909), Morrow (12), Multnomah (1,045), Polk (96), Sherman (1), Tillamook (6), Umatilla (112), Union (6), Wallowa (2), Wasco (18), Washington (695) and Yamhill (65). Testing: So far, 113,770 Oregonians have been tested for the illness since the state confirmed its first case on Feb. 28. Ages: Of the states confirmed and suspected coronavirus cases, 2,148 people, or 55%, are under age 50, state figures show. Another 572, or 15%, are 70 and older. Heres the breakdown: ages 0-9 (53), ages 10-19 (151), ages 20-29 (605), ages 30-39 (673), ages 40-49 (683), ages 50-59 (685), ages 60-69 (526), ages 70-79 (341), ages 80-plus (232). Gender: So far, 2,071 of the cases are among women, or 52%, and 1,874, or 47%, are among men. One case is a nonbinary person. But more men have died: 85 compared to 63 women. Hospitalizations: At least 747 of the states COVID-19 patients, or 19%, have been hospitalized at some point during their illness, according to the health authority. Currently, 47 people with confirmed coronavirus cases are hospitalized, including 23 in intensive care and 16 on ventilators. Senior care homes: Six out of 10 coronavirus deaths in Oregon a total of 83 are associated with a care center, the most recent state data show. At least 545 senior care home residents, staff and close contacts from 64 nursing, assisted and retirement homes had contracted the coronavirus. Recoveries: The median recovery time for infected Oregonians is 20 days and goes up to 24 days for people who were hospitalized with the infection, according to numbers released by state health officials Tuesday. At least 1,795 COVID-19 patients have recovered from the illness, the health authority said. Underlying conditions: The Oregon Health Authoritys most recent weekly report didnt include a list of underlying medical conditions most common among people who have died. An earlier analysis by the health authority proved confusing, it said, because it was based on limited medical information. The list caused "unwarranted apprehension about which groups might be at greater risk of dying from COVID-19, the report said. The health authority is now analyzing more complete medical information on the underlying conditions of hospitalized coronavirus patients and may include it in the future. Cases in Oregon prisons: The Oregon Department of Corrections has reported a total of at least 148 cases among inmates so far, including one death. Positive cases have been reported at the Oregon State Penitentiary (115), Shutter Creek Correctional Institution (25), Santiam Correctional Institution (7) and Two Rivers Correctional Institution (1). Thirty-eight staff have been sickened. Nationwide: The U.S. has identified more than 1.6 million cases. More than 97,000 people have died. --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632; skavanaugh@oregonian.com; @shanedkavanaugh 577 Shares Share June 2020 will mark 15 years of my departure from flying the friendly skies. I have had the privilege of working as a flight attendant for JetBlue Airways from 2001 to 2005. Today, I am proudly grounded as a physician specializing in pediatric emergency medicine. Gratitude is a positive mindset where you see your life and experiences as a gift. Practicing gratitude is a powerful way to reduce stress and build resilience. As we paused in recent weeks, I reflected on the opportunities and connections which have enriched my life. With JetBlue Airways Inflight Buddy Program, I was able to work part-time as a flight attendant while simultaneously attend medical school. My experiences as a flight attendant have helped shape the physician who I am today, a better physician. Welcome aboard. As a flight attendant, you understand the power a smile can have. Even historys first flight attendant, Ellen Church, who was trained both as a pilot and nurse is seen captured in a photo 90 years ago smiling as she welcomed her first passengers onboard a 20-hour flight from Oakland, California to Chicago, Illinois. A smile allows others to feel wanted, welcomed, and accepted. In addition to your smile, your professional appearance, effective communication, and tone of your voice will evoke a level of trust. And this trust may be called upon in the event of an emergency. Now, as a physician caring for children who present with medical emergencies, I understand the value of developing trust with parents who are meeting me for the first time. With every patient encounter, I introduce myself along with a handshake (pre-pandemic) and with a warm smile. This brief gesture I have been told has made patients, and parents feel welcomed, at ease, and safe. In the event of a loss of cabin pressure, be sure to put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others. The life of a flight attendant includes long days, delayed or canceled flights, jet lag, and irregular schedules. Flight attendants understand healthy eating, exercise and adequate sleep allows them to fly with their best attitudes. During the inflight safety announcement, you are told to put on your oxygen mask first before helping others. You are less helpful to those you serve without your own oxygen mask, which can represent your physical, emotional, or mental health. If you are running low on oxygen, you will be unable to perform at your peak. As a physician working busy 12-hour shifts, several in a row with a mix of daytime and nighttime shifts, I am reminded of my days of flying. Being able to work at my ideal best is vital. Now with the added stressors of the current pandemic, I strive to ensure the oxygen tanks of myself and those around me are filled so that we can deliver the best possible care. The Captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign as we are passing through an area of turbulence. On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was attending a lecture in medical school when the news broke a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center Towers. I was devastated as I started working as a flight attendant a few months before. The following days were filled with uncertainty, fear, and sadness. From that crisis, I learned about resilience, the ability to overcome stressful situations. For me, this involved remembering my why: being focused on the present, and having the nations support. I worked one of the first flights after the nations airports reopened. My flight, New York to California, was stressful and emotional. Our crew was able to do it and overcome, proudly waving the American flag as we disembarked the plane. Today as a physician, I am faced with another crisis. During the past few weeks, I have used the same methods to remain resilient as I did in 2001. Remembering my why on becoming a physician, focusing on providing the best care I can right now, and having the collective support from so many people have provided the strength and will to continue. No turbulence lasts forever; it always passes. We look forward to seeing you on board again soon. A special thank you to JetBlue Airways for giving me the wings to achieve my dreams and land me where my heart belongs. On May 31, I will be celebrating not only my birthday but will also join in observing International Flight Attendant Day. Take flight; you were meant to soar. Alexie Puran is a pediatric emergency physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Vice President Mike Pence says the United States has made 'real progress' in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and insists the country is on the 'far side of the epidemic'. In an interview with Fox & Friends on Monday, Pence said there had been a nationwide decline in hospitalizations, new cases and fatalities since Americans started adhering to social distancing guidelines put out by the White House a month ago. 'We've seen real progress all across the country,' Pence said. 'Hospitalizations are declining, we've seen a steady decline in cases across the country and fatalities continue to decline. 'We are on the far side of this epidemic in many of the places most impacted and that's given us an opportunity not just to issue, as we did now more than a month ago, the guidelines to open America up again.' In an interview with Fox & Friends on Monday, Vice President Mike Pence says the United States has made 'real progress' in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and insists the country is on the 'far side of the epidemic' The total number of infections across the US is now over 1.6 million and more than 97,000 Americans have died. The US is on track to surpass 100,000 coronavirus deaths in the next few days. Pence said the already high death toll could have been worse if people hadn't embraced social distancing. 'Because the American people embraced the president's leadership, listened to state and local authorities... tens of thousands of families have been spared loss,' Pence said. Last week, 10 states - including Arkansas, Alabama, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Maryland, Maine, Nevada, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin - reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases. Despite the COVID-19 threat far from being eradicated, large groups of people were spotted out over the Memorial Day weekend failing to adhere to social distancing rules in parts of the country. When asked about scenes, Pence said there may still be instances where people need to be remind of the importance of social distancing as states continue to loosen restrictions. In Texas, dozens of people flocked to rivers to go tubing. The tubing businesses were allowed to open and they warned people to only stay in small groups but the rules were ignored on the water Revelers are seen celebrating Memorial Day weekend at Osage Beach at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri on Saturday Thousands of people flocked to Lake of the Ozarks in Missorui where they packed into swim up bars and pool parties 'We have every confidence that as these restrictions are loosened... the American people are going to step forward and put this country back to work,' he said. On the Sunday talk shows, Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said she was 'very concerned' about scenes of people crowding together over the weekend. 'We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you cant social distance and you're outside, you must wear a mask,' she said on ABC's 'This Week.' In Missouri, people packed bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks, a vacation spot popular with Chicagoans, over the weekend. In Daytona Beach, Florida, gunfire erupted Saturday night along a beachside road where more than 200 people had gathered and were seen partying and dancing despite the restrictions. On Georgia's Tybee Island, the beach was filled with families, bicyclists, beach chairs, games, swimmers and more. Officials in California said most people were covering their faces and keep their distance even as they ventured to beaches and parks. Many Southern California beaches were open only for swimming, running and other activities. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:04:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOSCOW, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday held a phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, to discuss stabilizing the global oil market and the situation in Syria, the Kremlin said in a statement. Putin and al-Kadhimi gave a positive assessment to the agreements on oil output cuts reached with the participation of Russia and Iraq in the OPEC+ format, which are aimed at overcoming the acute phase of the oil crisis, the statement said. They stressed the importance of continuing effective joint efforts in this direction, it said. While discussing the situation in Syria, Putin and al-Kadhimi agreed to further coordinate steps to ensure a long-term normalization of the situation in the war-torn Middle East country and restoration of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two leaders discussed issues concerning bilateral cooperation in trade, the economy and energy and expressed the wish to further develop the traditionally friendly ties between their countries, the statement said. Putin congratulated al-Kadhimi on assuming his office earlier this month, and the Iraqi people on the occasion of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr celebrated during the past weekend. Putin and al-Kadhimi agreed to continue the bilateral contacts at various levels, the statement said. Enditem By Trend The number of coronavirus tests conducted in Azerbaijan has been revealed, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB). As of May 24, 5,672 tests were conducted to detect new cases of infection. In accordance with the data, in general, 270,739 tests were conducted throughout the country. Singaporean President Halimah Yacob. (Photo by Surya FachrAzal Aprianus/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) SINGAPORE President Halimah Yacob has given her in-principle support for the government to draw on the countrys reserves for a fourth COVID-19 support package. This is the second time past reserves are tapped for the governments COVID-19 response, to help people and businesses cope with the economic fallout of the pandemic. In a Facebook post on Monday (25 May), she said that Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Kiat and his team had briefed her and the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) last week on the proposed fourth budget. She acknowledged that this crisis is unprecedented and the situation remains volatile, with significant uncertainties in global economy. Lives and livelihoods continue to be at stake, she said. It is critical that we re-open safely, so economic activities will remain slow even as we try to restart them. The gradual economic recovery is a worldwide issue and countries will have to make adjustments to the way trade and business are conducted. To buffer local businesses and people from these challenges, and to save jobs, the government has to step in, the President added. Having deliberated and considered the recommendation of the CPA, I am satisfied that the fourth support package is necessary to ensure a safe transition to this new normal for Singapore. I have therefore given my in-principle support for the proposed measures to draw on the Governments past reserves, she said. Heng, who is also Finance Minister, will be delivering his ministerial statement on the fourth budget in Parliament at 3.30pm, Tuesday. He said in a Facebook post on Sunday that it will look at how to better support the social service sector. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore More Singapore stories: COVID-19: Singapore reports 344 new cases, total 31,960 COVID-19: Over 15,000 pre-school staff tested negative ahead of reopening COVID-19: MOH lists healthcare services that can resume on 2 June Taxi, private-hire car drivers can continue deliveries until September Jolovan Wham apologises to Josephine Teo, retracts claims against Surbana Jurong Australias health minister has warned there will be choke points as the country eases coronavirus restrictions, while highlighting the biggest risk. Speaking in Canberra on Monday, Greg Hunt said with greater freedom, which had been enjoyed across the country over the past few days, came a greater need for vigilance. We absolutely have to keep our physical distance, Mr Hunt said. So we want to lift the restrictions but the things that we must do to keep us safe our hygiene, our physical distance and we'd encourage people to download the [COVID-Safe] app. Minister for Health Greg Hunt warned Australians to not become complacent as restrictions ease. Source: AAP He added the biggest risk Australia was facing right now was complacency, although he admitted the public was going amazingly well. As I've said before we are winning but we have not won and we could easily lose it if we gave up on the things that have kept us safe, Mr Hunt said. When asked if Mr Hunt was seeing complacency as Australians enjoy freedoms they did not have just a few weeks ago, the health minister drew on his own experiences. He explained over the weekend he observed people keeping their distance while out on walks and while he was at the chemist and supermarket he saw people doing their part. There will be choke points, Mr Hunt continued. And that's when... we encourage [people] to be absolutely alert because any one of us can save a life and any one of us can inadvertently risk a life. Now is the moment where as we have greater freedoms, we need greater vigilance. As restrictions begin to ease, questions have arisen about what Australia will do if faced with a second or third wave of the coronavirus. Commuters and school students return to public transport at Strathfield Train Station in Sydney on Monday. Students return to classroom learning in NSW amid an easing of coronavirus restrictions. Source: AAP Mr Hunt explained the extreme lockdown measures were to contain and reduce the cases which, as he said, saved lives. Going forward, if there is an outbreak in a suburban or regional area, or in a facility, there will be localised rings of containment. Story continues It would only be if there was a systemic statewide, outbreak that we would look at reversing, Mr Hunt explained. At this stage our belief is that is highly unlikely. There are 501 active cases of coronavirus across the country, only five of which are in intensive care, with the death toll at 102. More than 6500 of the 7109 people diagnosed with the disease have recovered. The growth rate of new cases has been under 0.5 per cent for five weeks, while on average, Australia is testing 25,000 people per day. The cases we're finding are going down, Mr Hunt said. We're now at 0.6 per cent positivity over all of the tests we've conducted, one of the lowest rates in the world. He also boasted Australia has one of the broadest testing regimes in the world and pointed out the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has said Australia has one of the most accurate testing regimes in the world. with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Police are searching for a lone gunman who stormed into a house and shot a man dead on Sunday. Police Scotland cordoned off a road in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire after the shooter entered a home and shot a 42-year-old man, who died shortly after from serious injuries. A 46-year-old woman was inside the home at the time of the shooting. Police cordoned off a road in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire after a man was shot dead inside a home on Sunday evening A cordon was put in place on Sunday as police investigated the shooting of a 42-year-old man A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: 'Around 4.50pm on Sunday, 24 May, 2020 a 42-year-old man and 46-year-old woman were within a house in Nithsdale Road, Ardrossan when a man entered the house and discharged what is believed to be a firearm before leaving the house. 'The 42-year-old man was then found with serious injuries and died at the scene a short time later. 'Inquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of the incident and we are currently searching the surrounding area for the suspect and viewing CCTV in the area.' Several police vehicles were at the scene and the street was cordoned off at Lawson Drive and Burns Terrace. Several police cars were parked up at the scene as officers carried out enquiries Police officers remained in place at either end of the cordon on Sunday night. Locals all reported seeing police at a nearby church as a search of the area continued, while another reported seeing the police helicopter searching from above. Ardrossan residents paid their respects to the victim, with one commenter writing: 'Thoughts go out to all the family.' Another wrote: 'Absolute madness. Thoughts go out to the family and friends.' In Australias tropical north, Kate Agrums was hopeful her river-cruise business would get an influx of tourists eager to spot crocodiles when the coronavirus lockdown began easing earlier this month. But instead of preparing to welcome holidaymakers who typically escape to Queensland from the cooler south at this time of year, she remains fearful for the future as the state government refuses to reopen the shuttered border. Ive got zero bookings going into our peak season, said Agrums, 43, whos been forced to lay off six of her eight staff in the tourist town of Port Douglas on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef. With the border closed, were not hopeful that we will get any visitors for months. Theres a lot of businesses here that wont survive. With Australia closed to international visitors, domestic tourism is the only lifeline for an industry thats been crippled by the virus. But Queensland and other states such as Western Australia, which have largely contained the virus, maintain its too early to allow in visitors from New South Wales and Victoria, the two-most populous states that have been responsible for about 90% of Australias new infections in the past two weeks. The engine room of the economy, the two states have kept their borders open, but are still trying to contain isolated outbreaks, such as recent clusters detected in a Sydney age-care home and a Melbourne meatworks. The border closures have seen a war of words break out between state and territory leaders, who until recently had put aside political differences as they tackled the crisis in a National Cabinet led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Federal health officials have consistently said that the border closures arent necessary and the prime minister himself has called for unrestricted domestic travel under a three-stage plan to reopen the economy by the end of July. Ultimately, its an issue for state governments to decide. After New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged her Queensland counterpart Annastacia Palaszczuk to remove restrictions to stop the nation from falling off an economic cliff, the response was curt. Lets be very clear -- on the border issue we wont be lectured to by the worst performing state in Australia, Palaszczuk said May 21. There are 33 times the number of active cases in New South Wales compared to Queensland. So, New South Wales needs to get its act together and get its community transmission down and well all be better off. Shes since toughened her stance, saying Queensland wont reopen until Australia records no new cases for at least a month. The nation has reported just over 7,000 infections and a little over 100 deaths, and has successfully flattened the curve -- but is still reporting a handful of new cases each day. While Palaszczuk will allow people within the state to travel of up to 250 kilometers (155 miles), thats no consolation to Agrums and her Lady Douglas River Cruise business, based about 1,700 kilometers north of the states capital Brisbane and its most densely-populated south-east. The border closure has the travel industry up in arms. According to Simon Westaway, executive director of the Australian Tourism Industry Council, Queensland is a vital tourism cog thats already lost an estimated A$9 billion ($5.9 billion) due to the lockdown. The memo was clear from the prime minister that domestic borders should reopen in July, he said in an interview. So theres obviously now a disconnect between his government and the states. Queensland isnt alone in dashing Morrisons hopes. Western Australia, which usually welcomes thousands of visitors at this time of year to destinations such as Broome, and South Australia dont have a timetable to reopen. The Northern Territory, which is entering its dry season when tourists typically flock to world-famous national parks such as Kakadu, is currently virus free and wants to stay that way. I know that there are calls for us to relax our hard borders, the territorys Chief Minister Michael Gunner told reporters. The danger of coronavirus is still out there and we need to keep it out there. The southern island state of Tasmania wont consider reopening until at least July. James McIntyre, economist for Australia at Bloomberg Economics, said that state border closures and intrastate travel restrictions during the looming peak season would have a devastating impact on many small businesses in the nations north. But once they end, the industry will benefit from Australians seeking to holiday within the country instead of heading overseas, he said. The real benefit for the sector will come from re-capturing the A$66.6 billion of spending by Australians on overseas holidays, he said, This would more than replace the loss of tourism consumption in Australia from inbound tourists of A$47.4 billion. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. (This story has been published from a wire agency without modifications to the text) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter India believes there is urgent need for major reforms in WHO: Harsh Vardhan Harsh Vardhan applauds 'White coat warriors' for going beyond call of duty to attend to patients COVID-19: India felt a big jolt due to Markaz incident says Harsh Vardhan India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 25: India felt a "big jolt" with the sudden spike in cases following the Nizamuddin Markaz incident, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday, asserting that the incident was a lesson for all communities that when a collective decision is taken by the country it must be followed with discipline. At the same time, he said there was no point talking about it now as strict contact tracing of the Tablighi Jamaat congregation participants was done and those who contracted coronavirus had been treated. In an interaction with BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao, Vardhan said that the state governments, the IT department, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Home Minister Amit Shah played an important role following the Tablighi Jamaat incident. 4 COVID-19 vaccine candidates may enter clinical trial phase in 3-5 months: Vardhan Asked by Rao if the incident was a take-off point, Vardhan said, "We feel bad raising the issue, but there is no doubt that around the second week of March when coronavirus was spreading rapidly across the globe and even after one and a half months had passed following the first case in India, the number of cases were very few, in a few states, when this unfortunate and irresponsible incident happened." "In Delhi, the law was such that more than 10-15 people could not have gathered. At that time, people from about one or one and a half dozen other countries were there," he said, adding social distancing was not followed. Domestic flights resume, but chaos at Delhi airport as some flights cancelled | Oneindia News People coming from outside were bringing the disease with them and at such a time over 1,000 people were staying together without the knowledge of administration. When that information was received by authorities, these people were removed while many left on there own, the BJP leader said. "The country got a big jolt at that time when the cases increased suddenly and it resulted in the government deciding to take the drastic step of lockdown and other measures," he said. "It was an unfortunate incident and is a lesson for all sections and communities in the country that when a country takes a collective decision everyone should follow it with discipline as it is in everyone's larger interest," Vardhan said. A large congregation organised in March by the Tablighi Jamaat in the Nizamuddin area of the national capital had emerged as a major hotspot. Some of the participants, who were later tested positive for coronavirus, had travelled to their home states and other areas. Vardhan hailed the lockdown imposition as a bold decision which acted as a "potent social vaccine" against the virus and said it was taken at the right time. 1,640 foreign Tablighi Jamaat members were in India, only 66 contracted COVID-19: Jamiat Many developed countries of the world put a lot of thought into taking this decision and decided to impose lockdown when the situation went out of control, he said. Vardhan also visited the Dedicated COVID-19 Health Centre (DCHC) at Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan (CBPACS) Najafgarh, where he said the testing capacity has also been ramped up and around 1,50,000 tests can be conducted every day. "Yesterday itself, we have conducted 1,10,397 tests. Till yesterday, we have conducted 29,44,874 tests," the minister said. India now has 422 government laboratories and 177 private laboratory chains, he said. Informing about the healthcare infrastructure set up across the country to deal with the pandemic, he said, "These have been divided into three categories viz. Dedicated COVID Hospitals (DCHs), Dedicated COVID Health Centres (DCHCs) and COVID Care Centres (CCCs) with adequate number of isolation beds, ICU beds and other facilities." "A total of 968 Dedicated COVID Hospitals have been identified across the country with 2,50,397 beds (1,62,237 Isolation beds + 20,468 ICU beds); 2,065 Dedicated COVID Health Centres with 1,76,946 beds (1,20,596 isolation beds + 10,691 ICU beds); and, 7,063 COVID Care Centres with 6,46,438 beds," he said. Talking about the protective equipment, he said the country is now making sufficient number of N95 masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) through the ramped up domestic manufacturing sector, and the requirements of the states are being sufficiently met. He f informed that states and UTs, as well as central institutions, have been provided with around 109.08 lakh N-95 masks and around 72.8 lakh PPE. Talking about the status of containment of COVID-19 in the country, Vardhan said, "Prior to lockdown, on March 25, 2020, the doubling rate was 3.2 when measured over a period of 3 days, 3.0 when measured over a period of 7 days and 4.1 when measured over a period of 14 days." "Today it stands at 13.0 over a 3-day window, 13.1 over a 7-day window and 12.7 when measured over a 14-day window. Similarly, the fatality rate stands at 2.9 per cent, while recovery rate has improved to 41.2 per cent. Clearly, the situation has improved due to lockdown," he asserted. This also reflects on the quality of healthcare being provided to the COVID-19 patients, he said. Vardhan reviewed the arrangements at the centre for treatment of COVID-19 patients. While in the COVID-19 Health centre, the minister also interacted with a team of doctors and enquired about the wellbeing of COVID-19 patients. "Ayurveda is a traditional medicinal knowledge source from India and there is huge potential in it. Its inherent strength in holistic healing and wellbeing is being put to good use in treatment of the COVID-19 patients at this DCHC," Vardhan said. This knowledge and experience will surely prove beneficial to people all over the world, especially in the battle against COVID-19, he said. In his interaction with Rao, Vardhan said, "India has immensely benefited from the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in the fight against COVID as he swung into action preemptively and proactively. His decisions like lockdown and other advisories have worked as a potent social vaccine against the virus." THE PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL PRESSES AGAIN FOR ECONOMIC REOPENING In the middle of a pandemic, Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro met with businessmen during a session of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to pressure the court to reopen the economy. When asked about the death toll, the president replied, So what? highlighting his flagrant disregard for workers, and prioritising profit over lives. According to data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the number of confirmed cases has reached 300,000 with more than 17,000 deaths. In the midst of the greatest public health crisis of our time, President Jair Messias Bolsonaro met with lobbyists from various sectors such as textiles, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and footwear in an unscheduled session of the Supreme Federal Court in an attempt to get the court to order workers to return to a normal working schedule. According to reports, Bolsonaro has again criticised governors and mayors in the country for exaggerating the adoption of restrictive measures of social isolation. When asked about the death toll, the president replied, So what? highlighting his flagrant disregard for workers, and prioritising profit over lives. The position of the president directly affects the lives of 13 million Brazilians living in favelas,* who already suffer problems such as lack of sanitation and access to water. Additionally, Indigenous populations have become vulnerable. As a result of the presence of loggers and prospectors, the destruction of the forest poses a new threat: COVID-19. It is important to point out that the state of Amazonas (where the Amazon forest is located) is one of the most affected, with 500 Indigenous people dying daily as a result of COVID-19. Overburdened hospitals, in addition to the lack of masks and respirators, shows what happens when profits speak louder than human lives. We saw this with Milan when the Italian city launched the Milano non si ferma (Milan doesnt stop) campaign: thousands of people died. What we learned from Italy, we can see happening in the US. We can only hope that the same will not occur with Brazil. For most countries in the world, economic recovery is possible, but in Brazil, it isnt. When it reaches the favelas, where brutal living conditions already exist, COVID-19 will turn them into an abattoir. Why? Because unlike the developed countries in the West, hospitals along with other medical necessities are non-existent. If approved by the Federal Supreme Court, these workers will have no choice whatsoever. Their lives will be lost to the machine of capitalism. Today is Memorial Day, the day on which we honor the men and women who have given their lives for our country for 245 years. Alternatively, if you're the New York Times' editorial board, this is the day on which you call the American military a white supremacist institution. It's a mean and silly piece. The attack is also grotesquely ironic. The editors have lost track of the fact that their Democrat cheerleading ties them to a party and ideology that have been responsible for slavery, Jim Crow, and racial obsessions since the 1820s. The latest Times excrescence is entitled "Why Does the U.S. Military Celebrate White Supremacy? It is time to rename bases for American heroes not racist traitors." The accompanying illustration is a fusion of a bullet and a Klansman's hood: This is no mere opinion piece. Instead, it is a formal statement from the 15-member editorial board (only two of whom are black). None of the editors served in the military. All 15 have worked solely in the media, which a few temporary slides into academia. These are leftist bubble people. The article begins describing how Dylann Roof's 2015 murder spree in Charleston led to a mostly successful war on the Confederate flag, including in the Marine Corps and at the National Cathedral. While there's no doubt that some white supremacists still wave that flag, the Times ignores what informed people (such as the teacher Stephen Fry interviews) already know: for most modern Southerners, the Confederate flag has nothing to do with race. Having bested a flag, the Times identifies its next target: the American military, which it contends is a white supremacist institution because ten installations are named after people whom no one living today remembers: This same toxic legacy clings to the 10 United States military installations across the South that were named for Confederate Army officers during the first half of the 20th century. Apologists often describe the names as a necessary gesture of reconciliation in the wake of the Civil War. In truth, the namings reflect a federal embrace of white supremacy that found its most poisonous expression in military installations where black servicemen were deliberately placed under the command of white Southerners who were said to better "understand" Negroes and confined to substandard housing, segregated transportation systems and even "colored only" seating in movie houses. To justify the board's spurious attack, the editors spend paragraphs reciting the arcane and forgotten sins of Civil War generals, along with reminders about the American military's long abandoned racism. It is, as I said, a mean and silly piece. (My friend Wolf Howling does an excellent job defending the military against the Times' libelous attack.) What makes the article noteworthy, rather than just being another nasty attack on the U.S. military from a hard left institution, is the lack of self-awareness. The Confederacy is long gone, as is Jim Crow, which ended in 1964 with the passage of the Civil Rights Act. There is, however, one institution in America that is directly connected to slavery, to the Confederacy, and to Jim Crow. That institution is the Democrat Party. The Confederacy and the Democrat party were indistinguishable. When Stephen Douglas ran against Abraham Lincoln in 1860, the Democrat Party platform explicitly stated that a territory should qualify for admission into the United States "whether its Constitution prohibits or recognizes the institution of slavery." Democrats also adamantly supported the federal Fugitive Slave Law, which required free states to return escaped slaves to their owners: Resolved, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolutionary in their effect. The Republican Party, which nominated Abraham Lincoln, was formed specifically to counter the Democrat Party's commitment to slavery. Lincoln's Democrat opponent in 1860, Stephen A. Douglas, owned a Mississippi plantation (in his wife's name), never condemned slavery's immorality, and held to a states' rights view of slavery that would have allowed it to continue in the South and move into new American territories. After the Civil War, the South remained single-mindedly Democrat until the old guard of segregationists finally died out. This was the same old guard, by the way, that Joe Biden, the de facto Democrat Party candidate, cuddled up to during his first decade in the Senate. Indeed, the Times glosses over lots of its party's racist history. For example, as part of slamming the military, the editors praise Truman (a Democrat) for integrating the military. They forget, however, to castigate Woodrow Wilson (a Democrat whose name is all over Washington, D.C.) for segregating the entire federal workforce. The Times slanders the military, the most integrated institution in America, by resurrecting people whom everyone has forgotten and about whom no one in the military complains. Meanwhile, the Times' chosen party is the living embodiment of race-obsessed politics. The Democrat Party ought to have been outlawed in 1865, just as the Nazi Party was outlawed in 1945. Forced to forego ancient traditions this Eid, Iraqis use technology to mark the religious holiday, overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic. Iraqs government has imposed a lockdown for the duration of the Eid al-Fitr holidays, but not everyone is abiding by the rules. Some mosques are allowing in small groups of worshippers. Yet most Muslims are letting go of centuries-old religious rituals to help protect their communities from the virus. Al Jazeeras Simona Foltyn reports from Baghdad. PokerNews Podcast: Mike Postle Update & Guest Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier April 30, 2020 In the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Sarah Herring, Jeff Platt, and Chad Holloway welcome guest Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier to the podcast. They talk about his recent signing with GG Poker and testing positive for COVID-19. This week they also discuss the latest in the Mike Postle legal battle, SCOOP update, and the "Keep the Lights On" Initiative. This week's sponsors: Natural8, GG Poker, Oddschecker US, and Run It Once (Click link for special PN Pod rakeback deal). Time Stamps Time Topic 2:30 Jeff attacked by birds 4:00 Keep the Lights On 9:00 Poker Masters 12:30 Super High Roller Bowl 13:55 Sponsor: GG Poker w/ Daniel Negreanu 15:15 Guest Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier joins the show 16:20 ElkY quarantined because of infected Uber Driver 19:00 ElkY tests positive for COVID-19 21:30 Why ElkY lives in Prague 26:00 His 2nd bracelet, hand against Shaun Deeb where he thought he needed to get 5th, but he needed 9th 29:00 Ambassador for GG Poker! 35:45 GG has staking platform in the client 36:50 "Sweat the River" if you are the short stack 38:35 Back in Gaming? 39:15 Streaming in the Future? 39:30 Emotes on GG 44:35 GG has built-in HUD 48:00 First site to have Streamed hold cards on online tournament w/ one-hour delay 53:45 Natural8 AD 55:00 Mike Postle Update 1:05:15 We want Postle & his maybe attorney on the show! 1:06:20 Oddschecker.us Trivia Checker Game 1:08:30 Galfond Challenge Update 1:09:30 Sponsor: Run It Once 1:11:00 PokerNews Live Reporting SCOOP 1:12:10 WSOP Online Circuit Series sponsored by GG 1:15:30 Hope for online Poker? 1:22:30 Next week Crandell Addington 1:24:55 Maria Konnikova in 2 weeks 1:25:30 Oddschecker Ad Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Jeff Platt and Chad Holloway on Twitter. Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! Check Out Oddschecker US today! Sharelines LISTEN on the PN Podcast: @elkypoker on joining @GGPokerOfficial & testing positive for COVID-19. Ramazan Bayram (Eid al-Fitr) The end of Ramazan is celebrated with a holiday. It starts at sunset on the last day of Ramazan and celebrates the completion of the holy month of fasting. This year, Ramazan Bayram (Eid al-Fitr) began on Sunday 24 May and will end on Tuesday 26 May. The government have imposed a four-day curfew in all 81 provinces of Turkey to maintain control of the virus and millions of muslims are celebrating Ramazan Bayram at home. A very different celebration Ramazan Bayram is a time of renewal and Turkey is accustomed to enthusiastic celebrations and big family gatherings, a ritual that dates back all the way to the Ottoman era. Last year, with many hotels at 100% occupancy over the holiday period, the roads and beaches in and around the area were extremely busy, with the road to Oludeniz gridlocked for hours. This year, the hotels remain closed and the same roads are empty. Turkeys Muslims visit mosques to offer prayers during the first day of Eid al-Fitr. This photograph was taken at Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, June 4, 2019. (Emrah Gurel / AP Archive) This year, the mosques around turkey ring out the call to prayer, but remain empty as, for the first time ever, citizens experience the sadness of not being able to perform the Eid prayer in the mosque. During the holiday, people visit relatives and friends, and may also go to the graveyards to pay their respect to the deceased. This year, the graveyards remain empty. Fresh flowers, some starting to wilt in the heat, bear testament that families have visited their loved ones before the curfew. Its an important time for families to be together and the roads are normally full of people doing the rounds of visits to parents, cousins, aunts and in-laws. This year, the roads are empty, with the only traffic a tortoise watched by a bemused cat in Tasyaka. Seker Bayram Ramazan Bayram is also known as Seker (Sugar) Bayram as the emphasis on the first day is on sweet food. Baklava and serbet are ever-present; muhallebi (rice pudding) and seker pare (sweet biscuit) are commonly served. As well as the parade of desserts, there are endless savoury nibbles such as nuts, seeds and pulses. Baklava is ever present Serbet Baklava and dessert sellers are exempt from the curfew and are offering a takeaway or home delivery service to allow this tradition to continue. During Ramazan Bayram it is important to honor the elderly and the younger generation would normally visit the older ones. Kissing the right hand of the elderly and placing it on the forehead is a custom to show respect and greet them for the bayram. Children greets their elders by kissing their hand and then touching their foreheads with it which is a major gesture of respect. Another tradition is of children going around in their neighborhood, from door to door and wishing people a happy bayram. As a reward, they receive candies, chocolates, or even a small amount of money. Another tradition that cant happen this year! Ramazan Bayramnz Mubarek Olsun Whilst many people will be spending Eid away from loved ones for the first time ever, we should take comfort in the fact that these are extraordinary circumstances that will, perhaps, never be repeated. Marie Antoinette's travel bag has sold for more than five times its estimate at auction near to the Palace of Versailles - the home where she once lived. The travel bag from the suite of the queen, who lost her head during the French Revolution - sold for a staggering 43,750 (39, 143) at an auction of royal memorabilia - after it was estimated to fetch between 8,000 (7, 157) and 10,000 (8, 947). Made of wood and lined with leather, the online description reads: 'The interior has been refurbished, but an older lining remains, made of unbleached canvas, presenting in the lid an oval-shaped nailing that held a piece of skin that probably had to be marked with initials or coat of arms.' It also features an inscription on the lid made of small brass nails which reads 'Queen's room number 10.' French queen Marie Antoinette's travel bag has sold for 43,750 (39, 143) at auction - which is more than five times its estimate. Pictured, wintage Illustration of Marie Antoinette with a rose, after the painting by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun; chromolithograph, 1906. Queen Marie-Antoinette,1788. Portrait by Elisabeth-Louise Vigee-Le Brun (1755-1842). Musee National du Chateau, Versailles, France The Osenat auction house told how there had been competitive bidding 'both in the room, over the telephone and on the internet' for the historical objects which once belonged to the French queen, according to Times Malta. Meanwhile, a large serviette, which was embroidered with the royal fleurs de lys insignia and leaf crowns with a bouquet of roses, also fetched several times more than its estimate. The serviette, which was used during the coronation of the monarch, who was born in Austria, went for 14,500 (12, 973). The online description reads: 'Used during the Rite of the Sacrament, and kept by the chaplain of Reims, Monsignor Coussy Rectangular, damasked, decorated with fleurs-de-lis in leafy wreaths on the periphery and a bouquet of roses in the centre. The travel bag from the suite of the French queen sold for a staggering 43,750 (39, 143) at an auction of royal memorabilia (pictured left), while the serviette, which was used during the coronation of the Austrian-born monarch - went for 14,500 (12, 973) 'With its original note in pencil preserved under glass: "Napkin used by Marie-Antoinette during the coronation, and which has been preserved by Mgneur de Coussy who used it during his emigration and from whom we have it." During the auction, a lock of hair from her husband, Louis XVI, went under the hammer for 4,000 (3, 578). Marie Antoinette, who was born an archduchess of Austria, was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. She was the penultimate child and youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. Advertisement Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit has failed on its first attempt to launch a rocket into space from the wing of a converted Boeing 747 due to an 'anomaly', and was immediately commiserated by rival entrepreneur Elon Musk. The company confirmed Monday that the rocket's debut flight over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California was unsuccessful. The inaugural launch had appeared to be going well until moments after the rocket was dropped from beneath the left wing of the jumbo jet dubbed Cosmic Girl. Then an unidentified problem forced Branson's company to cut the mission short. Musk jumped to console the crew and company in a Twitter post - just days before he attempts to make history by sending the first US astronauts into space in almost a decade. Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit has failed on its first attempt to launch a rocket attached to the wing of a Boeing 747 due to an 'anomaly'. The moment the rocket was dropped from the aircraft is pictured above The company confirmed Monday that the rocket's debut flight (pictured) over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California was unsuccessful Virgin Orbit announced its failed mission in a Twitter post Monday. 'We've confirmed a clean release from the aircraft. However, the mission terminated shortly into the flight. Cosmic Girl and our flight crew are safe and returning to base,' it read. There was no immediate word on what had specifically gone wrong apart from that an 'anomaly' had occurred soon after the engines ignited. 'LauncherOne maintained stability after release, and we ignited our first stage engine, NewtonThree. An anomaly then occurred early in first stage flight,' Virgin Orbit tweeted. 'We'll learn more as our engineers analyze the mountain of data we collected today. The company had previously said the chances of a successful debut flight is just 50:50. Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart said in a statement following the launch's failure: 'Our team performed their prelaunch and flight operations with incredible skill today. Test flights are instrumented to yield data and we now have a treasure trove of that. 'We accomplished many of the goals we set for ourselves, though not as many as we would have liked. 'Nevertheless, we took a big step forward today. Our engineers are already poring through the data. Our next rocket is waiting. We will learn, adjust, and begin preparing for our next test, which is coming up soon.' Cosmic Girl takes off above: There was no immediate word on what had specifically gone wrong apart from that an 'anomaly' had occurred soon after the engines ignited In air: The company had previously said the chances of a successful debut flight is just 50:50 A close-up of the converted Boeing 747 with the LauncherOne rocket attached as it prepares to release it mid-air for the first time The Virgin Orbit Boeing 747-400 aircraft named Cosmic Girl is pictured taking off from Mojave Air and Space Port in the desert north of Los Angeles on Monday The rocket is seen dropping from the plane. Then an unidentified problem forced Branson's company to cut the mission short There was no immediate word on what had specifically gone wrong apart from that an 'anomaly' had occurred soon after the engines ignited Will Pomerantz, Virgin Orbit's vice president for special projects, commented during a preflight briefing Saturday that about half of first rocket launches fail. 'History is not terribly kind, necessarily, to maiden flights,' he said. Mr Hart said during the briefing there had been numerous tests, discussions and introspection to verify that the system was ready. 'In the end the questions are always, has everything been thought about and are there any gaps or seams, and those are the questions you only learn when you commit to flight,' Hart said. The highly modified jumbo jet took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in the desert north of Los Angeles and flew out just beyond the Channel Islands, where the drop occurred. The highly modified jumbo jet is pictured taking from Mojave Air and Space Port in the desert north of Los Angeles It then flew out just beyond the Channel Islands, where the drop occurred It was hoped the rocket, which was carried into the sky on the wing of a Boeing 747 before being released, could one day be used to launch small satellites into space It was hoped the rocket, which was carried into the sky on the wing of a Boeing 747, could one day be used to launch small satellites into space ranging in size from toasters to household refrigerators The rocket was supposed to fall for a few seconds before the first of its two engines ignited and hurtled it down the coast toward the South Pole to enter a low Earth orbit. The purpose of the flight was to gather data on every step of the launch process rather than to have a useful satellite in orbit. It was hoped the rocket, which was carried into the sky on the wing of a Boeing 747, could one day be used to launch small satellites into space ranging in size from toasters to household refrigerators. A successful flight would have helped bring Branson's space venture a step closer to commercial operations and also marked a dramatic step in getting back on track after the coronavirus pandemic sent most employees home earlier this year while work spaces, procedures and mission control were adjusted. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is launching the first astronauts into space from US soil in nine years on Wednesday under his own space venture SpaceX, was one of the first to send his commiserations over Monday's failed attempt. 'Sorry to hear that. Orbit is hard. Took us four attempts with Falcon 1,' he tweeted Monday, referring to SpaceX's first rocket which spectacularly failed in just 25 seconds of its first launch taking flight. The company confirmed Monday that the debut flight over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California was unsuccessful Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is planning to launch the first astronauts into space from US soil in nine years on Wednesday under his SpaceX business, was one of the first to send commiserations over the failed attempt Monday's failed attempt comes after the company has spent five years developing the 70-foot-long (21.3 meter) LauncherOne rocket. It had already been delayed by a day as teams scrambled to empty the fuel canisters due to a faulty sensor on Sunday. Virgin Orbit said Sunday the fault had been fixed and the flight would go ahead the following day. 'Our team has worked diligently to resolve the sensor issue and recycle the system,' it tweeted. 'We're now back in the countdown, and are currently targeting another launch attempt tomorrow, with our window again open from 10 AM to 2 PM Pacific (5pm to 9pm UTC).' The flight map pictured above. The launch had already been delayed by a day as teams scrambled to empty the fuel canisters due to a faulty sensor on Sunday It was hoped the rocket could one day be used to launch satellites into space Virgin Orbit then shard this image of its next rocket in the company's final integration area as it waits for its turn to fly to space The crew head for the aircraft Monday. 'Cosmic Girl and our flight crew are safe and returning to base,' Virgin Orbit said in its official Twitter commentary on the launch following its failed attempt Crew pictured on board the Cosmic Girl. The company has previously said debut flights have only a 50:50 chance of success It is not clear how long the setback will affect the company, which has six additional rockets under construction in its factory Virgin Orbit says it has dozens of missions to a value of 'hundreds of millions' on the books for customers including the US Space Force and the Royal Air Force. Internationally, it is working on plans for launches from the United Kingdom and Japan It is not clear how long the setback will affect the company, which has six additional rockets under construction in its factory. Virgin Orbit says it has dozens of missions to a value of 'hundreds of millions' on the books for customers including the US Space Force and the Royal Air Force. Internationally, it is working on plans for launches from the United Kingdom and Japan. The disappointing launch for Virgin Orbit comes just days after Branson offloaded around $366 million of shares in sister company Virgin Galactic, founded to carry passengers on suborbital flights into the lower reaches of space, in efforts to claw back money to pump into his struggling airline. The vehicle, designed to deliver small satellites into orbit, was scheduled to take off from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California Sunday The aim of the endeavour was to test that each part of the process works as planned once the launch vehicles graduate to operational status The LauncherOne rocket is pictured before its maiden flight as it approaches Cosmic Girl An aerial picture of Cosmic Girl - the Boeing 747-400 aircraft from which the rocket was launched Crew work to prepare for the debut flight. Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit was hoping to make history on Sunday with the first orbital test flight of its LauncherOne vehicle Crew on the ground before Monday's failed launch. The disappointing launch for Virgin Orbit comes just days after Branson offloaded around $366 million of shares in sister company Virgin Galactic Vieco 10, an investment firm owned by Virgin Group, dumped almost 2.6 million stocks between May 14 and May 15, making up an almost 2 percent stake in Virgin Galactic, according to a regulatory filing last week. Shares in Virgin Galactic dived as much as 8.3 percent when news emerged on May 11 that a sale was on the cards. Branson had cleared a path to sell up to half of his holdings in Virgin Galactic to raise funds for its global leisure, holiday and travel businesses including Virgin Atlantic. The airline has been ravaged by the pandemic, putting staff on mandatory unpaid leave in the UK and announcing more than 3,000 jobs will be axed. Branson came under fire last month for asking the British government for a 500million bailout for the ailing business while the entrepreneur owns a private island in the Caribbean. He has reportedly also put advisers on standby to potentially handle an administration. The disappointing launch comes just days after Branson (pictured) offloaded around $366 million of shares in Virgin Galactic to pump money into his struggling airline New Delhi: India has welcomed the announcement of a three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan by the Taliban and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, expressing hope that it will be extended further to pave the way for durable peace and stability in the country. Earlier on Saturday, the Taliban and President Ghani had announced a three-day ceasefire ahead of Eid. Issuing a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "India welcomes the understanding reached for a ceasefire in Afghanistan for three days during the Eid. We hope that this ceasefire would extend further and become permanent to address the dire humanitarian situation resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and pave the way for durable peace and stability for the people of Afghanistan." "India stands with the people of Afghanistan in their quest for enduring peace, security, sovereignty, and prosperity," the ministry added. India has been keenly watching the evolving political situation after the US inked a peace deal with the Taliban in February. The deal provided for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, effectively drawing curtains to Washington's 18-year war in the country. India has been a key stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled. There have been global concerns over Pakistan's support to the Taliban and other terror groups operating in Afghanistan. The US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan since late 2001. A speeding truck ran over a 52-year-old migrant labourer near Dhandhari overbridge in Ludhianas Sahnewal town on Sunday evening. The victim has been identified as Kiamuddin of Dahmesh Market of Dhandhari. His nephew, Sahabuddin, said that Kiamuddin, who a labourer at a factory, was walking home after work when a speeding truck hit him from behind. The truck driver fled the scene after the incident. Police have lodged a case under Sections 279 (rash driving) and 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code against the unidentified truck driver, on the statement of the nephew.They are scanning the closed-circuit television cameras in the area to trace the accused. Durham Police are examining further information and complaints in connection to Dominic Cummings. The British force has issued a new statement, in addition to its statement from Saturday. The statement said: We can confirm that on April 1, an officer from Durham Constabulary spoke to the father of Dominic Cummings. Mr Cummings confirmed that his son, his sons wife and child were present at the property. He told the officer that his son and sons wife were displaying symptoms of coronavirus and were self-isolating in part of the property. We can further confirm that our officer gave no specific advice on coronavirus to any members of the family and that Durham Constabulary deemed that no further action was required in that regard. Our officer did, however, provide the family with advice on security issues. They earlier said that they received further information and complaints from the public and they are reviewing and examining the new information. Mr Cummings travelled to County Durham in March to self-isolate with his family apparently because he feare he and his wife would be left unable to care for their son while official guidelines warned against long-distance journeys. Further reports suggested the British Prime Ministers key aide took a second trip to the north-east in April, having already returned to London following his recovery from Covid-19. A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: We can confirm that, over the last few days, Durham Constabulary has received further information and complaints from members of the public and we are reviewing and examining that information. It follows the regions acting police and crime commissioner saying he had written to its chief constable asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter. Steve White said there was a plethora of additional information which deserved appropriate examination. He added: I am confident that thus far, Durham Police has responded proportionately and appropriately to the issues raised concerning Mr Cummings and his visit to the county at the end of March. It is clear however that there is a plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination. I have today written to the chief constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter at any juncture. It will be for the chief constable to determine the operational response to this request and I am confident that with the resources at its disposal, the force can show proportionality and fairness in what has become a major issue of public interest and trust. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has thrown his support behind his aide and said he acted responsibly, legally and with integrity. Im reluctant to comment on what Cummings did or didnt do, but Im not going to sit on the fence & wait for the outcome. It looks and feels wrong and Im not convinced you or I would have been defended so vigorously. Please stay at home. Martin Surl (@GlosPCC) May 24, 2020 But another police and crime commissioner said Mr Cummingss actions have made a mockery of police enforcement of lockdown measures. Gloucestershires independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that Mr Cummingss actions will make it much more difficult to enforce lockdown restrictions. He added: I think it makes it much harder for the police going forward this will be quoted back at them time and time again when they try to enforce the new rules. But I think more importantly it makes something of a mockery of the police action going back when the message was very, very clear: stay at home. The police had to deliver a very harsh, very difficult message and now it appears people could act differently, so I think it does undermine the policing going back and their confidence, and going forward it will be more difficult, but they will cope, they always do. We have got here really selfish acts that are undermining the efforts of the British public and British police to make us all safe Durhams former chief constable Mike Barton said the people who make the rules cannot break them or there will be chaos. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Barton said: Policing the lockdown has probably been one of the toughest assignments ever given to the British police and they have risen to the challenge. But what the Prime Minister did yesterday has now made it exponentially tougher for all those people on the front line, those PCSOs (police community support officers) and cops on the front line enforcing the lockdown. We are in the middle of a national emergency and people who make the rules cannot break the rules, otherwise we are going to have chaos. Asked if officers should go through hours and hours of CCTV footage to find out if the trips were made, he said it was a matter for the force but added: If I thought that the entire edifice of Durham Constabulary was at risk I would make sure we got to the truth. If youre going to expend hundreds of hours and thats going to put other people at risk then you wouldnt do it. We have got here really selfish acts that are undermining the efforts of the British public and British police to make us all safe, and if an inquiry by Durham Constabulary would assist us with that then I would commend it. An Ohio mother has been charged with the murder of her seven-year-old son after she allegedly admitted to beating the child for months while his stepfather watched and did nothing. Columbus police responded to a call about a child drowning on Saturday night and arrived to find the boy, Fabian Maldonado Cortez, unresponsive. The child was rushed to Nationwide Children's Hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead soon after. An investigation revealed that Fabian 'had been subjected to severe abuse' that led to his death, police say. His mother, 24-year-old Oneida Maldonado-Cortez, was arrested for murder after she reportedly admitted to beating the child multiple times and not taking him to the hospital, according to documents filed in Franklin County Municipal Court. Fabian's stepfather, 37-year-old Jose Santos, was also arrested and charged with child endangerment. Oneida Maldonado-Cortez, 24, (left) was charged with the murder of her seven-year-old son Fabian after she admitted to beating the child repeatedly. Fabian's stepfather, 37-year-old Jose Santos (right), was also arrested for child endangerment Santos allegedly admitted to witnessing his wife beat Fabian with several objects for months. He said he was too afraid to call police or get help because he didn't want the mother to go to jail, according to court documents. Fabian was found to have several wounds and lacerations on his body. Maldonado-Cortez and Santos were booked into the Franklin County jail and are set to appear at bond hearings on Tuesday. Police asked anyone with information about the case to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477). An alleged roof scammer who police say fleeced almost $900,000 from his victims was arrested when investigators saw him in a car near Sydney Airport on Monday night. A warrant for Patrick Michael O'Brien's arrest over an alleged "large-scale fraud offence" was issued by detectives from the eastern beaches on Monday, with police alleging the Irish national defrauded two women living in Sydney of $900,000 after he promised to repair their roofs. Patrick Michael O'Brien. One alleged victim, a 56-year-old woman from Kensington, was defrauded of $623,180 after Mr O'Brien allegedly conducted unfinished work on her roof, while another woman, a 70-year-old from Stanmore, was defrauded of $276,300, police claim. They allegedly advertised for roof repairers in hipages, a News Corp website that promises to "provide a better, smarter way to connect you with trusted tradies to get a job done well", Detective Chief Inspector Damian Goodfellow said on Tuesday morning. At a Downing Street coronavirus press briefing Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson fended off demands for the resignation or sacking of his key adviser Dominic Cummings. Johnson was speaking at his first press briefing in two weeks. Over the previous 48 hours, his government was thrown into turmoil as it emerged that Cummings broke lockdown rules. A joint investigation by the Guardian/ Observer and the Mirror newspapers revealed that he travelled hundreds of miles from London to the northeast of England, allegedly on two separate occasions. Johnson declared in response that Cummings had no case to answer and had acted responsibly, legally and with integrity. Cummings left London after the government had prohibited all non-essential travel from March 23. On March 30, Downing Street confirmed that Cummings was suffering from coronavirus symptoms and was self-isolatingJohnson and Health Minister Matt Hancock had tested positive just three days earlier. According to the Observer and Sunday Mirror , Cummings left Downing Street on March 31 and drove with his wifewho was also displaying coronavirus symptomsand their four-year-old child, to his parents farm 260 miles away in County Durham. Under the lockdown, all non-essential travel was banned including visiting family members or second homes. Those living in a multi-occupancy household with symptoms were instructed to stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. Cummings and various government figures claimed that he made the trip to self-isolate in a self-contained part of his parental home to ensure that his child would be looked after if he or his wife became ill. But according to a retired chemistry teacher, on April 12, when Cummings was supposed to be in self-isolation, he was out walking in the market town of Barnard Castle, 30 miles away from Durham. He returned to London on April 14, and according to another eyewitness he was seen five days later back in the northeasts Houghall Woods admiring bluebells. The home in which his parents live is co-owned by Cummings. On April 6, when Cummings was in Durham, Scotlands chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, was forced to resign after making two trips to her own second home in Fife just over an hours drive from her main home Edinburgh. Downing Street has denounced the Guardian and the Mirror for publishing inaccurate stories about Mr Cummings. But within hours the hashtag #sackcummings was trending and over 120,000 had signed a petition demanding his resignation. Leading backbencher Steve Baker was the first senior Tory to demand Cummings resignation. Baker said he should resign before he does any more harm to the UK, the government, the prime minister, our institutions or the Conservative party. He was backed by eight other Tory backbenchers, including other leading hard Brexiteers. Cummings loyalists doubled down, with ministers including Michael Gove, Rishi Sunak, Matt Hancock, Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps coming to his defence. Attorney General Suella Braverman, in defiance of all normal conventions, tweeted, Protecting ones family is what any good parent does. The @10Downing Street statement clarifies the situation and it is wholly inappropriate to politicise it. The lies continued to unravel. With the government denying police officers had spoken to Cummings family about his presence in the northeast, Durham Police confirmed they knew Cummings was at the Durham property on March 31 and had spoken to Cummings father about the security measures required. Hours before Johnson spoke on Sunday, police officers were knocking at the door of the Cummings family home in north London. While Cummings was in Durham, thousands of people nationwide were issued with on the spot fines for alleged breaches of the lockdown rules. In the four weeks to April 27, the police issued more than 9,000 fines to people throughout England and Wales. By May 11, the police had issued more than 14,000 fines, including to 862 repeat offenders. Cummings was one of the chief advocates for the governments herd immunity policy, based on the mass infection of the population and the rejection of any systematic measures to suppress the pandemic. In March, the Times reported on a private event held at the end of February at which Cummings explained the UKs coronavirus response. Those present summarised his position as herd immunity, protect the economy, and if that means some pensioners die, too bad. A senior Conservative source described his view as let old people die. Cummings, the former head of the Vote Leave campaign during the 2016 Brexit referendum, is part of Johnsons inner circle of hardline Brexiteers who have championed Britain Unchained and the completion of what they describe as the Thatcher revolution. This war against society was on full display at Sunday nights press conference where Johnson followed his fulsome defence of Cummings with declarations that his governments back-to-work drive will continue unabated. Primary schools would begin selectively reopening on June 1, despite overwhelming opposition from parents and teachers. Stage two would soon follow, with secondary schools providing some contact for year 10 and year 12 students from June 15. It is not known if Cummings infected any other people during his trips to the northeast or while out and about in the area. What is known is that by May 14, the northeast had the highest rate of infection in the countrywith its R value at 0.80, double the rate of London. The first case of coronavirus in the northeast came from a person who attended a Nike conference that the government allowed to take place in Edinburgh on February 26-7 attended by 70 employees from around the world. Cummings has only been able to survive thus far because he has faced less criticism from the Labour Party than from within his own faction-ridden Tory party. Sir Keir Starmer declared at the outset of the pandemic that Johnson could rely on his constructive opposition at all times. He has been true to his word, refusing to issue any public call for Cummings resignation. Instead, he wrote a polite letter to the head of the civil service, Sir Mark Sedwill, asking him to investigate the 260-mile trip known to have been taken by Cummings. Even after Johnsons media briefingpacked with lies from start to finish Starmer still refused to call on Cummings to quit, complaining instead that It is an insult to sacrifices made by the British people that Boris Johnson has chosen to take no action against Dominic Cummings. Starmers predecessor Jeremy Corbyn also refused to call for Cummings to go, merely retweeting a comment from former shadow chancellor John McDonnell that didnt even name Cummings. The episode, McDonnell wrote, was a fundamental test of character [!] for Johnson. Hes dramatically failing it by defending the indefensible & doing it by obfuscation and avoidance. Labours soft-pedalling, under conditions where Cummings is facing a possible police investigation, points to Labours central role in defending a government that is falling apart at the seams. They are giving Johnson carte blanche to do as he pleases. While Starmer and Corbyn were issuing their polite protests, it was left to former Durham police chief Mike Barton to observe, It feels like feudal times. We make the rules and it is for you, the great unwashed, to follow them. The IMF calls it the Great Lockdown. Morgan Stanley says it's the Great COVID-19 Recession, or GCR for short. Ed Yardeni, who coined the term "bond vigilantes" back in the 1980s, has named this the Great Virus Crisis. There's even a suggestion to call it a Pandession. As economists around the world search for the right terminology to describe the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression, it could take years to settle on a name, if history is any guide. Naming an economic crisis is more difficult than it seems. Credit:AP While many in the US now refer to the 2007-2009 slump as the Great Recession, that term is far from universal. In Anglo financial centres like Sydney and London, the term GFC - short for Global Financial Crisis - is more common. Others call it the North Atlantic Financial Crisis, since that's where it hit hardest. Boris Johnsons chief adviser Dominic Cummings will make a public statement this afternoon after allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions, Downing Street has confirmed. Ian Blackford, Westminster leader of the Scottish National Party, tweeted: This should be a resignation statement not a PR exercise. It is about taking responsibility. When Catherine Calderwood apologised she recognised it wasnt enough and resigned to protect confidence in the public health message. That is also what the Conservative Party demanded. This should be a resignation statement not a PR exercise. It is about taking responsibility. When Catherine Calderwood apologised she recognised it wasn't enough and resigned to protect confidence in the public health message. That is also what the Conservative Party demanded. https://t.co/GHX1lhADzv Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) May 25, 2020 It is thought Boris Johnsons top aide will answer questions about the journey he made in March, which broke lockdown rules. 19 Tory MPs are calling on him to go. It comes as Durham Police's acting police and crime commissioner said the force needs to establish the facts surrounding whether Mr Cummings potentially broke any laws or regulations. Mr Cummings travelled to County Durham in March to self-isolate with his family apparently because he feared that he and his wife would be left unable to care for their son while official guidelines warned against long-distance journeys. Further reports suggested the British Prime Ministers key aide took a second trip to the North East of England in April, having already returned to London following his recovery from Covid-19. Acting Durham police, crime and victims commissioner Steve White said there was a plethora of additional information which deserved appropriate examination. He said he had written to the forces chief constable asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter. Mr White added: I am confident that thus far, Durham Police has responded proportionately and appropriately to the issues raised concerning Mr Cummings and his visit to the county at the end of March. It is clear however that there is a plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination. I have today written to the chief constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter at any juncture. It will be for the chief constable to determine the operational response to this request and I am confident that with the resources at its disposal, the force can show proportionality and fairness in what has become a major issue of public interest and trust. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has thrown his support behind his aide and said he acted responsibly, legally and with integrity. But another police and crime commissioner said that Mr Cummingss actions have made a mockery of police enforcement of lockdown measures. Im reluctant to comment on what Cummings did or didnt do, but Im not going to sit on the fence & wait for the outcome. It looks and feels wrong and Im not convinced you or I would have been defended so vigorously. Please stay at home. Martin Surl (@GlosPCC) May 24, 2020 Gloucestershires independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that Mr Cummingss actions will make it much harder to enforce lockdown restrictions. He added: I think it makes it much harder for the police going forward this will be quoted back at them time and time again when they try to enforce the new rules. But I think more importantly it makes something of a mockery of the police action going back when the message was very, very clear: stay at home. The police had to deliver a very harsh, very difficult message and now it appears people could act differently, so I think it does undermine the policing going back and their confidence, and going forward it will be more difficult, but they will cope, they always do. Durhams former chief constable Mike Barton said the people who make the rules cannot break them or there will be chaos. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Barton added: Policing the lockdown has probably been one of the toughest assignments ever given to the British police and they have risen to the challenge. But what the Prime Minister did yesterday has now made it exponentially tougher for all those people on the front line, those PCSOs (police community support officers) and cops on the front line, enforcing the lockdown. We have got here really selfish acts that are undermining the efforts of the British public and British police to make us all safe We are in the middle of a national emergency and people who make the rules cannot break the rules, otherwise we are going to have chaos. Asked if officers should go through hours and hours of CCTV footage to find out if the trips were made, he said it was a matter for the force, but added: If I thought that the entire edifice of Durham Constabulary was at risk I would make sure we got to the truth. If youre going to expend hundreds of hours and thats going to put other people at risk then you wouldnt do it. We have got here really selfish acts that are undermining the efforts of the British public and British police to make us all safe, and if an inquiry by Durham Constabulary would assist us with that then I would commend it. Back in the autumn of 2012, a senior faculty member at the Mhow-based Army War College published a paper on the Chinas war zone campaign (WZC). Beijing would, the army officer argued, seek to coerce smaller adversaries into acceding to Chinas demand through graded threat of force or actual use of force till its ends are met. The officer, then Brigadier Manoj Mukund Naravane, wrote that the political objective of this Chinese concept is unveiled by occupation of certain un-held tract of land or high value targets. This would be done through elite forces. The first would be the domination-cum-deterrence (DCD) phase where the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) would focus on building up its presence in the territory in question to deter the enemy. In the second phase, Gaining Initiative by Striking First (GISF), it would deploy rapid reaction units to strike first to wrest the initiative from the enemy. The last stage is the Quick Battle Quick Resolution where the PLA would use a dedicated division level force. But the PLA, the senior army officer said in his seminal paper published in Scholar Warrior, a journal published by the Delhi-based think tank Center For Land Warfare Studies, expects to achieve its objective in the first two phases. As the Indian Army Chief now, General Manoj Mukund Naravane is faced with a WZC situation along the 3,488 kilometre long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with PLA opening multiple fronts in western and eastern sectors while the world including India battles the Covid-19 pandemic that has its origins in central Chinas Wuhan city. The Chinese aggressive manoeuvres also entail the PLA moving support elements in depth areas of eastern Ladakh. Also read | Chinas tactical play in Ladakh isnt just about the boundary Although Gen Naravane didnt refer to it in his 2012 paper, national security planners say the key to the Chinese WZC concept is deception coupled with state of the art intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The top army officer was clear that the only way to counter the WZC strategy is to thwart Chinese designs in the initial two, DCD and GISF, stages. Beijing did have the initial advantage when it moved soldiers to Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh. The Chinese army had built roads right up to their claim line and could move in troops quickly, once it decided to activate them. This advantage now stands neutralised with Indian force levels building up over the past weeks. The Indian Army is also staring at the aggressor with troops holding their positions and not allowing the Red Army to brow beat them at Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso. Top government officials told Hindustan Times that the security establishment did realise that Indias northern borders would remain turbulent for some time to come after New Delhi decided to upgrade its border infrastructure in 2014. For decades, India had been debating the extent and pace of creating border infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control with China. Beijing, meanwhile, kept building railway tracks and roads. Also read | Experts raise concern over Ladakh face-off This meant that the Chinese PLA patrols along the border often went uncontested. This started to change after India matching up the build up to a degree and earmarking its claim line through regular patrols. And this friction is expected to continue unless both sides exchange maps of their respective positions in both the eastern and the western sector. The situation in the middle sector is far better after both sides exchanged maps in 2002. So both sides now know the exact disputed territory. The western sector maps were shared but never exchanged at the behest of Chinese; the eastern sector maps were not even shared. While China openly covets Arunachal Pradesh as its territory, its long term game in eastern Ladakh could be to cut through Galwan-Murgo axis to provide an all weather alternative to the Karakoram highway, which enters Pakistan through Khunjerab Pass and not Karakoram pass north of Indian positions of Daulet Beg Oldi. However, with the Indian Army digging into its positions to face the aggressor, the long drawn out mobilization may not work for the PLA as the law of diminishing returns comes into play like in the protracted 1979 Sino-Vietnam war. Status quo ante is the only viable option as it leaves both sides with a win-win situation. Also read | China to evacuate citizens from India amid pandemic, rising border tension SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dublin Fire Brigade is appealing to people heading to popular outdoor amenities to take care where they park. Crews were delayed trying to get to an injured mountain biker at the Hellfire Club yesterday because cars had blocked the road. Vietnam needs radical changes, not mere improvements to existing regulations, to attract foreign development investment (FDI) against the new backdrop of a post-pandemic world, according to a member of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs economic advisory team. Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, a member of the PMs economic advisory team, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper during a recent interview that Vietnam is only one of many countries presented with an opportune moment to receive FDI inflows that are being shifted from China following the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Japanese appliance-maker Panasonic Corp is the latest example for this movement, announcing last week its plan to move its Thai-based production of refrigerators and washing machines to Vietnam in 2021. Likewise, Apple has reportedly shifted some of its AirPods Pro production to Vietnam from China, according to tech site The Verge. This is the time [for Vietnam] to change, not just to improve old regulations, so as to create good business conditions to welcome high-quality FDI inflows, said Thien. According to the economic expert, Vietnam has shifted its strategies in FDI attraction in the past few years, giving priority to multinational corporations that employ high and environmentally friendly technologies. Despite these changes, Vietnam has seen the scale of its FDI projects shrink 30 percent while the number of FDI projects has grown over the past few years, the expert noted. Vietnam is still short of important conditions, including a transparent investment environment, high-quality human resources, and attractive logistics infrastructure costs, making foreign investors hesitate to put their money into the country, Thien said. Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, a member of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs economic advisory team, is seen in this file photo. Photo: Tuoi Tre While presiding over a meeting last Friday, Prime Minister Phuc agreed to establish a special task force responsible for fixing investment bottlenecks as part of the government's drastic efforts to improve the countrys business climate. The task force, led by Planning and Investment Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, will focus on quick handling of investment procedures, particularly those related to site clearance, according to the official VGP News. Dr. Thien suggested this task force be selective in choosing FDI projects and build a technical barrier to control FDI inflows. The impacts of large FDI projects shall be assessed on a national scale, as well as under high-level competent authorities directions, to avoid failures in planning, Thien said. According to the PMs advisor, Vietnam should also prefer an FDI projects professionalism over its scale, and projects with industrial connectivity over those with a high budget but simply providing product assembly services. National Assembly deputy Tran Hoang Ngan, who is also the head of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, said in a comment on the draft for the amended Investment Law that it is time to increase decentralization to let localities make decisions on larger-scale investment projects, with priority given to centrally-run locales capable of attracting big foreign investments. Samsung Vietnams office at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Hoang An / Tuoi Tre Investment procedures should also be shortened to help investors save time and effort, while national security and the overall national planning must be ensured, Ngan said. At the local level, Duong Van Thai, chairman of the northern province of Bac Giang where a Foxconn factory is located, told Tuoi Tre that it is important to accompany and give assistance to foreign investors both before and after they settle their production in the locality. The Vietnamese economy expanded 3.82 percent in the first quarter this year, the lowest of all first-quarter figures in ten years. However, this is still a remarkable rate given the current situation all over the world, according the General Statistics Office (GSO). Foreign investment inflows witnessed a steep fall of 15.5 percent to US$12.3 billion while the disbursed value of foreign investment capital dropped 9.6 percent to $5.2 billion in the first quarter, the GSO reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Professor Adrian Hill speaks to members of the media at the Jenner Institute in Oxford, UK, on Jan. 16, 2015. (Eddie Keogh/Reuters) COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Threatened by Vanishing Virus in UK A COVID-19 vaccine trial in the UK has only a 50 percent chance at success, down from earlier estimates of 80 percent, the professor co-leading the development of the vaccine told a British newspaper. It is a race, yes. But its not a race against the other guys. Its a race against the virus disappearing, and against time, professor Adrian Hill told The Telegraph, noting that a decline in transmission of the CCP virus poses a growing challenge to vaccine trials. The experimental vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, is one of the front-runners in the global race to provide protection against COVID-19. Preliminary data from a small trial of the experimental vaccine, also known as AZD1222, in six monkeys found that some of the animals given a single shot developed antibodies against the virus within 14 days, and all developed protective antibodies within 28 days. A University of Oxford team led by Hill moved to human trials in April, making the experimental vaccine one of only a handful to reach that milestone. But Hill recently told The Telegraph that the trial, which has begun to enroll around 10,000 adults and children in Britain, could flop because the virus is quickly vanishing in the UK. We said earlier in the year that there was an 80 percent chance of developing an effective vaccine by September, he told The Telegraph. But at the moment, theres a 50 percent chance that we get no result at all. Hill serves as director of Oxfords Jenner Institute, which has teamed up with drugmaker AstraZeneca to develop the vaccine, of which the UK government has already promised to buy up to 100 million doses. The speed at which this new vaccine has advanced into late-stage clinical trials is testament to Oxfords groundbreaking scientific research, AstraZeneca executive Mene Pangalos said. AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said last month that he was hopeful the study could provide answers on vaccine efficacy as early as June or July. Oxford University said that if community transmission drops, this process could take longer. If transmission remains high, we may get enough data in a couple of months to see if the vaccine works, but if transmission levels drop, this could take up to six months, the university said in a statement. AstraZeneca recently announced a $1.2 billion deal with the U.S. government to produce 400 million doses of the trial vaccine. The dilemma of reduced community transmission has led some scientists and politicians to consider intentionally infecting people with the virus for the purpose of carrying out a meaningful vaccine trial. The controversial method is called human challenge studies (HCS), and it involves healthy volunteers being injected with a candidate vaccine or a placebo followed by a weakened version of the virus. Thirty-five U.S. lawmakers sent a letter (pdf) to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration last month urging for all options to be considered in accelerating the development and deployment of a vaccine, including HCS. Dr. Rajeev Fernando, infectious disease specialist and rapid responder at three New York hospitals, supports HCS if it can speed up the process of finding a vaccine. I really support these kinds of trials right now, he told The Epoch Times. As a matter of fact, if I had an option, Id be more than happy to be a part of these trials. Reuters and Meiling Lee contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin James Pheby (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom Mon, May 25, 2020 11:23 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9f1120 2 World Boris-Johnson,COVID-19,lockdown,aide Free British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday defied pressure from within his own party and backed top aide Dominic Cummings over allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown rules. Cummings has been a highly divisive figure in British politics since masterminding the successful 2016 Brexit campaign alongside Johnson. But Johnson rejected calls to sack him after he came under fire for travelling across the country with his wife while she was suffering from symptoms of the disease when the official advice was to isolate at home. Johnson said during Sunday's news briefing he believed Cummings "acted responsibly and legally and with integrity" after the pair held crisis talks. "I've concluded that in travelling to find the right kind of childcare at the moment when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus, and when he had no alternative, I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent," he added. Cummings was seen with his son close to his parents' home in Durham, northeastern England, more than 250 miles (400 kilometres) away from his London home on March 31, the day after he himself reported suffering symptoms. The Observer and Sunday Mirror reported that he had broken lockdown restrictions again and was seen in Durham a second time on April 19, days after he had returned to work in London following his first trip north. beautiful RT @fant1345: Another angle on Cummings arriving home tonight, greeted by neighbours. Credit: Barneyfrost/TikTok #BOOFORBORIS pic.twitter.com/dyBVWzG8NT Paul Deotherone (@Lucky_Jon_) May 24, 2020 A named witness told the newspapers that Cummings was also spotted in the town of Barnard Castle, 30 kilometres from Durham, on April 12. That witness, convinced it was Cummings, filed a complaint with police for a possible breach of the lockdown rules. Cummings denied the latest claims, which have caused a public outcry, particularly among people who avoided contact with elderly relatives, some of whom died of the virus. 'Got to go' Johnson also announced that primary schools in England are to reopen for some pupils from June 1 as part of the next stage of easing restrictions. The school announcement however was overshadowed by the continuing row over Cummings. Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said on Saturday there was some room for manoeuvre in the lockdown rules if both parents were ill, saying "all guidance has a common sense element to it, which includes safeguarding around adults or children". It was still unclear whether Cummings was symptomatic when the family made the journey. Tory MP Steve Baker, a staunch Brexiteer but critic of Cummings, demanded his sacking, as did another leading eurosceptic, Peter Bone, who said he "has to go". Many contrasted the decision to support Cummings with the treatment of Scotland's former chief medical officer and a government scientific adviser, who both had to quit for breaching lockdown rules. Johnson's backing did little to calm public outrage -- and sparked questions about his political judgement. The leader of the main opposition Labour party, Keir Starmer, said Johnson had failed the test and insulted the public who had made huge sacrifices during the crisis. "The public will be forgiven for thinking there is one rule for the prime minister's closest adviser and another for the British people," he said. "The prime minister's actions have undermined confidence in his own public health message at this crucial time," he added. After Johnson's statement, the British Civil Service Twitter account posted: "Arrogant and offensive. Can you imagine having to work with these truth twisters?" It was later deleted and a tweet from the Cabinet Office said it was "unauthorised" and they were investigating the matter. Hostile headlines Monday's headline on the front page of centre-left newspaper The Guardian read: "No apology, no explanation: PM bets all on Cummings." Even the right-wing Daily Mail criticised the government: "What planet are they on" it asked. Probably not the headline Boris and Cummings were hoping for in the Mail tomorrow after dropping the primary school reopening news this evening. Govt apologists in shambles now not knowing who to blindly follow. Bloody left-wing media witch hunt innit. pic.twitter.com/bYJroGkofy Ben Watters (@Dynamite_Shovel) May 24, 2020 Cummings also denied reports in The Guardian that police had spoken directly to him or his family about a tip off they received on March 31 that he was in Durham. The force insists they spoke to Cummings's father on the telephone but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Sunday it was the family who had initiated the contact to talk about security arrangements. Downing Street revealed at the end of March that Cummings was self-isolating with virus symptoms. Johnson was also infected and ended up in intensive care. Britain has been the worst-affected country in Europe according to official figures, with 36,793 confirmed fatalities, up 118 in the last 24 hours. LANSING A lawsuit filed by Republican lawmakers against Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been dismissed in the states Court of Claims, leading Republicans to appeal the ruling. The suit filed in the state Court of Claims says that the 1945 law allowing the governor broad emergency powers to order restrictions is only for local, not statewide declarations. It says that a 1976 law giving the governor emergency authority only lasts for a limited period and needs legislature approval. It calls the extensions a patent disregard for the law and a violation of the separation of powers. News outlets reported that Judge Diane Stephens had the Legislatures claims have no merit and that they granted the governor the broad but focused authority to respond to emergencies affecting the state and its people. State Rep. Phil Green and State Sen. Dan Lauwers, Republicans representing the Thumb area, had previously voiced their support for this lawsuit. Were thankful the court decided that the governor couldnt extend the emergency order without approval, Green said. Now were focused on the 1945 law, which is more open-ended. Green said that Republican legislators filed paperwork appealing the ruling on Friday and would not hear until at least Tuesday whether it would go through the states Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. Lauwers said this suit will still be adjudicated and that other states had lawsuits going through their judicial systems similar to this one, anticipating that one of them would reach the national Supreme Court. In Wisconsin, the state Supreme Court ruled that businesses can reopen their doors. Its a matter of which one reaches there first, Lauwers said. While Apple hasn't officially unveiled iOS 14, hackers appear to have already had full access to it for several months. A full leaked version of the upcoming operating system for iPhone and iPad appears to trace back to the China, where an anonymous individual purchased a developer's version of the iPhone 11 with a test version of iOS 14 installed on it. The pre-release software quickly spread through hacker networks, and has driven a torrent of rumors and leaks about new features throughout the spring. A full developers version of Apple's next iPhone and iPad operating system, iOS 14, is rumored to have leaked in hacker circles after someone bought a used iPhone 11 from a gray market in China and discovered an early developer's version of the software on it According to a report in Vice, the version obtained by the hacker is dated to December 2019, and was intended to be used only by app developers working on software for iPhone or iPad. 'Its pre-release, lots could change, but its a trove of information, Ryan Duff of cybersecurity firm SIXGEN, told Vice after reviewing a version of the leaked OS. 'I cant say this will give an easy jailbreak or anything like that, but its way more information about an upcoming iOS than we ever see normally.' According to 'Atomic F**,' a hacker who claims to have access to the files, this ranks as the earliest a major Apple operating system has ever leaked. According to Duff, the leaks are another example of the slow degradation of Apple's security procedures to guard upcoming releases. 'In recent times we have known almost everything about new models before they were even announced,' Duff said. 'This development build leaking is just another example of how Apple's security regarding leaks has deteriorated over time.' Reached for comment by Vice, an anonymous Apple employee described the news as dispiriting. 'That sucks,' they said. Apple is expected to unveil iOS 14 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 22, 2020, which will be a virtual event instead of live in-person conference Throughout the spring, a number of new products or features related to iOS 14 have leaked, which could be linked to the code acquired from the Chinese vendors. In March, leaked iOS 14 code pointed to the possibility that Apple is developing its first ever over-the-ear headphones as an optional upgrade to the company's ear buds. In April, more leaked code suggested Apple was also working on trial versions of paid apps, which users would be able to unlock with QR codes or URL links. Industry watchers expect Apple to fully reveal iOS 14 in full detail at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, scheduled to be held as a series of virtual streams starting on June 22, 2020. Photo: INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images The mood among German executives took a turn for the better in May, according to todays Ifo Business Climate Index, rising to 79.5 points, from its historic low of 74.2 points in April. While the companies assessment of the current situation was not so positive, their expectations for the coming months improved significantly, the Ifo economic institute said. After a dramatic slump in April, when social and commercial lockdowns were in full swing, todays index is being closely watched for signs of optimism. The Business Climate Index is based on monthly reports from around 9,000 German companies, canvassing how executives assess the current business situation and their expectations for the next six months. Business sentiment in the manufacturing sector, looking to the future, was more positive in May. Likewise, the mood among company bosses in the service industry improved noticeably, however, pessimism still hangs over the sector. In the construction sector, the index rose again after falling for more than half a year, mostly because these companies expect business to get better in the coming months, despite it being gloomy right now. Carsten Brzeski, chief eurozone economist from ING points out that while signs of an upswing are good, the May index is still the second weakest reading since reunification. The increase was mainly driven by a strongest monthly improvement ever in the expectations component, Brzeski noted. The current assessment component actually dropped again but still remains slightly above the record lows seen during the 2008/9 recession. READ MORE: German investor morale rises but uncertainty dogs export-dependent economy Germany officially entered a recession in the first quarter. The federal statistics office today confirmed its earlier reading that the German economy had contracted by 2.2% in the first quarter of the year, as the coronavirus lockdowns damaged all sectors of the economy. Capital investments dropped by 6.9% and exports by 3.1% in the first three months of this year compared to the same quarter of 2019. The 3.2% drop in private consumptions was the biggest quarterly fall since reunification in 1990. As the first quarter performance is the result of only two weeks of lockdown and supply chain disruptions due to lockdown measures in Asia, it does not need much analytical skill to predict a much stronger slump in the second quarter, said Brzeski. By PTI NEW DELHI: Domestic airlines might be resuming services on Monday after being grounded for two months but scores of pilots and first officers seem to be concerned over lack of clarity on quarantine requirements for them. Several cockpit and cabin crew members have moved to their home towns from their base stations in the wake of the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25. Now, many of them are returning to their base stations to report for duty. On May 20, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri announced that domestic passenger flights would resume in a calibrated manner from May 25, two months after the services were suspended due to the lockdown to curb spreading of coronavirus infections. PTI spoke to many captains and first officers from different airlines, including IndiGo, Vistara and SpiceJet, about preparations for the resumption of flights. Many of them raised concerns over issues like quarantine procedures, personal and family safety, and flying into regions badly hit by the pandemic. "There is no clarity on whether I need to go into home quarantine for 14 days after returning to my base or show up for duty on Monday," a pilot said, requesting anonymity. He said several others like him had left their base stations, undertaking inter-state travel amid the lockdown. "(What happens) if someone is returning from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal or Rajasthan or going from Delhi to Hyderabad, or Haryana to Gujarat. My airline has sent me a mail stating that I need to be ready for duty but did not say anything about the quarantine procedure," the pilot said. He noted that several states have a rule that any outsider has to go for a mandatory 14-day quarantine. "So does that mean I have to go for a 14-day quarantine after every flight? If that is the system, then I find it illogical. There is no clarity on this from the civil aviation ministry nor from my airline," he added. A woman pilot said that before all operations were suspended in March, there have been incidents of flight and cabin crew being harassed by neighbours and residential societies. "People have only grown more concerned about the COVID-19 and there is still fear among crew about how are people in their neighbourhood going to react even though the crew are ready to work," she said, wishing not to be identified. Some airlines have told their employees to abide by the rules laid down by local authorities of their city or district and follow guidelines given by their respective Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs). "In Noida, RWAs have a strict rule. If you were on board a flight, you have to quarantine yourself for 14 days," a pilot from a full-service carrier said. A leading budget carrier, however, has told its crew that anyone living in a containment zone -- place having positive cases -- would not be put on duty. A ground handling staff of an airline said companies are relying on the Aarogya Setu app and anyone with a 'safe status' on it can get onboard a flight, be it a passenger or a crew. "My airline is not even asking for any COVID-19 test or report from the crew and is relying on the Aarogya Setu app." "I don't know how accurate the app would be in case the crew has travelled far and wide. Not taking their COVID-19 test could put passengers as well as their own crew members at safety risk," the Delhi-based staffer said. Against the backdrop of rising coronavirus cases, many states have restrictions in place to prevent the spreading of the infections. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:59:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENTIANE, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved on Monday a 20-million-U.S.-dollar loan to support Laos' response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lao News Agency (KPL) reported on Monday. The loan, as additional financing to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Health Security Project, will assist the Lao Ministry of Health in procuring personal protective equipment, laboratory equipment, testing kits, medical devices, and ambulances. It will also help the Lao government provide supplies and training to frontline health workers on infection prevention and control, lab testing, and clinical care for COVID-19 patients. It will also cover the government's costs for contact tracing, risk communications, and other interventions. "The additional financing will boost the resources and capacity of the Lao PDR's health system to address the impacts of the pandemic," the KPL quoted ADB Health Specialist Ye Xu as saying in a press release. "The Lao PDR has been managing the outbreak relatively well, thanks to improved communicable disease surveillance and response capacity over the last decade. It still needs to maintain maximum preparedness and strengthen the health care service system to be able to respond to any resurgence of COVID-19," said the health specialist. As of Monday, Laos reported 19 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with evidence of limited local transmission. The country is highly vulnerable, as the outbreak in the region forces many migrant workers to return from heavily affected neighboring countries. The health system, with limited medical personnel, supplies, and equipment, could be overwhelmed by the rapid spread of the virus, said the KPL report. Enditem IRVINE, Calif., May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Helium 10, a world-class suite of software solutions that empowers Amazon sellers to grow and optimize their e-commerce businesses, is pleased to announce several new executive-level hires: Ryan Iyengar as Chief Revenue Officer, and Bojan Gajic as Chief Operating Officer. Among new hires, Ryan Iyengar joins Helium 10 as the company's new Chief Revenue Officer. He will be responsible for managing the sales and marketing functions, as well as expanding into new markets and customer segments. "I am excited to be joining a team so dedicated to offering as much value as possible to their customers," Iyengar says. "I'm eager to continue the rapid growth trajectory the company has seen over the past few years." Iyengar brings with him over 10 years of experience in marketing and analytics. He has served in several leadership roles, most recently as CMO of Health IQ where he oversaw advertising and analytics for the health-conscious insurance broker. Previously, Iyengar served as VP of Marketing at ZipRecruiter, an online employment marketplace, where he was responsible for media buying, brand strategy, analytics, and creative. Helium 10 also announced that Bojan Gajic, its former Chief Technology Officer, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Gajic joined the company early on, playing an instrumental role in developing Helium 10's core technical infrastructure, spearheading product and engineering from proof-of-concept through early-stage growth. Moving forward, Gajic will play a more pivotal role in overseeing Helium 10's broader operations and strategy. "The success of tens of thousands of Amazon sellers who are using the Helium 10 platform as an integral part of their business process, proves that our collective effort thus far has been a success," Gajic explains. "I am excited about the opportunity to help Helium 10 continue to execute on the commitment to serve the Amazon e-commerce community through training and software, and I look forward to celebrating the future successes of our customers." Sandeep Kella, CEO of Helium 10's parent company Assembly, stated: "We feel fortunate to have Ryan and Bojan, two incredibly talented individuals, on the Helium 10 executive team. Their leadership, character and expertise are true assets, and they will both play an integral role in the next phase of Helium 10's growth." About Assembly Assembly is focused on acquiring and building industry-leading software and services that empower e-commerce merchants to more effectively run their businesses. Its long-term mission is to assist millions of merchants in their growing need to adopt new technology, regardless of where they sell their products and services. About Helium 10 Helium 10 serves as a leading all-in-one software platform for Amazon merchants., equipping merchants with everything they need to grow and optimize their e-commerce businesses. Its mission is to deliver highly accurate, data-driven, comprehensive software to Amazon merchants everywhere. Helium 10 is headquartered in Irvine, California. Media Contacts: Assembly Samantha Tepper [email protected] Helium 10 Matthew Sky [email protected] SOURCE Helium 10 Garda HQ has played down concerns over the apparent closure of a museum at the Force's training college in Templemore, after a petition was started online asking the Minister for Justice to intervene. The petition, which as of today had almost 1,000 signatures, is asking to 'save the Irish Garda Museum' at Templemore, arguing that it has been closed "without any consultation" and just a few years ahead of the centenary of the founding of An Garda Siochana in 1922. Some of those to sign the petition said they had visited the facility and criticised any attempt to limit public access. However, the Garda Press Office pointed out that the Garda Museum is located in the grounds of Dublin Castle and while artefacts in Templemore have been the subject of changed arrangements, it does not constitute a closure and will still be open to the public once the current restriction imposed to limit the spread of Covid-19 are lifted. A Garda spokesperson said: "Building space within the Garda College is continually reviewed. The current collection of Garda Memorabilia based at the Garda College is being re-distributed throughout the College and will form part of a walking tour of the College to enhance the long standing community engagement role provided by the Garda College, when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and visits/guided tours by members of the public can resume. It had been reported by local media last week that Cathaoirleach of the local Municipal District Council, Cllr Michael Smith, was seeking an immediate meeting with Garda authorities to discuss the museum space, which is being used for training. It's understood social distancing requirements caused by the coronavirus outbreak mean greater demands on and use of the space available at the training college for recruits. One suggestion made at district council level was that the memorabilia could be housed at Templemore Town Hall, which is undergoing refurbishment. Since it opened in 2002 the Garda College Museum has showcased a large collection of memorabilia from Ireland and elsewhere and has been regularly utilised by visitors to the Templemore campus. WASHINGTON - The political appointee President Donald Trump installed last week to investigate waste, fraud and abuse at the Transportation Department is the same official in charge of one of the agency's key divisions. That means Howard "Skip" Elliott is now running an office charged with investigating his own actions. Elliott serves simultaneously as the Transportation Department's inspector general and head of the department's pipeline and hazardous materials agency, whose mission includes enforcement of safety regulations on nearly 1 million daily shipments of gas, oil and other dangerous compounds. "The idea that an independent IG could simultaneously be part of the political team running an agency they are supposed to oversee is preposterous," said Danielle Brian, executive director of the nonprofit Project on Government Oversight. Elliott's appointment was the fifth in two months in which Trump, chafing from oversight he perceived as criticism, replaced a career investigator with an appointee considered more loyal to the president. In three of the cases, Trump has installed new leadership drawn from the senior ranks of the agencies the inspectors general oversee. For the first time since the system was created in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, inspectors general find themselves under systematic attack from the president, putting independent oversight of federal spending and operations at risk as $2.1 trillion in coronavirus relief spending courses through the government. Inspectors general, some in acting roles to begin with, have been fired and demoted with no notice, leaving their staffs in disarray, multiple inspectors general said. Adding to their alarm, several White House nominees awaiting Senate vetting for permanent roles do not meet traditional qualifications for the job. Some say the 40-year era of independent oversight of the executive branch is under threat more than ever. "The Trump administration is attempting to make lap dogs out of watchdogs," said Gordon Heddell, a former inspector general appointed to audit the Labor Department - and later the Defense Department - by former president George W. Bush and who continued to serve in the Obama administration. Past presidents removed federal watchdogs - but only occasionally. Lately it's been an almost weekly occurrence, leaving the offices that monitor wrongdoing across the government wary of who could be the next to go. Elliott's dual role at the Transportation Department is brimming with conflicts. Auditors who now work for him are monitoring the pipeline agency he leads. His boss is Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao - whose department he is tasked with investigating. Elliott has said he would recuse himself from investigations of the hazardous materials division, but backers of the independent watchdog system said that would not work. "How could they receive whistleblower disclosures with a straight face?" Brian said. She noted that inspectors general have responsibility for protecting whistleblowers and relaying their concerns to Congress. Trump, who often opts to appoint acting officials for indefinite periods, named Elliott acting inspector general. His sudden appointment on May 17, which pushed aside the career auditor leading the office on an acting basis, prompted an angry response from Democrats on Capitol Hill. "It is an outrageous and obvious conflict of interest," said House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who has questioned Elliott's agency over its recent decision to allow freight trains to transport liquefied natural gas. Removing Mitch Behm and installing Elliott, who spent decades as an executive with CSX Railroad before joining the Trump administration, was "an indiscriminate dangerous and potentially disastrous move" by the president, DeFazio said. Elliott will also recuse himself from oversight of the railroad, officials said. The watchdog office in fiscal 2018 put the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on a list of troubled divisions it would monitor. In announcing an audit of the hazardous materials division's safety culture last year, an assistant inspector general noted that in the past five years, 3,319 U.S. pipeline incidents have caused an average of 15 fatalities and 62 injuries each year. In addition to monitoring hazardous shipments by rail, the division regulates 2.6 million miles of pipelines in the United States. Elliott also could find himself having to investigate his boss. Before his appointment as inspector general, Elliott's predecessors had been asked by congressional Democrats to investigate whether Chao used her office to provide political benefits to her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and whether she had sufficiently divested from international shipping interests controlled by her family. It is unclear whether those probes will continue. A Chao spokesman called allegations of favoritism "a politically motivated waste of time that stemmed from a phony media story." He said agency ethics officials advised Chao that while the stocks did not create a conflict of interest, but she recused herself from all matters involving the companies and has since sold her investments. Elliott, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment. - - - Trump has made no secret of his hostility toward federal watchdogs, a number of whom were appointed by President Barack Obama. Trump has publicly denounced them for alerting Congress to a whistleblower complaint that triggered his impeachment, reporting shortcomings with his pandemic response and examining the actions of a loyal Cabinet member. Among the biggest defenders of his actions is Attorney General William Barr, who told Fox News that the intelligence community watchdog overstepped his authority to report wrongdoing when he informed Congress of a whistleblower's complaint about the president's dealings with Ukraine. Advocates for government oversight in both major political parties see a dangerous precedent in this expansive view of presidential power as Trump makes quick work of the professionals who've been bulwarks against corruption for four decades - some of them making history. The watchdogs, overseeing 14,000 auditors and investigators across the government, have a broad mandate that ranges from routine audits of operations and spending to investigations of criminal activity. They are rarely popular with government leaders, who often complain about or are embarrassed by reports calling for corrective action. As Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said at a recent American University seminar on government oversight, the jobs are as comfortable "as straddling a barbed wire fence." Thirty-eight of the 75 current inspector general roles are presidential appointees at large agencies, with all but one of those, the special inspector general for Afghanistan recovery, requiring Senate confirmation. The rest are designated by the heads of small agencies. The appointees have no fixed terms, and many have served for years. They occupy an unusual place in the bureaucracy: They are not political appointees who come and go with each administration, not civil servants with protections from firing by a president angered by their work product. A president can remove a Senate-confirmed watchdog. Congress must get an explanation, not a legal justification, a loophole that's rekindled discussion on Capitol Hill of the need to strengthen the community against the kind of rapid-fire dismissals going on now. President Ronald Reagan attempted to fire and replace all serving inspectors general when he assumed office in 1981. But he backed off after bipartisan criticism and allowed many of the veterans to stay. Obama dismissed one in his first term and, like Trump, left multiple positions without permanent replacements during his tenure. The congressional responses to Reagan's and Obama's actions were swift and strong, with bipartisan complaints directed at the White House. Over the past four decades, inspectors general have built political capital through high-profile accomplishments, some of which paved the way for reforms and led to discipline of top officials. The Navy inspector general began in 2007 to uncover one of the largest contracting and national security scandals in military history, revealing that Leonard Glenn Francis, a Malaysian port official known as "Fat Leonard," provided cash, luxury items and prostitutes to a large number of officers of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. They, in turn, gave him classified material about ship movements and information about Navy contracting and law enforcement investigations. The resulting Justice Department probe produced 33 federal indictments, 22 guilty pleas and an admission by Francis that his company bilked the Navy of $35 million. After a whistleblower alleged that the CIA was engaged in "war crimes" by using enhanced interrogation techniques on suspected terrorists, inspector general John Helgerson investigated. Senate investigators later relied on the disclosures as they probed the use of torture in a 7,000-page investigation. "I don't think you can overstate the importance of aggressive and independent Inspector Generals," said Daniel Jones, the lead investigator for the Senate "Torture Report." His role in the inquiry was memorialized in last year's film "The Report." The Trump era has brought high-profile targets, too, from Cabinet secretaries ensnared in travel scandals to Horowitz's review of applications the FBI made to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Among the most significant actions by a watchdog was that of Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community inspector general who alerted Congress to a whistleblower complaint that led to Trump's impeachment. Trump, who had appointed Atkinson, fired him in April. Atkinson was replaced in an acting capacity by Thomas Monheim, who took a leave from his job as general counsel of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, one of the divisions his is now monitoring for wrongdoing. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos tried early last year to fire the agency's acting inspector general, who was scrutinizing her role in promoting for-profit colleges, and install her deputy general counsel. The plan was scuttled after an outcry from congressional Democrats. - - - When he was asked last week why he fired an inspector general, Trump said, "I have the absolute right as president to terminate." That's true. His rapid-fire dismissals have, however, breached a norm of independent scrutiny established over four decades. Four days after axing Atkinson, Trump removed the acting Defense Department inspector general, Glenn Fine, from a new role as chairman of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, created to watch over pandemic spending. Three weeks later, Trump pushed aside Christi Grimm as the top watchdog at the Department of Health and Human Services after she released a report that disclosed hospitals' struggles to obtain basic supplies during the pandemic. Then Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick on the recommendation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Congressional Democrats say Linick was investigating Pompeo for misuse of department staff members and had been asked to review his efforts to use an emergency declaration to justify the sale of $8 billion in U.S. arms to Saudi Arabia. Pompeo complained to the president and asked him to remove Linick. Linick's replacement also will be in charge of investigating himself, and he has made no effort at recusal. Stephen Ackard, a political appointee and an ally of Vice President Mike Pence, is keeping his position as head of the State Department's Office of Foreign Missions, another conflict decried by congressional Democrats. The office supports more than 800 U.S. embassies and consular offices around the world, operations that are routinely audited. A few months before Ackard took over the Office of Foreign Missions last year, Linick's staff issued a hard-hitting report citing vacancies and management failures in the office. Neither the State Department nor the White House responded to requests for comment. The firings have rattled the community of federal watchdogs, who have pledged to their staffs that they will not back down on tough investigations. But there is deep anxiety in their ranks, according to four inspectors general who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak about sensitive matters. The first wave of Trump nominees the Senate confirmed for watchdog roles had experience leading large staffs, and most came up through the inspector general community. But recent nominees to high-profile inspector general offices, including at the Defense Department, the Health and Human Services Department and the CIA, have far less leadership experience. They lack a deep background in auditing or investigations, raising concerns about whether they can succeed in roles they may not be prepared for, according to four current watchdogs, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly. After Trump demoted Fine at the Defense Department, the government's largest watchdog office, he appointed Sean O'Donnell to lead it on an acting basis. O'Donnell, a former Justice Department trial attorney, had served four months as the Environmental Protection Agency inspector general before the White House told him he would be leading both offices. In the past, inspectors general have received bipartisan support. But most Republicans have been quiet after Trump's recent actions, or joined in the presidential criticism. On Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats joined House members in calling for limits on a future president's power to fire inspectors general. The latest pandemic relief bill passed by the House contains language restricting the removal of a watchdog to neglect of duty or malfeasance. "Where are my Republican colleagues?" Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D- N.Y., asked last week on the floor as he denounced the removals. "They are so afraid of President Trump, they cling, almost, to his ankles." As Schumer spoke, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, released a letter to the president that asked for an explanation of Linick's removal. Inspectors general, Grassley wrote, "should be free from partisan political interference from either the Executive or Legislative branch." Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, also took issue with the firings, citing "a threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power" in a tweet after Linick's removal. But as of last week, no Republican had joined Democrats in calling for a permanent fix to protect the watchdogs from losing their jobs to a president's wrath. Nearly two months have passed since 53-year-old Talina Galloway vanished from her home in Wagoner, Oklahoma, leaving behind her purse and vehicle. Were really worried about her, Talinas niece, Chantel Jones, told Dateline. This is not her character. She would not let us worry like this. Talina Galloway Chantel told Dateline she spent most of her summers living with her Aunt Talina in Indiana. Several years ago, Talina moved to Wagoner with her husband. He died suddenly two years ago, but she remained in Wagoner where she works for Microsoft from home. Chantel said her aunt was in contact with her boss on March 27. Its the last contact anyone had with her, she added. Earlier that week, one of Talinas close friends who also lives in Wagoner, Marty Angus received a text message from her. She wasn't feeling well, and she would get back to me when she felt better, Marty told KRJH. Ive been calling, texting. Theres just no answer. Her phones been off since the 7th." According to an April 7 post on Talinas Facebook page, she believed she had COVID-19. The post stated that she would not go to the hospital, but instead take some time away to deal with it. On April 12, Talinas roommate reported her missing to the Wagoner County Sheriffs Office. According to the report, Talina left home without her purse or wallet. Her roommate said Talinas car was still in the driveway. Wagoner County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Jeff Halfacre said the circumstances of her disappearance are troubling. It seems out of her character to just leave and not contact anyone for a long time," Halfacre said. Were continuing to investigate and hope to bring her home safe. According to the Wagoner County Sheriffs report, investigators believe Talina may have used rideshare services to a location in Arkansas, but they were not able to verify if she was picked up. Were doing everything we can to look for her from a distance, but its hard because were all in different states, Chantel said. Theres a group there passing out fliers and searching the best they can, but its hard. Story continues Talinas friends and family have not all been able to gather to search for Talina due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but friend Nicole Bellenfant Carr told Dateline she believes they will find her with the help of social media. Thousands of people are looking for her who dont even know her, Nicole said. But Talina captured their hearts - thats the magic of Talina. Both Nicole and Chantel told Dateline they believe someone knows something about Talinas disappearance and hope this person will come forward with information. My friend Talina is like feeling the sun on both sides of my face, Nicole said. She is warm and radiates positivity and she is exactly what the world needs right now. We just need to find her. Talina Galloway is described as 57 tall and about 200 pounds. She has a distinct tattoo of a sun symbol on her right wrist. If you have any information about Talinas whereabouts, call the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office at 918-485-3124. Advertisement The Defence Headquarters says the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji has neutralised no fewer than 200 armed bandits in multiple air strikes in Katsina and Zamfara. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja said the operations were in continuation of the offensive to rid the country of bandits and other criminal elements. Enenche said that close to 200 bandits were killed in multiple air strikes conducted at Ibrahim MaiBais Camp in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina and Kurmin Kura in Zurmi in Zamfara on May 22 and May 23. He said the air strikes were executed, following confirmation that the two locations were being used as hideouts for some bandit leaders while also serving as collection points for rustled cattle. Advertisement According to him, the air component, employing Nigerian Air Force ground attack aircraft and helicopter gunships, engaged the two locations in multiple passes, destroying makeshift structures in the camps as well as killing the bandit leaders and their fighters. Human Intelligence sources later confirmed that close to 200 armed bandits were killed in the air strikes at the target locations. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS) commends the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji for their professionalism and directs them to remain resolute toward eradicating all armed bandits. The CAS has also directed that additional assets be deployed to cover Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi States to frustrate any attempt of the bandits to relocate to adjoining states, he said. A Ring doorbell camera has recorded the moment a 10-year-old girl chases away an unsuspecting intruder from her home. In the footage, captured on Thursday, Lola Letourneau is seen sitting in her family's SUV where her mother has left her for a few minutes while she is inside their residence. Meanwhile, a dark-colored Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is seen passing the home. The child then spots a suspected burglar walking up her driveway. Ring doorbell camera footage has recorded the moment 10-year-old Lola Letourneau chases away a burglar from her home Thursday. Pictured in the upper, left-hand corner is a dark Mitsubishi Outlander Sport that can be seen passing the home in the video footage A man shows up in the later in the upper, right-hand corner of the footage That's when the child runs out of the SUV. The young girl can be heard shouting at the man. 'Hey, get out! Get out of here!' she yells at him, before letting out a scream. The intruder without hesitation runs away as the child then races into her home. Her mother, Jordan Pendley, called her daughter's actions 'brave', KFSN reports. 'I am so surprised. She was pretty shook up, I felt pretty bad for her. She was really scared, but that was such a bold move of her,' says Pendley. The suspected burglar doesn't seem to notice the young girl as he passes Lola is seen opening the SUV's door as the suspected burglar turns to run away The child is seen yelling at the suspected burglar. 'Hey, get out! Get out of here!' she yells at him Lola is heard letting out a scream right after she yells at the suspected burglar Her mother, Jordan Pendley, called her daughter's actions 'brave' The family says it was unnerved by the incident and that their children won't be left waiting in the vehicle again. Authorities are now searching for the suspected burglar. Anyone with information is asked to contact the call the Kern County Sheriff's Office at (661) 861-3110. Domestic air travel resumed in Odisha on Monday along with several other states, as the first flight arrived at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here from Delhi, an official said. However, at least five flights from other states have been cancelled, he said. "Of the 10 flights scheduled to arrive here, five were cancelled due to problems at the departure points, while one flight from Delhi has already reached. Four more flights will land here on Monday," airport director V V Rao told PTI. Rao said two flights from the national capital and two others from Bengaluru are scheduled to make landings. All scheduled commercial passenger flights had been suspended since March 25 when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic. International scheduled commercial passenger flights remain suspended. Sources said Alliance Air and SpiceJet have cancelled their flights to Kolkata from Bhubaneswar till May 27 in view of the damages caused by cyclone 'Amphan' in West Bengal. Government officials had said on Sunday evening that airports in Kolkata and Bagdogra in cyclone-hit West Bengal will not operate any domestic flights between May 25 and 27, but will handle 20 flights each per day from May 28 Airlines hav been jittery in resuming services as multiple states have put in place separate norms and conditions regarding quarantine of passengers. The Centre had last week announced the resumption of domestic flight services from May 25 under specific rules and guidelines like a cap on ticket pricing, wearing of face masks, no serving of food on board and making available details of medical conditions by travellers through the Aarogya Setu app or by filling up of a self-declaration form. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taipei: Taiwan will provide the people of Hong Kong with "necessary assistance", President Tsai Ing-wen says, as Beijing hardened its stance against protesters in the China ruled-territory. President Ing-wen's comments followed a resurgence in protests in Hong Kong against newly proposed national security legislation from Beijing. Taiwan has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong, which has been convulsed since last year by protests. Pro-democracy supporters take part in an anti-government rally in Hong Kong, China. Credit:Getty Hong Kong police fired tear gas and water to disperse thousands of people who rallied on Sunday to protest against Beijing's plan to impose national security laws on the city. Turkey's state-run TRT broadcaster has launched a new Russian digital platform. TRT Russian will focus on providing balanced news on regional and global issues, including through local correspondents in the Russian-speaking world, the broadcaster said on May 24. The new platform and its social media channels will "play a key role in battling disinformation and manipulation," TRT said. Turkey and Russia back opposing sides in the conflicts in Syria and Libya, but have also sought to compartmentalize their differences by expanding political and economic ties. In launching the new digital platform, Turkey is also likely keen on reaching its ethnic Turkic cousins in Russia and Central Asia. Russia is Turkey's largest source of visitors in the vital tourism industry, with 7 million Russian tourists visiting in 2019, according to the Turkish Tourism Ministry. TRT already broadcasts TRT World in English, TRT Arabic, and TRT German. Several students at a prep school in Georgia have tested positive for coronavirus just days after attending a drive-through graduation ceremony and an in-person gathering at a student's home. The Lovett School in Atlanta said in an email to parents last Friday that a graduating senior had tested positive for COVID-19. That senior, who hasn't been identified, had attended the drive-through graduation ceremony held at the school on May 17, the Atlanta-Constitution Journal reports. The school posted a statement on its website on Saturday saying 'several' graduating students had since tested positive. The Lovett School in Atlanta said in an email to parents last Friday that a graduating senior had tested positive for COVID-19. Several other graduating students have also since tested positive The student who initially tested positive was confined to his or her car while on campus for the drive-through ceremony, according to the school. The school said in the email to parents that the same student later hosted a graduation gathering at their home before traveling out of town with friends. 'To date, the student has reported only mild symptoms and is under isolation at home,' the email to parents said. The condition of the other students is not known. It is not clear how the initial student became infected with coronavirus or if the virus spread at the graduation ceremony or off-campus gathering. The state of Georgia currently has more than 43,000 infections and just over 1,800 deaths. Lovett had closed its campus back in mid-March when the coronavirus outbreak first started. The school postponed its traditional graduation ceremony until August and instead opted to host a drive-through ceremony on May 17 Fulton County, which includes the city of Atlanta, has the majority of the state's cases. There are currently more than 4,000 cases and 196 deaths in the county. Lovett had closed its campus back in mid-March when the coronavirus outbreak first started. The school postponed its traditional graduation ceremony until August and instead opted to host a drive-through ceremony on May 17. 'Students and their families were confined to their cars during the parade and the only attendees were about 75 school employees who were socially distanced along the road through campus to cheer the graduates as they drove by,' the school said in a statement. 'Any other events mentioned were not school-sanctioned, so we have no further information on those. 'Families of the students diagnosed with COVID-19 are working with the appropriate health care professionals and Departments of Health.' By Toby Sterling AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Mink with the coronavirus have infected two people in the Netherlands in what are probably the first such cases of transmission during the epidemic, government and health authorities said on Monday. Mink carrying the virus were found on four of the 155 farms in the country where they are bred for their fur, Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten said in a letter to parliament that detailed the two cases. She said the risk of such animal-to-human transmission of the virus outside the farms was "negligible." On three of the four infected farms, the source of infection has been shown to be a sick human, while the fourth is still under investigation, the minister said. The Netherlands' Institute for Health's (RIVM) director Jaap van Dissel said that, while a few cats and other animals had been infected with COVID-19 by humans, the Dutch mink-to-human transmissions were practically unique. "This is the first time we've found, at least we've shown that it's likely, that in two cases the infection has gone from animal to human," he said in testimony to parliament on Monday. "Of course the original source of infection in China was also very likely animals." A law banning mink farming in the Netherlands was passed in 2013, and the remaining farms are due to cease operations in 2023. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Toby Chopra and John Stonestreet) Police in Corfu have reportedly arrested a serial rapist dubbed the beast of Kavos after he fell off a cliff while on the run. Dimitris Aspiotis, 47, was arrested on Saturday after he plunged about 100 feet into a ravine in the Greek island of Corfu, according to The Sun. The fall left him with multiple fractures in his leg, hip and spine, as well as a ruptured kidney. A rescue operation to get him out of the ravine on a stretcher took three hours. Hellenic Police had been searching for the notorious criminal since early May, when he was linked to the rape of a 34-year-old Albanian woman. Aspiotis was given a 52-year sentence in 2012 after he was convicted of raping about 100 women, including at least seven British women, in Corfu. But a controversial law introduced to ease overcrowding in Greek jails led to his early release last August. A manhunt for Aspiotis was launched after he allegedly repeatedly raped his latest victim at knifepoint after dragging her into a forest. In a statement, police director of Corfu Police, Giannouli Mattheou, did not name Aspiotis but confirmed a man who was wanted for rape and kidnapping had fallen off a cliff and was now in police custody. His arrest was preceded by several days of police investigations, involving more than 100 police officers in the greater Lefkimmi area and all necessary technical means were used. OPKE, police dogs, as well as men of the Lefkimmi Police Department, to locate him and arrest him. It is pointed out that the perpetrator at the sight of police officers, who were stationed in the forested area of Paleochori, Lefkimmi, fled and jumped from a steep point, as a result of which he was injured in the extremities and in his spine. With the assistance of the Corfu Fire Brigade and EKAB, the detainee was released and taken to the Corfu Hospital where he is being treated. Mr Mattheou congratulated the force for the zeal and honesty in detaining the man as they searched for him in very difficult conditions for many days in the forest. British stewardess Kayleigh Morgan, who was a victim and waived her anonymity to campaign against Aspiotis release, told The Sun: I hope he stays in pain for the rest of his life its time for the Greek authorities to throw away the key. I warned he would strike again and was proved right. Im just glad he was caught before yet another womans life was ruined, she added. Aspiotis now faces returning to prison to serve the rest of his sentence. The Independent has contacted the Hellenic Police for comment. Operators of one of the countrys most famous restaurants say mannequins can add some fun and help with social distancing in public places. The Inn at Little Washington has placed several throughout its eating area, or dining room. The restaurant in Virginia plans to reopen its dining room May 29, as the state is expected to ease restrictions on gatherings inside restaurants. The mannequins wear 1940s-style clothing and sit at several tables. The Inn is in the low hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains about 90 minutes by car from Washington, D.C. When we needed to solve the problem of social distancing and reducing our restaurants occupancy by half, the solution seemed obvious, Patrick OConnell said in a statement. He is chef and owner of the restaurant. He said the mannequins create the required space between guests. But, he said they also bring smiles to faces and might be used to make some fun photos. OConnells restaurant is not the only one trying out unusual ideas to ease the practice of social distancing. In Maryland, for example, a coastal restaurant is using bumper tables to welcome back dine-in guests. The round, one-person tables have an air-filled tube around them and wheels at the bottom. Guests can move them around and bump into other tables for fun while keeping a 2-meter distance between people. And in Germany, a restaurant is trying to keep guests at a cafe at a safe distance by providing them hats to wear. The hats have two pool noodles attached to the top. The hats look funny but also help guests quickly realize if they get too close to others. The restaurant also has limited its dine-in service by more than 50 percent. What funny or unusual things are restaurants or stores in your area doing to keep visitors at a safe distance? Tell us in the comments. Im Alice Bryant. The Associated Press reported these stories. Alice Bryant adapted them for Learning English. Additional information comes from CNN. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mannequin - n. a figure shaped like a human body that is used for making or displaying clothes obvious - adj. easy to see or notice chef - n. a professional cook who usually is in charge of a kitchen in a restaurant photo - n. a picture made by a camera pool noodle - n. a cylinder-shaped piece of foam that is used by people when swimming Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: A senior officer posted at the Rail Bhawan in Central Delhi has tested positive for coronavirus, the fourth case at the railway headquarters. Auto refresh feeds The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 69,597 and 51,783 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. The toll due to COVID-19 rose to 3,720 and the number of cases climbed to 1,25,101 in India on Saturday as India registered an increase of 137 deaths and 6,654 new cases in a 24-hour span till 8 am, according to the health ministry. Seventeen new cases, including two persons coming from Tripura, were reported in the night, in addition to 10 in the evening, 53 in the afternoon and seven in the morning. On Friday, 49 people had tested positive for coronavirus. He also said that the situation in Assam has reached a challenging phase and the government will write to other states to ensure that buses and trucks carrying people without maintaining social distancing are not allowed movement. Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday asked people not to return to the state unless "absolutely necessary" as 87 more people tested positive for coronavirus, the highest single-day jump, taking the total tally to 346. The fresh cases include five members of a family, including three teenagers, from Sarfabad in Noida's Sector 73, the statement said. Adjoining Delhi, Gautam Buddh Nagar in western Uttar Pradesh has so far recorded five deaths, all of them males aged above 60, according to the officials. Seven people were discharged from hospitals after being cured, even as the number of active cases in the district rose to 97, they said. Seventeen more people, including three teenagers, tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Saturday, pushing the total number of cases in the district to 323, officials said. Till Saturday, 1,281 people recovered from the disease and were discharged from hospitals, it added. Of the four deaths, two each were reported from the city and neighbouring Howrah district, it said. The state now has a total of 3,459 confirmed cases, out of which 1,909 are active, the bulletin said. West Bengal on Saturday recorded four more COVID-19 fatalities, raising the death toll in the state to 197, while 127 new cases of the respiratory infection were reported, a bulletin by the health department said on Saturday. The hired taxis, 110 from Ola and 91 from Uber, will be used for carrying non-critical and non-COVID-19 patients to and from hospitals, a Delhi government order said. The Delhi government has decided to hire 200 taxis from cab aggregators Ola and Uber to strengthen its ambulance service which is under pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the state reported 27 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, raising Jharkhand's tally of confirmed cases to 350, a government bulletin said. The swab samples of the man, who died on May 21, tested positive for novel coronavirus on Saturday, Koderma District Assistant Chief Medical Officer A B Prasad said. The deceased had returned from Mumbai recently. A 39-year-old man died due to COVID-19 in Jharkhand's Koderma district, taking the total number of coronavirus fatalities in the state to four, a senior official said. Domestic helps, drivers, plumbers, electricians, and air conditioner mechanics would be permitted to enter societies if their services are sought by the residents. But the society residents will have to take precaution against COVID-19, the DM added. Most residents had raised the demand with the administration that newspaper hawkers and domestic helps be allowed to enter the societies. Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey on Saturday said he has allowed newspaper hawkers and domestic helps to enter residential societies. With over 16.2 lakh reported cases till date, the United States is the worst-affected country in the world. The US is followed by Brazil, Russia, the United Kingdom and Spain. Total confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the world stand at 53 lakh, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. This figure includes COVID-19 patients who have recovered and the overall global death toll which stands at 3.42 lakh. Lalchamliana said the meeting of the council of ministers chaired by Chief Minister Zoramthanga also decided to increase the value-added tax (VAT) of diesel from 12 per cent to 14.5 and that of petrol from 20 percent to 25 percent. The Mizoram government will hike diesel and petrol prices by 2.5 percent and 5 percent, respectively, from 1 June to fight the economic slowdown caused by the outbreak of novel coronavirus, Taxation Minister Lalchamliana said on Saturday. The actor, who had featured in films like "Dhadkan", "Mujhse Dosti Karoge", among others, said it has been ten days since the test happened and he still hasn't developed any symptoms "But I had no symptoms then, nor do I have any now. There''s no fever, no cough, I''m fine and have self quarantined at home," Kumar told PTI. "I am asymptomatic. On 14 May, I went to the hospital for a medical check-up, where the COVID-19 test was mandatory. So I got myself tested and the result was positive. Veteran film and TV actor Kiran Kumar has tested positive for coronavirus and is currently under home quarantine. The 74-year-old actor said he is asymptomatic and is doing "absolutely fine." Entry to persons above the age of 65 years, children below 10 years and pregnant women should not be allowed, the statement said. Shopping complexes where shops are opening should ensure that only one-third shops are open, and that social distancing is strictly adhered to. This will become effective from May 26, an official statement said. Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash said shopping complexes in the containment and buffer zones, will continue to remain closed. The Lucknow administration on Saturday announced that centrally air-conditioned shopping complexes in the city can function without operating the air conditioners, in view of the lockdown 4.0 guidelines to combat coronavirus pandemic. Health officials say there was an increase in Spokane County with 31 new positive cases between Thursday and Friday. Company officials say all of the factory employees have since been tested and the facility was disinfected. The Spokesman-Review reported that Philadelphia Macaroni Company Inc. said in a statement Friday that 72 workers were tested for COVID-19 and 24 were positive. A pasta company has announced there was a coronavirus outbreak at its Spokane factory as Washington state prepares to reopen parts of its economy, reports AP. Vichare also demanded that other jail staff and suspected inmates should also be tested for COVID-19. In his letter to District Magistrate, Sena MP highlighted several instances where inmates have been found corona positive in different prisons. He said it is important for the safety of policemen and their families that they be tested for the virus in order to contain its spread. Shiv Sena Member of Parliament from Thane Rajan Vichare has written a letter to District Magistrate Rajesh Narvekar urging for police staff at Thane prison to be provided with the facility of free COVID-19 testing. The country has also officially logged 1,621,658 cases of the virus, far more than any other nation, the tracker kept by the Baltimore-based university showed at 8:30 pm The United States recorded a further 1,127 deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing its total to 97,048 since the global pandemic began, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. A total of 21 out of 73 people who arrived in Panchkula from the USA on 19 May have tested positive for COVID19, according to officials. "All of them are not residents of Panchkula but belong to various districts. 2 reports were inconclusive and rest were negative," Dr Jasjit Kaur, Chief Medical Officer, Panchkula told ANI. The total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 1,31,868, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry. The toll in the country is now at 3,867. The reported active COVID-19 cases in India now stand at 73,560, as many as 54,441 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far. According to the latest health bulletin, India reported the highest spike of 6767 COVID-19 cases and 147 deaths in the last 24 hours. The otal number of cases in the country now at 1,31,868, including 73,560 active cases, 54,440 cured/discharged and 3,867 deaths. This is the highest number of Shramik Special trains deployed by a single state for the evacuation of J&K residents stranded there, he said. Around 3,300 residents of Jammu and Kashmir including 1,200 students who were stranded in different parts of Maharashtra have returned to their homes in the union territory in four Shramik Special trains in the past 10 days, an official spokesperson said. Rajasthan on Sunday reported 52 new COVID19 positive cases, which took the total number of positive cases in the state to 6,794, according to the Rajasthan Health Department, reports ANI. The domestically transmitted case was reported in Jilin Province, it said. One of the new imported cases was reported in Shanghai and the other in Guangdong Province. Of the 36 new asymptomatic cases, 30 are from Hubei province and Wuhan, the NHC said. Of the three confirmed coronavirus patients, one is locally transmitted infection and two are imported cases, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said. China has reported 39 new coronavirus cases, including 36 asymptomatic patients -- majority of them from COVID-19 epicentre Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, health officials said on Sunday. However, four people have been arrested on the basis of video footage, Delhi Police said. "My stock of mangoes worth Rs 30,000 was kept there. Some persons were fighting with each other fearing which I left the place to avoid any sort of altercation. When I returned, I saw that they were looting the mangoes kept there. There were 50-100 people who were involved in this act," Phool Mia, narrated the ordeal. Video footage that went viral on social media, shows that scores of passers-by looted the unattended crates of mangoes of a fruit seller after a fight broke out in the neighbourhood. The incident took place on Wednesday. Overwhelmed by the donations that poured in from the society for his help, Phool Mia, the fruit seller in north Delhi's Jagatpuri area whose mangoes were looted by the ordinary people, said that those who helped him have made his "Eid" and have shown that "humanity is still alive". "Delhi airport will be handling around 380 domestic flights on Monday. There will be 190 departures and around 190 arrivals," a senior government official said. As per the directions of the Civil Aviation Ministry, domestic flight operations will resume after remaining suspended for about two months following the nationwide lockdown imposed to constrain the COVID-19 pandemic. As India is set to resume its domestic civil aviation operations from 25 May, the Delhi airport will be handling around 380 flights on Monday, a senior official said. "Its extremely ill-advised to reopen airports in red zone. Mere thermal scanning of passengers inadequate w/o swabs. Impossible to have autos/cabs/buses ply in current circumstances. Adding positive passenger will add Covid stress to red zone," Deshmukh tweeted on Sunday. The minister's comments follow Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's announcement that all domestic flights are set to resume in India from 25 May as part of its gradual reboot of air travel services amid the pandemic. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has said it is "extremely ill-advised" to reopen airports in red zone amid the coronavirus pandemic. It has been stated that passengers coming from 'high prevalence states' (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh) would be required to undergo a seven-day "institutional quarantine" which will be followed by home quarantine. The state government has laid down new norms for those coming from other states (including those coming by domestic air flights. Two days before the resumption of domestic air travel, the Karnataka government has issued detailed guidelines for the persons coming from 'high prevalence states' amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Departments across The Times have been robustly covering the coronavirus pandemic for months. But Landon and her colleagues realized that both among ourselves and perhaps in the general reading public, theres a little bit of a fatigue with the data. Simone Landon, the assistant editor of the Graphics desk, wanted to represent the number in a way that conveyed both the vastness and the variety of lives lost. As the toll from COVID-19 in the United States approaches 100,000, a number expected to be reached in the coming days, editors at The Times have been planning how to mark the grim milestone. Instead of the articles, photographs or graphics that normally appear on the front page of The New York Times, on Sunday, there is just a list: a long, solemn list of people whose lives were lost to the coronavirus pandemic. Karnataka will be under total lockdown on Sunday, 24 May, to curb the spread of COVID-19. Barring shops selling essential supplies, everything will remain shut till 7:00 am tomorrow, reports ANI. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Odisha now stands at 1336, with 67 new positive cases reported yesterday, according to Odisha Health Department, reports ANI. As many as 263 passengers, who alighted from the Rajdhani Express at Madgaon railway station in South Goa district on Saturday, were tested. Of them, reports of 11 came out positive in the TrueNat (rapid) tests, a senior health department official said. With this, the number of active cases in the coastal state has gone up to 50, they said, adding that 16 people have been so far been discharged after recovery. Eleven people who travelled to Goa in the Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express train on Saturday, have tested positive forcoronavirus, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 66, officials said on Sunday. He also thanked the microbiologists as well as lab technicians for their 'extraordinary efforts'. Assam on Sunday claimed to have conducted more COVID-19 tests than Kerala, which was once the highest affected state. This claim came from Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sharma who released a series of tweets giving details about the tests, said that in comparison to Keralas 52771 tests, Assam has conducted 55,862 tests so far. The number of infected people in Hamirpur district has risen to 61 out of a total 192 in the state. The district now has 55 active cases. One COVID-19 patient died and five have recovered, according to state government data. Hamirpur district continues to have the highest number of novel coronavirus cases in Himachal Pradesh with one more person, a Delhi returnee, testing positive for the disease on Sunday, deputy commissioner Harikesh Meena said. As part of the Centre's 'Vande Bharat' mission, the flight from London reached here via Mumbai at 8.04 am, Indore's Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport Director Aryama Sanyal said. The special flight carried 93 Indians from the UK, she said. An Air India flight carrying 93 Indians who were stranded in the United Kingdom arrived at the Indore airport in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday morning, an official said. All of them had recently returned from other states. While three of them had returned from Mumbai, two returned from Delhi and one from West Bengal, they added. Himachal Pradesh recorded six more cases of COVID-19, taking the virus tally in the state to 192, officials said on Sunday. Three of the fresh cases were reported from Una and one each from Kangra, Hamirpur and Solan districts, they added. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat is to donate Rs 50,000 from his salary to be deducted every month for the next one year to the PM-CARES fund created to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, reports ANI. "The corona recovery rate has reached 51 percent. All the collectors should ensure that the lockdown is strictly followed and the exemptions should be given as per the guidelines in their respective districts," said Chouhan on Saturday. He was reviewing the status of corona and other arrangements through video conferencing. He said better arrangements are being ensured in the state for the treatment of patients infected with the novel coronavirus and a large number of fever clinics have also started functioning in the state. The recovery rate for corona patients has reached 51 percent in Madhya Pradesh, said State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 87 police personnel have been found COVID-19 positive in the last 24 hours taking total number of affected cops to 1,758, out of which 18 have died due to the virus and 673 have recovered, according to Maharashtra Police, reports ANI. "I have a fever and mild upper respiratory infection and got myself tested for COVID-19...it came out positive. I am under home isolation now," Dr Sood, who is also the head of the department of urology, told PTI over the phone. Dr Rajeev Sood, who is looking after the management of COVID-19 manpower at the hospital, tested positive for the infection on Saturday. He is now under home isolation and contact tracing has been initiated by hospital authorities. The Dean of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi has tested positive for coronavirus infection. Among the new cases, 134 were reported from Thane city and 76 from Navi Mumbai township, it said. Besides, six more people succumbed to the disease, taking the district's death toll to 163, the release said. The new patients included at least 12 children, in the age group of 1 to 12 years, the district administration said in a release. The number of COVID-19 cases in Thane rose to 5,387 after 309 more people tested positive for the disease in the Maharashtra district on Saturday, officials said. The Karnataka government had eased restrictions during Lockdown 4 for the start of economic activities like city buses, inter-district bus service, intrastate train services, the opening of shops, and markets. However, the government had made it clear that there will be 'Janata Curfew' every Sunday during which only essential services would be permitted. With barricades being up across most roads in the state, people ventured out only to purchase groceries, vegetables, and medicines. The first 'Sunday curfew' imposed by the Karnataka government to try and contain the spread of COVID-19 got underway in the state today, with people, by and large, adhering to norms, roads wearing a deserted look and almost no vehicular traffic, barring essential services. The latest victims were two men and a woman. The men also had ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure and others, while the woman was suffering from asthma, he said. Till Saturday, the number of coronavirus cases in the district was 2,933. The number of deaths in the district also went up to 114 as three more patients succumbed to the disease during treatment at different hospitals in last three days, Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Praveen Jadia said. The number of COVID-19 cases crossed the 3,000 mark in Indore and rose to 3,008 after 75 more people tested positive for the disease in the Madhya Pradesh district in last 24 hours, an official said on Sunday. The strength of the workers should be capped at 25 percent and thermal scanners must be used for screening employees, an official release said. The industrial estates situated in non-containment zones, including the Ambattur and Guindy clusters here can resume work from May 25, the government said, adding however employees residing in containment zones would not be allowed to report for work. Further easing curbs, the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday allowed 17 industrial estates here to resume work from tomorrow with conditions, including confining the workforce to 25 percent and implementing safety measures. In an order passed in a suo motu PIL on coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown, a division bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and IJ Vora came down hard on the state government on conditions prevailing in Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital, and said it was "distressing and painful". Conditions at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, where 377 COVID-19 patients have died till Friday, is "pathetic" and the hospital is "as good as a dungeon, may be even worse", the Gujarat High Court observed in an order made available on Saturday. The government has asked the eleven municipal areas to step up monitoring in old cities, urban slums and other high density pockets like camps and clusters for migrant workers for management of COVID-19 cases. Eleven municipal areas from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Rajasthan account for 70 percent of the active caseload, the Union health ministry said in a statement. Health infrastructure should be ramped up to ensure preparedness for the next two months in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has conveyed to eleven municipal areas in the country that have accounted for 70 percent of India's coronavirus caseload. Three new COVID-19 positive cases reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 32, said Manipur Health Department, reports ANI. Before this, the governments of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Assam, and the administration of Jammu and Kashmir have decided that arriving passengers will have to stay in quarantine. Chhattisgarh and Punjab have also decided compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Odisha is the latest state to make home quarantine mandatory for incoming passengers, reports ANI. In rural areas of the state, the quarantine period will be split between seven days in an institution and seven days at home. The number of containment zones in Delhi now stands at 87, with the addition of house numbers 600-800 Hari Nagar, Rani Bagh, and two houses at street number 8, Shastri Park. Till now, 41 zones have been de-contained. With 508 new cases, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Delhi is now 13,418 (till midnight of 23rd May), total death toll 261, said Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain. However, the condition pertaining to keeping the middle seat between two passengers empty was not being followed by the Air India, he said in the plea. The pilot, Deven Kanani, in his plea claimed a circular issued by the Government of India on 23 March 2020 laid some conditions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while bringing back Indians stranded abroad due to the pandemic. The Bombay High Court has sought a response from the Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on a petition of an AI pilot, claiming the airline was not following safety measures for COVID-19 while bringing back Indians stranded abroad. "It is probably not as bad as Partition, for at that time there was also horrific communal violence. But it is nonetheless the greatest manmade tragedy in India since Partition," Guha told PTI in an interview. Cautioning that there will be social and psychological consequences for the rest of the country too, he said the migrant tragedy could have been averted or at least minimised if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given them a week's notice to return home before the lockdown kicked in. The unfolding miseries of millions of poor people in the world's largest coronavirus lockdown is the greatest manmade tragedy in India since Partition, says historian and economist Ramchandra Guha. 66 new COVID19 cases reported in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,627, according to the Andhra Pradesh Health Department, reports ANI. In a tweet in Hindi, he said that if mobiles spread coronavirus, they should be prohibited all over the country. He said that phones have become a source of mental support for many during the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus. The Uttar Pradesh governments decision to prohibit coronavirus patients from using mobile phones inside isolation wards of hospitals has been taken to hide "poor condition" of hospitals in Uttar PRadesh, claimed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The rules that apply all to routes to India, oncluding air and land, allow only those found asymptomatic to enter India. Compelling cases, such as pregnancy, death in family, parents with children aged udner 10 and serious illness, can spend the total quarantine period at home, with a compulsory condition to download the Aarogya Setu application. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued revised guidelines for international arrivals, which mandate a 14-day quarantine, including a seven-day institutional quarantine at their own cost, for all those reaching India. An Air India flight, carrying 93 Indians who were stranded in the United Kingdom, arrived at the Indore airport in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases crossed the 3,000 mark in Indore after 75 more people test positive in the district in last 24 hours. "We can't say that lockdown will be over by 31 May. We will have to see how we will go forward. The coming time is crucial as the multiplication of the virus is picking up. I want to assure the medical fraternity that we are with them in all ways," he said, news agency ANI reported. Maharashtra is the worst-affected state in the country with the highest number of cases in the country. With flight operations set to resume from Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday spoke to civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri and requested him to give some more time for preparations. "Therefore, it is clear that the Union government does not believe that the reform of labour laws implies complete lack of labour laws... The government is committed to protecting the interest of workers," he said. "I have just noticed that the Union Ministry of Labour is firming up its stance to tell the states that they cannot abolish labour laws because India is a signatory to the International Labour Organization (ILO)," Kumar told PTI in an interview. In recent weeks, various state governments, including Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, have either made amendments or proposed changes to existing labour laws as part of larger efforts to help businesses that have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Amid concerns over changes in labour laws in various states, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar on Sunday said reforms do not mean complete abolition of labour laws and that the central government is committed to protecting the interests of workers. Till Sunday morning, 2,056 people were tested positive for COVID-19, including 42 deaths and 1,378 active cases and 634 discharges. Till now, 1,96,196 samples have been tested of which 1,92,127 have tested negative. "After clocking one lakh tests on May 8, we have doubled the number of tests in just 16 days. As on this morning, we conducted 2.03 lakh tests across our 57 ICMR COVID-19 testing labs. I congratulate doctors & lab technicians on this achievement," Sudhakar tweeted. Karnataka has doubled the number of coronavirus tests conducted from one lakh to two lakh, state Minister for Medical Education Dr K Sudhakar said on Sunday. "It was wrong to impose the lockdown suddenly. It will be equally wrong to lift it in one go. It will be a double whammy for our own people," he said in a televised message. Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, Thackeray also said there was a need to be extra cautious during the upcoming monsoon. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said it was wrong to impose the lockdown suddenly and now it cannot be lifted all at once. What China and the United States need to do the most is to first learn from each other and share their experience in fighting against the epidemic, and help each country fight against the epidemic. I want to say here: Dont waste precious time any longer, and dont ignore lives, said Wang, who is also Chinas foreign minister. State Councillor Wang, speaking at his annual news conference, said China and the United States need to start coordinating macro policies for their respective economies as well as the world economy. The Chinese governments top diplomat, Wang Yi, said on Sunday that China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and would lose from confrontation, adding both sides must find a way for peaceful co-existence. Some US politicians, heedless of basic facts, have fabricated too many lies and plotted too many conspiracies, Wang said. Raising such lawsuits tramples on the international rule of law and abandons the human conscience. It's untrue, unjustifiable and illegal, Wang said. Those who would bring such litigation against China are living in a daydream and will humiliate themselves, Wang said. "To our regret, in addition to the raging of the new coronavirus, a political virus is also spreading in the US which is to take every chance to attack and discredit China," Wang said. Wang told reporters at a news conference that China was a victim of the global pandemic alongside other countries and had reached out to assist other governments in need. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday said any lawsuits brought against China over the COVID-19 have zero factual bases in law or international precedence. A maximum of 27 fresh cases are from Jodhpur, followed by Jaipur and Rajsamand which reported 24 new infections each. The new death was reported from Chittorgarh, an official said. Rajasthan reported one death due to the novel coronavirus and 152 cases of the disease on Sunday, bringing the number of fatalities to 161 and the virus count to 6,894 in the state, officials said. On Saturday, ADGP, CID, Anil Kumar Rao interacted with passengers onboard a Shramik Special train at Ambala Cantonment Railway Station, which was going to Barauni in Bihar. Rao said that about 1,631 migrant labourers and children were sent to Barauni in the special train. Those migrant labourers who have expressed their willingness to return to their native states during the COVID-19-triggered lockdown are being sent back, he said. More than 2.6 lakh migrant labourers have so far been sent back to their native states by the Haryana government in 60 special trains and over 5,000 state transport buses, an official spokesperson said on Sunday. Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has called a meeting of airlines and airport operators today on domestic flight resumption from 25 May, to discuss SOPs for States/UTs; discussion is also for states which have requested not to resume operation. The meeting will be headed by MoCA Secy. "In the first week of our plant operations, three of our employees have shown mild symptoms of cough and cold and were immediately asked to meet the medical expert team for further evaluation. They subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 and immediate medical attention was provided to them," HMIL said in a statement. Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Sunday said its three employees at the Chennai-based manufacturing plant have tested positive for COVID-19. The second-largest carmaker in the country had resumed operations at Irungattukottai-based plant (near Chennai) on 8 May. It said the total number of positive cases was now 2,056, including 634 discharges, 1,378 active cases and 42 deaths Of the total number of cases, 73 had returned from Maharashtra and 41 among them were women. COVID-19 cases in Karnataka breached the 2,000 mark on Sunday with the detection of 97 cases, most of them returnees to the state from Maharashtra, the health department said. AirAsia flights are open for booking for travel to all its 21 destinations where it flies to in the country, the release issued on Saturday said. Low-cost carrier AirAsia India has started bookings for 21 destinations ahead of the resumption of domestic flights from Monday. In a release, the airline said it would strictly follow the SOPs (standard operating procedures) and guidelines laid out by the regulatory bodies to enable safe travel. The number of active cases of COVID-19 has reached 2,493 in Uttar Pradesh. While 3,433 people have recovered from the disease while 155 deaths have been reported till date, Uttar Pradesh Principal Health Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad told ANI on Sunday. The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday withdrew the order that banned the use of mobile phones by patients in isolation wards of L-2 and L-3 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals, reports ANI. The state govt had issued an order yesterday banning the use of mobile phones by patients in isolation wards of L-2 and L-3 COVID-19 hospitals. Reducing the state's daily death count to fewer than 100 seemed almost impossible several weeks ago, the Democratic governor said. New York state reported its lowest number of daily coronavirus deaths in weeks in what Gov. Andrew Cuomo described Saturday as a critical benchmark. The daily death tally was 84 after a peak of 799 on 8 April. "It would have been better if before announcing the lockdown, migrant workers would have been given some time and return to their native places facilitated. After Independence, Congress stayed in power and ruled many states. Mass migration from villages to big cities occurred then as weaker sections including Dalits, farmers and tribals found it hard to procure means of livelihood," she said. BJP and Congress share equal responsibility in the current situation of migrant workers, said SP chief Mayawati on Sunday. The Maharashtra government has agreed to allow 25 take-offs and 25 landings per day for domestic flights from Mumbai. This number will be increased gradually. State govt will issue details and guidelines in this regard soon, ANI quotes state minister Nawab Malik as saying. As domestic flights resume on Monday, Uttar Pradesh government said air travellers to the state will be in home quarantine for 14 days unless they are staying for less than a week or if they clear the coronavirus test earlier. Principal Secretary Medical and Health Amit Mohan Prasad said passengers will have to follow the laid-down home quarantine protocol. They can get themselves tested for the virus on the sixth day from their arrival and end their quarantine if the results come out negative, he said on Sunday. If the passengers do not have adequate facilities at home, they will be kept at a quarantine centre. Outsiders on visits of less than a week to the state need not go into quarantine if they furnish details of their return journey, he said. But they will not be allowed to enter containment zones. All passengers coming to UP will have to register themselves on http://reg.upcovid.in and furnish details of themselves and family members travelling with them. Confirmed cases in Maharashtra surged to 50,231 after 3,041 new cases were reported on Sunday, reports PTI. The state also reported 58 deaths, pushing the toll to 1,635, reports ANI quoting the state health department. In Delhi, nine CRPF personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. The total positive cases among the force stand at 359, including 137 positive cases, ANI reported. A total of 286 #COVID19 positive cases & 3 deaths reported in Rajasthan today. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 7028, including 163 deaths, 3848 recovered cases and 3017 active cases: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/pYOQw8AGuW A total of 286 positive cases and three deaths were reported in Rajasthan today, reports ANI quoting the state health department. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 7,028, including 163 deaths, 3848 recoveries. Tamil Nadu: State Disaster Management Authority issues Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for passengers of domestic flights; all passengers shall undergo thermal screening for any symptoms of #COVID19 . Asymptomatic persons shall undergo home quarantine for 14 days. pic.twitter.com/sK8iSAGs1z The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for passengers of domestic flights, According to the guidelines, all passengers shall undergo thermal screening for coronavirus symptoms. Asymptomatic persons shall undergo home quarantine for 14 days. TN E-pass had been made mandatory for all passengers. According to the order, action can also be taken under Section 188 of the IPC against those contravening the directives. The order also says that admins of WhatsApp groups will be personally responsible for reporting such content to the police. The order signed by Dy Commissioner (Operations) Pranaya Ashok comes into effect from 12.15 am on 25 May and continues to operate till 8 June. The Mumbai Police issued orders under Section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting persons from disseminating "incorrect" or factually distorted information through messaging platforms and social media sites like WhatsApp, Twitter and TikTok. The order also prohibits the spread of inflammatory statements which are discriminatory against a particular community and any information which could cause panic or confusion among the public. With resumption of flight operations, arrangements have been made in Assam. Sharing the SOP to be implemented diligently. Provisions made for elderly, Divyang, pregnant women, etc. Policy of ruthless quarantine with a human heart will be followed to protect the community at large pic.twitter.com/sciQq5RXyP Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared guidelines issued by the state government as domestic air travel is scheduled to resume from Monday. According to the SOP, thermal scanning booths will be set up; asymptomatic passengers will have to undergo combined institutional and home quarantine of 14 days and symptomatic passengers will be taken to the nearest screening camp. The state govt will offer paid bus services from Guwahati airport four times a day. A three-day-old girl died of coronavirus in Chandigarh on Sunday, taking the COVID-19 death toll in the union territory to four, a medical bulletin said.The sample of the child was taken after death and the report came back positive for novel coronavirus, it said. The report of her mother's sample was awaited, the bulletin said. Meanwhile, twenty-three people tested positive for COVID-19 in the city on Sunday, taking the total number of cases in Chandigarh to 256, it said. A six-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy were among the 23 fresh cases and most of them are residents of Bapu Dham colony, the worst affected area in the union territory, according to the bulletin. A senior officer posted at the Rail Bhawan in Central Delhi has tested positive for coronavirus, the fourth case at the railway headquarters. The officer, who was diagnosed positive on Sunday, had last attended work on 20 May. At least 14 officials who worked closely with her have been sent to home quarantine. The latest case comes days after another senior officer working at the railways headquarters, also called Rail Bhawan, had tested positive for coronavirus, which was the third case from the building. A senior Congress leader who is a minister in the Maharashtra cabinet has tested positive for novel coronavirus, said reports. The minister has been travelling between Mumbai and his home district in Marathwada frequently. "He contracted the infection a few days back and is now undergoing treatment," a health official told PTI. Earlier in the day, a 60-year-old man from Siwan died at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), Patna, from coronavirus while another 48-year-old COVID-19 positive patient from Saran died on Saturday, but the health department informed about the death on Sunday. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Sunday announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those who died due to COVID-19, as the state reported two fresh coronavirus fatalities, taking the total number to 13. With state reporting 117 fresh positive cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases increased to 2,511 of which Patna alone constitutes 200 cases. Expressing grief over the death of 13 people due to coronavirus in the state, Kumar announced that money has been released from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for payment of Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to each of the families, an official release said. Jharkhand: State Disaster Management Authority issues Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for passengers of domestic flights; every person on return to Jharkhand by air shall have to compulsorily stay in home quarantine for a period of 14 days. pic.twitter.com/i5SlpSSv7A The state government also revised mandatory quarantine norms and reduced the period of isolation to 14 days from 28 days for people returning to Odisha from other parts of the country. The restrictions have been eased except in containment zones, he said. The Odisha government Sunday announced resumption of intrastate movement of passenger buses, trains and other vehicles from Monday, a senior official said. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena told reporters that intrastate movement of two wheelers, private vehicles, official vehicles, taxis including app-based cab aggregators will be allowed to operate from Monday. Similarly, intrastate movement of trains has been given a go-ahead by following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Railways. Inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses can resume with mutual consent of the states involved, the SRC said. Coronavirus Outbreak updates: A senior officer posted at the Rail Bhawan in Central Delhi has tested positive for coronavirus, the fourth case at the railway headquarters. Madhya Pradesh on Sunday reported 294 new COVID-19 cases, including 75 from the worst-hit Indore, and nine deaths, taking the total case count to 6,665 and fatalities to 290, health officials said. Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri late on Sunday night said that domestic flight operations would resume across the country from Monday, with the exception of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. As many as 1,725 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai today; taking the total number of cases to 30,359. The death count rose to 988 after 39 more died due to the viral infection, reports ANI, quoting the Mumbai civic body. Gujarat on Sunday reported 394 new COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths, taking the overall case count to 14,063 and the fatalities to 858, PTI quotes a health department official as saying. The West Bengal government said that domestic flight operations will not be resuming in the state from Monday, as the state machinery is still involved in restoration work following the havoc wreaked by super cyclone Amphan. The Kolkata Airport will resume domestic flight services from May 28, it said. Confirmed cases in Maharashtra surged to 50,231 after 3,041 new cases were reported on Sunday, reports PTI. The state also reported 58 deaths, pushing the toll to 1,635, reports ANI quoting the state health department. The Maharashtra government has agreed to allow 25 take-offs and 25 landings per day for domestic flights from Mumbai. This number will be increased gradually. State govt will issue details and guidelines in this regard soon, ANI quotes state minister Nawab Malik as saying. Tamil Nadu recorded 765 new cases today, taking the total cases in the state to 16,277. With eight new deaths, the death count mounted to 111. 53 positive cases were reported in Kerala on Sunday, taking the number of active cases to 322, reports ANI. COVID-19 cases in Karnataka breached the 2,000 mark on Sunday with the detection of 97 cases, most of them returnees to the state from Maharashtra, the health department said. Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Sunday said its three employees at the Chennai-based manufacturing plant have tested positive for COVID-19. The second-largest carmaker in the country had resumed operations at Irungattukottai-based plant (near Chennai) on 8 May. With flight operations set to resume from Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday spoke to civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri and requested him to give some more time for preparations. He said, 'We can't say that lockdown will be over by 31 May. We will have to see how we will go forward.' Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued revised guidelines for international arrivals, which mandate a 14-day quarantine, including a seven-day institutional quarantine at their own cost, for all those reaching India. With 508 new cases, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Delhi is now 13,418 (till midnight of 23rd May), total death toll 261, said Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain. The number of containment zones in Delhi now stands at 87, with the addition of house numbers 600-800 Hari Nagar, Rani Bagh, and two houses at street number 8, Shastri Park. Odisha is the latest state to make home quarantine mandatory for incoming passengers, reports ANI. In rural areas of the state, the quarantine period will be split between seven days in an institution and seven days at home. 587 police personnel have been found COVID-19 positive in the last 24 hours taking the total number of affected cops to 1,758, out of which 18 have died due to the virus and 673 have recovered, according to Maharashtra Police, reports ANI. Eleven people who travelled to Goa in the Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express train on Saturday, have tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 66, officials said on Sunday. Assam on Sunday claimed to have conducted more COVID-19 tests than Kerala, which was once the highest affected state. This claim came from Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sharma who released a series of tweets giving details about the tests, said that in comparison to Keralas 52771 tests, Assam has conducted 55,862 tests so far. As India is set to resume its domestic civil aviation operations from 25 May, the Delhi airport will be handling around 380 flights on Monday, a senior official told PTI. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has said it is "extremely ill-advised" to reopen airports in red zone amid the coronavirus pandemic. The minister's comments follow Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's announcement that all domestic flights are set to resume in India from 25 May as part of its gradual reboot of air travel services amid the pandemic. With 47,190 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu (15,512) and Gujarat (13,664). The total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 1,31,868, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry. The toll in the country is now at 3,867. The reported active COVID-19 cases in India now stand at 73,560, as many as 54,441 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far. Dr Jitendra Nath Pande (78), the former head of the medicine department at AIIMS and a stalwart in the field of pulmonology, died due to coronavirus at his residence in Siddhartha Enclave on Saturday, reports The Indian Express. Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday asked people not to return to the state unless 'absolutely necessary' as 87 more people tested positive for coronavirus, the highest single-day jump, taking the total tally to 346. The toll due to COVID-19 rose to 3,720 and the number of cases climbed to 1,25,101 in India on Saturday as India registered an increase of 137 deaths and 6,654 new cases in a 24-hour span till 8 am, according to the health ministry. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 69,597 and 51,783 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. Amidst this, differences emerged among states and the aviation ministry over whether or not to quarantine fliers once domestic air travel resumes on 25 May. Maharashtra, however, remained non-committal on domestic flights while urging the aviation ministry to allow special and concessional flights to leave from the state. Meanwhile the Centre asked 11 municipal areas which account for 70 percent of India's cases to step up monitoring efforts in old cities, urban slums and other high-density population pockets like camps and clusters for migrant workers. These 11 municipal areas are from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan and account for 70 per cent of active case load, the Union health ministry said. Meanwhile, India continues to be the 11th most-affected country right now, but its tally is fast approaching that of Iran, which is the tenth most affected in the world at present with nearly 1.33 lakh cases, PTI said. COVID-19 cases from states On Saturday, Sikkim reported its first COVID-19 case as a 25-year-old student who recently returned from Delhi tested positive for the virus, a senior official said. The first case was detected in India on 30 January, but Sikkim had managed to stay free of it so far. While Maharashtra has been the worst-hit state, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are among other badly-affected places. Maharashtra recorded 2,608 new coronavirus cases and 60 deaths on Saturday, taking its total count of cases to 47,190 and the death toll to 1,577. At least 18 police personnel, including an officer, have died of COVID-19 in the state so far. In Tamil Nadu, 759 new cases were reported and the death toll rose to 103 after five more people, including a 75-year-old woman, lost their lives. The new cases included those having arrived from other countries as also those having travelled from other parts of the country. On the other hand, a 26-year-old man tested positive in Manipur, nearly 10 days after returning to the state in a special train from Chennai. He was among 1,140 people who returned to the state by a migrant special train on May 13. Of the 25 active cases in Manipur, 16 are Chennai returnees, officials said. Kerala also recorded a rise in its numbers with 62 more people testing positive, including 49 returnees from abroad and from other states. More than 91,000 are under observation in the state, which had reported India's first COVID-19 case but had managed to flatten its curve till the movement of migrants from other states and from abroad resumed. In Himachal Pradesh, 10 more people tested positive, of which nine had returned from Mumbai and one from Punjab. Experts have cautioned that movement of migrants and people coming from abroad could spread the infection further during their travel and also after their arrival as not all of them are put into institutional quarantine due to absence of any symptom. Karnataka recorded its biggest single-day spike on Saturday with over 200 new cases of COVID-19, taking its tally to 1,959. Officials said that 187 of 216 new cases are returnees from neighboring Maharashtra, while others include those having returned from Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. In the national capital, 591 fresh cases were recorded to take its tally to 12,910. Delhi's death toll has also increased to 231. China cases drops to zero, fresh cases emerge in Germany Meanwhile, new coronavirus cases dropped to zero in China for the first time on Saturday, but hospitals were overwhelmed across Latin America both in Brazil and Mexico which were lax about lockdowns as well as in Peru, Chile and Ecuador which were lauded for firm restrictions and early confinement. Turkey imposed its toughest lockdown measures yet starting Saturday for the end of Ramadan, and Yemen's Houthi rebels urged believers to use masks and stay inside as authorities around the Muslim world try to contain infections at a time usually marked by days of multi-generational feasting and collective prayer. Elsewhere, many governments continued easing restrictions as they face historic recessions brought on by the global battle against the virus. In the US, some regions were opening more quickly than others, despite pressure from President Donald Trump to move faster. Infections emerged in Germany, which has drawn praise for its handling of the virus, after seven people appear to have been infected with the coronavirus at a restaurant in the northwest of the country. The US, however, remained the hardest hit country globally, with more than 96,000 deaths among 16 lakh confirmed cases, followed by Russia and Brazil, a tally maintained by John Hopkins University showed. On Saturday, worldwide deaths reached 3,38,000 while infections have crossed more than 52 lakh. To quarantine or not: debate continues Though domestic commercial passenger flights are set to resume from Monday (25 May) after nearly two months of suspension due to COVID-19-induced lockdown, the differences over whether or not to quarantine fliers continued on Saturday. While Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Goa and Jammu and Kashmir said that 14-day quarantine will be mandatory, Karnataka said that seven-day institutional quarantine will be must for passengers from high-risk states and others will have to undergo 14-day home quarantine. Maharashtra government official on Saturday said the state had not yet amended its May 19 lockdown order which allowed only certain kinds of flights. As per the 19 May order of the state government extending the coronavirus-induced lockdown to 31 May, all domestic and international air travel, except for domestic medical services, domestic air ambulance and for security purposes as permitted by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), will continue to remain prohibited across the state. Meanwhile, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri whil saying that India will try to restart a good percentage of international passenger flights before August, said on Saturday that those using the Aarogya Setu app won't have to undergo quarantine if their status is green. "If you have Aarogya Setu app, and if you have got yourself tested for COVID-19 and have been found negative, and if you do not show any symptoms, then I think there is no need for quarantine," he said. The aviation minister had earlier rubbished the demand for mandatory quarantine asking states no to 'create fuss' over a domestic travel. Puri, however, stressed that the app, is not mandatory for air passengers and they can instead give a self-declaration form. "We have said it is an advisory, it is preferable... If you do not have the Aarogya Setu app, you can give a self-declaration form," he stated. "If someone has Aarogya Setu app, it is like a passport. If you have green status, why should anybody want any quarantine," Puri said. The Aarogya Setu app has been panned by cybersecurity experts over privacy concerns and its makers refusing to share the source code. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, French ethical hacker Elliot Alderson said that the Indian government must convince people of the apps efficacy rather than force them to use it. Alderson had parked off a fierce debate on security issues related to the app earlier this month. To potentially be useful, a contact-tracing app needs to be downloaded and used by a lot of people. To ensure adoption of the app on a large scale among the population, you need to gain their trust. Publishing the source code is one way to get this trust, he told Firstpost. Congress demands probe on AMBU bag projected as ventilator in Gujarat Meanwhile, Congress has demanded a judicial probe into the use of 'uncertified' Dhaman-1 ventilators on COVID-19 patients in Gujarat, alleging that the mortality rate was highest at the hospital these machines were installed. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that the Vijay Rupani government projected a mechanised AMBU (Artificial Manual Breathing Unit) bag as ventilator, "playing with the lives of patients". "Why was Dhaman-1 approved and installed when it had been tested on just one patient? Why was Dhaman-1 approved and installed without a licence by DCGI (Drug Controller General of India)," Khera asked. "We also want to know if the PM-Cares Fund was used to buy 5,000 pieces of Dhaman-1 through HLL Lifecare. All these answers can only be found through an independent judicial inquiry," Khera said. On Saturday, Chairman Railway Board VK Yadav on Saturday said that the Railways has drawn up a schedule to operate 2,600 more trains over the next 10 days to ferry 36 lakh more migrant workers home. The 'shramikspecial' trains are being operated primarily on the requests of the states, which want to send migrant workers to their home states. According to data with the Railways, Uttar Pradesh (1,246) has received the highest number of shramik special trains, followed by Bihar (804) and Jharkhand (124) and Madhya Pradesh (112). With inputs from PTI A clinical trial of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine has been suspended by the World Health Organisation amid safety concerns, the body's chief has confirmed. "The executive group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity trial while the safety data is reviewed by the data safety monitoring board. The other arms of the trial are continuing," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online briefing. The drug has been repeatedly endorsed by a world leaders including Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro and US president Donald Trump who yesterday said he had just finished a course of the medicine, which he claimed to have been taking as a preventative measure. The move comes after a study published in the The Lancet medical journal said that the use of the drug increased the risk of death by 34 per cent and a 137 per cent increased risk of serious heart arrhythmias. Our large-scale, international, real-world analysis supports the absence of a clinical benefit of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine and points to potential harm in hospitalised patients with COVID-19, said the authors of the study. The same study concluded that patients receiving hydroxychloroquine and an antibiotic faced a 45 per cent increased risk of death and a 411 per cent increased risk of serious heart arrhythmias. Mr Ghebreyesus emphasised that the concerns about the drug relate only to its use to treat Covid-19, and that both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria. The use of the drug by Mr Trump caused a storm of controversy with observers asking why White House medical professionals would allow him to take a drug of questionable efficacy, or if he was even taking it at all. A memo released by White House physician Commander Sean Conley did not explicitly say that the president had been given a prescription, merely that taking the drug as a preventative measure had been discussed after a valet had test positive for Covid-19. The Food and Drug Administration issued a dire warning about the use of the drug in late April reminding both healthcare professionals and patients of the risks associated with the drug. "Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing Covid-19. They are being studied in clinical trials for Covid-19, and we authorised their temporary use during the Covid-19 pandemic for treatment of the virus in hospitalised patients when clinical trials are not available," the agency warned. In Brazil, President Bolsonaro unveiled rules loosening protocols around the use of chloroquine in the treatment of Covid-19, despite a lack of any clinical proof that it is effective in treating the virus or mitigating its effects. The new regulations allow the drug to be given to people with milder symptoms. Haiti - Ouanaminthe : Assisted voluntary return plan for Haitians in DR Saturday, as part of the management of the Covid-19 pandemic on Haitian territory Louis Gonzague E. Day, the Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) visited the border market of Ouanaminthe, the health facilities installed and took note of the measures taken to limit the spread of the virus in Haiti in order to better understand the mechanism of the "Assisted voluntary return plan" for our compatriots in the Dominican Republic. Recall that the "Assisted Voluntary Return Plan" planned between Haiti and the Dominican Republic through the Embassy of Haiti in Santo Domingo where Haitians wishing to return to the country will register. With the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the two Republics their return to the country is planned as follows : The Embassy of Haiti in the Dominican Republic registers those who wish to return to the country; The Dominican Embassy provides care for Haitians and their transport to the border according to a schedule established between the two governments; The Haitian Red Cross provides their food. The targeted implementation of the program includes : Support for Haitians arriving from the Dominican Republic on the Haitian border; Verification of their state of health at the sorting center (temperature measurement, observation of symptoms and test to detect the Covid 19); Quarantine in a center equipped with water, electricity, shower, internet and cable TV with Canal plus; The follow-up of people tested positive for Covid 19 to an appropriate hospital center is provided by the Ministry of Public Health through the MSPP. The OIM provides 120 beds to accommodate Covid 19 patients in an already functional quarantine center with 10 patients on the Ouanaminthe border. To date IOM has already secured the return of 875 compatriots to their hometown in Haiti. Minister Day, concerned about the fate of our compatriots invites the population to continue to respect and follow the instructions of the health authorities, in order to slow the spread of Covid-19 in Haiti which has already infected 958 people https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30857-haiti-flash-958-confirmed-cases-and-3-115-suspected-cases.html Note that the Minsitre Day was guided and informed during this visit by officials from IOM, the Ministry of Health, PoliFront, volunteers from the Haitian Red Cross, Immigration Officer among others... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30857-haiti-flash-958-confirmed-cases-and-3-115-suspected-cases.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30855-haiti-covid-19-daily-report-may-24-2020.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30838-haiti-social-17-271-border-crossings-between-haiti-and-the-dr-recorded-in-8-days.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30732-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30628-haiti-dr-10-501-haitians-voluntary-return-to-haiti-in-1-month.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30575-icihaiti-dr-the-dominican-government-helps-the-haitians.html HL/ HaitiLibre New Delhi: Days after the central government expanded use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as preventive care against Covid-19, doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have defended its use through a correspondence in The Lancet journal. The correspondence was in response to a view written by doctors from Wardha and Delhi which was also published in Lancet criticizing use of HCQs as a prophylaxis. In their correspondence, the AIIMS doctors argue that haemolysis or damage to red blood cells, is not clinically significant when HCQ is administered in usual therapeutic doses to individuals with WHO class II and III glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD). G6PD deficiency is a condition that is inherited and involves deficiency of the glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme. The paucity of this enzyme can lead to hemolytic anemia. Doctors had earlier raised concerns that the prevalence of GP6D in Indians makes use of HCQ a risky proposition as anti-malarial medicines can damage red blood cells. The AIIMS doctors also argued that the use of HCQ as prophylaxis in selected groups of high-risk contacts is a prudent approach considering the risk-benefit analysis. They added that the drug would only be used among a targeted group which is at high risk rather than the general population. The doctors cited a French study that suggested reduction of viral shedding and symptoms and a South Korean study that showed HCQ was effective for in a post-exposure setting. However, doctors pointed out that the French study received a lot of flak from the scientific community and doctors for its small sample size of just 26 patients. I am glad there is a discussion and debate happening. However, all three studies they quoted, from a research perspective, have methodological flaws and their results cannot be extrapolated. You cannot apply bad science to people. More importantly, Lancet published the biggest observational study on HCQ which showed that the drug also harmed people. Admittedly, this study too has flaws but it certainly cannot be ignored, said Dr.Shri Prakash Kalantri, Director Professor of Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences and Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital. Kalantri was also one of the co-authors of the April correspondence that the AIIMS doctors were responding to. News18.com sought a comment over e-mail and also called Dr.Manish Soneja, additional professor, Department of Medicine, AIIMS, who has co-authored the defence of HCQ use. However, there was no response. The story will be updated if we receive a response. Dr Kalantri added that Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) should make its stand on HCQ clear. ICMR should have taken the stand that we dont have the data, we are not sure. We would have appreciated this honesty. ICMR is one of the highest scientific body in the country, but it gave a generic, blanket recommendation. It should have launched a multicentre randomized controlled trial and they ought to have come out with its results. Instead, they are doing observational studies and it is a waste of time to do such studies right now, he said. More Than 1,000 Belarusians Protest Lukashenka's Bid For Sixth Term By RFE/RL's Belarus Service May 24, 2020 More than 1,000 demonstrators joined together in the Belarusian capital on May 24 to oppose another term for longtime President Alyaksandr Lukshenka in one of the biggest protests of the year in that country. The challenge against a sixth term for Lukashenka comes less than three months before an election and with outside groups warning of a roundup and other measures to clamp down on dissent in the post-Soviet country of around 9 million. The demonstration was reportedly organized jointly by Mikalay Statkevich -- a former presidential challenger whose candidacy for the August 9 presidential election was rejected last week -- and opposition blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski, who was recently jailed over an "unsanctioned mass gathering" and whose candidacy was also nixed by authorities. Some of the attendees signed up to back the candidacy of Tsikhanouski's wife, Svitlana Tsikhanouskaya. Many of those who turned up near Kamarousky Market in downtown Minsk on May 24 wore masks and physically distanced in an apparent riposte to Lukashenka's public rejection of the COVID-19 pandemic as a "psychosis," despite climbing infection and death tolls in Belarus. Police, accustomed to shutting down gatherings of government critics on the slightest pretext, did not intervene. Belarus, which has reported more than 36,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including an improbably low 199 deaths, hasn't ordered a lockdown. It bucked other countries' cancellation of major sporting competitions and even of gatherings earlier this month to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, instead holding a military-style parade attended by thousands of spectators. None of the elections since Lukashenka took power in 1994 has been deemed free or fair by Western standards. Belarus abolished presidential term limits in a referendum in 2004. Statkevich ran against Lukashenka in a 2010 presidential election that was widely decried as rigged and was followed by a brutal crackdown. Statkevich was arrested after attending a large demonstration protesting the 2010 results and spent 5 years in prison after being convicted of organizing riots at a trial criticized by human rights groups and Western governments as unfair. The Belarusian Central Election Commission on May 19 rejected documents filed by an initiative group for a Statkevich candidacy, citing his "criminal record." Tsikhanouski controls a popular YouTube channel, called The Country For Life, which frequently challenges Belarusian officialdom. Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned this week that authorities in Belarus have intensified their crackdown on independent activists and journalists with a "new wave of arbitrary arrests" ahead of the election. The rights watchdog noted that more than 120 peaceful protesters, opposition bloggers, journalists, and other government critics had been arrested in 17 Belarusian cities between May 6 and 13. Critics of Lukashenka, who has been in power in Belarus for more than 25 years, say his government has shown little tolerance for dissent and independent media. The country has been the target of U.S. and EU sanctions over its poor rights record and lack of fair elections, but Belarus and the West have recently sought to mend ties in an apparent bid to reduce Russia's influence in the country. With reporting by AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/more-than-1-000- belarusians-protest-lukashenka-s-bid-for- sixth-term/30631784.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Its no huge stretch to posit that COVID-19 will inflict serious harm on the vitality of Canadas tourism industry and its many stakeholders. Just try to imagine for a second the loss of revenues from cancelled cruise-ship visits alone. Add to that the economic damage from no-shows at Canadas many campgrounds, historical sites, museums and adventure parks. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Its no huge stretch to posit that COVID-19 will inflict serious harm on the vitality of Canadas tourism industry and its many stakeholders. Just try to imagine for a second the loss of revenues from cancelled cruise-ship visits alone. Add to that the economic damage from no-shows at Canadas many campgrounds, historical sites, museums and adventure parks. There are even some data that suggest any healthy recovery will have to wait until 2022 or 2023. Perhaps people wont want to venture too far until there is a proven vaccine in place. Indeed, it is a well-established fact that mass tourism (or leisure and hospitality) in general, wherever it may be a pillar of any jurisdictions economic sustenance, is highly allergic to uncertainty, instability and insecurity. Most people know that the travelling public is not in the habit of visiting destinations that can jeopardize personal safety or the ability to flee a dangerous situation on short notice. Those who study mass tourism in all its manifestations from grisly genocide tourism to the pedestrian pleasure travel are well aware that civil unrest, humanitarian disasters (such as hurricanes and earthquakes) and political coups all spell major trouble for the travel industry. Moreover, acts of terrorism, and its attendant fear, are easily the quickest way to strangle the tourism sector. The tourism industry, then, has always been vulnerable to the fickleness of well-heeled travellers. After all, they can pick from thousands of safe and alluring travel spots around the world to visit. So there is no reason for anyone to put their life in harms way when there are untold numbers of alternative vacation destinations. Obviously, the lethal coronavirus (and the current travel/medical restrictions) will have a deleterious impact on every provinces tourism industry and the hundreds of thousands of low-wage employees who work in this key sector of the economy. Manitobas $1.6-billion industry (and its related 30,000 workers) will undoubtedly be walloped by the contagion. Simply put, no one is going to visit Canada with even the hint of a deadly virus hanging over their heads. The Atlantic provinces are particularly vulnerable, given that they are highly dependent upon tourism revenues during the summer months. The industry generates important economic activity and tax receipts for governments, provides much-needed seasonal employment in an economically depressed region of the country, and buttresses a host of informal and cultural sectors. On the Prairies, the tourism prospects are not looking much better. Banff, for example, is being described as a "ghost town" today as the layoffs mount and the sundry shops are shuttered. As one tourist operator explained, "Its like a bomb hit Banff. We have to wait till the cloud clears to see what we have left." In terms of Indigenous tourism, the life-threatening virus has dealt it a devastating blow. Guided canoe trip bookings through B.C.s Secwepenic Nation are being cancelled every day, and many other remote family-run operations are facing dire circumstances. Some estimates put the number of Indigenous tourism businesses at risk of closing at almost 2,000 along with job losses totalling 12,000 or more. Its no surprise, then, to hear whispers that the federal government might be contemplating a financial package tailored for the tourism sector. Fistfuls of cash alone, however, wont be able to bring back the millions of lost tourists to our shores. 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. But as the North American economy gradually opens up, and gas prices remain low, incorporating a low-cost travel pitch might be a way to lure back customers who are coming to grips with a traumatic experience. Offering cheap hotel prices, discounted tour packages and a waiving of cruise-ship docking fees might well do the trick. Another option for the tourism sector is to strive aggressively to create a positive perception of Canada for prospective travellers. Accordingly, the marketing message all part of a tourist destinations "image recovery" will need to focus on Canadas planking of the COVID-19 curve, the countrys overall safety (along with enhanced sanitizing procedures, physical distancing measures and face mask protocols) and its warm and welcoming nature. Inspiring social media advertising on various platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, should also be a key part of any tourism communications strategy. Still, theres no getting around the fact the travel and leisure industry in Canada is going to be hit hard by COVID-19. According to the Ottawa-based Tourism Industry Association of Canada, the losses in the tourism sector during the pandemic lockdown alone could easily exceed $6 billion a month and displace some 800,000 jobs. The only questions that now remain to be answered are: when will those deep-pocked visitors come back, and how will the tourism industry and its workers keep body and soul together in the interim? Peter McKenna is professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. South African cryptocurrency exchange iCE3 has launched support for the Callpay integrated EFT payment gateway on its platform, allowing users to take advantage of the lowest instant EFT fees possible. iCE3 is one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges in South Africa, offering a secure, accessible, and reliable cryptocurrency storage and exchange service to everyone from seasoned traders to cryptocurrency beginners. The launch of Callpay brings additional resilience to the platform and complements the existing deposit methods available on iCE3 Exchange. We believe the open market should dictate service offerings and associated fees, iCE3 Exchange said. As a result, we have partnered with Callpay in order to provide our customers with more choice and lower instant EFT fees. Callpay and Ozow The launch of this service means that iCE3 Exchange customers will be able to choose between the Ozow and Callpay services when making an instant EFT deposit to the platform. Callpay is a payment solution partner to merchants and the digital payments industry, and it combines innovation, ease of use, and automation to scale remotely and remain secure. The deposit fees offered by iCE3 Exchange to its customers for Callpay Instant Deposit are only 0.5%, which iCE3 said should benefit all users across South Africa. iCE3 said that the existing Ozow deposit service has been instrumental in bringing faster deposits to its platform. The good news for customers who prefer to use the Ozow payment gateway is that they will receive free AIC tokens for making a deposit. Each month, we will be crediting user accounts with AIC tokens equal to the fiat value of 0.1% 0.8% of the deposits which they have made via the Ozow payment gateway, iCE3 said. AIC, or AI Coin, is the native utility token for iCE3 Exchange. It is an ERC20 token that is transacted on the Ethereum network. Holders of 1,000 AIC coins or more can get 50% discount on all trading fees and 100% discount on trading fees on balances of 10,000 AIC coins or more. iCE3 Exchange supports the trading of South African rand for Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Dash, ZCash, Monero, AI Coin, and much more. Stay up to date with the latest iCE3 news by connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter. Iranian oil vessel 'Fortune' on the coast of Puerto Cabello, Carabobo state, Venezuela: EPA Shipments of Iranian petrochemical products have arrived in Venezuela despite American harrumphing against a deal that is part of a broader blossoming of relations between the Middle East and Latin American countries. The arrival of the fuel shipments represents one in a long series of geopolitical flops for the Trump administration and the close-knit band of Washington hawks who dominate White House Middle East and Latin America scheming. Campaigns of maximum pressure directed against Tehran and Caracas were meant to curtail the influence of the two regimes and potentially bring about their downfall. Instead the two countries are openly collaborating with each other and publicly celebrating their defiance of US aims and manoeuvres. We are not alone, Capt. Luis Somosa Ladea, the commander of the Venezuelan navy patrol ship Yekuana, which was escorting the convoy of tankers, told state television. We will do what is necessary to guarantee the sovereignty of Venezuela and tranquillity of the Venezuelan people with the supply of petrol. For days, current and former US officials had been whispering menacing threats to Washington to media outlets, or making ominous predictions that the shipments could be interdicted. In defiance of US maximum pressure campaigns, Iran is bailing out Venezuela, former National Security Adviser John Bolton wrote on Twitter. Irans attempt to oppose US priorities must be met with resolve. But experts say no US ship moved towards the tankers as they made their way across two hemispheres, and they arrived in Venezuelan waters without slowing or diverting from their path. Supporters of regimes in both Venezuela and Iran hailed the shipments as a victory. This deal is not just about the tankers. There has been very high-level cooperation between the office of the Supreme Leader and military guys. Tehran-based interlocutor who speaks regularly to Latin American officials Our target is the White House, an Iran regime backer wrote on social media. Our path goes through Venezuela. Story continues The shipments include 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate gasoline aboard five Handysize and Handymax oil and chemical tankers, according to TankerTrackers.com, a research firm which monitors ship movements. The petroleum products are meant to expand Venezuelas ability to refine its crude oil into gasoline. Venezuela needs gasoline as the country currently has no or little functioning refining capacity and has therefore turned to Iran to try and restore some of it so they dont have to continue importing refined products, Samir Madani, cofounder of TankerTrackers.com, told The Independent. A banner reads there is no gasoline outside a closed fuel station in Caracas, Venezuela (AP) In exchange for the fuel, Iran received about $500 million worth of gold flown by the airline Mahan Air in late April, in a deal that bypasses US sanctions on both countries. Mahan, which is under US sanctions for its role in supplying weapons and fighters to the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, has flown more than 10 flights between Iran and Venezuela since January, ferrying businesspeople, officials, technicians and supplies as both countries face off against the US and popular uprisings. Those flights have accelerated in recent weeks as Venezuela seeks to calm popular demands by upgrading its refinery capacity. Irans ambassador to Venezuela has announced plans to increase trade and tourism through the reestablishment of regularly scheduled commercial flights which were suspended a decade ago. But the most important connections between the two countries fall outside normal diplomatic channels, with ties being forged between officials in the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and generals loyal to Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro. Increasingly powerful military-financial elites are driving the relationship in both countries. US Admiral Craig Faller, commander of US Southern Command, last month alleged that an uptick in Iranian activities in Venezuela including by the Revolutionary Guards elite overseas clandestine Quds Force. I would expect Iran to be looking at Venezuela and Latin America more broadly as a space in which it can operate without the level of scrutiny or detection it would face in North America or Europe Heather Heldman, Luminae Group But though hailed as successes on the tightly controlled television outlets of both authoritarian regimes, the shipments do also suggest failures by Iran and Venezuela, regimes increasingly dominated by corrupt military elites bound together by little more than antipathy towards Washington. Theyre both regimes that are struggling to hold onto power and theyre both regimes that have for various reasons positioned themselves as adversaries of the United States, said Ms Heldman. Iran, pressed into a corner by US sanctions, is forced to broker surreptitious deals with other isolated countries halfway across the globe rather than sell its oil, petroleum products and other exports to long-standing trading partners in nearby Europe and Asia. Venezuela, holding the worlds largest oil reserves, is importing refined products from the Persian Gulf in what could be seen as a disastrous turn for a country suffering an economic meltdown as a result of US sanctions and years of mismanagement. Some feared backroom deals with Iran could open the country to more US pressure. As if it were not enough that [Venezuela has] a complex humanitarian emergency, as if it were not enough that we are in the middle of a Covid-19 pandemic and that basic services are collapsed, now we also have to deal with Islamic terrorism, which is the main export product of Iran, Armando Armas, a Venezuela opposition figure, was quoted as saying by the news website La Patilla. Read more Trump would send an army, not two mercenaries, to invade Venezuela Iran Inside the operation to overthrew Maduro that Venezuela thwarted Trump administration threatens Venezuelas Maduro with every tool Off the coast of Venezuela is exactly the distraction Trump needs A giant snowman erected on the bank of Songhua River in Harbin, the capital of Northeast Chinas Heilongjiang province, has drawn much attention online. Around 2,000 cubic meters of snow was used to create the 18.5-meter-tall figure dressed in a red hat and scarf. Since December, ice and snow sculptures featuring Winter Olympics and Lunar New Year elements have popped up across the city famed for its ice festivals, drawing many visitors Jan 20, 2022 06:19 PM NASHVILLE Wendi C. Thomas launched MLK50 in 2017 as a one-year project to make the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a time to consider the current state of economic justice in the city where he was murdered while advocating for a living wage. Underpaid black workers and their plight drew Dr. King to Memphis more than 50 years ago, Ms. Thomas said in a phone interview last week. Thats why he was here. And while I wouldnt say that Memphis has made no progress, its hard to fathom that Dr. King would be proud of where were at. It is a city where almost 28 percent of the population lives in poverty, and that number is growing. Ms. Thomas was under no illusion that simply telling the stories of underpaid workers, immigrants and other vulnerable Memphians would sort out the economic issues that make it so difficult for them to emerge from poverty. The city has made a commitment, a commitment, to low-wage industries, which means low-wage labor, which means systems that exploit, for the most part, black and brown workers, she said. But telling their stories was a start. Three years later, her one-year project is still going strong. Educated in Memphis schools, Ms. Thomas is a veteran journalist with more than 25 years of reporting and editing experience at daily newspapers in Indianapolis, Nashville and Charlotte, N.C. For 11 years, she served as a columnist and assistant managing editor at The Commercial Appeal in Memphis. By the time shed completed a year as a fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, she had both the knowledge and the experience to build a newsroom from scratch. Fans of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days have been sitting on pins and needles since Varya Malina showed up on Geoffrey Paschels doorstep unannounced. Normally, this kind of romantic gesture would be cute but unfortunately for Malina, Murphey had already moved on and was dating his friend Mary. And to make matters worse, Mary was there. Now, Paschel is coming clean about what actually went down and why Mary was sleeping over at his place. 90 Day Fiance star Geoffrey Paschel | Instagram@90DayGeoffrey RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Are Geoffrey Paschel and Varya Together Now? Geoffrey and Varya end their relationship Toward the end of his trip to Russia, Paschel proposed to Malina despite her obvious disapproval of his criminal past. I want to say that you are absolutely an amazing, wonderful man and weve spent [a] great time here in Russia, Malina said. Maybe we are going too quick? Paschel was shocked by Malinas answer and took her not yet as a hard no. For him, that was the end of the relationship. I dont know how to make it any clearer, he told Malina at the airport. This is it. Im leaving, Im going home, Im going to live my life apart from you. Thanks for the adventure and good luck. The confrontation between Varya and Mary Apparently, Paschel did not make it clear enough because Malina later boarded a plane to the U.S. to surprise him. Its absolutely crazy seeing Varya in my driveway, at my front door, Paschel told the camera when Malina arrived. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Ash Naeck Admits That He and Avery Warner Are No Longer Together in Instagram Comment Seeing Mary, Malina became very aggressive. [Mary] just irritates me being here right now, she said. To Mary, it looked like Malina and Paschel had still been communicating and possibly planned Malinas visit to the States even though Paschel told her that he was done with Malina. I feel like a fool, Mary told the camera. I dont like feeling this way. Its not fair. When Mary tried to grab her stuff and leave, Malina continued to yell at her. Move b**ch, get out the way, she said. My place is here, Malina continued. Your place is there, so go. Why was Mary sleeping over? The situation between Malina, Paschel, and Mary seemed so outlandish that fans have been wondering if it was all staged. This show is so fake and produced, one viewer tweeted. It gets more and more obvious. With the staged scenarios of the Russian girl surprising Geoffrey at home and his new gf pops out whats going on?' Geoffrey is low-key loving this (staged) drama, while these beautiful women are fighting over this ex-con, another person wrote. But, Paschel has revealed that the incident was actually organic. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: How Does David Murphey Have So Much Money to Spend on Ukrainian Dating Sites? At the time, Mary and Paschels relationship had not yet progressed to the sleepover stage yet, Paschel said in an interview with the Domenick Nati Show. Mary had slept over because she was too drunk to drive home. She came over, she drank a little bit so I didnt let her drive kind of thing, he said. Was the confrontation staged? Paschel is pretty adamant that the scene was not staged. This was a complete surprise 100%, he said. I hear people say this is so staged, this is so fake. I was caught in the moment. You saw my sh*t eating grin. I didnt know what to do. When the doorbell rang that day, he had no idea Varya was going to be outside. The doorbell rang and I assumed it was production because they were going to come over and film some b-roll, he said. They had no idea Mary was there. They had 0 idea. So there was no communication to that because they were tending to Varya. Songwon Industrial, a leading manufacturer of polymer stabilisers worldwide, announced that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Biesterfeld France, an international trading and service company. As from May 1, 2020, Biesterfeld France has been exclusively distributing the Songwon polymer stabiliser range in France, Songwon said in a statement. Based in Rueil Malmaison near Paris, France, Biesterfeld France is part of the German Biesterfeld Group, ranked by ICIS as one of the Top Ten chemical distributors worldwide. The company focuses especially on plastics, rubber and specialty chemicals. At Songwon, we are committed to continually enhancing our product availability and level of customer service. Partnering with Biesterfeld France further strengthens our distribution network and is a significant step toward achieving our aim of delivering solutions that exceed the expectations of our French customers, said Albert Dantuma, Leader Sales Polymer Stabilizers Greater Europe. Peter Wilkes, Managing Director, Biesterfeld Spezialchemie GmbH, added: With our highly experienced and technically qualified sales team, we are well placed to supply customers promptly with Songwons products and provide them with excellent service. TradeArabia News Service Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Around 13 percent of the National Capital Region, the hotbed of COVID-19, should be tested for the virus, in line with the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman and Senator Richard Gordon said Monday. In a virtual briefing hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Gordon noted that with a 20,000 daily testing capacity, it will take 83 days to test 13 percent of Metro Manila's population. This is equivalent to 1.6 million people, out of the capital's 13 million population. "We (PRC) are aiming initially for 2 percent...but the WHO told us, you need to do 13% of Metro Manila and the country," Gordon said. "In 83 days, we will be able to do Manila. That's us alone. That does not include the government...If the government and private sector also do that, then, we will be able to catch up," Gordon said. He added: "We have 12 machines right now. Kaya naman eh. Uunahin ang Metro Manila dahil yan ang epicenter, iyan ang hub ng Pilipinas." [Translation: We have 12 machines right now. It's doable. We just have to prioritize Metro Manila because it is the epicenter, it is the hub of the Philippines.] Calls for mass testing have been rampant on social media since March, when the Department of Health confirmed local transmission of the disease. Authorities earlier rejected the idea, but later implemented what they call a "progressive COVID-19 testing program" which prioritizes people with severe flu-like symptoms, the elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions, pregnant women with mild symptoms, and healthcare workers with respiratory symptoms. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified Monday that the government's testing capacity is now at 32,000 per day by the end of the month. He previously mentioned during the briefing that the government has already conducted and surpassed the 30,000 target last May 20. The Department of Health noted that this estimate was based on existing resources and the maximum capacity of all licensed laboratories in the country. The government is still doing an expanded targeted testing, which is equivalent to 1 or 2% of the population. Roque had repeatedly said in the past that it would be "physically impossible" to do a mass testing in the country which has almost 100 million population for COVID-19 infection. He added authorities will leave such efforts to the private sector. The DOH previously reiterated that it would also not be "cost-effective" to test asymptomatic individuals or those who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 for the meantime due to limited resources. It noted that "laboratories are already choking" because of the surge in the number of tests being done. There have been talks regarding a proposal to downgrade Metro Manila's lockdown category by June 1. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Saturday that Metro Manila will likely be placed under the general community quarantine, shifting from a "high-risk" to a "low-risk" region for COVID-19 infection. The region was placed under a "modified" enhanced community quarantine since May 16, with certain sectors such as construction and food manufacturing already allowed to resume operations after two months of work stoppage. Police shot and killed a man early Monday after finding him outside a home with a gun, authorities said. The shooting marks the sixth death of a civilian at the hands of a Houston police officer since April 21. A call around 1:20 a.m. that a man was armed, emotional and had been drinking led multiple officers to the 6500 block of Capridge Drive, said Troy Finner, executive assistant chief of Houston Police Department. According to police radio traffic, the woman who called police said she and the man were going through a divorce and that he had already fired the weapon. The man, who was not publicly identified, refused repeated demands that he put down the gun and then fired several times into the ground outside the home, Finner said. The officers continued to ask him to put the gun down but he pointed the firearm at them instead, Finner continued. About nine minutes after the initial call, three officers a pair with one year of service with HPD and another with two years opened fire, striking him. Firefighters who responded to the scene said that he was dead by 1:43 a.m. Finner said he spoke to the mans wife and mother and that they were shaken by the ordeal. A man who answered the door Monday afternoon at the home where the shooting happened declined to comment. The officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The Harris County District Attorneys Office reviews these shootings for possible criminal charges at a grand jurys discretion. Days before Mondays shooting, Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo defended the law enforcement agency and urged the public to look at each case individually. In the most recent encounters, both said, the officers actions appeared to be justified under the departments use-of-force policy. Later on Monday, about a dozen civil rights activists gathered outside the police department headquarters, calling on the agency to release the body camera footage related to the shootings. The group said all of the people recently shot and killed by police were black or Hispanic. The other men to die in the recent spate of Houston police officer shootings were identified as Nicholas Chavez, 27; Christopher Aguirre, 28; Adrian Medearis, 48; Rayshard Scales, 30; and Randy Lewis, 38. nicole.hensley@chron.com Heatwave conditions likely in parts of Rajasthan for next 24 hours: Met dept Heatwave: IMD issues 'red alert' for most North Indian states, asks people to stay indoors India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, May 25: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert for most North Indian states, with the day temperature likely to touch 46 degrees Celsius by Tuesday. "Heatwave will prevail in many places and severe heatwave in isolated places. Mainly clear sky with strong surface winds (20-20 kilometres per hour)," the IMD forecast said. The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded a high of 44.4 degrees Celsius, which was five notches above the normal, on Sunday. The minimum temperature was recorded at 28.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above the normal. Heatwave: IMD issues 'red alert' for most North Indian states, asks people to stay indoors The weather stations at Palam, Lodhi Road and Ayanagar recorded their respective maximums at 45.4 degrees Celsius, 44.2 degrees Celsius and 45.6 degrees Celsius. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of the IMD, said some respite from the stifling heat is expected in the national capital on May 28 due to a fresh Western Disturbance and easterly winds at lower levels. "Dust storm and thunderstorm with winds gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour is likely over Delhi-NCR on May 29-30," he said. Besides Delhi, the IMD has issued "red warning" in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Rajasthan for the next two days. It has issued "orange" warning for eastern Uttar Pradesh. Domestic flights resume, but chaos at Delhi airport as some flights cancelled | Oneindia News This is the first "red" warning issued for heatwave this summer, Srivastava said. The IMD issues colour-coded warnings depending on the intensity of any weather system in ascending order - green, yellow, orange and red. "The warning has been issued to caution people not to step out between 1 pm and 5 pm, when the heat is most intense," IMD's head of Regional Meteorological Centre Kuldeep Srivastava said. The heatwave warning comes at a time when lakhs of migrant workers are walking back to their home states amid the Coronavirus lockdown and several were seen crossing the Yamuna river in Delhi at night to escape the daytime heat. The Ghaziabad administration on Monday sealed its border with Delhi again in view of the rising cases of the coronavirus in the district in the last few days, according to an official order. Essential services including doctors, paramedical staff, police, bank employees and media personnel are allowed to move across the two cities after showing identity cards, the order stated. There has been a rise in COVID-19 cases in recent days. A major part of these increased cases are linked to people commuting between Delhi and Ghaziabad. "Hence, on the recommendation of the chief medical officer (CMO), it has been decided to seal the Delhi-Ghaziabad borders like it was done earlier (April 26), District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said. The restriction would be in place till next order, he said in a statement. Ghaziabad in western Uttar Pradesh has recorded 227 cases of COVID-19 till Sunday evening, according to an official statement. The district has 18 hotspots while the entire urban Ghaziabad has been categorised as a red zone', it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many of the city's lenders prepare to bring back up to half of their staff back to the office in the coming weeks, Hong Kong is shaping up to be a test run for how global banks will fully return after months of engaging in the world's biggest work-from-home experiment. Bankers, fund managers and others who have spent months working remotely at their kitchen tables or from their sofas are discovering a dramatically changed environment in their office homecomings. Staff members at Goldman Sachs are sitting at every other desk at its offices in Central and are divided into "Blue" and "White" teams that rotate between the office and home. At Citigroup, plastic dividers have been installed between seats on the bank's trading desk and other high-density areas, such as retail branches, and a disinfecting robot patrols the lobby at its Kowloon office tower. HSBC turned its three-day China Conference that normally attracts about 1,000 people into a three-week, online-only affair. Even the lifts have been reprogrammed at the International Commerce Centre (ICC) " home to Morgan Stanley and other global lenders " and office towers across the city to limit the number of passengers and amount of time spent crammed inside. "Hong Kong may have seen small victories in combating Covid-19 with the recent news on the relaxation of certain social distancing measures by the government," Angel Ng, Citi's chief executive for Hong Kong and Macau, said in a May 18 internal memo seen by the South China Morning Post. "However, we are not out of the woods yet so we should continue to stay vigilant and not let our guard down." The coronavirus, which causes the disease Covid-19, has infected more than 5.3 million people worldwide and forced shutdowns of offices from New York to London to Singapore. Bank employees have been declared "essential workers" in many countries, but financial institutions have embraced remote working to protect their employees and keep their markets and lending operations functioning as the pandemic threatens the global economy. Story continues The plans under way to bring more staff back in Hong Kong " some banks had 75 per cent or more of their staff globally working from home in March and April " could be a template for workers returning to the office in other financial centres, such as New York and London. The New York Stock Exchange, for example, is expected to partially reopen its trading floor on May 26, with only about a quarter of floor brokers present. The bourse has engaged in full electronic trading since March 23. But other financial giants, including American Express and Visa, said last week most of their employees globally should prepare to work from home for the remainder of the year. In Hong Kong, banks are taking it slow before returning to office in force. Citigroup increased the number of its staff in the office to 50 per cent on May 20 and Goldman is expected to do the same starting Monday, while HSBC has about 30 per cent of its Hong Kong staff in the office. Many have been rotating employees between home and the office for months and are likely to continue to do so. Morgan Stanley, which has more than half of its employees in Hong Kong in the office, is taking a similar phased and gradual approach to bringing everyone back. The bank's cafeteria on the 47th floor of the ICC began serving fresh food again last month, but continues to restrict how many people can be inside at any one time. The cafeteria has just over one-third of its normal capacity and people waiting in queues are expected to stay 1.5 metres apart. The 108-floor ICC, which is home to offices for Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse, has tweaked algorithms for the building's lifts to restrict the number of passengers in each car to eight and make fewer stops. The building also has a "staff disinfection tunnel" that sanitises the uniforms and belongings of lobby workers before their shifts and added additional cleaning staff. Stickers mark the spot for people to stand in a lift to maintain social distance amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Xiaomei Chen alt=Stickers mark the spot for people to stand in a lift to maintain social distance amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Xiaomei Chen "I wish I had that magic answer. Unless there's a commercially available vaccine, nobody can say we're safely out of the woods," Donna Chang, Deutsche Bank's chief operating officer for Hong Kong, said. "I think this social distancing and this heightened personal hygiene expectation are here to stay. This is the new normal" Deutsche Bank is entering phase two of its plan to return to the office on Monday, when just over half of its staff will return, Chang said. The bank has provided personal hand sanitisers and asked staff in higher density departments to keep some workstations vacant, she said. The question of whether banks and other large companies will reduce the amount of real estate they use in office towers in central business districts remains an open one. Barclays CEO Jes Staley told reporters last month that the bank was considering potential adjustments to its location strategy and "the notion of putting 7,000 people in a building may be a thing of the past". He said retail branches could serve as alternative sites for investment bankers and others. Jose Vinals, the Standard Chartered chairman, told Bloomberg last month that the bank may rethink its work-from-home practices after the health crisis subsides. About two-thirds of its staff in Hong Kong have returned to the office and all, but one of its more than 70 branches in the city have reopened. As part of its phased return plan. Credit Suisse envisions "large numbers of employees will continue to work remotely in the short-to-medium term," a bank spokeswoman said. "We are working closely with local authorities to plan how we can return to the office with control measures in place that complement business continuity with health and safety," she said. Goldman Sachs began phasing employees in Hong Kong back over the past three weeks, but is expected to pause after it reaches a 50 per cent level. Desks are being left empty as the bank has asked all employees to remain at least two metres apart. Goldman also has limited meeting rooms to no more than four persons and asked employees on alternative teams not to intermingle outside work. Like many of its rivals, Citi has instituted temperature checks for all staff at its offices in Central and in Kwun Tong and is requiring the few visitors " in-person visits have been discouraged " to fill out health declaration forms. Staff are being prodded to use video or audio conferences rather than gathering for group meetings. The bank is conducting hourly cleaning of all "high touch" areas, such as lift buttons and door handles, and has a robot that periodically disinfects the lobby at Citi Tower. All staff have been asked to wear masks in the office, maintain a two-metre distance from colleagues, not co-mingle with employees from other offices in the city and stagger their commutes and lunch breaks. No more than five people can take the lift at a time at Citi Tower and dots on the floor of the car indicate where people should stand " the lifts normally have the capacity to carry up to 18 people. The bank also has placed an antibacterial polymer coating, known as MAP-1, developed by researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in public areas, according to Duncan Macintyre, head of Citi Realty Services, Hong Kong and Macau. The coating is refreshed every 90 days. JPMorgan Chase had about 30 per cent of its staff back in its Chater House offices in Central beginning May 11. Some meeting rooms are limited to as few as two people and there are signs on tables indicating certain seats are off limits to encourage social distancing: an image of an office chair with a slash across it. HSBC has reduced seating to encourage social distancing at its staff canteen at its headquarters in Central. Photo: Handout alt=HSBC has reduced seating to encourage social distancing at its staff canteen at its headquarters in Central. Photo: Handout Employees are required to wear face masks in the office and the building's landlord is managing lift capacity and traffic flow in the lobby. JPMorgan plans to keep its offices at half capacity or less globally for the "foreseeable future" as it prepares to bring more of its staff back, Bloomberg News reported on May 20, citing an internal memo. HSBC, one of three lenders authorised to issue currency in Hong Kong, has reopened all but two of its more than 100 branches and business centres in the city " the two that remain closed are at the airport " and about 30 per cent of its office staff have returned to their desks. Clients are encouraged to wear masks when they visit HSBC branches and offices and hand sanitiser is available for customer use. The reopened staff canteen on the basement level of the bank's main building in Central has reduced its seating by one-third. "The current situation has nudged us to think of alternate ways of engaging clients," Justin Chan, head of greater China for global markets at HSBC, said regarding the all-virtual China Conference this year. "While it's too early to say if this will be the new normal, the virtual conference format has proved to be effective and successful." 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. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has collected around 24,000 blood samples from 60 districts across 21 states over the past two weeks for a serosurvey to check for exposure to SARS-CoV-2, which causes coronavirus disease (Covid-19), among the countrys adult population. The cross-sectional survey of adults, aged 18 years or more, will detect infection in the community by testing for the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 that are found in the blood of people who have recovered from it. Four representative samples were collected from 60 districts on the basis of reported Covid-19 cases per million population -- zero, low (0.1-4.7), medium (4.8-10), and high (>10). Around 400 samples from 15 districts from each category were selected randomly, according to ICMR. The first batch of about 70% of samples was dispatched to a central laboratory in Chennai for analysis on Sunday, and the results are expected in about three weeks. The ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis in Chennai will do the analysis, said an ICMR official, requesting anonymity. This community-based survey will hold the key for getting several vital clues on the viral disease such as its trend, testing pattern, etc, according to experts. If more people have antibodies and were never detected that means the infection is widely present. Its a good thing that only a few are suffering from complications leading to deaths. This is also an indirect methodology to ascertain whether enough tests are being conducted across the country, said Dr. Girdhar R Babu, head, Lifecourse Epidemiology. The blood samples will be tested for detecting IgG antibodies using ELISA method (IgG is an antibody that develops later as compared to the other antibodies, hence, determine a past infection. Elisa method is an enzyme-based laboratory test that detects and quantifies antibodies in the blood) that will determine a past infection due to the virus. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir are the 21 states from where samples have been collected. Besides, about 5,000 samples have been collected from 10 hot spot cities that have reported the maximum caseload such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Thane, Pune, Indore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Aurangabad. Conducting population-based serosurveillance for SARS-CoV-2 will estimate and monitor the trend of infection in the adult general population, determine the socio-demographic risk factors and delineate the geographical spread of the infection, said a recently-published ICMR document on serosurveillance. Such serosurveys repeated at regular intervals can also guide containment measures in respective areas. State-specific context of disease burden, priorities and resources should guide the use of multifarious surveillance options for the current Covid-19 epidemic, the paper said. Were likely to repeat the survey later depending on the results, said the ICMR official. Apart from the serosurvey, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has a hospital-based active surveillance plan using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) among healthcare workers, outpatient department patients, and pregnant women in all the districts in the country. At least 10 hospitals -- six public and four private hospitals -- will be selected from each district for the sampling, with an overall target of collecting 800 samples a month. These two surveys are in addition to conducting a random test of about 250 severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI) cases that the Centre has advised all the states to carry out in each district. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment America will observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 25. Traditionally, Memorial Day weekend is regarded as the beginning of the summer season, a time when many Americans have an extra day off from work, go on vacation or host backyard cookouts with family, friends and neighbors. Of course, this Memorial Day is going to look very different because of the impacts of COVID-19. While weekend plans may have changed for many, Memorial Day itself has not. In fact, I think staying put on Memorial Day will allow us greater time for reflection on the days significance. Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the men and women of our Armed Forces who have laid down their lives in service to our country. They answered the call to protect our freedom, and they paid the ultimate price. Because of the past and present sacrifices of the members of our Armed Forces, we have the freedom to worship, to speak our minds and to gather together. As a pastor and evangelist, I am so thankful I have the ability to openly share the hope of Jesus with others. In many countries around the world, pastors and evangelists do not have that right. Instead, they are forced to have underground or house churches, which God continues to use mightily. Sadly, we are often so accustomed to our freedom here in America that we take it for granted. We fail to honor our heroes. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines a hero as one who shows great courage. But Id like to expand this definition. I believe a hero is not only someone who is courageous, but someone who makes a sacrifice, who regards the interests and well-being of others as greater than his or her own. Someone who is even willing to die for others someone like Army Staff Sgt. Travis W. Atkins. On June 1, 2007, Staff Sgt. Atkins was leading a squad charged with securing a town in northern Iraq when he was informed that two suspected insurgents had been spotted nearby. Atkins team intercepted the two insurgents and ordered them to stop and be searched. But when Atkins approached them, they resisted and the situation quickly escalated to hand-to-hand combat, with Atkins trying to wrestle one of them into submission. According to the Armys record of the events, As the hand-to-hand battle continued, the insurgent was able to reach the suicide vest under his clothing. At that point, Atkins wrapped the insurgent up and threw him to the ground, away from his Soldiers who were standing a few feet away. Aware of the imminent danger, Atkins threw himself on top of the suicide bomber, pinning him to the ground and shielding his Soldiers from the imminent explosion while bearing the brunt of the blast as the bomb detonated. Atkins heroic and selfless act saved the lives of three other soldiers who were with him. On March 27, 2019 nearly 12 years after the events in Iraq President Donald Trump awarded him the Medal of Honor at a ceremony in the White House. Sgt. Atkins sacrifice reminds me of Jesus words to his disciples in John 15:13, There is no greater love than to lay down ones life for ones friends (NLT). Sgt. Atkins, and many other men and women like him, showed not only the greatest measure of courage and devotion for ones country, but also the greatest measure of love we can have for one another. We should remember, honor and imitate the mindset of these brave Americans, especially on this Memorial Day when we are all battling as a nation against COVID-19. The majority of these stay in Italy Open source 147 citizens of Ukraine are infected with Covid-19 while staying abroad. 73 Ukrainians recovered, as the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine reported. 18,938 citizens of Ukraine appealed to the overseas diplomatic establishments, using the Protection diplomatic system. The Ukrainians receive treatment in such countries: Austria three, Belarus three people, Ireland one, Italy 121, Malta one, Moldova one, Russia three, the U.S. two, Thailand one, Uruguay one, Germany one, the Czech Republic seven, Sweden two citizens. As we reported, Ukraine is opening all international checkpoints, except the ones with the Russian Federation and Belarus, which is caused by the difficult epidemiological situation in these countries. Earlier, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that Ukraine is liberal-minded toward the opening of the borders but it will consider the experience of partners and real situation with the pandemic on the territory of Ukraine. On May 24, 258 new cases of infection with Covid-19 were observed in Ukraine. The overall number of infected people currently makes 21,24. 623 cases proved lethal; another 7,234 people recovered. Vital Kamerhe, a major ally to DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, proclaimed his innocence on Monday as a historic trial for alleged corruption resumed. Kamerhe, 61, a veteran political figure who is also Tshisekedi's chief of staff, is accused with others of having embezzled more than $50 million (46 million euros). Detained on April 8, Kamerhe took the stand to request bail after the high-profile proceedings resumed following a two-week break. "I want someone to help me understand why I am in Makala," he said, referring to the main jail in the DR Congo capital Kinshasa. Kamerhe said he was fighting to "cleanse" his tarnished honour and that of his children, and insisted he had not been in office when the contracts at the centre of the allegations had been signed in April 2018. The trial, which is being broadcast live by the national TV channel RNTC, is taking place in Makala itself and Kamerhe and co-defendant Jammal Samih wore a yellow-and-blue prison shirt. Kamerhe was once a pillar of the regime of former president Joseph Kabila, serving as parliament speaker from 2006 to 2009 before he moved to the opposition ranks in 2011, running in elections that year. As head of the influential Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) party, he initially stood in the 2018 presidential poll but bowed out to team up with Tshisekedi. The UNC has 16 seats in parliament and several ministers in Tshisekedi's huge coalition government. The defendants are accused of embezzling almost $49 million from funds for building 4,500 pre-fabricated homes for poor people and of creaming off another $2 million from a programme to build housing for police and the military. Samih, a prominent 78-year-old Lebanese businessman who owns the construction company Samibo, also said he was innocent of any charges. He noted that he had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for 52 years and been Lebanon's "honorary consul" in the pre-1997 times when the DRC was known as Zaire. Kamerhe, appointed as chief of staff in January 2019, has not quit or been fired since his arrest. An interim replacement has been appointed in the meantime. His two previous requests for bail have been rejected. The case coincides with a broader campaign for the "renewal" of the Congolese justice system in the fight against entrenched corruption among the elite. "Never in Congo's political history over the past two decades has such an important player on the political scene been put behind bars," New York University's Congo Study Group (CSG) said in an analysis. Kamerhe's supporters charge the case is politically motivated -- they portray it as a likely attempt to prevent him from running in the next presidential election in three years' time. Country moved into level three of a five-tier system, allowing reopening of economy under strict health protocols. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a further easing of coronavirus restrictions from next month in a move that will allow most sectors of the economy to reopen fully under strict health protocols and social distancing rules. Ramaphosa said in a televised address on Sunday the cabinet has decided to move the country to level three of its five-level approach to easing the coronavirus lockdown from June 1. This will result in the opening up of the economy and the removal of a number of restrictions on the movement of people while significantly expanding our public health interventions, said the president, who has been under pressure from rival political parties and a variety of industries to relax the curbs. Africas most industrialised economy has been largely shut down since late March when the government enforced some of the worlds strictest restrictions in an attempt to try and stem the spread of the coronavirus which has so far infected 22,583 people and killed 429 in the country. Ramaphosa initially enjoyed broad support for the lockdown, which confined most people to their homes aside from essential trips. But that has since given way to concerns about the measures effect on an already shrinking economy and on a mostly poor population. The easing of the lockdown next week will include the lifting of a controversial ban on the sale of alcohol for home consumption. The measure was meant to prevent a spike in domestic violence and reduce pressure on emergency wards. Alcohol will be sold for home consumption only under strict conditions on specified days and for limited hours, Ramaphosa said, adding, however, that the sale of tobacco products would remain prohibited due to the health risks associated with smoking. Under level three, the night-time curfew will also be lifted and outdoor exercise allowed at any time during the day. But public gatherings will remain prohibited and certain high-risk economic activities such as restaurants, bars and hairdressing salons will stay closed for the time being. Air travel is still suspended, barring certain business trips and repatriations. Coronavirus hotspots The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party said level three had come six weeks too late and caused irreparable damage to the economy. Even now the irrational regulations and exclusions remain, interim DA leader John Steenhuisen said in a statement. There is also no reason at all for cigarettes to remain banned, as most smokers have not given up smoking and are simply buying their illicit cigarettes elsewhere. Ramaphosa, meanwhile, reiterated the governments plans to allow schools to reopen for senior years from June 1, and said one-third of university students would also be allowed back on campus. He identified seven cities as coronavirus hotspots, including the executive capital, Pretoria. The list of hotspot areas will be reviewed every two weeks depending on the progression of the virus, the president said. Any part of the country could be returned to alert levels 4 or 5 if the spread of infections is not contained, he warned. Advertisement The Acting Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu has assured Nigerians in the diaspora of business protection at home, stressing that local fraudsters frustrating diasporans from investing in Nigeria would henceforth be dealt with. Magu spoke on Saturday, May 23, 2020 during a Virtual Town Hall Meeting, an interaction with Nigerians in Diaspora, anchored in London by the Host/Moderator of the group, Prince Ade Omole According to him, the EFCC is aware of the frustration, uncertainties and risks, local fraudsters are posing to credible businessmen and women abroad, who wish to invest in the Nigerian economy. The EFCC is ready to offer intelligence services to anyone seeking genuine business partners in Nigeria, he said. Advertisement Explaining further, the EFCCs boss said that, profiles of potential business partners in Nigeria would be obtained and delivered to the foreign- based investors and this would assist them in taking decisions on whom to partner with locally. We can also offer intelligence on any line of business desired by the Nigerian in the diaspora. We are ready to do all these to encourage credible and serious investors who do not want to be defrauded by fraudsters at home. Magu charged Nigerians in the diaspora to avail themselves of these opportunities and bring more investments into the local economy. He also tasked them to support the anti- graft war, by exposing foreign assets of local politicians by taking advantage of the governments whistle- blowing policy. The EFCC needs collaborative engagements with you all, he said. He wants diasporans to put more pressure on authorities and governments in their countries of residence to prosecute corrupt Nigerians hiding in their domain. He expressed displeasure over the continued difficulties being faced by the EFCC to bring former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison- Madueke to trial, stressing that Nigerians in the United Kingdom should form pressure groups to demand her trial. Nigerians in the United Kingdom need to collaborate with the EFCC more and pressure the authorities there to assist the EFCC in bringing Diezani to trial. Does it not bother Nigerians in that country that Diezani has not been brought to trial for the heinous allegations of corruption against her in Nigeria? The public ownership of the fight against corruption should not be limited to Nigerians at home, we must all come forward, wherever we are, to insist that corrupt practices must not continue, he said. He gave accounts of the painstaking works of the EFCC in the areas of convictions and recoveries and assured them, that the Commission is on course in the pursuit of its assigned mandate. We are on course. In 2020 alone, in spite of the Covid- 19 pandemic, we have secured 213 convictions already. This shows the commitment we are putting into the work, he said. In response, participants at the Conference, numbering over 500, drawn from Europe, Asia, Africa, South and North America and other parts of the world, commended the EFCC for its robust and gallant fights against economic and financial crimes. One of the conferees, Professor Adebisi Adewole of the University of Scotland, commended Magu and the EFCC for working tirelessly to rid Nigeria of corrupt practices. He charged the EFCC to continue on its winning streaks and mobilised youths to steer clear of economic crimes. Another conferee, Ambassador Lekan Idowu from Russia, expressed satisfaction with the performance of Magu and the EFCC, saying that Nigerians in the diaspora would not relent in its support for the EFCC. The factory of Tenma Vietnam in Que Vo Industrial Park, Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of 105 Construction. Vietnam is investigating reports that a Japanese plastic company bribed Vietnamese officials JPY25 million ($215,000) to escape tax duties and fines. The Finance Ministry has formed an investigation team to verify recent reports by some Japanese newspapers including Asahi that plastic firm Tenma had bribed Vietnamese officials on two occasions in 2017 and last year. Asahi said that Tenma representatives on April 1 confessed to prosecutors in Tokyo that its subsidiary Tenma Vietnam in June 2017 had imported a batch of molds and Vietnamese officials demanded a value-added tax of JPY1.8 billion ($16.7 million). To avoid this obligation, the CEO of Tenma Vietnam, which is based in the northern province of Bac Ninh, had paid a senior customs official VND2 billion (JPY10 million or about $86,000) in cash. The newspaper also reported that in August last year, Bac Ninh tax authorities had asked Tenma Vietnam to pay tax dues, including corporate income tax, worth JPY89 million ($826,400). Tenma Vietnam paid VND3 billion (JPY15 million or around $129,000) in cash to tax officials to get the tax lowered to JPY2.6 million ($24,300), the report said. On May 1, Tenma announced on its website that the CEO implicated in the bribery will announce his resignation at a shareholders meeting in June. The company is being investigated for bribing foreign officials and violating unfair competition laws in Japan. Bac Ninh customs officials have denied the allegations. Pham Chi Thanh, deputy head of Bac Ninh Customs Department, said that Tenma, as a firm involved in processing for export, is eligible for zero import and value-added tax duties under Vietnamese law. This means its imported goods does not have to pay any tax, and allegations that customs officials have received bribes for reducing the company's tax dues are baseless, he said. Ngo Xuan Tong, director of Bac Ninh Taxation Department, said that apart from the newspaper report, his department has not received any official document from Japanese authorities on the matter. He said that the department had only fined the company VND500 million ($21,500) for its delay in paying income tax on a portion of revenue, which are not related to the above-mentioned import tax incentives. Tenma Vietnam was established at the Que Vo Industrial Park in Bac Ninh Province in 2007. It produces plastic parts for vehicles and household items. Two previous instances of Japanese companies bribing Vietnamese transport officials to the tune of $262,000 and VND11 billion ($473,000) respectively have been recorded. Around 50% of Luxembourg's primary school pupils are heading back to school this Monday. The other half will return to the school desks on Wednesday. Luxembourg's primary schools were closed for 10 weeks. During this period, pupils were forced to rely on remote learning. Everyday school life will not be the same than before the outbreak of the pandemic. Classes were split into smaller groups of a maximum of 10 children (12 for "Cycle 4"). Classes will also alternate on a weekly basis. This means that each group will have to be physically present every second week. Annick Goerens / RTL Radio Letzebuerg 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. Only this week all children have to go back to school - but not all at the same time. Group A will be physically present on Monday and Tuesday while group B has to go to school Wednesday to Friday. This decision was taken so that each pupil can see their teacher before the Pentecost holidays. A number of additional safety measures have been implemented. School desks are placed apart and classes have their breaks at different times. Some exceptions apply for the Cycle 1, which includes the two mandatory years of kindergarten. The youngest children do not have to wear face masks and can move more freely inside the classroom. The supervision of the pupils and school meals will be free of charge until the summer break. 52% of all children will still be supervised at school during the home learning weeks. Almost a third of all pupils will also be looked after between 1pm and 4pm. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) One of the countrys well-known local clothing retailer has assured its customers of their stores safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Bryan Lim, one of the owners of Suyen Corporation which supplies the Bench clothing brand, shared their stores are now using ultraviolet lights to disinfect items touched by customers. Lim noted Bench and other clothing stores under the Suyen umbrella are still not accepting returns for safety reasons. We do not accept returns. We also utilize UVC lights to disinfect items that might be returned in the event that we have no choice but to accept it, said Lim. In their salons, Lim said they will be using dividers and observe strict physical distancing protocols to further avert the spread of the virus. They also provided UV sterilizers for the salon equipment that will be used. The salon industry is lobbying that we should open. Of course, (we will observe) safe distancing of people from one meter to two meters apart, he added. The Department of Trade and Industry announced last week it is mulling the possibility of allowing hair salons and barber shops in areas with loosened restrictions to spur economic activities. Under the updated guidelines on community quarantine released last Saturday by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, salons and barber shops are allowed to operate a maximum of 50 percent of its venue capacity only if an area is placed under modified general community quarantine. Lim emphasized that despite the two-month suspension of business operations due to the government-imposed lockdown, they are still having sales among their products. He highlighted their hand sanitizers were heavily sold and there was a strong demand in online orders on their undergarments, homeware, and sleepwear products. I guess they cant reuse their old clothes too much anymore because they also want to proudly feel good at home in spite of the pandemic thats happening, noted Lim. Lim also reported they donated hand sanitizers to frontliners of the COVID-19 crisis. Lim appealed to the national government to intensify its contact tracing efforts, which may start in any of their clothing stores. We need to be able to ensure the government that we are also able to contact trace in the event that there are consumers that might be infected and we need contact tracing. We need to assure them that we could cooperate with local government units and proper authorities, he said. In 1982 the then-North Georgia College Alumni Council erected a Memorial to honor former students who were killed in the service of our country during time of war. As interest in the project increased, the concept was expanded to include a marker to record the names of students who died while enrolled. Dahlonega Architect Steve Gallant designed the memorial for the Alumni Council. North Georgia College personnel prepared the site. The stones were cut, finished, and erected under the direction of Mr. Joe Findley, President, Elberton Granite and Finishing Works, Elberton, Georgia. The University of North Georgia Plant Operations, Landscape and Grounds department maintain the Memorial Wall. On April 30, 1983, Dr. John H. Owen, President, of then-North Georgia College, and General William J. Livsey, Class of 1952, dedicated this Memorial. In 1985, Mr. Robert L. Owens, Chairman of the Fine Arts Department, North Georgia College was commissioned to sculpture an eagle to be cast in bronze and added to the Memorial site. Mr. Chad Colley, Class of 1966, dedicated this eagle, Freedoms Vigil. This monument stands as a silent Memorial to those former students who died for their country to preserve the light of freedom, and to the memory of those enrolled students whose life was cut short. The names of those individuals are listed below. Wreaths and flowers are placed at Memorial Wall by contributors to the UNG Eagle Fund. MY late father, Eric Garside, from Well End, Buckinghamshire, took part in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. At the time, he was a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, having joined in January 1937. He was called up in early 1940 when he was halfway through his officer training course at HMS King Alfred College in Hove, Sussex, and was given orders to proceed immediately to Sheerness Basin. My father kept logs of the two vessels he commanded, which were Elizabeth Green and Andorra II. Elizabeth Green, a 43ft 6in motor cruiser, was built by H Milland of Twickenham in 1935. She was one of the first of the privately owned rescue vessels to help in the evacuation of Dunkirk and, on her second trip, was one of the last to leave. Her role is exceptionally well documented. Not many of the young skippers, especially the young naval crews hastily detailed to command these unfamiliar and unarmed civilian vessels, kept a detailed log. But Sub-Lt Garside compiled an hour-by-hour account of his first nine days of active service. Not that he was ever likely to forget it. It all started at 18.05 on May 28, 1940 when he left Sheerness Basin bound for Dover, towing a whaler. The remainder of the crew comprised a seaman and two stokers. Sub-Lt Garside lost touch with his convoy when one engine failed but the crew were able to repair it. Next morning they refuelled and left for Dunkirk where they arrived at 15.30 amid heavy enemy bombardment. They were sent on to La Panne beach where they began towing whalers full of troops to offlying ships. At 16.00 they saw the paddle steamer Crested Eagle go down. At 18.00 the Viewfinder was dragged ashore by Belgian troops and she was never refloated. At 19.00 the Hanoura fouled her propeller and was abandoned. Elizabeth Green picked up her crew and transferred them to the minesweeper HMS Lydd. Finally, at 21.20, they left La Panne with a full load of troops and the company of the motor yacht Advance. They encountered thick fog on the way and anchored in Pegwell Bay before entering Ramsgate at 06.50, having spent 36 hours at sea and off the beaches without rest. Sub-Lt Garside then made another journey to Dunkirk in the Royal Naval Air Service launch Andorra II for similar operations. At 12.00 on June 1 he left Ramsgate with a crew of five and by 16.30 they were off the beach at La Panne. They then manned a whaler to ferry French troops from the beach to a trawler while being bombed from a high altitude. At 17.45 Sub-Lt Garside set course for home with 23 French troops aboard, arriving at 12.10am on June 2 at Ramsgate where the French troops disembarked. On June 4 Sub-Lt Garside was again assigned to Elizabeth Green. At 16.00 he left Ramsgate with a crew of four seamen and an interpreter to rescue some of the remaining French soldiers marooned at the end of the Dunkirk jetty. The tug Rania towed Elizabeth Green as well as the Clacton lifeboat. By 21.50 the towrope had parted and they proceeded under their own power. This was the last night of the evacuation and conditions were appalling. Officers and men on the ships not only had the hazards of constant air attack, shelling and mines to contend with, but they went for days without sleep and proper food. Near the French coast the water was full of debris, stranded and sinking ships, and bodies. Vessels of all sizes, some of them with their steering disabled, were coming and going, manoeuvring dangerously to evade attacks from the air and from German E-boats. Collisions were frequent and were followed by a frantic scramble to pick up survivors. Elizabeth Green got through to the Quai Jules Faure in Dunkirk harbour. She had carried with her from England a 30-rung ladder, which as one of her crew, stoker D R Nicol, reported they placed from the deck to the sea wall to help 20 or so Frenchmen to climb down to them. On the way home one engine seized up but they succeeded in restarting it and shaped course for Ramsgate. However, the engine died again off Broadstairs. They repaired it and finally arrived at Sheerness at 15.30, 24 hours after they had set out for Dunkirk, with virtually no food or sleep. Sub-Lt Garside behaved with exemplary courage and coolness and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Elizabeth Green ended her war on mine-spotting duties and was often berthed in Sheerness at the same pier that was used by HHS MMS 41, a minesweeper commanded by Lieutenant E T Garside, DSC. After the war she was bought by the late John Knight, then the hon. archivist and a past commodore of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, and appeared in a TV programme about Dunkirk. At present, she is awaiting restoration. After returning to HMS King Alfred College for further training, and also training at Portsmouth, my father was drafted into minesweeping. Of approximately 60,000 men of all ranks drafted into minesweeping, of which a very large proportion came from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, about a quarter never came home. Some were lost clearing mines after the war was over. Coronavirus India Live Updates : India has recorded the highest ever spike of 6,977 COVID-19 cases and 154 deaths in India in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the country now at 1,38,845, including 77,103 active cases, 57,720 cured/discharged and 4,021 deaths, says the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's latest data. Meanwhile, Indian skies opened up for domestic passenger services today after a gap of two months, with Delhi-Pune and Mumbai-Patna flights being among the first to take off. The operator of the Mumbai international airport said on Sunday it would resume commercial passenger services on domestic routes from May 25. A long queue of passengers could also be seen at the Delhi airport's Terminal-3 as the airport resumes flight operations from today. Follow BusinessToday.In Live blog for all the latest updates on coronavirus pandemic in India 6.24 PM: Tamil Nadu coronavirus cases Tamil Nadu reported 805 new coronavirus cases and 7 deaths reported today, informed State Health Minister C Vijayabaskar. Of the new cases, 549 cases are from Chennai. 407 patients have been discharged today. The total number of positive cases in the state has risen to 17,082. 6.18 PM: Karnataka COVID latest updates Karnataka Health Department has reported 93 fresh coronavirus cases and two deaths today. This takes the total number of COVID-19 cases to 2,182, including 1,431 active cases and 44 deaths. Karnataka reports 93 fresh cases & two deaths, taking total number of cases to 2182 and deaths to 44. Number of active cases stands at 1431: Karnataka Health Department pic.twitter.com/QDOEKpUBax ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 6.17 PM: Coronavirus latest updates: Unchecked visitors from India behind rising cases in Nepal, says PM Oli People from India are coming in without proper checking which has contributed to the further spread of coronavirus in Nepal, said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in his address to the nation. He further claimed that fatality due to COVID-19 in Nepal is less in comparison to other countries of South Asia. 6.06 PM: IN PICTURES: People queue outside liquor store in Puducherry Buyers line outside a liquor store in Puducherry amid coronavirus lockdown People form long queue outside a liquor shop in Puducherry amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/7WY3EIRUXs ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 4.23 PM: Delhi-Ghaziabad border to be sealed like it was done during lockdN PCTURES:N own 2, till further orders: Ghaziabad Dist Admn Delhi-Ghaziabad border to be sealed like it was done during lockdown 2, till further orders: Ghaziabad Dist Admn Those providing essential services, including media personnel, don't need pass, IDs sufficient. Ambulances and vehicles for essential services will also be allowed. pic.twitter.com/caSGJVuyUk ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 25, 2020 4.12 PM: 40% travel, tourism firms may shut down in 3-6 months Around 40 per cent companies operating in the travel and tourism sector are staring at the risk of complete shutdown over the next 3 to 6 months, says a report, even as the domestic flights resume operations after over 2-month suspension due to lockdown. Also, nearly 36 per cent of such companies are likely to witness a temporary shutdown, according to the report by BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker in partnership with seven national associations like IATO, TAAI, ICPB, ADTOI, OTOAI, ATOAI and SITE. Also read: Coronavirus effect: 40% travel, tourism companies may shut down in 3-6 months, says report 4.05 PM: Indians soar in the skies: Puri Indians soar in the skies again! A beautiful live capture from Flight Radar 24 shows how our skies look busy again as domestic civil aviation recommences in India from today. 3.55 PM: Domestic flights resume in Himachal Domestic flight operations have resumed in Himachal Pradesh. Passengers who have arrived would require to undergo 14 days of institutional quarantine. Himachal Pradesh: Passengers arrive at Kangra Airport to board their respective flights,as domestic air travel resumes from today; 45 passengers from Delhi arrived here. SDM says "They will be sent to institutional quarantine for at least 14 days, admn will further look into it." pic.twitter.com/oeY5yrkZSU ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 3.48 PM: Japan lifts emergency After Japan saw a sharp decrease in the number of cases, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that the emergency imposed nationally to combat coronavirus would be lifted. 3.40 PM: Delhi coronavirus cases Delhi recorded 635 cases of coronavirus on Monday. The total tally now is 14,053 with 276 deaths. Delhi has 7,006 active cases. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the COVID-19 situation is under control earlier in the day. 3.31 PM: Coronavirus cases in Uttarakhand A total 15 COVID-19 positive cases detected in Uttarakhand today. The total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 332, including 58 recovered and 4 deaths. 3.29 PM: Ghaziabad District Magistrate has ordered to seal the Delhi-Ghaziabad border as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the city. The authorities will allow entry to those with pass. 3.10 PM: Gujarat High Court, while delivering an order on poor conditions in Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital, quotes anonymous letter written by a resident doctor which claims that "mismanagement" and "irregularities" there could turn doctors like him into "super spreaders" of coronavirus. 3.00 PM: Coronavirus curfew extended in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district till June 30: Official 2.55 PM: Authorities must consider the importance of maintaining social distancing in flights as shoulder to shoulder seating is dangerous: Supreme Court while hearing Centre's arguments in favour of keeping middle seats in aircraft occupied. 2.50 PM: Supreme Court allows Air India to keep the middle seats occupied while operating its non-scheduled flights to bring back Indians stranded abroad up to June 6. 2.45 PM: SpiceJet resumes passenger flight operations SpiceJet, the country's favourite airline, resumed its domestic passenger flight operations on May 25 after a two month-long lockdown-imposed hiatus. SpiceJet's first flight took-off from Ahmedabad to Delhi at 6.05 am and arrived in the Capital at 7.10 am. Soon after, flights on other sectors took-off in a seamless manner. Some of the sectors that SpiceJet will be operating on the first day include Delhi-Bengaluru, Delhi-Pune, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Guwahati, Ahmedabad-Delhi, Delhi-Patna, Mumbai-Bengaluru, Chennai-Bengaluru, Varanasi-Jaipur, Bengaluru-Pune, Delhi-Srinagar, Udaipur-Ahmedabad, Jammu-Srinagar, Chennai-Madurai, Hyderabad-Jharsuguda, Hyderabad-Surat among others. 2.41 PM: Schools to re-open in England from June British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons has announced taking easing of the lockdown to second phase of opening schools. This too shall be done in a phased manner. "I can announce that it is our intention to go ahead with that as planned on June 1st, a week on Monday...this would begin with early years settings and reception, year 1 and year 6 in primary schools," says Johnsons. In case any of the child or staff member show any symptoms, they will have access to testing. 2.38 PM: Tata Group top rung to take 20% pay cut Tata Group's top rung would take salary cuts for the first time in the history of Tata Group. CEOs and MDs of Tata Steel, Tata Motors, TCS, Tata Power, Trent, Tata International, Tata Capital and Voltas as well as Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran are some of the companies top officials to undertake an estimated 20 per cent cut in compensation. The leadership of the conglomerate aims to lead by example and motivate employees and their group organisations as well as ensure business viability. Also read: Coronavirus impact: Tata Group top rung to take 20% pay cut 2.34 PM: Shramik Special Train As many as 760 passengers arrived at Jammu Railway Station today morning by Jammu-Delhi COVID-19 special AC train, says the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. 760 passengers arrived at Jammu Railway Station today morning by Jammu-Delhi #COVID19 special AC train: Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Jammu & Kashmir pic.twitter.com/7mO1zOCTm1 ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 2.25 PM: Coronavirus cases in Karnataka As many as 69 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Karnataka between 5 pm yesterday and 12 noon today. Total number of cases now stands at 2,158, including 1,433 active cases and 43 deaths (two due to 'non-COVID' cause). 2.20 PM: Odisha sees biggest spike in cases Odisha registers its biggest spike in COVID-19 cases on Monday with 103 more people testing positive for the disease, taking to 1,438 the total number of cases in the state: health department official. 2.15 PM: HRD minister on pending Class 10, 12 board exams Pending Class 10, 12 board exams will be conducted at over 15,000 examination centres; earlier only 3,000 centres were planned. Number of exam centres increased to ensure social distancing, minimise travel. 2.00 PM: Jet Airways offers 2 aircraft to evacuation Jet Airways, which suspended services more than a year ago due to cash crunch, has offered two of its Boeing planes for operations under the Vande Bharat Mission to evacuate Indians stranded in foreign countries, according to a communication. The once-storied full service carrier is undergoing insolvency process and its affairs are being managed by insolvency resolution professional Ashish Chhawchharia. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is being implemented by the corporate affairs ministry. 1.50 PM: India ramps up production, over 3 lakh PPEs, N95 masks made daily The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated on Monday that India has significantly ramped up production of personal protective equipment (PPE) coveralls and N95 masks. The ministry said that the country now produces over 3 lakh PPEs and N95 masks every day. "India has significantly ramped up its domestic production capacity of PPEs and N95 masks, and the requirements of the states/UTs are being sufficiently met. Today, the country is producing more than 3 lakh PPEs and N95 masks per day. States/UTs as well as central institutions have been provided with around 111.08 lakh N-95 masks and around 74.48 lakh Personal Protective Equipment," said the ministry in a statement. 1.40 PM: As many as 103 people, including 4 infants and pregnant women each, reach Kochi from San Francisco, United States in a special flight under Vande Bharat Mission. Kerala: 103 people, including 4 infants & pregnant women each, reach Kochi from San Francisco, United States in a special flight under #VandeBharatMission. pic.twitter.com/dlCUV0mElF ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 1.30 PM: Home quarantine must for foreigners Passengers coming from foreign countries will need to give a letter of consent to the effect that they will stay for 7 days at paid quarantine facilities and seven days in home isolation. In some exceptional situations, passengers will be allowed for home quarantine, says UP Home Department. #VandeBharatMission: A special flight with 146 passengers onboard that took off from Doha, Qatar landed at Gaya Airport, Bihar today. pic.twitter.com/GV2lLhkfkM ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 1.15 PM: Special flight arrives from Doha, Qatar A special flight with 146 passengers onboard that took off from Doha, Qatar, landed at Gaya Airport, Bihar, today. 1.04 PM: Safety measures at airports Acrylic sheets have been put up at counters for the safety of staff and passengers. Sanitisers have been installed at many locations at the airport. Till now, two flights from Delhi and Hyderabad have landed here, says Rakesh Sahay, Director, Raipur's Swami Vivekananda Airport. As of now, we have the demand of 46 trains from Maharashtra Govt out of which 5 trains couldn't be run as they were to go to cyclone Amphan affected West Bengal & Odisha. Rest 41 trains have been notified today: Shivaji Sutar, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway https://t.co/owl0GKZl1g ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 12.51 PM: Maharashtra receives 557 Shramik Special Trains "On the Maharashtra government's request, Railways has run 557 Shramik Special trains carrying over 7.70 lakh people so far. Railways' nodal officer and nodal officer of Maharashtra government are in constant touch for planning the trains," says Shivaji Sutar, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway. Status of Corona in Delhi after one week of relaxing the Lockdown | LIVE https://t.co/70B9nXFKoc Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 25, 2020 12.18 PM: We are ready to deal with situation if there is spike in cases of novel coronavirus, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Tamil Nadu: Passengers from different parts of the country arrive at Chennai airport as domestic flight operations resume from today. A passenger at the airport says, I had gone to Delhi for internship, but got stuck there for two months due to #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/2WcGiKdaEN ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 12.17 PM: Around 3,500 COVID-19 cases were reported since fourth-phase of lockdown began: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. 12.16 PM: As many as 3,314 COVID-19 patients are getting treatment at their house, 2,000 admitted at hospitals, says CM Arvind Kejriwal. 11.56 AM: Coronavirus cases in Andhra Number of COVID-19 cases rises to 2,671 in Andhra Pradesh, with 44 fresh cases being recorded in the last 24 hours. Active cases and deaths stand at 767 and 56, respectively, says the Andhra Pradesh Health Department. 11.54 AM: Passengers from different parts of the country arrive at Chennai airport as domestic flight operations resume from today. A passenger at the airport says, "I had gone to Delhi for internship, but got stuck there for two months due to coronavirus lockdown." Karnataka: Till 9am today, there have been 5 arrivals and 17 departures and 9 flights cancelled, at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International airport pic.twitter.com/wBgLrtcm7M ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 11.45 AM: Coronavirus cases in HP Six more people test positive for coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh, taking the number of cases in the state to 210. Fatalities due to COVID-19 rise to 5 in the state with the death of a 72-year-old woman at a Shimla hospital. 11.34 AM: Assam to see 8 flights today Eight flights are arriving at Guwahati airport today, with some of them landing with full passenger capacities. All passengers will be scanned for COVID-19 at the Airport. "People from Assam will be segregated and send to their respective district by buses," says Assam Minister HB Sarma. The number of flights will increase as Kolkata airport starts its operations from May 28 and trains will also start plying so next week will be challenging, says Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. - ANI 11.15 AM: DGCA free to alter travel norms: SC Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India are free to alter any norms it may consider appropriate during the pendency of the matter, said the Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde in Supreme Court today. "Air India shall be allowed to operate non-scheduled foreign flights with middle seats booking for next 10 days", says CJI in Supreme Court while hearing urgent petition filed by Centre and Air India against Bombay High Court order to keep middle seats vacant in int'l flights. "We are concerned about the health of the citizens. The Bombay High Court will hear the matter on 2nd June," justice Bobde said. 11.00 AM: Containment zones in Delhi The total number of containment zones in Delhi is now 90 with 3 new zones added to the list; 41 zones de-contained. 10.46 AM: Bengaluru airport update Till 9am today, there have been 5 arrivals and 17 departures and 9 flights cancelled, at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International airport. - ANI 10.44 AM: Domestic passenger flights resume in India after a gap of two months. The country will see around 600 flight services on Monday, say aviation officials. 10.30 AM: UP CM holds COVID-19 review meeting 10.15 AM: We're strictly following govt's guidelines to ensure safety against COVID19. Today has been a different experience as we're not used to wearing protective gear over our uniforms. All passengers followed the guidelines: A flight attendant on Vistara's Delhi-Bhubaneswar flight. 10.10 AM:Coronavirus cases in Chandigarh 9 new positive cases reported today, taking the total number of positive cases in the union territory to 265: Government of UT of Chandigarh 10.00 AM: US tally reaches 1.6 million The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday reported 1,622,114 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 26,229 cases from its previous count, and said the number of deaths had risen by 1,047 to 97,049. The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by the new coronavirus, as of 4 p.m. ET on May 23, compared with its count a day earlier. The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states. 9.55 AM: Bihar records 180 new COVID-19 cases Bihar has reported 180 new cases of COVID-19 from 15 districts, pushing the tally to 2,574 in the state, the health department said. Of the fresh cases, Nawada and East Champaran accounted for 11 each and the state capital Patna recorded four new infections, it said. The health department, in a tweet late on Sunday evening, said,"63 more COVID-19 +ve cases in Bihar taking the total to 2,574... We are ascertaining their trail of infection". 9.53 AM: India surpasses Iran India on Monday entered to the top 10 worst-affected countries' list in terms of coronavirus cases after surpassing Iran. India's total coronavirus cases have jumped to 1,38,845, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In the last 24 hours, the country reported 3,543 new active cases and 154 new deaths. Iran's coronavirus cases tally stands at 135,701, according to the US' John Hopkins University. 9.43 PM: Coronavirus cases in Rajasthan The COVID-19 death toll in Rajasthan rises to 163 with 3 more fatalities. The total cases 7,028 after 286 more people test positive, including 3,017 active cases. 9.41 AM: Coronavirus cases in MP The COVID-19 toll in Madhya Pradesh rises to 290 with 9 more deaths, including 3 each in Indore and Bhopal; the tally 6,665 with 294 new cases; active cases 2,967. 9.30 AM: India records 6,977 cases India registers biggest single day spike of 6,977 cases, total tally rises to 1,38,845; death toll climbs to 4,021: Union health ministry 9.15 AM: Thermal screening at Bengaluru Airport Thermal screening of passengers being done before their entry into airport terminal building at Kempegowda International airport as domestic flight operations resume today. We're strictly following govt's guidelines to ensure safety against COVID19. Today has been a different experience as we're not used to wearing protective gear over our uniforms. All passengers followed the guidelines: A flight attendant on Vistara's Delhi-Bhubaneswar flight pic.twitter.com/2UzN6hJm7e ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 9.13 AM: The first flight from Delhi's IGI airport since resumption of domestic flight operations, lands at Pune. A passenger who has arrived in the city by the flight says,"I was nervous before the flight but all passengers were taking precautions. Very few people travelling right now". Karnataka: Thermal screening of passengers being done before their entry into airport terminal building at Kempegowda International airport as domestic flight operations resume today pic.twitter.com/5qUV2B9g8B ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 9.12 AM: Visuals from Chennai airport Passengers at Chennai international airport observe social distancing. The number of incoming passenger commercial flights to Chennai are restricted to 25 per day. 9.10 AM: Visuals from the Mumbai airport Passengers arrive at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport as domestic flight operations resume. Maharashtra government has allowed 25 takeoffs and 25 landings every day from Mumbai. The first flight from Delhi's IGI airport since resumption of domestic flight operations, lands at Pune. A passenger who has arrived in the city by the flight says,"I was nervous before the flight but all passengers were taking precautions. Very few people travelling right now". pic.twitter.com/NgBY9L6h4i ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 9.05 AM: Indore reports 56 more cases 56 more COVID-19 cases reported in Indore yesterday. Total number of cases in the district is now at 3,064, including 116 deaths, says the District Health Department. 9.01 AM: Bengaluru airport introduces contactless journey The Bengaluru airport management is introducing a unique feature of parking-to-boarding contactless journey for the passengers as the domestic flight resumes from Monday. In order to contain coronavirus transmission among passengers and staff, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) introduced the new feature of contactless journey right from pre-entry check to security check and boarding. Also read: Coronavirus: Bengaluru airport introduces contactless journey to combat COVID-19 8.50 AM: Lucknow Airport opens for flights Passengers arrive at Lucknow Airport to board their respective flights, as domestic flight operations have resumed from today. Tamil Nadu: Passengers at Chennai international airport observe social distancing. The number of incoming passenger commercial flights to Chennai is restricted to 25 per day. pic.twitter.com/MK1dECbfS2 ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 8.48 AM: Food & beverage shops have opened at IGI Food & beverage (F&B) and retail outlets open at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Terminal-3 as domestic flight operations have resumed from today. 8.47 AM: Jama Masjid to remain closed for devotees today on Eid-Al-Fitr amid the 4th phase of coronavirus lockdown. Passengers arrive at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport as domestic flight operations resume. Maharashtra government has allowed 25 takeoffs and 25 landings every day from Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/ss38dwa8bz ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 8.46 AM: Flight attendants arrive at IGI Flight attendants arrive at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Terminal-3 as domestic flight operations have resumed from today. Amandeep Kaur, a flight attendant says, "We are a little worried but work comes first. We will get PPE kits from the airline". Passengers arrive at Lucknow Airport to board their respective flights, as domestic flight operations have resumed from today. pic.twitter.com/41lKp4qOhi ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 25, 2020 8.45 AM: MoCA negotiations with states conclude Here are two ways voting by mail could hurt Democrats. A first question is how voters would get ballots. Generally, the process begins when election offices mail ballots, or applications for them, to their lists of registered voters, who must have current addresses to be included on those lists. But some groups of voters the young, minorities and the poor relocated more often than others and would be less likely to receive ballots if they did not update their registrations. That may be doubly true now, when economic upheaval has forced many people to move in with relatives, take in boarders or otherwise leave their usual homes. Logic says those frequent movers more often than not vote Democratic. The single biggest factor in determining whether someone is going to have trouble voting is whether their voting record is out of date, David J. Becker, the director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said. Mobility is the biggest factor in that, and its true that mobility is higher among the young and the poor. In many states, in-person voters can update their registration on the spot at their polls. Mail balloting offers no such escape hatch for voters, often Democrats, who have not signed up or have not kept their registrations current. A second question is whose mail ballots are counted once they are sent in. Unlike in-person voting, where every choice is automatically toted on a machine once a voter signs in, a small but significant share of mail ballots are rejected for errors wrong signatures, wrong dates, erroneously marked choices and so on. A new study of Florida elections indicates that rejection rates can vary wildly from county to county, even though the standards for accepting mail ballots are the same statewide. How strictly county election officials enforce those standards, how clear ballot instructions are and how familiar voters are with casting ballots by mail all affect whether a voter is turned down, said Daniel A. Smith, a political-science professor and expert on mail ballots at the University of Florida. In Pinellas County, Fla., which encompasses St. Petersburg, the Republican election supervisor stresses simplicity and clarity in mail ballots. In elections covered in the study, the countys rejection rate for mail ballots was comparatively tiny one-tenth of 1 percent. But across the peninsula, in Miami-Dade County, the rejection rate in the same election was more than 2 percent, or 20-plus times as high. Smoke billows during bushfires in Buchan, a town in the east Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, on Dec. 30, 2019. (Glen Morey/Social Media/via Reuters) Inquiry Focuses on Impact of Australian Bushfires The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements hearing is focusing on the impact of the Black Summer bushfires on people and communities. The head of a royal commission says it has not forgotten the devastation caused by the Black Summer bushfires and their ongoing impact. Opening the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements hearings, chair Mark Binskin acknowledged many communities are still grieving. The tragic loss of life, the destruction of homes, the significant loss of livestock and millions of hectares of forest has been devastating and continues to deeply affect people and their recovery, he said. The royal commission will on Tuesday focus on the impact of the 2019-20 bushfires on people and communities. The witnesses include the Australian Red Cross programs director Noel Clement. The charity faced criticism over the slow rollout of bushfire donations, saying it was retaining some funds for a minimum three-year recovery program in affected communities. Earlier this month, the Red Cross said more than 4000 people had so far received about $80 million in assistance. Other witnesses on Tuesday include experts on the medical and mental toll of bushfires as well as the financial complaints and small business ombudsmen. The royal commission will also hear pre-recorded accounts from two Mallacoota locals, including its school principal. Thousands of people fled to Mallacootas beach after the Victorian town was cut off by bushfire. More than 1500 people were evacuated by the Australian Defence Force, making it Australias largest peacetime humanitarian rescue mission since Cyclone Tracy. The bushfires killed 33 people, destroyed about 3100 homes and burned about 12 million hectares across Australia. By Megan Neil The virus overshadowed the national holiday, which is normally a time to commemorate fallen soldiers. Americans paid a mostly low-key tribute to those who died serving in the US Armed Forces on Monday, with many Memorial Day events cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak that has killed nearly 100,000 people in the United States alone. In some places, scaled-down ceremonies were broadcast online. But the virus overshadowed the national holiday, which is normally a time of flag-waving parades and events to commemorate fallen soldiers, and is usually full of events to unofficially mark the beginning of the summer months in the US. In Fort Walton Beach, Florida, a small group of veterans in uniform gathered in Beal Memorial Cemetery to recite the names of the dead and weave flowers into a wreath in a ceremony that was streamed online. Some of the attendees shook hands with each other and few, if any, wore the face masks that have been recommended as a key measure to stop the spread of the virus. Instead of parades or large memorial events, we can remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in a more private way, Colonel John Sannes, the commander of the US Armys 7th Special Forces Group, told the gathering. Inside the rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, a candle was lit and veterans took turns, two at a time, to silently stand sentry on either side of a wreath over the course of a 12-hour livestreamed ceremony. In New York City, organisers of a usually large parade on Staten Island instead arranged to have a smaller convoy of vehicles drive the route. New York Governor Mario Cuomo took part in a brief ceremony at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum on board an aircraft carrier in New York Citys Hudson River. Wrong message President Donald Trump, who has been criticised for initially downplaying the threat posed by the coronavirus, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, a military cemetery outside Washington. He was joined by Vice President Mike Pence, their wives, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper, among others. Trump, who is eager to have the pandemic-stricken economy in at least somewhat better shape by the fall to bolster his chances of winning re-election in the November 3 vote, did not wear a face mask during his visit to the cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. US President Donald Trump speaking during a ceremony commemorating the Memorial Day holiday at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, US [Joshua Roberts/Reuters] Trump then travelled to Baltimore, to the chagrin of the citys mayor, and noted that tens of thousands of service members and national guard personnel are currently on the front lines of our war against this terrible virus. Trump said brave warriors from the nations past have shown that in America, we are the captains of our own fate. Baltimore Mayor Bernard C Jack Young objected to Trumps visit, saying it sent the wrong message about stay-at-home directives and the city cannot afford the added cost of hosting him when it is losing $20m a month because of the pandemic. That President Trump is deciding to pursue nonessential travel sends the wrong message to our residents, Young said. Packed Beaches The Memorial Day weekend, which is a time when many head to beaches or outdoor barbecues, has seen Americans largely adhering to warnings to maintain social distancing guidelines, but some cities and towns witnessed large crowds, despite the warnings. This years event is particularly sombre because of the rising death toll from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, and the economic devastation brought on by the lockdowns imposed in March and April to stem the pandemic. Economic activity in April ground to a virtual standstill and more than 20 million Americans lost their jobs that month. Total US cases of COVID-19 are more than 1.6 million, the highest in the world, and a total of 97,974 people have died in the US, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. A crowd listening while US President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony commemorating the Memorial Day holiday at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, US [Joshua Roberts/Reuters] Despite nearing that grim milestone, there are Americans who are eschewing the social distancing recommendations. Some beaches in Florida and other nearby states were packed this weekend, forcing authorities to break up large gatherings. Videos posted on social media showed parties in other states where people crowded into pools and clubs elbow-to-elbow. Protests were also held in several cities, with some calling for the reopening of businesses and services. All 50 states have relaxed coronavirus restrictions to some degree. In some states, like Illinois and New York, restaurants are still closed to in-person dining and hair salons remain shuttered. In many southern states, most businesses are open, with restrictions on capacity. People take part in a protest to reopen all businesses after some New Jersey beaches were opened during the Memorial Day weekend following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey [Eduardo Munoz/Reuters] A plea by health officials and many state governors to wear masks in stores and in public is being met with protest and resistance from some Americans. Social media is filled with videos of businesses turning away a few angry customers who refuse to cover their mouths and noses. CAMPAIGNERS in the Goring area hope to claim a share of a 3.75 million fund which has been launched to offset the environmental impact of electrifying the Great Western railway line. Network Rail installed metal gantries at regular intervals along the route, which runs between London Paddington and Oxford, in early 2015 to hold up overhead electrical cables. The structures, which are shaped like goalposts and span the width of the track, were criticised because they gave the appearance of a silver tunnel snaking through the landscape at Gorings southern and northern edges. An action group of Goring and South Stoke residents eventually persuaded the company to install less obstrusive designs on the historic rail bridge at Gatehampton but was told it would be too expensive to roll them out elsewhere. Now the company is funding a joint project by the management boards of the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs Areas of Outstand ing Natural Beauty to improve views of the area. The initiative, called Mend the Gap, will earmark 750,000 to plant trees and shrubs along a 20km stretch of the line between Reading and Didcot. Another 3 million will be spent on more complex landscape enhancement projects. The boards have formed a project committee which includes members of the action group and will discuss how the money could be spent once the coronavirus lockdown is over. It will seek the views of landowners and community groups. Ian Haslam, who led the campaigners, said: We were very happy to take part in this process. It doesnt solve the problem because those gantries are still going to be there but at least we can play our part in mitigating them. Network Rail has already spent a reasonable amount of money on studies showing how to offset the impact, which could help us plan the next steps. Thousands of photographs have been taken along this stretch which illustrate where additional planting could help. Some landowners may not want planting on their land but we hope they will be amenable as it will improve the environment by offsetting carbon. It was hoped that wed start something by this autumn but thats now uncertain given the circumstances. The enhancement projects are more loosely defined for now but weve had some provisional ideas which could include signage. Its a five-year project so there will be time to decide these things. Years ago, the group threatened legal action against Network Rail, claiming it was failing in its legal duty to conserve or enhance the AONB. It still believes this but accepts it would be unlikely to succeed in court. Mr Haslam said: Were all working together amicably. It doesnt feel like a victory as wed rather see the gantries replaced or altered but were taking a practical attitude and working to ensure the money is spent effectively. Governments are implementing surveillance technologies to monitor and control the spread of COVID-19. Credit: Shutterstock The coronavirus pandemic has stirred up a surveillance storm. Researchers rush to develop new forms of public health monitoring and tracking, but releasing personal data to private companies and governments carries risks to our individual and collective rights. COVID-19 opens the lid on a much-needed debate. For example, Google and Apple teamed up to offer privacy-preserving contact-tracing help. The scramble for data solutions is well-meaning, but whether they work or not, they generate risks beyond narrowly-defined privacy. Everyone has extensive digital recordshealth, education, employment, police contact, consumer behaviourindeed, on our whole life. Privacy is much more than shielding something we'd rather not share; surveillance also affects our chances and choices in life, often in critical ways. Early computerization obliged governments to see that regulation was needed as personal data was collected for more and more purposes. At first the data came from credit cards, driver's licences and social insurance; today it's constant device-use. But privacy regulation alone can't keep pace with today's supersystems for data collection, analysis and use that generate the kind of negative discrimination that demands data justice. Surveillance and profit Shoshana Zuboff's book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism is making headlines for its close analysis of how Google achieves its surveillance, why and with what consequences. Zuboff insists that a new mode of economic accumulation has been rapidly emerging ever since internet-based platformsled by Googlediscovered how to monetize the so-called "data exhaust" exuded by everyday online communications: searches, posts, tweets, texts. Beyond the loss of privacy, she sees the destruction of democracy and behavioural modification, citing a former Facebook product manager who says the "fundamental purpose" of data workers is to influence and alter people's moods and behaviour. One cannot miss Zuboff's cri de coeur and its scathing rebuke to the "radical indifference" of these platforms. But what will it take to persuade us that today's surveillance has become a basic dimension of our societies that threatens more than personal privacy? Surveillance is complicated, arcane and apparently out-of-control but those don't excuse our complacency. Rather, they're reasons for digging into some of the main dimensions of surveillance, prying open black boxes and reasserting human agency. Let's disturb some common assumptions that surveillance is about video cameras, state intelligence and policing, producing suspects and challenging privacy. Google assuredly does surveillance, which is commonly defined as "any focused, routine, systematic attention to personal details, for the purpose of control, influence or management." Personal devices mainly smartphones provide a way to constantly track and monitor our movements, habits and consumption patterns. Credit: Guillaume Bolduc/UnSplash It's not just CCTV cameras, it's also smart devices Yes, it's our laptops, phones and tablets. Surveillance is now digital and data-driven. For too long, the stereotypical icon of surveillance has been the video camera. The French roots of the word surveillance means to "watch over," which is what cameras do. And these are becoming smarter, when enhanced by facial recognition technology. Clearview AI, for instance, scrapes billions of images from platforms such as Facebook or Google, selling services to major police departments in the United States and, until recently, Canada. But today, what deserves to be the stereotypical icon is the smartphone. This, above all, connects the individual with corporations that not only collect but analyze, sort, categorize, trade and use the data we each produce. Without our permission, our data are examined and used by others to influence, manage or govern us. Data analysis enables predictionand then "nudging"of specific population groups to buy, behave or vote in hoped-for ways. It's not just the state, it's the market While the state and its agencies often overreach through intelligence and policing strategies, it is the market and not the state that holds the cards in the surveillance game. Few noticed in the early 20th century that department stores, like Syndicat St-Henri in Montreal, kept detailed customer records, giving or withholding credit according to their status. A pivotal moment was 9/11 when high-tech companies, craving customers after the dot-com bust, offered their services to government. Today, our massively augmented data profiles indicate value to businesses. Those data are valuable to others too, like election consultants. An NBC report on technology, surveillance and the social credit system in China. Surveillance is for sorting Surveillance and suspects once belonged neatly togetherthose who were thought to be miscreants were watched. But in this big data era, all personal details are up for grabs. What French sociologist Jacques Ellul worried about in 1954 has transpired: the police quest for unlimited information makes everyone a suspect. But Ellul never guessed how this could morph into a global network of systems, far beyond policing, in which everyone becomes a target. But everyone is not targeted in the same way. Surveillancewhether for welfare, commerce or policingsorts populations into categories for different treatment. This social sorting works in marketing to organize consumers. In China today, social credit systems are used by the government and commerce to monitor and rank citizens' behaviour and social capital. This is not only about privacy, it's also about data justice. Surveillance is a challenge to digital rights, because it is based on fundamental inequalities and unfair practices. Vulnerable groups discover their disadvantages are deepened. Privacy laws rightly protect an individual's right to privacy of movement, home and communication in a democratic society. But we need a radical new direction, prompted by our knowing how data analytics, algorithms, machine learning and artificial intelligence are reshaping our social environment. The analysis and uses of the data have to be addressed, invoking new categories such as digital rights and data justice. Surveillance challenges Just scratching the surface of 21st-century surveillance reveals how vastly things have changed. The landscape of surveillance has shifted tectonically from following suspects, watching workers and classifying consumers to monitoring and tracking everyonenow for public healthon an unprecedented scale. Privacy is undoubtedly a casualty, and so are basic freedoms of democracy, expectations of justice and hopes for social solidarity and public trust. These demand serious attention, not just from policy-makers and politicians, but from computer scientists, software engineers and everyone who uses a device. Explore further Public concern about smartphone location tracking to combat COVID-19 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Clorox (NYSE:CLX) stock has enjoyed an unexpected surge thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. As panic set in related to the contagion, consumers cleared stores of consumer staples, and stocks like Clorox benefited. However, the spread of the virus has appeared to slow in recent days, and consumers have less trouble finding necessities. Moreover, even if a second wave of infections appears, the demand for cleaning products may not match the levels of the first wave. Due to these factors, Clorox has no obvious catalyst for another leg higher. Clorox stock has long remained a steady performer Clorox encompasses much more than bleach and the disinfecting wipes. The company also owns numerous other consumer products, such as Kingsford charcoal, Brita water filters, and Burt's Bees personal care products. As a company, Clorox typically produces consistent sales and annual dividend increases but little else. However, the company has quietly served its stockholders well. Clorox stock has more than tripled in value over the last 10 years. Also, the dividend yield, which is slightly above 2.2%, is modestly higher than the S&P 500 average dividend return of approximately 2%. With its 42-year track record of annual payout hikes, it has brought its shareholders a steadily rising income stream for decades. Nonetheless, thanks to the recent buying spree in consumer staples, sales rose by 15%, including a 32% increase for cleaning products. Also, diluted earnings per share (EPS) rose 31% from the same quarter last year. The 30% year-to-date increase in the stock and the sudden popularity of its cleaning products have drawn attention in recent weeks. This helped Clorox stock avoid a significant downturn in February. Even though it has corrected recently, Clorox stock trades within 7% of its all-time high. Clorox lacks obvious additional catalysts Still, the immediate future appears to bode poorly for Clorox stock. For one, new infection rates have begun to slow. This has occurred even as segments of the economy have reopened. News from China and other countries indicates that the potential remains for a second wave of the virus. Still, shoppers stocked up on consumer goods during the original threat. Even if another run on consumer products occurs, it will probably not match the level of buying stores saw in the first wave. Moreover, the CDC determined that COVID-19 is less likely to spread from surfaces than it had initially feared. This fact alone may dampen the demand for disinfecting wipes. Furthermore, current valuations will offer little help to Clorox bulls for now. The forward P/E ratio has risen to 28.3, well above the five-year average of 23.8. Also, for all of the focus on increased sales, analysts expect only single-digit earnings increases, both in fiscal 2020 and in the years to come. The company's projections back this up as they forecast that diluted EPS will move between 6% and 9% higher in the current fiscal year. This takes the price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio to 5.0. To put that multiple into perspective, some consider a PEG ratio above one "expensive." Clorox stock looks like a hold This is not to say long-term investors should sell Clorox stock. Like other consumer staples stocks, the company sells products needed in the daily lives of the populace. Though these products have numerous competitors, analysts still expect revenue and profits to rise. Admittedly, at a dividend payout ratio of 64.7%, the percentage of profits going to the dividend could concern some investors. However, walking away from a 42-year streak of payout hikes could rattle investors. Both Dividend Aristocrat funds and many income-oriented investors might dump the stock en masse if such an event occurred. Since Clorox can continue the payout hikes, the company will probably proceed with annual dividend increases for the foreseeable future. However, Clorox stock appears to have run out of new catalysts. Even if a second wave of COVID-19 sweeps the world, the reduced need for disinfecting wipes makes it less likely that Clorox would benefit. Long-term bulls will continue to profit from Clorox. However, given the probability of lower demand and the stock's elevated valuation, investors should not buy at this time. He has reportedly been offered 5 million to write a third series of his hit show After Life. And Ricky Gervais looked in good spirits as he went for a walk with his partner Jane Fallon in London on Monday. The comedian, 58, cut a casual figure in a plain black t-shirt and shorts as he enjoyed the lockdown outing. Stepping out: Ricky Gervais and his partner Jane Fallon went for a walk near their Hampstead home on Monday Meanwhile Jane, his partner of 38 years, looked similarly monochromatic in an all black outfit. The author, 59, looked stylish in leggings, trainers and a black top as the pair enjoyed the good weather. The couple both wore sunglasses as they made the most of their Bank Holiday together. It comes after Ricky called for celebrities to be banned from 2021's New Year Honours List. All black: The couple looked ready for the balmy Bank Holiday Monday in all black active wear Lockdown looks: The comedian, 58, cut a casual figure in a plain black t-shirt and shorts as he enjoyed the exercise Co-ordinated: Jane, Ricky's partner of 38 years, looked stylish in leggings, trainers and a black top The comedian 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. '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. Matching: The couple both wore sunglasses as they made the most of their Bank Holiday together 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? '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'. Heroes: The comedian said only NHS and frontline workers should instead be rewarded for their bravery during the coronavirus pandemic Happy: Ricky lives with his partner Jane in a luxury 11 million home in Hampstead (pictured at the Golden Globes in January 2020) He continued: 'We all want to be happy. We don't know how to do it. Sometimes we're sold bad advice. '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. If you subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLives Morning Briefing or Oregon Coronavirus News email newsletters, you may have noticed a new feature: The reader Q&A. Readers send in questions. We do our best to get answers. When we have an answer, we publish the Q&A in one of the newsletters. Questions specifically about coronavirus go into the coronavirus newsletter and sometimes the Morning Briefing newsletter. Other questions go into Morning Briefing. Heres a look at 10 recent Q&As. A reader sent a question about how the state presents its tally of coronavirus cases. Q: What does presumed mean? And why is that added to the total number of cases when they are presumed? And if they are presumed, why arent they tested to see if they actually have it? - S.P. A: We forwarded this reader question to reporter Brad Schmidt, who's been covering coronavirus testing in Oregon. Here's his reply: A presumed case is someone who has coronavirus symptoms and has been exposed to someone with a confirmed infection, but has not yet been tested for or received results of a coronavirus test. Such individuals are encouraged to be tested. Upon testing, an individual would be recategorized in state data to positive if the person tests positive. If the person tests negative, the individual would remain in the states presumptive category unless a more likely alternative diagnosis is made, such as the flu. To learn more, see the Oregon Health Authoritys interim investigative guidelines for the novel coronavirus. Q: Who is being tested, to get these numbers? - L.M. A: Reporter Brad Schmidt, who's been covering coronavirus testing, replies: The testing and infection numbers reported each day by The Oregonian/OregonLive come from the Oregon Health Authority, the state agency responsible for public health. The Oregon Health Authority this month began encouraging testing for anyone with coughing or shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. The state also recommends testing for anyone with at least two of the following symptoms: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or new loss of taste or smell. In earlier months, as testing supplies were scarce, the state set more restrictive criteria about who should be tested. State officials discouraged testing people with mild symptoms who did not need to see a doctor. Q: Does the state Department of Human Services track COVID-19 cases in adult foster care homes, in addition to nursing homes/facilities and assisted living facilities? - M.L. A: We forwarded this question to health reporter Fedor Zarkhin. His answer: DHS does track adult foster home cases. But they dont release the names of the homes or say exactly how many cases or deaths they have, out of concern for privacy. The state suggests calling the homes to find out if they have a case. As of May 1, seven adult foster homes reported confirmed cases of COVID-19, and three had suspected cases, according to DHS. And, according to the Oregon Health Authority, two adult foster homes have either three or more cases, or one or more deaths. Q: If its so contagious and so deadly, why are they sending people who test positive home to be with their families? Quarantining at home to infect their family members doesnt make any sense. - G.L. A: Gary Walker, director of communications for Providence Health & Services' Oregon region, replies: Most hospitals took this approach to ensure we had beds for the sickest patients, and we could utilize our caregivers to provide care to those who needed it the most. CDC guidance makes clear that all COVID patients do not need to be hospitalized: Not all patients with COVID-19 require hospital admission. Patients whose clinical presentation warrants in-patient clinical management for supportive medical care should be admitted to the hospital under appropriate isolation precautions. Some patients with initial mild clinical presentation may worsen in the second week of illness. The decision to monitor these patients in the inpatient or outpatient setting should be made on a case-by-case basis. CDC also provides guidance for isolating and caring for patients at home. Q: Im a paramedic and Ive been in close contact with someone who has (COVID-19) symptoms almost every day, albeit with appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) in place. Does that mean Im not allowed to get my hair cut or get a tattoo? - G.S. A: Dr. Paul Cieslak, senior health advisor at the Oregon Health Authority, sent this reply: Healthcare personnel who consistently and correctly use the recommended PPE during any contact with COVID-19 patients would be able to use personal care services like salons or tattoo parlors. Q: I feel like we have done a good job of not allowing any fear or paranoia about the coronavirus to seep into our house. My kids seem, generally, unconcerned about whats going on. But I wonder if there are deeper impacts that this is having, even if they tell me theyre good, and they seem fine? - M.W. A: We forwarded this question to Allan Cordova, a licensed psychologist with The Children's Program in Southwest Portland. Here's his answer: My guess is that you've been successfully "titrating" news and information - giving the kids what they need to know in order to stay healthy and safe, but not over-sharing or burdening them with worries that are beyond their developmental level. This accomplishment depends on the ability to manage and regulate our own anxiety, as well as sensitivity to what our kids need and can handle. So, well done! Depending on age and developmental level, children register negative impacts in different ways - e.g. with younger kids, we tend to see behavior changes and physical symptoms, whereas with older kids, we may see moodiness, irritability, or withdrawal, or they may verbalize distress. At this point, Id encourage you not to worry - if the kids are telling you theyre good, and they seem fine - theyre probably doing fine! If and when signs of distress show up, youll rely on the same parenting skills youre relying on now: helping the kids regulate their emotions, sticking to some semblance of predictability and routine, and modeling how to be strong and resilient in the face of uncertainty. Q: When are essential state services, like DMV, going to reopen for the public? -P.D. A: The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles website says six of its offices are currently open by appointment for commercial drivers only. The website says, "DMV offices in counties that have been approved for Phase 1 reopening will remain closed to the public, except for those already offering commercial driver appointments." According to the website, law enforcement officials are granting a grace period for expired driver credentials and permits. Some DMV services are available online or by mail, such as vehicle registration renewal and accident reporting. For more information, visit the DMVs COVID-19 page. Q: Whatever happened to the cruise ship comedian who left quarantine and came back to Oregon? (This question came in via The Oregonians free text alert service; send a text to 503-782-5730 to start getting news alerts.) A: Frank King was working on a cruise ship in February when it made an emergency docking in Cambodia due to the coronavirus outbreak. King boarded a flight to Seattle, then went home to Lane County. He told The Oregonian/OregonLive in February that the ship he was on, the Holland America Westerdam, was not quarantined and that he was tested by Centers for Disease Control workers who told him there was no reason for him not to leave. King was subsequently fired from the cruise ship job; he said recently that he received death threats and had to change his phone number and temporarily deactivate his social media accounts. He continues his work as a suicide prevention speaker and as The Mental Health Comedian. Q: I would like to send in an obituary. Who do I send it to? - L.J. A: Call 503-221-8000 or email obits@oregonian.com. Q: Has The Oregonian/OregonLive or the private company that owns it (Advance Local) applied for or received federal Paycheck Protection Program or other funding made available through the CARES Act? - J.B. A: Neither The Oregonian/OregonLive nor Advance Local applied for or received any CARES Act funding. Got a question youd like us to answer? Email it to newsletter@oregonian.com. Then, if youre not already a newsletter subscriber, sign up for free. If we can answer your question, youll see it in a future newsletter. awang@oregonian.com; Twitter: @ORAmyW Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. New Delhi/London, May 25 : A Pakistani man, who was trying to mobilise Sikhs against India over Kashmir in England, attacked the Guru Arjan Dev shrine in Derby on Monday morning. He was later identified and arrested. As per the statement of the gurdwara, at around 6 a.m., "an individual entered the gurdwara premises causing thousands of pounds of damage. We can confirm that no individual was injured and that the clean-up process has begun." The gurdwara described the vandalisation of the shrine as a hate crime. The CCTV footages of the person, copies of which were accessed by the IANS, showed smashed glass doors of the gurdwara, glass shards scattered all over the floor and a man inside the premises. The vandal left a hand-written note in broken English on a piece of paper in the gurdwara, making an appeal to Sikhs to "help people in Kashmir". Strangely, besides scribbling 'Pak Allah Pak' in a corner of the paper, he had also provided a phone number. Police later identified the man and arrested him, sources told IANS. In its statement, the shrine authorities said, "This hate crime or any sort of crime against a Sikh will never deter us in our practice of seva (service) and simran (prayer). We will continue the service for the community with langar and continue to stream live nitnem (daily prayers). We will ensure the safety of all our sevadars (volunteers) and employees." The shrine is dedicated to the fifth of the 10 Sikh gurus who compiled the first official edition of the Sikh scripture 'Adi Granth'. Attacks on Indians and Indian-origin people in London are rampant. Last year in August, Indians and people of Indian origin, who had gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London to celebrate the 73rd Independence Day of India, were abused and pelted with eggs and water bottles by Pakistan-sponsored protesters. UPPER THUMB With parts of the state reopening and restrictions being lifted on retail businesses Tuesday, Tuscola County reported another coronavirus-related death and seven new confirmed cases Monday. According to information released by the state, Tuscola County had 185 confirmed coronavirus cases Monday, an increase of seven from the weekend where no additional cases were reported. An additional coronavirus-related death was also reported in Tuscola County, bringing the total death toll in the county to 23. Sanilac County reported one additional confirmed coronavirus case Monday, bringing its total to 40 cases and five deaths. Huron County remained at 42 confirmed cases and one death. Across the Upper Thumb, Monday's numbers bring the totals to 267 confirmed coronavirus cases and 29 coronavirus-related deaths. Statewide, Michigan reported 202 additional confirmed coronavirus cases Monday and an additional 12 deaths. This comes as testing has been ramping up across the state. Huron and Tuscola County Health Officer Ann Hepfer said in a press release last week that health officials are looking for people to test. "We really want to test, so please, any essential worker, that means anyone who is working is eligible for testing," Hepfer said. Testing is available in Huron County in the Great Lakes Bay Health Center parking lot Monday and Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Starting June 3, testing will also be available Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. Testing is weather-permitting. In Tuscola County, drive-thru testing is available in the Tuscola County Health Department parking lot Tuesday, May 26 from 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, May 28 from 4-6:30 p.m. Hepfer said people no longer need to bring a doctor's lab order to be tested. To be tested, people need to meet one of the following requirements: People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or at least two of these symptoms: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell. Health care or first responder, with or without COVID-19 symptoms or exposure. All essential workers with or without COVID-19 symptoms or exposure (if you are working you are essential). 65 and older with chronic health conditions. After a gap of two months, domestic passenger flight operations resumed on Monday amid reluctance by various states to open up their airports in view of rising cases of the novel coronavirus. While the first flight took off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45 am under strict regulations recommended by civil aviation authorities, large number of flights were cancelled on Monday across the country. Delhi Airport says due to states allowing fewer flights, there has been at least 82 cancellations as of now on Day 1. Delhi Airport was supposed to handle 380 flights on Day 1, 190 each arrival and departure. As per Delhi Airport, the latest figures indicated that arrivals will stand at 118 flights, while departure will be at 125 flights, leaving 82 total flights as against scheduled plan. Both these figures can change if there's an unexpected cancellation in other states and airports. However, states like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling cases of the coronavirus infection in their states. The West Bengal government did not relent to a request by the civil aviation ministry to allow flight services. It was decided on Sunday that the state will gradually permit domestic flights from May 28 under strict guidelines. Andhra Pradesh too did not allow any flights on Monday. Airlines were jittery in resuming services as multiple states have put in place separate norms and conditions for quarantining passengers arriving there by domestic flights. The government last week announced the resumption of domestic flight services from May 25 under specific rules and guidelines like a cap on ticket pricing, wearing of face masks by passengers, no food served on board planes and making available details of medical conditions by travellers through the Aarogya Setu app or by filling up of a self-declaration form. With Inputs from Pti Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow handled nine domestic flights with over 800 passengers as the air travel in the country resumed on Monday after a gap of two months. Domestic and international flight operations were stopped by the Union government in March to check the spread of coronavirus. The government last week announced the resumption of domestic flight services from May 25 under specific rules and guidelines like a cap on ticket pricing and wearing of face masks by passengers. The UP government had said air travellers to the state will be home quarantined for 14 days unless they are staying for less than a week or clear the coronavirus test earlier. Airport Director AK Sharma told PTI that 355 passengers arrived in three flights on Monday. Of these, two flights came from Delhi and one from Ahmedabad," he said. Sharma said 452 passenger departed from Lucknow in six flights. Three flights headed to Delhi and one each to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Mumbai," he said, adding that three flights were cancelled. Sharma said necessary precautions such as thermal screening and social distancing are being taken. Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said those arriving in the state will have to stay under home isolation for 14 days. "On the sixth day from their arrival, one can get themselves tested, and if they are tested negative for COVID-19, their home quarantine will be ended," Prasad added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) YEREVAN. The National Assembly (NA), represented the majority My Step faction, has not given guarantees that the violence against the opposition and the fight will not be repeated within the framework of the work of the NA. Edmon Marukyan, leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party (BAP) and its parliamentary faction, said this at a press conference in the legislature on Monday. According to him, the BAP intends to take part in the forthcoming NA sitting, which will take place Tuesday. "Now we will be careful and vigilant so that such a thing does not happen again," Marukyan added, noting that the authorities not only did not condemn what happened in parliament, but also encourage such behavior. To note, on May 8, a scuffle took place in the NA between Edmon Marukyan and Sasun Mikaelyan, an MP of the ruling My Step bloc, which led to a mass brawl in the legislature. Ralph Northam, Virginias governor, toured Virginia Beach with his entourage on Saturday. He stopped to talk with folks, at least one of whom took a selfie with Northam. Northam and his fan were no more than a foot apart when the woman snapped the selfie. The governor has instructed Virginians to maintain a social distance of six feet. Northam was not wearing a mask. Although Virginia hasnt yet required that masks be worn, Northam says we know that these masks. . .protect folks, they save lives. . .especially indoors. Northam was outdoors when he toured Virginia Beach, but it would seem to follow from his pronouncements that he should wear a mask when a foot or less from a stranger. Northam is expected to issue a policy on masks as part of his phased reopening plan for the state. He has said that mandatory mask wearing could be a component of his plan. Readers may recall that Northams executive orders led to the pastor of a Virginia church being cited for holding a church service. There were sixteen people in the church sanctuary, which seats 225. The congregation in question serves, among others, recovering drug addicts and former prostitutes. So its okay for Northam, without a mask, to have close encounters with constituents, but not okay for sixteen people seeking spiritual healing to spread out in a church with a seating capacity of 225. Its difficult to take government pronouncements and policies regarding the pandemic seriously when leaders behave like Ralph Northam. A viral video captured the moment furious New Yorkers chased an unmasked shopper out of a grocery store in Staten Island. In the 21-second clip, which has racked up more than one million views online, at least five customers are seen berating a woman for not wearing a mask inside the crowded store despite the state requiring everyone to do so. 'Get the f**k outta here,' the customers shout as the woman appears to throw up her hands in frustration. She eventually admitted defeat and made her way out of the store while a few shoppers trailed behind her to make sure she left. A viral video shows furious New Yorkers chasing a shopper out of a grocery store in Staten Island because she wasn't wearing a mask At least five customers are seen berating the unidentified woman (above in white) inside the store, shouting: 'Get the f**k outta here!' as they pointed toward the door. The woman appeared to shout back at the crowd while throwing her hands up in frustration The footage was posted on Twitter by McAuley Holmes on May 24. Holmes told Heavy he didn't witness the chaotic scene himself but found the video on Reddit. It's unclear which grocery store the confrontation unfolded at. The video is part of a wave of 'mask shaming' on social media. In this case, the target was someone not wearing a mask, but in many others people have been filmed heckling people for choosing to wear them. All New York residents have been required to cover their nose and mouth in shops and other areas where social distancing isn't possible since April 17 under a mandate from Governor Andrew Cuomo. Facial coverings have proven effective in stemming the spread of coronavirus, which has sickened more than 362,760 people and killed an estimated 23,490 in the state as of Monday. The woman eventually admitted defeat and made her way out of the store Several other states including Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Rhode Island and Hawaii also require people to wear some form of face covering in public. There appears to be a growing political divide over wearing masks in the US, as many who oppose coronavirus-related restrictions refuse to acknowledge their effectiveness. Polling shows that Democrats are more likely to report wearing masks than Republicans, although Republicans are more likely to wear masks in states with Democratic governors. In recent weeks several videos have emerged of people in red states ridiculing others for choosing to wear face coverings. President Donald Trump and other members of his administration have questioned the need to wear masks - while health experts are largely in agreement that they are an important tool in slowing the spread of coronavirus. Their vessel was heading from the port of Lome (Togo) to the port of Libreville (Gabon) when pirates attacked. Seven Ukrainian nationals, all part of the crew of the Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC TALIA F who were captured by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea on March 22, were released from captivity. That's according to Dmytro Kuleba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. "On March 22, pirates captured seven Ukrainian nationals, crew of MSC TALIA F, in the Gulf of Guinea. The Ukrainian Consul, the Ukrainian Embassy in Nigeria, and the ship owner had joined efforts toward their release. I'm happy to finally inform: our sailors are already free, safe, and will soon be heading home, the top diplomat wrote on Twitter. As UNIAN reported earlier, seven Ukrainian sailors from the MSC Talia F container ship, flying the flag of Madeira, Portugal, have been captured by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Africa. The vessel was heading from the port of Lome (Togo) to the port of Libreville (Gabon), the Seafarers journal.com said on March 22. There were 17 crew members on board. During the attack, the pirates captured seven sailors, all of them are reportedly Ukrainian nationals. Invesco's Kristina Hooper warns the coronavirus is not the biggest threat to the market. She sees flaring U.S.-China trade tensions potentially doing the most harm to stocks. "The pandemic has largely been isolated and neutralized because of all the monetary policy support that the Fed has provided," she told CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Friday. "That really has decoupled the economy from the stock market." Unlike the pandemic, Hooper contends a tariff war resurgence would be a direct hit to the market. "As we saw in late 2018 and 2019, the tariff war was very, very problematic. It created a big headwind for stocks [and] a bigger headwind than for the overall economy, " she said. "That could be happening again this time around." Wall Street has been getting rattled by intensifying rhetoric between the U.S. and China over who's to blame for the virus' deadly spread. Beijing announced a plan for new security measures against Hong Kong late last week, which sent the Hang Seng to its worst session in about five years. President Donald Trump, who considers the move a human rights violation, warned Washington would react "very strongly" in response. Last Wednesday, the Senate approved passed legislation that could force Chinese companies to delist from U.S. exchanges. Even though Hooper is on alert, her base case is the war of words between the two countries is rhetoric, and it ultimately won't derail progress on the trade front. And, she still lists China's stock market as her top global play. "They're on the other side of the pandemic now. They're actually starting to see economic activity improve," added Hooper. "Plus, valuations look very, very attractive." However, her bullishness on China doesn't mean she's avoiding U.S. stocks. "I think of them as complementing each other. China has a very different risk reward profile than the U.S. does. The U.S. has a lot of defensive names that are being supported by monetary policy," noted Hooper. "For Chinese stocks, there's that growth opportunity." To cope with the threat of a U.S.-China trade war resurgence, Hooper advises long-term investors to stay well-diversified. "The biggest lesson we learned from the global financial crisis was to not abandon stocks because that's how we lock in losses," Hooper said. "Maintain disciplined, long-term asset allocations." Disclaimer Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 00:18:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- With the approval of the Central Military Commission, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) sent face masks, protective suits and other medical supplies to the militaries of Russia, Mongolia and Timor-Leste on Friday and Sunday to help them combat COVID-19. The PLA vowed to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic and make contributions to building a global community of health for all. Enditem Police have stressed that no explosives were involved in the rally, while one video suggests that the black smoke is actually coming from the smoke bombs that have been set off. Two persons have reportedly been detained in what appears to be a street action outside the building hosting the office of Viktor Medvedchuk, Russian President's main political operative in Ukraine and leader of the Opposition Platform For Life Party. Videos from the scene shot by eyewitnesses show a cloud of black smoke coming from the backyard of the office in central Kyiv a fenced-off area which is normally heavily guarded by a private security firm. One video shot at the scene suggests that the black smoke coming from the scene is that of the smoke bombs, while police have stressed that no explosives were involved in the rally. Unconfirmed reports claim police allegedly detained at least two persons involved in the incident. The photos of the building posted by PavlovskyNews show the building's walls being vandalized by red paint, which could also be the result of today's action. Pavlovsky News says it is members of the National Corps organization who are protesting outside Medvedchuks office, chanting that Medvedchuk and his party traitors working in favor of Russia. Clashes are also reported between protesters and Kyiv police. Later, the National Corps via its Telegram channel has confirmed that its members were behind the protest action outside Viktor Medvedchuk's office, recalling that his party leadership's visits to Moscow and St Petersburg for talks with Russian authorities should be interpreted as state treason. National Corps members thus protest the fact that no legal action has been taken against the party and its members. The story has been updated with the new video and information about the National Corps involvement. Former Navy SEAL and NY Times Best-Selling Author, Jack Carr On Thursday, May 28, 2020, the SEAL Family Foundation will host a Virtual Town Hall with special guest, Jack Carr, U.S. Navy SEAL, LCDR, USN (Ret.) New York Times Bestselling Author of Savage Son. Jack Carr led special operations teams as a Team Leader, Platoon Commander, Troop Commander and Task Unit Commander over his 20 years in Naval Special Warfare. He transitioned from an enlisted SEAL sniper to a junior officer leading assault and sniper teams in Iraq and Afghanistan, to a platoon commander practicing counterinsurgency in the southern Philippines, to commanding a Special Operations Task Unit in the most Iranian influenced section of southern Iraq throughout the tumultuous drawdown of U.S. Forces. After retiring in 2016, Carr has gone on to become a New York Times Bestselling Author, penning the three-book series consisting of: The Terminal List, True Believer, and his most recent novel, Savage Son. The Terminal List series has been picked up for an Amazon TV series starring Chris Pratt. The SEAL Family Foundation Town Hall Live will offer a live discussion with Carr, exploring this prolific author who shares his Navy experiences via these popular novels. The moderated discussion will share how being a Navy SEAL prepared him for lifes issues and challenges. All funds raised from the Town Hall go to support the SEAL Family Foundations programs focused on building individual and family resiliency in Naval Special Warfare. The session will be hosted by former Navy SEAL Brent Gleeson, Founder and CEO of TakingPoint Leadership, and bestselling author of TakingPoint. Gleeson serves on the Board of Directors for the SEAL Family Foundation. Registration is now open at https://bit.ly/JackCarr_TownHall_SEALfamilyfoundation - with the offering of two donation tiers of $50 and $100. With a $100 donation, registrants will receive a signed copy of Savage Son. Register the patriotic dads in your life, this is a Fathers Day gift they wont forget. The SEAL Family Foundation recently hosted its inaugural town Town Hall with Retired USMC General James Mattis, the 26th US Secretary of Defense. Tickets to view the recording of this broadcast and receive an autographed copy of General Mattis book Call Sign Chaos can still be purchased at https://www.crowdcast.io/e/51420-town-hall-live. JACK CARR Jack Carr is an author and former Navy SEAL Sniper. He is the author of The Terminal List, True Believer, and Savage Son. He lives in Park City, Utah where he is writing his next novel. Visit him at OfficialJackCarr.com and follow the journey on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @JackCarrUSA. SEAL FAMILY FOUNDATION Founded in 2008, The SEAL Family Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization focused on delivering specialized programs in direct support of Naval Special Warfare (NSW) families. By delivering customized individual and family readiness programs specifically targeted to assist the unique needs of the NSW community, we seek to assist in maintaining a resilient, sustainable, and healthy force in this era of persistent conflict and frequent deployments. MEDIA CONTACTS: Jana Gober jana.gober@sealfamilyfoundation.org Alaine Bollinger Abollinger@BDandH.com Veterinarian Dr Margie Bale saves a dog's life and is pushed up against a wall by the collar by the dog's owner. She operates on a horse in the middle of the night and receives a hurl of abuse by the owner over the bill. Dr Bale offers to help but asks for the fee and is judged and thrown out of a property by an owner. Queensland veterinarian Dr Margie Bale loved working as a clinical vet but the pressures of the job made her turn away from it. The stories of the pressures Dr Bale endured are endless, but not uncommon. Spain has had a pending task when compared to other developed countries: poverty and how to combat it. A glance at the international statistics is enough to prove that: 21.5% of the population is at risk of poverty, compared to the 17% average in the eurozone. Whats more, the policies that exist to correct this problem have not been efficient. The coalition government led by the Socialist Party (PSOE) and junior partner Unidas Podemos is seeking to solve these problems with a guaranteed minimum income scheme, as has been announced repeatedly by Social Security Minister Jose Luis Escriva. The coronavirus pandemic has sped up the implementation of guaranteed basic income Since the government made clear that it was looking to have the scheme ready by this month, the numbers have changed somewhat. At the outset, there was talk of the scheme benefiting a million at-risk households, in which around three million people live. But now the scheme is set to reach 850,000 families, made up of some 2.3 million people. The estimated cost, meanwhile, is around 3 billion. What will be agreed tomorrow at a Cabinet meeting is not yet clear, but as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Saturday, the scheme will be launched this week. The plan was the star measure of the coalition government, and the plan was to launch it during the political term. But while the coronavirus crisis has brought labor, fiscal and pension reforms to a halt, the pandemic has sped up the implementation of guaranteed basic income. But the process has not been without its conflict in the government. In April, Unidas Podemos leader and Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias wanted to launch an extraordinary benefit scheme to help victims of the economic effects of the coronavirus crisis who had been left with no income. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (l) and Unidas Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias in Congress on Wednesday. Pool (Europa Press) Escriva, an economist who already had a project prepared from his time as the head of Spains Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility, argued that the work to roll out an extraordinary payment and a structural one was the same. He also pointed out that the majority of the collective who would benefit from the scheme were the same people who had been struggling before the coronavirus crisis arrived. This was the direction the coalition government opted to take, in exchange for an acceleration of the process, so that it would be approved in May and ready to be rolled out in June. A lot of the details of the scheme have been made public. For example, the benefit will guarantee a minimum income for households according to their family situation. Drafts of the legal text define up to 14 types of family, something that was confirmed on Sunday by Escriva in an interview with El Periodico de Cataluna. The lowest rate will be 462 a month for adults who live alone, and the highest 1,015. But the scheme will complete family income to those levels, rather than paying out that amount. To be eligible, claimants will have to be of legal age and under 65, given that above that age there are non-contributory pensions, which pay out a minimum of 462. If the beneficiaries live alone, they must have been emancipated for at least three years and be at least 21 years old, according to a draft to which EL PAIS has had access. The lowest rate will be 462 for adults who live alone, and the highest 1,015 As for means testing, the initial government plans include using past years tax returns of beneficiaries. But sources from Social Security say that they are trying to find more recent references to include those who have suffered from the economic consequences of the coronavirus crisis. Assets will also be taken into account, but this will not include the usual family residence. When it is implemented, the guaranteed basic income scheme will not be the only assistance in Spain aimed at combating poverty. All of the regions, which have powers for social assistance under the Constitution, offer some kind of welfare schemes. They reach around 300,000 homes, but their distribution is very uneven. According to data from the Association of Directors and Managers of Social Services, in the Basque Country, benefits reach more than 70% of those in poverty, and in Navarre, 66%. In Castilla-La Mancha, however, the figure is as low as 2%. The average in Spain is below 10%. Both of these schemes will be compatible, but it is fitting them together that is causing most work for the government. Some regions are distrustful of the fact that the Social Security system will administer the scheme, and it is not out of the question that appeals could be filed with the Constitutional Court once the decree is approved by the Cabinet and parliament. The government, meanwhile, has defended its powers to act in this area and points out that assistance for dependent children is also paid out by Social Security. English version by Simon Hunter. MONTREAL - Cirque du soleil founder Guy Laliberte says he wants to buy back the internationally celebrated circus company he created more than 35 years ago. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONTREAL - Cirque du soleil founder Guy Laliberte says he wants to buy back the internationally celebrated circus company he created more than 35 years ago. Laliberte, who sold his remaining shares in the famed circus last February, told a popular television show Sunday night he wants to put an ownership team together and buy the company back. Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte speaks at a news conference in Montreal Monday, April 20, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz "Today, I took the decision to embark on the purchasing process," he said on Radio-Canada's Tout le monde en parle. The circus, however, owes more than $1.25 billion to creditors and has been shut down since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Laliberte said the circus company he created in 1984 "gave me so much and if I can help, we'll be there." He sold the 10 per cent he had remaining in the company to Quebec's pension fund, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, last February. The amount wasn't made public but the value of that block of shares has been estimated at more than $100 million. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Theatre directors Franco Dragone of Italy, and Robert Lepage of Quebec have both shown interest, Laliberte said, in relaunching the Cirque du soleil. The Quebec government has signalled it was ready to help the circus financially. Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon confirmed last week the provincial government was in talks with potential investors. Montreal-based media giant Quebecor has also voiced a desire to buy a stake in the company. Laliberte said his intention was to keep the headquarters of the celebrated circus in Montreal and to hire mainly Quebecers to run the company. The Cirque du soleil recently received an urgent injection of funds to help bridge the company through the crisis and pay back creditors. Its three principal shareholders TPG Capital, Chinese company Fosun and the Caisse gave it about $70 million. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. Taking a dig at Railway Minister Piyush Goyal over diversion of the Vasai Road-Gorakhpur Sharmik Special train via Odisha, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Monday said their only request is that a train carrying migrant workers should reach its destination as announced. Shiv Sena's ally Congress also took a dim view of the train diversion, saying the government was "taking migrant workers on a country tour" without providing them food and water. Both the allies also criticised Goyal after he said on Sunday night that his ministry was ready to run 125 Shramik Special trains from Maharashtra provided the state government furnishes a list of eligible migrants to the Mumbai- headquartered Central Railway in an hour. However, the NCP, which is also an alliance partner in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government, said Goyal and his ministry are under pressure and their efforts to run the trains should be appreciated. The Vasai Road-Gorakhpur Sharmik Special train to Uttar Pradesh, which left from Palghar on May 21, was diverted to a different route via Odisha due to heavy congestion. It reached Gorakhpur two-and-a-half days later, when it should have reached the destination in about 25 hours. Amid the political slugfest over the Shramik Special trains, Goyal on Sunday night said, "We are ready to provide 125 Shramik Special trains to Maharashtra." "Since you have said that you have a list ready that is why I am requesting you to please provide all information like from where the train will run, the list of passengers according to the trains, their medical certificate and where the train is to go, to the General Manager of Central Railway within the next hour, so that we can plan the time of trains, the railway minister tweeted. Commenting on it, Raut on Monday tweeted: "Maharashtra government has given you a list of workers who wish to return home. The only request is that the train should reach the station, as announced earlier." "The Gorakhpur bound train had reached Odisha," the Sena's Rajya Sabha member further said. He also asked Goyal if the Railway Ministry had made any such list while running the Nagpur-Udhampur migrant train on May 14. "Was there any proper list compiled for Nagpur- Udhampur train service on May 14. Can he make public what efforts were taken before running the train. Why is he now demanding the list," Raut said in a tweet targeting Goyal. Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant also hit out at Goyal for asking the state to provide a list of migrant workers in an hour, and over the diversion of the Gorakhpur-bound train via Odisha. "You invite people telling it is going to Japan but you end up taking them to China, Without giving any food and water, the government is taking migrant workers on a country tour. The Modi government has become, by far, the worst, unsuccessful and irresponsible government," Sawant said. Asked if the railway minister was politicising the issue, senior NCP leader Praful Patel, however, said the Indian Railways and Piyush Goyal are also under pressure to run the trains. "Their efforts should be respected. We appreciate that they are providing trains so that people can reach home," Patel said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) During these times, there are so many Americans who have really risen to the challenge, done more than anyone could ask, more than anyone could expect. We want to make sure that we remember them and we thank our heroes of today. I know that I feel a grave responsibility to our frontline workers, our essential workers who understood the dangers of this Covid virus, but went to work anyway because we needed them to. We needed the nurses and the doctors to perform phenomenal service in the hospitals. We needed the police, the fire department, the E.M.S. to show up. We needed the frontline workers in grocery stores to show up, so others could stay home and be safe. And in many ways that is a microcosm of what were here talking about today on Memorial Day. But, as John F. Kennedy said, Remember with your actions. And today were saying we honor that service and were going to make sure that every government in the state of New York provides death benefits to those public heroes who died from Covid-19 during this emergency. I also believe the federal government should be doing the same: honoring the frontline workers, showing Americans that we appreciate what you did. That you showed up when it was hard. That you worked when it was hard. You appeared for duty when it was, it was troubling to do so. And Im sure many people were afraid to show up, but they showed up anyway. (Natural News) Presumptive Democratic Nominee Joe Biden has found himself in hot water after making racially charged comments alleging that African American voters who support President Donald Trump come November, are not black. The former Vice President made the comments during the latter part of a loaded interview with the radio program The Breakfast Club on Friday. During the show, co-host Charlamagne tha God grilled Biden over his positions on racial issues, as well as his commitment to African-American voters a reference perhaps to Bidens past work as a senator, wherein he publicly opposed measures to ensure equal treatment for the African-American community by authoring bills against school integration in the 1970s despite positioning himself as a champion of civil rights. He was also questioned over several pressing issues such as criminal justice reform and marijuana legalization, as well as his role in the creation of the controversial Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 or the Crime Bill. According to his most vocal critics, the Crime Bill helped lay the groundwork for mass incarcerations throughout the country an issue that predominantly affects African-Americans. The interview, which was already contentious for the most part, took an unexpected turn after Biden asked to cut the conversation, noting that he had been notified by an aide that his wife, Jill Biden, had an engagement and would have to use the same basement studio he was using. As heard on the original broadcast, Charlemagne attempted to stop Biden, telling the former Vice President that You (Biden) cant do that to black media. Biden then retorted that he can do that to white media and black media, because my wife has to go on at 6 oclock. Charlemagne then attempted to defuse the situation and asked Biden to drop by the program again come November this year, noting that he had more questions to ask the former Vice President. It was at this point that Biden launched into a rapid-fire tirade defending his record with the black community. You got more questions but I tell ya, if you have a problem figuring out whether youre for me or Trump, then you aint black, Biden said, before elaborating on what he said was a spotless record highlighted by endorsements from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The radio host then shot back, noting that their conversation had nothing to do with the current president, but rather, to his community. The exchange spawned numerous satire articles and memes mocking Joe Biden, including this one: You Aint Black Enough CRACKERS, a new food fundraiser for the Joe Biden campaign, manufactured in Whitesplains, Virginia. Biden has since issued an apology, noting during a call with the U.S. Black Chambers, an African-American business group, that he had been cavalier and that he came off as if he was taking the African-American vote for granted. Ive never ever done that, and Ive earned it every time Ive run. I was making the point that I have never taken the vote for granted. And in fact, I know in order to win the presidency, I need the African-American vote, Biden stressed during the call, noting that support from the African-American community was the driving force behind his win during the primaries. Biden also said during his call that he shouldnt have been such a wise guy, and that no one should have to vote for any party based on their race, their religion, their background. Critics, however, have since lashed out at the career politician including progressives and Democrats. The comments were offensive, insensitive, out of touch Its just not good for the presumed future leader of the Democratic Party in our nation to say anything like that, Yvette Simpson of the progressive group Democracy for America, said, noting in a statement published in ABC News that Biden believes he is owed African-American votes. I think he believes that anybody who doesnt like Trump is automatically going to vote for him. And that he doesnt have to earn the vote of base voters, whether they be women or black and brown people or what have you. Thats false, Simpson added. The NAACP has also fired back at Biden, with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson noting on CBSN Friday that Biden should not assume that he has the full support of the African-American community during the election. Republicans, not surprisingly, have also launched a wave of criticism on the 77-year-old career politician, with Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, describing Bidens comments as offensive and patronizing to black voters. That is as arrogant and offensive and demeaning as I can imagine in this time we are living, the South Carolina senator said in a statement published on Newsweek, urging Democrats to not only disavow Bidens remarks, but also, to tell Biden to stop making similar statements, which he described as merely race-baiting that has no place in the 21st Century. Symone Sanders, Bidens senior adviser, has since clarified Bidens remarks, noting in a statement that the comments were made in jest. The comments made at the end of The Breakfast Club interview were in jest, but lets be clear about what the VP was saying: he was making the distinction that he would put his record with the African American community up against Trumps any day. Period, Sanders said. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com Politico.com NBCNews.com FoxNews.com Reuters.com CBSNews.com 1 ABCNews.go.com CBSNews.com 2 Newsweek.com CNBC.com Digital transformation ministry developing service for e-copies of documents 12:40, 25.05.20 506 The new service will see a high level of personal data protection. Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convenor and MP Hanuman Beniwal demanded a CBI inquiry on Monday in the suicide case of a police inspector in Rajasthan's Churu district. He said the suicide of Vishnu Dutt Vishnoi, who was the SHO at Churu's Rajgarh police station, was an unfortunate incident. "The staffers of Rajgarh police station have given a joint application for their transfer after the SHO's suicide. They have mentioned political pressure from the local MLA behind their request. In view of the fact that the SHO was under political pressure, a CBI inquiry is needed to bring out the truth," Beniwal said. He said the RLP will run a campaign on social media demanding a CBI inquiry and justice to Vishnoi. The body of the station house officer (SHO) was found hanging in his quarters on Saturday morning. In a suicide note addressed to the Churu superintendent of police (SP), he said he was not able to bear the pressure that was created around him. The screenshot of a WhatsApp chat between the deceased police officer and an activist, who was his friend, has gone viral on social media, in which the SHO had said he was being trapped in dirty at the local level. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Deputy Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Rajendra Rathore, have blamed local Congress MLA Krishna Poonia for allegedly putting pressure on the deceased police officer, a charge she has denied. The incident is being probed by the CID-CB of the state police and a case for abetment of suicide has been lodged against unidentified persons. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Easton didnt have a Memorial Day parade on Monday. Being that the city remains in Gov. Tom Wolfs red zone shutdown during the coronavirus, gathering bands, military vehicles and veterans of past conflicts to honor the countys war dead before residents packed along the Eastons main street seems like not the safest of plans. So, no parade. So how would residents remember our war dead? Moving ceremonies. A local unit of the Pennsylvania State Defense Force -- a volunteer group that isnt armed and focuses mostly on search and rescue when it trains one weekend a month -- made a request, Lt. Col. (retired) George Karelas, of Palmer Township, said after the busy morning wrapped up in Eastons Scott Park. We wanted to make sure that we didnt forget Memorial Day in light of the present situation with the virus and the restrictions, he said. We asked the mayor if we could still represent the veterans (on) Memorial Day and still do the ceremonies that weve done with the wreaths. And he said absolutely. The group, in military garb and medical masks, carried the nations colors from 15th and Northampton streets -- the western edge of the West Ward -- to the eastern edge of Downtown. No major announcement was made so the sidewalks were mostly empty as the small group with a police escort passed by. Cars honked, a woman hollered I love you, another woman stood in the street and waved a small American flag, a man in a Navy T-shirt saluted and another man stood at attention on his front stoop. One person who meant to be rude -- not right -- yelled This aint no parade. And it wasnt. It was more of a personal display on the move as it finally picked up some politicians at Sixth and Northampton and headed Downtown for the annual wreath ceremonies at Centre Square, on the Northampton Street free bridge and in Scott Park. Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and state Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, did the ceremonial duties, even filling in for the Phillipsburg mayor who usually meets Panto on the bridge before a wreath is tossed over the side. It was a more lengthy walk in cadence than the traditional Memorial Day parade, and that was intentional. We took a longer route, Karelas said, reminding that the area didnt get a military flyover thank you. ... This town, the least we could do is walk the entire length of Easton with our colors to kind of bring the spirits up, let everyone know this thing is not holding us down, were going to continue. Were going to participate with this Memorial Day event. The group is generally made up of retired military or others who served, Karelas said. But it has a special one-year program for those considering the military, he said. One former member of that part is in his second year at the United State Military Academy at West Point, Karelas added. The state defense force -- there are similar units in central Pennsylvania and in the Pittsburgh area -- is rather new to the Easton area and basically exists to assist during natural disasters and similar emergencies, Karelas said. But on Monday, the only thing it rescued was a tradition. The marchers wanted "to basically keep the memory going, he said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a voluntary subscription. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Nine cases of coronavirus disease were registered on Monday in Burkina Faso, bringing the total number of people infected since 9 March to 841, the government information service (SIG) announced NEW SCOTLAND An 87-year-old man shot and killed his 75-year-old wife before killing himself early Monday in shootings that Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said appeared to have been motivated by the couple's concern about their medical problems. The gunfire happened in a home they shared at 51 Oak Hill Road. "Sadly, at this point, it's looking like one of those stories where they basically wanted to go together," Apple said, "and he was in fear of losing her." "It's heartbreaking." Authorities were awaiting autopsy results to determine the causes of death but that he didn't think it would lead investigators down a different path. "We don't expect to see anything shocking come out of that," he said, adding that "everything seem to be pretty apparent about what happened." Deputies were called to the home to investigate the gunfire shortly after midnight Sunday. The woman was already dead and the man was mortally wounded. He died later Monday morning at Albany Medical Center Hospital. A few weeks earlier, the couple chartered a flight to return from their winter home in Florida and a daughter had moved from another state to assist them with their medical care, the sheriff said. Apple said he was not sure of the nature of the medical problems. The struggles, he said, were described to investigators by the family of the dead. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The sheriff said there was no sign of a struggle. "It appears he shot her and then tried to take his own life," Apple said. A sheriff's deputy's patrol car remained parked at the end of the long driveway throughout the day Monday but most of the evidence gathering seemed to be over by mid-morning. Yellow crime scene police tape remained wrapped around two mail boxes sitting atop wood posts. As of late Monday afternoon, authorities had not released the name of the two people. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (R) fills Jim Beam Distillery's 16 millionth barrel of bourbon, as Master Distiller Fred Noe looks on, at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Ky., on Feb. 17, 2020. (Bryan Woolston/Getty Images) Protesters Who Hung Effigy of Kentucky Governor Draw Bipartisan Condemnation Protesters who hung an effigy of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear at a rally at the state capitol have received condemnation from Republicans and Democrats. As a Second Amendment rally was being held on May 24 outside the Kentucky state Capitol in Frankfort, a group of protesters hung the effigy on a nearby tree. A sign on the effigy read, sic semper tyrannis, which translates to thus always to tyrants, a phrase famously used by John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. Kentucky House Democrat leaders condemned the protesters vehemently in a statement. Hanging Governor Beshear in effigy is beyond reprehensible, they wrote. Doing this in front of our Capitol, just a short walk from where the Governor, First Lady, and their two young children live, is an act that reeks of hate and intimidation and does nothing but undermine our leading work to battle this deadly disease and restore our economy safely. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, joined the Democrats to denounce the disturbing incident. As a strong defender of the First Amendment, I believe Americans have the right to peacefully protest. However, todays action toward Governor Beshear is unacceptable, McConnell wrote on Twitter. There is no place for hate in Kentucky. Adams denounced the activities as disgusting. The words of John Wilkes Booth have no place in the Party of Lincoln, he said. Its unclear if the people who hung the effigy are with an organization and whether the hanging was a planned part of the rally. Take Back Kentucky, one of the organizers of the rally, said in a Facebook post on May 22 that the rally is to celebrate freedom, and to fight back against the unconstitutional shutdown over Coronavirus. Beshear ordered most businesses to close in March. On May 7, he said that some businesses can reopen gradually starting May 22 with restrictions. Take Back Kentucky didnt respond to a request for comment. A man with a Three Percenter band around his arm helped hang the effigy, the Courier-Journal reported. Patsy Kays Bush, state secretary of Kentucky 3Pencenters Inc., told the newspaper that she was against hanging the effigy and didnt want it to hurt the groups image, but said she supported marching to the governors mansion. Beshears spokeswoman, Crystal Staley, condemned the act, saying it was wrong and offensive. This type of behavior must be condemned. As Kentuckians we should be able to voice our opinions without turning to hate and threats of violence, she said. Key to South Korea's innovation in containing COVID-19 is publicly disclosing detailed information on the individuals who test positive. Credit: Goldcastle7 South Korea is a standout in the current battle against COVID-19, largely due to its widespread testing and contact tracing; however, key to its innovation is publicly disclosing detailed information on the individuals who test positive for COVID-19. These measures prove more effective at reducing deaths among than comprehensive stay-home orders, according to new research from University of California San Diego, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Chicago. The COVID-19 outbreak was identified in both South Korea and in the United States on Jan. 13. As of May 22, South Korea had 11,142 cases and the United States had 1,571,617. From day one of the spread of the virus, South Koreans received text messages whenever new cases were discovered in their neighborhood, as well as information and timelines of infected persons' travel. In a new National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper, researchers combined detailed foot-traffic data in Seoul from South Korea's largest mobile phone company with publicly disclosed information on the location of individuals who had tested positive. The results reveal that public disclosure can help people target their social distancing and this proves especially helpful for vulnerable populations who can more easily avoid areas with a higher rate of infection. "Our data shows that South Korea's public disclosure information was effective in changing citizens' behavior to drive down the rate of infection, without government-imposed lockdowns," said co-author Munseob Lee, an assistant professor of economics at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy. "This pattern is particularly pronounced during the weekends and among those over the age of 60." Seoul, with almost 10 million inhabitants, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Yet, as of May 22 the city had only 758 confirmed cases and three deaths. "These numbers are remarkably low in comparison to cities of similar size," the authors of the NBER paper write. The city did not implement wide-spread social isolation restrictions; however, like other local governments in the country, the capitol provided inhabitants information in real time via text messages on individuals that had tested positive. In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Government developed a dedicated website and a mobile app to enable residents to access real-time information. Loss of privacy and benefits of public disclosure A typical alert can contain the infected persons' age and gender, and a detailed log of their movements, which is based on contact tracing combined with data from cell phone and credit card records. This strategy was made possible because South Korean laws on managing and publicly sharing information on patients of infectious diseases changed significantly after the MERS outbreak in 2015. In the event of a national health emergency, the country's laws empower the Korea Centers for Disease Control Prevention to use GPS data, surveillance camera footage and credit card transactions to recreate infected persons' route a day before their symptoms showed. According to the authors, this publicly available data spurred significant changes in the commuting patterns of people: individuals were more likely to commute to the districts with less confirmed cases, and less likely to commute to the districts with more cases. "To be clear, disclosure of public information infringes upon the privacy of the affected individuals," said Chang-Tai Hsieh of the University of Chicago. "We do not attempt to measure the cost of the loss of privacy, but whenever such measures are available, they can be compared against the benefits of public disclosure we provide here." Comparing public disclosure to lockdowns To further measure the welfare effect of South Korea's strategy, the researchers used data on Seoul's resident movements and confirmed cases through the lens of standard epidemiology model augmented with economic geography to predict the spread of disease throughout the city. Their estimate is that over the next two years the current strategy in Seoul will lead to a cumulative 925,000 cases, 17,000 deaths (10,000 for those 60 and older and 7,000 for ages 20 to 59) and economic losses that average 1.2 percent of GDP. The researchers then took these results and compared them to a model of a partial lockdown in which there is no public disclosure. To be able to compare "apples to apples" the model projects that at least 40 percent of population would have to stay at home for about 100 days in order to have the same number of confirmed cases as in the full disclosure model. In this model, the number of cases remain the same, as designed, but deaths increase from 17,000 to 21,000 (14,000 for those 60 and older and 7,000 for ages 20 to 59) and economic losses increase from 1.2 to 1.6 percent of GDP. "Our research shows that public disclosure mostly helps the elderly more effectively target social distancing which in turn saves more lives, at least 4,000, according to our projections," the authors noted. Containing COVID-19 while mitigating economic suffering While death rates among the older populations are significantly higher under lockdowns, those under 60 suffer economic losses twice as high, compared to South Korea's current strategy. "The flow of people across neighborhoods generates economic gains from the optimal match of people with the place of work and leisure," said David Argente of Pennsylvania State University. "In the current strategy, individuals with a high health risk commuting to a neighborhood with many detected cases can change their commuting pattern, while individuals with low health risk can make a different choice." They added, the individuals who can easily substitute between working in the office and working at home can do that, while others where the substitution is costly can continue to commute to work. In contrast, a lockdown does not discriminate between individuals with different cost/benefit ratios for social isolation. In South Korea, the impact of the pandemic led to a 1.4 percent drop in real GDP in the first quarter of 2020. Still, the decline was much less than the 9.8 percent plunge in China, which enforced across-the-board lockdowns in large parts of the country. The authors concluded in the absence of a vaccine, targeted social distancing may be a much more effective way to reduce the transmission of the disease while minimizing the economic cost of social isolation. "We view the public dissemination of information in Korea as one way to accomplish that they write. "We are hopeful that perhaps there could be other more effective ways to target social distancing to get the maximum benefit for the least cost." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak American officials said Sunday they were imposing the ban to slow the spread of the disease. Todays action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country, said the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany. The new travel restrictions will not affect bilateral trade, she said. Mr. Bolsonaros office declined to comment, but his foreign relations adviser said that the ban had been expected and that it was little more than a formality. Ignore the hysteria of the press, the adviser, Filipe Martins, said in a Twitter post. Although as a practical matter air travel has collapsed during the pandemic, the flight ban imposed by an ally is still a public relations setback for Mr. Bolsonaro, who has seen his ratings slide as the outbreak in Brazil has spun out of control. Mr. Bolsonaro has repeatedly tried to reap political capital from his ideological affinity with the American president. He has dined with him at Mr. Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and has had telephone calls with the White House. And he has emulated his American counterpart in policy and in style, promoting the use of an unproven drug against the coronavirus and attacking the news media. Still, Mr. Bolsonaro has found himself repeatedly snubbed by the American government. In recent months, the Trump administration has threatened tariffs on major Brazilian exports and considered vetoing Brazils entry into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a club of the worlds developed economies. Nearing the end of an interview with likely Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, radio host Charlamagne Tha God told Biden that he had to come back, saying, "It's a long way to November; we got more questions..." "You've got more questions," Biden interjects, "but I tell you, if you have a problem figuring out whether you are for me or Trump, then," Biden says, without smiling, "you ain't black." Tha God, waving his hand in emphatic protest, says, "It don't have nothing to do with Trump [Biden smiles broadly], It has to do with the fact that I want something for my community; I would love to see you " Biden, interjecting again, says, with arms extended, "Take a look at my record, man! I extended the Voting Rights 25 years; I have a record second to none ..." Biden goes on to also point out that the NAACP has endorsed him every time he has run. But in pointing to his record, the only specific legislation he mentions is the Voting Rights Act. He speaks as if this alone should settle the electoral issue for blacks as if it were the legislation itself that gave blacks the right to vote. In fact, it does not; what it does is prevent states from employing discriminatory practices that would prevent blacks from exercising that right. The actual right to vote itself, regardless of race, came in 1870, from Republicans. (And it first took a war, the sacrifice of over 360,000 Union dead, to do it.) So if the history of voting rights is to be the deciding factor, Biden's argument cuts, at best, both ways. But for the sake of argument, let us accept Biden's premise: that blacks should vote for him because he has been a longtime supporter of the Voting Rights Act, which has, in some states, effectively allowed much greater black participation in elections. That is to say that, but for Biden, and for people (Democrats) like him, many blacks wouldn't have the right to vote at all. For the sake of argument, let us assume this to be true. Does that then necessarily mean that blacks must vote for Biden? If we say it does, we are saying that, for all time, the only issue that matters for blacks is whether or not a politician supported the Voting Rights Act. Economic policy does not matter; foreign policy does not matter; educational policies do not matter; the freedom or suppression of public speech does not matter; beneficial or detrimental policies generally do not matter; and corruption, corruption, corruption does not matter. All that matters, Biden argues, is that he supported the Voting Rights Act. Biden speaks as if he voted for that act not on principle, but on the expectation that, in supporting it, he would thereafter "own" the black vote. Blacks, in other words, have the right to vote, but only as long as they vote for him. Irish premier Leo Varadkar was pictured meeting friends in Dublin's Phoenix Park yesterday - despite official warnings against having picnics. The shirtless Taoiseach was filmed outdoors with his partner Matt Barrett and two others near Steward's Lodge where he has been staying during the pandemic. Some viewers suggested that the two-metre (6ft) safety distance was not being observed, but Mr Varadkar's office insists he followed lockdown rules. The footage of the Irish premier has emerged just as his UK counterpart Boris Johnson is engulfed in a row over his adviser Dominic Cummings and his alleged breaches of lockdown rules. Irish lockdown rules also ban trips more than 5km from home, and Mr Vradakar was accused of traveling from his personal Dublin flat which was 7km from the park. But the premier is staying in the official residence of the Taoiseach which is within 5km of the park. Ireland's current rules were eased in 18 May and also allow gathering in groups of four as long as they stay 2m apart. A total of 1,608 people have died from coronavirus in Ireland and 24,639 cases have been recorded. Irish premier Leo Varadkar (second left), his partner Matt Barrett (left) and two friends (right, one standing and one crouching) in Dublin's Phoenix Park yesterday The footage shared on social media shows Mr Varadkar holding a cup and standing close to his partner Mr Barrett, who lives with the Taoiseach. One of Mr Varadkar's friends is standing opposite him, while another is crouching on the grass. From the pictures it is impossible to tell whether or not Mr Varadkar's friends are more than two metres (6ft) away. Mr Varadkar has said that social distancing rules remain in force even as Ireland begins to ease the lockdown. Senior government official Liz Canavan last week urged people not to have picnics or stay outdoors longer than necessary if they are exercising. 'If you're visiting a public amenity, try not to stay too long at the site or have picnics. Please do your exercise and then go home,' she said. Mr Varadkar's office told Irish media that he had been in the park with Mr Barrett and two friends 'in line with public health guidance'. The Taoiseach was within the legal limit of five kilometres (three miles) from his residence, his office said. Mr Varadkar 'has been in Stewards Lodge during the last few weeks as it has secure office and video conferencing facilities' allowing him to work there, a statement said. Like his predecessors, Mr Varadkar pays a nightly fee to use the facility, his office added. MailOnline has contacted his office for comment. On Sunday, the coronavirus death toll in Ireland increased to 1,608 after a further four deaths were announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team. Ireland recorded 57 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 24,639. The shirtless Taoiseach was filmed outdoors with his partner Matt Barrett and two others near Steward's Lodge where he has been staying during the pandemic The pictures of Mr Varadkar emerged in the midst of a huge controversy in London where Boris Johnson is fighting to save his top aide Dominic Cummings. Mr Cummings and his family drove more than 250 miles to stay in a different home in Durham after his wife developed coronavirus symptoms. The PM has insisted that Mr Cummings did not break lockdown rules, but some Tory MPs have broken ranks and called for his resignation. Mr Cummings is giving a press conference this afternoon with the story still raging in Westminster. In Ireland, Ms Canavan said current advice from the Irish officials and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is that people should observe a 6ft safety distance. 'That remains the public health advice from the Government and similar is in place in countries around the world,' Ms Canavan added. 'Any changes to the current restrictive social distancing measure must be slow and incremental. This approach is essential, as going too far too fast could result in a sudden surge in infections. 'We need to know how we are getting on phase by phase. That's why they are separated by three weeks so we can assess the impact of the virus on each set of measures. 'The approach to reducing measures will evolve as more information becomes available and in line with international learning and experience, in particular from countries ahead of Ireland in terms of their outbreak.' Mr Varadkar has said that social distancing rules remain in force even as Ireland begins to ease the lockdown The footage of the Irish premier has emerged just as his UK counterpart Boris Johnson is engulfed in a row over his adviser Dominic Cummings (pictured) Health minister Simon Harris said today that the public should not 'get sloppy' and must continue to follow public health advice. Ireland is entering the second week in easing its lockdown laws which saw the reopening of a number of retail stores and some sporting activities. He also told RTE 2FM breakfast show that the 6ft safety distance is being kept under review. The head of the Health Service Executive said that reducing the distance to one metre (3ft) would give health officials 'significant extra capacity' to manage patients. Paul Reid said the current expert advice of maintaining a 6ft distance has created 'significant implications' for capacity across the country's health facilities. Mr Reid said: 'Obviously the NHPET guidance and government guidance is two metres and that's what we are planning in terms of framework for new services to work through. 'That does have significant implications for us in terms of emergency departments, patients' waiting rooms, so two metres will reduce the volume that we could have attending at a particular time. 'But we have to work off what the current guidance is - there is no doubt one metre would give us significant extra capacity in terms of managing our ill patients.' HSE chef clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said that some advice has changed as experts gain a better understanding of how the virus works. He added: 'It was only through the measures that were brought in on March 27, which were quite stringent but included social distancing of two metres, that we were able to not just bend the curve but but really reduce it down to where it is now. 'We see many countries including the United States and the UK including a distance of two metres bearing in mind that it's a droplet-spread illness. 'It's based on the projected length a droplet can spread. Initially we thought this was through coughing and sneezing, but as we get a greater understanding of this virus we are more aware of how it can spread in less obvious situations and indeed and how it can spread from people who are asymptotic or pre-symptomatic.' Charlie Yost beamed the past couple years while he watched hundreds of people line streets along a Memorial Day parade route in York County. As a pastor at the Goldsboro Church of God in Goldsboro, Yost cherishes events that unite the community. As a former chaplain for the U.S. Army Reserves who lost several friends in combat during three overseas tours, he values any opportunity to honor soldiers who died protecting the country. So for Yost, it stung when the Veterans of Foreign War Post 537 in Newberry Township announced a few weeks ago it would cancel Memorial Day festivities in the face of the coronavirus crisis. It leaves a huge hole, said Yost, who serves as a chaplain for VFW Post 537. Were very active, we have a variety of speakers at the parades. We had a gold star mother one year. Its a great loss not to be able to do that. Veterans groups across central Pennsylvania have canceled or postponed Memorial Day events this year to comply with local guidelines during the pandemic. And as many grapple with disruptions to some traditions, theyre also finding ways to uphold others. Yost said over the two weeks leading up to Memorial Day, members of VFW Post 537 will plant flags on the gravesites of about 1,100 former military members. Leaders at American Legion Post 751 in Enola also planted flags over the weekend. Commander Dale Thomas, senior vice commander Cindy Steadman and junior vice commander Russell Nutter made the trip to a gravesite together, though they had to prohibit the gatherings or ceremonies that might occur in a typical year. We like to honor our veterans, Thomas said. But were staying in the guidelines as a nonprofit. Legion Post 751 canceled its parade through Enola, but Nutter said a small group would come together to raise the flags from half-mast to full height at noon on Memorial Day. The idea is to celebrate military members and to renew some aspects of the holiday while the community still remains safe and follows local social distancing instructions. Unfortunately, its not a day of picnicking and all those things, Nutter said. Gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited in Pennsylvania counties in the red or yellow phase of Gov. Tom Wolfs plan to reopen the commonwealth. That makes it challenging for veterans groups to hold Memorial Day festivities even with significant modifications. Still, Yost said local organizations can dole out responsibilities to carry on traditions like visiting gravesites and flying flags at half-staff. Some areas might opt to host small ceremonies. Yost said hell hold an outdoor service at his church on Sunday and plans on mentioning Memorial Day and the value of honoring service members who have died. While we cant all be together, we all have family members or people close to us who have served, Yost said. We can do things to honor them. Leaders at Legion Post 751 feel the same way. Its important to stay safe, Nutter said, but he doesnt intend to ignore Memorial Day. Its a totally different time, a different era, Nutter said. This is not something people are used to. But just like the military, we are adapting. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 20:35:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A man was sentenced to one year in prison on Monday for taking part in unlawful assembly and possession of petrol bombs in Hong Kong's social unrest in 2019. The sentence was passed at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The 20-year-old man participated in an unlawful assembly in October 2019 in Mong Kok area of Kowloon with some radicals, and was found in possession of hammers and petrol bombs by the police. He earlier pleaded guilty to three accounts of offenses including taking part in unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapon in public place, and possessing things with intent to destroy or damage property. Enditem New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold at least 750 virtual rallies across the nation to mark the completion of one year of the Narendra Modi-led government. According to reports, about 1,000 virtual conferences will also be held by national and state leadership. Apart from this, the party will also distribute face cover and sanitizer in all mandals, among others. A statement issued by BJP said the party will showcase the work done by Modi government. BJP National President JP Nadda will also address people through Facebook Live. Nadda has asked party workers and supporters to publicise the work carried out in the regime of Modi government in the past one year. The party will also share short videos related to the efforts made by the government during the COVID-19 crisis. BJP to hold over 750 virtual rallies across the nation, to mark the completion of 1 yr of PM Narendra Modi-led central govt. National and state leadership to hold at least 1000 virtual conference. The party will also distribute face cover & sanitiser in all mandals, among others. pic.twitter.com/HdIQxscoUA ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 On May 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will complete one year since his second term as Prime Minister began in 2019. He was voted back to power on May 23, 2019, with an even bigger majority than in 2014. The BJP party won 303 seats out of 543, the result of which was announced by the Election Commission on May 23, 2019. Earlier this month, BJP celebrated the sixth anniversary of saffron party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. On May 16, the party had shared "6 saal bemissal" video on social media. In the clip, the saffron party showcased worked done under the leadership of PM Modi. TORONTO - Five business groups called on the Ontario government on Monday to impose a commercial eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic, warning that many small and medium-sized businesses are at risk of closing. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO - Five business groups called on the Ontario government on Monday to impose a commercial eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic, warning that many small and medium-sized businesses are at risk of closing. The groups make the request in an open letter to Premier Doug Ford, saying the help is needed as the due date for June rent approaches. The groups include the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, Restaurants Canada and the Retail Council of Canada. "Without your immediate assistance, more businesses will be forced to close," the letter says. "In the absence of sufficient support, a large portion of the economy and the jobs created by our hard-working members will disappear forever." Last month, the federal and provincial governments announced the joint Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program to help businesses stave off eviction during the pandemic shutdown. The program will see Ottawa and the provinces offer forgivable loans to commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of rent for eligible small businesses, with the tenant covering 25 per cent. But the groups said some landlords are not applying for the program, which means businesses will receive no aid at all. "Even though the program just officially started, we already know from our members that many landlords will not apply, meaning that their tenants will not be able to access the program and the commercial tenant eviction protection it includes," the business groups said. On Monday, Ford resisted calls for the moratorium, noting the joint rent relief program was just getting underway. But he cautioned landlords against not taking part in it and instead evicting tenants. He called the program an "olive branch" to landlords and urged them to register. 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. "They need to start signing up for this," Ford said. "They aren't going to like the consequences if they don't sign up for it. I can assure you. I'm protecting the tenants, it's simple." A spokeswoman for Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark did not rule out taking further action. "We want to give landlords the opportunity to do the right thing and participate in CECRA to help everyone get through this together," Julie O'Driscoll said in a statement. "All options are on the table, and we won't allow people to take advantage of others while we continue to battle this terrible virus." Green party Leader Mike Schreiner said the province could grant the moratorium and give businesses relief without costing the government anything. "Today the Ontario business community asked the province for a temporary moratorium on evictions, but the Premier would only pass the buck to landlords with vague threats," Schreiner said in a statement. "Small businesses need a champion, not a cheerleader." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. New Delhi, May 25 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday warned hospitals of serious action in case they deny treatment to any Covid positive patient and said soon a system will be developed to help patients locate the hospitals for treatment. About surge in cases, he said there have been 3,500 new coronavirus cases and 2,500 recoveries in the last one week since the lockdown relaxations were announced. Kejriwal said no hospital can deny treatment to any patient, warning that they can face serious actions in this case. "A patient visited a private hospital a few days back because of some breathing issues, and his test was conducted two days later. When the results came out to be positive, he was denied treatment in the same private hospital because he was found to be corona positive. Where will the patient go? No hospital can deny treatment to any patient," he said. Kejriwal said a show cause notice has been issued to the private hospital. "It is the responsibility of the hospital that if any patient is found to be positive, the hospital ambulance should take the patient to any private and government hospital to ensure that he is being treated," said the CM. Kejriwal said that a system will be developed to help people locate the hospitals for treatment. "Even when we have 2,500 vacant beds in government hospitals and 2,000 beds in private hospitals, people face difficulties while trying to locate the hospitals that have beds available with them. We are creating a system through which a serious Covid patient will be able to know which hospital to go to for treatment. This system will be fully developed within 2-3 days." He also said there has been a surge in cases, but the situation is under control as most of the cases have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. "Most of the new cases of Covid-19 have mild symptoms such as a mild fever and cough, and many of them are asymptomatic. These cases do not need to be admitted into the hospitals and are advised to follow home isolation. My team stays in regular touch with them and their families for monitoring their symptoms," added the CM. On the change in the number of cases in the last one week, Kejriwal said that there were 9,755 Covid patients in Delhi on May 17, and there are 13,418 cases till Sunday, which means that there has been a rise of around 3,500 patients in the last week. "Around 2,500 patients have also recovered in the last week, which is a positive development for Delhi. Similarly, there were 1,750 patients in the hospitals on May 17, and today there are 2,000 patients in the hospitals, which means that the occupancy of only 250 beds has increased in the last week." Kejriwal said 3,314 people are being treated through home isolation and around 2,000 people are being treated in the hospitals. "We are fully prepared to handle the surge in serious cases of coronavirus." 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. The Delhi government's Health Department has asked passengers of domestic flights, trains and inter-state buses to download Arogya Setu app in their mobile phones, wear masks and carry hand sanitisers to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With domestic flights resuming from Monday after a two-month gap, officials said asymptomatic passengers coming to Delhi through such flights will not be kept at paid quarantine or state-run centres. In its order, the Delhi government has directed the officials concerned to ensure compliance of guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in "letter and spirit". Thermal screening at exit points shall be arranged and asymptomatic passengers will be permitted to go with the advice that they shall self-monitor their health for 14 days, the guidelines said. Those found symptomatic will be isolated and taken to the nearest health facility. They will be assessed for clinical severity at the health facility, according to the guidelines. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oakland County Sheriff deputies arrested a 43-year-old Pontiac man who allegedly fled the scene of a crash in the area of West Huron and Dakota streets on a black skateboard at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to a police report. Police said the man also apparently swung a tire at the deputies when they tried to arrest him, but the deputies tasered the man and succeeded in arresting him anyway. The deputies said they found 88 Suboxone opioid pills in the mans car at the scene of the accident. The man also has prior offenses of driving while under the influence and resisting arrest. The incident began when sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a car veering off the road and hitting a telephone pole on Dakota Street in Pontiac. The driver apparently crashed into the telephone pole, got out of the car and fled the scene of the crash on a black skateboard. Deputies were given a distinct description of the owner of the vehicle in the crash and figured out he lived about a fourth of a mile from the scene of the accident. One deputy located the man in the front yard of the home, with the skateboard leaning on the side of the house. But, as the deputy approached the man, he picked up a car tire and threatened to hit the deputy with the tire. The deputy then told the man to put the tire down, but the man refused and swung the tire at the deputy. The man then dropped the tire, made a fighting stance and swung his fist at the deputy, who then tasered him. After that, a second deputy arrived and both deputies arrested the man. He was then taken to McLauren Hospital Oakland by paramedics for a medical evaluation, due to suffering from the tasering and air bag deployment, as well as from cuts on his arm from the accident. The man is currently lodged in the Oakland County Jail, awaiting charges, and is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday. Eastpointe man goes back to jail after crash One dead, three treated in separate drug abuse incidents in Oakland County League of Women Voters to host virtual candidate forums in June Monroe police officer shot while investigating carjacking Review: The Lovebirds is a suitable fit for mindless quarantine viewing Southfield Fire Department to host plasma blood drive For trade students, online classes cant replicate hands-on Bare pavement: Driving fell by more than 85 percent in some areas of Michigan since January Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 16:47:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NANNING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The silkworm industry, which has existed in China for thousands of years, now has a role to play in helping with the country's poverty alleviation. Meng Lan'ou, a farmer of Hanbang village near the China-Vietnam border in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, woke up early to pick fresh mulberry leaves to feed her silkworms in cocoonery. In less than two weeks, Meng will sell some 100 kilograms of silkworm cocoons that would make over 4,000 yuan (about 563 U.S. dollars). With a warm and relatively humid climate, Guangxi is ideal for developing the silkworm industry which offers jobs to many poor villagers. Meng, who used to leave home to do odd jobs to provide for her family, started to raise silkworms in 2018 as the local government provided her a low-rent cocoonery and subsidy for growing mulberry trees. Now, Meng's family can earn some 30,000 yuan a year by feeding silkworms with leaves from their mulberry field of 10 mu (about 0.7 hectares). "I'm satisfied with the earnings, and I can take care of my parents and children while raising silkworms at home," said Meng. Many villagers have tasted the sweetness of raising silkworms like Meng. Over 450 villagers in Hanbang village joined the silkworm industry and planted 71 hectares of mulberry trees. "Thanks to the short breeding cycle and relatively low technical requirements, I could earn over 10,000 yuan a year by raising silkworms, and I want to expand the mulberry's planting scale in the future," said Huang Da'en. The 59-year-old Huang caught uremia in 2014 and had led a poor life ever since. In 2018, he began to grow mulberry trees and raise silkworms, receiving a subsidy of over 4,000 yuan. Wang Bin, an official in Hanbang village, said the local government often invites technicians to give villagers technique guidance. "I attend training whenever I have a chance, and the skills I learnt there indeed helped me a lot," said Huang, adding the first batch of silkworms he raised this year was saved as the technicians guided him to warm cocooneries with charcoal fire against cold weather. As of April 30, the 12 cities in the autonomous region had over 206,406 hectares of mulberry fields, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Enditem Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have plenty to talk about. With 23 films released in the past 13 years, the MCU certainly has plenty of material to work with. One of the most successful MCU movies is Black Panther. Released in 2018, Black Panther centers around the conflict between TChalla, king of Wakanda, and Killmonger, TChallas cousin who shows up to try to take over the throne. Like everything related to the MCU, fans have plenty of opinions when it comes to these two characters. Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, has particularly garnered a lot of discussion about whether or not he was a good enough villain for such a monumental movie. But is the issue with the character or Michael B. Jordans portrayal? Michael B. Jordan | Amanda Edwards/WireImage/Getty Images RELATED: Black Panther: People Still Wish Killmonger Had Survived, But Insist He at Least Got a Happy Ending Michael B. Jordan had been wanting to play a villain for a while Villains come and go in the MCU, since spoiler alert the good guys usually win. In 2016, Jordan stated that he was looking forward to playing a villain because hed always wanted to, as reported by Coming Soon. But before his stint in Black Panther, Jordan had had quite the acting career already. The 33-year-old actor got his start in TV, appearing in The Wire and All My Children, according to IMDb. He had multiple guest appearances in crime dramas like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Cold Case, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Bones in the early 2000s. In the 2010s, Jordan appeared in Parenthood and Friday Night Lights, where he really began to make a name for himself in TV. Jordans first major movie role came in 2013 with Fruitvale Station. This garnered him a lot of attention as a breakthrough star at multiple indie movie awards ceremonies. In 2015, Jordan starred alongside Zac Efron in That Awkward Moment and Creed with Sylvester Stallone. Despite an impressive career, fans arent sure he was right for the role of Killmonger Fans recently took to Reddit to discuss their thoughts about the character of Killmonger, both in terms of how he works as a villain and how Jordan portrayed him. Some users felt like Jordan wasnt compelling enough as Killmonger to make them care about the character as much as other MCU villains, like Thanos or Loki. One user stated that it was Jordans acting that ruined the character of Killmonger for them. My problem with Killmonger isnt so much the character but the actor that plays him. Michael B Jordan just kind of ruins it all for me. Another user agreed that they disliked Jordan as an actor and he didnt fulfill the role of Killmonger as well as someone else could have. Others think Killmonger wasnt a good enough villain by nature While there were a few fans in the discussion that felt it was Jordans portrayal that led to the Killmonger hate, some still felt that it was his background as a villain that was the problem. Many agreed that his backstory didnt justify the nature of his evilness and that caused some fans to be less invested in him as a villain compared to a more fleshed out villain like Thanos, who seemingly had more of a plan behind why he was an antagonist. Others felt like the fact that he was only introduced in Black Panther and didnt make it to the end of the movie made them care less about him overall. Whatever the reason, MCU fans will surely continue making their opinions known. Jordan is expected to return for the role of Killmonger in Black Panther 2, which is expected to be released in 2022. No ones sure what that means for the character since Killmonger died in the first Black Panther, but were excited to see what the story brings. What do Covid-19, computer malware, the ice-bucket challenge, knife crime, fake news, STIs, and collapsing banks have in common? You've guessed it. They're all contagions. Now that we are in the middle of the biggest one in 102 years, epidemiologist Adam Kucharski's book, The Rules Of Contagion: Why Things Spread And Why They Stop, makes for timely reading. As our lives remain abruptly halted by the current global pandemic, mugging up on how contagions work feels oddly reassuring. Not that anyone, even the experts, can predict a pandemic's individual twists and turns. There is a saying within the epidemiology community: "If you've seen one pandemic... you've seen one pandemic." Instead, Kucharski, based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and with background in mathematics and banking, walks us through the history of contagion, and its broader rules. From biological pathogens and computer viruses to abstract ideas and beliefs, the outbreak curve will always follow the same path: spark, growth, peak and decline. Swine flu in 2009 had two peaks, in July and October, as did the last major pandemic in 1918-1919, when Spanish Flu infected 500 million people worldwide; the first wave in spring, the second, deadlier wave in autumn. It killed more people - 50 million, or approximately 2.5pc of the global population - than the First World War, but unlike the war, we don't talk about it. "There is no monument in London, Moscow or Washington DC," writes Laura Spinney in Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 & How It Changed The World. "The Spanish Flu is remembered personally, not collectively. Not as a historical disaster, but as millions of discrete, private tragedies." It was later revealed, via gene sequencing on a piece of preserved lung from one of the dead, that the flu had been avian in origin - H1N1 - before it mutated and jumped species. Yet until the 1990s, science was unaware that such cross-species transmission was possible. Expand Close Adam Kucharski / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Adam Kucharski Before Hippocrates took the Greek word 'epidemic' ('of the people') to specifically mean the spread of infectious disease, it used to refer to anything that spread quickly through society - rumours, ideas, hostilities. Nowadays, the original definition is once again apt, as we talk about financial contagion, and epidemics related to obesity, urban knife crime, loneliness etc; or, if related to fun and leisure - think 1970s hula hooping, 1980s Rubik cubes, 1990s Pokemon's 'gotta catch them all' - we call them 'crazes'. Suddenly everyone is doing it, until they aren't, and we have forgotten about them, other than as nostalgic cultural blips. In the digital age, going viral means attaining a global reach at lightning speed, which can be benevolent (like the ice-bucket challenge), and the holy grail of marketing departments keen to harness individuals to spread content far and wide by clicking, liking, sharing. Or it can be malicious and harmful. The Wanna Cry computer virus of May 2017 doubled its infection rate every hour, temporarily crippling the British health service network, and demanding ransom in Bitcoin. The concept of how contagion works was not much understood until relatively recently, when 19th century British doctor Ronald Ross made the connection between mosquitoes and malaria. Historically, there had been all kinds of inaccurate ideas about how diseases spread. Influenza is Italian for influence; in medieval times, it was thought that flu was influenced by astronomy, the position of the stars dictating the location of the next Ross spent 50 years studying the link between mosquitoes, stagnant water and malaria outbreaks. "Epidemiology is in fact a mathematical subject," he wrote in 1911. "And fewer absurd mistakes would be made if more attention were given to the mathematical study of it." With input from mathematician Hilda Hudson, his crucial realisation was, writes Kucharski, that "If the recoveries outpaced the rate of new infections, the level of disease eventually would decline to zero." He advocated mosquito control. His ideas took decades to catch on - malaria was not eradicated from Britain until the 1950s, and mainland Europe until 1975. The SIR model of disease transmission, where a population falls into three phases - susceptible, infectious, recovered - was further developed by Ross's medical contemporaries, William Kermack and Anderson McKendrick. Also in the early 20th century, medical statistician Major Greenwood gave us the concept of herd immunity, suggesting that an entire population need not be vaccinated to stop the spread of infectious disease; if most people have immunity, that's enough to halt its progress. (With Covid-19, the UK government initially adopted this approach, until someone did the maths, and realised how many people would die before herd immunity could be reached. It is currently being used in Sweden, whose population is seven times smaller than that of the UK, alongside a less stringent lockdown). Contagion transmission is all about R. In contagion modelling, R stands for Reproduction Number. That is, how many other people are infected by one person carrying a contagion: R for Covid 19 is two to three, for smallpox it's four to six, for chickenpox it's six to eight, and for measles, one person can infect up to 20 others. The R number is dependent on four factors, which Kucharski calls 'DOTS': the duration of time someone is infectious; the average daily number of opportunities they have to spread the infection; the probability of transmission; and the average susceptibility of others. "From HIV to Ebola, R makes it possible to quantify and compare transmission for different diseases," he says. Read More From financial contagions like the South Sea Bubble to the collapse of Lehman Brothers, from the epidemiologist who moved from health care in Africa to crime reduction in Chicago, and the marine ecologist who used his modelling of fish populations to create predictive models for Deutsche Bank, Kucharski shows how different types of contagion broadly follow similar patterns. As we wait for the current pandemic to flatten out and fade away, we are seeing how a disease contagion can spark a simultaneous contagion of fake news - as Covid-19 spreads globally, in its wake follows a raft of misinformation, xenophobia, fake science, fake news, fake 'cures'. And just as individuals have been asked to stay home to stop spreading the virus, media outlets have been asked to stop sharing false information. "In outbreak analysis," Kucharski concludes, "the most significant moments aren't the ones when we're right. It's the moments when we realise we've been wrong. Whether we want an innovation to take off or an infection to decline, these are the moments we need to reach as early as possible. The moments that let us look back to work out how outbreaks really happened in the past. Then look forward, to change how they happen in future." Omaid Hiwaizi, strategist & mathematician explains: The Simple Maths of an outbreak "Pandemic maths starts with a number - R - which is the average number of people who will catch a disease from any one contagious person. If this is more than one, it spreads quickly - if less than one, it spreads more slowly. "This is the infection equivalent of 'compound interest', where the numbers can increase wildly in a short period of time. If R is two and people interact a lot, in 30 days one person can infect 2x2x2... x2 (30 twos) = 107.374.1,824! "R changes in line with how the virus acts and with how people behave. If people are infectious for some time before they show symptoms, it increases R. If the infection affects them quickly, they have less chance to spread it to others. R is also affected by how the virus is transmitted - if it easily transfers from one person to another, through droplets which sit live on surfaces. "R changes with how people behave - how much they interact. If people interact a lot, it increases R. Equally, if we self-isolate and wash our hands, it brings R down. This is how we reduce the rate of growth of the pandemic. "With most viruses that haven't mutated, people can't be infected twice, so once most people have been infected, those who live are fine to carry on with life as normal. If the virus mutates, like the flu, people can catch the new strain and after a peak, the number of people infected goes down and settles at a low ongoing rate. This is 'herd immunity'. "The issue with this is the size of the peak. If the peak is too high, the number of serious infections will overwhelm health services. This is why it's important to 'flatten the curve' to keep the number of simultaneous serious cases to what health services can cover." The Madhya Pradesh police have denied the allegations of the family of a British national held in Bhopal last month amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown. While the family of Sohail Hughes (29) told a British daily he was held unlawfully, Bhopal Zone I Additional Superintendent of Police Rajat Saklecha said he was arrested for breaking lockdown norms. "He was in the country on a tourist visa and doing missionary work. He disobeyed lockdown norms in place to stop the outbreak. The family can put its side in court," Saklecha told PTI on Monday. As per the newspaper report, Hughes lives in Dewsbury in the United Kingdom, and had flown to India in February with the intention of returning on May 13. Meanwhile, former MP advocate general Vivek Tankha took to Twitter demanding the Briton's release, claiming "his arrest and charge sheet is a blot on our criminal justice system". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dominic Cummings should admit he broke lockdown rules and correct the unfair suggestion that parents who followed the guidance didnt act like good parents, Nicola Sturgeon has said. Ms Sturgeon urged Scots to continue obeying the lockdown while acknowledging people would be wondering why bother? after allegations the Prime Ministers aide flouted the rules. On Sunday, Boris Johnson said Mr Cummings had acted responsibly, legally and with integrity by driving from London to Durham with his child and infected wife to self-isolate, and that any parent would frankly understand what he did. But the First Minister said that many parents listening to Mr Johnsons claims would have got the impression that they could and should have taken similar decisions. Expand Close First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish Government/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish Government/PA) Asked at the Scottish Governments coronavirus briefing about news Mr Cummings was going to make a statement about his actions, Ms Sturgeon said he should apologise. The First Minister also said she wanted him to concede that he made a mistake that he didnt follow the rules and, instead of trying to retrospectively rewrite those rules, to admit he made a mistake and apologise for that. There are lots of detailed questions about his account and the account that was given afterwards by his wife of his isolation that to me dont really seem to tally up, she added. I think a simple recognition that for many people hearing the Prime Minister last night say that he acted appropriately and was following the instinct of any parent a lot of parents will have heard that as suggesting that by following the rules they didnt act like good parents. I think that is really, really unfair and perhaps correcting that suggestion and that impression would be something that he should consider doing. In her opening statement at Mondays briefing, Ms Sturgeon said: I know that many of you will be feeling angry and frustrated about stories youve heard over the last couple of days and perhaps wondering why bother?. I understand that, but I want to stress that as far as Im concerned, the restrictions and rules that we put in place really matter. Its vital that all of us stick to these rules, and not just because people tell you to or ask you to. The reason we asked you to stick to these rules is because they help to protect you and your loved ones, they help us to protect our national health service, and they do help us to save lives. Earlier, Ms Sturgeon accused the Prime Minister of choosing political interest ahead of the public interest because refusing to sack his political adviser was jeopardising public health messaging. She told the BBCs Good Morning Scotland programme: Im very concerned and I say this with a very heavy heart I really do fear that Boris Johnson has decided to put political interest ahead of the public interest. The consequences of that are potentially very serious. Trust in public health messaging is very important and arguably, as we go into the phases where we start to lift lockdown, that becomes even more important because we rely less on the letter of the law, and much more on guidance and appealing to peoples good judgment. I know it is tough to lose a trusted adviser at the height of crisis, but when its a choice of that or integrity of vital public health advice, the latter must come first. Thats the judgment I and, to her credit, Catherine Calderwood reached. PM and Cummings should do likewise. Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 24, 2020 Drawing comparisons between Mr Cummingss situation and that of Scotlands former chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood, who breached the guidance with two visits to her second home, she said: I didnt defend (Dr Calderwoods) breach of the guidelines, I didnt try to retrofit the guidance. She recognised shed made a mistake and apologised. I made an argument to the public at that time that shed made a mistake but her advice was so important, given what we were dealing with, that she should stay in office. But when it became clear to me that the public, understandably, were not prepared to accept that, I judged that integrity of the public health message was more important and actually, to her great credit, so did Catherine Calderwood. Karthik Subbaraman While India and the rest of the world battle a pandemic which originated in China, the Chinese have opened a new battlefront this one involving troops and weapons along Indias contested border with Tibet. As a result, not since the standoff in Doklam nearly three years ago has the relationship between India and China hit such a low ebb. The coming weeks and months could determine the future of India-China relations, and indeed Chinas relationship with the rest of Asia and the world. Across multiple locations on Indias frontier with Tibet annexed by China in 1950 China has upped the ante. Its troops have crossed over onto the Indian side in the union territory of Ladakh and started violent clashes along the frontier in Sikkim state. The key question is why now? What is the message that the communist regime is seeking to send by starting military confrontations when all our attention should be focussed on fighting what US President Donald Trump has labelled the Wuhan virus(a reference to the Chinese city where the virus originated). The first publicised incident of the ongoing standoff took place on May 5, when Chinese troops tried to block an Indian patrol in the Pangong lake region of eastern Ladakh. Similar confrontations have been provoked by China in the Galwan valley in Ladakh and in the Naku La mountain pass in Sikkim a few days later. What has motivated the Chinese to ratchet up the aggression despite confidence-building efforts and summit meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan (the same city which gave the world COVID) and Mamallapuram (an ancient seaport of the Pallava dynasty)? 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 Two developments both of which have a commercial angle appear to have been the reason that the Chinese have decided to employ military tactics in an attempt to thwart India. On April 19, India revised its foreign investment policy to tighten investment rules for companies sharing a land border with India. This development followed the Chinese central bank increasing its stake in housing finance lender HDFC when share prices are cratering around the world as a result of the pandemic. A few days later, in early May, media reports said India was developing a land pool twice the size of Luxembourg to host companies leaving China because of widespread anger at Beijings handling of COVID. India was openly setting itself up as a commercial rival when the world is revulsed by Chinese actions, something that the communist regime could not stomach. In sum, China is using its military to try and bully India and prevent its western neighbour from making decisions which are in its economic interests. Its about money, the ultimate source of military strength. The balance of power between China and India, which is tilted heavily in favour of the former, could shift to become less uneven if the Chinese economy takes a bad knock as a fallout of COVID and India gains, relatively speaking. There is no certainty indeed, there is room for doubt that India can attract investments from global corporations at the expense of China. But assuming India gets its act together, over a few years the balance-of-power equation has the potential to shift significantly. And with it military capability. Chinas calculations are transparent. Despite protestations to the contrary, China is single-minded about attempting to block Indias rise as a major economic power. True China alone cannot do this it requires Indian complicity. We are not single-minded about pursuing sensible economic policies our reforms, if and when they happen, are in fits and starts. Democracy cannot be an excuse for poor economic policies, but that is how it works in India. Back to the main point: what course will this military standoff take? It could actually depend on the Western response to China over the coming weeks and months. If tension with the West increases and major powers determine that China deserves a bit of humiliation, China may decide that harassing India may not be worth the effort. It will have bigger problems to contend with. And how the West responds may actually be down to the US election, which is due in November. A major conflict involving nuclear powers is unthinkable, but there are enough and more influential strategic minds who could advise that Chinese interests in Tibet, Hong Kong and Taiwan are not that sacrosanct. Is it any wonder that China is using this moment to undermine the autonomy of Hong Kong? Or that two MPs from the BJP Meenakshi Lekhi and Rahul Kaswan 'virtually attended' the swearing-in on Wednesday of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen. From Vietnam and the Philippines to the United States and Australia, there is little sympathy for China and its authoritarian moves. China is a global power with a mighty military. But India is no pushover and can hold its own on land, sea and the air. For the Communist regime to imagine that India will capitulate on its Himalayan frontier will be foolhardy. This is 2020, not 1962. China cannot stop Indias rise, but how high India rises is up to us. Now. Chinese FM refutes rumors over South China Sea amid pandemic Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/24 18:13:31 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi refuted rumors at a press conference on Sunday that China was escalating activities in the South China Sea to achieve its strategic goals. Such claims were "nonsense and groundless," Wang said on the sidelines of the annual two sessions. The sea served as a bridge for China's cooperation with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. "That China is taking advantage of the epidemic to expand its power in the South China Sea is nonsense," Wang said. "What doesn't defeat us makes us stronger," Wang said to describe China-ASEAN ties, vowing to improve economic ties, people-to-people exchanges and increase cooperation in the "blue economy," a reference to sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem. "The fact we have seen is that recently China has been focusing on the cooperation with the ASEAN countries against the COVID-19," Wang said. The two sides supported and helped each other, he noted, and mutual trust has been strengthened. "The South China Sea is becoming a sea serving cooperation and mutual assistance between China and ASEAN countries in the fight against COVID-19 as ships and planes loaded with anti-epidemic supplies are shuttling back and forth in the sea," Wang said. A small number of countries outside the region continued to send military aircraft and warships into the sea "to show off their military strength, frequently drive a wedge between China and ASEAN countries, and deliberately undermine the hard-won stability in the sea. Such acts are ill-intentioned and despicable," he said. In recent years, thanks to the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has been steadily improving, Wang noted. "The cooperation between China and ASEAN in fields such as maritime search and rescue, marine environmental protection and marine scientific research has made a lot of positive progress," Wang said. Consultations on the draft code of conduct (COC) for the South China Sea were moving forward in an accelerated and orderly manner, Wang said, "and have now entered the second round of review." China's confidence and determination to reach an agreement on the code were firm and would not be disturbed by any other interference, he said. "China will continue to strengthen coordination with ASEAN countries, resume COC consultations which were suspended due to the outbreak, and actively explore new ways of maritime cooperation so as to effectively safeguard peace, stability, development and prosperity in the sea," Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi: Thousands took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest against China`s planned national security law for the city. The police raised blue flags warning protesters converging outside a department store to disperse before tear gas was first fired near the junction of Hennessy Road and Percival Street, reports the South China Morning Post newspaper. Protesters later occupied Gloucester Road, while others staged protests holding a banner reading "heaven will destroy the Chinese Communist Party". While marching towards Wan Chai, they also displayed American flags. Police reportedly fired pepper balls at one group on Gloucester Road, where they later said that "rioters climbed over railings and dashed through a flyover and multiple carriageways in the vicinity, causing serious obstruction to road traffic" and "they also rampaged through passing vehicles, posing a serious threat to public safety". The police stated that "minimum necessary force, including tear gas" had been used, as protesters had thrown umbrellas and water bottles at them. The protests started two days after a resolution to "prevent, frustrate and punish" threats to national security in Hong Kong was presented to China`s legislature, the National People`s Congress (NPC), the report said. The draft legislation, which would outlaw acts of secession, subversion and terrorism, is expected to be passed on May 28, authorising the NPC Standing Committee to draft the law and impose it on Hong Kong, bypassing the city`s legislature, the report said. The bill, which city leader Carrie Lam has called a top priority, provides for jail terms of up to three years. The Legislative Council will debate the bill on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Police said that they arrested more than 180 people on Sunday. "Terrorism is growing in the city and activities which harm national security, such as `Hong Kong independence`, become more rampant," Secretary for Security John Lee said in a statement. "In just a few months, Hong Kong has changed from one of the safest cities in the world to a city shrouded in the shadow of violence," he said, adding national security laws were needed to safeguard the city`s prosperity and stability, according to a Reuters report. Calls for independence are anathema to Beijing, which considers Hong Kong an inalienable part of the country. Financial Secretary Paul Chan wrote on his blog on Sunday the national security law "itself" does not affect investor confidence, only the "misunderstanding" of it does, adding The central government has already said the law is targeted at the minority of people who are suspected of threatening national security and will not affect the rights of the general public. The United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and others have reportedly expressed concerns about the legislation, widely seen as a potential turning point for China`s freest city and one of the world`s leading financial hubs. Taiwan will provide the people of Hong Kong with "necessary assistance", President Tsai Ing-wen was quoted by Reuters. Taiwan has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong, which has been convulsed since last year by anti-Beijing and anti-Hong Kong government protests. Taiwan will "even more proactively perfect and forge ahead with relevant support work, and provide Hong Kong`s people with necessary assistance", she wrote. The number of Hong Kong immigrants to Taiwan jumped 150% to 2,383 in the first four months of 2020 from the same period last year, official data reportedly showed. Meanwhile, China has accused supporters of Taiwan independence of colluding with the protesters. China believes Tsai to be a "separatist" bent on declaring the island`s formal independence. Japan Data Japan has lifted the state of emergency in the last five prefectures where it remained in effect, as the number of cases per 100,000 people has dropped significantly to around the 0.5 level. On May 25, the government lifted the COVID-19 state of emergency in the five remaining prefectures of Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba. The state of emergency was initially declared on April 7 in eight prefectures: Tokyo and its three neighbors, three Kansai prefectures, and Fukuoka. On April 16, it was expanded nationwide, before being partially lifted in stages on May 14 and 21. The government set a per-prefecture target for lifting the state of emergency of 0.5 or fewer total cases per 100,000 people over the past week. In Tokyo, this had reached as high as 8 on April 14 and 15, but efforts to work from home, refrain from unnecessary trips, and avoid high-risk situations have had a clear effect, particularly from May. While Hokkaido and Kanagawa still have not met the 0.5 target, their robust medical systems are among factors influencing the government decision. COVID-19 and Japan: A Timeline May 31 Original planned end of extended state of emergency. May 25 State of emergency lifted in prefectures of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, and Hokkaido. May 21 State of emergency lifted in prefectures of Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto. May 21 Global cases rise above 5 million. May 14 State of emergency lifted in 39 prefectures. May 11 Cases in Tokyo rise above 5,000. May 6 Original planned end of state of emergency. May 4 Nationwide state of emergency extended to May 31. May 4 Global cases rise above 3.5 million. May 2 Fatalities in Japan rise above 500. April 30 Supplementary budget including 100,000 payments to all residents enacted. April 28 Cases in Tokyo rise above 4,000. April 18 Cases in Japan rise above 10,000. April 16 State of emergency expanded nationwide. April 14 Ceremonial investiture of Crown Prince Fumihito postponed. April 12 Cases in Tokyo rise above 2,000. April 11 Global fatalities rise above 100,000. April 7 State of emergency declared in the prefectures of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo, and Fukuoka. March 30 Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko calls on residents to refrain from attending karaoke outlets, concert venues, bars, and nightclubs. March 29 Comedian Shimura Ken dies of COVID-19. March 25 Tokyo Governor Koike urges residents to refrain from going outside at the weekend, warning of the danger of an explosive rise in infections. March 24 The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are postponed until 2021. March 13 The enactment of new legislation makes it possible to declare a state of emergency over COVID-19. March 11 The World Health Organization declares that the COVID-19 outbreak is a pandemic. February 28 Hokkaido declares a state of emergency, calling on residents to refrain from leaving home on the weekend. The state of emergency lasts until March 19. February 27 Prime Minister Abe calls for the closure of all Japanese elementary, junior high, and high schools from March 2. February 3 The cruise ship Diamond Princess arrives in Yokohama. Many infections are later discovered on the ship. January 16 The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare announces the first case in Japan. (Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: Pakutaso.) It was when COVID-19 virus started spreading in India, the insurance regulator IRDAI had a discussion with life insurance companies regarding the launch of COVID-specific products. But the discussion halted after realising the fact that all life insurance products cover the pandemic deaths in their products. "When we thought of having a COVID-specific product, we had a discussion with the regulator. Finally, we decided that it didn't make sense to launch a specific product as coronavirus is already covered in all life insurance products. Source of the death is not an issue in the life insurance products sold in India," said Tarun Chugh MD & CEO, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance. The life insurance industry has witnessed a degrowth of 45 per cent in April. Usually, March is a big month for the industry and April-May are not so significant. "After the lockdown, 95 per cent of the product sale is happening digitally and the rest we get from aggregators. The digital sale has increased by seven-eight times during the lockdown. The ticket size has fallen, but the number of products sold has been increased. People are committing lesser amount for insurance as there has been an increasing tendency to keep cash," Chugh said. Bajaj Allianz witnessed a flat growth in the lockdown. ALSO READ: Cyclone Amphan: Rs 10,000 crore West Bengal general insurance market stares at heavy losses Chugh said that the demand for the traditional term insurance is rising after the pandemic started spreading across the world. If 45-50 per cent customers preferred traditional plans earlier, it has increased to 65-70 per cent right now. The demand for wealth products, which are deployed in government securities, bonds and stock market, has fallen, he added. "We are in uncertain situation. Normally, we plan for the full financial year in March. But this year, it doesn't make sense to put a plan. We reopened 300 of the 600 branches of Bajaj Allianz in green and orange zones. About 2,000 customers come to the branches everyday nowadays. In fact, we are using the time to transition our business model. We are ensuring that we adopt digital processes and the customer is getting used to it. We will not be depending on the face-to-face sale so much. We are training our advisors to get to selling and servicing through online. We will have to co-exist with COVID-19. In this context, you cannot have the plan for the year. You should have the plan for the month or the quarter," he said. The insurance business is seen to be impacted in the first quarter of FY20 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, rating agency CARE Ratings said that insurance space will record strong performance, especially digitally going forward. The data given by CARE suggests that overall life insurance industry recorded a first-year premium income of Rs 2.6 lakh crore during FY20 against Rs 1.1 lakh crore during FY10. The CAGR growth is 8.2 per cent between FY10 and FY20. ALSO READ: Coronavirus update: With eKYC, now buy insurance or avail services online CARE pointed out that private players continue to gain market share in individual insurance business from the government-owned LIC. Market share of LIC has declined compared to the private players in April 2020 as well. LIC has lost share from 53.3 per cent in April 2019 to 44.4 per cent in April 2020. Private life insurance companies have gained a 7 per cent share in sum assured as compared to LIC which gained only 0.5 per cent share. CARE data reveals that the market share of private insurers in total sum assured for individual first-year premium has been improved to 67.7 per cent in FY20 as compared to 61.9 per cent in FY18, while LIC's share declined to 32.4 per cent in FY20 compared to 38.1 per cent in FY18. CARE concluded that the insurance business is expected to witness muted growth in the first quarter of FY21 due to COVID-19 and subsequently extended lockdown, however, protection plans could witness an increase due to rising awareness and the online channel could see robust growth. The regulator IRDAI, in April 2020, released life insurance business numbers where it was observed that private life insurers such as Aditya Birla Sun Life, Aviva Life, Bajaj Allianz Life, Edelweiss Tokio Life and Tata AIA Life have reported growth in new premiums in April 2020. In terms of the number of new policies/schemes sold, there was a decrease of 67.6 per cent year-on-year to 416,200 during the same period. Bajaj Allianz Life has leveraged their tech infrastructure and enabled all business functions to work smoothly. The customers connect with the company for most of their policy services through digital touch points, such as WhatsApp, BOING - a chat bot on the insurer's website, life assist mobile app and customer portal. ALSO READ: BT Buzz: Your term plan premium just got dearer. No, it's not due to coronavirus In connection with Memorial Day weekend, this column is about African-American men and women from Auburn who served our nation during World War II. Army Pfc. Charles Philip Johnson was killed in action in France, Jan. 1, 1945. He was the husband of Arlene Ethel Copes Johnson of 31 Parker St., Auburn, and he was a recipient of the Purple Heart. The following is a description of Charles Johnson that's in the records on file at the Cayuga County Historian's Office: Johnson, Charles PFC, Quartermaster Corps Assigned to the 118th Reinforcement Defense 106th Ground Force Replacement Service (GGRS) Note: In early December 1944, shortages of infantry rifle replacements in the European theater began to mount sharply. The theater had been experiencing rifleman shortages since July 1944, and its Ground Force Replacement Command (GFRC) had been engaged in a training program to convert basic privates from other arms and services to infantry. In December the shortages increased rapidly as the supply of replacements available from the United States declined. As of 8 December, a week before the beginning of the German counterattack in the Ardennes caused further depletions, the Theater estimates that there would be an overall deficiency of more than 29,00 riflemen by the end of the month. Such a deficiency would effectively curtail plans for pressing the attack against Germany. By the beginning of the Ardennes counterattack, the theater had already planned to convert to infantry as many physically fit men from service units as possible. A history of PFC Johnsons unit is not available at the Military History Institute, Carlisle, PA: however, he was killed in action at the Town of Givet on the France-Belgium border located about 32 miles west of Bastogne, Belgium on 1 January 1945. On this date and place the Battle of the Bulge was in full swing. PFC Johnson was killed, according to Army mortuary records, by gunshot wound to the chest. PFC Johnson, 29, was survived by his wife Arlene and four children of Auburn, two sisters and seven brothers, five of whom were in the service. A memorial service was held for him at the Thompson Memorial Church. He is buried in Fort Hill Cemetery. PFC Johnson was the first African American soldier from Auburn to be killed in the war. A large group of Auburn African-American veterans who survived World War II are in the photograph with this column. All of them were honorably discharged. One veteran not in the photo was James Chaffin, who was held captive in 1943 by Japan. Two sisters from Auburn also served. Elizabeth (Betty) Copes Gaskin and Rachael Copes Ellis enlisted in Womens Air Force. They were stationed at Williams Air Force Base on Oct. 30, 1944, and started active duty November 27, 1944. They received the American Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Both served in Medical Corps. Auburn resident Pauline Copes Johnson, Harriet Tubman's great-great-grandniece, writes periodic history columns on influential African-Americans. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Dr. Michael A Hochman, a Laredo ophthalmologist and retina eye specialist, has shown his commitment to the community and his desire to help them during the COVID-19 pandemic through a series of donations of items in need. For over 25 years, he has committed himself to helping those through his medical career, and now he is using his position to help the Laredo community during these difficult times. From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has been advocating for social distancing and has provided the people of Laredo advice on how to reduce the risk of the disease spreading. It brings a lot of meaning and joy to my life to help other people, Hochman said. I think if one does do things for others, it helps provide meaning to oneself. I am both concerned and optimistic; concerned because I dont know whats going to happen in the future as we wait for a cure or vaccine. In the meantime, we must do our best to take care of each other. As the pandemic continued, he has donated liters of hand sanitizer to organizations including Mercy Ministries of Laredo, Casa de Misericordia and to the Laredo Fire Department. He has supplied local healthcare workers, physicians offices, nursing homes, home health agencies and funeral homes with personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies. These include N95 face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer solution. As health care provider, I feel like I have a responsibility. I do what I can with the knowledge and resources I have to help my neighbors and members of the community, he said. As the demand continued, he kept supplying to the best of his ability. Since then, over 15,000 N95 masks, 20,000 liters of hand sanitizer, 10,000 pairs of gloves and more have been donated from Hochman to hospitals, nursing homes, funeral homes, grocery stores and health care professionals in order to help local health care workers combat the virus as best and as safe as they can. St. Judes & Hospice Specialty Inc. are very appreciative of Dr. Hochmans generous donation of N95 masks for our frontline nurses and therapists during this critical time, said Patricia Guajardo, BSN from St. Judes. Our agency, along with all home care and hospice frontline workers, continue to be in need of personal protective equipment now more than ever as we continue to witness an increase in positive COVID-19 cases. Additionally, he allowed for his facility to have more surgical space to provide elective surgeries as well as donating profits to the COVID-19 relief efforts. His facility, Laredo Laser and Surgery, was registered for the COVID-19 emergency task force, and it has helped with overflow needs from local hospitals as well as with providing PPE. Through each donation and contribution, Hochman has continuously worked to ensure that precautions are taken with each effort. Volunteer Laredo is a website that resulted from the efforts of Hochman to help people of all ages get involved in helping the community. From over $60,000 in donations to over 400 prepared meals for COVID-19 essential workers, Hochman has helped rally members of the community to assist their fellow residents in defeating the virus. The website is designed to allow all Laredoans of all ages and talents to lend a hand in the relief effort. Current and planned projects range from writing thank you notes to the healthcare workers taking care of COVID patients, to providing meals and greeting cards for the isolated elderly, to donating supplies and raising funds for various local charities that take care of Laredoans in need, to reading to children online, Hochman said. He added that the website also provides hundreds of self-care packages to healthcare workers, proper hygiene videos, children's videos and a place for mask makers to come together all of which could only be possible with the help of the community, he said. When we look at things like the website, were looking at dozens and dozens of Laredoans comforting each other, and thats what I had in mind when I put the website together, Hochman said. It brings me a great deal of happiness. Hochman is working on a project with a group of engineers to design COVID-19 eye protection. With his experience as an ophthalmologist, he and his team are producing prototypes and applying for patents for these protective items and are hoping to start mass production in the following weeks to months. We can rise up as a community and all come out much stronger and better for it, Hochman said. Laredo is a great place and will continue to be a great place with the help of all the volunteers and frontline workers that are keeping us all safe. We should all stay optimistic. We will get through this, and everyone can help. Two militants were killed on Monday in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said. The gun battle took place at Khud Hanjipora area of the district, he said. The identity and group affiliation of the militants is being ascertained, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Daily Express says the PM's top aide acted 'as any good father would' Daily Express says the PM's top aide acted 'as any good father would' The Guardian, The Mirror and The Daily Mail all call for Mr Cummings to resign The Guardian, The Mirror and The Daily Mail all call for Mr Cummings to resign The Times says Dominic Cummings has 'questions to answer' over allegations The Times says Dominic Cummings has 'questions to answer' over allegations Britain's newspapers today gave a mixed reception to Boris Johnson's decision to back his chief aide Dominic Cummings last night. The Guardian and The Mirror have continued calls for the under-fire adviser's head to roll, but The Sun and The Times have approached the scandal with a more measured response. The Daily Mail has said Mr Cummings 'must resign,' compared to the Times, which states he only has 'questions to answer'. Brexit-backing papers have paid tribute to Mr Cummings record at the 2017 referendum, but are treating this latest news in an entirely different light. The Daily Mail and The Independent have both accused Mr Johnson of getting the public's mood drastically wrong as the scandal enters its fourth day, while The Daily Express has defended Mr Cummings as acting 'as any good father would'. Each paper's thoughts come after a weekend of celebrities, MPs and members of the public calling for Mr Cumming's resignation. After Mr Johnson declared his support for his chief adviser, the PM announced there had been 118 more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, bringing Britain's total death toll up to 36,793. A total of 259,559 people have now been officially diagnosed with COVID-19. The Mirror - What has Dominic Cummings got on Boris? In a damning comment, The Daily Mirror warns Mr Johnson's reaction on Sunday has undermined the importance of the coronavirus lockdown. It writes: 'How on earth could the PM brazenly claim his chief aide didn't break coronavirus rules by driving 260 miles to his parents, when he and his wife were going down with the virus. 'Lying comes easily to Johnson and his arrogant associate is at best evasive, but what is most remarkable is that neither of them seems to care about the public hostility this has aroused. Millions who do the right thing and follow the rules are incandescent. 'The lockdown is instrumental in controlling the spread of the virus, but it's being undermined by the selfishness of Cummings and arrogance of Johnson.' Writing in his own column, Associate Editor Kevin Maguire described Mr Cummings as the PM's 'gravest weakness,' commenting: 'Cummings knows where the bodies are buried and Johnson knows the hired help has interred the corpses of many rivals. 'No way will a man David Cameron condemned as a career psychopath walk away quietly. So Johnson cowers, a hostage held by Cummings, the zealot who sneaked the Brexit vote then helped deliver an election win. 'Johnson dodged questions on the telly because there is no credible defence to the charge that Cummings broke the rules. He is now Johnsons gravest weakness, an exposed Achilles.' The Guardian - Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? In its own daily comment, The Guardian warns Boris Johnson has treated the public with 'contempt' over the row, even making a 'Trumpian' comparison with Downing Street's response to reports that began on Friday. It writes: 'If Downing Street truly believed that he had done nothing wrong, it would not have obfuscated about where he stayed during the lockdown, nor refused to comment when the Guardian first asked about the adviser being seen in Durham. 'Nor would Mr Johnson refuse to address the new claims that Mr Cummings further breached lockdown rules by visiting a town 30 miles from Durham with No 10 instead adopting the Trumpian ploy of attacking campaigning newspapers.' Columnist Martin Kettle added in his own comment: 'The poison in Cummingss journey to Durham is the taint of hypocrisy it injects into the public bloodstream at precisely the time when public confidence in the handling of the crisis is already beginning to fray. 'One rule for him, another for us. Its an absolutely lethal tag for any government project, but its doubly, triply so in a pandemic. The arrogance and ineptitude are staggering.' The Independent - Johnson shows scant regard for public There is 'real anger' among families in similar circumnstances, writes The Independent, which also draws a comparison to Donald Trump in its daily column. It tells readers: 'They feel that they have followed the rules, while Mr Cummings was allowed to follow his instincts instead. 'There is an unfairness there that cant be argued away, no matter how hard you try and how sympathetic you try to sound. There even were moments in his press conference when the prime minister took on a Trumpian aspect to fudge questions. It wont work. It doesnt deserve to work.' Other comments in the paper made for similar reading. 'The damage has been done,' read columnist Andrew Grice's headline, beneath which he would quote a friend of Mr Cummings as saying: 'The trouble with Dom is that he thinks he is the Messiah.' Mr Grice himself adds: 'Cummings is sometimes right to dismiss media stories as the product of an out of touch Westminster bubble. But not this time.' The Daily Mail - Cummings is taking us for fools Echoing a disconnect between the Boris Johnson and the public, The Daily Mail writes: 'The Prime Minister says he totally gets how the public feel about this. Clearly, he totally doesnt. Neither he nor his principal adviser have displayed a scintilla of contrition for this outrageous breach of trust. 'Do they think we are fools? Boris Johnson has already expended too much political capital in the Governments handling of the coronavirus crisis to waste more on his devil-may-care sidekick. 'This offensive one law for you, one law for me style of leadership must end. Mr Johnson may judge Mr Cummings to be indispensable. 'But there are no indispensable men. As the former French premier Georges Clemenceau once ruefully remarked, the graveyards are full of them.' Henry Deedes added: 'We hoped for an apology. Or at the very least some contrition, a decent dollop of umble pie served up to an angry nation. Instead, what we got was just undiluted praise for his most trusted adviser. 'By driving 200 miles to his family estate during lockdown, Mr Cummings had actually been a rather sensible fellow, apparently.' The Sun - Dominic Cummings 'bent the lockdown rules' In it's own daily comment, The Sun has not immediately addressed the ongoing scandal, instead focusing on the next steps out of lockdown. The Sun Says comment reads: 'Most people think the economy will right itself in a year or two and few seem bothered. They are more fixated on the furore over whether Dominic Cummings bent the lockdown rules to look after his child than with the looming catastrophe unless they are soon lifted.' The Times - Boris Johnson's adviser should stay While others demand a resignation, The Times writes Mr Cummings has 'questions to answer,' before adding: 'On the evidence that has so far emerged, however, his conduct is not a cause for resignation. 'The calls for him to go are not politically disinterested, but come from longstanding critics of Boris Johnson among opposition parties and the press, along with a few Conservative MPs who cordially detest Mr Cummings and resent the pivotal role he plays in the government. It would be wrong for Mr Johnson to accede to these on their own.' Columnist Clare Foges added the breach 'captures the arrogance that many accuse him of,' later adding: 'Still, though, a full apology would have rectified some of the damage and perhaps, if given early enough, neutered calls for his resignation. Though not a fan of some of his tactics, I appreciate the urgency that Cummings brings to the job. Her comment goes one step further than The Times', ending with: 'Given the current dangers and the fear of another surge of infection it is scarcely believable that clarity and solidarity on the lockdown have been sacrificed so that one adviser cant be. The Daily Telegraph - Johnson 'gambles' over Cummings Writing on the front page of today's Daily Telegraph, Associate Editor Camilla Tominey says Boris Johnson 'hates any kind of confrontation'. She explains this is 'why he hired Dominic Cummings in the first place'. 'The inconvenient truth is that Mr Johnson needs an enforcer willing to do Downing Streets dirty work for him. 'Or to use David Camerons description of Mr Cummings: A career psychopath; the type of maverick adviser who didnt seem to give much thought to the consequences of travelling to Durham during lockdown despite his omnipotent role at the heart of government.' Further back the paper describes Boris Johnson's decision to back Mr Cummings as a 'gamble'. It adds: 'The central problem for Mr Johnson is that, in sticking by Mr Cummings, he risks jeopardising the entire anti-Covid strategy. This is based on maintaining the British publics trust in the integrity of the public health message in order to accept restrictions on their liberties never seen before. 'Unquestionably, that has been harmed by the way this affair has been handled. Ministers have lined up to deny Mr Cummings has broken the rules and yet there is prima facie evidence that he did.' The column later adds: 'In the end, the Prime Minister must decide whether the authority of his Government and the publics trust in him to see the country through its gravest crisis for 70 years is enhanced or diminished by the continued presence of Mr Cummings.' The Daily Express - Cummings did what any parent would Perhaps one of the staunchest defences in today's papers came from the Daily Express, which wrote: 'If Mr Cummings were not so close to Boris Johnson, and did not have so many political enemies, would his actions in seeking the safest solution for his family when no better alternatives were available have attracted the same degree of hostility? 'As Mr Johnson said, he surely did what any father or parent would. Without evidence that he further flouted the lockdown, or put anyone elses health at risk, the humane reaction would be to accept that he behaved reasonably and legally, albeit not to the absolute letter of the rules.' Columnist Leo McKinstry added: 'Much of the fevered assault on Cummings appears politically motivated. 'As the uncompromising architect of both the victorious Brexit campaign in 2016 and 2019s Conservative election triumph, he is loathed by most of the Left. 'Indeed, the Prime Minister said at his briefing yesterday that Cummings acted legally, responsibly and with integrity. 'Nevertheless, this bitter dispute not only prompts accusations of hypocrisy but is also a severe drain on the Governments authority. 'Precious political capital, so badly needed to tackle the pandemic, is now being expended on his defence.' Migrant labourers protested in Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib district on Monday after they came to know that a Bihar-bound train was cancelled. Senior Superintendent of Police Amneet Kondal said a rumour spread that buses will leave for Bihar from the Khalsa School in Mandi Gobindgarh town, following which a large number of migrant labourers assembled at the spot. The police reached and told the labourers that there was no such schedule, following which the agitated people protested against the district administration and shouted slogans. Civil and police officials rushed to the spot to control the situation. Mandi Gobindgarh police station incharge Mohinder Singh pacified the agitated migrants, Kondal said. According the SSP, misleading information was shared on social media that the labourers were beaten, they damaged police vehicles, and labourers and officials were injured, but nothing happened. Legal action is being taken against such persons who is misleading people on social media, Kondal said. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amloh Anand Sagar Sharma said after coordinating with railway authorities, special buses were arranged and around 300 migrant labourers were sent to the Ambala railway station, from where they will leave for Bihar. The British businessman who have been linked to trophy hunting safaris in South Africa have been unmasked in a new book. David Watt, 72, who is the international booking co-ordinator for Nduna Hunting Safari, allows his clients to shoot a host of wildlife animals including lions, baboons, monkeys and black rhinos, as part of their safari experience. The former oil and gas sales and marketing director is one of seven British men who has been named in connection with the blood sport in Eduardo Goncalves' new book Trophy Hunters Exposed, Inside the Big Game Industry. Mr Watt, who has has been hunting in South Africa for the last twenty years, told The Times: 'If a client wants to hunt a lion we can arrange it but we adhere to strict ethical rules and would never hunt anything endangered. David Watt, 72, who is the international booking co-ordinator for Nduna Hunting Safari in South Africa, allows clients to shoot a host of wildlife animals before posing with the dead creatures The trophy hunter said that he adhered to strict ethical rules and would never hunt anything endangered Carl Knight (pictured holding a dead lion), 46, from Surrey, who runs Take Aim Safaris in South Africa, has also been named in connection with the blood sport 'The hunting does a lot of good for animal conservation and provides for the local community.' Clients seeking to take part in trophy hunting at the company's Nduna Lodge are provided with 'beautiful views of rolling hills' and a 'truly unforgettable African hunting experience', according to the company's website. Prices start from 240 to shoot a baboon and rise to a staggering 2800 to kill a giraffe. Customers can also pay 2650 to shoot a black Impala, 1700 to kill a Waterbuck and 1950 to hunt for an Eland Cape in its natural habitat. After completing their hunt, clients can be seen posing with the dead animals on the company's website. A statement about Mr Watt on Nduna Hunting Safari's website reads: 'David will be pleased to advise on and arrange the necessary paperwork to bring your rifle to South Africa and provide a step by step guide to the process. 'David is also happy to share his knowledge of the tourist side of your visit to our beautiful country.' However Mr Goncalves, who is the founder of the Campaign To Ban Trophy Hunting, hopes his new book will shine a light on the brutal sport and help raise awareness of the importance of protecting the endangered creatures. He told The Times: 'Trophy hunters are not experts in animal conservation, they enjoy shooting the animals for the thrill of it. An animal that's been bred in captivity and hunted in an enclosure, they are tame, not wild.' Veteran British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who wrote the foreword to the book and spent his childhood in South Africa, has continued to urge the UK to ban animal imports. Alex Goss, from Shropshire, who operates Blackthorn Safaris, divides his time between bird-shooting and deer hunts in the UK and big-game hunts in South Africa and Zimbabwe Mr Watts (pictured with animals at the safari) has has been hunting in South Africa for the last twenty years Earlier this year he told The Guardian: 'You've got the empire lot and the weird medical quack lot both going on to this current day and it's got to be stopped country by country. We can stop it in the UK at least and thereby feel slightly less guilty because of our ancestors.' In his book, the author also named Alex Goss, from Shropshire, who operates Blackthorn Safaris, in connection with trophy hunting. Mr Goss, who divides his time between bird-shooting and deer hunts in the UK and big-game hunts in South Africa and Zimbabwe, is believed to be the only British operator openly organising what campaigners call 'canned hunts' where lions bred in captivity are pursued and shot in fenced enclosures. In 2019, pictures emerged of the trophy hunter sitting beside a dead lion after the creature was slaughtered during a hunt in South Africa. Carl Knight, 46, from Surrey, who is in charge of Take Aim Safaris in South Africa, has also been named in connection with the blood sport. On his website the 'big game' specialist writes: 'I am a British National that lives in Johannesburg South Africa and have done so almost all my life. I have hunted South Africa and Zimbabwe extensively over the last 38 years as I write this in July 2019 I am 45 years of age. Writer Eduardo Goncalves (pictured with Helen Worth and Peter Egan at the Mirror Animal Hero Awards 2019) hopes his new book Trophy Hunters Exposed, Inside the Big Game Industry will raise awareness about trophy hunting 'Take Aim Safaris is a safari industry market leader with a track record that spans over 11 years of full time work in the hunting industry having booked and/or conducted over 400 big game hunts to date.' Paul Roberts, 78, managing director of the British gunmaking company J Roberts and Sons Gunmakers in west Sussex, has also been named in connection with the blood sport. Last year, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to ban imports of hunting trophies from endangered animals and pledged to stop callous hunters bringing the bodies of animals back to the UK. Mr Johnson, whose government is set to ban trophy hunting souvenirs after a huge spike in the number of bloodsport mementos being brought back to the UK, said at the time: 'We must end this barbaric practice'. White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett Monday came under fire for a comment where he referred to American workers as 'human capital stock.' Hassett, an economist and a senior economic advisor to the president on the coronavirus response, made the statement as he talked up the U.S. economic picture and the chance that unemployment will bounce back. 'Our capital stock hasn't been destroyed, our human capital stock is ready to get back to work, and so that there are lots of reasons to believe that we can get going way faster than we have in previous crises that,' Hassett told CNN Sunday. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said during a Sunday interview that 'our human capital stock is ready to get back to work' Former Director of the Office of Government Ethics Walter Shaub was among those chiming in to condemn the language. 'The phrase 'human capital stock' is repugnant. They're more than happy to lose as many 'units' of our existing stocks as it takes to win an election. 'Sure, you may lose some units you care about. But, remember, we have plenty more where they came from. So, no biggie,' he wrote. Historian Kevin Kruse, another frequent Donald Trump critic, mocked Hassett online: 'Affirmative, fellow Earthling! The term is intended to refer to productivity workers have gained through training, education and other means. His comments come as U.S. officials including Trump and rival Joe Biden regularly salute the drug drivers, nurses, doctors, and grocery workers who and others who have stayed on the job during the coronavirus pandemic. Former Director of the Office of Government Ethics Walter Shaub is among the Trump critics who crititized Hassett's language Beam me up: Historian Kevin Kruse also ribbed Hassett Hassett kept his trademark sunny disposition even as he spoke about U.S. unemployment rate remaining above 20 per cent, figures that would point to ongoing suffering by the unemployed. Hassett, who previously chaired President Trump's council of economic advisers, has warned that the unemployment rate, which hit 14.7 percent in April, may rise to 22 to 23 percent in May and edge up a bit in June before falling back down. He has also taken a sunny view of where the markets are headed. He cowrote Dow 36,000: The New Strategy for Profiting from the Coming Rise in the Stock Market, published in 1999. The Dow closed below 25,000 Friday, more than 20 years later. 'We'll see a very bad number for May and then I think that in June it will start to head in the right direction,' he told CNN, adding that he believes a fourth stimulus bill meant to stanch coronavirus-induced economic pain is coming 'sooner rather than later'. Asked whether he thought unemployment would be in double digits in November when the presidential elections are held, Hassett replied: 'Yes, I do.' Hassett has predicted that economic growth in the US will 'skyrocket' in the third quarter but could fall short of a full recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. 'Unemployment will be something that moves back slower,' he said. 'You're going to be starting at a number in the 20s and working your way down.' 'I think that all signs of economic recovery are going to be raging everywhere. 'And the only thing we're going to really be debating as economists is are we going to get back to where we were or will it be a long haul to get there.' Some 38.6 million people have lost their jobs since the US economy went into lockdown mode in March to prevent the spread of the virus, according to Department of Labor statistics that track weekly jobless aid applications. The official unemployment rate for April reached 14.7 percent - the highest since the Great Depression - when 20 million jobs were lost, eliminating a decade's worth of job growth in a single month. Millions of other people who were out of work weren't counted as unemployed because they didn't look for a new job. Since then, at least 10 million more laid-off workers have applied for jobless benefits. The official unemployment rate for April reached 14.7 percent - the highest since the Great Depression - when 20 million jobs were lost, eliminating a decade's worth of job growth in a single month The US economy lost a staggering 20.5 million jobs in April - the steepest plunge since the 1930s Great Depression and the starkest sign yet of how coronavirus is battering the world's biggest economy The April figure is on top of the 881,000 jobs shed in March when businesses were first forced to close due to the pandemic. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has also predicted that the unemployment rate could peak in May or June at 20 percent to 25 percent. Nevada, Michigan and Hawaii are the three states where unemployment rates have increased the most across the country amid the pandemic. Unemployment rates rose and total employment fell in all 50 states last month as efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 forced businesses to close across the country, the Labor Department said on Friday. The department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said 43 states set record-high rates of unemployment last month, with the three highest being Nevada (28.2%), Michigan (22.7%) and Hawaii (22.3%). The report indicated more than a quarter of those job losses were concentrated in three of the largest US states: California, which shed 2.3 million jobs; New York, which has seen the largest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths and lost 1.8 million positions; and Texas, which has suffered a double blow from plunging oil prices and lost 1.3 million jobs. Some 38.6 million people have lost their jobs since the US economy went into lockdown mode in March to prevent the spread of the virus, according to Department of Labor statistics that track weekly jobless aid applications On Thursday, the BLS reported more than 2.4 million people filed for unemployment benefits for the first time last week and those continuing to receive jobless relief payments topped 25 million in the week ended May 9 Nevada's jobless rate surged by 21.3 percentage points from March to 28.2 percent, which was nearly double the national rate of 14.7 percent in April. In the state, which is home to the global gambling mecca of Las Vegas, half of the nearly 245,000 jobs lost in April were in the leisure and hospitality sector. That industry has suffered the greatest losses nationally from the reductions in travel and widespread closures of dine-in restaurants during a month when stay-at-home orders were deployed broadly. The leisure and hospitality sector losses also took a major toll on Hawaii, which was one of only three states with an unemployment rate above 20 percent - Nevada and Michigan were the other two. The Pacific island state lost more than 55 percent of leisure and hospitality jobs last month, accounting for 57 percent of all jobs lost in that period. In Michigan, more than one of every five jobs was eliminated, at least temporarily. The leisure and hospitality sector led the declines there, too, but a quarter of the state's losses came in the manufacturing and construction sectors. T he UK is set for a scorching bank holiday Monday, but Brits have been urged to stay away from beauty spots and abide by social distancing measures. Temperatures could reportedly hit as high as 26C on Monday, after mist and low cloud gives way to dry weather in most parts of the country on Monday. There will be long sunny periods, with inland areas becoming warm, forecasters have said. Temperatures are predicted to be between 24C and 26C in London, with 21C expected in Newcastle, 20C in Edinburgh and Belfast and 22C in Southampton. It will be slightly cooler in the South West, with 17C forecast for Lands End in Cornwall. Little rain is forecast but a band of cloud descending from the North West is expected to bring some showers. Tuesday is expected to see that rain move southeast into central areas, but brighter drier weather is then forecast for the rest of the week. Brits are set for nice weather this bank holiday / PA Authorities fear crowds could flock to popular beauty spots amid the rising mercury. Councils have warned people to stay away due to fears social distancing guidelines could be flouted if such areas get too busy. Many major tourist attractions remain closed. Following a recent relaxation in lockdown restrictions, people in England are now permitted to meet up with one person from another household outdoors, as long as two metres distance between them is maintained. Sefton Council in Merseyside adopted a new campaign ahead of the bank holiday weekend, telling people Wish you werent here!. In Cornwall, council leaders meanwhile warned there was no lifeguard cover on the coast in an apparent bid to deter people from flocking to the region's beaches. Neighbouring Devon County Council asked people to think twice about visiting the coast and to consider if they could remain closer to home. Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove City Councillor Carmen Appich urged anyone thinking of travelling to the city to consider very carefully how their journey will impact on others. Nearby Hastings Borough Council warned the area is closed to visitors from outside the town. Holidaymakers were similarly being told that the clear advice from the Isle of Wight Council is they should stay away. After pictures showed crowds at Southend in Essex last week, the councils leader said the easing of lockdown restrictions had put the council in a very difficult position. Councillor Ian Gilbert said on Friday: For many weeks we ran a successful Dont Visit Southend campaign, but the Governments lifting of restrictions have put us in a very difficult position as day trips and sunbathing are allowed, and takeaways can be open for business. Michelle Bridges has revealed what life is like as a single mother following her high-profile split from Steve 'Commando' Willis. Speaking to New Idea magazine on Monday, the 49-year-old, who has son Axel, four, with her ex-partner explained that she had moments of 'frustration' and admitted she has 'cried' a couple of times. She added that the coronavirus lockdown only served to bring the mother-son duo closer together. Truth: Fitness queen Michelle Bridges, 49, (pictured) has shared what life is really like as a single mother after her split from ex Steve Willis in an interview with New Idea magazine 'As a single parent I have spent so much time with my little boy, and on reflection, I strangely know that it has been a time that I will be forever grateful for,' she said. 'It has brought us so close in a way that would never have otherwise happened.' New life: Michelle (pictured) opined about cutting negativity out of her life earlier this month, while she was marking her first Mother's Day alone this year. Here: Sydney, 2019 It comes after Michelle was accused of taking a swipe at her ex earlier this month, after she opined about cutting negativity out of her life. Michelle wrote of her first Mother's Day without Commando: 'Best Mothers Day ever! We can talk or we can walk. Today we walked and talked. Close: 'It has brought us so close in a way that would never have otherwise happened,' Michelle said. Here with Axel (L) She continued: 'I guess this whole situation we find ourselves in has given sharp focus to those we really want to spend our valued and precious time with, the stuff we simply wish to cut and the people who bring joy and amplify our lives!' 'Here's to a Mother's Day full of love. #keepingitreal,' the former Biggest Loser trainer concluded. Michelle announced her shock split from Steve, 43, in January. Over: Michelle announced her shock split from Steve in January. Pictured: Michelle and Steve with their son Axel Following the breakup, she blew 0.086 when she was pulled over in her Range Rover on Australia Day earlier this year. After she was charged on January 26, Michelle released a statement claiming she was going through a 'very difficult time' following her split from Steve. The star was fined $750 and had her licence disqualified for three months, after pleading guilty to mid-range drink driving. Court: Following the breakup, she blew 0.086 when she was pulled over in her Range Rover with son Axel in the car, about 11.25am on Australia Day. Pictured outside court on February 18 Outside court, a tearful Michelle said: 'I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep remorse, shame and humiliation [over] this incident and extreme lack of judgment. 'I would like to apologise to my family, friends and community for this gross error in judgment and the consequences of these actions will haunt me forever.' Steve and Michelle began dating in 2015, after splitting from their respective partners, and welcomed Axel in December that year. With all four regions of the state as defined under Gov. J.B. Pritzkers phased-in reopening plan slated to advance to the next stage Friday, the state rolled out detailed guidance Sunday for what precautions restaurants and bars need to have in place to be able to serve customers outdoors, how manufacturers and some offices can resume operations with restrictions and how barbers can offer those badly needed haircuts. Senior Chinese diplomats have called for more Wolf Warriors to defend the country abroad despite warnings that this combative approach was likely to alienate the rest of the world. On Sunday Foreign Minister Wang Yi defended this combative approach named after a series of nationalistic action movies saying that China would fight back against slanders and firmly defend national honour and dignity. We will lay out the truth to counter gratuitous smears and resolutely maintain fairness and justice and conscience, Wang said. Wang also insisted that China had no desire to lord it over the world no matter what state of development it reached, saying those who go out of their way to label China a hegemon are precisely the ones who refuse to let go of their hegemonic status. Wangs comments were echoed by Liu Xiaoming, the outspoken ambassador to Britain, who has previously clashed with TV journalists when defending the country. Some people said China now has many Wolf Warriors, the reason is that there are many wolves out there in the world now. If there are wolves, we must have Wolf Warriors to fight, Liu told state broadcaster CCTV. We encourage diplomats at all levels to actively fight. Where there is a wolf, we need to fight back actively to protect national dignity and interests. But Liu said diplomats should still bear in mind that they need to make the general public in other countries understand that China is a country that wants cooperation and values friendship and truth. Chinas ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said in a world with a lot of wolves there was a need for Wolf Warriors. Photo: AFP Wang and Liu did not explicitly state who they thought was smearing or slandering the country, but an editorial in Global Times, a state-owned tabloid, said the United States was more wolf-like than China. In terms of Wolf Warrior, the US has peaked in its diplomacy. Just look at how many countries are being sanctioned by the US, in how many places is the US stationing its troops and how many countries internal affairs are being interfered with by the US, the editorial said. Story continues The article, published on Sunday evening with the headline: Wolf Warrior diplomacy a US trait, concluded: Labelling Chinese diplomacy as Wolf Warrior reflects an extreme ideology. But observers warned that no matter how much China tried to justify its more aggressive approach to diplomacy, it was likely to backfire. Fergus Ryan, an analyst from Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said that both Xi Jinping and Donald Trumps attitudes affected diplomats behaviour. Ultimately, theres only one person in the Chinese system whose opinion on this aggressive style of diplomacy matters, and thats Xi Jinping. Another key factor is rising hostility from the United States towards China which is helping to accelerate the shift towards a truculent approach to foreign affairs, said Ryan, who argued that to some extent Chinese diplomats were copying the US presidents own belligerent tone. Beijing will continue its pugnacious tone if the approach helps to achieve its diplomatic objectives. But its more likely that these displays of aggressive nationalism will only serve to drive the world further away from China, Ryan said. Chen Daoyin, an independent political scientist, echoed Ryan and said one of the worst scenarios China could face was a new bloc of countries alienated by the Wolf Warrior approach. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, many countries are rethinking the negative effects of globalisation and gradually inching closer to the US, Chen said. If irritated by Chinas aggressive stance and actions, countries might form a circle to confront China together, leaving China isolated. Jia Qingguo, professor and associate dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University and a member of Chinas political consultative conference, urged diplomats to chose their words carefully. There are still things Chinese diplomats have to learn. Different forms of expression can achieve totally different results. So I think Chinas diplomacy might have better outcomes if they improve their way of working, Jia said. Chen Gang, assistant director of National University of Singapores East Asian Institute, said the Wolf Warrior style could become the norm as China was ready to adopt a head-on approach to pressure. Chinas tensions with the United States and its allies could escalate in the short run due to the wolf-like diplomats, and some of Chinas external behaviour will come under more scrutiny from these governments, Chen said. Additional reporting by Laura Zhou Sign up now and get a 10% discount (original price US$400) off the China AI Report 2020 by SCMP Research. Learn about the AI ambitions of Alibaba, Baidu & JD.com through our in-depth case studies, and explore new applications of AI across industries. The report also includes exclusive access to webinars to interact with C-level executives from leading China AI companies (via live Q&A sessions). Offer valid until 31 May 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Will Chinas calls for more Wolf Warriors leave countrys diplomats feeling sheepish? first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Fresenius Kabis regulatory submission for pegfilgrastim biosimilar accepted for review by EMA Details Category: Proteins and Peptides Published on Monday, 25 May 2020 10:07 Hits: 2431 May 22, 2020 I Fresenius Kabi, a global healthcare company that specializes in lifesaving medicines and technologies, announced today that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review the companys Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for MSB11455, a biosimilar candidate of Neulasta* (pegfilgrastim). This submission is another milestone for Fresenius Kabi following last years approval and launch of the companys adalimumab biosimilar in Europe. Dr. Michael Schonhofen, Member of the Fresenius Kabi Management Board and President of the Pharmaceuticals and Devices Division, said: This is an important achievement in the development of our entire biosimilar pipeline and oncology portfolio. We continue to expand our portfolio to deliver high-quality and affordable therapies, a vital need in the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases. MSB11455 is a molecule that stimulates the growth of certain white blood cells which are essential to fight infections, a common event in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. MSB11455 was developed by Fresenius Kabis biosimilars team based in Switzerland. Fresenius Kabis MAA submission for pegfilgrastim biosimilar candidate includes analytical, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, safety and immunogenicity data. The application includes the results of two pivotal clinical trials that showed equivalent pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile to pegfilgrastim, as well as similar immunogenicity in healthy volunteers. The safety profile of MSB11455 was also comparable to pegfilgrastim. About MSB11455, a biosimilar candidate of pegfilgrastim Pegfilgrastim is a long-acting form of filgrastim (recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor or GCSF) which stimulates the production of white blood cells (neutrophils). The reference product Neulasta* is approved in the EU for the reduction in the duration of neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia in adult patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy for malignancy (with the exception of chronic myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes). * Neulasta is a registered trademark of Amgen For more information about Fresenius Kabis work in biosimilars, please visit https://biosimilars.fresenius-kabi.com. Fresenius Kabi is a global healthcare company that specializes in lifesaving medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. The companys products and services are used to help care for critically and chronically ill patients. Fresenius Kabis product portfolio comprises a comprehensive range of I.V. generic drugs, infusion therapies and clinical nutrition products as well as the devices for administering these products. In the field of biosimilars, Fresenius Kabi focuses on autoimmune diseases and oncology. In 2019, the first biosimilar product by Fresenius Kabi was launched. Within transfusion medicine and cell therapies, Fresenius Kabi offers products for collection of blood components and extracorporeal therapies. Fresenius Kabi employs around 40,000 people worldwide. In 2019, the company reported sales of more than 6.9 billion. Fresenius Kabi AG is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA healthcare group. For more information visit the companys website at www.fresenius-kabi.com. SOURCE: Fresenius Kabi CALGARY, Alberta, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- May 25 is International Missing Children Day, a day that is marked around the world to remember children who are missing and those who have been found. The Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC), uses this day to draw attention to cases of missing children across Canada, with a solemn reminder that children everywhere deserve to feel safe each day of the year. This year especially, the Coronavirus pandemic is challenging our communities in ways we could never have imagined, and it's leaving vulnerable children and youth at greater risk than ever before. "Our children deserve safe communities where they can grow and thrive. Today reminds us that we must work together to find our missing children and protect them from future harm," said Amanda Pick, CEO of the Missing Children Society of Canada. MCSC has been engaged in the search for missing children and supporting their families since 1986. The organization has evolved from one distributing posters to find a missing child, to one embracing the latest technology to help police in the search for that child. Last year, MCSC released the web app MCSC rescu, which is updated continually by police from across Canada with critical cases of missing children. It allows members of the public to access case information based on geography and to submit tips directly to police. It was 1983 when U.S. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 as National Missing Children's Day. In 2001, May 25 was officially recognized as International Missing Children's Day, thanks to a joint effort between the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, Missing Children Europe and the European Commission. The forget-me-not flower was recognized as its emblem. The Missing Children Society of Canada urges everyone to join in the search for missing children. Access MCSC rescu to see cases of missing children and please leave a tip for police if you know something. Sign up to receive SMS messages about missing children in your area to help keep children in your community safe. For more information, or a comment on Missing Children's Day, call Amanda Pick at 403-510-6942. Some hotels and restaurants will be allowed to reopen from Tuesday in Colombo, one of the hotspots for the coronavirus in Sri Lanka, as the country is set to ease the nationwide lockdown by limiting the curfew hours among other relaxations. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday said that Sri Lanka will ease the coronavirus lockdown restrictions from May 26, including limiting the curfew hours from 10.00 pm to 4.00 am. Sri Lanka has been under a 24-hour curfew since March 20 to combat the deadly viral infection. However, there has been intermittent lifting of the curfew in selected areas which were not seen as dangerous for the spread of the deadly virus. Colombo and Gampaha districts were identified as coronavirus hot-spots and placed under round-the-clock curfew since March 20. The government tourist board-approved restaurants in Colombo have been given permission to operate under strict health guidelines, Ruwan Wijemuni, Chief Medical Officer of the Colombo Municipal Council said on Monday. He said six municipality teams of officials have been assigned to carry out inspection at these hotels to see if health regulations are adhered to. There will be no daytime curfew in Colombo from Tuesday. Earlier, the government allowed offices and businesses to re-open with limited staff from May 11. The Health Ministry has said that a maximum of 100 guests are permitted at weddings and limited to less than 40 per cent of the reception hall capacity. Limit your guests as much as possible in case if someone attended the wedding get infected it will be easy for us to find who he/she had made contact with easily in order to quarantine them, Lakshman Gamlath, Deputy Health Director General, said. The ministry said that hugging and shaking hands must be discouraged while all guests must wear face masks at weddings. Posing for group photos is discouraged while limiting to no touch greetings at the reception. According to the Johns Hopkins University data, the country has so far reported 1,148 infected cases with 9 deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Air Force (IAF) will operationalise its No.18 Squadron at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on May 27, equipping it with the fourth generation LCA Tejas aircraft. A PIB (Defence Wing) release said IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will operationalise the squadron "Flying Bullets" at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore on Wednesday. "The Squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC (final operation clearance) aircraft and will be the second IAF Squadron to fly LCA Tejas," after the 45 Squadron based at Coimbatore, it said. The No.18 Squadron, formed in 1965 with the motto "Teevra aur Nirbhaya" meaning "Swift and Fearless," was earlier flying MiG 27 aircraft. The Squadron "actively participated" in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously. "It earned the sobriquet Defenders of Kashmir Valley by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar," it said. "The Squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur," the release added. According to the release, Tejas is an indigenous fourth generation tailless compound delta-wing aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated digital avionics, multimode radar and its structure is made of composite material. "It is the lightest and smallest in its group of fourth generation supersonic combat aircraft," the Defence release said. (Image - PTI) The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has reacted to speculations that he is planning to contest for 2021 governorship election in Anambra State. Ngige, who spoke to reporters in his country home in Alor, in Idemili Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, said he was too busy with his national assignment as a minister to start eyeing a provincial job. The former Anambra governor, however, noted that he has the right to contest for any position in the country, including the office of the president. Yes, there have been speculations that I am eyeing the governorship of Anambra State. They have written about it in a lot of media. I am a politician. They have the right to speculate on my next move. My next move is very vast. Elections will come in 2023, I have a right to vie for any position. I can vie for Senate. I can vie for President if I so wish. Election will be coming in Anambra State, latest November 2021 to elect a successor to Obiano. I am not disqualified. I have a right to say I can run. I dont have interest for now in Anambra governorship because I am on a national assignment, he said. The minister said the President Muhammadu Buhari has done well for Nigeria especially the South East withing the last five years. He listed work on the Second Niger Bridge, stretches of Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt highways and the Akanu Ibiam Airport as some of them. KanyiDaily recalls that Chris Ngige had claimed that the only way Igbo tribe can produce a president in this country is to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). According to him, the ruling party in the southeast, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), must collapse and move into APC if they are serious about becoming President. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment On Easter Sunday, armed Chinese officers raided the homes of Christians attending an online church service held by Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China. Six people were forcibly removed from their homes and detained by Public Service Bureau authorities, while others in attendance were threatened with the same fate. The organization I lead, Open Doors USA, monitors religious persecution around the world. Each year, it releases a ranking of the countries where it is most dangerous to be Christian. Our 2020 World Watch List revealed that China is persecuting more Christians than any other country, with nearly 100 million under scrutiny. Up to another million Uighur Muslims are also systematically targeted by Chinese regime. Until now, Chinas efforts have been focused on tracking and penalizing public displays of religion, such as church gatherings and proselytizing. The Easter Sunday raid, however, signals the states desire to penalize religious minorities who dare even to engage in private online activity. This bold and unprecedented move by the Chinese government is merely one more data point indicating that the communist country is quietly unleashing a pandemic of persecution while the world works to stifle the spread of the coronavirus. Days before COVID-19 emerged from Chinas Wuhan province, I was in the country on a fact-finding trip. While there, I witnessed firsthand how the Chinese government is using mass surveillance and data modeling to monitor and punish citizens who choose to attend church or share religious material. Seen as a threat to the communist state, Christian activity is considered a betrayal of loyalty to the regime. These violations, when recorded and linked together by sophisticated surveillance technology, diminish a social score that determines where people of faith can work, travel, or even educate their children. The result: a blueprint of religious oppression updated for the technological age. The forced closure of thousands of churches and the removal of crosses from buildings are now-commonplace tactics by the Chinese government in order to limit, if not extinguish, Christian practice. Even charitable coronavirus relief provided by people of faith is strongly discouraged by the regime. Chinas totalitarian ambition to build a god-as-government state is motivating the steady eradication of religious practice, at any cost. History suggests, however, that strong-armed tactics only drive the church underground, where it continues to spread: at a higher human cost. Amid global dependence on Chinas economy, the country persists in providing a technological model for regulating the religious market. The surveillance state that, until recently, was made visible to Christians primarily by cameras in church sanctuaries is now lurking behind laptop webcams and invading living rooms, too. These kinds of measures are being quickly and quietly implemented by the Chinese government while attentions are completely consumed with public health matters. Christians in China realize this is no mere coincidence. I recently spoke with a pastor in the Wuhan province, who said he fears the Chinese Communist Party is taking advantage of coronavirus containment measures to permanently suppress church activity altogether. Continued penalization of online churches will prove his warning correct. The parishioners of Early Rain Covenant Church arent strangers to the risks undertaken by the public practice of faith. Fifty of them have previously been arrested, others are suffering harassment by the police. Their pastor, Wang Yi, was recently sentenced to nine years in prison for inciting subversion of state power simply for pastoring a church and advocating for religious freedom. Even law-abiding Christians in China now live in fear of following Yis fate. Where Christians previously had only to count the cost of the public expression of faith, now they must also weigh the risks of privately practicing their God-given right to believe. Those who value the freedom of religion cannot be silent: we must join our voices together and demand that the Chinese government put an end to this pandemic of religious persecution. Chinese state media has launched its latest attack on Australia with a cartoon depicting Scott Morrison as America's 'yes man'. The cartoon, shared on social media by the Communist Party-owned China Daily newspaper on Monday, depicted Australia as a donkey riding into battle under the orders of the United States. Accompanied by the caption 'yes man to one, liar to all', the cartoon references the 17th century story of Don Quixote. In the book, Quixote orders his servant Sancho Panza to charge towards a windmill thinking it is his enemy despite it being an imaginary foe. Cartoonist Luo Jie, who created the cartoon last week, depicts Quixote as the US and Panza as his loyal Australian steed attacking a windmill which represents China. It comes as Mr Morrison prepares to champion free trade in getting thousands of Australians back to work after the coronavirus crisis amid mounting tensions with China. Scroll down for video Chinese state-owned media publication China Daily has depicted Australia blindly following US orders in Beijing's latest attack on Scott Morrison's government US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with wife Jenny on September 20 last year While he will not name China - Australia's largest export partner - in Tuesday's speech, he will say Australia needs to search for new markets for its products. Mr Morrison will insist that the country will continue to be an 'outward-looking', trading nation that 'will not retreat into the downward spiral of protectionism'. 'To the contrary, we will continue to be part of global supply chains that can deliver the prosperity we rely on to create jobs, support incomes and build our businesses,' he will say at the National Press Club in Canberra. The US meanwhile on Friday announced it would blacklist 33 Chinese companies for helping Beijing spy on its minority Uighur population. Political leaders in both the US and Australia have also already condemned China's effort to take over national security legislation in Hong Kong. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called it 'a death knell for the high degree of autonomy' that Beijing had promised the territory. Chinese President Xi Jinping reviews troops from a car during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing last October Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne has also said her government is 'deeply concerned' at the proposals. The contentious measure, submitted on Friday on the opening day of Chinas national legislative session, is strongly opposed by pro-democracy lawmakers in semi-autonomous Hong Kong. It follows an article in the Global Times, another Chinese state-owned publication, threatening to cripple Australia if it continued supporting US President Donald Trump amid growing tensions with Beijing. The story published on Sunday said China will punish Australia more harshly than the US because it is less economically dependent on Australia. A haulage truck and an autonomous drilling rig at the Rio Tinto West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of West Australia. About a third of Australia's total exports go to China The US is China's number one export market whereas Australia is 14th. The article said: 'China will enjoy more room to fight back against Australia with countermeasures if Canberra supports Washington in a possible "new Cold War". 'It means Australia may feel more pain than the US.' The editorial said President Trump was targeting China to distract from his handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has killed 97,000 Americans. 'The Trump administration is fomenting trouble to deflect its woes over its mishandling of the coronavirus onto China,' it said. 'There is no need for other countries, such as Australia, to involve themselves in this ridiculous political play.' Cattle are readied for auction at the Roma Saleyards in Roma, Queensland. Four major beef supplies have been suspended from exporting to China The Global Times believes Australia is merely a 'lap dog' being used to further American interests and last week claimed the US coerced Canberra into calling for an inquiry into the origins and spread of coronavirus. Last month Beijing became infuriated by Australia's calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus, believing that it was a 'malicious' attempt to blame and 'stigmatize' China. Mr Morrison had demanded a ban on wildlife wet markets, where the virus may have originated, and said inspectors should be able to enter a country suffering from a pandemic without the government's consent. Scott Morrison warns China 'we will not retreat' but cautions against a trade war as he unveils new 'JobMaker' plan to get the Australian economy 'out of ICU' Scott Morrison is set to reveal his plans bring the economy 'out of ICU' and get thousands of Australians back into work after the coronavirus crisis. In a major speech on Tuesday, the Prime Minister will outline a new 'JobMaker plan' made up of five key principles to kickstart the economy after lockdowns left 1.3million Australians without a job. The principles are free trade, caring for country, building on Australia's strengths, giving everyone a fair go and creating a business-friendly environment. With unemployment at around 10 per cent and global trade and foreign investment plummeting, Mr Morrison will say the country faces the 'most challenging environment ever outside of wartime.' Facing deteriorating relations with China, Mr Morrison (pictured with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang) will insist Australia will continue to be an 'outward-looking', trading nation But in a message of hope to thousands of businesses and workers, he will reference Australia's recovery from previous downturns and say: 'We have done this before and together we can do it again.' Facing deteriorating relations with China, which has taxed Australian barley and banned some Aussie beef, Mr Morrison will insist that the country will continue to be an 'outward-looking', trading nation. Tensions with the communist superpower have increased dramatically since Mr Morrison called for an inquiry into the origins of the virus in April, a move which infuriated Beijing. 'We will not retreat into the downward spiral of protectionism. To the contrary, we will continue to be part of global supply chains that can deliver the prosperity we rely on to create jobs, support incomes and build our businesses,' he will say at the National Press Club in Canberra. 'Our economic sovereignty will be achieved by ensuring our industries are highly competitive, resilient and able to succeed in a global market.' Advertisement Earlier this month China slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and suspended imports from four Australian beef suppliers in apparent revenge. About one third of Australia's total exports - including iron ore, gas, coal and food - go to China, bringing in around $135billion per year and providing thousands of jobs. Last week fears of further retaliation were raised when China relaxed checks on iron-ore imports in a move that could favour Australia's competitors. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US 'stands with Australia'. Mr Morrison has repeatedly insisted the two countries are 'great mates' and their alliance is strong. The 33 companies the US blacklisted have been accused of helping Beijing spy on its minority Uighur population or having ties to weapons of mass destruction and China's military. Seven companies and two institutions were listed for being 'complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs' and others, the Commerce Department said in a statement. Two dozen other companies, government institutions and commercial organizations were added for supporting procurement of items for use by the Chinese military, the department said in another statement. The blacklisted companies focus on artificial intelligence and facial recognition, markets that US chip companies such as Nvidia Corp and Intel Corp have been heavily investing in. Among the companies named is NetPosa, one of China's most famous AI companies, whose facial recognition subsidiary is linked to the surveillance of Muslims. Mr Morrison has called for a ban on wildlife wet markets. Pictured: Xihua Farmers' Market in Guangzhou Mr Morrison said he could not rule out that the virus spawned in a lab in Wuhan, a theory touted by the US administration. Mr Morrison said he has not seen any evidence for that theory Mr Pompeo called the proposal an effort to 'unilaterally and arbitrarily impose national security legislation on Hong Kong.' 'Hong Kong has flourished as a bastion of liberty. The United States strongly urges Beijing to reconsider its disastrous proposal, abide by its international obligations, and respect Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and civil liberties, which are key to preserving its special status under U.S. law,' Mr Pompeo said in a statement. He said the decision to ignore the will of the people of Hong Kong would be a 'death knell for the high degree of autonomy Beijing promised for Hong Kong' under a decades-old agreement known as the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Trade minister tells wine and cheese exporters not to give China an excuse to ban their products The federal trade minister has told wine and cheese exporters not to give Beijing any excuse to ban their products after beef suppliers were blacklisted over a technicality. The federal government has denied barley tariffs and beef bans are payback for Australia's demands for a coronavirus inquiry - but Trade Minister Simon Birmingham told Australian companies to make sure all their paper work is in order so that more industries cannot be targeted. During an interview on 13 May, the ABC's Patricia Karvelas asked him: 'Australian wine and dairy producers are worried they could be next. What reassurances do you have that that won't happen?' Senator Birmingham replied: 'Everyone at present should be, as they always should, dotting their Is and crossing their Ts and leaving no scope for any grievance to be raised.' He said he could see no reason why wine or cheese industries would fall short of quarantine, health or labelling standards they need to meet to export to China. Advertisement 'A lapdog of the US': Chinese state media claims Donald Trump 'coerced' Scott Morrison into calling for a coronavirus inquiry and says Australia is only harming its own interests Chinese state media has claimed the US coerced Australia into calling for an inquiry into the origins and spread of coronavirus. An article in the Global Times, a state-controlled tabloid newspaper, said Australia is America's 'lapdog' and serving as a US 'pawn to create trouble for China'. It suggested President Donald Trump told Prime Minister Scott Morrison to call for an inquiry into the virus during their phone call on 22 April. 'With the White House promoting the "America First" doctrine and intensifying its competition with China, Washington's allies are increasingly required to help serve those goals,' the article said. 'What the US wants is not equal partners, but loyal followers. Forcing other countries to choose between Washington and Beijing, it is the current US government that is coercing and threatening'. In fact, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne announced Australia's demands for an independent inquiry on 19 April, three days before Mr Morrison spoke to President Trump. The Prime Minister also called German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron on the same day as President Trump to urge them to support Australia's push. President Xi Jinping has agreed to a WHO investigation after more than 100 countries signed a motion demanding one at the World Health Assembly last week. Mr Morrison called Mr Trump on 22 April and later tweeted about the conversation Beijing has a track record of putting pressure on exporters during political disagreements. It includes encouraging a boycott of South Korean cars after the country deployed a US missile shield in 2017 and a ban on Norwegian salmon after Chinese rebel Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo that same year. 'Trade should be independent from politics, but it's hard to completely divide them in reality,' Mr Yu told the Global Times. Australia and China have had a free trade agreement since 2015 but some exporters have still run into difficulties as relations have soured. In 2018 Beijing imposed new customs regulations on Australian wine resulting in shipments being held up in Shanghai. And last year - after Canberra stripped Chinese businessman Xiangmo Huang of his visa - major ports prolonged clearing times for Australian coal to at least 40 days, claiming the delay was due to 'normal' safety checks. Gurdaspur: Two persons were killed following a minor dispute over a dead cow in Simbli village here, police said on Thursday. The deceased have been identified as Bikramjit Singh (23) and his uncle Satnam Singh (55), they said. Both were shot dead by one Bua Singh. Bua Singh and his sons Lakhwinder Singh and Dharminder Singh, who also belong to Simbli village, have been booked and charged with murder, police said. The incident occurred on Wednesday after Bikramjits cow died of insecticide poisoning after grazing fodder from Bua Singhs fields, police said. The matter reached the village panchayat and Bua Singh was asked to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000. When Bikramjit and his relatives went to Bua Singhs house to demand the compensation, he refused. A heated argument took place between the two families, which turned violent, police said. Bua Singh allegedly shot at the two victims with his licensed weapon, leading to their death, they said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. President Ram Nath Kovid and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among several leaders who extended their greeting on Eid-ul-Fitr as the festival is being celebrated across the country on Monday amid the lockdown to clamp the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Eid Mubarak! Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this special occasion further the spirit of compassion, brotherhood and harmony. May everyone be healthy and prosperous, PM Modi tweeted. The Prime Minister had last month thanked the leaders of the community for spreading awareness as the fasting month of Ramzan began, urging people to pray that the world is freed of coronavirus before Eid. When Ramzan was observed the last time, we never thought that there would be so many difficulties this time. Now that we are deep in crisis, we have an opportunity to observe the holy month with patience, sensitivity and selflessness. This time, we have to pray more than the last time so that the world is freed of coronavirus before Eid... so that we can celebrate with fervour just like before, he said during his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address. President Kovind tweeted in English, Hindi and Urdu to extend his wishes to people celebrating the festival. Eid Mubarak! This festival is an expression of love, fraternity, peace & harmony. Eid reaffirms our belief in sharing with & caring for the vulnerable & needy. Let us carry the spirit of giving (Zakaat) on this Eid and follow social distancing norms to contain coronavirus spread, President Kovind posted on Twitter. Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu also posted his Eid message in three languages on Twitter and called for social distancing and celebrations at home. I hope that all of us will celebrate the festival by keeping alive the spirit of joy, compassion and mutual respect that underlies the pious occasion. May the noble ideals associated with #EidUlFitr usher in health, peace, prosperity and harmony in our lives. #HappyEid, Naidu tweeted. The festival fortifies the spirit of compassion, charity and generosity in our society. As we are facing unprecedented challenge in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, I appeal to everyone to celebrate #Eid at home and follow safe distancing. #EidMubarak, he said. -- ! , , #EidMubarak pic.twitter.com/9w3xtekr8V Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) May 25, 2020 Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi offered prayers at his home and wished people on the occasion of Eid. Congress leader Rahul Gandhis tweeted also wished people on Eid. ! Eid Mubarak to each and every one of you. #HappyEid, he tweeted. Prominent Muslim clerics in Delhi and across the country have appealed to people to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday adhering to social distancing and lockdown norms. Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari appealed people to celebrate Eid with simplicity and help poor people and their neighbours during the pandemic crisis. The shahi imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, said the moon was sighted and Eid will be celebrated on Monday, marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan. Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala on Sunday after Muslim clerics made an official announcement about the moon sighting in the regions. Nollywood actor, Ali Nuhu in a recent interview talked about why he stopped kissing and hugging in Nollywood movies. In a recent interview with BBC, the actor said he stopped kissing and hugging in Nigerian movies because of his culture and religion. Ali Nuhu said; A combative Benjamin Netanyahu stood in court Sunday for the start of his long-anticipated corruption trial, after lashing out at the "fabricated" charges against him. The veteran Israeli Prime Minister, who has just forged a new unity government after more than a year of political turmoil, is the country's first premier to face criminal charges while in office. Flanked by ministers from his right-wing Likud party, Netanyahu addressed the public in a live Facebook broadcast before entering the Jerusalem District Court to face charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. "I'm here with a straight back and my head held high," Netanyahu said, labelling the charges "fabricated and ludicrous". The longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history has claimed to be the victim of a witch-hunt and again suggested the charges were trumped up to drive him from office. "When you need to take me down, a strong prime minister from the right, everything is possible," he said. The trial, officially called the State of Israel vs Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to last for months, if not years. During Sunday's session Netanyahu spoke only to identify himself and confirm he had read and understood the charges, with his lawyers spending most of the hour that the court was in session to request more time to study the case's material. - 'Ridiculous' attack - The judges set July 19 as the date for the next session, which will take place without Netanyahu, and deal with technical issues. The prime minister will be asked to enter his plea during a later session. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit dismissed Netanyahu's allegations of a flawed process. "We'll continue to act fearlessly, even in the face of the ridiculous attempt to attribute invalid considerations to the prosecution, an attempt that should be firmly rejected," he said in a written statement following the court session. 70-year-old Netanyahu was indicted in January after several years of police investigations. Among the charges he faces is seeking to illegally trade favours in exchange for positive media coverage. He is also accused of accepting cigars, champagne and jewellery worth 700,000 shekels (180,000 euros) from wealthy personalities in exchange for favours. Wearing a facemask to limit the spread of the new coronavirus, like the judges and lawyers, Netanyahu sat silently through much of the court session, occasionally exchanging whispers and nods with his legal team. His lawyers immediately argued they had not received timely access to all the relevant documents and requested a delay of several months to the next hearing. Other defendants, including media moguls Shaul Elovitch and Arnon Mozes, both accused of seeking illegal deals with Netanyahu, were also in court. Outside on the streets of Jerusalem, Netanyahu supporters and opponents gathered to raise their voices. "I came to demonstrate against the accused prime minister who uses his power to destroy the foundations of democracy," said Yoav Eitan, 39, at a rally of around 800 people outside Netanyahu's residence. Elsewhere, Mali, an elderly woman in a pro-Netanyanu protest of more than 200 people outside the courtroom, said "Benjamin Netanyahu is pure and clean. We will fight to ensure a just trial." Among the most serious allegations against Netanyahu is the claim that he offered media mogul Elovitch regulatory changes worth millions of dollars to his telecom giant Bezeq in exchange for favourable reporting on the Walla! news website. That charge is also the most complex, said Amir Fuchs, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, who argued it differs from "classic" bribery cases where money changes hands. In this case, Fuchs said, the allegation is that Netanyahu "is getting only media coverage" rather than cash. "It is unprecedented," he told reporters. In the Bezeq case, Fuchs added, Netanyahu is accused of seeking overwhelming editorial influence. "It was actually complete editorial control of this site even on the specifics of which posts to make, or which pictures." - Comeback victory - When Mandelblit filed charges against the premier back in January, many commentators considered it the premier's political death warrant. But he retained the Likud party leadership and won the most seats in a March general election. After two inconclusive elections in a year, the third left him able to hammer out a power-sharing deal with his chief election rival Benny Gantz. Under the agreement, Netanyahu will continue to lead the government for 18 months before handing over the premiership to Gantz. Netanyahu's trial had been due to open in mid-March, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to a postponement. Under Israeli law, a sitting prime minister does not have automatic immunity from prosecution but also is not obliged to resign when charged, only when convicted and after all avenues of appeal have been exhausted. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement before entering a courtroom at the district court of Jerusalem Israeli protesters rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his residence in Jerusalem Israeli supporters hold flags and a poster depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alongside French officer Alfred Dreyfus, who was unjustly convicted of treason in 1895, during a rally outside the district court of Jerusalem Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), wearing a protective face maks, speaks with his lawyer inside the courtroom A convoy transporting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the district court of Jerusalem for a long-delayed corruption trial Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Alternate Prime Minister and Defence Minister Benny Gantz (L) attend a cabinet meeting of the new government Victorian public school students are beginning to return to classrooms after spending more than a month of term two learning from home. Children in prep to year 2 and years 11 and 12 will resume face-to-face learning at public schools on Tuesday under an easing of coronavirus restrictions in the state. Students at specialist schools and other VCE and VCAL students will also return to school grounds. The remaining cohort, years 3 to 10, are going back on June 9 but students of any age with compromised immunity don't have to return. Hundreds of public school students in Victoria will return to school today after six weeks of working from home. Pictured: A teacher in Melbourne disinfecting school supplies Children in prep to year 2 and years 11 and 12 will resume face-to-face learning at public schools on Tuesday while years 3 to 10, are going back on June 9. Pictured are students in NSW WHEN DO SCHOOLS GO BACK IN YOUR STATE? NSW and Queensland students will be back to school as of Monday. ACT students in Years 3, 4 and 10 will return Monday while those in Years 5, 6, 8 and 9 to return on June 2 Victorian students in prep to Year 2 and Years 11 and 12 return on Tuesday with the rest returning on June 9 In Tasmania children in Kindergarten to Year Six students, along with Year 11 and 12 students return Monday, with Years 7 to 10 returning June 9 All students in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory are back in school Advertisement Since the start of term two, Victorian schools have only been open to students unable to learn from home, including children of essential workers, as part of the effort to stem the spread of COVID-19. All students at public schools in NSW and Queensland returned to the classroom on Monday while Tasmania and ACT rolled out part of their staged returns to face-to-face learning. Students are already back in school full time in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Victoria recorded just two fresh cases on Monday, both of them returned travellers in hotel quarantine. The state has recorded 1605 cases of the virus, with 1520 people recovering from the condition and a death toll of 19. Victoria has 66 active cases, down from 80 on Sunday. Eunice Yaa Cudjoe, The Author 25.05.2020 LISTEN Background The digitalization of financial services has been on the rise globally, partly to support the financial inclusion agenda as well as to address the changing needs of customers. This call to advance financial inclusion across the globe especially in developing and emerging economies has rendered the issue of regulatory compliance and Fintech a more topical one in the business space. Regulatory compliance in the financial sector implies strict adherence to policies and regulations surrounding the regulatory and supervisory environment of financial institutions. This includes, but not limited to compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Anti-Terrorist Financing (ATF), Corruption policies, among others. Fintech on the other hand simply means the application of technology to finance. FinTech is the short form of financial technology. FinTechs seek to harness the rapid growth in technology to transform the global financial ecosystem. The emergence of FinTechs has highlighted the need for digitalization as well as the importance of data in the economy. Never in the history of the world, has technological innovation been so central to financial markets development than this current dispensation. The emergence of FinTechs has brought profound changes in the traditional banking business model. This includes but not limited to changes to money transfers, business and personal loans, payment and settlement systems, how investment is done, financial advisory services among others. In Ghana, some notable FinTech start-ups include Express Pay, ZeePay, Hubtel, Paysail, DigiTeller, etc. In this article, I highlight the need for heightened regulatory compliance by financial institutions, FinTech start-ups and relevant stakeholders in building an enabling and thriving FinTech ecosystem for a better financial inclusion. Who are the stakeholders of the FinTech ecosystem? The FinTech network consists of diverse group of institutions and individuals who interact to build an enabling FinTech environment. They include regulatory and legal bodies, financial institutions, venture capital, FinTech companies, investors, infrastructure providers, consumers, mobile network operators, academia, consulting firms and legal advisors, international knowledge partners, etc. Each of these institutions plays essential roles critical to the survival of the FinTech environment. Thus, the peaceful co-existence of these institutions is very imperative for the development of a thriving Fintech ecosystem. The key role of FinTech is to explore and design innovative financial solutions to address changing customer needs in this technology driven world. Financial institutions and venture capital provide funding for FinTech start-ups. The regulatory and legal bodies create an enabling regulatory and legal framework to support the operations of the FinTechs. The other stakeholders perform diverse roles, ranging from guidance and advisory services, support services, etc. The regulators roles in the development of FinTech The success of the FinTech ecosystem to a large extent depends on the existence of adequate and robust regulatory and supervisory framework that will regulate and monitor the activities of these FinTechs. The Bank of Ghana, the regulatory body for financial institutions is therefore at the heart of the success of the FinTech ecosystem in Ghana. To properly navigate through the Fintech environment, it is very essential for the regulator to evaluate the adequacy of its existing organisational structure to support its regulatory activities. This has engendered global reforms among some regulators and supervisory bodies to better position them for their roles in this ever-changing FinTech space, of which the Bank of Ghana is no exception. Acknowledging the complexities as a result of the emergence of FinTechs, it was refreshing to know that on the 5th of May 2020, in a press release, the Bank of Ghana announced the establishment of a new FinTech and Innovation Office to drive the Banks cash-lite, e-payments and digitisation agenda. The Bank of Ghana opined that, the new FinTech and Innovation Office will be responsible for licensing and oversight of dedicated electronic money issuers (mobile money operators), payment service providers (PSPs), closed loop payment products, payment support solutions and other emerging forms of payment delivered by non-bank entities. This development comes at the back of several interventions in the payment and settlement space such as the mobile money interoperability services and so forth. In a recent development geared towards deepening financial inclusion and affirming the Bank of Ghanas commitment in creating enabling FinTech environment, the Bank of Ghana issued its first dedicated electronic money issuer licence to ZeePay Ghana Limited, a local Fintech. I believe this development will pave way for more local FinTechs with the requisite capacity to spring up in the not too distant future. Enhancing Regulatory Capacity for Better FinTech Supervision Building and developing the skillset and capacity of the regulator is a useful way of keeping the regulator abreast of developments in the field for better regulatory and supervisory frameworks. To keep pace with the ever-evolving FinTech, it is very needful to build new capacity among regulators to embrace the culture of change and innovation. Aside from the establishment of the dedicated FinTech and Innovation Unit, Bank of Ghana should continuously train and develop the skill set of its staff especially those in the new FinTech and Innovation Unit to equip them with the requisite skills for the activities of the unit. Continuous professional development in the field of FinTech and related technical skills should be a top priority. Regulating innovation in the financial sector presents regulators with the challenging tasks of balancing several competing priorities such as market growth, market discipline, and overall financial stability. The Bank of Ghana should capitalise on regulatory technology for better supervision of the activities of the FinTechs. Regulatory technology which is simply known as RegTech involves the application of digital technology to improve the regulatory processes. RegTech is an emerging field in regulatory compliance resulting from the emergence of FinTechs. RegTech seeks to digitize the operation of the routine compliance processes such as know your customer (KYC), customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD), regular review (RR) among others. RegTech provides digital information technology to streamline the activities of the compliance department right from the initial clients engagement till clients are off-boarded. Also, it offers innovative solutions for online monitoring and routine surveillance of the activities of financial institutions. Notwithstanding the cost-intensive nature for this digital transformation, I believe it is a worthy investment as the potential benefits are enormous. Research has shown that, regulators are usually a step behind the evolution of technology. Though, the Bank of Ghana has made significant progress in this regard, technology is dynamic and not static, it is therefore necessary that, there is continuous monitoring and investment in regulatory technology. Some financial institutions have also upgraded their systems to meet the International Standard Organization (ISO) requirement. Also, most financial institutions have upgraded their online payment network and have become Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certified. The likes of Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, CalBank, Access Bank, First Atlantic Bank and others have met PCI DSS certification; a welcoming development for the digital transformation agenda. Others who are yet to meet this international certification standard should be encouraged to do so for their utmost benefit and better customer experience. Moreover, the Bank of Ghana should champion and support the spread of digital financial literacy across the country. Digital financial literacy means having the required skills and knowledge to effectively use digital gadgets for financial transactions. One must be digitally and technologically savvy to better appreciate and enjoy the products and services rendered by these FinTechs. It is common knowledge that, the advancement in digitalized financial services presents high cybersecurity risks such as online payment fraud, hacking, among others. Individuals who in one way or the other become victims of these cybersecurity attacks may be discouraged from further use of digital services which can culminate into financial exclusion. It is therefore necessary to sensitize citizens and the general public on digital financial literacy, using the various media platforms such as social media, the print media, television stations and radio stations. In this way, a vast majority of the population can be reached and be made aware of the wind of change brought about by the emergence of FinTechs. Financial institutions should also actively partake in this regard by continuously educating their customers on effective use of their online systems and platforms provided by their FinTech partners. Stakeholder engagement by the regulator is also another important way of gaining a broader perspective of the activities of these FinTechs for better regulations and supervisions. Through dialogue with all relevant stakeholders in the FinTech ecosystem, the Bank of Ghana will understand the FinTech innovation and the risk profiling in their activities, helping them to develop effective policies to regulate their activities. Conclusion To conclude, the new phase of FinTech has come to stay and is very essential for all stakeholders to be agile to leverage on the numerous benefits. Nevertheless, this development presents some risks, which calls for adequate collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. While financial institutions are admonished to form strategic partnerships with these FinTechs for mutual benefits, the Bank of Ghana should continue to invest heavily in regulatory technology to build enabling regulatory framework for FinTechs. About the Author: Eunice Yaa Cudjoe Eunice Yaa Cudjoe is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) with years of experience in audit. She is a Bachelor of Commerce Degree holder from the University of Cape Coast and currently a final year Master student in International Audit, Economics, and Finance at UCA in France. She is also a Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) intern at Deutsche Bank Luxembourg. Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eunice-yaa-cudjoe/ Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are exclusive to the author and do not represent those of her institutions and professional body. I can be reached via my stated contact where necessary. Gucci wants to change show business. Or, rather, the business of shows. The Italian brand has joined the chorus of brands and retailers calling for a permanent reset of the fashion system thanks to Covid-19, adding the weight of a giant global name to the movement. On Monday, Alessandro Michele, the creative director of Gucci, held a video news conference to announce that the brand will reduce the number of shows it holds each year from five to two, effectively abandoning the idea of cruise shows the far-flung midseason extravaganzas it has held at a Roman Necropolis in Arles and the Capitoline Museum in Rome (among other places). He also wants to do away with the distinction between mens wear and womens wear, and the traditional appellations of fall/winter and spring/summer. We need new oxygen to allow this complex system to be reborn, Mr. Michele said, speaking from his studio in Rome while pensively waving a large black fan. One way to do that, he said, is to reduce the show schedule. Gucci is not the first brand to announce a change in its runway plans thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought the industry to an effective standstill, closing stores and decimating balance sheets. Saint Laurent, also owned by Kering, the Gucci parent company, said it will drop out of the fashion show season and follow its own schedule for this year; Dries Van Noten said he will not have a show at all until 2021; and Giorgio Armani announced that his mens and womens shows will be combined in September, and his couture show will be held in January in Milan instead of Paris. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Mohammad Abdellah thought after he finished his milestone senior year at Menaul School that he would be traveling back home to Egypt, seeing his family and telling them in person about the memories he made. His trip back home would be a significant one the summer between graduating high school and returning to the U.S. to study computer science at the University of New Mexico. But as the 18-year-olds senior year was wrapping up, COVID-19 changed everything. Like many seniors, he missed out on the traditions and finished high school online, but he also hasnt been able to travel home. I dont have the option to go back to Egypt, he said. Currently, flights are suspended. Julie Webb, Menaul Schools residential life coordinator, said when schools shut down in New Mexico, students in the international program had the option of staying in the dorms, living with host families or returning home, if possible. For all of the schools middle and high school students, classwork was moved online. We gave them the option to stay on campus because a lot of them didnt have anywhere to go the borders were shut down and they didnt have family and friends in the United States they could go to, Webb told the Journal. About 20 students, including Abdellah, finished out the year in the private school dorms. Webb said cleaning procedures were ramped up and students living in the dorms had to mostly stay on campus for the duration of the school year. For some, Menaul School was the safest option. Carlos Fuentes, 18, decided it was more prudent to stay in Albuquerque rather than travelling back home to Spain. And thats why his classmate Lucy Liang didnt return to China. Spain was one of the worst countries with cases and death rates. So it was much safer for me to stay in Albuquerque, he said. If I were to go back, it would be a risk going through many airports. Fuentes came to Menaul in his sophomore year, going back to Spain every summer and for holidays. He wanted to go back this summer which he is still hoping to do but he has held off because he doesnt want to chance a trip home during the pandemic. I really wanted to be with my family, but since I care so much about them, I didnt want to be a risk factor and I didnt want to put anyone in danger, he said. Fuentes said he is close with his host family, who have been very supportive. And students in the dorms are making the most of the situation with games and activities. Still, nothing could have prepared him for the circumstances. I pictured my senior year ending with the track season and celebrating in the graduation ceremony with my friends, going out to a restaurant and having nice food, Fuentes said. It was also a whirlwind of change for Abdellah. Honestly, it was kind of tough because I was looking forward to making a lot of memories this year since its my senior year. But I didnt get to do any of that I havent seen my classmates in two months except for the dorm students, he said. With travel advisories in place, he hasnt been able to see his parents either. Instead, he calls and speaks to them for an hour each day. Theyre really upset because they really miss me and I do miss them, too All we can do is pray for each other and talk to each other on the phone, he said. After some initial hiccups, India on Monday resumed domestic passenger flight services, exactly two months after these operations were suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak. A total of 532 domestic flights were operated which ferried 39,231 passengers across the country. Barring just Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, domestic flight services operated across most states. Taking to Twitter, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday evening said with flights to Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal set to resume from the coming Tuesday and Thursday, the number of such services and passengers will increase. "From no domestic passenger flights yesterday to 532 flights & 39,231 passengers today, action has returned to Indian skies. With Andhra Pradesh set to resume operations from tomorrow & West Bengal from 28 May, these numbers are all set to increase further," Puri said. Marking the occasion earlier in the day, Puri had shared a live image of India's airspace with flight movements on Twitter. In that tweet, Puri said: "Indians soar in the skies again! A beautiful live capture from #flightradar24 shows how our skies look busy again as domestic civil aviation recommences in India from today." Industry insiders pointed out that majority of bookings on Monday and subsequent few more days were for flights between metro cities, due to the "pent-up demand". Furthermore, airlines reported healthy load factors and expected passenger count levels. An AI spokesperson told IANS: "Our experience of operating numerous evacuation flights since January 31 along with repatriation services for foreigners and now Vande Bharat ferry operations gives us a vast experience in operating flight services during the new normal of Covid-19." Another airline major IndiGo said it plans on flying more than 200 daily flights until May 31. "Our schedule also takes in to account that some stations could only be opened at a later stage due to certain constraints imposed by different airports and states," the airline said. "IndiGo's flight operations will support more than 20,000 passengers to be home by tonight." On its part, SpiceJet said that apart from servicing major routes, it has also operated 20 UDAN flights on Monday. "This indeed is a new beginning in the lives of everyone associated with airlines, including passengers who have been eagerly waiting to return home," said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet. However, the resumption did face some initial hiccups as passengers were seen harried across airports, including the national capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) after many domestic flights were cancelled due to the limit on arrivals and departures by state governments. On the first day of resumption of domestic passenger flight services, the IGIA witnessed over 80 flight cancellations, when as per industry insiders, it was slated to handle 118 arrival and 125 departure flights on Monday. Similarly, Mumbai's CSMIA handled 24 arrivals and 23 departures. It was scheduled to handle over 100 flights, but the Maharashtra government on Sunday capped this to 25 each. "The problem for passengers began with states rolling out their separate guidelines on operationality of airports and post-travel quarantine. With only a fraction of flights allowed to operate from some of the busiest airports, cancellations spiked leaving travellers uncertain about their travel," Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip.com, told IANS. "Some airlines informed passengers at the last moment about the flight cancellation. Many passengers had reached airports as SMSes were received only after midnight. Also, these airlines failed to make changes on their website and even the cancelled flights were being shown as confirmed." A day before, several states moved to limit air operations. "It's very unfortunate that the passengers were not informed by the airlines about cancellations, till they reached the airport. Passeng ers had to spend exorbitant sums of money for reaching the airport due to non-availability of taxis," Air Passengers' Association of India (APAI) President Sudhakar Reddy. "Airlines are refusing to give refunds in full even for flights cancelled. They are washing off their hands saying they have cancelled due to last minute changes made by each state about number of flights and quarantine regulations." According to a spokesperson at MakeMyTrip: "The last minute updates from the states about travel restrictions left many flyers anxious with most enquiries coming to us around rebooking options, cancellation and refund polices of respective airlines." "Travellers have also been enquiring about airport guidelines, flight schedules, terminal information and web check-in process among others, as they return to airports after 61 days of lockdown." Even airline executives were left in lurch as state after state had came out with new norms for flight operations, thereby, distorting their network planning. Another confusion plaguing the passengers had been over the quarantine norms, which many states said they would enforce on air travellers. To calm nervous passengers, the Central government had said on Sunday, all states but for two (Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal) were open to accepting domestic flights. The Centre has allowed limited passenger flights -- about one-third of the summer schedule -- to operate between metros and other destinations from May 25. Passenger air services were suspended on March 25 due to the nationwide lockdown to check the Covid-19 spread. Prince Andrew allegedly grabbed Virginia Roberts bottom and grinded himself on her during a visit to Jeffrey Epstein's 'paedophile island', a new Netflix documentary has claimed. The four-part series called Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich is set to air this week and will interview a number of the convicted sex offender's victims'. Prince Andrew quit public duties over the dramatic fallout from his friendship with the paedophile Epstein. The makers of the documentary talk to 70-year-old Steve Scully who claims he saw Prince Andrew kissing Miss Roberts and grabbing her bottom on the Caribbean island, as reported by The Sun. Prince Andrew quit public duties over the dramatic fallout from his friendship with the paedophile Epstein He told the documentary he saw Andrew with a blonde woman wearing a bikini in a pool. In an interview he said: 'It was probably around 2004, I saw Prince Andrew. He was at the pool. He was with at that time an unknown girl to me. 'She was young, She didn't have any top on. They were engaged in foreplay. He was grabbing her, and grinding against her.' The internet specialist, who used to work for Epstein, previously told The Sun on Sunday that he saw the duo kissing. David Boies, representing several of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victims, pictured centre, arrives with Annie Farmer, right, and Virginia Roberts, alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein, second left, at federal court in New York, in August last year He added: 'He [Prince Andrew] was grabbing her ass and stuff like that. They were kissing. 'He was grinding against her and groping her.' The 70-year-old added: 'They were initially lying on lounge chairs by the pool. 'When they stood up, they were in between the chairs. The four-part series called Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich is set to air this week and will interview a number of the convicted sex offender's victims'. Pictured: Jeffrey Epstein 'She wasn't resisting in any manner whatsoever. The look on Andrew's face was excitement. 'They were bumping and grinding and fooling around for five, six, seven minutes and they then laid back down on the lounge chairs and continued.' Mr Scully added that he later spoke to Andrew while the duo were holding hands on a pathway. Giuffre's lawyer, David Boies, said she does not remember the specific incident described by Scully. A close friend of Prince Andrew's said: 'We question why it has taken this witness nearly 20 years to come forward to share his recollections, but it perhaps explains why they are somewhat faulty. 'The Duke was actually staying on the island with his girlfriend at the time, a woman in her 30s. As usual, there is no accusation of any criminality, just insinuation and innuendo designed to traduce the Duke - the latest in the on-going smear campaign - waged now for some 10 years.' The documentary which comes out later in the week will be another set back for Prince Andrew who has been dogged by allegations over his friendship with Epstein. Last year he took part in a car crash interview on Newsnight with Emily Maitlis where he attempted to 'set the record straight' by speaking about the sex allegations against him. Houses at Little St. James Island, one of the properties of financier Jeffrey Epstein, near Charlotte Amalie, U.S But he was widely condemned for showing a lack of remorse over his friendship with a convicted paedophile. As part of the interview he denied that he slept with Virginia Roberts. He also tried to rubbish her story by suggesting her claims he had been 'sweating' when they met at Tramp nightclub in London were wrong because 'I have a peculiar medical condition which is that I don't sweat'. The duke denied he had sex with her on three separate occasions, saying the encounter in 2001 did not happen as he had taken his daughter Princess Beatrice to Pizza Express in Woking for a party, and they spent the rest of the day together. Prince Andrew's representatives have been approached for comment. (CNN) -- Lisa Urso's love of animals was profound. On her birthdays, she'd encourage family and friends to donate to fundraisers benefiting the ASPCA and other animal rescue groups. "She was an amazing soul," says Jayne Petty, a friend of 25 years. "She put her animals above everyone and called them her 'four legged children'." That's why it's so difficult for them to grasp how Urso lost her life -- mauled to death by her pet French bulldog mix in her home. Urso, 52, was found unresponsive on the back patio of her home in Fox Lake, 55 miles northwest of Chicago, on May 9. "She had multiple dog bites and scratches all over her body, mostly on her legs, torso and arms," Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper told CNN. "Clearly, she died from the wounds she received from the dog. There's no question about that." A final autopsy report is still pending. The dogs that shared her home Urso owned three male dogs: Blue, a two-year-old French bulldog mix weighing 55 pounds; Rocco, a smaller 2-year-old French bulldog weighing 36 pounds; and Spike, a 25-pound, 15-year-old collie mix. They were found in healthy condition. "There was no indication to think that this home was anything other than a typical pet friendly home," said Robin Van Sickle, program manager at the Lake County Animal Care and Control center. Rocco and Spike will be rehomed, while Blue was humanely euthanized on May 19. Past incidents with Blue Blue was known to the local police department and Animal Care and Control center after two recent incidents. Blue bit Urso's boyfriend in her home on April 13, causing him to seek out medical attention, said Lake County Police Cmdr. Dawn Deservi. At the time, Blue was put in an at-home quarantine to observe for rabies. Since the dog bit Urso's boyfriend again on April 21, within the home quarantine period, the dog was put in "hospital confinement" at the Animal Care and Control center for 10 days. During the hospital confinement, Blue didn't show signs of aggression or behaviors that would be cause for concern, Van Sickle said. Because the two biting incidents happened in the home, there was no concern of public safety, so the center had no reason to hold Blue, she added. At the end of the quarantine period on April 30, Urso took the dog back home. Blue weighed 55 pounds "A lot of people are thinking that this was a very small dog, and people don't understand, this dog weighed 55 pounds," Cooper, the coroner, said. "It's still a substantial size dog." Initial news of a death caused by a French bulldog surprised the staff at the animal control center, Van Sickle said. "When this first came up, we were like, no, that's not possible. There's no way a French bulldog killed its owner. She probably died of natural causes, and [it] tried to revive her, stimulate her to wake up." "As a professional agency that's experienced really weird situations, we had the same reaction and responses as everybody else did," Van Sickle said. Breed is not a risk factor in dog bite incidents Although initially dubbed a French bulldog, the Lake County Animal Care and Control center later updated Blue's breed description to a French bulldog mix, considering the dog's size. According to the American Kennel Club, French bulldogs typically weigh less than 28 pounds. Van Sickle cautions against labeling specific breeds as aggressive. "At the end of it, it was this individual dog, or dogs, that caused this unfortunate scenario," Van Sickle said. "Sometimes you get a bad apple, just like you do with people." To this point, the National Canine Research Council told CNN that breed is not a risk factor when it comes to dog bite incidents, and that breed identification is profoundly unreliable, unless documented with pedigree certification or DNA analysis. This story was first published on CNN.com, "A woman was attacked and killed by her French bulldog mix" [May 25, 2020] South Africa to offer additional spectrum to address data traffic spike Syndey, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on South Africa outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/South-Africa-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses South Africas telecom sector boasts one of the most advanced infrastructures on the continent. There is has been considerable investment from Telkom, Liquid Telecom South Africa, Broadband InfraCo and municipal providers as well as from mobile network operators all aimed at improving network capabilities. The focus in recent years has been on backhaul capacity and on fibre and LTE networks to extend and improve internet service connectivity. With the ongoing migration to fibre, the incumbent telco Telkom expects to close down its copper network in 2024. The poor historic availability and level of service of fixed-line networks encouraged the growth of the mobile sector for both voice and data services and this segment continues to command most investment and effort among telcos. Under a converged regulatory regime many alternative service providers have been able to enter the market to offer a range of services. This regime also encouraged the major mobile network operators to move into the fixed-line and fibre sector. Other key regulatory matters aimed at shaping the market include the licensing of LTE spectrum in several bands. A multi-spectrum auction has been delayed since late 2016 and this has caused some difficulties for network operators gearing up to launch 5G services. In early 2020 the regulator prepared plans to release additional spectrum to operators to enable them to manage the spike in data traffic resulting from the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. South Africa is expected to be one of the first countries in the region to launch commercial 5G services, following ongoing investment from Rain, Vodacom and MTN. Liquid Telecom in 2020 began offering a wholesale 5G service using its 3.5GHz concession, but a full commercial 5G services await the anticipated multi-spectrum auctions. BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions. Key developments MTN South Africa relaunches m-money service; Regulator to provide operators with additional spectrum in wake of COVID-19 data traffic spike; Telkoms fibre infrastructure passing close to three million premises; Comsol starts 5G fixed-wireless trials using spectrum in the 28MHz band; Regulator sets MTRs through to October 2020; Report update includes the regulator's the regulator's March 2020 report on the ICT sector, operator data to December 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report Vodacom, MTN (MTN Network Solutions), Cell C, Telkom (Heita, 8ta), Virgin Mobile, Neotel, Atlantic Internet Services, Business Connexion, Internet Solutions, Verizon Business, MWEB, Vox Telecom (DataPro), Sentech, iBurst (WBS, Blue Label), Liquid Telecom South Africa (Neotel, Tata), Virgin Mobile, Broadband InfraCo, Transtel, Eskom, SEACOM, Transtel, Eskom, SITA, Sentech, Dark Fibre Africa (DFA), FibreCo, eFive, WASACE. Key Statistics Regional Market Comparison TMI vs GDP Mobile and mobile broadband Fixed and mobile broadband Country overview COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure Telecommunications market Market analysis Regulatory environment Historical overview Regulatory authority Fixed line developments Telecommunications Act Telecommunications Amendment Act Electronic Communications Acts (2005, 2014) Regulation of Interception of Communications Act 2002 Electronic Communications Act and ICASA Amendment Act Converged licensing regime New Companies Act Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF) Interconnection Mobile network developments Spectrum Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) Mobile Number Portability (MNP) SIM card registration Infrastructure sharing Roaming Mobile market Mobile statistics Mobile voice (VoLTE/Wi-Fi calling) Mobile data SMS MMS Mobile broadband Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G (LTE) LTE-U 3G GSM Other infrastructure developments Major mobile operators Vodacom South Africa MTN South Africa Cell C Telkom Mobile Mobile Virtual Network Enablers (MVNEs) Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Mobile content and applications m-music CellBook m-banking m-gaming m-health Mobile advertising Location-based services (LBS) Manobi Mobile social media Fixed-line broadband market Market analysis Community access projects Microsoft Digital Villages and telecentres The Smart Cape Access Project Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) Internet Exchange Points (IXP) Broadband statistics Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks Wholesale ADSL2+ VDSL Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks Other fixed broadband services Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) Fixed wireless Digital economy E-learning E-government E-health E-banking Fixed network operators Telkom Neotel Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network National fibre infrastructure Broadband InfraCo Dark Fibre Africa Vodacom MTN FibreCo International submarine cables SAT-3/WASC/SAFE SEACOM EASSy WACS African Coast to Europe (ACE) SAEx, WASACE Seaborn METISS PEACE 2Africa submarine cable Satellite Next Generation Networks (NGN) Municipal networks Knysna Africas first municipal network Data centres Smart infrastructure Smart cities Appendix Historic data Glossary of abbreviations Related reports Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities South Africa 2020 (e) Table 2 Change in the proportion of households with telecom service by type 2014 2018 Table 3 Development of Telecom sector investment 2015 2019 Table 4 Development of telecom sector investment by sector 2015 2019 Table 5 Development of telecom sector revenue by service 2015 2019 Table 6 Development of total telecom and broadcasting revenue 2015 2019 Table 7 Change in fixed revenue by type 2015 2019 Table 8 Development of mobile sector revenue 2015 2019 Table 9 Change in mobile revenue by sector 2015 2019 Table 10 Development of mobile prepaid revenue by type 2015 2019 Table 11 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 12 Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2015 2019 Table 13 Change in mobile voice traffic by type 2015 2019 Table 14 Decline in SMS traffic 2013 2020 Table 15 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2010 2025 Table 16 Increase in the number of Telkoms mobile broadband subscribers by type 2015 2019 Table 17 Growth in Telkoms mobile broadband revenue 2015 2020 Table 18 Growth in Telkoms mobile data traffic 2015 2020 Table 19 Growth in overall mobile data traffic 2015 2019 Table 20 Growth in the number of mobile data subscribers 2015 2019 Table 21 Telkom LTE subscribers 2016 2018 Table 22 Development of 4G (WiMAX/LTE) population coverage 2012 2019 Table 23 Development of 3G population coverage 2015 2019 Table 24 Growth in the number of M2M connections 2015 2019 Table 25 Development of Vodacom South Africas mobile revenue 2010 2020 Table 26 Growth in the number of Vodacom South Africas subscribers and market share 2010 - 2019 Table 27 Change in the number of Vodacom South Africas prepaid and contract subscribers 2017 - 2019 Table 28 Growth in the number of Vodacom South Africas mobile data subscribers 2013 2019 Table 29 Development of Vodacom South Africas mobile ARPU 2017 2019 Table 30 Change in the number of MTN South Africas mobile subscribers and market share 2010 2019 Table 31 Change in the number of MTN South Africas prepaid, contract subscribers 2013 2019 Table 32 Development of MTN South Africas financial data 2012 2019 Table 33 Development of MTN South Africas mobile ARPU 2013 2019 Table 34 Change in the number of Cell C mobile subscribers 2013 2019 Table 35 Growth in Cell Cs mobile service revenue 2013 2019 Table 36 Increase in Cell Cs mobile data revenue 2017 2018 Table 37 Development of Cell Cs financial data 2016 2019 Table 38 Growth in the number of Telkoms mobile subscribers 2009 2019 Table 39 Growth in the number of Telkoms prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2015 2019 Table 40 Development of Telkoms mobile financial data 2014 - 2020 Table 41 Change in Telkoms mobile ARPU 2014 2020 Table 42 National Broadband Policy penetration targets to 2030 Table 43 Change in fixed internet revenue by type 2015 2019 Table 44 Development of the Schools Connected program 2016 2019 Table 45 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 46 Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by type 2015 - 2019 Table 47 Growth in the number of Telkoms broadband subscribers 2010 2019 Table 48 Growth in Telkoms fixed data traffic 2014 2020 Table 49 Change in the number of Telkoms DSL subscribers by type 2016 2019 Table 50 Change in Telkoms fixed copper and fibre broadband subscribers 2017 2019 Table 51 Increase in the number of Telkom South Africas fibre ports 2017 2019 Table 52 Telkom South Africa fibre premises passed 2016 2019 Table 53 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2013 2019 Table 54 Change in the number of fixed wireless broadband subscribers 2017 2019 Table 55 Development of Telkom Groups financial results 2010 2020 Table 56 Change in Telkom Groups capex by type 2017 2020 Table 57 Development of Telkoms data revenue 2010 2020s Table 58 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2025 Table 59 Change in the number of fixed lines in service by type 2015 2019 Table 60 Decline in fixed-line voice traffic 2015 2019 Table 61 Growth in international internet bandwidth 2014 2019 Table 62 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate in South Africa 1999 2009 Table 63 Historic - Vodacom South Africa subscribers and market share 2002 - 2009 Table 64 Historic - MTN South Africa subscribers and market share 2002 2009 Table 65 Historic - Average internet access speed 2010 2015 Table 66 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate in South Africa 1999 2015 Table 67 Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2002 2009 Table 68 Historic -Telkom South Africa broadband subscribers 2003 2009 Table 69 Historic - Telkom fixed broadband subscribers by type 2016 2018 Table 70 Historic - Telkom South Africa WiMAX subscribers 2008 2014 Table 71 Historic - Telkom data revenue 2002 2009 Table 72 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity in South Africa 2000 2009 Table 73 Historic - International internet bandwidth 2000 2013 List of Charts Chart 1 Overall Africa view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita Chart 2 Southern Africa - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita Chart 3 Africa Top-tier Telecoms Maturity Index (Market Leaders) Chart 5 Southern Africa mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration Chart 6 Southern Africa fixed broadband and mobile broadband penetration rates Chart 7 Change in the proportion of households with telecom service by type 2014 2018 Chart 8 Development of telecom sector investment by sector 2015 2019 Chart 9 Development of telecom sector revenue by service 2015 2019 Chart 10 Change in fixed revenue by type 2015 2019 Chart 11 Change in mobile revenue by sector 2015 2019 Chart 12 Development of mobile prepaid revenue by type 2015 2019 Chart 13 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 14 Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2015 2019 Chart 15 Change in mobile voice traffic by type 2015 2019 Chart 16 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2010 2025 Chart 17 Increase in the number of Telkoms mobile broadband subscribers by type 2015 2019 Chart 18 Development of 4G (WiMAX/LTE) population coverage 2012 2019 Chart 19 Development of Vodacom South Africas mobile revenue 2010 2020 Chart 20 Change in the number of Vodacom South Africas prepaid and contract subscribers 2017 - 2019 Chart 21 Development of Vodacom South Africas mobile ARPU 2017 2019 Chart 22 Change in the number of MTN South Africas mobile subscribers and market share 2010 2019 Chart 23 Change in the number of MTN South Africas prepaid, contract subscribers 2013 2019 Chart 24 Development of MTN South Africas financial data 2012 2019 Chart 25 Development of MTN South Africas mobile ARPU 2013 2019 Chart 26 Development of MTN South Africas mobile ARPU 2013 2019 Chart 27 Development of Cell Cs financial data 2016 2019 Chart 28 Growth in the number of Telkoms prepaid and contract mobile subscribers 2015 2019 Chart 29 Development of Telkoms mobile financial data 2014 - 2020 Chart 30 Change in Telkoms mobile ARPU 2014 2020 Chart 31 Change in fixed internet revenue by type 2015 2019 Chart 32 Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 33 Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by type 2015 - 2019 Chart 34 Growth in the number of Telkoms broadband subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 35 Growth in Telkoms fixed data traffic 2014 2020 Chart 36 Change in the number of Telkoms DSL subscribers by type 2016 2019 Chart 37 Change in Telkoms fixed copper and fibre broadband subscribers 2017 2019 Chart 38 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2013 2019 Chart 39 Development of Telkom Groups financial results 2014 2020 Chart 40 Change in Telkom Groups capex by type 2017 2020 Chart 41 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2025 Chart 42 Change in the number of fixed lines in service by type 2015 2019 Chart 43 Decline in fixed-line voice traffic 2015 2019 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment Exhibit 2 Southern Africa - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country Exhibit 3 2Africa submarine cable Exhibit 4 2Africa landing stations Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/South-Africa-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Within Australia (02) 8076 7665 Outside Australia +44 207 097 1241 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kathmandu, May 25 Prime Minister KP Sharm Oli has said the government will test at least two per cent of the countrys population for the novel coronavirus in its bid to control the outbreak in the country. As the number of infected cases is rising, prime minister Oli addressed the nation on Monday afternoon and promised to expand the range of tests. Nepals population stands close to 30 million. As per the prime minister, around 600,000 people will be tested for the virus. As the countrys tally has hit 682, around 150,000 people have been tested. Of them, over 50,000 have been tested in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method whereas nearly 100,000 have undergone rapid diagnostic tests. During the address, the prime minister claimed that the government was committed to saving peoples lives from the epidemic. He also advised the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle and prevention measures to protect themselves from the infection. Stranded Nepalis to be repatriated Oli said the government would soon introduce a plan to Nepalis stranded abroad due to the crisis. He said a balance would be maintained between the level of risks faced by the migrant workers in different countries and preparations made to quarantine them here. SEE not to be held The prime minister said the government was preparing to introduce an alternative model of continuing the school education as many exams including the Secondary Education Examinations (SEEs) have been postponed due to the crisis. Similar to governments policy and programme, budget plan Meanwhile, social media users have hastily reacted to the prime ministers address saying it was full of assurances and promises but lacked a concrete plan to implement them. They likened the address to the governments annual policy and programme and budget statement. Ever since I joined Gallagher Bassett, our mission has been consistent - to be the premier provider of risk and claims management services with demonstrably superior outcomes. When I became the CEO of North America, that goal did not change, Hessling told Insurance Business. If anything, my focus and our teams commitment around fulfilling that mission has only intensified. Our clients put their trust in Gallagher Bassett to care for their injured workers, to protect their brands, and to make their programs better. I take that responsibility very seriously and know that our actions and investments have us well positioned to be the provider of choice in our industry for well into the future. Read next: Gallagher Bassett creates coronavirus task force While Hessling dreams big about the promising future of Gallagher Bassett, his immediate attention as CEO has been drawn in by the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus has presented challenges for all companies, including Gallagher Bassett. Like most leaders, Hesslings first priority was to protect the health and safety of employees, while also ensuring continuity of service to Gallagher Bassetts clients. This event was an early test of our leadership team, and Im thrilled with how they responded to the changing environment brought on by COVID-19, he commented. We successfully executed against our business continuity plans without missing a beat for our clients and team members. For example, we were able to stand up our COVID-19 Taskforce, which consisted of leaders from across the business. We were able to rapidly identify the highest priorities, create and execute a cohesive plan, and mobilize our team under tight timeframes. We modified claims processes in response to incidents with COVID-19 exposure, enhanced our managed care capabilities to serve the unique needs of clients during this pandemic, and produced a robust resource center to engage with clients, broker and carrier partners. Beyond the immediate response to COVID-19, there have been remarkable success stories across the business. Im fortunate to see so much kudos from our clients, recognizing the great work of our team at a time when were needed most. And Im thrilled to welcome new clients to Gallagher Bassett, who recognize our innovative capabilities and special culture among our team. Read more: Gallagher Bassett launches new division As a business that offers risk and claims management services, Gallagher Bassett has faced a few fundamental challenges amid the coronavirus crisis the primary one being how to maintain business operations and service claims while also adhering to physical distancing guidelines and stay at home orders. Unlike some claims management firms, Gallagher Bassett had nearly 40% of staff operating in a work from home environment prior to the pandemic. Hessling described this as a strategic decision that enables the firm to attract and retain top talent. As such, Gallagher Bassett had a proven remote-ready playbook based on four key principals access, connection, engagement, and service - that it could roll out to help the rest of the team transition to work from home during COVID-19. Im really proud of the actions our organization has taken to serve our clients current and future needs, Hessling said. In addition to the immediate actions weve taken in managed care solutions and Resource Center, were also helping our clients think ahead and plan for the implications of our new normal. Within our Technical Services division, were both consulting and managing efforts to prepare facilities for re-occupancy. Our clients are focused on providing their teams safe work environments and have been enthusiastic about this solution as they plan for the future. Additionally, Gallagher Bassett is uniquely positioned to help our clients understand and manage to superior outcomes across their claim programs. Our award-winning SMART benchmarking capability can help clients understand the changing severity of their claim portfolio. Our claim strategy dashboard helps clients prioritize time and energy in managing their claim portfolio. And our best-in-class Luminos RMIS platform provides tremendous information to help manage and monitor trends across client programs. All of these are supported by a team of expert analysts, helping our clients and service teams generate insights to continuously improve performance. All things considered, Hessling has a very positive outlook for Gallagher Bassett in North America. He added: We have an exceptional team and strong momentum within our business. Im very excited about being in this role. Eid celebrations remained subdued in parts of Punjab and Haryana on Monday as people offered prayers at home in the wake of coronavirus lockdown. Muslim clerics extended wishes to people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan. At several places including Ludhiana, Qadian in Gurdaspur, Malerkotla among others, people chose to remain indoors and offered 'namaz' at their homes. At Jama Masjid in Ludhiana, Shahi ImamMaulana Habib-Ur-Rehman Saani Ludhianvi led the prayers and extended wishes to people. We prayed for an end to coronavirus, a Muslim resident of Patiala said after offering prayers. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his counterpart in Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar extended Eid greetings to the people. Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous Eid-Ul-Fitr. I trust you all will celebrate this auspicious day with your family and loved ones in your homes, Punjab CM tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) COVID-19 highlights the limits of compassion and the need for sacrifice in contemporary capitalism Compassion with the leader When the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized over COVID-19, the conservative TV commentator Piers Morgan got very angry. The host of the popular television show Good Morning Britain chastised those people on social media who had allegedly mocked and abused the PM online. Morgan also lamented that some people in the British public seemed not to find it in themselves to be positive for the Prime Minister, so he asked them to just shut up. Morgans indignation echoed a general stance in the UK. The majority of British press commentators clearly expressed compassion for the PM as he was fighting for his life. Many people seemed to identify with Johnsons suffering and some, such as philosopher A.C. Graylin, expressed the principled conviction that one wishes well to anyone ill. Several commentators also worried about the UKs temporary loss of leadership, concerned that without the PM national cohesion would be undermined. On the whole, public reactions to Boriss illness were very much in line with the high rank that compassion took in UK public opinion polls around that time. However, the minority voicing a lack of compassion with the PM also argued their case. They held that Johnson had been a poor role model and a mediocre leader during the ongoing pandemic. He had been downplaying the threat of COVID-19 by insisting publicly on shaking hands until the early days of March 2020. His government had to be pressured by the public into adopting a strategy that focuses on actively saving lives rather than passively hoping for potential population immunity. Lastly, Johnsons Tory party has been notorious for underinvesting in UK public health, rendering UK health spending lower than that of similarly wealthy countries. Prospective reasons that Johnsons illness could have potentially positive effects were also given. For example, the co-host of Good Morning Britain, Susanna Reid tried to assuage Morgans anger by expressing her hope that the PMs illness might alert more and more people that this disease does not discriminate. The UKs fiery public debate about whether or not compassion for the PM ought to be the order of the day should not be settled by one side just shutting up about it. As psychologist Paul Bloom (2016) has recently argued, compassion is not just a feeling. Contrary to empathy, compassion involves rational deliberation. It can be fostered or weakened, justified or undermined through arguments. Blooms partially rationalistic understanding of compassion opens up a threefold role for anthropologists during the ongoing pandemic. They may want to empirically study compassion as a value, asking what place it holds in different socio-cultural settings, whether and how it may be created or diminished and how it links to other values. Secondly, they can assess whether the arguments made in favor or against compassion are actually logically sound. Third, anthropologists can comment on whether people who claim to foster compassion either in word or deed are in fact living up to it. Each of these three potential goals of anthropological study conceptual clarification, assessment of the rationale behind given values, and assessment of thoughts and actions in light of a given value is particularly urgent at the moment. People around the world are forced to rethink many, if not most activities of their daily lives, and policy makers continue to rule with little accountability in a global state of emergency. This makes COVID-19 a generative moment, in so far as it drastically opens up a multitude of new potential social realities (Kapferer 2010), be they political, epistemic or moral. Retrospective reasons people lack compassion for those who fall ill on the basis that they may have deserved disease for their assumed misbehavior are generally hard to justify. As anthropological analysis has shown numerous times, we can never know other peoples behavior fully. Johnson, for example may have been reckless with respect to COVID-19 because he was ill-informed about the disease. Moreover, sources of agency and of moral responsibility often surpass the intentional individual, making individual attributions of blame much more problematic than they tend to seem at first (Laidlaw 2010). Lastly, the UK legal system is, at least in theory, built on the basis that nobody should be punished with disease for what we may consider immoral or illegal conduct even if the actual lack of protection against infectious disease for prisoners puts commitments to uphold this principle into ever more serious doubt. Prospective reasons people lack compassion for others are much harder to assess and they are currently widespread. For example, compassion quickly meets its limits in discussions about which health risks may or may not be inevitable in peoples daily lives if economic activity is not to be reduced or otherwise changed too much. In the UK, arguments about the tension of balancing lives with (capitalist) livelihoods make frequent reference to the idea of sacrifice. NHS staff is being celebrated for sacrificing their own lives for the sake of others, the UK government considers adherence to the nationwide lockdown a laudable sacrifice by the British public, and life with COVID-19 in the medium to long term is deemed to require even more sacrifice in the future. Sacrificing low-paid workers The fact that sacrifice is one of the key concepts that currently determines the limits of compassion should not be surprising. It points to the pervasiveness of economic thought in public discourse, as the idea of sacrifice features heavily in classical and neo-classical theories of exchange, value and labour (Rajan 2015). Taking the notion of sacrifice in economics seriously for a moment, we can see that capitalism requires quite a lot of it: While global life-expectancy has increased dramatically over the past century, it is also true that most people on the planet will at some point either suffer or die for capitalism to persist. The primacy of growth and our reliance on fossil fuels mean that ambient air pollution poisons and kills millions of people every year. Road injuries, which are frequently work-related, equally feature in the worlds top 10 global causes of death. Add to this the unhealthy working conditions of most monetized labour as well as the risk of mass migration due to climate change and it becomes clear that capitalism as we know it requires human sacrifice. It is in many instances an economic system marked by necropolitics. Capitalist human sacrifice happens to be unequally distributed. While wealthy groups and individuals can shelter themselves from the economys negative health effects, the existential and economic precarity of most workers leads them to have a lower average life expectancy. This is true on a global scale, where people born in countries with lower GDP and higher social inequality tend to lead shorter lives. It is also true on a national scale. In England for example, life expectancy between the wealthiest 20% and the poorest 20% of people differs by almost eight and a half years. COVID-19 highlights and amplifies both capitalisms need for sacrifice and the unequal distribution thereof along class lines. In England, the disease spreads at a faster rate in deprived areas. The pandemic also affects low-income households the most in economic terms. On a global scale, COVID-19 moves steadily from rich countries with the means to do something about it, to lower income countries with little room for policy manoeuver and long histories of systematically inflicting disease on people (COVID-19 is likely already much more widespread in Low Income Countries than we think, but testing remains limited). In the UK, the tension between compassion and sacrifice currently puts the government into a bind. Leading British politicians have long eschewed the important question what kinds of work may be both personally meaningful and socially useful. COVID-19 obliged it to rapidly address this question and to publish a list of critical workers, essential to fighting the disease and to keeping society running. Critical workers who are paid the least cleaners, teachers, nurses and security guards for example also tend to be the ones who cannot work from home and run the highest risks of COVID-19 infections. The British PM has since applauded critical workers for their compassion, yet in defining them as relevant to the system, his government actively takes the risk of sacrificing their health. Thereby, the pervasive economic idea that all work requires sacrifice is elevated to a level of life-threatening intensity, mostly for people with low incomes. Stacking supermarket shelves while customers are around requires employees to expose themselves and their families to a considerable risk of illness, maybe even death. Questioning capitalist sacrifice to find the new normal Over the past few weeks, economists, health experts, politicians and the British public have tentatively begun to define future economic normality. They are experimenting with different sets of physical distancing, surveillance and hygiene policies to see how a balance between social life and mass illness can be found. To get the balance right and to build the compassionate society that the British public seems to value we may want to question the pervasive rhetoric of sacrifice, as it can all too easily facilitate a system of market eugenics. Four broad insights from the anthropology of sacrifice may serve as a starting point. Firstly, we may want to consider sacrifice to be a means of communication between the worlds of the sacred and the profane, through the mediation of a victim that is destroyed in the process (Hubert & Mauss 1964). Here, the sphere of the sacred remains somewhat autonomous from human behavior. The sacred influences human lives but humans have a hard time influencing it. This is not the case for capitalism or the fight against COVID-19. Both can be rendered less life-threatening through a variety of measures other than sacrifice, for example government honesty, equipment for health workers, serious public efforts at mass-testing and contact tracing, higher pay for low-pay workers and transport options that allow for physical distancing whilst getting to work. A discourse that focuses on sacrifice underplays these alternative modes of bringing about change, which do not involve rendering social inequality more life-threatening for the working poor. Secondly, not all sacrifices are lived out in public. Instead, peoples lives can be marked by hidden sacrifices of constant self-giving (Mayblin 2014). Asking critical workers to work during times of a global pandemic and providing them with applause, rather than greater socio-economic security in return means being concerned with exposed acts of sacrifice. It underplays forms of non-performative sacrifice in the public at large and ignores whether they already constitute a burden on people or how this burden might best be reduced. The tension between performed appreciation of and actual long-term disinterest in the sacrifices that people may be making day by day, opens UK government policy to accusations of cynicism. Thirdly, sacrifice tends to presuppose pre-existing debt-relationships. As such, it may be conceived of as a subset of gift-giving, which invokes mutual obligations, or as reflecting unconditional indebtedness towards whatever entity one is giving oneself to (Willerslev 2011). Today it remains unclear whether critical workers in the UK consider themselves to be in either of these two positions. Are they being asked to sacrifice themselves for each other, for the government, for the nation, or for a mode of production? And do they consider themselves to be indebted to any of these entities? Recent polls suggest that large parts of the underpaid may share feelings of abandonment and a lack of faith in the political and economic system. If this is so, then discourses of sacrifice will not fall on fertile ground. Lastly, sacrifice tends to be an expression of wider collective sensibilities. It is at times hard to understand for cultural outsiders but may seem perfectly natural for people accustomed to it (Geertz 1977). Most people reading this text will not be perfect strangers to capitalism and its different forms of sacrifice. So our main problem is not to understand what is culturally alien to us, but to alienate ourselves from harm and death that have long been a naturalized. Going through such alienation will require a substantive amount of critical work. In so far as millions of lives depend on it, it may be worth our while. Felix Stein is an economic anthropologist and Senior Research Associate studying COVID-19 at the University of Edinburgh. He is also the co-founder and managing editor of the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Anthropology (www.anthroencyclopedia.com). Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr Steven Lowe, Dr Sebastian Stein and Dr Dr Tobias Pforr for commenting on earlier drafts of this paper. Works Cited Bloom, Paul. Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion. London: The Bodley Head, 2016. Geertz, Clifford. Found in Translation: On the Social History of the Moral Imagination. The Georgia Review 31, no. 4 (1977): 788-810. Hubert, Henry, and Marcel Mauss. Sacrifice: Its Nature and Function. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1964. Kapferer, Bruce. Introduction: In the Event toward an Anthropology of Generic Moments. Social Analysis 54, no. 3 (2010): 1-27. Laidlaw, James. Agency and Responsibility: Perhaps You Can Have Too Much of a Good Thing. In Ordinary Ethics: Anthropology, Language and Action, edited by Michael Lambek, 143-64. New York: Fordham University Press, 2010. Mayblin, Maya. The Untold Sacrifice: The Monotony and Incompleteness of Self-Sacrifice in Northeast Brazil. Ethnos 79, no. 3 (2014): 342-64. Rajan, Supritha. A Tale of Two Capitalisms: Sacred Economics in Nineteenth-Century Britain. Ann Arbor: Michigan University Press, 2015. Willerslev, Rane. The Optimal Sacrifice: A Study of Voluntary Death among the Siberian Chukchi. American Ethnologist 36, no. 4 (2009): 693-704. Share this: Share Email Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr LinkedIn [view academic citations] [hide academic citations] Nadia Bartel enjoyed a day out in Melbourne on Sunday, and she was left marvelling at how different her sons are. The socialite took Aston, four, and Henley, one, out for a walk on a windy afternoon when she noted how different their characters are. On Monday, the 34-year-old shared two sweet photos of the boys running along a walkway. Sweet! Nadia Bartel enjoyed a day out in Melbourne on Sunday, and she was left marvelling at how different her sons are. The socialite took Aston, four, and Henley, one, out for a walk on a windy afternoon. All pictured In the caption she wrote: 'Yesterday spent well with my adventurous go getter Henley who has no fear (literally jumps off and climbs everything). 'And observant Aston who thinks carefully before every move. How different siblings can be from day dot?!' Recently, Nadia shared her eight-point plan for changing her life in the next year. In the caption she wrote: 'Yesterday spent well with my adventurous go getter Henley who has no fear (literally jumps off and climbs everything). And observant Aston who thinks carefully before every move. How different siblings can be from day dot?!' In a post shared to Instagram Stories, the former WAG listed off various pieces of advice, including 'stop complaining' and 'learn from your mistakes'. The points included: 'Stop complaining and appreciate how lucky you are every day' and 'embrace loneliness and reinvent yourself in the process'. Other pieces of advice suggested, 'say goodbye to the people that don't bring positive energy into your life' and 'commit to the goals you set and never look back'. New life: Recently, Nadia shared her eight-point plan for changing her life in the next year The 34-year-old's points included: 'Stop complaining and appreciate how lucky you are every day' and 'embrace loneliness and reinvent yourself in the process' Exercise was also on the agenda, with 'sweat every day to boost your mood' on the list. Nadia and ex-husband Jimmy Bartel announced their separation on August 15 last year, but it's believed they actually broke up two months earlier. Jimmy, 36, was first romantically linked to Lauren Mand, 31, just days after his split from Nadia was made public. A makeup artist who shaved years off her 80-year-old aunt's appearance with clever cosmetic tricks has revealed the techniques and products she uses to achieve flawless skin at every age - and some cost as little as $12. Julia Stronach turned back time on her aunt Sandra's face for her birthday party in April 2019 by applying thick primer, sheer foundation, a blend of matte and shimmered eyeshadow and orange concealer beneath her eyes to hide dark circles. The 33-year-old from Aberdeen in northeast Scotland said the secret to perfecting a youthful complexion is avoiding heavy cosmetics and subtly filling only the top line of the eyebrows because heavy-handed drawing overpowers features and ages the face. Ms Stronach told Daily Mail Australia that over-lining lips should only be done around the cupid's bow and never along the edges, which makes the area around the mouth appear crooked and older. She said poorly applied false eyelashes, jagged eyeliner and badly matched foundation shades are the most common mistakes she sees women make which instantly add years and ironically enhance the very features they are trying to hide. Scroll down for video Julia Stronach's aunt Sandra on her 80th birthday, before (left) and after (right) her incredible transformation that shaved years off her appearance Scottish makeup artist Julia Stronach, 33, who is an expert in bridal cosmetics FOR THE SKIN Ms Stronach always takes a few minutes to analyse her clients' facial features before applying products to determine what will suit them best. For most customers including her aunt Sandra, she starts by dabbing $12.25 Makeup Obsession Pore Blurring Primer all over the face to ensure makeup stays in place all day long. The affordable primer, which is available from Target, fills pores and covers fine lines for smooth and seamless application of foundation and concealer. 'It has a soft, velvety touch and literally creates a 'second skin'. It's so affordable and great for scarring too,' Ms Stronach said. Once the primer has settled, she uses a damp egg shaped sponge to apply Charlotte Tilbury's $65 Light Wonder foundation, a sheer base that makes skin glow and enhances its natural radiance without smothering it. 'This is my holy grail. It's also the perfect every day product if you don't like anything too thick,' she said. Dampening the sponge encourages makeup to absorb deeper into the skin, helping it to stay on longer and creating a natural finish that makes it look like a 'second skin'. Although conventional teaching says contouring and shimmering pigments should be avoided on mature faces, Ms Stronach assesses each client individually and adds subtle contouring with cream and powder where she feels appropriate. She uses Kevyn Aucoin's $70 sculpting powder to contour the cheeks, jawline and nose, enhancing features to make the face appear younger and more defined. 'It's a great product because it has a realistic 'ash' tone as opposed to being too warm,' she said. Ms Stronach also swears by Mac's $55 Whisper of Gilt highlighter to add radiance and make skin appear lightly sun-kissed. She applies this along the cheekbones, down the length of the nose and in the inner corner of the eyes. She finishes by dusting a light $62 loose setting powder from Laura Mercier over the T-zone, covering the forehead, nose, chin and area circling the mouth which are prone to oiliness to prevent breakouts and shine from showing through. Kevyn Aucoin and Laura Mercier products are available from Mecca online and in-store nationwide. Makeup artist Julia Stronach working on a bride on May 28, 2019 The three biggest makeup mistakes 1. Badly applied false lashes 'They always make the lash band large enough to accommodate all eye sizes, but nine times out of 10 they need to be trimmed or else they wont sit on the eye correctly. They will look strange, and be uncomfortable. 'Cut from the longest outer edge as you want to keep the inner short lashes - that's how real lashes actually look. Lashes should be fixed 1/4 way along the lashline (or a finger space from the tear duct) to avoid jabbing or scratching. This causes the eye to water, and can make lashes lift. 2. The infamous 'tide mark' 'This is when people only apply foundation to their jawlines and above. If the shade is even slightly off, it will stick out like a sore thumb. 'Instead always apply makeup to your neck too for a seamless result and try to get your correct shade in the first place! If your foundation is too dark, use a lighter concealer to balance it, especially around your jawline. 3. Jagged or shaky eyeliner 'Liner can be tricky, but this often happens when people close their eyes or pull the skin when applying it. This causes the skin to 'crumple' when released, so its never straight or sharp. 'Instead, keep the eyes open. Tilt your head back so you can see your eye, and do it one dab at a time, working your way along. Take your time and keep it thin, you can always thicken it if needs be. Lean on something, and practice when you have no other eye makeup on so if you mess it up you can start again and try until you get it right.' Source: Julia Stronach aka Julz Platinum Advertisement FOR THE EYES Ms Stronach spends most time on the eyes, avoiding dark shadows which make them appear dull and sunken in favour of neutral shades and light concealer concealer around the brow bone and under eye area. She 'colour corrects' dark tones beneath the eyes by gently dabbing an orange or peach shade of NARS $48 Creamy Concealer with her fingertips. 'This works because orange is opposite blue on the colour wheel, so it effectively cancels it out,' she said. 'You can then use the actual skin match on top, but if you don't colour correct, the dark tones will glow through and appear grey.' On the upper eyelid and brow bone she sticks to light shades to enhance the eyes and bring them forward, while using a mixture of matte and shimmering pigments on the main body of the lid. A client of Ms Stronach's with flawless foundation and brown eyeshadow shaded beneath her eyes, which makes them appear wider 'If the skin on the lid is crepe [loose or folding], stick to mattes, but if you have tighter skin there's no reason why you can't use a shimmer like I did on my aunt.' She uses MAC's $38 'Vanilla' pigment along the brow bone to create the illusion of higher eyebrows and a younger complexion, and Anastasia Beverley Hills' $33 Dip Brow Pomade and a $25 Inglot brush to subtly fill brows for a natural finish. 'Never apply brow product below the natural brow position as this can look masculine,' she said. 'Always add volume above.' She also uses brown eyeshadow beneath the eyes and subtle false eyelashes in the outer corners to widen and define the lashline while maintaining a natural finish. Ms Stronach recommends using a brown or navy mascara instead of black for fairer or mature complexions, as any intense colour around the eyes instantly ages the face. Ms Stronach's tips for ageless skin 1. Avoid thick bases 'Even at 33, if I use anything to heavy, it sinks in and separates, giving me lines I don't even have yet. Even if you do need coverage in certain areas, for example for redness, scarring, liver spots, etc. it doesn't mean you need to mask the entire face. The same goes for younger clients with acne.' Ms Stronach recommends using a sheer base with spot cover where necessary. 'While I do have a good few 'budget buys' in my kit, I recommend investing in more expensive foundations and concealers,' she said. 2. Focus on eyebrows 'A nice, strong brow takes years off a person instantly. It creates a look of youth and health. Sparse, fair brows can be gently enhanced with a few light brown or blonde brush strokes or something more bold if the look commands it. 3. Over-line the cupid's bow 'Some people are afraid to do it, but I like to over-line lips if they are particularly thin. I am careful not to go too off piste though or it looks artificial. I only over-line the cupids bow and never down the outlines, which is far more flattering.' 4. Avoid matte finishes 'Instead think healthy, dewy and sun-kissed to take years off. Of course, if you have particularly oily skin then use powder but only on the T zone; there is rarely a need to mattify your cheeks, temples, and jawline.' 5. Use brown eyeshadow under the eye 'Making the eyes look bigger will make the face look younger. I normally achieve this by applying some lower lash definition with the Inglot 31t brush and some brown eyeshadow as eyeliner. I apply a thin line, then smudge it out a little. Then I take a skin coloured eye pencil and create a nude waterline to really make the eyes pop. Try using nude in place of black for a softer day look.' 6. Apply foundation with a damp sponge 'This prevents the base looking too thick and helps it stay on longer by pressing it more deeply into the skin. I use brushes too, but always go over it with a sponge.' Source: Julia Stronach aka Julz Platinum Advertisement FOR THE LIPS Ms Stronach carefully lines the lips with a light pencil, drawing slightly above the cupid's bow on the upper lip to make it appear fuller but sticking strictly to the line of the lower lip to ensure the look remains natural. She applies a matte lipstick with a slick of liquid lip balm on top to reduce the dry, flaky texture that builds once matte formulas harden in place. 'My secret with lipstick is to avoid sheer or glossy lipsticks - they don't have the same staying power as their matte counterparts,' she said. A second client of Ms Stronach's, with glistening highlighter applied to the brow bone and inner corner of her eyes to enhance them and a slightly over-lined cupid's bow to make lips appear plumper 'If you don't like the feel of mattes, get the best of both worlds and apply a little Vaseline over the top of your matte lippy to eliminate the dry feel. 'Of course, if you just want a super natural nude lip look a gloss on its own is fine too.' Julia Stronach is a bridal makeup specialist and author of 'Business for Makeup Artists: How to grow your business fast'. Her book is available to buy on Amazon for $16.94 in paperback, or $13.98 on Kindle. Editor's Note: Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news stories and expert opinions that moved the precious metals and financial markets. Sign up here! (Kitco News) After being sent to a small French town to wait out the coronavirus lockdown, two kids discovered $100,000 worth of gold at a home of an older relative, local media reported. Just a few days into the lockdown, which was introduced back in March, the two kids both around ten years old found two gold bars wrapped in some old sheets at a house in Vendome, France, which is located about 100 miles from Paris. They made the discovery while trying to build a fort and scouring through everything they could use in the house, BFM TV. "They asked their father what they could use. He advised them to take their grandmother's sheets in an unused room. But instead of finding sprigs of lavender between the sheets, as was done before, there were two fairly heavy objects," Vendome auctioneer Philippe Rouillac told BFM. Each gold bar weighs about one kilogram. Vendomois : les lingots d'or dormaient entre les draps ! https://t.co/BDx0Onx3ml ROUILLAC (@RouillacSas) May 19, 2020 After the lockdown was over, the kids' father contacted a local auctioneer, who was able to confirm that gold was indeed real and that the discovery was two massive gold bullion bars. The gold bars will be auctioned off on June 16 by Rouillac auction house in Vendome. They are said to be worth around $100,000 and are expected to go for at least $87,000. The gold bars were reportedly originally acquired by the children's grandmother in 1967 but were thought to be lost, Rouillac told BFM. "We are going to wait for gold prices to rise a little more," he said, noting that he expects higher prices at the beginning of June. "The children told their father 'we're going to be able to have a swimming pool'," Rouillac recalled. PR-Inside.com: 2020-05-25 20:01:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 590 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2020 / Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) today announced the creation of a Research Chair in pandemic preparedness. IMC's member companies will contribute $500,000 from the IMC COVID-19 Fund over three years, to support the work of an early-career researcher affiliated with a recognized academic institution to be the Health Research Foundation of Innovative Medicines Canada Chair in Pandemic Research."COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of research to planning and preparedness in Canada's healthcare system," said Ronnie Miller, Chair of the IMC Board of Directors. "I am proud of our industry's response to the crisis, particularly the collaborative ways in which we have worked together, with researchers, with governments and with civil society. Today's announcement is another example of the vital contribution our industry makes to protecting the health and well-being of Canadians, and to our economy." IMC recognizes the critical need to support research excellence and to help world-class scientists working on the discoveries and innovations that keep us and our communities healthy, and our economy thriving. The creation of a Research Chair dedicated to pandemic preparedness, as well as to the role of healthcare and the healthcare sector in sustaining and growing our economy, will contribute to helping Canada look ahead to the next public health crisis and ensure our country is well-prepared to effectively respond and recover."Investing in a Research Chair complements the vital work our members are already doing in developing vaccines and treatments for the virus, and will contribute to a deeper understanding of what is required to protect Canadians' health, and our economy," said IMC's President, Pamela Fralick. "We look forward to seeing how this important research will help to inform public policy, and help Canada better prepare for the next public health crisis, going forward." A call for applications will be issued in June 2020 through the Health Research Foundation of Innovative Medicines Canada, who will be overseeing the selection process for the Research Chair. A Selection Committee comprised of experts will review all submitted applications and make its selection of the successful applicant in summer 2020.Today's announcement is another example of how Canada's innovative medicines industry has come together in response to COVID-19. Additional industry responses to the pandemic include donations to the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Pharmacists Association of personal protective equipment for front-line workers, working together to monitor and address drug shortages, and implementing additional measures to ensure that no patient goes without their medication during the pandemic.Learn more about how our member companies are contributing to the fight against COVID-19.About Innovative Medicines CanadaInnovative Medicines Canada is the national voice of Canada's innovative pharmaceutical industry. We advocate for policies that enable the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of all Canadians. We support our members' commitment to being valued partners in the Canadian healthcare system.About IMC's Health Research FoundationThe Innovative Medicines Canada Health Research Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support and promote the value of health research in Canada. By applying the highest standards of scientific excellence, addressing health challenges and establishing partnerships, HRF, one of the leading private health foundations in the country, contributes significantly to the prevention and treatment of disease, to a better health care system and the availability for Canadians to access effective health products.- 30 -For further information:Sarah Dion-MarquisDirector, Media and Public RelationsTelephone: 613-769-6510E-mail: sdmarquis@ imc-mnc.ca SOURCE: Innovative Medicines Canada Preparations have started in earnest to hold usual in-camera meetings at the Parliament complex, as an earlier plan to hold online meetings of the parliamentary panels appears to have been junked. So far, nine rooms in the Parliament House and annexe have been identified for holding regular meetings of the 24 department-related Standing Committees and another six rooms are being prepared for other committees of both the Houses, said an official. Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla have factored in the resumption of domestic flights and passenger train services between Delhi and various state capitals to chalk out the plan for regular meetings amid the easing of lockdown restrictions, which were imposed on March 25 to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-1) outbreak. There was a clamour for holding online meetings when the lockdown restrictions were imposed. On Saturday, Naidu held an hour-long meeting with Birla, as lockdown 4.0 is tipped to end on May 31. The secretaries-general of both the Houses and other senior officials were also present in the meeting. Both the presiding officers have taken note of the resumption of air and train services in the country, said a senior official. Only the chairmen of four panels -- all of them from the Congress -- were in favour of holding digital meetings. Information technology panel head Shashi Tharoor, pubic account committee chairman Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, home affairs panel head Anand Sharma, and environment panel chairman Jairam Ramesh had suggested online meetings. The officials also pointed out that only the Main Committee Room in the annexe has enough space to maintain social distancing norms. Naidu and Birla said that additional seats with microphone facilities would be installed in the other rooms as well. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Montana Attorney General Tim Fox is trying to reverse a Billings judge's decision that ballots postmarked up and including the day of the June 2 primary election will be counted. Fox is also running in the Republican gubernatorial primary, though his filing Friday to stay the order was made in his capacity as attorney general defending the Secretary of State, who implements election law. Late last week, District Court Judge Donald Harris issued a preliminary injunction saying ballots received by Monday, June 8, will be counted in the primary election. Previously under state law, voters had to ensure their ballots were received at local elections offices by 8 p.m. on election day. That's Tuesday, June 2, this primary. All counties in the state decided to hold the primary election by mail this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. In-person registration and voting is still available at elections offices, which are enforcing physical distancing measures. Satellite polling locations on reservations are still open as well. Mail in some parts of Montana can take up to five business days to make its way from a voter to the elections office, which Harris wrote can confuse people who are used to income tax filings or property taxes payments that are allowed to be postmarked on the due date. Voters may also assume mail will be delivered to a location in their town in a day or two, which isn't always the case because of centralized processing centers. "The court finds that this misunderstanding and confusion disproportionately burdens first-time voters, persons with less education and persons who have historically relied on ballot collection services," Harris wrote. " During the current 2020 election cycle, the combined effects of the BIPA (Ballot Interference Protection Act) and receipt deadline will cause thousands of Montanans to not vote or will result in their votes being not counted." Harris' order Friday also put a stop to the enforcement of BIPA, which caps the number of ballots one person can drop off for others at six. Another Billings judge also halted the enforcement of BIPA this election following a separate court challenge saying it disproportionately harmed Native American voters on reservations; a hearing in that order is set for May 29. Fox is asking for a stay on Harris' order, halting the change in deadline, and for issue to go straight to the Montana Supreme Court for a decision, under a provision that dates back to the days of the Copper Kings. "A stay is needed given the injunctions adverse impact on Montana voters and election administrators, including probable public confusion, in light of the fast-approaching June 2 primary election," Fox wrote in the filing Friday. " The election is in just 11 days, and the public interest weighs in favor of obtaining a final ruling as soon as possible." The lawsuit was brought by the Montana Democratic Party, party chair Robyn Driscoll and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. On Sunday, Driscoll said the judge's order should stand. There is no good reason why Montanans should have their otherwise valid ballot thrown out because it takes too long to arrive in the mail, Driscoll said in an emailed statement. The courts careful preliminary ruling will prevent Montanans across the state from being arbitrarily disenfranchised by this rule. Those voters, Fox argued, were told their ballots had to be mailed with enough time to arrive at their local elections office by June 2. Ballots mailed to Montanans included that guidance. " The injunction creates inequality between voters who have mailed their ballots in early in compliance with the deadline who might otherwise have waited, and those who waited and are now able to submit on Election Day," Fox wrote. Fox also argued that the state Legislature, not the courts, has the right to amend voting requirements, and that the court "created legislation" by extending the ballot deadline. " this courts order addresses a political question reserved for the Legislature and applies disparately to different categories of voters," Fox wrote. In the brief, the attorney general argued that changing the deadline would interfere with other linked election laws, such as the state canvassing deadline and post-election audits. The order will also cause other confusion, Fox said, such the timelines for elections administrators to notify voters if there's a deficiency in their ballot. "Montanas entire statutory scheme is focused on counting votes as soon as the polls close, and an important part of fostering voter trust in the system is providing results in an expedient manner," Fox wrote. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 11 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Public health experts have shot down calls to reduce the two-metre social-distancing rule and warned it could lead to a fourfold increase in the transmission of coronavirus. Senior health experts intervened amid growing political pressure to reduce the social-distancing restriction to one metre. Yesterday, Fianna Fail frontbench TD Darragh O'Brien insisted the two-metre distance should be halved. Labour Party leader Alan Kelly called for an audit on the impact on the restriction to one metre in the health service. However, infectious disease specialist Prof Sam McConkey warned that reducing the distance could see the spread of the virus increase fourfold and could lead to the reopening of schools and airports being delayed. Public health expert and epidemiologist Dr Gabriel Scally said the two-metre rule was not the most important issue facing the Government and the focus should remain on reducing the number of new Covid-19 cases and deaths. Expand Close Connla Fallon (6) collecting a Trocaire box from his grandmother Margo Rice while observing social distancing. Trocaire has warned its Lenten Appeal is down 60pc and asked people to donate online / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Connla Fallon (6) collecting a Trocaire box from his grandmother Margo Rice while observing social distancing. Trocaire has warned its Lenten Appeal is down 60pc and asked people to donate online Mr Scally's comments came as new HSE figures showed four people died from the virus yesterday and there were 57 new cases of infection. Mr Scally said he would "err on the side of caution" over the two-metre rule and said "the falling numbers for cases and the decreasing deaths are the important things". "Once that goes down social distancing becomes less important because the virus will have been suppressed and if the virus is suppressed social distancing of one metres or two metres becomes an irrelevant discussion," he added. Droplets Speaking on Newstalk, Mr McConkey said one-metre social distancing could result in "up to four times more transmission" because there would be a higher concentration in droplets which would allow the virus to spread. The HSE's chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry insisted there would be no immediate change to the two-metre rule as it had helped Ireland "not only bend that curve" but reduce the infection rate to 0.5. He recognised the impact on HSE services and businesses but confirmed the measure would stay in place for the foreseeable future due to concerns regarding droplet spread of infection through the air. Director general of the HSE Paul Reid said the rule had had "significant implications" for the health service but said he would be guided by the public health advice. "One metre would certainly give us extra capacity in terms of managing outpatient and emergency departments, or generally managing our services, but we will be led by what the current guidance is from the Government through Nphet," he said. Labour's Mr Kelly said the Government had "sown confusion" over the two-metre rule. He said Health Minister Simon Harris should examine whether the restriction could be eased. "If the public health advice allows for it, and we followed the WHO [World Health Organisation, which is recommending one metre], it would make life much easier for society and businesses, like they have now done in France and other EU countries," he said. On Twitter, Fianna Fail housing spokesperson Mr O'Brien said: "Changing to one [metre] would be a game-changer for thousands of businesses who are planning to reopen. "If it's good enough for WHO, it should be good enough for Ireland [in my opinion]." Meanwhile, new smartphone tracking figures show that traffic has almost doubled in Ireland over the past two weeks, with big increases in outdoor activity. The figures, from Apple and Google, collected anonymously from the population's smartphones, suggest that people are relaxing their behaviour with regard to where they go and the amount of time spent outdoors. Apple's figures indicate that driving activity is back to 58pc of what it was before the pandemic restrictions, up from just 34pc in the first week of May. The figures also suggest that time spent out walking has risen from 26pc of what it was to 38pc. Google's data shows that people began spending significantly more time in retail and recreational facilities, transit stations and workplaces before the most recent easing of restrictions. A top Russian politician, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, has suggested that prisoners in Russia should be used as guinea pigs to test experimental COVID-19 vaccines. Yes, that's right. He recommended that prisoners who have committed heinous crimes could have their sentences halved if they agreed to the clinical trials. Zhirinovsky further said that prisoners would jump at the opportunity and would willingly participate in such an experiment. He said that the need of the hour is more volunteers. So, if prisoners with long sentences are told that there's a new medicine on the block and their sentences would be reduced if they volunteer for it, a lot of people would sign up for it. Zhirinovsky, who is a pro-Putin politician, has drawn flak for his comments. Several human rights activists and groups have reached out to Russian president Vladimir Putin and urged him not to consider such a move on humanitarian grounds. Rossiya Sidyashchaya, an activist working with prisoners' rights in Russia has allegedly commented that using prisoners as cattle is a common practice in the country, according to a report by the Daily Mail. Many lawyers are also against the move, and have said that convicts are not guinea pigs on whom experiments can be carried out - experiments which can leave them injured, gravely ill and might even prove fatal for them. This is, however, not the first time that prisoners have been used as guinea pigs in medical experiments. There are news reports dating back to the 1960s, which show how prisoners, who are often looked at as vulnerable and more expendable than the general population, have been frequently used for medical experiments like vaccines for viruses and even AIDS. A report from 2001 shows how during the Aids outbreak, prisoners in Florida and Texas were targeted simply because they are far more "available." Petoskey, Kalkaska duo set to release new album Northern Michigan band John Piatek & Friends are set to release their second album right on the heels of their debut release just some six months ago. After a gap of two months, domestic passenger flight operations resumed on Monday amid reluctance by various states to open up their airports in view of rising cases of the novel coronavirus. However, large number of flights were also cancelled across the country. Here are glimpses of Indians catching their first flight after two months: A woman carrying a child arrives at T-3, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, for domestic travel, after flights were resumed on Monday. The first flight took off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45 am under strict regulations recommended by civil aviation authorities. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/ PTI Photo Airline staffers flash victory sign at Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna, following the resumption of domestic flights. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna and it departed at 6.45 am. Photograph: PTI Photo A security personnel, wearing a protective suit, checks a passengers identity card at T-3, New Delhi airport. Airlines were jittery in resuming services as multiple states have put in place separate norms and conditions for quarantining passengers arriving there by domestic flights. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/ PTI Photo Passengers sanitise their luggage at T-3, IGIA, ahead of their domestic travel. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/ PTI Photo A passenger scans her ticket as she arrives at Birsa Munda International Airport, Ranchi. Photograph: PTI Photo Passengers stand in a queue to board an Indigo plane at Chennai airport. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/ PTI Photo A SpiceJet plane takes-off from Chennai airport. The airlines, which were allowed to operate one-third of their capacity, have been busy since Sunday night in further reworking their flight schedules. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/ PTI Photo Passengers maintain social distance as they arrive at Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport, in Patna. Bihar is among the states that have announced their respective quarantine measures for passengers arriving at their airports. Other include Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh. Photograph: PTI Photo Passengers wait at T-3 ahead of their domestic travel. Bookings had opened for around 1,050 domestic flights planned for Monday but the revised measures announced on Sunday have led to cancellation of several flights leaving hundreds of passengers disappointed. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/ PTI Photo Aviation industry sources said, around 82 flights -- departures and arrivals -- have been cancelled so far at the Delhi airport. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/ PTI Photo Passengers stand in a queue as they arrive at T-3, IGIA. States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling cases of the coronavirus infection in their states. Many states have expressed serious reservations about the Centre's decision to start flight services. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/ PTI Photo A passenger gets thermal scanned as he arrives at T-3, IGIA. Some states have decided to put passengers in mandatory institutional quarantine while several others have talked about putting them under home quarantine. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/ PTI Photo A view Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport in Mumbai. The Maharashtra government had requested the Centre on Sunday to keep air services in the state at a minimum possible level. Mumbai is the country's second busiest airport. Photograph: PTI Photo -- with inputs from PTI Ryanair customers are wrongly being told that using the chargeback card-protection scheme is a fraudulent activity. The airline's staff has also told customers that those who used chargeback could result in them being blacklisted by the airline in the future. Frustrated Ryanair passengers have been complaining for weeks about the struggles they have had trying to claim cash back for flights that have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite requesting refunds many have been sent vouchers instead, with the option to obtain a refund after a 12 month period. Ryanair told customers that using the chargeback scheme for a refund was 'fraudulent' One customer, Declan, contacted This is Money and claims he was told by an online customer service agent that 'chargeback is a fraudulent activity' after he contacted the company regarding a refund. He added that in Ryanair's terms and conditions, it now says it will not accept any claims a customer makes that 'its suspicion is false or unjustified', essentially leaving customers with no leg to stand on. A Ryanair spokesperson denied that this was its policy and said: 'These claims are untrue. Chargebacks are not considered a fraudulent activity and Ryanair only "blacklists" customers in confirmed fraud cases'. This is Money has seen a web chat of the conversation in which the agent signs off saying 'chargeback is a fraudulent activity'. Customers have been left trying to claw back a refund from various airlines after nearly all flights were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This is the message Declan received from Ryanair when contacting them However, numerous airlines have breached their responsibilities and have told passengers they could be waiting months to get their money back. What is the chargeback scheme? A number of customers have been unhappy to wait weeks on end to get their money back and have instead chosen to use chargeback a scheme where a customer's bank asks for money back from the supplier's bank. However, this should be a last resort - many banks are insisting the customer does everything in their power to contact the firm a booking was made, despite many being extremely difficult to contact. Chargeback is a protection placed on the majority of debit, prepaid and credit cards that allows customers to request that a transaction is reversed if there is a problem with the goods or service they've paid for. It is not enshrined in law so there is no obligation to offer it, but it is a part of card rules for banks and lenders, though these rules may vary between card companies. A customer can appeal to their bank for chargeback in three circumstances: if they did not make or agree the card transaction; if the transaction was carried out for the wrong amount or was duplicated; or if the goods or services paid for were not provided. Help: The Section 75 scheme protects customers who have made purchases over 100 There is no upper limit to claims on claims of this nature. To make a claim, get in touch with your card provider within 120 days of discovering a problem. Before processing a chargeback claim, as mentioned above, card providers will need to see that you've exhausted all attempts to get the money back from the retailer or service provider yourself. This means for those looking to claim back their flight money, they must show they have tried to get in touch with their airline or travel agent. What is Section 75? Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is slightly different as it means your credit card provider shares responsibility with the retailer or seller - boosting your options to claim money back if your goods are faulty, the order never turns up or the trader itself goes bankrupt. Section 75 protection covers transactions costing between 100 and 30,000 - where at least part of the purchase was made using your credit card. If you pay a deposit using your credit card - providing it's over 100 - the total cost of the service or item is covered. Most customers holidays have been cancelled this summer, due to the coronavirus pandemic Helen Dewdney, known as the the Complaining Cow, said: 'Ryanair doesn't want people doing a Section 75 or a chargeback because it is trying every tactic in the book to delay payments. 'If someone evidences this to their bank, the bank is likely to try and reclaim the money therefore speeding things up for the consumer. 'If someone can't get their full refund and doesn't want to take a voucher or credit note then they should put this in writing regardless of whether the company wants you to phone and stay in a queue. Always write so that you have the evidence. 'Use a delivery receipt for your evidence that it was received. 'Outline in your email that you are legally entitled to a full refund and that if you do not receive it by a certain date you will undertake a Section 75 with the credit card company or chargeback with your bank. You will need evidence that you have tried to get the money from the trader. 'In the unlikely event of your credit card provider refusing the Section 75 you can take the matter to the Financial Ombudsman.' Adam French, Which? consumer rights expert, added: 'We have heard from thousands of frustrated people who are struggling to get refunds from airlines or holiday companies for cancelled trips, with many offering vouchers instead of refunds. 'If you are haven't been able to get a refund from your holiday provider and you paid by card, then you can request a chargeback from your bank. 'If you paid using a credit card and your purchase has a value of more than 100 and not more than 30,000, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act makes your credit card company jointly liable for any breach of contract by the retailer and that means if you're not getting what you paid for, you could get your money back from them.' Australian singer-songwriter Tones and I has continued her winning streak, taking out the coveted song of the year gong at the APRA Music Awards with chart-busting hit Dance Monkey. Tones and I, whose real name is Toni Watson, also won the breakthrough songwriter award at the ceremony, which is presented by the Australasian Performing Right Association and was held online on Monday evening. As an artist, we dont get recognised a lot of the time as songwriters but as an artist that does write my music, I want to say thank you, the Victorian-born Byron Bay resident said in her acceptance speech. Tones and I won song of the year at the 2020 APRA awards. Dance Monkey, released in May last year, catapulted Watson to global fame. The pop song has been streamed more than 7 billion times and reached the top of the charts in 45 countries. Watson claimed three ARIA awards last year. For divers visiting the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea near Aqaba, Jordan, diving down to The Tank is a rite of passage, one magnificently captured by Swedish professional diving photographer Alex Dawson. The American-built M42 Duster anti-aircraft vehicle was used by the Jordanian army in the 1960s. It was subsequently sunk by the Jordan Royal Ecological Diving Society in 1999 as an attraction for snorkelers and scuba divers. Dawson not only got a stunning shot of the original sunken tank; he also got a sneak peak at Jordans Underwater Military Museum, the first of its kind in the world. Helicopters, armored personnel carriers, and medical vehicles were all strategically sunk and now offer both habitat for marine life and incredible pictures for divers. The Tank has the incredible feature of being close to Aqabas South Beach, some 20 meters (66 feet) off the shore and only 6 meters (20 feet) deep. The comparatively easy access, with a sunken C-130 Hercules transport plane attraction also nearby, has made the tank somewhat of a diving icon. Alex Dawson explained, I took a similar image 16 years ago on my first press trip assignment but during daytime, so my plan was to do it at night time and paint with underwater lights. Carefully planning the image in Sweden before flying out to Jordan, Dawson created a beautiful haunting tableau of the barnacle-encrusted tank. Me and my dive buddy Fredrik asked the rest of the boat if we could have a five minute earlier start before the rest of the divers came down to the wreck, Dawson said. This allowed Dawson to create a perfect shot. The diving photographer managed the incredibly eerie portrait of the tanks twin barrels perfectly lit up by lights. I placed the lights behind the tank and attached my floater with additional lights so that it would give a perfect shadow on the bottom from the two gun barrels, Dawson explained. It only took Dawson and his diving partner Frederik five minutes to capture the shot the way they wanted. The tank is so clearly lit and intact that it almost seems on the verge of reanimating and crawling out from the sea bottom. The tank photo was just one of the many former military vehicles that form part of Aqabas underwater museum, which Dawson managed to capture. He used a similar back-lighting concept while photographing one of the two Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters that stands at a depth of 25m (75 feet), as he wrote on Instagram. Dawson also captured an incredible picture of the museums tank exhibit, which has several vehicles in battle formation. As reported by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the museum includes 8 objects [which] were settled at 15-20 meters and the other 11 can be found at 20-28 meters. They add that you can snorkel, take a tour in a glass bottom boat or scuba dive, as Dawson did. For those who do make the trek to Aqabas underwater museum, as Dawsons stunning photos reveal, its worth your while to bring your underwater camera. Top GOP Lawmaker Says There Will Be Criminal Referrals Against Mueller Team Republicans have expanded their investigation into the origins of the TrumpRussia probe and will make criminal referrals against special counsel Robert Muellers team, according to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the Republican ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee. Nunes told Fox News on May 24 that Republicans will make the criminal referrals in coming weeks, against unspecified individuals associated with the investigation into allegations of a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia to swing the 2016 election. Weve also expanded our investigation into the Mueller team and everything that happened with Mueller and the people at DOJ and FBI that were above Mueller, Nunes told legal analyst Gregg Jarrett. He said he expects there to be more action taken as information comes out about the circumstances surrounding the launch of the TrumpRussia probe. And so, we will be making criminal referrals in the coming weeks against the Mueller team. Were just now putting that together and, of course, as always, waiting on more documents that we really need to come out, he said. Mueller and his team probed the Russian collusion allegations but found insufficient evidence to recommend prosecution. On the program, Nunes told Jarrett his perspective regarding the investigation into the Trump campaign, which he called by its operational name, Crossfire Hurricane. This started as a dirty campaign operation run by the Clinton campaign, Nunes said. At some point they got dirty operatives involved, including the dirty cops. Now, remember, in the middle of 2016, the dirty cops that are involved, its almost impossible to believe it didnt reach the highest levels of the Department of Justice, when they opened so-called Crossfire Hurricane. Nunes, in a tweet on May 24, announced his appearance on Fox, reposting a tweet Trump wrote that called the charges brought against his first national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, part of the greatest Criminal Hoax in American History! The president has referred to the alleged agency and investigational bias against him during Crossfire Hurricane as a witch hunt and a Russia hoax. Trump recently posted on Twitter about Obamagate, alluding to possible top administration involvement in what he believes was a coordinated campaign targeting him. Nuness comments to Jarrett suggest that the landscape of the investigation into the origins of Crossfire Hurricane may have shifted, with more revelationsand, potentially, chargesto be expected. Some 100 Taliban prisoners were released from a military prison in Afghanistan Monday as part of the government's response to a surprise ceasefire offered by the militants to mark the Eid al-Fitr festival. "The government of Afghanistan has today released 100 Taliban prisoners from Bagram prison," National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal told AFP. The government plans to free up to 2,000 Taliban inmates as a "goodwill gesture" in response to the Sunday's ceasefire offer, boosting efforts to launch peace talks. COVID-19 has affected the way Americans live, work, eat, shop, and earn money. It's the latter that has a lot of people worried, what with unemployment levels reaching record highs and so many people struggling financially. The stock market has taken a beating as well since COVID-19 cases started popping up in droves, and while things have improved somewhat following a very rocky March, portfolio values are still very much down across the board. And by "portfolio values," we're talking brokerage accounts, retirement plans, and college savings. Some people use a traditional brokerage account to save for college so they have freedom as to how that money is used, but many families take advantage of 529 plans, which allow money to grow tax-free for education purposes. No matter where you've been housing your college savings, there's a good chance you're looking at less money today than you were three months ago. Here's what to do about it. If you're years away from paying for college Right now, a lot of investors are being told to sit tight, leave their portfolios alone, and wait for the stock market to stage a comeback. If your oldest child isn't even in high school yet, it pays to do the same. The stock market has a strong history of recovering from downturns, and there's no reason to think this situation will be different, so before you panic, recognize that there's no need to take action just yet when you won't be writing out tuition checks for many years. If you're close to paying for college It's easy for parents who are nowhere near college to stay calm in light of the recent market downturn. But if you have a high school junior or senior, you may be more worried, and understandably so. That said, depending on how you're saving for college, the hit to your portfolio may not be that bad. If you have your money in a 529 plan, there's a good chance you're invested in a target-date fund that's designed to shift toward safer assets, like bonds, as your child's college start date draws near. As such, you may find that your savings are mostly intact. If that's not the case, you may need to adjust your plans, whether that means limiting your child to a less expensive college or having your child take out student loans to compensate for lost savings. Of course, neither is ideal, but if you're really on the cusp of college and your 529 plan or brokerage account is down in a very big way, there may be no way around it. The good news is that federal student loans make borrowing relatively affordable, and they come with protections that make paying them off easier. Unfortunately, no one is immune to the economic impact of COVID-19. If your college savings have lost value, don't despair if that milestone isn't happening just yet. And if you're close to college, be flexible. If there's one thing the pandemic has taught us, it's that things don't always go according to plan, and the better we roll with the punches, the more resilient we stand to emerge. Emergency room doctor Jim Sauto works long shifts at the Cleveland Clinic, and as soon as he walks into his home, he immediately showers to decontaminate himself. Then he isolates in a small back bedroom away from his wife and two children until he heads back to the hospital the next morning. Like all medical workers who treat coronavirus patients, Sauto is afraid he might somehow pass the virus to his family, he said. "Everyone I know (at the hospital) is doing the same thing," Sauto, 58, said. "I miss hugs from my kids and my wife - that's the hardest part. But we all know it's necessary. We can't take the risk." For nearly three weeks, though, Sauto was able to not fret about possibly infecting his family because he was staying in a free apartment provided by the Caregiver Shelter Fund - a nonprofit started by Airriva, a property management company in Columbus, Ohio. The agency fills up empty corporate apartments and condominiums with doctors and nurses working on the front lines of the pandemic, no payment required. Last month, Sauto checked into a fully furnished condo near the hospital. Although he didn't have much time to appreciate the new big-screen television in his temporary digs, he was pleasantly surprised to hear a knock on the door one night from somebody at a nearby restaurant offering plates of hot lasagna to him and other medical workers, he said. "They were more than accommodating - it was wonderful to come and go without any worries," said Sauto, who took Airriva up on the housing offer after his wife, Isabel, came across the new nonprofit online. "Initially, I thought I might be able to stay there for a discounted rate, but they told me, 'No, it's gratis, with everything included,' " he said. "It was a much-welcomed surprise." The Caregiver Shelter Fund launched in March and is among several groups nationwide offering temporary housing for those working on the front lines of the pandemic. Airriva offers more than 150 free apartments and condos to doctors, nurses, paramedics and other first responders throughout Ohio, along with rooms at a variety of hotels in cities such as Miami, Boston and Los Angeles. It was the idea of Sean Whittaker, a partner sales executive at Airriva who was distressed to hear stories of care providers living in garages, basements, campers and cars so they wouldn't expose their families to the coronavirus. "These people are risking their lives to keep us safe," Whittaker, 28, said. "So we need to do what we can to help keep them safe, right?" "When travel came to a halt, almost all of our corporate guests canceled their business trips, so we had a surplus of empty housing on hand," he added. "Our occupancy went from 95 percent to 10 percent overnight." Whittaker and his co-workers asked property owners whether they'd be on board with providing caregivers a free place to stay, and almost all were enthusiastic about having a way to give back to their communities, he said. Brent Zimmerman is one of those property owners, with several condo units in Cleveland. "I was happy to help after recognizing that so many first responders were truly scared to go home to their families and possibly infect their loved ones due to being in contact all day with sick patients," Zimmerman, 42, said. To cover the costs of employing people to thoroughly scrub each unit between stays and replenish cleaning and paper products along with masks and gowns for housekeeping crews, Airriva is raising money with the goal of opening up hundreds of additional apartments and condos. More than $60,000 has been raised so far, Whittaker said. "Nobody should have to resort to sleeping in their garage," he said. "And a lot of front-line medical workers don't have money to pay for a hotel for two or three months at a time." As money is raised to employ more professional cleaners, additional units will be opened up, said Whittaker, who initially put word out about the Caregiver Shelter Fund on Facebook. "The response has been so incredible that we now have a waiting list of people wanting to stay in one of our units for a few weeks or a month and give themselves and their families a much-needed break," he said. "It's not a vacation for them by any means, but it's a safe and clean place to rest for a while." For Jeanne Pharo, a 58-year-old registered nurse at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, the caregiver charity allowed her to get a solid night's sleep for the first time in months, she said. Last fall, Pharo took in the cognitively impaired son of a friend who had passed away. At 38, he is fairly high-functioning but needs somebody to help him with his finances and other important decisions, she said. "My goal was to see if I could get him functioning at some point in his own apartment, and then coronavirus hit," she said. "I'd been worried about exposing him to the virus or vice versa." When Pharo heard about Airriva's shelter fund, she called the company with a request: How would they feel about allowing her housemate to stay in a condo for a month so she could continue her own routine without worry? "They immediately said yes, and I can't tell you how grateful I am," she said. "It's hard for a health-care provider to ask for help - I don't want to take from somebody else. Giving is what we do in our jobs. Having this option made available has been an immense relief, and it's provided my friend a safe place to learn to be independent, as well." Most medical workers stay an average of 10 days, Whittaker said, with some staying for several weeks or a month. Sauto left the Airrivia condo after an 18-day stay and checked into a nearby Hampton Inn. "I probably could have stayed longer, but I didn't want to overstay my welcome," said Sauto, who FaceTimes with his wife and kids at night. "Since we're in for a long haul with this virus, though, you never know. It's really nice to know that this option is out there." The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it is evaluating why more health workers are testing positive for COVID-19 in the country. Health workers have consistently complained about inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which heightens their risk of infections in their line of duty. Last week, for instance, the Western Region reportedly had 43 health workers testing positive; while the Eastern and Ashanti Regions have recorded 15 and 30 cases respectively. The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, says although the health workers are categorized as being at high risk, it is possible some may have contracted the disease within their communities. Apart from being at high risk of being infected at work, health workers are also part of our community so they could also pick it up just like any other person so we are evaluating all that. We have an insurance package for those that are infected so it is important that we track them. So we are doing further investigations to also look at what is going on. The most important thing is we have some health workers that are affected and that is why the numbers are going up. Its a cumulative figure that continues to add up. Its not like these are new cases that have come up. Its not all the time that they go to isolation or treatment centres to get infected. A case may just pop up and infect the worker, he remarked. ---citinewsroom Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday greeted the Muslim brethren on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, which is being celebrated in a subdued manner due to coronavirus related restrictions. "Warm greetings of Eid-ul-Fitr. May this festival of peace and harmony bring happiness in life," Yediyurappa said in his message. He congratulated the Muslim fraternity for cooperating with the authorities by offering prayers at home during the holy month of Ramzan and supporting the government to contain COVID-19. "I hope the same trend will continue during the festivities of Eid-ul-Fitr too. I thank you all for your support in the fight against COVID-19," he said. The Eid festivities were a low-key affair as Muslim brethren celebrated the festival indoors in view of lockdown to contain coronavirus on Monday. People offered the special prayers inside their houses instead of performing it in mosques and Eidgah, the open field to perform prayers, and refrained from going out to greet each other. As the Karnataka government has ordered Sunday Curfew throughout the lockdown-4 till May 31, the otherwise bustling markets in the urban areas of Karnataka remained shut. People could not venture out to make necessary purchases on Sunday. The Jama Masjid of Bengaluru at the City Market had asked the Muslims to offer prayers inside their houses and not go to the burial grounds to express their sentiments for the departed souls. "Mass prayers are not allowed anywhere in Karnataka. Just five important persons managing the mosques offered the prayers. Similarly, people go to the graveyard to pray for the dead ones but this time we asked people to express their sentiments from inside their homes instead of going to the burial grounds," Maulana Maqsood Imran, the Khateeb-O-Imam, Jama Masjid, Bengaluru, told P T I. He said, "coronavirus is spreading very rapidly in our country. If we don't follow the guidelines, it will not only cause trouble to us but also to the doctors and the government. It will be the biggest celebration if we abide by the norms. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Kyodo News) Tokyo, Japan Mon, May 25, 2020 10:25 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9ecc37 2 World Japan,Tokyo,COVID-19,lockdown Free Japan plans to fully lift the state of emergency in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Hokkaido on Monday, a minister said Sunday, given a decline in the number of new coronavirus cases and improved medical systems. Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama and Hokkaido were the last remaining areas under the measure among the country's 47 prefectures. Economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of the emergency response, said an advisory panel of health experts will meet on Monday morning to discuss the lifting of the measure. He made the remark at a press conference after meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and others. "For the most part, there is no change in the trend of decline (in new infection cases)," Nishimura said, despite a slight rise in new cases for Tokyo and Hokkaido over the weekend. Kanagawa and Hokkaido also did not meet the required level for new infections in the past week. The Tokyo metropolitan government said 14 new cases of infections in the capital were confirmed on Sunday. It reported just two new cases in the capital Saturday, the lowest single-day tally since Abe declared the state of emergency last month. But Tokyo has averaged around 7.1 new cases per day for the past week, 10 less than the requirement needed to lift the state of emergency declaration. A Kyodo News tally compiling data in the week through Saturday showed that new infections stood at 0.29, falling below 0.5 per 100,000 people in the past week -- one of the criteria for the government and experts on whether to ease the emergency. New infections in Kanagawa Prefecture were the highest of the five at 0.7, while Hokkaido was at 0.57. Saitama and Chiba prefectures stood at 0.2 and 0.1, respectively. Kanagawa and Hokkaido are also on a downward trend despite both failing to meet the criteria, according to Nishimura. "We will make a decision based on the whole picture by analyzing matters such as the percentage of cases with untraceable routes, clusters, and in-hospital infections," he said. Five new cases were confirmed in Kanagawa on Sunday, while Hokkaido confirmed 15 new cases, reporting double-digits for the first time since May 12. Chiba Prefecture has not reported any new infection cases for three days up to Sunday, while Saitama Prefecture has not reported any since last Tuesday. Earlier in the day, health minister Katsunobu Kato said Japanese medical institutions are seeing a lightening of their coronavirus caseload. "The number of new infections has been falling each day and that is also the case in areas under the state of emergency," Kato said, in reference to the five areas. "The tight medical situation has become more relaxed," he said on an NHK program. More than 13,000 people have been discharged from hospitals or have completed treatment for COVID-19, the pneumonia-like disease caused by the coronavirus, and over 2,000 patients are currently hospitalized, according to Kato. "About 15 percent of hospital beds secured (by the government) are being used in the country on average. The rate stands at 20 percent in Tokyo," said Kato, the minister of health, labor and welfare. With the number of infections seemingly past a peak, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ended the emergency over the virus in 42 prefectures. The emergency declaration requesting that citizens refrain from nonessential outings and that businesses suspend operations was expanded to cover the entire nation on April 16 and later extended to run until the end of May. Despite the emergency having been lifted in the vast majority of the country, infectious disease experts have been calling on the public to remain alert for a second wave of infections. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Franck Iovene and Alexandria Sage (Agence France-Presse) Rome, Italy Mon, May 25, 2020 07:01 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9e830e 2 Lifestyle Italy,restaurant,coronavirus,COVID-19,business,tourism Free The reopening of Italy's restaurants, cafes and stores earlier this week brought hopes of a return to normality for many Italians after a punishing two-month coronavirus lockdown. But the picture is not so bright. In a sign of further trouble ahead for Italy's economy, many of these establishments remain shut as insufficient funds, new sanitary rules or a lack of clientele represent serious brakes to reopening. "Were I to open tomorrow, I wouldn't have one client," said Pietro Lepore, owner of Harry's Bar on Rome's tony Via Veneto. "There are 12 luxury hotels on the street. Sixty percent of my business comes from their clientele and they're all closed," Lepore, whose 24 employees are all furloughed, told AFP. It is the same from Rome to Florence and Venice, where the spokeswoman for the city's shopkeepers' association, Cristina Giussani, mused whether cafes and restaurants should open "for seagulls and pigeons" given the utter lack of tourists. Italy's economy is highly dependent on tourism. The sector makes up 13 percent of the country's output while employing about 4.2 million Italians, or 15 percent of jobs in Italy. Some are counting on the reopening of Italy's borders to Europeans in early June as a crucial turning point. But many wonder whether tourists will feel comfortable enough to travel, or whether they'll have the money to do so. Italy's small and medium-sized business association, Confesercenti, found in a survey published on Saturday that nearly a third of the million establishments allowed to reopen on Monday said they would not. Read also: 'Here's your scan code for tonight': Italy eatery rips up paper menus 'Insurmountable problem' For 68 percent, reopening would not be profitable. Thirteen percent said they had health and safety concerns and an equal number said government directives were too vague. "For businesses, reopening is a race against time and obstacles," wrote the group, which called for "direct economic aid." "Entrepreneurs fear the impact of the rigidity of the guidelines on activities, and remaining squeezed between the increase in operating costs and the foreseeable drop in revenues," Confesercenti said. New regulations - which can result fines if not followed - are particularly hard to respect for smaller establishments, Confesercenti's Valerio Maccari said. "The typical Roman trattoria, for example, does not have much room and in this case ensuring physical distance becomes an insurmountable problem," he said. The rules include sanitary measures such as setting up tables with 1 meter of distance between them and twice-daily cleaning of the establishment, as well as masks and gloves for workers. But restaurants also have to contend with more paperwork, such as taking down names and phone numbers of customers for easier tracking in the case of an eventual coronavirus case. In Rome, restaurant owner Tatjana Pavelic said earlier this week she was opening just one of the four restaurants she operates along a usually busy street leading to the Pantheon. Tourists were nowhere to be seen, but her lunch traffic from local clients was also disrupted because of people still working from home, she said. Read also: Booking apps and electronic tags? Italy's beaches seek to salvage summer Bankrupt tomorrow? "We have so many clients who work in offices," said Pavelic. "And tourism hasn't started even for Italians." Pavelic said she had asked for a reduction on her rents, which are based on the amount of foot traffic, but was still awaiting an answer. Public anger is mounting. Throughout the capital, protest posters are seen in many shop windows: "Without government help, we can NOT reopen". In Milan on Saturday, small shop owners and taxi drivers held a protest, saying the government had offered no concrete measures to help them. Many are calling for a hiatus in taxes to help them get through the difficult period. "I'm not opening today to go bankrupt tomorrow," read some of their banners. "All of us here want to work," shouted one protester into a megaphone. "But we need support to do so." A survey by the Italian Federation of Public Establishments (Fipe) on April 4 found that 96 percent of bars, restaurants and similar businesses considered governmental support insufficient. They cited the need for immediate liquidity to cover the shortfalls in revenue, or credit with zero or subsidized interest, as well as the cancellation of taxes due. At the other end of the Italian boot, in Avola, Sicily, restaurant owner Gianpaolo Molisena has decided to remain closed for now, one of the approximately 5,000 such establishments keeping their doors shut in Sicily, a quarter of the total. Were he to reopen, it would cost Molisena "100 (euros) to collect 30," he said. The restaurant usually employs six people. "Besides, the spirit of the restaurant is not there, the charm of dining with friends ... is lost with all these rules," he said. "The customers feel under surveillance." WA Health Minister Roger Cook has clarified the states aim in its fight against COVID-19 is to suppress it with a vengeance and stop it from reaching the general public. His comments followed conflicting health advice between the federal and WA government on state border closures leading to speculation WA authorities were quietly trying to eliminate the virus. WA Health Minister Roger Cook says WA's plan is to "suppress COVID-19 was a vengeance". Credit:AAP Nationally, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stated the countrys strategy is to suppress and control coronavirus to ensure the health system can manage the intake of positive cases while allowing the economy to recover. WA's suppression of the virus to date has been so successful five out of the seven cases detected in May came from international travellers who had been staying in hotel quarantine while the other two had close contact with returned travellers, indicating there was little if any community spread. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 01:53:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Tung Chee-hwa, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said online here Monday that the national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) only targets heavy crimes and illegal activities, therefore people of Hong Kong can rest reassured. Tung pointed out that there are rumors and false claims about how Hong Kong will lose all "democracy and freedom" and its "status as an international financial center," and even about the death of "one country, two systems" once a national security law is enacted in Hong Kong. These claims are baseless and unfounded rumors intending to invoke panic and fear, he said. Tung reiterated that the important principles of establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR are clearly stated, including upholding "one country, two systems" and safeguarding the legal rights of Hong Kong residents. Tung emphasized that over the past 20-plus years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Hong Kong's way of life and its capitalist system have remained unchanged, with more freedoms than at any time in history. Public polls have shown that "one country, two systems" is widely supported by people of different social backgrounds and political views, he said. The national security legislation has undergone meticulous review and careful consideration, and it will not affect the freedoms of speech, press, and other freedoms guaranteed by the Basic Law, said Tung. Tung said the national security legislation for Hong Kong is necessary in three aspects. Firstly, the national security legislation is to safeguard national security. Tung said since the turmoil arising from the proposed amendments to the fugitive offenders ordinance began last year, some in Hong Kong have openly called for "independence" and "self-determination," colluded with foreign forces, and begged for foreign interference in the affairs of Hong Kong. What's more worrying is how some anti-China forces in the West have distorted the truth and openly supported anti-China radicals in Hong Kong, he said. Those people have only one real purpose: to contain China's peaceful rise, said Tung. "We can no longer tolerate how foreign forces have conspired with radicals in Hong Kong to put at risk China's sovereignty, its authority and the legitimacy of the Hong Kong Basic Law. Hong Kong has a constitutional duty to safeguard national security," Tung said. Secondly, the national security legislation is to ensure the stability of Hong Kong. Tung said for more than 20 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law has remained incomplete, making Hong Kong a weak link in national security and an easy target for hostile foreign opportunists to disrupt public order and jeopardize social and economic interests. In particular, the endless demonstrations and protests have led to a chaotic disruption in social order, a decline in consumption, a depressed market, and a recession, he said. Against this backdrop, politicians of the opposition continue to condone and prescribe illegal behavior, and even threaten to filibuster any government proposals and motions for public funding if their demands are not met, Tung said. "Are we willing to see a non-functioning legislature, a government that cannot govern effectively, a disorderly society, and a disintegrating Hong Kong that many people have once worked so hard to build up brick by brick?" he asked. Thirdly, the national security legislation is to ensure Hong Kong's peaceful way of life. Tung pointed out that in the past year, endless violent and illegal activities in the social unrest have made people live in fear, anxiety and frustration. For instance, on weekends, people have had to monitor traffic conditions and find out if roads are blocked or on fire, he said, adding that in public, people have had to speak carefully not to reveal their political stance. "I believe Hong Kong people are fed up," he said. At present, Hong Kong needs to come together with all the hearts and minds, instead of invoking fear, said Tung. The national security legislation for Hong Kong can effectively prevent, stop and penalize disruptive activities and help restore social order in Hong Kong, he added. "Only under a peaceful, stable and socially harmonious society can we live and work productively and be free to pursue our dreams in life!" said Tung. Tung pointed out that ensuring national security is not only a constitutional duty of the HKSAR government but also a civic duty of the Hong Kong community to commit to the responsibility, support the initiative and publicize its importance. Tung called for support for the proposal of national security legislation in Hong Kong, promote national security through education, and have full confidence in "one country, two systems." "China values and cherishes Hong Kong. Now is time for us to demonstrate our will to uphold 'one country, two systems," protect our national sovereignty, and contribute to Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperity. I'm sure people who love Hong Kong will live up to the expectation!" Tung said. Enditem Some keep their heads lowered. This is the first time they have asked for food. Others have been needing help for months, or even years. Just before midday, in Torremolinos, the queue of people, maintaining social distance, stretches for a kilometre, beyond the Plaza Costa del Sol. They are waiting to collect a bag containing two courses, a piece of fruit and a sandwich. Sometimes there are biscuits, milk or sweets, explains Daniela. She is from Ecuador, but has been in Spain for 13 years. She was working as a domestic cleaner, until the doors of the country closed to stop the coronavirus coming in. It is over two months since she has worked, 66 days with no income. She has applied for every type of benefit going. "All, all of them," she says. Now, she is waiting her turn, like a hundred other people, at the doors of the Emaus social kitchen, in Calle de la Cruz. Worst still to come The Local Police control this area to ensure there are no problems. The number of users has shot up to 260 in recent weeks. Before the crisis, there were 150. The situation is the same in the organisation's kitchens in Estepona, where they attend to 220 people, 130 more than before the pandemic, and Velez-Malaga, where they are providing 280 bags of food a day, 50 more than before. And the worst, they warn, is still to come. At the same time as the requests for help have increased, says Charo Abril, the secretary of Emaus, so have donations from individuals, local businesses and major supermarket chains as well. "They are really getting involved," she explained. The councils have also expanded the agreements they have with the association. What is most surprising is the number of people who are coming for food packs now, who have never been before. The crisis, following on from a major recession just over a decade later, has caught many families with no savings, unable to pay their bills. "Some people came after being laid off work, but when their payments started coming in they came back to thank us," says Charo. Reliant on tourism season Others, around 30,000 in Malaga province, have not received any payment yet. "We are also attending to people who were waiting for the peak season to begin because they were due to work in hotels and restaurants, but now they don't know what is going to happen," she says. Many of the people who have found themselves forced to turn to social services in recent weeks had never imagined themselves in this situation. Jose Antonio normally lives on what he earns between Easter and November, when the beach restaurant in which he works is open. Or, rather, used to work: "I have asked my parents for help, but there are three of us and two of us have no work or sign of getting any in the future," he says. He has learned not to feel ashamed, although he admits that the first few days he stood in the queue were difficult. "I know we aren't stealing anything from anybody, but you do feel a failure. You can't even feed your family," he says. And, choking up, "Please don't use my real name. Make one up instead". Manuel is also in the queue. He works in hotel administration and says he will never forget the first time he came to the canteen, either. "I used to see it when I passed by here, but I never thought I would end up coming in," he says. He has still not received his payments for the ERTE that his firm applied for several weeks ago. He lives with his partner, who had a seasonal job in a restaurant. Sometimes they take it in turn to queue for the food. "We get here around 11.30 and get home about 1 o'clock, but we are very grateful". They have never had to ask for food before. Although they try to live one day at a time, concern about their mortgage is keeping them awake at night. "We still have a lot to pay off and we don't have any savings". Social assistance The Spanish Red Cross, Cruz Roja, is now helping three times as many people as before in social assistance projects. So far they have provided 5,630 vouchers for shops selling basic products and over 5,000 bags of food. Samuel Linares, the provincial coordinator in Malaga, confirms that in recent weeks they have seen a "sudden increase in poverty", especially among people employed in the services sector. "We are experiencing a real situation of emergency ", he says. In addition to the people who already needed help before the crisis, those who had been dragged into a chronic spiral of poverty, there are now applications from workers who have no way of saving money. Aware that the solution lies in recovering employment, Cruz Roja has reinforced its work orientation initiatives. Marco learned about the programme for young people through his mother, who receives food packs "because we don't have enough to live on, otherwise". Now he is doing an English course and another in computer skills and this has also helped his self-esteem. "I didn't used to be very sociable and I was a bit isolated, but this wakes you up. You start to feel as if you are back in the circle, part of society again," he says. Linares says people need to abandon their prejudice about social services. "It is important that they stop seeing this assistance as something negative. These are resources which are available for anybody who needs them, just as if you are ill you go to the health centre," he insists. He hopes there will soon be a time when the economy starts to recover so these users will be able to benefit from their new-found skills to find a job. More than a quarter of people in Malaga who had a job in February are now unemployed or their contract has been suspended, a figure which means that thousands of families do not know how they are going to pay their bills. At the church of El Rocio in San Pedro Alcantara, Caritas attends to dozens of people every day who have never requested assistance before, nearly all them employed in the tourist industry. Sources at Cruz Roja quote another startling statistic: thousands of elderly people have spent more than two months on their own. "We are very worried about them," they say. They know that poverty, like the virus, affects the most vulnerable the most. US May Impose Sanctions on China Over Hong Kong By VOA News May 24, 2020 Washington may impose sanctions on China over a new proposed law on security in Hong Kong, White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said Sunday. "It looks like, with this national security law, they're going to basically take over Hong Kong," O'Brien said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "And if they do ... Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo will likely be unable to certify that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy and if that happens there will be sanctions that will be imposed on Hong Kong and China," he said. China Friday revealed its plan to bypass Hong Kong's legislature to impose a national security law on Hong Kong to prevent and punish acts of "secession, subversion or terrorism activities" that threaten national security. The move, which would also allow Chinese national security factions to set up agencies in Hong Kong, has been widely criticized around the world, with the U.S. threatening consequences for China. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over the last eight weeks, Phoebe Burgess has taken full advantage of her time in lockdown by serving up a multitude of fashion moments, cooking highlights and family snapshots to her adoring fans on social media. And although Phoebe routinely looked a million bucks doing so, it seems the 31-year-old was missing her glam squad. On Monday, that all changed for the former NRL WAG when she posted a new image of herself to Instagram with the caption, 'That time I rediscovered makeup and shampoo after an 8-week hiatus.' Fresh as a daisy: On Monday, Phoebe Burgess (pictured) said she's 'rediscovered makeup and shampoo after an eight-week hiatus' In the snapshot, which appeared to be taken on Wednesday, May 21, Phoebe looked every inch the cover girl in a wool and mohair ombre knit, which was woven in Nepal. Phoebe's blonde lob was rocking an always-fashionable tousled wave, while her makeup palette consisted of a dusty pink lip, rosy cheek and lashings of mascara. The Influencer's fashionable mates couldn't resist fawning over her post-Iso glamour look, and they flocked to comment accordingly. Model Erin McNaught kept things short and sweet with one solo fire emoji. As did Aussie It Girl Brooke Testoni, who showered Phoebe with two red love hearts. Back on form: The Influencer's fashionable mates couldn't resist fawning over her post-Iso glamour look, and they flocked to comment accordingly Feeling ho hum: Over the last eight weeks, Phoebe has taken full advantage of her time in lockdown by serving up a multitude of fashion moments, cooking highlights and family snapshots. But it seems the 31-year-old was missing her glam squad Meanwhile, hair and makeup artist to the stars Max May - who has been known to paint the visages of Roxy Jacenko and Jackie 'O' Henderson - said what he had to say with three lit bomb emojis. Last Wednesday, the former magazine journalist returned to work at her first photo shoot. Phoebe tagged vitamin company Ostelin, who she is an ambassador for, on the day. That jumper looks familiar: Last Wednesday, the former magazine journalist returned to work at her first photo shoot. She tagged vitamin company Ostelin on the day Since her divorce from former rugby league player Sam Burgess, Phoebe has been an in-demand influencer, spruiking items from the likes of L'Occitane, L'Oreal Paris, Aje, Witchery, Glasshouse Fragrances and The South Store. Phoebe and Sam share two children together, Poppy and Billy, They couple married in 2015 at her parents' country estate in Bowral, but separated in September last year. They finalised their divorce in April. Former President John Mahama has prayed that Allah protect Ghanaians from COVID-19 as Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr today, Sunday, 24 May 2020. We thank Allah for seeing us through Ramadan successfully. May Allah accept our fasting. We ask Allah to forgive us our sins and we pray to Allah to see us through to the next Ramadan, Mr Mahama said in a Facebook video to wish Muslims well. He advised Muslims to adhere to health protocols to help stop the coronavirus from spreading. He requested that: We ask Allah to grant us good health. May Allah accept our prayers. Eid al-Fitr also called the Festival of Breaking the Fast, is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. Traditionally, Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon. If the moon is not observed immediately after the 29th day of the previous lunar month (either because clouds block its view or because the western sky is still too bright when the moon sets), then the holiday is celebrated the following day. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one to three days, depending on the country. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns coupled with travel restrictions and social distancing norms have muted the Eid celebrations in Pakistan and Bangladesh as worshippers in the two Muslim-majority countries marked the end of Ramzan in strictly-regulated prayer congregations. A large number of people in the two countries were forced to stay indoors on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramzan, due to the fears of contracting the novel coronavirus which has killed nearly 3.5 lakh people and infected over 5.4 million across the world. In Pakistan, the government has issued strict instructions to observe social distancing while offering Eid prayers and asked people to avoid visiting relatives and hosting parties. As the railways remained closed, many people could not travel to their hometowns for the most important festival. Eid congregations were held at open places, mosques and Eidgahs in all major cities and towns while following strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) of social distancing and other precautionary measures. But in some areas, the people did not adhere to the SOPs and were seen thronging to their favourite shops to celebrate Eid. Pakistan Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Health Zafar Mirza on Friday said the deadly infection would continue to multiply if precautions are not taken. Earlier this month, the government announced the lifting of the countrywide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 in phases, even as infections continued to rise in the country. Pakistan's coronavirus cases on Monday reached 56,349 with 1,748 new patients while the death toll climbed to 1,167 after 34 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours. The trajectory showed that the number was steadily going up with authorities fearing a rise in cases in the wake of the easing of lockdown before Eid. But Prime Minister Imran Khan cited the economic havoc the virus restrictions had wreaked on citizens as the reason behind the decision to ease the restrictions. He urged Pakistanis to forgo the traditional Eid festivity in view of the hundreds of fatalities caused by the coronavirus and the lives lost in Friday's plane crash in Karachi. Ninety-seven people, including nine children, were killed and two passengers miraculously survived a fiery crash when a Pakistan International Airlines plane with 99 travellers on board plunged into a densely populated residential area near the Jinnah International Airport. Most of the victims were travelling home to celebrate Eid. In Bangladesh, millions of Muslims joined the strictly-regulated prayer congregations across the country. Thousands of worshippers attended the prayer services at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka while following the health and social distancing protocols to limit the spread of the coronavirus, bdnews24.com reported. Despite the government directive for children and senior citizens not to participate in Eid prayers, many children and people aged over 60 attended the Eid prayers. Although social distancing rules were maintained to a large extent, people were seen flouting the norms, the report said. As per the government order, no Eid congregation will be held in an open space, but people can perform the Eid prayers in mosques. However, everyone coming to the mosques for prayer must wear a mask, follow social distancing and other hygiene rules, said Islamic Foundation Secretary Kazi Nurul Islam. On Sunday, Bangladesh reported 28 new fatalities, the highest single-day increase, bringing the death toll to 480. The number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 33,610 after 1,532 people tested positive on Sunday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RAIL options are being considered to run alongside the Limerick to Cork motorway, it has emerged this afternoon. Limerick City and County Council, which is leading the 1bn scheme in partnership with Corks councils, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, says it has looked at rail-based options which would provide improved connectivity between Limerick and Cork. At present, passengers travelling by rail have to change at Limerick Junction to connect between Irelands second and third cities, with the time on the track often longer than by road. However, in a statement, council has revealed that it is looking at an additional area between Charleville and Limerick City to allow rail-based options, and other connectivity with proposed transport projects. This would allow any rail to connect with the Dublin-Cork line at Charleville, but would also mean extra land would need to be purchased to deliver the project. An additional area east of Adare is also being mooted to consider connectivity with the proposed Foynes to Limerick Road, including the Adare Bypass. The project team is identifying the key constraints, undertaking studies/ surveys and developing options within the Study Area. The Study Area boundary is indicative, and the project team may undertake some studies/ surveys beyond this boundary. The initial road and rail-based options will be developed and comparatively assessed to identify a shortlist of options. Once the shortlisted options have been identified, the project team will hold a public consultation event seeking the views of the public and other stakeholders. This is planned for later this year. The project team will engage directly with property owners, businesses, other stakeholders and the wider public to help inform and identify further information to assist with the subsequent identification of the preferred option. Following the public consultation, the shortlisted options will then be subject to further development and appraisal by the project team in relation to the project objectives to identify the preferred transport option for connecting Cork and Limerick. Public consultation forms a very important element in the appraisal of options. It will be comprehensive, and feedback and participation will be welcomed and valued by the project team. The public may submit their views, comments and queries to the project team by email at info@corklimerick.ie, telephone: 061 973730 or by post to N/M20 Project Office, Lissanalta House, Dooradoyle, Limerick V94 H5RR. Guwahati/Imphal/Agartala, May 25 : With 187 new patients detected on Monday, the single biggest jump in 24 hours, the number of Covid-19 positive cases in Assam mounted to 539, while after Sikkim, Nagaland reported its first coronavirus cases when three people, who returned from Chennai, testing positive. According to Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and health officials of other northeastern states, the return of 80,000 people from southern and western India back to the northeast has led to a steep rise in Covid-19 positive cases in the region, especially in Assam and Manipur. Sarma, in a series of tweets, said 90 per cent of the 539 Covid-19 patients in the state have been reported from the quarantine centres across the state's 33 districts. Of the 539 positive cases, 470 are active cases and 62 discharged from the hospital and four died and three migrated to other states. Meanwhile, with the resumption of operations of domestic passenger services after two months, several thousand people returned to Assam and Manipur on Monday. According to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials, eight flights arrived at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati from Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Imphal and these eight aircrafts departed with passengers subsequently. According to AAI Regional Executive Director (NER) except Guwahati and Imphal airports, no passenger flight landed at any other airport in the northeastern states on Monday as the Kolkata airport, hit by the cyclone Amphan last week, was shut till May 27. Besides Assam, the coronavirus infection increased in Manipur, which registered 34 new cases (all returned to the state from other states) in the past two weeks. The northeastern state had last month been officially declared as corona free state after its two patients recovered from the dreaded virus. In Tripura, with the four people, who recently came from Maharashtra, tested positive on Monday night, took the state's total Covid-19 positive cases to 198, including 161 Border Security Force personnel and their kin, with active cases count of 31. Meanwhile, the three-member central team, led by G.K. Medhi, Professor and Head of the Department of Community Medicine of the Shillong-based North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), after 11-day visit and studying the source and other aspects of the coronavirus infection among BSF troopers in Tripura, submitted their report to the state government. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Nouakchott, 24 May 2020 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali, received a congratulatory message from President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, H. E. Mohamed Ould Sheikh El-Ghazouani, on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. As the Islamic nation celebrates Eid al-Fitr, I would like to convey to Your Excellency my warmest congratulations and best wishes of well-being and happiness for you personally and progress and prosperity for your brotherly country, said President Ould El-Ghazouani. President Ould El-Ghazouani wished progress and prosperity for the two brotherly Mauritanian and Sahrawi peoples and all Arab and Islamic peoples. (SPS) 062/SPS Australia's Health Minister has argued debate about whether COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab justified the push for an independent inquiry into its causes. Greg Hunt doubled down on Australia's call for a coronavirus investigation after the Mail on Sunday revealed vaccine researchers found the pandemic virus was 'uniquely adapted to infect humans' and did not appear to be a typical animal-to-human infection. 'In terms of the origins of the virus, our best advice remains that it came from zoonotic or animal sources but this is precisely why, precisely why we argued for an impartial and independent and comprehensive international evaluation,' Mr Hunt said. Scroll down for video Mr Hunt doubled down on Australia's call for a coronavirus investigation after the Mail on Sunday revealed vaccine researchers found the pandemic virus was 'uniquely adapted to infect humans' and did not appear to be a typical animal-to-human infection. Pictured is the Wuhan Institute of Virology Professor Nikolai Petrovsky, a top vaccine researcher from Flinders University in Adelaide, said the virus was 'not typical of a normal zoonotic infection' since it appeared with the 'exceptional' ability to enter human bodies from the beginning. The professor of medicine is running a biotech research unit that will start human trials for a COVID-19 vaccine next month. 'I haven't seen a zoonotic virus that has behaved in this way before,' he told the Mail on Sunday. Professor Petrovsky said new viruses crossing over from animals normally strengthened as they adapted to human hosts, but for unexplained reasons, this new coronavirus seemed perfectly suited to infect humans without the need to evolve. China, Australia's biggest trading partner, is threatening economic retaliation after Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Foreign Minister Marise Payne succeeded in setting up a World Health Assembly investigation into the origins of coronavirus. The Global Times newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, said 'Australia may feel more pain than the US' if it sided with Washington instead of Beijing in any diplomatic or trade dispute. While Mr Hunt isn't suggesting COVID-19 came from a lab, his Coalition government colleague Nationals backbencher George Christensen in March suggested it may have originated at the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. He repeated a theory the South China University of Technology had published a report in February saying the virus may have originated in a research facility less than 300 metres from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. Australia's Health Minister Greg Hunt has argued debate about whether COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab justified the push for an independent inquiry into its causes 'Everybody is trying to poo poo that idea. There are a lot of questions about it. We need to get to the bottom of that,' Mr Christensen told Sydney radio 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones. Other theories suggest it came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Richard Ebright, one of the world's top biosecurity experts, told this newspaper the odds of this new virus containing such unusual features and occurring naturally were 'possible but improbable'. Ebright, professor of chemical biology at Rutgers University, in New Jersey, said scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were creating chimeric coronaviruses (new hybrid micro-organisms) and seeking funding to test their ability to infect human cells while using procedures that leave no sign of human manipulation. Asked about the chance of a leak, he replied: 'There definitely is a possibility. But there is no basis to say a high probability.' Richard Ebright, one of the world's top biosecurity experts, said scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured) were creating chimeric coronaviruses (new hybrid micro-organisms) and seeking funding to test their ability to infect human cells while using procedures that leave no sign of human manipulation The Mail on Sunday also revealed Michael Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, gave approval to this research lab in 2004 when he was French foreign minister, under a joint deal with the Chinese The Mail on Sunday also revealed Michael Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, gave approval to this research lab in 2004 when he was French foreign minister, under a joint deal with the Chinese. Jacques Chirac, the French president at the time of the deal, pushed for the Wuhan institute to be set up after the 2003 SARS outbreak, which affected 26 countries and resulted in more than 8,000 cases and 774 deaths. Mr Chirac, along with his pro-Beijing prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, promised French funding and expertise in return for a share of the intellectual copyright on the labs discoveries. The move came despite strong opposition from French diplomatic and security advisers, who argued that the Chinese reputation for poor bio-security could lead to a catastrophic leak. Last week, the World Health Assembly in Geneva formally adopted a resolution calling for an independent inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Australia's call was backed by the European Union. Samuel Beckett (Reg Lancaster/Getty Images) The other day while hanging around the house for a shipment of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc to arrive, I found myself starring in a California version of Waiting for Godot. A text message assured me that the delivery would happen on Friday. Friday came and went. No wine. Saturday the same thing, but another text assured me that my order would reach me by Monday without fail. Beyond my daily jog in the neighborhood at an ever-more torpid pace after weeks of quarantining with carbohydrates, I didn't have any place to go. But I was especially determined not to miss this rendezvous with the delivery person. All day I waited inside, ear cocked for the buzzer. Restless by the early evening and eager to go on my trot, I opened the front door only to find a missed delivery notice. But I was here the whole time! I wailed to an empty street. How can this be? Samuel Becketts absurdist classic is in two acts, and my drama was far from over. I called the misnamed express delivery service and was placed on hold. A half-hour later I hung up. A glass and a half into a Cabernet, I tried again and persisted until I reached someone. I think theres a problem with your delivery person," I breathlessly complained when my purgatory of on-hold music came to a halt. I was home all day, but the guy didnt buzz. He just left a sticker on my door. How am I supposed to know hes there? My mind-reading powers arent what they once were. Did I wish to file a report? Yes, if that would solve the problem of the drivers timidity with doorbells. My customer service apparatchik explained that the call was being recorded. After I deduced that he required my consent, he went on to inform me that no complaints were being accepted at this time. But then why did you ask if I wanted to file one? Logic was of no more use to me than it was to Vladimir and Estragon, the tramps in Becketts play unable to ascertain the reason their meeting with Godot has yet again been postponed. Communication, likewise, was an exercise in farcical futility. Yes, the call passed the time, but as Estragon reminds Vladimir, "it would have passed in any case." Story continues Alan Mandell, left, and Barry McGovern in "Waiting for Godot" in 2012 at the Mark Taper Forum. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times) With each passing year, my life seems to become more Beckettian. Growing older teaches the truth of the Irish playwrights dark comedy of the decaying human body, a vaudeville of swollen feet, blurry vision and mutinous digestion. The dream of progress, mordantly parodied in the plays by characters who have settled on endurance as their best option, is of course mercilessly tested in middle age. But the pandemic has revealed Beckett to be the true realist of 20th century theater. Stuck indoors with little to distract us from the bewilderment of our metaphysical predicament, we are like one of his immobilized characters, not scrunched into trash cans like Hamm's elderly parents in "Endgame" but confined all the same to a narrow loop of existence. In "The Theater and Its Double," the mad theater visionary Antonin Artaud startlingly compared the theater to a plague. Both, in his half-cracked, half-prophetic view, provide "a kind of strange sun, a light of abnormal intensity, in which to see not only our weaknesses and self-deceit but also our freedom and potential. The action of theater, like that of a plague," he writes, "... causes the mask to fall, reveals the lie, the slackness, baseness, and hypocrisy of our world. Charlotte Rae and James Greene in "Endgame" at the Kirk Douglas Theater in 2016. (Craig Schwartz) The theater of Beckett is a far cry from Artauds theater of cruelty, but the strange sun of his tragicomedies similarly lays bare what society and culture have assiduously worked to conceal. His playwriting ruthlessly strips away at everything that was mistakenly believed to be essential until what is finally exposed is being itself, raw and unadulterated. The stage is reduced to voices and light, bodies and the meagerest of belongings. Humanity is not costumed in its elaborate fictions but depicted as a slapstick version of that poor, bare, forked, animal that a rain-battered King Lear called man. Becketts characters are trapped in a predicament life that defies rational explanation. Language, which dangles the promise of communion with other consciousnesses, has a way of turning us into ventriloquist dummies. The search for meaning is a fool's errand in a world built on a teetering foundation. Dependency is simultaneously our cross and our salvation. We can't go on with other people; we can't go on without them. The writer J.M. Coetzee glimpsed the "plight of existential homelessness" in Beckett's work as a mind-body problem: "A being that thinks" is "linked somehow to an insentient carcass that it must carry around with it and be carried around in." The paradigmatic dramatic conflict in Beckett between a compulsively chattering inner voice and a body with its own burdensome demands is more apparent in times likes these when, removed from our busy routines, we find ourselves supine on our couches, pondering the mystery of life while plotting the next foray to the grocery store. Beckett's gallows humor, which finds endless mirth in the cosmic joke played on us at birth, can seem like sacrilege to true believers of the sacred myths. "Use your head, can't you, use your head, you're on earth, there's no cure for that!" Hamm insolently erupts at his binned father. Inverted piety is an inexhaustible source of laughter, but Beckett's predominant comic mode is savagely ironic. Recalcitrant truths of the human condition are juxtaposed against the sentimental bromides that would have us believe, as Winnie chirps from the mound in which she's inexplicably half-buried in Happy Days, "that not a day goes by to speak in the old style without some blessing. Dianne Wiest in the Yale Repertory Theatre production of Samuel Beckett's "Happy Days" that came to the Mark Taper Forum in 2019. (Joan Marcus / 2016 Joan Marcus) As movement creeps to a halt for Beckett's characters, they come to realize in their infirmity that there never really was any possibility of escape to begin with. "What a curse, mobility!" Winnie exclaims while observing her husband crawling around in his nearby hole. The remark might seem less outlandish the longer we are away from the exhausting frenzy of our pre-coronavirus routines. The static world of Beckett's plays invites us to move beyond the rushed pageantry of our lives to peer into the unyielding facts of our existence. For those averse to stark truths, this might seem like depressing material for the theater. But what could be more life-giving than the perfection of form achieved by Beckett in plays that are meticulously wrought by a theatrical composer whose unfailing ear for language is matched by an unerring eye for gesture. There's also the relief of confronting what is always there but rarely addressed with such comic vigor. Nietzsche, in examining the origins of Greek tragedy, asked "how much did this people have to suffer to be able to become so beautiful!" Staring into the abyss, the ancient tragedians created order and meaning through art. Beckett, casting his gaze into the same void, brought forth humorous enlightenment in works that give theatrical form to the playful ways we fill in the emptiness. Perhaps the most therapeutic hour I've spent since the pandemic upended our lives was listening to a BBC broadcast of Beckett's radio play "All That Fall" one unmotivated morning. In the laughter that poured out of me as Brid Brennan's peevish old Mrs. Rooney hectored her neighbors on the way to meet her husband at the train station, the gulf between our social certainties and our metaphysical bafflements became hilariously apparent. The effect was precisely the opposite of my experience with the delivery person: I felt seen. As social distancing has cast us in a Beckett tragicomedy all our own, there's a new resonance to Vladimir's remark to the young boy who arrives at the end of the play asking what message he should take back to the still absent Mr. Godot: "Tell him ... [He hesitates] ... tell him you saw me and that ... [He hesitates] ... that you saw me." Words fail Vladimir, but they don't elude Beckett, who gives expression to that nameless condition that has suddenly come more sharply into view. Kylie Jenner shared an image of herself and a heartfelt note on Memorial Day. On Monday the 22-year-old TV veteran and makeup mogul shared a very mature note to her 177M Instagram followers. The Kylie Cosmetics founder posted a pink message with the writing: 'Wishing everyone a safe Memorial Day!' The mother to Stormi Webster added a US flag then said: 'Let's honor the heroes who fought bravely and sacrificed their lives for our freedom. We are endlessly grateful.' Ready for the sun: Kylie Jenner shared an image of herself and a heartfelt note on Memorial Day. On Monday the 22-year-old TV veteran and makeup mogul shared a very mature note to her 177M Instagram followers And the Life Of Kylie star also treated fans to an image of herself in a bikini top and orange shorts. The sister of Kim and Khloe Kardashian has proved to be a very generous young woman as she has raised to the occasion during the pandemic. The Hidden Hills, California sent $1M toward relief and also made, along with Coty, hand sanitizer for hospital workers. Impressive: The Kylie Cosmetics founder posted a pink message with the writing: 'Wishing everyone a safe Memorial Day!' The mother to Stormi Webster added a US flag then said: 'Let's honor the heroes who fought bravely and sacrificed their lives for our freedom. We are endlessly grateful' Several other Hollywood stars took to social media on Monday to wish the world a Happy Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. This year is a little different for the country as beaches and parks are just starting to open after months of closures due to self-isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed nearly 100,000 lives in the US alone. Respectfully yours: Matthew McConaughey shared a heartfelt message to his Instagram followers. The Dallas Buyers Club actor tipped his hat while in a brown leather jacket. The Oscar-winning star said in his caption: 'Hand to heart hat's off' A note from his spouse too: And his wife Camila shared an image with Matthew and their three kids with the note: 'Five years ago I was grateful to receive my American citizenship and not a day goes by that I am proud to be a part of this country. For the soldiers and workers who have fought hard for our rights and freedom thank you, today and everyday. #MemorialDay' Matthew McConaughey shared a heartfelt message to his Instagram followers. The Dallas Buyers Club actor tipped his hat while in a brown leather jacket. The Oscar-winning star said in his caption: 'Hand to heart hat's off.' And his wife Camila shared an image with Matthew and their three kids with the note: 'Five years ago I was grateful to receive my American citizenship and not a day goes by that I am proud to be a part of this country. For the soldiers and workers who have fought hard for our rights and freedom thank you, today and everyday. #MemorialDay.' In the family: Katie Holmes posted an image of her grandfather. 'I honor my grandfather and all who serve and are so unselfish in their protection and love for the people of our country. Thank you. happy Memorial Day!' the mother to Suri Cruise said This comes after the couple donated 110,000 masks for hospitals in need. According to his Facebook post on Thursday night, the Texas-born actor and his wife put the masks in his truck to 'hit the road to get em to rural hospitals in need across Texas.' Katie Holmes posted an image of her grandfather. 'I honor my grandfather and all who serve and are so unselfish in their protection and love for the people of our country. Thank you. happy Memorial Day!' the mother to Suri Cruise said. Happy lady: January Jones of Mad Men fame was a breath of fresh air as he posed with a black hat and glasses as well as an off-the-shoulder top and leopard print bottoms From another actor: Actor Mark Wahlberg of shared an image of American flags in a cemetery. The 48-year-old Shooter actor said in his caption: 'Remember and honor our fallen heroes who gave their lives for our country. May you all rest in peace' An icon makes her mark: Michelle Pfeiffer of Scarface and Maleficent 2 fame shared this note that says 'honoring those who have sacrificed their lives, today and everyday' For the brave! Leah Remini of the movie Second Act said she wants to remember the fallen A beautiful post: Melissa Gorga of Real Housewives Of New Jersey said today was for 'everyone who died for our country' Fun in red: Blanca Blanco shared her post early on Monday as she was seen in a red bikini in her backyard while holding a hat. The Tale Of Tails actress added an American flag on her photo and said, 'Happy Memorial Day' Actor Mark Wahlberg of shared an image of American flags in a cemetery. The 48-year-old Shooter actor said in his caption: 'Remember and honor our fallen heroes who gave their lives for our country. May you all rest in peace. #MemorialDay #NeverForget.' Mark memorably played a soldier in Lone Survivor based on the book by Marcus Luttrell Patrick Robinson. Vanessa Lachey shared an image of her folks. 'Both of my parents were in the US Military. My dad and stepmom proudly served in the United States Air Force for decades. I know all to well what its like to lay awake praying for the safe return of your loved ones. 'I remember being scared every time the doorbell would ring when they were away, wondering if it was uniformed officers coming to tell us terrible news. I lived my entire childhood in fear. For her love ones: Vanessa Lachey shared an image of her parents with a sweet note A note for her folks: Priyanka Chopra brought up her parents who worked in the army in India 'At the same time, I grew up in a home that showed me how to Respect and Love ALL who serve our country. (Thank You Dad & Donna).' The wife of singer Nick Lachey also said: 'Today we honor all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives so that we can have ours. I thank God as often as I can for blessing me with this life. 'I know we often take it for granted, but if you can today, take a moment and remember... Happy Memorial Day. We will never forget YOU. Thank You.' A tribute: Kris Jenner shared an image of an American flag with 'remember our heroes' written in cursive over it. 'Today we remember and honor the heroes who gave their everything, paying the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms ,' said the mother of six In uniform: Kate Beckinsale posted an image from her 2001 movie Pearl Harbor January Jones of Mad Men fame was a breath of fresh air as he posed with a black hat and glasses as well as an off-the-shoulder top and leopard print bottoms. Michelle Pfeiffer of Scarface and Maleficent 2 fame shared a note that says 'honoring those who have sacrificed their lives, today and everyday.' Leah Remini of the movie Second Act with Jennifer Lopez said she wants to remember the fallen. Melissa Gorga of Real Housewives Of New Jersey said today was for 'everyone who died for our country.' So many flags: Reese Witherspoon shared images of US flags as she said, 'Remembering the brave servicemen and women who sacrificed everything to keep us safe. Your memory lives on forever' A touching note: Jada Pinkett Smith said 'In honor of Memorial Day and every Man and Woman who has served our country' From the Aussie: And Nicole Kidman said, 'To all those who have served' One from the Jersey Shore: Snooki posed with her two sons at home In her swimsuit: Desperate Housewives star was in her white once piece at home Reese Witherspoon shared images of US flags as she said, 'Remembering the brave servicemen and women who sacrificed everything to keep us safe. Your memory lives on forever.' Christina Anstead of Flip Or Flop posed in a black bikini with her little dog. And in her caption, the Orange County, California resident wished fans a happy Memorial Day. 'Taking a much needed digital detox. Going to enjoy the next 3 days being present for the kids and Ant and relaxing by the pool. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend everyone ,' said the TV wonder. From Orange County, California: Christina Anstead of Flip Or Flop posed in a black bikini with her little dog. And in her caption, the Orange County, California resident wished fans a happy Memorial Day Good cause: Leslie Jordan of Will & Grace fame was seen in a gray suit. 'On this Memorial Day let us remember that our freedom isnt free and, we should all be proud to be Americans. I am honored to be affiliated with the Boot Campaign, helping veterans and military families with wonderful programs. #LaceUpAMERICA,' he said Leslie Jordan of Will & Grace fame was seen in a gray suit. 'On this Memorial Day let us remember that our freedom isnt free and, we should all be proud to be Americans. I am honored to be affiliated with the Boot Campaign, helping veterans and military families with wonderful programs. #LaceUpAMERICA,' he said. Kris Jenner shared an image of an American flag with 'remember our heroes' written in cursive over it. 'Today we remember and honor the heroes who gave their everything, paying the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms ,' said the mother to Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Rob, Kendall and Kylie. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians producer added: 'Thank you!! Wishing everyone a safe and happy #MemorialDay.' Blanca Blanco shared her post early on Monday as she was seen in a red bikini in her backyard while holding a hat. The Tale Of Tails actress added an American flag on her photo and said, 'Happy Memorial Day.' And the brunette beauty's caption said: ;Have a safe memorial day and let's never forget our heroes #happymemorialday.' Be god: Vanessa Hudgens from Gigi and High School Musical fame was seen in a light blue bikini that matched the color of her swimming pool Proud to be an American: Country singer made a shout out for USAA She also said the fallen are 'never forgotten.' Vanessa Hudgens from Gigi and High School Musical fame was seen in a light blue bikini that matched the color of her swimming pool. She wishes her fans a safe and happy Memorial Day. The looker has been sharing several bikini snapshots much to the happiness of her millions of fans. Meanwhile, President Trump, Vice President Pence and Defense Secretary Mark Esper visited Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day on Monday. They paid their respects to the members of the U.S. military who died in service. The president and first lady Melania Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony. THE MILITIAS IN BRAZIL From Rio de Janeiro to the Alvorada Palace, let me help you understand how the current president of Brazil came to power. Brazils elite ROTAM police force is known for its military culture and hyper-violence. (Photo: Tyler Hicks) Even though you are not Brazilian, you have certainly heard about President Jair Messias Bolsonaro. From his terrible performance with the fires in the Amazon to the fight he had with the President of France, now Bolsonaro is giving classes on how not to proceed in the event of a public calamity. Brazil is now a COVID-19 hotspot, with 300,000 cases. With this in mind, the question that remains is: How did the Brazilian people choose Bolsonaro? To understand the current situation of Brazilian politics it is essential to understand its militias, who they are, and how they act in Brazil. However, before we start, it is worth thinking about how the Italian mafia operates. At some point in our lives, we watch movies or hear stories about the mafia. But glamour aside, they are stories of thieves who formed the institution itself; thefts, murders, kidnappings, and more are merely instruments for a great power game. Remember Don Corleone? Now without all the jazz and good bourbon of the 1950s, where romantic notions of the mafia lay, we jump back to Rio de Janeiro 2020. Wikipedia describes what a militia is nicely: the generic name of military or paramilitary organisations, or any organisation that has a high degree of performance. The term refers to organisations made up of ordinary armed citizens (nicknamed militiamen), or with police powers that, theoretically, are not part of the armed forces or police of a country. Since Machiavelli, we see passages in history books of paramilitary groups that use force and violence to coerce citizens. Simply put they are ex-military, police, or aspirants who use the practice of extortion in needy communities to achieve financial or political, power. Such groups survive on the financial resources derived from the extortion of the population and the clandestine exploitation of gas, cable television, slot machines, loan sharks, and illegal property sales, etc. With this picture painted of the militias in Brazil, lets unravel how they came to power and form part of the Brazilian presidency. In 1970, ex-soldiers began to be paid by the population of Rio das Pedras, Rio de Janeiro, and they got their recognition by ex-mayor Cesar Maia. Thus, deputies and militant councillors were elected by the population. It was not long before the Rio favelas (i.e. shantytowns) became a point of conflict between militia and drug dealers. Among these groups, a former military man who was expelled from the military for having bombed barracks in order to pressure his own military to increase his salary decided to run in the presidential election. And, with the political strength of the militias behind him, Bolsonaro was elected president. You may ask yourself: how does this interfere with my life? Brazil is one of the largest food exporters in the world. However, Brazilian foods today have a high-level of toxicity. Why? Because Bolsonaros reactionary regime has enacted mass deregulation. As a result, these militiamen, who form part of Bolsonaros government are allowing large corporations to indiscreetly spray pesticides that may cause harm. The whole world will recover from COVID-19, but Brazil today buries its dead in mass graves, because for the president it is just a little flu. Recently, former justice minister Sergio Moro handed in his resignation and presented evidence of corruption, money laundering, and the presidents interference in the investigation of the murder of Congresswoman Marielle Franco. Franco, a gay, black woman, and from the Mare favela complex, began to denounce the actions of militia groups within the favelas. She was brutally murdered in a crime that directly links the Bolsonaro family. We are still far from finding an answer to whoever killed Franco, but today, after the evidence presented by the former Minister of Justice, Brazil finds itself in a political crisis, as if the health crisis were not enough. To all workers around the world, unite! I am very proud to represent all the people who have ever served in any of the wars in our nation, Foye said. I also want to give a big, big thanks to all of the first responders working against COVID-19 at this time. Together, we will defeat this war as well." Amid the coronavirus pandemic, oil demand has plummeted over the last few months but Russias oil minister sees the global supply and demand situation rebalancing within two months, according to RIA sources, cited by Reuters. Russias Energy Ministry expects oil demand to improve in May, and notes that we are already seeing major shifts to global oil supplies, with production cutseither purposefully or otherwiserising to nearly 15 million barrels per day. The global surplus, the energy ministry says, is between 7 million and 12 million barrels per day. Reuters sources have indicated that OPEC+ wants to keep the existing production cuts beyond the current June expiry in order to rebalance the market. Saudi Arabia and Iraqtwo of OPECs largest oil producers, have reaffirmed their commitment to rebalance the oil markets. Saudi Arabia has pledged to cut an additional 1 million bpd on top of its existing quota. Iraq, however, may find it difficult to achieve its promised targets. The news that the Russian energy ministry sees the market rebalancing by July comes at the same time when Russia is considering banning all oil products imports, in a move designed to protect its oil refining industry at a time of decreased demand. Russia has agreed to cut its oil production to 8.5 million bpd throughout the duration of the OPEC+ cuts. Normally, Russias adherence to its stated oil production quotas have been subpar, but this time, a lack of demand for crude has spurred the country into swift action. The IEA last week said that it saw signs that the oil market would come into balance quicker than originally thought, after the United States and OPEC brought their production lowerand lower more quicklythan most had anticipated. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The illegal wildlife trade is one of the highest value illicit trade sectors globally, threatening both human well-being and biodiversity. A prominent example is ivory poaching, leading to an estimated 30% decline in African elephant populations between 2007 and 2014 and costing African states an estimated US$25 million annually in lost tourism revenues. Rangers are the foundation of action to combat poaching, a job that is incredibly challenging. A recent survey of 7100 rangers across 28 countries showed 50% lack access to clean water, 34% contracted malaria in the preceding year, only 18% are able to live with their families, and 81% believe their jobs are dangerous. Globally and daily, hundreds of thousands of wildlife rangers patrol wide areas, encountering all manner of plants, animals and signs of poaching like bushmeat snares or elephant carcasses. The data rangers collect, and their intimate knowledge of the protected areas they patrol, constitute a treasure trove of valuable information that can guide the management of biodiversity. In our recently published analysis , we collaborated with scientists from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to predict hotspots of elephant poaching in the Zambezi Valley. The real champions, however, were the rangers who both collected the data on which our analysis was based and helped us build our statistical models. Three rangers working in the Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. Our work shows that rangers are far more than the people who take on poachers at the frontline of conservation; they are also ecologists with a deep understanding of the areas they patrol. Timothy Kuiper (used with permission of each ranger) The experience underscored for us that statistical models and the knowledge of on-the-ground practitioners are valuable and complementary sources of evidence for biodiversity conservation. Each one alone tells only part of the story. Elephant poachers target waterholes Our study area, Chewore Safari Area, is part of the Mana-Sapi-Chewore World Heritage Site in Zimbabwe. Between 2000 and 2017, rangers recorded 201 dead poached elephants in Chewore. We wanted to see whether poaching hotspots existed and if so, which areas of the park were most vulnerable. To answer this question, you can't just look at where elephant carcasses are found because not every carcass is detected. Carcasses can only be found, by definition, where rangers have patrolled, which might depend on how difficult the terrain is. We corrected the data set of ranger observations to take these biasing factors into account. Our main finding was that poaching was most likely near permanent water sources, where elephants could predictably be found by poachers. As one ranger said: Poachers don't go where there are no animals. Elephants don't move very far from water. It's perhaps unsurprising that poaching is most likely where target species are most abundant. Similar results have been found for elephant poaching in Tanzania and large animal poaching in Uganda. . By targeting sites of high elephant abundance, poachers are able to maximise success while minimising the time and resources spent in the park, thus reducing the chances of being found by rangers. Most other spatial predictors (like tree cover and distance to community land) had only weak predictive power. This suggests that poaching is somewhat random across space, making it difficult to know where poachers might target next. Our results help reveal how poachers operate, and may guide future patrols to deter them. Our predictions are all the more interesting because rangers in our study area already do routinely patrol near waterholes. Yet the data still show that poachers routinely kill elephants in such areas. This may reflect low manpower: rangers can't be everywhere all the time. Knowing which exact waterhole poachers might target next is a bit of a gamble. Over and above these immediate results, we believe that the real value of our research lies in what it has taught us about the deep knowledge which rangers have of their areas, the wildlife within them, and how poachers work. Rangers as scientists: helping build and critique statistical models We used various statistical bias-correction methods to try and tease apart real poaching patterns from those driven by ranger patrol bias. This is where engaging rangers as participatory modellers was crucial. Before building our models, we individually interviewed several rangers and protected area managers to help us better understand the behaviour of three key agents: poachers, elephants, and the rangers themselves. This helped us select sensible variables to include in our models (like distance to water or to the community lands), and appropriate bias-correction methods. But the various methods we tested produced model scenarios with quite different results: how were we to know which ones were closest to the truth? Wildlife rangers discussing the results of our elephant poaching models at a ranger station in the Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. Timothy Kuiper and used with permission of the rangers. Ranger insights really shone when we re-visited Chewore after running our models and asked rangers to interrogate the results. We conducted two focus groups with 7-8 rangers each, presenting graphs of key model predictions and asking rangers to give us their thoughts . It emerged after lively discussion that some model scenarios produced results that simply didn't make sense in light of what the rangers knew. This forced us to reflect on our models and ultimately led us to recognise the poor assumptions we made in one of our bias-correction scenarios. This also meant that we were more confident with our final predictions. Going forward People's experiences and observations might be subjective, while statistical models might be based on poor assumptions. We advocate combining these diverse sources of insight to produce more reliable knowledge in the face of uncertainty. More importantly, our work demonstrates the value of meaningfully engaging rangers in conceptualising and tackling conservation problems, rather than seeing them as passive nodes through which conservation strategies are enacted. Our work shows that rangers are far more than the people who take on poachers at the frontline of conservation; they are also ecologists with a deep understanding of the areas they patrol. Timothy Kuiper receives funding from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission E.J. Milner-Gulland is a Trustee of WWF-UK and a member of IUCN-SSC. She was a member of the CITES Technical Advisory Group on Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants until 2019. By Timothy Kuiper, PhD Researcher: Wildlife Conservation Science, University of Oxford And Eleanor Jane Milner-Gulland, Tasso Leventis Professor of Biodiversity, University of Oxford A less buttoned-up approach to outdoor dining in London could be one of the few pluses that emerges from the rubble of the coronavirus pandemic. The ability to eat or drink outside is still one of the great points of difference between Paris and London two great cities with almost identical climates. While it is possible to wander round the centre of French capital and stop for an al fresco petit cafe, glass of kir, or a bowl of moules mariniere at virtually every street corner, no such freedom exists over here. One look at the Kafkaesque rules governing applications for outdoor dining in Westminster the 36 page long tome Guidelines for the placing of tables and chairs on the Highway: Supplementary Planning Guidance tells you all you need to know. As well as a planning application and a licence application, an operator has to provide eight copies of a detailed plan of the site, manufacturers details of the furniture to be used, and much more besides. No wonder there are still so few places to sit and watch the world go by in the West End. If the Government looks kindly on The Piano Works founder Alan Lorrimers proposal for a UK Grand Outdoor Summer Cafe, all that bureaucracy would be binned for one summer at least. Of course there would have to be some controls. Maintaining safe access for disabled people would have to be a priority. But for the first time Londoners would be able to drink and dine in large numbers in large parts of the capital where the car has been king for far too long. The plan is for a temporary relaxation until September. But if the measure is a success it could herald a new era for London when it is as easy to find an outdoor table in Soho or Mayfair as it is on the pavements of St Germain or Le Marais. The U.S. will require that all Chinese airlines flying between the two countries to submit their plans at least 30 days in advance of actual flights, a move that one observer said could be aimed at pressuring Beijing to allow American carriers to resume flights to China. U.S. airlines voluntarily stopped flying to China in early February as the countrys Covid-19 was starting to crest. Caixin has learned that of the three main American carriers flying between the two countries, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines, applied as early as April to resume some of their flights. But they have been precluded from doing so by a Chinese policy freezing service between the country and rest of the world at levels as of mid-March. In issuing a new order related to the matter on Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) expressly said it was taking steps in response to the failure of the government of the Peoples Republic of China (China) to permit U.S. carriers to exercise the full extent of their bilateral right to conduct scheduled passenger air services to China. The DOTs steps included requiring seven Chinese carriers to file their existing flight schedules with the department by Wednesday. It also said the seven would be required to file their flight plans with the department at least 30 days in advance. The seven carriers include Chinas three major state-owned carriers, Air China, China Eastern and China Southern; as well as the smaller Hainan Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. A person at the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Chinas aviation regulator, told Caixin that the 30-day advance notice requirement could mean the earliest future flights that would meet that rule would be those set for the end of June. Accordingly, flights currently scheduled between Thursday and the end of June might have to be grounded if the two sides cant resolve their impasse on the resumption of flights by U.S. carriers between the two countries, the source said. The conditions that prevent U.S. carriers from resuming flights to China are contained in an order called the Five-One policy, which was rolled out by the CAAC on March 29. That order limited all domestic airlines to one international flight per week to any other country. Similarly it said that any foreign carrier could only operate one flight into China each week. That policy, which was extended on May 20, also froze the number of flights that any airline could operate into China at no more than the level of service they were offering as of March 12. That condition effectively precluded all U.S. carriers and those from many other countries from restoring flights since they had canceled all their flights to China as of that date. A source close to the CAAC said the agencys determination to stick to the Five-One plan was aimed at preventing a resurgence in Covid-19 cases from people coming into the country. The DOT said it was told in a May 14 call that the CAAC was considering removing the condition that denied airlines permission to fly to China if they had no flights as of March 12. But the Chinese agency intends to keep the condition limiting each foreign airline to one flight into China each week, the department added. In the beginning of January before the Covid-19 pandemic, there were 325 scheduled flights each week between China and the U.S. But by the middle of February, only four Chinese airlines were operating 20 flights between the two countries weekly. They had raised that to 34 weekly flights by mid-March. Under the CAACs heavy restrictions, the broader number of weekly international flights into China dropped 90% to around 133, according to a Caixin calculations. The number of inbound travelers slid by 80% from 25,000 to 5,000 a day, according to caacnews.com, a news service affiliated with the CAAC. Other foreign carriers that stopped flying to China, such as Lufthansa and Finnair, have also applied to resume some flights in June. But representatives from both said they are still awaiting approval for such resumptions. Han Wei contributed to this story Contact reporter Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com) Wild Humpback Dolphin Brings Gifts of Coral From Ocean Floor to Visitors in Australia The content is not available due to expiration. Pretoria (South Africa) 25 May 2020 (SPS)- The Chairperson of the African Union, President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, affirmed AUs firm position towards the right of Saharawi people to freedom, in his speech Today on the occasion of Africa Day. As Africans we will continue to stand on the side of justice and support the people of the Western Sahara in their enduring struggle for freedom and self-determination, AU Chairperson stressed. He further recalled that Africa has known much turmoil and hardship throughout history. We have endured the worst excesses of humankind, from slavery to colonialism, to apartheid, and to prolonged military conflict. Yet, he adds: Just as our ancestors were able to overcome the horrors of their time, so too will our faith, courage and resilience as Africans see us through this time of difficulty. The Chairperson of the AU insisted on the renewal of the Pan African organisations position towards the right of the people of Western Sahara to freedom and independence, in a period where the Moroccan occupying power is trying by all means to jeopardize the AU and UN efforts aimed at resolving this last case of decolonisation in Africa. (SPS) 090/500/60 (SPS) Miao embroidery, a traditional stitchwork skill of Chinas Miao ethnic group, is now creating over half a million jobs in southwest Chinas Guizhou province. Arduous poverty alleviation efforts have been made in my hometown in recent years. The people there are gaining a sense of happiness, from infrastructure construction to rising entrepreneurship, and to the development of the Miao embroidery. The improved infrastructure facilities are giving cities completely new looks, and the prospering ethic culture industry is also paving the way toward a better life. The above remarks were made by Shi Liping, a deputy to the 13th National Peoples Congress (NPC), and head of Fanjingshan Ethnic Miao Travel Product Development Co. Ltd. based in Songtao Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou during an interview. In a traditional Miao ethnic costume, Shi received interview from journalists, sharing the stories of poverty alleviation driven by Miao embroidery in her hometown. Miao embroidery is a stitchwork skill inherited by Miao ethic group. Normally the stitchwork is embroidered in five colors and different patterns. It is of strong local features and artistic appeal. However, Miao embroidery was produced by only a small number of local people in home-based workshops, so both the production and sales were limited. As the 7th generation of inheritor of the traditional skill, Shi has always been exploring the methods to develop, carry on and exploit the Miao embroidery. She took 8 years since 2000 and traveled over 15,000 kilometers just to collect historical materials of the Miao embroidery, and finally established an embroidery team consisting three masters at the end of 2008. Now, the team of three has been expanded to a large group of over 4,000 members, including laid-off female workers, left-behind women and migrant workers returning home. The costume Shi wore during the interview was produced by her own brand. It integrated traditional Miao ethnic pattern pigeon flower with traditional Miao culture and modern fashion. Shis costumes are now exported to 67 countries and regions. I believe exploitation is the best development and the best inheritance. After training, my employees acquired a skill and became well-off, Shi noted. Miao embroidery is not exclusive to women. During the interview, Shi introduced a male embroidery master named Yang Guangrong whos lower body is paralyzed due to an accident years ago. He joined Shis embroidery group in 2017 and became a male embroidery master. Shi introduced that under the leadership of the Party and government, a total of 1.88 impoverished people in Guizhou have relocated to townships from inhospitable areas. I established 100 poverty-alleviation workshops in the relocation sites, and achieved a turnover of over 60 million yuan, which created more than 4,000 jobs for the relocated. Miao embroidery has created half a million jobs for Guizhous women, she said. Im a spokesperson for Miao embroidery, and I sincerely invite you to visit our colorful Guizhou, experience the charm of our culture, and share the joy of poverty alleviation. The Road to 270 is a weekly column leading up to the presidential election. Each installment is dedicated to understanding one states political landscape and how that might influence which party will win its electoral votes in 2020. Well do these roughly in order of expected competitiveness, moving toward the most intensely contested battlegrounds as election day nears. The Road to 270 will be published every Monday. The column is written by Drew Savicki, a 270toWin elections and politics contributor. Contact Drew via email or on Twitter @DrewSav. After receiving the 1980 Republican nomination for president, Gov. Ronald Reagan headed down to the Neshoba County Fair, in Mississippi. In his first post-convention speech as the partys nominee, Reagan emphasized support for states' rights. The significance of the location was not lost on political observers: in Philadelphia, just a few miles away, three civil rights activists were murdered in 1964. While Reagans supporters saw the cause of states' rights as fitting into a larger message of economic freedom, critics accused him of pandering to southern conservative whites. Either way, Mississippi, once part of the Democratic Solid South -- Franklin Roosevelt never received less than 93% of its votes -- seemed like prime territory for Reagan. Whites there had been drifting Republican as the national Democratic Party became more liberal. With its 6 Electoral Votes, Mississippi is a firmly red state today. The rise of the Mississippi Republican The decade before Reagans speech marked a period of change in Mississippi. In 1972, President Nixon carried the state in a landslide, and swept in two Republican congressmen on his coattails: Thad Cochran and Trent Lott. Both would go on to become enormously influential in state and national politics. Cochran and Lott's victories marked the first time since Reconstruction that Republicans had more than one member in the congressional delegation. In 1978, after three terms in the House, Cochran ran for the Senate seat being vacated by longtime Senator Jim Eastland (D). Eastland, a conservative Democrat, was known for his steadfast support of segregation. Cochrans election to the Senate was the first time the state had popularly elected a Republican since the enactment of the 17th Amendment, which went into effect in 1914. Ideologically, Cochran was conservative, but in terms of his political style, he was described by the 1982 edition of the Almanac of American Politics as "closer to Majority Leader Howard Baker" -- in other words, gentlemanly and congenial. That 1978 Senate election was an interesting contest. Cochran, who at the time represented the Jackson area in the House, faced former Marion County District Attorney Maurice Dantin (D), and independent candidate, Charles Evers, the mayor of Fayette. Evers, who is African-American, split the Black vote with Dantin, which allowed Cochran to win with a 45% plurality. In the Senate, Cochran established himself as a master appropriator known for his ability to steer federal funding to his home state. He rose in seniority over the years, eventually chairing two committees during his time in the Senate. From 2003-2005, Cochran chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee, a position of great importance to his rural and farm heavy state. From 2005-2007, and again from 2015-2018, Cochran chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee. A soft spoken man, he earned himself the nickname the "Quiet Persuader." In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and when it came time for Congress to put together a relief bill, the Louisiana congressional delegation asked for a $250 billion relief bill. Their effort was unsuccessful but Cochran put his foot down and secured $29 billion in relief funds for the storm stricken communities along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. In the twilight years of his career, Cochran began to draw attention from the right. When he was up for reelection in 2014, he faced a strong primary challenge from State Senator Chris McDaniel. McDaniel, a Tea Party-style Republican was an opponent unlike anyone Cochran had ever faced. The quiet gentleman Cochran vs the brash, fiery partisan Chris McDaniel reflected the divide among the state's Republicans. Whereas Cochran represented the traditional Mississippi Republican, McDaniel represented where the party was going. In the primary, McDaniel placed first, but with less than 50%. To win his runoff, Cochran made an unusual decision for a Republican, especially a southern one: he courted the black vote. Although a reliably Democratic voting bloc, African-Americans make up nearly 40% of the state. With no party registration in Mississippi, any eligible voter who did not cast a ballot in that year's Democratic Primary (which was uncontested) was eligible to vote in the Republican runoff. Cochran's gambit paid off in a big way. He carried the black-majority 2nd Congressional District by a lopsided 27 point margin. Being the most Democratic district in the state, the 2nd District naturally casts the fewest votes in Republican primaries, but that kind of margin proved decisive for Cochran -- he won the runoff 51%-49%. Citing his health, Cochran announced he would be resigning from the Senate in 2018 -- he died in May 2019, at age 81. Cochrans resignation triggered a 2018 special election, which was concurrent with the regular election for state's other Senate seat, held by Roger Wicker (R). GOP Governor Phil Bryant appointed then-state Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) to Cochran's seat. Originally elected to the State Senate as a Democrat, she switched to the GOP in 2010. In 2011, she was elected Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce and was easily reelected in 2015. Hyde-Smith stood for the Senate special election, and had the full support of the party establishment, including Cochran himself and President Trump. McDaniel ran in that race too, but was not much of a factor. For special elections, Mississippi borrows from its western neighbor, Louisiana, and uses a 'jungle primary' system: all candidates run on the same ballot, though with no party labels. Democrats rallied around former Agriculture Secretary and Congressman Mike Espy, though Republicans were quick to attack Espy over ethics issues that led to his resignation as President Clinton's Agriculture Secretary. Hyde-Smith had a number of gaffes during the campaign, such as insensitive remarks regarding lynchings. With the lean of the state on her side, Hyde-Smith won the runoff, but Espys 46% share was better than what other recent Mississippi Democrats got. The two will have a rematch in November. Geography Mississippi's four congressional districts represent the state's geography well. MS-1: Northeast Mississippi. The 1st District includes the northeastern portion of the state as well as the Memphis suburbs. This is the most ancestrally Democratic of the four districts. Even in his 1980 loss, President Carter took 60% in some counties here -- by 2016, Hillary Clinton was struggling to crack 20% of the vote in many of them. This district was the birthplace of a number of the state's most influential figures ranging from Thad Cochran to Elvis Presley. One of its main cities, Oxford, houses the University of Mississippi - "Ole Miss" as it is commonly known. MS-2: Western Mississippi: This district encompasses the Mississippi River Delta Region, home to the majority of the state's African-American population. Although this district looks rural, the bulk of the population is in Jackson. Given its demographics, this is the only district that votes Democratic. MS-3: Central Mississippi and Southwestern Mississippi: This mostly rural district covers mostly rural white counties, the wealthy white Jackson suburbs, and a few small majority Black counties. MS-4: Southern Mississippi: Roughly divided between urban and rural population, this district includes the Pine Belt and the Gulf Coast region. The northern half of the district is quite rural and heavily forested while the southern portion is home to a number of the state's larger cities such as Biloxi and Gulfport. Congressional politics Owing to the state's red lean, Mississippi's congressional delegation is overwhelmingly Republican. Since 2011, the lone Democrat in the state's delegation has been 2nd District Rep. Bennie Thompson, a longtime figure in the African-American community in Mississippi. One of the most senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Thompson was elected to the House in a 1993 special election to succeed Espy. Espy had resigned to lead the Department of Agriculture, under the Clinton Administration. With Democrats in the majority, Thompson is once again Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. Immigration is a touchy subject in Mississippi, given its large agricultural industry and that industry's reliance on undocumented immigrants as workers. With Democrats in control of the House, the Magnolia State's 3-1 Republican House delegation carries little sway. In some ways, Bennie Thompson is a Democratic equivalent to Thad Cochran. Cochran was a Republican who could court black voters while Thompson is a rare southern Democrat who has strong appeal with black voters and can also peel off a non-trivial number of conservative whites. According to the Almanac of American Politics, Espy had similar appeal with the district's white voters -- his 1988 race, Espy carried more than 1/3 of white vote (impressive by Deep South standards). Bennie Thompson shares this distinction with a few southern members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Thompson outran Obama by five points in 2008 and really improved over Obama in the areas with the highest number of white voters. A native of Hinds County, Thompson outran Obama in the white suburbs of Jackson but fared less well in Jackson proper. He also demonstrated great appeal with the district's large number of rural voters, particularly with the white voters. The Magnolia's State senior Senator is Republican Roger Wicker. An appropriator like Cochran, Wicker represented the state's 1st District in the House from 1995-2007. When former Majority Leader Trent Lott resigned from the Senate in 2007, then-Gov. Haley Barbour (R) appointed Wicker to the Senate. Democrat Travis Childers flipped Wicker's old House seat in a May 2008 special election and won a full term in the fall of that year -- in 2010, the seat fell back into GOP hands. In the Senate, Wicker is generally regarded as an establishment conservative who usually supports the majority's agenda. Wicker has however bucked the party in relation to the President use of a National Emergency Declaration that essentially bypasses the appropriations process and funds construction of his border wall. The state's population shifts since 2010 pose an interesting problem for redistricting. In terms of partisanship, there will likely be no changes to the delegation's partisan composition. The state's majority-black 2nd Congressional District is protected under the Voting Rights Act. The Delta region's significant population loss over the course of the last decade could make redistricting a bit difficult. Other than that though, redistricting will be largely uneventful. State level politics Until 2019, Mississippi generally lagged behind the national urban/rural realignment at the state level. White Democrats held some deep red districts in both chambers of the legislature. Democrats also held the state Attorney General's office from 1878 until January of this year. A.G. Jim Hood opted to run for Governor in 2019 rather than reelection -- Hood lost that race 52%-47% and the GOP, predictably, picked up his old office. At the local levels, Democrats continue to hold many local offices in otherwise deep red counties. The Magnolia State is known for its quirky state-level electoral college. A remnant of the Jim Crow era, Mississippi law has an unusual requirement if no statewide candidate receives a majority of the vote. If thats the case, the leading candidate must win a majority of the state house districts or the election is decided by the State House, much like the federal Electoral College. Even in his near 11 point win in 2015, Jim Hood still failed to carry a majority of state house districts. Presidential outlook At the presidential level, Mississippi is solidly red and highly inelastic: blacks routinely give Democrats 90% of the vote, while white voters are almost as loyal to Republicans. With that, political analysts characterize Mississippi as a high floor, low ceiling state for Democrats -- Democrats can easily get 40% of the vote (slightly higher than black percentage share of the overall population), but getting much past that is a challenge. Indeed, no Republican nominee has won the state with more than 60% of the vote since Ronald Reagan, in 1984. Since 2000, the Republican win margin has ranged from 11.5% to about 20%. This year's election result is likely to be in that range. In 2012, Mississippi was just one of six states where President Obama improved from his 2008 performance, even though he slid nationally. Obama, as the first black president, inspired strong turnout with that group while Mitt Romney -- a wealthy, technocratic Mormon was a poor fit for working class whites in the state. Obama took 44% in Mississippi that year, but in 2016, Hillary Clinton couldnt match his enthusiasm with blacks and faced an opponent better suited for the state -- she fell to 40%. If Biden is polling closer to Obamas 44% than Clintons 40%, it may be a sign of his strength with black voters. Otherwise, the only interesting things to watch are whether Joe Biden can win back the four Obama/Trump counties (Benton, Chickasaw, Panola, and Warren) and whether he can make any significant inroads in the state's few suburban counties. Next Week: Washington The Samsung Galaxy Note 20+ has just surfaced, following the Galaxy Note 20. The Galaxy Note 20+ appeared in CAD-based renders, and those renders come from the same source as the Galaxy Note 20 ones, Pigtou and OnLeaks. If you take a look at the provided images, youll see that the Galaxy Note 20+ will resemble last years Note devices, to a degree. It will also resemble the Galaxy Note 20 from the front, while it will include a different rear camera setup. These renders show that the Galaxy Note 20+ will have sharp corners, and slightly curved display The device has rather sharp corners, and its bottom and top sides are completely flat. The device will include a curved display, but that curve will not be excessive. Advertisement Samsung toned down the curvature of the Galaxy S20 series displays, and it will continue that trend with the Galaxy Note 20+, it seems. The phones bezels will be extremely thin, as you can see here. The Galaxy Note 20+ renders reveal that the device will include a display camera hole. That hole will be centered, and the devices physical keys will be placed on the right. The volume up and down buttons will be placed above the power / lock key. The phone will include an in-display fingerprint scanner, by the way. Samsungs branding is visible on the back of the device. The design of this phone is symmetrical, as you can see. Advertisement The rear camera module will be placed in the top-left corner. Four cameras will be included in that camera module, including a periscope-style one. The phones LED flash will also be placed inside of that camera module. That module will protrude on the back, by the way, quite a bit. The phone will probably be made out of metal and glass or metal and ceramic. Well have to wait and see. The Galaxy Note 10 devices were made out of metal and glass. The same goes for the Galaxy S20 and S20+. The Galaxy S20 Ultra, on the other hand, included ceramic in its build. Advertisement The phone will feature a 6.9-inch display The source also reveals that the device will include a 6.9-inch curved display. The S Pen stylus will be placed at the bottom of the device, on the left side, this time around. You can also see a Type-C port down there, along with the main speaker and a microphone. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20+ will become official alongside the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Fold 2. Those three devices are expected to launch in August. Samsung is said to be preparing for an online-only event this time around. That will happen due to the current health crisis in the world, the company doesnt want to risk anything. We still dont know when exactly will these devices launch, but you can expect them to arrive at some point in August. Residents of Rajasthans Jaipur woke up to locusts flying over the city sky on Monday even as officials of the agriculture department said the swarm over the city was on its way to Dausa. More than half of Rajasthans 33 districts are affected by invasion by these crop-munching insects. Officials said the swarm that flew over Jaipur city came from Nagaur. It settled in Sarna Chod and Sanchoti villages in Sanganer tehsil on Sunday night. We were able to control around 30% of the 5km-by-1.5km swarm, BR Kadwa, deputy director of the agriculture department in Jaipur, said. The remaining insects came to Jaipur city on Monday morning, making people wonder how locusts, which are traditionally known to be attacking western Rajasthan districts bordering Pakistan, could come to the state capital. Locals circulated videos and photos of locust swarms on WhatsApp groups. The swarm, Kadwa said, came from Deedwana in Nagaur and entered Jaipur through Kishangarh Renwal and Jobner. We carried out the control operations in Jhotwara panchayat samiti area on Saturday night. Then it flew to Vidhyadhar Nagar and Shastri Nagar, Kadwa said. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)s Desert Locust Information Service bulletin says that locusts can fly up to 150km in a day and a one-square-kilometre swarm can eat as much food as 35,000 people, in terms of weight, in a single day. The swarm has crossed Jaipur city and moved towards Dausa, said Om Prakash, agriculture commissioner. A locust outbreak was reported in Rajasthan in May last year after a gap of 26 years and the attack continued until February this year, damaging crop on at least 670,000 hectares across 12 districts, according to the agriculture department. The state put the loss due to the invasion to about Rs 1,000 crore. The Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) of the Union ministry of agriculture and farmer welfare warned of another attack in May-June this year. Sure enough, an attack was reported in Ganganagar, a north Rajasthan district bordering Pakistan, on May 11. Last year, the swarms were first spotted in Jaisalmer, another bordering town. The United Nations (UN) has warned that armies of locusts swarming across continents pose a severe risk to Indias agriculture this year. Authorities across the country have said they have stepped up vigil, deployed drones to detect their movement and held talks with Pakistan, the most likely gateway for an invasion by the insects, on ways to minimise the damage. Uttar Pradeshs agriculture department on Sunday informed Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and bordering districts of the state about the possibility of locust attack and asked them to take preventive steps accordingly. On Sunday, swarms of locusts arrived in Malhargarh area of Madhya Pradeshs Mandsaur district. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Government agencies are quickly heeding the order of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday to rush the release of COVID-19 test results of over 24,000 returning OFWs languishing in quarantine facilities so that they finally reunite with their families. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte ordered the Labor Department, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Health Department to process the documents of OFWs and seafarers who are stuck in Metro Manila as they await for the delayed release of their COVID-19 test results and certification. "Ang sabi niya, 'Hindi katanggap-tanggap na naapakatagal ng proseso bago sila makauwi.' So inaasahan natin na magkakaroon naman po ng implementasyon ang ating mga ahensya ng gobyerno," he said in a phone interview with state media PTV-4. [Translation: He said it is unacceptable that it's taking them so long to get home. So we expect the government agencies to implement the President's order.] Duterte allowed the inter-agency body handling COVID-19 testing of returning overseas Filipino workers to use government funds and all modes of transportation to bring home the OFWs to their respective hometowns. Roque said agencies can also tap the aircraft and vessels of the Armed Forces. Some OFWs earlier complained they have been stuck in quarantine facilities for up to two months, waiting for clearance to go home, according to several lawmakers who called for quicker action. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said agencies are targeting to send home all OFWs who have tested negative and completed their quarantine requirements within three days. He said they are aiming to send by Wednesday 8,000 OFWs to their hometowns on buses from the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange for those who live in Luzon and via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for those who reside in Visayas and Mindanao. "Sinusundo na sila ngayon sa lahat ng mga hotels at cruise ships na naging temporary facility," he said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Monday. Bello said OFWs need to present their clearance from the Bureau of Quarantine or from the Philippine Coast Guard. However, officials during an online hearing by the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs on May 22 admitted that there have been delays in the issuance of medical clearances. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. also said the delays in the release of land-based OFWs lie with the Bureau of Quarantine, an agency under the DOH. Over 9,100 OFWs are currently billeted in Bureau of Quarantine-approved hotels and undergoing mandatory 14-day quarantine; more seafarers are inside cruise ships used as quarantine facilities. The usual process is they have to take an RT-PCR test. The Philippine Red Cross processes the swabs then sends the results to the Philippine Coast Guard or Bureau of Quarantine, which issues the certificates of completion. The Interior Department warned those charging extorbitant fees in exchange for medical certificates. Roque said Duterte also instructed the Department of Health to ramp up PCR testing in other regions so the OFWs can be sent to their hometowns, and they can undergo COVID-19 testing closer to their homes. Vice President Leni Robredo has pushed for the speedier certification of laboratories testing for COVID-19 amid reports of returning overseas workers still not getting their test results even after undergoing the required 14-day quarantine. COVID-19 response chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on May 22 said the Philippines has 39 accredited laboratories. Of this number, 21 are in Metro Manila, 6 in other areas in Luzon, 7 in Visayas, and 5 in Mindanao. With this, the country already has a testing capacity of 11,000 tests daily, he added. Meanwhile, the Health Department said it aims to certify 17 additional laboratories to further expand the country's coronavirus testing capacity and meet the 30,000 tests per day target by the end of the month. The government expects 44,000 overseas workers to come home this June, while 150,000 to 500,000 overseas workers are estimated to return to the Philippines for the rest of the year. Duterte has previously appealed to local government units to accept returning OFWs after reports that some LGUs are not accepting OFWs back to their localities due to fear of COVID-19 spread. CNN Philippines correspondent Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report. Hyderabad: The Warangal district police in Telangana on Monday afternoon arrested a 26-year-old man acccused of killing 10 people . Originally from Bihar, Sanjay Kumar Yadav had been living in Warangal for six years and was in a live in relationship which went sour and he allegedly killed the woman. Yadav then killed nine others to cover up his crime. His victims were; his live in partner Rafiqa (37), Mohd Maqsood Alam (47), Alam's wife Md Nisha Alam (40), Md Bushra Khatoon (20) Bushra's three-year-old son, Mohd Shahbaz Alam (19), Mohd Mashel (18) both sons of deceased Mohd Maqsood. Police also recovered bodies of Shyam Kumar, Sriram Kumar and Md Shakeel. The matter came to light on May 21, when the owner of a gunny bag stitching unit from Gorrekunta village lodged a missing complaint with the police about a family and few others who used to work and reside in his godown premises. They had all apparently vanished from their rooms without any trace. Taking up the matter, the police searched the premises and their attention was drawn to an abondoned well. They saw some bloated gunny bags in the water. Inside the bags they found four bodies of Mohd Maqsood Alam, his wife Nisha, his daughter Bushra and her three-year-old son. The next day (May 22), five more bodies were recovered from the same well while water was being pumped out. The others bodies were of Mohd Shahbaz, Mohd Mashel sons of Mohd Maqsood. The police recovered bodies of Shyam Kumar, Sriram Kumar (both hailing from Bihar) along with Md Shakeel, all workers at the godown. Within 72 hours, the police managed to arrest the accused Sanjay. Upon questioning he revealled chilling details of the murders he committed. Rafiqa, neice of Nisha Alam, and Sanjay had become very close and started living together. As Rafiqa started pestering Sanjay to get married, the latter hatched a plan to kill her. He told her that they will got to West Bengal to talk to Rafiqa's family for marriage. On March 7, both Sanjay and Rafiqa boarded Garib Rath train from Warangal towards Visakhapatnam. Commissioner of Warangal Police Dr V Ravinder said, "After dinner, Sanjay gave Rafiqa buttermilk laced with sleeping pills powder. As she fell asleep, at around 3 am when he saw all other passengers were also in deep sleep, he dragged the sleeping Rafiqa towards the bogie door and threw her away from the running train. Later, after reaching Rajahmundry, Sanjay came back to Warangal and acted normal." The local Railway police in Nidadavolu near Rajahmundry which had found the then unknown and unidentified body (of Rafiqa) had registered it as 'suspected murder case' because of strangulation marks with chunni tied around her neck. Since March second week, Rafiqa's aunt Nisha had been questioning Sanjay about her whereabouts to which he said she has gone to her relatives place, assuring her that he was taking care of Rafiqa's three children. However, he could not give proper answers and then the coronavirus lockdown commenced. As there was no news of Rafiqa, Nisha threatened Sanjay with a police complaint. On May 20, Sanjay decided to kill Maqsood and his family. It was Maqsood and Nisha's son Shahbaz's birthday which he joined. "The culprit Sanjay joined the unsuspecting family stating he too has come to celebrate birthday. Somewhere in during the celebration he mixed powdered sleeping pills in the food of the family which everyone except him consumed. One of Maqsood's relative Shakeel who was also with the family consumed the food. Also, as he was acquinted with two other Biharis- Sriram Kumar and Shyam Kumar, who were staying in the other side of the godown - he laced their food also to leave no trace of murders," said the police commissioner. When everyone fell asleep, one by one he put all the bodies in a gunny bag, dragged it to a nearby well and threw them in, the commissoner added. Now, the police are searching for the medical shop in Warangal that gave huge quantity of sleeping pills to the accused. The federal government on Sunday evacuated 69 Nigerians from Lebanon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, shared on his official Twitter handle. The evacuation, according to the minister, was successful due to the help provided by the Lebanese government. The evacuees were made up of 50 reportedly trafficked young women and 19 other Nigerians. Mr Onyeama, while appreciating the Lebanese government and community, said with financial and logistic support of the Lebanese government and the Lebanese community in Nigeria, 50 trafficked girls and 19 stranded Nigerians were successfully evacuated from Lebanon and arrived Nigeria today. My profound gratitude to Amb. Houssam Diad, Lebanese Ambassador in Nigeria and Ambassador Goni Zannabura, Nigerian Ambassador in Lebanon. About 1,039 Nigerians have been successfully repatriated from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and now Lebanon. Despite the governments efforts, more Nigerians in countries like South Africa still await their evacuation. A Nigerian in South Africa, Olatunji Olanrewaju, asked the minister to look into the case of stranded Nigerians in South Africa. Honourable Minister, please stop looking away when it concerns stranded Nigerians in South Africa. Weve been begging you for us to be evacuated back home for over 2 months. Things are getting out of hand. Please help us. Were over 200 and not hear anything, he tweeted at the minister. Mr Onyeama had earlier advised Nigerians in countries yet to be evacuated to be patient. He had said there are Nigerians in India, China, South Africa, Sudan, UK, US, France and so on. I urge you all to continue to bear with us, be patient because the reality is that we can only process a certain number at any given time. All the different facilities that are required to be in place, human resources as well are limited. It really pains us to know and see that there are Nigerians out there who are really desperate and going through difficult times needing and wanting to come home. He had said the government will do everything possible to bring stranded Nigerians back home as quickly as possible. Concerning Nigerians who were earlier evacuated, the official said we are coming to the end of the 14-day quarantine for the first and second batches of Nigerian evacuees. Some of them need to travel across state lines to get home. He said the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has directed commissioners of police in Abuja and Lagos to give the evacuees personalised passes for (interstate) travel. Should bailouts go to government contractors? By Rachel Alexander People are becoming outraged upon discovering the types of businesses and organizations that are receiving COVID-19 bailouts through the CARES Act and subsequent legislation. Left-leaning media outlets are receiving millions of dollars. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington was given $25 million. Elite universities like Harvard got the bailout money. After public outcry, Harvard, Stanford and a few of the other universities returned the money. Even the Los Angeles Lakers received millions, but they also returned it. Planned Parenthood affiliates improperly received $80 million and now the government wants it back. Theres another category of businesses receiving bailouts that are questionable. That is government contractors. Since they have regular government business, theyre not getting hit as hard as others. In the last year, the top 20 defense contractors received $200 billion in contracts. Additionally, defense contractors were allowed to keep their employees working. The Aerospace Industries Association convinced the Pentagon to declare them Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce and therefore expected to maintain their normal work schedules. Boeing has contemplated taking a bailout. But the company was just awarded a $128.5 million dollar modification to its Ground-based Midcourse Defense development and sustainment contract earlier this month. And on April 2, Boeing entered into an agreement with the Air Force to receive $882 million in funding for a fleet of KC-46 refueling planes. The Air Force admitted through a spokesperson, Ann Stefanek, that it was part of an effort to to maximize cash flow, where prudent, to combat coronavirus impacts on the industry base. Dan Grazier of the Project on Government Oversight said Boeing has definitely come out ahead in all of this. Yet Boeing still asked for $60 billion dollars to bail out the aerospace manufacturing industry. Nikki Haley famously resigned from the board of Boeing over it. So far, the company hasnt accepted any of the $17 billion bailout that ended up being awarded for the industry, because the government said it would come with partial government ownership. CEO David Calhoun admitted Boeing could get the money from the private sector instead. The airline industry has been drastically affected, making it more difficult to buy planes from Boeing. But the government bailed out the airline industry with $50 billion. Most of it, 70%, does not have to be repaid. Boeing isnt too big to fail. In contrast, the banks that received bailouts in the 2008-09 financial crash were part of the backbone of business; they lend, which is necessary so businesses can pay workers, finance inventory, build facilities, and invest in new technologies. Without them, the whole economy comes crashing down. Not that bailing them out was the only option plenty of experts disagreed. However, they are more fundamental to the economy than Boeing. Boeing doesnt lend. Worst case scenario, like GM, Boeing could go bankrupt and restructure its debt under Chapter 11. Its suppliers would still get paid and it could still make planes. The federal government is making adjustments to contracts in order to get money to these companies faster. Shay Assad, a former senior Pentagon official, doesnt even think this is necessary. He called it a taxpayer ripoff since the industry has the ability to borrow money at very low interest rates. There are plenty of familiar names on the list of the federal governments top 100 contractors. They include AT&T, MIT, IBM, Pfizer, FedEx and Honeywell. And these are just the biggest ones. There are thousands of businesses with government contracts. Careful consideration needs to be given to providing stimulus funds to these corporations. Its not clear whether any of the top 100 have received bailout funds, since the full list hasnt been released yet. The Coronavirus Stimulus Package contains $2.2 trillion. Note thats trillion, not billion. Now is not the time to be throwing extra money at corporations that have stable income already coming in through government contracts. Yet $425 billion has been designated to go to large corporations. Its true that companies like Boeing are important to national defense. But their CEO said theyre better suited to getting money from the private sector. They have now raised $25 million from private lenders in a bond sale. If Boeing can survive without government assistance, many of these other large government contractors can too. This is one area where Republicans and Democrats can agree. While this economic crisis is different from others in that government deliberately caused much of it in order to contain COVID-19, bailout help must be prioritized. Large corporations with a steady stream of income from government contracts that is already being sped up to combat the crisis should not be treated the same as small businesses that have no safety net. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications.mericano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home A colleague once described Shriners as heavy set members, driving big cars, who like to party, and care greatly about crippled children. While that description may be a little broad, it does convey the important message of the tremendous work that the Masonic Order members perform on behalf of the hundreds of crippled children that they have helped over the years since the local chapter was formed in 1890. The local unit was formed after a visit to Chattanooga on September 15, 1889, by Illustrious Potentate Sam Briggs, who was the second Imperial Potentate in the Ancient Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His visit was at the request of a group of Masonic leaders interested in the establishment of a Shrine Center, and it resulted in the creation of the Alhambra Temple. Major George Cooper was installed as the first Potentate (President) and nine other charter members were also installed. Alhambra thus became the fiftieth Shrine Center in the United States and the first in Tennessee. Over the years the Mosque (center) has been at several locations with the longest residence being east of the south end of Market Street. It is presently domiciled at 1000 Alhambra Drive, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421, just off I-75 in the East Brainerd area. The facility is available to the public for rental and contains a 10,000-square-foot ballroom with a full kitchen, free on-site parking, security, and other amenities. The Shriners over the years have been big participants in the annual downtown Armed Forces Parade with their various horse units, clown unit and others. One of the initiation requirements for membership for new members was the riding of an iron horse named Ole Ned that required the inductees to straddle the device. The horse was attached to a battery and on occasions a non-lethal electric current was activated. The reactions of the new Shriners always brought a big laugh from the viewers of the parade as the device moved north on Market Street. The local support of Alhambra Temple for the various Shriners Childrens Hospitals across the nation is legendary. Through candy sales, gun shows or July 4th barbeques, or the annual Shrine Circus, the chapter makes significant contributions. With these proceeds the treatment of children is possible at Shriners Childrens Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Ohio and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Shriners International Alhambra Temple is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth with nearly 200 temples in several countries and thousands of individual clubs in each chapter around the world. All Alhambra Temple fundraising events, the B-B-Q, circus, gun show, candy sales, etc. have been cancelled due to the virus so please consider donations or renting of the facilities in Brainerd in order that they can continue to contribute towards the Shriners Hospitals. For more information about the Alhambra Temple contact Ken Bailey at recorder@alhambrashrine.com. * * * Jerry Summers (If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com One Year on, Still No Justice in Myanmars Victoria Toddler Rape Case Two recent happenings made an unexpected connection for me very recently. One was an intensification of the campaign to have the next Irish Government endorse the anti-Israel Occupied Territories Bill and its support by some vociferously anti-Israel Jews. The second was the reverential coverage of what would have been the late Martin McGuinness's 70th birthday on Saturday. Now, I'm rather partial to the company of Jews, since no one could ever accuse them of having a herd mentality. Rather like Presbyterians, they argue with each other constantly. Fond though I am of my native country the Republic of Ireland, its domination by a tribe that is culturally Catholic had the unfortunate result of encouraging groupthink. When I was growing up in Ireland there was absolute loyalty to the Church and the physical force tradition of Irish nationalism. These days that herd has turned against the Church and now objects when anyone challenges the new ideology of progressive secularism. And although it prides itself on its cosmopolitanism and now prostrates itself at the altar of dialogue and consensus on the national question, that herd is prone to outbreaks of Anglophobia and sneaking regard for the IRA. Catholic clergy are so cowed these days that, with few exceptions, they mostly scamper along with the herd. Gone are the days of great churchmen of integrity like Bishop Edward Daly, who not only believed in the tenets of their Church, but stood up publicly to condemn political violence on the straightforward grounds that murder was murder and should be neither excused nor tolerated. In Martin McGuinness's Derry backyard Bishop Daly condemned the IRA as intrinsically evil. Yet, when McGuinness died in 2017, luminaries of the Catholic Church like Daly's successor Bishop Donal McKeown and Archbishop Eamon Martin participated in a service that granted a mass-murderer the reverence due to a democratic statesman (those who want to know the story will find it in this account by repentant IRA terrorist Shane O'Doherty: https://irishpeaceprocess.blog/2020/04/30/bishop-edward-daly-vs-the-ira/). McGuinness was one of those IRA leaders who found it convenient in the name of caring for oppressed Palestinians to add Israel to the hate list. This successfully wound up loyalists, so we saw two tribes who are profoundly ignorant of the Middle East adopting the colours of two lots of combatants they wouldn't be able to tell apart. Irish nationalists have a tendency to see foreign affairs lazily. And, like their president, they have an affection for celebrity Left-wing dictators. There is no appetite for grasping complexities. It's much easier to find a team to love and a team to hate. With their skills and shamelessness as propagandists and their unrivalled ability to tell a story in black and white, Sinn Fein have been busy for years selling a dummy's guide that paints the Palestinians as victims and the Israelis as oppressors, who should be international pariahs. It leaves out such salient facts as that, in the hope of making peace, tiny Israel, which is surrounded by enemies, voluntarily quit a prospering Gaza which its new rulers Hamas promptly impoverished by spending all its resources on weaponry; that Hamas, like Iran's Hezbollah and various other Arab militant groups, are intent on wiping out Israel and make the lives of many residents a nightmare by constant bombardment; that Israel expands its territory only for defensive purposes, and that Egypt, like Israel, blockades Gaza to stop the importation of materials for weapon manufacture and permits food and medical supplies. Shinners who whinge about the cruel shortage of road signs in Irish say nothing about, for instance, the slaughter of Christians in Muslim countries or the imprisonment of more than a million Uighurs in Chinese re-education camps geared to eradicating their culture. The anti-Israel lobby has a wish-list including stopping selling it arms, buying goods from its settlements, or blockading Gaza. Sinn Fein, the Greens and Fianna Fail are gung-ho in support of the Occupied Territories Bill. Still, although Fine Gael is buttering up Arabs in the hope of being elected to the Security Council, being in government they are inhibited by the knowledge that the Bill is illegal under EU law and would impoverish a vast number of Palestinian workers. Any change of a grown-up debate, I wonder? China condemned the U.S. adding 33 Chinese entities to a trade blacklist, a move that risks potential retaliation from Beijing as tensions between the worlds two-biggest economies deteriorate further. The U.S. Department of Commerce on Saturday expanded its so-called entities list, which restricts access to American technology and other items, to include 24 Chinese companies and universities it said had ties to the military and another 9 entities it accused of human rights violations in Xinjiang. Chinas foreign ministry on Monday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the move as it defended the governments crackdown in Xinjiang, saying that counter-terrorism measures were taken to prevent the breeding of terrorism and extremism at the source. We urge the United States to correct its mistakes, withdraw the relevant decisions, and stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters. China will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. The U.S.-China relationship has worsened dramatically in the past few months, partly as America has became one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic, which first broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The worlds two biggest economies have clashed on a range of issues from trade to Taiwan. Some of the organizations affected issued statements opposing the blacklistings, while analysts warned of a further decoupling between the U.S. and China. The move marks a U.S.-China technology decoupling 2.0 or 2.5., said Zhou Xiaoming, a former Ministry of Commerce official and diplomat. This wont be the last one, and there will be more coming. Company Reactions Qihoo 360 Technology Company Ltd., an Internet security software supplier, said earlier in a statement that the U.S. move politicized business. NetPosa Technologies.,Ltd, which produces video recorders, said the sanctions wont have a major impact on its daily operations, adding that it will continue to localize its supply chain. Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday warned U.S. politicians were pushing relations to a new Cold War, as American politicians condemned Beijings move to impose a national security law on Hong Kong. The message sent from the U.S. is more important than the entity list itself, said Li Yong, a senior fellow at the China Association of International Trade, which is connected to the Ministry of Commerce. It shows the U.S. intention to politicize commercial ties, curb Chinas technology development and expand its long-arm jurisdiction. Li said China has refrained from implementing its own unreliable entity list because it still wants to leave some breathing space for bilateral relations. China announced it was preparing the blacklist in mid-2019 at the height of the trade war with the U.S., but never said who was on the list. Still, when the U.S. announced further curbs on Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. earlier this month, Hu Xijin, the editor of the Global Times newspaper, tweeted that China would retaliate using the list. And the paper cited a source close to the Chinese government as saying U.S. companies such as Apple Inc and Qualcomm Inc could be targeted. The recent move from the U.S. may prompt China to take some proportionate countermeasures, said Zhou.The unreliable entity list could be one option and retaliation could be taken as early as after the Two Sessions, Zhou said, referring to the annual legislative meetings currently underway in Beijing and scheduled to end on May 28. Now read: Huawei seeks stable chip supply from Samsung and Hynix NEW DELHI (PTI): There will be no delay in delivery of 36 Rafale jets to India as the timeline finalised for the supply of the fighter jets will be strictly respected, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said. France is reeling under swelling cases of coronavirus infection and there were apprehensions that the delivery of Rafale jets could be delayed due to the pandemic. Over 1,45,000 people were infected by the virus there, while the death toll stood at 28,330. However, Lenain asserted that the original timeline for the delivery of the jets will be adhered to. "The contractual delivery schedule of the Rafale jets has been perfectly respected till now, and, in fact, a new aircraft was handed over to the Indian Air Force in end-April in France, in keeping with the contract," Lenain told PTI. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received the first Rafale jet at an airbase in France on October 8, 2019. "We are helping the Indian Air Force in arranging for the ferry flight of their first four Rafales from France to India as soon as possible. So there's no reason today to speculate that the schedule will not be maintained," the envoy said. India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. The IAF has been maintaining that the Rafale jets would significantly enhance its combat capability. The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Meteor is the next generation of BVR air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. Guided by an advanced active radar seeker, Meteor provides all weather capability to engage a wide variety of targets from fast jets to small unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles. Besides the missile systems, the Rafale jets will come with various India-specific modifications, including Israeli helmet-mounted displays, radar warning receivers, low band jammers, 10-hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking systems. The IAF has already completed preparations, including readying required infrastructure and training of pilots, to welcome the fighter aircraft. The first squadron of the aircraft will be stationed at Ambala air force station, considered one of the most strategically located bases of the IAF. The Indo-Pak border is around 220 km from there. The second squadron of Rafale will be stationed at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The IAF spent around Rs 400 crore to develop required infrastructure like shelters, hangars and maintenance facilities at the two bases. Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater with almost all the features of the fighter jets. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Some 15 military cargo planes landed at Beni Walid airport,180 km southwest of the capital, over the past 24 hours to carry Wagner mercenaries, the spokesperson for the forces of the government of national accord (GNA), Mohamed Ganounou, said here Monday Tracy Schofield A Canadian nurse who caught the novel coronavirus months ago said shes tested positive eight times in the last 50 days. On March 30, Tracy Schofield, from Cambridge, Ontario, began experiencing symptoms such as chills, a fever, and shortness of breath. The following day, she took her first test for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and the result was positive, reported CTV News. Schofield, 49, spent the traditional two weeks self-isolating, but her second test came back positive. Since then, six more have returned the same result. Doctors have told the mother-of-three that they dont believe she is contagious anymore, but that they cant explain why she keeps testing positive. Whenever I get the test result, its like somebody punches me in the stomach, Schofield told CTV News. I just want someone to be able to tell me something. Give me an answer. Am I going to have it forever? For two weeks after her first positive test, Schofield says she self-isolated in her room at her house, where she lives with her 17-year-old son, Ethan. Over that period, her temperature reached 104.1F and wouldnt come down with Tylenol. She says she also lost her sense of smell and taste. I couldnt smell Vicks VapoRub, I couldnt taste salt and vinegar chips, Schofield told CTV News. Now, almost two months later, the majority of her symptoms have disappeared aside from a cough and a little difficulty breathing. However, her tests from Cambridge Memorial Hospital have kept returning positive. Schofield says she was excited after her eighth overall test came back negative. But patients must receive two negative results within a 24-hour period to be considered recovered. Her ninth test came back positive. And, although authorities from Region of Waterloo Public Health, have allowed her to leave her house on April 14, she says she wont consider herself recovered until she gets her two consecutive negative test results. Schofield says she has does not have any pre-existing conditions but shes concerned that shell have long-term complications from the virus. Schofield had been cleared to go back to work as a registered practical nurse but is scared about infecting others. She is now waiting five days until she can take her tenth overall test. Health experts say she likely just has dead virus cells still circulating in her body , CTV News reports. It comes on the heels of news that patients who test positive for the novel coronavirus after having recovered are not contagious. Researchers from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) looked at 285 survivors who tested positive after previous tests said they were negative. None of the 790 people that the patients came into contact with were found to be infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. In the US, there are more than 1.5 million confirmed cases of the virus and more than 93,000 deaths. SK Innovation CEO Kim Jun, second from left, and other executives of the company observe their booth at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in this Jan.7 photo. Courtesy of SK Innovation By Nam Hyun-woo The legal feud between SK Innovation and LG Chem over electric vehicle (EV) batteries is in the endgame stage, with the latter apparently gaining an edge in their battle at the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). The USITC recently said it would "review the initial determination in its entirety" regarding the case of SK Innovation and LG Chem. In February, the trade court granted a preliminary ruling in favor of LG Chem, by giving a default judgment against SK Innovation as the company attempted to destroy a wide range of evidence indicating that it stole confidential battery-making trade secrets from LG Chem. But despite the USITC's statement of an impending review, industry officials said it was a common process to be followed after SK Innovation's appeal in March, and the USITC will not likely reverse its final decision, citing there has been no case where the court has reversed an initial determination. Due to this, SK Innovation's appeal is widely interpreted as a bid to earn some time before the USITC's final decision in October and come up with an exit strategy: avoiding an embargo on its EV battery products in the U.S. through reconciliation with LG Chem involving financial compensation. LG Chem has already clearly stated that it wants "a sincere apology and a promise to prevent a recurrence" as prerequisites before the negotiation of financial compensation. However, the journey to reconciliation is apparently off to a bumpy start. "Top management of SK Innovation and LG Chem recently had a meeting on the former's request," a high-ranking industry official told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. "They failed to narrow their differences, as the SK Group unit displayed a dogged refusal to make an apology and demanded LG Chem play the leading role in their negotiation." Other sources said possible ways of compensation include SK Innovaton's purchasing of LG Chem patents over disputed tech secrets or paying a significant royalty to LG Chem. In these cases, the compensation could climb up to hundreds of billions of won, but they also said this involves a debate over SK's apology "first." "Along with the actual damages that LG Chem claims, their feud also involves emotional matters, as the two companies have filed litigation against each other on defamation and other charges," another source said. "LG Chem on the one side is seeking to receive financial compensation, but on the other side is seriously thinking of kicking SK Innovation out of the EV battery business in the U.S., as excluding a rival could be more beneficial for it in terms of market control." As Elton John sang in his 1976 ballad "Sorry seems to be the hardest word," making an apology is difficult not only in romance but also in the world of business. It is especially so when it is about admitting "I stole your idea." For SK Innovation's side, saying it has stolen battery technology through employee poaching is the last choice they want to make, given the anticipated moral stigma on its business down the road. This is especially so when the U.S. and China are locking horns over intellectual property theft in their trade deal. At the same time, however, SK Innovation has too much to lose if it faces a ban on its operation in the U.S. The company has earmarked 2 trillion won for building an EV battery plant in Georgia with a plan to begin commercial operation in 2022. If the USITC makes the final decision against the company, the EV battery plant plan will be disrupted, and so will be the Trump administration's anticipated plan of it creating 2,000 new jobs, as the Wall Street Journal reported in its article from December last year. In its statement after the default judgment, SK Innovation said it is in "healthy competition" and "considers LG Chem as a partner for the advance of the EV battery ecosystem." With thorny journeys expected to unfold for SK Innovation regardless of its choice, it remains to be seen what will be the company's choice to break through this deadlock. Press Trust of India With a vaccine still a long distance away, efforts to repurpose old medications used for other ailments provide hope of an early counter to COVID-19, say, scientists, placing the antiviral remdesivir on top of the list of possible contenders. As COVID-19 continues its spread crossing 5.2 million cases and 3,38,000 fatalities on Saturday several categories of drugs are under clinical trial. Of them, remdesivir, which initially went into trials for treating the deadly Ebola virus five years ago, has shown promise by modestly speeding recovery from COVID-19, experts said. More than 130 drugs are under experimentation to treat COVID-19, some may have the potential to stop the virus while others may help calm overactive immune responses that damage organs, according to a tracker maintained by the Milken Institute, an independent economic think tank in the US, "Right now, there is only one effective approach which is to repurpose already approved drugs for other diseases if they can be used for COVID-19. One example is remdesivir," Ram Vishwakarma, director of the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, CSIR, Jammu, told PTI. Remdesivir is helping people recover faster, and is lowering the death rate among critically ill patients, Vishwakarma said, adding that it can be life-saving. We do not have time to develop new drugs. New drug development takes five-10 years so we are using existing drugs and conducting clinical trials to find if any of them are effective, Vishwakarma said. Some molecules available for treating diseases like HIV or other viral infections can be quickly checked against the novel coronavirus, he explained. If found effective, they can be used against COVID-19 with the appropriate approval from drug control bodies. When drug company Gilead Sciences sought to begin clinical trials for remdesivir to treat the novel coronavirus, it immediately got approval from the US FDA. According to Vishwakarma, the other drug showing promise is favipiravir, a broad-spectrum antiviral approved in Japan, which is also under clinical trials for its effectiveness against COVID-19. India is also playing its role. The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, has developed the technology to make favipiravir, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Director-General Shekar Mande announced this month. CSIR is conducting clinical trials for favipiravir, remdesivir and an anti-inflammatory drug called colchicine, which is commonly used to treat gout, said Vishwakarma. "A number of drug trials are happening in India, which we are doing with pharmaceutical companies," Vishwakarma said. Of the drugs under trial, remdesivir has shown the most promising results, agreed Subhabrata Sen, professor at the Department of Chemistry in Shiv Nadar University in Uttar Pradesh. Sen, whose lab is involved in the discovery of biologically active molecules, told PTI that some of the drugs being tested are antivirals, and some are antimalarials and antibiotics. Of the antivirals in the tracker list, some are new molecules under trial, whereas others are old drugs being repurposed and tested for their effectiveness against COVID-19. Remdesivir, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April, mimics the genetic material of the coronavirus. When the virus copies its RNA or genetic material, the drug replaces some of the pathogen's building blocks. According to the authors of this study, the drug prevents new virus copies from being produced. Preliminary results had shown that patients who received remdesivir had a 31 per cent faster time to recovery than those who received placebo. However, another study published in the journal Lancet in April cautioned that interpretation of these findings is limited since the remdesivir study was stopped early after the scientists were unable to recruit enough patients due to the steep decline in cases in China. The authors of The Lancet study concluded that more evidence from ongoing clinical trials is needed to better understand whether remdesivir can provide meaningful clinical benefit. There are other drugs being tested too. Some drugs developed to treat HIV, such as lopinavir and ritonavir, are also being tested to cure COVID-19, Vishwakarma said. A study published in Lancet this month said a treatment involving a combination of the drugs interferon beta-1b, plus the antiviral combination lopinavir-ritonavir and ribavirin, is better at reducing the viral load or quantity of the virus than lopinavir-ritonavir alone. But these, too, were early findings, observed only in patients with mild to moderate illness, so the scientists behind the study stressed the need for larger trials to examine the effectiveness of this triple combination in critically ill patients. Another study published last month in the journal Science noted the effectiveness of two small molecule drug candidates named 11a and 11b which could block the SARS-CoV-2 M protease enzyme, which the virus uses to make copies of itself. The molecules could stop the virus from replicating in monkey cells and have been found safe for administration in rats and beagles, with the study concluding that both the drugs warrant further studies. Scientists have also tested the effectiveness of therapies involving the use of antibodies that can bind to some parts of the virus, and block their entry into host cells. In a study, published last month in the journal Cell, scientists reported that antibodies derived from the immune system of the South American mammal called llamas can block the entry of the novel coronavirus into host cells. This study found that llamas, which belong to the same category of mammals as camels, produce special kinds of antibody molecules that bind tightly to a key protein on the novel coronavirus. However, scientists believe its efficacy is yet to be proved in human clinical trials. Last week, scientists from the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics at Peking University in China, revealed a new method to identify multiple antibodies from recovered COVID-19 patients. Using a single-cell genomics method, the researchers could rapidly identify antibodies from convalescent plasma, a component of patients' blood. When the researchers tested these antibodies in mice, they found that some of them could neutralise the virus. Another team from the University of Washington in the US found recently that a combination of antibodies, including those from a patient who had recovered from the 2002-03 SARS pandemic virus infection, can effectively block the novel coronavirus. One of these molecules, named S309, showed particularly strong neutralising activity against SARS-CoV-2, they said, adding that it can act in combination with another, a less potent antibody that targets a different site on the virus. However, these results to are yet to be validated in human clinical trials. Among other therapeutics currently under trial or in use, Sen said US President Donald Trump's "game-changer" drug hydroxychloroquine was promising "until it demonstrated serious side effects in the form of cardiovascular complications", rendering it ineffective. President Muhammadu Buhari has been blamed for the cause of the increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria by Reno Omokri, an aide under Goodluck Ebele Jonathans administration. Reno who is well known to usually counter the All Progressive Congress, APC, took to his verified Twitter account to allege that President Buhari is the reason why Coronavirus has continued to spread in the country after he had disregard advice from his contender in the last presidential election under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. According to Reno, the president had refused to close the countrys airspace in February just so that his daughter and the late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari can fly back to the country from their UK trip. Reno tweeted; Dear General @MBuhari, You are shedding crocodile tears. You caused the spread of #COVID19 in Nigeria by refusing to close Nigerias airspace in February, despite @Atiku asking you, because your daughter and Abba Kyari were abroad! See the tweet below; Dear General @MBuhari, You are shedding crocodile tears. You caused the spread of #COVID19 in Nigeria by refusing to close Nigerias airspace in February, despite @Atiku asking you, because your daughter and Abba Kyari were abroad!#BuhariTormentor https://t.co/2T8PG2jGCz Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) May 25, 2020 Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerian farmers to maximize the raining season and produce food that will be sufficient for the country. Share this post with your Friends on Eid celebrations were quiet this year in the national capital as people offered namaz at home with mosques and idgahs shut and greeted close ones online, amid the lockdown to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The festive buzz was missing as there were no congregational prayers or community feasts. The vast premises of the historical Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid, where thousands offer the Eid Namaz normally, wore a deserted look with only the Shahi Imams and mosque staff attending traditional prayers. The Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, said the Eid Namaz was offered at the mosque by him and around 15 to 16 members of the mosque's staff. People stayed at home and offered namaz as they did during Ramzan, he said. People should serve those in need, including the ones affected by the disease. The virus can be defeated by people through precautions like social distancing, he said in his message on Eid. Forced to stay indoors due to the coronavirus threat, Shafique Alam, a school teacher and resident of Jamia Nagar, said, "I offered namaz at home along with my two brothers and our children." "But the Eid Namaz at a local mosque was immensely missed as it used to be an occasion to meet friends and neighbours, hug them and revive the bonds of togetherness," he said. The Shahi Imam of the Fatehpuri mosque, Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, said people were urged to maintain social distancing while celebrating Eid and avoid embracing others and shaking hands. With the threat of the coronavirus infection looming large, people avoided customary visits to meet and greet friends and relatives on the occasion. "I am sending messages greeting friends and relatives whom I used to visit on the occasion of Eid and enjoy the festival. Social media has become a bridge to connect people as we cannot move freely and mingle due to COVID-19," said Laxmi Nagar- based businessman Mohammad Asif. The Old Delhi areas of Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal and Ballimaran, which are centres of Eid festivities in the city, were also largely quiet with majority of shops shut and people staying home and celebrating the festival with their families. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Irans parliament has passed a law criminalizing any prearranged contact with Israelis. The punishment, depending on the background of the defendant and the prerogative of the judge, could include anywhere from six months to two years in prison, 31 to 74 lashes or 20-80 million tomans (about $1,200-$4,800) in fines. There are also other less severe forms of punishment at the judge's disposal that include depriving the guilty party of benefits such as housing, state pensions and state education for a period of six months to five years. With the passing of this law, tens of thousands of Iranian-Israelis have lost their last remaining connections to Iran, the land of their birth and the land of their ancestors for the last 2,500 years. This latest move by the Islamic Republic will be personally traumatic for many Iranian-Israelis, as they will be cut off from their immediate families in Iran. The Islamic revolution of 1979, followed by the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran, tore apart many Iranian families of all religious convictions due to immigration. With 5-6 million Iranians living in the diaspora, there are millions of cases of family members split apart. Many parents are separated from their children, some staying in Iran and the other in another part of the world. This large group includes Irans Jews. Tens of thousands of Iranian Jews were forced to leave Iran after the execution of a number of prominent Jews after the revolution and policies such as forcing Jews to attend school on the holy Sabbath. Leaving Iran, their only home, was a serious emotional blow to many Iranian Jews. There have been so many cases of depression among Iranian Jews who fled to the United States after the revolution that a PhD thesis that later became a book was written on the topic in order to help psychological professionals deal with them. Iranian-Israelis have not been spared such trauma. Soon after the 1979 revolution, Israeli doctors were baffled by waves of visits by recent Iranian immigrants who complained of pain. Despite their investigations, the Israeli doctors could not locate a physiological basis for their patients' ailments. Consequently, the Israeli doctors came up with a diagnostic label for this mysterious condition that affected recently arrived Iranian immigrants. They called it Parsitis, roughly Persian syndrome. According to Karen L. Pliskin, the author of the 1987 book Silent Boundaries: Cultural Constraints on Sickness and Diagnosis of Iranians in Israel, what the Iranian patients were suffering from was from "narahati," a Persian term used to describe discomfort created by feelings of worry and distress. These were the lucky patients. The trauma caused by families being torn apart has in some cases led to suicide. In 1990, Koroush, then a 20-year-old recent Iranian immigrant to Israel, was despondent away from his parents. Now that he was in Israel, there was no way for him to return to Iran. On a clear day in the summer of 1990, Koroush went to the roof of a tall building in Jerusalem and jumped to his death. In the process, he also nearly killed his mother Sarah in Tehran; upon hearing the news of her sons suicide she had a stroke and became partially paralyzed. She was in a wheelchair until the day she died in 2019. Sarahs husband, much like many other Iranian parents who have children in Israel, relies on phone calls and apps such as Whatsapp and Telegram to keep in touch with their son in Israel. Now he can no longer do that, as he will be breaking the law. Even letters forwarded to Iran via third countries will be criminalized as they will be considered planned contact with Israelis. So will meeting family members in third countries: Prior to this law, family members from Iran and Israel would meet at weddings in places such as Los Angeles or on holiday in Turkey. None of it will now be possible. Iran's Jewish population has dwindled from an estimated 70,000-100,000 before the revolution to approximately 8,000 souls. With a deteriorating economy and the coronavirus pandemic making life even more difficult, Iranians in Israel are increasingly worried about their family members in Iran. I am very worried about contacting my brothers and sisters in Iran, said Parvaneh, an Iranian-Israeli senior citizen who lives in Holon, outside of Tel Aviv. How am I supposed to keep in touch with them from now on? This is going to be very hard for me and my family. The Iranian regime has always claimed that it is against Zionism and not Judaism. As the new law will mainly impact Iranian Jews living in Iran and Israel, it will be hard for many Iranian Jews not to see the law as implicitly racist and cruel. Even Hamas, which has been at war with Israel on at least two occasions. is not cruel enough to ban Gazans from calling family members in Israel. Hong Kong: Judiciary must stay impartial Judges and judicial officers must refrain from unnecessarily expressing in public, including in their judgments, any views on matters that are controversial in society or may come before the courts for adjudication. Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma made the statement today concerning the Reasons for Sentence delivered by District Judge WK Kwok on April 24. Mr Ma said judges have a responsibility under the Basic Law to exercise independent judicial power by adjudicating on cases fairly and impartially without fear or favour. An important aspect of this is that judges and judicial officers must not be biased nor be reasonably perceived to be biased for or against anybody or causes, he added. For this reason, they must refrain from unnecessarily expressing in public, including in their judgments, any views on matters that are controversial in society or may come before the courts for adjudication. This is particularly so with political views of whatever nature. Where the resolution of an issue in a court case necessitates the expressing of a view by the court on a matter of political controversy, such view must be measured and go no more than is reasonably necessary to dispose of the issue at hand. Noting that nonadherence to these principles may threaten public confidence in, and its perception of, the independence and impartiality of the Judiciary, Mr Ma said a judge or judicial officer who expresses in public unwarranted or unnecessary political views risks compromising the appearance of impartiality and ability to hear any cases in which ones political stance may reasonably be regarded as relevant. The Chief Justice also said that he spoke to and reminded Mr Kwok of the importance of the matters mentioned above in discharging his judicial duties. The Reasons for Sentence referred to earlier have caused controversy in that there is a risk that some reasonable, fairminded and wellinformed persons could reasonably take the view that the aforesaid principles may have been compromised in that a wrong perception was given. Judge Kwok agreed with the Chief Justice. For these reasons, the Chief District Judge with the agreement of the Chief Justice has also decided that Judge Kwok should not for the time being deal with any cases involving a similar political context. This story has been published on: 2020-05-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Akshay Bhagat, 25, quit the family vocation of farming three years ago and began a Ganesh idol painting business with a dream to eventually own a full-fledged factory to make the idols. The business is supposed to be a stepping stone for bigger pursuits, but the future is bleak as artisans depend on plaster of Paris (POP), which is not environment-friendly, for making the idols. In a big relief to Ganesh idol makers, the Centre last week stayed the ban on POP Ganesh idols for a year. The decision was taken amid the COVID-19 crisis which has affected many artisans. This year, Ganesh Chaturthi falls in August. The decision is expected to bring some relief to the idol makers who are already facing a tough time due to the lockdown. The reprieve came in too late, Bhagat told PTI. Maharashtrians observe the Ganpati festivities every monsoon by installing idols of the elephant god for 10 days. There are community pandals which have very large idols, while households make do with smaller ones which are manufactured in Pen. The family of 40-year-old Krunal Patil is into making idols for the fourth generation now and he heads the Sri Ganesh Utkarsha Mandal, an umbrella body representing artisans from 17 villages in the area. Usually, the around 500 workshops or factorieshere start delivering the idols from January, starting with those under one-and-a-half feet. Many early deliveries are for the export markets, directly from the countrys largest container port JNPT, located nearby. Dyes for larger and more revenue-earning idols are cast later and the idols are made quickly courtesy the best of the weather conditions as the summer sets in. "Due to the lockdown, we were unable to get the raw material, especially the POP from Rajasthan. Allowing us to use POP for this year will not help much as the damage is already done, Patil says, claiming that the impact of the lockdown will be in crores. Output will fall to a third of the original to about 6 lakh idols this year, Patil estimates, adding that the only silver lining to the last weeks announcement is that they will be able to sell more idols. Mumbai and Pune constitute for over 40 per cent of the business for the idols made in the town, but with the two largest cities of Maharashtra continuing to report a high number of COVID cases, it is unclear if the idols which are ready can be ferried to these cities. At present, idols dot virtually every lane in this town of over 2,000 people. A few are kept to dry in fields and many others wait in warehouses for buyers. Despite being May-end, the scenes in the town are unlike the past when factories put in night shifts. At one such factory, Rupesh Patil is busy plastering an idol with liquified POP and meshing it with kaabal (as the coir is locally called) and fears a dip in wages this season. Patil estimates the factories - mostly cottage units yet to be classified as a micro enterprise by the government - produce 20 lakh idols a year ranging from six inches to nine feet. Crores of rupees worth idols are made every year and the idol making supports over 10,000 jobs, Patil said, adding that a high school kid from the town also wields a smartphone these days because of earnings from the idol making. Key to the flourishing industry is POP, which helps them make a raw idol (without the painting) in as low as 2-3 days. The alternative is making idols of natural clay but the industry cannot achieve the volumes, Patil says. Idols made of natural clay are hard to transport as compared to the more strong POP ones, Patil says, adding that the umbrella body will be fighting out for POP idols in the courts. Each factory owner borrows in advance for paying the labour and raw materials, and gets paid only during Ganesh festival, once the idols are sold, Patil explains. The idol makers will protest if the ban on POP is enforced next year, Patil says. A five-year notice and also a package for the idol making industry is needed before the ban is implemented, he adds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) The number of barangay officials sued for cash aid anomalies has reached 134, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday. The agency said it has filed more criminal complaints before the Prosecutor's Office of the Department of Justice, a marked rise from 42 local government executives facing charges as of last week. The DILG earlier said that local officials are mostly being charged for splitting the cash aid, which ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 per household, in order to benefit more families. Others would pocket a portion of the aid, while some would have an arbitrary procedure in choosing which families are entitled to the subsidy. Nine more charges are being prepared for filing this week, while case build-up against 86 more barangay officials are underway, DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano said. Hindi ninyo matatakasan ang mga panlolokong ginawa ninyo sa pamimigay ng ayuda. Sinira ninyo ang tiwala ng gobyerno at ng inyong mga kabarangay kaya sa kalaunan, sa kulungan ang bagsak ninyo, Ano said in a statement. [Translation: You will not elude justice for duping the public in the distribution of cash aid. You ruined the trust of the government as well as of your constituents. You will end up in jail.] Another scheme exposed involving the latest batch of officials involves the supposed illegal collection of a 50 processing fee per beneficiary in a barangay in Boac, Marinduque. The amount went as high as 1,000 from a complainant in Binmaley, Pangasinan and even 2,000 each from 132 low-income families in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur. Authorities earlier said these officials will face charges for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. Jhansi: A sudden movement of a swarm of locusts spotted on the outskirts of Jhansi district on Saturday evening, has put the district administration on alert. The Jhansi district administration has directed the fire brigades to remain on standby with chemicals following a sudden movement by a swarm of locusts. District Magistrate Andra Vamsi, who chaired an emergency meeting in this regard said, "The villagers along with the common public has been told to inform control room about the movement. The locusts will go to the places where there is green grass or greenery. Hence, details about the movement at such places must be shared." Deputy Director Agriculture Kamal Katiyar said, "The swarm of locusts, which is moving is small in size. We have got news that nearly 2.5 to 3-kilometre long swarm of locusts has entered the country. A team has come from Kota (Rajasthan) to tackle the locusts." At present, the locust swarm is at Bangra Magarpur. Katiyar said that farmers had been made aware of the problem and spraying of insecticides will be done in the night. By Express News Service BELAGAVI: A 10-year-old boy, resident of Handignur village of Belagavi taluk situated at the border of Karnataka and Maharashtra tested positive for COVID19 on Monday. As per the mid-day bulletin of the health department, the 10-year-old (P-2101) is native of Handignur, a village situated 15 km away from Belagavi city at the border of Maharashtra state. According to sources, he was living with his parents in Mumbai. His parents who were employed in Mumbai had returned to hometown Belagavi recently. Along with them, forty others were kept in institutional quarantine in the village. The throat swab of all of them has been collected. The boy was among ten people who tested positive after the reports arrived on Sunday night, while the reports of thirty other people from quarantine centre is yet to come. With this new case, the total number of COVID-19 patients has increased to 128 in Belagavi. The villagers are worried and tensed after knowing that the virus has spread in the village. The Handignur village has been identified and sealed after the boy tested positive. The American artisan cheese industry had entered a golden age. Now, its future is at risk Last October, in the northern Italian city of Bergamo, I witnessed a dramatic milestone in American cheese history. I was there to join 260 technical experts, cheesemakers, buyers, retailers, and food writers from around the globe who were selected as judges in the 32nd World Cheese Awards. We entered an enormous exhibition hall filled with 3,804 wedges and wheels from 42 countries, spread out across 85 tables. It was my first time judging, and as much as I love eating cheese, I was somewhat relieved to learn we would be working in teams of three to taste and evaluate about 45 cheeses. We examined the rind and overall appearance, the aroma, the body and texture, and of course, the flavor. After awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals, each of the 85 teams selected one outstanding cheese for a Super Gold. From those top cheeses, a Super Jury of 16 internationally-recognized experts each chose one to champion and debate in front of an audience in the final round. The climax of the day-long judging process was an unprecedented occurrence: of the 16 best cheeses, the last two were a Parmigiano Reggiano and a cows milk blue that tied for the top score of 100 points. The chairman of judges, Nigel Barden, exercised his casting vote and the blue cheese was crowned World Champion. When it was revealed that the winner was Rogue River Blue from Rogue Creamery in Oregon, the crowd cheered and gasped. For the first time in the history of the Awards, an American cheese won the top prize. Supreme Jury judge Cathy Strange with Rogue River Blue after it took top prize at the 2019 World Cheese Awards in Bergamo. (Tim Johnston Photography/Guild of Fine Food) I like to say in that moment of time, the world was turned on its rind, said David Gremmels, president of Rogue Creamery. Im still so awestruck and on cloud nine, as my team is. I share this recognition with all American farmstead and artisan makers, because it really is showcasing whats happening here. David Gremmels, who is also known as Mr. Blue, with Rogue Creamerys Caveman Blue and Smokey Blue cheeses. (David Gibbs) Rogue River Blue is a luscious cheese that is produced seasonally each fall and released on the autumnal equinox the following year. The organic cows milk wheels are aged a minimum of nine months, and then hand wrapped in syrah grape leaves that have been soaked in pear spirits made with locally grown fruit. The Rogue River Blue released in 2019 is rich and fruity, with notes of vanilla, pear, hazelnut, and chocolate, and a fudgy, buttery texture with an occasional slight crunch from the crystals that form as the cheese ages. World Champion Rogue River Blue cheese. Each wheel is cave-aged for a minimum of nine months, then wrapped in organic syrah grape leaves that have been hand-picked and macerated in pear spirits made with organic fruit from pear orchards in the Rogue Valley. (Beryl Striewski) Carlos Yescas, program director of the Oldways Cheese Coalition and a Super Jury judge since 2009, compared the win to the historic Judgment of Paris in 1976, when two wines from Napa Valley beat Frances best in a blind tasting. It was the moment people around the world had to recognize not only that American cheesemaking is really good, but also that innovation is really good, he said. It really connects with this idea of what American cheesemaking isits more free to decide what it wants to be, and it really is an expression of a terroir that we dont know. A Critical Time Unfortunately, American artisan cheesemakers have been seriously impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Many are relatively small operations, often family-run, and rely heavily on restaurants and specialty food shops for sales; much of that business disappeared overnight. And as Americans grew wary of shopping in grocery stores and turned increasingly to ordering online, the cheeses available were mostly pre-cut, pre-weighted commodity cheeses, as opposed to specialty cheeses that are cut to order, according to Yescas. Anthea Stolz, executive director of the California Artisan Cheese Guild, said most of their cheesemakers are selling less due to the fallout of foodservice and catering, as well as overall decreased demand. Restaurants are getting a lot of attention, deservedly so, but cheesemakers dont work on very big margins either, and many of our cheesemakers dont have the time or resources beyond the bounty of their farms, so it is definitely a critical time, Stolz said. Gremmels said 60 percent of Rogue Creamerys business was fine dining. Since that vanished, they have seen a significant uptick in online sales, but connecting the cheese to the consumer remains a challenge. How do you compare a two-pound block of cheddar with an eight-ounce chunk of cheddar for $10 dollars? You really need someone to sell it, and say, This is organic, hand-milled, handmade they believe the less they do with milk, the better for your health, and this is an example. Without that cheesemonger being our ambassador and voice, its hard. Survival Tactics Judy Schad, founder of Capriole Goat Cheese in Indiana and a pioneer in the American artisan cheese revolution more than 30 years ago, temporarily paused production in March because she didnt see how they could continue to operate. They were left with a significant inventory of perishable ripened cheeses. But she knew that if Capriole shut down, the farms that supply the goat milk for their cheeses would quickly be out of business. Judy Schad, founder of Capriole Goat Cheese in Greenville, Ind. (Courtesy of Capriole Goat Cheese) Were the only show in town for them and theyre the only show in town for us, Schad said. It was breaking my heart, because I know what spring is like on a farm. Youve got babies everywhere, mothers giving birth, youre in the barn until 2 a.m. She decided to reopen after two weeks, and has been focusing more on mail orders, as well as rearranging what they are selling and whom they are selling to. Although sales in April were down 68 percent from the previous years, she has noticed things gradually picking up again, and emphasizes that this is a critical moment to support American cheesemakers. There are wonderful cheesemakers everywhere with common ground, we all support each other wherever we are, but Im sure Italians are eating Italian cheeses right now, and the French are eating French cheeses, and American cheeses need that kind of support right now if they are going to survive, she said. Sofia, Caprioles most popular ripened goat cheese. Beautifully layered with vegetable ash, Sofia develops a dense, velvety texture as it ripens. (Courtesy of Capriole Goat Cheese) Pete Messmer, head cheesemaker at Lively Run Dairy in New Yorks Finger Lakes region, said they immediately lost 50 percent of their business when the lockdown started in mid-March. Fresh chevre accounted for about 40 percent of their total sales, and 60 percent of that was in bulk packages to restaurants. Now, theyve switched to producing more aged cheeses with a longer shelf life, and had to quickly find additional aging space to keep up. He said they have been helped by distributors who pivoted to direct customer sales, although that translates to a lot more time and labor spent packaging cheese for retail, whereas in the past, they sold many more whole wheels. (From L to R): Katie Shaw, sales and marketing director; Pete Messmer, head cheesemaker; and Petes brother, Dave Messmer, business manager of Lively Run Dairy in New Yorks Finger Lakes region. (Courtesy of Lively Run Dairy) Messmer also started a GoFundMe campaign to help farms and food banks by buying milk that would otherwise have been dumped, due to shriveled up demand from restaurants, schools, and offices, and using it to make cheese to donate to local food banks. They raised nearly $50,000 in four weeks, and have donated about 1,300 pounds of cheese. Weve been focusing on fresh cheeses for donations so we can get it out immediately; we dont want to have to age it for a long time because people need food now, Messmer explained. Choose It or Lose It A group of cheesemakers, mongers, chefs, and other cheese lovers recently launched the Victory Cheese initiative to help support and sustain artisan cheesemakers in the United States during and after this crisis. They are working to raise awareness of the struggles the industry is facing, and have developed Victory Cheese Boxes that consumers can purchase to support local makers, cheese shops, distributors, and restaurants. The push is to encourage Americans to eat American cheese and to seek out cheeses from small producers, said Yescas, one of the founding members. Our tagline is choose it or lose it. With an increasing number of producers and shops now shipping or delivering directly to homes, plus virtual tastings and classes taking place online, there are many options for incorporating some fine American cheese into your life. For a directory of local cheese retailers and makers, visit Oldwayspt.org/programs/oldways-cheese-coalition/learn/cheese-store-directory. Theres no doubt that there is much to be inspired by when it comes to the evolution of American artisan cheese and the people behind it. The landscape has grown to reflect the personalities of our communities, and that artful expression of the makers, and American terroir, said Gremmels. Im awe-inspired by the evolution of the American cheese movement and its diversity not only in cheese styles, but also individuals. Im really hopeful that we can persevere collectively together, and we can only do that by promoting and supporting each other through solidarity to our industry and our fellow makers, who are our friends. Kristine Jannuzzi is a bilingual (English/Italian) freelance writer and social media consultant. Currently based in New York City, she is a frequent contributor to La Cucina Italiana USA; her work also has been published in Culture, The Word on Cheese, Italy Magazine, British Heritage Travel, and Listen Magazine, among others. Origin - The ongoing coronavirus lockdown has brought upon a number of unforeseen challenges for people around the globe. As seen in the mainstream media and social media, a large number of people are facing dire issues relating to health and finance along with various others. During these testing times, people around the world have evidently looked up to their respective governments and asked for help and various countries have also provided their citizens with support. The Indian government has also come up with a massive Rs 20 lakh crore relief package, a portion of which entails DBT transfer of money to needy citizens; and amid this, some notorious Internet users are capitalizing on the vulnerability of the situation and spreading fake news. Also read: Fact Check: Was US President Donald Trump Tested Positive For COVID-19? 'FG lockdown funds' fake message A message claiming that the federal government will be providing Indian citizens with a relief package of 5,000 had gone viral on the Internet recently. The message was coupled along with a link that allowed users to 'instantly claim' the amount. The fake message which first started circulating on WhatsApp was later also shared on various other social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. Check it out below - Also read: Fact Check: Picture of 1000 buses arranged by Priyanka Gandhi for migrants real or fake? The message is being circulated during times when people have taken huge hits with regards to their livelihoods and businesses. A message of this nature can evidently bait people into clicking the link provided in the message out of curiosity. The link provided in the WhatsApp forward takes users to a website which claims that only '1936 lockdown packages' are available to give away, but the number does not go down or increase on the website and stays the same for days. Check it out below - Interestingly, a similar message has also gone viral in Kenya. The message going viral in Kenya also claims that the federal government has issued relief funds for 10,000 Kenyan Shilling. The Kenyan message also provides a fake link which leads to a website similar to the shown above. Check it out below - Also read: Fact Check: Does the homeopathic medicine Arsenicum Album 30 help prevent coronavirus? Google Trends analysis As the fake message about the federal government providing relief funds to people started going viral, people on the internet took to Google and searched for its credibility. This resulted in a surge in search results for the same. Check it out below - Also read: Fact Check: Is the 'tomato' virus harmful to humans? What is infecting tomatoes? Also read: Fact Check: No, the Italian government did not seek Bill Gates' arrest; here's the truth A boy who lost both of his parents in a mass shooting at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart last year has celebrated his first birthday and he did not celebrate it alone. Paul Gilbert Anchondo was only two months old when his parents were killed while protecting him from a mass shooter. His relatives wanted his first birthday to be special, so they began planning an event for him. When word got out that there were plans for a birthday celebration, people in his town took interest and asked for ways to get involved. Paul Anchondo, the youngest survivor of the El Paso Walmart mass shooting, celebrates his first birthday with a community event. (ABC7 News) The president of the Muertos MC motorcycle club told CBS15 News that he grew up with the Anchondos, and so he decided to do something to celebrate Paul's first birthday. Motorcyclists joined in on the celebration, riding their bikes in a procession past Paul and his family. People in pickup trucks joined the celebration, driving by while displaying signs bearing birthday well wishes and encouragement for the one-year-old. "Unfortunately his parents aren't going to be here to celebrate his birthday with him, so we're going to step up and make sure he has a great first year birthday," motorcyclist Eduardo Prieto said. Gilbert Anchondo, Paul's grandfather, said he hoped when Paul is old enough to look back on the event, that he'll see that he was always loved and supported by his community. "We want him to remember that everybody here in the El Paso area and our community is supporting him, that he's not by himself," Mr Anchondo said. Recommended Accused shooter pleads not guilty to attack blamed on Trump rhetoric Paul, dressed in blue and gold regalia - including a crown bearing his name - watched the parade from the sidewalk with his family, occasionally waving to people as they drove past. "[Paul] is a symbol of the goodness that came out of [the shooting] because he brought everyone even more so together," motorcyclist Joshua Hernandez said. The death toll from a Pakistan International Airlines flight that crashed during a second landing attempt in Karachi on Friday rose to 97 on Saturday. Two passengers survived the incident, and no fatalities have been reported among people on the ground in the densely populated residential neighborhood where the crash-landing occurred, although eight people were injured, three of whom remain hospitalized. All residents have reportedly been accounted for. One of the surviving passengers, Mohammad Zubair, said the flight from Lahore was smooth until the descent, when the pilot came on the intercom to say the plane was experiencing engine trouble and the landing could be "troublesome." That's the last thing he remembers before waking up in what The Associated Press called a "scene of chaos." The Airbus A320's black box, which includes the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, was found and is under review. PIA's chief executive, Arshad Malik, said the last message received from the pilot indicated the plane was experiencing a technical problem, and a senior aviation official told Reuters it looked like the plane was unable to lower its landing gear on the first landing attempt. Read more at The Associated Press and Reuters. More stories from theweek.com Trump keeps falsely accusing Joe Scarborough of murder, and it's long past weird New COVID-19 test aims to use CRISPR gene-editing technology for home diagnostic tool Trump denies wanting to move the Republican National Convention to his Doral resort, citing ballroom size The first patients arrived on Monday at the field hospital on Monday in the town of Buinaksk in the North Caucasus where a number of residents have contracted COVID-19, including the mayor. The Defence Ministry organised the creation of the field hospital in the Dagestan town, where 70 medical specialists will work. Dagestan has become one of the hardest-hit regions in Russia, with reports of mass infections in secluded mountain villages and overflowing hospitals. The republic's medical services have struggled to contain the virus and federal authorities have dispatched doctors and equipment. There have been 4,200 official cases of the virus in Dagestan as of Monday, with nearly 97 deaths. In the neighbouring region of North-Ossetia-Alania the number of new daily cases has been decreasing, but the ambulances still have to wait up to five hours with patients lying under ventilators. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. A man who raped his own mother three times while high on meth has been jailed for 17 years - as the judge described the crimes as an act of 'utmost evil'. The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, was drunk and high on methylamphetamine when he returned to their Pilbara home in Western Australia in November. When the man arrived home he hit his mother on the hip with a heavy-duty PVC pipe. The attack, which came without warning, caused the 56-year-old woman to fall to the ground. A man who raped his own mother three times while high on meth has been jailed for 17 years - as the judge described the crimes as an act of 'utmost evil' (stock image) The man then dragged her by her hair to her bedroom and raped her three times. He pushed her off the bed onto the floor and went to sleep in another room, leaving her screaming on the floor with a fractured hip until the next morning, when she managed to crawl to a phone and call a daughter for help. A District Court of WA judge sentenced the man on Monday after his lawyer said 'this is some pretty horrific offending' that his client could not recall. The judge said the fact the victim was the man's mother took the case beyond anything he had encountered in his career. He said a message needed to be sent that anyone who used meth and as a result committed an extraordinarily serious offence would be punished severely. 'People under its influence are prone to commit criminal offences of a wide range of seriousness up to and including acts of the utmost evil, which is what I'm dealing with here,' the judge said. 'Of course it wasn't methylamphetamine that raped your mother ... it was you.' The judge said he recognised the jail term was 'extraordinarily high' but reflected extraordinarily bad, violent sexual offending. The man must serve 15 years before he is eligible for parole. Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie has slammed school teachers who punish students for speaking local Nigerian languages which is described as vernacular. In a tweet on Monday, the 38-year-old actor said all teachers who beat their students for speaking their own language should be ashamed of themselves. He criticised the practice of forcing school children to speak foreign languages and blamed the whites for the abnormality. To think that some of our teachers flogged us back then in school for speaking our language. calling it vernacular. Can you imagine? You speak your own language you get flogged. All those teachers should be ashamed of themselves. Oyibo people really messed up our brains, he wrote. To think that some of our teachers flogged us back then in school for speaking our language. Calling it vernacular. Can you imagine? You speak your own language you get flogged. All those teachers should be ashamed of themselves. Oyibo people really messed up our brains. Yul Edochie (@YulEdochie) May 25, 2020 KanyiDaily recalls that Yul Edochie recounted how his father, Pete Edochie, who is a veteran actor, beat him mercilessly over plans to become a trader by dropping out of school at Junior Secondary 2 (JS2) level. Jacqueline Dozier, a watercolor artist and grandmother who resides in Islamorada, Florida, has published her new book Into the Clouds: A Personal Journey - a compelling travel journal offering a vivid description of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The author shares this excerpt: Some may say that dreams are fanciful and belong to children. I believe that is where they start but never end. They can come from a story read at bedtime, an example set by an adult, or hero seen on TV. They can come from an idea, or an influence in ones lifea challenge perhaps. The Baby Boomers grew up with stories of families escaping persecution during World War II, of pilots flying over the Hump, or of veterans coming back from Vietnam. They come from hardships mostly. The Great Depression was a catalyst into the Industrial Revolution. The stories were sad, even devastating, but so many created goals for those living in that era. Dreams can become goals. This is something I recognized early in life, a privileged life at that. I was left alone much of my youth to swim in my own thoughts and dreams. My developing curiosity said, Why not? While glider flying in Switzerland and again in South Miami, I knew I wanted to be earth bound. Living in South Florida and the Keys took me to the ocean depths where I was to learn to dive until my lungs or my tank ran out of air. I saw mountains there and coral cliffs of rainbow colorsblack beneath. With beauty and heroism, there is a downside. People die trying to fulfill their dreams or to compete with their heroSir Edmund Hilary, for example. Every year, tourists die here in the Keys while doing what fills their dreams. Into the Clouds has two parts: Ali Ali Ukaalo (How Much More Up?) and Ali Ali Oraalo (How Much More Down?). These parts are, as a whole, a metaphor. The journey originated for some as a spiritual experience. For others, it was a challenge and opportunity for personal growth. All in all, if you dream and you read this, you will want to do more of both. Published by Page Publishing, Jacqueline Doziers engrossing book is a richly detailed and entertaining memoir of an unforgettable journey to inspiring heights on the other side of the world. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Into the Clouds: A Personal Journey at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Concept photo of a coronavirus test. (Photo: Getty Commercial) SINGAPORE There are currently no plans to test old samples from patients who had pneumonia before January, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday (24 May). In response to media queries by Yahoo News Singapore, the ministry said its testing strategy is focused on active COVID-19 case finding to identify, treat and isolate infected individuals early to prevent further spread of the disease. The comment by the MOH comes amid a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) after a sample from a pneumonia patient treated in France last December prior to the countrys first reported COVID-19 cases was later confirmed to have the coronavirus following retesting. Singapore saw its first case on 23 January. The MOH added that since February, it has been testing all individuals whose cause of death was determined to be pneumonia, or were suspected to have died from COVID-19 complications, for the infection, if they had not been previously tested. Testing is also conducted as a means of general surveillance in groups at higher risk of contracting or transmitting the disease and enables us to detect signs of community spread and pick up unlinked cases, the MOH said. This includes tests for pre-school staff, which began on 15 May some 15,300 have tested negative as of Sunday. Tests for groups Separately, testing for all 16,000 residents across 80 nursing homes here is expected to be completed by early next month. Testing for all 9,000 staff across the nursing homes have been completed, as well as that for some 4,600 staff and residents from other residential homes. Most results have come back negative. Tests will also be conducted for staff of non-residential care services: designated eldercare centres and day hospices, kidney dialysis centres, and home care providers. We will continue to monitor the situation and review our testing strategy as needed, said the ministry. Earlier this month, the WHO had urged countries to investigate any other early suspicious cases, following a report that the novel coronavirus had emerged in December in France, sooner than previously thought. Story continues Chinese authorities had first reported to the WHO about cases of COVID-19 on 31 December. COVID-19 was generally not believed to have spread to Europe until January. This gives a whole new picture on everything, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a UN briefing in Geneva, referring to the French report. A French hospital which retested old samples from pneumonia patients discovered that it treated a man who had COVID-19 as early as 27 December, nearly a month before the French government confirmed its first cases. The WHO spokesperson said the man was likely connected to a person who travelled from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus had originated, before the virus had been identified or reported by China. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore More Singapore stories: COVID-19: Singapore reports 344 new cases, total 31,960 COVID-19: Over 15,000 pre-school staff tested negative ahead of reopening COVID-19: MOH lists healthcare services that can resume on 2 June Taxi, private-hire car drivers can continue deliveries until September Jolovan Wham apologises to Josephine Teo, retracts claims against Surbana Jurong Appointment of Non-Executive Director Sydney, May 25, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Empire Energy Group Limited ( ASX:EEG ) ( OTCMKTS:EEGUF ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Peter Cleary to the Board of DirectorsMr Cleary is a leader in the oil and gas sector. He holds relationships with commercial and government entities gained over a distinguished 29-year career representing Santos, the North West Shelf Venturers and BP in Asia. His executive career was in LNG, pipeline gas and chemicals operations. Mr Cleary's full biography is available in the link below.Mr Cleary's industry experience, relationships and track record will be of particular value to Empire as its progresses its Northern Territory onshore shale petroleum portfolio from exploration to appraisal and ultimately commercialisation.Empire's recently reported independent assessment of recoverable prospective resources in the Beetaloo and McArthur Basins of the Northern Territory, strategically located close to LNG consumer markets in North Asia, have the scale to become a major source of LNG feedstock from existing and new export infrastructure in Darwin.Mr Cleary will stand for election at the upcoming AGM to be held on 14 July 2020.To view more details, please visit:About Empire Energy Group Ltd Empire Energy (ASX:EEG) (OTCMKTS:EEGUF) holds over 14.5 million acres of highly prospective exploration tenements in the McArthur and Beetaloo Basins, Northern Territory. Work undertaken by the Company since 2010 demonstrates that the Eastern depositional Trough of the McArthur Basin, of which the Company holds 80% has very considerable conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential. The Beetaloo sub-Basin, in which Empire holds a substantial position, has independently assessed world class hydrocarbon volumes in place with a major ramp up in industry activity underway to appraise substantial discoveries already made by major Australian oil and gas operators. Empire Energy is an experienced conventional oil and gas producer with operations in the Appalachia region (New York and Pennsylvania). Empire has been successfully developing and producing oil and gas since 2006. Sydney, May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on India outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/India-Mobile-Infrastructure-Broadband-Operators-Statistics-and-Analyses Synopsis Indias mobile market dominates the local telecom sector, having a large subscriber base and revenue as well as huge capital investment by operators. It remains a highly competitive market though the number of players has fallen in recent years as a result of bankruptcies and merger activity. Four operators alone account for 9.6% of all subscribers. The emergence of Reliance Jio in the market in 2016 was disruptive. The operators strategy was to provide free voice and data initially in a bid to win customers, and then encourage churn from competitors through cut-priced packages. This resulted in a sharp fall in ARPU for most operators, and a sharp loss of subscribers by some, including RCOM which saw its subscriber base nearly wiped out. Slower market growth is predicted over the next few years, with growth in 2020 partly affected by the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The market will also be constrained from higher growth as a result of local competition and the relatively high penetration. Mobile broadband penetration has developed strongly over the past few years, driven by the greater number of mobile subscribers, the wider availability and LTE infrastructure and the greater adoption of data-based services. Uptake of next generation technologies such as IoT, and evolving trends such as smart cities, and new devices offering virtual reality experiences will all enhance data usage going forward. Operators will increasingly focus on infrastructure investments such as optical fibre and small cells for expanding LTE coverage and capacity. India has taken initial steps towards the rollout of 5G services and is developing a 5G corridor in New Delhi as part of technology trials. However, the government has postponed the auction of 5G suitable spectrum until 2021, and given the financial difficulties faced by operators having to pay high tax dues there will be little incentive to prioritise 5G until 2021 or 2022. Key developments: Government delays multi-spectrum auction to late 2020 but delays 5G spectrum auction to 2021; BSNL partners with Ciena to conduct field trials of 5G technology; Bharti Airtel makes final AGR payment; Vodafone Idea facing financial ruin caused by tax dues; Report update includes the regulators market data to January 2020, operator data to Q1 2020, recent market developments. Companies covered in this report include: Aircel, Bharti Airtel, Quadrant (HFCL), Vodafone Idea, Reliance Communications, Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJI), Tata Teleservices, Vodafone Essar, Videocon, Sistema, Videsh Sanchar Nigam (VSNL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL), Videocon Market overview and analysis Geographic segments Rural expansion Mobile statistics Mobile broadband statistics Regulatory issues Spectrum 5G Spectrum auction 2020 Spectrum auctions 2016 Spectrum auctions 2015 Spectrum trading rules Spectrum trading Mobile subscriber Verification Interconnection Roaming Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G/LTE BSNL Bharti Airtel Idea Vodafone CDMA BSNL Bharti Airtel Idea Vodafone Other infrastructure developments VoLTE Major mobile operators Subscribers by operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) Bharti Airtel Telenor Vodafone Idea Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) Quadrant Reliance Communications (RCOM) Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL) Aircel Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) Tata Teleservices Reach Mobile MVNOs Mobile content and applications M-Commerce Appendix Historic data Related Reports List of Tables Table 1 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 2 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers in urban and rural areas 2011 2020 Table 3 Change in mobile penetration in urban and rural areas 2010 2020 Table 4 Change in mobile ARPU (contract, prepaid, blended) 2017 2019 Table 5 Change in mobile ARPU (GSM and CDMA) 2014 2018 Table 6 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2025 Table 7 Cumulative mobile number portings 2011 - 2020 Table 8 Change in the mobile market share of subscribers (major MNOs) 2010 - 2020 Table 9 Growth in the number of BSNLs mobile subscribers 2010 2020 Table 10 Growth in the number of Bharti Airtels mobile subscribers 2010 2020 Table 11 Change in Bharti Airtels mobile ARPU 2009 2020 Table 12 Growth in the number of Vodafone Ideas mobile subscribers 2002 2020 Table 13 Change in Vodafone Idea mobile ARPU 2007 2011; 2013 2020 Table 14 Change in the number of MTNLs mobile subscribers 2010 2020 Table 15 Change in the number of RCOMs mobile subscribers 2002 2020 Table 16 Growth in the number of Reliance Jios mobile subscribers 2016 2020 Table 17 Reliance mobile ARPU 2018 - 2019 Table 18 Decline in the number of Tata Teleservices mobile subscribers 2010 2018 Table 19 Historic - Mobile subscribers (GSM and CDMA) 2002 2018 Table 20 Historic - Vodafone Idea - mobile subscribers 2002 2009 Table 21 Historic - Vodafone - mobile ARPU 2008 2018 Table 22 Historic - Vodafone mobile subscribers 2002 2018 Table 23 Historic - Reliance mobile subscribers 2002 2009 Table 24 Historic - MTNL mobile subscribers 2002 2009 Table 25 Historic - Bharti Airtel mobile subscribers 2002 2009 Table 26 Historic - Tata Teleservices mobile subscribers 2002 2009 Table 27 Historic - BSNL mobile subscribers 2002 2009 Table 28 Historic - MTNL mobile subscribers 2002 2009 Table 29 Historic - Vodafone mobile subscribers 2002 2017 Table 30 Bharti Airtel mobile ARPU 2005 2009 Table 31 Historic - Quadrant mobile subscribers 2012 2017 Table 32 Historic - Sistema mobile subscribers 2008 2017 Table 33 Historic - Telenor mobile subscribers 2009 - 2017 Table 34 Historic - Aircel mobile subscribers 2004 2018 Table 35 Historic - Reliance mobile ARPU 2007 2017 Table 36 Historic - Mobile ARPU (GSM and CDMA) 2005 2013 List of Charts Chart 1 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration (with Forecast) 2010 2025 Chart 2 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers in urban and rural areas 2011 2020 Chart 3 Change in mobile penetration in urban and rural areas 2010 2020 Chart 4 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2025 Chart 5 Cumulative mobile number portings 2011 - 2020 Chart 6 Change in the mobile market share of subscribers (major MNOs) 2010 - 2020 Chart 7 Growth in the number of BSNLs mobile subscribers 2010 2020 Chart 8 Growth in the number of Bharti Airtels mobile subscribers 2010 2020 Chart 9 Growth in the number of Vodafone Ideas mobile subscribers 2010 2020 Chart 10 Change in Vodafone Idea mobile ARPU 2007 2011; 2013 2020 Chart 11 Growth in the number of MTNLs mobile subscribers 2010 2020 Chart 12 Change in the number of RCOMs mobile subscribers 2002 2020 Chart 13 Growth in the number of Reliance Jios mobile subscribers 2016 2020 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Spectrum auction results - 2016 Exhibit 2 CDMA 3G commercial deployment in India Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/India-Mobile-Infrastructure-Broadband-Operators-Statistics-and-Analyses When the Philippines needed resources to fight its coronavirus outbreak, it turned not to its American allies, but to China. Why it matters: The Philippines was a U.S. colony for half a century and is Americas oldest military ally in Asia. But the Southeast Asian nation is drifting further from the U.S. and toward America's superpower rival. Driving the news: While the U.S. has blamed Beijing for the pandemic, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has defended China and thanked Beijing heartily for sending medical equipment and personnel. "President Xi Jinping, for all of his goodness to us, wrote me a letter and said that he is willing to help. All we have to do is to ask," Duterte gushed in March. The U.S. also sent help, but Duterte hardly acknowledged it. Duterte has long touted China as the primary investor in the Philippines, and he pushed for a more independent foreign policy summed up as, "less America, more China." It was in Beijing where Duterte first signaled the Philippines economic and military split from the U.S., telling his Chinese hosts in 2016, "I will be dependent on you for a long time." That split became official in February when Duterte announced the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), a major military deal with the U.S. The termination of the VFA could harm U.S. deterrence capacity in the crucial South China Sea, where the territorial claims of China, the Philippines and four other countries overlap. Duterte's move followed the cancellation of a U.S. visa for Ronald dela Rosa, a Duterte ally and the architect of his deadly drug war. Legislators in Manila unsuccessfully challenged the decision. President Trump, meanwhile, said he hoped it would save the U.S. some money. The big picture: Stylistic similarities between Trump and Duterte a populist who once called Barack Obama a "son of a whore" haven't stopped the Philippines from drifting closer to China during Trump's tenure. While Duterte sang for Trump during a visit to Manila, he has yet to visit Washington even rejecting Trump's invitation despite four trips to Beijing. Flashback: Clark Air Base northwest of Manila served as the U.S. logistical hub in the western Pacific during the Korean and Vietnam wars. The U.S. is long gone from the base. Now the area, once home to 60,000 Americans, is being developed into a city with funding from Chinese investors. What to watch: American influence remains so embedded in the Philippines that everything from pop culture to military training to the constitution was patterned after the U.S. Polls show the Philippines as one of the most pro-U.S. countries on Earth, and local and international surveys indicate that Filipinos trust the U.S. more than China. Duterte is pivoting, but it's unclear how far the country will follow. Go deeper: Philippines' biggest TV network shut down amid feud with Duterte LANSING, MI -- President Donald Trump is looking to change the narrative about his impending loss in Michigan this November by alleging voter fraud, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II said in an MSNBC interview Saturday. I think that the president wants to set us up so that there can be a conversation about the legitimacy of an election that he is looking to lose, Gilchrist said of Trumps recent attacks on absentee voting in Michigan. That is a really unfortunate thing. Thats not how we do democracy here in the United States, and we need to be ready to respond to that forcefully." Gilchrist made the remarks in an interview Sunday, May 24, with Kasie Hunt on MSNBCs Kasie DC. They come just four days after Trump, in a Tweet, said he is going to hold up funding to Michigan because Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is planning to mail absentee ballot applications to eligible Michigan voters. Trump dubbed it a Voter Fraud path! Last week, Benson announced all voters in the state will receive applications to vote from home ahead of the August primary and general election in November. The option is available to Michiganders as part of efforts to protect the safety of voters and election workers during the coronavirus crisis. Related: Trump attacks Michigan Secretary of State with false claim; Benson quickly responds In November 2018, Michigan voters approved no-reason absentee voting. Gilchrist called absentee voting safe, convenient and effective. The truth is more people are killed by deer in a year than have ever been proven to commit voter fraud at a given time, he told Hunt. Gilchrist said the presidents attacks stem from his failure to secure a wide margin of victory in the state in 2016, like Gilchrist said Whitmer did in 2018. According to the states official election results, Trump in 2016 secured less than 11,000 votes more than the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, whereas Whitmer in 2018 secured more than 400,000 more votes than her opponent, Bill Schuette. The president is insecure about his prospects in the state of Michigan, and this president has shown that when he gets insecure he chooses to attack instead of getting to work, he said. Thats not how we treat any kind of situation, whether its a pandemic, whether its a once in a 500 year flood, whether its getting more people to the polls, or more people to be able to vote safely in the state of Michigan, we roll up our sleeves and get to work," Gilchrist said. As of Sunday, state health officials say there are 54,679 reported cases of COVID-19 in the state and 5,228 related deaths. Michigan has the fourth-highest death toll from COVID-19 in the United States. COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. 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. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. Read more: Michigan Secretary of State dumbfounded by Trump comments, criticism of absentee voter application mailings Gyms sue Gov. Whitmer in bid to reopen, overturn stay-at-home order Michigan to report coronavirus antibody test results separately Sunday, May 24: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan coronavirus recoveries now exceed 33,000 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was unflustered by an earthquake that struck the capital Wellington on Monday while she was doing a live TV interview and calmly continued with the programme. Ardern, who became prime minister in 2017, is hugely popular in New Zealand for her handling of several crises - a mass shooting in Christchurch last year, a volcanic eruption in December and the recent coronavirus pandemic. Wellington and nearby areas were shaken by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake with the epicentre 30 km (20 miles) northwest of Levin, a city close to the capital, and at a depth of 37 km, according to Geonet. Ardern was speaking on a live TV interview at the time from the parliament building, called the Beehive. "Were just having a bit of an earthquake here, Ryan...," she told the host of the show Ryan Bridge, as she, the camera and other things around her shook. "Quite a decent shake here...if you see things moving behind me. The Beehive moves a little more than most," she said. Ardern assured the host that she was safe and the interview resumed. The video was soon viral on social media. There were no damages and no injuries, Ardern confirmed at a news conference later, but the shaking that lasted for more than 30 seconds caused panic in Wellington with several people in offices and homes getting under their tables for cover. New Zealand lies on the seismically active "Ring of Fire", a 40,000-km arc of volcanoes and ocean trenches girdling much of the Pacific Ocean. The city of Christchurch is still recovering from a 6.3 magnitude quake in 2011 that killed 185 people. In 2016, a 7.8 magnitude tremor hit the South Island town of Kaikoura, killing two and causing billions of dollars worth of damage, including in the capital Wellington, which is on North Island. Melissa Goodwin (pictured with her boyfriend Caleb Valeri), 25, has been charged over her sexual relationship an inmate A female prison officer has been charged after allegedly having a sexual relationship with an inmate while he was behind bars. Melissa Goodwin, 25, was arrested on Monday morning over an alleged romance with a current prisoner that began last November. Police allege that on five occasions she had sexual encounters with an inmate at Sydney's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre, at Silverwater, in the city's west. Goodwin - who was stood down from her role last month - also allegedly smuggled in tobacco, cigarette lighters and chewing gum to the prisoner. She was taken to Campbelltown Police Station and charged with public office misconduct and engaging in a relationship with an inmate, causing a safety risk. Earlier this year Ms Goodwin posed happily alongside two fellow prison officers on the front cover of the March-April edition of the Corrective Services NSW magazine. Robert Hallows, boss of the NSW Corrective Services Investigation Unit, said they uncovered the alleged crime after a tip off from Corrective Services NSW. Goodwin was charged on Monday with public office misconduct and engaging in a relationship with an inmate, causing a safety risk. It came weeks after she appeared on the front cover the Corrective Services NSW magazine (pictured) 'Last Wednesday we received some information from the Correction Services NSW intelligence unit in relation to an (alleged) inappropriate relationship between a female officer and a male inmate,' Detective Inspector Hollows said. 'We have confirmed that their has (allegedly) been correspondence between this female officer and the inmate, and as a result she was taken to Campbelltown Police Station today and charged. 'The allegation is that there were five separate sexual incidents... also there was an allegation of contraband being taken into the centre, being tobacco, lighters and chewing gum.' Detective Inspector Hollows said NSW Police have a 'zero tolerance' on relationships between inmates and corrective services employees. Ms Goodwin had already been suspended by Corrective Services NSW over her relationship with Caleb Valeri, an up and coming rapper and former prison inmate. The pair are understood to be dating, but it is not suggested their relationship began prior to his release from prison. Goodwin - who was stood down from her role last month - allegedly had sexual encounters with the prisoner on five occasions and smuggled in tobacco, cigarette lighters and chewing gum Ms Goodwin had already been suspended by Corrective Services NSW over her relationship with Caleb Valeri (pictured), an up and coming rapper and former prison inmate. The pair are understood to be dating, but it is not suggested their relationship began prior to his release Corrective services workers are required to inform their employer of relationships of any nature they have with former inmates. A spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW confirmed earlier this month that the matter was under investigation. 'It is alleged the officer failed to declare an association with an offender,' she said. 'The matter has been referred to the Corrective Services Investigations Unit.' Ms Goodwin has been granted bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on July 14. Camerota asked if he is swayed on his COVID-19 response by about protesters in the state, most recently by salon and gym owners, asking to be able to reopen. "I don't begrudge their right to protest, but they don't sway me," Murphy said. He said while he wants to open gyms and salons, logistically, it's too soon due to them being indoors with lack of ventilation. "We're not there yet. I want to do it responsibly and I don't want to kill anybody," Murphy said. He said the same thing for churches. "I'm sure well get there, but we've got to get there right and get there at the right time," he said. Asked about Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stating that she has to filter her responses to President Donald Trump for fear it would affect state funding, Murphy said he's been able to find common ground with the president, but neither "pull no punches." "When it comes to saving lives, we've found common ground ... and I hope that we can continue to do so," Murphy said. After donating consignments of Paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) drugs to friendly nations around the world to support fight against the COVID-19 pandemic; India has now offered to send pesticides to the countries in its neighbourhood to help them fight another menace swarms of crop-devouring desert locusts that now pose a grave threat to food security in South Asia. For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here India is sending a consignment of pesticides to Iran to help the West Asian nation save its crops from being ravaged by swarms of desert locusts, although it has not yet received a positive response to a similar offer of support it made to Pakistan. Pakistan earlier sought to block attempts by India to work with all other South Asian nations and work out a regional strategy to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL) a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers of the Government of India is now in the process of production and supply of 25 MT of Malathion Technical pesticide to support locust control programme in Sistan-Balochistan and South Khorasan provinces of Iran. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has asked the HIL to produce and supply the consignment of the pesticides to the West Asian nation, after Tehran positively responded to New Delhis proposal for a coordinated response to the menace of desert locusts. Pakistan, however, cold-shouldered Indias proposal to strengthen bilateral institutional mechanisms to coordinate responses to attacks by the locusts as well as its offer to supply pesticides. It rather indicated that it would rely on its all-weather friend China. China so far donated 300 tons of locust control pesticides to Pakistan, along with 350 vehicle-mounted sprayers. The Chinese Government also sent a team of locust control experts to Pakistan to help local officials deal with the menace. Even as the world is grappling to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and bracing to deal with its impact on the economy, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has warned Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Iran, Pakistan and India about an invasion by the swarms of desert locusts, which, according to it, is going to be much worse than normal, possibly the worst in decades. The FAO reported that hopper bands of the locusts were maturing along the southwestern coastal plains in Iran, while another generation of breeding was underway in the southeast of the West Asian nation with hatching taking place on the coast and in the interior of the countrys Sistan-Baluchistan province. The adult groups were migrating from spring breeding areas in Balochistan province of Pakistan to summer breeding areas near the countrys border with India. The hopper groups were also present in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan, according to the UN agency. The adult groups and small swarms already reached India from Pakistan in the past weeks, ravaging crops in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and posing a grave threat to Maharashtra as well. The desert locust is the most dangerous and voracious migratory pest of the world, with a geographical range that could cover the equivalent of 20 percent of the surface of the earth. The swarms of desert locusts can travel up to 150 kilometres every day in search of food, migrating across long distances and even spreading from one continent to another. India already has an existing institutionalized mechanism with Pakistan for bilateral cooperation to deal with raids by desert locusts, including holding six meetings on the border between plant protection advisors and other officials of the two nations for exchange of information. The two sides also maintain wireless communication between officials in Jodhpur (India) and Karachi (Pakistan) every year during the period from June to November every year. New Delhi offered to build on the mechanism to coordinate a stronger response to the swarms of locusts, which, according to the experts, might pose a grave threat to food security in South Asia. Pakistan, however, did not respond to the offer from India. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, May 26 2020 Medical workers treating COVID-19 patients in Jakarta have reported that they have yet to receive the financial incentives announced by the central government and provincial administration in March. A Jakarta-based general practitioner Arif, who asked to use a pseudonym, discussed his and other colleagues experiences while treating COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), emergency rooms and other wards in a hospital in Jakarta. He is also treating suspected and confirmed patients with mild symptoms in isolation rooms. Arif, who chose not to reveal the name of the hospital where he works, said it was part of a private hospital group appointed by the government to treat emerging infectious disease patients, as stipulated in a circular issued by the Health Ministry. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Reports of crimes of an economic nature have taken on an unusual prominence in media controlled by the Cuban regime. This trend reflects a clear strategy of terrorizing the population regarding such acts, mostly related to the deviation of products, hoarding, and marketing outside the scope of the law, while systematically violating the rights of the accused. From both a legal and journalistic point of view, many red lines are crossed: interrogations of suspects at the "scene of the crime" are published, sometimes even their names, those of their parents, their home addresses, and their identity card numbers, are shown. In a democratic country where there is a separation of powers the relationship between the media and the judicial system is very different, but in Cuba a particularly crude machine is employed that prosecutes citizens criminally and morally in order to teach others lessons. Corruption and economic crime are nothing new in a country where people cannot live on their wages, and where resellers and "merchants" are not to blame for the shortage of products in state markets. The journalist from the state television network Islavision Yuliet Perez published about this on her social networks: "if you gloat over doing 'journalistic work' in the 'trial or court' genre, knowing that it is unethical, and that there are legal mechanisms to prosecute these guys, and that trying them like this in public is really a second sanction, you are doing the same thing as them: profiting off the pandemic." Nor are these defendants given the right to rebuttal, as the media are owned by the Communist Party of Cuba, and do not allow the slightest room for dissent or a variety of opinions. Recently, Humberto Lopez, the presenter of "Hacemos Cuba", one of the official television programs that most flagrantly engaged in these unscrupulous practices, tried to justify them by arguing on his Facebook account that: "Oral and public trials send a preventive and protective message to society. By resorting to collective shame, a clear signal is sent to those who violate the law and put others at risk." Attorney Eloy Viera commented on this in a text published in Periodismo de Barrio: "There is no legal basis to justify the criminal reports filling the national press over the last week. They do not meet standards of ethics and serious journalism. But neither do they reflect the autonomous and independent exercise of the right to information and expression that must underpin the media's work." For this reason Viera added "that makes them harmful material for those involved and for a society that continues to reproduce and accept attitudes towards police surveillance that are rewarded by these reports. An attitude revealing that in Cuba many still prefer to sacrifice the individual and his rights, rather than to look at and face the real cause of the problems that afflict him." Meanwhile, Ricardo Ronquillo, president of UPEC, the only authorized journalistic union in the country, remarked, like someone living on another planet, that "the Cuban press system is really shining, offering clear signs of social responsibility, the ethical nature of the profession, its indeclinable vocation of public service, and an ability to respond to unforeseen events and requirements for innovation and change". Evidently, Diaz-Canel's calls to act severely against those who violate the rules have been received as orders by a media system that diligently obeys those in power's directives, ignoring, without blushing, the most elementary principles of their profession. As Rene Fidel Gonzalez, PhD in Legal Sciences, wrote: "There is no manual, practice, or exercise of serious and ethical journalism that can excuse such outrages. We must rescue the rule of law in Cuba to so that it, at least, saves us from this conservative wave that regards arrogance, fatality and puerile a virtue." As many as 20 flights were operated to and from the Mumbai airport till 12:45 pm on Monday after Indian airlines resumed commercial passenger services after two months of Covid-19 lockdown. The airport received around 1,900 passenger, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) said in a statement. The government had on March 25 announced suspension of all commercial passenger flights, following the imposition of a nationwide lockdown. Last week, the government decided to lift restrictions on the operations of the domestic flight services and allowed Indian carriers to recommence one-third of their total flights from each airport. As of 12:40 pm Monday, seven flights carrying 266 arrived at the Shivaji Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) while a total of 1,613 passenger departed in 13 flights to different destinations till 12.45 pm, MIAL said. Budget carrier IndiGo was the first carrier to recommence air services to and from the city airport with the departure of its flight to Patna at 6.45 am and its first flight arriving from Lucknow at 8.20 am. Mumbai airport had on Sunday announced it will restart operations with 50 flights per day to begin with, 25 arrivals and 25 departures. It had also urged the passengers above the age of 14 to mandatorily download the Aarogya Setu app to establish safe travel and as part of the SOPs (standard operating procedure) put in place before the recommencement of operations. CSMIA had also advised passengers above 80 years as well as expectant mothers and passengers with health issues to restrict travelling. PTI IAS BAL BAL SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 23:46:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Marwa Yahya CAIRO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's hotel industry is trying a new beginning as the government eases the anti-coronavirus restriction measures gradually. So far more than 70 hotels have received the health safety certificate required for reoperation after they have followed the health guidelines laid out by the Egyptian government and the World Health Organisation (WHO), Egypt's tourism and antiquities ministry said. The hotels that received the permission are located in five provinces: the Red Sea, South Sinai, Alexandria, Suez and Cairo, the ministry said in a statement. "The hotels are working with a maximum capacity of 25 percent as an experimental opening until the end of May, then they are allowed to accommodate guests at a 50-percent capacity starting early June," Alla Aaqel, chairman of the Red Sea Hotels Chamber, told Xinhua. He added 83 out of 252 hotels in the Red Sea province have applied to get the health certificate, but only 41 hotels have met the required conditions. Noting that privately-owned boats and yachts are allowed for operation, Aaqel said that public beaches will be completely closed, but the hotels will operate their shores amid strict precautionary measures. However, boat owners will be subject to stripping their license for several months and fined in case of violating the precautionary measures. He reiterated that Safari trips and diving will be suspended during the Eid al-Fitr holiday that will end on May 29. "The move won't compensate the losses caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 for the tourism sector that has generated record-high revenues of 13 billion U.S. dollars in 2019," said Aaqel. Reopening hotels will test the preparedness of the tourism industry for operating normally, he explained, adding that the domestic tourism is the "life jacket" for the hotel industry that employs a large number of workers. By the end of April, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, in cooperation with the Chamber of Hotel, announced measures needed for safe operation, including preventive measures in hotels upon receiving guests, internal supervision on laundry, food, and beverages, swimming pools, beaches, and gyms. The measures also include housing, occupancy rate, providing awareness signs, and services to ensure a safe working environment to prevent the spread of the virus. In Qena province, south of the capital, Basma, a four-star hotel restarted operation on May 20. "The hotel has installed sterilization gates, and designated a complete floor for quarantine with residential doctors," said Mokhlis Malak, owner of the hotel. He added the hotel's restaurant has abided by the social distance measures and put only two persons on a table, with two meters between every two tables. Meanwhile, Wael Talaat, a 49-year-old engineer, who is accommodated with his family in Hilton Hurghada Plaza Hotel, hailed the reopening of hotels as a kind of relief for the people kept at home for nearly two months. "I enjoy the beach activities with my family during the feast holiday," said Talaat, adding that the hotel has continuously sterilized the personal tools of everyone. Egypt has decided to impose stricter measures during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, including extending its curfew hours and suspending public transportation to stem the spread of the coronavirus. According to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, as of mid-June the state will announce a gradual resumption of several activities, including sporting clubs and youth centers, and 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, Madbouly said. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 764 in Egypt based on the health ministry's last update on Sunday. Enditem Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 : Putting up a sense of happiness in accomplishments, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said his government's four-year journey has been eventful and expressed satisfaction that he was able to give to the people what was promised in the election manifesto. However, the Congress-led opposition dismissed this saying Kerala has been destroyed in all respects during Vijayan's rule. "What we planned to do in 5 years, we could do in 4 years," said Vijayan while addressing the media on completion of four years in office. It was on this day in 2016 that Vijayan and his team were sworn in. "We were able to achieve all this even when successive disasters hit the state -- starting from the Ockhi waves in 2017, followed by Nipah in 2018 and then the worst ever floods in 2018, followed by another flood in 2019. Then came Covid-19. Everywhere due to our steadfast determination we were able to fight all these disasters and moved forward. In our journey we received all round help from Keralaites all over the world," said Vijayan. He said post Covid, Kerala by now has achieved a tag of being the safest place in all respects and many companies are now looking forward to come to Kerala. "We have come out with a very favourable policy for investors, where in a week's time, we will give such investors the license to start their work," said Vijayan and added, "we are getting in touch with various Indian Embassies to make things easy for investors who are looking to invest in Kerala." "Various committees are soon to be set up where nominees of foreign trade bodies (America, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Singapore) would be members. This would help in speeding up things for investors," added Vijayan. He also pointed out that unlike 'others', his party's election manifesto was one which is meant to be achieved and not meant to be one, which is a document of promises, which will never be accomplished. He said when the current fiscal began, we knew that there would be a 15 per cent hike in spending and for that we expected Centre to come to our help, but it did not happen. "So we decided to rework our strategy and decided to re-energise KIFBI, where we raised Rs 50,000 crore outside of the budget and by now, we have given the green signal to Rs 54,291 crore worth of projects through it," Vijayan said. He said one of the biggest achievements of his government is the formation of the Kerala Bank. "Despite lots of negative vibes from several quarters, we have set it up and it is now the second biggest bank in our state," said Vijayan. On the state public sector enterprises, he said, they began with a loss of Rs 139 crore. "In the first year, the total losses were reduced to Rs 71 crore and at the end of the previous fiscal (2019-20), we had a working profit of Rs 56 crore, which is a handsome achievement," added Vijayan. On the education front, he said, compared to the earlier situations, five lakh students sought admissions to state government schools. "In 4,752 schools, infrastructure was improved, 14,000 schools got connected to broadband and 45,000 classrooms turned hi-tech," said Vijayan. Another achievement under him he said was fresh investment in the Startup which jumped from Rs 2.20 crore to Rs 875 crore. Lauding police force, Vijayan said, "The police here have done a good job when it resolved numerous murder mysteries. And when it came to tackling Covid, they did a great work and it continues." He said another feature of his government has been building 2,19,154 homes for the homeless. "We planned to give 2 lakh title deeds to those who did not have land and by now 1.43 lakh people have been given and very soon another 35,000 more would be given," added Vijayan. He said that Covid was a setback to the smooth progress of the state, but so far this pandemic has been handled well and the government will continue to tackle with strengths. "The number of cases was down, but on expected lines, with the arrival of a good number of our people from abroad and within the country, the number of cases has now started to go up. This was on expected lines and we are fully geared up to deal with. If one looks into statistics, now on an average everyday there are 39 cases, but I am not going into the mathematical analysis of this," added Vijayan. But the opposition Congress was not impressed. Its top leaders staged a protest in front of the State Secretariat and described Vijayan's tenure as the most disappointing one and had it not been for Covid, today would have been a day when extravagant celebrations would have been seen. State Congress president Mulappally Ramachandran said when people in Kerala are suffering during Covid times, Vijayan has hiked bus fares and electricity charges. "Never before has Kerala seen such an extravagant government and as a result the public debt has risen from Rs 1.57 lakh crore to Rs 2.50 lakh crore. This government has been an abject failure on all fronts," said Ramachandran. Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala said Vijayan's tenure would go down as a government which engaged in scientific corruption. "We have seen a few corrupt deals that were exposed by us. Today he is riding under Covid and feels none knows what's happening in Kerala. With just one more year to go, Kerala is presently neck deep in debts and this is going to be huge burden for the next government. The only thing that is happening here is a blatant PR exercise and the figures of a successful public sector enterprise are all a bluff. The re-build Kerala initiative following the 2018 floods is nothing but a hype and nothing has happened. This Vijayan government would go down as the one which has taken Kerala backwards in all respects," said Chennithala. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text With the spread of Covid19 and the still continuing lockdown, a large number of migrant workers and daily wagers in India have been left in the lurch without even the basics. Food is scare and hunger is a constant companion as tens of thousands of the migrant workforce, who have seen their incomes collapse, head back to their villages across the country from urban centers. An unfolding tragedy In their desperation to reach home as the lockdown entered its fourth phase on Monday, unrest and has spread in metropolitan cities with scuffles breaking out as migrants scurry to board bus and train services. Losing patience, many with their families and meager belongings are walking hundreds of kilometers braving inclement weather and hunger. It is one of the biggest-ever exodus of people in recent times. Poor laborers are dying from dehydration. They have been killed in road accidents. Kids are suffering from heat and humidity. And almost all of them are battling hunger and have been left penniless, Pradeep Kumar, a trade unionist told RFI. Many blame the lack of in-depth planning while strategising implementation of lockdown as the main reason behind a large-scale reverse migration of laborers. COVID-19 has exposed the condition of the countrys labor force. More than 100 million workers have reportedly lost employment, said Nitin Sinha, a labor law expert. Whats of greater concern is that the total workforce of India, around 90-92 per cent (about 450 million) is informal, which means they work without social and employment security. Frustrated migrants who are unable to reach home are venting their ire at the authorities. Demanding immediate travel arrangements, migrant workers on Sunday hurled stones at the police and damaged vehicles on a national highway near Rajkot in western Gujarat. For some migrant laborers walking back home on foot day after day on unforgiving roads, painkillers have become an inseparable part of their lives in transit. The medicines help them bear the pain of cuts, blisters and swellings, offering temporary relief to keep them on their feet for a few hours more. Story continues Accidents and weather This is unlike any other disaster. It's not limited to one area or time frame, and for millions of people, apart from the health crisis, it's also a fight for survival, Anshu Gupta of NGO, Goonj, told RFI. His organization has been undertaking disaster relief and humanitarian aid for struggling daily wagers. According to various estimates the lockdown has caused more than 300 deaths of migrants returning home that includes road accidents, denial of medical care, exhaustion, police excesses and even suicide. The worst road accident occurred on Saturday when 25 migrant workers were killed and several injured when a trailer truck they were travelling in rammed into a supply lorry near Auraiya in northern Uttar Pradesh. Last month, a 12-year-old girl, Jamlo Makdam died while taking a 150-kilometre trip on foot from a village in southern state of Telangana to her native Bijapur district in central Chhattisgarh. She died of exhaustion after the three day trudge. When the lockdown was announced on March 24, it was estimated that around 10 million migrants were stranded across the country and housed at various shelters and food camps being run by the government, NGOs or their employers. Authorities are now evacuating people along the eastern coast ahead of a super cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday. The cyclone comes when there is a spike migration in the eastern states of West Bengal and Odisha which are seeing a larger number of them return home. The AV1 next-generation open source video coding format is being rapidly adopted by streaming platforms across the world. Compared with the current mainstream video compression standards, AV1 is said to boast the significant advantage of transmitting higher quality video content with less data. iQIYI calculates that in comparison, users require 20% less streaming data when using AV1 for the same video quality.To further improve this new streaming format's efficiency, iQIYI has developed a proprietary AV1 standard-based QAV1 encoder that reduces computing complexity, which is said to avoid prolonged encoding and enhances AV1's application efficiency. iQIYI launched AV1-powered video content on its platform at the end of April, becoming the first and the only stream service in China to support the format.Noting the continuous adoption of 5G technology , iQIYI adds that 4K and even 8K Ultra HD will become popular amongst consumers, and the application of the AVI format will help them better enjoy HD and UHD content.The partnership is designed to enable both companies to promote jointly the application of AV1 technology and see iQIYI become the first company in China to deliver the AV1 stream. The result, says iQIYI, is that in future users will be able to enjoy a better viewing experience on 5G intelligent terminal products equipped with MediaTek Dimensity 1000 series, the first smartphone SoC to integrate an AV1 hardware video decoder, enabling it to play back AV1 video streams up to 4K resolution at 60 fps.Going forward, iQIYI says that it will continue to explore and invest in cutting-edge technologies , and further drive the adoption of AV1 to enable enhanced video experience in the 5G era through innovation and extensive partnerships with industry participants, chip suppliers and smartphone makers. Since the imposition of coronavirus lockdown, as many as 3.56 lakh migrants have been sent to their home states through 285 shramik special trains operated by Ferozepur division. These included 15 trains that left for their journeys on Monday. Of these 15 trains, nine were operated from Ludhiana railway station, five from Jalandhar City railway station and one from Amritsar. LUDHIANA OPERATED MAXIMUM TRAINS WITHIN FEROZEPUR DIVISION So far, a total of 157 trains have left from Ludhiana railway station, the maximum within Ferozepur division. Of these, the 150th shramik train from Ludhiana ferried 1,600 migrants to Chhapra, Bihar, on Monday. Following this, 76 trains started from Jalandhar City, 28 from Amritsar, 11 from Ferozepur, 10 from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and one each from Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. 187 TRAINS FERRIED MIGRANTS TO UP Divisional railway manager (DRM) Rajesh Agarwal said that nowadays, each train is carrying a maximum of 1,600 migrants that was earlier restricted to 1,200 passengers. A total of 187 trains have ferried the migrants to Uttar Pradesh (UP), 69 trains have left for different districts in Bihar, 11 for Madhya Pradesh (MP), seven for Jharkhand, six for Chhattisgarh and one each for Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala and Uttarakhand, he said. The DRM also said that so far, 17 shramik trains have arrived at Udhampur railway station with stranded people from UP, MP, Delhi, Goa, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. If you started 2020 with a plan to conceive, you may be feeling nervous due to COVID-19. News reports suggest women globally are rethinking their plans for a pregnancy because of the pandemic and its many implications. So how safe is it to try for a baby at the moment? And what are some of the things you should consider? While you can only reduce your risk of COVID-19 so much, you can take control of other factors that increase your chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby. Credit:iStock Research to date Australian health authorities are not currently advising people against conceiving, but pregnant women are considered a vulnerable group. This is mostly due to a lack of research about how COVID-19 affects pregnant women and their babies, rather than evidence of bad outcomes. On April 16, a group of American researchers published what is known so far about COVID-19 and human reproduction. Here are some of the key points: The United States government has demanded that a fresh and in-depth investigation be conducted into the allegations against the president of the African Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adesina, using an independent investigator. The call came after the banks ethics committee had cleared Mr Adesina of all allegations of wrongdoing raised by whistle-blowers within the organisation. Mr Adesina is the sole candidate for Bank leadership over the next five years. The U.S., a member of the bank 1983, said in a May 22, 2020 letter to the chair of the AfDBs board of governors, Niale Kaba, that the U.S. did not accept the decision of the ethics committee to totally exonerate Mr Adesina of all allegations, saying it was not yet time to make such a declaration. We have deep reservations about the integrity of the Committees process. Instead, we urge you to initiate an in-depth investigation of the allegations using the services of an independent outside investigator of high professional standing, the letter, signed by secretary of the treasury, Steven Mnuchin, said. Had the Ethics Committee undertaken a proper preliminary examination that was in line with the Board of Governors Resolution B/BG/2008/11, standard practices at other international financial institutions, and the Banks own rules and procedures, it would have reviewed available facts that could be gathered by external counsel and found in internal Bank records. We fear that wholesale dismissal of all allegations without appropriate investigation will tarnish the reputation of this institution as one that does not uphold high standards of ethics and governance, it said. But what is Mr Adesina, Nigerias former agriculture minister, accused of? And how was he cleared? Ethics Committee Report On April 26, the Ethics Committee AfDB led by Takuji Yano, a Japanese, released an eight-page report on a January 19 complaint received from some members of staff of the organisation who described themselves as a Group of Indignant Staff Members, against Mr Adesina. The document exonerated Mr Adesina and concluded that the petition received from the whistleblowers was not based on any objective and solid fact. The committee explained that it reached the conclusion with the help of information verbally communicated to the committee by the director of the Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) and by the banks auditor general during committee meetings held on 26 March and 2 April 2020. The committee chairman said the whistleblowers did not provide any supporting proof of their allegations and added that when they were asked to do so they declined, arguing that doing so would compromise their anonymity. President Muhammadu Buhari welcomed the ethics committees report clearing Mr Adesina. The whistleblowers, however, argued the ethics committee sat on their complaint for six weeks and did nothing about it. They alleged that instead of investigating the allegation, attempts were made to uncover their identities. They said not until they decided to share their complaint with a wider audience that the ethics committee decided to do anything about their petition. They further accused some staff members close to Mr Adesina of actively working to sabotage the duties of the Ethics Committee. They said that part of the attempt included a counter-complaint filed against Steven Dowd and executive director from the United States for allegedly colluding with the whistle-blowers (us). The complaint comes from a group claiming to be dissidents from our own group, which can be easily proven to be a false claim. They also accused Mr Adesina of deliberately vetoing a meeting of the Ethics Committee using social distancing as an excuse. Lastly, they accused a vice president of the bank, Jennifer Blanke, of intimidating the chairman of the Ethics committee by filing a complaint that he allegedly verbally abused one of her staff members suggesting that it may have forced him to baulk at thoroughly investigating their complaint. The sole objective of these tactics is to stall the work of the Committee, which we find very disturbing and a good indication that our initial complaint was not too far off the mark, they wrote. Alleged breaches of code of conduct The original complaint seen by PREMIUM TIMES include 16 cases of alleged breaches perpetrated by Mr Adesina and an additional four cases of breaches later sent to the Board of Governors. The allegations range for alleged misconduct and favoritism, arbitrary recruitment, private gain, impediment to efficiency, singlehandedly overruling decisions taken by directors, nepotism, political lobbying, use of bank resources for private gains. Recruitment misconducts The whistleblowers claimed that almost immediately after Mr Adesinas assumption of office, he usurped the role HR manager, playing very active role in the recruitment of all managerial positions. They claimed that Mr Adesinas involvement has resulted in long delays in filling vacant positions as well as resulting in an unusually high turnover of HR directors at the bank. The whistleblowers kicked against the appointment of Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, a former director-general of Nigerias National Pension Commission (PenCom) as a senior director in charge of African Investment Forum (AIF) in September 2019. They alleged that Mrs Anohu-Amazu was dismissed by President Buhari in 2017. They said Mr Adesina ignored the allegation against Mrs Anohu-Amazu and went ahead to hire her. They said the incumbent AIF director, Stella Kilonzo, resigned in June that year partly because she refused to hire Mrs Anohu-Amazu as a consultant for a fee considerably higher than what was allowed on Mr. Adesinas request. The whistleblowers also accused Mr Adesina of preferential treatment in the appointment of Nigerian-born Martin Fregene. They alleged that Mr Fregene is an in-law to the banks president. They claimed that Mr Fregene was an aide to Mr Adesina when he was Nigerias Minister of Agriculture and was appointed a lead expert to the Banks vice president on Agriculture in 2017 before being promoted to an adviser without competition. Advertisements Mr Fregene was later made the banks director of the Agriculture and Agro-industry Department on January 1 2018 when Mr Ojukwu the incumbent was not expected to retire until January 31, 2018. Other alleged recruitment misconducts levelled against Mr Adesina included: The appointment of Maria Mulundi, a Kenyan and an alleged long-time associate of the president of the bank as a Director for Cabinet without competition with a 32.7 per cent salary increase in breach of Rule 43.01 of the Staff Rules. Mrs Mulindi was later promoted as the director in charge of Civil Society and Community Based Organizations and transferred to the Southern Region. The whistleblowers claimed that her latest promotion was a duplication of the already existing position of Director for Gender, Women and Civil Society and wondered if she was not posted on special duty to take care of Mr Adesinas wife, who was receiving treatment in South Africa. The alleged preferential treatment in the appointment of Victor Oladokun, a Nigerian and owner of 3D Global Consult, in 2017 as a consultant on a $326,000 contract. The whistleblower alleged that Mr Oladokun and Mr Adesina are childhood friends raising suspicion of conflict of interest. The whistleblowers also raised concerns over the appointment of Kapil Kapoor, the banks former director-general of Southern region as a consultant immediately after he retired in August 2019. He was then immediately recruited by the President as a consultant and was kept in office in Pretoria with a very comfortable monthly fee of USD 23,000. Mr. KAPOOR, who is no longer a staff member, continues to enjoy the advantages of the position of director-general. And he does so in utter disregard for the presence of a Deputy Director General in Pretoria, he said. Mr Adesina was also accused of overruling the decision of the HR director not to confirm the employment of Emmanuel Ezinwa, a Nigerian who was accused of harassment while on probation. The whistleblowers said that decision was among what forced the HR manager to resign after barely six months after she took office. The TAAT allegation The whistleblowers claimed that Mr Adesina impeded efficiency in his management of a $120 million Technologies for African Agriculture transformation (TAAT) programme after he allegedly used his political weight to compel a reluctant Board of Directors to award the initial grant of the programme worth $40 million to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria. One has to remember that the President worked for IITA and AfricaRice, and both institutions were to benefit from the grant. The mastermind behind the project, Mr. FREGENE, is also an IITA alumnus and the task manager, Mr Mude, is an alumnus of ILRI, another institution financed by the programme. In 2018, IITA, the implementing agency, proceeded to purchase through direct procurement USD 5.46m worth of pesticides from a multinational company, while the grant contract specifically prohibited such procurement method. Fortunately, the fiduciary controls of the Bank stopped the process, but Mr. FREGENE went ahead and personally negotiated the price directly with the supplier and asked for the shipment of the pesticides. When confronted by senior management, he tried to launch a competitive bidding process to cover up the direct purchase. The fiduciary controls of the Bank worked once again, and the payment of the suppliers invoice was blocked for non-compliance with Bank rules. When informed, the President himself requested the payment to be released to the supplier, the petition stated. Preferential treatment for Nigeria and award received The whistleblowers also alleged that under Mr Adesinas presidency, the banks organisation chart was altered to promote Nigeria to an almost full-fledged region. Admittedly, Nigeria is AfDBs largest shareholder with over 9%, but its not clear if this justifies a preferential treatment. Nigerians have also been particularly well treated in the massive recruitment drive that was launched due to the restructuring of President ADESINA between 2016 and 2018. When roughly 9% of new recruits were Nigerians (or dual nationals of Nigerian origin) in line with Nigerian shareholding , they made up roughly 25% of the newly recruited managerial functions. It is not clear if this preferential treatment was justified by a previous under-representation, they said. They also accuse Mr Adesina of using the banks funds to cover associated costs in two major awards he won the World Food Prize (USD 250,000) and the Sunhak Peace Prize (USD 500,000) 2017 and 2019 respectively and wondered if the awards were not made to the bank why did the bank cover the associated costs of the awards? Dozens of people, Bank staff, executive Directors, former Head of State, entertainers or family members attended the award ceremonies at the Banks costs (one in Des Moines, Iowa, the other in Seoul, Korea). If these awards were private, why did the Bank support associated costs? If they were awarded to the President of the Group of the Bank were the awards returned to the Bank? Political lobbying and using bank resources for self-promotion The whistleblowers described Adesina as the unchallenged travel champion of the bank and accused him of using the opportunities of his travels to meet regional heads of States and making financial promises to obtain their support for his re-election. They also accused Mr Adesina of recruiting a biographer, Leon Hasser to write his authorised biography: Against All Odds. World Food Prize Laureate Dr Akinwumi Adesina and His Drive to Feed Africa (ISBN: 9781728315386) with the banks resources. It is unclear why the Bank paid for this biography, which was not officially promoted by the Bank, nor translated to the other official language of the institution. It primarily focuses on the accomplishments of the President when he was Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria and only received some limited publicity in Nigeria. More surprisingly, the terms of reference of Dr HESSERs mission state that all outputs delivered under this consultancy contract will remain the property of the protagonist of the book (Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina) in contradiction with the usual Bank provision on intellectual property which states that all proprietary and intellectual property rights () will be vested in () the Bank. Adesinas response PREMIUM TIMES has not succeeded in obtaining Mr Adesinas response to the allegations. We could not reach his Abidjan-based media aide, Charles Moyela, on the phone after multiple attempts. His mobile phone provider claimed his number was unavailable. However, Paris-based publication, The Africa Report, reported that Mr Adesina wrote a 260-page document where he condemned the method used by his accusers stating their petition was gratuitous and not based on any objective and proven facts, and should be dismissed by the committee. The purpose of the complaint is not to report fraud, corruption or other acts of misconduct. Quite the contrary, it has other, hidden motives. The idea that other people are acting in concert with the whistle-blowers is not pure speculation,he said. On the allegation of using the bank resources to cover associated costs of his award, Mr Adesina explained that he paid for his family to attend the award ceremonies and added that he donated the money from the two awards to help create the World Hunger Fighters Foundation He further explained that AfDB staff did not attend these events because the president was the recipient of the World Food Prize, but because the bank was promoting the launch of its Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme during these events. On the allegation that the $120 million TAAT contract was improperly awarded, the Africa Report explained that though Mr Adesina admitted that the condition under which the contract was awarded did in fact violate the terms signed by AfDB and TAAT, he explained that he intervened to protect the banks reputation under the threat of a pending legal action. As president, [it is incumbent on me] to make sure that sound decisions in the banks best interest are being taken in order to protect the banks reputation and ensure that it isnt at risk of legal action which could harm its reputation and jeopardise its privileges and immunities, Mr. Adesina wrote in the memorandum. Concerning the alleged preferential treatment for Nigeria and Nigerians, Mr Adesina said: The whistleblowers were wrong to attribute the banks current organisational structure to the president, as the Board of Directors carried out its statutory role of approving appointed officials, In fact, the Ethics committee supported Mr Adesina when it ruled that one African country and one other non-regional country of the bank have more officials at the bank than Nigeria does. Russian prosecutors on Monday asked for the maximum 18-year jail term for former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who is on trial for espionage charges that he denies, Reuters reports. The state of play: Whelan, an American citizen who also holds British, Canadian and Irish passports, was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 after allegedly receiving a USB drive containing classified information. Whelan claims he did not know it was classified material and says it was a sting operation set up by Russian intelligence. The details of Whelan's trial, which is expected to produce a verdict on June 15, have been kept relatively quiet as Russia claims the case involves classified information. But Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, has been revealing details to the press: The prosecution has made a very harsh demand, its absolutely unjustified and groundless. To be honest, were in shock," Zherebenkov said Monday. What they're saying: U.S. officials have called for Wheelans release, describing his case as a significant obstacle to improving bilateral ties between Russia and the U.S. U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan said, "There is no legitimacy to a procedure that is hidden behind closed doors. It is not transparent, it is not fair, and it is not impartial." Go deeper: Trump confidant lobbying to free U.S. citizen Paul Whelan from Russia UPDATE: 9:45 P.M. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27: Peter Manfredonia was found and taken into custody in Maryland. *** Peter Manfredonia a 2015 Newtown High School grad and University of Connecticut student wanted in a deadly crime spree was taken into custody Wednesday night, according to authorities. Police say two people died, a man was seriously injured, a woman was released after being kidnapped and another man was the victim of a home invasion. The 23-year-old Manfredonia was taken into custody in Hagerstown, Maryland. Heres what we know and dont know so far: What we know: Manfredonia was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals and Marylands Washington County Sheriffs Office near the Pilot Travel Center, a truck stop on Halfway Boulevard in Hagerstown, Md. Hagerstown police in Maryland on Wednesday (Mary 27) said the department received information that fugitive Peter Manfredonia may be in the Hagerstown area ... We believe that Manfredonia may still be carrying a large black duffel bag and that the bag contains firearms. Hagerstown police said Manfredonia abandoned a stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a Sheetz gas station in Chambersburg, Pa., on Tuesday. Police said the vehicle was discovered on Wednesday. Hagerstown police say they believe Manfredonia is still in the Hagerstown, Washington County area and urged any residents to call in sightings to 911. Maryland State Police told Hearst Connecticut Media that the agency notified all its troopers that Manfredonia is in Maryland and wanted on various offenses and urged anyone who sees him to call 911 immediately. Earlier in the week, Manfredonias last sighting had been in East Stroudsburg, Pa., after police say he ditched the stolen car he was driving and the woman he kidnapped from Derby in New Jersey late Sunday (May 24) afternoon. The FBI has joined police agencies in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in the search. Police said Manfredonia is the suspect of a Friday homicide and assault in Willington, where Theodore DeMers was killed with an edged weapon and another man was also attacked. Manfredonia was allegedly in the area to see an ex-girlfriend. As of Sunday, police said the second victim in the Willington attack was still facing life-threatening injuries. By Tuesday, he was in stable condition. His wife says his hands were injured the most. Manfredonia is considered to be armed and dangerous, according to police, who said he is armed with a handgun and long guns. Police said Manfredonia held a homeowner on Turnpike Drive in Willington against his will on Sunday (May 24) morning. When he left, Manfredonia took supplies from the homeowner, including food, firearms and his truck, police said. According to police, Manfredonia crashed the truck in Derby on Sunday (May 23), setting off a search in the area. Police say Manfredonia then went to the home of 23-year-old Nicholas J. Eisele, a former classmate of his at Newtown High School who was living in Derby. Police found Eisele dead, but have not yet ruled it a homicide. When police arrived at Eiseles home around 11 a.m. Sunday (May 24), Manfredonia was gone, having stolen the mans girlfriends black Volkswagen Jetta with with a Connecticut license plate and a bumper sticker that paid tribute to the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook massacre. State police said Manfredonia took Eiseles girlfriend against her will from the Derby home before releasing her in New Jersey. On Tuesday, Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner James Gill said DeMers died of sharp force and chop injuries of head with sharp force injuries of torso and extremities. Gill said Eiseles cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head. The Jetta was found in New Jersey near the Pennsylvania boarder, police said. Manfredonia was then sighted in East Stroudsburg, Pa. That was his last sighting shared by authorities until Wednesday, when they said he was in Maryland. What we dont know: Did Manfredonia surrender to police, or was he taken into custody at gunpoint? Conflicting reports were circulating late Wednesday night regarding the circumstances of his capture. What charges will he face? State police in Connecticut said whether he faces state or federal charges is still to be determined as the investigation continues. Manfredonias current location. Wednesday (May 27) afternoon, Pennsylvania State Police said Manfredonia was driven to Maryland by an Uber driver, to the area of Hagerstown. Police have not said if there have been any further sightings. Police have not said if they know what motivated the killings. Police have said two people have died, another man was seriously wounded, one woman was kidnapped and another man was held against his will in his Willington home. It is not known if there are any other victims. Police said they have interviewed the woman Manfredonia is accused of kidnapping. Police have not yet said why he kidnapped the woman or why he let her go in New Jersey. LONDON, May 25 (Reuters) - The euro steadied around the $1.09 level on Monday in a potentially big week for European policymakers as they debate the outlines of a recovery fund aimed at helping member nations. Austria, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden want loans from a time-limited fund for nations struggling to recover from the pandemic, rather than the grants proposed by France and Germany last week for the European Union's coronavirus recovery plan. The Franco-German plan sent the euro rallying above $1.10 last week before the much-expected counter proposal by the four countries pushed it back below $1.09 . The rival proposals come before the European Commission's own plans for the recovery fund on Wednesday and any watered down proposals from the original plan would be perceived as euro negative. On the other hand, "if the Franco-German debt proposal (miraculously) passes the test during the coming week, we reckon that it would be a major euro positive event," Nordea strategists said. On Monday, the single currency steadied around $1.09 but remained about 5% below a 2020 high of near 1.15 hit in early March. Elsewhere, the U.S. dollar erased earlier gains and edged lower on the day though concerns about a growing standoff between the United States and China over civil liberties in Hong Kong kept sentiment subdued. The greenback , which tends to behave like a safe-haven asset at times of market turmoil and political uncertainty, was steady near a one-week high at 99.74. The Australian dollar , by dint of its strong trade connections with China and the offshore yuan , led losers against the U.S. dollar. More turbulence for U.S.-China relations is prompting some investors such as UBS Wealth Management to hold a "defensive" position in Hong Kong. "(The) larger risk for global investors is what happens if it becomes further enmeshed in broader relations," said Mark Haefele, its chief investment officer. China's proposed national security legislation for Hong Kong could lead to U.S. sanctions and threaten the city's status as a financial hub, White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said on Sunday. With financial markets in Singapore, Britain and the United States closed for public holidays on Monday, the weekend developments hit risk aversion in broader markets in early trade. Sterling was also on the back foot against both the dollar and the euro as political pressure grew on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to fire senior adviser Dominic Cummings. Cummings, the architect of the 2016 campaign to leave the EU and widely considered to be Johnson's most influential strategist, came under pressure after reports he travelled to northern England from London during a nationwide lockdown in March when his wife was ill with COVID-19 symptoms. Ivory Coast has become the first country in West Africa to reopen schools following the easing of restrictions as a result of the novel coronavirus. Officials from the education ministry of the West Africa country believe they have put in place enough preventive measures to avoid the spread of the disease among students. Reports say students from most towns were seen in backpacks queueing to wash their hands under the supervision of teachers before being allowed entry. Most of them were seen sitting one to desks which has been provided with bottles of hand sanitizers. School authorities told journalists they are confident students can study together in safety after the introduction of measures to contain the spread of the pandemic. Ivory Coast which is the world's largest producer of cocoa has currently recorded a total of 2,376 cases with 1,219 recoveries and 30 deaths. It is not clear whether countries in West Africa will follow Ivory Coast's example but most schools in the private sector in Ghana have switched to virtual classes for their students for the past few weeks with various payment plans for students. Students in the public sector however have been left to their fate for now with no official communication on how they intend to spend their final term which started a few weeks ago. Since his first offensive in 2014, Mr. Hifter has been backed by an array of foreign forces. In the past year, a powerful Kremlin-backed private army, the Wagner Group, turbocharged his flagging assault on Tripoli. But Turkey joined the fight on behalf of Tripoli in January and has thrown Mr. Hifters campaign into disarray. A large contingent of Russian fighters and their weapons retreated from the front lines south of the capital over the weekend and were flown in three planes to a Hifter stronghold, Reuters reported. Mr. Hifters powerful foreign sponsors will likely determine his next move. The abortive mercenary expedition last summer was organized and financed by a network of secretive companies in the United Arab Emirates, according to a confidential report submitted to the United Nations Security Council in February. The companies are controlled or part-owned by Christiaan Durrant, an Australian businessman and former fighter pilot who is a close associate of Erik Prince, Americas most famous mercenary entrepreneur. Image Christiaan Durrant in a photograph taken from social media. Mr. Prince, whose close ties to the Trump administration have come under Congressional scrutiny in recent years, has provided private militia forces for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates and the leading foreign sponsor of Mr. Hifters war in Libya. United Nations investigators are examining whether Mr. Prince played any role in the failed mercenary operation. Through a spokesman, Mr. Prince said he had nothing whatsoever to do with any alleged private military operation in Libya. Libya is a case study of the changing character of war, said Sean McFate, a former private military contractor and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. We think of war as a political activity, but in Libya its becoming a commercial one. You have these for-profit warriors of every stripe going in there, waging the kind of wars that Machiavelli discussed in the 16th century. Bracelet Winner Ben Dobson Adds GUKPT Manchester Title to CV March 02 2020 Popular poker pro Ben Dobson won the 2020 GUKPT Manchester Main Event, adding to his many victories, including his WSOP bracelet. Dobson collected 75,510 for this latest win, the fourth-largest haul of his live career to date. 2020 GUKPT Manchester Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Prize 1 Ben Dobson 75,510 2 Ben Winsor 68,000 3 Dean Perry 35,110 4 Waheed Ashraf 22,370 5 Nathan Watson 15,220 6 Garry Wilson 11,180 7 Justin Devonport 8,700 8 David Johnson 7,150 9 Rob Binkley 5,900 The Grosvenor Casino Bury New Road in Manchester was teaming with poker players thanks to 317 of them turning out across two starting flights. Only 30 of those starters saw a return on their 1,110 investment, leaving almost 290 players to make the journey home empty-handed. Some 110 players progressed from the brace of Day 1s. They were whittled to a more manageable 20 upon the conclusion of Saturdays Day 2. Big Names Bust on Day 2; Winsor Leads Yet Again Day 2s casualty list read like a whos who of poker. Sam Grafton, James Clarke, Kevin Houghton, Guy Taylor, Daiva Byrne, Richard Kellett, and Tom Middleton were among those failing in their quest to bank some of the 317,000 prize pool. Thirty-first place, and the unwanted title of bubble boy, went to Leo Farodoye who bet 90,000 with pocket queens, leaving himself 2,000 chips behind. Attila Havacs called with ace-king of diamonds. The flop fell ten-high and all spade. Farodoye put the rest of his chips in the middle and Havacs called. An ace on the turn was joined by a deuce on the river, which burst the money bubble. The day ended with Ben Winsor in the all too familiar position of chip leader. Winsor, who is the only player to win two GUKPT Grand Finals and do so back-to-back, was on course to become the GUKPTs first-ever four-time champion. Former EPT Barcelona runner-up Steve Warburton was Day 3s first elimination. He got his last eight big blinds in with top pair on a jack-high flop only to run into the pocket kings of Nathan Watson. GUKPT Manchester Final Table Set A steady stream of bust-outs followed with Thomas High falling in 10th place to set the final table. High shipped it in with pocket fours and couldnt get there against the eights in the hand of Waheed Ashraf. Rob Binkley busted in ninth-place. Binkey lost all but two big blinds to Justin Devonport and failed to recover. David Johnston joined Binkley on the rail before Devonport lost a flip with sixes against Winsors ace-queen to reduce the player count to six. All six surviving players were now guaranteed a five-figure haul for their investment. Garry Wilson was the first to collect this sized sum. Wilson jammed 10 big blinds into the middle with queen-seven and Ashraf called with king-four. A king on the flop was enough to send Wilson to the cashiers desk to collect 11,180. Warburtons executioner, Watson, fell in fifth-place. Ace-deuce was the hand he chose to commit his last six big blinds with. The hot-running Winsor called with ace-eight and there was no way Watson was winning that hand, not in the form Winsor is in right now. Dobson then doubled through Ashraf with pocket sevens against jacks, courtesy of the board four-flushing with diamonds. That hand may have rocked Ashraf because he was the next player out. He pushed all-in for 13 big blinds with ace-jack and that man Winsor put him at risk of elimination by calling with king-queen. Ashrafs hand remained best on the flop and turn, but a king on the river sent him to the showers. Dean Perry held a substantial chip lead when play was three-handed but quickly went from hero to zero. Dobson Holds Commanding Leads Heads-Up Perry lost a large pot to Dobson before he shoved 22.5 big blinds into the middle with pocket sevens. Dobson woke up with aces in the hole. They held and heads-up was set. Dobson started heads-up with 5,100,000 chips to Winsors 1,200,000. The lead was significant, but Winsors last five results in major live events read 2nd, 1st, 5th, 1st, 2nd for scores of 17,000, 188,000, $36,000, 40,000 and 91,000. A Dobson victory was not assured. Winsor doubled early into the battle, prompting the players to pause the clock and discuss a deal. A deal was struck that saw Dobson lock up 72,000, Winsor 68,000, leaving 3,510 for the eventual champion. The tournament was all over 25-minutes after the one-on-one clash began. With blinds now 60,000/120,000/120,000a Winsor jammed for 2,000,000 with ace-five and Dobson opted to flip with his pocket deuces. The ten-seven-four flop kept Dobson ahead. Dobson turned a set, but Winsor still had outs to a Wheel. They never arrived as the river bricked and Dobson became the 2020 GUKPT Manchester champion. Next up for the 2020 GUKPT is a journey north of the border to bonny Scotland, Edinburgh to be exact. The Main Event in Edinburgh is 560 buy-in with 100,000 guaranteed to be won. The sharp increase in Ahmedabads mortality rate has posed a myriad of complex questions to all stakeholders involved in this fight against COVID-19 civil authorities, health workers and doctors alike. With a spike in the number of cases, the mortality rate has likewise increased. The civil authorities attribute these losses to late hospital admissions and underlying co-morbidity; a reasonable explanation as co-morbid patients across the globe face a higher risk of succumbing to COVID-19. Despite this explanation, Ahmedabads mortality rate is higher than the national Indian average, and shockingly almost twice the mortality rate of Mumbai- the worst affected city in India. An analysis of Ahmedabads COVID response at all stages preparatory, during and aftercare needs to be evaluated to find answers. In a cruel turn of events, the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, a 1,200 bed designated COVID-19 hospital is now called the graveyard of Ahmedabad. During the period from March 25 to May 18, the hospital recorded more patients deaths (343) than those discharged (338), a statistic which merits greater scrutiny. Anecdotal conversations with essential workers in Ahmedabad has helped bring to light contributing factors that have received little to no attention. Failure to implement basic containment policies and the ill-preparedness of civil authorities has exacerbated the problem and weakened the state response. Prior to the designated COVID-19 hospital (Civil Hospital) becoming functional, patients were admitted to the Old Civil Hospital. In the absence of formal procedure, there was no exclusive differentiation between the COVID-19 ward and the general ward. Health workers came in contact with both sets of patients. The delay in having a nodal infection control centre and the infrastructural compromises made to hasten operation, have cost Ahmedabad. Additionally, the civil authorities failed to involve a medical expert in their decision-making process, this obvious error is directly responsible for the late implementation and reduced efficacy of policy measures. For instance, despite the Civil Hospital being overwhelmed for some time, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) expanded the number of COVID-19 designated hospitals (now 42) only on May 16th. A timely intervention would have eased the burden on the Civil Hospital. While free-cost of treatment should never be used as an excuse for a lower standard of care, it likely plays a role in the Civil Hospital capabilities being overburdened so swiftly. The nurse to patients ratio of 1:4 highlights the shortage of healthcare workers. With relatives prevented from entering Covid-19 wards, the workload for nurses has doubled as ensuring food, hygiene and sanitation has to be maintained. Doctors whose prime responsibility has traditionally been medical management now have to oversee logistical functions, including food and water for patients. Critically ill patients in the ICU face a similar disadvantageous nurse to patient ratio. The lack of trained class IV nursing staff means during an emergency; valuable time was spent training the staff mid-pandemic than addressing patient concerns. Instead, they should be trained for basics like PPE donning and doffing, oxygen monitoring, blood Pressure check, and random blood sugar checks by the medical residents. AIIMS New Delhi safety protocol required mandating N95 masks for all health workers in the general ward as well. In the absence of any such protocol in Ahmedabad, healthcare workers have a greater risk of infection, which is understandably going to impede the delivery of care. There have been instances in the last few weeks of doctors testing positive and being stranded with high fever, as hospital management have no protocols in place for dealing with treatment for doctors. This explains why 102 staff members working at the Gujarat Cancer Research Institute located in the Civil Hospital campus tested positive. A shortage of essential medications like Insulin, Labetalol, Noradrenaline, Adrenaline, Anti Hypertensives, Catheter, Ryle Tubes at the COVID-19 dedicated hospital has resulted in compromised patient care. The unavailability of supporting staff like dialysis technicians, ECG and blood technicians in the Civil Hospital, has caused in delayed blood reports and sampling, further exacerbating this health crisis. The absence of a streamlined procedure for patients requiring emergency blood transfusion results in life-threatening delays. There are instances of up to 25 people being denied treatment and were kept waiting for more than five hours at the Civil Hospital. Similarly, a Head Constable was refused entry into SVP and Civil Hospital. The reasons for refusal range from lack of beds and not ready to admit but most importantly reflect the degree of mismanagement in Ahmedabad. The decision to purchase 900 ventilators without any proven results, is rightly controversial and careless. Against this backdrop of overworked medical workers, fragmented medical facilities and inefficient policymakers patient care is deeply compromised- all these factors contribute to Ahmedabads high mortality rate. It is quite surprising when Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS visited the COVID-19 hospitals, were these factors largely discounted for. As the state government seeks to gradually ease restrictions and lift the lockdown, it needs to consider the ramifications of a second wave and subsequent spike in cases. The capacity and capability of its hospitals at present seem shaky at best. By Kim Bo-eun The screen capture shows Hyundai Card's analysis of a customer's spending habits. This is a new artificial intelligence-based digital service offering personalized spending insights. / Courtesy of Hyundai Card Issuing a controversial warning, a Union minister in Chhattigarh told officials that she knows "how to take people to a room and beat them with belts". The minister's threat came after a man was allegedly beaten up at Balrampur coronavirus quarantine centre. "Dadagiri nahin chalegi," warned Singh, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the minister was enraged after Dilip Gupta, a resident of Balarampur district had accused the chief executive officer and tehsildar of the district panchayat of assaulting him at the quarantine centre over complaints of poor arrangements. "Bhagvadhari BJP karyakartaon ko kamzor na samjhna aap...Jo bhed-bhaav kar rahe ho na BJP karyakartaaon ke saath...Bhool Jaaiye...Andheri Kothari mein le jaake mein ..belt kolke thokna jaanti hun bhut acche se... (Dont think that BJP workers are weak .. Forget about the discrimination which you are doing with them.. I very well know how to lock people in a room and thrash them with a belt)," the minister was quoted as saying. The incident was recorded on camera. "You thrashed him just because he knows his rights? You people are working arbitrarily and this will not work," she said. "If I was only a MP, I would have lived entire time in my constituency but I am a union minister too, so I have to go to Delhi. This does not mean that my workers and people have become vulnerable, she said. The report stated that the minister did not respond to repeated call and messages from Hindustan Times. She later told news agency ANI: "When Gupta saw the poor arrangement at the quarantine centre, he made a video to raise the issue. However, the information about videography soon reached the administration, and two officials a tehsildar and CEO Janpad Panchayat reached in the centre. They threatened and beat him with belt. After this they shifted him to some other place and the family started searching for Gupta. The parents informed me and when I reached the centre, I found that Gupta was badly thrashed. The CEO Janpad Panchayat accepted that he made a mistake." Balrampur Collector Sanjiv Kumar Jha said an inquiry has been ordered. The Venice Film Festival is on its course to hold the 2020 edition this September, the region's governor has confirmed. Luca Zaia, governor of Veneto, said on Sunday that the festival, which was due to take place September 2-12, will be held as planned, reported Variety. The official's confirmation comes days after the Venice Biennale, which oversees the world's longest-running film festival among a number of other arts events, moved its Biennale of Architecture to 2021, but maintained the film festival's dates. Previously, the architecture and film festivals were meant to overlap. Zaia said that the Biennale of Architecture was postponed due to complications in constructing the necessary pavilions. The prestigious film showcase will proceed, although he warned that fewer films are likely to be featured this year. The festival has not yet commented on plans for September. Venice did the due diligence early May asking for concerns and suggestions regarding the upcoming movie gala. The letter, which was signed by Venice's artistic director Alberto Barbera, was meant to figure out how many filmmakers, actors and producers are willing to attend the fest. Venice previously declared that it would not go the virtual route, but said it was considering a "virtual screening room, using a safe online platform" for those who won't be able to attend but have been previously accredited. In January, the festival organisers revealed that actor Cate Blanchett would serve as jury president. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Image courtesy: Screenshot from YouTube/CGTN China's first domestically-developed unmanned plateau-focused helicopter, which made its maiden flight recently, is likely to be deployed along the Indian border, Global Times reported citing analysts. According to a report in the state-run news outlet, the AR500C unmanned helicopter is capable of conducting reconnaissance missions, communication relay, electronic disruption and fire strike at high altitudes. The helicopter is developed by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). It is China's first unmanned helicopter designed to fly in plateau areas. The AR500C can take off at an elevation of 5,000 meters above sea level and has a ceiling of 6,700 meters. It can operate at a maximum speed of 170 kilometres per hour and has a maximum takeoff weight of 500 kilograms. The unmanned helicopter does not need a long airstrip to takeoff like traditional fixed-wing drones. This makes it more flexible in terms of deploy capabilities, Chinese air defence expert Fu Qianshao told the Global Times. The report comes amid escalating tension between India and China along the border. Reports suggest that Chinese has bolstered its presence in Galwan Valley of in eastern Ladakh by erecting around 100 tents in the last two weeks and bringing in heavy equipment for construction of bunkers, notwithstanding the stiff protest by Indian troops. In the midst of the escalating tension, Army Chief General MM Naravane paid a quiet visit to the headquarters of 14 Corps in Leh on May 22 and reviewed with the top commanders the overall security scenario in the region including in the disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control the de-facto border between India and China. The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to "disengage" following a meeting at the level of local commanders. Over 100 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in the violence. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9. Last week, local commanders of both the sides held at least five meetings during which the Indian side took strong note of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) erecting a large numbers of tents in areas in Galwan Valley which India felt belonged to its side of the LAC. A vet has issued an urgent warning to dog owners after a border collie suffered a horrific injury while playing fetch. Dash was chasing a stick with his family in Sydney on Saturday when all of a sudden the stick disappeared and he went quiet. The two-year-old refused to eat, prompting his family to take him to Animal Referral Hospital in Baulkham Hills, where vets found he was suffering pain underneath his mouth and along his neck. He was taken for an x-ray, where doctors made a gruesome discovery. Border collie Dash (pictured) accidentally got a stick jammed in his throat during a game of fetch in Sydney on Saturday Dash was taken to an animal hospital after he refused to eat, where vets took him for an x-ray (pictured) and found the stick wedged along his neck 'After being sedated, our team discovered he had a penetrating wound to the right side of the base of his tongue and they could feel a hard foreign body (believed to be a large stick) along the peri-laryngeal area to the thoracic inlet,' the hospital posted on Facebook. Dash was taken to the Homebush ARH for emergency surgery by Dr David Simpson to remove the stick. Dr Simpson told news.com.au Dash accidentally jammed the stick in his throat from being too keen and fast to fetch it. 'Typically the enthusiasm of the average stick-chaser is their downfall. The dog runs to retrieve the stick with great energy and if the stick lands end-on just as the dog catches up with it, the forward momentum of the dog will force the stick through the back of the dogs throat or under the tongue,' he said. Dr David Simpson holds up the stick after successfully removing it from Dash's throat in surgery 'Dash was lucky the stick stopped just inside the chest and it didnt puncture the heart or lungs.' Surgery was successful with Dr Simpson able to safely find and remove the stick and fragments of bark form Dash's throat, with the border collie making a full recovery. Dr Simpson said Dash's injuries are common and can be much worse if the stick splinters inside the body. 'Unfortunately this is not a unique case and it isnt even the worst Ive seen,' he said. Dr Simpson recommends pet owners should use balls and toys to play with their dog instead of sticks. Bottom line: Sony has made a few hardware improvements to the Xperia 1 and is hoping that the 'mark two' with camera technology leveraged from the company's Alpha series, wireless charging support, a bigger battery, and the latest Snapdragon 865 SoC can cut it this time around. Despite the new phone being 5G-capable, Sony is only supporting 4G carriers in the US, which could put some people off, alongside the stratospheric price tag matched or exceeded previously by the Galaxy S20 Ultra and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Sony unveiled the photography-focused Xperia 1 II in February and has now announced preorder and shipping dates for the US. The company knows that the $1,200 price tag will be difficult to digest, so it's sweetening the deal, as it did with the Xperia 1, by bundling the WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds - not the cans - for preorders placed by June 28. On paper, the Xperia 1 II packs nearly all the goodies that buyers have come to expect from 2020 flagships, including top-end hardware and build quality, alongside an unexpected return of the 3.5mm audio jack. As noted previously, the device comes with the year's highest-end silicon from Qualcomm (provided an 865 Plus doesn't pop up), 8GB RAM, 256GB storage expandable via microSD, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 and the standout 6.5-inch 21:9 4K HDR OLED (38401644) CinemaWide display. With the Xperia 1 II, Sony is looking to impress a variety of deep-pocketed smartphone users, literally and figuratively. Chief among them are photography enthusiasts for whom Sony has brought in camera expertise from its Alpha mirrorless camera division. The latter had been reluctant towards sharing technologies with Sony's mobile engineers, which according to a company executive, was one of the main reasons why Xperias have had lackluster cameras in the past. A corporate reshuffle in March last year saw Sony merging its mobile, TV, audio, and camera divisions into one. While some benefits would have reached the Xperia 1, which was announced a month prior to this change, the mark two could potentially shake things up a bit, especially for cameras, in the premium smartphone segment this year. Sony is also prepping a Pro variant of the Xperia 1 II, which like the maxed-out versions of Samsung and Apple flagships, takes things a step further. It will offer twice the storage capacity of its sibling at 512GB and will support high-speed mmWave 5G for operating in the US. It will also include an HDMI port for connecting to DSLRs or camcorders. Sony says the phone "supports professional broadcast video transmission workflows by visualizing and confirming communication status," enabling it to "transmit broadcast video data during shooting to a server or cloud via 5G connections." The Xperia Pro is said to release sometime later this year. With an expected price increase of $250-$300 over the mark two, according to Japanese sources, it could end up costing a whopping $1,500. After two months of closure due to COVID-19 lockdown, liquor shops reopened in parts of the union territory on Monday with tipplers eagerly waiting in long queues to get their favourite booze. As wine shops here and Karaikal region opened the shutters, at several places owners performed poojas, broke coconuts and burnt camphor in front of their outlets for good business. Earlier, the Excise Department issued an order allowing resumption of the business after Lt Governor Kiran Bedi approved a COVID-19 special excise duty on all varieties of liquor, revenue from sale of which had been a major source of income for the UT for decades. The special excise duty has been imposed as Bedi was keen price of liquor in the UT be brought on par with that of in Tamil Nadu in a bid to avert influx of people from the neighbouring state which may pose a risk of infection. Puducherry is the latest to allow liquor sales since various lockdown relaxations came into force during the fourth phase. Serpentine queues were seen outside the shops at least half an hour before the commencement of sales at 10 a.m. Special barricades were erected outside the shops to regulate the crowd while thrust was on strict adherence to social distancing norms and wearing of face masks. It was a mix of young and old people as booze-lovers lined up to get their hands on the liquor bottles braving the summer heat. A tippler expressed relief at being able to get liquor after so long, adding he had suffered some issues due to non- availability of it during the lockdown. "I managed it through stong willpower. I am happy now to get my quota now," the man said. But the move to reopen liquor shops has not gone down well with several others. A woman who works as a domestic help is worried that her husband, who underwent treatment for problems due to addiction to liquor, might resume taking alcohol. "I am worried that he would resume taking the liquor to the detriment of his health besides frittering away the hard- earned income," she said. The government has permitted shops to do business from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. As of now, Mahe and Yanam regions (enclaves of Puducherry in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh respectively) have not not been granted permission to reopen the shops as the administration is closely watching the development in the neighbouring states there. The union territory government is said to have suffered a loss of around Rs 80 crores in excise sector per month during the lockdown and this had dried up its coffers. The V Narayanasamy-led Congress government has been at loggerheads with Lt Governor Bedi over various issues. But, it accepted her proposal to sell the liquor at a price on par with Tamil Nadu. "If our pricing is less than Tamilnadu's, it will possibly open the floodgates for customers to rush here from neighbouring states and it will be a risky scenario particularly in the current context of the pandemic," PWD and Excise Minister A Namassivayam had told PTI on Sunday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A former Dallas oil company lawyer will be installed as the incoming President of the Methodist Church in Ireland on June 10. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the ceremony will be available to live stream and will include - via video conferencing - representatives from the worldwide Methodist family and from sister churches in Ireland. During the same ceremony, Hazel Loney will be installed as the Lay Leader of the Methodist Conference in succession to Lynda Neilands. Rev Dr Tom McKnight, who was born and brought up in Dallas, Texas, is currently minister of Donaghadee Methodist Church. He was educated in Oklahoma and worked originally as a lawyer for an oil company in Houston before deciding to become a minister and enrolling in a theological seminary in Kentucky. As part of his study he came to Northern Ireland in 1981 for a one-year internship. However, he met Elizabeth Bell, a building society manager from Newtownards, and they were married in 1982. They have two grown-up daughters, Beth and Katherine. Mrs Loney, the incoming Methodist Lay Leader, was born and brought up in Co Armagh. She and her husband Bobby, an ordained minister, were married in 1976. They have two grown-up children, Christopher and Rachel-Anne, and two grandchildren, Claire and Andrew. This year's Methodist Conference, which was due to take place in Lisburn in June, was postponed due to the pandemic, and - circumstances permitting - it has been rescheduled for October 7-11. Methodist press officer Rev Roy Cooper said: "Due to the pandemic, the installation of the new President will differ from all previous conferences, and details of this will be discussed by the Church's General Committee by videolink later this week." Ministers will also meet via videolink on June 20 to deal with any urgent business, so that the work of the Church can go ahead over the summer." Last week the Presbyterian Church announced that the incoming Moderator, Rev David Bruce, will be installed in an online ceremony in the Assembly Building on June 1. The Church of Ireland, which cancelled its General Synod scheduled for Croke Park, Dublin earlier this month, will hold an installation service for the new Archbishop of Armagh and Primate, the Most Rev John McDowell, at a later date in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh. Two ghost hunters in Louisiana have said they ran out of a home that has been compared to Amityville Horror after they were spooked by paranormal activity. Dawn Vallot Declout listed the 1930s property for free in March, and locals claimed that the owner's great-grandmother Adele haunts the place. On a recent visit, Cindy Parr and Greg Matlock appeared to confirm the dead may be among them. It footage obtained by The Sun, the pair - who have hunted ghosts for 20 years - are heard reacting in surprise as they get a spook. In the clip, Matlock is heard calling out down a hallway for a sign of spirit's presence, and in response a door slowly swings open. Ghost hunter Greg Matlock and Cindy Parr (right) say they were spooked out of the home The two-story home was built in the late 1920s to 1930s and housed several generations of a family over the years. Matlock says he called out for a sign of another spirit in the house and in response the door slowly swung open Adele (pictured in 1900, left, and in an updated image, right) died in the home at age 90 He is then heard apologizing and says there's definitely something there. Parr explained that prior to the video, they had already performed another test. 'On the second day, we actually went in and stayed the night, it killed five of our batteries, they feed off the energy,' Parr told The Sun. 'We asked for a sign if it wanted us to leave, and it shut down a light, we were like, okay, but we didn't leave yet. 'The bedroom door that was Ms Adele's, that opened up and then closed. It is definitely haunted, it was very creepy.' Adele was 4ft 9in when she died at 90 but the ghost hunters hinted someone else may have been around. Matlock described a 2am encounter, saying: 'I turned into the room and saw this black mass standing there, it wasn't a shadow or anything like that, it was pretty wide. 'I don't think it was the older lady, I think it was something totally different, the figure was bigger and stood about 6ft. 'It started to turn and I just thought, "Oh no" and ran out, I was done, it was unbelievable, everything just slowed down. Former residents of the home said that they experienced paranormal activity while living in it Cindy Parr said the ghost 'killed five of our batteries, they feed off the energy'. Parr also said when they asked for a sign and if it wanted them to leave, 'it shut down a light' 'It wasn't just me seeing it, it was what I felt when it was there, you could feel the power, it was bad, not a good situation to be in at all. 'We got out and I was definitely exhausted, it draws energy from you, my chest was even hurting.' The duo prayed after the incident and began to make their way home but changed their minds and went back inside the house. There they experienced another spooky incident. 'We could hear scratches on the walls, growls, it even started to smell like urine upstairs, that's not just your average ghost, that's something really bad,' Matlock added. 'It was like watching Amityville Horror on TV, but we were living it. That house is definitely the worst house I've ever been in. Dawn Vallot DeClout said her relatives built the house and that she lived there up until the 1980s. She is Adele's great granddaughter 'I want to see what happens when someone else lives in it, I don't think they're going to be able to stay.' Despite the history, there is a new owner who will move the house about 20 miles away. It could cost as much as $80,000 to move. Sylvia McLain, the co-owner of McLain Investments, posted pictures of the house, located in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Facebook in March, saying it was up for grabs, gratis, to anyone who was willing to pick up the house and move it off the land. She wrote that the 'iconic home' was built in the late 1920s to early 1930s and that it had been unoccupied for the last six months, but was 'vacated due to development,' after her company bought the land. 'We have concentrated our efforts and development cost in saving as many of the trees as possible and simply do not have a place in the neighborhood for the home,' she wrote. 'In an effort save the history' of it, she said her company decided to give away the home to someone willing move it off the property and restore it. The home, she noted, 'needs some TLC,' but had two working air conditioners. The Facebook post attracted hundreds of comments from people interested in taking the 2,400-square-foot house - as well as a slew of notes from former home residents and locals who noted that the house is haunted. One of Adele's relatives said that while living in the house, she would hear the sound of pots jangling on the stove, even though nobody was in the kitchen. Adele (seated) is pictured with her family in an undated image Locals are said to compare the house to the 'Amityville horror house' - the Long Island home where a man murdered his parents and four siblings while they slept in 1974, which was later said to have been haunted after the slaughter occurred. One Facebook user, Gypsy Dawn, claimed to have been the last tenant that lived there before it was abandoned. 'The property was heaven but that house is quite unsettling if you dont enjoy communing with the Spirit world because they speak,' she said. Gary Alleman, meanwhile, wrote: 'I experienced three things there that could not be explained and my friend that lived there had more than that. We actually experienced one together and we still talk about it.' Although neither of the former residents specified exactly what happened, a woman who grew up in the home revealed her experiences. Dawn Vallot DeClout, told the Mirror that her family bought the 160-acre plot of land the house stands on in 1860 and that her great grandmother, Adele, died in the front room in 1967. DeClout and her family lived in the house until the 1980s. Adele, DeClout said, 'lived to be almost 90 and she was always digging in the pots, like when you have something on the stove and someone goes and looks in the pot and stirs it around.' DeClout said that her family believes that it's Adele's spirit that's haunting the house, but that she's 'not menacing at all.' She said that while her family lived in the home, 'we used to hear her all the time jangling the pots when we had something on the stove' and added that 'You could hear somebody picking up the lid but there was nobody in the kitchen.' McLain told the newspaper that she had heard the haunted house rumors, calling them 'really cute stories.' I no longer believe in God, declares Jon Steingard of Christian band Hawk Nelson Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Jon Steingard, the Canadian Christian rock band Hawk Nelsons lead vocalist, has declared on social media that I no longer believe in God, explaining it didnt happen overnight. This is not a post I ever thought that I would write, but now I feel like I really need to, Steingard wrote on Instagram. Ive agonized over whether to say this publicly, and if so, how to do it, but I now feel that its less important how I do it, and more important that I do it. He continued, After growing up in a Christian home, being a pastors kid, playing and singing in a Christian band, and having the word Christian in front of most of the things in my life I am now finding that I no longer believe in God. The musician added that it was hard for him to write that he no longer believes in God. I still find myself wanting to soften that statement by wording it differently or less specifically but it wouldnt be as true, he wrote. Steingard explained that the process of getting to that sentence has been several years in the making. He wrote, It didnt happen overnight or all of a sudden. Its been more like pulling on the thread of a sweater, and one day discovering that there was no more sweater left. Steingard said he had been terrified to be honest about this publicly for quite some time, because of all that I thought I would lose. He added that he is still scared, but Im writing about this now for a few reasons. Firstly, he wrote, I simply can no longer avoid it. Processing this quietly felt right when I simply had doubts, but once they solidified into a genuine point of view, it began to feel dishonest not to talk about it. He noted that in his conversations with his friends who also grew up in the church, many also share the same doubts. I am stunned by the number of people in visible positions within Christian circles that feel the same way as I do. Like me, they fear losing everything if theyre open about it. Church wasnt something he went to once a week growing up. It was his and his familys life, he said. As everyone around him believed in God, he did too. He recalled some uncomfortable church moments such as praying in public and emotional cries for the Holy Spirit at youth events. The list of things that didn't make sense to him kept growing throughout the years, he noted, including the commonly posed question: "If God is all loving, and all powerful, why is there evil in the world? Can he not do anything about it? Does he choose not to?" He also struggled with: "Why does he (God) say not to kill, but then instruct Israel to turn around and kill men women and children to take the promised land?" and "Why does Jesus have to die for our sins (more killing again)?" The artist came to the conclusion that the Bible can't be trusted because he felt in the end it is "human, flawed and imperfect." While he feels some loss in walking away from the faith, he also feels freedom. He admitted that he and his wife didn't enjoy going to church, reading the Bible, praying or worshipping. "It all felt like obligation." He realizes it was because they simply didn't believe. Steingard told his followers that he wants his statement to be the beginning of the conversation and not the end. I want to be transparent with you all and also open to having my heart changed in the future. I am not looking for a debate at all just a chance to share my story in the hopes some good can come from it. I love you all. He said he's still "open to the idea that God is there." A follower commented on the post, saying she had enjoyed the band for many years and I admire your honesty. She added: Sometimes the best way to heal wounds like these comes from taking a step back. I resonate with a lot of what you said about Christian culture, I am a believer and I know God is not far even now. I will continue to follow your journey. I will pray that God reveals himself in an undeniable way. Keep pressing on. On Hawk Nelsons Facebook page, band member Daniel Biro responded to Steingards post. Forever grateful for these brothers of mine. Weve been through some highs and lows together and we share a very special bond that cant be broken, Biro wrote. There are many seasons to a band, as Hawk Nelson has experienced. But one thing that isnt seasonal is our support for one another on or off the road touring. God has a unique path for each of us and its important that we stay honest with one another. Looking forward to seeing how each of us continues to G R O W . In 2015, talking about the song Live Like Youre Loved from Hawk Nelsons album Diamonds, Steingard told The Christian Post that it was inspired by growing up and learning the dos and donts of Christianity and how to be a good Christian. All those are good, but I missed the part of the dos and donts [that] are coming from a place of where this is what the Bible says is good for you, he added. But we get confused, because we learn this is how we please God and earn relationship with Him. I just had an epiphany ... all this running around and trying to do everything exactly right, these are not the things that bring us closer to God. Our relationship with God is already secured with what was done on the cross. What if we went into life with confidence of knowing we are already loved? So thats what this song is all about. Lyrics to Live Like Youre Loved include: So go ahead and live like youre loved, its OK to act like youve been set free / His love has made you more than enough so go ahead and be who he made you to be / And live like youre loved. Everyone is understandably on edge these days. But its not helpful to get snippy with one another. One recent trend has been for one generation to get surly about another generation. Whether its millennials blaming boomers for the state of the world, or boomers scoffing at millennials entitled attitude, or Gen X sarcastically rolling their eyes at both, the whole idea is a bit daffy. No generation is homogenous and there are good people across the board who have done and are doing great things. So in the spirit of all generations lifting their voices together as one, we present five cross-generational duets wed like to see combine their voices (and talents) once the pandemic is over (or even before then, if they want to do it virtually). Lets start with two superstars who are separated by five decades: The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office has issued a cute alert: A video posted on the @MultCoSO Twitter account Sunday shows a hungry fawn, once too weak to walk, drinking from a bottle before cruising to its new home. CUTE Deputies were called for an abandoned fawn that was too weak to walk. Only one animal refuge was able to care for the deer, but it was in Sisters. So Dep. Nafie took it home overnight and drove it on his personal time to the refuge this AM, giving it a 2nd chance at life! pic.twitter.com/2LOpM6yN3q Multnomah Co Sheriff (@MultCoSO) May 23, 2020 The story: Deputy Evan Nafie was dispatched to the Corbett area Friday to rescue an abandoned fawn that had reportedly been without its mother for three days. Nafie found the fawn and set about to find it a new home. He called several animal hospitals and wildlife rehabilitation organizations until he found one that would accept the baby deer. That one was near Sisters, more than a three hour drive away. The deputy, who is known as a big animal lover, brought the fawn to his home and bottle fed it through the night, as he was instructed by the organization, according to sheriff spokesman Deputy Brian Gerkman. The next day, on his day off, Nafie drove the fawn to the refuge near Redmond to be rehabilitated. They told us if we had left it behind, it would not have survived the night, was the story posted on the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office Facebook page. The fawn is estimated to be about only 7lbs. Good luck little one! Thank you Dep. Nafie! If you see wildlife you think has been abandoned, do not touch it. Deer, elk and other wild animals leave their young alone to find food, and the mother wont return until predators, including humans, are gone. Its so common for people to try to take critters out of the wild from fawns to coyote pups and even bear cubs that each summer, Oregons fish and wildlife agency releases a notice not to kidnap wildlife. If you know a young animal is orphaned and not just temporarily left behind or if you see an injured animal or one in distress, call one of Oregons licensed wildlife rehabilitators who have the training and facilities to properly care for animals and return them to the wild. Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072 jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories Good day, Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top Coronavirus (COVID-19) news headlines for today Monday, May 25, 2020. Below is a roundup of top stories on the COVID-19 disease The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has confirmed three hundred and thirteen new cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria. The health sector confirmed this in a tweet on its official microblogging site account on Sunday night at about 11:12 PM. The new update brings the overall confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria to 7839, Naija News understands. Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has said only a big miracle from God can wipe out coronavirus (COVID-19) from the world. Naija News reports that Pastor Adeboye stated this during a live broadcast to his members on Dove TV on Sunday. Pastor Adeboye urged Christians to trust God because he is in charge, adding that just like other infections, the disease will remain in the world for a while. He said, Coronavirus will not disappear completely. Just like flu, Cholera and Ebola, it wont leave the world completely. It will take a special miracle from God for it to leave the world completely. Many people will be grateful to God after this lockdown. Some people who dont spend time with their families will be grateful to God. Trust God that nothing takes him by surprise, he knows everything from the beginning and He is in charge. The Zambia Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Hon. Dora Siliya, has contracted the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19). In a video she released on Saturday, the Minister disclosed that she has gone into self-isolation. According to the Zambian Minister, despite adhering to health directives she still tested positive for coronavirus. Share this post with your Friends on New Delhi, May 25 : The Railway Ministry on Monday decided to close all offices at the Rail Bhawan for two days after another staffer tested coronavirus positive, taking the number of cases at the Indian Railways' headquarters to five within two weeks. "Some officials of the Railway Board have recently tested Covid-positive. Accordingly it has been decided to close all Offices at Rail Bhawan on 26 and 27 May, 2020 to carry out intensive sanitization of rooms and common areas," Railway Board Joint Secretary B. Majumdar said in a circular. He went to say that the offices on the fourth floor of Rail Bhawan will remain closed till May 29 for thorough disinfection. "During this period, all officers would work from home and are to be available at all times on phone and other electronic means of communication. In case of any requirement for urgent work at office, specific directive would be given to the concerned officials for attending office." According to the Railway Ministry sources, a fourth-grade multi-tasking staffer, who last attended the office on May 19, tested Covid-19 positive. Nine of his contacts at the Rail Bhavan had been home quarantined, sources added. The staffer was responsible for taking files from one official to another, thus coming in contact with several people during the day. They also moved files to the Chairman of the Railway Board and the Railway Minister's office. On Sunday, a senior official had tested Covid-19 positive. She had attended work last on May 20. As many as 14 officials who worked closely with her have been home quarantined. Days before, another senior officer, involved with restructuring of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), had tested positive. According to the Ministry officials, the woman staffer had visited the Rail Bhavan on May 13, after which it was shut for sanitisation for two days. On May 11, a RPF staffer had also tested coronavirus positive. A few days later, a contractual worker who kept monkeys out of the building with his langoor had got infected with coronavirus. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Muslims in Hohoe in the Volta Region marked this year's Eid al-Fitr with individual and household prayers. This is in line with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's directive on social gatherings and ban on religious activities following the outbreak of the novel corona virus disease. Alhaji Mahmud Issaka, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Imam, said due to the directive on social gathering, only households were permitted to hold prayers. "Only households hold prayers and we did not allow people visiting each other as the normal celebration would have been," he added. The Chief Imam commended Muslims for adhering to COVID19 safety protocols during the fasting period and called on Muslims to continue to pray for the end of the Coronavirus virus pandemic. Rashidatu Mohammed, a resident of Hohoe Zongo, told the GNA that the pandemic had affected family gatherings. She said she would have had her families and friends around for merrymaking, but for the Coronavirus disease and was hopeful next year's celebration would be better. Some children were seen in merrymaking dresses at home with a few female adults preparing meals when the GNA went through the Zongo community. Eid al-Fitr, also called the, "Festival of Breaking the Fast", is a religious day celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of a month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video NABU gave no further details, saying that divulging information could harm its investigation. Ukrainian anti-corruption officials are investigating a tender for 71,000 hospital protective suits during the coronavirus pandemic after the government for the first time bypassed its own procurement rules in the health sector. Asked about the tender, Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau (NABU) told Reuters it was working on a pretrial investigation into possible abuse of office after an unnamed lawmaker raised concerns on the issue. Read alsoSBI reports senior customs officer in Odesa detained over bribery (Photos) NABU gave no further details, saying that divulging information could harm its investigation. The head of Medical Procurement of Ukraine (MPU), a state body set up in 2018 to combat corruption in the awarding of health sector contracts, accused the government of violating its own rules by overruling his agency's choice for the tender and awarding the contract to a company that delivered the suits very late and at an inflated price. "This practice is counterproductive and illegal," Arsen Zhumadilov told Reuters in an interview. The MPU handles procurement of medicines and medical equipment on behalf of the health ministry. The health ministry denies any wrongdoing in the medical suits case and said it was forced to act due to Zhumadilov;s own mismanagement of the situation. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20+ will probably feature a 4,500mAh battery. That information comes from Ice Universe, a well-known tipster, who spotted the certification information in China. Do note that the tipster is not 100-percent sure this is the Galaxy Note 20+, but it sure seems like it. If this ends up being true, the Galaxy Note 20+ will include a larger battery than its predecessor. The Galaxy Note 20+ will offer a larger battery pack than its predecessor The Galaxy Note 10+ featured a 4,300mAh battery pack. The Galaxy Note 10 featured a 6.8-inch QHD+ display, while the Galaxy Note 20+ is expected to sport a 6.9-inch QHD+ display. Advertisement Its display will offer considerably higher resolution, though. It will sport a 120Hz LTPO display. That display will probably be more power-efficient compared to 120Hz LTPS display, but not more than the Galaxy Note 10s 60Hz panel. What were trying to say is, the Galaxy Note 20+ could offer worse battery life than the Galaxy Note 10+. That could be the case due to the difference in refresh rate, and a not much larger battery pack in the Galaxy Note 20+. Were hoping that Samsung figured out everything, though, and that the Galaxy Note 20+ will be highly optimized in that regard. The Galaxy Note series is known for its solid battery life, so were hoping the same will be the case with the Galaxy Note 20 series. Advertisement The regular Galaxy Note 20, on the other hand, is rumored to sport a 60Hz display. That display will also be smaller than the one on the Galaxy Note 20+. Were not sure how large will its battery pack be, though. Both of those phones are expected to arrive in August. Samsung is rumored to host an online-only event due to the current health crisis all around the world. The Galaxy Fold 2 will probably arrive alongside the Galaxy Note 20 series Those two phones will launch alongside the Galaxy Fold 2, most probably. That device has been rumored for a while now, and it seems right to expect it to arrive alongside the Galaxy Note 20 phones. Advertisement The Galaxy Z Flip, Samsungs second foldable phone, arrived alongside the Galaxy S20 in February. Last year, however, the Galaxy Fold launched alongside the Galaxy S10 series. Both Galaxy Note 20 devices will include an S Pen stylus, of course. It seems like the Galaxy Fold 2 will also include it, though. That will make the Galaxy Fold 2 the first foldable smartphone to offer a stylus. Were not sure when will the event take place, exactly, but it is rumored for August. If we had to guess, wed say mid-August, but well have to wait for more information. On the brink of a new cold war: China on ties with US after Covid outbreak The war of words between China and the US escalated over the Covid-19 outbreak. After US president Donald Trump on several occasions blamed China for the virus, China has now said that Washington seemed to be infected by a political virus. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said that some political forces in the US have taken the China-US relations hostage and added that ties now stand on the brink of a new Cold War. Watch the full video for all the details. ...read more [May 25, 2020] The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children & MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER Enhance Runaway Train 25 with Customization Technology on National Missing Children's Day ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and ad agency MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER announced a second phase of the successful, ongoing Runaway Train 25 initiative that will empower local communities to find missing children in their neighborhoods. The added personalization tool will now enable the user to select the exact child they would like to see in their music video. By creating a dynamic, customized video, the search efforts for a missing child will be more hyper-local than ever before. Since its launch on National Missing Children's Day 2019, Runaway Train 25 has assisted in the recovery of more than 20 missing children. NCMEC has also reported an increase of 60% in leads in the fight to bring missing children home since the video was released. Runaway Train 25, which reinterprets the award-winning Soul Asylum song "Runaway Train" with musical artists Jamie N Commons and Skylar Grey featuring Gallant, showcased the profiles of missing children from the NCMEC database based on a viewer's location. "When we launched last year, it was about getting local. This year we're getting to a more personal level, where people can search for loved ones or someone they know," said Adam Ledbury, Creative Director at MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER. The new technology allows people to easily search the NCMEC database and create a customized video featuring a specific child or children. Users can add up to six missing children from the database into their own version of the Runaway Train 25 music video. The system generates links for Facebook and Twitter so the video can be shared on social media with one click. "61% of kids recovered are found in the state in which they went missing," said John Matejczyk, Chief Creative Officer/Co-Founder, at MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER. "The ability to customize a music video about a kid in your neighborhood means that an entire community can rally their support behind the family and help increase the chances that more people will see that child's face. We are giving them the tools they need and the power they feel they so often lack in these difficult situations. Using technology and music, we are able to go far beyond the poster and the milk carton to improve our recovery rates, to empower communities to advocate for their kids." To increase awareness of the new Runaway Train 25 video, and to recognize National Missing Children's Day, Verizon has donated the advertising space on its Yahoo and AOL mail sign in pages to NCMEC. These pages will display the Runaway Train video to millions of Yahoo and AOL users on National Missing Children's Day. "In our efforts, we've seen that a small tip can have a big impact on a missing child's life," said John Clark, NCMEC President and CEO. "Every day people can become heroes by providing a tip that leads to the recovery of a missing child. We are grateful to all of our partners who have used their voice to help bring home missing children." NCMEC has again partnered with GSTV, the national video network reaching targeted audiences at scale across tens of thousands of fuel retailers, which includes a two-phase media donation. In Phase 1, GSTV will air NCMEC creative across 48 states. Phase 2 will incorporate targeted, regional campaigns featuring missing children by state and specifically tailored campaigns for Hispanic and African American communities. Since partnering with GSTV in the initial launch of Runaway Train 25, NCMEC reported that 8 of the 16 total missing children featured in ads that ran exclusively on GSTV's video platform were successfully recovered. About The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) Since 1984, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has served as the leading private, nonprofit organization helping to find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation and prevent future victimization. As part of its work as the clearinghouse and resource center on issues relating to missing and exploited children, NCMEC operates a hot-line, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678), and has assisted in the recovery of more than 319,000 missing children. NCMEC also operates the CyberTipline, a mechanism for reporting suspected child sexual exploitation, which has received more than 65 million reports. https://www.missingkids.org About MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER is a creatively driven, strategically focused agency with offices in San Francisco and NYC. As a part of London-based VCCP, we are a formidable combination helping the world's most ambitious brands to get chased. With over 1,000 employees in 8 locations, we are a global full-service alternative to small independent agencies and holding companies. https://mtzhf.com/ About Runaway Train 25 Founded on May 22, 2019, Runaway Train 25 is a cross-industry initiative led by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER to reinvent the search for missing children. The music video reinterprets the award-winning Soul Asylum song "Runaway Train" with musical artists Jamie N Commons and Skylar Grey featuring Gallant. Since its release, Runaway Train 25 has assisted in the recovery of more than 20 missing children and increased search leads by 60 percent, according to NCMEC. www.runawaytrain25.com RELATED INFORMATION Hashtags: #RunawayTrain25 #MissingKids Website: www.runawaytrain25.com TipsHotline: 1-800-THE-LOST View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-national-center-for-missing--exploited-children--muh-tay-zik--hof-fer-enhance-runaway-train-25-with-customization-technology-on-national-missing-childrens-day-301064728.html SOURCE The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Burkina Faso and its neighbours Mali and Niger are battling Islamist insurgencies with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State A policeman searches a vendor on a motorbike in Cinkasse, the northern Togo commercial border post with Burkina Faso. (AFP) Abidjan: Soldiers from Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso conducted their first joint operation against jihadists active near their shared border, killing eight suspected militants and arresting 14 others, Ivory Coasts army said on Sunday. Burkina Faso and its neighbours Mali and Niger in West Africas semi-arid Sahel zone are battling Islamist insurgencies with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State. Those groups have been strengthening and expanding their range of operations, leaving coastal countries like Ivory Cost fearful the violence will spill onto their territories. The joint operation was launched on May 11 with about 1,000 Ivorian soldiers participating from their side of the 580-kilometre (360-mile) border with Burkina Faso, Ivory Coasts army said in a statement. The suspected militants were killed in Burkina Faso, the army said, adding that the operation is ongoing. Jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have escalated dramatically over the past year despite significant military support from former colonial ruler France. While Ivory Coast has mostly been spared the violence affecting its neighbours, it was the victim in 2016 of an attack claimed by al Qaeda in which gunmen killed 19 people at a beach resort. A Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye, has donated an ambulance and other medical equipment to Suntreso Government Hospital in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. The items included hospital beds, infrared thermometer, metallic sterilizer, and some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). He indicated that the challenges the hospital faces, particularly the absence of an ambulance, informed his decision to make the donation to assist the hospital to deal effectively with emergency cases in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Thomas Agyarko-Poku, thanked the Deputy Chief of Staff for the generous intervention. He said this was the sixth time Mr. Asenso-Boakye has come to the aid of the Hospital. Anytime they call upon him to assist them, he always honours their request Dr. Agyarko said. He indicated that the ambulance has come at a time the hospital is in die need of a means of transport to convey patients amidst the coronavirus pandemic. He also assured him that the ambulance will be put to effective use to improve health service delivery within Bantama and its environs. The Mayor of Kumasi, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, thanked the Deputy Chief of Staff for the kind gesture, and reminded the people that they are all development agent. In view of this, he urged the people to follow his good example to bring development to their communities. He also recounted the various development interventions being undertaken by the Deputy Chief of Staff within the Bantama constituency. These include a donation of hospital equipment to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, KATH, and the Suntreso hospital; distribution of computers and other educational materials to the various schools in the constituency; the construction of the first ever basic school for Ohwim-Hwidiem community; the construction of a modern astroturf pitch for the people of Bantama among other development projects. --- Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 04:52:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's COVID-19 cases on Sunday exceeded 156,000. Meanwhile, Chinese medical experts in Algeria shared with Chinese people in Tunisia the experience in the prevention of the coronavirus via a video conference. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, increased to 156,827 after 1,141 new infections were reported, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted. The death toll from the coronavirus in the country rose to 4,340 after 32 new fatalities were added in the past 24 hours, he said, adding that 1,092 more patients recovered, bringing the overall number of recoveries to 118,694. On the same day, Chinese medical experts in Algeria answered questions related to COVID-19 during a video conference which was participated by workers from Chinese companies and Chinese people living in Tunisia. At the invitation of the Algerian government, the Chinese medical expert team arrived in Algeria on May 14. In Iran, the tally of COVID-19 infections reached 135,701 with 2,180 new infections. The country also reported 58 new deaths from the virus on Sunday, raising the death toll to 7,417. A total of 105,801 coronavirus patients have recovered, with 2,615 still in critical condition. Saudi Arabia announced 2,399 new cases and 11 more deaths, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 72,560 and the death toll to 390. The kingdom also reported 2,284 more recovered patients, taking the total recoveries to 43,520. In Qatar, 1,501 new cases of coronavirus infections were detected, bringing the total number to 43,714, of whom 23 have died and 9,170 recovered. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced 781 new COVID-19 cases and one more death, raising the tally of infections to 29,485 and the death toll to 245. The total number of recoveries from the virus in the UAE rose to 15,056 after 561 more patients fully recovered. Kuwait reported 838 new cases and eight more deaths, raising the country's total number of infections to 21,302 and the death toll to 156. The country's tally of recoveries hit 6,117 after 370 more patients recovered. Egypt's coronavirus cases soared to 17,265 after 752 new infections were added. The country witnessed a record of 29 daily new fatalities of COVID-19, raising the death toll to 764. The Egyptian Health Ministry also reported 179 more cases of recoveries, increasing the total recoveries to 4,807. The North African country has received three batches of medical aid from the Chinese government to help its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Israel reported five new COVID-19 cases, the lowest single-day rise in the country since March 7, bringing the tally of coronavirus infections to 16,717. The number of recoveries in the country increased by 63 to 14,153. It is worth noting that the death toll from COVID-19 in Israel remained 297 as no new death case has been recorded for four consecutive days. Oman's Ministry of Health announced 513 new cases of infections, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 7,770, including 36 deaths and 1,933 recoveries. In Morocco, the tally of the coronavirus infections increased to 7,433 after 27 new cases were added, which included 199 fatalities and 4,703 recoveries. Iraq confirmed 197 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 4,469, of whom 160 have died and 2,738 recovered. In the mean time, the Iraqi Health Ministry said that further health preventive measures will be taken next week after the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, including maintaining the partial curfew to help curbing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Iraq has received batches of medical aid from China and the support from a team of Chinese medical experts during their 50-day stay. In Lebanon, the number of COVID-19 infections increased by 17 to 1,114, while the death toll remained unchanged at 26. Jordan registered four more infections, bringing the total coronavirus cases to 708, including nine deaths and 471 recoveries. Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 222, as 10 new cases were confirmed. The death toll of the pandemic climbed to 42 in different areas of the government-controlled provinces, including the southern port city of Aden. So far, the pro-government health authorities have recorded 10 recoveries. In addition, health authorities in the Yemeni Houthi rebel-held capital Sanaa has declared earlier a total number of four infections in northern Yemen, including one death. In Syria, 16 new cases were recorded, raising the overall number of infections in the country to 86 which included four fatalities and 41 recoveries. Enditem Aishwarya Rai's movies have always left the audience speechless. The actor's beauty has grabbed the attention of many fans but her skills, film sets, and locations have not gone unnoticed either. Aishwarya Rai's movies include Taal, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, and many more. Listed below are some of Aishwarya Rai's movies that will inspire the wanderlust in you. READ:Aishwarya Rai's Debut Film 'Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya' Music Album Is All About Love; Check Out Aishwarya Rai's movies that will inspire wanderlust in you READ:Check Out Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-Randeep Hooda's Iconic Transition For 'Sarbjit' Taal The film Taal won hearts with its brilliant storyline and picturesque scenes. The film's characters to its scenes, costumes, and even music, all of it told the tale in a breathtaking manner. Taal stars Anil Kapoor, Akshay Khanna, and Aishwarya Rai as the main leads. The film was shot in the Chamba Valley in Himachal Pradesh. The song Taal Se Taal Mila is not only popular due to Aishwarya's dance in the rain but also due to the beautiful and serene location. Taal takes one on the journey of love and difficulties between Mansi, Vikrant, and Manav. Mansi makes her name through Vikrant's help and moves on in life only to find her ex-lover Manav try to win her back. Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya The popular song Meri Sanson Mein Basa Hai from the film, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya was shot in Mainau Island, Lake Constance, Germany. The film stole hearts with the brilliant chemistry between Bobby Deol and Aishwarya Rai. The film's various locations also fulfilled the travel thirst of the masses. The film is also known to be shot in Switzerland, Singapore, and other places as well. The story takes one on the journey of Ashi who meets Bobby in Switzerland and the two fall in love. Later, things go south as the truth comes to the surface. READ:Best Songs From Aishwarya Rai's Film 'Aa Ab Laut Chalen' That Will Get You Nostalgic Ae Dil Hai Mushkil The film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil won many hearts with its crisp storyline, star cast, and music. The film's storyline touched the hearts of many fans but it's steller locations were a cherry added to the cake. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil was an overall shot in London, Paris, Innsbruck, and Mandawa. Be it the beautiful scene with Anushka having her Bollywood saree moment or her stereotypically grand Indian wedding, the locations in the scenes were simply too perfect to be missed. The film takes one on the journey of Alizeh and Ayan. These are two friends who share a great bond find themselves in life's puzzle. The film is all about love, breakups, and hardships. Dhoom 2 This was another movie with some stellar locations. The film was shot in Mumbai, Namibia, Durban (South Africa), and Rio de Janeiro. The film had some beautiful shots and the scenes gripped the masses. Along with the stellar costumes and scenes, the film's music also grabbed the attention of many fans. The Rio de Janeiro scenes from the film added to the climax. Dhoom 2 was the first Indian film to be shot in Brazil. Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Centre and airline regulator DGCA for allowing booking of middle seats on flights and said the government should worry more about the health of citizens than the health of commercial airlines. It ordered Air India not to take advance bookings for the centre seats on international flights being run for Indians stranded abroad for the time being. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde questioned why the government deemed social distancing norms was not necessary on flights when it has insisted on maintaining six feet distance elsewhere in its guidelines. Shoulder to shoulder seating is dangerous and against the government's own norms, the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for both DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) and the state-run Air India. SG Tushar Mehta, however, argued that keeping the middle seats vacant served no purpose as the flights have air circulation, and said the best practice advised by medical and aviation experts was increased testing and quarantine, and not middle seat difference. Outside, there should be a social distancing of at least six feet, and inside youre eliminating even middle seat difference - CJI SA Bobde But the court was not impressed by the line of argument and remarked: Outside, there should be a social distancing of at least six feet, and inside youre eliminating even middle seat difference. How can you say it will not affect anyone? Will the virus (novel coronavirus) know its in the aircraft and its not supposed to infect? the CJI asked. The court was hearing an appeal filed by the airline regulator and the Air India against an interim order passed by the Bombay High Court, which had directed Air India to run while keeping the middle seat vacant on international flights. The special flights are being run to repatriate Indian nationals stuck abroad. The apex court also observed that middle seats should be kept vacant even during domestic flights, as operations started on Monday in a limited manner after a gap of two months. There shouldnt be a difference. It is common sense that maintaining social distancing is important, the bench said. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said last week middle seats would not be kept vacant on domestic flights as "it is not viable" and prescribed distance for social distancing will not be followed even if the seats remain empty. CJI Bobde further questioned why the SG was appearing for both the Air India and the DGCA. So youre for Air India and Union both ? So Air Indias difficulty is your difficulty? When the SG said, they are one and the same, the CJI responded sharply: No, theyre not. He added that the Centre should remain concerned about health of citizens and not airlines. The SG also asserted that Air India does not have enough aircrafts to bring all stranded Indians back while keeping seats vacant, and said middle seats for flights scheduled over the next few dates have already been booked. For the next dates, exhaust all bookings and fly in middle seats. After that, dont fly anyone in middle seats, the court ordered. The Supreme Court further directed that the airline should not take any advance booking for middle seats in international flights and asked the Bombay HC to examine the matter in detail and pass necessary orders expeditiously. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hold their hands over their hearts for the National Anthem during ceremonies commemorating the Memorial Day holiday at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Md., on May 25, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Trump Marks Memorial Day at Arlington Cemetery, Fort McHenry President Donald Trump participated in a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and visited Fort McHenry on Memorial Day, giving a speech at the latter that compared fighting the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus with war. In recent months, our nation and the world have been engaged in a new form of battle against an invisible enemy, Trump said May 25 at Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore. Once more, the men and women of the United States military have answered the call to duty and raced into danger. Tens of thousands of service members and National Guardsmen are on the front lines of our war against this terrible virus, caring for patients, delivering critical supplies and working night and day to safeguard our citizens as one nation. The fort was the site of a battle during the Revolutionary War that inspired the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner. Attendees at the ceremony were seated about six feet from each other in an attempt to follow social distancing guidelines meant to slow the spread of the CCP virus, which causes the disease COVID-19. Trump told those assembled that he came to pay tribute to the immortal souls who fought and died to keep us free. Every time we sing our anthemevery time its rousing chorus swells our hearts with pridewe renew the eternal bonds of loyalty to our fallen heroes. We think of the soldiers who spent their final heroic moments on distant battlefields to keep us safe at home. We remember the young Americans who never got the chance to grow old but whose legacy will outlive us all, he said. Earlier on May 25, the president, first lady, and Cabinet members attended a wreath-laying event at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. President Donald Trump(R) and Vice President Mike Pence participate in a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate Memorial Day in Arlington, Va., on May 25, 2020. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) President Donald Trump salutes as he participates in a Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate Memorial Day in Arlington, Va., on May 25, 2020. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) Following the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner, Trump stepped forward and followed a Memorial Day tradition by placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Officials didnt speak during the ceremony, since the cemetery is closed to the public because of the pandemic. We can never replace them. We can never repay them. But we can always remember, Trump said in a statement. Since the first shots fired in the Revolutionary War, Americans have answered the call to duty and given their lives in service to our Nation and its sacred founding ideals, the president said in a proclamation. As we pay tribute to the lives and legacies of these patriots on Memorial Day, we also remember that they sacrificed to create a better, more peaceful future for our Nation and the world. We recommit to realizing that vision, honoring the service of so many who have placed love of country above all else. President Donald Trump speaks during ceremonies commemorating the Memorial Day holiday at Fort McHenry at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, on May 25, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, in Baltimore, on May 25, 2020. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) As Americans, we will always defend our freedom and our liberty. When those principles are threatened, we will respond with uncompromising force and unparalleled vigor. Generation after generation, our countrys finest have defended our Republic with honor and distinction. Memorials, monuments, and rows of white crosses and stars in places close to home like Arlington, Virginia, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as well as far-flung battlefields in places like Flanders Field in Belgium and Busan in Korea, will forever memorialize their heroic actions, standing as solemn testaments to the price of freedom, he continued. We will never take for granted the blood shed by these gallant men and women, as we are forever indebted to them and their families. The Trumps returned to the White House after the Fort McHenry event. Memorial Day is always observed on the last Monday of May; the federal holiday commemorates men and women who died while in military service. Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans established what was then known as Decoration Day as a time for decorating with flowers the graves of those who had died in war. The date of May 30 was chosen, likely because flowers would be in bloom all over the country, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Arlington National Cemetery was the site of the first large observance of the day, held that year. Saul Loeb/Getty It was a seemingly off-the-cuff bit of concern trolling that few in Washington could pull off other than Speaker Nancy Pelosi. On Tuesday, in her best Italian grandmotherly tone, Pelosi expressed concern at President Trumps use of the unproven COVID-19 remedy hydroxychloroquine because of possible side effects stemming from the presidents health condition. Specifically, his weight. As far as the president is concerned, hes our president and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and in his, shall we say, weight group, morbidly obese, they say, Pelosi told CNNs Anderson Cooper. So, I think it's not a good idea. The quip spun up a brief furor and outrage cycle; Trump responded that Pelosi was sick and had mental problems, comments which then spun up an outrage cycle of their own. Two days later, Pelosi defended herself, saying I was being factual in a very sympathetic way and called the whole dust-up unimportant. But to those whove known and watched Pelosi for a long time, theres a sense that theres very little that she does or says that is not deliberate. With that in mind, some in the House Democratic caucus are looking at this weeks spat between Pelosi and the president as evidence of a greater willingness on her part to push his buttons with the kind of personal attacks that he frequently doles out himself. Its her ability to say the truth in a way that really gets under his skin, I think its just reminding people theres a lot more to this story than what he says, said one former Pelosi aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In this situation with COVID-19 and truly needing the facts and thats a way of actually breaking through the clutter. The aide added, In this environment you use everything that you have. That strategy may rub some Democrats the wrong way, but others are welcoming the sight of their leader taking the gloves off more often, not to be pettythough they enjoy seeing Trump get it as much as he gives itbut as a show of strength. Story continues There is a benefit in owning him like this from time to time, said a House Democratic aide. She engages in these fights and it says, I am not going to be pushed around, I am powerful and my power is not dependent on you. While the Speaker has always been able to get a rise out of Trump, and vice versa, her apparent strategy in dealing with him for much of the last year was to conspicuously turn the other cheek. During Trumps impeachment, the speaker, a lifelong Catholic, said so frequently she was praying for the president that it became grist for a Saturday Night Live sketch. In January, Pelosi said she doesnt like to spend too much time on his crazy tweets because everything he says is a projection. But this year, the tension between the two leaders broke into the open in a way it hadnt before. Before the fat crack, of course, was the infamous State of the Union snubTrump rejecting Pelosis outstretched handwhich led to the infamous State of the Union slashPelosi ripping up Trumps speechwhich sparked a multi-day cycle of sniping and opining. The coronavirus pandemic has hardly drawn the two any closer. Though Congress and the White House have spent weeks on painstaking negotiations over historic bills to respond to COVID-19, Pelosi and Trump didnt directly speak during any of it. In fact, the two have not spoken on the phone or in person since Oct. 16, 2019, when Pelosi went to a White House meeting on Syria, according to the speakers office. While few in the Democratic caucus are hoping for Pelosi and Trump to bury the hatchetor think that such a thing is realisticsome lawmakers suggest that embracing Trump-style button-pushing will be counterproductive for Democrats. While some encourage extinguishing fire with fire, Ive always found water works best, said Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) when asked about Pelosis comments about Trump. In the words of a great Republican, Teddy Roosevelt, the most practical kind of politics is the politics of decencyand thats the spirit for which we all should be advocating. And amid the pandemic, many lawmakers have found it easy to ignore the Pelosi-Trump fracas, said another House Democratic aide. I think theyd very much prefer leadership of both parties to focus on the problems at hand and visibly negotiate with each other than lob insults, said the aide. Like he does with all political adversaries, Trump has of course delighted in insulting Pelosi, who along with Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have been the president's most reliable foils during his presidency. The president has frequently called her crazy and has mocked her appearancein December, for example, he claimed her teeth were falling out of her mouth. And their last direct conversation, in October, fell apart amid a personal insult: Schumer said that during that meeting in the White House, Trump called Pelosi a third-rate politician. Naturally, however, Trumps defenders in the congressional GOP have taken umbrage on behalf of the president in the wake of Pelosis attack. The House GOP leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) tweeted that if he is speaker, he would never rip up a presidents speech or call them morbidly obese. It all reflects, to some Democrats, Pelosis unique ability to get under the presidents skinand perhaps a sign she should do it more often. It reminds people he is small, said a House Democratic aide. Trump clearly fears and respects her, whereas he loathes Schumer, who is usually good cop when its time for wheeling and dealing. Additional reporting by Jackie Kucinich Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. The UK government has set up a new inquiry into any security implications surrounding Huawei's involvement in the country's 5G networks as a result of the US sanctions against the Chinese tech giant, it emerged on Monday. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is in charge of Britain's cyber security, is taking the lead on examining additional risks to Huawei products that may arise from the latest US sanctions. The security and resilience of our networks is of paramount importance, an NCSC spokesperson said. Following the US announcement of additional sanctions against Huawei, the NCSC is looking carefully at any impact they could have to the UK's networks, the spokesperson said. The US government had unveiled a plan earlier this month to block global chip supplies to Huawei, the latest move amid growing US-China tensions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The sanctions restrict Huawei from using US technology and software to design its semiconductors. The US in recent months has increased its action against Huawei, preventing it from doing business in the US, as it believes the company known for its technological advancement in 5G is being used by the Chinese leadership to serve their interest. Responding to the UK review, Victor Zhang, vice-president at Huawei, said, "Our priority remains to continue the rollout of a reliable and secure 5G networks across Britain. "We are happy to discuss with NCSC any concerns they may have and hope to continue the close working relationship we have enjoyed for the last 10 years." The latest inquiry comes after UK media reports indicated that Johnson plans to reduce the Chinese telecom giant's involvement in Britain's 5G network and has instructed officials to draw up plans that would see China's involvement in the UK's upgraded telecom network scaled down to zero by 2023. Members of Parliament in the UK prime minister's own Conservative Party have ramped up the charge against Huawei's involvement, a movement that has gathered pace following China's perceived non-transparent actions during the coronavirus crisis which originated in the country. Under the current UK government telecom upgrade plans, Huawei is banned from supplying kit to "sensitive parts" of the network, known as the core. In addition, it is only allowed to account for 35 per cent of the kit in a network's periphery, which includes radio masts. UK mobile operators have reportedly been told by the NCSC which is part of the UK's intelligence agency GCHQ that they would have three years to comply with caps on the use of Huawei equipment in their networks. 5G promises faster mobile internet data speeds, a stable network that can handle more connections, and more bandwidth for a multitude of different technological applications. Most of the UK's mobile networks have said they would use and deploy Huawei's 5G products only outside the core in the "periphery". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gut Relations: Fermented foods are tightly linked to the gut microbiome Fermented foods can be a primary source of potentially probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for the human gut, as is shown in a new international study published in Nature Communications The majority of fermented foods contain thousands of live LAB that are ingested when we consume yogurt, cheese, kefir, etc. Some of these LAB have probiotic properties and, thus, many fermented foods are believed to be naturally healthy as a result. How many of these bacteria reach the gut? And how many become part of the microbiome, the large community of microorganisms, in the gut? Researchers at the University of Naples Federico II (Italy) in collaboration with the University of Trento (Italy), Teagasc (Ireland) and the APC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre (Ireland) have analyzed the genetic information from LAB strains (genomes) found in fermented foods and in human faeces to answer these questions. LAB are among the best studied microorganisms across the globe. They are used in the production of numerous fermented foods including yogurt, cheese, kefir, bakery products, fermented meats or fermented vegetables. Fermentation processes have been studied for over a century, but the practice of fermenting food as a strategy for the preservation of milk, meat and vegetables has been used for millennia. The role of LAB is to transform raw materials, to produce molecules that preserve the food and to contribute to the key characteristics, such as taste of the food. In other words, there would be no yogurt or cheese without the activity of these important microorganisms. Several strains of LAB are also well known probiotics, the most common belonging to the genus Lactobacillus. Probiotics are of considerable interest as supplements for various purposes but also for their potential to add to the value and health promoting properties of certain foods. Using state-of-the-art computational analysis tools, LAB genomes were reconstructed from about 300 foods and nearly 10,000 human faecal samples from different continents, looking at the distribution of LAB in humans based on geographical origin, age and lifestyle. LAB were found in relatively low abundance in the human faeces and their prevalence depended on age, lifestyle and geography. The LAB most frequently found in the human faeces were Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactococcus lactis, which are commonly found in yogurt and cheese. The DNA sequences of about 3,000 LAB genomes were also compared; and analysis revealed a high level of similarity of LAB from food with those of LAB from the human gut. This new finding suggests that consuming foods rich in LAB can enrich our intestines with these potentially probiotic microorganisms. Fermented foods are the principal ecological niche for LAB in nature. Our results support the hypothesis that food is the major source of LAB for the gut microbiome. This research also offers hints and methodologies to implement novel strategies for tracing the life of probiotics and other LAB from foods and/or supplements all the way to the human body said Professor Danilo Ercolini, senior author of the study. This research opens new horizons for studies on potentially health promoting foods, concluded Ercolini. The study was carried out as part of the MASTER project (Microbiome Applications for Sustainable Food Systems through Technologies and Enterprise; www.master-h2020.eu). Professor Paul Cotter, co-author and leader of the MASTER project explained: MASTER is one of the largest EU-funded grants for food microbiome studies in Horizon 2020 and we expect this to be one the first of many ground-breaking studies that will result. End Reference E. Pasolli et al., 2020. Large-scale genome-wide analysis links lactic acid bacteria from food with the gut microbiome. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16438-8 For further information please contact Professor Paul Cotter (paul.cotter@teagasc.ie) [Ireland], Prof Danilo Ercolini (danilo.ercolini@unina.it; skype danilo.ercolini) [Italy] or Dr Catherine Buckley, Communications Manager, APC Microbiome Ireland (c.buckley@ucc.ie; mobile +353 (0) 86 8554744) A female teacher of a private school in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur town, about 300 kilometres from Lucknow, was sacked after she cited 'Pakistan' as an example of Noun while taking an online class. The teacher had allegedly posted examples such as ''Pakistan is our motherland'' and ''I will join Pakistan Army''. Another post was ''Rashid Minhas (A Pak air force pilot) was a brave soldier''. According to the sources, all these posts were made by the teacher on a WhatsApp group of around 40 students of fourth standard while teaching them about Nouns. The matter snowballed into a huge controversy after some parents saw the posts and lodged a strong protest with the school. The school management suspended the teacher and sought an explanation from her. Sources said that the teacher pleaded innocence and said that she merely ''copy-pasted'' the examples without paying much attention to the meanings. ''I am a true patriot....it was a mistake...I did not do it deliberately,'' she said in her reply to the school management. She also said that she had immediately clarified in the group that she in fact meant 'India' but owing to 'cut-paste' she inadvertently mentioned Pakistan. She also sought forgiveness for the mistake. She was, however, sacked on Monday. The teacher had reportedly slipped into depression after the incident. The parents demanded that the teacher be booked on charges of sedition and arrested. No formal complaint had so far been lodged with the police in this regard, sources said. India and Israel on Monday discussed joint research and development on big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. The discussion was a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart's vision for wide-ranging scientific cooperation between the two countries. Israel Embassy on Twitter stated that the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research held discussions with Head of Israel's Directorate of Research and development, Israel's Ambassador Ron Malka & India's Ambassador Sanjeev Singla about high-level scientific cooperation to address COVID-19. Discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis based on big data & AI technology, to enable a rapid return to routine. This is part of the vision of @IsraeliPM & @PMOIndia for wide-ranging scientific cooperation between India and Israel. Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) May 25, 2020 Modi and Netanyahu had held discussions on the novel coronavirus outbreak and its possible impact on the supply lines in Israel in March. The Indian government had also helped in the evacuation process of around 500 Israelis in the same month who were stranded amid the nationwide lockdown READ: 'I will come back to India, had a great experience despite pandemic,' says Israeli tourist READ: Centre issues guidelines for domestic air,rail, bus travel; states to decide on quarantine Netanyahu Thanks PM Modi For Congratulatory Message Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for his congratulatory message on forming a new government in Israel and vowed to continue to "strengthen the important" relationship between the two countries. Israel's new government was sworn in on Sunday under 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. "Thank you my dear friend the Prime Minister of India! We will continue to strengthen the important relationship between us," Netanyahu tweeted in Hebrew, responding to Modi's message. READ: Netanyahu thanks PM Modi for congratulatory message on forming new government in Israel (Newser) A couple trying to get into the Florida Keys, which are currently closed to non-residents amid the coronavirus pandemic, allegedly kidnapped a teenage girl to get them through a checkpoint. Police say Alexander Michael Sardinas, 37, and a 43-year-old female companion first tried to get through alone while in a rideshare Thursday, but were denied entry since they didn't have identification, NBC Miami reports. That's when they allegedly found a 17-year-old Florida Keys resident in a Publix parking lot and threatened her if she didn't drive them through the checkpoint using her own ID, ABC News reports. She did, and after dropping them off, contacted family who called police. Sardinas faces charges of kidnapping and false imprisonment. The woman was not arrested, though police say more charges could be pending. (Read more coronavirus stories.) She may be just a red carpet reporter for Extra, but Renee Bargh seems to be the most desirable woman in Hollywood. After the Australian TV host denied rumours last week she had 'secretly dated' Tom Cruise two years ago, she has now been linked to none other than Brad Pitt. Renee, 33, has supposedly been 'flirting up a storm' with Brad ever since she interviewed him at the SAG Awards in January, according to New Idea. Hollywood's most in-demand woman! After denying rumours she 'secretly dated' Tom Cruise two years ago, Extra reporter Renee Bargh (left) has now been linked to Brad Pitt (right) During their brief exchange at the ceremony, Renee was temporarily lost for words when Brad, 56, winked at her and joked about their 'amazing chemistry'. An 'insider' said of the moment: 'Renee is very much Brad's type. He can tell she's got what it takes to go all the way in Hollywood and beyond.' Brad, whose exes include Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow, has reportedly been 'dropping hints' he wants to ask Renee out when she's next in LA. They kept that quiet! Renee, 33, has supposedly been 'flirting up a storm' with Brad ever since she interviewed him at the SAG Awards in January (pictured). During their exchange, she was temporarily lost for words when Brad winked at her and joked about their 'amazing chemistry' 'Brad never usually opens up on the red carpet like he did to Renee, so the fact he stayed so long talking to her is proof how impressed he was,' the source added. The pair have reportedly 'run into each other a few times' since the SAG Awards because they share mutual friends. Back in January, Renee told friends she had hardly been able to compose herself after Brad winked at her flirtatiously on the red carpet. 'Renee is very much Brad's type. He can tell she's got what it takes to go all the way': In September last year, fans had noticed their chemistry at the premiere of Ad Astra (pictured) In September last year, fans had noticed their chemistry at the premiere of Ad Astra. Renee shared a photo to Instagram of herself and Brad, which she captioned: 'The "point" of this picture is to show the apparent chemistry Brad and I have.' At the time, she laughed off the romance rumours and insisted she 'didn't start' them. 'I didn't start this!' This isn't the first time Renee, who returned to screens on Sunday as host of The Voice Australia, has been linked to a Hollywood A-lister. Pictured on January 19, 2020 in LA This isn't the first time Renee, who returned to screens on Sunday as host of The Voice Australia, has been linked to a Hollywood A-lister. In July 2018, Woman's Day reported that she was discreetly dating Tom Cruise after they'd 'hit it off' at a film premiere in Paris. But the Channel Nine star slammed the claims on Friday, telling The Kyle and Jackie O Show the speculation was 'ridiculous' and untrue. 'We just had a couple of great interviews on a red carpet, I think in Paris, and then someone just wrote that article... it came out of nowhere,' she said. In November 2018, it was reported that Renee was dating actor Glen Powell, but they are believed to have split after 11 months together. Since this break-up, fans have noticed her flirty Instagram exchanges with Home and Away star Lincoln Younes, 28, but neither of them has confirmed they are dating. The police have detained nine people after shooting at a parking lot near a residential compound in the south of Moscow, a source in the law enforcement agencies said. "Overall, nine people have been detained including the wounded person, the involvement of each of them is being looked into," TASS cited the source as saying. The shooting took place at a parking lot near the Yasny residential compound. The participants fled the scene in several cars. At least four of the detained persons are from Orenburg, a Russian city in the Urals. According to the source, at least eight people were involved in the brawl. They shot at each other from nonlethal pistols and, presumably, shotguns. A criminal case was launched under three articles of the Russian Criminal Code - Assault to Murder, Illegal Trafficking of Weapons and Hooliganism. One person was wounded in the shooting, a spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committees Moscow city department Yulia Ivanova said earlier. It is fifteen years since the passing of Pope John Paul II, whose life and teaching left an indelible mark in the heart of the world and the life of the Church. Terms and principles so precious to him such as human dignity and freedom, social justice and solidarity, dialogue and Christian witness became axioms and pillars of his ecclesiastical and pastoral ministry. Pope John Paul II eloquently articulated his conviction that the mission of the Church was to liberate humankind from all forms of oppression. He played a vital role in bringing down the walls of separation that had long imprisoned Eastern Europe. From his long tenure as Bishop of Rome, one could spotlight his numerous pastoral travels or encyclical documents, underline his contribution to the reform of canon law, but also highlight his extensive inspiration and influence across religious and even political realms. Instead, let us call attention to three vital dates in his ecumenical encounters with the Orthodox Church and his fraternal relations with our predecessor Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios and us personally. A Dialogue Begins: November 30, 1979 Pope John Paul II initiated a new tradition by officially visiting the Ecumenical Patriarchate shortly after his election. At the Phanar, on the occasion of the Thronal Feast of the Church of Constantinople, we first met the new Pope in our capacity as Director of the Private Office of the late Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios. On November 30, 1979, the Patriarch and the Pope issued a common declaration announcing the commencement of the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between our two Sister Churches. After the pioneering exchanges between their predecessors Popes John XXIII and Paul VI, as well as Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras who initiated the dialogue of love, it was time to launch the dialogue of truth, in order to dispel the misunderstandings and heal the wounds of the past on our way to unity. A Declaration for Creation: June 10, 2002 The ecological initiatives of the Orthodox Church, instituted by Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios in 1989, were continued and advanced throughout our tenure, especially through a number of international symposia, seminars, and summits that continue to this day. The Adriatic Symposium an interfaith and interdisciplinary assembly held in the summer of 2002 addressed the ethical dimensions of the ecological crisis and concluded with a historical Divine Liturgy in the Church of SantApollinare in Classe in Ravenna on June 9, 2002. On the next day, on June 10, 2002, delegates attended the closing ceremony in Venice, at the magnificent Palazzo Ducale, where another historical moment of ecumenical and environmental proportions unfolded. There, we were able to communicate via satellite link-up with Pope John Paul II in order to cosign the Venice Declaration the first-ever joint text of the two leaders of Western and Eastern Christianity exclusively on ecological issues, emphasizing creation care as the moral and spiritual duty of all people. As we declared on that day: Humankind is entitled to something better than what we see around us. We and, much more, our children and future generations are entitled to a better world, a world free from degradation, violence and bloodshed, a world of generosity and love. A Legacy for the Ages: November 27, 2004 A third critical stage in our relationship with the late Pope was the return of sacred relics to the Church of Constantinople a significant, albeit sensitive, matter for the relations between our Churches. In November 2004, the remains of St. Gregory the Theologian (390) and St. John Chrysostom (407) were restored to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Both saints had served as renowned archbishops of the prestigious capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Formerly treasured in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, the relics were subsequently relocated to Rome by way of Venice, leaving a dour and deep wound in the story of inter-Christian relations. St. John Chrysostoms remains were placed inside St. Peters Basilica; St. Gregory the Theologians were originally preserved in the convent of St. Maria in Campo Santo, but later were transferred to the Cappella Gregoriana in St. Peters. The relics remained there until we visited the Vatican in June 2004 on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras of blessed memory, as well as of the 800th anniversary since the Fourth Crusade in 1204. In his address, Pope John Paul II officially apologized for the tragic events of the Fourth Crusade, to which we responded with a humble request for the return of the sacred relics as a moral restoration of the spiritual legacy of the East, and a significant step in the process of reconciliation. On November 27, 2004, following a solemn ceremony and procession led by Pope John Paul II in Rome, we escorted the relics of St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom back to their home in New Rome. It was arguably one of the final and finest charitable acts, as well as one of the most momentous and memorable ecumenical gestures by the elderly and frail pontiff, our beloved brother in Christ. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Meghan Markle finally gave a subtle but definite answer on whether she is pregnant or not with her second child with Prince Harry. Even before Prince Harry and Meghan left the monarchy, most royal family news disclosed some speculations that the royal couple is preparing to expand their family. Such reports continued to spread more when they relocated to Los Angeles, but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remained silent about it. However, during their second wedding anniversary, Meghan ultimately crashed all the rumors that she is pregnant with their second child. On May 19, the Sussexes celebrated their latest milestone during lockdown at the $18 million mansion in Los Angeles, where they have been staying with their 1-year-old son Archie. According to the royal biographer and Meghan's close acquaintance Omid Scobie, a source told him the details of Prince Harry and Meghan's celebration amid the coronavirus pandemic. The couple reportedly began the celebration by chatting with family and friends who attended the royal wedding in 2018 and recalled how "beautiful and magical" that day was. "And with the Sussexes now based in Los Angeles, it only seemed right to celebrate with a Southern Californian favourite: Mexican food," Scobie told Harper's Bazaar. "The couple, who also exchanged cotton-based gifts per tradition, enjoyed a number of favourite dishes together, washed down with margaritas." Since the celebration's menu included alcoholic drinks, it shooed away all the speculations that Meghan may be pregnant again. Such rumors came after multiple bookies placed bets at Betfair earlier this month, claiming that the couple would announce their baby news before the end of the year. Many royal fans were convinced that Meghan, who has not been seen in public for weeks, could be expecting her second child. "Punters are convinced that 2020 may bring further joy for the pair, and they are odds-on at 4/7 to announce another pregnancy in 2020," a spokesperson from the company said. Although Prince Harry and Meghan do not know when they will have their second child yet, the duchess expressed before how badly she wants to give birth to Archie's sibling away from the royal family. Meghan Wants To Give Birth In Los Angeles? Last year, Scobie revealed to OK! magazine that Prince Harry and Meghan planned to work more overseas -- specifically in Canada -- as the family-of-three "genuinely switched off" during their break from the royal palace. "Canada is a safe place for the couple - they were able to go unnoticed there for a while," the royal commentator said. "It's an important place for Meghan and she has family and friends there. It's also part of the Commonwealth." In addition, the editor was also sure that time that they would not want the royal palace to be the place where they would welcome their second child since they have always felt unsafe throughout their stay there. To recall, Meghan faced her greatest battle yet when she became the British tabloid's target after marrying into the royal family. It also pushed them to quit as senior members of The Firm, which explains why they are now living in Los Angeles. [May 25, 2020] CSCEC's brand value ranks first again in construction industry BEIJING, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn: May 10 was the fourth China Brand Day. China Council for Brand Development, China Appraisal Society, and other co-organizers jointly held the virtual 2020 China Brand Evaluation Press Conference in the studio of Xinhuanet. With a brand strength score of 972 and a brand value of over 110 billion yuan, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) was once again ranked the top brand in the construction industry and the 17th in the 2020 Top 100 Chinese Listed Companies by Brand Value. The China Brand Evaluation Press Conference, as a public-benefit event, has been held consecutively for seven years. The number of brands released this year was 564, covering corporate brands, product brands, China time-honored brands, independent innovation brands, geographical indication brands, etc. The brands came from 15 industries such as energy and chemicals, light, textile and apparel, etc. The total brand value reached 7.36 trillion yuan. CSCEC has contributed actively to building a community with a shared future for mankind. This year, CSCEC played a very important role during the COVID-19 crisis. It built 100 emergency response projects such as the Huoshenshn and Leishenshan hospitals, coordinated epidemic prevention and production resumption, and united the upstream and downstream corporations of the industrial chain towards joint development and to overcome difficulties. Meanwhile, CSCEC also joined the global efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting the strength and sense of responsibility of China's construction industry to the world. CSCEC attaches equal importance to fostering a strong company culture and promoting the corporate brand. The company calls for hard work, fine craftsmanship, and the spirit of construction exemplified in its work to build the Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals, in order to elevate employees' values and behavior standards and further develop the soft power of its brand culture matching the world's first-class enterprises. At the same time, CSCEC seeks to build an overseas communication platform to promote cross-cultural integration. In 2019, CSCEC produced great results in raising its brand value. It ranked the 21st on the Fortune Global 500 and retained the top ranking in the Brand Finance Global 500 in the global construction industry. For five consecutive years, CSCEC maintained the highest global credit rating in the industry, which was unanimously issued by the world's big three credit rating agencies, Standard &Poor's(S&P), Moody's, and Fitch. Also, in 2019, CSCEC once again ranked the first in the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 250 Global Contractors. In the future, guided by the goal of building a world-class enterprise with global competitiveness, CSCEC will further enhance its top-level design, optimize the brand strategy, highlight the core values, and increase its brand influence in an all-round way, striving to become a top brand in the world with high reputation and wide recognition. CSCEC's brand value ranks first again in construction industry http://www.china.org.cn/business/2020-05/18/content_76058520.htm View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cscecs-brand-value-ranks-first-again-in-construction-industry-301064695.html SOURCE China.org.cn [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Hyderabad, May 25 : Muslims in Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday sans the congregational prayers, traditional festivities, new clothes, handshakes, and warm hugs amid lockdown restrictions due to coronavirus outbreak. Like the entire fasting month of Ramzan, lockdown restrictions loomed over Eid celebrations as the faithful remained indoors and offered prayers at home, avoiding visits to relatives and friends as a preventive measure. Audio and video calls and greetings over social media apps replaced the warm handshakes and hugs, a key feature of the festivities every year in normal times. The festive atmosphere was completely missing in Hyderabad, the historic city with a rich Muslim past. There was no usual hustle-bustle on the streets, which wore a deserted look. Every Eid, in the past, people clad in new clothes and wearing skullcaps would head to Eidgahs or open grounds and mosques for congregational 'Namaz-e-Eid' amid enthusiasm and religious fervour, marking the beginning of day-long festivities. After the prayers, people used to shake hands and embrace each other thrice. They then used to visit their relatives and friends to exchange greetings over 'sheerkhorma', a special sweet dish made on occasion with vermicelli, milk, and dry fruits. Children too were disappointed this time as they missed their 'Eidi' or the gift of money they receive from their elder relatives. Attired in their best, the children eagerly used to wait for the visit by the relatives to receive the 'Eidi'. "This is perhaps for the first time in history that Eid is being celebrated without congregational 'namaz', people hugging each other, and visiting their relatives and friends. I have neither seen such a muted celebration in my lifetime not heard about it from my parents or grandparents," 73-year-old Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed, a retired engineer, told IANS. Following an appeal by Islamic scholars, people offered prayers at home. Hyderabad's historic Mir Alam Eidgah, which used to see the biggest Eid congregations, was deserted. Mecca Masjid, the 17th century mosque near Charminar, too was out of bounds for people. The imam and few other members of the managing committee offered the prayers. However, members of joint families or residents of some apartment buildings came together to offer the prayers in groups of 30 to 60 in their respective premises. However, they too avoided hugs and confined themselves to Islamic greeting of 'Assalamalaikum' and handshakes to ensure social distancing. Ever since the lockdown began in March, mosques have remained closed for worshippers and only four to five people are allowed to offer daily five-time prayers in each mosque. The congregations are not allowed even on Fridays. The holy month of Ramzan also saw people offering prayers at their homes. With the lockdown dampening the festive spirit, Eid was celebrated without new clothes. Hyderabad, which is famous in the entire country for shopping during Ramzan, hardly saw any shoppers this time. The centuries-old markets around Charminar, which used to buzz round the clock during the fasting month, were desolate. The shopping used to be at its peak on Eid's eve as thousands thronged the stretch from Nayapul across Musi river to the Charminar. It was all dark and quiet this time over due to the night curfew in force as part of the lockdown. The relaxation in lockdown since last week provided opportunity to some people to buy new clothes and shoes, though an overwhelming majority stayed away from shopping in view of the appeals made by Islamic scholars, community leaders, and activists. People were urged to use the money to be spent on new clothes and shoes instead to provide food and other essentials to those facing severe hardships due to the lockdown. Many responded to the calls and contributed generously to help the poor and the needy. "This period of lockdown has opened the eyes of so many of us who sit pretty with their filled pantries, while others struggle to find a proper meal for days on end. Humanity was united and it was heartwarming to see people from all walks of life coming forward to help others," said Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad state. Latest updates on Eid al-Fitr 2020 -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Jeffrey Epstein died in his prison cell on 10 August: AP More than 100 people claim they could be the offspring of the deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein, who is thought to have had a personal fortune of around 470 million. A DNA company, which set up a website called epsteinheirs.com, said as many as 130 people had come forward including a number of Britons since the sites launch. Hundreds more had been in touch with tips regarding Epsteins possible fathering of children, The Sun reported. Epstein, who died in a jail cell last year, was never known to have had children, but anyone able to prove the convicted sex offender is their father would be in line to claim some of his fortune, which includes a New York City mansion and a 75-acre luxury estate. Jeffrey Epstein was sexually promiscuous for so long that there is a reasonable chance he may have fathered a child, the founder of DNA firm Morse Genealogical Services, Harvey Morse, said. He could even be a grandfather. If the company established a convincing lead, they would petition a US court for a DNA test to confirm the genetic link, Mr Morse added. About a quarter of the calls have required investigation but so far we have not felt confident to take any further. Though a medical examiner ruled Epstein died by suicide before be could be tried on fresh charges of sex trafficking, controversy continues to swirl around the incident in August. Dr Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner of New York City who was hired by the family to oversee the autopsy, has suggested Epstein may have been murdered. I think the evidence points toward homicide rather than suicide, Mr Baden said during an interview with Fox News last year, noting that some bones in Epsteins neck were broken in a way that would suggest pressures inconsistent with a hanging. In March, a lawyer who met Epstein in the days before his death cast similar doubt on the episode. The reason I say I dont believe it was suicide is for my interaction with him that day, David Schoen said. The purpose of asking me to come there that day and over the past previous couple of weeks was to ask me to take over his defence. New Yorkers are entering the summer season with no access to the traditional cooling infrastructure the cold water found in playground sprinklers, public pools, and beaches which Mayor Bill de Blasio has declared off-limits because of concerns about the coronavirus and the budget. Millions of residents will find themselves on an unpleasant and potentially deadly trip back in time to the turn of the 20th century, when summers were always too darn hot. New York bakes under the summer sun; the average high temperature in July and August is above 80 degrees. By the late 19th century, Lower Manhattan created a microclimate effect wherein its densest neighborhoods maintained its highest temperatures, what we call today the urban heat island. Before the widespread adoption of air conditioning in the mid-20th century, New Yorkers could do little to regulate heat and humidity, and most could not afford to leave. Water, whether from the citys hydrants, at beaches, the East River (for the hardy), public baths, or, by the 1930s, pools, was the only way to beat the heat. The citys response to heat tended to be reactive, rather than systematic or proactive hydrants opened during a period of extreme weather. New Yorkers faced the challenges of summer heat daily, at the private level, and suffered. The painter George Bellows immortalized East River swimmers in his 1907 painting Forty-Two Kids, capturing boys cavorting on a dilapidated wharf. Young swimmers mostly boys from sweltering slums braving the fierce tidal currents of New York Harbor were symbols of summer in the city in the early 20th century. DGAP-News: EXASOL AG / Key word(s): IPO The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. Exasol AG: Successful stock market debut Nuremberg, 25 May 2020 - Exasol AG (ISIN: DE000A0LR9G9; www.exasol.com), a global technology company and provider of a next-generation software-based data engine, has started successfully trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange today, booking an opening price of EUR 14 for its shares - 47% above the issue price of EUR 9.50. Aaron Auld, CEO of Exasol AG: "As I stand here today in the Frankfurt Stock Exchange I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new investors who join the Exasol journey at an exciting time. The IPO marks the start of a new chapter in our growth story and I look forward to delivering you more positive news in the near future." Mathias Golombek, CTO of Exasol AG: "At Exasol, we believe that data has the power to transform businesses. With our IPO proceeds we now have the capability and resources to really drive our engagement with organizations and empower them to push the boundaries of what it means to be data-driven." Exasol's Initial Public Offering ("IPO") represents the first successful initial listing in Germany in 2020 year to date and one of the few successful high-growth Technology IPOs in Europe in recent years. The IPO process was one of the first in the world to employ a fully virtual IPO process with more than 100 e-roadshow meetings with potential investors in over 15 countries worldwide. Exasol AG shares have the international securities identification number (ISIN) DE000A0LR9G9, the German "Wertpapierkennnummer" (WKN) A0LR9G and the ticker symbol EXL. Hauck & Aufhauser acted as Sole Global Coordinator and Sole Bookrunner. Exasol Press contact Carla Gutierrez, Global Communications Manager Tel: + 44 786 0151691 Email: Carla.gutierrez@exasol.com About Exasol Exasol is the analytics database. Its high-performance in-memory analytics database gives organizations the power to transform how they work with data, on-premises, in the cloud or both - and turn it into value faster, easier and more cost effectively than ever before. To learn more about Exasol please visit www.exasol.com Important Notice This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy or subscribe for securities. This announcement is not a prospectus. Potential investors should not purchase or subscribe for any securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of the information contained in the prospectus of the Company (including any supplements thereto) which has been approved by the German federal financial supervisory authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht - BaFin) and immediately published thereafter. Copies of such prospectus are available free of charge from Exasol AG, as well as, for viewing in electronic form, on the website of the Company. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America (the "United States"). Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States would be made by means of a prospectus that could be obtained from the Company and that would contain detailed information about the Company and its management, as well as the financial statements of the Company. There will be no public offer of the securities in the United States. In the United Kingdom, this information is directed at and/or for distribution only to (i) investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), or (ii) high net worth companies falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons are collectively referred to herein as "relevant persons"). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this information or any of its contents. In member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA"), in which the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as amended (the "Prospectus Regulation") is in effect other than Germany and the United Kingdom (the "Relevant Member States"), this announcement, and any offer following it, is only addressed to persons who are 'qualified investors' within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation ("Qualified Investors"). It is assumed that each person in the Relevant Member States who acquires or is offered securities as part of an offering (an "Investor") has represented and agreed that such person is a Qualified Investor; that securities purchased by such person as part of the offering are not being purchased for any person in the EEA other than a Qualified Investor or persons in Germany, the United Kingdom or another Relevant Member State with comparable legal provisions, with respect to whom the Investor may make decisions at its own discretion; and that the securities would not be purchased for offer or re-sale in the EEA, if this would lead to Exasol AG or any of its affiliates being required to publish a prospectus under Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada or Japan. Some of the information in this announcement may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the Company. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," or, in each case, the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, general economic conditions, our competitive environment, risks associated with our industry, as well as many other risks specifically related to the Company and its operations. 25.05.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de New Delhi: Union health ministry on Monday (May 25) said that India has significantly ramped up its domestic production capacity of PPEs and N95 masks and the requirements of the States/UTs are being sufficiently met clarifying on the quality of personal protective equipment (PPE) coveralls. The statement comes in the wake of some new reports expressing concern about the quality of personal protective equipment (PPE) coveralls. It said, "There are some reports in a section of the media expressing concern about the quality of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) coveralls. The products under reference have no relevance to the procurement being made by the Central Government." "HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL), the procuring agency of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is procuring PPE coveralls from manufacturers/suppliers only after getting their coveralls tested and approved by one of the eight labs nominated by the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) for testing the same," the ministry said. The statement further said, "It is only after their products qualify in the test prescribed by the technical committee (JMG) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, that they are procured," adding "...HLL is also undertaking random sampling of the supplies being made, for which a testing protocol has been devised." In case of any failure, the company is being disqualified for any supplies. All the states/UTs have been asked to ensure procurement which is being carried out at their level after following the prescribed testing for PPEs from MoT nominated labs, it said. "Manufacturers who have got their products qualified from these labs are also being on-boarded on government e-marketplace (GeM). The manufacturers who have got PPEs qualified have been advised by the MoT to on-board on to the GeM so that the procurement by states can be carried out accordingly," it added. It also added that the dynamic information of manufacturers whose products have qualified the tests is available on MoT website. Notably, the country is producing more than 3 lakh PPEs and N95 masks per day. States/UTs as well as Central Institutions have been provided with around 111.08 lakh N-95 masks and around 74.48 lakh PPEs, it added. Sydney, May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Portugal outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Portugal-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Publication Overview This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Portugals telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include: Market and industry analyses, trends and developments; Facts, figures and statistics; Industry and regulatory issues; Infrastructure developments; Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU; Mobile Voice and Data Markets; Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless); Mobile subscribers and ARPU; Broadband market forecasts; Government policies affecting the telecoms industry; Market liberalisation and industry issues; Telecoms operators privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences; Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G). Researcher:- Henry Lancaster Current publication date:- July 2019 (18th Edition) Executive Summary Portugal closing in on national fibre coverage Portugal has a medium-sized telecom market with a strong mobile sector and a growing broadband customer base focussed on the delivery of fibre-based services. During the last few years the country has seen improving economic growth, following several years of austerity measures. Revenue among some operators remains under some strain, though investments in network upgrades are continuing in an effort to attract customers to high-end services. Portugals broadband penetration has grown steadily in recent years, largely the result of joint efforts between the regulator and the key market operators which have invested in significant infrastructure upgrades. These operators are also focussed on fibre-based services, resulting in a migration of subscribers from DSL infrastructure. Under the ownership of the Altice Group, Altice Portugal is focussed on FttP, aiming to cover 5.3 million premises by 2020, and providing national coverage. The cable sector has also shifted towards fibre, with the principal cableco NOS investing in fibre rather than DOCSIS upgrades. In addition, Vodafone Portugal provides fibre to about two-thirds of premises. Much of the growth in the fibre segment has resulted from shared infrastructure deals, including that between Vodafone and NOS. the government has also supported two open-access wholesale networks being built by dstelecom and Fibroglobal. The mobile market is dominated by the incumbent Altice Portugal though it remains under pressure from the other network operators Vodafone Portugal and NOS. The MVNO market remains largely undeveloped, partly because network operators have their own low-cost brands. Collectively, MVNOs have about 2.1% share of the market. Population coverage by 3G infrastructure is universal and so most investment has been directed to LTE and to incremental upgrades to network infrastructure. Operators have trialled 5G technologies, with a view to launching commercial services in late 2020. This report introduces the major elements of the Portuguese telecom market, presenting statistics on the fixed telephony sector as well as an analysis of the major market players. Additional information is provided on the key regulatory issues, noting the status of interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability and carrier preselection. The report also covers the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband markets, providing subscriber forecasts to 2023. In addition, the report profiles the mobile market, including statistics on network operators, a review of the key regulatory issues, a snapshot of the consumer market, and an analysis of mobile data services and technologies. BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions. Key developments: Altice Portugal ramps up fibre roll out, aiming for 5.3 million connected premises by 2020; Vodafone developing on fibre-network sharing agreement with NOS, retails 1Gb/s devices for customers; Fibre subscriber base grows 24% in 2018; Regulator sets schedule for release of 700MHz spectrum for 5G use; Vodafone achieves 1Gb/s downlink speeds in LTE-A trials; Decline in SMS traffic in wake of messaging alternatives; Altice Portugal to replace copper network with FttP by 2020, reports continuing revenue growth in Q1 2019; Regulator imposes wholesale tariff cuts for fibre access Report update includes the regulators market data to Q4 2018, telcos operating and financial data to Q1 2019, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Altice Portugal (MEO), NOS (Optimus, Zon Multimedia), Vodafone Portugal, CTT, Lycamobile, Sonaecom, Cabovisao. Key statistics Country overview COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure Telecommunications market Overview Regulatory environment Historic overview Regulatory authority Privatisation Interconnect Access Fibre access Carrier PreSelection (CPS) Number Portability (NP) Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) Fixed network operators Introduction Altice Portugal Oni Communications Sonaecom Novis AR Telecom Jazztel (historic) NOS Telecommunications infrastructure National telecom network Next Generation Networks (NGNs) International infrastructure 2Africa submarine cable Data centres Broadband market Introduction and statistical overview Market analysis Broadband statistics Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks NOS Nowo (Cabovisao) Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks PT Portugal (MEO) Sonaecom Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) Other fixed broadband services Broadband over Powerline (BPL) Wireless broadband Mobile communications Market analysis Mobile statistics General statistics Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G (LTE) 3G Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Internet-of-Things (IoT) Mobile voice Mobile data Short Message Service (SMS) Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Mobile broadband Regulatory issues Spectrum regulations and spectrum auctions Roaming Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) Network sharing Major mobile operators MEO Vodafone Portugal NOS (Zon Optimus) Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Mobile content and applications M-payments Appendix Historic data Glossary of abbreviations Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Portugal 2018 Table 2 Cumulative ported fixed-line numbers 2009 2018 Table 3 Fixed-telephony service revenue 2015 2018 Table 4 Total fixed-telephony service revenue 2012 2018 Table 5 Sonaecom financial data 2006 2017 Table 6 Sonaecom financial data (old format) 2006 2012 Table 7 Sonaecom fixed-line subscribers by sector (historic) 2008 2012 Table 8 Fixed line telephony subscribers 2011 2018 Table 9 International internet bandwidth 2006 2016 Table 10 Multiband auction results 2012 Table 11 MTRs 2009 2012; 2016 2018 Table 12 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1999 2009 Table 13 Historic - Internet users and penetration 2000 2009 Table 14 Fixed broadband subscribers by type 2000 2008 Table 15 Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2000 2008 Table 16 Share of broadband accesses by operator (old format) 2010 2014 Table 17 Historic - Broadband subscriber annual change year-on-year 2002 2009 Table 18 Fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic per month per customer 2008 2017 Table 19 Proportion of broadband subscribers by data rate (Mb/s) 2011 2016 Table 20 Mobile subscribers and penetration 2000 2009 Table 21 Accumulated mobile number portings 2002 2008 Table 22 Outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2002 2009 Table 23 Mobile broadband revenue 2007 2015 List of Charts Chart 1 Change in pre-selection, call-by-call and VoIP connections 2009 2018 Chart 2 Increase in fixed direct telephone customers and penetration 2009 2018 Chart 3 Decline in Altice Portugals share of direct access customers 2005 2018 Chart 4 Change in multiplay services revenue 2015 2018 Chart 5 Decline in fixed-telephony traffic 2012 2018 Chart 6 Evolution in the share of fixed-line access installations by operator 2012 2018 Chart 7 Change in Altice Portugals fixed accesses by sector 2017 2019 Chart 8 Development of Altice Portugals financials 2014 2019 Chart 9 Altice Portugals revenue by service 2017 2019 Chart 10 Sonaecom financial data 2006 2017 Chart 11 Evolution of NOS financial data 2012 2019 Chart 12 Change in NOS subscriber base by platform 2012 2019 Chart 13 Fixed lines in service and teledensity 2005 2020 Chart 14 Change in the number and type of analogue and digital access lines 2005 2018 Chart 15 Development of VoIP and mobile voice accesses 2013 2018 Chart 16 Fixed-line multiplay revenue 2015 2018 Chart 17 Development of fixed broadband subscriber growth and penetration 2009 2023 Chart 18 Evolution in broadband subscribers by access type 2009 2018 Chart 19 Proportion of broadband subscribers by access type 2007 2018 Chart 20 Broadband subscriber annual change year-on-year 2009 2018 Chart 21 Evolution of fixed broadband penetration by platform 2007 2018 Chart 22 Share of broadband accesses by operator (new format) 2011 2018 Chart 23 Evolution of fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic 2008 2018 Chart 24 Cable DOCSIS3.0 connected premises 2010 2017 Chart 25 Growth in NOS cable broadband subscribers 2004 2019 Chart 26 Change in MEO broadband subscribers by platform 2016 2019 Chart 27 Growth in FttP/B connected premises 2010 2017 Chart 28 Growth in the number of FttX subscribers 2008 2018 Chart 29 Vodafone fixed-line broadband subscribers 2012 2019 Chart 30 Evolution of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2010 - 2023 Chart 31 Development of mobile sector revenue 2015 2018 Chart 32 Steady market share among mobile operators 2004 2018 Chart 33 Change in outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2009 2018 Chart 34 Change in mobile prepaid subscribers, proportion prepaid 20010 2018 Chart 35 Decline in mobile ARPU 2010 2019 Chart 36 Long-term drop in 3G video calls and traffic 2007 2017 Chart 37 Strong growth in M2M subscriptions 2012 2018 Chart 38 M2M sessions and traffic 2013 2017 Chart 39 Continuing strong growth in mobile internet traffic 2007 2018 Chart 40 Decline in SMS messages sent annually 2009 2018 Chart 41 Decline in SMS messages per subscriber sent quarterly (Q4) 2007 2018 Chart 42 Decline in MMS messages per subscriber 2007 2017 Chart 43 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2023 Chart 44 Roaming in call traffic volume and messages 2009 2018 Chart 45 Evolution of MEOs mobile subscriber base 2006 2019 Chart 46 Change in MEOs mobile revenue 2010 2019 Chart 47 Change in MEOs revenue by quarter 2016 2019 Chart 48 Change in Vodafone Portugal subscribers, proportion prepaid 2006 2019 Chart 49 Vodafone monthly ARPU: prepaid, contract and blended 2009 2019 Chart 50 Change in Vodafone financial data (year to Mar) 2007 2019 Chart 51 Evolution in NOSs mobile subscriber base 2009 2019 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 2Africa submarine cable Exhibit 2 2Africa landing stations Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Portugal-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses GREENWICH In the midst of a pandemic, Greenwich found a way to pay tribute to the men and women of the armed forces who gave their lives in service of their country. While the coronavirus outbreak forced the cancellation of the parades and large ceremonies that traditionally have brought out big crowds, several smaller-scale events were held throughout town Sunday and Monday as memorial wreaths were placed to remember the fallen. That included a ceremony in which a wreath was placed in Greenwich Harbor off of the dock on Steamboat Road from a Greenwich Police Department boat. This is basically one of two days every year where the sacrifices of our veterans are remembered by the American people, American Legion Post 29 Commander Peter LeBeau said. Any time we can be thanked for our services, we welcome it. Were grateful for it and we hope it never ends. The dockside service attracted nearly 30 people. The more elaborate ceremonies weve had are great and we will do it again next year with a lot more people, LeBeau said. But the people that really care are here. Ceremony sites Monday also included the two memorials downtown, Byrams Eugene Merlot Park, where 13 trees have been planted in memory of 13 Byram residents who were killed in service to their country; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial on Strickland Road in Cos Cob. Despite social distancing needs, the Byram ceremony attracted a record crowd of more than 40, said Jim Ferreira, financial secretary for the Byram Veterans Association. At the ceremony, as the name of each of the 13 Byram residents was read, an American flag was placed by the tree planted in the persons honor. A crowd of nearly 60 people turned out in Cos Cob, where VFW post adjunct Bill Cameron said all wars require the ultimate sacrifice of some of our brave men and women. Today the battlefield is all around us, Cameron said. Our streets, our homes and our towns are now the front line. The soldiers in this war wear a different uniform of cloth and paper while the combat is hand to hand in the trenches of the hospitals and health care facilities. The ceremonies were put together by the legion post and the Byram Veterans with the help of Chief of Police James Heavey, himself a veteran. Don Sylvester, commander of the Byram Veterans, said it was important to do, no matter the circumstances. Its our duty to do this every year as veterans and as a community, Sylvester said. This is the most important day for us. Events held Sunday included the placing of memorial wreaths at the Byram Shubert Library by the Byram Veterans and at the District 9 Veterans memorial in Glenville. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: Iran can export gas to Syria and there is no problem regarding that, Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh told Eqtesad radio, Trend reports. Iran has previously never supplied its gas to Syria, and according to Zanganeh, a number of ideas have been put forward regarding the export. Zanganeh added that one of these ideas is to transport Iranian gas to the Iraqi city of Basrah and from there to the Syrian port city of Latakia. "But so far no program has been established for this," he said. Regarding gas exports in general, the minister said that at present, Iranian gas is exported to Iraq from two directions. Zanganeh said that in addition, there is a gas swap between Iran and Azerbaijan. "Iran's gas exports to Turkey stopped after the explosion of the pipeline exporting Iranian gas to Turkey in March. The pipeline has not been repaired yet, he said. Iran produced a total of 267 billion cubic meters of gas in the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2019 to March 20, 2020). Iran exported 17.5 billion cubic meters of gas last year. Iran's gas exports increased by 26 percent compared to the preceding year (from March 21, 2018 to March 21, 2019). Iran reportedly produces 800 million cubic meters of gas per day. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 23:34:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joins a deliberation with deputies from Hubei Province at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- As the "two sessions" continue, Chinese President Xi Jinping specially joined a group discussion with national lawmakers from central China's Hubei Province Sunday afternoon, showing his great care for the COVID-19-hit province and its resumption of production. After hearing the remarks of five deputies with the Hubei panel to the National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature, Xi commended the vital contributions and enormous sacrifices made by the people in Hubei and its capital city Wuhan in fighting COVID-19, and expressed his sincere appreciation. As the province hardest hit by the virus and with the longest span of restrictions, Hubei faces major difficulties in reviving its economy, Xi said, urging the province to accelerate production resumption while going all out to implement regular epidemic prevention and control. HELP FROM AROUND THE NATION After months-long arduous efforts, China has achieved a decisive victory in the battle to defend Hubei and Wuhan by rallying the support of the entire country, including sending over 42,000 medics nationwide to aid Hubei. "We mobilized from around the nation the best doctors, the most advanced equipment and the most needed resources to Hubei and Wuhan, going all out to save lives," Xi said during his deliberations with deputies from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday. Fighting COVID-19 became Xi's top concern after the epidemic hit Hubei. On March 10, he flew to Wuhan and inspected the epidemic prevention and control work. He has chaired a number of key meetings to direct the country's COVID-19 prevention and control efforts and production resumption. Shifting to COVID-19 response on regular basis, the whole country is stepping up efforts to help Hubei return to normal. CONTINUED POLICIES, MEASURES Xi said Hubei should implement targeted policies for key industrial chains, leading enterprises and major investment projects, work hard to solve various difficult problems in production resumption, and help companies, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises solve their practical difficulties. The central and state organs as well as central state-owned enterprises should continue to expand their support for Hubei's revival after the epidemic, implementing all policies and measures, and delivering results and benefits in Hubei on an early date, Xi said to the Hubei panel of lawmakers. In late April, a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, China's top leadership, discussed and endorsed a series of policies supporting the economic and social development in Hubei. According to the government work report delivered to the ongoing NPC session for deliberation, China will implement a package of policies to support Hubei's development, helping it ensure employment, public wellbeing and normal operations, and spurring the full recovery of economic and social activities there. Chen Yilin, chairman of Hubei Long Boat Salinization Co., Ltd., has been busy planning to build a new diaphragm plant to reduce the cost of producing small bags of salt. Through a few online applications, his company was granted a one-time credit of 50 million yuan (about 7 million U.S. dollars) for the project by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's biggest commercial lender. "Having such a large amount of credit so soon has really solved my urgent need," said Chen. The China Development Bank, a major development finance institution, said the bank would increase its loans to Hubei this year. After a pairing-up aid of provincial-level regions to help cities in Hubei fight COVID-19 in the past months, many provinces continued supporting Hubei in production resumption. An online investment promotion event for Wuhan held on May 15, saw central state-owned enterprises sign contracts of 37 projects worth more than 180 billion yuan, which will help the city optimize its economic structure and gain new growth momentum. China's foreign ministry will hold a global promotion event at a proper time for Hubei and explore a fast track for essential personnel to go to Hubei and Wuhan to support the production resumption, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on the sidelines of the NPC session on Sunday. Geely Auto Group in east China's Zhejiang Province said it has helped dozens of its suppliers in Hubei to resume work through various channels. Chinese e-commerce firms such as Alibaba and JD.com have also participated in selling agricultural products for Hubei. Alibaba announced in April that it would purchase crayfish worth 1 billion yuan from Hubei. SALES PROMOTION, JOB OPPORTUNITIES In early May, nearly 1,000 students from Yangzhou Polytechnic Institute in east China's Jiangsu Province sold special agricultural products of Hubei online, including oranges and tea, to help Hubei recover. "This is a famous orange from Hubei's Zigui County. It is seedless, juicy and sweet," said Chen Jiajia, a student of the institute with 1 million fans, advertizing the orange to the online audience. Liu Jincun, Party chief of the institute, said the students' livestreams helped sell 105,000 kg of oranges for Hubei. As a major labor export province, Hubei has about 6 million migrant workers. Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong and Fujian have been organized by the central government to help Hubei boost employment. Shandong, which sent a medical team to assist Hubei's Huanggang City, took the lead in signing a cooperation agreement to provide more than 2,000 jobs for migrant workers from the city. In mid-May, the first batch of migrant workers left Huanggang for their workplaces in Shandong. Weng Xinnian, a migrant worker from Huanggang, got a job at Jinan Dali Foods Co., Ltd. in Shandong. "I'm so excited. The company provides dining and accommodation for us. I can earn around 5,000 yuan per month now," he said. The Ministry of Education launched moves to pair up universities in Hubei with 76 universities across the country to help graduates in the recovering province find jobs or start their own businesses. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:51:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MALE, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The government of the Maldives said it will draft a responding policy as the country's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 1,395, local media reported here Monday. Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen was quoted in state-owned Public Service media saying that a policy is being formulated in consultation with healthcare workers on how to govern the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister Ameen said the experiences of the lockdown enforced on the capital region of Greater Male since April 15 will influence policy. The policy will include regulations on opening hours of private health operators as well as the establishment of a medical response team to evaluate patients before they are admitted to the hospital. The COVID-19 has strained the healthcare system of the Maldives, Ameen said, emphasizing the need for decentralization. The government plans to create tertiary hospitals in five regions of the island as part of a long-term plan to provide trained healthcare workers to all regions. These new hospitals will be equipped with laboratories, x-ray rooms, and ultrasound scanning facilities, with a total of 19 OPD consultation rooms, six private rooms, three ICU beds, three NICU beds, two operation theatres, and eight wards with twelve beds each. Meanwhile, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said 24 additional COVID-19 cases were recorded as of 4:30 p.m. local time on Thursday including four Maldivians, 18 Bangladeshis and two Indians. A total of 144 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the Maldives with four deaths reported so far. Enditem New Delhi: Dust and thunderstorms are likely over several parts of north India on May 29-30, bringing the much-needed relief from the intense heatwave, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday. Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and parts of Uttar Pradesh have been experiencing blistering heat for days with temperatures soaring over 45 degrees Celsius in some places. The IMD had on Sunday issued a red colour-coded alert for north India for May 25-26 when the prevailing heatwave conditions are expected to peak. Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the Regional Meteorological Department of the IMD, said due to a western disturbance and easterly winds, dust storm and thunderstorm activity is likely over Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on May 29-30. The wind speed is also likely to be around 50-60 kilometres per hour during this period, Srivastava said, adding that this will bring relief from the intense heat. A western disturbance is a cyclonic storm that originates in the Mediterranean Sea and travels across Central Asia. When it comes in contact with the Himalayas, it brings rains to the hills and the plains. Heat wave conditions over some parts and severe heat wave conditions at isolated pockets are very likely over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during May 25-27, the IMD said in its daily bulletin. Heat wave conditions are also likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada, interior Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar and Jharkhand during next 2-3 days. "Due to prevailing dry north-westerly winds over plains of northwest India, central India and adjoining interior parts of eastern India, present heatwave conditions very likely to continue to prevail over these areas till May 28 with peak intensity on May 25 and 26," the IMD said in its daily bulletin. Horrifying surveillance footage shows the moment a Bronx father was shot dead by a man inside the lobby of his apartment building. Najai Sow, 35, was shot three times in the torso while standing with a group of men at around 5.40pm on Saturday, according to the New York Daily News. Footage from the apartment complex located on Hoe Avenue shows Sow with at least four other men. Horrifying surveillance footage shows the moment Bronx father, Najai Sow (pictured far left in yellow), 35, was shot dead by a man inside the lobby of his apartment building Once the attacker gets in front of Sow he pulls out a handgun and fires at the father-of-one The shooter, who has been identified as Vincent Gibson, 42, is seen walking down a hallway toward the men. Once the attacker gets in front of Sow he pulls out a handgun and fires at the father-of-one as the other men run for their lives. The shooter then calmly walks out of the building. Sow was rushed to Lincoln Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Daniel Ponte, 19, Sow's friend, told the Daily News: 'Hes a family man. Hes not into violence or none of that. 'Hes a positive person...If you ever needed help in something, hell help you.' Another man is seen trying to run away. Sow was rushed to Lincoln Hospital where he was pronounced dead The shooter then calmly walks out of the building while other men ran for their lives Sow had a young son, according to his neighbors, who told the Daily News that he enjoyed helping neighbors' kids with their math homework. Another friend, Star Lancaster, told the newspaper that Sow had started his own record label and invested in stocks after winning money from a lawsuit related to a back injury. Gibson has been charged with murder, manslaughter and weapon possession, authorities said. Authorities have not yet determined the connection between Gibson and Sow. Investigators haven't determined a motive. People line up at a mobile COVID-19 testing clinic, Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) Ontario Premier Doug Ford is asking anyone in the province who has recently spent time at a large gathering, like the one in Torontos Trinity Bellwoods Park on Saturday, to get tested for COVID-19. Why dont you do us all a favour and go get tested now, he said Monday. Go to a local hospital or assessment centre and get tested. The downtown park received lots of media attention this weekend after attracting thousands of people, despite the province still being under an emergency order. Many of the revellers didnt appear to be practicing physical distancing. The province has recently seen an increase in positive cases, with an additional 404 cases reported on Monday. At the same time, Ontario is not meeting its daily testing target. The last reported numbers show that 8,170 tests were completed, which is far less than the 20,000 a day the province has committed to providing. The most recent number of tests yet to be processed is 3,883. Who should get tested for COVID-19? The Public Health Ontario website states that it is not currently recommending routine testing of asymptomatic persons for COVID-19 outside of those recommended in Ministry guidance. This is contrary to what Premier Ford said at his recent COVID-19 media briefing. I gotta make sure were fully ramped up but I want as many people tested as possible, he said. Asymptomatic, symptomatic. Wouldn't it be great if we can catch a lot of people that dont show symptoms but are asymptomatic and spreading it? Those who think they might be symptomatic must have at least one symptoms of COVID-19. According to the Provincial Testing Guideline, last updated May 14, COVID-19 symptoms include: Fever (temperature of 37.8C or greater) New or worsening cough Shortness of breath (dyspnea) Sore throat Difficulty swallowing New olfactory or taste disorder(s) Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Runny nose, or nasal congestion in absence of underlying reason for these symptoms such as seasonal allergies, post nasal drip, etc. Story continues Asymptomatic, risk-based testing is available for those who believe theyve been exposed to COVID-19, through contact to people with confirmed or suspected cases. Its also available to those who are at risk of exposure due to their workplace, including essential workers like grocery store clerks and health care workers. Atypical symptoms/clinical pictures of COVID-19, particularly in children, older persons, and people living with a developmental disability, can include: Unexplained fatigue/malaise/myalgias Delirium (acutely altered mental status and inattention) Unexplained or increased number of falls Acute functional decline Exacerbation of chronic conditions Chills Headaches Croup Conjunctivitis Multisystem inflammatory vasculitis in children Other signs of COVID-19 can include: Clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia Unexplained tachycardia, including age specific tachycardia for children Decrease in blood pressure Unexplained hypoxia (even if mild i.e. O2 sat <90%) Lethargy, difficulty feeding in infants (if no other diagnosis) What its like to get tested for COVID-19 Toronto resident Andrea Palmer knew that the testing process itself may be a deterrent for some people who dont know what to expect, so when she got tested today, she shared the experience in detail on Twitter: I just got tested for COVID-19 in Toronto. Here is what I learned: tl;dr - fill out the online pre-screening form before you show up. (1/) Andrea Palmer (@aehpalmer) May 25, 2020 If you are showing any symptoms OR you work outside your house OR you have come into contact with someone who has symptoms- get tested! Here are the Toronto Assessment Centres (2/) https://t.co/Cv750cWLr0 Andrea Palmer (@aehpalmer) May 25, 2020 Some context. Ontario is under-testing. Their capacity is 20,000 tests/day. Their goal is 16,000 tests/day. And theyre way under both of those numbers. https://t.co/YYCdyuLdYc Andrea Palmer (@aehpalmer) May 25, 2020 The premier has called for more people to get tested. If you are in a high-risk job or you are showing ANY symptoms, you can get tested. I do not have serious symptoms. With the call for more people to get tested, I now qualify. https://t.co/QEiPiHam77 Andrea Palmer (@aehpalmer) May 25, 2020 Restrictions on group gatherings remain Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said that the number for group sizes permitted to gather wouldnt be increased just yet, on the recommendation of Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams. Given whats happened with the number of people coming down with COVID in the last few days along with what happened this weekend...Dr. Williams is reluctant to move forward with that right away, she said, adding that they would have to see a decrease in case numbers in order for things to change. Since March 28, people in the province are only allowed to gather in groups of up to five, unless they live together. Saying it is a well-planned project that will ease the countys housing crisis, the Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved the 2,135-home Newland Sierra development along Interstate 15 in North County. The vote was 4-0, with Supervisor Dianne Jacob absent. The approval caps six years of planning by Newland Communities, the San Diego-based company that developed 4S Ranch, Woods Valley in Valley Center, and the original Rancho Penasquitos. And it came just a day after a Superior Court judge refused to halt the vote at the behest of the Sierra Club and Golden Door spa, who argued that the way the developer was proposing to mitigate the projects greenhouse gas emissions was likely to be ruled illegal later this year. Advertisement Despite the long-sought approval, the battle against the project appears far from over. Within weeks, opponents say, a lawsuit will be filed challenging the decision. And within days, paid workers will begin hitting the streets throughout the county to gather signatures for a referendum that would ask voters to overturn the approval. The signatures to qualify the measure for the March 2020 ballot must be obtained within the next month. Rita Brandin, senior vice president and development director for Newland Communities, said she was pleased with the supervisors support but said its a shame the fight is still ongoing. Im very grateful the Board of Supervisors supported the project and Im looking forward to moving forward, she said. Its not over yet and its unfortunate its not over yet, but we will defend the project. Newland is in the business of providing housing for families of all types. The hearing has a familiar feel. It was eight years ago that the supervisors were asked to approve a different, but similar project on the same property called Merriam Mountains. That project, which called for several hundred more homes, was denied 3-2 with Ron Roberts casting the deciding vote. But this time, Roberts said, things have changed. The world is different today from when we heard this before, he said. The project is different. Were lacking in housing. Period. Not just affordable housing, all types. The cost of housing is so out of line with most areas of this countryWe have to look at the plan in light of what are our needs. We need housing. That is our overriding need. It overshadows everything. More than 100 people addressed the supervisors during the all-day hearing, with supporters and opponents of the project pretty evenly split. Brandin told the supervisors that allowing the seven-village development to be built north of Deer Springs Road, just west of Interstate 15, was the better choice to make. She said current zoning of the property would allow construction of 99 luxury homes and up to 2 million square feet of commercial and office space that could generate more traffic than their proposed project. She also said far more open space will be preserved with their master-planned, clustered community. Many speakers wearing green stickers on their shirts reading I support A Better Choice: Newland Sierra stressed the desperate need for more homes in the county. They said they want their kids to grow up and be able to afford a San Diego County home, something they fear isnt possible now because of the lack of housing stock and resulting high home and rental prices. I lost my my daughter to Idaho because she couldnt afford a home here, said Debra Rosen, the president of the North San Diego Business Chamber. We need more homes and we need more communities. Opponents, wearing anti-Newland stickers and T-shirts, stressed how the project would forever change the semi-rural, agricultural community. Adding 6,000 people to the Twin Oaks area where only 2,000 live now would cause massive traffic problems, despite Newlands plans to widen Deer Springs Road and fund a yet unplanned new freeway interchange near the property. They worried about evacuating during a fire. One man said residents of surrounding communities such as Hidden Meadows, Champagne Village and Twin Oaks are scared to death. The project call for 2,135 dwelling units: 1,140 single-family houses and 995 multi-family units. It also contains 81,000 square feet of office and retail space, including a grocery store, 1,209 acres of open space, nearly 36 acres of public and private parks, 19 miles of trails, and a six-acre school site. The four supervisors who voted for the project all talked about the need for more housing and all praised the project. Dianne Jacob did not attend the hearing because she is mourning the death of her husband, Paul, who passed away Sunday after a long illness. Supervisors Bill Horn and Greg Cox, who voted eight years ago to support the previous version of the development, said Newland Sierra is superior to that one. I supported Merriam Mountains, Cox said. I thought it was a decent proposal. Compared to this, I was wrong. We have a housing availability crisis in this county, Cox said. We have a housing affordability crisis. We have a homeless crisis. We have a lot of crises we have to deal with. One of the underlying themes is we have to find a better way to have a better supply of various types of housing stock. Horn said in all the 24 years hes been on the board there have been few large housing developments approved in his North County district. I think this is a good project, well designed, well planned, he said. Im pleased with the mix of housing types. Clifton Williams, a land-use analyst working for the Golden Door luxury spa which is located along Deer Springs Road across from the Newland Sierra property, said the the fight will continue. We think there are serious flaws in the project and serious flaws in the environmental documentation that was done for the project, he said. And things that were left out in the analysis and new things that were added at the last minute. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones On May 25, the subway opened its doors in Kyiv and Kharkiv cities. People wear masks, and there aren't many passengers there in the first working day over the last two months. 112 Ukraine TV channel's correspondent said so on May 25. There aren't many people at Chernihivska station in Kyiv, with wagon cars riding half empty. Usually, this place is crowded, and sometimes there are queues. Underground staff workers keep an eye on passengers, seeing to it that they wear masks. There is a worker who performes temperature screening, but the procedure is performed only when a passenger shows signs of ARVI. The car traffic next to the station is tense, traffic jams are observed from time to time. According to the reporter, there are marks on the floor, reminding the passengers that the 1.5-meter distance must be observed. In Kharkiv, the opening of underground caused a little crush in front of the entrance to one of the stations. Some passengers in Kharkiv metro did not wear masks. As we reported, the subway went back to work in the Ukrainian capital within the second stage of mitigating the lockdown restrictions. In the hours before Kevin Kourtis was allegedly murdered by a group of teenagers during a home invasion, he was at home in Sydney's north-west watching a movie with a friend. The 39-year-old concreter, who had his own business, had split up from a long-term partner in March and was living a quiet life. Kevin Kourtis was allegedly murdered in his home in Sydney's north-west on Sunday. Credit:Facebook "He would come home from work and sit on his bed on his phone, relax, sit and chill. He didn't want anything major; he just wanted family, love and his Greek barbecues," said a friend who spoke to Mr Kourtis in the hours before he died. "He didn't party, he was a really quiet man. He never drank much, he'd have one or two beers every now and then." Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Flexible Packaging Market is anticipated to reach $335 billion by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the food and beverage segment accounted for the highest market share in terms of revenue. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the leading contributor to the global Flexible Packaging market revenue in 2017. The increasing disposable incomes and growing demand for fast moving consumer goods drives the growth of the flexible packaging market. Growing urbanization has resulted in urban citizens spending most of their time at work and everyday commute, which has increased the demand for convenient packaging for on-the-go consumption, thereby supporting the flexible packaging market growth. Brand owners are taking initiatives to optimize packaging operations to meet the global competition, increase productivity, enhance shelf life of products, improve overall efficiency, and create brand differentiation in the market. The demand for new and unique packaging sizes, shapes and configurations has increased from industries such as food and beverages, cosmetics, and healthcare among others. The increasing need to offer convenient packaging solutions while also addressing environmental concerns has boosted the flexible packaging market growth. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/flexible-packaging-market/request-for-sample Numerous key players have adopted partnership and acquisition strategies to increase their market share in the global flexible packaging market. For instance, In December 2015, Mondi Group signed an agreement for the acquisition of 95% of the outstanding share capital in KSP, Co. KSP is a flexible packaging company based in South Korea with strong focus on production of high-quality spouted and retort stand-up pouches for food, pet food and beverage industries. The acquisition of KSP compliments Mondis stand-up pouch operations in Korneuburg, Austria and Jackson, US while expanding its presence in U.S. and Asia. In July 2016, Mondi Group also signed an agreement to acquire Uralplastic. Uralplastic manufactures a range of consumer flexible packaging products for food, hygiene, homecare and other applications. The acquisition of Uralplastic supports the development of Mondis consumer packaging business, strengthens its presence in the Russian consumer packaging market, and expands its offerings in the flexible packaging market. Asia-Pacific generated the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2018 in the flexible packaging industry, and is expected to lead the global Flexible Packaging market throughout the forecast period. The growing population, rising disposable incomes, and increasing living standards support the growth of flexible packaging industry in the region. The increasing demand from the food and beverage, and retail industry is expected to generate numerous opportunities for the Flexible Packaging industry. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/flexible-packaging-market The well-known companies profiled in the Flexible Packaging report include Amcor Limited, Mondi Group, Berry Plastics Corporation, Sonoco Products Company, American Packaging Corporation, Novolex Holding Inc., Bemis Company, Inc, Constantia Flexibles International GmbH, Ampac Holding, and Sigma Plastics Group. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers. Flexible Packaging Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Type Bags Pouches Wraps Others Flexible Packaging Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Material Paper Plastic Flexible Foam Aluminum Foil Bioplastics Others Flexible Packaging Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by End-User Food and Beverage Healthcare Retail Consumer Goods Others Flexible Packaging Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/flexible-packaging-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com Belgium's heir to the throne Princess Elisabeth is facing a change to her pampered lifestyle when she joins the country's Royal Military Academy next year, according to fellow students. The young royal, who was previously studying at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, is set to join the army in a move which has hit the headlines in her homeland. The news comes after the Belgian royal family released new photos of the princess in training, jogging in the countryside amid lockdown. One of the training school's current students has offered insight into the course and some sage words of advice ahead of Elisabeth's enrollment. A current student at the Royal Military Academy of Brussels said life would be 'tough' for Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 18, (pictured jogging) when she starts classes in the autumn Evelyn Gravez, 22, has almost completed her master's degree in social and military Sciences at the school. She told local media: 'My advice? Above all, make as many friends as possible. They'll help you through if you're having a hard time.' Speaking about what life will be like for the teenage princess, Evelyn revealed her first weeks will include learning to fire a gun, setting up an army tent, marching with a backpack, tactical training and reading maps. She added that the experience is 'pretty tough' and that 'they really throw you in'. The Princess, who will become Belgium's first Queen when her father abdicates, is following into King Phillipe's footsteps. He attended the school from 1978 to 1981. Pictured with King Philippe on her 18th birthday last October Princess Elisabeth of Belgium will start at the national military academy this autumn after completing her secondary education at a Welsh boarding school She also warned that the initiation period is not for everyone and that a number of students drop out each year. However, Ms Gravez added that the camp is not like the cliches of military school often seen in Hollywood movies. She added: 'They don't yell at you when you make mistakes. Of course, sometimes they have to be strict. Because mistakes, they have to be sorted out as quickly as possible. But if you are a bit slow to learn, they are there to encourage you, not to bark at you.' Current student said it was key Elisabeth makes as many friends as possible (Pictured with her brother Prince Gabriel during the Belgian National Day in 2018) Although there will be tough days ahead, the student believes that the princess will get used to it and that it might even help her lead the country in the future. She added: 'I think Elisabeth will certainly get used to it. Even if she only stays one year. 'We learn to make decisions under stress, leadership techniques. That will be useful for her as head of state.' How Elisabeth will become Belgium's first queen by birth On turning 18, Princess Elisabeth became legally old enough to rule without a substitute regent being appointed. It means Elisabeth is now eligible to become queen on the death of her father, although given he is in good health and aged just 60 that is not expected to be soon. When she does ascend the throne, Elisabeth will become the first ever Queen of Belgium by birth. On its foundation in 1830, the Belgian constitution stipulated that accession to the throne was reserved for the descendants of Leopold I by order of primogeniture 'to the perpetual exclusion of women'. But the Salic law was abolished in 1991. Elisabeth's great-uncle Baudouin was on the throne at the time. Her grandfather Albert II was King from Baudouin's death in 1993 until he abdicated in favour of his son King Philippe, Elisabeth's father, in 2003. Advertisement Elisabeth is the heir apparent to the Belgian throne - the eldest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. A change in the law a decade ago made it possible for the eldest child, male or female, to ascend the throne in the country. She will become the country's first Queen Regent if she takes up the role. Elisabeth spent 18 months boarding at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales before returning home to Brussels in March ahead of the government lockdown. Like students across the country, the royal has been forced to finish her studies remotely and will not return to the school. She has spent the last two months living with her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and her three siblings in Brussels. The princess, who will receive her International Baccalaureate Diploma this summer, will complete a one-year course in social and military sciences. King Philippe, 60, spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 to 1981. There, she will learn in-depth about the four components of Belgian defense; Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical. While in isolation at Laeken Palace, Elizabeth and her siblings Prince Gabriel, 16, Prince Emmanuel, 14 and Princess Eleonore, 12, have spent time volunteering. They showed their support for Belgium's elderly population by calling retirement homes and delivering baked goods. Elisabeth's younger sister Princess Elenore has been tagging along on some of her mother's engagements, doing her best to help Belgium move forward from the pandemic. On May 14 she accompanied her mother Queen Mathilde to a community kitchen providing meals for the homeless. The following day she headed back to school, with her dad King Philippe wearing a mask as he walked her to the establishment in Brussels. B rits will be able to access a coronavirus vaccine from September, the chief executive of drug maker AstraZeneca has said, despite concerns it will not be ready. The pharmaceutical firm, which is working with Oxford University, had previously said it has secured the first agreements for at least 400 million doses of the vaccine. Pascal Soriot told The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that British people will get first access to the vaccine from autumn. Asked if Brits will be among the first to get the vaccine, Mr Soriot said: Yes, we have actually received an order from the British Government to supply 100 million doses of vaccine, and those will go to the British people. 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 And theres no doubt, starting in September, we will start delivering these doses of vaccine to the British Government for vaccination. But Mr Soriot went on to say the possibility of the vaccine being rolled out in autumn depended on if an Oxford University trial worked before the transmission rate lowers further. He added: The vaccine has to work and thats one question, and the other question is, even if it works, we have to be able to demonstrate it. We have to run as fast as possible before the disease disappears so we can demonstrate that the vaccine is effective. Oxford Universitys Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group began development on a vaccine in January, using a virus taken from chimpanzees. Government pledges a further 84m to coronavirus vaccine effort Following an initial phase of testing on 160 healthy volunteers between 18 and 55, the study is now set to progress to phases two and three, which involve increasing the testing to up to 10,260 people and expanding the age range of volunteers to include children and the elderly. Professor Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute, said if the viruss spread is too low, not enough of the volunteers will catch it and the trial will be unable to definitively say if the vaccine works. Its a race against the virus disappearing, and against time, Professor Hill said. We said earlier in the year that there was an 80 per cent chance of developing an effective vaccine by September. But at the moment, theres a 50 pe rcent chance that we get no result at all. Were in the bizarre position of wanting Covid to stay, at least for a little while. It comes as scientists predicted the UK coronavirus pandemic will conclude by the end of September. Academics from the Singapore University of Technology used data-driven estimates to determine that by September 30 the Covid-19 virus will no longer be present in Britain, according to the Daily Star. But the innovation lab stressed that the data is "uncertain" and could change depending on the country's policies when it comes to lifting lockdown restrictions. Turkish-backed militants set fire to farms in northeastern Syria: SANA Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 5:01 PM Turkish-backed Takfiri militants have burned wide areas of agricultural lands in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah, reports say. Syria's official news agency SANA, citing local sources, reported that the acts of arson took place in several villages of Tal Tamer and Abu-Rasin regions of the Kurdish-populated province on Sunday when a group of militants attacked the areas. Local residents and witnesses said that "fires spread quickly due to the winds and burned more than 20,000 dunums (20,000,000 square meters) of wheat and barley fields which are still burning till now and spreading to burn more farms". The attack comes less than a week after many farms in the same region were brunt due to a series of mortar attacks by the Turkish-backed mercenaries. On May 17, an American aircraft reportedly dropped thermal balloons over agricultural lands and farms in Hasakah, setting fire to wheat crops in the area. The targeted area was part of agricultural lands in the countryside of the town of al-Shaddadi. The Ankara-backed militants were deployed to northeastern Syria last October after Turkish military forces launched a long-threatened cross-border invasion in a declared attempt to push fighters of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) away from border areas. Ankara views the US-backed YPG as a terrorist organization tied to the homegrown Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region in Turkey since 1984. The Kurdish-led administration in northeastern Syria says the Turkish offensive has killed hundreds of civilians, including dozens of children since it started. In recent months, there has also been a surge in abductions in the areas where the Turkish-backed militants are present, particularly in the key border town of Ra's al-Ayn. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other senior officials have said that the Damascus government will respond through all legitimate means available to the ongoing ground offensive by the Turkish forces and allied Takfiri militants against Kurdish forces in the northern part of the war-battered Arab country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address LOS ANGELES - Richard Bransons Virgin Orbit failed Monday in its first test launch of a new rocket carried aloft by a Boeing 747 and released over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California. The inaugural launch had appeared to be going well until moments after the rocket was dropped from beneath the left wing of the jumbo jet dubbed Cosmic Girl. Weve confirmed a clean release from the aircraft. However, the mission terminated shortly into the flight. Cosmic Girl and our flight crew are safe and returning to base, Virgin Orbit said in its official Twitter commentary on the launch. There was no immediate word on what went wrong with the rocket, which carried a test satellite. Will Pomerantz, Virgin Orbits vice-president for special projects, commented during a preflight briefing Saturday that about half of first rocket launches fail. History is not terribly kind, necessarily, to maiden flights, he said. Chief Executive Officer Dan Hart said during the briefing that there had been numerous tests, discussions and introspection to verify that the system was ready. In the end the questions are always, has everything been thought about and are there any gaps or seams, and those are the questions you only learn when you commit to flight, Hart said. The highly modified jumbo jet took off from Mojave Air and Space Por t in the desert north of Los Angeles and flew out just beyond the Channel Islands, where the drop occurred. The rocket was supposed to fall for a few seconds before the first of its two stages ignited and hurtled it down the coast toward the South Pole for insertion of its demonstration payload into a low Earth orbit. The purpose of the flight was to gather data on every step of the launch process rather than to have a useful satellite in orbit; the demonstration payload was described as an inert mass and the intended orbit was very low to avoid contributing to the problem of space junk. The attempt followed five years of development of the 70-foot-long (21.3 metre) LauncherOne rocket. How long the setback will affect the company was not immediately clear. It has six additional rockets under construction in its factory. The teams already hard at work digging into the data, and were eager to hop into our next big test ASAP, the company tweeted. Thankfully, instead of waiting until after our 1st flight to tackle our 2nd rocket, weve already completed a ton of work to get us back in the air and keep moving forward. A successful launch by Virgin Orbit would have marked a dramatic step in getting back on track after the coronavirus pandemic sent most employees home earlier this year while work spaces, procedures and mission control were adjusted. Virgin Orbit is targeting the market for launching satellites ranging in size from toasters to household refrigerators. The time is right for the small satellite launch market, Hart said on Saturday. Technology advancements have enabled satellites much smaller than traditional payloads to do real work in space, typically from low Earth orbit, and for markets ranging from commercial to national security, he said. While other companies are developing rockets for the small satellite market and builders of big rockets like SpaceX can carry them into orbit in a ride-share arrangement with large satellites, Virgin Orbits air launch system based on the aviation industrys workhorse 747 is intended to put a satellite up when and where a customer needs it, Hart said. We can fly to space from any place that can host a 747, which is almost any place, he said. Virgin Orbit says it has dozens of missions on the books for customers including the U.S. Space Force and the Royal Air Force. Internationally, it is working on plans for launches from the United Kingdom and Japan. Hart did not provide a specific dollar value for the missions it has on the books but characterized it as hundreds of millions. Air launch technology dates back decades, including use by X-15 rocket planes in the 1950s and 60s. For satellites the method is currently in use by what is now Northrop Grummans Pegasus rocket program, which has had several dozen launches since 1990. Virgin Orbit, headquartered in Long Beach, California, began as a sister company of Virgin Galactic but has since separated. Virgin Galactic is preparing to begin flights carrying passengers into the lower reaches of space from southern New Mexico. For most of its 40-year existence the Green Party did not have any leader at all and tried to operate by consensus of all the members. The party was 20 years old when Trevor Sargent was elected the first party leader in October 2001 at a special members' convention in Kilkenny. It has only had three leaders in all, with John Gormley replacing Sargent in 2007 and Eamon Ryan taking over in 2011 when the party looked to be on the verge of extinction. Ryan took over a party with just three councillors, no TDs, senators or MEPs, and no Exchequer funding. To the outside observer it seems absolutely ludicrous that there be a question of a challenge to his leadership after a slow and painstaking rebuilding of the organisation which has brought it to unprecedented strength with 49 councillors, 12 TDs, two senators and two MEPs. The Green Party's unprecedented surge in the local council elections last May caught many observers by surprise and its growth from 12 councillors elected in May 2014 to 49 in 2019 was a dominant story on the day of the count. There was a "Green wave" all across Dublin especially. But the party also made breakthroughs in unlikely places like Kildare, Westmeath, Limerick, Galway and Clare, and Offaly. Ryan heralded a "green wave of thinking" which had risen in Ireland. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail acknowledged the result was a clear message the electorate wanted more action on climate change. The courtship of the Greens by the two big parties had begun and in November 2019 Offaly's first ever Green Party councillor, Pippa Hackett, was elected unopposed in a by-election to Seanad Eireann. The decision of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail not to oppose Ms Hackett for the Seanad told its own story. At the end of that month of November, the Green Party recorded another first with a by-election win in Sargent's old seat in Dublin Fingal. The General Election on February 8 brought it from two TDs to an all-time high of 12 deputies, with also a few near misses in other constituencies. That is twice the number it had when it entered coalition with Fianna Fail in June 2007. There should be no surprise to learn that the party would require three cabinet seats and pro-rata appointments to the junior ministerial ranks along with a few Seanad seats. But, as we have noted here before, the current party is a rather different political animal to what it was in 2007 when it had a bank of seasoned politicians who had long experience on local councils. The membership is more radical on a range of social issues and on climate change. There is deep division about the decision, backed by eight of the 12 TDs, to enter into talks on government formation with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. One of the dissenters on government talks, the party's deputy leader Catherine Martin, is now leading the negotiations. She is also being urged by four councillors from Cork, who were first elected in May 2019, to contest a leadership election which must under party rules occur within six months of a general election. Nominations are open and Ms Martin has said she will give serious consideration to standing for election. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are highly bemused. There are serious doubts about how a party can devote its attention to government talks amid a leadership contest. There are doubts too about the reliability of any deal which might be made by the Green Party. Martin's assertion that she will give priority to government formation talks is hard to accept at face value. It is clear that like many politicians she has personal ambition and considerable steel. What we are really looking at here is a proxy battle about the direction of the Green Party being expressed as a putative leadership contest. It is really about whether or not the party should engage in government. It is very difficult to see the Green Party selling any deal which might emerge to its members. There will be a postal ballot and ratification requires a two-thirds majority which will be very hard to achieve in the current circumstances. It is likely to take two more weeks before we find out if there is a government formation deal. And at least another fortnight on top of that before we learn the outcome of ratification processes in Fianna Fail and the Green Party. Meanwhile, we never needed a solid, reliable government as badly as we do right now. The country is in the grip of the biggest social and economic challenge ever to be thrown up in this State's history. The Green Party risks doing itself serious reputational damage at this point. It must resolve the leadership question quickly and make serious decisions about its future direction as swiftly as possible. Party activists have every right to weigh the risks of coalition participation and the dangers of a backlash at the next election, comparable with the drubbing they received in the 2011 general election. But they must equally weigh the dangers of being seen as putting party before country in a time of unprecedented crisis, and they must also ponder golden opportunities to achieve policy goals which may not recur in a political lifetime. Tough decisions must be made by the next government for its earliest days in office. If these efforts to form a government fail, a political crisis will be added to the public health and economic crises we now face. Following the change of ownership of both Callan Bacon and RibWorld, IFA Pigs Chairman Tom Hogan said he will be looking to meet with management regarding support for pig farmers, and the processing sector here. M&M Walshe own and operate Callan Bacon and RibWorld in Kilkenny and Tipperary. They are important employers in the region and also are very significant secondary processors of pork and bacon. The two companies have been taken over by the UK-based Karro operation, Eight Fifty Food Group. There is an important secondary processing industry in Ireland that exports significant volumes to many retail and foodservice markets, most notably to the UK. With Brexit still a looming threat over our food export business, its important that free trade between Ireland and the UK is maintained without any barriers, he said. Tom Hogan said IFA will not allow our domestic market to be undermined with imported pigmeat that is not produced to the same standards as our own Bord Bia Quality Assured product. IFA oversees the operation of the DNA tracing system, which can confirm that Irish labelled pork and bacon is as it says on the label. Samples are taken from both the retail and foodservice sectors to verify what is sold. Stirchley Bacon in the UK, also operated by M&M Walshe, is also included in the takeover by Eight Fifty Food Group. The Walshe family will remain involved under the terms of the deal. More senior police officers from Northern Ireland may be attracted to join An Garda Siochana following the appointment of several high-profile PSNI officers to the ranks in the Irish Republic. Apart from the opportunity of a new challenge and promotion, senior PSNI officers may also benefit from higher wages and the ability to hold on to their pensions. Two senior PSNI officers were recently appointed to positions within the Garda, prompting speculation that more may cross the border. PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Paula Hilman was recently named an Assistant Commissioner, the first time an officer from Northern Ireland has been handed the role. At the same time, the policing authority named Detective Chief Inspector Stephen McCauley as a Superintendent in the Irish police force. It follows the appointment in 2018 of Drew Harris as the Garda Commissioner. It was the first time any officer from outside the Republic was appointed to the top post. The switch from Northern Ireland to the south can lead to a boost in a police officer's income, according to a newspaper report on Sunday. New Assistant Commissioner Hilman will be on a salary equivalent to between 120,000 and 129,000, according to the report in the Irish Mail on Sunday. This salary is a significant increase on a reported salary of the 84,000 to 89,500 she was earning with the PSNI. According to the report, Mr McCauley has increased his pay from 56,000 to the equivalent of between 69,000 and 71,000. However, PSNI officers over the age of 50 who have served for 30 years receive a pension of two thirds of their salary based on the last year's pay. Multiple reports state that Mr Harris is on a salary of 250,000, or 224,000, a year. In a statement announcing the appointment of Ms Hilman, Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan said he was "encouraged to see that it continues to be the case that well-qualified and experienced officers from the PSNI are taking part in competitions to join (the gardai)". He added: "Ms Hilman has over 30 years policing experience and will undoubtedly bring valuable expertise to her new role, at a time of significant change in An Garda Siochana. "I also welcome the fact that the appointment of both Anne Marie Cagney and Paula Hilman as Assistant Commissioners will further expand the number of women at senior ranks. "In recent years a small number of PSNI officers have similarly been appointed as Superintendents in An Garda Siochana. I wish Stephen McCauley well in his new position." As both Ms Hilman and Mr McCauley were members of the PSNI, Irish government approval was needed under the Garda Siochana Act 2005. Not everyone has been delighted to see the Duke of York lately. But Debbie McGee says her husband Paul Daniels certainly was when Prince Andrew gave the magician a lift in the Queens helicopter when he was running late for a show. Miss McGee, 61, said she and Daniels, who died aged 77 in 2016, had been at an event in Stoke-on-Trent attended by royalty. Debbie McGee, 61, told the story of the time her husband Paul Daniels, who died aged 77 in 2016, took a surprise trip in the Queen's helicopter after an event in Stoke-on-Trent McGee said Prince Andrew, pictured in 1983 when he was a Navy helicopter pilot, flew the helicopter to Windsor while Daniels entertained Fergie with cards tricks in the lounge below She revealed on her podcast Spill The Tea: At the end of the day Paul ran to say goodbye to Princess Anne and said, Im really sorry I cant stay for the party afterwards, its over-run by two hours and Im meant to be on stage in an hour at the Savoy. Paul was doing a cabaret for a private party [at the Savoy]. So Princess Anne said, Have you got someone to drive your car back to London? and Paul said, Yes I have, of course that was muggins, me. She said Anne then asked Prince Edward to find his brother Andrew, adding: Edward ran off, brought Prince Andrew back and [Princess Anne] said, Have you still got the Queens helicopter? He said Yes and she said, Well go and get it ready, youre going to fly Mr Daniels back to Windsor Castle. Ill phone ahead and get a car ready hes got to be at the Savoy. I waved them off on the helicopter pad with Prince Andrew piloting it and Fergie in the lounge with Paul below, where Paul I think did card tricks all the way to Windsor Castle. When he got there, shed not only just organised a car, it was the Queens car. He got into his tuxedo in the back of it going along the M4. Then he got to the Savoy, walked on stage and had a great night. Last night a royal source said: If this story is true it did not involve one of Her Majestys helicopters. The night before he died, Frank Watters was surrounded by his closest friends at the rural retreat he had largely built himself on a hillside outside Cassilis, in central NSW. Frank said I feel like a glass of red wine, says his long-term business partner, Geoffrey Legge. Frank always had plenty of wine wherever he lived. He sipped once or twice, then put the glass down. The rest of us drank to his health. Frank Watters and his dog, Teddy, in 2018. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The next morning, Watters arguably the most influential Australian gallerist of his generation was found dead, aged 86. His death was hardly unexpected. He had been frail long before the eponymous Watters Gallery which he founded in 1964 with lifelong friends Geoffrey and Alexandra Legge in one of Sydneys most notorious red light districts shut its doors in 2018. Watters was unique. Arguably, Australian culture may never again see his like. Born in working-class Muswellbrook in 1934 and briefly a Hunter Valley coal miner, Watters moved to Sydney in his 20s to become one of most influential discoverers of Australian artistic talent of his generation. Libyan government takes 3 military camps from rebels in southern Tripoli Global Times Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/5/24 13:37:49 The UN-backed Libyan government's forces on Saturday said it took over three military camps from the rival eastern-based army in the south of the capital Tripoli, as the armed conflict between the two rivals continued. "Our forces took control of Al-Yarmuk, Hamza and the Missiles camps and are pursuing the fleeing militias of Haftar (commander of the eastern-based army)," Mohamed Gonono, spokesman of the UN-backed government's forces, said in a statement. "The military engineering teams are clearing mines laid by Haftar's militia," the statement said. The UN-backed government's forces have been making significant progress against the eastern-based army lately, taking over military camps and cities in western Libya. A war has been going on since April 2019 between the UN-backed government and eastern-based army, which is trying to take over Tripoli and topple the UN-backed government, despite repeated international calls for cease-fire. Hundreds of civilians were killed and injured in the fighting with more than 150,000 others displaced. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerian farmers to increase their food production as Nigeria has no money for food importation. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria has restricted food importation as the country strived to produce a lot of the food it consumes. The country also shut its borders with neighbouring countries, largely to prevent the importation and smuggling of items such as rice, poultry and petrol. The borders are still shut but were also closed to human traffic following the coronavirus pandemic, although smuggling and other illegal activities still go on with the connivance of corrupt security officials. Mr Buhari gave his advice to the farmers while addressing journalists after observing this years Eid prayer at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Sunday. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how the president observed the Islamic Eid prayer to mark the end of Ramadan fast privately with his family; based on the nationwide restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. I wish them the best of luckI hope the rainy season will be bountiful, to get a lot of food. I wish the farmers could go and stay in their farms so that we can produce what we need sufficiently so that we dont have to import. In any case, we dont have money to import so we must produce what we have to eat, he said. Economy In Trouble Mr Buharis reference to the economy is not unrelated to what Nigerias finance minister, Zainab Ahmed, said last week that the countrys economy would definitely go into recession soon. Nigeria is one of the countries hardest hit by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. A large part of its budget is funded by oil revenue which makes up over 90 per cent of its export. The sharp drop in oil prices globally has meant reduced income for the West African country. Nigeria also closed a large part of her economy to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. All its airports are still closed except for essential flights while businesses are only partially reopened. Reduce Impact on Farmers This newspaper reported how Mr Buhari while addressing Nigerians last month directed that officials should ensure the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is minimised on farmers. He ordered the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, and other key players in the sector to join the already existing 12-member Presidential Task Force (PTF) as a strategy to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on farmers. The president directed the ministers to develop a comprehensive policy for a Nigerian Economy functioning with COVID-19. The government has since said it has begun the process of ensuring agricultural products have easy access across the states. Also, Mr Nanono inaugurated the joint technical task team on emergency response to COVID-19 to ease the movement of agricultural inputs across Nigeria. Since the Buhari administration assumed office, the government has put in place several mechanisms to assist farmers with resources, farm inputs, seedlings, and other materials. The governments Anchor Borrowers Programme, managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, is largely responsible for Nigerias massive increase in local rice production. On Sunday, Mr Buhari said he hopes the rain season would be bountiful, so a lot of food will be produced this year. READ ALSO: Although agriculture contributes a lot to Nigerias Gross Domestic Product, with millions of people involved in it, a lot of the farming is still artisanal with many of the farmers relying on rainwater for irrigation of their fields. Obey COVID-19 rules On Sunday, Mr Buhari also advised Nigerians to strictly adhere to guidelines and measures put in place against the spread of the deadly virus in the country. He said the pandemic had reduced both developed and developing nations to the same level. Advertisements You can see that COVID-19 has reduced us; when I say us I mean both developed and developing countries, to the same level. In fact, we have less casualties than they have, he said. So, its a very frightening development and I advise Nigerians to be very careful and take the advice of the Ministry of Health. Ministers of Health have been doing very well, speaking and educating the citizens on the deadly virus, he added. Nigeria has so far tested 43,328 persons since the beginning of the pandemic. A breakdown of all the confirmed cases so far shows that out of the total 7,526 confirmed cases, there are 5,131 active cases, 2,174 have recovered and have been discharged, and 221 deaths have been reported. A breakdown of the 7,526 confirmed cases shows that Lagos State has so far reported 3,357 cases, followed by Kano 883, FCT 468, Katsina 308, Borno 250, Jigawa 241,Bauchi 232, Oyo 233, Ogun 219, Kaduna 184, Gombe 145, Edo 172, Sokoto 116, Rivers 89, Zamfara 76, Kwara 75, Plateau 77, Yobe 47, Osun 42, Nasarawa 38, Kebbi 32, Delta 31, Adamawa 27, Niger 26, Ondo 23, Ebonyi 22, Akwa Ibom 21, Ekiti 20, Taraba 18, Enugu 18 Bayelsa 8, Imo 7, Abia 7, Anambra 8, and Benue 5. Teachers and experts urge government to keep natural school reforms during pandemic. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Many new Slovak governments have introduced reforms to the education system soon after taking office. But by the time their four-year term was up, they had often failed to implement them fully. When the new coalition government of Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO), Sme Rodina, Za Ludi and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) parties took power in late March, the first thing they had to deal with was the COVID-19 pandemic. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Education was one of the first sectors to affected - some schools closed within days of the first infection in the country being identified on March 6, and almost all schools and universities had shut by March 16. They remain closed, but the government has said that as of June 1 nursery schools and years 1-5 of primary schools can re-open. Attendance will be voluntary. Other primary school classes for higher years, all high schools, and universities will remain closed, however. But although schools have been closed, teaching has carried on with teachers sending work to students at home electronically or holding online lessons. Teachers say the drastic change may have ushered in a natural, and much-needed, reform to the way people are educated in Slovakia. In a sense this is an era of natural reform brought about by the current situation, Vladimir Crmoman of the Slovak Chamber of Teachers, told The Slovak Spectator. What they always wanted Many teachers and education experts say the teaching and evaluation methods they have been forced to employ during the crisis are precisely the kind of reforms the education system needs and some aspects of them should be retained after the crisis is over. Teachers have had to reduce their curriculum to only what is necessary, and grades for students have been removed. Jan Lenc of Zivica, an NGO training teachers to use innovative teaching methods, said that changes to the student grading system children will at the end of this year will not final year grades and teachers will also give a written assessment of their work - and reducing the curriculum have been discussed before, but the crisis has brought these issues into the spotlight and forced them to be addressed. Many fields will be changed after the crisis and education is no exception, Lenc told The Slovak Spectator. Meanwhile, surveys have shown that teachers new approach has been welcomed by parents. A poll of 505 people conducted by the Focus agency for the Komenskeho Institut teacher education programme run by Zivica carried out in April showed that 84 percent of parents agreed with teachers giving students a written assessment in the current situation while 63 percent said they would like to see this practice continued after the pandemic. Meanwhile, almost three quarters (72 percent) supported a significant reduction of the curriculum during the pandemic, and 67 percent said they would agree with changes to the curriculum after the crisis is over. Changes with preparation and support Education Minister Branislav Grohling has said that teachers having had to strip teaching to only what is absolutely necessary during the crisis has shown what does and does not need to be taught in Slovak classrooms. Texas Instruments graphing calculators have a reputation as hobbyist devices given their program support, but they just lost some of their appeal. Cemetech has learned (via Linus Tech Tips) that Texas Instruments is pulling support for assembly- and C-based programs on the TI-84 Plus CE and its French counterpart, the TI-83 Premium CE. Install the latest firmware for both (OS 5.6 and OS 5.5 respectively) and youll not only lose access to those apps, but wont have a way to roll back. The company explained the move as an effort to prioritize learning and minimize any security risks. Its to reduce cheating, to put it another way. In a chat with Cemetech, EdTech President Peter Balyta hoped that the community would shift its focus to advancing Python development and suggest ideas that would satisfy the needs of schools, students and developers. While this could please teachers worried that students will use apps to cheat during exams, enthusiasts are unsurprisingly mad. This reduces the amount of control programmers have over their calculator apps. As it stands, this might not have the intended effect. Some have already found ways to bypass the calculators Exam Mode the updates may block casual cheaters, but not determined ones. For now, fans will have to either cling to older TI software or accept that their calculators arent as flexible. Holy cow! Despite closed borders, Argentina to fly in rabbis to certify kosher meat Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Buenos Aires By Maximilian Heath and Juan Bustamante BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina, which has enforced one of the world's toughest travel bans against the coronavirus, plans to help charter a private flight to bring in rabbis from Israel to certify meat at the country's packing plants for kosher markets around the world. The trip is key to Argentina being able to maintain beef exports to key buyer Israel, which has become increasingly important with exports stalled to the European Union and sharply down to major buyer China. The global lockdown meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus has snarled this year's plans with borders closed and air travel paralyzed worldwide. "The only alternative has been to be able to try to arrange a charter in combination with Israeli clients, and supervised, authorized and coordinated by the governments," said Mario Ravettino, head of Argentina's ABC meat export consortium. Argentina is the world's fifth largest beef exporter and Israel is the No. 3 buyer of its famed cuts, snapping up over $100 million each year, Ravettino said. The rabbis normally make the trip twice a year and stay for a few months, as many as 15 rabbis in plants at a time. They ensure the cattle are slaughtered and the meat processed in accordance with Jewish law. Lisandro Sabanes, an Argentine foreign ministry spokesman, confirmed the government was helping to make arrangements for the rabbis. He did not say when they would arrive. Argentina has banned commercial flights until September, allowing only citizens and residents to enter on special flights and has imposed a strict national quarantine. Rabbi David Faour, owner of South America Kosher (SAK), a local company certifying kosher production, said the rabbis were needed for lack of people locally who could certify the meat was kosher, a word derived from the Hebrew word meaning fit to eat. (Reporting by Maximilian Heath and Juan Bustamante; Writing by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Howard Goller) NEW DELHI (PTI): Acknowledging that defence manufacturing has been adversely affected due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has exhorted MSMEs to make India Atma Nirbhar' (self-reliant) in defence technology and products. Addressing MSMEs E-conclave via video conferencing last week, Singh termed micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) the backbone of Indian economy that accelerate GDP growth, earn valuable foreign exchange through exports and provide employment opportunities. Asserting that keeping MSMEs strong is one of the priorities of the government, he said there are more than 8,000 MSMEs, tiered partners of many defence organisations - ordnance factories, DPSUs and service organisations. They contribute more than 20 per cent of the total production of these organisations, Singh said at the conclave jointly organised by Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Department of Defence Production. Citing the example of the United States where the domestic defence industry developed within a short span of two years during World War-II, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said India should have its own defence industry. He urged the MSMEs to work for placing India among the top 10 nations in defence technologies. The Defence Minister hailed the role played by SIDM and other MSMEs in the nation's fight against global coronavirus pandemic. I am very happy to know that SIDM has accelerated the manufacturing of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) designed PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits, masks, ventilator parts in the field of defence industry by efficient coordination and channelisation," Singh was quoted as saying in a statement. "Within less than two months, we have not only met our domestic demand, but we can also think of helping neighbouring countries in the coming time," he said. Acknowledging the hardships faced by the defence industry, Singh said, "The manufacturing sector has been affected the most due to lockdown and disruption in existing supply chains and the defence sector is no exception to this." "Rather, it can be said that the defence sector is more aggravated than other sectors as the only buyer of defence products is the government," he said. Singh assured that the 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat' campaign, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will provide many opportunities to Indian industry and will help in restoring millions of jobs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for being 'vocal for local' in this direction. I would like to say that we have to have our indigenous products, i.e. 'vocal for local', but before that in our own life, 'local' has to be focal. That is, we have to adopt 'swadeshi' products in our life," he said. His comments came days after Prime Minister Modi pitched for making India self-reliant by turning the coronavirus crisis into an opportunity through sustained focus on making the Indian economy globally competitive. There is no doubt that MSMEs have a very important role in the goal of indigenous manufacturing, and in the goal of making India self-reliant, he said. Singh highlighted some of the measures announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman under the 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat' scheme such as collateral free loan of 3 lakh crores for MSMEs - which he said will be effective in re-establishing about 45 lakh units and saving employment. Subordinate debt provision of Rs 20,000 crore has been announced for two lakh MSMEs, this will help stressed MSMEs, Singh said. Equity infusion of Rs 50,000 crore will be provided through 'Mother-Daughter Fund' for the purpose of benefiting the needy MSMEs, he said. A Rs 10,000 crore 'Fund of Funds' will be set up to help increase the capacity of these units and for marketing, he said. The theme of the E-conclave was Business Continuity for MSMEs in Defence & Aerospace Sector' in which more than 800 Defence MSMEs participated. Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar, in his address, highlighted the measures taken to alleviate the hardships faced by the defence manufacturing industry due to COVID-19. He said the DPSUs have been asked to clear payments of MSMEs, and also announced that their production targets have not been scaled down. Citing the reforms recently announced by the Finance Minister, he said these measures will help realise the target of achieving a US$ 25 billion defence production by 2025. SIDM President Jayant D Patil, former SIDM president Baba N Kalyani, Director General of CII Chandrajit Banerjee, senior civil and military officials of MoD, Ordnance Factory Board and DPSUs were also present on the occasion. According to Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, they have worked closely with the New York Governor's Office, along with the officials of the Javits Convention Center where the annual motor show is held. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still heavily affecting the State of New York, the organizers of the NYIAS have decided to cancel this year's event altogether. With it, the annual motor show will instead return next year and will take place on April 2 until April 11, 2021. The press days for next year's event will be on March 31 and April 1. Two months ago, the organizers of the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) announced that they have postponed this year's show to August due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally slated for April 10 to 19, the annual motor show event has been rescheduled to take place from August 28 until September 6. Press days, meanwhile, will be on August 26 and 27. With the state of New York still having the highest number of cases in the country at 371,193 confirmed, the officials of the convention center have decided to transform it into a field hospital, thus closing it to all types of events. To date, there are no COVID-19 patients yet admitted at the Javits Convention Center, though the facility remains active and is currently in standby mode for the foreseeable future. We are extremely proud of the role the Javits Center has played during this difficult time, and we understand the need for it to remain ready to serve. We also understand the immense planning needed for the automakers and their exhibit partners to construct a show of this magnitude. Because of the uncertainty caused by the virus, we feel it would not be prudent to continue with the 2020 Show and instead are preparing for an even greater 2021, said Schienberg. It's not just this 2020 NYIAS that had to be canceled due to the global pandemic. Earlier this year, the Geneva International Motor Show, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), as well as the Concours d'Elegance have all been canceled for this year. Meanwhile, the country's very own Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) might be canceled as well since the World Trade Center where it is held biennially has been converted into a quarantine site for COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, this year's Manila International Auto Show has been postponed and there are no dates yet as to when it will take place. With more and more auto shows getting canceled or postponed, we won't be surprised if some automakers shift towards full digital launches of new vehicles. Just recently, Ford Philippines and Jeep Philippines held virtual launches for the 2020 Everest Sport and the 2020 Renegade/Compass models, respectively. Perhaps this will be the new normal for the launching of vehicles until the local and global situation improves, or until vaccine has been developed and distributed worldwide. The Trump-fueled pandemic has already claimed 94,000 American lives. And six months from now, the pandemic-fueled election may well wreak havoc with whats left of American democracy. Every time Trump opens his big mouth, that dire November scenario seems more likely. As more states prepare for universal mail balloting understandably, they dont want citizens to risk their health by voting in person Trump is becoming more unhinged. He clearly fears hell lose if mail balloting expands the size of the electorate. ??Voting should take place in person, Trump riffed, on Wednesday as opposed to when they send you a pile of stuff and you send it back. Voting by mail is a very dangerous thing. Theyre subject to massive fraudtremendous illegality and fraudIts not a fair situationA lot of things can happenCommon sense tells you massive manipulation can take place. Trump, of course, is the last person who should be talking about common sense. The actual facts prove that mail ballot fraud is exceedingly rare. Hundreds of millions of votes were cast nationwide between 2000 and 2012, with five states (including Republican Utah) conducting virtually all-mail elections, yet the total of nationwide prosecutions for mail ballot fraud was 491. As two voting experts at the Brennan Center for Justice concluded after crunching the data, It is more likely for an American to be struck by lightning than to commit mail voting fraud. Trumps tweets about Michigan and Nevada were also predictably packed with lies. The Michigan secretary of state has sent mail ballot applications to all registered voters, which Trump said was done illegally. In truth, the voters of Michigan, in a 2018 referendum, approved an amendment to the state constitution that gives everyone the right to vote by mail. Trump tried the same scam with Nevada, fuming in his tweet that Nevadas secretary of state has sent out illegal vote by mail ballots whereas, in truth, Nevada law clearly states that citizens can vote by mail for any reason. Trump somehow neglected to denounce Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska and West Virginia four other states that are mailing ballots to all registered voters. Gee. Why isnt Trump mad at them too? Perhaps (just a wild guess) its because those are red states where his re-election prospects are decent anyway unlike in Michigan (which he won in 2016 by a razor-thin margin and is now trailing Joe Biden) and blue-trending Nevada (which he lost in 2016 by only three points, and is now trailing Biden). Hes so panicked about Michigan and Nevada that he threatened to withhold congressionally-mandated money from both states. That action would be unconstitutional, because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that only Congress can impose conditions on a states receipt of federal money before a state agrees to take the money. And if Trumps threat sounds vaguely familiar remember when he threatened to withhold promised military aid to Ukraine unless Ukraine helped him rig the 2020 election against Biden? The people who rightly impeached Trump last winter warned that if he was let off the hook hed pull the same crap again. Presto! So what do Trumps latest tirades tell us? Basically, that hes terrified of losing in November. So hes clearly trying to lay the groundwork for denying defeat. The big danger for our democracy especially if the national vote count is slow, thanks to the surge of mail ballots is that his cultists will take up the cause. Democracy depends upon the losers of an election accepting the election results as legitimate and agreeing to regroup to fight to regain political power in the next election, Rick Hansen, one of the nations top ballot experts, wrote in the Washington Post. If large numbers of voters believe the winning side cheated in elections, we could have unrest and resistance to lawful government orders.??Im reminded of the famous scene in Citizen Kane, when the demagogic mogul faced an electoral defeat, and his newspaper spun the loss with a headline it had prepared in advance: FRAUD AT POLLS! ??That was funny in reel life. It would be worse than tragic in real life James Bond is lonely. Its just 007 and his gadget-laden 1965 Aston Martin DB5 these days. He hasnt had any company since his last passenger was ejected. His car phone cant call anyone; for one thing, its inventor didnt remember to include a dial. His radar-mapping system is frozen on some place in rural Sussex, and just emits beeps like a sonar signal from a submarine movie. Even the fender-mounted machine guns seem to be out of bullets. Whats an international man of mystery supposed to do these days for a bit of excitement? Fortunately, Aston Martin has an answer: The 107-year-old British luxury carmaker is re-creating the Bond DB5 from the 1964 movie Goldfinger, starring Sean Connery, in painstaking detail. It is but one example a really expensive one of how auto manufacturers, including Land Rover, Jaguar and Porsche, have started reaching into their pasts to update some of their classic models and equipment. A Vietnam veteran traces one of the nearly 60,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times) In the waning days of April, the number of people who died from COVID-19 in the United States surpassed the tally of those killed in the Vietnam War. The nation has been stunned by the many who have died in this pandemic. We think of them today, Memorial Day, as we pause to remember and grieve for the nearly 60,000 U.S. service members who died in Vietnam and the hundreds of thousands of other Americans who gave their lives in other wars. As the COVID-19 death count continues to mount, it has had a cumulative and numbing effect, much like the counting of war dead. Individual cases disappear into the whole. The focus is on the number, not our fellow citizens. Many news outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, have sought to put a human face on the COVID-19 tragedy, publishing profiles of some of the deceased, reminding the world what they had done with their lives and what remained for them to do. The remembrances sometimes include heartrending stories of the many family members and friends who were unable to be with their loved ones at the end because of coronavirus-related restrictions. Just as the COVID-19 dead have likely been undercounted, so have the U.S. military dead in Vietnam. The official number fails to include the many veterans who died after the war as a result of lingering medical and emotional conditions. And such tallies often dont acknowledge that as many as 3 million Vietnamese died in that war. Now, the American generation that suffered most in Vietnam is the most vulnerable to the coronavirus. If COVID-19 disproportionately strikes the elderly and the vulnerable, the Vietnam War disproportionately killed the young and the vital. More than 60% of the names on the Vietnam Memorial belong to those who were 22 or younger when they died. Members of that once-young baby boomer generation are now senior citizens. The day before Saigon fell on April 30, 1975, the last two U.S. servicemen died in the Vietnam War. Two Marines, Charles McMahon of Woburn, Mass., and Darwin Judge of Marshalltown, Iowa, were killed in a rocket attack. Story continues Darwin Judge was 19. He had been an Eagle Scout; a high school teacher described him as rock stable. Judge had arrived in Vietnam the month before he died. Charles McMahon had been active in the Boys Club in Woburn where he excelled as a swimmer and taught and mentored young boys. In 1971, he was named the Woburn Boy of the Year. He was 21 and died 11 days after arriving in Vietnam. Twelve Marshalltown natives, from age 19 to 39, died in Vietnam. Ten Woburn residents between the ages of 18 and 29 also died in the war. Had they lived, these 22 men would be among the most vulnerable to COVID-19. The McMahon and Judge families had to delay saying farewell to their young sons. In the chaos of the U.S. withdrawal, the bodies of the two Marines were left behind. Their remains would not be repatriated for nearly a year. Many observers have described the struggle against the pandemic as a war. The COVID-19 fight is not a war but a public health crisis, striking randomly. The Vietnam War was not random; it was the result of calculated choices. The COVID-19 and Vietnam eras do share unfortunate similarities, including officials ignoring reports and warnings, and confidently insisting on their capacity to control events. Leaders in the 1960s also assured that we could wage the war without economic sacrifice, and today many insist that we can remain safe while enjoying economic and social freedom. That war and this pandemic have each been marked by a pronounced inequitable sharing of the burden and the cost by the poor and by racial minorities. And in neither was there official national recognition of this or a pause for national mourning. In both crises, unspoken politics, personal ambition and arrogance too often have framed public statements as well as military and public health strategy. Then and now we have seen official optimism and an absence of candor regarding projections of what was to come: It is over; we have won echoes from Vietnam to 2020. In April, President Trump said there was light at the end of the tunnel. Gen. William Westmoreland reported seeing a similar light in Vietnam in 1967. There is one lesson American citizens seem to have finally learned, between the Vietnam era and now: to thank in real time those who serve, whether its in war or during a pandemic. We need to do that today. And every day. James Wright, a former Marine, is a historian and president emeritus of Dartmouth College. His most recent book is Enduring Vietnam: An American Generation and its War. Nearly 52,500 Americans have already filed complaints this year with the Federal Trade Commission over fraud related to Covid-19, reporting losses totaling over $38.6 million. Of those submitting complaints through May 21, about 45% reported falling victim to fraudsters, losing about $470 on average. Scammers are "ingeniously evil," says Bill Versen, chief product officer for Transaction Network Services, a global provider of data communications that tracks robocalls. "They take topical current events and then weave that into their story to gain your confidence in order to defraud you," he says. TNS has seen a big uptick in fraudsters leveraging Covid-19 related scams right now. New, sophisticated scams are popping up One of the top ways scammers lure victims is through text message, according to the FTC. And there's a new, highly sophisticated robotext scam that could trip up a lot of consumers, Versen says. It starts with a text purportedly from the Internal Revenue Service asking to confirm information for a stimulus payment through a link. If you click on it, the link takes you to a realistic-looking IRS web page where you're prompted to provide your name, contact information and Social Security number. Once you enter your personal information, you're then redirected to the real IRS website to make the scam look less suspicious. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards This is a screenshot of a recent robotext scam TNS came across. While it looks like a legitimate IRS website, the URL shows it's false since a legitimate U.S. government site would contain a ".gov" address. Transaction Network Services Robocalls are also a huge area for scammers right now, Versen says. One of the most common ones that he's seeing pop up is for fake refunds related to coronavirus. The key to this scheme is that the scammers never mention what the refund is exactly for. With so many companies, from car insurance providers to utilities, offering refunds and discounts, it's easy for consumers to assume it's something like that. "The robocall scam will call you up and say: We cannot provide services due to Covid-19, but you have been charged $399, press one to claim a refund," Versen says. When you press one, you're asked to provide your credit card information so that you can get the charges reversed or repaid and boom, that's how the scammers get you, Versen says. "It sounds legitimate," he adds. How to protect yourself from coronavirus scams Consumers need to be extra vigilant right now, says Dov Lerner, security research lead at cybersecurity threat intelligence company Sixgill. Don't give credit card or other personal information to anyone over the phone, don't click on unknown links in emails and don't even answer the door for someone claiming to be from the government unless they can show proper identification. You should assume it's a scam until someone proves otherwise, he says. Beyond those common ways to protect yourself, here are five additional steps you can take to safeguard against common scam tactics. 1. Educate yourself on the latest scams It's important that consumers stay up-to-date on the latest ways scammers are trying to swindle them. The FTC has been keeping on top of the latest schemes and issuing consumer alerts about what they're finding. You can sign up for the emails or simply visit the FTC's coronavirus scam page. Credit building company Self Financial also created a comprehensive list of all the scams connected to Covid-19 and how they work. The list is updated weekly based on information from the FTC, Federal Drug Administration, the Better Business Bureau and other outside sources. 2. Block robocalls Most mobile service providers, including the 'Big Four' AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon have free software or apps that block robocalls. Some, like Verizon, have software that automatically blocks some of the worst robocalls throughout their network, while others have separate options that consumers can install. It's worth reaching out to your provider to see what they offer, Versen says. A cusomer service representative will be able to walk customers through signing up or adding robocall-blocking software or an app to their phone, he says. Some service providers even offer free trials so customers can test robo-blocking apps with all the extra bells and whistles, such as also blocking spam text messages or automatically silencing unknown callers. Actor Amruta Subhash-Sonalee Kulkarni starrer Marathi film "Parinati" is all set to have a digital release, with the team currently in talks with streaming platforms. "Parinati" chronicles the friendship between a bar dancer and a doctor. "As we all know how Bollywood big films have taken the route of OTT platforms. The general pulse in the market is that regional films may have to depend on OTT platforms for the time being as we have to survive somehow and even have to cater good content to our audience. "This was an option before us and as an emergence of digital evolution someone had to take the initiative. We are in talks with few of them and so far have got positive response for the release and announcement will be done soon," producer Paragg Mehta said in a statement. Also starring Akshar Kothari, the film is helmed by debutant director Akshay Balsaraf. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mia Shimabuku/Bloomberg via Getty When Tara Trunfio stepped off her flight from Boulder to Maui, she didnt see the leis and grass skirts that so many visitors expect. Instead, the 23-year-old saw masked officials warning that visitors who dont comply with the islands 14-day quarantine requirement would be arrested. A Hawaiian get-away sounds magical to the millions of cooped-up Americans who want to trade in their virtual beach background for the real thing. But a trip to the beach can quickly turn into a stay in jail. Thats just what happened to Trunfio, who drew national attention this month after being arrested for allegedly violating quarantine. For years, Americans have debated the shape their national borders should take, but the newest border controls have increasingly been built on state lines. Were a long way off from Berlin Wall-style barricades along your local interstate, but in the COVID-19 era governors have issued quarantine orders for out-of-state residents and returning visitors. Rhode Island, Florida, and Texas have stopped out-of-state drivers (sometimes using the National Guard) to remind them of quarantine requirements and obtain a signed compliance agreement. But the most alarming restrictions come from a state that doesnt have to worry about people driving into town. She Tried to Escape Her Exbut the Courthouse Was Closed In recent weeks, Hawaii has rolled out the so-called Safe Travels System, giving officials information on how travelers comply with the states 14-day quarantine requirement. On its face, the plan mirrors those imposed at a growing number of national bordersthe U.S. includedin the face of the coronavirus outbreak. For jurisdictions with few COVID-19 cases, forcing newcomers to quarantine in hopes of containing the spread of a deadly illness can be a perfectly rational public policy. But as lockdowns show signs of easing in some states, the system in Hawaii is bringing the potential civil-liberties pitfalls of disease detective work into clearerand more disturbingfocus. Story continues If you forget to register before you get on a plane to Hawaii right now, youre in for a show. If you refuse to register or provide a false contact number upon arrival, police can arrest you on the spot. Some authorities are going even further, searching property tax records to verify travelers lodgings. Airport personnel roll mobile kiosks from gate to gate, checking phone numbers and addresses, making 7,600 phone calls in just the first 2 weeks to ensure numbers are legit and that people are staying put. But while Safe Travels may be a practical requirement to enter Hawaii, its not a legal one. Theres no law or regulation requiring travelers to use the app. Even the Safe Travels website couches things in voluntary terms: All persons traveling to or within Hawaii are encouraged to register your trip into the Hawaii Safe Travels System to expedite your exit from the airport. But when a Washington man recently arrived in Honolulu without a confirmed address or proof he had funds to pay for a place to stay, he was sent back. For the travelers who do volunteer to use the Safe Travels System, its not enough to just register with the site. For two weeks, travelers have to check in daily, reporting their health condition and address. Safe Travels will then use travelers location data to confirm where travelers are. While Americans are being asked to give sensitive health and location data to Hawaii officials, those same officials are reluctant to share how that data is being used. (The Hawaii Department of Transportation and governors office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) A beachgoer wearing a protective mask walks down Waikiki Beach, with Diamond Head mountain in the background, during the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. April 28, 2020. Marco Garcia/Reuters Safe Travels FAQ website claims that data is only shared with authorized personnel responsible for quarantine monitoring and enforcement, but we have no way of knowing who those people are. And even if its just law enforcement agencies as opposed to private entitiesenforcing quarantine, that is no reassurance at all. Effectively, Americans have no way of knowing how much data a state might collect on them, how long it is held, or if Tapiki, the private firm that co-developed Safe Travels, has access to the data. (Tapiki did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) If and when the app gets it wrong, theres reason to fear users of color will pay the price. As GPS signals are often less accurate in densely constructed urban areas, lower-income travelers might be at higher risk of a false alarm. And its completely unclear how individuals will navigate Hawaiis requirements when they stay in locations without reliable internet or cell service. Many of those most at risk from COVID-19, such as the elderly and communities of color, also lack access to a smartphone. As a result, Hawaii is threatening to turn the digital divide into a criminal offense. The consequences are enormous. At a time when COVID-19 can easily turn detention into a death sentence, Hawaii authorities have already arrested approximately 20 people for violating quarantine, including a Florida man and an Illinois woman after witnesses saw them with shopping bags. A California man similarly was charged after allegedly traveling from his Hawaiian home to Costco. More recently, a second Colorado tourist was being sought after police learned she had canceled her reservation at the hostel where she registered to stay. Heres What Trumps Black Male Supporters Say They See in Him Even when this surveillance web paints an accurate picture of human behavior, it erodes public trust and cooperation at a time when they are needed most. In-state residents must quarantine at the address listed on their government-issued ID, creating an acute risk for many, such as survivors of domestic violence and those living with immunocompromised relatives or roommates. For undocumented Americans, the system creates yet another tool with which people could theoretically be tracked by ICE, coming just months after the Trump Administration reportedly purchased similar location data from commercial vendors. Hawaiis case is likely the most extreme to date, but its far from unique. In Washington State, civil rights watchdogs expressed alarm that the state was implementing manual contact-tracing requirements without adequate safeguards. Under the states effort, not only would 1,400 contact tracers be hired, but businesses would be required to keep a log of every customer they contacted. Across the country, New York Citys top civil rights watchdog expressed similar alarm at the lack of safeguards for data collected by the city and states combined contract tracing program, which may hire as many as 18,000 tracers. And at the same time, Silicon Valleys effort to get into the COVID-19 tracking business has seen sharp pushback from civil rights and immigrant justice groups, including our own. A mannequin wears a protective mask at a market in Wailea, Hawaii, U.S., on Sunday, April 26, 2020. Mia Shimabuku/Bloomberg via Getty Images America stands at a crossroads in the COVID-19 fight, and the choices we make now may impact our society for generations. For those trying to fend off a loss of life unparalleled in modern history, the call for surveillance is increasingly urgent. But surveillance skeptics not only question the privacy costs of a public health dragnet, they fear new tracking tools will harm public health instead of helping. Without safeguards and public trust, surveillance measures might drive those on the margins of our society into the shadows, undermining the very contact tracing this technology is supposed to help. For states that erect new barriers, it may provide a temporary relief from the onslaught of new cases. But it will also deeply damage the sense of national unity that we will need for our long, unrelenting fights against disease and death. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Thousands of these vehicles now in use are up to 30 years old, worn out by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and repaired by taking parts from other vehicles, they said in their opinion piece. Too often they are pushed through maintenance inspections, which they should fail. There are precious few new vehicles available. For example, new LAVs are years from arrival. The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), has revealed the Flagbearer of the main opposition, John Mahama saved Ghanas troubled economy that took a nosedive in 2009 and made it record double digits growth rates for the first time in the fourth Republic. This, according to ASEPA was realised barely 12 months after the World Bank had written to the Late president JEA Mills warning him of the terrible economic situation he was inheriting then. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has always run down ex-President Mahama insisting he demonstrated stark incompetence in managing the affairs of the country and therefore does not deserve a second chance in his 2020 presidential bid. But the Executive Director of ASEPA, Mensah Thompson in a Post disclosed that the former Leader, John Dramani Mahama in his capacity as the Head of the Economic Management Team in 2009 steered the almost wrecked ship of Ghanas economy to safety by mid 2010 and 2011. The feat achieved by Mr Mahama came to light after the Standard Group carried out its independent assessment of the Ghanaian Economy and 24 other emerging markets, aspects of the post read. Thompson further highlighted that within a year, Ghanas Economy which had been written off by the World Bank, has been turned around with the Ghana currency being the best performing currency among the 24 emerging markets the Standard Group carried this survey on. Below is the full post by ASEPAs Mensah Thompson Mensah Thompson of ASEPA writes. HOW JOHN MAHAMA SAVED GHANAS CRUSHING ECONOMY WITHIN A YEAR AFTER DR.BAWUMIAH AND HIS PEOPLE RAN IT AGROUND IN 2008 Folks today I am going to be revealing some very deep secret about Ghanas Economy I am going to tell you something perhaps youve never heard before and that is because some people deliberately decided to change the economic narrative of this Country. But truth they say stands and today the truth is about to come out!!! Did you know that the previous NPP Government left power in 2008 with a totally crushed Economy? Yes you heard right, the then NPP Government left Ghanas Economy in a complete abyss with almost everything crushed to the ground before they exited power. Folks I am going to show you a letter, the World Bank Country Director of Ghana in 2009, wrote to President-elect John Evans Attah Mills. This letter is dated 3rd January, 2009, When President-elect J.E.A Mills had not even been sworn in as President, the World bank decided to write to him to notify him of the severity of the mess his Government would be inheriting so he would be prepared for it. Relax, I am going to share with you this letter which till date only Prof.Mills and few people around him at the time may have seen because Prof.Mills decided not to make this letter public. The first paragraphs of the letter reads and I quote Your Excellency President-Elect, As a close and trusted partner of Ghana, I feel that it is the World Banks responsibility to alert you even before you are sworn in of the difficult financial situation Ghana finds itself, and to offer the World Bank full support to you and your new Government in dealing with these difficulties As you are well aware, the macroeconomic situation that your Government is inheriting is unfortunately extremely worrisome. Both the fiscal deficit and the balance of payments deficit are high and at unsustainable levels. Given the current state of the International financial markets, we do not believe that these deficits can be financed in 2009 as they were in 2008. Folks this the first few paragraphs of the letter dated 3rd January, 2009 signed by Mr. Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Director for Ghana at the time warning the new President J.E.A Mills of how hopeless the situation was for Ghana. The letter further goes on to give a full verdict of Ghanas Economy in details and how gloomy things were and was going to be for the Country because of the havoc the NPP had wrecked on the economy. Ladies and Gentlemen, yours truly Dr. Bawumiah was then the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank and part of the team that created this economic mess and again was brought in as a Running Mate to Nana Akufo Addo in the 2008 elections. Folks, this is the track record of Dr. Bawumiah that earned him the Running Mate slot for the NPP in 2008(can you imagine) Ladies and Gentlemen, I am telling you this so you can appreciate and understand that the assertion that NPP are better managers of the Economy is nothing but a fallacious myth which would be demystified today after reading this article. And trust me, even the IMF and the World bank are fully aware that the NPP are worst managers of the Ghanaian Economy and that is exactly what the World Banks Country Director meant in his letter to Prof. Mills. Now lets move on, take your time and follow the conversation, so you dont miss anything By the time the NPP exited power in 2009, Ghanas real GDP stood at 9.1%, the overall macroeconomic situation had seriously deteriorated on the account of huge fiscal and current deficits. The destruction was so monumental that fiscal deficit stood at 14.5% of GDP whiles arrears alone amounted to 22% of GDP and the Public debt stood 36% of GDP even after huge debt forgiveness from HIPC. Fact is the NPP Government left a totally crushed economy with almost nothing in the coffers plus a single spine pay policy risk to the almost dead Economy. But at the same time Dr.Bawumiah was on campaign platforms bastardising the NDC as worst managers of the economy when his track record at the bank of Ghana was by making the Ghanaian Cedi one of the worst performing currencies in World. Folks, this is the legacy of yours truly Dr. Mahmoud Bawumiah at the Bank of Ghana and also as part of the team that managed the Ghanaian Economy between 2001-2009. Folks I am going to show another document, I told you today is revelation day and we shall demystify all the myths that had surrounded our body Politics for so long. The second document I am going to show you will blow your mind This is a report by the Standard Bank Group Limited in the UK in somewhere November 2009, less than a year after President Mills assumed office. The Standard Group carried out its independent assessment of the Ghanaian Economy and 24 other emerging markets. And within one year Ghanas Economy which had been written off by the World Bank, has been turned around with the Ghana currency being the best performing currency among the 24 emerging markets the Standard Group carried this survey on. For the avoidance of doubt, the emerging markets included, Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa, Nigeria, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, Poland, Hungary,Brazil Chile, Israel,Botswana and others and yes the Ghana Economy was on top of the list as the number one best performing emerging markets as far as our currency was concerned. And guess who was the Head of the Economic Management Team that achieved this feat within a year, John Dramani Mahama. Folks, in less than a year, John Mahama (without a PhD in Economics) steered the almost wrecked ship of Ghanas economy to safety and by mid 2010 and 2011, the economy had taken off recording double digits growth rates for the first time in the fourth Republic. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the track record of John Dramani Mahama. But you see I cannot end this article by pointing out the huge destructions which the World Bank admitted was being done to the Ghanaian Economy during previous NPP Government. The most significant thing that I want you to note is that in the World Banks own words, NOBODY KNEW THE LEVEL OF DESTRUCTIONS GOING ON AT THE TIME UNTIL THE NPP LOST THE ELECTIONS I am going to highlight that aspect of the World Banks letter so you can appreciate the seriousness of the problem. And the Problem is that just like this current Government, the previous NPP Government was also cooking figures for the International Monetary Agencies just to cover up the mess they had created with the economy. Suffice to say that it is these same cooked figures that Dr.Bawumiah keep quoting to support his frivolous argument that the NPP are better managers of the economy.(how convenient) But most importantly, I am bringing this to your attention because history is repeating itself right (it always does) and this time the level of destruction currently being done to the Ghanaian Economy at our blind side is extremely legendary! Can we ask Dr.Bawumiah how much the Cedi is now to a dollar? Even In the midst of COVID-19 with reduced imports and almost zero profit repatriation by Multinational corporations, the Ghanaian currency is at its worst moments ever. (How incompetent can one be) Fortunately I dont carry only bad news I also bring you good news and hope as well There is one man who has done this before, turned the Ghanaian Economy around in 2009 in less than a year after it was runned down by the Dr.Bawumiah and the NPP Government. This man is coming again as President and you can imagine how quick and efficient he will turn this already destructed Economy around this time. Folks, Hope is here is again!! Mensah Thompson Executive Director, ASEPA 0542120628 Cc. The Country Director,IMF The Country Director,World Bank Source: kasapafmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video (CNN) Viennas medical university successfully conducted the first coronavirus lung transplant in Europe last week, the medical center said in a press release Monday. The hospital said the 45-year-old COVID-19 patient would not have survived otherwise but is now recovering well. In our view, she is doing exceptionally well and there are not major problems, said Walter Klepetko, the head of surgery at the clinic. The hospital said the patient was in good health without prior illnesses before coming down with coronavirus eight weeks ago. Shortly after falling ill, her condition deteriorated dramatically. The situation was hopeless," Klepetko said. "The lung was like a block, there was nothing left, The hospital describes the operation as being highly complicated but successful. Klepetko added, All organs are working and we are very satisfied. But it will still be a long way ahead until we can hopefully discharge her from the hospital." This story was first published on CNN.com's live updates on the coronavirus pandemic. Arlington National Cemetery. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) Not least among the victims claimed by the coronavirus pandemic was a poetry recital that was to have occurred in March at a theater in downtown Boston. I had been invited to read aloud a poem, and I chose On a Soldier Fallen in the Philippines, written in 1899 by William Vaughn Moody (1869-1910). You are unlikely to have heard of the poet or his composition. Great literature, it is not. Yet its message is memorable. The subject of Moodys poem is death, a matter today much on all our minds. It recounts the coming home of a nameless American soldier, killed in the conflict commonly but misleadingly known as the Philippine Insurrection. In 1898, U.S. troops landed in Manila to oust the Spanish overlords who had ruled the Philippines for more than three centuries. They accomplished this mission with the dispatch that a later generation of U.S. forces demonstrated in ousting regimes in Kabul and Baghdad. Yet as was the case with the Afghanistan and Iraq wars of our own day, real victory proved elusive. Back in Washington, President McKinley decided that having liberated the Philippines, the United States would now keep them. The entire archipelago of several thousand islands was to become an American colony. McKinleys decision met with immediate disfavor among Filipinos. To oust the foreign occupiers, they mounted an armed resistance. A vicious conflict ensued, one that ultimately took the lives of 4,200 American soldiers and at least 200,000 Filipinos. In the end, however, the United States prevailed. Denying Filipino independence was the cause for which the subject of Moodys poem died. Long since forgotten by Americans, the war to pacify the Philippines generated in its day great controversy. Moodys poem is an artifact of that controversy. In it, he chastises those who perform the rituals of honoring the fallen while refusing to acknowledge the dubious nature of the cause for which they fought. Toll! Let the great bells toll, he writes, Story continues Till the clashing air is dim, Did we wrong this parted soul? We will make it up to him. Toll! Let him never guess What work we sent him to. Laurel, laurel, yes. He did what we bade him do. Praise, and never a whispered hint but the fight he fought was good; In actuality, the fight was anything but good. It was ill-advised and resulted in great evil. On a Soldier Fallen in the Philippines expresses a demand for reckoning with that evil. Americans of Moodys generation rejected that demand, just as Americans today balk at reckoning with the consequences of our own ill-advised wars. Yet the imperative persists. O banners, banners here, Moody concludes, That he doubt not nor misgive! That he heed not from the tomb The evil days draw near When the nation robed in gloom With its faithless past shall strive. Let him never dream that his bullet's scream went wide of its island mark, Home to the heart of his darling land where she stumbled and sinned in the dark. At the end of the 19th century, the United States stumbled and sinned in the dark by waging a misbegotten campaign to advance nakedly imperial ambitions. At the beginning of the 21st century, new wars became the basis of comparable sin. The war of Moodys time and the wars of our own have almost nothing in common except this: In each instance, through their passivity disguised as patriotism, the American people became tacitly complicit in wrongdoing committed in their name. It is no doubt too glib by half to claim that today, besieged by a virus, we are reaping the consequences caused by our refusal to reckon with past sins. Yet it is not too glib to argue that the need for such a reckoning remains. Have we wronged the departed souls of those who died indeed, are still dying in Afghanistan and Iraq? The question cries out for an answer. In our cacophonous age, it just might be that we will find that answer in poetry. Andrew Bacevich is president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. His new book is The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory. Police are looking for a man accused of stalking and groping female joggers as well as exposing himself to them throughout central Houston, according to court records. Mark Lee Thames, 49, faces indecent assault and exposure charges in connection with a string of lewd incidents involving at least four different women one of whom said he grabbed her last month in Midtown. One of the women recently told investigators that a man groped her while she was jogging in the 2300 block of Bagby on the morning of April 30. Last week, the woman identified Thames as her assailant by picking his photo out of six possible suspects, authorities said. Police had known since February of a man who would stalk female joggers and then either assault them or expose himself, according to charging papers. The same suspect a man with white or graying hair and beard would sometimes ride a red bicycle. The suspect rode a bicycle in at least two other complaints outlined in court records. Authorities linked Thames to the spate of assaults after his May 14 arrest on an indecent exposure charge when he was accused of exposing himself to a woman on a trail. He was apprehended around 9:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Cortlandt Street, according to records. Minutes before his arrest, and a mile away, another woman said a man who matched Thames description exposed himself to her while she was jogging on a trail near Lawrence Park. The man stopped ahead of her on a bicycle and then rode toward her, masturbating and staring at her the entire time not saying a word, charging papers state. The woman said she ran past him in fear of her life. She ran until she made it home and called the police, police said. Thames posted bond on the misdemeanor charge on May 15 and three warrants ordering his arrest were issued the following week. Police also believe Thames groped a 19-year-old woman who was helping her mother do laundry on April 6 in the 900 block of Durham Drive in the Heights. A man grabbed her chest, police said, and her mother confronted him. He then fled on a bicycle. nicole.hensley@chron.com HOLYOKE, Mass. In 1945, James Leach Miller returned from the war and said nothing. He said nothing about it to his wife, not for 64 years of marriage. He folded up his Army uniform, with the medals still pinned to it, and put it in the basement, where his older boy would sometimes take it out to play soldiers. He joined the fire department. He went to church on Sundays. He never complained. That generation, they didnt air their problems, said his younger son, Michael Miller. He would say, It was not a good time. Ive had better times. He would not embellish. James Miller was already in his 70s when he began to tell Michael Miller, an Air Force flight engineer, little bits about landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Fragments would come out, his son said. The deafening roar as they waited for the beach to clear, crowded into a landing ship with other 21-year-olds. A blur that lasted 24 hours. The buzz-drone of Messerschmitts. Dust clouds. Mud. Michael Miller once offered to take him back to Normandy World War II veterans were making the journey but his father shook his head and said, Ive been there once. This story comes up for a reason. Miller, 96, who survived what was for Americans the bloodiest battle of World War II, died of complications from the coronavirus March 30 inside the Holyoke Soldiers Home. The virus has spread in more than 40 veterans homes in more than 20 states, leading to the deaths of at least 300 people. The conditions inside the 247-bed state-run home, where Miller had lived for five years, were so chaotic that his children cannot recount them without breaking down. When Miller lay weak and gasping that weekend, his two daughters, in a car in the parking lot, pleaded with a nurse on duty over an iPhone to give him morphine or atropine to relieve his suffering. She said, We cant do it, and she started to cry, said his daughter Linda McKee. There was no one there giving orders. Michael Miller, at his fathers bedside, did the only thing he could do: moistened his lips with a sponge on a wooden stick. At that point, he was choking, McKee said. He died with no care whatsoever. The question of what went wrong at the Holyoke Soldiers Home will be with Massachusetts for a long time. With scarce protective gear and a shortage of staff, the facilitys administrators combined wards of infected and uninfected men, and the virus spread quickly through a fragile population. Of the 210 veterans who were living in the facility in late March, 89 are now dead, 74 having tested positive for the virus. Almost three-quarters of the veterans inside were infected. It is one of the highest death tolls of any end-of-life facility in the country. Multiple investigations have been opened, several of which seek to determine whether state officials should be charged with negligence under civil or criminal law. The facilitys superintendent, Bennett Walsh, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel with no nursing home experience, was placed on administrative leave March 30. But many in the state are revisiting decisions made since 2015, when a moderate, technocratic Republican governor, Charlie Baker, was elected on a promise to rein in spending. The facilitys budget increased by 14% over the past five years, according to a spokesman for the states health department. Even so, there were persistent shortfalls in staffing, and the local unions complained that workers were frequently pressured to stay for unplanned double shifts. The facilitys previous superintendent stepped down in 2015, declaring that the home could not safely care for the population on the existing budget. All this was well-known before the coronavirus arrived in the state this spring, said Erin OBrien, an associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. All these regular Massachusetts folks that are now outraged I dont disagree, but veterans programs require funding, she said. When you vote to shrink government, it has ramifications. They Each Had Stories In 1952, young men were returning to the industrial towns of western Massachusetts after serving in World War II. They were kids from poor families. And they were damaged: shellshocked, learning to live without limbs, unable to communicate what they had seen. It was to these men that Gov. Paul Dever, who had fought in the war himself, dedicated the Holyoke Soldiers Home, promising to protect injured veterans from what he called the scissors of false economy. Fifteen thousand people lined the streets for that days parade, and the facility built on a hill and illuminated with floodlights became a source of great pride in this part of the state. The men in its wards had some stories. There was Emilio DiPalma, a retired crane operator, who died of the coronavirus April 8. At 19, an Army staff sergeant, DiPalma had guarded Hermann Goering, the driving force behind the Nazi concentration camps, during the Nuremberg trials. DiPalma called him Hermann the German. They didnt get along. In his memoir, Just a Kid, A Guard at the Nuremberg Trials, DiPalma recalled Goering as arrogant and uncooperative, often berating him in rapid-fire German. Goering used to ask his young guard to bring him cups of water, which DiPalma poured out of a chlorinated pouch. Goering hated the taste of it and would grimace and hand it back, remarking, Bah, Amerikanisch. After a few rounds of this, I had had it with Hermanns antics, DiPalma said. So the next time, DiPalma brought him a cup of water from the toilet. Goering drank it down and said, Ah, gute wasser! He smiled, and so did I, DiPalma wrote. I guess I felt it was my little contribution to the war effort. There was Sam Lococo, a retired postal worker, who contracted the coronavirus and died April 16. At 20, Lococo had joined the Navy and shipped out to the South Pacific. He lived in fear of attacks by Japanese kamikaze pilots. And at the same time, he was part of a team that sent out whaleboats to rescue these pilots after they had crashed into the Pacific. In an interview with a local historian, he recalled looking into the face of one of those battered and half-drowned men and seeing terror. The Japanese had been taught that the Americans were savages, so probably he was afraid of us, he said. He kept saying in English, You are going to kill me. You are going to kill me. They pulled him from the sea, dressed his wounds in the sick bay and transferred him to the USS Lexington. And this was the point of the story: We treated that pilot like a king, Lococo said. Then there were those like Miller, who didnt talk about the war. As far as his service, what he encountered in Europe, I really am at a loss, maam, said his oldest son, James P. Miller. Dad probably just didnt want to talk about it. It was past. But from time to time, he startled the people around him with his swift, instinctive response to crisis, the younger James Miller said. There was a time when a lawn mower blade flew off an engine in the shop where he worked and sliced into a mans leg so deeply that the other workers started screaming and ran out, but his father went to the hurt man and bound him up, in his quiet way. Michael Miller recalls sitting with his father and a VA psychologist screening him for signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. She said, So, what do you do if youre reading the newspaper and you see something that upsets you? He said, I turn the page and I read the funny papers. Only once, in fact, did he see his father overcome with emotion about the war. It was in the 1990s, and his father learned for the first time that there were people who denied that the Holocaust had occurred. And he a man who never got upset about anything was as angry as his son had ever seen him. Its like he had a hot-point button, Michael Miller said. His father dug out a box of old photos and drove them to a small Holocaust museum in Springfield, which eventually sent them to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. They showed corpses lined up in front of the Nordhausen concentration camp. It showed other things. Boxcars. Ovens. Bones. He wanted people to remember, Michael Miller said. I think, having lived through all the physical issues, the psychological issues, if someone says it never really happened, he was like, Oh my gosh, you folks, you have no idea. They Were Trying to Do Their Jobs Millers children had worried about the Soldiers Home enough to request repeated private meetings with its superintendent, Walsh. The trouble, they said, was staffing. When you live through those cuts and have someone physically there, you feel it every day, McKee said. They were trying to do their jobs, she said of the staff. They just didnt have the means. The home had passed three successive yearly inspections, meeting or provisionally meeting the standards set by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. But the union representing most of the staff, Chapter 888 of the Service Employees International Union, warned persistently that the facility was operating at 80% staffing levels.. By March 14, the home was closed to most visitors, like most nursing facilities in the state. A man in a dementia unit began showing symptoms, declining so fast that it alarmed Joseph Ramirez, vice chair of the union chapter. Were used to seeing death we know what it looks like when it comes but I was in shock. I was just like, Oh my god, he said. The man was not fully isolated, and staff who treated him were rotated to other units. What they had us doing, we were spreading it around, he said. By the third week of March, one-quarter of the staff was not reporting to work, Walsh has said through his lawyer. To accommodate the low staffing, medical staff decided to consolidate two units, crowding together infected and uninfected veterans. Walsh has said his superiors approved that decision and were routinely updated on the distress the facility was in. He said he had called for help from the National Guard but had been refused. No one was kept in the dark, he said in a statement. Baker has said little about these assertions, citing an ongoing investigation. Brooke Karanovich, a spokeswoman for the state Executive Office of Health and Human services, called the deaths at the Soldiers Home a reminder of the insidious nature of COVID-19. She added, We are deeply saddened by the extent of the outbreak and the loss of life." As for Millers children, they have trouble describing that last weekend without crying. Were very bitter because of the way he died, McKee said. She and her sister, Susan, sat in the parking lot, peering into their fathers room through their brothers iPhone. They heard spasms of coughing from their fathers roommates; two of the three would die that weekend. They saw a large refrigerated truck pull up to a loading dock in the back of the facility, for the bodies. It was complete panic, McKee said. It was pandemonium. Nobody knew where to turn. Inside, Michael Miller sat with his father, holding his hand and praying, reassuring him that he wasnt alone, watching him breathe, stop breathing and start breathing again. I wouldnt wish that upon anybody, he said. Its something I will remember for the rest of my life. Miller died March 30, on the day when a cascade of scrutiny began to fall on the facility. From his fathers bedside, Michael Miller could see a group of public health officials making their way through the units. But his attention was with his father, who was breathing but no longer responding, and the strangeness of surviving Omaha Beach to die that way. Thats the irony: He landed on Normandy beach, and your chances of survival werent great, he said. And he made it. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. The Indian Army chiefs remarks about Nepal acting at the behest of others in raising a border dispute has hurt the sentiments of the Nepali Gurkha army personnel who lay down their lives to protect India, Nepals defence minister Ishwar Pokhrel has said. Days after Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane made the comments, which were seen as a veiled reference to a possible Chinese role in the border row, Pokhrel dismissed the remarks as a political stunt. The Nepal government recently protested against the opening of a new road to Lipulekh by defence minister Rajnath Singh to facilitate people making the pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet. India rejected the protest by saying the road was within Indian territory. Nepal then published a new map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadura, which fall within India, as part of Nepalese territory. In an interview with Nepals news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti, Pokhrel said the Indian Army chiefs remarks have come in an embarrassing manner at a time when Nepal has been trying resolve the border issue through diplomatic dialogue. No matter what background and circumstance is it based on, such statements are an effort to offend sovereign and independent Nepal and prideful Nepalis With this, the Indian CoAS [chief of army staff] has also hurt the sentiments of the Nepali Gurkha army personnel who lay down their lives to protect India. It must now become difficult for them to stand tall in front of the Gurkha forcesIn fact, the statement by the Indian CoAS seems to be a political stunt, Pokhrel said. He added, How professional is it for the head of the army to make a political statement? We dont have anything like that here. Nepali Army does not go vocal on such matter. Army is not there to speak. Nepali Army is a fully professional military force. It would definitely play its role in the right time, as per the directives of the government based on our Constitution. Pokhrel, who is also the deputy prime minister, described India as our friendly state and said the lost Nepali territory must be returned through peaceful political dialogue and through diplomatic channel, and I am confident that it is possible. There was no immediate response from the Indian side to Pokhrels remarks. Pokhrel also said this was the first time in history that the Nepal government had written an official letter to the Indian government saying Nepali land at the Nepal-India border region has been encroached and this should be stopped. He added, We have raised this topic on the basis of the historical facts, proof and treaties available to us. We have issued the new map of Nepal on the basis of this. He reiterated that Nepal had been seeking talks on the border issue since the Indian government issued its new political and administrative maps of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on November 2 last year. Now, serious political and diplomatic initiatives have to be immediately pursued on the basis of the combined force based on common and unified stance of the political forces of the entire nation as well as of historical facts and evidences. Infrastructure development and comprehensive security plan needs to be implemented in that area, he said. Pokhrel said the Nepal government had published its new political map after it didnt receive any immediate positive response to the communication we sent to India for talks on the border issue. There are more than 30,000 Nepalese Gurkhas serving in the Gurkha Rifles regiments of the Indian Army. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 08:20:47|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said Sunday it had handled all 150 suggestions raised by deputies to the second session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in March 2019, and had replied to all deputies involved. A total of 76 of the replies were made public, up 20.6 percent from the previous year, in a bid to increase transparency, according to the SPP. Some content concerning the status of the handling of the lawmakers' suggestions and how their opinions were received had also been unveiled to the public. The 150 suggestions were put forward by 239 NPC deputies, centering on the work and functions of procuratorates. Public interest litigation drew the most attention from the legislators among all topics. Enditem China demand Monday that Washington withdraw export sanctions imposed on Chinese companies in the latest round of a worsening conflict over technology, security and human rights. The foreign ministry accused the Trump administration of interfering in China's affairs by adding eight companies accused of playing roles in a crackdown in its Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang to an export blacklist. Washington also imposed controls on access to American technology for 24 companies and government-linked entities it said might be involved in obtaining goods with potential military uses. The U.S. decision ``violated basic norms of international relations`` and ``harmed China 's interests,'' said a ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian. ``We urge the United States to correct its mistakes, revoke the relevant decision and stop interfering in China's internal affairs,`` Zhao said. The measures announced Friday expand a U.S. campaign against Chinese companies including tech giant Huawei that Washington says might be security threats. Beijing criticized curbs imposed earlier on Huawei Technologies Ltd. and other companies including Hikvision Digital Technology Ltd., a supplier of video security products. It has yet to say whether it will retaliate. One company cited Friday in connection with Xinjiang is accused of ``engaging in human rights violations,`` the Commerce Department said. The rest are accused of ``enabling China's high-technology surveillance'' in the region. One of the technology suppliers, CloudWalk Technology Ltd., which makes facial recognition systems, said in a statement such ``unfair treatment''will hurt American companies and global development. China's fledgling tech industries are developing their own processor chips, software and other products. But they need U.S., European and Japanese components and technology for smartphones and other devices, as well as for manufacturing processes. The company accused of human rights violations, Aksu Huafu Textiles Co., said in a statement the U.S. decision ``recklessly disregards facts.`` The company said it won't be affected because any American materials can be replaced by Chinese sources. Other companies didn't respond Monday to questions about how they might be affected. The decision to add the companies to the Commerce Department's Entity List limits their access to U.S. components and technology by requiring government permission for exports. American officials complain Beijing's technology development is based at least in part on stolen foreign know-how and might erode U.S. industrial leadership or threaten the security of its neighbors. Complaints about Beijing's technology ambitions prompted President Donald Trump to raise duties on Chinese imports in 2018, triggering a tariff war that weighs on global trade. The two governments signed a truce in January but Trump has threatened to back out if China fails to buy more American exports. Other companies cited Friday ``represent a significant risk of supporting procurement of items for military end-use in China,'' the Commerce Department said. The most prominent name on that list is Qihoo 360, a major supplier of anti-virus software and a web browser. On its social media account, Qihoo 360 accused the Commerce Department of ``politicizing business'' and commercial research and development. Companies including Huawei that were targeted by earlier U.S. sanctions deny they are a threat. Chinese officials accuse Washington of using phony security warnings to block rising competitors of U.S. tech industries. Another blacklisted company, CloudMinds Technology Co., a maker of internet-linked robots, said all its products ``are designed for civilian use.'' It appealed to the U.S. government on its social media account to ``stop this unfair treatment.'' Search Keywords: Short link: Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - The Mauritanian government has reaffirmed its commitment to the founding ideals and principles of African unity, and recalled the many challenges facing the continent Soon after the United States proposed to sell $180 Million worth of torpedoes to Taiwan, China on Sunday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition. Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said that "The U.S. should immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan and cease military contacts with the island", China's mouthpiece reported. This comes less than a day after China's foreign minister made an alarming statement about how the 'political virus' originating from the US is pushing the two nations to the brink of a 'new Cold war'. READ | Washington accuses Beijing of not letting US airlines resume flights in China U.S. should immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan and cease military contacts with the island, said China's Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian, adding Chinese PLA will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. pic.twitter.com/cZrsyOfjrI People's Daily, China (@PDChina) May 24, 2020 READ | Washington state eases some virus restrictions The remarks by Wu comes after US Defense Security Cooperation Agency on May 20 notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale to Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) of eighteen (18) MK-48 Mod6 Advanced Technology (AT) Heavy Weight Torpedoes (HWT) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $180 million. TECRO has requested to buy eighteen heavyweight torpedoes, which also includes spare parts, test equipment, and other related elements of logistics support from the US government, the agency release stated. READ | BJP MPs attend Taiwan President's swearing-in ceremony as India sends China loud message China further urged the United States to immediately withdraw the aforementioned planned arms sales and cut military ties with Taiwan to avoid further damage to bilateral relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. "The Chinese People's Liberation Army will resolutely safeguard the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity", Wu added. US-China tensions Tensions between the United States and China are already at its peak after Washington vowed to support Taiwan's effort in the World Health Assembly late last month. The United States has also time and again blamed China for the coronavirus outbreak and accused Beijing of not sharing full information about the disease with the international community. US President Donald Trump and his administration have also claimed that the virus is not of natural occurring and that it emerged at a virology laboratory in Wuhan. READ | India felt 'big jolt' with the sudden spike in cases due to Markaz incident: Harsh Vardhan Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti and Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, May 26, 2020 06:23 604 fc6853813033f564188675f8bda0aa91 1 National Idul-Fitri,COVID-19,coronavirus,large-scale-social-restrictions,mudik-ban Free Mass prayers, big family gatherings and banquets fit for a king. In any other year, this would be the norm for Idul Fitri celebrations in Indonesia, home to world's largest Muslim population. This year, however, the silaturahmi (communal bonds) tradition of gathering with relatives during the annual holiday was carried out virtually under large-scale social restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19. For Adhytia Pahlawan, a 26-year-old who started his job in Jakarta in September last year, this year marked the first time he celebrated Idul Fitri away from his family in Lumajang, East Java. I could only keep the silaturahmi through video call. My mother really wanted me to be home as she misses me, but the situation does not allow me to, he told The Jakarta Post on Monday. Adhytia said although he felt somewhat isolated and longed for his familys company, he wanted to comply with the governments ban on mudik (exodus), which prevents Indonesians from traveling to their hometowns for the holiday. For him, not going home was the best option, as he did not want to risk getting his loved ones sick. To abide by physical distancing rules, regional leaders across the country held digital open house events during Idul Fitri celebrations. Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo greeted people using Zoom and interacted with his constituents on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube on Sunday. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil also kept alive the tradition of silaturahmi through a digital open house after Idul Fitri prayers. Read also: Millions of Indonesians celebrate Eid under social restrictions For Dwiky Eka Putra and Dian Septi Gunawan, both crew members of an Indonesian seafaring companys cargo ship, celebrations were quiet. Dwiky, 25, who married his wife in February 2019, has yet to spend Idul Fitri with his wife at their home in Subang, West Java. Last year, he could not go home for the holiday because his ship sailed to Pontianak, West Kalimantan. I sailed too far from home last year. But this year, it was not only the far distance it was also the pandemic that stopped me from going home, Dwiky said. I could have just resigned if I wanted to meet my wife so badly. But it was not just about that. The government prohibited us from going on mudik to curb the COVID-19 spread, so I should abide by the rule. Dian, 26, who has been working on the ship for a year, said he missed silaturahmi at his kampung, also in Subang. If only there was no pandemic, I might have asked the company for a leave of absence, he told the Post. A family holds a video chat during Idul Fitri in Pati, Central Java, on Sunday. (Antara/Harviyan Perdana Putra) For others, this years more modest Idul Fitri was an opportunity for introspection. Aprilian Eka Prananca, 26, said he felt more devoted during his Idul Fitri prayers at home, as this allowed him to lead the prayers alongside his wife instead of following directions in mosques. The Idul Fitri celebration is different, but its essence is the same, Aprilian said. This year, he only briefly visited some of his relatives to drop off and exchange gifts, while avoiding physical contact and keeping his mask on. In past years, his family would usually gather in one place, have sleepovers and cook together for the big day. Private sector employee Risti Oktavisena, 28, said that although she celebrated differently this year by staying at her rooming house and calling her relatives, the pandemic did not change how she interpreted the meaning of Idul Fitri. In fact, the pandemic has actually made this years Idul Fitri more solemn, because even though we cannot directly have silahturahmi with family and relatives, we can still feel the warmth of togetherness through our devices when we express our sincere apologies, she said. On social media, Indonesians posted about their virtual Idul Fitri experience using hashtags such as like #LebaranVirtual and #LebaranDiRumahAja (Lebaran at Home) and sharing clips of their video calls with family and friends. Been connecting mindfully to our dearest people and #virtualhugging through phone and video calls all mornings [sic], Twitter user @_starsandrabbit wrote on Sunday. Been connecting mindfully to our dearest people and #virtualhugging through phone and video calls all mornings. Made our heart even brighter the the outside weather selamat menikmati lebaran semuanyaaa Stars and Rabbit (@_starsandrabbit) May 24, 2020 SELBYVILLE, Del., May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Market Insights, Inc. has recently added a new report on crane aftermarket which estimates the global market valuation for crane aftermarket will cross US$ 10 billion by 2026. The market is anticipated to project a rapid growth owing to the rising adoption of cranes in industrial and manufacturing sectors. Rising deployment of gantry and monorail cranes in heavy material handling and factory set-up applications is driving the market growth. Crane Aftermarket size is set to be over USD 10 billion by 2026, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. The rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has led to slow growth of crane aftermarket. Government-enforced lockdowns and restraints on consumer movement have led to a global economic slowdown. This is expected to affect the overall automobile and construction equipment sector, thereby impacting the industry growth. However, the market is anticipated to witness steady growth from 2021, after the reduction of the impact of COVID-19. Request a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4665 The industry players are emphasizing on launching advanced remote controls that are compatible with a variety of crane models. For instance, in April 2018, Scanreco launched its SCAN500 Mini Transmitter remote control that meets the OEM and aftermarket system integrator requirements for heavy-duty cranes. The controller includes an ergonomically designed touchscreen display for improved equipment performance with minimum operator fatigue. The crawler crane segment is expected to grow steadily in the crane aftermarket. The growth can be attributed to the ability of crawler cranes to navigate rough, inaccessible surfaces and lift extremely heavy loads. Crawler cranes also provide enhanced height capabilities with detachable boom lifts for a variety of performance range in narrow spaces and all-terrain conditions. Europe is expected to witness a growing demand for crane aftermarket products and services owing to increasing residential building construction activities in countries including Germany and the Netherlands. The region is anticipated to project a high growth in aftermarket due to rising inclination of building contractors toward renting construction equipment. Crane rental service providers focus on regularly maintaining the equipment quality and performance, thereby augmenting the services segment share. Browse key industry insights spread across 370 pages with 843 market data tables & 22 figures & charts from the report, "Crane Aftermarket Share & Forecast, 2020 2026" in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/crane-aftermarket Some major findings in the crane aftermarket report include: Growing market share of crane aftermarket products and services is driven by the demand for heavy-duty cranes in the market. Rising deployment of cranes in logistics and transportation sectors with long operating hours is proliferating the demand for timely maintenance requirements. The crane aftermarket in MEA is expected to witness rapid growth due to the increasing deployment of cranes for construction activities in real estate and hospitality sectors. Crane aftermarket industry players are focusing on strategic partnerships and acquisitions to expand their geographical presence and cater to a wide customer base. Market players are also focusing on R&D activities to bridge the gap between OEM parts and aftermarket replacements. Key players operating in the crane aftermarket include Altec, Manitowoc, Konecranes, Tadano, Hiab, Palfinger, Sany, XCMG, Zoomilion, Manitex International, and Elliott Equipment Company. Leading market players are focusing on strategic partnerships for seeking investments to grow their business in the crane aftermarket industry. For instance, in November 2019, Elliott Equipment Company announced its partnership with Beacon Funding, a construction equipment financing company. This partnership aided Elliott's customers to leverage the benefits of financial services provided by Beacon. Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/4665 Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC): Chapter 3. Crane Aftermarket Industry Insights 3.1. Industry segmentation 3.2. Industry landscape, 2016 2026 3.3. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic 3.3.1. Global outlook 3.3.2. Impact by region 3.3.2.1. North America 3.3.2.2. Europe 3.3.2.3. Asia Pacific 3.3.2.4. Latin America 3.3.2.5. MEA 3.3.3. Industry value chain 3.3.3.1. Research and development 3.3.3.2. Manufacturing 3.3.3.3. Marketing 3.3.3.4. Supply 3.3.4. Competitive landscape 3.3.4.1. Strategy 3.3.4.2. Distribution network 3.3.4.3. Business growth 3.4. Industry ecosystem analysis 3.4.1. Raw material supplier 3.4.2. Manufacturers 3.4.3. Distribution channel analysis 3.4.4. Vendor matrix 3.5. Technology & innovation landscape 3.6. Regulatory landscape 3.6.1. North America 3.6.2. Europe 3.6.3. Asia Pacific 3.6.4. Latin America 3.6.5. MEA 3.7. Industry impact forces 3.7.1. Growth drivers 3.7.1.1. Growing residential & commercial construction globally 3.7.1.2. Rising adoption of cranes and lifting equipment in application industries 3.7.1.3. Growing demand for rental crane machines in North America and Asia Pacific 3.7.1.4. The growing presence of established crane & parts manufacturers in Europe & Asia 3.7.1.5. Increasing demand for aftermarket crane products services in MEA and Latin America 3.7.1.6. Transformation of the construction industry globally 3.7.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges 3.7.2.1. Presence of several local players offering low cost products 3.7.2.2. Impact of COVID-10 pandemic 3.8. Growth potential analysis 3.9. Porter's analysis 3.10. PESTEL analysis Browse complete report table of [email protected] https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/crane-aftermarket About Global Market Insights Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology. Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights, Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: [email protected] Related Images crane-aftermarket-size-worth-over.jpg Crane Aftermarket size worth over $10 billion by 2026 Crane Aftermarket size is set to be over USD 10 billion by 2026, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Related Links Crane Aftermarket Crane Market SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc. State TV showed worshippers crying and running towards Imam Rezas shrine as they were guided by attendants. Iran has reopened major Shia shrines across the Islamic republic, more than two months after they were closed, as it reported its lowest deaths from coronavirus since March. At Tehrans Shah Abdol-Azim shrine, worshippers had to wear a mask, walk through a disinfection tunnel and have their temperature checked as they began returning early morning on Monday, according to AFP reporters. Worshippers prayed in the shrines courtyard with most observing social distancing. I am happy that we can again come here. It is a place where people can seek shelter, express their wishes and voice their concerns, said Karim, a 49-year-old government employee. Shah Abdol-Azim is a descendant of Imam Hassan, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Devotees frequently visit the shrine to seek blessings and healing and call on God to hear their prayers and realise their wishes. Another visitor, 45-year-old engineer Hassan, said he was wearing a mask and keeps disinfectant in his bag so that my pilgrimage would not lead to infection for myself, my family or other worshippers. Elahe, a 39-year-old teacher donning a mask and gloves, said she was so happy to visit the shrine after months and thanked the health workers who made it possible for us to be here. The Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad in northeast Iran and the Fatima Masumeh shrine and Jamkaran mosque in the holy city of Qom also reopened while observing health protocols, state news agency IRNA reported. They are allowed to open starting from an hour after dawn until an hour before dusk. State TV showed worshippers crying and running towards Imam Rezas shrine as they were guided by attendants. {articleGUID} A statement on the shrines website said visitors must wear masks, maintain social distancing, and bring their own prayer mats, books and other accessories, in line with health requirements. Shrines were closed alongside schools, universities and all non-vital businesses in March after Iran reported its first two coronavirus deaths in Qom in late February. On Monday, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said the total number of COVID-19 infections in Iran had reached 137,724, while the death toll had risen to 7,451. In the past 24 hours, Iran recorded 2,032 new cases while the number of deaths stood at 34 the lowest daily count recorded since March 7 he told a news conference. Experts inside and outside Iran have cast doubt on the countrys official figures, and say the real numbers could be much higher. Iran has allowed a phased reopening of its economy and gradual relaxation of restrictions since early April, with a further easing expected in the coming days despite a recent uptick in new cases. High-risk businesses such as restaurants, cafes and wedding halls in Tehran, which were left shuttered, will reopen from Tuesday, the capitals deputy police chief Nader Moradi told ISNA news agency. Authorities are yet to say when similar measures will be allowed in other provinces. VANCOUVER, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - BetterLife Pharma Inc. ("BetterLife" or the "Company") (CSE: BETR /OTCQB: PVOTF / FRA: NPAT) is pleased to announce that it has, as of the date hereof, secured "hard" lock-up agreements from shareholders of Altum Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("Altum") representing 67.12% of the outstanding common shares of Altum. BetterLife intends to approach the Board of Altum to discuss a "merger of equals" transaction to take place by way of a Plan of Arrangement. If Altum and BetterLife are not able to agree on a transaction, BetterLife intends to launch a take-over bid to acquire all of the common shares Altum. Pursuant to the terms of the proposed acquisition, BetterLife would issue 4.582 common shares of BetterLife for each Altum common share, which represents approximately $36.1 million in value based on the proposed share exchange. The proposed transaction to acquire all the shares of Altum is subject to the receipt of all required approvals and with BetterLife being satisfied with the results of its due diligence. BetterLife has reviewed published scientific claims and materials available publicly on Altum's pipeline of products. "As the founder of Altum, I am very pleased that the vast majority of the Altum shareholders have decided to merge with BetterLife. Completion of this transaction will be a transformational event for BetterLife into a premier biotechnology company with strong pipeline being developed to meet great unmet needs for patients worldwide. The board of BetterLife and its wholly owned subsidiary, BLife Therapeutics, are already well served with experienced medical, scientific and healthcare banking professionals. The group consists of Dr. Wolfgang Renz, Dr. Mark Swaim and Dr. Eleanor Fish who recently joined as Scientific Advisor and was the lead author of the study on the effects of interferon 2b in early stage Covid-19 patients, published in the journal of Frontiers in Immunology on May 15, 2020", said Ahmad Doroudian, CEO of BetterLife. About Altum Pharmaceuticals Inc. Formed in 2016, Altum is a privately-held company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Altum's pipelines consists of three products: AP-003: Altum's current lead product AP-003, is a patent pending proprietary Interferon 2b (IFN 2b) inhalation formulation. In recent studies IFN 2b has been shown to be effective in slowing viral replication. In the study published Friday May 15, 2020 in Frontiers of Immunology titled "Interferon-a2b Treatment for COVID-19", the authors examined the course of disease in a cohort of 77 individuals with con-firmed COVID-19 admitted to Union Hospital, Tongii Medical College, Wuhan, China, between January 16 and February 20, 2020. To the knowledge of the authors the findings presented in the study were the first to suggest therapeutic efficacy of IFN-a2b in Covid-19 disease. Altum is planning a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of AP-003 in early stage COVID-19 patients is to start in the near future. AP-001: Altum's first product AP-001 is a topical IFN 2b product for the treatment of Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) infection that can cause cervical cancer. In 2017, Altum acquired the BiPhasix platform from Helix Biopharma. The BiPhasix technology is a novel encapsulation and delivery platform technology. BiPhasix-encapsulated interferon IFN 2b for use in treatment of HPV-cervical dysplasia. AP-001 has completed Phase 2. AP-002: In April 2018, Altum acquired Lexi Pharma Inc., a therapeutics company focused on development of treatments for bone related disorders. Lexi's lead product, AP-002, is an oral gallium-based novel small molecule. AP-002 has US IND approved and has started Phase 1-2 in October 2019 in the US in cancer patients with advanced or recurrent solid tumours. For further information please visit altumpharma.com. Cautionary Note The Company is not making any express or implied claims that Altum's AP-003 or any other product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the Covid-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time. Further, the safety and efficacy of Altum's AP-003 are under investigation and market authorization has not yet been obtained. About BetterLife Pharma Inc. BetterLife Pharma Inc. is a science-based innovative medical wellness company aspiring to offer high-quality preventive and self-care products to its customers. For further information please visit abetterlifepharma.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Except for historical information, the matters set forth above may be forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, such as the failure to complete the transaction with Altum or to meet obligations under the agreement with Altum, the failure of Altum to complete clinical trials or to have success in such trials, the failure of Altum to secure and/or enforce patent protection for AP-003, the failure of Altum to secure exclusive rights from third parties, the failure of the Company to secure financing needed to carry out the plans set out herein, the failure to meet the conditions imposed by the CSE or other securities regulators, the level of business and consumer spending, the amount of sales of BetterLife's products, statements with respect to internal expectations, the competitive environment within the industry, the ability of BetterLife to commence and expand its operations, the level of costs incurred in connection with BetterLife's operational efforts, economic conditions in the industry, pandemics, and the financial strength of BetterLife's future customers and suppliers. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, as they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the anticipated future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forward in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our ability to obtain, on satisfactory terms or at all, the capital required for research, product development, operations and marketing; general economic, business and market conditions; our ability to successfully and timely complete clinical studies; product development delays and other uncertainties related to new product development; our ability to attract and retain business partners and key personnel; the risk of our inability to profitably commercialize our proposed products; the risk that our proposed clinical trials will not be launched in a timely manner (or at all) or if launched yield positive results or that we will not obtain regulatory market approvals for our products; the extent of any future losses; the risk of our inability to establish or manage manufacturing, development or marketing collaborations; the risk of delay of, or failure to obtain, necessary regulatory approvals and, ultimately, product launches; dependence on third parties for successful commercialization of our products; inability to obtain product and raw materials in sufficient quantity or at standards acceptable to health regulatory authorities to commence and complete clinical trials or to meet commercial demand; the risk of the termination or conversion of our license with Altum or our inability to enforce our rights under our license with Altum; our ability to obtain patent protection and protect our intellectual property rights; commercialization limitations imposed by intellectual property rights owned or controlled by third parties; uncertainty related to intellectual property liability rights and liability claims asserted against us; the impact of competitive products and pricing; and future levels of government funding; additional risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise SOURCE BetterLife Pharma Inc. Claudio's Bla Bla Run With Nino Schurter: Working Woman's Trans BC: Dylan Sheffer - Freeride Lives 2 POV: Isolation - Kevin Boutilier: Lief Rodgers - Progress Without Podiums: Sh!t Mix Vol.3: SECrew Banger Reel: Weird & Revered DVD - Joe Weidman & Mark Stanway: Mountain Bikers In Quarantine: Kabbani: Hannah Bergemann - Accomplice Teaser: Dennis Enarson - Last Chance Part: Dennis Enarson - Down The Street: Dennis Enarson - Haro SDv2: Franky Villani - Real Street 2020: Kevin Bkkel - Real Street 2020: Dakota Servold - Real Street 2020: Wolfpack - The Family that Runs Together: To The Surface: Unknown Factors: Let's ride together with the world champion on his home trail! Hmmmmmmm, but what do you do if he says that he actually wants to get some proper training and you're not exactly a XCO World Champion yourself? Well, I found a solution. It was the first time ever that I was able to talk to Nino on the way up and he didn't have to wait for me at the top!Anne Galyean and Sarah Rawley are workaholics. They pack more into a single day than most do an entire year, and find time to race enduro amongst the world's elite. Video: Ben Duke.A run down the trail I spent all of last season building.Escaping quarantine to ride some tech trails in the PNW.Ripping some classic downcountry.Due to COVID the Shit Mix this year was released earlier than the standard August drop. Enjoy!Recap clips from SECrew The Movie.Filmed from 2016 to 2019, "Vagabond Squad" is a full-length video from Canadas Weird & Revered crew. Next up in the online release of sections from Vagabond Squad is Joe Weidman and Mark Stanway.How do you stay busy?After 15 years as a professional mountain bike athlete, Amir Kabbani's priorities changed. This film gives insight into his life and the process of facing and embracing change. Its not about regretting - it's about honesty and growth.For a while, Hannah Bergemann has been a dark horse in the bike world. Shes been quietly doing her own thing because she just wants to ride her bike. But a breakthrough year on the EWS circuit and at the Red Bull Formation event launched her into the publics eye. In total, she won the Trans BC Enduro, placed second at the Finale Ligure EWS individual race in Italy, and was the first rider to link up all her features at Formation. Not satisfied, she grabbed her tools and climbed back up the former Rampage site and scratched in another linejust for the fun of it. To top it off, she joined us for a freeride trip in Northern India to explore untamed mountains in the shadow of the Himalayas. We have a feeling that she wont be a dark horse for much longer...Dennis Enarson's banger ender part from our 2011 Last Chance DVD. Video: Christian Rigal.After living in the same general area of Eastern San Diego my entire life, I moved into a whole new area about a year and a half ago. Now I'm tucked in this neighbourhood that seems to have limitless spots. Don't get me wrong, my old hood was littered with setups as well, I was just jaded to them after going down the same streets for 23 years. Moving here got me so excited to explore. That is pretty much all I did when I had a chance. Any time I had a couple hours to spare I would just go up and down new streets, and it seemed like every time I did this I would find something new or just realize how close I lived to a spot that I already knew about." - Dennis EnarsonDennis filmed this video with close friend and filmmaker Christian Rigal throughout the Spanish cities of Barcelona and Malaga, and in the USA they hit San Francisco, Colorado, and Texas.Watch Franky Villani and filmer/editor Joe Monteleones entry into Real Street 2020, the all-urban, all-video street skateboarding contest brought to you by ESPN's World of X Games.Watch Kevin Bkkel and filmer/editor Noah Quales entry into Real Street 2020, the all-urban, all-video street skateboarding contest brought to you by ESPN's World of X Games.Watch Dakota Servold and filmer/editor Tim Cisilinos entry into Real Street 2020, the all-urban, all-video street skateboarding contest brought to you by ESPN's World of X Games.High in the San Juan Mountains above Silverton, Colorado, a pack of runners roam. Together they traverse mountain meadows and navigate mineral-stained peaks through the rugged landscape of their backyard. The Braford-Lefebvre family chose to live here in order to raise their family wild. Through hard times and the best ones, running is their tool for experiencing life together.This whole crisis shows that we need to feed ourselves as close to home as we can. - Jason Jarvis, local RI fisherman. Like most things, Covid-19 wreaked havoc on the RI seafood industry. We wanted to explore this topic to raise awareness to the struggles and try to find some common sense solutions to the challenges (while being mindful of safety and social distancing). Our DP Tyler Murgo grew up seeing his family harvest seafood from wild places. As everything falls apart, it feels urgent to capture the wisdom and perspectives of local fishermen during this historical moment. Some close to home, with Tylers brother Kenny Murgo, and others who have been fighting for change in RI for years like Jason Jarvis. Huge thanks to them for trusting us to tell their story.Last autumn, five climbers from The North Face athlete team headed to Indias Baspa Valley in search of adventure, big wall climbing, and a new perspective on exploration. First suggested as an expedition destination by the late Hansjorg Auer in 2018, the team to finally head to North West India evolved, with Matty Hong joining Jacopo Larcher, Siebe Vanhee and the Pou brothers to make the trip. The richness of the valley combined with fast-changing weather brought both temptation and challenges to exploration and ensured the expedition remained fluid, with no single objective, no fixed route and no final itinerary.Photo: SpecialH We're planning to cover 2200 km from Thane to Assam over the next 14-15 days. What can we do? We have to go,' Pankaj Roy, a construction worker. "The cycles cost anywhere from Rs 5500 - Rs 7000. We're planning to cover 2200 km from Thane to Assam over the next 14-15 days. What can we do? We have to go," Pankaj Roy, a construction worker. 18 Assamese migrant workers have banded from the Kalyan-Thane areas of Mumbai, Maharashtra in an attempt to cycle back home. Unemployed for over 2 months, they have similar stories of being abandoned by their employers and the government alike. "When we go to the officials for permissions for our passes, they aren't giving us any. At the police station, they hear our company's name and don't accept our papers," says Niren Chandra Burman, a factory worker in the area. The workers have been surviving during the lockdown over funds borrowed from home, the last of which were pooled to buy cycles. Despite news of special 'Shramik' trains for migrant workers, the men say that these trains have left for Assam only from Delhi. "The one that was supposed to leave from Mumbai didn't actually go in the end. What other choice do we have now?" asks Roy. A State Home Department official said, "Over 42,000 migrant workers have been sent home in 35 trains from Maharashtra." However, the on-ground reality suggests the usual impasse between government announcements and actual implementation. Police fire tear gas on protesters during a planned protests against a proposal to enact a new security legislation in Hong Kong on May 24, 2020. (AFP) Hong Kong: Hong Kongs security chief said terrorism was growing in the city, as government departments rallied on Monday behind Beijings plans to introduce national security laws and after thousands took to the streets to protest against the move. Police said they arrested more than 180 people on Sunday, when authorities fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters as unrest returned to the Chinese-ruled city after months of relative calm. Terrorism is growing in the city and activities which harm national security, such as Hong Kong independence, become more rampant, Secretary for Security John Lee said in a statement. In just a few months, Hong Kong has changed from one of the safest cities in the world to a city shrouded in the shadow of violence, he said, adding national security laws were needed to safeguard the citys prosperity and stability. In a return of the unrest that roiled Hong Kong last year, crowds thronged the streets of the city on Sunday in defiance of curbs imposed to contain the coronavirus, with chants of Hong Kong independence, the only way out, echoing through the streets. Calls for independence are anathema to Beijing, which considers Hong Kong an inalienable part of the country. The proposed new national security framework stresses Beijings intent to prevent, stop and punish such acts. Agencies issuing statements in support of the legislation included the Commissioner of Correctional Services, and Hong Kong Customs. Financial Secretary Paul Chan wrote on his blog on Sunday the national security law itself does not affect investor confidence, only the misunderstanding of it does. The central government has already said the law is targeted at the minority of people who are suspected of threatening national security and will not affect the rights of the general public. The United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and others have expressed concerns about the legislation, widely seen as a potential turning point for Chinas freest city and one of the worlds leading financial hubs. Taiwan, which has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong, will provide the people of Hong Kong with necessary assistance, President Tsai Ing-wen said. Cross River State Government has issued a strong warning to individual or group who plans to cause trouble in any part of the state in the name of actualising outlawed Biafra Republic. The warning which was issued by the State Security Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade for Southern Senatorial District of the state, Mr Abi Esin, says any breach of the sovereignty of the country by anyone or group will be treated as treason. Esin said this while reacting to the inauguration of the Mass Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra parliaments in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. Esin said, No other organ of government outside the recognised ones in the state will be tolerated and anyone or group that breaches this will be handed over to security agents for prosecution, and would be seen as having committed treasonable felony. Advertisement Inaugurating the two parliaments in Calabar, the leader of the organisation in the two states, Mr Mike Effiong, said the event was to mark the 21 years anniversary since the struggle for a sovereign Biafra State was started by Chief Ralph Uwazurike. According to Effiong, MASSOB Parliaments are in Calabar, Akpabuyo, Akamkpa, in Cross River State, while those in Akwa Ibom State are in Ikot Ekpene, Oruk Anan, Uyo, Eket and Abak. Read Also: Why Cross River Has Not Recorded COVID-19 Case: Ayade The leader of Parliament in Oruk Anam is Engineer Inyanette Akpan; Ikot Ekpene is Francis Johnson; Eket is Nsikak Akpan, and Uyo is Emmanuel Okorie, while the Calabar leader is Prince Abun Ekpe, and Akpabuyo is David Harris, he said. We have since 1999 been asking for self-determination and it is now twenty-one years and what we have done is the way to go because we are recognised by international law, he further said. He noted also that the action was not treasonable, saying it was in line with the peaceful means to self-actualisation of MASSOB. Portland police are investigating a shooting Sunday in Southeast Portland that left a man injured. Officers responded to the 12100 block of Southeast Holgate Boulevard just before midnight after receiving reports of shots fired, the Portland Police Bureau said Monday. The victim, whom police did not identify, took himself to a hospital, police said. The shooter has not arrested, and police did not say if they had a suspect. The bureaus Gun Violence Reduction Team responded and is investigating. Portland police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Todd Teats, at 503-823-2137 or todd.teats@portlandoregon.gov, or Detective Jeffery Pontius, at 503-823-2081 or Jeffery.pontius@portlandoregon.gov. --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The Department of State Services (DSS) rearrested Gabriel Emperor Ogbonna, an Aba-based lawyer in Abia State, for calling Nigeria an Islamic Republic and inciting division of the country, THE WHISTLER has learnt. Ogbonna was said to have also called for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari. A DSS source told THE WHISTLER that the lawyer also called for the removal of the North from Nigeria and incited Igbos into perceiving the president as a leader that hates the south east people. According to the source, the legal practitioner also claimed that northerners were responsible for the countrys problems. The service was reacting to the call for the lawyers release by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa on Sunday. Adegboruwa, in a statement, said Emperor Ogbonna had been in detention since March 24, 2020, having been arrested in his office by operatives of the DSS and armed policemen. He claimed that the lawyer was initially taken to the Abia State Police Command where he was confronted with a petition written against him that he published falsehood against the Governor of Abia State, that the latter swore to an oath at the Ancient Harashima. But the DSS source indicated that Ogbonna was rearrested for another complaint against him, different from his alleged false claims against the Abia State governor. Adegboruwa had said, He (Ogbonna) was eventually arraigned before the Magistrates Court and remanded in custody. The activist was later charged before the Federal High Court, Umuahia and was admitted to bail by the said court. Ogbonna perfected the conditions of his bail and was released from the Correctional Centre on April 28, 2020, but he was arrested immediately by the Abia State Director of DSS. He has now been transferred to Abuja, a part of Adegboruwas statement reads. But the DSS, in a swift reaction, said there was no court order on it granting bail to the legal practitioner, adding that the service is keeping him, pursuant to court orders. The DSS arrested him for a different offence/complaint and there is no Court order on DSS granting him bail. Mr. Emperor was calling for the impeachment of president Buhari, describing Nigeria as an Islamic Republic, calling for the removal of Northern Nigeria from Nigeria, inciting Igbo that President Buhari is an Igbo Hater, that the problem is Nigeria is Northern Nigerians etc. DSS is keeping him pursuant to Orders Court, it said. Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the "Japan model" has effectively beaten coronavirus, as he lifted a nationwide state of emergency after seven weeks. He described how the "uniquely Japanese way" in which the country had confronted the pandemic - unusually not including strict lockdown - had allowed it to escape the numerous outbreaks and high death tolls seen in several European countries and the US. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Credit:AP Japan has had about 17,000 confirmed cases and 850 deaths, but has not implemented widespread testing. At a press conference lifting the state of emergency, Abe said: "We were able to bring the outbreak nearly under control in just a month-and-a-half in a uniquely Japanese way. We demonstrated the power of the 'Japan model'." But experts have struggled to specify what that model is or why it appears to have been so successful in this congested nation of 126.5 million people. Telegraph, London and DPA India witnessed a record hike in daily COVID-19 cases for three consecutive days since Friday. The country added more than 6,000 cases on Friday, 6,654 cases on Saturday, and 6,767 cases in the next 24 hours till Sunday morning. The total cases as on May 24 stood at 1,31,868. The country has been under one of the worlds strictest lockdowns for two months now. However, as economic concerns force India to ease restrictions, the country may see an increase in coronavirus cases in the next few weeks. Though it wont be the first nation to witness such an uptick in cases on account of fewer restrictions in place. After an exponential growth in the number of confirmed cases during March, Iran had registered an equally quick-paced recovery in April which left it with only a few thousand active cases at one point. Emboldened by its response, Iran gradually began reopening its economy in late April to recover from the damages caused by the pandemic. But the reopening came with a price. Iran had brought down its daily average COVID-19 cases to around 1,000 by the end of April. The impact of the lifting of restrictions became visible only in May when the daily average increase almost doubled. The country is now facing a second wave of infections. Likewise, as governments in some of the most affected European countries moved to lift certain restrictions, a surge in the number of cases was seen. Earlier this month in Wuhan, China, where the authorities were believed to have contained the virus, new infections were recorded for the first time in several weeks. Similarly, South Korea had found a cluster of new cases earlier this month after it eased restrictions on bars and clubs. Two months into a nationwide lockdown, India is continuing on the path of exponential growth as far as the pandemic is concerned. Tanmay Mahapatra, an epidemiologist who works as team lead for CARE India in Bihar, said that while there are several factors responsible for the increase in confirmed cases including varying levels of testing across states, more activity may possibly cause an increase in cases and, therefore, easing of restrictions needs to be implemented gradually. You cannot keep a country like India under lockdown forever. Some parts of the economy would need to be opened but that does not mean that the general public starts traveling from everywhere to everywhere, Mahapatra said. He added that containment zones should be considered on a more granular level going forward such as moving on from containment zones with larger areas to smaller containment zones/hotspots that have a large population. Moreover, beyond such hotspots, there is a need to conduct random testing to understand asymptomatic transmission scenario even in areas where not many cases have been recorded. Mahapatra explained that the latest increase over the past week cannot be directly attributed to the easing of lockdown and the impact of fewer restrictions would only become clear in the coming weeks. The current hike is aligned to and based on the general growth pattern that the country has witnessed till now. India is now the 10th worst-affected nation worldwide and the curve does not seem to be flattening out. We are yet to see the worst. The way things are going, we can expect June to be much worse than April and May. Theres a high likelihood that we may see the peak in July, Mahapatra said. Mike Pompeo seemed a strange fit for a Washington administration filled with old-school grifters and con artists. Although the US secretary of state shared with his boss, Donald Trump, a past as a failed businessman, he also graduated first in his class from the elite West Point military academy, served in the armed forces, and was previously elected as a member of Congress. Brittle, thin-skinned and bombastic, for some time it appeared that he was cut from the same cloth as his protege Brian Hook, the administrations shrill attack dog on Iran policy, or the hawkish former national security advisor John Bolton. Many within the Beltway thought the evangelical Christian was willing to stroke Trumps ego and tolerate the arrogant ignorance of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to achieve policy goals cherished by the American right. Those include stirring up a gratuitous confrontation with China, toppling the regime in Tehran, ripping up global treaties and other boilerplate, hardline policies peddled by like-minded ideologues at conservative institutions such as The Heritage Foundation. However, following revelations that have emerged after Pompeo pushed Trump into firing the State Departments inspector general, Steve Linick, it turns out those ideas and goals were quite possibly a means to an end. Recommended The troubling political calculations behind the defence of Cummings The Trump administration fired Linick on a Friday night, Washington time, apparently unaware that in a global, 24-hour news cycle fuelled by Twitter, its no longer possible to bury bad or embarrassing news just by releasing it at the end of the week especially when the story involves someone as toxic, at home and abroad, as Pompeo. The leaks began immediately. There had long been stories about how Pompeo had used State Department-funded trips to Kansas to promote a possible Senatorial run, but now came stories about Pompeos opulence: they included his allegedly using State Department security and other officials to run personal errands, such as picking up Chinese food or dry cleaning, and taking the Pompeos dog, Sherman, to the hairdresser. Trump defended Pompeo, saying that perhaps he was too busy to do his own personal chores and therefore had to use taxpayer-funded government officials as his personal valets. Maybe hes negotiating with Kim Jong-un, OK, about nuclear weapons, he said. Then came revelations that Pompeo had perhaps become ruffled after learning that Linick was investigating him for a series of exclusive parties he was holding. His so-called Madison dinners used taxpayer resources to build up his own private network among a narrow band of far-right oligarchs, celebrities and politicians. To many diplomats in the US and abroad who have worried that Pompeo would gin up another war in the Middle East, or foment a crisis with China, the dinners must come as a relief. They suggest that maybe Pompeo was no maniacal ideologue but a typically ambitious and crassly corrupt fixture in the Trump kakistocracy, unable or unwilling to distinguish between his personal interests and those of the public. In many ways, though, the worst of Pompeos recently revealed alleged misdeeds was the news that he was being probed for allegedly violating US law by fast-tracking billions of dollars in arms sales to Saudi Arabia over the objections of elected officials. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers wanted to review the sales in light of the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of agents from the court of the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and alleged Saudi war crimes in Yemen. But Pompeo, it emerged, had short-circuited the normal review process for such weaponry by using a provision that can be invoked in case of dire emergencies. Despite deep scepticism among lawmakers from both the Republican Party and the Democrats, Pompeo conjured up an imminent threat posed by Iran to justify the fast-tracking of the sales even though some of the weapons werent even due to be delivered within a year. Most alarming is the possibility that Pompeo may have sided with a controversial foreign power, with whom he frequently speaks, to circumvent his own countrys elected officials and undermine its democratic processes. Given what we know about Trump and his open collusion with Russia to undermine American elections, Pompeos favour to Prince Mohammed suggests he has always been the perfect fit for this administration. But it also highlights the deep threat that such banal figures pose to democratic norms. The chief investment officer of one of the country's largest super funds has said it is unlikely the fund would invest in a new gas pipeline, after the chair of the federal governments coronavirus commission promoted major public spending on new gas infrastructure. It comes as Independent MP Zali Steggall told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald the federal government's COVID-19 advisory body is racked by conflicts of interest and has a major bias towards gas. She is calling for the commission to host public hearings that involve the private sector, including super funds and insurers. "We dont want another situation where its like a sports rort where youre unravelling it after the fact, she said. "My concern with the COVID commission is that it's all happening behind closed doors Its a mates environment, which is so wrong on so many levels. Zali Steggall says super can play a major role in Australia's transition to renewable energy. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Former Fortescue Metals chief Neville Power chairs the commission and has been promoting cheap gas as the way to reboot the economy, including a gas pipeline from Western Australia. Mr Power is a non-executive director of oil and gas explorer Strike Energy and holds $2.5 million in the company's shares that will be worth an additional $2.1 million if the share value rises to 35 from 20, ASX disclosures show. Eleven flights with 732 passengers reached the twin airports at Jammu and Srinagar on Monday, officials said, as domestic air travel resumed after a two-month break due to the coronavirus. While six domestic flights carrying about 562 passengers, who were stranded in different parts of the country, landed at the Srinagar International Airport, five flights landed at the Jammu airport with 170 stranded people, an official spokesman said. The arrival started with the landing of an Air Asia flight at the Srinagar Airport at 7:25 am. All passengers who arrived at the airport were thoroughly screened for COVID-19 and their samples taken, he said. The first flight at the Jammu airport arrived at 8:50 am with 31 passengers, followed by four more at their scheduled times subsequently, marking the resumption of the flight operations, the spokesman said. All scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended since March 25 when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic. It was announced last Thursday that one-third of pre-lockdown domestic flights will operate from Monday. International scheduled commercial passenger flights remain suspended. The spokesman said the government had made elaborate arrangements for the arrival, screening, sampling and dispatch of passengers. The airport has been equipped to receive the passengers strictly following the procedures and guidelines prescribed by the Union Ministries of Civil Aviation and the Health and Family Welfare, the spokesman said. He said the government has issued additional instructions, modifications and exemptions to the procedure prescribed in the earlier circulars regarding 100 percentRT-PCR testing of all incoming passengers by train or air and quarantine procedure to be followed. As per the modified quarantine procedure, the spokesman said, pregnant women in the last trimester with a doctor's certificate of pregnancy; cancer patients on chemotherapy; chronically ill patients discharged from a hospital after a surgical procedure; dialysis patients with a doctor's certificate of being on dialysis would be sampled on arrival for RTPCR testing and sent to Home quarantine for 14 days; and if their test result is positive, they will be brought to a COVID hospital for recovery and treatment. Mothers with infant below one year; children below 10 years travelling alone without a family member; government of India personnel on bona fide government duty and passengers/travellers with an RTPCR test negative certificate from a ICMR approved laboratory/testing facility, not older than two days (48 hours) before the arrival date arriving by air, rail or any other means from outside the UT to J&K would also be sent to home quarantine, he said. Meanwhile, the spokesman said the Jammu and Kashmir administration has evacuated 93,380 stranded local residents from various parts of the country so far. They included 66,694 by buses through Lakhanpur corridor and 26,034 by 32 COVID special trains. A total of 16,615 outbound migrant workers, stranded in various districts of Jammu and Kashmir, have also been sent back to their home states and UTs through Shramik special trains from Katra since May 19 till date, the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [May 25, 2020] DATA Communications Management Corp. Announces CEO To Take Temporary Medical Leave of Absence DATA Communications Management Corp. ("DCM (News - Alert)" or the "Company")(TSX:DCM), a leading provider of marketing and business communications solutions to companies across North America, today announced Gregory Cochrane, DCM's Chief Executive Officer, is taking a temporary medical leave of absence, effective immediately. In Mr. Cochrane's absence, Michael Cote, President of DCM, will assume Mr. Cochrane's responsibilities and will be supported by the Company's existing senior executive and management team, all of whom have extensive tenures with DCM and/or Perennial|DCM under Mr. Cochrane's leadership. Chris Lund, DCM's Chief Innovation Officer, will continue to lead Perennial|DCM. "Greg has requested a leave of absence from DCM to address some health related issues and we all wish him a speedy and full recovery," said J.R. Kingsley Ward, Chairman of DCM's board of directors. "The Board of Directors unanimously supports Mike Cote stepping in to fill the gap created by Greg's temporary absence. Mike is an experienced executive who has a firm grasp of what it takes to implement DCM's strategy as well as lead the management team who run our day to day operations." About DCM DCM is a communication solutions partner that adds value for major companies across North America by creating more meaningful connections with their customers. DCM pairs customer insights and thought leadership with cutting edge products, modular enabling technology and services to power its clients' go to market strategies. DCM helps its clients manage how their brands come to life, determine which channels are right for them, manage multimedia campaigns, deploy location specific and 1:1 marketing, execute custom loyalty programs, and fulfill their commercial printing needs all in one place. DCM's extensive experience has positioned it as an expert at providing communication solutions across many verticals, including the financial, retail, healthcar, consumer health, energy, and not for profit sectors. As a result of its locations throughout Canada and in the United States (Chicago, Illinois and New York, New York), it is able to meet its clients' varying needs with scale, speed, and efficiency - no matter how large or complex the ask. DCM is able to deliver advanced data security, regulatory compliance, and bilingual communications, both in print and/or digital formats. Additional information relating to DATA Communications Management Corp. is available on www.datacm.com, and in the disclosure documents filed by DATA Communications Management Corp. on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward looking" statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, objectives or achievements of DCM or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, objectives or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan", and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. These statements reflect DCM's current views regarding future events and operating performance, are based on information currently available to DCM, and speak only as of the date of this press release. These forward looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions and should not be read as guarantees that future performance or results will be achieved. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance, objectives or achievements of DCM to be materially different from any future results, performance, objectives or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including the factors discussed elsewhere in this press release and under the headings "Liquidity and capital resources" and "Risks and Uncertainties" in DCM's management's discussion and analysis and other publicly available disclosure documents, as filed by DCM on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this press release as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Unless required by applicable securities law, DCM does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update these forward looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005289/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] "Star Trek" actor Zachary Quinto says he is full of gratitude as he celebrated four years of abstinence from alcohol and drugs. The 42-year-old actor took to Instagram to share the on Sunday. "Four years sober sun-kissed selfie. Grateful for today!" Quinto captioned his picture. The actor is best known for playing the role of Spock in the reboot "Star Trek" film (2009) and its sequels. He was also nominated for a best supporting actor Emmy for his performance in "American Horror Story: Asylum" in 2013. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An air and sea search is underway for a humpback whale entangled in ropes from a crayfish pot in far south-west Victoria. Sport-fishing crews spotted the distressed whale off Cape Nelson, near Portland, on Sunday. One whale watcher described the sighting as about 5km south of Lawrence Rocks, an ancient volcanic formation in the sea south-east of Portland. A volunteer Coastguard boat was sent to investigate, but was unable to find the whale before nightfall. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning sent a search plane out early on Monday. The single-engine plane could be seen flying along the coast near Portland throughout the morning. SOCIAL DEMOCRACY AND THE LIMITS OF REFORM Social democracy, or social reformism as it is often called, is an ideological current in the labour movement which aims to politically disarm the movement and make it subservient to the ruling class by destroying its revolutionary content. Sewing Shop oil on board by Narin, 2004. The majority of the parties of the Socialist International, including the Australian Labor Party (ALP), are part of this ideological current. The main ideological platform of all these parties is the concept of democratic socialism which is the product of West European social democracy. This concept derives from the theory of neutrality which in essence is nothing but a means of covering up the reactionary ideological positions of right-wing socialists. It is used to set socialism against Marxism in order to convince the working people that socialism can be achieved without Marxism. The leaders of social democracy do not hide the fact that democratic socialism is a counter measure against communism. The declaration of the Socialist International, Aims and Duties of Democratic Socialism, states: Socialism is an international movement, which does not require strict uniformity of ideology. Irrespective of whether socialists base their convictions on the results of Marxist analysis or analysis by another method, whether they are led by humanist or other principles, all of them tend towards a common aim [] DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM The concept of democratic socialism is used for the immediate, practical aim of presenting it as an alternative to the existing socialism of the countries of the socialist community. It was no accident, therefore, that not only the reactionary forces of international imperialism but also social democracy everywhere and Australia was no exception to the rule greeted the Prague Spring and the most recent activities of Solidarity in Poland as a higher form of socialism, as real socialism, socialism with a human face and so on. This position expresses the strong desire of followers of democratic socialism for removal of communist parties from the leadership of social life in the socialist countries so that socialism can be renewed. This is also the position of revisionist forces in all countries. The revisionist concept of renewed socialism has a close spiritual affinity with the ideas of social reformism because both concepts are collaborators with the capitalist class and they are the fruits of the same tree bourgeois ideology. The Program of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union states that the reflection of bourgeois influence on the working class is social democratism in the labour movement and revisionism in the communist movement. What is the essence of socialism? What is the main difference between genuine socialism of Marxist-Leninists and the so-called democratic socialism of social democracy and the revisionists? Socialism is a social system in which the working class has become the leader of society by smashing the old power of capitalist exploiters and by socialising the means of production, thus eliminating private property (not personal property) and exploitation of man by man. SOCIALISATION ESSENTIAL There can never be socialism without socialisation of the means of production or while private property and monopolies exploiting the working people remain. In his work Anti-Duhring, F Engels expresses this idea clearly: The proletariat takes over the state power and transforms the means of production first of all into state property. Thus the main feature of socialism is that it seeks a radical system, revolutionary change in society, a change from the class power of the bourgeoisie to the power of the working class. What is the main feature of social democracy and of the concept of democratic socialism today? MINOR REFORMS It can be summarised as an attempt to introduce minor reforms within the capitalist system, beautify the system or make it less oppressive and also to manage it better. Despite all such reforms and better management methods, the class power of the capitalist exploiters remains intact and imperialism has little if anything to fear from all the talk about democratic socialism. A vivid example of the concepts of social democracy in Australia, as expressed by the ALP leadership, is provided by the National Economic Summit Communique. Paragraph nine states: The reality also is that we live in a mixed economy in which the private sector is an integral part providing some seventy-five per cent of jobs. The preservation of the private sector as a profitable operating sector is essential to Australias well-being and to encourage job creating investment both from within Australia and abroad. It is obvious the ALP Government believes the private sector is essential for Australias well-being. At the same time, however, it talks about democratic socialism, ignoring the fact that private property and big business corporations are incompatible with the basic principles of socialism. THE THIRD ROAD CONCEPT Another example of the misleading theories and formulations of social reformism is provided by PASOK, the socialist party currently in government in Greece. PASOK is the architect of the third road to socialism theory, a smokescreen for a system of mainly painless reforms to the capitalist system. Exponents of the third road theory hold the view that Greek society is divided into privileged and non-privileged sectors. Until recently, the privileged sector included the monopolies and big business. Lately, however, PASOKs position has shifted and monopolies are no longer included in the privileged sector. THE REAL ENEMY If the monopolies are not privileged and are therefore not an enemy against whom the working class has to fight in its struggle for socialist change, then who is the real enemy? To this basic question, the third road to socialism cannot provide an answer. Even with these limited examples, it is clear that the theories of democratic socialism and political activity and programs of social democratic parties have nothing in common with real working class concepts of the socialist transformation of society. The article originally appeared in The Guardian January, 1985. The global uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused health and financial instability. Like anything in life, however, challenge also creates opportunity. The fact is that, with or without our consent, this unexpected change is altering the way we live, demanding that we adapt to the new normal under the umbrella of ongoing transformation. Community colleges in Pennsylvania are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, making contributions to enhance capabilities of emergency responders and health care professionals. Two-year public colleges have the unique capability to re-skill the workforce as Pennsylvania and the nation prepare to return to productivity once the pandemic subsides. Pennsylvania community colleges, under the umbrella of the Pennsylvania Commission on Community Colleges, are making a difference. For instance, Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) created a COVID-19 task force to engage in discussions with stakeholders to ensure health and safety precautions. Other college leaders are discussing delivery platforms for summer and fall and best practices in applying remote and online learning. Dr. John Sygielski, HACC president, believes one of the lessons learned is the clear distinction between remote, distance, virtual/digital, and online learning. The transition to online, hybrid or remote delivery of instruction has been embraced by most community college constituent groups. These modalities have benefits and challenges for the community. They have offered faculty, students, and administrators new skills and perspectives on teaching and learning. Examples include: professors with extensive online experience helping other professors teach remotely, nursing students tutoring their peers, and employees sharing methods to connect remotely with others. Community college responses to COVID-19 have been remarkable. Pennsylvania community colleges are providing much needed medical equipment to hospitals. They are providing supplies from simulated healthcare settings, where students train for medical careers. The equipment is the same, top-quality equipment used in hospitals and healthcare facilities across the state. There are other ways that community colleges, students and alumni are giving back in these times of need. For instance, Annette Patchell, owner of Supreme Safety and an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at the Community College of Philadelphia, donated N-95 masks to Philadelphia area emergency responders. The two principal national associations for community colleges the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community College Trustees have made COVID-19 a top priority. They worked to secure critical funding to meet basic needs of at-risk students and to ensure the nations community colleges have resources to continue teaching and learning as much as possible remotely while confronting the many impacts of COVID-19 on faculty, staff and students. They are providing guidance to help colleges safely provide critical in-person, experiential instruction that cannot be done at home for future welders and nurses, among others. Community college graduates are todays essential workers nurses, emergency medical technicians, respiratory therapists, truck drivers, law enforcement, among many others. Community colleges have always welcomed students who are older, have families, attend part-time, and are in need of re-skilling. In this era of a global pandemic and high unemployment, they also offer traditional-aged college students the opportunity to earn college credits close to home at a very affordable price. Prior to COVID-19, the U.S. Congress authorized new community college workforce programs. The following are among the sectors where community colleges are essential: Advanced manufacturing Congress directed the Department of Defense to prioritize Manufacturing and Engineering Education Program funding for community college training and education. Agribusiness Congress prioritized Department of Agriculture appropriations for community college agribusiness programs. Apprenticeship Community colleges are funded by the Department of Labor to work with employers to establish apprenticeship programs that meet critical workforce needs in healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and cybersecurity. Automation and unmanned systems Community colleges are establishing new programs in robotics, unmanned systems, and other emerging areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Recognizing these capabilities, Congress authorized a new Federal Aviation Administration program. Energy Congress has prioritized appropriations for the Department of Energy to support community college energy-sector workforce training. There is a strong connection between education and workforce demands, with a direct impact on employment and the economy. It is why up-skilling and re-skilling the workforce is a societal responsibility (Medros, 2019). The fact is that these challenges bring opportunities, and community colleges are adapting to ensure theoretical, technical, and experiential skills bring students success, enhance employability, and satisfy ongoing market demands. Community colleges in Pennsylvania and across the country will be essential to Americas post-pandemic economic recovery. Hector R. Ortiz is a member of the Board of Trustees at Harrisburg Area Community College, President of the Latino Association of Community College Trustees, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees. Email: richie1166@msn.com. Dawn Erlandson is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees. Email: dawnerlandson@gmail.com. Tom Downs is a Washington, D.C. consultant and founder of the Community and Technical College Consortium. Email: tcdowns@downsgovaffairs.com. The year of roads was a much-touted program last year when His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced his plans pertaining to the road sector this year 2020 since Mr. President ascended the highest office, he realised Ghana has road deficits he must address. Also most of the roads which were motorable in early and late 90s have also deteriorated so it was prudent for His Excellency to dedicate this year as the year of roads. In the Ashanti region 500 kilometers of roads are under construction as the road Minister promised to complete by the end of this year, most importantly is the Anwiankwata-Obuasi road which is under massive construction. After Mr. President's speech on roads, parliament approved over 2.2 billion Ghana Cedis for road construction, and massive road construction has begun across Ashanti, Eastern, Northern Regions of Ghana, Brong Ahafo, and Greater Accra Region. The Chinese contractor Zhongmei Engineering who is constructing other connecting roads are almost done with the Pokuase interchange in the capital Accra which leads to Ghana's second-largest city Kumasi. Other ongoing projects amidst this COVID-19 season include upgrading Salaga Bimbila road, Kwadaso Trebuom road, Asuom Kade road, construction of Asokwa Bosomtwe roads, Akropong town roads, Mampong Kofiase roads, and many more. A few weeks ago Hon. Patricia Appiagyei Member of parliament for Asokwa toured road construction sites within Asokwa and she realised the contractors on-site are doing a quality job as instructed by His Excellency The President. I'm indeed surprised at the speed rate His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo charged contractors in charge to complete these road projects in this season of COVID-19, but it's a sign of good leadership in the sense that He has no room for vain promises. We all pray the floods of ongoing road projects will be timely completed for Ghanaians. .. signed.. Edmund Kyei Asokwa Constituency 1st Vice Chairman Member of NPP Communication Source: Edmund Kyei Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Another grocery store worker died last week in Denver, Colorado, the second victim of coronavirus at the King Soopers supermarket chain. After news broke of the death of Randy Narvaez, who had been an employee of the company for more than 30 years, the local union and store officials revealed that 11 cases of COVID-19 have been found among other employees at the same outlet. Narvaezs death came on the heels of an announcement by Kroger, the owners of King Soopers, that the company would be suspending hazard pay for workersa $2 bonus added to employees hourly wage as compensation for working during the pandemic. Protests by workers led the company to replace the pay bump with one-time payments of between $200 and $400. The same day the suspension of hero pay took effect, Kroger, the Cincinnati-based supermarket giant, filed a shareholder statement that shows a combined $37 million paid to six executives in salaries, cash bonuses, stock awards and options, along with other compensation, in 2019. A worker, stocks produce at a market in San Francisco. (Image Credit: Ben Margot/AP) By revenue, Kroger is the largest supermarket chain in the US, with $121 billion in profits. The company operates nearly 3,000 stores nationwide and employs around 453,000 workers. Last year, its CEO, Rodney McMullen, received a 21 percent increase in compensation, taking his annual income from $11.7 million to over $14 million. The average hourly wage of a worker at Krogerafter decades of wage concessions by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) unionis $10.53 per hour or approximately $21,902 a year. Kroger is expecting profits to be higher in 2020, as disruptions to supply chains have caused shortages and inflated food costs. Kroger sales increased by 30 percent in March 2020 before the full impact of the public health shutdowns, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and grocery prices increased by 2.6 percent. A story published yesterday in the Washington Post reported that at least 100 grocery workers nationwide have died from the virus since late March, and at least 5,500 others have tested positive for the coronavirus. Many grocery workers told the newspaper that, despite social distancing measures, they often share break rooms, bathrooms and devices for clocking in and out of their shifts. Protests by workers have forced local officials to press the supermarket chains for information and added safety measures, but company officials have dragged their feet. Under pressure from the health department, Walmart closed a store in Quincy, Massachusetts for a week to clean it, and offered testing to every worker. Thirty-four employees at the location tested positive for COVID-19. At a Walmart in Worcester, Massachusetts, more than 80 employees were infected. According to federal lawmakers, more than 20 Walmart employees have died from COVID-19 across the country. When surveyed by the Washington Post, Walmart, Trader Joes, Whole Foods Market, Target, Kroger, BJs Wholesale Club and Lidl declined to provide the number of workers who tested positive for the coronavirus or died from it. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has said that it would not uniformly enforce the rules for reporting coronavirus cases except for employers in healthcare, emergency response, and corrections. New regulations going into effect this week give employers leeway in deciding whether a case is work-related and, therefore, reportable to OSHA. The UFCW, which has 900,000 members working at the major food retailing chains, reports that in the last five weeks the number of infected or exposed workers has gone from 1,557 to 10,453. Despite the spread of the virus, the UFCW has done nothing to advance workers demands for protective gear and additional compensation and has instead worked to ensure that their members stay on the job. Jerry, a Kroger worker in southeast Michigan, told the World Socialist Web Site: As the number of cases climbs, management is reporting being overwhelmed by requests for medical leave. This has as much to do with the reckless policies of Kroger as with any natural spreading of the virus, including continuing to employ stockers during the day while customers are present, and not enforcing the wearing of masks by customers. I am increasingly concerned for the well-being of my coworkers. As more workers return to the factories, they will become new hot spots for outbreaks. The profit system, capitalism is to blame. The resources exist to sustain nonessential workers at home and create a vaccine, but in the current system these resources are being funneled to support big business and the financial oligarchy. The WSWS and the Socialist Equality Party call on workers to form rank-and-file safety committees, independent of the trade unions, to protect the lives of grocery store workers and their families against the deadly conditions created by the corporate drive for profit. Advertisement Europe is struggling to maintain discipline after hundreds gathered to watch football in France, a woman was arrested in a clash over masks and Angela Merkel tussled with German states over plans to 're-open everything'. As many as 400 people turned up for an unauthorised football match in Strasbourg yesterday despite a ban on gatherings of more than ten, sparking alarm from a local mayor who bemoaned their 'lack of responsibility'. Elsewhere in France, police wrestled with a woman refusing to wear a mask after she remonstrated with officers and allegedly bit one of them in angry scenes at a market in Aubenas. As chaos reigned, the woman was dragged along the ground by four officers and eventually forced into a police car - facing charges of violence against the police. Meanwhile, the German states of Thuringia and Saxony have announced plans to open 'essentially everything' with only 'few exceptions' and replace lockdown measures with 'recommendations'. The plans have sparked anger in Merkel's ruling coalition, which wants to extend social distancing measures and keep large gatherings banned until at least July 5. In Spain, parks were re-opening in Madrid and people can meet in groups of up to 10 people as the country continues to ease its lockdown, although some bars and restaurants are choosing to stay shut. With the summer heat picking up, beaches along Spain's northern coastline as well as some areas in the south, including the Canary Islands and the Balearics, are now open for swimming, subject to safety measures. A woman refusing to wear a mask was dragged away by four policemen in a furious clash in France yesterday, as people return to the streets across Europe As many as 400 people turned up for an unauthorised football match in Strasbourg yesterday despite a ban on gatherings of more than ten, sparking alarm from a local mayor who bemoaned their 'lack of responsibility' SPAIN: People were back in Madrid's Retiro Park today, wearing masks as they sat at an outdoor table in the Spanish capital ITALY: The Frecce Tricolore aerobatic team flies over Milan's Duomo cathedral today, trailing the colours of the Italian flag as restaurants and other shops re-opened GREECE: A waiter wearing a mask disinfects his hands at a restaurant in Athens, as Greece begins to prepare for the resumption of the tourist season BELGIUM: Pupils wearing face masks take an exam in Ghent today, with schools returning after the coronavirus lockdown A pool guard watches swimmers at an open-air pool in Wilmersdorf, Berlin, as some bathing lakes and outdoor pools opened around the German capital again Germany enters recession because of coronavirus pandemic Germany has entered recession after Europe's largest economy shrank for the second quarter running. The German economy shrank by 2.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, officials said today. Germany's Federal Statistical Office said it was the biggest quarterly drop since the 2008-09 crash. Private consumption and exports were the hardest hit, although higher public spending and a growth in construction helped prevent a bigger downturn. Germany's economy had shrunk by 0.1 per cent in the last quarter of 2019, meaning Q1 of 2020 is the second consecutive quarter of negative growth which is the technical definition of a recession. The Ifo economic institute expects an even larger slump in Q2, when the full effects of the lockdown will become visible in the figures. However, Ifo said that business morale was starting to recover as the lockdown is eased. 'The German economy is again seeing light at the end of the tunnel,' said Ifo economist Klaus Wohlrabe. 'But we are still far away from optimism.' Advertisement The angry clash in France came after the mayor of Aubenas had ordered compulsory mask-wearing to combat the spread of the disease. The woman who was dragged away and arrested had confronted police after they swooped on people who were not wearing masks, French media said. France began easing the lockdown earlier this month but ministers have warned that it could be re-imposed if necessary. Churches and other places of worship have been allowed to re-open after France's Council of State ordered the ban on religious services to be lifted. But priests, pastors, rabbis and imams will still have to ensure that the correct safety measures are in force. Worshippers will have to wear masks, there will have to be disinfectant gel on hand and the seating will need to be organised to ensure people keep a safe distance from each other. The government has had to fight a series of legal and battles to control the pace of the gradual loosening of France's two-month lockdown. It has refused Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo's call to reopen the capital's parks and gardens, over fears this could accelerate infections in the city. Many experts judge that it is too soon to say that the virus has been brought under control in France. But some specialists, such as epidemiologist Laurent Toubiana, believe that the coronavirus has already done its worst. 'A significant portion of the population may not be susceptible to coronavirus, because non-specific antibodies to the virus can stop it,' Toubiana said. Beachgoers were back at the seaside in Tenerife today, as the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and some other coastal areas of Spain were allowed to re-open their beaches as the summer heat picks up Spaniards were returning to beaches today after the coronavirus lockdown - but visitors from other countries will have to wait People walk and cycle in Retiro Park in Madrid today, which opened its gates for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown began as Madrid and Barcelona finally eased quarantine measures A waitress wearing a protective facemask and plastic gloves stands on the terrace of a cafe in central Athens today Early morning swimmers observe social distancing as they queue for entry at the Wilmersdorf open air pool on its re-opening in Berlin People exercise at the Retiro Park in Madrid, where parks have opened their gates again for the first time in months A woman exercises at the park in Madrid, as the region around the capital saw an easing of lockdown measures after suffering heavily during Spain's virus outbreak Germany recorded only 289 cases and 10 deaths on Sunday, the smallest increases since March. The country's closely-watched R rate has remained below 1.0 for nearly two weeks, meaning the epidemic is in retreat - although it rose from 0.83 to 0.94 yesterday. Thuringia's plans would mark the most sweeping abolition of lockdown in Europe, drawing comparisons to Sweden's light-touch response. State premier Bodo Ramelow said lockdown measures would be replaced with 'a concept of recommendations and fighting Covid-19 locally if infection figures rise'. 'We made decisions in March on the basis of estimates of 60,000 infections - now we have 245 people currently infected,' he said. Thuringia's public health measures would change from 'state compulsion to individual responsibility for moderation,' he told German media. Masks would not be compulsory under the new rules and a 5ft safety distance would be recommended rather than enforced. The threshold for re-imposing lockdown measures would be set at 35 new infections per 100,000 people per week, lower than the national threshold of 50. Germany has been widely praised for a relatively successful response to the pandemic, leading to fewer deaths than in Britain, Italy, France or Spain. But Angela Merkel has repeatedly urged caution and officials in other states have lined up to criticise Thuringia's plans. The chief of staff to the leader of Bavaria said the regional government there was 'appalled' and bluntly rejected Ramelow's idea. Florian Herrmann told German newspaper Bild: 'Thuringia's plans are a highly dangerous experiment for everyone in this country. 'Lifting all protective measures comes too soon and isn't appropriate in the current situation, because the virus hasn't yet been defeated.' Saarland governor Tobias Hans told Die Welt that even as restrictions are loosened 'we still need rules set by the state so that imperatives of caution are complied with, to avoid regional lockdowns and high death rates.' The interior minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lorenz Caffier, told another paper: 'I think a complete, fast loosening is premature.' There was also criticism from the mayor of Jena, one of the largest cities in Thuringia, where authorities pioneered compulsory mask-wearing. Thomas Nitzsche compared the proposed change in a Facebook post to 'entering a mine field'. Germany's daily coronavirus cases fell to only 289 yesterday, the lowest since March 11 - a figure possibly affected by weekend delays but still lower than previous weekends This graph shows the daily number of deaths, with only ten recorded yesterday - the lowest figure since March 22 Governor of eastern state Thuringia Bodo Ramelow (left) said on Saturday that he hopes to lift the remaining statewide lockdown rules on June 6 Germany started easing lockdown restrictions on April 20 and so far new coronavirus infections have continued to decline overall. Lockdown measures in other states will continue to be eased on a less radical scale with schools, bars, restaurants, hotels, gyms and swimming pools set to reopen. Outbreaks at several slaughterhouses have recently caused concern, along with infections at a restaurant in the country's north-west. There were also 100 new infections after a single Baptist service in Frankfurt last Sunday. Germany now has a total of 178,570 cases and 8,257 deaths from the pandemic, with Bavaria accounting for the largest number of each. The R rate rose yesterday to 0.94, meaning that 100 virus patients will infect another 94 people on average. The rate has been estimated below the 1.0 threshold every day since May 12 and all but three days since April 28. Merkel has warned that even a small increase above 1.0 could leave Germany's hospitals overwhelmed. Today's 289 new cases are the fewest since March 11, lower than the 342 infections added to the tally last Monday morning. Germany recorded only 10 new deaths in the last 24 hours - compared to last week's 21 - in the smallest increase since March 22. Germany's closely-watched rate of transmission (R), which shows how many people each virus patient infects on average, has remained below 1.0 since May 12 Pastor Christoph Knoll from Erfurt Thomas community speaks during a sermon while people sit in their cars as they attend an Easter Sunday religious service In Spain, tourism minister Reyes Maroto said it was 'perfectly coherent to plan summer vacations to come to Spain in July'. Spain normally draws 80million people a year with tourism accounting for over 12 per cent of gross domestic product and an even bigger share of jobs. Some beaches are already open but only locals will benefit for now, with travel between regions still forbidden and any foreign visitors landing in Spain compelled to undergo 14 days' quarantine. Though allowed to open outside spaces at half capacity from Monday, many bars and restaurants in Madrid and Barcelona stayed closed as owners weighed the value of catering to just a few. Some of those who did open, after gloved and masked staff cleaned terraces and placed tables far apart, were pessimistic. 'It's complicated, we are not going to be able to save the tourist season, unless [enough] foreigners come,' said Alfonso Gomez, a restaurant owner in Barcelona. Another restaurant owner, Celestino Pereda, said businesses in the tourism industry 'can't survive' because so much depends on the summer. On the streets of Barcelona and Madrid, which have been hit worse than most other areas, passersby enjoying new-found freedoms were more upbeat. 'It's nice just to feel a bit of normality again after so long,' said Rosie, a writer and Barcelona resident. Madrilenos were delighted to be allowed back into the main Retiro park. 'This is great, I was really looking forward to it. And so was my dog!' said interior designer Anna Pardo, walking her pet in the sunshine. Others jogged and chatted in the Retiro's shaded alleys or stopped for a moment to enjoy its lake, still devoid of the usual rowing boats. While most pupils in Spain still need to study online, some schools reopened in the northern Basque region. Students' temperature was taken as they entered wearing masks. First, we have no idea who is voting with mail-in ballots. We have no way of knowing if every ballot reached the person intended, who actually filled the ballot out or what happened with the extra ballots. Extra ballots? Of course, there will be extra ballots. Just like polling places have as many ballots as names on their lists, at least at a polling place the ballots have to go into the machine during voting hours. Ballots will go to the wrong houses, people will have moved, there will be extra ballots at the printing company. There will no longer be any matching of a ballot with a live person purporting to being the person registered. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th May, 2020) The coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca could have only a 50-percent chance of success, Professor Adrian Hill told The Telegraph newspaper. "It's a race against the virus disappearing, and against time", Hill, director of Oxford's Jenner Institute, said on Saturday, adding "At the moment, there's a 50% chance that we get no result at all." According to Hill, an upcoming trial of the experimental vaccine, involving 10,000 volunteers, could return "no result" due to low transmission of COVID-19 in the British community. Earlier, Hill's team spoke of an 80-percent success of the vaccine, which was expected to be ready by September. Early-stage human trials of the vaccine started on April 23. AstraZeneca received $1.2 billion from the US government to produce 400 million doses of the vaccine. The results of the first-stage clinical trials are expected in June. Meanwhile, pre-clinical trials of a vaccine against the coronavirus conducted by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry are showing good results, and human trials are expected to start by June 15, Director Alexander Gintsburg told Sputnik on Saturday. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) Africas scorecard after s half a century of independence and freedom leaves people in doubt, despite the huge economic potential, its rich, young and dynamic human capital, African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said on Monday Photograph: Sarah Blake/AP The FBI is investigating the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, a black jogger, by two white men as a possible hate crime, the Arbery familys attorney said Monday, claiming that federal authorities had launched a criminal inquiry into two district attorneys and the police department involved in the case. Lee Merritt, who represents the family of Arbery, 25, whose 23 February killing in Brunswick, Georgia, was captured on a graphic video recording that sparked national outrage, said he met with officials from the Department of Justice last Thursday. Related: The killing of Ahmaud Arbery Merritt said they told him federal investigators were looking into potential criminal and civil violations by two officials who later recused themselves from the case. They are George Barnhill of the Waycross judicial district, who recommended no arrests, and Jackie Johnson of Glynn county, who has denied accusations she ordered police to make no arrests on the day the unarmed Arbery was shot. The Georgia chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has called on both Barnhill and Johnson to resign and face charges of obstruction of justice. Merritt said the FBI was also looking into the actions of the Glynn county police department. The suspects Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis, 34, were finally arrested by the Georgia bureau of investigation (GBI) and charged with Arberys murder on 8 May, three days after the video received national publicity, and 74 days after the shooting. The case took a further step forward last Thursday, when the GBI arrested the man who recorded the video, William Bryan Jr, and charged him with felony murder. On 16 May, Ahmaud Arberys aunt Theawanza Brooks, center left, joins other family members and supporters in a march from the Glynn county courthouse to a police station. Photograph: Stephen B Morton/AP This is a vast conspiracy at this point, Merritt said in a four-and-a-half-minute video posted on Monday on TMZ. Theyre spreading the net here. They said the GBI doesnt anticipate making any additional arrests, but the FBI very well may. Merritt has been highly critical of the pace of the investigation into the shooting. He said he was told a further part of the FBI probe was whether the actions of anybody involved in the case breached Arberys rights of equal protection under the US constitution and civil rights law. Story continues All citizens are entitled to the same protection under the law, he said. This case makes it clear that all black citizens in south Georgia arent getting the same protection because if you shoot anybody in the street in broad daylight, just in general you expect at least an arrest. There were no arrests made. Neither the Department of Justice nor the US attorneys office for the southern district of Georgia responded to the Guardians request for comment on Monday, a federal holiday. But in an 11 May statement, a DOJ representative, Kerri Kupec, confirmed investigators were assessing evidence to determine if federal hate crime charges are appropriate. Related: 'Criminalization of blackness': Arbery lawyer weighs in on 2017 Taser incident Gregory McMichael, a former law enforcement officer, told detectives he suspected Arbery of burglary, and that Arbery had attacked his son before being shot. Police initially treated the shooting as a case of self-defense and allowed the McMichaels to go free, despite the video of the shooting suggesting a different story. This article was amended on 26 May 2020 because an earlier version misnamed Lee Merritt as Lee Martin. This has been corrected. Bareilly : , May 25 (IANS) A six-month pregnant migrant woman delivered twin daughters while the bus in which she was travelling, was passing through the Bareilly district. Born prematurely on Sunday, the babies died within an hour of being born. Doctors said that the woman has been quarantined and her swab samples would be sent for the corona tests. The woman, Fatima Bi, 24, and her husband Mithun Miyan, 26, are natives of Cooch Behar district of West Bengal and used to work at a brick kiln in Hapur district. After the brick kiln shut down during the lockdown, they applied online to return home with the assistance of the government but did not get any response. Her husband said that he and his wife, along with 42 other people had collectively paid Rs 1.2 lakh for their journey on a private bus. When Fatima's condition deteriorated, the couple was dropped off by the bus driver on National Highway 24 in the Bithri Chainpur area of Bareilly, from where a 108 ambulance took them to the district hospital. The bus driver, however, refused to wait and left for the destination with other passengers. Doctor Varsha Agarwal, who is treating Fatima at the district hospital, said, "The woman had already delivered twins on the bus and both of them had died when she reached here. Her condition is stable but she is upset. She was only six months pregnant. Her samples would be sent for Covid-19 tests as she was travelling from another district and may have been exposed to the infection." Earlier, on Friday, another migrant woman , aged about 21 years, had delivered a pair of twin boys at Sirathu in Kaushambhi district in a Shramik Special train that was on its way to Varanasi from Vapi in Gujarat. However, the newborn twins died hours later after they were born and rushed to a primary health centre for treatment. The woman was identified as Gayatri Devi and was eight-months pregnant. She was travelling along with her husband Bhaiyya Lal. Gayatri gave birth to twin boys in the moving train sometime after the train crossed Bharwari in Kaushambhi with the help of other women passengers. As soon as the authorities were informed, the train was made to stop at Sirathu railway station and the mother and the twins were rushed to the primary health centre in an ambulance. Chief medical superintendent of Kaushambhi district hospital Deepak Seth said that the babies were born premature and could not survive. Gayatri has been admitted to the isolation ward of the district hospital. LONDON Never heard of "travel bubbles" or "air bridges"? Read on because what you learn just might save your summer vacation now that we are in the coronavirus era. With little clarity on when the pandemic might end, many Europeans have already given up on the idea of a summer getaway. But some countries, desperate to salvage this year's travel season and eager to jump-start their economies are slowly reopening their borders and offering a glimpse of what travel might look like now. The pandemic, which has killed more than 300,000 people around the world, was a hammer blow to the travel industry as country after country went into lockdown, closing borders and grounding flights. But with lockdowns around Europe slowly getting lifted, some countries are toying with the idea of establishing special "travel corridors" or "travel bubbles." The idea is to allow people from countries with low levels of infection to travel freely, with no requirement to endure a 14-day quarantine at their destination. The European nations of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia have already created what they are calling a "Baltic travel bubble," allowing one another's citizens to travel among the three states without having to self-isolate on arrival. All three countries managed to contain their viral outbreaks with only dozens of deaths. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told NBC News the "bubble" is important for the country's tourism sector, which makes up five percent of its gross domestic product, or GDP, and is the first of its kind in the European Union. For nationals of other countries, quarantine restrictions will still apply, he said. Image: People line up in respect of security distancing to access St. Peter's Basilica on May 18, 2020 in The Vatican during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. (Vincnenzo Pinto / AFP - Getty Images) A similar idea was floated Monday by British Transportation Minister Grant Shapps, raising the hopes of Britons eager for sun-splashed European getaways after nearly two months in lockdown. Shapps said he was considering what he called "air bridges." These, he said, would enable people from countries with lower levels of infection to come to the United Kingdom. Story continues Greece, a major beach destination for Europeans said Wednesday that citizens of Balkan and Baltic countries, Germany and regional neighbors such as Israel and Cyprus are expected to be in the first wave to be allowed to enter the country without going into quarantine, but could be subject to random testing. Some countries might be excluded depending on the situation with their coronavirus outbreaks, Greek officials said. However, the European Commission warned last week against discriminatory agreements as borders reopen. It said countries should allow travel from all regions of the E.U. with similar epidemiological conditions. The idea of "tourist corridors" within Europe also does not sit well with Italy whose historic sites and Mediterranean coast normally make it a popular summer destination. Italy suffered one of the worst outbreaks in Europe, one that killed more than 32,000 people. "It's against the spirit of the European Union," Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Monday. Once the pandemic is under control, he said, all member states should open their borders and all should follow the same rules. Italy said last week it would be ready to welcome European tourists as of June 3. Tourism makes up 10 percent of the European Union's total economy, according to the European Commission. For some countries, it is one of the central pillars of the economy. For example, nearly 20 percent of Croatia's GDP comes from spending by foreign tourists by far the largest share in the E.U., according to the commission. The country, which is desperate for international visitors to start flocking to its famed Adriatic beaches, managed to contain the outbreak with just under a hundred deaths. ''If there was no coronavirus, we'd be open as usual at the end of April," Drazen Bonkovic, 43, who runs a restaurant on the picturesque island of Hvar, said. "If we don't have foreign guests, this season will be a disaster," he added. Image: Three youths looking at their mobile phones on empty street in the old town of the southern Croatian city of Dubrovnik, as the country eases lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic (Denis Lovrovic / AFP - Getty Images) On Tuesday, the country entered into a quarantine-free travel bubble with neighboring Slovenia, which had a similarly low number of coronavirus deaths. Experts agree that travel bubbles and corridors are a possible solution to saving this year's tourism season, but say that there are issues to consider, such as maintaining the consistency of restrictions and regulations within a bubble. "Will anyone from another country who needs medical care be covered while in the bubble?" said Richard Butler, emeritus tourism professor at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. "Are restrictions on things like group size or activities, the same throughout, and will visitors be treated the same as the host population?" Transparency and certainty will be critical, ensuring that travelers are fully informed before they make any arrangements, Butler said. With uncertainty still swirling around whether the virus might rebound when borders open, some countries are focusing instead on domestic tourism. The French government has launched a #ThisSummerIAmVisitingFrance hashtag. "We are working with the regions to promote destination France," Tourism Minister Jean Baptiste LeMoyne said last week. Italy, too, is working to encourage domestic travel, announcing a 500 euro ($540) holiday subsidy to be spent on summer holidays in the country. "Overall, if rates of infection keep dropping, the second half of the summer is savable, particularly for the bubbles and corridors, and domestically, but even one or two flare-ups and lockdowns will pretty quickly kill off tourist travel even if governments do not do so," Butler said. A key Government adviser on the lockdown has said the "debacle" over Dominic Cummings alleged lockdown breach has "fatally undermined" efforts to fight coronavirus. Professor Stephen Reicher, a member of the Government's advisory group on behavioural science, is the latest figure to criticise the Government's response to reports that Mr Cummings broke the lockdown more than once. The Prime Minister's top aide is accused of breaking coronavirus lockdown rules by making a 250-mile journey to his family in Durham, when his wife had Covid-19 symptoms. Boris Johnson is under pressure to sack Mr Cummings or risk facing an even larger revolt within his own party as Tory MPs join Labour in condemning Mr Cummings' actions. Professor Reicher told Good Morning Britain: If you look at the research it shows the reason why people observed lockdown was not for themselves, it wasnt because they were personally at risk, they did it for the community, they did it because of a sense of were all in this together. If you give the impression theres one rule for them and one rule for us you fatally undermine that sense of were all in this together and you undermine adherence to the forms of behaviour which have got us through this crisis. Professor Reicher added: The real issue here is that because of these actions, because of undermining trust in the Government, because of undermining adherence to the rules that we all need to follow, people are going to die. More people are going to die. Downing Street has defended Mr Cummings' actions, insisting he "acted in line with guidelines" and that his journey was "essential" because it related to the welfare of his child. Gloucestershires independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl echoed Professor Reicher's comments on the difficulty of enforcing lockdown when he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Mr Cummings' actions make a mockery of police enforcement earlier in the lockdown. I think it makes it much harder for the police going forward this will be quoted back at them time and time again when they try to enforce the new rules," said Mr Surl. Dominic Cummings told reporters he was justified in making the 250-mile trip to Durham / AP But I think more importantly it makes something of a mockery of the police action going back when the message was very, very clear: stay at home. The police had to deliver a very harsh, very difficult message and now it appears people could act differently, so I think it does undermine the policing going back and their confidence and going forward it will be more difficult but they will cope, they always do. Professor Reicher, who is on the Independent Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours which passes its advice to Sage, earlier criticised the Government's handling of the lockdown role on Twitter. The Government advisor told the PA news agency he had lost faith in the Governments ability to understand and act on the advice it was given when it shifted the message to stay alert on May 10. We have talked (to the Government) about involving the public in making decisions so the public can own these decisions, we have talked about clarity, we have talked about preparing for things so they are practically possible and sadly all those principles were compromised by the shift to stay alert," said Professor Reicher. This (Dominic Cummings) situation takes it a stage further, it does seem to me for the sake of protecting one of their own what the Government has done is to compromise fundamental principles and fundamentally compromised their ability to keep the public onboard in dealing with the pandemic. This really does concern me. It does make me feel like a lot of the work we have been doing hasnt been heard. But at the same time as long we can do that work and as long as the public can hear it, we are doing something worthwhile at least. Seen above are empty check-in counters at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, May 18. Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung The government will lead the restructuring of the debt-ridden aviation industry, leaving "uncompetitive" low-cost carriers unqualified to receive coronavirus relief funds. Earlier this month, the Korea Development Bank (KDB) decided to raise a 40 trillion won ($33 billion) virus relief fund in response to growing calls for the government to play a bigger role in salvaging companies and key industries hit hardest by the pandemic. The state-run lender and the financial authorities picked the aviation industry as the first beneficiary to receive special funding, as the potential fallout from bankruptcies could bring a wider-than-expected shock to the economy. The nation's nine low-cost carriers welcomed the decision amid hopes to receive financial aid at a time when most of them are suffering serious earnings setbacks after international flights were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the state-run lender and the government have not expressed "blind faith" in the sagging airliners, instead introducing a series of tight standards so that only a few will enjoy the financial relief. According to the requirements from the authority, only Jeju Air and Air Busan are eligible to receive funds out of the nine domestic low-cost carriers, while seven others have to come up with cost-cutting self-rescue measures to tackle the ongoing crisis. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, the nation's two major airliners, are also expected to receive funding. Under the guideline, airliners with a debt of more than 500 billion won can receive support. This has blocked mid-tier low-cost carriers such as Jin Air and Eastar Jet from getting any money from the government. "Low-cost carriers must have been deeply disappointed by the decision," an industry source said. "But the government is not in a position to provide unconditional financial support to sagging companies, as such a move can be seen as a reckless waste of taxpayers' money." "The government's budget is not sufficient enough to fund industry players widely deemed as uncompetitive," the official said. Korea has nine licensed low-cost carriers, which is more than that of most developed countries such as Japan and Germany. The U.S. runs the same number of low-cost carriers, even though its population and territory are both far larger than Korea. Against this backdrop, calls have grown recently for the government to support only "competitive and promising" carriers, with some critics arguing that the COVID-19 shock is a good chance to downscale over-supply in the airline industry here. All nine carriers generated tens of billions of dollars in operating losses in the first quarter of 2020 when the virus began spreading across the globe. The airlines have in recent months been left operating emergency management for their survival, taking such measures as putting staff on unpaid or paid leave. But the end is not in sight, due to the longer-than-expected virus shock. "The government's decision, disallowing those with less than 500 billion won in debt to receive the fund, is a message that less competitive carriers should find their own way for survival, rather than seeking government support," another source from one of the state-run lenders here said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed 3-day ceasefire announcement by the Taliban and Afghan governments decision to reciprocate during Eid festival. The Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had called for a temporary suspension of offensive operations solely for Eid festivities and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani reciprocated by ordering the security forces to comply with the 3-days truce. Pompeo expressed hope that the respite from the ongoing conflict will give Afghans space and security they deserve to celebrate the festival. He added that the temporary ceasefire will also allow the Taliban and the government the opportunity to take additional steps toward a peaceful future for their country. The United States remains committed to the implementation of the US-Taliban agreement and the US-Afghanistan Joint Declaration, Pompeo said in a statement. The top US diplomat stated that he expects Dr Abdullah Abdullah and President Ghani to seize the opportunity to use the opportunity to remove remaining obstacles that have delayed the peace talks, starting with the release of prisoners. He also called on the Taliban to adhere to their commitment not to allow released prisoners to return to the battlefield. Finally, I expect both leaders of the Afghan government and the Taliban not to escalate violence after Eid. This violence is counterproductive, deepens grievances, and prolongs the suffering of the Afghan people, said Pompeo. Read: Afghan President Pledges To 'expedite' Release Of Taliban Prisoners Amid Eid Ceasefire 'Momentous opportunity' Ghani, in his Eid al-Fitr message, announced that he would expedite the release of Taliban prisoners as taking another step forward towards a truce. The Afghan President took to Twitter to welcome the ceasefire declaration by the Taliban and said that he has instructed the security forces to defend only if attacked. Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, called it a momentous opportunity that should not be missed and added that the United States will do its part to help. He also called for the immediate release of remaining prisoners as specified in the US-Taliban agreement by both sides and no returning to high levels of violence. (1/5) #EidMubarak to all who celebrate. We welcome the Talibans decision to observe a ceasefire during Eid, as well as the Afghan government announcement reciprocating and announcing its own ceasefire. U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) May 23, 2020 Read: Taliban, Afghan Govt Declare 3-day Ceasefire For Eid; US Peace Envoy Calls It 'momentous' Her close pal Daniel Brocklebank has set up a virtual bar in a bid to stay in touch with their co-stars amid the coronavirus pandemic. And Julia Goulding has detailed her lockdown routine and how she's maintaining contact with her fellow Coronation Street castmembers. The soap star, 35, who welcomed her son Franklin with husband Ben Silver in November, revealed she's been keeping preoccupied with boozy pub quizzes once her baby boy is in bed. In good company: Julia Goulding (pictured top left) has detailed her lockdown routine and how she's maintaining contact with her fellow Coronation Street castmembers Actress Julia told Daily Star: 'To be honest, I've spoken to pretty much everyone (during lockdown). We've got WhatsApp groups which we all chat on daily and I've been having video calls.' The media personality went on to praise Bethany Platt's Lucy Fallon, who has been appointed their quiz master. 'She's an excellent quiz master actually, she really is. Obviously we've been frequenting Dan's bar, Dan's virtual bar, on an evening, which has been really lovely. It's been nice.' Stressing the importance of being in communication with loved ones during the lockdown period, the Shona Ramsey star added: 'There's some sense of normality with your friends and work place family and everything. At night time when the baby's in bed, sit down with a glass of wine and pop over to Dan's bar.' Juggling act: The soap star, 35, revealed she's been keeping preoccupied with boozy pub quizzes once her baby boy Franklin, five months, is in bed (pictured together in March) Great idea: Her close pal Daniel Brocklebank has set up a virtual bar in a bid to stay in touch with their co-stars amid the coronavirus pandemic (pictured) Last month, host Daniel said it's been 'comforting' having the support of his co-stars after the coronavirus lockdown halted filming. The actor, 40, told Lorraine Kelly he's set up a 'digital bar' to keep in touch with his co-stars as he lives alone during the pandemic. Daniel said he wanted to set up the bar for some company to preserve some sanity while he isolates alone and shared a glimpse of the space which he'd decorated with family snaps. Happy couple: The actress welcomed her son Franklin with husband Ben Silver in November (pictured in August) He explained: 'I'm in solitary isolation. It started off as a few of us getting together for dinner. 'It started with Sue Cleaver, Julia, who get together with me and just have a chat. It was to keep myself sane. We tried to theme it every night and dress up in costumes.' Daniel did say he's had some company from his pet pooches, and has been enjoying the countryside that surrounds his home. Important: Last month, Daniel said it's been 'comforting' having the support of his co-stars after the coronavirus lockdown halted filming He added: 'I've got Colin and Jean [his dogs] here with me, they've been a Godsend during this weird time. I'm surrounded by fields and woodlands so it's lovely taking them for a walk. I've been laying some slabs very badly.' When asked whether he misses seeing his co-stars, Daniel said he takes comfort from knowing everyone else is in lockdown with him. He added: 'We're a social cast, I'm missing my friends and family, we'd go for drinks after work. 'It's comforting knowing we are all in this position. If you are on your own, it's important to keep yourself busy and staying in touch with people.' A Red Cross volunteer educates members of her community about handwashing to help prevent Ebola. People in the Democratic Republic of Congo were more likely to trust public health information about the disease when it came from local experts, according to a new study by U of A researchers. Credit: UK Department for International Development, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Multiple factors led people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to resist public health messages during the 2018 outbreak of Ebola virus, and University of Alberta researchers fear the situation could be repeated with COVID-19 unless lessons are learned from the earlier epidemic. "Mistrust, fear and rumours were complete obstacles to the efforts of the Ebola response team," said Claude Kasereka, a surgeon from DRC who is doing his Ph.D. in epidemiology in the U of A's School of Public Health. "The resistance was both passivefor example, widespread reticence to bring affected family members for treatmentand active, where there were violent confrontations between the population and response teams," said his supervisor Michael Hawkes, assistant professor of pediatrics and Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher. In newly published research, Kasereka and Hawkes suggest that simple public health messages delivered in the local language by trusted local experts such as medical students can be effective in building public trust and gaining co-operation. The researchers did interviews and focus groups with 650 people in the Butembo region of northeast Congo immediately following the declaration of the Ebola outbreak in August 2018. Questions were asked in both Swahili and Kinande, the most prevalent local languages. "At first, people didn't believe that Ebola was a real disease," said Kasereka. "People thought that it was a fabrication from other nations." "We decided to try to understand the reasons for this social resistance." They learned that 72 percent of those surveyed didn't trust the Ebola response teams, 15 percent intended to disobey public health orders in the event of a family member getting sick or dying, and 12 percent did not believe the disease existed in the area. Barriers The 2018 Ebola outbreak in DRC eventually grew into the second largest ever, killing more than 2,000 people by April 2020, according to the World Health Organization. The researchers found that the arrival of foreign aid and English- or French-speaking medical professionals to help with the epidemic made local community members suspicious. "The population is mistrustful after decades of civil war," said Hawkes. "They feel abandoned by the international community because they'd been suffering under violent conflict for a couple of decades and no one had come to their aid. "Now a virus threatens to spill across the border and all of a sudden you're interested?" Another driver for the resistance to seeking treatment was the high mortality rate of Ebola, which Kasereka pegged at 50 percent. "If your family member was infected with Ebola, he would go to a special unit called an Ebola treatment centre and you would most likely never see him again because he would just die," Kasereka said. Under usual circumstances, Congolese families almost move into the hospital to help take care of a sick relative. But in the Ebola treatment centres, no visitors were allowed. Patients were unable to recognize their caregivers because they wore face coverings and other protective equipment. Kasereka explained there was a clash of cultures over burial rituals as well. "When someone dies in my culture, the body will be taken from the hospital to his house," he said. "People will spend the night mourning with the body. They will wash the body and cry while touching the body. "With Ebola, everything changed," he said. "When someone dies, if you are lucky you will be allowed to see the body from afar, and then the burial is carried out by a medically trained team for safety." The Congolese government tried to recruit local armed groups in the region to help deliver the Ebola response team's messages, but the strategy backfired. "It didn't work because there were so many different groups," he said. "Today you recruit one, and tomorrow there is another group coming in. There was no central co-ordination." Instead, some of the armed groups turned against the health-care teams, killing personnel and burning down clinics. The lack of accessible and reliable news sources allowed for rumours to spread, the researchers learned. For example, they were told that the epidemic was triggered by a woman who ate her cat, developed bleeding symptoms and then bewitched family members, thus spreading the disease. Local experts considered more credible The researchers shared their early findings with the local government in November 2018 and implemented a new strategy to deliver public health messages about Ebola. Six hundred medical students were deployed to reach out to 10,000 residents with simple messages such as "Ebola exists in Butembo" and "Bring infected family members to the Ebola treatment unit." "We saw that response to an outbreak should begin and end at the community level," Kasereka said. "Training local leaders was much more effective for communicating the message than using untrusted outsiders." He drew a parallel with family doctors in Canada. "Can you imagine if during an outbreak, your family physician was removed and replaced by someone that you don't know and can't talk to because of a language barrier?" he asked. Parallels Hawkes said although the Congolese and Canadian societies are very different, he sees some parallels in the way public health messages are judged, especially in light of the new COVID-19 pandemic. "Disorganized and conflicting messages from polarized political leadership leads to population mistrust of public health messages," he said. "And they have to be tailored to local understanding." Both researchers worry the same conditions that led to resistance to Ebola treatment may apply to COVID-19 in DRC, with lethal consequences. "People believe more in what they are getting from social media, and when you look at that content, most of it is not there to help," he said. "It might again increase social resistance. "The scars from Ebola virus disease are still there," he said. "To add COVID on top of that would be a disaster. We are not ready to deal with it." Explore further Health worker mistrust worsening DR Congo Ebola outbreak: study More information: Kasereka Masumbuko Claude et al. Ebola crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: student-led community engagement, Pathogens and Global Health (2020). Kasereka Masumbuko Claude et al. Ebola crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: student-led community engagement,(2020). DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2020.1754654 Hundreds of nurses and other workers from across the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro region rallied at the Minnesota State Capitol May 20 to protest a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospital workers and the firings of two union stewards who opposed the unsafe conditions at United Hospital in St. Paul. The rally evinced a deep anger over the utter indifference of corporate management to the plight of hospital workers. Health care workers first assembled in front of United Hospital, owned by Allina Healthcare, and then marched to the State Capitol wearing masks and observing social distancing. In front of the Capitol, several speakers vented against management, calling them out by name, over many issues. Fired nurse Monica Norberg (left) One speaker pointed out that the first letter we sent to Allina Hospital, and everybody else, about the coronavirus and protecting our workers was on January 28 and four months later, we still dont have the PPE we need. Leif Thorsgaard, a nurse in the emergency department at United, told the rally that the health care system failed to prepare for a public health crisis. He said, The hospital industry exerted lobbying pressure on the CDC [Centers for Disease Control] to relax safety guidelines. Because of these relaxed guidelines, hospitals now have less pressure to secure adequate levels of PPE. When questioned by health care workers, the hospitals state they follow the guidelines set forth by the CDC, the very guidelines that were eroded due to pressure from the hospital system. This is a call to action, he said. I am calling on us to return to the time of best practice and not possible adequate practice. If we are to reopen our economy, we must first be willing to reinstate the utmost of safety measures, because safety is non-negotiable. I am willing to give my life for this job. It is a calling that is at the core of me. But I am not willing to be harmed or die, because decision-makers based their choices on percentages and not on the lives and safety of their employees, their patients and their communities. Minnesota nurses protest retaliations Referring to Allina corporate management, Thorsgaard charged, These are the people who work from home where they are allowed to social distance and have never looked in the eyes of a COVID patient drowning in their own lungs. These people, who are okay with staff using masks over and over, balk at the idea of stockpiling N95 because expired equipment is money down the drain. We are standing at a pivotal moment in history. It is a time where the entire world stands together against a common enemy. We dont want to be heroes. We want to safely do our job and not spread this disease. Zetella Caauwe, a veteran United Hospital nurse in the emergency department and a Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) steward, who is being threatened by management, told the rally, I am likely to be the third steward fired. I have my next disciplinary meeting for wearing the hospital-issued scrubs on Friday. My discipline is progressive. And in all likelihood, I wont have a job by next week, because Im standing up. They have a clear pattern over the years, of not caring about their nurses, not keeping their nurses safe. Not keeping many of their frontline workers safe. We are disposable to them and I say that we are not. None of us, not any of us. Allina, like all health systems, has known that a pandemic was likely to come. There have been reports for over 15 years. And some of those reports even tell them how much PPE they should have been stockpiling. But that would be inconvenient. It would cost them money, and theyre into making money at the risk of my life. It is shameful. And Im done. I will continue to wear the hospital-issued scrubs so that Im not taking contaminated scrubs home to my family. Cliff Willmeng speaks at the rally Cliff Willmeng, a Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) steward who works in the United Hospital emergency room, was the first worker fired for reporting hospital violations of safety standards and defending multiple nurses who were speaking out about the lack of PPE in the hospital. Willmeng denounced Kelly Johnson, the emergency department manager, for a series of complaints and the harassment of nurses. He also criticized United Hospital President Sara Criger. We have charged her with overseeing of retaliatory measures, including the firing of two MNA stewards. As a punitive measure, we decided she should be subject to removal from all health care decision-making and transferred to housekeeping duties on the COVID unit of United Hospital. Willmeng closed by targeting Allina CEO Penny Wheeler, whose 2018 compensation was $2.5 million, For blindly leading thousands of front-line workers into impossible working conditions with little or no PPE; for overseeing the attacks on union nurses forcing the 2016 MNA strike; and for using the Allina Healthcare system as her personal cash-cow and a source of wealth generation. Monica Norberg speaks at the rally Monica Norberg, a neuro intensive care unit (ICU) nurse now serving in the COVID unit, told the rally she had been a nurse for almost four years. In those four years I have been in good standing the entire time without any warnings or disciplinary action against me until May 18 this past Monday, when I was terminated for doing virtual, mandatory education at home. Norberg explained the bogus character of the charge. The library where virtual education is done is in the direct path for transfer of patients to the COVID ICU. She pointed out that the state governments stay-at-home order legally justified doing virtual education from home. I made management aware that they were directly violating the stay-at-home order, said Norberg. I work in the COVID unit mainly, so any chance that I have of not exposing myself means that one day I may be able to see my family again. I may be able to hug my mom. With the current policies that they have in place, I cant do that. Norberg made clear the retaliatory character of her termination by United: I was actually elected an MNA steward for the COVID ICU at the neuro ICU. That was just six days before I was terminated. Before I became steward, I voiced multiple safety concerns to management since the beginning of the pandemic and prior to itfrom education policy to PPE shortages to staffing concerns. The victimization of the union stewards is aimed at silencing all health care workers. Workers should demand their reinstatement and an end to all retaliation. However, it has been the long collaboration of the Minnesota Nurses Association, National Nurses United (NNU) and other unions with austerity measures imposed by corporations and both big business parties that have left nurses and other health care workers particularly vulnerable in the current crisis. Kera Peterson, president of the St. Paul Labor Federation, lamely appealed to the employers, saying, People who dont have safe work conditions and take action shouldnt be punished by their employers. A spokeswoman for National Nurses United had little to add and, of course, said nothing about the unions support for Obama who used his so-called health reform to incentivize hospitals to slash staffing and increase the exploitation of health care workers. In addition, just like Trump, Obama did nothing to stockpile ventilators and PPE despite warnings from scientists about impending pandemics. Democratic State Senator Jeff Hayden, who was invited by the unions to speak, demagogically declared, We look forward to being strong partners to ensuring that nurses everywhere have the protection they need. He did not explain why they did not have it during the past four months. Neither labor officials nor Hayden mentioned or even alluded to President Trump and his criminal policies or to his challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden. Nor did the union officials say a word about Bernie Sanders, long promoted by the NNU, who once again packed it in and supported the chosen candidate of Wall Street and the Pentagon, Biden. Normally, the labor bureaucracy, especially in a presidential election year, would have loaded the rally with Democratic politicians stumping to obtain or maintain their positions. But both parties are implicated in ignoring early warnings of the pandemic, concealing the threat in its early stages and even cashing in stock portfolios to avoid getting caught in the initial panic on the stock market. Now both parties are engaged in a reckless campaign of reopening the economy and loosening social distance measures, despite scientific warnings that this will result in a surge in the number of infections and preventable deaths. In Minnesota, Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who initially warned against an early opening of businesses, has joined the back-to-work crusade, even though early COVID-19 outbreaks occurred at meatpacking companies in Minnesota like JBS and Pilgrims Pride. A further foreshadowing of the storm to come was the $5.5 million purchase in early May by the state of Minnesota of a 71,000-square-foot cold storage facility to store bodies when mortuary facilities are overwhelmed. Action by nurses and health care workers to defend themselves must be organized by rank-and-file workers themselves, independent of the MNA, which has a long record of betraying their struggles. In the 2010 contract struggle involving 12,000 nurses at all the major hospital systems, the MNA limited strike action to one day, opposing nurses demands for an open-ended strike, and then rammed through a sellout agreement that ignored demands for improving nurse-to-patient ratios and other improvements. In 2016, the MNA, in collaboration with the health care corporations, settled contracts with all the other hospitals except Allina. This left the Allina nurses isolated and fighting alone. Nevertheless, they carried out a determined struggle and voted down sellout contracts three times. Each time, the MNA brought back nearly identical concessions contracts for nurses until they pushed through a final settlement. In the 2019 contract session, after being pressured by nurses to carry out a unified struggle, the MNA began to settle contracts separately and impose ratification votes before other nurses had contracts, once again sabotaging the demands of nurses. In order to defend themselves, nurses should form rank-and-file safety committees at every hospital and clinic, encompassing nurses, doctors, medical technicians and other hospital workers. These committees will lead the struggle against hospital management and take the lead in decisive actions to combat the pandemic, including the provision of the necessary PPE, regular testing, increased staffing and reduced working hours. It must be up to these workers committees to determine what is safe based on science, not on the demands of the for-profit health care system. The pandemic has demonstrated to a broad and growing section of the working class that at the core of the current crisis is the capitalist system itself. The for-profit hospitals and other health care facilities, run by the corporate executives and bankers who sit on the boards of Allina and other hospitals, must be abolished and replaced by a system of socialized medicine. This means transforming the giant hospital chains, pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturers into public utilities controlled democratically by the working class. Domestic flight operations started at the Chandigarh International Airport and Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport in Amritsar on Monday, as passenger air travel resumed within the country after a gap of two months. Officials at the Chandigarh airport said incoming passenger traffic was more than the those flying out of the city. The airport here devised standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as maintaining social distancing norms and stringent thermal screening for the safety of passengers and airport staff. According to Chandigarh airport officials, the flights which landed here included those from Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru and the ones departing from here were also to these cities. An Air India flight from Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh was cancelled due to operational reasons, they said. The Indigo flight from Mumbai brought 142 passengers to Chandigarh on return it took off with 38 people on board. The Air Asia flight from Bengaluru arrived with 88 passengers and went back to Bengaluru with 39 passengers. The Vistara flight to Delhi from here had 25 passengers. Domestic flights also became operational from Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport in Amritsar. On the first day after the two-month hiatus, two Mumbai-Amritsar flights of private airlines were cancelled, officials at the airport said, adding a Jaipur-Amritsar-Patna flight brought in 16 passengers and took off with 40 passengers for Patna Sahib. Two more flights were scheduled in the evening on the Amritsar-Delhi sector. According to airport officials, Arogya Setu app and the wearing of face mask have been made mandatory for all passengers. All passengers were being screened and their luggage sanitized thoroughly, they said. At the Chandigarh airport, CISF personnel, tasked with guarding the facility, have been provided with transparent plexiglass sheets to avoid any physical contact with passengers. The airport had earlier announced the resumption of operations in a phased manner with 13 domestic flights from Monday. On Sunday, the Mohali district administration had said that all Punjab-bound air travellers must be tested for COVID-19 upon their arrival at the Chandigarh airport and then mandatorily home quarantined for 14 days. In case, the test comes out to be positive, the person will be shifted to an isolation facility, they had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Tanzania is expecting planes full of tourists as from next week after it opened its air space for international arrivals - Four tourists aboard a chartered plane from Greece arrived last week on Thursday and they proceeded directly to view wildlife - The country lifted the 14 days mandatory quarantine stating it will subject travellers to advanced screening and only quarantine them if they tested positive - President Magufuli said he was set to open schools and give a green light for sporting activities if number of infections remained low - Magufuli said there was no need to continue issuing business restrictions yet there were many empty hospital beds and with less very few serious COVID-19 cases being recorded Tanzania has become the first East African country to reopen its economy following economic freeze that had badly battered the region after the first case of coronavirus was reported in March 2020. As of Sunday, May 24, Dar es Salaam was steadily roaring back to business in full throttle as the country warmed up to open section of schools and receive tourists during the first week of June 2020. READ ALSO: Kenyan newspapers review for May 25: Low COVID-19 death rate may encourage Uhuru to reopen economy Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli. Photo: John Magufuli. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Waziri wa Usalama Tanzania aagiza maafisa wa trafiki wenye vitambi wapewe kazi zingine Speaking in Dodoma, President John Pombe Magufuli said there was no need to impose more business restrictions while the number of COVID-19 patients and the rate of infections had greatly reduced. "God has heard our prayers. I call upon anyone who has been touched by this to use Friday, Saturday and Sunday to give special thanks to God. Dar es Salaam only has 132 cases, Arusha has 11, Mwanza six patients while Dodoma only had two down from 40 confirmed cases. Majority are in stable condition but still test positive for the virus," Magufuli said. READ ALSO: Man loses KSh 37M in fake tender to supply Health Ministry with masks, gloves Travellers at the Namanga border. Photo: The Nation. Source: UGC On Thursday, May 21, four tourists, aboard a chartered plane from Greece landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport where they proceeded to view the country's rich wildlife and sceneries. The tourists grabbed the opportunity to visit Tanzania after authorities opened airports for international arrivals and also lifted the 14 days mandatory quarantine for visitors entering the country. Next week, the Magufuli-led country is expected to receive planes loaded with tourists to kick start its tourism sector. Tourism accounts for about 17% (KSh 250 billion) of Tanzania's annual GDP. Tanzania's national carrier Air Tanzania. Photo Air Tanzania. Source: UGC Among planes awaited to arrive are Royal Dutch Airlines KLM, Ethiopian Airlines and Turkish Airlines. The country envisions to benefit from tourists from the UK, France, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Turkey and Iceland where lockdowns are being relaxed. We are resuming our tourism activities, getting ready to receive international tourists from all over the world especially now that nations have started lifting lockdowns, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hamisi Kigwangalla was quoted by Daily Monitor as saying. President Uhuru Kenyatta (r) closed Kenya's border with Tanzania except for cargo shipment. Photo: State House Kenya. Source: Facebook Tanzania has, however, not released its COVID-19 figures from April 29 after President Magufuli poked holes in quality of testing. As of Monday, May 25, official figures from Tanzania showed the country had 508 infections which included 21 deaths and 183 recoveries. Uganda had recorded 212 cases as of Monday, May 25, when it also revealed it had diagnosed five truckers from Tanzania with the disease. Kenya had 1,214 cases out of which 51 were deaths and 383 recoveries. 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. I slept with multiple women, did all sorts of drugs before God changed me - Pastor Chris | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke The prices for other kinds of fuel remain unchanged Open source Today, on May 25, the average price for autogas in Ukraine has grown again in comparison to Friday, May 22, while other kinds of fuel stay on the same level, as the A-95 consulting group reported. The average price of the autogas increased by 21 kopiyka ($0,0078) and made 9.76 hryvnia ($0.36) per liter. Its price grew sharply in Poltava region (by 43 kopiyka, $0,016), Dnipropetrovsk region (by 32 kopiyka, $0,012), Kharkiv region (by 32 kopiyka, $0,012) and Zaporizhia region (by 29 kopiyka, $0,011). Thus, the highes average price of the autogas is spotted in Luhansk (9.95 hryvnia ($0,37) per liter), Donetsk (9.94 hryvnia, $0,37 per liter), Odesa (9.91 hryvnia,$0,37 per liter) and Ternopil (9.90 hryvnia, $0,37 per liter) regions. The cheapest autogas is observed in Kyiv (9.51 hryvnia, $0.35 per liter), Sumy (9.52 hryvnia,$0.35 per liter), Kherson (9.53 hryvnia, $0.35 per liter) and Zhytomyr (9.59 hryvnia, $0.36 per liter) regions. The prices for other kinds of fuel remain unchanged. Thus, A-92 petrol oil averagely costs 20.82 hryvnia ($0.77) per liter, A-95 21.85 hryvnia ($0.81) per liter, A-95 23.34 hryvnia ($0.87) per liter, diesel fuel 21.28 hryvnia ($0.79) per liter. Earlier, the experts came to the conclusion that the fuel consumption in Ukraine will fall by 20-30% due to the introduction of quarantine measures. As we reported, Ukrainian wheat exports from seaports almost fell by half to 138,000 tonnes in the week of March 28 - April 3 from 277,000 tonnes a week earlier. New Delhi, May 25 : For the coming few months, Indian consumers may forego big ticket retail purchases, but may go for reasonably priced indulgences, or what is called a 'Lipstick Effect. According to a research by RedQuanta on what Indian consumers are thinking, brands selling reasonably priced feel-good indulgences or accessories will benefit. Among the cultural trends likely to impact retail businesses is the Lipstick Effect. "Faced with a short-term cash deficit, consumers may forgo big-ticket retail items like a luxury bag in favour of a small but still premium product like a good quality lipstick," the research said. The Lipstick Effect has been invariably experienced in markets during economic downturns, and now should be no different for the coming few months at least, it said. Among the post-Covid visiting and spending forecasts is that there could be sprees of "revenge buying" by some groups of consumers. The study found that the majority of consumers might put off discretionary spending for the time being. But there will be a small but pivotal group of those who'll splurge on sprees of "revenge buying", akin to a trend currently seen in China. "Brands dealing in relatively high-end, premium goods are most likely to host this set of consumers. To further reflect upon the bright side, 67 per cent of female respondents called fashion shopping their 'most missed activity' during the stay at-home spell," the study said. As per the study, 39.75 per cent of the respondents said they'd spend less than they used to on retail and leisure. However, 26 per cent of these same people also said that they're ready to pay a premium for their "safety" in the subsequent months. In any case, majority of the consumers will pay fewer in-person visits. "But when they do, they'll do it as a serious customer -- ready to convert and ready to exit as quickly as possible. As a result of changing behaviours, the 'stakes per walk-in customer' will be critically high," the study said. Among the most "missed" activities, there's understandably a male-female divide with women strongly inclining towards shopping and salon, the study said. As many as 67 per cent of women said they miss going shopping, while 56 per cent of women said they miss nothing more than their beauty salon. A total of 62 per cent men and 47 per cent women said they miss going to movie theatres. The highest vote was unanimous for eating out as 75 per cent of the total respondents said that they were eager to go back to visiting dine-out venues, cafes. Meeting friends in person, going to gym/yoga classes and leisure travel were the other common attractions among the respondents of the study. The study noted a trend it called 'Minimalism 2.0', which is a brewing belief in "less is more" that will shape the way people consume fashion. "Fast fashion and impulse buying will be replaced by quality-rich, timeless investments that can be banked upon for a long time," it said. There will be a considerable increase in online buying. However, the research predicted that it may not be as radical as one might imagine. As many as 62 per cent of consumers still plan to keep a sizable chunk of their shopping in brick-and-mortar stores. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 06:01:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SARAJEVO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Medical professionals and experts from China and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have held a video conference, sharing their experiences in combating COVID-19, the Chinese Embassy in BiH said Monday in a statement. The Chinese participants were medical staff from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University in east China, who had been to Hubei Province, once the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. During the conference, Chinese experts shared their experiences on diagnostic and treatment methods, plasma therapy for critically-ill patients, ECMO therapy, monitoring asymptomatic patients, protecting medical staff and preventing imported cases, according to the statement. Experts from the two sides also interacted with the audience online, offering advice on protection, boosting immunity and maintaining physical and mental health. "The COVID-19 has been well controlled in BiH, and social order is gradually restored. However, some severe patients are still hospitalized," said Prof. Ranko Skrlbic, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Banja Luka, adding that China's achievements in the prevention and control of COVID-19 have also strengthened BiH's confidence in overcoming the epidemic. So far, BiH has reported 2,406 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 146 deaths. Enditem BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Kazakhstans small and medium business entities (SMEs) received nearly 160 billion tenge ($386 million) worth of soft loans as of May 25 within the framework of SMEs support program, 2020, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstan Sustainability Fund. The fund said that implementation of the soft loans allocation program to support SME continues in Kazakhstan, which offers loans for up to 12 months at a rate of no more than 8 percent per annum. Currently, banks allocated loans to 1,116 SMEs in the amount of about 160 billion tenge ($386 million). Most of the recipients account for representatives of wholesale and retail trade. The program of preferential lending was initiated by Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokaev due to the coronavirus pandemic and its negative impact on the economy of Kazakhstan. In order to support countrys SMEs, individual entrepreneurs affected by the emergency state in the country, the Kazakhstans National Bank allocated 600 billion tenge ($1.4 billion). The program is implemented by the Kazakhstan Sustainability Fund in cooperation with Kazakhstans Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market and 12 banks of the country. On March 15, 2020, Kazakhstans president signed a decree introducing an emergency state in Kazakhstan due to the coronavirus outbreak, which came in force on March 16 and was to last till April 15, 2020. Later, by a decree of Kazakhstan's president, the emergency state period in Kazakhstan was extended till May 1, 2020, and then till May 11, 2020. Since May 11, 2020 quarantine regime was eased in some and extended in other Kazakh regions and cities based on epidemiological situation in each of them. The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Founding Director of the West Africa Center for Crop Improvement Prof. Eric Danquah is calling for the establishment of a National Agriculture Authority (NAA) to regulate and oversee the transformation of agriculture for socio-economic development under the Ghana Beyond Aid Initiative. He also wants the government to establish a National Agriculture Development Fund into which funding to the tune of at least 1% of Ghanas GDP will be invested to finance the development of the agricultural sector. Private sector will also be encouraged to contribute to the development of the nation through that fund. The University of Ghana professor wants the fund and authority to be established by an act of parliament. The authority will be responsible for oversight of agricultural education, research, innovation, and development, as well as modernize agriculture through the development of commodity value chains. Prof. Danquah is proposing that the fund to be established is managed by the National Agriculture Authority and a Scientific Advisory Committee with representation from various science organisations. It is important that the composition of the NAA which should have representation from the sector Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Finance and Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation is carefully reasoned and should not sacrifice meritocracy, he said. Prof. Danquah was speaking during a webinar session organised by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the agricultural sector in Ghana. He observed food systems are highly susceptible to shocks and the Covid-19 pandemic is just another warning signal because there could be more devastating shocks in the future. These are not normal times. Given that the Covid-19 pandemic is just a warning signal and there could be more devastating future events, Ghana should take its future in its own hands and transform its agriculture to secure the future of the country as well as drive socio-economic development. A well-funded National Agriculture Authority to be established by law with independent powers is certainly the way to go, he said. The agricultural sector should be the key driving force for national development and this pandemic clearly obligates us to take urgent action to improve efficiency in our commodity value chains. We cannot attain food and nutrition security by doing business as usual. We would be reckless to think so, Prof. Danquah observed. A struggling nation which spent over US$ 2.0 billion on food imports in 2019 alone should be very troubled about the future because challenging times lie ahead and the informal food systems and dependency on exports require that we think out of the box in proffering solutions, he added. The webinar by AGRA was under the theme; the impact of Covid-19 on Agriculture in Ghana: Response of the seed industry. We should develop strategies to be self-reliant in research, innovation, and development. We should ensure that our national research institutions including the universities (which should be hubs for innovation) and their partners are well set up to deliver an uninterrupted scheme to get improved, nutritious and resilient varieties to farmers and markets. Modern storage technologies to reduce food spoilage are also urgently needed to build reserves to ensure optimal long-term storage. Agriculture driven by science and technology should underpin our national development agenda. We cannot await the passage of the Plant Breeders Bill to drive a more competitive seed industry for food and nutrition security, he added. He called for increased funding and public and private sector collaboration to accelerate the development of the country. Executive Secretary of the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG) Mrs. Augusta Nyamadi Clottey who participated in the webinar observed Covi-19 will push the players in the seed industry further to work harder towards encouraging local production of quality seeds. Dr. Solomon Gyan Ansah who is a Deputy Director of Agriculture and Head of the Seed Unit at the Directorate of Crop Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture noted agricultural extension is important if farmers can be encouraged to adopt improved seeds like hybrids. He called for smart methods of extension in the light of Covid-19 including electronic methods that uses tools like mobile phones. Josiah Wobil who is chairman of the National Seed Council Ghana called for a re-positioning of the agricultural sector so it can play a better role in the development of the country. Mr. Benjamin Adjei who is Assistant Representative to Ghana for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said it is important that every nation works towards enhanced seed security. He called for the development of capacities and the establishment of more infrastructure locally to ensure a sustainable seed system in the country. Conor McDowell did not have to die. That is a common sentiment for the loved ones left behind after an untimely death, certainly. But it's not one you always hear on Memorial Day, when the men and women who die in uniform are honored for dying for freedom, for country, for making the ultimate sacrifice in the name of democracy and for millions of fellow Americans. In Conor's case, though - and it has become ever clearer to his family after a year of deep research and work following his death - it is absolutely, devastatingly true. The smart, handsome, newly engaged 24-year-old should not have died. It was May 9, 2019, when 1st. Lt. H. Conor McDowell, a troop commander with the Marines' 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, was crushed to death seconds after his light armored vehicle (LAV) fell into a weed-choked abyss at Camp Pendleton near San Diego. "Conor died because the range safety unit at Pendleton failed to identify a vast hole completely concealed by 8-feet-high grass, weeds and shrubs," his parents, Susan Flanigan and Michael. McDowell, wrote in an opinion article for the Los Angeles Times last week. "That cover had sprung up over two weeks, following unusually heavy rains. Conor was leading a group of LAVs on daylight training maneuvers." As Conor felt the vehicle tipping, he yelled "Rollover!" and saved the lives of the other Marines with him. He was killed instantly - the other Marines there knew it. And they covered his head and torso with an American flag until help arrived. It was a training accident. They keep happening - military training deaths have outnumbered combat deaths 4 to 1, according to official statistics - in a military that has also seen five years of increased funding. Conor's parents have spent the year since his death pinpointing the failures that led to the great, unimaginable loss of their only son. "We have a sense of purpose in bringing in safety measures, which are long overdue and now the Pentagon can't resist anymore," said Michael McDowell, a respected former BBC journalist. I met McDowell on another story years ago and knew how proud he was of his son. This death is remarkable because it was one of 15 rollover deaths that McDowell can trace in military training in the past year. For me, it's personally poignant because Conor grew up playing in my own kids' favorite District of Columbia park and because he watched his mom explain the 9/11 attacks in Legos and instantly said he wanted to go fight terrorism. I could imagine both my sons as young Conor. After his death, I spent a long evening on the phone with the love of his life, Kathleen Bourque, and she told me the whole, whirlwind, cinematic love story. She hopped into his truck four days after they met and moved across the country with him. And I was swept away with them, smitten with their beautiful and daring love story. He had a ring made for Kathleen out of his grandmother's diamonds and was planning to give it to her when he got back from that 10-day training exercise. She moved in with his parents in their Maryland home after he died. And for 10 months they grieved together. She visited his childhood home - the one not far from mine in D.C. - and walked the rooms, imagining her love as a toddler in the historic home. She moved to Washington. Conor's parents have been working with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, pinpointing the fixable things they believe led to their only child's death. Thanks to their agitation, the Government Accountability Office launched a year-long forensic investigation examining a decade of rollovers, which the Pentagon calls "mishaps," but McDowell and Flanigan call "preventable." The military tactical vehicles are top-heavy and laden with extra armor and weaponry that make them prone to tip over, they said. "Thousands of these vehicles now in use are up to 30 years old, worn out by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and repaired by taking parts from other vehicles," they said in their opinion piece. "Too often they are pushed through maintenance inspections, which they should fail. There are precious few new vehicles available. For example, new LAVs [lightweight amphibious vehicles] are years from arrival." The "mishaps" keep happening. In March, Marine Cpl. Eloiza Zavala, 20, died minutes after she was catapulted out of a tactical vehicle as it hit a road bump during a training exercise in the United Arab Emirates. Zavala, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, was attached to a Camp Pendleton battalion, had been swiftly promoted to corporal and was widely popular. But her funeral in her hometown of Sacramento, California, was restricted to only eight family members and a small Marine honor guard because of the coronavirus. She didn't have to die, either. May 9 was a difficult day for McDowell, the first anniversary of his son's death, he told me. "You can't 'move on,' but you adjust a bit and go forward," he said. "But his loss will never leave us on any day, ever." Whats new: Chinas top state-owned asset watchdog has required 40 coal plants in five western provinces to be consolidated into the leading power generator in each province, according to a Wednesday notice. 38 of the plants will be merged by June 30, with the remaining two joining within one year after the other mergers are complete. Upon completion of the plan, each of the five power generators China Huaneng Group Co. Ltd., China Datang Co. Ltd., China Eenergy Investment Group Co. Ltd., State Power Investment Co. Ltd. and China Huadian Co. Ltd. will operate the vast majority of the fossil fuel plants in one of the five provinces. Whats the background: Chinas top State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission issued a draft of the plan late last year, aiming to reduce losses from the five major state-owned power companies under its remit by reallocating resources. The integration will be done mostly by transferring property rights between the companies, with minimal cash transactions. It calls to reduce coal power generation capacity in the region by at least a quarter, and cut overall losses by half. Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use. To read the full Caixin article in Chinese, click here. Contact reporter Lu Yutong (yutonglu@caixin.com) and editor Marcus Ryder (marcusryder@caixin.com) Eid celebrations remained low key in Mumbai on Monday and Muslims offered prayers at their homes instead of venturing out in view of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown. Heavy police security was deployed outside mosques and some key roads in the city. Prominent Muslim clerics in the city also appealed to people of the community to offer namaz by staying at home. Markets and mosques remained closed in Mumbai, where streets in normal times used to be bustling with activity during the festival time. A few members of the Muslim community were seen out on roads, but they avoided hugging each other and wore masks in view of the social distancing guidelines to stay protected against the coronavirus disease. Majority of the community members stayed indoors and refrained from wearing new clothes this time on the festival. In the wake of the lockdown, people did not invite relatives and friends for feasts and kept the celebrations simple. Women prepared the festive dishes at home in most of the Muslim families to mark the occasion. Caterers did not take food orders as most of their labourers have already left for their native places. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A two-faced cat born on a farm east of Albany died Saturday night after capturing strangers hearts and national attention. The gray, tabby-coated kitten named Biscuits and Gravy had two mouths, two noses and four sets of eyes on one head. It could eat and meow at the same time, said Kyla King, who cared for the runt of the litter born Wednesday on her Stutzman Drive property. Her husband, BJ King, announced the rare birth on the Albany Happenings Facebook page and thousands of reactions and comments were posted. The kittens birth defect is called diprosopus, or craniofacial duplication, and is referred to as Janus cats, named for a Roman god with two faces. Kyla King fed and kept the kitten warm since its mom rejected it. Information is based on an earlier story with reporting by Nia Tariq of the Albany Democrat-Herald. Kazakhstan has reformed laws on strictly controlled peaceful assembly that critics say fall short of international human rights standards and amount to window dressing. Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev signed legislation into law on May 25 that defines how many people can attend a demonstration, what venues are available for rallies, and what permission is needed to conduct such public events. The new law also bans foreigners from joining protests or organizing them. Kazakh and international human rights activists have repeatedly noted that the bill contradicts international standards and is replete with numerous restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles. According to experts, the procedures described in the bill actually require authorities to grant permission for a peaceful assembly and they have many reasons to refuse. Despite some changes in procedures, the law leaves room for Kazakhstans authorities to continue to unjustifiably restrict people from exercising their right to peaceful protest, said Mihra Rittmann, Human Rights Watch researcher for Europe and Central Asia. In April, Human Rights Watch and other rights groups wrote a letter to Toqaev urging him to reevaluate the public assembly law to bring it into line with international standards. Adding to concerns about the process that led to the new law, parliament debated the bill while the country was under coronavirus restrictions that limited the ability of citizens to organize to express their opinions. RFE/RL has reported that during the coronavirus lockdown authorities clamped down on and monitored civil rights activists critical of the revisions to the law on assembly. Tokaev came to power in 2019 pledging reforms in the energy-rich Central Asian country following three decades of rule by his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbaev. Nazarbaev still maintains key positions of power, including head of the countrys Security Council and ruling Nur Otan party. Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"): Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 25 May 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 48,828 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 21.90 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 21.80 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 21.86 USD PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 32.52 USD 26.54 GBP which was calculated as of 19 May 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 197,511,279 Public Shares outstanding, or 203,383,780 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 13,445,471 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies. The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected. About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005300/en/ Contacts: Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk Six weeks was how long it took me to finally see a doctor. Six weeks since Id first discovered a painful lump in my left breast, on a work trip to Costa Rica before lockdown. Why did I leave it so long? After all, most people who find a lump think of one thing cancer. But these are strange times. I check my breasts for lumps regularly, lifting my arms, feeling into the armpits, checking the skin for any changes or discomfort, and on my own in a hotel room back in March, I came across the anything unusual were warned about. The lump was on the underside of my breast and, when I probed it beneath my fingertips, it was sore. Six weeks was how long it took me to finally see a doctor. Six weeks since Id first discovered a painful lump in my left breast, on a work trip to Costa Rica before lockdown, writes JULIA BRADBURY I wasnt unduly frightened at first. Im 49 and Ive had three children, all breast-fed (which is said to lower the cancer risk), and there isnt a history of breast cancer in my family. Trying not to panic, I discussed it over the phone with my friend, Kate, who reassured me that on its own, pain usually isnt cancer although on occasion the pain made me wince, and I had the lump, too. I decided to try to put it out of my mind, but thought: I must go and see a doctor about that when I get home, which would be in ten days time. However, my kids are still young (twin girls aged five and an eight-year-old boy) and when I got back from my trip, they ambushed me at the door and stuck to me like glue for the first few days. Then another project came in. Then my parents came to stay. Then we had parents evenings to schedule. Then Covid swept across the country. Lockdown. The former Countryfile presenter (second right) with (left to right) Matt Baker, John Craven, Prince Charles and Adam Henson in 2013 Watching images every evening on the news of brave NHS staff strained under the pressure of this viral phenomenon made me feel awkward guilty, even about seeking reassurance over a lump I kept telling myself was nothing. In the back of my mind was also the thought that the last place I wanted to go was a hospital rife with coronavirus. Its a dilemma many others are going through. The number of people seeking a GP appointment has plummeted by more than 25 per cent during lockdown, according to NHS data. Worryingly quiet, is how my GP described the situation in his surgery. And that has a knock-on effect. Cancer Research UK says urgent referrals have dropped by around 75 per cent during the pandemic. Its heartbreaking to think that there are thousands maybe more who are putting their health at risk by not seeking help now. And I could have been one of them. Five weeks after my return to the UK, I was still putting off doing anything about the lump, despite an intermittent dull ache. Then a friend told me she was having surgery that night for breast cancer. I was devastated. It was out of the blue. I didnt want her to have to go through this, especially during peak coronavirus outbreak. I check my breasts for lumps regularly, lifting my arms, feeling into the armpits, checking the skin for any changes or discomfort, and on my own in a hotel room back in March, I came across the anything unusual were warned about, writes JULIA BRADBURY It was the jolt I needed. I realised this could happen to me, and doing nothing wasnt helping anyone. There are around 55,000 new diagnoses of breast cancer a year. And the coronavirus doesnt stop that. Whats more, if I did have cancer then my chances would be dramatically better if I got treatment sooner rather than later. So the day after I spoke to my friend, I had a Zoom appointment with my GP, whom Ive known for 30 years. He didnt ask to see my breasts because a) that would have been weird, and b) we agreed that he wouldnt be able to see much my gristly sore bit wasnt visible. Because it had been there for several weeks, he referred me straight away to a private breast cancer specialist who was still working during the pandemic many are not. Youve done the right thing, my GP assured me. He said that if you find a lump, experience nipple discharge or you notice contour difference, then you must do something. All these symptoms need to be investigated further. A special referral pathway is in place to ensure youre seen within two weeks whether or not you have private health insurance. Video-conferencing with my doctor was strange. This man has seen me through endometriosis surgery, three births, a miscarriage and a triple hernia operation. But now we were communicating via a screen. It felt weirdly impersonal, given how hands on our meetings normally are. His parting words were: Dont worry, its probably nothing. Three days later, I was stepping over the threshold of a clinic in London. A trio of face masks greeted me from behind a glass reception booth. This was the first time Id left my home since lockdown, and I was feeling quite strange. And nervous. They handed me a clipboard, which I accepted gingerly. No thanks, I dont need a pen. I put down my bag on a waiting-room chair and instantly regretted it. As I reached to get my sanitised pen, I accidentally pulled the face mask I had in my bag carefully wrapped in a tissue out on to the floor. This wasnt going well. While he was inspecting me, Mr Gui told me that he had picked up something in the mammogram, but there was nothing to be concerned about. Phew! Weeks of stress slipped off my shoulders, writes JULIA BRADBURY I was told to go to the eighth floor, but I looked at the lift, thought about the viral load in the tiny space, and made my way up the stairs, instead. This was my first mammogram and Id been told by friends to expect extreme discomfort. Its basically like photocopying your breasts. They get flattened individually between two hard plates so doctors can capture an image of whats going on with your tissue. It was over within five minutes. The masked nurse left the room to show the doctor the images. Then she came back in and said the doctor wanted more images of my right breast. This sent a little shock through me because the pain and the lump was in the left. SOCIAL MEDIA MYTH BUSTER We debunk the Covid-19 hoaxes circulating online. This week: Foods that can protect against the coronavirus. Numerous posts online advise using homemade remedies to protect against Covid-19, including eating garlic, lemon, ginger, broccoli and asparagus. This type of story makes me so frustrated because none of these foods have been subjected to proper trials to test their medicinal properties, says Dr Bharat Pankhania, a clinical lecturer in public health medicine at the University of Exeter Medical School. The same goes for any home remedies doing the rounds including dangerous suggestions such as making your own remedy with bleach, which could be fatal, adds GP Professor Steve Cox. Numerous posts online advise using homemade remedies to protect against Covid-19, including eating garlic, lemon, ginger, broccoli and asparagus There is currently nothing proven to protect you from the virus, apart from not coming into contact with it and regular hand-washing. Advertisement The consultant, breast surgeon Gerald Gui (who also works in the NHS) has a comforting air of efficiency about him. He became the third person to handle my breasts in an hour. I know some people might find this process excruciating, but Ive never been shy or embarrassed about nakedness. While he was inspecting me, Mr Gui told me that he had picked up something in the mammogram, but there was nothing to be concerned about. Phew! Weeks of stress slipped off my shoulders. You have clustered microcysts mini cysts in your left breast, fairly common for your age group, and thats what you can feel, he told me. The majority of lumps that women find turn out to be benign. No treatment was needed he simply urged me to have the usual breast screening. I wanted to shake his hand the relief was now coursing through my body. Back home, I took off all my clothes at the door and put them straight in the washing machine. Everything you do during Covid-19 life is complicated. But I realised I had potentially made my life even more complicated by not seeking help sooner. I had gone through all those weeks of worry and stress for nothing. My children ran up to me screaming: Mummy, Mummy! Weve got a pet slug! I hugged them all hard and felt that release again. When I got to my bedroom, I cried. Big, emotional tears. I suppose I was just decompressing. If youre reading this and you have found a lump, bump, or discovered a leaky nipple or a strange contour, get to your GP and dont wait six weeks like me. It may be nothing, in which case, why waste life worrying? And if it isnt, then the sooner you get treatment, the better. A three-month delay can be the difference between a tumour being curable or not. My lovely friend has had her mastectomy. She was in and out of hospital in a day, remarkably, but now comes the challenging part in a Covid-19 world recovery with no hugs. Domestic air travel resumed on Monday after two months of COVID-19 induced lockdown at the city's Kempegowda International Airport with the first flight leaving for Ranchi with about 176 passengers, as cancellations marred the day. According to sources, the first flight out was an Air Asia aircraft to Ranchi that departed at around 5:15 am, while the first arrival was a flight from Chennai at about 8 am with around 113 passengers. Restrictions on number of flights by some states, some of them mandating institutional quarantine, has led to cancellation of several arrivals and outbound flights, sources said. According to reports, over 30 flights flying out of Bengaluru have been cancelled. At city's Kempegowda International Airport, about 60 departures and 54 arrivals are expected today, officials said. According to them, some passengers opted for cancellation at the last moment, like in the case of the Bengaluru to Hyderabad flight. There are also reports of cancellation of some flights from Sambra airport in Belagavi and Mangaluru airport. Among the passengers who arrived in the city's airport on Monday was five-year-old Vihaan Sharma, who travelled alone from Delhi. His mother was seen anxiously waiting to meet her son after three months. As per the state government standard operating procedure those passengers who have travelled from high COVID-19 prevalence states were shifted to hotels for seven days of institutional quarantine by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses, specially arranged for the purpose. The Karnataka government has said people coming from high COVID-19 prevalence states--Maharashtra,Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh---will have to go for institutional quarantine for seven days, and charges to be borne by the passengers. After their COVID test comes out negative (swab should be taken between 5-7 day after their arrival) using 'pool testing', they should be sent for home quarantine for another seven days, sources said. Those coming from other low prevalence states have been asked to follow 14 days of home quarantine. Home quarantine is allowed for pregnant women, children below 10 years, senior citizens 80 years and above and terminally ill patients along with one attendant after their test result is negative. In special cases where businessmen are coming for urgent work, they are permitted without the necessity of quarantine if they bring the negative test report of COVID-19 from ICMR approved Laboratory and it should be not be more than two days older from the date of travel. In case they don't have such certificate, they have to undergo COVID-19 test and stay in paid institution quarantine till the test result comes out. In an effort to protect passengers and staff from the risk of COVID-19 transmission, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) that operates the city airport has introduced a Parking-to-Boarding 'contactless' journey. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Were increasingly a society that lives and dies by our own version of the truth, punting whatever inconvenient truths that disagree with our world view by the wayside while adopting whatever we want to hear, regardless of its accuracy or truthfulness. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Were increasingly a society that lives and dies by our own version of the truth, punting whatever inconvenient truths that disagree with our world view by the wayside while adopting whatever we want to hear, regardless of its accuracy or truthfulness. Last weeks news that a COVID-19 case had been found at local home-care company Daughter on Call was initially dismissed by some as mere rumour, and that the accusation constituted libel or "tabloid-style reporting." Some of those to initially criticize the coverage didnt seem to recognize what journalism is and would prefer to see The Brandon Sun merely serve as a public relations firm for business and community organizations. While promoting events and community efforts is an important part of what we do, we dont limit our coverage to the positives. But, these cries of "Fake News," made more popular in recent years thanks to U.S. President Donald Trumps repeated "enemy of the people" rants against journalists who dare report any of the many damning truths about him, are becoming old hat. As humans, we make mistakes, but when we do we consistently own up to them with correction notices printed on Page A2. Unlike the government, we strive for transparency. Sadly, anti-media rhetoric has accompanied COVID-19 coverage, not only locally, where just about every story is met with claims the pandemic is some sort of fear-mongering hoax, but most notable in the United States, where protecting ones self and others against illness is seen as a partisan decision. "Motivated reasoning is a pervasive tendency of human cognition," said social psychologist Dr. Peter Ditto in a story posted on the American Psychological Association website. "People are capable of being thoughtful and rational, but our wishes, hopes, fears and motivations often tip the scales to make us more likely to accept something as true if it supports what we want to believe." A related condition is the illusionary truth effect, where people believe false information to be correct even after repeated exposure to accurate information. "It takes more information to make you believe something you dont want to believe than something you do," Ditto said. For the vast majority of us, COVID-19 hasnt had anything to do with medical concerns. Instead, weve been dealing with the cure and not the disease. As such, for many of us, the cure has undeniably been worse than the disease. This is a good thing, in that if not for the cure the much worse flipside would have been the case. But, that line of reasoning is difficult to process when youre a few months into isolation, thrown out of your regular routine and potentially out of work. As a result of this, were more inclined than ever to dismiss COVID-19. Weve had about as much as we can take as it relates to the safety measures put in place. Thats why thousands of people crowded a Toronto park during the weekend, and why the pressure to relax restrictions has switched into high gear just about everywhere. With the infection rate in Canada lower than its been in other countries and Manitoba now boasting zero hospitalizations, the argument for social distancing restrictions has appeared increasingly weak. Contrast this with the latest grim realities elsewhere. During the weekend, The New York Times filled its front page with the names of some of the 100,000 Americans who have died as a result of COVID-19. Worldwide, there have been approximately 345,000 deaths as of Sunday, including 6,355 in Canada. Manitobas sitting pretty at the moment, but lets remember were in this position because of our early adoption of social distancing, which we are now casting aside in order to enjoy our fleeting summer days. A journalist from Russian news agency Rossiya Segodnya asks State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi a question via video link on the sidelines of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 24, 2020. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/China Daily] China will never take the initiative to bully others, but the country will hit back at any move to slander it, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a video news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday. The country's foreign policy is based on its civilization of 5,000 years, Wang said, adding that the Chinese people, who cherish peace and harmony and treat others with honesty, stand by firm principles and possess a strong mind. "We will surely tell the truth in the face of groundless defamation to safeguard resolutely justice and human conscience," he said. A number of foreign media outlets have been saying that China has taken on a "wolf-warrior" style of diplomacy, as Chinese diplomats rebuke false accusations by other countries over its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. In response, Wang said China has always adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, and it will always champion peace, development and win-win cooperation amid any changes in the international situation. The country will also continue maintaining world peace and promote common development, and it will conduct friendly cooperation with all other countries, Wang said. China's diplomacy focuses on building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said, and countries should live in peace with each other, treat each other equally and consult with each other instead of bowing to decisions made by "just one or two countries". As a result, China has always believed that the world should be a multipolar one with international relations democratized, all of which are in line with the progress of human civilization, as well as the aspiration of most countries, Wang said. China will never seek hegemony in the international community and it will always stand by the common interests of all countries, he said, adding that "those who always try to label China 'hegemonic' are the ones who are hanging on to hegemony". Also, in the face of increasing global challenges, China hopes countries will support and work with each other more, and reduce accusations and confrontations, Wang said. Shipments of Iranian petrochemical products have arrived in Venezuela despite American harrumphing against a deal that is part of a broader blossoming of relations between the Middle Eastern and Latin American countries. The arrival of the fuel shipments represents one in a long series of geopolitical flops for the Trump administration and the close-knit band of Washington hawks who dominate the White Houses scheming over the Middle East and Latin America. Campaigns of maximum pressure directed against Tehran and Caracas were meant to curtail the influence of the regimes and potentially bring about their downfall. Instead the two countries are openly collaborating with each other and publicly celebrating their defiance of US aims and manoeuvres. We are not alone, Captain Luis Somosa Ladea, the commander of the Venezuelan navy patrol ship Yekuana, which was escorting the convoy of tankers, told state television. We will do what is necessary to guarantee the sovereignty of Venezuela and the tranquillity of the Venezuelan people with the supply of petrol. For days, current and former US officials had been whispering menacing threats to Washington media outlets, and making ominous predictions that the shipments could be intercepted. In defiance of US maximum pressure campaigns, Iran is bailing out Venezuela, former national security adviser John Bolton wrote on Twitter. Irans attempt to oppose US priorities must be met with resolve. However, experts said no US ship moved towards the tankers as they made their way across two hemispheres, and the vessels arrived in Venezuelan waters without slowing or diverting from their path. Supporters of Venezuela and Iran hailed the shipments as a victory. This deal is not just about the tankers. There has been very high-level cooperation between the office of the Supreme Leader and military guys. Tehran-based interlocutor who speaks regularly to Latin American officials Our target is the White House, an Iran regime backer wrote on social media. Our path goes through Venezuela. The shipments include 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate gasoline aboard five Handysize and Handymax oil and chemical tankers, according to TankerTrackers.com, a research firm that monitors ship movements. The petroleum products are meant to expand Venezuelas ability to refine its crude oil into gasoline. Venezuela needs gasoline as the country currently has no or little functioning refining capacity and has therefore turned to Iran to try and restore some of it so they dont have to continue importing refined products, Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, told The Independent. A banner reads, There is no gasoline, outside a closed fuel station in Caracas, Venezuela (AP) In exchange for the fuel, Iran received about $500m worth of gold flown by the airline Mahan Air in late April, in a deal that bypasses US sanctions on both countries. Mahan, which is under US sanctions for its role in supplying weapons and fighters to the regime of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, has flown more than 10 flights between Iran and Venezuela since January, ferrying businesspeople, officials, technicians and supplies as both countries face the US and popular uprisings. Those flights have accelerated in recent weeks as Venezuela seeks to calm popular demands by upgrading its refinery capacity. Irans ambassador to Venezuela has announced plans to increase trade and tourism through the re-establishment of regularly scheduled commercial flights that were suspended a decade ago. The most important connections between the two countries fall outside normal diplomatic channels, however, with ties being forged between the office of Irans supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and generals loyal to Venezuelas president, Nicolas Maduro. Increasingly powerful military-financial elites are driving the relationship in both countries. This deal is not just about the tankers, said a Tehran-based interlocutor who speaks regularly to Latin American officials. There has been very high-level cooperation between the office of the supreme leader and military guys. Some analysts allege that Iran is helping Mr Maduro design his security services to combat protests against his rule, deploying the type of ideologically driven citizen militias that patrol streets in Tehran and helped quell a revolt in Syria. There are also accusations that Mr Maduro is helping Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah bolster a beachhead in Latin America. I would expect Iran to be looking at Venezuela and Latin America more broadly as a space in which it can operate without the level of scrutiny or detection it would face in North America or Europe, said Heather Heldman, a former State Department official who is now a managing partner at Luminae Group, a security consultancy. US Admiral Craig Faller, commander of US Southern Command, last month alleged that there was an uptick in Iranian activities in Venezuela including by the Revolutionary Guards elite overseas clandestine Quds Force. I would expect Iran to be looking at Venezuela and Latin America more broadly as a space in which it can operate without the level of scrutiny or detection it would face in North America or Europe Heather Heldman, Luminae Group Although hailed as a success on the tightly controlled television outlets of both authoritarian governments, the shipments do also suggest failures by Iran and Venezuela, which are increasingly dominated by corrupt military elites bound together by little more than antipathy towards Washington. Theyre both regimes that are struggling to hold on to power, and theyre both regimes that have for various reasons positioned themselves as adversaries of the United States, said Ms Heldman. Iran, pressed into a corner by US sanctions, has been forced to broker surreptitious deals with other isolated countries halfway across the globe rather than sell its oil, petroleum products and other exports to longstanding trading partners in nearby Europe and Asia. Venezuela, holding the worlds largest oil reserves, is importing refined products from the Gulf in what could be seen as a disastrous turn for a country suffering an economic meltdown as a result of US sanctions and years of mismanagement. Some fear that backroom deals with Iran could open the country to more US pressure. As if it were not enough that [Venezuela has] a complex humanitarian emergency, as if it were not enough that we are in the middle of a Covid-19 pandemic and that basic services are collapsed, now we also have to deal with Islamic terrorism, which is the main export product of Iran, Armando Armas, a Venezuela opposition figure, was quoted as saying by the news website La Patilla. Image: Twitter/@MEAIndia The Supreme Court on Monday rapped the Centre for allowing airlines to book middle seats on international flights and ordered that middle seats on flights must remain unoccupied after June 6. The Supreme Court said the government should be more concerned about the health of citizens rather than the health of airlines. The court was hearing a petition filed by the Centre and Air India challenging Bombay High Court order that had directed that middle seats be kept vacant to ensure social distancing for international flights, reported News18. The Supreme Court upheld Bombay High Court's order directing that middle seats be kept vacant on international flights. The court, however, allowed the national carrier to book middle seats for international flights for the next 10 days. "After 10 days, don't fly anyone in middle seats," the bench directed. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde questioned why social distancing norms was not necessary on flights. 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 Government should ensure social distancing even on flights. Shoulder-to-shoulder seating is dangerous and against the government's own norms. Will the virus know that it's on a plane and is not supposed to infect? the bench said. The apex court also observed that middle seats should be kept vacant even in domestic flights. Maintaining social distancing is important, the bench said, adding that there should not be a difference in social distancing norms for domestic and international flights. The Supreme Court further directed the case back to Bombay High Court and asked HC to examine the matter in detail and pass orders. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said last week that keeping middle seats vacant on domestic flights "is not viable" and social distancing norms will not be followed even if the seats remain empty. It takes 10 days to ship Vietnamese rice to the Philippine market - PHOTO: LE HOANG VU Prior to 2019, the Philippines had preferred the quota regime in importing rice. As a result, aside from allocating annual quotas of about 850,000 tons to the Philippine private sector, the countrys National Food Authority (NFA) maintained domestic supply-demand balance to open bidding for rice purchases from other countries, principally Vietnam and Thailand. However, as of February 15, 2019, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed into effect the Republic Act No. 11203 on Liberalizing the Importation, Exportation and Trading of Rice, Lifting for the Purpose the Quantitative Import Restriction on Rice, and for Other Purposes. This act has turned Philippine rice import from a quota-based regime to a tax-based regime. In short, this act abolished quotas in rice import to the Philippines to impose a 35% tax rate applicable to rice import from ASEAN countries. The import tariff is way lower than that imposed on non-ASEAN countries, which is as high as 180%. In line with the introduction of Act No. 11203, rice import to the island state has over the past yeari.e. since February 15, 2019has fallen into the hands of the Philippine private sector. Rice import has been no longer subject to quotas and volume as had been previously provided that it complies with the new Philippine tax requirements. However, some sources recently said the country would import some 300,000 tons of rice under the G2G (Government to Government) regime, which had been effective prior to the introduction of Act No. 11203. In other words, the quota regime would be reinstated. According to several international news outlets, Philippine Secretary of Agriculture William D. Dar has sent a letter of invitation via the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) about the import of 300,000 tons of rice to companies in Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and India. However, when contacted by the Saigon Times, Nguyen Ngoc Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) and vice board chairman of the Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood II)which was often delegated to take part in executing G2G rice contracts with the Philippinesand Tran Thanh Hai, vice head of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, both said they have not received the invitation from the Philippine side. Speaking to the Saigon Times on May 15, Nguyen Van Thanh, director of Phuoc Thanh IV in Vinh Long Province, said the Philippines has not yet officially invited the bidding for 300,000 tons of rice under the G2G regime. As far as I know, a delegation from the Philippine Department of Finance came to Vietnam, said Thanh. But it arrived only to survey supplies and hold talks for the import of rice. Thanh said the Philippines might import 300,000 tons of rice under the G2G regime. However, instead of assigning the NFA to the task, the Government may select the private sector instead. Im not sure about this, said Thanh, adding that by virtue of correspondents he received from Philippine rice traders, it is likely that this island state would hold G2G bidding and then assign the private sector to the task of executing the contracts. Rice market analyst Nguyen Dinh Bich maintained that if the Philippine Government chooses the private sector instead of the NFA, such a choice will not affect Vietnamese companies involved. Vietnam, argued Bich, will simply export the rice in case she wins the bid. Meanwhile, the assignment of rice import is on the Philippine territory. Such a change in the Philippine side, if any, may be possible, he said. The question, however, is whether it stands a chance for Vietnam if the Philippines returns to the G2G rice import regime. Bich stressed that if the Philippines opts for the G2G regime, Vietnam may face no problems. She may even have an edge over rivals should such bidding be put up. According to the rice analyst, the FOB price of Thai 25% broken rice, at US$468-472 per ton, is higher than that of Vietnamese rice, at US$435-457 per ton. That means Vietnamese rice is more competitive. Cambodia may not be able to meet large rice orders, said Bich, who also remarked that Myanmar isnt a serious contender either. To sum up, Bich said India may be a potential rival for Vietnamese rice exporters when it comes to rice prices. India offers her 25% broken rice at US$338-342 per ton. However, maintained Bich, a scrutiny of the Philippines history of rice importing may show that Indian rice exporters may not be likely to win rice bids put up by the Philippines. For example, the bidding prices [offered by India and Vietnam] may be equivalent, explained Bich. But transport fees from India is US$30-40 per ton higher than those from Vietnam. Whats more, India is facing a more serious challenge from Covid-19 than Vietnam is, he argued. Meanwhile, Thanh of Phuoc Thanh IV said Vietnamese rice exporters have almost finished all the existing rice export contracts, reaching 600,000 tons out of the 700,000 tons signed. Therefore, Vietnam is ready to engage in the new rice order of 300,000 tons from the Philippines, especially when Vietnam begins to harvest her summer-autumn rice crop, said Thanh. According to Thanh, the Philippines may choose to buy rice from Vietnam because it is most beneficial to her. Vietnamese rice has traditionally suited the palate of the Philippine people. Furthermore, transport fees of Vietnamese rice is low and it takes only 10 days to reach the Philippine market, he said. SGT A woman has admitted procuring two dozen schoolgirl friends some as young as 14 for paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and being paid $200 for each victim. In a harrowing interview for a new Netflix documentary series, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, which premieres on Wednesday, tearful Hayley Robson is the first of Epsteins so-called recruiters to admit introducing children into his twisted sexual pyramid scheme for money. Ms Robson, who was 16 when she began working for Epstein, says she was racked with guilt for years, until she realised that she was also a victim. Hayley Robson, 33, admitted to being a 'recruiter' for billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when she was 16 in a new Netflix documentary She was introduced to Epstein in 2003 by a friend at Royal Palm Beach High School in Florida who said she could make money giving an old guy massages. But when she went to Epsteins 25million mansion in Palm Beach, he tried to molest her in one of the bedrooms. Ms Robson, 33, says: He was naked on the table. I remember feeling really scared. He tried to touch me below the belt. I declined. I told him I didnt feel comfortable, and no, its not going to happen. At that moment he was like, Okay, well this isnt going to happen so if you have any friends and you bring them to me, I will give you $200. I would recruit girls who were friends. I would casually bring it up and we would drive together to his house. I would take them to his room and then Id walk out. Sometimes I would wait by the pool. When the girls would leave, Jeffrey would come out and pay me. I probably recruited 24 girls. Those girls brought other girls too. They were all underage. She says the youngest was 14. In Florida the legal age for consent is 18. In the harrowing interview, Ms Robson said she was racked with guilt for years for her involvement in Jeffrey Epstein's web of recruiters, until she realised she was a victim too Ms Robson says she was destroyed by guilt every day for years until she realised she was also a victim: I was 16. He was the adult. He shouldnt have asked me to do those things. The gripping four-part Netflix series tells how Epstein who killed himself in jail last summer after being arrested on child sex charges set up a sophisticated web of recruiters, using girls to lure their friends from at least four high schools near his home. Epstein preyed on girls from difficult backgrounds. Psychologist Kathryn Stamoulis described Epsteins recruitment system as a sexual pyramid scheme, saying: He was a brilliant, narcissistic billionaire. Adolescents could not cope with that. The shows director, Lisa Bryant, who spent 20 months making Filthy Rich, used a secret computer server and kept all footage under lock and key for fear of retribution from the billionaire. The programme claims he kept surveillance tapes from all his homes to blackmail the rich and powerful. Ms Bryant said: We started working on this before Epstein was arrested. He proved time and again that power and money helped him evade justice. We knew we couldnt be too careful. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the woman who claims Epstein forced her to have sex with Prince Andrew three times the first when she was just 17 in 2001 also speaks out in the documentary. Prince Andrew has vehemently denied the claims and any wrongdoing. During his infamous car crash interview on BBCs Newsnight last November he denied ever knowing Ms Roberts Giuffre. She was interviewed by Netflix two days after the Newsnight programme aired and says: Im watching it on my tablet. I wanted to throw my tablet in the pool. As a victim, the one thing you ask for is some acknowledgement, some remorse. This guy [Prince Andrew] didnt have any remorse at all. Coming to the support of healthcare heroes and essential workers during the current coronavirus pandemic, an Indian NGO has received recognition from an influential US Congressman for donating protecting equipments worth USD 150,000 across the country. Art of Living Foundation on May 22 received a special congressional recognition from US Congressman Tom Suozzi with the acknowledgement for the efforts being made by it across the country during this coronavirus pandemic. Towards a larger global effort, Art of Living in partnership with IAHV (International Association for Human Values) in USA have raised USD 350,000 to support the daily wage labourers in India. This effort has contributed to distribution of over 75 million meals to the marginalized segment of the population. To all the doctors, the paramedics, frontline workers and all other healthcare professionals, for your services, your dedication, we cannot express our gratitude enough, said spiritual leader, and founder of the Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Please don't ignore yourself. Your good rest is absolutely essential and it's necessary to keep you charged and keep you healthy. Art of Living Foundation and its counselors are ready for you, anytime to help you. This meditation will be tremendously beneficial to you. You'll feel the energy and enthusiasm renewed in you to carry your noble mission forward, he said. Art of Living also offers an opportunity for healthcare workers across the US to learn its powerful breathing meditation - at no cost - to help sustain them during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its launch in March 2020, thousands of frontline workers and healthcare professionals have benefited from this program. The program was developed in collaboration with leaders of the Provider Well-being Program at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC and other healthcare experts from around the country, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jackie 'O' Henderson revealed last month that a famous man had sent her a flirty message on Instagram within hours of her announcing she was single again. And the 45-year-old radio presenter is determined to keep the identity of the mystery celebrity under wraps - despite the persistent curiosity of her colleagues and listeners. She was bombarded with calls on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday as fans speculated about who Jackie's 'high-profile' suitor could be. Cheeky: Radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson bombarded with calls on Monday as listeners tried to find out which celebrity had 'slid into her DMs' when she announced her marriage split in 2018 At about 10:30am, one listener awkwardly suggested that retired NRL player Beau Ryan was the man in question. Jackie and Beau, who are colleagues at KIIS FM, have never dated. The former rugby league star is happily married to his wife-of-seven-years, Kara Orrell. When Jackie announced her separation from husband Lee after 15 years of marriage in 2018, there was unfounded speculation that she and Beau were more than friends. Fake news! At about 10:30am, one listener awkwardly suggested that retired NRL player Beau Ryan (pictured) was the man in question At the time, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the pair had 'noticeable chemistry' on air. New Idea also quoted an anonymous source as saying that Beau made Jackie 'laugh like no one else' and that she was 'leaning on him' for support amid her separation. The Australian Radio Network later issued a statement denying the false rumours. False rumours: When Jackie announced her separation from husband Lee after 15 years of marriage in 2018, there was unfounded speculation that she and Beau were more than friends 'Beau is a regular guest on KIIS 1065 with Kyle [Sandilands] and Jackie and is a great contributor to the show,' a spokesperson said. 'Confirming that their relationship is strictly professional and any speculation otherwise is completely fabricated and categorically untrue.' Meanwhile, another listener on Monday suggested that Jackie's mystery admirer might have been Ryan Gallagher. Hurtful innuendo: At the time, the Sydney Morning Herald and New Idea implied something was going on - but the Australian Radio Network issued a statement denying the false rumours. Beau is pictured with publicist Roxy Jacenko during one of his guest appearances on KIIS FM Ryan, who appeared on Married At First Sight's fifth season in 2018, is a frequent guest on The Kyle and Jackie O Show and is believed to be friends with Jackie. The mother-one-confirmed the man was not Ryan, however. A third listener suggested it was Locky Gilbert, the new Bachelor, but Jackie denied this was the case also. Speculation: Another listener on Monday suggested that Jackie's mystery admirer might have been Married At First Sight star Ryan Gallagher (pictured), who is a frequent guest on The Kyle and Jackie O Show and is believed to be friends with the radio host Close... but no cigar: A third listener suggested it was Locky Gilbert (pictured), the new Bachelor, but Jackie denied this was the case also Jackie had revealed on air on April 2 that she'd been inundated with flirty messages from men just minutes after she broke the news of her separation from Lee. 'When I was single, straight away my DMs lit up like crazy,' she said. 'People that you wouldn't have thought. Even people that you know, not just randoms on Instagram, but people that you know and have been friends with for a long time that are single [were hitting on me],' she added. Jackie admitted that one famous man in her social circle had contacted her 'literally within two hours' of announcing her marriage split. In demand! Jackie had revealed on air on April 2 that she'd been inundated with flirty messages from men just minutes after she broke the news of her separation from Lee Thanks, but no thanks! She admitted that one famous man in her social circle had contacted her 'literally within two hours' of announcing her marriage split She refused to name the mystery celebrity, but said he 'actually has a profile'. 'You don't know him [well enough] to hang out with him, but you know him and you've met him. And he's been in the studio before,' she told co-host Kyle Sandilands. Jackie confirmed she had declined the offer at the time because she wasn't ready to 'jump into bed' with another man. Jackie and Lee, an English photographer, announced their split in October 2018. They continue to amicably co-parent their nine-year-old daughter, Kitty. BEIJING, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered the government work report to the third session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing on Friday. The report reviews the achievement China has made in 2019 on all fronts: achieving stable economic growth, boosting people's living standards, breaking new ground in science and technology innovations, and playing an active role in the development of the global governance system. China is reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that has infected more than 5 million people worldwide. The work report fully acknowledged the difficulties China faced this year when Premier Li cautioned that "we must redouble our efforts to minimize the losses resulting from the virus and fulfill the targets and tasks for economic and social development this year." China did not set a specific target for its economic growth in 2020. According to Premier Li, this is because of uncertainties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and the unpredictable global economic and trade environment. However, other key targets for job creation, fiscal deficit and consumption are outlined in the government work report. CGTN sketched out a quick snapshot of this year's government work report in graphics. The first graphic compares China's 2019 goals and achievements with the targets set for 2020. In 2019, China's GPD increased by 6.1 percent, within the official growth target range of 6 percent to 6.5 percent. No economic growth target has been set for this year. Stabilizing employment is a priority this year, with over 9 million new urban jobs set for 2020 compared to last year's target of 11 million. China met and surpassed its 2019 goal by creating 13.52 million new jobs. Poverty reduction tops the agenda of Chinese policymakers this year. China is en route to achieving its target of eradicating poverty in rural areas and eliminating regional poverty. Official data shows 5.51 million Chinese living in poverty as of 2019; the goal set for this year is to lift all of them out of poverty. The second graphic illustrates key words for this year's government work report. Using the text from the speech, we generated a tree map that highlights words that appeared most frequently in the report. The frequency of word choices makes it clear that development is of paramount importance in this year's government work report, along with stabilizing employment and battling the epidemic. The word "development" appeared 76 times in Premier Li's speech, while the word "employment" showed up 39 times and "epidemic" 34 times. The coronavirus pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to industries and a focus on the economy is evident in Premier Li's frequent references to enterprises, economy, and reform. In his speech, Premier Li laid out a series of measures for companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, which are among those hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. Poverty alleviation, the first of the three key battles for the government to fight, also features heavily in the 2020 government work report. China has reduced the number of rural poor population by 11.09 million, according to the report, and greater efforts would be made to eliminate poverty in all remaining poor counties and villages. The third graphic highlights keywords that appeared for the first time in the government work report this year, among which most are related to battling the coronavirus, including keywords like "epidemic," "public health" and "COVID-19." One of the key messages of Premier Li's speech for this year is that China must recover from the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, with the recognition that "China will face challenges like never before." In his speech, Premier Li noted efforts that central and local governments have taken to boost the resumption of work, production and business activities. "Six guarantees" ensuring security in employment, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal function of primary-level governments is among the key words that appeared first in the government work report this year. It reflects the Chinese leadership's resolve to advance epidemic control and economic and social development in parallel. Original article: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-22/Graphics-Key-targets-for-2020-in-China-s-government-work-report--QHipLRgnny/index.html SOURCE CGTN SpaceX, the private American aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, is preparing to launch its Demo-2 mission on May 27 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. According to the risk calculated by NASA and SpaceX, there is a 1-in-276 chance that the test flight could turn fatal and a 1-in-60 chance that it could encounter some minor issues that would fail the mission but the crew would be safe. NASA reportedly said that the astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, were informed about the risk factor of the test flight but the duo said that they were really comfortable with the odds. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on May 23 announced that SpaceX has been given a go-ahead for the historic Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission set to launch the coming week. With this mission, NASA will launch its first crewed mission from US soil in almost 10 years (since 2011). This is also the first time NASA has allowed a private company like Elon Musk's SpaceX, to run the entire show. The test flight of Crew Dragon, planned at 2.03pm IST, will resurrect human spaceflight capability of the United States. The backup launch opportunities are available on May 30 at 12.52am IST, and May 31 at 12.30am IST. It is the final major test for SpaceXs human spaceflight system to be certified by NASA for operational crew missions to and from the International Space Station. Our teams are scouring and thinking of every single risk that's out there, and we have worked our butt off to buy down the ones we know of, and we'll continue to look - and continue to buy them down - until we bring them home, said Kathy Lueders, who manages the Commercial Crew Program for NASA, during the press briefing. Automatic docking and manoeuvring After entering the orbit, the crew and SpaceX mission control will test the environmental control and life support systems, the manoeuvring thrusters, and thermal control systems among other things to check whether the spacecraft is performing as expected. It will perform a series of phasing manoeuvres to position itself for rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station. While Crew Dragon is designed to perform the manoeuvres and docking on its own, astronauts piloting the spacecraft and the ISS will be monitoring it and can take control will if deemed necessary. After the successful conclusion of the test flight mission, the spacecraft will undock and depart the Space Station along with the two astronauts to return to Earth. Read: SpaceX's 1st Astronaut Launch Breaking New Ground For Style (Image: Twitter / @SpaceX) A smartphone with the Huawei and 5G network logo is seen on a PC motherboard in this illustration picture taken on Jan. 29, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Australias Strategic Dependence on China Risks Security and Prosperity: Henry Jackson Society Dependency on China 'led us to stay quiet on human rights,' the report states Australia is more strategically dependent on China than its Five Eyes partner nations across key economic sectors, according to a new report by London-based think tank The Henry Jackson Society. The report titled Breaking the China Supply Chain finds that the Five Eyes nations are dependent on China in 831 categories of strategically important goods. Australia surpasses its allies by being dependent on China in 167 categories of goods that service the Critical 11 sectors including health, energy, transportation, water, banking, information technology, government facilities, food, emergency services, critical manufacturing, and communications. This number is concerning as a shortage in the supply of these goods would threaten Australias security and prosperity, according to the report. The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed concern over the weekend about the potential risk to Australias telecommunications infrastructure due to the Victorian states Belt and Road partnership with Beijing. Pompeo told Sky News on May 24: We will not take any risk to our telecommunications infrastructure, any risk to national security elements with our Five Eyes partners. We are going to protect and preserve the security of those institutions, Pompeo said. Following Pompeos remarks, U.S. Ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse Jr. issued a statement May 24 to set the record straight. The United States has absolute confidence in the Australian governments ability to protect the security of its telecommunications networks and those of its Five Eyes partners, he said. Culvahouse said the U.S. has made no secret of its concerns about the security risks to 5G networks, but commended Australias leadership on the issue. We are not aware that Victoria has engaged in any concrete projects under BRI, let alone projects impinging on telecommunications networks, which we understand are a federal matter. Pompeo also warned Australia that projects that form part of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) need to be looked at carefully, and every project from BRI had a cost to it. Often money is loaned at concessional rates, or conditions are placed in debt documents, or government concessions have to be made to the Chinese Communist Party in order to get those (BRI) projects built, Pompeo said. (They) present real risks to the people, and real risk to the country. Frankly, they build up the capacity of the (CCP) to do harm in other ways as well. Trading Human Rights for Strategic Partnerships In its foreword, the report says that for 30 years Western countries had hoped that strategic partnerships with the Chinese regime would encourage it to move towards democracy. In fact, if anything, China has become steadily more authoritarian, the report states. This has serious implications for Australia and its Five Eyes partner nations the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. The research reviewed each Five Eyes nations dependency on China across 5,910 sets of data drawn from the United Nations International Statistics Database. The findings highlight sobering vulnerability to Chinese economic pressure and resonate with a growing global call to decouple from Chinas economy, as more countries come to see Chinas communist regime as a threat to their prosperity and security amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, commonly known as novel coronavirus. One strong message the paper delivers is that time has come to depart from the illusion that by trading and engaging ever more closely with China, it would open up and move towards democracy over time. The report argues that the globalisation the Five Eyes nations have been advocating for since World War II has led to a situation that allows China to accumulate a dangerous degree of strategic power. One of the consequences is that Chinas relations with much of the democratic world are now characterised by wolf warrior diplomacy (crude bullying and threats, often made on social media) and contempt for the rule of law. Related Coverage UK Plans to Phase Out Huawei From 5G Network, Reports Say As an illustrative example, the paper revealed that On the day after the discharge of Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, from hospital following a life-threatening COVID-19 infection, pressure was applied to the UK government to recommit to accepting Huawei into the UKs 5G network. However, the western democracies are partly blamed for the situation by appeasing the authoritarian regimes, as the paper hints. One incisive question raised is whether our dependency on Chinaas well as our desire to solicit further investment from themhas led us to stay quiet on human rights. At times, we sat idly by, as the Chinese Communist Party has persecuted the Uyghurs, the Tibetan people, the Falun Gong, Hong Kong, lawyers, activists, and above all its own people, the paper pointed out. The implication is clear. The time has arrived for us to make trade and investment decisions with thought not just on finances but on security and human rights. The COVID-19 patient was gasping for breath. As her oxygen levels dropped, the ER team at San Francisco General Hospital knew she needed to be intubated and placed on a ventilator. They called a Cantonese interpreter to explain the gravity of the situation and what to expect. Dr. Jessica Paz spoke in short sentences, pausing between each phrase to allow the interpreter to speak them in Cantonese over the phone. Well give you medications to sleep. We will put a tube down your throat to get oxygen into your lungs. You will be connected to a machine to provide breaths for you. Barely able to speak, the patient nodded in understanding. Paz reassured the woman they would do everything they could to care for her. It was the last thing the patient heard from the interpreter before being put to sleep. When swift communication is essential and often life-saving, caring for our limited-English-proficiency patients means needing to overcome basic language barriers with effective interpreting, said Dr. Sojung Yi, a resident in emergency medicine at SF General and UCSF. Now, during the coronavirus pandemic, medical interpreters services have taken on deeper importance, even as they must work under more difficult conditions, communicating over video screen or phone rather than in person because of fears of contagion. A COVID-19 patient who is hospitalized is scared, isolated, missing their family, said Dr. Alicia Fernandez, an internist who leads the UCSF School of Medicines Latinx Center of Excellence. When theres a language barrier, that situation is really exacerbated. With everyone wearing masks and other personal protective gear, voices are muffled, facial expressions hidden and body language obscured. Oxygen machines whir in the background, making it hard to hear. The information conveyed is sensitive and emotionally disturbing. When an interpreter comes into the room or on screen and introduces themselves, you can see this relief in the patients face, said Johanna Parker, Stanford Health Care lead interpreter for education and training, who also does Spanish interpretation. They cling to every bit of information, especially in dire circumstances. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Patients now cant have friends or relatives with them, so the interpreter becomes crucial as they process hearing difficult information from testing positive for the coronavirus to the possibility of being placed on a ventilator or just deal with loneliness. The interpreter might be the only person you speak to in your native language all day long, said Dr. Lev Malevanchik, a hospitalist at UCSF. They are absolutely essential not only for language but for cultural interpretations, to take what people say and put it in context. For instance, some cultures might describe their well-being in absolute terms, either terrible or wonderful, while others avoid couching things in extremes. Interpreters are also a lifeline for families who arent allowed in and are desperate to know how their loved one is doing, and for doctors, who rely on interpreters to help them gain patient trust and elicit vital information. A lot of the nuances, empathy and connection you get from in-person cues are limited because were masked, said Dr. Carolyn Hendrickson, co-medical director of the ICU at S.F. General, where about four-fifths of COVID-19 patients were non-English speakers. The patient cant see us, cant see any expressions of concern, were brand-new doctors to them, she said. Building rapport while yelling into a speaker phone (to an interpreter) with all the ambient noise is really challenging. Language barriers are common in the Bay Area as a disproportionate number of COVID-19 patients are minorities, many of them Spanish speaking. But the regions diversity means that multiple languages can be required. Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian and Vietnamese are the most common. Interpreters are considered so vital to health care that medical providers are required to provide them for free to ensure equal access. While hospitals have their own on-staff interpreters, they also contract with outside agencies for phone and video interpreters to handle less-common languages or at times when staff arent available. Being certified as a medical interpreter requires not only fluency but specialized training in medical terminology and situations. Interpreters are often unsung, but theyre a big part of providing care, said Bruce Occena, director of tele-health and interpreter services at SF General. UCSFs Dr. Fernandez recalled a recent case that highlights some difficulties of remote interpreting: A COVID-19 patient was struggling to breathe. The ER team wanted to place her on her stomach with an oxygen mask on her face, as this prone position increases the amount of oxygen getting to the lungs. A Spanish interpreter struggled to explain this by phone, but in the chaotic, noisy confines of the ER, the desperately ill patient couldnt understand. Dr. Fernandez, who is bilingual, joined the team to aid communication. When I was able to explain to her right there and then using fluent Spanish and gestures that we were going to be turning her over, it made everything much easier, Fernandez said. While technology is now the primary way interpreters are working, it can present barriers. Both UCSF and Stanford rely heavily on video interpreting, but at SF General the current standards are landline speakerphones in patients rooms or cell phones in the ER, which can add challenges to interpretation. Occena said the hospital plans to make video ubiquitous, but is seeking a system that will integrate with its new electronic medical records system. Dr. Vincent Lee, an ER resident, recalled a harrowing technology experience at SF General when an elderly patient who spoke only Cantonese presented with what doctors thought was a stroke. You only have a few hours from when the stroke started to effectively use (the appropriate) medication to address the clot, Dr. Lee said. There are lot of contraindications for using this medication if its not a stroke, he added. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The neurologist and I spent over 10 minutes of this extremely valuable time trying to use an interpreter over an old-school cell phone that kept dropping the call. Eventually they learned enough to confirm the stroke diagnosis. Sometimes low-tech is best. Interpreters on video all have white boards so they can write in the patients language, which helps for those who are hard of hearing but dont know sign language, said Mateo Rutherford-Rojas, technology and systems manager at UCSF Health Interpreting Services. We had a very elderly Chinese patient early on (in the pandemic crisis) who could barely hear, he said. The whole interpretation was done with a white board. Video screens obviously are a must for the ASL interpreters who work with deaf patients. Like other interpreters, they generally avoid in-person interactions because of contagion risks, but sometimes they can stand outside rooms that have glass windows so the patient can see them signing in the hallway. Still, interpreters sometimes are summoned in person. For patients with dementia or mental illness, hearing a disembodied voice or seeing a face on video can be disorienting. In those cases, interpreters wear the same protective equipment as other medical staff. Interpreters, like other medical providers, have to develop coping mechanisms for emotionally fraught situations telling a patient she may not survive; informing a wife her husband has died, for instance. To hear a diagnosis of COVID-19 is an emotionally distressing experience for someone in the hospital who is sick and already scared, said Dr. Nick Iverson, hospitalist at UCSF. To convey that diagnosis over the phone through an interpreter is distressing for the providers as well. The interpreter has to be the voice of the patient and of the family, said Angelica Villagran de Gonzales, supervisor of video medical interpreting at Stanford Health Care. Because we speak in the first person, we tend to unintentionally internalize these emotions. One technique she learned in a chaplain-led course: She carries a rock in her pocket, sometimes one with peace written on it, sometimes one with love. You rub it when you need to concentrate on the words being said rather than the feelings that you have, she said. Despite the challenges, interpreters say they love their work. Its an honor for us to be the voice for the patient and their family during these difficult times, and also their sources for information, Parker said. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid The coloring cards Brittany Fanning made for CATS, Whiskers Ministop are on display. / Courtesy of CATS, Whiskers Ministop By Jon Dunbar Brittany Fanning had no idea what she was getting into when she asked friends online for pictures of their cats. The U.S. resident of Seoul aimed to produce drawings suitable for a coloring book, but she found herself inundated with hundreds of requests. And after the first wave of people shared her line drawings, their friends wanted a chance to color pictures of their own cats. "I started making these coloring pages for my nieces and nephews when quarantine first started in America," she told The Korea Times. "It spread to friends' children, then adults who wanted to color their own pets. I started drawings pets for expats and it got a little out of control when hundreds of people started sending me images." Fanning certainly underestimated the popularity of coloring books for adults. "It began as a project for children, but I definitely think adults are coloring them more, especially during this strange time," she said. One of the people to contact her was Sungmi Allie Hong, who runs Cats Assistance in Transitional Shelter (CATS), Whiskers Ministop. She had dozens of cats, in desperate need of adoption, for Fanning to draw. A plan came together that they would release a coloring book. Annie, a cat living at CATS, Whiskers Ministop, appears next to a drawing by Brittany Fanning. / Courtesy of CATS, Whiskers Ministop "We both agreed that making these would be a great way to promote the shelter, raise money, and show the cats available for adoption," explained Fanning. Hong said, "During the pandemic, people look for something fun or interesting to do at home, and coloring has been one of the hot items in Korea among children and parents. I thought it could be a good item to raise funds to support the shelter during these hard times. So people who would like to support our shelter can also get something useful in return." On May 19, the shelter announced the coloring project , which was released as 38 cards instead of a book, which makes it easier to paint with watercolors. Donors can get 10 cards for 18,000 won, 15 for 21,000 won, 20 for 25,000 won, or the complete set for 35,000 won. There are also rolls of masking tape featuring the shelter cats' faces. Sales will go toward paying rent and buying supplies for the cats. Tobu, a cat living at CATS, Whiskers Ministop, appears next to a drawing by Brittany Fanning. / Courtesy of CATS, Whiskers Ministop Three individuals who upload their finished pictures to Instagram with the hashtag #colorwhiskersministop will receive a mystery gift. All cats pictured are available for adoption, but at least two have already found homes. "Cats are fun to draw because they have so many facial expressions. I love it when they're especially focused on a toy the furrier, the better," Fanning said. She now lives with an English bulldog, but says she is in the market for a cat herself. Hong explained the adoption process at her shelter: "We first receive an adoption application, which will be reviewed by me and sometimes another long-term volunteer, too. All the questions on the application should be clearly answered and we will conduct a second round of review by communicating with the applicants and the further procedure will go on if the review part is positive." The shelter is run based on private donations and out of Hong's pocket. She raises money by offering cat-sitting services and boarding, but demand for those services has dried up due to everyone sheltering at home with their cats during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Basically this is a go-and-come system and no cat adopted no cat come in," Hong explained. "We do not want to be a hoarder or be irresponsible with the poor cats just to be an instant hero. When we think we can afford more, we start checking with the acquaintance cat moms or local pounds if any cats need a temporary stay preferably adoptable but if not, we decide after discussion." Neo, one of the cats up for adoption at CATS, Whiskers Ministop, is drawn by artist Brittany Fanning and colored by an unknown person. Neo has been neutered, as indicated by the clipped ear. / Courtesy of CATS, Whiskers Ministop I haven't been to the workplace for over two months by now. The structure it provided has been seemlessly replaced by my own routines. I do yoga and train with weight almost everyday and run or hike at least three times a week. Reading the dictionary takes a big chunk of time. Since the revelation on my lack of ankle/calf flexibility, I have been stretching even when watching videos. Cooking and eating the cannellini beans has led to growing sage and summer savory. (The latter was to prevent gas.) And there was work, of course. There were so many things to do. What I missed the most about the workplace was the barbell. I had progressed to deadlifting 275 lbs in the company gym. As much as I was aware of my ego, nothing seemed to compare with the satisfaction of lifting a personal record. The carryover to running made me giddy. I was even thinking about adding a barbell set at my home gym. It was however too late once shelter-in-place came. I was reported by security when I was trying to fit in a lifting session on my last visit to the workplace (which led to an explicit company-wide ban of gym access). Public gyms were among the first non-essential businesses to close. Walmart's fitness section, especially shelves of things measured by pounds, looked robbed and never re-stocked. Trying to order a kettlebell online at Onnit or from Pavel, I was told to wait as all sizes were out. It was crazy. My progress in weight-lifting, however, was not stopped. My left wrist has recovered and I have been single-arm swinging the 40kg for the past two months. (Some days, my left could not do a set of 10 as the grip was not as strong. I would do more sets of less reps to get to a total of 50 swings.) Meanwhile, I had tried fastening a 15-lb bell to the 88-pounder and swung with two arms. The kludge was awkward at best and dangerous to train with over long term. It has been hard to imagine: do I need a 48kg finally? Maybe not. Let's meet the standards with the 40kg first. To do that, I need to be able to swing a 10x10 in five (I could barely do it in 10 min as of now) and do 10x1 Turkish Getups in 10 minutes. (I haven't trained the TGU for a while and need to restart.) Photograph: Bryan Woolston/Reuters Political leaders in Kentucky have condemned rightwing protesters against the states measures to fight the coronavirus, after the demonstrators hanged an effigy of Democratic state governor Andy Beshear from a tree. The incident happened on Sunday during a protest in favor of gun rights and other mostly conservative causes. Several men produced a rope and an effigy and strung it from a tree outside the state capitol building in Frankfort. The state representative Charles Booker, who is African American and the Democratic party challenger for the Senate majority leader Mitch McConnells seat in Kentucky in November, described the representation as vile and traumatic. Its not just the threat on his life, its the fact that they demonstrated an act rooted in our history of racism. Ive had family lynched in Kentucky, Booker added. The act that was displayed on Capitol grounds today, near where the Governor and his young children live, was wrong and offensive. This type of behavior must be condemned, Beshears communications director, Crystal Staley, said in an email to CNN. As Kentuckians we should be able to voice our opinions without turning to hate and threats of violence. Put simply we are and should be better than this. McConnell and the state Republican party issued their own condemnations. As a strong defender of the First Amendment, I believe Americans have the right to peacefully protest, McConnells press office posted on Twitter. However, todays action toward Governor Beshear is unacceptable. There is no place for hate in Kentucky. A demonstrator hangs an effigy of the Kentucky governor, Andy Beshear, during the rally. Photograph: Bryan Woolston/Reuters The Republican party of Kentucky echoed that condemnation, posting: What occurred at todays rally was unacceptable and has no place in Kentuckys political discourse. The rally, which drew about 100 people, soon turned into a protest against Beshears lockdown directives, according to the journalist Gerry Seavo James, who passed an image of the mayors effigy to CNN. According to James, the rally was wrapping up when someone pulled the effigy of Beshear out of a bag and hanged it. The figure included a note around its neck with the words sic semper tyrannis Latin for thus always to tyrants. Story continues The phrase is generally attributed to Julius Caesars assassin Brutus but was also uttered by John Wilkes Booth as he shot Abraham Lincoln. It remains the state motto of Virginia. Its a very chilling image to see in modern America. And especially as an African American man, said James, who has been documenting gun rights rallies across the south. James said the effigy was removed soon after. Theres a gentleman that came up. He was pretty upset about it, and he cut it down. And he was like, This has no place at this rally. Were trying to be peaceful. (Newser) They're no giant murder hornets, but they do make a racket. Millions upon millions of cicadas are due to surface this year after 17 years in the ground, CNN reports. People in Southwest Virginia, parts of North Carolina and West Virginia will witness the event this year, per Virginia Tech. They're harmless to humans, though cicadas pose a danger to crops and plants because they leave their eggs in branches or vines, which can then wither and split. A small tree can die if enough cicadas implant eggs in it. Owners of vineyards and orchards will want to keep an eye on the infestation, the school said. story continues below Otherwise, the main issue is noise. An acre of land could host 1.5 million cicadas, per NBC, generating what the school said might sound like "a field of out-of-tune car radios." That's not what it sounds like to cicadas: It's the male's mating call. Periodical cicadas follow a 13- or 17-year cycle, and it's not known why. One theory is that it keeps them from being on the same schedule as predators. A Virginia Tech professor suggests we savor rare experience. "If you dont have fruit trees or grapevines to protect," Doug Pfeiffer said, "you can enjoy this phenomenon while it lasts." But then, he's an entomologist. On his blog, Pfeiffer also analyzes the giant hornet situation. (Read more cicadas stories.) A feral cat about the size of a small dingo has been spotted in Australia's Simpson desert carrying a huge sand goanna it had just killed. Researchers captured the cat on film at the Ethabuka Reserve near the Queensland-Northern Territory border on wildlife cameras they'd set up to study decomposing animals in the desert. The photograph shows the stark reality of Australia's feral cat problem, with the pests responsible for killing three billion native animals each year. Scientists believe feral cats have been directly responsible for the extinction of 34 mammal species since they arrived in Australia 200 years ago. They have also decimated the populations of other species, with at least 123 now threatened with extinction because of feral cats. University of Sydney researcher Emma Spencer told Daily Mail Australia she was shocked to see a feral cat feasting on such a large predator. A mammoth feral cat has been spotted in the Simpson desert making a meal out of a goanna 'We don't often see cats catching something that large ... and goannas can weigh up to 6kg,' she said. She said there was 'no doubt' the cat had killed the goanna, despite the reptile being a challenge for predators because of their strength and speed. 'They will scavenge for dead animals, but do prefer live prey. 'It's also uncommon to find dead goannas just left behind by another animal - so it's most likely a cat has grabbed the goanna'. Ms Spencer said it was increasingly common to see ferals grow as large as the one seen in the video. While an average domestic cat will weigh between three and five kilograms, a male feral cat can weigh more than seven kilograms. 'Some of those cats can be as big as a small dingo,' she said. Road cameras captured several more images of large feral cats in the Simpson Desert Feral cats can grow up to 7 kilograms in weight, where a standard house cat ranges from 3-5 kilograms There are an estimated 5.6million feral cats which cover just about every corner of Australia, Biosecurity Queensland said. They eat everything from fish, frogs and insects to birds and marsupial, insects, fish and amphibians. Biosecurity Queensland principal scientist Matthew Gentle told ABC news it's not the first time they've seen a feral cat take on much larger prey. 'We've seen similar photos through our research of cats dragging back killed wallabies to feed offspring,' he said. USYD PHD Student Emma Spencer analyses a kangaroo carcass in the Simpson Desert The photo was taken back in 2018, but uncovered by researchers two years later as they trawled through footage off the wildlife cameras earlier this month. Social media platform Reddit blew up over the image, with users astounded by the cat's size. One suggested feral cats would 'evolve to be the size of tigers' in 30 generations, while others shared their own stories of encounters with the wild animals. Many took it as an opportunity to call for better management of cat species, because of their impact on Australia's native wildlife. 'It's time to seriously consider a ban on all feline pets. They are destroying local wildlife, soon they'll have an impact on the environment,' one wrote. Researchers captured the cat on film at the Ethabuka Reserve near the Queensland-Northern Territory border (pictured: stock image of the Simpson Desert) A Shramik Special train brought back 1,610 migrant workers to Manipur from Mumbai on Monday, an official said. These migrant workers had been stranded in Mumbai due to the lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the official said adding the train arrived at Jiribam railway station. This was the 11th Shramik Special train to have brought back migrant labourers to Manipur. The Jiribam district administration made arrangements to look after the returnees, the official said. Personnel of different departments along with members of the Red Cross Society and the civil society organisations are helping to conduct thermal screening for COVID-19. They were sent to their homes in the different districts in buses arranged by the administration and will be in institutional or community quarantine centres for 14 days as per norms, official sources said. So far 10,754 people of Manipur stranded outside the state due to the nationwide lockdown have returned in 11 Shramik Special trains, the official added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Wider Image: At home with couple who saved baby kangaroos from the fires SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia on Monday began the first hearings of a powerful inquiry into the causes of catastrophic bushfires that swept across the country, killing 33 people, destroying some 2,500 homes and razing an area the size of South Korea. Fuelled by three years of drought, which experts have attributed to climate change, hundreds of fires, some massive in size, burned across Australia's east coast for months before finally being extinguished in February. "The tragic loss of life, the destruction of homes, the significant loss of livestock and millions of hectares of forest has been devastating and continues to deeply affect people and their recovery," Mark Binskin, chair of the inquiry, said in an emailed statement . Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the six-month Royal Commission will investigate preparedness for future bushfires and the need for any changes to the law to clarify who is responsible for overseeing emergency authorities. A two-week hearing of the royal commission, sitting in Canberra but being conducted electronically, has started with a focus on the changing global climate and natural disaster risk. (Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Michael Perry) "Logan" was Hugh Jackman's swansong as Wolverine and director James Mangold says killing off the adamantium-clawed mutant was a simple, logical decision. It was announced in 2015 that the Hollywood star would play the fan favourite X-Men character for the final time in the 2017 sequel to "The Wolverine". The director said both he and Jackman were on board right from the outset of the film's premise. Mangold said the process was "a lot less of a committee than you'd think". "It was really Hugh and I at first. It seemed logical, that if it were going to be his last film, that he's either going to ride off onto the horizon or die, that you need to have some kind of curtain on his story. That's a logical assumption, right? "But the reason the choice was at our feet was because you needed the sense of closure. You needed some sense of an ending if you were going to end, if you were dealing with the legacy of Hugh's many performances and many films, and trying to set this part in some definitive way," he told ComicBook.com. Jackman, who tasted international stardom as Wolverine in his first Hollywood movie "X-Men", played the role from 2000 to 2018 in the film series. The Australian actor holds the Guinness World Record for "longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero" for playing Logan/ Wolverine. And contrary to their expectations, Mangold revealed, studio Fox was surprisingly in favour of killing off such a popular character when they pitched the idea. "Frankly, even the studio didn't even have nervousness about it, because it felt like an event. It gave the movie, on a simple level, the reality that while it may not feature as flamboyant or expensive action as some other movies, that the must see of the movie was going to be because it would be the end of a legend," he added. Jackman recently admitted he departed the "X-Men" franchise at the right time. He added that he is looking forward to some other actor take up the role in a potential new take. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [May 25, 2020] Kerecis Educational Webinars Focus on Omega3 Rich Fish Skin for Wound Care Kerecis, the company pioneering the use of fish skin and fatty acids in tissue regeneration and tissue protection, will present three educational lectures on wound care in May and June. The webinars include a live, CME-accredited lecture. "The need for wound care did not disappear with the appearance of COVID-19," said Joe Smith, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Kerecis. "These webinars demonstrate our commitment to help wound care physicians, surgeons and other clinicians continue to provide outstanding service to their patients in today's challenging environment." During the hour-long, online events, leading clinical experts will discuss the following topics: An Ocean's Worth of Wound Care Solutions, Where Is the Evidence? (one CME credit) Tuesday, May 26, 5:30 p.m. EST Dr. John C. Lantis II, MD, FACS, will present this live, CME-accredited lecture, which will explore various wound-care solutions and will include an in-depth review of the evidence. Dr. Lantis is the Professor of Surgery at Ichan School of Medicine, and Vice Chair of Surgery and Chief of Vascular/Endovascular Surgery at Mount Sinai Morningside and West Hospitals in New York. To register, click here. Plastic Surgeon's Guide to Wound Bed Prep June 2, 6 p.m. EST Dr. Mark D. Suski, MD, is a plastic surgeon and the Medical Director of the Center for Advanced Wound Healing at Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California. Register here. Surgical Preparation for Traumatic Wounds June 9, 6 p.m. EST Dr. Thea Price, MD, is a trauma surgeon, and the Assistant Professor of the Department of Surgery at Rush University Medical College in Chicago. Register here. For more information, go to www.kerecis.com/webinars. About Kerecis Omega3 Wound Kerecis Omega3 Wound is intact fish skin that, when grafted onto damaged human tissue, recruits the body's own cells and ultimately is converted into living tissue. Because no disease-transfer risk exists between cold-water fish and humans, the Kerecis fish skin is only gently processed and retains its similarity to human skin, making it an ideal skin substitute. Fish skin also contains Omega3 fatty acids, which enhance wound healing. About Kerecis Kerecis is pioneering the use of fish skin and fatty acids in the globally expanding cellular therapy and regenerative medicine market. The company's mission is to extend human life by supporting the body's own ability to regenerate, and its vision is to become the world leader in tissue regeneration by sustainably harnessing nature's own remedies. For more information, visit www.kerecis.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005015/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Afghan president vows to expedite Taliban prisoners release after ceasefire offer Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 10:23 AM Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says his government aims to speed up the release of Taliban prisoners, after the militant group offered a three-day ceasefire for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. "As a responsible government, we want to move one more step forward: I am announcing that the release of Taliban prisoners will be expedited and we call on the Taliban that they also expedite the release of the security and defense prisoners," Ghani said in a televised address celebrating the event on Sunday. Ghani wished a happy Eid al-Fitr to all Afghans and said the peace process required cooperation between the two sides and work to remove its hurdles. "The winner of peace will be the Afghan people. War brings destruction and misery, especially for Afghan women who suffer the most," he said. "I once again welcome the ceasefire announced by the Taliban, I also instructed the Afghan Security Forces to observe ceasefire, too." The Afghan president also said the government's negotiating team was ready to start intra-Afghan talks as soon as possible. Under a deal signed with the United States on February 28, the Taliban agreed to halt their attacks on international forces in return for the US military's phased withdrawal from Afghanistan and a prisoner exchange with the government in Kabul. The Afghan government, which was excluded from the talks and was thus not a signatory to the accord, is required to release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners. But it has reduced the number to 1,500 before the talks start. The militants are obliged to free 1,000 government captives in return, but have reportedly freed only 148. The agreement was supposed to lay the groundwork for a peace process in the war-ravaged Asian country, but the Taliban militant group rejected a government offer of a ceasefire for the duration of Ramadan and continued their attacks. Washington is compelled under the deal to pull out American forces and foreign troops from Afghanistan by July next year, provided that the militants start talks with Kabul and adhere to other security guarantees. About 14,000 US troops and approximately 17,000 troops from NATO allies and partner countries remain stationed in Afghanistan years. American forces have since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan remained bogged down in the country through the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and now Donald Trump. Amid the continued occupation, the Daesh terrorist group has also emerged in the Asian country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A police chief has formally written to Durham Constabulary to request that they "establish the facts" about Dominic Cummings' visit and whether he broke the law. Steve White, acting Durham police and crime commissioner, has asked to the force's chief constable Jo Farrell "to establish the facts concerning any breach of the law or regulations". He said in a statement: "I am confident that thus far, Durham police has responded proportionately and appropriately to the issues raised concerning Mr Cummings and his visit to the County at the end of March. "It is clear however that there is a plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination. "I have today written to the Chief Constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter at any juncture." A furious row over the top aide's 260-mile trip to Durham continued this morning with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson insisting he "broke no law". Police chief Steve White has asked officers to probe if the trip broke the law / Durham Police Boris Johnson's most senior aide travelled to the city in March to self-isolate when his wife had Covid-19 symptoms. It is claimed he made a second trip to Durham in April, having already returned to London, despite lockdown rules urging against long-distance travel. Durham Police has already confirmed it spoke to Mr Cummings' father during the first trip, despite Downing Street claiming they did not. Mr White added in a statement on Monday: "It is vital that the force can show it has the interests of the people of County Durham and Darlington at its heart, so that the model of policing by consent, independent of government but answerable to the law, is maintained. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said Dominic Cummings 'broke no law' / PA It will be for the Chief Constable to determine the operational response to this request and I am confident that with the resources at its disposal, the Force can show proportionality and fairness in what has become a major issue of public interest and trust." Boris Johnson launched a staunch defence of the maverick aide during Sunday night's briefing, despite a 16-strong Tory rebellion, insisting he acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity" and had "followed the instincts of every father". But he did not deny claims that Mr Cummings drove 30 miles to Barnard Castle in an alleged further breach of lockdown rules. Mr Williamson defended the aide on Monday morning and said it was his understanding that Dominic Cummings made absolutely clear there was only one trip to Durham. Pressed if he knew if Mr Cummings stopped on the way, he told BBC Radio 4: I have not had a conversation with Dominic Cummings. Dominic Cummings is under growing pressure to resign / PA "The Prime Minister had an extensive discussion with Dominic Cummings yesterday he did a press conference yesterday. He made it absolutely clear at the press conference that Dominic Cummings had given him the reassurance that no rules or no laws had been broken but I dont have any more details than that. Police chiefs are among those to criticise his actions, with Gloucestershire's independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl saying they "made a mockery" of the rules. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: I think it makes it much harder for the police going forward this will be quoted back at them time and time again when they try to enforce the new rules." Professor Stephen Reicher, a key Government adviser on the lockdown, also said on Monday that the "debacle" has "fatally undermined" efforts to fight coronavirus. Downing Street has defended Mr Cummings' actions, insisting he "acted in line with guidelines" and that his journey was "essential" because it related to the welfare of his child. Researchers in the United States and Canada have developed a combination of predictive statistical models that could help guide decisions about which animal species should be prioritized for detecting the origin of novel potential zoonotic viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The authors say the predictions could be useful in the field of immunology to characterize key host receptors, to identify viral tolerance mechanisms, and to assess the ability of a suspected host species to transmit infection. A pre-print version of the paper is available in bioRxiv*, while the article undergoes peer review. Pathogenic coronaviruses are thought to have originated in bats Three of the seven human coronaviruses that are highly pathogenic to humans, namely the Betacoronaviruses SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), are all thought to have originated in bats. Researchers have previously experienced significant challenges trying to pinpoint specific animal hosts as the original reservoirs of these coronaviruses. The original host of SARS-CoV, for example, was initially identified as the masked palm civet, but the greater horseshoe bat and the Chinese rufous horseshoe bat were not identified as the most likely culprits until 2017. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, bats were also presumed the most likely origin, and the earliest cases were traced to a wildlife market in the city. However, contact monitoring was limited, and still, no specific species has yet been confirmed as responsible. Two coronaviruses carried by bats are almost identical to SARS-CoV-2, one called RaTG13 from the Rhinolophus affinis bat, and one called RmYN02 from the Rhinolophus malayanus bat. However, the time taken for these viruses to spillover to humans is estimated at 30 to 70 years, suggesting the involvement of an unknown intermediate host. Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus affinis). Image Credit: Binturong-tonoscarpe / Shutterstock Pangolins have been proposed as the intermediate, but SARS-like bat coronaviruses isolated from Malayan pangolins found in wildlife markets were only about 90% identical to SARS-CoV-2 and RaTG13. Pangolins from smuggling are secured at the Natural Resources Conservation Center Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia, Wednesday. Image Credit: Arief Budi Kusuma / Shutterstock The challenges in pinpointing a better fit wildlife reservoir Although much investment has been made into researching potential sources of emerging pathogens, identifying the origins of new zoonotic viruses in wildlife remains challenging. Monitoring viruses is expensive, and model-based sampling prioritization approaches are rarely used to optimize surveillance. Furthermore, the predictive results from single models may be unreliable. Now, Colin Carlson (Georgetown University Medical Center, United States) and colleagues have taken two new predictive approaches that may help identify the wildlife reservoirs of unknown zoonotic coronaviruses in the future. First, they broadly identified the species of bat and other mammals that may host any Betacoronavirus, and secondly, they identified specific species that are highly likely to carry the same viruses as the two Rhinolophus species. The team developed a group of seven network- and trait-based statistical predictive models of associations between mammals and viruses by incorporating a previously published mammal-virus dataset with a targeted extraction of all GenBank entries regarding coronavirus and their associated hosts. They then used the models predictions to develop recommendations for which bat and mammal species should be sampled as potential hosts of SARS-CoV2 and related Betacoronaviruses. What did the study find? These efforts generated seven ranked lists of suspected bat hosts of Betacoronaviruses and five ranked lists for other mammals, writes the team. Of 1,037 bat species not currently associated with Betacoronaviruses, the models identified 291 bat species that were likely to be undetected hosts. These species included approximately half of those in the Rhinolophus genus not currently thought to be Betacoronavirus hosts and 16 already known hosts in the genus. Given known roles of rhinolophids as hosts of SARS-like viruses, our results suggest that SARS-like virus diversity could be undescribed for around two-thirds of the potential reservoir bat species, say Carlson and colleagues. What about animals other than bats? Although the teams model generated robust and actionable predictive results for potential bat reservoirs, the mammal-wide analysis was less informative due to poor inter-model agreement. The team, therefore, used the only model they had that could generate out-of-sample predictions across all mammals by using geographic distribution and phylogenetic similarities to gauge the likelihood of viral sharing. Since Rhinolophus affinis and R. malayanus carry viruses that are so closely related to SARS-CoV-2, the team used their predicted viral sharing patterns to pinpoint potential reservoir species of sarbecoviruses, the subgenus of Betacoronaviruses that SARS-CoV-2 belongs to. For both bat species, the clade predicted as most likely also to host sarbecoviruses was Laurasiatheria, which includes animals such as pangolins, hedgehogs, and shrews. Interestingly, pangolins were disproportionately likely to share the same viruses as R. affinis and R. malayanus; with the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) among the top 20 predictions. This result is promising given the much-discussed discovery of SARS-like Betacoronaviruses in M. javanica, say the researchers. The Viverridae clade was also particularly well represented among the top predictions, and most interestingly, the masked palm civet was flagged as an intermediate host of SARS-CoV. The ability of our virus sharing model to capture known patterns of coronavirus hosts using only two predictor variables is encouraging and implies that mammal phylogeography has played a predictable role in historical Betacoronavirus spillover, writes the team. Moreover, these findings lend credibility to other predictions of SARS-CoV-2 sharing patterns and host susceptibility. Carlson and the team warn that the results should not be interpreted as new and plausible information about the probable origin of SARS-CoV-2. However, these predictions could help guide sampling for novel potentially zoonotic viruses; immunological research to characterize key receptors (e.g., ACE2) and identify mechanisms of viral tolerance; and experimental infections to quantify competence of suspected host species, they conclude. NEW: Millions will probably be invested in tracing the wildlife origins of SARS-CoV-2. In our new preprint, we use machine learning and ecology to predict possible undiscovered mammal hosts of betacoronaviruses - including ~300 species of bats. (1/3)https://t.co/be6T4dhU25 pic.twitter.com/DVFd2PKllz Colin J. Carlson, Ph.D. (@wormmaps) May 24, 2020 *Important Notice bioRxiv.org publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday thanked Iran for their solidarity as the first of five tankers loaded with gasoline reached Venezuelan waters. The gasoline is expected to temporarily ease the South American nation's fuel crunch while defying Trump administration sanctions targeting the two US foes. The oil tanker Fortune encountered no immediate signs of US interference as it eased through Caribbean waters toward the Venezuelan coast and Venezuelan officials celebrated the arrival. The tanker and four behind it were finishing a high seas journey amid a burgeoning relationship between Iran and Venezuela, both of which Washington says are ruled by repressive regimes. Venezuela sits atop the world's largest oil reserves, but it must import gasoline because production has crashed in the last two decades. The Iranian tankers hold what analysts estimate to be enough gasoline to supply Venezuela for two to three weeks. Jackson College of Education, Ghanas premier private college of education continues to maintain its status as one of the most prolific donors to the Police and Prison Services in the Ashanti region over the years. For many years, the College has been donating essential items including food, detergents, toiletries, medical supplies as well as cash to the Kumasi Central and Manhyia Prisons. It renovated the washrooms at the administration block of the Kumasi Central Prisons and also re-roofed the entire cell of the Manhyia Prison which was badly leaking. The Regional Police Command has also received several donations from the College which included office equipment curtains and other logistics. These notwithstanding, the College on Friday, made yet another massive donation to the two institutions following a needs assessment conducted by the College weeks earlier. The Police Command received items such as; one air conditioner, one executive desk with swivel chair, two laptops, two desktop computers, two printers, three boxes of A4 sheets, 200 pieces of flat files, 500 pieces A4 bag envelopes and 10 packs of staple machines. The rest were; 30 packs of royal clips, 50 packs of office pins, 30 packs of foolscap notebooks, five boxes of blue pens, five pieces of perforators, 2,000 pieces of white envelopes, 15 rims of official sheets and 20 packs staple pins. The Central Prison also received 240 pieces of hand sanitizers, five gallons of hand sanitizers, 10 veronica buckets with metal stands, and 2,200 pieces of proper washing powder. Others were 2,200 packs of toilet tissues, 12 pieces of hand tissue, one carton of liquid soap, 2,200 pieces of bar soap, and a hamper for staff. The Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP David Agyemang Adjem who received the items acknowledged the long-standing relationship between his outfit and Jackson College. He said the College has, over the years been a solid partner that had always supported the service in its quest to combat crime in the region. Making a donation of this magnitude in this COVID-19 era where most private institutions are suffering shows how committed Jackson College is to the cause of the Police Service, ACP Adjem observed. He entreated other public-spirited organizations to emulate a good example of Jackson College to collectively make the region one of the safest in the country. The Ashanti Regional Commander of Prisons, Deputy Director of Prison (DPP) Samuel Owusu Amponsah, praised Jackson College for the immense support to both inmates and staff of the Central Prison. He said all the items donated were essential to the upkeep of the inmates, adding that, the veronica buckets and hand sanitizers would also enhance efforts to prevent infections of coronavirus in the prison. Mrs Theodosia Jackson who presented the items said it was the collective responsibility of all Ghanaians to support the Police and Prison Services to perform efficiently. Quality service delivery by the two institutions would inure to the benefit of the entire populace and stressed the need to consistently support them as stakeholders, she added. She counselled the public to desist from crucifying the Police Service for the infractions committed by a few but rather give them the needed support to safeguard peace and security in the country. Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Eighty-seven of the total 117 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Nainital over the last two days are passengers of the same 'Shramik Special' train that reached Haridwar from Mumbai last week, the state health department said on Monday. Fifty-five passengers of the train tested positive for the disease on Saturday and 32 on Sunday,it said. They came by the special train from Mumbai to Haridwar on May 20 and left in buses for Haldwani in Nainital district, he said, adding that some passengers also went to other districts. Nainital district alone accounts for 117 of the total 317 COVID-19 cases reported from Uttarakhand till Sunday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim on Monday said the state government is mounting pressure on private power utility CESC for increasing its pace of work to restore electricity at all corners of the city, which was left in shambles after Cyclone Amphan struck on May 20. The private power utility, however, insisted that it has "completed 95 per cent of the work", and electricity has been restored in most parts of Kolkata and its neighbourhood. Protests have been raging on in several parts of the city, where the residents claimed that they have been going without power and water supply for the last five days. Hakim, who is also the state urban development minister, said the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is doing its best to bring the city back on its foot by clearing roads and cleaning drains. "The chief minister and the chief secretary are constantly mounting pressure on the CESC to expedite work. Enough is enough. I am requesting the CESC with folded hands to increase its manpower and finish the pending work," he said. Noting that the CESC has given assurances that it would take measures to complete the remaining work in a day or two, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader said, "I hope the company lives up to its word." Asked about the allegations of incompetence and disorganisation levelled by former KMC mayor and CPI(M) leader Bikash Bhattacharya, he said the city has not experienced a storm this severe in a long time, and his predecessors have never handled a crisis of this magnitude. "Never in the past, 5,500 trees fell in a matter of few hours. He (Bhattacharya) is talking about (cyclone) 'Aila'. How many trees fell during 'Aila'? The KMC, with its dedicated workforce, is working round the clock to remove the trunks and foliage and clear the roads. It has 500 electric saws and 200 trucks for cutting the felled trees and transporting the wreckage. What we need is more dumpers. "We are facing an unprecedented situation, but we are delivering.... Most of the major roads have been thrown open for vehicular movement," Hakim said. The minister urged his political opponents to refrain from "indulging in politics" at this hour of crisis. "I will request all critics to stop bickering and come forward to help people. You will find enough chances to criticise me during election campaigns, but this is not the time," he said. Underlining the fact that the city has lost a significant portion of its green cover, Hakim said a meeting would be held with forest officials on May 30 to discuss ways to make up for the loss. "Many old trees, some over 100 years of age, were uprooted during this storm. We have to follow a systematic policy while planting trees in the future, but on the face of such high-velocity wind, you cannot prevent trees from falling," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) With Brazil emerging as one of the world's most infected countries, President Jair Bolsonaro is deflecting all responsibility for the coronavirus crisis, casting blame on mayors, governors, an outgoing health minister and the media. By contrast, he portrays himself as a clear-eyed crusader willing to defend an unpopular idea that shutting down the economy to control COVID-19 will ultimately cause more suffering than allowing the disease to run its course. The refusal of governors to fall into line with his decree allowing gyms to open, he said, verged on authoritarianism. Confronted with a travel ban imposed on Brazil by the U.S. because of widespread COVID-19, one of his advisers called it press hysteria. Since the outbreak started, the Brazilian leader has avoided acknowledging the potential effects of his actions, particularly in undermining local leaders stay-at-home recommendations. A rare exception came in mid-April, as Bolsonaro appointed a new health minister tasked with sparing the economy from the coronavirus. Reopening commerce is a risk I run because, if it (the virus) gets worse, then it lands in my lap, he said. Less than two weeks later, as Brazils death toll blew past 5,000, he told reporters, Youre not going to put on my lap this count that isnt mine. Almost a month on, the death toll in the country of 211 million has more than quadrupled, to 23,473, and continues to accelerate. The Brazilian Supreme Court determined that states and cities have jurisdiction to impose isolation measures. So Bolsonaro on May 7 walked purposefully across the capitals Three Powers Plaza to the top court, a tight cluster of ministers and business leaders in tow, and demanded local restrictions be tempered. Some states went too far in their restrictive measures, and the consequences are knocking on our door, he said, adding that tens of millions of Brazilians have lost their income. He has repeatedly singled out some local leaders by name. Story continues When governors defied Bolsonaro's subsequent decree that gyms, barbershops and beauty salons be allowed to operate as essential services, he accused them of undermining the rule of law and suggested the move would invite undesirable authoritarianism to emerge in Brazil. On Saturday night, Bolsonaro ventured into the capital of Brasilia to lead by example, this time eating a hot dog bought from a street vendor. Video he posted to Facebook showed supporters snapping selfies and calling him by his nickname Myth! while those in self-quarantine in overlooking apartments banged pots and pans in protest. A May 17-18 poll by XP/Ipespe found 58% of those surveyed rated Bolsonaros pandemic response as bad or terrible, and only 21% as good or excellent. Governors fared more than twice as well in both counts. The poll had a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points. Latin Americas largest nation has confirmed about 375,000 COVID-19 cases, more than any nation except the U.S., and experts say that figure is a significant undercount due to insufficient testing. The strain on Brazils underfunded hospitals has pushed them to the brink of collapse in multiple states and prevents some patients from getting treatment. Havoc and heartache are unfolding beneath a void of leadership, according to Miguel Lago, executive director of Brazils Institute for Health Policy Studies, which advises public health officials. Two health ministers have left office during the pandemic, making Brazil the worlds only nation that can claim such distinction, he said. Brazil is completely incapable of dealing with and responding to this crisis as this crisis should be responded to with complete leadership, clear messages, political stability and unity, Lago said. Thats not the case here. Basically, what were seeing is a complete lack of seriousness and competence. The far-right leader fired his first health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, for supporting governors restrictions. In his departing address, Mandetta referred to Bolsonaro in what he later confirmed to magazine Epoca was an allusion to the Albert Camus book The Plague." The novel about a diseased city includes a passage that says those who did not believe in the plague were first to die because they took no precautions. Bolsonaros second minister, Nelson Teich, resigned about a month later after openly disagreeing with Bolsonaro over chloroquine, the predecessor of the anti-malarial often touted by U.S. President Donald Trump as viable treatment. Bolsonaro in his 17-month tenure has often expressed open admiration for Trump and the U.S. Trump would have to fire his government's top expert on the virus and the expert's successor, attend anti-pandemic rallies and expand chloroquine treatment to approach the level of crisis incompetence" shown by Bolsonaro, Ian Bremmer, the president of political consultancy Eurasia Group, said on Twitter this month. Weeks after praising chloroquine and directing the Army to ramp up production, Bolsonaro admitted last week that there is no scientific evidence of its effectiveness, but said the nation is at war, and it is better to fight and lose than not fight at all. The country still has only an interim health minister: a general with no health experience whatsoever before April. In the capital on Sunday, pro-Bolsonaro supporters staged a small demonstration in front of the presidential palace, as they have for several weeks. Bolsonaro joined and once again lifted children in his arms. He shared a video from a helicopter flyover of the demonstration that revealed a sparsely occupied plaza. There were perhaps 1,000 people in attendance, in a city of 3 million. One banner read Lockdowns kill more than the Chinese virus!!! That same day, Trump prohibited entry to the U.S. of foreigners coming from Brazil. Trump had already banned certain travelers from China, Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Iran. He has not moved to ban travel from Russia, which has the worlds third-highest number of infections. Bolsonaros special adviser on international affairs, Filipe Martins, tweeted that the ban was the natural result of Brazils large population. There isnt anything specifically against Brazil. Ignore the hysteria from the press, he said. Bolsonaro shared Martins comment on social media but has not commented himself. Upon leaving the presidential residence Monday morning, Bolsonaro declined to answer reporters questions. One supporter grabbed his attention, and she begged him to launch a massive publicity campaign to improve his negative image abroad. The global press is leftist, Bolsonaro explained coolly, then outstretched his arm fully to point at journalists. After Bolsonaro got into his car, his supporters turned toward reporters, blasting them as trash and communists, making obscene gestures and threats. Mainstream media outlets Globo and Folha de S.Paulo later announced they would stop covering Bolsonaro's informal press conferences outside the residence due to concern for their journalists' safety. The COVID-19 situation in Delhi is under control, a week after several relaxations were given in the fourth phase of coronavirus-induced lockdown, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday. Kejriwal asserted that he would be concerned only if two things happened -- either there is a significant increase in fatalities or the city's health care system collapses due to spike in COVID-19 cases. The chief minister further said that it is not a matter of concern if people are getting infected and recovering simultaneously from the dreaded virus as coronavirus will not go away in next one or two days. Addressing an online media briefing, Kejriwal, said his government was ready to deal with the situation if there is a spike in the number of serious cases in the national capital. He said that there are currently 4,500 beds available for COVID-19 patients in both private and government hospitals and 2,000 new beds will be available in private facilities from Monday. He said that the AAP government is creating a system through which a COVID-19 patient will be able to find available beds in both state and private-run hospitals. Kejriwal said that he was expecting a slight increase in COVID-19 cases when several relaxations were given in fourth phase of lockdown. "It has been one week since the (fourth phase) lockdown began. After one week, I can say that the situation is still under control and there is no need to panic," he said, adding that there has been a slight increase in COVID-19 cases but it is not matter of concern. According to him, there were 9,755 COVID-19 cases in Delhi on May 17 and the number climbed to 13,418 with around 3,500 cases being recorded within seven days of implementation of fourth phase of lockdown. However, 2,500 people have also recovered from the virus during this period, Kejriwal said, adding that only 250 patients were admitted to hospitals in last seven days "I will be concerned when two things happen. First, there is significant increase in death cases and second thing is collapse of health care system due to sudden spike in cases due to which no bed is available in hospitals...," he said During the briefing, the chief minister said that 261 people have died of coronavirus in the city which has so far recorded 13,418 cases. Of these, 6,540 have recovered while 6,617 are active cases, he said. "Government hospitals have 3,829 beds for COVID-19 patients and of these, only 1,478 beds are occupied. Around 2,500 beds are still available. In government hospitals, we have 250 ventilators out of which 11 are occupied," he said. On Sunday, Delhi government directed private hospitals and nursing homes with a capacity of 50 beds or more to reserve 20 per cent of their total bed strength for coronavirus patients. Kejriwal said that with this move, 2,000 new beds will be available in private hospitals. The chief minister said 3,314 coronavirus patients are getting treatment at their house while 2,000 are admitted at hospitals. The government has issued a show-cause notice to a private hospital that denied treatment to a patient who later tested positive for COVID-19, Kejriwal said. "It is the hospital's duty to provide an ambulance to such patients and take them to a COVID-19-dedicated hospital," he said. He said that in Delhi, most COVID-19 patients are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. The chief minister said that the government has decided to reserve 1,500 beds for COVID-19 patients in state-run GTB Hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google Maps Two people died and multiple others, including several children, were hospitalized after a fatal crash in Hays County on Saturday. A Ford Explorer was traveling near the 200 block of Interstate 35 in San Marcos just before 8 p.m. on Saturday when the SUV blew a tire causing it to flip multiple times, according to authorities. New Delhi, May 25 : One more railways staffer posted at the Rail Bhavan, here on Monday, tested coronavirus positive, taking the number of Covid-19 cases at the Indian Railways' headquarters to five, within two weeks. According to the Railway Ministry sources, a fourth grade multi-tasking staffer, who last attended the office on May 19, tested Covid-19 positive. Nine of his contacts at the Rail Bhavan had been home quarantined, sources added. The staffer was responsible for taking files from one official to another, thus coming in contact with several people during the day. They also move files to the Chairman of the Railway Board and the Railway Minister's office. On Sunday, one senior official had tested Covid-19 positive. She had attended work last on May 20. As many as 14 officials who worked closely with her have been home quarantined. A day before, another senior officer, involved with restructuring of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), at the Rail Bhavan -- -- had tested positive. According to the Ministry officials, the woman staffer had visited the Rail Bhavan on May 13, after which it was shut for sanitisation for two days. On May 11, a RPF staffer had tested coronavirus positive. A few days later, a contractual worker who kept monkeys out of the building with his langoor had got infected with coronavirus. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Sree Chandana M By Express News Service VISAKHAPATNAM: Even as the country is trying to recover from the impact of lockdowns, migrant workers continue to suffer. As governments are focussed on sending them to their respective states, many are given permission to ride back home on autorickshaws or other vehicles if they own one. One such group, of 30 men and women, was allowed to set off for Rajam in Srikakulam from Bengaluru on two-wheelers on Wednesday. The migrants, all of whom are relatives, reached Vizag on Sunday evening. They had been making a living by selling blankets, working in construction sector and doing other odd jobs in the Karnataka capital for the last 15 years. Naga Bhushan, one of the migrants, said: We tried to survive with whatever we had. But with so many stomachs to feed, we ran out of our savings and, so, we thought we will be better off in our hometown. The entire family took permission from the local authorities and got themselves tested for Covid-19. As we had decided to leave, we went to the municipal corporation for permission. After testing all of us for Covid-19, they allowed us to go, said Narasinga Rao. Since Wednesday, the group has covered more than 1,000-km on mopeds and bikes after borrowing money from their neighbours. While on the way, many individuals and volunteers gave them food and water. When they were in Vijayawada, some traffic cops took their pictures without specifying any reason. They took pictures of our vehicles without saying anything. We do not know if they will charge us with any fine as we were not wearing helmets. We are worried about our lives and cannot afford helmets in such a situation. Three are riding each vehicle with heavy luggage. We are aware that we are violating traffic rules, but at this point, we cannot worry about all of that, Naga Bhusan added. A confidential report for Australia's education ministers has urged the federal government to lock in five years of funding for preschools or face a system compromised by inefficiency and high staff turnover. Short-term renewals of a national partnership on preschool funding every year or second year have "adversely" affected the otherwise successful strategy, according to a review commissioned by the Council of Australian Governments and obtained by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. A leaked report reveals funding uncertainty has had a negative impact on preschool. Credit:istock The review of the Universal Access National Partnership found it had ushered in "remarkable" advancements, with enrolment in 600 hours of preschool in the year before school climbing from 12 per cent of children in 2008 to 95 per cent in 2018. According to the final report delivered to COAG's education council, current levels of government investment have been sufficient for the goal of achieving universal access to quality and affordable preschool (called kindergarten in Victoria) in the year before school. After a gap of around two months, domestic air services resumed in Chhattisgarh on Monday morning when the first flight arrived at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur from Delhi, an airport official said. Some of the passengers said they felt relieved at being back home after two months. "An Indigo flight, with 82 passengers onboard, from Delhi landed at Raipur airport at 9 am," Raipur Airport Director Rakesh Sahay told PTI. Earlier, thefirst flight which was supposed to arrive here from Kolkata at 7.55 am was cancelled, the official said. Sahay also said that another flight with 41 passengers onboard arrived here from Hyderabad at 11 am. Besides, two flights departed from the Raipur Airport - for Delhi (at 9.30am) and Hyderabad (at 11.30 am) carrying 136 and 65 passengers, respectively, he said. The airport was sanitised on Sunday and the disinfection exercise will be conducted at regular intervals and all passengers have to use face covers or masks. Baggages are also being sanitised properly, the official said. All commercial passenger flights were suspended since March 25 when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus infection. Passengers who arrived here in the first flight on Monday expressed happiness at being back. "I am happy to be back home, said Anupama, a Raipur native who works with a private firm in Gurugram. "Since March 16 my office was shut, so I was confined to my home in Gurugram. Though I was not facing any problem there, but I just wanted to return to my home here, she said. The resumption of flight services also came as a big relief for a Hyderabad-bound passenger. "My two-month-old daughter has some eye problem and doctors suggested to take her to a hospital in Hyderabad, the 32-year-old passenger said. A native of Chhattisgarh's Durg district, he booked tickets for Hyderabad as soon as he came to know about the resumption of domestic flight services. He along with his family boarded the flight which took off from from here for Hyderabad. Raipur Superintendent of Police Arif Sheikh and city municipal commissioner Saurabh Kumar were at the airport to monitor the arrangements for medical screening of passengers arriving here. The Raipur district administration has set up facilitation centres at the airport for registration and medical screening of passengers, a government official said. Thermal screening of all passengers is being carried out and if anyone shows symptoms of coronavirus, then the person will be immediately sent to an isolation kiosk at the airport where his samples will be collected for testing and he will then be sent to a state-operated isolation centre, he said. Passengers having no symptoms would be quarantined for 14 days at government quarantine centres, at home or paid quarantine facilities, as per their wish, he said. They will have to submit a written undertaking that they will strictly follow all quarantine rules for 14 days, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scuba diving takes the lucky few to a world of adventure and thrilling sights. Most of us think of diving as drifting along, exploring coral reefs or swimming through schools of fish. Often it involves swimming near a sea turtle or watching a shark cruise past. But there is another side to diving that is less common and less frequently imagined when we say the words "scuba diving". Cenotes are rivers of fresh water that are a popular diving destination, especially in Mexico. Limestone formation and erosion caused an enormous system of underground lakes and rivers, many of which are connected by tunnels and crevices. Scuba divers have been able to explore these beautiful and crystal clear cenotes for many years. The fish are unique and so is the animal life, because it is fresh water, not salt water that runs through them. Cenotes offer tunnels, ledges, overhangs, open areas, and even mangrove roots to explore. These scuba divers had reached the turnaround point in their open cenote dive near Akumal, Mexico. They surfaced in a large pool in the mangroves from a depth of 12m (36 feet). The limestone ledges and mangrove bushes around the opening were the perfect habitat for crocodiles. This large male is 2.5m (7.5 feet) long and has a head and jaws that are full of very impressive teeth. The divers approached cautiously for a close look and some video and photographs of the formidable looking beast. Well camouflaged and large enough that he does not have any true predators, this male was not worried about a few people in his pool. But as they became braver and closed the distance, the crocodile gave them a warning that they had entered his personal bubble. With a display of his hundreds of teeth, the divers quickly got the message to move back. Crocodiles are ambush predators that patrol the shores of the waters they inhabit. They recognize land animals that come to drink as prey. They will move silently and slowly until they are close enough for a lunge attack and they will snap their powerful jaws on the creature, dragging it into the water. Animals that are not killed quickly will be drowned and then eaten. But crocodiles are not used to hunting food in the water and they rarely see. Throughout his presidential campaign, one of the most striking elements of Joe Biden's appeal has been his empathy. The personal tragedies he has suffered inform his interactions with voters who are also experiencing loss. And his sorrow could also guide policy decisions as commander-in-chief, offering assistance to veterans who may be suffering from service-related medical conditions as he believes his son did. With a familiar quiver in his voice, Biden regularly on the campaign trail shares memories of his son Beau, who died in 2015 from glioblastoma brain cancer. A handful of times Biden detailed how he thinks his son's cancer may have been related in part to the large, military base burn pits during his 2009 service in the Iraq War. "He volunteered to join the National Guard at age 32 because he thought he had an obligation to go," Biden told a Service Employees International Union convention in October. "And because of exposure to burn pits in my view, I can't prove it yet he came back with Stage Four glioblastoma." Biden's precise language "in my view, I can't prove it yet" appears to be intentional as he lends his voice to the ongoing and somewhat controversial debate over whether the burn pits caused lasting health issues for American veterans. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (R) talks with his son, U.S. Army Capt. Beau Biden (L) at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad on July 4, 2009. / Credit: KHALID MOHAMMED/AFP/Getty Images "We don't have 20 years" As the Iraq and Afghanistan military operations grew, so did the installations of bigger burn pits on military bases, rather than the smaller burn barrels that had previously been used. The pits were meant to dispose of everything from garbage to sensitive documents and even more hazardous materials. "They build as big as this auditorium," Biden said to a CNN town hall audience in February, "It's about 8-to-10-feet-deep and they put everything in it they want to dispose of and can't leave behind, from flammable fuel to plastics to all range of things." Story continues But in the middle of a war zone, concern about the burn pits was sometimes considered secondary to other safety issues. "You've got dust storms, you have the enemy, you have all sorts of things going on that some smoke in the air doesn't really seem like as important of an issue at the moment," Jim Mowrer, who befriended Beau at Camp Victory in Iraq in 2009, told CBS News. Other times, Mowrer, 34, who now serves as co-chair for the Veterans for Biden committee, said he tried to filter the air by wearing a face covering. "The concern factor became more of a concern after we came home," Beau's overseas boss, Command JAG Kathy Amalfitano, 59, told CBS News. Amalfitano said she remembers discussing the burn pits with Beau a few times, but added "I know our thought process was that this was part of the deployment." Biden is not alone in thinking burn pits impacted soldiers' health. Since 2014, more than 200,000 Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans have registered in the "Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry" run by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), detailing exposure to service-related airborne hazards from burn pit smoke and other pollution. And while these veteran health concerns seem widespread, the VA's policy only recognizes "temporary" irritation from burn pit exposure. Citing a range of studies, the department states that "research does not show evidence of long-term health problems from exposure to burn pits." One ongoing study is by National Jewish Health and funded by the Defense Department, and is examining lung issues and has yielded "a spectrum of diseases that are related to deployment," the study's principal investigator Dr. Cecile Rose told CBS News last year. " [The diseases] weren't there before, and they are clearly there after people have returned from these arid and extreme environments." However, Rose cautioned that findings are complicated by other possible culprits, like desert dust and diesel exhaust. Advocates for veterans say not enough is being done to address veterans' health claims regarding the burn pits. From 2007 to 2018, the VA processed 11,581 disability compensation claims that had "at least one condition related to burn pit exposure," a department spokesman told The New York Times last year. But the department only accepted 2,318 of these claims. The department said the rest did not show evidence connected to military service or the condition in the claim was not "officially diagnosed," the Times noted. The VA did not respond to CBS News' request this week for updated numbers. "I always push back onthe VA administration folks who try to use the 'perfect study' as a criteria to show proof," California Representative Raul Ruiz, a doctor and vocal burn pits critic, told CBS News. Ruiz criticized the VA's reliance on long-term studies to validate clams. "We don't have 20 years because then these veterans are going to be dying without the care they need," Ruiz said. A report five years ago by a Defense Department inspector general said it was "indefensible" that military personnel "were put at further risk from the potentially harmful emissions from the use of open-air burn pits." But the Supreme Court last year rejected a victims' lawsuit against contractors who oversaw some of the burn pits. "If these [burn pits] had happened in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease and Control would have this corrected immediately," said Iraq War veteran Jeremy Daniels, adding he believes burn pits caused him to be wheelchair bound. Modern-day "Agent Orange"? Biden on the campaign trail invoked the healthcare struggles of Vietnam veterans exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange to explain the need to address burn pits. "You were entitled to military compensation if you could prove that Agent Orange caused whatever the immune system damage was to you," Biden said, accenting the word "prove" during a Veterans Day town hall in Oskaloosa, Iowa. "But you had to prove it and it's very hard to prove." After reading a book on burn pits detailing Beau's case, Biden has advocated easing this burden of proof for veterans who say the burn pits have harmed them in some way, as he first told PBS. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a town hall meeting, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. / Credit: Charlie Neibergall / AP Biden has a plan that pushes for congressional approval to expand the list of "presumptive conditions" meaning veterans' health conditions would be presumed causal to the burn pits making them eligible for greater VA healthcare. He also aims to expand the claim eligibility period for toxic exposure conditions to five years after service instead of one year and increase federal research by $300 million in part to focus on toxic exposure from burn pits. This push has intensified in recent years on Capitol Hill, and bills funding more research into burn pits have already been signed by President Trump. The recent National Defense Authorization Act also required the Department of Defense to implement a plan to phase out burn pits and disclose the locations of the still-operating pits. Enclosed incinerators are an alternative. There were nine active military burn pits in the Middle East as of last year, according to the Defense Department's April 2019 "Open Burn Pit Report to Congress" shared with CBS News, though some advocates think the actual number is higher. Some veterans expressed doubt that recent efforts will lead to more aid for veterans exposed to burn pits, given the slow-moving bureaucracy and concern over higher health care costs. And others question whether a Biden administration would act more decisively than the Obama administration, which primarily focused on long-term studies. But Biden says that his motivation is far greater than his family's own personal loss, and that the "only sacred" commitment the United States has is to American soldiers. "It's not because my son died[he] went from very, very healthy but he lived in the bloom of those burn pits for a long time. He's passedit doesn't affect him," Biden said in Oskaloosa. "But the point is that every single veteran shouldn't have to prove and wait until science demonstrates beyond a doubtWe just have to change the way we think a little bit." May 30 will mark the five-year anniversary of Beau Biden's death. Officers investigated over photos at Elijah McClain memorial Sneak peek: The Mysterious Death of Casey Kasem Sneak peek: Natalie Wood: Death in Dark Water The government's stay-at-home rules, introduced March 23, said people with children should comply to the best of your ability." Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries later said that if you have adults who are unable to look after a small child, that is an exceptional circumstance. She said in that case people without child care or family support should contact their local authority for help something Cummings didn't do. Booze to go could be here to stay. Thats the message from Premier Doug Ford, who strongly hinted Monday that takeout wine, beer, and spirits from restaurants and bars would continue after Ontarios state of emergency is lifted. With the hospitality sector reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic that has restricted them to serving takeaway meals since March 17, the premier said he plans to discuss making permanent the liberalization with Finance Minister Rod Phillips. Were going to have that conversation with Minister Phillips. Theres going to be a lot of things, as we say, the new way of doing business and not only in government, but in the private sector, too, said Ford. Associate Minister for Small Business and Red Tape Reduction Prabmeet Sarkaria said restaurant owners that are using this have given us great feedback on how much of a help its been. Well do anything we can to support our restaurant owners and this is one way that we thought we could and Im happy to hear that many businesses are really benefiting from it, said Sarkaria. The Progressive Conservatives are also considering permitting private cannabis shops to continue home deliveries after the state of emergency. According to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the temporary loosening of booze and cannabis sales is set to expire on Dec. 31. But the Tories, who campaigned in the 2018 election on reforming the provinces restrictive liquor licensing laws, have been telegraphing for weeks that the emergency provisions could be permanent. Also Monday, Ford implored commercial landlords to accept the olive branch from Ottawa and Queens Park by enlisting in the federal-provincial rent subsidy program or else. Trust me, if they dont sign up, then there will be consequences. Simple as that, said the premier, appearing to suggest the province could impose a moratorium on commercial evictions. Under the $900 million program that was finally up and running on Monday, the two levels of government will pay 50 per cent of a small business rent for April, May, and June with landlords and commercial tenants each paying 25 per cent. They need to start signing up for this, because there are not going to like the consequences if they dont sign up for it. I can assure you Im protecting the tenants. Green Leader Mike Schreiner said Ford needs to be more clear about what he means. The Ontario business community asked the province for a temporary moratorium on evictions, but the premier would only pass the buck to landlords with vague threats, said Schreiner. But federal sources tell the Star that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been citing Fords tough talk when pushing other premiers to act to help small businesses. The prime minister wants other provincial and territorial leaders to make landlords an offer they cant refuse. At his daily briefing in Ottawa, he pleaded with landlords to accept the rent subsidy. Please apply, the prime minister said. And to business owners: make sure youre holding up your end of the bargain, too, he said, reminding them the Canada Emergency Business Account provides support to enable small businesses to make their rent on time as well. Trudeau said the program will also be available to non-profits and charitable organizations, adding if youre a landlord with up to 10 eligible tenants, and youre located in the Atlantic, B.C., Alberta, or Quebec, you can apply today. For landlords in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and the Territories, who also have up to 10 eligible tenants (Tuesday) is your day to apply. Landlords with more than 10 tenants will be able to apply later this week. With files from Heather Scoffield Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: The ruling Chinese Communist Party on said it would carry through its plan to impose a draconian sedition and subversion law on Hong Kong, bypassing the city's legislature, claiming that anti-government protesters had engaged in "terrorist activities" in recent months. China's National People's Congress (NPC) -- which usually passes any government proposal put before it -- will "vote" on the plan on . NPC chairman Li Zhanshu told delegates at the NPC annual session on that he expects that "this important legislative task will be completed by delegates working together." Former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, now a political adviser to the Chinese government, said the law would be "good medicine" aimed at ending months of social unrest in the city. Vice premier Han Zheng repeated Beijing's narrative that the protesters who have resisted widespread violence from riot police with barricades, bricks, Molotov cocktails and other makeshift weapons are "terrorists." "What country in the world would tolerate terrorism?" Han told the NPC. "The national security law for Hong Kong is aimed at a very small minority of people in Hong Kong who engage in violent actions in the name of Hong Kong independence." Han said only a "a very small number of people" will ultimately be punished, and that the law was intended to protect people's basic rights, economic interests and property. Meanwhile, customs authorities in Hong Kong are being accused of engaging in politicized enforcement of trading regulations after a second member of the pro-democracy group Demosisto was arrested for allegedly lying about the origin of face-masks being sold in Hong Kong. The end of Hong Kong's promised autonomy? The group's vice chairman Isaac Cheng and activist Tobias Leung have been arrested over a suspected violation of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance for selling masks labeled "not made in China." "Customs strongly condemns any false accusation maliciously alleging that its law enforcement action against the trader is 'political repression'," the city's customs service said in a statement. Beijing revealed plans on to send its feared state security agents into Hong Kong to pursue people suspected of "sedition," "subversion," or to be doing the work of 'foreign forces' during the city's months-long protest movement. In a move that many say signals the end of Hong Kong's promised autonomy and traditional freedoms of speech and association, state security police from mainland China will be allowed to set up shop in Hong Kong to fulfill their duties under the new law, according to a precis of the decision supplied by state-run Xinhua news agency. The plan has been widely condemned by foreign governments and rights groups as a breach of China's obligations under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, a U.N.-registered treaty governing the handover. Rights groups said the law will mean Beijing can ensure that only voices and activities that toe the party line will be allowed in Hong Kong, which was promised to continuation of its traditional freedoms of the person, publication and association under the handover agreement. The proposed legal move comes at a time when the U.S. is reviewing, under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, whether to continue to treat Hong Kong as a separate jurisdiction from China, given Beijing's growing insistence on wielding direct political power in the city. The Hong Kong Bar Association (HKBA) said the NPC has "no power" to impose a law on Hong Kong without its passage through the Legislative Council (LegCo), however. In a statement issued on , the HKBA said the plan to insert the law into Annex III of the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, was improper, as only laws relating to defense and foreign affairs could be directly enacted in this way. U.S. shifts course It said Hong Kong has the right and duty to enact national security laws using its own legislature. Analysts have predicted that LegCo will likely see a strong influx of pro-democracy lawmakers in forthcoming general elections in September, and Beijing has said it is keen to avoid "obstruction" to the law in LegCo. The HKBA said there is no indication that the national security law will protect Hong Kong people's civil and political rights as laid down in the Basic Law, a concern that has repeatedly been highlighted by human rights groups. It added: "It is entirely unclear how the proposed agencies set up in [Hong Kong] will operate," citing an article in the Basic Law which bans Chinese government departments from operating in Hong Kong. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the imposition of national security legislation would sound the "death knell" for the high degree of autonomy promised to Hong Kong. The White House on signaled an end to the U.S.' two-decades-old policy of engagement with China, vowing in a new strategy report to combat Beijing's attempts to impose a "new world order" based on its model of authoritarian government. Deepening engagement had done little to encourage fundamental economic and political change in China, the 20-page report said. It said the U.S. will now adopt a "competitive approach" to the country to resist growing Chinese influence and "compel Beijing to cease or reduce actions harmful to the United States' vital national interests," the report said. Beijing has said the Sino-British Declaration is no more than a "historical document," and warned other countries not to interfere in its internal affairs. In Washington, the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China has called on the Trump administration to lead a global coalition to protect U.S. interests and support Hongkongers, using the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019. Former British colonial governor Chris Patten has called on G7 nations to stand up for Hong Kongs freedom, describing President Xi Jinping's administration as an enemy of open societies." Writing in the Financial Times, Patten warned that Xi is launching an all-out attack on liberal values in Hong Kong by preparing to send in the state security police. "With [their] well-earned reputation for coercion and torture, [they] won't be there to sell dim sum, Patten wrote. Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. By Sudarshan Varadhan and Aditi Shah CHENNAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Workers at two of India's biggest carmakers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus days after restarting operations, exposing the risks companies and the government face in kickstarting the economy. Three employees at Hyundai Motor Co's Indian plant have tested positive for the virus, the South Korean automaker said on Sunday. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, which sells one in every two cars in the country, said late on Saturday one employee at its plant in the northern city of Manesar had tested positive and there was the possibility of a second case. The cases show the risks and challenges Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government faces in restarting automobile production in an effort to revive the economy after a near two-month lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus. Maruti, majority owned by Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp, said there was no impact on business operations. The carmaker restarted work at its Manesar plant earlier in May. Hyundai, which restarted operations at its plant on the outskirts of the southern city of Chennai on May 8, said the three employees started showing mild symptoms of coughs and colds in the first week. "All the necessary measures are being taken for contact tracing, self-isolation and complete sanitation," Hyundai's India spokesman said in a statement. Test results of sixteen more workers who possibly came into contact with the infected employees are expected over the next two days, a senior government official told Reuters. "The state's policy is to not let the industry stall," said P Ponniah, the top bureaucrat in the Kancheepuram district where Hyundai's plant is located. He said parts of the plant visited by the employees would be sanitised, a process likely to take 3-4 days during which time staff would be barred from those areas. Hyundai's employees union has written to management and the Tamil Nadu state government, urging the company to immediately test all workers at its own expense, president E Muthukumar told Reuters. (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan in Chennai and Aditi Shah in New Delhi; Editing by Mark Potter) On May 20, Wednesday, the chairman of LG Group, one of the chaebols of South Korea, Koo Gwang-mo apologised over two deadly accidents at LG Chem's factories this month. One of them, the bigger one, was in Vizag in India on May 7 when gas leaked from a tank leading to the death of 12 people and affecting at least a 1,000 others. The second one, was on May 20 itself when a fire broke out at LG Chem's factory in Seosan, 120 kilometers from the capital Seoul, killing a researcher and injuring two others. That the chairman waited for almost two weeks after the incident happened in India and the apology came only after the accident in Korea, led many to believe he never intended to apologise for the mishap in India in the first place. We shall never know the truth in these conspiracy theories but the chairman's unconditional apology is an exception in a corporate world where the top bosses consider a public apology as a sign of weakness. India is not short on corporate frauds, industrial disputes and accidents but it is very rare when a CEO takes time out to say sorry. Here are the prime examples when they should have but didn't. General Motors emission scandal In July 2013, General Motors India sent everybody into a tizzy when it announced a recall of 114,000 units of its India made multi utility vehicle Tavera manufactured between 2005 and 2013. It was one of the largest vehicle recall exercises in India but even more intriguing was that it was being done to fix an emission related issue. The company had for years fudged emission tests to circumvent regulations in India and was undoing the damage only after a whistle-blower threatened to expose the company. It created a furore in the industry and after six months a government panel concluded GM had committed a corporate fraud. It also indicted the top management of the company including former CEOs. Beyond the recall, GM primarily reacted by firing a lot of people including heads of engineering, sales and marketing and CFO among others but none of the CEOs-serving and from the past, ever apologised. Two years later when GM's global CEO Mary Barra visited India, she was also offered an opportunity to come clean. She too, like the CEOs of the company's Indian subsidiary, shirked responsibility with a daft "past is past, lets look forward to the future" response. In 2017, GM would put everything behind and exit India completely. Carlos Ghosn and his Zero star Datsun Industries across sectors always tend to project a holier than thou attitude about themselves but sometimes the mask slips to give us sneak peak of what lies underneath. In the case of Nissan Motor Corporation and its flamboyant CEO Carlos Ghosn it came in the form of a UK based not for profit safety advocacy NGO Global NCAP. This firm started conducting crash tests on cars that were being made in India in 2014 and while it embarrassed a lot of companies, the worst was in store for Nissan's newly relaunched entry level brand Datsun, which was also one of Ghosn's pet projects. The company's hatchback Go came without airbags or ABS and scored zero stars for safety in the crash tests. NCAP shot off a letter directly addressed to Ghosn demanding him to show leadership and either upgrade or immediately discontinue the brand. Like other firms whose cars had been found wanting, Nissan India took recourse of India's lax safety requirement at that time and Ghosn would never even acknowledge the issue. None in the top management of the company either in India or globally ever came close to apologising for making cars that were unsafe. India would upgrade its safety requirements only last year mandating all cars to at least come equipped with one airbag. But the controversy took a toll on the prospects of Nissan and Datsun in India. Both remain fringe brands in the country. As for Ghosn, an unfortunate turn of events in 2018 in Japan led to him getting fired at the firm. He is a fugitive in the eyes of Japan, now without a job and in Lebanon. Bhopal gas tragedy The 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy figures among the biggest industrial accidents of not only India but across the world. It is similar to the LG Chem incident at Vizag but nowhere close to it in terms of scale and severity. In early December, water leak at the pesticide factory released methyl isocyanate into the atmosphere. Nearly 93,000 pounds of the gas was leaked that resulted in deaths of 3,787 people while more than half a million were injured. The chairman of the firm Warren Anderson accepted moral responsibility for the accident but never uttered the five letter word. The company subsequently changed owners, to Eveready Industries and then Dow Chemical but while compensation was offered, none of the CEOs ever gave an unconditional apology. Also read: India among 10 worst-affected COVID-19 countries; surpasses Iran as tally rises to 1.38 lakh Osamu Suzuki and Manesar labour unrest Maruti Suzuki, India's largest carmaker does not have a bad track record of industrial disputes but in 2012 its new factory at Manesar was subject to one of the most violent labour unrests in the history of the country. On July 18, workers at the factory set fire to the factory and attacked supervisors killing HR manager Awanish Kumar Dev while injuring 100 other including 2 Japanese expatriates. Relations between management and workers had deteriorated over salary structure and recognition of a new workers union. The factory had witnessed a prolonged strike in 2011 as well. Maruti CEO Shinjo Nakanishi was distraught and apologised profusely for not being able to manage the situation but Osamu Suzuki, the patriarch of Suzuki Motor Corporation, the majority shareholder of Maruti was less forthcoming. When he visited the factory the following month, he reportedly apologised to workers in private but would not do the same in public. Nor did he visit the bereaved family of Dev to offer condolences. Dev's family lives less than 10 kilometers from Maruti's corporate office in South Delhi. Johnson and Johnson hip replacement fiasco Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson found itself in the eye of a storm in 2010 when it had to issue a global recall of its hip implants after doctors in UK and Australia found very high failure rate for the implants. The recall covered 4700 patients in India as well who underwent surgery between 2004 and 2010 but initially J&J paid for revision surgeries of only 254 patients, keeping 774 under monitoring while the remaining 3,600 were not even contacted by the company. A legal battle has ensued that continues till this day and while the company has offered to pay a baseline compensation of Rs 25 lakh per patient, none of the CEOs have ever come on record to offer a formal apology. Also read: 'Could have planned better': Ex-RBI Governor C Rangarajan rues migrant crisis due to lockdown By Javier Solana MADRID Among its many other effects, the COVID-19 crisis has intensified the pre-existing geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States. This tension has led many to warn of the "Thucydides trap," a term coined by Harvard's Graham T. Allison to refer to the heightened risk of conflict when an emerging power threatens to displace an established one. Allison's theory takes its name from the ancient Greek historian Thucydides' chronicle of the Peloponnesian War, in which Sparta defeated the rising city-state of Athens. One important detail of this historical touchstone has passed largely unnoticed, however, even amid the ongoing pandemic: The determining factor in Sparta's victory was a plague that killed about one-third of Athens's population, including Pericles, the city's leader. Yale's Frank M. Snowden argues that while military and political events may prevail in public memory, pandemics have played a preponderant role in great historical changes. For example, it was typhus that cut short Napoleon's 1812 invasion of Russia, while the 1918-19 flu is thought to have diminished U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's abilities during the Treaty of Versailles negotiations. Before COVID-19, however, Western societies had largely forgotten how much structural harm a disease can cause even though cholera and malaria epidemics are currently ravaging the poorest parts of the world, and global AIDS and swine flu pandemics have killed many in recent decades. Scientists had been warning us for years of an imminent pandemic of a respiratory virus equal in severity to the 1918-19 flu, yet we were insufficiently prepared to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. That was mainly due to the initial heedlessness shown by leaders in advanced economies, combined with developing countries' chronic vulnerability, which overshadows their greater experience in managing epidemics. Although the coronavirus is having an impact across the board, owing to its virulence and the virtually unprecedented shutdown of much of the global economy, it is undoubtedly aggravating pre-existing social inequalities within and among countries. Every day, health workers and others with essential jobs risk infection, often without adequate protection, and for wages that do not reflect the fundamental value of their effort. Likewise, many sectors particularly affected by economic lockdowns face an uncertain future. And the challenge is even greater in middle- or low-income countries, owing to their meager fiscal capacity, large informal economies, precarious healthcare systems, and deficient sanitation. For all of these reasons, the severity of the current circumstances compels us to redesign our social contracts. In developed countries, where neglect of the real economy has allowed inequalities to erode social cohesion, the most urgent priority is to protect workers in essential sectors adequately and compensate them materially and not just with applause, albeit well-deserved for their contribution to our wellbeing. In order to ensure a broad-based economic recovery, we must provide a minimum safety net for all those who have lost their jobs because of COVID-19. Nor, of course, can less prosperous countries be forgotten. That means alleviating their debt burden, helping them obtain medicines and medical supplies on equal terms, and guaranteeing their access to a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. An effective social contract must consider the global context, and an effective global focus must take account of climate change. The Earth is humankind's most important common possession, yet it, too, has been affected by the root cause of the COVID-19 crisis: our collective blindness. Just as we probably would have controlled the coronavirus outbreak faster and more effectively had we listened to the epidemiologists, we still have time to combat global warming before we pass the point of no return. Nevertheless, that will happen only if we listen to the warnings of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and act without delay. After all, it is not certain that the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions brought about by the economic shutdown, even if it were sustained, would be enough to meet the objectives of the Paris climate agreement. In fact, overproduction linked to economic reopening risks raising emissions to pre-crisis levels, as recently happened in China. To avoid catastrophe, therefore, we must act immediately and firmly: We can limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels only through ambitious and coordinated collective action, led by governments and complemented by the private sector. For instance, we should take climate change into account in designing every economic stimulus package, in order to guarantee their long-term feasibility. Despite the magnitude of the challenge, a few things are working in our favor. Throughout the pandemic, in contrast to other systemic shocks like war, physical infrastructure remains intact and the health situation allowing can be reactivated easily. Moreover, the fight against the virus has brought about unprecedented global scientific collaboration, including through the rapid sequencing and diffusion of the virus's genome by Chinese scientists, as well as the publication of hundreds of new studies every day. The multiple public and private initiatives to develop a vaccine should be commended, too. These efforts will, one hopes, continue and not focus solely on the coronavirus: In 2018 alone, more than a half-million people worldwide died of malaria or cholera. While many fear that the pandemic calls for national retreat, the world's scientists are showing us the best way forward. They are not only putting their research at everyone's disposal, but also modeling a cooperative way of working that enables them to do more and do it better. All countries, starting with the two leading global powers, should follow this example and recognize their irrevocable mutual dependence. What is at stake is no less than the future of the planet and our own survival. Javier Solana, a former EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, secretary-general of NATO, and foreign minister of Spain, is president of the Esade Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics and distinguished fellow at the Brook-ings Institution. His article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Purnia/New Delhi, May 25 : Amid the economic crisis posed by coronavirus outbreak, maize farmers in Bihar too are at the receiving end as they have failed to get remunerative prices for the produce this year. Farmers have been forced to sell maize at half the prices compared with last year. It comes at a time of record production of maize, but absence of any demand from the industry. Palat Prasad Yadav, a resident of Maharajganj in Madhepura district, said he had sold his maize crop for Rs 1,050 per quintal five days ago, compared with Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,200 per quintal price prevailing last year. "Those who cultivated wheat are at an advantage as it is selling for Rs 1,850 to Rs 2,000 per quintal. Maize has proved to be a loss-making proposition this year as we are barely recovering our costs," he said. The central government had fixed Rs 1,760 per quintal as minimum support price for maize during the 2019-20 Kharif season (July-June). Bihar's maize yield is expected to be 35 lakh tonnes, which is 10 per cent higher than the previous year. Bihar is the only state in India where maize cultivation is taken in Rabi, Kharif and Zaid crop seasons, with the highest yield recorded in Rabi season. Kosi area in the eastern state is good for cultivation of maize. Gulabbagh agricultural produce market in Purnia district supplies maize across the whole country through trucks and railways. One of its leading trader, Munshi Sikandar Chaurasia, said there was lesser demand for maize this year and consequently the prices ranged between Rs 1,150 and Rs 1,200 per quintal. Another trader Santosh Gupta said that the demand from the poultry industry was next to nothing at present while it was lukewarm from the starch industry. Last year, the demand for maize from poultry and cattle feed industries was so high that maize had to be imported, he said. Bihar Cooperatives Minister Rana Randhir had told IANS earlier this month that the government was considering growers' demand for procurement of maize and pulses by government agencies. Over 47 per cent of the maize production in the country is used by poultry feed industry, around 14 per cent by units making cattle feed and 12 per cent by the starch industry. It is pertinent to mention here that many poultry units are lying closed amid the nationwide lockdown as the owners suffered losses due to fall in prices of poultry meat and eggs below cost price. (Pramod Kumar Jha can be contacted at pramod.j@ians.in) Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Ondo State has arrested Femi Onifade(48) for defiling his two daughters. The young children 6 and 9 reportedly lived with the Onifade at their home at No 27 Liberty Hospital Road, Oluwatuyi, Akure, the state capital. Advertisement The suspect was arrested following intelligence gathering by officers and men of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration Unit. According to the report, operatives of the state chapter of the NSCDC made the arrest based on complaints from his neighbours. The traditional ruler of Akure land, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi was also said to have aided the arrest. Vanguard reports that a source revealed that the monarch handed over the suspect to officials of the NSCDC after he escaped from the palace. It was also reported that the suspect and the mother of the victims became estranged following constant molestation and maltreatment. This reportedly gave the suspect the opportunity to harass his daughters sexually. The suspect, according to sources which spoke to vanguard always mixed some powdery substances with a bottle of soft drink and gave to the girls to drink after which they will sleep off and he would sexually abuse them. It was learnt that the cries of the victims attracted his neighbours who reported their ordeal to the palace after which he was handed over later to the officials of the NSCDC in the state. The spokesperson of the NSCDC in the state, Olufemi Omole said that the suspect always seize the opportunity of his wifes absence to harass the minors sexually. Read Also: Pastor Docked For Allegedly Raping 16-Year-Old Epileptic Girl In Ondo Omole added that He went further to caress the kids and suck their private parts. The neighbours reflected on hearing the wailing of the children throughout the night after sending out their mother. Medical examination from Federal Medical Centre Annex in Akure, however, revealed that both the 9 and 6 years old kids have lost their Hymen and their private part deeply opened. Speaking on the arrest of the suspect, the State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Philip Ayuba said the suspect would be charged to court after the completion of investigation Ayuba said, The state government has shown interest in this case and the welfare of the children has been fully guaranteed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fans have revealed how they transformed a 'once abandoned farm in upstate New York' into a fledgling forest after planting 530 trees in honour of the couple. Followers of the Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, launched the #SussexGreatForest campaign last year to mark the royals' conservation work, with the aim of planting 10,000 trees worldwide. Now the results of the efforts have been revealed, with the group sharing video clips from Woods Ravine Farm on Twitter and declaring it is now home of 'the largest grove of planted trees yet.' Posting the video, the group commented: 'As Archie continues to grow, its wonderful to know that #ArchiesWood will grow with him.' Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, fans have transformed a 'once abandoned farm in upstate New York' with hundreds of trees to create Archie's Woods' The campaign @SussexGtForest shared video clips and photographs of the efforts on Twitter, saying it was the 'largest grove of planted trees yet' Posting a video clip of rows of planted trees, the campaign group wrote: 'Thank you to Toby and the incredible team at Woods Ravine Farm. Theyre planting 530 trees in #SussexGreatForest - our largest grove of planted trees yet. 'A once abandoned farm in upstate New York is now the home of #ArchiesWoods.' 'Theyve dedicated all of this years trees to Master Archie in celebration of his 1st birthday. Theyve planted 330 trees so far with another 200 to go.' Meanwhile the group added that the woods would feature a 'diverse range of trees', writing: 'The mix of apple, maple, walnut, butternut, and hickory trees will create a diverse, young grove to complement the mature CCC Depression-era trees that are nearly 90 years old. The royal initiative, which was set up by followers of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex last November, shared a clip showing hundreds of trees in a green luscious field 'In addition to everything else, they are making the entire forest just a little younger.' Sussex supporters came up with the idea following Prince Harry's trip to Africa, where he put global conservation at the forefront of his visit, according to Harper's Bazaar. During the trip, the royal was photographed speaking to a child as he joined school children in a tree planting event in Chobe National Park, Kasane in Botswana on 26 September 2019. Fans decided to honour their commitment to conservation and safeguarding the environment for the next generation. The campaign shared other snaps, including one showing seedlings of the plants growing, alongside the hashtag #PlantHope The campaign, which was set up by Sussex fans last year, went on to share another picture of one of the 530 trees being planted At the time, the project chose four charities for members of the public to plant trees in the royals' names - including UK-based Tree Sisters, which aims to make forest restoration as fundamental to people as consumption currently is, and One Tree Planted, which focuses on planting trees around the world. Others included the International Tree Foundation, which works with communities in Africa and the UK to protect, regenerate and cultivate trees and forests, and The Green Belt Movement, which empowers communities, particularly women, to conserve the environment and improve livelihoods. Alternatively, they suggest supporters could plant their own and advised if it's too cold to plant in the ground, to do so in a pot and transfer before 6 May 2020 - which was Archie's first birthday. The campaign was launched shortly after Prince Harry and Meghan's trip to South Africa to honour their dedication to conservation Prince Harry and Meghan thanked Sussex supporters for the campaign in November. Taking to the Sussex Royal Instagram story, the royals penned: 'Huge thanks to the amazing group of people who have launched the grassroots Sussex Great Forest initiative. What a special surprise!' Explaining the campaign, the Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, continued: 'The aim of this project is to plant 10, 000 trees around the world by 'donating globally and planting locally. We are so inspired! Thank you!' Prince Harry helped to plant a tree at the Chobe National Park, on day four of the royal tour of Africa, in Botswana September 26, 2019 (pictured) For the past 10 years the collaboration between the Red Cross, Caritas and social stores has been flourishing. Social stores run by Caritas and the Red Cross provide food and other necessities to people that may not have the financial means to visit a regular supermarket. Individuals currently going through partial unemployment may also resort to the offer during the pandemic. In Mersch roughly 150 families depend on the social store. The Red Cross runs eight stores, Caritas a further four. These 12 stores in total were able to support hundreds of people in the country during the health crisis. Didier Weber / RTL Tele Letzebuerg Domingos Oliveira / RTL Didier Weber / RTL Tele Letzebuerg Didier Weber / RTL Tele Letzebuerg Didier Weber / RTL Tele Letzebuerg Didier Weber / RTL Tele Letzebuerg 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. At the start of the pandemic, Luxembourg's centbutteker were forced to shut due to panic buying. Centbutteker are low-priced, social grocery store run by volunteers. It is supported by bakeries, supermarkets and small shops which provide surplus food that is perfectly fresh, but cannot be sold in regular supermarkets. Their closing meant that the stores run by Caritas and the Red Cross had an increase in customers. Prices in social stores are roughly a third of the regular supermarket value. Video in Luxembourgish Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 05:40:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Few vehicles are seen during the Eid al-Fitr festival in the center of Tunis, Tunisia, on May 24, 2020. Tunisian government called people to stay home and reduce gathering to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the Eid al-Fitr festival. As of May 24, Tunisia reported a total of 1,048 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 48 deaths. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua) TUNIS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh said on Sunday that his country is preparing to exit the stage of COVID-19 outbreak with the slightest damage. The official TAP news agency quoted the prime minister as saying that "Tunisia, which has succeeded in controlling COVID-19, is about to exit from the outbreak stage with the slightest damage after registering more than 1,000 cases and most them have recovered." He also stressed the continuation of the national effort to fight against COVID-19 during the summer period. The prime minister announced that the resumption of tourism activities will take place after July, which will contribute to reviving the national economy. As of May 24, Tunisia reported a total of 1,048 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 48 deaths. The government has imposed strict confinement measures shortly after the announcement of the first coronavirus case in the country on March 2. The North African country has received several batches of medical aid from the Chinese government, Chinese foundations and companies since late March. Over the weekend LNA (Libyan National Army) forces began moving away from the capital, Tripoli, which they had trying to take since April 2019. The cause of the retreat was the ability of the growing Turkish mercenary force to reinforce the various militias the UN-backed GNA (Government of National Accord) was using to unsuccessfully defend itself against the rival HoR (House of Representatives) government in Tobruk. The HoR was the last elected government of Libya and helped organize the LNA. The UN organized the GNA by making deals with the militias that dominate Tripoli (and Misrata city to the east). Many of those militias want or will accept, a religious (Islamic) government for Libya. Currently most of these militias are out for themselves and are basically a network of independent warlords whose only common interest is preventing the LNA from establishing a national government. The LNA has been, since it was founded in 2014, against Islamic terrorists and radicals as well as independent militias. What prompted the seemingly sudden LNA retreat was the refusal of the LNA leader to go along with a truce deal that the Russians, Turks and GNA were willing to accept. The LNA controls most of Libya and saw itself as the defender of the country against a Turkish force that had brought in nearly 10,000 Syrian Arab mercenaries plus about a thousand Turkish troops. The much smaller Russian force of about 1,200 Russian military contractors and technical experts was seen as foreign aid, not a foreign invasion. A major factor in the Russian withdrawal was an economic and public health crisis back home. Declining oil prices, economic sanctions for the 2014 invasion of Ukraine and the costs of dealing with the current covid19 virus epidemic have brought much of the Russian economy to a standstill. Russia is still paying for its more expensive 2015 Syrian intervention as well as the even more costly, and stalemated, Ukrainian invasion. Something had to go and given the LNA commanders unwillingness to cooperate, Libya was the easiest expensive foreign adventure to get out of. Not all the Russians are leaving, but the most expensive ones are. Leaving Libya also made it easier for Russia to deal with problems it was having with Turkey in Syria. Moreover, Turkish operations in Libya gave Russia a taste of what they were in for in Syria if Russian-backed troops got into sustained combat with the Turks. One embarrassing example was how the Turks defeated Russian-made Pantsir mobile anti-aircraft systems. Pantsir is a popular export item that consists of a 22 ton 8x8 truck carrying a radar, two 30mm autocannon (range four kilometers) and twelve missiles with a max range of 18 kilometers). A crew of three operates each Pantsir vehicle, which should have been devastating to the Turkish UAV force in Libya. Pantsir did shoot down some Turkish UAVs but the Turks also found ways to destroy Pantsir vehicles. This involved some EW (electronic warfare). Normally a Pantsir is active and using its radar to search for targets, including hostile UAVs. Turkey used their new Koral jammer, which is vehicle mounted and already used in Syria, to jam Pantsir sensors and enable Bayraker TB2 UAVs to fire a Mam-L laser-guided missile that destroy Pantsir vehicles. The Turks provided video of one of these kills. Bayraker, Mam-L and Koral are all Turkish developed and manufactured. The Turkism invasion force in Libya currently consists of about 10,000 Syrian Arab mercenaries plus hundreds more undergoing training back in Turkey. The mercenaries sent to Libya are men already on the Turkish payroll in northern Syria. At first there was no problem getting these Syria based mercenaries to go to Libya. The pay was higher and initially it appeared to be less dangerous. That was no longer the case during the last two months as combat intensified. The thousand or so Russian Wagner Group military contractors are all Russian veterans, often of special operations and airborne units, helping to train and advise in combat LNA troops. Wagner reported to the Russian government that the Turkish force was formidable and was numerous enough to form special brigades capable of carrying out offensive operations. The brigades were technically part of an established local militia but the militiamen were happy to act as axillaries for the more experienced Syrian mercs and their Turkish advisors. The GNA militiamen were able to provide guides and security support for the Turkish mercs carrying out mobile operations, which the GNA militias had not been good at before the Turks showed up. The Turks could also afford to replace the losses of troops and equipment. Their Syrian mercs received good medical care and compensation if wounded and their families received large payments and other benefits for those who died in combat. With the Russians gone, Syrian Arab mercs in Libya will suffer fewer casualties, at least initially. But if the Turks try to use this mixed force of mercenaries and GNA militias to gain control of the entire country, that will be a lot more expensive in terms of personnel and equipment losses. The LNA and Libyans in general are growing angrier at the Turkish invasion and the fact that Turkey is supporting Islamic militias that are unpopular in Libya. That unpopularity is one reason the LNA still controls most of the country. LNA began in 2014 as a force opposed to Islamic terrorists and Islamic political militia. The longer the Turkish mercs are in Libya the more unpopular they become. The Turks have no problem with Islamic governments and militias that support such things. The Libyans are hostile to foreign invaders, especially one that was a former imperial ruler of Libya. The Turks are also flagrantly violating international law and UN sanctions. The UN, which created the GNA government the Turks are propping up, is not applying any real pressure against the foreign invaders. Russia had been providing aid to the LNA for over five years, mostly in the form of weapons and technical assistance in repairing and maintaining the largely Cold War Russian weapons the LNA uses. There were never more than about a thousand Russian combat troops in Libya, and these were mostly military contractors and regarded as such by Libyans. Russians are not perceived as foreign invaders and nor are the Gulf Arabs and Egyptians who have been backing the LNA with weapons and other support. Historically the Turks and Russians were always rivals and often at war with each other. Although the Russian and Turk empires dissolved a century ago, the ancient animosities did not. With Turkish and Russian forces fighting each other in Syria and Libya, both ancient rivals were eager to dial the violence down a bit. Both Syria and Libya used to be part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire and both became close to Russia during the Cold War, buying most of their weapons from Russia and cooperating diplomatically. Most Syrians and Libyans are more interested in reviving the Russian relationship than the Turkish one. Most Turks do not support foreign wars. The current Islamic government of Turkey is increasingly unpopular for economic and political mismanagement, but its Syrian operations are justified because they keep terrorists out of Turkey. Moreover most of the Turkish combat troops in Syria are Arab mercs with a smaller number of Turkish troops to deal with support, technical matters and keeping an eye on things in general. Libya is a different matter and Turkish intervention there cannot go on too long. The economic justification for the Libyan invasion is the GNA willingness to support Turkish claims on areas of Eastern Mediterranean that may contain oil and gas deposits. These claims are illegal and the UN is under pressure to follow its own rules on this matter as well as the Turkish invasion. Turkey has other problems in Libya. The Chinese UAVs supporting the LNA seem to be doing better than the Turkish ones. LNA forces have shot down over thirty Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UAVs. The Turks simply shipped in more replacement UAVs. The LNA is actively supported by several Arab states, mainly Egypt and the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The UAE has been operating its Chinese armed UAVs in Libya for several years and the LNA has an active air force that can shoot down large UAVs like the Bayraktar TB2. Despite these combat losses, the Turkish UAVs have performed as expected and are considered equal to the Chinese UAVs. All these UAVs are based on the American Predator and not designed to survive in a combat zone where the opposition is equipped with modern anti-aircraft weapons. China does not supply weapons directly to the LNA but does sell weapons to anyone who can pay, and the UAE has bought a lot of weapons, including UAVs, from China and used them in Libya without any complaints from China. As far as China is concerned their UAVs' successful performance in Libya makes its UAVs easier to sell as combat proven. Prisoners Of The Past The UN Libyan operations are based in Tripoli and must support the GNA it created or face the anger of the Tripoli and Misrata militias. Turkey openly backs moderate Islamic groups like the Moslem Brotherhood, which have tried, in several countries to form Islamic governments. The Brotherhood has never succeeded, mainly because it always runs into problems with its extremist factions that demand a more oppressive Islamic form of government than most Moslems will tolerate. Since 2003 the Islamic government in Turkey has carried out several of these increasingly aggressive interventions in Arab nations. The one in Syria has been going on since 2016 and has not worked out the way the Turks wanted. In early 2020 Turkey found itself facing Russian and Syrian troops in Syria as well as Kurdish militias. The Libya intervention was the most distant and aggressive so far and not a sure thing. The increasing Turkish involvement in Syria and Libya is condemned by most UN members, including Israel, the EU (European Union), Russia, Iran and the Arab states. For the Arabs there is the fear that the Turks are trying to rebuild the empire they lost because they were on the wrong side during World War I. The empire was not popular with most Turks, who were fed up with ruling the troublesome and often self-destructive Arabs. Recep Erdogan, the current (since 2003) Turkish leader leads an Islamic party that got elected on the promise to reduce corruption. It did that for a while before becoming quite corrupt itself. Now Erdogan is trying to regain his popularity by invading Syria to establish an area where he can move the millions of unpopular (with most Turks) Syrian refugees. The EU states are threatening sanctions and other economic retaliation over what the Turks are doing in Syria. The UN is now having a more difficult time justifying the Turkish military presence in Libya. The Arab hostility to the Turks helps the LNA and hurts the GNA. The Turks expected more of a welcome in Libya. They should have known better. The Turks first showed up there in the 1550s as the Ottoman Empire conquered the coastal towns and cities of what is now Libya. Eventually the Turks advanced inland but there was no real incentive to because south of the coast was mainly desert and before oil was discovered and developed in the 1960s, there was little economic value down there. Empires have bills to pay and tend to keep their soldiers where the money is. From the 1550s to 1910 Libya was technically a province of the Ottoman Empire but was mainly run by local strongmen who were often Turks who had gone native. In 1911 Italy took advantage of the weak control the Turks exercised and invaded. By 1912 Italy controlled what is now Libya. The Italians sent in colonists and brought the industrial revolution to Libya. Italian rule ended in 1943 when Italy, an ally of Germany during World War II, surrendered to the allies. Occupied by allied troops, Libya was given independence in 1951 as a constitutional monarchy. The royal family was led by a prominent local religious leader who became king. Libya's parliament demonstrated the political divides between eastern and western coastal Libya and the less populous tribal interior. The discovery and development of oil fields down south in the 1960s brought unprecedented wealth and prosperity to Libya. It also brought a military takeover in 1969. This coup was led by Moamar Kaddafi who misruled Libya until 2011 when he was overthrown and killed. The Turks had good relations with the Libyan monarchy but less stable and cordial relations with Kaddafi. Now the Turks have returned and are backing the Islamic militias. This is not popular with most Libyans, who have learned to fear the chaotic and unpredictable militias. Libya remains a thinly populated and divided (by tribal and local loyalties) place. When the kingdom was established in 1951 the population was about a million. The 1960s oil wealth triggered a population explosion (and lots of imported workers) the reached six million when the 2011 revolution occurred. Despite many Libyans fleeing the country, the population is still about six million and a third of that is found in and around Tripoli. Thats why the city is so important to the GNA and why the LNA went after Tripoli only after they had established themselves in the rest of Libya. GNA control is limited to a portion of western Libya along the coast. This includes the cities of Tripoli, Misrata and Sirte. The other two are much smaller than Tripoli and defended by local militias rather than any elected government. The LNA and HoR advocate elected governments while the GNA is less eager to discuss that lest it offends the many militias it depends on. There are few things Libyans agree on and these include dislike of the Turks, Islamic terrorists, militias, especially Islamic ones, and foreign interference in general. For that reason the UN peacemaking efforts are none too popular. Thats because the UN backed an unpopular and weak government in Tripoli, a city controlled largely by rival militias. The UN is seen as outsiders more interested in pursuing their own goals rather than what Libyans want (peace and some form of unity). The LNA and its leader Khalifa Hiftar know that and made themselves useful by subduing the militias and Islamic terror groups in eastern Libya and slowly moving south and west to do the same throughout Libya. A year fighting in and around Tripoli has forced several hundred thousand civilians to flee their homes and caused several thousand casualties (fighters and civilians). As with most other battles in Libya, casualties are not as high as in places like Syria, Iraq of Afghanistan. While Libya is a large country, over 80 percent of the people live along the coast and the style of warfare is usually loud skirmishes meant to intimidate. Eventually one side blinks and withdraws. The Turks, and Islamic terrorists, prefer a more violent form of combat and that is one of many reasons why the Turks are not wanted. The LNA was willing to fighting it out but the Russians were not willing to pay for that. The Russians believed the Turks were overextending themselves in Libya and would eventually leave. The HoR did not want to go in that direction but now they have no choice because the Turk-backed GNA can survive and keep Libya divided. The Virus Efforts to avoid the spread of covid19 throughout Libya are hampered by the lack of health care facilities. There used to be more health care but that has faded away since the revolution in 2011. Up to March 2020 no one in Libya has been tested and found to have covid19. All Libyans agree that it is important to keep it that way. Currently 75 cases have been identified in Libya and three have died. There may be others but no one knows. Covis19 is most dangerous in crowded urban areas like GNA controlled Tripoli and Misrata. In LNA controlled Tobruk and Benghazi there is no quarantine, just a night-time curfew imposed by the eastern H0R government the LNA works for. In neighboring Algeria about 8,400 have come down with the virus and so far Algeria has suffered about 14 deaths per million population compared to 11 in Libya. Thats much less than the world average of 42 deaths per million but much worse than South Korea where deaths were five per million. South Korea was praised for its efficient handling of the virus. South Korea has a much better public health system but so far Algeria has done well with what it has. Algeria has one of the worst national health systems in the world and among Arab nations ranks 17th out of 21. What blurs these statistics is the fact that not all nations really know how many have caught the virus or died from it. Neighbors Tunisia had 89 cases per million and four deaths per million. For Morocco it is 202 and five, Libya 11 and 0.4. Egypt is 169 and 7. May 24, 2020: Turkey has been flying in more support aircraft for use in Syria. This includes a B-737 based Turkish AWACS (airborne early warning and control) aircraft. The Turks have also flown another 500 Syrian mercenaries into Misrata. May 23, 2020: South of Tripoli GNA forces occupied three LNA bases that had been abandoned by retreating LNA forces. May 20, 2020: Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia are demanding that Turkey get out of Libya. The Turks are not impressed and are reminding Arab nations why Turkey ruled most of the Middle East for centuries. These neighbors of Libya cannot ignore the Turkish invasion and the UAE, a Persian Gulf oil state that has long supported the LNA, is not backing down either. May 19, 2020: Satellite photos showed at least one Russian MiG-29 fighter at an LNA airbase in Libya. The GNA accused Russia of supplying the LNA with six MiG-29s and two Su-24 light bombers. May 18, 2020: Turkish GNA forces captured the LNA al Watiya airbase. This operation was supported by over fifty airstrikes carried out by Turkish UAVs. Several warplanes and one Pantsir air defense vehicle were captured at the airbase. May 10, 2020: In Libya the LNA forces ambushed and killed a senior Syrian Turkish mercenary commander and showed off the mans photo ID as proof. The dead commander, Mohamed Hendawi, was in charge of transporting the Syrian mercenaries from Turkey to Libya. The death of Hendawi makes it more difficult to persuade the Syrian mercs to work in Libya. May 9, 2020: LNA forces fired several artillery shells at the Mitiga Airport support facilities, destroying fuel supplies and damaging some aircraft. There were three dead a dozen wounded. This is the only functioning airport for Tripoli. Recent airstrikes have caused Mitiga to be shut down several times since March. May 8, 2020: The United States accused Russia and Syria of organizing an Arab mercenary force to use in Libya to reinforce Russian military contractors already there to oppose Turkey supplied Arab mercenaries. Fianna Fail and the Green Party are being urged not to allow the Occupied Territories Bill to fall through the cracks during the current government formation talks. Senator Frances Black's bill would ban all trade with occupied territories in Palestine, and had been included in both parties' election manifestos, but did not appear in the draft programme for government. The Fine Gael party opposes the bill, saying such bans need to be an EU-wide move. Betty Purcell from the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign says that pressure from public backlash to occupation could nudge Fine Gael toward backing the bill. "If the EU wishes to increase pressure, then that could be a 'let-out' for Fine Gael, that they may be prepared to allow progress on the bill, but up to now we have not seen any sign of that. "Their policy seems to be about Europe, and we need to depend on the Irish population, and hopefully principled people within Fianna Fail and The Greens". This bill, passed in the Seanad in July of 2018, would prohibit trade between Ireland and the illegal settlements in the West Bank. It passed by 25 votes to 20 with Independent senators and those in Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Labour in favour of it. It was opposed by government. Should the bill be passed into law, it would make Ireland the first EU nation to enforce a boycott. Jeff Brownsberger had attended the Houston National Cemeterys annual Memorial Day ceremony every year for the past decade, and so Monday he rose early again, in hopes of securing a good spot to view the wreath laying. When he arrived at 6 a.m., however, things were different. The cemetery grounds were quiet. The horseshoe-shaped memorial building where the ceremony is held each year was largely empty. Usually, this place is packed by the thousands, said Brownsberger, whose father, an Army veteran, and mother are both buried at the cemetery. Now Playing: Even with a scaled back ceremony due to coronavirus, taps is played as Houston National Cemetery honors the country's service men and women on Memorial Day. Video: Brett Coomer At Houston National and cemeteries around the country, low-key Memorial Day ceremonies were held to comply with crowd restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed lives of nearly 100,000 people in the United States so far. Houston National Cemetery typically has a robust program that draws more than a thousand people. Instead, it hosted a roughly 40-minute ceremony that included the singing of the national anthem, a prayer, the wreath presentation and a rifle salute. Attendance was restricted to media and a select group of officials and veterans in order to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, according to a news release. Cemetery director Roy Luera said guidelines and restrictions prevented officials and visitors from paying tribute to fallen veterans as they normally would. However, Luera said, the most important thing is were joined together to honor those brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and our way of life. Speakers included U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, the Houston Democrat. She stressed the honor she felt in recognizing veterans who died serving the country. If not for those who lay in this cemetery, we would not be the Americans we are today, prepared to fight and overcome a deadly disease, Jackson Lee said. Dua Hua, a pharmacist who served in the U.S. Navy from 1987 to 1993, said this years ceremony felt empty a contrast to last years, which he said was motivating and exciting for those there to pay their respects. It brings some sadness to me, Hua said. Today is one of the major days where we choose to pause and respect and remember the ones who fought for us, who die for us, who are willing to give it all for us, but not too many (were) here. The scaled-back Memorial Day is an antithesis of how Americans typically celebrate their veterans. In our way of life, everybody knows, we are going to show our gratitude in a bold way. Its not just staying home and (remembering), Hua said. We as a nation, we show our strength, we get together and we hold our hands together so we can tell the world that we are Americans. Though the ceremony was brief and limited, the cemetery welcomed veterans, family members, community members and others who wanted to visit grave sites throughout the day, encouraging them to adhere to social distancing and safety guidelines. Michael Parker Jr., a retired Marine, came with his son and daughter to honor his grandfather, who served in both the Army and Marines. I bring my kids every year to understand the value of today. Its not about barbecue or having another day off of school, Parker said, but about how some gave the ultimate sacrifice. But without the sea of flags at the different grave sites, the thousands of people traversing the cemetery, and groups, like the Girls and Boys Scouts, distributing flags, this Memorial Day just didnt feel the same, he said. It actually pains me to see its not being done, Parker said. For his part, Brownsberger stood and watched from the outskirts, reminiscing about previous years when hed volunteer and mingle with other visitors for hours. I havent missed one yet, Brownsberger said of the ceremony. brittany.britto@chron.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: A total of 18,500 employees of the Tengizchevroil oil company (TCO) and contracting organizations were evacuated from the Tengiz field due to the threat of coronavirus spread, TCOs Manager General of Public Relations Rzabek Artygaliev said, Trend reports with reference to Kazakh media. Artygaliev said that the employees were temporarily removed in order to prevent the coronavirus spread among employees. Some 18,500 people were temporarily removed from the Tengiz field today. Infection spreads very quickly where there is a lot of people. Therefore, it was necessary to reduce the number of people at the field, Artygaliev said. In order to remove the employees, the company allocated funds for over 40 commercial flights, 211 flights by TCOs Dash 8 plane and 170 buses, and 16 trains. This work was carried out by the company during the emergency state and quarantine in the Atyrau region, he said. On May 20, 2020 Kazakhstans Chief Sanitary Doctor Aizhan Yesmagambetova said that operations at TCO-operated Tengiz oil and gas field may be suspended if number COVID-19 cases among fields staff go on increasing. The data as of May 21, said that 935 coronavirus cases of total cases countrywide account for Tengizchevroil staff. 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 amounted to 8,531. This includes 4,352 people who recovered from the coronavirus, and 35 patients who passed away. The Tengiz oil field was discovered in 1979 and is one of the biggest and deepest oil fields in the world. The total explored reserves of Tengiz reach 3.2 billion tons, while recoverable reserves range from 890 million tons to 1.37 billion tons. In 1993, Tengizchevroil LLP, which is the project operator, was established on the basis of an agreement between Kazakhstan and Chevron. Presently, Tengizchevroil includes Chevron (50 percent), ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc. (25 percent), KazMunayGas (20 percent) and LukArco (5 percent). --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh By IANS NEW DELHI: After a gap of two months, domestic passenger flight operations resumed on Monday amid reluctance by various states to open up their airports in view of rising cases of the novel coronavirus. The first flight took off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45 am under strict regulations recommended by civil aviation authorities. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna and it departed at 6.45 am. Large number of flights were cancelled on Monday across the country. For example, aviation industry sources said, around 82 flights -- departures and arrivals -- have been cancelled till now at the Delhi airport. States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling cases of the coronavirus infection in their states. The West Bengal government did not relent to a request by the civil aviation ministry to allow flight services. It was decided on Sunday that the state will gradually permit domestic flights from May 28 under strict guidelines. Andhra Pradesh too did not allow any flights on Monday. Airlines were jittery in resuming services as multiple states have put in place separate norms and conditions for quarantining passengers arriving there by domestic flights. The government last week announced the resumption of domestic flight services from May 25 under specific rules and guidelines like a cap on ticket pricing, wearing of face masks by passengers, no food served on board planes and making available details of medical conditions by travellers through the Aarogya Setu app or by filling up of a self-declaration form. The app gives colour-coded designation to users as per their health status and travel history. It helps the users know if they are near anyone who has tested COVID-19 positive. The government's decision came as the aviation sector was reeling under severe stress triggered by the coronavirus lockdown that began on March 25. Many states have expressed serious reservations about the Centre's decision to start flight services. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh, among others, have announced their respective quarantine measures for passengers arriving at their airports. Some states have decided to put passengers in mandatory institutional quarantine while several others have talked about putting them under home quarantine. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday had questioned the need for quarantine if a passenger shows green status on the Aarogya Setu app. The green status signifies that a passenger is safe. Bookings had opened for around 1,050 domestic flights planned for Monday but the revised measures announced on Sunday have led to cancellation of several flights leaving hundreds of passengers disappointed. The airlines, which were allowed to operate one-third of their capacity, have been busy since Sunday night in further reworking their flight schedules. Government officials said on Sunday evening that airports in Kolkata and Bagdogra in cyclone-hit West Bengal will not operate any domestic flights between May 25 and 27 but will handle 20 flights each per day from May 28. The airports in Mumbai in Maharashtra and Hyderabad in Telangana will handle 50 and 30 flights respectively everyday from Monday, they said. The Maharashtra government had requested the Centre on Sunday to keep air services in the state at a minimum possible level. Mumbai is the country's second busiest airport. All the flights account for an equal number of arrivals and departures, the officials said. There will be "limited" flights from Mumbai starting Monday and as per approved one-third schedule from other airports in the state, said Puri on Twitter on Sunday night. Puri also tweeted to say that maximum 25 flights per day can arrive in Chennai from Monday and there will be no limit on the number of departures. For other airports in Tamil Nadu, flights will operate as in other parts of the country. The minister said operations will resume on a "limited" scale in Andhra Pradesh from Tuesday following a request from the state government. Flights operate to Vijayawada and Vizag airports in the state. The Health Ministry on Sunday issued guidelines for domestic travel, advising passengers to download the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices and asking states to ensure thermal screening at the departure point of airports, railway stations and bus terminals. Asymptomatic passengers should be permitted to travel after being asked to self-monitor for 14 days, the ministry said. Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with tickets to travellers by the agencies concerned, said the ministry's guidelines for domestic travel through any means - air, bus or train. File Photo New Delhi: In many northern states, the temperature has crossed 45 degrees Celsius. The meteorological department has issued 'Red Alert' for Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Rajasthan in the next two days. Local Meteorological Department chief Kuldeep Srivastava said an "Orange Warning" has also been issued for eastern Uttar Pradesh. Advertisement PhotoHe warned that in the next 2-3 days, the temperature in some areas may go up to 47 degrees. Kuldeep Srivastava said that for the first time in the summer season, such a 'red alert' warning has been issued for hot winds. This time the temperature did not rise to the level it used to be in North and Central India as it rained till mid-April and May. Pilani in Rajasthan recorded a low of 46.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday. "Extreme heat wave is expected in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and some parts of Telangana in the next five days," the meteorological department said in its daily bulletin. Advertisement PhotoIn the next 3-4 days, strong winds will blow over certain areas in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Gujarat, Central Maharashtra and Vidarbha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and North Inner Karnataka. Lu is declared when the temperature is at least 40 degrees Celsius and the normal temperature rises from 4.5 degrees Celsius to 6.4 degrees Celsius. In the plains, a heatwave is declared when the actual maximum temperature reaches 45 degrees Celsius and a severe heatwave is considered when the temperature reaches 47C or above. Advertisement The meteorological department also issues warnings in ascending order based on the severity of the weather system - such as green, yellow, orange and red. PhotoAccording to Srivastava, a red warning has been issued this time, so as not to leave the house from one o'clock in the afternoon to five o'clock in the evening, when the heat is at its peak. "Dry north-westerly winds and storms between Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu are adapting to the heat wave," said Naresh Kumar, a scientist at the National Meteorological Centre of the Meteorological Department. Relief is expected only after May 28 as some rains are expected due to western disturbances. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Sadraddin Agjayev Trend: Individual buyers and sellers aren't the only ones in the e-commerce market of Azerbaijan, it also includes state agencies and banks, Tariyel Agazade, program manager of Azerbaijans SUP.VC center, expert, told Trend. The entrepreneurs cant actively work in the field of online trading in Azerbaijan because such giants as Amazon and AliExpress offer the same or similar products in a wider range and cheaper, Agazade added. "We, in turn, as developers and start-ups will participate in expanding the capabilities of entrepreneurs who own online platforms by offering them our startup projects, which in the future will help drive some foreign suppliers out of the market, replacing them with local ones," the program manager added. Azerbaijani expert in the field of e-commerce Orkhan Ahmadli stressed that not only sellers, but also domestic producers of goods need to step up as far as development of e-commerce in Azerbaijan goes. We often purchase the goods that we dont have, on foreign online platforms abroad, the expert added. It is unprofitable for our entrepreneurs to purchase accessories for their further sale on the local market, which are less popular in our country. If the range of production of accessories for various gadgets is expanded in the country, then there will be no need for our citizens to buy these goods abroad," Ahmadli said, stressing that this step will also attract foreign buyers to the Azerbaijani market. Kazakhstan is exemplary in successful development of e-commerce, where sellers in e-platforms have been exempted from paying taxes for five years since 2018, the expert added. This has had a great impact on the development of such commerce. Many entrepreneurs have closed their facilities and switched to online trading by using their facilities as warehouses." Many people think that entrepreneurs involved in online sales earn more than traditional stores, but this is not so, Ahmadli said. They also pay for renting warehouses, have employees, pay taxes, spend money on advertising, pay a certain percentage (usually within three percent) to the acquiring system (the technology that allows to accept payment cards) and bear other costs. "I think that the e-commerce may rapidly develop in our country and the foreign markets may remain in the background when the state, entrepreneurs and manufacturers apply joint efforts, the expert said. Of course, these issues are resolved at the state level and the banking sector is also working in this sphere to simplify the process of introducing the necessary technologies on online platforms," Ahmadli added. ---- Follow the author on Twitter: agdzhaev One of the world's most powerful union leaders has urged governments to use the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to introduce a living wage, arguing the crisis demonstrates why front-line workers such as nurses and shop assistants deserve greater financial reward. Sharan Burrow, the secretary-general of the International Trade Union Confederation, the peak global union body, said the pandemic had "exposed, in a really dramatic way, the vulnerabilities of the global economy" and called for workers to receive a greater share of national income at shareholders' expense. International trade union secretary-general Sharan Burrow says workers need a living wage. Credit:Wayne Taylor Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age from Brussels, Ms Burrow pushed for what she described as a more equal society with a "living wage", especially for front-line workers in sectors like healthcare, and an extension of the minimum wage to workers on platforms like Uber and Airtasker. Ms Burrow, who was national secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 2000 to 2010, argues inequality is increasing globally and companies have put the interests of shareholders before employees. "Go and look at the supermarket or service workers or the women in care [work] and you will find that their wages in many, many nations are poverty wages," she said. European equities rallied Monday as countries gradually continue to reopen their economies and lift coronavirus lockdown restrictions. The French CAC 40 finished up by around 1.9%, while Germany's DAX index gained 2.6%. U.S. and U.K. markets were closed Monday for Memorial Day and the U.K. spring bank holiday, respectively. France's biggest movers were commercial real estate company Unibail Rodam Westfield, up more than 7%; hospitality group Accor, up 6%; and French aerospace giant Airbus, up 8%. Germany's rally was led by aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines, up 7% and carrier Lufthansa, up around 6% on the news that it's approaching a deal for a 9 billion euro bailout from the German government. German pharmaceutical giant Bayer also led the index's rise Monday, trading more than 8% higher. Bayer's stock price was boosted by reports that it had reached agreements over a raft of U.S. lawsuits involving its Roundup weedkiller. Alyssa Milano finally speaks up against bashers on Twitter who criticized her use of a crocheted mask which they deem 'un-safe'. The ex-Charmed Star on Mar 23 uploaded a photo of her and family inside a car. She captioned it "Masks keep people safe and healthy. Show me yours!" as her two children and husband Dave Bugliara were all seen wearing face masks. Milano nonetheless was seen in a crocheted one which immediately received negative comments from people tagging it 'not effective in stopping the novel coronavirus due to its wide knit and porous holes." READ ALSO: 'Charmed' Actress Shannen Doherty Fights Cancer; Shares Photo Of First Radiation Therapy Alyssa Milano response against Twitter Criticism Milano was quick to defend that her crocheted face mask, that was actually made by her mom, has a carbon filter in it, saying ' "So, yes, it might be crochet but totally safe." To prove her point, the actress also shared a screenshot showing the carbon filter she bought. Another commenter jumped onto the conversation to support Milano saying that crocheted masks are safe as long as carbon filters are placed inside them. Masks with filters for the win!https://t.co/fZFBWGDoWh Adam Rifkin (@ifindkarma) May 23, 2020 Milano is not the only one wearing a crocheted mask yrurari, an Icelandic artist, made various mouth-themed masks. Most notable is one full of tongues. Mansha Friedrich, another artist also created several face masks with crocheted smiles or suns which she gave away to people. They come with exchangeable fabric inlays. Stay tuned for more stories about Alyssa Milano's crocheted mask! READ ALSO: Mistresses Cancelled: The Steamy Scenes Will Surely Be Missed A man who ran off after he was pulled over by a Bexar County Sheriffs deputy shot and killed himself Sunday night. Sheriff Javier Salazar said his deputies were involved in a routine operation for violent crime and ran a license plate of a car that was driving near the 7400 block of FM 78 in east Bexar County. When they discovered the car had been stolen, a deputy began following the car. When he caught up, the man jumped out of the vehicle and ran. When the deputy saw the suspect, he was already jumping fences in the area, Salazar said. By that point, Salazar said Converse police and troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety were assisting his deputies. Once the suspect saw the police, Salazar said, he pulled a handgun and shot himself in the head. Salazar said they do not know the identity of the suspect and that the Bexar County Medical Examiner would be working the scene. He described the man as in his 30s or 40s and was wearing only boxer-type underwear and boots. Thankfully no deputy was injured in the incident, Salazar told media via Zoom videoconferencing from an oil exchange business near the scene. No further details were immediately available. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. To read more from Elizabeth, become a subscriber. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced $9,220,564 in federal funding allocated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This funding was secured under the CARES Act for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, which funds the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program. The program supports activities that help or maintain the health and safety of assisted individuals and families. Additionally, the program covers increased subsidy and administrative expenses incurred by public housing authorities (PHAs). Every New Yorker deserves a safe and secure place to call home, and this federal investment I worked tirelessly to negotiate gets us one step closer to that goal, Schumer said in a news release. As New York still reels from the devastating effects of the ongoing pandemic, we need to do all we can to support affordable housing for our most vulnerable residents. I will always fight tooth and nail for resources that keep New Yorkers safe, especially during these challenging times, Schumer noted. As public health officials continue to urge people across the country to stay home, we need to make sure that we provide the necessary support to vulnerable New Yorkers hit hardest by the economic impacts caused by COVID-19, Gillibrand commented. This funding will help provide New Yorkers with access to safe and affordable housing during these uncertain times. I am proud to have fought to secure this funding allocated in the CARES Act, and I will continue to advocate for New Yorkers during this pandemic, Gillibrand explained. Included among the funding are the following: Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Collapsible Metal Tubes is accounted for $ 1,065.78 million in 2017 and is expected to reach $ 1,625.24 million by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. Growing demand for the cosmetic and personal care product, the superior barrier traits of collapsible metal tubes, high demand for private label brands and various expansion activities by key players are the key driving factors for the market growth. However, increasing pace of plastic tubes replacing collapsible metal tubes has a large extent restrained the growth of collapsible metal tubes market. Request For Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11408 Collapsible tubes are flexible composite containers for the storage and dispensing of product formulations that usually have a pasty consistency. Collapsible tubes made of alloy, tin or aluminium as they are commonly used for inclosing and delivering liquid, viscous or pasty products such as tooth pastes are generally fitted with a cap so as to be perfectly air tight. Collapsible metal tubes prevent permeation of toxic gases, odour, and entry of dust which can change the natural quality of products when it is adequately closed. The aluminium collapsible metal tubes are more popular because aluminium is less expensive for manufacturer rather than alternative metal such as tin. Aluminium tubes have considered as one of the most inventive packaging products offered in the global market for collapsible metal tubes. By product, the squeeze tube is the leading segment with a market share of over half of the global market. By geography, the APAC region was the undisputed leader in the market in 2017. It is predicted to hold onto its position till the end of the forecast period. This can be credited to economies of India and China which manufacture at cost-effective production rates and export it to other regions for a substantial bottom line margin. Request for Report Discount : https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/11408 Some of the key players profiled in the Collapsible Metal Tubes include Adelphi Healthcare Packaging, Albea S.A., ALLTUB Group, Almin Extrusion, Andpak Inc, Antilla Propack, Auber Packaging Co Ltd, CONSTRUCT Packaging, D.N.Industries, Essel Propack Limited, Hubei Xin Ji Pharmaceutical Packaging Co Ltd , IMPACT INTERNATIONAL , Jiujiang Deshun Adhesive Industry Co Ltd, Linhardt GmbH & Co KG, Montebello Packaging , Ontebello Packaging, PAKET CORPORATION, Perfect Containers Pvt Ltd, PIONEER GROUP, SUBNIL Packaging Machineries (P) Ltd. and Universal Metal Products . Closure Types Covered: Fez cap Flip top cap Nozzle cap Stand up cap Other Closure Types Capacities Covered: 100 to 200 ml 20 to 50 ml 50 to 100 ml Less than 20 ml More than 200 ml Products Covered: Squeeze Tube Twist Tube Other Types End Users Covered: Cosmetics Food Home care & Personal Care Industrial Pharmaceutical Other End Users Regions Covered: North America o US o Canada o Mexico Europe o Germany o UK o Italy o France o Spain o Rest of Europe Asia Pacific o Japan o China o India o Australia o New Zealand o South Korea o Rest of Asia Pacific South America o Argentina o Brazil o Chile o Rest of South America Middle East & Africa o Saudi Arabia o UAE o Qatar o South Africa o Rest of Middle East & Africa What our report offers: - Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments - Strategic recommendations for the new entrants - Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets - Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) - Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product / Technology Analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc. - Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations - Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends - Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments - Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements Free Customization Offerings: All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options: Company Profiling or Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3) or SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3) Regional Segmentation or Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check) Competitive Benchmarking Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances Covid 19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/11408 The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) announced that Le Thi Trang and nine other conservationists from around the world have been named Hotspot Heroes for their efforts to protect the worlds biodiversity hotspots. Le Thi Trang poses for a photo at an exhibition on the endangered red-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix nemaeus) in Da Nang. She and nine other conservationists from around the world have been named Hotspot Heroes for their efforts to protect the worlds biodiversity hotspots. Photo courtesy Le Thi Trang CEPF said in a press release on Friday that the honourees were chosen from hundreds of civil society organisations that have received grants from CEPF in the 10 global biodiversity hotspots where the fund is currently active. It said on this International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22), CEPF is recognising these heroes as part of the celebrations for its 20th anniversary. The fund empowers non-governmental organisations, indigenous groups, universities and private enterprises to protect the worlds biodiversity hotspots the worlds most biologically diverse yet threatened terrestrial regions and help communities thrive. CEPF does this through grants and technical support for conservation, organisational strengthening and sustainable development. The Hotspot Heroes and the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) they work for are making outstanding contributions to the conservation of the hotspots. They exemplify the kinds of dedicated, dynamic people who work to ensure that intact ecosystems can continue to sustain flora and fauna and provide clean air, fresh water, healthy soils, sustainable livelihoods, resilience to climate change and much more. A photo of the endangered red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus) is displayed at an exhibition in Da Nang. The endangered primate species is preserved at the Son Tra Nature Reserve. VNS Photo Cong Thanh Trang is the vice director of GreenViet, an emerging Vietnamese non-profit organisation that has pushed the boundaries of what civil society organisations can aspire to achieve in the environmental space. In collaboration with others, GreenViet helped bring about one of the most remarkable conservation success stories in Vietnam: The campaign to save Son Tra Peninsula from uncontrolled tourism development. This campaign saved Vietnam's largest population of the endangered red-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix nemaeus) and engaged people from all walks of life in the conservation movement. Trang was at the centre of the Son Tra campaign, bringing dynamism, creativity and inexhaustible energy. The work of Trang and GreenViet is an inspiration to me, said Jack Tordoff, CEPF managing director, who also oversees the CEPF investment the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, including Vietnam. Trang graduated from the Da Nang University of Technology with a degree in environmental engineering. During that time, she volunteered for a local organisation investigating and reporting crimes related to wildlife in central Vietnam. In her current role with GreenViet, Trang oversees initiatives related to education, public relations and development. The Hotspot Heroes represent the many tenacious, committed conservationists who are taking actions every day to ensure the future of the biodiversity hotspots and the people who depend on these vital ecosystems, said CEPF Executive Director Olivier Langrand. They endure a multitude of challenges long hours, gruelling travel, difficult working conditions, political hurdles and even threats to their lives in pursuit of a healthy, sustainable world. Trang and GreenViet are changing the way people in Vietnam value nature, said Langrand. They are bringing together communities, businesses and government to protect important ecosystems that are key to the countrys future. In 2013, Vietnamese biologists Nguyen Ba Quyen were included in the top nominations with conservation of Golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus). CEPF is a joint initiative of l'Agence Francaise de Developpement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank. Since 2001, CEPF has catalysed enduring, locally led biodiversity conservation through US$250 million in grants to more than 2,400 organisations in 98 developing and transitional countries. Results include more than 15 million hectares of formal protected areas established, at least 890 globally threatened species protected, and more than 3,500 communities benefiting. VNS WWF-Vietnam, GreenViet work to protect endangered primates The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Vietnam and the Centre of Biodiversity Conservation, GreenViet, will work together on a project to protect the gray-shanked douc langurs in the central provinces Nui Thanh District in 2020. Gudgaon: A minor girl lost her life while waiting in a queue at civil hospital in Gurgaon, prompting Haryana government to order a probe into the incident. The incident occurred on Monday when the 11-year-old girl, who was suffering from a kidney-related problem, reached the hospital in a critical condition with her mother. After spending about 45 minutes waiting to get a slip for admission, the girl allegedly fainted and passed away, Chief Medical Officer, Gurgaon Civil Hospital, Ramesh Dhankar said. Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, who returned on Wednesday after leading a state delegation to Rio Olympics, said strict action would be taken if any official is found guilty. "We will initiate strict action if anyone is found guilty," he told reporters in Ambala. Meanwhile, Dhankar said the girl's mother did not make any inquiry at the hospital and stood in queue for the slip for admission to the Out Patients Department (OPD) instead of rushing her directly to the emergency ward. He added that Gurgaon has only one civil hospital and efforts are on to increase the number of assistance counters at the hospital. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (@FahadShabbir) LONDON, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2020 ) :The Muslims of the United Kingdom (UK) including British Pakistanis on Sunday celebrated Eid ul Fitr, the culmination of the Holy month of Ramazan, amid lockdowns due to Coronavirus but with religious fervour and enthusiasm and through Mosques hosted virtual prayers from their homes. The day dawn with Virtual Fajr prayers hosted at different Mosques in the United Kingdom (UK) for solidarity and unity among Muslim Ummah, protection from Covid-19 pandemic and complete elimination of the deadly disease from the affected countries in the world, world peace and resolution of the conflicts being faced by the Muslims, specially in Palestine, Yemen and Kashmir and peace in Afghanistan. The Ulema and prayer leaders in their virtual sermons highlighted the significance and the philosophy of Fasting in the Holy month by the faithful to invoke the blessings of Allah in this world and hereafter. British-Pakistani and Kashmiri Muslims on the occasion along with their fellow UK Muslims offered their virtual prayers, exchanged greetings on phone and reiterated to promote the true message of the Fasting for interfaith harmony ,Islamic brotherhood, global peace and generosity. They also prayed for the departed souls of the passengers of the ill-fated PIA Lahore-Karachi bound flight which crashed near landing and plunged on a residential area in Karachi recently. This year in UK in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak, the Mosques and prayer leaders completely followed the government rules and guidelines of the lockdowns and organized Virtual Eid prayers for the faithful enabling them to offer Eid prayers from their homes and also followed the social distancing policy in the Mosques as well as at homes. Meanwhile Pakistan High Commissioner to UK Mohammad Nafees Zakaria in his video message on his behalf and on behalf of Government of Pakistan and staff of the High Commission felicitated and wished the Pakistani community in the UK a happry Eid and Eid Mubarak on this auspicious occasion. He also expressed his sympathies with the families of COVID-19 victims and prayed that may Allah rest the departed souls in the eternal peace. He also wished Eid Mubarak to entire Pakistani nation on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr. He also lauded the contribution of medics and paramedics who played an important role in the hospitals in the treatment of the patients of coronavirus and many of them fell victim of the disease. He also appreciated the services and help extended by the community and leaders in helping the poor and people affected by the lockdowns. The High Commissioner also thanked and appreciated the Pakistani diaspora for their valuable contribution in the Prime Minister's COVID-19 relief fund. He urged them to contribute in the fund generously and assured them that their contribution would be utilized judiciously on the poor segment of the society and low income groups affected financially due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in Pakistan. He said that under Government of Pakistan "Ahssas programme" nine million poor people have been financially supported and planned to help and cover upto twelve (12) million poor people in this programme. He also thanked Government of the UK for their support and help to Pakistan and meeting the challenges being faced by the country to cope with Coronavirus pandemic. He also lauded the UK government's help in repatriation of stranded Pakistani diaspora . Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has warned that parents who enrol their children into the Almajiri education system stand the risk of prosecution and up to two years jail. Mr El-Rufai stated this in Kaduna on Monday when he visited some 200 Almajiri children repatriated from Nasarawa State and undergoing rehabilitation and optical screening at Government College, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna. Almajiri are children enrolled to be taught Islamic knowledge under Islamic Clerics, but who loiter on the streets with bowls begging for alms and food. The governor also said any Islamic cleric who enrols any child into the Almajiri system would also be prosecuted and jailed as well as fined N100,000 or N200,000 per child. He said all the Almajiri pupils repatriated from other states of the country were indigenes of the state adding that the government would give them all the opportunity they deserved to grow and develop. Mr El-Rufai expressed satisfaction with the ongoing transformation of the Almajiri pupils from hopelessness to hope and confidence. He said the state has a responsibility to do whatever it can to give them hope and a better future. We will, therefore, continue to take delivery of every Almajiri pupil indigenous to Kaduna state for rehabilitation, treatment and enrolment into formal school nearest to where their parents live. We will continue to do this until we clear Kaduna state of the menace of Almajiri system, which is not education but the abuse of the privilege and future of a child. Our ultimate goal is for them to acquire formal education without depriving them of the opportunity to acquire Quranic education. They will continue their Quranic education but under the care of their parents and not under someone who does not know them or paid to look after them. He explained that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD), along with UNICEF would closely monitor them and ensure that no child would leave his locality until he finished primary and junior secondary school. The governor said every child in Kaduna state must get 12-year free and compulsory primary and secondary school education. Those that cannot proceed to senior secondary school will have the opportunity to go to vocational school, also free. As such, no parent has any excuse for his child not to go to school, Mr El-Rufai said. He thanked MHSSD and other state agencies for the commitment and passion for the welfare of the children. He equally thanked AMA foundation and other NGOs and civil societies for supporting the government to provide the Almajiri pupils with the needed medical care, food, and clothing, among others. The governor particularly appreciated UNICEF for supporting the state government in ensuring that all the repatriated children were well documented. Mr El-Rufai said that the care and support provided had restored the sense of dignity of the children. Also speaking, Hafsat Baba, Commissioner, MHSSD, said the state had so far received more than 900 Almajiri pupils from Kano, Bauchi, Plateau and Nasarawa states. Mrs Baba said no fewer than 500 of them were rehabilitated, treated (those who tested positive to COVID-19) and reunited with their families. She added some 400 others were still undergoing rehabilitation and would soon be reunited with their families. On his part, Zakari Adam, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, commended Kaduna state government for the efforts to ensure that all children go to school as against begging in the streets. Advertisements Mr Adam reiterated UNICEFs continued support to the state in all children-related issues such as child protection, education, and health among other areas, for uninterrupted growth and development of every child. He stressed the need for all stakeholders, the government, civil society, parents, communities, religious and traditional leaders and the media to work together in ensuring that children acquired quality education. (NAN) By PTI BEIJING: China for the first on Sunday admitted that its multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, but said that the impact is "temporary and limited". Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that from an overall long term perspective the coronavirus will "strengthen and reenergise" BRI cooperation and open-up new possibilities. He said that the demand for public health expansion in view of the COVID-19 all over the world will give a new impetus to project expansion. "Indeed COVID-19 has affected Belt and Road cooperation to some extent but the impact is temporary and limited," Wang told media here answering a question on the impact of the coronavirus on BRI. Outlining the progress made by BRI, Wang said over the past seven years China has signed BRI cooperation documents with 138 countries, more than 2,000 projects have been launched and thousands of jobs have been created in partner countries. During the same period China's trading goods with BRI partner countries has exceeded USD 7.8 trillion while direct Chinese investments have topped USD 110 billion, he said. The BRI was launched by President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes. The Trump administration has been extremely critical of the BRI, in which USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project, and is of the view that China's "predatory" financing is leaving smaller counties under huge debt endangering their sovereignty. The US' top diplomat for South and Central Asia Alice Wells on Wednesday said that at a time when the world is reeling from the economic consequences of having shut parts of the economy due to the coronavirus, it is really incumbent upon China to take steps to alleviate the burden this "predatory, unsustainable and unfair" lending is going to cause to Pakistan. India which had protested to China over the CPEC being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has also aired concerns over the BRI financing, saying that connectivity initiatives must follow principles of financial responsibility to avoid projects that would create an unsustainable debt burden for communities. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 13:21:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Australia's treasurer has flagged further support for the nation's tourism industry amid the coronavirus crisis. Josh Frydenberg said on Monday morning that some of the 60 billion Australian dollars (39.2 billion U.S. dollars) in savings from the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme could be redistributed to the struggling tourism industry. It comes after the Treasury on Friday revealed that the number of Australians accessing the 1,500 Australian dollars per fortnight JobKeeper Payment was almost half the 6.5 million previously estimated, slashing the estimated cost of the scheme from 130 billion Australian dollars to 70 billion Australian dollars. "When it comes to JobKeeper, we'll be undertaking a review in the month of June, and we'll look at how it's been implemented, what's happening in various sectors," Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). "The tourism sector could be one sector in need of further support. That's what we'll look at in the context of the economic situation at the time. "You'll continue to see our international borders closed for some time." The government has come under pressure to use the savings to extend JobKeeper to casual staff and so on who were excluded from scheme under its initial design. However, the government have ruled out doing so. "The estimate was overstated," Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters on Sunday. (1 U.S. dollar equals 1.53 Australian dollars) Enditem India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent India, Israel to conduct join R&D for rapid coronavirus testing India pti-PTI New Delhi, May 25: India and Israel will put in joint research and development efforts for rapid testing of coronavirus to enable normalisation of life amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the embassy of Israel here said on Monday. The two sides discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis of coronavirus based on big data and artificial intelligence, the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor said. "India and Israel to conduct joint R&D for rapid testing to allow normalisation of life under COVID-19," Avigail Spira, the spokesperson of the embassy, also tweeted. China decides to evacuate its citizens from India amid rise in coronavirus cases "I'm proud to connect brilliant minds from India and Israel so they can jointly develop life changing solutions for the whole world, and especially in fighting the #COVID19 pandemic," Israel's envoy to India Ron Malka tweeted. On the Indian side, PSA Prof. K Vijay Raghavan, officials from the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Sanjeev Singla and the Indian Ambassador to Israel participated in the discussions with the head of the Directorate of R&D in Israel's Ministry of Defence Daniel Gold and Malka. Covid-19: Himachal Pradesh extends lockdown till June 30th | Oneindia News "Discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis based on big data & AI technology, to enable a rapid return to routine. This is part of vision of @IsraeliPM & @PMOIndia for wide-ranging scientific cooperation between India and Israel. "@kvijayraghavan, @DRDO_India, & @CSIR_IND held discussions with Head of Israel's Directorate of R&D in @Israel_MOD, Dr. Dani Gold, Amb.@DrRonMalka & Amb. Sanjeev Singla @Indemtel about high-level scientific cooperation between India & Israel to address #COVID19, the Office of the PSA tweeted. Closed mosques, no hugs: Subdued Eid celebrations in India as Coronavirus grips nation Earlier this month, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett said scientists at the country's main biological research institute have made a significant breakthrough in developing an antibody to the novel coronavirus. During Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to India in 2018, the two sides resolved to step up cooperation in the field of science and technology, including in the areas of big data analytics in health care and security in cyber space. Chhattisgarh government has claimed to have purchased 98% of the countrys total forest produce amid the lockdown restrictions imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. The data released by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) showed that small forest produce worth more than 18.63 crore have been purchased from forest-dwellers and villagers, the state government claimed. The number of forests produces purchased at the support price was increased from 7 to 25. Tendu leaf collection rate increased to 4,000 per standard bag. Chhattisgarh accounted for 98% of the total forest produce purchased across India. In the current season, theres a target of collecting 16.71 lakh standard sacks of tendu leaves that will benefit about 12.53 lakh collectors. A total of 649 crore will be paid directly to them as remuneration. The state government is giving an additional incentive of 13 per kilogram for the fixed support price of mahua flower at 17 per kilogram, a government press release said. The state government claimed that 139 Van Vikas Kendras have been set up that have created jobs for 1,390 women. A budgetary provision of 155 crore has been sanctioned for primary processing of minor forest produce to eradicate unemployment in the Bastar division. Imli and cashew processing centres and charota beej collection centres have been established at Jagdalpur, the release added. The state forest department is planning to engage 4,00,000 bamboo tree guards, involving tribal youth. The cultivation of medicinal plants is also providing job opportunities in the state, the government claimed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian authorities have considered the option of introducing mask vending machines in public areas which would offer face masks at lower prices, State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition Chairman Gegham Gevorgyan said in parliament when asked about the prices of the personal protective equipment. Ruling My Step bloc lawmaker Nazeli Baghdasaryan said face masks are available in Yerevan for 150 drams per piece, however they are significantly expensive in provinces. The third mediators are already emerging in provinces, Gevorgyan said. He said the idea to install the vending machines was discussed at the coronavirus response task force meeting at the state of emergency superintendents office yesterday. Gevorgyan says if the vending machines are put to use the prices of face masks could drop by around 100 drams. He said the commission is studying the market for the period of December 2019 May 2020. Preliminarily we have the following picture the value of import has increased nearly 10 times. In addition, the margin applied on retail sales is also of concern. Citizens are required to wear face masks in indoor public spaces, and possess one outdoors at all times. Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Over 120 prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir lodged in nine north Indian jails were permitted to call up home on Eid at the instance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, people familiar with the development told Hindustan Times. The home minister had recently issued instructions to compile a list of Kashmiris who are behind bars in various prisons so that they could be extended this concession, a government official said. In all, 122 prisoners in three states, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi were allowed to speak to their family members. Officials said 106 of the prisoners were in six UP jails while another 15 were lodged in Haryana jails. This concession was not extended to people being tried in terror cases. The gesture, the official said, was an attempt to bring some happiness in the lives of the prisoners and their families back home in Kashmir. Unlike other prisoners, prisoners from Kashmir do not have many visitors due to logistical reasons. It also means that for people who are not accused in terror-related cases, the government is willing to take a sympathetic view and go an extra mile. But for those involved in terror, you saw what happened in the morning, the official said, a reference to the encounter in south Kashmirs Kulgam earlier in the day. Two men, accused of being operatives of the ISJK (The Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir, were shot dead in an encounter. One of them was identified by security forces as Adil Ahmad Wani alias Abu Ibrahim and the second, Shaheen Bashir Thoker. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenias minister of education, science, culture and sport Arayik Harutyunyan addressed a congratulatory message to the school graduates, the ministry told Armenpress. The message says: Dear graduates, I congratulate you on the completion of the academic year. You are graduating from school in an exclusive situation when the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus doesnt allow to celebrate that important event together with your classmates and teachers. At the same time I am confident that the physical distance is a chance for you to deeply perceive and revalue all the values and knowledge you have got from your friends and teachers during these years. I assure you that after the completion of the state of emergency you will celebrate together the beginning of this important stage of your life, making it more comprehensive and symbolic. I am full of hope that from the lessons you learnt in this situation you will also make unique your future, acquiring professional education and knowledge, developing your capacities and serving it for our countrys development and creation of a public good with your creative and dignified work. We are with you on this path, providing you great opportunities and conditions to develop the necessary capacities to continue your studies, get your beloved profession. I warmly congratulate you and wish you numerous achievements at this new stage of life. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan By PTI GENEVA: International Labour Organisation (ILO) assured 10 central unions that it has expressed deep concerns over the suspension and tweaking of labour laws by states to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides, the ILO has also urged the Prime Minister to send a clear message to central and state governments to uphold India's international commitments (conventions based on labour laws) and engage in social dialogue. The ILO's intervention came after ten central trade unions escalated the issue of suspension and tweaking of labour laws with the international body through a letter on May 14, 2020. In a reply to the unions on May 22, the ILO said, "Please allow me to assure you the ILO DG has immediately intervened, expressing his deep concerns at these recent events and appealing to the Prime Minister to send a clear message to Central and State Governments to uphold the country's international commitments and encourage engagement of effective social dialogue". The ten central trade unions had asked the ILO DG to intervene immediately with the Indian authorities to urge necessary action for the protection of workers rights in the light of measures being taken by a number of state governments to undermine the labour legislation and international labour standards. India has inked many conventions with ILO which commensurate with the existing legal system and laws of the land. A country can ratify a convention with ILO after putting in place all provisions mandated in its laws and legal framework. Thus a change in labour laws or suspending those may lead to violation of these conventions, which are also an international commitments by ratifying nations. In the meanwhile, the ten central trade unions have also shot off another letter on Monday to the ILO pleading that "at this very turbid and uncertain situation, the ILO must powerfully and effectively intervene to prevail upon the Government of India to refrain from such exercise of abrogation of all basic labour rights unilaterally trampling underfoot the basic concept of social partnership and tripartism as espoused by ILO". They have pointed out that the central government is contemplating repealing of Inter State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1979. They also mentioned that "Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat are ceasing application of Trade union Act, 1926, which is the main plank of Freedom of Association, and Industrial Disputes Act that provides scope for collective bargaining and also right to strike, along with other substantive labour laws for a period of 3 years". These unions are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC. There are total 12 central trade unions in the country. Saturn, an alligator of international intrigue, has died at the Moscow Zoo on Friday at the age of 84. That in itself made Saturn unusual. In the wild, the normal life span for an alligator is 30 to 50 years. But longevity was the least unusual aspect of Saturn's biography. Saturn was born in the wild somewhere in Mississippi in 1936 and was shipped to the Berlin Zoo from which he disappeared on November 23, 1943, in the aftermath of an Allied air bombing campaign on Berlin. One bomb directly struck the zoo's aquarium and, according to reports at the time, all of the alligators and crocodiles in captivity there were killed. In fact, of the 16.000 animals once kept in the Berlin Zoo, it is estimated that fewer than 100 survived the war. Saturn was one of them. MORE: Officer rescues 8 ducklings from storm drain as worried mother looks on PHOTO: In this photo taken on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, the alligator Saturn swims in water at the Moscow Zoo, in Moscow, Russia. Many believed the alligator once belonged to Adolf Hitler. He was about 84 years old and died on Friday, May 22, 2020. (Mikhail Bibichkov/AP) MORE: 8 big cats confirmed tested positive for coronavirus at NY zoo When he was blasted into freedom in 1943, Saturn was 7 years old, an alligator adolescent. Two-and-a-half years later in June 1946, an almost mature Saturn was discovered and captured by British occupation forces. Custody of the alligator was transferred to the allied Soviet troops in post-WWII Berlin who then sent him on to Moscow where he would live the next 74 years. It was in Moscow that the intriguing rumor started that Saturn was a part of a pet menagerie that belonged to Adolf Hitler. This undocumented episode with the Fuhrer gave the 11.5 foot alligator a celebrity status even though zoo officials absolved him of any political responsibility. "Even if, purely theoretically, he belonged to someone," the zoo's announcement of Saturn's death asserts, "animals are not involved in war and politics, it is absurd to blame them for human sins. Far from blaming the alligator, officials at the Moscow Zoo treated him as an honored guest. "We tried to take care of the venerable alligator with the utmost care and attention. He was choosy about food," the zoo's obituary said. Even among his keepers, he knew who he liked -- He perfectly remembered the trusted keeper. Story continues MORE: Team presents groundbreaking evidence Spinosaurus dinosaur was aquatic PHOTO: This undated handout picture released by the Moscow Zoo on May 24, 2020 shows the Mississippi alligator 'Saturn' in Moscow Zoo. He survived a bombing raid on the Berlin zoo in 1943 and died of old age at 84. (MOSCOW ZOO/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Pigeon protest group P.U.T.I.N releases birds wearing MAGA hats, Trump wigs "He loved a massage, and if he didnt like something," he knew how to show it. If a zoo animal can be a historical figure, officials say this one qualifies. "Saturn is a whole era for us. There is not the slightest exaggeration," the announcement of his death declared. "He came after the Victory (in WWII) - and met it's 75th Anniversary. It is a great happiness that each of us could look into his eyes, just quietly be near. He saw many of us as children. We hope that we did not disappoint him. Death may not end Saturn's public career. It has been reported that his carcass will be preserved and placed on exhibition at Moscow's Charles Darwin Museum of Biology. 84-year-old alligator rumored to belong to Adolf Hitler dies in Moscow Zoo originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Leader: Jair Bolsonaro wears a mask bearing an image of himself as he speaks to reporters in Brasilia at the weekend. Photo: Reuters/Adriano Machado On a warm evening in Sao Paulo, Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, held his head high and stared into the camera to address an expectant nation. Coronavirus deaths had just ticked slowly up to 57 as millions tuned in to hear the government's plans to combat the pandemic beginning to wreak havoc in Europe and the US. What they got was a potent mix of denial and hostility. The president decried the "hysteria" of the press for spreading fear, dismissing the virus as a "little flu". The man who came within a whisker of death just two years ago after he was stabbed on the campaign trail mustered a smirk as he claimed he would be immune from any of the disease's severe symptoms due to his "past as an athlete". Two months and 340,000 official cases later, the so-called little flu has claimed the lives of at least 20,000 Brazilians, and probably many more. Over the past few days, the daily death toll has topped 1,000, putting the country among the worst-hit countries. Brazil is the new centre of the global pandemic, recording higher daily averages than anywhere else in the world. Bodies line up to be buried in rich-red earth mass graves under heavy skies. Hospitals are at breaking point. But the headache doesn't end there for Mr Bolsonaro (65), a hard-right former army captain catapulted to power on a populist anti-corruption drive that gained him the nickname "Trump of the Tropics". A video was released at the weekend of a foul-mouthed rant at Mr Bolsonaro's cabinet. He is heard demanding a clear-out of justice officials investigating his sons for alleged links to hit squads and fake news rackets. The scandal could lead to impeachment. Under threat of political implosion and a deadly virus out of control, Mr Bolsonaro now faces the prospect of becoming known as the man who broke Brazil. His Covid-19 strategy is without precedent. While other global leaders may be guilty of playing down the virus and poor decisions, he has doubled down on his message of denial. Government insiders tell of growing discord in and around the Bolsonaro administration. They paint a picture of a jealous and vindictive leader at the helm of a nation in crisis. One high-profile former cabinet member said several efforts were made within the government to establish a comprehensive social isolation policy to contain the spread, but Mr Bolsonaro never showed any interest: "The president always dismissed the importance of discussions about the coronavirus." Mr Bolsonaro has sacked two health ministers in the space of one month. Luiz Henrique Mandetta and Nelson Teich, both qualified medical professionals, were ousted after disagreeing with Mr Bolsonaro over social isolation measures and the prescription of anti-malaria drug chloroquine to treat Covid-19. Leadership of Brazil's health ministry has been vacant for over a week. "It's really difficult to work under a boss like Jair Bolsonaro," says Senator Sergio Olimpio Gomes, a former close ally of Mr Bolsonaro, better known as Major Olimpio. "The only people who last under him are submissive. If anyone disagrees with him, he starts treating them as traitors." Major Olimpio campaigned alongside Mr Bolsonaro in the run-up to the 2018 election campaign and worked closely with him in the first year of government. But he has since fallen out with one of Mr Bolsonaro's sons. He said the president was jealous of ex-health minister Mandetta. "Bolsonaro can't handle anyone around him stealing his thunder", he explains. "He's a great leader of the masses," says Major Olimpio. "But he's never had in-depth knowledge in any area." With the president at war with state governors and the WHO over social distancing and lockdown measures, the virus has spread from the apartments of Brazil's jet-setting elite to deep into the Amazon. Jungle cities like Manaus are buckling under the pressure of spiralling death tolls and infections, while even remote indigenous tribes are recording fatalities. The virus is also claiming lives in Rio de Janeiro's favelas, while the hospitals in Sao Paulo are now "near collapse", according to the mayor of the sprawling metropolis. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Photograph: Steven Senne/AP More than 100 prominent writers, including several top Asian American authors, have called for an end to a surge in anti-Asian hostility in the US which they say has been egged on during the pandemic by the Trump administrations pandering to racist tropes. The joint statement, co-ordinated by Pen America and the Asian American Writers Workshop (AAWW), comes at a time when hate crimes, violence and other attacks against Asians and Asian Americans are on the rise in the US. There have been numerous reports since early in the pandemic of Asian Americans being blamed for bringing the virus into the country and being told go back to China. The attacks have erupted in college campuses, city subways and online. The FBI has warned local law enforcement across the country that Asian American communities are at risk due to rising hostility during the coronavirus crisis. Related: 'The disease is ripping through': why coronavirus is devastating California's Pacific Islanders Among the more serious attacks that have been chronicled was a stabbing of a Burmese man and his two young children in Midland, Texas, in March. The teenaged assailant told police he had targeted the family because he thought they were Chinese and were spreading coronavirus. The authors of the joint statement say that the time to turn back this wave of hate is now. Reports of any individuals being spat on, stabbed, beat up, or verbally assaulted are disturbing enough when they are isolated incidents. The statement continues: When such attacks are collectively driven by hate, in such large volume, the onus lies heavily on civil society and our elected representatives to condemn them. The signatories comprise a roll call of top Asian American and other writers. The lead authors include the Vietnamese American writer Viet Thanh Nguyen, whose novel The Sympathizer won the Pulitzer prize for fiction; Ayad Akhtar, an American-born playwright who also won a Pulitzer prize for drama; American novelist Celeste Ng; and the British actor, rapper and performer Riz Ahmed. Story continues Another of the lead authors, the Korean American writer Min Jin Lee, said she hoped the statement would be a clarion call that all forms of racist hatred, especially at this moment, are unwelcome, unacceptable and intolerable. Other prominent writers among the signatories are Dave Eggers, Amitav Ghosh, Salman Rushdie, George Saunders and Alice Sebold. The most controversial aspect of the statement is its claim that the Trump administration has been complicit in the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes. The writers say that the brazen attacks that have occurred during the pandemic have been egged on at times by an administration drawing on racist tropes and stereotypes, eager to distract from its own missteps. In March, Trump regularly used the phrase Chinese virus. His misleading use of the term prompted was followed by an uptick in cases of racial abuse being directed against Asian Americans. When confronted about his use of language, Trump tried to justify it. Its not racist at all. It comes from China, thats why, he said. Jafreen Uddin, executive director of the AAWW, said that the use of the phrase China virus had displayed a lack of empathy on Trumps part towards communities impacted by the surge in hatred. It took weeks for that phrase to stop I think it showed a lack of understanding of the power of words. The joint statement is designed as the start of an engagement by the literary world that will culminate on Wednesday in a virtual day of action convened by Pen America and AAWW. The day will consist of workshops exploring the history of violence and hatred against Asian Americans in the US and poetry readings by 20 poets. After Nagaland, which reported its first Covid-19 case on Monday, Lakshdweep is the only island which has remained free of the disease which has affected over 1.3 lakh people in India and more than five million globally. The beautiful archipelago consisting of 36 islands has a population of about 64,000 people. The union territory is located off the coast of Kerala and depends on the southern state for much of its needs. Nagaland, the only other state/union territory in India which was free from the coronavirus disease till now, reported three positive cases on Monday. The three people had come from Chennai onboard a Shramik Express train. Unfortunately, 2 persons in Dimapur and 1 in Kohima have been tested positive for COVID-19. Please dont panic. We need to handle this with utmost care and responsibility. Necessary action of contact tracing and containment measures are being taken and situation closely monitored, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tweeted. On Saturday, Sikkim reported its first case as a 25-year-old student who recently returned from Delhi tested positive. The state health authorities had said that 17 people came in contact with the infected person in Sikkim. However, all of them tested negative. The test were conducted on Sunday. However, they have been kept in institutional quarantine and their health parameters are being monitored, officials said. Most of the Covid-19 free states were in the North-East. Arunachal Pradesh, which was free from the disease for a month, reported a fresh case in the form of a student who returned to the state from Delhi by bus along with 33 others on May 18. Arunachal Pradesh had become coronavirus free after its lone patient, a 31-year-old man who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi in March, was discharged from hospital on April 24. Dadra and Nagar Haveli has two cases of Covid-19, as per the update on the website of Union health ministry on Monday. Meanwhile, India reported a record high of 6,977 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. This took the tally of infections to 1,38,845, data from the Union health ministry showed. Monday is the fourth-straight day that India has reported the biggest one-day rise in the number of infections and more than 6,000 Covid-19 cases across the country. But while our Chairman/CEO Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa was on official assignment with Mr President in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, on the 9th of February, the staff were given one week by the Hon. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Ali Pantami to pack out but within 48 hours of the said quit notice, they were forcefully evicted by security operatives attached to the complex on the orders of the Minister on February 11. HDFC Ltd, a key financial institution and player in the home loan space, has reported a 27.05 per cent drop in profit before tax, to Rs 2,692.44 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Around 40 per cent travel and tourism companies may shut down in the next 3 to 6 months, said a report. The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered the seizure of the premises of LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam, where there was a gas leakage, and also barred entry into the plant by all except the committees appointed by the state government. Here are the top events which made it to the headlines ... One of the most eagerly awaited sessions during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) three-day ATM Virtual event that takes place from June 1-3, is undoubtedly The Virtual ATM China Tourism Forum. The debate will take an in-depth look at the potential of the Chinese outbound leisure market now that China seems to have the viral outbreak under control and domestic tourism is growing once again. Many Middle East travel professionals will be looking for insight into the current state of the market and more importantly, how and when to start planning for inbound Chinese visitors. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director Middle East, Arabian Travel Market, said: Travel and tourism professionals around the globe will not need reminding that the global industry has been hit badly by the effects of Covid-19 but in China we are witnessing the green-shoots of recovery. The relatively swift rebound of domestic travel during the May Golden Week Holiday in China for example, underscores the bullish view of certain analysts regarding Chinas integral role in leading the global tourism industry post Covid-19s closed borders. Some hoteliers in China were reporting occupancy levels for the recent national holiday in excess of 45 per cent with resort markets close to 70 per cent, a significant improvement from the overall average of 30 per cent occupancy, confirming leisure demand is robust. Specifically, The Virtual ATM China Tourism Forum will focus on the potential recovery of outbound travel and how Chinese travellers have been changing the way that they access information about foreign destinations and making contacts with local hotels, tour operators and ground handlers. Moderated by Dr. Adam Wu, the panellists for this session, which takes place on day two (June 2) at 11am to 12pm GST (8am to 9am BST), include Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman, International Institute of Peace for Tourism (IIPT) and former Secretary General of the UNWTO; H.E. Khalid Jasim al-Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; Helen Shapovalova, Founder & Director, Pan Ukraine; Lisa Dinh, Tourism Director, VIA Outlets and Tony Ong, Chief Business Officer and Vice President of HCG International Travel Group, which has over 7000 local travel agents across China focusing on outbound travel. The experts will share their opinion and experience on how to overcome the current crisis by identifying new buying patterns, new demand streams and innovative ways of reaching customers as well as of course enhancing existing partnerships. We have an impressive line-up of tourism experts and Dr. Wus credentials are exemplary. He is CEO of CBN Travel & Mice and World Travel Online, which is the leading outbound travel portal on the China Wide Web providing destination information in Chinese to the entire outbound travel trade and millions of Chinese travellers, added Curtis. With it being a live session, members of the online audience will also have a chance to ask questions, through a Q+A function at the end of the discussion. In addition, viewers will also have an opportunity to share and exchange thoughts and ideas, during a speed networking session, immediately following the panel debate. Another highlight of ATM virtual, will be a series of hour-long speed networking sessions, between key buyers and exhibitors, will culminate in over 1,400 five-minute meetings that can then be extended into more in-depth meetings where a business need is identified. For exhibitors from this region, the dedicated networking event will also include one specifically targeting Chinese buyers, said Curtis. Over three days, ATM Virtual, will also feature a host of comprehensive webinars, live conference sessions, roundtables, speed networking events, one-to-one meetings, as well as facilitating new connections and offering a wide range of online business opportunities. With up to four live high-level sessions each day, industry experts will address a range of topics including tourism strategies for the future, the hotel landscape in a post-Covid-19 world, and the resilience of the travel industry, as well as exploring emerging travel technology and sustainability trends, amongst other key topics. Sessions on the first day of the virtual event include, amongst others, Communicating and Building Confidence Now and The Hotel landscape in a post-Covid-19 world. Day two will also include the sessions entitled, Bouncing Back: Tourism Strategies for the Future and Catapulting Resilience Through Technology and Analytics. On day three, the event will conclude with the International Travel Investment Conference summit, Restructuring to attract sustainable investment and customers in the new world order. Arabian Travel Market would like to thank the Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia and the Italian Tourist Board for their support of ATM Virtual as Gold Sponsors. ATM Virtual takes place from June 1st to 3. To register for the event please visit: atmvirtual.eventnetworking.com/register/ . - TradeArabia News Service Jockey Richard Mangalee rides a race horse Sunday at Assiniboia Downs. Racing begins tonight but there will be no live spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, emerged from more than two months of seclusion Monday, wearing a black face mask during a visit to lay a wreath on the day the United States honors its war dead. Biden's last public appearance was March 15 when he faced off against his former Democratic rival Bernie Sanders for a debate in a television studio held with no live audience. "It feels good to be out of my house," said the 77-year-old, who has remained in isolation at his home in Wilmington, Delaware in keeping with recommended measures to protect the elderly and prevent the spread of COVID-19. According to the candidate, he and his wife have left their home only for occasional walks or bike rides since mid-March. "Thank you for your service," the former vice president said to a well-wisher after paying his respects at the Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, Delaware. Biden wore a mask covering his mouth and nose for the brief ceremony, in contrast with his rival for the US presidency, Donald Trump, who has yet to wear a mask in public. Biden and his wife Jill placed a wreath of white flowers at the Delaware memorial park and observed a moment of silence during the brief ceremony before returning to their motorcade. Asked by a reporter if he had a message for the country, Biden's reply was difficult to hear. "Never forget the sacrifices that these men and women made. Never, ever, forget," he said through his face mask. Trump and his wife Melania took part in a wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery, before travelling to Fort McHenry in Baltimore where the president delivered a speech in honor of America's war dead -- and paid tribute to the military men and women who "raced into danger" in battling the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 restrictions created big obstacles for Biden's campaign, at a time when Trump enjoyed high visibility through near-daily White House pandemic briefings. Biden abruptly cancelled a rally in Ohio March 10, replacing it with a speech to a half empty hall in Philadelphia that evening, followed by a news conference at a Wilmington hotel March 12. Although he has celebrated primary victories while in confinement, he has been forced to conduct his campaign online for more than two months from a television studio installed in his basement. Democratic presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill pay their respects to fallen service members on Memorial Day Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wears a black face mask during his first public appearance in more than two months Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his wife Jill pay respects to fallen service members at Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, Delaware Akshay Kumar became the first actor to shoot amid Coronavirus pandemic lockdown for the Department of drinking water and sanitation, with director R. Balki. Speaking exclusively with Republic TV, Anil Naidu, the Producer, confirmed that the ad was shot on May 25th at the Kamalistan Studio. Explaining the position on the set, Anil Naidu told Republic TV, "Akshay came in dressed. He drove himself. His makeup was done at home. There were 20 people in total. We had a disinfectant tunnel, everyone wore a mask, there was a doctor on set to check temperatures, there was enough social distancing between people, everything was being sanitised every now and then." Naidu said that the moment the letter from the Ministry came, they got in touch with the Police department and we were asked questions how many people, precautions to be taken, etc. What is the future of shoots amid Coronavirus crisis and Naidu immediately says, "We will have to train every department to work in these conditions and this is the future and will have to work towards it. The limited crew is the future." "There was nothing more than what was required. We were very precise about what was needed for the shoot. Even the entourage was the bare minimum, and not to be seen hanging around on the set at all," Naidu concluded. What's next for Akshay Kumar? The Housefull actor will be seen in Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi which was scheduled to release on March 24. Akshay Kumar will also be seen in a special appearance in Aanand L Rai's upcoming film Atrangi Re which features Sara Ali Khan and Dhanush in lead roles. He will also feature in Raghava Lawrence directed horror comedy film Laxmmi Bomb along with Kiara Advani which is expected to release on OTT platform soon. Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. A speeding car crashed into a power transmission tower on Palm Beach Road on Monday. The 21-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle and has been booked for rash driving. The impact was such that the power transmission tower tilted. No one was injured in the accident. Kashinath Mane, police sub-inspector from Vashi police station, said, Tejas Bhalerao, a Vashi resident, was driving the SUV and going to Kopar Khairane to buy essentials. He lost control and hit the transmission tower. We have registered a case of rash driving against the driver, said Mane. After the accident, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) transferred the load immediately to avert any major disruption in electricity. Mamta Pandey, public relations officer, MSEDCL, said, The restoration work has started. The power load was immediately transferred and so there was no electricity disruption. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Wellington: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was rattled live on television during a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Wellington. The strong Monday morning earthquake was centred 30km north west of Levin, a town around an hour's drive north of the New Zealand capital. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Credit:Getty Images It was felt most sharply around the South Taranaki Bight, and the closest major town, Wellington, some 100 kilometres south. Tens of thousands of Kiwis reported feeling weak rattling as far north as Auckland and as far south as Dunedin. The Annual General Meeting of Borregaard ASA will be held on 15 June 2020 at 13:00 in Sarpsborg at INSPIRIA science center, Bjrnstadveien 16, 1712 Gralum, Norway. The following documents are attached: - Notice of the Annual General Meeting - Guidelines for remuneration of senior management - Recommendations of the nomination committee Borregaards Annual Report 2019 is available at the companys webpage: www.borregaard.com Notice of attendance must be received no later than 12:00 on 12 June 2020. The notice will be sent to all shareholders today. Notice of the Annual General Meeting and other documents relating to items of business, as well as further information concerning the rights of shareholders, may be found at www.borregaard.com. The Annual General Meeting will be webcasted in Norwegian and English languages and can be followed at www.borregaard.com. Registration will open at 12:00 at the date of the Annual General Meeting. Borregaard ASA Sarpsborg, 25 May 2020 Contact: Lotte Kvinlaug, Investor Relations Officer, +47 922 86 909 This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Attachments If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Realme unveiled a number of new products on May 25 with several first. The company announced its first smart TV, first smartwatch, and first gaming smartphone, alongside wireless earphones, and power banks. However, the smartphone maker is not quite done yet. On May 26, it will launch yet another smartphone. Soon you will be able to know all the details of the #realmeX3SuperZoom. Don't miss our next Launch: 26/05 at 10:30 CEST pic.twitter.com/P8wZ0XUFed realme Europe (@realmeeurope) May 22, 2020 The Realme X3 SuperZoom is arriving on May 26 as the companys first smartphone with a periscope camera. The company recently teased the Realme X3 SuperZoom on Realme Europes Twitter page. The teaser confirms that the Realme X3 SuperZoom will feature six cameras in total, four on the back and two in the front. The camera layout on the front and back as well as the overall design looks a lot like the Realme X50 Pro with a different finish. The big difference in rear camera layout is the presence of a periscope camera. The company has confirmed that the Realme X3 SuperZoom will be powered by a Snapdragon 855+ SoC, which is an older chipset, but not far off in terms of performance from the Snapdragon 865. The Realme X3 SuperZoom will also sport a display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Since the fingerprint reader is shifted to the side, it is safe to assume that the X3 SuperZoom will opt for an LCD panel. The LCD panel and older Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset indicate that the X3 SuperZoom wont be an expensive flagship. It will likely be cheaper than the X50 Pro. The Realme X3 SuperZoom is arriving in Europe on May 26, and we can expect the smartphone to launch in India as well. Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Fort Bend ISD officials recently announced revised plans for graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020 seniors to relocate the gatherings from Smart Financial Centre to Fort Bend ISDs Kenneth Hall Stadium to accommodate Texas Governor Greg Abbotts recent executive order against indoor commencement ceremonies, according to a district press released posted online. Graduation ceremonies for each of the districts 11 high school campuses are currently scheduled June 1 to June 6. According to guidelines set by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), outdoor graduation ceremonies are allowed with the requirement that districts limit the number of people allowed to attend and ensure appropriate social distancing can be maintained as guests enter and leave the stadium and during the event. By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday exhorted Rotary International to assist the Government in bringing about transformative changes in aspirational districts across the country. Interacting with prominent members of Rotary International in different countries, Pradhan said the basic objective of the aspirational district programme is to aid rapid change in 115 districts including ten in Odisha in terms of health, nutrition, agriculture and water resources, education, infrastructure, financial inclusion and skill development. The broad contours of the programme are convergence and collaboration of central and state schemes to nudge districts to perform better. Skilling, especially in the digital space has assumed greater importance today. I urged Rotary to take bigger initiatives in this sector to help enhance digital literacy and skills in our youths to prepare them for the future, Pradhan tweeted. Noting that digital divide has reared its ugly head amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, he said, All of us can play a part in bridging this digital divide by donating our old, unused digital equipment to the underprivileged to help the less fortunate ones with means to stay connected. Appreciating the role played by the international social service organisation, he said the Rotary family has been working tirelessly to support and strengthen Indias fight against the pandemic. He discussed several aspects of the Covid-19 situation in the sub-continent and its impact on human health and economies. President of Rotary Internation Shekhar Mehta, Ramesh Agarwal and prominent members of the organisation from different countries including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan participated in the discussion. Plummeting oil prices, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, have left Africas oil and gas producers staring at the bottom of the barrel. Renewables could offer them a way out. Months before Covid-19 triggered a historic oil price crash, there were signs that the market was already in ill-health. In December 2019, Nigerias environment minister warned that the days of fossil fuels were numbered amid worries about climate change, which had spooked investors. Then a brawl between Saudi Arabia and Russia in March saw oil prices tumble to around $20 per barrel, forcing Africas largest oil producer Nigeria, and others, to sell at a loss. When Covid-19 broke out, it hammered global demand for transport, stopping people and goods from travelling. This dealt a further blow to African economies heavily reliant on oil. Africa has definitely been affected, says Elizabeth Rogo, president for East Africa at the Africa Energy Chamber, a specialist network that follows the African energy industry. We've seen substantial cuts to state budgets, as well as public funding and mounting job losses, she told RFI. Overstretched The loss in oil revenue has stretched governments resources and complicated their fight against Covid-19. If you look at the big African producers like Nigeria, you are seeing a huge loss and contracts being put on hold across the continent, explains Rogo, whose company released a report calling for action to shield producers from Covid-19 and the oil price war. The oil slump has derailed drilling and offshore projects not only in Nigeria but in places such as Senegal, Mozambique, Ghana and Angola, the continents second largest oil producer. There was cautious optimism last Wednesday, when oil prices climbed to $35 per barrel on the back of loosened lockdown restrictions in several countries. But while some market experts may be rejoicing, others are saying it is time for African governments to look beyond oil to renewables. Story continues Lights on Awash with water, sun and wind, the African continent has "more resources than it even needs, says Eddy Njoroge, former Director of KenGen, Kenyas largest energy company, and in charge of overseeing its renewable transition. If you just look at hydropower, the potential within the continent is huge, he told RFI. Major dam projects such as Ethiopias Grand Renaissance Dam could quadruple the countrys electricity-generating capacity from about 2,200 MW to 8,700 MW when it is finished. While the Congo river, if it is ever built, could generate 40,000 MW, enough power to light up South Africa. But when it comes to the non-traditional renewables like solar energy, that is where there is a lot more potential, Njoroge reckons. African countries are increasingly turning to solar photovoltaic technology to bolster energy supply in a continent where some 620 million people, mostly in villages and farms, still live without electricity, according to the Africa Progress Panel. Renewable path We have solar irradiations which are much higher than anywhere in Europe, continues Njoroge. Compared to Germany, which has 1,500 kilowatts per square meter, in Africa most places are well above 2,000, he tells RFI. Added to that, the price of renewables has dropped, making them as competitive as oil and gas. And with no fuel costs, renewables have weathered the pandemic slightly better than their dirtier counterparts despite some disruptions to supply chains. The major challenge is storage, cautions Njoroge, referring to the difficulty of storing sunlight. You need huge, huge batteries Once we resolve this issue, I see solar becoming the main supply across African countries. For the Africa Energy Chambers Elizabeth Rogo, the transition will take time. We cant just throw away oil and gas and go into solar or wind or geothermal, she comments. None of these renewables by themselves are able to sustain the growth ofan economy. It hasn't happened, it will happen in the long run, but while we still have oil and gas, let's look at how we can improve, she says, suggesting that technology from fossil fuels could be transferred to renewables. Regional integration Such comments are unlikely to go down well with climate activists who have urged for 2020 to be the year of action against climate change, and for fossil fuels to be left out of the picture. While climate change may not be the immediate priority for African governments recovering from disruptions to the oil market, experts agree that energy independence post-Covid should be top of the agenda. There needs to be a major shift, comments renewable specialist Eddy Njoroge. Instead of exporting so much gas and crude, African producers need to ask themselves, What is it that we can do with this crude, this gas, internally to make sure that we help our own industries within the continent?' he says. One way is through regional integration reckons Rogo. She says emerging players like Uganda, which is hoping to extract its first drops of black gold in the coming months, needs its neighbours. Uganda is landlocked and therefore all the equipment that's required will have to come through the ports of Mombasa in Kenya, the port of Tanga in Tanzania and taken by road into Uganda, she explains. Lessons learned Fortunately, African governments have already started doing business together under the African Continental Free Trade Area, making further cooperation feasible. You're looking at what would be the longest electrically heated pipeline in the world, known as the East Africa crude oil pipeline, continues Rogo. So, by the projects nature, there is going to be a lot of regional interaction. And, Njoroge hopes, more independence. One of the lessons that we have learnt, that we are learning is that we need to stop being too dependent. We were very dependent on China in a lot of things, he says. The volume of trade between China and Africa reached a record $208.7 billion last year, leaving many African economies in the lurch when the coronavirus shrunk Beijing's economy. Going forward, Njoroge says: "There needs to be a shift for people to say, 'It is time to start moving towards local industries and local manufacturing within the continent.' The Earl and Countess of Wessex helped pack food parcels at a mosque in Woking to mark the beginning of Eid on Saturday. The royal couple, who are currently isolating nearby at their Bagshot Park home in Surrey, volunteered at the Shah Jahan Mosque to show their support for the Muslim community at the end of Ramadan. Sophie, 55, donned a headscarf outside the mosque as she and Edward, 56, delivered a video message discussing their visit, which was shared on the Royal Family's Twitter account. The Earl and Countess of Wessex helped pack food parcels at a mosque in Woking (pictured) to mark the beginning of Eid on Saturday The mother-of-two said: 'We're delighted to be here at the Woking Mosque and we've been learning how the community have been really holding out the hand of friendship to everybody in the Woking community supporting people through this crisis. 'We thank you so much for all of the efforts that you've made.' Edward concluded: 'Yes, we owe a huge thank you to everyone for all you've been doing across the whole community. And we wish you an Eid Mubarak.' The mosque has been working with local churches, businesses and citizens to prepare and deliver food parcels to vulnerable members of the community. The mosque has been working with local churches, businesses and citizens to prepare and deliver food parcels to vulnerable members of the community. Pictured: the Earl and Countess of Wessex on Saturday Sophie, pictured with Edward during the visit, said: 'We're delighted to be here at the Woking Mosque and we've been learning how the community have been really holding out the hand of friendship to everybody in the Woking community' So far it has distributed over 700 parcels during the pandemic. During their visit, the couple met with Imam Hafiz Hasmi and his wife Kawther Akhtar, leaders at Surrey Faith Links who strive to promote good relations within faith and community groups throughout the UK. Speaking about the royal visit at the weekend, Shahid Azeem, High Sheriff of Surrey, said in a statement: 'The Earl and Countess of Wessex were warmly welcomed back to Woking and we were delighted with their help getting much-needed supplies out to those most impacted by the crisis. 'We were also proud to share our story and to show them the remarkable, collaborative effort being undertaken by the entire community here.' Sophie, 55, covered her head with a scarf outside the mosque as she and Edward, 56, delivered a video message discussing their visit, which was shared on the Royal Family's Twitter account The Wessexes have been busy volunteering in their local area during the pandemic, with Sophie helping to prepare boxes of food and baby supplies for vulnerable people at The Lighthouse Foodbank in Woking She also visited St. Peter's Hospital in Chertsey on International Nurses Day to pack food parcels for its healthcare workers. Last week the countess was said to be 'incredibly saddened' by the closure of a children's hospice facility after the coronavirus pandemic saw it lose 2million in funding. Sophie is patron of Shooting Star Children's Hospices, a charity which cares for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families. The organisation, which has also been visited by other senior royals including Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge, has been forced to close one of its sites in Hampton, south west London, reported The Mirror. H undreds of sunseekers have flocked to Bournemouth beach amid scorching bank holiday Monday temperatures. The Dorset seafront is packed out this lunchtime as Britons flocked outdoors after Boris Johnson slightly loosened lockdown rules. Pictures from the beach appear to show some families failing to follow social distancing guidelines after similar scenes sparked fury last week. The beach at Southend, in Essex, is also crammed with sunbathers this afternoon. It comes as forecasters predicted the mercury could climb as high as 26C on Monday. Southend beach has been flooded with sunbathers under the bank holiday Monday sun / AFP via Getty Images The Met Office forecasts long sunny periods for this afternoon, with inland areas becoming warm. The mercury is predicted to soar to between 24C and 26C in London, with 21C expected in Newcastle, 20C in Edinburgh and Belfast and 22C in Southampton. Following the packed scenes, Bournemouth council said its "seafront car parks are full" and urged tourists to stay away. The council tweeted: "Our seafront car parks are full. Please think twice before visiting the beach there are other less busy but equally lovely open spaces to enjoy or please stay home. Bournemouth beach is packed out this afternoon / PA Southend council added: "Please think twice before joining a busy beach today and don't congregate in crowds." The latest packed scenes came as Government advisers and police chiefs warned the affair over Dominic Cummings' alleged breach of lockdown could cause others to flout the rules. Professor Stephen Reicher, a key Government adviser on the lockdown, said on Monday that the "debacle" has "fatally undermined" efforts to fight coronavirus and will mean "more people are going to die". Meanwhile, Gloucestershire police chief Martin Surl said the senior Downing Street aide's 260-mile trip to Durham "made a mockery" of the rules and "makes it much harder for the police" to enforce them. Bournemouth beach was packed out this afternoon / PA The seafront in Brighton, Sussex, and at London's Serpentine open water pool also saw large crowds today. Under the new rules in England people can drive to leisure spots and meet one person outside their household, but have to follow social distancing. Tourism bosses had pleaded with Brits to stay away from beauty spots over the bank holiday as lockdown rules face another major test, warning coastal communities could not cope with an influx. Sefton Council in Merseyside adopted a new campaign ahead of the bank holiday weekend, telling people Wish you werent here!. In Cornwall, council leaders meanwhile warned there was no lifeguard cover on the coast in an apparent bid to deter people from flocking to the region's beaches. Neighbouring Devon County Council asked people to think twice about visiting the coast and to consider if they could remain closer to home. Southend beach in Essex is crammed with sunseekers this afternoon / AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove City Councillor Carmen Appich urged anyone thinking of travelling to the city to consider very carefully how their journey will impact on others. Similar packed scenes at Bournemouth and Southend during the lockdown heatwave on Wednesday, the hottest day of 2020 so far, prompted an angry backlash. Police in Devon slammed tourists for grinding costal roads to "gridlock" and said parking officers had ran dry of tickets due to cars "from all over the country" flocking to the area. It comes as Boris Johnson is reportedly set to reveal more details on allowing increased social contact and permitting non-essential shops to reopen as the Government readies to further ease the coronavirus lockdown. As the country moves to Phase 2 of the easing plan, Brits could soon be allowed to meet in "bubbles" of social contacts, while the PM is sticking by his plan to reopen schools to more pupils on June 1. Venezuela's Minister of Oil on Monday thanked the Iranian ambassador to his country and the crew of an Iranian tanker that docked earlier in the day for delivering badly needed fuel to the crisis-stricken nation. Tareck El Aissami said the ship was bringing "the necessary fuel, additives, spare parts" and other equipment to help "lift our refining capacity and oil production." The gasoline shipments are arriving in defiance of stiff sanctions by the Trump administration against both nations, but the oil tanker Fortune encountered no immediate signs of U.S. interference as it eased through Caribbean waters toward the Venezuelan coast. The tanker and four behind it were finishing a high seas journey amid a burgeoning relationship between Iran and Venezuela, both of which Washington says are ruled by repressive regimes. Venezuela sits atop the world's largest oil reserves, but it must import gasoline because production has crashed in the last two decades. Critics blame corruption and mismanagement by the socialist administration amid an economic crisis that has led to huge migration by Venezuelans seeking to escape poverty, shortages of basic goods and crime. The Iranian tankers hold what analysts estimate to be enough gasoline to supply Venezuela for two to three weeks. The U.S. accuses Iran and other nations of propping up Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The plan to hold online meetings of Parliamentary panels in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown seems to have been put in cold storage. Preparations have started for the usual, in-camera meetings at the Parliament complex. So far, nine rooms in the Parliament House and annexe are identified for holding regular meetings of the 24 department-related standing committees and another six rooms are being prepared for other committees of both the Houses, said a senior official aware of the matter, requesting anonymity. Rajya Sabha chairman M.Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla factored in the resumption of flights and train services between Delhi and state capitals to draw up the plan for holding regular meetings of House panels, the official said. The concept of online meetings of Parliamentary panels was proposed when flights and train services were stopped as part of the Covid-19 lockdown imposed in March. Both Naidu and Birla started discussions with senior officials to explore the possibility of holding online meetingssomething that has never happened since the panels came into existence in 1993. Now they are focused on preparations for regular meetings. Before Lockdown 4.0 ends on May 31, Naidu held an hour-long meeting with Birla on May 23. The secretaries general of both the Houses and other senior officials were also present at the meeting. Both the Presiding Officers have taken note of the resumption of air and train services in the country this month, said the senior official cited above. A second senior official said the concept didnt have overwhelming support. The chairmen of four panels (all from the Congress)-- information technology panel chief Shahi Tharoor, Pubic Accounts Committee chairman Adhir Chowdhury, home affairs panel head Anand Sharma and environment panel chairman Jairam Ramesh -- had favoured online meetings. The officials also pointed out that only the main committee room in the annexe has enough space to maintain social distancing. Naidu and Birla said extra seats with mike facilities must be provided in the other rooms too. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Thailand on Saturday began testing a vaccine against the coronavirus on monkeys after positive trials in mice, an official said. Thailand's minister of higher education, science, and research and innovation, Suvit Maesincee, said researchers had moved testing of the vaccine to monkeys and hoped to have a "clearer outcome" of its effectiveness by September. "This project is for the human race, not just Thais. The prime minister (Prayuth Chan-ocha) has outlined a policy that we must develop a vaccine and join the world community workforce on this," Suvit told reporters on Saturday. Thailand announced on Wednesday that it was developing a vaccine - one of at least 100 potential vaccines in the works worldwide - and hoped to have it into production by next year. Suvit said that Thailand has started reserving two manufacturers for its vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Since the new virus emerged in China late last year, COVID-19 has spread around the world, infecting more than 5 million people and killing more than 300,000. The Thai vaccine uses messenger RNA, which prompts body cells to produce antigens, molecules on the surface of viruses, that spur the immune system into action. The Thai vaccine is being developed by the National Vaccine Institute, the Department of Medical Science and Chulalongkorn University's vaccine research centre. Japan's nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic has been brought to an end after prime minister Shinzo Abe lifted restrictions in Tokyo and the four other remaining areas. Experts on a government-commissioned panel approved the lifting of the emergency in the capital, neighbouring Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama prefectures, and in Hokkaido to the north, which had remained under the emergency declaration after it was removed in most of Japan earlier this month. Japan, with about 16,600 confirmed cases and 839 deaths, has so far avoided the large outbreaks experienced in the US and Europe despite softer restrictions. Mr Abe said the lifting of the emergency does not mean the end of the outbreak. He said the goal is to balance preventive measures and the economy until vaccines and effective drugs become available. But the world's third largest economy has fallen into a recession, and public discontent over the prime minister's handling of coronavirus has sent his support ratings tumbling. Recent media surveys show public support for his cabinet has plunged below 30 per cent, the lowest since he returned to office in December 2012. Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Show all 19 1 /19 Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Two elderly people chat on a street in Valencia, Spain on 4 May EPA Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent People look at the city from Villa Borghese park in Rome during the first day of Italy's next phase in its coronavirus lockdown Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent An elderly couple who has not been outside for nearly two months enjoys the weather as they sit on a bench in a park in Athens on 4 May AFP via Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Henri de Chassey, wearing a protective face mask, kisses his partner Margaux Rebois, who is returning to Paris after spending two months in Brussels on 4 May REUTERS Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A commuter in protective mask wears gloves at an underground station in Brussels as some companies are allowed to bring workers back to the office EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Paralympic swimmer Inigo Llopis prepares to swim in San Sebastian, Spain, for the first time since the lockdown began Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A worker wearing personal protective equipment disinfects a school in Athens as Greece relaxes its nationwide lockdown REUTERS Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A Spanish National Police officer distributes protective masks in Melilla, Spain, on 4 May EPA Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent An employee poses in front of halfway-cured hams in a factory in Guijuelo, Salamanca, Spain, on 4 May EPA Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Workers in protective suits disinfect a high school in Athens as Greece moves to reopen schools for final-year students on 11 May EPA Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A worker disinfects a bus as transport vehicles are disinfected several times a day as part of Belgium's lockdown exit strategy Belga/AFP via Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A worker from Textilia haberdashery in Brussels holds a fabric that can be used to make customised protective face masks as Belgium relaxes its lockdown measures REUTERS/Yves Herman Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A bride tries on a wedding dress at a bridal shop in Madrid on the first day that some small businesses are allowed to open during Spain's lockdown REUTERS Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent People walk across the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall in central Milan as Italy eases its lockdown AFP/Getty Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A couple kiss in the Duomo Square in Catania as Italy starts moving out of its lockdown Reuters Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Mirel Chetan organises the books of the Antonio Machado bookstore in Madrid after 51 days of closure Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A couple kiss in front of the sea in Catania as Italy begins a staged end to a nationwide lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus disease ANTONIO PARRINELLO/ REUTERS Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A waiter at Caffe Cracco handles takeaway coffee in Milan on 4 May as Italy starts to ease its lockdown Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A woman holds a yoga posture as she exercises by the Colosseum monument in Rome on the first day of Italy relaxing its lockdown measures VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images Mr Abe declared the state of emergency on 7 April in several parts of Japan including Tokyo, expanded it to the entire nation later in the month, and then extended it until the end of May. Under the emergency, people were asked to stay at home and non-essential businesses were requested to close or reduce operations, but there was no enforcement. Since 14 May, when the measures were lifted in most of Japan, more people have left their homes and shops have begun reopening. Yasutoshi Nishimura, the economy minister, said recent data suggests infections have slowed enough and pressure on the medical system has fallen enough to allow a gradual resumption of social and economic activity. He said Tokyo, Kanagawa and Hokkaido, where the number of infections is still fluctuating, need to be watched closely. Individual prefectures are allowed to impose their own measures. Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike said last week that the capital will reopen in three phases starting with schools, libraries, museums, and longer service hours for restaurants. She said theatres, sports facilities and other commercial establishments will be next, with nightclubs, karaoke and live music houses in the final phase. Associated Press Tokyo, May 25, 2020 - Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: Masayuki Hyodo) has concluded an agreement with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on the preliminary/trial installation and verification of smart poles being carried out by the government. Together with NEC Corporation (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Chief Executive Officer: Takashi Niino; hereinafter, "NEC"), Sumitomo Corporation intends to install two types of smart poles in the Nishi-shinjuku area of Tokyo by the end of June 2020. In its "TOKYO Data Highway Basic Strategy" formulated in August 2019, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government calls for constructing an ultra-high-speed mobile Internet network in Tokyo. As part of that effort, the government is looking to install smart poles at an early date in the Nishi-shinjuku area, a priority improvement zone. Smart poles are multi-functional poles equipped with communication base stations, Wi-Fi, street lighting, signage, etc., and they are expected to serve as infrastructure useful for the provision of new community services. In partnering with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Sumitomo Corporation and NEC will be installing two types of smart poles in the Nishi-shinjuku area by the end of June 2020 to verify their utility under both ordinary and emergency circumstances. More specifically, the two companies plan to install two models of NEC's "Smart Street Lighting" (Note 1) equipped with functions such as digital signage (Note 2) and pedestrian traffic flow analysis cameras (Note 3); one model will be outfitted with a 5G shared antenna system for joint use by multiple telecommunications carriers, while the other, a site-sharing model, will be equipped with 5G base stations for multiple telecommunications carriers. With the aim of bringing 5G shared antenna systems into full-scale use by March 2021, efforts will be made to extend these systems across the entire metropolis and to help develop services for Tokyo residents/visitors through the construction of efficient infrastructure by accumulating knowledge on the installation and operation of smart poles. Sumitomo Corporation is engaged in a variety of information and telecommunications endeavors, being involved with the cable television business in Japan and investing in telecommunications and telecommunication tower businesses overseas. In the 5G sector, it has taken part in 5G base station sharing verification projects alongside Tokyu Corporation, Osaka Metro Co., Ltd., and Tokyo's Minato Ward. In addition to advancing the "TOKYO Data Highway Basic Strategy" through this latest agreement, Sumitomo Corporation will in the future be collaborating with companies, local governments and others to create 5G-related businesses. NEC has positioned the public safety business as an engine for its global growth, and this verification project will accelerate and enhance the development of solutions and services to realize "NEC Safer Cities" (Note 4), while helping to create safer and more secure streets. New Jersey has now lost 11,144 lives to the coronavirus as state officials announced Monday the number of positive test results has also climbed to 155,092, though the outbreak continues to show signs of slowing with a steady decline in patients being treated at hospitals. Gov. Phil Murphy, who did not hold an in-person coronavirus briefing on the Memorial Day holiday, released the latest numbers online. New Jersey health officials reported 16 new deaths and 965 new positive test results in the last 24 hours, though officials have warned that weekends reports have often reflected a lag in gathering information. New Jerseys 71 hospitals reported 2,755 patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases as of Sunday night, down 66% from the peak in hospitalizations on April 14, when 8,084 patients were being treated. The state had 719 patients in critical or intensive care, with 540 on ventilators, as of Sunday night. More than 623,000 tests have been administered in New Jersey, according to state health officials. The county-by-county list of cases and deaths include: Hudson County: 18,051 with 1,137 deaths Bergen County: 17,901 with 1,525 deaths Essex County: 17,202 with 1,595 deaths Passaic County: 15,774 with 891 deaths Middlesex County: 15,437 with 955 deaths Union County: 15,218 with 1,024 deaths Ocean County: 8,430 with 690 deaths Monmouth County: 7,865 with 556 deaths Mercer County: 6,491 with 450 deaths Morris County: 6,259 with 593 deaths Camden County: 6,103 with 308 deaths Somerset County: 4,480 with 399 deaths Burlington County: 4,355 with 271 deaths Gloucester County: 2,089 with 138 deaths Atlantic County: 2,028 with 144 deaths Cumberland County: 1,991 with 63 deaths Warren County: 1,132 with 126 deaths Sussex County: 1,084 with 145 deaths Hunterdon County: 966 with 57 deaths Cape May County: 570 with 48 deaths Salem County: 566 with 29 deaths Another 1,200 cases are being investigated to determine where the person lives. 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. Murphy has eased some restrictions put in place to blunt the spread of the virus. Gatherings of up to 25 people will now be allowed outdoors including for church gatherings and fitness classes as well as for outdoor recreational businesses like charter and fishing boats, driving ranges, and outdoor batting cages, under an executive order Murphy signed. As of Monday, more than 5.4 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 across the globe, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. Of those, more than 345,000 have died and nearly 2.2 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. Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency, Sam George has recalled some difficulties he went through prior to the moment he defeated the incumbent MP, E. T. Mensah. Working with E. T. Mensah According to him, he offered himself to work with Hon. E. T. Mensah for 3 years without collecting a salary as a Personal Assistant(PA). "I worked with Hon. E. T. Mensah for 3 years without collecting a salary . . . he didn't need a PA but I offered myself to work for him because I wanted to learn . . . he didn't ask me to come for employment . . . so why would he?" " . . I did everything from washing plates to cleaning shoes to carrying bags to driving him, I did all . . . and I still see him as my father," he told Adakabre Frimpong Manso. He said though E.T. Mensah had earlier decided not to run for the Ningo Prampram seat again, things turned around due to so many factors. "I personally booked an appointment at his office to inform him about my intention and also seek his blessings to contest the parliamentary seat in 2015 . . . he told me his time was not up as he was having a second thought about it," he said. He said he sought refuge and encouragement from his wife to have the courage to contest the then MP. During a one-on-one interview on 'Me Man Nti' programme on Neat FM, he spoke of betrayal, unfair treatment and among other things. Listen to Sam George in the video below Mahama's 'betrayal' He also narrated how former President John Mahama 'turned his back on him' during the time. "I was very hurt, very very hurt and I have had the opportunity to discuss this issue with President John Mahama post everything . . . " Narrating his ordeal, he said President Mahama told him there was no way he would support him against a senior member of his then administration. " E. T. Mensah is a senior member of your administration, I am one of the younger members of your administration, you will not support me against a senior member," he said those were the words of former President Mahama and he "felt pain". He said he had sacrificed a lot for John Mahama and didn't expect that he would say that. "He said he had too much respect for E. T. Mensah . . . he told me he was not going to be the one to fuel my ambition to unseat Hon. E. T. Mensah . . . I am saying it with all conviction and the truth that President Mahama did not give me one pesewa, one pesewa, he didn't give to me. I was very pained," he said. "It was one of the few times if not the only time President Mahama had turned men down," he added. Selling my house He narrated how he had to sell his house to fund the campaign. " . . my wife was 8 months pregnant, I had to sell my house to fund that campaign because nobody was going to give me money, nobody believed that I will win that election . . . my wife told me if you do this and we lose don't come home . . . I was a month away from my primaries," he said. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The CEO of Dropsuite Limited (ASX:DSE) is Charif Elansari. 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. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. See our latest analysis for Dropsuite How Does Charif Elansari's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, Dropsuite Limited has a market capitalization of AU$33m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth AU$354k over the year to December 2019. That's actually a decrease on the year before. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at AU$250k. We examined a group of similar sized companies, with market capitalizations of below AU$306m. The median CEO total compensation in that group is AU$383k. Next, let's break down remuneration compositions to understand how the industry and company compare with each other. On a sector level, around 67% of total compensation represents salary and 33% is other remuneration. Dropsuite is largely mirroring the industry average when it comes to the share a salary enjoys in overall compensation So Charif Elansari receives a similar amount to the median CEO pay, amongst the companies we looked at. Although this fact alone doesn't tell us a great deal, it becomes more relevant when considered against the business performance. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Dropsuite has changed from year to year. ASX:DSE CEO Compensation May 25th 2020 Is Dropsuite Limited Growing? Over the last three years Dropsuite Limited has seen earnings per share (EPS) move in a positive direction by an average of 133% per year (using a line of best fit). It saw its revenue drop 11% over the last year. Story continues This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. Revenue growth is a real positive for growth, but ultimately profits are more important. Although we don't have analyst forecasts you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Has Dropsuite Limited Been A Good Investment? Given the total loss of 6.5% over three years, many shareholders in Dropsuite Limited are probably rather dissatisfied, to say the least. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously. In Summary... Charif Elansari is paid around what is normal for the leaders of comparable size companies. We like that the company is growing EPS, but it's disappointing to see negative shareholder returns over three years. Considering the the positives we don't think the CEO pays is too high, but it's certainly hard to argue it is too low. Shifting gears from CEO pay for a second, we've picked out 4 warning signs for Dropsuite that investors should be aware of in a dynamic business environment. If you want to buy a stock that is better than Dropsuite, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. (Newser) Republican and Democratic leaders in Kentucky have condemned gun rights and anti-lockdown protesters who hung an effigy of Gov. Andy Beshear on the Capitol grounds near the governor's mansion in Frankfort Sunday. The effigy had a note around its neck reading "sic semper tyrannis""thus always to tyrants"the same phrase John Wilkes Booth shouted when he shot Abraham Lincoln, CNN reports. Witness Gerry Seavo James says that after the effigy of the Democratic governor was hung from a tree, a man "pretty upset about it" cut the figure down. "He was like, 'This has no place at this rally. We're trying to be peaceful,'" James says. story continues below Michael Adams, Kentucky's Republican secretary of state, slammed the "disgusting" act, the Courier-Journal reports. "I condemn it wholeheartedly," he said. "The words of John Wilkes Booth have no place in the Party of Lincoln." During Sunday's protest, which was advertised as a Second Amendment rally, protesters rallied outside the Capitol, where speakers denounced lockdown restrictions, for hours before marching to the governor's mansion, where they chanted "Come out Andy" and "Resign Andy." "The act that was displayed on Capitol grounds today, near where the Governor and his young children live, was wrong and offensive," a Beshear spokeswoman said in a statement. (Read more Kentucky stories.) Ms. Blessed Agyemang, Founder of Herrada Africa Group 25.05.2020 LISTEN The Herrada Africa Group, in partnership with Eblah Foundation has donated an undisclosed amount of money to some needy women across the country as a means of economic intervention to sustain them through the hard times. According to Ms. Blessed Agyemang, Founder of Herrada Africa Group, the cash donation through mobile money transactions was to support needy women in Ghana as a relief package whose small scale enterprises and petty businesses have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative dubbed Help Her Quarantine, was an online transaction which sent cash relief to some families and single mothers during the President of Ghana directive of partial lockdown to restrict movements in some selected regions. Speaking to the humanitarian and firm advocate of women empowerment, Ms. Agyemang indicated that it was important to extend helping hands to some women affected by the restrictions on movement as they only fend on the little they gained from daily work activities and on the streets. This online cash donation would help some of these women far and near to support their families since they couldnt get any means to provide food and other necessities for their children, she said. The beneficiaries of the Help her Quarantine initiative online cash donation were from major cities in the country - mostly in Accra and some parts of Kumasi, Sunyani, Tarkwa and Takoradi. The beneficiaries were thankful to Herrada Africa Group for the gesture shown to them in the time of need. The subsidiaries of Herrada Africa Group blend the best in consulting, communications, real estate, food, health, luxury retail, beauty and transport industries. On her part, Herrada Africa Group has made several donations to schools, hospitals, orphanages and individuals over the years. Three months ago, Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky were working on the financial filings for the companys hotly-anticipated initial public offering. He had just returned from Palm Springs, California, and was planning a spring vacation with college pals. But the coronavirus upended global travel and all his plans. My worlds gotten really small, Chesky told The Associated Press from his home in San Francisco, where hes spent the last 10 weeks. Airbnb expects its revenue will be cut in half this year. Chesky recently laid off 25% of Airbnbs staff or 1,900 workers and suspended projects not directly related home-sharing, like movie production and transportation. Its funding operations, in part, with a $2 billion investment from two private equity firms. Still, Chesky is optimistic. He says Airbnb has more listings now over 7 million than it did at the beginning of the year as hosts open their homes to make some extra cash. The company has hired experts to develop new cleaning protocols, so guests will feel comfortable booking again. Above all, he says, people will yearn to travel after this lonely pandemic. I think travel is going to feel special again, Chesky said. We wont take it as for granted as we did before. The Associated Press spoke with Chesky about Airbnb and the future of travel. Answers have been edited for length. Q: What will travel look like when it returns? A: I do think its going to take time. I think people are not going to get on an airplane for a while. Travel is going to resume by car, and the really big trend is going to be people traveling near them. For example, 13% of our business pre-COVID was people traveling and staying at Airbnbs 50 miles from them. Now thats 30%. A third of our business is basically people traveling to the next town over. So travel will become more last minute, more affordable, more nearby. And more leisure than business. One other thing is, were going to be in less urban areas. People arent going to be interested as much in staying in super mega metropolises. Q: What do Airbnbs bookings look like right now? Is there any point in the future where things start to look like they did before? A: Yes. So trips less than a week away and more than six months from now are really popular. Theres a lot of growth around near-term and very long term. Its the medium term that is way down. People kind of feel like, We know what the world will be like in a week, so Im comfortable traveling, and I kind of feel like six months from now or a year from now, Im pretty confident Ill be able to travel. So Im going to book this thing. But June, July? Im going to wait on that one. Q: Airbnb has paused projects not directly related to sharing homes and experiences. Is that a permanent change? A: I really want Airbnb to use this crisis to sharpen our focus, to get back to basics, back to the core of everyday hosts that offer homes and experiences. And I think the people who really yearn for that are going to want to stay in places that are really authentic and personal. Were going to put in as many or more resources than before. Its just going to come at the expense of not doing as many things. Transportation, for example, is on pause. I certainly dont expect in the next year or year and a half to be working on it. One day? Very, very possible. Its super hard to imagine what the world will look like in a year, let alone five years. Q: You set aside $250 million to compensate hosts for some of the business they have lost. Will you have to do more? A: The $250 million on the one hand, for us, its a lot of money. But for hosts, they are experiencing, in aggregate, much more of a shortfall than that right now. The No. 1 thing we can do is do everything we can to help them get more bookings and adapt their business to new types of demand, because that would be in the order of billions and billions of dollars. Q: Is the IPO still happening this year? A: Were ready to go public when the markets are ready for us. We will be ready. No news to announce. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Teguh Haryo Sasongko (The Jakarta Post) The Conversation Mon, May 25, 2020 11:53 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9f1dbc 3 Health The-Conversation,COVID-19,malaria-drug-chloroquine,Hydroxychloroquine,research,Science Free At least 55 countries have ordered large supplies of the anti-malarial drugs Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Chloroquine (CQ) from India, manufacturer of 70 percent of the worlds HCQs, to treat COVID-19 patients. These countries, including the US, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, are spending their COVID-19 response budget to import the drugs almost without scientific evidence. Decision taken by the US Food and Drug Administration to issue an Emergency Usage Authorisation on the use of HCQ/CQ for COVID-19 has been severely criticized by its former leaders. There is a fundamental problem: while evidence on the efficacy of HCQ/CQ stands on shaky grounds, evidence on the safety profile shows chilling mortality risks among COVID-19 patients taking the drugs. Evidence from laboratory works The Wuhan Institute of Virology had carried out in-vitro studies for chloroquine and subsequently hydroxychloroquine to look at dosages needed for a substance to kill the virus. The in vitro study was conducted in a laboratory without involving real COVID-19 patients. Their studies showed that HCQ/CQ could kill SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 causing pathogen, in low dosages. Although promising, an in vitro study is carried out in a lab outside the context of the human body. It cannot determine the real response of the very complex human biological systems. Also, an in-vitro study is not designed to determine the dose needed for sufficient blood level to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Therefore, human trials on real COVID-19 patients are needed. Methodological deficits in the first human trial To date, there is only one human trial from France claiming HCQ efficacy for COVID-19 patients. This report was published on March 20, 2020, in the International Journal of Anti-Microbial Agents. Didier Raoult and his University of Marseille team reported their HCQ trial on 36 COVID-19 patients. The researchers divided the patients into two groups. Group A (20 patients) received 200mg of HCQ three times a day. Group B (16 patients) received usual care without HCQ. The researchers also gave six patients in group A Azithromycin, an anti-bacterial, in addition to HCQ. On the sixth day, all patients were RT-PCR tested. It turned out that more patients in group A were COVID-19 negative, compared to group B. Also, all patients receiving a combination of Azithromycin and HCQ tested negative. Raoult claimed that hydroxychloroquine treatment is significantly associated with viral load reduction/disappearance in COVID-19 patients and its effect is reinforced by azithromycin. Scientists later voiced out concerns over the quality of the study. Five days after Raoults article, Kerstin Frie and Kome Gbinigie from The Center for Evidence-Based Medicine at Oxford University comprehensively summarised scientists concerns as follows: First, the actual number of participants in group A was 26, but six patients were excluded halfway through, because of treatment termination. They were excluded because they were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), died, or experienced side effects. Data from these six patients were not included in the analysis. This allows attrition bias because there was data from a portion of patients initially recruited but not analyzed. Second, with only 36 patients, this study is relatively weak. Raoult and his team calculated at least 48 patients were needed for sufficient statistical power. This means, there is a risk that this research might have produced false-positive results, i.e. the therapeutic effect is too prominent due to the small sample size. Third, one of the patients who tested negative with RT-PCR on day six turned out to be positive again on day eight. This shows another weakness, where there was no medium or long term data on the effect HCQ. Fourth, the experimental design is not the best trial design to determine the efficacy and safety of a drug in humans. The best design is a randomized controlled trial, where researchers divide patients randomly into at least two groups, the HCQ/CQ recipient and the non-HCQ/CQ recipient. Randomization is very important to minimize allocation bias. For example, intentionally or unintentionally, patients with milder symptoms fall into the HCQ/CQ recipient group so that the result shows that more patients in this group are recovering. Raoult divides his patients into groups A and B, without randomization, so it is not free from the risk of allocation bias. Does it work? Scientists still dont know Recently, a group of researchers published an observational study that analyzed 1,376 COVID-19 patients in the United States. They compared clinical outcomes of patients administered with HCQ (811 patients) and without HCQ (565 patients). The results are inconclusive. The researchers acknowledged that the results of this study could not be used to determine the efficacy and safety of HCQ. Also, they do not recommend the usage of HCQ beyond research setting. They emphasized that randomized controlled trials are needed to decide whether or not HCQ should be used for COVID-19 patients. High mortality risk Apart from the inconclusive results of whether HCQ/CQ are effective to treat COVID-19, the mortality risks from using the drugs is very worrying. A large registry-based study involving 96,000 patients in 671 hospitals around the world was recently reported. The results send chilling messages, whereby those taking HCQ/CQ are at 34-45 percent increased mortality risk and 237-411 percent increased risk to suffer from potentially fatal heart rhythm disturbances. All this shows that the use of HCQ/CQ for COVID-19 patients might show more harm than benefit. Countries around the world should consider stopping the use of HCQ/CQ beyond tightly controlled and monitored research settings. As of May 22 2020, the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register listed 262 human trials on the use of HCQ/CQ for COVID-19, of which 215 are designed as randomized controlled trial. Cochrane has also published a protocol for systematically reviewing the outcome of these studies. These may be one of the most sought after research outcome the world has been eagerly waiting. The drama surrounding massive production and importation of HCQ/CQ throughout the world has once again served as a reminder that public policy must stand on solid scientific grounds. This is to ensure the government use its resources responsibly, especially in times of scarcity. *** Teguh Haryo Sasongko is Associate Professor, Perdana University RCSI School of Medicine. 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. Locust attacks have been haunting the farmers of East Africa for months and now it has become a major problem for Indian farmers, especially in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The swarm of locusts travelled to India after breeding and maturing in Iranian provinces and Pakistans Balochistan province, devastating farmlands across Rajasthan, UP and MP. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Desert Locust is the most destructive migratory pests in the world and a single square kilometre of the swarm can contain up to 80 million adults, with the capacity to consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. Large swarms pose a major threat to food security and rural livelihoods and the situation has deteriorated due to favourable climatic conditions, allowing widespread breeding in East Africa, Southwest Asia and the area around the Red Sea. The Desert Locusts are considered as the most invasive species of locust since it can migrate over large distances and can rapidly breed. In February, Somalia declared a state of emergency due to the locust invasion and the FAO described the situation as worst in the last 25 years. According to a Bloomberg report, farmers in the village of Pakistan's vast and arid Balochistan province have lost crops worth hundreds of thousands of rupees. Read: India Awaits Pak Response On Offer Of Coordinated Response To Control Desert Locusts Issue Exponential increase Desert Locust live for three months and their eggs hatch after two weeks which can increase locust numbers in a short period. There can be an exponential increase in the number of locusts with another generation of breeding as hoppers fledge and become adults after six weeks and take at least one month to mature and be ready to lay eggs. Locust numbers can increase by 20 times in three months, 400 times after six months, and 8000 times after nine months. They can travel up to 150 km in a day during the day downwind and the best time to spray pesticide is early in the morning and late in the afternoon when they are settled on the ground. Read: Locust Attack In India Leaves Netizens Wondering If This Is The 'last Year For Humankind Chetana Belagere By Express News Service BENGALURU: While the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is being touted as the magic bullet for unemployment in rural areas, especially in the light of the migrant crisis, scores of workers enrolled under the scheme are discovering that they have been dealt a body blow by unscrupulous elements. A TNIE investigation has revealed that funds disbursed for the job scheme are being siphoned off in a well-organised manner across many districts in the state. Take the case of Shivaraj Naik (name changed). He walked around 500 km over 15 days from Mumbai to reach his village Bolani in Kalaburgi district. It was a hard journey, with hours spent looking for running taps and in long queues for food handouts. His slippers are now held together with a string. All through this ordeal, he hung on to the hope of finding work under MGNREGS. Two days after reaching his village, he went to the panchayat office and found that he had been literally robbed. His familys job card had been taken and used by someone else, and for almost a year, his father got a meagre Rs 100 against his thumbprint. There are many instances where labourers going back to their villages are realising that their MGNREGS work has been snatched from their hands. "This is happening across the state," informed social activist Swarna Bhat. Workers unaware of daily wages due to them "The State Government may be showing several new enrolments, but we have come across lakhs of people who dont even know that there is something called a 'job card' and that they are entitled to certain number of days of work and wages," rued social activist Swarna Bhat, who has worked extensively for the rights of such people from villages. To plug leakages, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Ministry shifted to an electronic muster roll of beneficiaries and pushed for Aadhaar-linked payment system. But several Panchayat Development Officers (PDO), who are hand in glove with gram panchayat members and contractors, seem to have found other ways to cheat thousands of workers of the benefits. For instance, when TNIE spoke to villagers and social activist groups working in this area, it came to light that in some villages like Salagara, Bolani, Kanagi, Sarasamba and Tadakal in Aland taluk, village leaders get the job cards done for hundreds of households with valid documents and even open bank accounts for them. But the cards are kept in their possession and not given to the beneficiaries. "When there is work, they call about 100-200 people and allot jobs like lake desilting, tank building, etc. They take photographs, and generate a site report which mandatorily has to be tagged to the Global Physical System (GPS)," explained Gururaj Patil, a district-level worker of the Grameena Kooli Karmikara Sanghatane. The workers are sent back after two days and 15 days later, officials from the bank go along with the panchayat officers and get the thumb prints of these workers. Three days' wages is paid to them for the two days of work. "While the labourers are happy that they got an extra days money, little do they realise that the money for the remainder of the days is siphoned off," Gururaj added. The people of these villages are not even aware that they are entitled to Rs 275 per person as wages for the days work. In some cases, they dont even know that job cards exist. Speaking about this Vinutha H V, a social actvist in HD Kote taluk says, "I have done a survey of all 39 gram panchayats in the taluk and found that many villagers dont know of the job cards. Some of them are getting only about Rs 75 per day as wages." The villages of Adnuru, Nooralaguppe, Hannuru, Bhimanahalli, Alanalli, Kyatanahalli, Metkuppe are some examples. In Padukote of Mysuru district, the villagers say they have been pleading with the local leaders for job cards but are not getting it. "We have been asking for the cards, but we are sent back saying that the server is down or that our number is blocked," said a resident. Its no different in Kolar district. "Since its convenient to show that the work needs the use of machines, and contractors bring in labourers in large numbers, they manage to make money from both," explained V Geetha, state vice-president, Akhila Bharathiya Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane which is working with women in villages across the district. When asked about the siphoning of funds, MNREGS Commissioner Anirudh Shravan dismissed the allegations and said, "Around 10 lakh people have been given work and about one lakh new job cards added since April 1. Weve displayed all job cards in all Gram Panchayats, so there is no question of any kind of mismanagement." On the positive side, TNIE also found that some of the villages in Kalaburgi, Hubballi and Ballari districts have seen good work and many workers are now thinking of staying back in their hometowns and not go back to Maharashtra or Rajasthan for work. Agreeing with this, Bagalkot ZP CEO, Gangubai Mankar said, "We have provided employment to many of them and have generated 1.90 lakh cards including those who are in institutional quarantine. Around 15,000 people per day across the district are getting work." Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated in India on Monday in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic with no traditional congregational prayers in mosques and idgahs or community gatherings due to the lockdown restrictions and the need to maintain social distancing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, various chief ministers and other leaders extended greetings on the festival, hoping that the special occasion furthers the spirit of compassion and harmony. The vast premises of the historic Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid in the national capital, where thousands offer the Eid namaz, looked desolate as only the Shahi Imams and mosque staff attended the traditional prayers. The scenes were no different in other parts of the country as religious places remained closed due to the lockdown restrictions, reflecting how the coronavirus pandemic which has infected over 1.3 lakh people in India has upended the lives of the people. At some places notices were pasted at the gates of mosques asking the people to offer prayers at home because of the pandemic. Police personnel in large numbers were deployed around major mosques in many areas and traffic movement was restricted. Prominent clerics and religious organisations had also appealed to people to adhere to social distancing and lockdown guidelines of the government and pray at home. Online gatherings replaced family and community get-togethers on Eid as people prayed at home and avoided customary visits on the occasion, while many could not travel to join their families due to the coronavirus lockdown since March 25. "People should serve those in need, including the ones affected by the disease. The virus can be defeated by people through precautions like social distancing," the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, said in his Eid message. Forced to stay indoors due to the coronavirus threat, Shafique Alam, a school teacher and resident of Jamia Nagar, said, "I offered namaz at home along with my two brothers and our children." "But the Eid Namaz at a local mosque was immensely missed as it used to be an occasion to meet friends and neighbours, hug them and revive the bonds of togetherness," he said. The usual hustle and bustle associated with the festival was missing from the markets and other public places where people venture out to celebrate. In riot-affected northeast Delhi, several families were still trying to get their lives back on track. Furkan, along with four brothers, had been running a sweet shop in Old Mustafabad for nearly 20 years. Usually, they were so overburdened that they ended up doing six months' work to meet the demands of customers during the holy month of Ramzan, he said. He opened his shop for the first time after nearly three months on Eid with the hope of making some money. "This year, due to the riots and then the lockdown, shops were closed and we have hardly earned anything in the last three months. How do we celebrate Eid when we hardly have money to purchase essentials?" he said. The sight, smell and sounds of Eid were also missing from Zakaria street and other areas in Kolkata which don a festive look every year with numerous food stalls and gift shops. State minister and Kolkata Municipal Corporation administrator Firhad Hakim offered namaz at his Chetla residence in south Kolkata along with wife and daughters. "Our combined prayers to the Almighty to defeat coronavirus and end misery of people struck by cyclone Amphan," Hakim told reporters. Irfan, a rickshaw-puller in Phoolbagan area of Kamarhati, on the northern fringes of the West Bengal capital, said he and his family visited a neighbour and offered thanksgiving prayers together. "This year, we could not visit Kamarhati Badi Masjid compound, as the imam had asked us to stay at home. My wife has prepared sevai for us on the occasion, and I can't wait to taste it," he said. Chairman of Bengal Imams Association Mohammed Yahia said all 26,000 mosque committees in the state have asked the faithfuls to offer Eid namaz with their families at home. "This ground had witnessed large crowds on Eid and Bakrid every year but the seriousness of the situation today has to be taken into account, a prominent Muslim cleric of Lucknow, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, said after leading a prayer by a handful of people, who wore masks and maintained social distancing, at the Idgah. The celebrations were subdued in Hyderabad and other places in Telangana as well, in contrast to the festivities witnessed every year, especially in the old city. SK Muddin, national convenor of the RSS-affiliated Muslim Rasthriya Manch, said Muslims followed the lockdown norms strictly. "The Muslim community which has clung to virtues like patience since the beginning of Ramzan (the holy month of fasting that culminates with EID) maintained and manifested it today," he said. In Jaipur, woman police personnel offered chocolates and gifts to children in the walled city area where public movement is restricted. Though lockdown restrictions, imposed to curb the coronavirus spread, had been eased outside COVID-19 hotspots after May 17, people mostly stayed indoors. In Rajkot, Gujarat, police officials staged a march in some Muslim-dominated areas and urged people to maintain social distancing while celebrating Eid. In Ahmedabad, the worst coronavirus-hit district in Gujarat, the festival passed off peacefully, according to the police. "The Muslim community in Ahmedabad followed our instructions and remained indoors while celebrating Eid today. There was no gathering for namaz in open areas or in mosques. "There was not a single incident of any unrest. The festival was celebrated peacefully and by following social distancing norms," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Control, Vijay Patel. Guwahati-based entrepreneur Atiqur Rahman Barbhuiya said his family did not go for shopping and distributed money to the poor people, who are suffering most in this lockdown period. He termed this year's Eid amid the lockdown as a "blessing in disguise" as women, who usually do not perform namaz at mosques, were able to offer the special prayers with other male family members at home. "I offered my Eid namaz with my daughter and son at home," he said. Maulana Maqsood Imran, the Khateeb-O-Imam, Jama Masjid, Bengaluru, said: "Coronavirus is spreading very rapidly in our country. If we don't follow the guidelines, it will not only cause trouble to us but also to the doctors and the government. It will be the biggest celebration if we abide by the norms." Eid, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan, was celebrated on Sunday in Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The vote is meant to usher in the first democratic transfer of power in 58 years of independence. Burundis election commission declared the governing partys candidate, Evariste Ndayishimiye, the winner of the countrys presidential election amid accusations of rigging by the leading opposition challenger. Ndayishimiye, a retired army general, won 68.72 percent of the votes in last weeks ballot, while Agathon Rwasa, the main opposition leader, received 24.19 percent, the commission said on Monday. There was a turnout of 88 percent. Since Ndayishimiye received more than 50 percent of the vote, he avoided a runoff. Ndayishimiye was picked by the governing CNDD-FDD party to succeed outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza, whose controversial decision to seek a third term in the last election in 2015 sparked mass unrest, violence and an opposition boycott. Therence Manirambona, spokesman for the opposition National Freedom Council (CNL) said the party boycotted the announcement of results as it could not back this farce, repeating allegations of massive fraud during Wednesdays election and the counting process. We have all the evidence and the real figures of these elections. We will seek justice, Manirambona told the German news agency dpa. Before the officials results came in, Rwasa had already alleged foul play, saying early numbers showing his CNL party heading for a bruising defeat were a fantasy. Burundians wait in a line to vote during the presidential and general elections in Giheta, central Burundi [AFP] With 87.7 percent of registered voters turning out to cast their ballots in last weeks elections, commission chairman Pierre Claver Kazihise described the turnout as massive and said the polling, which also included the election of members of parliament and local officials, was peaceful. First democratic transfer in 58 years The May 20 vote, which was contested by seven presidential hopefuls, is meant to usher in the first democratic transfer of power in 58 years of independence. There were few international election monitors on Wednesday after the government said they would have to spend 14 days in quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Rwasa already hinted he would not take to the streets in protest and would appeal to the Constitutional Court, though he considers the process imperfect. The final election results will be declared by the Constitutional Court on June 4. Ndayishimiye is expected to be sworn in for a seven-year term in late August, when Nkurunzizas term ends. It is unclear whether Ndayishimiye would be able to rule free from interference by Nkurunziza, who in February was elevated by Parliament to the rank of supreme guide for patriotism and will remain chairman of the partys highly influential council of elders. Burundi has been increasingly isolated since the 2015 election, when eruptions of violence left at least 1,200 dead and saw 400,000 flee the country. Persisting turmoil has led foreign donors to cut ties, further scuttling the economy of Burundi, one of the poorest countrys in the world. Meanwhile, accusations of major human rights violations have escalated. Between January and March, Ligue Iteka, an exiled Burundian rights group, documented 67 killings, including 14 extrajudicial executions, and six disappearances. There was no comment from the government, which has previously denied accusations of rights violations. Pune: Domestic flight operations resumed at Lohegaon airport on Monday morning since nationwide lockdown restrictions were imposed on March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Three flights took off in the morning and another two landed. Two flights, carrying 158 passengers on board, arrived and another three departed with 372 passengers, said an official of the Airport Authority of India (AAI). Altogether 34 flights will operate this week, including seven daily. The flight destinations include Delhi, Chennai, Cochin, Belgaum, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. All the necessary safety arrangements for the passengers have been done at the airport in coordination with the Pune district administration. Passengers have to comply with three parametres before boarding a flight. There must be a green mark on the Aarogya Setu application on their mobile phones, not running a fever and always wearing face masks, said Kuldeep Singh, director, Pune airport. Ride-hailing private cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola are not available at the airport because of the prevailing lockdown restrictions in Pune, a red zone. Passengers have been urged to travel to and from the airport by their own vehicles. There is limited parking space at the airport in a bid to maintain social distancing norms. All passengers, who arrived in Pune, were stamped in their hands and advised 14-day isolation at home. The AAI authorities will regularly update the flight schedule for passengers convenience. New Delhi : As Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with political leaders in Kashmir, Congress today pitched for dialogue with non-state political parties and all stakeholders, including students. The leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said no one from the government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have appealed for peace in Kashmir which has been on the boil for more than a month now. We hope that Home Minister not only talks with political parties, there are others as well, non-state political parties and other stakeholders. He should hold talks with students, trade unions and different communities. There should be peace. He should appeal for peace as well. I have never seen any minister or the Prime Minister appeal for peace, neither inside nor outside Parliament nor in Kashmir. Least they can do is to appeal, Azad said. Meanwhile, JD(U) said the key question was how much effort would the Home Minister invest in taking forward what he talked about. I am happy that the Home Minister has finally understood that there is a need to begin a political engagement with Jammu and Kashmir. The key question here is how much effort he will invest in taking forward what he has said. What is the kind of engagement that would be planned, so that the current impasse and sense of alienation, particularly amongst the youth, and the current involvement of Pakistan in Kashmir can be stemmed. We need to carefully watch the next step that this government takes, party leader Pawan Verma said. As part of Centres outreach, the Home Minister yesterday visited Kashmir for the second time in a month and held talks with political leaders during which he was told the Centre should initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders to find a lasting solution to problems faced by the state. The death toll in the unrest in Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 after killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani has now climbed to 66. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Strap a rocket to the underside of a plane. Fly it up several miles. Drop it. The engine ignites, and the rocket and its payload zoom to space. That is what Virgin Orbit, one of the multitude of companies started by Richard Branson, plans to do Monday. It is a demonstration of a new rocket system for sending small payloads to orbit. Q: When is the launch? A: Virgin Orbit, based in Long Beach, Calif., announced two potential windows for the launch Sunday and Monday. Early Sunday, the company announced on Twitter that the days attempt was being called off. However, Virgin said it was likely to be able to fix the problem in time for Mondays window of opportunity, which is open between 1 and 3 p.m. ET. You cannot watch it as it happens. The company is not streaming live video from the launch attempt but will provide near real-time updates on Twitter at @Virgin_Orbit. If at any point we see an issue or an anomaly that we need time to understand, were going to take that time, Dan Hart, chief executive and president of Virgin Orbit, said in a telephone news conference Saturday. And so there is certainly a significant likelihood that we dont get through countdown on our first pass. Hart said the weather Monday looked favourable for the test. Q: How does the launch work? A: A modified 747 named Cosmic Girl will carry the rocket, LauncherOne, under its left wing. (Virgin Orbit is taking advantage of a design quirk of the 747: a pylon used to ferry an extra engine.) Taking off from Mojave Air and Space Port, the plane will head west over the Pacific Ocean and then turn south. At an altitude over 10,000 metres, or about 10 kilometres up, Cosmic Girl will fly upward at an angle and drop LauncherOne. A few seconds later, the booster stage of the rocket will ignite, and the rocket will then arc upward into the sky. The jets 10-kilometre head start off the ground is not that much of a help, because it not does not have much upward velocity. The rocket still needs to accelerate to a speed of almost 29,000 km/h to achieve a stable orbit around Earth. If all works, a small test payload will end up in orbit. But Will Pomerantz, vice-president of special projects at Virgin Orbit, noted that about half of maiden flights do not succeed. To avoid adding to the debris around Earth, the payload will be placed in a low orbit and will fall back into the atmosphere, where it will burn up. Even if the flight is not entirely successful, the data gathered will be useful. The ignition of the rocket engine the first time it will have been done in flight and not on a test stand on the ground is the key moment in this flight, Pomerantz said. Well keep going as long as we can after that, potentially even all the way to orbit. Q: Why launch from an airplane? A: An airplane is essentially a mobile launch pad, enabling rocket launches from many more locations. If there is a thunderstorm, the jet can fly around or over it. And flying over the ocean immediately reduces the risk to people below if the rocket explodes. What that gives us is incredible flexibility, Hart said. In fact, we have mobility. We can fly to space from any place which can host a 747. Which is almost any place. Q: How much can the rocket lift? A: The two-stage rocket can lift up to almost 500 kilograms Pomerantz said a typical payload would be about 295 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Only smaller satellites can fit within the rockets 1.2-metre-wide payload section. The cost is fairly low, however: about $12 million (U.S.). Hart said the company had orders for launches that added up to hundreds of millions of dollars. LauncherOne is one of a slew of small rockets under development by many companies to carry smaller satellites to low Earth orbit. With advances in computer chips and miniaturization, powerful satellites can now be much smaller than in the past. Competitors include Rocket Lab, which has launched its rockets from New Zealand and has set up a second launch pad in Wallops Island, Va. While Virgin Orbit would be slower than Rocket Lab in getting a payload to orbit, it would be ahead of the other emerging competitors. Astra, another startup building a small rocket, was poised to win at least part of a $12-million prize from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. But while the rocket was fuelled on a launch pad in March, the launch attempt was called off because of technical problems. Astra has not made another launch attempt since then. While many industry observers expect only a few companies to win enough business to survive, I dont see it as very packed, said Hart, who expressed optimism that the emerging market will be larger than many expect. Q: Is this a new launch method? A: No. This is essentially how the U.S. air forces X-15 rocket plane was launched in the 1960s, taking pilots to the edge of space. More recently, an air-launched rocket called SpaceShipOne won the Ansari X Prize in 2004 as the first reusable private piloted spacecraft to reach an altitude of almost 100 kilometres considered the edge of space twice in two weeks. Another of Bransons companies, Virgin Galactic, is using the same concept on a larger rocket plane called SpaceShipTwo, to take paying passengers on up-and-down trips where they can experience a few minutes of weightlessness and view Earth from the blackness of space. Virgin Galactic, which has now become a publicly traded company, is separate from Virgin Orbit. Orbital Sciences, now part of Northrop Grumman, developed a similar air-launched rocket called Pegasus, which first flew in 1990. Most recently, it launched a NASA satellite, the Ionospheric Connection Explorer, to orbit in October. But in recent years, Northrop Grumman has found few customers interested in Pegasus, which costs several times more than LauncherOne. Another space startup, Stratolaunch, by Paul G. Allen, a billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, sought to launch larger rockets from an even bigger airplane essentially two 747s that were conjoined at the wings. However, Stratolaunchs business plan never coalesced, and after Allens death in 2018, the company largely shut down without ever attempting a launch. The company, sold last year, is now offering hypersonic flight tests rather than launches of payloads. (Photo : REUTERS/Loren Elliott) Children return to campus for the first day of New South Wales public schools fully re-opening for all students and staff amidst the easing of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions at Homebush West Public School in Sydney, Australia, May 25, 2020. Several parents in Australia have started an online petition as classes in some parts of Australia resume on Monday after easing coronavirus restrictions. According to The Daily Mail, only four new cases were reported in the country, pushing the governments of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) to further ease restrictions. The online petition demands the NSW Department of Education give parents a choice whether to send their children back to school. This comes after the education department issued an order for the May 25 reopening of face-to-face classes on Friday. Ash Parmar from Toongabbie has started a Change.org petition, which has now gained over 7,500 signatures. The petition questions the department's decision to reopen classes which may be due to political or economic pressures, or both. Parmar also seeks for the department's advice on how parents would explain to their children the guidelines specified in the memo. These include social distancing rules, proper hygiene, coughing etiquette, and even avoiding sharing foods. While schools received hygiene and cleaning supplies, the petition raised questions on the youth's safety as there is still "so much not known about this virus and it's (side-effects) on children." Australian parent starts online petition against reopening classes after COVID-19 restrictions are eased; We don't want our children to be guinea pigs Classes in NSW and Queensland will resume on Monday, May 25, as well as Years 3, 4, and 10 in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) while Years 5, 6, 8, and 9 will reopen on June 2. Similarly, kindergarten to Year Six as well as Year 11 and 12 in Tasmania will reopen on Monday, while Years 7 to 10 will resume their classes on June 9. Students in Prep to Year 2, 11, and 12 will go back to school on Tuesday, May 26, while the rest will return on June 9. However, parents across the country have called on the education department to give them a choice on whether to send their children to school. Parmar said he would not allow his two children to go back to school. "Just to open up schools for political mileage or different pressures other than health, I don't think that I want to make my kids guinea pigs to that kind of behavior from the government," Parmar told the Sydney Morning Herald. Similarly, mother-of-two Caroline said she would also not send her children to school for a few weeks more."I just feel we're going from zero to 100 very quickly, rather the gradual one day a week, then two or three days a week, that was promised," the Sydney resident said. Mike Woodcock from West Pennant Hills, on the other hand, would send his two children back to school through gritted teeth. Meanwhile, making such a decision makes mother Sonya feel "extraordinarily stressed" as his elder son has Crohn's disease. Last week, NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell warned that children will be marked absent if they do not show up in school. "Rolls will be marked as per normal and unexplained absences will be followed up," said Mitchell adding that children should be at school unless they are sick. Read also: Here's What to Do Once Received Cancellation Notice From Netflix 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greece restarted regular ferry services to its islands Monday, and cafes and restaurants were also back open for business as the country accelerated efforts to salvage its tourism season. Travel to the islands had been generally off-limits since a lockdown was imposed in late March to halt the spread of the coronavirus, with only goods suppliers and permanent residents allowed access. But the countrys low infection rate in the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the government to start the holiday season three weeks earlier than the expected June 15 date, as other Mediterranean countries including Italy, Spain and Turkey are grappling with deadlier outbreaks. At Bairaktaris restaurant on central Monastiraki Square in Athens, waiters and staff wearing purple face masks and some with plastic visors, sliced meat from the revolving gyros grill, arranged flowers on widely spaced tables and waited for customers, who remained cautious Monday. Spiros Bairaktaris, the exuberant owner, is carrying on a family business running for 140 years and has framed pictures on the wall of himself sitting next to supermodel Naomi Campbell, singer Cesaria Evora, and other past celebrity customers. He says hes optimistic about the season despite the slow start. This has never happened before, he told the AP. We normally sit 100 in the inside area, now itll be just 30. ... There wont be any bouzouki music or dancing until we get the all-clear from the doctors. "But I think people from all over Europe will come here because we have a low death toll, thank God. Greece has had nearly 2,900 infections and 171 deaths from the virus. Italy has seen nearly 33,000 coronavirus patients die, Spain has had nearly 29,000 dead and Turkey has had 4,340 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Social distancing regulations and passenger limits have been imposed on ferries and at restaurants to ward off new infections. Story continues State-run health services to combat the coronavirus are being expanded to the islands, with intensive care units being placed on five islands: Lesbos, Samos, Rhodes, Zakynthos, and Corfu, along with existing ICU facilities on the island of Crete. Tourism is a vital part of the Greek economy, directly contributing more than 10% of the countrys GDP as Greece struggles to emerge from years of financial crisis. More than 34 million visitors traveled to Greece last year, spending 18.2 billion euros ($19.5 billion), according to government data. With a view of the Acropolis and padded lounge seating, its usually hard for cafe goers to find a spot at Kayak, but midday Monday it was still largely empty. Eighty percent of our business is from tourism, and people in Greece are cautious, they fear they will lose their job, owner Liza Meneretzi said. Ive been running the cafe for 30 years, and Ive never seen anything like this. But I was born an optimist, so well see how things go. ___ Petros Giannakouris and Iliana Mier contributed. ___ Follow Gatopoulos at http://www.twitter.com/dgatopoulos ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been living on the Farmleigh Estate in the Phoenix Park during the Covid-19 pandemic, it has emerged. Mr Varadkar and his partner Dr Matthew Barrett have been staying in the State-owned Stewards Lodge on the grounds of Farmleigh for a number of weeks. Read More The Taoiseach is paying a nightly fee to stay in the residence which received a 600,000 refurbishment in 2007. Mr Varadkars spokesperson revealed he was staying in the residency, which is available to Taoisigh, after photographs emerged of the Taoiseach meeting friends in the Phoenix Park. The Taoiseach and his partner Matthew Barrett met friends at the Wellington Monument on the Parkgate Street side of the park on Sunday afternoon. The area of the park is almost 8km from his apartment on Carpenterstown Road in the Dublin West constituency. Under the Governments Covid-19 restrictions, people are prohibited from any non-essential travel more than 5km from their homes. However, following queries from the Irish Independent, the Taoiseachs spokesperson said: The Taoiseach was in the Phoenix Park with his partner Matt and two friends on Sunday Afternoon, in line with public health guidance. He was within 5km of the Stewards Lodge, where he is staying during the Covid Emergency, he added. Sources said the Taoiseach choose to stay in the residence because it has an office with secure connections for video conferencing which allows him work from home. The source the Taoiseachs friends could not come to Stewards Lodge because it was further than 5k from their home. Brian Cowen regularly stayed in the lodge when he was Taoiseach. In photographs circulating on social media, which have been verified by the Irish Independent, Mr Varadkar and his partner are shown socialising with two other friends near the Wellington Monument. The Taoiseach and his friends are pictured with their shirts off enjoying a picnic during the warm weather on Sunday afternoon. Gardai are seen walking near Mr Varadkar but were not with the Taoiseach. A number of people posted photographs and videos on Instagram and Twitter. Users of the social media platforms suggested Mr Varadkar was breaching the two metre social distancing rule with his group of friends. Groups of four people are permitted to meet outside under phase one of the Governments roadmap for reopening the country. However, they are restricted from travelling further than 5km from their homes to meet friends or family. The ban on travelling further has caused some controversy with concerns raised of people travelling further to play golf or tennis. Senior gardai have raised concerns with Government officials over enforcing the travel ban as restrictions are eased. Berlin: The European Union's top diplomat has called for the bloc to have a "more robust strategy" toward China amid signs that Asia is replacing the United States as the centre of global power. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell told a gathering of German ambassadors on Monday that "analysts have long talked about the end of an American-led system and the arrival of an Asian century." European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell addresses a video press conference at the conclusion of a video conference of EU foreign affairs ministers in Brussels. Credit:AP "This is now happening in front of our eyes," he said. Borrell said the pandemic could be seen as a turning point in the power shift from West to East, and that for the EU the "pressure to choose sides is growing." Shimla, May 25 : Authorities in Himachal Pradesh's coronavirus epicentres of Solan and Hamirpur districts on Monday extended the curfew till June 30 in their respective boundaries to contain the virus. However, state's 10 other districts will be under lockdown till May 31 as per the national schedule. The district magistrates in both districts decided to extend the curfew in their respective areas. The Cabinet led by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on May 23 authorised the district magistrates to take a call on extending the curfew under Section 144 of the CrPC. Hamirpur district is the worst affected district with 63 virus cases. The active cases in the district are 57. Solan district saw 20 cases. It has 11 active cases. So far, the state has reported 217 cases, including five deaths. The active cases are 146. Hamirpur has witnessed a spike in cases with a large number of people returning to the state from across the country. In another decision, the state government has decided that all Class I and II officers of the state government will attend office on all working days from Tuesday. The roster of employees will be prepared in such a manner that 50 per cent of the employees will attend the office everyday and the remaining will work from home. Ukraine Says Those Responsible In Iran For Downing Its Airliner Must Face Justice Anna Raskaya May 24, 2020 The Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine has told Radio Farda Kyiv insists on punishing those responsible in Iran for shooting down its passenger plane in January. As the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 took off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini international airport on January 8, heading for Kyiv, two missiles were fired at the plane which crashed near the capital city, killing all aboard. Victims of the crash included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons. Speaking exclusively to Radio Farda, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Yevheniy Yenin, on Saturday, May 23, dismissed a recent remark attributed to the Islamic Republic Minister of Defense. The previous day, a former lawmaker had cited the country's Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, blaming the operator for violating regulations and "rules" for firing two missiles at the Ukrainian airliner over Tehran. Reacting to the comment attributed to Iran's defense minister, Yenin told Radio Farda, "We will only accept Iran's explanation if we are convinced that it has made every effort to conclude the investigation." For three days, the Islamic Republic authorities vehemently insisted that technical failure caused the crash. Ultimately, under domestic and international pressure, the country's Joint Chief of Staff admitted that an Islamic Revolution Guards Corps missile had downed the plane. Meanwhile, Tehran has so far refused to hand over the doomed plane's black boxes for decoding outside Iran. Earlier, the head of Iran's Armed Forces Judiciary, Shokrollah Bahrami had disclosed that one person had been detained in connection with the plane's case and several others had been summoned as defendants. "We expect the investigation to be comprehensive and transparent, in line with international law and standards," Yenin sais, referring to statements made by Iranian government officials. Furthermore, he called on the Islamic Republic government to give Ukraine, as the owner of the aircraft, access to relevant information. He also asserted that other countries involved in the case have a similar position to Ukraine's. While reiterating the fact that Tehran has so far not delivered any official explanation about the tragedy, Yenin noted that the Islamic Republic has not yet set a compensation to be paid to Ukraine and its International Airlines company (UIA), as well as the relatives of the victims. Moreover, Iran has so far refused to table a guarantee ensuring that a similar incident will not happen again in the future, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister complained. Ukrainian government officials have repeatedly stressed the need for Tehran to cooperate in investigating the incident, asserting that not only the anti-air system operator but also all those who ordered firing missiles at the Ukrainian passenger plane should be identified and punished. Kyiv has also repeatedly warned that should Tehran not cooperate, it will sue the Islamic Republic at international bodies. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/ukraine-says-those- responsible-in-iran-for-downing-its-airliner -must-face-justice/30631250.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A gyro scooter chair, a vertical-take-off satchel, space tourism, and new steps in "rapprochement" with Mars these are things, which we can see already in 2020 Open source The development of science and technology is gaining momentum every year. If in the distant past, while reading or browsing sci-fi content, we did not dream about the successful launch of spacecraft that would explore life on Mars, today already one of them is making a high-quality selfie on a hill in the center of the Martian crater. We are talking about the Curiosity rover (NASA rover), which recently showed the world another photo from the surface of the Red Planet - Curiosity took a selfie with a mechanical hand after a record climb on a hill in the center of Gale Crater. And this is not all the news that gives hope that in the near future people will be able to colonize Mars. Deep near space In the summer of 2020, it is planned to launch three more rovers: American, European-Russian and Chinese. Approximately once every 26 months (780 days) the location of the Earth and Mars becomes as convenient as possible for interplanetary flights (despite the fact that a simple launch into orbit can be carried out almost at any time). The NASA Rover together with a helicopter drone that will test the possibility of flying in the Martian atmosphere and help in navigation; Chinese Huoxing-1 (Mars-1), equipped with 12 scientific instruments (cameras, radars, magnetometers, etc.); Rosalind Franklin with a landing platform Cossack - the second part of the European-Russian mission ExoMars. The latter will have onboard an analyzer of Martian organic molecules (MOMA), with the help of which the rover would look for life on the planet. All three rovers, starting at different intervals in July 2020, will arrive at their destination in February-March 2021. Using the data obtained from the missions scientists plan to study geology, the climate of Mars, and most importantly to look for evidence that life existed on the Red Planet. It is important to note that the study of the planet is not limited to rovers, because, for example, China and the UAE plan to send their probes to the orbit of Mars. Space tourism. In the 21st century, space becomes not only a mecca for scientific research but also tourist routes. SpaceX (of Elon Musk), Blue Origin (of Jeff Bezos), and Virgin Galactic (Richard Branson) are preparing to send tourists into orbit in the near future. If the last two companies are striving for flights by the end of 2020 (in particular, the Blue Origin suborbital reusable New Shepard rocket successfully completed all 12 test missions), then this year Elon Musk only became one step closer to the target SpaceX signed a cooperation agreement with Space Adventures, which provides for orbiting on Crew Dragon ships. In the first flight (from the end of 2021 to the middle of 2022), 4 people will depart. SpaceX Crew Dragon ships SpaceX Crew Dragon ships Interestingly, the demand for space tourism is growing rapidly. In particular, this is reported by the company of the British billionaire Richard Branson, which received about 8,000 new requests from the beginning of 2020 (in September last year, there were half as many willing to take part in the flight). It is worth noting that a ticket costs $ 250,000 (this amount has already been laid out by Leonardo di Caprio and Justin Bieber, who among the first 600 people will go on a space trip). Also in 2020, the International Space Station (ISS) promises to open doors for tourists, offering them the services of a space hotel. Living in a hotel overlooking the Earth costs $ 58 million (only for the flight to the ISS and return to Earth). One day of living will cost $ 35,000 (the Internet service is not included in this amount, for which you will have to pay another $ 50 for one GB). Internet without borders. In 2020, an active phase of creating a mega-constellation should take place, which will help provide everyone with access to the Internet. This is precisely the goal that Elon Musk set for himself, putting dozens of Starlink satellites into orbit (another 60 satellites joined their fleet in April this year). Thus, about 422 vehicles ply in the sky today. It is assumed that already in the middle of the year, first users will be able to evaluate the global Musk network (a monthly subscription will start at $ 100 for unlimited access at a speed of 10 Mbps). In order to see how the satellites of Elon Musk fly over the territory of Ukraine, you can use the Findstarlink website (choosing the location: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv). Rescue technology Bionic eye. Scientists at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have created an artificial eye that surpasses the human in its capabilities the bionic. The bionic implant consists of an artificial retina and a dense array of nanowires. The wires are sensitive to light, so they allow the artificial eye to work similarly to the human. It is interesting that the bionic eye is able not only to see in the dark but also to distinguish infrared radiation. The development can be used as a visual prosthesis (scientists are preparing to implement it, which will restore the function of vision), as well as in the creation of robots. The union of the brain and the computer. This is the idea of Elon Musks company was Neuralink (a neuro-technology company founded in 2016). The company's engineers developed implants (chips) that, after being implanted into the head, they can read brain signals and transmit them to a computer. It is noted that with the help of this technology it is possible to return vision, hearing, mobility of limbs after brain damage, as well as the ability to communicate (typing text by the power of thought). Similar chips have already been successfully tested on animals and must be tested on people this year (last year the company applied to the US Food and Drug Administration to start testing). Elon Musk himself announced it on the Joe Rogan YouTube channel. It is believed that in the future this technology would create a symbiosis between the human brain and AI (artificial intelligence). Neuroimplants. Patients with Parkinson's disease and epilepsy can benefit from the first neural implant developed by Rice University researchers. The device can be charged and reprogrammed remotely the technology will allow the chip built into the brain to receive energy from a source outside the body. This will happen using an alternating magnetic field (according to scientists themselves, the use of ultrasound, induction, electromagnetic and optical radiation cannot provide a similar level of reliability obstacles in the form of hair, bones, skin). Moreover, the method of using electromagnetic fields is safer, because they are not absorbed by tissues and do not heat them. A bioelectronic implant can help relieve pain and stimulate neurons of the people with these diseases. Today the communication is one-way - the microcircuit can receive signals, and not send them. In the future, scientists are striving to improve development, so that the implants themselves collect information about the health status of the body and transmit it to extraneous devices. Amazing technology Chair-gyro scooter. At CES 2020, Segway introduced its new product, the S-POD gyro scooter chair, which is able to maintain balance and is controlled by a special joystick (located on the armrest). An unusual model of a gyroscope is similar to the Girosfera "Jurassic World" The developers claim that you can drive up to 70 km at a speed of 40 km / h on a single charge. It is noted that the chair can be useful in moving around the territory of universities, airports, exhibitions, or parks, it could be a good replacement for personal vehicles. The presentation of the production version of S-POD should take place in the third quarter of 2020. The product will go on sale no earlier than 2021. Jetpack. At the end of last year, Swiss developer Yves Rossi showed the world a perfect version of a flying knapsack a wing-knapsack that has the ability to take off vertically (before a man had to fly into the sky with airplanes and helicopters, and land with a parachute). With the new wing pack, you just have to stand upright and have a pair of gloves with built-in sensors, because the vertical thrust of the Jetcat P550 engine (two on each wing) is enough to take off, lifting a person and its own weight, at a speed of 180 km / h. The developer also provided the device with an autonomous balancing system. Swiss developer Yves Rossi tests his invention Open source Testing of the satchel should continue in 2020, which will show whether the Swiss finally managed to establish himself as a competitor to the well-known Jetpack (a similar device for vertical take-off and landing) and VTOL (vertical take-off and landing aircraft). Computer identification. Every year, identification systems that can recognize objects, places, and people using images from surveillance cameras or other sensors are actively developing. In particular, such algorithms have long been used in smartphones, where there is the identification by face. The identification procedure seems familiar to us and in the conditions of the 21st century it is really necessary, but over time it might happen that computer-identification becomes the "Big Brother" who will observe our every action. For example, Yandex.Taxi is already testing a camera that checks the drivers condition, and a face recognition sensor is already being used at Dubai Airport to check passengers more quickly. Such identification can help control product quality by tracking defects on production lines. Since 2020, a system of social credit began to operate throughout China, according to which, in the beginning, all citizens of the country receive 1000 points. Depending on the actions and decisions, the rating of a citizen increases or decreases. Thus, citizens who have a high rating can count on benefits, those who have a low rating will receive fines and restrictions (in particular, if you cross the road to a red traffic light, the system will display your face on a large screen near the intersection). The authorities collect information from government agencies and video surveillance cameras. Development of VR and AR technologies. Virtual and augmented reality technologies continue to delight with a single mention of their capabilities, the base of which is expanding almost every six months. So, at the end of 2019 - the beginning of 2020, Teslasuit introduced gloves for virtual reality (with their help, you can not only move VR objects but also get tactile sensations). Teslasuit Open source Conferences are taking place in the virtual space today, some companies conduct training in self-isolation conditions on 3D simulators that can be run on any digital medium. For example, Stanford University trained its physicians using a virtual simulator (an office with a patient who needed to be examined). Today, this method of training is used in many clinics. The emergence and development of new technologies occur in direct proportion to time every year more and more opportunities open up. So, until the end of 2020, humanity will see a number of exciting products from start-ups and innovative solutions to scientific discoveries, which will somehow affect the future development of technology and humanity. Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - In a statement issued on Monday, the anniversary of the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the forerunner of the African Union (AU), Guinean Foreign Minister, Mamady Toure, said that this 57th anniversary is "an opportune moment" to assess the progress made since 1963 towards the effective realization of the integration of our continent Dublin Airport has been almost deserted since lockdown began Ireland is to look at creating of special "travel bubbles" to help the crippled aviation industry recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government has been urged by Irish airports and airlines to adopt a recovery model now being implemented worldwide to help the aviation industry bounce back. Passenger numbers having collapsed 99pc since February. The Government will debate a plan to adopt travel bubbles, or safe travel corridors, from July/August between countries that have the same epidemiological convergence of low and declining virus cases and comparable Covid-19 control measures. The UK is already considering the introduction of such corridors, with Ireland expected to be among the preferred partner destinations, although its Covid-19 detection rate will likely place it in the second tranche of such areas. Ireland is currently ranked green, or extremely low-risk, because of the number of per capita virus cases and the success of the national pandemic control measures. Germany, Denmark, Norway and the Benelux countries are also ranked as green. The UK is currently ranked at orange risk. Such proposed low-risk air routes will be protected by a strict regime of measures agreed at both departure and arrival points, with both countries required to have a similar Covid-19 status. The "safe travel" controls will include careful screening of all intended passengers, monitoring of destinations for Covid-19 spikes, deep cleaning of aircraft, the wearing of face masks during travel, strict contact tracing details, aircraft remaining assigned to specific routes and a strict social distancing of 1.5 metres. Deterrent Temperature checks at airports, which may require legislation, are also being considered. China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand have already adopted the model as a means of helping their aviation industries resume operations. The model offers a critical option for a phased withdrawal from 14-day quarantine demands, which aviation officials warned effectively act as a deterrent to travel. Such quarantine arrangements have been described as "too blunt an instrument" for the medium to long-term recovery of the travel industry. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have lifted strict travel restrictions between their countries, while airlines warned they need firm recovery measures. Police in Hong Kong fired tear gas yesterday as thousands of protesters chanted pro-independence slogans and defied social distancing rules to demonstrate against new security legislation. Protesters gathered in the Causeway Bay shopping district in the biggest demonstration since the virus shutdown began. After 30 minutes, people chanting Hong Kong independence is the only way out moved off the pavement on to the road, and police fired tear gas and used water cannons. Police accused protesters of starting fires and throwing bottles from above, and said they had responded with minimum force, including tear gas. At least 120 people were arrested, mostly for unlawful assembly. It came after the annual congress of Chinas rubber-stamp parliament on Friday introduced a draft bill to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security in Hong Kong. The proposed law would guard against, stop and punish any separatism, subversion of the national regime, terrorist group activities and such behaviours that seriously harm national security. The proposed law has sent a clear sign Beijing is punishing us for what we did last year, said a protester named Law (26). The concept of independence wasnt widely accepted before, but the increasing Beijing suppression has helped to spread it like wildfire in Hong Kong, they added. The UK, Canada and Australia have warned that making such a law on Hong Kongs behalf without the direct participation of its people, legislature or judiciary would clearly undermine the principle of one country, two systems. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged China to reconsider what he called a disastrous proposal. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Rose Schwartz (pictured in mugshot) was arrested on DUI charges last week after driving erratically in Massachusetts An elementary school principal in Massachusetts faces DUI charges after allegedly hitting a guardrail with her car and leading officers on a 110mph chase on the interstate while intoxicated. Rose Schwartz, 44, of Lakeville, was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, speeding, failure to stop for police and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Schwartz was the principal of Joseph C. Chamberlain Elementary School in Taunton, but was fired after school officials learned of the allegations. The incident began when the Raynham Police Department received a call on May 19 about an erratic driver on Interstate 495 near Route 138, WCVB reports. The caller said a person driving a grey Honda SUV was swerving across the road and driving erratically. Police reportedly found Schwartz driving down Route 138 with the vehicle's front bumper damaged and dragging on the pavement. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but Schwartz allegedly fled the scene and reached speeds of 110mph while racing down the roadway. When officers finally stopped the Honda SUV at Britton Street, they said Schwartz appeared to be stumbling and unstable on her feet. She was arrested. Authorities received a report about a driver, later identified as Schwartz (pictured), was swerving in the road and driving erratically last week Part of the vehicle's bumper was later found nearly three miles away where the Honda SUV appeared to have struck a guardrail. Taunton School District Superintendent John J. Cabral confirmed that Schwartz has been removed from her position in a statement. 'In keeping with our practice to not comment on personnel matters, I can only confirm at this time that Mrs. Schwartz has been removed from the position of Principal of Joseph C. Chamberlain Elementary School,' he wrote. 'As always, Taunton Public Schools will continue to proceed in the best interest of the students of the Chamberlain Elementary School and all decisions and plans that are made now and in the future will be made with this priority in mind.' Parents received a note from Chamberlain Elementary School regarding the incident, but weren't provided details beyond Schwartz dismissal. 'It is with regret that I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Mrs. Schwartz will no longer be serving as Principal of the Joseph C. Chamberlain Elementary School,' the note read. 'We wish all the best to Ms. Schwartz.' After authorities pulled over the Honda SUV, they said Schwartz (left) was stumbling and unsteady on her feet before they arrested her In a separate case, Schwartz was arraigned on Wednesday over an alleged abuse prevention order violation. Taunton Police spokesperson Lt. Eric Nichols told Taunton Daily Gazette he could not disclose information about the case 'due to the public record laws.' Schwartz had worked for Taunton Public Schools for more than 20 years, during which time she served as a middle school English teacher, a curriculum supervisor and was principal at Galligan Elementary School. People who knew Schwartz were shocked by the recent alleged incident and said it's 'out of character' for Schwartz. 'People who know her are very saddened. Its not something I would have expected,' said Jordan Fiore, Taunton School Committee member. 'People who know her always thought of her as a sweet lady. Its not like shes displayed some kind of pattern that would have suggested this.' Schwartz, who worked for Taunton Public School, was fired from her position at Joseph C. Chamberlain Elementary School (pictured) Christine Fagan, a longtime School Committee member, described Schwartz as a 'very warm, wonderful person.' Fagan's youngest son, James, was taught by Schwartz several years ago at Friedman Middle School and he 'loved her,' said Fagan. Fagan added that coronavirus pandemic, which shuttered schools this year and placed citizens under lockdown orders, has been difficult for many people. 'Anybody can lose their way. I know there are a lot of people who want to get online and say nasty things,' said Fagan. 'I think all of us should take a step back and keep her in our thoughts and prayers. Some people want to look for the worst in people, but maybe we should look for the best.' The Karnataka government has exempted central and state government ministers and officers on duty from requirements of quarantine on arrival in the state from other places. Airlines crew who are on official duty and any person holding a negative COVID-19 test certificate would also need not undergo the mandatory seven days institutional quarantine stipulated in the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued on Friday for inter-state passengers coming from states with high number of coronavirus cases. These exemptions were allowed in an addendum to the SOP issued on Saturday by the department of Health and Family Welfare Services and made public on Monday. "The ministers of Union Government or state governments or officers on their official duty who are travelling across states will be exempted from requirements of quarantine as has been done for health professionals and others," the addendum said. Any person who gets a negative COVID test certificate (from ICMR approved lab) which is not more than two days old from the date of journey will also be exempted from the requirement of institution quarantine, it said. "Such a person will be asked to go for 14 days of home quarantine." The airlines crew who are on official duty will be exempted from the requirements of quarantine as has been done for certain categories, it added. The addendum was made public hours after Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers D V Sadanada Gowda courted a controversy after he did not undergo quarantine on arrival from Delhi by a flight here. He defended his action, saying he came under the exempted category being in-charge of pharmaceuticals, an essential sector. The state government's SOP had said returnees from six states with high COVID-19 caseload -- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh -- coming via road, rail and air will be kept in institutional quarantine for seven days. After the returnees test negative for the disease in pool testing, they will be sent for home quarantine for another seven days, it has said. Returnees from other low prevalence states will be asked to follow 14 days of home quarantine. In special cases like businessmen coming for urgent work, the quarantine period will be waived if they furnish a report from an ICMR-approved laboratory showing they tested negative for COVID-19 and should not be more than two days old from the date of travel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) T his is the moment the New Zealand Prime Minister managed to keep her cool when a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck during a live television interview. Jacinda Ardern interrupted Newshub host Ryan Bridge to tell him she could feel "quite a decent shake" at the parliament complex in the capital, Wellington, on Monday morning. Were just having a bit of an earthquake here Ryan, quite a decent shake here, she said, looking up and around the room. But, um, if you see things moving behind me. New Zealand sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is sometimes called the Shaky Isles for its frequent quakes. Mondays magnitude 5.6 quake struck in the ocean about 62 miles northeast of Wellington, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake hit just before 8am and was felt by thousands of New Zealanders who were getting ready to start their work weeks. It was strong enough to rattle food from shelves and stop train services. But there were no reports of major damage or injuries. Ms Ardern continued on with her interview, telling the host the shaking had stopped. Were fine Ryan, she said. Im not under any hanging lights, I look like Im in a structurally sound place. New Zealand's finance minister Grant Robertson said in a tweet that the quake was not what we need right now. John Hart said it was "quite the shake" on Twitter as he shared a picture of his spilt coffee. A 2011 quake in the city of Christchurch killed 185 people and destroyed much of the downtown area. The city is continuing to rebuild. The claim: If you look at Wisconsin, Ive yet to see a spike or anything that anybody has said was statistically significant related to the fact that they had voting." Texas U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin. Roy made the statement during a May 6 video interview with the Texas Tribune as he discussed the coronavirus outbreak in Texas and spoke about a number of policies under consideration including whether mail-in voting should be expanded for the general election in November. Wisconsins presidential primary election was held April 7, after a legal fight and much public debate about whether it was safe for voters to go to the polls in the middle of the pandemic. PolitiFact rating: Mostly True. Wisconsin has linked 67 coronavirus cases to its April 7 primary election, a small fraction of the states total cases. But the data is limited. Health officials said there is significant uncertainty surrounding these figures, and the elections true impact might be impossible to determine. Discussion: Citing concerns about voter fraud, Roy said it doesnt make sense to "flip our system on its head and convert to all, or significant, mail voting" or online voting. More Information About PolitiFact PolitiFact is a fact-checking project to help you sort out fact from fiction in politics. Truth-O-Meter ratings are determined by a panel of three editors. The burden of proof is on the speaker, and PolitiFact rates statements based on the information known at the time the statement is made. See More Collapse Instead, he said state officials should find a way to make in-person voting safe by the time the November election rolls around. He pointed to Wisconsin as evidence that in-person voting could be safe, even during a pandemic. Evan Smith, chief executive officer of the Texas Tribune, interjected and said: "In fact, the Wisconsin Health Department said that 36 people at least are believed to have gotten the virus as a consequence of voting in person. There has been reporting on this." Roy replied: "Ive looked at that report and Ive looked at studies and Ive not seen any significant study that has shown a spike as a result of their election. By the way, that was in the heat of the initial outbreak a few weeks ago. What were talking about is laying out a system where this can work, and weve got until November to do it." In the weeks since April 7, health experts in Wisconsin have attempted to track the number of COVID-19 cases with links to the election. The tally includes people who tested positive for COVID-19 after April 9 who reported having voted in person or who worked at the polls on the day of the election. The tally does not include people who voted or worked the polls but started to display symptoms after April 21. About 40 cases were initially linked to the election. As of May 7, Wisconsin had identified 67 people who fit this criteria, according to Jennifer Miller, spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. But that does not guarantee that these individuals contracted the virus while voting, a point state health officials have emphasized. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , Darren Rausch, lead for the Milwaukee County COVID-19 Epidemiology Intel Team, said the elections timing makes it difficult to link cases to the voting. "What complicated our analysis is also included in this time frame is both the Easter and Passover holiday weekends, and both of those included the opportunity for significant breaches of the safer-at-home order," he said. "So that was complicating our work from the beginning." On election day, an estimated 413,000 people voted in person across Wisconsin, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Experts said a surge tied to the election would have appeared in statewide data at the end of April, given the incubation period of the coronavirus. But no surge appeared. Public figures have repeatedly tried to connect trends in coronavirus cases in Wisconsin with the election, but other factors have impacted the data. On April 22, the state saw a spike in cases, but the spike was tied to outbreaks at meatpacking plants in the state not the election. KABUL -- Afghan authorities say they have released 100 Taliban prisoners as part of the government's response to a three-day cease-fire the militants called to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The 100 Taliban prisoners were released from Bagram, north of Kabul, on May 25 as "a gesture of goodwill to advance peace efforts, including an extended cease-fire and the immediate start of direct talks" with the militants, National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal wrote in a tweet. Faisal posted photos of the freed militants inside a bus. The three-day truce started on May 24, a move swiftly welcomed by the government, which reciprocated by announcing plans to free up to 2,000 militant prisoners. "There have been some minor security incidents today," Interior Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said. "In general, there has been no major violation of the cease-fire today." Faisal told AFP that authorities plan to release prisoners in batches of 100 daily, adding: "We hope this will eventually lead to a lasting peace that the people of Afghanistan so much desire and deserve." In February, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement aimed at ending the longest military action in U.S. history. The deal lays out a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in return for security commitments from the Taliban. It also stipulates that Kabul must free 5,000 Taliban prisoners, while the militants are to release 1,000 captives -- a move expected to lead to intra-Afghan negotiations. President Ashraf Ghani said the government was also ready to hold peace talks with the Taliban, seen as key to ending a nearly two-decade-long war. The latest release of Taliban prisoners brings to 1,100 the number of militants freed since early April, an official at the National Security Council told RFE/RL, while the militant group has freed 245 members of security forces, civil servants, and other people it had been holding. In an address to the nation marking Eid al-Fitr, Ghani announced he would "expedite the Taliban prisoner releases," while urging the group to press ahead with the release of Afghan security personnel it holds. A presidential spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, later on May 24 tweeted that Ghani initiated a process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture" in response to the Taliban's announcement of a cease-fire during Eid. Sediqqi added that the government "is extending the offer of peace and is taking further steps to ensure success of the peace process." However, Afghanistan's Human Rights Commission cautioned the government against releasing Taliban militants who committed war crimes. The U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalizad, described the cease-fire as "a momentous opportunity" to accelerate a stalled U.S.-Taliban peace process. "Other positive steps should immediately follow: the release of remaining prisoners as specified in the US-Taliban agreement by both sides, no returning to high levels of violence, and an agreement on a new date for the start of intra-Afghan negotiations," Khalizad wrote on Twitter. The prospect of direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban gained a boost on May 17 when Ghani and his political rival, Abdullah Abdullah, reached a power-sharing agreement nearly eight months after disputed elections that led to a parallel government and hampered efforts to broker a peace deal. The United States has about 12,000 troops in Afghanistan. Washington pays about $4 billion a year to maintain the Afghan military. Taliban militants control about half of Afghanistan's territory and have continued to carry out attacks since the deal was signed. Afghan intelligence service spokesman Javid Faisal said on May 23 that at least 146 civilians were killed and 430 wounded in Taliban attacks during Ramadan. With reporting by AFP and AP Broadway to close from today for several months A busy main road in Douglas will close from today for several months as part of the Douglas Prom Regneration scheme. Broadway in Douglas will be closed until 8th September to enable work to start on a new roundabout, complete service connections and crossing points. Pedestrian access to all properties and between the promenade and Broadway will be maintained at all times. A pedestrian route across Broadway outside the works will also be in place. Drivers should be aware that the suspension of parking within coned areas will be enforced and the 20mph speed limit remains in place along the full length of Douglas Promenade. [May 25, 2020] Notice Regarding Introduction of Restricted Stock Compensation TOKYO, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, the Company, TSE1: 3774) announced that IIJs Board of Directors decided to introduce a restricted stock compensation (the Scheme) to Directors (excluding Part-time and Outside Directors) and Executive Officers as a substitute for a part of cash compensation. A proposal regarding the Scheme is to be submitted to the 28th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled on June 24, 2020 (the Shareholders Meeting), as follows. Purpose of introduction of the Scheme, etc. (1) Purpose of introduction The purpose of the Scheme is to enhance the incentive of Directors (excluding Part-time and Outside Directors, Eligible Directors) of IIJ to work for continual enhancement of IIJs corporate value and to further promote shared value with shareholders. (2) Conditions for Introduction Since Eligible Directors are provided monetary compensation claims as their compensation for granting restricted stocks, the introduction is subject to approval of the Shareholders Meeting. The maximum aggregate amount of IIJs director compensation was approved at 500 million yen per year at the 16th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 27, 2008. In addition, within the maximum aggregate amount of IIJs director compensation, granting stock compensation-type stock option to Eligible Directors was approved at the 19th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 28, 2011. At the Shareholders Meeting, the company plans to seek our shareholders to approve to provide restricted stocks to Eligible Directors under the Scheme, within the maximum aggregate amount of IIJs director compensation. The Board of Directors, which will be held after the Shareholders Meeting, shall determine the specific payment timing and allocation. Overview of the Scheme Eligible Directors shall pay in the entire amount of monetary compensation claims paid to them under the Scheme as a cash investment asset, and will receive shares of common stock issued or disposed of by the Company. Moreover, issuance or disposal of shares of the Companys common stock under the Scheme (the Shares) shall be conditional upon a restricted stock allocation agreement concluded between the Company and each Eligible Director who intends to receive payment of the restricted stock compensation. The agreement shall contain the following provisions: 1) transfer, pledging as collateral, or any other disposition of the Shares to third parties is prohibited for the specified time period (the Transfer Restriction Period), and 2) the Company will acquire the Shares for free under certain conditions. In order to ensure that the Shares are not transferred, pledged as collateral, or otherwise disposed of during the Transfer Restriction Period, the Company intends to have the Shares managed by a specified securities firm, Nomura Securities Co., Ltd., during the Transfer Restriction Period in a dedicated account opened by each Eligible Director. (Reference Information) Subject to the shareholders approval of the Scheme at the Shareholders Meeting, the Company plans to introduce a restricted stock compensation, which shall be equivalent to the Scheme, for the Companys Executive Officers. About IIJ Founded in 1992, IIJ is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers. IIJ and its group companies provide total network solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. IIJ's services include high-quality Internet connectivity services, systems integration, cloud computing services, security services and mobile services. Moreover, IIJ has built one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan that is connected to the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia. IIJ listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006. For inquiries, contact: IIJ Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-5205-6500 E-mail: [email protected] URL: https://www.iij.ad.jp/en/ir [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] It is a landmark day for Offaly in the fight against Covid-19 as no new cases have been confirmed in the county for the first time since March. According to the latest county by county figures from the Health Surveillance Monitoring Unit which pertain to Saturday, there remains 478 confirmed cases in the county since the outbreak began. Offaly had seen a serious spike in recent week with almost 100 news cases confirmed over the course of two days on May 15 and 16. Over the last ten days however, the rate of increase has slowed culminating in now new cases being recorded. The number of confirmed cases in Westmeath also remained the same at 663 while in Longford the number of cases has increased by one to 281. Laois has the lowest number of cases in the Midlands at 256. The county has now gone four days without a newly confirmed case. Dublin remains the county with most confirmed cases at 11,876 with only three new cases being recorded over the 24 hour period covered by the figures. Kildare having the second highest of confirmed cases at 1,390. Letirm has the lowest number of cases at just 82 since the outbreak began. It is the only county yet to reach 100 confirmed cases and had no new confirmed cases day on day. No new deaths related to Covid-19 have been reported today to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre for the first time since early March. The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland remains at 1,606. The first death from Covid-19 in Ireland was reported on March 11. As of 11am Monday 25 May the HPSC has been notified of 59 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 24,698 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. In this May 14, 2020, file photo, Jerry A Mann, center, is held by his grandmother, Sylvia Rubio, as he is tested for COVID-19 by the San Antonio Fire Department at a free walk-up test site in San Antonio. Public health officials have said robust testing for the coronavirus is essential to safely lifting stay-at-home orders and business closures, but states are creating confusion in the way they are reporting the data. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) Elected officials, businesses and others are depending on coronavirus testing and infection-rate data as states reopen so that they will know if a second wave of contagion is comingand whether another round of stay-at-home orders or closings might be needed. But states are reporting those figures in different ways, and that can lead to frustration and confusion about what the numbers mean. In some places, there have been data gaps that leave local leaders wondering whether they should loosen or tighten restrictions. In others, officials are accused of spinning the numbers to make their states look better and justify reopening. In a continuing theme for the outbreak in the United States, a lack of federal leadership persists. Even the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been lumping together tests that measure different things. Such errors render the CDC numbers about how many Americans are infected "uninterpretable," creating a misleading picture for people trying to make decisions based on the data, said Ashish Jha, director of Harvard's Global Health Institute, "It is incumbent on health departments and the CDC to make sure they're presenting information that's accurate. And if they can't get it, then don't show the data at all," Jha said. "Faulty data is much, much worse than no data." Officials at the CDC and in multiple states have acknowledged that they combined the results of viral tests, which detect active cases of the virus essentially from the onset of infection, with antibody tests, which check for proteins that develop a week or more after infection and show whether a person has been exposed at some point in the past. Viral test results should be reported separately, public health experts say. That allows for tracking of how many people have confirmed active infections, the percentage of people testing positive and how those numbers change over timeall crucial for guiding public policy. In this May 20, 2020, file photo, Salt Lake County Health Department public health nurse Lee Cherie Booth performs a coronavirus test outside the Salt Lake County Health Department in Salt Lake City. Public health officials have said robust testing for the coronavirus is essential to safely lifting stay-at-home orders and business closures, but states are creating confusion in the way they are reporting the data. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) Mixing the results makes it difficult to understand how the virus is spreading. It can give the false impression that the rate of positive test results is declining. The CDC told The Associated Press on Friday that the problem started several weeks ago when the agency began collecting data from states using an electronic reporting system that had been developed for other diseases. At the time, nearly all lab results being reported were from live viral testing. But in the ensuing weeks, antibody tests expanded and CDC officials realized they had a growing number of those mixing in with the viral results, the CDC's Dr. Daniel Pollock said. Pollock said officials are working to separate the data, but it is a labor-intensive process that could take another week or two. He acknowledged the agency could have moved to fix the problem sooner. "Hindsight is 20/20," he said. AP found at least nine states are similarly mixing results or have done so at some point. They include Arizona, where Gov. Doug Ducey used a graph showing a declining rate of positive tests earlier this month when he announced that barbers, salons and restaurants could reopen. Ducey did not disclose during the televised news conference that the figures combined diagnostic and antibody tests. Positive results from diagnostic tests were declining, according to published state data, but adding the antibody tests made the decline look steeper. Some states combined results only briefly and say it was unintentional. Delaware said it has "shifted focus" from reporting antibody tests and toward viral tests as they have become more available following nationwide shortages. Maine, Texas, Vermont and Virginia say they have stopped lumping results together, and Georgia is working on a fix. In this May 20, 2020, file photo, Kansas National Guard members wait for cars during a lull in people seeking tests at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Dodge City, Kan. Public health officials have said robust testing for the coronavirus is essential to safely lifting stay-at-home orders and business closures, but states are creating confusion in the way they are reporting the data. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) But in Mississippi and Pennsylvania, the practice continues. In Georgia, antibody tests were about 14% of the total, while in Mississippi, officials said they were around 3%. It's not clear to what extent the practice is clouding the national picture. The CDC told AP it knew of nine states that submitted viral and antibody test data together, but the list included some states that say they report those numbers separately, including Alabama and Kansas. The CDC also gave the AP a list of 18 states it said had reported viral tests only, but that list included Pennsylvania, Virginia and Vermont, all of which have said they mixed the two kinds of tests together. Jennifer Nuzzo, at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said many of the problems at the state level could be due to the challenges of deploying a disease surveillance system amid the chaos of a pandemic. Health departments often lack current technology and rely on paper forms and other outdated systems. Maine officials say it's not possible to release total test numbers more than once a week because the data must be collected from multiple outside labs doing the tests. Rhode Island stopped updating certain data while it made the transition to a more sophisticated computer system. But the switch happened as the state was easing stay-home restrictions and had one of the highest 14-day rates of new infections per capita in the nation. In this May 13, 2020, file photo, test swabs and specimen tubes sit on a table at a COVID-19 testing site at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York. Public health officials have said robust testing for the coronavirus is essential to safely lifting stay-at-home orders and business closures, but states are creating confusion in the way they are reporting the data. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Some states have made it difficult to understand how cases and deaths are trending. Iowa previously posted new positive cases and deaths daily but stopped once the governor changed her focus to reopening the economy. Now the state's website lists rolling totals. Those who want to identify trends must do the math themselves. Kansas's governor used to open media briefings with daily reports on positive test results and deaths but stopped doing that in early May when she began a push to reopen. Meanwhile, health officials in Georgia, one of the first states to ease restrictions, published a graph showing dates out of chronological order, making a decline appear smoother than it actually was. The state health commissioner vowed to do better. Other states are not giving out information on how particular sectors of the community are being affected. In Nebraska, officials refuse to confirm how many cases are tied to specific meatpacking plants, sites that have been coronavirus hot spots in several states. Nuzzo said COVID-19 has become politicized, creating pressure for officials to make their states' data look good. "It may feel tempting to want to manipulate the numbers to look rosier than the situation really is," she said. "But that's a short-lived strategy. You can't hide dead bodies." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The chief executive of ASX-listed almond producer Select Harvests admits he is nervously watching the ongoing trade stoush between Australia and China but is determined to not be distracted by it. Select Harvests typically exports about 70 to 80 per cent of its crop, with about one-third of all its exports sent to China. Other key markets for the company include India, Europe and the Middle East. Almond producer Select Harvests' first half result was hit by a lower almond price and higher water costs. Credit: "We're fortunate that we've got more than just China as a market, although it represents a big part of our market. There's still other markets, the product's very saleable in other markets," CEO Paul Thompson told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. "We can't be distracted by what's going on with this. We supply our orders as they are," he told The Age and the Herald. Anti-government protester holds a flag supporting Hong Kong independence. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo China's foreign minister said that implementing anti-sedition laws in Hong Kong is now a "pressing obligation." This is a continuation of China's attempts to increase control over Hong Kong following mass protests in 2019. On Sunday, thousands of protesters faced tear gas and pepper spray from Hong Kong police. Critics worry that the new laws could hurt Hong Kong's independence and the city's position as a financial center. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. As protests continued in Hong Kong, China pledged to impose new national security laws on the city "without the slightest delay," reported Lily Kuo at The Guardian. The laws, which would target anti-government protests, have become a "pressing obligation," according to China foreign minister Wang Yi. On Sunday, thousands in Hong Kong broke social distancing guidelines in protests opposing China's attempts to take greater control over the autonomous city. Protesters chanted "Revolution of our time. Liberate Hong Kong," "Fight for freedom, Stand with Hong Kong," and "Hong Kong independence, the only way out," Reuters reported, as police fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray. "The decision targets a very narrow set of acts that seriously jeopardize national security," Wang said, denying that the law would be used against media and critics of the government. "It has no impact on Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents or the legitimate rights, interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong." A protester makes a gesture during a protest on June 12, 2019 in Hong Kong China. Large crowds of protesters gathered in central Hong Kong as the city braced for another mass rally in a show of strength against the government over a divisive plan to allow extraditions to China. Anthony Kwan/Getty Images The laws were first proposed last Thursday at China's landmark "Two Sessions" legislative event, where the Communist Party sets out its program for the year ahead. They came in response to mass protests involving millions over several months in favor of Hong Kong's autonomy in 2019. White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said this move could lead to US sanctions, according to the Guardian. He also said that the laws could make Hong Kong less attractive as a business hub in the region. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo similarly condemned the new laws as a "death knell" for the city's autonomy last week. Read the original article on Business Insider Santosh Shaw doesnt make even Rs 50 a day these days pedalling his cycle rickshaw through a warren of lanes on the eastern fringes of Kolkata during the lockdown but will not accept Rs 100 for no work. Life was never easy for the 45-year-old native of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. The continued lockdown and cyclone that battered West Bengal last Wednesday only made it harder. But his unmistakable pride of labour is evident whenever he pedals his machine to reach customers to their destination, his sinewy calves eager to bulge out of his skin, as he navigates the lanes of Kamarhati-Agarpara-Belgharia area with speed that defies his conspicuously frail frame. Shah, who lives in a shanty in Naya Bustee area of Agarpara with his wife and 12-year-old son, is a worried man as cyclone Amphan has blown off the asbestos roof over his home. "For the last four days a plastic sheet and bamboo scaffolding have made up for the lost roof. But for how long? What will happen if there is another toofan (storm)? First the lockdown and then this. Life wasnt so bad even three months back," he told this PTI correspondent, still managing a faint smile. This correspondent has seen Santosh for years but never cared to ask him his name. It was a nodding acquaintance as some say. With the lockdown came time aplenty and we chatted. "Dada, these are very, very difficult times. Before the lockdown we could manage in our humble ways, earning Rs 300-400 even Rs 500 on a good day. I could earn an extra buck during rain, helping people like you. But things have changed during the lockdown. I was once hit with a baton by a policeman. Guards at residential complexes chase me away. I dont have fever. Poor people dont even catch fever...they die of hunger, he said, turning away his face in one swift motion and clumsily wiping his face with his callused right hand, perhaps trying to stop tears from rolling down his sunken cheeks. Police high-handedness has eased a bit over the past fortnight, he said, and suddenly slid his hand down the pocket of the shorts he wore and turned it inside out. Three Rs 10 coins and a few smaller changes were all it contained. This is what the toofan has done to me, he said, clutching the coins, his fingers trembling. But he rebuffed all attempts by this reporter to give him money. I am not a beggar. You tell me if I have to take you anywhere.... Shyambazar, Barrackpore, Sodpur wherever you ask me, and then pay me my due," said Santosh, pushing back this correspondents hand holding a Rs 100 note. I dont want it, he said resolutely. Santosh, who lives next to his two brothers and their families, claimed they have not received even "an ounce" of the promised 5 kg quota of rice and daal from the government in the past two months. "About a month back I got 10 kg of rice, potato and soap from some people (NGO) at Belgharia-Rathtala. My wife would cook meals and we ate well for some days. Now I buy groceries only on days when I earn Rs Rs 200 which is quite rare, he said and asked wistfully, Will things never be the same dada?" "My son used to study at Kathalbagan Free Primary School in class four. But the school is closed due to lockdown. I am not sure if he can resume studies again, he said. When asked why doesnt he seek a job in jute mills that have opened, he said plying rickshaw is the only trade he has known. Come rain or sunshine, medical emergencies or festivals, this is what I do. On whether the thought of returning home to Gorakhpur crossed his mind given the hardships he was facing in Kolkata, he fell silent briefly then said he never wanted that. "We have been born and brought up here. I speak Bengali as fluently as I speak Hindi and even broken Urdu. We talk in both Hindi and Bengali at home. I used to consider Kolkata my home. I can do menial jobs but returning to my village will mean I have to learn farming, he said. He, however, said he was not too sure whether he will continue to live in Kolkata or go back. The city of joy was where Santosh Shaw had hoped he will live and die. But sucked into a vortex of despair, for the man who navigated the chaotic lanes of Kolkata with consummate ease, finding the right way out is proving tough. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A.R. Gomda 25.05.2020 LISTEN The long-serving News Editor with the Daily Guide Newspaper, A.R. Gomda has apologised to the Head of the Darul-Hadith Institute for Islamic Studies, Sheikh Anas Taufic Bakri, for accusing him of engaging in youth radicalisation and incitement in a publication dated May 20. It is however surprising that the News Editor with his craft in the field, will surrender his 'guns' so soon by apologising to this particular 'error-ridden' story, an artistry he mastered at the pro-NPP newspaper. Mr. Gomda in Monday's May 25 edition of the newspaper expressed regret for associating the families of the late Sheikh Taufic Bakri, the Ahlussuna and Shia community with terrorism by describing the publication as an error" and "unintended". "I hereby express an unqualified apology to the families of the late Shiekh Taufic of Kumasi, who is the father of Sheikh Anas Taufic Bakri, Head of the Darul-Hadith Institute for Islamic Studies in Kumasi, whose name was mentioned in a story I penned last week. "The deceased, his son and others unintended association with terrorism as the story portrayed, was an error for which I personally take blame for," he said. He therefore urged the general public to disregard the said publication. The statement also read, "here is therefore to express regret for the associated inconveniences suffered indirectly by the Shia and Ahlussunna leaderships and to ask that the untoward references be disregarded." Find below his apology: I hereby express an unqualified apology to the families of the late Sheikh Taufic of Kumasi, who is the father of Sheikh Anas Taufic Bakri, Head of the Darul Hadith Institute of Islamic Studies in Kumasi, whose name was mentioned in a story I penned last week. The deceased, his son and others unintended association with terrorism as the story portrayed, was an error for which I personally take blame for. Here is therefore to express regret for the associated inconveniences suffered indirectly by the Shia and Ahlunsunna leaderships and to ask that the untoward references be disregarded. A.R. Gomda Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit could take to the skies as soon as 6pm tonight after first historic launch was delayed due to a sensor failure. The LauncherOne rocket is expected to ignite its engines between 6pm and 10pm GMT (10am to 2pm Pacific Time), Virgin Orbit said in a statement. Yesterday's launch at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California had to be cancelled as teams scrambled to empty the fuel canisters due to a faulty sensor. It is hoped the rocket, which will be carried into the sky attached to the wing of a Boeing 747 before being released, could one day be used to launch small satellites into space. LauncherOne is scheduled to take to the skies from Mojave Air and Space Port in California between 6pm and 10pm tonight, Virgin Orbit said Yesterday's launch had to be called off due to a faulty sensor. Pictured are teams working to resolve the issue Teams working to resolve the launch issue yesterday (pictured). Virgin Orbit announced the new take off time on its Twitter account just after midnight UK time Virgin Orbit said just after midnight UK time: 'Our team has worked diligently to resolve the sensor issue and recycle the system. 'We're now back in the countdown, and are currently targeting another launch attempt tomorrow, with our window again open from 10 AM to 2 PM Pacific (5pm to 9pm UTC).' They tweeted photos of teams working to remove fuel at the airfield, and the LaunchOne rocket still firmly attached to the aeroplane's wing. Announcing the delay yesterday, they said: 'Everything has been proceeding smoothly: team, aircraft, & rocket are in excellent shape. However, we have one sensor that is acting up. 'Out of an abundance of caution, we are offloading fuel to address.' The Virgin Orbit team tweeted that they had to delay the launch due to a sensor yesterday The plan was for the company's modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft to release LauncherOne (pictured) from under its wings in mid-air before the rocket ignites its own engines 'This means we are scrubbed for today. Currently, it appears we've got a straightforward path to address this minor sensor issue and recycle quickly. 'The crew are already hard at work putting that plan into action. We'll provide an update on the new launch target later today.' A successful launch will mark the vehicle's first test flight before and bring it a step closer to commercial operations. LauncherOne will need to reach an altitude of at least 50 miles in order to be succecssful, Virgin Orbit's vice-president of special projects Will Pomerantz said on Saturday that, although he was aware that 'about half' of an aerospace company's first full flights fail, he was confident in the work that the team behind the project had done to get to this moment. If LauncherOne had reached an altitude of 50 miles it would be the first time this system has successfully launched something into space. Pictured: Virgin's Richard Branson in 2019 Mr Pomerantz said: 'You essentially get to a point where you have looked under every rock and verify that there's nothing more for you to do to verify that the system is ready.' 'That's what we have done. 'We've gone through an enormous amount of tests, we've essentially done everything that we can think of that we should do, including fill the rocket up with cryogenics and fuel and pressure and fly it out to the drop.' Walking With Elephants Rating: Britains Greatest Comedy Character Rating: Any walk with adventurer Levison Wood is exhausting, and not only because the former paratrooper routinely hikes across whole continents. Hes so relentlessly macho, even watching him take the dog to the park would leave you drained. Striding across the bristling swamp-grass of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, in Walking With Elephants (C4), he insisted on taking his boots off, going barefoot. Walking With Elephant's Levison Wood (left) is so macho that watching him take his dog to the park would leave you drained His guide Kane Motswana, a San bushman raised on the African plains, followed suit but politely suggested this was pointless and foolhardy. Levison marched on, until Kane was forced to admit that his now-Western lifestyle was making him soft. Too much beer! Levison taunted. Kane admitted it, and was allowed to put his shoes back on. A few miles later, the explorer waded across a river, nonchalantly telling his camera crew to watch out for hippos. The hippos were watching them . . . and so were the 15ft basking crocodiles. Still alive, crowed Levison, as he emerged on the other bank. Kane just grunted agreement, though the look he gave his boss suggested hed prefer to be taking a party of wealthy Yanks on safari. But when Levison was woken from his tent at dawn by the grunts of three lions on the hunt, the bushman showed why no amount of manly swagger is a match for a lifetime in Africas wilderness. The lions had brought down a buffalo and were tearing strips off its hide . . . even though their dinner wasnt dead. Levison turned green, and then chalk-white when Kane beckoned him forward. Want some buffalo meat? asked the guide, as the lions reluctantly retreated at the sight of humans. Despite skipping breakfast, Levison didnt seem hungry. Grinning with his own brand of macho mischief, Kane explained that he was just a baby in a sling on his mothers back, the first time he saw her stealing meat from lions. Now thats real bravado. When the boys werent showing off, the shots of this untouched habitat were glorious not only the plentiful wildlife, but the shimmering delta waters and the liquid bronze of the sunsets. Its good to know there are still places like that in the world. The walking pace dropped to a ponderous plod as a committee of actors, writers and stand-ups debated the merits of Del Boy over Basil Fawlty, for three hours on Britains Greatest Comedy Character (Gold). Chairperson Sally Phillips, best-known as Miranda Harts sidekick, set the tone at the start when she bemoaned the fact that most of the candidates were male and white as if what every sitcom needs to make it funny is a lot more political correctness. Sally Phillips began Britain's Greatest Comedy Character on Gold with a political correctness comment - which is what every sitcom needs right now Its a good job that old bigot Alf Garnett wasnt in the running, or Sally might have felt a right silly moo. There were other unforgivable omissions: Mr Humphries (John Inman) from Are You Being Served? or Ma Boswell (Jean Boht) from Carla Lanes Bread. Allo Allos Rene (Gorden Kaye) deserved a place and so did Windsor Davies from It Aint Half Hot Mum. All four of those were brilliant characters in sitcoms that topped the ratings every one of them more popular, Id wager, than the winner of the poll, Steve Coogans TV presenter Alan Partridge. But Partridge appeals to people in the telly bubble. If you think Im being unfair, you should have seen the superior sneers on the faces of the committee members when they discussed Mammy (Brendan OCarroll) from ugh! how common Mrs Browns Boys, currently the Beebs most popular comedy. Caught between the Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdown and the devastation left behind by cyclone Amphan, the environmental refugees from Bengals vanishing island of Ghoramara now face an uncertain future. While 50-year-old Sheikh Abdul Rauf returned home in Ghoramara a day after the Janata Curfew in March, his four sons in their late 20s and early 30s - managed to return from Kerala a day later on March 24. All of them had left the island at some point of time in search of a livelihood. But now they have all come back because of the fear of the pandemic and the lockdown. But see our fate. We were forced to leave the island in search of work after losing all our farmlands due to the erosion caused by rivers. Then the virus forced us to come back. Now the cyclone has again evicted us. Where are we supposed to go now? said Rauf, while standing outside his hut badly damaged by the cyclone. Also read: Cyclone Amphan wreaks havoc on IIM Calcutta campus Located at the southern tip of Bengal, at the mouth of the sea, the island has been reduced to 4.8 square kilometre (sq km) as compared to more than 9 sq km in the 1970s due to severe erosion by three rivers. Hundreds of people like Rauf have left the island for other states in search of job. Rauf works as a tailor in Kolkatas Kidderpore area. From a total of around 7,000 people around a decade ago, the population has been reduced to 5,000. While many have gone to other states in search of work, around 1,200 have left the island permanently and have settled elsewhere like Sagar Island, which is much bigger. But because of the fear of the pandemic and the lockdown, at least 200 250 people, of the 500-odd people who had gone to other states for work, have come back, said Sanjib Sagar, panchayat pradhan of Ghoramara. The panchayat has only five members and is the smallest in West Bengal. Every time the rivers erode a portion of the island, some villager loses his house and is pushed further inland to rebuild his house. Some have been forced to rebuild their houses six times and have no farmland left, last time they had to purchase land from other villagers. I returned home after a woman in the locality where I used to stay in Kerala tested positive for Covid-19. There were 20 of us from various villages on the Ghoramara island. We all returned together just before the lockdown. But now we have been evicted again. We cant even go back to Kerala as the disease is spreading. Back home we have lost everything because of the cyclone, said Chandan Chowdhury whose family had to rebuild the house at least five times. Chowdhury and his family, along with a few hundred other villagers, had to be evacuated just before the storm. Some returned to the island on Sunday to restart life. Ghoramara, once comprised three Mouzas (a type of administrative district) of which two, including Lohachura, have eroded completely. It once boasted of a three-storey post office, one of the largest post offices in the state. But even that has been washed away by the erosion. The island is vanishing primarily because of river erosion. Many argue that it is the rising sea level. Had it been for the rising sea, many other islands in the area, like Nayachar, would have vanished. But whatever reason it may be, these environment refugees now face an uncertain future, said Tuhin Ghosh, director of School of Oceanographic Studies at Jadavpur University. By Trend The Georgian government has brought back a total of 12,477 citizens from different coronavirus-hit areas in the world since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani pointed out that the prime ministers interagency coordination council has spared no efforts to bring back all fellow citizens who wanted to return to Georgia. As of May 23, some 74 charter flight have been carried out bringing 483 individuals with chronic diseases, 34 people with disabilities, 102 pregnant women, 435 minors, 259 elderly people, 794 students, 173 cancer patients. On March 21, Georgia completely shut down air traffic in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. However, charter flights were carried out by Georgian Airways to evacuate Georgian citizens from abroad. Georgia is planning to resume domestic tourism starting June 15 and receive international tourists starting July 1. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz All court proceedings were suspended in mid-March when Spain declared a state of emergency. They have slowly restarted this month, but lawyers are skeptical that enough has been done. If you ask me how I see the legal landscape, it will be chaotic, said Rosalia Sicilia, a labor lawyer. Spaniards are known for taking their disagreements to court, spurred in part by a 2008 Supreme Court ruling that allowed lawyers to collect contingency fees. In proportion to population, the country had twice as many civil court cases as Germany and Britain, and significantly more than France and Italy, according to a 2016 study by Juan S. MoraSanguinetti, a senior economist at the Bank of Spain. Criminal cases have also lagged in Spain, at times exceeding legal limits and allowing defendants to go free. Criminal cases are not expected to rise after the pandemic they may even ebb as Spaniards ease out of the lockdown but if courtrooms are flooded with civil cases it will affect the criminal justice system as well. The pandemic has disrupted court operations everywhere, but some countries, like Britain, have kept up a significant level of activity online. In the United States, the Supreme Court is hearing arguments by telephone over six days this month, for the first time allowing live remote access to audio of the arguments. In northeast Delhi, Eid this year is a celebration of a long-time friendship that even stood the test of communal riots for some, while for many, it is shorn of any festivities. Exactly three months ago, when riots broke out in northeast Delhi's Old Mustafabad, Mahesh Gupta and Mohammad Ilyas, who have known each other for nearly 10 years, were in Gupta's shop. "The riots have not damaged our friendship. We still share the same bond, love and happiness. We stood together when the riots broke out and we are still together as a family as we fight the coronavirus pandemic. "This Eid is not about new clothes or biryani. It is to reinforce our faith in humanity and live in harmony just like the old times," Ilyas, who owns a footwear shop a few shops away from Gupta's snacks shop, said. He recalled how he guarded his father's close friend, "Banwariya uncle", when around 25 outsiders tried to vandalise his medical shop on February 24 just because he was a Hindu. Gupta said business has been severely affected. "Since the violence, there was an atmosphere of fear, but with the security forces in place, things were slowly limping back to normal. But within days came this lockdown", he said. Most of the revenue came from the migrant labourers who worked in the area. "Owing to the lockdown, most of them have left. I hardly have customers these days. My shop was mostly frequented by the labourers. Even after the lockdown, things are not going to change significantly," Gupta said. Entering Bhajanpura, one could see torched vehicles on the streets, while several gutted and damaged houses brought back glimpses of the horror that rocked northeast Delhi for nearly 48 hours in February. While most of the shops in Bhajanpura, Old Mustafabad and Shiv Vihar were closed due to the lockdown, there were also those that were completely damaged or burnt during the riots. These shops will first need to be repaired post the lockdown. Like many others in northeast Delhi, this Eid is not about biryani, sewaiya or kheer for Mohammad Furkan and his family. It is only going to be a simple vegetarian meal with the family members. Furkan, along with four brothers, has been running a sweet shop in Old Mustafabad for nearly 20 years. Usually, they are so overburdened that they end up doing six months' work to meet the demands of customers during the holy month of Ramzan, he said. Furkan opened his shop for the first time after nearly three months on Eid with the hope of making some money. Making kachori, he recalled how last year, the shop was flooded with customers and how he had to employ extra labourers to meet the demands. "Look at it now, do you see any customers around? We used to open the shop at 7 am and till 9 pm, we had customers coming in for sweets and the special delicacies on Eid. This year, due to the riots and then the lockdown, shops were closed and we have hardly earned anything in the last three months. How do we celebrate Eid when we hardly have money to purchase essentials? So I decided to re-open our shop and make only kachori since it also requires some initial investment," Fukran said. A few metres away, Sajid, who owns a biryani shop, is now selling it from a cart along with his younger brother Salman. A plate of biryani is for Rs 60 and Sajid and Salman have had hardly four-five customers since morning. "Usually on Eid, I open the shop at 7 am and there is such a high demand for the biryani that we run out of stock by noon," Sajid said. Children in the area looked disappointed with no festive fervour around. One of them, Irshan Khan, complained about wearing old clothes on Eid as "abba" could not buy new ones due to the shops being closed. He was also disappointed that he could not visit his close friends on Eid. A Wales man was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon in Whitingham, Vermont. Jay Hathaway, 61, was taken to the Albany Medical Center by ambulance after suffering head injuries and other serious injuries after the 2 p.m. crash, Vermont State Police said. He was riding his 2005 Triumph Speedmaster motorcycle on Route 100 when he lost control of his motorcycle and was thrown from the bike. He was wearing a helmet approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, police said. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, police said. Speed, alcohol and/or drugs do not appear to be a factor at this time, police said. Whitingham is located on the Massachusetts border north of Rowe. Police were assisted at the scene of the crash by the Wilmington Police Department, Bennington County Sheriffs Department, Whitingham Fire and Rescue and Deerfield Valley Rescue. Vermont State Police continue to investigate the crash. Anyone who has any information about it is asked to call police at the Westminster barracks at 802-722-4600. An Iranian tanker carrying fuel has reached port in Venezuela amid escalating tensions between Washington and the two U.S.-sanctioned countries. Iran's English-language Press TV reported on May 25 that the vessel, the first of five Iran has sent to the South American country, moored at El Palito, a Venezuelan port run by state oil company PDVSA. The ship-tracking service MarineTraffic also confirmed the arrival of the tanker. "The Iranian oil/chem Handymax tanker, FORTUNE, which loaded 43 million liters of gasoline during mid-March at Port Shahid Rajaee, Iran, has now moored at berth 2 at the refinery of El Palito, Venezuela, situated [200 kilometers] west of capital city, Caracas," tweeted TankerTrackers.com. A second vessel, the Forest, entered the Caribbean Sea on May 23. The three other tankers are currently in the Atlantic en route to the same destination. The five vessels have encountered no immediate signs of U.S. interference after Washington said earlier in May it was considering "measures" to take in response to the shipments, prompting warnings from Iran against U.S. action. Venezuelan media on May 24 showed a navy ship and helicopter escorting the Fortune into Venezuela's territorial waters as officials celebrated its arrival. Socialist President Nicolas Maduro praised solidarity and cooperation between his country and Iran, accusing the United States of imposing its will by force. "Venezuela and Iran want peace and have the right to freely trade in the world's seas and exchange products," Maduro said on state television. The five Iranian tankers are estimated to be carrying at least 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and chemical additives worth $45.5 million to help Venezuela relieve a gas shortage, one symptom of economic and political chaos in Latin America's onetime largest oil producer. Unilateral U.S. sanctions have targeted Iran and Venezuela's oil industry and other sectors, depriving Tehran of much-needed cash and adding pressure on Venezuela's badly managed economy. "This is a sad reminder of Maduro's hopeless mismanagement," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. "Venezuelans need free and fair presidential elections leading to democracy and economic recovery, not Maduro's expensive deals with another pariah state." The tensions over the tankers comes after the U.S. Navy in April accused Iran of harassing its ships in the Persian Gulf, the latest in a series of escalations between the two countries in the region since Washington in 2018 withdrew from a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. The United States also recently deployed ships, including U.S. Navy destroyers and other combat ships, to patrol the Caribbean on what U.S. officials call a counternarcotics mission. Maduro views the U.S. mission as a military threat. Maduro, Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami, and other Venezuelan officials have been named by the United States as narco-traffickers. With reporting by AP, dpa, and Reuters Advertisement The South East Governors Forum has expressed dismay that the Inspector General of Police allegedly reneged on its agreements on practice and composition for establishment of community policing in the zone. The Chairman of the forum and Ebonyi Governor, Chief David Umahi made the disclosure at the end of its meeting in Enugu on Sunday. The chairman said that the recent communication from the IG, Mr Mohammed Adamu, did not conform with the initial agreement reached with him during his visit to the Zone. The South East Governors and their leaders request the IGP to revert to our initial agreement reached on Community Policing at Enugu. Advertisement The forum agrees that all South East States House of Assembly should commence the process of enacting the state security laws in line with the South East Joint Security Programme. In the circumstance, we cannot begin implementation of it until the programme reflects our earlier agreement, he said. On COVID-19, the governors urged Igbos nationwide to stay safe and obey all directives to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). According to him, the forum have directed all Igbos living outside Igbo land to obey all existing COVID-19 orders, Presidential directive on inter-state movement, World Health Organisation (WHO). He said they should obey the Nigeria Centre of Disease and Control (NCDC) hygiene protocols, presidential Task Force and directives of South East Governors and directives of all Governors where they live. The governor said that the forum agreed to further engage the NCDC to scale up testing of Coronavirus in South East States. The governors commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Works and the Governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano on the extent of work at the second Niger Bridge, he said. On the economy, Umahi said the forum agreed to set up committees at the various states to work with Federal Government, World Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) on repositioning the economy in the zone. He said they would work in their various programmes lined up to rejig the economy, especially in areas of Agriculture, Small and Medium Enterprises and solid minerals. The Chairman said it agreed also to hold a virtual meeting with the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the issue of linking South East State capitals with pipeline. This, he said, should be done along with the pipeline programme of the Federal Government running from Imo to Lagos State. Umahi disclosed that the forum agreed that Ohaneze should submit a working document in their next meeting on setting up of South East Stabilization Fund. The forum also commended President, Minister of Aviation, the Governor of Enugu State and other governors of South East and the Committee headed by Mr Chris Okoye on the extent of work at Akanu Ibiam International Airport. We assure our people that with the progress of work at the site, we are hopeful that the Airport will reopen soonest subject to COVID-19 Federal Government Programme, Umahi said. The governor he said that the next Executive Committee meeting of the South East Traditional Institution shall be hosted by Ebonyi State. NAN reports that Governors of Imo, Hope Uzodinma and Enugu State attended the meeting while Gov Okezie Ikpeazu Abia was represented by his deputy, Mr Ude Oko-Chukwu and Anambra State governor, represented by his deputy, Mr Nkem Okeke. Other notable personalities at the meeting were Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, Oh Anezi President General, Nnia Nwodo and some traditional and religious leaders. Big crowds turned out for the Memorial Day weekend in the US amid warnings from authorities about people disregarding the coronavirus social-distancing rules and risking a resurgence of the scourge that has killed nearly 100,000 Americans. On the Navajo Nation, which sprawls across the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, the number of virus cases rose by 56 on Sunday to 4,689, according to the local health department. Meanwhile, the White House broadened its travel ban against countries hit hard by the virus, saying it would deny admission to foreigners who have recently been in Brazil. Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said she was very concerned about scenes of people crowding together over the weekend. We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you cant social distance and youre outside, you must wear a mask, Birx said on ABCs This Week. In Missouri, people packed bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks, a vacation spot popular with Chicagoans. On Georgias Tybee Island, the beach was filled with families, but at a nearby grocery store, staff members handed customers gloves and a number to keep track of how many people were inside. In California, beaches and parks were open for swimming, running and other activities. Boaters and paddle boarders use a harbor in Newport Beach, California, yesterday. Pic: AP At New Yorks Orchard Beach in the Bronx, kids played with toys, and people sat in folding chairs. Some wore winter coats on a cool and breezy day, and many wore masks and sat apart from others. Good to be outside. Fresh air. Just good to enjoy the outdoors, said Danovan Clacken, whose face was covered. The US is on track to surpass 100,000 coronavirus deaths in the next few days, while Europe has seen over 169,000 dead, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University that almost certainly understates the toll. Worldwide, more than 5.4 million people have been infected and nearly 345,000 have died. The issue of wearing masks in public and staying several feet apart has become fraught politically, with some Americans arguing that such rules violate their rights. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio, who has been targeted by such demonstrations, insisted the precautions should not be a partisan issue. Sara Stewart, foreground, reads a book while away from crowds visiting Baker Beach during the coronavirus outbreak in San Francisco yesterday. Pic: AP This is not about whether you are liberal or conservative, left or right, Republican or Democrat, he said on NBCs Meet the Press. The Trump administration said Sunday that it would ban foreign nationals who have been in Brazil 14 days or less before planning to enter the United States. The ban does not apply to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents or some of their relatives. Brazil is second only to the U.S. in reported coronavirus cases. AVON LAKE, Ohio -- Reopening of businesses is happening all over now. When visiting local businesses, be prepared for changes within all of your favorite stores or restaurants. Parkers Grille and Tavern reopened on May 19, after a lot of planning and attention to detail to stay within the governors and CDC guidelines. Owner James Mowbray compared his new layout with what went before. We used to have 130 seats in the dining room and lounge combined, he said. Now, they will have 44 in the dining room -- which is about 50 percent capacity -- and the tables are six to seven feet apart, measured from the backs of the chairs. To make room for social distancing, Mowbray said they have set up half of the banquet space in the dining room for another 34 seats. It is nice, he said. We are starting with no seats at the bar and only 18 seats in the lounge area. And no happy hour. Our banquet facilities usually fit up to 135 people, Mowbray said. We had banquets on the books, but we have no direction right now from the governor. Regarding disinfecting, Mowbray noted, The team has scrubbed and disinfected our restaurant from top to bottom, including our outdoor furniture and serving areas. He commented on the unusual nature of the business now compared to what it was just a short time ago. Its tough for us not be social in this social business," he said. But he noted that they have kept up on social media and have had regular customers calling, especially excited about the patio reopening. Mowbray said the entire staff is coming back. Everyone is coming back, or at least 95 percent, he said. The popular menu is not changing, either. It will be the regular menu, he said. One hundred percent of our regular menu, but we will hold off on daily specials for the time being, until we get back to a more normal time. The American bistro-style restaurants menu is described as Classic American Fare: Hand-cut steaks, burgers, salads and fish. A surprise to Mowbray during the lockdown time has been the increase in the cost of food for the restaurant. We are seeing some pretty big increases in food prices, he said. We dont want to raise prices. We just want to hold steady. But item by item, Mowbray said, some food prices have gone up by 20 to 50 percent. Suppliers have told him, though, that the prices should come back down in about four to six weeks. Hours are shortened somewhat for now. We shortened hours by one on the back end, so we are 4 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 4 to 10 p.m. on weekends," he said. Mowbray said he will be happy to see his regular customers again and to welcome new ones. We are welcoming back loyal people, he said. We want to thank everybody for their support with carryout and delivery and, moving forward, we just look forward to opening the doors up to our family and friends to have them back in our house here. Parkers Grille and Tavern is located at 32858 Walker Road in Avon Lake, at the corner of Ohio 83 and Walker Road. Reservations are encouraged by calling 440-933-9400. Servers will be wearing face masks. We urge you to wear a face covering as you arrive and depart, as well as to complete a self-health assessment before you arrive," Mowbray said. "If your temperature is above 100 degrees, or if you are coughing, sneezing or have difficulty breathing, please delay your visit. For additional information, visit https://www.parkersgrilleandtavern.com/. Read more from the Sun Sentinel. As Afghans enjoy a brief respite from violence during a rare cease-fire during the Muslim holy festival of Eid al-Fitr, government officials, Taliban, and international diplomats reflect on the human and material toll this impoverished country is enduring because of fighting. Reports from around Afghanistan indicated that the three-day cease-fire that began on May 24 is holding across the country. The cessation of hostilities has raised hopes and prompted appeals that Kabul and the Taliban should extend the cease-fire in an effort to end a 42-year-old war that now only harms Afghans. I expect both leaders of the Afghan government and the Taliban not to escalate violence after Eid, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a May 24 statement. This violence is counterproductive, deepens grievances, and prolongs the suffering of the Afghan people. In Afghanistan, the warring sides admit that the cease-fire is helping save hundreds of lives and millions of dollars in material damages and war costs daily. There is no doubt that fighting causes material and human losses to all sides, Fawad Aman, a spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry told Radio Free Afghanistan. The Afghan forces too frequently endure such losses. Afghan lawmakers estimate that on average the fighting is claiming more than 100 lives and upward of $13 million in costs daily. On average we see more than 100 people killed daily, which includes between 20 to 30 civilians, lawmaker Mir Afzal Haidari, a member of the parliaments defense committee, told Radio Free Afghanistan. The annual cost of the war in Afghanistan is more than $5 billion annually, which means that we end up spending at least 13 million every day. The Afghan government frequently boasts about killing dozens or even hundreds of militants fighting for the Taliban, Islamic State, and other smaller hard-line Islamist groups. They, however, also confirm the reports of losses and deaths to Afghan forces and civilians. The Taliban, on the other hand, also offer detailed claims of killing and capturing Afghan Army, police, and intelligence forces. Afghan civilians are frequently caught in the crossfire and also targeted in terrorist attacks by militants or air strikes by government forces. Zabihullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesperson, told Radio Free Afghanistan that their losses are at least 30 percent lower than those of the government forces. He says that on average between three to seven Taliban fighters are killed daily. Currently tens of thousands of Taliban fighters are battling more than 300,000 Afghan security forces. After the February 29 peace agreement between the Taliban and the United States, the insurgents have already ceased attacks on foreign forces, which means that all civilian and combatant deaths in the country are Afghan. According to a New York Times tally of the casualty figures that the newspaper had confirmed, at least 256 government forces and 140 civilians were killed across Afghanistan during the first three weeks of this month. In a May 19 statement, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) noted an escalating trend of civilian casualties in Afghanistan last month. The Taliban were responsible for 208 civilian casualties in April, an increase of 25 per cent in comparison to April 2019 and at similar levels as March 2020, UNAMA said citing preliminary findings. Civilian casualties attributed to the ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces] for April 2020 numbered 172 civilians, an increase of 38 per cent compared to April 2019 and 37 per cent higher than March 2020. UNAMA says that the overall number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan is well beyond 100,000 during the decade after the organization began documenting civilian casualties in 2009. "Almost no civilian in Afghanistan has escaped being personally affected in some way by the ongoing violence," Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN secretary-generals former special representative for Afghanistan, said in February. "It is absolutely imperative for all parties to seize the moment to stop the fighting, as peace is long overdue. Civilian lives must be protected and efforts for peace are under way." Afghans have paid a very high price during the past 42 years after the war in Afghanistan began with a bloody communist coup in April 1978. More than 1 million Afghans have been killed and injured during the various phases of war while more than 10 million have been forced out of their homeland. Remdesivir, the antiviral drug made by Foster Citys Gilead Sciences that has recently shown promise in treating COVID-19 patients, will likely not turn the tide of the coronavirus pandemic on its own. Doctors in the Bay Area know that, which is why theyre studying a host of other potential treatments that could be used to alleviate the worst symptoms of COVID-19 or keep people out of the hospital entirely. And the scope of the local research seems to be broadening. The regional efforts raise the possibility that a major advancement in coronavirus treatments could come from the Bay Area, a research powerhouse that has produced drug breakthroughs before. But they have many competitors, as more than 220 treatments for the virus are in consideration worldwide, according to the Milken Institute. Like remdesivir, many of the drugs were originally designed for another purpose and are being re-evaluated for use against the novel coronavirus. But at least one local company is investigating the possibility of a brand-new drug made specifically for coronavirus infections. Some potential treatments might be used in tandem with remdesivir. Others could, if shown to be effective, help prevent COVID-19 patients from ever needing the Gilead drug. Remdesivir is not a silver bullet, said Lloyd Minor, dean of Stanford Universitys School of Medicine. Its not the type of drug that you give it to someone and theyre instantly cured of this virus. But its an important first step, and now there will likely be other trials that use remdesivir and add another drug to the treatment regimen. Early results released a few weeks ago from a federally sponsored clinical trial of remdesivir indicated that the drug helped reduce the amount of time it took for COVID-19 patients to leave the hospital. The data was peer reviewed and published on Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal governments leading infectious-disease expert, said when discussing the preliminary data in late April that the trial results were quite good news and a very important proof of concept. Now the federal government is sponsoring another clinical trial that will pair remdesivir with an anti-inflammatory drug called baricitinib. That drug, which is licensed to the Indiana pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co., is an approved treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Gilead spokesman Chris Riley said in an email that the company is monitoring emerging data on other drugs being explored to treat COVID-19. He noted the federal trial involving remdesivir and baricitinib, and said Gilead researchers are also evaluating the future potential to make inhaled or oral forms of remdesivir, which patients currently receive intravenously. Addressing COVID-19 is going to take the collective efforts of many organizations across the private and public sectors, Riley said in the email. Gilead and many of our peers in the biopharmaceutical industry are working around the clock to develop treatments, vaccines and diagnostics for COVID-19 and we will need a combination of these elements to help stop the spread of this virus. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Additionally, the Washington state drug company CytoDyn wants federal officials to authorize a coronavirus clinical trial that would compare its experimental HIV drug leronlimab to remdesivir and test how the two treatments work together. Leronlimab is a lab-made antibody that its maker hopes will fight COVID-19 in part by targeting the intense immune system response that triggers severe symptoms for many patients. CytoDyns chief medical officer and a company doing diagnostic testing for the drug maker are both based in the Bay Area. Dr. Bruce Patterson, CEO of IncellDx, the diagnostic company partnering with CytoDyn, said initial results from COVID-19 patients that received leronlimab have been encouraging. Clinical trials of the drug are ongoing. COVID-19 is clearly two different diseases, Patterson said. In the early stages, its virologic the virus is replicating. Its building up a significant viral load. Then there is an immunologic switch that says all of a sudden this is an immunologic disease. Research that Patterson helped lead indicates that patients infected by the coronavirus may have high levels of a certain signaling protein that is blocked by leronlimab. The research is still being peer reviewed. Stanford doctors are investigating whether another drug called interferon-lambda could help patients in the early stages of COVID-19. Given through an injection similar to insulin, interferon-lambda is a manufactured version of a naturally occurring protein that was previously used in clinical trials for people with hepatitis infections, according to Stanford. It works by revving up the bodys immune system to fight off the infection, rather than directly interfering with how the virus replicates, said Dr. Upinder Singh, a Stanford infectious-disease expert. The Stanford trial plans to enroll 120 patients, half of whom will receive a placebo. Doctors are looking for patients who were recently diagnosed with COVID-19 to see if the drug can help prevent hospital stays. If the drug works and is proven effective, then you can get a single shot of this hopefully early in your disease, fight the virus off and then youre done, Singh said. Minor, the Stanford dean, said that effective outpatient treatments for coronavirus infections which is what interferon-lambda would be if it works could be a very useful tool during the pandemic. If we can ... identify those therapies and then roll them out to make them broadly available, that will really help us get through these next several months to a year or perhaps even more until a vaccine is developed, he said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Similarly, UCSF researchers are starting a new outpatient trial that will study whether azithromycin, a widely used antibiotic, helps slow COVID-19 progression in patients who have not been admitted to the hospital. The trial will be run remotely, and it plans to enroll 2,300 people nationwide, a third of whom will be in a control group. Some Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California are participating in a coronavirus clinical trial of a different drug, selinexor. Selinexor is an anticancer drug that blocks an important protein in the cellular machinery for DNA processing, and it has antiviral and anti-inflammatory aspects that may be useful to fight coronavirus infections, according to Kaisers Dr. Jacek Skarbinski. Kaiser hospitals in San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento are involved in the study, which aims to enroll about 250 patients nationwide, he said. The drug, which is administered orally, will initially be intended for patients with severe symptoms, Skarbinski said. But its use could expand if it works. If its successful and it has a reasonable safety profile, then it could be used in the outpatient setting, so that is one promising part of this, Skarbinski said. Remdesivir is an IV medication that, at this time, can only be used in an inpatient setting. Thats not to say that remdesivir lacks benefit. Skarbinski has been involved with Kaisers participation in coronavirus clinical trials of remdesivir, and he said the data thats been published about the drug so far has been encouraging. Victor Godinez-Cubillo, a 60-year-old Daly City resident, received remdesivir after he was admitted to Kaisers South San Francisco hospital due to a coronavirus infection. He was connected to oxygen but never put on a ventilator, and he said he began to improve the day after his remdesivir treatments started. He was out of the hospital in about five days. I could do more things. I could breathe for myself, Godinez-Cubillo said. I started to do better and better and better until I finished the remdesivir. While many others try to redirect existing drugs toward COVID-19, San Jose biotech company Anixa Biosciences hopes to unearth a brand new treatment. The company is using artificial intelligence to screen a computer database of about 1.2 billion compounds that might be fashioned into coronavirus drugs. Already, Anixa has identified one protein that could become an antiviral treatment for coronavirus patients, according to CEO Amit Kumar. The company is now conducting laboratory tests that, if successful, would pave the way for animal studies. Our assertion is that better drugs and better therapies will be available if we target the machinery of this specific virus, as opposed to taking other drugs that have targeted the machinery of other viruses and diseases and then repurposing them for this particular disease, Kumar said. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the GTA this week. On Monday, the national weather agency predicted daytime temperatures to reach near 30 C Monday afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to be slightly higher on Tuesday and Wednesday. Environment Canada expects humidex values in the mid-to-upper 30s. Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, like heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Environment Canada encourages residents to drink plenty of water and try to stay in cool or shaded areas. Jacob Lorinc is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @jacoblorinc Read more about: Address By The President Of The Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, At The Virtual Eid Ul-Fitr Celebration, At The Forecourt Of The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, On Sunday, May 24, 2020. Vice President, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, National Chief Imam, Zongo Chiefs, Ulama, Jama! I greet you in the name of Islam, Salam Alaikum! We give thanks and praise to the Almighty for guiding us through the month of Ramadan. I send hearty congratulations to the Muslim Ummah in Ghana and around the world for a successful completion of the fast of Ramadan, even under the very difficult and trying circumstances occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic, which has, inter alia, curtailed the conventional celebration of the Eid at Black Star Square. However, I commend the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation for stepping up to the plate, and making it possible, through virtual means, to celebrate this years Eid, just as it did in facilitating the virtual celebration of this years May Day. These are the proper uses of a public broadcasting network. This years Ramadan fast will remain unique in Islamic history as one that was observed without the usual activities and buzz that come with the Ramadan fast. Muslims have had to fast without the traditional iftar, tafsir, tarawih and tahajjud prayers. I know that, for many of you, this has been a very difficult sacrifice to make, since these activities, in the consciousness of all Muslims, cloak the month of Ramadan in sanctity and holiness. And, so, I salute you for these sacrifices that you have made for our collective good. More importantly, you have made these sacrifices, specifically, to save human lives. Indeed, the Quran states that, and I quote, if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the whole of humanity (Q:5: 32). Your adherence to the safety protocols that government put in place to fight the virus has, therefore, saved many lives, for which we are all grateful. I applaud the leadership of the Muslim Ummah the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu; the Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih; the Imam of the Ahl-Sunna, Al-Hajj Ibrahim Umar; the Qaid of the Shia Community, Shaykh Kamaldeen Abubakar; the Khalifa of the Tijaniyya Muslim Council, Sheikh Abul Faidi Ahmed Maikano; and the Imam of the Ghana Muslim Mission, Shaykh Amin Bonsu, for their high sense of patriotism and commitment to Ghana, and to the wellbeing of the Muslim faithful. I am equally indebted to the National Council of Zongo Chiefs, who have worked tirelessly, and continue to work, to ensure that safety protocols are adhered to in the various Zongo communities. Insha Allah, your names will be printed in indelible ink when we come to write the history of our fight and ultimate defeat of COVID-19. Vice President, National Chief Imam, Ulama, Jama! Government continues to commit itself to creating a society of opportunities for all, irrespective of social circumstance, place of abode or religious creed. The Zongo Development Fund, under the direction of the energetic Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, is pursuing an aggressive development agenda, as set out in Governments Economic and Social Development Agenda. From Togorme Zongo in the Volta Region, through Dambai Zongo in the Oti Region, to Tumu Zongo in the Upper West Region, down to Axim Zongo in the Western Region, various development projects are springing up to address the development deficits of Zongo communities. When I addressed Muslim faithful on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr last year, on 5th June 2019, I made clear that the Zongo development agenda is a challenge that appears huge. Indeed, it is no mean challenge, taking on the task of transforming the lives of over five million Ghanaians scattered in more than three thousand (3,000) communities across the country. But, if we are to create a society of inclusion and not of exclusion, then it is a challenge that we must take on, and overcome. Ulama, Jama! The task is big, but bigger still is our determination to bring prosperity to all our people. Whilst Government does its part to ensure the development of human capital in Zongo communities, I urge you to ponder on the first set of verses of the Quran to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Allayhi WaSalam, and I quote: Read! In the name of your Lord who createdwho taught man by the pen. Taught man what he did not know (Q: 96:1-5). If the first commandment to the Prophet, from Allah, was to Read, then Islam is meant to be a religion of knowledge. I, thus, continue to admonish you to take your children to school. Let us take advantage of the Free Senior High School programme and the educational interventions that the Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development is making in Zongo communities, to educate our children, both male and female, and ensure that, within this generation, we can eradicate poverty, illiteracy and disease from our country. Ghana continues to be the envy of the world, because of the religious harmony that we foster among adherents of different faiths. I urge you to continue to promote religious harmony and peaceful co-existence. It is the essence of Islam, which means peace and submission to the will of Allah. I am very hopeful that, next year, Muslims in the country will congregate as they have done over the years, and celebrate Eid ul-Fitr fully and without any restrictions. We will go back, in joy, to Black Star Square. But, until then, it is vital that we continue to maintain the measures of enhanced hygiene and social distancing protocols to contain the spread of the virus, as they are the surest way to a quick return to a life of normalcy. Stakeholder consultations are taking place on the way forward towards the easing of restrictions, so that our social and economic lives can go back to normal. I expect these consultations to conclude this week, so that I can announce to Ghanaians a clear roadmap for easing the restrictions. We have to find a way back, but in safety, for we cannot be under these restrictions forever. I am fortified in this view by three (3) considerations. Firstly, sad though any premature death is, the hard fact is that the rate of deaths in Ghana amongst confirmed cases is very low one per one million, i.e. 0.0001%, one of the lowest in Africa, and, indeed, in the world, this, despite the very high number of tests we are carrying out. This has been so since the very beginning of the outbreak over two (2) months ago. The number of positive cases stands at six thousand, six hundred and eighty-three (6,683), out of one hundred and ninety-four thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three (194,763) tests conducted, with one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight (1,998) recoveries. This means that our positivity rate, that is the ratio of confirmed cases to the total number of tests conducted, is 3.43%, which, again, is one of the lowest in Africa, and in the world. Furthermore, virtually all the thirty-two (32) corona-related deaths, that have so far been recorded, were of persons with, what the doctors call, comorbidity, i.e. with other underlying causes and diseases. Most of them died within twenty-four (24) hours of admission to hospital. May their souls rest in peace. It appears that, by the grace of God, Ghanaians are not dying of this virus in the numbers that were originally anticipated and feared. Secondly, the numbers of severe virus cases that have been hospitalised have been persistently low since the outbreak. The fear that our hospitals would be overburdened, and, indeed, overwhelmed has, so far, again by the grace of God, not materialised. As we speak, there are sixteen (16) severe cases in six (6) hospitals across the country, none of them on a ventilator. We pray for their speedy recovery. Thirdly, we now have a more robust mechanism for enforcing our central strategy of defeating the virus the application of the 3Ts, tracing, testing and treating. The tracing teams are more experienced and more efficient; testing capabilities are no longer concentrated in Accra and Kumasi, but spread more evenly across the country in Ho, Tamale, Navrongo, Takoradi and Cape Coast; treating capacity has been considerably enhanced with isolation facilities better distributed across the nation. These developments, and continuing strong adherence to the social distancing and hygiene protocols, including wearing masks and strengthening our immune systems by eating our own foods, will enable us to face the future with greater confidence, as we battle to defeat the virus, and pray for our healthcare workers. And, it is appropriate that we should end this unique Ramadan with this declaration of confidence in the future, because, as I have said, this too shall pass! For the Battle is the Lords!! I wish all Muslims and Ghanaians a happy Eid ul-Fitr, even if a restrained one. Hopefully, the Almighty has listened to the cry of the faithful, through His Mercy, with which he envelopes the month of Ramadan. May God bless us all, and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong. Eid Mubarak! Barika da Salah! Salam Alaikum! Idaho police on Monday issued a touching statement on what is 'cult mum' Lori Vallow's missing son's eighth birthday. Rexburg Police Department Assistant Chief Gary Hagen said: 'We continue to hope and pray for the safe return of both of these beautiful children each and every day.' Vallow is currently behind bars on charges of child neglect and desertion in connection with the disappearance of her daughter, Tylee Ryan, 17, and her son, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow. The children have not been seen since September 2019. Assistant police chief Hagen thanked the public for their help in the case Monday, pledging to 'resolve' it. He added: 'We urge the public to continue to be vigilant for J.J. and Tylee.' The case of missing JJ and Tylee captured nationwide attention when revelations that police are were also investigating a number of mysterious deaths linked to Vallow and new husband, Chad Daybell, surfaced. Vallow is currently being held on a $1 million bond. She has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges including desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. Idaho police on Monday issued a touching statement on missing JJ's eighth birthday. Lori Vallow is currently being held on a $1 million bond. She pleaded not guilty to numerous charges including desertion and nonsupport of dependent children Vallow's sister, Summer Shiflet, told CBS she believes the children are safe, adding: 'I don't know all of her reasons for doing what she's doing. But I know she has ... the reasons.' Both Shiflet and her mother, Janis Cox, say Vallow 'would never harm her children'. Shiflet said: 'She's not a monster, she's not a heartless, cold-calculated murderous type of person.' The women also suggest the missing children were 'in a bunker somewhere'. 'I think that's possible,' Cox said, but she did not elaborate on where she believed the children were. She and Shiflet also failed to explain why Vallow has so far refused to cooperate with investigators trying to find out what happened to her children. When asked about the matter, they replied in unison: 'Well, that's a great question,' laughing towards one another as they spoke. But the women insisted that Vallow would never hurt either of her kids. 'She's invested her whole life in those children,' Cox said. 'So we know there's another whole side to this. We don't know what it is. But we know her.' Vallow is currently behind bars on charges of child neglect and desertion in connection with the disappearance of her daughter, Tylee Ryan, 17, right, and her son, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, left. The children have not been seen since September 2019 Lori Vallow appears in court for a second bond hearing at the Madison County Magistrate Court in Rexburg, Idaho on May 1 The case of missing JJ and Tylee captured nationwide attention when revelations that police are were also investigating a number of mysterious deaths linked to Vallow and new husband, Chad Daybell, surfaced It comes after new footage also emerged of Vallow's ex-husband telling police she has 'lost reality' and threatened to kill him in January 2019, six months before he was shot dead by her brother. The video of Charles Vallow was obtained by ABC. It came from a cop's bodycam after Charles called the police claiming his wife, with whom he'd had a 'great marriage' was threatening to kill him. The footage was taken outside the couple's home in Phoenix, Arizona. In the newly released bodycam footage, Charles said Lori no longer thought he was her husband and was calling him 'Nick Schneider', someone he said neither of them knew. Lori Vallow's best friend Melanie Gibb said that Vallow's new husband, Chad Daybell, had called her sounding 'very nervous' and 'very scared' and asked her not to pick up the phone if police called. She further claims that best friend Vallow became increasingly obsessed with 'dangerous teachings' after she met Daybell - a prominent Doomsday author. 'On one occasion, Lori said to me 'If Chad is Satan, he sure is a good one'', Gibb said. Gibb says that Vallow also failed to tell her for four days about the death of the husband she was married to before Daybell. Vallow's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was shot dead last July - just four months before she married Daybell. During the same fall the two children disappeared, Vallow married Chad Daybell. Daybell's wife of 29 years, Tammy, had died just weeks before . Vallow and Daybell fled Idaho for Hawaii in late November, one day after police began asking questions about JJ and Tylee's whereabouts Tylee and JJ vanished eight months ago in September, shortly after they moved to Rexburg, Idaho from Arizona. Investigators say Tylee was last seen hiking in Yellowstone National Park with her family on September 8. Meanwhile, all traces of JJ vanished on September 23 but Cox claims to have spoken to the missing seven-year-old by phone on October 1. During the same fall the two children disappeared, Vallow married Chad Daybell. Daybell's wife of 29 years, Tammy, had died just weeks before. Vallow and Daybell fled Idaho for Hawaii in late November, one day after police began asking questions about JJ and Tylee's whereabouts. Authorities later tracked the pair down in the Kauai town of Princeville on January 25 and served the mother with a court order requiring her to physically produce the children to authorities in Idaho within five days. After she failed to do so, Vallow was arrested on charges of child abandonment and desertion on February 20, and then brought back to Idaho where she is being held on a $1million bond. The first death linked to the case was Tammy Daybell. Her death was initially listed as natural causes when Chad Daybell declined an autopsy. Many friends of Tammy have insisted that the 49-year-old was in great shape, casting doubt on the initial ruling. Authorities exhumed Tammy Daybell's body in December after determining that her death could be linked to the disappearance of JJ and Tylee. The results of the autopsy and toxicology tests have not yet been released. The two missing chikdren were last seen on September 23, 2019 in Rexburg, Idaho The second death was that of Charles Vallow, Lori's husband of more than a decade who filed for divorce from her five months before he was shot and killed by her brother Alex on July 11, 2019. Charles and Lori had gotten into an argument when he came to pick up JJ, their adoptive son, at her home in Chandler, Arizona. Alex intervened and fired two fatal shots into Charles' chest. Police initially determined that Alex acted in self defense - but the case was reopened with the search for JJ and Tylee, who had moved to Idaho, where Chad lived, with their mother in August. An email from Phoenix police that was leaked earlier this month revealed that investigators were close to charging Lori in connection with Charles' death. Court documents from early December indicated that Charles' death was being investigated as 'conspiracy murder'. Less than two weeks later, Alex was found dead in Gilbert, Arizona, on December 12, the day after Tammy's body was exhumed. His death, at aged 51, is now under investigation as police wait for an autopsy to determine the cause. An additional untimely death close to Lori was unearthed this week: her older sister Stacey Lynne Cox Cope. Stacey died aged 31 in 1998. The cause is unclear and there is no suggestion Lori was involved in her death. TORONTO, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As governments prepare recovery plans amidst the COVID-19 crisis, an informal alliance of over 150 civil society groups, representing collective memberships of millions in Canada, are demanding these plans move us toward a more equitable and sustainable future, with the release, today, of six Principles for a Just Recovery. United in support of the Principles, endorsing organizations span sectors and communities across the country, including the Canadian Labour Congress, Indigenous Climate Action, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Federation des travailleurs et travailleuses du Quebec and the Canadian Health Coalition. Their message for governments: recovery efforts must support the transition to a more equitable, sustainable and diversified economy, and not entrench outdated economic and social systems that jeopardize the health and wellbeing of people, worsen the climate crisis, or perpetuate the exploitation or oppression of people. The COVID crisis has revealed the primary importance of the health and safety of all people, as a human rights and collective wellbeing issue. Relief efforts so far have shown that things weve been told arent possible, actually are once we prioritize them. The choices we make now about how to recover from this pandemic will shape not only our health and economic future, but also the future of human life on this planet. We need public investments to help meet our commitment to limit global warming, by developing renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency, supporting struggling public transit systems and ensuring a just transition for workers and their communities. We must prioritize investing in things that create much needed good jobs, said Canadian Labour Congress President, Hassan Yussuff. The Principles, in brief, ask that recovery plans: Put peoples health and wellbeing first, no exceptions. Strengthen the social safety net and provide relief directly to people. Prioritize the needs of workers and communities. Build resilience to prevent future crises. Build solidarity and equity across communities, generations, and borders Uphold Indigenous Rights and Work in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous rights and sovereignty must be the foundation upon which every aspect of Just Recovery is built. Throughout the recovery process, Indigenous Peoples must be at the table, as should voices from all structurally oppressed communities," said Lindsey Bacigal of Indigenous Climate Action. "Prior to the pandemic, Indigenous communities were already in crisis due to a lack of infrastructure, health and social services and the current situation will only deepen these inequalities. To address this historical injustice, it is essential that Indigenous Peoples have access to adequate resources that revitalize the health, well-being and sovereignty of our communities. Endorsing groups will pursue specific policy recommendations, aligned with the Principles. The huge collaborative effort that brought these principles to life over many weeks of rich, challenging discussions exemplifies the kind of action we expect of political leaders as we move through this crisis, explained Catherine Abreu of Climate Action Network Canada. Its going to take a massive and diverse community of voices to encourage governments to be bold in the face of corporate lobbies, and to put people and communities first, Abreu continued. Our goal was to capture the immense amount of care work happening throughout Canadian civil society right now and present a vision of a Just Recovery that leaves no one behind. We know this is a vision the majority of Canadians support, and millions of people are ready to take action. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Canadians asked by EKOS Research earlier this month [ 1 ] supported a broad transformation of our society resulting from COVID-inspired reformations. We recognize the enormous challenge and responsibility facing governments. We also see a critical opportunity for leaders to seize the courage required to lead us through this moment to a better world. Well be doing our part to ensure the people are behind them, said Claire Gallagher, from the independent citizens advocacy group, Leadnow. Todays launch marks the beginning of independent and collaborative efforts by participating organizations to urge all levels of government to deliver a transformational Just Recovery for all people. For a growing list of endorsers, please visit justrecoveryforall.ca . Media contact: Max Mosher (based in Toronto) 647-888-6453 | media@leadnow.ca OR Sonia Theroux (based in Victoria) 250-508-5277 | sonia@leadnow.ca French release and contacts here . Full text of the English Just Recovery Principles found here . Full list of endorsers found here . Additional spokespeople available for media: Lindsey Bacigal, Indigenous Climate Action Anjali Appadurai, Sierra Club B.C. Natalie Appleyard, Citizens for Public Justice Dr. Courtney Howard, CAPE Dylan Penner, Council of Canadians Amara Possian, 350 Canada Caroline Brouillette, Equiterre Jamie Kneen, MiningWatch Canada Kim Perrotta, CHASE JORDAN WARNS ISRAEL OF MASSIVE CONFLICT OVER ANNEXATION King Abdullah II says Jordan is considering all options over Israels plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. Jordans king warned Israel of a massive conflict if it proceeds with plans to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank, as European Union foreign ministers agreed to step up diplomatic efforts to try to head off such a move. Israel has promised to annex Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley, which could spell the end of the long-stalled peace process by making it virtually impossible to establish a viable Palestinian state. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has moved a step closer by reaching an agreement to form a government after more than a year of political deadlock. Jordans King Abdulla II, in an interview published by Der Spiegel on Friday, issued a stark warning over Israels plans. Leaders who advocate a one-state solution do not understand what that would mean, he said. What would happen if the Palestinian National Authority collapsed? There would be more chaos and extremism in the region. If Israel really annexed the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, he said. Jordan is a close Western ally and one of only two Arab states to have signed a peace treaty with Israel. Abdullah declined to say whether annexation would threaten that agreement. I dont want to make threats and create an atmosphere of loggerheads, but we are considering all options. We agree with many countries in Europe and the international community that the law of strength should not apply in the Middle East, he said. Khaled Elgindy, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said Israels annexation plans could pose a threat to the Jordanian monarchy. When the king himself comes out and essentially puts his relationship with Israel and the treaty with Israel on the line, its very serious, he told Al Jazeera from Arlington in the United States. For the monarchy in Jordan, an end to the two state solution which this plan and annexation is really aimed at achieving an end of any prospect of a Palestinian state poses not just a strategic threat, but quite possibly even an existential threat to the monarchy in Jordan. Jordan has been lobbying the EU to take practical steps to make sure annexation does not happen. In a statement, Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi stressed the need for the international community and the European Union in particular to take practical steps that reflect the rejection of any Israeli decision to annex. At a video conference, EU foreign ministers reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution and opposition to any annexation. The ministers, whose countries are deeply divided in their approach to Israel, agreed to ramp up diplomatic efforts in the coming days with Israel, the Palestinians, the US and Arab countries. We reaffirm our position in support of a negotiated, two-state solution. For this to be possible, unilateral action from either side should be avoided and, for sure, international law should be upheld, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after chairing the meeting. We must work to discourage any possible initiative toward annexation, Borrell told reporters in Brussels. International law has to be upheld. Here, and there, and everywhere. He made no mention of the use of sanctions, saying only that the EU will use all our diplomatic capacities in order to prevent any kind of unilateral action. The ministers had planned to welcome the formation of a new Israeli government and offer the blocs cooperation, but Netanyahu and his rival-turned-partner, Benny Gantz, have postponed the swearing-in of their controversial new Cabinet as the Israeli leader tries to quell infighting within his Likud party. The ceremony, originally scheduled for Thursday, is now planned for Sunday to give Netanyahu more time to hand out coveted Cabinet appointments to members of his party. Their coalition agreement says the Israeli government can, from July 1, begin considering implementing the West Bank annexations detailed in US President Donald Trumps Middle East plan. Unveiled in January, the controversial plan gives a green light for Israel to annex about a third of the occupied West Bank, leaving the Palestinians with heavily conditioned statehood in scattered territorial enclaves surrounded by Israel. The EU has already rejected Trumps plan. The bloc has long been committed to a two-state solution based on the 1967 lines, with the possibility of mutually agreed land-swaps. Israel seized East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 war. The Palestinians want all three to form their future state. In our opinion, an annexation is not compatible with international law, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday. From our point of view, changes to borders must, if at all, be the result of negotiations and happen in agreement between both sides. Aljazeera President Donald Trump says he has finished taking his prescription of the controversial anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine. Trump revealed last week that he has been taking the drug for several weeks as a preventative medicine despite a lack of scientific evidence that it wards off coronavirus. 'Finished, just finished,' Trump said in an interview with Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson that aired on Sunday. 'And by the way, I'm still here. To the best of my knowledge, here I am.' Trump has faced criticism for repeatedly promoting the drug's use against the coronavirus and urging people to try it. 'What have you got to lose?' Trump has previously said. President Donald Trump said in an interview that aired on Sunday he has finished taking his prescription of the controversial anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine The US Food and Drug Administration has allowed healthcare providers to use the drugs for COVID-19 through an emergency-use authorization but has not approved them to treat it. Trump revealed he had finished his prescription dose as a study showed that hydroxychloroquine was tied to an increased risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In the study that looked at more than 96,000 people hospitalized with COVID-19, those treated with hydroxychloroquine or the related chloroquine had higher risk of death and heart rhythm problems than patients who were not given the medicines. The study, published in the Lancet medical journal on Friday, showed no benefit for coronavirus patients taking the drugs. The Lancet study authors suggested that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine should not be used to treat COVID-19 outside of clinical trials until studies confirm their safety and efficacy in such patients. There is a frantic search for drugs to treat COVID-19 at the same time that multiple research teams pursue a safe and effective vaccine to combat a pathogen that has killed more than 97,000 Americans and resulted in over 1.6 million infections. Trump has faced criticism for repeatedly promoting the drug's use against the coronavirus and urging people to try it. The FDA has allowed healthcare providers to use the drugs for COVID-19 through an emergency-use authorization but has not approved them to treat it The FDA has said that, for safety reasons, hydroxychloroquine should be used only for hospitalized COVID-19 patients or those in clinical trials. The drug has been tied to dangerous heart rhythm problems. The Lancet study looked at data from 671 hospitals where 14,888 patients were given either hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, with or without an antibiotic, and 81,144 patients were not given such treatments. Both drugs have shown evidence of effectiveness against the coronavirus in a laboratory setting, but studies in patients had proven inconclusive. Several small studies in Europe and China spurred interest in using hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19, but were criticized for lacking scientific rigor. Several more recent studies have not shown the drug to be an effective COVID-19 treatment. Last week, two studies published in the medical journal BMJ showed that patients given hydroxychloroquine did not improve significantly over those who were not. Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis as well as malaria. There are ongoing randomized, controlled clinical trials to study the drug's effectiveness in preventing infection by the coronavirus as well as treating mild to moderate COVID-19. Some of those may yield results within weeks. Technavio has been monitoring the duty-free retailing market and it is poised to grow by USD 53.50 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of about 9% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005255/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Duty-free Retailing Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is moderately fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. DFS Group Ltd., Dubai Duty Free, Dufry Ltd., Gebr. Heinemann SE Co. KG, HOTEL SHILLA Co. Ltd., JR /Group, King Power International Co. Ltd., Lagardere Group, LOTTE SHOPPING Co. Ltd., and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE are some of the major market participants. The high growth rate of duty-free retailing will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. High growth rate of duty-free retailing has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Duty-free Retailing Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Duty-free Retailing Market is segmented as below: Product Fashion Apparel and Accessories Cosmetics and Perfumes Tobacco and Alcoholic Beverages Confectionery and Fine Foods Distribution Channel Airports Border, Downtown and Hotel Shops Others Geography APAC Europe North America South America MEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40625 Duty-free Retailing Market 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our duty-free retailing market report covers the following areas: Duty-free Retailing Market size Duty-free Retailing Market trends Duty-free Retailing Market industry analysis This study identifies the exemption of excise duty on premium products as one of the prime reasons driving the duty-free retailing market growth during the next few years. Duty-free Retailing Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the duty-free retailing market, including some of the vendors such as DFS Group Ltd., Dubai Duty Free, Dufry Ltd., Gebr. Heinemann SE Co. KG, HOTEL SHILLA Co. Ltd., JR /Group, King Power International Co. Ltd., Lagardere Group, LOTTE SHOPPING Co. Ltd., and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the duty-free retailing market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Duty-free Retailing Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist duty-free retailing market growth during the next five years Estimation of the duty-free retailing market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the duty-free retailing market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of duty-free retailing market vendors Table Of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2019 Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024 Five Forces Analysis Five Forces Summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Product Market segments Comparison by Product placement Fashion apparel and accessories Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Cosmetics and perfumes Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Tobacco and alcoholic beverages Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Confectionery and fine foods Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by Product Market Segmentation by Distribution channel Market segments Comparison by Distribution channel Airports Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Border, Downtown and Hotel Shops Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Others Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by Distribution channel Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024 North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Competitive scenario Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors DFS Group Ltd. Dubai Duty Free Dufry Ltd. Gebr. Heinemann SE Co. KG HOTEL SHILLA Co. Ltd. JR /Group King Power International Co. Ltd. Lagardere Group LOTTE SHOPPING Co. Ltd. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005255/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ A man who escaped police custody while being taken to a hospital in Maharashtra's Nagpur city was arrested in south Delhi's Neb sarai area on Monday, officials said. The accused has been identified as Ceejo Chandran, a native of Kerala. He was arrested by the Nagpur Police under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), they said. Chandran had escaped from police custody on May 16 while he was being taken to the hospital for treatment. He came to Delhi with the help of a few truck drivers. Acting on a tip-off that Chandran might be residing in the Dakshinpuri area, police laid a trap near the MB Road, Ambedkar Nagar and arrested him, the officials said. Multiple criminal cases are registered against him in police stations of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The arrest of a British national by the Madhya Pradesh Police on charges of alleged visa violations was taken up by Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha who asked Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to look into it as the family of the accused has denied the charges. Sohail Hughes was produced before a court in Bhopal on May 15 after the police registered a case of alleged visa violation and claimed that the UK national was a member of the Tablighi Jamaat. "The police filed an FIR against Hughes for violating visa conditions. He had come to India on a tourist visa but attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, thus violating the visa conditions," Additional Director General of Madhya Pradesh Police Upendra Jain said. He was produced before a court in Bhopal which remanded him to judicial custody till May 29. "As many as 32 Tablighi Jamaat participants, including seven foreigners (Hughes being one of them), were detained from different mosques in Bhopal city," Jain said. A large congregation was organised in March by the Tablighi Jamaat in the Nizamuddin area of the national capital. Immediately after the lockdown was announced, many of its members staying at the headquarters of the outfit had tested positive for COVID-19. The development prompted the Union Home Ministry to ask police chiefs of all states and Union territories to take legal action against foreigners who had attended the congregation in violation of the Foreigners Act. The issue was taken up by Rajya Sabha MP Tankha with the Madhya Pradesh chief minister. Tankha wrote to Chauhan to immediately withdraw the "unjustified prosecution" of Hughes and get him discharged from the court proceedings. Citing an article in a prominent UK daily, Tankha told PTI that the "case is a blot on our criminal investigation and criminal justice system. It shows total non-application of mind in keeping innocent persons in jail. The state has bad publicity internationally." "In the interest of justice and international comity, I petition the Madhya Pradesh Government to immediately withdraw the unjustified prosecution of Sohail, to get him discharged from court proceedings and to permit him to travel back to UK," the letter said. He cited the report which quoted Hughes's sister as saying that her brother was forced to take refuge in a mosque in Bhopal, the city he was visiting, but was held up because of the sudden lockdown, which gave no time to foreign nationals to leave India. It also quoted her as saying that her brother's passport was seized and he was placed under quarantine. "While in quarantine, Hughes had been repeatedly tested for COVID-19 and his test reports were always negative," Tankha said, quoting the media report. Hughes is lodged in the Old Central Jail in Bhopal and his application for bail has been rejected by the court, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi: Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor has expressed shock over the mortal remains of three Indians being sent back to Abu Dhabi after they were flown to their families in India, according to a media report on Saturday. The deceased were not coronavirus cases but were returned by the authorities in New Delhi, the Gulf News reported. "We are appalled at what has happened. We do not know if the bodies were returned because of coronavirus-related restrictions, but we are obviously not sending the remains of people [who have passed away from Covid-19]," Kapoor told the daily. "[As we understand], it happened because of new protocols at the airport and we are trying to sort it out," he said. The deceased were identified as Kamlesh Bhatt, Sanjeev Kumar and Jagsir Singh. Bhatt died of cardiac arrest on April 17, both Kumar and Singh had died on April 13. A foreign worker's employer has to usually arrange cargo companies to repatriate bodies of deceased persons. If airport protocols have changed, it means cargo companies have to be more careful about the clearance they're getting, Kapoor told the newspaper. Meanwhile, the Indian government on Saturday told the Delhi High Court that it will find out from the embassy concerned about the location and condition of the mortal remains of Bhatt, who died in UAE and his body was returned to Abu Dhabi from Delhi due to immigration issues. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Maninder Acharya, representing the Centre, submitted that it being a unique case, the ministries of Home Affairs and Health and Family Welfare are in the process of framing Standard Operating Procedures so that in future there is no difficulty in similar matters. She further said that a meeting was going on at the highest level to consider the petitioner's case and prayed for some time to report about it. The law officer said the Centre shall find out from the concerned Embassy as to the location and condition of the mortal remains of the deceased which were flown back from India. Governments across the world have imposed unprecedented restrictions in view of the coronavirus outbreak, resulting in difficulties in repatriating remains of deceased persons. The coronavirus, which originated in China's Wuhan city, has claimed nearly 2,00,000 lives and infected over 2.8 million people in the world so far. The virus has taken 64 lives in the UAE. TEHRAN,Iran, May 25 Trend: Iran is getting closer to curbing the COVID-19 virus due to people's cooperation and this should continue, said Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Trend reports via IRNA. "People should follow the health instructions and with the current conditions, we can hope for reopening of holy shrines," said Rouhani. "It can not be conveyed to the public opinion that health precautions have been reduced and people should still follow the instructions," he said during the phone conversation with the Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli. Fazli has provided a report on the coronavirus situation and number of people that got infected due to ignorance of health protocols and social distancing in some provinces. "The reopening of businesses should not reduce the importance of following health instructions," he added. "Some provinces and cities haven't been following the health protocol, and faced the growth of COVID-19 cases, so it is possible that previous restrictions will be pub back into place," said Rouhani. The president has insisted that the National Headquarters of Fighting Coronavirus continues to monitor activities in cities and provinces. Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 135,000 people have been infected 7,417 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 105,000 have reportedly recovered from the disease. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic 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. One of the most famous stories of our civilization is that of Joseph. Sold into servitude by his jealous brothers, Joseph eventually rose from jail to become the Chancellor of Ancient Egypt, and ruled wisely. One given example of his sagacity is Josephs decision to save grain from Egypts years of plenty in silos, in order to feed the people during years of drought. This basic principle -- to use unexpected bounty wisely, in order to thrive even in difficult times -- is a lesson taught to nearly half the children in the world, as it is an important story in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. You would think that during his 17 years of Catholic education, someone might have bothered to tell this story to Jim Kenney. Since his inauguration as Philadelphia's Mayor in 2016, Kenney has shown the antithesis of Josephs wise and prudent leadership. Unlike his predecessor, Michael Nutter, who took power amid a global economic crash, Kenney governed Philadelphia during its years of plenty. Thanks to the consistent growth in the national economy, Philadelphia was able to collect more and more tax revenue every year. In 2018, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that our citys surplus was an astounding $789 million. For a city that spent roughly $3.9 billion during Nutters last budget, this sum represented a potentially transformative windfall. For once in a generation, Philadelphia had choices available. We could have cut some of our onerous taxes, or improved services for Philadelphias people, many of which have been neglected for years. Were all familiar with need at the Philadelphia School District, our pot-riddled streets, and our just barely treading water public transit system. Yet for those who looked to Kenney to be the progressive champion of our working-class neighborhoods, it is fair to ask: has his additional spending achieved those goals? How could we spend so much more money on the School District, and still need to close two schools because of hazardous levels of asbestos last fall? In both 2015 and 2019, Jim Kenney ran on reinstituting street cleaning, a service provided by nearly every city and suburb in the developed world, but somehow too difficult and expensive for our city. Was $800 million a year really too little money to bring that back? Murder and shootings are also on the rise in Kenneys Philadelphia, and while police overtime is up, our clearance rate is down. So, grieving families rarely even get the name of a suspect, let alone the closure that comes with a criminal conviction and justice being served. So where did the money go? Wages, primarily. Under Mayor Kenney, hiring has increased, the use of overtime has expanded, and nearly all city employees have received raises. Kenneys defenders paint these moves as necessary steps to combat the austerity of the Nutter years, but if this is truly the case, why do relatively simple tasks in urban governance seem so difficult for the Kenney administration to accomplish? If more spending on public sector compensation doesnt lead to safer streets, a cleaner city, and hazard-free schools, what exactly is the point? So not only has Mayor Kenney squandered years of surpluses, he has very little to show for it. Even wage gains for city employees come at the risk of an impending fiscal crunch that threatens to reverse them. In the wake of the global pandemic and attending recession, it is likely that layoffs, pension cuts, and wage freezes are all coming soon. Typically, profligate leaders do not have to deal with the consequences of their own wastefulness. This duty is usually placed on their successors. In the case of Jim Kenney, coronavirus has changed this equation. With the majority of his second term ahead of him, it will fall to Kenney himself to find new ways to squeeze more money out of Philadelphias beleaguered tax base and make cuts to city services in order to balance the books. Dan Pearson is a South Philadelphia based urban policy enthusiast, political activist, and dad. He originally wrote this for Broad + Liberty. @DanPearson266 The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has approved the appointment of a new chancellor for the Kwara State University (KWASU). PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the new chancellor, Johnson Adewumi, will serve as chancellor, a largely ceremonial role, of the university for the next five years. Mr Adewumi will be replacing Ibrahim Gambari, who was recently appointed as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Gambari was named by the former governor of Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmad, as the chancellor of the school in 2013, a position he held until his new appointment some weeks ago. According to an aide to the governor on new media, Fafoluyi Olayinka, Governor AbdulRazaq on Monday approved the appointment of Mr Adewumi, a renowned educationist, as the new chancellor. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the appointment of the renowned educationist Dr. J.B.O Adewumi as the Chancellor of Kwara State University, Malete. The appointment is for five (5) years, single term and takes immediate effect, the aide wrote on Twitter. Mr Adewumi is the founder of Thomas Adewumi International College Oko (TAICO) located in Oko, Irepodun local government of the state. The 68-year-old is also the Chairman/Founder of Decrown West Africa Co Ltd, an organisation providing industry-wide services such as engineering consulting, technical services and power generation. The Management of Sista Afia and Freda Rhymes have resolved to discontinue the recent feud between the two artistes. Mr. Emmanuel Arhin, Manager of Sista Afia disclosed this to the GNA in an interview on Monday. The two artistes have dominated the showbiz circles in recent times after series of outbursts on TV with jabs being thrown in rebuttal songs. "The two management involved are talking behind the scenes to settle the issue amicably and end this beef. They are not that friendly like they used to be, but certainly they would get back in good terms," "Bossu Kule" as he is popularly known told Ghana News Agency. Bossu Kule said, "Sista Afia is my girl and I know her like I know my blood sister. She has never ever attacked anyone physically in her life before and I knew she wouldn't attack Freda Rhymz". Sista Afia after the incidents had since apologized to her fans who felt disappointed in her actions. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Rises as Oil Prices Tumble Last week saw the Pound to Canadian Dollar (GBP/CAD) exchange rate fluctuated between highs of CA$1.71 and lows of CA$1.69. Sterling managed to creep higher against the Loonie on Monday as Canadian markets closed for the Victoria Day bank holiday. However, the Canadian Dollar (CAD) managed to claim back some of its losses as oil prices edged higher on increased demand. Nevertheless, rising fears of US-China trade conflict clipped some of the Loonies potential gains. Meanwhile, Sterling struggled at the beginning of the week as the UKs ILO Unemployment Rate rose by 3.9%. The Pound was also dragged downward by soaring UK Claimant Count Change figures for April, which soared from 12.1 thousand to 856.5 thousand. Tony Wilson, the director of the Institute for Employment Studies think tank, commented: In reality, unemployment today is likely to already be close to 3 million. Meanwhile, Wednesdays release of the Bank of Canadas (BoC) CPI data for April failed to buoy the Canadian Dollar, with the annual figure coming in at 1.2%. Meanwhile, the year-on-year CPI report fell from 0.9% to -0.2%. Toronto-Dominion Bank economist James Marple was more optimistic, however, commenting: While we would caution against placing too much emphasis on the stability in core measures given the difficulty price collectors had in April (and the need to extrapolate prices for items that they could not measure), the fact remains that outside of the most impacted sectors, price growth remains positive. With activity slowly normalizing through May, the biggest of the price declines are likely in the rear-view mirror. Sterling suffered on Thursday after the flash UK Services PMI for May failed to emerge from contraction territory. However, the figure did beat forecasts and rise from 13.4 to 27.8. Towards the end of the week, however, the oil-sensitive Canadian Dollar (CAD) suffered from tumbling oil prices on fears that Chinas economic recovery could be slower-than-expected. As a result, this would mean that oil demand could see another slump as the worlds second largest economy continues to struggle. Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at AxiCorp, commented: The commodity market, in general, was looking for a bigger infrastructure pump from the [Chinas National Peoples Congress] so there is bound to be an element of disappointment. The GBP/CAD exchange rate edged higher on Friday as the risk-sensitive Canadian Dollar was beset by sinking oil prices and rising US-China trade tensions. GBP/CAD Forecast: Could the Loonie Sink as Oil Prices Drop? Canadian Dollar (CAD) investors will be looking ahead to Mondays speech from the Bank of Canadas Governor, Stephen Poloz. Any dovish comments about the Canadian economy would prove CAD-negative, however. Meanwhile, Sterling traders will be awaiting Tuesdays publication of the CBI Distributive Trades Survey for May. If this confirms forecasts and sinks by -50%, we could see the Sterlings gains against the Canadian Dollar being short-lived. CAD traders will also be looking at Wednesdays release of the Canadian Building Permits report for April. However, with Canadas economy expected to suffer from the coronavirus pandemic it is unlikely that this would buoy the Canadian Dollar. Instead, Loonie investors will be looking ahead to Fridays release of the Canadian GDP figure for the first quarter. Sterling could also edge higher next week if the UKs coronavirus R-rate shows any signs of dropping. The GBP/CAD exchange rate will continue to be dictated by global risk sentiment. Any signs of Chinas economy continuing to struggle would knock down oil prices, leaving the oil-sensitive Loonie under pressure as Canadas economy continues to struggle. Bharat Forge Limited on Monday said it is resuming operations in a graded manner at Mundhwa, Chakan and Satara plants that were shut due to COVID-19 pandemic. Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), the flagship company of the USD 2.4 billion Kalyani Group, is among the largest and technologically advanced manufacturer of forged and machined components. "BFL is commencing operations in a graded manner at Mundhwa, Chakan and Satara plants post completion of mandatory safety check and training of personnel on physical distancing, health and hygiene as per the guidelines stipulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India after obtaining permission from the respective local district authority," the company said in a filing to the BSE. It said it has made it mandatory for employees self-declaration of good health before joining and daily updates through Aarogya Setu App, wearing of face-masks, regular sanitisation of personal items, work-stations and maintaining social distancing. Besides, there is thorough sanitisation of all workplaces regularly, buses and other official vehicles after each trip, it said. The company is taking all recommended precautions and preventive measures to ensure safety and well-being of its employees at all times, it added. "We will closely monitor the situation and take necessary steps as may be required from time to time" it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 Trend: President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on May 24. The Turkish president congratulated and extended his wishes for prosperity to the president and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Ramadan holiday. President Aliyev thanked for the congratulations and attention and extended his congratulations and best wishes to the Turkish president and the people of Turkey on the occasion of the holiday. During the conversation, the presidents highlighted the measures taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic, and emphasized that the two brotherly countries and peoples, as always, stand by each other at these difficult times. President Aliyev and President Erdogan expressed their confidence that Azerbaijan-Turkey friendly and brotherly relations would continue to develop successfully in all areas. Minister of Home Affairs Le Vinh Tan talks about the 2019 Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) and the Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) which were released last week. Minister of Home Affairs Le Vinh Tan. Throughout the nine years of PAR Index and three years of the SIPAS, how have these indexes assisted State agencies, businesses and people? One of three core targets for State administrative reform in the 2011-20 period was to improve public service quality with the aim of ensuring 80 per cent of citizens and organisations are satisfied with State administrative agencies services by 2020. The measurement of public satisfaction on State services aims to objectively assess the quality of State administrative agencies services and their provision, showing that the Government and administrations really serve people. This is not only a new, difficult job, but also a sensitive task because it requires the Government and administrations to take courage and listen to public feedback. The rankings help the Government manage task implementation at local, ministerial and sectorial levels. How do you assess the improvement of the satisfaction level over the years? What is the biggest value gained from that? The results have shown efforts being made to reform administrative procedures, improve public services and business and public satisfaction. The results are not based on assessments by State administration and organisations, but instead on the assessment of people and organisations, and demonstrated through statistics. People and organisations no longer have to visit many offices and meet a lot of officials to complete their public service applications because now there are one-stop-shop units in their localities. The measurement has helped public administrative agencies to not only recognise the efficiency of their work but also understand what the public expect from public services. This measurement also helps raise awareness among officials and shapes a culture of putting people and organisations first. I think the greatest value is that it upholds people's trust in the Government. The satisfaction level of people not working in the public sector on administrative reform has increased and reached 85.1 per cent this year. This is a huge foundation for us to continue to accelerate administrative reform in accordance with Government policies towards an e-Government. The COVID-19 pandemic is also an opportunity to accelerate administrative reform. In the new situation, reforms to management, administrative procedures and mechanisms must be in accordance with public demands to better serve the people. What stood out from ministries, ministerial-level agencies and localities in 2019? The average PAR Index at ministerial and provincial levels increased compared to 2018. The gaps between the agencies at the top and the bottom have decreased over the years. It shows that administrative reforms at ministries and localities have been going at the same pace. Notably, in 2019, 16 out of 17 ministries and 62 out of 63 localities had higher PAR indexes compared to 2018. Six out of seven ministerial administrative reform indexes recorded higher points compared to 2018. Seven out of eight indexes at provincial level gained higher points compared to the previous year. The positive results show the ministries administrative reform in 2019 experienced notable changes. According to a 2019 survey, the average points for public satisfaction of administrative reform in localities stood at 84.51 per cent. It shows increasing public trust and support in local administrative reform policies. However, the PAR Index has also revealed shortcomings among ministries and localities. Some ministries have not fully completed tasks assigned by the Prime Minister and the Government in 2019, while others have delayed addressing administrative applications. The Ministry of Home Affairs is in charge of the Administrative Reform Steering Committee but has never topped or been listed at the bottom of the ranking. What do you think about that? As an agency which sets the criteria for the ranking, the ministry must ensure equality and transparency. For many years, the ministry has been listed mid-table. The Ministry of Home Affairs has made progress, and it was the second ministry to launch the one-stop-shop model. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also applied electronic documents, teleconferences and the use of e-signatures. However, officers profiles are still managed on paper. I expect that information will be managed on a database like Vietnam Social Security soon. The ministry also needs to build a database on IT applications for administrative management. VNS Anti-corruption charge in Vietnam commended Vietnams intensified crackdown on corruption has continued to draw praise from the international community. Pictured: Amber-Lee Friis who took her own life aged just 23 A former Miss Universe finalist who took her own life aged just 23 struggled with a new business during the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of a 'mother figure' who died suddenly. Amber-Lee Friis had spent two months under strict lockdown orders in New Zealand following a whirlwind trip to America in January. She died on Monday May 18, almost one month on from the death of her beloved 'second mother' Kirsten Olason. The up-and-coming runway model was a finalist for Miss Universe New Zealand in 2018, and was candid about her tough upbringing and struggles with confidence after she was bullied as a teenager. Ms Friis started an online fashion label with her boyfriend in early March as the coronavirus crisis swept the globe. She confessed it had been difficult to get the business off the ground during the pandemic. 'Due to the virus outbreak we are restricted from receiving bulk shipment orders, so clothing is limited for the time being,' she told followers of the brand on March 26. Amber-Lee Friis had spent two months under strict lockdown orders in New Zealand following a whirlwind trip to America with her boyfriedn (pictured together) in January Devastated friends of Ms Friis paid tribute to the 'feisty and kind soul' in the wake of her tragic death 'What a great time to start a company! Said no one ever.' The loss of her 'mother figure' during the COVID-19 lockdown was equally as devastating. Ms Friis said she felt 'part of [her] heart' was taken when she learned Ms Olason died after 16 months of trying to recover from a devastating stroke. 'Mumma K, you were who I needed when I was younger,' she confessed in a touching tribute on April 14. She credited Ms Olason for 'giving [her] the courage to join a male dominated course' and thanked her for 'showing which boys to stay away from'. Ms Olason, just 43 when she died, would often pick Ms Friis up when she was young and arguing with her mother, offering her shelter and a shoulder to cry on. 'You were the mum I called my second mum, and I knew I could always count on you. 'I promise to keep our promises,' she said. One friend, who helped to organise the tribute, shared a video of the pair giggling while laying in a field, and said it was her 'favourite memory' of them On May 12, just six days before her tragic death, Ms Friis shared a photo to her business Instagram account with the caption: 'Young and naive'. The photo featured a girl standing between two paths, one offering the 'happiest place on earth' with green grass, rolling hills and sunshine, while the other path was dark and empty. A week before that, she'd shared a photo of a butterfly trapped in a cage and captioned the post as 'conformity'. Devastated friends of Ms Friis paid tribute to the 'feisty and kind soul' in the wake of her tragic death. On Monday, she was farewelled in an emotional send off where friends revved their cars causing plumes of pink smoke to billow into the air. The group made banners and signs telling Ms Friis to 'fly high' and promising to always love her. The up-and-coming runway model was a finalist for Miss Universe New Zealand in 2018, and was candid about her tough upbringing and struggles with confidence after she was bullied as a teenager By sharing her story, she wanted young women to draw hope from her experiences after she found the strength to turn her life around Hope Neilson, who helped to organise the tribute, shared a video of the pair giggling while laying in a field, and said it was her 'favourite memory' of them. 'Forever in our hearts... One of the happiest days ever,' she wrote on the post. In the February before her death, Ms Friis shared a tribute to rocker Keith Flint, who took his own life in March 2019. She spoke of attending his final concert, where they shared an intense moment. 'I could feel his energy and his burning spirit connecting with me,' she said. 'He [previously] stated that when he is at an age were hes comfortable with his existence and simply doesnt want to go through the hardships of growing old, when hes satisfied with his life achievements, he will exit life on a high note and on his own terms.' Ms Friis previously spoke of her torment growing up in Auckland, where her cohort bullied her for having 'slanty eyes' and tanned skin. She was called 'Chimoan' and developed poor eating habits which saw her weight skyrocket to 96kgs by the time she was 16. On Monday, she was farewelled in an emotional send off where friends revved their cars causing plumes of pink smoke to billow into the air Her friends made banners and signs telling Ms Friis to 'fly high' and promising to always love her 'Never in a million years' did she consider one day landing the coveted title of Miss Universe. At just 15 years old, Ms Friis moved out of home with her boyfriend and studied mechanics while working three nights a week at Pizza Hut to make ends meet. At the height of her career, she told Stuff there were nights she'd go hungry because there was no food to eat as a teenager. 'I remember sitting in my room one night and thinking how hard life could be. At a young age you feel the world is weighing on your shoulders,' she said. 'I had a negative outlook on everything. I pictured myself as being an angry, fat, old lady but then I thought: This is not what I want to be like,' she said. Ms Friis was represented by The Talent Tree model agency, who said they were 'devastated' by the young woman's passing Determined to get back on top of her weight once and for all, she joined a gym - and within six months had slimmed down and toned up. By sharing her story, she wanted young women to draw hope from her experiences after she found the strength to turn her life around. 'I was like a lost sheep before I started writing down goals and started focusing on what I wanted to do. I felt stuck and helpless. No one ever has to feel that way,' she said. New Zealand Police confirmed they attended a sudden death on Monday. The case has been referred to the Coroner. Ms Friis was represented by The Talent Tree model agency, who said they were 'devastated' by the young woman's passing. 'We've lost a beautiful young lady who is going to be sorely missed,' said owner Tracey-Maree Houia. Miss World New Zealand CEO Nigel Godfrey described her as 'feisty', 'genuine', and said 'her heart was most definitely in the right place'. 'When she came to us, she was incredibly honest about her background and her upbringing and the challenges she had gone through. And that's what made her in our eyes somebody who would really benefit from the journey - and she did.' If you need help call Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia or 0800 543 354 in New Zealand for confidential support. Stay-at-home orders kept Texans off rivers for several weeks, but now they're ready to get back to floating, just in time for summer. Below are photos of some of the best scenes of Texas tubing over the years. ~ SXM is the only Caribbean country in the Kingdom not implementing the 12.5% salary cuts.~ PHILIPSBURG:--- Finance Minister Ardwell Irion has his work cut out for him with the unions that are currently holding meetings at the Little League Stadium today Monday. The meetings that are being held by the Chamber of Labor Unions are a form of protest against the planned cuts to meet the demands of the Dutch Government for liquidity support. The unions that are participating in what they describe as an urgent meeting are the ABVO, WITU, NAPB, SMCU, WICHUA, WIFOL, ASEWI, and WICSU/PSU Union. St. Maartens Finance Minister made yet another proposal to the unions which is to leave the salaries of all civil servants intact but to cut 50% vacation pay for 2020 and 2021 across the board, other cuts include cutting uniforms cost, travel expenses and overtime, however, the unions rejected the proposals made by the government of St. Maarten. Below is the latest proposal presented to the unions which were rejected by Windward Islands Teachers Union President Claire Elshot. Twenty seven men sit in solitary confinement on death row in the Oregon State Penitentiary. This summer those men will be moved but theyre not going far. On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, investigative reporter Noelle Crombie talks about her most recent stories about those inmates and the long path toward the end of capital punishment in Oregon. Crombie recently broke the news that Oregons death row inmates will be moved, and many will be headed to the general prison population at the states only maximum security prison. The decision effectively means death row is no more in the state. On this episode, we talked about how we got to this point, her tour of the death chamber last year, what this decision means for the inmates and what victims families think of the development. On the second half of the show, we talked about COVID-19s effect on the prison system in the state. Shortly after this recording, Crombie reported that the state penitentiary was now the states largest COVID-19 hotspot. Heres the full episode: -- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Victoria needs immediate measures to stimulate the demand for new homes and to quickly recover from an impending downturn, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA). According to HIA's projections, housing starts in Victoria are projected to be down by 12.7% this year. This decline is expected to extend into next year, with the state likely to report a further 33.8% drop in building commencements. Fiona Nield, executive director for Victoria at HIA, said there is a need for the state to stimulate demand for new homes and to restore confidence amongst homebuyers to cushion the risks. "HIA has been putting forward a range of measures to encourage home buyers back to the market, including a stimulus for home buyers, planning and building reforms, stamp-duty concessions and incentives for foreign investors, all of which are aimed at rebuilding housing activity in Victoria," she said. The COVID-19 restrictions have resulted in lower sales and high levels of cancellations, according to HIA. Given these factors, home-building activity is likely to contract over the second half of the year. "This will see the market at a lower point in December 2020 than it was during the 1990s recession, so stimulating demand so that the existing housing workforce can be retained and can deliver the homes Victorians need this year has never been so important," she said. Also read: Assessing Property Risks During COVID-19 While Victoria entered the COVID-19 crisis with an economy more robust than the rest of the country, Nield said the state is vulnerable to migration risks. "With such a high degree of uncertainty around the outlook, the disruption to migration and the elevated rate of unemployment will also weigh heavily on demand for residential building beyond 2020," she said. Leah Calnan, president of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, said Victoria could weather the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on the economy and the housing market. "There are many predictions circling about real estate and the economy in general, but looking at what the actual data tells us, the Victorian market is weathering the storm well," she said. Calnan said house prices are not as affected as sales volume, which remains much lower than expected at this time of year. "The Victorian market continues to show strong resilience, with the return of public auctions and easing of some restrictions, we expect the market to soon start gaining the momentum it lost due to the pandemic," she said. The government has authorised a plan allowing the bailout of firms considered strategically important to prevent them going under as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Treasury confirmed that it may try to rescue companies whose collapse would disproportionately harm the economy as a last resort . A number of large firms including Tata Steel and Jaguar Land Rover have reportedly approached the government to request financial support as the virus causes a dramatic contraction of the economy. According to the Financial Times, aviation industry bosses have requested a long-term investment facility to secure the sectors future amid a collapse in air travel. In exceptional circumstances, where a viable company has exhausted all options and its failure would disproportionately harm the economy, we may consider support on a last resort basis, a spokesperson for the Treasury said in a statement. As the British public would expect, we are putting in place sensible contingency planning and any such support would be on terms that protect the taxpayer. The Unite union warned of mass layoffs unless ministers take further action imminently to support businesses. There is no more time to lose if we are to prevent a tsunami of job losses from sweeping through communities this summer, said Steve Turner, Unites assistant general secretary for manufacturing. We still need to ensure that proposed changes to the job retention scheme do not undermine a plan to recover and rebuild and that workers continue to get their wages. Companies can take advantage of loans, wage support, business rates relief and grants but some are still struggling to stay afloat. Claims for unemployment benefit soared at a record pace in April with 856,500 new applications, taking the total count to 2.1 million. The 69 per cent surge was the largest since comparable records began in the early 1970s. A further 8 million people are off work and being supported by the governments furlough scheme which pays 80 per cent of wages up to 2,500 per month. That support is to be tapered off from 1 August with companies required to contribute towards wage costs for furloughed workers who will be expected to return to work part time. The refusal of the Canadian government to grant Nigerias biggest indigenous carrier, Air Peace landing right to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Canada has angered stakeholders, including the House of Representatives and aviation experts. Naija News recalls that the Nigerian government had assigned Air Peace to evacuate its citizens from Canada, This was however stalled the refusal of the Canadian authorities to grant the airline permit because does not have a commercial licence to fly into Canada. As a result of the unfortunate development, Air Peace now has no option than to refund the fare to 319 passengers who have already booked for the flight. The Canada High Commission in Nigeria, however, opted for an alternative arrangement with Ethiopian Airlines but the federal government through the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, Geoffrey Onyeama and Senator Hadi Sirika, respectively insisted that the designated Nigerian carrier must evacuate Nigerians in the North American country. However, last week, the Canadian government finally denied Air Peace landing right making it impossible for the airline to evacuate Nigerians from their country. The refusal was conveyed in a letter by the Nigerian High Commission in Canada dated May 20, 2020, with reference number NHS/OTT/ADM.56/1 titled: Update on the Flight postponement. The letter confirmed that Air Peace gave the best pricing which was not matched by any airline but regretted that after a protracted engagement, the Canadian government has unfortunately reverted with what appears to be a final refusal. As a result, the Air Peace arrangement is cancelled. Air Peace is charging USD$1,134 per passenger as against the sum of USD$2,500 charged by the Ethiopian Airline. During the negotiation with Air Peace, the issue of refunds was addressed in the event that the flight did not hold due to unforeseen circumstances and as such, everyone will get refunds for their tickets from Air peace as agreed. In the meantime, the Nigerian High Commission is working assiduously to secure an alternative arrangement to get you home as soon as possible, safely and at the least cost possible. Further updates will be communicated in due course, the letter read. In lieu of Air Peace, it was learned that Ethiopian Airline had been contacted to conduct the evacuation flights while Air Peace would refund the passengers. Irked by this development, the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has summoned the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Aviation and agencies directly or indirectly involved in the earlier evacuation flights handled by the British Airways, Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines from the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and America to appear before it on Thursday, May 28, 2020. The committee chairman, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji queried the persistent refusal by the Canadian authorities to grant Air Peace the right to evacuate stranded Nigerians. Also, the Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ART) expressed displeasure at the botched Air Peace Airline evacuation flight for stranded Nigerians in Canada. Share this post with your Friends on Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at a non-woven filter fabric factory, where the fabric is used to make surgical masks, in Taoyuan, Taiwan, March 30, 2020. (Ann Wang/Reuters) Taiwan Considers Revoking Hong Kongs Special Status as Beijings National Security Law Looms TAIPEIChinas planned national security law may prompt Taiwan to revoke the special status it extends to Hong Kong, President Tsai Ing-wen said, a move that could anger Beijing and make it harder for Hongkongers to visit and invest. China is proposing the new legislation for the Chinese-ruled city after months of anti-government protests, and the decision has already ignited renewed unrest in Hong Kong and prompted condemnation from Western countries. The demonstrators have won widespread sympathy in democratic, self-ruled Taiwan, and the support for the protesters by Tsai and her administration has further fueled tensions between Taipei and Beijing, which views the island state as part of its territory. China has repeatedly denounced Taiwans government for supporting the protesters. Writing on her Facebook page late on May 24, Tsai said the proposed legislation was a serious threat to Hong Kongs freedoms and judicial independence and that Taiwan would provide the people of Hong Kong with necessary assistance. Taiwan deals with Hong Kong and neighboring Macau under rules that, for example, allow residents of the two Chinese-ruled cities to visit and invest in Taiwan much more easily than mainland Chinese can. Tsai said if there were a change in the situation in Hong Kong, the act laying out those rules could be revoked. We hope the situation in Hong Kong does not get to this stage, and will pay close attention to developments, and take necessary corresponding measures in a timely way, she said. Beijing would inevitably see any move by Taiwan regarding Hong Kong as Taipei again siding with the protest movement, sparking further Chinese ire. A senior official familiar with Taiwans security planning said Tsais comment was a clear message to Beijing that Taipei would reinterpret its ties with Hong Kong if China pushes the security legislation through. This is set to be a fundamental change in terms of TaiwanHong Kong relations. We are not happy to see it happening, the official said. A protester dressed in black is handcuffed by the police at Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, on May 24, 2020. (Hong Kong branch of The Epoch Times) Another senior Taiwan government official familiar with policy toward China said the security legislation would mean the death knell for one country, two systems, in which Beijing rules Hong Kong as part of China, but with separate institutions and laws. We wouldnt need to provide special status for Hong Kong, the official told Reuters. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The government is watching how the legislation plan progresses in Beijing before deciding the next move. In the worst-case scenario, people and investment from Hong Kong would be treated as stringently as those from mainland China, the official said. Taiwan offers special treatment to Hong Kong, including an investment-immigration program that has attracted tens of thousands of immigrants from the city. However, the second official warned that Beijing may close Taiwans de-facto consulate in the city in retaliation, and that any change to the Taiwan act could choke TaiwanHong Kong trade. Hong Kong was Taiwans second-largest export destination in April after mainland China, official data shows. The United States is also considering whether to maintain Hong Kongs special status in U.S. law, which has helped the city maintain its position as a global financial center. However, the second official said Taipei would keep offering necessary assistance to Hong Kong citizens whose safety and liberty are threatened for political reasons. This is not aimed at Hong Kongs people, but aimed at Beijing. Taiwan has no law on refugees that could be applied to Hong Kong protesters who seek asylum on the island. Its laws do promise, though, to help Hongkongers whose safety and liberty are threatened for political reasons. The number of Hong Kong immigrants to Taiwan jumped 150 percent to 2,383 in the first four months of 2020 from the same period last year, official data shows. By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard by Sumon Corraya Over 147 million Muslims marked the end of the holy month of fasting and prayer. The mosques were open, but worshippers kept a distance. Community celebrations were banned, but thoughts were for the sick and the dead. Card Patrick DRozario expressed wishes for abundant blessings, unity, peace, and happiness to families. Dhaka (AsiaNews) More than147 million Muslims in Bangladesh gathered in mosques today to pray and celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. However, the government banned group meetings and street celebrations in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Muslims came together across the country, from the Baitul Mukarram, the National Mosque of Bangladesh, to the smaller mosques, whilst keeping social distancing, to pray for an end to the world health emergency. Nimul Islam, a Muslim from Dhaka, said he took part in the prayer in the mosque" where we called for the end of the pandemic all over the world, and prayed for the healing of sick people and the eternal peace of those who died". Another Muslim named Liton Rahaman said that he never saw such a modest Eid in his 40 years, bemoaning the fact that we couldn't even go back to our village and celebrate [the holiday] in our home. Card Patrick D'Rozario, archbishop of Dhaka and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Bangladesh, addressed a message to our beloved Muslim brothers" who had to celebrate "among many limitations after the month of Ramadan. We are with you in prayer and affection, the prelate said, expressing the hope that Eid "will bring abundant blessings, unity, peace, and happiness to families. For Bishop Bejoy N. DCruze of Sylhet, who also heads the Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue, Eid is an occasion for "unity, peace, harmony, support and collaboration". It is his hope that "people of different faiths can take responsibility to care for our common home on this day of Eid by establishing a "balanced" relationship with creation. Yesterday the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina addressed the nation, calling for compliance with the measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes avoiding gatherings in which the virus can spread. Ms Hasina also called on Bangladeshis to show solidarity and closeness with each other, in particular with the poorest and most disadvantaged members of society. guy in a mask American flag bandana Bebeto Matthews/AP Images Public health officials in Ohio's most populous county on Wednesday apologized after releasing guidelines that encouraged African Americans and "communities of color" to avoid wearing facial coverings associated with "gang symbolism." The guidance that minority communities should avoid "fabrics that elicit deeply held stereotypes," including "bandanas," "skull prints," and "horror prints." The Franklin County Department of Public Health also advised against wearing red or blue bandanas "as these are typically associated with gang symbolism." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Public health officials in Franklin County, Ohio apologized last week after they released guidance on wearing face masks that targeted the African American community and urged it against wearing facial coverings that elicited "gang symbolism." "Franklin County Public Health apologizes for a recent guidance document focused on mask coverings for African Americans," the agency said in a statement posted Wednesday to Twitter said. "Some of the language used came across as offensive and blaming the victims." It added: "We have listened to the opinions that have been expressed and are using the voice of the public to inform any new guidance we put out. Everyone deserves to feel safe while wearing a face covering and not be subjected to stigma, bias, or discrimination. We apologize, and will continue to stay engaged in tough conversations to be better for the communities we serve." Franklin County is the largest county in Ohio by population and is home to the state's capital city of Columbus. Earlier this month, the county's board of health declared racism a public health crisis. The apology came after the agency released a document titled "COVID-19 General Guidance on Wearing Face Mask for African Americans and Communities of Color." FDPH said it aimed to "to ensure that all individuals feel safe and can protect themselves from the COVID-19 when out in public by wearing a face mask," according to WOSU. Story continues The document recommended that African Americans and other people of color "avoid fabrics that elicit deeply held stereotypes," including "bandanas," "skull prints," and "horror prints." "When utilizing a homemade mask, avoid bandanas that are red or blue, as these are typically associated with gang symbolism," the guidance read. It also urged against the wearing of a scarf "just simply tied around the head," claiming that doing such was associated with "unsavory behavior." In response to the agency's apology last week, some said the guidance pointed toward a larger problem a potential lack of diversity among the agency's staff. "Seriously, just let the measly few POC you employ help you when addressing these communities," one person wrote on Twitter. "And always proof your documents before releasing." As The New York Times reported, Black men, in particular, have expressed concern that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's April recommendation that encourages facial coverings to limit the spread of COVID-19 makes them susceptible to racial profiling and police harassment. In April, California Sen. Kamala Harris of California and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee asked federal law enforcement agencies to provide anti-bias training and guidance to police officers as states re-opened and masks became more prevalent. All 50 states have begun to relax stay-at-home orders, meaning residents are returning to businesses that now require facial coverings. Read the original article on Business Insider Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont greet one another before the final Democratic presidential primary debate in March. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Bernie Sanders, long seen by Democratic critics as a loose cannon and definitely not a team player, is stepping up to help former rival Joe Biden in ways likely to far exceed what he did for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Sanders ended his 2020 presidential campaign and cleared the field for Biden in April rather than fight to the bitter end as many supporters wanted. The Vermont senator is ordering his delegates to the Democratic convention to avoid criticizing Biden. Top lieutenants have set up a super PAC to back the former vice president. And Sanders allies have teamed up with Bidens on task forces to develop the party platform. That sets a tone very different from the mood in 2016, when Sanders stayed in the hotly contested nomination race against Clinton until June. His raucous supporters protested at the convention. Some ended up backing third-party candidates or Donald Trump. While Sanders himself campaigned hard for Clinton, their two camps continued to view each other with suspicion. Now, after more than three years of a Trump presidency, Sanders has made common cause with Biden and forged a more collaborative relationship. Both parties have been much easier to deal with; they have been more receptive, said Ben Tulchin, who did polling for Sanders in both 2016 and 2020. We all learned a lesson from last time: You dont want to underestimate Trump. Any marginal loss of votes could cost us the election. Trump, who would benefit from Democratic defections, has noted the Biden-Sanders rapport and repeatedly sought to drive a wedge between their camps. Just last week, in two tweets, Trump mocked Sanders, saying, "Crazy Bernie Sanders is not a fighter. He gives up too easy!" and again alleging without evidence that "the Dem establishment" sabotaged Sanders' chances in the nomination race. The looming question is how effective Sanders will be in bringing along his most committed backers. Many view Biden with indifference, suspicion or hostility. Story continues The majority of his supporters will back Joe Biden, said Chuck Rocha, a former Sanders strategist. The problem is they dont all support him right now. Its a problem today, but there is plenty of time to correct that. Sanders has said he is hopeful that Biden will move to the left on policy to win over voters Latinos, young people and progressives who were more inclined to vote for the Vermont senator. Biden "understands that if he's going to beat Trump, he needs to grow voter turnout, he needs to speak to young people in this country, who are not enamored with him at this point," Sanders said Friday on "The Young Turks," a progressive online talk show. "He needs to speak to the progressive community. He needs to speak to sections of the working-class community." A festering wound in the Democratic Party still rankles Sanders and his allies: Clinton and some of her supporters continue to blame Sanders for contributing to her loss, and Trump's election. Among other things, those critics say, his post-convention efforts for Clinton were tepid and halfhearted. Sanders and his supporters strongly disagree, noting that he held 39 rallies in 13 states over the last three months of the 2016 campaign. If Sanders is now offering more robust support to Biden, the senator's allies say, it is in part because Biden is a more willing partner. This time the Biden team is welcoming Sen. Sanders with open arms, said Jane Kleeb, a board member of Our Revolution, a political group aligned with Sanders. Sen. Sanders does not want to be accused again of not doing enough to defeat Donald Trump. This period poses a test of Sanders' relationship with his ardent followers. As he has tried to rally support for Biden in the interest of party unity, Sanders has taken flak from true believers and risked tarnishing his brand as an anti-establishment iconoclast. When Sanders dropped out of the race, Biden's delegate lead seemed insurmountable, and the coronavirus crisis was threatening the countrys public health and economic systems. But many of his supporters were disappointed that he did not continue campaigning, even if he could not win the nomination. They wanted him to fight for more convention delegates, to strengthen their bargaining position in drafting the platform and party rules. Whats at stake here is not just the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, Larry Cohen, board chair of Our Revolution, emailed to members in April. Were fighting to build a progressive Democratic Party. Once Sanders endorsed Biden, he leaned in on a number of fronts to help him and the Democratic Party a party to which Sanders, a political independent, is still not a member. In mid-April, Sanders signed a fundraising letter for the Democratic National Committee, a group he reviled in 2016 for favoring Clinton. He talked up Biden in his regular livestream appearances for supporters. He appeared with rapper Cardi B on Instagram and Twitter and addressed her concern that the youth, they dont really rock with Joe Biden because hes conservative. Along the way, Sanders won some important concessions. Biden reached an agreement allowing Sanders to keep hundreds of delegates he otherwise would have lost, avoiding a messy convention fight. Biden supported Sanders' effort to secure delegates in New York after officials canceled the state's presidential primary; the primary was subsequently reinstated. For his part, Sanders is asking his convention delegates to refrain from the kinds of protests that disrupted the 2016 convention and sign agreements to not attack Biden or party leaders on social media or in interviews. Do your best to avoid online arguments or confrontations. If engaging in an adversarial conversation, be respectful when addressing opposing viewpoints or commenting on the opposition, said a statement of social media policy for delegates, first reported by the Washington Post. Our job is to differentiate the senator from his opponents on the issues not through personal attacks." One obstacle Sanders faces in getting supporters to transfer their loyalty to Biden: Many are infrequent or new voters who engaged in politics for the first time when they backed him, and idealists averse to half-a-loaf politics. A USA Today-Suffolk University poll in April found that 14% of Sanders supporters do not intend to vote for Biden; 8% are undecided. Three out of five 61% said they were not excited about voting for him. Sanders predicted that most of them would come around. "At the end of the day, the vast majority of the people who voted for me, who supported me, will understand and do understand that Donald Trump is the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country," he told ABC News. "I think at the end of the day, they will be voting for Joe Biden." Jeff Weaver, a longtime Sanders strategist, set up the pro-Biden PAC to help sway Sanders voters, especially Latinos, young voters and progressives. The pitch, he said, will be that voting for Biden is the only way to build on Sanders' success in pushing the party to the left. We now have an opportunity to lock in some of those gains, Weaver said. Its not about convincing progressives that Joe Biden is Bernie Sanders or that he is a progressive icon. Weaver was criticized by some Sanders supporters for forming a super PAC, a vehicle for raising money from big donors that Sanders has opposed. We are trying to get big money out of politics, so this does that movement no good, Nina Turner, formerly co-chair of the Sanders campaign, told the Hill, a Washington news site. And for it to be so close to the Sanders movement is really heartbreaking." The policy task forces announced this month began holding Zoom meetings last week to make recommendations on topics including healthcare and climate change. Both Biden and Sanders selected high-profile representatives. The climate panel includes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, an advocate for the so-called Green New Deal who holds great sway with Sanders followers, and former Sen. John Kerry, a Biden ally who helped negotiate the Paris agreement, the Obama-era climate change treaty that Trump disavowed. Sanders has no illusion that Biden will embrace his full agenda by suddenly dropping his opposition to Medicare for All, for example. But he sees an opportunity to make gains. Its going to be the responsibility of our task force members to try and push in a respectful way, to move them as aggressively as we can," Sanders advisor Faiz Shakir said. For all their policy differences, Sanders and Biden are bound by their shared goal of beating Trump. "They understand what's at stake," Biden spokesman Jamal Brown said, "and our campaigns are working closely together to achieve our mission." The Bono Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC has asked the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to invite former President John Mahama for further questioning after levelling three counter-accusations against the latter. Abronye DC was invited by the Police following an official complaint lodged by former President, John Dramani Mahama over allegations of a planned assassination of some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). However, speaking in an interview on Neat FM's Me Man Nti programme, he denied making any false publication against the former President. He said apart from writing his statement, he made three more allegations against the former President. "I responded to his allegation and asked the police to conduct a thorough investigation because I will never accept that I peddled falsehood . . . I responded to his claims with three counter-accusations from me," he indicated. Listen to him in the video below In a petition to the Criminal Investigation Department signed by his lawyer, Tony Lithur, John Mahama said Abronye DC had alleged some NPP personalities will be assassinated by NDC hirelings doing the bidding of the former President.Mr. Mahama in the petition described the claims as false and urged the CID to probe the NPP Bono Regional Chairman.His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, has firmly instructed me to say that the allegations are, of course, false; and for the avoidance of doubt would like to state that neither the NDC nor he has planned to hire, hired or cause to be hired, or instructed any person or persons to murder or assassinate anybody, portions of the petition read. Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In this Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 file photo, female northern white rhinos Fatu, 19, right, and Najin, 30, left, the last two northern white rhinos on the planet, are fed some carrots by a ranger in their enclosure at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino - population, two - by in-vitro fertilization has been hampered by travel restrictions caused by the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File) It's not quite a case of coitus interruptus, but efforts to create a very special baby are definitely on hold. Blame the pandemic. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino subspeciespopulation, twoby in-vitro fertilization has been stalled by travel restrictions. And time is running out. The two northern white rhinos are female. The goal is to create viable embryos in a lab by inseminating their eggs with frozen sperm from dead males, then transfer them into a surrogate mother, a more common southern white rhino. As of January, three embryos had been created and stored in liquid nitrogen. But further key steps now have to wait. "It has been disrupted by COVID-19, like everything else," said Richard Vigne, managing director of Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, home of the two remaining rhinos. "That is, the process of collecting more eggs from the females as well as the process of developing the technique to introduce the northern white rhino embryo into the southern white rhino females." It's an international effort that includes conservationists from Kenya, the Czech Republic, Germany and Italymany affected by closed borders or restricted travel. In this Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 file photo, a ranger reaches out towards female northern white rhino Najin, 30, one of the last two northern white rhinos on the planet, in her enclosure at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino - population, two - by in-vitro fertilization has been hampered by travel restrictions caused by the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File) For those involved in the effort, acutely aware of time, the delay can be painful. The procedure to create viable embryos has proven to be safe, they say, and can be performed regularly before the animals become too old. In January, the transfer of the embryos to surrogates had been planned for the coming months. In March, the plan had been to collect another round of eggs from the two remaining females. Because those eggs are limited, scientists are working with embryos from southern white rhinos until they can establish a successful pregnancy. Seven or eight transfers so far have failed to take hold. A receptive female is needed, along with the knowledge of exactly when she ovulates. "We know time is working against us," said Cesare Galli, an in-vitro fertilization expert based in Italy. "The females will age and we don't have many to choose from." In this Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 file photo, a researcher works at the Avantea laboratory inseminating eggs from the last two remaining female northern white rhinos with frozen sperm from two rhino bulls of the same species, in Cremona, Italy. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino - population, two - by in-vitro fertilization has been hampered by travel restrictions caused by the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File ) He hopes restrictions on international travel will loosen in the coming weeks so key steps can resume in August. "The problem is quite serious," he said. "Certainly as soon as international travel is resumed, it will be the first priority to go" to Kenya and collect more eggs from the two females. Even when travel can resume, another problem looms. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy also is home to primatesnon-human primateswhich are susceptible to the coronavirus, Galli said. "If you bring in the virus accidentally, it's an additional risk," he said. "You threaten one species to save another." So for now, the two northern white rhinos wait. Fatu and her mother, Najin, roam and graze within sight of rangers in the company of one intended surrogate mother, a southern white rhino named Tewa. One of the rhinos' keepers, Zachariah Mutai, was sympathetic. In this Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 file photo, researcher Paola Turini shows the frozen sperm of Suni, a northern white rhino bull who died in 2014, during the insemination of eggs from the last two remaining female northern white rhinos, at the Avantea laboratory, in Cremona, Italy. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino - population, two - by in-vitro fertilization has been hampered by travel restrictions caused by the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File) In this Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 file photo, a researcher works at the Avantea laboratory inseminating eggs from the last two remaining female northern white rhinos with frozen sperm from two rhino bulls of the same species, in Cremona, Italy. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino - population, two - by in-vitro fertilization has been hampered by travel restrictions caused by the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File) In this Friday, May 1, 2020 file photo, a ranger observes the last remaining two northern white rhinos Fatu, left, and Najin, right, at the Ol Pejeta conservancy in Kenya. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino - population, two - by in-vitro fertilization has been hampered by travel restrictions caused by the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi, File) In this Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 file photo, a monitor displays the inseminating of eggs from the last two remaining female northern white rhinos with frozen sperm from two rhino bulls of the same species, at the Avantea laboratory in Cremona, Italy. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino - population, two - by in-vitro fertilization has been hampered by travel restrictions caused by the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File) "They won't have a chance anymore to have babies in a natural way, but the only hope is to save them with the scientific way," he said. The ultimate goal is to create a herd of at least five animals that could be returned to their natural habitat in Africa. That could take decades. Decades of poaching have taken a heavy toll on rhino species. The animals are killed for their horns, which have long been used as carving material and prized in traditional Chinese medicine for their supposed healing properties. The last male northern white rhino was a 45-year-old named Sudan, who gained fame in 2017 when he was listed as "The Most Eligible Bachelor in the World" on the Tinder dating app as part of a fundraising effort. He was euthanized in 2018 because of age-related ills. This effort to keep the northern white rhino subspecies alive has been a good way to draw the world's attention to the issue of extinction, Vigne said. "The rate of extinction of species on this planet is now the fastest that has ever been recorded, much faster than the rate dinosaurs went extinct, and that is as a result of human activity," he said. "So there comes a time where we have to draw a line and say no more." Explore further 'Amazing': New embryo made of nearly extinct rhino species 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. SOUTHWICK Police have arrested five Chicopee men following a six-week regional investigation into the theft of several firearms, cash and thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment from a construction company on Industrial Road. The break-in occurred April 8 at Crestview Construction Co. Police Chief Kevin Bishop announced the arrests in a post on the departments Facebook page late last week Surveillance video shows several suspects forced open a small side door and used cutting tools and grinders from the companys shop area to cut through a safe in an office and steal its contents, Bishop said. Others allegedly ransacked the shop and grabbed all the tools and equipment they could haul out of the building. Sgt. Brad Fisk and officers Kelly Parks and Andrew Smith were the first to respond and initiated an investigation. Detective Sgt. Tom Krutka took on the investigation. As it grew, he reached out to detectives from Westfield, Holyoke and Chicopee, as well as special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a state police task force and the Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force. Over the course of the investigation, five search warrants were requested and executed and some of the stolen items were recovered, Bishop said. Those arrested, all Chicopee residents, are: Eloy Hernandez, Skyler Zanoli. Ethan ONeil, Eric Dembinske, and Brandon Gallagher. Their ages, street addresses and mug shots were not provided in the Facebook post. All five were charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime for a felony, larceny of firearms and larceny over $1,200. After being booked at the Southwick Police Station, the suspects were taken to the Hampden County House of Correction in Ludlow where they were arraigned on video with Westfield District Court. All of the suspects were released on bail. Bishop said the investigation is ongoing. It "defies logic" that a teenage girl who was orally raped by her father failed to notice his penis implants, his lawyers told the Court of Appeal today. The man's legal team also submitted that it could have helped the defence at the trial if investigating gardai had asked the complainant for a description of her father's penis. Lawyers for the man today argued that the prosecution had created "a fundamental gap" in the evidence by providing no rational explanation as to how the sexual abuse had occurred without the complainant having noticed three plastic implants, which had been previously surgically inserted underneath her father's penis. The 51-year-old man, whose details cannot be published to protect the victims identity, had denied 22 counts of sexual abuse, oral rape, child sexual exploitation and attempted rape in the family's Dublin home on dates between October 2009 and July 2011, when the girl was aged between 13 and 15. He was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with the final six months suspended by Ms Justice Tara Burns on January 14, 2019. Opening an appeal against conviction today, the man's barrister Mr Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC said it was introduced during the trial that the appellant previously had implants inserted under the foreskin of his penis and these plastic objects were present at the time of the alleged offending. Mr O Lideadha said the complainant gave categoric evidence that the plastic objects were not present when she was sexually abused by her father. The defence had made the case at trial that it was impossible that the offences could have occurred without the complainant being aware of the said objects, he said. The barrister submitted that the prosecution had made no effort to address how the offence could have occurred without the complainant noticing these hard objects nor did they provide any rational explanation for the contradiction, which created a fundamental gap in the evidence. "These offences were alleged to have taken place over a very long period of time and were not isolated incidences and it defies logic to contend that she just did not notice the lumps," submitted Mr O'Lideadha. He went on to say that it could have helped the defence at trial if investigating gardai had asked the complainant for a description of her father's penis. Mr O'Lideadha said the prosecution in its closing speech had put forward a suggested explanation for the contradiction and relied on prejudicial material to support the State's case which was fundamentally unfair. "The case was not made that she must not have noticed the lumps but that she may not have known they were foreign objects or man-made," he added. An application was made to the trial judge to direct the jury in her charge that there was no evidence to support a suggestion by counsel for the prosecution that the complainant had noticed the lumps but did not realise they were foreign objects, he said, adding that this application was subsequently refused. Other grounds of appeal included that the trial judge had erred in refusing to charge the jury sufficiently as to the presumption of innocence as well as not giving a sufficiently clear and emphatic warning about the dangers of convicting on uncorroborated evidence, he said. In reply, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dominic McGinn SC, said the discrepancy in the evidence was a matter for the jury to assess. Mr McGinn explained that photographs of the man's penis had gone to the jury to show them what the implants looked like. In relation to the judge's charge, Mr McGinn said the judge had adequately charged the jury in relation to the presumption of innocence and all legal principles. He denied that there were any matters referred to in the prosecution's closing speech that were prejudicial with no probative value. The remote appeal hearing saw lawyers, the appellant and three judges of the Court of Appeal joined by video-link. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh, said the court would reserve its judgement. Passing sentence after the trial, Ms Justice Burns said the man had abused his daughter for his own sexual gratification in the atmosphere of fear and power he exercised in the house. In a victim impact statement, the then 22-year-old woman told the Central Criminal Court that she felt like her father killed her inside. I see his face and smile every time I look in the mirror. I look at myself and my body like I'm ashamed, she said. I see my father's face and feel his breath when I get intimate with a man, she continued. The woman said she was not scared of her father anymore and turned to face her father in court and told him: you made me feel I was worthless and you made me feel like it was my fault. You killed me inside and I will never forgive you for that. You didn't feel guilty and you didn't feel any remorse to me or the woman you abused for 20 years. I am no longer the powerless girl I once was, I got the justice I finally deserved. The court heard that the man physically abused the girl's mother for a number of years. The man was arrested and interviewed in July 2014 but denied all the allegations. He claimed the girl had fabricated the story because of his physical abuse of her mother. He did not accept the jury's verdict and has not expressed any remorse. In a letter, his lawyers said their client will never apologise for the sexual assaults as, if he did, it would mean admitting all the allegations laid against him. THE WHEEL of the year keeps turning despite the Covid -19 pandemic, and spring is making way for summer. It is the time of flowers blossoming, trees leafing, and birds singing. A time of sowing and planting, of rebirth and fertility. The long dry spell of weather since Saint Patrick's Day has seen nature at its best. Many people have been amazed at what they are now seeing and listening to as life moves to a slower pace. I wonder what they were doing up to the arrival of the virus on February 29, as it was all around us all the time. The old saying comes to mind, it's not what you are looking at, it's what you see. One of the glories of spring is birdsong and for many nothing excels the exquisite warbling of the blackbird. They were formerly known as Ouzels; male blackbirds are stunning jet-black birds with orange bills and eye rings. The female is less spectacular, a darkish brown. The blackbird was much loved in ancient Ireland for its melodic song, being praised in many poems and stories as a symbol of the beauty of nature. In some tales the blackbird is linked to blacksmiths, perhaps because of the colours of its feathers and beak resembles the black soot and golden fire. Blackbirds were said to impart mystical messages and it was believed that they could freely pass into the otherworld. They are associated with the druids and the Welsh goddess Rhiannon. They could put a person into a trance by the beauty of their singing. There is a story about Saint Kevin of Glendalough and blackbirds from the seventh century, Once, when Kevin was alone on retreat in a cabin in the woods, he put his hand out the window while he was praying. As he remained long in that position , in praise of God, a blackbird came and landed on his hand, built a nest, and laid eggs there. Kevin remained in that position, enduring pain, until the chicks were hatched and departed. Seamus Hennessy wrote a poem about this tale, entitled "St Kevin and the Blackbird". The blackbird is a member of the thrush family, so is a cousin of the song thrush , mistle thrush, the ring ouzel,(a summer visitor) and the redwing and fieldfare, winter visitors from Scandinavia. As blackbirds are fond of berries, they and other thrushes were often hunted and killed. The Earl of Stafford (Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1640-1641) commented that he flew hawks after blackbirds in the Phoenix Park which attracted many spectators. Blackbirds were not liked by the common people from their habit of ripping thatch off the roof, in search of insects, or nesting material. Oisin, in his lament for the old days of the Fianna when he returned from Tir na nOg, states that he prefers "the chatter of the blackbird of Leitir Laoi to the music of the clergy, and later says: "Blackbird of Doire an Chairn, your voice is sweet; I never heard on any height/music sweeter than your voice". The blackbirds referred to in the old nursery song "Sing a Song of Sixpence" may have been rooks, but we do know that in the twelfth century live birds were sometimes enclosed in pies and brought to the table where they were released and hunted by falcons. The blackbird's song is exquisite, musical soft and balmy, the perfect sound tract to spring and summer like no other bird. magnificent May READERS MAY have guessed by now that May is one of my favourite months of the year, as it is the time when nature explodes, all round us and the sweet scented air, is alive with the sound of birdsong. The birds are happy and busy as they rise early and go to sleep late. The tunes of the blackbird are sweet, melodic, and throaty and the cuckoo call when it echoes along the valley is delightful to hear. Nature has a way of making every day different beautiful and unique. It is nice to celebrate nature, not just for its own sake, but as an expression of the glory of God who is credited with creating the world. There is so much to admire and give thanks for including a tapestry of colour and growth during the month of May. It can often be the simple things in life, which can give people the most pleasurable of gifts for the least amount of effort. One of the things that give me pleasure during this time is the sight of the wild bluebell, whose flowering time covers April to June. The bluebell woods of Ireland and Britain have been written about over the centuries, and they are considered to be some of the most spectacular floral displays in Europe. The bluebell forms carpets in woodland and scrub, and are to be found also on hedge banks, and sea cliffs. The flower blooms just as the trees are coming into leaf, and they are an easily recognisable plant. The fragrant nodding violet blue flowers have creamy white anthers. They are clustered on one side in groups of five, to fifteen, each flower ending with two blue membranous bracts on its base. The narrow dark green leaves, which rise from the base may persist for some weeks after flowering. How lovely it is to stand in the heart of a bluebell wood and see the blues, spread out on every side. The trees are waking slowly into life and the birds sitting upon the boughs, sing songs as if celebrating nature also. The light shining through the trees, onto the flowers make them shimmer and shine, in all their splendour. While walking through a carpet of bluebells, a person can be filled with the wonders of the world all round them. The bluebell flower can lift the spirit, of renewal, restoration and hope, especially during the Covid -19 lockdown, as the wood is still a place of wonder and healing as it has been for so long for so many people. researchers at the University of California, Davis offers a significant advance in using magnetic resonance imaging to pick out even very small tumors from normal tissue. The work is published May 25 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. Chemical probes that produce a signal on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to target and image tumors. The new research is based on a phenomenon called magnetic resonance tuning that occurs between two nanoscale magnetic elements. One acts to enhance the signal, and the other quenches it. Previous studies have shown that quenching depends on the distance between the magnetic elements. This opens new possibilities for non-invasive and sensitive investigation of a variety of biological processes by MRI. The UC Davis team created a probe that generates two magnetic resonance signals that suppress each other until they reach the target, at which point they both increase contrast between the tumor and surrounding tissue. They call this two-way magnetic resonance tuning (TMRET). Combined with specially developed imaging analysis software, the double signal enabled researchers to pick out brain tumors in a mouse model with greatly increased sensitivity. "It's a significant advance," said senior author Yuanpei Li, Associate Professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This could help detect very small early-stage tumors." Two magnetic components The probe developed by the UC Davis team contains two components: nanoparticles of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), and pheophorbide a-paramagnetic manganese (P-Mn), packaged together in a lipid envelope. SPIO and P-Mn both give strong, separate signals on MRI, but as long as they are physically close together those signals tend to cancel each other out, or quench. When the particles enter tumor tissue, the fatty envelope breaks down, SPIO and P-Mn separate, and both signals appear. Li's laboratory focuses on the chemistry of MRI probes and developed a method to process the data and reconstruct images, which they call double-contrast enhanced subtraction imaging or DESI. But for expertise in the physical mechanisms, they reached out to Professors Kai Liu and Nicholas Curro at the UC Davis Department of Physics (Liu is now at Georgetown University). The physicists helped elucidate the mechanism of the TMRET method and refine the technique. The researchers tested the method in cultures of brain and prostate cancer cells and in mice. For most MRI probes, the signal from the tumor is up to twice as strong as from normal tissue - a "tumor to normal ratio" of 2 or less. Using the new dual-contrast nanoprobe, Li and colleagues could get a tumor-to-normal ratio as high as 10. Li said the team is interested in translating the research into clinical use, although that will require extensive work including toxicology testing and scaling up production before they could apply for investigational new drug approval. ### Additional authors on the paper are: Xiangdong Xue, Hongwei Lu, Yixuan He, Ye Yuan, Courtney Dreyer, Kit Lam, Jeffrey Walton and Tzu-yin Lin, UC Davis School of Medicine; Angelique Louie, UC Davis Department of Biomedical Engineering; Zhijie Chen, UC Davis Department of Physics and Georgetown University; Zhongling Wang and Na Tang, Shanghai Jiaotong University; Ziwei Lu, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Lizabeth Quigley and Dustin Gilbert, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and Katherine Ferrara, Stanford University. The work was partly supported by grants from the NIH and National Science Foundation. Comedian Dave Hughes has revealed he was almost attacked by an aggressive man during his morning beachside run in Melbourne on Saturday. The popular radio host told his Hit Network listeners on Monday how he was unknowingly stalked on his regular 10km route. Dave, 49, has since contacted Victoria Police for CCTV footage to help him identify his would-be attacker. Scary: Comedian Dave Hughes has revealed he was almost attacked by an aggressive man during his morning beachside run in Melbourne on Saturday Dave told his co-host Ed Kavalee that a fan had alerted him to the fact he was being stalked via a frightening Instagram message. After returning home from his workout, Dave received a message that read: 'My god, Dave. I saw you nearly got attacked by some guy today. Are you okay?' The message made the TV and radio star retrace his steps before he remembered someone yelling at him 2.5km into his run. 'I heard someone scream. I couldnt quite work it out, but Im thinking, "Are they screaming my name?" I hear swearing. Im not completely sure, because Im focusing on the run, but Im thinking, "Is that person yelling at me, and are they angry with me?"' Dave recalled to his co-host. No idea: The popular radio host told his Hit Network listeners on Monday how he was unknowingly stalked on his regular 10km route. Dave told his co-host Ed Kavalee that a fan had alerted him to the fact he was being stalked via a frightening Instagram message Dave asked the fan to clarify what he saw. The message reply read: 'He was yelling at you, all the words under the sun and (there was) a brief chase. Stay safe!' The fan also claimed the would-be attacker got within six metres of Dave before he picked up the pace on his run and lost him. Dave was baffled by the ordeal, saying: 'some really aggressive guy has chased me calling me every name under the sun. Hes ran at me, he's got within six metres of me. And Im still jogging my normal pace, and haven't looked around.' 'I do remember thinking, just keep going. When I ran back, I thought "am I going to get attacked on the run back",' Dave recalled. After having his fears confirmed by the mystery fan, he called the police to request CCTV footage and told them: 'He chased me on the beach and had bad intent... I want to see what he looks like.' Unfortunately, there are no security cameras in that area. Dave said he would be avoiding the area for the time being: 'it's going to take me a little while to run there again.' The spread of the new coronavirus has brought attention to the sharp differences in how wealthy countries -- such as the United States and those in Europe -- take care of their citizens in hard times. In Europe, the collapse of the economy has activated wage support programs that are keeping millions paid, for now. In the United States, more than 38 million people have sought unemployment financial assistance. U.S. lawmakers have passed $2 trillion in emergency support, increasing assistance for the jobless and providing up to $1,200 for most taxpayers. Such steps happened in earlier economic crises, as well, especially the worldwide financial crisis and the Great Recession. While European nations depend on existing programs to provide support, the U.S. depends on Congress to take action and pass emergency financial programs. In the U.S. you need to keep pumping money into the economy so that people continue to be employed, because it is through being employed that they are protected, said Andre Sapir, an economist with the Bruegel research institute in Brussels, Belgium. Which is the better system? Im not going into that discussion because that is really a huge issue, he added. The United States usually is below average on measures of social support among the 37 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The groups members are mostly developed democracies. The OECD reported last year that among its members the U.S. had the largest amount of people living in relative poverty, meaning living on half the average earnings. In the United States about with 17.8 percent of people live in relative poverty. In countries like Iceland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Finland, fewer than 6 percent of people live on such earnings. Here is a look at how the social safety nets of the U.S. and Europe compare: Unemployment benefits Americans on unemployment were collecting an average of about $372 weekly before the coronavirus appeared. The rescue plan gave jobless workers an additional $600 a week through July. It also extended support to those who lost work as a result of the coronavirus. Most states offer six months of unemployment, but the emergency legislation added 13 weeks. Germanys jobless benefit pays 60 percent of a workers past salary for one year. France provides up to 75 percent of the previous average daily wage for up to two years. Europe also has short-hours programs, which pay most of a workers salary if companies put them on shorter hours. More than 10 million workers are being paid that way in Germany, and about 12 million in France. Health insurance Almost half of Americans receive health insurance through their employers. Another 34 percent get benefits through the government programs Medicare and Medicaid. Six percent are insured individually. Based on 2018 numbers, 9 percent had no insurance at all. In Europe, nations mostly have universal health care. The systems are generally funded by taxes. Parental benefits The United States is the only country in the OECD to not offer paid leave to new mothers. Federal law does not require private employers to provide paid family leave. Among private companies, 16 percent of workers were offered paid family leave as of March 2018. Some states offer paid family leave insurance for four to 10 weeks. In France, mothers are offered at least 16 weeks of leave for their first child and must take at least 8 weeks. Workers get daily maternity leave earnings of up to 89 euros, or a little under $100. Some professions permit more favorable contracts, up to the full payment of earnings. And Denmark gives 52 weeks of parental leave after a birth or adoption, to be shared by the parents. How much they earn depends on individual workplace agreements. Disability benefits An estimated 8.3 million Americans collect disability benefits earned through Social Security money. The payments average $15,100 a year just above the poverty level . Requirements are hard to meet and most people seeking disability benefits are denied. In France, fully disabled people can receive public health insurance payments of at least 292 euros, or $311, a month. Those who are unable to work and also depend on help for daily tasks may receive monthly payments of $1,500 to $3000. The costs Europes more expansive social safety nets come at a cost, largely paid through taxing workers and employers. The total value of goods and services provided by a country is called its gross domestic product, or GDP. In the United States, 6 percent of the GDP in 2018 was social security payments, the OECD reports. In France, the amount was 16 percent. And, social security payments accounted for 14 percent of Germanys 2018 GDP. Im Ashley Thompson. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story institute - n. an organization created for a particular purpose (such as research or education) society - n. people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values safety net -n. something that provides security against misfortune or difficulty benefit -n. something extra (such as vacation time or health insurance) that is given by an employer to workers in addition to their regular pay salary -n. an amount of money that an employee is paid each year previous -adj. immediately before in time or order insurance -n. an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company and the company promises to pay money if the person is injured or dies, or to pay money equal to the value of something (such as a house or car) if it is damaged, lost, or stolen adoption -n. the act of taking a child of other parents legally as your own child task -n. a piece of work Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joins a deliberation with deputies from Hubei Province at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping stressed fortifying the public health protection network when participating in a deliberation at the annual national legislative session. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks Sunday afternoon when joining in discussions with lawmakers from central China's Hubei Province. Xi stressed reforming disease prevention and control system; boosting the epidemic monitoring, early warning and emergency response capacity; perfecting the treatment system for major epidemics; and improving public health emergency laws and regulations. He commended the vital contributions and enormous sacrifices made by the people in Hubei and its capital city of Wuhan in fighting COVID-19, and expressed his sincere appreciation. Noting the continued spread of the virus overseas, clusters of cases in some domestic areas, sporadic cases in Hubei and daily increases of new asymptomatic infections, Xi urged continued efforts to forestall both imported cases and domestic resurgence to ensure that the hard-won progress in epidemic containment is not lost. Xi said the most imperative task for Hubei is to spare no efforts to coordinate COVID-19 prevention and control and economic and social development, stressing paying close attention to addressing possible "post-epidemic syndromes." China's public health and medical service systems have played their key roles in dealing with the epidemic, but some weak links and inadequacies were also exposed, Xi said, urging prompt efforts to fix them. Noting that prevention is the most economic and effective health strategy, Xi emphasized more targeted and effective prevention and the fulfillment of responsibilities for reporting infectious disease epidemics and public health emergencies. The key to epidemic monitoring and early warning lies in timeliness and accuracy, Xi said, calling for improving the monitoring mechanism for diseases of unknown causes and abnormal health incidents, and establishing a smart multi-point trigger system for early warning, among others. Xi ordered strengthening capacity building to deal with major epidemics and organizing drills and training. He also spoke of the need to build infrastructures including national medical centers and regional medical treatment centers, and the need to boost the system of public health laws and regulations. Xi called for adopting the philosophy of full life cycle management throughout the whole process of urban planning, construction and management, faster development of a public health system that fits into the country's rapidly-advancing urbanization and densely-populated cities, and consistent efforts to improve rural living environments. He stressed promoting and upholding the practices including wearing masks, sorting garbage, social distancing and online reservation for hospital visits, which have become a social norm in China. Taiwan's Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung walks past a logo for the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) ahead of the arrival of President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei on May 19, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) Taiwans Denial of a Seat at WHO Has Become Not Just a Political Concern, But a Global One Commentary In 1988, I lived in the Taipei International Youth Activity Center, studied Mandarin at Guoyu Ribao, and taught English at a bushiban cram school, the California Language Academy. It was a fantastic life-changing time for me, and I learned about Taiwan and even myself, navigating Taipeis bus system and finding jobs to support myself, really for the first time in my life. Over the past few decades, Taiwan hasnt just been an economic success, but a democratic success as well. Taiwans achievements in these and other areas have borne fruit, most recently in its successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are happy to say that through more than 20 years of strong health partnerships with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the United States and Taiwan have been able to tackle a wide range of issues, including the SARS outbreak response, cancer research, dengue vaccine research, and even regional trainings for Zika diagnostic tools. Initially, during the COVID-19 crisis, Taiwan was judged by many to be one of the most at-risk populations, given its proximity to and significant links with mainland China and the city of Wuhan itself. However, Taiwans population of 23 million has only about 440 confirmed cases to date, having instituted controls, testing, and contact tracing in a targeted manner that seems to have almost eliminated the possibility of community spread. Yet Taiwan is denied any representation at the World Health Organization (WHO), even though its proven to be a capable, willing, and responsible stakeholder in global health. Even though Taiwan has been denied participation at the World Health Assembly (WHA), the annual meeting of WHO members, Taiwan has been quite active in implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR), including frequent and transparent information-sharing with the United States and other countries. For example, Taiwan commissioned Johns Hopkins Universitys Center for Health Security to evaluate progress on implementing the IHRs by undergoing a third-party Joint External Evaluation, showing its ongoing commitment to the health and safety of its people, and being a trusted partner in international health responses. The report found that Taiwan had met most goals of the IHRs and had strengths in areas such as disease surveillance, development of national policy, and antimicrobial stewardship. In a video conference with the Center for Strategic and International Studies this month, I spoke with Vice Premier Chen Chi-mai about the COVID-19 response. He attributes Taiwans success to the lessons learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak there. Because of the Chinese governments lack of transparency and its insistence on keeping Taiwan from participating as an observer at the WHA, Taiwan had to take decisive action on its own. As part of the Taiwan model, Chen highlighted the three pillars of Taiwans response: transparency, technology, and teamwork. All communities with a stake in global health should be able to contribute and benefit from the WHOs efforts. This is especially true for Taiwan, who neither benefits from Chinas reports nor receives any independent information from the WHO. As HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Chen both agreed during a meeting in April, Taiwan should be able to contribute to and benefit from WHOs efforts as a global health leader. Nobody should be left out of the international efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 300,000 people and devastated the global economy. We should involve all local, state, provincial, and national governments, particularly ones that have a proven track record of success. Its a shame the WHO wont allow Taiwan to support the global health response in this time of crisis, when the world can learn from Taiwans exemplary response. Instead, the WHO is playing politics instead of promoting public health. The WHO has a great history and the highest of missionsand it should allow Taiwan to help it fulfill that mission. Eric D. Hargan is the deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda was at the centre of a controversy on Monday after he did not undergo quarantine on arrival from Delhi by a flight in Bengaluru as stipulated, but defended it, saying he came under the exempted category being in-charge of pharmaceuticals, an essential sector. The Karnataka government came to his defence and said the Centre had issued orders exempting such people handling essential sectors from quarantine norms. The minister, also Bengaluru North MP, drove off in an official car with out undergoing institutional quarantine as mandated by the Karnataka government for air travellers coming from high COVID-19 prevalence states after arriving by a commercial airline flight, services of which resumed after two months. It triggered a controversy with several people taking to social media accusing him of violating norms while others saying rules are only meant for citizens and not for VVIPS, including ministers. The standard operating procedure issued by the government mandates passengers coming from high COVID-19 prevalence states -- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh -- to go for paid institutional quarantine for a period of seven days. Defending himself, Gowda said he being a minister in-charge of department of pharmaceuticals, which comes under essential supplies, he is under the exempted clause and hence has been allowed to proceed. "You need people to work for the control (of COVID-19) right? If you say no one should come out can you stop this? As a pharma minister I need to check production, supplies, and ensure it reaches last point, it is my responsibility," the chemicals and fertilisers minister told reporters. "I come under the exemption clause and I have the exemptions... Aarogya Setu App on my phone also shows I'm safe. After checking every things we conduct ourselves in a responsible way. Modi (PM Narendra Modi) also won't spare us, if we move around according to our wish," he added. State Minister S Suresh Kumar, who is spokesperson for COVID-19 in Karnataka said, "He (Gowda) is exempted in his capacity as a minister handling pharma sector... orders has already been issued by the central government (in this regard)." Gowda, who later held a meeting with state ministers and officials, also said his body temperature was checked before he left the airport. The minister said he has not come in contact with any one and there were only 11 passengers in the flight. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader also said though he could have opted for a special flight much before, he waited for domestic flights to resume as "I am not a person who misuses things." According to the SoP, at the end of the seven days, the passengers coming from these six states would be sent to home quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19. Those coming from other states have been asked to follow 14 days of home quarantine. In special cases involving businessmen coming for urgent work, they are permitted without quarantine if they produce negative test report of COVID-19 from ICMR approved laboratory obtained within two days ahead of their travel date. Nearly two dozen large hospital chains received more than $5billion in federal grants under the CARES Act, even though they already sit on over $100billion in cash. The Providence Health System, one of the nations largest and richest hospital chains based in Seattle, received at least $509million in government funds meant to help health care providers from going under during the coronavirus pandemic. But Providence Health is already sitting on nearly $12billion in cash which it invests and in turn generates more than $1billion in profits from in a good year, according to a New York Times report. The healthcare institution invests in hedge funds, runs a pair of venture capital funds and works with private equity firms like Carlyle Group. Under the CARES Act economic stimulus package $72billion in grants have been disbursed by the Department of Health and Human Services since April to hospitals and other health care providers through the $2.2trillion bailout program. But much of that money is flowing into hospitals that already sitting on reserves of billions of dollars, while smaller, poorer hospitals are pleading for more help. Providence Health System, one of country's biggest chains, received at least $509million in government funds despite sitting on nearly $12billion in cash reserves. One of Providence Health's hospitals Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington above The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio (above) also received $199million. Last year the clinic had seven billion in cash that it used to generate $1.2billion in investment profits and paid investment advisers $28million to manage the massive reserves In total twenty large recipients, including Providence, received more than $5billion in aid in recent weeks, according to a Good Jobs First analysis of federal data. Wealthy hospitals that cashed in under CARES Act Under the CARES Act some $72billion in grants have been disbursed by the Department of Health and Human Services since April, much of that money went to wealthy hospital chains with billions of dollars in reserves. Providence Health System - one of the nations largest and richest hospital chains based in Seattle received at least $509million in aid. Has reserve of $12billion in cash HCA Healthcare and Tenet Healthcare - received more than $1.5billion in federal aid The Cleveland Clinic - Received $199million in aid. Last year had $7billion in cash. Ascension Health - The St. Louis-based company that operates 150 hospitals across country received at least $211million. Has reserves of $15.5billion in cash Source: New York Times Advertisement Those hospital chains were already sitting on more than $108billion in cash, as per regulatory filings and bond-rating firms S&P Global and Fitch. That money comes from private donations, venture capital firm investments, hedge fund and equity firm investments and profits from treating patients. Hospitals that serve a greater proportion of wealthier patients with private insurance received twice as much relief as those who serve low-income, Medicaid or no coverage patients, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study. HCA Healthcare and Tenet Healthcare, based in Tennessee with 184 hospital locations in the US and UK, is another medical institution that benefited from the aid. The system received more than $1.5billion in federal funds and is known to trade chains with billions of dollars in reserves and large credit lines from banks. An HCA spokesman said that the aid did not cover lost revenue and higher expenses due to COVID-19 and the pandemic has suppressed company profits. The Cleveland Clinic also received $199million. Last year the clinic had $7billion in cash that it used to generate $1.2billion in investment profits and paid investment advisers $28million to manage the massive reserves. A Cleveland clinic spokeswoman said the aid 'helped to partially offset the significant losses in operating revenue due to COVID-19, while we continue to provide care to patients in our communities.' HCA Healthcare and Tenet Healthcare, based in Tennessee with 184 hospital locations in the US and UK, is another medical institution that benefited from the aid receiving more than $1.5billion in federal aid. HCA's Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California above Ascension Health, which is based in St. Louis and operates 150 hospitals across the country, received at least $211million from Health and Human Services, while sitting on $15.5billion in cash. Ascension's St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin above Ascension Health, which is based in St. Louis and operates 150 hospitals across the country, received at least $211million from Health and Human Services, while sitting on $15.5billion in cash. The company operates a venture capital fund and an investment firm that advises other companies how to invest their money. With their reserves, they would have enough cash to fully operate for nearly eight months if they were unable to generate any revenue. While these big hospitals are cashing in, smaller more rural ones are only given enough money to stretch a matter of weeks. Eastern Kentuckys biggest rural hospital system St. Claire HealthCare got just $3million in federal money in April which is enough to cover two weeks of payroll. Without enough money to stay running the hospital system has furloughed employees and canceled some vendor contracts. Similarly the Harris Health System, which runs two hospitals in Houston, treats mostly uninsured patients. In a good year it has a profit margin of just one percent. In the pandemic the system has lost about $43million in patient revenue and has received just a quarter of that in federal aid. Before the pandemic hit around 400 hospitals in rural America were on the brink of closing according to Alan Morgan, the chief executive of the National Rural Hospital Association. The country's 2,000 rural hospitals had enough cash to keep running for just 30 days on average. However, the wealthy hospital chains argue that they needed the money to offset hefty losses as the COVID-19 crisis led to the limit of elective surgeries and nonessential services. Providence told the Times that the grant helped prevent layoffs and pay cuts for staff. 'Remember, the pandemic isnt over. We need to be financially stable for the next possible wave,' spokeswoman Melissa Tizon said. The Health department devised formulas to disperse the aid money and favored wealthy institutions. One formula was based on how much money a hospital collected from Medicare last year. Another was based on the hospitals revenue. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaking during May 19 press conference The Health Department devised formulas to disperse the aid money and favored wealthy institutions. One formula was based on how much money a hospital collected from Medicare last year. Another was based on the hospitals revenue. The Health and Human Services also tried to create funnels of funding for rural hospitals. However, the department failed to consider each hospital's existing financial resources in doling out the aid. 'This simple formula used the data we had on hand at that time to get relief funds to the largest number of health care facilities and providers as quickly as possible,' department spokeswoman Caitlin B. Oakley said. 'While other approaches were considered, these would have taken much longer to implement,' she added. Now some politicians are decrying the federal governments approach to distributing the aid. In a letter this month to the Department of Health and Human Services two House committee chairmen said the Trump administration appeared to disregard Congress intent in handing out grants. 'The level of funding appears to be completely disconnected from need,' the two Democrats Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey and Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts said. Similar to the disjointed distribution of hospital funds, the Trump administration has been criticized for its bailout program tax break that goes overwhelmingly to the countrys biggest companies, while smaller firms were kept out. I hope the Debenhams workers in the Republic obtain every support they need, and a justice of settlement, too - 2,000 people have lost their jobs with the liquidation of the 11 Debenhams stores in Dublin, Cork, Galway and elsewhere around the country. If the EU has a 100bn fund to support businesses during the coronavirus, why shouldn't retail staff also be helped? It's a sad fact, however, that department stores have been having problems, or failing, in many parts of the globe. The prestigious Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. The famous Macy's in New York is struggling, as is the ultra-practical John Lewis in London. We have long mourned the loss of Clerys in Dublin, and the classy Robinson & Cleaver in Belfast is gone more than 30 years. In its heyday, the Belfast store, sited on the corner of Donegall Square, was a hub of attraction for cross-border shoppers, and in more hostile eras of partition politics, it softened relations with its reputation for courteous customer manners as well as stunning tableware and linens. The department store played a surprisingly central role in the emancipation of women. Le Bon Marche in Paris - still there in the Rue de Sevres - is considered to be the pioneering department store, opened in the 1850s. Within 20 years, the legendary Au Printemps in the Boulevard Haussmann was launched, with the deliberate aim of attracting affluent women shoppers, then often confined and restrained by rules of middle-class decorum. A respectable woman didn't go out alone. A respectable young girl had to have a chaperone. Middle-class women entertained their friends at home. The department store changed that. It ensured that female customers would feel safe, and wouldn't be molested or harassed within its precinct. It encouraged browsing in the variety of its floors. It introduced the department-store cafeteria and restaurant, where women could meet each other, without the supervision of either a chaperone or a male. You could say that the department store prompted the practice of the 'ladies who lunch'. It certainly expanded the boundaries of freedom of movement for women, and by the 1890s that greater sense of liberty (enhanced by the bicycle) was feeding into suffragette politics and the push for higher education. But the department store also promised luxury and glamour, as Gordon Selfridge knew when he founded his Oxford Street store in 1900s London. The luxury department stores in every capital city in Europe "were built on a magnificent scale, with interiors like film sets", according to the historian Norman Stone, where "commercial transactions would be carried out to the strains of palm-court orchestras". As always, there was another side to the story: the socialist-realist writer Emile Zola described in his novel Au Bonheur des Dames the demanding conditions, long hours and straitened lodgings that staff working in the big department stores often endured. Although these improved as the 20th century wore on, life in the retail trade wasn't always rosy. Yet the department store did increasingly provide opportunities for women, not only to shop in a gorgeous emporium, but to advance up the career ladder as employees. Women became managers, professional buyers, window dressers, even bosses and directors. An outstanding example was a farmer's daughter from Co Limerick, Mary Leahy, who attended school in Dublin - at the Dominican, Eccles Street - and stayed on in the city to work at Guineys store on Talbot Street. She was such a dynamic presence that the boss, Denis Guiney, married her. Mary Guiney was a co-equal director of Clerys in the 1940s, when it became the largest, and most successful, department store in Ireland - despite wartime shortages, it managed to source all kinds of everything. (Mary Guiney only died in 2004, aged 103.) It helps to marry the boss, surely, but she was acknowledged, in her own right, as an outstanding businesswoman. The department-store business was hit by changing shopping habits well before the pandemic. By the 2000s, there were myriad shopping malls and, 10 years later, online shopping began making an impact. "Gucci sunglasses and Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses could now be found on dozens, if not hundreds, of websites," wrote the Financial Times. The subsequent problems at Debenhams really became part of a trend. Erik Nordstrom, one of the big American department-store magnates, says department stores will rally after the coronavirus, but there will be fewer of them. The retail trade is something of a human need - the browsing aspect, and the human contact, too, of a good department store is irreplaceable online. Let's hope the Debenhams employees become part of that eventual recovery. I have a poignant enduring memory connected with the department store. When my sister was in a New York hospice, in her last week of life, she was still alert enough to notice a special offer in a Lord & Taylor sale. "Get over to Fifth Avenue right away," she told me, as I sat by her bedside. "Lord & Taylor's pure cotton nightdresses are the most beautiful bargain you'll ever possess!" Though the L&T is no longer as it was, either, as summer approaches, I take those nighties out, and think of my sister's last desire that I should possess such beautiful nightwear. In commemoration of this year's Africa Day, the Africa Union Commission, (AUC) and the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) will host a live virtual Solidarity Concert for the African Union COVID-19 Response Fund, under the theme: Health Security in the Context of COVID-19, on Monday, 25 May. The Africa Day #StrongerTogether Solidarity Concert is aimed at inspiring action with key messages on the prevention, protection and response measures to contain Covid-19 and galvanize solidarity for financial and in-kin contributions to the Africa COVID-19 Response Fund The Virtual Concert will be hosted by the British-Congolese comedian, actor and philanthropist, Eddie Kadi; Nigerian singer and songwriter, Chidinma and Cameroonian television host and entrepreneur, Pamela Happi (Miss P).African artists billed to perform live at the Africa Day 2020 #StrongerTogether Solidarity Concert include: 2face Idiba (Nigeria); Sakordie (Ghana); Aminux (Morocco); Toofan (Togo); Busiswa (South Africa); Becca (Ghana); Betty G(Ethiopia) , Salatiel (Cameroun), Hiro (DRC); Rudeboy (Nigeria); Master KG (South Africa), Nikita Kering (Kenya).Others are Salif Keita (Mali); Nadya Shanab (Egypt); Kanvee Adams (Liberia), DJ Spinall (Nigeria); DJ Moh Green (Algeria); Awilo Longomba (DRC); Ahmed Soultan (Morocco); Pape Diouf (Senegal); Daphne (Cameroon); Lizah James (Mozambique); and Naiboi (Kenya) among others.The #StrongerTogerther Africa Day Solidarity Concert will be broadcast live on Trace TV channels on DSTV, NigezieTV, GoldmyneTV, waptv, AIT and other partners stations and live-streamed on AU, TRACE and AFRIMA Facebook pages and other social media handles at 4pm (WAT), 5pm (CAT) and 6pm (EAT). On Friday a CoreCivic employee who works at the Silverdale Detention Center tested positive for COVID-19 after a close family member tested positive. The employee was tested Thursday as a precautionary measure. CDC recommended guidelines are being utilized at the Silverdale facility to assure the safety and well-being of all staff and inmates. Jail personnel are also currently tracking all inmates and personnel who may have come into contact with the employee. Sheriff Jim Hammond would like to reassure the public and those who may have family or friends incarcerated at Silverdale Detention Center that Hamilton County Sheriffs Office and CoreCivic personnel are maintaining extraordinary measures to routinely sanitize the facility. The sheriffs office is continuing to work with CoreCivic and the Hamilton County Health Department to safeguard the health of our inmates and personnel due to COVID-19. This includes planning facility wide testing employees and inmates. Currently, Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, CoreCivic, and the Hamilton County Health Department are formulating a plan to provide facility wide testing. The testing will be scheduled as soon as testing materials are made available. The Hamilton County Health Department is treating this incident as an urgent situation and is working closely with the Tennessee state government to coordinate the testing efforts. Snowpiercer Prepare to Brace Season 1 Episode 2 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next Photo: Justina Mintz/TM & B) Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc. A WarnerMedia Company. All Rights Reserved Theres been a decade-long battle raging on Harry Potter sites about how many kids could possibly attend Hogwarts. J.K. Rowling says the number is about a thousand, but close attention to the stories she wrote yields an entirely different result. The more likely result, when you factor in how many tween witches and wizards we actually meet or see in the castles classrooms, is less than 300. Youre probably wondering why nitpicking about Harry and his crew matters in the slightest, but the query has always struck me as quietly important. Can we trust a fantasy creator who builds a world and doesnt work out all the minutiae? If the details are hazy and ill-formed the entire universe starts growing shakier (see: the disastrous decision to make transoceanic travel happen lickety-split in Game of Thrones). We learn at the very end of this second Snowpiercer episode that there are about 3,000 people onboard the train, Tailies included. And, like Layton sketching out the trains compartments on a strip of ripped shirt, we also start to compile a trove of other info about how it all works, info that needs to prove sound if this world is going to hold up. Third class seems to be the most populated (and honestly, the most fun they have ramen). Pseudo-opioids are circulating through the train via covert blowjobs. The destruction of just one train car, in this case the slaughterhouse, can set off systematic fireworks that threaten to shut down food production entirely. If the train slows too precipitously, it stops putting out heat, which slows it down further, which ends up in a mass extinction event of what are probably the last remaining humans on Earth. Yeah. But my big questions emerge from the way the Tailies are integrated into the trains systems and production cycles. In the seven years Snowpiercer has been circling the globe (how did they lay the tracks, by the way?), the trains hospitality crew and jackboots have developed procedures for using Tailies to their advantage, like deploying them as sanitation workers and recruiting their brightest kids as apprentices to learn vital trades like engineering or botany, while keeping them prisoners in a continual-motion gulag. The balancing act that Melanie is always going on about relies on keeping the cows alive, sure, but it also means that the Tailies must stay confined. You Tailies dont have to do anything. Just sit around and dont rebel, Ruth tells them in her Aunt Norris voice. And in a way shes right. Theyre allowed to suffer the same old indignities day in and day out as long as they meekly accept their fate as the scum of the train. This episode is replete with cruelties the Wilford Co. sees fit to impose. First there is the method of amputation theyve invented, where they coat a bare arm in water and then shove it through a specially designed hole in the train (World-building query: Was this hole already there? Or did they specially design it while the train was in motion?) to freeze the limb to oblivion. Its a horrifying scene Ruths complete callousness and willingness to conduct such torture on a small child are indicative of the dehumanization shes grown accustomed to. A good clean arm, she tells Melanie later, it shattered nicely. This wasnt Ruths first amputation. (Melanie doesnt look quite as pleased, but then again, we see a glimpse of the photos in her locker, a baby pressed up against Melanies face is she a mother?) Then there are the three Tailie rebels headed into The Drawers, a sort of suspended animation designed to keep criminals in a state of limbo indefinitely. (This is essentially pirate law: As stowaways you have no right to trial.) Its the ultimate prison sentence it takes away not only ones physical freedoms but also the ability to control ones mind. And its also, we learn, not entirely scientifically sound. Nikki Genet, the young woman who was accused and convicted of the trains first murder, is coming out of her sleep, and her body systems are thrown out of whack and her arm has a gnarly looking injection site infection like something out of Requiem for a Dream. Meanwhile two larger storylines play out and intersect across this episode. In the first, Snowpiercer heads into a rocky stretch of track and a series of avalanches. The option to slow down and hope to avoid triggering more snowfall gets tossed out perpetual motion keeps the train heated and electrified, and first class guests content in their saunas. In the second, Layton continues his investigation into Sean Wises murder and dismemberment. (Are you ready to detect, detective? Bess asks him in a line so cheesy that I can only hope it slipped in by accident.) He heads to third class to interview the engineer who found Seans body and then to the Night Car, a Babylon Berlin-esque club where the lonely and broken come to heal or booze. Miss Audrey, the cars doll-faced star, is the one who found Nikki with the first body. She claims Nikki was obviously high, too far gone to have committed the crime, most likely doped up on kronole, the trains version of fentanyl the same drug we see Breachman Ossweiler (the former midfielder with the Cockney-esque accent) pass to the Tailie whose mothers arm was put through the ice hole in exchange for a wet one. In a nice little twist of fate for him, Layton gets not only a glass of whiskey (give Daveed Diggs the Emmy for his work imbibing) but a little romp with his former fiancee Zarah (or perhaps wife, its still unclear) before she offers him a helpful tip. Sean, she says, must have been some kind of snitch for the powers that be. He was offered perks like their win in the baby lottery reproduction is cut off in the Tail and highly controlled in the rest of the train it seems. That usually means you have a friend uptrain. The autopsy offers up more clues: whoever cut off Sean Wises arms and legs used a different tool on them something like a hacksaw from what they used to relieve him of his genitals. Choke marks mean this person enjoyed watching him suffer. Although Layton and Bess eventually find the missing limbs in a vent inside the freezer (why dont movie villains ever screw those things back into place properly?), it appears that the butchering team had nothing to do with it, and even if they did, well, they turn into a pile of popsicles after a massive avalanche sends their tools flying, including a cattle prod that makes contact with the glass and shatters it entirely. (A world-building/physics question here: How is it that a massive avalanche potentially moving hundreds of miles an hour down a mountain doesnt shatter the trains glass, but this one poke from a metal instrument does?) At stake, as always, is the precious balance that Melanie harps on. With the trains entire herd of cows dead, they now lack the beef they consumed, the manure they used as fertilizer, the methane they converted into other organic chemicals and maybe used for heat or light. (I Googled methane, folks.) The other balance at risk, she knows, is Laytons continued allegiance to the Tail. Its unclear if Melanie knows about the train diagram he drew on a strip of T-shirt and dropped for the sanitation crew to pick up on their way back to the Tail. But what they both know is that Sean was a snitch, and that Wilford Co. is so determined to find his killer because they need to know what little tidbits he may have revealed under duress. Its crucial to wisely distribute information, just like supplies. But at the end the question that keeps me hangin on until next week is about that cannibal story Layton relayed. Does the Tail hold its own dark secrets? Or is this just tough-guy strategy? After this weeks ice amputation, I dont know if I can also handle a flashback scene from Alive: Snowpiercer Edition. The Civil War was Americas most costly war with some 360,222 Union and 258,000 Confederate lives lost. Many historians put the death toll higher, but regardless, the number of Civil War casualties exceeds the nations loss in all its other wars combined -- the two World Wars, the Korean and Vietnamese Wars and subsequent wars right up through conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Memorial Day had its origin as Decoration Day following that most horrible and costly war, dating back to April 25th, 1866 when a former chaplain in the Confederate Army accompanied a group of women from Columbus, Mississippi to Friendship Cemetery -- the burial ground for about 1600 men who died in the Battle of Shiloh -- for the purpose of honoring the dead with decorations of flowers. At that time, Columbus, like the rest of the South, was occupied by Union Army forces, and some townspeople were fearful of creating new animosity, assuming that the decorations would favor Confederate over Union graves. The women had no such intention, and in decorating the graves of both sides equally their action was the catalyst for a national reconciliation movement. At the time the New York Herald published a tribute, noting: The women of Columbus, Mississippi, have shown themselves impartial in their offerings to the memory of the dead. They strewed flowers alike on the graves of the Confederate and of the Union soldiers. Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored those lost while fighting in the Civil War. When the United States became embroiled in World War I and World War II, the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in subsequent wars. With the observance of Memorial Day being inconsistent from state to state, finally in 1968 Congress declared Memorial Day as a federal holiday. Hardly a year goes by without a commemoration of some war memorial event anniversary. October 4, 2018 commemorated 25 years since U.S. forces suffered the Black Hawk Down defeat in Somalia. September 1, 2019 commemorated the 80th anniversary of the commencement of World War II, which officially began when Germany invaded Poland. May 4, 2020 was the 75th anniversary of VE Day, when the guns fell silent at the end of that war in Europe. August 15, 2020 will mark the 75th anniversary of the end of fighting in the Pacific theater, when Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. November 11, 2021 will mark the 100th anniversary of the burial of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. A discussion of Memorial Day would just not be complete without appreciating the significance of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, formally established on what was then known as Armistice Day, three years after the end of World War I. Congress had approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier who had fallen on a battlefield in France at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The Tomb of the Unknown Solider would come to be considered the most hallowed grave at Arlington Cemetery -- the most sacred military cemetery in the United States. And so it was on November 11, 1921, that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was consecrated in the presence of President Warren G. Harding and other government, military, and international dignitaries. That Unknown Soldier from World War I was buried with highest honors, lowered to his final resting place on top of a two-inch layer of soil brought from France -- that he might rest forever atop the earth on which he died. The selection process for the World War II Unknown proved more difficult than that of World War I, since American soldiers had fought on three continents. Then the process was interrupted by the Korean War, which resulted in numerous deaths who could not be identified. Finally on May 28, 1958, caskets bearing the Unknowns of World War II and the Korean War arrived in Washington. The caskets were rotated such that each unknown serviceman rested on the Lincoln catafalque, a raised platform in the Capitol Rotunda that held President Lincolns casket in April 1865. Two days later on May 30, then the official date of Memorial Day, those Unknowns were transported to Arlington, where they were interred in the plaza beside their WW I comrade. Due to the advances in DNA identification technology, most every Vietnam War casualty recovered could be identified. Yet with so many missing in action it was decided that the crypt designated for the Vietnam Unknown could remain empty. It was rededicated on September 17, 1999 to honor all missing U.S. service members from the Vietnam War, with the inscription on the crypt reading, Honoring and Keeping the Faith with Americas Missing Servicemen, 1958-1975. The inscribed words on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known but to God are an uplifting reminder that all those who died for the American cause should have a special place in our hearts as they do in Gods. Anyone who visits the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year regardless of weather by special armed Tomb Guard sentinels cannot but be humbled and reminded of what Lincoln said at Gettysburg, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Some U.S. military engagements were ill-advised and history shows that the instances of injustice were probably greater from actions taken by Washington politicians and bureaucrats than by the military in the field. For instance, the governments willingness to authorize and deploy American soldiers in Vietnam without clear objectives and a strategy for victory -- which put American lives in harms way and cost 58,220 lives -- was the great injustice of the Vietnam War. In Iraq, President Obamas political decision to withdraw almost all U.S. military forces by the end of 2011 directly led to the injustice of reversal of hard-fought gains made by the military in the prior eight years, and the rise of ISIS and growing Iranian influence in Iraq. Over a million Americans have given their lives in the Civil War and in defending U.S. interests in conflicts large and small. And while remembering those people is a central purpose of this holiday, Memorial Day takes on its deepest meaning when we connect it with our roots. Americans were unique in sacrificing their treasure and giving their lives to found the first country in history establishing that all people have natural rights that come from God rather than from rulers or government. The Declaration of Independence affirmed the equality of all people and that they were endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Thus, when Americans sacrificed their lives in military service, we should remember that it was not just to defend the United States, but it was also to uphold the natural rights and spiritual values associated with the nations founding that provide inspiration for others worldwide. There were times and places in human history when there were nation states of cultural achievement, virtue, and efflorescence, such as in Periclean Athens, in the Florence of the Medicis, and in England of Elizabeth and Shakespeare. But none were founded the way America was -- that is, by a collection of the nations most learned statesmen, well-versed in classics of law and political philosophy, who prayerfully approached drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and then the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The Constitution provided a charter for an unprecedented arrangement of governmental institutions that would provide effective government while mitigating corruption and abuse of power and also protecting the citizens unalienable God-given rights. The Bill of Rights, an integral part of the Constitution, enabled people living in America to rise to levels closer to the divine image in which all were created than they would have under any government previously conceived. Writing about the benefits of the Constitution, Thomas Jefferson stated, We feel that we are acting under obligations not confined to the limits of our own society. It is impossible not to be sensible that we are acting for all mankind. In only two centuries since that time, almost every nation has come to accept the need and value of having a constitution, regardless of differences of culture, history, and legal heritage. Most of the world's constitutions have been written in the last 75 years. As constitutions get drafted and revised, the Constitution of the United States continues to be the guiding template and a source of inspiration and principles. Yet another aspect of celebrating Memorial Day is recognizing the example set by Americans in how they treated their vanquished foes. The respect that General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP), and the occupying American forces displayed after Japans surrender astonished and won over many of the Japanese people. They had assumed the victorious Americans would execute their beloved emperor and plunder and treat them in ways similar to what Japanese soldiers did to those they had conquered in China, Korea and Southeast Asia. One of the big changes that General MacArthur oversaw required the postwar Japanese government to initiate the drafting of a new constitution. Wisely and in the interest of cultural respect and continuity, MacArthur suggested that the Japanese exercise the provision in the countrys existing Meiji constitution to amend that document with four requirements revolving around democratic rule, judicial review, and disarmament. After a number of revisions, the new constitution that was accepted created a government closer the British-style of parliamentary government than the American system. In addition to overseeing the rewriting of the Japanese constitution, MacArthur also required that new laws and mandates be enacted to bring about land reform -- so as to broaden private property ownership; and to break up and restructure business conglomerates -- known as the Zaibatsu -- to provide more competition, fairness, and opportunity. What was remarkable about the U.S. defeat and reorganization of Japan was that American actions were conducted in such a way that helped the Japanese to become a more formidable economic competitor at Americas own expense, but that also brought about respect and friendship between the two countries that has remained ever since. In Europe after armistice, the war-indebted United States launched the Marshall Plan that gave some $135 billion of grant aid in current dollar value that helped reconstruct war-devastated regions in Western Europe. Eighteen countries received aid and initiatives largely targeted the rebuilding of the industrial base. And similar to our help to the Japanese, U.S. generosity gave Europeans a leg up on the U.S. with the building of state-of-the-art factories and facilities that were in many cases more efficient than what then existed in the U.S. In sum, Memorial Day means more than remembering and honoring those who died in military service to the country. It means connecting with a heritage that began with a courageous and faithful group of founders, who risked their lives for the birth of freedom and the establishment of America as a city on a hill. It also means remembering all who subsequently died for their nation and its constitutionally protected freedoms. And finally it commemorates those who paid the most, such as those who died in the Civil War, and the greatest generation involved in World War II, who -- after experiencing the loss of so many lives to assure victory for the Allied nations -- then sacrificed more to rebuild and preserve the independence of its former enemies. Memorial Day reminds us that in all of human history, America is indeed unique and remarkable. Scott Powell is senior fellow at Discovery Institute in Seattle. This article is taken from a chapter in his forthcoming book, Rediscovering America: How the National Holidays Reveal Who We Are. Reach him at scottp@discovery.org As a village we want to provide as much flexibility as we can to our businesses, Parlier said. We may come to a point where we may close some of the streets in the downtown such as Jackson or Main streets for a period of time to help the businesses. We want to empower businesses to make decisions. IT WAS also in 1982 that I first set foot in Paris. While New York is the city that doesnt sleep, Paris is the city of romance. While Frank Sinatra immortalized New York with his song that has the classic first line, Start spreading the news, Humphrey Bogart countered with his We will always have Paris as his way of cementing his eternal love for Ingrid Bergman in the deathless film, Casablanca. As I said here the last time out, I was covering the 25th Chess Olympics in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1982. After the event came the chance for me to fly to New York. But since my Sabena Airlines ticket sold for a bargain, I was required to depart from Brussels, Belgium, for New York, four days after the Lucerne chessfest. Thats when I decided to first visit Paris before flying to New York. Indeed, the Eiffel Tower beckoned. Fortunately for me, I secured my visa to France in Geneva, Switzerland, glitch-freethanks to a consular officer who was candid enough to admit that she wouldnt miss this rare opportunity to extend a helping hand to a journalist from faraway Philippines. Sure enough, my visa was processed with the speed of lightning. From Lucerne, I boarded a train for Brussels, where I finalized my flight details to New York. Kinda weird, this trip to the Big Apple, because for me to get back to Manila from New York, I still need to fly back to Brussels. Down with budget fares! I reached Paris at about midnight. I tried to sleep at the railway station but a cop stopped me. Hailing a cab, I ended up in a restaurant open 24 hours. Lucky for me, it specialized in pig knuckles. At the break of dawn, I told my non-English speaking cabbie (he adored pork, and whom I convinced to stick to mefor a fee) to bring me to Eiffel Tower. Alas, he couldnt understand me. Finally, with the restaurant managers help, he did. Ah, Le Tu Effe, monsieur, he said, referring to the Eiffel Tower. I stood only for a few minutes beside Le Tu Effe before I told my cabbie to drive me quick to the train station on my way back to Brussels. Mission accomplished. The 60-day-long lockdown has been trying for all of us and for those yearning to take a trip some place, Himachal Pradesh might just be your safest option. According to Millennium Post, the government hinted at making Himachal Pradesh the "Quarantine destination" of India as a step to revive the tourism industry. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur has said that public transport in the state will start from June 1 in view of the difficulties and needs of the people of the state, but social distancing will be strictly followed. Their main goal is to give COVID-19-affected people from all over the world and country a chance to live peacefully in the lap of nature and mountains of the Himalayan state. Public transport is on a halt since March 24, when a countrywide lockdown was imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inter-state public transport will remain prohibited. In a television interview, Thakur said that the government has received several suggestions in this regard and it is an appealing concept. In the future, when the impact of COVID-19 reduces and people from other states are advised to go into quarantine for 14 days, they can choose to come to Himachal to spend their quarantine period. Were thinking along these lines, he said. The cabinet further decided that the private schools in the state can charge only tuition fee from the students for the lockdown period. Schools cannot hike tuition fees or include any hidden charges in it, education minister Suresh Bhardwaj said while informing about the major decision taken in the meeting. The government also decided in favour of allowing barbershops and salons. Vendors selling eatables and fast food items will also be allowed to resume their daily routines but only for carry-home facilities. These decisions will help to bring back normalcy after the lockdown was imposed in March. The Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs virtual Memorial Day ceremony is available online. It's been touted as the largest Memorial Day observance with the fewest people present in the room. During the Memorial Day Observance live stream, a candle will be lit by Gold Star Mother Monica Alexander lit a candle to start the ceremonies and the candle will be extinguished at 8 p.m. (CT) by by Gold Star Father Mel Alexander. Their son, Army Corporal Matthew Alexander of Gretna, was killed May 6, 2007, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baqubah Iraq. His information can be found on our Nebraska's Fallen memorial page. Governor's Wife Accused Of Taking $200,000 Bribe From Dodgy Businessman In Iran Radio Farda May 24, 2020 In a high-profile corruption trial in Iran the wife of a governor stands accused of taking $200,000 in bribes from the CEO of a company that refused to pay its workers for months and then police brutally suppressed their protests. The trial of the CEO of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industrial Complex, Omid Assadbeigi, is being held behind closed doors, and some conservative media outlets in Iran, including Daneshjoo News Agency, have published details of the proceedings. However, when the governor, Gholam Reza Shariati, was asked for a comment, he refused to respond, and merely said, "The moon will not remain behind the clouds. Wait a while and, God willing, everything will be clarified," the state-run Iran Students News Agency (ISNA) reported on Saturday, May 23. After the second court hearing, on May 19, the media reported that Omid Asadbeigi paid $200,000 to the governor's wife through an intermediary and also paid $20,000 for the travels of the governor's family. Omid Asadbeigi is the top defendant in a case involving violations of rules governing the allotment of cheap foreign currencies by the government to businesses. Along with twenty other suspects, Assadbeigi is accused of "disrupting the country's currency and monetary system through major currency smuggling and unauthorized transactions using government's discounted hard currencies. The Haft Tappeh Sugarcane agro-industrial complex was privatized in 2015. Workers at the complex said at the time that there had been several violations during the privatization process. Since then, their problems have intensified, with wages going unpaid for months and once a profitable factory losing money. The workers held numerous protest gatherings that peaked in November and December 2018 and led to several arrests. The government instead of intervening to legally resolve the issue of unpaid wages, sent in security forces and prosecutors to arrest and punish representatives of protesting workers. Dozens of the company's workers and activists were arrested. Two of them, Esmaeil Bakhshi and Ms. Sepideh Qolyan were re-arrested after their initial release for accusing security forces of brutal torture. They spent months in jail under constant pressures by intelligence ministry agents. "Omid Asadbeigi believes that anyone can be bought with money, and he has proved it by his actions," a conservative media activist who has been allowed to attend the hearing quoted the prosecutors as saying. According to the same source, prosecutors also referred to some of the allegations made against Assadbeigi's financial ties "with the Islamic Republic's Attorney General and his son," the Minister of Agricultural Jihad Mahmoud Hojjati and Vice President, Es'haq Jahangiri. However, some media outlets and activists close to the government and reformists maintain that partisan motives are behind the case involving the governor of Khuzestan and Assadbeigi. A brief report broadcast by the state-run TV cited the Prosecutor's representative saying, "With receiving more than $1.4 billion of government currency, the suspects have set a new national record". The allusion is to many well-connected people applying for and receiving U.S. dollars from the government at a much lower rate than the market, ostensibly to import essential goods amid crippling U.S. sanctions. But in fact, there have been official accusations and many media reports that some of these businesses were just front companies for influential people who sold the cheaply bought dollars on the market and made huge profits. Some also imported luxury cars and other goods and made huge profits. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/governor-s-wife -accused-of-taking-200-000-bribe-from-dodgy- businessman-in-iran/30631188.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Shunning the old order is never easy, especially when it comes to deep-seated cultural and religious practices. But unprecedented times call for equally strong overhauls. As virtual becomes the new reality, Muslims across the country plan to offer Eid prayers from home and wish each other on video calls. Eid for us has always been about opening our homes and hearts to our friends and celebrating with them with good food and banter. This Eid, weve decided to donate to various NGOs and charities that are looking after the most affected populations across the country, says filmmaker Faraz Arif Ansari. The Sheer Qorma director has a message for all: As a responsible citizen, we have to make sure we take every precautionary measure to stop a catastrophic spread of the virus. Congregating to perform the prayer could endanger lives, an act that is strictly forbidden in Islam. It is absolutely crucial that we celebrate Eid at home. Look out for one another, be compassionate and kind. Kindness will save the world. When we talk about Eid in Delhi, it is hard to not mention Jama Masjid and the Walled City. People from all over, irrespective of religion, flock to this part of the Capital to partake in the revelries. The air is redolent of the aroma of delectable kebabs being slow-roasted over coal fire. Mosques have a steady stream of the faithful offering prayers. Abu Sufiyan, founder of Purani Dilli Walo ki Baatein, has been involved in community service, helping those affected severely by COVID-19.Old Delhi has always been the centre of our syncretic Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, and this time too, we are coming forward to help those in need, irrespective of their religion, region or ethnicity. With #EidApnoKeLiye, we plan to help raise funds and ration for migrant labours and other marginalised communities. To extend a helping hand in the hour of need is the true essence of Eid. Author Rana Safvi, who has been known to host gala feasts and keep an open house, echoes the sentiment. Iss baar Eid nahi, Eidi manaao. Hum har saal apne baccho ko toh Eidi dete hi hain, par iss saal unn logo ko bhi ration-paani do jinke paas kuch nahi hai. I will make something sweet for the family in the morning, but the celebrations would not be of the same scale, she says. Read: Ramzan under lockdown: The indomitable spirit of the Walled City Festivities are incomplete without the constant buzz of the doorbell, neighbours and family sharing traditional delicacies, and the little ones prancing about in shiny new clothes. But this is no time for nostalgia. No one should have any FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Dont be afraid of the situation as we are all in the same boat. There is no point in putting yourself and others around you at risk, says 32-year old visual artist Nasheet Shadani. Sharing his plans for the day, he says it is going to be an e-Eid. I plan to do video calls and share photos of the celebrations from my home. For the kids, Eidi (token money and gifts) will be transferred online, he says, adding that he, along with some friends, is helping raise funds and ration for those who cannot afford it. It is important to help those in the lower-income groups who have been rendered jobless. They are too self-respecting to ask for any charity. So we are identifying these people and providing ration to them, he says. Even in the bleakest of time, a ray of hope shines through. Author Nazia Erum feels that one should look at the positives. This too shall pass and next year we will have Eid where we will be with our loved ones. These are testing times for all of humanity, not just a particular community or country. Help those who need it the most. The money you would usually spend on Eid, divert it to the lesser-privileged, she says. The pandemic has also brought with it new opportunities to express creativity, she feels. I made and hand-painted paper lanterns at home with my kid. We also made toys at home using ice-cream sticks for a baby cousin, she adds. Interact with Etti Bali @TheBalinian Follow @htcity for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Etti Bali Etti Bali reports on Page 3 parties and cultural events for the daily entertainment and lifestyle supplement, HT City ...view detail As a lifelong resident of Stamford, a product of the Stamford Public Schools, an educational psychologist, a psychological researcher and graduate professor, and parent of two SPS elementary school children I feel I could anchor this in any one of these singular perspectives. However, I deem none of these voices to be as impactful as what I can attest to through my integrated lens resident, psychological professional, educator, research scientist, and most importantly, parent. I humbly offer this opinion as someone with a multifaceted interest, care, and stake in the heavy deliberation pool that crowns our city and global community. Our current reality can be distilled into one simple truth: COVID-19 is a disruptor. It has disrupted all facets of life as we know it and its economic disruption is but one of its many inevitable appendages. This is a given. I also realize that as a city we cannot create money that doesnt exist or pull funding out of thin air. I do not envy the position of our leadership officials when having to detangle the fiscal implications and make decisions that sting city members or planned projects. Unfortunately, we are all going to have to, to some degree or another, shoulder a part of the economic disruption that results from COVID-19. We are not alone in this plight as the rest of society and the global world is joins us in this painstaking truth. Our true task thus becomes exercising exceptional sensitivity in our strategy for distributing the funding we have available to us. Not all investments are equal or carry equal implications. Collectively, we are all in a state of triage. The medical community, the economy, as well as our educational and domestic systems have been triaging this same crisis since March 2020. And, unlike any other crisis, natural disaster, and devastation that has affected one specific region for X period of time nothing has even come close to this pandemic in terms of shutting down the entire global community for an extended period of time. This is an important nuance to understand as we try to plan forward. We have been coping with a pervasive and prolonged level of anxiety that simultaneously and systemically cuts across the global world. This is new territory. It will take a considerable amount of time for research in the psychological and health sciences to catch up and with any good faith report precisely how this pandemic has affected our children and families. Research takes time and high quality research takes that much more care in planning, measurement, and analysis. Therefore, we dont know and we wont know about the impact of COVID-19 for some time. Further, COVID-19 is not a like a hurricane, incidence of school violence, or any other tragedy that has disrupted a localized region. We do have recovery models to draw from but again these are not neatly aligned with the global shock wave and suspension afforded by our current pandemic. So, what is the best course in planning for our schools and city? In my clinical opinion we are left with one single-handed strategy when dealing with so many unknowns: to stack the deck with as many protective factors and buffers that the evidence base has established lessens the impact of adverse childhood experiences and trauma. Ironically enough, research tells us that the most powerful factors for mitigating the impact of trauma include connection, school-connectedness, and access to social supports. The school system is a central stabilizing force in any community. It is a hub of connections that cannot be forged elsewhere and it is the nucleus from which many secondary community connections are derived. It is a fulcrum and one of the largest forces of normalcy at work in a community. And resilience science tells us very clearly that connectedness and particularly school-connectedness is the No. 1 protective factor for the physical and psychological health of children in so much that pre-pandemic the Centers for Disease Controls (CDCs) had devoted significant resources to promoting it because of the multitude of physical and mental health benefits afforded. A simple Google search for school-connectedness outcomes and CDC will yield you all the data I cite above. We cannot dissolve our support for our school communities during this time of crisis because doing so will compromise our best chance for recovery as a community. If we want to keep the heart of Stamford beating stronger tomorrow we need to assume that our children and schools are the admission ticket. Our schools are the only place in the community that webs the most city members (i.e., employees, students, parents, grandparents, community outreach partners, etc.). What seems like merely one localized entity (the school district) is indeed the very thread that loops through the lattice of all working parts of the city. We need to use this strategically as a means for bolstering the public health of our town because if our children are not cared for and well, our homes are not well, our marriages and relationships are not well, and the quality of our communal life suffers. I am not suggesting we be creative in trying something on for size, I am suggesting that we be strategic in our agency and use the findings of what we know about trauma and resiliency to invest more heavily in our schools for this upcoming year as the best strategy for recovery. Whether our schools are intact, remote or hybrid, our students, teachers, and administrators will need more resources than ever to leverage the crisis and its debris. And trust me they will very much succeed this I know with all of my heart. Please accept this letter with every once of my appreciation for all the time that has been allotted to this matter and for the complexity of its solution as we work to preserve the vitality of our beloved Stamford community and its members. Stamford resident Evelyn Bilias Lolis, Ph.D., is an associate professor, Psychological & Educational Consultation Graduate School of Education & Allied Professions, Fairfield University. Dhaka, May 25 : Braving the COVID-19 pandemic and abiding by the recommended health advices, a large number of Muslims in Bangladesh on Monday offered special Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at mosques. Due to the pandemic, the main Eid congregation in capital Dhaka was not held at the national Eidgah, reports Xinhua news agency. The Bangladeshi government last week urged devotees to avoid open places for Eid congregations and instructed them to bring prayer mats from home and wear masks while joining prayers in mosques. Long lines of worshippers were seen since Monday morning in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka for Eid prayers. Devotees had to pass a disinfectant tunnel before entering the mosque where thousands of people performed Eid prayers in several phases. The Bangladeshi government recently extended the nationwide lockdown again to May 30 but eased restrictions on business activities though the COVID-19 situation worsened in the country. Bangladesh recorded 28 new COVID-19 fatalities Sunday, the highest number in a single day since the pandemic began in the country on March 8. Professor Nasima Sultana, a senior health ministry official, told an online media briefing in Dhaka "28 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed in a 24-hour period, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country since March 18 to 480". According to the official, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 33,610 in the country, with 1,532 cases reported in the 24-hour period. Latest updates on Eid al-Fitr 2020 -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Regarding the May 20 op-ed by Brandon Copeland, Debt from unfinished college almost kept me from going back. Ohio can fix this: Copelands college debt was more than $2,000. He complains it was turned over to the Ohio attorney generals office, adding additional fees of $500 plus $500 in interest. I have not done the research but this debt must have languished unattended or was never addressed before it was turned over to the attorney general. Copeland suggests the laws be changed. House Bill 595 may address some issues, including withholding of college transcripts while loan debts remain delinquent. My daughter went to college and owed money for loans - we were given plenty of notice and a plan to repay them. Even if the plan set forth was too difficult for Mr. Copeland, I feel certain that, had he communicated with his lender, a plan wouldve been worked out - it may not have gotten to the state attorney general. Some students today seem to fail to recognize that when you receive a loan and the loan comes due, this is a legal and binding agreement. Some seem to think these debts should be forgiven for no good reason. Its important to remember communication is key in most issues. Laura Merhaut, Cuyahoga Heights This Memorial Day, the iconic graveside flags honoring those who gave their lives for the country stand alongside a fun-house-mirror image of such patriotic commemorations: the Stars-and-Stripes-swaddled protesters loudly refusing to sacrifice so much as another mani-pedi, church picnic or mattress sale for their fellow Americans. Dating at least to the Civil War, Memorial Day recognizes the ultimate price of protecting the United States and its founding ideas from historys actual and perceived threats. But among the reckless dissenters from the current national effort to stem the coronavirus pandemic, the enemy is not the grave danger to American lives; its the public officials, emergency personnel, health care workers and others doing their best to protect us. The pandemic precautions are cast as threats to our basic freedoms to justify declarations of war against them. As a group of California pastors vowed to endanger their parishioners with in-person church services next weekend despite Gov. Gavin Newsoms order prohibiting such large gatherings for a few more weeks, the Justice Department joined in by suggesting the state is trampling the First Amendment. Meanwhile, in Michigan, protesters have menaced the state Capitol with assault rifles, Nazi and Confederate symbols and scissors the latter for dramatically staged haircuts to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmers closing of barbershops as President Trump exhorted them to liberate the state. The Board of Supervisors in the Central Valleys Tulare County voted last week to let businesses and churches reopen immediately in defiance of Newsoms orders even though the governor has been steadily easing them. With about half San Franciscos population, the county has sustained twice the citys deaths because of the virus. But officials there argued that many of the fatalities shouldnt count because they took place in state-regulated nursing homes ironically, among the generations that bore some of the fiercest actual fights and deepest sacrifices for our freedom. The pretend protests rest on the absurd idea that any elected official is eager to shut down an economy or is doing so for any reason other than to stem loss of life by the only means available. They also rely on the fiction that a whole American state or city could be forced to shelter in place without broad public support for the project. Americans can and will gather if they want to, but polls show that overwhelming majorities agree with distancing measures despite the painful consequences. With more than 15% of Californias workforce unemployed, those consequences are much greater than a missed haircut for many. The broad support for shelter orders reflects the understanding that, on the other hand, nearly 100,000 Americans have lost their lives and many more are being saved by the collective sacrifice. The self-appointed patriots, and the powerful and irresponsible people cheering them on, would have us dwell on our own immediate frustrations and look away from the greater loss. The spirit of Memorial Day requires us not to. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. LOS ANGELESThe Disney Plus streaming service is barely six months old, and already the family friendly online channel is displaying a tendency to erase any hint of the female anatomy that is not covered in clothing, or in some other way. Viewers took to social media last week after noticing an odd bit of digital censorship in an episode of the long-running kids series, Wizards of Waverly Place. The show ran for 106 episodes on the basic cable Disney Channel from 2007 to 2012, and all four seasons are now streamed via the new Disney Plus subscription service. But in a scene featuring series star Maria Canals-Barrera, viewers noticed a slight blur strategically placed over the actresss chest. In the shot, Canals-Barrera wears a purple dress with a low-cut, but otherwise tasteful neckline that apparently revealed a hint of her cleavage until someone at the Disney streaming service saw fit to blot it out with a digital blur. But the move appears to have had the opposite effect from that intended by the censors. Keep in mind that they made the show and the scene was fine for broadcast before, wrote MovieWebs Kevin Burwick. Now, they have put a weird little blur on the screen that brings even more attention to the offending imagery of a slight hint of a woman's breasts. It honestly just draws attention to it more than if it wasnt uncensored, wrote one viewer on Twitter, as quoted by Yahoo! News. This REALLY draws the eye to the so-called offensive area, wrote another. They should have just left things alone. Completely insane. But the incident was nothing new for Disney Plus. In April, fans watching the 1984 film Splash, starring then-newcomer Tom Hanks, with Darryl Hannah as a mermaid who falls in love with him, noticed that in one scene, a fleeting view of Hannas exposed derriere was censored by digitally extending her back-length blonde hair to cover her posterior as well as seen in the video below. But Disney Plus is not alone in its seemingly petty censorship attempts. Also last month, viewers watching a streaming version of 1989s Back to the Future II on Netflix noticed that a scene in which star Michael J. Fox flips through a French magazine called Oh La La, had been edited to remove the magazines slightly racy cover. In that case, however, the films original studio, Universal not Netflix took responsibility for the censorship Photo By Gregory Botha / Pixabay Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 : Reacting sharply to the vandalising of a film set by "fanatics", Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said strict action will be taken against the culprits. The Perumbavoor Police has registered a case. Five people have been charged and a probe has begun. "Kerala will never be a place where fanatics of any kind would be allowed to go scot free. All of you can be rest assured that all those who destroyed the film set near Kochi will be tackled as per law. What's wrong if a film set remains there, as we all know that due to Covid-19, all film shooting came to a sudden halt. These acts will not be tolerated and of late, some fanatics are creating issues in movie halls and other places," said Vijayan. Hari Palode, general secretary of a group called Antharashtra Hindu Parishad (AHP) had posted on Facebook that the film set of a church was erected despite several complaints against it. Palode had also thanked activists of Rashtriya Bajarang Dal who helped to take it down and had posted photos of the film set being pulled down. The film set was put up for the shooting of the movie 'Minnal Murali,' starring actor Tovino Thomas when the Covid-19 pandemic struck forcing all film activities to a standstill. Condemning the act, acclaimed film director Shaji N.Karun who is also president of the Progressive Kalasahitya Sangh, said this act was in no way acceptable. "During Covid times, these fanatics are trying to drive a wedge in society that is united. Moreover this has taken place at a time when the film industry is passing through its toughest times. We demand that strict action should be taken against these elements," said Karun. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text He is referring to China's social credit system that tracks citizens to award/deduct points on a score determining one's access to services. There are now companies developing technology which make it possible for the employer ... to look at what's on your computer screen and to check your keystrokes and if you get up and walk away for a minute, they'll send you a warning. That's being installed right now.... It's not the future," Noam Chomsky said, highlighting a reality that the public doesn't seem to take cognisance of or care enough about. New York: The role of technology in helping push back against the novel coronavirus has been hailed widely. But it also means that people are constantly being watched by entities that can set the tone for public behaviour without giving a shred of consideration to peoples privacy. One of the greatest contemporary thinkers, Noam Chomsky, warns of the consequences of technology being allowed to control our lives in the guise of making our lives easier. In an interview with AFP, Chomsky talked about how the dystopian reality of digital surveillance is already here. There are now companies developing technology which make it possible for the employer ... to look at what's on your computer screen and to check your keystrokes and if you get up and walk away for a minute, they'll send you a warning. That's being installed right now.... It's not the future. The very things that are convenient are the ones that are invasive, he pointed out. The so-called Internet of Things is coming along. It's convenient. It means if you're driving home you can turn on the stove but it also means that that information is going to Google and Facebook, to the government, the American government, the French government, it's an enormous amount of potential control, surveillance and invasion. But this has happened. It's not the future. If we allow the huge tech companies, the state, to control our life that's what will happen. They'll turn it into something like China, where you have social credit systems and in some cities you get a certain amount of credits, there's face recognition technology all over the place and everything you do gets monitored. If you cross the street in the wrong place, you can ... lose some credits, and so on. It's not inevitable, just like global warming, that it's going to happen unless people stop it. When asked whether the use of surveillance was justified in combating COVID-19, said It might be during the period of threat. There's controls needed during wartime, you have rationing. But it doesn't have to be permanent.... 'Yes, we'll let you have this authority now, but it can be revoked at any time.'" Speaking about other major problems facing humankind, Chomsky said global warming was a greater threat than even the deadly pandemic. . As severe as this pandemic is, it's not the worst problem. There will be recovery from the pandemic at severe cost ... but there isn't going to be any recovery from the melting of the polar ice caps and the rising of sea levels and the other deleterious effects of global warming, he said. However, it is evident that the public is either not aware or not bothered to see global warming as a serious enough problem. That kind of a public in the US also voted for a leadership that has proven itself wholly unequal to the task of managing the pandemic in the country where more than 100,000 people have died of it . There's no coherent leadership. It's chaotic. The presidency, the White House, is in the hands of a sociopathic megalomaniac who's interested in nothing but his own power, electoral prospects doesn't care what happens to the country, the world, Chomsky said, in scathing criticism of President Donald Trump. Chomsky spelled out how the administration under Trump never even gave the US a chance against COVID-19. As soon as Trump came in, his first move was to dismantle the entire pandemic prevention machinery. At the start, defunding the Center for Disease Control, which would deal with this. And canceling programs that were working with Chinese scientists to identify potential viruses. So the US was singularly unprepared, Chomsky said. He explained the economic model that led to the current situation. It's a privatised society, very wealthy, with enormous advantages far more than any other country but its in the stranglehold of private control. It doesn't have a universal health care system.... It's the ultimate neoliberal system, actually. He compared it to Europe, which in many ways is worse, because the austerity programs just amplify the danger, because of the severe attack on democracy in Europe, the shifting decisions to Brussels.... But he added, At least it has the residue of some kind of social democratic structure, which provides some support, which is what I think is lacking in the US. Queensland has revised down its total number of coronavirus cases on Monday, in what was described as a "data cleanse". It came as schools fully reopened to all year levels, in another step towards full easing of restrictions in the state. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk arrives at Milton State School as students return to school. Queensland recorded no new cases of the virus on Monday after three new ones were added to the states cumulative total over the weekend. However, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that total had reduced since last week despite the extra cases, after Queensland Health staff did routine checks on the case data. A catalyst (center) based on iridium (blue ball) can snip a hydrogen atom (white balls) off a terminal methyl group (upper and lower left) to add a boron-oxygen compound (pink and red) that is easily swapped out for more complicated chemical groups. The reaction works on simple hydrocarbon chains (top reaction) or more complicated carbon compounds (bottom reaction). The exquisite selectivity of this catalytic reaction is due to the methyl group (yellow) that has been added to the iridium catalyst. The black balls are carbon atoms; red is oxygen; pink is boron. The most common chemical bond in the living world -- that between carbon and hydrogen -- has long resisted attempts by chemists to crack it open, thwarting efforts to add new bells and whistles to old carbon-based molecules. Now, after nearly 25 years of work by chemists at the University of California, Berkeley, those hydrocarbon bonds -- two-thirds of all the chemical bonds in petroleum and plastics -- have fully yielded, opening the door to the synthesis of a large range of novel organic molecules, including drugs based on natural compounds. "Carbon-hydrogen bonds are usually part of the framework, the inert part of a molecule," said John Hartwig, the Henry Rapoport Chair in Organic Chemistry at UC Berkeley. "It has been a challenge and a holy grail of synthesis to be able to do reactions at these positions because, until now, there has been no reagent or catalyst that will allow you to add anything at the strongest of these bonds." Hartwig and other researchers had previously shown how to add new chemical groups at C-H bonds that are easier to break, but they could only add them to the strongest positions of simple hydrocarbon chains. In the May 15 issue of the journal Science, Hartwig and his UC Berkeley colleagues described how to use a newly designed catalyst to add functional chemical groups to the hardest of the carbon-hydrogen bonds to crack: the bonds, typically at the head or tail of a molecule, where a carbon has three attached hydrogen atoms, what's called a methyl group (CH3). "The primary C-H bonds, the ones on a methyl group at the end of a chain, are the least electron-rich and the strongest," he said. "They tend to be the least reactive of the C-H bonds." UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow Raphael Oeschger discovered a new version of a catalyst based on the metal iridium that opens up one of the three C-H bonds at a terminal methyl group and inserts a boron compound, which can be easily replaced with more complex chemical groups. The new catalyst was more than 50 times more efficient than previous catalysts and just as easy to work with. "We now have the ability to do these types of reactions, which should enable people to rapidly make molecules that they would not have made before," Hartwig said. "I wouldn't say these are molecules that could not have been made before, but people wouldn't make them because it would take too long, too much time and research effort, to make them." The payoff could be huge. Each year, nearly a billion pounds of hydrocarbons are used by industry to make solvents, refrigerants, fire retardants and other chemicals and are the typical starting point for synthesizing drugs. 'Expert surgery' on hydrocarbons To prove the utility of the catalytic reaction, UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow Bo Su and his coworkers in the lab used it to add a boron compound, or borane, to a terminal, or primary, carbon atom in 63 different molecular structures. The borane can then be swapped out for any number of chemical groups. The reaction specifically targets terminal C-H bonds, but works at other C-H bonds when a molecule doesn't have a terminal C-H. "We make a boron-carbon bond using boranes as reagents -- they're just a couple steps away from ant poison, boric acid -- and that carbon-boron bond can be converted into many different things," Hartwig said. "Classically, you can make a carbon-oxygen bond from that, but you can also make a carbon-nitrogen bond, a carbon-carbon bond, a carbon-fluorine bond or other carbon-halogen bonds. So, once you make that carbon-boron bond, there are many different compounds that can be made." Organic chemist Varinder Aggarwal from the University of Bristol referred to the catalytic reaction as "expert surgery" and characterized UC Berkeley's new technique as "sophisticated and clever," according to the magazine Chemical and Engineering News One potential application, Hartwig said, is altering natural compounds -- chemicals from plants or animals that have useful properties, such as antibiotic activity -- to make them better. Many pharmaceutical companies today are focused on biologics -- organic molecules, such as proteins, used as drugs -- that could also be altered with this reaction to improve their effectiveness. "In the normal course, you would have to go back and remake all those molecules from the start, but this reaction could allow you to just make them directly," Hartwig said. "This is one type of chemistry that would allow you to take those complex structures that nature makes that have an inherent biological activity and enhance or alter that biological activity by making small changes to the structure." He said that chemists could also add new chemical groups to the ends of organic molecules to prep them for polymerization into long chains never before synthesized. "It could enable you to take molecules that would be naturally abundant, biosourced molecules like fatty acids, and be able to derivatize them at the other end for polymer purposes," he said. UC Berkeley's long history with C-H bonds Chemists have long tried to make targeted additions to carbon-hydrogen bonds, a reaction referred to as C-H activation. One still unachieved dream is to convert methane -- an abundant, but often wasted, byproduct of oil extraction and a potent greenhouse gas -- into an alcohol called methanol that can be used as a starting point in many chemical syntheses in industry. In 1982, Robert Bergman, now a UC Berkeley professor emeritus of chemistry, first showed that an iridium atom could break a C-H bond in an organic molecule and insert itself and an attached ligand between the carbon and hydrogen. While a major advance in organic and inorganic chemistry, the technique was impractical -- it required one iridium atom per C-H bond. Ten years later, other researchers found a way to use iridium and other so-called transition metals, like tungsten, as a catalyst, where a single atom could break and functionalize millions of C-H bonds. Hartwig, who was a graduate student with Bergman in the late 1980s, continued to bang on unreactive C-H bonds and in 2000 published a paper in Science describing how to use a rhodium-based catalyst to insert boron at terminal C-H bonds. Once the boron was inserted, chemists could easily swap it out for other compounds. With subsequent improvements to the reaction and changing the metal from rhodium to iridium, some manufacturers have used this catalytic reaction to synthesize drugs by modifying different types of C-H bonds. But the efficiency for reactions at methyl C-H bonds at the ends of carbon chains remained low, because the technique required that the reactive chemicals also be the solvent. With the addition of the new catalytic reaction, chemists can now stick chemicals in nearly any type of carbon-hydrogen bond. In the reaction, iridium snips off a terminal hydrogen atom, and the boron replaces it; another boron compound floats away with the released hydrogen atom. The team attached a new ligand to iridium -- a methyl group called 2-methylphenanthroline -- that accelerated the reaction by 50 to 80 times over previous results. Hartwig acknowledges that these experiments are a first step. The reactions vary from 29% to 85% in their yield of the final product. But he is working on improvements. "For us, it shows, yeah, you can do this, but we will need to make even better catalysts. We know that the ultimate goal is attainable if we can further increase our rates by a factor of 10, let's say. Then, we should be able to increase the complexity of molecules for this reaction and achieve higher yields," Hartwig said. "It is a little bit like a four-minute mile. Once you know that something can be accomplished, many people are able to do it, and the next thing you know, we're running a three-and-three-quarter-minute mile." Bihars Covid-19 tally has seen a rapid rise with the doubling of total cases in the last 10 days, when 1,465 new cases were recorded, 1,000 of those were registered in the last 6 days alone. On each day since the beginning of lockdown 4, at least 100 infections have been registered in the state. Positive cases detected between May 16 and 25 alone constitute 55.42% of Bihars total tally, triggering concerns about what may lay ahead amid the continuing influx of migrant labourers. On Monday, the total number of people infected by the deadly virus spiraled to 2,686, with the addition of 112 new cases detected in the last 24 hours, 21 of those were reported from Saharsa district. 180 positive cases were found on Sunday. The highest single day spike in the state-- 257 cases-- was reported on May 20. Patna tops the chart with 200 confirmed cases followed by Rohtas district that has 166 positive patients, Munger and Begusarai are joint third with 148 cases each, said health department officials. Of the 112 cases registered on Monday, 21 were from Saharsa, 10 of those found in one block-Kahra. Darbhanga reported 13 positive cases, Madhubani,10, Katihar and Begusarai reported 9 each, Patna,8, Bhojpur,7, Araria,6, Gopalganj, Khagaria, Arwal, Bhagalpur and Supaul accounted for 3 cases each, Saran, Siwan, Aurangabad and Munger reported 2 cases each, and Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Madhepura and Rohtas had one new case each. For Coronavirus Live Updates Health department officials said 733 patients have recovered so far. They added that a total of 66,148 tests have been conducted in the state until now. The rising trend of the positive cases is unlikely to change as it is driven by the continued reverse migration of migrant labourers who now account for 1,754 of the total 2,686 positive casesa staggering 65% contribution. It is not just the deluge of new cases but also the challenge of tracing and tracking their contacts, that is keeping the officials on the toes. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 On Monday, 1,96,350 passengers arrived by 119 trains, on Tuesday 1,76,900 passengers would be arriving in108 trains. The arrival of labourers by road has also continued unabated. Analysis of positive cases found on Monday shows that 15.3% of all new cases were returnees from Delhi, 15% had returned from Maharashtra and 10.27% had arrived from Gujarat. IPRD secretary Anupam Kumar said chief minister Nitish Kumar has instructed officials to add more isolation centres besides adding beds in dedicated hospitals. With detection of one case each in Samanpura and Lodipur in the state capital, the two areas would become new containment zones. A district administration official said Khajpura and Machli Gali besides the BMP headquarters, which are close to Samanpura, were recently marked containment zones after positive cases were found there. Norfolk Countys response to the COVID-19 pandemic has cost taxpayers $3.6 million and counting, threatening significant financial hardship for a county already on the verge of drowning in red ink. At a recent council meeting, CAO Jason Burgess told councillors that while some expenses were accounted for in this years budget such as salaries of employees pulled off their regular duties to deal with the pandemic the county has incurred more than $2 million in unexpected material, service, and staffing costs. The biggest added expense is the $854,000 spent so far on personal protective equipment, a figure expected to climb as more public services restart and county employees who interact with the public are outfitted with masks, gowns, gloves, face shields, and modified equipment. As we operate, we have to do things to ensure safety for the public and safety for our staff, Burgess said. Enforcing physical-distancing rules especially as warmer weather brings day-trippers to lakeside towns like Port Dover also comes with a steep price tag. Monthly bylaw enforcement costs have more than doubled from $41,000 to $86,000 as employees redeployed from other departments are out in the community seven days a week, 10 hours a day. It costs an additional $72,000 per month to operate the 10-person Migrant Farm Compliance Team that was established to monitor the health unit-mandated farm worker isolation program. Setting up interim care centres at arenas in Dunnville and Port Dover to handle an overflow of COVID-19 patients set Norfolk and Haldimand counties back $182,000. That surge in patients has not materialized and the Port Dover site has been partially demobilized, reducing monthly maintenance costs to $20,000. The site can be reopened within 72 hours should a second wave of COVID-19 cases hit the county. The health units popular COVID-19 hotline costs $7,500 per month to operate, added janitorial services at county buildings costs $12,000 monthly, and Norfolk is paying about $7,000 each month to rent more vehicles so employees dont have to ride together in close quarters, which would force them to wear PPE. Deferring property tax collection to help residents coping with job loss or reduced income saw the county miss out on an estimated $56,600 in lost revenue from late fees. Based on its proportion of the regions population, Haldimand has covered 40 per cent of some shared program costs. County staff are trying to save money in other departments by deferring work and cutting back on procurement, but Burgess said those efforts can only go so far. Were not going to get close to the two million dollars, he said. We frankly wont be able to absorb this budgetary amount. Thats going to create a hole in our budget. Norfolks 2020 budget already had a few holes. In January, council made dramatic service cuts and hiked property taxes to 8.4 per cent, reacting to what Mayor Kristal Chopp has decried as years of mismanagement that left the county in debt and without funds to pay for pressing infrastructure needs. Needing to fund a pandemic response threatens to push Norfolk over the financial cliff. This council doesnt really have the rainy day fund, Burgess said. Ward 3 Coun. Mike Columbus called the numbers startling. He suggested scrapping the migrant worker bylaw enforcement team, noting that farmers have complained of multiple audits from the health unit and bylaw enforcement, as well as federal inspectors, all asking the same questions. Why are we over-policing this whole program? Theres a way to cut some money right now, Columbus said. Burgess committed to reviewing the issue as part of an ongoing search for cost containment measures. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) The scheduled reopening of classes on August 24 should still be subject to thorough review by officials as COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat, a lawmaker said Monday. Senator Win Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate basic education committee, told CNN Philippines that the government may have to "adjust accordingly" if the COVID-19 situation in the country does not improve by then. "August 24 is still three months away from now. Meron pa tayong time to evaluate the situation (We still have time to evaluate the situation)," Gatchalian said in an interview with The Source. "Ang pinakamahalaga dito (The important thing here) is government will not allow our students, teachers, and parents to be at risk. If we find out that it is very risky for students, parents, and teachers to go to school, then we can still move the class opening... We will adjust accordingly if the situation will not improve," he added. The school calendar for the next school year will begin on August 24 and end on April 30, 2021, the Education Department earlier announced. Education Secretary Leonor Briones, however, said the resumption of classes does not require full physical attendance of students, stressing that online learning is still a viable option. RELATED: Online classes still an option for August 24 opening, says DepEd But some netizens and lawmakers expressed concern over the proposed reopening. Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Ronnie Ong urged the agency to postpone the resumption of classes, saying the country's education system is not fully ready for a virtual classroom set-up. "The (DepEd) should postpone the resumption of classes this year instead of resorting to virtual classrooms which would only prejudice students who are not equipped with e-learning gadgets and could not afford to have any internet connection," Ong said in a statement over the weekend. He added the option to hold virtual classes "also unnecessarily gives parents additional financial and emotional burden just to ensure that their children will not miss out on this school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic." Some solons have also pushed for the postponement of class openings until and unless a vaccine against COVID-19 is developed. Gatchalian, however, said the proposed move is "anti-poor" as students without internet connectivity would be the ones affected by a delay in the learning system. "If you suspend classes, 'yung mga mayayaman, mag-aaral 'yan, makakapagaral 'yan. Because they are all online. Pero 'yung public school natin, they will be stuck at home... By postponing classes and not doing anything, is making our poor students left behind," the senator said. [Translation: If you suspend classes, the rich ones can find a way to study. Because they are all online. But our public schools, they will be stuck at home. By postponing classes and not doing anything, is making our poor students left behind.] Gatchalian likewise urged fellow officials to bank on "innovation" in implementing the "new normal" in the education sector. "What we want is for the government to innovate. The COVID will not stop innovation. In fact, that's what DepEd is doing, they're innovating, they're adjusting to the situation, and they can teach. We have TV, radio. We can send homework through other means, we can continue to teach," he noted. Graduation rites in the Philippines have been postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with some schools resorting to virtual ceremonies for students. Majority of DepEd's scheduled programs have also been put on hold due to the quarantine protocols. The US accuses Russia of blocking flights over certain sites and forbidding surveys of military exercises, normally allowed under Open Skies The US accuses Russia of blocking flights over certain sites and forbidding surveys of military exercises, normally allowed under Open Skies (AFP Photo/Mladen ANTONOV) Paris (AFP) - NATO and the EU on Friday urged Russia to comply with the 1992 Open Skies military surveillance treaty, as European nations scrambled to save the pact after US President Donald Trump said his country would withdraw. Western allies are hoping to convince Washington to reverse the decision, which Trump said was due to Moscow not honouring the defence agreement. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the US decision to quit the agreement will not come into effect for six months, leaving Moscow time to change course. "All NATO allies are in full compliance with all provisions of the treaty," Stoltenberg said. "Russia has for many years imposed flight restrictions inconsistent with the treaty, including flight limitations, over Kaliningrad and restricting flights in Russia near its border with Georgia. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he regretted the US decision, calling the Open Skies treaty "a key element of our arms-control architecture" which serves as "a vital confidence and security-building measure." He called on Washington to reconsider and for Moscow to "return immediately to the full implementation of the Treaty". Earlier a group of 10 European nations said in a joint statement they regretted Trump's threat -- his latest in a string of withdrawals from international agreements. - 'Entrenched Cold War mentality' - The pact allows its nearly three dozen signatories to carry out short-notice flights over one another's territory to monitor potential military operations. Members include countries across Europe and the former Soviet Union, as well as the United States and Canada. Trump said Thursday he would would pull the US out, alleging Moscow had not adhered to its commitments under the pact. The US accuses Russia of blocking flights over certain sites and forbidding surveys of military exercises, normally allowed under Open Skies. Moscow said on Friday it would continue observing the treaty even if the US pulls out. Story continues "As long as the treaty is in force, we intend to fully follow all the rights and obligations that apply to us from this treaty," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the RIA Novosti news agency. Fellow Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov denounced the "absolutely unacceptable" conditions set by the Washington, accusing the US of sowing "discord and uncertainty" The foreign ministry accused the US of pointing the finger at Russia "to camouflage their destructive actions". Grushko warned that the US pullout would damage European security and harm the interests of US allies. China, which is not a party to the treaty, expressed "deep regret" over the US move, calling it a "display of the United States' entrenched Cold War mentality'. The Europeans said they would work to resolve "outstanding questions" with Moscow, including "unjustified restrictions" imposed on flights over Kaliningrad -- a Russian exclave bordered by Poland and Lithuania. "We continue to urge Russia to lift these restrictions," they said. China, which is not a party to the treaty, expressed "deep regret" over the US move, calling it a "display of the United States' entrenched Cold War mentality". - 'Security and peace' - The withdrawal "will have a negative impact on the international arms control and disarmament process," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States could reconsider "should Russia return to full compliance with the Treaty." Open Skies is the third important military pact that Trump has withdrawn from since coming to office in January 2017. He halso dropped the 2015 JCPOA agreement to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear weapons program and the 1988 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia. In both cases, Trump accused the other side of violating treaty requirements. The latest move adds to question marks over New START, a pact that limits the number of nuclear missiles the US and Russia can deploy, which is due for renewal by early 2021. The Open Skies treaty carried more political than military weight, according to Corentin Brustlein of the Paris-based French Institute of International Relations. Large spy agencies do not need "open skies" to gather information on other countries' military activities, he told AFP. "But the information gathered under Open Skies is shareable and shared," he said, including with signatory states that do not have strong intelligence agencies of their own. "The only negative consequences of this withdrawal will be felt by allies of the United States... It is yet another demonstration of what little regard the US administration has for Europe's security concerns." burs-mlr/js/pvh/dl Ghaziabad, May 25 : In more woes for the people travelling from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi, the Ghaziabad district administration on Monday once again decided to seal its borders with the national capital after witnessing a surge of 10 fresh cases of coronavirus in last 24 hours. The district administration in an order said, "In Ghaziabad district, there is an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the last few days. A large chunk of these cases are linked to those who travel between Delhi and Ghaziabad." "Hence, on the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer, the district administration has decided to seal the Delhi-Ghaziabad border until further orders," the order read. The district administration had earlier ordered to seal its border with the national capital on April 26. According to the district administration on Sunday, 10 people tested positive for the virus in the district. The administration said that the people employed in essential services will be allowed. Doctors, paramedical staff, police, media personnel and bank employees will not need passes. Their identity cards will be enough. Meanwhile, the officials of the third and fourth grade working with the central and Delhi government offices where 33 per cent attendance system is in place, would be required to produce temporary passes from their offices to gain entry into the district and their identity cards alone would not be considered. The order also stated that till the time the central and Delhi government employees don't get proper passes their ID cards will be valid to travel. Even the advocates have been allowed to travel to Delhi. The order also asked the government employees to enter Delhi before 9 a.m. and return to Ghaziabad after 6 p.m. The order also stated that in case of emergency. residents willing to get e-passes will have to apply. Such applications will be assessed and then e-passes issued, it said. Ex-Amish member Ira Wagler on his journey of forgiveness with Amish family Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Ira Wagler says forgiveness has made his relationship with his Amish family better than ever. In a follow-up to his New York Times bestseller Growing Up Amish, Wagler has a new book out, titled Broken Roads: Returning to My Amish Father, where he recounts his reconciliation with his father, family, and heritage after he walked away from the Amish culture over 30 years ago. The author, from Aylmer, Ontario, explores his difficult reunion, his confrontations, betrayals, and questions with faith and identity. Like his bestselling book, Wagler unapologetically gives readers insight into the Amish community through his lens after leaving, returning to his Amish father, and how they might mend the broken roads between them before it's too late. The following is an edited transcript of The Christian Post's interview with the popular blogger and speakers, in which Wagler shares how forgiveness made his once broken relationships with his family better than ever despite trading the Amish lifestyle for a modern one. Christian Post: How did the inspiration for your new book, Broken Roads, come about? Wagler: It was a long process, but I realized some years ago that my next book would be about my father. Since my life has consisted of many broken roads, that title seemed fitting. CP: Can you briefly share your journey to forgiving your family and returning to your father? Wagler: I dont know that it was so much me forgiving my family as it was me seeking forgiveness from my family. It seems like when you stay focused on your own flaws instead of the flaws of others, then many good things, including forgiveness, can flow from that. CP: Was your family forgiving as well? How is your relationship with them now? Wagler: We have all forgiven each other, yes. We have reached the age where old differences just dont make much sense anymore. And we all have love and forbearance for each other. My relationship with all my siblings, Amish and non-Amish, could not be better. We genuinely care for each other. CP: How does someone who is Amish have a genuine relationship with someone who is no longer practicing the Amish lifestyle? Wagler: I suppose it all comes down to community standards or rules. The plainer a community gets, the harsher the shunning when you leave. I came from a much more moderate type of Amish. Shunning was part of my experience, but we were always welcomed home, if only for short stays. We were welcomed and never disowned. Theres a big, big difference in the degree of harshness from level to level, from Amish community to Amish community. CP: In going back through your life, what are some things you believe are benefits in the Amish culture that everyone else can learn from? Wagler: All the old style values, of course. Faith, family, etc. The one Im most grateful for is probably the work ethic. Young Amish children are taught simple chores from the time they can walk. From a young age, they expect to work for a living. They expect nothing they havent earned. This simple code is increasingly rare in western culture. CP: Do you believe you've followed God's plan for your own life despite what the Amish community might think about someone who has left? Wagler: I dont worry too much about Gods plan for my life. I try to live the Gospel and reflect Christs love. I dont have to be talking about it all the time. Anyone can claim anything. I have long ago quit wondering what the Amish think about what I write. A lot of them read my stuff, my blog, mostly. Some of them respect me. Some dont. Thats fine because thats the market. CP: What advice do you have for others who have grown up in strict religious backgrounds to pursue their own calling in God amid resistance? Wagler: Each situation has its own specifics. Some places are harder to break free from than others. If its possible, I advise any person who wants to leave to wait until they are at least 18. If youre a legal adult, that simplifies things. And then, you might have to make some hard choices. No one can choose for you, whether to go or stay. Life is not fair. I try to live by a simple formula. Trust God. Walk free. Dont be afraid. One of the frontrunners to take over bankrupt airline Virgin Australia has vowed to 'make flying fun again'. US investment firm Bain Capital is on the shortlist of bidders submitting a second-round proposal to buy the embattled airline from Deloitte administrators. In a statement on Sunday, the company's Sydney-based managing director Mike Murphy flagged the 'fun' virtues touted by the airline when it originally came to Australia in 2000 as budget carrier Virgin Blue. 'We want to bring back the best parts of the Virgin Blue culture and make flying fun again,' he said. Virgin Australia was already struggling with $5billion debts before its planes were grounded due to strict coronavirus travel bans. Pictured: People at the Brisbane domestic terminal in March He also addressed concerns by workers unions urging the new owner to cooperate with Virgin's 10,000 staff while the aviation industry navigates its way out of the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus crisis. 'We have the strongest capital base of any of the bidders. We know aviation isn't going to return to normal any time soon, but Bain Capital is here for the long haul with deep funding to navigate these difficult times.' 'We will be a reliable partner for staff. Without them, there is no airline.' Bain Capital, which also owns Maldives-based seaplane carrier Trans Maldivian Airways, will compete with three additional contenders. They include a partnership between equity firm BGH Capital and AustralianSuper, and two US bidders Cyrus and Phoenix, and Indigo Partners - none of which have released a statement about the impending sale. Virgin Australia was already struggling with $5billion debts before its planes were grounded. Pictured: Virgin Australia flights attendants at Brisbane airport after the company went into administration Each party will submit their second-round offers by the end of the week, with binding bids due on June 12. The travel industry was one of the hardest hit when the pandemic escalated with borders being closed across the globe. Virgin CEO Paul Scurrah (pictured) asked the government for a financial bailout in March The Australian government provided a $715million support package for Qantas, Virgin Australia and regional airlines hit by the COVID-19 crisis in March. Two weeks after the cash injection, Virgin Australia CEO Paul Scurrah asked the government for a $1.4billion loan. The request was quickly refused as government officials said it was not their job to bail out specific businesses. Virgin Australia was already struggling with $5billion debts before its planes were grounded due to strict coronavirus travel bans. The airline went into voluntary administration in April owning a total of $7billion making it the largest aviation casualty of the crisis in the Asia-Pacific region. The company is 90 per cent foreign owned with Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways and Chinese conglomerates HNA Group and Hanshan owning 80 per cent between them while Richard Branson's Virgin Group still owns 10 per cent. You are here: World Flash A group of Chinese medical experts arrived in the capital of Tajikistan early Sunday to help the country fight its COVID-19 epidemic. Invited by the Tajik government, the team from China's northwestern Shaanxi province comprises 14 experts and doctors specializing in respiratory diseases, intensive care, nursing, traditional Chinese medicine, and infectious diseases prevention and control. During the nine-day visit to the Central Asian country, the team will share with local health authorities China's experience fighting the disease and train local doctors on identification, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients. Upon the group's arrival at the Dushanbe airport, Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan Liu Bin said the Chinese experts come as Tajikistan is grappling with the virus, a demonstration of the brotherhood and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two neighbors. The plane also brought a third batch of medical aid, including testing kits, personal protective equipment and ventilators that totaled 9.3 tons. Tajik First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection Umarzoda Saida welcomed the Chinese team and expressed appreciation for their help. Saida said that Tajikistan highly values China's experience and is ready to boost medical cooperation between the two countries. Tajikistan has reported 2,551 confirmed cases and 44 deaths as of Saturday. "We will share Chinese experience with our Tajik counterparts to improve prevention and control of COVID-19," said Dr. Yi Zhi, deputy head of the work team. New Delhi, May 25 : If you are dreaming of wood-fired pizzas, prawn wok noodles in Chilli Garlic or freshly baked Lemon Cheesecake while self-isolating at home, but wondering when you will be able to lay your hands on these dishes again, then it is a good news! Food lovers can use food delivery apps like Swiggy which are delivering signature dishes of 5-star restaurants to the comfort of our home. Using the app, users can now order-in dishes made by luxurious Michelin star chefs for chains like Hyatt, Leela and Marriott who have opened their kitchens to serve their loyal patrons. The top 5 occasions to order-in some luxurious fares are: Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays during lockdown has encouraged people to get creative by throwing virtual parties or creating videos for their friends and family. Go a step further to curate a playlist of the birthday girl/ boy party tunes, consider ordering in a special birthday brunch or lunch with decadent desserts from JW Marriott. Date Nights: For couples living together and in each other's presence day in and day out during quarantine, life could get mundane. One way to maintain the relationship spark is by creating your own date nights without even leaving the house. Play dress up, bring out the good tableware and order-in a great meal. A good choice is some of the mains from Grand Hyatt's exquisite menu. Anniversaries: So, you can't go out to your favourite restaurant and you can't afford to celebrate your anniversary by eating dinner sitting in front of the TV as well, can you? Why not order your favourite dishes from Marriot hotels elaborate all-day menu and bring restaurant-standard dining to your own dinner table? We're talking about a nicely set table with candles, a glass of wine and a three-course extravaganza. Movie Nights: Being separated from your friends during lockdown doesn't have to mean missing out on watching movies together. Apps such as newly launched Netflix Party or Zoom allow synchronized film watching no matter the physical distance between people. Order- in some burgers and nachos from Doubletree by Hilton to complete this surreal experience. Festivals: Festivals are a key to bring people together in our culture. Now more than ever it is important to celebrate and keep special traditions alive while maintaining norms of lockdown and social distancing. What better than rejoicing in a festival with some delightful meals? During this holy month of Ramadan, you can order-in delectable fares like Biryani and falooda from your city favourites for breaking fast with family or otherwise. All these restaurants are taking the necessary hygiene measures of regular temperature checks, sanitization of workstations and wearing of masks and gloves to maintain safety and hygiene levels. They also have a designated pick up area to ensure minimum human contact. With residents of the city currently practicing social distancing, below are occasions that you can go the extra mile to celebrate with your loved ones by ordering in some exclusive dishes. It's time to beat lockdown blues by celebrating small joys during quarantine with mouth-watering dishes using the convenience offered by food delivery platforms. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Latest updates on Eid al-Fitr 2020 -- Syndicated from IANS The final year/semester exams for graduate, post-graduate and other courses for all universities in Madhya Pradesh will be held between June 29 and July 31, the state government said on Monday. The decision was taken in a meeting attended by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan with Governor Lalji Tandon and senior officials of higher education department at Raj Bhawan here. "CM Chouhan took part in a meeting of higher education department to decide on the dates of the final examination of graduate, post-graduate and other courses of the state universities. Accordingly, the final year/semester exams of the state universities, both government and private, will be held from June 29 to July 31," an official release said. The meeting of Chouhan with the governor once again fuelled speculations on the second expansion of the state Cabinet which has been pending in view of the COVID-19 crisis. According to sources, senior BJP MLAs, including former ministers, are hoping for cabinet berths. Sources close to Chouhan said that another expansion of the council of ministers is likely to happen by this month-end. Chouhan took oath as chief minister on March 23 for a record fourth term, after his predecessor Kamal Nath of Congress stepped down. Chouhan remained a lone member in the Cabinet for a month before inducting five MLAs last month. According to sources, Prabhuram Choudhary, Imarti Devi, Mahendra Sisodia and Pradyumna Singh Tomar, who all quit the Congress government along with other MLAs following a revolt by Jyotiraditya Scindia, might be inducted in the next expansion of the Cabinet. Scindia later joined the BJP. Nath had to resign as the CM as 22 MLAs, including six ministers, defected to the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Las Teresitas beach in Tenerife, which is now open under Phase 2 of the government's coronavirus deescalation plan. The Spanish government is planning on lifting the two-week coronavirus quarantine requirement for overseas arrivals on July 1. The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held today via video conference call. Since May 15, the Spanish Health Ministry has required travelers arriving from outside the country to remain isolated for 14 days. The government had said that the measures would be scrapped once the state of alarm was lifted. But this weekend, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez suggested that the state of alarm which has been in place since March 14, and has given the government extra powers to combat the spread of the virus could be ended in some areas before others, a process that may begin as early as this week. Before May 15, the isolation period had only been applied to repatriated Spaniards and residents of Spain traveling from Italy. The rules currently in place apply to all international travelers, with a few exceptions for specific types of workers. The travel sector was particularly concerned about the quarantine period, which has also been adopted by other European countries such as the United Kingdom, for the effect that it would have on the arrival of overseas tourists this summer. The Spanish government, however, has recently shifted its position on the summer season, having initially suggested it would have to be written off due to the coronavirus crisis. Given the positive progress of the epidemic in Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Saturday during a televised address that the sector should start to get ready for the summer season, and that overseas tourists would be welcomed into the country under safe conditions from July. He also encouraged Spaniards to start planning domestic vacations from as early as June. Writing via Twitter today, Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez said that the most difficult part [of the coronavirus crisis] is behind us. From July we will gradually reactivate international tourism, we will lift the quarantine and ensure safe health conditions. The announcement should give the tourism sector a further boost. Spain usually receives more than 80 million visitors a year from overseas, and the sector accounts for more than 12% of gross domestic product (GDP). Deal on free movement On Sunday, Finance Minister and government spokesperson Maria Jesus Montero said during a press conference that Spain would be seeking international consensus on the free movement of travelers at least with countries that send the highest number of tourists to the country, such as Portugal, France, the United Kingdom and Germany. The minister added that the government would seek an agreement with countries from the Schengen area, rather than bilateral deals with a variety of countries. English version by Simon Hunter. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Aquaponics Market is anticipated to reach $1,019 million by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2018, the Deep Water Culture segment accounted for the highest Aquaponics market share in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global Aquaponics market revenue in 2018. The increase in the population worldwide and growth in global food demand majorly drives the aquaponics market growth. Aquaponics is increasingly being used to meet the high-demand for food crops. The ability to produce high quality crops throughout the year, lesser use of water for crop cultivation, and lower dependency on weather conditions boost the aquaponics market growth. Growing demand for organic and chemical free crops, and rising urban population accelerate the growth of the aquaponics market. New emerging markets, and reduced environmental pollution by aquaponics would provide growth opportunities in the aquaponics market in the coming years. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/aquaponics-market/request-for-sample North America generated the highest aquaponics market share in terms of revenue in 2018. The growing urbanization, and rising population has accelerated the aquaponics market growth in the region. A significant rise in the demand for organic and chemical free food products supports the growth of the aquaponics market in the region. The technological advancements in farming methods, and increasing awareness among consumers improves the aquaponics market growth rate. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. This is owing to significant growth of population in the region. Lack of fertile land, and strong technical expertise in agricultural practices in the region promotes the adoption of aquaponics in the region. Technological advancements and established R&D institutes in China and Japan further supplements the aquaponics market growth. The well-known companies profiled in the aquaponics market report include Ultrasonics Canada Corporation, UrbanFarmers AG, Backyard Aquaponics Pty Ltd., ECF Farmsystems GmbH, My Aquaponics, Aqua Allotments, Nelson & Pade Inc., Colorado Aquaponic, Greenlife Aquaponics, Aquaponic Lynx LLC, and The Aquaponic Source among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/aquaponics-market Leading players in the aquaponics market partner and collaborate with other players in the market to enhance their offerings in the market and expand their customer base. For instance, Aerofarms has partnered with Dell Technologies to expand its technological requirements of machine learning and network systems. Fluence Bioengineering, offers lighting solutions for Aquaponics to its consumers. The companys Fluence RAZR Series is developed for various Aquaponics applications such as full-cycle cultivation of leafy greens, young plant propagation of vegetable, ornamental and cannabis crops. Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Product Fish Herbs Fruits Vegetables Others Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Component Bio Filter Rearing tanks Settling Basins Hydroponics Subsystem Others Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Method Deep Water Culture Nutrition Film Technique Media-Filled Beds Ebb and Flow Drip Irrigation Others Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by End-User Commercial Home Production Community Agriculture and Farming Education and Research Others Aquaponics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/aquaponics-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com HONG KONG, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A petition activity was launched here on Sunday in support of national security legislation for Hong Kong, with the number of participators quickly amounting to tens of thousands. More than 1,000 street stands were set up across Hong Kong to collect public signatures for the petition. At a street stand in Sheung Wan area on Hong Kong Island, a total of 456 signatures were collected in only two hours on Sunday. Piana He, a volunteer at the street stand, told Xinhua that the petition was welcomed and supported by many Hong Kong residents as they believed that national security legislation at the state level will provide crucial support for maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and safeguarding Hong Kong residents' well-being. The petition activity was launched by a newly established organization jointly initiated by thousands of people and hundreds of groups representing various sectors in the Hong Kong community. The petition, to be held for one week starting from Sunday, was also launched online. As of Sunday evening, more than 100,000 people had participated in the online petition. After a draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security was submitted to the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation, many Hong Kong residents have voiced support for the legislation. Chung Pui-lan, a retired kindergarten teacher who participated in the petition, said she supports the legislation and hopes that it will help protect Hong Kong from scourge caused by external forces and restore its prosperity and stability. The prolonged disturbance has dealt a serious blow to Hong Kong's economy and people's livelihood, and many innocent residents were brutally assaulted by rioters just for holding different views, a Hong Kong resident surnamed Lau said, adding that she hopes national security legislation will help protect Hong Kong residents' freedoms and safety from being threatened by violence. Suen Ming-fung, a retired civil servant, agreed that it is necessary for the central authorities to take action since Hong Kong failed to enact laws for safeguarding national security on its own. Suen said he believes the legislation will help Hong Kong restore prosperity. "Only when its security is ensured can Hong Kong attract more foreign investment and develop more vigorously." Fung Kuen-kwok, a doctor living in Yau Ma Tei area in Kowloon, said since the social unrest started in June 2019, many of his neighbors and clients have been worried about their own safety due to rampant violence. Many countries around the world have relatively complete legal systems to safeguard national security, Fung pointed out, adding that it is the duty of every citizen to safeguard national security, but Hong Kong as a special administrative region of China has been slow in completing national security legislation "We have been looking forward to this (national security legislation) for a long time," he said. "I believe that after the completion of the legislation, it will have a deterrent effect on violent elements and help the residents to resume normal life and work." China's top legislature will work to safeguard the constitutional order in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions as stipulated in China's Constitution and the basic laws of the two regions, according to a report. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, on Monday delivered the report on the committee's work to the third session of the 13th NPC. "Remaining committed to upholding law-based governance in Hong Kong and Macao, we will work to safeguard constitutional order in the two special administrative regions as stipulated in China's Constitution and the basic laws, refine the system for interpreting the basic laws by the NPC Standing Committee, and establish a sound legal system and effective enforcement mechanisms at the national level for safeguarding national security in the two regions," according to the report. A former housekeeper for Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant is suing him and his wife, Vanessa, contending that she was verbally abused and humiliated while she worked at the couples Newport Coast home. Maria Jimenez, a 48-year-old immigrant originally from Peru, alleges Vanessa Bryant badgered and harassed her, and forced her to perform demeaning tasks. Jimenez filed the wrongful-termination lawsuit March 20 in Orange County Superior Court. Jimenez worked 60 hours a week in the Bryants home from September 2007 to March 2008, cleaning their house, washing their laundry and cleaning up after their children. The suit alleges that Vanessa Bryant called Jimenez lazy, slow, dumb, a liar and used profanity when addressing her. Advertisement On one occasion, the suit alleges, Vanessa Bryant screamed at Jimenez after one of the children came to her for comfort: I dont want you to touch my baby. I hired you for housekeeping, not baby-sitting. After Jimenez complained about her workload and not having breaks, the suit says Vanessa Bryant told her, You havent done anything. The suit alleges that Vanessa Bryant humiliated Jimenez in front of Kobe Bryant, their children and other employees in the household. Jimenez told Kobe Bryant that she wanted to quit because of his wifes conduct, but he persuaded her to stay on the job. Vanessa Bryant reportedly apologized to Jimenez, who continued to work for the couple for seven months. But she continued to yell at Jimenez, the suit alleges. The suit alleges that Vanessa Bryant suggested that Jimenez had stolen clothes, a toy and even her retainer from the couple. The Bryants denied the allegations in a statement from the law firm Loeb & Loeb LLP, which has offices in Los Angeles. Ms. Jimenezs outrageous allegations of improper conduct are totally unfounded and patently false, the statement said. The Bryants intend to vigorously defend against these untruthful allegations and are confident that the baseless nature of the allegations will be proven. Jimenezs lawyer, William Vogeler, said his client was wrongly discharged because she was working under intolerable circumstances that led to her leaving the job. Vogeler also said the Bryants did not provide Jimenez with health insurance. The suit does not specify the amount that Jimenez is seeking in damages, but Jimenez said in the suit that she sustained damages of more than $20,000 in unpaid overtime. Jimenez also alleges that Vanessa Bryant screamed at her for putting a $690 blouse in the washing machine, and demanded that Jimenez put her hand in a bag of dog feces to retrieve the price tag for the blouse. Jimenez refused and said she would quit, but Vanessa Bryant allegedly demanded that she pay for the blouse first, the suit states. Jimenez says she stayed on the job to work off the cost of the blouse. -- my-thuan.tran@latimes.com ALBANY, N.Y.Families of front-line workers killed by coronavirus will be entitled to government-backed death benefits, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday. The governor, holding his daily briefing aboard the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum in honour of Memorial Day, said public health workers, police, firefighters, transit workers and medics deserve more than just a thank you for their work during the pandemic. We will continue to show respect to our front-line heroes not just with words, but with action, Cuomo said. I want to make sure we repay that debt, Cuomo said. The least we can do, what we must do for their families, we should make sure their families get death benefits. Money for the benefits will be provided by local or state pension funds, the governor said. Antibody testing, which can potentially show whether someone has been exposed to the virus, has revealed a lower rate of infection for many front-line workers in New York City. However, hundreds of health and transit workers, cops, firefighters and EMS responders died over the past three months as the city became the epicentre of the pandemic. Coronavirus has killed at least 123 MTA employees, Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Pat Foye announced at a board meeting last Wednesday. Cuomo also called on the federal government to step up and provide hazard pay to front-line workers. I am calling on the federal government to provide dedicated funding for hazard pay for front-line workers, he said. They have earned it by showing up and risking their health and lives for all of us. Hospitalizations, admissions and intubations are down across the state, the governor said. Another 96 New Yorkers died from the virus on Sunday, a slight dip from the 109 killed a day earlier. Ahead of the briefing, Cuomo held a moment of silence and laid a wreath for service members lost and veterans being honoured on Memorial Day. The governor warned that those taking advantage of the holiday weekend should take basic steps to help prevent the spread of the virus such as maintaining social distancing and wearing a mask. You can increase activity without increasing virus spread, he said. Be smart. You know, I talk about the masks, and I will talk about the masks until Im blue in the face because they work. Over the weekend, Cuomo announced that campgrounds and RV parks would be allowed to open as the summer gets underway and many regions of upstate are looking forward to entering the second phase of the states reopening plan. A majority of the state, the city excluded, is now in phase one, meaning that construction and manufacturing businesses are allowed to operate. On Friday, Cuomo said the Mid-Hudson and Long Island regions are on track to start the four-phased reopening process this week. South Korea is a standout in the current battle against COVID-19, largely due to its widespread testing and contact tracing; however, key to its innovation is publicly disclosing detailed information on the individuals who test positive for COVID-19. These measures prove more effective at reducing deaths among than comprehensive stay-home orders, according to new research from University of California San Diego, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Chicago. The COVID-19 outbreak was identified in both South Korea and in the United States on Jan. 13. As of May 22, South Korea had 11,142 cases and the United States had 1,571,617. From day one of the spread of the virus, South Koreans received text messages whenever new cases were discovered in their neighborhood, as well as information and timelines of infected persons' travel. In a new National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper, researchers combined detailed foot-traffic data in Seoul from South Korea's largest mobile phone company with publicly disclosed information on the location of individuals who had tested positive. The results reveal that public disclosure can help people target their social distancing and this proves especially helpful for vulnerable populations who can more easily avoid areas with a higher rate of infection. "Our data shows that South Korea's public disclosure information was effective in changing citizens' behavior to drive down the rate of infection, without government-imposed lockdowns," said co-author Munseob Lee, an assistant professor of economics at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy. "This pattern is particularly pronounced during the weekends and among those over the age of 60." Seoul, with almost 10 million inhabitants, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Yet, as of May 22 the city had only 758 confirmed cases and three deaths. "These numbers are remarkably low in comparison to cities of similar size," the authors of the NBER paper write. The city did not implement wide-spread social isolation restrictions; however, like other local governments in the country, the capitol provided inhabitants information in real time via text messages on individuals that had tested positive. In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Government developed a dedicated website and a mobile app to enable residents to access real-time information. Loss of privacy and benefits of public disclosure A typical alert can contain the infected persons' age and gender, and a detailed log of their movements, which is based on contact tracing combined with data from cell phone and credit card records. This strategy was made possible because South Korean laws on managing and publicly sharing information on patients of infectious diseases changed significantly after the MERS outbreak in 2015. In the event of a national health emergency, the country's laws empower the Korea Centers for Disease Control Prevention to use GPS data, surveillance camera footage and credit card transactions to recreate infected persons' route a day before their symptoms showed. According to the authors, this publicly available data spurred significant changes in the commuting patterns of people: individuals were more likely to commute to the districts with less confirmed cases, and less likely to commute to the districts with more cases. "To be clear, disclosure of public information infringes upon the privacy of the affected individuals," said Chang-Tai Hsieh of the University of Chicago. "We do not attempt to measure the cost of the loss of privacy, but whenever such measures are available, they can be compared against the benefits of public disclosure we provide here." Comparing public disclosure to lockdowns To further measure the welfare effect of South Korea's strategy, the researchers used data on Seoul's resident movements and confirmed cases through the lens of standard epidemiology model augmented with economic geography to predict the spread of disease throughout the city. Their estimate is that over the next two years the current strategy in Seoul will lead to a cumulative 925,000 cases, 17,000 deaths (10,000 for those 60 and older and 7,000 for ages 20 to 59) and economic losses that average 1.2 percent of GDP. The researchers then took these results and compared them to a model of a partial lockdown in which there is no public disclosure. To be able to compare "apples to apples" the model projects that at least 40 percent of population would have to stay at home for about 100 days in order to have the same number of confirmed cases as in the full disclosure model. In this model, the number of cases remain the same, as designed, but deaths increase from 17,000 to 21,000 (14,000 for those 60 and older and 7,000 for ages 20 to 59) and economic losses increase from 1.2 to 1.6 percent of GDP. "Our research shows that public disclosure mostly helps the elderly more effectively target social distancing which in turn saves more lives, at least 4,000, according to our projections," the authors noted. Containing COVID-19 while mitigating economic suffering While death rates among the older populations are significantly higher under lockdowns, those under 60 suffer economic losses twice as high, compared to South Korea's current strategy. "The flow of people across neighborhoods generates economic gains from the optimal match of people with the place of work and leisure," said David Argente of Pennsylvania State University. "In the current strategy, individuals with a high health risk commuting to a neighborhood with many detected cases can change their commuting pattern, while individuals with low health risk can make a different choice." They added, the individuals who can easily substitute between working in the office and working at home can do that, while others where the substitution is costly can continue to commute to work. In contrast, a lockdown does not discriminate between individuals with different cost/benefit ratios for social isolation. In South Korea, the impact of the pandemic led to a 1.4 percent drop in real GDP in the first quarter of 2020. Still, the decline was much less than the 9.8 percent plunge in China, which enforced across-the-board lockdowns in large parts of the country. The authors concluded in the absence of a vaccine, targeted social distancing may be a much more effective way to reduce the transmission of the disease while minimizing the economic cost of social isolation. "We view the public dissemination of information in Korea as one way to accomplish that they write. "We are hopeful that perhaps there could be other more effective ways to target social distancing to get the maximum benefit for the least cost." ### Fine Gael TD, John Paul Phelan, has commended the fantastic support of local volunteers in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Since the call for people to sign up to support the community response to COVID 19 in Kilkenny went out in March, just under 200 people from the area have registered to volunteer through the I-VOL app. Deputy Phelan said: Volunteers in our counties have been directly linked by the local Volunteer Centre(s) to local organisations responding to COVID-19, conducting a wide range of very important work - from delivering food and medicines to older people who are self-isolating, to volunteering in COVID test centres. There are also many more volunteers on the ground, helping out family, friends and neighbours. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for the invaluable work being carried out by volunteers in both Kilkenny and Carlow during the Covid-19 emergency. The response to the COVID crisis shows once again what a fantastic resource we have in our volunteers and the wonderful community spirit that prevails here in Carlow and Kilkenny even during these challenging times. Deputy Phelan continued: We have always depended greatly on the cohort of volunteers that give so generously of their time and energy year in year out. Unfortunately, many of our volunteers are older people who have been confined to their homes as a result of the COVID 19 crisis. Back in March as the crisis was emerging, we called on people to help meet the significant needs at community level and the response has been magnificent. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, said: I am very happy to be in a position to provide the necessary supports to underpin this important work through my Departments collaboration with Volunteer Ireland and the network of Volunteer Centres. Together, we will ensure that the work of these volunteers results in a permanent legacy for the benefit of our communities. During the crisis, the Department has introduced a number of additional measures to provide extra support, including additional funding of 500,000 to Volunteer Centres to support the COVID-19 volunteer efforts, a COVID-19 Communication Pack for Communities, a collection of seven leaflets offering practical advice and information on topics ranging from sensible volunteering to vulnerable persons to the prevention of fraud and theft; a 2.5 million COVID-19 Emergency Fund for local authorities to administer to community groups partaking in the Community Call, as well as 40 million support package of supports for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises. Mumbai: The operator of the Mumbai international airport said on Sunday it will resume commercial passenger services on domestic routes from May 25 with 25 departures and arrivals each. Prior to the suspension of passenger flight services on March 25 in the wake of nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the AAI-GVK group-run airport had been operating over 1,000 daily flights (arrivals and departures), including on international routes. "As many as 50 departures and arrivals are expected on day one and all flights will be operational from Terminal 2," the Mumbai International Airport Ltd ( MIAL) said in a release. Earlier, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had allowed airlines to operate one-third of their total domestic flights from each airport. The initiative to resume services came after the directive issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation as well as the state government giving a nod to recommence domestic flight operations to and from Mumbai, the MIAL said in the release. Adhering to the new guidelines specified by the government, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), in the release also urged the passengers above the age of 14 to mandatorily download the Aarogya Setu app for safe travel. Furthermore, the CSMIA also advised passengers above 80 years as well as expectant mothers and passengers with health issues to restrict travelling, it said. Arriving passengers will be temperature-screened by the state government and are expected to be in home quarantine for 14 days, it added. The airport operator said it has undertaken various steps and put in place standard operating procedures for the safety of its passengers. It said it will continue to undertake several precautionary measures, including screening of departing passengers, maintaining 2-metre of social distancing, and wearing of masks. Additionally, the CSMIA has positioned plexiglass at all counters to keep social distancing along with stationing hand sanitisers at all touch points, the MIAL said. Moreover, the CSMIA has also created a separate quarantine centre for symptomatic passengers, said the release. "And then there's the mind," she said, which connects to the stories and legends contained within each pattern. Nayar unwinds these by removing the prescribed abhinaya and mudras (facial expressions and hand gestures), softening the edges of the steps, doing them backward or transitioning them onto the floor. A single mudra, a closed palm with splayed fingers representing the water lily, is now the impetus for an entire section of "Unwinding" in which four women portray the individual petals on the lily. As I was leaving rehearsal, Nayar remarked that she wished audiences could see what I saw that is, the actually unwinding process saying that it, more so than the performance, is the "thing." After years of slumping at a desk, Ive begun to suffer the aches that come from having a poor work-space setup. The stiff chair, the desk thats too tall and the cramped laptop keyboard have all become literal pains in the neck (and shoulders and back and elsewhere). If your home-office setup is less than ideal, it may be time to upgrade the space ergonomically, especially now that most nonessential businesses plan to keep employees working from home indefinitely. Experts agree that an ergonomic workstation one that supports your body in a neutral position can reduce the risk of discomfort or pain that these stressors cause our bodies. This means: Your neck isnt bent back or down or contorted, your arms arent lifted or extended out to the side of your body, your wrists and hands arent bent up or sideways, and your spine isnt twisted. An ergonomic workstation will help you sit comfortably at a computer, even for long stints. (But you should still remember to take breaks and move every hour at least.) Heres how to set up a work space that fits and supports you best, based on advice from ergonomics experts and what we at Wirecutter have found over years of testing home-office furniture and gear. He had returned to the Vatican just a few days before his 70th birthday. I, on the other side of the ocean, was thinking about what had just taken place, a truly unique experience, humanly and spiritually overwhelming is how I would define it, for myself and for the millions of faithful met along the way who had practically led him to touch, in one week, the entire geography of the land of volcanoes. Mexico City, 1990. It was May then too. There began my most personal memories of Saint John Paul II, whom I had quickly greeted several years before during his visit to the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. He had concluded his 47th Apostolic Journey abroad, in which I was directly involved in preparations and in which I was directly involved as Secretary of the then Apostolic Delegation to Mexico. The same country which, in January 1979, had constituted the first ring of that impossible chain of worldwide apostolic itineraries undertaken by the Pope called from afar, who managed to broach every distance, not just those measured in kilometres. In those times Mexico, even while counting 95 per cent of the Catholic population, fervidly Marian due to the presence of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the capital and of the countless other places of worship dedicated to the Most Blessed Virgin in the entire territory, preserved a secularist Constitution, which did not recognize the Churchs right to exist, and even went so far as to prohibit religious functions in public. But John Paul II did not come as a politician seeking accords, even if his charism and his impetus favoured, in the years immediately thereafter, the transformation of the Governments policy on religious matters and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Holy See, in favour of those for which the then Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Girolamo Prigione, had long and tenaciously worked. Instead, he introduced himself as a pilgrim seeking faith. At the welcome ceremony in the airport he said: The Lord, the master of history and of our destinies, has wished that my pontificate be that of a pilgrim Pope of evangelization, walking down the roads of the world, bringing to all areas the message of salvation. Shortly afterwards he re-emphasized the concept, presenting himself as pilgrim of love and hope, with the desire to enliven the energies of Church communities, so that they might bear abundant harvests of love for Christ and service to their brothers and sisters. I think one could condense these words into a single one: mission. For him it was not a preferential option, but an evangelical need. To go outside of oneself in order to rediscover oneself, to lose oneself in order to find oneself: the Teacher taught this. The very name he had chosen as Pontiff bore the imprint of that of the first great missionary, Paul of Tarsus. Like him, he had received the irrepressible call to enlarge the doors of the house in order to make anyone who reached it feel at home: the house of the living God is destined for the great human family. Not only that, but as the Apostle of the Gentiles, he did not spare himself, becoming everything to everyone in order to become involved with them (cf. 1 Cor 9:23). I was left with an indelible and inspiring impression by the effort that he made to be faithful to the two events scheduled for each day, one in the morning and one in the evening, in different parts of the Republic, with the celebrations respectively of Holy Mass and of a liturgy of the Word. And with that sense of humour that characterized him, for which one morning, in greeting as usual the tens of thousands of people who lay siege, day and night, to the offices of the Apostolic Nunciature during his visit, praying and singing, he said (with reference to the fact that that evening he would not return to Mexico City as he had in other days): Today I am giving you a vacation: rest a little!. In this way that Open the doors to Christ made its way ever deeper within me. It was not merely a courageous exhortation, so much as the awareness that it was impossible to be Church if not truly opening the doors of the house to the Lord and, with him, to all brothers and sisters created in his image. A message given to the world immediately, from the inauguration of his Pontificate and from his first Encyclical, dedicated to the Redeemer of man and to man, through the Church. Thus, the diplomatic service, in which I was taking my first steps, was opening up broader horizons: it required not only calling its own legitimate reasons to the attention of others, but opening we first and then everyone the doors of the house, in Jesus name. It meant living the diplomatic mission by recalling that the noun precedes and motivates the adjective. It meant welcoming a splendid truth: that of not being foreigners in any country, and thus at home everywhere. Not only because Catholics are everywhere in the world, but above all because in mankind, in every man and woman, Christ is knocking, asking that a door be opened. Thus new gestures again flourish in memory, from the ancient evangelical zest, signs, indelible images: crossed borders, ecumenical, interreligious, social and historical encounters. A Gospel of life expressed in the singular and plural: a Gospel of many, many lives (who has encountered more in recent decades?), all precious, unique, embraced by a smile that always loved beauty, as he stood out gleaming on the cliffs of the Valle dAosta and as he lay, curled up and suffering, in a hospital bed. It is no coincidence that the most suffering Pope whom the media has shown us was also the Pope of young people, to whom on 15 April 1984, on the occasion of the first Day dedicated to them, he addressed a memorable phrase: It is worthwhile being man, because you, Jesus, were man!. Rome, 2005. Twenty-five years had passed since those eight unforgettable days in Mexico. I too had crossed the ocean, joining the Curia in the meantime. In the Spring of that year from the open windows we saw rivers of people walking, between prayers and songs, toward the one who, introducing the Church in the third millennium, had spoken of the new springtime of the Spirit. People from everywhere came to exchange visits with the pilgrim Pope. The Christian and human family clung to its father, brother, friend. Many languages expressed the same affection for the missionary Pope who had travelled the planet to remind everyone of the dignity of each one. In the Christian language, mission rhymes precisely with communion. The Second Vatican Council taught this, recalling that the Church, essentially, is communion itself and mission for others. The itinerant John Paul II was first a young father and then elderly son of the Council, the road map for the Church of our time. And there we were, all close in communion around the Pope of mission, in those first days of April, in its Easter days. We were looking at the Crucifix and at his cross, gathered like Mary and John at the foot of the wood, to form a family. We understood that those names suited him: Mary, whose initial stood tu out under the cross on his coat of arms, but was firmly impressed in the Totus tuus del cuore; John, the evangelist icon of communion, first name of a Pope faithful to it, as father of the entire human family. The last image is his appearance above the Square, on Easter Sunday, at the window, gesticulating and silent for the final, wordless blessing, made with his life. Someone wrote that life is an open window on the world. I think that this applies in a special way to the Pope born 100 years ago. I thank him with all my heart for having opened so many windows in my inner world as well. And for letting Light of the world enter. Pietro Parolin By ANI KATHMANDU: Air India flight, AI-301, from Sydney on Monday will bring three Nepali citizens, one of them will undergo bone marrow transplant at a Delhi hospital, informed sources from the Ministry of External Affairs told ANI. The repatriation flight is expected to touch down in Delhi at 18:35 hours (IST), the sources added. "The Embassy of Nepal in Australia had requested for this evacuation. It is a case of a bone marrow transplant. The patient, along with his brother (donor) and father (caretaker) will be taken directly to the BLK hospital in the national capital and they will be in quarantine at the hospital itself. All the three have COVID-19 negative certificates and fit to fly certificates, along with the local hospital's acceptance letter," they added. At least 225 passengers, including two infants, are set to be flown back to India on this particular flight operated under the Government of India's 'Vande Bharat' Mission. The flight is bounded for Ahmadabad will be carrying 11 passengers who will land in New Delhi, including the Nepali citizens. Vande Bharat Mission initiated by Government of India to evacuate Indian Nationals from overseas has brought in more than 30,000 Indian Nationals back home amid worldwide lockdown to flatten the COVID-19 curve. "We brought back more than 30,000 stranded Indians on Vande Bharat flights since 6 May 2020. We flew 917 tons of medical and essential cargo on Lifeline UDAN flights since 26 March 2020. Today, we restart domestic flights. India's civil aviation is always on the forefront," Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted today. New Delhi, May 25 : May 30 is a red letter day for the ruling BJP as it will mark the completion of one year of the Narendra Modi-led governments second term in power. The first year of the second term is particularly significant for the party, as it has honoured three top promises made in its manifesto during this period -- abrogation of Article 370, the Triple Talaq Act and delivering the Ram Janmabhoomi promise. While the party had grand plans to mark the special occasion, the Covid-19 outbreak has forced it to tweak them. BJP President J.P. Nadda has taken a three-pronged approach to celebrate the first anniversary with personal, digital and virtual outreach programmers. Personal Outreach: The BJP plans to take a copy of a letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to as many as 10 crore households across India. In the letter, Modi will seek a pledge for "Aatma Nirbhar Bharat" besides sharing some tips on battling the Covid-19 pandemic. However, given the social distancing norms in place, BJP General Secretary Arun Singh said that each group distributing the letter will comprise two cadres only, and they will stay clear from the containment zones and the quarantine centres. BJP has a plethora of morchas like farmers, women etc. and Nadda has instructed all the morchas to distribute face covers and sanitises to all their members. The party will also hold press conferences at 150 media centers across India where the senior party leadership will advertise not just the "achievements" of the last one year, but also India's "successful ability" to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak. Moreover, with the Prime Minister going big on 'Swadeshi', each and every BJP member will be made to take a pledge to support indigenous products. Digital Outreach: The party has also asked all its booth level members to create WhatsApp groups with immediate effect where Modi government's 'achievements' and details of Nadda's interaction, among other things, will be shared. Three days have been designated -- May 27, 28 and 29 -- to create thousands of WhatsApp groups across the length and breadth of India on a war footing. BJP's national mouthpiece, "Kamal Sandesh", will issue online bulletins in the coming days. The cadres as well as leadership have been asked to inform the support base about the same so that the information penetration is maximised. While the party is going overboard with its outreach, it is mindful that the primary concern of all Indians is about the pandemic right now. Hence, the BJP has decided to issue a short video where India's tackling of the pandemic will be shown as a success story. All state units have been asked to translate and dub the video in local languages. Ever since the lockdown, Nadda has been regularly video conferencing with party general secretaries and state leaderships. One video of that will also be made to portray a picture of how "reachable" the BJP President is. Virtual rallies, 1K video conferences: The BJP may not be in a position to hold grand rallies, but it is up for virtual rallies. "At least one big rally in smaller states and two rallies in bigger states will be organised by the party which will attended by more than 750 people," said a statement by the BJP. These virtual rallies will be held through video conferencing. The BJP has planned at least 1,000 video conferences to be addressed by the national and state leadership. Each interaction will be of one hour duration, out of which 40 minutes will be dedicated for the speech of the guest, while 20 minutes will be kept for question and answer. Nadda has also tasked every morcha to addresses up to 500 congregations through video conferencing in the next seven days. They have been asked to highlight the "promises delivered" by the Modi-led BJP government. The BJP has also asked its leadership to communicate to people the scale of the government's economic package in layman's language. The BJP President has urged the leaders and party workers to strictly maintain social distancing norms while carrying out all these plans and proposals. After months of rumors, the Sony Xperia 1 II has now gotten an official release date. The phone will go on sale in the US on July 24, five whole months after it was announced. It will carry an MSRP of US$1200, although early takers also get a free pair of Sony's WF-1000XM3 earbuds worth US$200. Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here The release of the Sony Xperia 1 II has been shrouded in mystery for long. A few days ago, the phone was temporarily listed on B&H for pre-order, with the page taken down shortly after for unknown reasons. Finally, though, the Xperia 1 II has gotten an official release date in the US. The Sony Xperia 1 II has now been confirmed to go on sale in the US on July 24. Pre-orders begin shortly, though, on June 1st. As expected, the phone will carry a price tag of US$1200. That's a heavy MSRP, so Sony is offering buyers who pre-order before June 28 a free pair of its lauded Sony WF-1000XM3 TWS earbuds. The Sony Xperia 1 II features a 6.5-inch 21:9 QHD+ display without a cutout of any kind, a Snapdragon 865, a 4000 mAh battery, a quad-rear camera setup, stereo speakers, a side-mounted fingerprint reader, and most importantly, a 3.5mm jack. It's interesting to note that the Xperia 1 II will not offer 5G support in the US, although it will in Europe. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) President Rodrigo Duterte reminded local government units to welcome returning overseas Filipino workers amid the COVID-19 crisis in the country. The appeal of the President came a day after he ordered yesterday to hasten the release of COVID-19 test results of over 24,000 stranded OFWs languishing in quarantine facilities. READ: Duterte gives ultimatum to gov't agencies to send home returning OFWs awaiting COVID-19 test results Duterte also cited a report from the Department of Labor and Employment that 302,062 stranded OFWs are expected to arrive in different parts of the country when the airports open. Hindi naman sila lahat nagkasakit (Not all of the OFWs have the virus). It is very cruel actually to deny them to go home, said Duterte in his weekly public address aired Monday night. National Task Force on COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez reported last week that a total of 465 returning OFWs have tested positive for COVID-19. Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano assured in their meeting that all 24,000 OFWs who are returning home to their provinces have tested negative for the virus. Duterte emphasized that only the national government can impose travel restrictions because they are the ones who hold the constitutional power of declaring a national emergency. Nobody but nobody can really stifle the right of [OFWs] whether he is travelling, working outside and coming in, going home, he noted. The President said LGUs must ask permission from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on imposing measures in their locality. It is the constitutional right of people to travel and go home. Do not impede it. Do not obstruct the movement of people because you run the risk of getting sued criminally, said Duterte. Duterte added he ordered the use of all the government-owned air, water, and land modes of transportation to bring home the OFWs to their respective hometowns. Around 2,000 OFWs packed the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Paranaque Integrated terminal Exchange yesterday as the national government started to expedite their return to their respective provinces. For the first time in so many decades, the Trump administration might restart nuclear weapons testing as threats from China and Russia increases. This move comes into play as the US is concentrating on deterrence as a superpower that has been in a lull, that will be lifted in the Trump administration. Part of a reformation of all the concerns that the US needs to address to counter the rise of China especially, and Russia. According to a representative of the administration, the discussions began on Friday, May 15 wherein all concerned agencies on national security were in attendance to thresh out the matter. One member of the administration said that China and Russia are doing nuclear testing as part of their agenda. But, when asked if they were doing it, they denied it and with no further comment which leaves a choice for the US to start its own testing. Most members in attendance were in agreement during the May 15 meeting to do rapid testing to counterbalance to deal with the two superpowers. No tests since 1992 For the record, the last nuke testing done by the US was in 1992, and since then, it has been quiet but breaking this silence will have massive changes. It will be reminiscent of the cold war that had the US and Russia rattling sabres. An executive director for the Arms Control Association confirmed to the Washington Post that moves like this will begin a modern arms race with serious implications. One aspect is the disruption of further talks with North Korea, which will not feel inclined to stop testing nuclear weapons. If the current administration maneuvers to use nuclear testing, threatens as a way to force all concerned parties to stand down, and go to the table to reach a status quo, it is not a safe path to embark on. Also read: Aircraft Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt Will Be Putting China in Place as It Blatantly Harass US Assets Many members who attended that meeting was concerned about such sudden moves to shake things up by the US, though this was the predominant thought during the May 15 caucus. One member of the current US administration revealed to the Washington Post, there is a divide if nuclear weapon testing is a viable option for many members, especially the agency of the National Nuclear Security Administration was not in line with the current administration's nuclear push. Contrary views on the value of testing nuclear weapons to reach goals during this current administration is different from the past which is considered important. How many tests have been done by the US A total of 2000 tests done on nuclear weapons has been completed before, the majority was accomplished by the US compared to other nations. Also, the US is the one to attack another country with it, in the second world war. Studies in the effects of nuclear testing on health caused the shelving of any more tests, a ban on all testing was drafted and agreed by all nations concerned in 1996. Ratifying the treaty were 184 nations but it is not enforced in eight nations like the US, China, and Iran have not signed it yet till now. One development last year is that the current administration can ignore the treaty, according to the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Russia is not following the agreement. The US is now at a crossroads to resume weapons testing or not while China is arming up and Russia is testing. Related article: Kim Jong-Un Reappears: North Korea Wants New Policies for 'Nuclear War Deterrence' @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Air India may operate non-scheduled relief and rescue flights on international routes with middle seat booking till June 6, the Supreme Court ordered on Monday, partially modifying the Bombay high court order of May 22 which had mandated the national carrier to keep middle seats vacant while flying home Indians stranded abroad. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI), SA Bobde extended the liberty to Air India to fill up middle seats of the rescue flights after taking into account difficulties which passengers, including families, could face if the centre seat passengers are offloaded. We are of the considered view that the petitioner, Air India, should be allowed to operate the non-scheduled flights with the middle seats booking upto June 6, the top court said. Air India and the central government had rushed to the apex court on Sunday seeking a stay on the Bombay high court order. The top court sent the matter back to the Bombay high court to pass an appropriate interim order on June 2, which is the next date of hearing of the case in the high court. Air India will have to comply with the interim order of the Bombay high court while operating non-scheduled flights after June 6. However, after that (June 6) Air India will operate non-scheduled flights in accordance with the interim order to be passed by the Bombay High Court, the top court said. During the hearing on Monday, the apex court was critical of Air Indias logic to operate international flights without keeping centre seats vacant. You should be worried about the health of citizens and not about the health of commercial airlines, CJI Bobde told solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for Air India and the central government. The court also ordered that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is free to alter any norms during the pendency of the matter in the interest of public health and safety of the passengers rather than commercial considerations. The petitioner before the high court, Deven Yogesh Kanani, who is an Air India pilot himself, had pointed out that operating flights without keeping middle seats vacant was in violation of the circular issued by the DGCA on March 23. Air India had contended that the circular of March 23 applies only to scheduled domestic flights and not non-scheduled international flights. Further, it was also argued by Air India that the March 23 circular has been superseded by a circular issued on May 22 as per which there is no express mandate to keep the middle seats vacant. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta impressed upon the Supreme Court the difficulties which passengers may face if the middle seat bookings are cancelled. He told the court that one-third of the passengers who are expected to be brought in by the non-scheduled flights would be left stranded in foreign airports if the high court order was not stayed. According to Mr Mehta, this (Bombay high court order) has resulted in a lot of anxiety and difficulties arising from want of proper shelter, money, etc, at the foreign airports. Moreover, in some cases, the travel plan of families who were travelling together has been disrupted because those in the families who had middle seats have to be offloaded, the Supreme Court noted in its order. The central government also pointed out the difficulties in convincing airport authorities of foreign nations to offload passengers based on an order passed by a court in India. Besides, it was also submitted that keeping the middle seat unoccupied will not help much to prevent the transmission of coronavirus. How can you say it will not affect anyone? Outside (aircraft), there should be a social distancing of at least 6 feet. Will the Virus know it is in the aircraft and is not supposed to infect?, the court questioned. The bench, which also comprised justices AS Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, remarked that there should be no distinction between international and domestic flights when it comes to adherence to social distancing norms. There shouldnt be a difference (between international and domestic flights). It is common sense that maintaining social distancing is important, the court remarked. The U.S. Department of Justice is launching an investigation into the shooting death of an unarmed black man in Georgia as a hate crime, according to attorneys for the victim's family. Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was shot and killed by two white men while jogging in his neighborhood on February 23. Three arrests were made this month after video surfaced of the violent encounter. Attorneys for Arbery's family said the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Bobby Christine and his office will look into why Glynn County and the state of Georgia took more than two months to make an arrest and whether the region has historically violated the rights of its citizens. The U.S. Attorney said he plans to file criminal and civil charges. William Bryan, who recorded Arbery's killing from his car, was arrested and charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. His footage showed 64-year-old Gregory McMichael and his 34-year-old son, Travis, confront Arbery before shooting him. Gregory and Travis were both arrested May 9. Travis was charged with murder and aggravated assault, and Gregory was charged with party to murder and aggravated assault. Arbery Ahmaud Arbery Family Handout On the day of the shooting, Arbery was spotted walking around an open construction site and the McMichaels pursued him in a pickup truck, according to the police report. When they passed Bryan's home, Bryan got in his own vehicle and followed, The New York Times reported. When Arbery ran around the McMichaels' car, Bryan tried to block him, Gregory McMichael told investigators. Arbery ran past Bryan's car, too, and the two vehicles reportedly turned around and continued pursuing him. At 1:14 p.m., Bryan took the video of Travis shooting Arbery, the Times said. McMichael told police he thought Arbery was a burglary suspect, adding that Arbery "violently" attacked his son, and the two fought "over the shotgun" before Travis shot him twice. Story continues In an interview with CBS affiliate WJAX-TV, Bryan said he had "nothing to do" with Arbery's death. "I had nothing to do with it. I'm trying to get my life back to normal, and it's been smeared for the last week," Bryan said. "I was told I was a witness and I'm not sure what I am, other than receiving a bunch of threats." "My client was responding to what he saw, which was someone in the community he didn't know being followed by a vehicle he recognized," Bryan's attorney told the outlet. "Without going into details about the level of crime in this community in this subdivision, I think most people in this subdivision were aware that there were issues." Georgia among 4 states with no hate crime laws Many have alleged Arbery was targeted because of his race, but Georgia is one of four states with no hate crime statutes, which generally allow for harsher sentencing for perpetrators of crimes ruled by a court to be bias-motivated. South Carolina, Wyoming and Arkansas also remain without hate crime laws, and some advocates also include Indiana on the list, calling a law passed in that state last year "uniquely and problematically broad." Previous efforts to pass a hate crimes bill in the Georgia general assembly have faltered, but since Arbery's killing there's been a "newfound resurgence of interest in making sure Georgia gets this on the books," Georgia Representative Karen Bennett, chairwoman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, told CBS News. HB 426, the latest proposed hate crimes bill, was introduced with bipartisan support last year and passed the state house of representatives. But the bill appeared stalled in a state Senate committee when the legislative session was suspended in March over coronavirus concerns. The Anti-Defamation League has joined a coalition of 35 advocacy groups known as Hate Free Georgia to call for HB 426 to pass; the bill would mandate enhanced sentencing for defendants convicted of targeting a victim because of their "actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origins, sexual orientation, gender, mental disability, or physical disability." While states are the primary prosecutors of hate crimes, the federal government also has the authority to bring charges under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The Department of Justice can act as a "backstop" to prosecute hate crimes in states without the statutes or where state laws don't cover the crime. The Department of Justice has previously said it is reviewing the Arbery case to determine whether federal hate crime charges are appropriate. It was also weighing a request by the Attorney General of Georgia to investigate the conduct of the first two district attorneys assigned to the case. They recused themselves amid questions over their links to Gregory McMichael, a former law enforcement officer, and handling of the case. Peter Martinez, Victoria Albert, Rodney Hawkins and Erin Donaghue contributed to this report. Taps Across America Colorado tourist attractions remain closed despite reopening plans Chris Cassidy: SpaceX launch is "a gigantic deal," "very confident" crew will arrive safely Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 25, 2020 10:18 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9ec68d 1 World Israeli,Indonesian,Israel,Indonesia,Jewish,Muslim,YouTube,video,Idul-Fitri Free A group of Israeli nationals has posted a video wishing Indonesian Muslims selamat Lebaran (happy Idul Fitri) as part of an online campaign to promote camaraderie and understanding between the two countries. The short video, which was uploaded onto YouTube by a channel named Israel Loves Indonesia on Sunday afternoon, features a number of Israeli citizens wishing the Indonesian public a happy Idul Fitri and expressing their desire to visit Indonesia in the near future. Its the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, so Israelis wanted to surprise all Muslim Indonesians with their warmest wishes! Selamat Lebaran, we [love] you! the group wrote on its Facebook page alongside a link to the YouTube video. The group was not immediately available for comment when contacted by The Jakarta Post regarding the video campaign. In the "About" section of its Facebook page, the group describes itself as an initiative that seeks to connect the people of Israel and Indonesia. Israel Loves Indonesia is building bridges between the great peoples of the worlds largest Muslim-majority country and the worlds only Jewish-majority country. We are not enemies. We love each other, the message reads. In the same section, the initiative explains it is part of the larger We Love You movement, which was kickstarted by the Peace Factory. The organization previously launched a similar campaign called Israel Loves Iran in 2012. Indonesia and Israel have no diplomatic relations. Indonesians, however, are able to visit Israel for religious pilgrimages, while Israelis can also visit Indonesia on a calling visa or limited-stay visa. (rfa) A flock of cockatoos have been caught on camera ripping out wires attached to a 5G tower. The footage comes as conspiracy theorists hold rallies across Australia to protest the roll-out of the new 5G network over unfounded fears it could cause coronavirus. 'Birds attack a 5G tower, do they sense it's a threat?' the caption of the video reads. 'Well if that's not a warning from nature itself then I don't know what is,' one person joked. 'The 5G towers are probably interfering with the birds' "radars",' added another. A recent Essential Research survey found ridiculous conspiracy theories are widespread among the Australian population - including 12% of those surveyed believing the 5G wireless network was being used to spread coronavirus. The same number of people believe the pandemic is being used to force people into getting vaccinations. The results prompted the federal government to renew warnings about claims linking 5G to coronavirus are bogus. 'Any suggestions that there is a link between 5G and coronavirus are utterly baseless,' Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said. 'There is no evidence that the use of these radio waves in mobile networks is harmful to health or related to the current health pandemic.' A flock of angry birds have been caught on camera ripping out wires attached to a 5G tower One in eight believe Microsoft founder Bill Gates is somehow responsible for the virus. Mr Gates has donated millions of dollars to research efforts to develop and manufacture a coronavirus vaccine. Anti-vaxxers and 5G conspiracy buffoons held a series of small protests against coronavirus lockdowns around Australia earlier this month. Conspiracy theorists bearing signs with anti-5G messages joined anti-vaxxers and other Victorians furious with the state's strict lockdown measures at a mass rally held in Melbourne, where 10 arrests were made. There were also angry scenes at Mullumbimby near Byron Bay in northern NSW last month when Telstra installed 5G upgrades despite a local council unanimously agreeing not to support any upgrades that will facilitate 5G technology. One in eight Australians believe 'utterly baseless' conspiracy theories that coronavirus is linked to 5G technology. Pictured is a protester at mass rally in Melbourne on May 10 Anti-vaxxers and 5G conspiracy buffoons held a series of small protests against coronavirus lockdowns around Australia earlier this month The council astonishingly took its tinfoil hat-wearing residents' concerns seriously, saying it had 'never seen so much electromagnetic activity'. Councillors agreed to halt work on the Telstra tower, claiming they hadn't been given 'assurances' that high speed internet didn't affect people's health. Australian professor of medicine, and public health advocate John Dwyer described conspiracy claims that 5G causes the deadly virus as 'dangerous nonsense'. 'At this time in the fight against the epidemic, this is dangerous nonsense. Even to have a few people think differently that social distancing isn't for them is a silly idea and is putting all of us at risk,' he told Seven News last month. 'For some people, the idea of a conspiracy theory turns them on. Most of the time, it doesn't matter that much but in this particular case, it's dangerous.' The roll-out of 5G networks in Australia began in June 2019, with technology using a similar frequency to existing 3G and 4G networks. The only difference with 5G is it can work at faster speeds as it uses a higher band. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Banks mostly ignored the Russian central bank's first month-long liquidity auction in many years on Monday, preferring funds with shorter maturity in what the central bank described as evidence there is adequate liquidity in the system. The central bank normally provides the market with rouble liquidity at one-week repo auctions. For the first time since 2013, Monday's repo auction offered up to 500 billion roubles ($7 billion) to banks willing to park OFZ treasury bonds as collateral for a full month. Only one lender took part, the central bank said without identifying the lender. The central bank said the limited demand for the longer-term liquidity was not unexpected, and confirmed that the current liquidity level in the banking system is sufficient. A top executive at a major Russian bank in Moscow that usually takes part in repo auctions said banks have ignored the new auction "as they still have money". The funds were offered at a minimum rate of 5.6%, slightly above the bank's key rate of 5.5%, which it has pledged to cut in June to support an economy hit by the novel coronavirus crisis and related lockdowns. "The system retains liquidity surplus, that was the main reason for poor demand," said Sofia Donets, chief economist at Renaissance Capital. Some state banks have asked for longer-term repo auctions to buy OFZ bonds, the issuance of which the finance ministry plans to double this year to 4.0-4.5 trillion roubles as it needs funds to fight an economic fallout from the new coronavirus. The central bank said it will continue holding longer term repo auctions to support market liquidity according to its schedule. It will next test demand for long-term rouble liquidity at a one-year repo auction due on June 22. That auction could draw higher demand as such long-term funds are a "rare thing" for the Russian market, said a source with another major Russian bank who asked not to be named. ($1 = 71.5600 roubles) (Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya, Andrey Ostroukh and Tatiana Voronova; Additional reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Katya Golubkova, Peter Graff and Jan Harvey) As states across the country have gradually pushed forward with reopening in recent weeks, protesters representing a small but apparently growing movement - especially within the Republican Party - have continued to push for it to go faster. And one very visible thing has somehow turned into a perceived political statement: wearing a mask. A reporter at a Minnesota news station - one who happens to be an old college friend of mine - was even harassed this week for wearing a mask while covering these protests. Across the border in North Dakota, though, GOP Gov. Doug Burgum on Friday offered a plea to stop the madness. Burgum suggested the debate over masks was being needlessly politicized and that those who are bucking federal health officials' guidance should rethink their posture. "I would really love to see in North Dakota that we could just skip this thing that other parts of the nation are going through where they're trading a divide - either it's ideological or political or something - around masks versus no mask," Burgum said. "This is a, I would say, senseless dividing line, and I would ask people to try to dial up your empathy and your understanding." The subtext of the remarks was pretty clear: This is a needless culture war. Burgum then want on, getting emotional. "If someone is wearing a mask, they're not doing it to represent what political party they're in or what candidates they support," Burgum said, before his voice began breaking. "They might be doing it because they've got a 5-year-old child who's been going through cancer treatments. They might have vulnerable adults in their life who currently have covid, and they're fighting." Burgum concluded his thought: "I would just love to see our state, as part of being North Dakota Smart, also be North Dakota Kind, North Dakota Empathetic." To be clear, the number of people protesting the wearing of masks is small. Scenes like the one in Minnesota are the exception, rather than the rule. But there are myriad images of people reemerging in society and, in doing so, declining to wear masks, even as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend them. President Donald Trump has conspicuously declined to wear a mask during his travels in recent weeks, even as those he was meeting with did so. He eventually donned one, but only for part of the time and away from his interactions with reporters. Trump has also stressed that the wearing of masks is voluntary, which it is. But critics have alleged he's sending the wrong message about a very simple precaution - or even subtly promoting a culture war over masks. A GOP governor on Friday seemed to sense that emerging culture war - one in which declining to wear masks is seen as some kind of statement, even as it could make it more difficult to enact the reopening that protesters are calling for. So Burgum offered a very personal and powerful plea to argue about other things. And it's important to note something else about that governor: He's got one of the highest approval ratings in the country for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, 80 percent. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Its Day 70 of closed dining rooms for restaurants and catering halls in New York City. But a quick diversion from this: in a stunning procession of motorcycles, military vehicles and classic cars on Memorial Day at noon, hundreds of Staten Islanders turned out on Forest Avenue to cheer on a patriotic convoy. It was a peaceful, respectful tribute to veterans in the midst of this pandemic. My husband and I stood in front of Better Restaurant, open today as are most of the West Brighton eateries except for Liberty Tavern. We were several feet away from neighbors and friends who showed up to clap and wave American flags in masks as the procession rolled by. At the seeming head of the parade standing in a Hummer, a masked Max Rose shook a fist in the air and overlooked the crowd. Not many people spoke in the socially distanced groups that gathered at the bottom of Sharon Avenue where the convoy started. Perhaps there were no words necessary in this rather awing display that passed in about 15 minutes on what has otherwise been a quiet strip in the pandemic. My neighbor, Elliot Borack, told me that considering it wasnt a parade, the turnout was sensational. He called it fantastic. I feel for small business owners and restaurants," he said, adding, "Some of them will never come back. Youre in your 20s you can come back. Youre older, youre done financially. Its horrible. Aunt Butchie's Pete Marcolini in Richmond Valley protests continued closure of his dining room in the coronavirus crisis. I would say the tone right now on Staten Island is tense. Restaurant owners want to get back into full swing. Food service operators around the borough have started a movement that seems to be getting legs. Max Calicchio of Maxs Es-Ca in Dongan Hills and Rob DeLuca of DeLucas Italian Restaurant in Tottenville have seen dozens of non-business owners pick up their signs protesting the mayors and governors stances on reopening New York City. Meanwhile, Piece A Cake reopened today after closing for several weeks when the bakerys employee, Florencio Almazo Moran, 65, passed from complications of the coronavirus. Hours for pickup and delivery for the New Dorp business are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Some things on the horizon with larger food venues: Colleague Tracey Porpora noted, The Staten Island Mall is already devising plans -- including limiting capacity of food court seating, installing new hand-sanitizer dispensers, and instituting social distancing rules and reduced hours -- to reopen the New Springville shopping center that was shuttered in March due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Open for food with curbside pickup at the Mall are Chick Fil-A, LIDL supermarket, Tommys Taps + Tavern, Shake Shack, Outback and Angelinas Kitchen. Open-air Empire Outlets will reopen with new protocols, reports the Advances Anne Marie Barron. At the moment Shake Shack and Walgreens are open in the St. George complex as essential businesses. The parking garage is open as is the waterfront esplanade. Well, let me get the family day on its way -- and a happy Memorial Day to you and yours, a thank you to our veterans. We visited grandpa from his lawn -- masks, distancing, the whole pandemic nine yards. Silver Lake Parks looking a little scruffy and the ball field in our 'hood has weeds sprouting through the sand in the infield. But at least Parks mowed up there and we look forward to wiffle ball this afternoon, burn off some of the Oreo Dreamcake from Morettis Bakery. The neighborhood is quiet again. Some things I will never forget from this Memorial Day -- the official-looking surveillance drone that flew through our yard this afternoon and the passion of my fellow Staten Islanders who showed their patriotism in that impressive convoy today. Keep in touch. Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com. To the Editor: Bookstores Grapple With Making Aisles Safe to Browse (Business, May 14) mentions one difficulty of allowing shoppers to wander and pick up books that catch their eye. Having been touched, books that they do not buy have to be placed on designated carts, then quarantined for five days before being put out again for sale. Suggestion: Let the browsing customers wear disposable gloves, freshly issued by the shop at the entrance. The woman in the photo published with the article is wearing a mask but not gloves. But why not? No more quarantined books. Other customers who pre-order specific books can still be served by outdoor pickup, with no gloves required. Face coverings would continue for staff and inside customers. Anton J. Mikofsky New York Employee Beware! Using Virus as a Cover for Unlawful Firings To the Editor: In these uncharted waters known as the coronavirus, it can be daunting for an employee to figure out the real reason for his or her termination. Is the employer exploiting the coronavirus to cover up what otherwise would be discriminatory or retaliatory motives or simply making difficult but necessary decisions to protect its long-term viability? Years before becoming senior editor of National Review, James Burnham wrote a book titled The Machiavellians (1943). Consistent with Machiavelli, the work studies not how things should be, but how they really are: Burnham reduced all political relationships to power. Governments without exception exert power against those whom they rule. Seeming humanitarian words disguise the real intent of the rulers. Only by resisting can the people exert power against the government. This must be done in order to protect freedom. The work begins by describing Burnham's leading Machiavellian, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Before becoming president, FDR preached limited government. The 1932 Democratic Party's Platform demanded cuts in spending and a balanced budget. Burnham calls these words the "formal" meaning. They are deceptive. In reality FDR expanded the power of government. His words masked his true intentions. Any benevolence that comes from the rulers is merely coincidental. The seeming altruism of despots should never be taken literally. The ruler only pays lip service to established laws like constitutions. Applied to current times, California governor Gavin Newsom states: "Our state, our nation, and our world are facing a challenge unprecedented in modern times. The COVID-19 pandemic compels us all to find new ways of coming together[.]" On the surface, this makes sense. These dire times call for a new amount of executive power, Newsom continued. He insisted that his measures are consistent with California's constitution. Burnham would argue that these are just formal words. He maintained that when rulers speak, they inevitably deceive and hide: "In the hands of the powerful and their spokesman, however, used by the demagogues ... this method is well-designed ... to deceive us, and to lead us by easy routes to the sacrifice of our or own interests in the service of the mighty." Too often, we get deluded by words. Examining the action of rulers, not their rhetoric, reveals their true motivations. Following Newsom's declaration of emergency, some normal human activities were at best discouraged and at worst considered a punishable offense. Discouraged activities included traveling from one side of town to another to visit a friend. Punishable activities include walking on the beach during the middle of the day. Businesses have been shuttered, elections have been moved to vote by mail, and court proceedings have been altered. Most remarkable of all, protests against the governor were effectively banned on April 22. As Burnham predicted, constitutions and established laws were flouted, all in the name of the people. Burnham knew that governments always stress the benevolent side of their oppression. The stated (formal) reason given by Newsom for his policies was to protect people from COVID-19. The Machiavellians know better. They know that the powerful elite have no humanitarian impulses. Burnham writes, "The Machiavellians present the complete record: the primary object in practice, of all rulers is to serve their own interest, to maintain their own power and privilege. There are no exceptions." Burnham felt obliged to study power and its relationship with contemporary democracy. Democracy has different meanings for different people. Most people associate democracy with self-government, but Burnham argued that self-government is impossible. True democracy can't exist. The elite always pull the levers of government. Given the existence of the elite ruling class and their inevitable demand for power, the closest we can come to democracy (self-government) is when people resist the government by exercising liberty. Using this definition, democracy becomes more tangible. Democracy and liberty thrive when people use force against their government. Struggle leads to freedom. More practically (and Machiavellians are always practical), struggle takes the form of public opposition. It's the only effective check against the ruling elite. Either people exert force against the government or the system becomes totalitarian because the government employs all power. The best way for the people to exert power (democracy) is to fight the rulers. If the people aren't exerting force against the government, then it can be assumed that the government is exerting force against the people. Only power restrains power, Burnham declared. Those fighting government may be deemed extremists or even traitors. But it's their extremism that preserves freedom. Examples abound. Extremist black Republicans during the Civil War exerted force against Lincoln, enabling the North to win the Civil War. During WWI, more oppositional force in England certainly would have led the English to adopt the tank sooner, thereby saving lives. Extremism in defense of liberty is not a bad thing. Fortunately, an opposition group can exert more power than its apparent strength. Even a few thousand resisters can thwart the invariable power-grab by government. Power is not directly proportional to the number of people exerting it. Those currently resisting government power recognize the raging power struggle in society and consequently resist the application of power against them. Since California is a left-wing state, it's left-wing governor can most easily exercise power against the people without opposition. Newsom's base naively trusts the formal meaning of his use of power. But bastions of conservatism do exist within the liberal haven. The power exerted against them is stronger, so they resist more than anyone else. This resistance will eventually lead Newsom liberalize the system. David Byrne earned his Ph.D. in intellectual history from Claremont Graduate University. He is the author of Ronald Reagan: An Intellectual Biography. His Twitter account is here. Organic vegetables are seen on growing towers made out of PVC pipes at Citiponics' urban farm on the rooftop of a multi-storey carpark in a public housing estate in western Singapore, April 17, 2018. (FILE PHOTO: REUTERS/Loriene Perera) By Alexander Kwiatkowski and David Stringer (Bloomberg) -- Singapores obsession with food goes far deeper than its world-famous chili crab and laksa. One of the most densely populated countries on the planet, its 5.7 million people rely on other nations for almost everything they eat. Just 0.9% of its land area of about 700 square kilometres was classified as agricultural in 2016, only marginally more than icebound Greenland. Despite producing little of its own, Singaporeans arguably have better access than anyone else to affordable, abundant and high quality produce. The country has ranked top in an index of food security for two years running and is now deepening its focus as the Covid-19 crisis exposes the fragility of global food supply chains. Its an achievement that reflects the small but rich city-states acute awareness of its own vulnerability and a preoccupation with self-reliance. Now, as countries around the world confront the prospect of food demand thats forecast to rise by more than half by 2050, Singapore finds itself at the vanguard of work to keep a swelling population fed while also addressing land constraints and the threat of climate change. We can watch what other countries like Singapore are doing and learn lessons from them, Professor Andrew Borrell, a crop physiologist at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, said by phone. Theyve thought about this for many years and I think that now theyre getting the benefits of that. Years of contingency planning - and recent moves to maintain the key flow of goods from neighbouring Malaysia - have helped keep supplies arriving through pandemic-related disruptions, even as Singapore experienced waves of panic buying that emptied some supermarket shelves of food. Accelerated Funding In an immediate response to the Covid-19 crisis, the government has accelerated funding for local farms to grow more and grow faster over the next 6-to-24 months, according to the Singapore Food Agency, established in April last year. The agency is also working to add to a supply network that already taps 170 countries or regions for its food, it said in an emailed statement last month. Story continues Over the longer-term, its drive for greater food security is based on a three-pronged strategy to diversify the nations food sources, support companies to grow overseas and lift domestic production. The last of these is the most ambitious, but arguably the most critical in cushioning against widespread supply disruptions: to produce enough food domestically to meet 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030, up from less than 10% now. To this end, the country is developing expertise in technologies such as vertical farming, nutrient recovery from food waste, and the use of insects, microalgae and cultivated meat as alternative protein sources, according to William Chen, the Michael Fam Chair Professor and Director of Food Science and Technology Programme at Singapores Nanyang Technological University. Already, work is under way to free up more spaces for urban food production, for example on the rooftops of multi-storey car parks, according to the SFA. The government is financing research into sustainable urban farming as well as future foods such as alternative proteins, and seeking to expand fish farming off the south coast of the country. Its also funding technology to help raise output from its existing farms, which totaled about 200 licensed operations as of 2018, producing mainly vegetables, fish and eggs. In a cage-like structure atop a car park in the Ang Mo Kio district, Citiponics Pte Ltd. grows about 4 tons of Georgina lettuces and other leafy greens a month, while part of a former downtown high school site has also recently been re-purposed for urban agriculture. A rooftop farm in Singapore. Once fully operational, Singapores urban food system could be exported to its neighbours. In times of crisis, the trust through working together would also help to keep the food supply chain intact, Chen said. Its not the first time that disruptions in food supply chains have spurred Singapore toward greater self-sufficiency. In the wake of the 2007-2008 global food price crisis, that saw the cost of some staples surge, producers including Barramundi Asia Pte Ltd. won new support from the countrys authorities. In the deep waters near Singapores most southerly point, the company farms barramundi, the fish also known as Asian sea bass thats synonymous with Australia and Thailand, where its famously steamed with lime and garlic to make the dish pla kapong neung manao. The whole thing started with food security and the sense of availability, plus of course sustainability, said Joep Kleine Staarman, a Dutchman who co-founded the company in 2008 and, while now retired, still sits on the board. After the jolt of the 2007-2008 crisis, we received a lot of support, but its not only us. Theres local fish farmers, vegetables farmers and egg farmers, he said. Stable tropical temperatures make the waters off Singapores south ideal for rearing barramundi, he said. The fish is harvested to order, giving Singapores population access to some of the worlds freshest ocean produce. Most surprising of all is that the barramundi is farmed alongside one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes. Efficient Farming Singapores efforts to boost local production from its coastline to rooftops -- mean the country is well placed to lead the way in terms of innovation and food technology, said Giovanni Di Lieto, a Melbourne-based lecturer in international business and economics at Monash University. It lacks land, but it will have the knowledge, the know-how and the means to develop more efficient farming. Another key to stimulating the sector is in encouraging Singaporeans to support local produce, according to the nations food agency. Already, the countrys farmers have seen an increase in online demand since the Covid crisis and the agency hopes additional income will help them further embrace technology and become more productive. Online grocer RedMart, a unit of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s Lazada Group, lists about 20 local producers growing everything from tomatoes to eggs as part of the websites virtual farmers market, including Barramundi Asias fresh fish. Designated an essential service, the retailer has worked closely with the government amid the Covid-19 crisis. Its now aiding the push for local production and working with farmers to help them identify the products that are in most demand, said Richard Ruddy, Lazada Singapores chief retail officer and head of grocery. Thats a real advantage for us in Singapore, Ruddy said in an interview. We have products that are literally picked today and delivered to customers houses in the evening. The Covid-19 crisis has provided an opportunity to examine deficiencies in existing food systems as the world confronts the larger challenges of population growth, climate change and water scarcity, according to Chen of Nanyang Technological University. That involves having a better understanding of nutritional requirements and a greater emphasis on food quality over quantity, which could lead to a more efficient use of agricultural land, he said. It could also be a catalyst for people to think more about the origin and sustainability of what they eat and about cutting waste, according to Lazadas Ruddy, who sees a growing trend toward frozen foods. Having an event like this really, really forces consumers, retailers, governments to rethink a lot of things, he said. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed 1,015 members of the Boko Haram terrorist group in the past six weeks. This was disclosed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai on Sunday during a luncheon organized by Operation Lafiya Dole. The Army Chief said despite the recent victories recorded against the insurgents and other forms of banditry in the country, the military remains committed to their onslaughts against enemies of the nation. We have put concerted efforts against BHTs and ISWAP. We have severely dealt with the BH terrorists and ISWAP, he said. We have successfully displaced major camps of the BHTs. We have killed 1015 terrorists and ISWAP in the ongoing operation in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa state respectively. We have also arrested 84 BHTs logistics and information suppliers in the ongoing operation which started 12 April, 2020. Buratai was also full of praises for sister organizations like the Nigerian air force, Nigerian navy, and the police for their support against the fight against insurgency. Meanwhile, Naija News previously reported that the viral video of Nigerian soldiers insulting the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai has attracted a reaction from the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. In its reaction, the Defence Headquarters said the action of the soldiers contradicted their rules of engagement and they will be invited for further evaluation. It added that the military will not be discouraged in the continued onslaught against all forms of terrorism in the country, noting that the soldiers reaction is due to mental snap/distress occasioned by fog of war. The soldiers of the Nigerian Army earlier lamented that they have been abandoned in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents. As seen in the video, an Army truck was on fire in the background after it ran into an explosive device planted by the terrorists. A recovery truck, one troop-carrying vehicle, and a water tanker that ran into the IED were destroyed by fire in the ambush in which 3 Boko Haram terrorists were also killed. Share this post with your Friends on A high school pool party has sparked a second surge in coronavirus cases in Arkansas, according to the state's governor. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the state, which allowed restaurants and gyms to reopen earlier this month, was now seeing 'a second peak' in infections. He said a number of those new infections have been linked to a pool party attended by high school students. 'A high school swim party that I'm sure everybody thought was harmless. They're young, they're swimming, they're just having activity, and positive cases resulted from that,' Hutchinson said. The governor would not reveal further details about the party, including how many people tested positive, how many people attended or where it was held. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Arkansas, which allowed restaurants and gyms to reopen earlier this month, was now seeing 'a second peak' in infections. He said a number of those new infections have been linked to a pool party attended by high school students As of Sunday, Arkansas had recorded just over 5,900 COVID-19 infections and the death toll was at 116. The number of daily infections surged by 454 last Thursday, which is the biggest single increase in the state since the pandemic first broke out. That second surge came about a month after there were 291 new cases reported on April 21 in what was believed to be the initial peak of the state's outbreak. Gov. Hutchinson described it as the 'second peak'. 'It's clear and evident to me that we have one peak, and then we've had a deep dip, and then we're having a second peak right now, and they're really about 30 days apart,' he said. Last week, Arkansas and 10 other states - including Alabama, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Maryland, Maine, Nevada, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin - reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases. Total US cases are over 1.6 million, the highest in the world, while forecast models for possible COVID-19 deaths predict the death toll will exceed 100,000 by June 1. As of Sunday, Arkansas had recorded just over 5,900 COVID-19 infections and the death toll was at 116. The number of daily infections surged by 454 last Thursday, which is the biggest single increase in the state since the pandemic first broke out The state's death toll is currently at 116. There have been more than 97,000 deaths across the country so far and forecast models for possible COVID-19 deaths predict the death toll will exceed 100,000 by June 1 While Gov. Hutchinson refused to provide additional details about the pool party, he said the incident should serve as 'encouragement for us to be disciplined in our activities'. His warning came on Saturday at the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend. 'During this Memorial weekend, we want to be out and we want to enjoy ourselves, we want to remember this holiday and those that have served our country and given their lives in service of our country,' Hutchinson said. 'But let's be safe and let's be disciplined at the same time.' Elsewhere in the country, the Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer meant big crowds at beaches and warnings from authorities about people disregarding social-distancing rules and risking a resurgence of the virus. On the Sunday talk shows, Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said she was 'very concerned' about scenes of people crowding together over the weekend. 'We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you cant social distance and youre outside, you must wear a mask,' she said on ABC's 'This Week.' [May 25, 2020] The UK's telecom market remains one of the largest in Europe Sydney, May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on United Kingdom outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/United-Kingdom-Telecoms-Infrastructure-Operators-Regulations-Statistics-and-Analyses Synopsis The UKs telecom market remains one of the largest in Europe, characterised by fierce competition which has resulted in reduced pricing for end-users. Following some market consolidation in the mobile segment there are four key players and a number of MVNOs. Mobile broadband in coming years will place some additional pressure on the fixed-line broadband subscriber base as customers are tempted to migrate to 5G-enabled services. The fixed-line broadband sector has seen the steady decline in DSL and the ongoing efforts among a good number of operators to expand the reach of fibre networks. This is being supported by government efforts to encourage the right economic environment facilitating the ambition to have a fully-fibred UK by 2033. The fixed-line voice segment is being similarly repositioned, with PSTN services making way for IP-delivered content. BTs independent wholesale unit Openreach plans to complete the switch to fibre by 2025. This report analyses the key aspects of the UKs telecom market, presenting statistics on the fixed network services sector and an overview of the key regulatory issues including the status of interconnection, local loop unbundling, and carrier preselection. The report reviews the major fixed network telcos and examines the status of fixed-line voice services following the deregulation of the retail call market sector. Key developments: Arctic cables to connect UK to Japan; Report update includes the regular's market updates to June 2019, telcos' financial and operating data to Q3 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses; recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Virgin Media, BT, KCom, Orange, Cable & Wireless, COLT Telecom, Dixons Carphone Group, Sky, O2 Key statistics Regional European Market Comparison Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier Market Leaders Market Challengers Market Emergents TMI versus GDP Mobile and mobile broadband penetration Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration Country overview Telecommunications market Market analysis Regulatory environment Historical overview Regulatory authority Office of Communications (Ofcom) Telecom sector liberalisation Interconnect Access Number Portability (NP) Carrier PreSelection (CPS) Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) Fixed network operators British Telecom Openreach Company restructure KCom Cable & Wireless Communications (C&WC) Virgin Media COLT Telecom Dixons Carphone Group (Carphone Warehouse) TalkTalk Group Sky Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network Next Generation Networks International infrastructure Submarine cable networks Satellite networks Cloud services Smart infrastructure Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities United Kingdom 2019 (e) Table 2 Change in consumer take-up of telecom services by type 2006 2018 Table 3 Fixed-line calls and access revenue by main operator 2007 2018 Table 4 Communications retail revenue by sector 2003 2018 Table 5 Change in telecoms revenue by service 2010 2018 Table 6 Change in the average retail household spend on telecoms services 2013 2018 Table 7 Change in call volumes, fixed-line and mobile in minutes 2010 2018 Table 8 Change in average fixed and mobile call minutes per line 2013 2018 Table 9 Change in the proportion of calls made, fixed-line and mobile 2006 2018 Table 10 Change in telecom retail revenue by sector: fixed, mobile 2007 2018 Table 11 Development of telecom connections: fixed, mobile, broadband 2010 2018 Table 12 BT wholesale lines (new format) 2016 2019 Table 13 Fixed-voice traffic volume by call type 2010 2018 Table 14 Fixed-voice revenue by call type 2011 2018 Table 15 Change in BTs share of residential call types by traffic volumes 2010 - 2018 Table 16 BT financial data 2006 2020 Table 17 BT retail fixed revenue, Consumer, Business divisions 2012 2018 Table 18 BT revenue, Consumer division (new style) 2017 2020 Table 19 BT revenue by Global Services, Wholesale and Openreach divisions 2007 2020 Table 20 Development of KComs revenue 2010 2019 Table 21 Development of Virgin Medias revenue 2010 - 2019 Table 22 Virgin Media revenue by sector 2006 2019 Table 23 Change in Virgin Medias subscribers by sector 2007 2019 Table 24 Development of TalkTalk Groups financial data 2009 2020 Table 25 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2024 Table 26 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1999 2009 Table 27 Percentages of mobile and fixed phones in homes 2000 2016 Table 28 Historic - Call volumes, fixed-line and mobile in minutes 2003 2010 Table 29 KCom revenue 2000 2010 Table 30 Historic - Telecoms revenue by service 2008 2009 Table 31 Historic - Average household spend on telecoms services 2005 2017 Table 32 Historic - Fixed-voice traffic by type in minutes 2002 2017 Table 33 Historic - Virgin Media revenue 2003 - 2010 Table 34 Historic - Carphone Warehouse Europe revenue, profit 2008 - 2014 Table 35 Historic - TalkTalk subscribers 2011 - 2015 Table 36 Historic - Communications revenue by sector 2003 2017 Table 37 Historic - Household take-up of telecom services 2003 2016 Table 38 Historic - Communications wholesale and retail revenue 2005 2017 Table 39 Historic - Telecom connections: fixed, mobile, broadband 2002 2009 Table 40 Historic BTs LLU, shared wholesale lines (old format) 2004 2017 Table 41 Historic - Lines with CPS 2004 2018 Table 42 Historic - WLR lines 2004 2018 Table 43 Historic - Average fixed-voice revenue per month by call type 2011 2016 Table 44 Historic - BT share of residential call types by traffic volumes 2002 - 2009 Table 45 Historic - BT Consumer lines and TV subscribers 2011 2017 Table 46 Historic - COLT financial data 2006 2015 Table 47 Historic - COLT financial data by business 2013 2015 List of Charts Chart 1 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders (top tier) Chart 2 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers (middle tier) Chart 3 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents (bottom tier) Chart 4 Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita Chart 5 Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 6 Scandinavia and Baltics: mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 7 Northern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 8 Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 9 Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 10 Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 11 Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 12 Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 13 Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 14 Change in consumer take-up of telecom services by type 20010 2018 Chart 15 Fixed-line calls and access revenue by main operator 2007 2018 Chart 16 Change in telecoms revenue by service 2010 2018 Chart 17 Change in the average retail household spend on telecoms services 2013 2018 Chart 18 Change in call volumes, fixed-line and mobile in minutes 2010 2018 Chart 19 Change in average fixed and mobile call minutes per line 2013 2018 Chart 20 Change in the proportion of calls made, fixed-line and mobile 2006 2018 Chart 21 Change in telecom retail revenue by sector: fixed, mobile 2007 2018 Chart 22 Development of telecom connections: fixed, mobile, broadband 2010 2018 Chart 23 Fixed-voice traffic volume by call type 2010 2018 Chart 24 Fixed-voice revenue by call type 2011 2018 Chart 25 BT share of residential call types by traffic volumes 2010 2018 Chart 26 BT financial data 2006 - 2020 Chart 27 BT revenue by operating division 2017 - 2020 Chart 28 BT revenue, Consumer division (new style) 2017 2020 Chart 29 BT revenue by Global Services, Wholesale and Openreach divisions 2007 2020 Chart 30 Development of KComs revenue 2010 2019 Chart 31 Development of Virgin Medias revenue 2010 - 2019 Chart 32 Virgin Media revenue by sector 2006 2019 Chart 33 Virgin Media subscribers by sector 2007 - 2019 Chart 34 Development of TalkTalk Groups financial data 2009 2020 Chart 35 Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2009 2024 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment Exhibit 2 Principal submarine cables from the UK Exhibit 3 2Africa submarine cable Exhibit 4 2Africa landing stations Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/United-Kingdom-Telecoms-Infrastructure-Operators-Regulations-Statistics-and-Analyses [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] When a small business needed help proving that its invention, a tabletop laser system, could characterize metals faster and more easily than current equipment, they turned to Sandia National Laboratories expertise in metals characterization. Sandias testing verified that Albuquerque-based Advanced Optical Technologies patented Crystallographic Polarization-Classification Imaging, or CPCI, process reduces time spent on characterization from hours to minutes. The new imaging process has applications in the aerospace, automotive, energy and medical industries and for 3-D printing. Sandia and Advanced Optical Technologies were matched through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program, which offers expertise to help solve technical challenges faced by small companies in New Mexico. This includes projects that require testing, design consultation or access to special equipment or facilities that are not available to small businesses. Due, in part, to the results of Sandias study, the company received funding to build the system for the U.S. Air Force, where it primarily will be dedicated to titanium crystallography. CPCI can also characterize other metals, including beryllium, magnesium, cobalt, zinc, tin and zirconium. The company also received New Mexico Economic Development and Office of Economic Adjustment grants with support from the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership. In addition, the partnership was recognized at a 2019 New Mexico Small Business Association Innovation Celebration. Malini Hoover, the companys CEO, said she is interested in marketing CPCI to companies, national labs and universities that characterize metal crystallography. Titanium is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and can withstand extremely high temperatures qualities that make the metal a popular choice for the aerospace industry. Quality control As the need for titanium increases with the high demand for newer, lighter military and commercial planes, manufacturers must continue to verify the metal for stress and maintain parts, Hoover said, adding that the companys technology could streamline the quality control process. Sandia materials scientist Joseph Michael was paired with the company for the project and conducted a test using a scanning-electron microscope, current technology that can be difficult for small businesses to access because the microscopes are large, expensive and require experts to run. Metals characterization is one of Sandias strengths the labs have been doing this for many years, Michael said. We use scanning-electron microscopes in very sophisticated ways here, and I think thats what was attractive to Advanced Optical Technologies, he said. By helping with the project, Michael said he was able to think about metal characterization in new and exciting ways. Its been energizing to me to see other techniques that can do some of the things that we do in the lab in a faster, higher-throughput way, he said. Its been more than neat its been exciting to see it all happen. If you can generate data that gets you 90% of the solution and do it quickly from an unprepared sample, thats a great place to be. Current process lacks A current process for characterizing titanium is a method called electron backscatter diffraction, the test Michael provided. The process involves inserting a small sample of titanium into a scanning electron microscope that can produce images at the nanoscale, helping scientists determine a materials melting point, color, strength and chemical reactivity. Scanning-electron microscopes scan samples with a focused beam of electrons that interacts with the atoms in the material. This produces various signals that contain information about the surface, composition and crystallography of the sample. That information produces highly magnified images of the metal, and skilled metallurgists can make decisions about final properties of the part. Electron backscatter diffraction is currently a gold standard in metals characterization, Michael said, but it cant be completed during live production because the metal must be prepared using highly trained technologists and specialized equipment. This process is time-intensive and destructive because scientists have to cut a small piece of the metal to fit inside the microscope, something you cant do to large sheets of metal or to the side of an aircraft. Benefits With the companys process, a titanium billet, sheet or finished part can be placed in front of the sensor to image the surface with an eye-safe laser. Because the sample doesnt need to be inserted into a small chamber, it doesnt need to be cut; the original piece of titanium remains whole. This makes the process non-destructive. The system also produces a larger image than a scanning-electron microscope can, and because the process is standardized and operates simply by pushing a button, experts arent necessarily needed for the initial imaging. The process reduces labor costs and allows experts to better spend their time analyzing the images and making decisions. This technology could potentially characterize titanium while a part is being produced, Hoover said, and the larger field of view makes it easier for experts and manufacturers to make critical decisions rapidly. It also could be used to analyze aircraft parts in service during maintenance checks. The sensor is portable enough to set up outside the plane and provide crystallographic images of parts in real time, improving flight safety. Currently, there is no way to check crystallography on the ground during maintenance, Hoover said. Applications The technology could also benefit companies and labs working with 3D printers, something that Michael has expressed interest in. Currently, 3-D-printed parts require frequent inspection. Sandia is interested in inspecting 3D-printed parts. Hoover said. There is interest in putting a CPCI sensor in a 3D printer and inspecting layer by layer, so as soon as something is wrong, the build can be stopped or corrected. Hoover said this technology also could benefit the medical field for prosthetics. Everything in our body spine, plates, knees, hip replacements can be made out of titanium, she said. So, this technology could also be utilized in the medical field along with the other industries. The victim, a 26-year-old female, was allegedly attacked at the station after being detained. Two policemen of the Kaharlyk police unit in Kyiv region were put into custody after a local woman pressed rape and assault charges against them, which also led to the disbanding of the entire unit by National Police leadership. On May 24, a woman, 26, reported to a hospital in Kaharlyk, stating that she had been beaten up and raped at a police station and that the policemen were involved. The investigation was immediately launched by the National Police's internal security department. Preliminary checks revealed evidence confirming the report filed by the woman who had earlier been brought to the Kaharlyk station to be interviewed in a theft case. Read alsoOSCE envoy expresses concern over police attack on hromadske journalist The policemen implicated in committing the crime have been put into custody. Further probe was entrusted to the State Bureau of Investigation, in line with jurisdiction. Chairman of the National Police, Ihor Klymenko, fired the two policemen, removed the Kaharlyk unit's chiefs, and decided to disband the entire unit, appointing snap qualification assessment of all personnel. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th May, 2020) The Consulate of Cuba in Moscow is seeking to establish the details of the death of a female Cuban national whose body was found in the Russian capital in the late hours of Sunday, Consul Eduardo Lazaro Escandell told Sputnik. "We are aware of the girl's death as a result of circumstances that have yet to be clarified, and we deeply regret this. We are trying to contact the authorities to find out more details," the consul said. According to media reports, the naked body of a 22-year-old Cuban national was found next to a garbage can in western Moscow. A suspect has been purportedly found and arrested. The country is gripped by the spectacle of a serving leader being tried for the first time. Mr Netanyahu is the first serving Israeli prime minister to go on trial Image copyrightReuters The trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges has opened in Jerusalem, days after he began a new term in office. Mr Netanyahu, 70, is the first standing leader to face trial in the country's history. He denies accusations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Arrived at the courthouse for a brief hearing, he said the cases were aimed at "toppling him in any way possible". He was sworn back into office as head of a rare unity government a week ago. His political rival, Benny Gantz, agreed to share power following three inconclusive elections in under a year. He has rejected calls by opponents to step down while he fights the cases. The leader of the right-wing Likud party is Israel's longest-serving prime minister, having been in power continuously since 2009. He also served a term in office from 1996-1999. What happened at the court? As he arrived at the Jerusalem District Court on Sunday, he told reporters: "I'm here with a straight back and my head held high." "When you need to take me down, a strong prime minister from the right, everything is possible," he added. At the start of the hearing, which lasted about an hour, Mr Netanyahu told the judges: "I read and I understand the indictment." He stood in a face mask and refused to sit down on the defendants' bench until the reporters left the room, local media say. His lawyers say they need several months to prepare their defence. The date for the next hearing has been set for 19 July. What is Benjamin Netanyahu accused of? Mr Netanyahu has been indicted in three cases, known as 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000: Case 1,000 - Fraud and breach of trust: he is accused of receiving gifts - mainly cigars and bottles of champagne - from powerful businessmen in exchange for favours Case 2,000 - Fraud and breach of trust: Mr Netanyahu is accused of offering to help improve the circulation of Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot in exchange for positive coverage Case 4,000 - Bribery, fraud and breach of trust: as PM and minister of communications at the time of the alleged offence, Mr Netanyahu is accused of promoting regulatory decisions favourable to the controlling shareholder in the Bezeq telecom giant, Shaul Elovitch, in exchange for positive coverage by Mr Elovitch's Walla news site Mr Netanyahu has strongly denied all the charges against him, branding them a "witch-hunt" by political opponents, and has vowed to clear his name. How can the prime minister serve and stand trial at the same time? According to Israeli law, a leader charged with a crime is not required to resign. But there is no precedent. A former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, stepped down as party leader when he was under investigation for corruption in 2008 but technically remained prime minister until elections the following year - polls which brought Benjamin Netanyahu to power. Under the power-sharing deal with Benny Gantz, a new role of "alternate prime minister" was created, which means when the two men switch positions in 18 months' time, Mr Netanyahu will still occupy a prime ministerial office and stay on as Mr Gantz's deputy. What does the trial mean for the country? In short, a serving prime minister occupying the most powerful office in the land simultaneously trying to clear his name and avoid jail-time. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called it "an embarrassment" and "horrible for the spirit of the nation" though it is not expected to affect government policy. Mr Netanyahu is still likely to press ahead with plans to annex Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley - territory in the occupied West Bank - in the coming months, a move certain to infuriate the Palestinians. Opinion in Israel as to whether he should carry on as prime minister is split: critics say the spectacle of a trial makes Mr Netanyahu's job untenable, but his supporters - including his party - say he has been democratically elected and should not be forced out. Even if he is convicted, Mr Netanyahu will not be required to resign unless and until any appeals are exhausted - which could, in theory, be many months or years into the future. In Ehud Olmert's case, the former prime minister went on trial in 2009 and after he was convicted only began serving his sentence in 2016 due to the long legal process. BBC Maybe we should be angry at the thousands of peacock people who gathered in Trinity Bellwoods Park Saturday. Many drank openly, then urinated or defecated in peoples driveways or backyards in the absence of open bathrooms. They were jammed together; it was easily double the crowd for a typical sunny May day, according to city councillor Joe Cressy, who went to see. The cameras didnt lie. Maybe the outdoors will protect them from COVID-19, most of them. But maybe not. And a lot of health-care workers took it personally. My heart is torn, said Dr. Abdu Sharkawy, an infectious disease specialist and ICU doctor at Toronto Western Hospital, who recorded an emotional plea Saturday from the hospital, where he was working on Eid, the holy holiday in which Muslims come together at the end of Ramadan. He has been caring for very sick COVID-19 patients for a month. I saw a visual representation of an I dont give a f--- attitude, of Its not my problem. I understand how people can have a sense of relief. I want people to have a sense of release, paired with an understanding that this is not done. Thats what gives me trouble here. Thats what makes it difficult for me to go to bed at night. Its the fact that I dont think enough people understand that. They see phrases like flattening of the curve, and they think that this is done. And they see good weather and they think that this is done. And they see hospitals not overwhelmed and ICUs not overflowing and they think this is done. And its not. Because what lurks around the corner is the result of everything were doing in response to it. Yes, Torontos been sort of locked down for eight weeks. And no, there is not enough public space for everyone on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in May, and for everyone in a different household to stay six feet apart. But parks nearby and across Toronto were not overwhelmed. There were hotspots, but the vast majority of the city did better than the Trinity Bellwoods instantly infamous Infectious Woodstock of 2020. Or Trinity Bellwoodstock, if you must. To those who say we need more public space, youre right, but thats not the only story here, said Cressy, who chairs the citys health board. If you say its the story of one park only and people going for a scene, thats true, but that doesnt negate the fact that we do need more public space. This is grey, and theres a failure on every front. Theres a failure on personal and self-responsibility, just as theres a failure writ large in the adequacy of public spaces, just as theres a failure in the ability to prepare for and communicate and adapt our spaces for it. So its on all houses. We can open up all the space that we need, but if people dont practise good physical distancing and respect the social contract, it doesnt work. So maybe we should be grateful toward the thousands who gathered at Trinity Bellwoods Saturday, for reminding us that as our commitment frays against an often invisible and contagious virus, nothing works without mutual respect. But we should be angry, and not just at the peacocks. Testing has been near half-capacity in this province for a week, as daily cases have still risen above 400 every day but one. Over a week after starting to reopen the province, Premier Doug Ford promised a new testing plan and said anyone can get tested now, and some doctors at testing centres said this required actual planning. The whole things being stitched together on the fly. And on Friday, a week after the narrow testing parameters of the first two months were expanded, at least two Toronto hospital testing centres were still said to be turning away potential patients who had been in close contact with COVID cases. Contact tracing is slow, and partial. Dr. Michael Warner, the critical care chief at Michael Garron Hospital in East York, says he had to call 311 to report a coronavirus case to Toronto Public Health Saturday, and it took three calls and 45 minutes so he could give info like date of birth. He can reach public health by phone or fax to report a coronavirus case from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and then its 311, which emails the public health manager on call, who is supposed to call back. And the contact tracing team only works 8 am to 8 pm. Ontario-wide, tracing takes an average of five to seven days after initial medical examination to begin, partly due to testing backlogs. And isolation of cases for anybody living in a one-bathroom housing situation is a pipe dream. This province didnt start reopening with a workable plan, and is skidding. The city wasnt ready for the effect of reopening parks and not bathrooms, and bylaw officers didnt feel safe enough to issue more than four tickets for breaking social distance. Friday, the provinces chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, said Ontario Public Health would try to improve their messaging, 10 weeks in. From a communications standpoint, if Dr. Williams gave me directions to my own house, I might get lost on the way. And if we are truly screwing this up, the costs are incalculable in the long term and the short. Ive seen everything. Ive seen Ebola. Ive seen things that would horrify most people, says Dr. Sharkawy. And this is on a whole new level just because its so taxing in terms of the intensity, the longevity, the duration, how much it exacts on everyone going through it whether its care providers or patients or their families. Weve had people on ventilators for six weeks. Its on another level in the degree of mental exhaustion and emotional preoccupation, the way that ransoms your abilities to focus. Its unparalleled. Its the perfect pandemic recipe. You cant see it, and if you get it all bets are off. I guarantee you were going to see more cases. Were having meetings about it right now on how were going to restructure our capacity in another two weeks. Every hospital is doing that now, because we know that what we had planned for two weeks ago is no longer going to be valid. Maybe we should educate the Trinity Bellwoods peacocks instead. Josh Greenberg is a professor at Carleton University and an expert in risk and crisis communications. A poll his group ran in early May found 32 per cent of respondents between ages 18 and 29 said physical distancing rules should be eliminated within two weeks, and 44 per cent said within two to four weeks, which is about where we are. It was approximately double any other age group. Young people are less at risk, and have been hit harder by the second major financial system shock of their lifetimes. Greenberg thinks flexible and targeted risk communication, built on a bedrock of shared trust and responsibility, might help get the right message across. As Greenberg puts it, Risk communication needs to recognize and empathize with the different experiences people are facing. And maybe we shouldnt just shame the peacocks because we need everyone to beat this virus, to eradicate it. The virus doesnt spread itself, we do. The virus doesnt get tired, or bored, or stir-crazy, we do. If you want to bring back the economy, to bring back crowded parks, patios, hugs, seeing your parents, your family, your friends, safe sex, your life, we need a social compact of being responsible for each other. Multiple levels of government are making multiple mistakes. That is something we cant control. But we can control us. And were going to need everyone to win. A new survey has shown more than 25 per cent of Americans and 44 per cent of Republicans believe an outlandish conspiracy theory that Bill Gates is plotting to use a Covid-19 vaccine to implant microchips in people. The survey, conducted by Yahoo News and YouGov, asked 1,640 Americans about the conspiracy theory between May 20 and 21. Some 28 per cent of US adults who took part said they believed the widely debunked theory. 32 per cent of them were not sure but 40 per cent believed it to be false. An outlandish conspiracy theory involving Bill Gates and the vaccine for Covid-19 has gained significant traction among Republicans in the US Meanwhile 44 per cent of people who identified as Republicans thought it was true, 31 per cent were not sure and 26 per cent thought it was false. In contrast, 19 per cent of Democrats believed the conspiracy theory about Bill Gates, who in addition to his business ventures is well known for his public-health philanthropy. A majority of Democrats (52%) were able to identify the theory as false while 29 per cent were not sure. Conspiracy theorists claim, falsely, that Gates is using the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to push a vaccine which includes a microchip capable of tracking people, and thus the world's population. Some conspiracy theorists even go as far to say that he plans to eradicate 15 per cent of the world's population with the hypothetical vaccine. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has never proposed or funded any research into the development of a vaccine - for Covid-19 or otherwise - that includes the injection of a tracking or monitoring device. While the charitable foundation did fund a pilot study, conducted by MIT and Rice University, into a potential vaccine delivery device that could 'impart an invisible mark detectable by a smartphone', it was entirely theoretical and would not have been capable of tracking or monitoring. The conspiracy theory, which has gained significant traction online, cites this study in combination with another concept Gates is actively researching called a 'digital identity', which could involve cloud-based storage of a person's medical records and personal identification documents - accessible only with the consent of the owner. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine critic who helped popularize unsubstantiated claims that vaccines can cause autism, said Gates' work gives him 'dictatorial control of global health policy.' Roger Stone, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, went further on a New York City radio show, saying Gates 'and other globalists' are using the coronavirus 'for mandatory vaccinations and microchipping people.' While it may be easy to dismiss those who believe in the conspiracy theory, such widespread acceptance could have dangerous consequences. Finding a vaccination for Covid-19, which has killed over 345,000 people worldwide according to Johns Hopkins University, and now over 100,000 people in the US alone, is seen as the best and most effective way to end the pandemic. However, if people convince themselves that they do not want the vaccination because of their belief in the conspiracy theory, then they will not be protected against the virus. The more people that are unprotected, the further it will spread, and the more people it will kill. A real-world example of this occurred in South Africa. False rumors that Gates hoped to test an experimental vaccine in the country became mainstream after a news site erroneously reported the claim. One of the country's political parties then sent a letter to President Cyril Rampahosa demanding answers about 'deals' struck with Gates. In fact, Gates and his wife are financing a vaccine trial in Philadelphia and Kansas City, Missouri, not South Africa. He also suggested creating a database of people immune to the virus, not implanting microchips. Melinda (left) and Bill Gates run the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation together which has made significant contributions towards fighting diseases in the developing world Through the foundation run with his wife Melinda, Bill Gates has championed vaccines, particularly for developing countries, for a long time. So far during the pandemic, he has committed $300 million to combat Covid-19, and was even warning the world about the dangers of a pandemic as far back as 2015. The survey highlights the rate at which conspiracy theories can spread when perpetuated online, and this theory regarding BIll Gates is one of many surrounding the spread of coronavirus. Another is the baseless theory that 5G is spreading the virus which has led to as many as 80 cell towers being vandalized in the UK. Another example of misinformation is that around the drug hydroxychloroquine. The YouGov and Yahoo survey found that nearly half of Trump voters (49 per cent) and 44 per cent of Republicans believe that hydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment against coronavirus, despite numerous studies saying that is not the case, and in fact could put people in more danger of succumbing to the virus. Health professionals say vaccine misinformation could have lethal consequences if it leads people to opt for bogus cures instead The pandemic has generally also exacerbated the already large anti-vaccination - or Anti-Vaxxers - movement, who have been peddling misinformation about coronavirus vaccines before one has even been successfully created. Vaccine opponents have made several unsubstantiated claims, including allegations that vaccine trials will be dangerously rushed or that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, is blocking cures to enrich vaccine makers. Vaccine opponents in the U.S. have been around for a long time. Their claims range from relatively modest safety concerns about specific vaccines or the risk of side effects to conspiracy theories that border on the bizarre, such as the Bill Gates theory. The movement is receiving renewed attention, especially as it aligns itself with groups loudly protesting restrictions on daily life aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. From the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, vaccine skeptics have tailored several long-standing claims about vaccine safety to fit the current outbreak. When the first U.S. case was announced in January, some alleged the coronavirus was manufactured and that patents for it could be found online Vaccine opponents have made several unsubstantiated claims, including allegations that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, is blocking cures to enrich vaccine makers and Mircosoft founder Bill Gates (left) has a secret plot to microchip the world Health professionals say vaccine misinformation could have lethal consequences if it leads people to opt for bogus cures instead. 'Only a coronavirus vaccine can truly protect us from future outbreaks,' said Dr. Scott Ratzan, a physician and medical misinformation expert at the City University of New York and Columbia University. 'But what if the effort succeeds and large numbers of people decide not to vaccinate themselves or their children?' While vaccines for diseases such as polio, smallpox and measles have benefited millions, some skeptics reject the science, citing a distrust of modern medicine and government. Others say mandatory vaccine requirements violate their religious freedom. Rita Palma, the leader of the anti-vaccine group in Long Island called My Kids, My Choice, is among those who say their families won't get the coronavirus vaccine. 'Many of us are anxiety stricken at the thought of being forced to get a vaccine,' Palma said. 'I will never choose to have a COVID-19 vaccine. I dont want the government forcing it on my community or my family.' From the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, vaccine skeptics have tailored several long-standing claims about vaccine safety to fit the current outbreak. When the first U.S. case was announced in January, some alleged the coronavirus was manufactured and that patents for it could be found online. Thousands of deaths later, vaccine opponents are endorsing unapproved treatments, second-guessing medical experts and pushing fears about mandatory vaccinations. They've also latched onto protests against stay-at-home orders in the U.S. 'The coronavirus has created this perfect storm of misinformation,' remarked David A. Broniatowski, an associate professor at George Washington University's school of engineering and applied science who has published several studies on vaccine misinformation. Tourists take photos from the heights of the Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai on May 15. China has finally opened its most important annual political conferences, the Two Sessions, after a coronavirus-induced delay of more than two months. Prior to the meetings, the ruling Communist Party and the State Council Chinas cabinet published a set of recommendations on accelerating the improvement of the socialist market economy in the new era. Given a key reformist leading group passed the recommendations as far back as Feb. 14, the decision to publish them now undoubtedly carries deep meaning. They chime perfectly with the contents of this years work report and express belief in Chinas determination to further advance market reforms. Notably, following recent profound changes in the domestic and international situation, the emphasis in Chinese reform and opening has shifted from using opening to push for reform to using reform to push for opening. At various historic turning points in the last 40 years, the Chinese government has made similar proclamations to gather consensus and lead the countrys development orientation. The new recommendations reiterate Chinas general commitment to upholding market reforms and expanding its openness to the outside world. Thats important enough in itself. As the coronavirus pandemic severely impacts the world economy and pushes globalization further into reverse, China faces its sternest economic troubles since the reform period began. Unavoidably, the situation has some people casting around for solutions to the crisis. The harder things get economically, the greater the need for reform. This years government work report gets right to the point, saying we must use the method of reform and opening to stabilize employment, guarantee living standards, and encourage consumption; promote the market and stabilize growth; and walk a new path toward effectively responding to the impact and realizing virtuous cycles. The recommendations recognize that Chinas market systems are not yet comprehensive enough, efforts to foster markets remain inadequate, and the relationship between government and the market have not yet been completely ironed out. There are persistent problems of insufficient market incentives, poor circulation of production factors, inefficient resource allocation, and a lack of microeconomic vitality, it says, adding that a number of systemic and mechanistic hurdles continue to hinder the promotion of high-quality economic development. For that reason, the recommendations suggest further liberating thought, resolutely deepening market reforms, expanding high-level openness, and continuously innovating meaningful reforms to key, fundamental economic systems. Additionally, it advocates building a more systemically developed, maturely constructed high-level socialist market economic system. We might say that the recommendations are the governments newest roadmap for the economic system, an extension of and upgrade to the continuous reform measures enacted during the pandemic, which will certainly inject strong impetus into Chinas economic recovery and development. Many of the reform tasks highlighted in the recommendations have in fact previously appeared in other documents. This just goes to show that these fields are the so-called hard bones and deep waters of reform that need to be worked on over the long term. Some parts of the recommendations are relatively rich in new meaning, or call for deeper thinking, having supplemented or amended existing formulations. For instance, the document speaks of better respecting the general norms of the market economy and reducing the governments direct allocation of market resources and direct intervention in microeconomic activities to the greatest extent possible. Then theres this: For mixed-ownership enterprises, explore and construct governance mechanisms and regulatory systems that differ from those for state-owned and wholly-owned companies. For mixed-ownership enterprises that are no longer under the absolute control of state capital, explore and implement more flexible and efficient regulatory systems. And finally: Improve and support detailed rules and specific methods for the nonpublicly owned economy to enter the electricity and oil and gas sectors, greatly relax market access in the service sector, and give more development room to social capital. These proposals stick closely to the so-called pain points and difficult points in the contemporary Chinese economy. As everybody knows, using openness to push for reform has been a fundamental experience of Chinese economic policymaking over the last 40 years. But now, that maxim is being reversed, something that comes back to the current domestic and international environment. Chinas economy is transitioning from high-speed to high-quality development. Although the transformation of this growth impetus has made some progress, it is yet to achieve a significant breakthrough. The downward pressure on growth is continuously growing in strength. At the same time, international support for multilateralism and globalization has taken a hit, and protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise. The coronavirus pandemic has only sharpened this situation. Many people pessimistically predict that even after the outbreak is over it will be hard to recover cross-border flows of people, goods and capital, at least in the short term. Others assert that globalization as we know it is finished. Recently, the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Roberto Azevedo, announced he was stepping down before the end of his term, a move that some have interpreted as a symbol of the predicament of the current multilateral trade system with the WTO at its core. In recent years, Chinas opening up to the outside world has shifted from a model based on the flow of consumer goods and production values toward one based on rules and systems. This transition is especially apparent in the development of the financial sector. However, the policies, rules and regulations announced by the government do not imply that opening up has been automatically achieved. Some may have been watered down by old systems and old mechanisms. That means their effects are not particularly obvious, causing some international players to misunderstand Chinas commitment to opening up. The only way to dispel those misgivings and realize the original intention of opening up is to follow through with using reform to push for opening and, by deepening reforms, make our domestic systems, regulations and social environment good for playing the decisive role in market resource allocation, good for fair competition, and good for entrepreneurs looking to give free play to their talent. At the moment, using reform to push for opening is meaningful from both a domestic and international perspective. Domestically, deepening reform can encourage a work and production in the short term, and strengthen economic development in the long term. Internationally, faced with a filthy wave of decoupling, China can make its position clear and continue flying the flag for free trade. Deeper reforms will help make international trade and investment freer and more convenient, something that, in practical terms, preserves the multilateral trade of the WTO-led system. As long as the worlds second-largest economy keeps using reform as an engine for further opening, the mistaken notion of decoupling is unlikely to succeed. Of course, no matter whether you promote more reform through opening or more opening through reform, we are merely emphasizing different points at different times. Reform and opening are intrinsically linked and inform each others development. Faced with significantly declining fiscal revenues and bleak times for small and midsized businesses, all government departments and regions should be deeply aware of the urgency and difficulty of using reform to push for opening. We should use the opportunity given to us by publishing the recommendations on the eve of the Two Sessions to further promote systemic reform and demonstrate our position to the world: namely that, now as before, Chinas reform is real reform and its opening is real opening. Contact translator Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com) Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 23:36:13|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Photo taken on May 25, 2020 shows the main venue of a video conference of the third session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body on Monday held a video conference during its ongoing annual session. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attended the meeting. Twelve members of the CPPCC National Committee spoke at the meeting. Noting the important role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in fighting COVID-19, political advisor Huang Luqi called for building platforms for research on the combination of TCM and Western medicine for infectious disease prevention and control. Zhou Hanmin suggested deepening reform, strengthening inter-regional consultation and cooperation, promoting integration of metropolitan areas, optimizing the development environment of major cities, and improving urban governance capacity. Yan Xiaopei proposed the inclusion of international scientific and technological cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative into related national plans for the 2021-2025 period. More work should be done to raise the level of concentration of key industries in the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and to put caps on the total coal consumption in those areas, said political advisor Liu Bingjiang. Enditem The dispute between RCom and Chinese banks led by ICBC started after Anil Ambani led company defaulted on its loans to Indian as well as Chinese banks. A British court on May 22 asked Ambani to pay nearly $717 million to three Chinese banks within 21 days. Anil Ambani, chairman of the ADA group, can challenge the order by the Commercial Division of the High Court of England and Wales, London, which said a personal guarantee disputed by Ambani is binding on him, say corporate lawyers. At the same time, Chinese banks will have to move Indian courts to enforce the order in India, they said. The British court on Friday asked Ambani to pay nearly $717 million to three Chinese banks within 21 days. The banks are pursuing the recovery of funds as part of a loan agreement with Reliance Communications. The ADA group has said Ambani is seeking legal advice and the UK court order will have no bearing on the operations of its other group companies: Reliance Infrastructure, Reliance Power, and Reliance Capital. Corporate lawyers said Ambani could challenge the UK court order on grounds of conclusiveness under Section 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Before enforcing a foreign judgment or decree, the party enforcing it must ensure that the foreign judgment or decree passes the tests mentioned in the CPC. "If the foreign judgment or decree fails any of these tests, it will not be regarded as conclusive and hence not enforceable in India, said Rajiv Bansal, senior advocate. Bansal said according to Section 44A of the CPC, a decree of any superior court of a reciprocating territory shall be executed in India as a decree passed by the Indian district court. A judgment from a court of a reciprocating territory can be directly enforced in India by filing an execution application. "While filing the execution application, the original certified copy of the decree along with a certificate from the superior court stating the extent to which the decree has been satisfied or adjusted, has to be annexed to the application, he said. Other top lawyers said India and England are reciprocating countries which means that judgments will be enforced in India as if they were judgments of an Indian court. Therefore, the Indian court will not reconsider the arguments but only execute the judgment. "At that stage Ambani has a very limited number of arguments such as fraud for instance and it is unlikely that these will be given much credence unless there is some substance to the arguments, said a Mumbai based lawyer asking not to be quoted. Besides, the lawyer said any court judgment has to be enforced as a decree. It may be enforced against any of Ambanis assets outside India or against assets in India. In the latter case, an Indian court process has to be followed, he said. The dispute between Reliance Communications (RCom) and Chinese banks led by ICBC started after RCom defaulted on its loans to Indian as well as Chinese banks. Chinese banks claim that Ambani had given personal guarantee for a corporate loan availed by RCom in 2012 for global refinancing. The ADA officials said Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and others made their claim based on an alleged guarantee that was never signed by Ambani and he has consistently denied having authorised anyone to execute any guarantee on his behalf. The amount ordered to be paid based on the alleged guarantee will in any case reduce upon the resolution of RComs debt in accordance with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The amount claimed under the alleged guarantee would reduce by up to 50 per cent according to the resolution plan of RComs debt, which has been approved its lenders and has already been filed in the National Company Law Tribunal on March 6. As far as the judgment of the UK Court is concerned, the question of any enforcement in India does not arise in the near future, and Ambani is seeking legal advice on the future course of action. According to the UK Court Order, the final amount owed under the alleged guarantee will be assessed based on the outcome of the RCom resolution plan filed before the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai, ADA officials said. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters All amounts expressed in US dollars. DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD) (TSX:ABX) has settled the majority of the North Mara legacy land claims and has paid the first tranche of the $300 million settlement it agreed with the Tanzanian government to resolve the disputes it inherited from Acacia Mining. President and chief executive Mark Bristow said these were landmark events that demonstrated the strength of the partnership the company forged earlier this year through the formation of the jointly owned Twiga Minerals Corporation, which oversees the management of Barricks operations in the country. In terms of its framework agreement with the government, the shipping of some 1,600 containers of concentrate stockpiled from Bulyanhulu and Buzwagi resumed in April and the first $100 million received from the sale has gone to the government. Barrick said all material issues had been dealt with or were being finalized. This initial payment will be followed by five annual payments of $40 million each. At the same time, some 90% of the outstanding land claims at North Mara have been settled with payment scheduled to start today. Contrary to the past, where these claims were handled by the mine, the compensation process is being overseen by a committee representing Twiga, the government, the local authorities and the affected communities. This will ensure that the process is transparent and that issues are dealt with fairly and promptly. Willem Jacobs, Barricks chief operating officer for Africa and the Middle East, said the basis of the settlement, which also provides for future claims, was produced during several weeks of close and constructive engagement between Twiga, the Ministry of Mines, the Ministry of Land, the local authorities and the community. A commercial bank has been appointed to provide financial training to the compensated landowners. Operationally, since taking over North Mara, Barrick has focused on improving the mines water management with special emphasis on its tailings storage facility. Jacobs said Barricks intervention had put an end to 15 years of poor water management on site and has ensured that going forward its environmental risks are properly contained in line with the groups best practice standards. Summing up these developments, Bristow said the rapid progress made in resolving the most pressing legacy issues in Tanzania was a tribute to the hard work of Jacobs and his team as well as to the wholehearted support and engagement of the government and other stakeholders. This is a striking example of what a true partnership can achieve in building a sustainable business capable of creating long-term value for all stakeholders, he said. Barrick Enquiries Investor and media relations Kathy du Plessis +44 20 7557 7738 Email: barrick@dpapr.com Website: www.barrick.com Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to Barricks strategy, projects, plans, or future financial or operating performance, constitutes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words prepare, will, ensure, can, achieve, would, should, expect and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to the partnership between Barrick and the Tanzanian government and the agreement to resolve all outstanding disputes between Acacia and the Tanzanian government; the expected timing for shipments of stockpiled concentrate and payment of the $300 million settlement amount to the Tanzanian government; long-term value creation for the stakeholders of Barricks Tanzanian operations; the resolution of outstanding historical land claims at North Mara and Barricks strategies with respect to engaging with local communities; addressing environmental issues at North Mara and improving North Maras water management including at its tailings storage facility; and creating sustainable economic opportunities for all stakeholders of Barricks Tanzanian operations. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this press release in light of managements experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the Companys ability to successfully re-integrate Acacias operations; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; non-renewal of key licenses by governmental authorities; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Tanzania and other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems, corruption and other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; risks associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including the effects and potential effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; damage to the Companys reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Companys handling of environmental or human rights matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties, or over access to water, power and other required infrastructure; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs, delays, suspensions and technical challenges associated with the construction of capital projects; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities, including geotechnical challenges and disruptions in the maintenance or provision of required infrastructure and information technology systems; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; the impact of global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future cash flows; fluctuations in the currency markets; increased costs and physical risks, including extreme weather events and resource shortages, related to climate change; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40- F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barricks ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Barrick Gold Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. MONTREAL - Quebec reported its sixth consecutive daily decrease in the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 on Monday, as retail stores across the Montreal area reopened following weeks of shutdowns to slow the spread of the virus. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (604 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Customers line up at Simon's department store as many non-essential businesses are allowed to re-open Monday May 25, 2020 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz MONTREAL - Quebec reported its sixth consecutive daily decrease in the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 on Monday, as retail stores across the Montreal area reopened following weeks of shutdowns to slow the spread of the virus. Authorities had repeatedly pushed back the reopening day for Montreal-area stores because they worried the province's health-care system couldn't handle a sudden increase in COVID cases. Premier Francois Legault told reporters in Montreal on Monday that in the past seven days, 114 COVID-19 patients had left Montreal-area hospitals while about 1,194 patients remain. The situation is improving but "it's still fragile," he said. "That's why we are reopening gradually," said Legault, who also announced Monday that shopping centres outside the greater Montreal area could reopen as of June 1. The manufacturing sector was also permitted to operate at 100 per cent capacity across the province starting Monday. "We have to continue to be careful because we cannot afford to have large increases in the next few days or weeks in the number of people in our hospitals in Montreal," Legault said. Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebec's director of public health, said the province had finally met its target of conducting 14,000 daily tests for COVID-19. Authorities conducted roughly 15,000-16,000 tests per day on Thursday and Friday, he said. That number dropped to fewer than 12,000 on Saturday and Arruda said he expected the testing figure to be even lower on Sunday, noting fewer people visit testing clinics on weekends. But even as the number of tests increases, the number of positive results is dropping. The province now has 47,984 confirmed cases of COVID-19 an increase of 573 cases compared to Sunday. More than 14,650 people have recovered. Quebec reported 85 additional deaths linked to COVID-19 Monday, bringing the total number to 4,069 since the beginning of the pandemic. Legault said 42 of the newly reported deaths occurred more than seven days ago in Laval, a hard-hit city north of Montreal. Arruda said the number of daily confirmed cases of the virus is decreasing despite more testing because people living in hard-hit areas of Montreal have already been exposed to the virus, which is leading to a slowdown in community spread. There are also fewer positive daily cases, he said, because public health authorities are conducting more tests outside long-term care homes and other health care settings, where the rate of COVID-19 transmission is lower. Arruda said the province will soon begin serologic tests in order to help determine how many Quebecers have been exposed to the virus and developed antibodies to fight it. The daily testing that authorities are conducting is able to determine if a patient is currently infected with COVID-19. A serologic test, however, analyzes blood to measure whether that person's immune system has responded to being exposed to the novel coronavirus. "We're making a lot of pressure for that to begin soon," Arruda said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Legault also announced Monday that asylum seekers who are working in the health-care system could be eligible for a path to citizenship as immigrants instead of through the federal refugee system. His government has been taking criticism from members of the Haitian community for its strict posture on the asylum seekers who had been entering Quebec illegally over the past few years many of whom originated from Haiti. Ruth Pierre-Paul, who advocates on behalf of Montreal's Haitian community, had told The Canadian Press that hundreds of those who crossed the border irregularly in recent years have sought out jobs in long-term care homes as a quick way to enter the workforce, due to a short training period and large bank of available jobs. Legault said he asked his immigration minister to review each case of asylum seekers working in the health-care sector, to see if they qualify as immigrants. "It's a way of telling them, 'Thank you,'" Legault said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. 3 civilians killed as Saudi-led warplanes hit northern Yemen on Eid al-Fitr Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 5:27 PM At least three civilian have been killed in air raids by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen's mountainous northwestern province of Sa'ada as people were celebrating Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported on Sunday afternoon that Saudi-led military aircraft hit a highway in Maran area of the Haydan district, leaving three people dead and as many injured. Later in the day, an 8-year-old boy sustained injuries when Saudi-backed militiamen loyal to Yemen's former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, shelled a residential area in the al-Durayhimi district of the western Yemeni coastal province of Hudaydah. Separately, the spokesman for Yemen's Armed Forces stated that Saudi-led warplanes had launched 48 air raids against various targets across the impoverished and crisis-plagued Arab country over the past few hours. Brigadier General Yahya Saree said nine airstrikes were launched in the Majzar district of Yemen's central province of Ma'rib, whilst Saudi-led jets pounded different neighborhoods in the northern Yemeni province of al-Jawf on six occasions. He went on say that Saudi-led jets carried out 15 airstrikes against Abs and Harad districts in Yemen's northern province of Hajjah. A total of 18 raids were mounted by Saudi-led aircraft against Maran, Malahit and Baqim districts of Sa'ada province. Saree, however, did not provide any information about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the devastating war on Yemen in March 2015 in order to bring Hadi back to power and crush the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the war has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past five years. More than half of Yemen's hospitals and clinics have been destroyed or closed during the war by the Saudi-led coalition, which is supported militarily by the UK, US and other Western nations. At least 80 percent of the 28 million-strong population is also reliant on aid to survive in what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Interpol may soon expedite the case against Nirav Modi's brother Nehal Modi, a Belgium national and co-accused in the Rs 13,000 crore fraud involving Punjab National Bank. His plea challenging the Interpol notice has reportedly been rejected and is now available for public view. Based on the evidence provided by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, the Interpol had issued the red notice against Nehal in September 2019. He challenged the notice in October 2019, following which it was disabled from public view. Nehal reportedly handled Nirav Modi's Twin Fields Investments Limited and Bailey Bank and Biddle, and allegedly laundered over $100 million for his brother. All these companies allegedly received around $50 million from Nirav Modi's dummy companies. As per the ED, Nehal also became the protector and investment advisor of 'The Ithaca Trust' for Nirav Modi. The trust also received over $30 million worth laundered funds from Nirav Modi-led companies. Indian probe agencies have also accused Nehal Modi of destroying key evidence in the PNB case. They have filed chargesheets against him at a special PMLA court in Mumbai. The court has also issued two separate open-ended Non-Bailable Warrants against Nehal Modi. Before Nehal Modi, the Interpol had issued red corner notices against Nirav Modi, brother Nishal Modi and sister Purvi Modi. While Nirav Modi was arrested in March 2019, the Interpol could now arrest his other family members. Nirav, who is in London jail, is fighting extradition to India at the Westminster Magistrates Court in London. Also read: PNB scam: Nirav Modi remanded in custody until April 15 Madhya Pradeshs Covid-19 hotspot Indore saw another 56 cases of the coronavirus disease on Sunday, taking the overall tally in the district to 3,064. As many as 116 people have died of the disease in Indore. According to the Union health ministry, the total number of cases in Madhya Pradesh is 6,371. While 3,267 people have been cured, 281 deaths have been reported so far. Bhopal now has 1,241 Covid-19 patients, Ujjain 553, Khandwa 222, Burhanpur 271, Jabalpur 209, Khargone 117, Dhar 111, Gwalior 98, Neemuch 88 Mandsaur 87, Dewas 80, Morena 71 and Sagar 68. With three deaths in Bhopal, the toll in the state capital has risen to 45, the state Health bulletin said. Eid-ul-Fitr is muted in Madhya Pradesh this year as traditional public prayers and the celebratory hugs have been banned due to the coronavirus pandemic and the national lockdown. Shahar Qazi, Bhopal, Mushtaq Ali Nadvi has appealed to Muslims to offer the Eid namaaz at their homes. I have also urged people to avoid shaking hands and to also avoid the traditional embrace for the safety of themselves and others, Nadvi said. Shopping for the biggest festival of Muslims has remained restricted in capital Bhopal as its Old City area falls under red zone and very few shops have been allowed to open. Police personnel have been deployed in various parts of Madhya Pradesh, a senior police officer said, adding that Muslim leaders have appealed to people to stay indoors on Monday. Indore collector Manish Singh said that no relaxations were given to people for celebrating Eid by coming out in the open. By Express News Service DEHRADUN: As cases continue to spike in Uttarakhand, the whole state has been designated as 'Orange Zone' now. Till date total number of cases in Uttarakhand are 332. However, the state government assured that spike is registered due to number of tests conducted of the migrants who are returning from other states. "The cases are rising but we have every arrangement in the state to contain the spread. These cases are from the people who are returning home. I wish all of them speedy recovery," said Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Monday while talking to reporters in Haldwani city. The CM visited Haldwani city of Nainital district to take a review meeting on COVID-19 situation where 55 cases emerged on Saturday. The CM also added that next 10-days are crucial for the state. "Our doctors, health workers are working day and night to contain the spread and treat the patients who are serious. We have added extra beds, ventilators and other facilities in the state hospitals," added the CM. Earlier, out if 13 districts, 6 were orange while seven were designated as green zone areas with respect to Covid 19 cases. Last week, Uttarakhand high court directed the state government to quarantine returning migrants from red zone areas of the country at border areas of the state. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 21:47:54|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close The second plenary meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature said Monday it will prioritize legislation on public health this year. In its annual work report, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) said it plans to revise the Wildlife Protection Law, the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law, and the Emergency Response Law in 2020. The report was delivered by Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, to the ongoing third session of the 13th NPC for deliberation. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the top legislature has performed its lawful duty, providing legal support for anti-epidemic efforts and economic and social development. It issued a decision to completely ban the illegal trade and consumption of wildlife, and reached out to the public to clarify epidemic prevention and control laws, according to the report. China currently has over 30 laws on public health, which have generally withstood the test of the COVID-19 epidemic and played a positive role, Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the third session of the 13th NPC, told a press conference last week. Zhang however noted that there are still some weak links and shortcomings in the legal framework, and the NPC Standing Committee will further strengthen China's public health legislation. Lawmakers are expected to review and approve the country's biosecurity law within this year, according to Zhang. The draft biosecurity law went through a second reading in April. Meanwhile, legislators will expedite revising the Wildlife Protection Law in the hope of submitting the revision for review in the latter half of the year, Zhang added. Enditem Republican Party Sues Calif. Gov. Newsom Over Illegal Election Power Grab Republicans are suing California Gov. Gavin Newsom in federal court over his unprecedented unilateral order requiring that all registered voters be sent vote-by-mail ballots for the general and presidential elections on Nov. 3, ostensibly to reduce the likelihood of voter transmission of the CCP virus that causes the disease COVID-19. Newsom, a Democrat who frequently spars with President Donald Trump on a host of issues, signed Executive Order N-64-20 on May 8. The order requires officials in all 58 of the Golden States counties to send all registered voters vote-by-mail ballots for the Nov. 3 general election whether they want them or not. In-person voting also will be available. Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Hawaii carry out their elections wholly by mail. A federal judge in Texas granted a temporary injunction May 19 allowing all voters in the state to vote by mail in upcoming elections. The injunction was stayed by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals pending the outcome of the states appeal of the ruling. Elections and the right to vote are foundational to our democracy, Newsom said when he issued his order. No Californian should be forced to risk their health in order to exercise their right to vote. Trump is strongly opposed to expanding mail-in voting, which he says is rife with fraud. Other Republicans say Newsom is leveraging the current pandemic to score political points and that he has no right to force mail-in balloting on voters. They say what he is doing constitutes an illegal power grab. Republican National Committee (RNC) chief Ronna McDaniel announced on Twitter on May 24 that the RNC, National Republican Congressional Committee, and the California Republican Party just sued Gavin Newsom over his illegal election power grab. His radical plan is a recipe for disaster that would create more opportunities for fraud & destroy the confidence Californians deserve to have in their elections. Mail-in voting is particularly susceptible to fraud, experts say. The consensus, among people who study fraud carefully, is that voting by mail is a much more fertile area for fraud than voting in person, Charles Stewart, a political science professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, previously told NPR. Republican stalwart Tom Del Beccaro told The Epoch Times that Newsom clearly overstepped his authority as governor. Existing California law allows for an absentee ballot process not mail-in voting. No constitutional power nor any law permits Newsom to change duly authorized law let alone reshape our voting system on his own, said Del Beccaro, a former chairman of the California Republican Party and author of The Divided Era: How We Got Here and the Keys to Americas Reconciliation. Del Beccaro is an occasional contributor to The Epoch Times. That is one of the many power grabs by Newsom that must be pursued in the courts and undone lest it becomes practice and encourages more lawless behavior. As for those who favor mail-in voting, California would be ripe for voter fraud under such a system. It would be impossible to verify the signatures required on mail-in votes for the some 14 million votes that would be cast. California has no system in place that could handle that volume. Instead, the votes would be counted, winners declared, and losers, who have to pay for recounts if they suspect fraud, would simply have to succumb because of the costs involved. Given that 458,000 people who have died could be mailed ballots, that 24,000 will be mailed two or more ballots, that 178,000 existing registrations have never been voted, that nearly 2,000 registrations indicate birthdates of a person 105-plus years or older and that over 38,000 Californians appear to have more than one voter registration, the prospects for voter fraud are quite real. As The Epoch Times previously reported, election law experts say the current pandemic is being used by political partisans to promote fraud-prone mail-in balloting in order to undermine electoral integrity. Christian Adams, president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation and a former U.S. Department of Justice civil rights attorney, said mail ballots are uniquely subject to fraud and undue influence. Dealing with a pandemic is no excuse for violating the sanctity of the electoral process, Adams said. Liberia conducted an in-person election during the worst part of the Ebola epidemic. If Liberia can mitigate Ebola in an election, we can do it, too. Widespread mail-in balloting is a terrible idea, said Pete Hutchison, president of the Landmark Legal Foundation. Its a power grab that the Framers would have been appalled at. The classified ad might read: Looking for college-educated applicants who can handle serious on-the-job stress, constant public criticism and loss of co-workers by suicide. Must be skilled in handling firearms, life-and-death conflicts, domestic abuse suspects, the mentally ill and drug addicts. Training in murder, arson, cybercrime and white-collar crime investigations a plus. Must feel comfortable in a bullet-proof vest. Average salary: $56,300 a year. Think about all the hurdles a hopeful police recruit must overcome just to get into a training academy. Think of the potentially deadly challenges a police officer faces every day. Now imagine what it is like for them during this pandemic. In normal times todays COVID-19-inspired directive to stay six feet apart would be impossible for a street cop. Rosa Brooks, a former reserve officer in Washington, D.C., has eloquently written about the enormous amount of physical intimacy officers routinely encounter with members of the public. During my time on patrol, I put my hands into strangers pockets during searches; ran my fingers inside waistbands, bra bands and shoes; put handcuffs onto wrists and held those I was arresting by the arm as I escorted them to the patrol car, Brooks wrote in the Washington P. People coughed, sneezed, vomited and bled on me, Brooks said. Sometimes, they shoved me or spat at me. Other times, they hugged me or cried on my shoulder. A handcuffed, half-dressed woman once asked me to stuff her breasts back into her bodysuit; another time, a shoplifter begged me to help her rinse her feces-stained pants in a supermarket bathroom. In todays pandemic-stricken atmosphere many law enforcement departments are functioning with vastly depleted forces as ever-increasing numbers of virus infected officers call in sick. Those reporting for duty are under orders to approach the job much differently. Routine high-contact patrol practices like stops, searches and arrests have slowed to protect both officers and the public. The arrests that must be made to ensure public safety are done by cops in protective masks and gloves. Patrol cars are sanitized after transporting suspects. On-the-street patrol teams are instructed to try to verbally disperse people who have gathered in large groups, while at the same time keeping their distance. Dispatchers at 911 call centers are asking those seeking help to come outside to meet officers whenever possible. Citizens caught up in violent domestic abuse situations are given priority attention with hotline numbers and free rides to shelters or hotels. Departments are also working remotely to connect charity groups with vulnerable citizens in need of food or medical services. It has become popular in some quarters to vilify those who wear a badge. But for countless needy people, nationwide, it is their local cop shop they call when they become desperate. Police officers have valiantly responded, organizing donations to help people suddenly unemployed and delivering food to the elderly, some of which the officers have paid for themselves. In neighborhoods across the country the local beat cops are a lifeline. They do their jobs stoically, realizing every interaction with co-workers and community members exposes them to possible infection. Every contact increases the risk of carrying the virus home to their families. A survey by the Police Executive Research Forum conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic found a workforce crisis underway in law enforcement departments nationwide. The report describes how departments are losing members at an alarming rate. The triple threat to public safety comes with the exit of officers who want out after only a few years, those seeking early retirement and administrators inability to attract new people. Seems the traditional sources of recruits families with a history of police work and former military members have dried up. The bottom line: now is the time to appreciate, applaud and elevate our frequently maligned members of law enforcement. Its a front-line profession that was already in staffing jeopardy before the virus hit. We cannot continue to underpay and under-appreciate what they do. Society cannot function without them. Heatwave conditions intensified in most of the northern states of India on Monday, with Churu in Rajasthan scorching at 47.5 degrees Celsius and the mercury breaching the 46-degree mark in parts of the national capital. While the daytime temperatures in most of Rajasthan were around 45-47 degrees Celsius, Punjab and Haryana too sizzled, with Narnaul recording the highest of 45.8 degrees Celsius. Allahabad was the hottest in Uttar Pradesh at 46.3 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which had issued a red colour-coded alert for north India for May 25-26 when the prevailing heatwave conditions are expected to peak, said dust and thunderstorms are likely to bring some relief on May 29-30. The heatwave continued to sweep the national capital, with the office issuing an "orange" warning for parts of Delhi on Tuesday. The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded a high of 44 degrees Celsius, four notches more than normal. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of the IMD, said some respite from the stifling heat is expected on May 28 due to a fresh western disturbance and easterly winds at lower levels. In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appealed to the people to stay indoors and drink as much water as possible. Intense heat wave conditions were likely at some places in Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Kota divisions, the office in Jaipur said. Due to the activation of the western disturbance, light rains are expected in Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur and Bharatpur on Friday and Saturday, it added. Stifling heat gripped Punjab and neighbouring Haryana. In Haryana, Hisar sizzled at 45 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal limits while Bhiwani recorded a high of 43.1 degrees Celsius. Karnal, too, braved intense heat at 43 degrees Celsius, up five notches against normal limits. In Punjab, Patiala recorded a high of 43.6 degrees Celsius, up by five degrees. Amritsar and Ludhiana too recorded above-normal maximums of 42.8 degrees Celsius and 43.1 degrees Celsius, respectively. Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, also experienced a hot day at 42 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal limits. In Uttar Pradesh, day temperatures rose appreciably over Varanasi, Faizabad, and Lucknow divisions as blistering heat gripped many parts of the state. The weatherman has forecast dry conditions in the state and warned of heatwave at isolated places over the next few days. The office said rain and thunderstorm were "very likely" at isolated places over eastern Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Heat wave conditions are also likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada, interior Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar and Jharkhand during the next two-three days, the IMD said. In large areas, a heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature is 45 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days and a severe heat wave is when the mercury touches the 47-degree Celsius mark for two days on the trot. In small areas, like Delhi, heat wave is declared if the temperature soars to 45 degrees Celsius even for a day, according to the IMD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From left are Samil PwC CEO Kim Young-sik, Deloitte Anjin Vice Chairman Chung Min-keun, Rep. Chae Yi-bai of the minor opposition Party for People's Livelihoods, Shinhan Accounting Corporation managing partner Choi Jong-man and Chung-Ang University professor Hwang In-tae. / Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk A record five candidates began a fierce competition to become the president of the Korean Institute of Certified Public Accounts (KICPA). According to the lobby group for accounting and tax experts, Sunday, they are Samil PwC CEO Kim Young-sik, Deloitte Anjin Vice Chairman Chung Min-keun, Rep. Chae Yi-bai of the minor opposition Party for People's Livelihoods, Shinhan Accounting Corporation managing partner Choi Jong-man and Chung-Ang University professor Hwang In-tae. The election is slated for June 17. During the KICPA's previous elections, there were only two or three candidates. As candidates coming from large accounting firms have generally won the elections amid low voter turnouts, Kim has been regarded as the strongest candidate for the forthcoming election. The Samil PwC CEO promised to establish a knowledge-sharing platform, reduce the number of newly certified public accounts and finalize the accounting reforms. "I will make the KICPA bring happiness to our members," he said. The institute's decision to hold an electronic vote to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, however, made it difficult to predict the winner as the new system will likely raise the voter turnout, as accountants working for financial authorities and non-accounting firms have been able to cast their ballots using mobile devices and computers. This resulted in the record number of candidates, although the position has been less financially attractive. The KICPA recently cut the annual salary of its president to 50 million won ($40,000) from 300 million won and raised the amount of deposit to 50 million won from 10 million won. If a candidate fails to get more than 10 percent of the vote, he will lose his deposit. Against this backdrop, Chae has been mentioned as the one who will benefit from a high voter turnout. The lawmaker of the 20th National Assembly has been popular with young accountants in their 20s and 30s, who account for more than 60 percent of the KICPA's 22,000 members. In 2017, a revision of the Act on External Audit of Stock Companies that the politician proposed was passed, leading more businesses to get external audits by accounting firms. "As the one who proposed the new law, I will protect it from critics," he told reporters after registering as a candidate for the KICPA president last Monday. Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has called on Nigerians in the diaspora to pressur... Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has called on Nigerians in the diaspora to pressure the UK government to release Diezani Allison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources, for trial. According to Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesman, Magu gave the charge during a virtual townhall meeting with Nigerians in the diaspora, on Saturday. The ex-minister, who is being investigated over allegations of bribery and money laundering, relocated to the UK shortly before ex-President Goodluck Jonathan handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Magu had alleged that she looted $2.5 billion but she has denied all the allegations that the anti-graft agency levelled against her. During the meeting, Magu asked Nigerians abroad to support the anti-graft war by exposing foreign assets of local politicians through the governments whistle- blowing policy. The EFCC needs collaborative engagements with you all. Nigerians in the United Kingdom need to collaborate with the EFCC more and pressure the authorities there to assist the EFCC in bringing Diezani to trial, he said. Does it not bother Nigerians in that country that Diezani has not been brought to trial for the heinous allegations of corruption against her in Nigeria? The public ownership of the fight against corruption should not be limited to Nigerians at home, we must all come forward, wherever we are, to insist that corrupt practices must not continue. We are on course. In 2020 alone, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have secured 213 convictions already. This shows the commitment we are putting into the work. Magu also said businesses operated in the country by Nigerians in diaspora will be protected from fraudsters. He said local fraudsters frustrating diasporans from investing in Nigeria would henceforth be dealt with. Magu said the anti-graft agency is ready to offer intelligence services to foreign investors by providing information on their prospective business partners. The EFCC is ready to offer intelligence services to anyone seeking genuine business partners in Nigeria, he said. Profiles of potential business partners in Nigeria would be obtained and delivered to the foreign- based investors and this would assist them in taking decisions on whom to partner with locally. We can also offer intelligence on any line of business desired by the Nigerian in the diaspora. We are ready to do all these to encourage credible and serious investors who do not want to be defrauded by fraudsters at home. In reaction, participants at the conference commended the EFCC for its efforts at riding the country off corrupt practices. Latest News First major rate move of 2022 as ANZ cuts variable Despite expectations that rates will rise, the first big move of the year is a cut 70% of Aussies pessimistic about their chances of getting on the property ladder Mortgage franchise giant releases data suggesting that Aussie Dream is out of reach for young people A non-major bank has announced a change to its upfront commission structure for mortgage brokers ahead of the introduction of best interest duty legislation. ME Bank made the decision following consultation with industry and stakeholders to ensure the change meets the needs of customers and brokers alike. Moving forward, the non-major will be reviewing each account twice over the first year, at 6-month and 12-month intervals post-settlement, in line with the remuneration reform developed via the Combined Industry Forum which requires the value of upfront commissions to be linked to the amount drawn down by borrowers instead of the loan amount. If the customer has drawn down additional funds greater than $10,000, additional upfront commission will be paid to a maximum of the approved facility. According to ME head of broker distribution, Mathew Patterson, the new commission model provides a greater degree of flexibility for brokers. Our policy allows brokers to meet the needs and objectives of each customer while ensuring brokers arent financially penalised through having to possibly wait for almost a year to be paid, he said. More than 60% of brokers are single or dual operators running small businesses, according to the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia, so cash flow is critical. The change is effective on new loans submitted from 1 May 2020. Liz Canavan, assistant secretary to the Department of An Taoiseach. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins FURNITURE stores offering viewings of their showrooms by appointment should not be doing so under coronavirus restrictions, a senior government official has said. Department of the Taoiseach assistant secretary general Liz Canavan said that at the moment the "over-riding objective" of phase one of the government's reopening roadmap is that people should stay at home except for "essential purposes". She said: "Appointments to shop for homeware, furniture or other non essential items are not part of phase one." Read More Ms Canavan said: "The focus should remain on online ordering and delivery for those who are not opened in phase one." She said: "if people are trying to find loopholes its missing the spirit of this. Its really important we try and take that phased approach." The government has left three week intervals between the reopening phases to assess their impact on the spread of the virus. Ms Canavan said: "If things go well in those first few phases well have a much better idea of where were at. But its too early to be too relaxed at this stage." She said people are only supposed to be moving around for essential journeys and should only be travelling to DIY stores for "essential hardware". Ms Canavan said businesses offering appointments are "in breach of what's intended". She added: "We are asking businesses to take the responsible approach." And she said: "We understand people are frustrated but we do need to do this slowly." 'Post the pandemic, when India is turning a new leaf in its economic policy with an eye on foreign capital and global supply chains that are likely to leave China, heightened tensions on the India-China border creates an atmosphere of uncertainty,' observes Virendra Kapoor. IMAGE: Soldiers from the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army take part in a 'Hand in Hand' joint military exercise. Photograph: Yuan/CNS/Reuters The coronavirus pandemic has not deterred China from creating tension on the India-China border. The pandemic may be one of the reasons why China has stepped up aggressive patrolling in the Ladakh region. It may want to pressure India not to join other countries in demanding accountability for the Wuhan-origin virus and its initial mishandling of the pandemic. Had China acted in time and stopped outward-bound flights last December, the deadly virus may not have spread like wildfire, laying low mighty nations and failing some of the best public health systems in the world. Also, post the pandemic, when India is turning a new leaf in its economic policy with an eye on foreign capital and global supply chains that are likely to leave China, heightened tensions on the India-China border creates an atmosphere of uncertainty. Foreign capital shuns a hint of domestic instability. Despite a stifling political system, one reason China was the hub for global supply chains was because of its orderly domestic situation. A democratic India wracked by tensions on the border with the second most powerful nation in the world will not inspire confidence in the boardrooms of iconic global companies. Border skirmishes would naturally force India to further divert energies and precious resources to bolster its defences. This may be the Chinese intent as well. Skirmishes at the border are not an isolated event. It is an integral part of the brazenly aggressive diplomacy the Chinese have begun to pursue in recent times. Superior economic and military power seems to have emboldened the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party to try and force everyone into meek submission. The way Beijing reacts angrily even to a mild suggestion that the coronavirus pandemic was China-born indicates an offensive attitude. There are more compelling examples to prove China's power-drunk behaviour. It is acting like an international bully, a bad boy of global diplomacy. China seems to have given up all pretence to conduct diplomacy in a civilised and well-ordered manner. IMAGE: Indian and Chinese soldiers at the 'Hand in Hand' joint military training exercise. Photograph: Kind courtesy Indian Army. The other day, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke for the wider world when he called for an inquiry into the origin of coronavirus and its handling by China. Immediately, China's ambassador in Canberra publicly threatened Australia with economic reprisals, warning that import of beef, wine and barley would be stopped and that Chinese students would stop enrolling at Australian universities. Within days, China slapped extraordinary 80 percent tariffs on the imports of Australian barley. Such blatant economic blackmail was unknown in modern diplomacy. Earlier, the Chinese ambassador in Germany threatened to stop the import of German cars should the latter consider banning the use of Huawei's controversial 5-G equipment on security grounds. The US had already banned Huawei and is pressuring other nations to do likewise. In recent weeks, Sweden countenanced the ugly face of militant Chinese diplomacy. When it expressed concern at the growing abuse of human rights, particularly of Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang, the Chinese ambassador retorted wildly that 'for our enemies, we have shotguns'. The way China has intimidated smaller nations, from Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines -- and even Japan -- over the disputed islands in the South China Sea is proof enough that it is out to carve the new world order in which it is recognised as the new superpower to whom everyone pays public fealty. This is the 21st century version of gunboat diplomacy. Meanwhile, the unipolar world order is fast retreating thanks also to the inward-looking leadership in Washington in recent years. Seen from the above perspective, the recent border skirmishes in Ladakh can no longer be dismissed as stemming from a lack of clarity over the poorly drawn India-China boundary. Indeed, coupled with the almost synchronised noises from Nepal where Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli invented a border dispute with India by publishing a brand new map, it is clear that China wants to keep India distracted from its real objective of growing its economy and to provide a decent welfare to its 1.3 billion people while remaining committed to a vibrant democracy. Oli, who owes his job to the Chinese ambassador in Kathmandu, is a mere puppet, warning India of trouble if it built a road on its own side of the border. Till very recently, the area now claimed by Nepal as its own through a new cartographic invention was an undisputed part of Indian territory. IMAGE: Indian and Chinese soldiers at the 'Hand in Hand' joint military training exercise. Photograph: Kind courtesy Indian Army. Meanwhile, outgoing Acting US Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells ruffled feathers in Beijing, calling the India-China border skirmishes as 'disturbing behaviour but part of a pattern' by China'. Wells forthrightly condemned the 'aggressive and provocative Chinese behaviour, be it in the South China Sea or in compromising the independence of WHO, or in the spread of 'mass worldwide killing' resulting from the Chinese-origin coronavirus. The response of the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, dubbing her criticism as 'utter nonsense', further reflected the same belligerent Chinese attitude. Hopefully, the latest border standoff will be resolved through normal diplomatic, military channels, but, regardless, Indians will have to internalise the fact that they are up against an aggressive and expansionist northern neighbour which seeks to prevent its rise as an economic and military power in its own right. Without formally joining any anti-China alliance, India needs to cooperate with all those nations, including the US, Australia and Japan in the Quad, which enhance its security and geostrategic depth. Despite its growing military and economic strength, China is handicapped by its one-party dictatorial system. Besides, though a diminishing power, the US continues to be far ahead both in military and economic terms. In sharp contrast to China, India too stands out as a vibrant democracy with evil designs neither on its smaller neighbours nor anyone else. Recent public opinion polls in a couple of Western countries revealed that post-coronavirus a large majority of people view China with suspicion and distrust. However, in their current mood, adverse global opinion is unlikely to bother the oligarchs of the Chinese Communist Party. Witness how the solemn commitment to keep Hong Kong autonomous till at least 2047 under the one-country, two systems agreement is being shredded to clamp a stifling new security law meant to snuff out all democratic freedoms in this small oasis of democracy in China. But China does not care. The democratic world will need to join hands to end economic and military intimidation by China before it becomes a menace to global peace and security. Virendra Kapoor is a veteran political commentator. Production: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com Islamic State group said on Monday it was behind a blast in a small town in southern Libya on Saturday, the militant group's first attack in the country for at least a year. The blast targeted a security point at the entrance to Taraghin, 780 km (590 miles) south of Tripoli, but did not cause any casualties, a resident said. A local military commander, Abdesselam Shanqala, said the explosives were concealed in a vehicle belonging to the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) and there were no casualties. An LNA military source said Islamic State group was growing more active in the south after the arrest of one of its commanders. The last attack in Libya that Islamic State group said it was responsible for took place in May last year on a pipeline in the south. The group became active in Libya after the turmoil that followed the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, and it took control of the coastal city of Sirte in 2015 but lost it in late 2016 to local forces backed by US airstrikes. Search Keywords: Short link: Statement of Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, Liberal Party president, on the shelling in Maguindanao on Eid'l Fitr "Binigo natin si Aslamiya, 10 years old, at Asnaida Tambak, 7 years old. They were killed in the senseless mortal shelling attack yesterday, May 24, on Eid'l Fitr, in Maguindanao. Kinokondena natin ang lahat ng uri ng karahasan na nakakapanakit o pumapatay, lalong-lalo na ng mga bata. In the feast of Eid'l Fitr when we should have been joining our Muslim brothers and sisters in peace, there is violence once again. Ngayon, iisa ang ating kalaban, ang pandemyang COVID-19. Acts to incite terror and harm innocent civilians in an already turbulent time are heartless and must not be tolerated. We join the call for the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission to open an investigation at the soonest possible time to get to the bottom of this attack. We support the Bangsamoro Government in seeking justice for the victims. Our office is willing to extend any assistance needed for the investigation and extend assistance to them. Katarungan para kay Aslamiya and Asnaida! An emotional Skye Wheatley has admitted she 'probably need counselling' to deal with her body insecurities instead of years of undergoing plastic surgery procedures. The 26-year-old, who found fame on Big Brother in 2014, opened up about her crippling struggle with body image in an honest YouTube video to her fans. Over the past five years, Skye has had a breast augmentation, reconstructive surgery after her first boob job became botched, rhinoplasty, lip filler and cheek filler. Emotional: Skye Wheatley admitted she 'probably need counselling' to deal with her body insecurities in a YouTube video on Sunday, after spending years turning to plastic surgery instead. Pictured: Left, Skye on Big Brother in 2014. Right, Skye on Sunday 'I feel like [body image] has been my biggest hurdle in life and something that I've focused on a lot. Which I know I shouldn't, but I've always been very hard on myself and self-critical,' Skye explained when asked about her transformation. 'I know it's normal for people to be like that, but I was pretty extreme. I used to wear a hat in class [at school] because I was worried about my eye bags. I had so many insecurities, not the normal amount a child my age should have. 'I was always very self-conscious of my weight, insecure about my eye bags, my skin, how light I was and my hair. Different look: Over the past five years, Skye has had a breast augmentation, reconstructive surgery after her first boob job became botched, rhinoplasty, lip filler and cheek filler 'I tried to cover up as much of my face as possible with a hat, and lots of makeup. I still hated myself. I hated my teeth, my freckles and my nose. I never learned to accept my nose and went and had plastic surgery.' Despite going under the knife to change the things she didn't like about herself, Skye said she was still unhappy with the way she looks. 'I still have insecurities, I'm still really hard on myself, and yeah, I probably need counselling. It's bad to be like that,' she added. 'I feel like [body image] has been my biggest hurdle in life and something that I've focused on a lot. Which I know I shouldn't, but I've always been very hard on myself and self-critical,' Skye explained when asked about her transformation 'I was extreme': Skye says she would 'hide as much of her face as possible' in school (pictured then) with hats, as she 'hated her eye bags, freckles, teeth, weight, hair, skin and nose' Skye's first cosmetic procedure was a boob job in Bangkok in 2015, aged 22. She flew to Thailand to get her surgery at a lower price, however the surgeon left her with a botched 'bubble boob'. She later spent $28,000 on corrective surgery. 'I actually used to get teased for having big boobs, because I developed at a really young age,' Skye said of her breasts in her YouTube video on Sunday. 'Then my boobs stopped growing and everybody else's got bigger.' Ahead of giving birth to her first child Forest in December 2018, Skye said she was planning on getting a 'breast lift and new implants' once he was born. Ouch: Skye's first cosmetic procedure was a boob job in Bangkok in 2015, aged 22. However, the surgeon left her with a botched 'bubble boob' that required corrective surgery Fixed: Skye later spent $28,000 on corrective surgery. The star said she was planning on getting a 'breast lift and new implants' after giving birth to her first child in December 2018 In 2016, the mother-of-one went under the knife again and also had a nose job. She shared a gruesome video of her painful recovery on YouTube afterwards, saying: 'I'm in so much pain, like so much pain. My face is swollen up even more.' Despite the agony, she was 'happy to get rid of those nostrils'. But once she recovered, Skye said she was 'terrified of ageing' and her appearance changing naturally. Meanwhile, the blonde denied getting butt implants in 2017 amid rumours. 'Happy to get rid of those nostrils': The mother-of-one went under the knife again in 2016 and had a nose job, admitting afterwards she was 'in so much pain' while recovering The outlook for the patient assigned to Capt. Eric Dungan on May 1 was bleak: George Crouch, 96, seemed to have given up on life. His beloved wife had died of Covid-19, and Mr. Crouch was also battling the illness in the hospital. Since his wifes death in late April, he was refusing medical care and would not eat. Captain Dungan, a trained social worker in the U.S. Army Reserves, had been deployed from Indiana to New York City to help hospitals counsel the sick during the coronavirus crisis. Many of his patients at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx had already died of the illness, and given Mr. Crouchs age, condition and temperament, Captain Dungan braced for the worst. A nurse stopped him on his way to visit Mr. Crouch for the first time. Did Captain Dungan know, the nurse asked, that Mr. Crouch was a veteran of World War II? Statistics Canada has started a project to increase the amount of information collected on guns used in crime. Researchers have said for decades there isn't enough data about where guns come from and how they are used. Without that information, it is a greater challenge to stop the flow of illegal guns into Canada or to curb gun violence. "It's been a problem for 30 years," said Wendy Cukier, president of the Coalition for Gun Control. "The information is quite fragmented. Jurisdictions like Toronto collect and trace and track crime guns, but a lot of others don't." Statistics Canada is working with police services and Public Safety Canada to change that. Last year, the agency added a variable to its homicide survey allowing police to indicate whether firearms used to commit a homicide were sent for tracing, and to provide the origin if discovered. Besides that, Statistics Canada hasn't said how it will increase the amount of information it receives on crime guns, just that it's working on it. But that's a good first step, said Cukier. Chris Dunseith/CBC News More data would help identify hot spots of gun activity in the country, she said. It's something law enforcement in the U.S. has done successfully. In the past, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has traced a large number of crime guns back to illegal sales. "In Canada, we don't have the mechanisms to make those sorts of determinations because we don't have the tracing, the tracing data," said Cukier. "When it comes to identifying hot spots in Canada dirty dealers, points of entry and so on I think the police would say there is less information than they would like to have." Collecting that information nationally would allow police to target smuggling rather than discovering illegal firearms by chance when a car crosses the border, she said. Canada Border Services Agency The Canada Border Services Agency seized 647 firearms in the 2019-20 fiscal year. In the last three fiscal years, that number peaked at 751 seizures in 2017-18. Story continues There is no way of knowing how many guns escape detection. Cukier said the broad pattern of gun crime in the country has been known for years. Licensed guns like rifles and shotguns are often used in domestic assaults and attacks on police officers in rural communities. Handguns used by gangs are smuggled in from the U.S., stolen or sold illegally, she said. But the figures used in crimes are elusive. Even what police refer to as a gun used in a crime isn't the same across the country, according to an email from Peter Frayne, a Statistics Canada spokesperson. Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press Some jurisdictions may refer to a 'crime gun' as a firearm used to shoot, rob or threaten another person. But some police services don't use the term, meaning there is a "barrier to consistent data collection and recording," according to Frayne. Statistics Canada says it's working with police and other groups to come up with a definition. The lack of standard definition upsets Nova Scotia gun owner Daniel Harrington, who is an award-winning target shooter. He uses a Stag 10 rifle that has now been banned by the federal government. Harrington said legislators should get all the facts before they create laws that hurt licensed gun owners, especially when guns smuggled into the country could be the problem. "[It's] so backwards," he said. He said it is important to define what it is that needs to be stopped. "Like, assault rifle has no legal definition in Canada," he said. "So define it, find out where it's coming from, find out what you can do to stop that and then do it," said Harrington. Submitted by Daniel Harrington Statistics Canada's work is further complicated by a lack of requests to trace a gun's ownership history. Not all crime guns are submitted for tracing by police. There is no legal requirement that firearms be submitted by police for tracing through the RCMP-run Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre. The aim of the centre is to help law enforcement figure out the history of a gun connected to a criminal investigation and to use that information as potential evidence in court, said Catherine Fortin, an RCMP spokesperson in an email. "We are not mandated to collect statistics on illegal firearms," she said. That means the centre does not retain the information it gathers. "Instead, the results are sent back to the police of jurisdiction, and are recorded in various, and inconsistent, formats," said Frayne. CBC News Not all tracing pans out, meaning the origins of some guns remains a mystery. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is also trying to fill in some of the gaps. The association represents senior police leadership from across the country. It has been exploring ways to increase data collection on the criminal uses of firearms through Statistics Canada. The association also wants to "standardize definitions of key firearm-related concepts," said spokesperson Natalie Wright in an email. Wright said they are trying to identify possible options for data collection and analysis on firearms. Stephen Puddicombe/CBC Despite the difficulties, collecting the information is still worth the effort, according to Jooyoung Lee, a professor of sociology at the University of Toronto. Lee studies the causes and consequences of gun violence. "It's important to determine the origin of crime guns because any attempts at legislating the sale and flow of firearms has to recognize that the United States is a global supplier of firearms," said Lee, "We just simply don't know how many guns are Canadian in origin versus American in origin." CBC Cukier said even without a complete picture of where guns used in crime are coming from, she believes laws like the federal government's ban on assault-style firearms still have to go ahead. "I've heard a lot of people say, 'There's no point in banning military-assault weapons because we have a problem with gun smuggling,'" she said. "That's like saying we shouldn't try to treat breast cancer because lung cancer is a big problem. The ban on military-assault weapons is aimed at reducing the risk we will have mass shootings." MORE TOP STORIES President Donald Trump called for US schools to be reopened as soon as possible after watching a Fox News segment which claimed that students don't spread coronavirus and are 'more likely to die crossing the street'. 'Schools in our country should be opened ASAP,' Trump tweeted late Sunday night. 'Much very good information now available,' he added, tagging Fox News anchor Steve Hilton and the outlet. The tweet was an apparent reaction to comments Hilton made on his program The Next Revolution less than two hours earlier. 'Get on with it and reopen schools now before you do even more needless damage,' Hilton had said. Scroll down for video President Donald Trump called for US schools to be reopened as soon as possible in a tweet on Sunday after apparently watching a Fox News segment pushing the idea Trump's tweet was an apparent reaction to comments Fox News host Steve Hilton made on his program The Next Revolution less than two hours earlier. 'Get on with it and reopen schools now before you do even more needless damage,' Hilton had said Hilton also criticized measures aimed at stemming the spread of coronavirus, calling temperature checks 'totally pointless' and certain social distancing rules 'completely arbitrary'. 'Only one or two people allowed in an elevator at one time, good luck trying to reopen New York on that,' he said. Schools were among the many institutions that were forced to shut their doors went widespread stay-at-home orders went into effect in mid-March. On his program Hilton cited studies that suggested students can't transmit the virus to others. 'Can children infect others? We're constantly told to follow the science and the data, well, here it is,' he said. 'One study found quote, even if children do get infected they are less likely to transmit the disease to others than adults. We have not found a single instance of a child infecting parents.' He also referenced an NPR report published earlier this month that said children's mental health has been adversely affected while they stay at home during the pandemic. Hilton welcomed Fox News contributor Steve Moore, a former adviser to President Trump, to bolster his argument. 'Your kid is more likely to die from walking across the street than from going to school,' Moore said. 'This is primarily a disease that affects older people. We been so dumb and so stupid about the way we've dealt with this.' A Politico/Morning Consult poll published last week found that 41 percent of Americans think it's a bad idea to reopen schools this fall, while about one-third thought it was a good idea. Dr Anthony Fauci, a top member of the White House coronavirus task force and the nation's leading infectious disease expert, has repeatedly urged caution when it comes to reopening schools. Dr Anthony Fauci, a top member of the White House coronavirus task force and the nation's leading infectious disease expert, has repeatedly urged caution when it comes to reopening schools. Fauci is pictured with Trump at a White House briefing on April 22 President Trump (pictured in March) has championed reopening the country as soon as possible to restart the economy after it ground to a halt under coronavirus restrictions Concerns over sending kids back to campus have grown in recent weeks amid the emergence of a severe pediatric inflammatory syndrome believed to be associated with COVID-19. While the coronavirus has been found to be less harmful in children, who typically only exhibit mild symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an advisory earlier this month about the potentially deadly pediatric illness dubbed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). MIS-C causes swelling in medium-sized arteries throughout the body, producing a variety of symptoms similar to those found with Kawasaki disease or toxic shock. The most common symptoms are high fever that persists for several days, rash, red eyes, red lips or tongue, red or swollen hands or feet, low blood pressure, unusual abdominal pain and persistent diarrhea. Twenty-five states and 13 countries have reported apparent cases of MIS-C to date. At least four children in the US are believed to have died as a result of the syndrome. 'We don't know everything about this virus, and we really better be very careful, particularly when it comes to children,' Fauci said as he testified before the Senate earlier this month. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Every year Memorial Day comes and goes and is often marked by parades, backyard picnics and the onset of warm summer days. But this Memorial Day, the pageantry will be limited with many of us around the United States still sheltering in place. Nevertheless, I want to remind Americans that it is still a day to pause and reflect on the sacrifice of those who have made us free. In fact, with many of the usual trappings and traditions absent this year, perhaps it will give us some more free time to spend our day in thanksgiving to God for the many brave men and women whove sacrificed everything for our peaceful way of life. Ive spent much of my adult life leading a church in a military community in Southern California, Shadow Mountain Community Church. At Shadow Mountain, we proudly celebrate the sacrifice of our armed forces. Being a pastor in a community like this inevitably results in gaining a profound respect for our men and women who put their lives on the line especially for those whove paid the ultimate price for their country and our freedom. It has also taught me to never take this day for granted. This Memorial Day is the perfect day to learn who our heroes really are and to teach our children about them. Im reminded of the famous proverb that should inspire us all to pass along these values to the next generation: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Its also a time to lay aside our political posturing, our partisan arguments and our endless debates, and instead raise a hand toward heaven in praise to God for those who have given us the freedom to debate amongst ourselves, yet all remain American. Its a time to bend our knees in renewed prayer for family members whose sacrifice, whether recent or long ago, leaves loved ones with a gaping hole inside their hearts every Thanksgiving dinner without dad to cut the turkey, or Christmas dinners with empty seats, and Independence Days whose fireworks and glamour can never pass without tears. When Jewish families gather around the table to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt through the rich symbolism of the Passover meal, they ask this question: Why is this night different from all other nights? The question is important because it anchors the meal and the celebration to what is being celebrated, what must be remembered. May I suggest that this weekend, whether surrounded by your family or alone in rest and reflection that you ask and answer the question, What makes Memorial Day different from all other days? And in answering that question may you remember the hand of God in founding and guiding this nation, the men and women who paid the ultimate price for its preservation, and that this cherished freedom of ours has never been free. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 00:01:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close FRANKFURT, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A top German court ruled on Monday that leading carmaker Volkswagen (VW) must pay compensation for a buyer of the VW vehicle fitted with cheat device for emissions tests. The latest episode of so-called dieselgate scandal sets an important precedent for about 60,000 similar cases. The Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe said in a statement that the buyer of the vehicle is entitled to compensation claims against VW, but the refund will not be the full purchase price, with the car's mileage being taken into account. A VW litigation spokesperson said in a statement that the ruling clarifies how the top court assesses the essential basic questions in the proceedings for the majority of the currently pending 60,000 cases. The company is endeavoring to end these proceedings promptly in agreement with the plaintiffs, seeking "a pragmatic and simple solution with one-off payments," according to the statement. Monday's ruling from the top civil judges basically confirmed the previous buyer-friendly judgment by a regional court in Koblenz. The plaintiffs and the defendants both appealed after the Koblenz court ruling, with the buyer demanding a full refund and the company arguing not paying at all. The scandal surrounding illegally manipulated exhaust emission levels in millions of diesel cars turned out by VW became public in 2015. The German car giant has so far paid more than 30 billion euros (33 billion U.S. dollars) in regulatory fines and settlements worldwide. In February, VW and the Federation of German Consumer Organizations reached an agreement on the negotiated 830 million-euro compensation settlement in a landmark action lawsuit, which involved around 260,000 VW customers. Enditem After increasing the holding of US government securities for two straight months, India sharply trimmed its exposure by a staggering USD 21 billion to USD 156.5 billion in March. The latest holding is also the lowest in 11 months. In April last year, the same stood at USD 155.3 billion, according to data from the US Treasury Department. The Reserve Bank of India buys these bonds. Japan had the highest exposure to the American government securities with holdings to the tune of USD 1.271 trillion, followed by China with USD 1.081 trillion and the United Kingdom with USD 395.3 billion. India's holding declined by USD 21 billion to USD 156.5 billion at the end of March. The exposure was at a record high of USD 177.5 billion in February and USD 164.3 billion in January. In December, the holding was worth USD 159.2 billion, the data showed. In terms of exposure, India is at the 13th position. An official said the RBI invests in foreign assets as part of its prudential liquidity management. Like any other investor, it keeps buying and selling them depending on the value and liquidity needs. It also keeps changing the composition of the foreign investment regularly, the official added. It can be noted that the rupee was being hammered till the middle of March due to concerns over COVID-19. In the week to March 20, the forex kitty fell the most in as many as 12 years to the tune of USD 11.98 billion, as the central bank sold dollars to arrest the slide of the rupee, which had even fallen to a record low of 78 to dollar amid a flight of capital from emerging markets to safe havens. The plunge in India's holding of US Treasury securities could also be partly attributed to the fall in rupee or the central bank booking profit as assets would have given higher yields. RBI spokesperson did not respond to a call from PTI. Dollars and other US government assets began to be among the preferred ones for investments, with the collapse of the gold standard or the Bretton Woods principles in the late 1970s and central banks moved to the fractional reserves system. Since then, the US dollar/T-bills have been the safest asset class for any central bank, despite getting one of the lowest returns. Central banks, including the RBI, follow the principle of SLR (Safety, Liquidity and Return) for their investment decisions. Like its counterparts in other countries, the RBI follows the safety first, liquidity second approach and return on investment as the third criteria. India's foreign exchange reserves rose by USD 1.73 billion to USD 487.04 billion in the week to May 15, which is equivalent to 12 months of imports, according to RBI data. Between April 1 and May 15, the foreign exchange reserves have increased by USD 9.2 billion. In the week ended May 8, the reserves had surged by USD 4.23 billion to USD 485.31 billion. It had touched a life-time high of USD 487.23 billion in the week to March 6, after it rose by USD 5.69 billion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China is planning to evacuate its citizens from India amid the spreading Covid-19 pandemic in the country, a notice issued by the Chinese embassy in New Delhi said on Monday. The notice, published on the embassy website said that students, tourists and businessmen who have been stranded in India will be allowed to fly back to China on special flights. The number of Chinese citizens currently studying or staying and working in India wasnt immediately available. Beijing has asked its citizens willing to return to China to register by the morning of May 27. Also Watch | We will deal...: Army chief on India, China soldiers fight in Ladakh, Sikkim It includes Chinese citizens who are in India to practice yoga or had come to India for the Buddhist religious circuit pilgrimage. It did not specify when or from where the special flights would take off. The evacuation notice also comes in the backdrop of rising tension between India and China along the disputed boundary between the two countries. The notice put out in Mandarin on Monday morning said those taking the flights will have to pay for the tickets and for their 14-day quarantine once they land in China. Under the unified arrangement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant departments, the Chinese embassy and Consulates in India will assist students, tourists, and temporary businessmen in India who have difficulties and are in urgent need of returning home to take temporary flights back to China, the notice said. The notice expressly forbade those who have been diagnosed with or suspected to have Covid-19 or those who had fever and cough symptoms for 14 days not to take the flights. Close contacts of Covid-19 patients or whose body temperature exceeds 37.3 degrees centigrade will also not be allowed to board. The applicants have been warned to not hide their medical history. Once a passenger who conceals his illness and contact history or finds that he has taken antipyretics and other inhibitory drugs during quarantine inspection is found, he will be held liable for the crime of endangering public safety, the notice said. India was among the countries to evacuate more than 700 citizens and foreign nationals from the central Chinese province of Hubei, worst-hit by the Covid-19 outbreak, and its capital, Wuhan, where the coronavirus emerged late last year in February. The second batch of evacuation in late February had been delayed after the Chinese authorities are said to have delayed the required clearances. New Delhi: Two terrorists have been killed in an encounter that broke out between security forces and terrorists at Khur village in Damhal Hanjipora area of Kulgam district in the morning hours on Monday (May 25), according to IG Kashmir. The encounter ensured as cordon and search operation (CASO) was launched in the area by a joint team of forces including 34 RR, CRPF, and Kulgam Police on specific inputs that two-three militants terrorists were held up, said the police official. The militants were asked to surrender, but they opened fire on the security forces which retaliated, and two terrorists were killed in the encounter. Earlier on Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir's director general of police (DGP) Dilbag Singh's director general of police (DGP) Dilbag Singh told media that over 300 terrorists were present in launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Pok), waiting to infiltrate into the Indian side. There was a high degree of vigilance by the security grid to foil Pakistan's design of pushing terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir, he was quoted as saying by the PTI, adding "We have a fairly big number of terrorists who are waiting across that side to be pushed into Jammu and Kashmir. There are already around four incidents of infiltration in Kashmir valley and two to three such attempts have been made in Rajouri-Poonch area." DGP further stated that Pakistan's ISI, Army, and other agencies are very active and trained terrorists are ready in launch pads. The DGP also added that there are reports of infiltration by 30 terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir this year, while over 240 terrorists are operating in the hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir. While measures against the dangerous COVID-19 pathogen are being increasingly relaxed, the numbers infected in hospitals and nursing homes is rising dramatically. According to the public health body Robert Koch Institute (RKI), more than 20,000 workers in German hospitals, doctors practices, nursing homes and care services are now infected. This corresponds to about 11 percent of all infected persons. In the health sector, 894 workers had to be treated as inpatients and 60 have died from the consequences of the infection. Every day since mid-April, an average of more than 230 doctors and nurses were infected, the Suddeutsche Zeitung reported. At times, this professional group accounts for one in five reported cases. Apparently, it is still not possible to protect those who work for the health of the elderly, the sick and those in need of care, the newspaper concludes. The situation is similar in other countries. Surveys estimate that at least 200,000 doctors and nurses have been infected worldwide. The number of unreported cases is enormously high. There are hardly any countries with complete data. As at the beginning of the crisis, the main reason for the rising number of infections is a lack of protective equipment. As reported by the Suddeutsche Zeitung, according to a recent survey conducted by the doctors association Marburger Bund, 38 percent of those questioned still said that they lacked protective equipment. Respiratory protection masks with fine particle filters (FFP2 and FFP3) are lacking, as are gowns, protective goggles, visors, gloves and even simple surgical masks. Similar experiences are reported by the German Professional Association for Nursing. Many institutions still report that FFP2 and FFP3 masks are in short supply, its spokeswoman Johanna Knuppel told the Suddeutsche Zeitung . Another reason for the spread is the continuing lack of testing. According to the RKI, it has no data on the extent to which testing is carried out in hospitals and care homes. Since the beginning of the crisis, doctors and patients representatives have been demanding comprehensive tests, which are systematically carried out and recorded by professional groups. It is still the order of the day in clinics and nursing homes that potentially infected staff remain on duty until symptoms appear. More and more health workers are outraged by these conditions, which have now been going on for months. In Brandenburg last week, nurses handed in over 3,500 signatures during a video conference with Ursula Nonnenmacher (Green Party), state Minister of Health for Brandenburg. The workers are demanding security and recognition of their work. In Berlin, employees of the Charite university hospital and the state-owned Vivantes Clinics handed over thousands of letters to health senator (state minister) Dilek Kalayci (Social Democratic Party, SPD) on Wednesday. They demand more protection, protective equipment and disinfectants. The action was organised by the trade union Verdi. However, the union has played a key role in supporting massive cuts in Berlins health sector for two decades in close cooperation with the SPD-led senate (state executive) and is now seeking to cover its tracks by hypocritically expressing outrage at the disastrous consequences of the savings measures. Both Nonnenmacher and Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), who know that they have nothing to fear from Verdi, met the workers demands with their usual ignorance. Spahn recently claimed that the situation regarding protective materials had eased. Nonnenmacher passed the buck, saying that the procurement of materials was the responsibility of the clinics themselves. The Green Party also made it equally clear that the state government, in which the Left Party is also a member, does not want to change the desolate staffing levels and the far too low wages in the nursing sector. It rejected placing a lower limit on staffing levels, as otherwise, clinics would have to be closed, adding cynically that it could not mandate wages agreed by collective bargaining. All political parties are in favour of lifting the current ban on visiting clinics and nursing homes, although they know that these facilities are still hot spots. While the pandemic continues to spread in clinics, slaughterhouses, parcel centres and other establishments, and a second wave is threatened due to the relaxation of the lockdown, advocates of further cuts to the health system are becoming increasingly open. Reinhard Busse, who teaches health management at Berlins Technical University, explains in a guest article for Cicero that the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the weak points of our hospitals. By this, he does not mean the lack of protective equipment, respirators, intensive care beds or personnel. Rather, he advocates closing more clinics and reducing the number of beds. We must not succumb to the fallacy that the number of beds is a sign of quality, he claims. He warns against measuring the quality of hospitals almost exclusively by the number of beds. The discussion about hospital quality is in danger of being set back years and even becoming a victim of COVID-19. Busse is concerned that the pandemic means radical cutbacks in the health care system cannot continue unabated. In fact, it has become clear that the massive reduction in beds, personnel and hospital financing based on the introduction of so-called diagnosis-related flat-rate payments (DRG) has led to a situation that simply makes high-quality, safe care for all impossible. Instead, the profit interests of the large hospital operators are what dominates. It is such interests that Busse also addresses when he complains that the Cartel Office has prohibited mergers between large hospitals. Under the slogan, Fewer hospitals, more quality, Busse summarizes the destructive goals of his campaign. Last year, he co-authored a Bertelsmann study calling for the closure of half of all existing hospitals in Germany. The economist Boris Augurzky of the RWI-Leibnitz Institute for Economic Research claimed as early as April that there were not too few, but too many hospitals in Germany. He seeks to exploit the crisis to further reduce the number of hospitals and said he was sad not more clinics had been closed. The federal Health Ministry is currently examining the effects of the so-called COVID-19 Hospital Relief Law. It has provided clinics with ridiculously small sums of money compared to the rescue package given to big business. As part of its review, the health ministry has established an advisory board to work out further proposals by the end of next month. In addition to representatives of the health insurance companies and clinics, Busse and Augurzky are also represented on it. The government and its experts are trying to use the pandemic to implement their anti-social agenda. In doing so, they are exploiting the fact that many hospitals now face economic difficulties because they are caring for coronavirus patients or are trying to maintain sufficient bed capacities. The University Hospital of Dresden, for example, provided care for up to 20 COVID-19 patients and, at the same time, kept 240 beds free. According to its commercial director Marcus Polle, the first wave of the pandemic cost the hospital around 2 million. The lump sum of 560 per bed granted by the government was by far not enough to cover the gaps, he said. To limit the economic consequences, many clinics are returning to normality. This could have dramatic consequences if the number of coronavirus cases increases again. RKI head Lothar Wieler assumeswith great certaintythere will be a second wave, the majority of scientists are sure of that he says. But instead of preparing hospitals for it and investing in the necessary beds, personnel and equipment, those who run the health sector will continue to focus on maximising profits. Domestic flights resumed in the country on May 25 after a gap of two months, but amidst chaos and confusion. While industry executives said that nearly 100 flights had been cancelled, there were instances of passengers reporting to airports but being informed that their flights had been rescheduled. These included a group of students who had traveled to Mumbai from other parts of Maharashtra. It was only after they reached the airport that they were informed that their flight, scheduled early on May 25, had been cancelled. Air India fliers took to social media with many complaining that they were unable to web check-in, which was mandated by the government. Many were also left confused after getting messages from the airline that their flights had been cancelled. But online, the same flight was shown to be 'on time.' "It is because of the old system that Air India has. Refunds have also become a problem," said senior executive at an online travel agency. The chaos The resumption of flights was preceded by a day of near-mayhem as airlines parlayed with governments, both at the centre and the states, to sort several issues. Though the airlines could re-start operations with one-third of their summer schedule, the actual number was much lower. While Mumbai airport restricted operations to 25 arrivals and an equal number of departures, the commencement of service was delayed in Kolkata, Bagdogra, Vizag and Vijayawada. Adding to the disarray was a stream of SoPs from states. Many of them have also mandated quarantine for incoming passengers. The silver lining Despite the chaos, airlines will also take heart from the demand. "We are seeing good traffic to destinations in the eastern parts of the country. Passengers have also been alert to do web check-in and have brought tags for their luggage," said a senior executive from a private airline. "It may take about two days for things to stabilise and then we would look to ramp up capacity," added an executive from another airline. The present restrictions on schedule and fares last till August 24. In one of the biggest political protests Belarus has seen this year, more than 1,000 demonstrators rallied in the capital, Minsk, to oppose longtime President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's bid to run for a sixth term. The May 24 rally came less than three months ahead of the presidential vote and amid warnings that authorities would clamp down on dissent in the post-Soviet country of around 9 million. None of the elections since Lukashenka took power in 1994 has been deemed free or fair by Western standards. THEY WERE NEVER ALONE A FILM REVIEW OF ALONE IN BERLIN Recently SBS showed the movie Alone in Berlin on its World Movies channel. If you missed it, it is available on SBS OnDemand, or you might be able to catch it when it is, inevitably, repeated on that channel. The film is particularly powerful for its illumination of the existence of German working-class resistance to Nazism. Alone in Berlin presents the spectrum of possible human responses to living under the Nazi regime in Germany during the Second World War. Fanatical support, mere acceptance (or resignation?), ambiguity, compromise, self-interest, corruption but above all, courageous resistance in this case on the part of Otto and Anna Quangel (Brendan Gleeson and Emma Thompson). Based on the novel by Hans Fallada, which in turn was a fictionalised account of the real-life resistance of Otto and Elise Hampel, Alone in Berlin follows the Quangels from their state of despair upon learning of the death of their soldier son in France in 1940, to embarking on a solitary campaign of resistance against the Nazis. This resistance takes the form of writing anti-regime and anti-war messages on postcards which they leave around Berlin in places such as stairways and doorways in buildings where there is a chance that passers-by will see them. Those who might read the cards are encouraged to pass them on. Otto, whose idea it is to distribute the postcards, equates the strategy to putting sand in a machine; a little will not do much, but if increasing amounts are added (others passing on the cards), the machine will eventually grind to a halt. The imagery of machines and machinery is a recurring theme in the messages Otto writes on the postcards, as the police officer investigating the matter (Daniel Bruhl) recognises. It leads him to conclude that the person who is writing and distributing the postcards is probably a worker with machinery. Otto does work in a factory, holding the position of foreman. References to the Nazi/German war machine, Hitlerism, and also, recurringly, the Free Press, suggests a level of political sophistication on the part of Otto; these are not simplistic good versus evil messages. These messages, along with the Quangels working-class status, together with the politically progressive history of Red Berlin in which the Communist Party of Germany had been a dominant force in working-class districts may imply that the Quangels opposition derives from a politically left perspective. But the left, certainly the organised left, is non-existent in the film. The impression is given that the Quangels are operating out of their own personal motivation, and, as Otto says, alone. This absence of the left resistance is a weakness of the film. The reality was that, while isolated Otto and Anna may have been because of their personal circumstances, they were never alone. THE COMMUNIST RESISTANCE IN GERMANY The German resistance to Nazism including within Germany never stopped, including during the war years. Although repeatedly and savagely persecuted, the Communist Party of Germany played a leading role in the resistance movement, continually striving to give it organisational coherence and political direction. In his 1985 book, Communist Resistance in Nazi Germany, Allan Merson explored the extent of the Communist resistance: Communist resistance to the Third Reich exceeded that of all other parties and groups. It never ceased altogether []. Wherever events had brought Communists together in factories, in working-class suburbs, in army units, in prisons and concentration camps they had formed groups and tried to organise political resistance, and they had fought side by side with the Spanish Republicans, with the partisans of many European freedom movements, and with the Red Army. German Communists paid a heavy price. Merson estimates that up to 30,000 German Communists perished due to the fascist persecution. Although repeatedly attacked, the Communists showed remarkable resilience, trying again and again to re-establish and/or build networks among Party members but also with, notably, other sections of the resistance movement of diverse social origins and political perspectives, so as to broaden and strengthen the movement. Imbued with internationalism, the Communists also did much work among the millions of foreign and slave workers in Germany, who, incidentally, do not rate a mention in Alone in Berlin. Within Berlin specifically, Communists courageously engaged in a range of resistance activities during the war, including preparing and circulating clandestine newspapers, holding Marxist educational classes and small group discussions, distributing news sheets, leaflets, and pamphlets including in the thousands and placing stickers, and chalking and painting slogans, on walls. The Communists organised a network of cells within factories, including within the big armaments works in Berlin, and there was industrial sabotage engaged in. And on the question of individual and apparently spontaneous resistance activities on the part of German workers, Merson notes that it was a very disciplined kind of behaviour, suggestive of action taken under the influence of Communist, or Social Democratic, Party influence or instructions, and often with the aim of maintaining and/or reactivating party apparatus. Could Otto and Anna Quangels resistance have been at least influenced (if not instigated) by what they heard from others more politically conscious? Regardless of these considerations, the film is important for the light it turns on the existence of German working-class resistance to Nazism. Resistance was not just engaged in by groups with a religious inspiration, or by disaffected aristocratic military officers, but was very broad-reaching, clearly involving hundreds of thousands of people from all strata of German society. Additionally, millions more chafed under Nazi oppression. CLASS DIVISIONS Class is a motif of Alone in Berlin. While the film does not identify the purpose and function of fascism as the armed terroristic manifestation of the dictatorship of reactionary finance capital, it does highlight the existence of class divisions in Germany under the Nazis. Besides the working-class Quangels, there is the idle-living wife of a senior SS officer, with domestic servants who manages to shirk her obligation to take on a war job in a factory; there is the former judge who is prepared to protect an elderly Jewish neighbour of the Quangels, but within limits; there is the lumpen character leading a petty criminal existence, who the Nazis use to spy on his neighbours. These class divisions, which put paid to the Nazi nonsense of an undifferentiated German Volke, and together with the compromises made and the uncertainty and doubts clearly harboured by many of the characters (there is even some ambiguousness on the part of the Quangels initially), demonstrate that Nazi Germany was not a monolithic state in the sense of having a population comprised of fanatical adherents of the regime. In this diversity of human interests, motivations, and concerns too, is fertile ground for resistance and, of course, for progressive and revolutionary change when there is the application of astute political leadership conscious of the contradictions, and concerned to build alliances between different sections of society with varying needs and demands, just as the German Communists did under the Nazis. FREEDOM THROUGH RESISTANCE Finally, Alone in Berlin raises the question of the effectiveness of different forms of resistance. Towards the end of the film, there is a discussion between the police investigator and Otto Quangel about the effectiveness of the latters postcard campaign. The policeman points out that of the 285 postcards that the Quangels distributed, only 18 were not turned in. The rest were handed over to the Gestapo, presumably because people feared being caught with them. So, is such resistance, conducted in an isolated and diffuse way by individuals, effective? Is it to be recommended in such circumstances where the consequences of being discovered are so terrible? These are questions for consideration which are usefully suggested by the film. It would seem self-evident that collective resistance, organised and with a clear direction, must be the preferred course. But in conditions such as those that prevailed in Nazi Germany, organised resistance which absolutely did exist was repeatedly and ruthlessly attacked anyhow. And of course, the example of brave individuals who do take action can inspire others to act remember also that not all the postcards were handed in. For Otto and Anna Quangel, there was no choice. They had to resist. They needed to, and in recognising this, they were liberated. This is depicted in the film by the lighting as much as anything. From the dark and claustrophobic setting of their apartment in the early scenes, much of the rest of the film is set outdoors in sunlight. The Quangels themselves, played with superb understatement and dignity by Gleeson and Thompson, also show in their demeanour that they truly have become free in a sense. And faced with the inevitable, they are strengthened by their love for each other. Perhaps surprisingly, given the context, this is a tender and uplifting film in the end. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan wasnt aware that councillors would publish a letter urging deputy leader Catherine Martin to run for the leadership position of the Green Party. However, speaking on RTE Radio Ones Today with Sarah McInerney this morning, he said that the letter didnt throw him. Read More No, I didnt know that the letter was coming but within our party and within our culture, why not? he said. I wasnt aware that a letter was coming but at the same time it wasnt something that threw me. He said that Ms Martin running for the leader position in the party is absolutely fine. Thats our tradition and our rules that after an election within six months you have a leadership contest, that comes from our tradition, he explained. I think thats something thats perfectly healthy and natural and part of our process and part of the way we do things. Leadership is not what obsesses me. He also said that he may end his political career after 30 years. Ill have to wait and see [if hell run in the next election]. I keep saying to my wife and children that I wont be going much longer because it does affect family life and it does, its tough, its a great honour and its a huge award, he said. Its not a career. Its not like it has to be you or you have to be there. For as long as i have something to offer, Im willing to do that. He also said that in terms of government formation talks, while the Green Party is not interested in having its leader part of the rotating taoiseach deal, it isnt ruling out the position of tanaiste as the two are different. Mr Ryan also rubbished reports over the weekend which claimed that the Green Party is seeking an Attorney General deal as part of formation talks. Listed company directors will be relieved from strict obligations to keep investors updated with the performance of their businesses after the Morrison government eased continuous disclosure rules to shield boards from class action lawsuits. Australia's continuous disclosure laws require ASX-listed companies to disclose market sensitive information to investors, such as changes to financial forecasts or material transactions. But late on Monday Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced a change to the regime. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Companies and directors will now only be liable if they had knowledge, recklessness or negligence that the information they share is wrong. "The heightened level of uncertainty around companies future prospects as a result of the crisis also exposes companies to the threat of opportunistic class actions for allegedly falling foul of their continuous disclosure obligations if their forecasts are found to be inaccurate," Mr Frydenberg said. A lot of credit is given to actors and actresses that brighten our screens from time to time. People tend to forget about the talented and skilled producers such as Norman Kali. He has been on the frontline in the production of several hit movies and superb Hollywood films. Among the famous TV series that he has dramatically made a positive impact on is Lost'. Image: twitter.com, @Listabuzz Source: Twitter Norman Kali is an American film production assistant who couples up as an assistant director. For several years, most film fans did not know much about Norman Kali. However, Kalis name became popular when he began dating the gorgeous Evangeline Lilly. Norman Kali biography will give you an insight into his exciting life. Norman Kali profile summary Birth name: Norman Kali Norman Kali Date of Birth: 1978 1978 Birthplace: Hawaii Hawaii Age: 42 years 42 years Place of Birth: Hawaii Hawaii Nationality: American American Religion: Christian Christian Languages: English, Hawaiian English, Hawaiian Occupation: Production Assistant, Assistant Director, Location Manager Production Assistant, Assistant Director, Location Manager Partner: Evangeline Lilly Evangeline Lilly Children: 2 Norman Kali bio Norman Kali was born in the year 1978 in Hawaii. Since he keeps his life away from the public, there is little information on the Norman Kali Hawaiian family. However, the skilled assistant producer acknowledges having been raised in Hawaii. READ ALSO: Yasmin Said, Maria from Citizen TV: Quick facts and photos Image: twitter.com, @refocusedmedia Source: Twitter Education Norman is a high school graduate. He attended Waimea High School in Waimea, Hawaii. Afterwards, the production assistant dropped out of school at the age of 16, which marked the end of his studies. Career life Soon after Norman dropped out of school, he involved himself with several hustles around Hawaii to earn a living. At 18 years, he relocated to Los Angeles with the hopes of joining Hollywood. This was the beginning of his professional career. It is unclear how Norman made his way into Hollywood, but we can attest that some of Norman Kali movies have garnered so much popularity. Here are some of Kalis roles in the movie industry. The following are some of the movies he was involved in as: 1. Production assistant Lost Dress 50 First Dates North Shore The Big Bounce 2. Assistant director Special Delivery Undercovers The Prince of Motor City Lost 3.Location manager Tears of the Sun (2003) (2003) Tropical Thunder (2008) Acting roles As a production assistant, he has had minor roles in the following films: The Hobbit : Desolation of Smaug (2013) as a Laketown Spy : Desolation of Smaug (2013) as a Laketown Spy Off The Map (2011) as a rescue worker in the 7th episode of season 1 READ ALSO: Cody Fern biography: Sexuality, spouse, dating, parents, ethnicity Norman Kali net worth Norman Kali net worth is $ 1.5 million. Most of his wealth is attributed to his professional career as a background character in several films. Norman Kali personal life Image: twitter.com, @DanWheatley4 Source: Twitter The Hawaiian-born production assistant has been in two public relationships. Kali's first girlfriend, Lisa Edelstein, is a well-known American actress. Her most famous role is her character as Dr Lisa Cuddy on House Fox. Unfortunately, Norman Kali Hobbit Lisa Edelstein relationship did not last. Afterwards, towards the end of 'Lost,' Kali and Evangeline Lilly started growing fond of each other. Soon enough, the two started dating. Evangeline Lilly is a Canadian-born actress who is widely known for her leading roles in a variety of films. How did Evangeline Lilly meet Norman Kali? Evangeline Lilly and Norman Kali first met during the shooting of TV series 'Lost.' At the time Evangeline was acting as Kate Austen in the series while Kali was an assistant producer. Unlike her partner, Evangeline is more open about her personal life. From time to time, she keeps her fans posted on her life through her social media handles. It became crystal clear that the two were officially a pair when Lilly moved to Hawaii to stay with the production assistant in 2010. Since then, the couple has been unstoppable in their love life. The couple is blessed with two children- a boy and a girl. Their firstborn, who is a boy, was born in May 2011. The two gave their son the name Kahekili, which means 'Thunder' in the Hawaiian language. The origin of this name, Kahekili, was the presence of thunderstorms during the time of his birth. Their second child, a daughter, was born in May 2011. There is no public information available on their daughter. The skilled production assistant is currently a stay at home, dad. He intends to support Evangeline's career. He says that he wants to be free to travel with Evangeline to wherever her career takes her. Norman Kali's wife A lot of people have the assumption that Kali and Evangeline are legally married. However, the couple is yet to tie the knot. The two, who are like husband and wife, seem to be in a partnership agreement. The couple acknowledges that they do not feel obligated to get married. However, the lovebirds are hoping to get married at some point for healthcare and tax reasons. 5 quick facts on Norman Kali The following are the top facts about Norman: Norman Kali height measurement is 5feet and 10 inches. He loves being outdoors with much interest in rock climbing and surfing which covers up the need to go to the gym. He does not like disclosing information on his personal life for security reasons. His favourite quote is, "Wake up every day and say, I love my life." He has no presence on social media platforms. Norman Kali biography depicts pure hard work, dedication, and determination. He has managed to trail his path from being jobless to being one of Hollywood's best assistant producers. His commitment to his family is envied by many. READ ALSO: Tyler, the Creator bio: Sexuality, partner, parents, height, albums Source: TUKO.co.ke The Rivers State government has cautioned anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against overstepping ... The Rivers State government has cautioned anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against overstepping its bounds on issues concerning the State. A report published by a national daily, titled; How Rivers officials withdrew N118b in cash EFCC, had revealed details of an ongoing investigation by the EFCC. According to the report, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is requesting, for its interrogation, the release of three officials of the Rivers State Government, who are implicated in the alleged illegal withdrawal of N118billion public funds. Their action is said to be a contravention of the Money Laundering Act. The cash was allegedly withdrawn by the Director of Finance, Government House, Fubara Siminalayei, Tonye Uranta, and Harisonba Princewill over the counter in suspicious manner. One of the officials allegedly withdrew over N70billion in cash, about 129 times over a period of three years. It was gathered that the cash withdrawals were made between 2015 and 2018 with Siminalayei alone allegedly collecting over N70billion over the counter about 35 times in 2016 and 94 times in 2017. But claims in the report did not go down well with the Rivers State government, which in a swift reaction drew the attention of the EFCC to a Court injunction restraining any Federal government agency from investigating the financial activities of the State. State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim in a statement said the EFCC should stop playing to the gallery and pursue its war against corruption within the ambits of the law. He said there are those who want to use the EFCC to promote their political agenda in the State. The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a fresh wave of media trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The latest attempt contained in todays edition( May 24,2020)of The Nation Newspaper alleged that the State Government has refused to release top officials for interrogation in connection to the withdrawal of N118 billion in cash between 2015 and 2018. We have repeatedly said that the State Government will not release its officials to the EFCC for investigations until the commission approaches the Court to set aside subsisting orders of perpetual injunction granted by various courts of competent jurisdiction restraining the EFCC from investigating or inquiring into the financial transactions of the Rivers State government, including its ministries, departments and agencies. In view of these subsisting judgments, it would amount to an act of brazen illegality for the EFCC to insist on interrogating any official of the Rivers State government. For the avoidance of doubt, no official of the Rivers State Government would appear before the EFCC until the subsisting judgments in favour of the Rivers State Government are set aside on appeal. Resorting to the media can only be described as cheap blackmail and witch-hunt to turn away public attention from the development strides in the State. Targeting Rivers State for this occasional media trial should be seen by the public for what it is, political witch-hunt, the statement read. Alfred Ponterdolph was stationed on a naval destroyer in the Pacific Ocean, trading fire with Japanese fighter pilots from behind a 20 mm gun. Sharks in the water all around him gave Ponterdolph even more incentive to do his job. Ponterdolph, who just turned 98 in April, said there were days during World War II he was unsure if the bloodshed would ever end. But there was one thing that kept him going during his service: his positivity. Ponterdolph served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. He was one of the commissioning sailors on the USS Philip (DD 498), a naval destroyer built in Kearny in 1942 that saw action in the Pacific. The current Bayonne resident was 18 when he volunteered for the U.S. military. And though the war he fought was bloody, destructive and costly, Ponterdolph said he doesnt regret the decision. I wanted to serve, Ponterdolph told The Jersey Journal. I just thought it was my duty. Ponterdolph lived in the Greenville section of Jersey City during WWII. Within about a month, almost everyone in his neighborhood was gone because they wanted to serve, he said. Ponterdolph was a Seaman Second Class and Radio Man Third Class who was part of the Solomon Islands Campaign (1943-1944), the Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944), the Philippines Campaign (1944-45) and the Borneo Campaign (1945). In August 1943 during the Solomon Islands Campaign bomb splashes were seen near Barakoma Beach, Vella Lavella, an area Ponterdolphs naval destroyer was located. Later that night Ponterdolph and his shipmates survived another attack in which a Japanese pilot was so close that he could see the pilots face. He said his only fear at the time was going into the water because of all the sharks. So much was going on, Ponterdolph said. All different planes and guns shooting, thats all you hear. The thing is you dont get scared at the time, as soon as its all over then youre scared. Ponterdolph and his shipmates eventually shot down the aircraft. Aside from the battles, Ponterdolph said the wartime gave him a share of good and bad memories. He made friends who he said had the same personality of himself, making the days just a little bit easier. He was never wounded and none of his friends died in the war. Ponterdolph added there were rough days where you wish you were killed because of how long the war seemed to go on. But, once it was over, he said he was relieved and grateful for serving his country. Now, Ponterdolph continues to share his stories with family and friends, including his 59-year-old son, Alfred, who said hearing his dads stories always makes him proud. Its something my generation never went through, he said. Its unbelievable to hear that somebody would be out at sea for three years, essentially losing three years of their life, to protect all of us. I am very excited to join the Forbes Real Estate Council and continue to contribute and collaborate within the real estate professional community as well as grow the brand of ISoldMyHouse.com. Hartford, CT Kris Lippi, business owner of ISoldMyHouse.com has been accepted into Forbes Real Estate Council, an invitation-only community for executives in the real estate industry. Kris Lippi was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. We are honored to welcome Kris into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Real Estate Business Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world. As an accepted member of the Council, Kris has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Kris will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. Finally, Kris will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team. "I am very excited to join the Forbes Real Estate Council and continue to contribute and collaborate within the real estate professional community as well as grow the brand of ISoldMyHouse.com", said Kris Lippi. ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Real Estate Business Council, visit forbesrealestatecouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. ABOUT ISOLDMYHOUSE.COM ISoldMyHouse.com is a leading online service dedicated to helping homeowners sell their property and save thousands of dollars in real estate commissions. The company offers tools, information, guidance and support for home sellers throughout all 50 United States, with a strong track record of customer satisfaction and reviews. Their innovative real estate marketing platform empowers home sellers, giving them the control and tools necessary to effectively market and sell their home, including but not limited to MLS listings, internet search marketing, real estate search portals and social media. Those interested in learning more about how ISoldMyHouse can help them sell their property are encouraged to reach out by contacting ISoldMyHouse directly through their website or by way of the media contact information below. MEDIA CONTACT Company Name: ISoldMyHouse.com Contact Person: Kris Lippi Email: kris(at)isoldmyhouse(dot)com Phone: 1-855-283-0001 Address:80 State House Square #795 City: Hartford State: CT ZIP: 06123 Country: United States Website: https://www.isoldmyhouse.com/ New Delhi: The nation is celebrating Janmashtami with full fervour in their own unique styles. In Maharashtra, devotees play Dahi Handi, where the human pyramid is made to reach pot filled with curd at a certain height, to celebrate the birth of lord Krishna. This Year News Nation brings you live coverage of Dahi Handi festival from Pokharan road in Thane from 10am to 4pm at an interval of 2 hours. Catch live coverage of the event at english.newsnationtv.com. Read more: Janmashtami 2016: Auspicious time for celebrating the festival begins on August 24 Supreme Court's latest ruling has definitely dented celebrations a bit. The court has set the height of human pyramid at 20 ft and also an age limit of participants to 18 years. Read more: Adhere to SC guidelines on 'dahi-handi' or face action: Mumbai Police to organisers Despite such ruling, devotees are all excited to celebrate the day. Even if you are not in Maharashtra, live coverage of the event will be available at english.newsnationtv.com For more updates click on: JANMASHTAMI For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. In a nutshell: Lockdown restrictions might finally be easing, but being trapped indoors for weeks on end has affected many Americans mental health. The extent of the issue is reflected in the app charts, which have seen a huge increase in mental wellbeing app downloads. As reported by CNBC, nearly half of US citizens said the pandemic was harming their mental wellbeing back in April. With shelter-in-place rules prohibiting in-person therapy sessions, many turned to their smartphones for help, rather than opt for a virtual session with a therapist. Mobile app analytics company Sensor Tower reports that first-time downloads of the top 20 mental wellness apps in the US reached 4 million in April, an increase of 29 percent from the 3.1. million in January. Looking at the same period last year, first-time download numbers for these apps fell 30 percent. In most years, these apps experience a strong January due to New Years resolutions but decrease in subsequent months, Sensor Tower co-founder Alex Malafeev told CNBC. This wasnt the case in 2020 due to Covid-19. Its not just the US where mental wellness apps have seen a boost in popularity since the start of the pandemic. In the UK, the apps have been downloaded more than 1 million times since lockdown measures were implemented. The 15 most popular apps saw downloads increase by a third, from 489,100 to 637,100 between February and March, reaching over 700,000 last month. Part of the reason behind the apps rise is the easing of restrictions related to teletherapy, which include the FDA relaxing its vetting process for apps coming onto the stores. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in apps that offer questionable treatment methods, contain incorrect information, or share users private information. While the apps may help some people, it seems most cant match a real therapy session. Dr. Stephen Schueller, whose Psyberguide website ranks therapy apps based on user experience, data privacy, and scientific backing, says only three percent of these apps out of the tens of thousands on the store are evidence-based. Finding an effective therapy app can be like finding a needle in a haystack, he said. Image credit: evrymmnt via Shutterstock India has recorded its biggest single-day spike for the fourth consecutive day on Monday with around 7,000 new cases, taking the countrys official total to 138,845, out of which 57,721 have been cured and as many as 4,021 people have died, which means the country currently has 77,103 active cases according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Meanwhile, India has also surpassed Irans tally, making it into the list of 10 most affected countries globally. Maharashtra, the most affected state, has added more than 3,000 cases in a single day, breaching the 50,00-mark of total positive cases, so far. Globally, 5,500,577 people have been infected by so far, and the total number of deaths from the disease now stands at 346,719, according to Worldometer. Click podcast for more Editors Note: In recognition of National Historic Preservation Month, local historian Cindy Reinhardt will tell the stories behind some of Edwardsvilles historic buildings in a series of articles during the month of May. The home at 141 Springer Avenue was built in 1904 for a newly retired farmer and his wife, Henry and Louise Take. The view from the street today shows that some of the charm of this Victorian cottage has been preserved. Unfortunately, like many historic Edwardsville homes, this one was subdivided into apartments which resulted in a loss of architectural detail. When built, it was an impressive home constructed for a prominent family. Henry Take, born in 1857 in Illinois, was the only son of German immigrant parents who came to Madison County in 1836. The family name was spelled Taake, with a double a, when they came from Germany, but the spelling was gradually changed to Take.. When Henrys father, Wilhelm, died in 1880, he owned more than 200 acres of farm ground in Pin Oak Township. As was the custom for Germans at that time, the daughters were each given a monetary inheritance, but the greater inheritance, the land, was given to his son with provisions for a lifetime estate for Henrys mother, Sophia. Henry was 22 in 1879 when he married Louise Stahlhut, a young woman who grew up on a large farm in Fort Russell Township. The following year, when Henry was just 23 years old, he inherited the family farm which he continued to improve and enlarge. After his mothers death in 1893, the farm was Henrys free and clear. In 1903, Louises father died, giving her a significant legacy which included an 80-acre farm next door to the Take farm. This still relatively young family was very wealthy, but not noticeably so. They werent flashy about it, but rather understated. In the newspapers society pages, they were only mentioned in notices about church and family activities. However, before 1920, the local newspaper often printed lists of those who paid the most taxes in Madison County. Henry Takes name was always on the list. A review of the plat map of Pin Oak Township in the 1906 Madison County Atlas, shows the names of many of their siblings and children all around the Take farm which they kept, but thereafter leased to other farmers. In 1904, the Takes hired a local contractor, A. J. Hoffman, to build the in the Oakland Addition on Springer Avenue at a cost of $2,000. The Oakland Addition was a growing neighborhood where many of the Take and Stahlhut relatives lived. For example, Henrys sister, Minna (Take) Bode, and most of her children lived within two blocks of the new house. When they moved to town, Henry and Louise were young for retirees, only in their forties. They still had five unmarried children at home. Although from the street the Springer house looks to be of modest size, it originally had seven rooms. Within a few years, their children would marry and move to homes of their own. One of their children, William Take and his wife, the former Emilie Schultze, moved into the house at 129 Springer. Their youngest daughter, Hilda, married a young man who lived less than a block away, George Raymond Vance. But despite having so many relatives on or near Springer Avenue, in 1925, the Take family moved to the Leclaire neighborhood. The Springer house was sold and had many short-time owners over the following 25 years. One of these divided the house into apartments about 1945, probably in response to a serious housing shortage after WW II. Construction had been halted for four years, partly because the manpower was at war, but also because of a shortage of building materials. When the soldiers came home from the war, more housing was needed, and it was then that many Edwardsville homes were divided into apartments. A second wave of this kind of renovation came in the 1960s-70s with a demand for SIUE off-campus student housing. For the house on Springer, this meant the removal of a formal staircase that would have been inside the front door on the ground floor. Upstairs, three rooms were reorganized to create four, a kitchen, two bedrooms and a living room. The bathroom for second-floor tenants was carved out of the downstairs apartment. The entrance to the second floor was from a small porch at the side of the house near the back. As tenants entered the building, there was a door to their bath on the left, and, to the right, a set of steep narrow stairs led to the second-floor apartment. The Lischmann family came to live in the house circa 1951, long after it had been divided into apartments. Theodore Ted Lischmann and Winifred Winnie Price were married on April 1, 1918 in E. St. Louis, where they both lived at the time. By the 1930s they had moved to Edwardsville and in 1934, the last of their five children was born. In the 1940s, their household grew to include Winnies mother plus one of their daughters, her husband and children. Again, this was not uncommon due to the housing shortages, so the larger house on Springer must have been a welcome change. But then, even more family members moved in with them. In 1956, there was a fire at the house that was quickly brought under control, but the newspaper reported that there were eight children and five adults living in the home, which included Ted and Winnies daughter and son-in-law with four children in the apartment upstairs. Downstairs, another daughter, recently divorced, with her four daughters lived with Ted and Winnie in the four-room apartment. Soon after, their son Harold stepped in and bought the house, easing the financial burden for his parents. (Harolds family never lived in the house.) Harolds daughter, Judy, remembers the house had beautiful woodwork with a living room fireplace and a built-in glass cabinet between the kitchen and what should have been a dining room. The cabinet could be accessed from either room. But with so many tenants over the years the hardwood floors and woodwork were already showing wear. Judy said her grandparents were active in activities of the First Christian Church where they were both founding members. They were always welcoming, and either would give you anything they had if you said you needed it. Her grandmother, who was known for her cooking (especially her pies) was a kind woman, a mother-hen, who cared for everyone. The impression given is that they never had a lot of money, but there was an abundance of love. The Lischmanns celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Springer in 1968 and continued to live in the home until their deaths, Winnie in 1970 and Ted in 1979. Their family lived in the house longer than any other owner. The Lischmanns sold the house in 1980 and sometime after that a two-story addition was added at the back of the house to increase the number of units to three apartments. The addition has probably made it too costly to ever return this home to its former glory. Fortunately, many of the homes divided into apartments in the 1940s were remodeled in such a way that they can be restored to the beautiful single-family dwellings the original owners intended. Information for this article was obtained from resources at the Madison County Archival Library, the Madison County Recorders Office and from descendants of the Lischmann family. Reach Cindy Reinhardt at 618-656-1294 or cynreinhardt@yahoo.com. Never mind that three days ago the test results came back negative: Randall, my husband, thinks he definitely had COVID-19. Me? Ive been avoiding takeout food and wiping down grocery deliveries. Yesterday a contact-free delivery left a pulse oximeter outside our door. Now the whole family can check our blood-oxygen levels any time we please. Three months ago, Id have considered all of that to be a little unhinged textbook examples of hypochondria. Or, as actual textbooks call it, Illness Anxiety Disorder. But now? Who doesnt have excessive worry over having or getting a serious illness? A high level of anxiety or alarm over personal health status? Or excessive health-related behaviors? In the COVID age, dominated by the thousand things we dont know about this disease, a touch of hypochondria seems downright adaptive like OCD for an auditor, or paranoia for a spy. Last week Randall, my son Ben and I had the dreaded flu-like symptoms: headache, body ache, fatigue. Randall and Ben ran low fevers. My temperature was never high, but it felt like I had a fever. I had chills. Lights were too bright, noises too loud. My family the people I love most in the world was extremely annoying. I slept a lot. Once Id have grumbled a bit, maybe wondered idly whether wed had some flu variant that our shots hadnt covered. But this time, every decision seemed fraught. Randall was the first to feel lousy. Wed already discussed how, if anyone in our four-person household showed symptoms of COVID-19, the rest of us would almost certainly have been exposed already. But we put Randall into quarantine anyway. Feeling a little ridiculous, I left his meals outside the door of the guest room-turned-office. I feel like your pet, he said forlornly on the phone. MORE FROM LISA GRAY: The new normal in the age of coronavirus For company, he let in Ziggy, our cat. I decreed that Ziggy henceforth would not be allowed in the main house, but Ziggy ignored me, escaping at will and sauntering where he pleased. The Plague Cat, I called him. Vector of Disease. Was I joking? I think I was joking. Three months ago, it would definitely have been a joke. Mary Jo, my 25-year-old daughter, had moved back from Austin a couple of weeks before. She cooked us lentil soup. She never showed symptoms. Ben was the one who worried me. Hes 21, home from Texas Tech, 106 pounds of languor and attitude stretched over a 5-foot, 8-inch body. He has celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder. Normally I think of him as skinny as a stick, not dangerously underweight. He began running a fever a couple of days after Randall. The next morning, I got a pounding headache. Randall emerged from his quarantine room to be sick with the rest of us. We lay around, grumpy and achy no coughing, no shortness of breath, no loss of smell or taste. After four days Bens low fever broke dramatically; he woke up soaked in sweat but not sick anymore. For Randall and me, the misery petered out slowly. When he felt sorta-kinda better, Randall went to the drive-through testing site in Baytown, where he was instructed to insert a swab into his own nose. On Tuesday, we found out he was negative. Ben doesnt want to bother getting tested, and though I intend to, I havent made it there yet. By phone, my general practitioner told me that she didnt think it was worth the trouble for me to get the drive-thru test that the rate of false negatives is too high on the viral-swab tests, even when administered by skilled professionals, not self-swabbers. Besides, she asked, What would you do differently if you found out that youre infected? You already have to act as though youre infected. Living as if were infected with a deadly, symptom-free disease: There was a time when Id have thought that was purest of hypochondria. Now its what doctors tell us to do. lisa.gray@chron.com, LisaGray_HouTX Today Rabbi Yisroel and Chaya Uzan delivered the 770th box of food supplies to families starving after the COVID shutdown left them without any source of income. Each box has 17 kilograms of food, a value of around $100, enough to feed a family with five children for at least a full week. Chabad Aid, Chabad of Nigerias humanitarian NGO organized the food drive. Though Chabad Aids programming usually centers around education and development, the Uzans began a food drive when they saw how devastating the COVID shutdown was to the people all around Abuja where they are based, many of whom live off their income day by day. We cant just sit in our home and protect ourselves. When we see people around us starving we have to do what we can to help, Yisroel told Lubavitch.com. The Israeli Embassy to Nigeria partnered with Chabad Aid in this campaign and Ambassador Shimon Ben Shoshan and embassy staff helped with the deliveries which were timed to coincide with the end of Ramadan when traditionally, Muslim families celebrate with large meals. In appreciation President Muhammadu Buhari sent a member of his family to assist with the deliveries. Community leaders invited Yisroel and Chaya and Ambassador Ben Shoshan to the Central Mosque of Abuja, perhaps the first time a Rabbi and Israeli Ambassador are in the mosque, to receive thanks. Next week Chabad Aid will begin a campaign to deliver 10,000 hygiene kits to educate children at orphanages and in villages around Abuja about personal hygiene and protecteing themselves and their families from infection. YouTube CPAC UPDATE: 9:38 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he'll push the provinces to give workers 10 days of paid sick leave a year as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. That appears to meet a key demand from NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, in exchange for the New Democrats' support for a motion to limit sittings and votes in the House of Commons through the summer. Singh laid out the demands on Monday morning, shortly before a small number of members of Parliament returned to the House of Commons to begin debate over the future of parliamentary sittings for as long as several months. The debate will revolve around a Liberal proposal to waive "normal" House of Commons sittings in favour of expanding the special COVID-19 committee that has acted as a sort of stand-in for the past month. Because they hold only a minority of seats, the Liberals need the support of at least one of the main opposition parties to pass this motion. The Conservatives are expected to oppose the motion as they push for an end to the COVID-19 committee and the resumption of Commons sittings, albeit with no more than 50 MPs in the chamber at any time. Bloc Quebecois Leader Jean-Yves Blanchet said Monday his party isn't participating in negotiations around the return of Parliament. The Bloc previously laid out a set of conditions it wanted met before it would engage in discussions around how Parliament could sit. Those included more help for businesses to cover their fixed overhead costs and a straightforward plan for how the Liberals would follow through on a promise of financial support for seniors. Blanchet said the Liberals have followed through on neither, and ensuring they do is his priority. "Every time we spend five minutes talking about parliamentary rules, we're spending five minutes less talking about what Quebecers require," he said. He said his party will likely go along with whatever consensus is arrived at to govern how the House of Commons sits for the next while. The Bloc won't argue about who drives that bus or where it's going, Blanchet said, but when it comes, the Bloc will probably get on board. That leaves the NDP, with Singh said his party is willing to support Liberals' motion for a price. "We are continuing to make it clear that we need a commitment that the government is willing to provide paid sick leave for all Canadians," Singh said during a news conference on Parliament Hill. "We're suggesting the government can use something like the (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) or employment insurance to deliver that program federally immediately. But we want to see something that is long term and that will require working with provinces and employers to deliver a long-term commitment so that forever in our country, everyone who needs paid sick leave will have access to it." UPDATE 8:58 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians have a responsibility to themselves and to the people around them to follow public health rules to slow the spread of COVID-19. He also says that people will have to keep adjusting routines as the country moves into summer. He says any reopening of public spaces and restoration of economic activity will have to happen gradually and carefully. Speaking outside his Ottawa residence, Trudeau says any steps will require robust contact tracing and testing. UPDATE 8:43 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he'll push the provinces to give workers 10 days of paid sick leave a year as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. That appears to meet a key demand from NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, in exchange for the New Democrats' support for a motion to limit sittings and votes in the House of Commons through the summer. ORIGINAL 8:00 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provides an update in Ottawa on the federal government's response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. with files from the Canadian Press The woman began to argue with others in the backyard of an apartment building at 9:15 p.m. in the 7600 block of South Union Avenue in the Gresham neighborhood, according to Chicago police. She then began stabbing several people before she was also stabbed by another person. After 28 days without any new cases of coronavirus, Mauritius recorded two cases on Sunday. The two patients are among 149 Mauritians, including three babies, who were repatriated from India on 9 May on a special Air Mauritius flight. The development comes two weeks after Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal said that the island nation had won the battle against Covid-19, although he adds that the war against the virus was still on. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth will this week address the nation on the ongoing "sanitary curfew" which has been extended to 1 June. Only people with special permits have been allowed to move around freely but other activities have been banned unless deemed essential. Meanwhile, more than 3,000 Mauritians stuck abroad have appealed to the government to bring them back home. The authorities say they are preparing to repatriate its nationals from India, Madagascar and Australia. However, those working on cruise ships feel they are being left out. They are estimated to be more than 1,000 in locations such as Durban, Miami and Italy. Many people may think that we will be bringing the virus to Mauritius, one seafarer told the BBC. This is not the case and there is no virus on board, and we are doing tests regularly. I appeal to the foreign minister to do the needful as we are very stressed. Nathalie Fine, a South African who was on the cruise ship Princess, urged the Mauritian government to show a little pity for your own citizens. The government has not committed but said there "may be opportunities" for repatriation in the coming months Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Slump in consumption, exports push Germany into recession in first quarter Construction workers are silhouetted while standing on scaffolding at the construction site of the new headquarters of the ECB during a guided media tour in Frankfurt BERLIN (Reuters) - A slump in capital investments, private consumption and exports pushed the German economy into a recession in the first quarter, detailed data showed on Monday, giving a glimpse of the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Federal Statistics Office said capital investments fell by 6.9%, private consumption by 3.2% and exports by 3.1% between January and March compared with the last three months of 2019. This meant that private consumption took off 1.7 percentage points of overall economic activity and net trade shaved off 0.8 percentage points, translating into a first-quarter contraction of 2.2%, the steepest rate since 2009. The data showed that investments in the construction sector, which accounts for almost 10% of overall national output and is Germany's largest employer, rose by 4.1%, contributing 0.4 percentage points to quarterly growth. State spending was the other bright spot in the otherwise grim data and together with construction it prevented a deeper contraction. Government expenditure rose by 0.2% on the quarter, the data showed. The 2.2% drop in quarter-on-quarter output was the widest since the financial crisis of a decade ago and the second biggest since German reunification in 1990. It followed a 0.1% contraction in the last three month of 2019. Economists expect a bigger fall in output in the second quarter as the bulk of curbs introduced in mid-March to fight the outbreak become more apparent. "As the first quarter performance is the result of only two weeks of lockdown and supply chain disruptions due to lockdown measures in Asia, it does not need much analytical skill to predict a much stronger slump in the second quarter," said Carsten Brzeski, chief euro zone economist at ING. "Three more weeks of lockdown and a very gradual lifting of some measures do not bode well for the second quarter." (Writing by Joseph Nasr; editing by Thomas Seythal and Toby Chopra) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Coronavirus update: Domestic air travel has resumed after a gap of two months on Monday. The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a set of guidelines on Saturday for both domestic and international flights. The ministry had also earlier asked states to draw up their own restrictions and rules on air travel. The ministry said that all passengers are advised to download the corona contact tracing app Aarogya Setu and that all travellers would require to undergo thermal screening. Face masks must also be used during travel. The MoCA further added that all COVID-19 asymptomatic passengers would be allowed to travel on the condition that they agree to self-monitor for 14 days and report to their district surveillance officer or the state/national call centre if they develop any symptoms. If a passenger shows any coronavirus symptom, then he or she would be taken to the nearest health facility and assessed. The ones with moderate or severe symptoms would be taken to a dedicated coronavirus health facility. Also read: Coronavirus Live Tracker: India records highest ever spike of 6,977 COVID-19 cases, 154 deaths in 24 hours However, guidelines issued by the states are not all the same. Here are the state-wise guidelines and quarantine rules for domestic air travel: DELHI The first Air India flight from Delhi left for Jaipur at 5.55 am on Monday. The Delhi airport has undertaken a host of measures from thermal screening and markings and announcements to ensure social distancing. Asymptomatic passengers have been allowed to exit the IGI airport after mandatory thermal screening. Also read: Domestic flights cancelled status: Around 80 flights in Delhi, nine in Bengaluru cancelled on Day 1 Passengers with mild symptoms can home-quarantine or opt for a government or private facility. Travellers with severe symptoms would be taken to a government facility. MAHARASHTRA The Maharashtra government said that 25 domestic flights will take off and land in Mumbai on Monday. The number would be gradually increased. Two slots per day have been allotted to Air India. The first flight to reach Mumbai was an IndiGo 6am flight from Jaipur. Passengers who arrive in Maharashtra would be required to undergo 14-days of home quarantine. Arriving passengers would have to undergo thermal screening. UTTAR PRADESH Passengers travelling to Uttar Pradesh would require to register themselves as well as provide details of themselves and their family members travelling with them. Travellers who arrive in the state would be required to undergo a 14-day home-quarantine period, unless their visit is for less than a week or if they have tested negative. Passengers can also get themselves tested on the sixth day from the date of their arrival to end their quarantine period. WEST BENGAL The Bengal government has decided to commence the domestic flights operations to May 28 in the wake of Cyclone Amphan. On May 28, West Bengal will handle 20 flights per day. "As the state government machinery is involved in relief and restoration work in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Amphan, state government had requested MoCA to defer resumption of flights from Kolkata Airport. Accordingly flights will resume at Kolkata from 28/05 instead of 25/05, with reduced schedule," said an official statement. TAMIL NADU Twenty-five flights will arrive in Chennai but there's no limit to the departures. Passengers would have to register on the state's portal and get an e-pass before boarding. They would be given a QR Code that the passengers must provide upon arrival at the airport. Travellers would also need to undergo thermal screening. Passengers with no symptoms would be required to undergo 14 days of home-quarantine. Regular operating procedures would be applied for the ones with coronavirus symptoms. MADHYA PRADESH The MP government said that all passengers would be tested for coronavirus. Asymptomatic passengers would be sent to quarantine and their samples would be sent for testing. Asymptomatic passengers would be allowed to travel after self-monitoring for 14 days. ANDHRA PRADESH Flight operations for Andhra Pradesh would commence on Tuesday. Passengers arriving in the state will be put under home quarantine. Once their results come negative, they would be relieved from quarantine. Also read: India among top 10 worst-affected COVID-19 countries; surpasses Iran as tally rises to 1.38 lakh PUNJAB All incoming passengers would be put in home quarantine for 14 days. All Punjab-bound passengers would be tested for coronavirus. Punjab government has asked all airlines to provide a list of passengers that will be passed on to the deputy commissioners concerned. "All such persons shall be required to undergo mandatory home quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of arrival. In case the test comes out to be positive, the person shall be lifted to an isolation facility. If tested positive, they will be shifted to an isolation facility. If negative, they shall still observe home quarantine for 14 days," said Mohali DM Girish Dayalan. KERALA All passengers travelling to Kerala must obtain a digital pass by registering on the government portal. A quarantine period of 14 days is mandatory for all passengers coming to Kerala. Asymptomatic passengers would need to undergo self-quarantine, while symptomatic ones would need to undergo quarantine at a government facility. BIHAR Thirty-four flights will operate from Patna airport where boarding passes would act as a permission pass. Domestic travellers would undergo home quarantine while international travellers would undergo institutional quarantine. Travellers would be put on "paid quarantine" for 14 days upon arrival. JAMMU AND KASHMIR Passengers would be tested upon arrival and then sent to 14-days home quarantine. If the samples test positive, then the individual would be sent to a corona hospital for recovery. "All passengers coming to J&K by air/rail will be kept in institutional quarantine for 14 days & tested for COVID 19 using RT-PCR test. If tested negative, they will be sent home, if positive sent to hospital," said the UTs. ASSAM Incoming passengers would have to undergo thermal screening upon arrival. Symptomatic passengers who have their destination within Assam would be segregated and taken to the nearest district/zonal screening facility. Asymptomatic passengers would have to undergo a combined quarantine period of 14 days, including seven days of institutional quarantine or until the test results arrive and the rest home quarantine. Passengers with a day-long visit or for government purposes would be exempted. MANIPUR All passengers would be screened. Travellers with symptoms would be sent to an isolation ward and asymptomatic would undergo home quarantine. TRIPURA Tripura would resume its flight services on May 27 as all its flights on Monday were connected to the Kolkata airport that has cancelled all flights due to Cyclone Amphan. Also read: Mumbai airport commences operations after two months; first flight departs for Pune This is an artist's impression of the ring galaxy. Credit: James Josephides, Swinburne Astronomy Productions Astronomers have captured an image of a super-rare type of galaxydescribed as a "cosmic ring of fire"as it existed 11 billion years ago. The galaxy, which has roughly the mass of the Milky Way, is circular with a hole in the middle, rather like a titanic doughnut. Its discovery, announced in the journal Nature Astronomy, is set to shake up theories about the earliest formation of galactic structures and how they evolve. "It is a very curious object that we've never seen before," said lead researcher Dr. Tiantian Yuan, from Australia's ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3-D). "It looks strange and familiar at the same time." The galaxy, named R5519, is 11 billion light-years from the Solar System. The hole at its centre is truly massive, with a diameter two billion times longer than the distance between the Earth and the Sun. To put it another way, it is three million times bigger than the diameter of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy Messier 87, which in 2019 became the first ever to be directly imaged. "It is making stars at a rate 50 times greater than the Milky Way," said Dr. Yuan, who is an ASTRO 3-D Fellow based at the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University of Technology, in the state of Victoria. This is a composite image of the ring galaxy R5519 compiled from single-color images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: Tiantian Yuan/Hubble Space Telescope "Most of that activity is taking place on its ringso it truly is a ring of fire." Working with colleagues from around Australia, US, Canada, Belgium and Denmark, Dr. Yuan used spectroscopic data gathered by the WM Keck Observatory in Hawaii and images recorded by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to identify the unusual structure. The evidence suggests it is a type known as a "collisional ring galaxy", making it the first one ever located in the early Universe. There are two kinds of ring galaxies. The more common type forms because of internal processes. Collisional ones formas the name suggestsas a result of immense and violent encounters with other galaxies. In the nearby "local" Universe they are 1000 times rarer than the internally created type. Images of the much more distant R5519 stem from about 10.8 billion years ago, just three billion years after the Big Bang. They indicate that collisional ring galaxies have always been extremely uncommon. An artist's impression of how the ring galaxy formed. Credit: James Josephides, Swinburne Astronomy Productions ASTRO 3-D co-author, Dr. Ahmed Elagali, based at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research in Western Australia, said studying R5519 would help determine when spiral galaxies began to develop. "Further, constraining the number density of ring galaxies through cosmic time can also be used to put constraints on the assembly and evolution of local-like galaxy groups," he added. Another co-author, Professor Kenneth Freeman from the Australian National University, said the discovery had implications for understanding how galaxies like the Milky Way formed. "The collisional formation of ring galaxies requires a thin disk to be present in the 'victim' galaxy before the collision occurs," he explained. "The thin disk is the defining component of spiral galaxies: before it assembled, the galaxies were in a disorderly state, not yet recognisable as spiral galaxies." "In the case of this ring galaxy, we are looking back into the early universe by 11 billion years, into a time when thin disks were only just assembling. For comparison, the thin disk of our Milky Way began to come together only about nine billion years ago. This discovery is an indication that disk assembly in spiral galaxies occurred over a more extended period than previously thought." Drs Yuan and Elagali, and Professor Freeman, worked with colleagues from the University of New South Wales, Macquarie University, and University of Queensland, all in Australia, together with others at the Cosmic Dawn Centre (DAWN) in Denmark, Texas A&M University in the US, York University in Canada, and Ghent University in Belgium. Explore further ALMA discovers massive rotating disk in early universe More information: A giant galaxy in the young Universe with a massive ring, Nature Astronomy (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1102-7 Journal information: Nature Astronomy A giant galaxy in the young Universe with a massive ring,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-020-1102-7 Provided by ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D Everything is getting a little bit less tight, and the people feel it, he said. But while no one can say for sure if there will be a second wave, or a third, he said, now we have a way to handle it that works, thats already proven to work, so we sleep a bit better than before. AN MP is demanding answers after two pensioner rapists living at the same hostel were returned to prison accused of committing new crimes. The DUP's Carla Lockhart said she was concerned at the decision by probation chiefs to house Ryan McGreechan (24) and a 36-year-old man the High Court has banned the media from identifying at Edward Street hostel in Portadown. Expand Close Carla Lockhart / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Carla Lockhart When he was just 15, a drunken McGreechan broke into the Newtownards home of a 76-year-old woman, who died eight months later, and raped her. The teenager was sentenced to eight years in prison for the sickening 2011 attack. The second rapist was jailed for 14 years for the sexual assault of an elderly and extremely frail woman during a Belfast burglary. Since being freed early from prison, he has repeatedly breached the terms of his release. The latest occurred when he allegedly went on a shoplifting spree while living at the hostel. McGreechan is accused of breaking a Sexual Offences Prevention Order by getting drunk and resisting a police officer who arrested him. Both men have been returned to jail, but Upper Bann MP Mrs Lockhart believes that will do little to reassure people who had no idea two rapists had been living among them. She said: "There is a concern about the housing of any sex offender. However, proper supervision and monitoring is supposed to be in place. "The fact that two serious offenders were returned to prison after breaching the terms of their release will be very concerning to people in the area." Expand Close The hostel beside Portadown PSNI station / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The hostel beside Portadown PSNI station The Simon Community-owned Edward Street hostel is notorious for housing dangerous sex offenders. Originally a homeless shelter that opened in 1981, it began taking in paedophiles and rapists more than a decade ago. In 2015 it expanded in size from nine bedrooms to 15, an increase costing 500,000 that was bitterly opposed by locals who feared it would mean more sex offenders staying at the complex. Predators to have lived there include 'Beast of Ballymurphy' Thomas Murphy, who sexually abused three young schoolgirls in west Belfast after plying them with drink and drugs. Ultra-violent Darius Prockias, who repeatedly raped a woman over a 12-hour period after beating her boyfriend unconscious, was another Edward Street resident, as was Barry Fisher, whose criminal record includes 20 rapes, 15 indecent assaults and eight counts of gross indecency. This is a fact not lost on Mrs Lockhart, who called on the authorities to be more open about the risks posed by such offenders. "These are extremely dangerous criminals and it is important answers are provided about exactly what measures are in place to protect local residents and the wider public," she said. A spokeswoman for the Probation Board, which is responsible for housing rapists, sex offenders and child killers, said: "The Probation Board cannot comment on the details of any individual cases or cases where there are ongoing legal proceedings. "We would point out that decisions about where people reside are taken on a multi-agency basis." However, the explanation failed to impress sources who tipped off Sunday Life about McGreechan and the second pensioner rapist living at Edward Street. "It's embarrassing that both were arrested while staying at the hostel under supposedly supervised care," said the insider. "This isn't uncommon, it happens all the time. It was madness to put these two in accommodation on a street that unsuspecting elderly women walk up and down all day." cbarnes@sundaylife.co.uk Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 18:48:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TIANJIN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Tianjin Port imported a total of almost 2.02 million tonnes of soybeans from January to April this year, up 66.9 percent year on year, according to Tianjin Customs on Monday. The imported soybeans will be used for oil pressing and feed processing. As domestic pig production and marketing have gradually returned to normal, the demand for feed has increased significantly, driving the rapid growth of soybean imports at Tianjin Port. Imports of soybeans from the Americas amounted to almost 2.01 million tonnes, accounting for 99.4 percent of the total soybean imports at Tianjin Port. Enditem Its been exactly one year since her daughter was taken from her. But for Maxie Antoniou, it could have been yesterday that homicide detectives were knocking at her door to deliver the news every parent dreads. Courtney Herron's mother Maxie remembers her daughter as the family marks one year since her death. Credit:Jason South On Monday, exactly one year since she learnt her eldest child and daughter Courtney Herron had been found dead in a park in Melbourne's inner-north, Maxie gathered with a small group of family and friends to remember her "little girl". The family priest carried out a traditional memorial service at Courtneys grave, where she has been buried with her Pappou her beloved grandfather. First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has congratulated the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Ramadan. In a post on her official Instagram account, Mehriban Aliyeva said: "I sincerely congratulate the people of Azerbaijan and world Muslims on the holy Ramadan holiday. May Allah accept your fasting and prayers, and bestow health and happiness on all people, and peace and happy days on our world!" ---- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bill Small, who served as CBS News Washington Bureau Chief and NBC News President, died Sunday morning of a brief illness unrelated to the coronavirus, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced. He was 93. Smalls 12-year run as the networks Bureau Chief, from 1962 to 1974, coincided with a number of major events, including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the killing of Martin Luther King Jr., the Vietnam War, and Watergate. His efforts also helped push CBS Evening News With Walter Cronkite to the top of the ratings for two decades. Bill Small was one of the greats of our television news industry. In his time as a news executive at both NBC and CBS, he had an uncanny eye for talent and unwavering dedication to journalism, NATAS Chairman Terry OReilly said. Those who were brought to the network news world by Bill include: Marvin Kalb, Dan Rather, Bob Schieffer, Ed Bradley, Lesley Stahl, Diane Sawyer, Susan Zirinsky, Connie Chung, Martha Teichner, Bernard Shaw, and so many more. Also Read: How CBS Pulled Off a New 'All Rise' Episode During a Pandemic The CBS Washington bureau was built thanks to Smalls ability to draft talent from within CBS including the likes of Eric Sevareid, Harry Reasoner and Dan Rather as well as bring in producers and reporters for their first commercial network news positions, like Bob Schieffer, Ed Bradley, Bernard Shaw and Bill Moyers. He was also instrumental in recruiting women into the once-underrepresented arena of network news, like, Diane Sawyer, Lesley Stahl, Susan Zirinsky and Connie Chung. Small was later named president of NBC News in 1979, where he helped facilitate the move of Tom Brokaw to co-anchor of the Today Show and oversaw coverage of the election of the Iran hostage crisis and Ronald Reagans win in the 1980 presidential election. In 1982, he became president of United Press International, the second largest news agency in the U.S. Later on he would serve as a professor at Fordham University and also, from 2000 to 2010, as the chairman of the News and Documentary Emmy Awards. He was a titan of television journalism, nurturing the first amendment in many a fledgling reporter and guiding the coverage of some of the seminal moments of our countrys history, Adam Sharp, NATAS President and CEO, said in a statement. The Academy and the broadcast news industry has lost one of its seminal heroes. We extend our prayers and condolences to his family and to all those gifted by his gracious tutelage. Read original story Bill Small, Longtime TV News Exec, Dies at 93 At TheWrap A new technique developed by researchers at UC Davis offers a significant advance in using magnetic resonance imaging to pick out even very small tumors from normal tissue. The team created a probe that generates two magnetic resonance signals that suppress each other until they reach the target, at which point they both increase contrast between the tumor and surrounding tissue. Credit: Xiandoing Xue, UC Davis Early detection of tumors is extremely important in treating cancer. A new technique developed by researchers at the University of California, Davis offers a significant advance in using magnetic resonance imaging to pick out even very small tumors from normal tissue. The work is published May 25 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. Chemical probes that produce a signal on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to target and image tumors. The new research is based on a phenomenon called magnetic resonance tuning that occurs between two nanoscale magnetic elements. One acts to enhance the signal, and the other quenches it. Previous studies have shown that quenching depends on the distance between the magnetic elements. This opens new possibilities for non-invasive and sensitive investigation of a variety of biological processes by MRI. The UC Davis team created a probe that generates two magnetic resonance signals that suppress each other until they reach the target, at which point they both increase contrast between the tumor and surrounding tissue. They call this two-way magnetic resonance tuning (TMRET). Combined with specially developed imaging analysis software, the double signal enabled researchers to pick out brain tumors in a mouse model with greatly increased sensitivity. "It's a significant advance," said senior author Yuanpei Li, Associate Professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This could help detect very small early-stage tumors." Two magnetic components The probe developed by the UC Davis team contains two components: nanoparticles of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), and pheophorbide a-paramagnetic manganese (P-Mn), packaged together in a lipid envelope. SPIO and P-Mn both give strong, separate signals on MRI, but as long as they are physically close together those signals tend to cancel each other out, or quench. When the particles enter tumor tissue, the fatty envelope breaks down, SPIO and P-Mn separate, and both signals appear. Li's laboratory focuses on the chemistry of MRI probes and developed a method to process the data and reconstruct images, which they call double-contrast enhanced subtraction imaging or DESI. But for expertise in the physical mechanisms, they reached out to Professors Kai Liu and Nicholas Curro at the UC Davis Department of Physics (Liu is now at Georgetown University). The physicists helped elucidate the mechanism of the TMRET method and refine the technique. The researchers tested the method in cultures of brain and prostate cancer cells and in mice. For most MRI probes, the signal from the tumor is up to twice as strong as from normal tissuea "tumor to normal ratio" of 2 or less. Using the new dual-contrast nanoprobe, Li and colleagues could get a tumor-to-normal ratio as high as 10. Li said the team is interested in translating the research into clinical use, although that will require extensive work including toxicology testing and scaling up production before they could apply for investigational new drug approval. Explore further Guided ultrasound plus nanoparticle chemotherapy cures tumors in mice More information: Two-way magnetic resonance tuning and enhanced subtraction imaging for non-invasive and quantitative biological imaging, Nature Nanotechnology (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41565-020-0678-5 Journal information: Nature Nanotechnology Two-way magnetic resonance tuning and enhanced subtraction imaging for non-invasive and quantitative biological imaging,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41565-020-0678-5 China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic is akin to the Soviet Union's response to Chernobyl, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, said Sunday. "The cover-up that they did of the virus is going to go down in history along with Chernobyl," O'Brien told Chuck Todd on NBC's "Meet the Press," referring to the 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine. "We'll see an HBO special about 10 or 15 years from now." Asked about the implications of the pandemic for the new U.S.-China trade deal, O'Brien replied that "we're in a very different world" from when negotiations first began. "We want good relations with China and with the Chinese people, but unfortunately, we're seeing just action after action by the Chinese Communist Party that makes it difficult," O'Brien said. "With respect to the trade deal, we'll see if they live up to it, but we're dealing in a new world now with corona." "They unleashed a virus on the world that's destroyed trillions of dollars in American economic wealth that we're having to spend to keep our economy alive, to keep Americans afloat during this virus." Trump suggested earlier this month that he was considering abandoning the deal, signed earlier this year with great fanfare. His remarks came less than 12 hours after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and released a joint statement saying they were optimistic China would keep up its end of the bargain. The deal requires China to increase purchases of U.S. goods and services by $200 billion above 2017 levels over the next two years. That includes $76.7 billion more in U.S. exports this year and $123.3 billion more in 2021. Doug Palmer contributed to this report. Flight attendants on early Monday morning arrived at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, Terminal-3, as domestic flight operations resumed from today. We are a little worried but work comes first. We will get Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits from the airline, Amandeep Kaur, a flight attendant, told ANI. Another flight attendant said that they have to do less interaction with passengers now in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Food and beverage and retail outlets opened at the airport as domestic flight services resumed. Domestic flight operations resumed across the country from today except in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal after two months of suspension due to coronavirus-induced lockdown. All scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in India since March 25 when the Centre imposed a lockdown to contain the virus. Also read: Students, migrants take first flight home as services resume after 2 months Following the announcement of domestic flights resumption, the Airports Authority of India on Thursday issued (SOP) for airports as part of preparations for the recommencement of domestic commercial flight operations. According to the SOPs, airports have been advised to ensure that passenger seating arrangement shall be done in such a manner so as to maintain social distancing among passengers using chairs by blocking those seats that are not to be used, with proper markers/tapes. All passengers also must compulsorily be registered with the Aarogya Setu app on their phones as per the directives. Apart from this, alternate check-in counters should be used to avoid congestion. The airport staff must be provided PPE kits, face masks etc, and should also be provided with hand sanitisers. [May 25, 2020] France looking for 5G auction enabling licensees to invest in infrastructure Sydney, May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on France outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/France-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Publication Overview This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Frances telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include: Market and industry analyses, trends and developments; Facts, figures and statistics; Industry and regulatory issues; Infrastructure developments; Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU; Mobile Voice and Data Markets; Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless); Mobile subscribers and ARPU; Broadband market forecasts; Government policies affecting the telecoms industry; Market liberalisation and industry issues; Telecoms operators privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences; Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G). Researcher:- Henry Lancaster Current publication date:- October 2019 (18th Edition) Executive Summary France looking for 5G auction enabling licensees to invest in infrastructure France has the third largest telecoms market in Europe, worth about 31 billion annually. The incumbent telco Orange Group is one of the worlds major players with interests in markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company is embarked on a multi-year investment program with an emphasis on fibre-based broadband and mobile infrastructure based on 5G. Despite market liberalisation, orange still dominates all sectors though increasing competition from a number of major players (notably Altice, Bouygues Telecom and Iliad) has gradually eroded this lead. The mobile phone market, worth about 13 billion annually, is dominated by Orange, SFR Group (owned by Altice Group), Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile. Services based on LTE have near universal coverage, while operators have undertaken extensive 5G trials and are looking to launch commercial services in the second half of 2020. This timing is being supported by the auction of spectrum in a range of bands. Competition among the MNOs and a large number of MVNOs caused mobile services revenue to fall steadily until 2017, since when growth has been low but steady. Pressure on revenue has encouraged operators to look to convergence and bundled services, and so expand their offerings beyond mobile voice and data. France also has one of the largest broadband subscriber bases in Europe. Growth in recent years has been bolstered by demand for high bandwidth services, which has prompted considerable investment in fibre infrastructure among telcos and regional governments. DSL still dominates the broadband market in terms of access lines, though the number of DSL lines is falling as customers are migrated to fibre infrastructure. Fibre deployments have grown substantially in recent years, with all of the major ISPs concentrating their investments in the platform with a view to promoting 1Gb/s services. There efforts have been encouraged by the regulator which is keen to see effective competition in fibre access. This report assesses the key aspects of Frances telecom market, providing updated statistics on the countrys fixed network, an analysis of operator strategies, and a review of the key regulatory issues including the status of number portability, wholesaling and carrier preselection. The report also covers the mobile voice and data segments, including spectrum licensing and regulatory issues and profiles of the major players and MVNOs. In addition, the report analyses the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband markets, focussing on cable, DSL and the fast-developing FttP/C sectors. It reviews the strategies of the principal providers such as Orange, Iliad and Altice (SFR Group), and considers the regulatory status of LLU and access to fibre infrastructure. Subscriber forecasts to 2024 are provided for several market areas. Key developments: Iliad sells its French tower portfolio to help fund 5G rollout; Orange stops promoting PSTN products; Regulator approves 5G trial licences in the 26GHz band; Altice increases footprint of its 1Gb/s FttP service; DSL subscriber base continues to fall; Success of fibre co-investment deals among operators Orange partners with Ericsson and Nokia to develop a path to 5G, launches national LTE-M service; Regulator to make 1.5GHz spectrum available for 5G by 2022; MVNO market share increases to 11.1% of subscribers; Report update includes the regulator's market data to June 2019, telcos' financial and operating data to Q2 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Orange, Iliad (Free, Free Mobile), Altice (SFR Group, Numericable), Bouygues Telecom, Virgin Mobile, Omea Telecom Key statistics COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure Telecommunications market Market analysis Regional European Market Comparison Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier TMI versus GDP Mobile and mobile broadband penetration Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration Regulatory environment History National legal framework France NumErique 2012 Regulatory authority Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) Telecom sector liberalisation Privatisation of Orange Group Interconnect Access Number Portability (NP) Carrier PreSelection (CPS) Fixed network operators Orange Group Essentials 2020 Altice France Free (Iliad) Bouygues Telecom Telecommunications infrastructure National telecom network International infrastructure Submarine cable networks Satellite networks Cloud services Smart infrastructure Internet of Things (IoT) Smart Cities Broadband market Introduction and statistical overview Market analysis Broadband statistics Regulatory issues Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks Introduction Statistics Orange Iliad (Free) SFR Group Bouygues Telecom SNCF Municipal projects Fibre network sharing Other fixed broadband services Broadband Powerline (BPL) Fixed wireless (Wi-Fi and WiMAX) Mobile communications Market analysis Mobile statistics General statistics Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G (LTE) 3G GSM Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Mobile voice Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) Mobile data Short Message Service (SMS) Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Mobile broadband Regulatory issues Spectrum regulations and spectrum auctions Network sharing Mobile termination rates (MTRs) Roaming Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Major mobile operators Orange Altice France Free Mobile Bouygues Telecom MVNOs Mobile content and applications m-payments m-banking Appendix Historic data Glossary of abbreviations Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - France 2019 (e) Table 2 Development in telecom service investment 2009 2018 Table 3 Change in end-user traffic volume in minutes by sector 2009 2019 Table 4 Percentage change in end-user traffic by sector 2009 2019 Table 5 Decline in telecom market revenue, by sector 2008 2019 Table 6 Development of end-user fixed-line market revenue (telephony, broadband) 2009 2019 Table7 Change in the proportion of telecom revenue by sector 2009 2019 Table 8 Percentage change in end-user telecom market revenue 2009 2019 Table 9 End-user monthly bill by service 2010 2019 Table 10 Change in the number of fixed lines subscriptions by type 2009 2019 Table 11 Change in the number of unbundled and bitstream lines 2009 2019 Table 12 Decline in the number of Oranges wholesale broadband lines 2006 2019 Table 13 Development of annual fixed number porting 2005 2019 Table 14 Change in the number of Oranges customers by sector (France) 2006 2019 Table 15 Drop in the number of Oranges retail voice lines 2007 2019 Table 16 Development of Orange Groups financial data by sector 2008 2019 Table 17 Decline in Oranges domestic revenue 2007 2019 Table 18 Change in Oranges domestic telecom capex 2008 2019 Table 19 Change in the number of Oranges retail and wholesale lines 2006 2019 Table 20 Growth in the number of SFR Groups subscribers by type 2009 2019 Table 21 SFR Group financial data 2009 2019 Table 22 Change in SFR Groups revenue by type 2017 2019 Table 23 SFR Group telecom capex 2008 2019 Table 24 Increase in Frees revenue by segment 2009 2019 Table 25 Increase in the number of Frees subscribers by sector 2009 2019 Table 26 Change in the number of Bouygues Telecoms subscribers by sector 2009 2019 Table 27 Development of Bouygues Telecoms financial data 2009 2019 Table 28 Change in the number of fixed-lines in service, and penetration 2009 2024 Table 29 Change in the proportion of fixed lines by technology 2009 2019 Table 30 Development of international internet bandwidth 2009 2016 Table 31 Change in the number of broadband subscribers by platform 2009 2019 Table 32 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 33 Growth in the number of broadband connections by data rate 2011 2019 Table 34 Increase in the number of superfast broadband connections (>100Mb/s) by platform 2011 2019 Table 35 Change in broadband penetration by technology 2007 2019 Table 36 Change in the number of superfast cable broadband subscriptions 2011 2019 Table 37 Decline in the number of DSL subscribers 2009 2019 Table 38 Drop in the number of Oranges DSL subscriptions 2010 2020 Table 39 Development of Frees broadband revenue 2010 2020 Table 40 Growth in the number of Frees broadband subscriber base 2010 2020 Table 41 Development of Frees broadband subscriber ARPU 2013 2020 Table 42 Increase in the number of FttP equipped and passed buildings 2008 2019 Table 43 Increase in the number of FttP subscribers 2009 2019 Table 44 Increase in the number of Oranges fibre subscribers and connected premises 2010 2020 Table 45 Increase in the number of Frees fibre subscribers 2015 2020 Table 46 Growth in the number of SFRs broadband subscriber base, by type 2013 2019 Table 47 Increase in the number of SFR broadband homes passed 2009 2019 Table 48 Increase in the number of Bouygues Telecoms broadband and fibre subscribers 2010 2020 Table 49 FttP subscriptions via shared networks 2015 2019 Table 50 Developments in mobile retail revenue and network investment 2009 2019 Table 51 Development of investment in 3G and LTE infrastructure 2013 2018 Table 52 Decline in average monthly bill, ARPU - 2006 2019 Table 53 Increase in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2019 2024 Table 54 Increase in the number of active mobile subscribers 2009 2019 Table 55 Change in mobile market share of subscribers by MNO 2016 2019 Table 56 Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers (national, excl. M2M) 2011 2019 Table 57 Change in the proportion of prepaid versus contract subscribers 2009 2019 Table 58 Change in the number of active 3G and LTE subscribers 2007 2019 Table 59 Increase in the number of Free Mobiles LTE subscribers 2014 2019 Table 60 Free Mobile average LTE data use 2015 2019 Table 61 3G base stations in service by operator October 2019 Table 62 2G base stations in service by operator October 2019 Table 63 Increase in the number of M2M cards in use 2011 2019 Table 64 Development of revenue from M2M cards 2009 2019 Table 65 Growth in mobile voice traffic 2009 2019 Table 66 Growth in mobile voice traffic in minutes by type (quarterly) 2006 2019 Table 67 Growth in annual mobile voice traffic by type 2008 2019 Table 68 Growth in mobile data traffic 2008 2019 Table 69 Growth in average mobile data traffic per LTE subscriber 2011 2019 Table 70 Increase in average mobile data traffic per mobile subscriber 2011 2019 Table 71 Change in SMS traffic volume (national) 2004 2019 Table 72 Decline in annual SMS traffic 2003 2019 Table 73 Growth in annual MMS traffic 2003 2019 Table 74 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2024 Table 75 Change in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers 2007 2019 Table 76 2.6GHz spectrum results Sep 2011 Table 77 Growth in mobile roaming out voice traffic 2009 2019 Table 78 Change in the number of annual mobile numbers ported 2009 2019 Table 79 Change in the number of Oranges mobile subscribers 2009 2019 Table 80 Decline in Oranges ARPU and ARPO 2009 2019 Table 81 Change in Oranges mobile-only revenue (new style) 2016 2019 Table 82 Change in Oranges mobile customer churn 2009 2019 Table 83 Change in SFRs mobile revenue (under Altice) 2015 2019 Table 84 Development of SFRs subscriber base by type 2006 2019 Table 85 Growth in Free Mobiles mobile subscriber base 2012 2019 Table 86 Growth in Free Mobiles mobile revenue 2012 2019 Table 87 Growth in Bouygues Telecoms mobile subscriber base 2005 2019 Table 88 Decline in Bouygues Telecoms mobile ARPU 2007 2019 Table 89 Development of Bouygues Telecoms financial data by type 2005 2019 Table 90 Orange MVNO subscribers 2009 2019 Table 91 Increase in the number of MNO and MVNO subscribers (metropolitan) 2005 2019 Table 92 Change in MVNO market share of subscribers (metropolitan) 2005 2019 Table 93 Historic - Telecom service investment 2002 2009 Table 94 Historic - End-user fixed-line market value 2003 2009 Table 95 Historic - Proportion of fixed lines by technology 2004 2009 Table 96 Historic - International internet bandwidth 2000 2009 Table 97 Historic - End-user traffic volume in minutes by sector 2002 2099 Table 98 Historic - End-user traffic growth by sector 2002 2009 Table 99 Historic Change in end-user telecom market revenue 2004 2009 Table 100 Historic - Fixed lines subscriptions by type 2003 2009 Table 101 Historic - Unbundled and bitstream lines 2002 2099 Table 102 Historic - Indirect fixed line connections 2006 2016 Table 103 Historic - Dial-up internet subscribers 2005 2015 Table 104 Historic - Internet users and penetration rate 1995 2015 Table 105 Historic - Dial-up internet traffic 2004 2014 Table 106 Historic - Cable broadband subscribers 2000 2017 Table 107 Historic - DSL subscribers 2000 2009 Table 108 Historic - Broadband subscribers by platform 2000 2009 Table 109 Historic - Proportion of premises covered by superfast broadband networks 2012 2017 Table 110 Historic - Orange DSL subscriptions 2005 2009 Table 111 Historic - Free broadband revenue 2006 2009 Table 112 Historic - Free broadband subscribers 2005 2009 Table 113 Historic - Orange fibre subscribers and connected premises 2006 2009 Table 114 Data market revenue by type (historic) 2002 2012 Table 115 Historic - Mobile retail revenue 1998 2009 Table 116 Historic - Mobile subscribers (national, old format incl. M2M) and penetration rate 1999 2014 Table 117 Historic - Annual mobile numbers ported 2004 2009 Table 118 Prepaid and contract subscribers (old format national, incl. M2M) 2005 2014 Table 119 Growth in Mobile voice traffic 1998 2019 Table 120 Historic - Mobile market share of subscribers by operator 2005 2015 Table 121 Historic - Proportion of prepaid versus contract subscribers 1999 2009 Table 122 Historic - Mobile interconnection revenue 2003 2017 Table 123 Historic - Mobile roaming out voice traffic 2003 2009 Table 124 Historic - Orange mobile revenue by type 2011 2017 Chart 1 Development in telecom service investment 2009 2018 Chart 2 Change in end-user traffic volume in minutes by sector 2009 2019 Chart 3 Percentage change in end-user traffic by sector 2009 2019 Chart 4 Decline in telecom market revenue, by sector 2008 2019 Chart 5 Development of end-user fixed-line market revenue (telephony, broadband) 2009 2019 Chart 6 Change in the proportion of telecom revenue by sector 2009 2019 Chart 7 Change in the number of fixed lines subscriptions by type 2009 2019 Chart 8 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders (top tier) Chart 9 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers (middle tier) Chart 10 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents (bottom tier) Chart 11 Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita Chart 12 Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 13 Scandinavia and Baltics: mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 14 Northern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 15 Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 16 Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration Chart 17 Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 18 Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 19 Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 20 Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration Chart 21 Change in the number of unbundled and bitstream lines 2009 2019 Chart 22 Decline in the number of Oranges wholesale broadband lines 2006 2019 Chart 23 Development of annual fixed number porting 2005 2019 Chart 24 Change in the number of Oranges customers by sector (France) 2006 2019 Chart 25 Drop in the number of Oranges retail voice lines 2007 2019 Chart 26 Development of Orange Groups financial data by sector 2008 2019 Chart 27 Decline in Oranges domestic revenue 2007 2019 Chart 28 Change in the number of Oranges retail and wholesale lines 2006 2019 Chart 29 Growth in the number of SFR Groups subscribers by type 2009 2019 Chart 30 SFR Group financial data 2009 2019 Chart 31 Change in SFR Groups revenue by type 2017 2019 Chart 32 Increase in Frees revenue by segment 2009 2019 Chart 33 Increase in the number of Frees subscribers by sector 2009 2019 Chart 34 Change in the number of Bouygues Telecoms subscribers by sector 2009 2019 Chart 35 Development of Bouygues Telecoms financial data 2009 2019 Chart 36 Change in the number of fixed-lines in service, and penetration 2009 2024 Chart 37 Change in the proportion of fixed lines by technology 2009 2019 Chart 38 Development of international internet bandwidth 2009 2016 Chart 39 Change in the number of broadband subscribers by platform 2009 2019 Chart 40 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 41 Growth in the number of broadband connections by data rate 2011 2019 Chart 42 Increase in the number of superfast broadband connections (>100Mb/s) by platform 2011 2019 Chart 43 Change in broadband penetration by technology 2007 2019 Chart 44 Change in the number of superfast cable broadband subscriptions 2011 2019 Chart 45 Decline in the number of DSL subscribers 2009 2019 Chart 46 Drop in the number of Oranges DSL subscriptions 2005 2020 Chart 47 Development of Frees broadband revenue 2010 2020 Chart 48 Growth in the number of Frees broadband subscriber base 2010 2020 Chart 49 Development of Frees broadband subscriber ARPU 2013 2020 Chart 50 Increase in the number of FttP equipped and passed buildings 2008 2019 Chart 51 Increase in the number of FttP subscribers 2009 2019 Chart 52 Increase in the number of Oranges fibre subscribers and connected premises 2010 2020 Chart 53 Increase in the number of Frees fibre subscribers 2015 2020 Chart 54 Growth in the number of SFRs broadband subscriber base, by type 2013 2019 Chart 55 Increase in the number of SFR broadband homes passed 2009 2019 Chart 56 Increase in the number of Bouygues Telecoms broadband and fibre subscribers 2010 2020 Chart 57 Developments in mobile retail revenue and network investment 2009 2019 Chart 58 Development of investment in 3G and LTE infrastructure 2013 2018 Chart 59 Decline in average monthly bill, ARPU - 2006 2019 Chart 60 Increase in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2019 2024 Chart 61 Change in mobile market share of subscribers by MNO 2016 2019 Chart 62 Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers (national, excl. M2M) 2011 2019 Chart 63 Change in the proportion of prepaid versus contract subscribers 2009 2019 Chart 64 Change in the number of active 3G and LTE subscribers 2007 2019 Chart 65 Increase in the number of Free Mobiles LTE subscribers 2014 2019 Chart 66 Increase in the number of M2M cards in use 2011 2019 Chart 67 Development of revenue from M2M cards 2009 2019 Chart 68 Growth in mobile voice traffic 2009 2019 Chart 69 Growth in annual mobile voice traffic by type 2008 2019 Chart 70 Growth in mobile data traffic 2008 2019 Chart 71 Growth in average mobile data traffic per LTE subscriber 2011 2019 Chart 72 Increase in average mobile data traffic per mobile subscriber 2011 2019 Chart 73 Change in SMS traffic volume (national) 2004 2019 Chart 74 Decline in annual SMS traffic 2003 2019 Chart 75 Growth in annual MMS traffic 2003 2019 Chart 76 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2009 2024 Chart 77 Change in the number of dedicated mobile broadband subscribers 2007 2019 Chart 78 Growth in mobile roaming out voice traffic 2009 2019 Chart 79 Change in the number of annual mobile numbers ported 2009 2019 Chart 80 Change in the number of Oranges mobile subscribers (France) 2009 2019 Chart 81 Decline in Oranges ARPU and ARPO 2009 2019 Chart 82 Change in Oranges mobile-only revenue (new style) 2016 2019 Chart 83 Change in Oranges mobile customer churn 2009 2019 Chart 84 Change in SFRs mobile revenue (under Altice) 2015 2019 Chart 85 Development of SFRs subscriber base by type 2006 2019 Chart 86 Growth in Free Mobiles mobile subscriber base 2012 2019 Chart 87 Growth in Free Mobiles mobile revenue 2012 2019 Chart 88 Growth in Bouygues Telecoms mobile subscriber base 2005 2019 Chart 89 Decline in Bouygues Telecoms mobile ARPU 2007 2019 Chart 90 Development of Bouygues Telecoms financial data by type 2005 2019 Chart 91 Increase in the number of MNO and MVNO subscribers (metropolitan) 2005 2019 Chart 92 Change in MVNO market share of subscribers (metropolitan) 2005 2019 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment Exhibit 2 Access and the local loop Exhibit 3 2Africa submarine cable Exhibit 4 2Africa landing stations Exhibit 5 Principal FttP and FttC (FttLA) deployments Exhibit 6 3G licensees Exhibit 7 Reassigned multi-spectrum holdings (900MHz) 2021 2025 Exhibit 8 Operating MVNOs and network provider Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/France-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Within Australia (02) 8076 7665 Outside Australia +44 207 097 1241 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Honda | Rs 2.5 lakh | Hondas festive offers are available on a number of their cars including the City, Amaze, Jazz and even the Civic which receives benefits close to Rs 2.5 lakh. Honda is getting ready to launch the fifth generation City. But, like we have heard before, the older model isnt about to be taken out of the stable just yet. Now, Honda the car maker also says that the car will still be available in all its variants. According to a report in Autocar, the fourth-gen Honda City that is currently in the market today will be positioned lower than the newer model but will retain all of its features and tech. Speaking to Autocar, Rajesh Goel, senior vice president and director, sales and marketing, Honda Cars India, said, I definitely am not intending to start stripping the car off its features as I launch the new one. It will still be fairly loaded irrespective of its positioning. The new Honda City, on the other hand, will get even more features including some tech that was not seen before in its segment. This includes a blind spot camera and Alexa integration. The current-gen Honda City, in terms of powertrain, is already BS-VI compliant. The 1.5-litre petrol engine will continue to do duty on this version. In the new City, there is a good chance that there will be a diesel option available too in addition to the new 1.5-litre dual cam petrol. Editorial WAGE FREEZE? NO WAY! There have been rumblings in New South Wales that a wage freeze for public sector workers, including nurses and teachers, is imminent in order to combat the economic burden imposed on the state by the cost of COVID-19 pandemic measures. Initially, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said that front-line healthcare workers would be exempt from the wage freeze but has declined to repeat that assurance. Public servants were meant to receive a 2.5 per cent pay increase. Similarly, the NSW Teachers Federation had secured an agreement with the state government for a 2.28 per cent pay increase in January thats also threatened. To make this situation even more absurd, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller received an $87,000 pay rise in March. Fuller offered not to accept the pay increase, however the state government went ahead with it anyway. Their justification? According to Berejiklian, Commissioner Fuller oversaw the largest police force on the planet. On the face of it, this claim looks ridiculous, and thats because it is. According to Nine News, the New York Police Department has more than double the number of sworn officers, and its Commissioner earns about $350,000. After the pay rise, Commissioner Fuller will earn just under $650,000. Putting these numbers into a real example, a nurse earning an average salary of $75,136 would be staring at an annual loss of $2,000 with a wage freeze. NSW is not the only state where essential service workers are facing the heat. The Andrews government is under pressure from the Commonwealth and business leaders to halt or defer pay increase negotiations. As a result, reactionaries are doing everything they can to pressure the government to postpone the pay increases. This includes Victorian Opposition Leader Michael OBrien who, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, has complained about the explosion of new government agencies and public service executives. OBrien told The Age that senior people in government have got steady jobs, steady incomes and havent had their finances affected by this pandemic nearly as much as someone who owns a cafe in the high street, yet they are making decisions about lockdowns and restrictions. This rhetoric is an attempt to shift the economic blame away from capitalism, from the bourgeoisie, and instead place it on state workers. The Morrison government is also freezing wages at the federal level, where public servants will have wage increases deferred for a period of twelve months. The reality is taking money out of the hands of workers does not help stimulate the economy. The last thing you want to be doing as a government, which can borrow cheaply during this kind of downturn, is the opposite of stimulus which is what cutting back on public sector wages would be doing, Richard Holden, a professor of economics at University of NSW, told the Sydney Morning Herald. I can see why showing some sense of share sacrifice [by the public sector foregoing wage increases] might be good politically but it doesnt make a lot of sense economically. There is no economic logic behind freezing the wages of the working-class who in turn pump most of that money back into the economy. However, economic arguments aside, these actions by state and federal governments are morally reprehensible. The working-class is suffering exploitation as a result of the policies of the federal government. Not only do we subsidise the wealth of billionaires, but we are also risking our lives during a pandemic to produce commodities, all in the vain attempt to rescue capitalism from itself. Capitalism doesnt need rescuing, workers do, and it is time to fight back against any form of wage freeze. [May 25, 2020] Research Report with COVID-19 Forecasts - Corporate M-learning Market 2020-2024| Increasing Number of Partnerships and Acquisitions to Boost Market Growth | Technavio The corporate m-learning market is expected to grow by USD 10.13 billion during 2020-2024. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact can be expected to be significant in the first quarter but gradually lessen in subsequent quarters - with a limited impact on the full-year economic growth, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005096/en/ Technavio has announced the latest market research report titled Global Corporate M-Learning Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Request challenges and opportunities that influence COVID-19 pandemic - Request a free sample report of the corporate m-learning market Players in the market are focusing on expanding their customer base and geographical presence by forming strategic alliances with other corporate m-learning solutions providers. For instance, in May 2018, Skillsoft announced its partnership with Shine Learning. The partnership allowed the users of Shine Learning to access Skillsoft's extensive learning portfolio, including business skills training, digital transformation, productivity and collaboration, and others. Similarly, in October 2018, Avaya (News - Alert) Inc. partnered with Global Knowledge Training. The partnership enabled Global Knowledge Training to provide training to Avaya's channel partners in Latin America and Canada. Such strategic partnerships are fueling the growth of the global corporate m-learning market. To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41391 As per Technavio, the growing popularity of game-based learning will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024. Corporate M-learning Market: Growing Popularity of Game-based Learning The use of gamification in corporate m-learning enhances earner engagement, influences behavior change, and promotes healthy competition among employees. Owing to such benefits, organizations are integrating gamification solutions in corporate m-learning. For instance, Accord LMS partnered with Evoq Social to gamify its learning management system. It included new features such as a leaderboard, badges, and a points-based reputation system to provide a more engaging and interesting learning experience for employees. Therefore, the increasing popularity of gamification is expected to boost the growth of the global corporate m-learning market during the forecast period. "Integration of analytics in corporate m-learning and the rising demand for skilled professionals in emerging technologies will further boost market growth during the forecast period", says a senior analyst at Technavio. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Corporate M-learning Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the corporate m-learning market by type (technical corporate m-learning and non-technical corporate m-learning) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). The North America region led the corporate m-learning market in 2019, followed by Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, North America is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the presence of major MNCs, such as Microsoft, SAP, Cognizant Technology Solutions (News - Alert) Corp. (Cognizant Technology Solutions), BI WORLDWIDE, and others in the region. Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report Some of the key topics covered in the report include: Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005096/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Government agencies in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine will not operate at full capacity and it is up to their heads to choose the right work setup, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) said. CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada told CNN Philippines the heads of government agencies must determine the work arrangement best suited for the needs of their clients, without compromising the health and safety of their workers. "If you are distributing staff, kayo ay binigyan na yung house-to-house work, hindi mo magagawa yun sa work-from-home, kayo ay kinakailangan sa field," Lizada said. "Hindi ho natin call, call ho ng Secretary yun kung ano yung need ng agency." [Translation: If you are distributing staff, you were given house-to-house work, you cannot do that if you work from home, you are needed in the field. That is not our call, it is the call of the Secretary on what is needed by the agency.] According to the CSC, government agencies may implement any or a combination of the five alternative work arrangements specified, which includes work-from-home, skeleton workforce, compressed four-day workweek, and staggered working hours. "Meron po tayong mga guidelines and support systems for these work arrangements. If you do skeleton workforce, the barest minimum dapat ilagay," Lizada said. "Wag niyong gawin skeleton workforce ang senior citizens, yung buntis." [Translation: We have guidelines and support systems for these work arrangements. If you do skeleton workforce, the barest minimum should be implemented. Senior citizens and expecting mothers should not be part of the skeleton workforce.] Lizada said the agency is circulating a health form that government workers must answer before being allowed to report to the office, while the physical layout of government offices will also have to be changed to keep with physical distancing rules. "Within the agency, meron din silang [they also have] checks or sanitation systems," Lizada said. "Maybe this time you have washing stations outside, you have foot bath, temperature taking." Meanwhile, government agencies in areas under general community quarantine may start operating at full capacity or continue implementing alternative work arrangements, depending on the head of the agency. Lizada clarified that government offices serving clients will also have to implement physical distancing when operations resume. "Hindi na pwede yung pila-pila yung mga tao, dikit-dikit yung mga silya because we need social distancing, Lizada said. "Mukhang yun na ang new normal, which is limiting face-to-face transactions. Kung pwede online, pupunta tayo online." [Translation: Long lines where people are seated close together will no longer be allowed because we need social distancing. It looks like that will be the new normal, which is limiting face-to-face transactions. If we can do it online, we will go online.] In the meantime, those who want to work in government may have to wait a bit longer as no new date has been set for the 2020 Civil Service exams. Francis Chan says he didn't believe in healing, miracles until recently Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Bestselling author Francis Chan said he was previously cynical of healing ministries until God illuminated the Scriptures to him. Speaking during the virtual International Association of Healing Ministries conference this week, Chan said, "What I do know is for many years I didn't believe in healing, I didn't believe in miracles, it was pretty much what I was taught in seminary. Humbly, I have to say, I used to ridicule people who spoke in tongues or prophesied or believed they could heal, even though when I personally read the Scriptures, I saw this available. Despite being in ministry for some time, Chan revealed that it would take years for him to finally delve into the spiritual side of his faith. "It took me years, to be honest, with what I saw in Scripture and start pursuing these gifts of the Spirit and I'm still somewhat on that journey. That's why when you first asked me to speak for this healing conference, I go, 'You've got the wrong guy.' I've been praying for gifts of healing for years and it was only like a few months ago that I saw healing for the first time. Earlier this year, Chan shared that he and a team of other Christians supernaturally healed several people at a rural village in Myanmar, including a little boy and girl who were deaf. "Every person I touched was healed," the Crazy Love author said in a sermon delivered at Moody Bible Institutes Founders Week Conference. OK, this is craziness to me. I have never experienced this in 52 years," he testified then. "Im talking like a little boy and a little girl who were deaf. We laid hands, she starts crying and smiling. These are not Christians who have even heard about Jesus, and shes freaking out. We lay hands on her little brother, we lay hands on him, and he starts hearing for the first time. IAHM International Director Jean-Luc Trachsel commended Chan for his humility, something he said is rare in ministers who operate in the move of the Spirit. Chan formerly led Cornerstone Community Church, a popular megachurch in California, before he made the shocking decision to step down in 2010. He explained that as he grew as a "celebrity" pastor, he felt he became everything that he believed God hated. He also expressed his frustrations with the megachurch model. In his appearance at this week's International Healing Conference, Chan, who recently moved to Hong Kong to plant churches among the poor, noted, The only way I know how to describe myself is, I'm a guy who has made so many mistakes in life. Yet the by the grace of God, He just keeps blessing me and my family, and my life and I sense His presence with me and just constantly shocked at what I get to do while I'm still on this earth for however much longer that is. I try to teach in such a way that I think to myself, 'If this is it and I'm about to see the face of God, what would I say? Did I make much of Him or did I bring glory to myself? "So all I want people to know is that we have such a holy, all-powerful God that is so far beyond us. And the thought that He is a merciful God and a loving God and desires us, that He revealed that to me, that is the greatest truth about my life. That's the greatest thing you could know about me is that somehow God has revealed His love to me and caused this human being who has made so many mistakes and rejected by so many, including my own father, to just be so secure in the love of Christ. See his full sit-down interview with Trachsel below. The May 20-23 International Healing Conference was initially scheduled to take place in Porto, Portugal, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was organized as a virtual conference bringing together some 70 healing ministries from around the world. Along with a healing rally, the event is also featuring such speakers as Bill Johnson of Bethel Church, televangelist Benny Hinn and Ben Fitzgerald of Awakening Europe, among many others. "5Dinks4all" and "WhiteChick" Win Big in WSOP Online Super Circuit May 25, 2020 Two more WSOP Online Super Circuit Ring Winners have been crowned on GGPoker on Sunday night. Players once again showed up in droves for Event #12: Monster Stack and Event #13: COLOSSUS $2M Gtd. PokerNews live reporting covered both events start-to-finish. The WSOP Online Super Circuit runs until May 31 on GGPoker, with $100,000,000 in guarantees offered between the 18 WSOP circuit ring events and the side events. The rapid-growing site recently acquired Fedor Holz and Bertrand "ElKY" Grospellier as brand ambassadors to their team. The first-ever WSOP Online Super Circuit is here - at GGPoker! The PokerNews live reporting team is bringing live coverage of all 18 online bracelet events. Don't miss it! FOLLOW HERE "5Dinks4all" Wins WSOP Online Super Circuit Event 12: Monster Stack ($126,949) WSOP Online Super Circuit Event #12: Monster Stack $500K GTD has come to an end after over 15 hours of play. Topping the starting field of 4,846 at the end of the day was "5Dinks4all who rode a dramatic come from behind heads up victory to win the grand prize of $126,949. The Andorran champion was spotted with a few tables to go gathering chips and moving toward the top of the leaderboard. Play would go on at a steady pace until the verge of the final table, where play would stall with ten players remaining, taking quite a while for an elimination in order to get down to the final table. Event #12 Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize Money 1 5Dinks4all Andorra $126,949 2 Piko1432 India $87,855 3 MrWheatToast Canada $60,803 4 TheRealElysioum United Kingdom $42,080 5 Loazi Canada $29,122 6 tonkatsu&wagyu Japan $20,155 7 BigMac_3,73$ Germany $13,949 8 GorillaWarfare United Kingdom $9,653 9 sinqularis Belarus $6,681 At the start of the final table, eventual second-place finisher Piko1432 was the substantial chip leader while 5Dinks4all was sixth in chips. Play at the final table was slow at first, with only one elimination happening within the first 45 minutes. But as soon as the field was cut to seven, things suddenly sprang into action with five eliminations happening in the span of just 18 minutes, including three in consecutive hands to take out tonkatsu&wagyu in sixth, Loazi in fifth and TheRealElysioum in fourth place. A few hands later, the short-stacked MrWheatToast" was eliminated in third place to set up heads up play. Heads up play would end up being the defining aspect of the entire tournament. Piko1432 entered heads up play with 58/42% chip advantage. After a few hands, 5Dinks4all was suddenly on their last legs as their chip count had been whittled down to about 22%. But they managed to get a big double up to draw the chips counts close to even. Piko1432 would again stretch the lead following the double up, as they wore down Dinks4all to a 30% deficit, looking to have reasserted dominance. But this time, Dinks4all did not need a double up to climb back. Instead they compiled a few hands in a row before taking their first chip lead after a few aggressive plays. Dinks4all had a chip lead of approximately 65/35 when what would prove to be the final hand began. The board ran out with four clubs and Pico1432 called a river all in with a small flush and found out they were beaten by the higher flush, the river club being the difference in the end and Dinks4all was the champion. "WhiteChick" Wins WSOP Online Super Circuit Event #13: COLOSSUS ($499,339) Day 2 of Event #13: COLOSSUS $2M Gtd is now complete, and the winner was "WhiteChick" from Singapore. They made their way through a total field of 9,603 runners across all Day 1s, and a Day 2 field of 1,430, to take down nearly $500,000, the lion's share of the more than $3.5 million prize pool. The Colossus was the 13th ring event in the month-long 2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Super Circuit, held online for the first time at GGPoker as a response to the global pandemic situation. There are still five rings up for grabs before the end of May, and PokerNews will cover them all. In addition to the ring events, there are a number of side events running as well. Event #13 Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 WhiteChick Singapore $499,366 2 Gius2020 Monaco $347,922 3 kimokh Hungary $242,423 4 momosiso Israel $168,913 5 KingWilfred Canada $117,694 6 Money209 New Zealand $82,006 7 Luizftorres14 Brazil $57,139 8 getaxc56 Brazil $39,813 9 .sitting out Israel $27,740 It took around nine hours to hand out the latest ring in the 2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Super Circuit. They got underway in Day 2 at 3pm Eastern time with just 1,430 survivors from multiple day 1s that racked up a total of 9,603 entries. That put a whopping $3,694,140 into the middle for prizes, a huge figure for a $400 buy-in. It only took a little more than two levels to play down into the money. They started handing out cash early in Level 3 of the day, and by the start of Level 7, they were down to less than 700 players. Just two levels later, they were down under 350 remaining, and by the start of Level 12, they were down to 200. They were down below 100 in Level 15, and they hit the final four tables just before the start of Level 22. From there action slowed a little as the prizes got bigger, but it was just over an hour before the final table was set. ".sitting out" and "getaxc56" both exited quickly from the final table, getting small stacks in behind, but they played almost an hour before "Luizftorres14" got ace-king in against the aces of "WhiteChick" and went out in 7th. That put "WhiteChick" on a tear, and they proceeded to eliminate "Money209", "KingWilifred", and "momosiso" in short order, holding when they had to, and getting there when they had to, amassing more than 370 million chips in the process. "Gius2020" got them heads up when they woke up with aces after a shove from "kimokh" with ace-jack, and heads up play went on for a while. "Gius2020" took the lead at one point in a huge hand where they flopped the straight against the pocket queens of "WhiteChick", but "WhiteChick" took the lead back a few hands later when their fours held. They won it a couple of hands later when their king-six got there against the pocket jacks of "Gius2020". PokerNews is back on the GGPoker felt on Tuesday for the next ring event in the 2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Super Circuit. Event #14: Deepstack Bounty Hunters $500K Gtd gets underway at 2 pm Eastern time for another day of deep stack bounty action, and you can follow the action here. Sharelines Check out who the latest WSOP Online Super Circuit ring winners on GGPoker are! The Nigerian Army said it eliminated over 1,015 Boko Haram terrorists in different encounters with the insurgents in the Northeast from April 4 till date. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Tukur Buratai, disclosed this on Sunday when he hosted the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole to Eid-El-Fitr luncheon at Military Control and Command Centre in Maiduguri. Mr Buratai, a lieutenant-general, said that the insurgents were neutralised since his arrival in the theatre to lead the troops under Operation KANTANA JIMLA within the period under review. He said that some of the notable encounters since the commencement of the operation include that of Buni Gari, Gaidam, Minok, Dapchi, Baga, Dikwa, Awulari, Ajiri, Pulka, Ngoshe, Alafa and different parts of Sambisa Forest as well as Gajiganna. He explained that the artillery airstrike and blockage operations conducted by troops at the Tumbuktu Triangles around Sambisa has been greatly successful. He said that the troops succeeded in dislodging major camps of the terrorists at Mungusum, Gajirin, Talala, Buk, and Malumti among others under the operation. Hundreds of terrorist fighters have been neutralised in this different camps as confirmed by the force and captured terrorists while trying to escape the operations. Many more hundreds have been injured and are hiding in the forest with serious wounds. This explains why the terrorist have resulted to desperate attacks on towns and villages such as Babangida, Dapchi searching for medical supplies and other logistics to treat their injured colleagues, who are dying like foul in the forest. Overall, since my arrival here in the Northeast on the 4th of April this year, you gallery troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have neutrialised over 1,015 Boko Haram terrorists. Also, you have impressively maintain the blockage of Boko Haram logistics supply chains and freedom of movement within the Tumbuktu Triangles. In a light manner, the Nigerian army intelligence core has impressively been organised and its operations has greatly improved. The Chief of Military Intelligence Team, through covert operations has arrested 84 Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics suppliers, informants and curriers, he said. According to him, this has greatly disrupted their logistics supply chain and communication network, thereby tightening the blockage around them. It is also gratifying to note that officers and men of the Nigerian Army, fighting in close support with the combatant personnel of the Nigeria Navy Special Force Services and the gallant pilots of the Nigerian Airforce, have consistently disrupted the terrorists moves and done well in nutrialising them, he said The COAS said it had also sustained some casualties while others sustained injuries while executing the operations. We pray for the departed souls even as you continue to look after injured ones to the best available standard, he said. He charged the troops to collectively match ahead without fear, put ahead without hesitation, strike ahead without holding back to end the war and secure the country once and for all. Like all other sectors in the country, the Nigerian Army has its own share of some challenges. This inadequacies of recent times has further compounded by the global lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has to some extend delayed the arrival and delivery of some of our much needed military equipment. However, our good foresight as examplified in the investment in the local production of the Ezegwu, Concoror and the Champion Mrap, alongside other notable efforts that are profiting some of our old equipment by the Command Engineering Depot and the Special Vehicle Plant and the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, have assisted in sustaining our operations thus far. We have also embarked on special recruitment sub commissioning exercise to cater for our manpower challenges. We are restructuring our forces to enable them fight better within the dictates of the new assymetric warfare we are encountering today. In this regards, in the four Special Forces Command, we have trained Special Brigades and Special Forces Battalions, which have been established. Two of these battalions recently completed the special forces training and have been inducted into this Theatre. Advertisements It is expected that the effects of their specialised training and modes of operations would be felt across the Theatre in the days to come. Therefore, what remained is our collective efforts as a nation and as officers and men to make good use of this platforms to end insurgency and other forms of criminalities across the country. The Nigerian Army on its part remained focused in dealing with the insurgency and other forms of criminalities in the country and will not allow itself to be distracted from unpatriotic elements in the society. Mr Buratai lauded President Muhammadu Buhari, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, Governors of Yobe and Borno states as well as the people of Northeast for their unflinching support to the Nigerian army. I commend the support and sacrifices of each and every one of us, especially those who have paid the supreme sacrifice. I charged you all never to allow the sacrifices of our fallen heroes to be in vain, said Mr Buratai. In his remarks, Governor Babagana Zulum acknowledged the tremendous success recorded by the Nigerian military during the last two months and prayed to God to give the troops more strength, wisdom, courage, long life and productivity to fight the insurgency. Mr Zulum, who described the Eid-El-Fitr celebration after Ramadan as a month of devotion, sacrifice and spiritual rejuvenation, noted that lessons learnt from fasting include patience, perseverance, devotion, sacrifice and resilient. I want to express our appreciation to those that are here and to the COAS, and other high ranking military officers for the enormous support that you have been rendering toward protecting the lives and property of the displaced communities of Borno State. The governor noted that the security architecture has to be motivated for greater efficiency and productivity, and pledged his administrations commitment to supporting the military to succeed in the counter terrorism campaign. (NAN) The Delhi High Court has sought a response from the Press Council of India (PCI) on a plea challenging the rejection of nomination of a member proposed by the Indian Newspapers Society (INS) for filling up vacancies in the PCI's 13th term. Justice Jyoti Singh, in a May 12 order, issued notices to PCI and the Centre on a plea by INS challenging the March 17 order of the council rejecting nomination of Hormusji N Cama, Director of Mumbai Samachar and a member of the INS, for filling up vacancies in 'medium' newspaper category. The court also stayed the nomination of a journalist who was held to be eligible for the 'medium' newspaper category and said no further action will be taken in furtherance of the March 17 decision. It said petitioner INS has made out a prima facie case for grant of interim relief and asked the authorities to file their responses before May 22. Later, the matter came up before Justice Navin Chawla on May 22 when the counsel for the respondents, including advocate T Singhdev who was representing the PCI, sought time to file their replies. The court granted them time to file their counter affidavits and listed the matter for further hearing on June 22 and said that the interim order of May 12 will continue. Earlier in February, the court had set aside PCI's March 20, 2018 decision rejecting Cama's nomination and directed the council to reconsider it, keeping in view the material placed by INS. The fresh petition by the society said, PCI reconsidered Cama's eligibility and rejected his nomination on March 17 and two other people have been nominated in the category of medium newspapers but the nomination is yet to be notified by the Centre. The counsel for INS said PCI has wrongly calculated the circulation figures of the newspapers with which Cama is associated and has arrived at a conclusion that it falls in the category of 'big' newspapers. The action of rejecting the nomination of respondent No. 3 (Cama) is tainted and mala fide, senior advocate Ramji Srinivasan, representing INS, contended. According to the Press Council Act, the council consists of a Chairman and 28 other members. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vacationers flocked to the Lake of the Ozarks over the holiday weekend, flouting social distancing guidelines as they packed into yacht clubs, outdoor bars and resort pools in the Missouri tourist hot spot. Images of the revelry rippled across social media, showing people eating, drinking and swimming in close quarters. In one picture shared by the news station KSDK, dozens of people could be seen crammed on an outdoor patio underneath a sign reading, "Please practice social distancing." CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Mayor Turner moves to enforce 25 percent capacity limit for Houston businesses The scenes underscored how some have interpreted the loosening of the coronavirus restrictions ahead of the Memorial Day holiday as an invitation to return to a pre-pandemic version of normal. Amid varied and sometimes conflicting orders from state and local officials, people across the country have been left to decide on their own how strictly to follow the rules. The images elicited a barrage of criticism from people angered by the open disregard for the guidelines that public health experts have spent months promoting. "I don't even know what to say anymore," Meghan McCain, co-host of ABC's "The View," tweeted. Like most of the country, Missouri has allowed some businesses to reopen and rolled back pandemic-related bans on nonessential activities, even as researchers warn the virus is still spreading at epidemic rates in Missouri and 23 other states. After Missouri's stay-at-home order expired May 3, Gov. Mike Parson. a Republican, said a range of businesses, including large venues, could resume service as long as seating was spaced out to enforce social distancing. State guidelines mirror those issued by the federal government, instructing people to stay six feet apart when they are outside their homes. Many businesses around the Lake of the Ozarks closed in the spring when the pandemic hit. But as the state moved to reopen, they allowed guests to rebook reservations. Several hotels and resorts told local media last week that they were fully booked through the weekend. In videos shared widely on social media, people could be seen lined up outside Backwater Jack's, waiting to enter the already packed bar and grill. "Corona-free," one man in line shouted in as the camera panned to him. The waterfront establishment hosted a pool party Saturday called "Zero Ducks Given" that featured DJs and live bands. A Facebook page described the event as a summer kickoff party and showed nearly 400 people had attended. PACKED WATERPARKS: Crowds descend upon Texas waterpark on Memorial Day weekend A representative from Backwater Jack's did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday. The event organizer said in a May 7 Facebook post the venue had "worked with and taken the advice of government officials and management teams and will be following social distancing guidelines," adding, "extra precautions and safety measures will be taken." Missouri has reported more than 11,700 cases of the coronavirus and 676 deaths. A study by researchers at Imperial College London said it was one of 24 U.S. states that had yet to rein in the coronavirus and risked a second wave of infections. Thick crowds also were seen at beaches and other attractions on the East Coast, including the Ocean City boardwalk and a beach on the reopened Jersey Shore. - - - The Washington Post's Meryl Kornfield contributed to this report. Elaine Thompson/AP The Memorial Day holiday will be cool and rainy as a cold front advances through the region but warmer weather and lots of sunshine are on tap for much of the work week after Monday's weather system exits the region. KOMO News meteorologist Kristin Clark said periods of steady rain are expected through the day for most of western Washington until the afternoon, when the showers will grow more scattered. These are tough days, Lord, Borling said. In so many ways, our world is upside down and stuff we so long took for granted is no more. Today we honor the fallen, those who have made the sacrifice so we can live free. The Mumbai Autorickshaw Taximens Union has asked chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow autorickshaws to start their operation in Maharashtra from June 1. The union has stated that the autorickshaw drivers are suffering due to no work and have no money to survive. The union has also raised their earlier demand to the state government to provide 10,000 to every autorickshaw driver in the state during the period of lockdown. The union has also asked for waiving off vehicle loans for the autorickshaw drivers and providing masks and sanitisers to the drivers. The auto business is severely impacted in the lockdown period. The business has seen a major dip. We have asked for our basic needs and to provide 10,000 to every autorickshaw driver every month during the lockdown period. Vehicle loans should also be waved off as the business will continue to be impacted severely post the lockdown, said Shashank Rao, leader, Mumbai Autorickshaw Taximens union. Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc (Photo: VNA) During the talks on May 21st, the two sides rejoiced at the strong developments of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership and expressed their hope that the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties will mark new milestones and determination to advance the relationship. Ngoc thanked the US administration and Congress for their support to Vietnam in the pandemic combat, saying recent medical cooperation activities have reflected the spirit of effective partnership and collaboration in the hardest time. Bera, who had work in health care for more than two decades before becoming a congressman, lauded and congratulated the Vietnamese Government and people on well containing the disease. He said he wants to visit some countries in the region, including Vietnam, after the pandemic is put under control. One of the priorities of the Subcommittee and the congressman is promoting multifaceted cooperation with regional countries, covering economy-trade, national defence-security, and maritime security and safety, Bera said. The two sides also exchanged views on the East Sea situation and the Mekong-US cooperation. Regarding the East Sea, Bera said he and the US Congress are always interested in and keep a close watch on developments in the East Sea and oppose acts that infringe upon sovereignty and run counter to international law, causing regional disorder. On this occasion, Ngoc and Bera discussed enhancing multifaceted collaboration between Vietnam and California, including the implementation of a letter of intention in this regard signed by representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and Los Angeles city in May 2019. Ngoc called on the California side to create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese in the state to live, work and study. He also appealed to the US Congress and administration to take measures to protect the Vietnamese community given the recent wave of discrimination against Asians in the country due to COVID-19 concern./. Clementine Ford has been given the green light to keep a council grant to help her write a new book after it came under review when she declared coronavirus 'isn't killing men fast enough'. The 39-year-old posted the outrageous statement on Twitter on Saturday in response to an article written about gender disparities in parenting children during the coronavirus crisis. She shared the story of a woman forced to quit her job during the pandemic because her stay-at-home husband could not cope with full-time parenting - and said the woman 'deserved better'. The initial tweet was followed up by a second comment, which read: 'Honestly, the coronavirus isn't killing men fast enough.' Ford issued a long-winded apology on Sunday after it was made public the council grant, worth thousands of dollars, was under review in light of her comments. Lord Mayor Sally Capp said Ford's post was 'deliberately divisive and incredibly unhelpful when we are trying to keep our community together during COVID-19'. Diehard feminist Clementine Ford has been allowed to keep a publicly-funded council grant after it was reviewed because she said coronavirus 'isn't killing men fast enough' But arts chair of the Melbourne City Council Rohan Leppert announced on Twitter on Monday Ford was not going to be stripped of the funding. 'The decisions to award grants have been finalised and they will not be undone,' he wrote. 'Above and beyond the politics of the day, recouping funds is not even a legally available option. Ms Ford's application met the criteria strongly. It is entirely inappropriate to retrospectively apply special criteria to one applicant.' Councillor Leppert said the council would not become 'the arbiter of taste and offence'. Arts chair of the Melbourne City Council Rohan Leppert (pictured) announced on Twitter that Ford was not going to be stripped of the funding Ford shared the story of a woman forced to quit her lucrative job during the pandemic because her stay-at-home husband couldn't cope with full time parenting 'Arts Grants are frequently controversial,' he said. 'It is incumbent on politicians to uphold the integrity of the processes that are set up, knowing that they like others will disagree with some individual outcomes.' Hours after it was made public her grant was under review, Ford took to Twitter with a lengthy apology saying she was 'a big enough person' to admit when she had 'misjudged something'. 'I still stand 100 per cent behind my fury at men exploiting women's unpaid labour (exacerbated by the global pandemic), but I've reconsidered my flippancy in discussing it,' she wrote On Sunday Ford issued a long-winded apology about the controversial comment after a grant offered to her by Melbourne City Council was put under review (part of the apology pictured) 'Regardless of what people want to think about me, I have no wish to compound harm and grief for anyone, nor be dismissive of the very real impact and fear a crisis like this presents. 'A flippant (and yes, poorly judged) tweet doesn't change that reality and it shouldn't shift the focus away from it. 'If we benefit from privilege, we should also be robust enough to accept critique of the systems that privilege us and work to change them.' But hundreds of people didn't buy the apology. 'Yeah, not so fast girl. It wasn't flippant it was thirsty and banal. And it's done some serious damage,' one user tweeted. 'This woman doesn't admit fault easily... clearly she got a tap on the shoulder,' another said. Lord Mayor Sally Capp said Ford's post was 'deliberately divisive and incredibly unhelpful when we are trying to keep our community together during COVID-19' Hundreds of people slammed the apology on Twitter 'It is amazing how hard you jumped off when you knew that 20k grant was in jeopardy. Pathetic,' one woman commented. 'Is this an attempt at some sort of apology? You can't even get that right!' another said. Others came to the writer's defence and thanked her admitting she'd made a blunder. 'Many who need you love your courage. They feel power and comfort from seeing you talk to men the way men talk to us,' one woman wrote. 'That's an intentionally narrow tightrope to walk, and people who never applaud your daily performances will always be quick to yell at your corpse after a fall.' 'Thank you for your apology to those that it hurt. I just wish more people got angry about DV as much as they got angry at your tweet,' another said. CLEMENTINE FORD'S FULL APOLOGY I'm a big enough person to admit when I've misjudged something. I still stand 100% behind my fury at men exploiting women's unpaid labour (exacerbated by the global pandemic), but I've reconsidered my flippancy in discussing it. I've always maintained that the difference between jokes that punch up and down is the reality of harm. Eg joking about firing men into the sun has no basis in reality and therefore no potential to further harm, while 'jokes' about domestic abuse are very much reflective of an extensive harm already in place. The corona tweet was contextually in response to the fact women are once again shouldering the burden of domestic labour at the expense of their own economic freedom, being let down by men who are in turn upheld by systems that have privileged them. It is acceptable to express fury at that, and it's disappointing more men aren't outraged by this reality. But based on my own metric outlined up thread, I have to accept fault for the corona tweet because it made a flippant joke about something that IS actually a harmful reality, and one that affects marginalised men disproportionately, not to mention robs people of their loved ones. Regardless of what people want to think about me, I have no wish to compound harm and grief for anyone, nor be dismissive of the very real impact and fear a crisis like this presents. But I also think it's fair to be angry at the lack of interest in this crisis' impact on women. To be astonished at how women are expected to perform the essential tasks that allow men to thrive, at the expense of women's stability, while being denied recognition for that work. A flippant (and yes, poorly judged) tweet doesn't change that reality and it shouldn't shift the focus away from it. If we benefit from privilege, we should also be robust enough to accept critique of the systems that privilege us and work to change them. Anyway, this acknowledgement isn't for the men who are looking for any reason to ignore patriarchal impact but for the people genuinely hurt by my words. I'm sincerely sorry, and I wish I had framed my argument in better terms and in a way that didn't compound harm. Be well. Advertisement Meanwhile, others came to the writer's defence and thanked her for the apology Ford's initial tweet came on the back of several global studies that indicate men are dying of coronavirus at a faster rate than women. Researchers from several esteemed hospitals in Beijing concluded men and women have the same potential to contract the disease, but men with COVID-19 are more at risk for worse outcomes and death, independent of age. Of 206,128 patients, researchers at the University College London found men were twice as likely to require intensive care, and 60 per cent more likely to die. It is not yet clear why men are more susceptible to fatal outcomes, but some health authorities have argued it is in part due to the increased likelihood of smoking and poorer hygiene habits. Others suggested her outspoken views on men could be potentially damaging for her own son (pictured) in the future Ford's initial post attracted an influx of criticism by people who accused her of 'weaponising feminism,' having 'daddy issues' and being 'toxic'. Former Senator Derryn Hinch described her opinions as 'repulsive'. 'Sometimes your Twitter views are truly repulsive. If this is a serious comment I feel sorry for you. What a way to go through life full of hatred,' he responded. Others suggested her post - which she claimed was in jest - paved the way for equally as damaging comments. 'Clementine, is this a similar joke to: ''Honestly, the corona virus isn't killing black people fast enough'' or ''Honestly, the corona virus isn't killing disabled people fast enough'' or ''Honestly, the corona virus isn't killing health care workers fast enough''?' Ford initially argued the backlash proved 'exactly how fragile men are.' 'The same men who insist all the time that women laugh at jokes about violence against us because 'dark humour' and 'relieving tension'. Men are pathetic,' she wrote. 'Men love to screech about snowflakes and triggered feminists and women not being able to take a joke and they crumble at the first sign of a hyperbolic tweet that doesn't place them as gods at the centre of the universe. Ding dongs, all of them.' The Melbourne-based author has previously spoken about being the target of graphic abuse, trolling and death threats from men on social media, and is known for her often polarising comments about men. In 2017, she hand-signed a copy of her book 'Fight Like a Girl', with a message that read: 'Have you killed any men today? And if not, why not?' Washington: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has alleged that the eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed American safety and undermined its freedom and independence. Eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed our safety and undermined our freedom and independence, he said at an election rally in Jackson, Mississippi yesterday. Our jobs have moved overseas, Islamic terrorism has spread within our shores and an open border has crushed low-income workers and threatened our security. The issues we face here in America are similar to the issues faced in Britain during their referendum on membership in the EU. This is the movement known as Brexit, Trump, 70, said as he continued to lash out at the policies of outgoing US President Barack Obama and his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, 68. Trump alleged that Clinton has been on the wrong side of history in every major decision she has ever made and got this one wrong too. Now, Hillary wants to surrender America to globalism. She wants a country without borders. She wants trade deals written for the benefit of foreign corporations. She wants a government that ignores the will of the people. She wants to sell out American security to the Clinton Foundation for a pile of cash. It is hard to tell where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. According to the AP, more than half the meetings she took as Secretary of State from outside government were with Foundation Donors. Hillary Clinton doesnt believe in America First. She believes in Donors First, Trump alleged. Trump said that Clinton would rather give a job to a refugee from overseas than to an unemployed American Veteran. The job of a public official is to serve and protect the citizens of the United States. Not illegal immigrants, not foreign nationals seeking entry, but the people living here lawfully today including millions of African-American and Hispanic citizens, he said. Trump said his focus will always be on the well-being of the more than 300 million American citizens who call this country home. I will fight for their security, I will fight for their jobs, I will fight for their families. One American Nation. Hillary Clinton has betrayed her duty to the people. November 8th is our chance to re-declare American Independence, he said. Trump introduced Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party on the state. Its time for America to recapture its destiny. Our government, our leaders, and our media have lost touch with the people. You need no better evidence of that than the fact that the media ignores the plight of Americans who have lost their children to illegal immigrants, but spends day after day pushing for amnesty for those here in violation of the law, Trump said. Trump alleged that the Obama-Clinton foreign policy has unleashed ISIS, destabilised the Middle East and put the nation of Iran which chants Death to America in a dominant position of regional power and, in fact, aspiring to be a dominant world power. This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction, terrorism and weakness. But Hillary Clintons legacy doesnt have to be Americas legacy. We are going to end the era of nation-building and create a new foreign policy joined by our partners in the Middle East that is focused on destroying ISIS. We will extend the hand of friendship to any nation that will work with us in good faith on this vital mission, Trump said. I have a message for the terrorists trying to kill our citizens: we will find you, we will destroy you, and we will win. This is not only a military fight, but we will also require cyberwarfare and financial warfare. It is also an ideological fight. We will confront directly the hateful ideology of Radical Islam and promote American values, and American culture, and Americas system of government, Trump added. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By AFP WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Sunday further limited travel from the world's coronavirus hotspots by denying entry to foreigners coming from Brazil, which is second to the US in the number of confirmed cases. Trump had already banned certain travelers from China, Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Iran. He has not moved to ban travel from Russia, which has the world's third-highest caseload. Trump had said last week that he was considering limiting travel from Brazil. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany cast the step announced Sunday as another "decisive action to protect our country" by Trump, whose management of the crisis has come under sharp scrutiny. The US leads the world with more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases and a death toll that is expected to surpass 100,000 later this week, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Brazil, now Latin America's hardest-hit country, is second, with more than 347,000 cases and more than 22,000 deaths. Third on the list is Russia, with more than 344,000 reported cases and more than 3,500 deaths. The White House did not immediately respond to queries about whether a travel ban would be imposed on Russia. "Today's action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country," McEnany said. Filipe Martins, who advises Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on international affairs, said the U.S. was treating Brazil as it had other populous countries and suggested the news media were overplaying Trump's ban. "By temporarily banning the entry of Brazilians to the U.S., the American government is following previously established quantitative parameters that naturally reach a country as populous as ours," Martins tweeted. "There isn't anything specifically against Brazil. Ignore the hysteria from the press." Bolsonaro has downplayed the coronavirus by repeatedly calling it a "little flu" and insisting that closing businesses and issuing stay-at-home recommendations will ultimately cause more hardship by wrecking the economy. Bolsonaro fired his first health minister for going against him and backing restrictions put in place by Brazil's governors. His second minister also resigned after openly breaking with Bolsonaro over widespread prescription of the antimalarial drug chloroquine for coronavirus treatment. Trump said in an interview broadcast in the U.S. on Sunday that he had completed a course of a related drug, hydroxychloroquine, as a line of defense against becoming infected. Bolsonaro's approach has mirrored that of Trump, who in the early days of the outbreak sought to downplay the severity and suggest the few cases that existed in the U.S. would "just disappear." After agreeing to encourage Americans to practice social distancing, Trump began to say the "cure can't be worse than the problem itself." He has been aggressively pushing governors to allow businesses to reopen and traveling more himself. Meanwhile, the number of cases in Brazil has continued to surge, pushing hospitals in multiple states to the brink of collapse and causing the Amazon city of Manaus to bury people in mass graves. The pace of deaths has been accelerating and, with a peak still approaching, the country has only an interim health minister. Brazil has more than 360,000 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to health ministry data released Sunday night, meaning it trails only the U.S. in the Johns Hopkins University tally. Experts consider it a vast undercount due to insufficient testing. The ministry reported more than 22,600 deaths. The White House said Sunday it plans to donate 1,000 ventilators to Brazil. The ban on travel from Brazil takes effect late Thursday. As with the other bans, it does not apply to legal permanent residents. A spouse, parent or child of a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident also would be allowed to enter the country. The restrictions also do not apply to trade between the U.S. and Brazil. Earlier Sunday, Robert O'Brien, the U.S. national security adviser, had said an announcement was likely. "We're concerned about the people of the Southern Hemisphere and certainly the people of Brazil. They're having a rough go of it," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "He said the travel ban would likely be temporary. But because of the situation in Brazil, we're going to take every step necessary to protect the American people," O'Brien said. Data from Brazil's civil aviation agency shows there has already been a sharp reduction in U.S.-bound flights from the South American country. There were more than 700 flights from Brazil to the U.S. in February of this year, with the number dropping to just 140 in April, two months later. There were more than 700 flights to the U.S. from Brazil in April 2019, the data shows. Alyssa Milano got trolled online over her "super safe" face mask which she used to protect herself amid the coronavirus pandemic. Ever since the health crisis started, celebrities and designers participated in multiple COVID-19 causes by designing and supplying face masks for themselves and frontliners. Milano also joined forces with them. However, her work was "hilariously different" compared to others. On Saturday, the 47-year-old "Who's The Boss" actress sported her do-it-yourself face mask on Twitter. However, her face mask seemed to have holes on it, appearing as if it was crocheted. "Show me your masks! Masks keep people safe and healthy. Show me yours! Ready? Go!" she wrote in the caption while urging everyone to do the same. But instead of getting support, netizens laughed and called her out since the cover most likely will not do anything for her at all. One user wrote, "Are you SERIOUSLY wearing a KNITTED mask!!!!...as in A MASK WITH HOLES IN IT??" "Your idiocracy really is the gift that keeps giving. Thank you. #crochet," another netizen replied. The photo, which now has 26,400 likes and 2,900 retweets, surely grabbed people's attention. Nonetheless, Milano defended that her mask is genuinely safe. "A--holes, mask has a carbon filter in it. So, yes, it might be crochet but totally safe," Milano wrote. "Mask has a filter in it for f---'s sake. A carbon one. My mom makes them. #WearAMask" One follower also shared that she is using the same mask and even showed how it truly looked like. A crocheted mask WITH a filter pocket sewn on that I made. Works perfectly. People are some seriously judgy f*ckwads. @Alyssa_Milano you do you. pic.twitter.com/bL29Sx3ORa Stephanie Wilson (@Mrs_Kity) May 23, 2020 It's understandable why a lot of netizens were tiggered by Milano's. After all, according to Johns Hopkins University, there have already been more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S., 97,000 of which succumbed. The U.S.A also remains the number one nation with the most number of cases, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed South America as the new epicenter of the pandemic. Milano vs. Navy Seal?! The Twitter rage against Milano worsened after Navy SEAL Robert J. O'Neill joined the online commotion. O'Neill, who became well-known for shooting and killing Osama bin Laden in 2011, also criticized Milano's loose-knit mask by writing, "There are holes in your mask, love." Such a mask could allow the COVID-19 virus to spread quickly as it does not have filtration. Just like she did to others, Milano slammed the Navy Seal and clarified that she put a carbon filter inside her mask. Later on, she shared a screenshot of the filter she bought from Amazon and the same item she lined inside her facial covering. It was not the first time Alyssa Milano experienced heavy online criticism, though. Recently, she made headlines after she defended Joe Biden against the sexual assault allegations that have been thrown at him. As a result, a lot of celebrity activists, including Rose McGowan, called her "a fraud." Despite the backlash she received, she continues to support Biden for president this year. Update: A bulletin for law enforcement to be on the lookout for Carson Ray Peters in connection with a triple homicide in Decatur on Sunday was issued Monday afternoon. Peters is described as 5-feet-7-inches tall, brown hair, blue eyes. Law enforcement also is looking for a black 2013 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck, Alabama license tag 52GL447. Also in the pickup with Peters is a woman, April Hanner, described as 4-feet-11 inches tall and weighing 110 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The notice states that Peters has three capital murder warrants for his arrest and that both "subjects should be considered armed and dangerous. HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION UPDATE: At this time, the Decatur Police Department has received information indicating Peters... Posted by Decatur Police Department Alabama on Monday, May 25, 2020 Original story continues here: A manhunt continues for a 58-year-old north Alabama man sought in the murders of three people and the wounding of a fourth. Authorities on Monday identified the wanted man as Carson Ray Peters. Decatur police responded just before 7 p.m. Sunday to a report of gunshots on Flint Creek Private Drive in the Danville area. When officers arrived at the home, they found three people dead on the scene. The fourth victim was airlifted to a hospital. Decatur police spokeswoman Emme Long said the triple homicide is domestic-related. Authorities identified the victims as: Teresa Lynn Peters, 54, of Danville; Tammy Renee Smith, 50, of Danville, and James Edward Miller, 55, of Laceys Springs. The search for Peters now charged with three counts of capital murder - was immediately launched in the areas around Flint Creek Private Drive, including Neel School Road and Kirby Bridge Road. The Morgan County Sheriffs Office and Priceville police joined Decatur police in the search, as did the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys helicopter. Authorities said Peters should be considered armed and dangerous. The public is cautioned not to approach him but to call 911 immediately. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Sean Mukaddam at 256-341-4167 or via email at smukaddam@decatur-al.gov. WASHINGTON A year after American-backed forces seized the last remnant of territory under Islamic State rule in Syria, some 10,000 captured ISIS fighters in Kurdish-run wartime prisons pose a significant risk to the United States mission in the countrys northeast, military commanders say. Hardened ISIS fighters protesting the dire conditions in their makeshift confines, including the potential spread of Covid-19, have rioted at the largest prison in Hasaka twice in the last two months. The uprisings were quelled, but they underscore the high-impact risk of a mass breakout, American commanders told investigators from the Pentagon inspector generals office. These findings, contained in the inspector generals latest quarterly report on the U.S. military missions in Iraq and Syria, issued earlier this month, represent new and alarming warnings for an American counterterrorism mission that already faces renewed attacks from resurgent ISIS guerrillas, pressure from Russian troops supporting the army of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, and concerns that the coronavirus could infect their own ranks. These concerns have limited operations of the 500 remaining U.S. troops in northeastern Syria. Only a handful of Covid-19 deaths have been reported in the countrys northeast, and none so far in the prisons. But humanitarian assistance workers express fear that a rapid outbreak is a real possibility given the regions war-battered health infrastructure and the severe overcrowding at its prisons. Citi Vietnam has held and will continue to hold helpful webinars In consumer banking, Citi cardholders can use JioHealth, one of the most advanced medical mobile applications in Vietnam, to conduct video chats with certified doctors around the clock. Citi credit card holders can also request a doctor to visit their home via the app and receive a 30 per cent discount on the first visit and 20 per cent discount from then on. PremierMiles cardholders can use their PremierMiles personal assistance hotline to get 24/7 health support. Citi has placed importance on ensuring cardholders are rewarded with the most relevant rewards. Besides all of the traditional redemption methods, Citi PremierMiles, CashBack, and Rewards cardholders could use their points to pay directly for transactions at Grab, Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, Agoda, Traveloka, CGV, Starbucks, McDonalds, DeliveryNow, and JioHealth. Citi is proud to be the only bank in Vietnam that offers such feature to cardholders. Citi also quickly partnered with the two biggest e-commerce sites, Lazada and Shopee, to bring more discounts for customer orders. The bank has also partnered with DeliveryNow to bring food and drinks directly to customer doorsteps with up to 20 per cent discount. Furthermore, the bank announced a partnership with GrabMart to deliver fresh groceries to customers. Natasha Ansell, Vietnam Citi country officer, said, Realising that social distancing would hinder the ability to leave home, we partnered with companies to deliver best-in-class solutions directly to customers during that period. Citi has been at the forefront of offering supporting programmes for customers with incomes impacted by coronavirus, including short-term deferrals and interest/fee waivers for eligible clients. Furthermore, Citi has applied reduction of service fees to support customers in recent months. Vietnam has been widely and duly praised for its timely and effective actions to contain the pandemic, and it has now gradually lifted most of the social distancing measures and is reopening the economy, Ansell explained. Citi Vietnam will continue to monitor developments closely and evaluate additional actions to support our clients and communities as needs arise. The bank remained active while social distancing measures were in place. Citi hosted a webinar last month for 20 CEOs, CFOs, treasurers, and chief accountants from Citis institutional clients. The agenda was focused on the actions taken to overcome the coronavirus pandemic from the governments perspective, business contingency plans, economic and market updates, and digital solutions. Citi Vietnam has also been actively reaching out to institutional clients on a regular basis to understand the impact of the global health crisis on their business and providing market updates and insights from Citis global network. The banks priority now is on how the bank can support its clients through this challenging period. Our award-winning electronic platform CitiDirect BE, coupled with our host-to-host capabilities via CitiConnect, help to ensure that our institutional clients can continue to perform their core banking activities in a controlled, digital way during the challenging environment of COVID-19, added Ansell. Also last month, Citi Commercial Bank (CCB) and Regional TTS hosted a webinar on Virtual Cards solution on attended by 15 CCB digital segment clients. Other client webinars have been scheduled to provide market updates and developments in Vietnam to clients in overseas markets, as well as staying connected with clients with capital markets enquiries via video conference calls with bankers across several regional teams. Ansell expressed that Citi highly appreciates the efficient efforts made by the Vietnamese government in the prevention and control of the pandemic. We continue to be confident in the prospects of the Vietnamese economy. Citi pledges to comply with related local regulations and we want our customers to know that we remain committed to providing the necessary support. In this vein, the support will continue to include business continuity plans, digital solutions, and extending credit facilities to support clients and suppliers in a responsible and prudent manner. Representative image The United States plans a massive testing effort involving more than 100,000 volunteers and a half dozen or so of the most promising vaccine candidates in an effort to deliver a safe and effective one by the end of 2020, scientists leading the program told Reuters. The project will compress what is typically 10 years of vaccine development and testing into a matter of months, testimony to the urgency to halt a pandemic that has infected more than 5 million people, killed over 335,000 and battered economies worldwide. To get there, leading vaccine makers have agreed to share data and lend the use of their clinical trial networks to competitors should their own candidate fail, the scientists said. Candidates that demonstrate safety in small early studies will be tested in huge trials of 20,000 to 30,000 subjects for each vaccine, slated to start in July. Between 100,000 and 150,000 people may be enrolled in the studies, said Dr. Larry Corey, a vaccine expert at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, who is helping design the trials. If you dont see a safety problem, you just keep going, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), told Reuters. The vaccine effort is part of a public-private partnership called Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) announced last month. 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 effort fits into the research and development arm of Operation Warp Speed, the White House program announced last week to accelerate coronavirus vaccine development. Vaccines, which are intended for use in healthy people, are typically tested in successive steps, starting with trials in animals. Human testing begins with a small safety trial in healthy volunteers, followed by a larger study to find the right dose and get an early read on efficacy. The final stage consists of large-scale testing in thousands of people. Only then would a vaccine developer commit to manufacturing millions of doses. In the era of coronavirus, many of those steps will overlap, particularly the mid-stage and late-stage trials, Collins and Corey said. The approach has its risks, as certain safety issues may only appear in large-scale trials. Americans are concerned about the speed of the vaccine effort, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed. A highly effective vaccine could be tested in as little as six months if there is a big difference in benefit between the vaccine and placebo groups, Corey said. For a modestly effective vaccine, trials could take nine to 12 months. The U.S. government has committed billions of dollars to help manufacturers produce doses of vaccines that may never prove successful. THE SHORTLIST To get the quickest answer, vaccines will be tested in healthcare workers and communities where the virus is still spreading to show whether they reduced new cases of COVID-19. Washington, D.C, which has not reached the peak of its outbreak, is one likely test site. Trials may be conducted abroad, including in Africa, where the virus has just started to spread, Collins said. The government plans to tap its own trial networks, including the Department of Veterans Affairs 100 healthcare facilities, for potential study volunteers, while drugmakers will recruit from their clinical research networks. A Moderna Inc vaccine, developed in partnership with the NIH, will be the first to the enter large-scale testing in July, and may be joined by a vaccine from Britains Oxford University and AstraZeneca Plc, Collins said. The U.S. government said on Thursday it would spend $1.2 billion to secure 300 million doses of the Oxford vaccine. What we might try to do is run those two side by side, but with a control arm that would also include 10,000 healthy individuals who got a dummy vaccine, Collins said. Modernas candidate is already proceeding to mid-stage human trials. Vaccines by Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi and Merck & Co are a month or two behind the frontrunners and may get added over the course of the summer following early-stage human trials, Collins said. Merck has not made any specific announcements on its vaccine program and declined to comment. Collins would not name other candidates on the U.S. shortlist of 14, but said they will need to finish early safety testing by this summer to make it into the bigger trials. Trials will need to assess if the vaccines cause disease enhancement - a potentially dangerous side effect in which the vaccine makes the disease worse in some individuals instead of preventing it. Disease enhancement has been seen in animal studies of vaccines developed to fight a close cousin of the virus that causes COVID-19. If there is enhancement, thats a big stop sign for everything, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH. If all the cards fall into the right place and all the stars are aligned, you definitely could get a vaccine by December or January, Fauci said. The Chief medical officer has said the two-metre physical distance is guidance, not a hard and fast law. It comes as photos and video appeared on social media on Sunday showing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, his partner and friends socialising in Dublins Phoenix Park. Dr Tony Holohan said while he acknowledged calls for the physical-distancing guidance to be reduced from two metres to one, the rules are being constantly kept under review and two metres was a reasonable compromise given where we are. A spokesman for Mr Varadkar said: The Taoiseach was in the Phoenix Park with his partner Matt and two friends on Sunday afternoon in line with public health guidance. He was within 5km of the Stewards Lodge, where he is staying during the covid emergency. The Taoiseach has been in Stewards Lodge during the last few weeks as it has secure office and video-conferencing facilities, which allows him to work from home. Just like previous taoisigh, he pays a nightly fee to use it. Since last Monday, four people from different households are allowed to meet outdoors under phase one of the Governments road map for reopening the country. Mr Holohan said the two metres set out by the Government is guidance. He added: It is not a rule, it is guidance. It has been described as if it is some hard and fast law that is there. So it is guidance and like any guidance it has to be interpreted by people at an individual level and then by organisations. Tony Holohan on photos of Leo Varadkar: "Our guidance is that it is up to four persons not from the same household to meet outdoors while maintaining strict social distancing. That's our guidance. I didn't see any pictures that are in violation of that involving the Taoiseach." Aine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) May 25, 2020 Asked about the photos of Mr Varadkar, Dr Holohan said: People will take all sorts of inferences from media both from pictures and videos and so on. People in public positions tend to get photographed and filmed more than others. What I would say in relation to that is to come back to the guidance the public health team has issued. We talk about small groups outdoors in Phase One the phase we are in at the moment. Our guidance is that it is up to four persons not from the same household to meet outdoors while maintaining strict social distancing. Thats our guidance. I didnt see any pictures that are in violation of that involving the Taoiseach. Through addiction and her best friends recent death, one Birmingham woman says her dog Hank is the one that kept her on the right path. I hated myself for so long, normal life was so foreign to me. Hank taught me about unconditional love, Lacy Brenner said. The Michigan transplant was addicted to opioids for 16 years. She had only been sober and living back on her own for several months when she met her pit bull-Weimaraner mix Hank in October 2018. She never looked backnot to life without Hank, or to life on drugs. The dog was especially helpful to her when her best friend and Trussville native Paighton Houston was found dead in January, weeks after being reported missing after she was last seen at a Lakeview bar. Earlier this month, Brenner said she was having a moment of grief over her friend and considered buying drugs. I really almost got high over it, she said. I just laid in the bed and held Hank I dont know what would have happened the other night if he wasnt right there. The deep end Brenner was in the military when in 2002, she broke her pelvis and was prescribed pain killers. She left active duty in 2005 and entered Michigans National Guard. When I came home, I was just kind of lost, she said. She got a DUI during this time, but Brenner said she wasnt super bad yet. She was drinking heavily, but she thought she could control it. Just two years later, Brenner was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. She came back from deployment early though, after learning her mom was ill. When I came home, everything took a turn, she said. Brenner was diagnosed with insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder. The problem for people with PTSD who just got back from overseas was doctors were quick to prescribe whatever they thought might help, she said. It didnt help. It created a monster. I hung on for a while, she said, describing her trips to therapy and doctors. (But) it was just a really good excuse to get whatever I wanted. In January 2013, Brenners mom died. Thats when I really lost my mind, she said. Thats when things really went off the deep end. There was the crack for about six months. Then, the night terrors were so horrible, she turned to Adderall to stay awake. Then, there was crystal meth. There were the daily opioids, too. Brenner was kicked out of her family and friends houses and often slept in her car. She kept her federal jobshe still doesnt know howbut she knew it couldnt last forever. The last straw Everything changed in January 2018. That was really the last straw, she said. Brenner was arrested on charges of drug paraphernalia, possession of drugs, and several additional misdemeanors. She called her sister, who was living in Montgomery, and came clean about everything. Her sister said: Resign from your job, move to Alabama, and get help. Shes always been my saving grace, Brenner said. Brenner followed her sisters instructions: She resigned from her military job, packed up a trailer, and drove to Alabama. When she arrived, she was 90 pounds and still addicted. I was just so out of everything, Brenner said, laughing that she must have accidentally added hours to the trip because of driving through unnecessary states. She detoxed at her sisters house for two days, then went to Bradford Health Services. She agreed to stay two weeksbut ended up staying for 12. I stayed as long as they would let me, she said. When she got out of rehab that May, Brenner moved to a sober living facility. She left that facility in mid-June, and started living life on her own. In October 2018, just a few days before her birthday, Brenner thought she would just take a look at the Greater Birmingham Humane Societys dogs. She went to the Snow Drive facility and saw Hank walking through the hall with a staffer, and she knew. Hes the cutest thing Ive ever seen, she said. She learned while playing with Hank that he was slated to be transferred to a facility in Texas. I said Nope, hes coming with me. I left that day with Hank and hes been with me ever since. Hank has absolutely helped Brenner stay sober, she said. He knows when Im upset. If I have a nightmare, hes there. Hank and I just have a soul connection. They used to call Hank the AA dog because he would come to meetings and sit in the car. In September 2019, Brenner and her boyfriend rescued a second dog, a puppy they named Arya. Houston went with Brenner to pick up the filthy, flea and worm-ridden puppy from a job site where Brenners boyfriend where was working. Brenner expected to find her a home, but Arya never left. Theyre like my whole life. I dont trust anyone else, Brenner said. Missing Paighton That love and trust was crucial at a time in Brenners life when she needed it most: When her co-worker and friend Houston went missing on Dec. 20, 2019, and whose body was found buried in the backyard of a Hueytown home Jan. 3. Authorities ruled Houstons death to be of an accidental drug overdose. During those weeks of searching for 29-year-old Houston, Brenner said her dogs got her through the pain. There were a lot of rough days. But, who would take care of them if I was addicted? she said. Once I start, its over. Thats where all my money goes. It really hurts my heart to imagine these dogs being hungry or not having what they need. Brenner held onto that thought when she needed to curb temptation, and it worked. Houston loved dogs, Brenner said, including Hank and Arya. Hank was the unofficial mascot of Houston and Brenners softball team, and he sometimes came to work at their office where they worked as freight brokers and dispatchers. She loved dogs, Brenner said. The pain didnt just end though after Houstons body was found, though. I brought Hank everywhere with me, Brenner said about the time after Jan. 3. Im just more comfortable when hes around. Brenner, who worked with Houston closely and in a similar role, was asked to take over her late friends desk and her clients. Hank came to work with Brenner and calmed her through that process, something she said was vital to the transition. Some of Houstons things still sit on Brenners desk. Brenner is two years sober, with a full-time job she loves and speaks with other recovering addicts and at sober living facilities whenever she can. She also volunteers with a dog rescue, Allies Hope For Paws. You never know who you might help," Brenner said-- which goes for humans and dogs alike. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the government agencies, public sector undertakings and major industries owe an estimated Rs 5 lakh crore in outstanding payments to MSMEs. The MSME minister said the Centre has decided that its ministries and public sector undertakings will clear outstanding payments of MSMEs within 45 days. "State governments, their ministries and public sector undertakings, Government of India, its ministries and undertakings, and major industries combined owe an estimated Rs 5 lakh crore to MSMEs, money that is stuck and not cleared," Gadkari said. The minister said he has also requested state governments to clear dues owed by their departments and state owned undertakings. He has been repeatedly appealing to major industries during his interactions to clear the outstanding payments owed by them to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Gadkari said the government has devised a scheme to strengthen NBFCs as they play a significant role in financing. The government was thinking of creating a separate category of 'village industry' for MSMEs to encourage setting up of units in villages, he added. The minister was speaking in a video interaction with the members of Calcutta Chamber of Commerce. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:09:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that Japan will deny the entry of foreign nationals from an additional 11 countries including India, in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. According to the entry ban, non-Japanese citizens who have been in Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, South Africa and Tajikistan within two weeks of their arrival in Japan will be turned away at the border. The ban will take effect from Wednesday, said Abe, adding that it will remain in place "for the time being." The addition brings the total number of countries and regions covered by the entry ban to 111, including China, South Korea, the United States and all of Europe. While Japanese citizens can re-enter the country, they must undergo coronavirus testing and self-quarantine for two weeks to see if they develop symptoms such as high fever and coughing. Japan will maintain other border control measures until the end of next month, including visa suspensions and a two-week quarantine period for all arrivals, said Abe. Enditem YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The mistake in the strategy of fighting against the coronavirus in Armenia is that the Government had excessively much confidence in the individual sense of responsibility of citizens, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said during a Facebook Live. Our strategy was allocating some time for presenting the seriousness of the situation to the people and expand the capacities of the healthcare system of our country, after which we should lift restrictions, giving the people nearly 100% guarantees that we would be able to avoid being infected. The citizen follows those rules not for the benefit of the Government or the PM, but first of all for himself and his relatives. But the question is the following should be continue relying on the individual sense of responsibility of citizens or not? I think that the best factor for fighting the coronavirus is the individual sense of responsibility of each of us, the PM said. Nikol Pashinyan presented 3 rules which are of key importance as preventive measures not touching the face with non disinfected hands, wearing face masks and preserving social distance. PM Pashinyan noted that the velvet, non-violent revolution became a reality in Armenia thanks to the individual sense of responsibility of the citizens and urged them to carry out a coronavirus revolution with the same sense of responsibility. The PM emphasized that there will be some toughening of rules to fight coronavirus. I ask and urge you to avoid from organizing parties on weekends and preserve the mentioned rules on weekends as well. Lets help each other so as not to cause new shocks to our economy, he said. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 17:48:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Residents attend a street campaign in support of national security legislation for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Hong Kong, south China, May 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Gang) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- While Chinese lawmakers are deliberating a draft decision to introduce national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), some foreign politicians like Mike Pompeo and Nancy Pelosi cannot wait to interfere. Their preposterous behaviors, predictable as always, fully exposed the political scheme of external forces in interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs. Supported by such external forces, extremist organizations advocating the so-called "Hong Kong independence" and radical separatist forces have committed shocking violent crimes that are in the nature of terrorism since the disturbance following the now-withdrawn ordinance amendments in 2019. The rampant violence severely undermined China's national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. No country would ever turn a blind eye to actions severely undermining its national security. For example, it is hard to imagine that the United States would allow any of its cities to remain unguarded in terms of national security or tolerate arbitrary interference by hostile foreign forces in its domestic affairs. In fact, foreign countries like the United States and Britain have been equipped with the most sophisticated laws on national security. There has been an unusual absence of applicable national security legislation in Hong Kong since its return to China, and some foreign politicians argued that Hong Kong should stay that way. They chose to neglect the universal practice that enacting national security laws falls within a state's legislative power and distorted the draft decision with old rhetoric under the guise of democracy, freedom and human rights. But the last thing they care about is the actual interests and well-being of Hong Kong residents, who have been suffering greatly from escalating violent terrorist activities. To some Western politicians' logic, "democracy, freedom and human rights" of rioters deserve to have better protection than those of the general public. What foreign anti-China politicians should really keep in mind is that Hong Kong is a local administrative region of China, and any interference in China's Hong Kong affairs is doomed to fail. The central ministry of health has reacted to media reports alleging bad quality PPE (personal protection equipment) kits were exposing medical care professionals to risks in several parts of the country and said the bad-quality products referred to in the reports are not cleared by government agencies and added that there was no shortage of approved and tested PPES and N-95 masks which have been supplied in ample quantities to states and union territories to be used while handling coronavirus patients or suspects. There are some reports in a section of the media expressing concern about the quality of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) coveralls. The products under reference have no relevance to the procurement being made by the Central Government, an official statement from the ministry of health stated on Monday. While the statement doesnt mention the reports in particular that made the claim, however, a few in the past days have questioned the quality of the PPEs supplied locally to medical professionals in Ghaziabad. A prominent Hindi daily had claimed that some new kits produced and procured locally were found to be worn out and torn in places. It blamed the poor quality of kits to be among the reasons for the government doctors and other healthcare professionals catching the disease in the district. The UP government then decided to ban local procurement. Another report had cited complaints regarding poor quality PPE kits by some surgeons in Ludhiana Civil Hospital. The ministry of health in its statement said that the central government had cleared PPE manufacturers and suppliers after applying stringent quality testing standards set by the ministry of textiles. HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL), the procuring agency of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is procuring PPE coveralls from manufacturers/suppliers only after getting their coveralls tested and approved by one of the eight labs nominated by the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) for testing the same. It is only after their products qualify in the test prescribed by the technical committee (JMG) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, that they are procured, the ministry explained. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 It added that random sampling of the supplies is also being made and the company that fails to meet the standards is being disqualified for any future procurement. All the States/UTs have been asked to ensure procurement which is being carried out at their level after following the prescribed testing for PPEs from MoT nominated labs. In addition, manufacturers who have got their products qualified from these labs are also being on-boarded on Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the statement adds. The ministry said the information about qualified and approved manufacturers and suppliers was available on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for the states and the private sector to use. The ministry further pointed out that there was no shortage of safety equipment and essentials as the country had ramped up its domestic production capacity of PPEs and N95 masks and the requirements of the States/UTs are being sufficiently met. Today, the country is producing more than 3 lakh PPEs and N95 masks per day. States/UTs as well as Central Institutions have been provided with around 111.08 lakh N-95 masks and around 74.48 lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), said the ministry. By Martin Schram Professor Robert Dingwall warned the measures were 'extreme' and risked making children 'miserable There is no need to remove soft toys from classrooms or ban children from touching books when schools eventually reopen, one of the government's experts has claimed. Professor Robert Dingwall warned the measures were 'extreme' and risked making children 'miserable' when they are finally allowed back into class after two-and-a-half months off. The government has recommended teachers remove soft toys from classes to curb the spread of Covid-19 and keep schools safe. And some children have been told they wont be able to take artwork home with them or touch the books, Professor Dingwall said. But Professor Dingwall, who sits on an expert panel that feeds into SAGE, said the risk of the coronavirus being spread on paper is unlikely and that the measures were 'tragic' and 'misplaced'. Boris Johnson last night confirmed British schools will start to reopen on June 1, with reception, year one and year six classes the first to return. The Prime Minister's announcement came after a month of rows between Number 10 and teachers' unions over coronavirus safety concerns. Department of Education officials have already issued guidance on how schools can keep both children and teachers safe. It included removing soft furnishings, such as pillows, bean bags and rugs, as well as soft toys, which could include teddy bears. The guidance also says frequently touched surfaces, equipment, door handles, and toilets will need to be cleaned thoroughly 'several times a day'. The National Education Union - which has 450,000 members - published a 169-point shopping list of its own demands for teachers and staff. The list, described as a 'barrier' to reopening schools, included demands for mapped locations of lidded bins in classrooms and around the school. Children at Caldicotes Primary Academy in Middlesbrough in a classroom adapted to allow for social distancing measures to be followed An assessment of various models of the impact of changes on the R rate shows the impact, on a scale of zero to one, would be 0.24 if classes were split and attended alternate weeks This is how social distanced desks will look at Holywell Village First School in Northumberland THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO KEEP SCHOOLCHILDREN SAFE FROM COVID-19 The government released its plans for keeping school children safe from coronavirus including keeping the youngest children 3.5 metres apart and a queuing system for the school run. The main steps outlined in the guidance for teachers are: Children under 2 years need 3.5 metres squared per child, two-year-olds need 2.5 metres squared per child , and children aged 3 to 5 years need 2.3 metres squared per child; Once children have returned make sure any surfaces touched are cleaned several times a day; Consider how you can keep small consistent groups of children together throughout the day; Staff will have to implement some kind of queuing system when picking up children, to limit contact with carers Dividers could help keep children in different parts of the room; Remove all soft toys or any toys that are hard to clean; To reduce the risk of infection ensure children with symptoms and staff who are symptomatic to not come in; Ensure social distancing of groups of children and staff as much as possible; Ensure hands are washed regularly throughout the day and children are observed doing so; Ensuring you have a good supply of disposable tissues throughout the setting to implement catch it, bin it, kill it; Arrange for children to be collected at the door if possible; Limit visitors and keep windows open for ventilation; Institutions should have a policy in place for responding to a case of coronavirus. Advertisement And the union's guidance warned teachers it would not be safe to mark pupils' books or their homework when schools reopen. Professor Dingwall told The Daily Telegraph: 'Children are being told they wont be able to take artwork home with them or touch the books but the notion the virus could be transmitted on a sheet of paper is extreme. 'There are very small theoretical possibilities but they should not be interpreted with this sort of behaviour, especially if children are washing their hands regularly.' Professor Dingwall, a sociologist at Nottingham University, said that schools are not hospitals and do not need the same strict infection control measures. And he called for schools to focus on encouraging hand-washing, which is proven to help cut the transmission of Covid-19. Droplets generated by coughs can fall due to gravity and land on surfaces, where it can live for up to three days and can be picked up. Professor Dingwall, part of Nervtag, added: 'Those [schools] who are too rigorous about it [safety] will not be doing their children any favours. 'Its unsustainable. In highly-sanitised classrooms, the teachers will be miserable, the children will be miserable.' And he said a 'sense of proportionality' was missing, pointing to teachers who have demanded hazmat suits to go back to work. Teachers have strongly resisted any return to school on safety grounds, even though schools in Europe have already reopened. Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have signalled schools will remain closed until August at the earliest. In a briefing to the nation yesterday evening, Mr Johnson said some primary schools will open at the start of next month. The Association of Schools and College Leaders (ASCL) said it is worrying that schools have had such little time to prepare to safely re-open. Pictured: A classroom at Slaithwaite C of E Junior and Infant School in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, where desks have been spaced 2m apart Tables are marked showing where children can sit during lunch time at Kempsey Primary School in Worcester And he added secondary schools will give 'some contact' from 15 June, as Number 10 continues to push ahead with the phased reopening. The PM said the reopening of schools was 'crucial' for children but acknowledged it 'may not be possible' for all schools to reopen in the coming weeks. Teaching union NASUWT suggested that no teacher or child should be expected to go back to schools until they are demonstrably safe. It comes after reports suggested just a quarter of primary schools will heed calls to reopen for reception and years one and six pupils from June 1 Some 50 councils are believed to be ready to defy the government's plan to reopen the education sector, the Sunday Telegraph claimed. Top government scientists have warned the 'shock' of school closures are blighting a generation and suggested children are at low risk from Covid-19. Evidence produced by SAGE highlighted the wider damage being caused to young people by the halt to their education. Although they admit there is no certainty, a raft of papers suggested that children are less likely to be infected and infectious than adults. A series of documents released on Friday floated the idea of splitting classes in half and having children attend schools alternate weeks. Ministers hoped publishing the documents would reassure the public about plans to start reopening schools from June 1. Enel Green Power North America has begun operating a 50 MW expansion to the High Lonesome wind farm in Texas, increasing the projects total capacity to 500 MW The 105 MW Riverview and 29.4 MW Castle Rock Ridge II wind farms in Alberta, Canada are connected and delivering energy to the power grid The High Lonesome expansion brings the projects overall investment to 720 million US dollars, while the total investment for both Canadian projects amounts to over 210 million Canadian dollars ROME and BOSTON, May 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enel, through its US renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power North America, has begun operating a 50 MW expansion of the High Lonesome wind farm in Upton and Crockett Counties, in Texas, increasing the largest operational wind project in the Groups global renewable portfolio to 500 MW. The company also connected to the grid its 105 MW Riverview and 29.4 MW Castle Rock Ridge II wind farms in Alberta, Canada. The commissioning of these three new wind farms is further evidence that Enel remains committed to growing its renewable portfolio worldwide, said Antonio Cammisecra, CEO of Enel Green Power. This commitment has also been underscored by the completion of over 400 MW of renewable plants worldwide in the first quarter of the year, allowing renewables to greatly exceed conventional generation in our portfolio both in terms of capacity and production. While prioritizing health and safety, looking ahead we will continue generating new sustainable value through our emission-free energy across the globe, in accordance with the Groups Strategic Plan. The investment in the construction of the 500 MW High Lonesome wind farm in Texas amounts to around 720 million US dollars. The total investment for Castle Rock Ridge II and Riverview amounts to over 210 million Canadian dollars. The 500 MW High Lonesome facility is due to generate around 1.9 TWh annually while avoiding the emission of more than 1.2 million tons of CO 2 per year. The project was expanded by the 50 MW that were just connected to the grid thanks to a 12-year, renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) announced in December 2019 with food and beverage company Danone North America, a Public Benefit Corporation and the worlds largest certified B Corporation1, for physical delivery of the renewable electricity associated with a 20.6 MW portion of the 50 MW High Lonesome expansion. The agreement between Enel and Danone North America will provide enough electricity to produce the equivalent of almost 800 million cups of yogurt2 and over 80 million gallons3 of milk each year and support the food and beverage companys commitment to securing 100% of its purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2030. In Texas, Enel currently operates the 63 MW Snyder wind farm in Scurry County and the first 252 MW phase of the Roadrunner solar plant in Upton County. The second 245 MW phase of the Roadrunner solar plant is currently under construction and, once completed, Roadrunner will be one of the largest solar plants in the state. The Castle Rock Ridge II and Riverview wind farms will supply their net power output and renewable energy credits to the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) under two 20-year Renewable Energy Support Agreements (RESAs), awarded in 2017 through a tender launched by AESO. Located in the town of Pincher Creek, the wind farms are expected to generate around 493 GWh annually, avoiding approximately 335,500 tons of CO 2 emissions per year. In the country, Enel Green Power also operates the 76.2 MW Castle Rock Ridge I wind farm in Pincher Creek, which began operations in 2012, for an overall portfolio of more than 210 MW in Canada. The construction process for High Lonesome, Riverview and Castle Rock Ridge II followed Enel Green Powers Sustainable Construction Site model, a collection of best practices aimed at minimizing the impact of plant construction on the environment. This includes recycling paper, cardboard, aluminum, ink cartridges, oil and grease, along with the use of solar-powered lights and reusable water containers for workers. In the final stages of construction, Enel closely monitored the emergent COVID-19 pandemic and responded to protect the health of its workers and the community. While abiding by the guidance of public officials, the company implemented strict travel guidelines and enhanced sanitation, as crews implemented safe working habits and physical distancing instructions. Furthermore, Enel North America announced over 1.3 million US dollars in contributions to relief efforts across the US and Canada. Enel Green Power has three projects under construction in the United States, namely the 236.5 MW White Cloud wind project in Missouri, the 299 MW Aurora wind project in North Dakota and the aforementioned 245 MW second phase of the Roadrunner solar project in Texas. These projects represent a substantial portion of Enel Green Powers expected 1 GW growth in the US and Canada in 2020. Enel Green Power North America is a leading owner and operator of renewable energy plants in North America, with a presence in 19 US states and one Canadian province. The company operates 70 plants with a managed capacity of about 5.8 GW powered by renewable wind, hydropower, geothermal and solar energy. Enel Green Power, within the Enel Group, is dedicated to the development and operation of renewables across the world, with a presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Enel Green Power is a global leader in the green energy sector with a managed capacity of over 46 GW across a generation mix that includes wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower, and is at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies into renewable power plants. Media Relations T +39 06 8305 5699 ufficiostampa@enel.com enelgreenpower.com FY2019 Golden Key Award transcosmos China continues to take diverse social contribution activities such as providing support for challenged children, offering regular consultation for challenged citizens, and other healthcare services. transcosmos inc. is proud to announce that Shanghai transcosmos Marketing Services Co., Ltd. (transcosmos China), its wholly-owned subsidiary, received the "Golden Key Award" for its continuous commitment to social welfare programs in their local community at the "FY2019 Golden Key Award" ceremony held on April 30, 2020, hosted by West Nanjing Road Subdistrict OfficeJing'an District, Shanghai, a community to which transcosmos China belongs. In support of the Shanghai Municipal Government, transcosmos China has always been working on community welfare programs, thereby fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities. Since 2016, the company has been executing "Spring Breeze Plan," its employment support program, with the aim of supporting disabled persons in finding quality jobs with a focus on laying a platform for highly specialized jobs designed specifically for disabled persons. For disabled persons who wish to work, a disabled-friendly workplace, clean and organized facilities and a comprehensive training system are essential. Recognizing this, transcosmos China not only has disabled-friendly facilities in place including accessible restrooms, but also offers employee training courses and gives detailed work instructions whilst offering consultations for both work-related and daily life issues in order to let its disabled employees fit into their workplace. transcosmos China has been and will continue to drive and further enhance the "Spring Breeze Plan" as a continuous project. In 2019, transcosmos China conducted two work experience projects for disabled persons in partnership with "Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation," an organization that runs support projects for disabled persons, and "Lequn Social Work Office," a social welfare services organization. And in July 2019, the company took a tour to Shanghai Zoo with 35 families with disabled children in partnership with "Warm Charity," a social welfare association, and donated stationery and other items to the association. Since transcosmos China opened its first call center in Shanghai in 2006, the company has continued expanding its business and now has four bases in Shanghai as well as in other cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hefei, Changsha, Xi'an, Wuhan and more. Today, the number of employees exceeds 4,000 and 54 disabled persons work at the company. As part of an employment support initiative for disabled persons, transcosmos China will continue to create more and better quality job opportunities whilst offering employment allowance and commercial health insurance after they join the company. Committed to fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities, transcosmos China continues to take diverse social contribution initiatives such as providing support for disabled children, offering regular consultation for disabled persons, and other healthcare services. About transcosmos China transcosmos China launched its operations as a call center company for the Chinese market in March, 2006. Since then, the company continued to expand its service coverage to meet the changing needs of clients. Now transcosmos China has grown to being a company with expertise that offers end-to-end outsourcing services that help clients expand their sales and reduce costs. From 2014, the company is commonly known as transcosmos China. Company Name: Shanghai transcosmos Marketing Services Co., Ltd. (transcosmos China) Common Name: transcosmos China Headquarters: 8F, 755 Weihai Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, China Representative: CEO Eijiro Yamashita Number of Employees: 4,000 (as of end of April, 2020) Business: Contact centers, e-commerce one-stop services, digital marketing, system development, DigitalE-CommerceContact Center (DEC) total solutions Official website: http://www.transcosmos-cn.com/english/ transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. In Japan and other countries. Other company names and product or services names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies. About transcosmos inc. transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 169 bases across 30 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services in 48 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/ Kim Brent / The Enterprise Whenever federal aid is distributed, some recipients use it well and some abuse it. For example, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta star Arkansas Mo was charged with federal bank fraud charges after he allegedly used funds from a $2 million Paycheck Protection Program loan to buy luxury items for himself. He is accused of using the money to buy $85,000 worth of jewelry, including a Rolex Presidential watch, a diamond bracelet and a 5.73-carat diamond ring. He did catch up on $40,000 in back child support, which is more positive, but thats not what the money was intended for. If thats one of the worst examples, the Lamar Institute of Technology could be in the running for one of the best. LIT is using multiple funding sources to offer free and reduced tuition for one year to students facing financial difficulties because of the coronavirus. A big part of this cost will be covered by the $1.8 million LIT received from the CARES act, which Congress passed in March in response to the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus. Volunteers check the identity of a resident at the entrance of a residential compound in Jilin city, China, on May 22, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Authorities in China Underreporting CCP Virus Cases: Leaked Documents The Jilin provincial government in northeastern China is underreporting the number of CCP virus-diagnosed patients, leaked internal documents recently obtained by The Epoch Times reveal. And on one recent occasion, the National Health Commission diluted the figures further. Chinese authorities have consistently concealed the true scale of the outbreak, leading to citizens distrust of official data. Barriers separate a residential compound in Jilin in Chinas northeastern Jilin province on May 25, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) May 16 Jilin Province is currently experiencing a second wave outbreak of the CCP virus, which authorities said began with a patient zero, a cleaning worker at the police bureau of Shulan, a small municipality under the administration of Jilin city. The Jilin Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports new virus infections daily to the national CDC. In its report, Jilin CDC lists details for each patient that include basic personal information, profession, activities in the previous 14 days, close contacts, and possible cause of infection. The Epoch Times obtained copies of five reports produced by the Jilin CDC for five new diagnosed patients on May 16. Among these five patients was an 85-year-old woman named Ms. Li, who died on May 9 with severe symptoms of COVID-19. Her diagnosis wasnt confirmed until after her death. However, the Jilin provincial health commission announced on May 17 that three patients were newly diagnosed the previous day. While the commission separately mentioned the case of Ms. Li, her cause of death was noted as cardiovascular illness. Thus, she wasnt counted by authorities as a COVID-19 death. Meanwhile, the National Health Commission also announced three new domestic infections from Jilin that were confirmed on May 16, and didnt mention Lis case. Similar underreporting has occurred from other local governments, such as the cities of Harbin and Wuhan, and the Inner Mongolia region, in which internal tallies show lower numbers than publicly announced data. Volunteers wearing protective clothing, amid concerns of the CCP virus, at a check point outside a residential area in Jilin in Chinas northeastern Jilin province on May 25, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) May 13 For May 13, The Epoch Times obtained Jilin CDC reports about two newly diagnosed patients, a 41-year-old man surnamed Li and a 53-year-old woman surnamed Ye. In the file about Li, the provincial CDC clearly listed all his recent activities in striking detail. For example, he had a meal with men surnamed Hao and Liu at a rice noodle restaurant called Mate Dafu at 1:15 p.m. on May 5, and he and his younger brother got haircuts at the Wei Barber Shop at 11 a.m. on May 4. In the file about Ye, the CDC notes that she sells fresh corn at different open-air markets. Before being diagnosed with COVID-19, Ye had sold corn in more than two markets every day, meaning that she would have had contact with hundreds of shoppers. On May 14, the Jilin provincial health commission only announced one new diagnosis, which matches Yes profile, on the day prior. The National Health Commission announced the same figure as the provincial authority. The documents reviewed by The Epoch Times make up just a portion of the Jilin CDCs daily reports. Residents said in recent interviews that they are very worried about the local outbreak, as local authorities havent fully informed them about the situation. OMJASVIN M D By Express News Service CHENNAI: As Tamil Nadu witnessed a spike of 805 COVID-19 cases on Monday and seven more deaths, the Government has released an analysis which says that out of the 118 people who have died, 99 (84 per cent) had comorbidity while 19 (16 per cent) did not have any conditions. Total cases in the State stands at 17,082. Addressing reporters through video conferencing, Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar said that diabetes and hypertension were the most present comorbid conditions leading to deaths. "We can call them exclusive Covid deaths or incidental covid deaths,'' he said. The study said that 55 (46.5 per cent) people who died were above 60 years while another 55 were between 41 to 60. Only eight (seven per cent) were between 21 to 40. In this, 69 per cent were male. On Monday, out of the seven who died, a 33-year-old who died at the Government Royapettah Hospital did not have any conditions. Also, COVID-19 test samples of Justice V Ratnam (87), former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh who died on May 23 at his Mylapore residence, came back positive on Monday. Meanwhile the analysis done over three months highlights that 88 per cent of patients are asymptomatic. According to the analysis, out of the 12 per cent people who are symptomatic, 40 per cent of them presented fever symptoms, 37 per cent had cough, ten had throat pain, nine had breathlessness. The Health Minister said that the death audit team consisting experts from general medicine, microbiology and community medicine studied the cases across all districts. "The analysis matches the scientific understanding that Covid 19 affects the elderly, comorbid and vulnerable population,'' he said. The health minister also said that a projection committee is working on analyzing the cases trend for the next three months to help the State be prepared with adequate beds, drugs and equipment. 'There are adequate testing kits' Meanwhile, across 68 testing labs, the State has tested 11,428 people on Monday taking the total tests to 4.02 lakhs. The government has said that there are adequate testing kits for the next one month. "Two lakh kits have been currently distributed to various hospitals while we have 1.7 lakh kits with us. This would be adequate for a month,'' Dr P Umanath MD of TN medical service corporation told Express. Dr Umanath said that the key challenge is the storage of these kits as they have to be stored at minus 20 degrees celsius. "We have ordered 15.7 lakhs in total so far and supplies are coming on a weekly basis. We phase the supply as per usage,'' he said. The Health Minister meanwhile advises people with comorbidity to take their tablets regularly. 'Domestic air-travel new challenge' The minister said domestic air travel will be the primary challenge for the State. He said that the government has restricted arrival flights to 25 while there is no restriction on departure flights. "11 flights have arrived so far with 486 people. All of them are thoroughly screened and quarantined. We punch a blue stamp on the hands of returnees to indicate 14 day quarantine period,'' he said. On Monday, 87 people tested positive were from Maharashtra while three from Gujarat, 2 from Kerala and one from Andhra Pradesh. "Delhi trains, passenger flights and even air-force flights too had positive cases coming in,'' said the minister. Till May 25, 2055 people were tested at the Chennai Airport where 2014 turned negative. In the Tiruchi airport, 2239 were tested and 2198 turned negative. David Giromini is a Syracuse resident and landlord. He wrote this open letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. You are very presidential, and I support and appreciate your daily press briefings on the coronavirus. We are blessed that we live in an intelligently governed state. My wife and I, and my family, are very aware of the seriousness of this pandemic as we are following your shelter-in-place recommendations. Since you enjoy getting personal letters and hearing directly from your constituents, I need to beg your attention. My family and I live in central New York. I am retired, and I own a two-family house. We lived in this house for a number of years, and I kept it with the intention that the rent would be my retirement income. The rent from this house is my only income supplement to Social Security. I have maintained this house and updated the apartments, making it a great place to live in. My wife and I now have a house with a mortgage and bills to pay. A landlords life is no picnic certainly not as easy as you may think. I, and so many individual landlords, eke out a living by owning just one two-family house. When the rent income is interrupted it is a severe hardship and takes several months to make up this loss, especially when the financed renovations are still being paid. As a direct result of your moratorium on eviction, I have a tenant that has willfully not paid one penny since March abusing this new law. Yes, I am very compassionate and understand the difficulties a tenant may have, but I also know this tenant is collecting state unemployment, plus the federal supplement, and received the CARES stimulus money for herself and three children. Consequently, she now is receiving more money than her regular paycheck. Yet, she has used none of this windfall to pay even a portion of her rent. At the beginning of April, I contacted both tenants and offered to work with them on the rent. One paid partial April, but this one has paid nothing and refuses to pay anything, because she knows I have no recourse. She doesnt take my calls or respond to texts. Since your ban on evictions, you have removed the only tool a landlord can use to incentivize a tenant to pay rent. Now youve unilaterally extended this moratorium until Aug. 20. We cant live like this. You have essentially removed my income (laid me off), and I cant file for unemployment benefits. You seem to share the stereotypical view of landlords as the wealthy, cold-hearted villains that prey on their tenants. This couldn't be further from the truth. I am a good landlord that takes care of his property and the needs of tenants. While we all are aware of the grave concerns for the homeless and not wanting to contribute to this, we need support for landlords. You need to figure out a way to force the tenant to pay. At the very least, go back to the original end date of June 20. You need to consider the plight of landlords. We are also citizens in distress that need assistance. If it helps your mindset, think of us as a small business. Help us stay in business. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Can store owners require you to wear a face mask to enter? No in-person summer school in NY; too early for decision on fall, Cuomo says Ask Syracuse.com: When can we visit the parents? When will the DMV, gyms reopen? Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com The coronavirus pandemic is yanking corporate Japan into the 21st century, forcing businesses to embrace digital signatures and boosting the shares of Bengo4.com Inc., one of the few local providers of the service. Shares of the 240-person firm, whose name is a Japanese play on words of alawyers-dot-com,a hit a record on Wednesday, giving the Tokyo-based company a market valuation of about A191 billion ($1.77 billion), 22 times higher than its 2014 public debut. Revenue for its cloud-based signing service is set to double this year, fueling growth, President Yosuke Uchida said. While DocuSign Inc. and other firms have been offering web services for signing contracts and legal documents for more than a decade, bureaucrats and businesses have remained steadfastly loyal to paper, hanko stamps and the fax machine. Now, theyare being pushed into the digital age as consumers, employees, companies and government offices restrict their movements to prevent the spread of the pathogen that has infected millions worldwide. aThereas no question that usage of electronic contracts will become widespread,a Uchida said in an interview. aThe day will come when using electronic contracts becomes the usual practice. The virus has significantly advanced that timing.a Uchida estimates Japanas market for cloud-based signing can reach A400 billion over the next few years, and heas aiming to take an 80 percent share. This means revenue for Bengo4.comas cloud-signing service, which Uchida estimates at around A1.3 billion for the year ending March 2021, will have to double in growth for several years. The company doesnat set mid-term goals but has targets on a yearly basis, the president said. aThis is an extremely fast-growing business,a Uchida said. Guwahati/Agartala, May 25 : The COVID-19-induced lockdown, intricate protocols and copious impediments did not deter the determination of Assam's Kajol and West Bengal's Om Prakash to tie the knot after travelling a lengthy route. The lockdown and COVID-19 related rules forced the young couple to marry at an open space along the West Bengal-Assam inter-state border. "After overcoming copious hurdles Kajol Sha and Om Prakash Sha tied the knot late on Saturday night at an open ground adjoining a check-gate at Sagolia on the Assam-West Bengal border," Assam Assembly member Ashwini Ray Sarkar told IANS over phone from Dhubri, which shares borders with both West Bengal and Bangladesh. Sarkar, who took the leading role to solemnise the marriage ceremony, said that the groom travelled 175 km, the bride 55 km along with their minimalist friends and relatives at the entry check-gate and returned after the most austere rituals. Businessman-turned-politician, Ray Sarkar, who represents ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and elected to the Assam assembly from Golakgang constituency (Dhubri district), said that the district administrations of both Dhubri (western Assam) and Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) along with the local police helped out to hold the wedding ceremony. Dhubri district officials said that the couple along with their relatives and friends soon after the nuptials was driven to a COVID-19 quarantine centre in Jalpaiguri district where they are expected to spend 14 days before going to the groom's father's home at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri. Dhubri district Superintendent of Police Yuvraj Singh told IANS over phone that the marriage ceremony was solemnised following all the covid-19 and lockdown guidelines and with the permission of the Deputy Commissioner. According to a relative of the groom, before the wedding ceremony the parents of the groom and bride had to struggle for hours with the district administrations of both Jalpaiguri and Dhubri. "When the groom and his very few friends and relatives arrived at Sagolia check gate on the inter-state border, the Dhubri district police did not allow them to travel further in view of COVID-19 pandemic induced guidelines. After huge persuasion with many civil and police officials and with the help of the MLA finally Kajol and Om Prakash could tied the knot leading to the cheers of both the families besides the young couple," a relative of the groom told IANS. As per the strict protocols of Assam government, every person entering the state from any other state has to undergo a 14-day institutional quarantine. The Assam government has recently launched "Ruthless Quarantine, With Big Heart" scheme to check the spread of coronavirus, under which suspected patients must remain in quarantine. According to the ministers and officials, the exodus of thousands of people from southern and western regions of India to the northeast region has led to a steep rise in Covid-19 positive cases, especially in Assam, which so far registered 514 cases, including 162 new cases in the past 24 hours. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) New Delhi: Worried over the rising number of coronvirus COVID-19 cases in the national capital, Ghaziabad has decided to reseal its border with Delhi effective Tuesday (May 26, 2020). The decision was taken by the district magistrate on Monday. The rules and restrictions that were applied during the last border sealing order will be enforced this time too. In April, the Ghaziabad District Magistrate had issued a similar order to seal all borders to contain the spread of coronavirus. The ban had led to chaos at the highway with long queques of vehicles seen on the Delhi-Ghaziabad border. As per a press note, people who have passes will be allowed to cross the border. People working in essential services are exempted. Also media persons and advocates working in various courts at Delhi will be exempted upon providing their identity cards. Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that the COVID-19 situation is under control and that tthey were prepared to handle the surge in cases after easing of lockdown restrictions. Meanwhile, Delhi tally of coronavirus cases stands at 14,053 with 276 deaths so far. It has been reporting 500 or more new cases of infections every day for the past week with as many as 88 containment zones identified. Neve Campbell says she was initially reluctant do another Scream' movie without original helmer Wes Craven, but filmmaker duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet's desire to honour the late director's vision has motivated her to support the upcoming reboot. The 46-year-old Canadian actor, who played Sidney Prescott in last four installments of the slasher franchise, said she has seen the work of Ready or Not filmmakers and hopes they can create something great. I'm not a hundred percent on it, but to be honest, the two directors have made some great work. I've watched their films, and they're really talented. They wrote a letter to me, expressing what great fans of Wes' work they are, and how honoured they are that they're getting the chance to make Scream 5' because the Scream' franchise is the reason that they're directors now. So, that was really sweet. They really want to honour Wes' style of work and honour the movies. That was a lovely thing to hear. So, we'll see. Hopefully, we can all see eye to eye on everything and make something great, but it's a process, Campbell said in an interview with Collider. Actor David Arquette, who played the role of Sheriff Dewey Riley in the original film series, is already on board to reprise his part in the reboot. James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick have penned the new film. The first Scream movie released in 1996 with Campbell starring as Sidney, the target of the Ghostface killer, whose look was inspired by the Edvard Munch painting The Scream. Courteney Cox and Arquette co-starred in all the four films, directed by Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. Williamson is serving as the executive producer on the upcoming movie frp, , Spyglass Media Group. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syracuse, N.Y. Arthur Bullock, 33, died Saturday after being stabbed in the 300 block of West Onondaga Street, Syracuse police said today. The deadly stabbing happened shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday. Police rushed to the scene after a caller reported a stabbing at 1:46 a.m. When officers got to the scene, they found a critically wounded 33-year-old man who had been stabbed in leg near his hip, said Sgt. Matthew Malinowski, department spokesman. The victim was not conscious or breathing, an officer said on police scanner dispatches, and had a pretty bad stab wound. Bullock was rushed to Upstate University Hospital, where he died. Officers remained at the scene early Saturday afternoon, hours after the deadly stabbing. A one-story building at 316 W. Onondaga St. was cordoned off with a makeshift fence of yellow crime scene tape. Police are continuing to investigate, Malinowski said. Anyone with information is asked to call 315-442-5222. Tim Knauss is a public affairs reporter for syracuse.com/The Post-Standard. Contact him anytime: email | twitter | | 315-470-3023 The abrupt switch from in-person classes to online learning hasnt always been easy. From strained platforms handling hundreds of thousands of logins at a time, to disparities in technology access and sometimes excessive workloads, students have described feeling overwhelmed. But experts say it can be even worse for transgender students. Now, the school district in Jacksonville, Florida, is working to make things a little easier. When students log on to Duval HomeRoom the Duval County school districts online hub for distance learning their school-assigned email account or a Microsoft TEAMS video session with their teacher, their legal name is displayed for all to see. For transgender students who go by a different name, its a constant sting. 'It's been hell': Parents struggle with distance learning for their kids with disabilities Each and every time I log on to the website to complete my daily assignments, seeing my birth name makes me uncomfortable, said one student, whom The Florida Times-Union did not name for privacy. It also makes me uncomfortable to interact with other students, as well as my teachers because I don't want people to see my birth name on the screen, I want them to see my true one instead, that I plan to go by for the rest of my life. The student said the practice makes day-to-day tasks like attendance a nuisance because they dont want teachers and classmates to perceive them differently. But a new district policy is giving students the ability to request their affirmed name gets displayed instead. For transgender and LGBTQ identifying students, distance learning comes with additional issues. Now, Duval County Public Schools is working to make things a little easier with a policy change. When home learning was launched due to the pandemic, the district developed a process to provide support in the virtual-learning environment, Duval Schools spokeswoman Sonya Duke-Bolden said. The district has been actively providing support to students whenever issues, concerns or challenges arise. The name display process has nothing to do with a students legal name, and students dont have to have court documentation to make the request. It just allows a student to have their preferred name show up when they participate in any of the districts online platforms. Story continues No school districts in Florida are changing or removing a students legal name without a court order, said Ian Siljestrom, the associate director of the Safe and Healthy Schools program at Equality Florida, a civil rights organization focused on the LGBTQ community. School districts are simply adding an affirmed name within their existing student information system to ensure that legal names are not a barrier to student success. When an affirmed name is used, a students mental and emotional health improves, positively impacting their grades and attendance. Duke-Bolden said students who go by a nickname will also benefit from the process. To request a display name change, students can add their preferred name through their FOCUS account, the districts grading software, Duke-Bolden said. From there, school principals are authorized to enter the name into the system. That display name will carry over onto FOCUS, other electronic forums used during online learning and the classroom when in-person learning resumes, the district said. "The district has a number of initiatives in place to provide supports for our LGBTQ students, including working with numerous local and national groups to develop best practices and guidance related to issues that may arise, Duke-Bolden said. The purpose is to ensure the safety and well-being of all of our students. Distance learning: Online programs promise results. The claims are misleading Duke-Bolden said similar measures are being implemented throughout the state. But the approval process varies county by county, and in some places experts say the steps taken are problematic. In northeast Florida's St. Johns County, a spokeswoman said name requests were handled on a case-by-case basis and a school counselor or social worker can approve the inquiry. But in Pinellas County on the state's Gulf Coast the district requires a parent signature if the student wants to change their nickname field and is a minor. According to Trinity Baker, student support coordinator at JASMYN Jacksonvilles LGBTQ youth center a parent sign-off is a red flag. That would be an issue in outing students who we know dont know the safety of their home environments, she said. I can see where we might see some pushback and negative responses to this, but we must trust our children to know themselves better than anyone else. Some transgender students worry about their safety at school and in the community, so having their birth name appear on online programs rather than the name they go by can make them feel vulnerable. "Some of my classmates don't even know that I am transgender," one student said. "Seeing my birth name is a dead giveaway to that." Duval and St. Johns public schools do not require parent signatures for the display name change request. According to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that focuses on LGBTQ crisis and suicide prevention, usage of chosen names resulted in a 29% decrease in suicidal ideation and a 56% decrease in suicidal behavior for each additional context in which it was used. Birth names showing up in online systems over chosen names seems like a serious concern, said Rob Todaro, Trevor Project press secretary. We know that affirming a trans young person's gender identity is essential to their mental health and wellness. A growing consensus of research clearly demonstrates that gender-affirming care produces positive mental health outcomes and overall psychological well-being while decreasing depressive symptoms and suicidality. Its also a matter of safety. In many situations, classmates may not know a student is transgender. Coronavirus learning: Online school is hard enough. What if you're still learning to speak English? Some of my classmates don't even know that I am transgender, the Duval County student said. "Seeing my birth name is a dead giveaway to that." The teen added that they werent sure which students would accept them as trans and which would perceive them in a negative light because of it, voicing a fear that some would even want to hurt them. Thankfully, the implementation of this new policy can change all that and make me feel more comfortable with myself and interacting with others, while putting an ease to my concerns about safety, the student said. How their name shows up to their peers is just one of several issues experts say transgender and LGBTQ identifying students are facing because of distance learning. According to a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, LGBTQ youth are facing new hurdles during the pandemic including: additional time with unaccepting families or in unsafe environments, distance from support systems in Gay Straight Alliance clubs or friends at school that help them feel accepted, plus mental health issues. Siljestrom with Equality Florida said hes seeing those concerned played out firsthand. Many of our LGBTQ students have experienced distress being at home due to isolation, increased tension and abuse from hostile family members, he said. All youth deserve to have places and people to affirm, support and uplift them. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Coronavirus: Policy aids transgender students doing distance learning Assam recorded its highest single-day spike of 134 cases on Monday, taking the total past the 500-mark, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. With these fresh cases, the total number of COVID-19 infections has gone up to 526 in the state, of which 457 are active cases, Sarma said in a tweet. "Alert ~ 12 new cases of #COVID19+ reported. Swabs for testing taken before people sent for quarantine. 9 Lakhimpur, 3 Sivasagar," Sarma tweeted. In a series of tweets earlier during the day, the minister said samples of 122 people from across the districts tested positive for coronavirus, highest being in Golaghat with 53 COVID-19 cases. Karimganj district saw 21 positive cases, followed by eight each in Guwahati and Lakhimpur, six in Kokrajhar, five in Cachar, four each in Dhemaji and Hailakandi, three in South Salmara Mankachar, two each in Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Nalbari, and one each in Nagaon, Jorhat, Morigaon and Goalpara, he added. Five patients recovered from COVID-19 and were discharged from different hospitals in the state, the minister said. "Five patients have been discharged today after testing negative for #COVID19 twice. Three from Guwahati and two from Jorhat medical college. Best wishes," he tweeted. Sarma said most of the latest cases are returnees from outside the state. "It is clarified that all swabs are collected from people soon after they arrive from outstation. Subsequently they are transferred to the quarantine centres. Therefore most of the positive cases in Assam are imported and not home- grown!" he said in a tweet. Of the total 526 cases, four patients have died due to the deadly disease, while 62 have been discharged from hospitals after recovery, Sarma said. Besides, three more patients have migrated to other states, he said. After inter-state movement through road and rail networks was allowed during the lockdown period, Assam saw a significant increase in COVID-19 cases. With domestic flight operations resuming to Assam from Monday, the health officials are expecting this spike to be even more sharper in coming days. To screen all the people coming from outside the state by road and rail networks, the government has set up five zonal screening camps besides those already existing at the district headquarters and local levels. Kokrajhar has the zonal screening camp for Lower Assam districts, Tezpur for North Assam districts, Jorhat for Upper Assam districts, Guwahati for Central Assam districts and Silchar for Barak Valley districts. Assam has so far tested 66,444 samples for COVID-19 in seven laboratories in the state and NIV in Pune, the Health and Family Welfare Department said in its daily bulletin on Sunday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Charitable organizations around the U.S. are launching funds or redirecting their everyday efforts to address the needs of people affected by the coronavirus shutdown. Driving the news: The pandemic has upended lives, with more than 25 million workers on the unemployment rolls. 1.7 million workers were collecting unemployment benefits before U.S. businesses began closing down to stop the spread of the virus. U.S. unemployment filings in each of the last several weeks have dwarfed anything the country has ever seen. School closures across the country have put millions of students who receive free- or reduced-lunch at risk of hunger. Grocers are running out of inventory, with high demand crippling supply chains. Thousands of undergraduate students have been displaced, as many colleges and universities have closed their campuses to stem the spread of COVID-19. What's happening: $2.2 trillion in government stimulus spending to mitigate workers' loss of income is outpacing any other period in American history, but social service advocates say Congress' plan for a one-time payment to all Americans is too small and excludes too many. Much of the burden of providing relief has fallen on charities and the public. A Global Giving fund aimed at sending first responders to communities in need and getting medical equipment to hospitals has raised nearly $900,000 for hospitals in the U.S. and around the world. fund aimed at sending first responders to communities in need and getting medical equipment to hospitals has raised nearly $900,000 for hospitals in the U.S. and around the world. GiveDirectly has partnered with Fresh EBT, an app that allows food stamp recipients to track their spending, is giving $1,000 to each of 100,000 randomly selected Fresh EBT users. has partnered with Fresh EBT, an app that allows food stamp recipients to track their spending, is giving $1,000 to each of 100,000 randomly selected Fresh EBT users. The CDC Foundation is raising money to deploy emergency health care staffing, develop education and awareness campaigns, increase lab capacity, and boost clinical research. is raising money to deploy emergency health care staffing, develop education and awareness campaigns, increase lab capacity, and boost clinical research. Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S., has seen a 70% increase on average of people seeking help from food banks during the pandemic, according to a spokesperson. The organization started a COVID-19 response fund, which has provided more than $124 million in grants to U.S. and Puerto Rico food banks. Yes, but: The virus has complicated relief efforts, as many volunteers have stayed home in an effort to follow social distancing guidelines from health officials. "For decades, American nonprofits have relied on a cadre of volunteers who quite suddenly arent able to show up. With millions staying home during the pandemic, charities that help the countrys neediest are finding themselves in need," writes the AP. Go deeper: Coronavirus leads to new giving and volunteering The greatest threat to the well-being of children isnt a virus: Its their parents, according to some academics. Harvard University law professor Elizabeth Bartholet has ignited a firestorm of controversy by arguing for a presumptive government ban on home schooling in a recent law journal article. Her claims are largely relics of a bygone era dominated by progressive education theorists who believed that government bureaucrats know better about educating children than parents. Bartholet explains in the current issue of Harvard Magazine that because home schooling is not regulated enough by government, children could be at the mercy of parents who are essentially illiterate, or worse, neglectful or abusive. Absent government intervention, parents control their childrens education and upbringing something Bartholet deems authoritarian and dangerous. Her solution is compulsory government schooling to ensure that children grow up exposed to community values, social values, democratic values, ideas about nondiscrimination and tolerance of other peoples viewpoints. Adding fuel to the fire, Bartholet has convened a private and by invitation-only Harvard summit in June to focus on problems of educational deprivation and child maltreatment that too often occur under the guise of home schooling. No doubt participants will be channeling the likes of Horace Mann, considered the father of American public education, and John Dewey, who wanted a Prussian-style system of uniform, compulsory schooling for the United States. According to these and other leading 19th- and 20th-century education theorists, such a system would improve our democratic institutions through the distinctly undemocratic means of forcing parents especially poor and immigrant parents to send their children to government-run schools that would instill the proper social and political consciousness. Proponents believed this democratic end justified such undemocratic means because ultimately, as the Wisconsin Teachers Association put it in 1865, children are property of the state. Of course, that view is wholly at odds with the Constitution, which neither mentions the word education, nor gives the federal government any enumerated power over it. Thats a real problem for progressives, including Dewey, who dismissed the notion of individual rights as idolatry to the Constitution, as well as Bartholet, who says the Constitution is outdated and inadequate. The data, however, show that home-schooling parents are getting results that make government schools seem inadequate. The scholarly research shows more than a 100-fold increase in the numbers of home-schooled students since the early 1970s, from 13,000 to more than 2.4 million. The latest EdChoice Schooling in America Survey also finds that the proportion of parents whose top educational option would be home schooling reached an all-time high of 15% in 2019, a threefold increase since 2012. These trends correspond with the federal governments dramatically increased involvement in K-12 education, staring with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965 and the establishment of the Department of Education in 1979. If parents, many of whom probably attended public schools themselves, were satisfied with public education, home schooling would have died off not exploded. Given such growth, it stretches credulity to suggest, as Bartholet does, that home-schooling parents are some kind of nefarious lunatic fringe. It also ignores scholarly evidence. For example, research for the Department of Education finds that home-schooling parents come from all walks of life and are socioeconomically diverse. It also shows that by a margin of more than two to one, parents say their most important reason for home-schooling their children is concern about school environments, such as safety, drugs or negative peer pressure, not religious instruction. Ultimately, most home-schooling parents are successfully educating their children. Rather than learn from their success, progressive academics such as Bartholet apparently want to eliminate the competition an impulse that hardly seems democratic or tolerant. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 19 Shares Share Recently, the White House unveiled its ambitious plan to develop a coronavirus vaccine before years end. While many immediately questioned the feasibility of this timeline, we worry that not enough attention has gone to a different but equally important concern: Once we have a vaccine that works, who around the world will actually get to use it? In our roles treating patients and researching global health issues, weve learned the hard way that life-saving discoveries dont just trickle-down. Thats why more than 800,000 poor children globally die from pneumonia each year, even though effective immunizations for one common type have existed for over a decade. Its why black Americans still have much less access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) than their white counterparts, despite facing higher rates of new HIV infections. COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to be an exception to this trend. The virus threatens to have its most devastating consequences among those traditionally placed at the back of the line for new interventions, like immigrants and refugees. Were already seeing concerning inequities in the use of existing COVID-19 tools: just weeks ago, NBA superstars without symptoms were placed on a fast track for coronavirus diagnostics while entire countries did not have testing kits at all. During previous outbreaks, weve heard arguments that its too difficult or too expensive to reach the underserved with new technologies; accepting these assumptions will only exacerbate disparities of the current crisis When we finally have a vaccine proven to protect us against COVID-19, how will we make sure that those who are most marginalized are not left behind? Its a challenge that we have a moral imperative to answer. Based on our experiences, we believe its not too late to ensure equity of life-saving tools but only if theres a plan to address several key issues before a vaccine arrives. First, leaders of the COVID-19 response must guarantee that upcoming immunizations will be available for the communities that need them the most, not just those with the largest budgets. On Friday, President Trump and HHS Secretary Azar said there was great spirit around making a vaccine affordable, both within the US and abroad. But without specific details about how exactly low-resource communities will be able to obtain sufficient quantities of immunizations, good intentions will not be enough to prevent unjust distributions of essential supplies. One group that could play a pivotal role in these discussions is the pharmaceutical industry, which has real opportunities to improve the reach of life-saving discoveries. In our work against neglected tropical diseases, weve watched the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies commit to donating billions of free treatments every year, enabling multiple countries to completely eliminate diseases like river blindness and trachoma. A similar joint commitment around COVID-19 vaccines would save lives, reign in transmission and demonstrate a clear dedication to people over profits. Public health organizations will also have to answer tough challenges around immunization delivery. For example, many vaccines are only effective if someone gets multiple doses, which requires reaching all recipients more than once. Logistics will be further complicated by the current crisis: for instance, how will communities rapidly immunize huge numbers of people while simultaneously maintaining social distancing for safety? To overcome these barriers, our colleagues will have to turn to the those with the smartest solutions to health challenges: those who are closest to the issues. In our work, weve consistently found that people on front lines of underserved settings have the best insights into delivery like during the cholera outbreak in post-earthquake Haiti, where doctors, nurses and community health workers came up with brilliant strategies for vaccination campaigns, allowing us to reach 90 percent of participants with multiple immunization doses. When a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, we must ensure these individuals have sufficient resources to translate their life-saving ideas into action. We still have much to learn about COVID-19, and we dont yet have all the details about what an effective coronavirus vaccine will look like. But if theres one thing we know for certain, its that equity in new technologies is only achieved by choice, not by chance. As we grapple with this ongoing pandemic, which option will we choose? Louise Ivers is an infectious diseases physician and can be reached on Twitter @drlouiseivers. Azfar Hossain is a medical student. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 : When the figures of the Covid-19 impact on Monday was reviewed, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's hometown -- Pinarayi in Kannur has been declared as a new hotspot. Kannur, the home district of Vijayan reported 10 new cases on Monday, taking the total positive cases there to 77. With Pinarayi turning a hotspot along with three other places on Monday, at present there are 59 hotspots in the state. Vijayan however has not visited his hometown for a while now, as he has been staying put in the state capital. Meanwhile, the total number of fresh positive cases on Monday in Kerala stood at 49, keeping with the increased numbers that have been reported in the past few days. On Saturday, there were 62 cases and on Sunday it was 53. Of the 49 cases, 18 came from abroad and 25 from within the country. Currently there are 359 active positive cases in the state and 532 people have by now turned negative, since the first case reported in the country was at Thrissur on January 30. On Monday, hugely popular national award winning Malayalam comedian Suraj Venjaramoodu was asked to go into quarantine after he took part in a function along with a police officer at his hometown, near here, who has gone into isolation following a remand prisoner, who was arrested by the police official, turned Covid positive on Sunday. With around six lakh people registered to return to Kerala (around 4 lakh from abroad and 2 lakh from within the country) since the travel was permitted, so far 97,247 people have come which includes 9,900 who came by air and sea and over 87,000 who came by train and road. As on date, 98,486 people are under observation in homes, while 792 are in hospitals. State Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunilkumar reacting to the increase in cases, said that this was much expected and the state is fully geared to face the challenge. "The need of the hour is all those who have been asked to sit in quarantine have to adhere to that in its true spirit. Kerala's home quarantine has been a huge success and all what the people should do is just follow the system in place and listen to the health authorities," said Sunilkumar. Meanwhile top Indian Medical Association official Rajeev Jayadevan said complacency should not set in. "As things stand today, they are still under control in Kerala. Fourteen-day quarantine is a must for all those who come from outside our state. In a pandemic situation, there should be no let up on the way our state has taken utmost care till now. If an error happens, cases will multiply in geometric progression. So each and everyone here have to be careful," said Jayadevan. Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on Monday dismissed a petition demanding the postponement of the remaining Class 10 and 12 examinations, where a record 1.3 million students will have to write the examination in the various schools in the state. The state government assured the court that all the necessary health protocols will be followed for the smooth conduct of the examinations. With more than 13.74 lakh migrant labourers having returned to their homes in Madhya Pradesh so far during the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, the state government faces a big challenge of providing them jobs. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a televised address last week said Madhya Pradeshs economy has collapsed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Labourers Chhidami Kushwaha (35) and his wife Sagun Devi (32), who returned to their native Gopalpura village in Tikamgarh district from Kanjhawala village in Delhi on May 18, claimed on Monday that they have so far not received any help from the Madhya Pradesh government. Chhidami Kushwaha's brother Suraj Kushwaha (28) also returned with them. "We three worked as building construction labourers in Delhi and Haryana. We have not received any financial help from the state government yet. My father Sukhlal Kushwaha is looking after our needs now," Chhidami Kushwaha told PTI. The three of them do not have active job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Tikamgarh, he said. "We migrated to Haryana a couple of years ago for a better livelihood. But, we had to return last week because of the coronavirus outbreak. So, we did not renew our job cards. If we had active cards we would have got Rs 202 wages a day for work under MGNREGA. Right now we are jobless," he said. Another migrant worker Parmanand Kushwaha, who worked as a welder in building constructions in Delhi, also returned to Gopalpura recently due to the lockdown. He also said that he has not yet received any financial help from the state government so far. A panchayat secretary in Tikamgarh, who did not wish to be named, said jobs under MGNREGA have shrunk due to mordernisation of the construction sector. Nowadays, vehicles, machines are used in construction work and other things instead of workers, he rued. Tikamgarh is part of the impoverished Bundelkhand region. To make things worse for migrant workers who have returned home, local labourers are opposing their entry in workplaces due to the fear of COVID-19. Motilal Kewat (45), a farm labourer from Mohaniya village in the state's Sidhi district, said local labourers are against working with migrants as they feel those who have come back might be carrying the coronavirus disease and may infect others. However, Madhya Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (panchayat and rural development) Manoj Shrivastava said the state government was facilitating jobs for migrant labourers who have returned to the state. The state government is working hard and providing jobs, food and health care on priority to migrant labourers who have returned home, he said. "More than 13.74 lakh labourers have returned to the state. Of them, over 10 lakh were home quarantined," the official said. An operation is underway to give them job cards and renew (non-active) them, he said. The migrant labourers on their return have been medically examined and taken care of, he said, adding that 198 labourers in the state have so far tested positive for coronavirus. He claimed Madhya Pradesh has provided jobs to 37 lakh labourers under MGNREGA, the highest by any state so far. The Madhya Pradesh government last month said it provided Rs 1,000 each to nearly 7,000 migrant labourers from 22 states who were stranded in view of the lockdown. Asked about complaints of migrant labourers that they have not received a monetary help of Rs 1,000 from the state government, Shrivastava said the labour department looks after giving financial help. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than $51 million raised for the NSW Rural Fire Service in a Facebook fundraiser cannot be given to other charities or fire services, but can be used to set up a fund for RFS firefighters who are injured or killed, the NSW Supreme Court has decided. Comedian Celeste Barber raised $51.2 million for the RFS & Brigades Donations Fund in a social media appeal at the start of this year, as bushfires devastated communities around Australia. NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said on Monday the service plans to spend about $14 million towards upgrading safety equipment, including respiratory protection and helmets, with $20 million going towards upgrades for local brigades, and the rest to be decided. "We're committed to making sure that money is spent on things that is of benefit to volunteer firefighters," Mr Rogers said. Boris Johnson has said he regrets the anger and confusion the public feel over his chief aides 260-mile journey during lockdown. Earlier Dominic Cummings said he did not regret making the trip. He said he had travelled to Durham to see help with childcare for his young son. The trip was necessary, in part, because threats he had received made him concerned about the safety of his London home, he said. At the daily Downing Street press conference, the prime minister stood by his most senior adviser. Do I regret what has happened?, he said. Yes, of course I do regret the confusion and the anger and the pain that people feel. He added: "This is a country that has been going through the most tremendous difficulties and suffering in the course of the last 10 weeks and that's why I really did want people to understand exactly what had happened.'' ISignthis has confirmed its high-profile relationship with Visa will be terminated, as it blasted the market operator for requesting sensitive details about its relationship with the card giant. Visa suspended its processing of iSignthis customer payments in March due to an ASX investigation. In an email to shareholders on Sunday afternoon, iSignthis stated it would end the relationship with Visa in 90 days due to rule changes the payments giant is introducing in October this year, which the troubled tech group said would "restrict trade and competition". ISignthis is ending its Visa relationship after the payments giant suspended processing with the ASX listed company in March. Credit:Louise Kennedy The Visa relationship allows iSignthis to process payments made by Visa account holders who transact with iSignthis business clients. "The company ceased processing as a principal acquiring member in mid-March and has been engaged since that time with Visa in commercial-in-confidence negotiations," iSignthis said in the statement. Hafthor Bjornsson, world-class strong competitor and former Game of Thrones star, is contemplating retiring from competitive lifting after he was accused of cheating by rival Eddie Hall. Pictires: Youtube/Instagram/throbjornsson Game of Thrones star and Worlds Strongest Man competitor Hafthor Bjornsson has threatened to retire from strongman competition over his long running cheating feud with rival Eddie Hall. Hall posted a video of behind the scenes footage from the 2017 Worlds Strongest Man competition which he claims is proof Bjornsson had over-egged claims hes cheated during the competition. 'CURSED MONTH': Wrestling fans in disbelief over double tragedy SECOND BEST: Conor McGregor savaged over UFC boast Bjornsson, who played hulking mercenary The Mountain on Game of Thrones, claimed hed been robbed of victory in the 2017 event, a claim Hall bitterly disputed. Hall said his footage proved Bjornsson had been unable to complete several lifts in what was largely seen as an attempt to stoke the pairs years-long rivalry - but now Bjornsson says hes done with competition after the release of the BS video. Speaking on his Twitch stream, Bjornsson said hall and event organisers Giants Live had gone too far by releasing the footage, suggesting he would withdraw completely from competition. Im absolutely done, Bjornsson, said. I would never in my life compete for Giants Live again, never. And I probably would never compete at Worlds Strongest Man again ever and Im probably retired. That was just the last straw for me, that BS video, and that Giants Live posted as well was just the last straw. Those motherf*****s went too far and Im done with this. Im not competing for those guys ever again. I might do Arnold, but Giants Live, never. Hafthor Bjornsson slammed by Eddie Hall While their rivalry could be over if Bjornsson decides to withdraw from most strongman competitions, it doesnt sound as though his rival Hall will miss him. The English strongman was unequivocal in his condemnation of the former Game of Thrones star when he posted his YouTube video several weeks ago. I have to say this video stopped me in my tracks how desperate a man can be when things dont go his way, Hall said in the video. Story continues This video exposes the raw truth and it shows you what really happened behind the scenes at the 2017 Worlds Strongest Man. Its time for the truth to be told. Hafthor Bjornsson, you and your yes men should be ashamed of yourselves. Words are cheap and Im sick and tired of hearing the lies coming out of your mouths. You used to be a good man and believe it or not, I used to classify you a good friend. But youve been poisoned by your yes men. The extended lockdown has had a devastating impact on many sectors, and one of the hardest hit is the South African travel and tourism industry. The lockdown regulations prohibit hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, and private homes from offering paid leisure accommodation. The situation is further aggravated by the restrictions on air travel, moving between provinces, and consuming food and alcohol in restaurants. South Africas tourism industry, which provides jobs for more than 740,000 people, is facing a catastrophe as a result of these restrictions. Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, the CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, has warned there will be nothing left if the industry remains shut this year. A survey by Cape Town Tourism echoed Tshivhengwas views, with 59% of travel and tourism businesses saying they expect revenues to fall to zero between April and June. 83% of these businesses also said they would not survive longer than six months under the current lockdown conditions. A further challenge for the industry is that there is no clear path to recovery. 56% of tourism businesses indicated they do not have a recovery plan in place. An insiders view To get an industry insiders view on the true impact of the lockdown on the South African travel and tourism industry, MyBroadband spoke to Afristay CEO Rupert Bryant. As one of South Africas premier accommodation booking platforms, Afristay has unique insight into the local tourism industry. Rupert told MyBroadband the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown has had a devastating impact on their business and the industry. Prior to the lockdown in early March we were poised to have one of our best months, said Bryant. Since the lockdown was implemented, Afristays web traffic dropped 96% almost overnight and sales have been virtually zero. To make matters worse, Afristay had to refund all bookings which were made prior to the lockdown. This means their sales for April and May were negative. The lockdown has put us in an utterly non-operational state. We have had to put a large majority of our staff on unpaid leave, said Bryant. Without clear guidance on when the lockdown will end, it is risky for businesses like Afristay to reopen and accept bookings as this can result in further refunds with associated banking and admin costs. Bryant said their customer-centric policy to refund all guests who request it has taken a tremendous toll on their finances. The charts below show the impact of the lockdown on Afristays web traffic (first chart) and daily sales (second chart). Web traffic Sales Challenge for tourism businesses to get funding Another challenge for South African travel and tourism businesses is to get funding during the lockdown. International competitors like Airbnb and Booking.com have raised large amounts of money over the past few months, which will help them to weather the storm. Local businesses, in comparison, do not have equal access to low-interest lending or funding to see them through this time. Apart from the risk of closing down, it also puts local businesses like Afristay at a disadvantage against international competitors when the market opens again. Although the government has created a Tourism Relief Fund to assist SMMEs in distress, the assistance is capped at R50,000 and it is not easy to get this assistance. The funding is guided by Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) codes, which makes it more difficult for certain businesses to qualify for funding. There have also been complaints that applications have been rejected for not submitting the right documents even though applicants did exactly what was required. There have been industry calls for the government to do more to assist local travel and tourism businesses and ensure they can compete on an equal footing against their global counterparts. Consumers are also encouraged to support the local travel and tourism industry when the lockdown restrictions are lifted. This is needed to minimize job losses, strengthen tax collections, and support the South African economy. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's Trial Begins in Jerusalem By Linda Gradstein May 24, 2020 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went on trial Sunday on three cases of fraud, corruption and breach of trust. If convicted, Netanyahu faces years in jail. He maintains his innocence and accuses the justice system of trying to engineer a coup against him. Benjamin Netanyahu had already made history as the longest-serving prime minister in Israel's history. Sunday, he did it again, becoming the first sitting prime minister to go on trial for fraud and breach of trust. He arrived at the court from a Cabinet meeting of his new national unity government. Outside the prime minister's house, hundreds of Israelis demonstrated against Netanyahu, calling on him to resign. Outside the courthouse in east Jerusalem, a similar number rallied for Netanyahu. Before entering the courtroom, Netanyahu lashed out against the court and the media, insisting that he is innocent of all charges. He said the trial is an attempt at a political coup against the will of the people. He said he will continue to fight and continue to lead the state of Israel. Netanuyahu entered the small courtroom that seats about 20 people with two of his lawyers, and refused to sit on the defendant's bench until photographers had been removed from the courtroom. The judges then read the charges against him, including fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu is accused of performing favors in exchange for both gifts totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, and positive press coverage. His attorneys said they needed several more months to study all of the materials, a request the prosecution said was unnecessary as the indictment was filed over a year ago. The trial is expected to take at least a year. In the new government formed earlier this month, Netanyahu is supposed to serve as prime minister for a year and a half, before turning the job over to his former rival and head of a centrist party, Benny Gantz. A few months later, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin is due to retire. The president is a mostly ceremonial, although prestigious, job in Israel. It also confers immunity from prosecution. Many in Israel believe that Netanyahu is already competing for this job. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CALGARY, Alberta, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cardinal Energy Ltd. ("Cardinal" or the "Company") (TSX: CJ) has received approval to extend the revolving period under the Company's $325 million reserves-based credit facility (the "Credit Facility") and intends to call a meeting of the holders of its 5.50% extendible convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due December 31, 2020 (the "Debentures") to amend the Debentures with the addition of an exchange right. Credit Facility The Company's $325 million Credit Facility was available on a revolving basis until May 23, 2020. On May 22, 2020, subject to certain conditions, the Company signed an extension until June 30, 2020 in order for the syndicate to have more time to assess current market conditions and the effect of potential government assistance programs on the Credit Facility. Among others, the conditions include a cap on the drawings available to the Company under the Credit Facility and that no drawings can be used to redeem or repay the Debentures. The Company anticipates that the draw cap and some of the other conditions will only be in place on an interim basis until a longer term extension and terms are finalized. Debentureholder Meeting Cardinal intends to seek the approval of holders (the "Debentureholders") of Debentures to make various amendments (the "Amendments") to the indenture (the "Indenture") governing the Debentures with the addition of an exchange right (the "Exchange Right"). The Exchange Right will provide Debentureholders the right, but not the obligation, to exchange their Debentures for a new second series of 8.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures (the "Extended Debentures"). The Extended Debentures will be similar in all material ways to the Debentures except that, the Extended Debentures: will have a maturity date of December 31, 2022, compared to December 31, 2020, for the existing Debentures; will bear interest at the rate of 8.00% per annum, payable in equal instalments semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 31 in each year, compared to 5.50% for the existing Debentures; will be convertible into common shares (the " Common Shares ") of Cardinal at a conversion price (as defined in the Indenture) of $1.25 per share, compared to $10.50 per share for the existing Debentures; ") of Cardinal at a conversion price (as defined in the Indenture) of $1.25 per share, compared to $10.50 per share for the existing Debentures; will not be redeemable by the Company prior to December 31, 2020; and as a consequence of the reduction in the Conversion Price, the number of additional Common Shares per $1,000 principal amount of Extended Debentures constituting the relevant make-whole premium which is payable in connection with a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture) in certain circumstances will be amended. The meeting (the "Meeting") to consider the proposed Amendments will be held at the office of Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP in Calgary, Alberta on June 19, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. (Calgary time). A proxy form and a management information circular in connection with the Meeting is expected to be mailed to Debentureholders and filed on SEDAR shortly. Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to Cardinal's plans and other aspects of Cardinal's anticipated future operations, management focus, objectives, strategies, financial, operating and production results. Forward looking information typically uses words such as "anticipate", "believe", "project", "expect", "goal", "plan", "intend", "may", "would", "could" or "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes, events or performance. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date thereof and are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Specifically, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Cardinal expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to statements with respect to the renewal of the Credit Facility, if any and the terms and conditions of such renewal, plans to hold a Meeting and the timing of the Meeting and availability of meeting materials, all constitute forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond Cardinal's control. Forward-looking statements regarding Cardinal are based on certain key expectations and assumptions of Cardinal concerning various matters including that the Credit Facility will be renewed and on the terms expected. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Cardinal's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the risk that the Credit Facility will not be renewed following the extension period, the terms of any such renewal, including, as to whether a renewed Credit Facility will permit the Company to draw on the Credit Facility in order to repay all or any portion of the Debentures on their maturity date. Management has included the forward-looking statements above and a summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking statements provided in this press release in order to provide readers with a more complete perspective on Cardinal's future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Cardinal's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that Cardinal will derive there from. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Cardinal disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. About Cardinal Energy Ltd. One of Cardinal's goals is to continually improve our Environmental, Safety and Governance mandate and operate our assets in a responsible and environmentally sensitive manner. As part of this mandate, Cardinal injects and conserves more carbon than it emits making us one of the few Canadian energy companies to have a negative carbon footprint. Cardinal is a Canadian oil focused company with operations focused on low decline light, medium and heavy quality oil in Western Canada. For further information: M. Scott Ratushny, CEO or Shawn Van Spankeren, CFO or Laurence Broos, VP Finance Email: info@cardinalenergy.ca Phone: (403) 234-8681 Website: www.cardinalenergy.ca ITC on Saturday, 23 May 2020, entered into a share purchase agreement (SPA) to acquire 100% stake of Sunrise Foods (SFPL), which is engaged in the business of spices under the trademark 'Sunrise'. The transaction is subject to fulfillment of various terms and conditions as specified in the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA). The proposed acquisition is aligned with ITC's strategy to rapidly scale up its FMCG businesses in a profitable manner, leveraging its institutional strengths viz. deep consumer insight, a deep and wide distribution network, agri-commodity sourcing expertise, cuisine knowledge, strong rural linkages and packaging know-how. Sunrise is a clear market leader in eastern India in the fast-growing Spices category with a rich heritage and brand legacy of over 70 years. Over the years, the brand has built a loyal consumer franchise, anchored on a differentiated product portfolio tailored to regional tastes and preferences, both in the basic and blended spice segments. The proposed acquisition of Sunrise will augment ITC's product portfolio and significantly scale up its spices business expanding its footprint across the country. The consumer connect and distribution network of SFPL in the focus markets, along with the sourcing and supply chain capabilities of the company's agri business arm and its pan-India distribution network, will provide significant value creation opportunities for ITC. The proposed transaction is also in line with ITC's philosophy of enhancing the competitiveness of agri value chains in India whilst making a meaningful contribution to enhancing farmer incomes. Finalisation of the SPA along with related processes were completed during lockdown conditions, reflecting the company's agility and resilience in dealing with the new normal. The announcement was made on Sunday, 24 May 2020. The markets are closed today, 25 May 2020 on account of Ramzan Id or Eid-ul-Fitar. ITC's consolidated net profit jumped 29% to Rs 4,047.87 crore on a 5.7% rise in net sales to Rs 13,220.30 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. ITC is engaged in the marketing of fast-moving consumer goods (FMGC). The firm operates through four segments: FMCG; hotels; paperboards, paper and packaging, and agri business. ITC is the market leader in cigarettes in India. ITC's wide range of brands, includes Insignia, India Kings, Classic, Gold Flake, American Club, Navy Cut, Players, Scissors, Capstan, Berkeley, Bristol, Flake, Silk Cut, Duke & Royal. The company also has presence in branded packaged foods, personal care, education and stationery, agarbattis & safety matches, lifestyle retailing, hotels, paperboards & specialty papers, packaging, agri-business & IT. Shares of ITC fell 1.35% to close at Rs 186.35 on BSE on Friday, 22 May 2020. The scrip advanced 3.52% in the past one month till Friday, outperforming the Nifty FMCG index's 2.97% fall in the same period. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Glass frogs are well known for their see-through skin but, until now, the reason for this curious feature has received no experimental attention. A team of scientists from the University of Bristol, McMaster University, and Universidad de Las Americas Quito, sought to establish the ecological importance of glass frog translucency and, in doing so, have revealed a novel form of camouflage. Using a combination of behavioural trials in the field, computational visual modelling and a computer-based detection experiment, the study published in PNAS reveals that, while glass frog translucency does act as camouflage, the mechanism differs from that of true transparency. Lead author, Dr James Barnett who began the research while a PhD student at the University of Bristol and is now based at McMaster University in Canada, said: "The frogs are always green but appear to brighten and darken depending on the background. This change in brightness makes the frogs a closer match to their immediate surroundings, which are predominantly made up of green leaves. We also found that the legs are more translucent than the body and so when the legs are held tucked to the frog's sides at rest, this creates a diffuse gradient from leaf colour to frog colour rather than a more salient sharp edge. This suggests a novel form of camouflage: 'edge diffusion'." Dr Barnett said scientific debate had often been skeptical of the degree to which glass frogs can be called transparent. "Transparency is, at face value, the perfect camouflage. It is relatively common in aquatic species where animal tissue shares a similar refractive index to the surrounding water. However, air and tissue are quite different in their refractive indices, so transparency is predicted to be less effective in terrestrial species. Indeed, terrestrial examples are rare. Although glass frogs are one commonly cited example of terrestrial transparency, their sparse green pigmentation means they are better described as translucent," said Dr Barnett. Dr Barnett's PhD was supervised by Professor Nick Scott-Samuel, an expert in visual perception from the University of Bristol's School of Psychological Sciences, and Innes Cuthill, Professor of Behavioural Ecology from Bristol's School of Biological Sciences. Professor Scott-Samuel said: "Our study addresses a question that has been the topic of much speculation, both among the public and the scientific community. We now have good evidence that the frogs' glass-like appearance is, indeed, a form of camouflage." Professor Cuthill said: "Animal camouflage has long been a textbook example of the power of Darwinian natural selection. However, in truth, we are only beginning to unravel how different forms of camouflage actually work. Glass frogs illustrate a new mechanism that we hadn't really considered before." ### People are seen practicing social distancing in white circles at the Madison Square Park during COVID-19 pandemic in Manhattan, New York City, United States on May 22, 2020. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed an executive order to allow the non-essential gathering of groups of 10 or fewer people. The move came hours after the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against Cuomo's order, arguing it violated the First Amendment. On Saturday, the state of New York reported 84 COVID-19-related deaths within the past 24 hours, the first time the number has been under 100 since March. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed an executive order that allows the non-essential gatherings of 10 or fewer people as the state on Saturday reported its lowest single-day deaths for the first time since late March. The order came after the New York Civil Liberties Union on Friday morning filed a lawsuit against the governor over his order that prohibited gatherings of any size on behalf of a woman who was arrested two times during a protest over the state's ongoing economic shutdown outside New York City Hall. "The lawsuit seeks to declare the governor's actions violate the First Amendment, restrain the government from enforcing the gathering ban against Ms. Bouferguen's scheduled event, and permanently enjoin the government from enforcing public-gatherings ban against protest events with ten or fewer people who engage in social distancing," the NYCLY said in a statement Friday. Cuomo's Friday order allows "any non-essential gathering of ten or fewer individuals, for any lawful purpose or reason, provided that social distancing protocols and cleaning and disinfection protocols required by the Department of Health are adhered to." The governor had previously announced groups of 10 or fewer would be allowed for Memorial Day services or commemorations, or for religious services or ceremonies. The state of New York Saturday reported 84 COVID-19-related deaths in the past 24 hours, the first time fewer than 100 people have died in a single day as a result of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. At the peak of the outbreak in New York City, there were 590 deaths reported in a 24-hour period, according to the New York City Department of Health. Story continues "We lost 84 New Yorkers to COVID-19 yesterday," Cuomo said in a Saturday tweet. "By any normal standard this is a hideous number. But we are thankful this number has fallen below 100 for the first time since late March." According to data analyzed by Johns Hopkins University, at least 358,154 people have contracted COVID-19 in the state of New York and at least 28,853 people have died from the disease. The state of New York has seen the largest outbreak of COVID-19 in the US, which has seen the largest outbreak globally. Read the original article on Business Insider 25.05.2020 LISTEN Darling boy, your cantankerous and bribe-refusing father, is now mulling running for President of the Republic of Ghana, in December 2020, oooo. Amanfuo, the die is cast, ooooo. Slogan: People and planet. Cool. Mission: Get the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to open digital accounts for all Ghanaian citizens above 16, and credit each account with Ghana Digital Currency (GDC) 250,000 - as direct-citizen-bailouts to purchase homes with: as a sure-fire way to kickstart the national economy, after Ghanaian herbalists finally find a cure for COVID-19, and we (at long last!) abandon all the nonsensical measures taken thus far as whistling-in-the-dark protection-from-COVID-19-policies, just because precious White people still cannot find a cure for it. Cool. Naturally, as a firm believer in the incentive-inducing-and-initiative-inspiring powers of a low tax regime, for both individuals and enterprises, tax identification numbers will be mandatory for all the aforementioned BoG digital account holders, oooo, Massa. Cool. Environmental policy: Shoot illegal sand winners, illegal loggers and illegal gold miners on sight - to protect our forests from greedy criminal-types, and ensure constant availability of potable water nationwide. Ditto, ensure the availability of fresh oxygen-laden air, nationwide, at all material times. Ghanafuo, munpe waiy3, na mu pe dien, koraaaa? Cool. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Ontario says it will establish a commission to study the handling of COVID-19 in the province's long-term care sector. More than 1,400 Ontario long-term care facility residents, and a number of staff, have died of COVID-19 over the past two months. They are among the more than 3,400 who have died in long-term care centres across the country. The announcement was greeted with widespread criticism because the province is not convening a formal judicial inquiry along the lines of those that examined the far less deadly 2000 Walkerton drinking water disaster and the 2003 SARS outbreak. Rather, the commission is yet to be defined and seems more likely to be an informal process. Premier Doug Ford emphatically ruled out a formal inquiry, saying that it would take too long to produce recommendations for reforms of the sector. Less than stellar response At the federal level, the situation is only slightly less confusing. While Canada has managed COVID-19 better than the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, its response has nonetheless been less than stellar. Long-term care along with food processing, specifically meat-packing, are critical points of vulnerability. COVID-19's impact has raised major questions about pandemic preparedness and the resiliency of critical, globalized supply chains. There's also a question of whether Canada should have taken reactive, risk-based approaches to public health threats rather than a more proactive, precautionary stance. There are more questions still about travel restrictions in the early stages of the pandemic, co-ordination among the federal government, provinces and local health agencies, issues around data and information access for the public, and the role of the Public Health Agency of Canada, which is itself a legacy of the SARS outbreak. So far the federal government has been ambiguous about plans for a review of Canada's overall response to the pandemic. They have referred to the need for a "national conversation" regarding the situation in the long-term care sector, but few specifics on what that might involve. The Auditor General announced her intention to review the federal government's preparedness for the pandemic. Various internal and parliamentary reviews are likely to occur as well. Falling short of what's required While these steps, including Ontario's proposed commission, are better than nothing, they fall far short of the comprehensive review that's necessary. The current situation has similarities to another recent disaster the 2013 Lac-Megantic train derailment and fire in which 47 innocent people were killed. In the aftermath of the accident, there was no formal inquiry at either the federal or provincial levels. But there were civil lawsuits and criminal trials as well as a series of investigations and reports: the Transportation Safety Board, the Auditor General, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transportation and the Quebec Coroner's Office. Although extensive, the overall findings were fragmented. They failed to provide a comprehensive picture of the actions and decisions, both immediate and systemic, leading up to the disaster. Key people involved in the disaster never testified in public. None of the investigations and reviews had complete access to all of the relevant information and documents. COVID-19 dwarfs other public health disasters The scale of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada already dwarfs most previous public health disasters in modern Canadian history. The situation requires a much more comprehensive review and response than appears to be emerging at the federal level. A formal public inquiry would be the best way to investigate these questions. Inquiries cannot bring criminal or civil indictments but they can compel senior officials, politicians and senior executives to testify under oath and be cross-examined, and confidential documents from public and private sources can be accessed. As such, an inquiry is likely the best tool for establishing as full and complete an understanding as possible about what went wrong in Canada's response to COVID-19. This is essential to ensuring that the same mistakes are avoided in the future. Independent inquiries can serve another critical purpose that other mechanisms cannot: they can help survivors and the families of victims in their grieving and healing processes. The act of establishing an inquiry is itself a public acknowledgement of the significance of the events and the losses that have occurred. Anti-inquiry forces As was the case with Lac-Megantic, powerful forces will likely be aligned against inquiries, either federal or provincial, into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Care-home operators and government agencies that were supposed be overseeing their operations, for example, as well political officials past and present who may be concerned that blame will fall on them for whatever failures may be identified, will all have reasons to strongly resist formal inquiries. Yet, these are the very reasons why formal inquiries are so essential. Inquiries operate outside of normal government structures. This is especially important when, as is the case with COVID-19, there is a need to examine the performance of existing agencies and policies. The formalized inquiry process is far less vulnerable to internal or external lobbying by the interests and agencies whose performance is under review. An inquiry may also have much greater freedom to engage with new ideas and perspectives than may be possible within existing governmental processes. Public confidence in inquiries is closely related to their degree of independence from government, in combination with their investigative powers to get to the bottom of a problem. An inquiry at the federal level will need to co-ordinate with provincial reviews. Separate formal inquiries are clearly needed in Ontario and Quebec on the specific question of what went wrong in the long-term care sector, the epicentres of the pandemic in both provinces. In a world that remains highly globalized, COVID-19 will not be last pandemic Canada faces. It is critically important that we have as complete an understanding as possible of what went wrong this time and what can be done better next time because there will almost certainly be a next time. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 00:36:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joins a deliberation with deputies from Hubei Province at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- As the "two sessions" continue, Chinese President Xi Jinping specially joined a group discussion with national lawmakers from central China's Hubei Province Sunday afternoon, showing his great care for the COVID-19-hit province and its resumption of production. After hearing the remarks of five deputies with the Hubei panel to the National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature, Xi commended the vital contributions and enormous sacrifices made by the people in Hubei and its capital city Wuhan in fighting COVID-19, and expressed his sincere appreciation. As the province hardest hit by the virus and with the longest span of restrictions, Hubei faces major difficulties in reviving its economy, Xi said, urging the province to accelerate production resumption while going all out to implement regular epidemic prevention and control. Photo taken with a mobile phone shows cured patients waving goodbye to medical workers before leaving the Leishenshan hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 4, 2020. (Photo by Gao Xiang/Xinhua) HELP FROM AROUND THE NATION After months-long arduous efforts, China has achieved a decisive victory in the battle to defend Hubei and Wuhan by rallying the support of the entire country, including sending over 42,000 medics nationwide to aid Hubei. "We mobilized from around the nation the best doctors, the most advanced equipment and the most needed resources to Hubei and Wuhan, going all out to save lives," Xi said during his deliberations with deputies from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday. Fighting COVID-19 became Xi's top concern after the epidemic hit Hubei. On March 10, he flew to Wuhan and inspected the epidemic prevention and control work. He has chaired a number of key meetings to direct the country's COVID-19 prevention and control efforts and production resumption. Shifting to COVID-19 response on regular basis, the whole country is stepping up efforts to help Hubei return to normal. Members of the national medical team pose for a photo after arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2020.(Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) CONTINUED POLICIES, MEASURES Xi said Hubei should implement targeted policies for key industrial chains, leading enterprises and major investment projects, work hard to solve various difficult problems in production resumption, and help companies, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises solve their practical difficulties. The central and state organs as well as central state-owned enterprises should continue to expand their support for Hubei's revival after the epidemic, implementing all policies and measures, and delivering results and benefits in Hubei on an early date, Xi said to the Hubei panel of lawmakers. In late April, a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, China's top leadership, discussed and endorsed a series of policies supporting the economic and social development in Hubei. According to the government work report delivered to the ongoing NPC session for deliberation, China will implement a package of policies to support Hubei's development, helping it ensure employment, public wellbeing and normal operations, and spurring the full recovery of economic and social activities there. Chen Yilin, chairman of Hubei Long Boat Salinization Co., Ltd., has been busy planning to build a new diaphragm plant to reduce the cost of producing small bags of salt. Through a few online applications, his company was granted a one-time credit of 50 million yuan (about 7 million U.S. dollars) for the project by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's biggest commercial lender. "Having such a large amount of credit so soon has really solved my urgent need," said Chen. The China Development Bank, a major development finance institution, said the bank would increase its loans to Hubei this year. After a pairing-up aid of provincial-level regions to help cities in Hubei fight COVID-19 in the past months, many provinces continued supporting Hubei in production resumption. An online investment promotion event for Wuhan held on May 15, saw central state-owned enterprises sign contracts of 37 projects worth more than 180 billion yuan, which will help the city optimize its economic structure and gain new growth momentum. China's foreign ministry will hold a global promotion event at a proper time for Hubei and explore a fast track for essential personnel to go to Hubei and Wuhan to support the production resumption, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on the sidelines of the NPC session on Sunday. Geely Auto Group in east China's Zhejiang Province said it has helped dozens of its suppliers in Hubei to resume work through various channels. Chinese e-commerce firms such as Alibaba and JD.com have also participated in selling agricultural products for Hubei. Alibaba announced in April that it would purchase crayfish worth 1 billion yuan from Hubei. People stay at a shop of a commercial street in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) SALES PROMOTION, JOB OPPORTUNITIES In early May, nearly 1,000 students from Yangzhou Polytechnic Institute in east China's Jiangsu Province sold special agricultural products of Hubei online, including oranges and tea, to help Hubei recover. "This is a famous orange from Hubei's Zigui County. It is seedless, juicy and sweet," said Chen Jiajia, a student of the institute with 1 million fans, advertizing the orange to the online audience. Liu Jincun, Party chief of the institute, said the students' livestreams helped sell 105,000 kg of oranges for Hubei. As a major labor export province, Hubei has about 6 million migrant workers. Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong and Fujian have been organized by the central government to help Hubei boost employment. Shandong, which sent a medical team to assist Hubei's Huanggang City, took the lead in signing a cooperation agreement to provide more than 2,000 jobs for migrant workers from the city. In mid-May, the first batch of migrant workers left Huanggang for their workplaces in Shandong. Weng Xinnian, a migrant worker from Huanggang, got a job at Jinan Dali Foods Co., Ltd. in Shandong. "I'm so excited. The company provides dining and accommodation for us. I can earn around 5,000 yuan per month now," he said. The Ministry of Education launched moves to pair up universities in Hubei with 76 universities across the country to help graduates in the recovering province find jobs or start their own businesses. Representative Image Locals in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir reportedly caught a "spy" pigeon suspected to have been trained in Pakistan, news agency PTI has reported. Officials told PTI on May 25 that the bird was captured along the International Border (IB) in the district. Shailendra Mishra, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, told PTI that the pigeon was handed over to the local police by the villagers on May 24. He added that a ring was seen attached to one of its legs with some numbers on it. As per the report, soon after the "spy" pigeon flew into the Indian side from Pakistan, it was nabbed by villagers in the Hiranagar sector of the district. The residents of Manyari, the village where the pigeon was captured, alleged that the bird was carrying a secret "coded" message. The concerned security agencies are working to decipher the "coded message", the officials said. In the past too, birds allegedly used for purposes of espionage have been caught in the region. In 2016, Pathankot police reportedly took one such pigeon on a mission into custody. The bird was found near the border with Pakistan and had a note attached to it with an alleged threat to the prime minister. A year before that, another such aerial "spy" was seized in Manwal village, a few miles from the border, after being spotted carrying a "stamped message" on its body, as per a BBC report. While the reports may seem hilarious to some, birds being used for tactical and espionage purposes is not something unheard of. In 2019, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the much-renowned spy arm of the United States, declassified details pertaining to its secret Cold War "spy-pigeon missions". These documents shed light on how pigeons were first trained and later used for clandestine missions inside the Soviet Union. Staying at home and feeling ignored, this is how disabled people are struggling behind closed doors and under lockdown. Many people with disabilities are facing greater difficulty during the coronavirus pandemic. Charities in the United Kingdom are pressing the government for more help. They say the lockdown has increased peoples fear of isolation and many are worried they will not get the correct treatment if they become ill. Al Jazeeras Emma Hayward reports from Lincolnshire in the UK. Many formerly imprisoned women of colour return to neighbourhoods transformed beyond recognition. What awaits them? Women are the fastest-growing imprisoned population in the United States. Since 1980, the number has increased by 750 percent. In 2017, there were more than 225,060 women in US prisons and jails. Eighty percent of those were mothers and two-thirds were women of colour. But what awaits the roughly two million American women and girls released from prisons and jails each year? According to the Prison Policy Initiative, a US think-tank that researches the effect of mass criminalisation, most policies and programmes for formerly jailed people are still focused on men. This, despite the fact that formerly imprisoned women particularly women of colour are more likely to experience homelessness and unemployment and are less likely to have a high school education than men who have been released from jail or prison. For many, release can mean entering a new type of confinement a kind of social prison where they struggle to overcome the stigma of their past incarceration and to find jobs, safe and affordable housing and to reconnect with family. About 60 percent end up back in prison within three years. For those women returning to communities transformed by gentrification to neighbourhoods they scarcely recognise the transition to life on the outside can be particularly difficult. While gentrification happens all over the world, in the US it is inextricably linked to incarceration: as mass incarceration places disproportionate numbers of African American men and women behind bars, gentrification forces low-income people of colour from their homes, their communities, their neighbourhoods. Both feed a cycle of poverty, crime and racialised over-policing. AJ Contrast, Al Jazeeras immersive storytelling and media innovation studio, wanted to explore the effect of incarceration and gentrification on women of colour in the US. The resulting immersive multimedia project called Still Here follows Jasmine Smith, a fictional character who returns home to Harlem, New York City after being locked up for 15 years. Still Here premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and comprises three components interactive VR, audio with AR and a photo gallery. How to watch Still Here: Interactive VR : Created for VR headsets, the 25-minute interactive film about incarceration and re-entry follows Jasmine as she returns to her grandmothers brownstone in Harlem. Audio with AR: Optimised for iPad Pros, the 18-minute story about gentrification is divided into three chapters in which Jasmine interacts with her uncle, a coffee shop owner and a homeless person. Photo Gallery: The online gallery showcases the lives of the women whose stories informed the project. In Still Here, the viewer is immersed in Jasmines world as she grapples with the reality of a community that no longer looks the same and seeks to rebuild her life post-incarceration. Her narrative is based on the real-life experiences of formerly imprisoned women, some of whom are part of the Womens Prison Association (WPA) advocacy group and who collaborated on the project. Here are some of their stories: Claude: I was in prison longer than I was ever free Age when imprisoned: 19 | Age when released: 44 | Sentence served: 25 years | Year of release: 2017 A portrait of Claude six weeks before her release from Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Bedford Hills, New York, 2016 [File: Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] I was in prison longer than I was ever free. I always hoped in the back of my mind that I would win an appeal or something, but it never happened. I had to resign [myself to being imprisoned] and live because I was just angry and depressed for a long time and tried to sleep the time away. Claude described the day in 2017 when she was released as being like a rebirth. Her sister and nephew were waiting for her outside the prison. The sliding doors opened. I walked through. I took a deep breath. I thought, wow, this is really happening. And I came through the door and saw my sister and my nephew and it was just like, Im finally home! That was three years ago. Now she is living in Albany, New York, with her boyfriend, Mark, whom she met when he was a civilian working in the prison in 1995. Claude hopes she will soon be discharged from parole and finally be home free. One of the first things she did after being released was to get a makeover. If you had met my mom, God bless her, [Claudes mother died while she was in prison] she always had nails. Even when I was home, I always got my nails done. When I got incarcerated, I kept on doing my own nails, my own hair. Doing that was the one thing that stated, I am a woman, because everything about the jail was dehumanising, was to strip a woman of her womanhood. So coming out, I was looking forward to someone pampering me. But not everything on the outside has been so easy. While Claude has been able to finish her bachelors degree since her release and build stronger bonds with her family and friends, the hardest part of life post-incarceration has been looking for a job. Society isnt forgiving, she explains. Because of that, Im in the process of starting my own business teaching people anger management with the goal of opening the doors of employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. Claude steps out of prison into the arms of her sister, 2017 [Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] Leah: I was released back into a society that was unknown to me Age when imprisoned: 23 | Age when released: 44 | Sentence served: 21 years | Year of release: 2019 Leah outside her mothers home in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, 2019 [File: Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] In July of 1997, at the age of 23, I was arrested for a homicide. After being detained on Rikers Island for three years, I was convicted and sentenced to an indeterminate sentence of 21 years to life in prison. On January 15, 2019, after serving months shy of my 22nd-year mark, I was released back into a society that was unknown to me. Where there was minimal technology prior to me going to prison, I was thrown into a world that exists on technology. That in itself presented huge difficulties for me in my transition. Despite this, Leah eventually found herself two jobs one as a supervisor at a company supplying restaurants and another working evenings and Sundays at a recently opened neighbourhood restaurant. I need two jobs, she explains. The price of living is high. She is living with her mother and the fact that she is able to contribute financially towards the household is one of the accomplishments of which she is most proud. The area in which she grew up and now lives with her mother has changed a lot since she was imprisoned. When I lived here it was Black/West Indian, she says. But now there are a lot of Caucasians in the area. There are a lot of new structures being built. If I had to live around here on my own, I couldnt afford it. The area is not all that has changed. As much as I desire to, I will never be able to change my past, but I have allowed my past to change me, Leah explains. Today I realise that it will never be about me, but in my endeavours to do better and be better, I know it starts with me. Today I make better choices and I have better ways to cope in any situation without resorting to violence. I have become a respectable, responsible, selfless, compassionate, humbled and mature woman who is always conscious of the people I have hurt and the damage I have done. Leah at work at a recently-opened neighbourhood restaurant, Brooklyn, New York, 2019 [File: Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] Tamanika: I fought the system and won Age when imprisoned: 37 | Age when released: 40 | Sentence served: Three years | Year of release: 2017 Tamanika holding a photo she took of her bedroom in her transitional housing, Long Island City, New York, 2019 [File: Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] I am the proud mother of four children. When Tamanika was sent to prison, three of her four children were put in foster care, while her oldest child stayed with her family. The court tried to terminate my parental rights but I fought hard and it didnt happen, she explains. I had a wonderful team of lawyers from Bronx Defenders [a non-profit that seeks to transform how low-income people from the Bronx are represented in the justice system]. My lawyer said, over my dead body will I let them take your kids. I told her I only thought they said that in the movies. After Tamanika was released from prison, she first lived in a shelter in the Bronx for two weeks before being transferred to a shelter in Lower Manhattan that was run by the Womens Prison Association. In April 2018, her son was returned to her care. Two months later, her daughters were also returned to her. Im grateful to say that I fought the system and won. It has been a long journey. We will finally be moving into our own apartment soon. Tamanika with three of her four children Shania, 15, Taylor, 12, and Syncir, 19. Long Island City, New York, 2019 [File: Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] Kamilah: Are my problems that unique? Kamilah with her five-year-old son Jeyson waiting for the bus after picking him up from school in Bronx, New York, 2019 [File: Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] I grew up with my maternal grandparents, my mother, my uncle and his son. We all lived in the same household, explains Kamilah of her childhood in the Bronx. My mom stayed home with me when I was young and I was reading by the time I was two-and-a-half. I do think highly of books and I just recently got myself a bookshelf at my home. Its almost full. Kamilah now lives with her five-year-old son and works as an associate producer at a hi-tech company. She had hoped to become a nurse but was dismissed from her nursing programme after she was arrested. She says her mental health suffered greatly during this time but credits the WPAs Justice Home programme with changing her life. It allowed me to use my voice and struggles to create the change I wanted to see, she says, adding: Its important to rehabilitate folks that suffer from factors related to criminogenic risk. Taking punitive measures only exacerbates the unfortunate circumstances. Although things have been going well for Kamilah since she was released, there are still challenges. Even though I have the skills and tools necessary to be successful in the corporate world, there are still a lot of barriers, like having lack of access to resources, she explains. Im a single parent, Im pregnant, and my commute is difficult every day. Are my problems that unique? she asks. Do most people have a better support system than me? Of her childhood home in the Bronx, she reflects: Im starting to see signs of gentrification. Theres a lot less affordable housing. Kamilah at home, Morris Park, Bronx, New York, 2019 [File: Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] Elaine: A degree and city job did not insulate me from being wrongfully accused Elaine and daughter, Elaine Jr, in a park, New York, 2019 [File: Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] Elaines husband is serving a 45-year sentence in a state prison in Connecticut. He was arrested in 2016 and, Elaine explains, because their Islamic marriage was not recognised by the state, they do not have any marital privileges. As a result, I was charged as a co-defendant rather than recognised as a spouse he has confided in. A Bachelors degree and city job did not insulate me from being wrongfully accused and guilty by association, she says. My grandmother bailed me out after four days of not knowing where I was because I never received my one phone call. After three years of fighting for my freedom, I plead guilty via the Alford doctrine to hindering prosecution in the second degree so that I could be home with my three-year-old daughter. She now couch surfs because of the stigma associated with renting to a felon and because she does not want to put her grandparents at risk of eviction. Any change in employment, housing or travel outside of the five boroughs [of New York City] need to be approved by my probation officer, she says. Going to Palisades Mall on a whim is out of the question or any other family fun weekend activities that are not approved 30 to 90 days in advance. Elaine speaks to her husband three times a week. Phone calls are limited to 15 minutes. Each call costs $4, she explains. But she cannot visit him as she would not pass the necessary background check on account of having been arrested herself. As a result, someone else from the family must take her daughter, Elaine Jr, to visit her father. She has seen her father seven times in her life. Evelyn: It feels like Im paying for my freedom Age when imprisoned: 18 | Age when released: 36 Evelyn is now an executive chef in Long Island City, New York, 2019 [File: Sara Bennett/Al Jazeera] I had a lot of trials and tribulations coming home to New York City, says Evelyn of her release. I was by myself because my family was in Puerto Rico. But she managed to get a grant and joined a culinary programme. I cook like my grandma. Thats the best instructor you can have. Everything she cooked was natural. Now, she is an executive chef. The job comes with a little bit of stress, she says, but Im proud of myself to see the role Im in. I have a wife, family, apartment, Evelyn explains. And my life continues. Im on a roll, always looking for betterment in my life. When youre on parole, you have to pay a fee. I dont know what its for. It feels like Im paying for my freedom I have to pay $30 a month, which is the maximum. Ive been paying from the very beginning. For more information about the project, visit: ajcontrast.com/still-here. For instructions on how to watch it, go to the Watch Still Here page. MAY 1 MOVEMENT PRESS RELEASE UNIONS PROTEST AT SYDNEY MCDONALDS CORPORATE OFFICE May 1 Movement rallies against proposed changes to fast food Award! Sydney, New South Wales [Two weeks ago] Unions involved in the May 1 Movement group rallied in an unprecedented action with fast food workers, targeting the McDonalds Australia corporate office in Thornleigh, Sydney. Participants are angered by proposed changes to the Fast Food Industry Award designed to attack award-reliant fast food workers. A May 15 protest against attempts to change the fast food industry award. (Photo: Jageth Bandara) The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) are among unions calling for the ACTU and shop assistants union (SDA) to drop their support for the proposed changes. May 1 Movement spokesperson Paul McAleer said, The May 1 Movement is calling on all unions to join in their demand that the ACTU and SDA revoke their shameful support for the proposed changes. These changes attack the conditions of young, low-paid and vulnerable fast food workers. Many of the workers targeted by these changes make as little at $8 or $9 an hour. The employer group, the AiGroup and the SDA are using COVID-19 as an excuse to push through the same attacks on part-time fast food workers that RAFFWU fought and defeated in the Fair Work Commission in February 2019. The proposed changes effectively casualise part-time work. If passed, tens of thousands of award-reliant fast food workers could lose their set shifts and instead be rostered at the whim of management on a weekly basis. The May 1 Movement will fight against all attempts by big business to smash workers rights and conditions. We demand jobs with justice, we demand that no worker be left behind, and we demand that trade union leadership across the movement opposes these attacks and not be complicit in them. Loukas Kakogiannis, RAFFWU Sydney Organiser also noted that, these changes seek to completely rewrite the definition of part time work. Part-time work means fixed rosters with set days and times. These changes were supposed to be pushed through in secret, without a single fast food worker being consulted. If it werent for RAFFWUs opposition, these changes would have been made effective last Tuesday. The SDA and the ACTU should be ashamed of lining up on the side of Christian Porter and McDonalds to attack fast food workers. RAFFWU demands they immediately withdraw their support for the AiGroup submission, Kakogiannis said. These changes have nothing to do with COVID-19 and everything to do with giving multinational behemoths like McDonalds flexibility to exploit their workers. RAFFWU members are rallying today because we arent going to sit back and allow some of the most exploited, young, vulnerable, and low-paid workers to be sold out without a fight. Robert Car, May 1 Movement Organiser added that, the May 1 Movement came out in force to support RAFFWU in a convoy today to highlight that no worker needs to be left behind on account of McDonalds despicable attacks on workers. We encourage the SDA and ACTU to remove all support for an application that will set a bosses precedent to attack the wages and conditions of all workers through altering industry awards. If the award alteration for Fast Food Workers is successful, a precedent will be set to degrade the pay and conditions of retail workers, nurses, public servants, firies, transport workers, the list is endless. May 1 Movement organised a significant attendance for this action. We want unions across the board to support young workers by maintaining their working conditions rather than be complicit in undermining them. By Express News Service BALANGIR/JHARSUGUDA: A woman on board a Shramik Special train carrying migrant workers from Kazipet in Telangana to Balangir, gave birth to a baby girl at Titlagarh railway station on Sunday. Hemakanti Biswakarma, who was on her way to Gariabandh district in Chhattisgarh along with her husband, complained of labour pain after which the train was halted at Titlagarh railway station. Railway doctor RN Panda attended to her at the railway station and helped her deliver the baby. Hema and her child were shifted to Titlagarh Government Hospital after the delivery. A similar incident was reported from Jharsuguda where a woman, Payal Kumari, gave birth to a baby girl at the local railway station. She was on board a special train enroute to Danapur in Bihar from Secunderabad in Telangana. Payal was travelling to Kaimurbhabuan district in Bihar along with her husband. Today afternoon, a pregnant lady travelling by Shramik Express developed labour pain. The train stopped and she was taken in a police vehicle to the hospital, tweeted Odisha DGPs official Twitter handle. As she complained of labour pain, the train was halted at Jharsuguda railway station. Jharsuguda Town IIC Sabitri Bal and Tehsildar GB Mangaraj reached the spot following which she was taken to a hospital on a PCR van. However, she gave birth to the baby enroute with the help of Bal. As the woman developed labour pain, railway authorities contacted Jharsuguda Town IIC who rushed to the spot along with the Tehsildar, said SP Rahul PR. Payal and her child were admitted to the district headquarters hospital where their condition is stated to be stable. On Wednesday, a woman had given birth to a baby girl inside Odisha Fire Service vehicle while fire personnel were rushing her to a community health centre (CHC) in Kendrapara. The pandemic has made for a bleak end to the winter term for Canadas two million post-secondary students. However, what is of greater concern is the crushing weight that an even more uncertain future is placing on our students mental health. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The pandemic has made for a bleak end to the winter term for Canadas two million post-secondary students. However, what is of greater concern is the crushing weight that an even more uncertain future is placing on our students mental health. As The New Yorker put it recently, "Young people think of college as an investment in their future. Now that future is changing in ways they cant apprehend." Yet even before the coronavirus upended the world, acquiring post-secondary education in Canada had become a pressure cooker. The National College Health Assessment, a regular research survey into the health and lifestyle habits of more than 55,000 Canadian post-secondary students, released its latest data last spring. The findings were grim. In their responses, one-third of students said anxiety had derailed their academic performance within the last two weeks; a quarter said the same for depression. When considering the same question over the course of a year, both these figures spiked to include over 90 per cent of respondents. Meanwhile, one in 10 students had intentionally self-harmed within the past 12 months, and 16 per cent of students reported that they had seriously considered suicide. This student mental-health crisis stems partly from labour-market shifts that have occurred over the past two decades, placing constraints on youthful ambitions: the changing nature of work, a rise in automation which opportunists will now fast-track and creeping credentialism. Rather than post-secondary training being one of several career paths, its now a prerequisite for upward social mobility. Getting into desired programs has also never been so costly: the average undergraduate in Canada today exits university with more than $28,000 in debt. In addition, Generation Z is brutally aware of how their lives are inherently restricted, due to astronomical housing prices and a shortage of stable career opportunities. Through no fault of their own, students also know they await a horror-show future due to the worlds apparent inability to rein in runaway climate change. Given this noxious mix of financial distress, delayed adulthood and looming climate dystopia, its no wonder the mental health of students was already fraying well before the coronavirus threw their individual and collective futures into flux. But their success in navigating a hasty shift to online learning which is, very likely, here to stay amid a multiple wave pandemic should matter to us all. Undergraduates tend to be 18 to 24 years old, the same age window in which mental illness is most likely to first appear. By age 40, one in two Canadians will have, or have had, mental illness. Helping students acquire coping strategies now to deal with mental-health issues down the line will reduce preventable strain on our health-care system in the future, and lessen the $50 billion in productivity losses Canada suffers every year due to anxiety and depression alone. Also to be considered is how, on top of the immediate need for skilled labour to help drag the Canadian economy out of its induced coma, our national labour replacement rate is dwindling. By 2030, nearly one-quarter of the population will be seniors; by 2035, the government predicts, there will only be two workers for every retiree in Canada, compared with seven workers per retiree in the 1970s. The higher costs of caring for an aging society will fall upon a smaller taxpayer base. 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. With the country at a tipping point of massive demographic change, Canadians shared prosperity in our new COVID-19 reality will rely upon current students potential and ingenuity as business leaders, entrepreneurs, IT professionals, public servants and educators. Current students also represent our next wave of doctors, nurses, community health workers and epidemiologists, all of whom will be tasked with guiding us through subsequent pandemics that are nearly assured. The good news is that there are accessible solutions available. Smartphone apps, while not perfect, have greatly improved as supplemental treatments for mild depression and anxiety. Peer counselling programs are cost-effective ways to enlist student volunteers to support other students after first receiving training from professional counsellors. Updating counselling intake procedures can also improve access to treatment. By doing so, both the University of Saskatchewan and University of Manitoba were able to increase their number of intake appointments by more than 60 per cent. The pandemic is forcing a major rethink of many aspects of our society. High up on the list should be ensuring the mental health of post-secondary students as our society moves forward. We need to help them through this pandemic, because we will all be depending on them when the next one hits. Kyle Hiebert is the strategy and research adviser for the University of Manitoba Students Union and a former editor of the Africa Conflict Monitor. Iran's defense preparedness at highest level in 40 years: IRGC cmdr. Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 1:18 PM Iran has reached the highest level of defense preparedness since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, says a senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), emphasizing that there is nothing for the Iranian people to worry about in this regard. "Our defense preparedness is currently at the highest level since the victory of the Islamic Revolution and our people should have no concerns in this regard," Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Division Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said on Sunday. "Iran thank God is currently powerful [in the defense sector] and no one should have any worries in this regard. It is the enemy who must be concerned," Hajizadeh added. He noted that from his viewpoint, economy is the main front in which the Iranian nation is facing the biggest problem, calling on the Iranian people and authorities to focus their efforts on solving the economic problems. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called for a further strengthening of the country's defense power to confront threats and avoid any possible outbreak of war. Iran has managed to "paralyze" its enemies, and has developed its own "sophisticated" means of defense in response to the enemy's use of increasingly advanced measures against Iran, the Leader told a group of Iranian Air Force commanders and personnel in Tehran in February. Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite facing US sanctions and Western economic pressure. The Islamic Republic says its military power is solely for defensive purposes against enemy threats. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address JERSEY CITY After two months of closing businesses to curb the battle against COVID-19, the city is preparing to reopen once Gov. Phil Murphy gives the go-ahead. Mayor Steve Fulop said on Friday the city will be testing all employees of local businesses, provide a reopening package that includes personal protective equipment and sanitizer once the business is tested and an application for restaurants to expand to outdoor seating. We want to do our part to make sure that local businesses have the ability to re-engage their customers and build trust, Fulop said in a statement. For restaurants specifically, we want to offset any reduction that the governor may implement with indoor restriction by allowing restaurants to have more seating outdoor. Murphy said on Friday that up to 25 people can gather outside, but is still putting a halt to restaurant bookings and ceremonies. He said the state is not there yet, which is currently second for most COVID-19 cases and deaths in the U.S. The city will provide owners and employees with COVID-19 and antibody testing along with a safety kit that includes face coverings, gloves and sanitizers based on the number of employees at each business. Public Safety Director James Shea said in a statement that the city is using their own supply of PPE to aid local businesses in their reopening. In the past few weeks, the Departments of Public Safety, Health and Human Services and Housing & Economic Development have been doing large focus group Zoom meetings with local business owners for feedback and knowledge of what resources they may need. This pandemic has challenged everyone in many ways, and business owners have also had the additional burden of trying to survive the pandemic in their business capacity as well, Director of HEDC Annisia Cialone said in a statement. The future of local business will not immediately return to the way it was, so were working to help them recover and get to that point. Russia's Ryabkov Mocks Pompeo Claim That Moscow Uses Open Skies Treaty to Identify Targets Sputnik News 03:37 GMT 24.05.2020(updated 03:44 GMT 24.05.2020) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov on Saturday rejected as ludicrous the allegation by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Moscow used the Open Skies Treaty to target critical infrastructure in the United States and Europe. "When the administration of [US President Donald] Trump... suddenly suggests that Russia has been using Open Skies aircraft to guide artillery and rocket fire this causes great amusement in Moscow offices and headquarters," Ryabkov told Russia's Channel One. Ryabkov argued that imagery equipment on board reconnaissance planes could not be adjusted to focus on targets, especially not with observers from the host nation present during the mission. The deputy foreign minister's comments followed accusations made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Russia was using data obtained during Open Skies overflights to target critical infrustructure in the United States and Europe. Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko noted that Moscow had made no violations of the treaty, stressing the Kremlin's full compliance with all rights and obligations of the agreement as long as it remains in force. The United States said on Friday it will exit the 2002 treaty in six months unless Russia returns to full compliance. Russia has refuted accusations that it broke the terms of a pact. The Open Skies Treaty aims to build trust among the 34 participating countries by allowing aerial reconnaissance flights over member territories. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In 1868, a Spanish law established the regulations that would govern the creation of new colonies. These werent colonies overseas but colonies of settlers in Spain that were principally designed to cope with a general increase in the population and a need for additional cultivation. There had been previous legislation related to these colonies, but it was in 1868 that a legislative process which had lasted nineteen years became definitive. The text of the law was published in June of that year in the Gaceta de Madrid, the forerunner of what is now the Official Bulletin of State. It was to be one of the final items of legislation in the name of Queen Isabel II. At the end of September 1868, Isabels forces were defeated at the Battle of Alcolea. The Glorious Revolution led to her being deposed. It was small surprise that it had taken as long as it had to come up with definitive legislation. Isabels reign was marked by constant upheaval, which finally came to a head in 1868. The progressive liberals and republicans rose up, naval forces in Cadiz mutinied, and the revolution was to eventually result in the shortlived First Republic of 1873 to 1874. It was a revolution which went wrong from the outset, as there was never any consensus as to what it should result in. With the exception of the brief period of the republic, it wasnt a revolution that deposed the monarchy as an institution, and in its midst the aristocracy was largely unaffected. So, one hundred and fifty years ago in 1870, the farming colony of Sant Jordi in Majorca was founded. It was the first such colony on the island and was in fact governed by one of the previous items of legislation - a law from 1855. But as with the colonies that were to be founded on the back of the 1868 law - Ses Comuns Velles de Campos was to be the first in 1874 - it benefited from certain advantages, namely tax exemptions, and it was founded by a member of the nobility. The document which set out the terms for the colony was headed - Colonia Agricola San Jorge: Fundada por el Excmo. Sr. Marques de Palmer. The Excelentisimo, most excellent Marquis, was Jorge (aka Jordi) Dezcallar. It might appear as if the naming of this colony was an exercise in self-promotion, but the Jorge (Jordi) was coincidental. It was a colony in the name of one of the most prominent of saints - Saint George. Colonia San Jorge it may have been in 1870, but the Catalan Colonia Sant Jordi has long assumed primacy over the Castellano. Although it was the saint who gave his name to this part of what was then in Campos, personal aggrandisement wasnt completely unknown when it came to the naming of these colonies. In 1876, Henry Robert Waring founded the colony in Albufera, Alcudia. Known as Gatamoix, it was an asset of the New Majorca Land Company, which was to eventually be headed by Lee Bateman, the son of the most celebrated of the British engineers, John Frederick La Trobe Bateman. Lee went native, converted to Catholicism, changed his name to Lluis and also changed the name of the colony - Colonia Sant Lluis. Coming back to the Marquiss document, it stated: With the aim of contributing to the development of agriculture in a most fertile region, which on account of its topographic position remains almost uncultivated, a farming colony is to be established with all the benefits of the law of 21 of November 1855 and of other existing dispositions. The colony was on the estate of SAvall, and under the terms of its founding, the owner (the Marquis) would, among other things, freely cede to each settler a plot of land demarcated in the plan for the new settlement. On this land, the settler would be able to build a house, but there was to be a payment - of a price that is considered appropriate - for the leasing of an area not less than four quarterades (four times 7,103 square metres). The tenant settlers were to be given first refusal to purchase their land at the end of tenancy agreement if the owner decided that he would be selling it. While it isnt known what the appropriate price was, the tenant settlers would seem to have got a reasonable enough deal. They also had the benefit of being by the sea. The four colonies that survived - Colonia Sant Jordi, Colonia Sant Pere, Porto Cristo and Portocolom - all offered fishing as a form of economic diversification. The Dezcallar of Colonia Sant Jordi fame was from a very long noble line. A Ponc Dezcallar settled in Majorca in 1290, but the first Dezcallar can be traced back to a Catalan in 1002. The title of Marques de Palmer was bestowed on one Gabriel Abri-Descatlar i Serralta by the Archduke Carlos of Austria, as he was most commonly known, although he was also Carlos III of Aragon and indeed Carlos VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. This was some time in the early eighteenth century. Gabriel was the sergeant major of the Ciutat de Mallorca (Palma), and so this has given rise to the idea that Palmer is derived from Palma. It isnt. Palmer was the name of the lands in Campos owned by the Dezcallar (Descatlar) family, although there is a theory about the origins of the names Palma and Palmer which link the two - they are both from pre-Roman words pal and ma, meaning swamp and water. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Monday laid a wreath at a veterans park near his Delaware home, the first time in two months he has left his neighborhood. The former vice president, who has opted to campaign remotely from his house in Wilmington amid the coronavirus pandemic, made the visit to the Veterans Memorial Park in nearby New Castle with his wife, Jill Biden. The two wore black masks as they took part in a brief wreath-laying ceremony there. Biden kept his mask on during an exchange with reporters in which he was asked whether he had a message for the country on Memorial Day. "Never forget the sacrifices that these men and women made. Never, ever, forget," Biden said. Aside from some neighborhood walks and bike rides, Biden and his wife since mid-March have followed state health officials' guidance to stay home. They have relied on cameras set up around their house to appear in live-streamed campaign events, remote television interviews and videos. The visit to the veterans memorial came as President Donald Trump made televised visits to Arlington National Cemetery and the Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore. Biden's campaign has not made public a timeline for resuming traditional campaign events, saying it will follow scientists' advice. Biden and his aides have said he is campaigning no less aggressively despite opting not to travel. Biden was asked Monday about leaving his house after two months. "It feels good to be out of my house," he said. Some Democrats have privately grown anxious about his physical absence from the campaign trail even as many public opinion polls show him leading Trump nationally and in several swing states. Trump has resumed some official travel under narrow circumstances and has indicated that he wants to resume holding giant rallies, but none has been scheduled. Federal health officials have asked Americans not to take part in mass gatherings. It is also unclear whether Democrats will gather in person for their national convention in Milwaukee in August. They pushed back initial plans to hold it in July, but uncertainty about the future of the pandemic has led them to consider contingency plans. Biden has converted his basement into a television studio and more recently has appeared from different locations in the house after cameras were added, according to his campaign's digital director, Rob Flaherty. His remote campaign has not always gone smoothly. A virtual event designed to reach Florida voters this month was plagued by technical glitches. Monday's appearance was Biden's first in public since he started receiving Secret Service protection in mid-March. Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive, said: 'It's not going to be the service people had previously' The NHS won't be able to provide non-emergency care until the government's track and trace system to halt the spread of coronavirus is up and running, a health chief warned today. Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers - which looks after trusts in England - said without an effective system in place hospitals can't be sure staff aren't infected. Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed that the UK would have a 'world-beating' test, track and trace system in place by June 1, amid mounting pressure on ministers to stop a second wave of Covid-19. Ms Cordery told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the test and trace strategy is important to contain local outbreaks, adding that hospitals also need rapid testing for NHS staff and patients and consistent supplies of PPE. In a stark warning, she said: 'Without that testing we can't be clear that staff working on the frontline are safe and not infected and that's really, really important we get that in place.' She also admitted it is was 'absolutely imperative' the NHS gets started again - but added: 'We've got to be clear that's going to come relatively slowly and it's not going to be the service that people had previously.' Officials urged all hospitals to cancel thousands of operations and turf out patients on their wards to make way for a surge in COVID-19 patients early on in the crisis. Trust bosses have since been given the green light to resume services that came to a stop in March, with the peak of the first wave of the outbreak having passed. Health leaders last week warned it will take several months before the NHS is able to fully restart services in the face of Covid-19. Ms Cordery told BBC Radio 4: 'We are in a situation where we've done astonishingly well to really reconfigure the NHS to manage with this surge in coronavirus cases. 'But, of course, that comes at a cost and the cost is for those who need other types of treatment. And it's absolutely imperative that we get the NHS started again in terms of routine operations as far as possible.' Trust bosses have been given the green light to resume services that came to a stop in March, with the peak of the outbreak having passed. Pictured, a nurse changes bed clothes in Belfast's Mater Hospital's coronavirus recovery ward She added the NHS needs a 'sustainable supply' of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as effective testing for staff and patients. Ms Cordery said: 'Early on in the crisis the supply of PPE was very challenging indeed but it's improved substantially. 'But it hasn't become as sustainable as we'd like it because we need more than the current supply of PPE.' She added that hospitals currently only have a five-day supply of PPE and full-length gowns for patients, as opposed to two weeks' worth of stock. NHS Providers' chief executive Chris Hopson told The Guardian some hospitals had to wait up to 13 days to get test results back. CRUCIAL TUMOUR OP CANCELLED WITH JUST A WEEK'S NOTICE Beth Purvis, a 40-year-old mother of two, has stage-four bowel cancer that has spread to her lungs. But an operation to remove a tumour from her right lung scheduled for March 25 at the Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, London was cancelled with only a weeks notice amid the coronavirus crisis. Mrs Purvis said: I was devastated, I just burst into tears. It is a critical operation because it can help buy me time and there is a small chance it might be cured. Pictured: Beth Purvis, whose operation to remove a tumour in her right lung was cancelled with a week's notice If you leave the cancer, it has the opportunity to grow and spread further, I just do not know what it is going to do or how long it is safe to leave it for. The operation had offered her and her family some much-needed relief, said Mrs Purvis, from Bishops Stortford, Essex. When you have stage four cancer, every time something pops up you just hope that you can treat it. Each treatment just gives you hope and all that hope had been wiped away. Mrs Purvis has now been offered stereotactic body radiotherapy which she was not eligible for before due to the number of tumours in her lungs. Her doctors feel it is a safer option than surgery because of the risk of catching coronavirus in hospital. She said: It may actually turn out to be a better option in the long run. Mrs Purvis said she understood why the decision to cancel her surgery was made, adding: It is a really difficult situation because those of us waiting for operations will probably last a few weeks or months without our operations. Logically and rationally, I understand the decision but emotionally I am completely drained. Mrs Purvis said she and husband Richard, a painter and decorator, were up front with their children, Joseph 11, and Abigail, ten. She added: Their worlds have been turned upside down. Advertisement He said this was 'effectively useless' to hospitals, with quick results needed to ensure staff don't unknowingly spread the virus within the NHS to vulnerable patients. Mr Hopson said: 'We cant restart NHS services as quickly as everyone would like because of the wide range of constraints trusts are facing. 'My concern about reopening the NHS is that people are massively underestimating how difficult and complex its going to be.' He told The Guardian: 'People think its like flicking a light switch back on again but it absolutely isnt. 'Its fiendishly complicated and will take a lot longer than people think because there are a number of different problems that have to be sorted first. 'We need to ensure that hospitals are safe for people without coronavirus who need to be treated, including those who need elective surgery.' Dr Rob Harwood, chair of the British Medical Association's consultants committee, accepted the PPE situation was 'improving'. But he added that medics 'need a guarantee there is adequate equipment to protect all staff before we recommence services'. The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association's president said: 'We can't risk a further spike of infections among hospital patients. Dr Claudia Paoloni added: 'We are all keen to see hospitals to restart a wider range of NHS services, but not until this can be achieved safely and sustainably. 'It would be premature and inadvisable to attempt a return to "business as usual" before the testing regime is operating effectively and accurately in all parts of the country and significantly increased supplies of PPE can be guaranteed to protect staff and patients.' Ministers are expected to launch the vaunted new track-and-trace programme this week with an army of 25,000 recruits battling to lead Britain out of the coronavirus crisis. The plan to track down those who have been in close contact with Covid-19 victims and isolate them to stop the chain of transmission will swing into action as 'part of the largest virtual call centre operation in the country'. Using a model which has proved effective in other countries and which has been trialled with an app on the Isle of Wight, tracers will contact those who test positive for the virus. They will then ask them for information about people they have been in prolonged contact with who may have been exposed most likely household members or workplace colleagues. It comes amid fears more than 8million people will be stuck on NHS surgery waiting lists by autumn because treatment delays due to Covid-19. Last August there were a record-high 4.41million patients in England on waiting lists for routine operations, a rise of 250,000 from the same month a year earlier. But that number is expected to more than double because of a backlog triggered by the Covid-19 crisis, according to the Nuffield Trust think-tank. Nigel Edwards, the body's chief executive, earlier this month told MPs that hospitals have only been able to carry out around '15 to 20 per cent' of elective procedures. His claim came on the back of a separate study by health analysts, which predicted 7.2million people would be on waiting lists by autumn. Last month medics warned that up to 2,700 cancers were being missed every week as the numbers being referred had dropped by 75 per cent. Professor Karol Sikora, a cancer specialist, had warned the impact of the coronavirus outbreak could result in 50,000 cancer deaths. A&E attendances in England have also fallen to the lowest figure on record as people stay away from hospitals in the face of coronavirus. Australian poker machine manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure has agreed to pay $US31 million ($47 million) to US customers who lost money playing with "virtual chips" on its smartphone casino games. The $16.5 billion ASX-listed group was hit with two class action lawsuits relating to its Big Fish digital gaming arm, which it bought for $1.3 billion two years ago and makes digital blackjack, poker and slot machines games. Aristocrat said it would pay $US31 million to settle the cases. Credit:Glenn Hunt Online gambling is illegal in many US states. Aristocrat's games are free to download but users can buy virtual gaming "chips" to play the games with. Just five months after the Big Fish acquisition, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Big Fish's games constituted illegal gambling in Washington state, which was followed by the two class actions. Several N-Power beneficiaries have said they have not received their April stipends, disputing a statement by the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq. Ms Farouq had on Saturday announced the payment of April stipends to N-Power beneficiaries and further hinted at plans to streamline the programme for better efficiency upon payment of May stipends. She also admitted that her ministry encountered issues with the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) that caused the delay of payment to the beneficiaries. The ministers comments came against the backdrop of the outcry by the beneficiaries for their April stipends amid the economic impacts of the restrictions to contain COVID19 across Nigeria. We encountered some delays on the GIFMIS platform but I can now announce that all N-Power beneficiaries from Batch A and B have been paid their April stipends, the minister said. No payment However, following the reports of the ministers announcement, many beneficiaries interviewed by phone and monitored on the social media expressed disagreement, saying no payment was made to them. They called for the resignation of the minister, saying that the delay in monthly payments since she took over the control of the social programme had caused them hardship. The N-Power is Nigerias work-for-cash social assistance scheme with enrollees placed across public health and education establishments in the states. It started under the control of the Vice President but since the commencement of the second tenure of the Buhari administration, Ms Sadiya has been charge. I have heard a lot of my colleagues getting their own stipend as of Saturday but I have not received, an N-Power beneficiary from Adamawa State told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday. Also, I know many others who are yet to receive the payment. The beneficiary asked not to be named because of fear of possible victimisation. I am just confused why all these are happening now, Im a batch A volunteer and we had never experienced such in the past. They (humanitarian ministry) didnt pay September and October 2019 stipends until November 2019. and November was paid on the 11th December 2019. Fortunately, they paid December stipends in the same December. Also they paid January stipend around 23 and 24 February, while the February stipend in March and March stipends was paid in April, the beneficiary said. Many Twitter users joined in rejecting the ministers claim of payments. Not all of us have seen it abeg, for many of us it's just audio Nicholas Michael (@Nicholasunique) May 23, 2020 Nobody from anywhere received anything. They are liars!! Name is left blank (@chibu_kinging) May 23, 2020 Now only God knows when May stipend is coming Luqmern Yerqub (@YLuqmern) May 23, 2020 Nobody From Katsina State Received The Stipend Jikan Ibrahim Danmalam (@Jikandanmalam) May 23, 2020 Still waiting for my March and April stipend@FMHDSD Onyi Globest (@SampsonGlory) May 23, 2020 Also, following a post on the verified Facebook page of N-Power asking, Have you started receiving your stipends? on Saturday, many beneficiaries said beneficiaries were yet to be paid. Nelson Confidence on Facebook said No. You people are just joking with volunteers, but dont forget that some of us are in the field working as health workers risking our lives in this pandemic period and the encouragement we could get from a mother is to seize our little stipend. God is watching. Emannuel Ajefu said, Not yet. Its high time you guys start(ed) giving us a concrete explanation as to the cause of the delay in payment since the creation of the new ministry. Jude Opara also said So N-Power your body has reduced to telling lies about a fake payment going on. Shame on you and your government. Can u imagine that no one has witnessed any payment and the Minister went on air to announce she is done with April payment. Big shame on all of you. The complaints continued on Monday by many N-Power beneficiaries on social media. In reaction, a spokesperson to the minister, Salisu Danbatta, said Let them give you their account details for follow up and finding solutions. In the alternative, they should go to the appropriate officers they have been dealing with to lodge their complaints. That is the procedure. fandom going mainstream continues to be a mistake Reply Thread Link This is the type of ridiculousness I need on a sunday night. Reply Thread Link Just to keep it nice, I'll only say this is in my top 3 of hated tropes. but when asked to cite specific examples, she suddenly can't read. It was hard for me to read them side by side, honestly, because I felt very violated. I have no clue if her claim had any merit but this is overdramatic lmao Reply Thread Link This along with mpreg is one of my most hated Reply Parent Thread Link Ugh *shudders* Reply Parent Thread Link Mine too. But soon there will be copyright infringements over fan-fic. It's getting insane. Reply Parent Thread Link The day AO3 introduced that 'exclude' filter is like God creating Earth. I immediately blocked every ABO-related tag there is. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i may have switched tabs from an omegaverse to check ontd tropes cannot be copywritten for sure, even the fact they'd have to go after thousands of anonymous authors online to protect the copyright makes this insane. all this said, most abo fics (including the one im currently reading) uphold gender norms as biological imperatives and are trash. judge me ontd! Reply Thread Link i hate abo and omegaverse stuff but i will give you kudos for being brave enough to admit you read it in this post lmao edit: also at least you're self aware it's trashy, i have my trashy fav fanfic tropes too (but i'm not admitting them here lol) Edited at 2020-05-25 04:21 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Wheres the lie? I hate them and had no idea where the trope was from. Ive read it in the most bizzare fandoms, such as Parks and Rec and The Office. Ive seen it in HP where it at least makes some sense. Reply Parent Thread Link I read them occasionally as well. Good enough for a late night wank, but I never dreamt I'd see the day NYT reported on omegaverse lol Reply Parent Thread Link I can see the appeal its mostly dom/sub only with the explanation of biology. We all have guilty pleasures. That said ABO isnt really my thing and I wish other tropes were as popular. Reply Parent Thread Link > uphold gender norms as biological imperatives it's interesting you say this bc i was just talking with friends about how a/b/o is like very inclusive bc you can have female alphas with penises, male omegas that get pregnant, betas are basically ace, etc. is it the piv sex as the basis that is gender normative? Reply Parent Thread Link no its the omega = submissive, emotional, needs an alpha, rape excusing nonsense Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I agree, I read one that used the trope to explore transexual identities, and it was really fascinating. It completely changed my perspective, I was able to finally see the perspectives without my existing prejudices. Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I really like it when the author uses a/b/o to do some world building and puts thought into it and how society is changed by it. Basically a society by an alien species that just kinda look like us before you look into it. What do the social dynamics look like? Do the betas actually serve a purpose other than a hand wave going yeah, that's just "normal people"? Did the author put thought into what the dynamics between men and women look like compared to our world when there can theoretically be up to six sexes? Are you really going out there with what society looks like, with societies being structured like bee hives or wolf like packs, or how different social hierarchies are? How do families work? Do you actually treat the main tropes of a/b/o as sexist believes, but show that in their world they are as nonsensical as the sexism of our world? Do you explore "same sex" pairings, as in omega in relationships with omegas, alphas with alphas, and how that might work out or be treated by their societies? But most of the time it's really just unchallenged heteronormativity turned up to 11 with a coat of paint. Just all the real life sexist believes on the differences between men and women but validated by the narrative to ultimate biological truth. Omegas (aka women) being not just believed by society to be weak, meek creatures driven entirely by their reproductive urges who have to be protected by the big strong alpha (aka men) who provides from them, but are shown by the text to actually be nothing more then that. Not to mention the often pretty gross rape overtones, often running right into the alpha forced himself on the omega, but by the end the omega likes it/succumbs to its biology = tru wuv. Thanks, guys, really great. But what really puzzles me about this lawsuit is ... that it'shetero a/b/o. Like, I was under the believe that it originated/rose to prominence in male romance dominated fandoms as a way to have "babies ever after" endings for the m/m pairing (and weird, kinky sex scenes). Hetero a/b/o seems kind of really just ... redundant, as a way to have real world sexism turned to extremes. Edited at 2020-05-25 08:57 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link If I ever see omega verse in the mainstream like in movie theaters or books in Costco Im just gonna have to tap out man Reply Thread Link I can live happier not having to worry about hearing "give me your knot, Alpha!" in any movies, that's for sure. Reply Parent Thread Link noooo. Thanks for implanting that image into my head Reply Parent Thread Link Timothy Chalmamets next big role. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I keep getting these sponsored ads on FB with them and I dont know what started them. (This thread wont help) Reply Parent Thread Link i think the a/b/o universe is built on graphic porn too much to hit mainstream lol. it's also very close to beastiality tbh... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i filter out all a/b/o fic Reply Thread Link same Reply Parent Thread Link Me too. I don't like ABO and I low key don't get the appeal or why it's so popular. Reply Parent Thread Link Misogyny? Its a way to cut women out entirely because men can now give birth and are also often given stereotypical feminine attributes. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Worst feeling is when I come across a fic with a great synopsis featuring a favorite pairing, and then I see that shit in the tags. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link it's sad when you filter out that abo stuff and there's barely anything left as a result Reply Parent Thread Link I hate this. Reply Thread Link Edited at 2020-05-25 03:31 am (UTC) I could have gone the rest of my meager and apparently naive life, not knowing about these kinds of fics or that they're popular enough to publish... Reply Parent Thread Link Right!?!? This sounds like some weird furry/bestiality shit and I can't believe it's so popular...I'm absolutely kink shaming and I stand by it in this case tbh. wtf?? Reply Parent Thread Link i think it's hilarious that all the published books mentioned in this article are m/f, when the whole trope was born in m/m and that's where most ppl know it from Reply Thread Link Yes! Reading this synopsis I was thinking "Buuuut a/b/o is all about the mpreg???! People read straight versions of this shit? Reply Parent Thread Link Ive seen a ton of Rey/Kylo fics with it though. I dont read the pairing but in passing when looking for finn/poe haha Reply Parent Thread Link I'm so fucking sick of mainstream* erotica always casting the woman in the submissive role. The ones mentioned in this article, 50 Shades, The Secretary - I feel like I never hear about anything other than dom-man/sub-woman outside of fanfiction and it is infuriating. Not only is it enforcing bullshit gender stereotypes, it's also just. so. boring. *though god knows these two nobody writers are hardly genuinely mainstream Reply Parent Thread Link I'm baffled to find out there is hetero a/b/o. It feels like a giant missing of the point - which was romance novel-style SUPER heteronormative nonsense only the woman's role was entirely replaced by men because euw women, as far as I've ever seen Disclaimer that I didn't know hetero a/b/o existed and in the very very few fics with it I've read (some of my favourite pairings have almost NO fanfic ok, i was desperate), the female characters were all 100% sidelined. In fact, I assumed that's why 'beta' existed - a miscellaneous category to shove the women out of the way into... Reply Parent Thread Link So basically Laurell K. Hamilton's earlier stuff. Ok. Reply Thread Link she hated fanfiction for someone who wrote what was definitely self insert Mary Sue Reply Parent Thread Link She based Richard on her husband that she then divorced, and then made Richard a complete asshole. She based Micah on the president of her fanclub that she then started dating / married. Girl... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Not gonna lie, her first few books were a guilty pleasure of mine...but then it just got beyond ridiculous. Every man/potential love interest/fuck buddy seemed to be 55 with long hair Reply Parent Thread Link I had no idea the Supernatural fandom was to blame for the atrocity that is omegaverse. Thanks a lot for inflicting that on the world, weirdos. Reply Thread Link I hate how much I used to like that show Reply Parent Thread Link Oh man, me too. It was my favorite show for a couple of years. Ill still go back sometimes and watch the first couple of seasons, so obviously I dont completely hate it, but as it went on I disliked it more and more and gave up by like season 4 or 5. The fact that its still on is baffling. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link if you're able to track my comments from 2009-2010 literally all i ever talked about on ontd was supernatural...i even WENT TO A CONVENTION. UGH I AM DISGUSTED. Reply Parent Thread Link I thought it was Teen Wolf. Should have known Supernatural had something to do with this nonsense. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It comes as no surprise tbh Reply Parent Thread Link Thats also my takeaway from this. Reply Parent Thread Link lmaoo i didn't know but i'm not surprised at all! ugh that... whole... thing. Reply Parent Thread Link Supernatural gets blamed for it but I don't know, I remember seeing descriptions for things like way before Supernatural. I really think it was around before Supernatural. I swear there was similar stuff even way back in Highlander fandom. Edited at 2020-05-25 10:30 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link excuse me? Reply Thread Link New Delhi: Condemning Army chief Manoj Naravane's indirect reference to alleged Chinese hand in Darchula-Lipulekh link road dispute, Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwor Pokhrel on Monday said that the comments had hurt the sentiments of Nepali Gorkhas who have a long tradition of sacrifice for India. "With this, the Indian Chief of the Army Staff has also hurt the sentiments of the Nepali Gorkha army personnel who lay down their lives to protect India. It must now be difficult for them to stand tall in front of the Gorkha forces," he said in an interview to online news outlet The Rising Nepal. Calling Naravane's comments a 'political stunt', Pokhrel said that such opinions were not expected from the head of the Army. The Gorkhas of Nepal have a proud tradition of valour in the Indian armed forces dating back to pre-Independence era. There are at least 40 battalions of Gorkhas in the Indian Army, which draws a bulk of the soldiers from Nepal. Naravane had recently said there were reasons to believe that Nepal objected to India's newly-inaugurated road linking Lipulekh Pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand at the behest of "someone else", in an apparent reference to a possible role by China on the matter. In an interaction at a defence think-tank, Gen Naravane said there was no dispute whatsoever between India and Nepal in the area and road laid was very much within the Indian side. "The Nepalese Ambassador mentioned that the area east of the Kali river belongs to them. There is no dispute in that. The road that we built is on the west of the river," the Army Chief said. "There has never been any problem in the past. There is reason to believe that they might have raised the issue at the behest of someone else and that is very much a possibility," he said. The 80-KM-long strategically crucial road at a height of 17,000 KM along the border with China in Uttarakhand was thrown open by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh two weeks ago. According to a report in The Hindu, Pokhrel's comments came on a day when Nepal operationalised with China a freight agreement reached last October during the Kathmandu visit of President Xi Jinping. The agreement will allow Nepal to receive goods through the Tibetan city of Xigaze. Latvia is expected to be one of the first countries to launch a smartphone app using a new toolkit created by Apple and Alphabets Google to help trace coronavirus infections. According to reports in Reuters, attempts to launch tracing apps in a number of countries have not so far been an unqualified success because Apples iPhone does not support their approach to using Bluetooth short-range radio as a proxy for measuring the risk of infection. Well now theres Apturi Covid (Stop Covid), the Latvian app, based on technology launched last week by Apple and Google, whose iOS and Android operating systems run 99 per cent of the worlds smartphones. However, the app will only work within Latvia to start with. The country, which is in the Baltic region of Northern Europe bordering Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus and Russia, has a population of just under two million people. Nevertheless, the future could be bright for this new initiative as it aligns Latvia with a group of European countries (the report cites Germany, Switzerland and Estonia) that are working to make it possible for their national apps to communicate with each other across borders. The result could be a greater incentive to ease travel restrictions in the knowledge that it would not mean triggering a second wave of the pandemic as the app would work when users travel abroad. Apple and Google announced plans to cooperate in early April, when they said they would release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective app stores. They added that Apple and Google were working to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms. This, they explained, is a more robust solution than an API and would allow more individuals to participate, if they choose to opt in, as well as enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities. Eighteen more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Jharkhand, taking the total number of cases to 388 in the state, officials said on Monday. The new cases were reported from Ranchi district (10), Pakur (four), Garhwa (two), East Singhbhum (one) and Ramgarh (one), the officials said. In Ranchi district, the 10 cases were reported from Silli area, they said. Pakur Deputy Commissioner Kuldip Choudhary said the test report of swab samples of four persons - two men, a woman and a child - received late on Sunday night tested positive for the virus. He said they were in a quarantine centre after returning from Surat in Gujarat. Another person from East Singhbhum district's Chakulia area, who returned from Maharashtra on May 15, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, according to a district administration release. Four persons have succumbed to the infection since the outbreak of the disease in the state on March 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Harold Gus Lippard, Phm 3/c, recommended for Bronze Star after the sinking of USS Franklin: Despite a fractured left leg, injured knee and ankle and exposure in the water for four and one half hours, he assisted in the care of the wounded until 3 oclock in the morning. (5/30) Paul D. Gurley, chief storekeeper, home 20-day leave after 2-year tour on sea duty: He comes home with a new rating, more ribbons, battle stars and a wealth of experience. He is on an aircraft carrier and participated in the invasion and occupation of the Philippines. (5/31) 75 years ago Statesville Daily Record May 25-31, 1945 HomefrontMr. D.W. Rigby requests telephone users to help conserve war-busy telephone equipment by referring to the new directory when there is any doubt about the desired number. The old directory should be turned over to the war scrap paper collectors. (5/25) Over half the tobacco plant beds in Iredell county have been attacked by blue mold and farmers are having trouble replacing them, County Agent Maury Gaston reports. Any farmers having surplus plants are asked to contact the county agents office. (5/26) Mumbai, May 25 : Exactly 65 days after recording the first Covid-19 death, Mumbai on Monday crossed 1,000-mark with 38 deaths, taking the death toll to 1,026, while the Mumbai Metropolitan Region notched over 40K cases, health officials said here. Maharashtra recorded 60 Covid-19 deaths on Monday and the number of cases reached 52,667 with 2,436 new infections. This comes to roughly one death every 24 minutes, and an average 102 new cases recorded every hour in the state on Monday. The state has been recording fatalities above 50 and new patients over 2,000 daily for the past nine consecutive days now, and the previous highest 24-hour figure for infections was 3,041 cases on May 24. With 60 fatalities -- down by 16 from the highest ever 76 notched on May 19 -- the state's death toll has touched 1,695 and the total number of coronavirus patients increased from 50,231 on Sunday to 52,667 on Monday. The health department said of the total number of cases declared Monday, 35,178 were 'active cases' -- swelling by 1,190 over Sunday's 33,988. Of the total 60 fatalities, 38 were recorded in Mumbai alone, taking the city deaths up from Sunday's 988 to 1,026 now, while the number of Covid-19 positive patients here shot up by 1,430 cases to touch 31,972 today. Mumbai's congested Dharavi slum continued to be a major hot spot with 42 new cases Monday, taking the total number of infectees to 1,583 there and 59 deaths till date. Besides Mumbai's 38 deaths, including one from Bihar, there were 11 fatalities in Pune, 6 in Thane (Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan-Dombivali), 2 in Aurangabad, and one each in Ratnagiri and Solapur. They comprised 42 men and 198 women, and nearly 78 per cent of them suffered from other serious ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, heart problems and asthma. On the positive side, 1,186 fully cured patients returned home Monday, taking the number of those discharged to 15,786. As part of the easing up of domestic air travel, Mumbai International Airport Ltd on Monday handled 47 incoming and outgoing flights by seven airlines catering to 14 national sectors. They included 3,752 outbound passengers, maximum on the New Delhi sector and 1,100 arrivals, with full Covid-19 protocols implemented. The Muslim community of Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur donated their Ramzan monthly expenses to sponsor a 10-bed intensive care unit at the Indira Gandhi General Hospital here which was dedicated online by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Thackeray announced that by May 31, 2,475 Covid-19 beds, many with ICU-Oxygen, will be operational at the upcoming jumbo hospitals in Bandra Kurla Complex, NSCI Worli, and NESCO Goregaon, and in each ward in Mumbai 100-bed hospitals with 20 ICU beds have been taken over. The number of ambulances in the city for Covid-19 has gone up from 100 to 450 now and their services will be available through a mobile app, while the availability of hospital beds data will be available real-time on a dashboard, the CM added. The Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) Ltd distributed 2 lakh tonnes of foodgrains to the people of the worst-hit Dharavi, said Industry Minister Subhash Desai. The MMR continued to cause grave concerns with 1,154 Covid-19 deaths and positive cases shooting to 40,438. Though trailing a distant second after Mumbai, Pune Division fatalities touched 321, besides 6,933 patients. The next major area of concern is Nashik Division with 103 deaths and 1,618 positive cases, followed by Aurangabad Division with 49 fatalities and 1,508 cases, and finally Akola Division with 34 deaths and 766 cases. There's Latur Division with 8 deaths and 249 cases, Kolhapur Division with 6 deaths and 527 patients, and finally Nagpur Division with 8 deaths and 577 cases. Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home quarantine increased from 499,387 to 530,247 Monday -- a jump of 30,860 -- and those in institutional quarantine went up from 35,107 to 35,479, a spurt of 372 suspect cases. The state's containment zones increased from 2,283 to 2,391 on Monday and 16,106 health teams have carried out a survey of a population of around 66.1 lakh in the state. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cian English (19) was trying to flee armed robbers, say police An Irish teenager fell to his death from the fourth storey of an apartment in Australia's Gold Coast while trying to escape being robbed at knife-point by a group of men he had befriended, police said. Three men, aged 18, 20 and 22, have been charged by police with murdering Cian English (19), who was originally from Carlow town but whose family emigrated to Australia about five years ago. Officers were called to the View Avenue building at Surfers Paradise at about 3.15am on Saturday after a passer-by found the teenager's body lying on the pavement outside. They then found a group of teens in one of the apartments. Four of them were semi-conscious after taking prescription drugs which police believe were stolen from Gold Coast chemist shops. They were all taken to the nearby Robina Hospital in a stable condition. Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith, who is leading the investigation, said police will allege the trio tried to rob Mr English and a friend of their mobile phones and clothes at knife-point after the victim and his friend had tried to befriend them earlier on. Supt Smith said: "During the course of that, the victim has attempted to escape and has gone over the balcony and died." He described the death as "tragic". "We've got a young man who was on the Gold Coast with his friends and one thing led to another and he's now dead," he said. He told Australian media that Mr English and at least one friend had been socialising with another group of young men from their balconies when they invited the group from another apartment to "come up and join us". Prescription drugs were being taken by some of the people present before Mr English's death, he said. "The consequences of the robbery and threats made to the victim, put the consequences on those three offenders," he told 'The Brisbane Times'. "I don't know how you reconcile that as a family or a community. It's becoming too common and we need to stop it. Violence doesn't solve anything," he added. Police say the three men were attempting to rob Mr English and his friend when Mr English attempted to escape over the balcony. "They were both viciously assaulted and, as I say, the robberies occurred at knife point," Supt Smith said. The three men arrested have all been charged with one count of murder and two counts of armed robbery. All three are due to appear in court later today. Meanwhile, the teenager's heartbroken family issued a statement through the Australian police. It read: "Our family is devastated by this tragedy and respectfully ask for privacy as the police investigation into the circumstances continues." Meanwhile, Carlow municipal councillor Fergal Browne said the victim's late grandfather John English had retired from the council before his death and the family was very well-known and respected in the community before they emigrated to Australia. "It's a terrible tragedy," he said. Schools like the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) have started their online exams. Others like the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) are set to start in a few days time. From the look of things, students have accepted the phenomenon of writing exams online. I remember how most of the students on my campus 'roasted' me for publishing an article supporting the online exams when the issue first came up. I encountered stiff opposition and vehement outbursts of disappointment from many colleagues. The SRC executives were also at their wit's end as to how to avoid biting the hand feeds them (students) without slapping the dog in which mouth their finger is (management). During that period, I took some time to think about student leadership and how to reach the perfect balance between students interests and management policy actions. I thought about what factors account for why, it seems, that various universities' management and other school administrators do not listen to students leaders when they speak on behalf of their people. I thought about why it is only on rare occasions that you find school authorities changing their position on an issue because of student agitation. In the process of brainstorming, a few ideas came to mind which, in my opinion, can explain why student leaders are unable to get the best deals from school authorities. These I have named as follows: the Nagging-Wife Syndrome, the Toothless Dog Effect, the Solution-less Problem, and the Know-It-All Disease. The Nagging Wife Syndrome When you read the history of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), you'd find out that the union was created as a revolutionary body, sort of, against school managements and political policies that disadvantaged students in Ghana. That spirit of being the opposition to managements has been handed down like an oral tradition for student leadership over many generations. Now, it has become a code of conduct, a conspicuous feature in the modus operandi of student administrations and a matter of principle that students leaders must always find something wrong with managements' decision and rally students to oppose it. So, in the eye of these young leaders, if it's coming from school authorities, then it's bad for students welfare and so must be fought openly and, often, with a demonstration. This idea has become so entrenched in the student politics arena that now Students Representative Council (SRC) hopefuls cannot campaign without adding it to their policy. But student leaders must understand that when you oppose everything from management without looking at the merit of the policy, you become a nagging wife. When you bicker about everything, even when you make serious arguments, no one respects you. If you're a constant opposer, management will find a way around you. When that happens, even when you oppose something because it is truly disadvantageous to the students, no one will take you seriously. Students leaders alternatively must learn to find the merits of management's decisions, explain how this immures to the benefit of students and persuade their followers to accept it. I don't think that any school authority has the constant disposition of destroying students. I mean, what does management stand to gain from always working against students' interest? Any student leader who wants to succeed where many have failed must have the vision to know what students want but possess the discipline of giving them what they need. And sometimes, most times, what students need is a persuasion to understand management decisions. The Toothless Dog Effect Student leaders must understand that there are certain management decisions that are irreversible. Some of the policies come from above even the management. Other decisions are also made from a place of higher understanding than students and their leaders have access to. It's like security clearance in the CIA. Some information is reserved for higher levels of clearance. Fighting such decisions is tantamount to becoming a toothless dog. You can bark, but you can't bite. And when you keep barking for a while, you become a nuisance. Management will begin to see you as a useless leadership (dog). And take it from me, school authorities do not respect such students leaders and sometimes, even find ways of disregarding your powers and reaching the student directly. Instead of barking at everything, learn to be a sniffer dog. Sniff around for information and gather as much as you can get. Then, when you have enough information, you harness your strengths and resources and then you bark. And never bark alone. Ganner more voices and bark together. If management disregards your barking, then you bite. Next time, management will respect your position. The Solution-Less Problem. Leadership, no matter where and when, is fundamentally about solutions. A leader's respect is earned by his or her ability to come up with solutions to tackle problems faced by followers. One of the problems of student leaders, for which reason managements often do not listen to them is that the former seem to only complain without presenting a better, more feasible, well-thought-through counter solution. If you say what the school authorities propose is not the best, what better options are you presenting? If plan A is not good, do you have a plan B? I have always maintained, "don't oppose without proposing a better option". That's the mark of leadership, to think on your feet and even in the spur of the moment, come up with workable solutions. Any student leader who is able to suggest options that are better than what school authorities have already thought off will be respected by all. Unfortunately, a lot of students leaders in the country only oppose without proposing. The know present is not good enough but they don't know how to make it better. So, many times, after a lot of consultations, managements still have their way. The Know-It-All Disease It is interesting how students leaders have so much hostility for some lecturers, other students and even old students, in regards to matters concerning students welfare. SRC executives showcase this attitude of 'I know what I am doing' when in actuality, they are very clueless about what to do next. Some students leaders loathe lecturers to the extent that they won't even let the dean of the students in on some SRC moves. They miss the fact that deans of students are, most often, pro-students and as such can offer the best of advice on how to handle management. And even if the dean of the student was pro-management, having a strategic discussion with him or her as a student leader can reveal some of the lapses in management decisions and policies. Which a good leader can explore to his or her advantage. Previous student leaders are also another great resource that current ones do not use to their benefit. Funny how it is difficult for one leader to consult their predecessors for counsel on how to handle management. These guys have been where you are, even if not in the same situation, I bet in a similar one. So seeking their counsel might just immure to your benefit as a leader. There are also students on campus who wield some amount of influence and seem to be attacking student leaders all the time. They may do this through articles or discussions. And sometimes, student leaders do not even want to see such students. Instead of drawing such ones closer and feeding off their wealth of knowledge, student leaders treat them with disdain. I sense that student leaders suffer this disease because they don't want to share the glory of success with anyone. They want to be seen as the perfect leader who fought for his people single-handedly or failed miserably trying. And quite often, the latter is the case. But student leaders must understand that consulting lecturers and other students who have proven to offer better options expand the perception of the issue at hand and present a more formidable front to management. School authorities rarely are able to outwit such fronts because the views are wide and representative. The truth is that the ultimate measure of a leader's power is his or her influence over the followers. In the case of student leaders, this influence is shared among lecturers, other current students and alumni. So, in order for a student leader to have maximum influence over the general student populace, he or she must be in sync with the three entities mentioned above. It is true that what a leader sees sitting down, a follower may not see even while standing. But sometimes, followers see and hear things from the grounds that elude leaders because they are sitting so high up. It is also true that only he who sits on the seat feels the heat. But who says leaders cannot share the seat once a while so that followers will also feel the heat? It might just turn out that followers will find a way to add another layer of cushion to the seat to reduce the heat. So, to all student leaders out there, if you want to have maximum impact, leave a lasting legacy and be held in high esteem by both students and school authorities, get down from your high horses, stop being nagging wives and rather adopt the sniffer dog approach. Also, be more solution-oriented and find a medication for your know-it-all disease. Efo Korku Mawutor Student, GIJ. The usually filled National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) park in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region on Sunday was deserted as Muslims observed the Eid-ul Fitr prayers at their respective residences. At about 0900hours when the Ghana News Agency monitored activities within the Township, it was observed that major streets which hitherto had Muslims troop to the park from their homes during Eid-Ul-Fitr celebrations were as quiet as a cemetery. The GNA observed that even though most major shops in the Municipality on Sundays were often closed while residents went about their normal daily activities, the situation on this occasion looked exceptionally different as the main commercial street leading to the Regional Central mosque and the Chief Imams residence was virtually empty. Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, a Muslim told the GNA in an interview that This COVID-19 pandemic has kept us indoors. We cannot move out to join colleagues at prayer centres or visit loved ones as we use to do. He said the only difference in the celebration was that they avoided gatherings and visits, adding, My family and I prayed in the house. Eid-Ul-Fitr celebration usually attracts a crowd and because that aspect is absent, it appears the excitement is missing. Mr Abdul-Rauf Kulbugri, another Muslim in the Municipality who expressed his view about this years celebration amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, said the virus had affected the celebrations in diverse ways. He said the celebration was usually characterized by sharing of food after the main prayer session in the Region led by the Chief Imam, coupled with visits by friends and relatives. This morning I prayed with my family. We will cook and just share with few neighbours, and continue to stay home. We are not in normal times, so we need to stay safe and healthy to celebrate subsequent Eid-Ul-Fitr celebrations after COVID-19. We have fasted and prayed to the most merciful Allah to intercede in these difficult times, so we are hopeful that our prayers will be answered, Mr Kulbugri said. Meanwhile, Alhaji Yussif Adams, the Upper East Regional Chief Imam who led a virtual prayer session, prayed for government and peace in the country, especially as Ghana prepared for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. He prayed for the health professionals, Journalists, security service personnel and asked for Almighty Allahs blessings and protection for them in their line of duty which exposed them to the COVID-19 virus. Alhaji Adams noted that the fasting and intercessory prayers offered by Muslims across the world would not be in vain, and was hopeful that Almighty Allah would stretch His merciful and healing hand over Ghana and all over the world and take the COVID-19 virus away. He called on residents in the Region to continue to co-exist peacefully and observe the Ghana Health Service (GHS) protocols in the fight against the virus. Madam Tangoba Abayage, the Upper East Regional Minister in an earlier goodwill message to Muslims, noted that the Muslim community in the Region cooperated with the GHS protocols in the prevention of the spread of the virus. As we celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitr somewhat on a low key this year, let us remain resolute; we are only constrained but not broken. There is light at the end of the tunnel and we should allow the virtues cultivated during Ramadan to spur us on to the end, she said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video India maintains aggressive posturing against Chinas moves at LAC India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 25: Chinese military is fast increasing its troops in areas around Pangong Tso lake and Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, sending a clear signal that it was not ready to end its confrontation with the Indian Army anytime soon, people familiar with the situation in the disputed region said. The Chinese side has particularly bolstered its presence in the Galwan Valley, erecting around 100 tents in the last two weeks and bringing in machinery for possible construction of bunkers, notwithstanding the stiff protest by Indian troops, they said. As tensions rise, India says change in status quo by China at LAC is not acceptable In the midst of the escalating tension, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane paid a quiet visit to the headquarters of 14 Corps in Leh on Friday and reviewed with the top commanders the overall security scenario in the region including in the disputed areas along the LAC, the de-facto border between India and China. Military sources said the Indian Army has also been matching up to the Chinese build-up in both Pangong Tso lake and Galwan Valley and that it is in a much advantageous position in certain other sensitive areas in the region. The situation in Eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to "disengage" following a meeting at the level of local commanders. Over 100 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in the violence. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9. There were reports of multiple transgressions by Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh region in the last one week. However, there is no official confirmation or reaction to it. In the last one week, local commanders of both the sides held at least five meetings during which the Indian side took strong note of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) erecting a large numbers of tents in areas in Galwan Valley which India felt belonged to its side of the LAC, the sources said. India on Thursday said Chinese military was hindering normal patrolling by its troops and asserted that India has always taken a very responsible approach towards border management. At a media briefing, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava also strongly refuted China's contention that the tension was triggered due to trespassing by Indian forces on the Chinese side. Indian Army dismisses reports of detention of Indian soldiers by China India's response came two days after China accused the Indian Army of trespassing into its territory, claiming that it was an "attempt to unilaterally change the status" of the LAC in Sikkim and Ladakh. On May 5, around 250 Indian and Chinese army personnel clashed with iron rods, sticks, and even resorted to stone-pelting in the Pangong Tso lake area in which soldiers on both sides sustained injuries. In a separate incident, nearly 150 Indian and Chinese military personnel were engaged in a face-off near Naku La Pass in the Sikkim sector on May 9. At least 10 soldiers from both sides sustained injuries. The troops of India and China 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. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Domestic flights resume, but chaos at Delhi airport as some flights cancelled | Oneindia News Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. China has been critical of India's reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, and has particularly criticised New Delhi for making Ladakh a Union Territory. China lays claim over several parts of Ladakh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first informal summit in April 2018 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, months after the Doklam standoff. In the summit, the two leaders decided to issue "strategic guidance" to their militaries to strengthen communications so that they can build trust and understanding. Modi and Xi held their second informal summit in Mamallapuram near Chennai in October last year with a focus on further broadening bilateral ties. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko expressed his desire to discuss possible cooperation in rocket construction with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Having previously suggested the possibility of building Chinese missiles in Belarus, Lukashenko insisted that there should be "no dependence" on foreign actors. "Let me then negotiate that on my level, I'm ready to negotiate that with Xi Jinping, I don't think that will be a problem", Sputnik cited him as saying. The statement came after Lukashenko was updated on the state of missile development in Belarus and the construction of Chinese rockets. In particular, he was told that there have been successful moves towards the development and eventual deployment of the country's own missiles, that could destroy targets up to 300 kilometres away. Earlier, Lukashenko said that Russia did not want to work with Belarus on missile development and had refused to provide a range, comments that were slammed by Moscow as "groundless accusations", as Russia said it does not have such ranges, and instead rents them in Kazakhstan. Two Sydney men have been charged over a shipment of chilli sauce that contained more than $300 million worth of the drug ice. Five people were already facing charges after an air cargo consignment - containing 768 bottles of what was declared to be sriracha hot chilli sauce - arrived in Sydney from the US last October. Both men are facing charges of knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime. Credit:NSW Police. Testing found the bottles contained about 400kg of methylamphetamine, with an estimated potential street value of more than $300 million. Detectives arrested two men, aged 21 and 50, in separate vehicle stops at West Ryde on Friday. Two Iranian parkour athletes in Iran have been arrested over their photographs which showed them kissing on the rooftop. The arrests happened after photos of Alireza Japalaghy and his partner started circulating on social media last week. Citing the reason for their arrest, Tehran police reportedly said that they were arrested because of their unconventional moves which were contrary to Sharia and custom. 'Unreligious behaviour' "Images of a young boy and girl who exhibited improper and unreligious behaviour were published on social media. These people were arrested by the police with the judiciary officials' command because what they did was a sample of 'advocating vice,'" the police said in a statement. Read: Iran Warns US Not To Interfere With Venezuela Oil Shipment According to reports, both Japalaghy and the unidentified women were arrested last week by Tehran's cyber police. Speaking to an Iranian news agency, Hossein Rahimi, Tehran's police chief said that they were against the individual and his companion for norm-breaking and vulgar behaviour. He then went on to say that the police and judiciary will deal with them. Read: Five Iranian Tankers Carrying Fuel Enter Venezuela Despite US' Warning As per the Islamic dress code, women are only allowed to shows their face, palm and feet in public and are supposed to wear only modest colours. Soon after the arrest, the internet was flooded with people posting comments in the player's support. Many also slammed the Iranian authorities asking them about the player's crime. One user wrote, They should give the guy an award for the amazing pictures, not arrest him!. While another wrote, Iranian authorities arrested Alireza Japalaghy, a parkour sportsman after he posted this picture. Police is now looking for the woman as well. Can you define their crime?. Yet another comment read, Too much beauty in one picture. Read: Actor Kiran Kumar Tests Positive For COVID-19 Read: Iranians Celebrate Eid Al-Fitr Amid Pandemic Press Release May 25, 2020 De Lima pushes for hazard pay, additional insurance coverage for journalists Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has filed a measure requiring media entities to grant additional insurance coverage and hazard pay to journalists and other media persons on field assignments, including those who are assigned to cover disease-infected areas and disaster-stricken zones. De Lima, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, introduced Senate Bill (SB) No. 1523, which also seeks to grant additional benefits for journalists caused by injury, hospitalization and disability. "At present, members of the media are facing a new threat as the COVID-19 virus has managed to spread far and wide across the Philippine archipelago. Many journalists and field reporters risk getting infected with the virus just so they can provide timely and factual information to the Filipino people," she said. "In spite of the dangers of contamination, they willingly place their own health and well-being at risk out of a sense of duty to the Filipino people and commitment to their craft," she added. Aside from health risks, De Lima pointed out that media persons continue to become target of abuse or even killings for fulfilling their mission as watchdogs against abusive governments and as representations of the critical voices of the citizens. A report by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) found that there have been a total of 154 attacks and threats against the news media since Mr. Duterte assumed power from June 30, 2016 to Dec. 5, 2019 "These cases thus far include 15 journalists who have been killed under the Duterte administration, 28 incidents of intimidation, 20 cases of online harassment, 12 threats via text messages, 12 libel cases, 10 website attacks, eight assassination attempts, and eight cases of journalists who were barred from coverage," she noted. The benefits outlined in SB No. 1523, or the "Journalists Protection Act of 2020", include disability benefits of PhP350, 000 for all mass media practitioners and employees who shall suffer total or partial disability sustained during performance of duty and death benefits amounting to PhP300, 000 for all mass media practitioners and employees on field assignment who shall perish in the line of duty The benefits likewise cover the reimbursement of actual medical costs up to PhP200, 000 for all mass media practitioners and employees on field assignments who shall be hospitalized or who shall require medical assistance for injuries sustained while in the performance of duty. "The media entity shall have the option of selecting the insurance company and shall be responsible for paying the insurance premiums for their journalists and employees," De Lima said. Under the proposed measure, the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) are mandated to create a special insurance program for freelance journalists that shall include, among others, a coverage of risks incurred while working in war zones, conflict-stricken areas, and calamity-affected places. In filing the measure, De Lima said it is imperative that media persons be provided with adequate social safety nets so as to create a work environment where they can effectively perform their duties and serve as agents of freedom of expression and right to information. "There is a pressing need to safeguard the welfare of our journalists in light of the dangerous and even life-threatening circumstances they encounter on a daily basis," De Lima, a staunch advocate for press freedom, said. Veteran Marine Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers, also known as "the saluting Marine. (Courtesy of The Saluting Marine via Facebook) The Saluting Marine Honors Veterans on Memorial Day Weekend Tim Chambers, also known as The Saluting Marine, honored U.S. war veterans on Memorial Day weekend by standing at attention for 24 consecutive hours in Washington. Dressed in a U.S. Marine Corps uniform, Chambers, a 45-year-old staff sergeant from San Diego, stood on the median at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 23rd Street in Washington D.C., near the Lincoln Monument, beginning at noon on May 24a day before Memorial Day. Chambers has completed the feat every year since 2002 to raise awareness about veteran suicide. This year, he held a salute lasting 22 minutes in his first hour, to represent the average number of U.S. military veterans who take their own lives daily. I am going to be saluting for 22 minutes for the first hour, 21 minutes for the second hour, 20 minutes of the third hour, all the way to the last hour, he told CBS 8 on May 21. I did not go to war and I feel like I need to honor the eternal sacrifice of those that did and those who didnt come home, Chambers added. His wife, Lorraine Heist Chambers, told WLJA that Memorial Day weekend is always a very emotional time for the Marine veteran. This is something that he needs to do every year and I support him for it, she said. No matter what it takes, we get out here. Chambers usually stands at attention during Rolling Thunder, an annual motorcycle demonstration in Washington primarily to raise awareness about prisoners of war, those missing in action, and other issues of concern to military veterans. However, the event, now called Rolling to Remember, was canceled this year because of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. More than 100 motorcycle riders still rolled by on May 24 to watch Chambers, the news outlet reported. When asked by CBS 8 why he chooses to return every year, Chambers said, 10 seconds of silence at events? Okay? Was it really felt? There [are] a lot of ways to serve our country. This is something that came from my heart, from my own accord, Chambers said during a live stream as he approached his 18th hour standing at attention. Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the correct status of Veteran Marine Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Kylie Minogue quietly released her own brand of rose wine last week. Fans were shocked to discover bottles of 'Kylie' branded booze in select Tesco supermarkets across the UK, with some stores briefly selling out. The Australian pop princess, 51, is yet to officially announce the unexpected new venture, following rumours she was 'in discussions with vineyards' in March. Surprise! Kylie Minogue released her own brand of rose wine last week in the UK. Pictured: Kylie on April 24, 2018 Tesco is selling Kylie Minogue Rose Wine for 9 ($17 AUD) a bottle. It is unclear if it will be released in other supermarkets or internationally. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kylie's management for comment. Lucky fans who have managed to track down a bottle have been praising the dry and fruity beverage on Twitter, while others have been begging to know which branches it is stocked in. You should be so lucky... to buy one! Fans were shocked to discover bottles of 'Kylie' branded booze in select Tesco supermarkets across the UK, with some stores briefly selling out Secret release! The Australian pop princess, 51, is yet to officially announce the unexpected new venture, following rumours she was 'in discussions with vineyards' in March 'Like we needed an excuse to drink more wine,' joked one Twitter user, sharing a picture of two bottles of Kylie's wine on a supermarket shelf. Another fan tweeted Kylie directly to tell her it was the 'best rose wine ever'. One amused social media user questioned: 'Why does Kylie Minogue have her own range of wine? 2020 is so random'. 'Best rose wine ever': Lucky fans who have managed to track down a bottle have been praising the dry and fruity beverage on Twitter A source told The Sun in March of the venture: '[Kylie] is working with her team to make it happen and is in discussions with lots of vineyards to find the perfect wines. 'Kylie has loads of adult fans and it feels like a good fit for her to put her name to a wine which is sophisticated but fun, just like her. 'She has been working on it for some time but is hoping she will finally be able to put it out there later this year as a treat for all of her fans.' In 2017, the pop star successfully blocked Kylie Jenner from trademarking the name 'Kylie' in America for 'advertising services' and 'endorsement services'. The first of five Iranian tankers carrying fuel to Venezuela has moored at a port serving the South American country's El Palito refinery, the nation's oil minister said Monday, and Refinitiv Eikon data showed a second vessel had entered its waters. Iran is providing Venezuela with 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and refining components in a move criticized by US authorities as both countries are under US sanctions, according to the governments, sources and calculations by TankerTrackers.com. Refinitiv Eikon data showed that the tanker Fortune docked at one of El Palito's berths around 1 a.m. local time (0500 GMT). A second vessel, the Forest, entered Venezuelan waters and was being escorted by the country's military on Monday morning, according to the Eikon data and Venezuela's navy. A third tanker, the Petunia, was approaching the Caribbean, according to the data. Tareck El Aissami, Venezuela's economy vice president and recently named oil minister, posted photos on Twitter of the Fortune arriving. "We continue advancing and overcoming," El Aissami wrote. A senior Trump administration official said earlier this month that Washington was considering a response to the shipments. A Pentagon spokesman said last week he was not aware of any military move planned. The first two vessels did not appear to face interference. Neither the White House nor the US State Department immediately responded to requests for comment on Monday, an American holiday. Venezuela is suffering acute gasoline shortages due to the near-collapse of its 1.3 million barrel-per-day refining network after years of underinvestment and mismanagement, as well as US sanctions aimed at ousting socialist President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela's refining network in May increased its joint crude processing rate to about 215,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 110,000 bpd in March, following the arrival of spare parts supplied in flights by Iran's Mahan Air, according to three people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The 146,000-bpd El Palito refinery is now in the process of restarting its fluid catalytic cracker, a key unit for finished fuel production, one of the people said. The 187,000-bpd Puerto la Cruz refinery, which serves Venezuela's eastern region, remains out of service, the people said. Venezuelan officials have portrayed the arrival of the gasoline as a victory over US sanctions. Washington and Venezuela's opposition, which argue that Maduro is usurping power since rigging his 2018 re-election, say the gasoline will likely be available only to security forces and well-connected individuals. Search Keywords: Short link: But he still faces enormous economic and diplomatic challenges. New protests erupted in Hong Kong on Sunday, and resistance to greater control by Beijing could threaten the territory's role as a financial centre. Officials and state media outlets have lashed out at the United States and other countries, accusing them of supporting "separatists" and "terrorists" in an effort to weaken the power of the Communist Party. The Trump administration has, in turn, intensified its actions against China, imposing restrictions on trade and technology, praising Tsai's inauguration and even marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism. "The United States, in fact, is pouring oil on the fire, barrel by barrel," Tian Feilong, a professor of law at Beihang University in Beijing, said in a telephone interview. "The central government is therefore actually just safeguarding its own most basic national security interests." Loading China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, said Sunday that the two countries could still work together to promote global peace and stability, but he denounced those in the United States who seek American hegemony. "It's time for the United States to give up its wishful thinking of changing China," Wang said, accusing American officials of having a Cold War mentality. Xi's move against Hong Kong has nonviolent echoes of President Vladimir Putin's forceful seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, which was a violation of international law and of Russia's previous diplomatic commitments. The annexation made Putin an international pariah for a while, but Russia still remains firmly in control of Crimea. While Xi is using legislation rather than military force in a territory already under Chinese rule, it is nonetheless a brash move by an autocratic leader willing to risk international condemnation to resist what he views as foreign encroachment on his country's security. "The Communist Party doesn't care anymore about the reactions because it's about survival, the stability of the one-party system, avoiding the fate of the Soviet Union," Cabestan said. "Hong Kong is being perceived more and more as a base of surveillance, as a factor in the destabilisation of the Chinese state." The challenges facing Xi come at a time when China's major rivals, the United States above all, are in disarray, giving Xi more room to manoeuvre. Britain, which is a signatory to the 1984 treaty that promised Hong Kong its former colony basic freedoms until 2047, issued a statement with Australia and Canada saying that they were "deeply concerned." Senior Trump administration officials also denounced Xi's gambit, warning that they could reconsider the territory's special trade privileges or impose other sanctions. President Donald Trump, whose few comments about Hong Kong have been inconsistent, said little. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in Moscow last year. Credit:AP For those who support Hong Kong's unique status as Asia's commercial and cultural crossroads, warnings no longer suffice in the face of determined pressure from Beijing. Victoria Hui, a political scientist at the University of Notre Dame and author of a book on the 2014 Hong Kong protests known as the Umbrella Movement, said the international community had often spoken out against China's steady accretion of power over the territory but had exacted no real punishment. That has been the case for the most egregious violations of basic rights in Hong Kong in recent years, including extrajudicial kidnappings, excessive use of force by the police last year and the arrests of leading democratic leaders a week ago. "The international pushback has been so weak," Hui said. "Beijing is daring foreign governments to continue to issue words but take no actions." Loading China's tactics under Xi today contrast those of his immediate predecessors, who prioritised China's reforms and opening over confrontation with its neighbours or the broader world. "Hide our strength, bide our time" was Deng Xiaoping's adage a generation ago. When Taiwan was moving to hold its first presidential elections in 1996, China conducted intimidating missile tests in the Taiwan Strait. It was forced to back down when President Bill Clinton ordered U.S. aircraft carriers to the waters in a show of military support for the island's defence. Xi has steadily built up China's air and naval power, raising the risks for a similar move by the United States now. Chinese forces routinely menace the island, as its first operational aircraft carrier did last month, forcing Taiwan's military to scramble jets and ships. The seventh similar incident this year, it signalled China's determination to block Taiwan from formally establishing its independence. For Beijing's leaders, China's sovereignty over Hong Kong is as emotionally charged. Under the Basic Law, the miniconstitution that governs the territory, Hong Kong is obliged to adopt rules "to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition and subversion" against the Chinese government. When the city's legislature tried to do so in 2003, Beijing retreated in the face of huge street protests. "China was in a very different place globally," said Rana Mitter, director of the University of Oxford China Centre. "China's economy was growing in 2003, but it wasn't the second-biggest economy in the world and quite the economic behemoth it is today." By Express News Service BENGALURU: A total of 107 flights will depart from Kempegowda International airport while 99 flights are expected to arrive on Monday, on the first day of operations of the airport in two months, said a highly placed airport official. The first flight to leave Bengaluru is set to be an Air Asia flight to Ranchi at 5.15 am while the first incoming light would be an Indigo air plane from Chennai at 7.35 am. "Of the incoming flights, 44 would be from the Red Zone while 55 will come from Green Zone cities in the country. Of the departing flights, 50 would be from Red Zone and 57 from Green Zone," the official said. Airport operator, Bangalore International Airport Limited had a day earlier said the airport would handle an average of 215 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) per day, 108 departures and 107 arrivals. Flights were given slots to depart every ten minutes. ALSO READ| Bengaluru Police to call citizens to keep track on COVID-19 crisis It added that social distancing norms would be maintained. However, there was total confusion till the last minute regarding the flights' arrival and departure. Indigo, the largest operator has listed 51 outgoing flights including to Kochi, Delhi, Pune, Chandigarh, Goa, Mumbai and Agartala. It listed 49 arrival flights including from these airports. It later updated it to 48 with the first flight from Kochi to Bengaluru showing as cancelled. The Indigo website has listed flight no 6E 456 as the first flight to depart from Bengaluru to Mumbai at 5:05 am. However, airport sources said they were not sure if this flight would depart due to uncertainties about being permitted inside Maharashtra and an Air Asia flight from Bengaluru to Ranchi at 5:15 am was likely to be the first to depart. Air India has listed six outgoing and incoming flights. The first flight would be at 6:30 am to New Delhi, a source said. ALSO READ| Strict sanitisation at Bengaluru International Airport to make taxi rides safe The other flights would be to Mumbai (6:45 am) Hyderabad (8 am), Calcutta (8 am), Chennai (2:10 pm) and New Delhi (5 pm). The incoming flights will arrive at these timings: Delhi (00.25 am), Hyderabad (12 pm), Bombay (12:10 pm), Delhi: (2:05 pm) Calcutta (3 pm) and Chennai (6:10 pm). Spicejet will run 17 flights out of Bengaluru and will have 17 incoming flights including destinations like Delhi, Calutta, Patna, Chennai and Pune both ways. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) Berlin, Germany Mon, May 25, 2020 14:35 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9fb004 2 Business COVID-19,recession,Germany,economy Free A slump in capital investments, private consumption and exports pushed the German economy into a recession in the first quarter, detailed data showed on Monday, giving a glimpse of the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Federal Statistics Office said capital investments fell by 6.9 percent, private consumption by 3.2 percent and exports by 3.1 percent between January and March compared with the last three months of 2019. This meant that private consumption took off 1.7 percentage points of overall economic activity and net trade shaved off 0.8 percentage points, translating into a first-quarter contraction of 2.2 percent, the steepest rate since 2009. The data showed that investments in the construction sector, which accounts for almost 10 percent of overall national output and is Germany's largest employer, rose by 4.1 percent, contributing 0.4 percentage points to quarterly growth. State spending was the other bright spot in the otherwise grim data and together with construction it prevented a deeper contraction. Government expenditure rose by 0.2 percent on the quarter, the data showed. The 2.2 percent drop in quarter-on-quarter output was the widest since the financial crisis of a decade ago and the second biggest since German reunification in 1990. It followed a 0.1 percent contraction in the last three month of 2019. Economists expect a bigger fall in output in the second quarter as the bulk of curbs introduced in mid-March to fight the outbreak become more apparent. "As the first quarter performance is the result of only two weeks of lockdown and supply chain disruptions due to lockdown measures in Asia, it does not need much analytical skill to predict a much stronger slump in the second quarter," said Carsten Brzeski, chief euro zone economist at ING. "Three more weeks of lockdown and a very gradual lifting of some measures do not bode well for the second quarter." Physicians with nonclinical careers can do as much good for humanity as those with purely clinical careers 165 Shares Share An excerpt from 50 Nonclinical Careers for Physicians: Fulfilling, Meaningful, and Lucrative Alternatives to Direct Patient Care. Our profession, as physicians, is medicine. This holds true regardless of career path or job title. The knowledge earned through medical training is ours to keep. Barring significant brain injury or dementia, our medical experience will always shape our thinking and decision-making. It can be influential and even critical to jobs outside of traditional patient care settings. Medical care provided to patients is informed by many external factors, such as the availability of treatment and technology, the extent to which the cost of services will be covered by a payer, and even patient preconceptions about their disease. The resources dedicated to these factors are substantial, and physician involvement ultimately supports clinicians and health care facilities in delivering appropriate services at the point of care. Beyond direct patient care, it supports the services and products that promote overall health and disease prevention. The role of the nonclinical physician Organizations hire physicians for nonclinical positions for many reasons. One physicians job may have little in common with a physicians job in another industry, company, or even division within the same company. Nonetheless, nonclinical roles share a broad goal: to improve health or reduce the disease burden of individuals or populations. Physicians in these roles accomplish this by assisting an organization in delivering high-quality, evidence-based health-related services or products to either consumers or the health care system. What is nonclinical work? The term nonclinical refers to work that doesnt involve directly diagnosing and treating patients. In most cases, nonclinical jobs dont require an active medical license, because the physician doesnt engage in the actual practice of medicine when carrying out the jobs tasks. However, as youll see in upcoming chapters, there are exceptions to this. Exceptions usually arise in health care services delivery settings in which nonclinical physician staff do, from time to time, get involved in making individual patient care decisions. In these cases, the requirement for a medical license has less to do with specific job responsibilities and more to do with liability. A physicians job can combine clinical and nonclinical work. This book focuses on careers in which there tend to be opportunities for jobs that are entirely nonclinical. Nonclinical career misconceptions A handful of misconceptions about nonclinical work cause many physicians to hesitate over transitioning to a nonclinical job. Misconception #1: Nonclinical careers are for physicians who are burned out. Nonclinical careers are for physicians whose professional interests are best aligned with nonclinical work and whose goals are most likely to be attained through nonclinical work. Ideally, burnout or simple dissatisfaction with clinical work shouldnt be the main driver of transitioning to a nonclinical career. Leaving a clinical job can be advantageous for some physicians experiencing burnout. But taking a proactive approach to finding a fulfilling career is much more advantageous. This entails establishing professional goals and taking time to reflect on what brings you joy. It requires acknowledging stress, discontent, or disengagement that may progress to burnout, and taking action to address these warning signs. The best action may or may not be leaving a clinical job for a nonclinical job. Misconception #2: If physicians take nonclinical jobs, there wont be enough doctors left to care for patients. A report from the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a shortage of as many as 121,900 physicians by 2032. However, the primary drivers of the predicted shortage are population aging and growth. Over 40% of the physician workforce is at risk for retiring over the next decade. The U.S. population grew by 24% between 1987 and 2007, while the number of physicians training in the United States grew by only 8%. Of the current physician workforce of just over 900,000, 1.3% work in public administration, 0.3% work in pharmaceuticals or scientific research and development, 0.3% work in management and scientific consulting services, and 0.1% work in insurance industries. Nonclinical physicians make up only a small percentage of the physician workforce. Shifts in these figures are unlikely to have a substantial impact on the availability of physicians to treat patients. Misconception #3: Working outside of clinical medicine is selling out. The opportunities in nonclinical medicine are extensive. You have the ability to be selective in the nonclinical roles you accept and the companies you choose to work for. Working in a nonclinical role doesnt mean being employed by a company with ethically questionable practices. It doesnt mean taking on work responsibilities that discount your principles. And, when compared with clinical work, it infrequently results in personal financial gain. Misconception #4: A physician needs many years of clinical experience to transition to a nonclinical job. There certainly are a lot of nonclinical options for physicians with many years of clinical work under their belt. For some jobs, significant clinical experience is needed in order to be considered as an applicant and to successfully perform the duties of the job. But there also are many opportunities for physicians with limited clinical experience, as well as for those who are straight out of residency and even those who havent completed a residency. Misconception #5: Doctors owe it to society to practice clinical medicine. This last misconception would perhaps be better labeled as a conception. The notion that physicians are indebted to society is one that many doctors have internalized. Those physicians who truly believe that they have a duty to serve society by practicing clinical medicine are not the ones considering nonclinical careers. A more reasonable belief is that we, as capable and intelligent human beings, owe a contribution to society. Any contribution to society. Nearly all of us took an oath essentially stating that well honor the medical profession. As noted at the beginning of this introduction, our profession is always medicineeven when performing work outside of a clinical setting. Physicians with nonclinical careers can do as much good for humanity as those with purely clinical careers. Sylvie Stacy is a preventive medicine physician and the author of 50 Nonclinical Careers for Physicians: Fulfilling, Meaningful, and Lucrative Alternatives to Direct Patient Care. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday expressed his gratitude to the corona warriors for their efforts in containing the spread of the deadly virus. "Bengaluru has set an example & is the model for entire country on how to effectively manage the pandemic & gradually restart the economy. Well done #NammaBengaluru! Salute to all Corona warriors for their tireless efforts in this battle against COVID19," the Chief Minister tweeted. According to media reports, Jaipur, Indore, Chennai and Bengaluru, could serve as possible role models for other urban centres in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite having maximum COVID-19 cases, these cities managed to keep the mortality low. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The opposition Bright Armenia Party (LHK) ended on Monday a two-week boycott of sessions of the parliament despite accusing its pro-government majority of not renouncing violent responses to criticism. LHK lawmakers walked out of the National Assembly on May 8 following a brawl involving their leader Edmon Marukian and deputies from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians My Step bloc. One of those deputies, Sasun Mikaelian, punched Marukian while the latter spoke on the parliament floor in the presence of Pashinian and government ministers. Pashinian deplored the violence but blamed it on LHK provocations. Marukians party charged in response that he thereby justified, legitimized and encouraged violence against his political opponents. It also demanded Mikaelians resignation. The ruling bloc responded by saying that Mikaelian will resign from the parliament only if Marukian quits too. The brawl prompted a preliminary inquiry by Armenias Special Investigative Service (SIS). The law-enforcement body announced at the weekend that it cannot indict anyone because neither Marukian nor any other parliamentarian suffered multiple blows during the May 8 incident. Citing a precedent-setting ruling handed down by the Court of Cassation in 2012, the SIS said that a single blow cannot be qualified as a beating. The LHK rejected this explanation on Monday. It said footage of the incident clearly shows that its leader was hit not only by Mikaelian but also two other My Step deputies. In a statement, the opposition party also insisted that the SIS has enough evidence to bring charges under another article of the Criminal Code that deals with hooliganism. Marukian said the authorities response to the LHK boycott suggests that a repeat of the May 8 violence may well be possible. We have drawn conclusions and will return to work with those conclusions in mind and in the knowledge that at some point someone could hit us from behind. We have to be careful and look back and around us, he told a news conference. We are dealing with people who can hit us from behind, people who justify violence, people who do not tolerate dissent and label it as a provocation, claimed the LHK leader. Alen Simonian, a deputy parliament speaker and senior My Step member, shrugged off these claims. People have seen everything and know who Edmon Marukian is in the political sense, said Simonian. The authorities have condemned violence and never resorted to it, even when the public demanded it. Ashley Brunette is on her way home after being stranded in Peru. Thank you Peruvian military and Canadian Embassy for getting us to Lima, one step closer to home, she wrote on Twitter. Brunette, 41, who is from New Hamburg, and her British friend, Sharon Freeman, had earlier been stuck in the Peruvian city of Iquitos, which is ravaged with COVID-19. I was just so happy to hear the news that she had been able to leave Iquitos, said Ashleys father, Rick Brunette, who also lives in New Hamburg. He said he has been worried about his daughter and hopes that the Canadian government and other advocates can arrange a flight to Canada from Lima, Perus capital city. We should sleep a little bit better tonight, he said. Ashley left Canada March 13 to attend a retreat in the Amazon jungle to learn about healing treatments that use plants and animals of the area. Her trip was only meant to be three weeks long. On May 8, long after she was supposed to have returned home, she got to Iquitos, a city of about 500,000 on the Amazon River but without road access. In part because it is so isolated, the city has suffered from a shortage of oxygen tanks and other medical equipment. This has contributed to its high death rate from the virus. Iquitos is one of the hardest-hit places in Latin America. Brunette and Freeman had tried unsuccessfully to get to Lima as soon as they arrived in Iquitos. Brunettes flight out of Iquitos on Monday was arranged by a combination of the Canadian Embassy in Peru, the Peruvian government and a Guelph man who has lived and worked in Peru, Jeff Geauvreau. Using his Peruvian contacts, Geauvreau helped assure her flight to Lima on a government plane. Geauvreau, who runs the Facebook group Canadians Living in Peru, said Monday that the next step is to fly her home to Toronto directly. The last repatriation flight for Canadians leaving Peru departed in mid-April. But Geauvreau said there are many more Canadians in that country who are trying to come home. I would like the co-operation of the Canadian government to organize another repatriation flight, he said. Brunettes MP, Tim Louis, said in a statement that his office has been working with Global Affairs Canada to bring Brunette home safely. I am proud to say our government has already brought home over 2600 Canadians from Peru, Louis added. Brunette said Freeman, her friend, is also headed home after getting to Lima on Friday. She was on a flight to Amsterdam Monday and then has a flight to Liverpool Tuesday. The Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport of the National Assembly of Armenia is holding a closed session, which was proposed by the Committees chair, deputy of the ruling My Step Alliance Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, who put the issue to a vote. There is only one issue on the agenda, and that is the resignation of head of the Higher Qualification Committee Smbat Gogyan due to his statements on plagiarism. According to Gogyan, one of the reasons for his resignation is that there are obvious traces of plagiarism in the doctoral thesis of the acting head of the Armenian State University of Economics and translations from other academic works and that, in this situation, the rector continues to head the University thanks to ties and patronage. Among other participants of the session will be Smbat Gogyan, as well as Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Grisha Tamrazyan, who is considered the patron of the acting rector. A woman and child peer out their car window as bubbles are blown into their car by volunteers from the Muslim Community Center as part of an Eid al-Fitr ceremony celebrating the end of Ramadan and a month of fasting in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. (Image: AP) YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Relatives of a murdered Armenian army officer killed with an axe by an Azerbaijani counterpart on a Nato training programme in Budapest are hoping the European court of human rights will hand down rulings against Hungary and Azerbaijan on Tuesday, ARMENPRESS reports, citing The Guardian. Gurgen Margaryan was murdered in February 2004 by Ramil Safarov, while both men were attending a three-month Nato English-language training course in the Hungarian capital. At Safarovs subsequent trial, he said he was motivated by hatred for Armenia and Armenians, due to the war between the two countries. He was jailed for life by the Budapest court. However, in 2012 Hungary sent Safarov back to Azerbaijan to complete his sentence. On arrival, he was promptly pardoned, released and given a heros welcome. Though this heinous incident happened 16 years ago, it still remains alive in my memories, said Hayk Makuchyan, another Armenian officer on the course, whom Safarov had also wanted to kill. He and Margaryans relatives are the claimants in the current ECHR case. They are not seeking financial compensation from either government. We have sought justice rather than compensation. What matters to us is the acknowledgment of the fact of grievous violations, putting an end to impunity and the prevention of hatred against Armenians, said Makuchyan, in emailed comments. Nazeli Vardanyan, the claimants lawyer, said although Margaryans family were struggling for money, they made it clear they did not want financial compensation. They only want justice, she said. Tens of thousands of people were killed in a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the early 1990s over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. A ceasefire was agreed but there is still periodic fighting in the area. Since then, the two countries have had no diplomatic relations and there are no travel links between them. The 2004 murder further increased tensions. Safarov purchased an axe in a local hardware store and killed Margaryan in his dormitory room. It became clear during the court hearing that Safarov had targeted Margaryan because of his Armenian ethnicity, and that he showed no remorse. He had also wanted to kill Makuchyan but was unable to get into the locked bedroom before he was apprehended. When Safarov arrived back in Baku in 2012, he was given an official pardon by the president, Ilham Aliyev, a promotion in rank, a free apartment and back pay for the eight years he had spent in a Hungarian jail. He is believed to still be in active service with the Azerbaijani army. Azerbaijans shameful act seriously endangers the security of the entire south Caucasus, said the then president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, shortly after Safarov was released. Making a hero out of a criminal is unacceptable. The European court could order Azerbaijan to re-arrest Safarov and return him to jail, though this would be new legal ground for a court that is usually concerned with overruling unfair convictions, rather than unfair releases. States are obliged to comply with the court but do not always do so. Ideally, wed like the court to order him transferred back to Hungary or a third country, to complete his sentence, because in Azerbaijan he is treated as a hero, said Vardanyan. Philip Leach, the director of the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre, which is also representing the claimants, said the case covered new legal territory and the court ruling could have profound consequences for future cases of prisoner transfers. Its quite common around the globe that people are pardoned or amnestied for political reasons, but when states issue amnesties or pardons, it is often in breach of their human rights obligations, he said. A report by the Hungarian ombudsman in 2012 found Hungary had not infringed any international norms, but nevertheless concluded that the Hungarian government was not sufficiently prudent when it did not require any guarantee from Azerbaijan. The decision came shortly after Hungarys prime minister, Viktor Orban, had travelled to Baku. The Hungarian government denied allegations of impropriety in the case. With regards to Hungary I have conflicting feelings: gratitude to the judiciary of Hungary, which was strong enough to administer justice [and] disappointment for the extradition of a murderer against court decisions and persistent risks of impunity, said Makuchyan, who now works in Armenias defence ministry. The story has been updated to reflect the proper role of the Overseas Security Advisory Council. ALBANY After waiting more than a year, Houssem Marzouk finally made it to America. The Tunisia-native was planning to come to the U.S. on a work visa to serve as an imam at the Al-Hidaya Center in Latham, but his application was stuck in a bureaucratic limbo. It landed in administrative processing and what should have only taken a few days took 14 months. He finally made it to America in early March, when the nation was on the cusp of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the delay, Marzouk said he feels fortunate to have come over when he did. I actually came at the best time, Marzouk said. It was maybe (was) two days before the outbreak. About a week after he arrived, the Tunisian government issued travel restrictions outlining plans that significantly reduced all airline travel, according to a health alert the Overseas Security Advisory Council posted on it's website. On March 19, the State Department issued a Level 4 do not travel advisory, recommending that United States citizens avoid any global travel. Earlier: Red tape at Department of State keeps imam from returning to U.S. By the time the Department of State approved his visa, and Marzouk was able to come to America, places of worship across the country had to close their doors. Its special circumstances we are going through - all of the state and all of the world, Marzouk said. We are still doing our jobs here. Although he cant physically hold classes in the mosque, it hasnt stopped him from teaching. He still holds classes virtually everyday. Depending on the subject matter, he could be teaching up to 100 people. Djafer Sebkhaoui, an imam at the Al Hidaya Center, said Marzouk is needed more than ever. Sebkhaoui said the mosque has demand for more imams to accommodate the communities growing population. Now that they are having to do remote learning, Marzouk has helped with coordinating the logistics and bringing classes online. As soon as he came once the traditional way was not working anymore with teaching people face-to-face he was ready, Sebkhaoui said. Some of the people who worship at the mosque already know Marzouk because he would often visit during the time of Ramadan. However, others have yet to meet him. Sebkhaoui said it has been a mix of emotions since Marzouk came to the U.S. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. People are happy in one way that he came back, but sad that they are not able to meet with him, Sebkhaoui said. "It was very interesting that after 14 months waiting for him they cannot meet him in person. The community did go through great lengths to get him back to the U.S. This past winter, more than 300 people signed a petition letter to U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, asking him to encourage the consulate to approve Marzouks application. Marzouks lawyer Seth Leech, of the Albany-based firm Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, thinks the attention the case had from the community and the press put pressure on the Department of State to approve it, noting that there was no reason the application was put on hold for so long. Leech and Tonkos office forwarded an article the Times Union wrote about the situation to the Department of State. Shortly after, Marzouks application was taken out of administrative processing. It seemed to be a general practice for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that if there was news coverage about an issue, it should be a factor in the consideration over whether to take action on a case, Leech said. We operated on the assumption that they (the Department of State) would have the same kind of theory, and it looks like they did, Leech said. Sebkhaoui said Marzouks return has been a moral boost for everyone at the Al-Hidaya Center, especially during a difficult time. May is the month of Ramadan, which ended on Saturday. We are trying to be creative in keeping the community attached to the mosque, Sebkhaoui said. People want to be here. Clergy celebrate Good Friday in a nearly empty Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in April. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) The state of California released new coronavirus health guidance for religious services on Monday, saying houses of worship must limit total attendance to 25% of a building's capacity and stop passing around offering plates, in addition to taking other precautions. The 13-page document, released by the California Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA, does not obligate churches, mosques, temples and other houses of worship to resume in-person activity, officials said. In fact, state health authorities strongly recommend that places of worship "continue to facilitate remote services and other related activities for those who are vulnerable to COVID19 including older adults and those with co-morbidities." Californias stay-at-home order, which is credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus, has upended the economy and changed the lives of millions. But it also has caused special pain for people of faith, who no longer can worship in person as churches and other religious institutions have been closed. The religious aspect of the shutdown has been much debated , though the vast majority of houses of worship have willingly complied with the rules to keep their members safe. Still, some churches have filed lawsuits, and a few have defied the order. The state guidance not only covers religious services, but also the day-to-day operations of religious organizations that employ workers or enlist the service of volunteers. The effect of the recommendations, however, will be most noticeable during religious ceremonies. Among other things, congregants should be screened for fever or other symptoms of illness and are asked to use hand sanitizer and wear face coverings. Overall attendance will be limited to just 25% of building capacity for the first three weeks of services. Also, the state has barred parishioners from passing offering plates or other items. Houses of worship also have been told to discourage the sharing of items including prayer books, cushions and rugs. Similarly, staff, visitors and congregants are discouraged from singing, holding potluck meals and shaking hands and hugging. Story continues High-traffic areas, such as chapels and libraries, must be thoroughly cleaned, while common surfaces such as pulpits, pews, altars and donation boxes must be disinfected frequently. The occupancy limit for services will remain in place for the first 21 days after a county health department has approved the resumption of religious services and cultural ceremonies within their jurisdiction, the guidance says. After 21 days, the California Department of Public Health, in consultation with county health officials, will review and assess the effect of the imposed limits and provide further direction as part of a phased-in restoration of activities in places of worship. Workers and volunteers for religious organizations must also wear masks "at all facilities, in offices, when making home visits as part of providing services, or in a vehicle during work-related travel with others," the guidance said. In a separate guidance released Monday, the state says that, subject to approval by county public health departments, all retail stores can reopen for in-store shopping under previously issued guidelines. The existing guidance for retailers, which previously applied just to those counties approved for wider reopening, now applies statewide. Retail can open for in-store shopping throughout California. Retail does not include personal services such as hair salons, nail salons and barbershops. The rules on churches came amid growing pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom to address their reopening. On Friday, President Trump made an unexpected appearance in the White House briefing room to declare that he was designating churches as essential businesses so they could immediately reopen. Trump previously said he would leave decisions about easing public health guidance to states but often criticized decisions by individual governors. The president has now threatened that he will override states that don't heed his directive. It was not clear what authority he was referring to. On Friday night, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had upheld Newsoms ban on in-person church services. The South Bay United Pentecostal Church in San Diego could not reopen immediately, the two judges in the majority wrote in their order, because in this case constitutional standards that would normally govern our review of a Free Exercise claim should not be applied. Were dealing here with a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure. In the words of Justice Robert Jackson, if a '[c]ourt does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact, they wrote. The decision came the same week more than 1,200 pastors vowed to hold in-person services on May 31, Pentecost Sunday. Nine cases of COVID-19, the infection caused by the coronavirus, are now linked to the May 10 service held by the Assembly of God in the Mendocino County city of Redwood Valley. The service was livestreamed to congregants and included singing, county public health officials said Friday. In Butte County, two coronavirus cases are now believed to be linked to a May 10 church service that was held despite county rules and drew more than 180 attendees, officials said. Alex Wigglesworth contributed to this report. For the record: 7:16 PM, May. 26, 2020: This article incorrectly attributes a portion of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. The article says the two judges in the majority wrote that the South Bay United Pentecostal Church in San Diego could not reopen immediately because in this case constitutional standards that would normally govern our review of a Free Exercise claim should not be applied. In fact, the passage was from a dissent by Judge Daniel Collins in which he quoted the states argument, then went on to say he disagreed with it. Iffath Fathima By Express News Service BENGALURU: If you get a call from the Bangalore Police Control room, dont panic. They will only ask if you and your family are safe. The Bengaluru City Police (BCP) has come out with this initiative of making calls. The move started by City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao aims at ensuring people are feeling safe during the COVID-19 crisis. Sherin CM, a resident of ITI Layout, who got a call from the Police Control room, said she was both surprised and shocked. "It was unusual. I got a call to ask if my family was safe. I asked why and the control room caller said it was just to check on their safety. At first I was scared but then I felt very secure. I think such calls do make us feel safe especially during the COVID-19 times where we are already stressed and scared about everything. It is indeed a brilliant initiative by the BCP." So far, 20,000 calls have been made to different people in the city. Speaking to TNIE, police chief Bhaskar Rao said, "Daily we call 1,000 people and ask people about their well being. This is just a goodwill gesture, where we can get to know people's problems. When we had called, some of the senior citizens had said that it was difficult for them to go out and get medicines or some said they had to go for dialysis but couldnt go by themselves. We immediately arranged for Hoysalas, the patrolling vehicles. There was one person who even said his daughter was staying alone in another state and she was unwell and that they wanted to go there. So we looked into making arrangements for their travel." He added, "We have a data base of numbers and we are calling everyone from there. There have even been cases where people have told us about domestic violence or robbery. The Hoysalas and police staff are immediately sent there to check and action is taken. Like this we can provide them comfort and it will help in building good relation between the police and citizens." The BCP has also started another initiative - #NanuKoodaBengaluruPolice (Im also Bengaluru Police) - where an individual needs to be disciplined. Some sportspersons and celebrities also put up videos with the same hashtag. "This is called soft policing, where there is orderliness in the society. If one takes his/her own responsibility, it will do good for all. We cant keep saying stay inside the houses, be safe. It should come from within," said Rao. - with reporting from Vivienne Clarke The Irish Hairdressers Federation wants hairdressers to be able come back to work earlier than planned. It is recommending the Government open salons on June 29. Currently, hairdressers are due to open on July 20 - during phase four of the Governments plan to reopen society. The organisation represents over 400 salon owners across the country, which employ over 5,00 stylists. Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF) incoming president, Danielle Kennedy says the sector is ready to open more quickly. Saloons are already very sanitary environments, she said. We already are very well equipped to take that level of hygiene and those hygiene standards just up to the next level. Were already well equipped for contact tracing as well. So were one of the industries that can adapt very, very easily to the Governments protocols in order to reopen earlier. Ms Kennedy told RTE radios Morning Ireland that there would be no walk-ins, customers would be seen by appointment only and would have to answer screening questions such as if they have been out of the country recently and if they had a temperature. The IHF will present comprehensive recommendations to the government this week pointing out that they could reopen in a manner that was safe for both customers and clients. Our customers want us to open, a salon is a very positive environment. There is a positive bond between a stylist and their client. Ms Kennedy pointed out that in other countries salons had reopened after six to eight weeks, but that in Ireland it will have been 18 weeks on July 20. Salons are already well equipped to operate within guidelines with high levels of sanitisation. We can easily adapt, she added. The 1m and 2m physical distance issue will also have a major impact, she said. This will be the distance between clients, she explained, as staff will wear PPE while working with a client. Ms Kennedy said she did not anticipate visors would be worn as staff primarily work with the back of a clients head. PPE is the easy bit, the main thing is operating the social distancing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to annex parts of the occupied West Bank in the coming months, vowing to move ahead with the explosive plan despite a growing chorus of condemnations by key allies. The Palestinians, with wide international backing, seek the entire West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state. Annexing large chunks of this territory would all but destroy the faint remaining hopes of a two-state solution. In an apparent reference to the friendly administration of President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said on Monday Israel had a historic opportunity to redraw the Mideast map that could not be missed. Israeli media quoted him as saying he would act in July. This is an opportunity that we will not let pass, he told members of his conservative Likud party. He added that the historic opportunity to annex the West Bank had never before occurred since Israel's founding in 1948. The comments threatened to push Israel closer to a confrontation with Arab and European partners, and could deepen what is becoming a growing partisan divide over Israel in Washington. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war. It has settled nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers in the territory, but never formally claimed it as an Israeli territory due to stiff international opposition. But the Trump administration has taken a much softer line toward Israeli settlements than its predecessors. Trump's Mideast team is dominated by advisers with close ties to the settlements, and his Mideast plan, unveiled in January, envisions leaving some 30 per cent of the territory under permanent Israeli control while giving the Palestinians expanded autonomy in the rest of the area. The Palestinians have rejected the plan, saying it is unfairly biased toward Israel. With Trump's re-election prospects uncertain this November, Israeli hard-liners have urged Netanyahu to move ahead with annexation quickly. The Israeli leader's new coalition deal includes an official clause allowing him to present his annexation plan to the government in July. Israeli media quoted him as telling Likud members that we have a target date for July and we don't intend to change it. The quote could not immediately be confirmed. The plan has already exposed a partisan divide in Washington. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee in the U.S. presidential elections, recently said that annexation would choke off hopes for a two-state solution. 18 Democratic senators warned in a letter this week that annexation could harm U.S.-Israeli ties. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has said annexation would violate international law and vowed to use all our diplomatic capacities to stop it. Closer to home, the Palestinians last week cut off security ties a valuable tool in a shared struggled against Islamic militants with Israel to protest the annexation plan. Saudi Arabia, an influential Arab country that maintains behind-the-scenes relations with Israel, announced its rejection of the Israeli measures and plans to annex Palestinian lands. The Arab League has condemned it as a war crime, and both Jordan and Egypt the only two Arab countries at peace with Israel have harshly criticized it. Netanyahu spoke a day after beginning his trial on corruption charges. The prime minister launched a blistering tirade against the country's legal system when he arrived at court, accusing police, prosecutors and media of conspiring to oust him. As he spoke, hundreds of supporters cheered outside. Speaking to Likud on Monday, Netanyahu said he was very moved by the support. Critics have said his attacks on the justice system risk undermining the country's democratic foundations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police on Monday arrested one of the accused in the case involving the murder of a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) worker in Batala sub-division of Gurdaspur district. Manjot Singh was shot dead at Kullian Said Mubarak village on Sunday while two of his associates, including an NRI, were assaulted. Batala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Opinderjit Singh Ghuman said on the statement of the victims cousin Kuldeep Singh, a case was registered under Sections 302, 307, 148, 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against Gurdeep Singh, a lawyer, his father Joginder Singh, mother Kulwant Kaur and two other women. On Monday morning, a police team arrested Joginder, who was trying to board a bus at Qadian. We are questioning him about the whereabouts of the rest of the accused, the SSP added. Akali leader Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon said, Gurdeep Singh, who is joint secretary of the Batala Bar association, is a close aide of Congress leader. The police are not arresting Gurdeep under pressure of the ruling party leader. If needed, the SAD will gherao the SSPs office to get justice for Manjot. We will move the court if the police did not arrest the accused within a few days. SUKHBIR CONDEMNS PARTY WORKERS KILLING Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday condemned the murder of party worker Manjot Singh, saying political killings continued unabated in Punjab even during the lockdown. In a press release, the SAD chief said earlier too Dhilwan sarpanch Dalbir Singh was killed in a shootout in Batala subdivision of Gurdaspur district. Like in the past, the Batala police failed to move quickly this time too. All those linked with the murder and the assault should be arrested immediately, he demanded. He also asked chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to rein in Congress workers who were taking the law in their hands to settle political scores. He said in case the government did not dispense justice to the bereaved family, the Akali Dal will fight for it. He also assured free legal aid to the family. Ciaran Reid, CEO of Louth LEADER Partnership received a letter of recognition from President Michael D. Higgins, for the role of all the staff in supporting people and communities in County Louth during the pandemic. Frank OBrien, Chairperson, said: On behalf of Louth LEADER Partnership I am very pleased to accept this letter of recognition from Michael D. Higgins for all the staffs hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Michael D Higgins wrote: Ciaran, a chara, Mar Uachtaran na hEireann, as president of Ireland, I would like to thank you sincerely for all the hard work, solidarity, and active citizenship that you have demonstrated for the duration of this pandemic. Through you, I would like to commend all those who have been working together with you to ensure that those residents of County Louth who are vulnerable to COVID-19 have been in a position to receive support and encouragement at this time of crisis. You have been part of such a great combined effort across Ireland. For over two months communities and individuals have been out in numbers supporting people in their local areas, in what has been such an uplifting demonstration of their commitment to their communities. Under the umbrella of COVID-19 Community Outreach, an inspired imitative of Irish Rural Link and The Wheel community and voluntary organisations across the country have been working in unison to ensure that their energies are directed to where they are most required and that the needs of the most vulnerable are addressed. For so many have necessary supplies such as groceries, medicines and other essential supplies delivered to their door has been a lifeline. As important as these vital deliveries have been, what has also been provided, has been a reassurance that help is at hand. Knowing that someone will call, that someone is looking out for them, that they will see a friendly face has meant so much to those who are alone or who are isolated at this time. Some of the volunteers are giving their time for the first time. Many have long been making valuable contributions in the communities and it is their networks and contact that have been so valuable in the past months. None of you seek recognition, but I believe, now more than ever, you deserve, for you represent the best of the Irish response to this crisis. The ethos of volunteering and actively engaging with fellow citizens is the lifeblood of our society. Active citizenship is surely a most durable insurance against any sense of helplessness or indifference, which might prevent us from reaching out to our neighbours who are in need. The actions of thousands of people like you over these past several weeks have shown that this sense of solidarity is still very strong across Ireland. You, and all who have been working with you in COVID-19 Community Outreach over the past weeks and months have answered the call of your communities. You have made an enormous difference and are continuing to perform a vital service as we slowly emerge from the dark of the pandemic and into the light of a better, shared future. Molaim sibh agus gabhaim buiochas libh. Beir beannacht. Bihar Board 10th Result 2020 Today | The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) announced the Matric or Class 10 results. Candidates, who appeared for the class 10th examination this year, can now check their results on the Bihar Board's official websites at onlinebseb.in and biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in. The Bihar Board results for class 10 students was jointly released by chairman Anand Kishor, additional chief secretary (education) R K Mahajan and state education minister Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma without holding any press conference due to Covid-19 pandemic. The evaluation process was completed on May 17, following which the physical verification of the toppers was carried out. The physical verification process includes IQ Test and matching of the hand-writing. Students can check their BSEB Bihar Board 10th results by logging in below with the required details. Steps to check Bihar Board 10th results 2020 1. Visit the BSEB official website of at biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in. 2. Click on the "Class 10 Result" link given on the homepage. 3. Enter your roll number, DoB and other credentials and click on submit. 4. The results will appear on your screen. 5. Download the result and take a print out for future reference. The announcement of the BSEB matric result was delayed this year because of the Covid-19 induced nationwide lockdown. On March 24 the evaluation process of class 10th answer sheets had to be suspended by the Board. The Class 10th paper evaluation work was resumed on May 6 after some relaxations in the lockdown were announced by the Centre. Altogether 15,29,393 students including 7,83,034 girls wrote class X exam from February 17 to February 24 at 1,368 exam centres in Bihar. Earlier, the board announced the result on April 6 and recorded a pass percentage of 80.73% in class X. Four more people tested positive for coronavirus in Ladakh even as the first COVID-19 testing laboratory was inaugurated by parliamentarian Jamyang Tsering Namgyal on Monday, officials said. The state-of-the-art bio-safety level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory was set up at Chushot Yokma and is the first molecular laboratory in the region, which will be used for testing HIV, Tuberculosis, Swine flu, and Hepatitis-B after COVID-19 pandemic is over, they said. With the addition of the four patients, who are from Kargil district, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the union territory has reached 52, the officials said. However, 43 of the patients have already recovered and discharged from hospital, while the condition of all the remaining 10 active patients nine in Kargil and one in Leh -- is stated to be stable, they said. While three of the latest cases tested positive on Sunday, another Kargil resident who had returned from Jammu recently and had given his sample before returning to his home town tested positive on Monday, the officials said, adding all the four have been isolated at a COVID-19 hospital at Kargil. Meanwhile, District Magistrate, Leh, Sachin Kumar Vaishya has issued an order regarding scaling down of the containment zones. Due to non-reporting of any COVID-19 positive case after the passage of 28 days from the Bogdang containment zone, the containment shall now be restricted only to the Gunesthang village of Nobra Sub-division with immediate effect till further order," Vaishya said. "Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Nubra shall make immediate necessary arrangements to de-contain the rest of the area, Vaishya, who is also Chairman District Disaster Management Authority, said in the order. Congratulating the people of Ladakh on getting the first of its kind COVID-19 testing laboratory, Namgyal termed it as a milestone in the history of health care services particularly in the fight against the coronavirus in the region. There is a long-term plan of upgrading it to test genetic disease, cancer markers and research. Namgyal hailed the special support to Ladakh by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan by taking an immediate decision in the Union Cabinet meeting for setting up of a COVID-19 laboratory in the UT. "This achievement is the result of the repeated support from the UT Ladakh Administration headed by Lt Governor R K Mathur and the Council headed by the CEC Gyal P Wangyal, he said. The MP also appreciated the team of doctors and lab technicians and specially mentioned Professor of Bio Chemistry at AIIMS, New Delhi Kunzang Chosdol's approach for coming forward to render her expertise for the people. Expressing gratitude to test centres in New Delhi for testing all the samples of Ladakh, he said that the new laboratory would be used for extending assistance beyond the boundaries of Ladakh, if the need arises. Director Health Service, Ladakh, Phuntsog Angchuk, said the laboratory is completed in all respects and all test standardisation is successfully completed. Reporting shall be done after permission from ICMR in a few days. As much as 20-30 tests will be conducted in the initial days which will gradually increase with the proficiency as well as the increase in the number of staff, Angchuk said. With four technicians, who had been trained in Chandigarh recently, and two doctors on board, Chosdol said her team is determined to serve the people with dedication and zeal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D.,Phila.) speaks during a rally for more school libraries outside the Philly school district's headquarters at 440 N. Broad on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. Read more We are ready for our lives to get back to normal. I dont know anybody who disputes that. But what I am not hearing enough about is how workers will be protected once theyre back on the job. Restaurant and small business owners can wipe down surfaces and disinfect floors all day, but the coronavirus is airborne. Whats their plan to keep employees from getting COVID-19? Pushing restaurant tables farther apart may not be enough to protect servers and hostesses. And opening up outdoor decks and patios for food consumption could help, but what about the cooks back in the kitchen? Thats why Ive got to give it to Pa. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Phila.). Hes only 29, but last week, the freshman legislator took a really strong stand on the House floor in support of low-wage, service industry workers. "You might laugh and you might not care, but I care about the people I serve and I wish you guys would act like it, he says on widely shared videos. What we are demanding right now and what folks are demanding is that they get to be served, that they get to go to a restaurant and sit down and be served by a service worker who they refuse to pay a $15 minimum wage, he continues. Then the boos break out. Yes, you can boo, but its true, he shoots back. Kenyatta goes on to bring up shortages of personal protective equipment. How is a small-business owner right now going to even get the PPE necessary to ensure that their workers go back in a safe way?" he says. "Youre asking mom-and-pop shops [and] small restaurants to compete against health-care workers who need it to keep folks safe inside our health-care institutions. He was pushing back against two proposed bills now headed to the Senate that would allow restaurants to open indoor and outdoor areas for 50% capacity seating. READ MORE: Bell-shaped oxygen helmets look like Star Trek but help coronavirus patients at Penns hospitals I wish I could have been there to see the whole thing in person. Judging by the number of comments and the times it has been passed around, Kenyattas comments are resonating with people who are concerned about how certain business owners seem more interested in opening back up than protecting employees during a pandemic. Weve never, never valued those jobs and those people in the way that we should and certainly not in line with the value that they provide to our economy and to our cities," Kenyatta told me Friday about service industry employees. Were seeing it a little bit more as weve been shut down, weve depended on the folks who show up at the grocery store and who care for people. I learned about the video after Philadelphia Gay News founder and publisher Mark Segal alerted me to yet another one by Kenyatta, the first openly LGBT person of color elected to the General Assembly. During it, he comes out publicly on the House floor. In it, he talks about growing up in a religious family and how hes been trying unsuccessfully to get an amendment added to various bills to help end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It was a really emotional moment for me, Kenyatta told me of that speech. Like all state reps, Kenyatta faces reelection this year. But what strikes me most about these remarks is that he wasnt merely currying favor to win votes in his North Philly district. Hes running unopposed in next months primary, which means hell likely win another term in November. He says what a lot of us are thinking, particularly when it comes to how reopening various elements of the economy right now will impact service industry workers. Thats not what certain business owners want to be reminded about right now but as Kenyatta told House lawmakers: Yes, you can boo but its true. Punjab health and family minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Monday handed over a cheque of 4 lakh to the panchayat of Kurri village, Mohali, on the occasion of Eid for constructing a dharamshala for the Muslim community . Sidhu said Eid cements the bonds of universal brotherhood, peace, amity and mutual co-existence and symbolises the spirit of communal harmony. He exhorted the people to rise above the narrow confines of caste, creed, race and religion and observe the festival with utmost zeal. The minister added that the Punjab government, led by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, is fully committed to the overall development of all sections of the society. He also divulged that financial assistance for a burial ground was given earlier. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri hailed the resumption of air travel in India by tweeting a live image of the air traffic above Indian skies. The image was taken from Flight Radar 24, an air traffic montitoring website. Indians soar in the skies again! A beautiful live capture from #flightradar24 shows how our skies look busy again as domestic civil aviation recommences in India from today, Puri said in the tweet. Air travel across the country resumed on Monday, after a gap of two months, with all states finally agreeing to accept at least some flights but announcing varied quarantine and self-isolation rules for arriving passengers to address misgivings about infections being brought in from other cities. Hundreds of passengers wearing masks and maintaining social distance were seen at airports across the country. The first flight out of Delhi since lockdown was to Pune, which flew out at 4:45am, and the second was from Mumbai to Patna that departed at 6.45am. Both the flights were operated by IndiGo. The first domestic passenger flight to arrive at Delhi airport on Monday at 7.45am was from Ahmedabad. It was operated by SpiceJet. Security and airport personnel in protective gears were seen screening passengers at several airports across the country as fliers observed social distancing. A large number of flights were also cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Aviation industry sources said, around 82 flights - departures and arrivals - have been cancelled at the Delhi airport on Monday morning, reported news agency PTI. States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling cases of the coronavirus infection in their states. The West Bengal government did not relent to a request by the civil aviation ministry to allow flight services. It was decided on Sunday that the state will gradually permit domestic flights from May 28 under strict guidelines. Andhra Pradesh too did not allow any flights on Monday. Press Release May 25, 2020 Transcript of Senator Win Gatchalian's CNN's The Source interview with Pinky Webb on GCQ, OFWs, Fontana, Meralco and education Q: Government will decide whether Metro Manila and other high-risk areas will either number one, stay on MECQ, go down to GCQ or implement a localized lockdown. Do you think that Metro Manila is ready to go from MECQ to GCQ. GCQ SEN WIN: For one, the sole and the only strategy that we can employ to look for the virus is through the testing but is already proven that testing is more complicated to setup than what we have been seeing in the past. Now, the capacity of our country, we can test as many as 12,000 cases per day but this is not enough considering that we have 100 million population and if we are looking at a 1% of our population to be tested, we should have approximately a 21,000-25,000 testing capacity per day so malayo pa tayo. We are only testing half of what we should be testing if we are looking at 1% of our population. Having said that, at the end of the day, it will really rest on our hands to protect ourselves. It's really up to us on how to be careful with our environment and how to be careful with what we are dealing with. In this case, the most potent weapon for now is to protect ourselves to know what we are handling, to know what we are exposed to basic practices such as wearing masks, washing our hands, avoiding crowded places are the most effective ways in preventing from being infected with the virus. The government is still putting up the testing capacity eh and it's taking some time, it's more complicated than what we expect. The most important now is to teach our constituents how to protect themselves. Q: Since napakalayo pa natin sa 25,000 tests per day, tama ho ba na mag-shift na for example, Metro Manila ang other high-risk areas to a more relaxed status. SEN WIN: We don't have any choice, if we will wait for 30,000, our economy cannot take it anymore. As we all know, it's taking so much time to build that testing capacity. If we wait for another month or another two months to bring it up to 30,000, I don't think our constituents can handle it anymore. Here in Valenzuela, our constituents I can see the suffering and difficulties especially in families with difficult conditions like a PWD, it's very difficult for them because they cannot go to rehabilitation programs, they cannot buy medicine. So if we will wait for the 30,000 to come on line, we don't know when would that happen. We get targets and promises almost every week and we all know that it is not happening because it's more complicated than what we thought. We just have to be very cautious. I am looking at a slow transition to GCQ by June 1. I think the movement to MECQ is a good move because it is a slow transition to GCQ. I can see here in Valenzuela. In MECQ, we gave our constituents some form of adjustments so moving from MECQ to GCQ is another small increment for them they'll get used to. In other words, our constituents cannot wait anymore for the testing capacity to ramp up because economically, in terms of livelihood, it is very difficult for them. OFWs Q: There are 27,000 OFWs here in the Philippines right now at meron pa pong parating na 47,000 in the months of May and June. At sabi ni General Galvez, this could pose a problem. Are you alarmed by this Sir? Wala nang choice ang mga kababayan natin kundi umuwi dahil una, nawalan na ho sila ng trabaho. SEN WIN: Tama ka. it is quite alarming. I'll just share with you our experience here in Valenzuela. We now work with OWWA to bring Valenzuela OFWs here in our isolation in Valenzuela. Since we are doing our own mass testing, we test them because we can get the results in less than 48 hours and we found out that a lot of our OFWs are exposed. We have approximately a dozen of OFWs who are exposed to COVID. They were positive and we have to bring them to our quarantine or isolation facilities. Dahil high-risk sila, there is a big possibility that positive sila. We cannot just let them go to our communities because they will infect others. It is important that the government will be ready in terms of accepting all of these OFWs. The most important there is to get the results as fast as we can and bring them back to their homes because they want to be with their families and they want to support themselves and their families. Bu they cannot be release to the community without testing. This is where the problem comes in. I really thank DFA for facilitating the repatriation here to the Philippines but after coming back home, their testing becomes a problem because of the backlog. Some of them have been there for 45 days already. Fontana Q: Are you alarmed with what you saw, there was a medical facility there and the Fontanas are saying na hindi kanila yun. Nag-transfer na daw ang villa na yun to another company and yet when the police raided that, they saw dextrose, beds, rapid test kits, could something like that even operate inside Fontana? SEN WIN: It is quite very shocking and ang nakakatakot diyan ay ang medical waste. The first thing that jumped to my mind is where do they throw the medical waste? Because the medical waste are highly regulated and restricted. You cannot just open up a hospital, treat and throw all the usual household disposal system. You're gonna contaminate a lot of people and I don't buy the statement of Fontana na hindi nila alam. That's the most convenient way out eh because Fontana is a hotel. They should know what's happening in their facility that's why I call on the government, NBI, PNP to file charges against the owners of Fontana and CDC to look into revoking the lease contract of Fontana because Fontana is definitely operating in a very illegal manner. Fontana being a lessee of Clark, they should immediately terminate the contract because we don't like business people like this operating in our country. It is really shocking to me. They are treating COVID-19 patients and these patients are very infectious, they can infect communities and they are treating patients without government approval. Merlaco Q: Alright Senator Win Gatchalian let's talk about Meralco yung pong reklamo dito, ilang Linggo na rin po. I know last Friday you had a joint committee hearing on this, just to be clear, kailangan ba naming bayaran yung bill natin sa Meralco noong May SEN WIN: If you are in the Meralco franchise, you don't have to pay yet because during the, and I would like to thank the ERC, the Energy Regulatory Commission for being very firm with what to do with this bill shock. Tawag ko nga dito heart attack bill because everyone was surprised, even here, dito sa amin sa Valenzuela nagulat ako sa bill ko its five-fold my original monthly payments. Hindi ho kailangan bayaran, if you are in the Meralco franchise you have to wait for the new and separate bill that Meralco will issue because it was agreed in the committee hearing that Meralco will issue a separate billing statement for that period covered by the ECQ. Medyo talagang kakaiba kasi the ECQ in effect, gave the consumers a grace period because they cannot read the meters, we had to do averaging for that time period. Doon naguguluhan yung tao because how did you average and pano kung may kulang or may sobra? Where did you compute that? And when do you pay? So Meralco will be issuing a separate bill for that particular period so that it will be very clear. The most important part here is to be transparent. Hindi nga namin naiintidihan, mga legislators and ng mga government officials, what more our consumers. So we told them they have to be very transparent and easy to understand Q: So hindi niyo po babayaran yung times five na electricity bill ninyo? SEN WIN: Oo kasi walang basis, how can I pay kung di natin alam kung ano yung basis. Times five of your original bill is quite unusual but most importantly here is for us consumers to understand what we are paying. Dapat alam natin yan to the last kilowatt-hour at yun ang nagkukulang because di nila alam kung paano kinompute yun. Q: Syempre Senator unprecedent times but we read somewhere that during that hearing, Meralco said they only read 1% yung metro ng 1% of the households? Totoo po ba yun? So if that is true, how could they have billed us, the 99%, the bill that we got now if only 1% was read sa mga metro ng households? SEN WIN: Under the ERC advisory, because of this pandemic our meter readers, kasi dito satin ang meter reader natin mano-mano pa, house to house, they cannot go out because nga they are under lockdown and because of that physical constraint Meralco and other utilities for this matter were allowed to do averaging. So for example if your bill is May, ia-average mo sila February, March, April and billing sa May. Kung may sobra o kulang then they will adjust in June. But you don't have to pay right away in June. The ERC advisory has stated that you can pay in four equal installments starting June. So ganun in simple terms, the computation and the advisory of ERC. But for example in my case, what I didn't understand in my bill, bakit yung May, five times my usual payment due during March and April? Obviously may kulang in the averaging. I want to see kung saan nagkulang at per kilowatt-hour basis kung saan ako nagkulang. Q: Tama Sir, averaging the last three months pwede naman po talagang tumaas dahil summer months na pero yung times five or even times 2.3 nagulat din po ako doon maybe because it could be an increase of 0.5 at most. So alright, don't pay your Meralco bills right now because they will give us a new one, that is for everyone yun po sa Meralco. Alright, education? SEN WIN: Let me just clarify, don't pay your Meralco bill until Meralco issues the new and clear billing. I'm not saying don't pay your Meralco bill period because malulugi naman yung ating utility and this is what we owe our utility. So magi-issue sila ng bagong billing, more transparent, easy to read and the basic principle here, you have to know what you are paying for. This is what we instructed Meralco and this is what the regulator, ERC also instructed Meralco to do and all utilities dahil meron tayong 100 plus utilities nationwide. Education Q: Pay the next bill. Alright education, DepEd already said that classes will open on August 24, Senator Win is this something na sinusuportahan ninyo dahil kapag tinignan natin yung netizens natin, meron talagang magulang na ayaw papasukin ang kanilang mga anak dahil sa takot na mahawa ng covid Sir? SEN WIN: I'll put my other hat on from the Chairman of the Energy Committee to Chairman of the Basic Education Committee. August 24 is still three months away from now. So meron pa tayong time to evaluate the situation. It doesn't mean kung August 24, yun na because the situation is changing so fast and since the corona virus is a new virus, the situation on the ground, the policies of government is changing so fast but yung pinakamahalaga dito, government will not allow our students, teachers and parents to be at risk. If we find out that its very risky for students, parents and teachers to go to school then we can still move the class opening but what we want the government to do is to start implementing what we call the new normal in schools, meaning making sure our schools are safe. Number two is to make our curriculum so that we can incorporate hybrid learning, blended learning, online learning, depending on your school situation and pursue educating our children. Even in the light of covid and this is happening in many countries, countries are adjusting, naga-adjust tayo pano tayo magturo, naghahanap tayo ng ways and the perfect strategy to teach our children and to continue to learn because our children need to learn. Hindi ho sila pwedeng nasa bahay lang at games at nannood ng TV. They need to learn and in this time of covid, kung hindi tayo mag-aaral, if we will not do anything, kawawa yung mga mahihirap nating estudyante sila yung maiiwanan. I noticed in private schools, especially the affluent ones, they have online learning. they can use Google Suites and other online mechanism to teach but it's not present in our public schools, our public schools need to be tweaked a bit so that they can continue to teach and those tweaking comes in the form of hybrid learning. Ano ba ito? Pwede tayong gumamit ng tv, radio at homeworks para magturo. in other words, we will not allow students, teachers and parents to be at risk and endangered on August 24 and we will adjust accordingly if the situation will not improve. Q: So it's subject to review because there are two Congressmen right now who are already against the opening of classes on August 24. In fact, si Congressman Aurelio Gonzales filed a Resolution, House Resolution 876, suspending classes until and unless a vaccine against COVID-19 is discovered. What your thoughts about that Sir? SEN WIN: I think that's anti-poor because if we suspend classes, yung mga mayayaman mag-aaral yan yung mga nasa IS, yung mga nasa british school, makakapag-aral yan kasi they're all online. Pero yung mga public school natin they will be stuck at home and what we want is for the government to innovate. The covid cannot stop innovation, we can continue to innovate and in fact that is what DepEd is doing, in fact they are innovating, they are adjusting to the situation and they can teach, we have tv, we radio, we can send home works through other means, we can continue to teach. By postponing classes and not doing anything will leave our poor students left behind. Mapagiiwanan talaga sila, mababa na ang yung grades natin sa PISA, maiiwanan pa sila. by the time we restart school, it will be too late for some of them. So it's a bad idea to completely postpone school. We can still continue to teach using innovative methods and this is using tv, radio and using other forms. Q: There's also a call for education officials to help our teachers, especially the teachers from private schools who have not been getting any salary in the past two months, wala po silang trabaho. No work, no pay how can your committee help them? Will you look into this Sir? SEN WIN: That's a very good question and in fact in the DOF briefing by acting NEDA Secretary Karl Chua, education is the fourth most battered industry among the hundreds of industries. This is surrounding private schools so one of the action plans that we are employing is to lobby very hard to include private schools in the Small Business Wage Subsidy of the government and expanding other mechanisms for example the grants in aids for the private schools so that the teachers will directly get some grants and some aid in times of covid. Definitely the private schools is being battered by this pandemic and it is recognized by NEDA and because of that we need to act and two of the mechanisms that we are thinking is to include them in the Small Business Wage Subsidy and the other one is to give direct subsidies to our teachers and non-teaching staff of course dahil malaki rin yung ating non-teaching personnel. Q: Senator Sherwin Win Gatchalian maraming salamat ho sainyo, take care. SEN WIN: Thank you Pinky, stay safe. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle started dating in 2016, and they were on the fast track to marriage from the moment they met. Since then, the two have taken their royal duties in a whole new direction meaning, theyve ended them completely. But Harry was determined to be something other than Prince Harry per an interview in 2017, prior to marrying Meghan. And he also revealed that he was determined to make something of my life before it was too late. Prince Harry | Joe Giddins/ WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry was once the right-hand man to Prince William and Kate Middleton When William and Harry were growing up, they had a close bond because of everything theyd been through together. But their relationship as brothers reportedly wasnt as close as some people might have thought. The two had wildly different personalities and interests, and they supposedly didnt spend that much time together. But when William married Kate Middleton, the three became quite the trio. Prince Harry was essentially the couples right-hand-man. William and Kate became the two most important people, since William is heir to the throne. And Harry was always with them, but he didnt quite have an identity of his own and he wanted one. Harry said in 2017 that he was determined to make something of my life Before marrying Meghan Markle, Harry interviewed with Newsweek in 2017 where he discussed some of his plans and ideas for the future in regards to the royal family. He didnt say he planned to leave, but he did say that he was in a rush to make something of my life before time ran out. I feel there is just a smallish window when people are interested in me before [Williams children] take over, and Ive got to make the most of it, Harry said. Harrys words might have foreshadowed his plans to leave the family with Meghan. The two had been dating for a little while at the time, and he might have already been looking to break major barriers with her in order to become someone memorable prior to Williams kids gaining all of the attention. Harry also hinted at leaving the family long before he and Meghan tied the knot Though many people blame the couples departure on Meghan marrying into the family, Harry might have had those plans all along. The prince also revealed in his Newsweek interview that he had always wanted to be something other than Prince Harry. It might have been his way of hinting that, if given the opportunity, hed step down from the role and do his own thing in life. And thats certainly what happened. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family in March 2020 | Samir Hussein/WireImage Harry never liked the spotlight growing up, and Meghan might have been the perfect person to help him escape it. The two moved to North America back in January, and they recently settled into Los Angeles, California, where Meghan was raised. They have since been living life much more privately just what Harry might have wanted all along. This Memorial Day, Americans should take a moment to reflect on those serving in the military who made the ultimate sacrifice. Left behind are the families of the fallen who must cope with the loss of their loved ones. The Last Full Measure, written and directed by Todd Robinson, is a movie streaming on Amazon. It is a true story with few liberties taken and is based on the courageous acts of Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger, a U.S. Air Force pararescuer who saved over sixty men. The list of star power is incredible a who's who. The film stars Ed Harris, William Hurt, Christopher Plummer, Peter Fonda, Sebastian Stan, Diane Ladd, and Samuel Jackson. When others were escaping from the Viet Cong attacks, Pitsenbarger ran into fire to save the men of the Army's 1st Infantry Division. Both the men he saved and his parents felt he deserved the Congressional Medal of Honor. They fought valiantly for William to get the honor before his father died of terminal cancer. Todd Robinson noted, "There was a young man named Parker Hayes that was working for the Air Force and given the task of interviewing those who were saved by Pitsenbarger. He was the first guy to go in and actually interview these veterans. And it was the first time they had ever told the story of Operation Abilene. When I met Parker, he gave me that list of people and said, 'Go forth and interview these people.' That day still remains a powerful trauma in their lives. A lot of the dialogue and the characters, while some are amalgams, are certainly drawn directly from our personal experiences in meeting these men." Besides Hayes, there were others responsible for making sure Pitsenbarger received the medal. "General Depuy was the commander responsible for Operation Abilene. He took responsibility for that day. The senator in the movie is a combination of Depuy and former majority leader John Boehner. They both worked hard to get the medal for Pitsenbarger. Boehner convinced then-president Clinton to award the medal. It was a bipartisan effort." Many might be surprised that Peter Fonda starred in a movie about Vietnam veterans. Robinson commented, "All those who starred in the movie wanted to support this movie because they wanted to pay tribute to those they knew who went and fought there, some who did not come back and others who forever were changed. This was Peter's last movie before he died. He did not have the same attitude as his sister, Jane Fonda. He wanted to be a part of something that is about something." Unlike veterans of other wars, Vietnam veterans were mistreated by their fellow Americans through no fault of their own. Instead of being considered heroes, they were thought of as pariahs, spit upon, and called baby-killers. Robinson said, "The scene in the movie where Sam Jackson tells what happened at a bar is true. He was called a baby-killer and did pull his shirt off showing all the scars he had. His character, Billy Takoda, was actually someone named Marty Crowe. He was haunted by mistakenly miscalculating gunfire that put friendly fire on his guys. We as citizens should take responsibility for those who came back. I want people to see the Vietnam vet as human and still hurting emotionally." On April 11, 1966, a pararescue helicopter responded to a call to evacuate U.S. casualties 35 miles south of Saigon, Vietnam. Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to take a hoist down more than one hundred feet through the jungle. While on the ground, he organized and coordinated rescue efforts; cared for the wounded; helped them to evacuate; and refused evacuation, instead helping more wounded soldiers to safety. After the Viet Cong launched an overwhelming assault, the evacuation was terminated. Pitsenbarger, instead of deciding to be rescued earlier, stayed with the soldiers and even took up arms to fight. With the battle raging, he continuously exposed himself to enemy fire to care for the wounded, pulling them out of the line of fire. Eventually, the Vietnamese overran the perimeter and killed Pitsenbarger. Shortly after his death, he was recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor. But the bureaucracy got in the way and instead in 1966 awarded him the Air Force Cross. Because those he rescued and his family felt that Pitsenbarger deserved the highest honor, they kept petitioning. Eventually, thirty-four years later, in December 2000, he posthumously received the medal. Robinson noted, "I was touched by what his father said. He talked about how he never got to see his son fall in love and have a child of his own. I reflected on my own son and realized I could not face the world if I lost my son. His mother said, 'If not my son's life, then whose?' Those he saved were on a mission to get him the medal before his father passed. Pitsenbarger saved the men in 1966 and saved their soul in 2000 because he gave them a sense of purpose. If they did not live their lives to the fullest, then his paying the ultimate sacrifice would be meaningless." Furthermore, he stated, "Medals are important because it makes people focus on the action and not the achievement like an Academy Award. It is to make sure that the action is not forgotten. The power of the medal is but a prism on the action and on the behavior during stress. The medal tells a story, a narrative that explains what was done and on what terms." On this Memorial Day, people should understand the sacrifices those serving have made. Robinson explained, "The pararescuers' motto is 'These things we do so that others may live.' They were there to save lives, not take lives. They recognized service is greater than self." Americans should reflect on a quote from the movie: "sacrifices that those who fell will never be forgotten," nor should their families, who also sacrificed. Image: RoadsideFlix via YouTube. (@FahadShabbir) HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th May, 2020) Smaller countries like Estonia are interested in preserving the Open Skies Treaty, as they have no means, other than such reconnaissance flights, to keep an eye on military facilities of other nations, Defense Minister Juri Luik told the ERR broadcaster, following the US announcement of plans to quit the agreement. The United States said on Friday it would exit the 2002 treaty in six months unless Russia returns to full compliance. President Donald Trump said that he is not ruling out the revival of the treaty or its replacement with a new deal. Moscow has denied breaking the terms of the pact, rejecting the US ultimatum. "The Americans have other means of collecting information - satellites, in the first place. But for smaller countries, including Estonia, this treaty has a great value," Luik said in a Sunday interview. The minister went on to express hope that the treaty would be finally salvaged. "I believe that diplomats now have a very big role in trying to save this treaty. If the US does withdraw, we will all have to decide what to do next," Luik added. The Open Skies Treaty was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 2002. The agreement allows all 34 countries that have ratified the treaty to conduct unarmed surveillance flights over one another. Naomi Campell has expressed gratitude to her friends and family as she celebrated turning 50, admitting she never thought she would see this age. The model, whose birthday was on May 22, took to Instagram and shared a photo of herself sitting on a pale pink sofa surrounded by several bouquets of flowers. Alongside the post, Naomi thanked those close to her and also referenced her 'recovery family' who helped her when she was struggling with a cocaine and alcohol addiction. Overjoyed: Naomi Campell has expressed gratitude to her friends and family as she celebrated turning 50, admitting she never thought she would see this age. She wrote: 'I would like to firstly say THANK YOU for all the birthday love, well wishes and blessings! 'Im so thankful to have amazing people in my life and grateful for all 50 of my years on this beautiful planet, I honestly did not think I would get here. 'For those of you who endured me through thick and thin, the ups and downs, for my recovery family, who keep me on the straight and narrow, who stand discretely by [my] side I am eternally grateful. 'My journey so far has been extremely colorful, always reminding myself I am a work in progress, growing and learning every day. Without you all I would not be here, there would be no Naomi. Stunning: The model, whose birthday was on May 22, took to Instagram and shared a photo of herself sitting on a pale pink sofa surrounded by several bouquets of flowers 'And those of you, (you know who you are) your honesty, consistency and embrace means the world to me. I Love you all and know how much you all mean to me... And Mum thank you for me giving life and life lessons'. The star looked radiant as ever as she donned a white long-sleeved dress with a sheer detail and a dot embellishment. It comes after Naomi recently shared throwback snaps of herself as a child while reminiscing on her younger days on her birthday. Throwback: Naomi celebrated her 50th birthday by also sharing some throwback pics with her fans The model took to Instagram on Friday afternoon, sharing an adorable baby photo while thank her mother, Valerie Morris. 'Thank you Mum for giving me life I love you,' Naomi said of her mother in the caption of the snap. She also shared a photo of her wearing a yellow dress, which she captioned, 'Me at 3' with a yellow heart emoji. She also shared a number of her early modeling shots from her days as a teenager. Young Naomi: She also shared a photo of her wearing a yellow dress, which she captioned, 'Me at 3' with a yellow heart emoji Naomi was just about to turn 16 years old when she landed on the cover of the British version of Elle magazine. The London native also shared a number of birthday posts from her friends, including fellow supermodel Karlie Kloss. Naomi took to her Instagram story to share all the thoughtful messages friends and family have sent on her birthday. A recent paper from Spanish researchers at the Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR, available on the medRxiv* preprint server, suggests that cats may act as asymptomatic dispersers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), even though viral transmission from animals to humans still seems highly unlikely. The natural origin of SARS-CoV-2, which is responsible for the ongoing and disruptive pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is likely due to spillover events from bats that occurred in late 2019. Pangolins, stray dogs, turtles, snakes, yaks, and even hamsters have been considered as potential intermediate hosts before the virus successfully spread to humans; however, this is still a matter of intense scientific debate. The role of cats and dogs in COVID-19 pandemic According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of May 2020, there is no evidence that either dogs or cats can disseminate SARS-CoV-2 and hence act as a source of human infection. Consequently, there is no valid reason to remove pets from homes with COVID-19-positive household members. Nevertheless, any new or emerging disease comes with certain 'knowledge gaps' in our understanding of its epidemiology. Therefore, it is always relevant and somewhat necessary to assess the potential of domestic transmission through pets adequately. After tracing coronavirus signatures in different species, one recent study published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution even suggested that stray dogs may have acted as the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why researchers from the Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases at the Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR in Logrono, Spain, decided to evaluate the potential role of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from companion animals (particularly dogs and cats) in La Rioja (northern Spain) during the early stages of the pandemic. A game of cat and coronavirus Between April and May 2020, a total of 23 asymptomatic and quarantined mammalian pets (12 dogs, 8 cats, 2 rabbits, and 1 guinea pig) from 17 households with confirmed human COVID-19 infection (diagnosed at the Hospital Universitario San Pedro in Logrono, Spain) were included in the study. In this bunch, only one cat without any clinical symptoms tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. More specifically, this was an 8-year-old female European domestic cat without clinical signs related to coronavirus disease, albeit with a plethora of prior diseases such as chronic feline gingivostomatitis, idiopathic cystitis, chronic kidney disease, and feline asthmatic bronchitis. The virus was detected in an oropharyngeal swab by employing three RT-qPCR assays, which is a highly sensitive test for detecting SARS-CoV-2 genetic material. Additional rectal swab specimens did not reveal any viral RNA. The owner suffered from severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 and was hospitalized for eight days, while the other cat from the same household tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. The virus has not been detected in the remaining animals that were tested. "Our study reports for the first time the detection of an asymptomatic cat with SARS-CoV-2 in Spain, probably associated with close contact with its owner who was diagnosed with active COVID-19 infection", study authors summarize their findings. What does this mean for pet owners? Based on study results, it is likely that the number of affected cats living with owners positive for COVID-19 is higher than scientific literature shows, since these animals may be asymptomatic and, therefore, not detected. "Our finding suggests that cats may act as asymptomatic dispersers of the virus, although the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from animals to humans seems unlikely", state study authors in their medRxiv paper. "All cases seem to be related to human transmission through symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 infected people taking care of the animals", they add. Thus far, all positive findings in pets were actually 'isolated cases' that emerged due to close contact with humans positive for SARS-CoV-2. A similar occurrence was already described during the original SARS outbreak in 2002-2003, but the infected domestic animals were considered dead-end hosts sans any epidemiological significance. In any case, standard hygiene measures should be diligently exercised when living with a pet, especially in cases of infection with the novel coronavirus. Moreover, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends restricting contact of people infected with COVID-19 with their companion animals. At the same time, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) highly recommends keeping all positive animals isolated from other unexposed ones. Further research on this issue is definitely warranted in order to develop steadfast guidelines and appropriate public health measures. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. New Delhi, May 25 : Franklin Templetons decision to wind down its schemes was because it had lent to holding companies (- using promoter equity as security) and investing in paper that quickly became illiquid, according to Amit Tandon, Managing Director, Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IIAS), a corporate governance advisory firm. In an interview with IANS, Tandon said that debt investors too need to worry about governance and not just equity investors. He cited the case of IL&FS which impacted debt investors. "The recent decision of Vedanta to delist is driven by debt. The delisting if it goes through will enable the global parent to access the cash from the operating companies with minimum checks", he added. Tandon pointed out that SBI has called for a public gathering of shareholders as the SBI Act does not allow for a virtual meeting. The relationship between investors and promoters is more equal than anytime before. Fifteen years ago, for each share an investor held, the promoter held three. Today for each share an investor holds, the promoter holds only 1.5, Tandon added. Excerpts: Q: What are the risks to corporate governance and investors? A: One observation since the past 18 months has been that it is not just equity investors that need to worry about governance, debt investors need to pay close attention to it as well. The IL&FS episode has impacted debt investors. The firm's governance structure and practices led to its failure. The recent decision of Vedanta to delist is driven by debt. In this case it is the need to service debt in the 'holdco'. The delisting - if it goes through, will enable the global parent to access the cash from the operating companies with minimum checks. Franklin Templeton's decision to wind down its schemes was because it had lent to holding companies (- using promoter equity as security) and investing in paper that quickly became illiquid. Issues in the debt market immediately impact the equity markets, just like governance failures in the equity market impact all lenders. Q: SEBI has recently issued an advisory that companies are not giving details on financial and business impact of Covid 19. How do you seethe advisory on these disclosures? A: This is a welcome development. The need to present investors with meaningful business commentary is greater during periods of extreme disruption, particularly during unprecedented times like these. The roughly seven-week period would have given companies some clarity regarding trends or uncertainties that they face in their business, and this needs to be communicated. Q: A survey has found that the Big-4 audit firms appear to have lost credibility? What is IIAS' view on this? A: The question asked was "Are you open to move beyond the Big-4 audit firms? The investor response is a bit more nuanced. It shows a willingness to move beyond the Big-4 - an acceptance that a few non-Big 4 firms can provide an acceptable level of audit quality. I must emphasize that the survey does not reflect how investors will vote. Over the last two years, excluding the abstains, over 99% of the institutional investor votes have been FOR the appointment or re-appointment of the Big-4. Q: How is Covid 19 affecting shareholder meetings? A: MCA has permitted companies to hold virtual AGM's. The challenge with a virtual AGM is that questions asked may not be satisfactorily answered - because the shareholder may be unable to press for a straight answer. The second is some of the richness is lost. Investors queuing up, asking questions, exchanging views creates it's own buzz, that will be lost. We favour a hybrid meeting i.e. both virtual and physical simultaneously, but recognise that under the current circumstances, only a virtual will have to do. Q: SBI is holding a physical EGM in June? Was there a way to make an exception under the Act? A: The SBI Act , 1955 does not allow for a virtual vote, let alone a virtual meeting. Despite the Ministry of Corporate Affairs allowing all other listed companies to hold virtual meetings, State Bank of India is weighed down by the SBI Act which does not provide for such a meeting. While India has been under a lockdown for over a month, grappling with the rapid growth of the COVID-19, State Bank of India has called for a public gathering of its shareholders at its auditorium on 17 June 2020. The bank expects its shareholders to be physically present to appoint shareholder directors. Unless there is a high-level intervention from Delhi, I am unable to see a solution. Q: What is IIAS advising investors on the Vedanta delisting? A: IIAS runs a committee process to recommend what it should advise investors - whether to vote FOR or AGAINST. The committee will take a view after it receives the shareholder notice. We will have to wait for this. Q: Is the governance landscape changing in India? A: There is far more focus on governance today than in the past. This has not happened overnight and I believe three factors explain this. First regulations - the Companies Act, 2013, Listing Regulations, Kotak Committee have all ensured Corporate Governance remains a hot button issue. Second institutional investors now own 35% of the market, up from 20% after the financial crisis. During this period the promoter shareholding has fallen to 50% from 60%. This has brought about a change in the relationship between promoters and investors. Fifteen years ago, for each share an investor held, the promoter held three. Today for each share an investor holds, the promoter holds only 1.5. So, the relationship between investors and promoters is more equal than anytime before. Finally, firms like ours keep the governance agenda at the forefront and are helping shape the governance debate. (Sanjeev Sharma can be contacted at sanjeev.s@ians.in) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has hailed supporters rallying in the country's capital to back his administration as an unfolding political scandal adds to the worsening coronavirus outbreak. Surrounded by security guards wearing masks, but not wearing one himself, Bolsonaro was shown in a live-streaming video on his Facebook page greeting protesters waving Brazilian flags and calling him a "legend", days after Brazil topped Russia to become the world's No.2 virus hotspot after the United States. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Secretary of Institutional Security and Brazilian Army General Augusto Heleno wave to supporters. Credit:Getty The Brasilia rally, one of several demonstrations Bolsonaro has encouraged in recent weeks, came as the administration of US President Donald Trump, a close ally of the far-right Bolsonaro, announced it was prohibiting foreigners from travelling to the United States if they had been in Brazil in the past two weeks. Health ministry figures released on Saturday evening showed 16,508 new cases were recorded in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total above 347,000, while the death toll increased by 965 to 22,013. BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- It is sheer nonsense to claim that China is using COVID-19 to expand its presence in the South China Sea, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday. Wang refuted the accusation at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual national legislative session. "China has been focusing on anti-epidemic cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries recently," Wang said, noting that both sides have supported and helped each other with their mutual trust further enhanced. With ships and planes carrying anti-virus supplies sailing across and flying over the South China Sea, the region is witnessing mutual assistance and cooperation between China and the ASEAN countries in epidemic fight, he said. A few countries outside the region, in contrast, are flexing their muscles by sending military aircraft and vessels to the South China Sea, Wang noted. "Their ill-intentioned and despicable moves are meant to sow discords between China and the ASEAN countries and undermine the hard-won stability in the region." WASHINGTONMonday was the Memorial Day holiday in the U.S., when Americans remember their war dead. At Fort McHenry in Baltimore, the site of the War of 1812 battle that inspired the U.S. national anthem, President Donald Trump drew a direct comparison between the sacrifices of war and the ongoing toll of the coronavirus. We mourn alongside all of the families who have lost a loved one, Trump said, invoking the service of front-line workers in the war against the terrible virus. Mourning the present while memorializing the past was a theme in Washington, D.C., over the long weekend, where visitors to the monuments on the national mall were greeted by flags flying at half staff to honour those who have died in the pandemic. Many visitors wore masks and kept a respectful distance from each other as they quietly reflected near the memorials, laying down flowers and solemnly telling children about soldiers who never came home. Others observed the long weekend warmth joyously, throwing mortarboards in the air while taking graduation photos in front of the world war memorial fountain, racing up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, or wading along the edges of the reflecting pool nearby. Immediately to the north is the Vietnam War Memorial, the starkest and perhaps most sobering of the citys many monuments. A giant V of black granite set into the earth, emerging from the grass, the memorial consists of a simple long list of names. Men and women who died in the American conflict in Vietnam, listed in the order they were taken from us according to the inscription. Approaching from the west, as the posted social-distancing guidelines instruct, one first encounters John H. Anderson Jr. 75 metres and 58,320 names later, in the east, the list ends with Jessie C. Alba. Walking its length and gazing over the roll call of those lost recalls that the statistics that define a war are attached to actual people, their names reminders that they had lives and families, ambitions and dreams. Visitors leave mementos beneath the stones that underline the point: tiny bottles of Jim Beam, folded U.S. flags, a hand-addressed letter from Baby Sister in North Carolina. 50 long years now, reads one letter left in memory of Alan H. Gross, of missed pleasures and foregone pursuits, of lost adventures & unrealized dreams, of life not lived, and we are missing you still. The sense of loss is staggering. As is the realization, that any similar memorial which would one day be constructed to Americans who have died from this epidemic would likely be at least twice as large. The 58,320 people commemorated at the memorial died over two decades. In the past few months in the U.S., already nearly 100,000 have died of COVID-19. It is anyones guess how long the list will eventually become. Even as its losses were incorporated by the president and the press into the traditional memorials of the weekend, and even as much of the country appears eager to try to return to a more normal life, the coronavirus war Trump speaks of appears far from over. Its toll is measured in heavily publicized statistics that continue to climb. Together, we will vanquish the virus, and America will rise from this crisis to new and even greater heights, Trump said at Fort McHenry Monday. How and when that will happen remains, for now, unclear. The president invoked the spirit of generations of American soldiers and the determination of the American people, and the lesson he took from them. In America, he said, we are captains of our own fate. Read more about: With the stamp duty rivers of gold now turning into rivers of mud, state governments are looking for a more broadly-based tax system to keep their budgets afloat. One suggestion up for debate is the prospect of nixing stamp duty in favour of broader taxes that will continue to drive income for them, year after year. Whilst ongoing, secure funding is obviously essential to keep our state budgets healthy, I believe a broader tax policy can only be bad news for those who already own property and have already (quite literally) paid their dues. Ill explain why in a moment but first, why has talk of abolishing stamp duty started to gain traction in the midst of a pandemic? And what does it mean for you? Why is stamp duty in the news? According to the Reserve Bank Governor Phillip Lowe, in his view, the best way for the nation to recover from this once in a century crisis is for governments to underwrite a business-led recovery. Hes suggesting that the way forward is to embrace the Henry Tax Review and adopt long overdue tax reforms, with tax reform across three pillars: income generation, consumption and land. If I read between the lines this is actually a secret code for cutting business taxes, increasing the GST, and abandoning state-based property stamp duties in favour of land tax. Its the latter that Im going to discuss in this article because in the short term, an adapted tax policy that looks at removing stamp duty may seem like a good idea. In reality, it could distort markets, increase the financial burden on everyday Australians and it may even lead to an increase in property prices. Theres one reason and one reason only behind these suggested reforms: to increase the tax base. Broadening the tax base would take away the state and territory governments exposure to the cycles of the property market. You see, during the booming property years, state governments have benefitted from substantial stamp duty revenues. They love the rivers of gold that flow during the boom times, but during the downtimes, theres less certainty for their budgets, as stamp duty comprises their main income source. In fact, while stamp duty remains a large source of revenue for all state and territory governments, it accounts for a whopping 30 per cent of the self-raised taxes of NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Now, Im no fan of stamp duty as a long-term property investor and landlord, Ive paid my fair share of it over the years, and its never fun handing over a cheque worth tens of thousands of dollars to the State Revenue Office. But it boils down to this Stamp duty is a discretionary tax. If you dont buy property, you dont pay it. It may not be fun, but it is fair. Now, rather than a discretionary tax, every single person in Australia is going to end up paying a little extra for broader taxes that bite at everyones budget. Furthermore, if you take stamp duty away, youre going to take away a massive barrier to entry and increase demand for property. This could push property prices higher and create an artificial property bubble as demand soars. One such proposal from The Property Councils even goes as far as to call for an expensive New Home Boost, which would see buyers of brand new homes pocket a $50,000 sweetener, whilst also avoiding paying stamp duty. Their proposal asks for: Buyers of newly built homes to get a $50,000 grant from the federal government; Broad-based tax reforms that include the axing of state Stamp Duty taxes; Widening the GST in the medium term to include fresh food, health and education once you widen this, Im not sure how you could reel it back in again? The federal government has already pledged over $300 billion in an effort to pull Australia out of this pandemic-led economic crisis. Where the government could possibility find the funding to pay for $50,000 per new home is beyond me. All of which leads to the question How likely is it that this stamp duty reform is set to gain momentum? Well, federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg confirmed that tax reform is being considered in his ministerial statement on the economy. But so are a whole host of other economy-boosting measures, including increased infrastructure spending, skills programs and industrial relations reforms. In these uncertain times, nothing can be discounted entirely. In my view, its a very brave politician who would introduce such a seismic change to Australias taxation system right now. .......................................................... Michael Yardney is a director of Metropole Property Strategists, which creates wealth for its clients through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He is a best-selling author, one of Australia's leading experts in wealth creation through property and writes the Property Update blog and hosts the popular Michael Yardney Podcast. To read more articles by Michael Yardney, click here 1 of 2 Over 80 flights cancelled in Delhi without notice Many passengers who booked domestic flights to travel on Monday found that their tickets have been cancelled after reaching the airport. Most of them said they did not get any prior intimation about the cancellation from either airlines or government. The development comes after few states objected to the Centres plan to restart domestic airlines from May 25, following which last-minute changes were amended to the earlier rules on Sunday evening. Speaking to news agency ANI, a passenger who booked an Air India flight said her ticket was cancelled without any prior intimation. It may be noted that the Maharashtra government has only allowed 25 takeoffs and landings from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport from today as coronavirus cases continue to spike. Another Air India flight from Bengaluru to Hyderabad was also cancelled without prior notice, reported the news agency. Passengers who spoke to the publication said they found out about the cancellation only after their boarding passes were scanned in the airport. Read More... By Abhirup Roy, Devjyot Ghoshal and Aditya Kalra MUMBAI/NEW DELHI, May 25 (Reuters) - When Manit Parikh's mother tested positive for the new coronavirus, she was rushed by ambulance to Mumbai's private Lilavati Hospital, but officials told the family no critical-care beds were available. Five hours and dozens of phone calls later the family found a bed for her at the private Bombay Hospital. A day later, on May 18, Parikh's 92-year-old diabetic grandfather had breathing difficulties at home and was taken to the city's Breach Candy Hospital, another top private facility, but there were no beds. "My dad was pleading with them," Parikh told Reuters. "They said they didn't have a bed, not even a normal bed." Later that day, they found a bed at Bombay Hospital but his grandfather died hours later. His test results showed he was infected with the virus. Parikh said he believes the delays contributed to his grandfather's death. Officials at Lilavati and Bombay Hospital declined to speak with Reuters. Representatives of Breach Candy hospital did not respond to requests for comment. For years, India's booming private hospitals have taken some of the strain off the country's underfunded and dilapidated public health network, but the ordeal of Parikh's family suggests that as coronavirus cases explode in India, even private facilities are at risk of being overrun. India on Sunday reported 6,767 new coronavirus infections, the countrys biggest one-day increase. Government data shows the number of coronavirus cases in the worlds second-most populous country are doubling every 13 days or so, even as the government begins easing lockdown restrictions. India has reported more than 131,000 infections, including 3,867 deaths. "The increasing trend has not gone down," said Bhramar Mukherjee, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Michigan, referring to Indias cases. "We've not seen a flattening of the curve." Story continues Mukherjee's team estimates that between 630,000 and 2.1 million people in India - out of a population of 1.3 billion - will become infected by early July. More than a fifth of the countrys coronavirus cases are in Mumbai, India's financial hub and its most populous city, where the Parikhs struggled to find hospital beds for their infected family members. India's health ministry did not respond to a request for comment on how it will cope with the predicted rise in infections, given that most public hospitals are overcrowded at the best of times. The federal government has said in media briefings that not all patients need hospitalization and it is making rapid efforts to increase the number of hospital beds and procure health gear. The federal government's data from last year showed there were about 714,000 hospital beds in India, up from about 540,000 in 2009. However, given India's rising population, the number of beds per 1,000 people has grown only slightly in that time. India has 0.5 beds per 1,000 people, according to the latest data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), up from 0.4 beds in 2009, but among lowest of countries surveyed by the OECD. In contrast, China has 4.3 hospital beds per 1,000 people and the United States has 2.8, according to the latest OECD figures. While millions of India's poor rely on the public health system, especially in rural areas, private facilities account for 55% of hospital admissions, according to government data. The private health sector has been growing over the past two decades, especially in Indias big cities, where an expanding class of affluent Indians can afford private care. Mumbai's municipal authority said it had ordered public officials to take control of at least 100 private hospital beds in all 24 zones in the city of almost 20 million people to make more beds available for coronavirus patients. Still, there is a waiting list. An official at a helpline run by Mumbai's civic authorities told Reuters that patients would be notified about availability. SHORTAGE OF STAFF It is not just beds that are in short supply. On May 16, Mumbai's municipal authority said that it did not have enough staff to operate beds required for patients critically ill with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. As a result, resident doctors will receive less time off than what is prescribed by the federal government, the authority said. Some medical professionals told Reuters they already are overburdened and treating patients without adequate protective gear, exposing them to a higher risk of infection. Several hospitals in Mumbai, western Gujarat state, the northern city of Agra and Kolkata in the east have in recent weeks shut partially or fully for days because some medical staff were infected with the virus. The federal government has not reported any deaths of medical staff from the virus. "In our country, healthcare has never gotten priority," said Dr Adarsh Pratap Singh, head of the 2,500-strong resident doctors association at New Delhi's top public hospital, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. "The government is now realizing the reality, but it's already too late." The AIIMS group has in recent weeks protested about the lack of health gear and publicly rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for doctors to donate a part of their salaries to his coronavirus fund. Some health experts say India's struggle to treat virus patients is the result of chronic underinvestment in healthcare. The Indian government estimates it spends only about 1.5% of its GDP on public health. That figure is higher than it was - about 1% in the 1980s and 1.3% five years ago - but India still ranks among the world's lowest spenders in terms of percentage of GDP. This year, Modi's federal government raised its health budget by 6%, but that is still short of the government's own goal of increasing public health spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, according to New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation. 'TOO MANY PATIENTS' Keshav Desiraju, a former Indian health secretary, said more investment in the health system before the virus outbreak might have made the health system more resilient. "At the times of a crisis, all the holes show up," he told Reuters. Dr. Chaitanya Patil, a senior resident doctor at King Edward Memorial government hospital, one of Mumbai's largest, said the facility had a shortage of medical staff and the 12 coronavirus wards catering to about 500 patients were almost full. "There are just too many patients coming in," said Patil, "It is lack of preparedness or a lack of insight of the people planning." Last week Rajesh Tope, health minister of the state of Maharashtra, which contains Mumbai, said the lack of hospital beds for critically ill patients will not last long. "In the next two months, more than 17,000 vacant posts of doctors, nurses, technicians and other health workers will be filled," he said in a public address. India's United Nurses Association, which represents 380,000 medics, took a list of 12 issues they said they are facing - including lack of protective gear and accommodation - to the Supreme Court in April. The court told them they can lodge complaints on a government helpline. Some nurses are leaving the big cities. Earlier this month, about 300 nurses working at hospitals in Kolkata city left for their hometowns 1,500 km (930 miles) away in India's remote northeastern state of Manipur. A group representing them said they had left because of irregular salaries and inadequate safety gear, among other issues. "We love our profession," said 24-year-old Shyamkumar, who quit his nursing job in one of Kolkata's hospitals and is planning to head back to Manipur. "But when we are going to work, please give us proper equipment." (Reporting by Abhirup Roy in Mumbai and Devjyot Ghoshal and Aditya Kalra in New Delhi Additional reporting by Rajendra Jadhav and Shilpa Jamkhandiker in Mumbai, Sumit Khanna in Gujarat, Subrata Nagchoudhury in Kolkata, Zarir Hussain in Guwahati Editing by Euan Rocha and Bill Rigby) Pune, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cardiac biomarkers market size is expected to reach USD 26.33 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period. The growing incidence of critical cardiac conditions, including myocardial infarction, heart attack, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) will subsequently inflate demand for cardiac biomarkers in the forthcoming years, mentioned in a report, titled Cardiac Biomarkers Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Indication (Myocardial Infarction, Congestive Heart Failure, Acute Coronary Syndrome, and Others), By Biomarker (Troponin, Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), Myoglobin, and Others), By End User (Hospitals, and Specialty Clinics), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 the market size stood at USD 13.15 billion in 2019. The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases will spur opportunities for the market during the forecast period. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/cardiac-biomarkers-market-101233 Market Driver: Cardiovascular Interventions to Promote Biomarkers Adoption The increasing R&D investments by key players for the introduction of robust and novel cardiac biomarkers to benefit patients in diagnosis, prognosis and predictive analysis of cardiovascular disorders will enable speedy expansion of the market. The innovation in clinical cardiology and cardiovascular interventions can be an essential factor in fostering the growth of the market. Moreover, the increasing product launches by key players will augur well for the market in the forthcoming years. For instance, In July 2018, Siemens announced that it has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for high-sensitivity troponin I assays (TnIH). The test will be beneficial in the early diagnosis of myocardial infarctions without the need for serial tropic testing. Similarly, in September 2019, Abbott unveiled ARCHITECT STAT High Sensitivity Troponin-I blood test after receiving the approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The test will help in detecting heart attacks in real-time, and more accurately than contemporary troponin tests. An Overview of the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market: The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic. We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future. To get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/cardiac-biomarkers-market-101233 Market Restraint: Shortage of POC Testing Kits to Restrict Revenue Proliferation The unavailability of POC testing kits and delayed test results of the laboratory-based tests will consequently restrict the growth of the market. The longer time period required to obtain results from lab-based biomarker tests will dwindle the acceptance of biomarkers in the forthcoming years. For instance, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), a form of enzyme found in heart muscle cells can only be detected in a patient with a heart attack in about 3-6 hours after the onset of chest pain. Thus, the great deal of time required for evaluation or diagnosis of heart disease will restrict the market growth. In addition, the lack of awareness regarding cardiac biomarkers tests among patient population, and limited reimbursement for tests in the developing countries will obstruct the market. Regional Analysis: Increasing Prevalence of Cardiovascular Diseases to Propel Market in North America The market in North America stood at USD 5.23 billion in 2019. North America is expected to the largest market share during the forecast period owing to the rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. For instance, as per the American College of Cardiology Foundation around about 1.05 million patients were suffering from coronary disorders in the United States in 2019. Europe is predicted to witness a high growth rate between 2020 to 2027 due to rising cases of acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction. Asia Pacific is likely to grow rapidly during the forecast period owing to the large patient population in the region. Moreover, the introduction of technologically advanced cardiac biomarkers will boost cardiac biomarkers market growth in Asia Pacific. Quick Buy - Cardiac Biomarkers Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/101233 Key Development: May 2016: Philips, a Dutch multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Amsterdam launched Minicare I-20 system for cardiac troponin testing. The handheld blood test for rapid diagnosis of heart attack. List of the Prominent Companies in the Cardiac Biomarkers Market are: F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG Abbott Siemens AG Creative Diagnostics Beckman Coulter, Inc. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. bioMerieux SA Others Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/cardiac-biomarkers-market-101233 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disorders, By Key Regions/ Key Countries, 2019 Overview of Impact of COVID-19 on the In-vitro Diagnostics Market New Product Launches, By Key Market Players Key Industry Developments such as Mergers and Acquisitions Key Steps Taken by Companies, Government, etc. to Navigate the Impact of Covid-19 Overview: Impact of Covid-19 on Cardiac Tests Global Cardiac Biomarkers Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Indication Myocardial Infarction Congestive Heart Failure Acute Coronary Syndrome Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Biomarkers Troponin Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) Myoglobin Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By End User Hospitals Speciality Clinics Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa TOC Continued.!!! Request for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/cardiac-biomarkers-market-101233 Have a Look at Related Reports: Biomarkers Market Size , Share & Industry Analysis, By Indication (Oncology, Cardiology, Neurology, and Others), By End User (Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, Diagnostics & Research Laboratories, Hospitals & Specialty Clinics, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Cardiac Pacemaker Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Product (Single Chamber Pacemakers, Dual Chamber Pacemakers, Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy-Pacemakers (CRT-P)), By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Others), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026 Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Devices Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis Product By (Cardiac Pacemakers, Defibrillators, Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices) By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centers), and Regional Forecast, 2019 - 2026 Coronary Guidewires Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Material (Nitinol, Stainless Steel, and Others) By Coating (Coated and Non-Coated) By End User (Hospitals, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. 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Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Fortune Business Insights LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs With the government trying all options for education from online, to television classes through community radio, online education has not got the desired response due to poor internet connectivity in the remote areas of the hilly districts in the state. Many times students had to trek for a few kilometres in certain areas to get a proper signal so that they could attend classes or submit their assignments online. In the Bangaan region of Uttarkashi district, students have to trek around 10 to 12 km from their homes to a hilltop in Kotadhar area where they get mobile connectivity from the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh to join the online classes. Earlier this month, the locals from the region wrote to the prime minister demanding proper network connectivity in the age of Digital India. Anish, a ten-year-old student from Silla village in the district shared a video talking about his problems with the district administration where he said that due to the lack of mobile network in the village, he has to walk into the forests where he can get a signal for online classes. Our village is one of the places where basic communication facilities are missing and villagers have to walk towards the forests at the time where they get signal on their phones. Sometimes it rains when we are outside and we are not able to study. Students are the ones who are suffering the most who have to travel 3-4 km at times during the lockdown to attend online classes, said Anish. The situation is similar in the bordering district of Pithoragarh where online classes failed to pick up as most areas do not have network connectivity or the guardians are not able to purchase smarts phones due to lack of money with them. AK Jukariya, chief education officer of Pithoragarh said, We started online classes for all 214 secondary and higher secondary schools in the district but only half of the schools could pick up it due to lack of network connectivity. Along with poor network connectivity is the added cost of procuring smartphones so that children can have access to online education. Govind Singh Bhandari, president of Rajkiya Shikshak Sangh in Pithoragarh said, Many parents who were told that online classes will be starting failed to purchase smartphones due to lack of money. Most parents who send their children to government schools cannot afford smartphones. Kishan Ram, a daily wage labourer from Tipalkot village in the district said, Since the imposition of lockdown I have not gotten steady work or income. I have requested my neighbour to let my three daughters use his smartphone so that they can continue studying, but it mostly depends on his will and availability of network in our village. Villagers from Betalghat area, a remote area in Nainital district said that mobile network is not balanced across the village and they get signal only in the upper reaches. Deepak Budhani, a resident of Unchakot village in Betalghat said that his house is in the lower part of the village while good signal can be reached only in the upper reaches of the village, so children are forced to trek till a particular point to study. Since the starting of the lockdown, with the aims that each and every child in the Himalayan state is connected to education and regular classes, Uttarakhand education department started classes through community radio, internet, Whatsapp and classes via Doordarshan on television. Mukul Sati, additional state project director for Samagra Sikhsha Abhiyan had said that community radio was chosen for primary classes as internet connectivity is not strong in the remote areas of the state and online education is not always possible. In April, the state education department started live classes for Maths, Chemistry, Biology through Doordarshan for classes 9 to 12. The state education department had also started animated lessons for students through a mobile application named Sampark Didi, to keep the students engaged in studies in an interesting manner during the lockdown. (with inputs from Vipin Negi in Uttarkashi, BD Kasniyal in Pithoragarh and Ankur Sharma in Haldwani) ALBANY Fear of spreading the coronavirus prompted many organizations to cancel Memorial Day services on Monday. But the Albany Academy's Cadet Corps practiced safe social distancing as they held a parade on the school to honor members of the military who died in service to the country and to mourn those killed in the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ghana Chapter of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the Africa Union (ECOSSOC) has cautioned political parties in the country not to engage in any activities that could threaten the peace the country and stability that the country has enjoyed as it prepares to go for elections in December. Ghana has done lots in the past to ensure peace and security is sustained. Having conducted seven elections since the commencement of the 4th Republic, the country has come of age to resolve every political disagreement without having to compromise the peace, security and harmony that has kept the country together. The recent debate on whether the country needs a new voters register can be resolved through sustained dialogue and consensus-building and should these avenues fail, the matter could be brought to the Supreme Court to determine its merit or otherwise, said Stephen Caleb Opuni, the Ghana Representative to the 3rd General Assembly of the AU ECOSSOC. Mr. Opuni was speaking in Accra as of activities marking Africa Union Day Celebrations in Ghana which falls on Monday 25th May. The theme for the celebration is: Silencing of the Gun: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development Mr. Opuni said peace and security continue to be major challenge for most African countries. Until nations across the continent are able to address issues that affect the peace and security, Africa cannot be seen to be a competitive place for foreign direct investment (FDI) and doing business. As a continent endowed with almost natural resources and a population full of young and energetic people, the continent has the potential to create employment and enhance the livelihood of the people. It is much of a worry that resources that could have been invested in education, science, technology and infrastructure are being used to deploy peace-keeping forces in some parts of the continent. Take for instance, the AU Military Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) cost the AU an annual cost of a billion-dollar. Imagine what $1 billion can do for the economy of Somalia, he lamented. On his part, Mr Appiah Adomako, the Ghana Representative to the 3rd General Assembly of the AU ECOSSOC urged civil societies across the continent to take interest in the Africa integration process by ensuring that African leaders show full commitment to treaties and protocols. Mr Appiah Adomako said the majority of the people feel removed and disconnected from the Continent when it comes to consumption since nations do not trade among themselves. Nations cannot trade freely under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) if guns are not silenced. Without peace and security, land borders will not be opened to allow for goods and people to move free across the country In his closing remarks, the chair of the meeting Mr. Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo said African countries should not allow the coronavirus pandemic roll back progress made so far in ensuring one single market for Africa. Mr Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo, who is also the Greater Accra Regional Chair of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and former member of the ECOSSOC General Assembly added that with the signing of the AfCFTA and its ratification, African countries must take advantage of the collective GDP of US$ 2.5 trillion, making it the 8th largest economy in the world 1.2 billion market and to lift people out of poverty. This should encourage business people to take advantage of AfCFTA and make the investments necessary to sustain economic growth and create employment The Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) was established in July 2004 as an advisory organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States. The purpose of ECOSOCC is to provide an opportunity for African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to play an active role in contributing to the AUs principles, policies and programmes. ECOSOCCs functions include: Contributing, through advice, to the effective translation of the AUs objectives, principles and policies into concrete programmes, as well as evaluating those programmes, undertaking studies and making recommendations as well as fostering and consolidating partnerships between the AU and CSOs. Eight more people have died of COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh, taking their number to 169 as 229 fresh coronavirus cases surfaced in the state on Monday, an official of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) said. With this, the total number of confirmed cases in the state has reached 6,497, Vikasendu Agrawal, State Surveillance Officer, IDSP, said in a statement. "Of the eight deaths, two were reported from Meerut and one each from Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Pratapgarh, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and Etawah," Agrawal said. Among the fresh cases, 19 were reported from Rampur, 16 each from Basti and Ballia, 13 each from Varanasi and Gorakhpur, and 10 cases were reported from Firozabad, he said. So far, 3,660 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals in the state, while the count of active cases stands at 2,668, the statement said. Of the 169 deaths reported in Uttar Pradesh, Agra leads the tally with 33 fatalities, followed by 22 in Meerut, 12 in Aligarh, 11 each in Kanpur Nagar and Moradabad, and eight in Firozabad, it added. Addressing a press briefing earlier in the day, Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said pool testing of 936 samples was undertaken. "With migrants returning to the state, the positive outcome in the pool testing has increased. Overall positive outcome has also gone up. Hence, we are insisting that the migrant labourers who have come should undertake 21-day home quarantine. This will help in curbing the spread of the infection in the society," Prasad told reporters. The principal secretary also said air travellers arriving in the state would have to stay under home-quarantine for 14 days. "On the sixth day from their arrival, one can get themselves tested, and if they are negative for COVID-19, their home-quarantine will be ended," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Vietnam's overall fruit and vegetable imports fell 42 percent to 376.9 million USD, but imports from several countries such as New Zealand, the US and Korea increased. In the same period last year the US had accounted for only 10 percent of imports. Pham Thien Hoang, owner of GreenSpace Store, a fruit importer, said fruits from the US are very popular among Vietnamese consumers. Apples, grapes and cherries are among the biggest imports from that country. Vietnam is also a substantial exporter of vegetables and fruits, and in the first four months earned 1.2 billion USD these products, a 12.5 percent drop. Netanyahu to pursue Israeli sovereignty in West Bank Says action will be 'thought out' (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, MAY 25 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a speech to his Likud party on Monday, outlined the political action his government intends to take in the coming months and spoke about annexation of parts of the West Bank. "I won't pass up the opportunity to extend Israeli sovereignty to homelands in Judea and Samaria," Netanyahu said. "It is a historic occasion, one that hasn't been seen since 1948," he said. "We will extend sovereignty in a thought-out manner," he said. Other issues included the coronavirus, the economy, the fight against Iran, and the conflict with the International Criminal Court in The Hague.(ANSAmed). WASHINGTON - District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said Monday that the city is "back on track" to move toward a gradual reopening after seeing a slight spike in new cases over the weekend. Meanwhile, Virginia reported a record number of new cases - mostly in the Washington suburbs - but the area's leaders said they are planning for a transition to Phase 1 of reopening starting at the end of the week. Bowser said she would wait until Wednesday to decide whether to move Friday to Phase 1 of the city's reopening. She said she wants to see 14 days of declining community spread - calculated by the date of symptom onset and excluding cases at confined facilities such as nursing homes - before she makes a decision. The city "reset" to Day 11 of declines after an increase over the weekend. Bowser said officials again saw a decline in cases Monday that put D.C. at Day 12 on the downward trend. "We lost some progress over the weekend," Bowser told NBC4 Washington on Monday. "We're continuing to ask people to stay at home, to wash their hands, to avoid large gatherings - try not to go to go to parties or barbecues and continue to social distance. What we know is that this virus is still circulating in our region." The D.C. Health Department reported Monday that there were 115 new positive cases, bringing the total to 8,225. D.C. also reported eight covid-19-related deaths, all among residents in their 60s, 70s and 80s. Bowser said the city remains on track to have the contact tracers and testing needed to meet its goals in those categories. She had planned to make an announcement Tuesday on the timing of the reopening and what it would include. Virginia reported a record 1,483 new cases Monday - which topped the previous high of 1,229 new cases on May 21. The bulk of the new cases were in northern Virginia, with Fairfax County reporting 493, Prince William County reporting 234, and Loudoun County reporting 226 new cases. Still, northern Virginia leaders sent a letter to Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, on Monday asking that the region be included when the rest of the state moves to Phase 2 of its reopening, provided that data supports it. The letter also says the jurisdictions "have been making preparations to support a transition into Phase 1 at midnight on May 28th." Northern Virginia was not included in the state's gradual reopening that began May 15, with restaurants licensed for outdoor seating allowed to resume operations with limited capacity. Barber shops and beauty salons were also allowed to reopen with some restrictions. The city of Richmond and Accomack County on the Eastern Shore, which has had an outbreak related to poultry processing plants, also were not included. Officials said then that the region, along with D.C. and its Maryland suburbs, had not met critical benchmarks. However, Monday's letter to Northam included an assessment from the health directors in the city of Alexandria and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties saying that four of six criteria had been met, including 14 days of declines in the percentage of positive tests and hospitalizations, increased testing and hospital bed capacity. The health officials said goals for contact tracing and personal protective equipment have not been met. Virginia reported 37 new deaths Monday, bringing its total to 1,208. The state has 37,727 reported cases of the virus. In explaining the spike in cases Monday, the state health department said in a statement that it performed maintenance on its reporting system Sunday, so data reported during that time was added to Monday's total. Alena Yarmosky, a spokeswoman for Northam, noted that there have been high levels of testing in the past two days, with more than 10,000 tests reported Sunday and more than 14,000 tests reported Monday. Maryland reported 839 new cases Monday, bringing its total to 47,152. Hospitalizations continued to decline in Maryland, with the state reporting that 1,279 people are hospitalized - a drop of more than 25% since April 30. The state reported 25 new deaths Monday. Maryland had a total of 2,302 deaths reported as of Monday - 562 of which were in Montgomery County and 497 in Prince George's County. The holiday weekend was not without its hiccups - including Northam being criticized on social media for not wearing a mask when he mingled with visitors in Virginia Beach and images of a crowded Ocean City boardwalk. Many visitors appeared not to be wearing masks, and little social distancing was apparent. But there was also kindness and patience among beachgoers this weekend, said Jackie Inman Burns, who owns a bookstore in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Burns, who opened Bethany Beach Books for appointments Thursday, said customers all brought their masks or were willing to wear ones that the store provided. They paid attention to markers intended to help them keep six feet from one another and were considerate of staff members and of one another, she said. "Seeing humans being nice to each other - that's the good thing that has come out of this," Burns said. Retail and restaurants in Delaware will be able to reopen June 1, at 30% capacity, according to Gov. John Carney's reopening plan. Carney, a Democrat, said he would be closely watching to see how this weekend went at the Delaware beaches as he looks ahead to the rest of the summer. Alex Heidenberger, who owns Mango's and Heidaway, two restaurants just off the boardwalk, said that over four days, he did the amount of business that he would do in one during a typical Memorial Day weekend. But he said customers and business owners alike generally did a good job of trying to adhere to the rules, including wearing masks and keeping their distance. "Everyone is really committed to getting to the next step," he said. In D.C., Bowser said officials are closely watching the rate of people who test positive for coronavirus in the city and its suburbs, which Deborah Birx, the lead coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said Friday was one of the highest in the country. Bowser said that additional testing sites will open this week and that testing for asymptomatic residents will be expanded. On Monday, the Alexandria, Virginia, Health Department set up two all-day testing sites. Natalie Talis, a health department official, said the city's goal was to test 3,000 people in one day; by 11:30 a.m., about 600 people had been tested. By 5:30 p.m., officials said they had tested nearly 3,000 people and were on track to hit their goal. Talis said that the line for walk-up tests at both Landmark Mall and Cora Kelly School was short, but that the line for drive-through tests at the mall was sometimes long enough that health department staff members running the event gave drivers timed-entrance slips to come back later in the day. The school site is for walk-up testing only. "We want to make sure we're reaching the most vulnerable populations," Talis said. "We're trying to pull out all the stops. If people need testing, it's here, today. . . . You don't need appointments. Some people might feel more comfortable in a situation like this." Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 20:29:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait on Monday reported 665 new cases of COVID-19 and nine more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 21,967 and the death toll to 165, the health ministry said in a statement. Currently, 15,181 patients are receiving treatment, including 182 in ICU, according to the statement. The ministry also announced the recovery of 504 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 6,621. The Kuwaiti government has imposed a full curfew in the country to curb the rapid rise of coronavirus cases. Kuwait and China have been supporting each other and cooperating closely in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Kuwait donated medical supplies worth 3 million U.S. dollars to China at the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, while China has been facilitating the procurement of medical supplies by Kuwait. On April 27, a team of Chinese medical experts visited Kuwait to assist the Arab country's anti-coronavirus fight, through sharing with Kuwaiti counterparts their experience and expertise in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Enditem Diego struck a rare balance of tenderness and toughness. He was just as comfortable clearing the house with his pistol after the burglar alarm went off as he was with suggesting a couples counseling session to make sure we stayed strong. He taught his daughter to play with Legos, fill in coloring books and practice her multiplication tables. When he wasnt taking her to school in the mornings, he practiced his Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills, or sipped coffee with me on our porch. He once ripped a dead pine tree out of the ground in our yard with his bare hands. He laughed at my bad jokes. And he put my needs above his own, except when there was a pint of ice cream in the house and he was hungry. He had a magnetism about him that drew people in, though I teased him that it was just his perfectly coifed, thick, longish hair the kind that members of the Special Operations community pine for after years of high and tights. Diegos daughter shares his facial expressions; a skeptical look with a raised eyebrow has his mark all over it. We took her to Disney World and visited all four parks. We made sure to go back again for her favorite rides, the Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster. Diego encouraged me to swim with her. I wish I had, instead of worrying about getting my hair wet and having to reapply sunscreen again. On that trip, Diego gave me one half of a two-piece princess souvenir pin that together formed a heart. I kept the two pieces of the broken heart on my bathroom counter until two weeks ago, when I mailed my final letter to Diego in hopes it can be buried with him in his coffin. Enclosed was one half of the heart, the Belle piece. I will hold on to Beast forever. While Diego was in Iraq, we talked about all the things we would do when he returned this summer. He was excited to travel with me and his daughter to Italy, to celebrate his homecoming and our birthdays. Im going to turn 30 in August, and Diego would have turned 35 in July. In our few years together, we vacationed in Croatia, attended family weddings and holidays, and explored countless campgrounds throughout North Carolina. One trip we never got around to taking was to visit Arlington National Cemetery. Diego frequently went on his own to pay his respects and encouraged me to visit whenever I was in the area. I brushed it off as too sentimental, but to be honest it scared me. I was thankful I had never lost any of my own Marines in my career, but Arlington reminded me that it was always a possibility. Now, my first trip to Arlington will be to bury Diego. Before his final mission, Diego called me from his team site to tell me he loved me, just in case anything happened. We had been arguing more frequently, and he wanted to remind me that despite the friction he still loved me. I told him the same and teased that if anything happened, I would find a way to bring him back to earth because I wasnt finished with him yet. The virus has upended so much, but it has given me a gift: the chance to live a little longer in a world with Diego in it. His shirts are where theyve always been in the closet. His socks and underwear are still in his drawers. His toothbrush and comb still sit on his side of the bathroom counter. I use his favorite coffee mugs each morning, and seeing his red truck in the driveway makes me feel like hes just gotten home from work. Eventually, the world will start pressing forward again and so will I. But for now, I can take comfort in this pause. Kelsey Baker spent six years in the Marine Corps and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. She enjoys watching cardinals and other visitors at her bird feeder every day. Sign up for our newsletter to get more At War stories delivered to your inbox every week. BEIJING (AP) A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple territorial disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons. The waters are a major shipping route for global commerce and are rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves. ___ CHINA DISMISSES CLAIMS OF EXPLOITING VIRUS CONCERNS Chinas foreign minister is dismissing claims that the country is exploiting the coronavirus outbreak to expand its footprint in the South China Sea, labeling such accusations as sheer nonsense. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters at a news conference on Sunday that China was cooperating closely on anti-virus efforts with Southeast Asian countries, several of whom have overlapping territorial claims with China in the strategically vital waterway. While China has long been stepping up its presence in the region, Wang said other countries, implying the United States and its allies, have been creating instability with military flights and sea patrols. Their ill-intentioned and despicable moves are meant to sow discord between China and (Southeast Asian countries) and undermine the hard-won stability in the region, Wang said. ___ CHINA RAISES DEFENSE BUDGET DESPITE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN China says it will increase its defense spending by 6.6% in 2020, despite a major downturn in the countrys economic growth due to the coronavirus outbreak. The increase is the lowest in years, but will still allow China to expand its ability to enforce its territorial claims in the South China Sea and grow its military presence in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Another key priority is maintaining a credible threat against Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy China considers its own territory to be brought under its control by military force if necessary. Double-digit percentage increases of just a few years ago that have given China the second biggest defense budget in the world behind the U.S. Spending this year will total 1.3 trillion yuan ($180 billion), according to the website of the National Peoples Congress, the ceremonial parliament that opened its annual session Friday. Story continues ___ SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES CUTTING DEFENSE SPENDING A study says Southeast Asian countries are cutting defense spending as a result of the economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus outbreak, potentially opening up room for China to further assert its claims in the region. Aristyo Rizka Darmawan, a maritime security expert at the University of Indonesia, writes that slashing defense spending is seen as a relatively easy way to cut costs when countries are facing pressure on their budgets. Indonesia, for example, has announced it will slash its defense budget this year by nearly US$588 million. Thailand has likewise reduced its defense allocation by $555 million. Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines all face similar pressure, Darmawan wrote in the online journal of the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank. Less defense spending will invariably mean less patrols at sea. China has maintained its presence in the South China Sea throughout the virus outbreak. Recent frictions include Chinese ships shadowing Malaysian mineral exploration operations and the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinese maritime security vessel. BERLIN - A spat was brewing Monday between Germanys federal government and state governors over plans by some regional leaders to end pandemic-related restrictions despite fresh clusters of cases across the country. The country has seen a steady decline in the overall number of COVID-19 cases thanks to measures imposed 10 weeks ago to limit personal contacts. But as restrictions have slowly been lifted there have also been case spikes across Germany linked to slaughterhouses, restaurants, religious services, nursing homes and refugee shelters. Current general coronavirus rules are due to expire on June 5, and on the weekend, the governor of the state of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, said he hopes to lift the remaining statewide lockdown rules on June 6 and tackle outbreaks locally. In Germany, state governments are responsible for imposing and lifting lockdown restrictions. All 16 states currently have coronavirus rules, including physical distancing requirements and an obligation to wear masks on public transport and shops, and Thuringias new approach would raise pressure on other states to ease their lockdowns further. Chancellor Angela Merkels spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told reporters a planned meeting of Merkels special Corona Cabinet had been called off Monday because there wasnt agreement on the issues yet. He denied reports the cancellation was linked to the Thuringia proposal. Seibert said Merkel wants to continue bravely, and carefully with easing restrictions, noting outbreaks after a Baptist service in Frankfurt and at a restaurant in the countrys northwest as examples of what can happen if rules arent followed. Following Ramelows announcement, the neighbouring state of Saxony said Monday that it, too, is aiming for a paradigm change on pandemic rules from June 6 if infections remain low. Federal and state officials agreed earlier this month that restrictions would be re-imposed if there are more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in a city or county within a week. As it stands, Germanys public health agency, the Robert Koch Institute, said Monday that several states reported no new cases overnight, and that the overall total grew by only 289. The seven-day reproduction factor, defined as the mean number of people infected by an infected person, remained under 1 at 0.93, indicating a contraction of new cases. Health Minister Jens Spahn cautioned, however, against giving the impression that the pandemic is over. Spahn told tabloid paper Bild that on the one hand we are seeing whole regions where there are no new reported infections for days. And on the other hand local and regional outbreaks in which the virus is spreading quickly again and immediate intervention is required. Germany has reported more than 180,000 cases of the coronavirus and nearly 8,300 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 21:04:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's Jubaland forces on Monday killed four al-Shabab extremists in a fierce fight in Dhobley, a town in southern Somalia, a police officer confirmed. Mohamed Abdullahi, deputy commander of police forces in Dhobley, said that al-Shabab fighters launched an attack on a base used by Jubaland forces in Dhobley, but they were repulsed. "Al-Shabab extremists attacked a training base for Jubaland forces, prompting an intense confrontation between the army and the attackers," Abdullahi said. "We killed four militants during the clashes. Our forces are now controlling the base and the militants have fled to the outside of the town," he added. The attack came barely three days after Somali forces killed five al-Shabab militants in Burdhubo, a town in the country's southern region of Gedo. Government forces have stepped up operations against al-Shabab extremists in southern regions, but militants still hold swathes of rural areas in those regions, conducting ambushes and planting land mines. Enditem Being a sole trader in this climate of minimised work could lead, for some, to bankruptcy. Being forearmed with knowledge of the process could mitigate some emotional pain. In this interview, we also discuss what is meant by 'Force Majeure' in Luxembourg - can you question some of your contracts? In our previous interview with lawyers Louise Benjamin and Graham Wilson we discussed bankruptcy of a company. The process for a sole trader is similar, but loaded with the added burden of individual assets being potentially tied up; and this gets even more complicated if one is married or in a partnership. Some of us will be more accustomed to English 'Common Law' compared to the Napoleonic Code. For awareness of personal assets, the Napoleonic law mindset seems to work best. Trying to keep personal and trading assets as separate as possible is key. At what point do I contemplate bankruptcy? Effectively, perhaps obviously, there are two questions: Can you meet your debts as and when they fall due? Can you still raise credit? Should I set up as a Sole Trader or as a Company? Notably, this situation is more blurred currently as the government alters what help is available to people via aid or loans (to be paid back - will this be possible?). It's not easy being a sole trader in Luxembourg. So much so, that the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce noted, in December 2019, the cost of working and of tax must be at the centre of the next economic political discussions. And through this conversation we question whether, at the onset of creating a business, one should set up as a company or as a sole trader in the first place. The answer is not clear. Will COVID-19 be considered as Force Majeure? In the UK, one needs to write 'force majeure' in a contract, otherwise it does not apply. Here in Luxembourg, it is not necessary to write it, and so, maybe you could get out of a contract if Covid-19 is considered as force majeure. Graham provides interesting examples in French law, as there are not so many examples in Luxembourg law. Ebola was considered as force majeure; the mosquito-spread disease of chikungunya is not considered as force majeure. Finding Support For personal 'overindebtedness' (an individual cannot go 'bankrupt' in Luxembourg), which we will cover next time, one can seek emotional and practical support from SICS (Service dInformation et de Conseil en matiere de Surendettement). A sole trader / commercant cannot go there initially, but can do so once his/her sole trader bankruptcy is closed or 6 months after the end of his/her sole trader business. Caveat - this is not legal advice. Graham Wilson, Wilson Associates Graham was born in England and has lived in Luxembourg for more than 25 years, taking Luxembourg nationality. Graham is a barrister in English & Welsh law, and a Luxembourg Avocat a la Cour. He has a penchant for old cars, cats and trees. Louise Benjamin, Benjamin Law Firm Louise is a Luxembourg Avocat and a solicitor in English & Welsh law. She is also Vice-President of the British Luxembourg Society, and is actively working to raise 10,000 for the business school for the slums LP4Y. Louise Benjamin was raised in Guernsey, Channel Islands, and has lived in Luxembourg for 18 years, during which time she married a Luxembourger. They have three young sons. The German government and Lufthansa, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, have reached a preliminary deal on a 9 billion euro ($9.8 billion) bailout. The airline has been in talks with Berlin for weeks over aid to help it to cope with what is expected to be a protracted travel slump, but the carrier has been wrangling over how much control to yield in return for support. The German Finance and Economy Ministries on Monday said Lufthansa was an operationally healthy company before the coronavirus outbreak, was profitable and had good prospects for the future but had got into trouble because of the pandemic. Rivals such as Franco-Dutch group Air France-KLM and U.S. carriers American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have also sought state aid. Shares in the company were up 5.5% at 8.48 euros by 1507 GMT. Lufthansa said that conditions of the deal include the waiver of future dividend payments and limits on management pay. The government will also fill two seats on the supervisory board, one of which is to become a member of the audit committee. The plan includes Germany taking a 20% stake in Lufthansa, which it plans to sell by the end of 2023. Germany will buy the new shares at the nominal value of 2.56 euros apiece for a total of about 300 million euros. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said the rescue package was a "very, very good solution" that takes into account the needs of both the company and taxpayers. "The support that we're preparing here is for a limited period," he said. "When the company is fit again, the state will sell its stake and hopefully ... with a small profit that puts us into a position to finance the many, many requirements which we have to meet now, not only at this company." The government will also inject 5.7 billion euros in non-voting capital, dubbed silent participation, into the company. Part of this could be converted into an additional 5% equity stake, either if coupon payments are missed or to protect the company against a takeover. The silent participation will carry a coupon of 4% in 2020 and 2021, increasing to 9.5% by 2027 to encourage fast repayment. Separately, Lufthansa will receive a 3 billion euro loan from state-backed bank KfW and private banks with a term of three years. The bailout deal is still pending approval by shareholders as well as the European Commission. The company and the competition watchdog are still discussing which slots at which airports Lufthansa will have to waive as a remedy to ensure the bailout does not hamper competition, a person close to the matter said. "Scrutiny is extremely thorough as it is the first large equity-based bailout in the pandemic," the source said. According to business daily Handelsblatt, German chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany would fight for remedies not being too stringent. He moved into state politics in 2009, winning the Hervey Bay seat from then-Labor minister Andrew McNamara. The MP started his public service as a councillor in 1994 before becoming Hervey Bay mayor in 2000. The LNP will open nominations for the seat this week after Mr Sorensen announced his retirement on Monday. Long-serving Hervey Bay MP Ted Sorensen will stand down from politics at the October state election. "It has been an honour and privilege to serve the people of Hervey Bay for nearly 27 years, Mr Sorensen said. "I have had a fulfilling life serving the public and my wife Jenny and I have many great memories to take with us, while we relax a little. "Sincere thanks to all the people of Hervey Bay who have supported me over the many years - your continued endorsement was uplifting and humbling." Mr Sorensen also thanked his wife Jenny, "who has made all these things possible", as well as his staff. He listed some of his career highlights as "building a better Hervey Bay Airport terminal and extending the runway to take flights from Sydney, establishing a new cancer and dental clinic and also a renal unit so people did not have to travel to Gympie or Nambour for health services". Taiwans laws already provide help to Hong Kong citizens whose safety and liberty are threatened for political reasons. Taiwan will provide the people of Hong Kong with necessary assistance, President Tsai Ing-wen said, after a resurgence in protests in the Chinese ruled territory against newly proposed national security legislation from Beijing. Writing on her Facebook page late on Sunday, Tsai said the proposed legislation was a serious threat to Hong Kongs freedoms and judicial independence a statement that is likely to rile up China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory. Taiwan has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong, which has been roiled by protests since last year. Hong Kong police on Sunday fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of people who rallied on to protest against Beijings plan to impose national security laws on the territory. Bullets and repression are not the way to deal with the aspirations of Hong Kongs people for freedom and democracy, Taiwans president said. In face of the changing situation, the international community has proactively stretched out a helping hand to Hong Kongs people, Tsai wrote. Taiwan will even more proactively perfect and forge ahead with relevant support work, and provide Hong Kongs people with necessary assistance, she wrote. Taiwan has no law on refugees that could be applied to Hong Kong protesters, who seek asylum on the island. Its laws do promise, however, to help Hong Kong citizens whose safety and liberty are threatened for political reasons. Anger in Beijing The Hong Kong protests have won widespread sympathy in Taiwan, and the support for the protesters by Tsai and her administration has worsened already poor ties between Taipei and Beijing. China, which claims Taiwan as its own, has accused supporters of Taiwans independence of colluding with the protesters. China believes Tsai to be a separatist bent on declaring the islands formal independence. Tsai says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name. Tsais latest statement on Hong Kong could also further complicate its delicate relationship with Beijing, as she begins her second term in office. In her inauguration speech last week, Tsai pledged to seek stability in relations with China, saying that peace, parity, democracy, and dialogue should form the basis for contacts between the sides as a means to prevent intensifying antagonisms and differences. But Tsai also rejected Chinas one country, two systems framework saying it would downgrade Taiwan and undermine the cross-strait status quo. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the proposed law for Hong Kong should be imposed without the slightest delay. The proposal is expected to ban treason, subversion and sedition, and comes after Hong Kong was shaken by months of enormous and sometimes violent anti-government protests. Wang Yi told a news conference that the law was imperative after protests in the semi-autonomous hub last year seriously endangered Chinas national security. New Delhi: PlayerUnknowns Battlegrounds Mobile (PUBG) has a word of caution for the gaming lovers. The company has tweeted that players should not attack the vending machines on the Miramar map out of frustration. Because these machines will sound an alert on receiving damage. Once the alert is sounded, your rival teams will get to know about your location and may be not conducive for you. Never lucky Always remember to take out your frustration on the vending machine safely! https://t.co/0uoz2xo0DD pic.twitter.com/Fps4H728ql PUBG MOBILE (@PUBGMOBILE) May 22, 2020 It may be mentioned that high demand for video games during COVID-19 lockdowns made blockbuster games PlayerUnknowns Battlegrounds Mobile beat forecasts and also buoyed maker Tencent Holdings first-quarter revenue and profits. A Reuters report said that in-game spending on extras such as power-ups and object skins for PUBG Mobile alone surged to $232 million, more than three times the amount the title generated in March 2019. Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung, second from left, and Hana Financial Group Chairman Kim Jung-tai, second from right, hold a memorandum of understanding regarding their partnership in the global market at Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, Monday. From left are Hana Bank CEO Ji Sung-kyoo, Cho, Kim and Shinhan Bank CEO Jin Ok-dong. / Courtesy of Shinhan, Hana financial groups By Park Jae-hyuk Shinhan and Hana financial groups formed an unprecedented partnership to enhance their competitiveness in the global market, the two banking groups said Monday. According to the financial services holding firms, Shinhan Chairman Cho Yong-byoung and Hana Chairman Kim Jung-tai signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding their cooperation at Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul. "This agreement will show the new paradigm of the financial industry, not just allow us to overcome our rivalry and establish a cooperative relationship," Cho said. "We hope this becomes a great opportunity for both groups to enhance their competitiveness and break through the uncertainties in the global market." Kim said: "We hope this agreement becomes a cornerstone for both groups to compete with world-class financial institutions." This is the first time the nation's financial holding firms have signed an MOU with each other. The two groups agreed to cooperate in seeking business opportunities overseas, coping with various regulations, making investments in foreign markets and establishing overseas networks. They also promised to pursue various other types of cooperation. They said they expect to rank higher with global financial giants by refraining from competing with each other. Over the past few years, Korean financial services companies have been in fierce competition overseas. Shinhan and Hana have also vied to hold the dominant position in China, Vietnam and several other Southeast Asian countries. As of the end of 2019, Shinhan had 216 outlets in 20 countries, while Hana had 199 in 24 countries. In particular, Shinhan has focused on the Japanese and Vietnamese markets, while Hana has bet big on China and Indonesia. During an interview with The Korea Times late last year, the Shinhan chairman differentiated his company from its rivals, saying Shinhan has a global business division to localize channels and employees, as well as customers and their assets. "We have already followed differentiated strategies, such as reinforcing the non-banking sector, enhancing competitiveness in the capital market and boosting our global business," he said at that time. The Hana chairman said in another Korea Times interview that his company's overseas expansion will not rely only on Southeast Asian nations. "International banking and capital markets in advanced countries are key areas, a source of greater profit. What we learn there will translate into higher performance," he said at that time. The two groups, however, agreed that they should avoid excessive competition and pursue innovation through mutual cooperation, so as to overcome their reliance on certain areas and their relatively smaller sizes compared to world's leading financial firms. Against this backdrop, market observers are wondering whether Shinhan and Hana will lead the innovation and development of the country's financial industry. By ANI WASHINGTON: Multinational automobile manufacturers Nissan and Renault have planned to disclose billions of dollars in cost cuts this week and slash capacity by an additional million vehicles in view of the coronavirus shutdowns, people familiar with the companies' plans told The WallStreet Journal. The moves are set to undo the growth strategy pushed earlier by Carlos Ghosn, former leader of both companies, to sell around 14 million cars by 2022. Now, the target is closer to 10 million, according to the people familiar with the plans. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the boom in demand the companies anticipated wasn't materialising, leaving plants underused. "The situation has become untenable," said a person close to Renault. Ghosn has objected to efforts by Renault and Nissan to blame him for the current predicament. A spokeswoman for Ghosn said executives at Renault and Nissan had supported his growth plans. "He cannot be held responsible for the state of companies that he has not been running for 18 months," she said. The entire car industry has been challenged by the coronavirus, but some are better equipped to ride out the downturn in demand. Cash-rich Toyota Motor Corp., which unlike Nissan has avoided worker furloughs, said this month it expected a return to normal by the end of the year. In a series of announcements on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Renault and Nissan are set to lay out their planned cuts and describe plans for closer cooperation. Renault owns 43.4 per cent of Nissan. Nissan is planning to add around USD3 billion in cost savings to USD3 billion in cuts announced in July 2019 that have been largely carried out, said people familiar with the plans. Since the July 2019 announcement, Nissan has eliminated nearly 15,000 jobs, and further job reductions are planned along with budget cuts in every department from engineering to event planning, they said. The new plan also calls for cutting capacity by an additional million units beyond the cuts announced last year, bringing Nissan's annual production capacity to around 5.5 million vehicles, they said. That is still well above current demand in a pandemic-hit global market. For its part, Renault has said it aims to cut structural costs by at least EUR2 billion (USD2.2 billion), or 20 per cent, over the next three years. France's economy ministry is in talks with Renault to keep technologically advanced activities in the country and develop electric batteries in Europe. "Renault is in serious financial difficulty," said France's economy minister, Bruno Le Maire, on Friday. "There is an urgent need for action at Renault," Maire was quoted as saying. Sharing factories and research relies on the alliance of the two companies working smoothly, something Renault and Nissan have struggled to do in the wake of Ghosn's sudden departure after his arrest in Tokyo in November 2018. The executive fled to Lebanon in December to escape financial-misconduct charges in Japan, which he denies. People on both sides said that although Renault and Nissan would announce plans for closer cooperation this week, negotiations on specifics would continue after that. NEW YORK (AP) New Yorkers marked Memorial Day with car convoys and small ceremonies instead of big parades as the coronavirus reshaped the solemn holiday, blending tributes to virus victims and frontline workers with the traditional remembrance of the nation's war dead. In a year that marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, veterans wore masks and saluted while standing at social-distancing intervals at observances shrunk by virus precautions. At the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan the former aircraft carrier USS Intrepid Gov. Andrew Cuomo honored both veterans and essential workers on a Memorial Day he called especially poignant and powerful. We know something about loss, and were living it again, the Democratic governor said. In Rochester, officials looked ahead to the construction of the city's War on Terror Memorial. In Long Island's Nassau County, a small group of veterans in masks saluted flag-bedecked vehicles at a car parade and wreath-laying that was closed to the public but streamed online. In Brooklyn, about 30 to 40 cars, including an old-style checkered cab, rode along the route usually covered by marchers at the United Military Veterans of Kings County parade. They finished by circling a Veterans Affairs hospital, many honking their horns, and laying a wreath near monuments at the hospitals fence. We werent sure if we were going to be able to do anything, said parade chairman Raymond Aalbue. But he said he didnt want the parade "to die on my watch. He said this years Memorial Day observance also honored people working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 virus fight. All day long were thinking about these health care workers and first responders and essential workers who are putting their lives on the line, daily, and have been doing that for a couple of months now to keep us safe, said Allbue. We owe them a very deep debt of gratitude for all theyve done all these months. Story continues Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, joined a wreath-laying at the Brooklyn War Memorial, saying it was a different kind of Memorial Day, but our appreciation for the heroes who gave their lives for our country has never been stronger. More celebratory Memorial Day traditions also were altered by rules meant to keep the virus in check. Police kept a watchful eye over lighter-than-usual crowds at Jones Beach on Long Island. A group of teenagers was ordered to leave because they weren't wearing masks and keeping the required distance from one another. Brianna Paredes said she was just trying to have a nice day with her friends after the pandemic upended their senior year in high school. I understand. I work and I wear my mask and my gloves, the Levittown resident said. But outside at the beach? Im over it by now. I feel like a lot of people are. I think that its kind of annoying, she said while being escorted off the beach. While the virus crisis has eased in New York, COVID-19 is still killing roughly 100 people a day statewide. There were 96 deaths Sunday, according to figures released Monday. As the holiday approached, Cuomo loosened coronavirus-related restrictions last week to allow small public gatherings initially just for Memorial Day observances and religious services. He extended the eased rules Friday to all gatherings after the New York Civil Liberties Union sued, saying that if it was safe to gather to honor veterans and practice religion, the Constitution requires the same right be extended to other gatherings. The rules now allow get-togethers of as many as 10 people, provided that participants stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from one another or cover their faces when unable to maintain that distance. At a news briefing after a ceremony at the Intrepid, Cuomo remembered veterans killed in combat and, more recently, by the coronavirus. He also emphasized our heroes of today health care, emergency and other essential workers who showed up and did their duty, lost their lives, to keep others of us safe. In many ways, that is a microcosm of what we're here talking about today on Memorial Day, he said, announcing that the state would make sure that public workers on the frontlines who died of COVID-19 got death benefits through state and local pension plans. His office didn't immediately provide further details. While many Memorial Day ceremonies this year reflected the World War II anniversary, officials in Rochester held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a memorial that commemorates Americans killed in more recent conflicts. The city's forthcoming War on Terror Memorial will honor local members of the military who have died in wars since the 1990s. Construction is due to start next year. Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, a Democrat, called the planned memorial an enduring reminder of what it takes to be the land of the free, WROC-TV reported. In Queens, the group behind the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade arranged for one person to lay a wreath, another to do a flag ceremony and a third to play Taps" while some others watched. It was a far cry from the crowds that usually attend the event. But we felt the need to do something," executive director Vincent Mimoni said. On Staten Island, another convoy of cars, led by motorcycles, took off in a procession after a wreath-laying ceremony at Hero Park. ___ Associated Press video journalist Robert Bumsted and writer Deepti Hajela contributed. This story has been updated. Aurelius, N.Y. State and local police officers, some with guns drawn, blocked off a road just west of Auburn today as part of an ongoing investigation into a reported home invasion by two armed men. West Genesee Road between Elmhurst Drive and Half Acre Road in Aurelius had been blocked to traffic starting about 6 a.m. but was reopened around 1 p.m., according to the Auburn Citizen. The police presence has been heavy near the intersection with Experimental Road, the Citizen reported. The incident began shortly before 5:30 a.m when a resident of 2042 West Genesee Street Road reported a home invasion by two unknown subjects armed with a firearm, State Police Capt. Barry Chase told the Citizen around noon. The resident ran out of the home and told police the two men were still inside the house. State police entered the house around 11:30 a.m. to serve a search warrant, Chase told the Citizen. No arrests have been made, and no one has been injured. Cayuga County sheriffs deputies and Auburn city police are also at the scene. This is a developing story. We will have more information when it becomes available. Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Infighting kills Turkish-backed militants in northern Syria Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 3:13 PM Infighting between rival groups in Syria's northern provinces of Aleppo and Idlib has ended in the killing and injuring of several Turkish-backed Takfiri militants. Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria's official news agency SANA that fierce clashes broke out between militants affiliated to the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, and terrorists controlling several neighborhoods in Ariha town, located south of Idlib, upon a conflict over influence and sharing properties left by their owners, who fled the area after the Turkish incursion in October. The Jabhat Fateh al-Sham outfit later dispatched a convoy of terrorists, armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), to the region, exacerbating the gunfight, which is reportedly still in progress. Separately, members of the Turkish-backed and so-called Northern Brigade militant group clashed with rival terrorists in Azaz city, situated about 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Aleppo. Immediately after the outbreak of the fighting, reinforcements from the so-called Ahrar al-Sharqiya terrorist group arrived to the area to support their allies. The infighting has so far left more than 23 terrorists from the warring parties dead, and Turkish military forces are said to be unable to bring the situation under control. Turkish-backed militants were deployed to northern Syria last October after Turkish military forces launched a long-threatened cross-border invasion in a declared attempt to push the YPG militants away from border areas. Ankara views the US-backed YPG as a terrorist organization tied to the homegrown Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region in Turkey since 1984. On October 22 last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, signed a memorandum of understanding that asserted the YPG militants had to withdraw from the Turkish-controlled "safe zone" in northeastern Syria within 150 hours, after which Ankara and Moscow would run joint patrols around the area. 500 Turkish-backed Syrian militants reach Libya Meanwhile, as many as 500 Turkish-backed Takfiri militants have reached the Libyan territories to fight in the North African country, a war monitor says. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, citing local sources, reported on Sunday that some 10,100 Turkish-backed militants, some of whom are non-Syrian nationals, have arrived in Libya so far. Another 3,400 militants are currently receiving training in Turkish camps, said the Britain-based watchdog group. Two seats of power have emerged in Libya since 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi and his execution by unruly fighters. Haftar in eastern Libya is supported by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates; whilst the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli enjoys military backing from Turkey. A bill passed by the Turkish parliament earlier this year allows the Ankara government to deploy forces to Libya to intervene in the civil war in the North African country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address by Shafique Khokhar For Eid al-Fit, Bishop Indrias Rehmat paid tribute to the city's political and religious leaders. The holiday can bring us closer and give us the opportunity to sit together and think". In recent weeks interreligious prayers were held seeking the end of the coronavirus pandemic. The celebration embodied a message of brotherhood, peace, love, and coexistence. Faisalabad (AsiaNews) Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayer, was held yesterday in Pakistan. For Bishop Indrias Rehmat of Faisalabad (Punjab), it was a time to be united as citizens of Pakistan, to share the joy and happiness that come from an event that is both religious holy day as well as a cultural event. For the prelate, Such festivals bring us closer and give us the opportunity to sit together and think about others who are in need. Over the weekend, the bishop visited several Muslim clerics and political officials in Faisalabad. He was accompanied by the Vicar General, Fr Abid Tanvir, the director of the Commission for interreligious dialogue Fr Pascal Poolus and the director of the local chapter of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), Fr Khalid Rashid. In the various meetings, the Christian delegation presented cakes, tributes for the feast and the special message of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, issued by the Holy See Press Office at the start of Ramadan. The Catholic delegation met with local Muslim clerics, including Maulana Pir Ibrahim Sialvi, Mulana Yousaf Anwar, and Mulana Zahid Mahmood Qasami, who play a pivotal role in interfaith dialogue and harmony in Faisalabad. Through the Eid al-Fitr, we want to spread a message of brotherhood, peace, love, coexistence among all communities in Pakistan, said Bishop Rehmat, adding that we all pray for the country and the world so that we can get rid of the pandemic. During Ramadan, the bishop and Muslim leaders joined together to invoke the end of the COVID-19 emergency. During their meetings, the parties explored issues and thoughts related to the document on human brotherhood signed last year in Abu Dhabi by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmad al-Tayyeb. When President Donald Trump doesnt like the message, he shoots the messenger. So it was this past week when he took very personally a scientific study that should give pause to anyone thinking of following Trumps lead and ingesting a potentially risky drug for the coronavirus. He branded the studys researchers, financed in part by his own administration, his enemy. Boastful on the occasion of Memorial Day, Trump exaggerated some of his accomplishments for veterans health care. Over the weekend, he also repeated a baseless allegation of rampant mail-in voting fraud and resurrected claims of unspecified conspiracies against him in 2016. A look at the rhetoric and reality as the pandemics death toll approached 100,000 in the U.S.: VOTING FRAUD TRUMP: The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and force people to sign. Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam! tweet Sunday. THE FACTS: Voting fraud is rare. Its true that some election studies have shown a slightly higher incidence of mail-in voting fraud compared with in-person voting, but the overall risk is extremely low. The Brennan Center for Justice said in 2017 the risk of voting fraud is 0.00004% to 0.0009%. Trump is simply wrong about mail-in balloting raising a tremendous potential for fraud, Richard L. Hasen, an elections expert at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, recently wrote in an op-ed. While certain pockets of the country have seen their share of absentee-ballot scandals, problems are extremely rare in the five states that rely primarily on vote-by-mail, including the heavily Republican state of Utah. Trumps push for in-person voting runs counter to the current guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which urge Americans to maintain 6 feet (1.8 meters) of separation and avoid crowds. The CDC guidelines encourage mail-in methods of voting if allowed in the jurisdiction, given the coronavirus threat. Last week, Trump threatened to hold up funding for Michigan and Nevada if they allowed more residents to cast mail-in or absentee ballots out of pandemic safety concerns. He later backed off the threat. Trump cast an absentee ballot by mail in the Florida Republican primary in March. A commission Trump convened after the 2016 election to investigate potential voting fraud disbanded without producing any findings. ___ DEEP STATE TRUMP, on the 2016 election: Im fighting the deep state. Im fighting the swamp. ... They never thought I was going to win, and then I won. And then they tried to get me out. That was the insurance policy. Shes going to win, but just in case she doesnt win we have an insurance policy. interview aired Sunday on Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson. THE FACTS: Hes repeating a false claim that there was a conspiracy afoot to take him out if he won the 2016 presidential race, based on a text message between two FBI employees. Trump has repeatedly depicted the two as referring to a plot or insurance policy to oust him from office if he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton. Its apparent from the text that it wasnt that. Agent Peter Strzok and lawyer Lisa Page, both now gone from the bureau, said the text messages reflected a debate about how aggressively the FBI should investigate Trump and his campaign when expectations at the time were that he would lose anyway. Strzok texted about something Page had said to the FBIs deputy director, to the effect that theres no way he gets elected. But Strzok argued that the FBI should not assume Clinton would win: Im afraid we cant take that risk. He likened the situation to an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40. He has said he was not discussing a post-election plot to drive Trump from office. ___ VIRUS DRUG TRUMP, on why he considers hydroxychloroquine safe for the treatment of COVID-19: Frankly, Ive heard tremendous reports. Many people think it saved their lives. interview with Attkisson. TRUMP: Ive received a lot of positive letters and it seems to have an impact. And maybe it does; maybe it doesnt. But if it doesnt, youre not going to get sick or die. This is a pill thats been used for a long time for 30, 40 years on the malaria and on lupus too, and even on arthritis. remarks on May 18. TRUMP: It doesnt hurt people. remarks Tuesday after a GOP policy lunch. THE FACTS: Hes wrong to assert there is no risk of harm if people take the malaria drug to try to prevent a coronavirus infection. Trumps own health agencies have cautioned that taking hydroxychloroquine to stave off the virus could be dangerous due to side effects. If the president is to be believed, hes taking the drug himself. Trump repeatedly has pushed hydroxychloroquine, with or without the antibiotic azithromycin. No large, rigorous studies have found them safe or effective for COVID-19, and they can cause heart rhythm problems and other serious side effects. The Food and Drug Administration has warned against the drug combination and said hydroxychloroquine should only be used for the coronavirus in hospitals and research settings. Two large observational studies, each involving about 1,400 patients in New York, recently found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine. Two new ones in the journal BMJ, one by French researchers and the other from China , reached the same conclusion. On Friday, a study published by the journal Lancet suggested that hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, with or without an antibiotic, did not help hospitalized patients and was tied to a greater risk of death or heart rhythm problems. Although it was observational rather than a rigorous test, its by far the largest so far to examine these drugs in real-world settings nearly 100,000 patients in 671 hospitals on six continents. Researchers estimated that the death rate attributable to use of the drugs, with or without an antibiotic such as azithromycin, is roughly 13% versus 9% for patients not taking them. The drug has been available for decades to treat the mosquito-borne illness malaria; it is also prescribed for some lupus and arthritis patients. Technically, doctors can already prescribe the drug to patients with COVID-19, a practice known as off-label prescribing. But that is not the same as the FDA approving the drug specifically for the pandemic, which would mean it had met the agencys standards for safety and effectiveness. FDA regulators issued a warning alert last month in part based on increased reports of dangerous side effects called in to U.S. poison control centers. ___ TRUMP: The only negative Ive heard was the study where they gave it was it the VA? With, you know, people that arent big Trump fans gave it ...they had a report come out. remarks on May 18. TRUMP: It was given by, obviously, not friends of the administration. remarks Tuesday at Cabinet meeting. TRUMP: And if you look at the one survey, the only bad survey, they were giving it to people that were in very bad shape. They were very old, almost dead. It was a Trump enemy statement. remarks Tuesday after GOP policy lunch. THE FACTS: Theres no evidence of a political plot at the Department of Veterans Affairs or elsewhere to produce a study pointing to poor outcomes for veterans who took hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 in a bid to make Trump look bad. That study was led by independent researchers at the University of Virginia and University of South Carolina and grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Virginia school paid for the work. The study released last month found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine. The analysis, conducted by the researchers with VA approval, was not a rigorous experiment, nor was it peer-reviewed. Still, with 368 patients, it was the largest look at hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 at the time. Researchers stressed a great and immediate need to conduct the analysis due to limited scientific evidence on the drugs safety and increasingly widespread use both as a way to prevent COVID-19 and to treat it. Researchers analyzed medical records of male veterans hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus infection at VA medical centers who died or were discharged by April 11. About 28% of veterans who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone. These findings highlight the importance of awaiting the results of ongoing prospective, randomized, controlled studies before widespread adoption of these drugs, the researchers wrote. Its also a point that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious diseases expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, has repeatedly made, urging caution on the drug. Although there is anecdotal evidence that hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin may benefit people with COVID-19, we need solid data, Fauci said. No drug has been approved for treating the disease, although several have emergency use authorization. Most people who get COVID-19 recover. ___ TRUMP, on the study of VA hospital data: If you look at that phony report that was put in, that report on the hydroxyl -- was given to people that were in extraordinarily bad condition -- extraordinarily bad, people that were dying. remarks on May 18. TRUMP: There was a false study done where they gave it to very sick people extremely sick people, people that were ready to die. ... And the study came out. The people were ready to die. Everybody was old, had bad problems with hearts, diabetes, and everything else you can imagine. remarks Tuesday at Cabinet meeting. VA SECRETARY ROBERT WILKIE: They did not even look at what the president just mentioned the various comorbidities that the patients who were referenced in that study had. Cabinet meeting Tuesday. WILKIE: The analysis did not adjust for patients clinical status. letter on April 29 to veterans groups. THE FACTS: Trump and his VA secretary are incorrect. Researchers did use standard statistical methods to adjust for differences in the groups being compared, including clinical status and the presence of other chronic health conditions. They did not cherry-pick only the oldest or sickest ones who took the drug. Even though the VA hospital patients given the drug tended to be sicker than those in the comparison group, researchers still saw no benefit from the drug after taking that into account. The study included all VA patients treated with the drug. One of the measurements was whether it helped prevent the need for breathing machines. It didnt. Researchers did not track side effects, but noted there were hints hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs. The drug has long been known to have potentially serious side effects such as altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death. The study noted that the median age of the test group was over 65, meaning half the patients were below that and half above it. The NIH and others have more rigorous tests underway. ___ OBESITY HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, D-Calif., on Trumps statement that hes taking hydroxychloroquine: Hes our president and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and in his, shall we say, weight group morbidly obese, they say. interview Tuesday on CNN. THE FACTS: Trump is not morbidly obese. Trump is 73. At his last full checkup in February 2019 he passed the official threshold for being considered obese, with a body mass index of 30.4. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an index of 40 or above is considered severe obesity, which some also call morbid obesity. Pelosis statement was not purely or even primarily an expression of concern about the presidents health. She said later she was giving him a dose of his own medicine for his history of putting down women for their weight. ___ VETERANS TRUMP: You know we got the Veterans Choice. remarks Friday at veterans event. TRUMP: Weve done the greatest job maybe of anything in the VA, because I got VA Choice ... approved. remarks on May 18. THE FACTS: False. He didnt get Veterans Choice approved; President Barack Obama did in 2014. Trump expanded it, under a 2018 law known as the MISSION Act. ___ TRUMP: Choice is when they wait for two months to see a doctor ... they go outside, they get themselves a good doctor, we pay the bill, and they get taken care of. remarks Friday at veterans event. THE FACTS: His suggestion that veterans no longer have waits for care because of the Choice program is also false. Since March, the VA actually has halted the programs key provisions that granted veterans the option to see private doctors if they endured long delays at VA, citing the pandemic. Internal VA emails obtained by The Associated Press reveal that some veterans are being turned away, even when private doctors are available to see them. The program allows veterans to see a private doctor for primary or mental health care if their VA wait is 20 days (28 for specialty care) or their drive to a VA facility is 30 minutes or more. But since the programs expansion in June 2018, the VA has not seen a major increase in veterans seeking private care. Two months ago, after the coronavirus outbreak, the VA also took the step of restricting veterans access to private doctors, citing the added risks of infection and limited capacity at private hospitals. Under the temporary guidelines, the VA is reviewing referrals for nonemergency care on a case-by-case basis for immediate clinical need and with regard to the safety of the veteran when being seen in-person, regardless of wait time or drive time eligibility, according to VA spokeswoman Christina Noel. The department has boosted telehealth appointments and says VA referrals for private care will be made where it is deemed safe and private doctors are available. Veterans organizations and internal VA emails suggest the department is painting an overly rosy picture of health care access. We have community facilities open and able to see patients; however, our Veterans are being denied community care granted under criteria of the MISSION Act, one VA employee wrote in a May 14 email to Tammy Czarnecki, an assistant deputy undersecretary for health operations at VA. The employee works in a rural region that covers Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Oklahoma, where private doctors are often key to filling gaps in VA care. The person said veterans were being told by their local VAs they may need to wait well past July, August or September for private care, according to the email, which was provided to the AP on condition the sender not be identified. Czarneckis office replied by referring the employee to the VA guidance that set forth the restrictions due to a pandemic. The VA on Thursday said referrals had increased in the employees city during the pandemic. It did not provide figures. The VA, which announced this past week it would start returning to more normal operations, hasnt said when it will remove its temporary restrictions on Choice. HNX - 5/25/2020 10:08:00 AM Pursuant to the Document No. 09/TB-MCC dated 15th May 2020 of High - Grade Brick - Tile Corporation regarding the cancellation of the shareholder list for attending 2020 Annual General Meeting, Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD) would like to announce as follows: Canceling the shareholder list for holding 2020 Annual General Meeting on the record date of 23/03/2020 Reason for cancellation: Due to the complicated development of the Covid 19 epidemic, the company decided to change the meeting date of 2020 Annual General Meeting. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) President Rodrigo Duterte said he does not favor the opening of school classes until there is an available vaccine against the coronavirus disease. "I will not allow the opening of classes na magdikit-dikit iyang mga bata na yan. Bahala na hindi na makatapos... Unless I am sure that they are really safe... Para sa akin, bakuna muna," Duterte said in his weekly public address taped on Monday night. [Translation: I will not allow the opening of classes where the kids will be beside each other. No one will go to school unless I am sure they are really safe. There has to be a vaccine first.] The President added it is useless to talk about the opening of new school year due to the magnitude of the virus in the country. Wala nang aral, laro nalang, unless I'm sure that they are really safe, Duterte noted. [Translation: No more classes, only play time, unless I'm sure that they are really safe.] The Department of Education announced last April 30 that the next school year will officially open on August 24 and end on April 30, 2021. Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the resumption of classes does not require full physical attendance of students, stressing that online learning is still a viable option. Senator Win Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate basic education committee, noted that the government may have to "adjust accordingly" if the COVID-19 situation in the country does not improve by then. "August 24 is still three months away from now. Meron pa tayong time to evaluate the situation (We still have time to evaluate the situation)," Gatchalian said in an interview with CNN Philippines The Source yesterday. Some lawmakers pushed for the postponement of class openings until and unless a vaccine against COVID-19 is developed. "The (DepEd) should postpone the resumption of classes this year instead of resorting to virtual classrooms which would only prejudice students who are not equipped with e-learning gadgets and could not afford to have any internet connection," Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Ronnie Ong said in a statement. To date, the country has confirmed 14,319 COVID-19 cases along with 873 deaths and 3,323 recoveries. On the night of Saturday, May 17, a Baltimore County police officer shot two people at the Cove Village town home complex in Essex, Maryland. The police department confirmed that Robert Johnson Jr., 29, died from his injuries. Johnsons 20-year-old brother, Freddie Jackson, was also shot by police and suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the incident. Johnson, an expectant father whose friends and family said lived by the motto of family first, had been celebrating the 15th birthday of a cousin when police arrived. According to eye-witness reports published by the Baltimore Sun, Johnson had gotten into a minor traffic incident with a neighbor when police responded to a noise complaint that had been made about a crowd gathered in the parking lot. According to officer Jennifer Peach, a county police spokeswoman, the crowd had largely dispersed by the time the police arrived. The first responding officer was confronted with an armed suspect and discharged his weapon. Johnson had apparently exited a car brandishing a gun when he was shot. He died after being taken to the hospital, and a gun was recovered at the scene, Peach said. The police officer who shot Johnson and Jackson, identified as Police Officer First Class Knight, a 24-year veteran, has been placed on routine administrative leave. However, the official statements given by the county police have been contradicted by the accounts of several neighbors who witnessed the shooting. Kayla Stokes, a neighbor, told the Sun she was sitting near her window when she observed a police car pull up near a group of about 10 neighborhood children and teenagers. According to Stokes, the officer immediately pointed his flashlight and gun at the group and began shooting and chasing them within a minute or two. The man holding a weapon threw it down and ran away. Regarding the officer, He didnt wait. He just started shooting. I told my childs father, They shooting him for no reason. Police seen him throw it down. ... I dont understand why he would shoot him in the back. It was clear as day he was running away from him. Stokes disputed the police departments statement that the crowd had dispersed before the officer arrived: Any of them young kids couldve got shot. They were hiding behind freakin cars. Stokes condemned the police shooting as unjustifiable, The police had no right to do what they did to that boy at all. Now, some mother doesnt get to kiss their kid goodnight. Thats all I could think about. Stokes version of events was supported by others. LaKisha Chase, mother of one of the victims, told the Sun that she had witnessed Johnson exiting his vehicle with his hands up when a firearm fell from his car. Shots were fired as soon as she heard Johnsons gun hit the pavement, the Sun wrote. Another neighbor, a 46-year-old woman, was awoken by the sound of gunshots. When she opened her door moments later, she found a bleeding young man sprawled over her front steps, and police officers with guns drawn shouted at her to Close the fucking door! The woman, who declined to give her name out of fear for her safety, added, I have a 5-year-old. She saw that. Shes distraught. She was crying, upset, shaking all night. The recklessness of the officers shooting spree is further shown by noting that Jackson, the second victim, was shot while inside a nearby house. According to the Sun: Johnsons younger brother was inside their home with several children who watched the incident from their front window. Freddie Jackson was trying to escort the children upstairs when one of Knights bullets pierced the door frame and hit the 20-year-old in the leg, relatives said. The children carried the man upstairs and applied a tourniquet to his leg using a T-shirt The Baltimore Police Department has a long history of abuses, outright corruption, and a callous disregard for the lives of ordinary working class people. Last month marked the five-year anniversary of the killing of Freddie Gray. On April 12, 2015, Gray was arrested and charged with possessing a knife. He was given a rough ride in the police van and died a week later of a severed spinal cord. Mass protests erupted in the city over the mishandling of the case, prompting the governor of Maryland to impose martial law and deploy the National Guard in the streets of Baltimore. In response to the nationwide outpouring of popular anger, the federal DOJ was ordered to conduct an investigation into the practices of the Baltimore Police Department. The investigation concluded that Baltimore police routinely violated the civil rights of city residents. The abuses included unjustified stops and searches; arrests without proper cause; racial profiling; use of excessive force; sexual discrimination; and retaliation against actions protected by the First Amendment. Despite the uncovering of these routine abuses, all officers involved in Grays murder were cleared of all charges by state and federal prosecutors. In July 2017, bodycam footage revealed that a police officer had planted drugs, sending an innocent man to jail. In August, video footage was released which showed several officers colluding to plant drugs during a traffic stop. As a result, 41 drug and gun cases that relied on the officers testimony were dropped. In February 2018, two Baltimore police officers were convicted of racketeering, robbery and fraud. The two officers, along with at least six others, were involved in a wide range of criminal activity, which included repeated armed home invasions of city residents where they stole money, drugs and guns. The drugs and guns were later sold on the streets. In November of last year, three men were exonerated after a wrongful murder conviction, which came about as a result of coerced evidence. They had already served 36 years behind bars. The men were just teenagers when they were arrested in 1983, when they walked out of prison they were in their 50s. This sampling of cases is merely the tip of the iceberg of corruption and abuse of power that occurs within police forces in Baltimore and more generally. According to killedbypolice.net, police in the United States have killed at least 376 people so far this year. The latest string of killings in the United States includes the February 23 killing of Ahmaud Arbery. Arbery was chased down and shot dead by a former police officer and his son while out on a jog, and local authorities subsequently attempted to cover it up. Only with the release of dashcam footage of the killing and growing popular outrage, did the police finally arrest the killers in early May. On May 7, protests broke out in Indianapolis over police killings the previous night. In three separate incidents, two men were shot dead and a pregnant woman was struck and killed by a police car. In New York City, video footage showing the brutal arrests of people for violating the social distancing ordinance has sparked outrage. The barbarism and backwardness pervading police departments across America and the corruption of a legal system that tolerates it, is undoubtedly a symptom of the advanced breakdown of society under a decaying capitalist system. The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, on Monday released the results of the students whose final semester marks it had withheld over pending fees. While results were declared online late last week, many students- beneficiaries of the Government of India-Post-Matric Scholarship (GoI-PMS) - had complained that their results had been withheld. They said that the administration had not released their results as they hadnt been able to pay their final year fees owing to a delay in disbursement of the scholarship funds from their respective state governments. A total of 1,252 students graduated from the institutes over 70 programmes this year. Of these, 86 students are recipients of the GoI-PMS. Institute authorities claimed that owing to the lockdown and technical glitches, the results of students with dues could not be displayed. We have cleared the process in the results portal. All those students who have paid the first-year fellowship to the institute have been cleared and can now access their results. Those who havent deposited the first-year fees have been informed to do so at the earliest to access their results, said MP Balamurugan, deputy registrar of the institute. While the institute doesnt charge a tuition fee from students coming from the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories as well as economically weaker sections, it levies a dining hall and hostel charge. The total for four semesters for GoI-PMS comes to around Rs65,000, which they pay after receiving their scholarship from their respective state governments. However, amid a nationwide lockdown after the Covid-19 outbreak, many GoI-PMS students have not received their scholarship amounts from the state government and many have taken to fund raising attempts to be able to pay their fees. We are aware that many of our students have to complete joining formalities and a large number of them are placed in the healthcare sector. The results of 31 out of 39 GoI-PMS students from Maharashtra have been cleared. From outside Maharashtra, there are 47 GoI-PMS students and we have released the results of seven of them. The rest will be able to see their results once they clear their first-year fees, said Balamurugan. In 2016, my vantage point on the donnybrook between Donald and Hillary was an Irish bar in Queens, where I was a bartender a few nights a week. It was a cash-only joint that sometimes stayed open until 7 a.m. and sold discounted cigarettes driven up from Virginia, the sort of place where you could make $800 under the table but you also might get a bottle or a chair thrown at you. This was where I watched the presidential debates and noticed something interesting. Half the patrons were Irish immigrants who considered Mr. Trump a real eejit, but the other half, the Irish Americans, thought he was just grand. Something didnt compute. Werent the Clintons universally beloved by all with Irish blood? (See Derry Girls on Netflix for a sample of the rock star treatment they got after Bill brought peace to Northern Ireland.) It was puzzling to watch the barflies buzz about Trumps anti-immigration rhetoric a drawbridge mentality from a crowd whose lineage had been met with Irish Need Not Apply signs. The craic in the Queens shebeen turned out to be a sudsy microcosm: The green vote has never been more red. All those Irish were Democrats for literally hundreds of years, said James F. McKay III, the president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest Irish Catholic organization in the country. But what is the old saying? When they got the wrinkles out of the belly, they became Republicans. No doubt. My own grandfather, one of 12 children raised in a two-bedroom house in County Armagh, sailed to Philadelphia, and cheered when John F. Kennedy became president. Sixty-six years later, some of my grandfathers children and his brother voted for Donald Trump. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Nathan Massey unveiled his incredible body transformation in candid snaps uploaded to Instagram on Monday. The Love Island star, 27, shared shirtless before-and-after images of his midsection to display his progress after embarking on a lifestyle overhaul during Britain's coronavirus lockdown. 'Quarantine has been my training camp !!!!! #goandgetit' [sic], the slimmed-down media personality captioned his new post. What a difference: Nathan Massey unveiled his incredible body transformation in candid snaps uploaded to Instagram on Monday In the throwback photo, the former carpenter appeared carefree on what appeared to be a getaway, while in the new snap, he showcased his more sculpted abs from his home. This is not the first time the Essex native has dramatically shed weight, as he lost a stone in 2018 after online trolls mocked his 'dad-bod'. Earlier this month, Nathan's wife Cara De La Hoyde revealed the couple are expecting a baby girl. Change for the better: The Love Island star, 27, has embarked on a lifestyle overhaul during Britain's coronavirus lockdown Weight loss: This is not the first time the former carpenter has dramatically shed the pounds, as he lost a stone in 2018 after online trolls mocked his 'dad-bod' (pictured) The pregnant TV star, 29, shared a sweet picture on her Instagram page with her partner as they made the gender reveal announcement. The pair, who met on the ITV2 dating show, are already parents to their son Freddie, two, who they welcomed in December 2017. Sharing the announcement on her social media, the former glamour model wrote: 'The secrets out. Finally someone for my team in this mad house.' Exciting! Earlier this month, Nathan's wife Cara De La Hoyde revealed the couple are expecting a baby girl In a previous interview with OK! magazine, Cara and Nathan revealed they wanted to have a 'big' family, ideally with their first two children born together, then waiting until their offspring are attending school before having a third. They tied the knot in June last year while in Kent surrounded by family and friends and X Factors Scarlett Lee sang at the ceremony. They rose to fame when they found love on the 2016 edition of Love Island, and were eventually crowned the winners of the series. A MAN has lodged a complaint against a Henley town councillor, claiming she accused him and his family of breaking lockdown rules. Dylan Thomas, who is a former councillor, alleges that Donna Crook broke the councillor code of conduct in the way that she spoke to him. Councillor Crook, a member of the ruling Henley Residents Group, denies any wrongdoing and said she was concerned about public safety. The incident happened in Falaise Square on Thursday, May 7, before the lockdown was partially relaxed and everyone was restricted to one hours daily exercise. Mr Thomas, who lives in Northfield End, says he was taking his daily exercise with his wife Clare, son Archie, seven, and twin daughters Phoebe and Hennie, three, when he was approached by Cllr Crook. The family were sitting on a bench and the children were having suncream applied. In his formal complaint, Mr Thomas states: We were approached by Cllr Donna Crook who said she was from the council and that we shouldnt be allowing our children to run around the square because we were still in lockdown. Her threatening and bossy tone caused one of my daughters to get upset. My wife explained that we were on our daily family exercise. Donna walked off and shouted that this is not a playground. Mr Thomas claimed that when he and his family later passed Cllr Crook outside the Harris & Hoole coffee shop and he told her he would be making a complaint about her behaviour, she responded: Well, Im elected, unlike you. He added: This is a very odd statement and one can only assume that because Cllr Crook has been elected to the town council she assumes she has special authority or powers, which she doesnt. Her behaviour represents an abuse of office and a breach of the standards expected of councillors in the code of conduct. Mr Thomas said his family had adhered to social distancing rules at all times and his children, who had scooters with them, were well behaved. Cllr Crook said: I did what I thought was right for the safety of residents. We were still in lockdown and government advice was not to sit on benches. He should have followed the rules. Youre not meant to be sitting there drinking coffee they were there for a good 10 minutes sitting on that bench. I didnt see them putting suncream on their children. I saw the children playing on their scooters. I didnt speak to the children. Cllr Crook said she could not recall how she spoke to Mr Thomas but said: I said, youre the one breaking lockdown rules. I didnt raise my voice to him. He bellowed across the street to me when I was talking to the manager of Harris & Hoole. Thats probably why his children were frightened. Mr Thomas resigned from the council in 2017 after almost two years of service with the Conservatives to accept a new job. Cllr Crook was elected under a HRG banner last year after previously serving as a Conservative member before quitting the party and sitting as an independent. South Oxfordshire District Council confirmed that it had received a complaint against a town councillor and the monitoring officer was dealing with it. A spokeswoman said: The officer reviews any complaint received in accordance with the councils published code of conduct complaints procedures and decides whether it merits formal investigation. In 2016 allegations of harassment and bullying against Mr Thomas, who was then a councillor, by Ken Arlett were thrown out by the district council as political huff and puff. Mr Arlett, who was then chairman of Henley UKIP and is now Henley Mayor, had complained that several emails from Councillor Thomas amounted to harassment and bullying and were designed to ruin his good name in breach of the code of conduct. Cllr Thomas denied the allegations. The number of COVID-19 cases in Jharkhand crossed the 400- figure mark on Monday with 31 people testing positive for the virus, officials said. The total tally of coronavirus cases in the state stood at 405. Among the new cases, 10 were reported from Ranchi, five from Latehar, four from Pakur, three from Simdega, two each from Garhwa and Bokaro, and one each from East Singhbhum, Ramgarh, Palamau, Gumla and Khunti, they said. In Ranchi district, all the 10 cases were reported from Silli area. Pakur Deputy Commissioner Kuldip Choudhary said on Monday that test reports of four persons, including a woman and a child, received late on Sunday night, were positive. He said they were in a quarantine centre after returning from Surat in Gujarat. Another person from East Singhbhum district's Chakulia area, who returned from Maharashtra on May 15, tested positive for the disease on Monday, according to a district administration release. Of the total 405 cases, 231 are active, while 170 patients have been cured of the disease. Four persons have died, officials said. The recovery rate in the state was 42 per cent as against the national average of 41.56 per cent. The mortality rate was 0.98 per cent as against the national mortality rate of 2.9 per cent, a government bulletin stated. A total of 5,265 people who had travelled from elsewhere were under surveillance and asymptomatic, while 3,832 have completed 28 days of quarantine, it said. The bulletin also stated that 88,536 people were in various quarantine centres across the state while 2,44,215 people were in home-quarantine. The tests of swab samples are being conducted at RIMS, MGM, Jamshedpur, PMCH, Dhanbad, and Itki Arogyashala in Ranchi, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 888poker XL Inferno: "sinke34" Ships the $50,000 PKO 8-Max May 22 2020 On the eighth day of the XL Inferno Series, another three events were on the schedule. The highlight of Day 8 was the $160 buy-in tournament, the XL Inferno #23 - $50,000 PKO 8-Max. In this tournament, the winner snagged a five-figure score next to the honors of winning an XL Inferno title. Win a FREE $250 XL Inferno Main Event Seat! Satellites to the XL Inferno Series now running on 888poker Get $88 free bonus at 888poker to get started 888poker XL Inferno #23 - $50,000 PKO 8-Max Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $160 May 22 442 $66,300 The XL Inferno #23 - $50,000 PKO 8-Max attracted a total of 442 players to create a prize pool of $66,300. This money was divided among the final 48 players. The first prize was $6,382 and thousands of dollars in KO's. After "FedeJanices" busted in ninth place, the final eight players moved to one table and secured $746. This amount went to " IHaveAsthma" from Mexico who finished in eighth place, plus $464 in KO's. After that, "Mrbeans12" and "VitorBrasil" busted in seventh ($912+$416) and sixth ($1,243+$1,137). Romania's "BigWizzzard" then finished in fifth place for $1,740 plus $263, and shortly after, "CrushingAces" busted in fourth place for $2,569 plus $1,881. Romanian regular "Ph4N888" missed out on the final heads-up after busting in third place for $3,564 plus $2,166. The deciding heads-up was between "mathi8ce" and "sinke34". "sinke34" took first for $6,382 plus $6,823 in KO's and became the biggest winner on Day 8 of the series. Runner-up "mathi8ce" received $4,724 for second place and a total KO of $587. 888poker XL Inferno Event #23 - $50,000 PKO 8-Max Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize Bounty 1 sinke34 Slovakia $6,382 $6,823 2 mathi8ce - $4,724 $587 3 Ph4N888 Romania $3,564 $2,166 4 CrushingAces - $2,569 $1,881 5 BigWizzzard Romania $1,740 $263 6 VitorBrasil Brazil $1,243 $1,137 7 Mrbeans12 United Kingdom $912 $413 8 IHaveAsthma Mexico $746 $464 888poker XL Inferno #24 - $20,000 Mini PKO 8-Max Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $22 May 22 1,509 $30,180 For the players who didn't have the bankroll to play the $160 event, or wanted to multi-table, there was also a Mini edition with a buy-in of just $22. In total, 1,509 players competed in this event which made for a $30,180 prize pool with the first prize just over $2,751. On the final table, every player was receiving at least $199. That amount went to "danhenderso1," who finished in eight place and also received $258 in KO's. "ColdBlood15"(seventh, $302+$170), "araikvip" (sixth, $506+$195), "JumaKid" (fifth, $755+$144) and "AAmaniac1" (fourth, $1,131+$400) were also eliminated in quick succession. With three players left, "Jpvasc" was eliminated from the final table, receiving a prize of $1,509 plus $472 in KO's. The final two players, "Vidrutz" and "DiCarpi0" played for thousands of dollars because of the big bounty for the winner. In the end, "DiCarpi0" from Romania won the event for $2,751 plus $1,879 while the other Romanian finished in second place for $1,962 plus $644. 888poker XL Inferno Event #24 - $20,000 Mini PKO 8-Max Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize Bounty 1 DiCarpi0 Romania $2,751 $1,879 2 Vidrutz Romania $1,962 $644 3 Jpvasc Brazil $1,509 $472 4 AAmaniac1 - $1,132 $400 5 JumaKid United Kingdom $755 $144 6 araikvip Moldavia $506 $195 7 ColdBlood15 Romania $302 $170 8 danhenderso1 Russia $199 $258 888poker XL Inferno #25 - $20,000 Late PKO 8-Max Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $55 May 22 543 $27,150 The third and final winner on Day 8 was crowned in the XL Inferno #25 - $20,000 Late PKO 8-Max, where 543 players competed to create a prize pool of $27,150. After just seven hours and one minute, it was United Kingdom's "Kroat." who took the title and the first prize of $2,579 plus $2,524. The British player defeated Romania's "AlexByg" in the deciding heads-up, who had to settle for $1,901 plus $383. 888poker XL Inferno Event #25 - $20,000 Late PKO 8-Max Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize Bounty 1 Kroat. United Kingdom $2,579 $2,524 2 AlexByg Romania $1,901 $383 3 damnmilanito Ireland $1,425 $211 4 needabridge United Kingdom $1,018 $652 5 RiLucas Lithuania $679 $77 6 Laur.pkr Romania $475 $166 7 ilcinnnnn Romania $339 $175 8 79maravilla Argentina $272 $503 Full 2020 888poker XL Inferno Schedule Date Event Time Name Buy-in Guarantee 22nd May 26 17:00 DeepStack $55 $30,000 27 17:00 Mini DeepStack $16.50 $20,000 28 19:00 Late DeepStack $33 $15,000 23rd May 29 18:00 6-Max $109 $30,000 30 18:00 Mini 6-Max $16.50 $20,000 31 20:00 Late 6-Max $55 $15,000 24th May 32 17:00 Main Event $250 $500,000 33 17:30 Mini Main Event $33 $50,000 34 18:00 Micro Main Event $5.50 $20,000 You can qualify for the XL Inferno Main Event for free thanks to special qualifier tournaments running at 888poker. New depositing players receive a free ticket to a Main Event Qualifier in addition to a free $88 just for creating an account (this is a free 20 for residents of the UK). That first deposit is also matched 100% up to a maximum of $888, which is more than double the size of the bonus advertised on the 888poker website! Join 888poker and see if you can qualify for one of the big buy-in XL Inferno events and take one down under the watchful eyes of the PokerNews live reporters. Patricia King, the head of the Irish Congress Trade Unions, has challenged Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe against considering cutting the 350 weekly pandemic payment at any time in the near future, as the number of people receiving some sort of Government payment amid the Covid-19 economic crisis reached a new record of over 1.27 million. General secretary King said that in the absence of a completely new social income system under a new government that any talk of cutting the 350 weekly payment should be off the agenda. She also claimed that people werent aware of the shameful levels of low pay and poverty in the country. Supermacs owner Pat McDonagh has been quoted as saying that he couldnt recruit some staff for his fast-food restaurants because the 350 payment was discouraging some people from taking up part-time work. New figures from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection showed the number of people on the pandemic unemployment payment of 350 a week fell by only 5,200 last week to 579,400, even as builders and some other occupations started to go back to work. However, DEASP said that many of the 35,600 builders, who have told it that they will be returning to work, will draw their final PUP payment this week. Nonetheless, the number of people availing of Government wage-support scheme surged by 18,800 to 482,800. And including the 214,700 people on the official unemployment count in April, there are now over 1.27 million receiving some sort of Government support during the Covid-19 economic crisis -- a new record. Many people on the official unemployment count can qualify for a benchmark weekly unemployment payment of 203 before their household circumstances are determined. The 203 is deficient and so in our judgement they (the Government) are going to have to develop income protection, Ms King said. They are going to have a problem. There are a set of people on the 203 plus whatever family supports depending on circumstances; they have a set of people on the 350; and they have a set of people on the wage-subsidy scheme, she said. In the absence of a new social security system, I am against any cut in the 350. Any talk of cutting should be off the agenda. It and the wage-subsidy scheme are needed to support the economy as people go back to work, Ms King said. The beloved educational series behind the classic 'I'm Just A Bill' song is headed to Disney+. The first season of Schoolhouse Rock will be making it's debut on the streaming service on June 19, 2020, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Originally released in 1973, the animated series sought to teach children mathematics, environmentalism, history, spelling, and reading. Class act! The first season of Schoolhouse Rock will be making it's debut on the streaming service on June 19, 2020 On top of 'I'm Just A Bill', which teaches children how a bill is turned into a law, who could forget the catchy songs Conjunction Junction and Three Is A Magic Number. Three Is A Magic Number appears in season one, while I'm Just A Bill and Conjunction Junction feature in subsequent seasons of the series. The series officially ended after seven season in 2009, but it's legacy was solidified far before then. In 1998 the Library Of Congress inducted all of the songs from the series into their National Recording Registry. 'Let me be a law': The beloved educational series is behind the classic 'I'm Just A Bill' song Catchy tracks: Who could forget Conjunction Junction and Three Is A Magic Number Many of the songs were performed or composed by Bob Dorough, who passed away at age 94 in 2018. The animated series is just the latest show to join the streaming service's ever-growing library. In addition to original content such as The Mandalorian and a slew of classic Disney films, Disney + will houses past seasons of The Simpsons. In April, Disney + hit a major milestone when it reached 50 million subscribers just four months after it's launch. Netflix, by comparison, took roughly seven years to reach that same number of subscribers. Coming soon: The animated series is just the latest show to join the streaming service's ever-growing library Contending that 80 per cent of all essential services have been restored in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday sought cooperation of people for bringing the cyclone-hit state back on its foot. The CM also thanked state government employees and policemen who along with the Army, the NDRF, the SDRF and the Odisha disaster management personnel have been "working round the clock to return to normalcy, reconstruct infrastructure, and maintain order and peace". "Important services have been restored in most urban areas. The rest will also have access to all facilities soon. All major hospitals, water treatment plants, water supply units, irrigation and drainage pumping facilities, power sub stations have been made operational. I seek cooperation of one and all in this battle," Banerjee said in a statement released by the Chief Minister's Office on Monday. Protests over power and water supply disruption have been raging on in several parts of the city and its neighbourhood over the last four to five days. Banerjee had earlier urged people to have patience, and said the administration was working tirelessly to put lives back on track. Apart from 15,000 officials of the Power department, 30 teams of the National Disaster Response Force, 41 teams of the State Disaster Response Force and the Disaster Management Group and 35 teams of fire services, the state has also deployed 1,25,000 police officers to bring the situation to normal, she said. "I salute lakhs of state government employees and policemen who are working round the clock in the field (hand- in-hand with the personnel of the Army, NDRF, SDRF, Odisha government) to restore power and water supply, clear roads, provide relief, reconstruct infrastructure, and keep order and peace in vast stretches. "I congratulate them for restoring 80 per cent of the essential services post Bengal's grimmest disaster ever," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bengaluru: The Karnataka government stepped in on Monday afternoon to extricate Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda who found himself mired in a quarantine controversy after flying to Bengaluru from Delhi and skipping the mandatory one-week quarantine specified by the state government. After both he and his aides tied themselves up in knots explaining why the quarantine did not apply to him, the state government issued an addendum to its guidelines issued on May 22 that said Union and state ministers and officers were exempt from the requirements. Interestingly, the addendum was dated May 23,although it was shared by the state at around 7.40pm on Monday. Gowda , the Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers flew from Delhi to Bengaluru, but skipped the mandatory one week of institutional quarantine, followed by another week of home isolation, mandated by the Karnataka government for air passengers from high-rsk states amid the Covid-19 pandemic. After landing at the airport on a commercial flight, Gowda left by a private car even as other passengers were sent to a week of institutional quarantine the Karnataka government has mandated for passengers from states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. Anyone tested within the previous 48 hours and found negative for Covid-19 is exempted from institutional quarantine, but is required to stay in home quarantine. An aide to the minister claimed that Gowda had come with a negative Covid-19 test report provided by an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-approved lab. The minister himself did not refer to either the test or the state government guideline (issued later, but dated Saturday) and simply told reporters that being a minister, he was exempt from the quarantine rules and accused a section of the media of unnecessarily blowing up the issue. I am also looking after pharma. It is my duty to ensure that there is no shortage of medicine supply in the country. If I dont do that, then the number of cases will double, he said. If doctors are quarantined, if people who supply medicines are quarantined, how will we beat the virus. The Karnataka Congress hit out at the Union minister for skipping the quarantine (Sadananda Gowda) flouts all Covid norms, lands from Delhi and walks (out) without quarantine, Karnataka government rules have no exemption for anyone! How come he comes up with how own rules? Is he not putting all his primary contacts under health risk? Why no action? it said in a statement. Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson S Prakash said the minister had already clarified his stand on the issue. The addendum to the guidelines issued by the state said: The ministers of union government or state governments or officers on their official duty who are travelling across states will be exempted from the requirements of quarantine as has been done for health professionals and others... Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2020) - Bam Bam Resources Corp. (CSE: BBR) (OTC: NPEZF) ( FSE: 4NPA) ("Bam Bam" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has completed the second core hole ("MHB-02") of the 2020 Phase 1 drilling program at its flagship Majuba Hill Property (the "Property"), a copper, gold porphyry project located in Pershing County, Nevada. The hole was designed to expand the copper, gold, and silver mineralization identified in the historic drill data. Hole MHB-02 was drilled at a -45 inclination on an 045 azimuth to 474.5 feet. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6332/56455_figure1.jpg The core was logged on-site. The core is sawn and sampled by Bam Bam contractors at the secured warehouse facility in Elko, Nevada. Core from the first hole MHB-01 has been submitted to ALS Geochemistry for sample analysis. The submittal includes copper, gold, and silver standard reference material, which meets CIM Mineral Exploration Best Practice Guidelines. Mr. David Greenway, President & CEO, reports: "The core in the second drill hole, MHB-02, also showed rock-types and alteration that our geologist expected. We are encouraged that we now have two drill holes which have intersected what our geologic model predicted. I am looking forward to getting the analytical results from ALS Geochemistry." MHB-02 Box 12 - 111.5 to 120.5 Feet To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6332/56455_figure2.jpg MHB-02 Box 13 - 120.5 to 130 Feet To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6332/56455_figure3.jpg About Majuba Hill Property The Majuba Hill Property encompasses 4,822 acres of surface and mineral rights that includes 3 patented lode mining claims and 632 acres of privately-owned surface and minerals. The Property is easily accessed via 23 miles of well-maintained dirt roads leading from U.S. Interstate 80. Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") Measures, Chain of Custody The Company has implemented a QA/QC program using best industry practices at the Majuba Hill Project. Drill core is delivered by the company consulting geologist to the secure warehouse facility in Elko, Nevada. Drill core samples are sawn in half lengthwise and one half is placed in labeled cloth sample bags. The samples are then transported directly to the ALS Sample Prep Facility in Elko, Nevada. ALS will then transport the prepared pulps to their analytical lab in Reno, Nevada or Vancouver, B.C. All samples are analyzed for copper, gold, silver, and 31 other elements. Gold is determined by ALS method Au-AA23 which is a fire assay with an AAS finish on a 30 gram split. Copper, silver and the remaining 31 elements are determined by ALS method ME-ICP61 which is a four acid digestion and ICP-AES assay. Approximately 5% of the submitted samples are copper-gold-porphyry commercial standard reference material pulps, which are inserted in the analytical sample sequence. The sample rejects and remaining pulps will be retrieved from ALS. Stock Option Grant The Company has issued an aggregate of 3,500,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to officers, directors and consultants of the Company. The Options are exercisable at $0.16 per share for a period of one year from the date of grant. The Options have been granted under and are governed by the terms of the Company's incentive stock option plan. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed by E.L. "Buster" Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101"). About Bam Bam Resources Corp. Bam Bam Resources Corp. (CSE: BBR) (OTC: NPEZF) (FSE: 4NPA) is engaged in the identification, review and acquisition of latter stage copper and copper/gold assets. With its flagship project being Majuba Hill copper gold project located 156 miles outside Reno, Nevada, USA. Management has been mandated to focus on safe, mining friendly jurisdictions and government regulations supportive of mining operations. On Behalf of the Board of Bam Bam Resources Corp. "David Greenway" David C. Greenway President & CEO For further information, please contact: E:dg@bambamresources.com P: (604) 318-0114 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Bam Bam Resources Corp. believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Bam Bam Resources Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Bam Bam Resources Corp. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/56455 As India resumed domestic passenger flights in a graded manner on Monday, hundreds of people reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport here to take early morning flights to their hometowns and workplaces. Flight operations remained shut for two months owing to the nationwide lockdown necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic. Those who took first flights included paramilitary personnel, army men, students and migrants, who failed to book a ticket on special trains being run by the railways. Many said they shelled out more to reach the airport as there were limited public transport options available. With trains running full and inter-state buses remaining off the roads, Sandeep Singh, 19, spent Rs 5,500 to reach Delhi from Dehradun where he studies. "I remained stuck in my PG. Mummy and papa were a worried lot. I am taking the first flight home," he said. Aamir Afzal, a mechanical engineer from Patna, who had come to Delhi on an official visit on March 23, was among those who took the flights to celebrate Eid with family and friends. I had been staying in a hotel in Mahipalpur with my co-worker. The hotel charged us Rs 900 per day. We could not get a confirmed ticket on a train back home, he said. Due to the lesser number of trains, the tickets get sold out within 5-10 minutes. It is difficult for a person to book a ticket using a mobile phone, Afzal said. Afzal's friend Rahid Ali said he was happy he would be able to join his family in Bihar's Begusarai district on Eid. But it will be a muted affair as so many homeless and hungry migrants who cannot afford to travel on train or flight are still stuck in various parts of the country. It doesn't suit one to celebrate the festival in such circumstances, he said. A few people travelled long distances only to find that their flights had been cancelled. Naik Satish Kumar's Kolkata-bound flight got cancelled as the state decided not to resume operations till May 28. I travelled all the way from Ambala on a bus to take a 6-am flight to Kolkata. When I reached here, I got to know the flight had been cancelled. I am returning home now, he said. Excited to meet his two-year-old daughter, Santu Mandal, a resident of West Bengal's Bardhaman district, reached the airport along with brother, Nasiruddin Mandal, at 1 am, unaware that the flight to Kolkata had been cancelled. The Mandal brothers, engaged in hand embroidery, spent Rs 12,000 to book the tickets because we could not get a confirmed train ticket. It is the first time Sudhir Kumar will be on a plane. The Army personnel posted in Punjab's Bhatinda district says he never considered taking a flight home earlier as train travel is convenient and cheap. But trains are full already, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An imam prays in an empty mosque in Cotabato City on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao ahead of Eid al-Fitr, May 22, 2020. Suspected militants killed two children and in a separate incident gunned down a government official, marring Eid al-Fitr celebrations in the southern Philippines, officials said Monday. The militants allegedly fired a mortar round on Sunday afternoon into a cluster of houses in the town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao province as villages were celebrating the end of the month-long fasting month of Ramadan, according to officials. Two children, identified as Sadim Tambak, 10, and his sister Aslamia, 7, were pronounced dead after arriving at a hospital. Thirteen other civilians, including the childrens mother, were injured, said Musib Tan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town administrator. The victims were watching television when the explosion occurred, he said Local police commander Lt. Melvin Laguting said officers were investigating the deadly incident, noting that the type of 81 mm mortar used in the attack is typically used by guerrillas in the area. The incident occurred a day after four nearby army detachments came under attack by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a splinter separatist group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), according to Tan. Lt. Col. Edgardo Vilchez Jr., spokesman for the Armys 6th Infantry Division, said troops were caught off guard because they were not expecting any violence during Eid celebrations. We had no troops operating in the area, specifically in the village where the incident happened, Vilchez said, adding there were no reports of injuries. Cotabato City official killed On Monday, Aniceto Rasalan, 58, was gunned down while having breakfast at a restaurant in Cotabato city, the capital of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the south. Rasalan, a former journalist and current secretary to Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, was alone when he was shot by one of two assailants who quickly escaped, according to Rolen Balquin, a local public safety officer. The victim was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, Balquin said. In 2015, Rasalan, who was a correspondent for the Manila Times, survived an attempt against his life when motorcycle riding-men shot him while on his way to work. Abdulraof Macacua, a former commander of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who serves as a BARMM official, said he was saddened the attacks occurred while Muslims celebrated the end of fasting. The saddest part of the incident is that we are about to commence the next decommissioning of our combatants and I hope that this will not cause a hindrance to the process, he said. The MILF signed a peace deal with the government in 2014 and now controls the BARMM, an expanded autonomous region in the south. As part of the peace deal, former combatants have turned over their weapons to the government in a phased-in decommissioning. Not participating is a group of fighters who splintered from MILF and formed BIFF in protest over leaders dropping a bid for independence. BIFF members pledged allegiance to IS and in 2017 carried out diversionary attacks in other parts of Mindanao as militants aligned with IS and led by Isnilon Hapilon laid siege to the city of Marawi. The five-month battle ended on Oct. 23, 2017, after Hapilon was killed with the help of U.S. and Australian intelligence assistance. Hapilon and key IS leaders were among 1,200 government forces, militants and civilians killed in what turned out to be the longest and deadliest urban warfare in recent years in the south. Tens of thousands of Marawi residents remain in evacuation camps three years after the fighting that leveled much of the city. First, thanks to Sabrina Eaton for her article that reviews the great harm that would be done to Ohio families if the Trump administration is successful in its efforts to get the courts to do President Donald Trumps bidding and rescind the Affordable Care Act (If Obamacare was overturned, what would it mean here? May 24). As she reports, hundreds of thousands of Ohioans could suddenly find themselves without health care if Trumps gambit works. In the article, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan didnt have much to say about Republicans plans to replace the ACA with anything better. Thats because such a plan doesnt exist. All theyve managed to come up with is an intention to gut Medicaid and send some of the money to the states to do with as they please. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that such a draconian action would kick millions of Americans off of their present health insurance. Replacing that insurance would mean that families would be forced to buy high-deductible, high-premium plans with low coverage in an unregulated market. The ACA isnt perfect but, as the article says, nearly 20 million more Americans got health care coverage after the law passed. They would no longer have it, if Jim Jordan and his cronies get their way. George Bohan, Akron Picture of the Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala. Credit: Zorn et al. 2020, Nature - Scientific Reports: DOI 10.1038/s41586-020-2212-1 Due to the difficult accessibility and the high risk of collapse or explosion, the imaging of active volcanoes has so far been a great challenge in volcanology. Researchers around Edgar Zorn from the German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ in Potsdam are now presenting the results of a series of repeated survey flights with optical and thermal imaging cameras at the Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala. Drones were used to observe the lava dome, a viscous plug of lava. The researchers were able to show that the lava dome shows movements on two different time scales: slow expansion and growth of the dome and fast extrusion of viscous lava. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. "We equipped a drone with different cameras," says Edgar Zorn from GFZ, the first author of the study. "We then flew the drone over the crater at various intervals, measuring the movements of lava flow and a lava dome using a specific type of stereo photography with a precision never seen before." By comparing the data from the drone, the researchers were able to determine the flow velocity, movement patterns and surface temperature of the volcano. These parameters are important for predicting the danger of explosive volcanoes. The researchers also succeeded in deriving the flow properties of the lava from these data. "We have shown that the use of drones can help to completely re-measure even the most dangerous and active volcanoes on Earth from a safe distance," says Edgar Zorn. Thomas Walter, volcanologist at GFZ, who was also involved in the study, says, "A regular and systematic survey of dangerous volcanoes with drones seems to be almost within one's grasp." The two cameras used to survey the Caliente volcanic cone of the Santa Maria volcano were able to take high-resolution photos and thermal imaging. Using a special computer algorithm, the researchers were able to create complete and detailed 3-D models from these images. They obtained a 3-D topography and temperature model of the volcano with a resolution of only a few centimeters. Drone missions considerably reduce the risk for volcanologists, as the cameras can be flown directly to the dangerous spots while the scientists remain at a distance. The greatest challenge lies in the post-processing and calculation of the models. "The 3-D models of the various flights must be positioned exactly so that they can be compared. This requires painstaking detail work, but the effort is worth it because even minimal movements become immediately visible," says Edgar Zorn. "In the study, we presented some new possibilities for the representation and measurement of certain ground movements, which could be very useful in future projects." Thermal image of the flight over the lava dome of Santa Maria volcano. Credit: Zorn et al. 2020, Nature - Scientific Reports: DOI 10.1038/s41586-020-2212-1 Explore further New lava flows open on active Hawaii volcano More information: Edgar U. Zorn et al. UAS-based tracking of the Santiaguito Lava Dome, Guatemala, Scientific Reports (2020). Journal information: Nature , Scientific Reports Edgar U. Zorn et al. UAS-based tracking of the Santiaguito Lava Dome, Guatemala,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65386-2 A New York man has been charged with choking and raping a 64-year-old woman just yards from her home. Frankie Harris, 38, from Brooklyn has been charged with attempted murder, rape, strangulation and sex abuse following the alleged attack in Harlem shortly before midnight on May 18. He is said to have 'approached the female victim from behind' before police say he 'placed her in a choke hold, and knocked her to the ground' leaving her in a pool of her own blood. The victim, who has not been named, is described as mentally-disabled by The New York Daily News. Harris is reported to have told police: 'Yeah, I did it. It was consensual.' Frankie Harris, from Brooklyn, has been charged with attempted murder, rape, strangulation and sex abuse following the alleged attack in Harlem on May 18 Harris is said to have 'approached the female victim from behind' before police say he 'placed her in a choke hold, and knocked her to the ground' In a statement before Harris' arrest the NYPD said: 'The individual exposed himself before fleeing on Citi-bike in an unknown direction. 'EMS responded to the scene and transported the female to an area hospital.' Security footage from the scene and released by cops shows a man, identified by police as Harris, shortly before his alleged attack. He said to have carried out his brutal assault before washing his hands with soap and fleeing on a CitiBike. Security footage from the scene and released by cops shows a man, identified by police as Harris, shortly before his alleged attack. He said to have carried out his brutal assault before washing his hands with soap and fleeing on a CitiBike Chief Rodney Harrison tweeted: 'Great investigative work done by 23 Squad, Manhattan North Homicide, and Manhattan Special Victims for apprehending and arresting Frankie Harris. 'Harris has been charged with Attempted Murder and Rape for the vicious attack and sexual assault on a 64-year-old woman in #eastharlem.' He added: 'Our victim is a local person; shes well respected in the community. 'He put some palm oil soap on his hands and washed his hands down and then jumped on his bike like nothing happened.' Police were called after the woman was discovered by a passing member of the public, The New York Post reports. Harris is also said to be mentally disabled, according to The New York Daily News. Theres a reason this project one that Rucci has agreed to do pro bono will take years of planning to achieve. This year alone, the Commission intends to meet with officials representing every state in the Union. States will be encouraged to create events and contests that are meaningful to their citizens. Theres also a signature programs committee that is responsible for creating programs that will be a national showcase of America and its people. Ive had the pleasure of working closely with Tony these past few months and know him to be a masterful strategist, active listener and thoughtful leader, said Rosie Rios, officer of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and the 43rd U.S Treasurer. This skill set is critical as we seek to create a highly participatory process that will help us build the partnerships and programs we need to set the stage for America 250. Much of the focus will be at the community level, Rucci said. Local communities will have sponsored programs, events, contests, bakeoffs, cooking contests, and things of that nature, he said. Were also likely to sponsor events and contests at a national level in music, poetry, art and essays. The purpose of America 250, Rucci said, is to inspire the American spirit among all Americans and each American, based on our founding principles, on our journey to a more perfect Union. What does our journey to a more perfect Union suggest? he said. There are events and periods in our history where we have not fully lived up to our founding principles, and we cannot overlook that in the design of celebrating 250 years. The Commission has set a bold vision for programs and events that will promote a national commitment to human dignity, freedom and well being. Programs that will leave a legacy impact well beyond 2026. As the French statesman, Alexis de Tosqueville said of America in 1835: The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults, Rucci said. I think that 2026 is a remarkable window in time to emphasize, reinforce and promote unity in America. In addition to the foundations purpose, Rucci said, through focus groups, surveys and information provided by the commissioners, three key themes have been identified: 1. Educate. National surveys and research reflect an alarming lack of knowledge of the history of the United States. How can our citizens understand the nation we are today without a basic understanding of our past? 2. Engage. Democracy works best when individual citizens are engaged civically. Give back your time and energy in your community. Vote. 3. Unite. The real power of America is when individuals come together around common values and idea. We have heard loud and clear that Americans want a more unified, civil nation. One of the three pillars were building of each event is the idea of education geared toward an understanding of America who we are, how we got here, what we stand for, he said. We have a very simple vision to inspire the American spirit and to reinforce those three key themes. America 250 represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the American spirit and our common bonds as Americans, DiLella said. We envision a momentous commemoration focused on educating, engaging and uniting all Americans. Rucci has had a long and successful career in business and in academia, which helped prepare him for his current task of leading the America 250 Foundation. During his nearly 30-year business career, he was a senior corporate officer for three Fortune 50 companies, including Cardinal Health, Sears Roebuck and Co. and Baxter International. His business roles have included extensive board of directors and governance experience, mergers and acquisitions, large-scale organizational change efforts and international responsibilities. In addition to Ohio State, Rucci has held many high-level teaching and administrative roles, including at BGSU, where he currently is Executive-in-Residence; at the University of Illinois, Chicago, where he served as dean of the College of Business and was a tenured professor; and he was Interim CEO for Ohio State University Physicians and Senior Associate Vice President for Health Sciences. Rucci, however, said that none of that was possible without the foundation BGSU provided for his education after he left his hometown of Youngstown. When I came to Bowling Green, it was an inflection point in my life I cannot overstate that point, he said. I ended up in Rodgers Quadrangle and started interacting with people who certainly were bright and motivated, and most of them were like me, a first-generation college student. I quickly acclimated to campus life and one of the people who I shared a dorm room with, Jim Loadman, is still one of my closest friends. Here I am 50 years later, and still one of my very closest friends in the world is someone I met at Bowling Green State University. Not to mention that my son Joshua (05) earned his bachelors degree at the University. BGSU really opened my eyes to the endless things you can choose to do with your life if you have the will to do it, youre motivated and youre willing to work hard. Hard work is a hallmark in which everything Rucci has been involved. If youre going to do something that youre passionate about, youve got to give 110 percent commitment to the task at hand. If Im going to do it, then I have to give it my absolute best shot. Bowling Green really instilled all of that awareness in me. My willingness to be committed and work hard and do whatever it takes, I think thats the thing thats enabled me to have some of these opportunities. Thats Bowling Green. Thats what it did for me and thats why I am loyal to the University. When Im on campus, I find many Bowling Green students who have that same profile that I did. Theyre just trying to do a little better in life and I have all the time and energy in the world for young people like that. Thats why I have established scholarship funds here and why Ive gotten involved with how Bowling Green can create an experience for our students that causes them to not just be successful in college during their time here, but give them a toolkit that allows them to be successful in life. I've led an absolutely charmed life. I am the first-generation son of an Italian immigrant father. Neither my father nor mother ever finished high school, and like so many other Bowling Green students, I am among the first generation in my extended family to be able to go to college. And yet, I have had opportunities in life I could never have envisioned because of Bowling Green State University. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das (PTI) Some of the measures announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) last Friday were on expected lines; the extension of loan moratorium scheme for example. This had to come because the lockdown was extended until May 31. In a locked-down economy, it is impossible for most borrowers to start repaying their EMIs beginning June. Firms have suffered massive cash flow issues on account of a prolonged shutdown. In the initial phase, the RBI had announced the moratorium for March 1May 31. Since then, in multiple meetings with the RBI top brass, banks and non-banking finance companies had apprised the central bank about the need for continuation of the moratorium scheme. That has been announced now. Besides this, the central bank announced a series of small steps mainly to cushion the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. These were mainly to encourage banks to keep the funding channels open for struggling industries. These include permission to lending institutions to convert the accumulated interest on working capital facilities over the total EMI deferment period of six months into a funded interest term loan, hiking the group exposure limit to 30 percent from 25 percent for enabling corporates to meet their funding requirements from banks, relaxing export credit rules and permission for Sidbi to roll over Rs 15,000 crore refinance beyond the earlier permitted 90 days. All the above schemes are to help stressed corporate borrowers and is welcome at a time there is a huge uncertainty on the economic front. A higher group exposure limit would mean banks can lend more to the same group if it needs money. Earlier, the RBI had put a cap on group exposure fearing concentration risk. The question is whether industries, barring a few, will have the appetite to borrow more with no business activity on the ground. Demand scenario plays a crucial role What came as a surprise was the 40 basis points rate cut that brought down the repo rate to 4 percent. The RBI has clearly front-loaded its rate cuts to give a leg up to the economy. Combined with the 75 bps rate cut in March, in just two months, the RBI has cut repo rates by 115 bps. If one looks at the rate cut beginning this rate cut cycle, the RBI has cut rates by a total of 250 basis points. The banking system has passed the rate cuts partially to the end borrowers on account of low demand for loans. Lower rates are appealing for small borrowers but are not a deciding factor to take more debt on their books. The demand scenario plays a crucial role. Unless there are consumers to buy services and goods, there is no point in investing in capacity expansion. Having said that, the third round of RBI measures are more incremental in nature, these measures are very critical for immediate assistance for stressed borrowers. For example, in the absence of a moratorium extension, liquidity facilities for stressed borrowers, banks would have started witnessing a massive spike in bad loans in the distant future. Already, there are about Rs 9 lakh crore NPAs in the banking system. This would have gone up further by a significant quantum. Even after the lockdown is lifted, it will take a few more months for industries to restore normalcy and get their workforces back in factories. Considering all these factors, the RBIs regulatory measures make perfect sense. Deterioration in economic conditions expected What is the RBIs rationale for pressing too many rule changes back to back? The central bank, going by the language of Shaktikanta Das statement on Friday, is convinced of a sharp deterioration in economic conditions going ahead. It expects fresh asset quality issues to emerge in a slowing economy wrecked by the pandemic. The RBI has now projected a negative growth for FY21 and is of the view that that the macroeconomic impact of COVID-19 is turning out to be more severe than initially anticipated. Beyond the destruction of economic and financial activity, livelihood and health are severely affected, the governor said in his statement. What more could the RBI do in the present economic environment? It will have to keep supporting the system with rule relaxations till normalcy is restored in the economy. These will be mere band-aid solutions since the real issue is with lack of demand on the ground. Even then, given that there is no visibility of economic revival in the remaining part of the year and there are no major policy initiatives from the government so far to boost demand, the RBI will have to possibly come up with more such band-aid solutions to help the banking system avert a sudden spike in NPAs. Additional measures could come in the form of a one-time restructuring facility for all corporate borrowers or further relaxation in NPA recognition norms. Banks may be asked to lend more with less stringent rules. The desperation may push banks to overlook the creditworthiness of some of the weaker borrowers. So far, the RBIs liquidity shots have not reached the small-sized borrowers. The biggest disadvantage the central bank faces right now is the lack of support from the government in the form of effective fiscal side measures to boost demand. Monetary measures cannot alone lift the economy from the mess it is in now. Much of the economic package announced by the government is also loans and interest subventions. Loans arent free money. It needs to be paid back to lenders and in the absence of demand, the RBI will be forced to come up with more band-aid measures. In keeping with the COVID-19 protocol of social and physical distancing to contain the spread of the virus, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said the Certificate of National Service (CNS) will be issued to qualified corps members, who are passing out on May 28, at local government councils. Such used to be shared during the passing out parade of corps members at state headquarters. The corps, amid the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, approved May 28 as the passing-out day for 2019 Batch B stream one set of corps members. In a statement by the spokesperson of corps on Monday, Adenike Adeyemi, she said the event shall be devoid of a ceremonial parade as a result of the threat and danger posed by coronavirus. She said NYSC officers have been mobilised for the distribution and shall do so from ten service points in each of the local government councils. As a precautionary measure, the distribution shall be staggered for a period of ten days in the first instance, in order to remove anxiety from the concerned Corps Members, in addition to making the activity seamless and less cumbersome, she said. It is imperative to state that Corps Members who at present are not in their state of service need not violate the ban on inter-state journeys which is still in force, she said. According to her, as soon as the ban is lifted and it is safe to travel, they are expected to go to their respective states of service to collect their CNS. Kindly note that unclaimed certificates shall be returned to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja, two weeks after the lifting of inter-state travel ban. Please, always stay in touch with our social media platforms, as well as the mainstream media for further information, she said. Farewell She said the management congratulates the 2019 Batch B Stream 1 corps members for the successful completion of the service, which is a major milestone. READ ALSO: Dear Corps Members, as you go for your CNS from Thursday, 28th May, remember to ensure the strictest observance of discipline; anchored on orderliness, adherence to instructions, added to the rules of social/physical distancing, use of facemask, hand sanitiser and proper washing of the hands with liquid soap for at least twenty seconds during the activity, she said. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a scheme set up by the Nigerian government to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building and the development of the country. There is no military conscription in Nigeria, but since 1973 graduates of universities and later, polytechnics, have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps programme for one year. Director of Medical Services in Parliament, Dr Prince Pambo has said results of Members of Parliament who partook in the mandatory coronavirus test will not be made public. He said the results of individuals who test positive will be presented to them individually without the involvement of parliament. On 19th May, 2020 the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, directed all Members of Parliament, including parliamentary staff, to go through a mandatory Coronavirus test. This step he said, forms part of measures instituted by the Parliamentary Service Board to prevent an outbreak of the pandemic in the legislature. He assured that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure the safety of MPs. As a result of that directive, the samples of some 690 persons in Parliament were taken last week. Speaking to Citi News in an interview after the exercise, Dr Prince Panbo said The exercise was meant, not only for members of Parliament but the staff of Parliament as well and other support staff who have a duty in the parliamentary precinct and the results will be made known to them individually, Meanwhile, Ghana's Health Service has announced some new 125 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in the country, barely hours after some 66 recorded on Sunday, May 24, 2020. This brings to total, 6,808 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ghana, following Sunday's 6,683. The recoveries also have increased by 72, making it 2,070, from its previous 1,998. 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. Featured Video Ukraine's National Police creates secret department instead of liquidated economic one AntAC 13:40, 25.05.20 729 The new unit is the Department for the protection of public and state interests. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Two German states with low coronavirus infection rates announced plans to throw off key public safety precautions, sparking anger and alarm Monday in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition. Thuringia and Saxony, both in the ex-communist east of the country, said they would "open up everything" with few exceptions from June 6, while monitoring for new outbreaks. Under Germany's federalist system, the 16 regional states have far more leeway to set policy than in more centrally governed countries such as Britain and France. Merkel has been widely praised for keeping the coronavirus death rate in particular far lower than in many countries worldwide, even as she faced impatience from state premiers to accelerate the opening up of Europe's top economy. But pressure has grown especially from regions less impacted by the virus to abandon national guidelines and give cities and towns the power to set the rules, while relying on "personal responsibility" for social distancing. "I didn't say that people should start hugging each other or take off their masks to kiss each other," Thuringia premier Bodo Ramelow told public broadcaster MDR. But he said it made "no sense" to maintain crisis measures when half of the districts in his state hadn't reported any new infections in the last three weeks. Local health and safety offices should be given the power to monitor for outbreaks and react accordingly with the support of state authorities, he added. Following Thuringia's lead, officials in Saxony said they were also ready for a "paradigm change" in the battle against the virus. "Instead of imposing general rules and then allowing a lot of exceptions, essentially everything will be opened up and only a few exceptions will be made for what is not possible," regional health minister Petra Koepping said. The announcements touched off angry reactions within Merkel's right-left "grand coalition". Heath Minister Jens Spahn warned that such moves ran the risk of convincing Germans they could drop their guard. "You must not create the impression that the pandemic is over," he told the Bild tabloid. Lars Klingbeil, general secretary of the Social Democrats, junior partners in the coalition, accused Ramelow in particular of pandering to extremist critics of the safety measures who have staged loud protests in recent weeks. "I expect politicians to lead and provide orientation and not be led by a few thousand people with conspiracy theories standing up in public squares," he told Bild. Bild reported Monday that the Merkel government intends to extend social distancing and mask wearing guidelines nationwide beyond the current deadline of June 5. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP As many as 20 flights were operated to and from the Mumbai airport till 12:45 pm on Monday after Indian airlines resumed commercial passenger services after two months of COVID-19 lockdown. The airport received around 1,900 passenger, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) said in a statement. The government had on March 25 announced suspension of all commercial passenger flights, following the imposition of a nationwide lockdown. Last week, the government decided to lift restrictions on the operations of the domestic flight services and allowed Indian carriers to recommence one-third of their total flights from each airport. "As of 12:40 pm Monday, seven flights carrying 266 arrived at the Shivaji Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) while a total of 1,613 passenger departed in 13 flights to different destinations till 12.45 pm," MIAL said. Budget carrier IndiGo was the first carrier to recommence air services to and from the city airport with the departure of its flight to Patna at 6.45 am and its first flight arriving from Lucknow at 8.20 am. Mumbai airport had on Sunday announced it will restart operations with 50 flights per day to begin with, 25 arrivals and 25 departures. It had also urged the passengers above the age of 14 to mandatorily download the Aarogya Setu app to establish safe travel and as part of the SOPs (standard operating procedure) put in place before the recommencement of operations. CSMIA had also advised passengers above 80 years as well as expectant mothers and passengers with health issues to restrict travelling. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US has become Vietnams largest supplier of fruits and vegetables in the first four months of the year, recording a 44% increase year-on-year in export value to $102.1 million, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association. Vietnam's overall fruit and vegetable imports fell 42 percent to 376.9 million USD, but imports from several countries such as New Zealand, the US and Korea increased. In the same period last year the US had accounted for only 10 percent of imports. Pham Thien Hoang, owner of GreenSpace Store, a fruit importer, said fruits from the US are very popular among Vietnamese consumers. Apples, grapes and cherries are among the biggest imports from that country. Vietnam is also a substantial exporter of vegetables and fruits, and in the first four months earned 1.2 billion USD these products, a 12.5 percent drop./. Dragon fruit noodles? Firms create new food products as exports to China slump The Viet Nam Flour Corporation (Vikybomi) has created new food products made from wheat flour and farm produce such as dragon fruit and watermelon amid a reduction in fruit exports to China. The government announcement came after the guerrillas proposed a three-day truce for Eid al-Fitr. Peace talks ran aground on the problem of the exchange of prisoners. The US will withdraw by 2021. So far the conflict has killed 157,000, including 43,000 civilians. Kabul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Afghan government will free 2,000 Taliban prisoners, President Ashraf Ghani announced yesterday. The day before, the Islamic guerrillas had said they were ready to respect a three-day truce for Eid al-Fitr, the feast that closes Ramadan, the month of prayer and fasting sacred to Islam. Kabul authorities have said they are ready to resume peace talks with fundamentalist militiamen. Last month the two sides met to try to end the conflict, which has been going on for almost 20 years; talks ran aground on the issue of the exchange of prisoners. Inter-Afghan dialogue started in February after the United States signed an agreement with the Taliban. Washington has pledged to withdraw its troops from the country by 2021 - and US allies will do the same. In return, the US calls for the commitment of Taliban leaders to cut ties with other jihadist organizations, lay down their arms and negotiate peace with the government. So far Kabul has freed 1000 Taliban guerrillas. Based on an initial agreement, it should release another 4 thousand. Ghani demands in turn that the guerillas free 200 soldiers. According to government sources, only half of them have been released so far. The Taliban, Pashtun ethnic guerrillas from the south of the country, are active in almost all Afghan provinces. Washington and Northern Alliance forces (made up mostly of Tajiks and Uzbeks) overthrew the Taliban government in late 2001 and early 2002, immediately after the attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. The fundamentalist group hosted al-Qaeda leaders responsible for the attacks on American soil. According to data from Brown University, the conflict resulted in 157 thousand deaths, including 43 thousand civilians. US forces, which currently have 13,000 units on the ground, supported by 17,000 personnel made available by NATO and other partners, have suffered around 2200 casualties. Were excited to bring our premium dispensary experience to more patients in southwest Florida as we continue to grow and create more employment across the state, when jobs are needed more than ever AltMed Florida, one of the fastest growing MMTCs in the state (source: OMMU), continues its statewide expansion with a three-day, Memorial Day Opening, starting Monday May 25 for its newest MUV Medical Cannabis Dispensary at 28245 South Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs. During the opening, staggered over three-days for crowd mitigation, all licensed Florida medical cannabis patients will receive a one-time use only, one per patient, 25 percent off their entire first purchase (see opening specials here). Patients are also encouraged to order at muvfl.com for express pickup or delivery to help reduce heavy traffic. With its newest location on the busy Tamiami Trail/Hwy-41, just north of Naples, AltMed Florida now has 21 MUV Dispensaries and is on pace to open 32 by year-end, and 40 by Q2, 2021. In our tireless efforts to serve Floridians in all parts of our home state, were excited to bring our premium dispensary experience to more patients in southwest Florida as we continue to grow and create more employment across the state, when jobs are needed more than ever, said AltMed Director of Corporate Affairs Todd Beckwith. Deemed an essential service during the pandemic, AltMed Florida has been able to expand its workforce to over 500 employees with additional teams coming onboard at each of its 10 new dispensaries this year. With higher demand for products from 21 total dispensaries, AltMed has also generated additional construction employment and staffing with the expansion of its 200,000-square-foot cultivation facility in Apollo Beach. The newest state-of-the-art MUV Bonita Springs dispensary will provide award-winning products to medical cannabis patients in nearby Naples and Bonita Beach - along with those residing in Lee County and nearby Collier County. The Bonita Springs MUV Dispensary will offer an extensive selection of award-winning products including flower, pre-rolls, a wide range of vaporizer pens, metered dose inhalers, topicals, oral sprays, patent-pending encapsulation formulations in its Tinctures, 72-Hour Transdermal patches and transdermal gels. MUV is also has one of the widest selections of concentrates for patients needing macro-dosing options. Our dispensaries set the standard for quality products, service and overall patient experience and were excited to offer our premium MUV medical cannabis brand to Bonita Springs patients, said AltMed Florida CEO John Tipton. Like AltMed Floridas 20 other locations (Apollo Beach, Clearwater, Deerfield Beach, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville/San Marco, Jacksonville Beach, Lady Lake, Lakeland, Longwood/Orlando, Lutz, North Port, Downtown Orlando, Ormond Beach, Pensacola, Sebastian, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa and Wellington/West Palm), the new Bonita Springs MUV Dispensary stands out because its designed as a premium experience think Apple Store, with a modern open-concept design and expert staff with extensive training. The MUV brand already has a wide following in other legal medical cannabis markets, including Arizona, where it has won five Best of Arizona medical cannabis awards. MUV products are sold exclusively in Florida at MUV dispensaries because, unlike other states, Florida does not allow wholesale of product between license holders - only products that license holders make themselves can be sold in their dispensaries. For more information about the new ADA-compliant MUV Medical Cannabis Dispensary in Bonita Springs, including hours and available MUV products, visit muvfl.com. AltMed Florida is on pace to open 40 MUV Medical Cannabis Dispensaries across the state, all supplied by its 200,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art cultivation facility. Visit this link for images of AltMed Floridas cultivation operations and watch this brief video to see what makes AltMed Florida and its MUV Medical Cannabis Dispensaries stand out. About Plants of Ruskin, LLC - d.b.a. AltMed Florida, LLC - With a focus on quality and attention to detail, Plants of Ruskin has more than 35 years of experience in providing seedlings to farmers for vegetable and medical product production. Plants of Ruskin founders, the Dickman Family, are 4th generation farmers with a long history of working in conjunction with the University of Florida, including an endowed chair specifically dedicated to plant improvement. About AltMed Enterprises - Alternative Medical Enterprises, LLC, headquartered in Sarasota, FL and doing business as AltMed Enterprises, is a fully integrated medical cannabis company that brings compassion, community engagement and pharmaceutical industry precision to the development, production and dispensing of medical cannabinoids. About MUV - The MUV brand of cannabis infused products was launched in Arizona in 2016 and quickly gained international attention and recognition. In its first six months alone, MUV received four best of Arizona medical cannabis awards, including two first prizes for its proprietary Ethanol extractions that are the basis of all MUV products. Forward-Looking Statements - To the extent any statements made in this press release contain information that is not historical, these statements are forward-looking in nature and merely express our beliefs, expectations or opinions. For example, words such as may, should, estimates, predicts, continues, believes, anticipates, plans, expects, intends, potential, strategy and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations or estimates and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) our ability to implement our business strategy of distributing high quality cannabis products where permissible under applicable law; (ii) availability and cost of additional capital; (iii) our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees and management; (iv) the impact of federal, state or local government regulations; (v) competition in the cannabis industry; (vi) our ability to generate revenues; and (vii) litigation in connection with our business. All forward-looking statements included in this press release and attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, regardless of whether new information becomes available, future developments occur or otherwise. WASHINGTON When the letter came informing James Dexter that the U.S. Department of Education would be sending his 30-student nursing program $500,000 in coronavirus aid, Dexter was stunned. The funding translated to $16,667 for each student in the nursing program of the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex Board of Cooperative Educational Services. I had to look three times, said Dexter, the organization's CEO. It is so unusual for our little small program to be getting such a big allocation. Meanwhile, in the neighboring county to the south, the University at Albany was informed by the Department of Education it would receive $16.85 million in coronavirus relief. The university serves about 17,500 students. Thats $963 per pupil. The striking disparity in aid is a result of how the DOE distributed a portion of the $14 billion in higher education relief that Congress approved to help schools struggling to support their students and institutions during the pandemic. The legislation was written in a hurry and the department has moved fast to get money out the door as quickly as possible. But the inconsistent distribution has created a scenario where some small schools say they will eventually return funds to the DOE, while larger colleges and universities are desperate for more relief. Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage While most of the money was distributed via a formula that accounted for a schools enrollment and population of low-income students, about $350 million was earmarked for hundreds of the smallest schools in America so that every not-for-profit higher education institution that teaches students in person received at least $500,000 in coronavirus aid. In order to receive the funding, an institution will need to request it, a DOE spokesman said. Once the requests are processed, the remaining money will be distributed through a competitive grant process. Ben Miller, vice president of post-secondary education at the liberal think-tank Center for American Progress, said thats not how Congress planned for this $350 million to be used. He called it a complete screw up. It was supposed to go to places that demonstrated a lot of need and within that, they were supposed to give priority to smaller colleges, said Miller. The department just basically blew past any of the requirements around demonstrating need. Jason Delisle, resident fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said the bill was written to suggest $500,000 was a mandatory minimum for college aid, while allowing DOE some discretion. DOE took a pass on using discretion, he said. Doing something else, while obviously it would prevent extreme cases like youre talking about, would take a lot of time, said Delisle. This has to fall on Congress. They could have written a formula spelling out how they wanted the money allocated. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who chairs the Senate committee on education, countered that Education Secretary Betsy Devos is doing a good job implementing the law the way Congress wrote it. Where Congress gave the secretary discretion, or minimal direction, she is taking reasonable steps to implement the law fairly, effectively and efficiently, Alexander said. But Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the committee, urged Devos to reverse this distribution. This decision is unacceptable and will be detrimental to students at institutions significantly impacted by COVID-19, many of which are in desperate need of relief, she wrote to Devos. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, called for oversight and hearings over how higher education funds are being distributed. "If we're not reaching the most schools and the most students who are most in need, then we failed," he said. As a result of the DOEs choice, 121 of the smallest post-secondary schools in New York could receive $500,000 in aid. They are yeshivas, seminaries, certificate programs and small graduate schools. Seventy-eight of them serve less than 200 students; 40 serve less than 100. The smallest appears to the Talmudical Institute of Upstate New York, located in Rochester, which had six students enrolled, according to most recent data from the DOE. Thats $83,334 per pupil in aid. The school did not respond to a request for comment. One school that is slated to get $500,000 in aid is Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, which has 26 seminarians enrolled and is slated to close at the end of the school year amid allegations of sexual misconduct and severe financial deficits. The seminary does not intend to accept the funds, said Greg Tucker, interim communications director for the Diocese of Buffalo. Mary Beth Labate, president of the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities in New York, said she was glad to see that their smaller member schools were not left behind in the CARES Act. The funding was critical, Labate said. We were really concerned that some of the smaller schools that have the least capacity to respond would be left out of a formula that looks simply at the number of students. Albany Law School, with 487 students, was made eligible for $500,000. It will use the funds to give grants to low-income students who have been hurt financially due to coronavirus and pay for the cost of moving instruction online and protecting students and faculty health. Albany Law spokesman Chris Colton said $500,000 will only cover a fraction of those costs. The nursing schools at St. Peters Hospital and Samaritan Hospital are also eligible. The schools will use the funds to award student grants and repurchase supplies like personal protective equipment that were donated, said Courtney Weisberg, a spokeswoman for St. Peters Health Partners. Dexter said he will be using the $500,000 for the BOCES nursing program similarly. The program is not likely to spend the entire $500,000 and may end up returning some of the funds to the DOE, he said. In contrast, larger colleges and universities said the aid that they are receiving from DOE hardly makes a dent in their forecasted losses. University at Albany spokesman Jordan Carleo-Evangelist said the school was crediting or refunding to students an estimated $22.4 million in room-and-board fees for the spring semester. While the CARES Act money is important, and a welcome start, it only covers a fraction of the revenue lost by colleges and universities, to say nothing of the significant unbudgeted costs associated with responding to the virus, he said. The university incurred major expenses upgrading technology for remote learning, acquiring personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies and picking up the cost to host a state-sponsored COVID-19 testing site on campus, Carleo-Evangelist said. Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, with 2,860 students, had to refund about $4.5 million in room and board costs, said spokeswoman Sara Miga. The college also canceled all on-campus summer programs resulting in a loss of just over $2 million in net revenue. The school will get $1.6 million in funds from the CARES Act, or roughly $573 per pupil. Likewise, the College of Saint Rose in Albany, with 4,619 students, saw $3.1 million in room-and-board losses, paired with further losses from canceled events and new costs associated with remote instruction, college spokeswoman Jennifer Gish said. The school will receive $3.6 million in federal relief, about $789 per pupil. About half of the coronavirus relief that larger colleges and universities receive must be spent on emergency grants to low-income students with demonstrated coronavirus-related needs. Only students eligible for federal student aid programs can apply, excluding international and undocumented students. Saint Rose received more than 1,500 applications from over 2,700 eligible students, Gish said. Skidmore had awarded $313,829 to 227 students, as of May 14, Miga said. After distributing those student grants, the schools can access the second half of their funds institutional relief that can be used to defray expenses and lost revenues. Some wealthy private schools with large endowments, like Harvard and Yale Universities, rejected the federal funding allocated for them, following public pressure. Columbia University has indicated it plans to use the funds. Cornell University said it will use all the funds to support students not just half. Education groups applaud the higher education funding in the CARES Act, but say they need more. Labate called $14 billion divvied among thousands of schools the tip of the iceberg. Debate over further coronavirus relief legislation has stalled in Congress as Senate Republicans urge a pause as funds from earlier legislation continue to be distributed. House Democrats proposed another $37 billion for higher education in the Heroes Act passed May 15. Thats far short of the $46.6 billion the American Council on Education and 40 other higher education organizations requested from Congress. Many colleges foresee enrollment declines in their future, as well as ongoing health- and technology-related costs. Strangled state budgets could pose greater challenges for public colleges and universities. The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has wielded a devastating blow to the entire sector of higher education, Gish said. The state of the COVID-19 pandemic when classes resume for fall, and to what level campus life can resemble the norm, will determine if that picture grows more concerning. The Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara in Derby was subjected to hate-crime on Monday morning when one person entered the premises and caused damage worth thousands of pounds, gurdwara officials said. Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill regretted the incident: Very sad to see an attack on any place of worship. Thoughts are with the Derby sangat who have been providing 500 meals a day from Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara. Images of the person caught on CCTV entering the premises were shared by the gurdwara on social media while reporting the incident, causing concern and demands for his arrest. The gurdwara said in a statement: This morning at 6am an individual entered the Gurdwara premises causing thousands of pounds of damageWe can confirm that no individuals were injured and that the clean-up process has begun. This hate crime or any sort of crime against a Sikh will never deter us in our practice of seva and simran. We will continue the service the community with Langar and continue to stream live nitnem (daily prayers). We will ensure the safety of all our Sevadhaars (colunteers) and employees, it added. Gurdwaras across the UK have been recipients of funding as part of a government scheme to install security equipment to prevent hate-crime in places of worship, but such incidents have continued. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prasun Sonwalkar Prasun Sonwalkar was Editor (UK & Europe), Hindustan Times. During more than three decades, he held senior positions on the Desk, besides reporting from Indias north-east and other states, including a decade covering politics from New Delhi. He has been reporting from UK and Europe since 1999. ...view detail The Office of the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, has praised Ghanaian Muslims for their obedience to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) preventive protocols as they marked this years Eid-ul-Fitr. For the first time since Ghanas independence, the solemn occasion observed to signify the end of Ramadan (30-day fast), was celebrated without the associated mass prayer by the faithful at their respective mosques. This was necessitated by the ban on social gathering, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which as at Monday, May 25, this year, had claimed 32 lives out of the 6,808 confirmed cases in the country. Sheikh Bun Bida, Public Relations Officer of the Eid Planning Committee, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi, said the Office of the Regional Chief Imam was impressed with the high sense of discipline demonstrated by Muslims. We are in distressed times, therefore, it is the responsibility of the faithful to always be law-abiding, he stated, and entreated Muslims to continue to put into practice those preventive protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. They are mandated to wash their hands regularly under running water, wear nose masks and observe social distancing as much as possible. Meanwhile, beggars at the Kumasi Central Mosque were hit hard by the absence of large congregation on Sunday, May 24, as the facility remained closed in compliance with the existing COVID-19 preventive protocols. Most of them, whose livelihood depended on gratuity, were left disappointed as they had to go home empty-handed, a sharp contrast of the the goodies they have been enjoying from the public during the Eid-ul-Fitr. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Boris Johnson is facing sustained pressure to sack his key aide Dominic Cummings following allegations he breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions. It comes as a mother and son arrived outside Mr Cummings house carrying a sign that reads: All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others, a quote from George Orwells Animal Farm. The British Prime Minister will discuss the easing of measures at a Cabinet meeting today, but the political storm over his chief advisers trip looks set to overshadow any announcements. Protesters hold a sign with a quote from George Orwells Animal Farm outside the north London home of Dominic Cummings (Aaron Chown/PA) Further reports also suggested he took a second trip to the North East of England in April, having already returned to London following his recovery from Covid-19 a disease which has seen more than 45,000 people in the UK die after contracting it. Several Conservative backbenchers have joined calls from opposition parties for Mr Cummings to quit or be sacked, amid warnings that his actions have undermined efforts to fight coronavirus. The pair protesting outside Mr Cumming's home, who gave their names as Michelle and Milo, live near to the British Prime Ministers adviser. Michelle told reporters: Our street looked after each other, hes not above anybody. She added: I think its sad that none of his neighbours could possibly come and help him. Were all in this together. I think he has to go, and this is our way, on a Bank Holiday Monday of saying were not happy. We werent happy with Boris yesterday. Durham Police has been asked to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law surrounding Dominic Cummings visit to the county. In a statement, the forces acting police, crime and victims commissioner Steve White said: I am confident that thus far, Durham police has responded proportionately and appropriately to the issues raised concerning Mr Cummings and his visit to the County at the end of March. It is clear however that there is a plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination. I have today written to the Chief Constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter at any juncture. It is vital that the force can show it has the interests of the people of County Durham and Darlington at its heart, so that the model of policing by consent, independent of government but answerable to the law, is maintained. It will be for the Chief Constable to determine the operational response to this request and I am confident that with the resources at its disposal, the force can show proportionality and fairness in what has become a major issue of public interest and trust. Professor Stephen Reicher, a member of the British Governments advisory group on behavioural science, told ITVs Good Morning Britain: If you look at the research it shows the reason why people observed lockdown was not for themselves, it wasnt because they were personally at risk, they did it for the community, they did it because of a sense of were all in this together. (PA Graphics) And Gloucestershires independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl said Mr Cummings actions made a mockery of police enforcement earlier in the lockdown. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I think it makes it much harder for the police going forward this will be quoted back at them time and time again when they try to enforce the new rules. But I think more importantly it makes something of a mockery of the police action going back when the message was very, very clear: stay at home. Mr Johnson said he could not mark down Mr Cummings for the way he acted, and told the Downing Street press conference on Sunday that, following extensive talks with his aide, he concluded he followed the instincts of every father and every parent. He said Mr Cummings had acted responsibly, legally and with integrity. The British PM is set to reveal plans to ease restrictions for certain sectors of the economy with the changes expected to signal the reopening of some non-essential shops when the Cabinet meets today. It follows confirmation that the phased reopening of Englands primary schools will commence on June 1. Mr Cummings actions have provoked fury among some MPs, with Tory former minister Paul Maynard saying: It is a classic case of do as I say, not as I do and it is not as if he was unfamiliar with guidance he himself helped draw up. It seems to me to be utterly indefensible and his position wholly untenable. It is a classic case of 'do as I say, not as I do' - and it is not as if he was unfamiliar with guidance he himself helped draw up. It seems to me to be utterly indefensible and his position wholly untenable. 2/2 Paul Maynard MP (@PaulMaynardUK) May 24, 2020 Senior Conservative MP Simon Hoare, who had earlier called for Mr Cummings to go, later lamented Mr Johnsons press conference, telling the Daily Mail: The PMs performance posed more questions than it answered. Any residual hope that this might die away in the next 24 hours is lost. Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton said he was unconvinced by the PMs defence of Mr Cummings, while Tory grandee Lord Heseltine said it was very difficult to believe there isnt a substance in the allegations about Mr Cummings movements. The PM also came in for stinging criticism from bishops, who accused him of treating people as mugs and with no respect after he opted to stick by his chief aide. The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, tweeted: The question now is: do we accept being lied to, patronised and treated by a PM as mugs? Britain's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said it was his understanding from the Prime Minister that Dominic Cummings and his family did not break the law in their trip to Durham during lockdown. He told BBC Breakfast: (The Prime Minister) has been absolutely categorically assured that both Dominic Cummings and his family both followed the guidance and also followed the rules The guidance is incredibly extensive and at the heart of that guidance is always the issue of safeguarding children and making sure that children are always absolutely protected. My understanding is from what the Prime Minister said yesterday is that at every stage Dominic Cummings followed and his family followed the guidance and at no stage did Dominic Cummings or his family break the law. (ANSA) - Legnano, May 25 - A 38-year-old Italian woman got seven years and 10 months in jail Monday for attacking her 30-year-old Italian former boyfriend outside his home at Legnano near Milan a year ago. Sara Del Mastro threw acid in the face of Giuseppe Morgante in revenge for his leaving her. Prosecutors had requested a jail term of 12 years saying Del Mastro acted with premeditation. The World Health Organisation's (WHO) Special Envoy on Covid-19, Dr David Nabarro, has said the two-metre guidance to stop the transmission of Covid-19 "keeps you safe 99% of the time". However, Dr Nabarro also said you can "greatly reduce your risk by maintaining a one-metre distance." Dr Nabarro also spoke of travel and mandatory quarantine, proper ventilation when pubs and restaurants re-open and about trust with those in authority. Dr Nabarro told Today with Sarah McInerney that 70% of droplets from a person's cough will travel within one metre, and that "very few of them travel further than two metres". "The WHO and others have said the best distance to keep away from people if you want to avoid inhaling a droplet is two metres. That's because that will keep you safe 99% of the time but you can greatly reduce risk even at one metre because 70% of the droplets will stick within one metre. He said it is a balance of risk and a choice that must be made based on a personal set of circumstances. If you really want to reduce the risk of picking up an infection stay at least two metres away, he said. "But if you are in a difficult situation where you have to be in close proximity to someone, if you're providing care or if you are working in a factory where two metres doesn't work, you can still greatly reduce the risk by being one metre away," he said. Ventilation, the weather, and an individual's style of coughing are three factors that can affect the transmission capacity of the virus, Dr Nabarro explained. He said: "We have confirmed that the risk of transmission of this virus is greatly reduced if you are in a place with good ventilation or if you are outdoors. This virus seems to travel further in cold weather than it does in hot weather. It also depends on how somebody coughs. If they cough in an explosive way they seem to be able to project the virus much further than someone who coughs in a softer way or don't have explosive coughing. Dr Nabarro cited how South Korea saw a surge in cases that were linked to a number of night clubs. He said "a lot of attention needs to be paid to ventilation" when deciding how pubs and night venues can reopen, as well as "being more respectful of physical distancing". A "reciprocal travel arrangement" needs to be in place between countries before they agree to open travel to each other, according to Dr Nabarro. "If Ireland wants to open travel with another country, authorities need to be sure that the other country has taken the same approach to dealing with Covid; that is it has the same capacity to identify people who are ill and are able to deal with outbreaks. "The response needs to be like a buddy arrangement. There need to be assurances that the country has the same level of preparedness. This is key to a reciprocal travel arrangement." He said if countries don't share the same approach then "some process of mandatory quarantine or self-quarantine, with a high degree of responsibility" needs to be in place. On the issue of face masks, Dr Nabarro said "a poorly worn face mask is no good", and that he believes that the "quality of mask-wearing is going to become a big issue". He said: "If you are sitting next to somebody on a flight that has a nasty cough and you happen to take your face mask off to eat or drink you might end up getting the coronavirus." He added that in order for the face mask to be effective on a flight he believes that it would have to be worn for the flight's duration. Responding to recent reports on the UK Prime Minister's chief advisor Dominic Cummings, Dr Nabarro said it is important that trust is maintained between those in power and those who are having to make sacrifices to help stop the spread of this virus. "There is an emerging feeling among some that people who have less power have to take more precautions and to undergo more in the way of sacrifice than those who have a lot of power. "It really is important that everything possible is done to maintain the trust of those in authority by people who have to take actions to reduce the spread of this virus." At Chilli Kitchen in Beijing, spicy and mouth-numbing Sichuan dishes are laid out family style. Using red chopsticks, diners dive into steaming bowls of pork wontons bathed in fragrant chili oil and sesame seeds, and rummage through platters filled with dried red chili peppers to unearth juicy bits of roasted fish. Sharing food is a central feature of how Chinese people, like many elsewhere in the world, convey affection. Parents pick up choice morsels and place them in their childrens bowls as an expression of love; children serve their grandparents to show their respect; and bosses do it as a gesture of magnanimity toward their employees. Now, concerns are growing that the countrys long tradition of sharing food could also accelerate the spread of the coronavirus. The government has zeroed in on a ubiquitous utensil: chopsticks. Most Chinese diners pick up food from communal platters with the same pair of chopsticks that they then use to eat, or serve others. Double dipping is the norm. But the government hopes to change habits by urging people to use a second pair of chopsticks just for serving. State news agencies are calling it a dining table revolution. Dr. Zhong Nanshan and Dr. Zhang Wenhong, outspoken infectious disease experts who have become celebrities since the start of the outbreak, have voiced their support. Authorities across the country are running advertisements with slogans like, The distance between you and civilized dining is just one pair of serving chopsticks. Some restaurants and diners have heeded the call. They are offering discounts to diners who use serving chopsticks. In the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, more than 100 prominent restaurants have formed a Serving Chopsticks Alliance. In Beijing, Bai Yiwen, one of the owners of Chilli Kitchen, reckons that since reopening in mid-April, more than half the groups that come to his restaurants have asked for serving chopsticks, up from less than 5% before the pandemic. Before, people felt like using serving chopsticks was bothersome, Bai, 31, said. But now, everyone is becoming more aware of the problem and slowly they are getting used to it. Still, resistance is strong. Many see sharing food with ones own chopsticks as among the most authentic expressions of Chinas communal culture and emphasis on family, no less integral than hugging is to Americans or the cheek kiss is to the French. Serving chopsticks are typically associated with formal settings, like banquets and meals with strangers. Serving chopsticks are more common in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, where there is a greater awareness of hygiene. Some Chinese who hail from north of the Yangtze River see their southern, rice-eating counterparts as more particular about their eating habits, and so more likely to use serving chopsticks. (There is no evidence supporting this stereotype.) By contrast, wheat-eating northerners, and particularly the men, take pride in what Chinese call eating big and drinking big, without care for such petty concerns as germs and bacteria. Never mind a small, recent experiment by government experts who found that the level of bacteria in dishes for which serving chopsticks were used was as much as 250 times lower than in dishes shared in the regular fashion. Liu Peng, 32, an education consultant and proud northerner from the coastal city of Qingdao, said that while he had grown accustomed to wearing a mask in recent months, he and his friends had not changed their dining habits. Maybe using serving chopsticks is more hygienic but eating is the time for us all to relax, and we dont want to be bothered by all these little rules, Liu said. Besides, he reasoned, the new coronavirus was so contagious that serving chopsticks were not going to stop the virus from spreading around a table. In my 30 years of eating out, Ive never contracted an infection, he declared. Similar campaigns to promote serving chopsticks were launched across Asia after the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in the early 2000s. The drive gained traction in Hong Kong, where nearly 300 people died in that outbreak. Even today, many restaurants in Hong Kong lay two sets of chopsticks at each place setting, one pair for serving and another, often a different-coloured pair, for eating. Other restaurants in the city often place serving spoons and chopsticks directly on the dishes. But the campaign barely registered in mainland China. Most Chinese grow up learning the basics of chopstick etiquette: hold them two-thirds of the way up; dont stick them vertically into your rice bowl because it resembles incense offerings for the deceased; and dont suck on them. Sharing food with family and friends is just as deeply ingrained, and serving chopsticks are sometimes seen as undermining that expression of closeness. Just asking for the extra utensils can be awkward because it could imply that you think your fellow diners might be unwell. Sara Jane Ho, a Hong Kong native and founder of a high-end etiquette school in China, said that when she hosts a meal, she often says she has a small cold so she can ask for serving chopsticks to protect everyone else from her. But even then, she said, compliance is not guaranteed. Often youll see people serving themselves and then they forget to switch chopsticks and start eating directly with the serving pair, Ho said. It always gives me a mini heart attack. To make the governments case, state media and culinary historians have scoured Chinese history to find instances in which serving chopsticks or individual plating was the norm. For 3,000 years up until the Tang Dynasty, news reports say, Chinese people ate separate portions of food. The articles point to the famous 10th-century scroll painting, The Night Revels of Han Xizai, which depicts a government minister and his guests eating individually plated portions of food. The cause was taken up by Wu Lien-teh, a Chinese doctor from British Malaya, who is often credited with saving many lives during the 1910 outbreak of pneumonic plague in northeastern China. Wu helped popularize the use of serving chopsticks along with the use of a lazy Susan, the round rotating platform known in Chinese as the hygienic table. Even former Communist Chairman Mao Zedong, who supposedly rarely bathed and never brushed his teeth, was at one point said to have used serving chopsticks, thanks to the influence of the father of Maos second wife, according to Zhao Rongguang, a Chinese food historian. But the practice of sharing food has nonetheless persisted. In 1984, Hu Yaobang, then general secretary of the Communist Party and a passionate liberalizer, suggested that his countrymen abandon chopsticks and communal eating in favour of Western-style individual dining practices to avoid contagious diseases. The idea was promptly ignored and forgotten. Zhao, the historian, sees the coronavirus epidemic as an opportunity to revive the movement for civilized dining. If we dont change this practice of using one pair of chopsticks to dig to the bottom then we are going to be eliminated forever by humanity and natural selection, Zhao said. But unless a specific law is enacted, changing habits will be an uphill battle, particularly outside of the big cities. For Shu Xiao, 27, a schoolteacher in Yuxi, a city in the southwestern province of Yunnan, group dinners can be discomfiting. Shu said her family has used serving chopsticks at home since last year, when reports were circulating about a local outbreak of stomach bacteria. When she goes out to dinner with her friends, she cant muster the courage to ask for extra sets of chopsticks, she said. Instead, she tries to eat only from the parts of the dishes least touched by her companions and fights the urge to think about how much bacteria is being circulated around the table. My friends already think my family is kind of strange for using serving chopsticks at home, she said. So I just go along with the mainstream, even though in my heart Im always protesting a little. Advertisement Hundreds of protesters have descended on the Jersey Shore to demand that New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy lifts the state's COVID-19 restrictions and allow non-essential businesses to reopen again. A large crowd of residents from across the hard-hit state gathered at Point Pleasant Beach on Monday for the Freedom March of NJ to protest the ongoing lockdown measures. Protesters carrying signs that read '#flattenthefear' and 'restore Constitutional rights' chanted 'reopen New Jersey now' and 'all businesses are essential'. Some brandished signs in support of President Donald Trump. New Jersey currently has more than 155,000 infections and just over 11,000 deaths. Hundreds of protesters descended on the Jersey Shore on Monday to demand that Governor Phil Murphy lifts the state's COVID-19 restrictions and allow non-essential businesses to reopen again A large crowd of residents from across the hard-hit state gathered at Point Pleasant Beach on Monday for the Freedom March of NJ to protest the ongoing lockdown measures The state has so far only partially lifted its lockdown measures that were put in place in mid-March to stop the spread of the virus. Republican Senators Joe Pennachio and two gym owners who opened last week in violation of the state's lockdown orders addressed the huge crowd of protesters. 'Thousands of people are strolling through Home Depot every day buying widgets and gadgets yet we're denying our small businesses the right to sell those same widgets and gadgets,' Pennachio said. 'Gov Murphy you took an oath to uphold the constitution under God. Gov Murphy, let my people go.' Pennachio went on to take aim at officials who have urged people to wear masks in public if they can't social distance. 'It feels good to shake hands without masks again,' Pennachio told the crowd. 'There's very little science involved and very little common sense. 'Don't depend on government for your freedoms. Those freedoms as we speak are being denied under the guise of public health.' Health officials last week shuttered a gym in southern New Jersey that reopened in defiance of the state order. The owners of the Atilis Gym in Bellmawr said the decision to resume operations at the members-only facility was not about financial gain, but rather a question of Constitutional rights. Protesters carrying signs that read '#flattenthefear' and 'restore Constitutional rights' chanted 'reopen New Jersey now' and 'all businesses are essential' Some protesters wearing Make America Great Again hats brandished signs in support of President Donald Trump The state has so far only partially lifted its lockdown measures that were put in place in mid-March to stop the spread of the virus Some residents in the hard-hit state have said that the process to reopen has been too slow as other states across the country continue to relax measures They had also cited several steps they took to ensure social distancing. Murphy has said the decision to reopen the state in a phased out plan will be made based on data and scientific information. Some residents have said that process is too slow as other states across the country continue to relax measures. State parks and beaches have been allowed to reopen in New Jersey and Murphy said he hopes it will only be a matter of weeks before non-essential businesses can reopen. On Friday, Murphy said that people can gather outdoors in groups of as many as 25, instead of 10, and Memorial Day cookouts could go forward if people keep their distance from one another. Public and private campgrounds can also now reopen. Indoor gatherings, however, are still limited to 10 people. An alliance of 400 businesses have already said they plan to reopen in unison on June 1 regardless. 'As business owners and members we won't stand for our civil liberties and rights to be infringed on to be able to make a living and have a healthy immune system to defend against the virus itself!' the New Jersey Business Coalition Opening said on its Facebook page. 'We are making it clear we have been patient and we will no longer wait to open one more day beyond June 1st.' People take part in a protest to reopen all businesses after some New Jersey beaches were opened during the Memorial Day weekend A protester wears a mask of President Donald Trump as people take part in a protest to reopen all businesses in New Jersey on Monday Mumbai Maharashtra on Monday recorded 2,436 new Covid-19 cases, taking its tally to 52,667. The state witnessed 60 fatalities, pushing up the toll to 1,695. With 38 of these recorded in Mumbai, the city crossed the 1,000 deaths-mark. While Mumbais Covid-19 toll rose to 1,026, the number of cases in Mumbai increased by 1,430 to 31,972. In other parts of the state, Pune recorded 244 fresh cases, while Thane 149 new cases on Monday, taking their virus count up to 5,319 and 2,739 respectively. Maharashtra, which is the worst-hit state in the country, has witnessed a surge in Covid-19 cases, with more than 20,000 infections reported over the past nine days alone. The state government is expecting cases to rise further in the next fortnight, especially in Mumbai and Pune, said state health department officials, adding that the government has already started strengthening its health infrastructure and adding new beds. Mumbai, which accounts for 60% of the states coronavirus cases, is already staring at a shortage of hospital beds and intensive care unit (ICU) facilities. The Chief Ministers Office (CMO) on Monday outlined the plan to increase beds in Mumbai by creating jumbo facilities. The CMO said a centralised dashboard has been created to track the availability of beds and its location in real-time. With increased capacity and real-time tracking of beds, patients will not have to spend crucial hours waiting for availability of beds. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his address to the state on Sunday, said the government is anticipating a spike in cases by month-end. As a part of their preparations for the surge in Mumbai, a field hospital at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) with 1,000 beds, including 200 ICU beds, has been readied in a fortnight. Additionally, a Covid Care Centre (CCC) with 600 beds at Mahalaxmi Racecourse, which will have 125 ICU beds, is being erected for patients with mild infections. Nesco Exhibition Centre in Goregaon will have 535 beds. In the next two weeks, Dedicated Covid Hospital Centre (DCHC) and Dedicated Covid Hospital (DCH) collectively with 7,000 beds will come up at Dahisar, Mulund, Mahalaxmi Racecourse, and Goregaon, a note from the CMO said. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is acquiring hospitals with 100 beds and 20 ICUs in each ward to tackle the rise in cases. Similarly, hospitals are being acquired in Thane city. Thane guardian minister Eknath Shinde has asked to augment bed capacity at the Thane district hospital too. As many as 150 beds will be added at the hospital. Meanwhile, according to the state health department, of the 60 deaths recorded on Monday, 54 were in the past 48 hours, while the remaining six are from last week. The fatalities are of 42 men and 18 women. Twenty-seven of those who succumbed to the infection were over 60 years, while 29 were in the 40 to 59 age group, and three were under 40 years. According to the health department, 78%, or 47 patients, had high-risk co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, among others. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NANYUKI, Kenya - Its not quite a case of coitus interruptus, but efforts to create a very special baby are definitely on hold. Blame the pandemic. Groundbreaking work to keep alive the nearly extinct northern white rhino subspecies population, two by in-vitro fertilization has been stalled by travel restrictions. And time is running out. The two northern white rhinos are female. The goal is to create viable embryos in a lab by inseminating their eggs with frozen sperm from dead males, then transfer them into a surrogate mother, a more common southern white rhino. As of January, three embryos had been created and stored in liquid nitrogen. But further key steps now have to wait. It has been disrupted by COVID-19, like everything else, said Richard Vigne, managing director of Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, home of the two remaining rhinos. That is, the process of collecting more eggs from the females as well as the process of developing the technique to introduce the northern white rhino embryo into the southern white rhino females. Its an international effort that includes conservationists from Kenya, the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy many affected by closed borders or restricted travel. For those involved in the effort, acutely aware of time, the delay can be painful. The procedure to create viable embryos has proven to be safe, they say, and can be performed regularly before the animals become too old. In January, the transfer of the embryos to surrogates had been planned for the coming months. In March, the plan had been to collect another round of eggs from the two remaining females. Because those eggs are limited, scientists are working with embryos from southern white rhinos until they can establish a successful pregnancy. Seven or eight transfers so far have failed to take hold. A receptive female is needed, along with the knowledge of exactly when she ovulates. We know time is working against us, said Cesare Galli, an in-vitro fertilization expert based in Italy. The females will age and we dont have many to choose from. He hopes restrictions on international travel will loosen in the coming weeks so key steps can resume in August. The problem is quite serious, he said. Certainly as soon as international travel is resumed, it will be the first priority to go to Kenya and collect more eggs from the two females. Even when travel can resume, another problem looms. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy also is home to primates non-human primates which are susceptible to the coronavirus, Galli said. If you bring in the virus accidentally, its an additional risk, he said. You threaten one species to save another. So for now, the two northern white rhinos wait. Fatu and her mother, Najin, roam and graze within sight of rangers in the company of one intended surrogate mother, a southern white rhino named Tewa. One of the rhinos keepers, Zachariah Mutai, was sympathetic. They wont have a chance anymore to have babies in a natural way, but the only hope is to save them with the scientific way, he said. The ultimate goal is to create a herd of at least five animals that could be returned to their natural habitat in Africa. That could take decades. Decades of poaching have taken a heavy toll on rhino species. The animals are killed for their horns, which have long been used as carving material and prized in traditional Chinese medicine for their supposed healing properties. The last male northern white rhino was a 45-year-old named Sudan, who gained fame in 2017 when he was listed as The Most Eligible Bachelor in the World on the Tinder dating app as part of a fundraising effort. He was euthanized in 2018 because of age-related ills. This effort to keep the northern white rhino subspecies alive has been a good way to draw the worlds attention to the issue of extinction, Vigne said. The rate of extinction of species on this planet is now the fastest that has ever been recorded, much faster than the rate dinosaurs went extinct, and that is as a result of human activity, he said. So there comes a time where we have to draw a line and say no more. ___ Kazziha contributed from Nairobi, Kenya. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 16:26:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Hassan Rouhvand TEHRAN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian expert says the arrival of Iran's fuel tankers to the Venezuelan shores has defied U.S. sanction pressures against Tehran and Caracas. The deal between Iran and Venezuela which came amid unprecedented U.S. sanctions on both states is primarily a "humiliation' of U.S. policies, Foad Izadi, a professor at the Faculty of World Studies of the University of Tehran, said in an interview on Sunday. On Sunday, the first vessel of Iranian five-tanker flotilla loaded with gasoline crossed into the Venezuelan territorial waters, escorted by the the Venezuelan navy. On Monday, two other tankers entered the Caribbean Sea and are heading to the Latin American country's refinery ports. Squeezed under economic pressures, both Iran and Venezuela struggle to evade the impacts of embargos by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The Islamic republic has a surplus of oil and gasoline, due to a significant drop in its exports pursuant to the sanctions and global economic setback caused by novel coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, Venezuela is in dire need of fuel because of its aged refinery facilities and inefficient energy management, which has made it rely on its imports. Under these circumstances, Tehran and Caracas made a "win-win deal," according to Izadi, at the end of last year, and the Iranian-flagged vessels left the southern ports of the country in mid-March to the Caribbean shores. Last week, the White House announced that President Nicolas Maduro was using gold from central bank reserves to pay Iran, and the United States was considering measures it could take in response to Iran's shipment of fuel to crisis-stricken Venezuela. However, Iranians warned the United States against any move which may cause trouble for the Venezuela-bound Iranian fuel vessels. President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that "if Americans create problems for our oil tankers in the Caribbean waters or in other parts of the world, we will reciprocally create problems for them." In the meantime, Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said the naval forces of the country would escort the Iranian tankers "to welcome them ... and their solidarity" with Venezuela amid the U.S. sanctions. Izadi said that "the successful measure by Iran (to supply its petrol to Venezuela) would ultimately result in the failure of U.S. sanction mechanism." "This also shows that the U.S. 'maximum pressure campaign' has been seriously challenged by the Islamic republic," he said, adding that Tehran could maintain this "pragmatic win-win" policy. Iran's "successful" move will serve as an example for other countries who are under the duress of the United States, he added. The Progressive People's Party (PPP) has called on African Youth to work tirelessly towards achieving the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area by 2063 as it will bring transformation and prosperity to all its citizens. According to a statement signed by the party's First Vice Chairman on the celebration of the African Union Day, the youth should play their monitoring role to ensure that the trade agreement achieves its goals: "In consideration of the massive challenges facing the continent, the PPP wishes to draw the attention of the youth to their role as monitors and evaluators of the common and agreed policies and actions on Agenda 2063 to ensure it is attained as scheduled for their own benefit." The African Continental Free Trade Area was established on 21 May 2018 but took effect on May 30 2019 as a trade agreement to ensure a continental market for goods and services, to ensure free movement of business persons and invests and established a Continental Customs Union to achieve this objective. First Vice Chairman William Dowokpor also called on the youth in Africa take an active part in the leadership of the continent as "by operation of natural law, the current leadership of the AU as well as heads of state and government of member countries, would not be around to render any accounts for their stewardship in 2063." The "Awake" Party also said "We expect the youth to continuously examine the execution of the plans, monitor, evaluate and offer constructive feedback as target beneficiaries." Meanwhile, it called on African leaders to retrospect on the ways to achieve the goals of the agreement: "On this auspicious day, we urge every African leader to stop, reflect, and evaluate the governance systems they are operating to ensure they support the attainment of Agenda 2063." The statement also cautioned the African leaders to respect the rule of law and not entrench themselves in power: "To that end, every African head of state who has exceeded his or her mandatory term of office but is still holding on to power constitutionally or otherwise must prepare an exit plan with immediate effect." The PPP, however, warned governments signatory to the agreement to "...also stop the neo-colonialists moves to take over the continent through land grabbing and ownership of the factors of production in the name of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which we welcome but insist, must not disadvantage Africa in any way. But "to take actions to remove those barriers for African goods and services." The Progressive People's Party also bemoaned the effects of COVID-19 on industrialization on the continent as we celebrate the African Union day: "The devastating effects of COVID-19 notwithstanding, Africa cannot afford to take its eyes off the industrialization components of the Agenda 2063. As it is the production of diverse products and services for the African market that would make AfCFTA viable. The industrialization agenda must not be lost on us." The cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa) is truly one of a kind. It's the source of hundreds of naturally-occurring chemical compounds known as cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The health benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids continue to be a highly-researched medical topic. The number of cannabis research studies has increased greatly in countries such as the US, the UK, and Canada - thanks to relaxed marijuana laws. The ultimate goal of most cannabis research studies is directed towards understanding the therapeutic (health) benefits of cannabis and its related products. The increased acceptance of cannabis products for recreational use has, however, awakened experts about the possible health dangers of cannabinoids. As we speak today, cannabis research, as well as its consumption, is widespread. Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids The following are some major highlights of the health benefits of cannabis and its derivatives. Chronic Pain Management or treatment of chronic pain is one area that has seen the application of cannabis and cannabinoids. Many research studies have, indeed, shown that patients who are given cannabis or cannabinoid treatments report reductions in the severity of their chronic pain conditions. In some studies, oral cannabinoids have also proved beneficial to adults with muscular sclerosis. Cancer Marijuana has been linked to cancer for some time now. But what do researchers say about it? Some studies have found substantial evidence suggesting that smoking of cannabis doesn't expose one to high risks of cancer in the same way that smoking tobacco does. Respiratory Problems Regular smoking of cannabis has been closely linked with worsening the symptoms of patients with chronic bronchitis and chronic coughs. However, it's unclear whether asthma and poor lung function symptoms have anything to do with cannabis smoking. browse this site for more info on CBD products for sale. Mental Health Cannabis and cannabinoids have enjoyed a long-lasting relationship with mental health conditions. Cannabinoid treatment has helped some patients to manage depression, anxiety, and stress. On the other hand, higher doses of psychoactive cannabinoids such as THC can mess up a person's mental health. Studies have shown that people who abuse cannabis are more prone to nursing suicidal thoughts than those who don't take cannabis at all. For people with bipolar disorders, regular use of cannabis can exacerbate their symptoms. Psychosocially, continued use of cannabis can impair the user's memory, alertness, and even their learning ability. Immunity In terms of therapeutic importance, there is little data available on the effects of cannabis on the immune systems of humans. While researchers haven't confirmed that the use of cannabinoids can boost the immune systems of HIV/AIDs patients, there is limited evidence that proves cannabis does have anti-inflammatory effects on the human body. Conclusion Though medical cannabis/cannabinoids have been legalized to certain degrees in some geographical regions, research on their health effects has been inadequate. Researchers have a hard time getting the right quantity, type, and quality of cannabis samples for research. The existence of regulatory barriers has hampered the progress of researching the health effects cannabis and cannabinoids. Nevertheless, the demand for CBD products is still high. For example, a recent survey in the US found that over 22 million Americans (aged 12+ years) use cannabis every month. Elsewhere, such as in Europe, the trend is no different. Chinas newly-developed helicopter-drone that made its maiden flight last week may be deployed on the Sino-India border, state media reports said on Monday. The AR500C unmanned helicopter is equipped to carry out fire strikes and disrupt electronic circuitry of its target at heights above 15,000 feet, state media reported. The test flight of the AR500C came at a time when China-India border tensions have been flaring up, as Chinese border defence troops have bolstered border control measures, Global Times, the tabloid run by the ruling communist party said in a news report. The tabloid claimed that the Chinese action was a response to Indias recent, illegal construction of defence facilities across the border into Chinese territory in the Galwan Valley region. New Delhi has already dismissed Chinas allegations, saying, in fact, Chinese soldiers were hindering patrolling by the Indian armed forces. Any suggestion that Indian troops had undertaken activity across the LAC in the western [Ladakh] sector or the Sikkim sector is not accurate, external affairs ministry spokesperson, Anurag Srivastava said last week. Srivastava added: All Indian activities are entirely on the Indian side of the LAC. In fact, it is [the] Chinese side that has recently undertaken activity hindering Indias normal patrolling patterns. State media reports about the new drone and its deployment are part of the aggressive narrative put forward by China that its India, which is to blame for the soaring tension at the border in Sikkim and Ladakh sectors. Chinas state media arms had been similarly aggressive and anti-India during the Doklam (Donglang) stand-off in Bhutan in 2017. Observers say it wont be very surprising if there are reports of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) carrying out military drills on a plateau near a border in the days ahead. Capable of conducting missions including reconnaissance, communication relay, electronic disruption and fire strike at high altitude, this versatile and easy-to-operate drone could help safeguard Chinas southwestern borders with India, analysts told the tabloid. Developed by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the unmanned helicopter successfully made its maiden flight at an AVIC base in Poyang, east Chinas Jiangxi province, in which it conducted several maneuvers including hovering, horizontal and vertical moves, another leading state media arm, China Central Television (CCTV) reported over the weekend. As Chinas first unmanned helicopter designed to fly in plateau areas, the AR500C can take off at an elevation of 5,000 meters and has a ceiling of 6,700 meters. It has an endurance of five hours, maximum speed of 170 kilometers an hour and a maximum takeoff weight of 500 kilograms, the GT report said. The Chinese military currently operates the Z-8G, Chinas first large transport helicopter, which also focuses on plateau operations. It can take off from nearly 15000 feet above sea level and has a ceiling of nearly 20000 feet and lift troops and supplies to high-altitude areas. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: A total of 15,36,000 migrant labourers, students and others have returned to Bihar by 1,029 special trains so far. The highest number of migrant labourers have returned from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi followed by other states in Sharamik Special trains. According to the transport secretary of Bihar, Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal, out of the total 1029 special trains that arrived in Bihar till May 25, the highest number of Sharmik special trains with migrant-labourers are from Gujarat at a whopping 200 passenger trains entering the state, followed by 130 trains from Maharashtra, 84 from Delhi, 48 trains from Karnataka, 52 trains from Haryana, 84 trains from Delhi, 200 trains from Gujarat, 71 trains from Punjab, 67 trains from Uttar Pradesh. Aggarwal said that bringing migrant laborers and others from other states to Bihar is the first priority of the government. "All the migrant workers who are willing to come to their home are being brought by special train and the state government is determined to provide employment to them according to their skills," he said, adding 1 to 2 special trains were started by the state government in the initial phase. "About 395 more special trains are scheduled to come in this month. In view of the convenience of migrant workers, trains are being stopped at almost all important stations in the districts. Not only this, 28 inter-district trains are also being operated by the state government," he said. Quoting details, he said around 1,96,350 labourers and others arrived on Monday in 119 trains in which 17 Sharmik special trains came from Maharashtra with 28,050 migrant workers, 21,450 from Delhi by 13 trains, 13,200 from Telangana by 8 trains, 9,905 from Rajasthan by 6 trains, 8,250 from Haryana by 5 train, 6,600 from Tamil Nadu by 4 trains, 49,500 from Gujarat by 30 trains and others. He said that the district-wise buses have been arranged from near the railway stations so that migrant workers and others do not face any difficulties in getting to their destination after getting off the train. "Every day migrant laborers and other people are being transported from railway station to the district headquarters and block headquarters by 4500 buses. At the same time, 800 buses have been arranged at different borders of Bihar for workers coming from other states by foot or other vehicles as well," he said. BAYONNE A New York man was arrested Saturday morning after yelling and attacking a 61-year-old man, authorities said. Police responded to the area of 21st Street and Broadway where Amir Fam, 41, was seen holding a sharp object in his hand, which he dropped after police demanded him to, Bayonne Capt. Eric Amato said. Authorities identified the object to be a long silver nail, Amato said. During the on-scene investigation, police determined Fam approached the 61-year-old male as he was entering a store in the area. Unprovoked, Fam began yelling at and attacking the victim while swinging the nail towards him, Amato said. Fam did not make contact with the man and no injuries were reported, authorities said. The 41-year-old was taken into custody at 9 a.m., police said. Following his arrest, it was determined that Fam was wanted on two warrants for weapons: one in Bayonne and Point Pleasant, Amato said. The New York man was charged with aggravated assault and weapons possession, Amato added. Chennai: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will operationalise its No 18 Squadron at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on May 27, 2020, equipping it with the fourth generation LCA Tejas aircraft. A PIB (Defence Wing) release here said IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will operationalise the squadron "Flying Bullets" at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore on May 27. "The Squadron will be equipped with LCA Tejas FOC (final operation clearance) aircraft and will be the second IAF Squadron to fly LCA Tejas after the 45 Squadron based at Coimbatore," it said. The No 18 Squadron, formed in 1965 with the motto "Teevra aur Nirbhaya" meaning "Swift and Fearless," was earlier flying MiG 27 aircraft. The Squadron "actively participated" in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously. "It earned the sobriquet Defenders of Kashmir Valley by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar," it said. "The Squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur," the release added. According to the release, Tejas is an indigenous fourth generation tailless compound delta-wing aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with a fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated digital avionics, multimode radar and its structure is made of composite material. "It is the lightest and smallest in its group of fourth-generation supersonic combat aircraft," the Defence release said. Francis Kwarteng Arthur, a private legal practitioner challenging the President's Executive Instrument on the Electronic Communications law, has filed an application in court seeking to have the Chief Executive Officer of KelniGVG, Rouba Habboushi jailed for alleged perjury. In his application, Mr. Arthur explained that Roaba Habboushi in the ongoing case in court claimed that her outfit had not requested from the telcos his personal information and the personal information of other communication network subscribers to be made available to it. Mr. Arthur argued that, in its response, MTN Ghana Limited , part of those sued in the case, alluded to the fact that indeed, KelniGVG had made such request. In the affidavit mentioned in paragraph 6 of this affidavit, the respondent, Rouba Habboushi, did, in paragraph 5 thereof, deny, categorically, that the 3rd respondent [KelniGVG] has ever made any such requests; to wit, the respondent, Rouba Habboushi. Mr. Arthur insisted that, Raoaba Habboushi thus lied under oath hence must be punished for perjury. Contrary to the deposition by the Respondent, Rouba Habboushi, which deposition is mentioned in paragraph 7 of this Affidavit, the 3rd Respondent [KelniGVG] did, in fact, send a communication to, at least, the 2nd Respondent [MTN Ghana], requesting my personal information and the personal information of other communication network subscribers to be made available to it. That the respondent, Rouba Habboushi, made the deposition mentioned in paragraph 7 of this Affidavit knowing same to be false in respect of a material particular, or having no reason to believe in the truth thereof. I am advised by counsel and I verily believe same to be true that this honourable court has the power to, under Section 152 (1)(b) Act 30 as amended by Section 14 of Act 633; under Section 210 (1) of Act 29; and under its inherent jurisdiction, order the respondent, Rouba Habboushi, to show cause why she should not be committed to prison for perjury upon the deliberate false deposition which she made on oath to this honourable court, which deposition is mentioned in paragraph 7 of this affidavit, Mr. Arthur said in his writ. Background The applicant, who is a private legal practitioner, Francis Kwarteng Arthur is in court challenging the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) signed by President Nana Akufo-Addo saying it violates mobile users' rights to privacy. The emergency legislation signed by President Akufo-Addo on March 24 seeks to provide legal backing to a series of steps undertaken by the government to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In line with the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), the law specifically directs network operators to make available data including all called numbers, mobile money merchant codes and uncashed subscriber mobile money transfer data. According to the Executive Instrument, the network operators are to cooperate with the National Communications Authority Common Platform to provide information to state agencies in the case of an emergency. Mr. Arthur is seeking an order to quash the President's directives because to him, the order have violated, are violating or are likely to violate his fundamental rights and freedoms. He is also seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain the government, Kelni GVG and the NCA from using the Executive Instrument to procure the applicants' personal information from Vodafone Ghana, his network provider. ---citinewsroom The pending class 10 and 12 board exams will be conducted by CBSE at 15,000 centres across the country instead of 3,000 centres planned earlier, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' announced on Monday. The exams, which were postponed due to a nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25 to contain the spread of COVID-19, will now be held from July 1 to 15. "The class 10, 12 exams will now be conducted at over 15,000 exam centres across India. Earlier, CBSE was slated to hold exams at only 3,000 centres," Nishank said. The decision has been taken to ensure social distancing at exam centres and minimise travel for students. The HRD ministry has already announced that students will appear for exams at schools in which they are enrolled rather than external examination centres. According to home ministry guidelines, there will be no exam centre in COVID-19 containment zones and states will be responsible for making transport arrangements for students to reach their respective centres. Usually, board examinations are held at designated test centres to ensure minimum bias from schools and enable independent external invigilators to monitor the examination process. While Class 12 exams will be conducted across the country, the Class 10 exams are only pending in North East Delhi, where they could not be held due to the law-and-order situation in the wake of protests against the amended citizenship act. The CBSE class 10 and 12 board exam evaluation is being carried out from home. The HRD ministry had earmarked 3,000 evaluation centres from where answer sheets would be distributed to teachers at their homes for evaluation and then collected. Universities and schools across the country have been closed since March 16 when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as one of the measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Later, a 21-day nationwide lockdown was announced on March 24, which came into effect the next day. It has now been extended till May 31. The board was not able to conduct class 10 and 12 exams on eight examination days due to the coronavirus outbreak. Due to the law-and-order situation in North East Delhi, CBSE was not able to conduct exams on four examination days, while a very small number of students from and around this district were not able to appear in exams on six days. The board had last month announced that it will only conduct pending exams in 29 subjects which are crucial for promotion and admission to higher educational institutions. The modalities of assessment for the subjects for which exams are not being conducted will be announced soon by the board. The schedule has been decided in order to ensure that the board exams are completed before competitive examinations such as engineering entrance JEE-Mains, which is scheduled from July 18-23 and medical entrance exam NEET that will be held on July 26. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Irish Water and Leitrim County Council wish to advise customers in Keshcarrigan, Castelfore, Fenagh, Ardrum and surrounding areas in Co Leitrim that their water supply has been impacted as a result of a burst to a trunk water main. Approximately 250 houses are affected by this unplanned outage. The burst also affects properties supplied by surrounding group water schemes. It is expected that the repairs will be completed by 2pm but some customers may not receive a full water supply for a further two to three hours while reservoirs refill and water returns to the network. A spokesperson stated "Irish Water understands the inconvenience when a burst occurs and thanks customers for their patience while we work to repair the burst and restore normal supply to impacted customers. Orr customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1850 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please see the water supply and services section of our website. "Irish Water is working at this time, with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services. Irish Water would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing." Swarms of locusts entered some residential areas of the city on Monday, presenting the local people with an unusual sight. Locusts normally affect districts in western Rajasthan but this time the swarms have travelled as far as Jaipur city. The swarms later headed towards Dausa district. The swarms are travelling farther and damaging trees as there are no standing crops for them to feed on, an official said. In Jaipur's Murlipura and Vidhyadhar Nagar areas, people beat 'thalis' at the locusts that had settled on walls and trees, hoping to make them move on. The menace of locust has spread to 18 districts of Rajasthan and they are rapidly travelling in search of food, Om Prakash, the commissioner of state agriculture department, told PTI. He said the swarms were in Nagaur and reached Jaipur and nearby areas on Sunday. They were seen in residential areas of the city on Monday and then they moved towards Dausa, Prakash said. There is no standing crop on ground so they are staying on large trees and moving fast. Locust control teams conducted operations by sprinkling pesticide in Jaipur last night and today remaining swarms have moved towards Dausa, he said. Centre's Locust Warning Organisation in Jodhpur and the state agriculture department are working in coordination to handle the locust attack issue. The latest such attack occurred on April 11 when the swarms entered from Pakistan and damaged cotton crops in Ganganagar to some extent. The swarms later travelled to various other districts and have now crossed Jaipur. Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria conducted field visit and met the farmers. The director of agriculture department informed that 200 teams are working in the field to monitor the movement of locusts and nearly 800 tractor-mounted sprayers are being used. He said, fire department is also involved in the operations against the locusts. Prakash said the swarms have covered almost 54,000 hectare area in the state this time and containment operations were conducted in 40,000 hectare area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Charles Fraser-Varney, 21, travelled from his home in Thetford, Norfolk, to Monmouthshire in Wales to get the schoolgirl A paedophile who drove over 200 miles to abduct a 15-year-old girl he had groomed on a dating website has avoided jail. Charles Fraser-Varney, 21, travelled from his home in Thetford, Norfolk, to Gwent, south Wales, to get the schoolgirl. A court heard how she clambered out of her bedroom window to ran off with him - and the pair spent the night in a castle. The girl's mother described how she was 'terrified' when she realised her daughter was missing from the family home. She said: 'When I realised she wasn't in her bedroom, there was sheer disbelief. I felt my heart had been ripped out of my chest.' Cardiff Crown Court heard how the girl spent the night with Fraser-Varney in the grounds of a castle where he kissed her. He had travelled from East Anglia to Gwent, South Wales, to meet the girl - before she was found the next day. Fraser-Varney (pictured) kissed the girl during their night in the grounds of a castle, the court heard. The girl was found the following day But he fled to Scotland where he was arrested for driving while disqualified. Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said Fraser-Varney had 15 previous convictions including a relevant one from 2016 for inducing a 14-year-old girl to run away. He admitted sexual activity with a child, child abduction and engaging in sexual communication with a 15-yearold girl. Laurence Jones, mitigating, said he had shown remorse for his actions. Judge Daniel Williams at Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) heard how Fraser-Varney had already been locked up for eight months - as he was in custody on remand - getting just one hour a day out of his cell due to the Covid crisis Judge Daniel Williams was told that Fraser-Varney had already served time while being held in custody on remand since January. Judge Williams told Fraser-Varney: 'You have a sexual interest in young girls and you are entirely manipulative and dishonest.' He sentenced him to a two-year community order which includes a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and the attendance of a sex behaviour programme. Fraser-Varney, of no fixed abode, must also register as a sex offender for five years. The Duchess of Cambridge's favourite children's clothes designer has announced she is pregnant. Pepa Gonzalez, 37, founder of London-based Pepa & Co, is 'over the moon' to be expecting her first child with husband Mike Hoare, 42. Speaking to Hello! Magazine, Pepa revealed she is due in July - and the little one will surely be the best dressed tot at nursery. Pepa's old-fashioned designs with a modern twist are loved by Kate Middleton, 38, while European royals have also dressed their children in her garments. The talented stylist dressed the page boys and flower girls at Pippa Middleton's 2017 wedding to James Matthews. After seven years of designing clothes for other people's children as her own label Pepa & Co, Pepa Gonzalez, 37, has announced she is expecting a baby of her own with her husband Mike Hoare, 42 Pepa is the woman behind some of Princess Charlotte's most darling outfits, like this blue and coral dress she wore during her tour of Canada in 2016. Pepa's brand Pepa & Co is believed to be a favourite of Kate Middleton 'I'm so excited,' she told Hello! magazine. 'When my husband and I found out we were expecting we were over the moon.' Her and Mike's joy was shared by her parents. Pepa said: 'I wanted to tell my parents personally. 'They were so happy and we spent all Christmas talking about the new baby.' Coming from Andalusia, Pepa explained how she grew up with the tradition of mothers doing needlework for newborns in the family. She said her mother is already embroidering bed linens, clothes and other sweet garments for her grandchild. In May 2017, Pepa designed the outfits worn by the flower girls and page boys at Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Matthew, which included Prince George and Princess Charlotte Pepa revealed it was her mother who inspired her to start her own label, having dressed her and her siblings in beautiful, slightly 'formal' attire to go to nursery and school. The designer explained she decided to bring these touches of her Spanish heritage to Britain through her brand. But even though she is the woman behind exquisite children's wear, Pepa admitted that after lockdown was lifted in Spain, she struggled to find clothes from her own brand as they were all sold out. However, she said she managed to find a few select pieces from her range which she kept aside for her own son. In 2018, Pepa designed the outfits for the children in the wedding party of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank Charlotte, pictured at Eugenies' wedding wearing a Pepa creation: a lovely white dress with a colourful belt Pepa started Pepa & Co in London in 2013. The Cambridge children have worn the designer's pieces several times over the years. In 2016, during Prince William and Kate's tour of Canada, Charlotte stole hearts in a blue dress designed by Pepa. She also wore an adorable frock from the designer on another occasion during the tour. In 2017, Pepa designed the outfits for Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Kate's sister Pippa's wedding. During Pippa's wedding, George wore a white shirt with green button with trousers of the same colour George, like the other page boys, wore a white shirt with green buttons and assorted trousers with white flat shoes. In 2018, Pepa & Co designed the outfits of the page boys and flowers girls at the wedding of Prince Christian of Hanover to Alessandra de Osma. That same year in October, she dressed Mia Tindall, Maud Windsor and Isla Phillips in lovely white dresses with colourful belts for Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank. Princess Charlotte, meanwhile, wore a lovely white dress with a pink ribbon for a belt, which matched her mother Kate's dress. Her hair was styled with a flower crown. HOLYOKE The United Veterans of Holyoke honored the fallen Monday with a virtual Memorial Day service that included a tribute to the nearly 80 Soldiers Home residents who succumbed to COVID-19 in an outbreak at the state-run facility. Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Luis Delgado, a former Green Beret, was the featured speaker. He was joined on the broadcast by master of ceremonies Chris Sims, Mayor Alex B. Morse and State Rep. Aaron Vega. The citys Memorial Day service usually takes place at the War Memorial Building on Appleton Street. For years, veterans, city and state officials, first responders, and bands marched in a parade that ended at Veterans Park. This year the coronavirus pandemic forced communities to adapt their traditions to the age of social distancing. The video began with two members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars lowering the flag under the strain of bagpipes. Inside the building, Sims stood attention and saluted a flag that filled the empty stage. Delgado, donning his beret and clad in his dress uniform, stood in front of a POW/MIA banner. He said Memorial Day began in 1868 and, 152 years later, the nation continues to pay tribute despite the ongoing pandemic that has claimed roughly 100,000 American lives. Let it be known that we the living veterans and patriots of this nation, under no circumstance, will falter in paying our respects to those who gave their lives for their country, Delgado said, and to ensure their buddies return home. Delgado recalled waiting at at a USO canteen at Miami International Airport for a connecting flight to South America. At the time, he was only three months removed from combat operations in Afghanistan, where several team members died. While inside the canteen, he noticed an oil painting of young Marine. As I looked at the painting, I said out loud, He must have been a hell of a guy, he said. A volunteer told Delgado the Marine was her son and only child, who died in Vietnam. The Marine disregarded his own safety and exposed himself to enemy fire, forcing the enemy combatants into a temporary retreat. To protect his fellow Marines, the young man jumped on a live grenade, according to Delgado. There are countless others who met the same heroic fate and saved their buddies, Delgado said. Its soldiers like these who battle spirits we keep alive on Memorial Day. Morse, who spoke from his home, thanked the War Memorial Commission and Holyoke Veterans Services Department for their commitment to the citys service members and their families. The mayor said this years Memorial Day is particularly difficult, with the Soldiers Home devastated by a coronavirus outbreak that ranks among the deadliest at any assisted living facilities in the country. While were in the midst of a pandemic, unfortunately, here in Holyoke, we saw the face of what this crisis means for so many people, loved ones, and family members as we witnessed and what transpired at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, he said. Morse said the veterans deserved better from the government and the health care system. We must honor each and every one of the people that passed away at and outside the Soldiers Home, to continue their legacy and imprint they left in Holyoke and our nation, he said. Vega said he was sad that he and other officials could not honor the fallen in person. I am thankful to be able to come together virtually, to strengthen our social connection and our community, Vega said. What more an appropriate time than Memorial Day, when we stop to honor those who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. He added that Memorial Day Weekend also marks the start of summer when families gather and sporting events fill the time. The true meaning of today is underlined by the continued sacrifices made by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and other hostile environments around the world. Its important to remember our nation is still at war, Vega said. He asked residents to remember the residents lost at the Soldiers Home, and said the facility would reemerge as a beacon of pride for Holyoke. Ronen Zvulun/Getty JERUSALEMFour years of police investigations, judicial deliberations, stunning leaks, broken promises from politicians, and assaults against Israeli institutions culminated Sunday in a never-before-seen spectacle: the sitting prime minister of Israel standing before a panel of judges who will decide his fate. Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu, along with three fellow defendants, is accused of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust in three separate cases involving his alleged efforts to control various aspects of Israeli media. Having done everything within his considerable power to prevent this historic episode from ever taking place, Prime Minister Netanyahu almost got his way. As his defense attorney Micha Fettman stood to present his case, a glitch in the courts closed-circuit system left journalists watching a silent judicial pantomime even as they were blasted by the clamor of hundreds of Netanyahu supporters on the street below. Inside the Unlikely Resurrection of Bibi The Magician Netanyahu When the prime minister rose before the three-judge panel to state his name and acknowledge that he understood the charges he faces, his voice could not be heard above the din. Each side, nevertheless, was able to make its case. Throughout the morning, before proceedings began, Netanyahu allies blasted the judiciary on his behalf. Newly installed parliament speaker Yariv Levin denounced a nadir in the history of the Israeli judiciary. A few minutes before court was gavelled to order, Netanyahu inveighed against the Israeli police, the judiciary and the media in an unprecedented outburst at the courthouse door. Never, in the history of any democracy, has anyone been indicted over positive media coverage, Netanyahu bellowed, quoting Trump attorney Alan Dershowitz, and adding which I never even benefited from. They cant defeat a strong, rightwing prime minister at the ballot-box, so they are trying to oust me through stitched-up charges, he thundered. Surrounded by a cadre of masked ministers from his Likud party, he accused the police, the judiciary and the media of attempting to perpetrate a coup d'etat because of his plans to annex part or all of the occupied West Bank. Story continues Netanyahu has long promised to annex parts of the territory claimed by the Palestinian Autho I wont give up a single settlement! he promised The media, he said, was running "a Soviet field trial" against him. The Jerusalem District Court, located in the heart of Arab East Jerusalem, is a plain, antiquated building in which judges preside over tiny, dollhouse-sized rooms reminiscent of American traffic courts. All shops on surrounding streets were emptied because of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday, and Salahdin Street, where the courthouse is located, was closed off by police. Before the megaphones started blasting pro-Likud slogans, the only sound heard was the eerie howl of an unseasonable squall. Chief Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman did not give up any reaction, if she had one, but her very presence as Fettman began to address the court was a powerful reminder that Netanyahu, despite his best attempts, is now a defendant in case number 64010. The no-nonsense chief judge sentenced former prime minister Ehud Olmert to jail in 2015 on lesser charges than those Netanyahu faces today. The hearing lasted an hour. Like his client, Fettman blasted the media for interviewing prosecution witnesses, or, in his words, influencing court testimony. Judge Friedman-Feldman demurred, noting that her court was not part of the media. We will not allow them to use public statements to compete with the court, Fettman said. We will not allow this to be a circus, instead of a trial. We ask the court to promise that real justice will be made. Netanyahu sat throughout the session on the defendants bench behind his lawyer. Aside from his bombast, Fettmans main tactics seemed to be to ask for delays. He hadnt yet had time to examine all the prosecution documents, he told the judge. He needed to bring new lawyers on to prepare for the case, and they would have to review all the evidence from scratch. In the judges terse promise to issue a reply to his demands quickly it was evident that for Netanyahu, who has not had to answer to anyone for the length of his 12 years as prime minister of Israel, and for the country, something new has begun. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Pair trying to repeatedly enter Playa del Carmen residential subdivision as fake officers, arrested by real ones Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Two men were secured by Playa del Carmen police after they attempted to enter a residential subdivision as ministerial agents. Their arrests took place when, for the second time in the same day, the on-site security guard reported them for trying to enter the Real Ibiza subdivision posing as agents of the Ministerial Police. The first time the pair arrived was around 9:00 a.m. in a black car without license plates, assuring the security guard that they were agents of the Ministerial Police and quickly flashing some type of badge. When they were refused entry, one of the men told security he was actually a doctor and that there was an emergency inside the complex. However, when they were still denied access, they left, but returned around 5:00 p.m. after a shift change in gate guards. The second guard, the evening guard, had already been informed of their previous entry attempt. When they returned at 5:00 p.m. again claiming to be police agents, he called Emergency 911. Municipal Police agents arrived at the site along with several real Ministerial Police agents and proceeded to arrest the pair. There was no official word as to why they were trying to access the subdivision under false pretenses. FIRST challenge in Kilkenny? Decide on Shefflin or Carey for the No 1 slot. And how far behind, if at all, was Eddie Keher? Thats three forwards hogging the top slots so what about defenders? Didnt they contribute too? Indeed they did, but in what order? Tommy Walsh or JJ Delaney? Ger Henderson? Midfielders? Frank Cummins still winning All-Irelands and a Hurler of the Year award at the age of 35 in 1983. Michael Fennelly their powerhouse for so long and becoming the first Kilkenny midfielder since Cummins to win the Hurler of the Year award in 2011. Goalkeepers? None better than Noel Skehan, nine times an All-Ireland SHC winner, seven times an All Star and Hurler of the Year at the age of 37. Kilkenny have so many contenders than even a top 40 wouldnt come close to accommodating all the talent that emerged from the Nowlan Park academy over the past 50 years, a period in which they have won the All-Ireland senior titles 19 times, two more than the combined haul of great rivals Cork and Tipperary. The Shefflin versus Carey debate has raged for years, with the case for each sounding so convincing until a counter-argument is raised. Shefflin has the advantage that his entire career coincided with the most successful period in the countys history, whereas Carey departed in 2005. Also, there was a period in the 1990s when Careys exposure was limited by being aboard teams that werent All-Ireland standard. Deciding between Carey and Shefflin is the ultimate close call and ours went Ballyhales way. There are those who will make a case for Keher too, pointing out that forwards received a lot less protection during his time. The basis of their argument is: put Carey and Shefflin back in those days, switch Keher to the modern game and see how they compare runs their argument. Its valid too. KILKENNY 1. Henry Shefflin, 2. DJ Carey, 3. Eddie Keher, 4. Tommy Walsh, 5. JJ Delaney, 6. Noel Skehan, 7. TJ Reid, 8. Ger Henderson, 9. Frank Cummins, 10. Richie Hogan, 11. Jackie Tyrrell, 12. Liam OBrien, 13. Liam Fennelly, 14. Eddie Brennan, 15. Joe Hennessy, 16. Michael Fennelly, 17. Noel Hickey, 18. Eoin Larkin, 19. Michael Kavanagh, 20. Paul Murphy See Tuesday's Irish Independent and Independent.ie to find out who has made the grade for each team in Munster and have your say on each county's poll below. You can send your own top 20 list, as well as any issues or disagreements you might have with our rankings, to sportcomment@independent.ie. Click on your county below: Carlow football, Carlow hurling, Dublin football, Dublin hurling, Kildare football, Kilkenny hurling, Laois football, Laois hurling, Louth football, Longford football, Meath football, Offaly football, Offaly hurling, Westmeath football, Westmeath hurling, Wexford football, Wexford hurling, Wicklow football Cuban nurse Mileydis Tamayo Salgado, second from right, visits tents in the camp in Matamoros, Mexico, taking migrants' temperatures with U.S. volunteer Megan Reynolds, a nurse, right. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) The Cuban nurse picked her way through the sprawling border camp on the banks of the Rio Grande, past tents housing a couple of thousand migrants. Mileydis Tamayo Salgado navigated a maze of worn dirt tracks wearing a red T-shirt labeled "Medico." She ducked under clotheslines and tarps before entering treatment tents, thermometer in hand. There she took asylum seekers temperatures and asked if they had symptoms of COVID-19. Tamayo, 50, slipped a thermometer in a protective sleeve between the lips of a 6-year-old Mexican girl. Close your mouth thank you, my love, the nurse said in Spanish, explaining, If they have fevers, we take them to the clinic. The clinic, run by U.S. volunteers with Florida-based nonprofit Global Response Management, has been staffed since it opened last fall almost entirely by asylum seekers. Most are Cubans like Tamayo with prior medical training, plus a pharmacist from Nicaragua, an assistant from El Salvador, a nurse from Colombia and Mexican translators. Theyre trying to prevent the virus from spreading as they and other migrants await U.S. immigration hearings repeatedly postponed because of the pandemic. Migrants who work at the clinic receive $15 to $30 a day in a weekly stipend. So far, no one at the camp has tested positive for COVID-19. Those entering the camp, inside a new chain-link perimeter fence Mexican officials installed this month, must submit to a temperature check. Three migrants who showed symptoms earlier this month were isolated in tents just outside the fence. Some of the migrants working at the clinic had fled to the border after obtaining visas and flying directly to Mexico. Others got visas to Ecuador and Nicaragua, then traveled north to Mexico by bus. Dr. Dairon Elisondo Rojas, a Cuban migrant, and his girlfriend traveled for more than a month by plane, boat and bus before they reached the U.S. border last August. He initially worked at a Mexican border factory, or maquiladora, then came to work at the clinic after it opened. His girlfriend, a fellow physician, was working at a local boutique and salon. She has relatives they hope to join in Louisiana. Their next court date is June 23. Story continues Back in Cuba, Elisondo, 29, was banned from practicing medicine and harassed by the police. Here, we treat people with dignity, he said between consultations at the clinic May 15. A migrant girl named Stephanie, 10, takes a bath in the Rio Grande, which runs between Matamoros, Mexico, and Brownsville, Texas. Her father, Manuel de Jesus Gomez, says they've been living in the refugee camp since October 2019, hoping to go to the United States. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Tamayo arrived at the camp two months ago after traveling to Mexico from her hometown of Guantanamo in Cuba. She said she wasnt afraid to work with migrants who might have the virus. In Cuba, she treated patients for AIDS, cholera and dengue fever. When this is your profession, you cant be afraid of anything, she said as she sat in one of the clinics three temporary huts, beside the trailer that serves as the main exam room. Tamayo fled Cuba with her 23-year-old daughter, hoping to join her brother in Miami. Her asylum hearing was supposed to be June 3 at a tent court on the opposite riverbank, in Brownsville, Texas. But the tent court remained closed due to the pandemic, and Tamayo expected her hearing would soon be postponed, as others have been. In one way its good, because we avoid contact with people in the tent court, she said. But in another way its bad, because there are people waiting longer than a year for their immigration cases to be resolved. Cuban nurse Alberto Lopez had his May 26 court hearing postponed until later this summer. Lopez, 56, like other Cuban medical staff at the clinic, had been sent to Venezuela by his government five years ago to provide care in exchange for the country giving oil to Cuba. He married a Venezuelan woman, and she became pregnant. As violence escalated last year, Lopez fled to the U.S. border. His wife and child remained behind. Lopez settled at the camp, where he felt it was his duty to work at the clinic. We are taught to help people regardless of nationality and politics, he said as he helped a father who had brought his two children to be tested for COVID-19 (both were negative). Half as many migrants have sought treatment at the clinic as visited the facility before the pandemic, about 20 people daily. Migrants were self-isolating in their tents, afraid they might be exposed to the virus if they visited the clinic. But those who sought treatment for themselves and their children said they trusted clinic staff. They know we are migrants, the training we have and the sacrifices we made, Lopez said. A man raises his cap so his temperature can be taken before he enters the camp in Matamoros, Mexico. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Dr. Lestter Guerra worked with his wife, a fellow Cuban physician, in Venezuela and Brazil before they were recalled to Cuba two years ago and disciplined for trying to remain abroad. They knew we were not agreeing with the governments ideology, he said between appointments in one of the clinic huts. And it was impossible to work as a doctor in Cuba. Guerra, 34, works at the clinic two days a week for about $30 a day. The rest of the time, he works at a supermarket deli with his wife, where he earns about $45 a week. Its been wonderful for me to work here in my profession with migrants just like us, he said. He had read reports about front-line workers in the U.S. catching COVID-19 and worried he could be next, he said, but Im a doctor, and they need me. Cuban physician Ernesto Marino Almaguar greeted one of the about 300 pregnant migrants they'd been treating at the camp and in the surrounding city. Cuban physician Ernesto Marino Almaguar conducts an ultrasound on Maria Rivas de Garcia, who is among about 300 pregnant migrant women at the border camp. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Maria Rivas de Garcia entered the hut that served as Marinos exam room, lay down on the padded exam table and lifted her shirt as he hooked an ultrasound wand to his tablet. Marino, who trained in Cuba, squirted blue gel on Rivas de Garcias belly and slowly slid the ultrasound wand across. A black-and-white image appeared on the tablet, and he explained what she was seeing. You can see the head, the heart, two normal feet, he said. The fetus was healthy, he said. At 15 weeks, it was too early to tell whether it was a boy or a girl. Rivas de Garcia, 35, smiled. The pregnancy was unplanned. She and husband Carlos, a police officer, had fled El Salvador with their 3-year-old daughter, Angie, last summer after they received death threats from gangs who had killed his co-workers. They hoped to join her relatives in Santa Cruz. Their next court date was July 23. Thank God theres the clinic, she said, adding that the migrant doctors inspire trust. Theyre living the same situation we are. Angel Gabriel Recinos, 5, of El Salvador has his blood pressure checked by Cuban nurse and asylum seeker Mileydis Tamayo Salgado. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Rivas de Garcia, a social worker, told the doctor she knew to take prenatal vitamins. After examining her, he prescribed an antibiotic for a urinary tract infection, then handed her pills from the clinic's pharmacy. The doctor, whose wife is an unemployed nurse, said he left Cuba for the U.S. border a year ago hoping to join relatives in Houston. Then he arrived and saw the Trump administrations lengthy system for processing asylum claims. I lost hope, he said. Instead of applying for asylum in the U.S., he plans to stay in Mexico. He has been working at the clinic and private hospitals, which pay about the same. He prefers the clinic. "It's a debt we owe to society as doctors," he said. This is my mission, and I feel better because Im doing something that really helps people." The Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued interim directions to completely seize the premises of LG Polymers at RR Venkatapuram village in Visakhapatnam district where the gas leak mishap took place. "The premises of the Company shall be completely seized and no one will be allowed to enter including the Directors of the Company," the Court directed on Sunday. "The Committee, if any, appointed wants to inspect the premises, they are at liberty but they shall put a note on the Register maintained at the gate of the Company regarding the said inspection and while ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor I am writing to urge a vote on June 2 for Rick Coplen as the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania Senate, 31st District. Rick won my respect during five years that he and I served together on the Carlisle Area School Board. Hes smart, hard-working and sensible. Rick would volunteer for unpopular school board chores like attending state-level conferences. Hed return from those sessions bringing back solid information, innovative ideas and genuine enthusiasm. Rick combines creative thinking with an ability and willingness to grapple with details a mindset disciplined during his long career as a U.S. Army Intelligence officer (plus combat duty with the 82nd Airborne Division). Where public education is concerned, Rick Coplen can be counted on, as his campaign literature emphasizes, to put children first. Pennsylvanians know how badly we need legislators in Harrisburg who have Ricks true-north moral compass. Hes already shown his ability to win the votes of Republicans, Libertarians and Independents. He is the Democratic candidate most likely to win the votes of independent-minded voters in the general election this coming fall. The virus pandemic has led to changes in several voting locations, so it seems prudent to apply online (before May 26) for a mail-in ballot. Click on this link. Whether by mail or at a booth on June 2, I urge you to vote for Rick Coplen for state senator. Fred D. Baldwin, Carlisle (Newser) President Trump has apparently said goodbye to hydroxychloroquine. Appearing on the Sinclair Broadcast Group program Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, Trump said his regimen on the controversial drug is complete: "Finished, just finished," he said in the interview that aired Sunday, per USA Today. "And by the way, I'm still here. To the best of my knowledge, here I am." Trump had touted the drug (which is FDA-approved for malaria and autoimmune conditions) as a "game-changer" to curb or prevent the coronavirus, despite warnings from medical experts that the drug could trigger life-threatening heart issues. Among Trump's other remarks: story continues below Jeff Sessions : "He's not mentally qualified to be attorney general," said Trump of the former Alabama senator, who stood up to the president in a Friday tweet. "He was the biggest problem. I mean, look Jeff Sessions put people in place that were a disaster." : "He's not mentally qualified to be attorney general," said Trump of the former Alabama senator, who stood up to the president in a Friday tweet. "He was the biggest problem. I mean, look Jeff Sessions put people in place that were a disaster." Columbia University : "Columbia University is a liberal, disgraceful institution, to write that," said Trump after the school published a study saying 54,000 lives could have been saved if the US had imposed lockdown two weeks earlier, per the New York Post. "I saw that report from Columbia University and it is a disgrace that they would play right to their little group of people to tell them what to do." : "Columbia University is a liberal, disgraceful institution, to write that," said Trump after the school published a study saying 54,000 lives could have been saved if the US had imposed lockdown two weeks earlier, per the New York Post. "I saw that report from Columbia University and it is a disgrace that they would play right to their little group of people to tell them what to do." Joe Biden : "Well, I would have said experience, but he doesn't really have experience because I don't think he remembers what he did yesterday," Trump said when asked to name Biden's "strongest feature," per a transcript of the interview. "So how is that experience? He's been there a long time. He was never known as a smart person." : "Well, I would have said experience, but he doesn't really have experience because I don't think he remembers what he did yesterday," Trump said when asked to name Biden's "strongest feature," per a transcript of the interview. "So how is that experience? He's been there a long time. He was never known as a smart person." Air time: "Well, I think it was," when asked whether it was worth spending over 40 hours talking to the media in March and April. "I certainly got the highest ratings on cable television by a lot. I mean, you saw that. And I get to the public. Look, the news is very corrupt. It's very, very dishonest." (Read more President Trump stories.) By Gina Lee Investing.com Gold was down in Asia on Monday morning, with escalating U.S.-China tensions continuing to impact demand for even the safe-haven asset. Gold futures slid by 0.47% at $1,727.40 by 12:26 AM ET (5:26 AM GMT), with the yellow metal unable to hold onto its gains from the previous session. Stocks, which usually move in the opposite direction to gold, were mixed with Greater Chinese stocks suffering losses on Monday. Investors risk sentiment was down on Friday after China formally tabled national security laws for Hong Kong and Macau as the National Peoples Congress opened on Friday. Police fired tear gas and a water cannon during protests in Hong Kong on Sunday in reaction to the news. Tensions between the U.S. and China rose after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said overnight that the U.S. was inching towards a new Cold War with China after U.S. President Trump threatened strong action should the laws be enacted, and the U.S. Commerce Department blacklisted 33 Chinese entities on Friday. Related Articles Oil Up Even Amid Rising U.S.-China Tensions Oil falls as U.S.-China tensions take toll Oil Dips as U.S.-China Tensions Add to Nerves on Global Economy Prospects for peace in Afghanistan are uncertain. The February Doha Agreement was not about peace. For the Donald Trump Administration, it was meant to get the remaining United States (US) troops out of the country before the next presidential election. For the Taliban, it was to rid Afghanistan of foreign forces and bring it a step closer to take control over the Afghan government. The head of the Taliban, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, described the Doha Agreement as the Termination of Occupation Agreement, while it is actually titled the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan. All Afghans yearn for peace. They are bound to, after four decades of incessant violence. That is why the restarting of hostilities by the Taliban has been so disheartening. On May 12, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced the resumption of offensive operations against the Taliban, in the wake of several terrorist attacks, including one targeting a maternity hospital in Kabul that killed dozens, including mothers and newborns. The increase in Taliban violence has led to some discordance in Washington, DC. The Pentagon maintains that Taliban attacks have increased following the Doha Agreement. The State Department has been silent for the most part. Secretary of State, Mark Pompeo, noted that the Taliban denied any responsibility and condemned the recent attacks as heinous. After a gap of two years, the Taliban has announced an Eid ceasefire, again without any guarantee of it being irreversible. This is an effort to establish Taliban bonafides and take forward the intra-Afghan process, supposed to have started on March 7. The Doha Peace Deal, which blindsided the Afghan government, is not a capitulation to the Taliban. Rather, it is a capitulation to Pakistan. Pakistans objective is to have a pliant, Taliban-led government in Kabul, which would limit Indias presence in Afghanistan and provide a base for jihadi groups targeting India. Afghanistan has two important neighbours. While Pakistan may be fully on board with the Doha Agreement, Iran is not. Notwithstanding their new-found equation with the Taliban, Iranians have denounced as destructive the US role in Afghanistan, and the sacrificing of the interests of the Afghan people. Most international actors wish to engage with the Taliban. That the Taliban has friends is no reason for India to join the bandwagon. India was not consulted on the Doha Agreement. India has no responsibility for its implementation; it is for the protagonists to take it forward. India has been kept out by Pakistan on any material discussion about Afghanistans future, as the US accepted the Pakistan redline. That said, even if the US has decided to call it quits in Afghanistan, India cannot. Recently, there was news that in Muhmand Dara, Nangarhar, most of those killed in a supposed Taliban camp are members of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Aslam Farooqi, head of the Islamic State of Khorasan Province, arrested in Afghanistan for his complicity in the Kabul gurudwara attack last month, was formerly with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Both JeM and LeT have close ties with the Haqqani Network, whose leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is the deputy leader of the Taliban. The Talibans ties with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are well-documented. Steve Coll writes in Directorate S: The C.I.A. and Americas Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan that the Haqqani Network has been the lynchpin of ISIs covert policy since the 1970s. The group, the Talibans most important armed component, has targeted American forces in Afghanistan. It has also been the executioner targeting Indians in Afghanistan, including diplomats, military officers, and cooperation workers. The argument that India must discuss its concerns with the Taliban is specious, as if the Taliban is unaware of these. True, the Taliban has not made statements against India, but the hand of the Haqqani Network is well-established in almost all the attacks on the Indian mission and posts in Afghanistan and the recent attack on the Kart-e-Parwan gurudwara in Kabul. India has been supportive of efforts to bring genuine peace to Afghanistan. It has advised leaders of different ethnicities to work in cohesion with others for the common purposes of peace and nation-building. India favours the reintegration of insurgents and groups that give up their links with terrorist groups and networks, resile from violence, are inclusive, and embrace the Afghan Constitution. India opposes only the political accommodation of individuals, groups or organisations associated with known terrorist entities, since this will subvert the nascent Afghan democracy, undermine human rights, particularly womens rights, and destroy emerging Afghan institutions. A further concern is that restoration of status-quo-ante in Afghanistan could lead to the unravelling of the state system in neighbouring Pakistan, with imponderable consequences. India must, as it has been, remain supportive of the Afghan people and their government, which needs to continue standing on its feet and taking its own decisions. India has to be far more proactive in doing so and openly engage with all actors across the political spectrum, including the moderate Taliban leaders through covert contacts. India has a decent track record in dealing with Islam-oriented regimes. Were the Taliban to change its behaviour, which given its present composition seems unlikely, India would have no problem interacting with it. Jayant Prasad is former director-general, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, and former Indian envoy to Nepal and Afghanistan The views expressed are personal Is Meghan Markle serving Prince Harry a taste of his own medicine? Or is the universe playing a funny joke on the Duke? Not that he deserves that, but it cannot be denied that what he is presently experiencing is parallel to what Meghan Markle experienced when she stepped foot in the U.K. If the negative reports about Prince Harry not faring well in L.A. should be believed, of course. According to a friend of Markle, who spoke with the Sunday Times, the Duchess right from the start was uneasy going into the palace. Markle was allegedly convinced that there is a conspiracy against her. To protect herself, Markle put herself in self-isolation when she and Prince Harry moved to Frogmore. "I think she felt like an outsider from the start. This wasn't the life she was used to and she wanted out," the source added. Becoming a Duchess in a technically foreign land also meant that Meghan Markle would lose all her friends and everyone familiar to her back in L.A. She also struggled with the idea of not earning her own money or continuing her Hollywood career. "One of the things Meghan struggled with was not earning an income," said a friend. "She has always worked, and I think she felt unfulfilled. Having financial freedom was a big part of them wanting to leave. This is why, now that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are in L.A., the tables have turned. While Meghan Markle is reportedly happy to be back and now more like her true self already, some are reporting that Prince Harry feels isolated and lost. According to Tom Quinn, a royal commentator, he is sure that Prince Harry is feeling like a "lost soul" in L.A. This, regardless if he has Meghan Markle and Baby Archie by his side. Quinn, who discussed his thoughts on Channel 5's "Harry and Meghan: Two Troubled Years" claimed that Prince Harry is not as tough as Meghan Markle. This means that if Meghan Markle was able to survive the palace for around two years, and endured all the controversies and isolation, Prince Harry won't. "I think Harry will be like a lost soul in the U.S.," Quinn said in the documentary. "It will be far worse for Harry in America than Meghan in England. Because he's not as tough as she is." Some analysts, however, are more optimistic about Prince Harry's situation in L.A. They claimed that it is highly possible that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would have a positive life ahead of them, more so when the COVID-19 crisis is over. For example, Princess Diana's biographer, Andrew Morton, told the Sunday Times that their 2020 would be a colorful one because they will get the flavor of the year in California. "People will want to see them and know them," he said. "They'll find there are a lot of millionaires with private jets who breakfast in New York and dine in L.A. That will be the crowd they will be mixing with." If this is what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are aiming for, then they have no reason to feel regretful, unlike the negative Prince Harry and Meghan Markle news the world is presently reading about. READ MORE: Prince Harry Weak! Duke 'Not As Tough' As Meghan Markle, Expert Says NEW YORK, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2019, a total of 1,493,271 forklifts were sold worldwide, up 0.25% year on year, including 647,229 ones or 43.3% sold in Asia. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p0332464/?utm_source=PRN As the largest producer and seller of forklifts around the globe, China-made forklift sales reached 608,341 units in 2019 of which 455,516 units or 74.9% were distributed at home. China's forklift sales would expectedly drop to 573,172 units as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but it will recover during 2021-2026 and climb to 743,924 units in 2026. Nowadays, internal combustion forklifts sell best in China and the sales of such kind reported 309,704 units in 2019, accounting for 20.9% of forklift sales, whilst electric forklifts enjoyed a faster sales growth rate than internal combustion type, with the sales CAGR of 21.2% in China between 2010-2019. It is expected that electric forklift sales will keep a growth rate of 7% or so from 2021 to 2026 alongside the ever stricter environmental requirements. What's more, lithium battery forklift sales boomed and soared by 185.5% on an annualized basis to 74,737 units (44,264 ones sold domestically and 30,473 ones exported) in China in 2019, as a percentage of electric forklifts from 9.31% in 2018 to 25.03% in 2019. Chinese forklift industry characterizes fairly high concentration, as is revealed from the rankings by fork sales in 2019 when Anhui Heli and Hangcha Group had the combined sales of 291,816 forklifts, a 48% share of the total and an increase of 4.6 percentage points from a year earlier. As the customers' growing acceptance of famous brands, China's forklift market will be concentrated further. It is worth mentioning that the industrial vehicle market will be expanding in the wake of economic restructuring in China, and medium- and high-end internal combustion forklifts, electric and new energy forklifts as well as mobile internet technologies will find wider application. At the same time, the aftermarket value-added services like operating lease, financial leasing, accessories and remanufacturing will spring up. It is conceivable that the enterprises that are competent enough for innovation-oriented advanced manufacturing, value-added activities and international operations will embrace sustainability in future. Highlights of this report: Global forklift industry (orders and sales volume, key markets and competitive landscape); Chinese forklift industry (market size, import & export, competition pattern and development tendencies); Forklift market segments in China (status quo, sales volume, competition); Chinese forklift aftermarket (forklift rental, used forklifts, forklift parts); 9 foreign and 31 Chinese forklift manufacturers (operation, forklift business, development strategy, etc.) Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p0332464/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Budget carrier Vietjet is selling over two million super-saving tickets from only VND1,600 on all 45 domestic routes covering Vietnam. The rate excludes taxes and fees, the airline said. This is a gift for children and their families to experience a joyful summer and to connect love in all parts of the country, particularly as Vietnam is set to celebrate International Children's Day on June 1 and Vietnamese Family Day on June 28, it added. Those promotional tickets are available whole days from May 25 to June 1 on Vietjets website and mobile app. Applicable flight periods last from June 1 to December 31, exclusive of national holidays. Returning to the sky, Vietjet pioneers in recovering local economic activities, in order to stimulate domestic tourism and create favorable conditions for people to travel after COVID-19. More detailed information about flight schedules is available on Vietjets website, mobile app, Facebook Page, at ticket offices and official agents. Vietnam has documented only 325 coronavirus cases so far, with 267 having recovered and no deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The economy has been reopened, with most businesses going back in full swing and the government devising plans to encourage people to travel domestically. The country is still closing the border to inbound visitors, though. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! This week could be an important one for Windows 10 users. Microsoft is set to release the biggest update for Windows 10 PCs for far this year, and it is expected to be rolled out this week. It is expected that the Windows 10 May 2020 update, as it is known, will bring the new Chromium-based Edge web browser, end of support for 32-bit versions, new icons for system apps such as Explorer, improvements for graphics performance and the ability to reinstall Windows 10 from the cloud, among other things. Thats all fantastic news but hang on for a moment. The recent history of Windows 10 updates doesnt exactly infuse a lot of confidence, considering its broken critical functionality, including internet connectivity for a lot of users. With the new update on the horizon, you might want to hang on for a while and not updatejust to see what feedback the new update gets from other users who do. You can pause updates from downloading and installing on your Windows 10 PC for up to 7 days at a time or select a time frame up to 35 days to stay update-free. Here is how to do it. Click on the Windows 10 icon on the bottom left of the screen to open the start menu. Here, select the Settings menu, which opens a new app window. Here, either scroll down to find Windows Update or search for it. This opens the update page, which shows the list of pending updates if any, and the download as well as install status for each of these. Look a bit further down on this page, and you will see the Pause Updates for 7 days option. This is the ticket. You can select this option to pause the automatic download and install of the Windows 10 updates for up to a week at a time, and you need to keep repeating it for the paused situation to continue. Have you also read? Windows 10 Updates Are a Mess, Again: You Might Want to Pause These Updates Right Now Work From Home Buying Guide: Best Laptops Under Rs 40,000 With Windows 10 & Chrome OS If you want a bit more freedom in terms of selecting the window in which you dont want Windows 10 to update, you must scroll a bit further down on the Windows Update page and select the Advanced option. This takes you to a further set of options, and here you can select a date up to 35 days from that time, to keep Windows Update from doing any automatic installations. Just recently, Windows 10 users have had bad luck with the updates rolled out for their PCs. Over the past couple of months, we have had the KB4554364 update and the KB4549951 update for instance, which saw users reporting on Microsofts own community forums about errors with the installation, some report serious performance hit, some say critical apps are no longer working while some report the updates broke Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality. This can be a big problem for people working from home right now and have a PC or laptop they rely on extensively right now to get work done. Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has said that three of its employees at Chennai-based manufacturing plant have tested positive for COVID-19. The second-largest carmaker in the country had resumed operations at Irungattukottai-based plant (near Chennai) on May 8. "In the first week of our plant operations, three of our employees have shown mild symptoms of cough and cold and were immediately asked to meet the medical expert team for further evaluation. They subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 and immediate medical attention was provided to them. All three employees are recovering fast towards normalcy and as per the safety protocol, essential information was shared with the district health authorities, HMIL said in a statement. In addition to that all the necessary measures are being taken for contact tracing, self-isolation and complete sanitation, the South Korean firm said. The well-being of employees is of utmost priority to the company and as a responsible brand it is adhering to all the guidelines set by the Centre, state and district health authorities, HMIL added. On Saturday, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) had stated that an employee at its Manesar-based manufacturing plant has tested positive for COVID-19. The company is also investigating a second case of infection at the facility. MSI had re-opened Manesar facility earlier this month after around 50 days of closure due to coronavirus-led lockdown. Also Watch: It is hard to imagine a more dreadful plan than to fire a machine gun into thousands of random, innocent civilians. Equally, it is hard to imagine a lighter jail sentence just 7 years for making arrangements for such a crime. The sentence imposed on Ali Khalif Shire Ali last week by the Victorian Supreme Court for preparing that terrorist plan is egregiously lenient, so much so I believe it debases the integrity of the criminal justice system. He could have been given life in jail. Ali, 23, planned to shoot as many civilians as he could and take hostages at the New Years Eve celebrations attended by thousands at Melbournes Federation Square in 2017. His plan came undone when he tried to buy an AK-47 assault rifle from undercover police. He told police the attack would occur during the countdown to midnight, at which point he planned to go hard. The sentencing judge noted that Ali planned to commit an evil act, designed to cause the deaths of many innocent people. The judge also observed that had Ali succeeded it would have resulted in a terrifying and horrifying toll and added that his plan was a random and despicable act. At the sentencing hearing, Ali said he was sorry for his actions and that he now renounced Islamic State, which he blamed for radicalising him through online videos. The sentencing judge stated that Ali appeared to find some redemption, or was at least on the path towards it. The fact an expression of remorse can reduce the severity of any penalty represents one of the key failings of the sentencing system. It is impossible to distinguish genuine remorse from a strategic statement designed to secure a lighter sentence. Feeling remorseful for committing or attempting to commit such a heinous crime is hardly a commendation for which a would-be mass killer should be rewarded. Rather, this is the minimally decent response we can expect from a normal human being. Remorse at committing a terrible crime is no more commendable than driving on the left-hand side of the road or not being cruel to animals. It is expected behaviour. It is quite misguided that our worst criminals can receive significantly lower penalties merely for disavowing their crimes. Alis light penalty severs the connection between the seriousness of the crime and hardship of the sanction. The need for proportionality between the two considerations is a fundamental bulwark of justice. Also, his penalty does not reflect the cardinal status that the safety of the community should have in the sentencing calculus. This lurch towards light sentencing has seen some terrorists treated as if they were tax dodgers; in 2015 Martin Douglas Aitchison was sentenced to eight years jail for fraudulently claiming almost $6m on BAS returns to save his struggling business and fund an extravagant lifestyle. Ali is a relatively young offender and courts often will give a discount for this. Aitchison was 64 at the time and the empirical data shows it is older offenders who have the lowest rate of reoffending. The community almost certainly has nothing to fear when Aitchison is released, but there are no proven rehabilitation programs for terrorists. Australians have good reason to be concerned when Ali is released and presumably closely monitored by the security services. Cameron Stewart revealed in this newspaper in 2014 that it can cost taxpayers up to $8m a year to have a single Australian jihadist monitored around the clock by security agencies. Following Alis arrest his brother, Hassan, committed his own terror attack in Melbournes CBD in November 2018, setting his car on fire before stabbing three people, killing one. Hassan then goaded police into shooting him and was killed. If we are to treat offenders who plan to kill countless innocents in a similar manner to tax cheats we have moved beyond a properly balanced and just sentencing system. Indeed, even calling it a system may be overstating things. It is a process where unaccountable (albeit well-intentioned) judges pick and choose sanctions that feel right, but are not necessarily informed by empirical facts regarding the relative seriousness of criminal offences or data regarding what might be achievable through a state-imposed sanction. The best manner in which to make things fairer would be for our governments to impose minimum sentences for serious sexual, violent and terror offences. Governments baulk at this, fearing a backlash from the legal community, which argues that minimum sentences dont achieve individualised justice and can lead to overly punitive outcomes. But this can be remedied with a system of mandatory sentences where the imposed penalties are not overly severe we should keep them proportionate with the least serious offence of the relevant category of crime. It is why mandatory loss-of-licence penalties for drink-driving are so effective and popular, even among lawyers. And that is the reason no person who commits a terrorist act involving the loss of life should spend less than 30 years in prison. Offenders who are thwarted from committing such crimes, such as Ali, should receive no less than 20 years the 10-year reduction being a concession for the fact that ultimately no lives were lost. It is a failure of our governments that they resist such reform. This article is republished from The Australian. Read the original article. Seoul, May 25 : A kindergarten student in Seoul has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the South Korean capital city's education office said on Monday. The development comes just two days ahead of the planned second-phase resumption of South Korean schools, including kindergartens, reports Yonhap News Agency. The six-year-old student is believed to have contracted the virus from his art teacher at Young Rembrandts, a private art school in Magok . The teacher, who tested positive on Sunday, had taught 35 students at the institute until Friday and had contact with three other staff members. The teachers all wore masks and followed the institute's quarantine guidelines and social distancing rules, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The art school's 91 students, three teachers and two parents have been tested for the virus and are awaiting their results, which will come out on Tuesday. The teacher's 38 contacts have been ordered to self-quarantine for 14 days, and 13 educational institutes in the same building as the art school will be closed for disinfection. The boy's kindergarten, 10 nearby kindergartens and five nearby elementary schools will remain closed for two days for disinfection and other precautionary measures, said the Yonhap News Agency report. Under the government's phased school reopening plan, schools are scheduled to resume in-person classes for the two lowest grades of elementary school, kindergarten students, middle school seniors and second-year high school students on Wednesday. High school seniors returned to school last week after more than two months of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has so far infected 11,206 South Koreans and killed 267 others. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Award-winning Reggae/Dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy has expressed his interest in marijuana farming. According to the Nominate hitmaker, if the government of Ghana has come to the sudden realisation that weed farming is beneficial to the economy, he will consider joining the venture. Stonebwoy was speaking in an interview on Hitz FM when he made the statement. Once the government that regulates the use of marijuana has legalized the cultivation because it knows the purpose and why somethings have to happen. The government will not just commercialize the export of marijuana, they did it because they know how viable it is so as a private businessman if I look at it and if its viable why not? he stated. In March, 2020, Parliament passed into law the Narcotics Control Commission Bill 2019, legalising the growing of some cannabis for health purposes. It empowers the Minister for Interior in consultation with other institutions like Ministry of Health to grant licenses for the production of cannabis of not more than 0.3 per cent Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for industrial and medicinal purposes. Source: ameyawdebrah.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dear EarthTalk: What are some ways environmentalists use civil disobedience to accomplish their goals? Robert P., Portland, Ore. The concept of civil disobedience (defined by Merriam-Webster as the refusal to obey laws as a way of forcing the government to do or change something) dates back to the dawn of civil society. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. are primary examples of nonviolent resistors using civil disobedience as a tool to achieve their goals. Of course, environmental proponents have been practicing civil disobedience in various forms for decades if not longer. After all, proto-environment Henry David Thoreau wrote his seminal essay on the topic in 1846 after spending the night in jail for refusing to pay his back taxes. He feared the money would go toward funding the Mexican-American War, which he opposed, by a U.S. government that also happened to permit slavery, which he also opposed. If a thousand men were not to pay their tax bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood, wrote Thoreau. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible. While not an environmental essay per se, Thoreaus Civil Disobedience makes the case for nonviolent resistance as a counter friction to stop the machine. While democracy might be the best form of government we can hope for, the dominance of the majority inevitably leads to the trampling on the hopes, dreams and rights of the minority. In Thoreaus mind, individuals shouldnt let governments doing the will of an amoral or immoral majority overrule their own consciences and thus enlist them as collaborators in injustice. Even though its focus is more general, Thoreaus Civil Disobedience has certainly fueled many an environmental campaign in the intervening years. Cut to the present, and we have Extinction Rebellion (XR), a two-year-old U.K.-born movement that uses nonviolent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimize the risk of social collapse. Activists working on behalf of XRs cause have been in the news lately for various monkeywrenching antics, such as supergluing themselves to infrastructure like roads, trains and buildings and attempting to shut down oil rigs and airports. Last spring the group brought traffic in parts of London to a halt for hours by parking a hot pink sailboat in the middle of a busy intersection, while activists threw black paint at the London headquarters of Shell Oil and blockaded entry to the companys corporate headquarters. About 700 XR activists were hauled off to jail as a result of the protest, which wont likely be forgotten by any London commuters trying to get home that day at least. More recently, activists from the group have been generating controversy by threatening cyberattacks if the UK government bails out its ailing airline industry. While XR may be attracting the headlines lately, they are following a civil disobedience trail blazed by many others over the last half century. Activists from groups such as 350.org, Sea Shepherd, the Hambach Forest Occupation, EarthFirst!, Greenpeace, and thousands of others engage in acts of civil disobedience every day all over the world in their pursuit of protecting wildlife, the environment and/or the health and safety of humans. EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org. 2020 E/The Environmental Magazine Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Rev. Penny Parkin will begin her pastoral appointment at the Frankfort and Elberta United Methodist Churches on June 1. Her previous appointment was at the Fairgrove UMC and the Sutton-Sunshine UMCs. Oil edged lower as an escalating war of words between the US and China added to caution over the prospects for a global recovery in demand. Futures in New York lost 0.4% in Asian trading after falling 2% on Friday. China warned that some in the US were pushing the countries toward a new Cold War, stoking concerns that deteriorating relations between the superpowers could complicate the markets recovery from a historic demand crash. Beijing last week abandoned its decades-long practice of setting an annual target for economic growth due to uncertainty caused by the coronavirus. However, there are signs the oil market is positioning itself for a recovery. US shale drillers have cut the number of active rigs to the lowest level since 2009, trimming output further. This comes as OPEC+ slashes daily output by almost 10 million barrels in an effort to reduce a glut. Oil has surged about 75% this month as pockets of demand return in China and India after the easing of lockdown restrictions, and as US crude inventories start to decline. However, the recovery is expected to be long and uncertain, with the risk of a second wave infections possibly complicating a rebound. The US should give up its wishful thinking of changing China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday during his annual news briefing on the sidelines of National Peoples Congress meetings in Beijing. He also warned America not to cross Chinas red line on Taiwan. While fuel consumption climbs in some nations as lockdown restrictions ease, the cheapest US gasoline in nearly two decades wont be enough to entice nervous Americans to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend. The uncertainty around travel is so great due to the virus that AAA is not releasing a forecast for the first time in 20 years. Read: Worlds Smartest Oil Traders Have Taken to the Seas: Julian Lee Big oil annual general meetings in the US and Europe this week should shed light on how heavily producers have been hit by lockdowns, with Total SA, BP Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. among those fronting shareholders. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has given his government until June 15 to come up with a plan to support the countrys oil industry. Businessman vows to pay $500 fines for 3 Ill. churches holding in-person worship services Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A businessman and former mayoral candidate said he will pay the fines three churches in Illinois will face for holding in-person worship service during the ongoing lockdown in the city. The Philadelphia Romanian Church of God, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church, and Metro Praise International Church have been holding in-person services with more than 10 people, in violation of state orders. Willie Wilson, an influential local businessman, released a statement Wednesday saying that he will pay the fines the three churches received for disobeying the state order. The governor and mayor continue to trample on our constitutional rights while hiding behind a stay-at-home order that treats the church as non-essential, said Wilson, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. It is shameful that the church is discriminated against, while liquor stores, marijuana dispensaries and Home Depot [are] treated as essential businesses. Wilson himself attended worship at Philadelphia Romanian Church of God on Sunday and has been active in distributing masks to Chicago aldermen and residents, the Sun-Times added. While churches are being penalized for holding worship services during the state's stay-at-home order, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended her decision not to abide by lockdown orders after it was revealed that she went to a hair salon for a haircut while other salons and barbershops were forced to remain closed. Lightfoot suggested last month that the lockdown orders did not apply to her because she's "the public face of this city" and is giving interviews on national TV. This Sunday, during Memorial Day weekend, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church will host Brian Gibson, pastor of the multi-site megachurch His Church, for a worship service. Gibson, who has actively campaigned for churches to remain open amid the coronavirus pandemic, told Fox News that he was going to Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church to stand against injustice. This is a refugee population that came here from a totalitarian government, had no religious liberties ... and what do they find when they get in Chicago? Gibson asked. They find thuggery, they shut down the streets around their church. These people are harassed ... It's un-American. It's unacceptable. This is not Romania. This is not China ... This is America. Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church and Logos Baptist Ministries sued Illinois over the order, however U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman recently ruled against their request for relief. 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, Gettleman wrote. Their interest in communal services cannot and does not outweigh the health and safety of the public. Gettleman went on to argue that in-person church services pose higher risks of infection than gatherings at businesses. 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, he added. Bhopal, May 25 : Madhya Pradesh witnessed muted Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations on Monday. Muslim faithfuls turned philosophical about the ritualistic Namaz in the confines of their homes due to the lockdown. "That is how Allah has ordained this time," said Mujahid Mazhar, who had returned from abroad in December and was looking forward to the home town celebrations. The month preceding the festival had also passed without the usual buzz with the coronavirus threat casting its long shadow on the market. The celebratory hugs, so integral to the festival, were missing. S.K. Muddin the national convenor of the RSS affiliated Muslim Rashtriya Manch based in Jabalpur, said that Muslims were rigidly following the lockdown rules. "The community kept up patience since day one of Ramzan till the Eid," he said. The community has observed "Islam Dharm and Rashtriya Dharm", he added. The Muslim faithfuls missed public prayers as Idgahs remained closed due to lockdown. Bhopal, Burhanpur and Indore districts, which have a sizeable Muslim presence, have been in the Red Zone for the past two months. Old hands said that they have never seen such listless mood. Old Bhopal is still steeped in Islamic tradition. But it hardly reflected the gaiety usually associated with the festival. Muslim clerics had, on the eve of the festival, appealed to the community to avoid congregations and offer prayers at home. Senior journalist Rasheed Kidwai said that this was in adherence to the will of the God in happiness and adversities. He said this was the first Eid when streams of visitors were missing. "It used to happen in the past, but in just some parts affected by strife or other adversity. It could possibly be the first time the community all over the world has been forced to shun public expressions of the festive spirit," said Kidwai. Latest updates on Eid al-Fitr 2020 Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic are among the many airlines opting to transition to hauling cargo sometimes in empty passenger cabins after the coronavirus pandemic gutted demand, the New York Times reports. Why it matters: It's another example of how the pandemic is changing the economics of the airline industry, which has been transporting medical equipment around the word to battle the coronavirus as well as more traditional items like mail, seafood and smartphones. The state of play: Typically, half of all air freight is transported through companies like UPS, FedEx and DHL and the other half is in the baggage holds of passenger planes. Virgin had never flown a cargo-only flight before the pandemic and is now operating 90 such flights a week. American Airlines is flying nearly 140 cargo flights a week. Yes, but: While the practice offers some momentary relief for airlines, the tenuous state of the world economy could bring a drop in demand for goods, calling freight rates to fall as well. Go deeper: Airline industry braces for a forever-changed world A Bangladeshi barge sank in a river in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Monday after hitting a submerged pontoon jetty that was damaged by Cyclone Amphan, officials of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) said. All the 12 crew members of the barge, 'M V Prianka', have been rescued by the local administration after receiving an SOS call from the vessel, the officials said. The incident occurred early in the morning in the Hatania-Donia river in Namkhana, they said. The left side of the barge is fully submerged in the river, they said. "The barge M V Prianka was carrying a cargo load of about 800-900 tonnes of fly ash from Budge Budge jetty in West Bengal to Bangladesh. It was sailing during low tide and hit the submerged pontoon jetty," a barge operator told PTI. The accident could have been averted had the state administration marked the area, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People across the country attempted to kick off summer this holiday weekend, as beaches, parks and bars began to reopen while following social distancing guidelines with varying degrees of success. In New Jersey, poor weather kept many residents desperate to get outside off the beaches. Belmar, New Jersey, Mayor Mark Walsifer said on MSNBC Monday that the city had the weather gods on our side to prevent crowds. Still, Walsifer said boardwalks were busy, and the city is getting used to adjusting to the new normal. But in nearby Pleasant Point, protesters seemed to ignore social distancing guidelines to make their voices heard on Memorial Day, saying the governor needed to reopen the state immediately. Elsewhere in the country, beachgoers balanced risk with the desire to spend time outdoors. In Clearwater, Florida, beaches were open, but police said plenty of social distancing was occurring, and photos of the Memorial Day scene showed large spaces between beachgoers who were separated by cones. Its not always going to be perfectly 6 feet between people, but I feel like people are trying to keep their space," Yasmina Hernandez, who went to Sunset Beach, just south of Clearwater, told the Tampa Bay Times. Its everyones individual choice whether they come out or not. Ive been in the house for months and had to get out for some fresh air, Michael Montoya, at a nearby beach, told the Times. But Im not socializing or sitting close to people." The scene in Clearwater is good news for Floridians worried about their neighbors violating social distancing guidelines, after footage showed large crowds in Daytona Beach, Florida, over the holiday weekend. In the Lake of the Ozarks region in Missouri, huge crowds were seen with little social distancing at a pool party over the weekend. The bar owner had told NBC affiliate KSHB of Kansas City that they would try not to let large groups gather and would try to enforce social distancing, but "we don't know who's in groups, who's in families, we expect them to do that on their own." Story continues One person who attended the Saturday bash told the station that guests' temperatures were checked and there was sanitizer on hand. "If youre worried about getting sick, obviously, or you want to distance yourself, its pretty much to each their own, Jodi Akins said. The Camden County sheriff said in a statement Monday that it was a "record weekend" at Lake of the Ozarks, but a lack of social distancing is not a crime and his department had no authority to enforce it. Public health violations are up to health authorities, he said. "We expect residents and visitors alike to exhibit personal responsibility at the lake," Sheriff Tony Helms said in a statement. Image: A man feeds seagulls at an empty Coney Island beach in Brooklyn, N.Y., on May 23. (Jeenah Moon / Reuters) In Houston, the mayor said city officials will have to ramp up enforcement of the governor's reopening guidelines after one club hosted a massive pool party that appeared to defy social distancing guidelines. In coastal Wilmington, North Carolina, Mayor Bill Saffo acknowledged that the city is having some difficulty getting people to wear masks. "It's an enforcement issue for us, and I think it's going to be an enforcement issue for most communities around the country, Saffo said on MSNBC. The city has seen a rise in coronavirus cases since reopening, which Saffo said was expected. We knew that when we went from the mitigation phase to the reopening phase that we would see a spike, he said, adding that he would take a significant action if the numbers rose further. At the Grand Canyon, which began its reopening process, Victoria Girgis, a student at Northern Arizona University, said many people were wearing masks. It was not as crowded as I expected, especially for Memorial Day, Girgis, 21, said. A lot of opportunities to socially distance. People kept their distance." New Delhi: The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Monday (May 25) met again for the fourth time to review ongoing coordination efforts and restoration measures in the cyclone Amphan-hit areas of West Bengal. A sum of Rs 1,000 Crores has already been released to the state government after the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made an aerial survey and reviewed the relief efforts with the West Bengal government. Chief Secretary of West Bengal thanked the Centre for the support provided for relief and restoration. Restoration of Power and Telecommunication infrastructure was stated to be a priority in the Cyclone affected areas of the State. While Telecom connectivity has been restored in most areas, damages to the local power distribution network have affected the restoration of complete supply in some areas. The central government agencies along with teams from neighbouring states have been deployed in the restoration efforts. Indian Army along with teams of NDRF and SDRF have been deployed in Kolkata, to help in carrying out road clearances. Noting the progress made in restoration work, the Cabinet Secretary advised that complete power connectivity, telecom service, and drinking water supplies need to be restored on a priority basis. Central agencies are ready to provide any further assistance that may be required by the state, the official note said, adding that adequate stocks of food grains have also been kept ready for supply based on the demand from the State. Ministry of Home Affairs will also be sending a Central team soon to assess the damages. Rajiv Gauba also suggested that the West Bengal government may indicate its additional requirements if any and directed the Central agencies to work in close coordination with the state government. The state Chief Secretary participated in the NCMC meeting through Video Conference. Senior officers from the ministries of Home Affairs, Power, Telecommunications, Food and Public Distribution, Health, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Hqrs IDS, NDMA and NDRF attended the meeting. The Army was deployed in Kolkata and neighbouring districts on Saturday for the restoration of essential infrastructure and services in the wake of the destruction caused by Cyclone Amphan, a defence official said. Kolkata: The Army was deployed in Kolkata and neighbouring districts on Saturday for restoration of essential infrastructure and services in the wake of the destruction caused by Cyclone Amphan, a defence official said. West Bengal: Army personnel undertake restoration work at South Avenue in Kolkata. Five Army columns have been deployed in Kolkata to assist the city administration in the aftermath of cyclone Amphan. 86 people have lost their lives due to Amphan in the state,according to the CM. pic.twitter.com/P4bfuavnIf ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2020 Five columns of the Army were deployed in different parts of the city and North and South 24 Parganas districts, he said. These three parts of the state reported the maximum damage due to the cyclone. The deployment was made following a request by the West Bengal government, according to the official. "The Indian Army has provided three columns to assist the Kolkata city administration in the aftermath of Cyclone Amphan," he said. Army personnel equipped with road and tree clearance equipment were deployed at Tollygunge, Ballygunge and Behala in south Kolkata, he added. Army columns were also deployed for restoration work at New Town in North 24 Parganas district and at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district, he said. An Army column has 35 men, including officers and junior commissioned officers. Telecom service-providers were able to restore connectivity to only 80-85 per cent capacity level in areas of West Bengal hit by super cyclone Amphan due to erratic power supply, continued fibre cuts and obstruction by people protesting against disruption in electricity and water supply, industry body COAI said on Monday. Earlier in the day, the Department of Telecom had asked the companies to bring the connectivity level to 95 per cent by Monday evening. "The overall telecom network has been restored to about 85 per cent level. The main reasons are erratic power supply, fibre cuts and problems in reaching places because roads are blocked by fallen trees and also obstruction by agitated people," COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews told PTI. He said that people in some parts of Kolkata, and North and South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal gheraoed telecom personnel who went to restore mobile towers. "People have been agitating that they are not getting electricity. Hence, they block teams from restoration work. Fibre cuts have come down, but still going on," Mathews said. According to the Tower & Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA), power supply situation in Kolkata has improved immensely, but it will take a while for electricity to get stable. "Diesel generators, batteries and field rescue team are kept on readiness in case any situation arises. 90 per cent of the connectivity of private players has been restored in most of the areas of West Bengal, and Kolkata, North and South Parganas still remains a challenge," TAIPA Director General T R Dua said. The industry has also requested the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to help them in availability of diesel in some of the areas like North 24 and South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and Howrah. "The matter has been taken further by DoT for smooth operations," Dua said. According to industry sources, the government-run BSNL is working only at 60-65 per cent capacity due to which overall connectivity is now between 80-85 per cent, while 90 per cent of capacity of private operators has been restored. However, the BSNL denied the claim. BSNL Chairman and Managing Director P K Purwar said that the company's network is working at 75 per cent level in the Kolkata circle. Earlier in the day, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in a tweet, said that he spoke to Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash, BSNL CMD and Chief General Managers (CGMs) of West Bengal and Odisha. "Asked them to expedite restoration of telephone lines. They are doing their best though there are issues of power supply & removal of uprooted trees. Told them to work with local authorities & get it expedited," Prasad said. Later in the evening, the telecom minister updated that the network of BSNL has been restored in Odisha. "Chief General Manager (CGM) @BSNLCorporate of #Odisha circle has informed me that restoration work of BSNL telecom network in the state has been completed now," Prasad said. Network of private operators was restored a day after cyclone Amphan hit the Odisha coast, according to industry bodies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gold declined on Monday as Japanese equities rose on news of a potential stimulus programme that boosted investors risk appetite, though fresh tensions over Hong Kong limited the metals fall. Spot gold was down 0.5% at $1,726.18 per ounce by 0512 GMT US gold futures were fell 0.5% to $1,726.60. I think the play into stocks and other risk assets has probably supported the risk appetite, and diminished the appeal for gold in the short term, said IG Markets analyst Kyle Rodda. There still seems to be the broad issue of gold prices trying to break too far above the $1,740, $1,750 mark. Gold on Friday rose as much as 0.8% to touch $1,739.51, before paring gains. Japan is considering fresh stimulus worth over $929 billion, which mostly consists of financial aid programmes for companies hit by the coronavirus pandemic, the Nikkei newspaper said. Japans Nikkei jumped 1.5% following the report. Highlighting a return of political uncertainty, thousands rallied on Sunday to protest against Beijings plan to impose national security laws on Hong Kong. The proposed national security legislation for Hong Kong could lead to US sanctions and threaten the citys status as a financial hub, White House National Security Adviser Robert OBrien said on Sunday. Gold is seen as a safe-haven asset during political and economic uncertainties. Reflecting investor sentiment, SPDR Gold Trust holdings, the worlds largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 0.4% to 1,116.71 tonnes on Friday. Speculators increased their bullish positions in COMEX gold and silver contracts in the week to May 19, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Friday. Overall trading is expected to be subdued with US and UK markets shut for public holidays. Palladium fell 0.1% to $1,944.06 per ounce, platinum was down 1.5% at $827.12, and silver dropped 0.6% to $17.08. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets along with his supporters for a rally on May 25. Even though he reportedly arrived with a white facemask on, it was soon removed to greet the cheering crowd. Moreover, the people at the rally did not adhere to the social distancing rules and Bolsonaro was spotted shaking hands and embracing some supporters. At one instance, according to reports, the Brazilian President hoisted a young boy on his shoulders. The people at the rally held placards that read "Legend!" and "The people support you, Bolsonaro!". Though the far-right leader has acquired the support of at least 30 per cent of voters, Bolsonaro has been criticised for his response to COVID-19 pandemic even after the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently noted that Brazil has become the new hotspot of the coronavirus outbreak. Bolsonaro has also been accused of political interference in ongoing investigations and the ongoing controversy about hindering justice to protect his own family from police investigations. Bolsonaro has not only dismissed all early alarms of the coronavirus outbreak as little-flu but recently he also claimed that he has kept a box of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine at his house for 94-year-old mother. This is despite frequent warnings by health professionals that the anti-viral drug is not beneficial for coronavirus patients and have advised against the usage. Read - Brazil's Indigenous People Dying At An Alarming Rate From COVID-19: Report Read - Uttar Pradesh Taps Leather Units In China, Brazil For Investments 'South America new epicentre of COVID-19' The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that South America has become an epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic as Brazil surpassed Russia's coronavirus infection and became a second-most affected country in the world. While the global infections have surpassed 5.3 million, there have been significant spikes in the COVID-19 cases in Central as well as South America. This week, as more and more countries claim to have contained the unprecedented outbreak of deadly coronavirus, Brazil became the latest flashpoint and has now recorded 22,013 deaths along with 347,398 confirmed cases of COVID-19. According to reports, most infections in Brazil are concentrated in Sao Paulo. However, the highest rate of infection remains in the state of Amazonas where Mike Ryan revealed that 490 people in every 100,000 were COVID-19 positive. He even noted that the situation is alarming in most of the countries in the region but Brazil remains most affected. Read - Brazil Registers 16,508 New COVID-19 Cases In 24 Hours, Total Reaches 347,398 Read - Bolsonaro's Foul Language & 'shielded Kin' Admission Add Insult To Brazil's Covid Injuries Image Source: AP The passengers who took the first flights from various cities in India saw different set of rules at airports. The flights resumed on Monday after a gap of two months. I was nervous before the flight but all passengers were taking precautions. Very few people are travelling right now, a woman, who landed at Pune airport on Monday morning, told news agency ANI. Passengers onboard a Delhi-Bhubaneswar Vistara flight were seen wearing face shields as a precautionary measure against Covid-19. One of the passengers was Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Anubhav Mohanty. I was in Delhi since the Parliaments Budget session. Now, I am returning to my state Odisha, Mohanty said before boarding to flight at Delhi Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. Domestic air travel resumed in the country on Monday, after a gap of two months. The air travel was stopped and all flights grounded since March 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The flights to Pune and Mumbai were among the first to take off on Monday morning from Delhi airport. Both the flights are operated by private carrier IndiGo. A Delhi-bound Indigo Airlines with 116 passengers was the first flight to be operated from the airport in Chennai on Monday, officials said. It left for the national capital at 6.40 am while a flight from Delhi operated by the same carrier was the first incoming one, albeit with a far lesser number of passengers, at 27. Passengers were screened using a thermometre gun at Delhi airport before boarding Vistara flight to Bhubaneswar (Odisha). The food & beverage (F&B) and retail outlets, which were closed for the past 63 days, opened at Terminal 3 of Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The flight services resumed after a day of long and hard negotiations between the Centre and the states on Sunday. All states finally agreed to accept at least some flights but announced varied quarantine and self-isolation rules for arriving passengers to address misgivings about infections being brought in from other cities. Weather Alert ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 20 to 29 below zero. * WHERE...Central, northern and southern Vermont and northern New York. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Friday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Temperatures will drop well below zero tonight into early Friday morning with northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph expected across the region. The coldest wind chills are expected between 5 AM and 9 AM Friday with winds expected to weaken as the day progresses. Temperatures will remain on the cold side throughout the day with high temperatures only climbing into the single digits above zero. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. && Hyderabad, May 25 : To hide the murder of a woman, a man from Bihar committed nine more murders by throwing the victims into a well in Telangana's Warangal district last week, the police said on Monday. Cracking the mystery behind the nine bodies recovered from an open well at Gorrekunta village near Warangal town on May 21 and 22, the police arrested Sanjay Kumar Yadav (24), who confessed to committing the gruesome crime to hide the murder of a woman with whom he had live-in relationship. Revealing the details of the macabre murders, Warangal Police Commissioner V. Ravinder told a news conference that the accused killed nine persons, including six members of one family, by mixing sleeping pills in their food and then throwing them one by one into a nearby well. As all the victims were sedated after having their food laced with sleeping pills, the accused put each person in a gunny bag, dragged them one by one and threw them into the well, about 100 metres away from a godown of a gunny bag making unit where the family of a migrant worker from West Bengal and two Bihari youth were living. Another migrant from Tripura, who was also present in the building, was also murdered. The bodies of Mohammed Maqsood Alam (55), his wife Nisha (48), both natives of West Bengal working in the gunny bag manufacturing unit for the last 20 years, their daughter Bushra Khatoon (22) and Bushra's three-year-old son were found in the well on May 21. The next day after emptying the well, the police found the bodies of Maqsood's sons Shabaaz Alam (20) and Sohail Alam (18), Bihari workers Sriram Kumar Shah (26), Shyam Kumar Shah (21) and a migrant from Tripura, Mohammed Shakeel (40). Investigations revealed that Yadav, who was also working at the gunny bag unit, developed a relationship with Nisha's niece Rafiqa (37), who had come from West Bengal with three children after separation from her husband and was employed in the same factory. Yadav had taken a room on rent and was living with her. Police investigations revealed that Rafiqa had recently admonished him for trying to sexually exploit her daughter. The accused hatched a plan to kill Rafiqa and informed Maqsood's family that he is taking her to West Bengal to talk to her elders for marriage. They boarded the Garib Rath train to Visakhapatnam on March 6, but during the journey, he bought butter milk and after mixing sleeping pills, served it to Rafiqa. After she fell asleep, he strangulated her and threw the body from the train near Nidadavole in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The accused got down from the train at Rajahmundry and returned to Warangal. When Nisha and her husband enquired about Rafiqa, he said she had reached her village and would come back later. When Maqsood's family threatened to approach the police, he hatched a plan to eliminate all of them. As May 20 was Shabaaz's birthday, he came to their house in the evening and mixed sleeping pills in the food prepared at home. As two Bihari youth living in the same building had seen him at Maqsood's house, he went to their room and mixed sedatives in their food to wipe out the evidence. Shakeel, a native of Tripura who had come to Maqsood's house at the latter's invitation, too became Yadav's victim. The police commissioner said the CCTV footage of the accused leaving his house on the evening of May 20 and returning the next morning provided the vital clue to the investigating team. "We have no evidence that there is any other person involved in the crime," the police chief said, dismissing reports that four people were picked up in connection with the case. Ukraine keeps in place ban on mass events, set to return to issue by June 22 11:40, 25.05.20 1917 This leaves the country's show industry and related businesses struggling, People are still mad about Powderfinger. 350,000 viewers streamed the band's 'one night only' show over the weekend, according The Music Network. The rockers, including frontman Bernard Fanning join bandmates Darren Middleton, Jon Coghill, John Collins and Ian Haug, had reunited for the first time since splitting in 2010, to take part in an online streaming event to help Australia's struggling music industry during the coronavirus pandemic. Reunion? Powderfinger have sparked even more rumours they are set to REUNITE after pulling in 350,000 streams for their 'one night only' charity concert The event raised more than $427,000 and is expected to top at least half a million dollars. The money will be donated to Support Act along with Beyond Blue, who support those with mental health struggles. The band's recent success has sparked speculation that they will go on a reunion tour or be a headline act for an Australian-only Falls Festival line-up. Good cause: The rockers, including frontman Bernard Fanning join bandmates Darren Middleton, Jon Coghill, John Collins and Ian Haug, had reunited for the first time since splitting in 2010, to take part in an online streaming event to help Australia's struggling music industry Following the concert, frontman Bernard Fanning, 50, told the Daily Telegraph he was pleased they still had their unique sound. 'One thing I will say about it is there is no one making music that sounds like us at the moment so hopefully the concert creates a point of difference and can contribute to the re-emergence of people playing instruments,' he told the paper. He said he was very tempted by the idea of bringing the band's distinctive grunge sound to new audiences. On tour? The band's recent success has sparked speculation that they will go on a reunion tour or be a headline act for an Australian-only Falls Festival line-up 'I see that at my own shows, younger people in the audience requesting Powderfinger songs,' he said. 'An interesting part of this (live performance) is that it opens it up to a whole lot of new people.' Powderfinger split in November 2010, after playing their final show in Brisbane. Family lawyers say the US Department of Justice will look into the handling of the case by police and prosecutors. The United States Department of Justice is investigating the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed Black man who was killed while jogging in a predominately White neighbourhood in the US state of Georgia, as a possible hate crime, US media reported on Monday, citing the lawyers representing the Arbery family. CBS reported that the US attorney for the Southern District of Georgia and his office would investigate whether Glynn County and the state of Georgia violated the equal protection clause of the US Constitution. It took more than two months for authorities to arrest Gregory and Travis McMichael, and charge the White father and son duo with murder and aggravated assault in connection with Arberys death. The arrests were made only after a video emerged of the shooting, stirring national outcry. William Roddie Bryan, who filmed the slaying, was later arrested and charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. Gregory McMichael retired last year after more than two decades as an investigator for the local prosecutors office. Because of those ties, Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson recused herself from the case. Two outside prosecutors assigned the case have also stepped aside. A white and orange cross with an A on it stands stuck in the ground along Highway 17 at the entrance of the Satilla Shores neighbourhood where Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed young Black man, was killed [Dustin Chambers/Reuters] Gregory McMichael said he and his son pursued Arbery in the Satilla neighbourhood on February 23 because they believed he a burglar. Gregory McMichael said Arbery was shot in a struggle for Traviss gun. But Arberys mother says she believes he son with just out for a jog. The case has gripped the country, with many pointing to race as a motivating factor in Arberys murder. Questions remain over how the case was handled and why it took two months to make an arrest. Georgia is one of four states that does not have hate crime laws, but the federal government does have the authority to bring hate crime charges should it deemed them appropriate. The Department of Justice has previously said it was weighing federal hate crime charges. It also said it was considering a request from Georgias attorney general to investigate the handling of the case. The department did not immediately comment on the Arberys family lawyers comments on Monday. As domestic air travel resumed in India on Monday after a gap of two months, the first flight arrived at the Patna airport from Delhi around 7.30 am, an official said. Another flight from Mumbai, which was to land at 7 am, was delayed by two hours, he said. "The Indigo flight from Delhi has landed at Patna airport at 7.30 am, while the flight from Mumbai to Patna has been delayed by two hours," Director of the Jay Prakash Narayan Airport, Patna, Bhupesh Negi told PTI. The first flight from Patna to Delhi has also taken off, Negi added. All scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended since March 25 when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic. It was announced last Thursday that one-third of pre-lockdown domestic flights will operate from Monday. International scheduled commercial passenger flights remain suspended. "I will be able to go to Delhi after two months. I had some important work in the national capital but could not attend to it because of the sudden lockdown. I am extremely happy that flight services have resumed," a passenger at Patna airport said. Negi said a total of 16 flights will take off from Patna airport on Monday, while 17 flights will land. Thermal screening of all passengers will be carried out at the airport by medical teams deputed by the state government, he said. Asked whether air passengers to the state will be placed under quarantine, Negi said, "The district administration has clarified that passengers will not be quarantined after deboarding." Some states have announced mandatory institutional quarantine for air travellers, while may others have suggested home quarantine. Patna District Magistrate Kumar Ravi said the airport will be sanitised and disinfected at regular intervals and all passengers have to use face covers or masks. Passengers will not have to face any difficulty in commuting to and from the airport as a large number of autos, e-rickshaws and taxis have been allowed to ply, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LAPEER, MI The coronavirus was not going to stop Lapeer residents from commemorating the lives of veterans on Memorial Day. Bonnie Koning, a Veteran Esteem Team coordinator, worked with Lapeer students to build social distance guidelines and provide masks, allowing the community an opportunity to gather for the annual parade and ceremony. Koning said there was never a doubt about planning this event to bring awareness and appreciation to veterans. To do nothing was not an option, she said. To come together in this time, its beyond words, Koning said. In 1918, we had soldiers fighting a war during a pandemic. There were more people in the hospitals for the pandemic than the war, and yet they fought. And they won. If we can keep that same spirit of perseverance and patriotism, I think we will get through the coronavirus too. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has taken a number of measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Michigan, including banning gatherings of more than 10 people. But more than 150 people gathered for the event, most staying in their cars or sitting socially distanced in lawn chairs. A parade looped throughout a parking lot, followed by a ceremony at Anrook Park in Lapeer. Multiple veterans walked to a podium placed on a bridge over Farmers Creek, and the event featured tributes for each branch of the military, as well as patriotic songs. Taps was played by a bugler with a three-volley salute from the firing team and moments of silence with the honor guard at salute. This should be an everyday occurrence. Were talking veterans, said Peter Kirley, Lapeer County Veterans Affairs director, who spoke at the event. We owe everything to our veterans. We, as veterans, may not deserve everything, but we deserve something. This is to honor their memory, their sacrifice for this country. Kirley, a retired Sgt. Major in the U.S. Army who currently resides in Mt. Morris, served in conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. Choosing a path in the military runs in the family. His grandfather Edward Felhofer served in the Navy in both World War I and II. His father Maurice Patrick Kirley followed suit, serving in the Army during World War II. Peter Kirley was only 11 when his father died. One of nine children, Peter wasnt sure where his path would lead until his first day in high school. He realized then that there would be no money for college coming from such a large family. It was then he knew he was military-bound. Upon graduation, he entered basic training. As did three of his brothers. I learned I wasnt the biggest kid on the block. That didnt take very long, thats for sure. They knocked that out of in the first couple weeks, he said. It gave me discipline. I grew to love America with my whole heart through protecting our country. "There is no greater feeling than to serve this country for one day, one week, one month, a year or even 33 years as I have. Kirley met Kelly Haase while both were stationed in Germany between 1988 and 1990. The two wed in Tonder, Denmark 30 years ago today. Within three months, Peter was called back into active duty to serve his first tour in the Persian Gulf War, leaving Kelly at home pregnant with their first child Megan. The couple went on to have a second child, a son named Sean. Sean Kirley, now a 28-year-old graduate of Central Michigan University, is the fourth generation to serve, the third generation who went through Fort Campbell in Kentucky. Peter Kirley, left, and his son Sean Kirley at Sean's basic training graduation in September 2011 at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. (Photo provided by Peter Kirley) Entering his ninth year, Sean is currently a medical officer with the 82nd Airborne in Fort Brighton, North Carolina. He was called up to New York City for the past two months as a logistical officer while distributing PPE and other COVID-19 necessities through major cities across the country. The support that he is able to give and have that reflect back across the country while giving back to the American populous, Peter Kirley said, its truly an amazing honor. I am so proud of him. Hes facing an enemy he cant see with COVID 19, and we couldnt always see our enemies either. I hope our country can come back together. Its so divided right now, its scary. I hope they find a cure, or a vaccine and we can move forward as a society. Lapeer Mayor Debra Marquardt said it is important to learn the sacrifice made by veterans. She encourages everyone to take the time to ask a veteran what their service was like, and to follow that with a thank you for your service. Marquadt recognized the more than 1,100 veterans who have died to COVID-19 across the country. As the daughter of a veteran herself, she knows the importance of recognizing all who served. Today, remember those soldiers, sailors and airmen who did not come home, having made the ultimate sacrifice for us all, she said. We must also remember the servicemen and women who did not die in action, but who lived the consequences of war including trauma, both physical and emotional. They cannot be forgotten. Related stories: Veterans monuments pay silent tribute on Memorial Day 2020 in Bay City and Saginaw Officials ask residents to stay off bottom lands during Memorial Day celebrations Local musicians participate in Taps Across America on Memorial Day Honoring Muskegon veterans this Memorial Day looks different due to coronavirus pandemic An iconic Sydney restaurant that is only allowed 10 customers due to the COVID-19 pandemic has slammed a group of diners who did not show up for their booking. A group of six people made a reservation at Beppi's restaurant in Darlinghurst in Sydney's inner-city last week. But according to the Italian institution, which has been operating since 1956, the party-of-six did not show up for their meal, or bother to cancel. 'Last night we had a total of table of six people who did not show,' Beppi's wrote on Facebook. '60 per cent of our revenue GONE. No call to cancel, their phone just goes to message bank.' 'Disgraceful behaviour.' When a booking of six people decided not to show up for dinner last week the restaurant took to social media to slam the group Beppi's Restaurant in Darlinghurst, in Sydney's inner-city', has been a much-loved Italian establishment since 1956 Beppi's Restaurant in Darlinghurst, in Sydney's inner-city, has been a much-loved Italian establishment since 1956 but has been struggling since the coronavirus pandemic hit Australia. The closure of cafes and restaurants in March devastated the Sydney institution, but current restrictions mean the restaurant can operate with ten diners at a time. The restaurant said it was tempted to post the name and number of the customers, but opted not to expose them. Beppi's said it had made the 'conscious decision' not to take credit card details or deposits and trust customers and that the 'overwhelming majority' of customers were trustworthy. 'We have made the conscious decision not to take credit card details or deposits and trust our customers,' the restaurant wrote. The eatery also celebrated the easing of restrictions by the NSW Government allowing them to have 50 customers dine in at a time. Beppi's said it had received an 'overwhelming response' from diners who were keen to head back into the restaurant. But the Facebook post urged people to always cancel bookings so that the restaurant could get revenue from other eager customers. 'The selfish few spoil it for others and inflict further financial pain of an industry already decimated by the pandemic,' the post said. The iconic eatery also celebrated the easing of restrictions by the NSW Government allowing them to have 50 customers dine in at a time (pictured when it opened in the 1950's) 'Grazie mille to all those customers supporting and respecting our industry during these tough times.' Loyal Beppi's customers slammed the no-shows with some saying the behaviour was 'disgraceful' and 'shocking'. One diner commented on the post saying to 'name and shame' the customers. 'Absolute disgrace! These people should be ashamed, and compensate the restaurant,' another wrote. 'Shocking behaviour says a lot of the type of people they are,' one user said. Last week another trendy Sydney restaurant that was only allowed ten customers due to the pandemic slammed a woman who didn't show up for her booking. Aimee made a reservation for four people to dine at Low 302 in Surry Hills, Sydney, on Friday. Low 302 slammed a woman named Aimee, who failed to show up for her booking 'We had people on a waiting list who would have been happy to take your reservation,' Low 302 wrote on Facebook. 'You have single handedly set the worst precedent for our entire industry at this most difficult time. 'Aimee, there is a special place for you to burn in hospo hell.' New South Wales began to ease their coronavirus restrictions on Friday after receiving the green light from the Federal Government. Restaurants are now allowed to host up to 10 diners at a time after more than two months of strictly delivery and take-away service. Cafes and restaurants are expected to enforce social distancing of 1.5 metres and encourage their customers to practise good hand hygiene. Jenny Morones, 26, is raising three children on a low income in Bakersfield. Health insurance under the Affordable Care Act protected her from financial ruin when she got sick. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Jenny Morones and Courtney Marrs are both working mothers. Both labor to raise three children on low incomes. Both fled abusive relationships. But because Morones lives in California a state that expanded its safety net through the Affordable Care Act she has health coverage. It protected her from financial ruin last year when a severe infection put her in the hospital. Marrs lives in Texas, which refused to expand Medicaid through the healthcare law. That's left her and hundreds of thousands of other Texans uninsured. Lack of coverage has forced Marrs to forgo asthma inhalers and dental work on a molar she said was broken in a domestic dispute. Ive been living on Orajel, she said. Regional differences have long been a hallmark of American healthcare. But the gap between blue and red states has yawned wider in the 10 years of political battles that followed passage of the 2010 health law, often called Obamacare. Now, the coronavirus crisis threatens to widen disparities further as tens of millions of Americans lose jobs and health coverage. Blue states and red states are moving in very different directions, said Drew Altman, head of the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation, which studies the U.S. healthcare system. Few states illustrate the divergence more starkly than California and Texas, the nations two most populous states. California first under a GOP governor, then through two Democrats has moved more aggressively than almost any other state to implement and build on the 2010 healthcare law. The state expanded Medi-Cal coverage, as its Medicaid program is called, to nearly 4 million previously uninsured adults, built a robustly regulated insurance marketplace, enacted new patient protections and leveraged state power to push hospitals to improve quality and control costs. The share of working adults without health coverage dropped from nearly a quarter to just 1 in 10 before the current public health crisis, according to federal data compiled by the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund. Story continues California is a remarkable story, said Anthony Wright, the longtime head of Health Access California, one of the states leading consumer groups. We were once a poster child for what was wrong with healthcare in America, but the state went from laggard to leader. Texas became the epicenter of Republican resistance to the Affordable Care Act. State leaders blocked Medicaid expansion, leaving more than 750,000 low-income Texans without access to coverage. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, a quarter of working-age Texans lacked health insurance. The state also refused to establish its own insurance marketplace and dropped quality-improvement initiatives funded by the healthcare law. Today, Texas heads an effort by 19 GOP-led states and the Trump administration to get the Supreme Court to invalidate the whole law. That case has continued despite the mounting toll from the pandemic; the justices will consider it in the fall. California leads a coalition of states defending the law. To be sure, Californias healthcare activism hasnt made care affordable to everyone. And the deepening economic crisis now imperils the state's gains. For those who make too much to qualify for free Medi-Cal coverage or government subsidies, insurance premiums remain high in California. That has angered many healthy consumers, who were able to get lower-cost health plans before insurers were required to cover people with preexisting medical conditions, a key protection in the Affordable Care Act that also pushed up premiums. But Covered California, the insurance marketplace the state created through the healthcare law, has moved aggressively to control costs. Since the marketplace debuted in 2014, premiums in California have risen much more slowly than the national average, data show. We knew that the Affordable Care Act was not self-implementing, said Diana Dooley, who as health secretary under former Gov. Jerry Brown oversaw the state's Medi-Cal expansion. There were tools in the law if you chose to use them, but improvement wasnt going to happen on its own. Outside Bakersfield, at the clinic where Morones comes for care, it's not hard to see how the changes have helped patients. The state-of-the-art North Chester Health Center situated in a ragged neighborhood called Oildale, once home to Oklahoma migrants and other Dust Bowl refugees is one of 20 clinics that Omni Family Health has opened since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. Omni, a nonprofit health system, has been serving patients in the San Joaquin Valley for more than four decades. Historically, most were low-income. They were frequently very sick, having delayed care for chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease. Many didnt have health insurance. With passage of the healthcare law, the percentage of uninsured patients at Omni plunged from 35% in 2010 to 9% in 2018. Morones, who grew up in foster care and dreams of finishing a degree in child development, wasnt able to get health insurance through the Greek restaurant where she works. But she qualified for Medi-Cal. Its really good insurance. Everything is covered, said Morones, 26, who didn't hesitate to seek care when she was ill. Im so grateful. Between 2013 and 2017, the share of Californians who skipped medical care in the previous year because of costs dropped by a quarter, falling to 12%, Commonwealth Fund data show. Californias coverage gains have also meant more stable finances for health systems serving the poor. Omni used new revenue to build clinics like the one in Oildale and expand services, including behavioral health, orthodontics, cardiology and other medical specialties that many poor patients once went without. Since 2010, the health system has tripled the number of medical providers and more than doubled the number of patients it sees. It has been remarkable, said Omni Chief Executive Francisco Castillon, who noted the system's reserves have also helped Omni weather the current crisis. The mood is less upbeat in Baytown, Texas, where Legacy Community Health, a nonprofit serving poor patients around Houston, operates a health center in the shadow of one of the nations largest oil refineries. More than 1 in 3 patients there lack health coverage. Clinic staff scramble to put together care plans, get patients into drug discount programs, enroll them in charity or seek out the handful of specialists they know will see patients unable to pay. We try to manage diseases as best we can, but a lot of times we are racing against the clock, said Dr. Eli Newsome, a family physician at the clinic. I put in a referral, but it doesnt go anywhere." Legacy is now planning for a surge as large as 30% or 40% in the number of uninsured adults it cares for because of the coronavirus outbreak and a major downturn of the oil industry, said Katy Caldwell, its director. Charity programs such as the Rose, a Houston nonprofit that provides money for mammograms, can help, but they often have limited slots. So, too, do local hospitals, which cap charity care. Everyone at Legacy has stories of patients slipping through the cracks. The ones who come in with cancer are the really difficult ones, said Yvette Enriquez, an eligibility specialist who tries to connect patients with aid. The share of working-age adults in Texas without coverage is down from 30% before the healthcare laws coverage expansion began, but it still ranks highest in the country. Even Texans who have insurance pay higher premiums and higher deductibles than Californians, data from the Kaiser Family Foundation show. And Texans are almost twice as likely as Californians to skip care because of cost. Theyre also more likely to struggle with medical debt. Nearly 30% of Texans reported past-due medical bills in 2018, compared with 14% of Californians. The persistently high uninsured rate in Texas not only harms patients, but it also strains hospitals, doctors and other medical providers. And it has slowed initiatives to organize medical care so patients get better results and avoid costly and unnecessary tests and procedures. Were about 15 years behind California in terms of taking on costs in a meaningful way, said Tom Banning, head of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts office did not respond to repeated requests for comment. California, on the other hand, is taking steps to expand the federal healthcare law's protections. Covered California, for example, has worked aggressively to control what patients have to pay, advertising to attract younger, healthier consumers who cost less to insure and mandating that health plans exempt some services from deductibles so patients won't skip needed care. Roughly 1.5 million people get coverage through Covered California, and more than 70% are now in a plan in which primary care visits, lab tests or other outpatient services aren't subject to a deductible. Texas offers no such aid to the 1.1 million people who get marketplace coverage there. Nor does the state have any plans to expand consumer protections. There remain no options for patients such as Marrs, who earned too little to qualify for marketplace coverage but is shut out of Medicaid in Texas. Marrs doesnt regret that her divorce meant giving up the health insurance she had through her husband's job. But living with a broken wisdom tooth for more than two years and having to reuse contact lenses so frequently she injured her eyes hasnt been easy. As she sat in the waiting room of a clinic that serves low-income patients, she shook her head at the choice she confronted. I had to decide if I was going to stay in a really bad situation to keep my insurance or leave for the sake of my safety and the safety of my kids, knowing Id lose my insurance, she said. Its crazy. Artur Vanetsian, the former head of Armenias National Security Service (NSS), on Monday declined to confirm or deny claims that he had offered former President Serzh Sarkisians fugitive son-in-law a far-reaching deal on behalf of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. Mikael Minasian, who had enjoyed considerable clout during Sarkisians decade-long rule, claimed on May 2 that Pashinian offered to guarantee his and his fathers immunity from prosecution if he pledges to pay cash and stop challenging the Armenian government. He said Vanetsian personally communicated Pashinians proposal to him during a February 2019 meeting held in Rome. Pashinian has refused to comment on Minasians allegations, saying that they are investigated by the Special Investigative Service (SIS). The law-enforcement agency summoned Vanetsian for questioning on May 7. The latter reportedly refused to give any testimony. The SIS tried to question Vanetsian again on Monday. The former NSS chief, who is now a bitter critic of Pashinian, gave no details of the interrogation when he spoke to journalists after emerging from the SIS headquarters. Asked whether what Minasian said is true, he said: I neither refute it nor refuse to refute it. I dont comment. He argued that he is not allowed to breach the secrecy of the investigation. Vanetsian claimed late last year that he met with Minasian on the prime ministers orders when he ran Armenias most powerful security service. He stood by that statement on Monday but again did not elaborate. I can only say one thing: I acted solely within the bounds of my legal powers, Vanetsian told RFE/RLs Armenian as he made his way into the SIS building. Minasian, who now lives abroad, made the allegations one week after it emerged that he was charged with illegal enrichment, false asset disclosure and money laundering earlier this year. He rejected the accusations as politically motivated. Pashinian has repeatedly accused Minasian of illegally making a huge fortune during Sarkisians rule. A newspaper controlled by the prime minister alleged in January that Minasian and Vanetsian have joined forces in a bid to topple him. Also, a spokeswoman for Pashinian claimed late last month that according to the governments information Vanetsian abused his NSS position to buy Minasians minority stake in Armenias largest mining company. Vanetsian strongly denied that. Vanetsian resigned as NSS director last September after falling out with Pashinian for still unclear reasons. He officially announced his entry into politics in February, saying that he is setting up an opposition party for that purpose. In recent months, the former security chief has repeatedly accused Pashinian of incompetence and misrule and called for his resignation. iStock/ijoe84By: IVAN PEREIRA, ABC News (EAST STROUDSBURG, Penn.) -- Police said the University of Connecticut senior who has been accused of killing two people was seen walking in the Poconos. Pennsylvania state police released a new surveillance photo that they say shows suspect Peter Manfredonia walking on train tracks near East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, on Sunday. Manfredonia, 23, fled Connecticut after he allegedly killed two people over the weekend, invaded a home, stole guns and two cars and abducted a person, according to police. "If seen, DO NOT APPROACH, ARMED & DANGEROUS," Pennsylvania State Trooper Anthony Petroski tweeted Monday. Police say Manfredonia was seen wearing dark-colored shorts and a white T-shirt and was carrying a large duffel bag. The FBI said it was assisting the investigation, which crossed three state lines. On Friday, Manfredonia allegedly attacked two men in Willington, Connecticut, with an edged weapon, killing Theodore Demers, 62, and wounding the unidentified second suspect, according to police. On Sunday, officers responded to a 911 call of a home invasion in Willington where Manfredonia allegedly stole pistols and long guns and a truck, police said. The homeowner was not injured, according to police. The suspect allegedly drove to Derby, Connecticut, where he allegedly killed an acquaintance, Nicholas J. Eisele, 23, inside his home, abducted another resident, stole a car and fled, according to police. The kidnapped victim was found later Sunday unharmed in Paterson, New Jersey, and identified Manfredonia as her captor, police said. The car was found in New Jersey and it was unclear how the fugitive was able to cross into the Pennsylvania border, police said. A UConn representative said Manfredonia was a student at the joint School of Engineering / School of Business MEM (Management and Engineering for Management), and he was not attending summer classes or living on campus. "The university expresses its deepest, most heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their families in this horrible, incomprehensible tragedy. They are all in our thoughts," school spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said in a statement. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Supplier News 25 May 2020 As governments around the world further flex their loosening of restrictions, data by SiteMinder, the global hotel industry's leading guest acquisition platform, shows that hoteliers no longer have to predict how quickly consumers will act to travel after the COVID-19 pandemic. The SiteMinder World Hotel Index has this month revealed an acceleration in the week-on-week growth of hotel bookingsfrom 12.87% of 2019 levels on 5 May, to 15.32% one week later and then to 19.39% on 19 Mayas evidence that when it comes to the possibility of travelling again, many consumers will act at the soonest possible moment. Other key findings from the SiteMinder World Hotel Index this past week include: The biggest spike in hotel bookings has come from New Zealand where retail stores, restaurants and malls have reopened for the first time since a lockdown was implemented earlier this year. Nation-wide, the growth of hotel bookings almost doubled, from 21.99% to 40.40% of 2019 levels, and the trajectory looks strong. For the first time, the booking momentum in both the Netherlands and Norway increased to 20.64% and 23.24% over 2019 levels, respectively. The two countries now join Germany (25.76%) in surpassing the global average from continental Europe. In the UK, hotel bookings in Bournemouth are fast approaching the global average, at 15.54% of 2019 levels, driven perhaps by citizens seeking a beach destination getaway in the summer. To see the hotel booking momentum in other countries, and to find out which nation's booking volumes continue to soar, access the live SiteMinder World Hotel Index or sign up for weekly snapshots at HomeForHotels. About SiteMinder In an age of rising choice and accessibility for curious travellers, SiteMinder exists to liberate hoteliers with technology that makes a world of difference. SiteMinder is the global hotel industry's leading guest acquisition platform, ranked among technology pioneers for its smart and simple solutions that put hotels everywhere their guests are, at every stage of their journey. It's this central role that has earned SiteMinder the trust of more than 35,000 hotels, across 160 countries, to generate in excess of 100 million reservations worth over US$35 billion in revenue for hotels each year. For more information, visit www.siteminder.com. The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, says Ghana will become more self-reliant after the COVID-19 pandemic. He says the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda which encapsulates policies such as the Planting for Food and Jobs, will enable Ghana to recover much more quickly from the devastating effects of the pandemic. The Ghana Beyond Aid is a national transformation agenda that calls for transforming the economy, which is focused on the production and exports of raw materials, to one based on manufacturing and high-value addition. He spoke to the state broadcaster, GBC, after the Virtual Eid-ul Fitr celebration at the station. The President has already placed Ghana on a trajectory that allows us to come out of this crisis relatively quickly. As you know, the post-COVID economic architecture in the world is going to be one of the countries that are going to be more self-reliant. You are going to look at self-reliance in food production, manufacturing and in services, that is really the Ghana Beyond Aid that the President started talking about way before this pandemic came into being. And so that trajectory that we have already embarked upon will allow us to recover from this pandemic much more quickly than probably other pandemics, he said. Already, the Bank of Ghana is suggesting that the national economy has entered a contraction phase right from March, the first month in which Ghana confirmed cases of coronavirus. According to the Bank, the national economy contracted by 2.2 percent in March 2020, as compared to a growth of 5.6 percent for the same period last year due to leading indicators of economic activity during the first quarter of the year such as the restrictions, social distancing, and the partial lock-down measures introduced by government in the middle of March. Also, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has stated that the COVID-19 fight could cost Ghana about 9.5 billion cedis, pushing the country's budget deficit to about 6.5 percent. However, as the novel Coronavirus is still spreading, many stakeholders are urging countries to look inwardly to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Countries which are dependent on other countries are thinking of how they can help themselves and rely upon themselves for survival. COVID-19: An opportunity to boost industrialization in Africa The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Year Zero Report, by policy and advocacy think tank, AfroChampions Initiative is also urging African countries to take advantage of the pandemic to boost African industrialization as there could be potential positive effects on regional and local manufacturing. It says that Countries are expected to re-balance their over-reliance on distant suppliers in favour of more proximate suppliers as this could have some positive impact on ongoing efforts to boost African regional value chains. Also, a new report by auditing firm, KPMG, analyzing the economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghana, has stated that Ghana can improve Agriculture Production and Export by looking at the opportunity to boost domestic production and consumption of some food commodities, such as rice, maize, cassava, yam and chicken. ---citinewsroom US should not underestimate Chinese people's determination for reunification: Wang Yi Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/24 18:02:53 The Taiwan question is China's internal affair and the US should recognize its high sensitivity and abide by the one-China principle and three joint communiques, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday. The US should abandon its illusion and political tricks, and stop challenging China's bottom line, said Wang at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual two sessions, warning the US not to underestimate 1.4 billion Chinese people's firm determination to defend national reunification. The one-China principle is the consensus of the international community and the political basis for bilateral relations between China and other countries. Based on this principle, the Chinese government and the World Health Organization (WHO) have made arrangements for Taiwan Island's participation in global health affairs. Taiwan has smooth channels of communication for COVID-19 control information and for carrying out cooperation with the WHO and its members. "There is no technical barrier (for Taiwan to join the pandemic fight) or a problem of Taiwan being the shortfall in pandemic control," Wang said, noting that it was the Taiwan authorities that disregarded the benefits and well-being of its people, did not recognize the 1992 Consensus, and shut the doors to cross-Straits negotiations to deal with issues concerning foreign affairs. "We resolutely oppose official exchanges with the Taiwan authorities under the guise of pandemic prevention cooperation, resolutely oppose the pursuit of so-called international space for Taiwan in violation of the one-China principle, and resolutely oppose the external forces' connivance and encouragement of Taiwan secessionists' 'seeking Taiwan independence in the name of pandemic control,'" Wang said. The 23 million people in Taiwan are our compatriots and we are always concerned about the epidemic situation on the island of Taiwan and the health and safety of Taiwan people. Since the outbreak, we have carefully taken care of Taiwan compatriots on the mainland, and have also assisted Taiwan compatriots living overseas. The mainland will continue to go all out for the future anti-epidemic needs of the Taiwan people, Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos Swedens world-leading provider of transportation solutions, Scania, is currently testing mobile connectivity to connect devices that previously used cables or Wi-Fi connections to streamline factory operations and improve productivity. In the lab, Scania is currently testing wireless mobile connectivity with Ericsson using a dedicated 5G-ready private mobile network. The truck producer has identified potential improvements in its production, such as streamlining networks with 4G and 5G technology that can address the full range of use cases from massive to critical applications. As such, less hardware is required to cover the same factory area compared to the existing wireless networks such as Wi-Fi. Scania has also found that mobile connectivity is also reliable for factory floor applications such as sensor monitoring and communication with automated guided vehicles. By removing cables for devices like hand tools, flexible production increases and many tasks are managed via software. As a result, maintenance costs are lower since cables do not need to be relocated, and there is less wear and tear on cables that move as part of their daily function. In addition, savings on hardware costs can be made as hundreds of control boxes are removed and instead virtualised and centralised. It is also easy to add and remove sensors and equipment, resulting in greater flexibility to set-up efficient automation and logistics. Reliability and security Reliability means that connected devices stay connected. If an autonomous forklift needs to connect to the warehouse management system to get its next instruction, losing connectivity will cause a delay, sapping productivity. Security is a requirement because industrial companies need to protect their intellectual property and customer data. They also need to protect their connected devices from being hacked. The advantage of wireless technology is that it eliminates the need for costly wiring and cabling. Ericssons US factory is another great example of how our next-generation technology is changing the future of manufacturing for the better. As a global company, we have gained insights from testing and applying 5G technology for industries, and we are now bringing those learnings into our own factories, which will benefit the whole ecosystem. This 5G smart factory will be one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the industry when it is fully operational later this year. Ericssons fast and secure 5G connectivity will enable agile operations and flexible production, by utilising industrial solutions such as automated warehouses, connected logistics, automated assembly, packing, product handling, and autonomous carts. The new 5G smart factory complements Ericssons global supply strategy, which ensures that the company is working closely with its customers through its American, European, and Asian operations, securing fast and agile deliveries to meet customer requirements. Accelerating Industry 4.0 in Vietnam Vietnams manufacturing sector is experiencing an industrial revolution to further improve productivity and to sustainably drive the next wave of socio-economic development and growth, enabled by 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT). Ericsson fully supports the Vietnamese governments vision and strategic leadership in accelerating the adoption of Industry 4.0 across Vietnam. Ericsson is working with Vietnams mobile network operators to expand 4G IoT capabilities across the country, as well as preparing for future 5G capabilities and the broader IoT ecosystem. Our strategic partnership within the IT industry in Vietnam aims to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0, digitally transforming industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, transport, and energy. Through our mobile network technology and innovations, Ericsson supports and promotes the governments vision of leveraging science, technology, and innovation to drive the next wave of socio-economic development in Vietnam. The family of Belgian teenager Theo Hayez is still pushing for answers and pleading for anyone with information to come forward as the one-year anniversary of his disappearance approaches. The then 18-year-old disappeared on May 31 last year. He was reported missing in early June at Byron Bay's WakeUp! Backpacker hostel, when they noticed he had not checked out of his room. Lehore Hayez, Theo's father, speaks to media in June 2019. Credit:Danielle Smith Mr Hayez was last seen at Byron Bay's Cheeky Monkey's bar on Friday, May 31 about 11pm. He was wearing a black hooded jumper, beige pants and black shoes. His family issued a statement on Monday evening, thanking the public for their support over the past 12 months, and helping them to "endure this nightmare". YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Edu VanHub a school on the wheels, traveling in Armenian provinces and educating young people on media-literacy. The man behind the initiative is Gevorg Harutyunyan, the founder of EduVanHub. Together with a group of volunteers, Gevorg tours rural parts of Armenia and Ukraine and teaches the young people media-skills and media-literacy. Gevorg told ARMENPRESS he came up with the idea when he and his friends had launched a touring theater. We would visit villages and stage performances. I was born in Yerevan, Ive lived in several cities abroad and I couldnt have a good understanding about problems in villages, but the touring theater helped me see that many talented young people living in villages sometimes dont have much opportunities to get to know cultural events, media development and others, Gevorg said. He said the EduVanHub volunteers have covered subjects like internet literacy, finding quality education online, media journalism, quality content and others. In 2017, he even won the third place at the Erasmus Talent grant competition in Milan, and a year later he founded the GaragErasmus4Yerevan organization, and went on to win another grant for launching the mobile college. He said the project was so successful in Armenia that they decided to go international. We chose Ukraine because it too is a post-Soviet country, and it has political, social-economic, educational and other issues, he said. Gevorg says they are now looking for sponsors to continue the project. I remember there were some people who were skeptical about online education, but factually life showed that it is essential, he said, speaking about the isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. Reporting by Angela Hambardzumyan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Pune: The Pune municipal corporation (PMC) in a bid to limit the movement of people in containment zones decided to distribute ration kits to 70,000 families, however, the civic body has fallen short. The national lockdown is set to end on May 30, but the PMC has not completed the distribution, yet. An official said on anonymity that till date the civic body has distributed around 40,000 kits only. The opposition parties are blaming the ruling BJP, accusing the party of politics in ration kits distribution. The opposition claims preference has been given to the elected members from the Bhartiya Janata Party. According to the opposition party members, more kits are available in the areas where BJP members are representing but the main containment zones are getting fewer kits. Nationalist Congress party Parvati constituency president Nitin Kadam said, I appealed to municipal commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad and mayor Murlidhar Mohol to conduct an inquiry in kits distribution. For example the kits are distributed in Taljai slum on Saturday and Sunday but the 1 litre oil bag is missing from the kit. If PMC is paying money for the kits, the administration should ensure that the kit has all the elements which are promised. NCP, Congress and Shiv Senas elected members criticised the kits distribution delay and said on anonymity that as the scheme is good, they did not want to bring politics in it but unfortunately the ruling BJP is doing politics over this issue. According to Pune mayor Murlidhar Mohol, the main reason for the Covid-19 spread is that people from slum areas venture out to purchase essential items and another source is community toilets. To control citizens movement in containment zones, PMC decided to give free ration kits. The door-to-door distribution of the kits will begin from Saturday. Each ration kit contains groceries worth Rs 800. These kits will have the PMC logo on it, said Mohol. And where were we? I remember! The last time we met in this space I was doing a little public hand-wringing over the rising damp of Coca-colonisation on Australian life, that pernicious influence of America which sees spot outbreaks of "moronavirus" on our collective brains before slowly spreading to our very soul. As I noted, the first serious cluster of moronavirus victims in deepest darkest Queensland saw the election of Senator Malcolm Roberts. But, tragically, it had not been contained, recently spreading to Melbourne where, a fortnight ago, we had no fewer than a hundred Australians with placards gathered on the steps of Victorias Parliament House protesting both the lockdown and the fact that 5G phone towers spread the virus, even as they chanted: "Lock up Bill Gates!" One of the signs at the anti-lockdown rally at Parliament House in Melbourne. Credit:Paul Jeffers You responded in your thousands, in letters, emails, tweets and Facebook posts: oh, the humanity! It is one thing to be bone-stupid. There is no crime in that. But when the nation is hit so hard by moronavirus that you get scenes like that in Melbourne, just where is it all going to end? London, May 25 : UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed primary schools will open on June 1 and secondary schools will "provide some contact" from June 15 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Reception (first year of primary school in the UK), Year One and Year Six will be the first to return, Johnson said during the daily coronavirus press conference at Downing Street on Sunday, the Metro newspaper reported. "I do believe we will be in a position to move to Step Two of our plan. As part of Step Two we set out plans for a phased reopening of schools because the education of our children is crucial for their welfare, their health, for their longterm future and for social justice. "And so in line with the approach being taken in many other countries, we want to start getting our children back into the classroom in a way that is as manageable and as safe as possible," he added. The Prime Minister confirmed some secondary school pupils would also have contact with schools from next month. "From June 15, for secondary schools to provide some contact for Year 10 and Year 12 students to help them prepare for exams next year with up to a quarter of these students in at any point. "By opening schools to more pupils in this limited way we are taking a deliberately cautious approach." He said the decision to reopen schools on June 1 came after a "constructive period of consultation with schools, teachers and unions led by the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson". Johnson said he acknowledged not every school was in a position to open on June 1 but the government would support them to open as soon as possible. New Delhi: Encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists at Khur village in Damhal Hanjipora area of Kulgam district in morning hours on Monday (May 25) as cordon and search operation (CASO) was launched in the area. According to police, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in the area by joint team of forces including 34 RR, CRPF and Kulgam Police on specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area in wee hours today. Soon after being trapped, the militants were asked to surrender, but they opened fire, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter, said the police official. Sources told Zee Media that two-three militants are believed to be trapped. Press Trust of India Photo-messaging app Snapchat has seen significant growth in India business, and its daily active user base (DAU) in the country has jumped 120 percent year-on-year in March 2020, a senior company executive said. Speaking to PTI, Snap Inc Managing Director (International Markets) Nana Murugesan said the company has been expanding its team in India, which is focusing on developing culturally relevant products, community engagement, and partnerships. "We have seen significant user growth in India with a 120 percent increase of our daily active users, comparing March last year to March this year. We have added new functions to the India team in our Mumbai office, with our first employees hired in the strategy and partnership team, sales and creative strategy team, as well as currently recruiting for our content team," he said. Snap is the parent company of Snapchat. The app allows users to share photos with friends for a specific time period after which the content disappears. It offers filters and lenses, many of which are augmented reality-enabled. More than an average of 4 billion Snaps were created by its users each day in March 2020 quarter. It had 229 million daily active users at the end of March 2020 quarter, an increase of 39 million or 20 per cent year-over-year. The company doesn't disclose country-specific user base. "Our team in India continues to focus on culturally relevant product developments, creative tools, community engagement, and partnerships. Over the past six months, we have launched support in five more languages, introduced creative tools to celebrate cultural moments and festivals, onboarded celebrities such as Taapsee Pannu as a Snap Star, added more Official Lens Creators and partnered with local media brands, advertisers, OEMs, and Telcos," Murugesan said. Across all its initiatives, the augmented reality remains a fundamental way it engages its users in India, he added. "We're especially excited to be hosting our first Lensathon in partnership with Skillenza to reach over five lakh developers in India. We see this as a big step forward in democratising creativity, building the future of AR alongside our community, and making available even more compelling, relevant experiences for Snapchatters," he noted. Lensathon is an online hackathon by Snapchat in partnership with Skillenza, where participants create eye-catching lenses and AR experiences using Lens Studio by Snap. They will stand a chance to be a part of the Official Lens Creator programme along with other cash prizes, Snap Spectacles etc. Last year, the company hosted 11 Lens Studio workshops in colleges and universities in India. In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, these sessions are being hosted virtually with the Pearl Academy, ISDI, Symbiosis Pune, Thapar Institute of Technology, Manipal Institute of Technology, SRM Institute, and Deviprasad Goenka Management College Of Media Studies. Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Eun Sung-soo, right, urges bank CEOs to offer financial support to small business owners during a meeting at the Korea Federation of Banks headquarters in Seoul in this March 20 file photo. / Courtesy of FSC Gov't urges banks not to increase loan loss reserves By Park Jae-hyuk Domestic banks have been unable to brace for the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the government virtually barring them from increasing their reserves in anticipation for loan losses. While banks in the United States and Europe have begun putting aside massive amounts of money to brace for the scenario, Korean lenders have not been able to do the same as they have been forced to lend more money to virus-hit businesses and extend the due dates for their loan payments. Analysts have warned Korean banks of credit risks in upcoming quarters if they continue to keep pace with the government's massive liquidity supply. According to regulatory filings by Shinhan, KB, Hana and Woori financial groups, Thursday, their combined allowances for bad debts rose 9.5 percent year-on-year to 730.5 billion won ($594 million) during the first quarter. An allowance for bad debt is a valuation account used to estimate the amount of a firm's receivables that may ultimately be uncollectible. If its amount rises, the firm's profit declines. The nation's four largest banking groups could post better-than-expected earnings during the first quarter, because the increase in their bad loan reserves was much smaller than those of global financial giants despite the growing concerns over uncollectible debts. Standard Chartered raised its reserves for bad loans to $956 million in the first quarter from $78 million in the previous year. HSBC increased its provisions for loan losses and impairments to $3 billion in the first quarter, the highest since the first quarter of 2011. Bank of America nearly quintupled its loan loss provisions to $4.76 billion. The amount of money Citigroup set aside in case of loan defaults tripled to $7 billion. "U.S. and European banks are increasing their reserves to prepare for the worst. Our global operations have also set aside money," a top executive of one of the foreign banks operating here told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. "Although the public has yet to realize it, the economic forecast is the worst it has been since the Great Depression, so it is proper that banks should set aside reserve money. We chose to brace for the worst-case scenario." Domestic banks said they did not increase their bad loan reserves, because they considered COVID-19 had a limited impact on them during the first three months of this year. "We will decide whether to reserve more money or not, depending on how the pandemic unfolds," said a spokesman of Hana Financial Group which was the only banking group here that decreased its bad loan reserves in the first quarter. Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Yoon Suk-heun speaks to a bank clerk during his visit to KB Kookmin Bank's Sadang branch in Seoul, March 26, which was made to encourage the bank to lend money to businesses suffering difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic. / Courtesy of FSS A hazmat suit-wearing burglar with a cordless drill was caught trying to steal a 5million artwork by mysterious street artist Bansky from an NHS hospital. The renowned artist donated the painting titled 'Game Changer' to Southampton General Hospital on May 6. He left it with a note for hospital workers reading: 'Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if its only black and white.' A hazmat suit-wearing burglar with a cordless drill was caught trying to steal a 5million artwork (pictured) by mysterious street artist Bansky from an NHS hospital in Southampton The renowned artist donated the painting titled 'Game Changer' to Southampton General Hospital (pictured) on May 6 Just two days later, the man was seen on CCTV by guards as he skulked around in front of the highly-valuable artwork. He was swiftly removed from the hospital. A source told The Sun: 'Security spotted him and asked a supervisor if they should stop him. 'They were told to watch him and he was seen walking past the picture at least five times, clearly having a good look. 'Security stepped in and he was removed.' The artwork depicts a young boy playing with action figures. In a poignant gesture Batman and Spiderman have been discarded in favour of an NHS nurse sporting a mask and cape. The painting will remain at Southampton General Hospital (pictured) until the autumn when it will be auctioned to raise money for the NHS Banksy's latest offering is to mark the brave work of the health service as the UK battles coronavirus. The only colour within the piece can be seen in the flash of red on the nurse's apron, marking the Red Cross of the health service. The painting will remain at Southampton General Hospital until the autumn when it will be auctioned to raise money for the NHS. Staff and patients at the hospital are able to view the creation where it resides, on level C of the building. Over 15 lakh stranded migrant workers have returned to Uttar Pradesh from different parts of the country on board 1,174 trains till now, a senior state government official said here on Monday. A total of 24 lakh people have returned to the state so far in buses, trains and other modes of transport, Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Information) Awanish Awasthi said. "Till Monday 2.00 pm, as many as 1,174 trains have come to UP, through which 15.62 lakh migrant workers have arrived. Buses are operating from Rajasthan and Haryana. So far, around 24 lakh people have come to UP through trains, buses and other modes of transport," he said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has reviewed the return of migrants to the state, Awasthi said. "The UP chief minister has directed that the 'Migration Commission' be renamed as 'Kamgar Shramik: Sewayojan evam Rojgar Kalyan Aayog'. This commission will work to provide employment to the labourers, while keeping in mind the skill-mapping and skill development of the labourers. The CM also directed that the constitution of the commission should be ensured in the next couple of days," he said. The official also informed that the UP chief minister would undertake inspection of emergency services in the hospitals. Police patrolling is going on and there is peace in the state, he said, adding that people celebrated Eid from their homes. Awasthi said 57,449 FIRs have been lodged for violation of lockdown so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN welcomes three-day ceasefire announcement by Afghan government and Taliban during Eid al-Fitr 24 May 2020 - The UN Secretary-General has welcomed the announcement by the Afghan Government and the Taliban of a ceasefire to mark the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims around the world. Hours before the three-day festival of Eid al-Fitr was due to begin, Taliban militants made the unexpected declaration that they would attack only if their positions were hit, leading President Ashraf Ghani to welcome the move shortly afterwards, and release a statement saying security and defence forces would comply. It marks just the second time during the nearly 20-year period since Taliban extremists were removed from power, following the US-led invasion of the country, that a brief ceasefire has been agreed. There was widespread rejoicing on the first occasion again to mark the end of Ramadan in 2018, as Taliban fighters mingled in the capital and elsewhere, some hugging and posting for selfies with security forces. But this time, Taliban fighters have been ordered not to enter government-controlled territory. The truce comes after an escalation in attacks in recent weeks by the Taliban against the backdrop of stalled peace efforts, and violence from other extremist elements, including ISIL. In an address to the nation following Eid prayers on Sunday, President Ghani announced a further "step forward", to accelerate the release of Taliban prisoners; something which has been a stumbling block in efforts to finally bring the Taliban and government into direct talks, following a US-Taliban deal signed in February. 'Seize this opportunity' "The Secretary-General urges all parties concerned to seize this opportunity and embrace an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process" said the statement on Saturday night from UN chief Antonio Guterres. "Only a peace settlement can bring an end to the suffering in Afghanistan. The United Nations is committed to supporting the people and Government of Afghanistan in this important endeavour", he continued. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), also welcomed the move, saying on Twitter that "the Afghan people deserve a respite from violence. The UN urges parties to respect the halt to fighting and urgently look to make it permanent. Intra-Afghan peace negotiations need to start." Powerful 'reason to hope' The head of the mission, and UN Special Representative, Deborah Lyons, who took up the top job just last month, declared the announced a "reason to hope" and a welcome move. She noted that it also echoed the call from the UN Secretary-General for a ceasefire to focus on "the new enemy", the COVID-19 coronavirus. Cases in Afghan, according to latest World Health Organization figures, stand at more than 9,860, with 211 recorded deaths. "Let wisdom and compassion" during Eid, "convince all to make this permanent and move to peace talks", she tweeted. Just on Friday, she conveyed the UN's warm wishes to all Afghans on the occasion of Eid, hoping that "every family can celebrate this auspicious and important time in peace." "I urge all those in positions of power to do everything possible to stop the violence and to respect this time of reflection and tolerance. This year COVID-19 presents a new challenge for the country, including events during Eid when extended families would normally gather in celebration", she said, encouraging everyone "to take the necessary preventative measures to protect yourselves, your loved ones and community." Make it permanent The UN's Political and Peacebuilding Affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, also added her voice on Twitter: "I fervently hope the parties can make it permanent and move decisively towards a political settlement." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Boris Johnson is coming under increasing pressure to extend the deadline for the implementation of the Brexit withdrawal agreement to avoid a hard border in the Irish Sea. An influential UK think tank said businesses are focused more on "staying afloat" rather than understanding new trade agreements. The position is echoed by the Alliance Party, whose North Down MP Stephen Farry said: "Ultimately, given the need to focus on the Covid-19 crisis and its economic fallout, Alliance believes the UK Government must now seek an extension to the Brexit transition period." The Government admitted last week that some checks on goods, particularly animal and food products, entering Northern Ireland from Britain will be subject to checks in line with the Northern Ireland Protocol agreed with the EU In January. Mr Farry added: "A massive amount of work is still required to implement the protocol and give certainty to businesses and other stakeholders. Timescales are already very tight, if not impossible, and the Government must provide much more detail on that urgently." The Institute for Government argued that the transition period must be extended or a longer implementation period agreed for the new border arrangements in the Irish Sea, according to a report in yesterday's Observer newspaper. "The timetable for putting arrangements in place for the Irish Sea border was very tight even before Covid-19 hit Europe. But now coronavirus has slowed the pace of negotiations on the relationship, delaying key decisions," the think tank said. "Key businesses such as freight transport associations and trading associations are focused on maintaining supply chains rather than getting ready for new border arrangements, and many businesses are focusing on staying afloat, not complying with new regulatory requirements. "Against the background of a global pandemic, it is very difficult to see how preparations to implement the protocol can be completed before the end of the year - given the scale of both the decisions and practical work still required." Dr Farry said "all opportunities to reduce and mitigate the impact of the Irish Sea interface must be taken". "It is important to recall the protocol is the sad and inevitable outcome of the UK Government's decision to pursue a hard Brexit over the heads of the people of Northern Ireland and the consequent need to protect the particular circumstances of this region and the Good Friday Agreement," he added. Five years after the massive Dieselgate scandal made global headlines, a German court is now ready to wrap up the case against Volkswagen, ordering the automaker to pay out as much as 750,000,000 in damages. A German court has ruled that Volkswagen must buy back vehicles from owners of its diesel cars and trucks that were equipped with software that deceived emissions testing. The buyback, however, comes with one condition. Customers must accept the current worth of the cars and trucks based on the mileage they drove, not the original purchase price of the vehicles. The judgement will force the company to re-purchase over 60,000 vehicles, totaling more than 750 million euros. For the majority of the 60,000 pending cases, this ruling provides clarity, the company said in a statement. Volkswagen is now seeking to bring these proceedings to a prompt conclusion in agreement with the plaintiffs." In a separate court, Volkswagen agreed to pay 9 million euros to end proceedings against its chairman and president. The pair were accused of withholding key information that could move markets before the emissions scandal broke. In September 2015, Volkswagen confessed to cheating emissions inspections on diesel engines using software to hide the true emissions each vehicle was emitting. The scandal has already cost the company more than 30 billion euros ($33 billion) in regulatory penalties and vehicle refits. U.S. authorities prohibited the affected vehicles after the software was discovered, triggering cases for compensation. Oliver Schmidt, an ex-executive of the company was sentenced to 7 years in prison and a fine of $400,000 for his role in the scandal, while Martin Winterkorn, the company's ex-CEO, was charged in Germany. Winterkorn's trial is ongoing, but it was recently reported that the disgraced CEO may still walk free from the charges, and even keep over $12 million in bonuses. Volkswagen isn't entirely cleared just yet. The company is still facing major lawsuits from its investors - but the end of dieselgate is finally in sight for this auto giant. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan has taken over as chairman of the World Health Organization (WHO) executive board, a position that is held on a rotational basis among regional groups in the 34-member board for a year. This has happened at a difficult time for both the world and WHO. The world has been turned upside down by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). It is not that humanity has never been confronted by pandemics and natural disasters in the past. But Covid-19 ranks as being unprecedented in living memory for most people. The minister will only have limited powers since this is not a full-time position, and his ability to guide WHO during this trying time will be challenging. Vardhans task has been made more complicated by the fact that at least 100 members of the 194 World Health Assembly, which are signatories to the nomination of board members, are arraigned against China. They feel that the Chinese authorities did not share information on the coronavirus with the world on time. WHO has also been subject to criticism from the United States (US), which feels that it favoured China despite evidence that Beijing was less-than-transparent in its supply of information on the virus. The US recently announced that it will suspend WHO funding. The spat between China and the US, as well as China and many other countries who share suspicions about Beijings handling of the pandemic, has had an impact on the global effort to combat the pandemic. This will have a huge impact on our collective future. If the US and its allies retreat from WHO, it will make the working of the organisation difficult both in terms of funding and global acceptance of its guidelines. Since its inception, WHO has faced several diplomatic obstacles. But this is the first time it has been caught in the middle of an emerging cold war between two mighty powers, the US and China. WHO played a vital role in the eradication of polio and smallpox, and it can play an important role in the battle against Covid-19 if its role is seen as objective, and guided by medical and scientific expertise. Whatever the merits of the arguments against WHO, the world needs such an organisation in these fraught times. If we go back in history, we will see the need for such an overarching organisations to settle disputes and bring about a rule-based order in a fractious world. The League of Nations was constituted after World War I, with the objective of dealing with international disputes through negotiation and arbitration. The League played an important role in resolving smaller inter-state disputes. But the fact that the US was not a member of the League President Woodrow Wilson encouraged its formation, but the legislative wing did not support US participation weakened the League right at the outset. Many had hoped that the world would never see a war of such magnitude again. But then came World War II. The world once again recognised that an international body, with clear principles and more widespread participation, including of the bigger powers, was essential to maintain peace and resolve disputes. The charter of the United Nations (UN) came into force on October 24, 1945. The UN played an important role in the half-century period of the Cold War between the US and the erstwhile Soviet Union, despite the rivalry between the two powers, each wielding a veto, playing out in the UN Security Council. But everything changed after the fall of the Berlin Wall. When the Soviet Union broke up, the world took on a unipolar dimension with the US as the undisputed leader. No one could stop its onward march. When the US and its allies attacked Iraq, the UN could do little to prevent this. The war was initiated on the premise that the then dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, had a huge cache of weapons of mass destruction. Around 1,625 observers from the UN and the US had inspected the 1,700 suspected sites. Nothing was found. It is clear the attack was due to other motives. The needless war cost billions of dollars and took countless innocent lives. Saddam Hussein was toppled and eventually hanged, but the reasons for that war are still up for debate. The attack on Iraq and Afghanistan by the US and its allies resulted in a more dangerous world as it acted as a catalyst to jihadi forces. The UN, with its limited powers and the powerful veto of the big five nations, failed to intervene effectively in both the wars, and the world is still paying the price. When WHO is being made a pawn in a big power game between the US and China, we must look back at the fateful consequences of devaluing global organisations. The actual war today between the two superpowers is over trade and the nature and balance of power in the future international system. Global health must not be made a scapegoat in this process, just as Iraq was made a scapegoat once in oil politics. We should also remember that leadership skills are tested in crises. Indias health minister has and continues to play an important role in the fight against Covid-19 in the country. Hopefully, his sage advice and wise counsel will prevail on the global stage in his new role in WHO. Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief, Hindustan The views expressed are personal Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte did not get to visit his dying mother due to strict coronavirus restrictions, his spokesperson has said. Mr Rutte paid tribute to his mother, 96-year-old Mieke Rutte-Dilling, as he confirmed that she passed away on May 13 in a care home in the Hague. Visitors have been banned from nursing homes in the Netherlands since March 22, in a bid to tackle the spread of Covid-19. Mr Rutte's spokesperson confirmed that he did not get to see his mother in her final months, telling AFP: "The prime minister has complied with all directives." Dutch media has reported that there was a coronavirus outbreak in the nursing home where Ms Rutte-Dilling had been living, but that she did not die from Covid-19. Mr Rutte paid tribute to his mother, saying in a statement: "In addition to the great sadness and all fond memories, my family and I also have a feeling of gratitude that we were allowed to have her with us for so long. "We have now said goodbye to her in a family circle and hope to be able to deal with this great loss in peace in the near future." So far 5,830 people have died from coronavirus in the Netherlands and 45,445 cases have been confirmed there. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal declares that a separate agrarian ministry may appear in Ukraine, and the industrial block will also be strengthened. "There are several ideas. The first is the possibility of separating the agricultural sector from the Ministry of Economy into a separate ministry. It exists at the idea level, we are working on it together with the Minister of Economics, together with the Deputy Prime Ministers," said Shmyhal in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. In addition, the prime minister noted that the industrial block would be strengthened. "We are discussing how to do it: whether to create a separate post of deputy prime minister, appoint a powerful deputy in the Ministry of Economy, or, possibly, create a Ministry of Industrial Policy and Defense Order. The discussion is ongoing, we are looking for formulas, people and the best format for implementation," he added. Shmyhal emphasized that these decisions must be taken as quickly as possible due to the urgent need. A Brooklyn tailor known for custom-made suits that sell for thousands of dollars has instead started selling bespoke facial coverings during the coronavirus outbreak. Yosel Tiefenbrun, 30, has joined other high-end designers who've turned to making masks as their businesses have stalled because of the pandemic. Tiefenbrun is selling most of the bespoke masks for about $50. However, customers can also spend as much as $300 for a custom-made facial covering that comes complete with hand-stitching and designs and patterns by the tailor and requires a session on Skype to accommodate requests. Brooklyn tailor Yosel Tiefenbrun, known for custom-made suits that sell for thousands of dollars, has instead started selling bespoke facial coverings during the coronavirus outbreak Most of Tienfenbrun's custom-made masks (pictured) go for about $50 each A deluxe option sells for $300, complete with hand-stitching and custom designs using his exclusive patterns that require a session on Skype to design Normally, a custom-made suit would take Tienfenbrun and his staff of six up to 80 hours to make and for a cost of up to $8,000, the New York Post reports. But being sidelined during the pandemic forced the tailor to provide bespoke services that can help protect against the virus. 'We have to keep safe, but if you're going to wear [a mask], you might as well wear it in style,' Tiefenbrun, tells The Post. 'You want to look good in it.' The tailor, who also is a rabbi, isn't alone. Chinese fashion designer Zhou Li has rolled out silk masks with designs of orchids, camellias and Chinese characters symbolizing good luck. Kim Kardashian even released a line of seamless face masks. The 39-year-old's masks came in five different 'nude' shades that were reminiscent of various skin tones. They retail for $8 and a package of four goes for $25. Tiefenbrun, although born in New York, was raised in London and became a rabbi in Singapore. Becoming a tailor came afterwards, after studying at the Savile Row Academy. He went on to make a name for himself in New York, helped by a GQ profile in September. Normally, a custom-made suit would take Tienfenbrun (pictured) and his staff of six up to 80 hours to make and for a cost of up to $8,000. But being sidelined during the pandemic forced the tailor to provide bespoke services that can help protect against the virus As the pandemic struck, his East Williamsburg business came to a dead stop, more than three years after its launch. 'We were having our peak as we were going into this time,' he says. 'We went two months pretty much without suit sales . . . We said, 'OK, we can wait, and keep it shut.'' But as the outbreak only continued, the tailor and his staff saw opportunity in making bespoke facial coverings. 'Now we have full long days, starting early, finishing late. I feel like I'm starting a new business. It's a different ballgame,' he says. As the outbreak only continued, the tailor and his staff saw opportunity in making bespoke facial coverings. 'Now we have full long days, starting early, finishing late. I feel like I'm starting a new business. It's a different ballgame,' he says Tiefenbrun is no stranger to the disease either, having already survived a bout with the virus. 'Once I got my antibody test, that's when I decided to try to keep my business alive,' says the father of two. His company, known just as Tiefenbrunn, has changed its motto to 'Cloth for every occasion', and he says the requests for coverings have been pouring in since he started making the masks less than two weeks ago. The tailor's company, known just as Tiefenbrunn, has changed its motto to 'Cloth for every occasion'. He says the requests for coverings have been pouring in since he started making the masks (pictured) less than two weeks ago 'They were raining in messages left, right and center on social media,' Tiefenbrun says. One order, as an example, came in for 30 masks made from seersucker. Half were to be designed for men, and the rest for women. He also designs masks that won't specifically put too much pressure on a hipster beard, and ones for people wearing glasses that won't fog up the lenses. Teinfenbrun also designs masks that won't specifically put too much pressure on a hipster beard (pictured), and ones for people wearing glasses that won't fog up the lenses The $50 mask option has allowed people to own Teinfenbrun's work, and avoid the usual high price. 'Yosel's work is so artistic, but it's too fancy for me,' says Moshe Frank, an entrepreneur in Crown Heights, who's loving his green hand-stitched mask. 'This is the first affordable piece I could own.' There are fears in the Green Party over convincing members to support a programme for government deal if they are in coalition with controversial Independent TDs. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are continuing to negotiate with Independents including Michael Lowry, Noel Grealish and Verona Murphy while still involved in talks with the Green Party. It emerged over the weekend that Tanaiste Simon Coveney had called TDs from the Regional Technical Group, which includes Mr Lowry, Mr Grealish and Ms Murphy. A senior Green Party figure said: "You would wonder what Fine Gael are playing at." They added that "members will have a problem with Lowry". Another Green Party source noted the support of some Independent TDs, including Mr Lowry, was not the cause of undue friction during 2007-2011 coalition with Fianna Fail. Majority At that stage the Green Party concluded it could not dictate what other alliances Fianna Fail might enter into. "But this time it could add to the difficulty of selling any coalition deal to the party membership. The two-thirds majority required by rule will be hard to achieve," the source added. Mr Lowry did not respond to requests for comment. The Tipperary TD has been convicted of tax offences and was criticised by the Moriarty Tribunal over his time as communications minister and the awarding of a mobile phone licence to Denis O'Brien-owned Esat Digifone. He has voted with the Government on most issues over the last nine years and is a former Fine Gael TD. Ms Murphy made controversial remarks about migrants and was deselected by Fine Gael before the General Election. Mr Grealish caused public anger after he made Dail comments about Nigerians living in Ireland and sending money to their home country. Meanwhile, the Green Party has dismissed suggestions it would seek to appoint a barrister with pro-life views as Attorney General. In a statement, the party said "no names have been put forward by the party for the role of Attorney General in any potential coalition government". "The party has not discussed possible appointments either internally or with other parties at any level," it added. The statement was widely shared by Green Party TDs on social media, including deputy leader Catherine Martin. Ms Martin shared the statement along with a photo of herself campaigning for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum to legalise abortion. The statement followed a suggestion in the Sunday Times that barrister Roderick Maguire was a "likely candidate" for Attorney General should the Greens enter government. Mr Maguire was among a group of 200 lawyers who signed a letter calling for a 'No' vote. Housing He was also reportedly a supporter of Green Party General Election candidate David Healy who also voted 'No'. The three party leaders will decide on the make-up of the next Cabinet. The decision will be taken once a programme for government is agreed. Work has progressed on developing a new super department which will have responsibility for housing and transport and function like the Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Fine Gael have put forward the idea and senior Fianna Fail sources have suggested they will back the proposal. Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced talks with her secretary of public affairs Osvaldo Soto during a press conference on Thursday to announce the extension of the COVID-19 curfew until June 1. The furore surrounding top Downing Street aide Dominic Cummings' perceived breach of the coronavirus stay-at-home lockdown rules by travelling 260 miles to his parents' home refused to die down on Monday. The Opposition branded British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's defence of Cummings as an "insult" to all the sacrifices made by the British public during the pandemic, with a growing number of parliamentarians within Johnson's own Conservative Party calling for his Chief Strategy Adviser to be sacked. "This was a test of the Prime Minister and he has failed it. It is an insult to sacrifices made by the British people that Boris Johnson has chosen to take no action against Dominic Cummings," said Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition Labour Party. His Indian-origin shadow foreign secretary, Lisa Nandy, added: "The Prime Minister confirms it's one rule for his friends and another rule for the rest of us. All that sacrifice, stress and pain. What an insult." Acting Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said sacking Cummings was a must to restore credibility around the government's public health messaging. "The instruction the Prime Minister gave us all to stay at home has been breached by his top adviser and that's what you can't get away from in this story, it's pretty simple," he said. Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused Johnson of "putting his political interest ahead of the public interest". "When trust in a public health message and public health advice is as important as it is right now the consequences could be very serious," she said. At the daily Downing Street briefing on Sunday evening, Johnson had thrown his weight behind his chief adviser and declared that he had followed the "instincts of every father" when he made the journey to Durham in north-east England on March 31 to ensure child care for his young son as he began displaying symptoms of coronavirus. "He acted responsibly, legally and with integrity, and with the overall aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives," Johnson concluded, after what he said was an "extensive" face-to-face meeting with his top aide. UK newspapers have reported at least two further allegations of lockdown breaches by his aide, with Johnson saying that "some" of the claims were "palpably false" but refusing to elaborate. However, besides a flurry of media questions right after, there was also an embarrassing rogue social media message on the official UK Civil Service Twitter account, accusing the UK prime minister of arrogance. Arrogant and offensive. Can you imagine having to work with these truth twisters, read the Tweet on @UKCivilService which was taken down after roughly nine minutes but not before it was shared thousands of times. An unauthorised tweet was posted on a government channel this evening. The post has been removed and we are investigating the matter, a UK Cabinet Office statement said. Even scientists and Church of England bishops are joining the growing criticism against Johnson's defence of his aide's actions, which they feel dilutes the government's central messaging around the coronavirus lockdown. "Unless very soon we see clear repentance, including the sacking of Cummings, I no longer know how we can trust what ministers say sufficiently for the Church of England to work together with them on the pandemic," said David Walker, the Bishop of Manchester. "If you give the impression there's one rule for them and one rule for us you fatally undermine that sense of 'we're all in this together' and you undermine adherence to the forms of behaviour which have got us through this crisis, said Professor Stephen Reicher, a member of the government's advisory group on behavioural science. Meanwhile, Cummings himself was heckled by neighbours at his London home over the weekend, with calls for him to resign caught on camera. The 48-year-old political strategist has been by Johnson's side through the Vote Leave campaign leading up to Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU) in the June 2016 Brexit referendum as well as his landslide general election victory in December last year with the central message of "Get Brexit Done". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Princess Beatrice flashed her glittering engagement ring as she announced the winner of the Oscar's Book Prize ahead of her postponed wedding date this week. The Queen's granddaughter, 31, was set to wed fiance Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 37, at St James Palace on Friday, but the wedding was postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. The royal, who is patron of the children's prize, shared a clip announcing the winner of Oscar's Book Prize as Tad by Benji Davies, saying: 'I really look forward to celebrating in person as soon as we can.' Princess Beatrice, daughter of the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, is currently spending lockdown with Edo and future mother-in-law Nikki Shale at her 1.5 million country house near Chipping Norton. Princess Beatrice, 31, flashed her engagement ring as she announced the winner of the Oscar's Book Prize, which she has been patron of since 2017 Runs in the family! Beatrice follows Fergie with children's story time Princess Beatrice didn't have to look far when it came to inspiration for her children's storytime. Her mother the Duchess of York has been delighting fans with daily editions of her YouTube show Storytime With Fergie and Friends. Each episode sees Fergie read a children's book from her home at Royal Lodge, Windsor. She has been joined by a series of special guests, including Stephen Fry and her daughter, Princess Eugenie. The Duchess of York shared this photo this morning ahead of Storytime With Fergie and Friends, her daily YouTube show in which she reads children's books with guests Advertisement Princess Beatrice, who was diagnosed with dyslexia aged seven, became patron of the Oscar's Book Prize in 2017. The 5,000 literary award, supported by Amazon and the National Literacy Trust, recognises great storytelling in books for children under five which have been published within the past year. The winning book, Tad, is about 'growing up', the smallest tadpole in a big pond. Worried about being left behind by her brothers and sisters, Tad one day takes a big leap into an adventurous future. In a video filmed at Nikki's home, the royal said: 'I felt so lucky to be able to read each of shortlisted books for Oscar's Book Prize. The video comes days ahead of what would have been Princess Beatrice and her partner Edo's wedding day, with the couple planning to marry at St Jame's Palace on Friday 'This year the quality of entries was unprecedented, and the judges decided to extend the shortlist from five to six. 'Benji Davies, congratulations on what is a remarkable book of a lovely story. I had so much fun reading it myself.' She went on: 'I know we're not together in person but I want to thank every single one of you for being involved for building this world of wonder for young people to jump into.' She added: 'I'm so happy that we get to celebrate this remarkable entry. I really look forward to celebrating with all of you in person as soon as we can.' Princess Beatrice and Edo are currently isolating with her future mother-in-law Nikki Shale, Sarah Ferguson has revealed Beatrice was overjoyed after becoming engaged on a weekend trip to Italy last September, and the couple said they could not wait to be married. But her nuptials were overshadowed by the scandal that has engulfed her father Andrew, with the date changing twice to accommodate the Queen's second son. Amid the controversy over her father, the princess opted for the more intimate, low-key option of the Chapel Royal and was due to invite 150 guests. But plans were changed after the Government called on all people in the UK, particularly the over-70s, to avoid all non-essential contact and travel as part of unprecedented peacetime measures aimed at controlling the spread of Covid-19. The couple, who were set to marry on Friday, are staying with Edo's mother Nikki Shale at her 1.5 million home in Chipping Norton (pictured, Nikki) And in April, Boris Johnson put a ban on weddings as the virus raged through the UK public. Sources confirmed the wedding had been postponed earlier this month, telling People that the invitations were never sent out, due to complications with the virus. While Duchess of York, 61, and her ex-husband Prince Andrew, 60, have been joined by Princess Eugenie, 30, and her husband Jack Brooksbank, 34, at their home the Royal Lodge in Windsor during the pandemic, Beatrice and Edo have stayed with his mother. Speaking on the City Island podcast, Fergie explained: 'Edo and Beatrice have been living with her future mother-in-law who is lovely...I'm missing my [other] daughter but it's just like everybody else, we are just the same family as everybody else.' I neither refute or accept, and I have no comment. This is what former director of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan told reporters after exiting the Special Investigation Service today, responding to the question whether he, as ex-Ambassador to the Vatican Mikayel Minasyan said, had met with him on behalf of Nikol Pashinyan and told him to leave politics and pay a symbolic amount of money, after which there wont be any cases instituted against him. The Special Investigation Service has instituted a criminal case regarding that statement, and preliminary investigation is underway. Based on this and with the purpose of not disclosing the secret of preliminary investigation, I cant give any comment on this case, Vanetsyan said. When asked what he meant when, in September of last year, he urged everyone not to link him to the former authorities and said Mikayel Minasyan is a person who has to be brought to justice, Vanetsyan said his opinion doesnt matter at all and that the court will decide if MIkayel Minasyan has to be brought to justice or not. When asked if there were circumstances based on which Minasyan had to be brought to justice during his term of office as director of the National Security Service, Vanetsyan said he has always stated that he will never release data that he had while he was the director of the National Security Service. How was it that your and Mikayel Minasyans wishes coincided with the change of the Prime Minister and the formation of a new government? In response, Vanetsyan said the following: I was the first to talk about the Prime Ministers resignation back in January. New Delhi, May 25 : Taking on the market leader Xiaomi, Chinese smartphone brand Realme on Monday finally forayed into the tech-lifestyle segment with bringing its first-ever Smart TV, starting from just Rs 12,999, and Smart Watch to the Indian market. Powered with MediaTek 64-bit quad-core processor and Dolby Audio-certified 24W quad stereo speakers, the Smart TV comes in two variants - 32-inch for Rs 12,999 and 43-inch model for Rs 21,999. Both the models will go on sale on realme.com and Flipkart, starting June 2. Priced at Rs 3,999, Realme Watch that comes with 1.4-inch colour touchscreen, real-time heart rate monitor and SPO2 (blood-oxygen level) monitor would be available from June 5. "India has always been a top priority market for realme. We aim to launch multiple Artificial Internet of Things (AIoT) products in 2020 along with smartphones," said Madhav Sheth, Vice President, Realme and CEO, Realme India. The Smart TV comes with built-in streaming platforms like Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video. It offers ultra-high brightness of up to 400 nits and Chroma Boost technology for vivid experience even during bright days. The company is offering one-year warranty and additional one year of warranty on Panel. Realme Watch comes with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The watch has a IP68 rating which means it is fit to resist dust and water. The battery can last upto seven to nine days and, in power saving mode, it can go upto 20 days. The Smart Watch also comes with accuracy, skin tone compatibility and power consumption. "Together, AIoT products and smartphones will enable the next growth trajectory for Realme in India," said Sheth. The company also launched Buds Air Neo that offers battery life of up to 17 hours. Realme Buds Air Neo is priced at Rs 2,999 and will be available from May 25 on realme.com and Flipkart. "This launch is an extension of our long-standing relationship with realme that will help millions of our consumers access the best in viewing technology through our widest reach and industry-first affordable payment constructs," said Hari Kumar, Senior Director- Large Appliances at Flipkart. Realme also launched a 10,000mAh Power Bank 2 that is priced at Rs 999 and comes in 18W two-way quick charge and dual output ports USB-A and USB-C. "MediaTek and Realme work closely to push smartphone innovations into the marketplace and now, we are taking this collaboration to the next level with the launch of realme smart TVs powered by MediaTek," added Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text President Moon Jae-in, right, shares a warm moment with outgoing National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang ahead of a dinner at the latter's residence, May 21. President Moon is eager to seek cooperation from the incoming Assembly with a range of urgent tasks ahead, and has invited the floor leaders of two major parties to a lunch at Cheong Wa Dae this week. Yonhap By Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in will step up cooperation with the new National Assembly to pursue some of the crucial tasks in tackling socioeconomic challenges for the post-COVID-19 period. In this regard, the President has invited the new floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) the DPK's Kim Tae-nyeon and UFP's Joo Ho-young to a luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday, the presidential office said Sunday. "We hope the meeting will enable frank discussions between the President and the floor leaders of the two largest parties on a range of state affairs, including responses to the unemployment and industrial crises," Kang Ki-jung, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, said during a briefing, Sunday. It is the first time for the President to meet only with the leaders of the two largest parties. He previously met with the floor leaders of the five major and minor parties in the 20th National Assembly to discuss cooperation for dealing with the trade row with Japan in July 2019, producing a joint statement. The rare meeting with only the floor leaders of the two major parties is seen to reflect the President's determination for close communication with the next Assembly to deal with urgent issues, such as the third extra budget bill that will be fielded in the wake of the economic crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party have underlined the importance of a timely extra budget to ease the job crisis, revive the economy and help small businesses and the self-employed in the wake of COVID-19. "The opening of the 21st Assembly has a special meaning as we are undergoing a national crisis," a presidential aide said. "During the meeting with the floor leaders, the President will also discuss ways to establish a consultative body with the parties in order to institutionalize cooperative politics." Moon is also preparing to deliver a speech at the National Assembly early next month to mark the opening of the 21st Assembly, where he is expected to seek bipartisan cooperation for overcoming the national crisis brought on by the global health challenge. The President's push for cooperative politics is seen as a timely move, amid rising concerns over unilateral management of state affairs with the ruling party controlling 177 seats out of the 300-member Assembly. Besides the third extra budget, the President is also expected to seek the Assembly's attention in preparing a response to a possible second wave of the pandemic, particularly reorganization of the government to establish a separate agency for dealing with epidemics. In a speech earlier this month to mark the third anniversary of his inauguration, Moon said the government would make the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an independent body from the health ministry and raise its status to that of an administration. The husband of a train worker who died aged 47 from coronavirus after being spat on by a thug says his family's lives have been destroyed as he slams her bosses over lack of PPE. Lusamba Katalay revealed how losing Belly Mujinga has destroyed his world and that of his 11-year-old daughter. He spoke to The Sun after police interviewed and then released a 57-year-old man following the spitting incident on March 21. 'I don't know how I'd react if I saw the man who did this,' he said. 'I'm normally reasonable but I'm so devastated right now I might lose it and attack him, I just don't know. And my anger won't bring her back.' Belly Mujinga (pictured, right, and, left, with her husband) died of coronavirus after being spat at by a thug Mr Katalay, 60, says his wife, a former BBC journalist, pleaded with him from her hospital bed not to let daughter Ingrid see her during their final video call. 'She told me that she didn't want Ingrid to see her like that,' he said. 'She said, 'Pray for me'. 'The next morning I got the call saying she'd died. She was our whole world. She'd do anything for anyone.' Ms Mutinga is pictured with her daughter, who has been devastated by the death of her mother Mr Katalay welcomed Home Secretary Priti Patel's pledge to double the maximum common assault jail sentence to 12 months for offenders who spit at key workers. But he says the stricter prison term still isn't justice for people like him who are working through such devastation. He also demanded an explanation from the Government as to why she had not been given PPE, saying the lack of protective gear also put him and his daughter in 'mortal danger'. The last time Mr Katalay saw his wife in person was when an ambulance took her from their flat in Hendon, north London. She died two days later at Barnet Hospital. Ms Mujinga's elderly mother could not come from the Democratic Republic of Congo for the funeral, which had a limit of 10 mourners. A spokesman for British Transport Police said on Saturday: 'A 57-year-old man from London was interviewed under caution last Sunday at a London police station. 'Detectives are investigating. They're not looking to identify anyone else.' Students enter the Admissions Building on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on Sept. 12, 2006. (Glen Cooper/Getty Images) Harvard Faces $5 Million Lawsuit Over Tuition Refund A Harvard University student filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of a much larger group of peers, seeking $5 million in repayment for tuition and fees for services that the university has not provided amid the CCP virus pandemic. The action, filed on May 20 in a Boston federal court, makes Harvard the latest Ivy League member that is being sued over tuition refunds in the wake of campus closures and the shift to online education. Over the past month, students have brought similar lawsuits against Brown, Columbia, and Cornell Universities. The student, who is referred to as Student A, alleges in the lawsuit that the services Harvard has provided this spring are not sufficient for what students have paid. Citing the difference in cost for Harvards in-person and online classes, Student A argues that online learning experiences during the campus shutdown are not even remotely worth the cost of tuition. The online learning options being offered to Harvard students are subpar in practically every aspect and a shadow of what they once were, including the lack of facilities, materials, and access to faculty, the lawsuit reads. Students have been deprived of the opportunity for collaborative learning and in-person dialogue, feedback, and critique. Students move out of dorm rooms on Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on March 12, 2020. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Harvard president Lawrence S. Bacow announced in mid-March that all courses would move to remote instruction and asked students not to return from spring break, in an effort to curb the spread of CCP virus on the campus. The decision led to frustration among students, who have been promised an in-person, hands-on learning opportunity by the school in exchange for their tuition. Even if Defendant did not have a choice in cancelling in-person classes, it nevertheless has improperly retained funds for services it is not providing, the lawsuit states. The multi-million lawsuit comes as Harvard got involved in the controversy over whether wealthy institutions should accept emergency aid from the federal government. Several Republican lawmakers, as well as President Donald Trump, expressed frustration in April after Harvard was granted roughly $8.6 million through the CARES Act. A day after Trumps comment that Harvard shouldnt be taking the CARES Act money, the university said that it decided not to seek or accept the relief funds. The move was followed by other high-profile institutions, notably Duke, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale Universities. Harvards endowment was valued at $40.9 billion by the end of 2019the largest among all eight Ivy League schools, according to Business Insider. To boost the morale of children of migrants who have been facing prolonged hardships due to the COVID-19 lockdown, police in Jhansi distributed toys to cheer them up at the Madhya Pradesh border. Jhansi Police have been setting up camps across the border to provide shelter and relief to migrant workers, hundreds of whom are still trying to reach their home states on foot. On Sunday, the cops decided to surprise the children of the migrant workers at the MP-Uttar Pradesh border with a gift of toys as they departed for their home states. The police wanted to win over the confidence of the children, who had perhaps faced the worst of the hardships, to carry back home some happy memories of the border as well as Jhansi Police's hospitality. The gesture won many hearts on social media including that of Union Minister for Health Dr Harsh Vardhan who shared a video of the incident on Twitter. Kudos to @jhansipolice that brought precious smiles on the faces of little children of migrant workers to whom they gifted toys.Tiny tots forgot the scorching heat of 43 degree Celsius. What a wonderful gesture by our police forces.Combining masks with toys for mother & child ! pic.twitter.com/hYEkQeLeYf Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) May 24, 2020 "Kudos to @jhansipolice that brought precious smiles on the faces of little children of migrant workers to whom they gifted toys. Tiny tots forgot the scorching heat of 43 degree Celsius. What a wonderful gesture by our police forces. Combining masks with toys for mother & child," the minister tweeted. Despite nearly two months since the lockdown, migrant workers across states are still walking hundreds of kilometers to reach home. Images of hungry and tired children being pulled on suitcases or on the shoulders of their tired parents have flooded media. While the risk of COVID-19 is considered to be lower with children, the ensuing hardship of the lockdown has had a deep impact on children's health, education and mental well-being. Speaking to Hindustan Times, a Jhasi Police spokesperson said that they only wanted to make the children as well as their mothers happier before they set out for their destination. Apart from toys, masks were also handed to mothers. Now past a mild case of COVID-19, 99-year-old Gladys LeBreton, of New Orleans, recalled her political battles from decades ago, squaring off against Joe Donchess, then the don of Louisianas nursing home industry in the State Capitol. We would sit across the table. All the things we were trying to get were exactly the things they didnt want, she said of the states nursing home lobby. They want to do what they want to do. What drove LeBreton to press for reforms in the 1980s was the same fraught decision for which the coronavirus pandemic has added a deathly new layer of fear: She could no longer care at home for her since-deceased husband, longtime state legislator Edward LeBreton Jr., who had declined with Alzheimers. Nursing homes could hire anybody off the street, without any background checks, without any training, and put them in the nursing home to care for these very fragile, elderly people. That was a nightmare, LeBreton said. It definitely didnt take me too long to figure out in general in the early 1980s that nursing homes were pretty awful. LeBreton fought to stand up a state ombudsmans office for long-term care facilities in Louisiana, to get observers inside them, field complaints and press improvements. The program, now under the Governors Office of Elderly Affairs, was mandated by Congress. Today, with nursing homes accounting nationally for about a third of all reported COVID-19 deaths and more than 40% in Louisiana reform advocates are again looking to Washington. The needs, they say, are immediate and long-term: Fast dollars to support training, pay and health benefits for home health aides, and wider access to those aides and equipment for the elderly and physically disabled who want to remain at home during the national emergency and rely on Medicaid to pay for it. In Louisiana, as in LeBretons day, the nursing home industry remains a powerful political force, however, and support to broaden those home- and community-based options in the state remains elusive, even amid the pandemic. Louisiana is an outlier when it comes to the share of federal Medicaid long-term care dollars that go to those less-expensive alternatives to nursing homes, according to a 2017 investigative series by The Advocate. Nearly every other state has tried to shift taxpayer dollars toward stay-at-home options, which are widely preferred by the elderly as well as cheaper, according to an AARP survey. Elsewhere, nursing homes receive over half of those Medicaid dollars, the report showed. But in Louisiana, where state lawmakers have taken pains to protect industry funding and the industry in turn showers campaign money into legislators coffers nursing homes get four of five long-term care dollars, according to recent testimony from AARP. In Congress, advocates have been pushing for a 10% boost in the federal match for Medicaid, specifically to help the elderly and physically disabled stay in their homes during the COVID-19 crisis. That could mean tens of millions of dollars in additional funds to support aides and begin to clear waiting lists for services, though the state would still need to opt in. Led by Democrats, the plan would give states through June 2021 to increase rates for home health agencies, provide home health aides with sick and family leave and overtime, and expand funding to meet demand for at-home services and equipment. For now, the measures are contained in the Heroes Act, the House Democrats $3 trillion offering for the next COVID-19 stimulus. Among that bills backers are U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, who said in a statement that he would welcome the expansion of home health care in Louisiana during the emergency. But U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician who has taken on a prominent role in the congressional response to the pandemic, said in a statement that he wasnt interested in the Democrats bill, which contains a multitude of other items and which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pronounced dead on arrival. Whether attempts to expand home health care amid the pandemic gain traction in a stimulus bill that both parties will agree to isnt quite clear. Cassidy pointed to the SMART Act, a half-trillion dollar emergency backfill for state and local revenue losses, as the type of targeted approach that should be taken in regard to further stimulus spending, unlike the House bill that is using the crisis to advance a socialist agenda. A Cassidy spokesman declined to specify how the act might expand home health care options during the pandemic. With state approval, some of that emergency money could theoretically be diverted for at-home or community-based care, but the bill doesnt specify it. New Orleans developer Pres Kabacoff and David Marcello, executive director of Tulane Universitys Public Law Center, have been lobbying for bipartisan congressional support to boost funding for at-home services. This is not a problem that is unique to red or blue states, Marcello said. The COVID-19 pandemic makes a compelling case that for their own safety, people must stay at home. We know by the death toll in nursing homes that stay at home is literally a matter of life and death. Weve got an obligation to make it possible. In the meantime, the nursing home industry is pushing its own slate of stimulus needs. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Two leading industry groups issued a news release on Friday promoting the stories of residents who came down with COVID-19 and lived through it, while citing a massive price tag for testing residents and staff in an appeal for help. U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Friday that nearly $100 million part of an earlier, $484 billion stimulus bill was coming to Louisiana nursing homes for labor costs, equipment, expanded testing and other COVID-related expenses. Each skilled nursing facility with six or more beds will get $50,000 plus $2,500 per bed, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. That money follows previous stimulus measures that also have included some relief for families seeking help for the homebound elderly in Louisiana. Waivers allow them to receive payment as support workers during an emergency that has seen many home aides sidelined. Advocates are also pushing to free up money for states to train new home health workers, touting it as a jobs act for the freshly unemployed, such as the thousands of laid-off New Orleans service workers. At the State Capitol, the AARPs Louisiana branch is gunning for money in next years budget now being confected by the Legislature to reduce a waiting list of more than 11,000 for community choice waivers. If granted, those would authorize a panoply of services, equipment and home modifications. Theres a time and a place for nursing home care. We certainly believe that. But if an individual wants to live at home and can with a little assistance, we feel like thats what they should get, said Andrew Muhl, advocacy director for AARP of Louisiana. Overwhelming evidence shows people want to stay in their homes and age in place, he added. The point is, these are cost-effective solutions. Muhl noted the special challenges that have plagued nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the pandemic, in testimony he submitted last week urging the Legislature to shrink the waiting list. Muhl said the ratio of long-term care Medicaid dollars that goes to nursing homes in Louisiana has actually risen in recent years because lawmakers have locked in rate protections for the industry. In other words, already an outlier, Louisiana is becoming more of one. Former state Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, recalled legislation he sponsored in 2018 that aimed to move some of the Medicaid population in nursing homes to home health care under a managed care model. The Louisiana Nursing Home Association argued it would result in a reduction in the quality of care. Appel called it a double bonus, saying the state could save $100 million while increasing options. I am an extremely conservative Republican, and here is the AARP, the most liberal people, and Im fighting like crazy to help them, because its right, Appel said. When I went to committee it was a done deal. We had no chance. Appel called the situation now, amid the COVID epidemic, really a tragedy brought on by politics. Aging Louisianians, he said, have been forced into a situation that they could become infected, or at the very least theyre probably scared out of their wits. A few experts noted one number so far missing from the equation: How many people have died of COVID-19 while receiving at-home care. Such data may be harder to track because home care is by definition decentralized. In the meantime, the ombudsman program that LeBreton helped start goes on today, with regional staffers and volunteers visiting nursing homes and fielding complaints. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted trouble spots, including lax reporting of deaths to state officials by some nursing homes, said Tanya Hayes, coordinator of the ombudsman program for the New Orleans region. She said staffing shortages also are a problem, and there have been calls over some draconian measures some homes have employed to contain the viruss spread. Some facilities not all, a couple have barricaded the doors to prevent people from wandering out of their rooms, she said. Those are things were addressing immediately because of the safety risk if theres a fire. At the same time, Hayes said shes seen nursing home staffers perform heroically, with some administrators stepping into shifts as aides. LeBreton, whose husband died in 1984, these days is a resident of Lambeth House, the New Orleans retirement home where the states first coronavirus cluster arose. The death toll at Lambeth House and at the St. Annas nursing home within its walls stood unofficially at 23 this week. My own opinion is that staying home more or less by yourself is about the worst thing you can do, because youre isolated and youre not well, she said. LeBreton left the complex a day before it went on lockdown two months ago for her daughters home. She contracted a mild case of COVID-19 I dont know where I got it. I havent a clue, she said but has since been cleared. Her political days are behind her, but with things opening back up, LeBreton was faced with her own tricky decision: When to go back. Neighbors stuck inside were having a pretty rough time, she said. I want it to go back to being sort of normal, she said, whatever that is. Normal People has been the focus of a lot of attention because of its groundbreaking controversial adaptation of Sally Rooneys critically acclaimed novel, but for me there was one particular aspect of it that stopped me in my tracks - it was filmed in the Co Sligo town of Tubbercurry. Never mind the raw intensity of the relationship between Marianne and Connell and the sex scenes that had Joe Duffy avalanched with calls, this is a series that has put the small rural market town of my childhood on the international map. I was watching the first shows in the series, curious to see what all the fuss and hype was about, when Mariannes horrible brother Alan turfed her out of his car in the rain and made her walk to school so he could pick up a work colleague. And suddenly my attention was drawn to the background. Yes, that was Burkes garage. And yes, that was Maureen OConnors shop way off in the distance down the hill. I was hooked. The producers of Normal People have picked Tubbercurry to represent the fictitious town of Carricklea where Marianne and Connell grew up in Sally Rooneys book and their complex relationship began, thrusting out of a backdrop of bullying, insecurity, teenage angst and worry, and a multi-dimensional mishmash of emotions in evolution. But I remember the town as a far simpler place. My mother was born there, and I spent all my childhood summer holidays there with my grandparents. Suddenly, this small and quiet place that is the stage for so many of my own young memories, is being shared by millions of people, including US celebrity Kourtney Kardashian who is now craving a second series. I dont know one Kardashian from another, but a quick browse on social media tells me she has 92 million followers on Instagram and 25 million followers on Twitter. Know her or not, she has a bit of clout across the pond. Normal People has been a massive success here, in the UK, and in the US. Made by Dublin company Element Pictures for the BBC and streaming service Hulu, it has now been taken on by other distributors which means Marianne and Connell are about to get global recognition, and surfing their glorious coat tails will be my beloved Tubbercurry. Traveling west last week was like Marty McFly getting into a DeLorean time machine, but I did just that, and went back to Tubbercurrys future. Many of the green fields I played in as a child now have housing estates in them. The house where my mother was born is looking a bit sad and the worse for wear, and the long abandoned old railway station has been overtaken by nature again. But although under lockdown, many of the shop and pub names I remember so fondly are still there. Murphy, Surlis, Gillespie, McCarrick, Brennan, Killoran, Kennedy, Kilcoyne. Actors Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones are currently on lockdown in their London apartments unable to travel to promote Normal People, and in a sense Tubbercurry is in the same situation. Lots of people are seeing Tubbercurry, but nobody can go there, and even if they did they would find Nathy Brennans pub, Killorans pub and restaurant, the church and other Normal People landmarks, closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Paul Murphy, who brought Tubbercurry some fame two years ago when he took part in RTEs Operation Transformation, runs a hotel and supermarket in the town with his family. Avoca in Co Wicklow had a huge tourist boom after Ballykissangel back in the late 1990s, and parts of Northern Ireland are getting a similar interest following Game Of Thrones. So has lockdown scuppered any chance of the town capitalising on its new-found fame? There is a lot of interest in Tubbercurry now, but I actually think the lockdown could work to our advantage in the sense that because things are shut down everywhere people are getting a chance to watch Normal People on TV, read about it more and understand it more, said Paul. I think it is getting far more publicity than it would if it was being shown in normal times, so I think we will reap the rewards of this down the road with people wanting to come to the town and see where it all happened, he said. Paul said the evidence of interest is already there. Over the years weve been trying to promote the town and south Sligo and telling tour operators what we have to offer, such as the scenery and two of the best iconic old Irish pubs in the country, which is now being portrayed on Normal People. So I recently emailed a lot of those tour operators and said watch this series, and now Im getting phone calls from operators saying now I know what youre on about and they were blown away by it, he added. Roger McCarrick, the chair of the local Chamber of Commerce, says Tubbercurry is a small town with a big heart. Were very accessible and have a marvelous community of music, song, dance, and drama. It is the home of the amateur drama movement, but the title of the series is very apt because we are Normal People, he said. The culture and human spirit we have will be seen by anyone who comes, he added. A lot of the controversy around the series is rooted in the way passionate sex scenes are portrayed. And issues such as mental health, communication, and consent are explored in depth. Born and raised in the town since I was a regular summer visitor scoffing 99s from Igoes shop are Ross McCarrick (26) and Emma Gillespie (22). I was interested to see what their take on Normal People is, and how it has put their town on the map of modern cultural landmarks. Theyre showing different aspects of peoples lives whether it's mental health or going out and seeing a fella and things that happen in young peoples lives that I dont think they tell their parents about, said Emma. At any level adults can be as awkward as young people, and it was there in the show and it was natural. I think people do talk about their feelings but not many listen. Thats a lot of the problem, that breakdown in communication, said Ross. In Normal People you can see that was Connell and Mariannes problem, they werent listening to each other and they just expected that the other person would know what they are talking about. The dramatic contrast they have put in the show is good, and its all about doing it in time and not waiting around for the other person to automatically know what youre talking about, he added. Emma said watching Normal People with her parents was fine, largely. I had to fast forward it a few times, but theyre trying to get a story across so I really shouldnt be doing that. Its awkward yes, but its life at the end of the day, she said. Seeing the local church on screen during emotional scenes of Normal People were also time-travel moments for me. It is the church where my parents got married in 1965, and also where the funerals of my grandparents were held in 1983 and 1994. The church has already featured in Normal People in scenes where Mariannes family have an anniversary mass for her father and Connell arrives, but it is to feature again this week in dark scenes surrounding mental illness. Brennans pub, run by brother and sister Nathy and Nora, is just as I remember it, and how generations before me remember it. It features in the drama as one of the social hubs of fictitious Carricklea. My visits to Tubbercurry dwindled after my grandparents died as family bonds to the town slowly evaporated, and my relationship with the town faded. Having been back last week and been welcomed so warmly I feel I must go back again when pandemic lockdowns are lifted, and in the words of Connell Waldron say sorry and hello. Subdued celebrations marked Eid-ul-Fitr in the country on Monday with people keeping away from mosques and celebrating the day in the confines of their homes. Clerics had urged people to follow social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At some places, notices were pasted outside mosques, urging people to offer prayers at home due to the pandemic. For the food lovers too the festivities were lacklustre with meat items missing in the markets. The streets which used to remain crowded during the festival were largely empty. IMAGE: Muslim boys greet each other after offering Eid prayers at historical Khairudeen Jama Masjid during ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Amritsar, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: A Muslim man, wearing a face mask, offers Eid prayers at Moti Masjid, in Bhopal. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: Jama Masjid wears a deserted look on Eid-ul-Fitr, in Old Delhi, on Monday. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo IMAGE: Children offer prayers on the roof of a house on the occasion of Eid in Nadia. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: Muslims exchange greetings in front of the closed Nakhoda Masjid in Kolkata. Photograph: Ashok Bhaumik/PTI Photo IMAGE: A Muslim man offers prayers at the gate of a closed mosque in Guwahati, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: Muslims from Bihar wearing new clothes on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr walk near a shelter-home, in New Delhi, on Monday. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo IMAGE: A Muslim family rides a scooter near historic Charminar on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr festival, in Hyderabad, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: Police personnel stand guard at an Eidgah where Eid prayers were not allowed in Dehradun. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: A view of Taj-Ul-Masajid wearing a deserted look as only a few Muslims offered Eid prayers there due to ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in Bhopal, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: A Muslim man offers prayers at historical Khairudeen Jama Masjid in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: Muslims offer Eid prayers at a residence in Guwahati. Photograph: PTI Photo IMAGE: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stand guard near Jama Musjid in Old Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo [May 25, 2020] ALLPCB New SMT Factory Went into Production, One-Stop Total Service Further Updated HANGZHOU, China, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 10 2020, ALLPCB wholly-owned subsidiary, the new self-operated SMT factory was officially put into production. Senior executives gathered in Guangde, Anhui Province and attended the opening ceremony to witness the highlight moment together. SMT, as well as Surface Mount Technology, is currently the most popular process in the electronic assembly industry. With the rapid development of the electronics manufacturing industry, SMT technology has grown by leaps and bounds. In the meanwhile, customers have tremendous and higher requirements for mounting. However, in SMT industry there are still many pain points, such as long placement cycle, imprecise placement, uneven quality and so on. Besides, the requirements of high-quality SMT products, "error-free, leak-free, and no reverse", cannot be satisfied. In order to break the imbalance between supply and demand, ALLPCB SMT factory was born at the right time, whose placement service can cover the whole of China as well as most countries and regions of the world. Chinese manufacturing is playing an increasingly significant role in the world market. The high efficiency of the factory will help customers increase their profit marginsand market competitiveness. In the precious high-end electronics manufacturing industry, the transformation of SMT technology and process is imperative. What the to-be manufacturing industry requires are higher efficiency, lower cost, and higher precision. ALLPCB devoted itself in SMT ultra-fast Prototype. The 3000? clean workshop is equipped with electrostatic protection and central air conditioner to strictly control the temperature and humidity indoor. The 10 superior production lines are all made of the brand-new ASM Siemens series high-speed automatic placement machines imported from Germany. Equipped with more than 20 professional machines, including GKG printing machines, is the guarantee of products quality. In addition, online AOI scanning test and X-Ray inspection are necessary processes before delivery. At the same time, the intelligent manufacturing management and control system is activated to establish a linear efficient production process: "raw material in-warehouse, production, quality inspection, packaging, delivery", to ensure high-quality and -productivity. The ALLPCB SMT factory still insists on the advantages of "fast delivery, high quality and excellent service" of the PCB factory. Ultra-fast. 6 hours at fastest, 24 hours regularly. High quality. Brand-new imported machine; high-quality raw material. Low cost. Free start-up fee and expedited fee. Excellent service. BOM materials sourcing provided; 7 * 24 hours online customer service. So far, ALLPCB has built its own PCB factory (aluminum substrate production line included), component warehouse logistics center and SMT factory. The distance between the three is only 3 kilometers. The commissioning of SMT factory has further updated its one-stop total service, which will definitely accomplish the strategic layout of ALLPCB electronic manufacturing, and push the booming development of China's electronics manufacturing industry. About ALLPCB: ALLPCB is an ultrafast PCB super factory as well as an Internet-based manufacturing company, committed to building an electronic collaborative manufacturing service platform. It offers professional one-stop service, including PCB prototype, PCB Assembly and components sourcing. Since founding, ALLPCB has reconstructed the traditional PCB industry by data-driven technology. For more information, please contact: Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.allpcb.com/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allpcb-new-smt-factory-went-into-production-one-stop-total-service-further-updated-301064620.html SOURCE ALLPCB [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ulfar Freyr Stefansson has been appointed Chief Risk Officer of Arion Bank. Ulfar is taking over from Gisli S. Ottarsson who will be leaving the Bank after having been Chief Risk Officer and a member of the Bank's executive committee since 2009. Gisli will step down at the end of the month but will continue to work in an advisory capacity for the Bank. Ulfar joined the Bank's Risk Management division in 2013 after having worked at Kaupthing since 2010, where his positions included head of risk management. Ulfar was Head of Portfolio Risk at Arion Bank from 2013 to 2015, when he took over as Head of Balance Sheet Risk. Ulfar has a doctorate in mathematics from Georgia Institute of Technology and a master's from the same institution. He also has a BSc in mathematics from the University of Iceland and is a certified securities broker. Benedikt Gislason, CEO of Arion Bank: "I would like to thank Gisli for his excellent work and vital contribution to the Bank over the years. His successor as Chief Risk Officer, Ulfar Freyr, has vast experience and an in-depth knowledge of the workings of Arion Bank as he has been with us since 2013. I wish Gisli all the very best for the future and I warmly welcome Ulfar to the executive committee of Arion Bank." For further information please contact Haraldur Gudni Eidsson, Head of Communications at haraldur.eidsson@arionbanki.is, or tel. +354 856 7108. Calif. Pentecostal church loses worship ban lawsuit, appeals to Supreme Court Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment UPDATE: Gov. Gavin Newsom released guidelines Monday to allow places of worship to hold in-person services "upon approval by the county department of public health." Attendance must be limited to 25% capacity of the building or up to 100 attendees (whichever is lower). Specific guidelines on reopening can be found here. Original story below After a federal appeals court rejected a California church's request for a temporary restraining order against the states ban on worship gatherings, the church is now taking its case to the U.S. Supreme Court. South Bay United Pentecostal Church in San Diego, which draws 200-300 congregants, petitioned the nation's highest court on Sunday to intervene as it seeks to hold in-person services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Californias four stage Reopening Plan permits manufacturing, warehousing, retail, offices, seated dining at restaurants, and schools to reopen, but bans places of worship from holding church services. On its face, this plan is a blatant violation of the Free Exercise Clause of our First Amendment, Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel for the Thomas More Society, argued. The petition comes days after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to uphold Gov. Gavin Newsoms ban on in-person worship services. The judges wrote, Were dealing here with a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure. In the words of Justice Robert Jackson, if a [c]ourt does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact. California is currently in stage two of its reopening plan, where retailers, including clothing stores, bookstores and warehouses, are allowed to operate with curbside pickup. Restaurants in certain counties have also reopened. Meanwhile, churches, along with movie theaters and hair salons, have been categorized as a higher risk workplace and have been placed in phase three of the reopening plan. Newsom is expected to announce new reopening guidelines for churches and other religious places on Monday. "We have been very aggressive in trying to put together guidelines that will do justice to people's health and their fundamental need and desire to practice their faith," the governor said last week. Judge Daniel Collins of the appeals court wrote a dissent Friday in support of the Pentecostal church, contending, By explicitly and categorically assigning all in-person religious services to a future Phase 3without any express regard to the number of attendees, the size of the space, or the safety protocols followed in such services8 the States Reopening Plan undeniably discriminate[s] on its face against religious conduct. Warehousing and manufacturing facilities are categorically permitted to open, so long as they follow specified guidelines. But in-person religious servicesmerely because they are religious servicesare categorically not permitted to take place even if they follow the same guidelines. This is, by definition, not a generally applicable regulation of underlying physical conduct. In its petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, South Bay United Pentecostal Church said it did not file or join any initial lawsuits against executive orders that were first issued in previous months because it wanted to help curb the pandemic. But months later, as the state allowed various businesses to open while keeping its ban on worship services, the church believed it was an unconstitutional violation of their right to the Free Exercise of religion. The church said that it is prepared to hold services consistent with social distancing and other safety measures, such as requiring masks and prohibiting singing, to prevent spreading the disease. [B]anning worship in church is banning the single most important exercise of religious rights, the church said in its petition. Arguments that people of faith can engage in activity not required by their faith, while banning the activity that is required, does not help the State Indeed, disputes over how people may worship is what led to the founding of this great country. Sydney, May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Cambodia outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Cambodia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Cambodia prepares for the launch of 5G services Despite its status as a lesser developed country, Cambodias efforts to expand and upgrade its telecom infrastructure are bearing fruit. There were between eight and ten mobile operators vigorously competing with each other in a market segment that was growing at a rapid rate. A process of rationalisation followed, reducing the number of operators to only six. By 2019, compared to other Asian nations, Cambodia has very low fixed line and fixed-broadband penetration and low mobile broadband penetration. The number of fixed telephone lines in Cambodia is slowly declining from a small base as the mobile segment continues to expand and fixed broadband penetration remains very low and under-developed. The fixed broadband market remains highly under-developed in Cambodia. Over the past five years fixed broadband penetration has increased moderately from a very small base. Fixed broadband penetration is predicted to grow very strongly over the next five years from this very small base. The Cambodia market is currently dominated with low-quality residential broadband services. SINET, a Cambodian ISP specialising in the business and enterprise sector, began to address this by announcing the rollout of a nationwide FttP network. The mobile subscriber market peaked in 2015, however since then has seen penetration fall due to maturing market as well as market consolidation amongst the mobile operators and stricter implementation of laws regarding SIM card registration. Over the next five years to 2023 the market will move back to positive growth but at a relatively slow rate. Cambodia is well on the way on preparing for the rollout of 5G services. Cambodia has entered into a deal with Huawei to roll out 5G mobile infrastructure. Cambodias mobile broadband has grown sharply over the past five years from a small base driven by a mature mobile market. Strong growth is predicted over the next five years to 2023 but at a declining rate. The mobile broadband market will be driven by increasingly faster speeds offered by the mobile operators as they further roll out their 4G networks and eventually launch 5G networks. BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions. Key Developments: Cambodia preps for 5G network rollouts; SINET announces rollout of a nationwide FttP network. Mobile broadband shows continued strong growth; Fixed broadband gaining traction though from a low base; Report update includes the regulators market data for 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Key statistics Regional Market Comparison Country overview COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure Telecommunications market Market overview and analysis Regulatory environment Regulatory authority Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications (MPTC) Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia (TRC) New Draft Telecommunications Law Agreement with Chinese Government Fixed network operators Telecom Cambodia Viettel Digi Kingtel (Emaxx) Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network Optical fibre networks International infrastructure Introduction Satellite Greater Mekong Subregion Information Superhighway (GMS-IS) Cambodian-Vietnamese Super Highway Telecoms Network Submarine cable Fixed-line broadband market Background Broadband statistics Fixed-line broadband technologies Fibre networks WiFi WiMAX Mobile market Mobile statistics Mobile broadband Regulatory issues Spectrum auctions SIM Registration Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G / LTE Major mobile operators Operator statistics Smart Axiata Metfone (Viettel) CamGSM CadComms (QB) SEATEL CooTel Historic - Mfone (CamShin) Historic - Smart Mobile Historic - Beeline Cambodia (Sotelco) Digital media Broadcasting Digital Economy e-Education Appendix Historic data Glossary of abbreviations Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities Cambodia 2020 (e) Table 2 Decline in the number of fixed telephone lines in service and penetration 2010 2020 Table 3 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 4 Increase in internet household penetration 2008 2020 Table 5 Proportion of households with a computer 2007 2020 Table 6 Increase in international internet bandwidth 2010 2018 Table 7 Lit/Equipped International Bandwidth Capacity 2015 2018 Table 8 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 9 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 10 Mobile subscribers and market share by operator 2018 Table 11 Smart Axiata: mobile subscribers 2007 2018 Table 12 Metfone (Viettel) mobile subscribers 2009 2018 Table 13 MobiTel (CamGSM) mobile subscribers 2008 2018 Table 14 Cadcomms mobile (3G) subscribers 2008 2018 Table 15 Historic - Mobile Subscribers and Penetration 1995 2009 Table 16 Historic - Mobile services sector estimated ARPU 1998 2012 Table 17 Historic - Fixed telephone lines in service and penetration 2006 2009 Table 18 Historic - Fixed telephone lines in service and penetration 1995 2006 Table 19 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2005 2009 Table 20 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2005 2009 Table 21 Total international internet bandwidth 1999 2009 Table 22 Historic - Mobile Operators and Systems Table 23 Historic - MobiTel: 3G subscribers 2006 2013 Table 24 Historic - Metfone (CamShin) mobile subscribers 2003 2012 List of Charts Chart 1 Asian Telecoms Maturity Index by Market Category Chart 2 Asian Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita Chart 3 Telecoms Maturity Index South East Asia Chart 4 - Decline in the number of fixed telephone lines in service and penetration 2010 2020 Chart 5 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 6 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 7 Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Key market characteristics by market segment Exhibit 2 South East Asia - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Cambodia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days. BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars: GoDaddy Namesilo Uniregistry NameCheap Google Domains Network Solutions Name.com Dynadot Amazon Route 53 123 Reg Gandi 2. We request the name from the seller. Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process. 3. Transfer the name into your account As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process. 4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. Think your employee benefits are pretty generous? Your state may think overwise. Depending on your business location, you might be required to offer employees things like paid sick leave or PTO payouts. And if your state doesnt currently mandate certain benefits, they may in the future. Why not start offering them now? 7 things to consider offering before your state tells you to Determining employee compensation is arguably one of the trickiest things you do as an employer. You have to strike a balance between what workers want and what your business can afford. But as more states expand employee protections, you may not have much of a choice on what you offer your staff. Read on to get a jumpstart on state-mandated types of employee benefits. Related: The Basics of Employee Benefits 1. A higher wage You know about the federal minimum wage law. But how much do you know about your states minimum wage requirements? Only half of the states follow the federal minimum wage. The other half set a higher state minimum wage that employers must provide. So if your business is located in a state that follows the federal minimum wage, you might consider offering a higher wage to your employees. Plus, a higher wage looks pretty good when it comes to attracting and retaining employees, right? When setting a higher-than-minimum wage, you cant just pull an arbitrary number out of a hat. More than likely, youll need to do a bit of research to make sure that youre offering a competitive wage. That way, you can avoid both underpaying and overpaying your employees. 2. Paid sick leave Everyone gets sick. But, theres no federal law that requires employers to give paid sick leave to employees. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 44 percent of workers at businesses with fewer than 100 workers cant take a paid sick day when theyre under the weather. Related: The Myriad Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace However, a number of states have implemented state-mandated paid sick leave laws. And, that number seems to be growing. Currently, 11 states (plus Washington, D.C.) have laws requiring eligible employers to give employees time off for qualifying situations. If your business is in a state with a paid sick leave law, you may have no choice but to offer paid sick leave. But if you arent subject to paid sick leave laws, you can still choose to offer employees this great benefit before your state potentially forces you to. By doing so, you can discourage employees from coming into work when theyre sick, protect other co-workers from catching a bug, and help boost productivity. 3. Paid family leave Do you give your employees paid family leave? Not many employers do. In fact, only 18 percent of all private industry workers have access to paid family leave (PFL). The states that require paid family leave treat it like unemployment insurance employees, employers or both pay into a state fund that pays out benefits to employees when they take leave. If your state doesnt have a PFL program, offering it to your employees could give you an edge as an employer of choice. You might consider enrolling in a paid family leave program on your own before your state (or the federal government) passes a new law. 4. PTO payouts If you willingly give your employees paid vacation days, your state may require you to give paid time off (PTO) payouts. PTO payouts require employers to pay employees for earned but unused time off either at the end of the year or when an employee leaves. A number of states require employers to provide PTO payouts. And if yours doesnt, you might consider doing so of your own free will. 5. Paid jury duty leave So, your employee has been served with time on a jury. Do you give them paid time off while theyre fulfilling their civic duty? Related: 5 Reasons Enhanced Benefits Programs Are Good for Business If your business is located in one of the 10 states that have jury duty compensation laws, the answer is an emphatic yes. If not, you might consider broadening your employee benefits by offering paid jury duty leave. When giving employees paid time off to attend jury duty, think about what time youll actually pay for. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. You might give partial wages, especially if your state compensates people serving on jury duty. Or, you may give paid jury duty leave for a set period of time. 6. Voting leave Some states require employers to provide paid voting leave while others mandate unpaid leave. All in all, 30 states require time off to vote. Most states designate how long employees get off to vote, too (e.g., two hours). Dont live in a state with voting leave laws? Consider making the executive decision and offering time to your employees anyway. Or, if your business is in a state with unpaid voting leave laws, you might offer paid time to your employees instead. Whether you voluntarily decide to offer paid or unpaid voting leave, your employees will thank you for it. It can help them fulfill their civic responsibilities ... without having to wait in line for an hour after work. 7. Time off for any reason Only one state requires employers to give time off for any reason, and that state is Maine. Plus, Maines bill, An Act Authorizing Earned Employee Leave, wont take effect until January 2021. If Maines paid time off for any reason law is anything like paid sick leave and family leave laws, other states may start implementing similar requirements. Again, this is all just something to mull over. But you absolutely need to know your states laws and whether they affect you. Only then can you consider voluntarily offering non-mandated benefits before your state forces you to. Related: 7 Things to Consider Offering Employees Before Your State Forces You To How Preparation and Role-Playing Can Help You Become a Brilliant Communicator The Role Model Mindset: Being a Great Entrepreneur Is About Showing Others What's Possible Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The Bombay high court (HC) on Friday rejected a petition filed by a 33-year-old Dahisar resident who is pregnant with twins and had sought permission for termination of pregnancy of one of the foetuses affected by Down Syndrome. Acting on her petition, the court had on May 15 referred her to a medical board of Sir JJ Hospital and Grant Medical College and ordered the board to submit its report by May 22. On Friday, a division bench of justice RD Dhanuka and justice Abhay Ahuja rejected her petition after perusing the medical boards report. Detailed reasons for dismissal of the petition are still awaited. The womans petition stated that she underwent a maternal screening test on April 29 and then a second test on May 7 in view of the complications in one her foetuses. The second test results showed that the foetus having complications suffered from Down Syndrome. On May 11, she took second opinion from a gyanaecologist and obstetrician who told her the affected foetus suffered from an untreatable chromosomal anomaly with substantial risk of mental or physical disabilities. Following this, she decided to undergo termination of her pregnancy of the affected foetus and continue normal pregnancy with the other foetus. She had sought permission from the court to terminate pregnancy of the foetus claiming the gynaecologist also informed her that such the procedure of terminating pregnancy of one her foetuses would not pose a higher risk to her as compared to delivery. HONG KONG: Most Asian markets rose Monday as a further opening up of economies from lockdown offset worries over worsening China-US tensions, while Hong Kong sank again after the city was rocked by protests at the weekend over a controversial proposed security law. While Donald Trump has limited travel from Brazil as the Latin American country sees deaths and infections spiral, traders were focusing on the more upbeat news that governments from Asia, across Europe and around the US were lifting economy-shattering shutdowns. Japan's prime minister is expected later Monday to lift a state of emergency in Tokyo, after last week lifting it for the western Osaka region, while Spain and Italy are preparing to reopen their borders to kickstart their crucial tourism sectors. Greece, Germany and the Czech Republic are also on course to allow bars and restaurants to begin serving again, while primary schools in parts of England are set to restart from next month. "Global investors are continuing to map the reopening of global economies to the overall risk narrative," said Stephen Innes of AxiCorp. "The global stock markets are moving higher with positive changes in mobility data. According to recent mobility data, the global economy has taken a giant step toward normality in the last week." Tokyo went into the break more than one percent higher, while Sydney and Wellington were up a similar amount. Seoul and Taipei were also higher. However, Hong Kong sank 0.8 percent -- having dived more than five percent Friday -- after violent weekend clashes in the city fuelled by China's legislature introducing a proposal to impose a security law that would suppress its pro-democracy movement. The protests were the biggest since last year's, which battered the local economy for months. Twitter may be the first big technology firm to face a fine by the EU's lead regulator under the region's tougher data protection rules after it submitted a preliminary decision in a probe into the social media firm to other member states. Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) also said on Friday it had sent a preliminary decision to Facebook-owned WhatsApp for their submissions and made further progress in three other investigations related to Facebook. Ireland hosts the European headquarters of a number of U.S. technology firms, making the DPC the EU's lead regulator under the bloc's General Data Protection Regulation's (GDPR) "One Stop Shop" regime introduced in 2018. The new rules give regulators the power to impose fines for violations of up to 4% of a company's global revenue or 20 million euros ($22 million), whichever is higher. Under GDPR, the DPC must share its preliminary decision with all concerned EU supervisory authorities and consider their views in its final verdict. Each of the bloc's regulators may be called on for a majority decision if agreement cannot be reached. The DPC is not commenting on the substance of the preliminary Twitter decision at this point, Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle told Reuters. The Twitter ruling relates to a 2019 probe into a bug in its Android app, where some users' protected tweets were made public. Twitter is the subject of two of the 20 other inquiries the DPC had open into big tech firms at the end of 2019. A spokeswoman for Twitter declined to comment. Facebook has come under most scrutiny, with eight individual probes, plus two into WhatsApp and one into Facebook-owned Instagram. The DPC said it had moved to the decision-making phase of a complaint-based inquiry which focuses on Facebook Ireland's obligations to establish a lawful basis for personal data processing. It said it had also sent draft inquiry reports to the complainants and companies concerned in two further inquiries concerning Instagram and WhatsApp. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie [May 25, 2020] LG SIGNATURE Brings Alessandro Mendini's Last Original Sketch to Life SEOUL, South Korea, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Wine Day, LG SIGNATURE is thrilled to present a special limited-edition "Alessandro M." corkscrew, which was inspired by the ultra-premium brand's lineup of distinctive appliances. As Alessandro Mendini's last original hand-sketched design, the exclusive corkscrew will be provided as a gift to customers who purchase the LG SIGNATURE Wine Cellar in selected markets. Earlier this year, LG SIGNATURE collaborated with Atelier Mendini - the design studio co-founded by the late designer - to bring Mendini's exclusive last original sketch to life. The special edition corkscrew, of which just 1,500 have been produced, will be available for a limited time globally starting with the US market. Drawn together by a mutual love of beautiful, functional design, LG SIGNATURE and Alessandro Mendini enjoyed a special partnership that began in 2018 when Mendini himself directed the triumphant LG SIGNATURE ARTWEEK, a series of curated exhibitions. At the time, he noted that LG SIGNATURE shares one of his core philosophies as an architect and designer, stating "The moment I saw LG SIGNATURE products, I sensed that the brand strives for harmony between function and design to the extreme." "It gives us great joy to present this limited-edition corkscrew which we see as a true celebration of art and technology coming together," said Kim Jin-hong, head of LG's Global Marketing Center. "It is also such an honor to be able bring Alessandro Mendini's very last original sketch to life and know that it will bring so much value to LG SIGNATURE customers." Holding up to 65 bottles, the sleek and seamlessly designed LG SIGNATURE Wine Cellar boasts exclusive technologies that create the ideal storage environment for any variety or vintage, along with user-friendly features designed to make consumers' lives easier. Temperature Control minimizes temperature fluctuations, ensuring the stable conditions necessary to preserve the flavor and texture of wine,[1] while Multi Temperature Control allows users to store several different types of wine each in the exact climate-controlled conditions required. Flavor profiles are maintained with Vibration Control while wine quality, cork elasticity and label quality are preserved with Optimal Humidity Control.[2] To learn more about LG SIGNATURE, please visit www.LGSIGNATURE.com. 1. Based on UL test results using LG's internal testing method of measuring average peak to peak temperature fluctuation in the wine storage compartment. Applies to LGE model LSR200W. No load and high, middle, low temperature settings. The result may vary in actual usage. 2. Based on UL test results using LG's internal testing method of measuring average humidity in the wine storage compartment. Applies to LGE model LSR200W. No load and 11C temperature setting. The result may vary in actual usage. About LG SIGNATURE LG SIGNATURE is the first ultra-premium brand across multiple product categories from global innovator LG Electronics. Catering to the most discerning consumers, LG SIGNATURE is designed to provide a state-of-the-art living experience that feels pure, sophisticated and luxurious. Combining the very best of everything LG has to offer, the distinctive LG SIGNATURE products were designed with their true essence in mind streamlined to focus on each product's essential function while maintaining the LG SIGNATURE's modern, signature design. www.LGSIGNATURE.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lg-signature-brings-alessandro-mendinis-last-original-sketch-to-life-301064185.html SOURCE LG SIGNATURE [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A scene that was once deemed impossible was captured on film May 24. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a Cabinet meeting in the morning and appeared in court before three judges in the afternoon. The omnipotent leader of Israel already broke Israels first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurions record by governing for 11 consecutive years and 14 years in total. Now, however, he was standing trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust. From that moment onward, Israel was facing an unprecedented situation: The state itself was pressing charges against the man who leads it. There can be no doubt that the only person who could generate such a scenario without blinking an eye is Netanyahu himself. As of now, this image will be part of his historic legacy, overshadowing all his other activities and achievements. In the upcoming year and a half, before he is slated to hand his position over to Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Netanyahu will make the most concerted effort of his life to overturn this legacy and create one that is far more distinguished. He wants to enter the history books, not prison. Netanyahu keeps raising the ante almost daily. Anyone who thought that once he appears before the court he would lower his head, if only for show, and follow the rules of the game was proved wrong and in a big way. Netanyahu showed up on the steps of the Jerusalem District Court around 2 p.m. local time, an hour before the trial was supposed to start. This in itself was unusual for him. And he showed up with a contingent of people eager to defend him. He was surrounded by Likud ministers and Knesset members and others close to him, all of them hiding behind surgical masks. They showed up to declare, We are on trial too. Still, Netanyahu did all the talking. He gave a long, bellicose speech, lashing out with the harshest accusations at each stage of the investigation against him. He attacked everyone from the police to the state prosecution office, to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. With great elegance, he ignored the fact that he himself had appointed most of his investigators, the police chief and attorney general, among others, to their posts people considered close to him, both politically and ideologically. Instead, Netanyahu wove a fantastical conspiracy theory, in which an invisible hand turned the entire Israeli law enforcement system into a mechanism in the service of darkness, operated remotely, with a single mission: to remove Netanyahu from office. The low point came when Netanyahu brought up the horrors of the Holocaust in his defense. He quoted Holocaust survivors, who supposedly called him before he arrived in court to say, We were in the forests in Europe, and we are praying for you. The wolves are coming to devour you. It was Netanyahu at his best, plucking at all the darkest heartstrings of the nation and waving about its most sacred legacies on his own behalf. Nothing is out of bounds when it comes to achieving his objective, in this case, expediting the process of delegitimizing the entire legal system, continuing his scorched earth policy, and waging the total war he declared against all those who are trying to harm him. Netanyahu is a talented man. He is highly intelligent, and he is experienced. He knows that the brutal attacks launched by him and his messengers against Israels legal system will not help him inside the courthouse. If they will have any impact at all on the three judges, it will be negative. But Netanyahu is no longer the master of his fate. He knew that everyone was waiting to see the photos of him sitting in the docket in all his disgrace, so he decided to create a victory photo a photo of him standing on the courthouse stairs like some modern-day Alfred Dreyfus, delivering his Jaccuse speech, based on half-truths, lies and irrelevant facts, while flailing about wildly and blaming everyone except himself, of course. Netanyahu knows exactly what he is doing. Prevailing assessment is that he is intentionally boosting his popularity among half of the Israeli public, i.e., the right-wing camp. Sitting before his judges, he is no longer the master of his own destiny. They are. But as tensions swell in the street, and the mass protests get increasingly vociferous, as long as he maintains his political power, Netanyahu will at one point be able to negotiate with the attorney general over a plea deal that does not include any jail time and with conditions that are more beneficial to him. That is Netanyahus strategy. With it, he may win the upcoming battles, but there is also a reasonable chance that in the end, he will lose the war. At his trial, former President Moshe Katzav also decided to go to war, and waited until the last minute to cancel a plea deal with no prison time, which was offered to him by the prosecution. This decision eventually buried Katzav. He was convicted of sexual harassment and received a long prison sentence. Netanyahu knows that as of May 24, he can find himself in prison, too. This is yet another image that is still inconceivable to the Israeli public. King Bibi in an orange prison uniform? After everything we have seen today, never say never! What happens now? The attorneys representing Netanyahu who is being tried along with publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth Arnon Mozes and former head of the Walla website Shaul Elovitch are playing for time. Yesterday, they asked for a continuance of at least two months until the next hearing and many more months until the evidentiary stage of the trial. Netanyahus strategy is to wait until mid-2021 before beginning the evidentiary stage, which would mean that he would return to the prime ministers office again, after Gantz completes his anticipated term. His trial will still be underway then, he hopes. Facing off against this strategy are three judges with a reputation for toughness. It is hard to imagine that the panel of judges, headed by veteran Justice Rivka Friedman-Feldman, will allow Netanyahu and his lawyers to drag the trial out for years, before reaching a verdict in the first proceeding. All indications are that the judges will order a quick trial consisting of three sessions per week in order to finish the initial proceedings two or three years from now at most. As far as Netanyahu is concerned, this is yet another stage in an endless war, in which he is the perpetual underdog, even if he is a prime minister, who can do whatever he wants. Regardless, everyone is against Netanyahu, and Netanyahu is against everyone. So far, he has always been the winner. This time, however, it looks like victory is not up to him no matter what he does. There are other factors at play here, and he has no control over them. [May 25, 2020] Shoolini University Organizes Symposium on Corona Pandemic and its Implications SOLAN, India, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To impart up-to-date knowledge on various aspects of coronavirus pandemic and its implications among the students and the general public, a 3-day International symposium was organised by the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University. The symposium on 'Understanding the Corona Pandemic and Its Implications' had panelists who are experts in their own fields from India, Sweden, and the USA. The symposium had been organised to discuss various aspects of the pandemic like epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and socioeconomic impacts. Experts would discuss the progress of vaccination, preventions, and various aspects of COVID-19. The inaugural session was addressed by Vice-Chancellor Prof. PK Khsla and Pro-VC Prof. Atul Khosla. Guest of honour, Dr. Dinesh Singh, Mathematician and former Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University shared his views on future predictions on coronavirus. Keynote Speaker Dr. Narendra Chirmula, Ex-Research Head Biocon and CEO SymphonyTech Biologics India discussed the search of a vaccine for coronavirus. During the panel discussion, stress was laid on the development of vaccine for COVID-19 and how corona pandemic has changed everyone's life and the way of living it. Prof Sourabh Kulshrestha, School of Biotechnology said, "The symposium is free and open to all. The event is extremely useful for students and to all the participants, as the speakers have been invited from across the world and are experts in their own fields. Initiatives like this are extremely important in the academic world." He also congratulated the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University for the initiative. Interested persons may watch on ?www.youtube.com/user/shooliniuniversity at 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM About Shoolini University: Set up in 2009, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences is a research-driven private university with full-recognition from the UGC. A leading university of India, it is recognised for its focus on innovation, quality placements, and world-class faculty. Nestled in the lower Himalayas, the university has received accreditation from NAAC and it is ranked by the NIRF. For further information, please visit: https://shooliniuniversity.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Advertisement It was peaceful Eid El Fitr in Kano on Sunday as thousands of Christian and Muslim worshippers trooped out to their various places of worship to observe their religious rites. Muslims as early as 8 a.m. in their large numbers trooped to their various Eid prayer ground across the five Emirate councils to mark the Eid El Fitr. Various denomination of Christian churches also opened for service as worshippers observed the Sunday service, after over one month of intense lockdown. Most of the worshippers who spoke to 247ureports.com hailed Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for lifting the lockdown in places of worship as they also promised to continue to comply with the protocols of COVID-19. Advertisement 247ureports.com reports that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; his Deputy, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and other top government functionaries, chieftains of the All Progressive Congress (APC) were at the Kofar Mata Eid prayer ground, presided over by the Chief Imam of Kano, Prof. Muhammad Sani Zahraddin, where the Eid prayer was conducted at about 8:30 a.m. In his sermon, Prof. Zahraddin urged Muslims to continue to pray for the end of this deadly COVID-19 pandemic. He also appealed to parents not to allow their children to embark on visitation during the Salalh celebration, pointing out that such attitude is against the COVID-19 protocols. The Chief Imam also prayed for the peace and progress of Kano and Nigeria. Hisbah officials were on hand to ensure that worshipers complied with the COVID-19 protocols. It was also observed that face masks were distributed to worshippers as they washed their hands before moving inside the prayer ground where physical distance was obviously maintained. More so, when 247ureports.com visited churches such as Living Faith Church, Banner of Life, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic church, St. Charles Catholic church, Treasure Life, Calvary Life Assembly and many other Christian congregations in the state, it was observed that they maintained physical distancing and complied with other COVID-19 protocols. Speaking to Journalists, the immediate-past chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kano branch, Bishop Ransom Bello said the decision by Ganduje to allow Muslims and Christians to worship on Fridays and Sundays is a welcome development. According to him, about a week ago, the Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje called us; and he said he was going to ease the lockdown so that we can be having our services on Sunday, and also Muslims will be going to Mosques on Friday to pray because he has the belief that one of the major solutions to this COVID-19 pandemic is prayer. I do also believe that prayer can work. So, that is why we are here in the church today praying and appealing to God to intervene. As you can see for yourself, we have been absolutely complying with the COVID-19 protocols. The setting of the congregation complies with physical distancing. Worshippers are wearing their face masks. Out there, we have water, soap and sanitizers for all Worshippers and visitors. We are complying with all these protocols because I personally believe that prevention is better than cure. I agree that Fridays and Sundays should be free for Muslims and Christians to worship their God. What we need to do as a people is to help ourselves. Government has been doing a lot. We need to strictly comply with the COVID-19 protocols for our good health and that of the members of our families. Here in the church, we teach the congregation, we preach to the congregation, we appeal and advise the congregation to comply with the COVID-19 protocols. Bishop Bello who is also the General Overseer of Calvary Life Assembly said though COVID-19 may wreak havoc for a while, the end will soon come. He added that, you know that we are approaching the end time. The Bible said that things will be happening; things like pestilence. This is part of the signs of the end time. So, I am not surprise with what is happening. At the same time, God has promised that there will be rapture before time. So, these are events that must surely come to pass. Although, perhaps, somethings are happening earlier than anticipated. However, churches can pray so that God can preserve the world. Ican not tell you that this pandemic can disappear just like that. We have been dealing with HIV/AIDS for many years now. HIV is still around and we are coping with it. The pandemic may be with us for quite sometime, and I believe that we shall see the end by the grace of God. However, security was beefed up around churches and Mosques across the ancient commercial city, as residents enjoy the Eid El Fitr with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. A prominent Texas defense attorney and his female colleague have been arrested for hatching an elaborate plot to kill her ex-husband. Attorneys Seth Andrew Sutton, 45, and Chelsea Tijerina, 33, were each charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder, a first-degree felony, on Friday in Waco. Arrest affidavits claim that Sutton paid an undercover Waco police officer to buy a 'clean' gun to kill Tijerina's ex-husband, Marcus Beaudin, a fellow defense attorney who was accused of molesting a child earlier this year. Sutton and Tijerina allegedly gave the officer detailed instructions on how to carry out the murder. Attorneys Seth Andrew Sutton, 45, (left) and Chelsea Tijerina, 33, (right) were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder on Friday in Waco, Texas Sutton and Tijerina allegedly hatched an elaborate plot to kill her ex-husband, Marcus Beaudin. Tijerina and Beaudin are pictured with their newborn daughter in 2018 Police say Sutton first met with the undercover cop on May 14 and agreed to pay him $300 to purchase a gun. Sutton allegedly told the officer that he would help him leave town after committing the murder. After that first meeting, police brought in the Texas Rangers to help with the investigation. Sutton and Tijerina met with the undercover officer again on May 21 to plan the hit, which would take place at Beaudin's home. 'Chelsea Tijerina (Beaudin) and Sutton provided a timeline for the murder as well as establishing alibis for Chelsea Tijerina (Beaudin) and Sutton,' the affidavit states. 'On May 22, Sutton met (with the undercover officer) an provided (the officer) with $300 to purchase a firearm to be used to murder Marcus Beaudin.' Arrest affidavits claim Sutton (pictured), a prominent defense attorney, met with an undercover cop on May 14 and offered to pay him $300 to buy a gun and murder Beaudin Sutton and Tijerina (pictured) met with the undercover cop again on May 21 and laid out their elaborate plan to kill Beaudin at his home. The couple were arrested the following day Sutton and Tijerina were arrested the same day and are now being held on $1million bond each at the McLennan County Jail. The motive for the murder has not been disclosed. Tijerina and Beaudin got married in November 2016 and welcomed a daughter in 2018. It is unclear when they separated. Sutton is also married, and his wife has not returned requests for comment on his arrest. Beaudin, 37, was arrested in February after being accused of molesting a 10-year-old female relative. He is seen in his mugshot Beuadin, 37, had been arrested by police in neighboring Woodway back in February on a felony charge of indecency with a child. He was accused of sexually touching a 10-year-old female family member in December but has not been formally indicted by a grand jury. Beaudin's attorney, Josh Tetens, says his client denies the allegations. Sutton is well known among legal circles in Waco. In 2017 he launched a bid to unseat the incumbent McLennan County District Attorney but dropped out before the Democratic primary. He successfully defended clients in several high-profile cases including the Waco biker shooting in 2015 that left nine men dead and 20 injured. Tijerina is less well-known in the community but works at Sutton's firm. Sultan Bathery's Jain temple has seen the changing fortunes of Wayanad, from its position on Jain cultural networks, to the region's invasion by Tipu Sultan, to the large scale settlement of Malayalis in the modern era. The strikingly named Sultan Bathery, one of Wayanads largest towns, lies on National Highway 766 connecting Kozhikode with Mysore, both cities roughly equidistant from the town. Surrounded by the verdant forested fields characteristic of Keralas least populated district, Sultan Bathery is merely half an hour from Edakkal caves, home to prehistoric rock carvings and ancient inscriptions. At the heart of the town lies a curious stone structure - a dilapidated stone temple, clearly standing out like a sore thumb in a sea of modern establishments. The temple is rectangular, with a detached ceremonial mandapa missing its roof directly facing it, its pillars raised up to the sky. A pillared hall leads to a mandapa and from there to a garbhagriha conspicuously lacking its idol. The walls of the temple are devoid of ornamentation, although its staircase and the pillars of the entrance porch (ardha mandapa) carry a variety of carvings - yalis, floral patterns, birds,and an intricate sarpabandha (snake knot). Most tellingly however, these pillars along with the pillars of the mandapa facing the temple also feature carved Tirthankara figures, making its religious affiliation to the Jain faith quite clear. Of course, most visitors to the temple come here for its serenity.and architecture, rather than any religious purpose. Clusters of college boys chatter and pose for photos around the temples various parts, while families examine the Tirthankara figures. The sarpabandha carving is especially popular with visitors according to local myth, tracing the length of the serpent from head to tail, along the exact path of its coiling engraved body, will grant ones wishes. Every group invariably stops at the snake knot to take a closer look at it and admire its patterns. Jainism in Wayanad Jainism has a negligible presence in modern Wayanad the entire district recorded a grand total of 1,797 Jains in the 2011 Census, less than .5 percent of the districts population. Surprisingly, even with that miniscule number, Wayanad has the highest Jain population of any district in Kerala. What explains Jainisms presence in such a far flung, sparsely populated region? In fact, Jainism actually has a rich history in Wayanad, and Sultan Batherys Jain temple is a living testament to this.. The temple dates back to the 14th century, and is likely the oldest extant structure in the town. It was built by medieval Wayanads Jain community, a Kannada speaking community originally from the Mysore region, distinct from the Adivasi masses of Wayanad. The temples own architecture reflects idioms current in the contemporary Kannada region where Jainism entered medieval Wayanad from as opposed to Kerala style architecture. Indeed, the temple is largely built in the Vijayanagara style, its pillars in particular stand out literally in the case of the detached mandapa as markers of this connection. The entire temple is made of granite, with no wood used a key feature of Kerala style temples, but also traditional churches and mosques, is the usage of wood as opposed to stone. The Jains of medieval Wayanad used the Kabini river, which flows from its source in Wayanad into the Mysore region, for sustaining trade networks. One can almost imagine them sailing up the river, boat laden with goods and money, to clustered settlements around their temples, nestled in Wayanads lush forests. In fact, the area surrounding this temple was once called Hanneradu Bidi, Kannada for "twelve streets", referring to the local Jain settlement. Wayanad as bayal nadu in Kannada, both this and the Malayalam name translate to land of paddy fields appears in several Hoysala inscriptions as well, as a contested region. However, the Jain faith is said to have dwindled in the region in the centuries following the temples construction, for reasons not completely understood. Then again, it was never the faith of the majority population, local Adivasi tribes. Its possible that these itinerant merchants began looking elsewhere for trade and the community subsequently shrank. The Bathery Jain temples role in history wouldve ended here if it werent for later developments in the form of tumultuous political upheavals brewing in Wayanad. Coincidentally enough, these winds of change blew from the Mysore region as well. Wayanad and Tipu Sultan In the second half of the 1700s, Wayanad had been annexed by Hyder Ali of Mysore to his realm. During his son Tipu Sultans wars in Kerala, the region served as a convenient entry point into northern Kerala through the Thamarassery ghat pass the primary route used to enter Wayanad from Kozhikode to this very day. At some point, the Mysore army found the Jain temple and raided it, destroying its sculptures as well. Its walled compound and its solid granite structure lent it a certain defensibility, and the Mysorean forces used it as an artillery base, a defensive position from which to fire upon enemies with cannon. Such an encampment was historically known as a battery. Since this particular battery in Wayanad was associated with Tipu Sultan, it gained the name Sultans Battery in English records, Sultan Bathery in Malayalam. The settlement that surrounded the battery came to be known by the same moniker, giving the modern town its distinctive name. Bathery, the towns Malayalam name (Sultan is generally omitted) is pronounced quite differently from English battery. This is likely an indication that the name was derived from Portuguese bateria instead, given that Portuguese was still an important language in the Indian military sphere before the British consolidated their rule over most of India. After the defeat of Tipu Sultan at the hands of the East India Company in the Third Anglo Mysore War in 1792, Wayanads fate was left unclear, and it became disputed territory between both parties, with contemporary correspondence recording Mysorean raids in the region. Of course, with Tipus defeat and death in the Fourth Anglo Mysore War in 1799, the East India Company could finally strengthen their hold on Wayanad. History once again After quelling a major revolt led by the Pazhassi Raja 1805, the East India Company consolidated their rule over Wayanad, incorporating it into the Madras Presidency. Shortly after this, the regions vast, forested expanses were set aside to be used for intensive plantation agriculture to meet growing consumer demands elsewhere in the world, introducing a system of cash crop cultivation and bonded labor into Wayanad. The infusion of capitalism into Wayanad also opened it up for settlement from elsewhere in Malabar (and later Travancore), permanently changing local demographics. Soon, Malayali speaking communities settlers and their descendants began to outnumber local Adivasi peoples. In his landmark Malabar Manual, written in 1887, British civil servant and Malabar Division Collector William Logan writes of Sultans Battery as a village of little importance, with no mention of its Jain temple its time had passed, once more. The Jain temple never served as a military base of any sort again. Sultan Bathery's Jain temple has borne witness to the changing fortunes of Wayanad, from its position on Jain cultural networks, to the region's invasion by Tipu Sultan, to the large scale settlement of Malayalis in the modern era leading to Adivasis becoming a minority in their own region in short, the trials and tribulations of Wayanad, its people, and its land. All these narratives are inextricably tied up in one another, just like the temples sarpabandha that fascinates its visitors, as the cool, fresh breeze of Wayanad wafts through the air and softly rustles the stalks of its endless fields. Karthik Malli is a freelance journalist who writes on the intersection between language, history, and culture She made sure we werent going to get into trouble, her son said. She made sure we werent going to be running from the police. She had the fear of God in her and would not let us make a mistake. We were more afraid of her than of the police or a teacher. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Japan is planning to lift the state of emergency which was declared in the country due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said, RIA Novosti reports. Its expected the Japanese PM will make an official statement on lifting the regime of restrictions. According to the new analysis of assessments, we came to the conclusion that there is no need to keep the state of emergency in all administrative districts, and currently we are discussing lifting it, the minister said. According to the latest data, Japan confirmed more than 16,000 cases of the coronavirus and over 800 deaths. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) Authorities arrested seven individuals on Monday for allegedly producing fake Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) identification cards. The suspects were caught in an entrapment operation along Recto Avenue, Manila, an area notorious for businesses offering forged documents. Police Lt. Col. John Guiagui, station commander of the Sampaloc police, said a civilian was earlier caught trying to pass through a checkpoint using a fake IATF ID. I-minatch natin yung ID niya, hindi nagtutugma at aminado siya na ito ay gawang Recto, he said. [Translation: His ID did not match, and he later on admitted that it was a fake one made in Recto.] Guiagui said the civilian identified the shop, which also sold quarantine passes for 350 pesos each. The station commander expressed alarm over the criminal activity, coming at a time when theres a need to abide by community quarantine protocols to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease. He also noted that forging such IDs poses more than just health risks. Baka pwedeng magamit ito ng mga masasamang loob doon sa illegal activities dahil free sila or less yung chance na masita sila, he said. [Translation: These fake IDs can also be used by criminals in their illegal activities because theyre free (to move around) or theres less chance that they will be called out by authorities.] The suspects will face charges for violating Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code or the falsification by private individuals and the use of falsified documents. According to the Twitter account Defense News Nigeria, the Israeli-made Tavor bullpup assault rifle becomes the standard combat rifle of the Nigerian Air Force Regiment. The Tavor is designed and produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI). It is produced in two main variants: the TAR-21 and the CTAR-21. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link The Israeli-made Tavor becomes the standard assault rifle of Nigerian Air Force Regiment. (Picture source Twitter account Defense News Nigeria) The Tavor is also used by the Nigerian State Security Service as a primary assault rifle for their close protection and tactical units replacing the Uzi. It is also used by the Nigerian Navy. The Tavor-21 is a bullpup design assault rifle chambered in 5.5645mm NATO caliber with a selective fire system, selecting between semi-automatic mode and full automatic fire mode. This weapon was developed and designed by the Israeli Company IWI (Israel Weapon Industries). The Tavor uses a bullpup configuration, in which the receiver, bolt carrier group, and magazine are placed behind the pistol grip. This shortens the firearm's overall length without sacrificing barrel length. As a result, the Tavor provides carbine overall length, yet can achieve rifle muzzle velocities if equipped with a rifle-length barrel. The Tavor is primarily chambered in 5.5645mm NATO, although 919mm Parabellum and 5.4539mm Russian models are also available. The Israeli Defence Forces use both 3.6-gram (55 gr) M193 and 4.0-gram (62 gr) M855 5.5645mm rounds. M193 rounds are used by regular infantrymen for better terminal effects at shorter distances, while the heavier M855 is used by sharpshooters. The Tavor accepts standard STANAG magazines. The TAVOR in different calibers and configurations is in service with 35 countries from all over the world. : Kerala on Monday reported 49 fresh cases of COVID-19, including a health worker and two remand prisoners, taking the aggregate count to 896 while over 99,000 people areunder observation, According to a press release, the number of those under treatment for the virus is 359. It said 18 of the infected had come from abroad, 25 from other states (Maharashtra 17, Tamil Nadu four, Delhi and Karnataka two each). The six others were people who had been infected through contact, including a health worker from Thiruvanathapuram and two remand prisoners from Kannur, a press release said. Kasaragod reported the highest number of cases--14, Kannur 10, Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad five each, Kozhikode four, Pathnamthitta and Alappuzha three each, Kollam and Kottayam two each and Idukki one, Health minister K K Shailaja said. Totally 532 people have been cured of the infection, including 12 who were discharged from hospitals on Monday, while 359 are presently under treatment. According to the release, 97,247 people have come to the state--- through airports (8,390), seaport (1,621), checkposts (82,678) and Railways (4,558). At least 99,278 people are under observation in the state, of whom98,486 are undergoing home or institutional quarantinewhile 792 are in hospitals, including 152 admitted on Monday. So far samples of 54,899 people have been sent for testing and results of 53,704 received are negative,the release added. Four new hot spots were added, taking the tally to 59. Kannur has 77 people under treatment, the highest in the state, while Palakkad 53 and Malappuram 48. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said that the army could have been called in for the restoration works three days ago had the chief minister maintained contacts with him. He also advised to chief minister Mamata Banerjee not to an exaggerated report to the Centre on the losses due to cyclone Amphan. His tweets coming at a time large swathes of south Bengal was yet to limp back to normalcy has triggered a controversy. Urge @MamataOfficial: Be in touch with Guv had this been done army could have been called 3 days back, Dhankhar wrote on Twitter in English and Bengali. I have directed all authorities to attend to RAJ BHAWAN in last ONLY AFTER NORMALCY IS RESTORED IN CITY URGE @MamataOfficial :BE IN TOUCH WITH GUV-HAD THIS BEEN DONE ARMY WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED 3 DAYS BACK SHARE REAL LOSS @PMOIndia :INFLATING FIGURES IS COUNTER PRODUCTIVE(2/2) Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 24, 2020 The state government called in the army on Saturday to clear the roads of the fallen trees. In another advice to the chief minister, the governor wrote, Share real loss @PMOIndia: Inflating figures is counter-productive. His tweets came after CM Banerjee said that the estimated loss due to the cyclone was Rs 1 lakh crore. She has said that 1 crore people have been rendered homeless due to the cyclone. Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi has initially approved Rs 1,000 crore assistance to the state government for the immediate requirement in the restoration work. On Sunday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders supported Dhankhars statement. The governor has voiced the concerns of the whole state of Bengal. People are apprehensive of corruption by the state administration because of the examples they had set on earlier occasions. The CM is only talking about money. Why is she seeking money only? The Centree needs to investigate every claim of the state government, BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said. After the aerial survey, PM Modi had said that he had spoken to Mamata Banerjee and Dhankhar and had decided that a detailed survey needed to be done to review the extent of the damage. The CM on Saturday had urged district officials to prepare reports of damage and losses very carefully so that the Central teams that are likely to visit the state to investigate the extent of the losses could be properly briefed. On Sunday, Derek OBrien, the national spokesperson of the states ruling party Trinamool Congress, said that 6 crore people have been directly affected by the cyclone. Bengals population stood slightly above 9 crore in 2011 and is estimated to be around 10 crore at present. Its extremely unfortunate if the governor stoops too low, especially at the hour of such a crisis. I am especially shocked with his reaction because he himself accompanied PM Modi and the chief minister during the aerial survey of the affected areas. If he still thinks that the losses were not mammoth, we simply have nothing else to say, said TMC spokesperson Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a Lok Sabha member. On social media, many netizens took digs at the governor for doing politics in the time of a crisis. ... SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 72-year-old woman has died of COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh taking the death toll to five, while the total number of cases in the state rose to 214 with 10 more people testing positive for the disease, officials said on Monday. So far, 67 people have been cured of the disease and the number of active cases in the state stood at 142, they said. Of the 10 fresh COVID-19 cases in the state, four have been reported from Chamba, three from Shimla, two from Kangra and one from Hamirpur. Of them, four each returned from Mumbai and Tamil Nadu while two came back from Ahmedabad. The four Chamba men had returned from Tamil Nadu recently. Two of them returned on May 18 in a special train from Chennai, the other two came back in a vehicle, a district official said. The three men of Shimla had returned from Mumbai in a special train on May 18, Shimla Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap said, adding they were in institutional quarantine in Deha. In Hamirpur, a 25-year-old woman tested COVID-19 positive. She had returned to her in-law's house from Mumbai on May 22. Her 29-year-old husband tested COVID-19 positive a few days ago, Deputy Commissioner Harikesh Meena said. In Kangra, two men, who returned from Ahmedabad, tested COVID-19 positive in Palampur, Kangra Superintendent of Police Vimukt Ranjan said. Four persons in the district have been cured of the disease, he said, adding that four more people admitted at a COVID-19 care centre at Baijnath tested negative and were being discharged. Hamirpur has the highest number of active cases in the state at 57 followed by 35 in Kangra, 13 in Una, 11 in Solan, nine in Mandi, seven in Chamba, four in Bilaspur, three in Shimla, two in Sirmaur and one in Kullu, officials said. The fifth COVID-19 fatality in the state was a 72-year-old woman. She had tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Saturday and died at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla on Sunday night, the hospital's Senior Medical Superintendent Janak Raj said. The woman, who was suffering from multiple ailments, had been referred to the IGMC from Hamirpur after her condition worsened. Her husband was found coronavirus infected on Thursday, he said, adding the woman had gone to Jalandhar in Punjab for treatment and upon her return was admitted to the government medical college in Hamirpur. Prior to this, a 52-year-old patient from Hamirpur district died of COVID-19 at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Hospital in Mandi on May 15. On May 5, a 21-year-old man from Sarkaghat in Mandi died due to the disease in Shimla. On April 2, a 70-year-old woman, who was a resident of Delhi and had been staying at a factory's guest house in Solan since March 15, died due to COVID-19 at the PGIMER in Chandigarh. On March 23, a 69-year-old man who had returned from the US died of COVID-19 at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) in Kangra district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI LOS ANGELES: "Logan" was Hugh Jackman's swansong as Wolverine and director James Mangold says killing off the adamantium-clawed mutant was a simple, logical decision. It was announced in 2015 that the Hollywood star would play the fan favourite X-Men character for the final time in the 2017 sequel to "The Wolverine". The director said both he and Jackman were on board right from the outset of the film's premise. Mangold said the process was "a lot less of a committee than you'd think". "It was really Hugh and I at first. It seemed logical, that if it were going to be his last film, that he's either going to ride off onto the horizon or die, that you need to have some kind of curtain on his story. That's a logical assumption, right? "But the reason the choice was at our feet was because you needed the sense of closure. You needed some sense of an ending if you were going to end, if you were dealing with the legacy of Hugh's many performances and many films, and trying to set this part in some definitive way," he told ComicBook.com. Jackman, who tasted international stardom as Wolverine in his first Hollywood movie "X-Men", played the role from 2000 to 2018 in the film series. The Australian actor holds the Guinness World Record for "longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero" for playing Logan/ Wolverine. And contrary to their expectations, Mangold revealed, studio Fox was surprisingly in favour of killing off such a popular character when they pitched the idea. "Frankly, even the studio didn't even have nervousness about it, because it felt like an event. It gave the movie, on a simple level, the reality that while it may not feature as flamboyant or expensive action as some other movies, that the must see of the movie was going to be because it would be the end of a legend," he added. Jackman recently admitted he departed the "X-Men" franchise at the right time. He added that he is looking forward to some other actor take up the role in a potential new take. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is the highest authority overseeing juvenile detention in the United States. It describes its mission as Enhancing safety. Ensuring accountability. Empowering youth. In reality, in the midst of a deadly pandemic, the facilities overseen by the authority, the majority of which are privately owned, are continuing the senseless brutalization of children and allowing them to be exposed to COVID-19 and a plethora of adjacent issues that risks seriously impacting their long-term health. According to prisonpolicy.org at least 48,000 individuals under the age of 18 are currently in correctional facilities. The vast majority of incarcerated youth are from a working-class background, with around two-thirds of offenders also relying on the child welfare system. Forty percent of youth who are incarcerated before their 18th birthday are in adult prisons by the age of 25. It is also the case that the poorest inmates are the most likely to re-offend. Mirroring conditions in adult prisons, COVID-19 has spread rapidly through juvenile detention centers. According to sentencingproject.org, as of May 22 there were 474 cases among detained youth across the US, and 561 confirmed cases among staff. These numbers are huge underestimations of the viruss true spread. While some states, such as New Jersey, claim to have tested all of its detained youth, the majority of states have not even nominally promised to address the deadly consequences of the contagion of the virus through their populations of incarcerated minors. As the WSWS reported on May 13, as more becomes known about the disease, initial declarations that youth face no risk from infection were proven reckless and incorrect. The disease is linked to an inflammatory syndrome similar to Kawasaki disease and can cause sepsis among younger patients. At least five children in New York have died from these conditions following diagnosis with COVID-19. In a study of 48 children and young adults admitted to intensive care units in the US and Canada for COVID-19, 20 percent experienced organ failure. The studys co-author, Rutgers professor Lawrence C. Kleinman, stated, The idea that COVID-19 is sparing of young people is just false. Two of the children featured in the study died. More than 500 of incarcerated children in the US are 12 years old or younger, while over 4,500 of under-18s locked up are actually incarcerated in adult facilities. Child inmates typically reside in large groups, with 60 percent of incarcerated youth in large facilities designed for over 50 inmates. This only increases the risk of infection from the virus. Two-thirds of youth incarcerations are long-term, meaning that individuals spend over a month at a facility, and nearly 10 percent are held for over a year. The turnover of young inmates, just like at regular prisons and jails, means these facilities act as vectors for the diseases spread in the community. The largest recorded outbreak has been in the juvenile detention center of Cook County Jail in the Chicago area. At least 14 cases have been confirmed among detained minors, including one in the general youth prison population on May 23. This means the majority of the centers inmates have been exposed to a positive individual. There have also been 21 confirmed cases amongst employees at the center. The juvenile detention center at the jail is part of a wider system at the location, which now has the highest infection rate of any defined population in the US, bypassing Rikers Island in New York in late April. Over 500 prisoners at the facility have tested positive, with at least seven dying. Despite the outbreak at least 4,200 inmates, including minors, remain in the prison. Even in states that have claimed to address the situation facing incarcerated children there has been little action. For example, in mid-April, both Marylands highest court and Pennsylvanias Supreme Court denied emergency petitions to release inmates under 18 years old. At the end of April 27, just 200 youth inmates were released from incarceration facilities in the state, leaving 456 still locked up. The same pattern of hollow executive and court ordershas plagued the US adult inmate population. Even before the crisis, the conditions facing young inmates were particularly brutal. In a report, the Juvenile Law Center (JLC) stated that child inmates are often subjected to solitary confinement, a punishment that is recognized as a form of torture by the United Nations. Under the cover of social distancing, such measures have become increasingly prevalent in regular prisons, meaning the same is likely true of youth detention facilities. Other measures implemented in the name of tackling the virus, such as the banning of family visits and restriction of phone calls, have led to further isolation from human contact. This is particularly damaging for children who are at sensitive periods of their social development. Furthermore, their academic progress, greatly hindered by incarceration before the crisis, will be further undermined by the indefinite postponement of all educational services throughout juvenile detention centers. During the crisis, child prisoners will continue to face invasive and physically abusive measures such as strip searches, shackling and chemical sprays. The JLC describes the effects of these conditions, These abusive practices cause physical injuries, emotional trauma and psychological harm, and interrupt healthy development. According to a 2016 Harvard study, since 2011, 13 states have violent and abusive conditions that are clearly documented. Sexual abuse is also widespread in juvenile detention facilities. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2012 one in eight incarcerated young people reported sexual abuse by center staff or other inmates. The JLC report continues, Youth in prison also face physical and sexual violence, compounding the trauma imposed by their isolation and separation from their families, friends and communities. Similarly, the Harvard report concluded that Maltreatment is endemic and widespread. The cost of housing incarcerated children is also extortionate. The annual cost of locking up one child is $88,000, almost 10 times the yearly average expenditure per child in public schools. According to the National Juvenile Justice Center, nearly half of all youth detention facilities are privately run. States willingness to pay these exorbitant costs is a reflection of the influence private prison contractors have over bourgeois political authorities. Meanwhile, local police forces happily play their part by supplying a steady stream of inmates for which the taxpayer can be charged. As is the case among adults, minorities are also targeted for arrest and incarcerated at higher rates. For example, American Indians comprise 3 percent of all incarcerated girls, and 1.5 percent of all incarcerated boys, despite making up less than 1 percent of the US child population. Black children under 18 are also more likely to be tried in adult courts than their counterparts. The cultivation of chauvinistic attitudes toward marginalized minorities among law enforcement is a crucial component of the effort to maintain a high inflow of inmates to ensure that private juvenile detention facilities remain profitable. The continued brutalization of incarcerated youth, whose crimes are a product of dire social conditions and, for want of a better term, the inability to know better, is senseless. Rather than rehabilitation, admittance to a youth detention center is more likely to condemn a child to abuse and a lifetime of poverty and incarceration. The COVID-19 crisis has only further exposed this barbarous reality. The primary cause of the brutalization of working-class youth and the conditions in juvenile detention centers is subordination of the justice system to the drive for profit that is endemic to the capitalist system. The fight against the brutal detention of all prisoners cannot be divorced from the struggle against the international profit system as a whole. Coronavirus India Live Updates : India has recorded the highest ever spike of 6,977 COVID-19 cases and 154 deaths in India in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the country now at 1,38,845, including 77,103 active cases, 57,720 cured/discharged and 4,021 deaths, says the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's latest data. Meanwhile, Indian skies opened up for domestic passenger services today after a gap of two months, with Delhi-Pune and Mumbai-Patna flights being among the first to take off. The operator of the Mumbai international airport said on Sunday it would resume commercial passenger services on domestic routes from May 25. A long queue of passengers could also be seen at the Delhi airport's Terminal-3 as the airport resumes flight operations from today. Follow BusinessToday.In Live blog for all the latest updates on coronavirus pandemic in India 6.24 PM: Tamil Nadu coronavirus cases Tamil Nadu reported 805 new coronavirus cases and 7 deaths reported today, informed State Health Minister C Vijayabaskar. Of the new cases, 549 cases are from Chennai. 407 patients have been discharged today. The total number of positive cases in the state has risen to 17,082. 6.18 PM: Karnataka COVID latest updates Karnataka Health Department has reported 93 fresh coronavirus cases and two deaths today. This takes the total number of COVID-19 cases to 2,182, including 1,431 active cases and 44 deaths. Karnataka reports 93 fresh cases & two deaths, taking total number of cases to 2182 and deaths to 44. Number of active cases stands at 1431: Karnataka Health Department pic.twitter.com/QDOEKpUBax ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 6.17 PM: Coronavirus latest updates: Unchecked visitors from India behind rising cases in Nepal, says PM Oli People from India are coming in without proper checking which has contributed to the further spread of coronavirus in Nepal, said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in his address to the nation. He further claimed that fatality due to COVID-19 in Nepal is less in comparison to other countries of South Asia. 6.06 PM: IN PICTURES: People queue outside liquor store in Puducherry Buyers line outside a liquor store in Puducherry amid coronavirus lockdown People form long queue outside a liquor shop in Puducherry amid #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/7WY3EIRUXs ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 4.23 PM: Delhi-Ghaziabad border to be sealed like it was done during lockdN PCTURES:N own 2, till further orders: Ghaziabad Dist Admn Delhi-Ghaziabad border to be sealed like it was done during lockdown 2, till further orders: Ghaziabad Dist Admn Those providing essential services, including media personnel, don't need pass, IDs sufficient. Ambulances and vehicles for essential services will also be allowed. pic.twitter.com/caSGJVuyUk ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 25, 2020 4.12 PM: 40% travel, tourism firms may shut down in 3-6 months Around 40 per cent companies operating in the travel and tourism sector are staring at the risk of complete shutdown over the next 3 to 6 months, says a report, even as the domestic flights resume operations after over 2-month suspension due to lockdown. Also, nearly 36 per cent of such companies are likely to witness a temporary shutdown, according to the report by BOTT Travel Sentiment Tracker in partnership with seven national associations like IATO, TAAI, ICPB, ADTOI, OTOAI, ATOAI and SITE. Also read: Coronavirus effect: 40% travel, tourism companies may shut down in 3-6 months, says report 4.05 PM: Indians soar in the skies: Puri Indians soar in the skies again! A beautiful live capture from Flight Radar 24 shows how our skies look busy again as domestic civil aviation recommences in India from today. 3.55 PM: Domestic flights resume in Himachal Domestic flight operations have resumed in Himachal Pradesh. Passengers who have arrived would require to undergo 14 days of institutional quarantine. Himachal Pradesh: Passengers arrive at Kangra Airport to board their respective flights,as domestic air travel resumes from today; 45 passengers from Delhi arrived here. SDM says "They will be sent to institutional quarantine for at least 14 days, admn will further look into it." pic.twitter.com/oeY5yrkZSU ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 3.48 PM: Japan lifts emergency After Japan saw a sharp decrease in the number of cases, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that the emergency imposed nationally to combat coronavirus would be lifted. 3.40 PM: Delhi coronavirus cases Delhi recorded 635 cases of coronavirus on Monday. The total tally now is 14,053 with 276 deaths. Delhi has 7,006 active cases. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the COVID-19 situation is under control earlier in the day. 3.31 PM: Coronavirus cases in Uttarakhand A total 15 COVID-19 positive cases detected in Uttarakhand today. The total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 332, including 58 recovered and 4 deaths. 3.29 PM: Ghaziabad District Magistrate has ordered to seal the Delhi-Ghaziabad border as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the city. The authorities will allow entry to those with pass. 3.10 PM: Gujarat High Court, while delivering an order on poor conditions in Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital, quotes anonymous letter written by a resident doctor which claims that "mismanagement" and "irregularities" there could turn doctors like him into "super spreaders" of coronavirus. 3.00 PM: Coronavirus curfew extended in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district till June 30: Official 2.55 PM: Authorities must consider the importance of maintaining social distancing in flights as shoulder to shoulder seating is dangerous: Supreme Court while hearing Centre's arguments in favour of keeping middle seats in aircraft occupied. 2.50 PM:Supreme Court allows Air India to keep the middle seats occupied while operating its non-scheduled flights to bring back Indians stranded abroad up to June 6. 2.45 PM: SpiceJet resumes passenger flight operations SpiceJet, the country's favourite airline, resumed its domestic passenger flight operations on May 25 after a two month-long lockdown-imposed hiatus. SpiceJet's first flight took-off from Ahmedabad to Delhi at 6.05 am and arrived in the Capital at 7.10 am. Soon after, flights on other sectors took-off in a seamless manner. Some of the sectors that SpiceJet will be operating on the first day include Delhi-Bengaluru, Delhi-Pune, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Guwahati, Ahmedabad-Delhi, Delhi-Patna, Mumbai-Bengaluru, Chennai-Bengaluru, Varanasi-Jaipur, Bengaluru-Pune, Delhi-Srinagar, Udaipur-Ahmedabad, Jammu-Srinagar, Chennai-Madurai, Hyderabad-Jharsuguda, Hyderabad-Surat among others. 2.41 PM: Schools to re-open in England from June British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons has announced taking easing of the lockdown to second phase of opening schools. This too shall be done in a phased manner. "I can announce that it is our intention to go ahead with that as planned on June 1st, a week on Monday...this would begin with early years settings and reception, year 1 and year 6 in primary schools," says Johnsons. In case any of the child or staff member show any symptoms, they will have access to testing. 2.38 PM: Tata Group top rung to take 20% pay cut Tata Group's top rung would take salary cuts for the first time in the history of Tata Group. CEOs and MDs of Tata Steel, Tata Motors, TCS, Tata Power, Trent, Tata International, Tata Capital and Voltas as well as Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran are some of the companies top officials to undertake an estimated 20 per cent cut in compensation. The leadership of the conglomerate aims to lead by example and motivate employees and their group organisations as well as ensure business viability. Also read: Coronavirus impact: Tata Group top rung to take 20% pay cut 2.34 PM: Shramik Special Train As many as 760 passengers arrived at Jammu Railway Station today morning by Jammu-Delhi COVID-19 special AC train, says the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. 760 passengers arrived at Jammu Railway Station today morning by Jammu-Delhi #COVID19 special AC train: Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Jammu & Kashmir pic.twitter.com/7mO1zOCTm1 ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 2.25 PM: Coronavirus cases in Karnataka As many as 69 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Karnataka between 5 pm yesterday and 12 noon today. Total number of cases now stands at 2,158, including 1,433 active cases and 43 deaths (two due to 'non-COVID' cause). 2.20 PM: Odisha sees biggest spike in cases Odisha registers its biggest spike in COVID-19 cases on Monday with 103 more people testing positive for the disease, taking to 1,438 the total number of cases in the state: health department official. 2.15 PM: HRD minister on pending Class 10, 12 board exams Pending Class 10, 12 board exams will be conducted at over 15,000 examination centres; earlier only 3,000 centres were planned. Number of exam centres increased to ensure social distancing, minimise travel. 2.00 PM: Jet Airways offers 2 aircraft to evacuation Jet Airways, which suspended services more than a year ago due to cash crunch, has offered two of its Boeing planes for operations under the Vande Bharat Mission to evacuate Indians stranded in foreign countries, according to a communication. The once-storied full service carrier is undergoing insolvency process and its affairs are being managed by insolvency resolution professional Ashish Chhawchharia. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is being implemented by the corporate affairs ministry. 1.50 PM: India ramps up production, over 3 lakh PPEs, N95 masks made daily The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated on Monday that India has significantly ramped up production of personal protective equipment (PPE) coveralls and N95 masks. The ministry said that the country now produces over 3 lakh PPEs and N95 masks every day. "India has significantly ramped up its domestic production capacity of PPEs and N95 masks, and the requirements of the states/UTs are being sufficiently met. Today, the country is producing more than 3 lakh PPEs and N95 masks per day. States/UTs as well as central institutions have been provided with around 111.08 lakh N-95 masks and around 74.48 lakh Personal Protective Equipment," said the ministry in a statement. 1.40 PM: As many as 103 people, including 4 infants and pregnant women each, reach Kochi from San Francisco, United States in a special flight under Vande Bharat Mission. Kerala: 103 people, including 4 infants & pregnant women each, reach Kochi from San Francisco, United States in a special flight under #VandeBharatMission. pic.twitter.com/dlCUV0mElF ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 1.30 PM: Home quarantine must for foreigners Passengers coming from foreign countries will need to give a letter of consent to the effect that they will stay for 7 days at paid quarantine facilities and seven days in home isolation. In some exceptional situations, passengers will be allowed for home quarantine, says UP Home Department. #VandeBharatMission: A special flight with 146 passengers onboard that took off from Doha, Qatar landed at Gaya Airport, Bihar today. pic.twitter.com/GV2lLhkfkM ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 1.15 PM: Special flight arrives from Doha, Qatar A special flight with 146 passengers onboard that took off from Doha, Qatar, landed at Gaya Airport, Bihar, today. 1.04 PM: Safety measures at airports Acrylic sheets have been put up at counters for the safety of staff and passengers. Sanitisers have been installed at many locations at the airport. Till now, two flights from Delhi and Hyderabad have landed here, says Rakesh Sahay, Director, Raipur's Swami Vivekananda Airport. As of now, we have the demand of 46 trains from Maharashtra Govt out of which 5 trains couldn't be run as they were to go to cyclone Amphan affected West Bengal & Odisha. Rest 41 trains have been notified today: Shivaji Sutar, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway https://t.co/owl0GKZl1g ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 12.51 PM: Maharashtra receives 557 Shramik Special Trains "On the Maharashtra government's request, Railways has run 557 Shramik Special trains carrying over 7.70 lakh people so far. Railways' nodal officer and nodal officer of Maharashtra government are in constant touch for planning the trains," says Shivaji Sutar, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway. Status of Corona in Delhi after one week of relaxing the Lockdown | LIVE https://t.co/70B9nXFKoc Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 25, 2020 12.18 PM: We are ready to deal with situation if there is spike in cases of novel coronavirus, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Tamil Nadu: Passengers from different parts of the country arrive at Chennai airport as domestic flight operations resume from today. A passenger at the airport says, I had gone to Delhi for internship, but got stuck there for two months due to #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/2WcGiKdaEN ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 12.17 PM: Around 3,500 COVID-19 cases were reported since fourth-phase of lockdown began: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. 12.16 PM: As many as 3,314 COVID-19 patients are getting treatment at their house, 2,000 admitted at hospitals, says CM Arvind Kejriwal. 11.56 AM: Coronavirus cases in Andhra Number of COVID-19 cases rises to 2,671 in Andhra Pradesh, with 44 fresh cases being recorded in the last 24 hours. Active cases and deaths stand at 767 and 56, respectively, says the Andhra Pradesh Health Department. 11.54 AM: Passengers from different parts of the country arrive at Chennai airport as domestic flight operations resume from today. A passenger at the airport says, "I had gone to Delhi for internship, but got stuck there for two months due to coronavirus lockdown." Karnataka: Till 9am today, there have been 5 arrivals and 17 departures and 9 flights cancelled, at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International airport pic.twitter.com/wBgLrtcm7M ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 11.45 AM: Coronavirus cases in HP Six more people test positive for coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh, taking the number of cases in the state to 210. Fatalities due to COVID-19 rise to 5 in the state with the death of a 72-year-old woman at a Shimla hospital. 11.34 AM: Assam to see 8 flights today Eight flights are arriving at Guwahati airport today, with some of them landing with full passenger capacities. All passengers will be scanned for COVID-19 at the Airport. "People from Assam will be segregated and send to their respective district by buses," says Assam Minister HB Sarma. The number of flights will increase as Kolkata airport starts its operations from May 28 and trains will also start plying so next week will be challenging, says Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. - ANI 11.15 AM: DGCA free to alter travel norms: SC Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India are free to alter any norms it may consider appropriate during the pendency of the matter, said the Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde in Supreme Court today. "Air India shall be allowed to operate non-scheduled foreign flights with middle seats booking for next 10 days", says CJI in Supreme Court while hearing urgent petition filed by Centre and Air India against Bombay High Court order to keep middle seats vacant in int'l flights. "We are concerned about the health of the citizens. The Bombay High Court will hear the matter on 2nd June," justice Bobde said. 11.00 AM: Containment zones in Delhi The total number of containment zones in Delhi is now 90 with 3 new zones added to the list; 41 zones de-contained. 10.46 AM: Bengaluru airport update Till 9am today, there have been 5 arrivals and 17 departures and 9 flights cancelled, at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International airport. - ANI 10.44 AM: Domestic passenger flights resume in India after a gap of two months. The country will see around 600 flight services on Monday, say aviation officials. 10.30 AM: UP CM holds COVID-19 review meeting 10.15 AM:We're strictly following govt's guidelines to ensure safety against COVID19. Today has been a different experience as we're not used to wearing protective gear over our uniforms. All passengers followed the guidelines: A flight attendant on Vistara's Delhi-Bhubaneswar flight. 10.10 AM:Coronavirus cases in Chandigarh 9 new positive cases reported today, taking the total number of positive cases in the union territory to 265: Government of UT of Chandigarh 10.00 AM: US tally reaches 1.6 million The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday reported 1,622,114 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 26,229 cases from its previous count, and said the number of deaths had risen by 1,047 to 97,049. The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by the new coronavirus, as of 4 p.m. ET on May 23, compared with its count a day earlier. The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states. 9.55 AM: Bihar records 180 new COVID-19 cases Bihar has reported 180 new cases of COVID-19 from 15 districts, pushing the tally to 2,574 in the state, the health department said. Of the fresh cases, Nawada and East Champaran accounted for 11 each and the state capital Patna recorded four new infections, it said. The health department, in a tweet late on Sunday evening, said,"63 more COVID-19 +ve cases in Bihar taking the total to 2,574... We are ascertaining their trail of infection". 9.53 AM: India surpasses Iran India on Monday entered to the top 10 worst-affected countries' list in terms of coronavirus cases after surpassing Iran. India's total coronavirus cases have jumped to 1,38,845, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In the last 24 hours, the country reported 3,543 new active cases and 154 new deaths. Iran's coronavirus cases tally stands at 135,701, according to the US' John Hopkins University. 9.43 PM: Coronavirus cases in Rajasthan The COVID-19 death toll in Rajasthan rises to 163 with 3 more fatalities. The total cases 7,028 after 286 more people test positive, including 3,017 active cases. 9.41 AM: Coronavirus cases in MP The COVID-19 toll in Madhya Pradesh rises to 290 with 9 more deaths, including 3 each in Indore and Bhopal; the tally 6,665 with 294 new cases; active cases 2,967. 9.30 AM: India records 6,977 cases India registers biggest single day spike of 6,977 cases, total tally rises to 1,38,845; death toll climbs to 4,021: Union health ministry 9.15 AM: Thermal screening at Bengaluru Airport Thermal screening of passengers being done before their entry into airport terminal building at Kempegowda International airport as domestic flight operations resume today. We're strictly following govt's guidelines to ensure safety against COVID19. Today has been a different experience as we're not used to wearing protective gear over our uniforms. All passengers followed the guidelines: A flight attendant on Vistara's Delhi-Bhubaneswar flight pic.twitter.com/2UzN6hJm7e ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 9.13 AM: The first flight from Delhi's IGI airport since resumption of domestic flight operations, lands at Pune. A passenger who has arrived in the city by the flight says,"I was nervous before the flight but all passengers were taking precautions. Very few people travelling right now". Karnataka: Thermal screening of passengers being done before their entry into airport terminal building at Kempegowda International airport as domestic flight operations resume today pic.twitter.com/5qUV2B9g8B ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 9.12 AM: Visuals from Chennai airport Passengers at Chennai international airport observe social distancing. The number of incoming passenger commercial flights to Chennai are restricted to 25 per day. 9.10 AM: Visuals from the Mumbai airport Passengers arrive at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport as domestic flight operations resume. Maharashtra government has allowed 25 takeoffs and 25 landings every day from Mumbai. The first flight from Delhi's IGI airport since resumption of domestic flight operations, lands at Pune. A passenger who has arrived in the city by the flight says,"I was nervous before the flight but all passengers were taking precautions. Very few people travelling right now". pic.twitter.com/NgBY9L6h4i ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 9.05 AM: Indore reports 56 more cases 56 more COVID-19 cases reported in Indore yesterday. Total number of cases in the district is now at 3,064, including 116 deaths, says the District Health Department. 9.01 AM: Bengaluru airport introduces contactless journey The Bengaluru airport management is introducing a unique feature of parking-to-boarding contactless journey for the passengers as the domestic flight resumes from Monday. In order to contain coronavirus transmission among passengers and staff, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) introduced the new feature of contactless journey right from pre-entry check to security check and boarding. Also read: Coronavirus: Bengaluru airport introduces contactless journey to combat COVID-19 8.50 AM: Lucknow Airport opens for flights Passengers arrive at Lucknow Airport to board their respective flights, as domestic flight operations have resumed from today. Tamil Nadu: Passengers at Chennai international airport observe social distancing. The number of incoming passenger commercial flights to Chennai is restricted to 25 per day. pic.twitter.com/MK1dECbfS2 ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 8.48 AM: Food & beverage shops have opened at IGI Food & beverage (F&B) and retail outlets open at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Terminal-3 as domestic flight operations have resumed from today. 8.47 AM: Jama Masjid to remain closed for devotees today on Eid-Al-Fitr amid the 4th phase of coronavirus lockdown. Passengers arrive at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport as domestic flight operations resume. Maharashtra government has allowed 25 takeoffs and 25 landings every day from Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/ss38dwa8bz ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 8.46 AM: Flight attendants arrive at IGI Flight attendants arrive at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Terminal-3 as domestic flight operations have resumed from today. Amandeep Kaur, a flight attendant says, "We are a little worried but work comes first. We will get PPE kits from the airline". Passengers arrive at Lucknow Airport to board their respective flights, as domestic flight operations have resumed from today. pic.twitter.com/41lKp4qOhi ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 25, 2020 8.45 AM: MoCA negotiations with states conclude JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his wife Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Reactions have continued to trail the flouting of the lockdown order by Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SaharaReporters reports. The governors wife, who had been in Imo State for several week, returned to Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday, raising some dust among residents of the state for going against the ban on inter-state movement. In April 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered a nationwide curfew from 8pm to 6am and also put a ban on non-essential inter-state travels until further notice as part of measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus. Speaking with SaharaReporters over the issue, Mr Adebayo Iyiola, a resident of the state, described the flouting of the inter-state movement ban by the Ondo governors wife as disturbing. He said, The governors wife should know the law more than anyone else and it is just sad that same people making this law are also the ones flouting it with impunity. Abiola Owonola, a human rights activist, in his reaction expressed disappointment at the situation. He said, You can imagine the wife of a governor whose husband is the number one law officer of the state flouting the law and people expect us to just look away. The same government is ordering the arrest of people who flout the order and asking the police to send back those entering the state during the lockdown. This is a country where the law is like a cobweb that ties the weak but frees the strong. How do we explain such effrontery of the governors wife or do they mean we are not equal before the law. We demand explanation. Another concerned resident of the state and activist, Wande Ajayi, disclosed that it would not be the first time that the wife of the governor would be flouting government orders in Ondo. Ajayi noted that no individual irrespective of position or status in the country should be above the law if government was truly fighting the pandemic. He called on Governor Akeredolu and his wife, Betty, to apologise to the people of the state for flouting the inter-state movement ban. Special Assistant on Media to the governors wife, Tobi Fademi, could not be reached for comments when SaharaReporters reached out to her. Spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Tee-Leo Ikoro, did not also respond to calls put across to him on the issue by our correspondent. Ashraf Ghanis spokesman describes move as a goodwill gesture after the Taliban proposed ceasefire during Eid holiday. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has started the process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture, his spokesperson said, in a move that came after the government welcomed the armed groups surprise announcement of a three-day ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The decision to release the prisoners was taken to ensure success of the peace process, Ghanis spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter on Sunday. Meanwhile, the ceasefire appeared to hold as there were no reports of clashes between the Taliban and Afghan forces by the end of the first day on Sunday. Ghani said a government delegation was ready to immediately start the peace talks with the Taliban. Government negotiators would be headed by Ghanis former rival Abdullah Abdullah after the two signed a power-sharing deal last week that ended a months-long political crisis. Pres. Ghani today initiated a process to release up to 2000 Taliban prisoners as a good will gesture in response to the Talibans announcement of a ceasefire during Eid.The AFG Gov is extending the offer of peace and is taking further steps to ensure success of the peace process. pic.twitter.com/So0UEB5Bpi Sediq Sediqqi (@SediqSediqqi) May 24, 2020 A US-Taliban agreement signed in February in Qatars capital, Doha, stipulated that the Afghan government would release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners while the Taliban would free about 1,000 Afghan security forces personnel. The prisoner swap was mentioned in the agreement as a confidence-building measure before long-awaited peace talks between the government and Taliban. Before Sundays announcement, Kabul had already released about 1,000 Taliban inmates while the Taliban had freed roughly 300 members of the Afghan security forces, according to reports. The Taliban said they were committed to freeing prisoners, but reminded Kabul that the agreement was to release 5,000 of their members as agreed with the US in Doha. This process should be completed in order to remove hurdles in the way of commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations, Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, said on Twitter. The Talibans offer of a ceasefire came just days after leader Haibatullah Akhunzada urged Washington not to waste the opportunity offered by the Doha agreement that set the stage for the withdrawal of US troops from the country after more than 18 years. US Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, who brokered the February 29 agreement, said the ceasefire was a momentous opportunity that should not be missed while pledging that the US would do its part to help. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also hailed the ceasefire, but said in a statement on Sunday that he expected the Taliban to adhere to their commitment not to allow released prisoners to return to the battlefield. He also urged the two sides to avoid escalating violence after Eid, the festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. US President Donald Trumps administration has made it a priority to end the countrys longest war and, in a bid to pull out foreign forces, US officials have been pushing the Taliban and government leaders to hold peace talks. Analysts, however, say the Taliban has been emboldened by the agreement with the US, and attacks by the group have continued since the signing. War-weary residents in the capital, Kabul, expressed relief after the ceasefire was announced. In a similar holiday truce in 2018, there were unprecedented scenes of fighters from opposite sides embracing and taking selfies. Description GIS - 24 May 2020: India has shipped a second consignment of essential medicine supplies, including some 10 tonnes of Ayurvedic medicines to Mauritius. The consignment, aboard Indian Navy Ship Kesari which docked in the Port Louis Harbour yesterday, was received by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, on behalf of the Mauritian Government. This initiative puts to the forefront the special and unique Indo-Mauritian ties as well as both countries longstanding partnership in the public health care sector. More so that both the Mauritian Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, and the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, had a telephone conversation earlier yesterday. Moreover, a 14-member Indian Medical Assistance Team has arrived aboard INS Kesari to collaborate with the health authorities of Mauritius through mutual sharing of experience and expertise. Members of the team comprise, amongst others a Community Medicine Specialist, a Pulmonologist and an Anesthesiologist. The medicine supplies and the medical team have been supplied by the Indian Government at the request of the Government of Mauritius, and forms part of the Mission SAGAR. The first consignment of 13 tonnes of essential medicines from India, which included 0.5 million tablets of Hydroxychloroquine, had arrived on 15 April 2020 through the special Air India flight to Mauritius. The consignment was received by the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, on behalf of the Mauritian Government. It is recalled that in October 2019, the new ENT Hospital with state-of-the-art facilities had been jointly e-inaugurated by Prime Minister Jugnauth, and Prime Minister Modi. Treatment for Covid-19 patients has been administered at the ENT Hospital and has supported the Mauritian health authorities in their efforts in managing the spread of the disease. Mission SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) Mission SAGAR echoes Indias commitment to work together with its maritime neighbours and partners in the Indian Ocean region. This Mission has also included supplies for Maldives, Madagascar, Seychelles and Comoros to jointly meet common challenges in these difficult times. SAGAR reflects Indias vision for the Indian Ocean region, which was articulated by Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Mauritius in March 2015. #ResOuLakaz #BeSafeMoris Government Information Service, Prime Ministers Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org Website: http://gis.govmu.org Mobile App: Search Gov Around 275,000 migrant labourers and their family members have returned to the state. According to the state government, this number could exceed 1 million by the end of this month. As the NDA government in Bihar is scheduled to face polls at the end of this year, providing livelihoods to these people is on the top Chief Minister Nitish Kumars agenda. IMAGE: Migrants carrying their luggage walk to board buses for their homes after arriving from Jaipur by a Shramik special train, at Hatia Railway Station in Ranchi. Photograph: PTI Photo When Shramik Special trains are ferrying thousands of migrant labourers back to their home state of Bihar amid the COVID-19-triggered lockdown, a train quietly left Khagaria, 180 km from Patna, in the early hours of May 7 for Lingampally in Telangana. At Lingampally, the 226 passengers, all labourers, were welcomed by ministers and officials of the Telangana government. This journey was arranged after much discussions between the two governments. These labourers will work at rice mills in Telangana. They had come home for Holi, but got stuck here because of the lockdown. "After special trains were allowed, these labourers chose to go back, said Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. They would be paid Rs 1,200 a day - almost four times what they could have earned here. "This lockdown has made developed states acknowledge the power of Bihars workforce. Telangana has requested Bihar for more than 20,000 labourers for its rice mills. But these labourers are only a fraction of those coming home. Homeward bound As a Shramik Special train from Jaipur stopped at Danapur railway station in Patna, Anil Kumar was seen sobbing. We had nothing to eat, nowhere to live, and nothing to feed our children. We will never leave our village now. Several others bent their knees to the soil of Bihar, vowing never to go for work to other states. We were given the worst treatment. Everyone blamed us for this pandemic. "Nobody was ready to buy anything from us because of some fake WhatsApp messages, said Mohammad Shakil, who used to sell fruits in Jaipur. Mar jayenge, lekin laut ke nahin jayenge. Around 275,000 migrant labourers and their family members have returned to the state. According to the state government, this number could exceed 1 million by the end of this month. As the NDA government in Bihar is scheduled to face polls at the end of this year, providing livelihoods to these people is on the top Chief Minister Nitish Kumars agenda. MGNREGA to the rescue In a move to provide immediate relief, the state government has decided to provide jobs to these migrant labourers under the provisions of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The chief minister is holding high-level meetings daily to take stock of the situation. "The government has transferred Rs 1,000 into the bank accounts of 2.7 million people from Bihar who are stranded in other parts of the country. "Now, our focus is to provide jobs to those coming back, said a senior IAS officer. The state government has already initiated almost 340,000 projects in over 7,750 panchayats. We are putting Rs 10 crore every day in the states rural economy as wages, paid to over 500,000 workers, said the officer. The state government has also started skill profiling of workers returning home. This move will help the government use their services, Bihars Industry Minister Shyam Rajak told Business Standard. According to the states industry department, 70,000 skilled labourers have returned to Bihar, thus far. It says a list of these workers will be shared with industry bodies and they will be offered job opportunities. More than 3,500 industrial units have been set up in the state. They can provide jobs to over 35,000 workers, said the minister. Easier said than done However, some experts raise serious doubts over the claims of the government. The state government, in its own Economic Survey, pointed out various challenges under the MGNREGA scheme. For example, while Bihar has seen sustainable growth in the number of households with job cards - from 12.7 million in 2014-15 to 15.5 million in 2018-19 - only 2.9 million households received work. The average number of days of employment, too, has been fluctuating over the years; it was 42.2 man-days per household in 2018-19. Only 20,000 households received 100-day jobs as mandated by the law. Then there is the problem of funds and payments often get delayed by months. The enterprise sector, too, is in a dismal state. The survey said Bihar has around 3,000 industrial units and adds only 0.5 per cent to the countrys Gross Value Added of the industrial sector. Factories in Bihar are also smaller and each on average employs only 40 workers, against the national average of 77. Because of this, a factory worker in Bihar earns only around Rs 10,500 per month. A worker in neighbouring Jharkhand gets over Rs 31,000 per month. Inefficient system? The Bihar government has asked for a state-specific component in the Centres economic package. The Centre must also announce states share in the stimulus package so that we can get enough resources to deal with the current economic and health crisis, said Rajak. Shivanand Tiwary of the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal said: The state government is saying that it will do this and that, but our system is still not that efficient and nor do we have a large pile of resources. On the other hand, V S Dubey, former chief secretary of Bihar, said: The MGNREGA is the best way for providing immediate employment. The Centre and the state should pump money into this scheme... "The state has ample money in its coffers. The problem is management. The administration has to be objective and accountability must be fixed. N K Choudhury, former head of department for economics at Patna University, said: The state government must activate panchayats and decentralise power to the lower rung of bureaucracy. "It must give money in the hands of the people to jump-start the economy. JOHANNESBURG, May 24 (Reuters) - Workers at China Molybdenum's copper and cobalt mine in Democratic Republic of Congo have halted a strike after a compromise was found, Congo's mines minister, Willy Kitobo Samsoni, said on Sunday. The strike began on Saturday, with employees demanding extra compensation for working on a site that has been sealed off from the outside world for two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "A compromise was found... those who have worked nearly two months need to see their families," Samsoni told Reuters. "Production will not be affected by this one-day strike, because operations did not come to a complete stop." (Reporting by Hereward Holland, Writing by Helen Reid, Editing by Timothy Heritage) While India and the rest of the world battle a pandemic which originated in China, the Chinese have opened a new battlefrontthis one involving troops and weapons along Indias contested border with Tibet. As a result, not since the standoff in Doklam nearly three years ago has the relationship between India and China hit such a low ebb. The coming weeks and months could determine the future of India-China relations, and indeed Chinas relationship with the rest of Asia and the world. Across multiple locations on Indias frontier with Tibet annexed by China in 1950 China has upped the ante. Its troops have crossed over onto the Indian side in the union territory of Ladakh and started violent clashes along the frontier in Sikkim state. The key question is why now? What is the message that the communist regime is seeking to send by starting military confrontations when all our attention should be focussed on fighting what US President Donald Trump has labelled the Wuhan virus (a reference to the Chinese city where the virus originated). The first publicised incident of the ongoing standoff took place on May 5, when Chinese troops tried to block an Indian patrol in the Pangong lake region of eastern Ladakh. Similar confrontations have been provoked by China in the Galwan valley in Ladakh and in the Naku La mountain pass in Sikkim a few days later. What has motivated the Chinese to ratchet up the aggression despite confidence-building efforts and summit meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan (the same city which gave the world Covid) and Mamallapuram (an ancient seaport of the Pallava dynasty)? Two developmentsboth of which have a commercial angle appear to have been the reason that the Chinese have decided to employ military tactics in an attempt to thwart India. On April 19, India revised its foreign investment policy to tighten investment rules for companies sharing a land border with India. This development followed the Chinese central bank increasing its stake in housing finance lender HDFC when share prices are cratering around the world as a result of the pandemic. A few days later, in early May, media reports said India was developing a land pool twice the size of Luxembourg to host companies leaving China because of widespread anger at Beijings handling of Covid. India was openly setting itself up as a commercial rival when the world is revulsed by Chinese actions, something that the communist regime could not stomach. In sum, China is using its military to try and bully India and prevent its western neighbour from making decisions which are in its economic interests. Its about money, the ultimate source of military strength. The balance of power between China and India, which is tilted heavily in favour of the former, could shift to become less uneven if the Chinese economy takes a bad knock as a fallout of Covid and India gains, relatively speaking. There is no certaintyindeed, there is room for doubt that India can attract investments from global corporations at the expense of China. But assuming India gets its act together, over a few years the balance-of-power equation has the potential to shift significantly. And with it military capability. Chinas calculations are transparent. Despite protestations to the contrary, China is single-minded about attempting to block Indias rise as a major economic power. True China alone cannot do this it requires Indian complicity. We are not single-minded about pursuing sensible economic policies our reforms, if and when they happen, are in fits and starts. Democracy cannot be an excuse for poor economic policies, but that is how it works in India. Back to the main point: what course will this military standoff take? It could actually depend on the Western response to China over the coming weeks and months. If tension with the West increases and major powers determine that China deserves a bit of humiliation, China may decide that harassing India may not be worth the effort. It will have bigger problems to contend with. And how the West responds may actually be down to the US election, which is due in November. A major conflict involving nuclear powers is unthinkable, but there are enough and more influential strategic minds who could advise that Chinese interests in Tibet, Hong Kong and Taiwan are not that sacrosanct. Is it any wonder that China is using this moment to undermine the autonomy of Hong Kong? Or that two MPs from the BJP - Meenakshi Lekhi and Rahul Kaswan - 'virtually attended' the swearing-in on Wednesday of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen. From Vietnam and Philippines to the United States and Australia, there is little sympathy for China and its authoritarian moves. China is a global power with a mighty military. But India is no pushover and can hold its own on land, sea and the air. For the Communist regime to imagine that India will capitulate on its Himalayan frontier will be foolhardy. This is 2020, not 1962. China cannot stop Indias rise, but how high India rises is up to us. Now. Guest commentary: Who needs diversity, equity, or inclusion? Kim Jong-un has been pictured for the first time in three weeks as he continues to make few public appearances amid coronavirus concerns. The North Korean leader was rumoured to be gravely ill or even dead last month after he missed an important anniversary event. But he reappeared at a fertiliser factory, and has now been pictured chairing a meeting about the countrys nuclear capabilities. The meeting of the ruling Workers Partys powerful Central Military Commission marked Kims first public appearance in three weeks The military meeting to discuss new policies to bolster the countrys nuclear capabilities amid stalled denuclearisation talks with the United States, state media KCNA said on Sunday. He made an unusually small number of outings in the past two months amid coronavirus concerns. North Korea has imposed strict anti-coronavirus measures although it says it has no confirmed cases. And pictures from the event appear to show those at the meeting sitting relatively close together not two metres apart under social distancing guidelines widely adopted elsewhere in the world. Speculation had erupted about Kims wellbeing after the despot missed an annual birthday celebration for his late grandfather Kim Il-sung, the countrys founder on April 15. Taiwans National Security Bureau (NSB) director-general Chiu Kuo-cheng reporting last week the leader was sick and contingency plans were in place if he were to die. US-led negotiations aimed at dismantling North Koreas nuclear and missile programmes have made little progress since late last year, especially after a global battle on coronavirus began. The meeting discussed measures to bolster armed forces and reliably contain the persistent big or small military threats from the hostile forces, KCNA said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates WASHINGTON - When President Donald Trump doesnt like the message, he shoots the messenger. So it was this past week when he took very personally a scientific study that should give pause to anyone thinking of following Trumps lead and ingesting a potentially risky drug for the coronavirus. He branded the studys researchers, financed in part by his own administration, his enemy. Boastful on the occasion of Memorial Day, Trump exaggerated some of his accomplishments for veterans health care. Over the weekend, he also repeated a baseless allegation of rampant mail-in voting fraud and resurrected claims of unspecified conspiracies against him in 2016. A look at the rhetoric and reality as the pandemics death toll approached 100,000 in the U.S.: VOTING FRAUD TRUMP: The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and force people to sign. Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam! tweet Sunday. THE FACTS: Voting fraud is rare. Its true that some election studies have shown a slightly higher incidence of mail-in voting fraud compared with in-person voting, but the overall risk is extremely low. The Brennan Center for Justice said in 2017 the risk of voting fraud is 0.00004% to 0.0009%. Trump is simply wrong about mail-in balloting raising a tremendous potential for fraud, Richard L. Hasen, an elections expert at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, recently wrote in an op-ed. While certain pockets of the country have seen their share of absentee-ballot scandals, problems are extremely rare in the five states that rely primarily on vote-by-mail, including the heavily Republican state of Utah. Trumps push for in-person voting runs counter to the current guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which urge Americans to maintain 6 feet (1.8 metres) of separation and avoid crowds. The CDC guidelines encourage mail-in methods of voting if allowed in the jurisdiction, given the coronavirus threat. Last week, Trump threatened to hold up funding for Michigan and Nevada if they allowed more residents to cast mail-in or absentee ballots out of pandemic safety concerns. He later backed off the threat. Trump cast an absentee ballot by mail in the Florida Republican primary in March. A commission Trump convened after the 2016 election to investigate potential voting fraud disbanded without producing any findings. ___ DEEP STATE TRUMP, on the 2016 election: Im fighting the deep state. Im fighting the swamp. ... They never thought I was going to win, and then I won. And then they tried to get me out. That was the insurance policy. Shes going to win, but just in case she doesnt win we have an insurance policy. interview aired Sunday on Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson. THE FACTS: Hes repeating a false claim that there was a conspiracy afoot to take him out if he won the 2016 presidential race, based on a text message between two FBI employees. Trump has repeatedly depicted the two as referring to a plot or insurance policy to oust him from office if he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton. Its apparent from the text that it wasnt that. Agent Peter Strzok and lawyer Lisa Page, both now gone from the bureau, said the text messages reflected a debate about how aggressively the FBI should investigate Trump and his campaign when expectations at the time were that he would lose anyway. Strzok texted about something Page had said to the FBIs deputy director, to the effect that theres no way he gets elected. But Strzok argued that the FBI should not assume Clinton would win: Im afraid we cant take that risk. He likened the situation to an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40. He has said he was not discussing a post-election plot to drive Trump from office. ___ VIRUS DRUG TRUMP, on why he considers hydroxychloroquine safe for the treatment of COVID-19: Frankly, Ive heard tremendous reports. Many people think it saved their lives. interview with Attkisson. TRUMP: Ive received a lot of positive letters and it seems to have an impact. And maybe it does; maybe it doesnt. But if it doesnt, youre not going to get sick or die. This is a pill thats been used for a long time for 30, 40 years on the malaria and on lupus too, and even on arthritis. remarks on May 18. TRUMP: It doesnt hurt people. remarks Tuesday after a GOP policy lunch. THE FACTS: Hes wrong to assert there is no risk of harm if people take the malaria drug to try to prevent a coronavirus infection. Trumps own health agencies have cautioned that taking hydroxychloroquine to stave off the virus could be dangerous due to side effects. If the president is to be believed, hes taking the drug himself. Trump repeatedly has pushed hydroxychloroquine, with or without the antibiotic azithromycin. No large, rigorous studies have found them safe or effective for COVID-19, and they can cause heart rhythm problems and other serious side effects. The Food and Drug Administration has warned against the drug combination and said hydroxychloroquine should only be used for the coronavirus in hospitals and research settings. Two large observational studies, each involving about 1,400 patients in New York, recently found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine. Two new ones in the journal BMJ, one by French researchers and the other from China, reached the same conclusion. On Friday, a study published by the journal Lancet suggested that hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, with or without an antibiotic, did not help hospitalized patients and was tied to a greater risk of death or heart rhythm problems. Although it was observational rather than a rigorous test, its by far the largest so far to examine these drugs in real-world settings nearly 100,000 patients in 671 hospitals on six continents. Researchers estimated that the death rate attributable to use of the drugs, with or without an antibiotic such as azithromycin, is roughly 13% versus 9% for patients not taking them. The drug has been available for decades to treat the mosquito-borne illness malaria; it is also prescribed for some lupus and arthritis patients. Technically, doctors can already prescribe the drug to patients with COVID-19, a practice known as off-label prescribing. But that is not the same as the FDA approving the drug specifically for the pandemic, which would mean it had met the agencys standards for safety and effectiveness. FDA regulators issued a warning alert last month in part based on increased reports of dangerous side effects called in to U.S. poison control centres. ___ TRUMP: The only negative Ive heard was the study where they gave it was it the VA? With, you know, people that arent big Trump fans gave it ...they had a report come out. remarks on May 18. TRUMP: It was given by, obviously, not friends of the administration. remarks Tuesday at Cabinet meeting. TRUMP: And if you look at the one survey, the only bad survey, they were giving it to people that were in very bad shape. They were very old, almost dead. It was a Trump enemy statement. remarks Tuesday after GOP policy lunch. THE FACTS: Theres no evidence of a political plot at the Department of Veterans Affairs or elsewhere to produce a study pointing to poor outcomes for veterans who took hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 in a bid to make Trump look bad. That study was led by independent researchers at the University of Virginia and University of South Carolina and grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Virginia school paid for the work. The study released last month found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine. The analysis, conducted by the researchers with VA approval, was not a rigorous experiment, nor was it peer-reviewed. Still, with 368 patients, it was the largest look at hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 at the time. Researchers stressed a great and immediate need to conduct the analysis due to limited scientific evidence on the drugs safety and increasingly widespread use both as a way to prevent COVID-19 and to treat it. Researchers analyzed medical records of male veterans hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus infection at VA medical centres who died or were discharged by April 11. About 28% of veterans who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone. These findings highlight the importance of awaiting the results of ongoing prospective, randomized, controlled studies before widespread adoption of these drugs, the researchers wrote. Its also a point that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious diseases expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, has repeatedly made, urging caution on the drug. Although there is anecdotal evidence that hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin may benefit people with COVID-19, we need solid data, Fauci said. No drug has been approved for treating the disease, although several have emergency use authorization. Most people who get COVID-19 recover. ___ TRUMP, on the study of VA hospital data: If you look at that phoney report that was put in, that report on the hydroxyl -- was given to people that were in extraordinarily bad condition -- extraordinarily bad, people that were dying. remarks on May 18. TRUMP: There was a false study done where they gave it to very sick people extremely sick people, people that were ready to die. ... And the study came out. The people were ready to die. Everybody was old, had bad problems with hearts, diabetes, and everything else you can imagine. remarks Tuesday at Cabinet meeting. VA SECRETARY ROBERT WILKIE: They did not even look at what the president just mentioned the various comorbidities that the patients who were referenced in that study had. Cabinet meeting Tuesday. WILKIE: The analysis did not adjust for patients clinical status. letter on April 29 to veterans groups. THE FACTS: Trump and his VA secretary are incorrect. Researchers did use standard statistical methods to adjust for differences in the groups being compared, including clinical status and the presence of other chronic health conditions. They did not cherry-pick only the oldest or sickest ones who took the drug. Even though the VA hospital patients given the drug tended to be sicker than those in the comparison group, researchers still saw no benefit from the drug after taking that into account. The study included all VA patients treated with the drug. One of the measurements was whether it helped prevent the need for breathing machines. It didnt. Researchers did not track side effects, but noted there were hints hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs. The drug has long been known to have potentially serious side effects such as altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death. The study noted that the median age of the test group was over 65, meaning half the patients were below that and half above it. The NIH and others have more rigorous tests underway. ___ OBESITY HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, D-Calif., on Trumps statement that hes taking hydroxychloroquine: Hes our president and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and in his, shall we say, weight group morbidly obese, they say. interview Tuesday on CNN. THE FACTS: Trump is not morbidly obese. Trump is 73. At his last full checkup in February 2019 he passed the official threshold for being considered obese, with a body mass index of 30.4. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an index of 40 or above is considered severe obesity, which some also call morbid obesity. Pelosis statement was not purely or even primarily an expression of concern about the presidents health. She said later she was giving him a dose of his own medicine for his history of putting down women for their weight. ___ VETERANS TRUMP: You know we got the Veterans Choice. remarks Friday at veterans event. TRUMP: Weve done the greatest job maybe of anything in the VA, because I got VA Choice ... approved. remarks on May 18. THE FACTS: False. He didnt get Veterans Choice approved; President Barack Obama did in 2014. Trump expanded it, under a 2018 law known as the MISSION Act. ___ TRUMP: Choice is when they wait for two months to see a doctor ... they go outside, they get themselves a good doctor, we pay the bill, and they get taken care of. remarks Friday at veterans event. THE FACTS: His suggestion that veterans no longer have waits for care because of the Choice program is also false. Since March, the VA actually has halted the programs key provisions that granted veterans the option to see private doctors if they endured long delays at VA, citing the pandemic. Internal VA emails obtained by The Associated Press reveal that some veterans are being turned away, even when private doctors are available to see them. The program allows veterans to see a private doctor for primary or mental health care if their VA wait is 20 days (28 for specialty care) or their drive to a VA facility is 30 minutes or more. But since the programs expansion in June 2018, the VA has not seen a major increase in veterans seeking private care. Two months ago, after the coronavirus outbreak, the VA also took the step of restricting veterans access to private doctors, citing the added risks of infection and limited capacity at private hospitals. Under the temporary guidelines, the VA is reviewing referrals for nonemergency care on a case-by-case basis for immediate clinical need and with regard to the safety of the veteran when being seen in-person, regardless of wait time or drive time eligibility, according to VA spokeswoman Christina Noel. The department has boosted telehealth appointments and says VA referrals for private care will be made where it is deemed safe and private doctors are available. Veterans organizations and internal VA emails suggest the department is painting an overly rosy picture of health care access. We have community facilities open and able to see patients; however, our Veterans are being denied community care granted under criteria of the MISSION Act, one VA employee wrote in a May 14 email to Tammy Czarnecki, an assistant deputy undersecretary for health operations at VA. The employee works in a rural region that covers Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Oklahoma, where private doctors are often key to filling gaps in VA care. The person said veterans were being told by their local VAs they may need to wait well past July, August or September for private care, according to the email, which was provided to the AP on condition the sender not be identified. Czarneckis office replied by referring the employee to the VA guidance that set forth the restrictions due to a pandemic. The VA on Thursday said referrals had increased in the employees city during the pandemic. It did not provide figures. The VA, which announced this past week it would start returning to more normal operations, hasnt said when it will remove its temporary restrictions on Choice. ___ Marchione, APs chief medical writer, reported from Milwaukee. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report. ___ EDITORS NOTE A look at the veracity of claims by political figures. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apnews.com/APFactCheck Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck India and Israel will put in joint research and development efforts for rapid testing of coronavirus to enable normalisation of life amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the embassy of Israel here said on Monday. The two sides discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis of coronavirus based on big data and artificial intelligence, the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor said. "India and Israel to conduct joint R&D for rapid testing to allow normalisation of life under COVID-19," Avigail Spira, the spokesperson of the embassy, also tweeted. "I'm proud to connect brilliant minds from India and Israel so they can jointly develop life changing solutions for the whole world, and especially in fighting the #COVID19 pandemic," Israel's envoy to India Ron Malka tweeted. On the Indian side, PSA Prof. K Vijay Raghavan, officials from the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Sanjeev Singla and the Indian Ambassador to Israel participated in the discussions with the head of the Directorate of R&D in Israel's Ministry of Defence Daniel Gold and Malka. "Discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis based on big data & AI technology, to enable a rapid return to routine. This is part of vision of @IsraeliPM & @PMOIndia for wide-ranging scientific cooperation between India and Israel. "@kvijayraghavan, @DRDO_India, & @CSIR_IND held discussions with Head of Israel's Directorate of R&D in @Israel_MOD, Dr. Dani Gold, Amb.@DrRonMalka & Amb. Sanjeev Singla @Indemtel about high-level scientific cooperation between India & Israel to address #COVID19, the Office of the PSA tweeted. Earlier this month, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett said scientists at the country's main biological research institute have made a significant breakthrough in developing an antibody to the novel coronavirus. During Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to India in 2018, the two sides resolved to step up cooperation in the field of science and technology, including in the areas of big data analytics in health care and security in cyber space. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The care of children is a recurrent theme in the work of this teacher turned playwright, as is the desperation of the middle-aged and sexually unfulfilled, as is what you might call genteel evil. All of that is spread naked before you in this play, which is uncomfortable to watch in such close quarters, especially when performed at this level of intensity. I found it a deeply sad time in the theater, not out of sync with the moment, certainly, but also not offering anything in the way of catharsis. This sparked in me a lot of internal debate over the legitimacy of bringing up the stuff this play brings up, only to leave it all hanging. It is an observational play, I suppose, and Witt directs it as such, suspending judgment and homing in on the subtexts of its conversations, all barely concealed quests for elusive intimacy. The designer, Joe Schermoly, contributes an ambivalent setting that is itself full of despair. Public opinion is turning against the prime minister. Even before the revelation that his chief adviser broke lockdown rules, more people disapproved of the governments handling of the coronavirus situation than approved, according to Opinium and YouGov. It is easy to imagine how the public could become more hostile if the UK ends up with one of the worst death tolls in the world, and if the economy fails to recover quickly from the shutdown. Boris Johnsons critics accuse him of being so afraid of scrutiny that he hides away, while the Labour opposition, transformed under the leadership of Keir Starmer, has him on the run, having forced him to make a U-turn on the immigration surcharge for NHS workers. Click here to read the full article. Today, Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, went on an outing in Santa Barbara, Calif., this weekend to celebrate the beginning of summer, and their outfits were suited for the occasion. The 62-year-old comedienne wore a dark blue button-down shirt with three-quarter length sleeves and coordinating navy pinstripe Bermuda shorts. For footwear, the television show host opted for a pair of Birkenstock Arizona Shearling sandals. The shoes feature a suede leather upper construction, a cork footbed with shearling lining and EVA midsole. The silhouette has two shearling-lined straps that go across the top of the foot and are secured with metal buckles. The shoes cost $150 and are available for purchase on Zappos.com. More from Footwear News EXCLUSIVE: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi who have been staying inside their fancy home in Santa Barbara, take a break from being cooped up what Ellen described as, her "prison" and head out in their convertible Porsche. The 62 year-old comedian and her 47 year-old wife are spotted enjoying a bit of a wander around Santa Barbara on Memorial Day while wearing masks to guard against possible spreading coronavirus. Seen here heading back to their car, Portia is carrying a bag from Wendy Foster where she seemed like one particular dress. She'd modeled it for Ellen, who pulled her mask down to drink her iced-tea while watching. 23 May 2020 Pictured: Ellen Degeneres, Portia DeRossi. Photo credit: Rachpoot/P&P/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA670855_001.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency] Meanwhile, Portia chose a monochrome look as well. She wore a white short sleeve blouse with pinstripe detailing and a high neckline. The actress styled the shirt with loose-fitting, cropped creamy beige-colored trousers. As for shoes, she chose a pair of light-colored dOrsay flats with a pointed toe. Shearling-lined Birkenstocks appear to be DeGeneres go-to shoe. In March, we saw the star wearing this same style on IGTV, where she read her book Ellen Degeneres Home to her social media audience. This was part of an initiative to help raise money for charities, including Save the Children and No Kid Hungry. With DeGeneres trying to bring comfort to her fans during this time, it was only fitting that she chose cozy shoes for the occasion. To find the perfect house slipper that also can be worn outdoors, shop these similar styles below. Minnetonka-Moccasins Ugg-Fluff-Yeah-Slippers Birkenstock-Mule Launch Gallery: 10 Times Ellen DeGeneres Showed Off Her Shoe Style Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Ajay Devgn starrer Bhuj: The Pride Of India is one of the most-awaited films of the year. The film is set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. Ajay Devgn will be donning the role of IAF Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, who was then in charge of the Bhuj airport that created an airbase with the help of 300 women. In a recent interview with a leading portal, Naveen Paul, the VFX supervisor for Bhuj: The Pride Of India, revealed that almost 90% of the film has already been shot. ALSO READ | Ajay Devgn To Play Gangster Karim Lala In SLBs Next? Bhuj: The Pride Of India VFX work going on Set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, Bhuj: The Pride Of India is a historically significant film. Naveen Paul recently spoke about how visual effects play an integral role in the storytelling. He added that every visual treat added to Bhuj: The Pride Of India helps to move the story forward. Naveen Paul also added that the Ajay Devgn starrer is designed in a way that each sequence looks seamless. ALSO READ | Ajay Devgn's Most Adorable Pictures With His Children, Nysa And Yug Naveen Paul has previously also worked with Ajay Devgn on Shivaay which even won him the National Film Award for Best Special Effects. He has also been a part of Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone starrer Padmaavat. While talking about Bhuj: The Pride Of India, Naveen Paul said that this film is not visually spectacular compared to other period dramas. However, the VFX is being used to make the scenes seem like a real-life portrayal of everything that happened back in 1971 during the war. ALSO READ | Ajay Devgn And Kajols Most Iconic Songs From The 90s The makers of the Ajay Devgn starrer had to go back to 1971 and create the same era for the film. Naveen Paul also recalled how they had to go back in time and create the infrastructure for Bhuj: The Pride Of India. Naveen Paul also revealed that the war scenes in Bhuj: The Pride Of India will take the audience to the war field. Naveen Paul also revealed that a team of almost 400 people have been working on the VFX of Bhuj: The Pride Of India from home. In addition to this, his team is also working on several other films. He revealed that a team of almost 300 from Mumbai and 100 from Hyderabad are currently working on the films. The VFX supervisor of Bhuj: The Pride Of India also revealed that the team is working on films like Sooryavanshi, Radhe, Ludo, The Big Bull, and Indian 2. ALSO READ | Ajay Devgn Loves Water Very Much And These Pictures Are Proof Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. Drew Angerer Before dawn broke in Riverside, California, political scientist Kim Yi Dionne grabbed her iPhone from the bedside table to check the grim daily toll of COVID-19. Deaths were a bit lower in the United States that morning. But like other hardened watchers of such tallies, Dionne was skeptical that the pandemic was easing. More likely it was just a quirk, she thought, a product of the natural rise and fall in the statistical flow, a bureaucratic rhythm in counting the dead. This macabre ritual searching for meaning in numbers that pulse up and down, day after day is one countless Americans have adopted. Johns Hopkins University, the source of data for many popular COVID tracking sites, is registering about 4 billion hits on its pandemic dashboard each day, presumably because many people are refreshing regularly. And the news is never good, only better or worse versions of awful, as the nation endures death at a pace rarely seen even during its most lethal public health disasters and most violent days of war. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) A total of 14,319 people in the country have contracted the coronavirus disease, with the Department of Health reporting 284 new cases on Monday. Another 74 patients have survived, bringing total recoveries to 3,323. However, five more have also died, raising the death toll to 873. The agency also confirmed 25 more healthcare workers have caught the disease, while 35 more have gotten well. The new figures raised the tally of infected personnel to 2,394, which constitutes 17 percent of the countrys total number of COVID-19 cases, while recoveries climbed to 1,153. Meanwhile, no new fatalities among their ranks have been logged in two weeks. The death count remains at 31. The Philippines now has 10,123 active COVID-19 cases, with around 90 percent of the patients exhibiting mild symptoms, according to the DOH. Metro Manila recorded the most number of new infections with 171 cases, followed by Central Visayas with 70. The mayors of the capital region are set to meet on Wednesday to come up with a recommendation on whether or not to downgrade the modified lockdown status in the area to a general community quarantine. READ: Metro Manila mayors favor easing restrictions to jumpstart economy According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the government has already met its goal of potentially conducting 30,000 coronavirus tests daily by May 31. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed that the country's estimated maximum capacity is at 32,000 tests daily for all accredited laboratories nationwide, but she clarified that the actual number of tests conducted is at around 8,500 to 9,500 a day. She further explained that the estimated maximum capacity discounts external factors such as availability of laboratory supplies, as well as infrastructure and equipment issues. READ: PH surpasses target daily COVID-19 testing capacity of 30,000 Roque Globally, over 5.4 million people have been infected with the disease, with some 345,000 deaths and more than 2.1 million recoveries. A serial rapist known as 'the Beast of Kavos' fractured his back when he plunged 100ft into a ravine while fleeing police in Corfu. Dimitris Aspiotis, 47, who preyed on seven British holidaymakers, fractured his leg, hip and spine and ruptured a kidney when he fell from a cliff in Lefkimmi last Friday. He was arrested by officers following a three-hour operation to remove him in a stretcher from the secluded spot, the Sun reported. Police on the Greek island had launched a manhunt for Aspiotis earlier this month after he was linked to the rape of an Albanian woman who claimed she was dragged into a forest and repeatedly raped at knifepoint. Aspiotis was last night in hospital under police guard in Corfu Town and he faces an immediate return to prison after breaching his parole conditions. Dimitris Aspiotis (pictured), 47, who preyed on British holidaymakers, fractured his leg, hip and spine and ruptured a kidney when he plummeted 100ft into a ravine in Lefkimmi last Friday Pictured: The cliff from which Aspiotis fell and suffered multiple fractures in Lefkimmi, Corfu last Friday The 'Beast of Kavos' was controversially granted early release from prison in August last year, having only served seven years of his 52-year sentence due to a law change. A British victim of Aspiotis, Kayleigh Morgan, 32, waived her right to anonymity last year to raise awareness and to slam the Greek government's decision to release him. The British Airways stewardess from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, said in September: 'I want to know why he's out. I don't believe he's changed. 'A person like that can never change and now I'm in the face terrified he'll do what he did to me again to more victims. 'When I heard he was out I was in complete shock. I burst into tears and felt sick to my stomach and disgusted.' Homeless Aspiotis was seized and sentenced to 52 years in prison for six counts of rape on six women, but was released back to the resort where he repeatedly pounced. He was arrested by officers following a three-hour operation to remove him in a stretcher (pictured) from the secluded spot A British victim of Aspiotis, Kayleigh Morgan, 32, waived her right to anonymity last year to raise awareness and to slam the Greek government's decision to release him (Pictured: Kayleigh Morgan) Earlier this month, police said they found another victim - who is said to be Albanian - in a hut after she was reported missing by her partner two days earlier. Her girlfriend, who reported the disappearance, told police they had met the convicted rapist the night before. The serial sex offender is believed to have preyed on over 100 women visiting the island before being arrested in 2012. Without prior warning to any of the women he had assaulted, Aspiotis was taken out of prison to live again in Kavos, Corfu despite Greek authorities claiming that the rapist wouldn't be released on parole until he was aged 92. Ms Morgan, who was working as a holiday rep in 2010 when she was raped by Aspiotis, was told to put the incident behind her and enjoy her life by a judge after she gave evidence against him at his trial. The British Airways stewardess from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, said in September: 'I want to know why he's out. I don't believe he's changed Aspiotis was seized and sentenced to 52 years in prison for six counts of rape on six women, but was released back to the resort where he repeatedly pounced in August last year The attack happened as she was taking an afternoon walk along the beach, leaving her partially sighted and scarred after Aspiotis punched her in the face before dragging her by her hair into the woods to rape her five times at knife point. She told the Sunday People: 'He had raped one of my guests a few days before me and she described his tattoos to me. He has one that says 'F*** the police. 'As soon as I saw those tattoos I knew what was going to happen to me.' Aspiotis made the holiday rep lie next to him as he slept, holding a knife to her throat, before she was able to escape hours later at around 4am when he handed her 10 and brazenly told her to go to hospital. He was caught 18 days later in the woods where he had been living after he rang into a TV station to surrender. Aspiotis attacked Kayleigh and four other British women age 18 to 47 during a stint of offences within a 46-day period. The attacks came just six weeks after the dangerous rapist was released early after raping three other British woman between the years of 1997 and 2005 - although local authorities claim the real number is higher. Shops are gearing up to reopen after a long period of closure - Getty Lockdown restrictions will be eased to allow greater social contact and the reopening of non-essential shops, Boris Johnson has suggested. On Sunday night, the Prime Minister promised to reveal details of less draconian measures which could include more mixing between households in the coming days. The lockdown rules were relaxed slightly a fortnight ago to allow members of one household to meet a maximum of one person from a different household in a public place, provided they remain two metres apart. However, the Government's road map for lifting the lockdown raises the possibility of "bubbles" of social contacts once England moves to Step Two. Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said he believed the country to be "in a position to move to Step Two of our plan". "We will set out what moving to Step Two means for other areas, such as non-essential retail and more social contacts, over the course of the next week," he said. "We are making good progress, but that progress is conditional, provisional. "We must keep reducing the incidence of this disease." Mr Johnson will update the Cabinet on plans to lift the lockdown on Monday, but it is unlikely that any easing will come into effect before the start of next week. Northern Ireland already allows groups of up to six people from different households to meet outdoors so long as they maintain social distancing. The Welsh government still prevents members of different households from meeting outdoors, although the health minister is looking at the policy and a review has been promised on Thursday. In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has promised to allow outside meetings between a maximum of two households from that date. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) is understood to have advised ministers that Covid-19 infection is far less likely outdoors. The Government's roadmap document says: The intention of this change would be to allow those who are isolated some more social contact, and to reduce the most harmful effects of the current social restrictions while continuing to limit the risk of chains of transmission. Story continues "This could be based on the New Zealand model of household 'bubbles', where a single 'bubble' is the people you live with." Step Two of the road map also includes the opening of non-essential retail outlets, subject to the size of the establishment and the ability to enforce social distancing. Outdoor markets and car show rooms are two examples, a source told The Telegraph. However, any reopenings as part of Step Two are not thought to include hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants. Some of these venues could reopen from July 4, subject to incidence of the virus decreasing sufficiently, according to the road map. "We must keep that 'R' down below one, and that means we must all remember the basics: wash our hands, keep social distance, isolate," said Mr Johnson on Sunday. "We are beating this thing. But we will beat it all the faster if we control the virus and save lives." Aggressive monitoring of new infections is a critical component of the route out of lockdown. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, has recruited 25,000 contact tracers to track down those who may have come into contact with newly-infected people. However, some experts have said that not enough volunteers will be deployed in the community rather than call centres. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 23:08:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone call on Monday with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the recent developments in Libya. "The two sides agreed on rejecting the intervention by foreign parties in Libya," Bassam Radi, spokesperson of the presidency, said in a statement. He added the intervention in the war-torn country has only added complications to the crisis and brought benefits for the interfering parties at the expense of the interests of Libyan people. The two leaders demanded to mobilize the international community efforts to stand against any intervention that would also threatens the security and stability of the regional neighboring and European countries, Radi added. Libya has been locked in a civil war since the ouster and killing of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Enditem Kanpur : , May 25 (IANS) He is a driver and she was a beggar. He would distribute food among the poor on the pavement in Kanpur's Kakadeo area, and, one day, he asked her why she was sitting with the beggars. She narrated her story to him and he fell in love with her. Neelam's father had died and her mother is paralysed. Her brother and sister-in-law beat her up and drove her out of the house. Since she had no means of survival, she joined the beggars on the pavement to survive. Anil, who works as a driver for a well-known property dealer, would distribute food on his employer's behalf when he met Neelam. Gradually, a deep bond of friendship developed between the two and Anil started cooking food for Neelam and her mother. "I admired her courage and guts. She was not only fending for herself but also for her paralyzed mother," Anil told reporters. Anil informed his employer, Lalta Prasad, about his friendship with Neelam and the former persuaded him to marry the girl if he genuinely liked her. Prasad also convinced Anil's family to accept the alliance. The marriage was solemnised last week at the Lord Buddha Ashram and both the families blessed the couple. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text MIDLAND, Mich. - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday that the state will "pursue every line of legal recourse" against entities responsible for the failure of a river dam that forced thousands of residents to flee gushing floodwaters amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Homes downstream from the dams were inundated by as much as nine feet of water, as the surge breached a second structure along Michigan's Tittabawassee River. As 10,000 residents evacuated the city of Midland, a central Michigan community of about 40,000 people, the river reached a level more than a foot higher than the previous record. Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy - or EGLE - attributed the disaster to historic rainfall and deferred maintenance at the Edenville Dam, which is owned by Boyce Hydro Power LLC. Federal regulators revoked the Edenville Dam's license to produce hydroelectric power in 2018 over whether it could handle big floods. "This incredible damage requires that we hold people responsible," Whitmer said during a news conference Wednesday outside a high school being used to shelter evacuees. "The initial readout is that this was a known problem for a while, and that's why it's important that we do our due diligence and that we take our action as merited." The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) also said it would investigate the disaster. Midland High School, which was accommodating 150 evacuees, many of them with special needs, was one of few accessible sites Wednesday, as three other shelters were cut off by swamped roads. Michigan State Police troopers with boats helped get people out of their homes and deliver supplies. Residents of the inundated area, meanwhile, were trying to reach safety Wednesday even as they worried about the coronavirus threat. "I've got my mask, I got my gloves, I got my cat and finally got some socks," said Susan Smith, a retired dance instructor who was standing in the lobby of Midland High School beside stacks of beds, dried food, cereal, Pop-Tarts, puzzles and copies of the Bible. Like other evacuees, she was trying to heed the governor's advice to prevent the spread of the virus "to the best of your ability" by wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines. At the high school, volunteers formed an assembly line to organize the supplies coming in. So much had been donated in the past 24 hours that the schools superintendent said no more would be accepted. Smith, who evacuated her home late Tuesday, said she knew "it was time to leave everything behind" as she fought back tears. She heard from a neighbor that the water was coming and started throwing things in the car. "I got a place to sleep, and there's hand sanitizer and soap, and they tell you to practice social distancing, but in a moment like this, it's like, what can you do?" The flooding is also threatening a major Dow Chemical plant that lies along the river. In a pair of statements, the company said that "there were floodwaters commingling with on-site containment ponds" but that the ponds were for storm and brine water and did not threaten residents. There had been "no reported product releases," the company said, and it had "safely shut down" its units, except those needed to manage its chemical containment facilities. Dow, which first built a plant in Midland in 1897, over the years has manufactured a wide array of products, including pesticides and herbicides. It has periodically clashed with the Environmental Protection Agency and a decade ago settled a case with the agency over dioxin and furan contamination of the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers, as well as Saginaw Bay. Its small, 53-year-old nuclear research reactor in the area has been shut down because of the pandemic, the company said The Edenville Dam, the first to breach, was one of four built in 1924 along the Tittabawassee, about 20 miles upstream from Midland, to generate hydroelectric power, according to Gladwin County's dam information. The almost 7,000-foot-long earthen embankment reaches 55 feet high, creating Wixom Lake, a 2,000-acre reservoir with a 50-mile shoreline, behind it. A second dam, at Sanford Lake, downstream from Edenville, was overwhelmed by the floodwaters. A Midland Daily News report said that the dam's spillway had washed away but that the dam structure was still intact. Heavy spring rains helped to trigger the disaster. Much of the Midwest has experienced a winter weather pattern that left many areas with eight to 10 inches of rain above average. "This rain event just happened, and I'm not sure anything could have withstood it," said Stacey Trapani, with the Four Lakes Task Force, a group residents formed to press for repairing the dams. Midland received 3.83 inches on Tuesday - its fourth-highest calendar-day rainfall total on record and its wettest day since September 2015. During the past several decades, spring rainfall in Michigan has been on the increase, likely tied to warming temperatures related to climate change. Data points to a roughly 25 percent increase in March-through-May rainfall since 1970 in Midland. Spring temperatures have warmed a degree and a half there during that same time frame. The past four years, 2016 through 2019, were ranked among Michigan's top 15 wettest on record, and five of the top 10 wettest years have come in the past decade. In September 2018, FERC voted to revoke the license to sell electricity from the Edenville site based on fear of flooding. In a scathing report, the agency said Boyce Hydro had an "extensive record of noncompliance" over the previous 13 years. In particular, FERC wanted Boyce Hydro to increase spillway capacity that could divert floodwaters in an emergency. Instead, it said, the company had let existing spillways deteriorate with "major breaks" in walls and "concrete eroded to the point of exposed steel reinforcing rods." FERC said the company had shown "a pattern of delay and indifference to the potential consequences" of that danger, which "must be remedied in order to protect life, limb, and property." EGLE, the state's environment and energy agency, assumed regulatory authority for Edenville, which was designated a high-hazard dam, in 2018 after the federal hydroelectric power license was revoked. In an initial October 2018 inspection, EGLE found the dam to be in fair structural condition but was concerned about its spillway capacity and had taken enforcement action against Boyce Hydro for drawing down water levels without permission and for resulting damage to natural resources. According to its website, EGLE was pursuing additional enforcement action at the time of the breach. Boyce Hydro Power could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Lori Spragens, executive director of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, said 60 to 65 percent of the nation's dams are privately owned and face rehabbing costs that could reach $20 billion, with little in the way of federal grants or loans available. What happened at Edenville was "sadly typical," Spragens said. On Wednesday, road closures were preventing some residents from reaching their neighborhoods and others from being able to leave shelters. Patricia Wood saw the water coming up from the river. Sitting on a cot with a bag full of clothes that she grabbed heading out the door, Wood, 87, said she blames government mismanagement of the dam for the flooding. "In this country, we spend a bunch of money on a lot of different things, and it was no secret that dam needed work," she said. At Midland High School, resident played cards spread farther than normal across a cafeteria table as volunteers in masks and gloves dodged one another in the hallways. Volunteer Lynn Baker, a school board member, pointed to pallets of water bottles, packs of peanut butter and stacks of boxes marked "food bank." She responded to a call for help from board members working to coordinate supplies. "That's what we're doing," she said. "We're helping, and the community has really banded together." - - - The Washington Post's Brady Dennis and Matthew Cappucci contributed to this report. A rise in COVID-19 case numbers in the last week and crowds like the one in Trinity Bellwoods park on the weekend have forced Ontario to delay plans to allow more than five people to gather. It has been pushed back a little bit because of what weve seen over the last few days, Health Minister Christine Elliott said Monday as Ontarios cases topped 27,000, according to a Star tally. We will have to see the numbers come down first, Elliott added, citing reluctance from chief medical officer Dr. David Williams to ease the restriction. Williams said he is disappointed in the continued higher numbers of new cases in the 400s daily all weekend even as testing levels have dropped over the last week. Premier Doug Ford hinted a change was imminent two weeks ago but said the unexpected increase in case numbers last week is making him gun shy. Some areas are lighting up like a Christmas tree, he added, a reference to postal code tracking of cases that shows hot spots in Brampton, northwest Toronto and parts of Scarborough. Elliott said the rise in infections followed Mothers Day and the government is waiting to see how numbers fare this week to see if the openings of more businesses in the last two weeks also had an impact. It can take up to two weeks develop symptoms or a viral load of COVID-19 high enough for tests to detect. Ford scolded young people who flocked to Trinity Bellwoods on Saturday and sat too closely together, prompting City of Toronto officials to crack down on Sunday. Why dont you do us a favour and all get tested now? the premier told his televised daily news conference. An epidemiologist at the University of Torontos Dalla Lana School of Public Health advised holding off to allow signs of the disease to present. Id say a bigger favour would be to wait until Friday, Dr. David Fisman tweeted. Ontarios associate medical officer contradicted Fords advice, saying the Trinity Bellwoods crowd should monitor for symptoms for two weeks and try not to mix with others, particularly older parents or others at higher risk. Were not recommending they all go for testing at this point, said Dr. Barbara Yaffe. Processing of COVID-19 tests fell again despite a push by Ford and provincial health officials to have more people get checked at assessment centres. Ministry of Health figures released Monday show labs produced results on just 8,170 tests Sunday, down from 11,383 on Saturday and well below the capacity to process more than 20,000 daily. Ford loosened testing criteria, allowing people without symptoms of the novel coronavirus to get checked providing they may have been exposed to the virus or run the risk of getting it on the job, such as grocery store workers. Until 10 days ago, assessment centres were turning away people with mild symptoms. Well get those daily numbers up where they need to be, said Ford, promising a robust public awareness campaign and a new testing strategy that will involve going to hot spots, perhaps with mobile testing vans, and large industries. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said testing has been abysmally low for more than a week since a blitz was completed in the nursing-home sector hit hardest by the highly contagious virus. Last Monday, just 5,813 tests were processed, barely over 25 per cent of capacity and numbers stayed below 12,000 all last week resulting in the ability to test about 75,000 people being foregone all while the province has been scrambling to get a better handle on where COVID-19 is spreading. Asking everyone to be tested isnt a plan, said Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca. The responsibility isnt on Ontarians to bail Ford out, its on him to have a cohesive, coherent plan that will actually stop the spread. Horwath called on Ford to expand testing beyond the almost 130 assessment centres across the province, particularly in workplaces where employees are vulnerable, such as the food supply, construction and automotive industries along with other manufacturing. There were another 417 confirmed and probable cases as of 5 p.m. Monday, according to a Star compilation of data from health units in the previous 24 hours. That increased Ontarios tally to 27,489 since the first case was reported in January. There were 29 more deaths, for a total of 2,193, including at least 1,531 nursing home residents and six workers who cared for them. To date, just under 20,000 people in Ontario have recovered from COVID-19 and 619,539 have been tested, the Ministry of Health said. There were 859 in hospital, including 148 in intensive care and 114 of them on ventilators to breathe. Those numbers have been declining. Across Canada, there have been at least 85,103 confirmed cases and 6,453 deaths. Read more about: Kathmandu [Nepal], May 25 (ANI): Air India flight, AI-301, from Sydney on Monday will bring three Nepali citizens, one of them will undergo bone marrow transplant at a Delhi hospital, informed sources from the Ministry of External Affairs told ANI. The repatriation flight is expected to touch down in Delhi at 18:35 hours (IST), the sources added. "The Embassy of Nepal in Australia had requested for this evacuation. It is a case of a bone marrow transplant. The patient, along with his brother (donor) and father (caretaker) will be taken directly to the BLK hospital in the national capital and they will be in quarantine at the hospital itself. All the three have COVID-19 negative certificates and fit to fly certificates, along with the local hospital's acceptance letter," they added. At least 225 passengers, including two infants, are set to be flown back to India on this particular flight operated under the Government of India's 'Vande Bharat' Mission. The flight is bounded for Ahmadabad will be carrying 11 passengers who will land in New Delhi, including the Nepali citizens. Vande Bharat Mission initiated by Government of India to evacuate Indian Nationals from overseas has brought in more than 30,000 Indian Nationals back home amid worldwide lockdown to flatten the COVID-19 curve. "We brought back more than 30,000 stranded Indians on Vande Bharat flights since 6 May 2020. We flew 917 tons of medical and essential cargo on Lifeline UDAN flights since 26 March 2020. Today, we restart domestic flights. India's civil aviation is always on the forefront," Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted today. (ANI) Australia's top scientist has said exporting renewable energy is the country's biggest post-coronavirus opportunity, and that investing in gas for at least a decade is the most efficient way to get there. But Chief Scientist Alan Finkel faced pushback from former Sydney Lord Mayor Lucy Turnbull, who told a limited Q+A audience the first live crowd since the pandemic began that Dr Finkel's dream of "shipping sunshine" was best realised through a battery technology revolution. Speaking alongside engineer Jordan Nguyen, anthropologist Genevieve Bell and science and technology editor Rae Johnston, Ms Turnbull and Dr Finkel clashed over Australia's pathway to net zero emissions by 2050. "We have to have a national and a global goal of having net zero carbon by 2050," Ms Turnbull said. "The way to get there is to have renewables, plus storage. Not just batteries you can have pumped hydro, and the battery technology revolution is really amongst us." Photo credit: Robert L. Knudsen/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library/Getty From Town & Country On a brisk autumn day in October 1964, Washington D.C. socialite and painter Mary Pinchot Meyer was out for an afternoon stroll on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath in Georgetown, a route she often took, when she was shot and killed in broad daylight. A 25-year-old African American man named Ray Crump was arrested, having been found near the crime scene. The lack of evidence, though, eventually lead to his acquittal. To this day, the murder remains unsolved, but the case is still the subject of fascination to many, inspiring memoirs, novels, a TV series, and now, a new podcast, "Murder on the Towpath," by Emmy-winning veteran journalist Soledad O'Brien that premieres today on Luminary, the subscription podcast network. Who Was Mary Pinchot Meyer? Photo credit: Bettmann - Getty Images Why the endless fascination? For one, Meyer was a very well-connected socialite with a social pedigree. Her father was a wealthy lawyer, her mother a journalist, and an uncle had served as a two-time governor of Pennsylvania. She was educated at Manhattan's prestigious Brearley School, and then went on to Vassar, and had married a high-ranking CIA official named Cord Meyer, whom she divorced in 1958. She counted Jackie Kennedy as a friend; the Kennedys had moved in next door to the Meyers in 1954 and the two women took walks together, often on the same path where Meyer was later murdered. Ben Bradlee, who would go on to lead the The Washington Post and become a folk hero after Watergate, was her brother-in-law (he was married to her sister Antoinette). She was also John F. Kennedy's mistress. The two had known each other since high school, when they met at a school dance at Choate, and struck up a secret romantic relationship after her divorce. She would visit JFK at the White House when Jackie went out of town. In October 1963, a month before he was assassinated, the president wrote a letter to Meyer imploring her to visit him in Boston or on the Cape. "Why don't you just say yes," it read. The letter, which was never sent and remained with JFK's personal secretary Evelyn Lincoln, went up for auction in 2016 and sold for nearly $89,000. Story continues Photo credit: Robert L. Knudsen/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library What Happened to Her? Meyer lived in Georgetown with her two sons, where she had moved after her divorce and became an artist; she spent most of her time painting in her studio. On October 12, 1964, at around noon, she left for her daily walk on the towpath along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. There she was shot twice. In just 45 minutes, the police apprehended a suspect, Crump, who was found nearby, his clothes soaked. He said he had been fishing, dropped his pole, and fell into the canal while trying to retrieve it. Legendary civil rights attorney Dovey Johnson Roundtree became Crump's defense lawyer and he was acquitted of all charges in July 1965. The murder was never solved. Meyer's Relationships with JFK and the CIA Has Fueled Several Conspiracy Theories Meyer's illustrious social connectionsplus the shock that something like this had happened in tony Georgetownmade this crime particularly salacious. And her affair with Kennedy and her connections to the CIA, an organization she openly criticized, inevitably fed the conspiracy-theory machine. Was the CIA behind both Meyer's and JFK's deaths, with their alleged killers the scapegoats? Did the CIA order the hit because she knew too much? Photo credit: Art Rickerby Several things fueled the speculation: The execution-style manner of her killing, a close-range shot to the head and one to the chest. Then, the fact that her death occurred a few weeks after the release of the Warren Commission (which concluded that JFK's assassination was the work of a lone gunman) further fanned the flames, since she allegedly challenged its conclusions. Finally, there was the fact that the CIA was wiretapping her phone and its counterintelligence chief was found trying to break into her studio to find her diary after the murder, likely to prevent details of her affair with JFK from becoming public, But Meyer Isn't the Only Fascinating Woman at the Center of This Story In "Murder on the Towpath," O'Brien delves deeper into the unsolved mystery of Meyer's death by shifting focus away from all the conspiracy theories and to the women at the heart of this story. Meyer is one, of course, and the other is Dovey Johnson Roundtree, the trailblazing civil rights attorney who successfully defended Meyer's accused killer and got him acquitted. Photo credit: The Washington Post - Getty Images "It's very easy to go to conspiracy theories. Sometimes they're wacky, sometimes they're interesting," says O'Brien, who spent nine months investigating the case, interviewing friends, relatives, historians, and biographers, and consulting memoirs, especially Ben Bradlee's, for the eight-episode series. "But what was really compelling was this idea of these two women who were both trying to figure out how to live their lives in 1964. I thought the 1960s was an interesting era to think about for women and how they were often thwarted, whether they were rich and white or poor and black." Roundtree, who died in 2018 at the age of 104, grew up in the Jim Crow South and worked her way up to become a civil rights champion who broke several racial and gender barriers throughout her life. She was one of the first women to be commissioned an Army officer, she secured the ban on racial segregation on interstate buses, and, in 1964, she took on Crump's defense for just $1and secured his acquittal. That Roundtree, an African American woman, was able to get a poor, black man acquitted of murdering a very rich, white woman was a historic achievement, especially in 1960s America, a period of immense civil unrest. Photo credit: Hearst It's how the trajectories of Meyer's and Roundtree's lives aligned, even though the two women never met, that interested O'Brien. She wanted to make these womennot the men around themthe focus, something that hasn't been done for the past 50 years. "Technically they're at the center of the story: one is murdered and the other is a person who argues a case she's expected to lose. Yet historically they've been moved off the center," she says. "It's a metaphor for how women were treated in the 1960s." There's a telling moment that O'Brien recounts in the first episode: a police officer examining Meyer's dead body at the crime scene proceeds to make a comment about how pretty she is. "It felt like an important element because it speaks to the people of this story constantly being rendered powerless," she notes. As for those conspiracy theories, O'Brien does address them. "For me as a reporter the key is to have transparency," she says. "You can't ignore them because they exist." But "Murder on the Towpath" goes far deeper into the layers. It's a true crime story about two compelling, strong, and independent women, plus history, mystery, and a lot of twists and turns. Says O'Brien: "There's so much more to this case than just conspiracy theories and a love affair with JFK." Photo credit: Luminary You Might Also Like Indian skies opened up for domestic passenger services on Monday after a gap of two months. Hundreds of people reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi to take early morning flights to their hometowns and workplaces. All scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended on March 25 when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic. As the passengers reached airports in various cities, they had to undergo thermal scanning and saw some new norms in place before boarding a flight. Heres how flying has changed in these two months: All passengers to undergo thermal screening; only asymptomatic people can board the flights. Passengers have been advised to download the Aarogya Setu mobile application. It is mandatory to wear a face mask throughout the travel. People with symptoms to be taken to health facility. Decision on home or institutional quarantine will depend on severity of symptoms and test results. All passengers have been advised to monitor their health for 14 days after travel, inform authorities if they develop symptoms. Apart from this, the state governments have been allowed to set their own rules for flyers. Discussions were held between the Centre and the state governments after which the number of flights which will go to or take off from various states was also decided. So, heres a look at the rules set by states and how many flights are allowed from where: Mumbai 50 flights per day have been allowed from one of the worst-affected cities due to the coronavirus. The passengers coming to Mumbai will get home quarantine stamps even if they dont have symptoms; those on short visit are exempt. Hyderabad 30 flights a day have been allowed in Hyderabad. Passengers with Covid-19 symptoms have been asked to self-isolate. Those who dont show any symptoms, can go through. Kolkata The West Bengal government held discussion with the Centre on Sunday, and it was decided that the flight services will resume from Kolkata from May 28. Apart from this, among the protocols decided by the state government include testin of all symptomatic people for Covid-19. The passengers have also been asked to submit self-declaration forms on arrival when flight services resume. Chennai The Tamil Nadu government has come on board with the central governments plan to resume domescit flight services. The passengers have been asked to declare if they had Covid-19 in last two months. A 14-day quarantine is mandatory fo all the travellers. Bengaluru Passengers from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have been asked to undergo seven-day institutional quarantine followed by seven days of home quarantine. Those coming from other states will have to self-isolate at home for 14 days. Delhi The Delhi government has said that it will adhere to guidelines set by the Union health ministry. This means that passengers who dont show symptoms of the coronavirus disease will be permitted to go through after reaching their destination with the advice that they monitor their health for the next 14 days. The resumption of flight has not come without change in airport protocols. Heres a look at revised standard operating procedure at Delhi airport: Outside the terminal Outside the terminal, passengers can check-in through kiosk After web check-in, the passenger heads towards the airline-allowed entry gate. A guard will check the flyers temperature and status on Aarogya Setu app. If they dont have the app, the flyers will have to fill out a self-declaration form. Entering the airport A security person behind a glass curtain will check the boarding passes and identity cards. The passenger then heads to the terminal and goes through a thermal scanner. Carpets are soaked in sanitising chemicals to ensure shoes are disinfected. Hand sanitisers will be placed at gates for use by flyers. Baggage scanning Before entering the terminal, passengers will put their luggage in a sanitising machine where the bags will be treated with ultraviolet radiation to sanitise them. Check-in The passenger heads to check-in counters where they can opt for self baggage check-in. Baggage tags will no longer be issued, and passengers will get an SMS to confirm luggage check-in. Security check The passengers moves to the security hold area with the one allowed hand-bag. Here, contactless screening will be conducted using metal detectors and security personnel will scan the boarding pass before allowing passenger to the boarding area. At waiting area Shops in non-aero areas will adhere to stringent safety, health and hygiene rules. All F&B retail shops will be open and orders can be placed on apps or kiosks. Passengers will sit at alternate seats, with more seating space added. Drinking-water fountains will be foot-pedal operated and washrooms will be deep-cleaned regularly. On buses for boarding, only alternate seats to be used. The president described the editors death as a collective loss to the media and the nation that he served passionately with his talent. President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the media industry, particularly Nigeria Union of Journalists and Nigeria Guild of Editors, over the passing of the Saturday Editor of New Telegraph, Waheed Bakare. The Presidents condolence message was released by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Monday. Mr Buhari also sent condolences to the family of the deceased and management of New Telegraph Newspapers. The president described the editors death as a collective loss to the media and the nation that he served passionately with his talent. He prayed that God would receive the soul of the departed, and comfort all that mourned him. (NAN) The U.S. jobless rate may still be in the double digits when President Donald Trump stands for re-election in November, a top White House adviser said. While jobless data is a lagging indicator, business activity is already close to an "inflection point" toward recovery, White House aide Kevin Hassett said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. The job market, as shown by unemployment figures, is "probably about a month away" from that point, Hassett said. The jobless rate probably will peak above 20%, he said. Eric Rosengren, president of the Boston Federal Reserve Bank, said the unemployment rate would remain over 10% through 2020, risking a "severe outcome" in the labor market. The insured unemployment rate, or the number of people currently receiving unemployment insurance as a share of the total eligible labor market, rose to 17.2% in the week ended May 9, according to the latest Labor Department report. "We're going to see more bad data," Hassett said. If glitches that marred last week's data are fixed, the U.S. could "end up with a number north of 20% in May." People's fear of contracting the virus and the absence of a vaccine probably will weigh on the economy into the fall, Hassett said, though he expressed confidence that it will "skyrocket" back in the third quarter after record-setting losses in the second quarter, citing a Congressional Budget Office forecast. - - - Asked whether he sees the unemployment rate in the double digits in November, Hassett said: "Yes, I do." His view was echoed by Rosengren, currently the longest-serving Fed policymaker, who said he expects the unemployment rate to remain above 10% through 2020 at least. "Unfortunately I think it's likely to be double digit unemployment through the end of this year," Rosengren said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "Full employment - getting back to the low level of unemployment we saw at the end of February - probably takes either a vaccine or other innovations that make it much less risky to go out," Rosengren said. Like Rosengren, many economic policymakers and health officials have said Americans won't have the confidence to completely resume their daily activities until a coronavirus vaccine is widely available, which could be over a year at the earliest. Until then, caution will linger. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tweeted Sunday morning to "remind everyone that the coronavirus is not yet contained," even with efforts underway to normalize conditions. The U.S. has more than 1.6 million confirmed cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. New diagnoses have tailed off in former hot spots such as New York and New Jersey, but are still on the rise - or rising again - in several states, including North Carolina, Alabama and North Dakota. Deaths in the U.S. attributed to the coronavirus are expected to pass 100,000 in the next few days. - - - "When you look across the country, you see hospitalizations going up in many states," said Scott Gottlieb, who proceeded Hahn as leader of the FDA. "People can start to go out again, I think, and start to enjoy some semblance of the lives that they want to enjoy over the course of the summer. But we should still be careful," he said. The global economy is suffering its worst slump since the 1930s, with few corners spared the impact of Covid-19 and its associated shutdowns of much of daily life. Still, Hassett predicted that within months "all the signs of economic recovery are going to be raging everywhere," consistent with his view of a strong rebound in the quarter that starts in July. "The only thing we're going to be debating as economists" is how quickly output will return to where it was before the pandemic, Hassett said. "Unemployment will be something that moves back slower," Hassett said. "It could be better than that, but you're going to be starting at a number in the 20s and working your way down. So of course you could not be back to full employment by September or October. If there were a vaccine in July, I'd be way more optimistic." With Congress debating a possible fourth economic stimulus bill, Hassett accused Democrats of backing "absurd" requests for aid to local and state governments that he said are seeking "radically more money" than their expected budget shortfalls related to the virus crisis. "There's a lot of money for the states already," and "I don't know" whether a needs analysis will support the Democratic-led forecasts, he said. Rosengren, though, said that a long stretch of double-digit unemployment risks "a much more severe outcome in labor markets over time" and that "additional fiscal policy" will be needed. A new species proposed to be classified as Critically Endangered of miniaturised stump-toed frog of the genus Stumpffia, found in Madagascar, is named Stumpffia froschaueri after "the man from the floodplain full of frogs," Christoph Froschauer. The namesake of the new frog is famous for being the first, and European wide renowned, printer from Zurich, famous for printing "Historia animalium" and the "Zurich Bible." Christoph Froschauer's (ca. 1490 -- April 1564) family name means "the man from the floodplain full of frogs," and the printer used to sign his books with a woodcut, showing frogs under a tree in a landscape. Amongst his publications are works by Zwingli, Bullinger, Gessner, Erasmus von Rotterdam and Luther, and as a gift for his art, the printer was given citizenship in Zurich in 1519. Now, scientists have also honoured Froschauer's great contributions by naming a new frog species after him. The discovery, made by an international team of scientists from CIBIO (Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources) of the University of Porto, Zoological Society of London, University of Lisbon, University of Brighton, University of Bristol, University of Antananarivo and Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, is published in the open-access peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. The new species is reliably known only from a few specimens collected in three forest patches of the Sahamalaza region, an area severely threatened by fire, drought and high levels of forest clearance. "In Anketsakely and Ankarafa this species has been found only in areas with relatively undisturbed forest, and active individuals were found during the day within the leaf-litter on the forest floor, where discreet calling males were also detected," shares lead author Dr. Angelica Crottini from CIBIO. Even though two out of the three forest patches where Stumpffia froschaueri occurs are now part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, there is a lack in forest border patrols and the area remains under strong pressure from slash-and-burn activities and timber harvesting. Habitat loss and fragmentation are likely to represent a huge threat to the species' survival and cause population declines, unless remedial actions to enforce the protection of these habitats are taken. The scientists suggest to classify Stumpffia froschaueri as a Critically Endangered species according to criteria of the IUCN Red List. "We here reiterate the need to continue with field survey activities, giving particular attention to small and marginal areas, where several microendemic candidate species are likely waiting to be discovered and formally described. This description confirms the Sahamalaza Peninsula as an important hotspot of amphibian diversity, with several threatened species relying almost entirely on the persistence of these residual forest fragments," concludes Dr. Crottini. Imperial Beach on Wednesday approved an ordinance to allow one recreational marijuana dispensary in the city. The 3-2 vote came after nearly two hours of public comment and council deliberations. The citys regulation places a strict vetting process on prospective pot shops. Applicants must pay a $10,000 application fee, show they have $300,000 in liquid assets, have a detailed security plan, pass background checks, have at least one manager with previous marijuana industry experience, and find a location that is not within 900 feet of a school, park or daycare center. Advertisement The City Council was originally scheduled to vote on the ordinance in June. However, council members who were on the fence asked for more time to consider their vote. One of them was Edward Spriggs, who was concerned about public safety. At Wednesdays meeting, he said public testimony compelled him to vote in favor. I still have a number of concerns about moving forward, but I think we should, Spriggs said. I think the time has come for us to bite the bullet. Spriggs voted in favor because having a recreational dispensary will also give people who use medical cannabis easier access to the drug. Additionally, Spriggs said having a shop could help reduce unregulated sales in Imperial Beach. Council members Robert Patton and Lori Bragg voted against the ordinance. Patton was originally in favor of the ordinance. However, his support was largely because he favored Imperial Beachs conservative regulations over more liberal ones proposed by a pro-marijuana group that was pushing for a ballot initiative. The group collected more than 3,000 signatures and proposed multiple recreational dispensaries and cannabis consumption lounges. However, a filing error prevented them from getting on Novembers ballot. When the threat of the group was off the table, Patton changed his mind on Imperial Beachs regulations. I did a turnaround because we didnt have the initiative on our back, he said. Imperial Beach began looking into regulating cannabis since California voters approved Proposition 64 in November 2016. Sixty-two percent of voters approved the proposition in Imperial Beach. That was the third-highest percentage of any city in the county. About 25 people spoke about the ordinance Wednesday night. Nineteen spoke in favor. Those who opposed the ordinance said they were afraid Imperial Beach would be known for marijuana and that children would have more access to the drug. Councilman Mark West, who personally visited multiple cities in Colorado and spoke with legislators who had experience regulating marijuana, said that is not what hes seen in places that regulate marijuana and he doesnt expect to see it in Imperial Beach. This is all around the county, its a sea-change that is happening very fast and its not killing communities around us, he said. Its not making neighborhoods unsafe. If anything, I think its probably making them safer because were actually controlling this. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter Humans are not the only ones who miss dining out. As restaurants and other businesses have closed during the coronavirus pandemic, rats may become more aggressive as they hunt for new sources of food, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned. Environmental health and rodent control programs may see an increase in service requests related to unusual or aggressive rodent behavior, the agency said on its website on Thursday. The rats are not becoming aggressive toward people, but toward each other, Bobby Corrigan, an urban rodentologist who has both a masters degree and Ph.D. in rodent pest management, said Sunday. Theyre simply turning on each other. Corrigan said there are certain colonies of rats in New York that have depended on restaurants nightly trash for hundreds of generations, coming out of the sewers and alleys to ravage the bags left on the streets. With the shutdown, all of that went away, leaving rats hungry and desperate. In New Orleans, hordes of rats took over the streets after people emptied out. Hundreds of thousands of rats in Chicago have started boldly searching for food, traveling farther and during the daytime. Some have even moved into car engines. Corrigan said pest control professionals in the city have sent him photos of rodent cannibalization and slaughter. They are going to war with each other, eating each others young in some populations and battling each other for the food they can find, Corrigan said. But the rats that live and eat in residential blocks probably havent noticed a single bit of difference during the shutdown. To keep hungry rodents at bay, the CDC recommended sealing access to homes and businesses, removing debris, keeping garbage in tightly covered bins and removing pet and bird food from yards. Corrigan said the CDCs latest guidance should put homeowners on alert. Whether in rural America or in urban areas, people who dont ordinarily see rats might start noticing them. Youd be smart to ask yourself: How do I do my trash and does how I do it completely deny a wild animal? he said. And look at the base of your door. Get out a ruler to see if theres a space below the door half an inch will let them in. Michael H. Parsons, a visiting research scholar at Fordham University studying how rats are migrating en masse from areas near closed restaurants, delis and arenas to new environments, said rats usually dont travel far for food and water. This minimizes the risk of them being seen by people and predators, he said. But in recent weeks, pest control professionals have seen more rats venturing out during daytime hours and entering homes that had not previously seen rodent activity, Jim Fredericks, the chief entomologist for the National Pest Management Association, said Sunday. Suburban neighborhoods, often adjacent to shopping centers and other businesses, are also seeing new infestations, he said. Fredericks said there is no evidence that rats can be infected with COVID-19 or that they can spread it to humans. Still, they are a public health risk. Rats can transmit other diseases and a professional should be called if an infestation occurs, he said. Once the restaurants reopen, the rats will return to their reliable food sources. Fredericks said he does not expect the overall rat population to be significantly affected by the shutdowns. Theyre resilient, he said. Rats are good at being pests. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. According to intelligence data, two members of Russia-led forces were killed and another two were wounded on May 24. Russia's hybrid military forces on May 24 mounted 12 attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. "The Russian Federation's armed formations violated the ceasefire 12 times in the past day," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on May 25, 2020. Russia-led forces opened fire, employing proscribed 122mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles. Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the towns of Avdiyivka and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Kamianka, Novotroyitske, Starohnativka, Vodiane, Orikhove, and Novoluhanske. Read alsoTorture, 15-year "sentence" for insulting tweets about Russian-controlled forces in Donbas Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy shelling. According to intelligence data, two members of Russia-led forces were killed and another two were wounded on May 24. "Since Monday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions near the town of Maryinka and the village of Pisky, using 120mm mortars and tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns," the update said. No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops over the period under review. Jeanne Marie Heather, 90, of Lexington Park passed away due to natural causes on Sunday, May 17, 2020 at the Solomon's Island Nursing Center, MD. She was born in 1930 to the late Henry St. Pierre and Wilhelmina "Mini" Racz in North Albany, New York. Her childhood was in the post World War I to World War II era. She lived through the Great Depression. She enjoyed music from the crank viola to the electric record player. She did synchronized swimming (like Esther Williams), dance, and figure ice and roller skating. She spent her summers at "camp", a rustic building (no running water, no heating, and no insulation) at Halfmoon on the Mohawk River and then later at a new location on a hill over-looking Snyders Lake in near-by Rensselaer County across the Hudson River from Albany County. She graduated from a Catholic high school and then got a certificate in Nursing from St. Peters Hospital in Albany. In 1952, Jeanne married her beloved husband, Jack Frederick Heather in Albany, New York. He was a World War II Army veteran and recent graduate of Plattsburgh State University with a degree in Education. They moved into a rental house in Islip Long Island, New York. to be near Jack's parents, who were the caretakers for St. Michaels Cemetery near La Guardia Airport, Queens, NY. Jack got an elementary grade teaching position and Jeanne got a nursing job at a near-by hospital. They started their family in 1953 and she exchanged her public nursing career to be a mother (and family nurse). Five years later they bought a house in Seaford, Long Island, New York. The family was two sons and one daughter and one more on the way. A dormer was added to the house and the family grew to 4 children with another son. By 1960 Jack's parents had passed, and soon after Jack was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, after an operation for a ruptured appendix. In the spring of 1961, they moved back to North Albany, New York to be close to her parents. They ended up living in the Snyders Lake "Camp" she had spent her summers in as a child. The area had become a bedroom community for the Albany-Schenectady-Troy tri-city area. A year later after rustic living in the harsh upstate weather she bought a neighboring camp. She added water, sewer, heating and insulation to provide a more suitable home for her family. During this time Jack's health had degraded to the point that he was unable to help. Her summers were spent with teaching swimming lessons with the Red Cross at all the five local lakes. Her winters were spent with the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church Choir, and doing crafts with "Home Bureau". She loved her home on top of the hill overlooking Snyder's Lake in New York. She guided her family through high school and out to higher education. She saw three of her children get married. Finally, all the children, but one had left home and were out on their own, Jack was in a nursing home and she was back to working as a nurse. She had kept her nursing license paid for all those years as a mom! But she grew tired of the winters, she came to visit her eldest son in St. Mary's County, Maryland and ended up staying to live near him in the summer of 1982. She had moved just in time to enjoy helping to care for her grandchildren. In St Mary's County, her artistic talents flourished. She could paint original scenes in oils and watercolor, create cross-stitch and embroidery designs, and sew (even had sewn her own wedding gown). She taught painting for the county Office on Aging. She enjoyed, bowling, playing cards, and line dancing. She was very active at St. George's Catholic Church in Valley Lee, MD as principal of the Youth Faith Formation Program for many years and as a member of the choir as well as a cantor for Mass. She took piano lesson, was in a gospel choir and a member of ENCOR choir. She was a dedicated nurse for over fifty years. She was the group nurse on numerous travel vacations sponsored by the County Office on Aging. In her later years, she specialized in geriatric care getting herself a BS degree. She also did hypnotism. Even after her retirement, she continued teaching nurse's aides part time. She worked part time at Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship as their nurse. Jeanne is survived by her two sons and one daughter, one grandson and one granddaughter and two great grandsons and one great granddaughter and extended family and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother and her youngest son. A meditation visitation at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 22375 Three Notch Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653 will be held on May 29th from 2 to 3 PM and Mass from 3 to 4 PM that can be attended virtually by Zoom, please email your request to virtually attend the Mass to fred@pjma.info. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com or virtually after the Mass by Zoom. Please email your request to virtually attend after the Mass (5 to 8 PM) for condolences to fred@pjma.info. The family is accepting donations for potted flowers and plants to decorate the church for the Mass and to be left in the church for June church services. Please email fred@pjma.info to get details on how to make a donation in Jeanne Heather's name . Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. Chinese work team members pose for group photos with Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan Liu Bin (8th R) and Tajik First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection Umarzoda Saida (7th R) at Dushanbe International Airport, Tajikistan, May 24, 2020. A group of Chinese medical experts arrived in the capital of Tajikistan early Sunday to help the country fight its COVID-19 epidemic. Invited by the Tajik government, the team from China's northwestern Shaanxi Province comprises 14 experts and doctors specializing in respiratory diseases, intensive care, nursing, traditional Chinese medicine, and infectious diseases prevention and control. (Chinese Embassy in Tajikistan/Handout via Xinhua) DUSHANBE, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A group of Chinese medical experts arrived in the capital of Tajikistan early Sunday to help the country fight its COVID-19 epidemic. Invited by the Tajik government, the team from China's northwestern Shaanxi Province comprises 14 experts and doctors specializing in respiratory diseases, intensive care, nursing, traditional Chinese medicine, and infectious diseases prevention and control. During the nine-day visit to the Central Asian country, the team will share with local health authorities China's experience fighting the disease and train local doctors on identification, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients. Upon the group's arrival at the Dushanbe airport, Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan Liu Bin said the Chinese experts come as Tajikistan is grappling with the virus, a demonstration of the brotherhood and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two neighbors. The plane also brought a third batch of medical aid, including testing kits, personal protective equipment and ventilators that totaled 9.3 tons. Tajik First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection Umarzoda Saida welcomed the Chinese team and expressed appreciation for their help. Saida said that Tajikistan highly values China's experience and is ready to boost medical cooperation between the two countries. Tajikistan has reported 2,551 confirmed cases and 44 deaths as of Saturday. "We will share Chinese experience with our Tajik counterparts to improve prevention and control of COVID-19," said Dr. Yi Zhi, deputy head of the work team. Assam recorded its highest single-day spike of 156 cases on Monday, taking the total past the 500-mark, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. With these fresh cases, the total number of COVID-19 infections has gone up to 548 in the state, of which 479 are active cases, Sarma said. "Alert ~ Nine new cases of #COVID19+ reported. Swabs for testing taken before people sent for quarantine. All from Barpeta," he tweeted. In a series of tweets earlier during the day, the minister said samples of 147 people from across the districts tested positive for coronavirus, highest being in Golaghat with 59 COVID-19 cases. Karimganj district recorded 21 positive cases, followed by 17 in Lakhimpur, 15 in Guwahati, six in Kokrajhar, five each in Cachar and Sivasagar, four each in Dhemaji and Hailakandi, three in South Salmara Mankachar, two each in Tinsukia and Nalbari, and one each in Nagaon, Jorhat, Morigaon and Goalpara, he added. Five patients recovered from COVID-19 and were discharged from different hospitals in the state, the minister said. "Five patients have been discharged today after testing negative for #COVID19 twice. Three from Guwahati and two from Jorhat medical college. Best wishes," he tweeted. Sarma said most of the latest cases are returnees from outside the state. "It is clarified that all swabs are collected from people soon after they arrive from outstation. Subsequently they are transferred to the quarantine centres. Therefore most of the positive cases in Assam are imported and not home- grown!" he said in a tweet. Of the total 548 cases, four patients have died due to the deadly disease, while 62 have been discharged from hospitals after recovery, Sarma said. Besides, three more patients have migrated to other states, he said. After inter-state movement through road and rail networks was allowed during the lockdown period, Assam saw a significant increase in COVID-19 cases. With domestic flight operations resuming to Assam from Monday, the health officials are expecting this spike to be even more sharper in coming days. To screen all the people coming from outside the state by road and rail networks, the government has set up five zonal screening camps besides those already existing at the district headquarters and local levels. Kokrajhar has the zonal screening camp for Lower Assam districts, Tezpur for North Assam districts, Jorhat for Upper Assam districts, Guwahati for Central Assam districts and Silchar for Barak Valley districts. A total of 70,029 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in seven laboratories in Assam and NIV in Pune, state the Health and Family Welfare Department said in its daily bulletin on Sunday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGW) (OTCQB: AGNPF) (the "Company" or "Algernon") a clinical stage pharmaceutical development company, is pleased to announce that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. FDA for its planned multinational Phase 2b/3 study of its re-purposed drug NP-120 (Ifenprodil) as a potential therapeutic treatment for patients with COVID-19. Ifenprodil is an NMDA receptor antagonist. The clinical study for Ifenprodil, 20 mg tablets, is entitled, "A Randomized Open Label Phase 2b/3 Study of the Safety and Efficacy of NP-120 (Ifenprodil) for the Treatment of Confirmed COVID-19 Infected Hospitalized Patients." As part of the multinational Phase 2b/3 COVID-19 clinical study, Algernon has already received clearance in Canada and has also filed for ethics approval in Australia. "We have already started communicating with a number of U.S. based research institutions in advance, to make sure that we can move quickly with the U.S. part of the clinical trial, if approved," said Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. "We have identified strong interest to participate in the study and we look forward to starting the trial as soon as possible." The Company cautions that while it is preparing to begin Phase 2 clinical trials shortly, it is not making any express or implied claims that Ifenprodil is an effective treatment for acute lung injury (ALI), the COVID-19 virus, or any other medical condition at this time. Phase 2b/3 Study Summary: Once local ethics approvals have been received, the trial will begin as a Phase 2b study of an aggregate of 100 patients and with positive preliminary data, the clinical trial will move directly from a Phase 2b into a Phase 3 trial. The data will determine the number of expected patients needed to reach statistical significance in the Phase 3 trial. Patients will be randomized in a one-to-one manner and will either be treated using an existing standard of care, or standard of care plus a 20mg dose of Ifenprodil taken three times a day for two weeks. Over the testing period, doctors will observe whether there is an improvement in a number of secondary endpoints, including mortality, blood oxygen levels, time spent in intensive care and time to mechanical ventilation. About NP-120 (Ifenprodil) NP-120 (Ifenprodil) is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist specifically targeting the NMDA-type subunit 2B (Glu2NB). Ifenprodil prevents glutamate signalling. The NMDA receptor is found on many tissues including lung cells and T-cells, neutrophils. The Company believes NP-120 can reduce the infiltration of neutrophils and T-cells into the lungs where they can release glutamate and cytokines respectively. The latter can result in the highly problematic cytokine storm that contributes to the loss of lung function and ultimately death as has been reported in COVID-19 infected patients. About Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. Algernon is a drug re-purposing company that investigates safe, already approved drugs for new disease applications, moving them efficiently and safely into new human trials, developing new formulations and seeking new regulatory approvals in global markets. Algernon specifically investigates compounds that have never been approved in the U.S. or Europe to avoid off label prescription writing. Algernon has filed new intellectual property rights globally for NP-120 (Ifenprodil) for the treatment of respiratory diseases and is working to develop a proprietary injectable and slow release formulation. CONTACT INFORMATION Christopher J. Moreau CEO Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. 604.398.4175 ext 701 info@algernonpharmaceuticals.com investors@algernonpharmaceuticals.com www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com . The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: No Securities Exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law. Boris Johnson told the daily Downing Street press conference that some primary school pupils will return from June 1 as planned, while older students in Years 10 and 12 will begin going back two weeks later. - Andrew Parsons Secondary schools will begin to reopen from June 15 so students can start preparing for exams next year, the Prime Minister announced on Sunday. Boris Johnson told the daily Downing Street press conference that some primary school pupils will return from June 1 as planned, while older students in Years 10 and 12 will begin going back two weeks later. Mr Johnson said the phased return of schools was crucial for children, and that all classrooms will be fully reopened by September at the latest, despite conceding that social distancing would be a challenge for primary school pupils. Mr Johnson said secondary school students will return to staggered lunch times and smaller classes in an effort to reduce the risk of transmission. The education of children is crucial for their welfare, for their long-term future and for social justice, he said. We want to start getting our children back into the classroom in a way that is as manageable and as safe as possible. We said we would begin with early years settings, reception, Year 1 and Year 6 in primary schools. We then intend from June 15 for secondary schools to provide some contact for Year 10 and Year 12 students to help them to prepare for exams next year, with up to a quarter of these students in at any point. The announcement was welcomed by a teaching union as recognition that not all primary schools could open on June 1. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: The reality is that many schools will need to phase back eligible pupils, and there will be a great deal of variability across the country. We welcome the decision to push back Year 10 and 12 students and the clarification about the number of students at any one time. However, the National Education Union, the countrys biggest teaching union, said it did not support the plans. Story continues Mr Johnsons latest announcement follows weeks of stand-off between the Government, teaching unions and local authorities over whether it is safe to send pupils back to school. Analysis by The Telegraph shows that 60 per cent of the 51 councils opposing the Governments June 1 return date for primary schools are Labour-controlled, compared with 20 per cent which are run by the Conservatives. The remaining 20 per cent have no overall control or are run by the Lib Dems. While many of the local authorities advising against reopening classrooms are in northern cities, numerous London Labour councils have signalled dissent, despite recent calculations from Public Health England that the capitals R rate is now 0.4. Despite the reduced transmission risk, councils in Islington, Greenwich, and Barking and Dagenham have all advised against the June 1 restart date. Sixty-nine Nigerians who were either trafficked to Lebanon or stranded in the country have been able to return home. According to Nigerias Minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the affected persons arrived in the country on Sunday. They consist of fifty female victims of trafficking and 19 other persons who were stranded in Lebanon. The Minister disclosed the return was facilitated through the support of the Lebanese government and the Lebanese community in Nigeria. With the financial and logistic support of the Lebanese Government and Lebanese community in Nigeria, 50 trafficked Nigerian girls and 19 stranded Nigerians were successfully evacuated from #Lebanon and arrived Nigeria today, he tweeted. Profound gratitude to Ambassador Houssam Diad, Lebanese Ambassador in Nigeria and Ambassador Goni Zannabura, Nigerian Ambassador in Lebanon. With the financial and logistic support of the Lebanese Government and Lebanese community in Nigeria, 50 trafficked Nigerian girls and 19 stranded Nigerians were successfully evacuated from #Lebanon and arrived Nigeria today. Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) May 24, 2020 The development comes a few weeks after Naija News reported the federal government successfully secured the release of a Nigerian female victim who was put up for sale on Facebook. The lady identified as Peace Ufuoma, was trafficked and later advertised for sale on Facebook by Wael Jerro, a Lebanese man. Jerro was also arrested by the Lebanese government. Share this post with your Friends on Health workers at the Frontline of the coronavirus fight in Ghana are being treated better than their counterpart in the US, The Washington Post, has revealed, with calls on the US government to emulate the intervention of the Ghanaian Government for health workers. In its latest report sighted by DGN Online, The Washington Post analysed how frontline health workers are treated in countries across the world. It did a comparative analysis between Ghana and the US, concluding that Ghanas frontline health workers are taken better care of than those in the US. Its conclusion was drawn based on the relief packages introduced by the government of Ghana led by Akufo-Addo. According to The Washington Post, Hazard pay has become a rallying cry and a source of controversy around the world as health-care workers risk their lives on the front lines often without adequate supplies or protection. Ghana is offering some of the globes most generous additional benefits while a number of nations move to expand their support for those labouring in highly infectious environments. Meanwhile, Covid-19 interventions by governments of Canada, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Iraq, were also compared. According to the report, the above countries have introduced special interventions to cushion health workers but in the US, some health care workers are faced with pay cuts because the hospitals are running at a loss. President Akufo-Addo, it would be recalled, in his fifth address to the nation, announced that all health workers will be exempted from tax payment on their monthly emoluments for the next three months and further announced an additional package of a 50 per cent increment of basic salary from March to June 2020. Canada announced salary hikes. France pledged bonuses for doctors and nurses as part of its $120 billion rescue package. Russia made a similar promise though some emergency responders have not seen the cash. An Iraqi governor said public health employees would be rewarded with free land. The United Kingdom is paying families of medical workers who die of Covid-19 a lump sum of 60,000 euros or about $65,000. While carrying out its analysis, The Washington Post reportedly spoke to some Ghanaian frontline health workers who accordingly expressed their satisfaction with the governments actions and willingness to work more because of the reliefs by the President. The report said the health workers observed that they felt motivated to work hard and are ever ready to put their lives on the line in the fight against Covid-19. One Rebecca Kumah, a 35-year-old nurse who treats Covid-19 patients on the night shift in Accra said it has been such a great relief. Our sacrifice is recognised. Also, a 31-year-old Physician at Lekma Hospital, Emmanuel Amankra said Now everyone is on red alert for Covid-19. Everyone is just like, This has never been done before. It helps to know what you are doing is being seen. Ill say: Oh, Im tired. Im going to take a break. And then someone says, Well, youre getting a tax cut, and we keep working. But American officials have repeatedly referred to the countrys doctors and nurses as heroes, and President Trump has described them as running into death just like soldiers running into bullets. But the United States has approved no national hazard pay, and some health-care workers face reduced hours and pay as hospitals suffer losses, according to the report. Dr Patrick Aboagye, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service reportedly spoke to The Washington Post, saying government introduced the interventions because when health workers are happier employees, they would be more effective with fighting the virus. When people are motivated, they do their work from their hearts. The coronavirus is deadly and the people who treat patients endure constant exposure. They are more likely to get sickThey must feel supported, Dr Aboagye is quoted to have said. On the back of this, the US government, in the report has been advised to learn from Ghana and the other countries to improve the protection given to health workers risking their lives to treat COVID-19 patients. Ghanas COVID-19 responses have previously received recognition from world leaders across the world, with many urging both developed and developing countries to emulate the countrys approach in fighting the pandemic. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognized the efforts of the Akufo-Addo-led government in the fight against the pandemic, suggesting it is one of the few countries in the world with effective COVID-19 management response. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 18:59:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has welcomed the three-day ceasefire announced by the Taliban outfit on Saturday and vowed to set free 2,000 more Taliban detainees to expedite the peace process. The Taliban leadership on Saturday evening, the eve of Eid al-Fitr, declared a three-day ceasefire, ordering its fighters to stay inside their bases and refrain from fighting. Afghanistan, like other Muslim countries celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Sunday to mark the end of Muslims' fasting month Ramadan. In his short address after offering Eid al-Fitr prayer on Sunday, President Ghani welcomed the Taliban announcement for a ceasefire as a goodwill gesture towards peace and promised to set free 2,000 more prisoners. Both the Taliban and Afghan government have exchanged more than 1,200 prisoners including more than 1,000 Taliban and some 200 security personnel since inking the U.S.-Taliban peace deal on Feb. 29. The Afghan president, who ordered his forces to resume offensives on the armed group following deadly attacks on maternity in Kabul and funeral ceremony in Nangarhar weeks ago, also instructed his forces to return to a defensive position to support the ceasefire in the country in his speech on Sunday. Calling upon the Taliban to reciprocate the release of prisoners and observe permanent ceasefire in the country, Ghani said his negotiating team "is ready to initiate dialogue" with the armed group to end the war in Afghanistan. Since the observance of the ceasefire in Afghanistan on Sunday, no security incident has been reported. Zabihullah Mujahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit told media that the group's fighters are in defensive posture during the three-day Eid holidays. Some countries including the United States, Qatar, Pakistan and India have welcomed the three-day ceasefire observed by warring sides during Eid al-Fitr holidays in Afghanistan. Mr. Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem- Ag. CAG 25.05.2020 LISTEN Mr Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, I salute you and wish you well during this Ramadan festivities of Muslims across the nation. I also commend you for the good work you are doing. I want to draw your attention to something very important. I, therefore, hope this letter finds you and you will adjust the situation accordingly. I have heard from the walls that possess ears that you a listening Manager so I know will act for change. I will go straight to the point. Abdul-Hakim Tweneboah is an Asante by tribe, a Health Service Administrator by profession and a Muslim by faith. This article is about an observation he made on 23rd May 2020 on his Facebook wall named Hakiiso Wise. His observation is simple. The Controller and Accountant- Generals Department (CAGD), which you superintend over was not able to pay May 2020 salaries to workers before the Eid celebrations. He observed that the CAGD usually pays salaries two (2) days before Christmas celebrations. He attributed such an occurrence to your Departments thought that Christian workers need money for the celebrations. He further opined, Unfortunately, that has never been done for any of the Eid festivals (Fitr and Adha). What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem, the impetus of my letter to you stems from my conviction that Abdul-Hakim Tweneboah has a valid point worth considering by your Department. In my considered opinion, so many other Muslim brothers and sisters spoke through his lips. Ghana has three (3) major religions namely Traditional Religion, which does not have one founder, Christian Religion and the Islamic Region. Both the Christian and Islamic Regions are usually referred to as the Abrahamic Religions because their genealogical origins are traceable to the patriarchal Abraham of biblical times. Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem, you would undoubtedly agree with me that both Christian and Islamic festivals are structured with schedule of activities and they are celebrated by even people of the traditional faith. That is the beauty of religious tolerance in Ghana. You know, Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem, that these religious festivals are celebrated every year and they involve giving of alms or generosity. Be that as it may, the Payroll Division of your Department usually factor the Christian festival of Christmas into its annual payment schedules but according to my brother, Abdul-Hakim Tweneboah, you hardly do so for the Islamic festivals. I can bear you out however that in 2020, you paid April salaries after the Easter festivities. Controller and Accountant-Generals 2020 Salary Payment Schedules However, let me recall the 2020 payment schedule published by the CAGD in December 2019. Month Pay Day January 22nd February 26th March 26th April 24th May 27th June 26th July 24th August 26th September 25th October 26th November 25th December 18th Suffice to say that the Payroll Division of the CAGD will pay December 2020 salaries 7 clear days before the 2020 Christmas which falls on 25th December, 2020. This is where Abdul-Hakim Tweneboah has a point worth your consideration so far as the preparation of the yearly payment schedule is concerned. Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem, in the statement that you issued in making the 2020 payment schedule public in December 2019, you stated, The various banks will start crediting the accounts of employees from the dates indicated above. Any change in the above dates will be communicated to the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Assemblies and respective banks. It means that the payment schedule is subject to change and it could have been adjusted to suit the 2020 Easter and Eid celebrations. Your Eid Felicitations to all Muslims in Ghana Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem, you issued a nice statement of felicitation on the official Website of the CAGD to all Muslims. The statement is under the caption, Happy Eid Mubarak. In this statement under reference, you stated inter alia, I send my warmest greetings to all our Muslim brothers and sisters celebrating Eid-al-Fitr. In the same statement, you described Eid as an opportunity to reflect on the 30 days spent fasting and to commit to the Islamic values of gratitude, compassion, tolerance and generosity. Accordingly, Hakim and other Muslims are of the view that once you know this, you should have factored it into the yearly payment schedules so that the Islamic faithful who are paid by the CAGD would have money to prepare for the celebrations. Conclusion Much as I agree with Abdul-Hakim Tweneboah he should also know that both Christians and Muslims are brothers so there is nothing to complain about when a certain governmental or employer situation favors one brother more than the other. After all, Government supports the Hajj Pilgrimage trips to Mecca but there is no such known support for Christian pilgrimages yet our Christian brothers and sisters do not complain. Regardless of our religious affiliations or beliefs, we are one people. I hope Abdul-Hakim had a good Ramadan celebration with support from his Christian brothers and sisters who were equally not paid before the Ramadan. On this note, I equally wish all Muslims a happy blessed. Eid. Eid Mubarak. ~ Asante Sana ~ Author: Philip Afeti Korto. Email: [email protected] A multibillion-dollar institution in the Seattle area invests in hedge funds, runs a pair of venture capital funds and works with elite private equity firms like the Carlyle Group. But it is not just another deep-pocketed investor hunting for high returns. It is the Providence Health System, one of the countrys largest and richest hospital chains. It is sitting on nearly $12 billion in cash, which it invests, Wall Street-style, in a good year generating more than $1 billion in profits. And this spring, Providence received at least $509 million in government funds, one of many wealthy beneficiaries of a federal program that is supposed to prevent health care providers from capsizing during the coronavirus pandemic. With states restricting hospitals from performing elective surgery and other nonessential services, their revenue has shriveled. The Department of Health and Human Services has disbursed $72 billion in grants since April to hospitals and other health care providers through the bailout program, which was part of the CARES Act economic stimulus package. The department plans to eventually distribute more than $100 billion more. The India office of YouGov had published a report stating that urban India was of the view that the covid crisis in the country was getting worse rather than better, and that more than 70% of those surveyed were worried about the impact it would have on society and their individual finances. This is sobering. Of course, the survey was based on a sample of only 1,066 people polled between 6 May and 14 May. The same organisation had reported at the end of March, based on a poll conducted late that month, that urban Indias middle- and upper-income classes overwhelmingly supported the lockdown. Their views on the lockdown are logically consistent with the worry of urban Indians over the fallout of the crisis. Professor Sunetra Gupta of Oxford University told unherd.com in an interview that, in reality, the lockdown was a luxury that the middle class was enjoying at the expense of the poor. Day in and day out, visuals and harrowing reports of women, children and men walking hundreds of kilometres, often barefoot in this scorching heat with unbending personal dignity, remind us of the enormous costs that the lockdown has extracted from the poor and continues to do so. Despite impressive strides made in poverty alleviation over recent decades, millions of Indians live on the edge of the poverty line, even if technically above it, since they do not have adequate insurance against health calamities and consequent loss of earnings. There is a risk that as workers who made a living in cities trudge their way back to the countryside, they would be returning to a world of relative destitution and deprivation that they had sought to leave behind when they migrated to urban zones. We can prevent such outcomes from turning into a reality. In the coming decade, India may have to pay as much attention to redistribution as it has been paying to growing the pie. The former appears especially urgent in the short-term. In fact, its neglect might come in the way of economic growth, semi-permanently or even permanently. This is where we have to dig deeper into the reserves of our retained earnings and empathy. A friend shared with me on Saturday morning a story from thewire.in on the solidarity tax that Peru was contemplating. The author notes that about nine countries in Latin America started discussing a tax on the rich back in March itself. In India, Arvind Subramanian, former chief economic advisor, and Devesh Kapur, professor at the Johns Hopkins University, wrote for Business Standard in April that India needed solidarity now and a new social compact later. Among the five revenue-raising proposals that they had outlined, one was to impose a tax on the wealthy. It is noteworthy that they did not propose an increase in the top marginal income tax rate or a surcharge on income tax. The government had imposed precisely such a surcharge in the Union budget for 2019-20, with barely any revenue generation to show for it. A group of enthusiastic officers from the Indian Revenue Service had proposed a temporary increase in the top marginal tax rate to 40%, or a re-introduction of the wealth tax for those with a net worth of 5 crore or more. India had abandoned its wealth tax in 2016 and replaced it with a surcharge. After the revenue service officers proposed it alternative as a temporary measure, the rest of the country did not react well to the idea. Some commentators used it as an opportunity to embarrass the government as though it was becoming usurious. The government moved quickly to dissociate itself from the report. However, it had many worthwhile and practical suggestions. Critics of the proposal choose to ignore the fact that the revenue officers were merely echoing the views of a former economic advisor to the government and a distinguished academic. This brings us to the real question that India faces. Is it ready for a new social compact? There is no dearth of requests asking the government for relief to all segments of society. Businesses built over decades may be facing an existential crisis, and if they go down, so would their workers, their families and livelihoods. But, there are businesses and people who are better-off than others and they can take the lead in giving shape to a new social compact. Just as they question the need for and the length of the lockdown in public, and correctly so, can they also publicly pledge to volunteer and pay a one-time tax on their wealth? It is not impossible to imagine the impact it would have on the psyche of the nation if, let us say, the 50 most wealthy individuals of the country were to write a joint letter pledging to place a very small proportion of their wealth at the service of those who need it more. As Subramanian and Kapur wrote, a tax contribution that is a tiny fraction of their wealth could help restore the economy, boost the value of their financial assets, and hence their wealth itself. Solidarity will also be self-serving. Ironically, those who think the government might have underestimated the severity of the pandemics impact on the economy should not make the same mistake. V. Anantha Nageswaran is a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. These are the authors personal views Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Democrats pushed a massive three trillion dollar (2.48 trillion) coronavirus relief bill through the US House of Representatives on Friday, an election-year measure designed to fortify a US economy in freefall and a health care system struggling to contain the pandemic crisis. The 208-199 vote, with all but one Republican opposed, advances what boils down to a campaign-season display of Democratic economic and health-care priorities. It has no chance of becoming law as written, but will likely spark difficult negotiations with the White House and Senate Republicans. Any end product would probably be the last major Covid-19 response bill before Novembers presidential and congressional elections. The enormous Democratic measure would cost more than the prior four coronavirus bills combined. It would deliver almost $1 trillion (820 billion) for state and local governments, another round of $1,200 (990) direct payments to individuals and help for the unemployed, renters and homeowners, college debt holders and the struggling Postal Service. President Donald Trump leaving the White House on Friday. Politicians on both sides are waiting to see what form of continued relief for the American public he will support (Alex Brandon/AP) Not to act now is not only irresponsible in a humanitarian way, it is irresponsible because its only going to cost more, warned Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. More in terms of lives, livelihood, cost to the budget, cost to our democracy. Republicans mocked the bill as a bloated Democratic wish-list that was dead on arrival in the GOP-led Senate and, for good measure, faced a White House veto threat. Party leaders say they want to assess how $3 trillion approved earlier is working and see if some states partial business reopenings would spark an economic revival that would ease the need for more safety net programs. Republicans are also sorting through internal divisions and awaiting stronger signals from President Donald Trump about what he will support. Phase Four is going to happen, Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, using Washington insider-speak for the measure. But its going to happen in a much better way for the American people. Story continues Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants coming bailout measures to protect businesses (Patrick Semansky/AP) Mr Trump and top Republicans such as the Senates Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are insisting the next measure should protect reopening businesses from liability lawsuits. The president is also demanding a cut to payroll taxes, but GOP leaders are not yet on board. The day-long debate painted a Capitol scene now common in the era of the coronavirus, even as it remains disconcerting. The sparsely populated House floor was dotted with lawmakers and aides wearing protective masks and even gloves, though some Republicans lacked them. Many members looked shaggier and sported beards they had not worn before lockdown weeks ago. Roll call votes lasted over an hour each because lawmakers voted in small groups to limit crowding. To enhance the bills political impact, Democrats named their measure The Heroes Act for the payments it would provide front-line emergency workers. With more than 86,000 Americans dead, 1.4 million confirmed infections and 36 million filing unemployment claims in a frozen economy, Democrats saw GOP opposition as an easy campaign-season target. Are you kidding me? said Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan in response to Republican assertions it was time to stop spending more money. Where do you guys live? Food lines at our food banks around the block? In the United States of America? Republicans saw the bill as a Democratic political blunder. They said overly generous unemployment benefits discouraged people from returning to work, and attacked language helping immigrants in the US illegally to attain federal benefits. They also singled out provisions helping states set up voting by mail and easing the marijuana industrys access to banks. It may help the cannabis industry, but it wont help Main Street, said Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. A woman has tracked down her schoolyard crush who saved her from a bully more than half a century ago in a heartwarming reunion. Sandra Goodwin had been trying to find Wayne Bailey - who held her hand when she was pushed in the playground as a five-year-old at Rosehill Infant School in western Sydney - for 56 years. By chance, Ms Goodwin found her sweetheart when she called into a radio show which was asking listeners to talk about their high school crushes. 'I was playing in the playground and this girl came from nowhere and pushed me,' she said. Sandra Goodwin (pictured in her childhood) has tracked down her schoolyard crush who saved her from a playground bully when she was five-years-old Ms Goodwin's childhood sweetheart Wayne Bailey (pictured as a child) held her hand when she was pushed in a Sydney playground 'Wayne, this red-haired, beautiful young man, held my hand and gave her a lesson and I fell madly in love with him. 'I've been trying to track him for 50 years of my life to say thank you. So Wayne Bailey, if you are listening, you are my hero.' Mr Bailey, who now works in a coal mine in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney, called into the show to confirm he was the carrot-haired boy who saved Ms Goodwin, 7.30 reported. Speaking to each other for the first time since their childhood, Ms Goodwin told her schoolyard saviour his act of kindness had shaped her adult life and her outlook as a mother. 'You were the sweetest young man. You left a huge impact on the way I raised my children,' she said. Her childhood crush said simply 'that's what rangas do'. Pictured: Rosehill Infant School in western Sydney where the childhood love story began and Mr Bailey and Ms Goodwin have met again 'I was mainly reared by my grandmother, who was an upstanding woman,' Mr Bailey said. 'She has rubbed off on me in many ways.' After reuniting on the airwaves the pair met in person at their old school - where Ms Goodwin greeted her childhood love with an elbow bump rather than a hug in line with social distancing guidance. 'That phone call led me to something so magical,' she said. The deal between the HSE and private hospitals, which saw those institutions effectively taken over to provide additional bed capacity for the coronavirus crisis, was agreed in such a manner as to be exempt from regular accounting practices. A subsection of the deal states that the HSE was to use its best endeavours to ensure that the 19 hospitals involved would be exempt from keeping accounts of all income and expenditure for the duration of the controversial contract. The rationale for the inclusion of such a clause is not clear. Neither the HSE nor the Department of Health had commented on the clause at the time of publication. Sinn Fein health spokeswoman Louise OReilly described the clause exempting the hospitals from providing regular accounts as being not a bit transparent. This has been a very good deal for the private hospitals, and a very bad one for the taxpayer, she said, adding that she was absolutely surprised such a clause had been inserted into the contract. This deal was announced ahead of time when it didnt need to be - now we see the potential pitfalls in terms of oversight and accountability. The final bill for the use of the private hospitals is expected to be finalised by auditors EY when the contract comes to an end. The State officially entered into the deal to acquire the countrys various private hospitals on March 30, three days after lockdown was instigated but several weeks after the possibility was first mooted, in order to effectively double the number of beds available across the country in the face of the spread of Covid-19. Less than half of Irelands 600 private consultants have thus far signed up to the HSEs deal, which was initially designed so that only public consultancy work could be carried out by them. The Health Act 2004, upon which the private hospital contract relies, states that service providers can be exempted from performing regular accounting of their overheads should they receive money from the HSE that does not exceed the amount that may be decided by the minister. At present the deal is understood to be costing the State 115 million per month. A similar exemption can be provided to any other categories of service providers as may be specified by the Minister. The three-month deal, set to expire at the end of June, is expected to be extended for a further month by the HSE this week, with senior health officials and Minister Simon Harris repeatedly having asserted that the additional capacity will be required should a second wave of the coronavirus strike the country. If the weather holds and there are no technical issues, a SpaceX Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket will blast off on May 27 with two astronauts on board Elon Musk is about to face his biggest test after almost two decades as a space entrepreneur: launching human beings into orbit. If the weather holds and there are no technical issues, a SpaceX Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket will blast off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 4:3 pm on May 27. Two NASA astronauts -- Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley -- will be on board, with a docking at the International Space Station scheduled for 19 hours later. The history of spaceflight is made up of moments etched into humanitys collective memory, including Yuri Gagarins orbit of the Earth in 1961, Neil Armstrongs one small step onto the moon in 1969 and the loss of Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. While SpaceXs upcoming launch may not end up ranking with those events, it will mark the first-ever ride to orbit on a privately owned vehicle -- and the first time astronauts have flown from U.S. soil since the shuttle program ended in 2011. We havent had two humans shoot up into space on a commercial spacecraft ever. Thats an absolute first. Its an epic moment, said Luigi Peluso, an aerospace analyst with AlixPartners. Space is still a dangerous game, and when you launch with people on board its a whole different level of intensity. And its not just about getting them there safely -- its also about bringing them back. Surpassing Boeing Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies Corp. in 2002 with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been a key partner and customer every step of the way for the Hawthorne, California-based company. A cargo-only version of SpaceXs Dragon capsule already makes regular runs to the space station. In 2014, NASA awarded SpaceX and entrenched rival Boeing Co. a combined $6.8 billion in contracts to revive Americas ability to fly to the orbiting lab without buying seats on Russian Soyuz capsules. By crossing the finish line ahead of a company with Apollo-era roots, SpaceX will underscore its metamorphosis from upstart to power player. Its definitely a bit of a black eye to Boeing, said George Ferguson, analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence. He said the hit is less to the aerospace titans pocketbook and more to its reputation for engineering prowess, which has already been badly sullied by two deadly crashes of its best-selling jet, the 737 Max. For a nation scarred by the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus and slowly emerging from stay-home orders, the SpaceX launch will be a chance to look skyward. For NASA, the event will also be a distraction from intrigue surrounding the abrupt departure earlier this week of its human spaceflight chief, Douglas Loverro. The shuffle placed more responsibility on officials such as Steve Jurczyk, NASAs associate administrator and highest-ranking civil servant, who stepped in for Loverro to make the final decision to proceed with the mission. NASA is a very resilient organization. Theres nobody in the organization thats irreplaceable, said Wayne Hale, a former space shuttle program manager and an architect of NASAs commercial space foray. Its unfortunate that this happens and he had to leave, but people are already stepping up. Real Breakthrough While NASA has discouraged people from mobbing Cape Canaveral because of the coronavirus pandemic, the agency is planning hours of programming around the #LaunchAmerica event. Vice President Mike Pence said he plans to attend the launch. President Donald Trump also plans to travel to Florida to watch, Bloomberg News reported Friday. But the weather forecast -- clouds, rainstorms and isolated thunderstorms -- could delay the big event. If the May 27 launch is scrubbed for weather, the back-up date and time is Saturday, May 30, at 3:22 p.m. Florida time. Adding to the excitement is SpaceXs knack for milking big events, as it did when it sent a cherry-red Tesla Roadster to deep space with its largest rocket. The voyage will usher in a new era of commercial space flight. This is a real breakthrough for space development, said Lori Garver, a former NASA deputy administrator and current CEO of the Earthrise Alliance. This plan has been in the works for a decade. Youve turned over the keys to the private sector for low-earth orbit, which frees up NASA to do other things. And it will open up space, ultimately, for paying tourists. There were plenty of skeptics -- including Armstrong and other spaceflight pioneers -- who thought this day would never come. When then-President Barack Obama decided in 2010 to turn space-station treks over to private contractors, SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket hadnt yet flown and few could have predicted it would dominate commercial satellite launches within a matter of years. Soyuz Seats Still, the milestone crewed flight is years behind schedule, and NASA has paid $3.5 billion to purchase 52 rides to space from Russia since 2011, including a seat on a Soyuz rocket later this year. The agency is confident that U.S. commercial spacecraft will take over the missions this year and next. Boeing is still working through dozens of corrective actions that NASA recommended after the companys Starliner capsule missed a rendezvous with the station in December. The company hasnt yet scheduled a do-over, or its first flight with humans. Regaining crew launch capability and having two American crew launch providers is vital to achieving our countrys goals in space, said Chris Ferguson, a Starliner astronaut and former NASA astronaut who commanded the final space shuttle mission. Im excited to see my friends and former colleagues, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, take this important next step. The extensive testing that contributed to the Boeing and SpaceX delays is a contrast to the space shuttle, which flew humans without any practice runs for its orbital vehicle or rockets, said Hale, the retired NASA official. Next Stage The May 27 launch, known as Demo-2, will serve as a final test of SpaceXs entire system for transporting people to orbit, the last step to winning NASAs approval for regular crewed flights to the space station. Behnken and Hurley are slated to dock with the station on Thursday and meet with the Expedition 63 crew members already in residence aboard the orbiting lab. A press conference from the space station is slated for May 29. Its a culmination, Hurley told reporters after arriving at Cape Canaveral on May 20. Its that next stage of human space flight. Former astronaut Garrett Reisman, a professor of astronautics at the University of Southern California and an adviser to SpaceX, knows Benkhen and Hurley personally. He was a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology with Behnken and was on the space station with astronaut Karen Nyberg, who is Hurleys wife. Reisman is elated about what Wednesdays launch means: that American taxpayers will no longer have to pay for seats on a Russian Soyuz. It could be the dawn of a new golden age of space flight. Reisman is considering flying his own single-engine propeller plane from California to Florida so he can avoid flying commercially during the coronavirus pandemic. It changes everything when you know the people, Reisman said of the nerve-wracking anxiety around the launch. But NASA put SpaceX through excruciating scrutiny, as they do with everyone. It makes me feel more comfortable and more confident. Researchers have found evidence of injury in the placentas from 16 women who tested positive for COVID-19 while pregnant, pointing to a new complication associated with the deadly disease. The type of injury seen in the placentas shows abnormal blood flow between the mothers and their babies in the womb, according to the study published in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. The researchers from Northwestern University in the US said the findings, though early, could help inform how pregnant women should be clinically monitored during the pandemic. "Most of these babies were delivered full-term after otherwise normal pregnancies, so you wouldn't expect to find anything wrong with the placentas, but this virus appears to be inducing some injury in the placenta," said Jeffrey Goldstein, assistant professor of pathology at Northwestern University. "It doesn't appear to be inducing negative outcomes in live-born infants, based on our limited data, but it does validate the idea that women with COVID should be monitored more closely," Goldstein said. This increased monitoring might come in the form of non-stress tests, which examine how well the placenta is delivering oxygen, or growth ultrasounds, which measure if the baby is growing at a healthy rate, said study co-author Emily Miller, assistant professor at Northwestern University. "Not to paint a scary picture, but these findings worry me," Miller said. Previous research has found that children who were in utero during the 1918-19 flu pandemic, which is often compared to the current COVID-19 pandemic, have lifelong lower incomes and higher rates of cardiovascular disease, the researchers said. Flu doesn't cross the placenta, Goldstein said, so whatever is causing life-long problems in those people is most likely due to immune activity and injury to the placenta. "Our study, and other studies like it, are trying to get on the ground floor for this exposure so we can think about what research questions we should be asking in these kids and what can or should we do now to mitigate these same types of outcomes," Goldstein added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Athens, May 25 : A domestic ban on travelling to Greek islands was lifted on Monday, as the country sought to reboot its struggling tourist industry after weeks of the coronavirus lockdown. Ferries have resumed to islands that have been off limits since the Greek government imposed restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 in March, reports the BBC. Greece has been praised for its handling of the pandemic, recording 171 coronavirus-related deaths and 2,878 confirmed cases. Last week, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the country would open up to international tourism from June 15, earlier than originally planned. He said most flights to Greece would resume by July 1, when seasonal hotels will reopen and a two-week quarantine for foreigners will no longer be in force. But tourists from countries with high infection rates won't initially be allowed to visit. Greece's tourism industry is vital to the country's economy, accounting for about a quarter of the country's GDP. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text SILVER CITY In a letter to community leaders sent Friday, Freeport-McMoRan announced it is extending many Chino Mine workers furlough periods to up to six months. After a mid-April COVID-19 outbreak in the Chino Mine truck maintenance shop, owner company Freeport-McMoRan furloughed most workers at the mine east of Silver City. The furloughs were originally expected to end this week. The company warned at the time of potential impending mass layoffs that could affect up to 825 workers. Chino employees have been notified their furlough period has been extended from approximately one month to up to six months, depending on an employees position, Chino General Manager Chad Fretz and Tyrone Mine General Manager Erich Bower said in the Friday statement, which was provided to the Daily Press. While on furlough, employees are considered to be on an unpaid leave of absence and will continue to be eligible for most company benefits. In a separate statement to the Daily Press, Linda Hayes, Phoenix-based vice president of communications for Freeport-McMoRan, explained that by extending the furlough period, the company is not only delaying most layoffs until a decision can be made, but hoping to avoid some terminations altogether, while also offering employees the opportunity to take jobs at other Freeport-McMoRan operations. This also means Chino can make employment decisions based on the final plan, and any returning employees can avoid having to reapply for positions, Hayes wrote in the statement. In the meantime, furloughed employees can apply for any of the 130 internal positions now open across the company. Despite the delay, employees at Chino may soon find themselves without a mine at which to work if copper prices dont improve. There is a distinct possibility the mine and mill will close, however, no decision has yet been made, the letter from Fretz and Bower said. The uncertain economic recovery, combined with still lower copper prices, is delaying our decision regarding Chinos future until the third quarter. Hayes said that how long it takes New Mexico to lift its public health order could play into the decision whether or not to close the mine and for how long. We continue to evaluate options regarding the future of the Chino Mine, including whether it will close and the length of any potential closure, Hayes said. We do not expect a decision until the third quarter, allowing the company time to monitor economic conditions as states and countries modify their COVID-19-related restrictions. The furlough extension came after a company survey of hourly workers in recent weeks, since Freeport-McMoRan leadership had made an earlier commitment to limit furloughs to a maximum of 30 days. Despite the furloughs, layoffs remain on the table for at least some Chino employees. Depending on the extent of this possible closure, the result could be a total employment loss for an estimated 450 to 850 employees, the statement from Fetz and Bower continued. Based on the best information currently available, we anticipate that any potential releases from employment for our employees (both working and furloughed) would occur between Aug. 1 and Aug. 14, 2020. Fretz and Bower said that operations at the Tyrone copper mine, meanwhile, will continue for the foreseeable future. While the Tyrone operation has not seen significant changes to production, it continues efforts to cut costs to remain financially viable, they said. Unfortunately, these efforts have resulted in furloughs for a small number of employees. Asked why Tyrone might remain open while Chino faces possible closure, Hayes wrote that each Freeport-McMoRan operation is distinct, with its own financial situation. A decision made at one site does not necessarily mean a similar decision would be made at other sites. Freeport-McMoRan indicated it will continue to hold virtual training and information webinars in conjunction with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions to connect laid-off employees with federal programs, like the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Editors note: This story is republished with permission from Texas Monthly. To read more timely storytelling about Texas, go to texasmonthly.com On a humid and breezy late April morning in the border city of Laredo, Ricardo Cigarroa, a 61-year-old cardiologist, pulled out of his driveway in a 1999 Toyota Tacoma that hed christened The COVID-mobile and set out to check on self-quarantined patients. Cigarroa knew that some of the house calls that morning would require making life-and-death decisions. Early in his rounds, he parked his truck in front of a south Laredo mobile home; donned a fresh N95 mask, gloves, a gown, and shoe coverings; and knocked on the door. The middle-aged woman inside had called his office to say that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was now experiencing shortness of breath. Cigarroa greeted her briskly, then checked her oxygen level with a pulse oximeter. It was below 92 percent, the threshold for hospitalization. She needed to get more extensive care immediately, or her condition would likely deteriorate. Within a few minutes, Cigarroa had dressed her in personal protective equipment, escorted her to the passenger seat of the COVID-mobile, and started driving to the larger of the citys two emergency hospitals, Laredo Medical Center, where Cigarroa often admits his patients. Other visits that morning required emotional tact as much as rapid medical assessment. When Cigarroa stopped at the house of a local nurse, he found a patient who didnt look sick at all. Two weeks earlier, shed tested positive for COVID-19 and dutifully isolated herself at home. Her symptoms improvedShe had corona light, Cigarroa told mebut when she was tested again to see if she could go back to work, the results showed that she still had the virus. Now she just wanted to see her husband and two children. Cigarroa told her what she already knew: shed need to stay quarantined for at least another week. She was quite emotional about it, Cigarroa said. I visited with her for about forty-five minutes. I told her that unfortunately, we just have to take it as it comes. We have to be realistic. Remember, you dont have COVID pneumonia, youre not in the ICU, youre not on a ventilatorall those things are phenomenal. Cigarroa has about 50 COVID-19 patients he sees in their homes, and they represent a cross section of the heavily Latino city of some 275,000. Sick middle-class nurses whom hes known for years. Low-income south Laredo residents who saw him talking about COVID-19 on the local news or caught his Cigarroa Clinic ad in the Laredo Morning Times. Cigarroa speaks Spanish during most of his visits and estimates that 60 percent of his patients dont have health insurance, but he cant know for sure because he doesnt bill anyone for house calls. Most refer to him as Dr. Ricky. Its remarkable how beautiful a house call is, Cigarroa said. You walk into somebodys home, and immediately you see their world. You know so much about themtheir social status, who they live with, the stress of the husband or wife. You see the children not being able to interact. You see the solitude of the patients. And it gives the patients a great sense of relief that theyre not alone. When the pandemic began, Cigarroa found himself with time, all of a sudden. His cardiology patients were postponing non-emergency visits, so he pivoted his practice to addressing COVID-19. For the first time in his career, he started making regular house calls. Then, when the doctor in charge of Laredo Medical Centers critical care fell ill with the virus, Cigarroa took on a more central role in the hospitals COVID-19 intensive care unit: making rounds with patients, strategizing with the hospitals other doctors about treatment methods, and breaking the news to families when their loved ones died. But Cigarroas work during the COVID-19 crisis has not been strictly medical. Starting in early April, in a series of television appearances on Telemundo and the local NBC affiliate, KGNS, Cigarroa established himself as a kind of Dr. Fauci of South Texas, dealing hard doses of truth, in the words of Sergio Mora, the host of the Laredo-based podcast Frontera Radio. Bespectacled with flowing white hair and a calming, deliberately paced baritone, Cigarroa has seized his platform to deliver stark warnings, challenge local health officials, and offer up firsthand stories from the COVID ward at a time when reliable information has felt hard to come by. And Laredoans have paid attention. We cant trust no one anymore, Priscilla Villarreal, an influential Laredo tabloid news reporter who goes by the moniker Lagordiloca, wrote to her 166,000 Facebook followers on April 13. It seems to me that the only one being straightforward with us is Dr. Cigarroa! In March, during the chaotic and confusing early weeks of the crisis, when local and national leaders from both parties waffled over how to respond, Laredo distinguished itself by acting quickly and decisively. Local officials knew that the city was vulnerable. It has higher rates of poverty, obesity, diabetes, and uninsured residents than the state and national averages, and it is one of the countrys busiest ports, a nexus of trade and human migration, through which as many as 100,000 pedestrians, motorists, truck drivers, and bus passengers cross each day going north and south. We recognized that were the first line of defense for disease coming in from Mexico and were the first line of protection for trade continuing in the United States, Marte Martinez, a physician who serves on the Laredo City Council, told me. If our port were to fall, our ability to supply the country would be severely damaged. Martinez and his colleagues acted early. At an emergency meeting on the evening of March 17, council members voted to pass a stay-at-home order, then the strongest measure in the state. Four days later, they closed public parks. On March 31, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publicly debated whether to reverse course and advise Americans to wear masks, the council members enacted the first mandatory mask policy in the nation, with violations punishable by a $1,000 fine. After there were reports of police breaking up backyard parties, the council also put in place a strict 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for all residents. But Laredos coronavirus response has been far from frictionless. A local freestanding emergency room brokered a deal in March to buy 20,000 badly needed COVID-19 tests from a Chinese medical company, but the tests turned out to be duds. The citys health authority, Dr. Victor Trevino, told a newscaster that Laredo had probably experienced its first COVID-19 death, then he publicly backtracked later that night, after the death turned out to be unrelated to the coronavirus. But soon, Laredoans actually did start to die from the disease. By early April, six residents in seven days had succumbed to COVID-19. Suddenly, Webb County, home to Laredo, had one of the highest death tolls in the state, with as many coronavirus-related fatalities as Travis County, which has five times the population. Still, in daily media briefings, city officials told Laredoans not to panic, emphasizing the number of patients who had recovered and the fact that all of the dead had preexisting conditions. Cigarroa was frustrated by the official response. It seemed very obvious we werent conveying the message effectively enough, he told me, and he had enough clout to have his opinion heard. Educated at Princeton and Harvard, Cigarroa hails from one of Texass great medical dynasties. His father and uncle, Joaquin and Leonides, both doctors, led the effort to bring what is now Texas A&M International University to the city. His older brother, Francisco, a pediatric transplant surgeon, served as chancellor of the University of Texas System. Cigarroa formerly headed the Laredo Medical Group and in 2003 was named Mr. South Texas, a prestigious Laredo civic honor, along with Francisco. In early March of this year, Laredo congressman Henry Cuellar leaned heavily on Cigarroa, who endorsed him, in campaign ads that aired during the final days of Cuellars tough primary race against progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros. Now Cigarroa chose to leverage his reputation to urge Laredoans to take the pandemic more seriously. The low number of positive tests was due mostly to a lack of testing, he thought. The physicians who were actively taking care of patients, they were saying, My gosh, we have a lot of patients with COVID. Were having more upper respiratory infections that were seeing, Cigarroa said. The sense of urgency in the [citys] daily briefings wasnt there. On April 6, Cigarroa appeared on the KGNS nightly news broadcast and calmly talked anchor Jerry Garza through the history of pandemics, the citys horrifying prospects in a worst-case scenario (Laredo had a total of 68 ICU beds, when more than 1,000 could be needed), and the danger Laredoans faced if they defied stay-at-home orders. What would you do if there was a sniper across the street on top of the roof ? Cigarroa said. Would you allow your child, your son, your daughter, your parents to walk out of the house? I dont think you would. And the virus is everywhere. Its on top of every house. The interview was widely viewed and shared on social media. A few days later, Cigarroas daughter, Alyssa, a painter who helps run a local arts organization, decided to start a Facebook page, Laredo Contra Covid-19, with a similar goal: to give Laredoans an unfiltered look at what was happening on the citys medical front lines. On Monday, April 13, Laredo Contra Covid-19 posted a video featuring a local ER doctor ill with COVID-19, who warned, We are losing nurses and doctors very quickly. It was viewed 40,000 times within a few hours. That afternoon, Dr. Hector Gonzalez, the director of the citys health department, addressed the severity of the outbreak in Laredos medical community. Over twelve health-care providers had tested positive, Gonzalez said, and none were hospitalized. Cigarroa knew this number was off. He made some calls to get a more realistic tally, and then he released a statement through Laredo Contra Covid-19: Not twelve but more than fifty health-care workers had been infected, and several were critically ill. Everyone is trying their best, Cigarroa wrote, but we must be accurate. Cigarroas statement had a quick and dramatic effect. The next day, Gonzalez acknowledged at a press briefing that Cigarroas number was correct. (Gonzalez told Texas Monthly that the discrepancy was because cases were still under investigation by his staff.) That evening, Cigarroa appeared on newscasts, speaking English and Spanish, to discuss what the citys medical workers were seeing. By the end of the week, Laredo Medical Center, where most of the infected health-care providers worked, announced that 64 staff members had tested positive for COVID-19, accounting for 20 percent of the citys overall cases. That Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services dispatched a team to investigate the outbreak. Two weeks later, on May 1, the city reported that Laredo Medical Center now had 96 staffers and contractors who had tested positive. When Governor Greg Abbott ordered a partial phased reopening of the state to begin May 1, he preempted local orders, including Laredos. After issuing 354 citations for mask violations, Laredo could no longer fine citizens for not covering their noses and mouths, and restaurants were welcome to open their doors with limited capacity, just as they were in every other municipality in the state, from tiny towns with no known cases to big cities with thousands of infections. George Altgelt, the city council member who had pushed most intensely for the citys mitigation measures, told me that the state and federal governments didnt really understand the predicament of his border town. Are we really left to fend for ourselves, but with their rules and little to no support? Altgelt said. Still, by that point, the data looked favorable for Laredo. New cases of COVID-19 were declining, likely due, at least in part, to the citys aggressive measures. Even Cigarroa, who believes there are ten times more cases than the testing numbers indicate, said he thought the public health situation was manageable. But Cigarroa also warned against complacency. On April 30, the night before the state began to reopen, he was back on Jerry Garzas show to reiterate just how bad the disease could get. He brought along two CT scans. The first showed a healthy persons clear lungs. The second scan, taken ten days after one of his patients first started experiencing COVID -19 symptoms, was a horrifying image of an infection colonizing a human organ. He wanted Laredoans to understand the tremendous destruction the virus could inflict. He had mixed feelings about Abbotts plan for a phased reopening. On the one hand, he didnt think it was crazyat some point, people needed to get back to work. But he also worried that it risked a second wave by opening too quickly. He urged Laredoans to think for yourself, get as many facts as you can and use common sense. And if you do, you will distance yourself from others. You will use a face mask. Then things got weird. The next night, Cigarroa met Alyssa for a late dinner at one of their favorite restaurants, the just-reopened Tacos El Chaparro. The next morning, a grainy cellphone video capturing a few seconds of the Cigarroas meal surfaced on Facebook. It had been spliced together with footage from Cigarroas April 6 KGNS interview and an internet meme of dancing Ghanaian pallbearers. Priscilla Villarreal, the local news hound known as Lagordiloca, quickly shared it on her personal Facebook page. The implication was clear: the citys loudest social-distancing advocate was a hypocrite, eating outunmaskedat the first legal opportunity. But Cigarroa felt the shaming was unfair. There was no one within twelve feet of us, he said of the mostly empty restaurant. And by that point in the COVID-19 crisis, he wasnt issuing blanket advice to just stay indoors. He was urging residents to exercise common sense. He insisted he was doing just that. But the video was jarring, particularly to those whod praised Cigarroas outspokenness. I dont know what to think anymore, said Villarreal. He is basically saying stay at home, wear masks, and then he goes and does the exact opposite. Cigarroa told me he wouldnt be venturing out to eat again for the foreseeable future. Ill be going from the COVID-mobile back to my house for the next two or three months, he said. He wanted to make clear that he wasnt taking the disease any less seriously. He was still making his daily house calls, doing his rounds at Laredo Medical Center, and providing updates on Laredo Contra Covid-19. He knew the disease wasnt going anywhere soon. When I asked how long he figured hed be treating COVID-19 patients, he replied, Until the vaccine. An Indian Army officer and woman peacekeeper, who has served with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and a Brazilian woman commander have been selected for the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award (2019), with UN Chief Antonio Guterres describing them as "powerful role models." Major Suman Gawani and Brazilian Naval Officer Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo will receive the award during an online ceremony presided over by United Nations Secretary-General Guterres on May 29, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Military Observer Gawani has recently completed an assignment in South Sudan apart from her stint with the UNMISS. Araujo is working in the United Nations' Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Guterres commended Gawani and Araujo. "These peacekeepers are powerful role models. Through their work, they have brought new perspectives and have helped build trust and confidence among the communities we serve," he said. "Through their commitment and innovative approaches, they embrace a standard of excellence that is an inspiration to all blue helmets everywhere. As we confront today's challenges, their work has never been more important or relevant." This is the first time the UN Military Gender Advocate award has gone to an Indian peacekeeper. This is the second year in a row that a Brazilian peacekeeper has received this honour. Created in 2016, the award recognises the dedication and effort of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Resolution 1325 which is on women, peace and security in a peace operation as nominated by Heads and Force Commanders of peace operations. For the first time, two peacekeepers will receive the award jointly. Gawani expressed her gratitude for her work being recognised. "Whatever our function, position or rank, it is our duty as peacekeepers to integrate an all-genders perspective into our daily work and own it in our interactions with colleagues as well as with communities," she said in a statement issued here. Gawani joined the Indian Army in 2011 where she graduated from the Officers Training Academy, then joined the Army Signal Corps. She holds Bachelor of Telecommunication Engineering and a Bachelor of Education degrees from Military College of Telecommunication, and the Government Post Graduate College in Dehradun respectively. Since her deployment to the UNMISS in December 2018, Gawani mentored over 230 UN Military Observers (UNMO) on conflict-related sexual violence and ensured the presence of women military observers in each of the mission's team sites. "By providing support, mentoring, guidance and leadership, she helped to create enabling environment for UN Peacekeepers, the statement said, adding that Gawani also trained the South Sudanese government forces and helped them launch their action plan on conflict-related sexual violence. The Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is underpinned by the principles outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and follow-up resolutions on women, peace and security. The resolutions call on actors to mainstream a gender perspective in all aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding and to ensure women's participation in peace and political processes. They also call for the protection from and prevention of conflict-related sexual violence and for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in UN operations, including of uniformed women peacekeepers. The statement said that about 6.4 per cent of the 85,000 uniformed peacekeepers serving currently in the UN missions are women. The UN is working with member states to increase the number and percentage of women military, police and justice and corrections personnel. It added that in this context promoting the participation of women, both in peacekeeping and within the societies in which we serve, is at the centre of the UN's efforts. Reconciliation Week is a chance to think about the nations unfinished business. I believe national reconciliation is closer than many of us dare to dream. When I sat down to write my first speech to the Senate last year, I agonised over every word in the section on reconciliation because there are so many spent hopes in this space. So many promises not delivered. Pat Anderson from the Referendum Council with a piti holding the Uluru Statement from the Heart in May 2017. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen In 2020, we mark the week in the light of two positive developments which I have noticed: more Indigenous success in education and progress on an Indigenous voice. First, on success, the efforts on education are paying off. More Indigenous Australians are succeeding on the education front. When domestic flights resume on Monday, May 25, the experience is going to be nothing like you knew it to be before the coronavirus lockdown. For one thing, the cabin crew will not be wearing Sabya. More like PPE since were talking seriously about a pandemic here. As per aviation industry sources, cabin crew members on all commercial flights will wear surgical masks, gloves, face shields, gowns or body suits to keep it safe. Airlines IndiGo, Air India, Vistara and AirAsia India have decided to go with the new attire to ensure the safety of their cabin crew given their proximity to passengers during flights. Shweta Kolekar, an airhostess for Spice Jet, says, It doesnt matter what we wear because at the end of the day safety is the first priority. We are fulfilling our duties. Its the companys decision. Flight attendant attire has always adapted to the work situation. Capt. Roopa, a trainer with a leading airline, said that despite their demanding jobs, flight attendants uniforms were designed to be professional rather than comfortable. A flight attendants job is always to first help passengers during an emergency and then to serve them on board. As emergencies and exigencies dont arise on every flight, their job was seen mainly as glamorous women serving guests aboard. But even though the skin-hugging skirts and heels look chic for service on board, most slip into comfortable footwear, adds Capt. Roopa. However, over the years, many airlines adopted conservative workwear looks for their uniforms. Skirts turned into trousers as long-haul flights in tight skirts became problematic. Similarly, sarees led to churidars with even airlines such as Air India, keeping in mind the ethnicity as well as the fashion quotient. Even so, high-end designers were chosen to design the outfits, Capt. Roopa says. Duty comes first With a pandemic going on right now, the airline industry have had to re-adapt to the times. The new normal in everyones life is to sanitise, wear gloves and masks before leaving home, says Capt. Roopa, who goes on to share that all passengers at the airport for the initial international flights to evacuate people stuck in other countries during lockdown wore gloves, masks and shields, with some even in PPEs. Attendants are to take complete precaution, so one would find them covered from head to toe. At such times, the sight of a fully covered crew will not be surprising to anyone because they themselves will be covered up quite a bit. So, changes to airhostess uniforms for the safety of all concerned seems to be hardly an issue. We are trained to juggle the demands of serving hundreds of passengers while staying calm under pressure, reminds Swetha. Twenty hikers, including two children, who became trapped overnight by rising floodwaters along the Devil's Bathtub trail in Virginia have been rescued. First responders managed to rescue all of the hikers just before 10am Monday morning, officials from the Fort Blackmore Volunteer Fire Department said on Facebook. One of the hikers suffered mild hypothermia and one may have a twisted knee, officials said. Photos from WCYB showed families and friends hugging some of the hikers as they were brought to safety. Twenty hikers (pictured), including two children, who became trapped overnight by rising floodwaters along the Devil's Bathtub trail in Virginia, have been rescued First responders managed to rescue all of the hikers just before 10am Monday morning, officials from the Fort Blackmore Volunteer Fire Department said on Facebook. Photos from WCYB showed families and friends hugging some of the hikers as they were brought to safety The hikers were spread out along the Devil's Fork trail near the Devil's Bathtub (depicted above) About 15 hikers were rescued late Sunday and the other five were brought to safety Monday morning. Crews responded to the Devil's Bathtub area around 7.15pm Sunday evening. Authorities said the hikers, which included two children, were spread out along the trail. Fort Blackmore Volunteer Fire Department officials said strong thunderstorms that came through the area Sunday evening caused flash flooding in may areas. 'The numerous creeks on the Bathtub trail rose quickly, making them impassable,' the department said. 'At first we were advised that there were 12 hikers stranded, once on scene that number rose as we made voice contact with others farther up on the trail.' About 15 hikers were rescued late Sunday and the other five were brought to safety Monday morning. Concerned family members and friends are seen waiting for their loved ones to be brought to safety on Sunday night Fort Blackmore Volunteer Fire Department officials said strong thunderstorms that came through the area Sunday evening caused flash flooding in may areas. Rescue units are seen at the scene on Sunday night First responders said rising and swift waters made the rescue difficult to reach the hikers. The Devil's Bathtub has more than 15 water crossings. It is a popular attraction in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. A storm system caused severe flooding in other parts of Virginia, prompting Henry County officials to declare a local state of emergency. US, Chinese Officials Spar Over Hong Kong Security Law The Chinese regime on May 25 warned that it would take countermeasures if the United States takes action to undermine its interests in Hong Kong. The remarks came in response to comments from Washington about potential sanctions over a new national security law planned for the city. White House national security adviser Robert OBrien told NBC on May 24 that the draft legislation may lead to sanctions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019. Under this federal law, the secretary of state must certify every year if Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from the mainland to justify trading privileges granted by the United States. The legislation also paves the way for sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials involved in rights abuses in the city. It looks like, with this national security law, theyre going to basically take over Hong Kong and if they do Secretary Pompeo will likely be unable to certify that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy and if that happens there will be sanctions that will be imposed on Hong Kong and China, OBrien said. Beijing last week confirmed that its rubber-stamp parliament was going to push through a national security law for Hong Kong, bypassing the citys legislature. The law would ban secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign interference, and could lead to the regime setting up its intelligence agencies in the city. The move has sparked an outcry in Hong Kong and has drawn international condemnation. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters during a May 25 briefing that Beijing has lodged stern representations with Washington about OBriens comments that the security law for Hong Kong could lead to U.S. sanctions. Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, also said on May 25 the regime would allow no external interference to Hong Kong and cited the 2019 pro-democracy protests as a reason for the introduction of the new law. The regime has consistently blamed foreign forces for fomenting the mass protests against a now-scrapped extradition bill that would have allowed people in Hong Kong to be taken to the mainland for trial in courts controlled by the regime. Critics say that law would allow the regime to quash dissenting voices under the pretext of security. OBrien said the move would also jeopardize Hong Kongs status as an international financial hub. I just dont see how [the financial industry] can stay, he said. One reason that they came to Hong Kong is because there was the rule of law there, there was a free-enterprise system, there was a capitalist system, there was democracy and local legislative elections. If all those things go away, Im not sure how the financial community can stay there. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian today received deputies of the Prosperous Armenia faction of the National Assembly Mikayel Melkumyan and Shakeh Isayan. The meeting is part of the series of meetings that the Armenian president continues for discussions on the situation created as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. During the meeting, the interlocutors particularly talked about the paths to overcome the health-related and socio-economic hardships caused by the pandemic and the solutions to the issues, and the deputies presented the steps and actions of the Prosperous Armenia faction. The president and deputies also touched upon the parliaments activities. In this context, President Sarkissian particularly shared his comments on the Lanzarote Convention ratified by the National Assembly, expressing hope that the discussions on the Convention will become the start, not the end of public discourse and will help find solutions through relevant laws. : Ikea India, a part of the Ingka Group, has restarted its online service with its newly introduced 'Click & Collect', a safe and contactless shopping experience, here. The contactless shopping experience has been introduced as per latest the government guidelines in view of COVID-19, the Swedish furniture-maker said in a press release on Monday. The Click & Collect service ensures minimal contact between co-workers and customers during the delivery of the products from the store, the release said. Customers can order Ikea products on its website, pay online and select the 'Click & Collect' service option when checking out, it said. Ikea's delivery team would prepare the order for the customers to pick the products up from the 'Click & Collect' station in the stores car parking area. The team would notify the customer by text or e-mail when they could come over to the store and collect what they had ordered. Manager of the Hyderabad store of Ikea, Aurelie Raimon said, We are excited to meet our customers in Hyderabad again. With our new 'Click & Collect' offering, many people can buy their favourite home furnishing products in a safe and convenient way." "Safety and security of our co-workers and customers are our top priority and all measures have been put in place to enable safe shopping and a safe working environment, in line with our own internal standards and government guidelines," Raimon said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, joins the Taiwan delegation in deliberation at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING -- Senior Chinese leaders Wang Yang and Han Zheng Sunday attended deliberations at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, the national legislature. Both Wang and Han are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. While joining the Taiwan delegation in deliberation, Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, stressed upholding the fundamental principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems," adhering to the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, and resolutely deterring any forms of secessionist activities advocating "Taiwan independence." Wang also urged support for Taiwan enterprises and entrepreneurs to participate in the development of new infrastructure. Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a deliberation held by deputies from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] Vice-Premier Han Zheng attended deliberations held by deputies from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR, respectively, and affirmed the work done by the two regions over the course of more than a year. Establishing and improving at the state level the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong SAR to safeguard national security targets a very small number of people advocating "Hong Kong independence" and "black violence," Han said. The purpose to effectively and lawfully prevent, stop and punish a tiny number of law violations and crimes that endanger national security is to better protect the life and property of the vast majority of Hong Kong residents, to better protect their basic rights, interests and freedoms, and to better safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity, stability and long-term security, Han said. Renuka Singh, Union minister of state for tribal affairs was seen in a video threatening district administration officials in Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh for allegedly beating a man up in a quarantine centre and being discriminatory towards BJP workers. The minister was enraged after Dilip Gupta, a resident of Balarampur district had accused the chief executive officer and tehsildar of the district panchayat of assaulting him in a quarantine centre in the area after he complained of poor arrangements. Bhagvadhari BJP karyakartaon ko kamzor na samjhna aap... Jo bhed-bhaav kar rahe ho na BJP karyakartaaon ke saath .. Bhool Jaaiye .. Andheri Kothari mein le jaake mein ..belt kolke thokna jaanti hun bhut acche se... (Dont think that BJP workers are weak .. Forget about the discrimination which you are doing with them.. I very well know how to lock people in a room and thrash them with a belt), the minister is seen telling officials. You have just beaten him because he knows his rights...You people are working are working arbitrarily which will not work, she said. If I was only a MP, I would have lived entire time in my constituency but I am a union minister too, so I have to go to Delhi. This does not mean that my workers and people have become venerable, she said. HT cannot vouch for the veracity of the video. The minister did not respond to repeated call and messages from Hindustan Times. She later told news agency ANI Sunday evening that Dilip Gupta, who had come to Balrampur, was put in a quarantine centre and badly beaten for highlighting poor arrangements at the facility. When Gupta witnessed poor arrangement in the quarantine centre , he made a video to raise the issue . When the administration came to know about the video, two officials a tehsildar and CEO Janpad Panchayat reached in the centre..They threatened and beaten him with belt. After this they shifted him to some other place and the family started searching for Gupta. The parents informed me and when I reached in the centre, I found that the Gupta was badly beaten The CEO Janpad Panchayat accepted that he made a mistake, the minister said. Balrampurs Collector, Sanjiv Kumar Jha said an inquiry has been ordered. We have ordered an probe in this matter whether Gupta, who reached Balrampur from Delhi on May 15 was beaten up by the officers or not . We will take action accordingly, said Jha. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that rats might become more aggressive during the pandemic since food sources become scarce. According to Independent's latest report, humans are not the only ones affected by the lockdown caused by the global coronavirus pandemic. Some rodents are becoming more brazen to find new food sources since almost all restaurants are currently closed. Restaurants' trash bins are no longer overflowing with food leftovers that are mainly the food source of the rats living in the city. The stay-at-home restrictions being implemented during the pandemic pushed many cafes and restaurants to close, limiting their services to food takeout and delivery, leading to reduced sales. Since rodents become more aggressive because they are finding slimmer pickings that they used to, CDC has issued guidance that will help people how to deter the sudden change of the rats' behavior. Rats are becoming more aggressive during the pandemic Reports of the rat infanticide and cannibalism had increased in New York, while Chicago received more rat complaints since humans produce more food waste at home since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC advises businesses and homeowners to seal holes rodents could access in buildings, put pet and bird food out of reach, and, most importantly, cover the garbage cans to avoid attracting aggressive rats. "Some jurisdictions have reported an increase in rodent activity as rodents search for new sources of food," CDC stated. "Environmental health and rodent control programs may see an increase in service requests related to rodents and reports of unusual or aggressive rodent behavior," explained CDC. Pest control workers are classified as essential in cities trying to combat the rat issues, like the District of Columbia. According to city 311 data, 800 calls regarding rodents were received by the District for the past months. Food-borne illnesses such as salmonella can be transmitted by rodents and other health issues such as asthma and allergies--children are most likely at risk, Because of the aggressive behavior of rodents, they are starting to devour cars, posing an additional threat to those working remotely. Car engines and tires that were destroyed by the rodents can cause fires, pushing goaded officials and car owners to seek their own solutions for the pest issue. Bobby Corrigan, an urban rodentologist, stated that the rats would need to adapt to find new food sources as the pandemic continues. He also currently works with other pest experts to share what they discovered surveying the area affected by the pests. Also Read: COVID-19 Update:16 Pregnant Women Found With Injured Placenta; Can Virus Affect the Baby in the Womb? 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The launch of SpaceX's rocket Falcon Heavy on June 25, 2019 Space Exploration Technologies Corp.commonly known as SpaceXis slated to send two astronauts into space on Wednesday. Despite not yet being 20 years old, the company has already developed a creation myth: on September 28, 2008, its first rocket Falcon 1 launched for the fourth time. "I messed up the first three launches, the first three launches failed. Fortunately the fourth launchthat was the last money that we hadthe fourth launch worked, or that would have been it for SpaceX. But fate liked us that day," said Elon Musk, the company's founder and chief engineer, in 2017. "We started with just a few people, who didn't really know how to make rockets. The reason I ended up being the chief engineer... was not because I wanted to, it's because I couldn't hire anyone. Nobody good would join," he added. Born in South Africa, Musk immigrated to Canada at age 17, then to the US, where he amassed his fortune in Silicon Valley with the startup PayPal. SpaceX's aim, when it was incorporated on March 14, 2002, was to make low-cost rockets to travel one day to Marsand beyond. The 11th employee hired that year turned out to be someone good: Gwynne Shotwell, who was in charge of business development, soon established herself as Musk's right-hand woman. In the space industry, the two are given the rock star privilege of only being referred to by their first names. SpaceX founder Elon Musk (pictured with the Dragon capsule in May 2014) said the company started with "just a few people, who didn't really know how to make rockets" "Elon has the vision, but you need someone who can execute on the plan, and that's Gwynne," said Scott Hubbard, a professor at Stanford University and former director of NASA's Ames Research Center. Hubbard met Musk in 2001, when the thirty-year-old entrepreneur was making his first forays into the space industry. The 56-year-old Shotwell, who became SpaceX president and chief operating officer in 2008, is a self-described nerd. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in mechanical engineering and was elected in February to the National Academy of Engineering. When Elon talks about colonizing Mars, it's Gwynne who makes commercial presentations and secures contracts. "I have no creative bones in my body at all," Shotwell told a NASA historian in 2013. "I'm an analyst, but I love that." Gwynne Shotwell (pictured 2014), who became the SpaceX president and operating chief operating officer, is a self-described "nerd" Reusable rockets The team started to gain credibility in 2006. SpaceX had only 80 employees (compared to 8,000 now) and had yet to achieve orbit. But NASA awarded them a contract to develop a vehicle to refuel the International Space Station (ISS). "The crowd went crazy," Shotwell recalled. SpaceX succeeded in 2012: its Dragon capsule docked at the ISS, the first private company to do so. Then, in 2015, after multiple crashes and failures (spectacles often webcast live), SpaceX landed the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket, the successor of Falcon 1, safely back on Earth. The era of non-disposable rockets had begun. "Falcon 9 is simpler and lower-cost," said Glenn Lightsey, an engineering professor at Georgia Tech. The rockets were built completely under one roof, in Hawthorne in the Los Angeles areabreaking with the long supply chain models of giants such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Two of the boosters land at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after the launch of SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on February 6, 2018 in Cape Canaveral, Florida The SpaceX formula proved seductive to clients: in the past three years, the company has launched more rockets than Arianespace. In 2018, SpaceX launched more rockets than Russia. For an operator, launching a satellite on a Falcon 9 costs half as much as on an Ariane 5, according to Phil Smith, an analyst at Bryce Tech. Having conquered the private launch market, SpaceX has claimed a bigger piece of the pie for public and military launches. Still funded by NASA, SpaceX is set this week to become the first private company to launch astronauts into space. Despite a few years' delay, its Crew Dragon is ready before Boeing's Starliner. Musk also wants to build NASA's next moon lander. Industry giants have criticized the company for "arrogance," but "the real reason was that it threatened their way of doing business and their livelihoods," Lori Garver, NASA's former deputy administrator, told AFP. It's now Shotwell who lectures her competitors: "You have to learn those hard lessons," she said in a NASA briefing at the start of the month, recalling the multitude of problems that plagued SpaceX's start. "I think sometimes the aerospace industry shied away from failure in the development phase." Explore further SpaceX plans first manned flight to space station in May 2020 AFP Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Deer Jet/Greenpoint Technologies/Boeing The Boeing Business Jet 787 is the private jet version of Boeing's bestselling 787 Dreamliner. The Dreamliner kicked off a next-generation revolution with its fuel-efficient engines and aerodynamically-friendly features. The private variant of the jet costs upwards of $200 million and fly to nearly any city on Earth non-stop. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The 787 Dreamliner is one of Boeing's most popular twin-engine wide-bodies thanks to its fuel efficiency, lower operating costs, and passenger-friendly amenities, which have proven to be endearing qualities for airlines and private owners alike. As with all of its bestsellers, the manufacturer also offers the aircraft as part of its Boeing Business Jet line-up, which caters to the ultra-elite that require airliner-sized private jets when they travel. Unlike its wide-body siblings, however, the 787 Dreamliner can make its flyers feel good about taking to the skies in a flying mansion thanks to fuel-efficient engines and aerodynamically-friendly features that lower overall fuel consumption. With a $200+ million price tag, the business jet variant of the Dreamliner can currently be found flying in the fleets of high-end charter operators, national governments, and billionaires with cash to spare. The government of Mexico currently has a 787 in its fleet, valued at around $130 million, that it is currently trying to sell as part of a government spending reform initiative under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. In the airline world, the Dreamliner can typically hold upwards of 200 passengers, depending on configuration, which leaves a lot of room to work with when a private owner decides to purchase the plane. Among the three Dreamliner variants on offer, the average space available is around 2,500 square feet. Take a look at some of the designs that firms have dreamt up just for the Dreamliner. Story continues The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was a game-changer for Boeing as it introduced new fuel-efficient technology combined with a slew of passenger-friendly amenities. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Andia/Universal Images Group/Getty Read More: Boeing's revolutionary 787 Dreamliner has changed air travel forever. Here's how the company left competitors in the dust with a risky $8 billion bet. It immediately became a favorite among airlines including launch customer All Nippon Airways, Norwegian Air, American Airlines, and United Airlines. An All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty The first true next-generation wide-body, the program easily racked up over 1,000 orders, despite initial troubles with the aircraft. A United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh The jet also saw success in the private realm, with the Boeing Business Jet 787 offering an unparalleled efficiency in the private jet realm for an aircraft of the Dreamliner's size. A BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Boeing Boasting a range of over 10,000 nautical miles for its smallest variant, nearly any city in the world is accessible with a single flight, including on city pairs like New York-Singapore, Cape Town-Los Angeles, and Dubai-Honolulu. A BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Boeing Here's Mexico's 787 Dreamliner, currently on sale for around $130 million. A Mexican government BBJ 787 Dreamliner. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido Read More: Take a look inside the $218 million Boeing Dreamliner private jet the new president of Mexico is selling because it's 'too lavish' Designers tasked with crafting the interiors have been able to get creative with the Dreamliner business jet. Here's a design currently implemented on Chinese aircraft operator Deer Jet's 787 Dreamliner. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. DeerJet and Greenpoint Technologies/Boeing The design took nearly three years for designer Jacques Pierrejean to craft and install in the jet, which can seat 40 passengers. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. DeerJet and Greenpoint Technologies/BoeingBoeing Deer Jet's Dreamliner is a charter, one of the few available in the world. The aircraft has been known to be charted by governments that don't have their own VIP transport planes. A Deer Jet Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS/Getty The benefits of flying on a Dreamliner over other Boeing private jets is the enhanced focus on passenger-friendly amenities that make the ride more enjoyable. The cabin altitude on the Dreamliner is lowered to 6,000 feet, allowing for more humidity and less dehydration, which lessens jet lag. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Deer Jet/Greenpoint Technologies/Boeing And as this jet is meant to traverse multiple time zones at a time, that technology likely comes in handy often. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Deer Jet/Greenpoint Technologies/Boeing Other designs from Pierrejean include this one featuring a more casual living room area lined with couches and coffee tables, complete with a cove ceiling. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Pierrejean Design Studios/Boeing Even with seating for 40, the Dreamliner is also large enough for its own master bedroom, like this one envisioned by Winch Design on the first BBJ 787-9, the middle child of the Dreamliner family. As this jet can fly well beyond 18 hours, the bed comes in handy. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Winch Design/Boeing Like most Boeing jets, this Dreamliner comes with a full master bathroom complete with a walk-in shower and two full vanities. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Winch Design/Boeing Other designs include this sleek Azure concept from Greenpoint Technologies. This award-winning design takes the Dreamliner to its maximum potential with a master bedroom with two guest suites, a private office, and a spa, among other features. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Greenpoint Technologies/Boeing Source: Aviation International News Here's the main entryway for the jet, located at the second boarding door just ahead of the engines. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Greenpoint Technologies/Boeing And with this oversized bed, it's hard to tell that you're still on board a plane traveling at over 500 miles per hour when you wake up. Inside a BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Greenpoint Technologies/Boeing It may not be the largest but the possibilities are endless for the plane that can efficiently fly nearly anywhere in the world without making a stop. A BBJ 787 Dreamliner. Boeing Read the original article on Business Insider Uttarakhand reported 15 new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive cases till Monday afternoon, as the overall tally rose to 332 in the hill state. The state health department officials said of the 15 new Covid-19 cases, 11 have been reported from the hilly districts of Dehradun (1), Pauri Garhwal (3), Chamoli (2), Tehri Garhwal (1), Haridwar (3) and Pithoragarh (1). While another four have been recorded in Udham Singh Nagar district in the plains. Of the three new cases from Pauri Garhwal district, a 48-year-old male patient, who was under home quarantine since his return from Ghaziabad, tested Covid-19 positive on Monday four days after his death. Dr. Manoj Bahukhandi, chief medical officer of Pauri Garhwal district, said that a team of doctors had been sent to the deceaseds village to trace all those who came in contact with him. Though four persons tested Covid-19 positive after their death in Uttarakhand, all of them had passed away because of comorbidity, the officials said. The newly infected people are mostly migrant workers, who have returned to their native places from Mumbai, Punjab, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and New Delhi. So far, Uttarakhand has tested 22,117 samples, of which 17, 315 have tested negative. The rate of doubling of cases in the last seven days stands at 3.98 days. The percentage of recovery for Covid-19 patients in the state is at 17.68%. A total of 58 Covid-19 patients have recovered to date, including three who have left the hill state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A four-year-old girl has been found dead at a home in Brisbanes east. The girls body was found at a property on Bent Street in Cannon Hill, with police being called to the address shortly after 9.00am, a Queensland Police spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia. Investigators at the Bent Street address on Monday morning. Source: Nine News The spokesperson said the residents of the address were being questioned however no one had yet been taken into custody. Investigations are ongoing. Bent Street remains cordoned off while investigators are door knocking and speaking with residents on the street, the ABC reported. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. A man was arrested for evicting six tenants who were under home quarantine in outer Delhis Nangloi, after they came in contact with a Covid-19 patient, for not paying their rent, the police said on Monday. While the police are yet to contact the evicted men, all of whom are daily wage workers, an investigator said they have reached their village in Bihars Bhojpur district, after hiring a private vehicle. The landlord, Sona Lal (41), was booked under the Indian Penal Codes Section 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by a public servant) and the Disaster Management Acts Section 51 (refusal to comply with governments directions), according to A Koan, deputy commissioner of police (outer district). In the first week of May, two of these workers had visited Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital to meet a friend who had fallen. That man was later tested positive for Covid-19, Koan said. The two men and the four others they lived with were put under home quarantine, he said. Koan said that they were put under home quarantine from May 11 to May 25 on the orders of the Punjabi Bagh sub-divisional magistrate. On Friday evening, when a constable visited them to ensure they were complying with quarantine norms, he found the six men were missing, the DCP said. We booked and arrested the landlord after we were informed that he had evicted the six men, Koan said. The officer said neighbours and residents of the area said the men were evicted for not paying rent. An officer involved in the investigation said Sona Lal denied the claims, and said the six sneaked out of the house on Wednesday without informing him. While we continue to probe his claims, why would the tenants sneak out when only five days of their quarantine remained? If that was the case, the owner of the house should have alerted us, the investigator said. In April, an order by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority had called for strict compliance of directions that landlords will not demand rent from migrant workers and students for a month. It required respective district magistrates to spread awareness about this directive and, in case of non-compliance, take legal action. The Delhi high court, last week, had ordered that while tenants would be liable to pay rent for the period the city has been under lockdown, the payments could be postponed owing to the circumstances. If convicted under the IPCs Section 188, Lal could be jailed for a month, be fined Rs 200,or both. If he is found guilty under the Disaster Management Act, he could face between one or two years in prison. Since the lockdown, there have been multiple instances of confrontations between house owners and tenants over rent payments. The police have also booked several landlords for evicting their tenants or forcing them to pay rent during the lockdown. Prosecutors in a rape and murder case in Argentina are planning to use evidence given by the victim's parrot as evidence against her alleged attackers. Miguel Saturnino Rolon, 51, and Jorge Raul Alvarez, 62, are due to go on trial this year for the 2018 rape and murder of 46-year-old Elizabeth Toledo in Buenos Aires. As part of evidence submitted in the case last week, police included a statement from a police officer who said he heard Toledo's parrot screaming 'no, please, let me go' shortly after the killing took place. Elizabeth Toledo, 46, was found raped and murdered at an apartment in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2018 - alongside a parrot who reportedly heard her last words and repeated them The officer had been standing guard outside the murder scene when he heard what sounded like a woman screaming inside, newspaper La Nacion reported. He looked inside the apartment - but only found Toledo's naked and bruised body lying on a mattress on the floor, along with a green parrot in a cage. After going out of the room he claims to have heard the words 'ay por favor soltame' (no, please let me go). The officer believes that the parrot was repeating the words, which prosecutors will argue were the victim's last. Evidence also includes witness testimony from a neighbour who claimed to have seen the parrot repeat the trick on a different occasion. That witness told police that the parrot one said 'por que me pegaste?' (why did you hit me?) after one of the men hit Toledo. Miguel Saturnino Rolon, 51 (left), and Jorge Raul Alvarez, 62 (right), are accused of raping, beating and then strangling Ms Toldeo to death Prosecutor's evidence also includes a bite mark from the victim's forearm which they say matches the bite of Rolon's teeth 'like a fingerprint'. Meanwhile DNA evidence found on Toledo's body will link Alvarez to the rape and killing, they allege. A third man, who also lived at the property and was among the suspects, was earlier dismissed from the case after providing an alibi. Toledo lived with the three men and rented a room to them, police say. There had been previous allegations of domestic violence reported at the house. The trial's start date is currently unknown. Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigerian farmers must produce enough for the country to eat, saying that the country has "no money to import" food. The comments follow concerns around food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic and rising food prices in Africas most populous nation. According to the UNs Food and Agriculture Programme, even before the Covid-19 crisis, farmers had not been able to satisfy the demand for Nigerias population of some 200 million. Although the agricultural sector remains a major employer, it has suffered years of neglect as the countrys economy-focused heavily on oil revenue. Nigeria has been trying to boost domestic rice production for some time, cracking down on smuggled imports from Thailand by closing the countrys land borders last year. Prior to the ban, Nigeria used to import over a million tonnes of rice from Thailand annually. Now it only allows foreign rice through its ports - and imposes high import taxes. Food prices have risen in Nigeria since the onset of coronavirus and government revenues have been hit badly by the fall in global oil prices. The International Monetary Fund predicts that Africa's biggest economy will contract by 1.5% points in 2020. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda was at the centre of a controversy on Monday after he did not undergo quarantine on arrival from Delhi by a flight here as stipulated, but defended it, saying he came under the exempted category being in-charge of pharmaceuticals, an essential sector. The Karnataka government came to his defence and said the Centre had issued orders exempting such people handling essential sectors from quarantine norms. The Minister, also Bengaluru North MP, drove off in an official car with out undergoing institutional quarantine as mandated by the Karnataka government for air travellers coming from high COVID-19 prevalence states after arriving here by a commercial airline flight, services of which resumed after two months. It triggered a controversy with several people taking to social media accusing him of violating norms while others saying rules are only meant for citizens and not for VVIPS, including ministers. The standard operating procedure (SoP) issued by the government mandates passengers coming from high COVID-19 prevalence states- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh- to go for paid institutional quarantine for a period of seven days. Defending himself, Gowda said he being a Minister in- charge of Department of Pharmaceuticals, which comes under essential supplies, he is under the exempted clause and hence has been allowed to proceed. "...you need people to work for the control (of COVID-19) right? If you say no one should come out can you stop this? As a pharma minister I need to check production, supplies, and ensure it reaches last point, it is my responsibility," the Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister told reporters. "I come under the exemption clause and I have the exemptions...Arogya Setu App on my phone also shows I'm safe. After checking every things we conduct ourselves in a responsible way. Modi (PM Narendra Modi) also wont spare us, if we move around according to our wish," he added. State Minister S Suresh Kumar, who is spokesperson for COVID-19 in Karnataka said, "He (Gowda) is exempted in his capacity as a minister handling pharma sector.....orders has already been issued by the central government (in this regard)." Gowda, who later held a meeting with state Ministers and officials, also said his body temperature was checked before he left the airport. The Minister said he has not come in contact with any one and there were only 11 passengers in the flight. The senior BJP leader also said though he could have opted for a special flight much before, he waited for domestic flights to resume as "I am not a person who misuses things." According to the SoP, at the end of the seven days, the passengers coming from these six states would be sent to home quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19. Those coming from other states have been asked to follow 14 days of home quarantine. In special cases involving businessmen coming for urgent work, they are permitted without quarantine if they produce negative test report of COVID-19 from ICMR approved laboratory obtained within two days ahead of their travel date. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Phuket remembers Jeanette Skelton PHUKET: Jeanette Skelton, well known across the island and beyond for her vivacious attitude towards life and the many luxury events she professionally organised on Phuket for years, has passed away. Community By The Phuket News Monday 25 May 2020, 09:20AM Jeanette Marie Skelton. 18/10/1962 - 21/05/2020 After a prolonged battle with cancer, Jeanette, 57, passed away at her home in New Zealand last Thursday (May 21). The Phuket News has been asked to pass on the following message to all who knew her: Jeanettes family and friends from New Zealand, Thailand, England, Hong Kong, America and Australia, it is with much sadness we have to let you know Jeanette peacefully passed away at home in Tauranga last night [May 21]. She was surrounded by family, parents Shirley and Chris, sister and in-law Karen and Rachel and her niece from England Gracie- Mae. Jeanette fought a brave battle to the end. To her many friends, especially those who helped with her battle and life changing journey who she loved and shared so much of her life with, we want to let you know Jeanette was at peace with her last journey. A private family cremation will be held, followed at a later date, with a celebration of her life, when family and friends can attend. Organized by Jeanette, her last luxury event Any messages can be sent to Shirley at Shirls_22@hotmail.com or Karen on Facebook: skelly wag In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Waipuna Hospice Tauranga. Dont cry because its over. Smile because it happened. Dr Seuss Tributes have flowed online since Jeanettes passing. Among the scores of comments lamenting the loss of Jeanettes beaming smile and spirit, Richard Feldman noted, A smile that beamed brighter than the Phuket sun. Pure style and grace. Warmth of spirit was her gift to everyone she met. It was an honour to know you Jeanette. Pure elegance. You will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. Godspeed and God Bless Nancy Curran remembered Jeanette distinctly: Jeanette personified style and a special flair in everything she did. It was a pleasure to have known her in Phuket and I will always remember her and Captain with fondness on their way to beach walks. Rest In Peace. The Phuket News offers our sincerest condolences to Jeanettes family and friends the world over. She will be dearly missed. It is highly important and necessary for the National People's Congress (NPC) and its Standing Committee to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security for the state level. The move is not only a necessary choice, right, and responsibility of the central government based on the current situation in the HKSAR. Its only right and natural for the central government to do so, and no one shall deny its legality and legitimacy. National security is a basic prerequisite for a countrys very survival and development and bears on its core interests. In countries of both unitary and federal systems, enacting national security laws falls within the state's legislative power. When the HKSAR Basic Law was drafted, the central government delegated part of the power to enact national security legislation to the HKSAR through Article 23 of the Basic Law, which doesnt change the fact that national security legislation falls within the authority of the central government, nor does it deprive the central government of its due responsibility and right in safeguarding national security. Article 23 of the HKSAR Basic Law is a special arrangement under the one country, two systems principle. It not only demonstrates the central governments trust in the HKSAR but also specifies the HKSARs constitutional obligation to safeguard national security. However, local legislation in this regard has been impeded in the past 20 plus years since the HKSAR returned to China despite the HKSARs consistent efforts, making Hong Kong remain defenseless in terms of national security, which is rarely seen in the world. In recent years, the SAR has been facing an increasingly acute situation in safeguarding national security. In particular, since the anti-extradition protests in 2019, the Hong Kong independence and radical separatist forces have advocated Hong Kong independence, and organized violent crimes exhibiting a nature of terrorism supported by foreign interfering forces and Taiwan independence forces interfering in Hong Kong affairs. These violations seriously challenge the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle and seriously jeopardize state sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. No single country will turn a blind eye to actions severely undermining its national security. A few radicals undermined the determination of Chinas central government to safeguard national security, overall stability in Hong Kong and the wellbeing of 7.5 million Hong Kong compatriots. The HKSAR has been re-integrated into Chinas national governance system since the very day of its return. The central government bears the greatest responsibility for maintaining the constitutional order in the HKSAR, for full implementation of the one country, two systems principle, and for the proper enforcement of the HKSAR Basic Law. Article 31 of Chinas Constitution provides that The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The systems to be instituted in special administrative regions shall be prescribed by law enacted by the National People's Congress in the light of the specific conditions. As national security is in peril in Hong Kong and it is difficult for the HKSAR to enact national security laws on its own, the decision of the NPC, the highest organ of state power, on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security is enshrined by the Constitution. It is beyond doubt the move is also an integral part of the central government exercising overall jurisdiction over the HKSAR. The national security legislation for Hong Kong is targeted at secession, subversion, terrorism, external interference and other acts undermining national security. It only targets the small minority of people committing crimes to damage national security, and will in no way affect the legitimate rights and freedoms enjoyed by the majority of the citizens. Its necessary for Chinas top legislative body to plug the loopholes in Hong Kong concerning national security. The move reflects the strong will and firm determination of the central government to safeguard national security. It also fully demonstrates resolute defence of and utmost care for the overall interests of Hong Kong and the fundamental wellbeing of Hong Kong compatriots. Hong Kong, and the one country, two systems principle will surely embrace an even brighter future as long as national security is guaranteed. The Gold Coast apartment block from which Cian English fell to his death An Irish teenager fell to his death from the fourth storey of an apartment in Australia's Gold Coast while trying to escape being robbed at knife-point, police have said. Three men, aged 18, 20 and 22, have been charged with murdering Cian English (19), who was originally from Carlow town but whose family emigrated to Australia about five years ago. Officers were called to the View Avenue building at Surfers Paradise at about 3.15am on Saturday after a passer-by found the teenager's body on the pavement outside. Drugs Police then found a group of men in one of the apartments above. Four of them were semi-conscious after taking prescription drugs which police believe were stolen from Gold Coast pharmacies. They were all taken to hospital in a stable condition. Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith, who is leading the investigation, said police will allege the trio tried to rob Mr English and a friend of their mobile phones and clothing at knife-point after the victim and his friend tried to befriend them. Supt Smith said: "During the course of that, the victim has attempted to escape and has gone over the balcony and died. "We've got a young man who was on the Gold Coast with his friends and one thing led to another and he's now dead." He told Australian media that Mr English and at least one friend had been socialising with another group of young men from their balconies when they invited the group from another apartment to "come up and join us". Threats Prescription drugs were being taken by some of the people present before Mr English's death, he said. "The consequences of the robbery and threats made to the victim, put the consequences on those three offenders," he told the 'Brisbane Times'. "I don't know how you reconcile that as a family or a community. It's becoming too common and we need to stop it. Violence doesn't solve anything," he said. "They were both viciously assaulted and, as I say, the robberies occurred at knife point." The three men arrested have all been charged with one count of murder and two counts of armed robbery. All three are due to appear in court later today. Meanwhile, the teenager's heartbroken family issued a statement through the Australian police. It read: "Our family is devastated by this tragedy and respectfully ask for privacy as the police investigation into the circumstances continues." Carlow county councillor Fergal Browne said the victim's late grandfather, John English, had retired from the council before his death and the family was well known and respected in the community. "It's a terrible tragedy," he said. Ethiopia is one of East / Horn of Africas least impacted nations as compared to rate of COVID-19 case growth and infection of its neighbours. A state of emergency lasting five-months has been imposed by the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led government. All land borders have since been shut as a virus control measure with a raft of restrictions and enforcement of physical distancing and mask wearing measures. Elections planned for May this year were also postponed citing the effect of the pandemic. Ethiopia played an instrumental role in the deployment of virus supplies donated by Chinese businessman Ali Baba. This article will focus on major developments coming from the country. Ethiopia has recorded back-to-back one-day spikes, record 61 new cases on Saturday and a further 81 on Sunday toppling the Saturday record. Of the new 88; Addis Ababa recorded 73 cases. The remaining 15 are from regional states: 8 from Tigray; 4 from Oromia; 1 from Harari; and 2 truck drivers. Ethiopias tally has therefore jumped by 193 new cases in a space of five days. The tallies have consistently been on the rise, triggering calls for more robust government measures to halt spread of the virus. Total confirmed cases = 582 (new cases = 88) Total recoveries = 152 (new recoveries = 8) Total deaths = 5 Active cases = 423 The trajectory of infections between May 20 24 May 20: 389 (24 new cases) May 21: 398 (9 new cases) May 22: 399 (10 new cases) May 22: 433 (34 new cases) May 23: 494 (61 new cases) May 24: 582 (88 new cases) May 19: 365 cases with 60 new cases in three days Total confirmed cases = 365 (new cases between May 17 19 = 60) Total recoveries = 120 (new recoveries = 8) Total deaths = 5 Active cases = 238 Ethiopias case count spiked on Monday by 35 new cases (a daily record) whiles 14 new cases were recorded today. Added to 11 cases recorded last Sunday, 60 cases have been recorded in the last three days. The tally now stands at 365. Concerns had been raised by analysts over the spate of new case increases after it took just a week to go from 200 to go past the 300 mark as against a much lengthier period from 0 to 100 and 100 to 200. The country, however, remains one of the least impacted in a region where neighbours Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan has crossed the 1000 mark. Kenya is past 900 confirmed cases as of today. Major African stats: May 19 at 6:00 GMT: Confirmed cases = 88,264 Number of deaths = 2,832 Recoveries = 33,898 Active cases = 51,534 Source: africanews.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A large sign sits in the front window of Kam Fung Cafe, a tiny local diner on a narrow side street in Hong Kongs bustling Wan Chai district: Please take your temperature and put on your mask before entering this restaurant. Tall clear plexiglass sheets have been installed atop the small booths lining two walls of the restaurant. The front table, one of only three or four in the compact cafe, has been sacrificed to create a temperature-taking station. Ms. Ho, one of the restaurants workers, tells TIME that since the coronavirus pandemic, they no longer seat strangers together at a booth, a common practice at space-constrained local Hong Kong restaurants. Plexiglass dividers separate tables at the Kam Fung Cafe in Hong Kong on May 20, 2020. | Amy GuniaTIME In Hong Kong, a city known for its vibrant culinary scene, restaurants are once again buzzing with diners now that coronavirus appears to be under control here. But nearly every eateryfrom the smallest cafes to Michelin-star restaurantshave implemented safety measures to protect diners from the coronavirus. The measures appear to be working. Hong Kong hasnt recorded a cluster of coronavirus cases related to restaurants since the safety measures were put in place in late March. That may provide a model of how to operate under a new normal for restaurants in places like the U.S. and Europe, where many businesses are just starting to open up again. The trajectory of the coronavirus in Hong Kong demonstrates the need for precautions when it comes to dining. One of the first large clusters in the city was linked to a late January family gathering at a hot pot restaurantwhere diners share a communal cauldron in the center of a round table, fishing meat and vegetable morsels out of broth with chopsticks or spoons. At least 13 cases in the city were linked to that hotpot meal. Hong Kong has avoided the strict lockdowns seen in the U.S. and Europe, but it has had various social distancing measures in place since January when the first cases of COVID-19 were reported. Restaurants have remained open throughout the pandemicalbeit with reduced capacity and restrictions on group size. COVID-19 case numbers in the city have dwindled, and restaurants are now allowed to operate at full capacity with groups of up to eight people allowed to dine together. Restaurants are required to space tables about five feet apart, or to place a partition between them. Customers, who are asked to wear masks except when eating or drinking, are provided with hand sanitizer. And restaurant staff are required to take patrons temperatures before theyre allowed to dine. Story continues Some restaurants are getting creative with the rules. A restaurant in K11 mall in the citys bustling Tsim Sha Tsui district is using large images of artwork by famous artists like Monet to separate tables. Some restaurants are implementing more stringent precautions. At Associazione Chianti, a Tuscan steakhouse in Wan Chai, restaurant staff have lined the narrow sidewalk outside with large red dots, spaced about 5 feet apart, to indicate where guests should stand as they wait to be seated. Customers must sign health declaration forms saying that they havent traveled outside of the city in the last 14 daysanyone who returns to the city is required to quarantine for that length of time. Atop the red and white checked table-cloth of every table sits hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes and an envelope for holding diners face masks while they eat. Tony Ferreira, director of culinary operations for Black Sheep Restaurants, which runs Associazione Chianti, tells TIME that theyve taken some less obvious precautions too, like training front of house staff to escort people to their tables as quickly as safely possible to avoid crowd congestion in the small reception area. Black Sheep, a restaurant group with 25 restaurants across the city, has published a COVID-19 playbook that makes public its strategy for protecting its guests and staff from the coronavirus. According to the guide, physical contact like high fives and handshakes have been banned in the groups restaurants and staff are required to wear masks and wash their hands every 30 minutes. As in Hong Kong, restaurants across the Asia-Pacific are reopening cautiously. In Australia, several states are allowing restaurants and cafes to open for in-house dining, but only 10 diners are allowed inside at a time. One restaurant in the Australian state of New South Wales, has put cardboard cutouts of human diners where real humans arent allowed to sit. Frank Angilletta, one of the restaurants owners tells TIME that it started out as a joke, but it helps to separate people. It adds a little atmosphere, some normality, he says. [Customers] say they didnt feel like they were the only table in there. Cardboard cutout figures at Five Dock Dining in Five Dock, Australia. | Photo courtesy of Frank Angilletta/Five Dock Dining In some cities in mainland China, customers can only enter if a health-tracking app many Chinese are required to use shows that their health status is green. In Taiwan, restaurants are required to maintain a distance of about five feet between diners. A cafe in Bangkok, Thailand is serving coffee in a box on wheels via a pulley system to limit contact between its baristas and customers. How have restaurant customers reacted? Restaurateurs say the reaction to the safety measures has been mixed. In Hong Kongwhere emotional scars from the 2002 to 2003 SARS outbreak have ingrained hygiene precautions as habitpeople adopted some safety measures quickly. Mask wearing in all public places became de rigeur by late January. Ferreira of Associazione Chianti says that when a guest calls for a reservation he or she is walked through the procedures the restaurant has in place. So there are no surprises for them, no stress, he says. Syed Asim Hussain, co-founder of the Black Sheep Restaurants, tells TIME that at first, there was some pushbackespecially against the customer health declaration form and temperature checks. (His restaurant group implemented many protections before they were mandated by the government.) On one night earlier this year, the groups restaurants turned away more than 50 potential customers who didnt want to comply. We had a zero compromise policy, he says. It was tough because we are in the business of looking after our guests. We are in the hospitality business. He says that customer attitudes have shifted, and many are now appreciative of the measures. But he adds, with plexiglass dividers and hand sanitizer bottles visible across his restaurants, its been more difficult to create the ambiance that Black Sheep restaurants are known for. Im very romantic about our restaurants, says Hussain. Im very careful about what our places aesthetically look like, but all of that has gone out the window. Deborah To, who is from Australia but has lived in Hong Kong for 10 years, tells TIME that shes now used to the safety precautions that restaurants across the city have in place, but some things dont feel quite the same. She says it was super weird when she and a group of friends went out to dinner to celebrate a friends birthday and had to sit at separate tables due to restrictions on the number of guests at one table. Do guests feel safer? Black Sheep says that the precautions they put in place have helped build trust with their customers and given them confidence to visit the groups restaurants.Seeing our team members wash their hands in front of them, using our sanitizer bottles to sanitize tables when were setting tables, these things really put peoples minds at ease, says Ferreira. And Hussain says the measures have guarded them against the disaster of having a cluster linked to their restaurantsnone of Black Sheeps staff or guests have been infected while working or dining at the restaurants, though two restaurants closed temporarily when patrons who later tested positive were found to have dined there. I think these protocols have somehow, some way, protected us, he says. To, 32, who often eats at Black Sheep restaurants, says being forced to use hand sanitizer before a meal and seeing staff wearing masks makes her feel a lot safer. Food blogger Kelvin Howhose Instagram account EpicurusHongKong has more than 46,000 followerssays he has become really picky about where he eats in recent weeks. He says if a restaurant doesnt appear to be following the safety measures strictly, he wont gohell no longer eat at one chain he saw people entering without masks. I nitpick. If [the tables are] still relatively close togetherI wont eat there. I tend to find places with higher ceilings, he says. I have walked away. Is it a viable model? COVID-19 has hit the restaurant industry hard everywhereincluding Hong Kong. Restaurant visits across the world were down more than 92% year-over-year from on May 19, according to data published by OpenTable.com, based on a sample of 20,000 restaurants it hosts on the platform. Hussain says that there were a few nights earlier this year when not one customer came to one of the groups restaurants in Hong Kong. The new measures are hard on the bottom lines for Hong Kongs restaurantsmany of which were already reeling from six months of anti-government protests in 2019 that kept residents home and scared away tourists. Table spacing requirements can be particularly tough in Hong Kong where spaces are often small, and rents are some of the highest in the world. Physical distancing especially is difficult, that means you cant run your restaurant at optimum revenue, says Hussain. But he says, given that coronavirus is likely going to be around until a vaccine can be developed and deployed, theyre making the best of a bad situation: I think the choice is very clear, either we try to exist within this new framework, or we dont exist. Were trying to make the best of it. Its going to be a tough year. Are restaurants forever changed? Hussain says that hes preparing to run his restaurants with at least some of the new measures for the long term. This notion of things returning to normal, thats not going to happen, he says. Hong Kong food blogger Andrew Tang, 31, hopes some of the changes will be permanent. I think hand sanitizer is a must, now were kind of used to it, he says. Ferreira of Associazione Chianti says that many of the changes are likely to stick: Social distancing, sanitizing, alcohol wipes, its here to stay, I think its going to be part of the new norm. With reporting by Aria Chen in Hong Kong STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The 56-year-old woman found dead in a Stapleton home Sunday was discovered in the bedroom of the residence, according to the NYPD. Police are calling the death suspicious, multiple police sources told the Advance/SILive.com, but the department is waiting for the citys medical examiner to determine the official cause of death. It is not immediately clear why police are deeming the death to be suspicious. The discovery of the body prompted a large NYPD response to the home on Osgood Avenue, and officers cordoned off the road from Targee to Van Duzer streets throughout the afternoon. The NYPD Crime Scene Unit, along with the citys Medical Examiner, arrived on scene just before 4 p.m. City firefighters were initially called to the scene at 11:45 a.m. for a report of an unconscious person, said an FDNY spokesman. The 56-year-old woman was pronounced deceased by EMS on scene. According to police, no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. The identity of the 56-year-old woman has not yet been revealed, pending proper family notification, police said. Human remains have been found 200km away from where they went missing The key to unlocking the mysterious disappearance of campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay may have gone up in flames in a fire that destroyed their campsite. At the time, the blaze was deemed to be non-suspicious. But months after the pair vanished without a trace, doubt has been cast over the police theory that a phone charger set the camp alight. As grieving relatives of the pair on Monday learnt that remains found last weekend in Victoria's High Country were not that of Mr Hill, speculation continues to dwell that the pair may have succumbed to foul play - and the fire may have been deliberately lit after all. Mr Hill (above) had recently retired and was an experienced outdoorsman who reportedly knew the remote Alpine region of the Gippsland well A fire that destroyed the pair's camp site was deemed at the time not to be suspicious. But as time went by, detectives began to fear the worst Police released images of the pair's burnt out campsite with Mr Hill's car parked beside it (pictured) in a remote area of bushland in Victoria's Wonnangatta Valley Mr Hill, 74, and Ms Clay, 73, went camping in the remote Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's Gippsland region on March 19 and have not been heard from since. Mr Hill's Toyota four-wheel-drive had been found by local police next to his burnt-out tent, but the pair were gone without a trace. The vehicle itself had also sustained damage in the fire, but was still able to be driven away from the scene. In hindsight, perhaps it shouldn't have been. Police had found it at the burnt out camp site with possessions belonging to the pair still inside the vehicle. At the time, Inspector Craig Gaffee from Sale was leading the search for the pair through treacherous bush conditions. He had been supported by police air surveillance, the dog squad and members of the State Emergency Service, Parks Victoria and the Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria. Some question whether it might have been prudent to call in the Homicide Squad. But people go missing in the bush with some regularity and the pair were initially thought to be another case of just that. On Friday, March 27, campers had found Mr Hills vehicle with signs of minor fire damage near Dry River Creek Trak at Billabong. Neither had been heard from since March 20, when Mr Hill made radio contact from a remote station in the alps. During the call, he said he was having radio transmission issues. Inspector Gaffee told reporters at the time that the campsite itself and vehicle were 'really well equipped'. He urged anyone who had been in that Billabong and Wonnangatta Track to come forward. It was clear police could not work out why Mr Hill, an experienced bushman, abandoned his four-wheel drive utility when it was still able to be driven. The focus was clearly on finding the campers. 'At this stage, due to the length of time they've been missing and the weather conditions, we have grave fears for their safety,' Inspector Gaffee said. 'We know they're near water we know they had food in the car but we don't know how much they had with them.' He said there was no reason to believe they would have left the area on foot if they were trying to leave. The question about the fire was quickly explained - it was probably started by a mobile phone charger that overheated inside a tent. By April 6, the search had been called off. But almost a month after the pair vanished, specialised detectives from the Missing Persons Unit were called into action. One of the first things they did was take another look at Mr Hill's fire-damaged car. The pair went missing in the Wonnangatta Valley, more than 200km north east of Melbourne. The remains of a man have been found in Moondarra, but are not believed to be those of Mr Hill Mr Hill's car has been returned to his home where specialist detectives hope to examine it again for further clues By then, the wreckage from the scene was long gone or contaminated. Mrs Hill told Daily Mail Australia she had her doubts about the mobile phone supposedly causing the fire. 'I don't know about that. I hear so many different stories. There are too many different stories and I'm not saying anything about it,' she said. Officers had determined that no accelerant had been used to start the fire. But anyone with half a knowledge of fire knows that setting fire to a tent would require little effort. Arson investigations are particularly challenging because the evidence is often destroyed during the fire and the efforts of the fire brigade to extinguish the blaze. Investigations preceding the event can last for significant time periods as investigators have to sift through debris to find chemicals that may have been used as the accelerant. Trained sniffer dogs can be used as a traditional resource for tracing accelerants, but these dogs may not be available when needed or have insufficient or unsafe access. 'I'm letting the police do their investigation because they're trying really hard,' Mrs Hill said. 'They just haven't stopped.' With bones being discovered within 200kms of where the campers went missing, worried locals from bush communities in the region remain concerned there could be a killer on the loose. Hopes were raised on Saturday when forensic investigators were spotted combing an area of bushland off a dirt road in Moondarra. Although the remains of the man were yet to be identified on Monday, police have told Daily Mail Australia they are certain the body is not that of Mr Hill. 'The mans cause of death is under investigation. The remains were found during a search by Missing Persons Squad detectives as part of a current active investigation,' a police spokeswoman said. Mr Hill's drone (pictured) remains missing too. Speculation is he may have gone missing after losing the drone in wild bushland. Others fear it may have been stolen by whoever killed him 'As the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to provide further comment at this stage.' While the news might provide some relief to those clinging to hope the pair might still be alive, the revelations will come as a cruel blow to Mr Hill's wife Robyn. In April, a devastated Mrs Hill told Daily Mail Australia she would only achieve closure if her husband's body was found. 'I don't think that he will still be alive,' she said from the family home in Drouin. 'Well, it's been a month since he's been away and he was only going away for a week - or a bit more. 'They're both lost. So let's hope they find them. They've got to find them. One way or the other.' Ms Clay (above) was Victorian President of the Country Women's Association and known for beautiful, elegant clothing Expert hikers (pictured) as well as helicopters and drones had been deployed to look for the pair in Victoria's Wonnangatta Valley, but the search has proved fruitless Last week, bizarre new details emerged of an 'oddball loner' living in the Victorian Alps, who has been questioned over a number of mysterious disappearances. Known as 'Buttons' or ominously, 'the Button Man', the expert bushman became a person of interest after concerns about his odd behaviour were raised by locals. Sources believe the Button Man could be useful to the investigation, as he often speaks to local campers and knows the area well. He is understood to have earned his nickname due to his hobby of using deer antlers to make buttons - which he then uses as large ear piercings. Using well crafted traditional spears, the man is known to camp for weeks on end in remote bushlands and hunt for deer, The Age reported. He also just happens to be the last person who saw another missing bushwalker who vanished in October. Despite being described as 'spooky' and 'bloody scary', police have no evidence to suggest he was involved in any disappearances and there have been no reports of violence. Mr Hills drone remains missing, adding to theories it was either stolen or he lost it, which may have caused the pair to go looking for it among the wild terrain. Neither of the pair had given any indication to anyone that they may have wanted to disappear and checks have shown they have not accessed their phones, credit cards or bank accounts. Mrs Hill told Daily Mail Australia she knew her husband wasn't coming home when he didn't make a planned radio broadcast from the wilderness and never did again. The 71-year old said her husband had never gone missing before this trip. A search for the pair in Victoria's Wonnangatta Valley (pictured) has been called off, with the pair presumed dead 'He's always been on the radio. He didn't call for quite a few days and then I started to get worried and thought "I've got to do something now".' Mrs Hill said her husband would routinely broadcast at the same time every night when his other radio chums were on the air. 'They all get on at the same time and once I heard Russell I knew, on the Friday, that he was fine. But then I didn't hear him again,' she said. Mrs Hill told Daily Mail Australia her husband was familiar with the terrain where he was believed to have gone missing. 'He knows the area,' she said. 'He used to work out there. But it was a long time ago and he was a lot younger.' Mr Hill had been a professional logger back in the day where he worked in some of the country's toughest bush. 'It's unbelievable actually,' Mrs Hill said of his disappearance. A top White House official on Sunday likened China's handling of the coronavirus outbreak to the Soviet Union's cover-up of the meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986. National security adviser Robert O'Brien said Beijing knew what was happening with the virus, which originated in Wuhan, from November but lied to the World Health Organization and prevented outside experts from accessing information. "They unleashed a virus on the world that's destroyed trillions of dollars in American economic wealth that we're having to spend to keep our economy alive, to keep Americans afloat during this virus," O'Brien said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "The cover-up that they did of the virus is going to go down in history, along with Chernobyl. We'll see an HBO special about it ten or 15 years from now," he added, referring to a television miniseries. The disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, released radioactive nuclear material that killed dozens of people within weeks and forced tens of thousands to flee. Moscow delayed revealing the extent of what is regarded as the worst nuclear accident in history. U.S. President Donald Trump regularly complains about China's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. China has denied the accusations against it, and its top diplomat on Sunday accused the United States of spreading lies and attacking the country. "This is a real problem and it cost many, many thousands of lives in America and around the world because the real information was not allowed to get out," O'Brien said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "It was a cover-up. And we'll get to the bottom of it eventually." Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Guides Enlarged Meeting of WPK Central Military Commission Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- The Fourth Enlarged Meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) took place at a stirring time when the entire Party and the whole society are pushing ahead with the great revolutionary advance for glorifying this year marking the 75th founding anniversary of the WPK as a year of opening up an epoch-making phase in the path of the development of the Korean-style socialism, true to the line and policy for achieving prosperity by self-reliance set forth by the great Party. The meeting was guided by Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the WPK. Attending the meeting were members of the WPK Central Military Commission, members of the Executive Committee of the Korean People's Army Committee of the WPK, commanders and commissars of the services and corps of the Korean People's Army, commanding officers of the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of People's Security, the Guard Headquarters and other armed forces organs at all levels and vice directors of major departments of the WPK Central Committee. The meeting discussed important military steps and organizational and political measures to further bolster up the overall armed forces of the DPRK politically and ideologically and in military technique to be able to firmly defend the political stability and sovereignty of the country and reliably contain the persistent big or small military threats from the hostile forces in view of the essential requirements to bring about further progress in developing the national defence capabilities and war deterrent under the internal and external situation created in the vital period in the development of our revolution, and dealt with an organizational matter. The meeting reviewed and analyzed a series of drawbacks in the military and political activities of the overall armed forces of the DPRK including the People's Army, and discussed methodological issues for overcoming them and bringing about drastic improvement. Also discussed at the meeting were the issue of examining and setting right the unreasonable machinery and compositional defects and the core issues for further increasing the capabilities for militarily deterring the threatening foreign forces by rapidly increasing the self-reliant defence capabilities and organizing new units. The meeting stressed once again the tasks facing the different sectors to thoroughly carry out the revolutionary military line and policies of the party. Set forth at the meeting were new policies for further increasing the nuclear war deterrence of the country and putting the strategic armed forces on a high alert operation in line with the general requirements for the building and development of the armed forces of the country. Taken at the meeting were crucial measures for considerably increasing the firepower strike ability of the artillery pieces of the Korean People's Army. The meeting elected a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the DPRK and recalled or by-elected some of its members. Ri Pyong Chol was elected as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK. The organizational matter was tabled at the meeting on dismissing or transferring or newly appointing commanding officers in major posts of the armed forces institutions. The CMC of the WPK decided to promote the military ranks of major commanding officers of the People's Army in high recognition of their devotion and efforts to glorify this year marking the significant 75th anniversary of the glorious WPK as the first year of great victory in the frontal breakthrough. The respected Supreme Leader put main emphasis on thoroughly realizing the party's monolithic leadership over the People's Army by consolidating the party organizations and political institutions at all levels within the People's Army and enhancing their function and roles, and on providing party leadership to conducting military, political, logistic and defence and all other affairs in line with the ideology and intention of the party under whatever circumstances. He specified key issues to be constantly maintained in the military and political performance of the armed forces of the DPRK, and tasks and ways. He signed seven orders including the orders on new military measures discussed and decided at the Party CMC, an order on draft reorganization of machinery for enhancing the responsibility and roles of the major military educational institutions, the order on reorganizing the military commanding system to meet the mission and duty of the security institutions, and the order on promoting the military ranks of commanding officers. The Fourth Enlarged Meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission of the WPK organized and led by Kim Jong Un served as a historic turning point of great significance in increasing the capabilities of the revolutionary armed forces in every way and laying a solid foundation for further powerfully propelling the victorious advance of the revolutionary cause of Juche by dint of the invincible military force under the outstanding army-building idea and strategic plan of the WPK. -0- (2020.05.24) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Glass frogs illustrate a new mechanism of camouflage: 'edge diffusion'. Credit: Dr James Barnett Glass frogs are well known for their see-through skin but, until now, the reason for this curious feature has received no experimental attention. A team of scientists from the University of Bristol, McMaster University, and Universidad de Las Americas Quito, sought to establish the ecological importance of glass frog translucency and, in doing so, have revealed a novel form of camouflage. Using a combination of behavioural trials in the field, computational visual modelling and a computer-based detection experiment, the study published in PNAS reveals that, while glass frog translucency does act as camouflage, the mechanism differs from that of true transparency. Lead author, Dr. James Barnett who began the research while a Ph.D. student at the University of Bristol and is now based at McMaster University in Canada, said: "The frogs are always green but appear to brighten and darken depending on the background. This change in brightness makes the frogs a closer match to their immediate surroundings, which are predominantly made up of green leaves. We also found that the legs are more translucent than the body and so when the legs are held tucked to the frog's sides at rest, this creates a diffuse gradient from leaf colour to frog colour rather than a more salient sharp edge. This suggests a novel form of camouflage: 'edge diffusion'." Dr. Barnett said scientific debate had often been skeptical of the degree to which glass frogs can be called transparent. "Transparency is, at face value, the perfect camouflage. It is relatively common in aquatic species where animal tissue shares a similar refractive index to the surrounding water. However, air and tissue are quite different in their refractive indices, so transparency is predicted to be less effective in terrestrial species. Indeed, terrestrial examples are rare. Although glass frogs are one commonly cited example of terrestrial transparency, their sparse green pigmentation means they are better described as translucent," said Dr. Barnett. Dr. Barnett's Ph.D. was supervised by Professor Nick Scott-Samuel, an expert in visual perception from the University of Bristol's School of Psychological Sciences, and Innes Cuthill, Professor of Behavioural Ecology from Bristol's School of Biological Sciences. Professor Scott-Samuel said: "Our study addresses a question that has been the topic of much speculation, both among the public and the scientific community. We now have good evidence that the frogs' glass-like appearance is, indeed, a form of camouflage." Professor Cuthill said: "Animal camouflage has long been a textbook example of the power of Darwinian natural selection. However, in truth, we are only beginning to unravel how different forms of camouflage actually work. Glass frogs illustrate a new mechanism that we hadn't really considered before." Explore further Bright warning colors on poison dart frogs also act as camouflage Surfers walk to the water along a designated walkway after the 7am reopening of Bondi Beach on April 28, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) Proactive Stance on Chinese Regime Benefited Australia in Virus Response Commentary While many countries remain in COVID-19 pandemic lockdown or are just slowly starting to ease restrictions, Australia began opening up public beaches and relaxing rules in late April and has continued staying ahead of the curve in its efforts to protect its citizens lives. As of May 24, with a population of 25.7 million, Australia has seen approximately 7,110 cases of infection and 102 deaths as a result of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. In contrast, as of May 24, Canada, with 37.9 million people, recorded over 84,000 cases and more than 6,300 deaths. By early April, Financial Times journalist John Burn-Murdoch had already taken note: Australia a rare example of an Anglophone country on a gentle trajectory, he wrote in a tweet. Now that more businesses are reopening and more internal travel bans are being lifted, some sense of normalcy is gradually returning. While no one knows when and how the pandemic will end, its important to reflect on how a country like Australia managed to beat the odds and what it can do to stay the course as it tackles the complex challenges ahead across all sectors of society. In this regard, much of Canberras success appears to stem from its vigilance and determined action when it comes to the Chinese communist regime. Protecting National Security A key move that helped Australia contain the spread of the virus was closing the border to visitors from China on Feb. 1despite Beijings protestations and against World Health Organization (WHO) advice. This was the right decision and one of the most important decisions made by an Australian government in decades, Health Minister Greg Hunt recently told Sky News. Shortly thereafter, the Chinese regimes hoarding of personal protective equipment in January and February, such as masks, gloves, gowns, and hand sanitizer, led to shortages worldwide. Australia was no exception. As The Epoch Times previously reported, the regime had directed its United Front Work Department to mobilize overseas pro-Beijing groups to buy large quantities of these vital medical supplies and ship them to China. Greenland Group and Risland, two Chinese-linked companies in Australia, were widely reported by Australian media to have sent large volumes of protective equipment to China. According to Chinese government data, Beijing amassed an estimated 2.5 billion pieces of protective equipment in just two months. Canberra promptly announced a ban on the non-commercial export of these supplies, stipulating fines and jail terms for violating the ban. Meanwhile, global concerns arose over foreign takeovers of distressed companies amid the pandemic, especially by authoritarian states like Beijing, that could undermine supply chains and countries national security. In response, on March 29, Australias Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced changes to the countrys foreign investment review policy, requiring every proposed foreign takeover to be reviewed regardless of value. This was to avoid predatory behaviour that is not in the national interest and would be effective for the duration of the current crisis, he said. Coincidentally, data from Australias Health Department indicated a noticeable downward trend of new daily cases shortly after that day, continuing until today. Defying Coercion Then in mid-April, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne called for an independent review into the pandemics origins including Beijings handling of the initial outbreak in Wuhan. She quickly received backing from shadow foreign minister Penny Wong followed by support from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and others. The Chinese regime tried to discredit the request by accusing Canberra of politicizing the pandemic and warning that Chinese citizens may boycott Australia in various areas including beef, wine, tourism, and international students. When Canberra refused to back down, Beijing banned beef imports from four major Australian producers and imposed 80 percent tariffs on Australian barley. Despite Beijings disinformation and economic coercion, Canberra remained firm, winning support from over 120 countries for a co-sponsored motion seeking an independent evaluation of the global response to COVID-19 including the source of the virus and its route of transmission to humans. The WHO passed the motion at a virtual assembly on May 19. Deterring Foreign Interference and Spying Australias vigilant response to the CCP during the pandemic is consistent with Canberras actions in recent years that clearly show its growing awareness of the urgency and necessity of resisting the threats posed by the communist regime. These threats are not limited to health and economic consequences but also include significant political interference and espionage activities. In 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull commissioned a report on the extent of foreign interference in Australia. The classified report, which was leaked to the media in 2018, found that the CCP had over the past decade been making attempts to influence Australian political parties and policy-making at every level of government. In response, Turnbulls government introduced legislation that banned foreign donations to political candidates, broadened the definition of espionage activities, and required all those working on behalf of foreign entities to publicly declare who they are working for. Australia was also one of the first countries to ban Huawei from its 5G networks on national security grounds. In 2018, Canberra blocked Huawei from providing 5G technology to Australia, while barring ZTE, another Chinese tech company, at the same time. The fundamental issue is one of trust between nations in cyberspace, wrote Simeon Gilding, a senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), in a commentary in January. Over the past decade, the Chinese Communist Party has destroyed that trust through its scaled and indiscriminate hacking of foreign networks and its determination to direct and control Chinese tech companies, added Gilding, who until December 2019 was head of the Australian Signals Directorates signals intelligence and offensive cyber missions. Due to concerns about cyber attacks originating from China, Australia had already excluded Huawei from bidding on a project to build out the countrys national broadband network back in 2012. Seek Wider Trade Options, Look to Real Friends Canberras vigilance combined with informed and timely action against the CCP could well be the most significant factor contributing to Australias much-better-than-expected pandemic outcome thus far. It also attests to the kind of sound China policy and direction that will likely continue to serve the country well in the critical times ahead. In this context, there is bipartisan backing and broad public support for Canberras decisions including its Huawei ban and its leadership in pushing for a global inquiry into the pandemic. And Beijings overt use of coercion and disinformation has damaged its own image and helped to alert Australians to the serious threat that it poses. Managing relations with an assertive China requires Australian patience, consistency and steadfastness on policy over the long term, wrote Richard Maude, executive director of policy at the Asia Society Australia, in an article in May. Maude is also a former Australian deputy secretary of foreign affairs and trade. The task is harder because China increasingly is conducting its diplomacy in a manner it would never accept from others. That diminishes China but is the nature of authoritarian power. Vicky Xiuzhong Xu, an analyst at the ASPI, wrote in an opinion piece that Australia must not bow to China but seek wider trade options and look to our real friends. In her article, published by the Sydney Morning Herald on May 21, Xu advised forming a strong alliance with like-minded nations and thinking long-term in reducing reliance on China to better allow Australia to overcome Beijings tactics. Upholding Values, Strengthened by Faith A survey by Newgate Australia conducted in the third week of May shows that 79 percent of Australians believe the country is responding to the pandemic at an appropriate level and that 67 percent believe the government is doing a good or excellent job. Despite concerns about the economy and jobs, Australians continue to have strong faith in the performance and actions of government, the survey found. Australias prime minister in turn has strong faith in his spiritual belief. In a video published in March on the Eternity News website, Morrison says a prayer for his country and people as well as his government colleagues. He prayed for God to give us strength in this country, give us wisdom, give us judgment, give us encouragement, and let your peace reign. Morrison has also declared that Australia would never trade away our values and would deal with other countries fairly and honestly and openly, reported The Guardian in May. We have always been independent and we will always stand our ground when it comes to the things that we believe in and the values that we uphold, he said. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. He quit his job in Dubai and returned to India to spend time with his ailing mother but life doesn't always go according to plan or COVID-19 restrictions - and of her death came shortly before his 14-day quarantine in Delhi was ending. A heartbroken Aamir Khan said his mother died on Saturday and he could not even attend his mother's last rites at their home in Rampur on Sunday. His quarantine would end soon but he wasn't allowed to leave. It was a series of narrow misses, the 30-year-old, who had moved to Dubai six years ago to work as a product consultant and returned to India on May 13, told PTI. On Sunday, the day of his mother's funeral, the government announced revised guidelines for international arrivals. It divided the 14-day quarantine into two -- seven days paid institutional quarantine at the traveller's own cost, followed by seven days' isolation at home with self-monitoring of health. The government also announced that home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days in exceptional and compelling reasons such as cases of human distress, pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parents accompanied by children below 10 years, as assessed by the states. "I showed the updates to the authorities... that the guidelines have been revised and I should be allowed to go and will take all precautions. I was ready to take a test too but nothing worked in my favour," Khan said. Khan had initially planned to come to India in March and spend a month with his mother who had been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November last year. "We will learn to live with the virus but the emotional losses it is causing will remain with us forever. I spent last two months with only one agenda, that I have to meet my mother. I put everything at stake because I was determined to do this, Aamir told PTI in a phone interview from the Delhi hotel where he is quarantined. But there were hurdles aplenty, including the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, strict quarantine rules and workplace complications. I struggled for two months, making several rounds to the embassy, to come home. Finally I could board a repatriation flight on May 13 from UAE to Delhi," he said,. In accordance with protocol, he was sent to a quarantine centre, a private hotel he is paying for, for 14 days. On the eighth day, I told the representatives from SDM office that I really need to go to meet my mother. They told me they need to take special permission. More days went by and I got a call that my mother passed away. I pleaded the authorities to let me go for the last rites but I wasn't allowed to," he said tearfully. Recounting his ordeal, Khan said his plans to come in March were put on the backburner after international travel was suspended due to lockdown restrictions to contain spread of COVID-19. When he finally got a ticket for the repatriation flight after several rounds to the India Embassy, his office in Dubai said they could only give him leave for 20 days. "I was surprised with their response, I told them there is a compulsory 14-day quarantine period and I won't be left with much time. Bosses were unsure about when will flights resume and when I will be able to get back. Not paying heed to what is at stake, I decided to quit and move back in the hope of spending some months with my mother. I had no clue that she did not have any time left," he said. According to official data, 2.59 lakh people have registered to return from 98 countries under the Vande Bharat Mission, announced to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in different countries due to travel restrictions imposed in view of the COVID-19 spread. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ANASIG association has shared a number of testimonies to throw light on the role and importance of social workers. "We make sure that nobody is forgotten," Luxembourg's association of social workers (ANASIG) stressed in a statement released earlier this Monday. Social workers are generally very discreet when it comes to talking about their profession and experiences more generally. The testimonies collected during a webinar and published by ANASIG therefore offer a rare insight into the everyday working life of social workers during the pandemic. Luxembourg boasted 716 social workers in 2019. Social workers qualify as health professionals, which means that a fair share of them also joined the medical reserve corps that was brought to life after the pandemic broke out. For many other social workers, work continued (almost) as normal with a new emphasis on remote working. According to ANASIG, some social workers faced new challenges. A number of problems that had already existed before the crisis were aggravated. An unnamed social worker for instance described the difficulties she experienced when she tried to contact secondary school pupils who disappeared off the radar and could not be reached by teaching staff and school officials. Many of the pupils in question had not been in touch with the school's social services unit before the pandemic. Social workers therefore had to build a relationship with them via phone, which proved to be a challenging enterprise. Some of pupils did not have access to computers. They were given laptops by the social workers. Others had serious problems and, according to the social workers, it was not understandable why the school's social services did not intervene earlier. ANASIG urged the public to continue to display solidarity after the end of the ongoing crisis. The association argued that Luxembourg should not allow its weakest members of society to face the repercussions of the crisis on their own. ANASIG has also drawn up a questionnaire for social workers to get a better understanding of the social workers' experiences and potential problems. The results are expected to be published in June 2020. Jimmy Cobb, a prolific jazz drummer who most famously worked with Miles Davis, has died at the age of 91. The musician, born Wilbur James Cobb, succumbed to a lengthy battle with lung cancer in his Manhattan home on Sunday, his wife Eleana Tee Cobb told NPR. Cobb is survived by his wife and their two daughters. He was the last surviving member of what is known as Miles Davis' First Great Sextet which included saxophonists John Coltrane and Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley, pianist Bill Evans, bassist Paul Chambers, Cobb and Davis. Legendary jazz drummer Jimmy Cobb died of lung cancer, at age 91, on Sunday in his Manhattan Home (pictured in 1959) Together the sextet recorded Davis' 1959 album Kind Of Blue which is largely regarded as 'one of the most important, influential and popular albums in jazz,' by Rolling Stone. Kind Of Blue is also assumed to be the best selling jazz recorded of all time being RIAA certified Quintuple Platinum, selling five million copies. Over his 70-year career, Cobb also worked with Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday and Pearl Bailey, among others. Born in Washington D.C. in 1929, Cobb bought his first drum set at age 13, started playing professionally at 18 and by the 1950 he began a touring career with Earl Bostic. He was the last surviving member of what is known as Miles Davis' First Great Sextet which included saxophonists John Coltrane and Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley, pianist Bill Evans, bassist Paul Chambers, Cobb and Davis (pictured in 2008) 'I figured it was something I'd like to do,' Cobb said in an interview at NYU in 2019 on how he started drumming. 'And when I learned enough to do it, I figured that would be what I would do for the rest of my life.' By 1959, he went on to join Davis' sexted, at just 30-years-old and later recorded many more albums with the jazz legend including Sketches of Spain and Someday My Prince Will Come. He received the Don Redman Heritage Award in 2008, which is presented to 'legends of jazz whose musicianship, humanity and dignity serve as an asset to jazz in the tradition of Don Redman,' according to the award's website. Cobb was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2011 as 'one of the last of the great drummers who defined the post-bop style of the 1950s and 60.' Together the sextet recorded Davis' 1959 album Kind of Blue which is largely regarded as 'one of the most important, influential and popular albums in jazz,' by Rolling Stone (pictured right on stage with Miles Davis in 1960) The greatest: Here is an image of trumpeter Miles Davis holding his horn in 1948 in New York City At the time, fellow drummer Peter Erskine said: 'Simply put, the worlds a better place because of Jimmy Cobbs drumming, and its delightful to know he is being inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame. The PAS is a better place now for this.' Cobb seemed to understand being a living link to jazz history and legends. 'I've been in the right place at the right time a lot of times,' he said. "[But today] it's not walking up and shaking the dude's hand and talking about things, or asking him questions.' Busy man: Drummer Cobb worked with both Dinah Washington, left, and Billie Holiday, right After news of his death, musician Ted Giogia tweeted: 'This is a devastating lossthe death of a beloved musician, but also the end of an era, as we lose the last surviving member of a historic ensemble.' As well as his decades long career as a band member and freelance musician, he also taught including master classes at Stanford University, University of Greensboro and San Francisco State University. Earlier this year in January, his daughter Serena created a GoFundMe page to raise money for his medical expenses. 'Mentally and spiritually my father is as youthful and energetic as ever,' Serena wrote at the time. 'But for the past 2 years hes been dealing with some medical issues that have been causing severe challenges for him physically.' She went on to explain that at the time he needed a full time caregiver as they chose holistic care which required '100% out of pocket coverage for both treatment and visits, as it isn't covered by insurance.' Cobb most recently released solo album This I Dig of You in 2019. Cochin Shipyard Ltd has said that the it does not foresee any liquidity challenges to meet its supplier obligations and the ongoing capex will not be impacted on account of liquidity in the backdrop of Covid-19. Delay in running projects owing to Covid-19 pandemic will have an adverse impact on financial performance and profitability of the company during FY20-21 but the assessment of the impact will be possible only after stabilisation of operations in the yard. There will not be any additional impact due to liquidated damages for delay in running projects as it has already invoked ... The pilot of the ill-fated Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) that crashed recently in Karachi had ignored warnings from air traffic control about the plane height and speed as the aircraft approached for landing. The A320 Airbus was carrying 91 passengers and eight crew members from Lahore to Karachi on PK 8303 when it crashed in a residential area near Karachi Airport on Saturday, Geo News reported. Of the 99 people aboard, 97 were killed and only two passengers survived. According to a report from air traffic control, the flight left the Lahore airport at 1:05 pm (local time) and was scheduled to land at the Jinnah International Aiport in Karachi at 2:30 pm (local time). At 2:30 pm, the plane was 15 nautical miles from Karachi at Makli, flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet above the ground instead of 7,000 feet, when the air traffic control issued its first warning to the pilot to lower the plane's altitude. Instead of lowering the plane altitude, the pilot responded by saying that he was satisfied. When only 10 nautical miles were left till the Karachi Airport, the plane was at an altitude of 7,000 feet instead of 3,000 feet. The report stated that air traffic control issued a second warning to the pilot to lower the plane's altitude. However, the pilot responded again by stating that he was satisfied and would handle the situation, saying he was ready for landing. According to an earlier report, prepared by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), the plane's engines had scraped the runway thrice on the pilot's first attempt to land the plane. It caused friction and sparks. (ANI) Also Read: Coronavirus: Brazil reports 15,800 new cases; tally reaches 3,63,000 A spokesman for GEO didnt immediately respond to an email asking for comment. GEO purchased the property in 2013 with the hopes of building a for-profit immigrant detention center if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement determined one was needed in the Chicago area. The prospect fueled a region-wide protest by residents, religious and human rights groups who met regularly to fight any such center in the area. Bomb Blast in Somalia Kills 4 During Eid Celebrations By Harun Maruf May 24, 2020 At least four civilians were killed and more than 15 others were wounded in a bomb blast during Eid al Fitr celebrations outside the Somali town of Baidoa, witnesses said. Two of the dead are children, according to reports from the scene. The explosion occurred on Sunday afternoon as people performed traditional dances in a field near an internally displaced persons camp north of the town. Somalia observed Eid al Fitr on Saturday but festivities continue for three days according to Islamic traditions. A security official who could not be named says celebrations were held in the field Saturday without incident. He said he believes the bomb was planted before celebrations continued for a second day Sunday. Earlier on Sunday, a police general survived a roadside explosion targeting his vehicle in Mogadishu. General Ali Hersi Barre and his bodyguards escaped unhurt following the explosion. General Barre is the acting chief of the health department of the national police. He was targeted on May 20 when a similar roadside explosion hit his vehicle. Gen Barre was not in the vehicle, but one of his bodyguards was killed and three other people were wounded. There was no immediate claim responsibility for either attack Sunday, but security officials suspect al-Shabab was behind the blasts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Oil rose as the head of the International Energy Agency forecast demand will likely grow past its level before the global pandemic. Futures in New York gained as much as 2.3 per cent on Monday, with trading volumes thin due to holidays in the U.S., U.K. and Singapore. Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA, said oil consumption hasnt yet peaked, countering speculation that the virus will have a long-term impact. In the absence of strong government policies, a sustained economic recovery and low oil prices are likely to take global oil demand back to where it was, and beyond, Birol said in an interview, urging governments to focus spending on combating climate change. Crude has surged more than 75 per cent this month, following a historic crash in April, as countries began to ease restrictions on peoples movements that were put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The price recovery has been supported by a faster-than-expected retreat in drilling and production in the U.S. and elsewhere. Our view is that the worst is now behind us, said Daniel Ghali, a TD Securities commodity strategist. The shale patch is cutting at a phenomenal rate. But the return of U.S.-China tensions may limit the scope of oils rebound. China warned on Sunday that some in the U.S. were pushing the two countries toward a new Cold War. The U.S. should give up its wishful thinking of changing China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his annual news briefing on the sidelines of National Peoples Congress meetings in Beijing. He also warned America not to cross Chinas red line on Taiwan. Clearly, we are in an era of heightened geopolitical risk, Ghali said. We could see that relationship and the trade between countries get reshuffled. While fuel consumption climbs in some nations with the easing of lockdown restrictions, the cheapest U.S. gasoline in nearly two decades wont be enough to entice nervous Americans to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend. The uncertainty around travel is so great due to the virus that American Automobile Association is not releasing a forecast for the first time in 20 years. Big oils annual general meetings in the U.S. and Europe this week should shed light on how heavily producers have been hit by lockdowns, with Total SA, BP Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. among those fronting shareholders. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has given his government until June 15 to come up with a plan to support the countrys oil industry. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Police are investigating after the U.S. Coast Guard found a mans body in the Cuyahoga River Sunday night. The man was found about 7 p.m. in the river near Central Furnace Ct., just south of Broadway Avenue, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said. The man has not been identified. Police have not said if they know how the man got in the river or if his death is suspicious. This post will be updated if more information becomes available Monday. Read more crime stories on cleveland.com: Man shot to death in Clevelands North Collinwood neighborhood, police say Swimmer found dead in Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, authorities say Jimmy Dimora, serving time at federal prison in Ohio for corruption, tests positive for coronavirus, lawyer says 22-year-old man shot dead in Cleveland early Saturday morning, according to police Three people killed in separate crashes in Euclid, police say Cuyahoga County corruption trials, criminal probes delayed by coronavirus The minister said the warped understanding of judicial independence should never be allowed because if it were, there would be no need for the courts to adjudicate in disputes involving Government. Encomiums have continued to pour in as the former minister of Information and an elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, turns 93 years old on Monday. Delta Deputy governor, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, in his congratulatory message to the Ijaw National leader, described him as a father and a leader. According to Deacon Otuaro, "As I prepare to join Deltans and millions of admirers tomorrow, May 25, to say "Happy 93rd Birthday!", my heart wells up with admiration at your inspiring commitment to education as your legacy/torch for the people's liberation and unity of the nation. The Deputy governor hinted that Clark's establishment of a University in the state, raises the hope of the younger generation Hear him: "Your establishment of Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Nigeria, which raises the banner of the vision higher for us to clearly discern, is not a latter day twist but a connect to a lifelong passion. "Indeed, from dutiful school teacher churning out countless honourable men and women, through legal career in defence of the oppressed, to impactful national service as State Commissioner, Minister and Senator of the Federal Republic, the records show you lifting up education as key to liberation and uniting the nation towards equity, peace and progress. He congratulated Chief Clark, for his attainment of the notable age. "May Almighty God grant you increased years and wisdom to serve, and fulfil your desires. Sir, do enjoy a glorious birthday", Deacon Otuaro, stated. Similarly, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has extolled the leadership virtues of elder statesman and former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark on the occasion of his 93rd birthday. While describing Chief Clark as a crusader for equity and justice, Senator Omo-Agege applauded him for his patriotism and commitment to peace. In a special congratulatory message to the nonagenarian, the Delta Central lawmaker noted that he has continued to work for the nations unity and progress. Omo-Agege who doubles as Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South, commended him for his unwavering pursuit of the unity of the country, particularly his maturity in speaking for the good of all Nigerians, promoting the South-South quest for a new developmental vision and supporting the cause of the poor and vulnerable. He prayed that the almighty God will grant the elder statesman longer life and good health. "I heartily felicitate with you, your family and join your friends, associates and innumerable admirers to celebrate with you on your birthday and wish you good health and greater prosperity in the years ahead. "No one is in doubt of your commitment to nation-building. You have immensely contributed to Nigeria's growth both as a public servant and as a private citizen, offering counsel to several administrations. "You have remained a role model to the younger generation and an icon of service and sacrifice," Omo-Agege said. 2020 is turning out to be one of the worst years that we have come across in a long time. Less than six months into 2020 we have been hit by locust swarms, a pandemic and a super cyclone. And parts of India are going to be hit by another swarm of locusts in the coming days. States like Rajasthan and Gujarat were already hit by a swarm of locusts earlier this year. AP Now the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are being attacked by the locusts which bred and matured in Iran and Pakistans Balochistan and have already reached Rajasthan. Gujarat and Punjab have also warned the farmers of locust attacks. On May 20, swarms of locusts were spotted in Dausa district of Rajasthan. In five days, they had covered a distance of around 200km to reach Dausa from Ajmer. Now, the pests have entered UP. In Rajasthan, 16 districts are affected, in UP 17 and Madhya Pradesh has reported one of the worst attacks in 27 years. BCCL In Uttar Pradesh, locusts are feared to affect 17 districts Agra, Aligarh, Mathura, Bulandshahr, Hathras, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Farrukhabad, Auraiya, Jalaun, Kanpur, Jhansi, Mahoba, Hamirpur and Lalitpur. The Jhansi district administration in Uttar Pradesh has directed fire brigade to keep its vehicle ready with chemicals following a sudden movement by a swarm of locusts. Deputy Director Agriculture Kamal Katiyar said the swarm of locusts, which is moving, is small in size. BCCL "We have got news that nearly 2.5 to 3-kilometre long swarm of locusts has entered the country. A team has come from Kota (Rajasthan) to tackle the locusts." In Madhya Pradesh locust swarms have wreaked havoc in at least 12 districts, destroying standing crops in the largest such attack in a decade. The swarms first entered Mandsaur and Neemuch on May 17 and then swept into 10 more districts. Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam, Ujjain, Dewas, Shajapur Indore, Khargone, Morena and Sheopur have been the worst-hit. BCCL The swarms could make headway to the Rajasthan-Haryana border and then enter to Delhi. Four teams of the central government and teams of state agricultural development are using chemical sprays with the help of tractors and fire-brigade vehicles to keep the locusts at bay. Though locust swarms are not anything new in the regions, in recent times they are becoming more frequent. Locusts can destroy standing crops and devastate livelihoods of people in the agricultural supply chain. Locust attacks could pose a threat to food security, the Food and Agricultural Organization has warned. BCCL According to FAO, a one square kilometre swarm of locusts, with about 40 million locusts, can in a day eat as much food as 35,000 people, assuming that each individual consumes 2.3 kg of food per day. President Donald Trump threatened to move the location of the 2020 Republican National Convention in August if North Carolina's Democratic governor doesn't allow the party to use the current venue restriction free. In a series of tweets on Monday, Mr Trump said he would move the convention if North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper didn't lift attendance restrictions on The Spectrum Center, the current site of the August Republican National Convention. "I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed ... full attendance in the Arena," Mr Trump said. After expressing his frustration, Mr Trump threatened to move the convention unless the governor agrees to let the party use the space unfettered. "...[The Republicans] must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina." He argued that under the current circumstances, the Republicans would have to commit to spending "millions of dollars" preparing the venue for the event without even knowing if they'll be allowed to use the space to their liking. "In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space," Mr Trump tweeted. Vice President Mike Pence appeared on Fox and Friends to discuss the president's ultimatum and suggest alternative sites for the convention. He said Mr Trump's request was "very reasonable" and echoed the president's sentiments. "We all want to be in Charlotte, we love North Carolina, but having a sense now is absolutely essential because of the immense preparations that are involved," Mr Pence said. "We look forward to working with Governor Cooper, getting a swift response, and if need be moving the national convention to a state that is father along on reopening and can say with confidence that we can gather there." Later the president angrily tweeted what he said was a "fake news" report by the New York Times that he was planning to move the convention to his own resort in Doral only for Maggie Haberman, the paper's White House correspondent, to point out that her paper had made no such claim. The Republicans are aiming to raise $65 million for the convention. Much of that money will go to preparing the venue, which is slated to begin in mid-July. The nominating conventions for the 2020 election are scheduled within a week of each other. The Democrats are scheduled to hold their convention in Milwaukee, and the Republicans' convention - barring Mr Trump moving the convention - is planned for 24 -27 August in Charlotte. Mr Trump's demands are the latest in his overall push to speed up state reopening efforts, despite the persistent threat of the coronavirus. Despite his demand for states to reopen, the number of deaths has continued to grow, nearing the 100,000 mark. North Carolina reported there were 1,107 new Covid-19 cases in its state on Saturday, the highest it has reported since the outbreak began. WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DELTA 9 CANNABIS INC. (TSX: DN) (OTCQX: VRNDF) (Delta 9 or the Company), is pleased to see the Manitoba Government pushing forward on the third phase of its retail cannabis expansion. Delta 9 will be undertaking multiple expansion strategies and applying for licenses to open additional cannabis retail outlets in Manitoba, as a part of the third phase of retail cannabis expansion announced last week by the Manitoba Government. On Friday May 22, 2020, Manitoba Minister of Crown Services Jeff Wharton announced that the Manitoba Government would be moving forward on its plan for an open and competitive cannabis retail market. Beginning June 1, 2020, the Province will open the cannabis retail application process to all prospective retailers for a new controlled-access license as well as the previous age-restricted license for operators of stand-alone retail stores. This move will enable local entrepreneurs to create jobs and support Manitobas economy, which is a critical step as we work toward rebuilding Manitoba in the wake of COVID-19, said Minister Wharton. We are very pleased with the governments announcement to expand and create an open and competitive cannabis retail landscape in the Province. As Manitobas largest cannabis industry employer and only vertically integrated cannabis company, we feel we are uniquely qualified to provide this important product and service to Manitobans, said Arbuthnot. We look forward to supporting the governments initiative and continuing to invest and create jobs here in the Province. In response to this announcement, the Company will undertake multiple strategies in its Manitoba retail expansion, namely; (i) The Company will continue to build out a chain of corporate owned and operated Delta 9 Cannabis Store branded store fronts across the Province. The Company plans to open up to 12 retail locations over the next 24 months. (ii) The Company is exploring franchise opportunities which would allow local entrepreneurs to open stand-alone Delta 9 Cannabis Store branded store fronts under the age-restricted license category. The Company will provide its franchise partners with a turn-key platform which leverages the benefits of its expertise in cannabis retail including, store design, training and staff education programs, inventory tracking, financial plans, standard operating procedures, and systems, as well as support from its corporate head office. (iii) The Company is exploring franchise opportunities to open Delta 9 Express Store-in-Store operations under the controlled-access license category. The Company will partner with retail operators such as gas stations, hoteliers, convenience stores, etc. to provide a turn-key platform for such retailers to add Delta 9 cannabis products to their product offerings as well as providing training and staff education programs, inventory tracking, and support from its corporate head office. Parties who are interested in establishing an age-restricted or controlled-access Delta 9 franchise should contact the Company at franchise.opportunities@delta9.ca. For more information contact: Investor & Media Contact: Ian Chadsey VP Corporate Affairs Mobile: 204-898-7722 E-mail: ian.chadsey@delta9.ca About Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company focused on bringing the highest quality cannabis products to market. The company sells cannabis products through its wholesale and retail sales channels and sells its cannabis grow pods to other businesses. Delta 9's wholly-owned subsidiary, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc., is a licensed producer of medical and recreational cannabis and operates an 80,000 square foot production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Delta 9 owns and operates a chain of retail stores under the Delta 9 Cannabis Store brand. Delta 9's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "DN" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "VRNDF". For more information, please visit https://invest.delta9.ca/ Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the Companys future business plans and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements relating to (i) the expansion of the Companys retail cannabis business segment; and (ii) the roll-out of the Manitoba Governments third phase of retail cannabis expansion in Manitoba. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including all risk factors set forth in the annual information form of Delta 9 dated March 19, 2020 which has been filed on SEDAR. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The latest: President Donald Trump booked back-to-back Memorial Day appearances despite the coronavirus pandemic, at Arlington National Cemetery and at a historic fort in Baltimore. Trump recently called Baltimore a rat and rodent infested mess and its mayor has suggested Trump stay home. Presidents typically honor fallen military members by laying a wreath and delivering a speech at the hallowed burial ground in Virginia. But the pandemic, which is expected to claim its 100,000th American this week, has led to changes this year. Trump will only lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He is expected to speak later at Baltimore's Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. It's where a poem, written after a huge American flag was hoisted to celebrate an important victory over the British during the War of 1812, became the The Star-Spangled Banner. Trump has been steadily ramping up his schedule in an effort to portray the nation as returning to its pre-pandemic ways as it emerges from a devastating economic shutdown intended to slow the virus. Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. Jack Young has criticized Trump's visit, saying the trip sends the wrong message about stay-at-home directives and that the city cannot afford the added cost of a presidential visit at a time when it is losing $20 million a month because of the pandemic. That President Trump is deciding to pursue nonessential travel sends the wrong message to our residents," Young, a Democrat, said in a statement last week. He referenced the disproportionate effect the virus has had on his city and called on Trump to set a positive example" by not traveling during the holiday weekend. The White House sounded unmoved. The brave men and women who have preserved our freedoms for generations did not stay home and the president will not either as he honors their sacrifice by visiting such a historic landmark in our nations history, White House spokesman Judd Deere said in an emailed statement Sunday. White House goal on testing nursing homes unmet Nearly two weeks ago the White House urged governors to ensure that every nursing home resident and staff member be tested for the coronavirus within 14 days. Its not going to happen. A review by The Associated Press found that at least half of the states are not going to meet White Houses deadline and some arent even bothering to try. Only a handful of states, including West Virginia and Rhode Island, have said theyve already tested every nursing home resident. Many states said the logistics, costs and manpower needs are too great to test all residents and staff in a two-week window. Some say they need another week or so, while others say they need much more time. California, the most populous state, said it is still working to release a plan that would ensure testing capacity for all residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities statewide. And still other states are questioning whether testing every nursing home resident and staff, regardless of any other factors, is a good use of time and money. White House announces new travel restrictions on Brazil President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a proclamation suspending entry to the U.S. for any individual who has been in Brazil within the 14 days immediately prior to their arrival. "I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Federative Republic of Brazil during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States," the proclamation reads in part. The policy is aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus. As of Sunday evening, Brazil had more than 347,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the second most worldwide, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. "Today's action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Sunday. "These new restrictions do not apply to the flow of commerce between the United States and Brazil." Coronavirus has yet to peak in Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest and worst-infected city, but the health care system is already beginning to break down. As the crisis deepens and the number of deaths continues to rise, President Jair Bolsonaro is urging businesses to reopen. He opposes many governors who are stressing social distancing measures to slow the spread. Far from hospitals, Brazil's indigenous people are dying at an alarming rate. The death toll is double that of the rest of Brazil's population, according to the advocacy group Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil. FDA commissioner issues Memorial Day warning The commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sunday urged Americans observing Memorial Day weekend to follow federal guidelines aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, saying the deadly virus "is not yet contained." "With the country starting to open up this holiday weekend, I again remind everyone that the coronavirus is not yet contained. It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community. Social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks protect us all," Dr. Stephen Hahn wrote in a tweet. The commissioner's Memorial Day warning comes as some states begin to reopen, allowing people to go to beaches, cookouts and bars as they observe one of the more popular holidays that's to take place amid the pandemic. But as social activities increase, health experts like Hahn warn the U.S. is still not out of the woods. "Even as states and some state officials rush to reopen it's on us to make smart and safe decisions," Dr. Seema Yasmin, a former disease detective at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told CNN Saturday night. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, told the public last week that going outside was fine, with cautious measures. "Go out, wear a mask, stay 6 feet away from anyone so you can have the physical distancing," he told a CNN coronavirus town hall. "Go for a run. Go for a walk. Go fishing. As long as you're not in a crowd and you're not in a situation where you can physically transmit the virus." Experts worry about case spikes as Americans try to go back to normal With more sweeping reopenings, many Americans gathered to celebrate Memorial Day weekend in parks, backyards, restaurants and beaches after weeks of staying inside. "It looks like America's opening up," beachgoer Steve Ricks in Alabama's Gulf Shores told WPMI. "There are literally thousands of people out here on the beach, and what I'm really pleased to see is that many of these folks, almost all of them, are doing a great job with social distancing." On the same beach, Patricia Patton said she felt safe and she didn't have to wear a mask. "There's nobody that has been near me or in my space at all," she told the affiliate. Others flocked to Georgia and Florida beaches to kick off the weekend. Farther north, beaches in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware also began welcoming visitors Friday. But while snapshots from across the country may look like a return to normal, experts warn the U.S. is still not out of the woods. So far, more than 1.6 million Americans have been infected and over 97,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. "Even as states and some state officials rush to reopen it's on us to make smart and safe decisions," Dr. Seema Yasmin, a former disease detective at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told CNN Saturday night. "If you ... look at the numbers, you'll see that on Thursday more than 20,000 Americans were infected ... Just yesterday, that number went up and there were more than 24,000 Americans newly diagnosed with Covid-19." States such as North Carolina and Arkansas are seeing major spikes, Yasmin said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ali Hashisho/Reuters Do you know any way to get me transferred to Camp al Hol? asks an ISIS prisoner in a neighboring camp texting from one of the illicit phones passed around among the detainees. If the guards from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) catch her with it there will be hell to pay, but all shes thinking about is how she can get out. To stay in SDF custody, she believes, is to face the growing threat of attacks on the largely Kurdish-led SDF by Turkish-backed rebels, and rapes and assaults that have gone along with that, plus the Turkish bombardments in the region, and now the spread of COVID-19 in Syria. There was a time when U.S. special operations forces helped keep the prisons, the prisonersand the SDF troopssecure. But that time ended last year when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the plug on Americas SDF allies, the soldiers who did the vital fighting and dying on the ground in the war to crush the so-called Islamic State. Since then a much more tenuous and treacherous modus vivendi has taken shape, with much less American influence. Groveling Barr Just Pissed Away DOJs Greatest Power Previously this prisoner had texted us that she had the opportunity to escape but passed it up because she had turned herself in to the SDF with the express wish to be repatriated and face justice at home in the West. But now, seeing the steady stream of ISIS females escaping from al Hol, shes having second thoughts. Maybe freedom is an option for her. Indeed, there have been multiple escapes from Camp al Hol, most of them facilitated with bribes to local guards in the amounts of $3,000 to $4,500 per person. Hundreds of women, many from Europe, escaped another camp, Ain Issa, when it was bombarded during the Turkish invasion of North East Syria in the fall of 2019. Lisa Smith from Ireland and Bouchra Abouallal from Belgium, both of whom escaped from Ain Issa camp, were among some of the women who made their way toward Turkey, trying to get home, possibly meaning to turn themselves in. Lisa Smith made it and is now facing justice at home in Dublin; Bouchra remains detained in a Turkish prison, although her children have been brought back to Belgium, where they were born before their parents joined ISIS. Story continues GO FUND ISIS Evidence has grown over the last year of fundraising in Europe to pay for escapes and smuggling operations out of Al Hol. Richard Hall of the Independent reported that an operation called Justice for Sisters was launched in June of 2019 with the help of an intermediary in Germany using an online crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise money from European sympathizers. Another campaign reported at the same time by the Kurdish Rojava Information Center was explicitly raising funds via the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram and PayPal to pay smugglers to help women in Camp Hol escape. To avoid takedowns by PayPal, the fundraising campaigns were given names like Honeymoon in Vienna by their ISIS-supporting organizers. In July, the Telegram channel was closed, but whether it resurfaced under another heading is unknown to us. Similarly, operatives in Idlib have run a campaign called Free the Female Prisoners that claims to have had success getting four women out of the camp. That campaign released a poster on Telegram stating, $8,000 secures the full release of a sister and the Golden share $4,000 covers half the cost. Hall writes about how money may be moved to foreign women in Camp al Hol: Money transfer facilities are present in the main part of the camp, and foreign detainees could in theory receive money with the help of a Syrian living in the camp. We would add that ISIS women could also make illicit arrangements with local Syrians who sell them food and other supplies. The International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE) recently discovered Justice for Sisters on Instagram, with one of the accounts looking like its run from al Hol camp, most likely via an illicit phone. The women detained in al Hol, pictured in full opaque niqabs, wrote that they needed $7,500 to escape. While many of the posts are written in German, a few are written in Arabic and English. One English post noted the lack of electricity and medication, causing viruses to spread rapidly. The women pleaded for funds in our hour of need. They also posted an ISIS propaganda video promising the punishment of the Burning Fire to those who have tortured the believing men and believing women. In the caption for the video, the women suggested that those who donated would be helping the family of a shaheed, a martyr according to ISISs warped interpretation of Islam, meaning that at least one of each womans husbands was killed while fighting for ISIS. (Under the Islamic State, women who lost their husbands in combat were directed to marry other fighters right away.) Another video showed women reading a message in German, English, and Arabic. This Instagram account also features Instagram stories with photos and videos of ISIS fighters and their families in ISISs last stronghold of Baghouz, plus requests for cash donations displayed in international currency, and the pictures showing the dire conditions in al Hol. That account bio includes links to two other Instagram accounts apparently not run from al Hol. One, supposedly run by a man, posted photos and videos of the women in al Hol. His content was almost exclusively in German. Another account posted a link to a PayPal account as well as an address in Germany where supporters could go to offer help and support. Most of the photos posted by this account were of women and their children in al Hol, THE ESCAPEES The women who have escaped from the SDF-run camps are many. Hayat Boumedienne, partner of Amedy Coulibaly who was one of the perpetrators of the horrific January 2015 attacks in Paris, France, is one of 13 French jihadists who have escaped from SDF camps. "Some were married to well-known jihadists, others made propaganda and appeared in the magazines of the Islamic State organization" says Jean-Charles Brisard, cofounder of the Paris-based Terrorism Analysis Center told Agence France Presse last week. Boumedienne fled France shortly before the Paris attacks on the Charlie Hebdo satirical papers and Coulibalys hostage taking and assault at a kosher supermarket in 2015. Boumedienne was in the company of Mahdi Sabri Belhoucine, the brother of a jihadist notorious in France, as she crossed from Turkey into Syria. She is believed to have been at least peripherally involved in the attacks. Boumedienne was thought to have died in Syria until recent evidence surfaced in French courts placing her in Camp al Hol in October 2019, according to the testimony of a woman who was detained alongside her. However, she is now believed to have escaped alongside 13 other French women who were detained in al Hol and Ain Issa camps. This number of ISIS female escapes amounts to 10 percent of the French women detained in Syria, according to Brisard. People try to escape every day, and people do escape every week, a camp administrator from Al Hol told Lindsey Snell of The Investigative Journal in February of 2020. She pointed out that some wanted to settle in Idlib or Deir Ezzor, but that most wanted to cross out of Syria to Turkey. According to an unnamed Turkish journalist cited by Snell, women are assisted by the Turkish military in Jarabulus and Manbij to make their way into Turkey. We have not been able to confirm that specific claim, but it would fit with ICSVE interviews in which ISIS members claim that Turkish intel and military officials helped them in earlier years when they needed to cross the border from Syria into Turkey for various reasons. The SDF acknowledges these escapes, most recently confirming that four Turkish women, Hatice Gunes, Hafsa Gunes, Beyza Gunes, and Berire Gunes, escaped on December 21, 2019, from al Hol Camp. Such incidents confirm the inability of local authorities to guarantee the detention of foreign jihadists, whether in prisons or in camps, in which mutinies and attempted escape occur regularly, says Brisard. He goes on to say that they may join the ranks of terrorists currently operating in Syria and Iraq, strengthening them, or disperse to other countries. They may also head home secretly to plan and carry out further attacks like those that plagued many European capitals in recent years. Brisards organization, like many others, advocates for repatriation of these ISIS prisoners held by the SDF so they can be tried by European laws, held securely in Western facilities and if possible be rehabilitated before their ultimate release back into society. REBUILDING ISIS When considering these ISIS escapes one should keep in mind that al Qaeda in Iraq pursued a strategy it called Breaking the Walls in 2012 to free enough former jihadists to strengthen their ranks. The result: they rose again as ISISwhich was by 2014 the most ambitious and powerful jihadi terrorist group in history. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi (who didnt have to escape from U.S. custody in Iraq a decade earlier, but was released), urged his followers in his final video months before he was killed last October to free ISIS prisoners. Other ISIS supporters have since echoed his call. ISIS men held in al Hasakah prison in SDF territory have rioted multiple times recently, once taking over an entire floor of the prison for several days. Eventually the riots were quelled and the SDF says those who escaped were recaptured. According to careful instructions given to us before interviewing ISIS prisoners in January 2020, the SDF has tried to keep news of Baghdadis speech, and even of his death, hidden from male prisoners. The belief is that if they learned of either they would become more violent, riot or try to escape. The women, however, clearly are aware. When we visited the SDF camps in August and September of 2019, the prison guards told us the die-hard women enforcers of ISIS were roaming the camps sharing news of Baghdadis speech and telling their sisters that it wouldnt be long until their men would come to break them out of the prison. This news was so frightening to some of the disillusioned women that one German in Al Hol asked me, while trembling in fear, if it was true that ISIS would be coming back to reclaim them. Amarnath Amarsingam a Canadian counter-terrorism researcher, tweeted a similar observation from his visit to Camp al Hol in October 2019: Baghdadi speech calling for a prison break had profound impact inside camps/prisons [with ISIS] women feeling ISIS leader still cares about them. WHO'S RESPONSIBLE? While the SDF has been a vital ally for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, bravely fighting on the ground and imprisoning thousands of jihadists, it currently struggles with many challenges trying to hold the captives. There is severe overcrowding since one prison in a highly populated area was shut down after the Turks bombed it. There are not enough resources to pay the staff. And theres no clear plan for how to move forward. None at all. While the SDF has asked repeatedly for Western countries to repatriate their ISIS detainees, there has been little to no positive response from Europeans. In the absence of repatriations, the SDF requested assistance to build and staff new prisons and train guards in state-of-the-art terrorist prison protocols, and also to fund rehabilitation programs. Moreover, they have requested an international tribunal, hybrid court, or, lacking that, support for using local courts to prosecute these ISIS prisoners. And while the members of the international community, particularly Europeans, have been balking at repatriations, they also have been loath to deal with the SDF directly. Many want to avoid the ire of Turkey, which claims the group is a part of the PKK insurgency recognized internationally as a terrorist organization. European politicians also are reluctant to deal on such sensitive matters with this non-state actor. U.S. military sources speaking to ICSVE have said many times that they have no evidence of the SDF ever launching attacks into Turkey from Syrian soil, except when they were defending themselves during the Turkish incursion into SDF territory in the fall of 2019. And today, while much of the SDFs veteran leadership is Kurdish, most of its rank and file is now made up of Arabs, according to a recent report published by The Wilson Center in Washington. In any case, if ISIS detainees are not to be repatriated there is no question that the SDF needs assistance to hold the detainees securely. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Empty Schools waiting for students W. Musa Pupils and students are expected to resume on-campus learning in Cameroon on Monday, June 1, 2020 for the first time since March when the whole country started going under lockdown to stifle the spread of the coronavirus. Taking to Twitter Monday, May 25, 2020 the countrys Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie called on citizens to, more than ever before, protect themselves as the central African nation enters a complicated phase of the pandemic. Hear him: It is important to note that we are entering a complicated phase of the pandemic. Therefore, more than ever, we must protect ourselves, protect our families and protect others by observing barrier measures. Wear a mask when going out and wash your hands regularly. John Hopkins University puts the number of COVID-19 cases in Cameroon at 4,890 with 165 deaths. With fears that the numbers may peak further, authorities say the state is mobilized to contain the situation. Our determination to defeat COVID-19 in our country, together with you, is greater than ever and the healthcare personnel are just as motivated to win this battle, Manaouda says. But the condition is that each of us must observe and observe the barrier measures. As the country is entering a complicated phase of the pandemic, it is ramping up plans to have schools resume on June 1, at least for examination classes and universities. Prime Minister Head of Government Joseph Dion Ngute at a cabinet meeting held through videoconferencing on May 14 issued technical guidelines for schools nationwide to reopen in an orderly manner, depending on the situation of the coronavirus pandemic. On the occasion, he said President Paul Biya had approved the resumption only for examination classes in primary and secondary schools with learners properly distributed across classrooms to allow for the strict respect of social distancing rules not more than 50 learners will be admitted per class. Sanitary kits with hand sanitizers, thermo-flashes, and hand-washing basins will be available at the entrance of the schools, according to the guidelines. It will be imperative for pupils, students and teachers to wear protective face masks, Ngute said, stressing prevention is and remains the main weapon available to each and every one of us. On May 20, 2020, Roger Koffo Fokou, Spokesman of the countrys teacher trade unions said certificate exams should be set based on what was covered before schools were closed in March. The teachers say should government push through with school resumption plans; it should ensure that protective masks and hydro-alcoholic solutions are made freely available to all students and teachers. They went on to demand that school campuses be systematically disinfected, not more than 24 learners allowed per class, disbursement of a special bonus for teachers as well as the beefing up of examination centers so they can attend to health emergencies. As we went to press, government was yet to react to the two-page memo addressed to the Prime Minister, Head of Government. It had however not backed out of its plan to have schools resume on June 1, despite fears COVID-19 is far from being contained. On March 17, Cameroon rolled out measures to stifle the spread of the novel coronavirus, with schools closed and the countrys territorial borders shut a day later. There have been around nine snow leopard conflict cases reported in Ladakh during the past two months of national lockdown where the elusive carnivores have killed or attacked livestock in village corrals, according to the wildlife protection department of Jammu and Kashmir. Out of the nine snow leopards found in conflict with habitation, six had to be caught and moved to the departments rescue centre in Leh for a period of 15 days to a month. One of them continues to be at the rescue centre and will be released in the wild in a fortnight or so, according to Md Sajid Sultan, regional wildlife warden, Ladakh. Snow leopards and Himalayan brown bears have been seen to be moving about more freely closer to habitation compared to the past two years. There have been around nine conflict cases involving snow leopards in less than two months which may be linked to less movement of humans during lockdown. There were two conflict cases last year, he said, adding that the Himalayan brown bears have been spotted on highways and villages where they havent been seen in decades. The six snow leopards that were involved in conflicts and killing of livestock, including sheep and Pashmina goats, from villages at lower altitudes had to be confined to a rescue centre either because they had injuries, issues with their teeth, a weak pelvic girdle or worms. This is also a lean season for them. They do not find enough prey in high altitudes and so tend to come down. February to March is the mating season and then they have the birthing season in May to July. They are tired and look for food during this time. Higher cases of conflict are also related to that, added Sultan who has three snow leopards at the rescue centre presently, two caught before lockdown who may not be released in their lifetimes as they have serious injuries. Those released back to the wild are either radio collared or GPS tagged with a microchip to track their behaviour or movement. But those studying snow leopards say its not a good idea to capture them and confine them even for a few weeks following a livestock raid. Livestock killing by snow leopards is not just common in India but in all range countries. I am not sure its the wisest thing to capture them. Communities should be helped to find better ways to protect livestock. But those on the frontline are dealing with a tough situation because herders are badly impacted if a large share of their livestock is raided, said Ajay Bijoor, assistant director, conservation, high altitudes at Nature Conservation Foundation. Lockdown may not have an impact on the livestock raiding behaviour of snow leopards. Lockdown and these raids could be coincidental. Snow leopards do periodically kill free grazing livestock. So, if herders havent been taking livestock out for grazing post lockdown, a particular snow leopard who is partially dependent on livestock, can get into a village in search of food, enter a corral and attack livestock, said Anish Andheria, president - Wildlife Conservation Trust. Two factors, hunger and familiarity can encourage a snow leopard to raid corrals. Once inside a corral, the snow leopard, in excitement, usually attacks and/or kill multiple animals. If the rescued snow leopard is not injured then it is best to release it immediately or in a day, after monitoring its conditions. If found with injuries, it can be treated at a rehabilitation centre, until it is fit for release, and then released in its territory, that is a kilometer or two from the village where it was found, he added. Experts cautioned against capturing and confining snow leopards becoming the norm for conflict cases, giving them space to leave is more advisable as tranquilising them could pose a risk to their lives. A study led by Grimso Wildlife Research Station; Snow Leopard Trust; Panthera in 2016 had found that 40% of the protected areas that included snow leopard habitat were too small to host even one breeding pair of cats. This is because the cats moved around quite a bit and their ranges varied in size. According to the Snow Leopard Trust, if snow leopards are captured and sent into captivity each time livestock is attacked, there may be a gradual reduction in snow leopard numbers in the wild in a short period of time. Capturing snow leopards that have killed livestock can also lead to local communities themselves starting to routinely capture them. Instead, the community can be engaged to both conserve the snow leopards and protect livestock. In India, snow leopards inhabit the higher Himalayan and Trans Himalayan landscape in an altitudinal range between approximately 3,000 m to 5,400 m above mean sea level in five states--Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. This area contributes to only 5% of the global snow leopard range. There are around 500 snow leopards in India according to Wildlife Fund for Nature but no census has been conducted yet. The environment ministry has asked Wildlife Institute of India to study the impact of lockdown on wildlife in different parts of the country. The wildlife department is supposed to minimise conflict as much as possible. If that is not possible the protocol is to capture them, treat them, keep them in rescue centres for a brief period and then release them. Snow Leopard conflicts are more common in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh compared to Sikkim and Uttarakhand. Lots of animal sighting are happening now. Its natural because of less human movement and vehicular traffic. We have asked Wildlife Institute of India to study these findings, said Soumitra Dasgupta, additional director general wildlife at environment ministry. Euromonitor International is the world's leading independent provider of strategic and tactical market research. We create data and analysis on thousands of products and services around the world. The Independence Square in Accra, where the National Chief Imam, His Eminence Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has over the years led Muslims to offer Eid prayers was empty today, even though the 2020 Eid-ul-Fitr celebration was observed. The unusual scene at the Black Star Square was largely due to the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic, a contagion for which gathering is a health risk. And the absence of congregation prayer to mark the celebration was in line with the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos directives banning all social gathering as a containment measure to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Today, a virtual Eid-ul-Fitr celebration instead was observed from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation studios, where the National Chief Imam was joined by the President and the Vice President to celebrate it with Ghanaians. Photo by Kofi Brobbey. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A VETERAN DUP politician has been warned he is at risk of attack from elements within the South East Antrim UDA because he called for the killers of Glenn Quinn to be prosecuted. Police told Davy Hilditch that intelligence indicated a firearm would be used in a possible attempt on his life. The threat came just hours after the assembly member demanded justice for popular and terminally ill Glenn, who was beaten to death by a South East Antrim UDA mob in January. Expand Close Facebook message from DUP MLA David Hilditch in reference to Glenn Quinn / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Facebook message from DUP MLA David Hilditch in reference to Glenn Quinn Expand Close Colin Simms / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Colin Simms No one has been charged with the barbaric killing - the SEVENTH unsolved murder of a Protestant carried out by the terror gang's Carrickfergus unit. The South East Antrim UDA leadership told clergymen Rev Alan Harper and minister Gary Mason, via an intermediary, that it was not behind the threats to politicians and journalists. Sunday Life previously reported that gang leader Gary Fisher had not sanctioned the threats. Expand Close Alan Harper / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Alan Harper Adding fresh impetus to police efforts to catch Glenn's murderers, his elderly mum Ellen broke a six-month silence to appeal for information. She said: "I never thought at my age I'd have to bury my child under such painful circumstances. No words can describe to you the pain I feel every single day at the loss of my Glenn. "He was kind-hearted and would have helped anybody out. Everyone who knew Glenn loved him. I love him still. He was a big gentleman." Expand Close Alan Harper / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Alan Harper grieving Courageous grandmother Ellen said Glenn's UDA killers beat him to death "for no reason at all". She added: "They are still free, walking about like it was nothing to them. Everyone knows who they are - you've probably seen them in the queue for Tesco. Their lives can go on as normal, (but) mine can't because of them." Glenn's grieving sister Lesley also pleaded with witnesses to come forward to police. She said: "His killers are still walking the streets, terrorising the good people of Carrickfergus. Some of those good people will have information that can help the police do their job and get these individuals jailed for their horrendous deeds." Replying to this on social media, Davy Hilditch, who lives in Carrickfergus, wrote: "The perpetrators must be brought to justice." Expand Close Gary Fisher Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gary Fisher The following day he was contacted by police officers who said they had information that he could be attacked. Refusing to he bullied, the East Antrim MLA said: "I have been a public representative for nearly 30 years and I will not be deterred from that work by faceless people." Mr Hilditch is the sixth politician to be threatened in the past fortnight by elements within the South East Antrim UDA, led by under-pressure 'brigadier' Fisher. Expand Close Gary Fisher Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gary Fisher Ulster Unionist MLAs Steve Aiken and Doug Beattie, Alliance MP Stephen Farry, SDLP Assemblyman Patsy McGlone and Sinn Fein MLA Linda Dillion were also targeted. Their crime in the eyes of members of the loyalist gang was to condemn its intimidation of Sunday Life and Sunday World journalists who have exposed its terror campaign, one of whom was told a bomb was to be placed under his car. However, the threats have backfired spectacularly, with PSNI chiefs now under huge pressure to crack down on the renegade South East Antrim UDA and its 2.5m-per-year drugs, extortion and money-lending rackets. In their sights is leading Carrickfergus loyalist Colin Simms, who was arrested with another man and a woman in connection with the Glenn Quinn murder. All three were freed without charge after denying involvement. Expand Close Colin Simms / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Colin Simms The 40-year-old is a UDA enforcer in the town and has convictions for killing a woman in a car crash while drunk and possessing 350,000 worth of cannabis with intent to supply. Detective Chief Inspector Darren McCartney, who is leading the Glenn Quinn murder investigation, said: "This was a violent and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable member of the community who was not in the best of health. "The appalling individuals who preyed on defenceless Glenn in his own home need to be caught and put behind bars. It is clear that they do not represent the Carrickfergus community. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home." South East Antrim UDA sources say Fisher is struggling to deal with the intense spotlight shone on him after the killing and threats. The loyalist, who is in his early 50s and has led the gang since 2003, hates publicity and managed to avoid having his picture published until 2017. But he is now a constant fixture in newspapers, largely down to the blatant displays of criminality by the out-of-control Carrickfergus unit. Fisher and the town's UDA commander Clifford 'Trigger' Irons have been unable to rein them in, with the intimidation of journalists and politicians the latest example of how they have lost authority. Neither knew about the death threats until they read about them in the media. Expand Close Cifford Irons / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cifford Irons Insiders say Fisher believes elements within the South East Antrim UDA are plotting to have him arrested. If that were to happen, it would be easier to challenge his position as leader. He is also known to be growing increasingly paranoid about the National Crime Agency, which last year seized the Carrickfergus home of Irons. Things could get even tougher for Fisher when unexplained wealth legislation, forcing criminals to provide a detailed account of how they obtained cash, property or goods, is introduced later this year. In a bid to thwart any financial moves against him, Fisher recently relocated from his long-term home in the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey to a new property in Greenisland. The South East Antrim UDA has approximately 2,000 members and controls a 20-mile area of turf stretching from Larne to north Belfast. Anyone with information on its murder of Glenn Quinn should contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. New fish screens being tested in Victoria and NSW may reduce the annual loss of millions of fish, turtles and even platypuses in the nation's irrigation pumps and channels. Trials of the sophisticated self-cleaning mesh domes at Cohuna near the Murray River in Victoria are looking promising two years in. Another is under way at the Trangie-Nevertire Irrigation Scheme, north-west of Dubbo in NSW. One of the fish screens built by AWMA Water Control Solutions in Cohuna. Four such screens have been lowered into the nearby irrigation canal off Gunbower Creek. Credit:AWMA, NC CMA. "The early signs are really positive," Nicole Bullen, an environmental manager at the North Central Catchment Management Authority, said. "They help us to manage one of the many threats to native fish populations." The plight of freshwater aquatic life during the long drought in eastern Australia drew international attention, particularly after the mass fish kills at Menindee on the lower Darling River in early 2019. U.S. retailers have laid bare the consequences of being deemed essential in the COVID-19 pandemic, as sales surged at those allowed to stay open but collapsed at department stores, clothing chains and other outlets forced to fall back on their online operations. Financial results published this week have demonstrated how sometimes-contentious designations by various U.S. cities and states have influenced billions of dollars worth of consumer spending. Macys, Ross Stores and Victorias Secret owner L Brands each slumped to a quarterly loss after their stores were closed in stark contrast to Walmart, which posted its biggest rise in quarterly U.S. sales in 15 years. Youve got a whole slew of retailers whose sales were already slow, and they happened to be nonessential, said Ken Perkins, head of the research group Retail Metrics. As if things werent trending away from them, this just accelerated it. Macys warned it was set for a $1 billion quarterly operating loss after the closure of all its approximately 775 stores, including the Bloomingdales chain, caused a precipitous decline in revenues. While its balance sheet has been in better shape than peers JCPenney and Neiman Marcus, both of which filed for bankruptcy protection this month, the closures have accelerated a decline at the company. Its total debt has swelled from $4.7 billion to an estimated $5.7 billion over the past year compared to an equity market capitalization of $1.7 billion. Jeff Gennette, Macys chief executive, said business was likely to recover only gradually. The group said it had about 190 outlets open and expected another 80 to be up and running this weekend. Foot Locker on Friday said more than half its 3,100 stores around the world most of which are in shopping malls were still closed, as the New York-based company reported a first-quarter net loss of $98 million and a 43% drop in sales to $1.18 billion. In a sign that some of the effects of the crisis will be lasting, L Brands laid down plans this week to permanently shut 250 Victorias Secret stores across North America over the next several months. Quarterly net sales at the long-struggling company, which temporarily closed all its North America stores in March, dropped 37% from a year ago to $1.65 billion, and it had net losses of $297 million. The widespread closures have given a huge boost to the handful of companies that have been allowed to stay open by local authorities because they sell food and other essential items. Some of these businesses, including Target as well as Walmart, also stock a wide range of other goods, and sales at their departments selling more discretionary items from electronics to homewares have also risen. The latest retailer to report a sales jump was BJs Wholesale Club, which has more than 200 membership outlets in the eastern U.S. Lee Delaney, chief executive, said BJs had become a one-stop destination, helping total revenues leap 21% in the quarter to $3.8 billion. Operating income more than doubled to $144 million. Declarations by U.S. states and cities over which businesses must close have been contested, and several industry lobby groups fought hard to be given the valuable essential designation. The National Retail Federation called on the White House to intervene, and called for big box outlets, among others, to be kept open. The crisis has accelerated trends that were developing long before the outbreak and is threatening to widen the gulf between winners and losers in retail. While department store chains and other companies with out-of-favor formats had been floundering long before the outbreak, chains such as Walmart have coped with the rise of e-commerce far better thanks to a mix of convenience and low prices in stores, as well as investments in online operations. The divide has really grown, said Perkins. It will be interesting to see whether the divide closes as the economy reopens, but its unlikely that its going to narrow drastically. Executives at companies that have outperformed during the pandemic said their successes were in large part due to their own initiative to attract and retain customers, which had often required them to reimagine how they operate. Best Buy, the electronics chain, closed to in-store customers even in jurisdictions where it was not required to do so but remained opened for curbside collection. Corie Barry, chief executive, said the company believed it was the best way at the time to keep our customers and employees as safe as possible. First-quarter sales dipped 6% from a year ago to $8.6 billion while net income fell from $265 million to $159 million, yet the declines were less than some analysts expected. Ben Muessig of the Los Angeles Times wrote this story. 2020 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A lethal rabbit virus is spreading across the southwestern United States, killing wild rabbits on this continent for the first time and causing concern for some fragile species and the animals that prey on them. The most recent deaths were reported last week in southern California, where employees at a wind farm happened upon the carcasses of 10 to 20 black-tailed jack rabbits scattered across the desert near Palm Springs. That followed thousands of deaths since March in wild and domestic rabbits in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. While rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 can produce symptoms such as seizures or fever, it often causes sudden death, marked by "terminal squeals" and collapse. In wild die-offs, some rabbits have been found with blood near their noses and mouths, "but a lot of the time, the reports are just, 'dead,'" said Deana Clifford, senior wildlife veterinarian for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. "That's a little bit startling to see a bunch of dead rabbits." As the nation struggles to slow the spread of the coronavirus, agriculture and wildlife officials across the southwest are emphasizing the rabbit virus is not linked to the coronavirus or known to be dangerous to humans. But like the coronavirus, the rabbit virus is highly contagious and hard to contain. It can remain viable for months and spreads easily - through contact with infected rabbits or via scavengers, insects, feces, a handler's clothing or bedding that might line a rabbit hutch. Vaccines are available in Europe, where the virus has caused significant mortality in wild and domestic rabbits since emerging in France in 2010, but they are not approved for sale in the United States. Some U.S. states, including Nevada - where the virus has killed domestic rabbits at an animal rescue near Las Vegas - are scrambling to help veterinarians obtain approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to import limited numbers of doses. Those would be administered to domestic animals that are part of what the USDA says is a $2.2 billion rabbit industry that is mostly pet-focused. But they would be of no help to native rabbits and hares, which until March were not known to be susceptible to the virus, known as RHDV2. "There's not really much we can do with the wilds," said Ralph Zimmerman, state veterinarian for New Mexico, where the nation's first wild rabbit deaths occurred in March. "It's moving from area to area. We've had bigger die-offs in some areas, and we're still getting reports of dead rabbits - like, hundreds," at each site, he said. As of Thursday, the virus had also killed 470 domestic rabbits in New Mexico, Zimmerman said. Nearly 600 others have been euthanized at affected sites that keep rabbits - as pets, or for breeding, meat or pelt - a step the state is requiring to prevent the virus's spread. About 30 sites are under quarantine, he said. New Mexico received 500 doses of vaccine from France on Wednesday, he said. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease first emerged in China in 1984, where it may have been introduced by imported angora rabbits, according to a report by Iowa State University. Outside Europe, the newer variant, type 2, has occurred in Australia and Canada, and there have been a few domestic cases in the United States since 2018. But wildlife officials hoped North America's native wild rabbits, which are different from European species, might be immune. So far, the virus has killed four native species, according to the World Organization for Animal Health, to which the USDA reports various animal diseases: desert and mountain cottontails and black-tailed and antelope jack rabbits. Those are all abundant, but wildlife officials say they are worried about more fragile members of the rabbit family, as well as broader ecosystem effects. In Europe, researchers have linked lynx declines in some areas to rabbit die-offs. In Texas, there is concern for the rare Davis Mountain cottontail but also the possibility lower rabbit numbers could force animals that eat them - among them, coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions - to target other prey, such as the dwindling population of pronghorn antelope. "It could have an effect on those predator numbers as well," said Bob Dittmar, a wildlife veterinarian at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. In California, a handful of native rabbit species, including the federally endangered riparian brush rabbit, are at risk. It is possible the virus also could infect the pika, a mountain-dwelling mammal that belongs to rabbits' lagomorph family and is threatened by climate change, Clifford said. "This has the potential to depress those populations, and if we have depressed prey, then potentially we have predators who often heavily rely on rabbits that may have trouble finding some food," said Clifford, referring to species including golden eagles and foxes. Scientists and conservationists already are discussing moving riparian brush rabbits into captivity to prevent their exposure to the virus, Clifford said. Wildlife officials said the focus is on mitigating the spread in domestic populations, via quarantines and sanitation, and instructing the public to stay away from dead rabbits and report them to authorities. The specter of the virus has already halted some adoptions of domestic rabbits - often the most common animal at shelters after dogs and cats - and rescues by wildlife rehabilitation groups. "Eventually it might taper off and some of the remaining animals will develop immunity to it," Zimmerman said. "And then it's a slow climb back for the population numbers." That is little consolation to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, whose members show their animals at more than 4,000 events a year. "This is probably the most significant issue that has faced the hobby since its inception," said Jay Hreiz, a North Carolina veterinarian who chairs the group's health committee and who said he expects the virus to race across the nation. "We are almost irrelevant now that it's in the wild population. ... I just fear the damage is already done." The association has asked the USDA to ease restrictions on vaccine imports and pleaded with U.S. companies to release a vaccine, Hreiz said. But "rabbits sit in this weird interstitial space between companion animal and livestock in the United States," he said. "It boils down to money." One good thing, he said, is that the covid-19 pandemic had already forced the association to cancel its spring shows, which would have fueled the virus. "If there was ever a good time for a deadly rabbit virus to spread through the United States, that time is now," he said. Island firm delivers 1,500 worth of PPE to key workers An Island financial services company has donated 1500 worth of Personal Protective Equipment for key workers. Wilton has teamed up with Operation Nightingale in London to help transport 300 face shields. They were delivered to Ronaldsway via a private aircraft before being delivered on Wednesday afternoon to the Isle of Man Pharmacy Contractors Association (PCA), Corrin Residential Care Home in Peel and the Manx Taxi Federation. The firm has helped Op Nightingale distribute 1,500 worth of PPE equipment to the Isle of Man. Bengaluru, May 25 : Thousands of devout Muslims on Monday celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with religious fervour at home in this tech city, offered prayers (namaz) maintaining physical distance and greeted each other from afar without the customary hugs and shaking hands. "As offering prayers in mosques and idgah maidan have been banned due to the Covid-induced lockdown, we have celebrated the Eid fest at home for the first time in many years with only family members and not others," city-based Urdu scholar Hameed Khan told IANS here. Though Eid was celebrated in coastal Karnataka on Sunday, it is feted in other regions of the southern state, including Bengaluru on Monday, as decided by the Markazi Ruet-e-Hilal committee. "With ban on religious congregations of all communities since the lockdown was enforced on March 25, even the month-long Ramadan fasting and prayers for five times a day had to be performed within the confines of our home, as violation would have invited trouble for us from the authorities," recalled Khan. Unlike the daily or regular prayer, the morning prayer on the Eid is special for the Muslims the world over as it is meant to invoke the Almighty Allah for His blessings (dua) and mercy (rehamat). "We hoped the extended lockdown would be lifted or relaxed after May 17 so that we could celebrate Eid with gaiety and fervour by offering prayers in mosques and idgah maidan where thousands, including children gather to greet each other and exchange pleasantries before feasting together," noted Siddiqui Aldoori, a history lecturer. The state government and the Karnataka Wakf Board, however, allowed the imams and qazis to offer namaz in their mosques but the devout were not allowed to gather to ensure social distancing. Greeting the devout, city's Jamia Masjid Maqsood Imran Rashadi advised the faithful to pray in one place at home, keeping social distancing, and recite the 12 extra Takbeerat (chantings) by turns after offering the rakaat namaz. State Governor Vajubhia Vala and Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa greeted the Muslims on the occasion and wished them Eid Mubarak in separate messages. "May this festival of peace and harmony bring happiness in life. I congratulate the Muslim fraternity for cooperating with the authorities by offering prayers at home during the holy month of Ramadan and supporting us to contain the Covid-19 spread," said Yediyurappa in a message on the occasion. Amritsar Police have arrested Jagir Singh, 52, of Patti city in Tarn Taran district, for promoting religious enmity after he pasted posters threatening followers of Nurmahal-based Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS) head Ashutosh Maharaj in Gol Bagh area of Amritsar on May 16. Jagir, who is a mechanical engineer and a former follower of the DJJS, is also accused of setting ablaze three cars in the city. Ashustosh Maharaj has been declared clinically dead, but his body has been preserved at the dera, with followers claiming that he is in Samadhi (deep meditation). Police have recovered the same posters as were pasted in the town from his possession. These threaten of violence if the followers of Ashutosh did not leave the dera by May 18. A team that DCP (investigation) Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar led carried out the arrest. This team was formed by commission of police Sukhchain Singh. We apprehended Jagir on the basis of suspicion, but he has confessed to the crime. The DCP added, Jagir has told us that he had been visiting Nurmahal dera in Jalandhar since 2003 after becoming its follower and shifted to Jalandhar in 2017. He told us that he was angry and depressed at not being allowed to meet Ashutosh Maharaj and shifted back to Amritsar last year. He burnt the cars and printed the posters to take revenge. He added that a tape-roll, a plastic bottle filled with petrol, sketch-pens and a mobile phone had also been from the accused. A case had already been registered under sections 153-A (promoting hate among groups), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the IPC at D-division police station. STRAP/BLURB May 16 crime had also seen the 52-year-old man paste posters threatening followers of Nurmahal-based dera of Ashutosh Maharaj PUNE, India, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global advanced wound care market size is expected to reach USD 15.59 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. The increasing cases of chronic wounds such as foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and venous ulcers around the world can be a vital factor in bolstering the growth of the market. Moreover, the growing treatment of acute wounds in the developing nations will promote the growth of the market in the forthcoming years, states Fortune Business Insights in a report, titled "Advanced Wound Care Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product (Advanced Wound Dressings, Wound Care Devices, Active Wound Care), By Indication (Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Pressure Ulcers, Surgical Wounds, and Others), By End, User (Hospitals, Clinics, Homecare Settings, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027" the market size stood at USD 10.43 billion in 2019. The advancement in treatment methods of wounds will create lucrative business openings for the market. Advanced Wound Care Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/advanced-wound-care-market-100060 Market Driver: Instigation of Effective Therapies to Facilitate Colossal Development The growing need for effective and proficient treatment of chronic wounds among patients will impel companies to introduce innovative therapies. The rising unmet patient needs is a critical factor expected to fuel demand for novel treatment options for patients in developing nations. The release of effective therapies for hard-to-heal chronic wounds by pre-eminent organizations will support the growth of the market. An Overview of the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market: The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic. We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future. To get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/advanced-wound-care-market-100060 For instance, MTF Biologics, a global nonprofit organization innovating in tissue and organ donation for safe and sound healing, unveiled AminoBand viable membrane at the Wound Healing Society (WHS) conference in the U.S. Similarly, the constant R&D activities for the improvement in collagen dressings, skin grafts, and effective healing therapies will aid massive growth of the market in the foreseeable future. According to the National Institute of Health, diabetic foot ulcers cost an estimated USD 9 to USD 13 billion for treatment in the U.S. alone each year. In addition, the rising efforts of companies to reduce the treatment cost of acute and chronic wounds will subsequently enhance the market potential. Market Restraint: High-priced Therapies to Constrict Market Expansion The high-cost associated with superior wound products will be a restricting factor for the growth of the market. The unfavorable reimbursement policies pertaining to wound care products such as negative pressure wound therapy, and skin grafts in emerging nations will further dwindle the growth of the market during the forecast period. The lack of awareness regarding the effective therapies and devices in various regions will further limit the adoption of wound care products in the foreseeable future. The inclination towards conventional treatment options in developing countries will aggravate the adoption of innovative therapies, which in turn, will retard the growth of the market. Quick Buy - Advanced Wound Care Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100060 Regional Analysis: Developing Healthcare Infrastructure to Favor Growth in Asia Pacific The market size in North America stood generated a revenue of USD 4.35 billion in 2019 and is likely to remain dominant during the forecast period owing to the rising cases of chronic and acute wounds. The rising patent pool for diabetic foot ulcers and surgical wounds will further promote the growth of the market. The market in Asia Pacific is likely to rise tremendously during the forecast period due to the developing healthcare infrastructure. The evolving facilities in hospitals and a surge in healthcare spending by the government will have a significant impact on the market during the forecast period. The growing demand for advanced therapies and active R&D activities by key players will influence growth in the region. Nonetheless, the lack of knowledge regarding novel products and devices in remote areas will restrict the growth in Asia Pacific. Key Development: February 2019: Axio Biosolutions Pvt. Ltd., a medtech R&D, and Manufacturing Company concentrated on surgical and wound care products announced the launch of MaxioCel, an advanced Ground-breaking wound care dressing made of chitosan. List of the Key Companies Operating in the Advanced Wound Care Market are: Smith & Nephew 3M MiMedx Coloplast Corp ConvaTec Inc. Tissue Regenix Derma Sciences Inc. Molnlycke Health Care AB Organogenesis Inc. Other Players Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/advanced-wound-care-market-100060 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Prevalence of Key Indications, By Key Countries, 2019 Economic cost Burden of Chronic wounds in Key Countries, 2019 New Product Launch, By Key Players Key Industry Developments Mergers, Acquisition and Partnership Overview: Impact of COVID-19 on Advanced Wound Care Global Advanced Wound Care Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Product Advanced Wound Dressings Alginate Dressings Hydrogel Dressings Film Dressings Hydrocolloid Dressings Antimicrobial Dressings Foam Dressings Others Wound Care Devices Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Others (Compression Therapy, etc. Active Wound Care Biological Skin Equivalents Growth Factors Biological Dressings Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Indication Diabetic Foot Ulcers Pressure Ulcers Surgical Wounds Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By End Use Hospitals Clinics Home Care Settings Other Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa TOC Continued.!!! Request for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/advanced-wound-care-market-100060 Have a Look at Related Reports: Active Wound Care Market Size, Share and Global Trend by Product Type (Biological Skin Equivalents, Growth Factors, Biological Dressings), Indication (Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Pressure Ulcers, Lower Limb Ulcers), End User (Hospitals, Clinics, Home Care Settings) and Geography Forecast till 2025 Advanced Wound Dressings Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Product Type (Alginate Dressings, Hydrogel Dressings, Film Dressings, Hydrocolloid Dressings, Antimicrobial Dressings, Foam Dressings), Indication (Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Pressure Ulcers, Surgical Wounds), End Users (Hospitals, Clinics, Home Care Settings) and Geography Forecast till 2025 Wound Care Devices Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Product Type (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)), Indication (Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Pressure Ulcers, Surgical Wounds), End Users (Hospitals, Clinics, Home Care Settings) and Geography Forecast till 2025 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We, therefore, offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US :+1-424-253-0390 UK : +44-2071-939123 APAC : +91-744-740-1245 Email: [email protected] Fortune Business Insights LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs Press Release: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/press-release/advanced-wound-care-market-9021 SOURCE Fortune Business Insights Domestic air travel resumed on Monday after two months even as a number of states were unenthusiastic about opening up their airports in view of rising COVID-19 cases causing around 630 flights to be cancelled. According to aviation industry sources, around 630 domestic flights of Monday were cancelled due to the Centre's Sunday night announcement that there would be no flights in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, and limited operations at major airports such as Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. Consequently, many passengers reached the airports on Monday only to be told by the airline staff that their flights have been cancelled. Many people took to social media to vent their anger. Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday evening, "From no domestic passenger flights yesterday to 532 flights and 39,231 passengers today, action has returned to Indian skies. With Andhra Pradesh set to resume operations from tomorrow & West Bengal from 28 May, these numbers are all set to increase further." According to a source, on May 22, bookings had opened for around 1,100 domestic flights for Monday. The airlines, which were allowed to operate one-third of their pre-lockdown domestic services, have been busy since Sunday night to further rework their flight schedules. The first flight on Monday took off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45 am under strict regulations recommended by civil aviation authorities. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna at 6.45 am. States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are home to some of the busiest airports in the country, were reluctant to allow domestic flight services from their airports, citing swelling COVID-19 cases there. West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh governments did not relent to the requests by the Civil Aviation Ministry to allow flight services from Monday. It was decided on Sunday that Kolkata and Bagdogra airports in cyclone-hit West Bengal will not operate any domestic flight between May 25 and 27 but will handle 20 flights each daily from May 28. Moreover, Vijayawada and Vizag airports in Andhra Pradesh will handle just 20 per cent of their pre-lockdown flights from May 26. Mumbai airport, which is India's second busiest airport, will handle only 50 flights daily from Monday, the Centre said, adding Chennai airport will see only 25 arrivals per day. There were no limits set on departures from Chennai airport. Moreover, Hyderabad in Telangana will handle just 30 flights every day from Monday, the government said. IndiGo president and chief operating officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer visited the Delhi airport to observe operations on Monday. He said the airline's operations were running smoothly and passengers were feeling relaxed as there was much less air traffic on Monday. "We visited some of the boarding gates. Passengers are well informed (about rules and regulations). Despite the short lead time we got from the central authorities and the states, we were able to disseminate this information," he added. An IndiGo spokesperson said 20,000 passengers will travel on Monday onboard the airline's flights. SpiceJet said its first flight on Monday took off from Ahmedabad at 6.05 am and reached Delhi at 7.10 am. The budget carrier said it also operated 20 flights on Monday on routes awarded under the government's regional connectivity UDAN scheme. SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh said,"We are delighted to have resumed our flight operations in a completely sommth manner and by following every safety guideline and protocol laid down by the government." Airlines were jittery in resuming services as multiple states have put in place separate norms and conditions for quarantining passengers arriving there by domestic flights. With the aviation sector reeling under severe stress due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown that began on March 25, the government had last week announced resumption of domestic flight services from May 25 under specific rules and guidelines. It had set a cap on ticket pricing, made wearing of face masks by passengers mandatory, no food served onboard planes and making available details of medical conditions by travellers through the Aarogya Setu app or by filling up of a self-declaration form. The app gives colour-coded designation to users according to their health status and travel history. It helps the users know if they were near anyone who tested COVID-19 positive. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh, among others, have announced their own quarantine measures for passengers arriving at their airports. Some states have decided to put passengers in institutional quarantine while several others have talked about putting them in home quarantine. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday had questioned the need for quarantine if a passenger shows green status on the Aarogya Setu app. The green status signifies that a passenger is safe. The Maharashtra government had requested the Centre on Sunday to keep air services in the state at a minimum possible level. "It has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state govts to recommence civil aviation operations in the country," Puri tweeted on Sunday night, adding, "Except Andhra Pradesh which will start on 26/5 and West Bengal on 28/5, domestic flights will recommence across the country from tomorrow (Monday). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Press Release 25 May 2020 General sentiment regarding the impact of COVID-19 in Italy is gradually becoming more positive. In two surveys by GlobalData, one conducted 28 April and the other 3 May, the number of Italians stating that they are 'extremely concerned' about the virus dropped by 14%. However, this positive outlook may change as Italy plans to open its borders for international tourists says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Advertisements Ralph Hollister, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "Italy is currently planning that inbound visitors won't have to go into quarantine once it opens its borders. Just as Italians were beginning to become less concerned about the outbreak of COVID-19, this announcement could re-ignite apprehension around a second spike in its national infection rate. Re-allowing inbound tourism flows from other European countries undeniably increases the chance of infections rates rising once again." "These plans may be nerve-racking for Italian citizens, but will be gladly received by Italian businesses that have ties to the tourism sector. Tourism-related businesses have already lost out on some of its most valuable months. One of the most valuable aspects of tourism for the nation is the inbound and domestic flow of tourists motivated by cultural trips to cities." Cultural trips are mostly undertaken from March to May, and then in September to October. GlobalData notes that from March to April in 2019, domestic and outbound trips in Italy jumped by 4.5 million. Hollister continues: "The sooner borders are opened the better for local businesses. Many will need to start trading as quickly as possible in order to stay afloat. It is evident that the Italian Government is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The nation's economy cannot continue on its path of rapid decline. Restarting its tourism sector is seen as a key place to begin in order to re-stimulate economic growth." Many California Latinos turned their back on the Republican Party because of Prop. 187, which sought to ban undocumented residents from receiving public benefits like healthcare. But the GOP has held on to a core group of Latinos and could build on that. (Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times) Mike Garcia, who recently won a special election for Californias 25th Congressional District seat, is a self-described first-generation Hispanic American, whose father immigrated with his family from Mexico. He is also a Republican. And while that fact puts him out of step with many California Hispanics, he isnt as much of an outlier as you might think. California is a blue state, and Latinos in the state skew Democratic, too. But in 2016, according to CNN exit polling, 24% of the approximately 3 million Latinos who voted in California cast ballots for President Trump. And while only about 15% of the states Hispanic voters are registered Republicans, nearly a third of California Latinos say they are conservative, and another 30% describe themselves as moderate. Garcia, a U.S. Naval Academy alum, former fighter pilot and Raytheon executive, holds positions in line with many conservatives. He supports construction of a border wall, believes in a strong national defense and wants to stem the push for socialism in our country. Latino Republicans like Garcia are heirs to a conservative movement that started in California more than half a century ago. The first Hispanic group formed to rally national support for a Republican, Latinos con Eisenhower, was founded by Mexican Americans here. And California Mexican Americans were also the first Latinos to hold prominent roles in Republican presidential administrations. When I began researching my book on the Hispanic Republican movement, I wrongly assumed it had started in Florida, led by Cuban exiles. What I found instead is that Cubans werent influential within the Republican Party until the 1980s, when they gained clout during President Reagans first term. Mexican Americans in California, by contrast, joined the Republican Party in significant numbers through the 1950s and 1960s, back when the state generally was far more conservative than it is now. In many ways the fit with the party was natural for a constituency that valued family, church and work so highly. And many Latinos at the time felt that theyd been ignored by Democrats, who tended to come around only when they needed votes. Story continues California politicians like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan with the help of political strategists such as Stuart Spencer reached out to the burgeoning Hispanic population in new ways. Unlike Eastern politicians, who saw civil rights primarily in black and white, Nixon and Reagan were familiar with their communities and understood their concerns. One Mexican American from California wrote that Nixon, whose family owned a gas station and grocery store in Whittier, got to know us while we lived our culture in accord with our values: God, family, hard work, respect for the law, and an aversion to handouts. Reagan, meanwhile, rode on horseback alongside the descendants of Californios Mexicans who settled in California long before it was a state from the southern border to Sacramento. When Reagan ran for president, he said that during his tenure as governor he hired more Mexican Americans than any of his predecessors. It was during Reagans first term that relations began to sour between GOP leaders and Californias Hispanic Republicans, who were dismayed at the partys growing nativist policies. Reagan himself didnt think a wall should divide the United States and Mexico, but other Republicans had begun calling for one. And when Congress put forth comprehensive immigration reform, Hispanic Republicans supported the bills amnesty provision but were skeptical of employer sanctions, which they feared would lead to discrimination against Hispanics. Relations between Californias Hispanic Republicans and party leadership hit a new low in 1994, when Gov. Pete Wilson championed Prop. 187, a California ballot initiative barring undocumented Californians from receiving public benefits, including schooling and healthcare. When the head of a local Republican National Hispanic Assembly chapter criticized the law, which ultimately passed but was then thrown out by the courts, one of its authors called him a fat burrito eater. Such expressions of anti-Mexican sentiment led many Hispanic Republicans to leave the party. The transformation in California politics happened quickly, but it was never complete. And nationally, too, many Hispanics remained part of the GOP. From 1972 forward, and with only a couple exceptions, Republican candidates have won between a quarter and a third of the Latino vote, sometimes a little more. Garcias special election victory isnt the bellwether that the president and other Republicans would like it to be. They see it as a sign of momentum for Trump and an indicator that he may have the ability to make headway, even in districts like Garcias, which is 35% Hispanic. But that is almost certainly wishful thinking. What Garcias success does do, however, is remind us that Latinos, even in California, are a diverse group with a wide variety of opinions on issues including immigration, healthcare and the economy. If Joe Biden and Democrats dont do more to engage Latinos in California in a sustained way, to convince them that their policies are more likely to benefit them individually and their community as a whole, they arent likely to eat into the quarter share of the Latino vote here that Republicans continue to win. On the other hand, if Republicans dont return to the era before Proposition 187 when they believed that Hispanics would be an important part of their partys future, this ceiling isnt likely to reach any higher. Geraldo Cadava is a professor of history and Latina and Latino Studies at Northwestern University and author of The Hispanic Republican: The Shaping of an American Political Identity, From Nixon to Trump. On the Isle of Skye off the western coast of Scotland, residents thought they had sealed themselves off from the coronavirus. They shuttered hotels. Officials warned of police checks. Traffic emptied on the only bridge from the mainland. But the frailest spot on the island remained catastrophically exposed: Home Farm, a 40-bed nursing home for people with dementia. Owned by a private equity firm, Home Farm has become a grim monument of the push to maximize profits at Britains largest nursing home chains, and of the governments failure to protect its most vulnerable citizens. Today, all but seven of the residents have been stricken. More than a quarter are dead. The virus has ravaged nursing homes across Europe and the United States. But the death toll in British homes 14,000, official figures say, with thousands more dying as an indirect result of the virus is becoming a defining scandal of the pandemic for Prime Minister Boris Johnson. By focusing at first on protecting the health system, Johnsons strategy meant that some infected patients were unwittingly moved from hospitals and into nursing homes. Residents and staff members were denied tests, while nursing home workers begged in vain for protective gear. We were witnessing horrendous images in Spain and Italy, so a lot of attention was paid to maintaining and securing the National Health Service, said Dr. Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, which represents nursing homes. The NHS was prioritized at the expense of social care. At Home Farm, set above a silvery loch on a northeastern finger of the island, employees do not know how the virus got inside. But early in the pandemic, they expressed fears to their bosses about the company bringing in workers from outside the island. And they fretted over the half-dozen new residents who were deposited in empty beds, some of them from hospitals and others from their own homes. Responding to the outbreak, the Scottish health secretary said a review should be conducted of its entire nursing home system, which falls under Scottish government control. In England, an independent commission is looking into serious potential breaches of human rights in nursing homes. Problems funding nursing homes, a bugaboo in British politics since Margaret Thatcher privatized them in 1990, hobbled Johnsons predecessor, Theresa May, whose proposal to raise resident fees was nicknamed the dementia tax. Now Johnson is feeling the heat. In the House of Commons, he faces a weekly barrage over nursing homes, including accusations that he lied about government guidance playing down the chance of outbreaks. People in nursing homes, they dont have the same voice as I have, said John Gordon, a member of the local council from Skye, whose 83-year-old father is one of 10 Home Farm residents to have died. The government has failed our old people. Britains hospitals are revered for providing free, universal health coverage. But the nursing home system is a decidedly American export, with corporate giants based in offshore tax havens often paying workers the minimum wage and trying to wring profits out of an aging population. For-profit nursing homes now control even more of the British market 86% than the U.S. market. And the biggest chain, HC-One, which owns Home Farm, has been hit hard. Cases have broken out in two-thirds of its 328 homes. Four employees and 934 residents have died. Among the dead was Colin Harris, 66, a witty Home Farm resident with dementia and Parkinsons disease. In the months before Harris died May 6, staffing was so thin that his incontinence pads were often left wet, eroding the skin on his thighs, Mandie Harris, his wife, wrote in a complaint. His dentures came unglued when he ate. After a video call April 8, Mandie Harris complained to HC-One that she saw aides without protective gear and a residents husband walking down the corridor in street clothes. Where is the infection control? she asked. In response, the company told her in an email that the man was being hired as a cleaner and that Harris teeth appeared clean and secure. Inside the home, staff members were becoming panicked, said three workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they had been instructed not to talk publicly. In early April staff meetings, they pleaded for better protective gear and in some cases ordered their own. But management told workers to wear masks only around suspected coronavirus patients an approach that Harris, in her complaint, compared to closing the gate after the horse has bolted. The company told her that aides who wanted masks were provided with them starting April 9. Not until April 18, a week before the outbreak, were masks required. Even so, managers sometimes refused to wear masks themselves, including on medicine rounds to residents rooms, complaining that they itched, the three workers said. Soon after a nationwide lockdown went into effect in March, a new deputy manager arrived from Kent, in southeastern England. HC-One has said she isolated before starting work. But that was before she made the 650-mile journey to the island, the employees and HC-One said. She eventually became sick and stopped working, the company said. Feeling unprotected by management, employees cleaned the home obsessively and enforced their own distancing rules. When residents were startled, as they often were, aides held their hands and stroked them. Sometimes employees broke down crying. People were petrified, one of the employees said. For HC-One, the nursing home business has been lucrative, as the company paid more than 50 million pounds, or nearly $61 million, in dividends from 2017 to 2019. But staff members at Home Farm suffered. During 12-hour shifts, they sometimes made do with no more than one nurse and two aides on an 18-bed floor, employees said. The residents help buttons buzzed incessantly. Staffing shortages were so dire, regulators said in January, that Home Farm stopped accepting new residents. An inspection found that the home was unclean, staffing was uneven and the level and quality of care and support people received was not always adequate. HC-One said it faced chronic recruitment challenges, forcing the home to rely on temporary workers. But as the pandemic raged in Britain, the moratorium on new admissions at Home Farm was lifted. When employees complained about the risk of transmission and even volunteered to temporarily move into the home to avoid carrying the virus inside, management said beds needed to be filled with paying customers, two workers said. HC-One said that, like other homes, it was asked to help hospitals by admitting some patients. In late April, employees fears were realized: An aide tested positive. Employees said they learned the news not from management but from Facebook, where the aides mother posted about it. Residents, too, were showing symptoms, like slackening appetites and high temperatures. By April 27, a Monday, staff members were adamant that residents needed help. Management urged them not to worry, arguing that it was just the flu, the three workers said. At the time, testing was scarce: Not until days later did Scotland say it would offer tests to any nursing homes with cases. So only four of the homes 36 residents were initially given tests. Blanket tests later that week revealed the calamitous extent of the outbreak: 28 residents were infected, along with 26 of 52 staff members. Residents families said administrators were slow to acknowledge the likely spread. Up until her husbands positive result, Harris said, management told her he was being treated as if he had a chest or urinary tract infection. Later, Harris said management insisted he was tired, but nothing worse, only for her to see him on a video call looking deathly. HC-One attributed the number of infections in part to Home Farm being one of the first care homes where everyone was tested. The company said it was confident the manager acted appropriately with regards to Mr. Harris health. Police are now investigating the deaths of three residents. The local health service has stepped in to help run Home Farm. Regulators tried this month to take HC-Ones license in court but have since backed off. In the absence of details about the outbreak, islanders said, rumors multiplied and staff members were unfairly blamed. Its a well-connected community, said Keith MacKenzie, the lone reporter for the local West Highland Free Press during the outbreak. But of course in well-connected communities, its not always the right information that gets circulated. Britains nursing home chains, already carrying substantial debt, have been imperiled by rising costs and plunging occupancy rates during the pandemic. HC-One warned that its ability to continue as a going concern was in jeopardy. But nursing home finances are difficult to trace. The HC-One group includes 62 companies, 19 of them registered offshore, and its parent company is based in the Cayman Islands. Its money before care all the time, Harris said. The staff they did have worked so hard, but theyve been let down. On the afternoon of May 6, nurses called Harris to tell her that her husbands breathing was failing. She hurried over. Zoe Docherty, their daughter, was already in protective gear, holding her fathers hand. Docherty asked that her mother be allowed inside; management had said they could take turns visiting. But she and a nurse disagreed about how to choreograph the swap, and at Dochertys frantic urging, the nurse left to consult colleagues. Meanwhile, Harris died, with his wife looking through the glass from outside. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Regulatory News: SuperSonic Imagine (Euronext: SSI, FR0010526814, PEA-PME eligible) (Paris:SSI), a Company specializing in ultrasound medical imaging, informs shareholders of the composition of the bureau and the availability of the preparatory documents related to the Combined (ordinary and extraordinary) Shareholders' Meeting to be held in closed-session on Tuesday June 16, 2020 at 9:00 am CEST at the headquarters of the Company (510, rue Rene Descartes 13857 Aix-en-Provence). As a reminder (see press release dated May 11, 2020), in the context of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic and in accordance with the provisions of Order 2020-321 of March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors of SuperSonic Imagine has decided that the June 16, 2020 Combined Shareholders' Meeting will exceptionally be held in closed-session, without the presence of its shareholders or any other person entitled to attend (be it physically or via telephone or video conference). The rules for participation and organization of this Combined Shareholders' Meeting have been adapted accordingly. In this respect, in accordance with Article 8 of Decree No. 2020-418, the Board of Directors of SuperSonic Imagine has appointed two scrutineers to compose the Bureau of the Combined Shareholders' Meeting. Hologic Hub Ltd. (UK), majority shareholder of SuperSonic Imagine, represented by Mr. Michelangelo Stefani (also a director of SuperSonic Imagine) has been appointed, as well as Mrs. Elisabeth Winter, Executive Vice President, Administrative and Financial Director and shareholder of SuperSonic Imagine. Mr. Michael Brock will chair the Combined Shareholders' Meeting in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The secretary will be appointed by the bureau at a later date. A meeting notice including the agenda, the draft resolutions proposed to the shareholders by the Board of Directors as well as the main rules for participation and voting related to the closed-session June 16, 2020 Combined Shareholders' Meeting was published in the May 8, 2020 French Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO) (bulletin n56 notice n2001461). A convening notice will be published in the BALO of May 29, 2020 and in a newspaper of legal notices on the same day. These notices are and will be available on the SuperSonic Imagine website (https://www.supersonicimagine.fr). The preparatory documents for the Combined Shareholders' Meeting are available to shareholders pursuant to the applicable legal and regulatory rules (including Order No. 2020-321 of March 25, 2020). These documents may be sent upon request by email to the following address: actionnaires@supersonicimagine.com or supersonicimagine@newcap.eu. The communication of any information or document will be validly made by e-mail provided that the shareholder indicates in his request the e-mail address to which it can be sent. Shareholders are therefore encouraged to provide their e-mail address when submitting any request. All the preparatory documents referred to in Article R. 225-73-1 of the French Commercial Code are available on the SuperSonic Imagine website (https://www.supersonicimagine.fr). Given the context, shareholders are invited to regularly consult the Combined Shareholders' Meeting space on the SuperSonic Imagine website and/or to address any questions relating the organization of the Combined Shareholders' Meeting to the following address: serviceproxy@cic.fr. 2020 outlook At the current time, it remains difficult to accurately quantify the impact of the Coronavirus epidemic on the Group's activity for the current year. So far, the group has seen a decline in its activity in its main markets France, China and the United States. From a supply chain point of view, delays in supplier deliveries were observed at the peak of the containment period in March and April. Procurement could still face delays in the coming weeks, but there is no major risk of supply chain disruption. With regard to delivery capacity, logistics flows remain active to date, although transit times may be increased by a few days and prices increased on some routes. If needed, the implementation of production catch up plan could also result in unforeseen operating costs (overtime, express transportation). The situation remains very changing and is monitored on a day-to-day basis by SuperSonic Imagine's procurement and logistics teams, in liaison with the suppliers concerned. The SuperSonic Imagine group's cash position (strengthened by the revolving loan concluded between Hologic Hub Ltd and the Company for a maximum cumulative amount of 65 million euros) should enable the Group to be in a position to deal with the uncertainties related to the current epidemic. The Group's Management is closely monitoring the evolution of this epidemic in each of the geographical regions concerned, and is implementing all required measures to protect its employees, clients and partners (thus participating in the global effort to limit the spread of the virus). Most activities, including R&D activities, are now being carried out via telecommuting. At the same time, the Group has implemented all necessary health protection measures to continue its essential logistical activities enabling orders to be distributed and shipped. In order to cope with the lockdown period imposed by the government, the Group has already started to implement partial unemployment measures. In an extremely uncertain global economic environment, the Group is doing everything in its power to protect itself within this unprecedented environment. However, as the epidemic has impacted all of the group's geographical areas of activity, the Company is not in a position to ensure that the SuperSonic Imagine group will not be more seriously impacted, particularly in view of the economic consequences of the extended containment measures in France and in the other countries where the group is present (especially in the United States, which are heavily hit by the crisis linked to the Covid-19 epidemic). Under these conditions, the companies in the SuperSonic Imagine group could see their sales, profitability and cash flow affected to an extent that still remains difficult to assess at this time. About SuperSonic Imagine SuperSonic Imagine is a medical technology company (Medtech) specialized in ultrasound imaging. The company designs, develops and markets an ultrasound platform whose exclusive ultrafast technology (UltraFastTM) has given rise to new imaging methods, which have now become standards in the non-invasive care path for the characterization of breast, liver or prostate diseases. The first innovative mode UltraFastTM is ShearWave elastography (SWETM), which allows doctors to instantly visualize and analyze tissue hardness, which is critical information for the diagnosis of many pathologies. To date, more than 600 publications have validated the benefits of its technologies. The latest addition to the Aixplorer range, Aixplorer MACH 30 introduces a new generation of imaging UltraFastTM allowing the optimization of all innovative imaging modes: ShearWave PLUS, UltraFast Doppler, Angio PL.U.S, TriVu. With more than 2,300 ultrasound platforms installed worldwide, SuperSonic Imagine is present in more than 80 countries and its main markets are China, the United States and France. The group's revenues for the 2019 financial year amounted to 26.8 million. SuperSonic Imagine is a company listed on Euronext (symbol: SSI). For more information, visit www.supersonicimagine.fr. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005180/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations NewCap Thomas Grojean supersonicimagine@newcap.eu +33 44 71 94 94 The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is planning to increase the number of training courses it organises on trade remedies for the domestic production industry. Aquatic products being processed for exports at Ba Ria Vung Tau Seafood Processing Import Export Co. The idea is to improve the ability of domestic producers to cope with the application of trade defence measures on the global market. At the same time, the ministry will also provide information about current trade remedies for domestic associations and production industries. This will include guidance on using or dealing with trade remedies for key industries such as steel, wood, seafood, chemicals, textiles and support industries. The ministry will also build an electronic portal to provide early warnings about trade remedies, while looking at how these industries deal with trade remedy lawsuits. In addition, it will simplify the implementation of regulations on trade remedies to help Viet Nam join the EU-Viet Nam free trade agreement (EVFTA). The implementation of these solutions in the coming years is expected to help domestic production industries and enterprises, especially small and medium sized ones, to have clear information about trade remedies so they can improve the efficiency of their international economic integration. Le Trieu Dung, general director of the Ministry of Trade and Industrys Trade Remedies Authority of Viet Nam, said for FTAs with very high tariff reduction levels such as the EVFTA, there would certainly be high competitive pressure and challenges for Vietnamese enterprises. Most trade remedies in the EVFTA are based on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. In addition, the EVFTA included principles that suited Viet Nam's legal system. That would help Viet Nam's production industries and businesses to adopt legal trade remedy tools and ensure economic efficiency when the country joined the EVFTA, Dung said, Vietnamese businesses need to have clear knowledge about the commitments and provisions on trade remedies in the EVFTA to take advantage of opportunities and benefits from the agreement and to protect their interests, Dung told Thoi bao Tai chinh (Financial Times) newspaper. In addition, they needed to regularly monitor and study early warnings for trade remedies to take suitable actions to deal with them, he said. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, some sectors with large export volumes such as agricultural products, fisheries, textiles, footwear, iron and steel may be at higher risk of facing trade remedies. Trade remedies such as anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguarding measures are important legal tools that protect local industries and enterprises, especially when tariff barriers are removed under international commitments. VNS Trade defence instruments important to Vietnams open economy Strengthening the application of trade defence instruments would be necessary for Vietnam, which was among countries with the highest economic openness level, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. China on May 22 said that it firmly opposes the latest US sanctions imposed on nine Chinese entities related to human rights abuses in Xinjiang province, where critics accuse Beijing of carrying out a campaign of repression against members of Muslim minority groups. Chinas foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian during a daily press meet on May 25 said the US's action on Chinese firms is nothing but interference in its internal affairs adding that Beijing deplores the sanctions. Read: Coronavirus 'cover-up' By China Is Similar To Chernobyl Disaster: White House Adviser "These nine parties are complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in Chinas campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR)," US Department of Commerce said in a press release on May 22. Read: Coronavirus: China Accuses US Of Spreading Lies And Conspiracy Theories "The Entity List additions restrict the export of U.S items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to persons or organizations reasonably believed to be involved or to pose a significant risk of being of becoming involved, in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. The EAR imposes additional license requirements on, and limits the availability of most license exceptions for, exports, re-exports, and transfers (in-country) to listed entities," it added further. Read: China's Military Orders US To Stop Arms Sales To Taiwan After 'brink Of Cold War' Warning US-China tensions US-China relations are currently at its weakest point in recent history with Washington accusing the Communist government of not complying with international laws while dealing with minorities in its country. The United States has also threatened to interfere in Hong Kong's ongoing pro-democracy movement and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanding the release of Tibetian monk Panchen Lama. The United States recently proposed to sell torpedoes to Taiwan, which Beijing considers as its own territory and expects allies to adhere to the One-China policy. Read: Hong Kong's Security Chief Backs China's Proposed Law, Says 'terrorism' Growing In City (Image Credit: AP) Advertisement Daredevil surfers have been captured taking on an enormous storm swell off the coast of Sydney, with the pounding waves breaking boards and eroding beaches along Australia's eastern seaboard. The monster southerly swell started smashing into the east coast on Friday, with keen board riders scoring powerful waves with favourable winds throughout NSW in classic autumn surf conditions. Wave heights peaked at ten metres on Friday, with surfers spotted towing into giant waves off Coogee's Wedding Cake Island, while kids took to ocean pools around the city to feel the wrath of the surf. The swell held strong through the weekend, with surfers heading to novelty breaks across the city with gale force winds making conditions not for the faint-hearted. Board riders share a triple overhead wave at Sydney's Bronte Beach on Saturday during a monster southerly swell that lashed Australia's east coast over the weekend Keen board riders scored powerful waves with favourable winds throughout NSW in classic autumn surf conditions. Pictured: a surfer swoops onto an outside set wave at Bronte on Saturday A hazardous surf warning is still in place for the Byron Coast, Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast on Monday after a wild weekend of waves, with heights still exceeding five metres and more swell forecast for Tuesday. The swell has been generated by a large low pressure system parked off of NSW, with waves causing significant erosion along the coast line. 'A deep and complex low pressure system over the Tasman Sea is bringing large southerly surf and strong winds to exposed parts of the New South Wales coastline,' the Bureau of Meteorology said. 'This low is expected to gradually weaken and move a little north on Tuesday before moving away to the east mid-week. 'These conditions may produce localised damage and coastal erosion to these areas. Coastal locations exposed to a southerly swell will be most susceptible. 'Beach conditions in these areas will be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas.' A surfer drops into a smooth overhead wave at Dee Why Point on Sydney's northern beaches on Saturday as board riders scratch over the giant swell Novice board riders have been warned not to test themselves in the powerful surf conditions, with one captured getting slammed onto sharp rocks on Sydney's northern beaches. The surfer with a red board was filmed making five different attempts to enter the surf, with strong swells washing him over a rock ledge. Shocked onlookers watched as the surfer continued to try to jump off into the waves, damaging his board while sliding across the rock platform. Three bodyboarders prepare to enter the surf at Collaroy on Sydney's northern beaches on Monday as the swell continued to pulse beyond the weekend Many board riders took to novelty waves to find a secluded corner to surf in the challenging conditions. Pictured: a surfer rides a clean right-hander at Collaroy BOM senior forecaster Jordan Notara told Daily Mail Australia prevailing southerly winds were driving the swell. 'The dangerous surf conditions have been driven by strong and consistent southerly winds along the NSW coast,' Mr Notara said. The weather bureau issued a separate warning about damaging and powerful wind gusts. A strong wind warning is in place for the Byron Coast, Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast and Batemans Coast on Tuesday. The Bureau of Meteorology warned the hazardous winds and surf conditions will remain along the east coast until at least Tuesday. A surfer takes on a late drop on a wedging section behind the rock pool at Dee Why Point as spectators in the pool watch on Some beaches on the east coast proved too challenging for board riders, leaving many incredible waves to pound the coast away from board riders during the swell A longboarder finds a clean right-hander at Collaroy on Sydney's northern beaches as spectators watch the surfers tackle the classic autumn conditions The NSW Police Force Marine Area Command has advised people to stay out of the water. Rock fishermen have been warned to avoid rock platforms while boaters intending to sail over ocean bars have been advised to delay their voyage. The Bureau issued repeated public warnings about hazardous surf conditions over the weekend. 'While tempting to get a look, keep clear rock ledges and check your skill level before entering the water,' it tweeted. India and Israel will put in joint research and development efforts for rapid testing of coronavirus to enable normalisation of life amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the embassy of Israel here said on Monday. The two sides discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis of coronavirus based on big data and artificial intelligence, the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor said. "India and Israel to conduct joint R&D for rapid testing to allow normalisation of life under COVID-19," Avigail Spira, the spokesperson of the embassy, also tweeted. "I'm proud to connect brilliant minds from India and Israel so they can jointly develop life changing solutions for the whole world, and especially in fighting the #COVID19 pandemic," Israel's envoy to India Ron Malka tweeted. On the Indian side, PSA Prof. K Vijay Raghavan, officials from the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Sanjeev Singla and the Indian Ambassador to Israel participated in the discussions with the head of the Directorate of R&D in Israel's Ministry of Defence Daniel Gold and Malka. "Discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis based on big data & AI technology, to enable a rapid return to routine. This is part of vision of @IsraeliPM & @PMOIndia for wide-ranging scientific cooperation between India and Israel. "@kvijayraghavan, @DRDO_India, & @CSIR_IND held discussions with Head of Israel's Directorate of R&D in @Israel_MOD, Dr. Dani Gold, Amb.@DrRonMalka & Amb. Sanjeev Singla @Indemtel about high-level scientific cooperation between India & Israel to address #COVID19, the Office of the PSA tweeted. Earlier this month, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett said scientists at the country's main biological research institute have made a significant breakthrough in developing an antibody to the novel coronavirus. During Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to India in 2018, the two sides resolved to step up cooperation in the field of science and technology, including in the areas of big data analytics in health care and security in cyber space. Ker & Downey Africa No industry has been hit as hard by the pandemic than tourism. Although much remains uncertain, early indicators suggest that travel will make a solid comeback next year. According to experts, an uptick in bookings is expected in the coming weeks, and luxury travel looks set to lead the way. Exclusivity equates to the ultimate social distancing and bespoke tour specialists are pivoting operations and re-framing trip design for 2021 perfectly timed with the "dream or plan now, travel later" trend. "The emergence of COVID-19 has rocked the travel industry, and it is hard to imagine what travel will look like once the restrictions are lifted," says Jenieen van den Heever, Head of Operations at Ker & Downey Africa, a respected luxury safari company based in Cape Town that specializes in personalized trips throughout the continent. Ker & Downey Africa In the past two months, we have seen a clear increase in the need for luxury travelers to travel 'off the radar' with minimal exposure to the outside world. Although we have always offered bespoke experiences that showcase Africa's most exclusive lodges and untouched destinations, we aim to further this by incorporating more private jet travel, exclusive-use safari villas, helicopter transfers, and one-on-one experiences to our itineraries. To better understand post-COVID-19 travel trends, the company surveyed clients to gain an insight into their future needs and expectations. The results showed that as many as 39.7 percent foresaw themselves traveling again in 2021, with 57.8 percent prioritizing favorable terms and conditions as the primary deciding factor in booking that next holiday. Popular destinations next year include South Africa and Tanzania, as well as bucket-list experiences like gorilla trekking in Rwanda and seeing Victoria Falls. Singita Sasakwa Lodge While some might be hesitant when it comes to making the jump from planning to booking stages on high-value tailored itineraries, van den Heever says the tourism industry is working together on incentives that will encourage travelers to keep planning future trips. There are several perks to booking bucket list trips during the travel ban. Catering to concerns, numerous luxury lodges in Africa are offering either free cancelation 60 days prior to departure, delayed deposit payments, or postponements of trips at no additional cost. Some safari lodges and hotels are extending their 2020 pricing into 2021 and offering early bird discounts of at least 15 percent. She adds sustainably-minded travelers might be happy to know that booking a dream trip to Africa during the travel ban will also significantly impact conservation projects and help support vulnerable local communities. Ker & Downey Africa The pandemic and ensuing travel ban presented the Ker & Downey Africa team with challenges, but it also pushed creativity in terms of how future trips will be adapted to suit the needs of the post-COVID-19 traveler. With the health and safety of clients a top priority, they're now working closely with SATSA (Southern Africa Tourism Services Association) and relevant authorities. The company has also conducted health and safety checks to ensure preferred partners adhere to the new WHO and CDC regulations. Ker & Downey Africa To inspire travel to Africa in 2021, Ker & Downey Africa launched its LuxVenture: The Wild Awaits You trip series with a focus on exclusive wellness travel and mindful experiences much needed after the day-to-day stresses of the pandemic. First in the collection is a 12-day Culinary Journey to Morocco curated alongside culinary expert, Tara Stevens. An experiential itinerary, it invites travelers to learn traditional Moroccan cooking techniques while staying in luxurious hotels in Fes, Marrakech, and Skoura one of Moroccos most beautiful oases. Tara is closely monitoring health and safety regulations and tailoring the experience accordingly, explains van den Heever. In the days post Covid-19, she will only offer privatized cooking experiences for groups of six guests total, and the Courtyard Kitchen will be fully disinfected between each course. As yet, the itinerary is available with no scheduled departure date so clients can book for a time that suits them. Additional Ker & Downey Africa trips tailored to survey results currently in development include an exclusive private jet and private villa package to East Africa and a wellness escape in Mauritius that comes with a dedicated personal trainer and nutritionist. Six Senses Zil Pasyon Emerging luxury jet-set travel trends also indicate that island destinations will be one of the first to return to the market. While the continent is synonymous with going on safari, Africa boasts a trove of secluded private islands - the perfect 'self-isolating' escape for those in need of a beach holiday. We might be biased, but a trip to Africa is never complete without a bush experience, concludes van den Heever. For a well-balanced itinerary, we always encourage travelers to combine the beach with an easily accessible safari. Mauritius is a popular destination to pair with South Africa - it's also home to One&Only Le Saint Geran, a firm favorite of Ker & Downey Africa CEO, Lee Kelsall. In Madagascar, look no further than Time + Tide Miavana on the secluded island of Nosy Ankoa; a luxury resort that more than lives up to the standards of the most seasoned traveler. While in Seychelles, our go-to resorts without a doubt are Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Fregate Island, and Desroches Island - particularly for their exclusivity and unrivaled wellness offerings. Time + Tide Miavana Royal Malewane Royal Malewane A Manitoba clinical trial to test a controversial drugs possible benefits in the fight against COVID-19 will continue despite a published study strongly suggesting there are none. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Manitoba clinical trial to test a controversial drugs possible benefits in the fight against COVID-19 will continue despite a published study strongly suggesting there are none. The study, led by Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Mandeep Mehra and published Friday in The Lancet medical journal, found no evidence of any benefits when treating coronavirus patients with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. The findings linked the drugs use to greater risk of death and heart arrhythmia. The Mehra-led researchers analyzed data from more than 96,000 patients confirmed to have COVID-19 from 671 hospitals on six continents. All were hospitalized from late December to mid-April, and had died or been discharged by April 21. Just under 15,000 patients were treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, or one of those drugs combined with an antibiotic. All four of those treatments were linked with a higher risk of dying in the hospital. About one in 11 patients in the control group who got none of the drugs died in the hospital. About one in six patients treated with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine alone died in the hospital. About one in five treated with chloroquine and an antibiotic died and almost one in four treated with hydroxychloroquine and an antibiotic died. But the findings will not derail a clinical trial based out of the University of Minnesota, the University of Manitoba and McGill University that will be considering if hydroxychloroquine is an effective prophylactic medication to be used by health-care workers who might come in contact with COVID-19 patients. Lauren MacKenzie, the lead researcher at the University of Manitoba and an assistant professor of infectious diseases, said the Harvard-led study looked at a much different use of the drugs, in much different circumstances. That research is whats known as an observational study, which means researchers observe the effect of the treatment without trying to change who is or isnt exposed to, MacKenzie told the Free Press in an email Friday. That type of study is known to be subject to selection bias, "in that the control group and the intervention group are typically not the same, which is why the intervention group receives the intervention." Those who received the treatment were likely much sicker to begin with, she said. The Minnesota-Manitoba-McGill study is a randomized control trial and will be following only healthy individuals who have not contracted COVID-19. "One conclusion of this Lancet study from the author and the journal editors stated that urgent randomized controlled trials are needed, which is precisely what our trial is," MacKenzie said. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. She said her clinical trial is not allowing anyone with a known heart arrhythmia to participate, which wasnt the case in the study published Friday. And the doses used in The Lancet study were also much higher, she said. The medications gained notoriety when U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed them as treatment options before their effectiveness against COVID-19 had been tested by researchers. Chloroquine is used to prevent or treat malaria. The related drug hydroxychloroquine is used as a treatment for auto-immune diseases, such as lupus and arthritis. sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had already been on the receiving end of lots of applause for the way she has led the country during the coronavirus pandemic. But Ardern delivered a master class on how to stay cool during a crisis on Monday morning when a magnitude-5.8 earthquake struck while she was in the middle of a live television interview. Were just having a bit of an earthquake here, Ryan, Ardern said as she looked around while speaking to anchor Ryan Bridge. Quite a decent shake here. The prime minister smiled and remained calm in front of the camera as things shook around her. Anyone would have been worried for the prime minister, but Ardern said not to be concerned if you see things moving behind me because the building she was in moves a little more than most. Once the shaking stopped, Ardern made clear she was ready to continue the interview. Im not under any hanging lights, and looks like I am in a structurally sound place, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'We're just having a bit of an earthquake here.' Watch the moment a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit during a live interview with New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Read more here: https://t.co/ULvN9yrang pic.twitter.com/4CpC5LLBsj SkyNews (@SkyNews) May 25, 2020 New Zealand sits on the so-called Ring of Fire and has so many frequent earthquakes that some have come to refer to it as the Shaky Isles. New Zealand experiences around 20,000 earthquakes a year, although the vast majority are not felt by humans. This quake, which was the strongest of the year, struck around 62 miles northeast of Wellington and was strong enough to stop train services, but there were no reports of major damage or injuries. Advertisement Advertisement I get more rattled when I get a phone call and my ringer isnt on silent than the prime minister of New Zealand gets during an earthquake https://t.co/g0vyhHJzBU Erin well-rested cicada Ryan (@morninggloria) May 25, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Later on Monday, Ardern was asked how she felt when the earthquake struck in the middle of the interview. Are you serious? That was what was going through my head, she said. Ardern also said she knew it was difficult for her to know the strength of the short quake. What I was also mindful of is that it is not always easy to get a real sense of the magnitude of an earthquake in here because of the base isolators, you can tend to move a little bit more than the quake implies in terms of strength, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video of Arderns reaction to the quake quickly went viral as people pointed to her reaction as yet another example of how she manages to keep her composure in even the strangest circumstances. Her leadership during the pandemic has received global praise and recent polls had already shown Ardern is New Zealands most popular prime minister in a century, leading to the popular phrase, Jacinda-mania. Even before the coronavirus pandemic increased her popularity, the countrys youngest prime minister had already gained lots of attention for her sense of humor that was on full display when Stephen Colbert went to New Zealand last year. With elections in September, some even joked that Ardern likely orchestrated the whole thing so she could look cool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebellious Conservative MPs are piling pressure on Downing Street to remove Dominic Cummings - after the controversial press conference over his 260-mile trip to Durham. Mr Cummings, 48, faced an hour-long live television grilling tonight where he attempted to mount a defence of his decision to drive from London to County Durham with his son and Covid-carrying wife. The top Government aide admitted he took his wife Mary Wakefield and four-year-old son north to his family's farm at the end of March, when she was suffering from coronavirus symptoms. He also admitted that on April 12 - his wife's birthday - he took a 30-mile drive to Barnard Castle, saying it was to test his eyesight before the long journey back to London - as he had suffered suspected coronavirus. But he denied allegations he and his family took a second trip north in April, despite claims he had been spotted walking in woods on April 19. Conservative backbenchers have been calling on the Prime Minister to remove Mr Cummings from his influential position since the events were revealed. Following tonight's press conference, MP for Mid Norfolk, George Freeman, said that the Number 10 Covid briefing and Boris Johnson's 'important announcement' on easing lockdown was 'overwhelmed by continuing questions and controversy on Domnishambles curfew-gate'. Dominic Cummings admitted he took his wife Mary Wakefield and four-year-old son north to his family's farm at the end of March, when she was suffering from coronavirus-symptoms George Freeman MP said that the Number 10 Covid briefing and Boris Johnson's 'important announcement' on easing lockdown was 'overwhelmed by continuing questions and controversy on Domnishambles curfew-gate' One Conservative MP said he plans to forward all letters from constituents about Mr Cummings to Number 10 Downing Street. Another told The Telegraph his inbox was flooded with dozens of messages within minutes of the Prime Minister finishing his press conference on Sunday, where he defended the top aide. One senior Conservative MP said: 'The backbench WhatsApp group is full of pretty annoyed people. We are getting thousands of angry emails every day, including hundreds of emails from Brexiteers and Boris cheerleaders. 'The PM's statement made it much worse. He should have said there is going to be an independent inquiry, if he has broken the rules he should go, if he hasn't he should stay.' Another MP, who is also a ministerial aide, said that Mr Cummings was damaging the Conservative Party and Boris Johnson. Some have said that the crisis over Mr Cummings could damage it as much as the poll tax or Black Wednesday. One former minister said that Mr Johnson had been popular because Britons thought he related to working people, and defending Mr Cummings makes one look like 'your worst kind of Tory... it plays into every stereotype people have of us'. A Conservative MP in a former 'Red Wall' seat in the north of England said that there has been a 'massive' response, with hundreds of emails pouring in, mostly from 'normal down to earth people who are furious at what's gone on'. Those high-up in the party have backed Mr Cummings - who did not apologise for his actions. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that Dominic Cummings had 'made clear he was motivated by trying to protect his son and he took steps to be safe' The MP claimed that Number 10 thought 'no one would care' about Mr Cummings' whereabouts because 'they never thought people would stick to the lockdown rules anyway'. They added that it now feels that Mr Cummings will have to go by the end of the week. Tory MP Peter Aldous, a public critic of Mr Cummings, had said his 'initial view' was sympathetic towards Mr Cummings, but after receiving a swathe of emails from constituents highlighting the sacrifices families have made, he has 'revised this opinion'. 'The Government should recognise what families have gone through and what people are thinking and saying,' he said, adding: 'It is thus important that Dominic Cummings should now stand down.' He told MailOnline he was taking soundings from constituents in Waveney after the Monday night appearance. It was pretty powerful stuff,' he said. I was responding earlier to what constituents with no axe to grind were telling me in their droves. I think I now just want to see how they respond to that. Thats what I want to see over the next 12-18 hours or so. But those high-up in the party have backed Mr Cummings - who did not apologise for his actions. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that Dominic Cummings had 'made clear he was motivated by trying to protect his son and he took steps to be safe'. He added: 'I understand people had serious questions about his actions - indeed many of you have made huge sacrifices - but I do believe today he explained himself.' Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that Mr Cummings 'gave a full and open explanation and answered every question put' Member of Parliament for Waveney, Peter Aldous, had said his 'initial view' was sympathetic towards Mr Cummings, but after receiving a swathe of emails from constituents highlighting the sacrifices families have made, he has 'revised this opinion' Yesterday David Warburton MP had tweeted: 'As much as I despise any baying pitchfork-led trials by social media, I'm unconvinced by the PM's defence of #Cummings' Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that Mr Cummings 'gave a full and open explanation and answered every question put'. He added: 'He acted in the best interests of his sick wife and young child. He put no one else at risk. He clearly did what he believed was reasonable and within the rules.' Several Conservatives broke ranks and hit out at Mr Cummings over the weekend - despite the senior advisor having the backing of the Prime Minister. Yesterday David Warburton MP had tweeted: 'As much as I despise any baying pitchfork-led trials by social media, I'm unconvinced by the PM's defence of #Cummings. 'We've all been tasked with tempering our parental, and other, instincts by strictly adhering to Govt guidance.' Craig Whittaker MP had said: 'I totally agree that Dominic Cummings position is untenable' Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, had said 'There cannot be one rule for most of us and wriggle room for others' Craig Whittaker MP had said: 'I totally agree that Dominic Cummings position is untenable. I'm sure he took the decision in the best interests of his family but like every decision we take we also have to take responsibility for those decisions. You cannot advise the nation one thing then do the opposite.' Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, had said 'There cannot be one rule for most of us and wriggle room for others'. She added: 'My inbox is rammed with very angry constituents and I do not blame them. They have made difficult sacrifices over the course of the last 9 weeks.' Paul Maynard, Member of Parliament for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, had said it was a 'classic case of do as I say, not as I do', adding: 'It is not as if he was unfamiliar with guidance he himself helped draw up. 'It seems to me to be utterly indefensible and his position wholly untenable.' Metro Park Quarantine Edition Cast: Ranvir Shorey, Purbi Joshi, Omi Vaidya, Vega Tamotia, Pitobbash Tripathy Creator: Abi Varghese, Ajayan Venugopalan Living in isolation is the new normal and its time to change tack if one really wishes to shoot during lockdown. While not everyone can be lucky enough to own a picturesque farmhouse, work from home is the only way out, including for those in filmmaking. And Eros Now seems to have got the hang of it with their Metro Park - Quarantine Edition. The sitcoms first season may not have gained massive popularity but the new edition is tailored to the current scenario. Watch: Metro Park - Quarantine Edition trailer If the Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor starrer Family was a first step in this direction, Metro Park takes it forward as a five-episode mini web series that centres around the work from home concept and has been shot by actors and crew in quarantine. Metro Park is a family drama revolving around a typical Gujarati family settled in New Jersey. The everyday lives of Ranvir Shorey and Purbi Joshi reflect Indian diaspora living in the US and relationships in an American neighbourhood. Adding more colour to this mix are Purbis onscreen sister and her South Indian husband Omi Vaidya, who plays the character like his Chatur from 3 Idiots. This season, the families are locked up in their homes, bonding only on calls and facetime. There couldnt be a better time to save on big-budget outdoor schedules and let creativity do the talking. The writers efforts stand out as much as how flawlessly their vision has been executed. The actors deserve applause for their performances and a special shout-out goes out to their family members who moonlighted as directors. In a show like this, a lot depends on what happens on the editing table as detailed pieces shot at places as diverse as Washington DC, California and Delhi are knitted together as an entertaining series. A still from Metro Park - Quarantine Edition. At times, the five-odd minute long episodes feel like a combination of viral TikTok videos and WhatsApp jokes. But turning it all into a cohesive series is what makes it a winner. The total runtime of the series is a little over 30 minutes but it tries to say a lot in that limited time. From a paranoid Kannan self-isolating himself after a sneeze to an idle Purbi cutting up her husbands kurtas for her fledgling face mask business, there is a lot to connect with. A special mention is needed for their subtle way of discouraging fake news and how people mask PR stunts as good deeds. The team not just manages to evoke a few laughs but also sends across the message of being informed about the coronavirus pandemic. Also read: Esha Gupta on dealing with ACL injury: Whatever I had earned in beginning, I spent it on physios, took a year to recover While the camerawork is simple with no fancy flourishes, the performances arrest attention. With an on-point Gujarati accent, Ranvir and Purbi are a delight to watch. While this fun outing definitely deserve a thumbs up for the idea and the effort, a little innovation could have worked wonders. But the humble beginning is a big step ahead in the days to come. (Author tweets @ruchik87) Follow @htshowbiz for more A one-year-old baby girl was strangled to death by a bedroom blind cord, an inquest heard, as the coroner warned more infants could die. Rifky Grossberger stood up in her cot and became caught in the looped cable at her parents' home in Hackney, North London. She was found unresponsive by her terrified mother and died five days later in hospital from asphyxia and oxygen deprivation. Rifky Grossberger stood up in her cot and became caught in the looped cable at her parents' home in Hackney, North London. Pictured is a file photo of a looped blind cord At least 33 toddlers have died after accidents relating to blind cords since 2001, according to data from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). After Rifky's tragic death on July 2019 senior coroner Mary Hassell said more children would die unless action was taken against the looped cords - which are far more dangerous than regular ones because they make accidental strangulation more likely. In a letter seen by The Sun, she told NHS England's medical director, Professor Stephen Powis: 'There is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. 'There is the potential to help parents, carers and their babies across the country.' How to make blind cords safe Install blinds that do not have a looped cord, particularly in a child's bedroom Cords on blinds (and also curtains) that are elsewhere in the home should be kept short and out of reach of children tie up the cords or use one of the many cleats, cord tidies, clips or ties that are available Do not place a child's cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a window Do not hang toys or objects that could be a hazard on a cot or bed Do not hang drawstring bags where a small child could get their head through the loop of the drawstring. Source: Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Advertisement She sent a similar letter to the government's chief medical adviser, Professor Chris Whitty, and called for warnings to be included on new mothers' leaflets. The inquest heard that Rifky's parents did not know about the dangers of looped blind cords and had thrown away the instruction leaflet. They are particularly dangerous to babies and toddlers because their heads still weigh proportionately more than their bodies and their muscular control is not yet fully developed. This makes them more prone to being unable to free themselves if they become entangled. In addition, toddlers' windpipes have not yet fully developed and are smaller and less rigid than those of adults and older children. This means that they suffocate far more quickly if their necks are constricted. As with drowning, toddlers can be strangled by looped cords quickly and quietly with carers in close proximity, potentially unaware of what's happening. Last year, two-year-old Macy Fletcher, from Royton in Greater Manchester, died after being strangled by a looped cord having been put down for a nap. It let to calls from her family for the looped cords to be banned. Senior coroner Mary Hassell recorded a verdict of accidental death over Rifky's case. Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced mutiny in his party and fury across Britain on Monday for refusing to sack his closest aide Dominic Cummings who is accused of flouting the coronavirus lockdown by driving 400 kilometres from London. Defending one of Britain's most powerful men, Johnson said at the weekend Cummings acted "responsibly and legally and with integrity" by heading from London to northern England with his son and his wife, who was ill with COVID-19 symptoms. Many believe that was hypocritical given the government's mantra at the time to avoid such movements. "What planet are they on?" asked the Daily Mail, an influential right-wing paper usually supportive of Johnson and his adviser, who helped the prime minister to power and to secure Britain's exit from the European Union. Some 20 ruling Conservative Party lawmakers, 14 Church of England bishops and some scientists also expressed anger. "Johnson has now gone the full Trump," said Pete Broadbent, bishop of Willesden, comparing Britain's leader to his ever-controversial U.S. ally President Donald Trump. With a death toll around 43,000, Britain is the worst-hit country in Europe and the government was already under pressure over its handling of the pandemic. Conservative lawmakers reported being contacted by outraged constituents who had made sacrifices during the lockdown, including staying away from dying relatives. "I got swamped with even more emails from people who don't have a political axe to grind and who say... 'it looks as though it's one rule for them and one for us, why should we now abide by government guidance?'," said lawmaker Tim Loughton. Behavioural scientist Stephen Reicher, a member of a panel which advises the government, said the furore would wreck public confidence. "In a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control COVID-19." Johnson's Downing Street office said Cummings made the journey to his parents' property in County Durham to ensure his four-year-old son could be properly cared for by relatives if he fell ill along with his wife. Loading At the time, the government's instruction to anyone showing symptoms was not to leave the house for 14 days. The architect of the successful Brexit campaign in 2016, Cummings, 48, is a polarising figure, accused by many who wanted to stay in the EU of using inflammatory tactics and playing fast and loose with the facts. Ominously for him and for Johnson, many of the lawmakers and newspaper columnists calling for him to be sacked were Brexit supporters, not his usual critics. Coming home late on Sunday, Cummings was harangued by neighbours, including a woman who broke down in tears as she leaned out of her window and described the hardship she and her family had endured during the lockdown. In contrast to Cummings, Scotland's chief medical officer and a senior epidemiologist who advised the government both resigned after admitting they had broken lockdown rules. Reuters SC allows Air India to fly for ten days with middle seats filled in scheduled aircraft. (PTI Photo) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Centre and national carrier Air India to keep operating its scheduled flights with the middle seats filled for the next ten days while observing that the government should be more worried about the health of citizens rather than the health of commercial airlines. The top court asked the Bombay High Court to decide the plea against DGCA circulars expeditiously and said Air India and other airlines will have to follow the order given by the HC with regard to safety measures including maintaining of social distancing inside aircraft by keeping middle seats vacant between two passengers in a row. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde conducted an urgent hearing on Eid holiday through video conferencing to hear the appeals of the Central government and Air India against the Bombay High Court order. You should be worried about the health of citizens, not about the health of commercial airlines, the bench, also comprising AS Bopanna and Hirshikesh Roy, told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who appeared for the Centre. The high court had on May 22 sought response from Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on a petition of an AI pilot claiming that the airline was not following safety measures for COVID-19 while bringing back Indians stranded abroad. The High Court had directed Air India and DGCA to file affidavits clarifying their stand and posted the petition for further hearing on June 2. The pilot, Deven Kanani, in his plea claimed that a circular issued by the Government of India on March 23, 2020 laid some conditions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while bringing back Indians stranded abroad due to the pandemic. However, the condition pertaining to keeping the middle seat between two passengers empty was not being followed by the Air India, he said in the plea. Kanani submitted photographs of an Air India flight operated between San Francisco and Mumbai where all seats were occupied. Air India, however, opposed the plea of the pilot and told the high court that the circular of March 23 has been now superseded with a new circular issued by the Government of India on May 22, 2020 that permitted domestic flights to operate from May 25. The new circular does not say that the middle seat needs to be kept empty, Air India told the court. The High Court had directed Air India and DGCA to file affidavits clarifying their stand and posted the petition for further hearing on June 2. The court had also allowed Kanani to amend his petition to challenge the circular of May 22. On This Day The Day Myanmars Most Esteemed Foreign Monk Passed Away U Lokanatha is seen in February 1948 during his world tour. / The San Francisco Examiner via Tricycle.org Missouri DHSS: "In accordance with the guidelines from the President and CDC, every person and business in the State of Missouri shall abide by social distancing requirements, including maintaining six feet (6) of space between individuals ... Individuals performing job duties that require contact with other people closer than six feet (6) should take enhanced precautionary measures to mitigate the risks of contracting or spreading COVID-19." health.mo.gov LOVE OR HATE OZARK PARTY PEOPLE: THE WET & WILD TIMES OFFERS LIVING PROOF OF THE VAST OCEAN OF DISAGREEMENT BETWIXT THOSE WHO STILL TAKE THE PANDEMIC SERIOUSLY VS. ADVOCATES OF RECKLESS REOPEON IN SPITE OF CORONAVIRUS DEATHS!!! Pool party at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri shows people crowding closely together Video posted by a reporter shows partiers crowded together in a pool at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, this Memorial Day weekend. SEE IT: Packed pool party at Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks shows no one social distancing Lake of the Ozarks is a tourist hot spot, but Memorial Day weekend revelers, appearing to flaunt social distancing rules, could make it into a coronavirus hotspot as well. Social distancing seemed to be a thing of the past as partyers flocked to the popular Missouri park to kick off summer with a potential coronavirus cocktail as they packed into pools, bars and other areas. Hundreds ignore social distancing at Ozarks Memorial Day POOL PARTY In Missouri, people packed bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks Backwater Jacks at Osage Beach said they were hosting a pool party with reduced capacity Promoters promised temperature checks and increased sanitation measures as they kicked off pool season A video showed a crammed pool where vacationers No way to control crowded pool parties at Lake of the Ozarks, local mayor says John Olivarri, mayor of Osage Beach, a town of about 4,000 people nestled on the eastern edge of Lake of the Ozarks, said he did not think it could be prevented or stopped. "My concern is for our workers and whether some of the folks that have come down might be creating a health problem for the community, absolutely," Olivarri said Sunday. Wild Memorial Day Party At Lake of the Ozarks Play video content @scottpasmoretv If you need guidance on social distancing ... look away. Apparently, these folks didn't see the sign that read, "Please practice social distancing: 6 ft apart." The shindig went down at a Memorial Day party at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Footage of Memorial Day Pool Party in the Ozarks Goes Viral Even a global health crisis can't keep people indoors. Over the Memorial Day weekend, videos of people celebrating the holiday at packed pool parties emerged on social media. One in particular, at Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, has drawn national attention. Memorial Day weekend pool party in Ozarks draws national attention In a 16-second video clip, dozens are seen in swim wear, eating and, overall, looking like they're having a good time at a pool party in Lake of the Ozarks on Memorial Day weekend. No one appears to be social distancing or wearing face masks, and, in this time of coronavirus, that's grabbed national attention. Missouri party people at the lake are enduring national rebuke over scenes from a pool party broadcast across the nation and the world today. Trending on Twitter and every other social media outlet, overall there's widespread antipathy against this weekend celebration on the same dayA public health reference:Accordingly . . .Only a small fringe element of malcontents and foreign agents deny that coronavirus is real. Meanwhile, there is legitimate debate over the lethality of the virus, effective treatments, a vaccine and the best way tomove forward.However,is willing to co-sign sloppy drunken pool parties as the best way to restart the American economy . . . Whilst that argument would be entertaining, it's certainly not serious or something that anybody with any real power is suggesting.And so we share these links among several perspectives on the topic . . .You decide . . . Telecom service providers were able to restore connectivity to only 80-85 per cent capacity level in areas of West Bengal hit by super cyclone Amphan due to erratic power supply, continued fibre cuts and obstruction by people protesting against disruption in electricity and water supply, industry body COAI said on Monday. The Department of Telecom has asked the companies to bring the connectivity level to 95 per cent by Monday evening. "The overall telecom network has been restored to about 85 per cent level. The main reasons are erratic power supply, fibre cuts and problems in reaching places because roads are blocked by fallen trees and also obstruction by agitated people," COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews told PTI. He said that people in some parts of Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal gheraoed telecom personnel who went to restore mobile towers. "People have been agitating that they are not getting electricity. Hence, they block teams from restoration work. Fibre cuts have come down, but still going on," Mathews said. According to the Tower & Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA), power supply situation in Kolkata has improved immensely, but it will take a while for electricity to get stable. "Diesel generators, batteries and field rescue team are kept on readiness in case any situation arises. 90 per cent of the connectivity of private players has been restored in most of the areas of West Bengal, and Kolkata, North and South Parganas still remains a challenge," Taipa Director General T R Dua said. The industry has also requested Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to help them in availability of diesel in some of the areas like North 24 and South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and Howrah. "The matter has been taken further by DoT for smooth operations," Dua said. According to industry sources, government run BSNL is working only at 60-65 per cent capacity due to which overall connectivity is now between 80-85 per cent, while 90 per cent of capacity of private operators has been restored. BSNL Chairman and Managing Director P K Purwar did not respond to queries in this regard. Earlier in the day, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in a tweet, said that he spoke to Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash, BSNL CMD and Chief General Managers (CGMs) of West Bengal and Odisha. "Asked them to expedite restoration of telephone lines. They are doing their best though there are issues of power supply & removal of uprooted trees. Told them to work with local authorities & get it expedited," Prasad said. Later in the evening, the telecom minister updated that the network of BSNL has been restored in Odisha on Monday. "Chief General Manager (CGM) @BSNLCorporate of #Odisha circle has informed me that restoration work of BSNL telecom network in the state has been completed now," Prasad said. Network of private operators was restored a day after cyclone Amphan hit Odisha coast, according to industry bodies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In June 1969, 74 sailors died when the USS Frank E. Evans sank in the South China Sea during the Vietnam War. Among them was Patrick Corcoran, a 19-year-old Philadelphia native. Pictured here are his brother, Tom Corcoran Jr., left; and sister, Suzanne Meissler, photographed in July 2018. Read more After an effort to add the names of 74 sailors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial hit a roadblock in the Senate, supporters of inscribing the names of the men who died aboard the USS Frank E. Evans are continuing to press for their inclusion. In a letter dated Monday, Memorial Day, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), called on Senate leaders to pass a bill that would add the names including that of a 19-year-old from Philadelphia to the war memorial in Washington despite opposition from the Department of Defense and others. Their objection, in part, is because the deaths of the men on the Navy destroyer in June 1969 occurred outside an official combat zone. As the nation marks Memorial Day, honoring those who died while serving in the military, the sailors aboard the Frank E. Evans are no exception they were true patriots, who served with honor and distinction during the Vietnam War, Booker said. Adding their names to the wall not only honors their courage and sacrifice, but also provides their families with the recognition these sailors deserve from our eternally grateful nation." READ MORE: 74 sailors died during a Vietnam warfare exercise, but their names aren't on D.C. memorial The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, along with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.), the chairperson and ranking member on the Energy and Natural Resources committee. During a committee hearing earlier this month, Murkowski voiced opposition to the bill. We will find a way to honor these sailors, but at this juncture, there remain practical, legal, and technical considerations that we have to resolve, she said, calling it unfortunate that criteria set by the Department of Defense did not accommodate inclusion of the names on the memorial. The debate over honoring the sailors who died when their ship struck an Australian aircraft carrier during a warfare exercise and sank 125 miles from the combat zone has been a years-long saga. Family and surviving crew members of the Frank E. Evans have fought to add their names to the memorial, arguing that the men who died on the ship which provided naval gunfire support during the Vietnam War deserve to be remembered alongside more than 58,000 U.S. servicemen who lost their lives in the war. READ MORE: 74 sailors died during a Vietnam warfare exercise, but their names arent on D.C. memorial Among the 74 were Patrick Corcoran, 19, from Philadelphias Torresdale section; five other Pennsylvanians, and Earl Preston Jr. of Gladstone in Somerset County, N.J. They wouldnt have been there if it wasnt for the war, Tom Corcoran Jr. of Langhorne, Patricks brother, told The Inquirer in 2018. Our government wont chisel 74 names on that piece of granite. Its an absolute disgrace. Its just wrong. But the Department of Defense has said that the collision took place outside the combat zone, and that the wall also lacks available space. It also has said adding the names would require it to consider other such cases, instead offering to put the names on a plaque in a proposed nearby education center. Although the National Park Service has at times added names to the wall that the Defense Department has determined to be eligible, space constraints mean that adding the 74 would necessitate substantial modification, and possibly a wholesale replacement of the wall, P. Daniel Smith, the park services deputy director, said last year in a statement. Nobody objects to this, except the people who would have to do something about it, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.), the sponsor of the USS Frank E. Evans Act, said during a May 14 committee hearing. The USS Frank E. Evans Association, led by one of the 199 crew members who survived the collision, said on its website that it is difficult to imagine that a select few continue to believe an imaginary line in the water can be used to distinguish between those that deserve recognition and those that do not. While a previous legislative effort failed to add the names to the wall through an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, Booker said in his letter he had again filed an amendment for inclusion in the NDAA package. More than 50 years have passed since the 74 sailors died, Booker said, and if we do not make good on the promise to honor them soon, the few remaining family members still alive today may never have the opportunity to see their loved one honored" on the memorial wall. Every week our Holiday Hero Neil Simpson takes an in-depth look at an important holiday topic, doing all the legwork so you dont have to. This week: travel firms to trust for your next holiday. Look ahead to 2021 and youll find a series of amazing holiday deals already appearing. Trailfinders is offering savings of more than 1,500 per couple on seven-night wellness holidays in St Lucia stays in an all-inclusive five-star hotel with complimentary spa treatments each day and dinner in a choice of five restaurants every night now costs 2,699pp. Turn to Kuoni and you can find flights and ten-night self-drive tours through Florida to take in the Art Deco buildings of Miami, the shabby chic of Key West and Fort Lauderdales sandy beaches from 1,695pp. Alternatively, get away from it all on a 12-night tour of remote lodges and safari hotels in Namibia, on offer from Exodus from 3,199pp, including flights. Putting on the style: The iconic Art Deco buildings of Miami can be seen on a Florida self-drive tour But is it wise to book 2021 trips while the travel industry is in the midst of a storm over slow refunds on many of this years breaks? No one can say where we may be next summer. But it is already clear which companies have treated their customers best throughout the coronavirus crisis to date. Heading our hall of fame is Trailfinders (trailfinders.com), which tops the list for service and strong finances. While most rivals are offering customers only vouchers for cancelled holidays, it continues to offer refunds on demand. It has also won fans for its virtual appointments, with staff connected to their usual research and reservation systems from home. Kuoni (kuoni.co.uk) is singled out by researchers at Which? for a fair-play refund policy, while Exodus (exodus.co.uk) has won plaudits for its flexible deposits plan. This means customers booking now can switch to any other holiday for free up to ten weeks before departure. Solo traveller firm Friendship Travel (friendshiptravel.com) also has a good record for flexibility and refunds. Premier Inn (premierinn.com) gets a mention for recrediting cards quickly, while Caribbean specialist Sandals (sandals.co.uk) is on the list for helping pioneer discounts to NHS workers booking for next summer. Its equally important to know your tour firm wont abandon you if things go wrong while youre away. Experts in the Travel Counsellors group (travelcounsellors.co.uk) went to extraordinary lengths to repatriate clients when borders began to close in March. Rare treat: Spot leopards on a bargain safari tour of Namibia One Norfolk-based counsellor started organising emergency paperwork at 4am while tracking a series of back-up flights to get one couple home from Vietnam and another from the South Pacific. Staff at Titan Travel (titantravel.co.uk) did similarly sterling work, including putting customers in Australia on a non-stop flight from Darwin to the UK when the original route via Singapore was cancelled. And while those who booked travel through international firms such as Expedia say they were left hanging on phone lines for hours when the first wave of flight cancellations hit, clients of smaller, UK-based firms had no such problems. Holidaymakers with Inn Travel (inntravel.co.uk), Newmarket Holidays (newmarketholidays.co.uk) and Leger Holidays (leger.co.uk) have all won praise. Leger, for example, instantly moved this years cancelled bookings for the Oberammergau Passion Play in Bavaria to the rescheduled 2022 dates while honouring 2020 prices. Police in Palghar district of Maharashtra has seize banned tobacco products worth Rs 28.48 lakh in two separate incidents and arrested seven persons, an official said on Monday. The consignments were seized from a truck and a mini- truck on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway on Sunday, he said. The seizure included scented tobacco and paan masala, the official said, adding that seven persons have been arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) White eggs are making a comeback at Tesco after more than 40 years to help keep up with consumer demand during the coronavirus lockdown. The reintroduction of the eggs follows a successful trial by the UK supermarket, which has reported a 30 per cent increase in sales of the protein-rich food. It is hoped that the white eggs, which were originally destined for McDonalds breakfast McMuffins, will help the retailer keep its customers happy while also supporting suppliers and avoiding waste. Jean-Paul Michalski, the director of Noble Foods, which is supplying Tesco with the eggs, told the Guardian: Generally our white eggs are sold to a very large global restaurant chain which unfortunately had to close its doors because of the pandemic. They are also used within egg processing where the egg is broken into a liquid to be used for food manufacturers, hotel or restaurants. None of our standard retail customers stock white eggs so we are really grateful to Tesco for stepping in as the white eggs would have gone to waste. The eggs will cost the same as the brown free-range equivalent, starting from 89p for a box of six medium eggs and 1.69 per dozen. Up until the 1970s white eggs were popular in the UK, however shoppers began switching to the brown variety under the misconception that they are more rustic or natural". As a result there are now very few white egg-laying flocks in the UK; down to an estimated 250,000-300,000 of the 40m egg-laying birds in the UK. Megan Kilby, eggs buying manager at Tesco, said that the move to white eggs could also have a massive agricultural benefit. The initial trial during the lockdown has been a success and we will now be stocking white free range eggs for the first time in more than 40 years, she explained. These eggs are used throughout the restaurant industry so shoppers can be assured of their quality. The move could also have a massive agricultural benefit as white hens are more docile than brown ones and lay eggs for longer and more reliably too. Earlier this year, The British Free Range Egg Producers Association also urged consumers to buy white eggs in a bid to help reduce animal cruelty. This is because the farming of brown eggs requires hens to have their beaks trimmed with an infrared laser beam, which it is argued causes high levels of distress to the birds. The British Hen Welfare Trust states that it is common practice to trim just the tip of the beak in the UK and is carried out ultimately to protect birds from hurting each other. Unlike hens which lay brown eggs, white birds are said to be less aggressive. White birds are more docile and like their own space and they just do not peck each others feathers as much as brown birds, Tim Bradley, a farmer from Lincolnshire told the Daily Mail, adding that white birds are also better for the environment because they eat less grain, meaning less crop needs to be grown to feed them. A leaked audio file purporting to show a regional governor instructing staff to alter data has cast doubt on the reliability of Russias Covid-19 statistics. The recording, released on anonymous social media channels on Monday morning, is muffled and somewhat difficult to decipher. But the request to change figures by a man whose voice appears to be that of Lipetsk governor Igor Artamonov is clear enough. It is unclear from the recording what data this refers to, but their publication, the voice says, would make people ... think bad things about [the] region." The two-minute conversation contains such phrases as: We need to correct this, to convince Moscow that we dont have 72 [unclear], dont put the regions neck on the line, we are at a critical stage, someones head needs to to be chopped off, and dont tell me you are soft. Is it really so hard to change the data? At one point, the unidentified interlocutor pushes back and says changing the data would not be straightforward. Its not a matter of one click and we are done, he says. Its complicated. Then train yourself to do it! says the first voice. Were already trained, comes the reply. In a comment to Russian media, Mr Artamonov confirmed the authenticity of the recording but insisted it had been unfairly interpreted. The conversation was not, he said, an attempt to underreport figures. On the contrary, it was an attempt to correct double reporting on testing figures. We have three services, Mr Artamonov told the Znak publication. Some give data to one place, and others to another [...] You get a situation where the figures are not entirely factual if you dont keep a handle on them. According to the latest official data, Lipetsk region has recorded just five fatalities from 1696 diagnosed cases of Covid-19. This corresponds to a case fatality rate of 0.29 per cent. In other words, like the rest of Russia, well below the 6.42 per cent current rolling world average. Whatever the truth behind the leaks, doubts about Russias Covid-19 data have persisted for several weeks. At a minimum, problems in diagnostics have produced a de facto underreporting. Anecdotally, local tests are no more than 10 per cent accurate, and Russia doesnt report suspected coronavirus deaths. If you arent diagnosed with Covid-19 you cant die from it. But there is also evidence of misreporting of figures, with coronavirus deaths in some cases deliberately assigned to other illnesses. In Dagestan, for example, hospitals have been overwhelmed since the end of April, in scenes akin to the crisis in Italys Lombardy region. Pharmacies across Dagestan ran out of basic medicine like antibiotics, and yet despite the medical collapse, official figures were until last Sunday reporting just 29 deaths. By comparison, a doctor in one hospital told The Independent that seven of his colleagues had died. Russian authorities have angrily rejected any accusation they might be cooking the books. Earlier this month, a group of MPs referred The Financial Times and The New York Times to the prosecutors office for articles suggesting death tolls were higher than reported. Maria Zakharova, spokesman for the foreign ministry, also appeared to suggest they may have their reporting credentials removed. In an interview on state TV on Sunday evening, Anna Popova, the head of Russias consumer protection watchdog, claimed Russia recorded every coronavirus infection and death. Russia is the only country in the world to do post-mortems of all Covid-19 cases, she said. There is no margin for error. Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation (DFPCL) announced its foray into alcohol-based hand sanitizer segment to combat COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made before market hours today, 25 May 2020. Stock markets are shut today on account of Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan Id). Shares of Deepak Fertilisers And Petrochemicals Corporation fell 0.35% to close at Rs 99.55 on 22 May 2020. DFPCL has launched IPA based hand sanitizers under the brand name 'CORORID', which conforms to WHO's recommended formulation. In order to prioritise domestic requirements over exports and also to ensure availability of high quality hygiene products to the end consumer, DFPCL is gradually shifting its focus from a key raw material supplier of IPA for hand sanitizers market to the final hand sanitizer product producer. Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) is the world's most preferred active ingredient in hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol. The company has received due approvals from Maharashtra FDA on its own formulation. Product is available in 500ML, 1L, 5L, 10L, 20L, 25L, 200L and Tanker load. 'Cororid' has an effective anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral agent with proven disinfectant properties which does not dehydrate and is soft on the skin. DFPCL is India's leading producer of merchant Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), with approx. 75% market share, with an installed capacity of 70,000 MTPA. The company supplies IPA to pharma / industrial customers and other sanitizer manufacturers in India. Commenting on this development, Sailesh C. Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director, DFPCL said that India is witnessing unprecedented surge in demand for disinfecting agents due to COVID-19 pandemic situation. The Central government has also included sanitizers under essential commodities list to ensure steady and sufficient availability. Set up in 1979 as an ammonia manufacturer, DFPCL today, is a publicly listed, multi-product Indian conglomerate, with a portfolio spanning industrial chemicals, bulk and specialty fertilisers, technical ammonium nitrate and value added real estate. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oakland County Sheriff deputies arrested a 43-year-old Pontiac man who allegedly fled the scene of a crash in the area of West Huron and Dakota streets on a black skateboard at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to a police report. Police said the man also apparently swung a tire at the deputies when they tried to arrest him, but the deputies tasered the man and succeeded in arresting him anyway. The deputies said they found 88 Suboxone opioid pills in the mans car at the scene of the accident. The man also has prior offenses of driving while under the influence and resisting arrest. The incident began when sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a car veering off the road and hitting a telephone pole on Dakota Street in Pontiac. The driver apparently crashed into the telephone pole, got out of the car and fled the scene of the crash on a black skateboard. Deputies were given a distinct description of the owner of the vehicle in the crash and figured out he lived about a fourth of a mile from the scene of the accident. One deputy located the man in the front yard of the home, with the skateboard leaning on the side of the house. But, as the deputy approached the man, he picked up a car tire and threatened to hit the deputy with the tire. The deputy then told the man to put the tire down, but the man refused and swung the tire at the deputy. The man then dropped the tire, made a fighting stance and swung his fist at the deputy, who then tasered him. After that, a second deputy arrived and both deputies arrested the man. He was then taken to McLauren Hospital Oakland by paramedics for a medical evaluation, due to suffering from the tasering and air bag deployment, as well as from cuts on his arm from the accident. The man is currently lodged in the Oakland County Jail, awaiting charges, and is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday. Green MEP Grace O'Sullivan has refused to be drawn on who she would back in a party leadership contest. Yesterday, her collegaue at the European Parliament, Ciaran Cuffe, backed Eamon Ryan for the role. Husbands arent for sale, but they are for rent with a new business in Rio Rancho, Beccas Rent a Hubby. Handyman and Navy veteran Jamid Jay Shupe owns Beccas Rent a Hubby. He offers his services as a handyman to turn honey to-do lists into honey-done lists, Shupe said. During COVID-19-related restrictions, he only worked with existing clients, but hes looking to take on new ones when those limits are lifted. Shupe served in the Navy for 10 years before leaving in 2004. He worked on an amphibious Navy ship in advanced electronics, computers and intelligence. Shupe learned his trade from life, he said. He watched This Old House with his mom growing up and considers himself overqualified as a painter because of his experience in the Navy. His business began in 2019 after being let go from his job the day after Christmas in 2018. I said, OK, I am tired of working for people who dont appreciate what I do, he said. Shupe started his business to enhance his skill set and identity as a veteran. It just seemed like every time I would get ahead in a job in the private sector, it would be in a year or two years I would hear, I dont need you; have a good life,' he said. Shupe started working for friends and people around the community who needed help with odd jobs around the house. After a couple of jobs, wife Rebecca Shupe, suggested he start his own business. I kind of sat there and thought about it and said, Why dont I do this full-time; why dont I become a handyman?' he said. Rebecca offered to help him find more clients. She posted on Nextdoor and on Facebook as silly as it sounds I am renting my husband out for anyone who needs a handyman; let me know,' he said. And that is where the name of his business, Beccas Rent a Hubby, came from. Most of Shupes clients are 50 to 80 years old. One client is a Vietnam veteran who has multiple sclerosis. This is another veteran in my community that needs someone to go to who understands them. And he is a very intelligent man, but the mind has become a little foggy and he cant do the things he used to, he said. This veteran fell out of his chair one day and emergency medical services had to break in through his back door to get to him. Shupe fixed the mans back door and placed a lock box outside in case it ever happened again. I am helping my community in one small little way, Shupe said. I am working for the people I want to work for. Shupe said he wants to see his business not only be veteran-owned but also veteran-employed. I hold a lot of military ideas. So the chain of command is important to me, taking initiative and doing more than what is asked of me, he said. So being a veteran-owned business is me working for myself, and its being of service still to the ones that I think that need it. To learn more about Beccas Rent a Hubby services, call 492-4128. Lucknow, May 25 : The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has completed the task of skill mapping of 14.75 lakh migrant workers who have returned to the state during lockdown. According to the official spokesman, the skill mapping of migrant workers will help in providing employment for them. Those working in the real estate business constitute nearly 1,51,492 lakh workers while those skilled in furniture and fitting are 26,989. The number of building decorators are 26,041 and those skilled in home decoration are 12,633. Among the migrant workers, 10,000 are drivers and 1,558 are automobile technicians while 4,680 are electricians. Technicians for home appliances are 5,884, para-medics are 596, dressmakers are 12,103 and beauticians are 1,274. Carpet makers among migrants are 1,294 and those who have been working as security guards are 3,364. "The government is preparing to provide employment based on the skills to all migrant workers which will also ensure their social security. So far, 25 lakh migrants have returned to the state," said the government spokesman. The Yogi government will now provide workforce to other states only on the condition that the states guarantee social security for them. The migrant workers will be given insurance cover and the government will also provide accommodation to them if the employment takes them to another district. Photograph: Alba Vigaray/EPA James Phillips is someone the Republican party would rather people not know about. The 31-year-old is doing all he can to find work despite making 25% more money from unemployment benefits than he was paid in his last job as an administrative specialist. The March coronavirus stimulus package provided an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits for four months for the now 39 million people who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic, inspiring Republicans to make bogeymen of the people earning more than before. Senator Bernie Sanders ridiculed Republicans for opposing the emergency measure, pointing out that they were more than happy to cut taxes for the rich but wanted to stop aid for low-income workers. Oh my God! The universe is collapsing, Sanders mocked. But opposition remains. I promise you, over our dead bodies will this get reauthorized, the South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham said last month. Donald Trump privately expressed opposition to it last week in a closed-door meeting with Republican senators, according to the Washington Post. The most common argument against it, that it disincentivizes workers, is a line the party used to knock unemployment insurance well before the crisis. And yet Phillips estimates that hes applied to 120 jobs since he was laid off a month ago because of coronavirus closures. To improve his chances of getting hired, hes learning how to code and use Excel. Phillips doesnt have much of a choice. His father, whose hours have been cut, cant get unemployment benefits. The extra money is going to his father, who he lives with, and to savings, for when the benefit expansion expires in July. When that extra $600 runs out in July, said Phillips, I dont know whats going to happen with our situation. We might be able to last until September maybe. Those in support of the boost arent arguing that its perfect. But many economists agree the $600 fix was the best option available in a country with an antiquated unemployment system that cant handle the current crisis. Even now millions are still waiting for tens of billions of dollars in benefits because the system is overwhelmed. Story continues Related: US unemployment rises by 2.4m despite easing of coronavirus lockdowns Heidi Shierholz, director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute, said because the US had decided to rely on unemployment insurance rather than the government-backed earnings replacement schemes favored in Europe, the extra cash was the best option. It is the absolutely the right thing to do at a time like this, she said. Congress settled on $600 because it is roughly what the average worker makes each week. Researchers estimate somewhere between 40% and 68% of US workers could make more in unemployment than they did in their jobs with this benefit. But the situation for each of those people is not cut and dry. Nearly one in four people are out of work in the US and others are facing cuts to their pay or hours. This means families, such as Phillipss, could see any extra money being spent to recoup other income losses. Low-wage workers are also more likely to work in the gig economy, such as driving for Uber and Lyft, where work has plummeted. Nearly one in three Americans who have a side hustle said that second job was necessary to pay their living expenses work that is not accounted for in the analyses. Democrats have proposed renewing the $600 boost, but if their efforts are unsuccessful, Shierholz said things could be brutal in August. At the macro level, it would mean pulling income out of the economy. It will also mean incredible suffering for people and families for whom that $600 was making it so they could survive in these extremely difficult times and now have it yanked out from under them, Shierholz said. There will just be an economic crisis for families. But it will also make the recession we are in now way worse and longer. I promise you, over our dead bodies will this get reauthorized, Lindsey Graham said last month. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock Shierholz said she was concerned about how deeply some lawmakers were obsessed with the expansion. People have been wringing their hands over this horror that lower-income people are getting more, but they ignore the fact that people who were making more than the average worker are getting less and that hurts the economy, Shierholz said. Mark Harris, 64, was furloughed from his sales job at an international airline in Houston and is making 60% less with unemployment. He received unemployment only after calling Texass unemployment office at least 300 times, three days in a row. He is OK for now unemployment insurance is enough to help cover groceries and bills. His biggest concern is the bleak projections for the airline industry and the prospect that he might not be called back to his job, or any other job, at his age. And of course, he is worried about what happens when enhanced unemployment expires and he is forced to dip into his savings. Ill be making less than now even its going to be very difficult, Harris said. Last year, the weekly payment for unemployment was on average nearly $378, according to the US labor department. Come August, the workers who arent making more on unemployment will suddenly face an even bigger drop in pay. Welcome to the world of your employees Outside of politicians, some small businesses who are struggling to hire back workers have complained that their employees wont return to work because they are making more on unemployment. This is a particular concern because to qualify for forgiveness from the governments Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, designed to encourage businesses to keep staff on payroll, companies must spend 75% on payroll. But John Pepper, founder and CEO of Boloco, a fast-casual burrito restaurant, is skeptical this is as big a problem as it is being made out to be. He doesnt know if his company can weather the crisis, but he is certain it wont be the unemployment boost that brings it down. Im not worried about it because I think its right, its good for the people, Pepper said. If they dont have to go right back to work for whatever reason, I think thats fine. He compared the unemployment boost to a paid sabbatical, something typically reserved for higher-income, white-collar jobs. People who are making more money can look at other career opportunities or just take care of their family and health. And if people are struggling to bring their workers back, a problem Pepper hasnt encountered, he said it could be an indicator about the work conditions. You are going to know if you have a good culture or not this is where the rubber hits the road, Pepper said. An unemployment form in Virginia. The pandemic has cost 39 million people their jobs. Photograph: Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images Boloco has been able to keep paying 120 staff who have received an additional $2 an hour in hazard pay since March with help from the PPP loan. That money runs out after eight weeks, which for Pepper is early June. He said he has never felt as unstable as he does right now. But he said that uncertainty puts him, and other restaurant owners, in a similar position to the one low-wage employees have been living for years. All of a sudden, for the first time in many business owners lives, they were day-to-day, they were literally one day at a time in March, when this thing started coming in, Pepper said. I thought to myself: Welcome to the world of your employees. Related: Roosevelt's New Deal offered hope for the desperate. We can do the same now | Eric Rauchway Thinking bigger than $600 The tensions around paying low wage workers more reflects the broader problem of inequality in the US. The extra $600 works out to $15 an hour for a 40-hour work week the same figure labor activists have been pushing to be the national minimum wage. The people who stand to benefit the most from the boost are those in the hardest-hit industries, such as hospitality, where wages were already low. These are also people facing uncertainty about when, and how many, jobs will be available. Justin Wafer went from making about $550 a week as a bartender in Portland, Oregon, to about $1,000 a week on unemployment. He said he would be fine without the boost because of his partners income though he is using the extra money to pay off existing debts. Im 36 years old, Im tired of being behind a bar, so I have this complex feeling about it. I am happier now than I have been in years I am happy to be getting the money, but I also am thinking Im going to need to stockpile it because, well, theres the possibility there wont be any restaurant work for me when we open back up. Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), said the $600 was a small step in the right direction. But we also need to think bigger than boosting one particular benefit, Henry said. How are we going to make sure this level of crisis never happens again? How can we enact an equitable recovery plan that addresses the needs of all communities, especially communities of color? That includes helping those who dont benefit from the unemployment boost essential workers keeping grocery stores and factories running on the frontlines of the pandemic. As we reckon with what a post-Covid world looks like, we cannot forget who kept our country running in our moment of need, Henry said. Our healthcare workers, food-service workers and janitors, who are overwhelmingly black and brown workers, women and immigrants, deserve more than praise. They deserve nothing less than family-sustaining wages of at least $15 an hour and the right to form a union to lift up individuals and communities both now and in the post-pandemic world. Jamess and Marks last names were changed at their request Close Coronavirus in numbers The number of deaths linked to coronavirus in England and Wales has passed 40,000, according to the Office for National Statistics. The death toll was announced after the World Health Organisation warned countries which lift their coronavirus lockdowns too early risk facing an immediate second peak of infections. Dr Mike Ryan, the WHOs emergencies head, said the virus could jump up at any time even in countries where infections have been falling. Meanwhile, the a clinical trial into a malaria drug touted by Donald Trump as a Covid-19 preventative has been halted over safety fears. The WHO said testings involving hydroxychloroquine had been suspended while data is reviewed by the data safety monitoring board. The world hasnt seen peak oil demand yet, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) told Bloomberg News on Monday, expecting that sooner or later, oil consumption would return to the pre-crisis levels and rise above that. In the absence of strong government policies, a sustained economic recovery and low oil prices are likely to take global oil demand back to where it was, and beyond, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, told Bloomberg. Birols assessment of oil demand trends for after the COVID-19 pandemic and recession could sound reassuring to major oil-producing nations that depend on oil revenues for their budgets, as well as to oil majors, some of which have expressed uncertainty whether oil demand will ever return to the 2019 levels. The pandemic adds not only a layer of uncertainty in the oil industry in the short term, but it also creates another challenge for the coming years, BP's chief executive Bernard Looney told the Financial Times in an interview published earlier this month. "It's not going to make oil more in demand. It's gotten more likely [oil will] be less in demand," Looney told FT. BP's top executive joins other CEOs of major oil corporations who have recently expressed views that it's not guaranteed that global oil demand will return to its 'normal' pre-virus levels of around 100 million barrels per day (bpd). "I don't think we know how this is going to play out. I certainly don't know," Looney said. "Could it be peak oil? Possibly. Possibly. I would not write that off," BP's chief executive told FT. Last month, Shell's chief executive Ben van Beurden said on the earnings call that the current crisis is a "crisis of uncertainty," and we don't know what's on the other side of it, as the supermajor slashed its dividend for the first time since World War II. According to IEAs Birol, increased use of cars instead of public transport after the lockdowns and the depressed new passenger vehicle sales mean that oil demand for road transportation at least would recover faster than demand for other uses of oil. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: According to Marine Traffic website, the second Iranian tanker named "Forest" arrived in Venezuelan waters and near Isla Margarita. Marine Traffic reported that the Iranian tanker is now moving toward Venezuela and the destination port is not still identified. The speed of the Forrest is about 14.5 knots. Forest had left Mahshahr port in Iran on March 31. "First Iranian oil tanker berthed at Venezuela's El Palito port, TankerTrackers.com- an online service which tracks shipments in different geographical areas- reported on Monday," he added. The Iranian oil tanker had loaded 43 million liters of gasoline from southern Iranian port of Shahid Rajaei in mid-March, TankerTrackers tweeted. This is the first out of five Iranian oil tankers that has docked at the northern Venezuelan beach despite the US warnings and sanctions. Satellite images show that the Iranian tanker named "Fortune" is completing its berthing operations while being helped by two Venezuelan tug boats at El Palito refinery. The Iranian tanker was escorted by the Venezuelan Navy in order to reach the Venezuelan port without facing any incident which might had happened due to the US threats. Three other Iranian oil tankers are "Faxon", "Petunia" and "Clavel" that are passing Atlantic Ocean to reach Venezuela. Russia is banning imports of refined oil products, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, to protect its refining industry from cheap imports, according to a decree published on Russias government portal on Monday. The ban will be in effect until October 1, and includes a ban on imports of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and gasoil, to ensure the energy security of the Russian federation and stabilize the domestic fuel market, the government says in the decree. Russia has been considering this measure since early April, after oil prices crashed and led to much cheaper refined oil products outside Russia. In Russia, however, the price of fuels didnt change much because of the nature of its regulations, Russian outlet RBC reported last month. In addition, fuel demand in Russia has plummeted because of the self-isolation and lockdowns to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, which reported this weekend its highest daily death toll so far. The Russian energy ministry has been considering the ban for more than a month, and proposed the move to the finance ministry at the end of April. According to Energy Minister Alexander Novak, quoted by TASS in April, the ban on fuels imports is aimed at preserving jobs in the Russian refining industry. Demand for oil products at Russias gas stations crashed by 40-50 percent because of the lockdowns, Novak said at the end of April. The measure to ban fuel imports is a forced and not really market-based policy, which other countries have also introduced, such as Kazakhstan, Novak said last month. Russias oil-producing companies are also squeezed by the falling oil demand and the need to cut total oil production in the country by 2 million bpd from April to May as part of the OPEC+ deal. The oil majors in Russia are seeking concessions from the government to help them ride out the period of low oil prices with the least damage possible. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The plan, sought by public health experts and congressional Democrats since the virus began circulating in the United States in late February, arrived as the nations covid-19 cases exceeded 1.6 million and deaths closed in on 100,000 both the highest in the world. Public health authorities emphasize that diagnostic testing to identify who is infected, along with antibody testing to determine who might have immunity, are crucial tools to slow the spread of the highly infectious virus and to develop strategies to make it safe for states and communities to reopen. Without a nationwide strategy, states have developed their own approaches, creating a patchwork, with some parts of the country doing far more testing than others. Richmond, Va. Nearly two weeks ago the White House urged governors to ensure that every nursing home resident and staff member be tested for the coronavirus within 14 days. It's not going to happen. A review by The Associated Press found that at least half of the states are not going to meet the White House's deadline and some aren't even bothering to try. Only a handful of states, including West Virginia and Rhode Island, have said they've already tested every nursing home resident. Many states said the logistics, costs and manpower needs are too great to test all residents and staff in a two-week window. Some say they need another week or so, while others say they need much more time. California, the most populous state, said it is still working to release a plan that would ensure testing capacity for all residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities statewide. And still other states are questioning whether testing every nursing home resident and staff, regardless of any other factors, is a good use of time and money. "At this time it would be fairly useless to do that," said Nebraska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Anthone, adding that the state would have to repeat the tests almost daily to get more than a snapshot in time, and the state doesn't have the capacity when there are others who need to be tested. Anthone said the state was going to stick with the CDC's guidelines, which call for testing individually when nursing home residents show symptoms or collectively if there is a new confirmed case of COVID-19 in a home. The varying responses by states to nursing home testing is another example of the country's patchwork response to the pandemic that also underscores the Trump administration's limited influence. The president has preferred to offload key responsibilities and decisions to states and governors, despite calls for a coordinated national response. "All of this is probably not as well thought out as it could have been." said Dr. Jim Wright, the medical director at a Virginia nursing home where dozens of residents have died. "It sounds more like an impulsive type of directive rather than one that has been completely vetted by providers on the ground." On May 11, Trump heralded his administration's efforts to boost coronavirus testing and said the U.S. had developed the "most advanced robust testing system in the world, by far." That same day, Vice President Mike Pence hosted a private conference call with the state's governors, where White House adviser Dr. Deborah Birx requested that each state target nursing homes to help lower the virus' death toll. "Start now," Pence added, according to a recording of the call obtained by the AP. Trump said later that day at a news conference that he was thinking of making it a mandatory requirement. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "I think it's very important to do and I think, frankly, some of the governors were very lax with respect to nursing homes," Trump said. Birx acknowledged Friday that the two-week recommendation was a challenge but said it was needed because of the particular vulnerability of nursing homes. "We should never be discouraged by those who can't get it done," she said. "We should be encouraged by those who have shown us that it can be done." Nursing homes residents, who are typically older and often have underlying medical conditions, have been particularly hard hit by the virus. More than 36,000 residents and staff have died from outbreaks at the nation's nursing homes and long-term care facilities, according to an AP tally. That is more than a third of all deaths in the U.S. that have been attributed to the virus. Nursing home operators have said the lack of testing kits and other resources have left them nearly powerless to stop the virus from entering their facilities because they haven't been able to identity silent spreaders not showing symptoms. The American Health Care Association, the main nursing home trade group, said more than half of its members said they were unable to test all residents and staff within two weeks because of a lack of access to testing. The group also estimates that testing every nursing home resident and staff member would involve testing nearly 3 million people at a cost of $440 million. Even with the tests, nursing homes struggle to find people to administer them and carve out enough time to perform them. New York, one of the nation's leaders in nursing home deaths, said this past week it has sent out enough kits to all nursing homes to test every resident though it remains unclear whether they will be done by the deadline. Delaware Gov. John Carney announced a plan May 5 for universal testing of all residents and staff in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, but the testing program is voluntary. As online shopping becomes increasingly in demand during the coronavirus pandemic, Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is planning to examine how online stores and other websites have failed to manage fake reviews that deceive online shoppers. The Daily Mail reported that the watchdog is concerned over British consumers spending billions on unreliable products, holiday tours, and trades. The lockdown highlighted the importance of online shopping to consumers. In response, the CMA will examine how sites track and respond to fake reviews, although it did not identify the businesses involved. Among the websites that have been criticized include Amazon, eBay, and TripAdvisor. Meanwhile, Facebook and Instagram are being accused of cradling fake review creators. The CMA probe will look at suspicious reviews, businesses operating the reviews, and how websites manage these evaluations where reviewers are paid or receive incentives. CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said they "will not hesitate to take further action" if they find these websites violate the law. Competition watchdog probes how popular online stores and websites manage fake reviews Reacting over the allegations, TripAdvisor claimed that "no other review platform does more to fight fake reviews." Also, eBay said that it would cooperate with the CMA while Amazon said their customers' trust was "at the heart of our approach."Meanwhile, Facebook gave the watchdog the same assurance on tackling the fake reviews issue. While CMA claimed that it is not alleging any website to have done anything illegal, it aimed to assure the public that strong measures are in place and authorities would enforce the law, if needed. It added it would seek for necessary changes and actions, including pursuing a case in courts. Andrea Coscelli said, most consumers who become more dependent on online shopping read online reviews when deciding which products or services to buy." If someone is persuaded to buy something after reading a fake or misleading review, they could end up wasting their money on a product or service that wasn't what they wanted," said Coscelli adding that it is vital to have genuine online reviews. Coscelli also said that they will examine what these major websites are doing to crack down on fake reviews and if they are doing enough. "We will not hesitate to take further action if we find evidence that they aren't doing what's required under the law." The consumer group Which? already warned the public over the rise of fake or misleading reviews on numerous websites and called for a CMA investigation earlier this year. Which?'s head of campaigns Neena Bhati welcomed the regulator's decision to turn its attention to review these sites. The group's investigations have repeatedly exposed fake or biased reviews of people who get salaries or incentives for what they post. The group also claimed these reviews are "being used by unscrupulous sellers to mislead people on some of the world's biggest websites." Bhati added that her group is "providing further evidence to the CMA" that will be useful to push its investigation. Meanwhile, Bhati said they "expect the regulator to take appropriate action against platforms" that failed to protect its consumers against these unlawful acts. Read also: This is 'The New Normal' for Diners, Movie Goers, and Clubber in the time of Coronavirus 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Monday morning motorcycles and classic cars lined the side of the road near a cemetery in the Heights for the beginning of a drive-by Memorial Day celebration. The American Legion Post 4 Yellowstone Legion Riders organized the annual drive-by ceremony. About two dozen people lined Riverside Cemetery in motorcycles and cars at 10 a.m. on Monday. The drive-by began at Riverside Cemetery in the Heights, went to Mountview Cemetery and ended at the Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel. Across Billings official Memorial Day ceremonies were canceled or moved to virtual platforms, as Montana still adheres to Phase 1 regulations which only allows for gatherings of 10 people. The Legions annual tradition, one of few events happening in Billings, looked a little different as adjustments for COVID-19 were made. Last year we would stop at each one of the ceremonies and listen, Gil Floyd, riders director with post 4, said. Afterwards Legion members would gather for coffee. Delhi Police have arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly escaping from police custody in Nagpur and then hitch-hiking his way across the country -- all to meet his wife. Police said the escaped prisoner, Ceejo Chandaran, had not met his wife since he left Delhi in 2012. Chandaran was in under custody for cases of kidnapping for ransom, attempt to murder, robbery and under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. Nine days ago, he escaped from Maharashtra Polices custody while being taken to a hospital in Nagpur and travelled 1,110 km to the Capital. Delhi Police caught him at the house of his in-laws in south Delhis Dakshinpuri. Deputy commissioner of police (south) Atul Kumar Thakur said that in October 2018, Chandaran, along with his four associates, kidnapped a Nagpur-based builders son and demanded ~1 crore for his safe release. The local police, however, arrested the kidnappers and safely rescued the boy. They also charged them under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). On May 16, Chandaran escaped from the police custody while being taken to a hospital in Nagpur for treatment, said DCP Thakur. He travelled to Delhi to meet his wife, Thakur added. Also read: Self-styled godman booked for organising congregation at Delhi temple The DCP said that the Neb Sarai police learnt about the presence of the escaped prisoner at his in-laws home and caught him. During the interrogation, Thakur said, Chandaran disclosed that he originally belonged to Kerala but shifted to Delhi with his family in the late 80s. In 2012, he went to Nagpur for work and met a woman. He attempted to kill the woman over some issue. She survived and Chandaran was arrested. In jail, Chandaran came closer to some criminals. After coming out of the jail, they committed some crimes in Nagpur, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, the DCP said, adding that Nagpur police was informed about Chandarans arrest. Myanmar & COVID-19 Online Film Festival Spotlights Mental Health Effects of Isolation Amid COVID-19 in Myanmar An advertisement for the online Snack Film Festival The ongoing Snack Film Festival, an online event organized by LOKA Media, 3-ACT and Counseling Corner, was launched on May 18 with an invitation to all aspiring filmmakers to participate in its competition under the highly topical theme of Isolation, something many people are grappling with amid COVID-19 restrictions. The short-film festival aims to put a spotlight on problems associated with isolation amid the COVID-19 epidemic, while demonstrating the links between artistic creation with mental health, offering coping tactics and encouraging creativity among the public. Since April, the government has officially required the public to stay at home in order to prevent mass coronavirus infections. Some people are lucky enough to be with their families, but many have to stay alone, said Ko Aung Pyae Sone, project executive at LOKA. He added, Isolation can be difficult to cope with. So, we decided to create a platform where people could capture and showcase their daily lives during stay-at-home [restrictions] to spread awareness about [problems associated with] isolation and encourage creativity during these unprecedented times. Contestants can submit their films until June 7. Films must be produced on a mobile phone and cannot be longer than 3 minutes. Participation is open to all, regardless of age. The competition will be judged by five well-known figures in the cinema arts: actress Academy Swe Zin Htaik; cinematographer and director Mg Mg Thar Myint; Thaid Dhi, the cofounder of Wathann Filmfest; 3-ACT cofounder Moe Myat May Zarchi; and Busan Film Festival curator Kim Young-woo. On June 10, the festival will announce the top 10 films as selected by the judges. Members of the public can also vote for the Peoples Choice Award from June 14-19. A Judges Choice Award will also be announced. The winner in each category will receive 1 million kyats (US$711). This festival is not only a competition, but also a place to learn more about the film industry, as we will be sharing useful tips. It is a great pleasure to be involved in this festival and support the Myanmar filmmakers community as well as spread awareness on an important social issue, said Academy Swe Zin Htaik. As part of the festival, online film workshops and discussions will also be held, in which participants can learn from veteran filmmakers. Experts from Counseling Corner will also organize workshops and panel discussions throughout the event allowing participants and the public to get to know more about mental health and support options. Humans love social interaction. Although some might enjoy solitude, for many isolation has a negative impact and can cause severe mental issues. However, mental health often carries a stigma and many affected people are too afraid to seek help, said Dr. Aung Min Thein, the founder of Counseling Corner. He added, Thanks to this festival, we hope to raise awareness of isolations negative impacts on peoples well-being. Counseling Corner is proud to be a partner of the Snack Film Festival, and we would like to encourage everyone to openly address the issues we face and promote self-awareness and mental fitness. You may also like these stories: Myanmars Remote Naga SAZ Has Only Two Doctors for Its 130,000 Residents Pastors Arrested for Holding Gatherings Amid Myanmars COVID-19 Restrictions Hotels to Slash Wages in Myanmars Capital Because of COVID-19 Closures BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili. Dear Madame President, it is on the occasion of the national holiday of friendly Georgia the Independence Day that on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan I offer my best wishes and cordial congratulations to you and your people, President Aliyev added. The present level of the good neighborly relations and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia is gratifying, the Azerbaijani president said. The high-level contacts between our nations and ever-growing mutually beneficial engagement in political, economic and other spheres are the characteristic features of our cooperation. I am confident that this cooperation will continue to develop successfully, through our joint efforts, for the sake of prosperity of our peoples. I wish to note that the people of Azerbaijan are in solidarity with the people of Georgia also throughout these difficult times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that humanity faces, President Aliyev said. I seize this opportunity, to wish strong health and success to you, and everlasting prosperity to the friendly people of Georgia, the Azerbaijani president said. Which is more criminal? David Koresh or the Democrat Party?!: Part One By Michael Moriarty Even though child molestation had been committed by David Koresh at the Waco Compound in Texas, and children do not come under the freedom given to consenting adults, the Clinton Administrations ATF and other weaponized arms of Clinton law enforcement were not really at Waco because of child molestation. They were there with firearms, tanks and helicopters because of their belief that the Branch Davidians had no right to bear arms at all. That, of course, is notentirely true. The Second Amendment initially endows all Americans with a Right to Bear Arms. The Second Amendment, however, is not part of the Democrat Partys understanding of the Bill of Rights. Despite the fact this right is stated quite clearly in the American Constitution. The Democrat Party considers the Second Amendment a hindrance to their vision of any good governments Right to Enforce the Governments Rights! And to do so without having to face any weaponized resistance. Why am I so certain the Democrat Partys Clinton Administration had and still has no real concern for children?! It has always believed indisputably in the right of any mother to murder her own child by abortion. Was the risk of death to any children in the Waco compound even considered by the Clinton Administration or their Attorney General, Janet Reno? Apparently not. Everyone, with even an ounce of common sense, knew that the leader of the Koresh Compound was an insane megalomaniac named David Koresh. His Biblical fanaticism had never been kept a secret from any of the citizens surrounding Waco, Texas, let alone the decision-makers within the U. S. Federal Government. The Waco television series on Netflix dramatizes what I call The Waco Nightmare in great detail. All the men of the Branch Davidians under Koresh control are unquestionably guilty of aiding and abetting a criminal who, incontestably, committed child molestation. They sat back and let their own wives be sexually stolen from them by David Koresh; but also allowed their own children to be sexually molested by him. No matter how crazy the grown-ups in the Branch Davidians may have been, any sexual abuse of children by David Koresh does not fall under the liberty of consenting adults! The tragedy of Waco and the Branch Davian Compound had been similarly enacted at Ruby Ridge; and both events of sheer madness and moral corruption, on both sides of the battle lines, are examined in this television series. Ive just begun with Waco. More to come. Michael Moriarty is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor who starred in the landmark television series Law and Order from 1990 to 1994. His recent film and TV credits include The Yellow Wallpaper, 12 Hours to Live, Santa Baby and Deadly Skies. Contact Michael at rainbowfamily2008@shaw.ca. He can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@MGMoriarty. Home File Photo Chandigarh: Major Singh, a journalist working in Mohali based daily, came to Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Singh Sabha, Phase-4 SAS Nagar, Mohali to cover the fight between the two sides, was mistreated by the existing police and taken to the police station where he was beaten. PhotoMajor Singh said that he was abducted illegally and his religious sentiments were deliberately hurt by taking off his turban and comb and was also brutally beaten by ASI Om Prakash. SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal took stern notice of the incident with journalist Major Singh and immediately suspended both the policemen. Advertisement The United Sikhs also strongly condemned the incident and took the side of journalist Major Singh. Gurpreet Singh, Director, United Sikhs, said that Major Singh is one of our senior volunteers and he worked tirelessly to help the needy during Covid-19. PhotoDuring this time he served the humanity and helped the police officers while on duty in Punjab. Police officers have tried to cut off the feeding hands. We demand that the DGP of Punjab Police should intervene in the matter and register an FIR against ASI Om Prakash and ASI Amarnath. A memorandum regarding the incident is also being handed over to the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Punjab, Human Rights Committee and Minorities Commission. Advertisement "Anyone who wears a turban should know the importance of the turban," said Ishar Singh, director of United Sikhs. Both the police officers involved in the incident were wearing turbans. For them it may be part of the uniform but for us it is everything. We are not in favour of suspending police officers. We demand registration of an FIR and strict action and justice against the officials involved in the incident. The Senate passed early Sunday a budget package authorizing $42.8 billion in general revenue spending next year, although much of that remains tentative depending on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential congressional action that could send more financial aid to states. The House approved the budget bill late Saturday. The budget deal was worked out largely out of public view over the past two and a half months as lawmakers worked remotely in various informal working groups, and it continued to undergo changes in recent days in advance of the House debate. One key to making the budget work is a plan to borrow up to $5 billion from the Federal Reserves Municipal Liquidity Facility program. That program allows the central bank to buy certain short-term debt from states to help them make up for the loss of revenue theyve seen since the pandemic forced them to close large parts of their economy. It also authorizes another $1.5 billion in borrowing between the general revenue fund and various other state funds to maintain cash flow throughout the year. House Majority Leader Gregory Harris, D-Chicago, said that by borrowing from the Fed, Illinois will be able to keep state spending for the fiscal year that begins July 1 largely at the same level as this years spending. If were going to balance the budget, I would rather not do it on the backs of people who would lose their jobs if we were to cut money to our schools, cut money to our first responders, he said. I dont want thousands more people out of work. Lawmakers expect to pay back the Federal Reserve loan with federal funds they expect Congress to approve in the next stimulus package for states. But Congress has not yet authorized such a package and there is sharp disagreement between congressional Republicans and Democrats over what that plan should look like. Both chambers of the Illinois Legislature passed a separate bill authorizing that borrowing Friday night. What weve heard today is a budget that is balanced only on a wing and a prayer, said Republican Rep. Tom Demmer of Dixon, the House GOPs chief budget negotiator. During the Senate debate that began after midnight, Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, said the Legislature is gambling with its budget plan. The spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year is spelled out in Senate Bill 264. According to an analysis of the package that was circulating among lawmakers Saturday, it essentially calls for flat funding for most state programs, including K-12 schools, which will see no increase in their evidence-based funding over their current levels, although they also will not see any decrease. Funding for state universities also is held flat at current-year levels, as is funding for the Monetary Aid Program, or MAP grants, and AIM HIGH grants. A few state agencies are slated for increases in the new budget, including the Illinois Department of Public Health, the agency coordinating much of the states response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its total budget, including federal funds, is slated to grow 144 percent, to more than $1.6 billion. Included in that figure is $416 million in federal funds for testing and services provided by local health departments. The Department on Aging would see an additional $58 million to raise wages for adult care providers, transportation and homemaker service providers to $14 an hour. The Department of Children and Family Services also is slated for a 20% increase in general revenue funding, or about $170 million, to provide rate increases for foster care providers, to hire 123 investigative staff and to address caseload growth. During debate in both chambers, Republicans urged delaying any action on a budget until the state has a better estimate of how much revenue it will receive in the coming year, as well as how much federal aid will be available, but Democrats did not entertain that suggestion. The 68-44 vote in the House to pass the budget bill appeared to fall largely along party lines, with Republicans arguing it relied too heavily on borrowing and not enough on fiscal restraint. It passed the Senate 37-19. . CARES Act funding The budget package actually consists of two bills an appropriations bill, Senate Bill 264, which authorizes spending by various state agencies; and a budget implementation bill, or BIMP, in legislative lingo, House Bill 64, that enables various agencies to carry out the budget. The implementation bill sets up a number of new funds within state government that can receive and distribute money from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion federal relief program that Congress approved earlier this year. The state expects to receive about $3.3 billion through that program. Harris said that money is being earmarked for direct aid to the states health care industry to help hospitals, nursing homes, mental health centers and other care providers absorb the cost theyve incurred for dealing with the pandemic. He said another $1.8 billion is earmarked for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and it gives Gov. JB Pritzker authority to decide how it is spent. That part especially infuriated Republicans who have complained about Pritzker governing by executive authority, and about the General Assembly not exercising its oversight role. But Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, the Senate Democrats lead negotiator, said in an interview Friday that the federal money comes with significant strings attached and can be spent only for specific purposes, so Pritzker will be restrained by federal rules. But the implementation bill also gives the governor additional discretionary authority over the spending of state funds throughout the budget. Governors normally are allowed to shift up to 2% of an appropriation from one purpose to another, but this years bill expands that to 8%, something that angered many Republicans. It also sets up a legislative oversight committee to monitor all executive spending in the budget as well as how CARES Act money distributed to local governments is spent. The implementation bill passed the Senate 33-19. It later passed the House 62-47. For lifelong Kenosha resident and business owner Dino Sturino, todays Memorial Day observance has deep meaning. With four direct relatives and a brother-in-law who served in the military and one son who paid the ultimate sacrifice its not hard to understand why the day is so special. And while he beams with pride at the family connections to the armed services, its also a tough day. Today is all about taking a pause to especially thank those who never made it home. It means remembering men and women who served, people who lost lives, how great we have it, said Sturino from the patio at his restaurant, 1543 22nd Ave., Kenosha. A lot of countries dont have it as nice as we do. I always said Memorial Day means to kind of remember who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Some gave and some gave all. Sturino served in the Navy during the Vietnam Era, following both his father and grandfather, who were in the Army during World War II and I, respectively. His brother-in-law, Jim Schneider, served 20 years in the Navy. Schneider was married to Sturinos sister, Doreen, for 40 years. Doreen recently died after a battle with breast cancer. And the blood lines certainly dont stop there. Both of Sturinos sons also were in the Army Alonzo, who was an Army Ranger, and Paul, a member of the Screaming Eagles Air Assault unit in the 101st Airborne during the Iraq War. Paul Sturino was killed as a result of an accidental discharge from another soldiers firearm on Sept. 22, 2003, in Quest, Iraq. According to an online record of his death, Paul Sturino was assigned to B Battery 2nd Battalion 320th Field Artillery Regiment out of Fort Campbell, Ky. Dino said he leaned heavily on his partner of 23 years, Christine Straate, when word came of his sons death. She supports me, he said. When I lost my son, thats hard. She gives me a lot of support, which is very precious. (Memorial Day) means a lot to me. A lot of men and women have done a lot. Its good to realize and to remember. ... When you put on the uniform, theres a certain amount of pride that goes with it. Theres pride, responsibility and honor. That really says it all. Sturino said his son had just received his 21st birthday card and shared that message with his father. I said,Paul, youll be home sooner than you think, Sturino said. Eight days later, he was home. Straata said her two sons answered the door when military officials arrived to deliver the sobering news of Pauls death. We thought he was coming home for a break, she said. That wasnt it at all. He was coming home, but not the way you wanted him to. No winner in warThe loss of his son at such a young age drove home a point that Sturino knew to be fact from a lifetime of being around the military. No matter the outcome at the end of a war, theres never any victor to be crowned. No one ever wins in a war, he said. Theres no winning in a war. Sure, you may declare victory, but when you lose people in your family, theres no winning there. Although 17 years have passed since his sons death, time never will fully heal the wound that was left behind, Sturino said. He thinks about Paul, his father and grandfather often. You live with them every day, he said. I talk about my dad, my grandpa and my son. We sit and talk about my kids, what they did, how hard it was for them and how hard it is for me at times. Some days, Im in a really good mood, and other days, I just sit and cry. Sturino beamed with pride when he reflected on the family roots in the military, which covered every major war except Korea and Desert Storm. His grandfather came to the United States from Italy, and almost immediately decided his desire to serve in the Army. He was so happy to be here, he joined the Army, Sturino said. I always asked him, Grandpa, what was it like? and he always said, You really dont want to know. Sturinos father followed his grandfathers footsteps and joined the Army when World War II broke out, and when the Vietnam War began, he knew what had to be done. I felt it was my honor and respect (to join), he said. And I wanted to do it, also. When it comes to his two sons, Sturino said, like many fathers, he gave them plenty of life advice for them to consider, but also knew he owed it to them to allow both the ability to make their own adult decisions. And he couldnt have been more proud of their decisions to also serve their country. Its a lot of pride, a lot of honor, and I felt my kids did the right thing, Sturino said. I wish they would have come back good and sound and not gone what they went through, but you cant predict the future. I feel very honored and very lucky to have two boys who served. I have a lot of respect and honor that my boys loved and honored our country so much that they went and did the honorable thing. And his thoughts on five direct relatives from the same family along with his brother-in-law as military veterans? Well that goes without saying. Its part of our heritage, he said. Men and women fought and died for this country back in the 1700s, and they came here for a chance for freedom. Thats what we should have. Thats what I believe in. The connections dont end with just his family, either, as Sturino sees everyone in military as all part of the same fraternity. When a vet sees another vet, they recognize each other, he said. We did a lot.The men and women who are serving right now, I give my hat off to all of them. Were all in this together. Thats what its all about. Hidden enemy Sturino, who grew up with his siblings working at the restaurant his parents originally bought in 1968, reflected a bit on the current state of affairs and the COVID-19 pandemic. This enemy may be the most dangerous one of them all, he said. We are in a war with the coronavirus, and thats a hidden war, Sturino said. I cant see it. You cant see it. During World War I, you knew your enemy. During World War II, you knew your enemy. During all the other times, you knew your enemy. (With) this, you dont know. You cant see it. You cant taste it. You cant find it. You cant touch it. You cant do anything. Youre basically fighting something that no one can see. Its hurting (everyone) and touched so many peoples lives. They dont even know where to go any more. While the pandemic has been tough on everyone, including business owners like Sturino, he expressed both gratitude and optimism for his restaurant moving forward. Having to change the business model in a flash wasnt easy, but he said the restaurant had tremendous support from its customers. Were very fortunate that we have such nice customers that have kept us afloat, he said. We work long, hard hours, and our customers have been very supportive with fish frys, pizza and that kind of stuff. Im very thankful to have such good customers. Somber day For Sturino and Straate, today is much more than the unofficial beginning of summer, already made a bit strange with the pandemic still at the forefront of our lives. There will be a visit to St. George Cemetery in Kenosha along with plenty of memories throughout the day. Im going to go visit my grandpa, my dad, my son and pray and think of all the other men and women today, he said. Ill spend time with mom, who is 88. Ill take her to the cemetery (as well). Those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice and the families theyve left behind never are far from their thoughts, Straate said. We think about all these families who have lost their sons and daughters, she said. Some people, that was their only child. Its just a day to think about all the people who paid the ultimate price. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. COLUMBUS, Ohio--Gov. Mike DeWine said last year that his top priority for 2020 would be passing his STRONG Ohio gun-reform package, which he proposed after a mass shooting in Dayton last August. But his proposals attracted only lukewarm support from fellow Republicans, and since the coronavirus crisis arose, the legislation has been pushed even further from a priority. DeWines plan would create a voluntary state-level background check process for gun sales between private sellers and expand the states existing pink-slip law to allow authorities to send people with drug or alcohol problems to a psychiatric hospital, where they cannot legally have access to guns. It would also increase Ohios penalty for illegally selling a firearm from a fourth-degree felony to a third-degree felony. House Republicans competing bill -- which would permit involuntary drug-abuse hospitalizations, require data entry into a background-check database, and raise the minimum age at which Ohioans juvenile records can be destroyed -- hasnt had a committee hearing since last October. DeWine has consistently said the reforms are reasonable and should pass. While weve been sheltering during the last 10 weeks of the coronavirus crisis, news from before the pandemic continued to develop. Cleveland.com has a guide to the stories you might have missed -- and what might come next. Read more cleveland.com stories: Almost 400 Ohio children remained missing at the end of 2019, attorney generals office reports Ohios unemployment rate nearly triples to 16.8% in April Gov. Mike DeWine announces measures to fight coronavirus in racial minority communities Jukebox, pinball machine and arcade game companies sue Ohio over coronavirus restrictions Ohio will allow wedding receptions of up to 300 people starting June 1 We are extremely honoured and grateful to have received this Certificate of Merit on Chubb Lifes 15th anniversary in Vietnam. This recognises our contribution to the life insurance industry and to the Vietnamese economy overall, said Lam Hai Tuan, chairman and country president of Chubb Life Vietnam. The US-backed life insurer prides itself on introducing new insurance solutions to the market, one of those being Universal Life, a permanent life insurance solution with an investment savings element. With its diverse range of Universal Life solutions that can cater to customers up to 80 years of age, Chubb Lifes Universal Life portfolio now accounts for the companys greatest market share. The company has also developed solutions that suit the different needs of Vietnamese people, and now offers a comprehensive range of insurance products, including investment-linked insurance, whole life insurance, term insurance, combined insurance, health insurance, and personal accident insurance. As a result of its strategies and superior product offerings, Chubb Life is one of the few insurers in Vietnam to have generated profits since their fifth year of operation and has continued operating profitably for 11 consecutive years, adhering to the highest standards and fulfilling its responsibilities to the local communities in which it operates. To date, the company has reinvested more than VND10 trillion ($434.78 million) into the Vietnamese economy. As a result of its strategies and superior product offerings, Chubb Life is one of the few insurers in Vietnam to have generated profits since their fifth year of operation and has continued operating profitably for 11 consecutive years. In Vietnam, Chubb Life is seen as both a successful insurer and a partner that always upholds professional ethics. The company has regularly received prestigious awards and certifications such as the certifications of merit from the General Department of Taxation and The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City for its outstanding achievements in the insurance business, as well as being ranked in the Top 10 at the Vietnam Insurance Reputation Awards for four consecutive years. Chubb Life is also the only life insurance company in Vietnam to have received the corporate award (the Global Ethic symbol) and the General Director award (the Lighthouse symbol) from the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations for three consecutive years. The company also won the International Life Insurer of the Year and New Insurance Product of the Year awards for the Vietnamese market in 2018 from Insurance Asia, a prestigious finance and insurance magazine. Looking back at the landmark achievements over the past 15 years, I am very proud of what we have achieved. We have built a strong life insurance company following global standards, operated and managed by an all-Vietnamese team, said the companys top leader Lam Hai Tuan. Employing a people-centred strategy, Chubb Life is proud to have successfully invested in and trained a talented and ethical workforce the next generation of leaders for Chubb Life and the broader domestic and international life insurance market. The company has also proudly participated in laying the foundation for Chubb Life Myanmar and played an active, fundamental role in Chubb Groups many regional and international projects. As of March 31, 2020, more than 27,360 Vietnamese families have received insurance benefits from Chubb Life with a total amount of approximately VND1.28 trillion ($55.65 million), of which the highest insurance payment for a single case was VND10 billion ($434,780). At the same time, nearly half a million Vietnamese families are being protected by Chubb Life Vietnam, which means hundreds of thousands of lives are supported, thousands of critical patients have recovered, and countless childrens dreams are nurtured. Aside from maintaining exceptional business performance, Chubb Life Vietnam also constantly strives to support the community in the most practical ways. Founded by Chubb Life Vietnam in 2005, the Crossing Waves Fund has, in collaboration with Chubb Charitable Foundation International, contributed more than VND25 billion ($1.1 million) to the construction of eight new schools and awarded many scholarships to underprivileged students, thus helping brighten the future for the younger generation in Vietnam. Lighting may have caused a fire that completely destroyed a West Side residence Sunday night, San Antonio Fire Department said. Firefighters were called to the 4400 block of Growden just after 9:30 p.m. for a structure fire. When crews arrived, the two-story residence was completely engulfed in flames, said a spokesman with SAFD. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox It took firefighters over an hour to get the fire under control and the home was a complete loss. Another West Side home, near the 9800 block of Prescott Drive caught fire around 1 a.m., but crews were quickly able to extinguish that blaze. Officials said a small fire had started in the kitchen, near the rear of the house, but did not give a cause for that fire. The blaze caused nearly $10,000 in damages. Before midnight, SAFD responded to 47 alarm calls across the city. They also were called for 23 high water investigations and had to conduct seven water rescues and three water evacuations due to the storms Sunday night. No injuries were reported for any incidents. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Aliabbas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, May 26 2020 Force to be reckoned with: Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers take part in a joint police-military operation codenamed Tinombala to hunt down a terrorist group under Santoso, alias Abu Wardah, in Poso, Central Sulawesi, in 2016. President Joko Jokowi Widodo has proposed a regulation that will give the military more powers in the counterterrorism field. (JP/Ruslan Sangadji) The government recently submitted a draft of a presidential regulation (Perpres) on the involvement of military forces in the countrys fight against terrorism to the House of Representatives. The proposal shows the governments intention to continue the militarization of counterterrorism in the country. Controversy about the role of the Indonesian military (TNI) in counterterrorism has been ongoing since mid-2019. When the older draft of the current Perpres (dated April 18, 2019) circulated, it received strong criticism as it potentially endangered democracy and human rights in Indonesia. In addition, the older draft violated Law No. 5/2018 on antiterrorism and Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Riot police clear up debris left by protesters attending a pro-democracy rally against a proposed new security law in Hong Kong on May 24, 2020. AFP Police fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters who gathered Sunday against a controversial security law proposed by China, in the most intense clashes for months. As the demonstrators and police were facing off in the semi-autonomous financial hub, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi insisted in Beijing that the proposed law must be imposed "without the slightest delay". The planned legislation expected to ban treason, subversion and sedition comes after Hong Kong was shaken last year by months of massive, often-violent protests, and repeated warnings from Beijing that it would not tolerate dissent. With campaigners warning the proposal could spell the end of the city's treasured freedoms, thousands gathered and chanted slogans in the busy Causeway Bay and Wan Chai districts, while some masked protesters set up makeshift barricades to stop police vehicles. "People may be criminalised only for words they say or publish opposing the government," 25-year-old protester Vincent told AFP. "I think Hong Kongers are very frustrated because we didn't expect this to come so fast and so rough. But... we won't be as naive as to believe that Beijing will simply sit back and do nothing. Things will only get worse here." Riot police were deployed after protesters ignored earlier warnings from authorities against unauthorised assembly and violated the city's current coronavirus-linked law banning public gatherings of more than eight people. As the number of protesters swelled, police fired tear gas and pepper spray to try and disperse the crowd, and later deployed water cannon and armoured vehicles against pockets of protesters. At least 180 people were arrested, police said, the majority in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai districts. Other protesters were detained at a smaller demonstration in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Hong Kong government condemned the "extremely violent and illegal acts" of the protesters and said they reinforced "the need and urgency of the legislation on national security". It also accused protesters of injuring at least four police officers. The scenes on Sunday were the most intense in months. The Hong Kong pro-democracy movement had fizzled at the beginning of 2020 as arrests mounted and, later, large gatherings were banned to stop the coronavirus. More than 8,300 people have been arrested since the protests erupted last year. Around 200 were detained during small rallies at malls on Mother's Day earlier this month. Hong Kong residents enjoy rights including freedom of speech unseen on the Chinese mainland, as well as its own legal system and trade status. Fears had been growing for years that Beijing was chipping away at those freedoms and tightening its control on the city, and campaigners have described the new proposal as the most brazen move yet. - 'I'm very scared' - Of particular concern is a provision allowing Chinese security agents to operate in Hong Kong, and that they could launch a crackdown against those dissenting the mainland's communist rulers. "I'm very scared, but I still have to come out," said protester Christy Chan, 23. "Aside from being peaceful, rational and non-violent, I don't see many ways to send out our messages." Despite the alarm in Hong Kong and in some Western capitals, Chinese and city officials have insisted the proposed law is needed to prevent unrest and protect national security. A top pro-Beijing official claimed Saturday that mainland Chinese law enforcement would not operate in the city without "approval" from local authorities. But there is deep mistrust of China's opaque legal system in Hong Kong and of how Beijing might use the proposed regulations in the city. The massive protests last year were sparked by a now-scrapped bill that would have allowed extraditions to the mainland, and there are fears the new motion would be even more wide-ranging. China's legislature is expected to rubber-stamp the draft resolution on Thursday, before the details are fleshed out at another meeting at a later date. Officials have said the law would then be implemented locally. (AFP) The wife and son of an advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor GC Murmu have tested positive for the Covid-19 infection, officials said on Monday. The mother-son duo was admitted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspecialty hospital in Kakryal area of Reasi district late Sunday. The advisors wife and his son, who returned from Delhi a couple of days ago, were tested positive and late last night they were shifted to Katras super-specialty hospital. The advisor has gone into self-quarantine at the super-specialty hospital, officials said on Monday. The result of their samples came on Sunday night in which they tested positive for the infection. Meanwhile, an income tax lawyer from Jammus Trikuta Nagar, who died on Sunday night at a private hospital, was tested positive for Covid-19 after his death. The 63-year-old man was hospitalised on May 22 for kidney-related ailments. His samples were taken the next day to test for coronavirus infection. Doctors at the hospital said he had comorbidity and died of Covid-19. His sample was taken after his death and it was tested positive, an official of the hospital said on Monday. This is the third death from coronavirus disease in Jammu region. A woman from Tikri village in Udhampur and a retired Special Bureau officer from Digiana in Jammu district were the two others who died due to Covid-19. Jammu-Kashmir principal secretary Rohit Kansal, meanwhile, said that relaxations in lockdown 4.0 should not be taken for granted and after people should not squander the gains made in the past two months of lockdown. While we have increased our testing capacity to 350 percent in the last one month and as of today we are conducting 8100 tests per day, we should not squander the gains made during the lockdown since March 25, he said. Cumulatively, we have conducted 1.32 lakh tests so far across Jammu and Kashmir and our test rate is now 10,000 per million, he said and added that 90,000 returnees, who returned to J&K via trains, buses and flights have also been tested. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 00:18:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A grafitti receives a face mask as an attempt to raise awareness to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Rahel Patrasso) Data from Brazil's civil aviation agency shows there has already been a sharp reduction in U.S.-bound flights from the South American country. WASHINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Sunday announced travel restrictions on Brazil, the nation with the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases. "Today, the President has taken decisive action to protect our country by suspending the entry of aliens who have been in Brazil during the 14-day period before seeking admittance to the United States," the White House said in a statement. The statement said the action would "help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country," noting that this measure would not apply to the flow of commerce between the two countries. President Donald Trump had said last week that he was considering limiting travel from Brazil. The order is effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday (0359 GMT Friday), and it does not apply to legal permanent residents. A spouse, parent or child of a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident would also be allowed to enter the country, according to the White House. Brazil's Foreign Ministry called it a technical decision in the context of "important bilateral collaboration" to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting U.S. donations of 6.5 million U.S. dollars and a new White House promise of 1,000 respirators. Earlier in the day, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said in an interview with CBS News, "I think that we'll have a 212(f) decision today with respect to Brazil, and just like we did with the UK and Europe and China, and we hope that'll be temporary." "But because of the situation in Brazil, we're going to take every step necessary to protect the American people," he added. People take a walk on the National Mall in Washington D.C., the United States on May 23, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) When asked if the upcoming travel restriction would also be expanded to other countries in the Southern Hemisphere, O'Brien said that the United States would "take a look at the other countries on a country-by-country basis." As of Sunday afternoon, there have been 347,398 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Brazil with over 22,000 deaths, while the United States had more than 1.64 million COVID-19 cases and more than 97,000 people have died of the disease, according to Johns Hopkins University. The Trump administration has adopted travel restrictions against Canada, Mexico, and European countries, among others. The U.S. State Department's travel advisory remains at Level 4, which instructs its citizens to avoid all international travel amid the global outbreak of the coronavirus. Data from Brazil's civil aviation agency shows there has already been a sharp reduction in U.S.-bound flights from the South American country. There were more than 700 flights from Brazil to the United States in February of this year, with the number dropping to just 140 in April. Meghan King Edmonds has slowly been opening up about her new love interest as she is still in the process of a long and often nasty divorce. And the 35-year-old mother of three gushed over her boyfriend Christian Schaufe after he shared a sweet tribute to soldiers on Monday. Underneath the musicians lengthy post about his 2009 show for soldiers in Iraq, she wrote 'you inspire me.' Head over heels: Meghan King Edmonds gushed over her boyfriend Christian Schaufe after he shared a sweet tribute to soldiers on Monday to Instagram In his post, sharing 10 photos, Christian was pictured with soldiers and Marines while visiting them with his band Catchpenny over a decade ago. 'Memorial Day always takes me back to our times in Iraq. And Ill never forget Memorial Day 2009 in Basra, Iraq with the Minnesota National Guard,' he wrote. 'Just a few days prior, several members of the unit lost their lives to a mortar attack and the tone around the Memorial Day event was extremely somber,' he added. 'Immediately following a service to honor to lost members, we were supposed to put on a show. To lift the group's spirits he said he convinced the highest ranking officer to stage dive into his troops and that the scene immediately lifted moods. Back then: In his post, sharing 10 photos, Christian was pictured with soldiers and Marines while visiting them with his band Catchpenny over a decade ago One of many: 'Memorial Day always takes me back to our times in Iraq. And Ill never forget Memorial Day 2009 in Basra, Iraq with the Minnesota National Guard,' he wrote. Us Weekly reported that Christian and his band played over 150 shows oversees for troops in combat zones, performing in Iraq, Kuwait, among other countries Inspired: Below his post Meghan gushed 'What a beautiful story and tribute. You inspire me' 'Memorial Day always feels like the kick off to summer, but is a day to remember and honor. Make sure you take at least a moment today and reflect on what today is all about,' Christian wrote. Us Weekly reported that Christian and his band played over 150 shows oversees for troops in combat zones, performing in Iraq, Kuwait, among other countries. Below his post Meghan gushed 'What a beautiful story and tribute. You inspire me.' The Real Housewives of Orange County alum has been spending the long holiday weekend with Christian in his Park City, Utah home, while her children spend time with Jim Edmonds in Missouri. Healing: The Real Housewives of Orange County alum has been spending the long holiday weekend with Christian in his Park City, Utah home, while her children spend time with Jim in Missouri King eagerly took to Instagram on Saturday to share she 'went mountain biking for the first time ever' with Schaufe. 'Actual real mountain biking,' she emphasized. 'It was crazy. It was hard and super-duper scary, but I want to go again.' She also admitted that she would 'have never guessed' that she would be mountain biking in the company of Christian over the holiday weekend. 'Def wouldn't have guessed this is what I'd be doing over MDW 2020 but here's proof I did the mountain thing,' captioned Meghan with a photo of herself sitting atop a bike. Woodsy: Her new beau Christian hosts the Life Uncharted podcast and is also the founder of Uncharted Supply Company, which sells emergency preparedness kits; Chris pictured on Instagram Though his face did not make it into the shot, Christian's helmet and arm made a cameo as he played photographer for Meghan. Her new beau Christian hosts the Life Uncharted podcast and is also the founder of Uncharted Supply Company, which sells emergency preparedness kits. Judging by his Instagram, Christian is an animal-loving adventurer who loves the outdoors and activities such as fishing and hiking. According to Us Weekly, Christian and Meghan have been dating since March. Experiences: King has been indulging in a ton of outdoor firsts, while staying with Schaufe at his residence in Park City, Utah; Meghan pictured on Instagram on Saturday Weekend with dad: Meghan had flown from Los Angeles to St. Louis last weekend to drop off her three children, Aspen, three, and twin boys Hayes and Hart, 23 months An insider revealed to In Touch that Meghan is 'head over heels in love' and that Christian is 'very down to earth.' 'Hes a nice guy and the perfect catch. Yes, this is still pretty new, but Meghan is very happy,' alleged the source. The outlet also reported that Meghan had flown from Los Angeles to St. Louis last weekend to drop off her three children, Aspen, three, and twin boys Hayes and Hart, 23 months, with Jim. New girl: The 49-year-old former MLB star has moved on with Kortnie O'Connor, the woman Jim and Meghan once had a threesome with when they were still together Divorce: For the past seven-months, Meghan King has been enduring a bitter divorce with husband and former MLB star Jim Edmonds, 49; Meghan and Jim pictured with their children on Instagram in 2019 Meghan and Jim called it quits in October 2019 when Jim filed for divorce just after their five-year wedding anniversary. They had tried to make their marriage work following the sexting scandal that rocked their relationship in June, when Meghan discovered Jim has shared inappropriate messages with another woman. Playboy model Kortnie was the woman Jim and Meghan once had a threesome with when they were still together. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 17:30:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close The second plenary meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held its second plenary meeting Monday. Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered a work report of the 13th NPC Standing Committee. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the NPC Standing Committee has provided legal support for anti-epidemic efforts and economic and social development, he said. In the report, Li Zhanshu summed up the NPC Standing Committee's work since last year, highlighting a decision on conferring national medals and honorary titles, a decision on granting special pardons to certain convicts, and a draft decision of the NPC on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security, which is under deliberation. Li stressed remaining committed to upholding and improving the people's congress system to ensure that the nation's destiny remains firmly in the hands of the people. For 2020, Li said the NPC Standing Committee should push for continuous and new progress in its work surrounding the tasks of securing decisive success in the fight against poverty, building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and coordinating epidemic control and economic and social development. At Monday's meeting, lawmakers also heard a work report of the Supreme People's Court delivered by its president Zhou Qiang. Zhou said the top court in the past year centered its work on the goal of allowing the people to see justice served in every case and will further promote the Peaceful China initiative, and strengthen judicial services focusing on securing a victory in the fight against poverty and completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2020. While delivering a work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, Procurator-General Zhang Jun said since last year new advances have been made by procuratorates in safeguarding the country's political security and social stability, fighting corruption, among others. For 2020, Zhang urged procuratorates to shoulder their responsibilities as the year is the final phase in achieving a moderately prosperous society in all respects and eradicating poverty and the sudden COVID-19 epidemic has brought new challenges. Coca-Cola has released a series of video mini stories profiling unsung local heroes in ASEAN and around the world who are going beyond for their communities amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Philippines: The seven mini stories follow the For the Human Race online film launched by Coca-Cola on May 1, International Workers Day, that offered an ode to humanity and the human spirit in these challenging times. Created in ASEAN, the For the Human Race film has already been viewed more than 18 million times. The new mini stories now being released shine a further spotlight on the spirit of humanity and generosity of local heroes amidst the current crisis and offer a tribute to universal hope, positivity and togetherness. Our For the Human Race film was very well received across the region and it is our honour to now present phase two of this work that further recognizes and thanks local heroes on the front line who continue to serve their communities with positivity, resilience and courage, said Pratik Thakar, Integrated Marketing Communications Director for Coca-Cola ASEAN. These are inspiring stories and we hope people around the world find them as uplifting as we did. Hwa Huang, Founding Partner & Chief Creative Officer, Merdeka LHS; This is for all the unsung heroes who keep the wheels turning, who risk their lives to help others and who demonstrate the good in the world. Ashish Bhasin, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network APAC; Brands are in a unique position to spread messages of positivity to help people through this difficult time. Were incredibly proud of this work with Coca-Cola, reminding everyone that kindness carries us through. Offering protective items to Japan deserves praise, not criticism Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nak-young is under fire for providing some Japanese cities with coronavirus-related quarantine products. The southeastern city of Gyeongju delivered 1,200 sets of protective clothing and 1,000 protective eyewear to Nara, its sister city, and Kyoto, its exchange city, respectively, May 17. Since then some internet users have been pressuring the mayor to resign while staging a boycott campaign against Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom. They have also started a petition calling for Joo's dismissal on Cheong Wa Dae's online petition site. Joo said on social media that the products had been offered to the Japanese cities struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with the principle of reciprocity. Gyeongju had a lot of help from a few cities abroad, including Nara, in 2016 when it was struck by an earthquake. As the mayor said, Gyeongju also received quarantine products, including face masks, from such Chinese cities as Xian when the coronavirus outbreak hit here hardest. On top of reciprocity, helping those in need is a basic duty of mankind from a humanitarian point of view. South Korea has gained international recognition as a model when it comes to responding to the pandemic. Even if infection clusters spread locally, the country's COVID-19 situation seems stable enough to allow schools to reopen after a long hiatus. South Korea certainly can afford to help other countries, so it is wrong to denounce Gyeongju for offering stockpiled quarantine products to Japan. In recent years, anti-Japanese sentiment has been broadly taken for granted here. Accusations against Gyeongju and Mayor Joo appear to be in the same context. But this is no time for blind antagonism. There is no doubt that Gyeongju's provision of protective products to the Japanese cities with which it has maintained long relationships deserves praise, not criticism. What is needed to address Japan's shameful history and wartime atrocities is not absurd criticism of Gyeongju. STAMFORD Police say many city residents are playing into the hands of a crew of juveniles who make nocturnal trips to the City that Works where they enter vehicles and steal valuables from owners who have left their car doors unlocked. As of mid-month, Lt. Tom Scanlon said 36 thefts from motor vehicles had been reported to police, compared with 22 reported thefts from vehicles in the entire month of April. Of all the reported thefts, only one was from a vehicle that was forcibly entered. The rest were from rides left unlocked. The youths can be seen on videos from security cameras, running down streets checking door handles as they go. If they get in they will immediately try to start the car. And if it starts they will steal your car. If not, they will take any valuables they can find, Scanlon said. What we are seeing is cars are stolen because the key fob was left inside. If the car owner doesnt leave the fob, the car wont get stolen. Scanlon said six cars had been stolen by roughly the mid-month point, which is about the average. Ordinarily 10 to 15 cars are stolen each month, he said. Please. Lock your vehicles, Scanlon said, adding that the crimes are happening all over Stamford. They are not smashing windows. They will grab your door handle to see if it is locked. If it is, they will move onto the next driveway. they dont spend any time with locked cars, Scanlon said. Stamford police arrested two juveniles from Bridgeport this month week for illegally entering cars. With videotaped evidence police were able to charge one boy, 15, with four counts of criminal attempt at third-degree burglary, and the other boy, 17, with three counts of the same charge. Because of their ages, their names were not released. The youngsters, Scanlon said, have been arrested multiple times by multiple police departments for what they did in Stamford. Part of the issue is that juveniles get issued a ticket and have to appear in court. But they are able to continue their rash of crimes, Scanlon said. We have no confidence that their recent arrest will stop them because we know their prior arrests have had no effect. Earlier this month, the number of stolen cars was surging in Greenwich. Like Scanlcon, Greenwich Police Lt. Mark Zuccerella said there is an easy way to stop these particular thieves in their tracks. I have said many times, for the past few years, this crime is very preventable, he said. The laws have changed over the years that make the apprehension of the juvenile criminals difficult. Leaving the keys in your car makes it very easy for them and hard for police departments. he said. Scanlon said some cars that have been stolen have been recovered in the Bridgeport area. About a week ago a police officer found a suspicious vehicle driving around lower High Ridge Road and when the officer tried to make a stop, the vehicle ran. After following the vehicle to the Merritt Parkway the officer broke off the chase as the car got onto the northbound ramp. It is clear what the intent of these juveniles is. They do not stop for the police, Scanlon said. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com Hollywood took to social media on Monday to wish the world a Happy Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. This year is a little different for the country as beaches and parks are just starting to open after months of closures due to self-isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed nearly 100,000 lives in the US alone. Respectfully yours: Hollywood took to social media on Monday to wish the world a Happy Memorial Day. Matthew McConaughey shared a heartfelt message to his Instagram followers. The Dallas Buyers Club actor tipped his hat while in a brown leather jacket. The Oscar-winning star said in his caption: 'Hand to heart hat's off' A note from his spouse too: And his wife Camila shared an image with Matthew and their three kids with the note: 'Five years ago I was grateful to receive my American citizenship and not a day goes by that I am proud to be a part of this country. For the soldiers and workers who have fought hard for our rights and freedom thank you, today and everyday. #MemorialDay' Matthew McConaughey shared a heartfelt message to his Instagram followers. The Dallas Buyers Club actor tipped his hat while in a brown leather jacket. The Oscar-winning star said in his caption: 'Hand to heart hat's off.' And his wife Camila shared an image with Matthew and their three kids with the note: 'Five years ago I was grateful to receive my American citizenship and not a day goes by that I am proud to be a part of this country. For the soldiers and workers who have fought hard for our rights and freedom thank you, today and everyday. #MemorialDay.' This comes after the couple donated 110,000 masks for hospitals in need. According to his Facebook post on Thursday night, the Texas-born actor and his wife put the masks in his truck to 'hit the road to get em to rural hospitals in need across Texas.' Her wish for all: Desperate Housewives alum Eva Longoria wore a white swimsuit as she told her fans it was all about 'suns out buns out' on Memorial Day Impressive: Kylie Jenner shared a very mature note to her 177M Instagram followers Ready for the sun: And the Life Of Kylie star also treated fans to an image of herself in a bikini top and orange shorts Kylie Jenner has also done her share to donate to those hurting during COVID-19. The 22-year-old sent $1M toward relief and also made, along with Coty, hand sanitizer for hospital workers. On Monday she shared a very mature note to her 177M Instagram followers. The Kylie Cosmetics founder posted a pink message with the writing: 'Wishing everyone a safe Memorial Day!' The mother to Stormi Webster added a US flag then said: 'Let's honor the heroes who fought bravely and sacrificed their lives for our freedom. We are endlessly grateful.' And the Life Of Kylie star also treated fans to an image of herself in a bikini top and orange shorts. Fun in red: Blanca Blanco shared her post early on Monday as she was seen in a red bikini in her backyard while holding a hat. The Tale Of Tails actress added an American flag on her photo and said, 'Happy Memorial Day' From another actor: Actor Mark Wahlberg of shared an image of American flags in a cemetery. The 48-year-old Shooter actor said in his caption: 'Remember and honor our fallen heroes who gave their lives for our country. May you all rest in peace' An icon makes her mark: Michelle Pfeiffer of Scarface and Maleficent 2 fame shared this note that says 'honoring those who have sacrificed their lives, today and everyday' For the brave! Leah Remini of the movie Second Act said she wants to remember the fallen A beautiful post: Melissa Gorga of Real Housewives Of New Jersey said today was for 'everyone who died for our country' Desperate Housewives alum Eva Longoria wore a white swimsuit as she told her fans it was all about 'suns out buns out' on Memorial Day. January Jones of Mad Men fame was a breath of fresh air as he posed with a black hat and glasses as well as an off-the-shoulder top and leopard print bottoms. Country singer Jesse James Decker posted with her husband and kids for a partnership with USAA. A pinup: January Jones of Mad Men fame was a breath of fresh air as he posed with a black hat and glasses as well as an off-the-shoulder top and leopard print bottoms Actor Mark Wahlberg of shared an image of American flags in a cemetery. The 48-year-old Shooter actor said in his caption: 'Remember and honor our fallen heroes who gave their lives for our country. May you all rest in peace. #MemorialDay #NeverForget.' Mark memorably played a soldier in Lone Survivor based on the book by Marcus Luttrell Patrick Robinson. A tribute: Kris Jenner shared an image of an American flag with 'remember our heroes' written in cursive over it. 'Today we remember and honor the heroes who gave their everything, paying the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms ,' said the mother of six The right thing: Country singer Jesse James Decker posted with her husband and kids for a partnership with USAA Michelle Pfeiffer of Scarface and Maleficent 2 fame shared a note that says 'honoring those who have sacrificed their lives, today and everyday.' Leah Remini of the movie Second Act with Jennifer Lopez said she wants to remember the fallen. Melissa Gorga of Real Housewives Of New Jersey said today was for 'everyone who died for our country.' Quanitco actress Priyanka Chopra shared an image of her parents and said they served in the military in India. Her folks: Quanitco actress Priyanka Chopra shared an image of her parents and said they served in the military in India So many flags: Reese Witherspoon shared images of US flags as she said, 'Remembering the brave servicemen and women who sacrificed everything to keep us safe. Your memory lives on forever' A touching note: Jada Pinkett Smith said 'In honor of Memorial Day and every Man and Woman who has served our country' From the Aussie: And Nicole Kidman said, 'To all those who have served' Remembering the brave: Snooki of Jersey Shore was seen with her young sons Reese Witherspoon shared images of US flags as she said, 'Remembering the brave servicemen and women who sacrificed everything to keep us safe. Your memory lives on forever.' Christina Anstead of Flip Or Flop posed in a black bikini with her little dog. And in her caption, the Orange County, California resident wished fans a happy Memorial Day. 'Taking a much needed digital detox. Going to enjoy the next 3 days being present for the kids and Ant and relaxing by the pool. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend everyone ,' said the TV wonder. From Orange County, California: Christina Anstead of Flip Or Flop posed in a black bikini with her little dog. And in her caption, the Orange County, California resident wished fans a happy Memorial Day Good cause: Leslie Jordan of Will & Grace fame was seen in a gray suit. 'On this Memorial Day let us remember that our freedom isnt free and, we should all be proud to be Americans. I am honored to be affiliated with the Boot Campaign, helping veterans and military families with wonderful programs. #LaceUpAMERICA,' he said Leslie Jordan of Will & Grace fame was seen in a gray suit. 'On this Memorial Day let us remember that our freedom isnt free and, we should all be proud to be Americans. I am honored to be affiliated with the Boot Campaign, helping veterans and military families with wonderful programs. #LaceUpAMERICA,' he said. Kris Jenner shared an image of an American flag with 'remember our heroes' written in cursive over it. 'Today we remember and honor the heroes who gave their everything, paying the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms ,' said the mother to Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Rob, Kendall and Kylie. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians producer added: 'Thank you!! Wishing everyone a safe and happy #MemorialDay.' Blanca Blanco shared her post early on Monday as she was seen in a red bikini in her backyard while holding a hat. The Tale Of Tails actress added an American flag on her photo and said, 'Happy Memorial Day.' And the brunette beauty's caption said: ;Have a safe memorial day and let's never forget our heroes #happymemorialday.' Be god: Vanessa Hudgens from Gigi and High School Musical fame was seen in a light blue bikini that matched the color of her swimming pool She also said the fallen are 'never forgotten.' Vanessa Hudgens from Gigi and High School Musical fame was seen in a light blue bikini that matched the color of her swimming pool. She wishes her fans a safe and happy Memorial Day. The looker has been sharing several bikini snapshots much to the happiness of her millions of fans. Meanwhile, President Trump, Vice President Pence and Defense Secretary Mark Esper visited Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day on Monday. They paid their respects to the members of the U.S. military who died in service. The president and first lady Melania Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony. The Midland Regional Transition Team (MRTT) has welcomed the report of Mr Kieran Mulvey, the first Just Transition Commissioner appointed by government in November 2019. Mr Mulvey, since his appointment, has engaged with employees impacted by the acceleration of the decarbonisation programme, local authorities, state agencies, government departments and private business to develop a new pathway, to develop and realise alternative employment opportunities across the wider Midland Region. These engagements have informed Mr Mulveys first progress report, published by Minister Bruton last week, which includes a suite of recommendations to government. "The MRTT welcomes both the publication of the report and the initial response from government, and its pledge to provide a detailed implementation plan to deliver on the recommendations. The MRTT hope that this will be dealt with as a matter of urgency for benefit of the impacted communities throughout the wider Midlands," a statement read. Cllr Peter Ormond, Offaly County Council chairman and Chairperson of the Midland Region Transition Team, welcomed the publication of the report and thanked Mr Kieran Mulvey for his work. There are some important issues raised in the report and its important that they are implemented in the very near future. The urgency in creating jobs is the cornerstone of our work and we must use this report to ensure that the money earmarked is used immediately and provided to upskill the workforce," he said. Minister Bruton launched the first stage of accessing Just Transition Funds late last week, with the registration of projects through the EU START Engagement Process, details and application forms are available on www.midlandsireland.ie. Mr Mulvey commented: As the Government have now agreed the arrangements for the procurement of projects in the region this will be the priority focus for the Just Transition/ Start teams over the next number of weeks. I am particularly keen to ensure that projects are approved and funding allocated during the Summer. New job creation opportunities are vital at this stage. Critical pathways for the retention of employment of BNM/ESB workers and future opportunities are essential at this stage. The opening of the call was welcomed by Ms Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council. The MRTT has been working very closely with the EU START team over the last number of months, and project proposals are now being sought on/before Friday, June 12, on the appropriate application form, from communities, public sector, private sector and the third sector across the region. This is the first stage in accessing the 11M Just Transition Fund announced in November 2019," she said. Sinn Fein TD for Laois-Offaly, Brian Stanley has described the publication of Mr Mulvey's report as "one small step in the right direction." He called for the Midlands to be designated as a power generation region as part of a Just Transition strategy, and for a major stimulus package to be provided to support Bord na Mona and the ESB to provide quality green energy jobs. He said: "Sinn Fein has long campaigned for the Midlands to become the heart of Ireland's renewable energy sector as part of a Just Transition strategy. "It is essential that Ireland significantly increases its production of renewable energy and the three power plants in the Midlands offer an opportunity to do just that. Its Sinn Fein policy that 80% of our power will be generated from renewables by 2030." "Due to their geographical position, each power plant is strategically well placed on the electricity grid to take advantage of renewable energy production. "I, therefore, welcome the inclusion in the Just Transition Commissioner report that the sites at Shannonbridge and Lough Ree be retained by the ESB. "What Sinn Fein has been calling for is a long-term plan to convert the ESB and Bord na Mona plants to focus on biogas, biomass, solar and wind creation. "Bord na Mona should continue to operate Edenderry, but it must convert to 100% biomass. Shannonbridge and Lough Ree should be retained by the ESB and converted to either biogas or biomass, while also acting as a connection point for solar and wind energy. "We must also upskill and retrain workers for the transition from brown and to green energy. That is why Sinn Fein is calling for the Mount Lucas Training Centre in Offaly to designated as a centre for excellence in national apprenticeships and training in energy-efficient construction, retrofitting and renewable energy skills. "We also want to see additional finance allocated for the re-wetting of bogs to be used for carbon sequestration. This will provide Bord na Mona with an extra source of revenue while providing quality jobs in the area. "It is vital that a Just Transition stimulus package is front-loaded in the coming months." I look forward to discussing this with Minister Bruton in the Dail this week," he concluded. Fine Gael councillor and member of the Midlands Regional Transition Team (MRTT), Noel Cribbin, also welcomed the report. The first MRTT Progress Report looks at possible future employment options for BNM staff, and potential uses for the massive landbank owned by the organisation. One of the key recommendations of the report is the transformation of peat powered energy plants into Green Energy Hubs. Welcoming the report, Cllr. Cribbin said: "This first Progress Report marks the emergence of a new pathway to alternative employment sources across the Midlands. I was particularly delighted to see the focus in the Report on the creation of jobs through the establishment of Green Energy Hubs. As peat production is coming to an end in the Midlands, even sooner than initially planned, now is the time to incorporate joined-up thinking to ensure we can create ongoing sustainable employment for the region. "The content of the Report mirrors my own proposal for the creation of an Edenderry Green Energy Hub, the first Green Energy Hub in Ireland. This would see the transformation of the Edenderry Power Plant to a 100% green energy production plant. This, combined with the 5 windfarms proposed for the area, potential connectivity to gas and fibre optic infrastructure as part of the laying of the Shannon to Dublin water pipeline, and accessibility to Dublin airport and port, would make Edenderry extremely appealing to multinational companies as they seek locations capable of supporting them to meet carbon compliance targets. "The people of Edenderry and the Midlands have been dealt a double-blow; job losses as a result of the wind-down of peat production and the proposed construction of wind farms with little or no benefit to local communities. It is time for the people of the area to be looked after and the burden they have shouldered to be rewarded." Cllr Cribbin went on to say that he held a positive meeting last week with senior executives from Bord na Mona, along with Green Senator Pippa Hackett and fellow Fine Gael Cllr.Liam Quinn. He said: "The meeting was informative. I also note a positive response from Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Richard Bruton TD, in regard to this proposal. I urge all parties presently in Government formation talks to include the proposal as part of the next 5-year Plan for Government," Cllr Cribbin concluded. Hopeful of returning to work, scores of migrants return home India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Pune, May 25: A number of migrant workers, who have left from Maharashtra's Pune city for their native places after being rendered jobless due to the lockdown, are hopeful that the situation will normalise and they would be able to come back to work. But, they say since right now they have no work and are facing acute financial crunch, they have no option but to return to their hometowns and wait for time to get better. COVID-19 hit 93 million urban workers in five sectors says GoM report Talking to PTI at Pune railway station before boarding a train to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh over the weekend, Sarajuddin Shah (24), who worked as a tailor at a shop on Laxmi Road here, said since they were not getting any customers, he decided to go back to his native place. Asked if he would return to Pune, he said, "Why would I not come back? I have been working here as a tailor for last three years. The city has given me livelihood. Once the situation normalises, I will come back to the city." Besides Shah, at least 10 other tailors working at different shops on Laxmi Road, one of the biggest business hubs in Pune, were also waiting for the train to go back to Uttar Pradesh. Union Minister loses temper, threatens officers: 'Will beat with belt' | Oneindia News They said even if businesses open up again in Pune now, there was very little possibility that they would get customers anytime soon. Mohan Prasad (30), another tailor from the group, said he was heading to his native place as his family there was concerned about him and asked him to come back. "I was working at a tailoring shop on Laxmi Road for last five to six years. After the lockdown, I was getting ration kits, but survival is becoming difficult day by day, and since 'bimari' (COVID-19) is increasing in the city, my parents and wife back home are concerned and are asking me to return to Gorakhpur," he said. However, Prasad also said he is keen to return to Pune once things become normal. Tailor Karun Shah, who was working in Pune since last 10 years, said since the business activity will take some more time to pick up pace, he decided to go to his native place Gorakhpur and spend some time with his family. Govt to soon start pan-India helpline number for migrant workers Ramaiyya Yadav, a native of Bihar who worked at a catering service, said he was staying in Pune's Shivajinagar area, one of the worst hit by COVID-19. "Since living in the locality is getting difficult, and it is also very difficult to shift to another place amid the lockdown, I chose to head back home," he said while waiting for a Bihar-bound train. "But, I will come back to Pune once the situation gets normal," he added. The Pune district administration has so far sent over 1.2 lakh migrant workers to their respective states by Shramik Special trains. Till Sunday, Pune district reported 5,694 COVID-19 cases and 272 deaths due to the disease. LONGMEADOW First responders required ropes and rigging to rescue a female who fell down a 40-foot embankment off Barbara Lane Friday afternoon. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital by Longmeadow EMS, according to a post on the departments Facebook page. Longmeadow police and firefighters from East Longmeadow and the Shaker Pines and North Thompsonville fire departments in Connecticut assisted with the technical rescue. Gowda later said that he was allowed to skip quarantine as he is a minister and that there are certain exemptions in the state guidelines. Union minister Sadananda Gowda on Monday said there are exemption clauses from quarantine for those who hold certain responsible posts, hours after he was seen exiting Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport and driving off in his car without going for quarantine. According to News18, the minister was exempted from compulsory institutional quarantine after he took a flight from Delhi to Bengaluru According to the report, his assistant told reporters that Gowda's test report had returned negative for COVID-19 and he would undergo home quarantine. However, according to reports, the guidelines issued by Karnataka government for air travel make it mandatory for passengers from six states with high COVID-19 caseload Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to undergo institutional quarantine for seven days. Gowda later said that he was allowed to skip institutional quarantine as he is a minister and that there are certain exemptions in the state guidelines. Being a minister, I am exempted by the state government and the central government, he told ANI. Guidelines are applicable to all citizens, but there are certain exemption clauses, for those who hold certain responsible posts: S Gowda, Union Minister on allegations by opposition parties that he didn't go to required institutional quarantine after domestic air travel pic.twitter.com/lVVrS1FABc ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 "Guidelines are applicable to each and every citizen of the country, but there are certain exemption clauses, for those who hold certain responsible posts," Gowda told ANI and also gave the example of doctors reaching for duty in hospitals. "I am a minister and I am heading the pharmaceuticals ministry. If the supply of medicines and other things is not proper then what can doctors do for patients? It is my responsibility to ensure the supply of medicines to each corner of the country. If I don't supply proper medicines across the country, coronavirus (cases) will double, triple..what happened in America, Italy will happen here also" he told the news agency. He also whipped out his phone to show the Aarogya Setu app and said, "I have a meeting with Karnataka ministers at 4 pm. What will happen if nurses, doctors, and those supplying medicines are quarantined? Don't equate me with others,". With inputs from ANI Pandemic pay has become a Pandoras Box. The $4 hourly premium announced a month ago by Premier Doug Ford for front-line COVID-19 workers hasnt made its way on to paycheques yet but is leaving divisions between those slated to get it and colleagues who are not. This is contributing to extreme morale issues at the front line when staff need to be supported most, a group of health-care organizations, including the Ontario Hospital Association, wrote in an open letter to Ford on Monday. It is also creating unnecessary conflict for employers who are left trying to explain to their employees why they cannot provide neither clarity nor the pay itself. In hospitals, for example, the occupations not eligible for pandemic pay include medical radiation technologists, lab technicians, pharmacists, medical residents, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, security staff, maintenance workers, sterilization staff and clerks in units and on wards. The problem is they work alongside nurses, cleaning and meal preparation, and other staff slated to get the extra pay for 16 weeks. Its our way of saying thank you, Ford said April 25 when he announced the policy which also applies to nursing-home workers, personal-support workers, staff in shelters and supportive housing, among others. A month later, it is still not clear whether the efforts of all of our health-care workers will be recognized or if pandemic pay is restricted to a subset of employees, says the letter signed by heads of the hospital association, the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, the Ontario Community Support Association, Canadian Mental Health Association and Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario, among others. The money was also intended to help retain and recruit people to front-line jobs in the pandemic, particularly in nursing homes where the risk of infection was high and almost 1,400 staff have become infected with COVID-19. Its long past time for the pandemic pay snafus to be figured out, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. It is unacceptable for Doug Ford to call front-line workers heroes, then fail to give them the small raise he promised a month ago. Frontline workers should receive their pandemic pay immediately, retroactive to the very beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. Whether its testing or pandemic pay, the premier is not following through with the promises he makes in his daily briefings, Green Leader Mike Schreiner added in a reference to the government repeatedly missing its own daily targets for coronavirus testing. The office of Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy said the pandemic pay program involves 2,000 employers. "We are moving the funds to employers as quickly as possible and are expediting the work required to get this money into the paycheques of critical workers across the province," said Sebastian Skamski, who noted the pay will be retroactive to April 24. It's expected some employers will get the funds in early June but it may take longer for organizations that don't have direct funding links with the province. In the open letter, Ontario Hospital Association chief executive Anthony Dale and the others urge Ford to release the funding to employers whose staff are eligible for the pay and to include all workers on the front line. To recognize the critical services provided and the team effort required in fighting COVID-19, we continue to urge that pandemic pay be applied to all non-management front-line providers, including regulated front-line staff, the letter adds. Every day, it becomes increasingly difficult to see this great initiative, that has such great promise for health-care worker recognition, be undermined by delay. About 350,000 front-line workers were initially slated to get the extra $4 hourly, with those who work more than 100 hours a month in line for an additional $250 each month. Kerala government on Monday constituted a special investigation team (SIT), headed by Ernakulam rural superintendent of police (SP) K Karthick, to probe the attack on a film set by a little known right-wing group, Antharashtra Hindu Parishad (AHA), a day before. The film set, a replica of a church, erected near a temple at Aluva in Keralas central Ernakulam district, was demolished on Sunday night by a group of people owing allegiance to AHA and later they posted a video of the attack on social media. The under-production Malayalam film, Minnal Murali, was set to be released in August, but will be delayed because of the lockdown restrictions, which were imposed in end-March to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, and also because of Sundays attack. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have condemned the attack and sought strict action against the perpetrators. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said action would be taken against those responsible for the despicable act. Many bodies related to the film industry also condemned the attack. The films director, Basil Joseph, said they had obtained the permission from the panchayat, the temple body, and the irrigation department before erecting the set to shoot the concluding scenes of the movie, starring actor Tovino Thomas in the lead role. We have heard of movie sets being vandalised by religious fanatics in some parts of north India. Sad, now it is happening here in Kerala, Tovino wrote in a social media post. Locals said some fringe outfits had expressed reservation over setting up the set, that too a replica of the church, near a temple. Police said assailants have been identified and they would be arrested soon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ramesh Babu Ramesh Babu is HTs bureau chief in Kerala, with about three decades of experience in journalism. ...view detail OFX Daily Market News Posted by OFX AUD Australian Dollar The Australian Dollar showed some resilience first half of last week and traders began to think the Aussie might just break out to the upside. Unfortunately selling pressure on the back of tensions between the US and China created a more risk averse mood dragging the AUD/USD with it. Fridays day of trade wasnt any different, in the absence of local economic data we saw an open at 0.6560, a high of 0.6572 in the early Asian session and then a pull lower late on Friday night to 0.6505. Given the rising tension between Trump and China, the Aussie is vulnerable and overly sensitive to economic movement. Not only is the Australian dollar risk sensitive, it is also considered a proxy for China, its largest trading partner. Looking ahead there are no scheduled releases locally today, in fact its a quiet day all round with the US and UK observing bank holidays. From a technical viewpoint, support is situated at 0.6494 which marks the 100DMA, a break below next line of support sits at 0.6450. On the top side first line of resistance awaits at 0.6600 followed by 0.6660. Key Movers On Friday, the Bank of Japan announced that it will extend the term of loans for the lending scheme aimed at combating the coronavirus fallout to 6 months from 3 months. However, the BoJ kept its policy unchanged at -0.1% as expected. The BoJ Governor noted that the economic recovery would likely be a V shaped recovery. The USD/JPY rate was little changed and is bouncing around 107.57. After a strong start early last week, the GBP/USD exchange rate has reversed lower following weak Retail Sales numbers. Figures from the Office for National Statistics reported an 18.1% drop in sales for the month of April vs an expected 15.8% which dragged the pair down towards 1.2160. Further to this, the sterling is weighed by a stronger Greenback which is benefiting from a decline in risk sentiment. Meanwhile, the ECBs Monetary Policy Meeting Accounts showed that the Governing Council could adjust the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) and other tools at the June meeting. The bank is fully prepared to step up its bond-buying programme to support the eurozone economy, which is heading for its worst postwar recession, by adding at least an extra 500bn to its asset-purchase plans at its next monetary policy meeting on June 4. EUR/USD is buying 1.0898. Story continues Expected Ranges AUD/USD: 0.6450 0.6600 AUD/EUR: 0.5940 0.6040 GBP/AUD: 1.8410 1.8970 AUD/NZD: 1.0620 1.0780 AUD/CAD: 0.9060 0.9220 Posted by OFX The post Aussie retreats amid heightened tensions in a risk-off environment appeared first on . Fine Gael Senator Garret Ahearn is encouraging local groups in Tipperary to apply for the Governments 2020 Clar Programmme, which has a total fund of 5 million and is designed to help rural communities respond to the challenge of COVID-19. Senator Ahearn said The Clar Programme can be used for small scale infrastructural projects in rural communities where there has been significant levels of population decline. This year it has been tailored to help such communities to respond to COVID-19. The details of the 2020 CLAR programme were announced today by the Minister for Rural & Community Development Michael Ring TD, and I encourage local community groups in Tipperary to apply. All the details they will need, including the application forms, are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/91ba52-clar/ Senator Garret Ahearn continued - Since Fine Gael reopened the Clar Programme in 2016, it has supported over 1,400 projects nationally with funding of almost 33 million. It has been a significant support to communities in some of the remotest parts of Tipperary. CLAR is one element of a 30 million package of co-ordinated and complementary supports that is being launched by the Minister this week as part of his Departments Rural Development Investment Programme. The other elements of the programme to be opened later this week will be the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The Rural Development Investment Programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040. Its great to see the Clar Programme being adapted this year to help rural communities respond to new challenges as a result of COVID-19. For example, the Schools and Community Safety Measure, which funds items such as pedestrian crossings and footpaths to provide safe access to schools, has been broadened to allow additional investments to adapt areas around schools and community facilities to help meet new public health requirements arising from COVID-19. Funding will be provided under a new measure for community recreational areas where friends and families can socialise outdoors in safe, accessible, community spaces while respecting public health guidelines. This measure will include support for items such as picnic benches/tables, outdoor covered seating or BBQ areas, public lighting, bicycle stands, bandstand/stage areas, etc. These recreational areas will be particularly important for community social interaction in the coming months, in line with the Governments Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. Community organisations providing meals on wheels and other community services will also be supported to purchase kitchen or food delivery equipment. They can also access funds for any adaptations that may be necessary to their existing vehicles as a result of new public health guidelines. I was also pleased to hear Minister Ring confirm that we will separately continue to fund vehicles for those vital voluntary organisations that provide free transport for people with mobility issues and for those attending cancer treatments. Minister Ring added - I have introduced a standard grant rate of up to 90% of the total cost of projects across all of the CLAR Measures this year. This should ensure that the requirement on communities or Local Authorities to source match funding is kept to a minimum. With the introduction of these new Measures, my Department will play its part in helping rural communities adapt their local spaces and support their interactions with one another in a safe but inclusive way. I will be announcing further complementary supports in the coming days under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme as part of my Departments Rural Development Investment Programme. Two more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Manipur, taking the total number of cases in the state to 34, officials said on Monday. Of the 34 COVID-19 cases in Manipur, 30 are active as four have already recovered, they said. The two new cases were that of a 26-year-old-male from Churachandpur district while the other is that of a 21-year- old from Noney district. A statement issued by the COVID-19 Common Control Room said the "condition of the two was stable", adding that the infected individual from Churachandpur district has now been shifted to isolation facility of district hospital while the other will be shifted to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). Churachandpur district has the highest number of 18 COVID-19 cases with 16 of them Chennai returnees. Meanwhile, a woman in Churachandpur district, who was in a community quarantine centre after her return from Chennai was given permission by the authorities to visit her home for 10-minutes at Sapang village to pay her last respects to her father, who died on Sunday of a heart attack. The woman was escorted in a vehicle accompanied by two para medical staff. As soon as she reached her residence to bid "final goodbye" local volunteers sprayed disinfectant in the vehicle after which she was allowed to alight from the vehicle. The woman had recently returned from Chennai in a special train carrying more than 1500 stranded Manipuris. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi: Suggesting 200 per cent decline in number of communal riots since the NDA dispensation came to power, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday claimed rise in recruitment from minority communities in central government jobs during this period. Speaking to reporters here, Naqvi termed last years Dadri lynching incident of a Muslim person as unfortunate, but said barring two-three cases, the overall performance of the NDA government regarding minorities has been good. Barring exception of two-three incidents, the overall performance of Modi government during nearly two-and-half years, from minorities point of view as well, has been good. If you see, the communal riots (according to) our National Commission for Minorities (NCM) report, there has been a drop of 200 per cent during the past two years, said the Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge). He said since nothing major happened during the governments stint so far, a small incident may have been made into a big one. He though did not mention any particular incident. Otherwise, none can show any incident as a big communal riot happening. None can say there were riots like those in Bhiwandi (Maharashtra), Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) where 1000 people were killed. The Dadri incident was an unfortunate incident, but it was not a communal riot, he said. According to the information made available by the Minority Affairs Ministry, the NCM received 2,127 complaints during 2012-13. Of these, 1,973 were disposed of, while 154 pending. In 2013-14, the Commission got 2,638 grievances. It cleared 2,483, while 155 were pending. During 2014-17, it received 1,995 complaints, disposed of 1,944, while 51 cases remained pending. The NCM said it got 1,461 complaints during 2015-16 as on December 8 last year. Out of these, 1,348 were cleared, while 113 were pending. The Minister also said the recruitment of persons belonging to minority communities has gone up during Modi governments stint. Replying to a query in Lok Sabha on May 4, Minister of State in PMO, Jitendra Singh, had said that as per the data received for 2013-14 by Department of Personnel and Training, 7.89 per cent of people from minorities were recruited. While in 2014-15, 8.56 per cent of people from minorities have been recruited in government services. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The global digital OOH market size is expected to grow by USD 3.78 billion during 2020-2024. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact can be expected to be significant in the first quarter but gradually lessen in subsequent quarters with a limited impact on the full-year economic growth, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005151/en/ Technavio has announced the latest market research report titled Global Digital OOH Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) OOH advertising is gaining popularity among businesses due to its advantages over traditional advertisements. Digital signage displays can be integrated with dynamic content to engage more consumers than print media. It also offers the flexibility to make constant changes in advertisements or messages, thereby eliminating the need for multiple boards. Moreover, digital displays are a cost-effective and eco-friendly way of advertisement as they eliminate the need for paper. Owing to many such advantages, the adoption of digital displays is expected to increase during the forecast period. To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43482 As per Technavio, the use of AI in OOH advertising will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024. Digital OOH Market: Use of AI in OOH Advertising Businesses are making significant investments to implement data analytics to analyze and remotely track audience engagement with OOH advertisements. The integration of AI helps businesses understand various factors such as customer time, likes, dislikes, and social purchase history. Companies leverage such information to create customized advertisements to effectively target potential customers. This is helping them increase the efficiency of their advertisements, thereby fueling the growth of the global digital OOH market. "The growing market consolidation and the increasing integration of technologies for digital signage will have a significant impact on the growth of the digital OOH market value during the forecast period," says a senior analyst at Technavio. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Digital OOH Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the digital OOH market by application (retail, recreation, banking, transportation, and others) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America). The APAC region led the digital OOH market share in 2019, followed by North America, Europe, MEA, and South America respectively. During the forecast period, the APAC region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the growth of the retail industry in countries such as China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, and Singapore. Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report Some of the key topics covered in the report include: Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005151/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ A young businesswoman has emerged as a key figure behind the controversial trade deal between Victoria and China. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been widely criticised for joining the Belt and Road Initiative, which provides loans and investment in infrastructure projects from the Chinese government. Victoria is the only Australian state to sign up, and did so despite the disapproval of the federal government and warnings from security agencies. As the chief executive of the Australia-China Belt and Road Initiative company, Jean Dong, 33, had a big part to play in securing the deal. The glamorous businesswoman, who has a background in connecting China with the rest of the world, boasted about her political influence in a YouTube video titled 'Journey of influence'. The footage provides a look into Ms Dong's life, from her early days as a student journalist in Beijing, to rubbing shoulders with political leaders such as Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and prominent Labor figure Bob Carr. Scroll down for video Jean Dong, 33, (pictured) has emerged as a key figure behind the controversial trade deal between Victoria and China The video includes photographs of her with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured), then Tasmanian Liberal premier Will Hodgman and former Labor foreign minister Bob Carr The footage begins with Ms Dong standing on a hill with the Melbourne skyline behind her as she speaks about the people who have inspired her before she talks of her own success. The video includes photographs of her with Mr Turnbull, Mr Carr and the then Tasmanian Liberal premier Will Hodgman. The former Chinese television journalist moved to Australia to study at the University of Adelaide. After graduating in 2009 she moved to Melbourne to study international law before taking on a consulting position at firm PwC. Pictured: Jean Dong, left, with former foreign minister Bob Carr and his wife, Helena 'At the age of 21 I presented and convinced the PwC Australian leadership to consider Asia growth as a priority strategy and to achieve a clear advantage over its competitors,' she says in the YouTube video. 'At the age of 26 I successfully facilitated a mutual and long-term economic collaboration agreement through China-Australia free-trade agreement for both countries.' The video was filmed while she was working as the managing director of Spark Corporation Group, The Australian reported. The company focused on Chinese investment in Australian agriculture and resources. Calls are growing for Victoria's labor premier Daniel Andrews (pictured in China's Tiananmen Square) to review his controversial Belt and Road agreement with Beijing The glamorous businesswoman with a background in connecting China with the rest of the world boasted about her political influence in a YouTube video, titled: 'Journey of influence' Ms Dong described it as 'expansion of Australian businesses into Chinese markets through strategic partnerships'. AUSTRALIAN BARLEY: IN NUMBERS Between half and two-thirds of all Australian barley is sold to China. Barley is grown across 4,035,000 hectares, with the largest amount being grown in Western Australia. Australias grains industry accounts for more than 170,000 jobs across Australia from farm to export dock. About 65 per cent of Australias overall grain produced is exported. This includes up to 90 per cent of that grown per in Western Australia and South Australia. Source: National Farmers Federation Advertisement Mr Andrews is believed to have first become connected with Ms Dong through his former adviser, Mike Yang. Mr Yang and Ms Dong both attended a youth delegation to China in 2014. There were only 30 delegates to the Beijing conference. The well-connected Labor Party operative is believed to be the reason behind Mr Andrews' strong relationship with China's communist government. Years after the conference, Ms Dong was tasked with promoting the Belt and Road Initiative to Mr Andrews. During that time her pro-Chinese company was also paid to provide advice on the deal. The company was awarded two taxpayer-funded contracts advising on China's global commercial play in 2017-18 and 2019-20 worth $36,850 for both, The Australian reported. Premier Daniel Andrews signed up to the controversial Belt and Road Initiative that provides loans and investment in infrastructure projects Belt and Road is s criticised by Western governments as a stealthy expansion of Chinese influence (Chinese President Xi Jinping pictured), and as a means to trap smaller countries into debt Beijing then uses as leverage The Andrews government blamed the breach of disclosing the information on an administrative error. 'The advice from ACBRI provided valuable insights into opportunities for Victoria arising from the BRI,' a government spokesman told the publication. 'An administrative error led to the first of the engagements not being published in the relevant department's 2017-18 annual report. The second of the engagements will be reported as scheduled.' US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to move the Republican convention out of Charlotte in North Carolina if its Democratic Governor did not remove the restrictions on social distancing measures which are in force due to coronavirus pandemic. The four-day Republican National Convention in Charlotte is scheduled to be held from August 14 to August 27 and it is here that President Trump would officially be nominated by the Republican Party for his re-election for the presidential elections on November 3. However, the once-in-a four-year convention is right now in jeopardy or expected to lose its shine because of the social distancing measures being enforced in the State by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. The convention attracts hundreds and thousands of Trump supporters and Republican leaders from across the country wherein they pack into a giant indoor stadium for four days. I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, Roy Cooper is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowedmade by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August, Trump said in a tweet. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced... to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do, Trump said. Immediately thereafter, Cooper tweeted that State health officials are working with the Republican National Committee and will review its plans as they make decisions about how to hold the convention in Charlotte. North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our State's public health and safety, Cooper said. The US has so far witnessed over 98,000 deaths due to coronavirus that has infected over 1.69 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MUSKEGON, MI - They gathered this Memorial Day to sing, pray, and pay homage to servicemen and servicewomen who have died serving their country. This year, however, there were 40 more names added to the list of those honored Muskegon area veterans who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic. We thought that the community would like to know that we did show respect to the veterans, even under these difficult circumstances, said Steven Allen, veteran and chairman of the Greater Muskegon Memorial Day Committee. The gathering was much smaller this year -- about 10 participants -- as organizers worked hard to follow guidelines established by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to limit the spread of COVID-19, which has claimed more than 5,000 Michigan lives. Folks gathered about 10:30 a.m. at Hackley Park in Muskegon for songs, prayers, a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps. Related: Gatherings of 10 or less, retail by appointment allowed under new Whitmer order While Allen was disappointed the committee had to cancel its large events, he was happy they were still able to continue two important traditions: the ceremony, though scaled down, and the planting of flags at veterans graves. Related: Which mid-Michigan Memorial Day events have been canceled, which havent The committee distributed nearly 10,000 flags this year to community groups to participate in this sacred ritual. The flags were planted early Friday before the holiday weekend. More from MLive: Monday, May 25: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan The Rapid will increase bus service beginning May 26 Lt. Gov. says Trump is preparing to question Michigans 2020 election results if he loses New Delhi: A big information has emerged about the fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. It has been revealed that Zakir is constantly receiving funds from Gulf countries. Pakistan is also providing funds to Naik through Turkey and Qatar. The information received by Zakir Naik, who conspired to increase hatred by his speeches, is indeed the biggest proof of his love for Pakistan. After the new inputs that security agencies are getting, it is getting confirmed that Pakistan continues to help Zakir Naik in promoting this hatred cultivation in India and using Pakistan Qatar and Turkey to help Zakir. Has been doing. The wires of each conspiracy against India go somewhere and connect with Pakistan. Now the nefarious connection of fugitive Zakir Naik is being revealed. Intelligence input has given this information, which also shows the reality of Zakir Naik. Fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik contacted one of his close friends in Qatar. Not only this, Zakir also asked for 5 million dollars fund from that person in Qatar. Recently Zakir Naik has also been punished for his antics, when a regulator 'Ofcom' which monitors the British media, has imposed a heavy fine of around Rs 2.75 lakh on Zakir Naik's Peace TV. The reason for this penalty is Zakir's hate speech and broadcast on objectionable issue. Cases of rape are continuously coming during lockdown 10th and 12th board exam to be done with social distancing, new policy prepared Raj Thackeray hit back at Yogi, says "Migrant labourers should not come to Maharashtra without permission" New Delhi: Social media today is flooded with Eid wishes. India celebrated Eid on May 25 this year amid the coronavirus lockdown. To make the festival special, Bollywood celebrities took to social media to wish their fans Eid Mubarak. Sara Ali Khan shared a then and now photo of herself and extended Eid greetings. Priyanka Chopra wrote, Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating around the world. I wish for you and your families strength, peace and happiness in these uncertain times. Ananya Panday sent a big virtual hug to her fans and said, Eid Mubarak, sending everyone lots of love, good energy, peace and a BIG virtual hug. Shraddha Kapoor shared a video of herself offering Namaz. Eid Mubarak my brothers and sisters, may this years trials and tribulations become foundations of a better tomorrow. Thank you for praying for us this whole holy month of Ramazan . Have a blessed Eid, read Sonam Kapoors message. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan tweeted to say, Eid Mubarak to all and the prayers on this auspicious day for peace .. for harmony .. for good health .. for friendship and love .. for ever .. bring us together in peace and love and in the continuity of brotherhood sisterhood and family .. be ONE .. be in ONE .. T 3540 - Eid Mubarak to all and the prayers on this auspicious day for peace .. for harmony .. for good health .. for friendship and love .. for ever .. bring us together in peace and love and in the continuity of brotherhood sisterhood and family .. be ONE .. be in ONE .. pic.twitter.com/hl7L2oJmdb Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) May 24, 2020 Tara Sutaria shared a still from Marjaavan to wish Eid Mubarak. The Islamic holy month of Ramzan or Ramadan ends with Eid celebrations after a 30-day long fasting ritual, known as Rozas. Muslims across the globe eagerly wait for Eid to celebrate the festival with much gusto and fervour. Eid-ul-Fitr is the first and only day in the month of Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. Eid Mubarak to all our readers! BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary opened its southern border for citizens of Serbia and Hungary from Monday morning, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told a news conference. Hungary decided to reciprocate a similar measure taken by Serbia on Friday, Szijjarto said, adding that the novel coronavirus pandemic was under control in both countries, which allowed the easing of restrictions. The move followed a gradual reopening of landlocked Hungary's other borders, which now allow some movement although restrictions have not been fully lifted. Hungary has recorded 3,756 cases of COVID-19, the pulmonary disease caused by the novel coronavirus, with 491 deaths. Szijjarto also reiterated Hungary's long-held stance that Serbia has a place in the European Union. He said Hungary would continue to show closed doors to illegal migrants, which he called a cornerstone of Hungarian-Serbian cooperation. Hungary was forced to close heavily fortified "transit zones" along its border with Serbia last week after the European Court of Justice found the practice to be illegal. (Reporting by Anita Komuves and Marton Dunai, editing by Ed Osmond) India has been battling the COVID-19 outbreak since more than two months now, with doctors and the country's medical forces serving the nation in the time of the greatest crisis of our generation. But while the Indian medical forces have been serving the country in the hospitals, the Indian Army and defence forces have left no stone unturned to crush the backbone of Pakistan terror camps, who have been trying to take advantage of the Pandemic crisis. Here are seven instances in the last 45 days When the Indian Army has crushed Pakistan terror misadventures: Two Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists crushed - Two Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists, among which was one Junaid Sehrai, son of hardline Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chief Ashraf Sehrai, were killed in an encounter with Indian security forces in Downtown Srinagar. Also Read | Indian Army increases troops along LAC in Ladakh in response to China's heavy deployment Riyaz Naikoo encountered in his hometown- Riyaz Naikoo, a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, on the run for nearly 10 years, was killed in an encounter with security forces in his hometown Beighpora. Unidentified terrorists neutralised- Three unidentified terrorists were neutralised by security forces in an encounter in South Kashmirs Kulgam district. Also Read | Pakistan Army uses PoK citizens as shields; fires rockets then hides in their homes Al-Qaeda affiliates killed- Four unidentified terrorists were killed in an overnight gunbattle with security forces in south Kashmirs Shopian district. However, sources within the security establishment said that the slain terrorists were from Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), an affiliate of Al Qaeda in Kashmir Valley. Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander wiped out- A top Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander Salad Dar was killed in an encounter in the apple township of Sopore in North Kashmir's Baramulla district. Also Read | Two Ansar Gazwat Ul Hind Terrorists Neutralised In Jammu And Kashmir's Kulgam Pak Terrorists' infiltration bid foiled- Five unidentified militants were killed as the Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists along the LoC in Kashmir. Hizbul-Mujahideen affiliates eliminated- Four local terrorists affiliated with the indigenous outfit Hizbul Mujahideen were killed, in an encounter between security forces and terrorists in south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Indian security forces along the LoC and Jammu and Kashmir have been focused on countering the growing number of infiltration bids and anti-India activities by Pakistan sponsored terrorists in the past few weeks. Due to which the Pakistan Army is rattled and cannot decide their next move. (With inputs from Zeenat Zeeshan Fazil) The continuing tension between India and Pakistan also showed on the festival of Eid this year when the customary exchange of sweets between the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistani Rangers didnt take place , reported PTI. However, the much improved relations with Bangladesh meant that the two sides exchanged sweets on the holiest festival of Muslims on Monday. India and Pakistans relations have rarely been normal but have worsened from time to time including the current streak of tensions that peaked after Pulwama terror attack on February 14, 2019 that killed at least 40 CRPF personnel. India held a Pakistan based terror group responsible for the attack and carried out air strikes to destroy a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror hideout in Pakistani territory of Balakot. That led to a dogfight between the two countries fighter planes. The tensions only escalated after Indias decision to abrogate Article 370-- which granted Jammu and Kashmir special status-- and bifurcate the state into two union territories. India has since then accused Pakistan of trying to push even more militants into Jammu and Kashmir to destabilize the region and attract international attention. Incidents of cross-border terrorism havent ceased even as nations around the world are busy fighting the coronavirus pandemic. The Indian military establishment has said that the Pakistan is now pushing a greater number of militants through its launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC). The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 In the view of the situation, the exchange of sweets did not take place at any location along the India-Pakistan international border from Jammu to Gujarat, the officials quoted by PTI said. According to the official, the BSF had gone ahead and offered sweets during Diwali last year as well as on its raising day-December 1- and also on the Republic Day on January 26, but it was not met with reciprocation by the Pakistani side. However, the BSF exchanged sweets with its Bangladeshi counterpart-- Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) -- all along the eastern front. India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km-long international border. BSF and BGB share a very cordial relationship. Both the countries share a similar culture, traditions and festivals. The warmth and bonding between the countries and border-guarding forces reflect during several occasions, when they share the joy of festivals, including during Eid, a statement issued by the south Bengal frontier of the BSF quoted by the PTI said. The south Bengal frontier guards 903 km of the India-Bangladesh border. BSF troops up to the border post level conveyed their best wishes to their companions of Bangladesh. The pleasantries for BGB headquarters were shared at Petrapole (land-border crossing in West Bengal), the statement added. The BSF, during these events, convey its best wishes and good health to its partner, the BGB, with a hope of a better future ahead, it added. Hundreds of Madrid residents flooded to the city's parks as lockdown measures were finally eased in the Spanish capital and in Barcelona, while beaches reopened in parts of the country after months-long closures. As well as reopening the gates of the capital's parks for the first time since mid-March, residents in the two cities can now meet in groups of up to 10 people in homes or on the terraces of bars and restaurants. The easing measures come as the Madrid region, the city of Barcelona and large parts of Castile-Leon in the northwest, formally enter the first phase of rolling back one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. These areas have been on a slower track as they bore the brunt of the pandemic in Spain, which has killed more than 28,700 people, one of the world's highest tolls. In Madrid, hundreds of people turned out to enjoy an early-morning stroll in sun in the city's famous Retiro Park, with scores of runners jogging down its wide avenues and past the boating lake. "The reopening of Retiro brings me a feeling of serenity, gives me comfort," said Rosa San Jose, a 50-year-old teacher wearing gym clothes and a mask who was out for a walk before starting the online school day. Elsewhere in the city, the San Gines coffee shop, famed for its churros and chocolate, laid out six tables on the pavement, down from its normal 13 to ensure social distancing. For now, the inside seating areas must remain shut. "We've been open for 125 years and it's the first time we've ever had to close," manager Daniel Real told AFP. "Soon we'll go back to being open 24 hours a day like before, but for now we're not working nights as there are no tourists and because the nightclub that brings us a lot of clients is closed." - Freedom, with limits - Elsewhere, regions incorporating just under half of Spain's nearly 47 million inhabitants were moving into phase two of the three-stage rollback that is due to be completed by the end of June. For now, all new freedoms in public must be conducted while wearing a mask where it is not possible to keep a distance of two metres (six feet). With the summer heat picking up, beaches along Spain's northern coastline as well as some areas in the south, including the Canary Islands and the Balearics, are now open for swimming, subject to safety measures. The health ministry recommends limiting the number of beachgoers, creating boundaries and spacing umbrellas four metres apart. But for now, only locals will benefit, with travel between regions still forbidden and any foreign visitors landing in Spain compelled to undergo 14 days quarantine. Spain has said it will open the borders to foreign tourists in July. But the government's slow process of lifting the restrictions have a political backlash from rightwing parties as well as a growing wave of protest on the streets. On Saturday, thousands joined protests in their cars in major Spanish cities at the call of the ultra-rightwing Vox, with drivers honking their horns, waving Spanish flags and banging saucepans to denounce the government's handling of the crisis. Humans have long believed that planting trees, any kind of tree, anywhere, is good, something Mother Nature cries out for, something that might even solve our climate crisis. Tree-planting initiatives proliferate: the Bonn Challenge, Trees for the Future, Trees Forever, the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami, Plant a Billion Trees, 8 Billion Trees, the Trillion Tree Campaign, the One Trillion Trees Initiative, to mention just a few. The passion for planting trees comes partly from the fact that, in some places, they sequester carbon. This has been broadly interpreted to mean that festooning the Earth with trees will solve the problem of climate change, which is why tree-planting programs are so popular with carbon polluters seeking to avoid cleanup costs. President Donald Trump, for example, instantly embraced the One Trillion Tree Initiative launched in January by the World Economic Forum, pledged U.S. participation, and then gushed about it in his State of the Union address: To protect the environment, days ago, I announced that the United States will join the One Trillion Tree Initiative, an ambitious effort to bring together government and the private sector to plant new trees in America and around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Planting trees can be beneficial, especially in countries where predatory logging and other land abuse has destroyed soil stability and deprived people of shade, clean water, fish, and fruit. But such initiatives are the exception. Mass plantings are apt to do more harm than good. And its nearly impossible to distinguish decent projects from bad ones. First there is the problem of duplicity, not unusual among tree-planting outfits. Consider Plant for the Planet, the organization behind the Trillion Tree Campaign. In March 2019, the German newspaper Die Zeit revealed that the groups website was rife with untruths. For example, one persona Valf F. from Francewas reported to have single-handedly planted 682 million trees. The other, larger problem is the ecological havoc tree planters can wreak if they are not careful. Few divulge what species they plant. Fewer still commit to planting only native species. Those who do commit are apt to plant monocultures, which are nearly worthless to wildlife and vulnerable to disease, insects, and wind. Forests are complex machines with millions of meshing parts. You cant plant a forest; you can only plant a plantation. Advertisement Advertisement Trees planted in wrong places, particularly places that are naturally treeless, do more harm than good and trash native ecosystems. Prairies, for example, provide important habitat for all manner of wildlife. But ever since European settlement, Americans have been destroying them with trees. When J. Sterling Morton moved to Nebraska from Michigan in 1854, he decided that Mother Nature had gotten it all wrong. In due course he called forth a grand army of husbandmen to battle against the timberless prairies, and on April 10, 1872, established the first Arbor Day. Twenty-four hours later, Nebraskan prairies had been degraded by roughly 1 million planted trees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tree planting, especially on Arbor Day, became a national obsession. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Arbor Day, the Nebraska-based Arbor Day Foundation was formed. It hasnt deviated far from Mortons mindset. Join and you can receive 10 free Colorado blue spruce seedlings with instructions on how to plant them. This would be fine if you live in the central or southern Rockies. But everywhere else, these trees are aliens. Illustrating the extent of our current tree-planting craze is the recent marketing of biodegradable coffee cups impregnated with tree seeds. Not only do they encourage littering, but they guarantee that wrong trees will be planted in wrong places. Advertisement Advertisement But such slapdash planting is an American tradition. In 1876, possibly inspired by Arbor Day, a man named Ellwood Cooper sought to improve his 2,000-acre, mostly treeless ranch near Santa Barbara, California, with 50,000 eucalyptus seedlings. They shot up 40 feet in just three years, an unheard-of growth rate for which they became known as miracle trees. Eucalyptus trees are not native to California. Advertisement Advertisement Shortly thereafter, the University of California and the state Department of Forestry distributed free eucs for everyone to plant. Prairies, chaparral, and cutover forestland were jammed full of these aliens. One hundred years after the first Arbor Day, 271,800 acres of eucalyptus had been planted in the U.S., 197,700 of them in California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I inserted my arm into euc leaf and bark litter in Bolinas, California, I couldnt touch the bottom. Thats because the microbes and insects that eat it are in Australia, not California. Native plant communities cant survive in these plantations because eucs kill competition with their own herbicide, creating what botanists call eucalyptus desolation. Eucs evolved with fire and prosper from it. Their tops dont just burn; they explode. Living near them is like living beside a gasoline refinery staffed by chain smokers. But eucs remain popular in California. Theyre still being planted. And agencies seeking to protect the public and recover native ecosystems by razing eucs inevitably face the fury of eucalyptus lovers who have, for example, accused them of being plant Nazis. Advertisement According to a mantra heard for more than three decades, trees are good, even if they disrupt native ecosystems, because they can serve as carbon sinks. In 1988, the then113-year-old American Forestry Association (now American Forests) initiated its Global ReLeaf campaign under the shibboleth Plant a tree, cool the globe. Too bad its not that simple. A study led by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory concludes that any carbon sequestration benefit from trees planted much north of Florida is more than offset because solar heat absorbed and retained by the trees makes the climate warmer. Advertisement Advertisement The notion that any significant percent of the carbon humanity spews can be sucked up by planted trees is a pipe dream. But it got rocket boosters in July, when Zurichs Crowther Lab published a paper, in Science, proclaiming that planting a trillion trees could store 25 percent of the current atmospheric carbon pool. That assertion is ridiculous, because planting a trillion trees, one-third of all trees currently on earth, is impossible. Even a start would require the destruction of grasslands (prairies, rangelands, and savannas) that reflect rather than absorb solar heat and that, with current climate conditions, are better carbon sinks than natural forests, let alone plantations. Also, unlike trees, grasslands store most of their carbon underground, so its not released when they burn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Crowther paper horrified climate scientists and ecologists, 46 of whom wrote a rebuttal, explaining that planting trees in the wrong places would exacerbate global warming, create fire hazards, and devastate wildlife. They rebuked the authors for suggesting grasslands and savannas as potential sites for restoration using trees and for overestimating by a factor of 5 potential for new trees to capture carbon. Tree plantations are already destroying natural areas that are far more efficient at storing carbonwetlands, for example. When organic detritus is trapped underwater it cant release carbon because theres no oxygen for decomposition. Carbon sequestration efficiency of coastal wetlands (marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) actually increases with global warming because, as sea levels rise, more and more storage space for detritus becomes available. Advertisement Advertisement Ill-conceived tree plantings can dewater wetlands. Consider the yet-to-be-launched initiative to plant 2.4 billion trees in Indias Cauvery River basin, which is the brainchild of the Isha Foundation, based in Coimbatore, India. Leonardo DiCaprio, whose foundation is a major backer, received a letter in September from 95 of Indias environmental and public interest groups that cited litigation against the plan. It read in part: Biodiversity, forests, grasslands and the massive deltaic region that this river nurtures would be devastated. It appears to be a programme that presents, rather simplistically, that the river can be saved by planting trees on banks of her streams, rivulets, tributaries and the floodplains a method that promotes a monoculturist paradigm of landscape restoration which people of India have rejected long ago. The Isha Foundation dismissed the letter as an attempt to gain publicity. Advertisement Similarly, in September Ireland committed to planting 440 million trees as part of its Climate Action Plan. Many of them will be commercially valuable Sitka spruce from North Americas Pacific Northwest. When theyre harvested, sequestered carbon will spew back into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, these aliens will be drying up wetlands, increasing global warming by absorbing and retaining solar heat, and, as the Irish Wildlife Trust warns, speeding extirpation of fish and wildlife (ongoing because of previous alien-tree plantings). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The notion that tree planting is an elixir for what ails the earth is as popular with polluters as it is with nations, a fact that spawned the carbon offset industry. Polluters hire third partiesoften unseen, uninterviewed, and in other countriesto plant any kind of trees, anywhere. For instance, in November, EasyJet announced that it will spend $33 million for tree planting and other carbon-reduction schemes, supposedly rendering itself the first airline to offset all its CO 2 pollution. In February Delta Air Lines pledged to zero out its carbon emissions by spending $1 billion over the next decade. While it was vague on how this will be accomplished, tree planting is reportedly part of the strategy. Advertisement Carbon offsetting has been likened to indulgences, the forgiveness notes hawked by the pre-Reformation Catholic Churchgo and sin no more unless, of course, you pay us off again for future sins. Also, hired tree planters frequently charge for trees that would be planted anyway or pocket the money and plant nothing. According to Kevin Anderson, professor of energy and climate change at the U.K.s University of Manchester, the entire carbon offset industry is a scam. In 2019, after two decades of carbon offsetting, CO 2 levels peaked at the highest levels in recorded history. Carbon offsetting might work if polluters paid parties to protect existing forests and maybe also restore wetlands and grasslands by cutting planted and invading trees. On 400,000 acres in Montana, the American Prairie Reserve recovers native prairie by razing alien Russian olive and Chinese locust trees and reseeding bare, abandoned cropland with a native prairie mix. Advertisement The same restoration is done by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at national wildlife refuges such as Bowdoin and Medicine Lake, both in Montana. I have old photos showing settlers out on the prairie, and theres not a single tree in the background, says Neil Shook, who manages these two refuges. Now the same places are littered with trees. By cutting trees were seeing increases in prairie vegetation and grassland songbirds. But people are still planting Russian olives. Right outside our boundaries you can see what will happen if we dont cut. That private land is just full of trees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to aggressive tree removal by the USFWS at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, prairie-dependent plants, birds, and mammals are surging back. For years, tree lovers have railed at Union Slough managers, accusing them of such malfeasance as arboricide. But as the refuge presses on the noise fades. Reform seems to take two steps back and three forward. Were pushing hard for San Francisco to plant native trees that will bring wildlife into the city and link it with our parks, remarks Jacob Sigg of the California Native Plant Society. But the old-boy network plants non-natives and is deaf to our arguments. Planting any trees anywhere sends chills down my spine. I do see progress, but then I hear some prominent person talking about planting a trillion trees. Advertisement Sigg brightened when I asked about Angel Island. It had been blighted by eucalyptus desolation when Id seen it. Now, he reported, virtually all the eucs have been cut and chipped, and native grasslands and scrub oaks have recovered. The California Department of Parks and Recreation had not been deaf to the societys arguments. In the face of savage bullying from groups like POET (Preserve Our Eucalyptus Trees), it stood tall. I think the great landscape photographer Ansel Adams put it best when he helped run tree-planting Boy Scouts off the prairie in whats now the Golden Gate National Recreation Area: I cannot think of a more tasteless undertaking than to plant trees in a naturally treeless area, and to impose an interpretation of natural beauty on a great landscape that is charged with beauty and wonder, and the excellence of eternity. Treeless landscapes are not only natural, in many casestheyre better for the Earth, too. China's proposed new security law to firm up its control over Hong Kong could run into problems in courts, the city's Bar Association has warned, stressing that Beijing has no legal authority to enact its national security law for the former British colony. In a strongly worded statement, the Hong Kong Bar Association also expressed concern over suggestions that mainland security agencies would be set up to safeguard national security within the city, saying it was entirely unclear how that arrangement would comply with Article 22 of the Basic Law, which stipulates that Beijing departments not to interfere in local affairs. A draft bill on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security was tabled in China's National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday. It is expected to be passed on May 28. The bill is regarded as a political bombshell for the former British colony as China has decided to bypass local Legislative Council to bring about a new national security law tailor-made to take control of Hong Kong which has been witnessing mass protests by pro-democracy groups since last year demanding autonomy and freedom from Beijing. Thousands of people took part in mass protests in Hong Kong on Sunday. Police fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters. The Hong Kong police is gearing up for another mass protests on Wednesday outside the local legislature. It is entirely unclear how the proposed agencies set up in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will operate under the laws of the HKSAR, whether they will be bound by the laws of the HKSAR, whether they have the power of enforcement, and whether such powers as exercised will be limited by the laws currently in force in the HKSAR, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted the Bar Association statement as saying. The Bar Association also pointed out that there was no assurance that the proposed legislation given its status as a national law would comply with provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Hong Kong is a signatory, or that there would be a public consultation before promulgation. The absence of public consultation would stand in sharp contrast to the city's attempt to legislate a national security law on its own in 2003, where an extensive consultation process was undertaken. The bill was ultimately withdrawn after 500,000 people took to the streets to oppose it. This is unprecedented. The public must be allowed the opportunity to properly consider and debate about proposed laws which affect their personal rights and obligations, the statement read. It also questioned a line in Beijing's Friday resolution that named the judiciary alongside the administration and legislature as Hong Kong organs required to prevent, stop and punish acts endangering national security, arguing it had given rise to perceptions the courts were being or will be instructed to act in a particular way. On Monday, Xie Feng, commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, attempted to lay some of those fears to rest, the Post report said. Speaking at a briefing, he underscored the judiciary's independence, saying the new law would not change the legal system in Hong Kong SAR, or affect the independent judicial power, including the right of final adjudication exercised by the judiciary in Hong Kong. The proposed national security law was unveiled after almost a year of increasingly violent social unrest in Hong Kong, which was sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill and later evolved into a wider anti-government movement. Meanwhile, China's Vice-Premier Han Zheng said the country's determination to implement a new national security law for Hong Kong must not be underestimated, as the decision was reached after careful consideration of the interests of the country and city. Don't underestimate Beijing's determination. When the decision is made, we will implement it till the end, Han, China's state leader who oversees Hong Kong and Macau affairs told local deputies to China's legislature on Sunday, the Post report said. A legislator Wong Yuk-shan said, Han stressed that the move was made after careful deliberation, taking into account the long-term interests of Hong Kong, and more importantly, of the state and the nation. State broadcaster CCTV reported Han as saying the law would target only a small faction of people who advocated Hong Kong's independence and the dark forces behind them. The term is used by Beijing to refer to supposed overseas support for the anti-government movement. Han said only three groups would be affected pro-independence activists, violent radicals and protesters seeking to derail the city's economy with a mentality of if we burn, you burn with us. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The overall number of infected people makes 21,245 On May 24, 258 new cases of infection with Covid-19 were observed in Ukraine, Maksym Stepanov, the Healthcare Minister of Ukraine reported that during the briefing broadcasted by 112 Ukraine. The overall number of infected people currently makes 21,245. The official stated that 623 cases proved lethal; another 7,234 people recovered. As of May 24, 73 citizens of Ukraine have recovered from coronavirus abroad since the epidemic began. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reported this on Facebook on Monday. "18,398 citizens of Ukraine turned for help to dipomatic foreign institutions within Protection system", the Ministry said, adding that currently, 147 Ukrainians undergo treatment. Nine Ukrainian citizens succumbed to the disease while staying abroad. As we reported earlier, Ukraine enters second stage of abandoning the quarantine. Ground-based public transport in Kyiv returned to work on Saturday, and the underground resumed working on May 25. Previously, Pope Francis held the Sunday prayer in presence of believers - first time since the epidemic of coronavirus reached Italy. Bengaluru, May 25 : A domestic flight passenger from the Bengaluru to Mumbai on the first of partial passenger flights resumption has largely expressed satisfaction on the services extended by the airport and the airline amid COVID pandemic, she said on Monday. "Actually, quite comfortable and reassuring, considering the worry and concern the world over and in India as well because of COVID. Especially in Bengaluru, the authorities have done an excellent job," told Anamika Iyengar to IANS. Iyengar took an early morning flight to Mumbai from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). "Every stage of the check-in and details submission was contactless and easy to understand. There wasn't any complexity involved and at every stage there was staff positioned to explain if you are confused," she said. According to Iyengar, the whole process was well thought out and efficiently organized, including from the time of getting the boarding pass and also the markings on the floor to maintain physical distance. "I took an early flight at 7.45 a.m., there weren't many occupants. The airport itself did not have too many people and the flight also wasn't full. I thing about 30 passengers," said Iyengar. She said the flight may not be full because many fliers would have been worried how all that flying experience would play out. "In a row with three seats, only one is occupied. The row before me and the row behind me were also unoccupied," she said. As part of COVID precautions, the airline only allowed water and no food was served or was allowed to consume during the flight. Similarly, the airline used a screen like gadget to check the fliers before boarding. In the airport, at the entrance and at subsequent barricades before much deeper inside the airport, the employees were wearing a face mask, but as one enters deeper, they were all wearing full body suits from head to toe for COVID protection. "All the cabin crew were also covered up from top to bottom,a she said. Iyengar did not complain on the airfare she paid, saying it was fairly reasonable and booked her ticket on the day government announced domestic flights would resume. "Just to be sure, I booked two tickets for myself, one on Vistara and another on SpiceJet. Vistara flight got cancelled and I took the SpiceJet. I took a private cab to reach the airport without any trouble. I did not take any chances with Ola or Uber," she said. As the fliers boarded the bus, the airline also gave them a packet containing a hand sanitizer and a head covering to protect oneself from the virus. "They gave a visor like plastic sheet which covers the face until under the mouth," she said. In some of the pics Iyengar shared on her journey, the Bengaluru airport was mostly empty with rows of unoccupied seats in the airport. Meanwhile, an unaccompanied minor, Vihaan Sharma, got reunited with his mother at the city airport after three months due to lockdown. The 5-year-old boy was stuck in Delhi and travelled on Monday as a special category passenger. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday night accusing the Democrats of trying to rig the upcoming 2020 general election. 'The Democrats are trying to Rig the 2020 Election, plain and simple!' he tweeted just after 8:30pm. The tweet came with a retweet of something he had posted earlier on Sunday where he outlined his concerns in greater detail, namely that postal voting could be open to abuse. 'The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and 'force' people to sign. Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam!' the president wrote, without citing any evidence for his claims. President Trump tweeted on Sunday several times that he believed the Democrats were trying to rig the 2020 election using mail-in voting The president's first tweet came just after 10am on Sunday morning, top, with a followup tweet on the same subject just after 8:30pm on Sunday evening The president's concerns appear to be shared by the Republican Party who are now suing California's Democratic state Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom took it upon himself to send every registered voter in the state a ballot by mail for the November's election but Republicans are worried that the system is open to fraud and that ballots sent to people who died or moved away could be filled out and sent in anyway. 'California's election system is already burdened with serious issues. The disastrous Motor Voter program arbitrarily changed voter registration for thousands casting doubt on the integrity and accuracy of our voter rolls,' California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said in a statement on Sunday. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. It alleges that Californians would be deprived of their constitutional right to vote by making fraudulent voting inevitable. The GOP is suing California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) claiming sending mail-in ballots to all registered voters in the state is an 'illegal power grab' Newsom says the order is aimed at curbing voters' possible exposure to coronavirus at polling stations come November and ballots are to be sent out to all registered voters across the state 'In a direct usurpation of the legislature's authority, Governor Newsom issued an executive order purporting to rewrite the entire election code for the November 2020 election cycle,' read the complaint, filed Sunday. 'This brazen power grab was not authorized by state law and violates both the Elections Clause and Electors Clause of the U.S. Constitution.' The lawsuit claims Newsom 'has created a recipe for disaster' by sending ballots to all registered voters and say 'it invites fraud.' There is particular concern that the ballots could end up in the wrong hands, particularly in large apartment blocks with hundreds of people residing. 'Democrats continue to use this pandemic as a ploy to implement their partisan election agenda, and Governor Newsom's executive order is the latest direct assault on the integrity of our elections,' RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. Rep. Darrell Issa, pictured, has claimed the order could cause the 'votes of countless voters to be thrown out or not counted' 'Newsom's illegal power grab is a recipe for disaster that would destroy the confidence Californians deserve to have in the security of their vote.' Judicial Watch, a conservative foundation 'promoting transparency, accountability, & integrity in government' and an activist group that primarily targets Democrats has filed a similar complaint on behalf of Rep. Darrell Issa. Issa claimed the order could cause the 'votes of countless voters to be thrown out or not counted,' while speaking on Fox News. Judicial Watch similarly argued the move was 'an unlawful attempt to supersede and replace California election law.' Newsom ended up signing the order to provide mail-in ballots over concern surrounding the coronavirus and the risk associated with large public gatherings as would be the case on polling day, come November. 'Elections and the right to vote are foundational to our democracy,' Newsom said in a statement. No Californian should be forced to risk their health in order to vote.' 'Elections and the right to vote are foundational to our democracy,' Newsom said in a statement. 'No Californian should be forced to risk their health in order to exercise their right to vote. Mail-in ballots aren't a perfect solution for every person, and I look forward to our public health experts and the Secretary of State's and the Legislature's continued partnership to create safer in-person opportunities for Californians who aren't able to vote by mail.' Newsom stressed that Californian voters would still have access to in-person voting sites. GOP officials are concerned that mail-in voting will leave the system open to widespread voter fraud, something the president has frequently shared his concern. 'Facilitating the opportunity for all registered voters to vote-by-mail during a the COVID-19 pandemic is not a partisan issue - it's a moral imperative that will protect voting rights and public health. Vote-by-mail has been used safely and effectively in red, blue, and purple states for years. This lawsuit is yet another part of Trump's political smear campaign against vote-by-mail. We will not let our democracy be a casualty of this pandemic,' California Secretary of State Alex Padilla (D) said in a statement on Sunday. New Delhi: Twelve people were killed in American University attack.A An explosion and gunfire have been heard at an American University in Kabul on Wednesday. Many trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help. Among them was Associated Press photojournalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Massoud Hossaini.A At least 12 people were killed after militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, officials said on Wednesday, in a nearly 10-hour raid that prompted anguished pleas for help from trapped students.A Explosions and gunfire rocked the campus after the attack began yesterday evening, just weeks after two university professorsaan American and an Australianawere kidnapped at gunpoint near the school. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it occurred as Taliban insurgents ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the Western-backed Kabul government. Live Updates: #10:25pm Unconfirmed reports indicate about 100 students and staff escaped but many trapped inside - some locked down in saferooms: Local media #10:20pm Shooting has stopped. #10:18pm At least 2 killed, 5 injured at American University in Afghanistan, said police source. Help we are stuck inside AUAF and shooting followed by Explo this maybe my last tweets," tweets Massoud Hossaini (@Massoud151) August 24, 2016. His tweet was later deleted to ensure his location is not revealed. According to unconfirmed reports, he and nine other students have managed to make an escape through northern emergency gate. "We are stuck in my class with other students. I heard explosions and gunfire are going on close by," a desperate student told AFP by telephone. Students who managed to make an escape from the premises claimed that the incident first started with gunfire and then followed by an explosion. Some students and lecturers are still trapped inside the university premises. #Kabul #AUAF Student who escaped said incident started with gunfire then explosion, students & lecturers still trapped inside: TOLO News a ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 (This is a developing story) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A man who suffered a gunshot injury to his arm at a garda checkpoint has appeared before a special court sitting on drug charges. Keith Donovan (48), of Monaghtaggart, Donoughmore, Co Cork, appeared before Judge Patricia Harney at a special sitting of Mallow District Court. He was charged with a total of seven counts relating to alleged incidents on May 21 and 22. He is charged with possession for sale or supply of cocaine, possession of cocaine, allowing possession of cocaine in a vehicle at Spa Road, Mallow, possession for sale or supply of the sleeping drug Zopiclone, possession of Zopiclone, possession for sale or supply of methadone and possession of methadone. Inspector Tony Sullivan said gardai had no objection to Mr Donovan being remanded on bail once conditions were met. The accused, who lives in north Cork but is originally from Gurranabraher in Cork city, agreed to all the stipulated conditions. Judge Harney noted the bail conditions and remanded him on bail to appear again before Cork District Court on June 23. He was granted free legal aid. Contact Meanwhile, Stephen Murphy (36), of Passage West, Cork, appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Saturday on two drugs charges. He was charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply and possession of cocaine at Mitchelstown Road, Mallow, on May 21. He was remanded on bail to appear again on June 17. A condition of the bail of both men is that neither has any contact, directly or indirectly, with the other. A Cork man has failed to overturn his conviction for shooting a young woman in the neck through the window of a house in the city four years ago. The Court of Appeal found no miscarriage of justice. Gavin Sheehan, aged 33, with an address at Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, Cork, had been sentenced to 14 years in prison for firing the handgun on May 15, 2016. He had denied all charges, but was found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition, reckless discharge of a firearm and assault causing serious harm to Ciara Sheehan (no relation). Judge Sean O Donnabhain sentenced him on February 14, 2017, and suspended the final three years. However, he appealed his conviction to the three-judge Court of Appeal last year, arguing that the case was based on circumstantial evidence, and that there was a lack of forensic evidence relating to the firearm. Patrick McGrath, defending, said the bullet could not be connected to the firearm, and that a bullet casing, which was recovered, was several houses away. Mr McGrath also said there were discrepancies between the times recorded on CCTV tapes and a 999 call, and the times Garda officers said that they arrived at the scene. He said that an explanation for the discrepancies should have been offered at the trial. He also argued that the trial judge had erred in refusing an application to allow the appellants legal team to come off record. Lawyers for the DPP said that discrepancies in the evidence were issues for the jury to weigh and resolve, and that the forensic evidence had linked the bullet to the type of gun from which it was fired. Justice John Edwards, presiding, with Justice Patrick McCarthy and Justice Isobel Kennedy delivered judgement on Monday. While they said there had been an error in relation to the trial judges refusal to permit the appellants lawyers to come off record, all other grounds were rejected. We are of the view that no miscarriage of justice has actually occurred, they found. We affirm the conviction and accordingly the appeal against conviction is dismissed. (TNS) Its not so bad. That was the rationale in Barbados in 1647, when British merchants and wealthy planters, seeking to preserve the island colonys slave trade, shrugged off the threat of the yellow fever epidemic that claimed thousands of lives. Also not so bad a hundred years later in Boston and other colonial seaports, when authorities played down the prevalence of smallpox so their customers overseas would keep welcoming their ships. Not so bad in New York and other cities in the 1830s, when President Andrew Jackson, one of Donald Trumps White House heroes, repeatedly understated a raging cholera pandemic for fear of spoiling the eras economic boom. Not so bad, too, in the fictional resort town of Amity Island where, in the blockbuster 1975 film Jaws, Mayor Larry Vaughn worried about the towns economy overruled Police Chief Martin Brodys order to close the beaches after a shark attack. Mayor Vaughn: You yell shark (and) weve got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July. Chief Brody: You open the beaches on the Fourth of July, its like ringing the dinner bell. Now, 45 years after the release of that quintessential American summer film, authorities in Washington and across the country are rushing to open beaches and businesses out of worries about the economy. And by conveying an implicit not so bad outlook, they may be ringing the dinner bell for the voracious novel coronavirus that continues to course through the country. We depend on the summer people here for our very lives, Mayor Vaughn said in Jaws. You are not going to have a summer unless you deal with this problem, replied oceanographer Matt Hooper. Like the city fathers of Amity Island, America is suffering a pandemic of what psychologists call normalcy bias, the tendency to minimize disaster in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. As a result, this looming COVID-19 summer could be the most perilous in our history, though we cannot say we were not warned. Just the other day, for example, the ousted director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, Rick Bright, told a House subcommittee that, as a result of Washingtons initial not so bad outlook, lives were endangered, and I believe lives were lost. He then added, I believe by not telling America the truth or being totally transparent, regardless of where the information was coming from, people were not as prepared as they could have been. I have been observing the not so bad phenomenon since my earliest days as a reporter, when, at age 24, I was assigned by the Buffalo Evening News to cover the Love Canal chemical-contamination crisis in Niagara Falls, N.Y. That environmental catastrophe grew out of a decision that it was safe to construct homes and an elementary school on top of a toxic waste dump. It was only a few years after the premiere of Jaws, and I was bewildered by the way political figures seemed to possess an irrepressible impulse to minimize threats. At the center of the homeowners protests that ensued at Love Canal was a 27-year-old housewife who became an eloquent House witness on Capitol Hill, pointedly asking whether health officials had a conflict of interest in administering tests where results suggesting problems could cost them money. The other day, more than four decades later, I reconnected with Lois Gibbs and asked her to compare the current health threat with the one that led to the evacuation of 800 families from her neighborhood in the late 1970s. People in politics always want to maintain calm and say things are not so bad, she told me. At Love Canal they kept telling us the chemicals were no bigger a risk than driving a car or crossing the street. We heard all winter that the virus posed no bigger risk than the flu. Almost certainly the most consequential not-so-bad error involved the mid-17th century yellow fever outbreak in Barbados, then perhaps the richest part of the British empire. The authorities there covered it up because they wanted English and Dutch ships to keep coming, in large measure to bring slaves to the Americas. The result: Yellow fever, carried by mosquitoes, spread to Guyana, Brazil, Virginia, Massachusetts and many of the Caribbean islands. Barbados, where death estimates range from 6,000 to 10,000, provides the original Western Hemisphere example of economic motivations overwhelming health considerations. Much the same phenomenon occurred during the post-World War I influenza pandemic in Philadelphia after 600 sailors there came down with the disease. The city fathers saw the threat but didnt call off a Liberty Loan Campaign event a parade with lavish floats, salutes to war widows, a raucous rally for war bonds and parade music conducted by John Philip Sousa himself. Some 200,000 people crowded into Center City. There they stood shoulder to shoulder on the streets. Three days later, 635 Philadelphians fell ill, and two weeks later the death toll exceeded 4,500. Politicians often underestimate these things, said Jason Opal, a McGill University historian who is writing a history of epidemic diseases in the U.S. with his father, Steven Opal, a clinical professor of medicine at Brown University. It is a combination of wishful thinking and self-deception The Trump administration is extreme in this regard. They simply dont want to preside over a disaster so they are making believe the threat isnt there. Making believe, in other words, that things arent so bad. But there is a lesson here: Not so bad can be disastrous. David Shribman, a nationally syndicated columnist, teaches U.S. politics at Montreals McGill University. Singapore has to "move cautiously" in exiting its COVID-19 "circuit breaker" period from June 2 as there are still "hidden cases" of infection circulating among the general population, a senior minister said on Monday. National Development Minister Lawrence Wong made the remarks while citing the example of eight pre-school staff members who tested positive for the virus after a mass testing exercise. As part of a proactive testing programme that began on May 15, all teaching and non-teaching staff at pre-schools will be swabbed before centres reopen in phases from next week. "The fact is that there are still hidden cases circulating amongst the general population," Wong said in a Facebook post. "There are bound to be other undetected asymptomatic cases in the community. That's why we have to move cautiously, the Channel Asia quoted the minister as saying. This means that not everything can reopen at the same time, and tough decisions have to be made on which ones go first," he added. Authorities had last week announced that Singapore's COVID-19 restrictions, termed "circuit breaker", would be lifted in three phases from June 2. The "circuit breaker" measures were first announced on April 7 and were further tightened after three weeks, with more workplaces closed and social gatherings banned. Wong expects COVID-19 cases to rise when economic activities resume. All the countries that have beaten the virus to low levels have seen a rebound in cases when they resumed activities - more when they resumed precipitously; less when they proceeded cautiously, Wong wrote in the Facebook post. Noting that some have been disappointed by the government's cautious approach, Wong explained that a phased reopening will allow authorities to have a better control of the overall situation. "If we permit physiotherapy, should we also allow spas and massage centres? We would have liked to say 'yes' to all the requests. But each time we ease up on something, we introduce many more face-to-face contacts and people movement within the community. That in turn means higher transmission risks and the likelihood of more infections," he said. "We are prioritising both lives and livelihoods. I hope you appreciate and understand that we are trying our best to resume activities safely for Singaporeans, while keeping infection rates low," the minister said. Wong said that authorities will continue with its proactive testing of different segments of the population. If all goes well, Singapore will be able to move to Phase 2 around the end of June, he added. Singapore reported 344 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the country's tally to 31,960. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Although the current pandemic is spreading rapidly in many countries and causing severe damage to the global economy, Vietnam continues to effectively control the situation while ensuring that economic activities are not interrupted. Nicolas Audier, chairman of EuroCham, talkedabout the domestic mergers and acquisitions market during and post-pandemic, and how Vietnam can gain in size and trust from foreign investors through this avenue. Nicolas Audier, chairman of EuroCham Can the pandemic help speed up mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals for foreign dealmakers in the coming months as cash-starved Vietnamese companies seek funding to overcome their difficulties? The M&A market in Vietnam is strong and vibrant. In short, this is because Vietnam has for some time been an attractive destination for foreign investors, and M&A deals are considered one of the most effective forms of market entry. For this reason, M&A transactions have grown in recent years the total value of M&A deals reached $1.9 billion in the first six months of 2019 and should continue to do so even after the COVID-19 pandemic. It is possible that the pandemic could speed up M&A deals as some companies will become more attractive. However, this is just continuing the trend of foreign investment in Vietnam which started some years ago as the countrys economic growth put it on the map of international enterprises, and has since accelerated with the US-China trade war and the potential of various free trade agreements in place. Vietnams swift and successful reaction to the pandemic, which has been applauded around the world, has reaffirmed that this is one of the safest and most attractive places to do business for international investors. Indeed, Vietnam is now opening up again, after tough but effective social isolation measures. This means that companies are now better able to return to normal, profitable business operations compared to elsewhere in the world where restrictions to business operations are still in place, and this is contributing to an increasing interest in M&A activities. In fact, Vietnam could find itself in a fortunate position. Investors in other parts of the world which have been less successful in tackling the pandemic, and are now facing severe short-term economic shocks in their home countries, look for new opportunities in more attractive markets. Vietnam, where GDP growth of around 5 per cent is predicted, could benefit in this scenario. The health crisis has created both pros and cons for M&A, so how will it impact M&A transactions in 2020 in Vietnam? We have seen some M&A transactions temporarily put on hold because of COVID-19, however, many others never stopped and are still proceeding as normal. The fact that Vietnam was able to return to normal business operations so soon compared to other countries has helped in this regard and reaffirmed its reputation as a safe, competitive, and attractive place in which to do business. Of course, despite the significant short-term disruption of COVID-19, Vietnam also holds some longer-term advantages for foreign investors. For instance, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) should shortly be ratified, after an upcoming vote in the National Assembly of Vietnam. Many European investors will want to position themselves in Vietnam in order to unlock the full benefits of this agreement. In particular, the EVFTA will open up new opportunities for European investors. For instance, within five years of its entry into force, EU banks could invest up to 49 per cent in some joint-stock commercial banks. Other sectors which will soon be further opened to EU investors include higher education and telecommunications both of which have high potential for growth in the future. The EU and other regions are increasingly worried that businesses will be vulnerable to hostile takeover bids from overseas investors. Are there any concerns over Vietnam's private equity industry, which could be sitting on a cash pile worth millions of dollars? Europe has been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus, so some European companies could see an increased interest in M&A deals from foreign investors. However, Vietnam is one of the few countries that is forecast to see positive economic growth in 2020. So, there should be no worries about so-called hostile takeovers just an increase in foreign investment from companies looking for a safe, secure, competitive, and business-friendly market in which to invest. Vietnamese private equity companies with significant cash reserves could react quickly to developments in the market, which will undoubtedly be unpredictable as the impacts of COVID-19 continue to impact international markets and global trade. VIR Phuong Thu David Shafer, the chairman of the state GOP, said he too, along with Kemp, was extending the invite to Trump and to the national Republican Party. But most major cities in Georgia are run by Democrats, who would have to agree to hold the gathering and coordinate with Republicans in just three months. An Indigo aircraft takes off from the Anna International Airport in Chennai after the government eased the lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus. Domestic air travel resumed in India on May 25 after a two-month shutdown. (AFP) New Delhi: After day-long negotiations on Sunday between several states and the central government, domestic flights resumed in India on Monday. After opposing resumption of flights amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Maharashtra state government late last night agreed to go along with the flight resumption, but only to a limited extent. All scheduled commercial passenger flights had been suspended since March 25 when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds of people reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi to take early morning flights to their home towns and workplaces. Those who took the first flights included paramilitary personnel, army men, students and migrants, who had been unable to book a ticket on the special trains being run by the Indian Railways. Many said they shelled out more to reach the airport as there were limited public transport options available. With trains running full and inter-state buses off the roads, Sandeep Singh, 19, spent Rs 5,500 to reach Delhi from Dehradun where he studies. "I remained stuck in my PG. Mummy and papa were a worried lot. I am taking the first flight home," he said. A few people travelled long distances only to find that their flights had been cancelled. Naik Satish Kumar's Kolkata-bound flight got cancelled as the state decided not to resume operations till May 28. It was agreed late Sunday night that would be limited operation of commercial domestic flights starting Monday to and from metro airports like Mumbai and Hyderabad. Maharashtra agreed to only 25 departures and arrivals each from Mumbai from Monday, which means a total of 50 flights. The Delhi-Mumbai route is the busiest in India. There are expected to be only 15 departures and arrivals each from Hyderabad, a total of 30 flights. Also, there may be only about 10 flights to and from Kolkata (20 flights in all) as well as from Bagdogra airport in north Bengal from May 28 onwards. Just one-fifth of the summer schedule of flights are likely to operate to and from Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh from Tuesday (May 26), while only one-third of flights are expected to operate to parts of Maharashtra other than Mumbai. There was much confusion due to varying arrival protocols in states that include institutional quarantine in some. Due to this airlines revised their earlier schedules on Sunday evening to destinations like Mumbai after consulting the civil aviation ministry. As a result, chaos and uncertainty prevailed throughout Sunday for both airlines and thousands of hapless passengers due to fly on Monday. With various states having specific arrival protocols, the passengers would also be advised to check these in advance before travel. The Union health ministry on Sunday issued domestic travel guidelines for travel by air, train and inter-state buses, saying only asymptomatic people will be allowed to travel after thermal screening at departure points. On arrival, they will once again be thermally screened. Those found asymptomatic can go with the advice to self-monitor their health for 14 days. If they develop symptoms, they should inform the district authorities. Those who have mild symptoms will have the option of home quarantine or isolation at a Covid care unit, while those with moderate or severe symptoms will be sent to a Covid care centre. Passengers were also advised to download the Arogya Setu app on their mobiles. With passengers arriving from abroad by repatriation flights under the Vande Bharat Mission, guidelines were also issued on Sunday for international arrivals, under which travellers must give an undertaking in advance that they will undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine. In case of emergencies, including distress, pregnancy or illness, home quarantine may be permitted. The uncertainty for travellers flying to Mumbai rose after Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray told civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri that for now only the minimum possible domestic flights should be started, but the state government later relented to allow only 25 departures/arrivals each starting Monday. Late Sunday night, Mr Puri tweeted it had been a long day of hard negotiations with various state governments, adding that domestic flights will begin on Monday, including limited flights to Mumbai, except for Andhra Pradesh where it will be from Tuesday and and West Bengal on Thursday. In Tamil Nadu, he added, there will be a maximum of 25 arrivals in Chennai, but there was no limit on the number of departures. Late on Sunday night, Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted that it had been "a long day of hard negotiations with various state governments", adding that domestic flights will begin again throughout the country on Monday including limited flights to Mumbai except for Andhra Pradesh where it will be from Tuesday and and West Bengal on Thursday. He added that for Tamil Nadu there will be a maximum of 25 arrivals in Chennai but that there is no limit on number of departures, adding that for other airports in Tamil Nadu, flights would operate as in other parts of country. Puri tweeted, "It has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state governments to recommence civil aviation operations in the country. Except Andhra Pradesh which will start on 26/5 & West Bengal on 28/5, domestic flights will recommence across the country from tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, there will be limited flights from Mumbai & as per approved schedule from other airports in the state. Limited operations to West Bengal will commence on 28th May 2020. As per request of state government, operations in Andhra Pradesh will recommence on limited scale from 26 May. For Tamil Nadu there will be max 25 arrivals in Chennai but there's no limit on number of departures.For other airports in TN flights will operate as in other parts of country." Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy A31 in India in June. An official page for the Galaxy A31 has shown up on Samsungs official website revealing the design and several specifications of the device. The South Korean tech giant will be hosting a launch event for the Galaxy A31 in India on June 4. The product page suggests that the Galaxy A31 will sport a 6.4-inch FHD+ sAMOLED Infinity-U display. The phone will also have a sizeable 5,000 mAh battery capacity with support for 15W fast charging through a USB Type-C port. For optics, the A31 gets a quad-camera setup with a 48-megapixel sensor at the helm. The main camera will be assisted by an 8-megapixel ultrawide snapper, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, and a 5-megapixel macro shooter. While Samsungs official page only details some specifications of the Galaxy A31, the phone has already been released globally. The notch on the screen of the A31 houses a 20-megapixel selfie shooter. The phone runs on Android 10 with the One UI 2.0 skin. The phone runs on an octa-core processor, which we believe is a MediaTek P65 SoC. The chipset could be paired with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. The price of the Galaxy A31 has not yet been confirmed but is priced under the 25K mark globally. We believe that the Galaxy A31s will cost slightly less than the Galaxy A51, which is currently priced at Rs 25,250. Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) suggests that the device will be priced around Rs 23,000. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: The OPEC Fund for International Development has approved the $10-million loan to the The State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan to support countrys small and medium-sized businesses, Trend reports with reference to Arzuw NEWS. Turkmenistans private sector will receive the loan first. Thus, the provided financial assistance will contribute to the growth of the country's economy. The Turkmen government adopted a state program to support small and medium-sized businesses in 2018. The program is aimed at activating private business, in particular, ensuring an increase in the number of entrepreneurs, the volume of goods and services they produce, and improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized businesses at world markets. The head of the OPEC Fund, Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, noted that the financial deal will help Turkmenistan to implement its plans for country's socio-economic development, economic diversification and employment of citizens. The OPEC Fund was established by member countries in 1976 to provide financial support to developing countries. The Fund's assets are used to create infrastructure, strengthen social services, increase productivity, competitiveness and trade. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva He has caused controversy for spending lockdown at his second home in Cornwall with his family. But Gordon Ramsay appeared to be relishing his time out of London as he took to Instagram on Sunday to share a scenic beach video while watching the sunset. The chef, 53, told his nine million followers: 'What a beautiful Bank Holiday Weekend. Sunny stroll: Gordon Ramsay appeared to be relishing his time out of London as he took to Instagram on Sunday to share a scenic beach video while watching the sunset in Cornwall 'We've got some of the most gorgeous beaches in the country here. It's so nice to see the kids, kites, dogs, mums and dads, kids in and out the rock pools. It's beautiful. 'As the sun sets it's so nice to see on the beach, swimmers, barbecues, how beautiful. That's what Bank Holiday Weekends should be about.' Gordon, his wife Tana and their children are spending lockdown at their idyllic Cornwall home. Tranquil: The chef, 53, told his nine million followers: 'What a beautiful Bank Holiday Weekend', as he enjoyed a stroll along the beach Special: He said: 'We've got some of the most gorgeous beaches in the country here. It's so nice to see the kids, kites, dogs, mums and dads, kids in and out the rock pools. It's beautiful' His happy place: 'As the sun sets it's so nice to see on the beach, swimmers, barbecues, how beautiful. That's what Bank Holiday Weekends should be about' And over the weekend the celebrity chef posted a heartfelt message on Instagram in honour of his daughter's special day. He said: 'Happy Birthday to this gorgeous lady, 22yrs ago today this gracious kind and incredibly talented young girl was born, have a great day Megan love ya Dad.' The TV personality angered locals after relocating his family to their second home during the outbreak as the Government urged Britons not to travel from hotspots to the countryside. Meanwhile, Gordon has taken out loans to shore up his restaurant empire which has been shuttered by the coronavirus lockdown, it was revealed last week. He has registered charges with Barclays against 16 companies, which includes those managing some of his Michelin star outlets, according to the Sun. The loans will provide a lifeline to companies which manage some of the TV chef's flagship eateries, such as London's Savoy Grill and Petrus. TORONTO - Mother's Day gatherings contrary to physical distancing rules helped boost Ontario's COVID-19 cases, the health minister said Monday, and those rising numbers plus concern over a large crowd at a Toronto park over the weekend are delaying any easing of those rules. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Ontario Premier Doug Ford loads a truck in the middle of a media scrum at the opening of a new Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto on Monday, May 25, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn TORONTO - Mother's Day gatherings contrary to physical distancing rules helped boost Ontario's COVID-19 cases, the health minister said Monday, and those rising numbers plus concern over a large crowd at a Toronto park over the weekend are delaying any easing of those rules. Ontario reported more than 400 new COVID-19 cases Monday for a fifth straight day, higher than the province has seen for several previous five-day periods. That trend predates the province's Stage 1 of reopening launched on May 19, Health Minister Christine Elliott said. "The increase in the number of cases that we're seeing now in the last few days really relates back to the week before, with the Mother's Day events and so on, people seeing families when they should not have been more than five people together," she said. Premier Doug Ford himself has admitted that two of his daughters visited that weekend, leading to a group of at least six people at his home. Provincial officials have told Ontarians to avoid being within two metres of anyone outside their household, and not to gather in groups larger than five. Elliott had previously said chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams was considering expanding the rule about gatherings to more than five people, and introducing a so-called bubble system that other provinces have implemented, where two households can closely interact only with each other. But that was when provincial COVID-19 case numbers looked more promising, Elliott said. "Given what happened with the numbers of people coming down with COVID in the last few days, along with what has happened over this past weekend with large groups of people coming together in Trinity Bellwoods and other parks, Dr. Williams is reluctant to move forward with that right away," she said. Torontonians flocked Saturday to Trinity Bellwoods, a popular downtown park, where city officials said thousands of people flouted physical distancing rules. Ford said it looked like a rock concert without a band, and that he's disappointed with everyone who was there. "What I worry about is them going back home, how about their family members? Their brothers, sisters, mothers, aunts and grandparents? Weren't they thinking of them when they went there?" the premier said. "My recommendation to anyone at Trinity Bellwoods, why don't you do us all a favour and go get tested now." Associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe later noted that the incubation period can be up to 14 days, so she instead recommended those people self-monitor and see if they develop symptoms first. Green party Leader Mike Schreiner criticized Ford for contradicting health officials with his testing comments. "The Premier is putting public health at risk if he is making this up as he goes along," Schreiner said in a statement. Ford's comments came as the province attempts to boost low testing numbers reported Monday as 8,170, despite a daily capacity of nearly 25,000. Ontario has struggled to boost its testing numbers after completing a blitz of testing nearly every resident and staff member of long-term care homes. Ford announced Sunday that anyone concerned they may have been exposed to COVID-19 can now get tested, whether or not they have symptoms. He said mass testing is the province's best defence against the virus and a new testing strategy targeting specific sectors will be unveiled this week. The premier has spoken about testing asymptomatic front-line health-care workers, large workplaces such as food manufacturing facilities, groups such as truck or taxi drivers, and doing a second round of testing in long-term care. He said Monday that Ontario will target specific postal codes that are hot spots, such as parts of Peel Region and Toronto, as well as the Windsor-Essex area. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at the University Health Network, said the recent spike in COVID cases is a serious problem but the province's change in guidance could help convince more people to get tested. "The messaging and the behaviour up until now was that people would go to these diagnostic testing centres and they would get turned away because they didn't meet the criteria for a test," he said. "That was incredibly frustrating for many people so they just went home and isolated without knowing if they had COVID-19." Bogoch said communication from the province could be clearer and will need to be repeated to get people out to testing centres. "I think it's going to take a lot to get this through," he said. "We need to communicate this to every demographic in the province." NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said testing needs to be expanded beyond assessment centres and Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said Ford's push to have more people visit assessment centres was just a way to "hit" higher test numbers and not gather meaningful data. Ontario reported 404 new COVID-19 cases Monday. That brings the total in the province to 25,904 cases, including 2,102 deaths an increase of 29 over the previous day. The total also includes 19,698 resolved cases, which represents 76 per cent of all cases, a third straight day of that percentage declining. The new cases represent an increase of 1.6 per cent over Sunday's total. Ontario has now seen growth rates of between 1.5 and 1.9 per cent for 16 of the past 17 days, and the chief medical officer of health has said the province's growth curve appears to have hit a plateau. with files from Shawn Jeffords This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. Muslims around the world began marking a sombre Eid al-Fitr Sunday, many under coronavirus lockdown, but lax restrictions offered respite to worshippers in some countries despite fears of skyrocketing infections. The three-day festival, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is traditionally celebrated with mosque prayers, family feasts and shopping for new clothes, gifts and sweet treats. But this year, the celebration is overshadowed by the fast-spreading coronavirus, with many countries tightening lockdown restrictions after a partial easing during Ramadan led to a sharp spike in infections. Further dampening the festive spirit, many countries -- from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, Turkey and Syria -- have banned mass prayer gatherings to limit the spread of the disease. Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, began a five-day round-the-clock curfew from Saturday after infections more than quadrupled since the start of Ramadan to over 72,000 -- the highest in the Gulf. Mecca's Grand Mosque has been almost devoid of worshippers since March, with a stunning emptiness enveloping the sacred Kaaba -- the large cube-shaped structure towards which Muslims around the world pray. But on Sunday, an imam stood on a podium while Saudi security forces, some wearing masks, positioned themselves between rows of worshippers who gathered before the Kaaba for Eid prayers. Scuffles in Jerusalem At Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third-holiest site after Mecca and Medina, prayers were not permitted inside, although the site is expected to reopen after the Eid holiday. Small scuffles broke out between Israeli security forces and worshippers gathering around the mosque at dawn, although prayers eventually went ahead outside, an AFP photographer said. #Israel just cant let #palestinian Muslims or Christians celebrate Hollidays in peace, During jewish holidays #palestinians are often put under a Curfew so jews can celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Jerusalem | Several arrested during tensions outside Al-A-Aqsa Mosque pic.twitter.com/wZJNXbehrz marshall (@Marshall_H15) May 24, 2020 In Gaza, Hamas authorities allowed prayers in mosques despite the enclave's first coronavirus death on Saturday, but worshippers mostly wore masks and placed their prayer mats far apart. "Eid is not Eid with the atmosphere of coronavirus -- people feel a sense of fear," worshipper Akram Taher said. In Afghanistan, the Taliban announced a three-day ceasefire to mark Eid al-Fitr in a surprise move following months of bloody fighting with Afghan forces after the signing of a landmark agreement with the United States. The streets of Kabul were mostly empty as part of a strict lockdown, but some people did venture out and greet each other -- some from a distance and others hugging and shaking hands despite calls for social distancing. In Somalia, at least five people were killed and more than 20 wounded in a blast during Eid festivities, police said. The blast occurred as a crowd of people were dancing and singing, a witness said, but the cause of the explosion was unclear. In Indian-administered Kashmir, another troublespot, Eid celebrations were muted under the coronavirus restrictions and as authorities tightened the screws after a spate of clashes between government forces and rebels. Fears of 'new peak' Ahead of the holiday, Muslims across Asia -- from Indonesia to Pakistan, Malaysia and Afghanistan -- had thronged markets to shop, flouting coronavirus guidelines and sometimes even police attempts to disperse large crowds. "For over two months my children were homebound," said mother of four Ishrat Jahan at a bustling market in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. "This feast is for the kids, and if they can't celebrate it with new garments, there is no point in us working so hard throughout the year." The holiday began on a sombre note after a Pakistan International Airline flight crashed Friday in the southern city of Karachi, killing 97 people including many who were travelling to see family for the holiday. The English daily Dawn said the crash, along with the pandemic, had robbed Pakistan of "whatever little joy had been left at the prospect of Eid festivities". In Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim nation -- people turned to smugglers and fake travel documents to get around bans on the annual end-of-Ramadan travel that could send infections soaring. In the conservative province of Aceh, large groups prayed together with few masks and little social distancing as Eid began, and the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in the provincial capital was packed. "I did feel worried but as a Muslim, I still had to perform mass Eid prayers as a form of gratitude to Allah," one worshipper, Arsi, said. COVID-19 death tolls across the Middle East and Asia have been lower than in Europe and the United States, but numbers are rising steadily, sparking fears the virus may overwhelm often underfunded healthcare systems. Frugal celebrations Iran, which has experienced the Middle East's deadliest outbreak, called on its citizens to avoid travel during Eid as it battles to control the virus. Health Minister Saeed Namaki said Iran was focusing hard on avoiding "new peaks of the disease" caused by people "not respecting health regulations". The United Arab Emirates has tightened its lockdown which had been relaxed during Ramadan, but that did not stop some families from planning getaways to luxury beachfront hotels. But in many countries, Muslims steeled themselves for frugal celebrations amid growing financial distress, including falling oil prices that plunged the Gulf region into its worst economic crisis in decades. In the Syrian capital Damascus, Eid shoppers rummaged through flea markets for clothes at bargain prices as the war-ravaged and sanctions-hit country grappled with a much more entrenched economic crisis. "The flea market is the only place I can buy something new to wear for the Eid holidays," 28-year-old Sham Alloush said. "Had it not been for this place, I wouldn't have been able to buy new clothes at all." OTTAWA - The federal government should use the COVID-19 pandemic to reverse a brain drain of top tech talent south of the border, a House of Commons committee heard Monday, alongside warnings that companies would leave Canada if taxes go up to pay for massive deficits. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (604 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with the media about the COVID-19 pandemic during a news conference outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Monday May 25, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - The federal government should use the COVID-19 pandemic to reverse a brain drain of top tech talent south of the border, a House of Commons committee heard Monday, alongside warnings that companies would leave Canada if taxes go up to pay for massive deficits. The pandemic-related economic crisis is "an ironic opportunity for Canada" because it has led to structural changes that would normally take years happening in a few months, said Jim Balsillie, chairman of the Council of Canadian Innovators. He said the closure of the Canada-U.S. border, for instance, should spur the government to create a program to put Canadian innovation students to work domestically, with many having seen their co-op placements in Silicon Valley evaporate. "The border may not open for eight or 12 months. So we have an unusual opportunity to reverse the brain drain I mean, it is reversed temporarily but we can actually make Canada a preferred destination," Balsillie told the Commons industry committee. "They can't leave now. So the top students are here, let's have them build our country." The message from Balsillie added a wrinkle to how governments are charting an economic path out of the crisis, knowing that traditional stimulus won't help a crisis that has hit female-dominated professions. The economic crisis has also been likened more to a natural disaster than a traditional recession. Speaking earlier in the afternoon, Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz spoke about the need for policy-makers to reconstruct broken value chains, unwind the hundreds of billions in emergency measures and manage the unpredictable behaviour of consumers and businesses. "It is clear that the events of this year will be a massive test for everyones policy-making ability," Poloz says. "We are entering unknowable times, and we will have to be nimble and innovative." Federal figures released Monday showed that a key federal benefit for Canadians out of work, or seeing large drops in their earnings, in the COVID-19 pandemic has now paid out $40.33 billion in emergency aid to 8.21 million people. The spending has pushed the Canada Emergency Response Benefit further beyond its $35-billion budget. However, billions could be clawed back next year when the government taxes the earnings and recoups improperly paid benefits. At the same time, the federal government opened applications for a commercial rent assistance program that will provide forgivable loans to landlords who give tenants a break on payments. Landlords with up to 10 eligible tenants located in Atlantic Canada, British Columbia, Alberta or Quebec could apply online Monday. Applications for landlords in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and the territories open Tuesday. Landlords with more than 10 tenants can apply later this week. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeated his request for landlords to apply for the help, while also telling business owners to apply for other programs to pay their rent on time. The Bank of Canada has helped by purchasing government bonds, effectively providing hundreds of billions in low-cost financing to federal and provincial governments. Poloz said in his speech that the bank is prepared for the possibility that near-term cash demands from governments may put renewed strain on financial markets. Federal spending is now up over $151 billion, and the estimated deficit for the fiscal year on a course to top $250 billion, with warnings from the parliamentary budget office that more may be needed. 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. A panel of experts convened by the C.D. Howe Institute said Monday that governments will likely need "revenue sources beyond tax rate hikes" to pay for the spending, suggesting taxes on large online companies as one example. "Any such new revenue sources must be done in conjunction with other jurisdictions so as not to be seen as an outlier, thus harming Canadian competitiveness," the report said. The chief executive of Magna International also told MPs on the industry committee that companies will be looking to see what the "new normal" will be once the crisis passes. "The debt ... is that going to put a burden on taxes on companies? Because a company like Magna, we're a proud Canadian company, but we have to go where we can make a profit," Donald Walker said. "It will be similar in other areas around the world, but it's going to be very interesting to see what happens from a competitive standpoint." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. Sinosoft Technology Group Limited (HKG:1297), which is in the software business, and is based in China, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the SEHK, rising to highs of HK$1.80 and falling to the lows of HK$0.89. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Sinosoft Technology Group's current trading price of HK$0.96 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Sinosoft Technology Groups outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. See our latest analysis for Sinosoft Technology Group Is Sinosoft Technology Group still cheap? Great news for investors Sinosoft Technology Group is still trading at a fairly cheap price according to my price multiple model, where I compare the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. In this instance, Ive used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stocks cash flows. I find that Sinosoft Technology Groups ratio of 3.81x is below its peer average of 15.51x, which indicates the stock is trading at a lower price compared to the Software industry. Whats more interesting is that, Sinosoft Technology Groups share price is quite stable, which could mean two things: firstly, it may take the share price a while to move closer to its industry peers, and secondly, there may be less chances to buy low in the future once it reaches that value. This is because the stock is less volatile than the wider market given its low beta. What kind of growth will Sinosoft Technology Group generate? SEHK:1297 Past and Future Earnings May 25th 2020 Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by a double-digit 14% over the next couple of years, the outlook is positive for Sinosoft Technology Group. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? Since 1297 is currently below the industry PE ratio, it may be a great time to accumulate more of your holdings in the stock. With an optimistic outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current price multiple. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on 1297 for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its prosperous future profit outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy 1297. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed investment decision. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on Sinosoft Technology Group. You can find everything you need to know about Sinosoft Technology Group in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Sinosoft Technology Group, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. By Trend Kazakhstan has introduced quarantine regime at its major Karachaganak oil and gas field, Trend reports with reference to the official website on COVID-19 situation in Kazakhstan. The quarantine was introduced due to the confirmation of COVID-19 cases among fields staff and is to last till Jun. 5, 2020. Within the framework of the quarantine regime introduced, entry and exit of vehicles from the territory is prohibited; people movement from 19.00 to 07.00 (GMT+6) hours inside and between shift camps is prohibited; video surveillance will be installed between floors, rooms to control the movement; newly arrived workers will be allowed on a shift only with negative laboratory test results for COVID-19 (test results are valid for five calendar days). On March 15, 2020, Kazakhstans president signed a decree introducing an emergency state in Kazakhstan due to the coronavirus outbreak, which came in force on March 16 and was to last till April 15, 2020. Later, by a decree of Kazakhstan's president, the emergency state period in Kazakhstan was extended till May 1, 2020, and then till May 11, 2020. Since May 11, 2020 quarantine regime was eased in some and extended in other Kazakh regions and cities based on epidemiological situation in each of them. The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Some scientists say that Earth is due for a pole shift. Earths magnetic field is vital for sustaining life on the Blue planet. It protects us from the Sun's rays. It also protects us from other cosmic rays. But now, a new research shows that Earths magnetic poles are mysteriously weakening between Africa and South America. This could lead to malfunctioning of satellites and spacecrafts. Scientists studying have discovered that Earths magnetic field has lost around 9% of its strength over the last 200 year. From 1970 to 2020, the strength of the field has dropped from around 24,000 nanoteslas to about 22,000 nanoteslas. Researchers have determined that large regions of reduced magnetic field intensity have developed between Africa and South America. This is known as the South Atlantic Anomaly. Researchers have also determined that in the past five years, a second region of reduced magnetic field intensity has emerged to the southwest of Africa, indicating the South Atlantic Anomaly has split into two parts. "The new, eastern minimum of the South Atlantic Anomaly has appeared over the last decade and in recent years is developing vigorously. We are very lucky to have the Swarm satellites in orbit to investigate the development of the South Atlantic Anomaly. The challenge now is to understand the processes in Earth's core driving these changes," Jurgen Matzka, from the German Research Centre for Geosciences, said in a statement to physics.org. Some researchers believe that the Earth is heading for another pole shift, which means that one planets magnetic poles will swap places. Currently, magnetic north aligns with the geographic north and the magnetic south aligns with the geographic south. Pole reversal is not an uncommon event and it takes place every 250,000 years. Scientists believe that the Earth is long overdue for such an event. What will it mean for us? Scientists say that the anomaly will cause no harm on the surface level, which means that people wont feel the change even if the pole shift happens. However, it could lead to the malfunction of satellites and spacecrafts flying though the area. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath in a webinar said that at least 25 lakh migrant workers had returned form other states, adding that 75 percent of those who returned from Mumbai and 50 percent of the workers coming back from Delhi were infected with COVID-19. He also said that 25-30 percent of the migrant workers who had returned from other states were infected with the disease. The CM held a Facebook live enlisting the measures taken by the state government to control the infection. He said that the geography of UP is such that the migrants returning to a number of other states had to pass through it. He also went on to explain how the state tackled cluster infections caused by the Tablighi Jamaat event held at the Nizamuddin Markaz, and cluster infections in Agra and Noida. Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi took to Twitter to condemn the Chief Minister's statement that people returning to the state from other states were raising the number of coronavirus cases and asked him to share the testing and infection data with full transparency. "Heard the UP Chief Minister's statement. According to him, 75 per cent of returnees from Maharashtra, 50 per cent from Delhi and 25 per cent from other states have tested Covid-19 positive. According to the state government figures, around 25 lakh people have returned to UP," she said in a series of tweets in Hindi. Questioning the Chief Minister, Priyanka asked if he meant that there were more than 10 lakh people affected by Covid-19 in the state. The state government statistics say total number of Covid-19 affected persons in UP is 6,228. "What's the basis of statistics of infection reported by him? Where did this percentage of returned migrants come from," she remarked. If there was some truth in the Chief Minister's statement then the state government should share the testing and infection data with the public, she said and added, it should also tell us about the preparation to control the infection. The migrant workers have been returning from the Shramik special trains since May 1. UP has received the maximum number of Shramik special trains, ferrying stranded workers, students, tourists and pilgrims. Thousands of people have also returned to the state either on foot or through other modes of travel, like trucks, buses, bicycle and auto-rickshaws. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, UP has recorded 6,268 Covid-19 cases. Of this, 161 people have died and 3,538 recovered. (With inputs from IANS) RITES on Friday (22 May) said it has signed an agreement for acquiring 24% stake in Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) for Rs 48 crore with Rail Land Development Authority and IRCON International being the other equity partners. Meanwhile, Rites said it has resumed operations at most of its offices and project sites after the coronavirus-induced lockdown restrictions were eased. During this lockdown period, apart from concluding negotiations for a major export deal with CFM Mozambique, it has been able to successfully deliver the 188 RKM Vijaypur-Pachore Road-Maksi section railway electrification project in Madhya Pradesh. Rajeev Mehrotra, chairman & managing director, RITES said, "During the lockdown RITES continued to focus on key business deals like exports to Africa, signing of IRSDC shareholders' agreement etc and now we have hit the ground running as we resume most of our operations within the guidelines issued by the government. The company has implemented a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide its employees about precautions and safety measures at work," he said. Besides its corporate office in Gurugram, project offices at Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad and inspection offices at Bhilai, Delhi, Chennai have also started operations. Key project activities have been resumed at various sites like rail line doubling project at Goothy-Darmawaram, railway electrification work in Rajasthan, Project Monitoring Services at several rail connectivity works of power plants and coal mines, workshops modernization at Bikaner in Rajasthan, Kurdawadi in Maharashtra, Lumding in Assam, Sarla in Odisha, quality assurance work at various locations etc. With these operations, RITES is estimated to have achieved more than half of its capacity and will scale up its activities with easing of more restrictions. The announcement was made post trading hours on Friday, 22 May 2020. The NSE and BSE are closed today, 25 May 2020 on account of Ramzan Id or Eid-ul-Fitar. Rites' consolidated net profit jumped 10.5% to Rs 150.04 crore on a 15.9% increase in net sales to Rs 619.82 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. RITES is a public sector enterprise (PSE) and a leading player in the transport consultancy and engineering sector in India, having diversified services and geographical reach. As of 31 March 2020, the Government of India holds 72.02% stake in the company. Shares of Rites declined 1.73% to end at Rs 223.85 on BSE on Friday, 22 May 2020. The stock dropped 11.83% in the past one month till Friday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Black conservatives skewer Joe Biden for suggesting blacks who vote for Trump over him aint black Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden was being skewered by black Americans and others online Friday after he suggested in an interview with a prominent black New York City radio host that if he struggled to vote for him over President Donald Trump he aint black. The testy exchange came when Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of the popular The Breakfast Club radio show on New York Citys Power 105.1, questioned Biden about reports that he was considering Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is white, to be his vice president even though his campaign was saved by loyal black women voters from the south. I dont know if you saw the op-ed in The Washington Post by some of the leading black women voices in the country and they feel since black women are such a loyal voting bloc and black people saved your political life in the primaries this year. They have things they want from you and one of them is a black woman running mate. What do you say to them? Charlamagne Tha God asked. What I say to them is that Im not acknowledging anybody who is being considered but I guarantee you, there are multiple black women being considered. Multiple," he said, before he was interrupted by a handler for a second time during the interview telling him they had to wrap up. This is disgusting. Joe Biden: "If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't Black." pic.twitter.com/UvYZTjcPqZ Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 & get the APP (@TrumpWarRoom) May 22, 2020 The host protested the abrupt ending and quipped, you cant do that to black media. Biden responded that he couldnt do it to white or black media but he needed to leave so his wife could make an appointment. The former vice presidents comments then came after Charlamagne Tha God urged him to visit the shows studio in New York City for a sit down interview because its a long way until November and we got more questions. You got more questions but I tell you, if you have a problem figuring out whether youre for me or Trump you aint black, Biden shot back. The radio host then tried to explain to him that the questions he wanted to ask had nothing to do with Trump but his (Biden's) agenda for African Americans. It dont have nothing to do with Trump. It has to do with the fact that I want something for my community. I would love to see... Charlamagne Tha God said before he was quickly cut off by Biden. Take a look at my record, man! I extended the Voting Rights Act 25 years. I have a record that is second to none. The NAACP has endorsed me every time I run. I mean, come on. Take a look at the record, Biden insisted. As the interview and clips of it made the rounds on social media, Biden's comments drew rebuke from African Americans across the political spectrum and others including Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. 1.3 million black Americans already voted for Trump in 2016. This morning, Joe Biden told every single one of us we aint black. Id say Im surprised, but its sadly par for the course for Democrats to take the black community for granted and brow beat those that dont agree, he wrote on Twitter Friday morning. #joebiden said If you have a problem figuring out if you are for him or Trump.. you aint black Do you agree ?? The Breakfast Club (@breakfastclubam) May 22, 2020 I woke up to news this morning that apparently, I aint black @JoeBiden - who are you, to tell 1+ million black Americans who voted for @realDonaldTrump, that we arent black? added Vernon Jones, a black Republican state representative from Georgia, on Twitter. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also slammed Bidens comments as truly offensive. The comments from @JoeBiden were truly offensive, but a rare and honest insight into liberals thinking. Liberals believe you really cant be black, Latino, female, or intelligent unless you support their liberal agenda, he wrote in a statement on Twitter. In a Twitter poll by The Breakfast Club that had more than 30,000 respondents as of Friday morning nearly 90% disagreed with the former vice presidents comments. Symone Sanders, a senior campaign advisor to Joe Bidens campaign, said in a statement Friday that Biden was only joking. The comments made at the end of the Breakfast Club interview were in jest, but lets be clear about what the VP was saying: he was making the distinction that he would put his record with the African American community up against Trumps any day. Period, she wrote on Twitter. Mumbai/New Delhi: When Manit Parikh's mother tested positive for the new coronavirus, she was rushed by ambulance to Mumbai's private Lilavati Hospital, but officials told the family no critical-care beds were available. Five hours and dozens of phone calls later the family found a bed for her at the private Bombay Hospital. A day later, on May 18, Parikh's 92-year-old diabetic grandfather had breathing difficulties at home and was taken to the city's Breach Candy Hospital, another top private facility, but there were no beds. "My dad was pleading with them," Parikh told Reuters. "They said they didn't have a bed, not even a normal bed." Later that day, they found a bed at Bombay Hospital but his grandfather died hours later. His test results showed he was infected with the virus. Parikh said he believes the delays contributed to his grandfather's death. Officials at Lilavati and Bombay Hospital declined to speak with Reuters. Representatives of Breach Candy hospital did not respond to requests for comment. For years, India's booming private hospitals have taken some of the strain off the country's underfunded and dilapidated public health network, but the ordeal of Parikh's family suggests that as coronavirus cases explode in India, even private facilities are at risk of being overrun. India on Sunday reported 6,767 new coronavirus infections, the countrys biggest one-day increase. Government data shows the number of coronavirus cases in the worlds second-most populous country are doubling every 13 days or so, even as the government begins easing lockdown restrictions. India has reported more than 131,000 infections, including 3,867 deaths. "The increasing trend has not gone down," said Bhramar Mukherjee, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Michigan, referring to Indias cases. "We've not seen a flattening of the curve." Mukherjee's team estimates that between 630,000 and 2.1 million people in India - out of a population of 1.3 billion - will become infected by early July. More than a fifth of the countrys coronavirus cases are in Mumbai, India's financial hub and its most populous city, where the Parikhs struggled to find hospital beds for their infected family members. India's health ministry did not respond to a request for comment on how it will cope with the predicted rise in infections, given that most public hospitals are overcrowded at the best of times. The government has said in media briefings that not all patients need hospitalization and it is making rapid efforts to increase the number of hospital beds and procure health gear. The government's data from last year showed there were about 714,000 hospital beds in India, up from about 540,000 in 2009. However, given India's rising population, the number of beds per 1,000 people has grown only slightly in that time. India has 0.5 beds per 1,000 people, according to the latest data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), up from 0.4 beds in 2009, but among lowest of countries surveyed by the OECD. In contrast, China has 4.3 hospital beds per 1,000 people and the United States has 2.8, according to the latest OECD figures. While millions of India's poor rely on the public health system, especially in rural areas, private facilities account for 55% of hospital admissions, according to government data. The private health sector has been growing over the past two decades, especially in Indias big cities, where an expanding class of affluent Indians can afford private care. Mumbai's municipal authority said it had ordered public officials to take control of at least 100 private hospital beds in all 24 zones in the city of almost 20 million people to make more beds available for coronavirus patients. Still, there is a waiting list. An official at a helpline run by Mumbai's civic authorities told Reuters that patients would be notified about availability. SHORTAGE OF STAFF It is not just beds that are in short supply. On May 16, Mumbai's municipal authority said that it did not have enough staff to operate beds required for patients critically ill with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. As a result, resident doctors will receive less time off than what is prescribed by the government, the authority said. Some medical professionals told Reuters they already are overburdened and treating patients without adequate protective gear, exposing them to a higher risk of infection. Several hospitals in Mumbai, western Gujarat state, the northern city of Agra and Kolkata in the east have in recent weeks shut partially or fully for days because some medical staff were infected with the virus. The government has not reported any deaths of medical staff from the virus. "In our country, healthcare has never gotten priority," said Dr Adarsh Pratap Singh, head of the 2,500-strong resident doctors association at New Delhi's top public hospital, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. "The government is now realizing the reality, but it's already too late." The AIIMS group has in recent weeks protested about the lack of health gear and publicly rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for doctors to donate a part of their salaries to his coronavirus fund. Some health experts say India's struggle to treat virus patients is the result of chronic underinvestment in healthcare. The Indian government estimates it spends only about 1.5% of its GDP on public health. That figure is higher than it was - about 1% in the 1980s and 1.3% five years ago - but India still ranks among the world's lowest spenders in terms of percentage of GDP. This year, Modi's government raised its health budget by 6%, but that is still short of the government's own goal of increasing public health spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, according to New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation. 'TOO MANY PATIENTS' Keshav Desiraju, a former Indian health secretary, said more investment in the health system before the virus outbreak might have made the health system more resilient. "At the times of a crisis, all the holes show up," he told Reuters. Dr Chaitanya Patil, a senior resident doctor at King Edward Memorial government hospital, one of Mumbai's largest, said the facility had a shortage of medical staff and the 12 coronavirus wards catering to about 500 patients were almost full. "There are just too many patients coming in," said Patil, "It is lack of preparedness or a lack of insight of the people planning." Last week Rajesh Tope, health minister of the state of Maharashtra, which contains Mumbai, said the lack of hospital beds for critically ill patients will not last long. "In the next two months, more than 17,000 vacant posts of doctors, nurses, technicians and other health workers will be filled," he said in a public address. India's United Nurses Association, which represents 380,000 medics, took a list of 12 issues they said they are facing - including lack of protective gear and accommodation - to the Supreme Court in April. The court told them they can lodge complaints on a government helpline. Some nurses are leaving the big cities. Earlier this month, about 300 nurses working at hospitals in Kolkata city left for their hometowns 1,500 km (930 miles) away in India's remote northeastern state of Manipur. A group representing them said they had left because of irregular salaries and inadequate safety gear, among other issues. "We love our profession," said 24-year-old Shyamkumar, who quit his nursing job in one of Kolkata's hospitals and is planning to head back to Manipur. "But when we are going to work, please give us proper equipment." Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Data Acquisition System is accounted for $ 1.61 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $ 2.69 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period. Increased emphasis on energy efficiency, resource optimization, and cost of production, rise of big data, IoT, and industrial revolution 4.0 and technological advancement in data acquisition system are the key driving factors for the market growth. However, mature markets in North America and Europe are some of the factors hindering the market growth. Request For Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11409 Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be manipulated by a computer. Data acquisition systems, abbreviated by the acronyms DAS or DAQ, typically convert analog waveforms into digital values for processing. The components of data acquisition systems include Sensors, to convert physical parameters to electrical signals, Signal conditioning circuitry, to convert sensor signals into a form that can be converted to digital values and Analog-to-digital converters, to convert conditioned sensor signals to digital values. By End User, Automotive & Transportation is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of semiconductor IP in the automotive sector is due to the test process involved in the automotive industry which consists of a set of test solutions that are very articulated within the production line. During testing data, acquisition software is used to intelligently standardize, analyze, and report a large amount of data. Autonomous driving, connectivity, and electric mobility are all aspects that are expected to drive the demand for DAQ systems in the automotive industry during the forecast period. By geography, Asia Pacific is expected to continue lead the DAQ system market and also expected to be the fastest growing region. This is mainly attributed due to the increase in the number of manufacturing plants in various sectors such as automotive, textiles, power, and pharmaceuticals. China, Japan, South Korea, and India offer some of the prolific automotive equipment manufacturers in APAC. Therefore, there is a continuous demand for the DAQ system market in APAC. Request for Report Discount : https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/11409 Some of the key players profiled in the Data Acquisition System include ABB Ltd, Agilent Technologies Inc, Ametek, Bruel & Kjaer Sound & Vibration, Campbell Scientific, Data Translation Inc, Emerson Electric Co, Genral Electric Co, HBM, Honeywell International, Keysight Technologies, Mathworks, National Instruments, Omron Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Siemens AG, Teledyne Technologies Inc and Yokogawa Electric Co. Offerings Covered: Services Hardware Software Products Covered: LAN Extensions for Instrumentation (LXI)/ Ethernet PCI Extensions for Instrumentation (PXI) Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Standalone Universal Serial Bus (USB) VME Extensions for Instrumentation (VXI) Components Covered: Human Machine Interface (HMI) Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) Other Components Applications Covered: Field Imaging/Ultrasound Industrial Monitoring Manufacturing Research & Development (R&D) Test & Measurement End Users Covered: Academic and Research Aerospace & Defense Automotive & Transportation Energy & Power Environmental Monitoring Food & Beverages Healthcare Other End Users Regions Covered: North America US Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK Italy France Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific Japan China India Australia New Zealand South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific South America Argentina Brazil Chile Rest of South America Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Qatar South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa What our report offers: - Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments - Strategic recommendations for the new entrants - Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets - Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) - Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product / Technology Analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc. - Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations - Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends - Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments - Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements Free Customization Offerings: All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options: Company Profiling Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3) SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3) Regional Segmentation Market estimations , Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check) Competitive Benchmarking Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances Covid 19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/11409 It was the call Lance Hansen, gravely ill with liver disease, had been waiting weeks for, and it came just before midnight in late April. A liver was available for him. He got up to get dressed for the three-hour drive to San Francisco for the transplant surgery. And then he panicked. Within five minutes after hanging up, he started hyperventilating, his wife, Carmen, said. He kept saying: Im going to get Covid, and then Im going to die. And if I die, I want my family there. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. She promised she would wait outside the hospital, as patients families were barred from entering. She warned that he might not get another chance at a new liver before it was too late. She told him he could die if he didnt go. Still, Mr. Hansen, 59, refused. In a world seeded with anxiety, fear is gripping not just people who are ill with the coronavirus but those in urgent need of other medical care. Even as the number of Covid-19 cases declines in many places, patients with cancer, heart disease and strokes, among others, are delaying or forgoing critical procedures that could keep them alive. And as the virus reignites in pockets of the country, people are ignoring symptoms altogether, afraid to set foot in emergency rooms or even doctors offices. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 13:23:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TIANJIN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- North China's Tianjin port ranked first in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports in the first four months of this year, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the country's total LNG imports, according to the Tianjin Customs. From January to April, LNG imports through the Tianjin port increased 25.6 percent year on year to hit 3.92 million tonnes. The LNG imported through the port mainly came from Australia, Russia and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As an efficient and green energy source, the imported LNG ensures the supply for winter heating and new energy vehicles like LNG buses in northern China. Enditem New Delhi, May 25 : What has been locked down globally is the physical art exhibitions, the thrill of an auction saleroom and the everydayness of being part of a bustling art collector community. But with auction houses increasingly reconfiguring and going virtual, online sales are contributing significantly in keeping the art business up and running. A case in point is British auction house, Christie's, that not only increased the volume of its online sales by 73 percent between January and July 2020, compared with the same period in 2019, but will go on to offer a spectacular 28-carats D colour diamond ring, with an estimate of USD 1-2 million, in their Jewels online sale which opens in June -- "the highest value lot ever offered online setting a new benchmark to the online market". "In the olden days, online and online-only sales generated just a quarter of our turnover. This is going to change. This is the moment of truth for online sales. Christie's will continue to invest in online sales and our digital experience, recognizing that this is our primary channel for attracting new buyers and bidders," Dirk Boll, President Christie's EMEA said in an online press briefing. He noted that with no live sales, the business of art has moved online and more and more people are looking to buy art online. On July 10, the auction house is introducing a new, inventive format of online auction, open to both in-person and online audiences in its 'ONE: A Global Sale of the 20th Century'. Utilizing streaming technology, this will be relay-style auction in real time across the time zones from four of the art world's major hubs: New York, London, Paris and Hong Kong. "Our strong activity in online sales and private sales, along with a strict cost management and the financial stability of our organisation, will help Christie's to face the impact of the current crisis. While our live auctions this Spring have been suspended or postponed due to the COVID-19 situation, we have immediately adapted our offerings by undertaking a great expansion of our online-only sales. Similarly, demand for Private Sales is very strong, with activity in the first quarter up 27 percent from 2019, and transactions ranging from USD 30,000 to USD 35 million." "These expanding activities, along with a strict management of our costs, will allow us to overcome the unprecedented challenge imposed on our economies by COVID-19," a message from Guillaume Cerutti, Christie's CEO said. On the status of their offices around the world, Christie's said that they "are progressively reopening offices around the world". According to Bertold Muller, Managing Director EMEA, Christie's is open in Asia. Its Mumbai office, however, remains closed and Muller said the organisation is expecting a reopening in June with a cautious approach. Mumbai stands highly-affected due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In Continental Europe and the Middle East, select offices are open in Amsterdam, Geneva, Tel Aviv, Vienna, and Zurich. In the United Kingdom and the Americas, offices remain closed other than to essential staff in their UK headquarters. In the UK, the company is working to reopen their London King Street office from June. In Paris in particular, preparations are underway for their live sales to resume at Avenue Matignon galleries from May 26, according to Christie's authorities. In the coming months, the auction house said it will partner with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, to raise critical funds for COVID-19 research through a dedicated auction this summer entitled 'From the Studio', featuring works donated by collectors and artists. "Through this tough period, it is our passion for art and objects that is helping to sustain us all," the Christie's CEO signed off. (Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in) The minister of labour and productivity, Chris Ngige has declared that he does not have the ambition to run for the gubernatorial poll in his state because he is currently a serving minister. However, he stated that since he is a politician, he is eligible to contest for any other position in 2023 be it senate or presidency. Yes, there have been speculations that I am eyeing the governorship of Anambra State. They have written about it in a lot of media. I am a politician. They have the right to speculate on my next move. My next move is very vast. Elections will come in 2023, I have a right to vie for any position. I can vie for Senate. Advertisement Read Also: Employers Must Obtain Clearance From FG To Layoff Workers: Ngige I can vie for president if I so wish. Election will be coming in Anambra State, latest November 2021 to elect a successor to Obiano. I am not disqualified. I have a right to say I can run. I dont have interest for now in Anambra governorship because I am on a national assignment. On Friday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended the stay-at-home order from May 28 to June 12 while relaxing restrictions on gatherings of under ten people and the operations of some businesses. This comes on the heels of the restarting of automotive production earlier in the week, bringing up to 150,000 workers across the state back into the factories and putting them at greater risk of coronavirus infection as the pandemic continues to rampage throughout the state and across the US. While the states rate of new COVID-19 infections and deaths stabilized over the past week, medical professionals have warned against a large-scale reopening. As of Sunday, the number of total confirmed cases in Michigan rose to 54,365, with 5,223 deaths from the coronavirus. Rob Davidson, an emergency physician in West Michigan and executive director of the Committee to Protect Medicare spoke with the Detroit Free Pressabout the danger of reopening with the continuing shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing. In the midst of that lack of testing, he [President Trump] is pushing Americans to reopen the economy quickly, pushing governors across the country to reopen hastily, and as medical professionals, were concerned that hes ... pitting public health versus the economy and hes putting peoples health and safety at risk. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in January 2019 (Image Credit: Wikipedia/ Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Andrew Layton/released). The state of Michigan enacted one of the strictest stay-at-home orders in the country on March 23 as it was becoming clear that the virus was rapidly spreading in the state. A few weeks later Michigan had the highest death rate in the country, with the city of Detroit at the epicenter. In the following weeks the virus spread throughout the state, with outbreaks in counties with smaller cities and rural areas. A study by the Brookings Institution in early May showed a marked increase in infections outside metro areas, with 31 of Michigans 83 counties reaching high-prevalence status for coronavirus. High COVID-19 prevalence counties are those that show 100 or more cases per 100,000 population. The virus has spread widely through the state, of the 80 counties outside of Metro Detroit, only 3 have no cases reported; 28 counties have exceeded 100 cases. Washtenaw, Kent and Genesee counties have 1,282, 3,308, and 1,936 cases, respectively. Metro Detroit, or Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties have 34,371 cases and 4,093 deaths. Clusters of outbreaks have become common across the state. At a youth treatment facility in rural Vassar, Michigan, 25 out of the 34 female residents tested positive, along with four staff members. The numbers came after a six-week struggle by the facility to get tests for its residents. Twenty-three residents tested positive at the Medilodge nursing home in Gaylord, located in northern Michigan. Healthcare workers at Michigan nursing homes have been speaking out about a lack of PPE. A worker at a nursing home in St. Clair Shores spoke with the Detroit Free Press, My co-workers feel endangered by the lack of PPE. They are afraid for their families at home. Some of my co-workers have been refusing work because of they don't have enough safety equipment to do their jobs without fear. An outbreak at Herbrucks Poultry Ranch near Lansing led to at least 84 cases spread across five counties. The first case at Herbrucksthe largest egg producer in Michiganwas reported in mid-April. According to a company press release, the outbreak spread among a group of poultry workers on the night shift. The company also said many of the workers that tested positive were asymptomatic. The Herbrucks outbreak likely led to the spread of at least 60 more cases at the nearby Meijer Distribution Center in Delta Township. Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail said, If you look at a number of the folks that are infected at the Meijer warehouse, as well as Herbrucks, a number of them live in that 48911 zip code and are refugees, so some of our population weve been talking to in 48911 are connected to both of those outbreaks. Both facilities remained open during the outbreak. Michigan prisons have been hit especially hard by the virus, logging more deaths than any other state. The Michigan Department of Corrections reports 3,289 cases and 62 deaths. Inmates are packed together in unsanitary conditions, infecting staff and creating vectors of transmission in the communities where they are located. The lifting of restrictions includes retail stores, auto shops, and nonessential medical services. In northern Michigan, bars and restaurants will be opening at reduced capacity. Houses of worship are now exempt from any restrictions, with in-person services starting this week. With over 70 percent of Michigan counties reporting deaths from COVID-19, the reopening of auto factories, lifting of restrictions, and the warm weather for Memorial Day weekend celebrations create conditions for another surge of the virus, resulting in more outbreaks and deaths. Small rural hospitals will be unable to properly treat a surge in patients. The United States will send 1,200 Marines to Australia in coming weeks amid increasing tensions between Western nations and China over COVID-19. The main force will begin arriving in Darwin in early June but an advance party of 54 Marines has been stationed in the Northern Territory for two months. The US and Australian governments postponed this year's deployment of Marine Rotational Force - Darwin in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. That month US Defense Secretary Mark Esper barred almost all official movement overseas for military personnel. The risk of spreading COVID-19 into vulnerable remote Aboriginal communities was also considered too great for the rotation to go ahead. Scroll down for video The United States will send 1,200 Marines to Australia in coming weeks amid increasing tensions between Western nations and China over COVID0-19. A Marine is pictured stepping off a flight to join the Marine Rotational Force - Darwin in April 2018 The US and Australian governments postponed this year's deployment of Marine Rotational Force - Darwin in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Marines are pictured being screened for COVID-19 at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, on May 15 All Marines will undergo 14 days of quarantine when they touch down in Australia and be submitted to a rigorous coronavirus testing regime. A Marine is pictured walking to get screened for symptoms of COVID-19 in Okinawa in April That decision was reversed this month and the Marines will now exercise with Australian forces at defence training areas in the territory until September. This year's rotation had originally been scheduled to involve 2,500 Marines, about the same number of troops who were stationed in Darwin last year. All Marines will undergo 14 days of quarantine when they touch down and be submitted to a rigorous coronavirus testing regime. The troops will already have been in isolation for a fortnight since arriving at their staging base in Okinawa, Japan. Each Marine will be screened for COVID-19 four days before departing Japan and tested again in Darwin before and after quarantine. Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the deployment demonstrated Australia's close defence relationship with the United States. This year's rotation had been scheduled to involve 2,500 Marines, about the same number of troops who were stationed in Darwin last year. Troops are pictured arriving at Kadena Air Base from California ahead of being screened for COVID-19 symptoms Troops taking part in this eyar's Marine Rotational Force - Darwin will be subjected to strict COVID-19 prevention measures before, during and after their arrival in Australia 'The Marine Rotational Force - Darwin exemplifies the strength of the Australia-United States Alliance and sends a clear signal about our shared commitment to regional security,' Ms Reynolds said. 'I am pleased that the modified deployment will proceed this year, following careful planning and preparations undertaken by both Australia and the United States to minimise COVID-19 risks to the Northern Territory.' The first Marine Rotation Force - Darwin deployment was announced by then US president Barack Obama and then Australian prime minister Julia Gillard in 2011. The initial rotation of 200 troops arrived in 2012 and until this year had been increasing in size and complexity. 'The Marines will achieve significant training outcomes with the Australian Defence Force while rigorously adhering to the restrictions in place to safely manage COVID-19 in the Territory,' Ms Reynolds said. US Marine Corps Lance Cprporal Angelina Powell screens personnel for symptoms of COVID-19 at Air Force Base Kadena in Okinawa Marine Rotational Force-Darwin is a US Force Posture Initiative designed to deepen inter-operability between the Australian Defence Force and US military. Members of the seventh rotation deployed in 2018 are pictured 'This rotation has been able to proceed, with all the necessary protections related to COVID-19, because of the excellent cooperation between the United States Marine Corps, the Australian Government and the Northern Territory Government.' Marine Rotational Force-Darwin is a US Force Posture Initiative designed to deepen inter-operability between the Australian Defence Force and US military. It supports increased regional engagement with partners in the Indo-Pacific, and is meant to better position both country's forces to respond to crises in the region. First Lieutenant Bridget Glynn, a public affairs officer with the Marines in Darwin, told Stars and Stripes newspaper the Corps would not yet announce the make-up of this year's rotation. The equipment they would bring to train with was still being finalised. Stars and Stripes has previously reported some Marines from 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, equipped with M777 howitzers would be involved. The Northern Territory has not had a new case of COVID-19 detected for more than six weeks and is now effectively considered coronavirus-free. The Northern Territory has not had a new case of COVID-19 detected for more than six weeks and is now effectively considered coronavirus-free. Marines are pictured being screened at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, on May 15 All 30 cases in the territory were related to domestic or international travel and there had been no examples of community transmission. Two of the territory's last cases of COVID-19 were found in Australian Defence Force personnel who had returned from the Middle East. Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has welcomed the arrival of the Marines, saying local businesses would get a 'massive boost' by their presence. 'That is exactly what we need right now,' Mr Gunner said in a Facebook post. 'We've also secured a number of guarantees to ensure the Territory remains the safest place in Australia.' This year's deployment comes as Australian and US relations with China continue to deteriorate amid the coronavirus pandemic. China has reportedly been infuriated by Australia's demands for an independent inquiry into the origins and spread of COVID-19. It supports increased regional engagement with partners in the Indo-Pacific, and is meant to better position both country's forces to respond to crises in the region. Marines waring face coverings are pictured getting onto buses at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, on May 15 The country's Communist rulers have slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and suspended imports from four Australian beef suppliers in apparent revenge. China's foreign minister Wang Yi warned at the weekend that US criticism of his country's response to COVID-19 was pushing the two superpowers to 'the brink of a new Cold War'. Friction between the countries over issues including trade and China's military build-up in the region has worsened since the virus outbreak was first detected in Wuhan. US President Donald Trump has accused China of covering up the emergence of the virus late last year and being too slow to act on it spread. Mr Wang said on Sunday the US had been infected by a 'political virus' which was causing continual malicious attacks by Mr Trump and others on China. 'It has come to our attention that some political forces in the US are taking China-US relations hostage and pushing our two countries to the brink of a new Cold War,' he said. Send in the Marines: What the crack US troops will be doing in Australia Last year's Marine Rotation Force - Darwin was accompanied by ten MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft which were used in training exercises with the Australian Defence Force The Marine Rotational Force - Darwin is an example of what the Marine Corps calls Marine Air Ground Task Forces. It is one of three elements of the US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, headquartered in Hawaii. Each year since 2012 the MRF-D has spent six months in Darwin undergoing training designed to increase the Marines' inter-operability with the Australian Defence Force and other regional partners. Each rotation of the MRF-D in recent years has had three main elements: ground combat, aviation combat and logistics combat. MRF-D personnel are drawn from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, and have been joined by ships and Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Courtney in Okinawa. Last year's rotation involved 2,500 personnel who came with ten Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, as well as Viper attack helicopters and Venom utility helicopters. This year's rotation will be accompanied by a battery of M777 Howitzers. Most of the visiting troops have been based at Robertson Barracks in Darwin but some have in the past been deployed to Townsville's Lavarack Barracks in far north Queensland. The Marines train extensively in the Northern Territory but also take part in exercises outside Australia including with forces from New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Tonga, and the French military force in the South Pacific. Major live-fire exercises with Australian Defence Force units take place at Bradshaw Field Training Area and Mount Bundey Training Area in the Northern Territory, as well as at Shoalwater Bay on the Capricorn Coast of Queensland. The Marines have participated in training exercises known as Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Koolendong, Battlegroup Warfighter, Southern Jackaroo, Diamond Storm, Hamel and and Croix De Sud. Advertisement Click here to read the full article. The governor of Italys Veneto region, Luca Zaia, announced Sunday that the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival will run as scheduled from Sept. 2-12. According to Deadline, Zaia, who is also on the festivals board of directors, said there will likely be fewer films on show due to global production stoppages resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. More from Footwear News However, while the festival will provide a welcome boost for Italys economy Venices northern region has been devastated by the coronavirus it could be a more dialed-down fashion affair. Is traditional high-octane glamour still appropriate or will celebrity attendees elect for a more casual approach when it comes to red carpet dressing? In the latter case, Kristen Stewart could be the perfect must for the festivals upcoming incarnation. Stewart has a predilection for wearing flats on the red carpet. At the 2019 Venice Film Festival, she went low on at least two occasions opting for a pair of black and white brogues by Christian Louboutin and black leather creepers by Tuk. In November, she arrived at Londons Charlies Angels premiere wearing Chloe Gosselin heeled sandals, but later changed into Nikes Cortez sneakers while signing autographs and posing with fans on the red carpet. The ripple effect of COVID-19 is resonating throughout the fashion industry from the ways designers are choosing to show their collections to the retail calendar. The new normal is ushering in a whole new set of new rules. The news that Venice will go ahead as planned was released the same day that would have seen the culmination of the cancelled 2020 Cannes Film Festival. Story continues The announcement came a week after the news that Italy will lift the travel restrictions imposed to stem the spread of coronavirus and reopen its borders for tourism on June 2. Cinemas will reopen June 15. Launch Gallery: Sofia Richie, Candice Swanepoel + More Celebs at Venice Film Festival 2019 Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. WATERLOO REGION Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Waterloo Region. The temperature is expected to soar to 30 C Monday and Tuesday, and to reach 31 on Wednesday. With the humidity, the temperature could feel like the mid- to upper 30s. Nighttime lows wont bring much relief, with temperatures only dipping to about 17 or 18 degrees. Normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 21 degrees and a low of 9. Extreme heat affects everyone, Environment Canada says, adding that people should stay in a cool place, and drink lots of water. Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature or humidity is expected to increase the risk of heat stroke or heat exhaustion. It has been a month of weather extremes for the region as late as May 11, residents woke up to see snow covering their spring flowers and endured overnight lows around the freezing mark. Read more about: Instability remains the bane of Africas socioeconomic development, Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, the Dean of Academic Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, has said. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, as part of activities marking Africa Day, on the theme: Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development, Dr Antwi-Danso described the theme for the celebration as very real, very positive; stating that no free trade area could work when the guns were smoking. One of the debilitating factors of the African unity is instability of the continent. Instability is a virus that does not augur well for integration at all, everywhere you have integration; the idea is to have free trade and infrastructure. Citing Europe as an example, Dr Antwi-Danso said, when one enters a country in Europe, it was as if he or she had entered the whole of Europe, because theyve removed barriers to free trade and free movement of persons. Dr Antwi-Danso, who described the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as the biggest achievement of the AU, also urged African countries to increase the volume of trade among themselves and to remove all barriers to free trade and free moment of persons. And when we remove all this (barriers) and build a continental union of trading partners, of factor mobility, intensity of trade, we are there. We are close to heaven but unfortunately the continent is dotted with myriads of spots of instability. He mentioned conflict areas within the continent such as the Central African Republic, Libya, Algeria and Sahel region. The Dean said the Sahel is the biggest spot of instability in the world apart from the Middle East and Afghanistan. The Sahel region covers countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan and South Sudan. Dr Antwi-Danso said if one looks at the Sahel region coupled with the instability it was going through, one could not build the AfCFTA in the midst of instability. Instability is the biggest virus before we talk about integration. And so, this years theme is very apt; Silencing the Guns, if the guns go silent then we are ready to take off in trade, in free movement, in production, in the market, in science and technology, the dreams of Kwame Nkrumah. Dr Antwi-Danso said Silencing the Guns, should be the first and foremost priority of the African Union. He appealed to African Governments and the AU Commission, to ensure that the Union is made relevant to the ordinary African on the street. Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day) is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as around the world. The organisation was transformed into the AU on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, but the holiday continues to be celebrated on 25 May. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A specific biophysical model for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) shows how potential drugs inhibiting both viral transcription and translation would be particularly effective against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The model was developed by University of Minnesota researchers and described in their recent publication available on the bioRxiv* preprint server. As of May 25, 2020, the current COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in more than 5.47 million confirmed cases and approximately 344,000 deaths globally. At the moment, there is no vaccine for the disease, and its development could take up to 18 months or more. Therefore, effective therapeutic interventions to minimize the spread and severity of SARS-CoV-2 are direly needed. Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (red) infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID Using biophysical modeling in the hunt for drug candidates With more than a hundred distinct agents currently in clinical trials for COVID-19, even a two-drug combination has over ten thousand possible synergistic options that could be tried. This raises the question of how to narrow down the focus of clinical trials on single agents and combinations that will most likely be effective. Due to their intrinsic ability to swiftly evolve, viruses are often attacked with combination treatments. And while a comprehensive experimental combinatorial analysis is cumbersome (or even impossible) due to resource and time constraints, something similar can be implemented in silico rather quickly. This is where biophysical modeling comes into play, with the promise to guide the development of therapeutic interventions for SARS-CoV-2 rationally by identifying key model parameters for effective targeting. Such modeling can additionally be used to pick out combination therapies, predict the outcomes of clinical trials, stratify patients, but also discern potential sources of variable patient-to-patient outcomes. A research group from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis recently described a biophysical model for the SARS-CoV-2 viral cycle and identified both single and combination parameters with the highest sensitivity, revealing, in turn, the optimal targets for therapeutic intervention to effectively inhibit virus production. SARS-informed model construction The biophysical model of the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle used in this study was constructed based on the literature on the original SARS outbreak virus (SARS-CoV), and it entails processes underlying viral entry, genome transcription and translation, virion assembly, and finally virion release. Since data pertinent to the viral cycle to SARS-CoV-2 are still limited, researchers primarily utilized experimental observations from SARS-CoV to inform relevant model parameters and assumptions. Due to a high degree of genetic similarity between these two viruses, this has not resulted in the loss of reproducibility. To appraise the points of interest within the viral cycle, the authors performed a sensitivity analysis for individual model parameters but also for all possible pairwise parameter changes (i.e., 256 possible combinations). The values of each parameter were systematically increased and decreased from baseline by up to three orders of magnitude while holding all the other parameters constant. "Based on this, we conclude that the model provides a suitable tool to identify points of interest for therapeutic intervention, i.e., those parameters and the associated subprocesses that are particularly sensitive to perturbation," state study authors in their paper available on bioRxiv. Powerful cooperating effect "Overall, our modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, parametrized using published SARS-CoV literature, shows that theoretically there are opportunities for therapeutic interventions that significantly inhibit the viral cycle", study authors explain their main findings. "In particular, the sensitivity analysis identified several parameters in the middle of the viral cycle, specific to genome transcription and translation, that present the best opportunities for inhibiting viral production," they add. Interestingly, most of the high-scoring combinations did not merely arise as the result of targeting two high-sensitivity parameters separately but instead resulted from compounding/cooperating effects between them. In a nutshell, the model predicts that everything else being equal transcription inhibition combined with translation inhibition represents a uniquely powerful combination. In comparison, parameters that are specific for viral entry, as well as virion assembly and release, were less sensitive and thus less promising as potential targets for inhibiting viral production. More specifically, they required a 10-100 times higher level of inhibition to influence viral production. Additionally, the researchers noted that therapeutics forecasted to be much less effective in the viral cycle model might actually exhibit strong effects elsewhere in disease progression (e.g., the immune response). Hence, incapability to inhibit viral production does not rule out the compound's overall treatment effectiveness. All things considered, this model provides a useful framework for understanding the dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 viral cycle and recognizing treatment opportunities that have the most significant potential of inhibiting the production of viable viral particles. This is yet another breakthrough in the ongoing quest for effective drugs or vaccines against COVID-19. *Important Notice bioRxiv.org publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Mumbai, May 25 : Actor-comedian Vir Das on Monday shared a video where he is engaged in a verbal spat with a neighbour, who reportedly sneezed on him for allegedly not maintaining social distance. Posting on Facebook, Vir Das spoke about the whole incident in detail. "This is one crazy evening. I live on the ground floor. We've got a little sit-out. At 10pm a neighbour came by, because we had cooked dinner for them too. We do that with them and also some of the others within the complex. We gave him a chair fifteen feet away, FULLY socially distanced. My neighbour had a can of coke from his house, a mask on, which he had pulled down to have a smoke," said Vir Das. He continued: "I was on the outdoor sit-out area of my house, literally on my own balcony step. Neighbour was in the complex, fully socially distanced. Five minutes later, this happens -- This man is not my landlord; he lives on the first floor of the annexe building. He is upset because my landlord inherited the house I live in and he didn't. This man does not own my doorstep, my sit-out, or my house. I'm not sure if an old man threatening to assault me, or sneezing on me, or asking his dead parent to haunt me qualifies as harassment," Vir Das wrote. Vir Das also shared that the particular neighbour has previously gone to the media to get articles written about the former. "But this is a little ridiculous. Before this turns into him going to the media, as he has done before, and I've sat through it quietly -- I'm not normally one for drama -- I'm sorry but this crossed the line. How's your lockdown going?" "To be clear, Uncle has been known to do this to us multiple times and then go to tabloids, and get articles written about me and my family. Tabloids carry them because that's what tabloids love. I've recorded him multiple times, and let it go every single time quietly. I've tried legal notices, (have tried) speaking to my landlord. But I've never gone to social media. This time at least it's out there before seedy articles that are sure to follow. Today (he) crossed a line. Hope you understand," Vir Das added. In the video, one can see the man sneezing on Vir Das and even coming towards him to slap him. He even called Vir Das a "clown". To that, Vir Das responded: "Thank you for calling me clown sir. That's a huge compliment in my profession." After seeing the video, several celebrities came out in support of the "Hasmukh" actor. Actress Sayani Gupta fount it a "pure harassment". "This is pure harassment. Also scary cause he seems a little crazy to be cursing you with haunting threats. Please be safe," Sayani tweeted. "Shararat" fame actress Shruti Seth asked Vir Das to get a "restraining order against this lunatic". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Sunday said it will take a special miracle from God for Coronavirus to completely leave the world. Adeboye, who spoke during a live telecast to members of his church on Dove TV, charged Christians to trust in God because He could not be caught by surprise. The man of God insisted that just like other infections, Coronavirus would not go away in haste, but would remain in the world for a while. Coronavirus will not disappear completely. Just like flu, Cholera and Ebola, it wont leave the world completely. It will take a special miracle from God for it to leave the world completely. Many people will be grateful to God after this lockdown. Some people who dont spend time with their families will be grateful to God. Trust God that nothing takes him by surprise, he knows everything from the beginning and He is in charge, he stated. Adeboye added that he had told his members at the beginning of the year that this year (2020) the world is going to behave like a child in convulsion. l also told those of you who are my children: you are going to pass through this thing without a problem. Those of you who are genuinely my children, you will pass through the sea without even a touch of water on you. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fiery furnace, even the smell of fire was not on them. I want you to believe me because my Father does not lie: You will come out of this problem safe and sound. You must take the step of faith. I want you to put yourself in the position of the Children of Israel. Moses spoke, told them tomorrow will be alright, they saw the wind blowing, they saw a path opening up in the Red Sea, but it took an act of faith on their part to work into the middle of the Red Sea because on their right and left hand, there was a huge wall of water but they marched on. May l appeal to you, if you want to pass through whatever challenges you are facing, you better cross over to the right side. Cross over to Jesus Christ, He can make a way where there is no way. His name is the way. Surrender your life to Him. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Maintaining motivation is becoming an increasing challenge for many people slogging through life curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic. Initially facing weeks confined to our homes, we tackled, with some satisfaction, long-neglected chores like weaning closets of clothes that no longer fit our bodies or lifestyles, reorganising drawers and emptying pantries and refrigerators of forgotten foodstuff. But as the weeks morph into months with no clear end in sight for much of the country, the ennui of Covid-induced isolation can undermine enthusiasm for such mundane activities, however rewarding they may seem. Im among a growing number of people Ive spoken with who admit to a lack of motivation for tasks they know need doing but now are unable to face. For some, even working out can seem daunting when preferred activities like swimming or spin classes are no longer accessible. Too many days I wake up wondering why I should bother to get up, a feeling contrary to my normal determination to use every waking moment to accomplish something worthwhile. Recommended The hidden mental health costs of the coronavirus crisis A friend schooled in Buddhist principles suggests that during these trying times I should cut myself some slack. But a laidback approach doesnt suit my goal-oriented, people-centred personality. I chose instead to consult a former New York Times colleague, Daniel Goleman, a psychologist and author of Emotional Intelligence. Goleman explains that there are two kinds of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic motivation refers to acts done to receive an external reward or outcome like wealth, power or fame, or in some cases to avoid punishment. Intrinsic motivation involves behaviours that are done for their own sake and are personally rewarding, like helping other people, participating in an enjoyable sport or studying a fascinating subject. With intrinsic motivation, inspiration comes from within a person. It tends to be more forceful and the results more fulfilling. Lockdown is a ripe opportunity to think about what really matters to us (iStock) The stay-at-home edict has pushed so many of us into an external motivation mode that is making us face something that feels like lethargy and meaninglessness, Goleman says. At the same time, he adds, Its a ripe opportunity to think about what really matters to us. He cites the inspiring outlook of legendary Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist Viktor E Frankl, who survived four years in Nazi concentration camps sustained by a deep sense of purpose. Frankls rediscovered masterpiece, Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything, just published in English, offers a path to finding hope even in these dark times. It urges people to reflect on what really matters to them and search for ways to act on what is most meaningful. Doing whats meaningful acting on what really matters to a person is the antidote to burnout, says Goleman, who wrote the introduction to Frankls book. He suggests to those who are feeling bereft of motivation: Face whats happening. What does it mean to me? What really matters to me now? Is there a way I can act upon whats meaningful to me? He reports that people whose emotional outlook is focused on the left side of the brains prefrontal cortex, which is activated by altruistic behaviour, tend to be more positive Dr Vivek H Murthy, former surgeon general of the United States and author of the recently published book Together, explained this month on The Brian Lehrer Show on public radio: Our fundamental worth is intrinsic. Its based on kindness, compassion and generosity, the ability to give and receive love. Service to others has a powerful effect on how we feel about ourselves as well as on how it makes others feel. There are many opportunities to serve, to switch our focus from ourselves to others. As Goleman put it, The news of the day constantly provides an unconscious reminder that we are all mortal. This can result in negative thought patterns harsher judgments, blaming the victim, greediness and us-versus-them thinking. But if we consciously reflect on our own death, none of this matters. What really matters is the people we love and helping people. Richard J Davidson, professor of psychology and neuroscientist at the Centre for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has demonstrated that when individuals engage in generous and altruistic behaviour, they actually activate circuits in the brain that are key to fostering wellbeing. In other words, caring for other people can be its own reward. He reports that people whose emotional outlook is focused on the left side of the brains prefrontal cortex, which is activated by altruistic behaviour, tend to be more positive. Theyre more likely to become frustrated and irritated when their goals are thwarted, but this helps to mobilise their energy and ability to overcome the obstacles getting in the way of achieving their goals. On the other hand, the right side of the prefrontal cortex acts as what Davidson calls a behavioural inhibitor that prompts people to give up more easily when the going gets tough. Such people tend to be overly cautious, fearful and risk-averse as well as not highly motivated. Select goals that are attainable but still present a challenge (iStock) Fear that we may never escape the threat of the new coronavirus can lead to feelings of futility. What is the point of doing anything if it will all come to naught in the end? Such thinking can certainly thwart motivation and result in a joyless, unrewarding existence. Instead, adopt a more positive approach by selecting goals that are attainable but still present a challenge. For the many millions of us now limited by Covid-19, motivation might best be fostered by dividing large goals into small, specific tasks more easily accomplished but not so simple that they are boring and soon abandoned. Avoid perfectionism lest the ultimate goal becomes an insurmountable challenge. As each task is completed, reward yourself with virtual brownie points (not chips or cookies!), then go on to the next one. But even more important than personal tasks you consider tackling, think about what you could do for other people within the constraints of social distancing or lockdown. If you can, contribute money to efforts to get more food, especially nutritious food that too often now goes to waste, to people who dont have enough to eat as well as to our essential workers. Perhaps bring a homemade meal or order a meal to be delivered to a friend or neighbour who is reluctant or unable to go beyond the front door. Susan McGee called from Bethesda, Maryland, to ask for a good recipe for cabbage soup. She had made pea soup for a 107-year-old friend who, after profuse thanks, said she really loves cabbage soup. That got me thinking. I too could make my turkey-cabbage soup for a recently widowed neighbour who, while mourning the loss of her husband, is now having to weather coronavirus isolation all alone. The New York Times Local MPs silent on Cummings lockdown controversy This article is old - Published: Monday, May 25th, 2020 Wrexham & Clwyd Souths MPs have not responded to a query asking if they supported the Prime Ministers view that Dominic Cummings acted on instinct and integrity during lockdown. Senior Downing Street advisor Dominic Cummings, whose role also sees him attend the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies committee that feeds into Welsh Government TAC pandemic thinking, has caused controversy due to travelling from London to Durham during lockdown. Yesterday saw a public briefing by the Prime Minster Boris Johnson where the actions of Mr Cummings were defended, with Mr Johnson saying In every respect, he has acted responsibly, legally and with integrity. The Prime Minister said, It is because I take this matter so seriously and frankly it is so serious that I can tell you today I have had extensive face to face conversations with Dominic Cummings and I have concluded that in travelling to find the right kind of childcare, at the moment when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by coronavirus. And when he had no alternative, I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent. And I do not mark him down for that. And though there have been many other allegations about what happened when he was in self-isolation and thereafter, some of them palpably false. I believe that in every respect he has acted responsibly, and legally, and with integrity, and with the overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives. Claims have been made that Mr Cummings had been seen around 30 miles away at Barnard Castle during his period of self isolation, with another more solid dispute of facts surfacing between Downing Street and Durham Police. Downing St issued a statement saying at no stage was he or his family spoken to by the police about this matter, whereas the police state they did make contact with Mr Cummings father and offered advice. Mr Johnson also defended the trip on the grounds of finding childcare, however a day earlier a Downing St statement detailed how no extra childcare had actually been required. Over the weekend several other spots of Mr Cummings near Durham have been documented on twitter, timestamped well before the current furore had erupted. With the story developing over the Bank Holiday both local MPs Wrexhams Sarah Atherton and Clwyd Souths Simon Baynes did not comment via their usually active social media channels. Yesterday evening we emailed both MPs asking for their opinion on the matter, and asked specifically if they supported the Prime Ministers view that the Mr Cummings acted legally and with integrity in his actions. We pointed out that many people locally have personally followed the lockdown regulations, and guidance, to the letter with many therefore unable to see friends, relatives or be present at births, deaths or funerals. One inference taken by many following the televised briefing was such things were by choice, whereas acting on instinct could have been a reasonable excuse and inside the law. We also noted that Mr Johnson said the guidance issued by UK Government remains in place and has not changed. We asked if they believed people should follow the legal regulations as set separately in England and Wales, or should they take action according to instincts as referred to by Mr Johnson. Both Sarah Atherton MP and Simon Baynes MP have not responded. North.Wales also queried all Conservative MPs in North Wales, again with no response. MOSCOW -- Russian prosecutors have asked a Moscow court to find former Marine Paul Whelan guilty of espionage -- a charge Whelan and U.S. officials vehemently deny -- and sentence him to 18 years in prison. Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said on May 25 that the Moscow City Court set June 15 as the date to hand down its verdict after a high-profile trial that has strained ties with Washington. "Frankly speaking, we are all in shock," Zherebenkov said outside the Moscow City Court, where the trial was held. According to Zherebenkov, his client reacted "with dignity" to the prosecutor's demand, adding that, in all, 15 witnesses had testified at the trial. "The prosecutor questioned its four witnesses, who were mainly operatives of the secret service, while defense questioned its 11 witnesses, who are people Whelan was in touch with while in Russia. All of them testified that Paul had not 'recruited' anyone and had never collect any secret information," Zherebenkov said. The 50-year-old Whelan, who also holds British, Canadian, and Irish citizenships, again told the court in his final statement that he was not guilty. Whelan was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and in March this year went on trial, despite the coronavirus pandemic and diplomatic protests. Prosecutors claim that a flash disc found in his possession contained classified information. USB Drive Whelan says he was framed when he took a USB drive from an acquaintance thinking it contained holiday photos and that the allegations of spying against him are politically motivated. He has also accused his prison guards of mistreatment. The trial was held behind closed doors because the evidence includes classified materials, as well as because of measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Whelan was head of global security at a U.S. auto-parts supplier at the time of his arrest. He and his relatives insist he visited Russia to attend a wedding. U.S. officials have urged Moscow to release Whelan and criticized the Russian authorities for their "shameful treatment" of him. After the sentencing demand, the U.S. ambassador in Moscow, John Sullivan, said "this secret trial is a mockery of justice." "There is no legitimacy to a procedure that is hidden behind closed doors. It is not transparent, it is not fair, and it is not impartial," Sullivan said in comments tweeted by embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Ross. With reporting by TASS, AFP, and Interfax Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 23:04:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the Republican National Convention scheduled in August in North Carolina would be "reluctantly forced" to move to a new site if the southern state's governor cannot guarantee the party's "full attendance" at the event. Trump complained on Twitter that the state's Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is in "Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed ... full attendance in the Arena." "Plans are being made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced ... to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site," the president tweeted. The Republican National Convention is planned to take place on Aug. 24-27 in Charlotte, the state's largest city, while the Democratic National Convention is scheduled to take place a week earlier in Milwaukee after being rescheduled from July due to the coronavirus pandemic. Enditem 25.05.2020 LISTEN President Donald Trump sudden or unexpected decision to withdraw from the 1992 Open Skies Treaty has posed unprecedented challenges, generated extensive debates among Russian politicians and experts, and equally worried are leaders in Europe and Asia. Trump administration notified international partners on May 21 that it was pulling out of a treaty that permits 30-plus nations to conduct unarmed, observation flights over each others territory - overflights set up decades ago to promote trust and avert conflict. The administration explained that it wanted to fall out of the Open Skies Treaty because Russia has been violating the pact, and imagery collected during the flights could be obtained quickly at less cost from United States or commercial satellites. Exiting the treaty, however, is expected to strain relations with Moscow and upset European allies and some members of Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower first proposed that the United States and the former Soviet Union allow aerial reconnaissance flights over each others territory in July 1955. At first, Moscow rejected the idea, but President George H.W. Bush revived it in May 1989, and the treaty entered into force in January 2002. Currently, 34 nations have signed it; Kyrgyzstan has signed but not ratified it yet. The Open Skies Treaty is the third important military pact that Trump has withdrawn from since coming to office in January 2017. He also dropped the 2015 JCPOA agreement to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear weapons program and the 1988 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia. In both cases, Trump accused the other side of violating treaty requirements. Russian Foreign Ministry issued an official statement May 22, describing the exit decision a deplorable development for European security. That said, Moscow was not surprised by Washingtons decision, which characterizes its approach to discarding the entire package of arms control agreements and trust-building measures in the military sphere. It said that the US administrations strategy is to cover up its own destructive actions by accusing Russia, and that Russia has been collecting information on critical US and European infrastructure with a view to targeting its precision weapons. The statement suggests that Washington make public the full list of Russian facilities that it has filmed in the past few years. Using its rights under the treaty, Russia has acted strictly in line with its provisions, and American colleagues have previously made no claims against Russia. Russias policy on the treaty is based on its national security interests and in close cooperation with its allies and partners. The policy to discard the Open Skies Treaty calls into question Washingtons negotiability and consistency. Apparently, lacking any real argument in justifying its actions, the treatys opponents have resorted to this far-fetched allegation. Besides the official statement, Moscow further indicated it would continue observing the treaty even if the US pulls out. As long as the treaty is in force, we intend to fully follow all the rights and obligations that apply to us from this treaty, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the RIA Novosti News Agency. Fellow Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov denounced the absolutely unacceptable conditions set by Washington, accusing the US of sowing discord and uncertainty. In addition, Grushko warned that the US pullout would damage European security and harm the interests of US allies. China, which is not a party to the treaty, expressed deep regret over the US move, calling it a display of the United States entrenched Cold War mentality. The Europeans said they would work to resolve outstanding questions with Moscow, including unjustified restrictions imposed on flights over Kaliningrad -- a Russian exclave bordered by Poland and Lithuania. China, which is not a party to the treaty, expressed deep regret over the US move, calling it a display of the United States entrenched Cold War mentality. The United States will gain nothing by withdrawing from the Treaty on Open Skies, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev wrote on Facebook. According to him, the Trump administrations move is harmful to the US interests so it is hard to understand its logic. One can only suspect that the US authorities seek to destroy the current world order. The White House has sent another signal to US allies. Will they show unconditional support, like they always do? Kosachev said. In his view, the US president is determined to dismantle the entire mechanism of ensuring global security. There is no other way to explain this not only destructive but in many ways clumsy step that the White House has taken, the Russian senator stressed. Experts have shown much interest. There is no reason for Russia to remain a party to the Open Skies Treaty after the US withdrawal since this gives Washington an advantage in obtaining data on Russias Armed Forces, Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics National Research University, Dmitry Suslov told TASS. It is not advisable for Russia to keep its own participation in the agreement after the United States pulls out of this agreement, because European countries of NATO within the framework of this agreement will still be able to fly over Russian soil, Suslov said. If Russia remains a party to the agreement, the zero-sum game will go on, because the United States will continue receiving information on the state and deployment of the Russian Armed Forces from its European allies in NATO remaining in the agreement, while Russian planes will not be able to fly over the United States. Certainly, Russia will not receive relevant information about the US army from the Europeans, Suslov added. In the meanwhile, Moscow is awaiting an official notice from Washington on its decision to pull out of the Treaty on Open Skies. According to the terms of the agreement, the official withdrawal from the treaty will happen six months after the US officially notifies other participants. Experts interviewed by the Izvestia newspaper agree that Washingtons looming exit from the treaty is another step towards the collapse of the international arms control system. The New START Treaty, which expires in 2021, could be next. The agreement was in line with the course towards strengthening trust and security measures. And trust is now needed more than ever, since its lack thereof is close to complete. Washington may be content with it, but in general I dont see any benefit from the collapse of the system of international agreements for the United States, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Alexander Alimov told Russian newspaper Izvestia. German Federal Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer stated that Germany would continue to fulfill its obligations within the Treaty Open Skies Treaty, despite the USs intention to abandon it. Her statement was published in the ministrys twitter account. I deeply regret the USs announcement on abandonment of the Treaty. All sides must take efforts to preserve this important agreement and prevent the USs withdrawal. We will continue to adhere to the Treaty, the Minister said. According to Agence France-Press (AFP), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the US decision to quit the agreement would not come into effect for six months, leaving Moscow time to change course. All NATO allies are in full compliance with all provisions of the treaty, Stoltenberg said, adding that Russia has, for many years, imposed flight restrictions inconsistent with the treaty, including flight limitations, over Kaliningrad and restricting flights in Russia near its border with Georgia. EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said he regretted the US decision, calling the Open Skies treaty a key element of our arms-control architecture which serves as a vital confidence and security-building measure and called on Washington to reconsider and for Moscow to return immediately to the full implementation of the Treaty. Earlier, the local media also reported that a group of 10 European nations said in a joint statement they regretted Trumps threat, -- Trumps latest in a string of withdrawals from international agreements. China is equally troubled by the new developments. The withdrawal will have a negative impact on the international arms control and disarmament process, China Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said. The Open Skies Treaty was signed in March 1992 in Helsinki by 23 member-nations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). It was drafted with Moscows active participation. The treaty is a major tool of strengthening trust and security. The Open Skies main goals are to build transparency, render assistance in monitoring compliance with existing or future arms control agreements, broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations. The accord establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. Now, the treaty has more than 30 signatory states. Russia ratified the Open Skies Treaty on May 26, 2001. ). *Kester Kenn Klomegah writes frequently about Russia, Africa and the BRICS. The Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak is asking the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations to be summoned in Parliament to provide data on job losses within the COVID-19 period. Ghana's economy, like many others the world over, has been hit by the impact of the pandemic compelling many firms to lay off workers. The ban on public gatherings has led to a massive downturn in activities in sectors like hospitality and leisure. Some have already laid-off casual workers and are preparing to cut down on permanent staff. The three-week lockdown also led to a slowdown in economic activities in Ghanas main economic hubs. Raising the issue in Parliament, Mr. Mubarak said such a briefing could inform legislation and policy moving forward. May I draw the attention of the House to the urgent need for the Minister for Employment to be in the House to appraise the House of employment figures and the impact of COVID-19 on jobs up and down the country. It is important that the Minister will give us this information. Coming into 2020, the government said the rate of unemployment in the country reduced from 11.9 percent in 2015 to 7.1 percent in 2019. The informal economy accounts for 85 percent of employees with the formal sector accounting for the remaining 15 percent. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has described the rate of job losses as mindboggling. The union wants various stakeholders to hold a round table discussion and take more decisive actions to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and other corporate institutions. ---citinewsroom British Airways passengers have complained about packed flights in Europe and passengers without masks as other airlines make plans to restart flights this summer. BA have defended themselves by saying it is 'personal preference' whether passengers on board their flights wear facial masks or not and that they are devising new safety procedures for a post-coronavirus world. The airline industry as a whole is struggling to survive as coronavirus devastates traveler numbers - British Airways has already announced plans to lay off 12,000 staff. Operators are struggling to devise ways to ensure social distancing on flights while carrying enough passengers to ensure the survival of their business. BA says its transatlantic flights are quiet enough to ensure social distancing. But that has not stopped passengers taking to social media to complain about packed BA flights on the continent with passengers seated directly next to each other and without face masks. The UK has not issued guidance for airlines but the European Union Aviation Safety Agency says passengers should be 1.5metres apart and wear masks. Passengers arriving in the UK will also be required to quarantine for 14 days under strict restrictions introduced by the government. A spokesperson for British Airways told MailOnline: 'We follow all the guidance from the UK Government and global health authorities, including Public Health England and the World Health Organisation. 'We have taken several steps to greatly reduce contact between customers and crew, and personal protective equipment is available to them. 'Like other forms of transport we are keeping vital links open - repatriating customers and ensuring key supplies like medicines and food are flown in. Our teams are doing an amazing job.' Twitter user Jonathan Gitlin posted images of a packed BA flight from Amsterdam with passengers seated directly next to each other. Passengers were also pictured without wearing face masks What coronavirus safety measures have airlines announced British Airways has said it is looking into updating its safety and social distancing measures for when flights resume in July. It is not yet clear what this will look like, but the airline has stopped short of enforcing face masks or gloves. Social distancing will be encouraged, but the airline will not require seats to be kept empty. easyJet Easyjet has announced plans to keep the middle seat in empty within banks of three seats to ensure social distancing on its flights Passenger will also be required to wear masks. No food will be served and disinfectant wipes will be available for passengers Ryanair Passengers and crew will be required to wear face masks or face coverings, and pass temperature checks. Aer Lingus Face masks are compulsory for both passengers and staff, and will be until at least the end of August. Social distancing is encouraged, but not required on board aircraft. Iberia The Spanish airline also requires passengers to wear masks, while staff are given full PPE. Air is circulated more frequently on board, using filters to remove bacteria and viruses. Social distancing is encouraged, but not required. Air France All passengers are required to wear face masks for the duration of the flight. Social distancing will be used 'where possible', but is not required. Advertisement 'Via a friend, it seems @British_Airways is squeezing passengers in just like the US airlines. Not everyone is wearing a mask, either,' Twitter user Jonathan Gitlin wrote. British Airways then responded to the tweet by saying: 'Hi Jonathan, I know this is worrying for everyone, but I'm afraid its personal preference whether our passengers want to wear a mask or not on board? 'If I can help with anything else, please feel free to come back to us.' Another Twitter user from Copenhagen replied that it was a similar story in Europe, as he tweeted an image of a full flight, although this time every passenger was wearing a face mask. 'Yeah they're all doing it. Here in Europe too, though it seems wearing a mask is mandatory now. It wasn't a few weeks ago,' he wrote. Air France has made mask-wearing compulsory on its flights and aims to maintain social distancing 'where possible'. 'In cases where this is not possible, requiring all passengers and crew members to wear masks ensures adequate health protection,' their website says. Spain's Iberia airlines has also made mask-wearing compulsory with all staff wearing full PPE, and aims to ensure social distancing 'where passenger numbers allow. However, it notes that European guidelines do not require airlines to keep middle seats vacant. Ireland's Aer Lingus has also made the wearing of masks mandatory, and notes that maintaining social distancing 'is not always possible'. US airlines including United, American, and Delta also require customers to wear masks - though Southwest does not. Germany airline Lufthansa also requires customers to wear a mouth covering, including in airports where social distancing cannot be maintained. BA sources told The Sun that a flight from Amsterdam to Heathrow yesterday was at around 70 per cent capacity. 'BA seems to have taken a decision not to bother even trying to social distance passengers. Crew are not wearing masks or gloves on-board,' a source told the publication. British Airways has been running a limited service during the pandemic, serving those who have an essential need to travel, but has stated that it would resume the majority of its flights at a limited capacity from July. BA has stopped short of saying it would make safety precautions such as face masks mandatory for passengers. Another Twitter user from Copenhagen replied that it was a similar story in Europe, as he tweeted an image of a full flight, although this time every passenger was wearing a face mask Meanwhile EasyJet is to restart international and domestic flights on some of its routes from Monday 15 June 2020, after grounding its fleet from March 30. The airline has pledged to enforce new safety measures, such as compulsory face masks Budget airline Jet2 confirmed that flights from the UK to destinations across Europe and beyond will resume from the start of July. Whizz Air has already started a 'phase return' of commercial fights in Europe, with 10 per cent of its fleet. 'Maybe at the end of May or sometime in June we'll be at 30 per cent,' said its CEO Jozsef Varadi. RyanAir has announced plans to restart 40% of its flights from July. While each airline is adopting its own individual policies for passengers during the pandemic, the European Union Aviation Safety Authority has issued guidance which many have decided to adopt. EASA recommends social distancing of 1.5m 'where possible', with check-in and boarding altered to avoid passengers congregating. While passengers should be encouraged to wear masks during the journey, the guidelines stop short of requiring people to wear them. People should also be encouraged to take fewer luggage into the cabin to avoid them moving around, while both food and duty-free service should be reduced to the minimum level possible. The guidelines add: 'Aeroplane operators should ensure, to the extent possible, physical distancing among passengers. 'Family members and individuals travelling together as part of the same household can be seated next to each other. 'If physical distancing cannot be guaranteed... passengers and crew members should adhere at all times to strict hand hygiene and... should wear a face mask.' Spain's tourism minister says Brits SHOULD book holidays for July because quarantine rules will 'likely be suspended' as French politicians tear into draconian rules Spain has encouraged British tourists to go ahead and book their summer holidays as lockdown rules are eased. Reyes Maroto, the country's tourism minister, said foreigners should plan to arrive from July when rules requiring arrivals to isolate for 14 days will 'likely be suspended'. European leaders are desperately hashing out plans to try and salvage the continent's tourist season amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections. Maroto spoke after French politicians lashed out at Britain's decision to bring in a 14-day quarantine for all new arrivals, including returning holidaymakers. People enjoy a morning out at La Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona on May 24, as the country slowly loosens a strict coronavirus lockdown Two women wearing sports gear practise yoga at dawn at La Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona Two women walk with their paddleboards as people enjoy a morning out at La Barceloneta Beach on Sunday The country's interior ministry said it 'regretted' the decision, which will make it difficult for Britons to take a holiday in Europe. Ministers from the two countries had been in talks about an 'air bridge' that would allow travellers to bypass the rules, but negotiations collapsed. France and Spain are both due to outline their rules around restarting domestic and international tourism this week. Spanish regions that rely on the tourist trade are ramping up their efforts to get foreign visitors back on the beaches as the country eases its lockdown further today. In Costa del Sol, an army of 3,000 beach assistants will make sure tourists obey social distancing rules on Spain's busiest beaches this summer and Mallorca is asking for permission to reopen to tourists earlier than the nationwide target of July. In Benidorm the local mayor joined anger at the UK's plans for a 14-day quarantine for Brits returning from abroad. The hired workers in Costa Del Sol will also be tasked with preventing overcrowding as hordes of holidaymakers flock to the seaside after the stresses of the last few months. Juanma Moreno, president of the regional Junta de Andalucia government whose remit includes British favourite the Costa del Sol, announced the pioneering move on Sunday afternoon. He said the beach assistants would work closely with town-hall employed local police and lifeguards on Spain's southern beaches. The area they will be expected to cover stretches from the province of Almeria in the east to Huelva in the west, although a large percentage are expected to be assigned to beaches on the Costa del Sol which is one of Spain's best-known international stretches of coastline. Two women wearing face masks practise yoga at dawn at La Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona on May 24 UK quarantine rules The government has said that people arriving in the UK from June 8 MUST self-isolate for 14 days to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Home Secretary Priti Patel said the measure would 'reduce the risk of cases crossing our border'. People will be required to tell the government where they plan to self-isolate. Home Secretary Priti Patel said the measure would 'reduce the risk of cases crossing our border' The rule will be enforced by random checks and fines of up to 1000. Border Force chief Paul Lincoln said those who did not have their own accommodation to self-isolate in would be provided facilities by the government, at their own expense. The announcement sparked a row with British holidaymakers hoping to go abroad this summer, while airlines slammed the new measure as 'effectively killing air travel'. The government is now considering 'air bridges' to allow tourists to travel without quarantining to countries that have low infection rates. The new measures will be renewed every three weeks from when it is introduced. Lorry drivers, seasonal farm workers, and coronavirus medics will be exempt. Advertisement Outside of famous Costa del Sol resorts like Marbella and Torremolinos, Andalucia also includes popular British resorts like Mojacar and the fantastic beaches of Costa de la Luz such as those in Tarifa and Zahara de los Atunes. The beach assistants will be picked from a list of people who are currently unemployed and were given the chance earlier this year to register for temporary public sector jobs as part of a regional government initiative. Nearly 600,000 people are registered for seasonal work. Mr Moreno said their responsibilities would include 'guaranteeing the safety of beachgoers through surveillance and organising social distancing.' They will also be tasked with controlling access and limiting the numbers of people on the busiest beaches. Although they will not be given police powers, the regional government chief said they would be expected to inform police about incidents so officers could intervene if necessary. Describing the beach assistants as a 'huge army', he added: 'They will enable us to organise in a planned way the opening of our beaches this summer.' Mr Moreno revealed his new plans for Spain's southern beaches after the country's PM Pedro Sanchez said foreign tourists would be welcomed back from July. It comes as Coronavirus lockdown measures are being eased for people in Madrid and Barcelona from today, while elsewhere in Spain the first beaches are due to reopen. Residents from the two cities are now allowed to meet up in groups of ten, in their homes or on restaurant and bar terraces. Mr Sanchez said in a live televised address on Saturday: 'Spain receives more than 80 million visitors each year. 'That's why I'm announcing to you that from the month of July the entry of international tourism to Spain will restart in safety. 'Foreign tourists can now start planning their holidays here.' Earlier Juan Marin, vice-president of the Junta de Andalucia, said rapid Covid-19 tests on foreign tourists could be the way forward for the recovery of the International holiday market. He told a Spanish radio station the country had to compete on a level playing field with competitor nations like Portugal and Italy, warning: 'If we miss out this summer, we'll be facing a frozen winter.' Many Spanish town halls have already indicated social distancing through limits on the number of tourists who can enjoy their beaches, will be top of their list of priorities. A woman practises yoga at dawn at La Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona A police officer stands guard as a woman walks along La Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona People enjoy a night out on Pedregalejo Beach in Malaga on May 23. Spain said it would let in foreign tourists and restart top league football in the coming weeks, accelerating Europe's exit from strict virus lockdown The Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola has said it will use artificial intelligence to control numbers. Authorities in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava have said they intend to put different age groups in different areas of their beaches. Travellers entering Spain are currently being forced to quarantine for 14 days but the order will be lifted when the country ends its current state of emergency at the end of June at the latest unless there is a dramatic change in the health situation. People enjoy a night out on Pedregalejo Beach in Malaga. The Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola has said it will use artificial intelligence to control numbers People enjoy a night out on Pedregalejo Beach. Authorities in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava have said they intend to put different age groups in different areas of their beaches A man sunbathes as people enjoy a morning out at La Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona on May 24 Benidorm mayor Toni Perez has added his voice to the chorus of concern over the British government's quarantine rules. Mr Perez spoke out after Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez said foreign holidaymakers would be welcomed back from July after its current quarantine rules on people arriving in the country are lifted. His message was described as 'very positive' by influential Spanish tourist group Exceltur. The mayor of British favourite Benidorm also welcomed Mr Sanchez's comments, but admitted the UK quarantine was a concern. Under plans announced by Home Secretary Priti Patel on Friday, anyone reaching the UK from June 8 will have to self-isolate for 14 days or risk POUNDS 1,000 fines. The new rules will apply to returning holidaymakers. Ms Patel described the measures as 'temporary' but said they would be reviewed every three weeks, meaning any extension beyond the initial three-week period would make it impractical for most Britons to take a foreign break. Spain is the top destination for British tourists, with around 18 million people from the UK visiting the country normally every year. Benidorm - made even more famous by the hit ITV comedy series of the same name - has an area known as Little England. British visitors to the resort outnumber every other nationality apart from the Spanish. Four out of every ten of its holidaymakers come from the UK. Mr Perez said: 'Benidorm has been working for weeks now to make sure it is a safe resort this summer. 'It's not just important that Benidorm and Spain are safe destinations but also that the countries tourists come from are safe as well. 'We're keeping on a close eye on the evolution of the health situation in the neighbouring countries of France and Portugal. 'But we're also keeping a close eye on our most important market which is the UK and which is the country that is therefore of most concern to us. 'The quarantine the British government has announced, which will be revised after three weeks and includes high fines for people who flout the rules, is causing a lot of uncertainty. 'No-one knows how long it could last and that is having an effect on last-minute holiday reservations and cancellations and that is something that is worrying us.' Yesterday influential Spanish tourist group Exceltur called on the Spanish government to give the UK priority in safe 'air corridor' negotiations designed to pave the way for a British return to the Costas this summer. Exceltur's vice-president Jose Luis Zoreda called the Spanish PM's invitation to foreign holidaymakers to pick Spain from July 'very positive.' He said: 'This kickstarts British and German tour operators because they now know they can operate in July if all goes well.' Telling Catalan daily El Periodico that Britain, which accounted for more than 18 million of Spain's foreign tourists last year, and Germany should be priority countries in 'safe corridor' negotiations, he added: 'The speech Pedro Sanchez made was very positive because he committed to a date with enough time for potential tourists to book holidays here, and because of the message it sends that the Prime Minister of a country is welcoming back foreign visitors. 'The common denominator will not be nationality but the corridors.' Saying he thought it was unlikely EU-wide agreements on re-opening borders could be reached by July, he added: 'We have to get going to establish these bilateral corridors and agreements.' Many Spanish town halls have already indicated social distancing through limits on the number of tourists who can enjoy their beaches, will be top of their list of priorities. The Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola has said it will use artificial intelligence to control numbers. Authorities in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava have said they intend to put different age groups in different areas of their beaches. Travellers entering Spain are currently being forced to quarantine for 14 days but the order will be lifted when the country ends its current state of emergency at the end of June at the latest, unless there is a dramatic change in the health situation. Additional measures like temperature checks at airports for foreign tourists who jet to Spain in July are also being studied. Juan Marin, vice-president of the Junta de Andalucia which is the regional government responsible for areas like the Brit-popular Costa del Sol, insisted on Sunday that rapid Covid-19 tests on foreign tourists could be the way forward for the recovery of the International holiday market. He told a Spanish radio station the country had to compete on a level playing field with competitor nations like Portugal and Italy, warning: 'If we miss out this summer, we'll be facing a frozen winter.' Teresa Ribera, one of the Spanish government's vice-presidents, has said 'safe corridors' will 'probably' be applied along the same lines as peoples' movements between regions as part of a national tourism scheme. Even six months ago it would have been totally normal, maybe even a sign of loyalty. Heading to work with a cough. Taking a couple of Tylenol to fight off a lingering headache and forgetting about it. Powering through. But those days are over. Going to work, or anywhere really, while sick has suddenly become taboo. Its an act that puts coworkers, customers and companies at risk, as more people head back to their jobs during the early stages of COVID-19 recovery. Its a new world of health hyper-vigilance, and employers will need to quickly adapt to the shift, experts say. In North America, especially in professional contexts, theres been an implicit expectation that employees prioritize work over everything else, family, leisure, even their own health, said Vanessa Kimberly Bohns, an associate professor of organizational behaviour at Cornell University. In the past, coming to work sick was a signal of that devotion a signal that you were the ideal worker, she said in an email. The sicker you were the stronger the message that you were a loyal, hard worker. Now it just seems reckless and irresponsible. The dynamic may even flip, she said, as workplaces continue to live under the threat of COVID-19. People who come to work sick may feel pressure to go home, be called out by other employees or managers, or shamed by peers. Pre-pandemic employees felt like they were making a sacrifice on behalf of the organization when they showed up to work sick. Now it is clear that you are actually putting others at risk, she added. So I think its likely people will start to think of it as more of a sacrifice to stay home. Showing up to work sick is called presenteeism, said Nita Chhinzer, an associate professor of human resource management at the University of Guelph. It happens not only because of a culture that praises overwork, but because there are financial incentives for low-wage workers and those in the gig economy to continue working even if theyre feeling unwell. Many dont even have sick days, or are so precarious that they fear they may lose their jobs if they stay home. Theyre coming in to work because they feel trapped, they feel like theres no other option, Chhinzer said. People who have COVID-19 and need to stop work for two weeks to quarantine are eligible for compensation under the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit, she added. Sick-leave policies vary across Canada, but for the most part all jurisdictions include some legislation that says youre allowed to take sick days without being reprimanded, losing seniority, etc., she said. More paid sick days might disincentivize people from coming to work sick, Chhinzer said, as would guaranteed hours for more precarious workers. Companies could guarantee hours over a quarter or a month so that if employees miss 15 hours one week, they could make it up over the next one, or be prioritized for overtime. Even before COVID-19, researchers had flagged presenteeism as a public health hazard across sectors. One study from 2010 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found several sick staff members continued to work during a norovirus outbreak at a nursing home and may have contributed to the spread. The authors concluded that in the era of international air travel and novel flu virus outbreaks, health-care organizations need to stay vigilant, and see measures like unrestricted sick leave not just as an employee benefit but an investment to help protect patient safety. Health-care workers feel an even stronger sense of duty, said Chhinzer, even though theres an increased risk of spreading diseases to vulnerable patients. But subcultures of presenteeism can be found across many sectors. And change needs to come from the top, she said. If managers show up sick, it can put implicit pressure on everyone else. If they stay home it sends a message that the health of the team is important. Workers in the knowledge economy fields like academia, education and consulting face unique challenges because tasks can build up while theyre off sick. If I take three days off now I come back to an avalanche of work, and its still my work to do, she said. But, she added, knowledge workers have the advantage of being able to work from home. Theyve already proven they can be productive there, said Bill Howatt, chief of research at The Conference Board of Canada, a non-profit think tank. But companies will have to start rethinking policies, like whether an employee who still feels well enough to work remotely is using a sick day. Employers are transitioning into the recovery phase, and lots of folks are making stuff up the best they can around a return to work with risk management, he said. Theres going to be a recalibration. Its already happening, with some places taking temperatures at the door, and asking if employees feel sick before letting them in. At Trimaster Manufacturing, a company with locations in Guelph and Milton that employs about 220 people, they havent started mandating that yet. (Not everyone who has COVID-19 has a fever and people can be contagious even if they dont show any symptoms.) But HR manager Sandra Casarin said the companys messaging has been clear from the beginning of the pandemic: if youre sick, do not come in to work. They have signs posted at their employee entrances that instruct staff members to turn around and drive home if they have symptoms of COVID-19, and contact HR or their supervisor. She has been receiving more sick calls than usual, but the company reports that there havent been any COVID cases at either location. We have a set-up in place so our employees feel comfortable, she said, adding theyll continue to review policies as the situation evolves. There will be more, Im sure, to come. Whether companies will make these changes will come down to the organizations own subculture, said the University of Guelphs Chhinzer. Many are already struggling financially because of the pandemic, have had to make cuts, and are already trying to get the most out of the workers they have left, almost by squeezing blood from a stone, she said. They arent suddenly going to have a huge shift. But the organizations that already recognize employees as an asset are the ones who will swing harder on this pendulum, she added. Because they understand that theres a positive return on investment when youve got workers who are healthy and safe. by Paul Wang Most of those arrested are accused of illegal gathering. Yesterday was the first mass demonstration during the lockdown, which bans rallies with more than eight people. Wang Yi tries to calm public opinion. But the democratic movement is planning another demonstration in two days. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Hong Kong police said they made at least 180 arrests after yesterday's demonstrations in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai, which was attended by several thousand people. Police also confirmed that those arrested are accused of unauthorized and illegal assembly. At least 10 people were injured and taken to hospital. Yesterday was the first compact demonstration after months of lockdown in which the government prohibited gatherings of more than 8 people. The protesters' decision to go against the government ordinance was dictated by China's announcement that it intended to prepare and impose a security law for Hong Kong, which would fight secession, subversive activities, foreign interference, terrorism, offenses. against the motherland. According to many local and international personalities, the law will mark "the end of Hong Kong" as a place of freedom, subjecting it to the dictatorship of the Chinese Communist Party. Chinas announcement came on the eve of the National People's Congress (NPC), which is taking place in Beijing. During a session yesterday, Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, tried to cool concerns related to the law, saying that it will not harm the freedom and autonomy of the territory. Yesterday there were acts of vandalism by some demonstrators. Beijing state media brand these acts as "terrorism". But the groups linked to the democratic movement are of the opposite opinion. Yesterday the demonstrators continued to ask for an answer to the "five demands", which had become the slogan of the demonstrations that began almost a year ago against the extradition law. The "five demands" include a request for an independent investigation into the excessive use of force by the police and universal suffrage in the election of the Hong Kong parliament (Legco) and the chief executive, which Beijing has excluded for some time. The movement plans another mass protest on May 27, when a law on the national (Chinese) anthem prohibiting insults will be discussed at the Legco. Vague "offensive" chants are punished with three years in prison and a fine of up to 50,000 Hong Kong dollars. In preparation for possible demonstrations, the area around the Legco today was completely secured with barricades. Photo: HKFP The political slugfest over Shramik Special trains refuses to die down with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal engaging in a war of words over the issue on Sunday, with the Shiv Sena chief accusing the Railways of not providing enough trains to the state despite demand. In an address to the state on Sunday, Thackeray said that while he had demanded 80 migrant special trains per day for the state to ferry migrants home, it was getting only 40. Goyal took a dig at the Maharashtra CM through a tweet, saying the Railways was ready to send as many trains as required to states, provided they do not "return empty". I hope that these trains will not have to leave empty after arriving at the station like it has happened earlier. I would like to assure you that the trains you need will be available," tweeted Goyal, referring to earlier occasions when migrants did not board special trains. Follow live updates on coronavirus here Thackeray in his address also said that the state had paid Rs 85 crore so far towards these trains. Goyal tweeted, We are ready to provide 125 Shramik Special trains to Maharashtra. Since you have said that you have a list ready that is why I am requesting you to please provide all information like from where the train will run, the list of passengers according to the trains, their medical certificate and where the train is to go, to the General Manager of Central Railway within the next hour, so that we can plan the time of trains, . The union minister followed this up with another tweet, "Sadly, it has been 1.5 hours but Maharashtra Govt. has been unable to give required information about tomorrow's planned 125 trains to GM of Central Railway. Planning takes time & we do not want train to stand empty at the stations, so it's impossible to plan without full details." "I hope that the Government of Maharashtra will fully cooperate in the efforts made for the benefit of migrant labourers," he said. Earlier, Shramik Special trains became a bone of contention between the Centre and states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan with the minister pointing out that these governments were allowing fewer migrant trains to arrive. The state CMs too came out all guns blazing and denied the allegations on Twitter. So far, 513 trains have terminated in Maharashtra, according to data provided by Railways. Just because you can go to the beach or bars doesn't mean it's time to let your guard down. In fact, some states are seeing new spikes in coronavirus cases. "With the country starting to open up this holiday weekend, I again remind everyone that the coronavirus is not yet contained," said Dr. Stephen M. Hahn, commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration. "It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community. Social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks protect us all." Many Americans have flocked to parks, restaurants and beaches to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. In Alabama's Gulf Shores, "there are literally thousands of people out here on the beach, and what I'm really pleased to see is that many of these folks, almost all of them, are doing a great job with social distancing," beachgoer Steve Ricks told CNN affiliate WPMI. But some ignored health warnings, despite new information that an estimated 40% of coronavirus transmissions occur before any symptoms. Video from a pool party at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, showed a massive crowd of people crammed together both inside and outside the pool. Saturday's footage came the same day Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said several people who attended a swim party contracted Covid-19. An aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Melissa DeRosa, harshly criticized a restaurant in Patchogue that eased restrictions on mask wearing and social distancing by allowing customers to come inside to pick up food on a rainy Friday night. "That's stupid -- stupid for you, it's stupid for your surrounding patrons, it's stupid for the bar," she said Sunday at a news briefing. The Dublin Deck Tiki Bar and Grill posted an apology on Instagram, saying, "There are no excuses when it comes to public safety. We should not have allowed anybody inside whatsoever." Social distancing was forgotten in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday when a man apparently making a rap video threw money from atop a car into the crowd on a main thoroughfare, authorities said. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said officers are looking through aerial footage in an attempt to identify and arrest the man. "Look at the numbers. You'll see that on Thursday, more than 20,000 Americans were infected," said Dr. Seema Yasmin, a former disease detective at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Friday, "that number went up, and there were more than 24,000 Americans newly diagnosed with Covid-19." Birx has a message for those refusing to wear masks Wearing a face mask is critical to reducing the spread of coronavirus, especially since many carriers don't even know they're contagious, said Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator. "There is clear scientific evidence now, by all the droplet experiments that happened and that others have done, to show that a mask does prevent droplets from reaching others," Birx told "Fox News Sunday." She offered a message to those who say they have a right not to wear a mask in public. "Out of respect for each other, as Americans that care for each other, we need to be wearing masks in public when we cannot social distance," she said. In an interview with ABC, Birx said "there's asymptomatic spread. And that means that people are spreading the virus unknowingly." "And this is unusual in the case of respiratory diseases," Birx said. "So you don't know who's infected. And so we really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you can't social distance and you're outside, you must wear a mask." Several states see surges in coronavirus cases States such as North Carolina and Arkansas are seeing major spikes, Yasmin said. On Saturday, North Carolina reported its highest single-day increase of new coronavirus cases, just a day after the state rolled into its second phase of reopening. In Arkansas, Gov. Hutchinson said the state seemed to be experiencing a "second peak." He said that rise is due in part to more widespread testing. And high numbers of new cases have emerged from Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Nebraska and Illinois, Birx said. Houston mayor: 'We're not equipped' to handle surge Texas beaches also saw crowds over the weekend after bars were allowed to reopen, with restrictions. Texas is one of a handful of southern states at risk of seeing a rapid surge of new coronavirus cases in some areas, according to a new projection model. That model predicts that Harris County, which includes Houston, could see more than 2,000 new cases each day by June. "We're not equipped to handle that type of surge," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "We can take about 200 cases a day, for example, with contact tracing and we're building up that program." "The virus is still here," he said. "There are still people who think it's a joke, and it's not a joke. Things have opened up. We're in stage two in the state of Texas so bars, restaurants, barbershops, you name it, are now open. So (we're) nervous but we're going to do everything we can to manage the virus." The projection model also shows parts of South Florida and parts of Alabama and Tennessee are also poised for spikes in coronavirus cases. A study leads to encouraging results There's a bit of good news when it comes to a possible therapy for Covid-19 patients. A study appeared to show patients who received transfusions of antibody-filled convalescent plasma seemed to fare better. Convalescent plasma is derived from the blood of recovered coronavirus patients. The study hasn't been peer-reviewed or published in an academic journal, but researchers said the findings are a good sign for plasma therapy. "We are encouraged that our initial assessment offers evidence in support of convalescent plasma as an effective intervention," said Dr. Nicole Bouvier, an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a co-author on the study. But more studies are needed to confirm the findings, the researchers said. CNN's Artemis Moshtaghian, Arman Azad, Melissa Alonso, Dakin Andone, Amir Vera, Nicky Robertson, Ralph Ellis, Barbara Starr and Alec Snyder contributed to this report. Bhopal, May 26 : A British youth is struggling to get out of the Central Jail here after being detained for a month for breaching the lockdown rules. Sohail Hughes, 29, who had arrived in India in February to visit his family in Gujarat, claimed that he decided to undertake a pilgrimage of mosques when he was detained last month. His family said in a petition that Indian authorities are holding him unlawfully. Hughes' sister, Aatika, said that he was forced to take refuge in a mosque in Bhopal after the lockdown allowed people noticeably short time to react. Bhopal Police have denied that charge though. "He was detained with others for violating visa rules and the Foreigners' Act. He was on a tourist visa and was involved in missionary work. Hughes has also been charged for disobeying the lockdown rules," said Additional Superintendent of Police (Zone 1), Rajat Saklecha, adding: "They are free to put forth their side in the court for his release." Former Madhya Pradesh Advocate General and senior Congress leader Vivek Tankha on Monday appealed to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to help Hughes return home. Tankha tweeted, "I appeal to MP government and Director General of Police to withdraw charges and allow Hughes to travel to UK. His arrest and charge-sheet are a blot on our criminal justice system." Tankha quoted British daily The Guardian to refer to Hughes' plight. "Hughes as forced to take refuge in a mosque in Bhopal after Indian government gave the public four hours to get to where they needed to go, before all public transports were seized. Where were these foreigners supposed to go," Hughes' sister Aatika was quoted as saying. Aatika claimed her brother had his passport seized before being kept in quarantine for more than a month inside a hostel. While in quarantine, Hughes had repeatedly tested negative for Covid-19. On Thursday, Hughes was presented before the court in Bhopal, accused of spreading coronavirus and violating visa regulations after being caught in the mosque. His bail application was rejected, and he is now being kept in the Old Central Jail. Hughes' family members also claimed that he became a victim of the recent escalation in anti-Muslim sentiments in India. London, United Kingdom The anger in the United Kingdom is palpable, days after the breaking of lockdown rules by the prime ministers most senior adviser was first reported. It has been fuelled by the refusal of Dominic Cummings to resign and the governments response, as leading figures in the Conservative Party insist he had done nothing wrong by travelling 400km (260 miles) with his wife and child to his parents home while his wife was ill and he was convinced he had coronavirus ostensibly to make sure their four-year-old son had childcare. On Monday evening, Cummings spoke to the media, though he refused to apologise. I know people are suffering, thousands have died, and many are angry about what they have seen in the media about my actions, he said. He said he had made the trip at the end of March as his home in London had become a target after reported comments he opposed introducing the lockdown in order to build herd immunity, and he did not want to expose his wife and child to hostility while the family was ill. I did not oppose it, but these stories had created a very bad atmosphere around my home, I was subjected to threats of violence, people came to my house shouting threats, there were posts on social media encouraging attacks. At his parents farm estate, he said he stayed in a cottage 50 metres (164 feet) from their house, and maintained physical distance from them. He said he did not make the trip public, nor did his wife mention it in a newspaper column in which she described self-isolating in London, to protect his parents home from being similarly targeted. My parents are in their 70s. Obviously, I did not want to give them this disease. And so we stayed very far away, he said. We did have some conversations, but they were on a farm, and they were shouted conversations at a distance. He said he made no effort to find out if anyone living near his home could have helped. I did not think it was reasonable to ask friends in London to look after my son, he said. Cummings said he exercised his judgement in interpreting the rules and added he had not offered to resign. If you have got a child thats four years old and neither of you can look after him, the guidance doesnt say you have just got to sit there, Cummings said. So I think I have behaved reasonably given the circumstances. Anger Prime Minister Boris Johnsons comments on Sunday only served to increase public anger: I think any father, any parent, would frankly understand what he did and I certainly do. The UKs lockdown rules have led to elderly people dying without their relatives, families being unable to take part in funerals of loved ones, and countless stories of grief multiplied because it could not be shared. 200330103140880 Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab was just 13 years old when he died, alone, in a hospital bed. His family could not be by his side in his final moments because of the strict distancing guidelines. Official guidance states: If you or someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus, do not leave your home for any reason if you need food or medicine, order it online or by phone, or ask someone to deliver it to your home. Calls for Cummings resignation have been widespread. On Tuesday morning, Douglas Ross, a junior minister in the Scotland Office, resigned saying Cummingss explanation over his travel during the lockdown was based on decisions others felt were not available to them. I have constituents who didnt get to say goodbye to loved ones, families who could not mourn together, people who didnt visit sick relatives because they followed the guidance of the government, Ross said in a letter posted on Twitter, adding I cannot in good faith tell them they were all wrong and one senior adviser to the government was right. Police investigation On Monday morning, a top police official in Durham, the county to which Cummings travelled, called for a full, formal investigation. Cummings, along with his wife and child, also made a trip to a nearby tourist town on his wifes birthday purely, he said, to check if he was fit to drive back to London the following day. Important thing is Cummings isolated. In Downing St, his London home, the car, a Durham cottage, some woods, some other woods, Barnard Castle, a riverside, an A1 petrol station and London again. It was VERY responsible and deffo within the rules that said YOU MUST STAY AT HOME. Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) May 25, 2020 I have today written to the Chief Constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter, said Acting Durham Police, Crime and Victims Commissioner Steve White in a statement. It is vital that the Force can show it has the interests of the people of County Durham and Darlington at its heart. Cummings apparent contempt for the rule of law has led to fears the nations lockdown rules are now unenforceable, or that the governments scientific-led public health messaging has been fatally weakened. This development seriously undermines public trust in UK government advice at the current time, Professor Linda Bauld, chair of public health in the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh, told Al Jazeera. It suggests one rule for the privileged and another for the rest of us. It also sends the message that individual judgement can be applied to decide to what extent we should follow public health guidance. We are already hearing from the police that this case is being used as an excuse by those gathering in groups and not maintaining social distancing. At a time when it is imperative that we continue to reduce the spread of the virus, such high-profile mixed messages could cost lives. Grant Shapps has effectively announced the end of enforceable lockdown in the daily #COVID19 press briefing. You should do your best to keep to the guidance but its a matter of individual judgment. James Melville (@JamesMelville) May 23, 2020 Defending Cummings The governments defence of Cummings who is credited with masterminding the anti-EU messaging of the Brexit campaign, and Johnsons number-one strategist ever since, despite being held in contempt of Parliament for refusing to answer questions about the alleged use of fake news during the referendum has relied on his interpretation of what special circumstances might be applied to those who have children. I can understand why Johnson might insist on hanging on to Cummings: an ongoing bromance founded on political scheming, debts owed to Vote Leave from 2016, even Cummings hold on information that could damage the prime minister, Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham, told Al Jazeera. What I cant understand is the brazen, dismissive manner in Johnson and Cummings statements. Johnson and Cummings could gamble, and win, on Brexit as Us versus Them. But theres no Us versus Them with coronavirus: many in their base of voters, constituents, and even Conservative MPs have paid a personal price in this crisis. On Monday morning, Tom Harwood of the right-wing Guido Fawkes blog pointed to examples of other public figures also flouting the lockdown rules. The thing is, Dominic Cummings didnt know how sick his family would get, Harwood told Good Morning Britain. His child has specific childcare needs. Its not like he was going out for extramarital affairs to birthday parties, or to go to family funerals, as weve seen with other cases, particularly as weve seen with Labour MPs. On Sunday, it had been reported on social media that Cummings son had autism, something, it was argued, that should be taken into account when considering his care needs. That was not officially confirmed anywhere. Later reporting unearthed that Cummings uncle with whom he had a close relationship had been diagnosed with coronavirus and died of it in a London hospital on April 5. On Monday, Cummings denied that had any influence on his actions. Professor Neil Ferguson, one of the architects of the lockdown rules, resigned from his position as a government adviser after admitting a woman had visited him at his home, while Labour MP Stephen Kinnock was criticised for visiting his parents though he says he maintained distancing during the visit. Neither of them had COVID-19 symptoms. Backlash With lockdown in place, the anger felt by Britons from people who have lost loved ones to TV hosts, from bishops to Cummings neighbours, members of the House of Lords, Conservative MPs, and even the right-wing populist tabloid The Daily Mail has been most strongly felt on social media. My husband and I had covid in March. We have 3 young children, 2 are disabled. We had no support at all. Our relatives are 65miles away, but we followed the guidance to the letter. To hear a couple with one child excused of travelling 250+ miles to see family is utterly enraging Ciar Richardson (@cirichos) May 23, 2020 As one of those involved in SPI-B, the Government advisory group on behavioural science, I can say that in a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control COVID-19. Stephen Reicher (@ReicherStephen) May 24, 2020 This is really quite something, very powerful indeed. Multiple of Dominic Cummings neighbours angrily & emotionally remonstrate with him pic.twitter.com/4SM52RoOvg Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) May 24, 2020 I'm 84. I've been in active politics since 1950. I've seen a lot but I've never seen a government so corrupt and incompetent as this one. pic.twitter.com/rnco89nfyt Roger Roberts (@LordRRoberts) May 23, 2020 Deeply grateful for my colleagues who have said what I feel too. Unless very soon we see clear repentance, including the sacking of Cummings, I no longer know how we can trust what ministers say sufficiently for @churchofengland to work together with them on the pandemic. https://t.co/3WsJWUrnVZ David Walker (@BishManchester) May 24, 2020 Johnsons reticence to fire Cummings and decision to embrace him was defending the indefensible, and raised questions over his own continuing viability as prime minister, said analysts. Number 10 has badly misjudged the public mood in relation to Dominic Cummings, Mark Shanahan, head of the politics department at the University of Reading, told Al Jazeera. 190722183952925 Clearly Johnson and his inner cabinet saw this as a story that would wane within one or two news cycles. It hasnt. This matters to a nation diligently locked down since March a nation prepared to sacrifice everything to keep the dreaded R-number down. [Cummingss] actions have touched a raw nerve. But his reaction to being caught arrogant entitlement is what has really grated. But this could have been contained with a quick sacking or forced resignation. But Boris Johnson did neither. Instead, he and the Number 10 machine have put all their energy into defending the indefensible. The story has been spun culminating on Sunday evening with the political weaponising of a child. This is politics at its worst and has shown the prime minister to be weak. It is unlikely that Cummings will survive in post. It is unclear if Johnson, with or without his Svengali, has any long-term political future either. Follow James Brownsell on Twitter: @JamesBrownsell Advertisement Marketers operating in the downstream industry have said that deregulation remains an enabler for a private sector investment. The marketers who spoke at the just concluded Nigerian Petroleum Downstream Summit Webinar, in Lagos said the downstream industry requires significant investments to raise standards along the supply chain. They said this included improving the refining capacity, pipelines, trucks, depots, filling stations and supporting the ancillary and derivative industries that would emerge from an improved downstream sector. Advertisement The marketers, however, said investors required an attractive environment, devoid of uncertainties. The panellists who spoke at the online discussion were Mr. Adetunji Oyebanji, MD 11 Plc and Chairman Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Dame Winifred N. Akpani, MD/CEO Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company Limited and also the Chairman Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN). Others includes, Hajia Amina Maina, Group Chief Operating Officer MRS Holdings Limited, Mr. Huub Stokman, CEO OVH Energy Marketing Limited, Dr. Billy S. Gillis-Harry, National President Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Timothy E. Okon, Managing Partner Teno Energy Resources Limited and Mr. Stanislas Drochon, Head of Africa Strategy and Transformation PUMA Energy who dialled in from Johannesburg, South Africa. The panellists were delighted that government was taking the issue of full deregulation seriously and had taken some important steps noting that the country would benefit by going beyond the current steps taken. They informed the audience of their full support for government policy on alternative fuels such as CNG. According to them, the conversation with government and other stakeholders continues to ensure the process is completed as soon as possible, creating a win-win situation for Nigerians, the government, stakeholders, and the industry. The panellists also opined that maintaining the petrol subsidy (which results in operational inefficiencies and is not sustainable) would not be an appropriate channel to support or plan for the future of Nigeria. They added that instead, the removal of price controls, allowing market forces and competition to determine prices, especially for PMS will benefit the country and the industry. However, panellists said that appropriate new legislation needed to be put in place and enforced as deregulation could only be as effective as the legal framework put in place to guide it. The panellists also said that the survival and indeed, the growth of the downstream oil industry is important to Nigeria and Nigerians as it already provides employment directly and indirectly to millions of Nigerians via the industrial sector, construction sector, transportation sector, station sales and administrative personnel, regulatory personnel and other businesses that service and support the downstream, and will provide much more as new industries emerge using outputs from the new refineries and petrochemical industries as inputs and raw materials. The panellists said full deregulation has a role to play in liberating the economy by saving the government from spending trillions of Naira on fuel subsidies. According to panellists, the money saved can be used to grow the economy by investing in infrastructure, educating the next generation of Nigerians and keeping the population healthy. This in turn will generate revenue for the country, creating an avenue for Nigeria to leave the poverty trap and emerge as the refining hub for West and Central Africa. It was gathered that a total number of 748 people registered for this webinar with a peak attendance of 304 at the same time during the event. The organisations represented includes, government agencies, industry regulators, state governments, market operators, international traders, Civil Society Organizations, members of the press, consulting firms, Colleges and Universities. Seven siblings managed to overturn a council's limit of five mourners at any funeral so they could give their dad a proper send off. Sheffield dad Gerald Hackford, 72, died from a heart blockage on April 16, hours after cheerily speaking to loved ones the night before. While planning the funeral, Sheffield City Council told the grieving family only five of them could attend due to Covid-19 lockdown measures. Gerald Hackford, a former steelworker who made zimmerframes for hospitals, died on April 16, his seven children had to fight with Sheffield City Council to attend his funeral Gerald's daughter Geraldine led an online campaign and wrote letters to Sheffield City Council to make sure all of Gerald's children could attend his funeral last Monday Daughter Geraldine described the decision as 'heartbreaking,' but led a campaign so her brothers and sisters could join her as she laid Mr Hackford to rest. Incredibly, just four days before the funeral, Geraldine received a call from the undertaker to say the ruling had been changed, enabling all her brothers and sisters to attend. Gerald, 72, brought up all seven of his children alone The siblings from Sheffield, South Yorks., said goodbye to their dad at an emotional ceremony last Monday - the same day Sheffield City Council announced it was doubling the number of people it would allow to attend funerals. Geraldine, 49, said: 'For us all to be their meant the absolute world, we wouldn't ever have been able to decide which of us could and couldn't go, how could we? 'Considering the circumstances the ceremony was amazing.' She added: 'He was a single dad who, amazingly, brought all seven children up himself. We all had to be there. We owed that to him, at least.' Prior to the cremation, at City Road Cemetery, dozens of other family members lined the streets to pay their respects and release balloons as Gerald's procession passed. Following the coronavirus outbreak, government issued new rules surrounding funerals and the people who can attend - a move designed to help stop the spread of the disease. It is understood that the maximum number of mourners differs according to region. Geraldine said the decision about how many people could attend her dad's funeral was made by Sheffield City Council, as they run City Road Cemetery. Sheffield City Council set a cap of five mourners at the start of the outbreak. Last Monday - the same day as Gerald's funeral - the council announced its cap was rising to 10 people, with strict social distancing measures in place. Cllr Mary Lea, SCC's cabinet member for culture parks and leisure said: 'It remains clear that the more social contact there is, the greater the risk of transmission is, so we are asking that families still consider restricting numbers at funerals to as few as possible and we will continue to monitor the situation.' Geraldine's family was contacted with the good news about the decision change by the undertaker on May 15. She said: 'When I heard that we could go I burst into tears. It was all I had wanted to hear. A horse drawn carriage led Gerald Hackford's funeral procession through Sheffield The family of Mr Hackford opted for t-shirts with his name on instead of traditional black suits All seven of Gerald's sons and daughters managed to attend his funeral in Sheffield last Monday 'I'm so glad we fought the decision, it would have been impossible for some of us to go and some not to to. Paying tribute to Gerald, a former steelworker who made zimmer frames for hospitals, Geraldine said: 'He was the most outgoing man you could ever meet. 'He'd argue with anyone, but then it would go over his head and he'd be your best mate the next day. Flowers and pictures were left the funeral of Gerald Hackford at City Road Cemetery in Sheffield last Monday 'He wasn't one to hold a grudge and was always there for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Every one of them.' She added: 'That night (he died) he spoke to some of us on the phone. He went to bed happy, but he never woke up. We are all devastated.' As well as seven children, Gerald also leaves behind 33 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren: Geraldine said: 'We were a big family, and dad was loved by all.' Life colouration of Stumpffia froschaueri sp. nov., dorsolateral view of holotype ZSM 169/2019 (ACZCV 0940) from Anketsakely (Anabohazo Forest). Credit: Goncalo M. Rosa A new species proposed to be classified as Critically Endangered of miniaturised stump-toed frog of the genus Stumpffia, found in Madagascar, is named Stumpffia froschaueri after "the man from the floodplain full of frogs", Christoph Froschauer. The namesake of the new frog is famous for being the first, and European wide renowned, printer from Zurich, famous for printing "Historia animalium" and the "Zurich Bible". Christoph Froschauer's (ca. 1490April 1564) family name means "the man from the floodplain full of frogs", and the printer used to sign his books with a woodcut, showing frogs under a tree in a landscape. Amongst his publications are works by Zwingli, Bullinger, Gessner, Erasmus von Rotterdam and Luther, and as a gift for his art, the printer was given citizenship in Zurich in 1519. Now, scientists have also honoured Froschauer's great contributions by naming a new frog species after him. The discovery, made by an international team of scientists from CIBIO (Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources) of the University of Porto, Zoological Society of London, University of Lisbon, University of Brighton, University of Bristol, University of Antananarivo and Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, is published in the open-access peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. The new species is reliably known only from a few specimens collected in three forest patches of the Sahamalaza region, an area severely threatened by fire, drought and high levels of forest clearance. Life colouration of Stumpffia froschaueri sp. nov., dorsolateral view of paratype ZSM 166/2019 (ACZCV 0939) from Ankarafa Forest. Credit: Goncalo M. Rosa "In Anketsakely and Ankarafa this species has been found only in areas with relatively undisturbed forest, and active individuals were found during the day within the leaf-litter on the forest floor, where discreet calling males were also detected", shares lead author Dr. Angelica Crottini from CIBIO. Even though two out of the three forest patches where Stumpffia froschaueri occurs are now part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, there is a lack in forest border patrols and the area remains under strong pressure from slash-and-burn activities and timber harvesting. Habitat loss and fragmentation are likely to represent a huge threat to the species' survival and cause population declines, unless remedial actions to enforce the protection of these habitats are taken. The scientists suggest to classify Stumpffia froschaueri as a Critically Endangered species according to criteria of the IUCN Red List. Life colouration of Stumpffia froschaueri sp. nov., dorsolateral view of paratype ZSM 167/2019 (ACZCV 0968) from Ankarafa Forest. Credit: Goncalo M. Rosa "We here reiterate the need to continue with field survey activities, giving particular attention to small and marginal areas, where several microendemic candidate species are likely waiting to be discovered and formally described. This description confirms the Sahamalaza Peninsula as an important hotspot of amphibian diversity, with several threatened species relying almost entirely on the persistence of these residual forest fragments", concludes Dr. Crottini. Explore further A new species of endemic treefrog from Madagascar More information: Angelica Crottini et al, A new stump-toed frog from the transitional forests of NW Madagascar (Anura, Microhylidae, Cophylinae, Stumpffia), ZooKeys (2020). Journal information: ZooKeys Angelica Crottini et al, A new stump-toed frog from the transitional forests of NW Madagascar (Anura, Microhylidae, Cophylinae, Stumpffia),(2020). DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.933.47619 Haunting pictures have captured the devastating toll coronavirus is having in Brazil, one of the worlds worst coronavirus hotspots. The South American country, which has the second highest number of coronavirus cases behind the US, registered 653 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday (local time), taking the total number of fatalities to 22,666, the Health Ministry said. Brazil has 363,211 confirmed coronavirus cases. The actual number of cases and deaths is believed to be higher than the official figures, as the testing capacity of Latin America's largest country still lags. A man cries while waiting for the SOS Funeral team to rescue the body of his aunt, Lucia Rodrigues dos Santos, 60. Source: Getty Images In Sao Paulo, the most populous and worst hit city, aerial video captured rows of open plots at a cemetery struggling to keep up with demand. Images taken by Getty show members of the countrys SOS Funeral team removing the bodies of those who have died from coronavirus from their homes as mourning family members watch on. One particular striking set of images shows the nephew and husband of Lucia Rodrigues dos Santos, crying while saying goodbye to the 60-year-old, who can be seen laying in a bed in one photo and later in a coffin in another. While the cause of her death has not yet been determined, the toll of the deadly virus can be seen on the devastated faces of residents. Raimundo dos Santos cries and holds the body of his wife, Lucia Rodrigues dos Santos, while members of the SOS Funeral team wait to collect her. Source: Getty Images SOS Funeral is a public service helping low-income families to hold burials. The demand for their services has drastically increased since the beginning of the worldwide pandemic. Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro has been fiercely criticised for his handling of the outbreak, which has led to the exit of two health ministers amid his insistence in opposing social distancing measures while advocating the use of unproven drugs for treatment. Now he's at the centre of a political crisis, after a video of a ministers' meeting was ordered to be released by Brazil's supreme court. The video is likely to add more fuel to claims the president interfered in appointing leaders of the federal police for personal gain. Story continues As well, Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles is recorded proposing the government push through further environmental deregulation while people are distracted by the coronavirus pandemic. Members of SOS Funeral team wearing personal protective equipments perform a burial at the Sao Francisco cemetery in Manaus, Brazil. Source: Getty Images The president recently hailed supporters rallying in the country's capital to back his administration. Surrounded by security guards wearing masks, but not wearing one himself, Bolsonaro was shown in a live streaming video on his Facebook page greeting protesters waving Brazilian flags and calling him a "legend", days after Brazil topped Russia to become the world's second virus hotspot. The Brasilia rally, one of several demonstrations Bolsonaro has encouraged in recent weeks, came as the administration of US President Donald Trump, a close ally of the far-right Bolsonaro, announced it was prohibiting foreigners from travelling to the United States if they had been in Brazil in the past two weeks. A man waits to boarding goods to a boat at Manaus port. Source: Getty Images US restricts travel from Brazil The White Houses travel ban is a blow to right-wing Bolsonaro, who has followed the example of Trump by fighting calls for social distancing and touting unproven drugs. Green card holders, close relatives of US citizens and flight crew members, among select others, will be exempt from the new restrictions, which come into force on May 28. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the new restrictions would help ensure foreign nationals did not bring additional infections to the US. "The US maintains a strong partnership with Brazil and we work closely to mitigate the socioeconomic and health impacts of COVID-19 in Brazil," the US embassy in Brasilia said in a statement on Sunday. An adviser to Bolsonaro downplayed the move, highlighting his shared views with Trump, including fighting the virus with unproven anti-malarial drugs. "There is nothing specific against Brazil," international affairs adviser Filipe Martins tweeted. Doctors and nurses working at the Intensive Treatment Unit at the Gilberto Novaes Municipal Field Hospital. Source: Getty Images Some believe coronavirus is fake news Jenni Milochis, a 33-year-old Australian teacher who has been living in Sao Paulo for 10 months, told the Today show the country is divided. "There are people saying, 'oh, it's fake news', they wear the mask either as a chin strap or on the head, she said. "Then there's the other side of wearing the correct mask all the time and staying home. Grocery shopping for elderly neighbours, that type of thing." Ms Milochis said she has been isolating in her home for 71 days and has only left five times to pick up essentials. with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. How Muslims Celebrated EID in Lockdown Britain 2020 - UK Here's how Britain's muslim community typically celebrated EID during the lockdown across the UK. With after a meal families tended to head for the few venues open at this time of national crisis, the parks to meet up with a close family or 2 such as at Millhouses park Sheffield. And remember to subscribe to our youtube channel for new videos and visit http://www.walayatfamily.com for even more. By Anika and Eliza Walayat http://www.walayatfamily.com Copyright 2005-2020 Marketoracle.co.uk (Market Oracle Ltd). All rights reserved. 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 trading losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors before engaging in any trading activities. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. New Delhi: Nearly two months after the countrywide lockdown was imposed to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic, domestic flight operations resume on Monday (May 25) with Delhi-Pune and Mumbai-Patna flights being among the first to take off, according to reports. Both the flights will be operated by IndiGo on Monday morning, while the Delhi-Pune flight is scheduled to depart at 4.45 AM, the Mumbai-Patna flight would depart at 6.45 AM, aviation industry sources told PTI, adding that the first passenger flight would be 6E643 from Delhi airport and it is likely to be operated by aircraft VT-ITK, which is an A320neo plane of IndiGo. The first domestic passenger flight to arrive at Delhi airport today would reportedly be from Ahmedabad and it is of SpiceJet. The Mumbai airport's operator MIAL said in a statement, "The first flight departing out of CSMIA (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport ) will be to Patna at 6:45hrs and flight arriving from Lucknow will be the first arrival flight at 8:20hrs both operated by IndiGo." Earlier, the government announced that one-third of pre-lockdown domestic flights will operate from Monday, while all international scheduled commercial passenger flights will remain suspended. Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) released a new Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for airports ahead of the resumption of domestic flight operations. The list of key guidelines issued by the AAI is given below: -Passengers must wear masks and gloves -Mandatory social distancing at airports. -Passengers will have to reach airport two hours in advance -Aarogya Setu app has been made mandatory except for children below 14 years of age -Constant announcements about social distancing and other norms -Boarding and deplaning in batches to maintain social distance -Only those whose flight is in the next four hours will be allowed to enter terminal building -Avoiding use of trolley which will be available to a select few passengers on request basis -Sanitization of passengers baggage by the airport authority before entry into the terminal building. -Passengers will have to go through a thermal screening zone on the city side of the airport before entering into the terminal building. -Upgraded security procedures to ensure minimal contact between passengers and airport employees. -Enhanced security and airport employees at check-in counters to assist passengers in maintaining social distancing norms. -The AAI has suggested the blockade of seats between individuals by using proper markers and tapes to ensure social distancing between people sitting at the airport terminals. -The use of alternate check-in counters has been prescribed by the AAI to avoid congestion. -The AAI has asked for the proper provision of Personal Protective Equipment including face masks and sanitizers. -The AAI has recommended the use of PPE wherever deemed necessary. Meanwhile, Union Health Ministry has also issued the guidelines that should be followed. Boris Johnson is facing a revolt from scores of his own backbenchers as they line up to condemn the British Prime Minister and his chief adviser Dominic Cummings. A storm of protest continues to rage not only over revelations that Mr Cummings broke the British Governments own lockdown guidelines, but also over Mr Johnsons defence of him on Sunday. At least 15 Conservative backbenchers have called for Mr Cummings to go, while several others have spoken out against his actions. Newly elected MPs including Elliot Colburn, Paul Holmes and Jonathan Gullis have said they have conveyed the strength of local feeling to relevant colleagues after being contacted by constituents. Constituents who have contacted me regarding Dominic Cummings can rest assured Ive conveyed the strength of local feeling to relevant colleagues very robustly in Government. Ill respond to all emails when Im back in the office after the bank holiday. Paul Holmes MP (@pauljholmes) May 25, 2020 Conservative former minister Paul Maynard said he shared peoples dismay at the PMs response, and was one of many MPs who insisted Mr Cummings should quit or be sacked. It is a classic case of do as I say, not as I do and it is not as if he was unfamiliar with guidance he himself helped draw up, he said. It seems to me to be utterly indefensible and his position wholly untenable. Veteran Conservative Sir Roger Gale told the PA news agency: Im very disappointed, I think it was an opportunity to put this to bed and I fear that now the story is simply going to run and run. Senior Tory MP Simon Hoare, who had already called for Mr Cummings to go, later criticised Mr Johnsons press conference, telling the Daily Mail: The PMs performance posed more questions than it answered. Any residual hope that this might die away in the next 24 hours is lost. Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton said Mr Cummings was damaging the Government and the country that hes supposed to be serving. Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning, he said his own father had died alone as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. As much as I despise any baying pitchfork-led trials by social media, I'm unconvinced by the PM's defence of #Cummings. We've all been tasked with tempering our parental, and other, instincts by strictly adhering to Govt guidance. David Warburton MP (@DJWarburton) May 24, 2020 People have made sacrifices, this is a difficult time, this is a time of national crisis, he said. In those sacrifices there really hasnt been the choice to use instinct. Instinct hasnt really been part of it. Weve been tasked with following regulations laid down by the Government. Tory grandee Lord Heseltine said it was very difficult to believe there isnt a substance in the allegations about Mr Cummings movements. I think these unanswered questions are now on the agenda, he told the BBC, and I dont think that this anxiety about the Governments position will end until we know the whole story. We must have confidence that we are doing the right things for the right reasons and that we are all truly in it together. For that reason I believe Mr Cummings position is now untenable, Mr McCartney said in a Facebook post. Drawing attention to the moral hazard of Cummingsgate, Tory MP George Freeman retweeted an article from The Spectator which said Mr Johnsons judgment was now the issue. East Worthing & Shoreham MP Tim Loughton said he had come to the conclusion that the position of Dominic Cummings is untenable as the chief adviser to the Government and he must resign or be removed. Former minister Steve Baker said if Mr Cummings does not resign well just keep burning through Boriss political capital at a rate we can ill afford in the midst of this crisis. Other critics include Peter Aldous, Peter Bone, Damian Collins, Caroline Nokes, Julian Sturdy, Robert Syms, Craig Whittaker, James Gray and Martin Vickers. Opposition parties have also been fiercely critical. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Johnson had failed a test of leadership, adding that his decision to take no action against Mr Cummings was an insult to sacrifices made by the British people. Acting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey tweeted Cummings must go, saying the public would be confused and angry that he is still in his position. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Johnson of jeopardising public health messaging by backing Mr Cummings. However, the PM won support from some in his party. MP Lee Anderson said he was disgusted by the treatment of Mr Cummings by the media and some online commentators. In a post on his Facebook page, the MP for Ashfield in Nottinghamshire wrote: I have received messages and emails about Dominic Cummings. I have lots of questions to be answered before I pass judgement or comment. I will not accept trial by media when a persons whole future is at stake. The reaction of the press outside his home and some online comments have quite frankly disgusted me. I have been on the receiving end from the media in the past and it has an awful impact on members of your family. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met the press on the sidelines of the 3rd session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at 3 pm Sunday afternoon. He took questions regarding China's foreign policy and diplomatic relations via video link. The press conference provided simultaneous interpretation services in six languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Japanese. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi takes questions at a press conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations via video link on the sidelines of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 24, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] Here are the highlights: On the COVID-19 pandemic The most important lesson that can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that peoples lives and health are closely connected with each other's and that all countries are in the same global village, Wang said. Wang said all countries should transcend their differences and work together to overcome the novel coronavirus, instead of political manipulation, seeking benefits at others expense or ignoring science. On China-US relations A political virus that is trying to attack and slander China regardless of basic facts is spreading in the United States, Wang said. Wang said the US has made up so many lies and brewed so many plots about China that they can be compiled into a collection. Given that the COVID-19 has taken so many lives around the world, Wang urged China and the US to learn from each other and share their experience on combating the virus to help the anti-epidemic efforts in both countries. On globalization Globalization, multilateralism and global governance should be championed and optimized in the post COVID-19 pandemic world, Wang said. Wang said the development of human history is punctuated with triumph against major disasters. "So long as we make the right choices and follow the right path, we will embrace a bright future," he said. "We need to mitigate the unbalanced regional developmental issues and inequality created by globalization," he said. "But the issue of globalization needs to be solved with globalization." A joint fight by China and Russia against the novel coronavirus will give a strong boost to bilateral relations, Wang said. China is willing to work with Russia to turn the crisis into an opportunity to maintain the stability of cooperation in energy and other traditional fields, and accelerate cooperation in new areas, such as e-commerce and medicine, to make new engines of economic growth after the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang said. On global aid China has been offering assistance to other countries to fight COVID-19 with the sole intention of trying to save as many lives as possible, Wang said. Wang said China never seeks any geopolitical economic interests through such assistance, neither does it attach any political strings to the assistance. China has provided assistance to about 150 countries and four international organizations, held video conferences to share disease treatment and control experience with more than 170 countries, and sent teams of medical experts to 24 countries, according to Wang. On National security legislation for HKSAR Wang Yi said the national security legislation for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will not influence the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors. Wang said the draft decision to establish and improve a legal framework and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, which has been submitted to the third session of the 13th National People's Congress for deliberation, aims to punish the small minority of people who jeopardize the national security. It will not influence the high autonomy of the SAR, the rights and freedom of Hong Kong residents as well as the legitimate rights and interests of the foreign investors, he added. On origin of virus The history should be based on facts and truth instead of being misguided and contaminated by lies, Wang Yi said, refuting some US politicians' efforts to politicize and stigmatize attempts to find the origin of the novel coronavirus. Wang called for conscientious and rational efforts to leave an objective and true memory of the COVID-19 pandemic for the whole mankind. China views the international scientific research into the origin of the virus with an open mind, but the process should be conducted in a professional, fair and constructive way, he said. On China-EU relations China and the European Union are not ideological competitors, but are strategic partners sharing many interests and aspirations, Wang said. "The most important lesson from the relationship is that both sides can build mutual trust through fair dialogue, and handle differences through constructive exchanges," he said. "China and the EU do not have fundamental conflicts of interests. China-EU interactions are a mutually beneficial positive cycle, not a competition where one side loses and the other side wins," the minister said. Lawsuits related to COVID-19 doom to fail Beijing will not accept lawsuits from other countries on losses from COVID-19 and such attempts to infringe on China's sovereignty and dignity are doomed to failure, Wang said. Wang said that the accusations are completely baseless both in terms of laws and facts and have no international precedents. China, like other countries, is also a victim of the pandemic, he said. On China, Japan and ROK cooperation China, Japan and the Republic of Korea should continue their cooperation to contain the COVID-19 outbreak and work together to resume their business operations and ensure stable supply chains, Wang said. The three countries have been working closely to control the outbreak, and their people have been looking out for and helping each other to overcome COVID-19, which has set an example for the world in fighting the pandemic, Wang said. The three countries also should cooperate to improve regional economic cooperation by measures such as reducing tariffs and opening markets to each other, Wang said, calling for them to work to get the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership signed this year. On the tasks of Chinese diplomacy in 2020 China will be firmer in its determination and take much stronger measures to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests and resolutely prevent the external forces from interfering in its domestic affairs, Wang said. Speaking of the tasks of Chinese diplomacy in 2020, Wang said the country will also strive to maintain the stability of the global industrial chains, promote trade liberalization and facilitation to counter the downward pressure on the world economy. While consolidating partnerships with the rest of the world, Wang said the country firmly supports multilateralism, particularly in enhancing the global health governance, backs the World Health Organization in playing a leading role in the fight against COVID-19, and commits to the building of a global health community. On helping Africa combat virus China will work with G20 members to implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative to ease the debt burden of African countries and continue helping the continent to combat COVID-19, Wang said. China is also considering supporting African nations under the greatest strains through bilateral channels to get through the difficult period. China will offer more anti-epidemic assistance to African countries, as well as other developing nations, send more medical experts teams to the continent and accelerate the construction of the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, he said. On foreign exchanges Wang pledged efforts to gradually resume normal exchanges with other countries and adopt forceful measures to bolster international win-win cooperation in helping the country win its war against poverty. Wang said that China's development is faced with extremely complicated external challenges, and the Foreign Ministry will work to minimize the shock from the pandemic over the safety and health of the people and socioeconomic development. On China's approach of diplomacy China will never seek international hegemony, and will always stand by the common interests of all countries, Wang said. China has always adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, and will champion world peace and common development, Wang said, rebuking comments that China is adopting a "wolf-warrior" approach of diplomacy. The Chinese people cherish peace, and China will never take the initiative to bully others, Wang said. It will, however, hit back powerfully at intentional defamation, he added. On the WHO role Smearing the World Health Organization during the COVID-19 pandemic runs against the humanitarian spirit and will not be accepted by the international community, Wang said. The WHO is an organization dedicated to public health under the United Nation. "The reputation of WHO will not be tarnished by some countries' smearing efforts," Wang said. At every critical juncture of the epidemic, the WHO has promptly issued professional advice based on scientific evidence. "Those that have followed the WHO's advice have relatively handled the COVID-19 outbreak well, while countries that ignored or rejected its advice have paid a heavy price." On Belt and Road Infrastructure and public well-being projects under the Belt and Road Initiative have played an important role for partner countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang said. Wang said that looking into the future, the joint building of the Belt and Road will be conducted on a more solid foundation, with more vitality and broader prospects after the pandemic. According to Wang, China-Europe freight trains have transported 8,000 tons of materials used to help combat the virus from January to April. On ties with ASEAN China stands ready to further improve the level of economic integration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with joint efforts to enable the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership this year, Wang Yi said. Wang said that China will continue to see ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and support the central role of the trade bloc in East Asian cooperation. The two sides must step up cooperation in reopening businesses and make up for the losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. On Korean Peninsula Enhancing mutual trust and breaking the impasse on the Korean Peninsula require more concrete actions, Wang said. China is glad to see continuous interaction between the leaders of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and hopes the two sides will resume meaningful dialogues at an early date, Wang said. The DPRK has taken positive measures to promote de-escalation of tension and denuclearization on the peninsula, but it is regrettable that such moves meet no response from the US, which is the main reason for the ongoing stalemate of their dialogue. On opposing official interactions with Taiwan In response to a question about Taiwan, Wang said one-China principle is the common consensus of the international community, and also constitutes the political foundation of bilateral ties between China and the countries having diplomatic relations with it. China firmly opposes countries taking anti-epidemic measures as an excuse to develop official relations with the island, which is an inalienable part of China, he said, and it opposes the violation of "one-China" principle to seek international space for Taiwan. On South China Sea It's "totally ungrounded" to assume that China is expanding its presence in the South China Sea during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang said. Wang said the truth is that China is focusing on cooperating with ASEAN countries to fight the pandemic. The situation in the South China Sea keeps getting more stabilized and better, Wang said, adding that China and ASEAN countries are making progress in marine cooperation. On helping overseas Chinese The Foreign Ministry and its embassies and consulates have conducted a special campaign worldwide to help the overseas Chinese nationals fight against the COVID-19, Wang said. Wang said the ministry has coordinated with more than 20 teams of medical experts to provide guidance for overseas Chinese and has sent over one million health kits to Chinese students studying abroad. On Afghanistan's peace-building process China will keep playing a positive and constructive role in facilitating peace and economic development in Afghanistan, Wang said. Wang said that he hoped the country can return to normality after the signing of the peace deal between the US and the Taliban in February. Wang said the US side should withdraw its military responsibly to avoid damaging the interests of Afghanistan and neighboring countries. On restarting Hubei's international exchanges The ministry will host a special global promotion event to introduce Central China's Hubei province, the country's hardest-hit area by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its capital, Wuhan, which have had a rebirth after the pandemic, to garner more global understanding and support, he said. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Nilesh Ahuja, an entrepreneur in Delhi, flew down to Mumbai in March to attend a family gathering. It was supposed to be a short visit. But, even before he could book a return ticket, the nation went into a lockdown, which came into effect from March 24, and flights were suspended. Since then, it had been a long wait until May 20, when Ahuja heard a news that he was eagerly waiting for. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that domestic flights would restart from May 25. It was a surprise, too. "As the fourth phase of the lockdown was getting over only on May 31, I was in the belief that flights will resume only after that," says Ahuja. As soon as IndiGo started accepting bookings, Ahuja got a ticket for the first available flight on May 25. It was a 6.40 am flight to Delhi. But, circumstances suddenly changed on May 23. Reports started emerging that the government in Maharashtra, the state with the most number of reported COVID-19 cases in the country, might not grant permission for the Mumbai airport to operate. It was not just Maharashtra, but West Bengal and Tamil Nadu also aired reservations on the same. While other states agreed to let airports function, they put down quarantine rules, ranging from seven days to a fortnight, for fliers coming in. "Didn't the Civil Aviation Ministry talk with states before making the announcement," Ahuja wondered. His hopes dimmed after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his address on May 24 afternoon, said that the state needed more time to accept flights. Circumstances changed again, this time for the better. By Sunday evening, it looked like the state government had reached a compromise with the Centre, and finally agreed to let 25 arrivals and an equal number of departures from the Mumbai airport. "But, then, what would happen to my flight? Will it be a part of the 25 departures, or would that be cancelled? How about the money, will the airline charge for the rescheduling?" said worried Ahuja. That was around 6.30 pm. The tension lasted for another five hours. And Ahuja's worst fears came true. His flight got cancelled. Now, he has to wait for the airline to get back. Ahuja may find himself on another flight on May 25, or may have to wait for a day more. "The government had two months to plan the resumption of flights. Could't this have been done better?" asks Ahuja. It is a question many in the aviation sector are now asking. Caught unaware The confusion perhaps began the moment the Civil Aviation Minister, on May 20, announced the resumption of flights. He was giving airlines five days to resume operations despite earlier assurances that more time would be given. "Resuming operations is much more complicated than suspending them. Aircraft are parked across the country. Each state has different lockdown rules, affecting movement of crew," says a senior executive from a private airline. Not just that, with airlines allowed to operate just one-third of the summer schedule, they had to work harder to decide on routes, and rostering of pilots and crew. It was also surprising because just three days ago, on May 17, industry regulator DGCA had issued a notice saying that the suspension of flights would continue till May 31, when the fourth lockdown would get over. Sources told Moneycontrol that the government had changed its stance after intense lobbying from airlines to reconsider the decision. The carriers have been starved of cash for two months and forced to cut pays and send employees on leave without pay, to reduce costs. It did not help that the government measures for the aviation sector, as a part of the Rs 20 lakh crore package, had not brought immediate relief. But, what infuriated airline executives the most was the government's decision to put a cap on fares. For instance, rates in the Delhi-Mumbai route - the busiest in the country - will range from Rs 3,500 to Rs 10,000. Spot fares on the route sometimes go up to Rs 25,000. In their meeting with the DGCA, airline executives argued that controlling fares was against the competition dynamics of the industry. "Let the consumer decide the fare. Why should I charge the same as the other airline?" says an industry executive. But, the proposal from the government, was clear. "The choice was between not starting operations and accepting the fares," says another industry executive. In the meeting, which saw temperature rising because of heated arguments, airline executives also aired concerns about quarantine conditions by state governments. The apparent lack of coordination between the governments, led to chaotic moments on May 24. Two meetings "States can also develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment." The footnote of a guideline issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on May 24 perhaps underlined the bewilderment of the industry. "How can we plan our schedule if each state has its own rules?" asked an industry executive. Two meetings were held on May 24 between industry executives and officials of the DGCA and the ministry. By the time the second meeting got over in the evening, airlines realised that they had to re-draw their plans. Apart from the Mumbai airport operating only 50 flights, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Vijaywada and Vizag airports delayed the commencement date. The number of flights was also severely truncated. "It's like the Ministry has thrown up its hands and has asked the airlines to do whatever they want within the flight limit constraints," says a senior executive from the industry. Not surprisingly, airlines were forced to re-work their schedules. The very first flight on May 25, from Bengaluru to Delhi got cancelled. IndiGo, which earlier had six flights from Mumbai to Delhi on the first day, now had just one. Vistara, which usually operates 200 flights a day to 34 destinations, will have to do with 20 flights to 10 destinations. That is one-tenth its schedule, not one-third. Rostering, too, has gone haywire. A private airline did not decide on the crew for May 25 till late night of May 24. Sources said that IndiGo pilots had to do with daily rosters, whereas usually these are done for 30 days. "Things are going to be dynamic for the next two weeks," said an executive. Perhaps, it has been most 'dynamic' for customers. Abhimanyu Chaturvedi has now booked a ticket for his mother, who is stuck in Delhi since March, for the fourth time in two months. He did the first booking in April, hoping that flights will resume after the first lockdown. Chaturvedi booked again for May, and even for June. Like Ahuja, he was also pleasantly surprised by the May 20 announcement on resumption of flights. The Pune resident got his mother a ticket on an AirAsia India flight on May 25. "She's been really anxious for the past month and I hope the government finally allows her to come home tomorrow," says Chaturvedi. He is also worried about the quarantine that his mother will have to go through once she lands in Pune. "It is not very clear," he says. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly George Tsereteli, the Speaker said on Facebook. I had a phone talk with President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly George Tsereteli. We talked about the actions taken in different countries to fight the novel coronavirus and the work of the OSCE PA during the pandemic. I highlighted the importance of the global ceasefire during the pandemic, as well as recalled the respective call of the UN Secretary-General. I stated that despite this Azerbaijan continues the ceasefire violation attempts, the vivid evidence of which is the recent sabotage attempt launched by the Azerbaijani armed forces, Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan said. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Domestic flights operations have resumed on Monday after a gap of two months. The Ministry of Civil Aviation released a set of guidelines for passengers who are undertaking journeys across the country. Strict protocols are being followed across all the airports that have resumed their services today. Passengers are required to reach at least two hours before the time of departure. All airport authorities have undertaken strict measures to ensure there's no contact between two people. Plexiglass have been fitted at counters and passengers have been asked to undergo web check-in and download their boarding passes as well as the baggage identification tags. Baggage would also be sanitised and only one hand bag will be allowed inside the plane. Moreover, passengers would have to wear protective gear including masks and gloves during the journey. No meals would be provided. Passengers would also need to declare that they are medically fit to travel. They can do so by downloading the Aarogya Setu app or filling a self-declaration form. Aarogya Setu app must show the green status and the self-declaration form must attest to the fact that they are not COVID-19 positive and do not stay in a containment area. As flights resumed after two months, Delhi airport was reportedly thrown into chaos as around 80 flights were cancelled due to restrictions in other states. Here's what the new normal is likely to look from hereon as people resume travelling: Also read: Domestic flights cancelled status: Around 80 flights in Delhi, nine in Bengaluru cancelled on Day 1 Also read: Domestic flights resume: Returning to your hometown? Check out guidelines, quarantine rules Advertisement Britain today announced 121 more coronavirus deaths across all settings, taking the official death toll to almost 37,000 as sun-worshippers descended on parks and beaches to enjoy the 79F heatwave. It marks the lowest Monday death toll since the UK's draconian lockdown was enforced on March 23 (74 deaths). For comparison, 160 fatalities were announced last Monday and 118 were recorded yesterday. But officials warn that death numbers released on Sundays and Mondays are usually significantly smaller due to a delay in processing fatalities over the weekend. Department of Health chiefs also announced 1,625 more Covid-19 cases today, the first time the UK has recorded fewer than 2,000 positive tests in the space of 24 hours in almost nine weeks. Separate figures showed 8,800 Brits are currently in hospital being treated for coronavirus - down 12 per cent in a week. In another dramatic day in Britain's coronavirus crisis, Boris Johnson revealed outdoor markets and car showrooms can reopen from June 1 if they meet Covid-19 safety guidelines. He added that all other non-essential shops, such as clothes stores and book shops, will be expected to be able to reopen a fortnight later on June 15. The Prime Minister's announcement in the Downing Street press conference tonight came after his aide Dominic Cummings refused to apologise for driving 260 miles to Durham during the coronavirus lockdown. Vote Leave maverick Mr Cummings - who is facing calls to be sacked - faced accusations of 'double standards' but he told a press conference in the Number 10 Rose Garden: 'I don't regret what I did.' In other developments to Britain's coronavirus crisis today: Britons descended on parks and beaches amid an expected 79F heatwave as they declared, 'If Dominic Cummings can break the rules, we can too'; An NHS hospital in the Somerset seaside hotspot of Weston-super-Mare was forced to stop taking new patients due to a high number of coronavirus cases; Newsreader Simon McCoy slammed his BBC colleague Gary Lineker for abusing his position after the Match of the Day host accused the Prime Minister of lying; Schools face a long journey before they are able to return to normal, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said as he insisted classes must restart on June 1. In another dramatic day in Britain's coronavirus crisis, Boris Johnson (pictured at tonight's Downing Street press conference) revealed outdoor markets and car showrooms can reopen from June 1 if they meet Covid-19 safety guidelines CUMMINGS REFUSES TO APOLOGISE FOR DRIVING TO DURHAM DURING CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN Dominic Cummings today refused to apologise for driving 260 miles to Durham during the coronavirus lockdown as he claimed he had always behaved 'reasonably and legally' amid growing calls for the PM's top aide to be sacked. Mr Cummings said his decision to travel to the city to stay in a cottage on his parents' land was the result of a 'very complicated, tricky situation' as he admitted he had not sought Boris Johnson's permission to make the journey at the end of March. The Vote Leave maverick has faced accusations of 'double standards', with the nation having been told to stay at home, but he told an unprecedented press conference in the Number 10 Rose Garden: 'I don't regret what I did I think what I did was reasonable in the circumstances.' Asked directly if he had offered to quit or had even considered it, he added: 'No I have not offered to resign, no I have not considered it.' Mr Cummings conceded that 'reasonable people may well disagree' with his chosen course of action but he was resolute in his belief that he had acted in an appropriate manner and had not broken the rules. He insisted 'I don't think there is one rule for me and one rule for other people' and blamed public anger at media reports 'that have not been true'. The usually scruffy adviser was wearing an open collared shirt as he confirmed that he had travelled to the town of Barnard Castle on April 12 after the end of his period in self-isolation with coronavirus. He insisted he and his family had not walked around the town 30 miles from Durham and had only ventured 15 metres from the car to the river bank. He said the purpose of the journey was to see if he was fit enough to make the drive back to London. He also said that he and his family had walked around a woods during their stay in Durham but that they were within his parents' private property and that they had not come into contact with anyone else. Meanwhile, he claimed he did not stop for fuel on the way up to Durham but he had stopped once on the way back. He said: 'Yesterday I gave a full account to the Prime Minister of my actions between March 27 and April 14, what I thought and did. Advertisement The Department of Health's daily death toll means the rolling seven-day average of victims has dropped to just 303 - the lowest since March 31 (274) and less than a third of the peak on April 14 (943). It takes the overall official number of victims to 36,914 - but the true number is thousands higher because it only takes into account laboratory-confirmed cases, not the suspected deaths in other settings. Of the 121 new deaths, 76 occurred in hospitals - most of which were in England. The remainder of the newly recorded Covid-19 fatalities happened in other settings, such as care homes. England recorded 104 deaths, followed by nine in Scotland, seven in Wales and one in Northern Ireland - tallies that do not match up with the individual counts recorded by each of the home nations. For instance, Scotland's own health chiefs today announced three new deaths but yesterday recorded seven. Northern Ireland had the same issue, recording eight new fatalities today but only one yesterday. The issue is only thought to occur with Scotland and Northern Ireland because of a difference in how the data is collected. Wales announced seven new deaths today and yesterday. NHS England figures also do not match the individual tally collated by the Department of Health for England (104) because the official toll includes deaths across all settings, not just in hospitals. And the two use different measures for hospital deaths, with the DH relying on data from Public Health England, which uses several sources to provide an update every afternoon. The figures published today by NHS England confirm that April 8 was still the peak of the crisis, with 891 hospital deaths recorded - up from the 59 that were announced today by NHS England. Of the 59 new deaths recorded in England's hospitals, 47 occurred over the weekend. Five took place on Friday, while the remaining seven victims succumbed to the disease between May 16 and 21. It comes as Dominic Cummings will this afternoon make a public statement to directly address claims he broke lockdown rules by travelling to Durham, Downing Street confirmed. Mr Cummings is expected to take questions about his conduct which has plunged the government into a state of crisis and has prompted calls for a formal investigation. The intervention came after one of the government's scientific advisers warned the 'debacle' over the lockdown journey had 'fatally undermined' the nation's fight against coronavirus. Professor Stephen Reicher, who is a member of the Government's advisory group on behavioural science which feeds into SAGE, said the result of 'undermining adherence to the rules' will be that 'more people are going to die'. Mr Johnson is facing a furious backlash from ministers, Tory MPs and even bishops after he yesterday attempted to mount an extraordinary defence of Mr Cummings, staking his reputation on trying to protect his aide. At a dramatic Downing Street press conference last night, the PM claimed Mr Cummings had acted 'responsibly, legally and with integrity' while making a controversial 260-mile trip from London to Durham during lockdown. Mr Johnson insisted Mr Cummings had 'followed the instincts of every father' by driving to his parents' farm after his wife developed symptoms of coronavirus. The PM's defence of his aide prompted fury among Britons. Sun-worshippers descended on parks and beaches today for the Bank Holiday amid an expected 79F heatwave, which could see parts of the country basked in temperatures hotter than Athens, Nice and Barcelona. Crowds formed outside the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park, as beaches in Sussex, Essex and Dorset quickly filled up with visitors looking to enjoy the dry and sunny conditions forecast to last the whole day. The packed beach in Bournemouth this afternoon. People in England are now allowed to travel for day trips but must stay at least six feet away from people who are not from their household, something that is difficult in such crowded areas Thousands of sunbathers and visitors flock to Durdle Door at Lulworth in Dorset this afternoon on a day of clear blue skies and scorching hot sunshine Dominic Cummings: The acerbic 'career psychopath' and Brexit mastermind not afraid to speak his mind - or make enemies Few supposedly backroom political operators have found themselves in the limelight as often as Dominic Cummings, the quiet yet acerbic mastermind credited with winning the Brexit referendum. Once just one of dozens of special advisors working for the Tories he leapt into the limelight by overseeing the Vote Leave operation which helped win the 2016 vote. But it is the machinations in Downing Street during the 48-year-old's 10 months working for Boris Johnson that has created a dramatis personae rarely seen in British politics. Allies see him as a boot-tough, anti-establishment consigliere to the PM, on a mission to shake up politics and the civil service after years of stagnation. Enemies - which he appears to make in droves - appear to regard him as a hardline Brexiteer puppet-master akin to a modern-day Rasputin. Much of this image appears to have been happily built up by the 'career psychopath' - a moniker given to him by David Cameron. His time in No10 has seen him clash widely as he cemented a power base that culminated this week in the Prime Minister refusing to sack him for breaking lockdown despite the clamour from the public, press and his own MPs. He has turfed out long-serving ministers and staff to create a No10 wheel that has him at its hub. More recently he has clashed with top civil servants including Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill in his quest to revolutionise Whitehall and was seen as the man responsible for ousting Sajid Javid as chancellor in February. Advertisement People in England are now allowed to travel for day trips but must stay at least six feet away from people who are not from their household, something that could be impossible in crowded areas. In other developments today, an NHS hospital in the Somerset seaside hotspot of Weston-super-Mare was forced to stop taking new patients due to 'a high number' of coronavirus cases. Weston General Hospital dramatically announced this morning it could not take any more admissions, including into A&E. Health chiefs do not know why the hospital has had an influx of Covid-19 cases, with bosses warning all hospitals have 'frequent' changes in admissions. But questions were today asked over whether the blame may lie on crowds who have flocked to the town to enjoy the sun since lockdown was slightly eased. Thousands of people travelled to the South West and other coastal areas as soon as the government allowed nationwide travel again on May 13. Weston-super-Mare's mayor even admitted 'you can't rule it out', when questioned if scores of Britons on the beach were to blame for the surge in cases. It is not the first time hospitals have been overwhelmed amid the coronavirus crisis, which began to spiral out of control in mid-March. One NHS hospital in London was forced to declare a 'critical incident' early on in the crisis, after running out of intensive care beds. Other hospitals in the capital have allegedly had to turn away coronavirus patients because they were running out of beds, according to staff. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson today admitted that schools face a 'long journey' before they are able to return to normal, and he insisted classes must restart on June 1 for the mental health of children. He acknowledged there would be 'initial nervousness' from parents about releasing their children from the months' long shutdown. But he said that on top of missing classes they were also missing 'social interaction' with their friends. His emotional pitch to parents came after Boris Johnson has suggested non-essential shops could soon reopen and family 'bubbles' be extended in a further easing of lockdown measures this week. Draconian measures put in place on March 23 to limit the spread of coronavirus were relaxed two weeks ago to allow households to meet one person from another in an outdoor space, so long as they remain two metres apart. NHS HOSPITAL IN WESTON-SUPER-MARE SHUTS A&E AND STOPS TAKING NEW PATIENTS Weston General Hospital in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, has stopped taking new patients due to 'a high number' already there with coronavirus An NHS hospital in the Somerset seaside hotspot of Weston-super-Mare was today forced to stop taking new patients due to 'a high number' of coronavirus cases. Weston General Hospital dramatically announced this morning that it could not take any more admissions, including into A&E. Health chiefs do not know why the hospital has had an influx of Covid-19 cases, with bosses warning all hospitals have 'frequent' changes in admissions. But questions were today asked over whether the blame may lie on crowds who have flocked to the town to enjoy the sun since lockdown was slightly eased. Thousands of people travelled to the South West and other coastal areas as soon as the government allowed nationwide travel again on May 13. Weston-super-Mare's mayor even admitted 'you can't rule it out', when questioned if scores of Britons on the beach were to blame for the surge in cases. Furious Brits warned VE day celebrations on the beach on May 8 were 'coming home to roost', and one warned a second wave 'rolling' into the South West. It is not the first time hospitals have been overwhelmed amid the coronavirus crisis, which began to spiral out of control in mid-March. One NHS hospital in London was forced to declare a 'critical incident' early on in the crisis, after running out of intensive care beds. Other hospitals in the capital have allegedly had to turn away coronavirus patients because they were running out of beds, according to staff. Advertisement Britons were also permitted to partake in unlimited exercise, use outdoor sports courts and facilities and visit garden centres while pubs, restaurants and bars stay shut. But the Prime Minister last night suggested measures could be eased again, after he claimed in the daily Downing Street news conference Britain was 'in a position to move to Step two' of his roadmap to recovery. Mr Williamson repeated the Government's mantra of creating a 'protective bubble' around returning pupils when he appeared on BBC Breakfast. He added: 'Without the benefit of going to school they are really missing out, not just educationally. I'm sure we have seen it with our own children, they have spent so much time away from children of their own age, having those elements of social interaction.' There are almost 260,000 positive test results of COVID-19 so far. But there are bound to be millions more Britons who have had the virus but never been tested. Doctors warned today spread of the virus in hospitals may be fuelled by high 'false negative' test results. Three in 10 negative coronavirus tests may be wrong, The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) has said, which means between two and three people who have Covid-19 may test negative. This is dangerous because it means the patients may go outside and spread the virus to others, under the belief they are free of the infection, and hospital staff may return to work thinking they are virus-free. The HCSA, which represents thousands of frontline medics, said there is a 'shroud of secrecy' over how accurate the swab tests are and called for an end to the 'wall of silence' on testing accuracy from Public Health England (PHE). PHE has never disclosed how accurate its antigen testing is, despite publishing public papers on the accuracy of antibody tests. In a letter to Duncan Selbie, the chief executive of PHE, Dr Paul Donaldson, general secretary of the HCSA, expressed his 'deep concern and frustration' at the 'systematic lack of information' over the reliability its tests. He said: 'A wall of silence seems to have been erected around the issue, with only the occasional claim or hint emerging regarding the testing regime. 'Separately, statements by PHE officials and others place the incidence of false negatives somewhere between 20 and 30 per cent. Beach-goers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe on the beach and play in the sea at a packed beach today in Southend, Essex People sunbathing and exercising on Tooting Bec common in south London today - where temperatures hovered around 79F IT WILL BE A 'LONG JOURNEY' TO GET SCHOOLS BACK TO NORMAL, SAYS GAVIN WILLIAMSON Schools face a 'long journey' before they are able to return to normal, Gavin Williamson admitted today as he insisted classes must restart on June 1 for the mental health of children. The Education Secretary acknowledged that there would be 'initial nervousness' from parents about releasing their children from the months' long shutdown. But he said that on top of missing classes they were also missing 'social interaction' with their friends. His emotional pitch to parents came after Boris Johnson has suggested non-essential shops could soon reopen and family 'bubbles' be extended in a further easing of lockdown measures this week. Mr Williamson repeated the Government's mantra of creating a 'protective bubble' around returning pupils when he appeared on BBC Breakfast. He added: 'Without the benefit of going to school they are really missing out, not just educationally. 'I'm sure we have seen it with our own children, they have spent so much time away from children of their own age, having those elements of social interaction. He added: 'I have seen it in my own children, how much they are missing out. We cant be in a situation where we just go months and months where children are just going to be missing out on education. 'Coronavirus could be with us a year or more. If we dont get them back, how much they fall behind will be tragic and we have got to take these first cautious, tentative steps.' Draconian measures put in place on March 23 to limit the spread of coronavirus were relaxed two weeks ago to allow households to meet one person from another in an outdoor space, so long as they remain two metres apart. Britons were also permitted to partake in unlimited exercise, use outdoor sports courts and facilities and visit garden centres while pubs, restaurants and bars stay shut. But the Prime Minister last night suggested measures could be eased again, after he claimed in the daily Downing Street news conference Britain was 'in a position to move to Step 2' of his roadmap to recovery. Advertisement 'If confirmed, this is a worryingly high rate that raises the prospect of many infected individuals, possibly without symptoms, being passed fit to return to healthcare settings where they will transmit Sars-CoV-2 to colleagues and patients. 'If the chance of false negative results is as high as reported then in our view, without repeat PCR testing to confirm a negative result, staff should not be told to return to a clinical setting where they would risk passing SARS-CoV-2 to vulnerable patients and fellow staff. 'This could become a particularly acute issue as the NHS plans to significantly increase its non-Covid work and wider lockdown measures are eased.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned hospital acquired COVID-19 has caused an 'epidemic' of deaths during the pandemic. NHS bosses say up to a fifth of Covid-19 patients in several hospitals have contracted the disease while already being treated there for another illness. PHE uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which are a form of antigen tests conducted to see if someone has the virus, SARS-CoV-2, at any given time. These viral RNA tests use samples taken from a suspected patient's throat, mouth or nose with a swab. The accuracy of viral RNA swabs depends almost entirely on the quality of sampling and when the sample is taken in the course of disease, which will vary greatly, experts say. Research by the University of Bristol found between two per cent and 29 per cent of COVID-19 tests produced false negatives. And a review of five studies, by Public Health Madrid, found Covid-19 swabbing produced false negative results the first time round 29 per cent of the time. Experts say false negatives will be a result of incorrect swabbing because there will be variances in how medics and those taking a test at home do it. The preferred way and most accurate, doctors say is for trained medics to take a nasopharyngeal swab because it collects the most concentrated sample. But the test is so uncomfortable it's been described like 'being stabbed in the brain'. It can cause people to gag and suffer nosebleeds. Photos of drive through centres show healthcare workers opting for the less invasive option of a nose or throat sample. Following the letter, Dr Nick Phin, PHE's incident director, said: 'The testing system is built on strong foundations using latest scientific evidence and advice. 'The different tests in use have been assessed as performing to manufacturers' specifications.' Bhubaneswar: A tribal man, along with his 12-year-old daughter, today walked around 10 km carrying his wife's body on his shoulder as he failed to get a vehicle to transport it from a government hospital in the backward district of Kalahandi where she died. I have also asked the BDO to provide assistance from Red Cross and CMRF," he said. As per the 'Mahaparayana' scheme, dead body carriers are supposed to be deployed at 37 government hospitals and a total of 40 vehicles were assigned for the job. "I have issued instructions to the Tehsildar to provide assistance under the Harishchandra Yojana (Assistance to the poor and destitute to perform last rites). Despite repeated requests, they said they cannot offer any help," Majhi told a local television channel. Kalahandi District Collector Brunda D said, "As we got to know of the incident, we spoke to the CDMO and arranged for an ambulance. Majhi's daughter accompanied him till some local reporters spotted the duo. They called up the District Collector and arranged for an ambulance for the remaining 50 km of the journey. "I told the hospital authorities that I am a poor man and cannot afford a vehicle.Majhi, however, said despite his all-out efforts, he could not get any help from the hospital authorities. Thus, he wrapped his wife's body in cloth and started walking to his village Melghara in Rampur block which is about 60 km from Bhawanipatna.The incident took place in the morning when the locals found Dana Majhi carrying his wife Amang Dei's body. The 42-year-old woman died of tuberculosis last night at the district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna. For those in such a situation, the Naveen Patnaik government launched the 'Mahaparayana' scheme in February, offering free transportation of bodies from government hospitals to the residences of the deceased. Ines Arrimadas, the leader of Ciudadanos, is married to Xavier Cima. A loving union, it is in one regard an unusual union. Xavier quit frontline politics at the time when his party, Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya, was dissolved. This, in 2016, was when he and Ines married. The CDC used to be the big cheese of Catalonia politics, the product of Jordi Pujol's ambitions for a Catalan nationalist party with independence tendencies. These are ambitions that Ines and the Cs reject, the founding of the Cs in 2006 having owed a great deal to this rejection. Despite this, and proving the principle of opposites attracting (political opposites, that is), Ines and Xavi said 'yes, I will' four years ago. On Thursday, she gave birth to their first child, a boy named Alex. Symbolically, the boy might have been named Pedro. For in her arms, Ines now held the immediate future of the Spanish government. Absent, for obvious reasons, from the recriminatory state of alarm extension debate, Ines was nevertheless fully apprised of the union - unions - that enabled Pedro Sanchez to secure the extension; she and Sanchez had, after all, struck an agreement. Xavi, who was probably keeping mum (so to speak) in not wishing to add stress to the occasion of the imminent arrival, would doubtless have been recalling his CDC birthright, which - via unions of its own - ended up as JxCat, Junts per Catalunya, the leader of which is a well-known former president of Catalonia who is currently in exile in Belgium, Carles Puigdemont. JxCat was one of the parties which said no to the extension. Its spokesperson, Laura Borras, spoke in Congress of the confusion generated by the government's "marketing", describing the Sanchez notion of "co-governance" with regional governments as a "full-blown oxymoron", given that Madrid intended to maintain single command - centralised powers, therefore. Borras flatly rejected the pact between Sanchez and Ines. For JxCat, the Cs are a dark force in Catalonia, the region of the party's birth. Xavi would have had his fingers in his ears - "I can't hear you, I can't hear you" - pretending that none of this was actually going on in Congress. For the Spanish people, regularly praised to the hilt by the prime minister for their efforts over the past few weeks, the debate and the subsequent vote was about issues fundamental to the state of alarm, such as the restoration of freedom of movement. But the debate and the vote had almost ceased to be about the state of alarm. It was all about horse-trading in order to secure an extension, but there was what will have to follow in a post-Covid political environment. And the omens were far from rosy. The Partido Popular, cast alongside Vox as libertarian chancers, were adamant in insisting that the state of alarm ceases. At the moment of the happy event for the happy Cs-CDC couple, the PP chose to let Ines know that she had been naive in agreeing a pact with Sanchez. Immediately the pact was made, he went behind the backs of the Cs and came up with something on labour reform with EH Bildu, "the inheritors of ETA", as one-time PP prime minister Jose Maria Aznar was to note. For the PP, the pact on labour reform will bring forth the wrath of Brussels and threaten aid to Spain, but the government then seemed to moderate what this reform will actually entail. Moderated or not, Sanchez had sought and found support from a Basque party with far greater independence demands than the PNV Basque Nationalist Party which had given direct support to the state of alarm extension by voting for it rather than abstaining (which was the agreement with EH Bildu). So, Sanchez was striking deals that appeared to be politically contradictory, not least to the ERC Esquerra Republicana Catalunya, who had facilitated the investiture of Sanchez and now observed him choosing the Cs as a partner and not them. For the ERC, the Cs aren't just the dark force that JxCat perceive - they are the devil's work. The new born might have been called Damien; the omens certainly weren't rosy. Or was the baby the product of the "Frankenstein government"? This is how it has been described - an entity cobbled together from disparate elements in forming a Heath Robinson contraption of government with misfiring parts and lack of utility. The desperate negotiations to secure the extension were symptomatic of a government with built-in weakness and which going forward faces the monumental challenge of reconstruction. But with various parties having had noses put out of joint, one has to wonder if the government will be in any fit condition to do so. There was once a time when Sanchez and the Cs could have come to an agreement for coalition, at a time before the Cs so spectacularly imploded and managed the seemingly impossible of losing 47 out of 57 Congress seats. There wouldn't have been the weakness there now is, as there could have been a small majority. But Sanchez held off and ended up with the Frankenstein together with Podemos and minor parties holding the thing together. He has now needed to turn to the Cs while, in the view of the PP, turning his back on them. Ines and Xavi were probably right not to have called the baby Pedro. Since the call for volunteers to support the community response to Covid-19 went out in March, 16,957 people have registered to volunteer through the I-VOL app. Mr Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, and Mr Sean Canney TD, Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, have welcomed the fantastic support of volunteers from local communities in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Volunteers are directly linked by their local Volunteer Centres to local organisations responding to Covid-19, conducting a wide range of very important work - from delivering food and medicines to older people who are self-isolating, to those volunteering in Covid test centres. There are also countless volunteers on the ground, helping out family, friends and neighbours. Minister Ring said: I would like to express my deep appreciation for the invaluable work being carried out by volunteers during the Covid-19 emergency. The response to the Covid crisis shows once again what a fantastic resource we have in our volunteers. We need to build on this momentum for the future development of volunteering. As a country we have always depended greatly on the great cohort of volunteers that give so generously of their time and energy year in year out. Unfortunately, many of our volunteers are older people who have been confined to their homes as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Back in March as the crisis was emerging, we called on people to help meet the significant needs at community level and the response has been magnificent. Minister Canney added: Volunteers make a vital contribution to Irish society, developing communities as vibrant, inclusive and sustainable places where people want to live. This volunteering spirit has been so clearly visible in local communities across the country throughout the Covid-19 crisis. The Department of Rural and Community Development provides supports to Volunteer Centres, Volunteer Information Services and other Volunteer Organisations around the country. Volunteer Centres have seen a continuous rise in the numbers of volunteers since the crisis began, with people of all ages stepping up to ensure that vital supports are services continue during this time. Minister Ring said: I am very happy to be in a position to provide the necessary supports to underpin this important work through my Departments collaboration with Volunteer Ireland and the network of Volunteer Centres. Together, we will ensure that the work of these volunteers results in a permanent legacy for the benefit of our communities. During the crisis, the Department has introduced a number of additional measures to provide extra support, including additional funding of 500,000 to Volunteer Centres to support the Covid-19 volunteer efforts, a Covid-19 Communication Pack for Communities, a collection of seven leaflets offering practical advice and information on topics ranging from sensible volunteering to vulnerable persons to the prevention of fraud and theft; a 2.5 million Covid-19Emergency Fund for local authorities to administer to community groups partaking in the Community Call, as well as 40 million support package of supports for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises. The Department is also currently drafting a National Strategy on Volunteering, which includes a National Advisory Group on Volunteering, a collaborative stakeholder engagement group chaired by Minister Canney. As Chair of the National Advisory Group, Minister Canney noted: The National Volunteer Strategy will provide a road map for the future promotion and development of volunteering our communities. The finalised Strategy will take both the positive experiences of volunteering and those lessons learned during the Covid-19 crisis in recognising, supporting and promoting the unique value and contribution of volunteers to Irish society. Hopefully many people have the urge to volunteer now and see the benefits of volunteering not only to their communities but to themselves. Minister Ring concluded: The response to the Covid crisis shows once again what a fantastic resource we have in our volunteers. We need to build on this momentum for the future development of volunteering. I urge people who are in a position to help out to contact their local volunteer Centre. Its really important to remember that volunteering should be done in a safe way so that neither volunteers nor those in need are put at risk. A coal mine in northeastern Czech Republic near the border with Poland has halted work after a major COVID-19 outbreak among the miners. In recent days, tests of some 2,400 people revealed a total of 212 positive for coronavirus, mostly miners from the Darkov mine in the town of Karvina and their family members. It's currently the biggest local outbreak in the country. Ivo Vondrak, the head of the regional government, said Monday that only workers who are necessary to deal with ventilation and water pumping remain in the mine. Local health authorities have limited public gatherings in Karvina county to 100, while it is 300 in the rest of the country. Visits to nursing homes and hospitals are banned The daily increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the entire Czech Republic was 65 on Sunday. A total of 8,957 people have tested positive in the country, while 315 have died. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A detailed investigation of the cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infection among 16 Italian tourists and an Indian was conducted in March-April The novel cornonavirus has a higher rate of transmission among close contacts and thus, public health measures such as physical distancing, personal hygiene and infection control are necessary to prevent its spread, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has reconfirmed. Sharing the findings of the first cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infection among Italian tourists in a study, the ICMR also said testing of close contacts identified infection in presymptomatic and asymptomatic cases, and stressed that the strategy to trace and test close contacts is crucial for early identification and isolation of positive patients to prevent community transmission. A detailed investigation of the cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infection among 16 Italian tourists and an Indian was conducted in March-April, an ICMR study published online in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR) said. A group of 23 Italian tourists reached New Delhi on February 21 and along with three Indians, visited several tourist places in Rajasthan. One of the members from the group, a 69-year-old Italian male (index case), was hospitalised at the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College in Jaipur, with symptoms of fever, cough and difficulty in breathing on February 29, and tested positive for the infection. His 70-year-old wife, who did not have any symptoms, also tested positive for COVID-19 and was isolated, along with him. The remaining 24 members of the group (21 Italians, three Indians) returned to Delhi on March 2 travelling in the same train compartment and were quarantined. All them were initially asymptomatic. Their throat and nasal swabs were collected on March 3 and 15 of them (14 Italians and an Indian) tested positive and were isolated. So by March 3, 17 of the 26 were COVID-19 positive with an attack rate of 65.4 per cent. Of these 17 patients, nine were symptomatic, while eight did not show any symptoms. Of the nine who developed symptoms, six had a mild fever, one was severely and two were critically ill. ALSO READ: China to evacuate its citizens from India amid rising coronavirus cases "The median duration between the day of confirmation for COVID-19 and RT-PCR negativity was 18 days (range: 12-23 days). Two patients died with a case fatality of 11.8 per cent. "This study reconfirms higher rates of transmission among close contacts and therefore, public health measures such as physical distancing, personal hygiene and infection control are necessary to prevent transmission," the apex health research body said. "Our study cluster showed a higher attack rate than that reported in existing literature such as in Diamond Princess Cruise ship (19.2 pc) and Grand Princess Cruise ship (16.6 pc)," which the ICMR said was may be due to the closed environment, high and persistent exposure to the index case during their travel (average of six hours daily for eight days). Except for the index case, all other cases were asymptomatic at the time of testing and nearly half of the positive cases remained asymptomatic throughout the illness, the study highlighted. Proactive COVID-19 testing of close contacts led to the identification and isolation of the asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases, thus preventing further transmission. Older patients with chronic comorbidities progressed to severe or critical illness, as reported in other studies. The proportion of symptomatic patients progressing to severe or critical illness in the cluster was high (3/9, 33.3 pc). The case fatality ratio (CFR) in the affected cluster was 11.5 per cent. "The possible reasons for the CFR being on the higher side could be the higher median age group of the patients and presence of comorbidities," the study said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the Chinese Army has deployed over 5,000 of its troops on the Line of Actual Control at different locations in the Ladakh sector, the Indian Army is also increasing presence of its troops to match their strength and is also enhancing its presence in other areas to deter the People's Liberation Troops from carrying out transgressions in other areas. At present, the Chinese Army has diverted its troops carrying out a massive exercise on their side of the LAC and deployed them at short notice across the Line of Actual Control in the areas under the Indian Army's 81 and 114 ... Two boys, aged 10 and 16, have died and another two were rushed to hospital after their four-wheel drive flipped on a dirt track. The young boys were killed when the Toyota Landcruiser hit a ditch and rolled in Mount Abundance, in southwest Queensland, at 11.50am on Sunday. The 16-year-old driver of the car and one of the passengers, also 16, both suffered serious injuries. Two boys, aged 10 and 16, died and another two were rushed to Roma Hospital after their four-wheel drive flipped on a dirt track in Mount Abundance (pictured), in southwest Queensland, on Sunday A rescue helicopter flew the boys to Roma Hospital, where they are in stable conditions. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. In a two-pronged strategy to secure migrant workers, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to set up a migration commission for the employment of such labourers in the state and made it clear that any state that wants them from UP has to seek its permission. Photograph: Aftab Alam Siddiqui/ANI Photo. With over 23 lakh workers and migrants having returned to the state till Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that a migration commission be set up, according to additional chief secretary (home) Awanish Awasthi. Adityanath also directed officials that migrant workers be given insurance so that their life is secured, Awasthi said. The chief minister suggested that a scheme be launched to ensure their job security. About the commission, Adityanath said it has been proposed to look into various factors associated with migrant workers' rights and to prevent exploitation while providing an official framework to ensure socio-economic-legal support for them. "Insurance, social security, re-employment assistance, provision for unemployment allowance are some of the factors that will be looked into by the commission," he said. Upset that migrant labourers were "not properly taken care of" by various states in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown, Adityanath said, "These workers are our biggest resource and we will give them employment in Uttar Pradesh as the state government is going to set up a panel for their employment." "They are our people... and if some states want them back, they have to seek permission from the state government," he said. There is a need to ensure their socio-legal-monetary rights, the chief minister said. Adityanath had earlier asked officials to do skill mapping of migrant workers so that they can be provided employment once they complete the quarantine period. During an interaction with the RSS-affiliated publications Panchjanya and Organiser on Sunday, he said that as per feedback received from migrant workers who reached Uttar Pradesh, safeguarding their rights should get utmost attention and importance. "All migrant workers are being registered and their skills mapped. Any state or entity interested in inviting migrant workers will need to assure and provide for their socio-legal-monetary rights," he said. CHILDREN and babies who have diseases and abnormalities of the heart, will now for the first time be able to be treated in Limerick, instead of having to travel to Dublin. The establishment of a paediatric cardiology service at UHL will improve patient access and reduce anxiety for families in the Mid-West. Limerick has been designated an Area Childrens Cardiac Centre under the All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network. And the regional service has now commenced through the appointment of Dr Rachel Power as consultant paediatrician with a specialist interest in paediatric cardiology. Nurse specialist Georgina Purcell has also been appointed to support this significant service development.The All-Island Congenital Heart Disease All Island Network was established in March 2015 and is the first clinical network of its kind delivering world-class specialist care irrespective of borders or politics. The Network manages an all-island service delivery model for congenital heart disease in children, building on existing services and drawing them together in a network of care which is patient focused and locally responsive.The establishment of Area Childrens Cardiac Centres, as part of phase two of the All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network, is in keeping with the National Model of Care for Paediatric Healthcare Services in Ireland: to provide access to as many non-interventional cardiology services as possible, for children and families, as close to home as possible. Limerick, along with Cork and Galway, has been designated an Area Childrens Cardiac Centre. The development of a paediatric cardiology service at the University Hospital Limerick Group will improve patient access, decrease the transfer of potentially sick neonates and children to Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin, reduce travel times and ease pressure on families in the Mid-West.Taking up post, Dr Power said she was pleased to be returning to the MidWest after spending much of her career to date in Dublin and the UK. This post with the UL Hospitals Group is especially meaningful for me, coming from Ennis, as it gives me the opportunity to improve services for children and families in my home region.I am excited to deliver modern care in General Paediatrics and Paediatric Cardiology, to the new-borns and children of the Mid-West of Ireland, in a department with a commitment to excellence in clinical care and provision of medical education to the highest international standards, Dr Power said.Dr Siobhan Gallagher, Consultant Paediatrician and Associate Clinical Director, Maternal and Child Health Directorate, UL Hospitals Group, said: We are very pleased to be able to announce Dr Powers appointment and the commencement of a new paediatric cardiology service for the MidWest. Dr Power will working in a multidisciplinary team with specialist nursing and allied health professional staff. This will be a great support for many families who until now have had to travel outside of the region to see a specialist. media editorial offices Open source The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine is launching an online crisis hotline for editorial offices that have suffered in connection with the Covid-19 quarantine. The National Union announced this on its website. The issues included loss of workplaces, reduction of circulation and subscription, debts to printing houses or for broadcasting television and radio signals, loss of advertisers and lack of funds for further activities. Almost every Ukrainian editorial office of a local newspaper, website, or TV and radio company was influenced by the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic and quarantine. But while some media survive due to previous savings, some of the local media are already in a difficult situation. National Union of Journalists of Ukraine is ready to provide legal advice and advice from media experts on solving problematic issues or to mediate in negotiations with local authorities. The Union of Journalists will also address requests for assistance to the government and parliament in order to lobby for the adoption of government decisions in support of the media industry. Our task is to overcome the crisis in the media industry, and it is especially important now to save the local media. By saving local journalism, we protect the right of citizens to access important local reliable information. We invite editors and journalists not to remain silent! Together we will find ways out of a critical situation and a way to influence the authorities, the chairman of the union Serhiy Tomilenko said. It is possible to contact the anti-crisis hotline for the media online through a special form. It is also possible to send letters via e-mail. The Union asks to describe in the appeal with as much detail as possible how critical the situation is in the media (how much debts have already been accumulated, how much the income has decreased compared to the pre-lockdown period, what measures have already been taken in the editorial office and what kind of help is crucial). Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Eleven members of the House of Representatives (Parliament) in Tobruk (East) have expressed support for the initiative of the Speaker of the Parliament, Aguila Saleh, to resolve the Libyan crisis, by restructuring the executive embodied by the Presidential Council, believing that it "carries, as a single bouquet, in its clauses radical solutions to the Libyan crisis" The United Kingdom Government has announced three more charter flights for the evacuation of Britons stranded in the country. The flights are scheduled for May 29 on the Lagos-London; June 1, Lagos-London and June 6, Abuja-London routes. A statement from the British High Commission in Abuja on Sunday, disclosed that a UK-organised special internal charter flight would travel from Port Harcourt to Abuja on June 6 to enable British nationals based in or near Port Harcourt to join the flight from Abuja to London. It noted that more than 1,700 British travellers had already returned to the UK on special charter flights in April and May from Lagos and Abuja. The Minister of State for Africa, James Duddridge, said Britons in Nigeria would now have access to additional repatriation flights, meaning that hundreds more would be able to fly home. Weve already arranged for around 1,700 people to return home to their friends and families and continue to support British nationals who remain in the country, he added. The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, urged eligible UK citizens to book seats on these flights as they are likely to be the last charter flights available. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is scheduled to share the Class 10 result on May 26, 2020 at 12:30 pm. Bihar Board Class 10 result @biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is all set to release the Class 10 board examination result 2020. The BSEB is scheduled to share the Class 10 result on May 26, 2020 at 12:30 pm. BSEB will share the Class 10 result 2020 on its official website @ biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in, BSEB chairman Anand Kishor told the media. This year, more than 15 lakh students gave the Class 10 examination and have been waiting for there result. The result was supposed to be declare in the month of March or April, but due to the novel coronavirus and nationwide lockdown, the BDEB Class 10 results were delayed. Evaluation of answer sheets resumed on May 6 and was culminated last week. Students enrolled under the Bihar Board, who appeared for the Class 10 examination this year, can check their result and mark sheet @ biharboardonline.com once published. How to check, download Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Class 10 result: Students may follow the simple steps mentioned below to know their Bihar BSEB Class 10 result. Step 1: Visit the official of the Bihar School Examination Boards website @ biharboardonline.com. Step 2: Hit the link given for Bihar Board matric result 2020 or Bihar Board Class 10 result Step 3: Login with credentials (roll number, centre code and registration number) Step 4: click on submit button. Step 5: Your result will appear on the screen now. Step 6: Download and save your BSEB Class 7 result for future reference. Here is the direct link to download Bihar School Education Board (BSEB) Class 10 result. http://biharboardonline.com Student may follow the NewsX.com for latest news stories related to the Bihar Board results and other competitive exams. For all the latest Education and Jobs News, download NewsX App The arcs of their careers and personal lives have for years run on parallel tracks, like twin strands of DNA, winding from the military to test pilot school to the same NASA astronaut class, where both met their wives. Now Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are about to fly together in one of the most important launches NASA has attempted in years: a crewed test flight of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station. The mission would be the first launch of NASA astronauts from U.S. soil since the space shuttle was retired in 2011, and the first by a private company of people to orbit. Scheduled for Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, it would be the culmination of a long journey - for NASA, for SpaceX and for a pair of the agency's most seasoned astronauts, who have marched together in unusual lockstep to get to this point. GOING ALL IN: As it prepares to fly humans, Elon Musk's SpaceX faces the biggest challenge in its history Both are former military pilots who achieved the rank of colonel - Hurley in the Marine Corps, Behnken in the Air Force. Both were accepted to the NASA astronaut class of 2000 on their first try. Both have been to space twice before. Both are fathers to a young boy. Behnken is married to Megan McArthur, a NASA astronaut and oceanographer; Hurley is married to Karen Nyberg, who recently retired from the NASA astronaut corps. The couples joke that they often thank the head of the astronaut selection committee "for doing a great job of selecting spouses for us," McArthur said. In the past, NASA's astronauts may have been pitted against each other in ruthless competition for flight assignments, preening for the cameras and strutting their ego-fueled "Right Stuff" to orbit and back, always eager to get ahead. HOUSTON PREVIEW: Plan your own SpaceX launch watch party with Space Center Houston But Behnken and Hurley - Bob and Doug, as most everyone calls them - are more like a couple of self-effacing old pals, with an easygoing relationship shaped by a shared history that includes serving in each other's weddings and having trained side by side for this mission for five years. Their rapport, in the cockpit and in training, is fueled by trust and an intimate sense of each other, people who know them say, a sort of fraternal bond that allows them to tease each other as well as finish each other's sentences. It gives them a late-night-talk-show kind of chemistry, at turns goofy and sincere. Hurley is the obsessive-compulsive Marine, with a crisp flat-top, a penchant for order and a "repository" of "useless information," Behnken said. "He's the trivia master between the two of us." MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox "Doug's worst habits?" Behnken said during a NASA promo video. "He's got a tighter sense of hygiene than I do." Their bond was evident earlier this month, when the pair, having finished yet another news conference, were sitting through questions asked through NASA's Instagram account, moving from ribbing to supporting each other in the span of a couple of minutes Hurley held his phone, scrolling. "How long did it take you to become an astronaut, Bob?" he asked, reading one of the questions. "Well, I was born in 1970, and I became an astronaut in 2000, so it took about 30 years," Behnken deadpanned. It was a wisecrack of an answer, a flair of wit after a long day of meetings and a news conference and now this social media hit. HEARTWARMING READ: Astronauts find ways to talk to their kids about the joy - and risks - of blasting off into space Hurley couldn't help himself from cracking up in laughter. "It took Doug longer," Behnken said, teasing his friend, still straight-faced. "No!" Hurley said. Then conceded: "Like, two years longer." "Yeah, two years is two years." Finally serious, Behnken traced his career: test pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base, "I got an engineering education," he said, "and a degree in physics - " "You got a PhD from Caltech!" Hurley interrupted. "I did." That kind of connection will serve them well on the upcoming mission, a risky test flight NASA officials say they were made for. The Crew Dragon spacecraft has flown just once before, in an uncrewed mission last year that officials from NASA and SpaceX said went flawlessly. But then the same spacecraft that flew to the space station and back exploded during a test of its emergency abort engines. It was a fiery setback that drove home the dangers of the mission to NASA as well as SpaceX. "I wanted to make sure everyone at SpaceX understood and knew Bob and Doug as astronauts, as test pilots - badass - but also as dads and husbands," said Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president and chief operating officer. "I wanted to bring some humanity to this very deeply technical effort as well." One of the ways the company has done that, she said, was an idea that came from a technician, who "wanted to make sure that we had pictures of Bob and Doug on the work orders." Behnken has said his 6-year-old son, Theo, was nervous about him flying, and his astronaut parents have worked to make their extraordinary lives seem regular. "We try to make it as normal-seeming as possible," McArthur said in an interview. "We just talk about it as something that Mommy and Daddy do. This is our job. We've shown him videos of people living aboard the space station. We've taken him to see rockets launch from the Kennedy Space Center." It's still not clear how long the astronauts will be on the station. NASA has said the mission will last roughly between one month and four. Behnken flew on the space shuttle twice, once in 2008 and again two years later, spending a total of more than 708 hours in space and performing six spacewalks. In the Air Force, he flew more than 25 different kinds of aircraft, including as a test engineer for the F-22 Raptor. When he arrived at the Kennedy Space Center last week, he said he was excited by the mission, not just because of its historic significance, but also because it is the first flight of the spacecraft with crews. "As graduates of military test pilot schools, if you gave us one thing that we could have put on our list of dream jobs that we would have gotten to have someday, it would have been to be aboard a new spacecraft and conduct a test mission" Behnken said. Being on the ground, however, watching while the engines ignite and fire comes blasting out, will be far more difficult. "One of the hardest things to do is watch the person that you love launch into space," McArthur said. "It's much harder than actually doing it yourself when you're in the rocket. You have the training. You're prepared for the mission. "When you're watching, you're just a spectator. And no matter what happens, there's nothing you can do to contribute to the situation." Hurley is also a veteran of two shuttle missions, including the very last one, which brought a 30-year era to an end and signified a moment of transition for NASA. The day after the shuttle landed, hundreds lost their jobs, and NASA was suddenly unable to fly astronauts anywhere. "I remember when we landed just before dawn, but we were still in the vehicle as the sun came up," Hurley recalled. "People were walking up to the vehicle, and it was their last day, in many cases, of work. You felt like you had to honor those people." Asked on NASA's promo video what they were looking forward to most, Behnken said he expected the crescendo of their mission to end with a bit of seasickness christening once it's over and they splash down into the ocean. "I'm expecting a little bit of vomiting maybe to happen in the end," Behnken said, "so when we get to do that in the water together - it's kind of a weird thing to say - but I'm looking for that kind of celebratory event." Hurley said he was looking forward to just being there in the spacecraft, sitting next to Behnken. "We've been close friends since we started as astronauts almost 20 years ago," he said, "so being lucky enough to get to fly with your best friend is kind of a - I think there's a lot of people that wish they could do that, and we're lucky enough to do it. "We spent a ton of time together. We could have gone two directions with that. We could have gotten to the point where we didn't want to be around each other, or we're closer. So I think just the whole experience for me is what we're looking for. "And then, yes, the celebratory vomiting at the end of the mission." Friends and family are mourning a woman who was mauled to death by her French bulldog. A friend found Lisa Urso, 52, unresponsive on the patio behind her Ingleside home in the US state of Illinois, on the evening of May 9. Lake County Coroner Dr Howard Cooper said Ms Urso had recently adopted the dog, which had been bred to fight. The dog attacked Ms Urso inside her home, but she made it out to her patio, where she died. Dr Cooper said Ms Urso suffered many bite wounds and scratches on her legs, arms and torso. A final autopsy is still pending. Friends of Lisa Urso, 52, say she loved animals. Source: WFLA Ms Ursos friend Jayne Petty told CNN the 52-year-old was an amazing soul. "She put her animals above everyone and called them her 'four legged children', Ms Petty told CNN. Robin Van Sickle, program manager at the Lake County Animal Care and Control centre, told CNN there was nothing that suggested Ms Ursos home was anything but typically pet friendly. Ms Urso owned three dogs but its believed Blue, a French bulldog-mix, is the one who killed her. Lake County Police Commander Dawn Deservi said Blue was known to authorities as he had bitten Ms Ursos boyfriend twice once on April 13 and again on April 21. The second time he was kept in a kennel for 10 days but Ms Van Sickle said Blue didnt show any aggression. Ms Urso owned three dogs. Source: CBS Chicago She added because both bites occurred at home, there wasnt a concern for public safety and Blue was allowed to return to Ms Urso on April 30. Dr Cooper told ABC 7, Blue weighed 24kg. "A lot of people are thinking that this was a very small dog, and people don't understand, this dog weighed 55 pounds (24kg)," he said. "It's still a substantial size dog." Blue was put down on May 19 while the other two dogs will be re-homed. with Associated Press 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. Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda flew in from Delhi to Bengaluru but did not proceed for the mandatory one week of institutional quarantine followed by another week of quarantine at home mandated by the state government. The minister for chemicals and fertilisers soon after arrival left in a private car even as other passengers were sent to compulsory one week of institutional quarantine mandated by the Karnataka government for any passengers coming from high risk states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. Gowda, speaking to the media, claimed that being a minister he was exempt from the quarantine rules. He accused the media of unnecessarily blowing up the issue. I am also looking after Pharma. It is my duty to ensure that there is no shortage of medicine supply in the country. If I dont do that then the number of cases will double, he said, adding ,If doctors are quarantined, if people who supply medicines are quarantined, how will we beat the virus? His assistant claimed that Gowda had come with a negative Covid-19 test report conducted by an ICMR approved lab but refused to elaborate further. In an SOP released shortly after the controversy erupted, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, state commissioner of health and family welfare, said, The ministers of union government or state governments or officers on their official duty who are travelling across states will be exempted from the requirements of quarantine as has been done for health professionals and others. The Karnataka Congress, however, questioned the union minister giving the quarantine a go-by. (Sadananda Gowda) flouts all Covid norms, lands from Delhi and walks away without quarantine period. The Karnataka government rules have no exemption for anyone. How come he comes up with his own rules? Is he not putting all his primary contacts under health risk? Why no action? tweeted the Karnataka Congress. BJP spokesperson, Prakash, said the minister has already clarified his stand on the issue. Prince Harry is not as strong as Meghan Markle, that is what a royal author implied. If Meghan Markle survived the UK despite being an actress hailing from a different continent, Prince Harry might not. Prince Harry will not find it easy to adjust to life in Los Angeles, no matter if he has wife Meghan Markle and child, baby Archie by his side. According to the royal commentator, Tom Quinn, the Duke of Sussex, will end up being a lost soul. He then compared Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. According to him, Harry is not as strong as Meghan. "It will be far worse for Harry in America than Meghan in England. Because he's not as tough as she is." Quinn shared this on Channel 5's "Harry & Meghan: Two Troubled Years." The documentary focused on how the prince and the previous "Suits" star will make a new life for themselves now that they are no longer senior royals. The two have officially stepped down at the end of March 2020. Quinn is quite an expert on royal matters. He has been a royal commentator for years. In fact, he released a new book on May 23, entitled "Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle." Whether this is true or not remains to be seen. For Princess Diana's biographer, Andrew Morton, the couple is likely to become the "flavor of the year" in California. If this is what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wanted, then their LA stay would be fruitful and enjoyable. Morton added that for the rest of the year, the two will be quite popular. People will want to see them and find out more things about them, especially the rich and the famous. "They'll find there are a lot of millionaires with private jets who breakfast in New York and dine in LA. That will be the crowd they will be mixing with," he told the Sunday Times. Quinn's analysis also ran in contrast to some of the analyses made by insiders. According to one source really close to the couple, Meghan is feeling herself the moment she moved back to LA. She is reportedly "content and happy." This does not mean Prince Harry is excluded. The source added that both of them are adjusting quickly to their new life. They also recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary quietly but meaningfully. Meghan allegedly gave a personalized card with "a beautiful, sentimental message" to Prince Harry. In return, Prince Harry surprised Meghan with a massive bouquet of roses plus a ring that the Duchess loves so much. Even though the world outside is chaotic and quite uncertain, the two are doing fine in their bubble. "The most important thing to them was that they got to enjoy each other's company without any interruption from the outside world," the insider added. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle news have been quite erratic since Megxit, with some reporting the two being worried and regretful, while others are reporting them having a great time adjusting to their new lives. Their fans can know only for sure how the two would fare in LA once the crisis is over, and the world ceases being stagnant. READ MORE:Queen Heartbreak: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle SHAMED By Politician New Delhi: There will be no delay in delivery of 36 Rafale jets to India as the timeline finalised for the supply of the fighter jets will be strictly respected, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said. India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. "The contractual delivery schedule of the Rafale jets has been perfectly respected till now, and, in fact, a new aircraft was handed over to the Indian Air Force in end-April in France, in keeping with the contract," Lenain told PTI. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received the first Rafale jet at an airbase in France on October 8. "We are helping the Indian Air Force in arranging for the ferry flight of their first four Rafales from France to India as soon as possible. So there's no reason today to speculate that the schedule will not be maintained," the envoy said. France is reeling under swelling cases of coronavirus and has emerged as one of the worst-hit in Europe. Over 1,45,000 people were infected by the virus while the death toll stood at 28,330. There were apprehensions that the delivery of Rafale jets could be delayed due to the pandemic. However, Lenain asserted that the original timeline for delivery of the jets will be adhered to. The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Meteor is the next generation of BVR air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. Besides the missile systems, the Rafale jets will come with various India-specific modifications, including Israeli helmet-mounted displays, radar warning receivers, low band jammers, 10-hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking systems. The IAF has already completed preparations, including readying required infrastructure and training of pilots, to welcome the fighter aircraft. The first squadron of the aircraft will be stationed at Ambala air force station, considered one of the most strategically located bases of the IAF. The Indo-Pak border is around 220 km from there. The second squadron of Rafale will be stationed at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The IAF spent around Rs 400 crore to develop required infrastructure like shelters, hangars and maintenance facilities at the two bases. Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater with almost all the features of the fighter jets. The Congress raised questions about the deal, including on rates of the aircraft, and alleged corruption, but the government has rejected the charges. Sandfire Resourcesis set to resume exploration activity in Botswana by early June after the government announced a phased ending of COVID-19 restrictions.The company said plans are underway for a staged restart of exploration activity that should see resource drilling at its A4 discovery resume in the next few weeks.The company also said it had executed a binding agreement with Australian explorer Kopore Metals to acquire a ~6,700 km land package in Namibia.The licences for the package are located immediately along strike to the west of Sandfires Tshukudu licences in Botswana and cover a large, underexplored area within the western part of the Kalahari Copper Belt.Shares in Sandfire Resourcesare trading 2.7 per cent higher at $4.52. A Trenton man wounded early Sunday during a shooting at a Bucks County, Pennsylvania hotel later died of his injuries, police said Monday. Davon Frink, 25, was among a group of Trenton residents who rented several rooms at the Holiday Inn Express on Cabot Boulevard off Oxford Valley Road Saturday night, Falls police said. At about 1 a.m., police responded to a shooting at the hotel and encountered several people leaving the hotel, and evidence of gunfire. They found Frink in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds to his face and neck. He died later Sunday at a Bucks County hospital. No charges or arrests were announced Monday. Falls police said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information for investigators can contact Falls Detective John Vella at 215-949-9100 x431 or his email at j.vella@fallstwp.com. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Over the weekend, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye donated an ambulance and other health equipment to Suntreso Government Hospital in Kumasi. The items included ambulance, hospital beds, infra red thermometer, metallic sterilizer, and other Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs). He indicated that the deplorable nature of the hospital and due to lack of an ambulance for the facility informed his decision to make this donation to assist the hospital to deal effectively with emergency cases in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Thomas Agyarko-Poku thanked the Deputy Chief of Staff for this generous intervention. He revealed that this is the sixth time Mr. Asenso-Boakye has come to the aid of the Hospital. "Anytime they call upon him to assist them, he always honour their request Mr Agyarko said. He indicated that the ambulance has come at the time the hospital is in die need of a means of transport to carry their patients considering the coronavirus pandemic. He also assured him that the ambulance will be put to effective use to improve the health service delivery within Bantama and its environs. The Mayor of Kumasi, Hon Osei Assibey Antwi speaking at the event thanked the Deputy Chief of Staff for the kind gesture, and reminded the people that they all development agent. In view of this, he urged the people to follow his good example to bring development to their communities. He also recounted the various development interventions being undertaken by the Deputy Chief of Staff within the Bantama constituency. These include donation of hospital equipment to KATH and Suntreso hospitals; distribution of computers and other educational materials to the various schools in the constituency; the construction of first-ever basic school for Ohwim-Hwidiem community; construction of a modern astroturf pitch for the people of Bantama among other development projects. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video It was late and Martin A Kits van Heyningen feared he was letting the team down at the company he co-founded, KVH Industries. Rather than lay off workers in response to the coronavirus pandemic, he had decided to cut salaries, and when he emailed a video explaining his decision at 3 am last month, he was prepared for a barrage of complaints. Instead, he woke to an outpouring of support from employees that left him elated. To track all live updates from the coronavirus pandemic, click here It was one of the hardest things Ive done, but it turned out to be the best day of my life at work, said Kits van Heyningen. I was trying to keep their morale up. Instead, they kept my morale up. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Even as American employers let tens of millions of workers go, some companies are choosing a different path. By instituting across-the-board salary reductions, especially at senior levels, they have avoided layoffs. The ranks of those forgoing job cuts and furloughs include major employers like HCA Healthcare, a hospital chain, and Aon, a London-based global professional services firm with a regional headquarters in Chicago. Chemours, a specialty chemical maker in Wilmington, Delaware, cut pay by 30 percent for senior management and preserved jobs. Others that managed to avoid layoffs include smaller companies like KVH, a maker of mobile connectivity and navigation systems that employs 600 globally and is based in Middletown, Rhode Island. The trend is a reversal of traditional management theory, which held that salaries were sacred and it was better to cut positions and dismiss a limited number of workers than to lower pay for everyone during downturns. There is often a genuine desire to protect employees, but long-term financial interests are a major consideration as well, said Donald Delves, a compensation expert with Willis Towers Watson. A lot has happened in the last 10 years, Delves said. Companies learned the hard way that once you lay off a bunch of people, its expensive and time-consuming to hire them back. Employees are not interchangeable. A recent study by The Conference Board with Semler Brossy, an executive compensation research firm, and Esgauge, a data analytics firm, found that 537 public companies had cut pay of senior management since the crisis began. The study did not specify whether any had also cut jobs, however. To be sure, if the crisis lasts longer than expected and the economy keeps shrinking, it is possible these salary reductions will not be enough to stave off job cuts. Other large corporations have cut salaries as well as jobs to stem coronavirus-related losses. Still, the sudden nature of the economic threat has created a different mind-set among some managers than existed during the last recession, Delves said. Some companies did try to cut pay rather than jobs back then, but the impulse seems more widespread now. What were seeing this time around is more of a sense of shared sacrifice and shared pain, he added. When the pandemic hit, HCA was increasing revenue and adding employees, said its Chief Executive, Sam Hazen, and to put them out on the street because of some virus just wasnt something I was going to do. With stay-at-home orders covering much of the country and bans on elective surgery in many states, HCAs hospitals were left with a revenue shortfall. The company suspended its share repurchases and quarterly dividend to bolster its financial position, and it reduced capital spending. Hazen donated his salary for April and May to an internal fund for employees in distress, while senior management took a 30 percent pay cut. White-collar employees at lower levels saw their compensation reduced by 10 percent to 20 percent. All in all, about 15,000 employees were affected, out of a total of 275,000. The company does not expect the pay reductions to extend beyond June. HCA also created a pandemic pay programme that allowed more than 120,000 non-executive hospital employees to receive 70 percent of what they earned before the virus hit. Employees, including union members, are also being asked to forgo a raise this year. We needed our people to have as much peace of mind as possible, Hazen said. Our culture is centered on taking care of our employees. This is an opportunity to further differentiate our culture with our people and with our communities. Certainly, for chief executives and the highest-ranking officers, salary cuts are not as painful as it would first appear. Thats because for most, the bulk of their compensation comes in stock awards, said Amit Batish, Manager of Content and Communications for Equilar, a private research firm that tracks executive pay. Salaries are a drop in the bucket for most executives, but it does send the message that we are helping out the organisation, he said. Still, the fact that a few companies were able to avoid layoffs by reducing salaries raises the question of whether more businesses could have averted job cuts in the last two months. With government unemployment benefits available for laid-off workers, many US companies were quick to cut their workforces, said Kathryn Neel, a managing Director at Semler Brossy. In European countries, where wages were subsidised, they managed to keep more people on the payroll, she added. At KVH Industries, Ronda Vye was not demoralised by the pay cut she was relieved. Although her 10 percent salary reduction hurts, said Vye, a director of digital marketing, its manageable and everyone is thankful to know they have a job. Id much rather take a pay cut than see one of my fellow employees lose a job, especially in this economic environment, she added. Where are they going to find work? Vye said she did not know how long the cut would last but had told her team it could extend through the end of the year. KVH is a fraction of the size of Aon or HCA, but Kits van Heyningen employed a tiered system for the salary reductions at his company. Senior managers took a 15 percent to 25 percent pay cut, while lower-level employees faced a 10 percent trim. Employees earning less than $50,000 were spared any reduction. Wed never done a pay cut before, said Kits van Heyningen, who started the company in his parents basement more than three decades ago. A lot of people thought it would be a huge hit to morale. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here When the initial responses poured in the morning after he emailed the video, Kits van Heyningen said he felt like George Bailey in Its a Wonderful Life, the 1946 film in which the town of Bedford Falls comes together to support the Jimmy Stewart character and his bank, Bailey Bros Building & Loan. In this case, the employees were coming together to support KVH and one another. I had hundreds of emails, he said. Workers earning less than $50,000 were asking if they could participate. People really feel like they are in it together. c.2020 The New York Times Company Free parking will be scrapped across Sydney on Monday after a two month hiatus following the outbreak of coronavirus. At the end of March parking restrictions were eased across the country but are now being reinforced as rates of COVID-19 drop and people return to work. The City of Sydney council announced parking inspectors would be back in full force on May 25 to 'ensure everyone has safe, fair and equal access to parking'. The 1,400 free parking permits that were issued to emergency service workers will remain valid until June 30. Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth have also brought back parking restrictions. Free parking will be scrapped for drivers across Sydney on Monday after a two month hiatus following the outbreak of coronavirus 'Feedback from residents and businesses tells us it is now appropriate to resume enforcing parking restrictions so parking is fairly distributed for everyone,' the City of Sydney council said. 'This means you must park legally, follow the parking signs and pay for parking in ticketed areas in the City of Sydney area. 'We will continue to support and prioritise emergency services staff with free on-street parking and free 24-hour access to our Kings Cross and Goulburn Street car parks.' On March 24, Sydney and Melbourne scrapped parking penalties, adding they would only be enforced if there was a public or environmental risk. On March 24, Sydney and Melbourne scrapped parking penalties, adding they would only be enforced if there was a public or environmental risk (file image) Parking fines were reinforced in Melbourne on May 11. CITIES RESUME PARKING RESTRICTIONS Sydney will reinforce parking fines on May 25 after scrapping restrictions on March 24 Melbourne resumed parking enforcement on May 11 Brisbane parking metres were switched back on on May 18 Perth motorists were told the council would be issuing cautions for overstay parking limits from May 4 Darwin will resume parking fines for CBD parks on June 30 Hobart offered free parking for certain hospital staff Adelaide offered an $8 flat rate of parking in the CBD Residents in Canberra can park outside cafes and restaurants for 15 minutes for takeaway food and drink Advertisement The City of Melbourne had waived parking restrictions for more than 8,700 spaces with green signs to assist key workers during the crisis. The decision slashed a key source of revenue for the council, with Melbourne normally recording a million parking payments every month. 'Parking enforcement is a necessary and important service to ensure that all drivers have fair access to car parks,' Lord Mayor Sally Capp said. 'While nobody likes to pay for parking or receive a fine, our experience tells us that most people understand the need for this system.' 'We are issuing green dashboard stickers for up to 8,000 frontline workers to recognise their role in responding to COVID-19,' Ms Capp said. In Brisbane, parking metres across the city were switched back on on May 18. Residents in Brisbane were estimated to have saved about $2.55 million in parking fees in the weeks since the parking metres were switched off in March. Perth motorists were told that from May 4 council would be issuing cautions for overstaying parking limits and fines for repeated breaches. Several other cities have reinforced parking regulations including Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane Darwin waived parking fees and charges for CBD on-street parking on March 18 but this will end on June 30. Hobart has also offered free parking for specific hospital workers. On April 1, Adelaide City Council introduced a new touch-free parking online service, offering a reduced cost of $8 all day across the city's nine UPark locations. Canberrans have been permitted to park for 15 minutes for free in restaurant and cafe precincts to collect takeaway food and drink from April 3, however a $123 fine applies to anyone caught exceeding the allocated time frame. Have you ever watched the latest blockbuster and felt it was not as great as some people were saying? Was it because of the music, the storyline, or was it maybe due to something more complex, like the message it was sending about women? You are not the only one to have felt this way. In fact, one person felt so strongly about sexist roles women are sometimes given in works of fiction that she developed a test to detect these problems. Her name was Alison Bechdel, and she invented the Bechdel test. To pass the Bechdel test, a work of fiction must feature a few key things. It must have at least two women in it, these women must talk to each other, and their conversation has to be about something other than a man. Bechdel History Image credit: wikimedia.org Alison Bechdel first described her test in 1985, in her comic strip series called Dykes to Watch Out For, which ran from 1983 to 2008. Since its popularization, the test has become a benchmark of sorts. Some people see the Bechdel test as a beneficial way to quickly determine if something like a movie displays a gender bias. Well-read sites and magazines like Indiewire.com and The New Yorker have both posted articles linked to the test. Indiewire.coms post entitled Bechdel Test 2017 Breakdown: Which Blockbusters Passed, Failed, and What Needs to Happen Next listed all the best movies from 2017 and where they sit in terms of womens roles. The New Yorker gathered many readers with its post on the same topic but related to the Oscar nominees in 2018. Is the test really all it is cracked up to be, however? Some feel it is far from perfect. In fact, sometimes the Bechdel test can be a misleading gauge of feminism in movies. For example, Gravity featuring a female astronaut, played by Sandra Bullock, doesnt pass the test, but Legally Blonde does, simply because Elle and her friend talk about their dogs in a scene or two. This goes to show that the test does not measure the artistry or gender equality within a film, but rather represents a superficial measure of the value of a film, wrote Anna Waletzko in the Huffington Post. Waletzko goes on to explain that in her view, the Bechdel Test is much too two-dimensional and unnuanced to accurately measure any message of female empowerment in movies. What do we think? While the Bechdel test may not be the best way to dissect a piece of fiction for gender bias, it could be a good place to start from. Why it Matters Does anyone besides Alison Bechdel really care how women are portrayed in movies and books? The answer to that is, yes. Or, at least, we probably should. Research shows that girls with lower self-esteem are much more likely to engage in risky behavior such as bullying, self-harm, smoking, and drinking. Works of fiction with strong female characters can inspire readers to be like them, and this can boost girls confidence. Sally Green writing for the Irish Times explains how the book series The Swallows and Amazons had female characters that convinced her she could partake in traditionally male activities like camping and hunting in real life. Unfortunately, a vast amount of popular works of fiction either in print or on screen fail the Bechdel test. Waletzko points out that only three out of eight nominees for best picture at the 2014 Academy Awards passed the Bechdel test, and the 2011 Hollywood Diversity report from the Bunche Center at the University of California, Los Angeles found that only 25.6% of the actors in movies made in Hollywood that year were females. The rest were all men. If we listen, we can likely learn from what the Bechdel test is telling us. It could potentially make the world a better place? BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- While Chinese lawmakers are deliberating a draft decision to introduce national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), some foreign politicians like Mike Pompeo and Nancy Pelosi cannot wait to interfere. Their preposterous behaviors, predictable as always, fully exposed the political scheme of external forces in interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs. Supported by such external forces, extremist organizations advocating the so-called "Hong Kong independence" and radical separatist forces have committed shocking violent crimes that are in the nature of terrorism since the disturbance following the now-withdrawn ordinance amendments in 2019. The rampant violence severely undermined China's national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. No country would ever turn a blind eye to actions severely undermining its national security. For example, it is hard to imagine that the United States would allow any of its cities to remain unguarded in terms of national security or tolerate arbitrary interference by hostile foreign forces in its domestic affairs. In fact, foreign countries like the United States and Britain have been equipped with the most sophisticated laws on national security. There has been an unusual absence of applicable national security legislation in Hong Kong since its return to China, and some foreign politicians argued that Hong Kong should stay that way. They chose to neglect the universal practice that enacting national security laws falls within a state's legislative power and distorted the draft decision with old rhetoric under the guise of democracy, freedom and human rights. But the last thing they care about is the actual interests and well-being of Hong Kong residents, who have been suffering greatly from escalating violent terrorist activities. To some Western politicians' logic, "democracy, freedom and human rights" of rioters deserve to have better protection than those of the general public. What foreign anti-China politicians should really keep in mind is that Hong Kong is a local administrative region of China, and any interference in China's Hong Kong affairs is doomed to fail. By Soumitra S. Bhuyan and David K. Wyant With the federal governments enactment of an emergency paid sick leave law to help slow COVID-19, the pandemic has put a spotlight on what should be a major policy concern in America. The Trump Administration passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to extend sick-leave benefits to workers. Still, millions of Americans working in the fast-food industry and retail sector among others have no protections under the new law. Under the FFCRA, American private employers with fewer than 500 employees receive full tax credit reimbursement for the cost of employee sick leave related to COVID-19. This allows employers to continue paying these workers and avoids forcing workers to choose between their paychecks and staying home to help contain the virus. A recent survey in 2019 found that 53% of hourly service sector workers at 91 large American companies lack access to paid sick leave. Many of the major national fast-food chains, grocery stores, retail, hospitality, delivery service providers have more than 500 employees. For example, 78% of workers surveyed in McDonalds have no paid sick leave. In response to COVID-19, McDonalds is now offering 14 days of sick leave for employees at corporate-own stores, however, 95% of the McDonalds locations are owned by an independent franchise. Many of these franchises have more than 500 employees. Similarly, Walmart enacted special sick leave policies for COVID-19. However, the workers are only eligible for paid sick leave if they get diagnosed with COVID-19 or formally placed into quarantine by a government agency or by Walmart. With the significant delays in testing and guidelines for voluntary quarantine, many of these workers may still show up, even if they may feel sick, to avoid losing wages or losing their jobs. The United States needs a more permanent solution. Before the enactment of FFCRA, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced a new emergency paid sick leave bill in the House and Senate that would mandate seven days of paid sick leave to all workers, plus an additional 14 days during a public health emergency such as COVID-19. So why do employers resist providing paid sick leave without a legal requirement? Although most economists prefer solving problems through market-oriented policies, many also recognize that markets can be inefficient when a firms self-interested behavior is harmful. Paying sick leave represents an additional cost that makes it more difficult for a company to keep its prices competitive. A firms management might recognize a risk that sick workers could spread disease and disrupt the firms ability to provide services. But, that firm might still choose not to pay for sick leave and bear the risk of a catastrophic event. However, if all firms must provide sick leave, the competitive disadvantage on any one firm is not as great, and the law serves to level the playing field. For example, when employers choose not to provide paid sick leave, there are external effects on anyone who contracts the disease because a sick worker did not stay home. These could include coworkers, customers, and individuals exposed during the sick workers commute, not to mention secondary exposures as those exposed transmit the disease to others. These external effects are borne both by individuals and by their employers. Economists often suggest that public policies, such as new laws, are appropriate to remove or internalize these external effects. In this case, a law requiring employers to provide sick leave would reduce the adverse effects that occur to individuals and other firms throughout society. In addition to potential cost savings in the workplace, paid sick leave will likely generate savings in health care costs. One study published in the journal Vaccine found that paid sick leave is associated with a 30% greater likelihood of being vaccinated against influenza. Allowing employees with flu to stay home can reduce the spread of workplace influenza infections by 25.3% for leave of 1 flu day and 39.2% for leave of 2 flu days. Another study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine found that among U.S. private sector working adults, the availability of paid sick leave is associated with fewer costly emergency department visits. Since Laurie Garretts book The Coming Plague in 1994, it has been clear that emerging infectious diseases will be a significant and recurring threat to the United States. We are the only country in the developed world without a federal regulation for paid sick leave. Given this threat, efforts to protect our country through effective responses should consider the importance of paid sick leave, especially for low-income workers. Soumitra S. Bhuyan, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Health Administration at Edward J. Bloustien School of Planning and Public Policy and a faculty associate at Rutgers Urban & Civics Informatics Lab at Rutgers University. Dr. Bhuyan is also an Associate Editor at BMJ Global Health. David K. Wyant, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Management, The Jack C. Massey College of Business, Belmont University, Nashville Tennessee. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A Muslim man has been arrested by the UK police for breaking into a gurdwara in an area in eastern England where a stabbing incident was reported earlier. Guru Arjan Gurdwara on Stanhope Street in Derbyshire reported a break-in to Derbyshire Police after its front doors were found smashed in the early hours of Monday morning. "From the evidence obtained thus far, the male's attire and the note which was left (behind), (it) appears that he is of Muslim background," the gurdwara said in a Facebook post. "This is an area with a multicultural community, where all have lived and worked together for many years. Especially during these times, faith-based charities have been at the forefront. This incident nor this message will create any tension between relations, but how you react to this will," it added. Urging for calm, the gurudwara said an individual or a small group was probably behind the incident. "We should not malign the whole Muslim community and therefore request people to refrain from such posts," it added. According to local media reports, police believe the break-in is linked to a stabbing nearby on Normanton Road. In the incident, a 41-year-old man was found unconscious with stab wounds after he was attacked in Polanica Polish delicatessen, a food outlet. The man arrested in relation to the deli incident is now believed to have been arrested on suspicion of burglary in relation to the temple break-in. Local police said they do not believe anyone else was involved in the incidents but that investigation remains ongoing, 'Derbyshire Live' reported. Derbyshire Police Superintendent Gareth Meadows said: I would like to thank the Sikh community and the local people in Normanton for their assistance with our enquiries. "Our officers remain in the area. If you have any information in relation to these two incidents please speak to the officers or contact us using the methods stated, he said. British Sikh parliamentarian, Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill, said in a Twitter statement: Very sad to see an attack on any place of worship. Thoughts are with the Derby sangat who have been providing 500 meals a day from Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara." Local Derby city councillor Baggy Shanker, who is a member of the gurdwara, described the attack as "cowardly". He said: The police need to act promptly to deal with this individual and bring him to justice. Derby's communities have a very long and good understanding of each other's values and share the utmost respect for people's beliefs. "This isolated issue is not any reflection on that and must be treated with firmly and quickly, Shanker said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man has been jailed for four years, with the final year suspended for ten years, for the botched circumcision of a 10-month-old Longford baby. Philip Ogbewe, Green Lanes, Drogheda, Co Louth, appeared at Longford Circuit Court last week charged with intentionally and recklessly engaging in misconduct, namely the circumcision of a young Longford boy, and falsely representing to be a medical practitioner. The court heard that, on December 4, 2015, Mr Ogbewe, who is originally from Nigeria, but has been living in Ireland for 20 years, performed the cultural circumcision on a ten-month-old baby, without anaesthetic, while the child was being held down. Later, the mother noticed a lot of blood in the baby's nappy and he was rushed to hospital, where he was cared for. He made a full recovery but his parents, who thought Mr Ogbewe was a doctor, described the incident as a terrible episode in their lives. This is a serious case with the accused claiming to have the expertise to perform circumcisions when clearly he did not and was not, as required by law, a registered medical practitioner, said Judge Johnson, passing judgement this afternoon. The barbarity and cruelty involved in the performance of circumcision on a 10-month-old child without anesthesia is both shocking and unacceptable. While it is accepted that the accused did not intentionally cause harm or endanger the infanct child, nevertheless the manner in which the procedure was performed, in the courts view, puts the recklessness involved at the upper end for sentencing purposes. The court, in imposing sentence in a case such as this, is obligated to impose a significant sanction, not only to punish the accused, but also to deter others who might be engaged in such illicit practices. The maximum sentence for endangerment is seven years, Judge Johnson revealed; In my view, the Oireachtas should consider revisiting the sanction as it would seem, given the broad spectrum of offences that can be covered by the section to be too restrictive and should have a higher maximum sentence, he said. In any event, the court is constrained by the current legislation. Taking into account aggravating and mitigating factors, Judge Johnson sentenced Mr Ogbewe to four years in prison, suspending the final year for ten years on the following conditions: That the accused enter into a bond of 500 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a period of 10 years post-release That the accused submit to supervision by the probation service for a period of 12 months post-release and follows all directions given him by the probation service in dealing with his offending behaviour That the accused refrain from carrying out any further medical procedures of any nature of kind whatsoever and further refrains from holding himself out as a medical practitioner either directly or indirectly. Circumcision was 'a barbaric act of cruelty': Man pleads guilty to endangering the life of a Longford baby The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank (WB) will from Tuesday begin conducting a Business Tracker Survey from tomorrow to track the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on businesses in Ghana. A statement issued by the Ghana Statistical Service reveals the exercises will last for 25 days. "The survey (business tracker) which involves the use of telephone interviews for data collection will identify and measure the impact of the coronavirus disease on small, medium, and large scale establishments operating in the country," it said. The survey will also assess measures put in place by businesses to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 as well as efforts to build better recovery for businesses, it added. The outcome of the survey will enable government and development partners to come out with measures to alleviate the impact of the disease on businesses. Commenting on the survey, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician noted that results from the survey will inform policy directions in protecting jobs and safeguarding progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings will also provide insights into keeping the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) alive as a tool to handle future pandemics and protect jobs/businesses. The Ghana Statistical Service wishes to assure owners of establishments that information provided on businesses will not be disclosed to anyone or entity in any form. The data collection according to the statement does not require payment of money, and under no circumstance should an establishment be required to pay any amount to any person. Ghana Statistical Service counts on the cooperation of establishments, media and the general public to ensure the success of this exercise it further revealed. COVID Cases Currently, Ghana has recorded 6, 808 cases with 2,070 recoveries and 32 deaths since the country recorded its first two cases on 12th March. The President in March subsequently imposed restrictions on movements in the Greater Accra, Tema, Kumasi, and Obuasi for two weeks which was extended again to another week. The three-week lockdown had a great toll on most businesses leading to the lay off of staff in the hospitality, education, and other sectors of the economy. Advertisement Fallen trees have destroyed cars and thousands of properties are without power as Western Australia battles through a 'once-in-a-decade storm' - while enormous surf swells have battered the east coast on the other side of the country. About 62,000 properties across Western Australia have been left without power over the past two days - as the state's south bears the brunt of the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Mangga. Dozens of the state's schools are also in the dark, while emergency services have responded to more than 550 calls for helps across the state. In Kalgoorlie, north-east of Perth, a shed was swept up by the wind and landed in a substation, knocking out power to 15,000 homes. Scroll down for video A row of shops in Bedford have had their frontage completely destroyed by storm weather in Perth. The once-in-a-decade weather system has battered Western Australia over the past two days The Crawley Edge Boatshed in Perth's Swan River was inaccessible on Monday as a tidal surge submerged the Instagram-friendly tourist spot At Cape Leeuwin in the state's south-west 132km/h wind gusts were recorded at about 4am on Monday morning. 'It's like whack-a-mole at the moment, unfortunately,' Western Power spokesman Paul Entwistle told 6PR radio on Monday morning. 'We can actually restore customers by back-feeding but with the storm still going through, it's creating new hazards on the network.' Tourist hotspots Margaret River and Dunsborough were also significantly affected by power outages. The roofs of small shops, including a deli in the Perth suburb of Bedford, collapsed while fallen trees crushed fences at Campbell Primary School in Canning Vale. Multiple sailboats washed up, a coastal footpath in Rockingham collapsed, and parts of the car park at Port Beach in Fremantle fell into the ocean. Even Perth's famously Instagrammable Crawley Edge Boatshed was partly underwater, with its jetty completely submerged. A storm-damaged car park is pictured at Port Beach in the Perth suburb of Fremantle. Dozens of schools have also been left without power A utility vehicle navigates through flood waters on Monday in Perth's CBD - which has been partly closed due to storm flooding Crews have been working to restore power to about 62,000 properties across Western Australia affected by the storm Fierce swell pictured at Cottesloe Beach on Monday as the state is battered by dangerous weather Enormous storm swells of five metres and wave heights of ten metres in New South Wales on Monday - stretching from Byron Bay in the state's far north to Eden in the south - have been whipped up by a large low pressure system parked off the eastern coastline. 'A deep and complex low pressure system over the Tasman Sea is bringing large southerly surf and strong winds to exposed parts of the New South Wales coastline,' the Bureau of Meteorology said. 'This low is expected to gradually weaken and move a little north on Tuesday before moving away to the east mid-week. Teenagers chain-surf at South Curl Curl ocean pool in Sydney on Sunday. Australia's east coast has also been battered by a fierce storm swell with waves as high as 10m Daredevils surfers flocked to South Curl Curl to take on the treacherous conditions whipped up a large low pressure system parked off the New South Wales coast Further south at Bronte in the city's eastern suburbs, these brave youngsters were almost wiped out by the massive waves Eager teenagers gather in the surf at South Curl Curl. The Bureau of Meteorology said the weather system was expected to remain until Tuesday 'These conditions may produce localised damage and coastal erosion to these areas. Coastal locations exposed to a southerly swell will be most susceptible. 'Beach conditions in these areas will be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas.' On Sydney's northern beaches on Sunday, hordes of daredevil teens flocked to the South Curl Curl ocean pool to chain-surf the terrifying waves. Further south at Bronte, three youngsters were lucky not to be swept away by massive waves that crashed into the ocean pool. A surfer is seen in action at Cottesloe Beach in Perth in strong swell rivalling that scene on the country's east coast New Delhi: A cat in Canadas Oregon gave birth to a two-faced kitten, much to the surprise of the owners. Biscuits and Gravy as it would be called is a gray-and-white feline with two mouths, two noses and four eyes. Kyla King, the owner of the cat is now hand rearing the kitten because it has been rejected by the mother. The life expectancy for a two-faced cat is about four days because they usually suffer from diprosopia disorder. However, the family is optimistic that the kitten will survive all odds and grow up to be an adult cat. One may recall Frank and Louie the worlds oldest two-faced cat which found its way to the Guinness World Records. Frank and Louie was born on September 8, 1999 and his remarkable life was commemorated in Guinness World Records new 2012 edition. Frank and Louie had a case of craniofacial duplication. It is an extremely rare congenital condition resulting from a protein with the odd name of sonic hedgehog homolog (SHH), explains Reuters. The disorder, known as diprosopia, can cause part or all of an individuals face to be duplicated on its head. It has been recorded multiple times in the domestic cat (Felis catus), but few of the resulting two-faced kittens survive into adulthood, Reuters had added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos will be recommending the resumption of religious gatherings in areas under general community quarantine, saying that the faithful will adhere to social distancing rules. NCMF Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan said the agency is leaning towards suggesting to President Rodrigo Duterte to allow people to gather in mosques or other prayer areas in places with relaxed quarantine guidelines as religious leaders are set to meet with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. "I think with the low mortality rate in the Philippines sa mga Muslims, we are inclined to recommend to allow the prayers inside the mosques after the lockdown. We have a meeting tomorrow in Malacanang, ang IATF and we are likely to recommend the reopening of the mosques especially in those areas na may GCQ," Pangarungan said during the government's Laging Handa briefing Monday. The official said there have been about 10 reported deaths due to COVID-19 out of 12 million Muslim Filipinos. The national death toll is at 868 as of Sunday afternoon. Several Catholic leaders have also called for the lifting of the ban on religious activities, saying that masses should be considered as "essential" services. The IATF initially approved the reopening of churches and prayer halls in GCQ areas, but took it back after local government officials "protested" this move. Pangarungan said this year's Ramadan was "unprecedented" due to the coronavirus pandemic, as mosques were padlocked which forced the Muslim community to do their daily prayers at home. He added that there was an initial resistance to the lockdowns and ban on mass gatherings, but the faithful were eventually convinced to follow the strict rules. The Eid'l Fitr celebration, which is one of the most important days for Muslims, had to be celebrated differently this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. RELATED: How coronavirus has changed Ramadan for Muslims this year "We Muslims pray shoulder to shoulder, dikit na dikit kami 'pag nagpe-pray kami and we are also aligned in one row. 'Yan talaga ang general rule but applying the Islamic principle of necessity and emergency, I think we can relax this rule and practice social distancing," the NCMF official added. Religious gatherings have reportedly caused sudden spikes in infections like in South Korea and Malaysia. However, Pangarungan cited the smooth Eid'l Fitr mosque gatherings in Thailand, where people prayed 1.5 meters apart as a possible model. Meanwhile, Pangarungan said local authorities are still awaiting word on whether the Hajj or annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia will push through this year amid the pandemic. The decision will come from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which may choose to scale down the number of pilgrims and require COVID-19 tests before taking the journey or may call off this year's trips altogether. Local Councillor Pearse McGeough has hit out at those responsible for racist graffiti that appeared overnight in Ardee. Cllr McGeough said: When this was reported to me and I saw what had been written I was appalled. The people of Ardee are among the best in the country and they do not share these racist sentiments. The community in Ardee are just that, a community and do not tolerate such racism. The graffiti appeared along the popular Ardee Railway walk and has been reported to the Council so it can be removed. The Sinn Fein Cllr added: this peaceful, beautiful walk is enjoyed by people of the area and has become especially valuable lately due to the Covid 19 restrictions. Families use it regularly and I am disgusted to think that children will see these comments, especially children who may have foreign nationalist parents. I want to send a strong message to those who did this. It is this kind of act that is not wanted here. You have disfigured the landscape with your vile comments. Ireland is growing into a multicultural place to live and work and people should not be afraid to live or work here. Cllr McGeough continued: I want to reassure those that have settled in Ardee that this cowardly act was carried out by a very small minority and they do not represent the good people of the area. Racism will not be allowed to gain momentum and communities across this island will work hard to ensure that. Racism should be and will be opposed at every level. The graffiti included reference to a far right party and Cllr McGeough expressed his concern at this. Working class areas are a prime target for hate groups. Where resources are low, for example a housing shortage, these groups will attempt to sow the seeds of hatred by using the immigrants, taking our houses mentality instead of directing their blame where it belongs, government policies. Its always easier to blame those who are vulnerable or in a minority. Thats unacceptable. Its time the government enacted the long overdue hate legislation so people who carry out hate crimes at any level can be punished accordingly. There is no appetite for the extreme right parties or individuals in this county, you only have to look at the results of the last election when a representative running on a racist platform only got a handful of votes. They failed to get a foothold in Louth and thats not going to change anytime soon. I have worked and represented the people of Ardee for many years and can tell you, these sentiments are not reflective of the community. He concluded: "To those who spray painted the walls, cop on to yourselves. Do something productive for your community instead. Indeed, it may suit you better to return to education and learn how to spell. During COVID-19 air travel much safer than eating out and grocery shopping Explained: Why passenger may not need RT-PCR report for domestic travel if fully vaccinated Flying to US: New travel guidelines you should know 14 day quarantine mandatory for international travellers India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 25: The Health Ministry on Sunday issued guidelines for international arrivals, saying that before boarding, all travellers shall give an undertaking that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days. The guidelines come a day after Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India will try to restart a good percentage of international passenger flights before August. Day 62: Guidelines for domestic flight passengers from different states | Oneindia News All scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 25. UP to home quarantine air travellers, outsiders on brief visit exempted While domestic flights will resume from Monday, international flights remain suspended. Before boarding, all travellers shall give an undertaking that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days -- 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health, the guidelines said. Only for exceptional and compelling reasons such as cases of human distress, pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) accompanied by children below 10 years, as assessed by the receiving states, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days, they said. Use of Aarogya Setu application shall be mandatory in such cases, the guidelines said. Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with the ticket to travellers by the agencies concerned, they said. All passengers shall be advised to download Aarogya Setu application on their mobile devices, the guidelines said. At the time of boarding the flight or ship, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening, the health ministry said. Passengers arriving through the land borders will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, and only those who are asymptomatic will be enabled to cross the border into India, it said. Self-declaration form in duplicate shall be filled by the person in the flight or ship and a copy of the same will be given to health and immigration officials present at the airport, seaport or landport, the guidelines said. The form may also be made available on Aarogya Setu application, they said. MHA issues SOP for stranded Indians who wish to return Suitable precautionary measures such as environmental sanitation and disinfection shall be ensured at the airports as well as within flights, the health ministry said. During boarding and at airports, all possible measures to ensure social distancing should be ensured, it said. Suitable announcement about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports/port and in flights/ships and during transit, the guidelines said. While on board the flight or ship, required precautions such as wearing of masks, environmental hygiene, respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene etc. are to be observed by airline or ship staff, crew and all passengers, they said. On arrival, thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all passengers by health officials present at the airport/ seaport/landport, the guidelines said. Passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to a medical facility as per health protocol, they said. The remaining passengers shall be taken to suitable institutional quarantine facilities, to be arranged by respective State/UT government, the guidelines said. These passengers shall be kept under institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 7 days, they said. They shall be tested as per ICMR protocol available, the guidelines said, adding that if they test positive, they shall be assessed clinically. Health Ministry issues guidelines for domestic and international travel If they are assessed as mild cases, they will be allowed home isolation or isolated in the COVID Care Centre (both public & private facilities) as appropriate, the guidelines said. Those having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated COVID health facilities and managed accordingly, the health ministry said. If found negative, they shall be advised to further isolate themselves at home and self-monitor their health for 7 days, it said. In case, any symptoms develop they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call centre (1075), the guidelines said. States can also develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment, they said. Chengshou Chen has been the CEO of Xinming China Holdings Limited (HKG:2699) since 2014. First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. View our latest analysis for Xinming China Holdings How Does Chengshou Chen's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? At the time of writing, our data says that Xinming China Holdings Limited has a market cap of HK$2.0b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of CN1.1m for the year to December 2019. That's a fairly small increase of 0.3% on year before. We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at CN983k. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations from CN713m to CN2.9b, and the median CEO total compensation was CN2.0m. Next, let's break down remuneration compositions to understand how the industry and company compare with each other. Talking in terms of the sector, salary represented approximately 68% of total compensation out of all the companies we analysed, while other remuneration made up 32% of the pie. It's interesting to note that Xinming China Holdings pays out a greater portion of remuneration through salary, in comparison to the wider industry. This would give shareholders a good impression of the company, since most similar size companies have to pay more, leaving less for shareholders. However, before we heap on the praise, we should delve deeper to understand business performance. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Xinming China Holdings has changed over time. SEHK:2699 CEO Compensation May 25th 2020 Is Xinming China Holdings Limited Growing? Xinming China Holdings Limited has reduced its earnings per share by an average of 7.8% a year, over the last three years (measured with a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is down 74%. Story continues Sadly for shareholders, earnings per share are actually down, over three years. This is compounded by the fact revenue is actually down on last year. It's hard to argue the company is firing on all cylinders, so shareholders might be averse to high CEO remuneration. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you might want to assess this data-rich visualization of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Has Xinming China Holdings Limited Been A Good Investment? Since shareholders would have lost about 16% over three years, some Xinming China Holdings Limited shareholders would surely be feeling negative emotions. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously. In Summary... Xinming China Holdings Limited is currently paying its CEO below what is normal for companies of its size. Chengshou Chen is paid less than CEOs of similar size companies, but the company isn't growing and total shareholder returns have been disappointing. We would not call the pay too generous, but nor would we claim the CEO is underpaid, given lacklustre business performance. On another note, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Xinming China Holdings that investors should look into moving forward. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 02:00:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish coast guard on Monday rescued a total of 72 illegal immigrants off Turkey's Aegean coast, the coast guard announced on its website. Turkish teams rescued the migrants with different nationalities near the Foca district of Turkey's western province of Izmir, the force said. The incident happened when the Greek coast guard teams pushed four small inflatable boats carrying migrants back to Turkey, according to the statement. Since this year, a total of 9,560 migrants attempted to reach Greece via Turkey's seas, up from 8,737 over the same period in 2019, according to the latest figures released by the Turkish coast guard. The Aegean Sea was once the main route for migrants trying to reach Europe via Turkey. A deal was signed between Turkey and the European Union in March 2016 to curb the flow of illegal immigration. Hosting over 3.7 million Syrian refugees in its territory, Turkey earlier announced that it could no longer cope with the issue alone, and urged European countries to take more responsibility. Enditem BOCA RATON, Florida and DUBLIN, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Tower International ("Phoenix") today announced the signing of an agreement with eir to purchase over 650 wireless towers and acquire newly constructed wireless towers over 8 years across Ireland through a build-to-suit programme. This transaction positions Phoenix as the largest tower infrastructure provider in Ireland, materially expands its growing footprint in Europe, and further solidifies the company's leadership position in Europe, the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Closing is subject to customary conditions precedents for this type of transaction. Phoenix and eir have established a long-term partnership whereby eir will occupy the sites for at least twenty years. "We are excited to enter the Irish wireless infrastructure market and partner with eir on such an important transaction. The global pandemic related to COVID-19 has impacted all of our communities and highlights the importance of wireless infrastructure to support global trade, commerce and social connections. This will not diminish as economies rebound in the coming months and years ahead," stated Dagan Kasavana, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Tower International. "Ireland represents an important economic hub for Europe and the world and we are proud to support eir on their ongoing build-outs across the country. This transaction further expands PTI's global footprint and we are excited to be a long-term partner of eir," said Tim Culver, Executive Chairman of Phoenix Tower International. "We are excited to partner with eir to deliver improved wireless connectivity to its customers. This transaction exemplifies Phoenix's strategy of entering into growth markets as a partner to top-tier wireless carriers," said Jasvinder Khaira, a Senior Managing Director in Blackstone Tactical Opportunities. "Phoenix is committed to growing in Europe and finding opportunities to support carriers and usher in the 5G technology revolution." About Phoenix Tower International Phoenix Tower International ("Phoenix") owns, operates and proforma for this transaction will have in excess of 9,000 towers, 986 km of fiber and over 80,000 other wireless infrastructure and related sites throughout the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. Phoenix was founded in 2013 with a mission to be a premier site provider to wireless operators across the Americas in high-growth markets. Phoenix's investors include funds managed by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and John Hancock, as well as various members of the management team. For more information, please visit www.phoenixintnl.com. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Arthur Cox acted as legal advisors to PTI. About eir eir is the largest provider of fixed line telecommunications services in Ireland, offering broadband, voice, TV, and data services to residential, small business, enterprise and government segments. eir is the third largest mobile operator in Ireland in terms of revenue and customers. The company operates the eir mobile and GoMo services. eir's wholesale division, open eir, is the largest wholesale telecommunications operator in Ireland, providing products and services to national and international wholesale customers across a range of regulated and unregulated markets. The Group generated total revenue of 1.249 billion and adjusted EBITDA of 578 million for the year ended 30 June 2019. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/285758/pti_logov_rgb_Logo.jpg For the past seven-months, Meghan King has been enduring a bitter divorce battle with husband and former MLB star Jim Edmonds, 49. But the 35-year-old Real Housewives of Orange County alum appears to have found some 'healing' while immersing herself in nature this Memorial Day Weekend with new boyfriend Christian Schaufe. King has been indulging in a ton of outdoor firsts, while staying with Schaufe at his residence in Park City, Utah. Healing: Meghan King appears to have found some 'healing' while immersing herself in nature this Memorial Day Weekend with new boyfriend Christian Schaufe Meanwhile, Meghan and Jim's three children have been staying with Jim and his new gal Kortnie O'Connor at the estranged couple's home in St. Louis, Missouri. King eagerly took to Instagram on Saturday to share she 'went mountain biking for the first time ever' with Schaufe. 'Actual real mountain biking,' she emphasized. 'It was crazy. It was hard and super-duper scary, but I want to go again.' She also admitted that she would 'have never guessed' that she would be mountain biking in the company of Christian over the holiday weekend. Woodsy: Her new beau Christian hosts the Life Uncharted podcast and is also the founder of Uncharted Supply Company, which sells emergency preparedness kits; Chris pictured on Instagram First time: King eagerly took to Instagram on Saturday to share she 'went mountain biking for the first time ever' with Schaufe 'Def wouldn't have guessed this is what I'd be doing over MDW 2020 but here's proof I did the mountain thing,' captioned Meghan with a photo of herself sitting atop a bike. '(I had an E bike to help so I totally cheated.) Y'all nature is HEALING,' concluded the reality star on her Instagram Story. In the coinciding picture - seen by her 1million followers - Meghan proudly sat atop a mountain bike, while donning proper gear. Experiences: King has been indulging in a ton of outdoor firsts, while staying with Schaufe at his residence in Park City, Utah; Meghan pictured on Instagram on Saturday Did not see it coming: She also admitted that she would 'have never guessed' that she would be mountain biking in the company of Christian over the holiday weekend Though his face did not make it into the shot, Christian's helmet and arm made a cameo as he played photographer for Meghan. She later shared a solo shot of her forging her way through the woods on her E-bike. 'Look how legit I look,' captioned the mother of three. Wow: An insider revealed to In Touch that Meghan is 'head over heels in love' and that Christian is 'very down to earth' Round two: 'Actual real mountain biking,' she emphasized. 'It was crazy. It was hard and super-duper scary, but I want to go again' Her new beau Christian hosts the Life Uncharted podcast and is also the founder of Uncharted Supply Company, which sells emergency preparedness kits. Judging by his Instagram, Christian is an animal-loving adventurer who loves the outdoors and activities such as fishing and hiking. According to Us Weekly, Christian and Meghan have been dating since March. Weekend with dad: Meghan had flown from Los Angeles to St. Louis last weekend to drop off her three children, Aspen, three, and twin boys Hayes and Hart, 23 months Pool time: On Sunday, Jim made the most of Memorial Day Weekend with his children by indulging in a pool day Family time: In a series of clips shared to his Instagram Story, Jim and his girlfriend Kortnie catered to the children and joined them for a swim An insider revealed to In Touch that Meghan is 'head over heels in love' and that Christian is 'very down to earth.' 'Hes a nice guy and the perfect catch. Yes, this is still pretty new, but Meghan is very happy,' alleged the source. The outlet also reported that Meghan had flown from Los Angeles to St. Louis last weekend to drop off her three children, Aspen, three, and twin boys Hayes and Hart, 23 months, with Jim. On Sunday, Jim made the most of Memorial Day Weekend with his children by indulging in a pool day. Watchful eye: Jim cooked up plenty of Memorial Day favorites, while Kortnie kept a watchful eye on his young children in the water Happy: Jim's twin boys appeared to be having a blast with Kortnie In a series of clips shared to his Instagram Story, Jim and his girlfriend Kortnie catered to the children and joined them for a swim. Jim cooked up plenty of Memorial Day favorites, while Kortnie kept a watchful eye on his young children in the water. Days later Jim appeared to taunt his estranged wife as he bragged about how 'easy' their kids are to handle and shared videos of the tots playing. Bikini: Kortnie donned a light pink bikini as she immersed the lower half of her body in the pool New girl: The 49-year-old former MLB star has moved on with Kortnie O'Connor, the woman Jim and Meghan once had a threesome with when they were still together Jim has already introduced his kids to his new girlfriend Kortnie O'Connor and showed snaps of the brunette cradling his son Hart in the basement bowling alley of his home. Meghan and Jim called it quits in October 2019 when Jim filed for divorce just after their five-year wedding anniversary. They had tried to make their marriage work following the sexting scandal that rocked their relationship in June, when Meghan discovered Jim has shared inappropriate messages with another woman. Playboy model Kortnie was the woman Jim and Meghan once had a threesome with when they were still together. Bonding: Jim has already introduced his kids to his new girlfriend Kortnie O'Connor and showed snaps of the brunette cradling his son Hart in the basement bowling alley of his home After over 60 days in Hyderabad due to lockdown and then a cancelled flight, Chandrababu Naidu, along with his son Nara Lokesh, drove down to Amaravati on Monday afternoon. TDP Andhra unit president Kala Venkat Rao said Naidu would focus on the party activities again. He would address the two-day biennial party conclave Maha Nadu to be held on May 27 and 28 through Zoom application. In all, 14,000 party delegates would attend Maha Nadu through Zoom, he said. As Naidu, Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister, had obtained special permission from the police departments in both the states, his convoy had a smooth passage at the inter-state check post at Garikapadu on the National Highway No. 65. The Andhra police, however, checked the vehicles of other TDP leaders who accompanied his convoy. Entering the home state after a gap of more than two months, Naidu was given a rousing reception at the check-post and at different locations all along the highway. He straightaway drove to his residence at Vundavalli on the banks of Krishna river. On Sunday evening, Andhra Pradesh DGP Gautam Sawang wrote to Naidu giving him permission to fly to Visakhapatam to call on the families of those who lost members in the poisonous gas leak on May 7. Later, he had planned to return to Amaravati by road. The DGP issued an electronic pass to Naidu to travel to Visakhapatnam, saying that the visit of the opposition leader was being treated as a special case. However, as Naidu was preparing to fly to Visakhapatnam, the Centre announced late on Sunday night that all flights to Andhra Pradesh had been cancelled on technical grounds on the request of the state government and that the flights would begin only on Tuesday. It forced the TDP chief to cancel his Vizag visit and he decided to travel to Amaravati by road. TDP lawmaker and former minister K K Atchannaidu alleged that the YSR Congress government had deliberately deferred resumption of flight services only to prevent the former chief minister from visiting Vizag. It is only after Chandrababu Naidus schedule was announced that the state government deferred the resumption of services, that too only by a day. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puris tweets indicate the same, he claimed. Madhya Pradesh agriculture minister Kamal Patel on Monday said that if former Chief Minister Kamal Nath is found guilty in the wheat procurement scam investigation, he will sent to jail. Speaking to the media in the town of Harda, Patel said that the government was probing the alleged scam that took place during the Congress' tenure. He also claimed that warehouse owners were extended undue benefits by the former government. Moreover, Patel warned those engaged in the manufacture of duplicate agriculture goods. He also said, "The Congress government's 'Shuddh ke Liye Yuddh' was an eyewash and 20,000 samples collected through the campaign were later approved to benefit traders." Congress leader and a close aide of Nath's, Sajjan Singh, retorted saying that his party will return to power by winning 22 of the upcoming 24 bypolls. "Ex-CM Kamal Nath was criticised for targeting the land mafia and the biggest of them - Jyotiraditya Scindia - is now with the BJP," he said. Singh also challenged the BJP to enquire into anomalies, if any, that may have taken place during the 15-month term of the Congress. He vowed to not spare BJP leaders allegedly involved in e-tendering, land and mining scams. "When it's our turn, we won't spare any scam," he said. Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, the Dean of Academic Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, has urged the Africa Union (AU) to prioritise the engagement and integration of ordinary citizens to successfully drive the socio-economic advancement of the continent. Look, one of the biggest problems of the integration of Africa is the neglect of the socio-economic partners of development, who I call the ordinary people, he declared, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency. He emphasised: ...One of the biggest banes of African unity or the African enterprise is not getting the ordinary people on the streets being made part of the making of ECOWAS or of continental integration. So, the people are not being made part of the making of integration and thats sad because integration is made for all the people and unfortunately we are not part of it. They are not being educated; they are not being made to understand that it is good to become a citizen of West Africa, a citizen of Africa for economic development. We are not being made part. For instance, we say we are bringing the Eco - the proposed common currency of the West African Monetary Zone? - Tell me who has explained to the people what the Eco means and what it will mean to them? And tell me, where are the billboards on the Eco? Who is making sure the journalists understand this because they are to educate and inform the people...? The European Union, Dr Anwti-Danso said, had been able to bring integration to their ordinary citizens and they were thus enjoying the benefits their commonalities and common resources and Africa could do likewise. The AU, he said, played a pivotal role in the Continents transformation agenda, and therefore, African Governments and the AU Commission must regularly engage the people on the Union and the Unions foundation, mission, agenda, achievements, among others, towards achieving an all-inclusive sustainable development. The GNAs interview was to elicit the experienced researcher and consultant on regional economic cooperations perspectives on making the continental body more relevant in solving its challenges, as Ghana marked this years AU Day, on Monday, May 25. It is on the theme: Silencing The Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development. Dr Antwi-Danso, therefore, appealed to the ECOWAS Commission and West African Governments to ensure that the people were well informed through the media about the Eco. As part of efforts to make the AU relevant to the ordinary African, the Union must have its branch offices in all the national capitals across the continent. We have UN offices in every capital in Africa, where do we have AU (branch) offices? Where can I go and say Im going to the AU office in Accra? Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day) is to commemorate the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25th May 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as in the Diaspora. The organisation was transformed into the AU on 9th July 2002 in Durban, South Africa. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi: Delhi Assembly on Wednesday ratified Goods and Service Tax (GST) Constitution Amendment Bill, becoming the third non-BJP-ruled state and overall the eighth to clear the proposed tax regime, billed as single biggest tax reform in decades. The bill was endorsed by the House by a voice vote following a brief discussion during which Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia called GST a big reform which will be good for the countrys economy and growth. The two BJP legislators were not present when the bill was ratified as they had staged a walkout over a separate issue, while another party MLA was serving suspension from the House for allegedly making derogatory remarks against an AAP legislator. Delhis share in central taxes has been stagnant at Rs 325 crore for the last 17 year and rolling out of GST is expected to increase its share in central taxes significantly. Its good for the entire country, not only for Delhi. It will be extremely helpful in terms of services. For the last 17 years, Delhi has been getting Rs 325 crore as its share of Central taxes despite contributing as much as Rs 1,37,000 crore to the countrys GDP. GST is a big reform, said Sisodia. The AAP government has been supporting the Centre on the GST though both sides are locked in a bitter tussle over a range of issues for the last one-and-half years. Speaking during the brief discussion on GST, a number of AAP MLAs hailed the proposed tax regime. Later the Deputy Chief Minister, took a jibe at the Centre saying it has for the first time recognised the national capital as a state. GST bill for the first time recognises Delhi as a state under the new Constitutional amendment to Art 366 - step in right direction finally, he said in a tweet. The 122nd Constitution Amendment Bill has already been ratified by Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Delhi is the third non-NDA state after Bihar and Himachal to ratify the bill. The GST bill, seen as single biggest tax reform in a long time, needs to be ratified by at least 15 state legislatures before the President can notify the GST council which will decide the new tax rate and other issues. The Lok Sabha had passed the GST bill on August 9 while Rajya Sabha cleared it on August 4. In his remarks, Sisodia said there were some concerns over capping the annual turnover. There is no clarity on certain issues. Like businessmen in the capital with a turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh do not have to pay taxes. It should not be brought down. We are in favour of increasing the threshold to Rs 25 lakh. Businessmen with a turonover of up to Rs 1.5 crore should pay taxes directly to the state government, he said. Sisodia said Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the GST issue on August 11. To say Donald Schoonover was happy to be back at Prince of Peace Catholic Church for Mass after COVID-19 halted worship services more than two months ago is an understatement. It is so great to be back! I feel grateful right now, he said. I have PTSD, this is great for me. Schoonover, the 12:30 p.m. Mass coordinator was there to help other volunteers welcome parishioners back to the West Side church just outside of Leon Valley. The coronavirus pandemic caused stay-at-home orders across the United States to temporarily close down everything, even houses of worship, in mid-March. He and others beamed with gratitude, even behind their face masks. It was visible in their eyes. It is so good to see all of these people, said Prince of Peace spokeswoman Kandice Rosario. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller has issued a special dispensation, noting that Catholics arent obligated to attend Mass for the time being because of the dangers posed by the coronavirus. Many churches, including Prince of Peace, have shown their worship services on their websites and on YouTube, while opening up slowly with special protocols in place. On Sunday, parishioners were escorted to their seats by ushers. Every other pew was blocked with blue tape, and the ones where people could sit had blue strips at the top of the benches to show people where they could sit. Prince of Peaces sanctuary normally can accommodate 950 people. With the social distancing requirements, a maximum of 200 people would be allowed to participate. Ushers used hand-held counters to keep track of the worshipers. Services on this first Sunday were expected to be small because of the long holiday weekend to celebrate Memorial Day. Around 135 attended 8:30 a.m. Mass; 55 at 10:30 a.m. There were no hugs or handshakes for the sign of peace during the service, but people waved or bowed at each other during that time. Everyone wore face masks and were allowed to remove them only to take Communion, then immediately put them back on. At the end of the service, the priest did not greet parishioners outside, a long-held tradition. Pastor Rodolfo Caballero said he is following the archbishops strict guidelines at his church, and some 800 volunteers are helping with cleaning and maintaining the sanctuary to bring more parishioners back with time. We can welcome more people back when they feel more confident, said Caballero. We want them to feel safe. At a neighboring church down Grissom Road, worshipers nearly filled the sanctuary at Leon Valley Baptist Church. A handful of people wore masks, many touched elbows, few shook hands, but all were cheerful and happy to see each other. Pastor Forrest Jones said Saturday that he reopened the church three weeks ago, but with limited activity an 8:30 Sunday morning Bible study, followed by worship at 10:30 a.m. The church began services prayerfully, and with songs that honored the nation and military for Memorial Day, while praising God and those who gave their life for freedom. Jones said families were allowed to sit together, and place distance between other worshipers if they chose to. People were encouraged to be careful, and if they want to, wear masks, or shake hands, he said. On Sunday, he and his flock thanked God for freedom, faith, and togetherness. He said todays challenges in general are mostly because people forget three things: There is no God without forgiveness, no God without Jesus Christ, and salvation comes by faith alone. This was the last Sunday that Leon Valley Baptist will have limited services. Next week, Jones plans a catered lunch that will be free, you just need a ticket so that they know how much food to order, to celebrate bringing back the 6:30 p.m. worship service. Freelance photographer Carlos Javier Sanchez contributed to this report. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. To read more from Elizabeth, become a subscriber. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 The New York Times marked the milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths with a powerful front page naming 1,000 victims. The New York Times The New York Times prepared a powerful front page for its May 24 print edition, marking the somber milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths in the United States. The newspaper listed the names of 1,000 people who died of COVID-19 just 1% of the total death toll. The newspaper staff combed through obituaries and death notices for people whose cause of death was listed as COVID-19, and listed people's names, ages, and facts about their lives. An editor for the paper said she realized there was "a little bit of a fatigue with the data" among both Times journalists and the general public, and so the newspaper sought to visualize the extent of the loss. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. To mark the somber milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths in the United States, The New York Times prepared a devastating front page for Sunday's print edition, listing the names of 1,000 people who have died of COVID-19. Roughly five months after the first US coronavirus case was reported, the US was set to hit the grim death toll of 100,000 in a matter of days. The Times' front page represented just 1% of those deaths. Each of the names on the front page was accompanied with a miniature obituary, noting each person's name age, city and state, and brief facts about their lives. For 85-year-old June Beverly Hill of Sacramento, The Times noted that "no one made creamed potatoes or fried sweet corn the way she did." Orlando Moncada, a Bronxville man who died at 56, "left Peru and grabbed hold of the American dream." A 25-year-old Michigan man, Bassey Offiong, "saw friends at their worst but brought out their best." "They were not simply names on a list. They were us," a subheadline on the front-page read. The New York Times (@nytimes) May 23, 2020 But at least one of the names appeared to be listed on the front page incorrectly. Jordan Driver Haynes, 27, whose name was listed sixth from the top, was described on the front page as a "generous young man with a delightful grin." Haynes' death has been ruled a homicide, not a COVID-19 death. Story continues CNN reported that The Times will be running a correction and will remove Haynes' name in later editions. "They were not simply names on a list. They were us," a subheadline on the front-page read. The newspaper a team of editors and three graduate student journalists compiled the details from online obituaries and death notices that included COVID-19 as the cause of death, according to The Times. Simone Landon, an assistant editor on the graphics desk, told the newspaper it was important to reckon with the 100,000-person figure. She said she and her colleagues found that "both among ourselves and perhaps in the general reading public, there's a little bit of a fatigue with the data," and sought to create a front page that would visualize the extent of the loss. The chief creative officer of The Times, Tom Bodkin, noted that Sunday's newspaper is "certainly a first in modern times" to run a front page with no images or graphics. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that one of the names listed on The Times' front page was a homicide death, not a COVID-19 death. Read the original article on Business Insider The chairman of the political council of the Opposition Platform - For Life, MP Viktor Medvedchuk, on the television talk show Prime on the 112 Ukraine television channel, commented on the opening of criminal proceedings against party members. "We are now living in an era of a turbulent time in Ukraine. Recently, the first anniversary of Zelenskys rule began. The second year of his reign began. It was right to call it this: the seventh year of Poroshenkos reign went. It has changed, including the attitude to the issues of dissent and prosecution of dissent. I cannot regard the news that was reported today absurd. Unfortunately, although its strange to say, Im already used to these exciting criminal cases, including high treason, for other serious crimes that they are trying to hang on their ears, on their heads, to bring to justice at any cost. This happened under Poroshenko, this, unfortunately, happens under Zelensky. And in 2018, and in 2019, and already in 2020," he said. The politician emphasized that people initiating such questions simply do not know that during the time of Poroshenko he tried to prosecute Medvedchuk specifically and party representatives for seeking peace. And after all, the last trip that took place in March of the current year, 2020, was a trip to establish peace. Peace in the Donbas, peace in the interests of Ukraine, in order for the Donbas to return to Ukraine, and Ukraine to Donbas. And people who are struggling with this can also be understood because the representative of the Voice faction initiated this question. Moreover, the Voices are not from Ukraine, but the Soros Voices. Such things are initiated by servants, and not servants of the Ukrainian people, and the servants of the Western masters. Their masters are there, not the Ukrainian people, as they try to present. And the policy that Mr. Zelensky has already taken after coming to power and which he demonstrates in principle and consistently during the year he has been in power is nothing in this matter does not differ from Poroshenko," MP said. The politician added that his every trip to Russia or the trip of the delegation of the Opposition Platform - for Life ended up in the fact that, in the framework of the criminal case, as early as the beginning of 2019, the Security Service of Ukraine appointed expertise on all statements, on all statements and on the lines of his behavior or faction in Russia. "But all this has so far been unsuccessful for the initiators because we represent the interests of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have chosen us. We have the second party in the country and the second faction in parliament. When the people's deputies go in search of peace, we are responsible for our actions, we "Well continue to do this for the sake of peace, for the return of Donbas to Ukraine and Ukraine to Donbas," Medvedchuk said. As we reported before, the attack of national radicals on the office of the Opposition Platform - For Life is a sign of limitation and hopelessness ALMATY -- A cemetery said to be only for coronavirus victims in the southwestern Kazakh city of Almaty and the surrounding region appears to hold many more bodies than the area's number of reported COVID-19 deaths. RFE/RL's Kazakh Service on May 25 filmed workers in protective gear burying two bodies in the cemetery, which contained 32 fresh graves. To date, authorities in Almaty have reported only 10 deaths attributed to COVID-19, and the surrounding Almaty region has recorded none. The cemetery -- located in a remote area near the village of Karaoi, about 50 kilometers from Almaty -- is divided by a dirt road with 13 Muslim graves on one side and 17 Christian graves on the other. The graves are marked with simple wooden crosses or posts bearing the Islamic crescent, with names and dates of death indicating that the deceased perished in April and May. Most of those buried were over 60 years old. RFE/RL confirmed after speaking to relatives attending one of the burials that one of the bodies belonged to a 73-year-old woman who was only recently diagnosed with COVID-19 but who has not been officially identified as a coronavirus victim. Nadezhda, an Almaty resident who gave only her first name, said her mother fell ill in mid-May, tested negative for the virus, and was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. However, the elderly woman's condition continued to deteriorate and on May 23 the family sent for an ambulance. When relatives arrived at the hospital, they were told that the woman had high blood pressure. Only on the day of the burial, on May 25, was the family given a document showing that the woman had contracted COVID-19. Nadezhda's brother Nikolai, who also only gave his first name, showed the document to RFE/RL. The cemetery is the same one that the state organization responsible for the epidemiological situation in Almaty recently said had been specifically set up for coronavirus victims. Assel Qalyqova, acting head of the city's department for quality control and safety of products and services, described the establishment of the cemetery in a report that was aired on May 21 on the local television channel. The report features drone footage that shows the cemetery divided by the dirt road, with Muslim graves on one side and Christian graves on the other. When asked by RFE/RL why the cemetery appears to contain the graves of 22 people not listed in official coronavirus statistics, Health Ministry official Timur Sultangaziev only partially addressed the question in a session broadcast on the ministry's Facebook page. He said that the ministry "had not given any order to create special graves for those who died of the coronavirus." Regional authorities, he said, "can decide for themselves." Questions sent to the chief sanitary doctor of Almaty, Zhandarbek Bekshin, during his online briefing on May 25 were not answered. According to official Health Ministry data, 8,531 coronavirus infections had been recorded countrywide as of May 25, with 35 deaths. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Fabrice COFFRINI/Getty Images The World Health Organization announced a pause in hydroxychloroquine trials at a Monday press conference. The steering committee of the study met over the weekend and agreed to suspend enrollment while gathering data about the safety and efficacy of the drug. The study was part of the "Solidarity" trial launched by the WHO, studying four different treatment options for COVID-19. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The World Health Organization will temporarily suspend enrollment in hydroxychloroquine trials in a study of four treatment options for COVID-19, the WHO announced Monday in a press conference. The drug is part of the "Solidarity" international clinical trial sponsored by the WHO in 17 countries, with others expressing interest. Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan explained that the trial is overseen by a board of experts and an independent data safety monitor. The steering committee met over the weekend and decided in light of uncertainty about the drug, that they should "err on the side of caution and suspend enrollment into the hydroxychloroquine arm" of the trial, Dr. Swaminathan said. The new plan is for the board to look into data from the trial so far, and continue to gather evidence on efficacy and safety of the drug. Dr. Swaminathan emphasized the importance of continued well-conducted studies in large enough numbers to reliably answer those questions. The WHO wants to use hydroxychloroquine if it reduces mortality rates and lengths of hospital stays, she said. Officials in the press conference clarified that this is only a temporary measure, and the board will meet again in about two weeks to review the data. The process is standard practice, and if no danger is found randomized use will continue, Executive Director Dr. Michael Ryan said. A pharmacy tech holds a pill of Hydroxychloroquine at Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on May 20, 2020. GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images Hydroxychloroquine, which was approved the FDA in 1955, has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and malaria. Story continues Last week, President Trump announced that he's taking the drug every day to possibly prevent COVID-19. In a letter, Trump's doctor said "the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks." The FDA says the general public shouldn't take the drug to treat or prevent COVID-19 outside of hospitals or monitored trials, because it can interact with common medications and cause irregular hearth rhythms. In the largest study so far on hydroxychloroquine 's effectiveness at treating COVID-19, patients who received the medication had a higher risk of death than those who did not. The study of more than 96,000 hospitalized patients was published in the journal The Lancet, and the study's authors couldn't find any noticeable benefits from the medication. The study wasn't definitive, though it was observational, rather than a randomized controlled trial. Read the original article on Business Insider The first white storks born in Britain for 600 years have delighted bird watchers - by peering out of their nest for the first time. Pictures show the moment a parent arrives at its nest at Knepp Castle near Horsham, West Sussex - with the chicks clearly visible. The baby birds were born earlier this month as a result of the White Stork Project, which is attempting to bring the breed back to Britain, with the first flock having arrived from Warsaw Zoo in Poland in 2016. The first white storks born in Britain for 600 years have peered out of their nest for the very first time Pictures show the moment a parent arrives at its nest at Knepp Castle near Horsham, West Sussex - with the chicks visible It is thought that the white stork - once native to the British Isles but which now breeds in most of central and eastern Europe as a result of other reintroduction projects as well as in parts of Africa and Asia - was once widely distributed across the UK but eventually died out. HOW WERE THE WHITE STORKS INTRODUCED? It is thought that the white stork was once widely distributed, with archaeological records showing they have bred in the UK as far back as 360,000 years ago, the project said. The most recent record, the project claims, was in 1416 when a pair of white storks were found nesting on the roof of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. But they eventually died out due to a cited combination of habitat loss, overhunting and targeted persecution, particularly during the English Civil War for being associated with rebellion. However, a group of private landowners and nature conservation organisations founded the White Stork Project to help bring back the native British Isles to south-east England The first flock of white storks - which breed in Europe and Asia - arrived from Warsaw Zoo in Poland in 2016. The project aims to restore a population of at least 50 breeding pairs of white storks in southern England by 2030. Advertisement A combination of habitat loss, overhunting and targeted persecution are all cited as contributing factors to their decline. The project - a partnership of private landowners and nature conservation organisations - is working to restore a population of 50 breeding pairs. It was confirmed that there were five eggs in the nest in a large oak tree at Knepp Castle in April. A spokesperson for the project said that the female which arrived in 2016 is a ringed bird from the project. The male has no identifying ring so this is likely to be one of the twenty or so vagrant storks which visit Britain each year. Isabella Tree, co-owner of Knepp with Charlie Burrell, said earlier this month: 'When I hear that clattering sound now, coming from the tops of our oak trees where they're currently nesting at Knepp, it feels like a sound from the Middle Ages has come back to life. 'We watch them walking through the long grass on their long legs, kicking up insects and deftly catching them in their long beaks as they go - there's no other bird that does that in the UK. 'It's walking back into a niche that has been empty for centuries.' The baby birds were born earlier this month as a result of the White Stork Project, which is attempting to bring the breed back to Britain It is thought that the white stork was once widely distributed across the nation - but eventually died out due to supposed habitat loss, overhunting and persecution The 2nd Vice Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Henry Haruna Asante, has resigned. 3news.com cannot, however, confirm if the national executive was forced to resign. But he cites personal reasons for his decision. This comes barely three months after he was accused of wrongly transferring party funds into private bank accounts of the National Chairman, Bernard Mornah. Mr Asante was accused of transferring GH50,000 into Mr Mornahs GCB Bank account, a move probed by the party. Finality is yet to be put to the probe. But in his resignation letter sighted by 3news.com, Mr Asante said he wanted to, as well, pave way for the party mobilize funds for the impending elections. I know it may not go down well with my allies but gratifying to my foes. Source: 3 news Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdufatah Enabulele, appealed to the people of Edo avoid bloodshed during the political parties primary elections in the state. According to the cleric, the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election coming up on June 22, must be peacefully observed. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had scheduled the gubernatorial election in Edo for September 19. Enabulele made the plea while speaking with Newsmen on Monday in Benin. Advertisement He said, The Edo and Ondo elections are almost coming up at the same time, hence there is political tension in both states now due to their political differences. We are appealing that they should understand it is God that gives power, which as Muslims, we put them in prayers during the Ramadan. Read Also: Edo/Ondo Polls: INEC To Meet Stakeholders Next Week President Muhammadu Buhari also has a big role to play in this regard. He is the commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and he is the most senior leader of the (APC). The president must not be silent, he should use his power and authority to ensure that there is equity and fair play during the primaries of these two states. Buhari should be able to call all the parties involved to order so that there will be peace and tranquillity in Edo and Ondo states. For us in Edo, we have been enjoying peace and we want to continue in this regard, Enebulele said. Open source U.S White House national security adviser Robert OBrien compared Chinas response to the coronavirus outbreak with that of the Soviet Union to the catastrophe at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 as The Hill reported. This was a virus that was unleashed by China. There was a coverup that someday theyre going to do an HBO show like they did with Chernobyl on this virus, OBrien said referring to the 2019 miniseries telling about the 1986 explosion at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. OBrien was asked whether he accused the Chinese government or local officials in concealing the information. We dont know, because they kicked out all reporters and they wouldnt let [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] investigators come in and theyre still stonewalling investigators, he said. It doesnt matter if it was local officials or the Chinese Communist Party, it was a coverup and well get to the bottom of it eventually, he added. On May 24, 258 new cases of infection with Covid-19 were observed in Ukraine. The overall number of infected people currently makes 21,24. 623 cases proved lethal; another 7,234 people recovered. Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. 1. Our group, GOOD GOVERNANCE PLATFORM-GHANA, comprising professionals in Accounting & Auditing, Business Leadership and Management etc, has over a period observed that Mr Daniel Yaw Domelevo is one kind of an Auditor General Ghana has been looking for in a long time. 2. Mr Daniel Yaw Domelevo has come to be known as someone who performs his constitutional mandate without fear or favor; a key feature of which is holding public officers to account; surcharging those who are found to have misappropriated public funds. A typical case involves the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo who illegally sole sourced a $1million contract to Kroll & Associates which the AG has detected and surcharged him to refund the $1million or a cedi equivalent of Gh5.5million into the state coffers. 3. This bold action of the AG against the Senior Minister and his (AG's) firmness not to allow the Board Chairman of the Ghana Audit Service to interfere in his constitutionally guaranteed mandate, appear to have irked the feelings of the current Government. 4. What followed after appear as deliberately setting upon the Auditor General and the Audit Service, state security apparatus, EOCO to show him and his office "where power lies", and ostensibly to frustrate and dampen the AG's spirit and lower the image of the Audit Service in the eyes of well meaning Ghanaians and the International community. 5. As fast as corruption is sinking Ghana, the people's anticipation is that the current Government will provide every necessary support to the Integrity Personality of the Year, 2019, Daniel Yaw Domelevo and his office to confront corruption head on. 6. It is regrettable to say that in Ghana's 63 years history and advancement of democracy and good governance, this is the most difficult period for an Auditor General and the Audit Service to the extent that instead of systems being allowed to work, the AG and staff had had to rely on prayers by Catholic Bishops for survival and for a good working atmosphere. Unprecedented. 7. We must understand that the Auditor General is only doing his work and that it rather behoves any Government to stop within its ranks the corrupt activities so that the AG would not find anything criminal to report and act upon. Signed Group Advocates Koku Dabi 0244088623 Fefemwole Senyeabor 0245885445 Friends of the Nation (FoN), a social-environmental NGO, has identified the lack of political will to enforce fisheries laws as a major threat to food security and sufficiency in the country. According to the NGO, Ghana's fisheries sector has good laws and management plans, but weak implementation continues to contribute to the decline of fisheries livelihoods. To this end, "Ghana's Marine fish stock is overfished to the extent of near collapse and fish landings are all-time lowest". Executive Director of Friends of the Nation, Mr Donkris Mevuta, said this at a media engagement meeting at Adiembra in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The meeting was organized by FoN with funding from BUSAC Fund as part of its implementation of a project dubbed, "Advocacy For Effective Implementation of Fisheries Laws and Management Plans". The project is being implemented at the national level in collaboration with the National Fisheries Association, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Media, with the aim to promote and sustain fisheries livelihoods and secure fish food security and nutrition. Mr Mevuta said the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14, indicator target 14.4, stresses the need to effectively regulate harvesting and put an end to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by the end of 2020. Mr Mevuta however, bemoaned the weak implementation of management plans, lack of effective enforcement of the laws, coupled with low compliance as a major constraint to achieving the SDGs goal 14. The Programmes Manager of Friends of the Nation, Mr Kyei Kwadwo Yamoah, said Ghana's Fisheries Sector played a pivotal role in the area of employment, food security, nutrition, and poverty reduction. Mr Yamoah bemoaned that Ghanas fisheries livelihoods were collapsing due to lack of political will and as a result, Ghana only produces about 40 per cent of her annual fish requirement. He explained that Ghana imported an estimated $311 million in seafood and fish products in 2018, according to a report by Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN), of the United States Department of Agriculture, noting that this importation of fish with the millions of dollars was a drain on the economy. He advised that tackling weak governance of the sector, stopping the wasteful over-capacity and widespread Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing was the main requirement to rebuild the fish stocks. Chairman of the Hook and Line Canoe Fishermen Association, (HLCFA) at Sekondi, Nii Tackie Annang, explained that there were no fish in the sea and fishermen were becoming poorer. He in this regard urged the Government to ensure that there was proper enforcement of the fishing laws to save the situation. He also urged fisher folks to rise up to the occasion to fight the IUU fishing by first complying with the fisheries laws. A Senior Community Health Nurse with the Ghana Health Services, (GHS), Ms Roberta Akofa Tey, who took the meeting through the "COVID-19 pandemic and the fishing industry", asked fisher folks to stick to the safety protocols by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ghana Heath Service (GHS) to stay safe. She asked fisher folks to maintain a distance of at least two feet from one another during fishing expeditions and at the beaches. Madam Akofa Tey took the meeting through proper handwashing and the use of PPE and advised the public to use the nose masks well, adding that, nose masks should be worn mostly when in public but not when one was alone. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Air travel resumed in India this morning after two months due to a nationwide lockdown which was announced by the Centre in March. After a ban on air travel for two months due to nationwide lockdown finally, airlines started the operations in a limited manner from today. After the government approval of resuming the domestic flights, many passengers on Monday mainly army men, students, and migrants, reached Indira Gandhi airport to take early morning flights to reach their destinations. According to the guidelines given by the Union government, passengers without any COVID-19 symptom will only be allowed to fly and after their arrival, they will have to self-monitor their health for at least 14 days. Moreover, many states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka have announced that travelers will have to go under some form of quarantine in their homes or any institution. Moreover, the Centre has also clarified that if any passenger develops COVID-19 symptoms after the travel, it is mandatory for them to inform the district surveillance officer. The Centre has also allowed the states to develop their own quarantine norms. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted some hours back that this resumption required hard negotiations from various state governments. He added that except Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, domestic flights will resume across the country from Monday. Also Read: COVID-19: With highest ever single-day spike of 6,767 cases, Indias coronavirus total shoots to 1,31,868 It has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state govts to recommence civil aviation operations in the country. Except Andhra Pradesh which will start on 26/5 & West Bengal on 28/5, domestic flights will recommence across the country from tomorrow. Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 24, 2020 The flights in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal will resume from May 26 and May 28. Further, some time back the aviation minister also hinted that the International flights might begin in June. Not just this, the government has revealed a series of dos and donts for all the passengers at the airport. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Chilean President Sebastian Pinera toured the Sotero del Rio hospital in Santiago where a field hospital was set up with 100 beds to attend to patients with Covid-19. "We are very near its limits because we've had a big increase in the needs and demands of the patients for medical attention," he said. The temporary medical facility is the first of five being installed throughout the country to alleviate the burden on hospitals. During his Sunday visit to the medical facility, Pinera said he was conscious that the coronavirus pandemic is stressing the nation's health system. Chile has seen an accelerated increase in contagions and deaths in recent days. Chile has reported 69,102 total cases and 718 deaths, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. Pinera said the government is working on three areas: healthcare in the context of the pandemic, employment and support for businesses. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Photo Credit: AP) India's domestic flight services resumed on Monday after a gap of two months but a large number of last-minute cancellations by airlines triggered chaos leaving thousands of passengers stranded. IMAGE: Passengers undergo thermal screening at Shamshabad airport before boarding a flight, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Hyderabad. Photograph: PTI Photo According to aviation industry sources, about 630 of an estimated 1,150 domestic flights for which bookings opened on May 22 were cancelled after some states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu allowed only limited operations or delayed reopening of their airports owing to a spike in coronavirus cases. The Centre for its part said 532 flights carrying 39,231 passengers were operated on the first day of resumption of flights. On Sunday night, it had announced a delay in resumption of air services in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal by up to 3 days and only limited operations at major airports such as Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. Thousands of passengers reached airports since early in the morning on Monday only to be told by the staff of airlines that some of their flights have been cancelled causing hardship to them. Many people also took to social media to vent their anger. IMAGE: A security personnel checks a passenger's documents as he arrives at Chennai airport for domestic travel, after flights resumed during the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, in Chennai. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo Gripped by anxiety and uncertainty, some came from faraway towns and were on the road for several hours wanting to catch the first flight to their respective states. The varied COVID-19 quarantine and self-isolation rules in states and also the Union health ministry guidelines for arriving travellers also compounded their travel woes. The airlines, which were allowed to operate one-third of their pre-lockdown domestic services from May 25, had to further truncate their flight schedules on Sunday leading to the cancellations. All carriers except GoAir operated their flights on Monday. The flights were resumed on a day when India registered the biggest single day spike of 6,977 new coronavirus cases surpassing the 6,000 mark for the fourth day -- taking its tally to 1,38,845. India is now in the top ten worst affected countries by the pandemic, overtaking Iran which was in the 10th position with 135,701 cases. Commercial flight operations have remained shut from March 25 owing to the nationwide lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic though special evacuation flights have been carried out in the last few weeks to bring back stranded Indians from abroad. "From no domestic passenger flights yesterday, today action has returned to Indian skies. With Andhra Pradesh set to resume operations from tomorrow & West Bengal from 28 May, these numbers are all set to increase further," Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, as India entered the last week of the thrice-extended 68-day lockdown that is due to end on May 31. IMAGE: An airline staff wearing protective suit helps an elderly passenger on a wheelchair at Kempegowda International Airport, in Bengaluru. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo The first flight took off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45 am under strict regulations recommended by civil aviation authorities. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna and it departed at 6.45 am. Both were operated by Indigo airlines. Delhi and Mumbai are the country's two busiest airports. People wore face masks and gloves as they boarded flights to their hometowns and workplaces from different airports in the country after following strict health protocols like thermal screening. Some also wore the full body personal protective equipment suits. It was a sweet homecoming for five-year-old Vihaan Sharma who flew back to Bengaluru alone from Delhi and was received by his mother. He was among the passengers who were on an Indigo flight. The boy's mother told reporters at the airport that he was coming to Bengaluru after three months. Vihaan was with his grand-parents in Delhi. "Welcome home, Vihaan! #BLR Airport is constantly working towards enabling the safe return of all our passengers," the Bangalore International Airport Limited, which manages the city's Kempegowda International Airport, tweeted. IMAGE: A mother puts on a face shield on her son while waiting for a vehicle after arriving from New Delhi at Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport following the resumption of domestic flights, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo Aamir Afzal, a mechanical engineer, who had come to Delhi on an official visit on March 23, was among those who took an early morning flight to return to Patna to celebrate Eid with family and friends. "I had been staying in a hotel in Mahipalpur with my co-worker. The hotel charged us Rs 900 per day. We could not get a confirmed ticket on a train back home," he said. But not all were lucky with many people having travelled long distances only to find their flights being cancelled. "I travelled all the way from Ambala (in Haryana) on a bus to take a 6 am flight to Kolkata. When I reached here, I got to know the flight had been cancelled. I am returning home now," said Naik Satish Kumar of the army. Excited to meet his two-year-old daughter, Santu Mandal, a resident of West Bengal's Burdwan district, reached the Delhi airport along with his brother, Nasiruddin Mandal, at 1 am, unaware that the flight to Kolkata had been cancelled. The Mandal brothers are engaged in hand embroidery business. IMAGE: Passengers stand in a queue as they arrive at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport for domestic travel, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo Those who took the first flights from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi included paramilitary personnel, army men, students, and migrant workers. Many said they had to shell out lot of money to reach the airport as there were limited public transport options available. Airline crew present at the airport terminals said the check-in process, printing of boarding pass, and frisking were made contact-less. While cabin attendants were seen wearing the PPE suits, security officials at the entry gates and other staff wore face masks, face shields and gloves. Passengers patiently stood in long queues and were repeatedly asked to maintained physical distance. The Union health ministry in its guidelines issued for domestic flights has advised airlines not to board anyone showing symptoms of coronavirus. All passengers were also asked to download Aarogya Setu application on their mobile phones and only asymptomatic travellers were allowed to board. IMAGE: A mother carrying her child waits to enter Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, during ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo The Centre has suggested that asymptomatic passengers can be allowed to go home by the destination states after asking them to monitor their health for 14 days. Some states have decided to put passengers on mandatory institutional quarantine while several others talked about putting them under home quarantine or both. Baggages at departure and arrival points were also sanitised by the airport staff. An IndiGo spokesperson said 20,000 passengers will travel on Monday through the airline's flights. In a press release, SpiceJet said its first flight on Monday took off from Ahmedabad at 6.05 am and reached Delhi at 7.10 am. The budget carrier said it also operated 20 flights on Monday on routes awarded under regional connectivity UDAN scheme. IMAGE: An air hostess arrives at Shamshabad airport, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Hyderabad, Monday, May 25, 2020. The domestic flight services resumed from today after a gap of two months owing to the nationwide lockdown. Photograph: PTI Photo Some of the passengers who reached Raipur from Delhi said they felt relieved at being back home after two months. "An Indigo flight with 82 passengers from Delhi landed at Raipur airport at 9 am," said Raipur Airport Director Rakesh Sahay. "I am happy to be back home," said Anupama, a Raipur native who works with a private firm in Gurugram. "Since March 16 my office was shut, so I was confined to my home in Gurugram. Though I was not facing any problem there, but I just wanted to return to my home here, she said. IMAGE: A passenger shows the quaratine stamp on his left hand as he checks-out from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. Photograph: Kunal Patil/PTI Photo The resumption of flight services also came as a big relief for a Hyderabad-bound passenger. "My two-month-old daughter has some eye problem and doctors suggested to take her to a hospital in Hyderabad," the 32-year-old passenger said. A native of Chhattisgarh's Durg district, he booked tickets for Hyderabad as soon as he came to know about the resumption of domestic flight services. He along with his family boarded the flight which took off from from Raipur for Hyderabad. St Georges Market shut on March 16 just as traders were preparing for the spring and summer boost St Georges Market shut on March 16 just as traders were preparing for the spring and summer boost Traders from Belfast's most renowned market have said they have received little or no support during the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many sole traders, including those with stalls at the shuttered St George's Market, are unable to access a hardship fund set up for small businesses hit by the crisis. The traders have written to Economy Minister Diane Dodds and the Executive to ask for some sort of support, possibly a grant scheme for individual entrepreneurs unable to get money from the Micro-Business Hardship Fund, other grants or relief. Cathy McLaverty, chair of the St George's Traders Committee, said they were told they could apply for Universal Credit or self-employed income support. But she said the latter takes nine weeks to arrive and is for personal, not business expenses. Bricks and mortar businesses were able to avail of rate and rent holidays and various grants of between 10,000 and 25,000 - but sole traders have received no such support, said Ms McLaverty. Although the current building was built in 1896, there has been a market on the St George's site since 1604, which has thrived through the toughest times, becoming part of the fabric of Belfast. It is Ireland's oldest continually operating market, but the pandemic has left present day traders facing their most challenging crisis yet. St George's shut on March 16 just as traders were preparing for increased traffic in the spring and summer and had spent money ahead of the expected boost. Traders are bracing for a long downturn, particularly as they depend to a large degree on overseas visitors, who are not expected to return this year in any large numbers. "The high street has had help. We have nothing and believe we are entitled to some sort of a grant, we're not asking for 10,000," Ms McLaverty said. "We still had expenses and were waiting nine weeks on money coming through, but that is personal money to put food on the table and has nothing to do with business." Ms McLaverty, who runs a stall selling jewellery and ladies' accessories, said she helps represent 200 traders in St George's but said many other sole traders are affected and had received little help. A discretionary fund to help businesses excluded from grant support should be established to help some companies and sole traders navigate the financial difficulties caused by the pandemic, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. The North Down MLA added: "Earlier this month the UK Government established a discretionary fund in England to accommodate certain small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funds schemes. "The Scottish Government has also established a self-employed hardship fund for those unable to access the UK-wide self-employment income support scheme. "I would urge the Department for the Economy to consider establishing similar schemes in Northern Ireland to help businesses who are otherwise being left high and dry." Sean McCann, who has run his Sizzle & Roll stand in St George's Market for around 15 years, said that stall owners pay a substantial amount of money to Belfast City Council to operate their businesses. While Mr McCann said he is in a financially sound position because of the length of time he has been in business, younger traders working stalls for maybe two or three years may face difficulties. "Self-employed income support is quite complicated and some may not be eligible and not entitled to anything," Mr McCann explained, adding that for others their most recent income is not taken into account and it is based on net earnings, not gross. "I was talking to one younger person who has three children and over three months will receive 2,100." Mr McCann is not optimistic that any more grants will be made available but believes some arrangement could be made between the traders, Belfast City Council and the Executive over the payment of stall fees. The Department for the Economy said it is not possible for every business needing financial aid. It said: "There is a limit to the funding available for the economic support schemes and it is recognised this will not be able to support all those calling for assistance. "We will continue to monitor the situation and consider where any additional funding available could best be utilised. "Self-employed sole traders with employees may be eligible for the NI Micro-business Hardship Fund, although we appreciate that the majority of St George's market traders may not fall into this category." Economy Minister Diane Dodds told her Stormont scrutiny committee last week that cash is not available to support all businesses. "If we were to take all of the business in Northern Ireland who are not eligible for the hardship fund and provide 10k to those businesses, that would cost another 890m," Ms Dodds had said. "If we were to provide 10k to registered businesses with 0 or 1 employees, we would be looking for another 350m." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Mon, May 25, 2020 17:04 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bda05b9c 2 Science & Tech Google-Maps,disabled Free Google has announced the deployment of a particularly useful functionality in its web mapping service, which will make it much easier for wheelchair users to see accessibility information. The new feature is very easy to use. Once the Accessible Places option is activated in the mobile applications settings, Google Maps will display wheelchair icons to indicate locations with disabled access. Clicking on the icon will bring up further information about accessible seating, toilets and parking. Read also: Social initiative helps disabled travelers get home safely for Christmas Google already has information on wheelchair accessibility for more than 15 million locations around the world, mainly thanks to the participation of contributing Internet users, and it is this information that can now be permanently displayed in Maps. It should be noted that anyone can contribute information on disabled access to the service directly from an Android or iOS smartphone. To take advantage of the new functionality, download the latest version of Google Maps, go to settings, accessibility, and activate Accessible Places. The new feature is rolled out for both Android and iOS in Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Other countries will soon follow. According to Google, almost 130 million people worldwide rely on wheelchairs to get around. With the milestone of one lakh tests per day being achieved, the government is now developing a strategy to further increase the capacity. Infrastructure is currently being developed to enhance the testing capacity up to 2 lakh tests per day in the coming days. There are 609 testing labs across the country as of now. It includes 431 public and 178 private labs. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is continuously scaling up its testing facilities for COVID-19 by giving approval to government and private laboratories. ICMR has already expanded its testing criteria to include returnee migrants and other frontline workers. Apart from the RT-PCR test, many states working on tuberculosis (TB) elimination programs have also deployed TrueNAT machines for coronavirus testing. It is a battery operated machine that can test two samples simultaneously and provide results between 60 and 90 minutes. The machines are being used to conduct testing in such areas and districts where modern virological labs don't exist. States such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Odhisha, Andhra, Tamil Nadu and others have started using this machine. The diagnostic capacities have been scaled by states such as Bihar (17 testing labs), Odisha (17), Uttar Pradesh (27) and West Bengal (36) . As of now, 104 TrueNAT and 54 CBNAAT testing machines are being used for coronavirus testing Apart from that, ICMR is also working on using ELISA for coronavirus testing. The government has also installed COBAS 8800 machines in states such as Delhi, West Bengal and Bihar, that can test between 1,400 to 4,000 samples daily. Meanwhile, India has recorded the highest ever spike of 6,977 COVID-19 cases and 154 deaths in India in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the country now at 1,38,845, including 77,103 active cases, 57,720 cured or discharged and 4,021 deaths, says the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's latest data. Also read: Delhi heat wave: Red alert for NCR, Punjab, Haryana; temp to reach 47 degrees Also read: Domestic flights resume: Returning to your hometown? Check out guidelines, quarantine rules Photo: Business in Vancouver Ken Beattie is old enough to recall when B.C. pubs had to keep their doors closed to anyone looking for a cold one on a Sunday. Then Expo [86] came, they allowed it, and they realized, Hey, it wasnt mayhem, said the executive director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild. The province planned to loosen those Sunday restrictions for only five months during the worlds fair, but the changes proved popular and were never rolled back. Now as the hospitality sector grapples with cratering revenue as a result of the pandemic, the province and City of Vancouver have embarked on loosening restrictions on serving liquor. Beattie said it will be difficult for different levels of government to put the genie back in the bottle after the pandemic subsides and consumers get used to the new normal. In March the province began allowing restaurants to deliver liquor with takeout orders a first for B.C. The province is also working with industry to allow restaurants to buy alcohol at wholesale prices, potentially boosting the margins for those establishments. And on May 22 the B.C. government announced plans for an "expedited approval process for faster processing times" for licensed patios. This month Vancouver city council and city staff began work on allowing pubs and restaurants to have access to more patio space than what was previously granted. Breweries with tasting rooms are also in line to get patio space for the first time. Beatties industry group had been working with city council on the issue prior to the pandemic as a means of boosting revenue while breweries contend with mounting costs associated with property assessments. He said patios will be a good test of whether bureaucracy can take a backseat to economic recovery. Theyll like the tax revenue, Beattie said. Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association, anticipates permanent changes following the pandemic. The public wont want this to go away, he said. The business side will say, These are necessary components for our future survival. Because were talking years here, were not talking months to fix this. David Hardisty, an assistant professor specializing in consumer behaviour at the University of British Columbias Sauder School of Business, said it will be difficult for government to roll back the new rules. People are going to get used to the new normal, and theyll see the worlds not falling apart, he said, adding restrictions would likely only return if a compelling argument could be made for health reasons. In 2014 B.C. became the last province to allow happy hour specials, relaxing rules but requiring all establishments to charge minimum prices. At the time, BC Liberal justice minister Suzanne Anton said minimum pricing was needed due to health concerns. Hardisty said, Alcohol can lead to problems, but I dont think youre going to get any more problems if youre drinking on a patio versus inside a restaurant or youre buying it at the store versus delivering it to your home. People in general are more sensitive to losses than gains. If youre going to take away a freedom from people, then youre going to have to have a good reason. It took more than 12 hours for fire fighters to douse the flames that had broken out at RT Woollen Mill, RK Road, on Sunday. As many as 14 fire tenders were deployed at the spot with over 60 fire fighters working to douse the flames. The fire broke out around 12:30pm on Sunday and the reason behind it is uncertain. The double storey building spread on 1,500 square yards was damaged badly and material worth lakhs was gutted in the incident. No casualty was reported at the spot. COTTON, POLYESTER AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS GUTTED Sub-fire officer (SFO) Maninder Singh said, It was difficult even to enter the building due to the heat that was being emitted out of the building. I led a team of fire fighters to the roof of a building situated on the backside of the unit on fire and made a hole in the boundary wall so the intensity of heat could reduce inside the factory. Most of the material comprised cotton, polyester and petroleum products due to which it took more time to douse the flames. One of the fire fighters, requesting anonymity, said the fire fighters also faced trouble in absence of safety suits. If the department had given suits to the fire fighters, we might have entered the building and doused the flames faster. We could not enter the building due to the heat, he said. The fire official also said, We do not have proper equipment and in absence of this, we cover ourselves with wet clothes. The civic body and the state government have been making tall claims in the past, but nothing has been done to improve the condition of the fire brigade. Assistant divisional fire officer Bhupinder Singh said the 14 fire tenders deployed at the spot were refilled for over 100 times. INQUIRY INITIATED BY SDM WEST After chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh directed deputy commissioner (DC) Pradeep Agrawal to look into the reason behind the fire incident, the DC has marked an inquiry in the matter to sub-divisional magistrate (SDM, west) Amrinder Malhi. SDM Malhi said he visited the spot on Monday and initiated the inquiry. We have asked the owner to submit documents regarding the factory following which we will move forward with the inquiry. We could not enter the building as the smoke was still emanating out of the waste and reason behind the fire incident is uncertain. A round 60 firefighters tackled a house fire in Forest Hill. The London Fire Brigade said the whole of the first floor and the roof of the house in Melford Road were badly damaged. A man and woman left the house, unhurt before the brigade arrived and another woman from a neighbouring property was assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews. Huge plumes of smoke were pictured rising from the home in east Dulwich on Monday morning. Video footage showed smoke billowing from the top of the house. Another video showed firefighters battling the fire with an aerial device to access the roof. Eight fire engines from West Norwood and surrounding fire stations were at the scene and had the fire under control by 9.15am. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Legal experts have said the closure of state borders in Queensland and Western Australia may be swept aside by two constitutional appeals as tourism operators have warned they are in imminent danger of collapse. The High Court cases against both states stand a good chance of success if COVID-19 infections continue to decline. But any case will be decided on the basis of facts and medical evidence that was "changing every day", University of Sydney constitutional expert Anne Twomey said. She said cases would be affected by events at the time of the hearing such as a potential "second wave of infections". Businessman and former politician Clive Palmer lodged documents in the High Court on Monday to challenge the WA border restrictions, while One Nation leader and Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson is supporting a similar challenge to her home state's border restrictions. Republicans Fred Martin and Harvey Nix are seeking the Republican nomination for Porter County commission in District 1, which covers the southern third of the county. Martin has served as director of EMS education and development at Porter Memorial Hospital, deputy director of the Porter County Emergency Management Agency and president of the Kouts Economic Development Board. He now serves on the Porter County Storm Water Advisory Board. Nix worked for the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District for 35 years. He was on the Porter County Drainage Board for eight years, until it was replaced by the Storm Water Management Board. Martin said his first priority is development of a greater educated workforce, including skilled labor, while evaluating ways to attract those who work from home to relocate to Porter County. The current COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of our digital infrastructure, he said. Traditional infrastructure remains important. We're pleased to announce that The Law Offices of David W. Barlow, have been recognized by several organizations as one of the top car accident attorneys in Hawaii. The American Jurist Institute has recognized Mr. Barlow as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Lawyers in Hawaii. They found that Mr. Barlow had the knowledge, skill, and experience to be one of the best injury lawyers in the state. The National Trial Lawyers Association selected David W. Barlow as one of the top trial attorneys in Hawaii. See more about his honors here: https://www.personal-injury-hawaii.com/hawaii-lawyer-david-barlow The National Association of Distinguished Counsel selected David Barlow as a member of the Nation's Top One Percent of all Attorneys for "elevating the standards of the Bar and providing a benchmark for other lawyers to emulate." The National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys has selected David Barlow as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Lawyers in Hawaii. Mr. Barlow has been helping clients who have been injured in auto accidents for many years. He's well recognized in the community as one of the best injury lawyers who works hard to get his clients the compensation they deserve. He offers free consultations and never charges his clients any fees until he gets them a settlement for their injuries. He's pleased to have one of the most helpful injury lawyer websites in Hawaii. On his website, there's a free advise section with many resources to help people who've been injured in an accident. See this webpage here: https://www.personal-injury-hawaii.com/hawaii-injury-resources By Chukwuemeka Opara Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has bemoaned the explosion in COVID-19 cases in the state, describing it as shocking and disturbing. Umahi made the remark on Monday during a news briefing after an emergency meeting with the Ebonyi COVID-19 response team and relevant stakeholders. He stressed that all the cases were from returnees intercepted at the states various boundaries. The governor said that between April 26, and May 20, the state had 13 confirmed cases of the disease but nine new cases were recorded on May 22, another nine on May 23 and two on May 24. We presently have 33 confirmed cases with six victims discharged and it should be noted that there is no community infection yet in the state. A breakdown of the cases shows that Afikpo North LGA has nine cases, Izzi eight, Ishielu six, Ikwo four, Ohaukwu two, Ohaozara two, Onicha and Ezza North one each, he said. Umahi added that the state could not have recorded such upsurge in the cases if the various inter-state boundary lockdowns were working. Another problem is that we are holding these returnees down at the various centres in our LGAs yet we have issues with test kits from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). You cant hold people down above 14 days without testing and the Federal Government (FG) should do something about this urgently. These people cant go to their houses to isolate because some people stay up to five in a room in the rural areas. We cant do anything even if they are kept at the centres for 21 days so there should be enough kits to appropriately follow NCDC guidelines, he said. A soldier and three other suspects have been arrested over the kidnap and murder of Leo Micah Isiah, whose death angered people which led to the hashtag #JusticeForLeo. The suspects already confessed to killing the 21-year-old student of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri FUTO, after they emptied his account of N800,000. suspects Few weeks ago,one of the members of the gang, named Godson Chimezie who was caught while trying to steal the vistims car, led SARS officers to the place where the body of Leo Micah Isaiah was dumped in Anambra state after he was kidnapped in Imo State . Beside the victims decaying body was the large stone which they used to kill him. He said they had stopped him when they saw him with his car and they accused him of being a Yahoo boy. They then led him away with his car and took his money before killing him. The others involved in the killing have now been caught and they said they killed the undergraduate after taking the money in his account so that our image will not be dented. One of the suspects, Ifeanyi Nwaiwu of the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Makurdi, Benue State, said he ordered Isiahs killing after he received N200,000 as his share of the money collected from the victim. Godson Chimezie, 28, who is a military deserter and also a member of the gang, said they ran into Isaiah while he was inflating his car tyre. He said: We saw him while he was pumping his tyre in Owerri and we sensed that a small boy like him driving that kind of vehicle must be a Yahoo boy. We quickly accosted him and I took his phone, went through it and discovered that he was an Internet fraudster. We immediately kidnapped him on the pretext of an arrest. We took him to our hideout and the young man agreed to pay N800,000. We collected the money, but Corporal Ifeanyi Nwaiwu of the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Makurdi, insisted that we must kill him. According to him, the man would dent his image if he walked away alive. I regret everything I have done. I know I deserve to die, because I have done wrong. I didnt plan to end this way, but I only plead for mercy. We didnt plan to kidnap him. We just ran into him. Parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, said the gang members were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command. Actor Daniel Radcliffe struggled with alcohol while filming the Harry Potter movies. Radcliffe spoke candidly about his alcoholism years after appearing in his final Harry Potter film. In an interview to Off Camera in 2019, the actor said that he struggled with the feeling of always being watched as a young actor. He said, In my case, the quickest way to forget about the fact that youre being watched is to get very drunk. And then as you get very drunk, you become aware that Oh, people are watching more now because now Im getting very drunk, so I should probably drink more to ignore that more. The actor, who has been sober since 2010, said that he gave up drinking with the help of his friends. Ultimately, it was my own decision, he said. Like I woke up one morning after a night going like, This is probably not good. He continued, Even at the lowest point, I still loved my job so much. I loved going to set, and there was never a day where my own [feelings] would affect how I was on set, there was never a point where I was like, Oh, I wish this hadnt happened to me, I wish I wasnt Harry Potter. In a separate interview to the BBC, he said, I didnt really know in terms of behaviour, and behaviour in public, that was one of the first times that I felt being famous brushing up against my life. If I went out and if I got drunk Id suddenly be aware of there being an interest in that because it was not just a drunk guy, its like Harry Potters getting drunk in the bar and that carries its own kind of interest for people. Also a slightly mocking interest because it is inherently funny for people. I suppose those were the moments when I first started being Oh, that doesnt feel good. I dont like how Im being looked at in this particular context, he continued. Then the way of dealing with that is to just to drink more, or get more drunk. So I did a lot of that for a few years. Also read: Watch Daniel Radcliffe react to Harry Potter co-star Rupert Grint becoming dad: Its super weird were old enough to have kids Radcliffe added, There are many questions in my life where you can say Is this thing, thing X, the way it is because its in you to be that way or is it because you got famous and were in this slightly crazy situation? Thats not just the sense with my drinking, its a few things where you go I wonder if thats because of Potter or I would have been that way anyway? Ill never know, so its sort of pointless to ask. But I definitely think a lot of the drinking that happened towards the end of Potter and sort of for a little bit after it finished, it was panic and not knowing what to do next and not being comfortable enough in who I was to remain sober. The actor had also spoken candidly about his sex life. In an interview to the now defunct Details magazine, it was revealed that Radcliffe celebrated reaching Britains age of consent, 16, almost three years ago, in the customary manner, with an older girlfriend. The age difference between them wasnt ridiculous but it would freak some people out, he said. In an interview to Elle, he provided more details. He said, It was with somebody Id gotten to know well. Im happy to say Ive had a lot better sex since then, but it wasnt as horrendously embarrassing as a lot of other peoples werelike my friend who got drunk and did it with a stranger under a bridge. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON HINTON, Iowa -- Kylee Lang, 24, knew something was up when she was greeted by Hinton Police Department squad cars and Hinton Fire Department trucks on her way back from work Sunday afternoon. A volunteer member of the Hinton Fire Department for the past year and a full-time member of Sioux City Fire Rescue for the past month, she was expecting to spend a few hours with her family. Instead, a good portion of the town of 941 people greeted Lang with American flags and signs that said "We Will Miss You!" and "Thank You for Your Service!" "Wow!" she said between hugs and kisses from friends, family and well-wishers. "I was not expecting a send-off like this." Lang, a member of the Missouri National Guard, was slated to report to Fort Leonard Wood, a U.S. Army training installation located in the Ozark Mountains, before beginning an 11-month tour of duty in Kuwait. "Kylee is going to be gone for a while," dad Travis Lang, the organizer of the impromptu parade, said. "We wanted to show how proud we are of her." Like his daughter, Travis is also a member of Sioux City Fire Rescue. He admitted to being nervous about his daughter's deployment. "No matter how old she gets, I'll worry about Kylee," he said. "I just know she has a good head on her shoulders." Kylee Lang always wanted to pursue law enforcement as a career. Earning a criminology bachelor's degree from Northwest Missouri State University in 2018, she said it was her dad who convinced her to join him as a member of Sioux City Fire Rescue. "It was absolutely the right decision to make," she said. "I have my family-family and I've added my work-family." Unfortunately, Lang will have to say goodbye to both, at least for a little while. "I'm sort of nervous (about going to Kuwait) but also really excited," she said with a smile. "I'll be gaining plenty of experience with the National Guards and then I'll be able to come back home to a very exciting job." Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The EU flags are seen in front of the Berlaymont, the EU Commission headquarter on May 19, 2020, in Brussels, Belgium. Tech giants could be forced to pay higher taxes in Europe as governments search for new revenue to deal with the ongoing coronavirus crisis, three experts told CNBC. Taxing tech firms such as Google, Facebook or Amazon has been a thorny subject in Europe. Countries failed to come up with a joint digital tax in 2019 and deferred the negotiations to the OECD (the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). In addition, some nations, such as France, decided to implement their own digital taxes regardless, but their actions sparked a trade spat with the United States. Different governments are now dealing with the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression and they will need fresh cash to support their economies. They might look at tech firms for that extra revenue. "We see digital goods/services tax conversations advancing most rapidly in Europe, where the scale of ambition to use the EU budget to finance economic recovery from coronavirus may see Brussels taking an increased interest in the attractive potential tax base of e-commerce and digital services," David Livingston, an analyst at the research firm Eurasia Group, told CNBC Wednesday. The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, is due to unveil new spending plans this week. The institution is likely to look at additional taxes, such as a carbon duty, as new sources of revenue. Speaking to CNBC Wednesday, Dexter Thillien, a senior industry analyst at Fitch Solutions, said there are two reasons why tech giants could be asked to pay more. "The first is that they will be the companies making the most money during and after the pandemic, and the second is because there have been many moves towards digital taxation," he said via email. Lockdown has been good for me. Despite missing my family, after hurtling through the last six years since I waived anonymity at breakneck speed I finally have some time to myself. So, I have cleaned and crocheted and filed six years' worth of newspaper articles that have been gathering dust in the cupboard under the stairs. That in itself was cathartic, if a trigger for some traumatic memories, because it was useful to look back at just how cack-handed the Sinn Fein response to my experience was. Read More Yesterday provided me with another article to file in the "Shinners still haven't conceded the full picture" category. In the first interview with Mary Lou McDonald in the Sunday Independent, journalist Hugh O'Connell covered a range of topics, from her at times "difficult" relationship with her father, to describing Gerry Adams as "wise" . Expand Close Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: David Conachy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: David Conachy I skimmed through her guff on the IRA, not really expecting any different, but it was her answers in relation to myself that caught my attention. Mary Lou McDonald thinks I am "brave" and that I was "very courageous". She also admitted that my case was "badly handled" and that was Sinn Fein's fault. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Unless, in this case, you're the victim reading. I don't need Mary Lou McDonald to tell me, or anyone else, that they "badly handled" my case. The appalling way they treated a sexual abuse victim, who had just waived anonymity, should stay in the public psyche for a long time to come. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I have been consistent from day one when recounting my experience. Sinn Fein supporters on the other hand, emboldened by the party's initial response, threw out so many attacks on my character you'd get whiplash trying to keep up. They tried to discredit me, they daubed graffiti on the walls of the area where I was raped, and some still continue to post appalling, defamatory comments online. It must be very difficult for them to hear the party president concede that, separately, her party messed up. If she has any influence with the wing-nut section of her online supporters she might wish to explain to them that re-abusing the abused is never a good look. Her platitudes ring hollow and her hope that the party "handled it right" in the end is a bit incredulous, considering that Sinn Fein never expelled any party member who was involved in an IRA investigation which made me face my abuser as a vulnerable young woman. Until Sinn Fein admits that the IRA investigated my abuse - and, let's face it, the party haven't been shy remembering IRA actions when it suits them - this issue will never be over. To learn from mistakes you have to accept that they happened in the first place. It seems that this hasn't yet resonated with the party, which is fond of calling for truth and justice from others, but has yet to deal with a plethora of issues in their own backyard. When it comes to IRA victims, Sinn Fein may have a different leader, saying clever things. But when it comes to action, it's still the same old approach. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 18:58:20|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Experts have praised China's commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind and its efforts to promote international cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday answered questions by journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and foreign relations at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing annual national legislative session. China has been firmly safeguarding multilateralism and striving to improve global governance, and has made important contributions to world peace and stability, experts said. Tanaka Chitsa, a researcher at the Southern African Research and Documentation Center in Zimbabwe, said that China has made important contributions to safeguarding multilateralism, world equity and justice, and promoting global economic and social development. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China enables countries with different ideological and cultural backgrounds to join forces and cooperate on the basis of seeking common ground while reserving differences to achieve a win-win situation, said Chitsa. China, he added, has taken the initiative to make its stance known on various international occasions, actively safeguarded the interests of the vast number of developing countries, and won the trust and friendship of developing countries over the years. Constanza Jorquera, a scholar at the School of Politics at Diego Portales University in Chile, said that China is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind and improving global governance, which is of significant importance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Francisco Carrion, Ecuador's former foreign minister, said that while COVID-19 continued to spread, China has provided medical supplies to many countries, shared its anti-COVID-19 experiences and provided great help to global efforts in fighting against the virus, which demonstrates its responsibility as a major country. At present, all countries should eliminate differences and prejudices, enhance cooperation and jointly combat the pandemic, Carrion said. Any action of stigmatizing, shirking responsibilities or even provoking racism and xenophobia will negatively impact the global fight against COVID-19 and ultimately hurt human society, he added. Gerd Kaminski, a scholar and the director of the Austrian Institute for China and Southeast Asia Studies, said that in today's world, there is no room for isolationism and egoism, and countries must work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. It is commendable that China has been committed to promoting international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, he added. U Khin Maung Lynn, joint secretary of the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies, said that COVID-19 has once again highlighted the importance of multilateralism. All countries should unite to fight the pandemic, he said, noting that China has cooperated with other countries to mobilize material, technical and human resources, and has made important contributions to the global fight against COVID-19. Apart from public health, unity and cooperation are also needed in other fields, and only in this way can a peaceful and stable international environment be created, he added. Enditem A doctors' union has criticised Public Health England (PHE) and the Government for casting a shroud of secrecy over how many coronavirus tests on NHS staff and patients have produced wrong results. The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) called for an end to evasion over the issue and denounced the wall of silence surrounding how many swab tests return false negative readings. The union, which represents thousands of medics, said it fears between 20 to 30 per cent of antigen tests could be giving hospital workers negative results even though they're still infectious with Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That could mean swathes of hospital staff being incorrectly declared virus-free and cleared to work, posing a risk an infection could unknowingly be passed on to vulnerable patients and potentially fuelling the spread of the disease in hospitals. The Standard has approached PHE and the Department of Health for comment. A PHE study released last week said that a fifth of coronavirus infections among hospital patients and almost nine in 10 infections among healthcare workers may have been caught in hospital. PHE has meanwhile not publicly disclosed how accurate its antigen testing is. The antigen tests rely on samples being taken from someone's throat and nose. It can take days for labs to analyse the samples and inform people of their result. But the tests aren't always reliable, with recent research published in The British Medical Journal revealing that between 2 and 29 per cent of Covid-19 tests produced false negatives. Taking up the issue in a letter to the body's chief executive, Duncan Selbie, General Secretary of the HCSA Dr Paul Donaldson expressed his deep concern and frustration at the bodys systematic lack of information over the reliability of its antigen tests. "Statements by PHE officials and others place the incidence of false negatives somewhere between 20 per cent and 30 per cent," Dr Donaldson wrote. "If confirmed, this is a worryingly high rate which raises the prospect of many infected individuals, possibly without symptoms, being passed fit to return to healthcare settings where they will transmit SARS-CoV-2 to colleagues and patients. Following the HCSAs letter, Dr Nick Phin, PHE's Incident Director, said: The UKs national testing system is built on strong foundations using the latest scientific evidence and expert advice. The different tests in use have been assessed as performing to manufacturers' specifications. Coronavirus in numbers: UK death toll rises to 36,793 The doctors' union also hit out at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), accusing officials of refusing to fully answer parliamentary questions which the opposition Labour Party has recently tabled to find out more about the tests. Justin Madders, a shadow health minister, asked the DHSC what recent estimate it had made of the false-negative rate of each of the Covid-19 tests in use. In reply health minister Nadine Dorries said only that viral detection tests have high levels of clinical sensitivity at close to 100 per cent and that the staff of NHS laboratories were doing everything in their power to minimise false positives. Asked by Mr Madders to name all the Covid-19 tests in use, Ms Dorries declined to do so. The health minister also refused to say which tests for Covid-19 the NHS had stopped using and why, reiterating instead that eight "key testing platforms which deliver the majority of testing" were being used. "All these tests are clinically validated and have high levels of performance," she added. To date, more than 3.4 million coronavirus tests have been carried out in the UK, nearly 260,000 of which have resulted in confirmed positive cases. The death toll stood at 36,793 people as of 5pm on Saturday. DHSC has been approached by The Standard for comment. Insurance fraud seems like it might be an easy thing to do. Insurance companies are often so huge, one wonders how they might not even notic... PR-Inside.com: 2020-05-25 18:22:00 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 374 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2020 / Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. ("PacRoots" or the "Company") (CSE:PACR), is pleased to announce the completion of the proposed plan of arrangement with its wholly owned subsidiary Mountain Lake Minerals Inc. (formerly 1167343 B.C. Ltd.) (the "Arrangement"). The Arrangement completes the spin-off of the Company's mineral property to its subsidiary as contemplated by the agreement between the Company and 1167343 B.C. Ltd. (now "Mountain Lake Minerals Inc.") (the "Arrangement Agreement").The shareholders of the Company had approved the Arrangement by a 99.97% margin on August 8, 2019. Additionally, the Company received the final approval from the B.C. Supreme Court at a hearing held August 12, 2019. Refer to the Information Circular of the Company dated June 21, 2019, for additional information concerning the Arrangement.The effective date for the Arrangement was May 22, 2020, and as previously announced the record date for shareholders of the Company to participate in the Arrangement was April 28, 2020 (the "Record Date").Shareholders of record on the Record Date, will receive one common share of Mountain Lake Minerals Inc. ("Spinco") for every one share of the Company that they own while retaining their Company shares. The distribution date for the Spinco shares will be May 27, 2020 (the "Distribution Date"). The shares of Spinco will not be listed on any exchange on the Distribution Date. Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Company has transferred to Spinco all of its remaining mineral property interests as well as the remaining balance of a $1,000,000 working capital amount less previously made advances of $450,000. The Arrangement Agreement was amended on April 30, 2020 to reflect certain changes in the Company's mineral property holdings since the date of the original Arrangement Agreement. A copy of the amending agreement will be available on the Company's and Spinco's profiles on SEDAR.ON BEHALF OF PAC ROOTS CANNABIS CORP.(signed) "Patrick Elliott"Chief Executive OfficerFor further information, please contact:Pac Roots Cannabis Corp.Telephone: 604-609-6171Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. Two migrant workers on their way to their home states amid lockdown, which has been imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic, died in Mahasamund district in Chhattisgarh on Sunday. In the first incident, a 38-year-old man heading to West Bengal in a bus from Maharashtra complained of breathing problems. He started vomiting and died after being rushed to a community health centre in Pithora town, said Pithora Block Medical Officer Dr Tara Agrawal. In the second case, a 45-year-old migrant got off at Mahasamund railway station from an Odisha-bound train after his health deteriorated and died in a nearby hospital, said Dr RK Pardal, the facilitys superintendent. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 The samples of the two deceased as well as two more people who were with them have been sent for coronavirus testing, officials added. There have been several incidents of migrant workers dying while returning home. Oil prices, which have been driven higher for the past four weeks, were steady on Monday, with holidays in Singapore, London and New York dampening trade, as rising concerns over demand recovery offset supply cuts. Brent had eased by 5 cents, or 0.14% to $35.08 a barrel by 1014 GMT, while U.S. oil gained 14 cents, or 0.42% to $33.39 a barrel. Both are down around 45% so far this year. "Uncertainty around the current travel patterns in the U.S. is so great that the American Automobile Association did not release its Memorial Day travel forecast," Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy, said. Rising tensions between the United States and China, the world's largest oil consumers, over moves by Beijing to impose security legislation on Hong Kong also fueled concerns about the outlook for demand. Relations between Washington and Beijing have soured since the coronavirus outbreak, with the two countries already at odds over Hong Kong, human rights, trade and U.S. support for Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Prices are finding support from global supply cuts with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC+, now nearly a month into a deal to voluntarily withhold 9.7 million barrel per day of production. And the U.S. rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by 21 to a record low 318 in the week to May 22, data from energy services firm Baker Hughes showed. "The huge decline in global oil production has doubtless been the key factor in the latest surge in oil prices," Commerzbank said. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie Asia markets traded mostly higher on Monday as investor sentiment remained resilient despite growing concerns over the U.S.-China relationship. Australia's benchmark ASX 200 rose 118.60 points, or 2.16%, to 5,615.60, with all sectors finishing up. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index added 353.49 points, or 1.73%, to 20,741.65 while the Topix index was up 24.40 points, or 1.65%, to 1,502.20. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will lift the state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic in Tokyo and four other prefectures on Monday, Kyodo News reported. It added that Abe is expected to hold a press conference to explain his government's plan, which would ease restrictions on economic activity. More than 5.4 million people worldwide have now been infected by the virus, which was first reported in China's Hubei province, and more than 345,000 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. South Korea's Kospi gained 24.47 points, or 1.24%, to 1,994.60. Mainland Chinese shares traded mixed: The Shanghai composite rose 0.15% to 2,817.97, the Shenzhen composite was fractionally lower at 1,750.82 and the Shenzhen component was down 0.11% at 10,592.84. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong erased earlier losses of more than 1% to finish up 0.1% at 22,953.68. Last Friday, the index lost more than 5% after China announced a new national security law, which, if implemented, would give Beijing more control over Hong Kong and may incite further pro-democracy protests in the city. The draft measure was announced as China's National People's Congress (NPC) the country's parliament kicked off its annual session and will last until May 28. "Risk sentiment proved resilient, on Friday night, to concerns about the fallout from China introducing national security legislation in Hong Kong. Weakness in Asian equities gave way to a flattish European session, and mild positivity in the US," Hayden Dimes at ANZ Research said in a Monday morning note. Government departments in Hong Kong rallied behind Beijing's plans on Monday after thousands took to the streets to protest over the weekend, Reuters reported. Security Chief John Lee said "terrorism" was growing in the city and activities that harm national security became more rampant, the news wire said. The UK's best-selling tobacco company was yesterday accused of sidestepping a ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes aimed at stopping children smoking. Japan Tobacco International, which makes Benson and Hedges and Sterling, has replaced several of its brands with an almost identically named and marketed new range. They are being advertised under the slogan 'menthol reimagined' and customers claim they taste 'fully menthol'. A handbook in association with the firm called 'making a mint' has been given to sellers. It is subtitled 'Everything you need to know to successfully navigate the menthol ban' [File photo] Documents leaked to the Daily Mail show retailers have been told how to continue 'making a mint' from the 3.6billion-a-year UK market and boost sales after the ban. Mint-flavoured cigarettes, which make up around one in four sales, were banned in Britain last Wednesday amid concerns they were luring young people. JTI launched its new range on the same day. Campaigners last night called for the Government to outlaw the new brands as well. Tory MP Bob Blackman, chairman of the all party parliamentary group on smoking and health, said: 'They are cynically trying to circumvent a very sensible ban on cigarettes which are intended to make you quickly addicted to nicotine and a customer for life. 'There are literally thousands of young people who get addicted to nicotine through menthol cigarettes. That was the point of the ban. This shows you can't trust big tobacco.' Mint-flavoured cigarettes, which make up around one in four sales, were banned in Britain last Wednesday amid concerns they were luring young people [File photo] Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, added: 'The industry has obeyed the letter of the law while in no way, shape or form following its spirit.' Advertising in mainstream media is forbidden and JTI is urging retailers to promote its new range. A handbook in association with the firm called 'making a mint' has been given to sellers. It is subtitled 'Everything you need to know to successfully navigate the menthol ban'. It says: 'The legislation makes is very difficult for manufacturers to communicate directly with existing adult smokers. 'Retailers should ensure staff are aware of the alternative options on offer so they are able to inform them.' It added that there were 'a raft of distinctive new blends and unique taste alternatives'. JTI communications director Mark Yexley has called the new law a 'fresh opportunity'. Japan Tobacco International, which makes Benson and Hedges and Sterling, has replaced several of its brands with an almost identically named and marketed new range [File photo] The legislation is part of the Government's drive for a smoke-free society by 2030. But a survey commissioned by smokers' group Forest found 39 per cent of smokers are oblivious to the new regulations. Customer Ellie Rylance posted on Twitter the day of the ban: 'For anyone who thinks menthols have gone forever, they're not. 'Sterling New Dual and B&H New Dual are a 'special blend' to get round the law but they're menthol.' Another wrote: 'I went to the shop today and they said they got in 'Sterling New Dual'. They didn't know if they were menthol. I bought them and they're fully menthol.' A JTI UK spokesman said: 'JTI UK no longer sells menthol flavoured cigarettes, including capsule products. 'We are confident that all of our products are fully compliant with UK law.' The Palestinian government is ending its two-month coronavirus lockdown in the occupied West Bank, prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh announced Monday after a steady decline in new cases. Follow latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic here Shops and businesses will operate as normal from Tuesday, while government employees will return to work after the Eid holiday on Wednesday, Shtayyeh told a press conference. Mosques, churches and public parks will also reopen, though with social distancing measures. Public transport will resume. Cafes and restaurants would be reopened but subject to restrictions to be announced in the coming days, he added. "The easing in the measures and gradual return to normal life is being taken with caution," Shtayyeh said, warning that an increase in cases could lead to restrictions being reinstated. The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority declared a state of emergency in March to try to quell the spread of COVID-19. There have been more than 400 cases in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, with three deaths. In Gaza, which is controlled by a rival Hamas-led government, the easing of measures began several weeks ago. The lockdown in the West Bank had been due to remain in place until June 5 but was ended early with few new cases in recent weeks. According to the rules of procedure, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan continues to conduct hearings over the reports on the activities of public administration bodies in 2019. Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan delivered a report on the activities in the reporting year. The minister thoroughly reported on the activities carried out for implementation of Armenias foreign policy priorities in the reporting year and particularly touched upon the work done for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity, the advancement of the human rights protection agenda and the enhancement of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The foreign minister particularly emphasized that, through its activities, Armenian diplomats have affirmed that sovereignty is the major principle of Armenias foreign policy. Mnatsakanyan presented the actions targeted at further development of Armenias cooperation with the Russian Federation, the US, the European Union and countries across Europe, including France and Germany, Armenias neighboring countries (Georgia and Iran) and the relations with countries in different regions. The minister attached special importance to the establishment of the Armenia-Cyprus-Greece cooperation and reported on the actions aimed at promoting partnership with countries of the Middle East and Africa, as well as the cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the International Organization of La Francophonie. Prime Minister Pashinyan attached importance to the development of relations in all of the mentioned directions and the consistent efforts for full realization and strengthening of the potential of the countrys diplomatic service. The head of government emphasized the need for expanding the economic component in foreign policy and attached importance to the development of a new concept paper for full use of the potential of all Armenians around the world, taking into consideration the processes and changes that have unfolded and been made in the Diaspora over the past decades. LARGE CROWD EXPECTED AT SHARKEY TRIAL ON MONDAY The General Secretary of the [Communist Party of Australia] Mr L L Sharkey, will appear at the Special Federal Court Commonwealth Bank Building (corner of Martin Place and Castlereagh Street entrance in Martin Place) at 10 am on Monday to answer charges of having uttered and published seditious words. In view of the widespread interest the case has aroused, a large audience is expected to attend the hearing. UNION PROTESTS The Combined Mining Unions Council, representing all unions with members on the coalfields, has carried a resolution condemning the prosecution of Mr Sharkey. The Council resolved: That this Council emphatically protests to the Federal government for its issue of a summons against a leader of a working-class political party. We view this action, as leaders of the coal mining industry, with grave concern, and we reaffirm our resolve to maintain our democratic rights and freedom of expression. Further, we pledge our membership to support any movement for world peace and economic security. We call on the Federal government to withdraw the contemplated action against Mr Sharkey and we call for a repeal of the Crimes Act. The same resolution was unanimously endorsed by a meeting of more than fifty delegates from Southern District lodges. AGAINST PEACE The Executive of the Illawarra Trades and Labor Council called a special meeting on Saturday morning and carried a resolution describing the Labor Governments action against Mr Sharkey as an attack on free speech and against the interests of world peace. The resolution further demanded that the Government remove the political and anti-working class clauses of the Crimes Act; that the government give full support to the Soviet Governments peace policy as repeatedly enunciated through the United Nations, thereby defeating the aims of the international warmongers who are attempting to organise a third world war, which would bring untold suffering to the Australian and worlds peoples who are opposed to war and fascism. Several miners lodges on the south coast called pit-top meetings the day after the governments radio announcement of proceedings against Mr Sharkey. A pit-top meeting at Old Bulli mine decided by 100 votes to one to protest against what was considered to be a serious attack on the right of free speech of a working class organisation. Similar resolutions were passed by substantial majorities at South Burn and Mount Kembla official pit-top meetings. Workers of Corrimal coke works at a meeting unanimously decided to send an official letter to the government protesting at its action. At a stop-work meeting of the Port Kembla branch of the Waterside Workers Federation a unanimous decision was reached demanding withdrawal of the summonses. INDICT WARMONGERS Scarborough Lodge of the Miners Federation carried a resolution, with two dissentients, demanding that the government immediately withdraw the summons against Mr Sharkey and in its place indict the warmongers. It is considered significant that although nearly all the western Communist leaders, including M Thorez (France), Togliatti (Italy), Pollitt (Britain), Foster (USA) and the leaders of the Cuban, Mexican, Argentinian and other Communist Parties have recently made statements condemning the imperialists intended war with Russia, the Australian Labor Government alone has taken legal action as the result of a similar statement by Australian Communist leaders. In a statement to the Press, on Monday the President of the [Communist Party of Australia], Mr Dixon, said that the Labor Governments decision to prosecute Mr Sharkey had caused great resentment. We understand that workers in many industries are preparing to launch protest strikes on the day the case begins. The Government is prosecuting Mr Sharkey under an Act which was introduced by its anti-Labor opponents and which this same Labor Government promised, at the last elections, that it would repeal. Year by year, at conference after conference, the ALP has pledged itself to abrogate the repressive and political sections of the Act, which a Labor Government is now using against the Communist Party. Only last October the highest policy-making organisation of the ALP, the Triennial Conference, condemned the Crimes Act and directed the Labor Government to repeal its repressive sections. ACTU STAND The Australian Council of Trades Unions, highest trade union body in the Commonwealth, has repeatedly denounced the Crimes Act and demanded its repeal. The Queensland Trades Union Congress last year called on the Federal Government to repeal immediately the political and industrial sections of the Commonwealth Crimes Act, in accordance with the recent decision of the ALP Triennial Conference. Mackay ARU [Australian Railway Union] sub-branch sent a similar request to the Prime Minister. A unanimous resolution of protest against the Crimes Act was carried last September by the Newport (Melbourne) rail workshops combined unions shop committee. The Crimes Act, a slightly modified version of W M Hughes War Precautions Act passed during the first world war, violates the most important features of what has often been called British justice. The Crimes Act provides for summary trial before a magistrate (unless the accused chooses to appeal to a higher court); it says that the simple averment of a prosecutor may be considered prima facie evidence of guilt which the accused person has to disprove without the right to cross-examine his accuser, and under certain circumstances it compels the accused to answer questions even if they implicate him. As Mr E W Campbell says in his pamphlet The Crimes Act, murderers and common criminals have privileges under the law which are denied to alleged political offenders under the Crimes Act. All this has been admitted by ALP members of Parliament in debates on the Crimes Act and its amendments ever since the Acts first introduction. In 1932 Mr A Blakeley, Labor MHR, said of the Crimes Act Amendment of that year: The bill reverses the principle that an accused person shall be given the benefit of the doubt. It throws on the accused the onus of proving he is not a member of an unlawful association. It is a deliberate attack on the working class organisations of this country. Mr G W Martens: I denounce it as a cowardly and dastardly piece of legislation. Mr F M Baker: This bill is fundamentally opposed to many sections of principles of British law. It sets aside trial by jury. Leading the attack on the Crimes Act on February 10, 1926, the ALP leader, Mr Matthew Charlton, said: This legislation strikes a blow at the trade union movement in Australia. THREAT TO HEALY Despite all this denunciation, ALP leaders of today are threatening to invoke the same dastardly piece of legislation, the same coercive and repressive measure to attack the Chairman of the Communist Party in Western Australia, Mr Kevin Healy, who had made an anti-war speech. Working class organisations view with contempt and disgust the Chifley governments capitulation to the Liberal government of WA, Menzies and the Langites. The announcement of a police inquisition into Mr Healy as part of the Labor and Liberal governments drive to suppress Communist Party opposition to the criminal anti-Soviet war which the imperialists are preparing. This repressive activity by the Labor government is bound to have serious political consequences. It is therefore in the interests of the ALP as well as of the Communist Party and workers generally to demand that the government hold its hand and call its bloodhounds off Mr Healy. Carry resolutions defending freedom of speech! Demonstrate against war! Defend the Communist Party! This article originally appeared in Tribune March, 1949. May 25 : With D-day finally arriving for domestic flight operations in India, action seemed low-key at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here as number of flights were curtailed to around 10 per cent of normal days. The first flights to operate from the airport included a take-off and a landing between 8 am and 8.30 a.m. on Monday. At 8.06 a.m. a Truejet 2T623 flight with 12 passengers onboard, took off from the RGIA to Vidyanagara in Karnataka -- signalling the resumption of regular commercial flights, 2 months after they were suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak. A few minutes later, at 8.20 a.m. to be precise, the second flight of the day, an Air Asia 15 1576 flight touched down with 104 passengers from Bengaluru. An Indigo flight 6E 913 flight from Kochi landed at 11.15 am. Airport officials told IANS that 19 arrivals and 20 outgoing flights are scheduled for Wednesday from the RGIA, adding that the final numbers could vary as the day progresses. Before the suspension of flights, RGIA used to have a daily air traffic movement of 480 domestic flights. With physical distancing norms in place and passengers expected to strictly follow COVID-19 norms, the arrival and departure processes are taking longer than usual. But passengers are taking it in their stride. A passenger arriving on the Bengaluru flight told IANS, "Its a relief to be able to fly again. The last two months have been hell as I was stuck in Bengaluru, where I had gone on business. I'm looking forward to meeting my family. These protocols are a necessary evil. A small price to pay for the freedom to travel!" The Telangana government announced late Sunday that the travellers need not undergo a mandatory quarantine period of 14 days unless they are symptomatic. Official sources said that there is no quarantine for domestic passengers arriving in Hyderabad if they have no Covid-19 symptoms. They will have to self-monitor their health for 14 days as per the guidelines of the central ministry of health and family welfare. Last-minute cancellations of flights resulted in dejection for some passengers arriving at the airport. Monday morning saw some passengers arrive at the airport only to find that their flight had been cancelled. A woman complained, however, since the volumes of passengers are low, things stayed in control. Flight information on the RGIA website indicated a number of cancelled flights. Normal airport operations were suspended at Hyderabad since March 24, although there were some flights operated under the Vande Bharat Mission. The latest: World Health Organization temporarily pauses hydroxychloroquine study due to safety concerns The World Health Organization has temporarily halted studying hydroxychloroquine as a potential COVID-19 treatment due to safety concerns, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a media briefing in Geneva on Monday. The decision was made after an observational study published Friday in the medical journal The Lancet described how seriously ill COVID-19 patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were more likely to die. Tedros said that an independent executive group is now reviewing the use of hydroxychloroquine in WHO's Solidarity Trial. The executive group represents 10 of the participating countries in the trial. "The review will consider data collected so far in the Solidarity Trial and, in particular robust randomized available data, to adequately evaluate the potential benefits and harms from this drug," Tedros said. "The Executive Group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity Trial while the data is reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board." The trial, which involves actively recruiting patients from more than 400 hospitals in 35 countries, is a global research effort to find safe and effective therapeutics for COVID-19. Tedros added that the other arms of the trial are continuing. "This concern relates to the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in COVID-19," he said. "I wish to reiterate that these drugs are accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria." Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHO chief scientist, said Monday the trial has only been using hydroxychloroquine, not the more toxic chloroquine. President Donald Trump said on May 18 that he was taking daily doses of hydroxychloroquine. President Trump honors war dead in events colored by pandemic's threat President Donald Trump honored Americas war dead Monday in back-to-back Memorial Day appearances colored by an epic struggle off the battlefield, against the coronavirus. Eager to demonstrate national revival from the pandemic, Trump doubled up on his Memorial Day public schedule, while threatening to pull the Republican National Convention out of Charlotte in August unless North Carolina's Democratic governor gives a quick green light to the party's plans to assemble en masse. The U.S. death toll from the pandemic approached 100,000; North Carolina two days earlier reported its largest daily increase yet in COVID-19 sickness. Trump first honored the nations fallen at Arlington National Cemetery. Presidents on Memorial Day typically lay a wreath and speak at the hallowed burial ground in Virginia. But the coronavirus crisis made this year different. Many attendees arrived wearing masks but removed them for the outdoor ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Trump, maskless as always in public, gave no remarks. He approached a wreath already in place, touched it and saluted. Trump then traveled to Baltimore's historic Fort McHenry, where he declared: Together we will vanquish the virus and America will rise from this crisis to new and even greater heights. No obstacle, no challenge and no threat is a match for the sheer determination of the American people. He praised the tens of thousands of service members and national guard personnel on the front lines of our war against this terrible virus. His Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, chose Memorial Day to make his first public appearance in the two months since the pandemic opened up on the country. Biden emerged unannounced from his Delaware home to lay a wreath at a nearby park, with no crowd gathered to greet him. It was a milestone in a presidential campaign that has largely been frozen. Biden's words were muffled through a black cloth face mask. Never forget the sacrifices that these men and women made, he said after. Never, ever, forget. City of Charlotte to provide "guidance" next month on RNC convention The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in North Carolina released a joint statement Monday addressing preparations for the Republican National Convention set to be held in August. We are working with stakeholders to develop guidelines for several large events planned for Charlotte in the coming months including the RNC and anticipate providing that guidance in June, the statement said. According to the statement, the city, county and other local entities will continue to plan for the RNC while respecting national and state guidance regarding the pandemic. In a series of tweets Monday morning, President Donald Trump threatened to pull the convention out of North Carolina if the state's governor did not "immediately" give on answer on whether the site of the convention would be allowed to be fully occupied. WHO officials warn countries not to become complacent with COVID-19 The World Health Organization said the downward trend of coronavirus cases didnt occur naturally, and is warning countries not to become complacent. Many countries have paid a heavy price in doing the measures that have needed to be done to suppress the transmission of this disease, and they deserve credit, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHOs health emergencies program, said during a Monday briefing. My concern right now is that people may be assuming that the current drop of infections represents a natural seasonality, and I think that's a dangerous assumption, he said. Ryan said its worrisome when people assume the downward trend occurred naturally. In reality, Ryan said, that has occurred because of very, very, very tough public health measures that have been tough on the population. Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO infectious disease epidemiologist, said there's a certain predictability of this virus, adding, anytime you become complacent and you think you know, it will surprise you. I understand very well and I am in the same boat as you we all want this to be over, but we have a long way to go," Van Kerkhove said. Ryan said removing pressure on the virus at this point and assuming the real next danger point is sometime in October or November is a dangerous assumption. Van Kerkhove said it could get worse if we have co-infection or co-circulation of influenza and COVID-19. That could complicate our understanding because if we dont have testing in place, we don't know what people are infected with. And so it could potentially flood the system, it could potentially overwhelm the system, she said. Honoring nation's fallen heroes looks a little different this year President Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to mark Memorial Day on Monday morning. As the nation observes Memorial Day in the midst of a global pandemic, the hallowed grounds at Arlington National Cemetery are also adapting to the situation. Masks, social distancing and other safety precautions have all become a part of the solemn rituals and pageantry at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the near daily funerals that still take place in the cemetery. The new reality: Only 10 family or friends are allowed graveside. As few troops as possible perform funeral honors. Distance is kept, and masks are worn. Even the ceremonial rifle platoon on hand to fire off their salute at the end of the service wore masks while the entire funeral party stayed physically separated from one another. Americans are crowding public places; officials fear spikes in cases At a glance, it may look like many Americans have long forgotten about the dangers of coronavirus. Crowds packed beaches in Florida, Maryland, Georgia, Virginia and Indiana over the weekend many venturing out without masks and others failing to keep their distance even as officials have tirelessly highlighted the importance of both in order to prevent another surge of cases. In Missouri, hundreds attended a pool party just days after a similar party in neighboring Arkansas caused a cluster of new coronavirus cases. Arkansas' governor said the state is now experiencing a "second peak." "You tell me how people act today, I will tell you the infection rate three days from now," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday, emphasizing the importance residents' actions play in the spread of infections. But as health officials warn the deadly virus isn't yet contained, local leaders across the country are working to enforce regulations put in place for stores, bars and restaurants that have reopened. The commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sunday urged Americans observing Memorial Day weekend to follow federal guidelines aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus. "With the country starting to open up this holiday weekend, I again remind everyone that the coronavirus is not yet contained. It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community. Social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks protect us all," Dr. Stephen Hahn wrote in a tweet. In Houston, the mayor said authorities will begin enforcing capacity limits for bars and restaurants after the city received hundreds of complaints alleging violations. "The reality is that there are too many people who are coming together," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "No social distancing, no mask. And then after this Memorial Day weekend is over they're going to be on somebody's job or in close proximity to somebody else." So far, infections in the country top 1,643,000 and deaths inch closer to 100,000. Spike of cases in Washington, DC As Americans push to return to normal lifestyles and the country continues lifting coronavirus restrictions, experts say many parts of the country are still not heading in the right direction. North Carolina recorded its highest single-day surge of new cases over the weekend and parts of Maryland, Virginia, Illinois and other states are still seeing a high number of infections, according to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator. In Washington, D.C., health officials are reporting a spike of new cases an increase that could be a setback for the criteria officials are using to decide when the city will begin its first stage of reopening. Until this weekend, Washington recorded 11 days of declining community spread of the coronavirus. The city said 14 days of decline were needed before they moved to reopen. Sunday would have been the 13th day of decline but instead there was a small spike over the last two days. But because the spike was a small one, health officials say they'll consider setting back to the 11th day of the decline instead of starting the count from the beginning. "We don't have to go to day zero," Director of the D.C. Department of Health, Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, said in a news conference call. There are two other factors officials will consider before reopening: A positivity rate of less than 20% and a hospital capacity of less than 80%. As of Sunday, the city's positivity rate is 19% and hospital capacity is at 74%. A 17-year-old dies in Georgia In Georgia, one of the first states to begin reopening, officials reported Sunday the state's youngest coronavirus death. The victim was a 17-year-old boy, according to data from the Georgia Department of Public Health. The boy had underlying medical conditions. The department didn't offer any further details. The boy's death is a grim reminder that while officials have cautioned elderly populations are at a higher risk for complications related to an infection, younger people fall victim to the virus as well. That includes the 5-year-old daughter of two Detroit first responders who died last month after being diagnosed with the virus. It also includes the 5-month old daughter of a New York firefighter, who died late April after spending a month in the hospital receiving treatment for the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that while many young people who got coronavirus did not have serious problems, health experts are investigating a virus-related complication in children across the country, dubbed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Doctors said last week children who may have the syndrome need immediate attention and will probably need to be hospitalized. Symptoms may mostly include stomach pain and vomiting, along with fever and perhaps a rash, experts say. White House rolls out travel restrictions As U.S. officials try to get a handle on the spread of the virus, President Donald Trump announced Sunday he was suspending travel into the U.S. for people who had been to Brazil within the past two weeks. "I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Federative Republic of Brazil during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States," the President's proclamation reads. Brazil now is second to the U.S. with the highest number of coronavirus cases, recording more than 363,200 infections, according to Johns Hopkins. Over the weekend, the country recorded more than 15,000 new infections in just 24 hours. A police constable, who was admitted to a state-run hospital here with "respiratory problems and other COVID-19 symptoms", died on Monday morning, sparking anger and anxiety among his colleagues, who staged a protest, alleging negligence on the part of their seniors. The victim, in his late-40s, had been suffering from respiratory problems for a while, but he was taken to the hospital by police authorities only on Sunday, they claimed. Some of the agitators also vandalised property at Garfa police station, claiming that the constable should have been taken to a private hospital for better treatment. Hospital officials were not available for comment on the matter, but sources in the Kolkata Police said that the constable's swab samples have tested negative for COVID-19. "He was admitted to the Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) ward, although he showed symptoms of COVID-19. I think he should have been taken better care of, before his condition deteriorated. And why wasn't he was taken to a private hospital," one of the agitating policemen said. A team of senior officers of the Kolkata Police reached the Garfa police station to pacify the agitators, following which they called off the protest. At least seven police officers here have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. Last week, over 500 personnel of the Kolkata Police Combat Force had protested at PTS complex on AJC Road, claiming that they were being deployed in areas where chances of contracting COVID-19 are high. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had assured to look into their grievances and demands, and promised to provide them the best of medical facilities available. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An expletive-filled video of Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro raging at his enemies has sparked outrage in the country as it battles the world's second-largest coronavirus outbreak. Brazilian media counted 31 presidential swear words during the two-hour cabinet meeting, in which Bolsonaro called two governors who imposed lockdowns a 'piece of s**t' and a 'pile of manure' respectively. One pundit raged at Bolsonaro for 'never mentioning the pandemic as a problem that concerns him' in a two-hour meeting littered with obscenities. Brazil now has 363,211 confirmed virus cases - more than Russia, and second only to the United States - while the death toll is now above 22,000. Footage of the meeting was released by the country's supreme court as part of a probe into Bolsonaro, who is accused of interfering in the federal police. Bolsonaro is heard saying that he would not 'wait for my family or my friends to get screwed' by his inability to fire officials - but he denies wrongdoing and claims he was referring to personal security staff. Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro rallies with supporters at a protests in Brasilia yesterday, breaking social distancing guidelines Yesterday Bolsonaro hit the streets for a rally with his supporters, breaking social distancing measures even as case surge. The meeting on April 22 came when Brazil already had nearly 50,000 cases, but Bolsonaro and his cabinet barely mentioned the pandemic. Footage of the meeting has triggered an outcry in Brazil amid growing anger at the government's handling of the health crisis. One of the few mentions of the pandemic was when a minister said the government should use the opportunity to relax environmental protection rules. 'It's two hours full of swear words and delirium, derision and disrespect for the country,' columnist Miriam Leitao wrote in newspaper Globo. 'Brazil is going through its worst crisis in decades, and the president never mentions the pandemic as a problem that concerns him. The absence is shocking.' The video's existence emerged when popular justice minister Sergio Moro resigned two days after the meeting, accusing Bolsonaro of inappropriate 'political interference' in the federal police. In the video, Bolsonaro rails against the federal police for failing to give him information and says, 'I'm not going to wait for them to screw my family and friends.' Police are reportedly investigating multiple cases involving Bolsonaro and his inner circle, his son Carlos, a Rio de Janeiro city councillor. Bolsonaro denies trying to stifle investigations, and said the video proved the accusations against him were a 'farce.' In a radio interview with Jovem Pan, he said he had been talking about his own personal security and not senior members of the federal police. Analysts generally agreed the video, which was released by Supreme Court justice Celso de Mello, did not contain a 'smoking gun' to incriminate the president. However, the material could be politically damaging as Bolsonaro faces growing disapproval ratings 18 months into his four-year term. Bodies of coronavirus victims are transported in coffins at a municipal cemetery in Rio de Janeiro last Friday Bolsonaro called two state governors a 'piece of s**t' and 'pile of manure' for defying him by imposing coronavirus stay-at-home measures. His education minister called for Supreme Court justices to be thrown in jail for giving states the final say in the matter. Another minister said governors and mayors should be arrested. Turning to diplomacy, his economy minister called China 'that guy you just have to put up with' because it is Brazil's biggest export destination. Brazilian media counted 39 swear words in all, including 31 by the president, and there was widespread condemnation of the meeting's tone. 'It showed the vulgarity of the current government. They are like barbarians throwing the country into chaos, disrespecting the law and ignoring the constitution,' opposition parties said in a joint statement. The meeting showed a government made for the 'post-truth era,' said political analyst Geraldo Monteiro of Rio de Janeiro State University. 'The Bolsonaro government wasn't made to govern. It's a militant government that's here to implement a conservative agenda, not run the country,' he said. The administration showed 'total disregard for Covid-19 deaths and the agony of their respective families,' said veteran political analyst David Fleischer. 'The only minister to mention Covid-19 was the environment minister.' That mention generated further controversy, because the minister said: 'Now that the media's only talking about Covid, we need to use this moment of calm... to change all the regulations.' That was widely taken as a call to open protected land in the Amazon rainforest to mining and agriculture - something Bolsonaro has aggressively pushed. Salles said on Saturday that he only meant that the government should try to cut red tape, but environmental groups were doubtful. 'It became clear that the role of the environment ministry is to dismantle any environmental protection we have in the country,' said Erika Berenguer, an Amazon ecologist at Oxford and Lancaster Universities. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced yesterday that South Africa would enter level 3 lockdown on 1 June 2020. Level 3 brings with it reduced restrictions, including an allowance for the sale of alcohol. The sale of cigarettes will remain banned, however, with the president stating the ban will remain in force due to the health risks associated with smoking. At a media briefing on 22 May, Police Minister Bheki Cele said smokers would not be punished for smoking in their homes, but they would be required to present evidence of their cigarette purchase to police when driving with cigarettes in their vehicle. It is not illegal to smoke cigarettes in your house. The only problem is when you fail to show us when and where you got the cigarettes, Cele said. Buying cigarettes and the sale is illegal. Until those regulations are removed it will remain an offence to do such. MyBroadband spoke to Justice Project South Africa chairperson Howard Dembovsky about Celes remarks and asked what South Africans should do if asked for a receipt. No legal basis There is no basis in law for what Minister Cele said regarding people having to provide a receipt for cigarettes they may have in their possession, Dembovsky said. Regulation 27 of the current regulations applicable to level 4 published in Government Gazette 43258 of 29 April 2020 prohibits the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and related products. It does not prohibit the possession, consumption, or transportation thereof, he said. He said that according to the Constitution, South Africans are not required to give an explanation to any police officer as to any circumstance they are found in. This includes, but is not limited to, a peace officer demanding to see a receipt for any ordinarily legal product in his or her possession. The exception to this rule is if a police officer suspects that you are in possession of stolen property. Considering what Cele had to say, coupled with the fact that cigarettes are consumables that a great many people use, it would be a stretch for any peace officer to try to assert that he or she suspects that a pack of cigarettes is stolen. It is wholly unreasonable, not to mention laughable, that Bheki Cele thinks that anyone would retain a receipt for a box of cigarettes much less that such person would do so for eight weeks after buying them, Dembovsky said. What to do if you are asked for a receipt Dembovsky said that rather than argue with police when you are asked for a receipt, simply state that you do not have one if that is the case. It is difficult for ordinary people to argue the virtues of the law with ignorant peace officers, he said. The only thing I can suggest is that people do not attempt to hide their cigarettes. Leave them in plain view and if asked for a receipt, politely point out that you do not keep receipts for cigarettes, cool drinks, chocolate bars, etc. If your cigarettes are confiscated, insist on a receipt and lay a charge of theft against the peace officer concerned afterwards, he said. When asked whether drivers should be cautious about smoking in their vehicles, Dembovsky said , this is not illegal and should not be of any concern. To buy into fearmongering that one will be persecuted for smoking in ones own private property serves no purpose. I reiterate, it is not illegal to be in possession of or to smoke cigarettes, he said. Incidentally, I have yet to hear of a person ploughing into other road users because he or she had one too many cigarettes, yet these clowns in government are set to unban alcohol from 1 June. Police do not report to ministers Dembovsky noted that police and other law enforcement do not report to ministers they report to the heads of their respective agencies. The saddest part of all this is that many law enforcement officials hang on the every word of ministers in the false belief that they report to them, and not to the duly appointed heads of the law enforcement agencies they are employed by. In the case of the SAPS, members thereof ultimately report to the National Commissioner of Police. If such members cannot remember the provisions of law they were taught as recruits, they should consider doing a refresher course, or at least going over their old notes, he said. He added that police officers who violate the law during lockdown will be held personally liable. If any peace officer chooses to listen to Bheki Cele instead of complying with the law and SAPS standing orders, he or she will attract civil litigation and the National Commissioner of Police has already repeatedly stated in circulars he has issued that the individuals concerned in unlawful behaviour will be held personally liable, Dembovsky said. The Iredell County Health Department has received notice of an outbreak of coronavirus at a second Iredell County long-term care facility. At this time, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services considers two or more cases in a long-term care facility to be an outbreak. The county did not name the facility. Each Tuesday and Friday by 4, the state updates a database of all long-term care facilities with outbreaks in the state. It lists the initial outbreak at Autumn Care in Statesville, where three staffers and one resident had tested positive. The latest outbreak was reported to the department Sunday. The facility has willingly worked in conjunction with the Iredell County Health Department to have all residents and employees tested for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure, a release from the Iredell County Health Department states. While we are still awaiting the results of a few tests, we can confirm there are a total of two positive cases of COVID-19 at this facility, one in a resident and one in staff member. The infected resident has been isolated from all other residents and the employee who tested positive is isolating at home. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) arrives at the U.S. Capitol to attend the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on February 3, 2020 in Washington, DC. Closing arguments begin today after the Vprasanja sistemskega rasizma Joe Biden je bil podpredsednik prvega temnopoltega predsednika ZDA Baracka Obame. Foto Jonathan Ernst Reuters New York Demokratski predsedniski kandidatse je ze oklical za stroj za spodrsljaje, z obravnavanjem temnopoltih Americanov kot avtomaticne volivce demokratske stranke pa je dregnil v osje gnezdo rasnih razmerij v ZDA.Ce imate tezave z odlocanjem med menoj in, niste temnopolti, je Biden nagovoril afriske Americane v intervjuju s temnopoltim radijskim in televizijskim voditeljem, bolj znanim kot. Izjava se je na lestvici Bidnovih spodrsljajev uvrstila ob lansko v Des Moinesu, da so revni otroci enako nadarjeni kot belopolti. Vrsta vidnih temnopoltih Americanov je tudi tokrat skocila pokonci in Biden se je ze opravicil zaradi svoje vzvisenosti.Dobro ve, da brez prevlade med afriskimi Americani noben ameriski demokrat ne more biti ameriski predsednik, njega samega pa so prav temnopolti volivci Juzne Karoline vrnili na vrh demokratske tekme za novembrske volitve. Bolj belske zvezne drzave so pred tem podprle politike, kot so vermontski senator, nekdanji zupan South Bendain senatorka iz Minnesote, mnogi temnopolti pa zdaj prav na podlagi incidenta iz oddaje The Breakfast Club pritiskajo, da ne bi imenovali politicarke slovenskih korenin ali katerekoli druge belopolte za Bidnovo podpredsednico. Demokratski prvak je ze naznanil odlocitev za zensko na drugem najpomembnejsem polozaju v drzavi in zaradi njegovih 77-let bo zasedba vile stevilka ena na washingtonskem kroziscu Observatory Circle se pomembnejsa kot doslej.Amy Klobuchar bi Bidnu prinesla tocke na politicno pomembnem ameriskem srednjem zahodu, ki je leta 2016 pomagal k izvolitvi republikanca Donalda Trumpa, a stevilni temnopolti Americani kljub prevladujoci zvestobi demokratski stranki nocejo veljati za samoumevne. V primeru odlocitve za temnopolto predsednico v ZDA omenjajo floridsko kongresnico, kalifornijsko senatorkoali politicarko iz GeorgieImenovanje na vidne polozaje je v vsaki ameriski administraciji povezano s politicnimi prednostmi, razprave o temnopolti demokratski podpredsednici pa v drzavi, ki bi rada veljala za barvno slepo, ponovno razkrivajo vprasanja rasne in druge identitete. Charlamagne tha God verjame, da je treba razgraditi in ponovno zgraditi ves sistem, saj niso bila nikoli odpravljena globlja vprasanja sistemskega rasizma. Enainstiridesetletni voditelj bi se lahko pri tem skliceval na lastne izkusnje. Kot najstnik je bil veckrat zaprt zaradi preprodaje mamil in drugih prestopkov ter je celo svoje umetnisko ime razvil iz kriminalnega psevdonima Charles.Kritiki so opozorili, da bi morali temnopolti prestopniki izprasati svoje druzine in se posebej ocete, a so za mnoge med njimi tudi te tezave rezultat rasizma. Televizijski voditelj je tudi Joeja Bidna obtozil, da je bil vedno del sedanjega sistema. Res je kot senator pomembno pomagal k sprejetju zakonodaje, na podlagi katere so spravili v zapor nesorazmerno veliko temnopoltih prestopnikov. To je spremenil sele Trump, ki morda ne more racunati na opazno povecanje temnopoltih glasov, sporne Bidnove izjave pa vendarle majejo zaupanje manjsine v podpredsednika prvega temnopoltega ameriskega predsednika Staff at a Queenscliff holiday resort couldnt hold back their joy at the state government ruling they can re-open next week. We did a happy dance, popped the champagne and there were a few happy tears, said Emme Malone, marketing manager of the BIG4 Beacon Resort. Overjoyed: Emme Malone, marketing manager of Big 4 Beacon Resort at Queenscliff, prepares to welcome back guests on June 1. Credit:Big 4 Beacon Resort Queenscliff We cant hug each other but we would have liked to. Tourist operators across Victoria celebrated, then rolled up their sleeves to prepare for overnight stays resuming from June 1. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 13:12:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- India's health ministry Monday morning said 154 new deaths due to COVID-19, besides fresh 6,977 positive cases were reported since Sunday in the country, taking the number of deaths to 4,021 and total cases to 138,845. This is the highest one day spike in COVID-19 cases so far in the country, showed the data. "As on 8:00 a.m. (local time) Monday, 4,021 deaths related to novel coronavirus have been recorded in the country," reads information released by the ministry. On Sunday morning, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country was 131,868, and the death toll was 3,867. According to ministry officials, so far 57,721 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement. "The number of active cases in the country right now is 77,103," reads the information. Monday marks the 62nd straight day of the ongoing lockdown across the country announced by the Centre Government to contain the spread of the pandemic. The lockdown, announced on March 25, was extended for third time on May 17 till May 31. The fourth phase began from Monday. Enditem 25 years ago: Sakhalin earthquake kills 2,000 Sakhalin, in red, off Russias Siberian coast and above the Japanese island of Hokkaido On May 28, 1995, an earthquake struck the island of Sakhalin in Russias Far East. Neftegorsk, an oil and coal-producing town in the north, was devastated. Nearly half the population, 2,040 of its 3,977 citizens, were killed, and a further 750 were injured. Approximately 80 percent of the towns buildings were destroyed in the 7.5 magnitude quake. Nearly 90 percent of all the deaths were the result of the collapse of 17 five-story residential buildings. Damage estimates range from $64 million up to $300 million. It was the most destructive earthquake in the countrys history. Rescue efforts were hampered by the collapse of roads and bridges, and temperatures that dropped below freezing overnight. Phone and power lines were cut off. The damage from the quake was aggravated by budget cuts, which shut all but one of the facilities that monitored seismic activity in Russias Pacific rim and provided early warnings of earthquakes. In February, just three months before the Sakhalin quake, the ministry for emergencies reported that there was an 80 percent to 85 percent likelihood of a large earthquake in the next three years. However, it was estimated that the projected quake would occur at a different location in the region. Previously there had been no recorded seismic activity stronger than 6. Sakhalin is the northernmost part of an offshore chain, the worlds most seismically active area, which also includes the four main islands of Japan. Just four months prior, an earthquake of nearly the same strength struck the Japanese city of Kobe and killed 5,000 people. Japan rejected aid offers after the Kobe quake, and Russian President Boris Yeltsin responded in kind, rejecting Japanese aid to the victims of the Sakhalin quake, although Japan was far closer to the site than Russias industrial centers thousands of miles to the west. The severity of the earthquakes impact was generally chalked up to poor Soviet-era construction. A 2001 report asserted that it was more likely attributable to the fact that the collapsed apartment buildings were constructed on sand deposits. 50 years ago: Sri Lanka Freedom Party wins election with LSSP support N. M. Perera On May 27, 1970, elections held in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) resulted in the victory of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), led by Sirimavo Bandaranaike. For the second time in a decade Mme. Bandaranaike formed a bourgeois government with the backing of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), the nominally socialist party that had broken with Trotskyism, as part of the revisionist political tendency known as Pabloism, to support the capitalist SLFP. The election was a major defeat for the right-wing United National Party (UNP). Despite winning a plurality of the vote, about 38 percent, the UNP lost 49 of its seats in parliament, maintaining just 17. The SLFP gained 50 seats, bringing their total to 91 members of parliament. Yet the SLFP was unable to form a government without the support of other parties. Leading up to the election, a United Front coalition was formed between the SLFP, the LSSP, and the Stalinists of the Communist Party. Only with the support of these parties, which still had considerable influence in the working class, was Bandaranaike able to become prime minister. As a reward, LSSP members were appointed to important cabinet positions, including party leader N.M. Perera, who became minister of finance. The 1970 election was the second attempt at a coalition between the LSSP and the SLFP. The first had come in 1964 when the LSSP voted to accept cabinet positions in the SLFP government. This was the first time in history a party calling itself Trotskyist entered into a capitalist government. In a statement issued in July 1964, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) had explained the international significance of the LSSPs treachery: The entry of the LSSP members into the Bandaranaike coalition marks the end of a whole epoch of the evolution of the Fourth International. It is in the direct service to imperialism, in the preparation of a defeat for the working class that revisionism in the world Trotskyist movement has found its expression. In both 1964 and 1970, the SLFP-LSSP coalitions were formed in attempts to stifle revolutionary developments in the working class. The Sri Lankan ruling class hoped that by partnering with the LSSP and offering piecemeal reforms they could confuse and pacify the working masses, who increasingly supported a revolutionary socialist program. As the ICFI had predicted, once in a coalition regime with the SLFP, the LSSP would assume political responsibility for Bandanaraikes repressive anti-working class policies. This came into the clear in 1971, when the petty-bourgeois nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna attempted to overthrow the government in an armed rebellion. The SLFP-LSSP coalition unleashed ruthless suppression of the uprising that killed over 15,000 youth from the rural areas. The coalition government also implemented policies intended to stoke communal conflicts between the Sinhalese and Tamil populations. The measures would inspire the creation of armed Tamil separatist organizations that would plunge the country into three decades of civil war. 75 years ago: US bombers destroy Yokohama B-29 Superfortress dropping incendiary bombs on Yokohama, May 1945 On May 29, 1945, the US air forces XXI Bomber Command carried out its last raid on a major Japanese city, creating a massive firestorm that obliterated almost half of Yokohama and led to thousands of deaths. The attack was one in a series that had already decimated Tokyo and other cities, resulting in the destruction of an estimated one-seventh of Japans urban areas. The raid was conducted by a force of 517 B-29 bombers and 101 P-51 fighter planes that departed from Iwo Jima, the fortified Japanese island that had been captured by the US military after fierce fighting earlier in the year. Unlike in previous engagements, many of which had been conducted at night, the early morning Yokohama raid encountered desperate resistance from the Japanese air force. The Japanese reportedly shot down six of the B-29s, but were overwhelmed by the P-51s. The US force arrived over the city after dawn, and began a bombing campaign that lasted for 90 minutes. The city was pounded with an estimated 3,500 tons of explosives, including incendiary devices designed to ignite flammable residential dwellings and commercial buildings. At the time, Yokohama had a population of roughly 1 million. The attack particularly targeted the citys working classits ports, manufacturing hubs, and densely-populated city center. By the end of the bombardment, an estimated 44 percent of Yokohamas structures had been destroyed. The number of dead and wounded remains unknown, but estimates range from 7,000 to 15,000. The attack on Yokohama followed the firebombing of Tokyo on March 9. In the course of several hours, much of the capital had been flattened, claiming between 100,000 and 200,000 lives. Throughout April, further attacks followed in Tokyo and smaller cities, effectively wiping out Japans industrial capacity. After the Yokohama raid, the countrys civilian and military authorities concluded that it would not be possible to repulse further US attacks. The campaign of bombings was a war crime that deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure and working class neighborhoods. It was aimed at terrorizing the population with a campaign of indiscriminate mass murder, in the lead-up to an anticipated US invasion of Japan later in the year. In November 1941, prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the American declaration of war, General George C. Marshall, chief of staff in the US army, had told reporters, off the record, that in the event of conflict: Flying Fortresses will be dispatched immediately to set the paper cities of Japan on fire. There wont be any hesitation about bombing civiliansit will be all-out. 100 years ago: Socialist leader Eugene V. Debs runs for president from federal prison A cartoon depicting Debs' 1920 presidential run from prison, by Clifford Berryman On May 29, 1920, Eugene V. Debs accepted the nomination of the Socialist Party for US president from the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary where he had been incarcerated since April 1919 for opposing US entry into World War I. He ran against the two big business candidates, Republican Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio, and Democratic Governor James M. Cox, also of Ohio. Other candidates in the 1920 election included former Utah state senator Parley Christensen for the Farmer-Labor Party. Debs had been convicted on the basis of the reactionary Espionage Act for making an antiwar speech in Canton, Ohio in 1918. The election was conducted at the height of a global mass movement by the working class. Over 4 million US workers had gone out on strike in 1919, including massive strikes among steelworkers and coal miners and a general strike in Seattle. Debs received 913,693 votesthe largest popular vote for a socialist in American history (although Debss percentage of the presidential vote in 1912 had been higher). This showed massive opposition by the working class to capitalism and the anti-socialist repression of the Wilson administration, which had rounded up thousands of socialists and anarchists and ordered the newly formed Bureau of Investigation led by J. Edgar Hoover to harass and spy on workers organizations. From behind bars Debs made appeals for unity in the socialist movement, which was now divided between those who sought to reform capitalism and those who sought to overthrow it. The latter had left the Socialist Party in 1919 and, basing themselves on the conceptions of Bolshevism that had led the working class to power in the Russian Revolution of 1917, had formed two Communist Parties that both owed allegiance to the Communist International. They were to unite in July. Although Debs had always supported the aims of revolutionary socialism, he remained in the reformist Socialist Party. In 1921, Presiding Harding commuted his sentence to time served, but Debs, whose health had been compromised by his time in prison, died in 1926. : The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered the seizure of the premises of LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam, where there was a gas leakage, and also barred entry into the plant by all except the committees appointed by the state government. The court had, in its order on May 22, ordered the companys directors not to leave the country without courts permission and instructed the authorities not to release their surrendered passports without its permission. A division bench comprising Chief Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Lalitha Kanneganti was hearing a bunch of PILs including seeking justice on its own to the affected people and also shifting the factory from the present location, taking action against the culprits, among other prayers. The premises of the company shall be completely seized and no one be allowed to enter into the premises, including the directors of the company, the court said. As many as 12 people, including a minor, were killed when styrene vapours leaked from the LG Polymerss plant on May 7, while several hundred fell ill after inhaling the poisonous chemical at RR Venkatapuram near Visakhapatnam. We further directed that none of the assets, mobile or immobile, fixtures, machinery and contents shall be allowed to be shifted without the leave of the court," the bench said in its interim order. As stated before the court, the directors of the company have surrendered their passport and they are in India, however we direct that their passports shall not be released without the leave of the court and they be not allowed to go outside India," the bench said in its order. The committee, if any appointed, wants to inspect the premises they are at liberty to do so, however they shall put a note on the register maintained at the gate of the company regarding the inspection and while returning another about the act done on the premises should be noted, the court said. The court sought replies from the State government and Centre before May 26 and posted the matter for further hearing on May 28. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the last few weeks, there has been a buzz around the creation of a bad bank. It is touted as a panacea for growing non-performing assets (NPAs) in the financial sector. Bad bank as a concept has worked in some countries. But the proposed bad bank in its current structure could at best be a quarantine centre. It is neither the vaccine nor the ventilator for NPAs. Each new idea raises some dreams. To illustrate, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is a testimony. It was a milestone event, enthused the financial markets like nothing seen before, helped improve India's ranking in ease of doing business, changed DNA of borrowers towards lenders, and redefined banker-borrower equation. IBC is also credited with many high-profile successes. However, with lack of investor interest and four out of five IBC accounts heading for liquidation, the process has led to massive value destruction. Reference to IBC is suspended for one year in view of the current coronavirus pandemic. The idea of a bad bank in India first appeared in the government's official document--The Economic Survey of 2016-17. It examined the problem of Public Sector Banks' NPAs, the options available with them for resolution, their limitations and suggested creation of Public Sector Rehabilitation Agency (PARA) - the genesis of discussion around 'bad bank' in recent years. Also Read: Banks' NPAs likely to double amid coronavirus pandemic Then came the bad bank experiment 2.0, contained as a part of Project Sashakt, a set of recommendations by a three-member bankers' committee set up by the government in 2019. For loans above Rs 500 crore, it suggested a combination of an Asset Management Company (AMC) and an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) model, as the proposed bad bank. For the rest, it proposed an in-house resolution by banks themselves either singly (up to Rs 50 crores) or through an Inter Creditor Agreement (Rs 50-500 crore). And now the proposed bad bank 3.0, which envisages a National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL), with funding support from the government to acquire assets at net book value. The management will be left to a professionally run AMC. It is seeking some regulatory relaxations from RBI including permission to transfer fraud accounts. Agreed, the time has come, banks have to focus more on credit growth to keep the wheels of economy running rather than focus on NPA Management, with economic recession looming around. It is better to quarantine sick accounts and decouple them from healthy credit to accelerate credit flow to support economic revival. But the creation of a bad bank in its present format can only provide a temporary reprieve, by enabling transfer of a large chunk of NPAs, to make the banks' balance sheet look better. But it does not address the structural problems of resolution and can be viewed more as a soft option and a sort of 'window dressing'. In 2011, a Key Advisory Group (KAG) was constituted by the Ministry of Finance on ARC sector, which included bankers, regulators, government, rating agencies, legal firms, industry bodies, etc. The KAG, after submitting its recommendations, was required to work as a standing committee. Had the KAG continued functioning, the ARC framework would have possibly been considerably strengthened. The KAG examined cross country experience on each of the aspects listed below. 1. Causes of financial crisis 2. Magnitude of crisis 3. Approach taken by government 4. Governance 5. Acquisition/transfer of assets 6. Incentives to facilitate acquisition/transfer 7. Funding 8. Valuation of assets 9. Special legal powers 10. Resolution Maybe it is a good idea to reconstitute a KAG and come out with best-fit strategy at this time, amongst which bad bank can be an area for deliberation by all stakeholders. In its present shape, the proposed National ARC has two major roadblocks. 1. The first area is putting public money for acquisition of bad assets. After long deliberations, SARFAESI Act 2002 was passed for the creation of ARCs in India, which preferred the non-governmental market-based model versus government-owned and supported model. In its present proposed structure, the proposed bad bank would be an ARC under SARFAESI but funded by the government. Government funding bad assets will have moral hazard issues. It will essentially translate into a sort of nationalisation of bad debts. 2. In its present structure, it will only be a 29th ARC. It may be much bigger, much stronger than all ARCs put together, and envisages having a commanding height in the NPA market. So far so good. But there cannot be any special dispensations, leading to monopolistic and restrictive practices and deny level playing field to other similar, athough smaller entities. Now a bit of reality check with statistical data: NPA is two dimensional. It is a stock and a flow. Closing NPAs represents the stock of NPAs, and additions represent the flows. In last 3 years, the stock of NPAs has gone up by Rs 1.44 lakh only (Rs 9.36 lakh-7.92 lakh) In last 3 years, the NPA flow i.e. additions have been a whopping Rs 13.34 lakh (4.16+6.04+3.14) The proposed bad bank is obsessed with reducing the NPA stock, which is a much lesser problem, rather than contain additions or flow, which is a bigger problem. The challenge is how to reduce accretion which can possibly be done through several structural measures including, but not limited to improvement in credit underwriting skills. Next of course may be unpalatable, stopping directed lending and avoidance of ALM mismatch by staying away from long term infrastructure funding, etc. Also Read: Coronavirus economic package to bulge banks' NPAs, say union leaders And the next question is how to drive the resolution within the existing framework. and value maximisation. Critical issues affecting resolution and recommended enabling legislation, dedicated tribunals, fast-tracking of the processes need to be deliberated at length. Finally, the exit strategy - how to persuade the fat investor to loosen his purse strings and write the cheque. Here, the proponents can explore the growth of a secondary loan market, and distressed debt in particular with a greater focus on market making, price discovery, and infusing liquidity into the system. As recommended by the task force on secondary loan market, the first step is the creation of a self-regulatory body (SRO) in this regard. NPA is a pandemic. For a meaningful impact you need all three. 1. vaccine (stopping large scale accretion of new NPA) 2. quarantine centre (which the proposed bad bank is focussed on) and the critical part 3. ventilators (entry of risk capital with risk appetite for giving clean exit). Uttarakhand health department is trying to develop a single treatment protocol for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients in the state on the lines of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Amit Singh Negi, secretary, health, said a single treatment protocol is being developed in the hill state that can be followed across all the districts. Weve appointed nodal officers who are conducting videoconferences with doctors to learn about the best treatment methodology and implement them on patients accordingly. This way well be giving the best possible care to our patients. Were in touch with officials from other states such as Kerala, where the recovery rate is good, said Negi. Dr. Ashutosh Sayana, principal of Government Doon Medical College, who is the nodal officer for the initiative, said that the officials are trying to arrive at a consensus on a single treatment plan for Covid-19 patients across the state. Initially, the recovery rate was good for patients admitted at Doon Hospital. We thought of discussing the treatment plan with doctors from other hospitals in Uttarakhand, take their suggestions, and also share our views to form a single treatment protocol. Well also imbibe from the treatment models of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, said Dr. Sayana. There would be uniformity with one treatment protocol and the best practices can be shared among doctors, he added. The health department is also focusing on ramping up the infrastructure in hospitals across the state, as the hill state reported over 200 Covid-19 positive cases over the past four days. On Saturday, Negi had asked all chief medical officers to improve health infrastructure in their districts. All districts should ensure the installation of adequate number of ICU (intensive care unit) beds, ventilators, procurement of medicines and oxygen supply in a bid to tackle any extreme possible situation, said Negi. He also urged the officials to give him a regular update about Covid-19 situation in their respective districts. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces mutiny in his party and fury across the UK for refusing to sack his closest aide Dominic Cummings who is accused of flouting the coronavirus lockdown by driving 400km from London. Defending one of Britain's most powerful men, Johnson said at the weekend Cummings acted "responsibly and legally and with integrity" by heading from London to northern England with his son and his wife, who was ill with COVID-19 symptoms. Many believe that was hypocritical given the government's mantra at the time to avoid such movements. "What planet are they on?" asked the Daily Mail, an influential right-wing paper usually supportive of Johnson and his adviser, who helped the prime minister to power and to secure Britain's exit from the European Union. Some 20 ruling Conservative Party lawmakers, 14 Church of England bishops and some scientists also expressed anger. "Johnson has now gone the full Trump," said Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden, comparing Britain's leader to his ever-controversial US ally President Donald Trump. With a death toll around 43,000, Britain is the worst-hit country in Europe and the government was already under pressure over its handling of the pandemic. Conservative lawmakers reported being contacted by outraged constituents who had made sacrifices during the lockdown, including staying away from dying relatives. "I got swamped with even more emails from people who don't have a political axe to grind and who say ... 'it looks as though it's one rule for them and one for us, why should we now abide by government guidance?'," said lawmaker Tim Loughton. Behavioural scientist Stephen Reicher, a member of a panel which advises the government, said the furore would wreck public confidence. "In a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control COVID-19." Johnson's Downing Street office said Cummings made the journey to his parents' property in County Durham to ensure his four-year-old son could be properly cared for by relatives if he fell ill along with his wife. At the time, the government's instruction to anyone showing symptoms was not to leave the house for 14 days. The architect of the successful Brexit campaign in 2016, Cummings, 48, is a polarising figure, accused by many who wanted to stay in the EU of using inflammatory tactics and playing fast and loose with the facts. Ominously for him and for Johnson, many of the lawmakers and newspaper columnists calling for him to be sacked were Brexit supporters, not his usual critics. Coming home late on Sunday, Cummings was harangued by neighbours, including a woman who broke down in tears as she leaned out of her window and described the hardship she and her family had endured during the lockdown. In contrast to Cummings, Scotland's chief medical officer and a senior epidemiologist who advised the government both resigned after admitting they had broken lockdown rules. Reuters Hundreds of people gathered next to a popular Florida beach over the weekend, flouting the states social distancing restrictions, while a shooting took place nearby on a chaotic US holiday weekend. Police were forced to disperse crowds of people along a beachside road at Daytona Beach, Florida, with people seen partying and dancing, despite the state imposing social distancing restrictions to combat the coronavirus pandemic. While May 25 marked Memorial Day weekend in the US, local authorities did not authorise gatherings to mark the occasion. Police believe a group of men in a car near Daytona Beach were filming a music video, interrupting traffic. Source: Facebook/Volusia Sheriff's Office The Volusia County Sheriffs Office released helicopter images showing the large Memorial Day weekend crowds surrounding a car outside a beachfront mall. A man is seen on the sunroof of the vehicle and other men are hanging out the windows throwing money around and blocking traffic. The man who stood on the sunroof of the car is wanted by authorities, but no arrests have been made. We are going to identify him and we are going to charge him. He was the linchpin of all this that happened, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at a Sunday news conference, adding that they believe the group was filming a rap video. A man is seen on the sun roof of the car while others hang out the windows throwing money. Source: Facebook/Volusia Sheriff's Office Chitwood and Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri defended the work of officers in dispersing the crowds, saying people complied with the orders to leave and that no businesses received damage. We got slammed, Sheriff Chitwood said at a Sunday news conference. Disney is closed, Universal is closed. Everything is closed so where did everybody come with the first warm day with 50% opening? Everybody came to the beach. In Florida and Volusia County state people must be in groups of 10 or fewer, as per the social distancing rules. Chief Capri confirmed on Sunday two people were shot on South Ocean Avenue where several people were injured. Story continues The shooting reportedly happened outside a convenience store and two people shot were taken to hospital, and four people were injured by shrapnel. It is understood officers were not involved in the shooting and Volusia Sheriff's Office confirmed on their Facebook page police did not have anyone in custody. Beaches elsewhere also saw major Memorial Day weekend crowds that prompted law enforcement to turn away beachgoers, with deputies shutting down access to St Petersburg and Clearwater by midday on Saturday. However, officials have been criticised for not using force against the crowds and not making any arrests for social distancing violations, a decision Chief Capri defended. I know people were upset with the numbers of crowds there. I am a little pissed off, too, about a lot of this. We dont take this lightly, Chief Capri said. We got the coronavirus still going around and people not practising social distancing. But I am not the social distancing police. Its not my job. Failing to social distance not a crime, police chief says Chief Capri then added that a failure to social distance was not a crime, but there had been an executive order issued by the governor advising against it. Its an executive order issued by the governor that no prosecutor in the state of Florida has prosecuted anybody for that, and no judge is going to convict them, he said. Officials said the gathering on Saturday was part of an annual event called Orlando invades Daytona, which did not receive permits this year. Police said they were breaking up parties along the beach and more inland for hours and into the night. Police were able to disperse the crowds, and no arrests have been made. Source: Facebook/ Volusia Sheriffs Office Florida has reported more than 50,800 cases of COVID-19, and more than 2,230 deaths. On the Sunday, Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said she was very concerned about scenes of people crowding together over the weekend. We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical, Dr Brix said on ABCs This Week. And if you cant social distance and youre outside, you must wear a mask. 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. Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or for dissemination in the United States OAKVILLE, Ontario, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giyani Metals Corp. (TSXV:EMM, GR:A2DUU8) ("Giyani" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the non-brokered private placement financing (the "Private Placement"), as announced on May 19, 2020, has closed. The Private Placement was fully subscribed and comprised of 15,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.08 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1.2 million in immediately available new funding. No finders' fees were paid in connection with the Private Placement. Each Unit consists of one (1) common share (each, a "Common Share") and one half () of one Common Share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.10 per share within the 3-year period following the closing of the Private Placement. The Private Placement included a lead subscription on behalf of RAB Capital Holdings Limited ("RAB Capital") for 11,000,000 Units, for a total subscription of $880,000. The Company also entered into a conditional board representation agreement under which, provided RAB Capital maintains at least a 10% shareholding, it is entitled to appoint or elect one director to the board of the Company. The agreement also provides that Giyani will consult with and obtain the consent of RAB Capital, which is not to be unreasonably withheld, to certain equity security issuances within the 13 months following the closing of the Private Placement, subject to customary carve-outs. The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to fund the advancement of the K.Hill feasibility study, which is expected to be completed in Q1 2021. Insiders of Giyani subscribed for an aggregate of 574,375 Units or 4% of the Private Placement, which subscriptions are considered related party transactions within the meaning of TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of the insider subscriptions. Robin Birchall, CEO of the Company commented: I am delighted with the completion of the Private Placement. In particular, I would like to thank RAB Capital for their support in leading the Private Placement. The proceeds will allow the Giyani team to focus its attention on the development of the Companys assets. The main focus of which is rapidly advancing the remainder of the K.Hill feasibility study workstreams. Most notably, we plan to commence reserve drilling in the coming months. The Private Placement is subject to the final acceptance of the TSXV. All securities issued are subject to a statutory four month and one day hold period, which will end on September 26, 2020. About Giyani Giyani Metals Corp. is a Canadian explorer and developer focused on the development of its K.Hill, Lobatse & Otse manganese prospects in the Kanye Basin, Botswana, Africa. The Company's flagship K.Hill prospect is a near-surface manganese oxide deposit currently going through a feasibility study to produce high-purity electrolytic manganese metal (HPEMM), a key product needed for batteries in the expanding electric vehicle (EV) market. Additional information and corporate documents may be found on www.sedar.com and on Giyani Metals Corp. Website: https://giyanimetals.com/. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Metals Corp. Robin Birchall, CEO Contact: Giyani Metals Corporation Robin Birchall CEO, Director +447711313019 rbirchall@giyanimetals.com Thomas Horton VP, Business Development +447866913207 thorton@giyanimetals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons," as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities to, or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons. Forward Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Giyani expects to occur, are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Specific forward-looking statements and forward-looking information herein includes completion of receipt of TSXV approval for the private placement and completion of the private placement. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of the relevant management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to certain assumptions, important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Giyani's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In the case of Giyani, these facts include their anticipated operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, and plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future. This information relates to analyses and other information that is based on expectations of future performance and planned work programs. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation: inherent exploration hazards and risks; risks related to exploration and development of natural resource properties; uncertainty in Giyani's ability to obtain funding; commodity price fluctuations; recent market events and conditions; risks related to the uncertainty of mineral resource calculations and the inclusion of inferred mineral resources in economic estimation; risks related to governmental regulations; risks related to obtaining necessary licenses and permits; risks related to their business being subject to environmental laws and regulations; risks related to their mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers, or claims and other defects in title; risks relating to competition from larger companies with greater financial and technical resources; risks relating to the inability to meet financial obligations under agreements to which they are a party; ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; and risks related to their directors and officers becoming associated with other natural resource companies which may give rise to conflicts of interests. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Giyani's forward-looking information. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking information or statements. Giyani's forward-looking information is based on the reasonable beliefs, expectations and opinions of their respective management on the date the statements are made, and Giyani does not assume any obligation to update forward looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For a complete discussion with respect to Giyani and risks associated with forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, please refer to Giyani's financial statements and related MD&A, all of which are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. GIYANI METALS CORP. 1155 North Service Road West, Unit 11 Oakville, Ontario L6M 3E3 T: 289-291-4032 www.giyanimetals.com TSX.V-EMM , We're sorry, this article is not currently available (Newser) President Trump is threatening to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina unless the governor can "immediately" guarantee that delegates will be allowed to fill the arena in Charlotte. Trump complained in a series of tweets Monday that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is still in "shutdown mode" and the party could be spending "millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space," CBS reports. He said that without the guarantee, "we will be reluctantly forced to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site." story continues below The threat "completely blindsided" GOP officials, who had promised that health concerns would come first in planning for the Aug. 24-27 convention at the 20,000-capacity Spectrum Center, CNN reports. Cooper says that as with any other large event, the state will make decisions about the convention based on science, not politics. "This is not political. This is not emotional. This is based on health experts, data, and science and that's it for everybody to see," he says. "No one is being favored or disfavored over the other." Vice President Mike Pence said Monday that Trump's position was "very reasonable." He suggested that Florida, Texas, or Georgia could be alternative locations. (Read more Republican National Convention stories.) With the ongoing lockdown, while several of us are left bickering about staying at home, there are many who cant even manage to get their basic needs. While the lockdown is not same for everyone, our celebrities are trying their best to help the ones in need. While stars like Salman Khan are helping the needy ones with essentials, Sonu Sood even organized a bus for workers to help them go back to their native place. It seems that Michelin star chef Vikas Khanna too joined the list by doing something really noble and good this Eid. Vikas Khanna, also popular for his stint as a host on Master Chef India, has done some immense work this Eid. Hes front lining the initiative called Feed india, where he makes sure he feeds needy people and that no one goes hungry even a single day on the streets. The chef recently held the worlds largest eid fest where he fed almost 2 lakhs people in Mumbai alone. Such a noble cause and a big initiative was applauded by the netizens and everyone as this really makes us believe that humanity does exist even in the most difficult times. Vikas Khanna even shared a video of it on his social media account, which was highly praised by Twitteratis and everyone. Check it out. Today as its Eid, several of our celebrities are spreading positivity and good vibes on social media. All actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, Ishaan Khatter, Raveena Tandon are sharing videos and pictures on these platforms to wish their fans and netizens Eid Mubarak. We too pass on our best to our readerson this auspicious day and hope things soon return to normalcy for everyone. New Delhi: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate for money laundering, has received crores of funds from Gulf countries. Indian agencies have been pursuing Naik, who is currently based in Malaysia, also for delivering hate speeches allegedly used to incite terror activities. Sources close to developments have revealed that despite New Delhis persistent efforts, Malaysia is reluctant to hand over Naik to New India. In the most recent instance, Naik is said to have contacted one of his old contacts in Qatar and requested him for a generous amount of USD 500,000 as a charity to his organisation. It is also learnt that the Qatari national has been helping Nail contact local wealthy businessmen and charity organisation for the collection of funds. At the same time, Pakistan has also been using its relations with Turkey and Qatar countries to organise funds for Naik. It is to be noted that Pakistan maintains good relations with both Qatar and Turkey. In the last few years, relations between Qatar and Turkey have turned stronger and Turkey has been using its influence on Qatar to take an anti-India stand. Last year, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the UNGA where he had stated, "Despite the resolutions adopted by the UNSC, Kashmir is still besieged and eight million people are stuck in Kashmir. They cannot get out." Analyst privy of these developments said, "Zakir Naik was given hospitality by Malaysia at Pakistans behest. Now, Pakistan is engaged to arrange huge funds for Zakir Naik from Gulf countries like Qatar and Turkey." On the other hand, while India and Turkey's relations are far from being sour, it has however turned strained ever since Turkey extended support to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue at FATF. Turkey has also been raising Kashmir issue at various international forums ever since the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Naik continues to maintain several bank accounts in Gulf countries, including Qatar and the UAE, for collection of such funds to evade scrutiny of the Indian government. He generally uses these accounts to transfer funds to his associates and network for activities by IRF and other associated organizations. The Indian government has since put a five-year ban on IRF. Naik is involved in the preaching of radical Islamic ideology that has influenced the youth in India and abroad in an adverse manner and some of them are found to have been motivated to join extremist organisations such as Daesh. It has been noticed that of late Turkey has become an epicentre for anti-India activities. Turkey has been using the dispute between Qatar and other Gulf kingdoms and has increased its influence by stationing troops in Qatar. It has also expanded its military base in Qatar. As per a 2019 'The New Arab' report, "Cooperation between Turkish and Qatari militaries have notably intensified since the Saudi-led blockade on Qatar in June 2017. Many Qataris believe Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain's siege to be a coup attempt against Qatar's sovereignty. Turkey was the first state to support Qatar and openly sided with Doha in one of the most challenging moments of the small Gulf state's history." Turkey also took Qatar side when an economic boycott from a group of countries led by Saudi Arabia was initiated. "Turkish and Qatari central banks are tripling the limit of their existing swap deal to USD 15 billion to facilitate bilateral trade in respective local currencies and to support the financial stability of the two countries. The deal highlights the strength of an alliance that began to deepen after the failed 2016 coup when Erdogan received backing from Qatars rulers. Turkey returned the favour a year later by siding with Qatar after it came under an economic boycott from a group of countries led by Saudi Arabia," a report by Cagan Koc published in Bloomberg in May 2020 stated. In the recently organized virtual meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Maldives, Saudi Arabia and Oman opposed Pakistan rant against India. The Maldives defended India by saying that signalling out India over Islamophobia is incorrect when Pakistan tried to raise the issue of minority and Islamophobia in India. The reply came after Pakistans Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram proposed that India is actively promoting Islamophobic agenda in the meeting. Giving befitting reply to Pakistan, Maldives said that India is the largest democracy in the world and home to over 200 million Muslims, alleging Islamophobia would be factually incorrect and detrimental to religious harmony in South Asia. "Any organization that has relations with the Qatari regime automatically has relations with the Turkish regime. This is very evident today in the case of Libya, where both regimes support the so-called National Accord Government which is "misleadingly called the recognized government", while in fact, it has yet to be recognized by the Libyan Parliament to acquire any legitimacy, as required by the Skhirat Agreement," said Abdul Rahman Al-Turiri an article published in The Arab Weekly. Naik, a 53-year-old radical television preacher, left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to Malaysia, which has reportedly granted permanent residency to him. Naik was booked by the Enforcement Directorate in 2016, based on a National Investigation Agency FIR that was registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The Russian Navy Project 955A Borei-A class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Knyaz Vladimir (NATO reporting name: Dolgorukiy-class) has completed its sea trials and arrived in Severodvinsk in north Russia, the Russian Defense Ministrys press office said, on May 25, 2020. The Russian Navy Project 955A Borei-A class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Knyaz Vladimir (NATO reporting name: Dolgorukiy-class) has completed its sea trials and arrived in Severodvinsk in north Russia, the Russian Defense Ministrys press office said, on May 25, 2020. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Knyaz Vladimir Borei-A Class SSBN submarine at the roadstead of Severodvinsk on sea trials. June 2019. (Picture source Twitter account Capt(N)) The Knyaz Vladimir is a Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, and the first upgraded Borei-A (Project 955A) unit to enter service with the Russian Navy. The Project 955A will differ by several modifications from the previous version of the project 955. These modifications include major structural changes, reduced acoustic signature, and more modern communication equipment. While initially reported to have four more (20 in total) launch tubes, the 955A includes 16 missile tubes same as the project 955. It will be armed with the newest Russian submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM), the RSM-56 Bulava. The nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine went to the White Sea on May 12. Its trials took place above- and underwater. Tugboats of the White Sea naval base and the Mikhail Rudnitsky rescue vessel were used to provide search-and-rescue support during the trials of the Knyaz Vladimir submarine, the press office said. The submarine is planned to join the Navy after the results of the trials are analyzed. The major part of the trials, including missile and submerged torpedo 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. Copyright 2020 TASS Navy Recognition. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Heat wave prevailed in Rajasthan on Monday, with highest day temperature in the state recorded in Churu at 47.5 degrees Celsius, the MeT department said. The meteorological department has issued a warning for heat wave in the state during next three days. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has appealed to people to stay indoors and take care of themselves so that they do not get heat stroke. Gehlot appealed to people to drink as much water as possible in their homes. According to the spokesperson of the meteorological centre of Jaipur, intense heat waves are likely at some places in Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Kota divisions. The maximum daytime temperature in these areas is expected to be 45-47 degrees Celsius, the MeT department said. From Friday, the maximum temperature at most places is likely to drop by 2-3 degrees Celsius due to the effect of western disturbance, it said. Due to the activation of the western disturbance, light rains are expected in Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur and Bharatpur on Friday and Saturday, the MeT department said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - A photographer from Baringo county named Daggy Shy had no idea photos he took as an innocent girl would turn her into a celebrity - Kenyans were pleased by the pictures which showed a sweet little angel sipping some CocaCola to quench her thirst - Netizens urged CocaCola company to grant her an advertising job as she was camera-friendly and everyone fell in love with her innocence They say a picture is worth a thousand words and it can pass a message better than verbal communication. Photos are languages that unite the world as everyone can understand and interpret whatever meets their eye without being told what message is being passed. READ ALSO: Eid Mubarak: Lulu Hassan's cute sons stun in identical Muslim attire during celebrations READ ALSO: Mashine ya kupima COVID-19 Tanzania yakutwa na hitilafu Kenyans all over social media begun a campaign to convince CocaCola to grant an advertising or brand ambassador deal to a young girl only referred to as Savannah girl or CocaCola girl. The little lady from Baringo county brought to life the words "taste the feeling" when she was pictured quenching her thirst with a bottle of the yummy beverage. READ ALSO: My greatest gift: Mike Sonko, wife celebrate adopted Satrine Osinya on his birthday READ ALSO: Bikizee mwenye miaka 107 apona virusi vya corona nchini Iran The sweet girl was dressed in traditional attire and her neck was decorated with African ornaments which gave her an indigenous appearance. A talented photographer named Daggy Shy took the illustrative photos back in May 22 not knowing he had turned the sweet smiling angel into an overnight star. Within days, every group, high profile person and Kenyans on social media started reposting and sharing the little sweetheart's photos. They all hoped giant beverage company CocaCola would notice how original and effortless the girl's poses were. READ ALSO: Ramadhan with a twist: Diamond Platnumz blasted for posting shirtless photos during holy month They even prayed that maybe, just maybe the little lady would bag herself a modeling gig that would forever change her life. Even radio and TV presenters endorsed the sweet model as they gushed over how the camera loved her. She stuck to her roots and embodied the innocence of a child in the photos shared online. The way she flashed a smile after quenching her thirst with a bottle of sugary goodness had netizens smiling from within. 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. Corona has ruined our daily lives | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Promise Gogorobari, owner of Prodest Hotel, Eleme, which was demolished for allegedly flouting lockdown order in Rivers, has accused t... Promise Gogorobari, owner of Prodest Hotel, Eleme, which was demolished for allegedly flouting lockdown order in Rivers, has accused the state government of infecting his manager, with COVID-19. In a statement, Gogorobari said his manager was healthy before he was detained on the orders of Nyesom Wike, the governor. Paulinus Nsirim, Rivers information commissioner, had listed Bariledum Azoroh, the manager, as one of the 27 people who recently tested positive for the disease. Rivers State has recorded 27 new positive coronavirus cases. The manager of Prodest Hotel, Eleme is among the new positive cases, the commissioner said in a statement. Recall that Prodest Hotel was demolished two weeks ago because the owners violated executive order 7 which banned the operation of hotels. The COVID-19 Task force members from the local government who went to enforce the executive order were brutalized and dehumanised leading to the death of one of them. But Gogorobari said Azorohs test result is fake, alleging that the state government is using the quarantine law to abuse the rights of citizens. He said after after his manager was arrested, he was detained at a gangster stadium facility. The Rivers state government and governor of Rivers state must be held liable for infecting my manager who is in their custody for over 15 days with COVID-19, he said. He was a very healthy person before his arrest. It is therefore medically impossible that the infection occurred before his detention. It is a known fact that I and the Rivers state government are at daggers drawn over demolition of my hotel. The whole world should be aware that governor Wike wants kill the manager to convince the public that infected persons were in the hotel all in an attempt to justify his illegal demolition of the hotel on the 10th of May 2020. The society should therefore be concerned just as I am worried. Zelensky to take under personal control procurements of individual protective means, hospitals not provided with all necessary so far President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will take under his personal control the purchases of the individual protective equipment done by the Health Ministry. As a president's press service reported, this topic was discussed at a traditional conference call on combating the spread of coronavirus. The head of state did not agree with the statement that Ukrainian hospitals are currently provided with everything necessary in sufficient quantity. "We are receiving signals that hospitals don't have everything. Despite the government's figure that the medical institutions are provided by 70%, some assets are not available. Doctors are provided with antiseptics by 600%, but disposable gowns only by 16%, and disposable glasses and shields by 4%, biosecurity suits by 51%. Therefore, hospitals are not provided with everything. To talk about 70% provision, we need to have all the assets at the level of 70%," Zelensky said. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted the government had set itself the task of providing a three-month supply of medical protection means for the doctors. Priority will be given to those suppliers who will be able to supply goods in the near future. The Security Service of Ukraine reported that criminal proceedings had been initiated against six dishonest companies - participants in procurement, which, among other things, did not supply goods after receiving the money, showed poor quality and so on. All Canadas provincesincluding those where widespread community transmission of COVID-19 continuesare now well on the way to lifting the lockdown measures that helped slow the pandemics spread. This despite COVID-19 having already exacted a terrible toll, including 6,424 deaths. The government back-to-work drive is being implemented in flagrant disregard of repeated World Health Organization (WHO) warnings that mass-testing and contact-tracing capabilities need to be developed and health-care systems significantly strengthened before any relaxation of restrictions on normal economic and social life. In Quebec, the epicentre of the pandemic in Canada, construction and manufacturing activities have been up and running for at least two weeks. Schools and daycares outside of Montreal reopened May 11, along with retail stores. Retail businesses in Montreal are scheduled to reopen today, and daycares on June 1. In neighbouring Ontario, retail stores with a street entrance were allowed to reopen as of May 19, the same day all remaining restrictions on the construction industry were lifted. Many of Ontarios manufacturing facilities and mines stayed open throughout the lockdown, due to the provincial governments extremely broad definition of what constitutes an essential service. Although Premier Doug Ford had wanted to reopen schools at the end of May, the rapid spread of the virus and public opposition forced the government to announce last week that public schools will not reopen during the current school year. In Alberta, where the United Conservative Party government allowed oil and most other production facilities to remain open during the provinces lockdown, the limit for outdoor gatherings has been increased to 50 people. On May 14, stores, restaurants and hair salons reopened across the province. Premier Jason Kenney has indicated that cinemas and spas will be allowed to open in mid-June. British Columbias New Democratic Party government allowed businesses and retail stores to reopen last Tuesday, and has pledged to lift bans on hotels and resorts in June. Parents will also be given the voluntary option of sending their children to school as of June 1. The reckless character of the reopening drive is underscored by the continued rapid spread of the pandemic, with more than 1,000 new cases and 100 deaths being reported daily. With more than 84,650 confirmed COVID-19 cases, Canada has now surpassed China, where the virus first emerged, both in terms of total infections and fatalities. Canada, with a population approximately one-tenth that of the United States, had one fatality for every 25 total US COVID-19 deaths in mid-April. But, in a further indication of the virus spread across Canada, this ratio has now declined to just one for every 15. Under these conditions, leading Canadian medical experts have spoken out forcefully against the premature lifting of restrictions. Were gambling by reopening, Dr. Sandy Buchman, president of the Canadian Medical Association, told the Senate Social Affairs Committee last Wednesday. He pointed to a lack of testing and contact-tracing infrastructure before adding, Were scrambling. In my opinion, were not fully prepared for a second wave. Figures show that Canada is not even using half of its extremely modest test capacity of 60,000 per day. Roughly 28,000 COVID-19 tests are being performed each day, far below the targets that the provincial governments have themselves set. Ford vowed that by the end of April the province would be preforming 16,000 tests, but last Tuesday it managed just 7,300. Buchman stressed that the failure to carry out widespread testing means that authorities are in the dark as to where and how the virus is spreading. He also took up the chronic shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers. In Ontario alone, over 4,000 health care staff are infected, and as of May 19 nine had died. Wed never permit a firefighter to go into a burning building without adequate protection. We cant expect our front line health care workers to put themselves in harms way, remarked Buchman. Local health officials in Ontario are also sounding the alarm about easing lockdown measures as the virus continues to run rampant. Dr. Michael Gardam, a veteran of the 2003 SARS epidemic and an infectious disease specialist at Torontos Humber River Hospital told CBC, Its scary. Theres a large sense of unknown there. And theres no way around the fact that this is uncomfortable. Dr. Lawrence Loh, chief medical officer for the Greater Toronto areas Peel Region, publicly called for a delay to the lifting of lockdown restrictions due to the high number of new infections. We have seen our new cases starting to plateau, but we have just not seen a decline in line with the provinces own framework for reopening at this point, said Loh. These warnings are of no concern to federal and provincial authorities, which are determined to enforce the ruling elites criminally irresponsible back-to-work policy. After implementing bailout measures for the big banks, financial markets, and major corporations worth over $650 billion, the ruling class wants to send workers back to unsafe workplaces to resume extracting profit through the ruthless exploitation of their labour. While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blustered Friday about the need for strong collaborative action between the federal government and provinces to expand testing and contact tracing, he provided no details on how these basic measures, which the WHO has been calling for since the early days of the pandemic, would be implemented. The reality is that Trudeaus Liberals have overseen a calamitous response to COVID-19 in spite of repeated warnings of the threat of a pandemic and Canadas own experience with SARS in 2003. (See: The 2003 SARS epidemic: how Canadas elite squandered the chance to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic) Moreover, by declaring decisions on reopening the economy a provincial matter, Trudeau has already given the greenlight to Quebec and Ontarios hard-right governments to send hundreds of thousands of workers back to their jobs without the implementation of basic safety measures. Trudeau and the rest of the political establishment in Canada may choose their words more carefully than Trump, but the reality is that Canadian authorities are embracing the same reactionary herd immunity policy. This is shown by the remarks of Bonnie Henry, the chief medical officer for the NDP government in BC. Well be looking at what were the measures that worked best to prevent transmission, said Henry, as she conceded that the reopening of the economy likely makes a second wave of infections inevitable, and if we start to see increases in COVID, those are the things that we can put in place rather than the blanket shut everything down as we did before. In Ontario, where Unifor, Canadas largest industrial union, has worked hand-in-glove with the major automakers to send autoworkers back into unsafe plants to work elbow-to-elbow on assembly lines, the ruling elite is also accepting that large portions of workers and their families will get infected. Kristen Dziczek, vice president for industry, economy and labour at the Centre for Automotive Research, a key industry think-tank that assisted the Big Three in reopening their facilities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, bluntly told CBC, I think were going to see hotspots keep popping up and thats going to be one of the disruption factors in auto production. The opposition in the working class to this policy of placing private profit ahead of human lives is growing. Last Tuesday, Quebecs largest nurses union felt compelled to call a protest outside the office of Premier Francois Legault, who last month openly declared his governments support for a policy of herd immunity, so as to draw attention to the governments violation of nurses rights. These violations have included forcing nurses to work in COVID-19 wards without adequate PPE and a punishing regime of forced overtime. (See: Quebec government threatens thousands of lives with precipitous return to work) In remarks summing up the contemptuous attitude of the entire ruling class to working people, Legault, who has made a political career out of imposing savage attacks on workers and enforcing austerity, lectured the protesters, That disappoints me. I dont think its time to be on the street in front of my office. The indifference towards the lives of working people within the ruling class has also been displayed by its callous disregard for the fate of meatpackers and health care workers. In Ontario, close to 250 coronavirus-related complaints filed by workers to the provinces Labour Relations Board have produced not one single ruling in the workers favour. (See: Canada: Ontario government ignored workers complaints at poultry plant hit by fatal COVID-19 outbreak) Much of the world has long thought the British a smart lot in a quaint sort of way. Where the country has failed, and it often has, it is still usually found some indulgence. The present British government is testing that inclination to indulge as none has in a long time. Because not in a long time have the British got it as seriously, and serially, wrong as through the management of this coronavirus. The British leadership does not appear particularly smart these days, certainly not quaint. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons decision to defend the defiance of the lockdown by his special adviser Dominic Cummings comes as only another turn in a downward spiral. If arranging childcare was reason enough for Cummings to have travelled 400-km, a million others had more pressing reasons to break the lockdown, and did not. British people are showing their fury over one set of rule for themselves, another for the PMs adviser - and the PMs defence of it. One decision after another appears inexplicable. Visitors to the UK will now be quarantined from June 8. Why now, weeks and months after other nations had taken such a decision? All through the spread of the virus that has taken Britain to the highest death toll in Europe by far, Britain kept its borders open. Since January, full flights have been arriving at Heathrow from China and Italy and other places with high infections at the time. No one arriving at airports was checked; the government announced that checks on arrivals were unnecessary. Now, the British are ordering quarantine for arrivals when the rest of the world is either easing or lifting their quarantine moves. The decision comes when both the infection rate and death toll are coming down. From June 8, visitors will be asked to go straight home or to a hotel from the airport, preferably in a cab, and not step out for two weeks. Police can carry out random checks and fine the deviant 1,000 (Rs 92,000). The idea, said Home Secretary Priti Patel, is to "keep the transmission rate down and prevent a devastating second wave". Up until June 8, no contribution to a second wave will be discouraged. The late step towards preventive caution ahead brings with it the lethal reminder that this needed to have been done far earlier. And only now is the government introducing contact tracing. Johnson has announced the introduction of a world-beating system from June 1. South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and India, particularly Kerala, had beaten the world in contact tracing much earlier, starting January. Britain too began contact tracing over the first two cases that surfaced in January. The Chief Medical Officer for England, Chris Witty, announced that the government is working rapidly to identify any contacts the patients had to prevent further spread. It then gave this up altogether. Witty said it is not necessary to trace every case. In January, cases were rising dramatically. Britain will now introduce its world-beating system in June when infections are falling. The world had beaten Britain to it over timing their lockdown. On May 24, the death toll in the UK was 36,793 based on those who had died in hospital after being tested coronavirus positive. A second measure is the number whose death certificates list COVID-19, a third the number of the dead above the usual figure for this period of the year. When the official toll was 30,000, the second count listed above 40,000 and the third more than 50,000. The real death toll is well above the official figure on the first count, and officially acknowledged to be so. The delay over lockdown killed thousands, tens of thousands. Sir Ian Boyd, who sits on the governments scientific advisory group has said it would have made quite a big difference to the death rate if the government had acted a week or two earlier. Britain was then late with testing. That has been stepped up, but comes far too late to have saved hundreds of medical staff who died on the job. Over a long spell nobody knew in hospitals, and outside, who could be carrying the virus asymptomatically or within an incubation period when someone could be infective. It took enormous public pressure, and from within the medical system, to wake the government into action. Home Office Minister James Brokenshire now says there is an acknowledgement mistakes have been made. His justification was that no government is going to get everything right. Few have got as much as wrong as the British. As of May 19, the government acknowledged that 181 National Health Service staff and 131 supportive care workers had died. That takes the total above 300, but the figures for care workers were then a month out of date. Among those were a great many foreigners, or of foreign origin. Boris Johnson himself was cared for by two foreign nurses. All foreign workers within the NHS pay an annual fee of 400 pounds for the privilege of working there. Demands arose for that small fee to be waived to recognise the extraordinary work they had done through this crisis. Johnsons response to that demand was entirely in character with the policies through this crisis. The PM refused the demand at first. "I have thought a great deal about this and I do accept and understand the difficulties faced by our amazing NHS staff. I have been a personal beneficiary of people and carers who have come from abroad and, frankly, saved my life," he told parliament. On the other hand, we must look at the realities that this is a great national service, a national institution which needs funding and those contributions actually help us to raise about 900 million pounds. It is very difficult in the current circumstances to find alternative sources. A day later, he changed his mind, under intense pressure from the opposition. The fee has now been waived. But clearly the government did not think a great deal over this as over the other decisions it has taken. Actor Rana Daggubati recently announced that he got engaged to Miheeka Bajaj. Days after she said yes to his proposal, the Baahubali star got officially engaged to his longtime girlfriend in a private ceremony. Talking about the proposal, Rana said Miheeka already knew what he was calling her about. "She knew where I'm getting at when I called her. And then she met me in person, that's it. I remember I said a bunch of things together. For me, it was serious. It was commitment. When I met her, that's the time I felt I am ready to do this. It was that simple, for real. I never thought about it. I met her, I liked her, and that's it. I found love," he said. Rana said Miheeka has an event management company and is into "fine, nice things", reported Indian Express. "Miheeka was brought up in Hyderabad. She lives right next to us in Jubilee Hills. She can speak Telugu, not fluent in it but yes. Also, our worlds are the same. The fun fact is that she is friends with my family, and I know her circle of friends in Mumbai." The actor acknowledges that getting married during the coronavirus pandemic isn't the best idea. He said it will depends on the world's situation whether he'll have a grand wedding. "I found the strangest time to get married," he said. The couple shared pictures from the engagement ceremony recently. In the pictures, the couple is all smile as they wave at their guests. Rana looks handsome in a white shirt and a colour-coordinated dhoti, while Miheeka stuns in a multi-coloured Kanchipuram saree. Read: Rana Daggubati And Miheeka Bajaj Are 'Officially' Engaged Now, See Pics Read: Samantha Akkineni, Naga Chaitanya Attend Rana Daggubati and Miheeka Bajaj's Roka Ceremony Follow @News18Movies for more During previous economic downturns, crucial figures on the state of the economy did not become available for many months. This time its different. Advances in data collection and analysis mean we now have much more timely information. The spending tracker developed by analytics firm AlphaBeta, a part of Accenture, and the credit bureau illion is a prime example. A collaboration involving those two firms and The Age has allowed real-time information about spending behaviour during the pandemic to be published each week. The pandemic has made online shopping more popular. Credit: The tracker, which draws on a database tracing the spending habits of hundreds of thousands of Australians, provides valuable insights into the way consumers have reacted to the crisis and how different sectors of the economy are faring. At the onset of the crisis, it showed how an economy-wide collapse in spending was arrested as pensioners and social security recipients used a one-off $750 government stimulus payment to make far more purchases than usual. The stimulus-fuelled boost continued once the governments new $550 a fortnight coronavirus supplement for JobSeeker recipients came into effect in late April. "I apologize if the explanation was not clear, but we gave the explanation supported by the truth. We are going to tell the good, average, and bad news. We do not hide the truth," he stated. The statesman also reported that there are 123,979 positive covid-19 cases in the country to date. El presidente @MartinVizcarraC informa sobre la situacion del Estado de Emergencia en el #Dia71 y las acciones que realiza el Gobierno para contener la propagacion del COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/Y9AVLrcPz3 https://t.co/A0pz45xehf Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 02:08:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ANKARA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces have killed 1,458 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in cross border operation, defense minister of the country said on Monday. "A total of 1,458 terrorists were neutralized as a result of the operations carried out in the framework of the fight against terrorism in the north of Iraq and Syria since Jan. 1," Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said while visiting a military post in Central Anatolian Kayseri province. "The Turkish Armed Forces will continue this struggle with determination until the last terrorist is neutralized," he said. Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in statements to imply the "terrorists" who surrendered or were killed or captured. "Everyone should know that we are performing our duties in five operating regions with great determination, and that we are performing these activities completely under the law and that all these activities are transparent and open to all kinds of audits," he stated. Turkey continues efforts to maintain the ceasefire and stability in Idlib after an agreement with Russia sealed on March 5, he said. "Although there are some minor violations there, the ceasefire is generally observed. As a result of the ceasefire provided, approximately 300,000 Syrian brothers and sisters returned to their homes safely and voluntarily," the minister stated. Turkey sees the YPG as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019 and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in order to create a YPG-free zone along its border within Syria. Turkish security forces have long been conducting operations against the PKK targets in northern Iraq where the group has hideouts. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the EU, has fought a 30-year war against the Turkish government, claiming the lives of more than 40,000. Enditem TOWIE star James 'Arg' Argent has linked his addiction to cocaine with his problems with binge-eating - claiming each issue has fuelled the other. Speaking to The Sun, the reality TV star, 32, admitted this weekend that he is a cocaine addict, and has been heavily using the drug for seven years. He said: 'The core of my addiction stems from my eating disorder. I binge on food if I hate the way I look. It's like the opposite of anorexia where people starve themselves if they are down about their body. I eat when I'm not even hungry.' 'Vicious cycle': TOWIE star James 'Arg' Argent has linked his addiction to cocaine with his problems with binge-eating - claiming each issue has fuelled the other Arg claims that his depression over his weight would cause him to use drugs all day without eating food - leading to him binging the day after. 'That's part of my vicious cycle. I'd feel down so I'd start using drugs at 9PM until 6AM, not eating a thing. 'Then I'd wake up, feel low, and be absolutely starving; and I would binge on everything from fizzy drinks, burgers, fast food, crisps, snacks, pizzas, takeaways to the point where I couldn't possibly eat any more to feel better. 'Then I'd look in the mirror, see I'm the biggest I've ever been, then think, "When is a suitable time for a dealer to drop me off". It was a never-ending tale of destruction.' He said: 'The core of my addiction stems from my eating disorder. I binge on food if I hate the way I look. It's like the opposite of anorexia where people starve themselves if they are down about their body. I eat when I'm not even hungry' Arg admits that his cheery character is merely a front, and that the abuse he seemed to laugh off on social media was actually lead him to take more drugs and eat more food. He has also admitted he suffered two near-fatal overdoses at his home last year, and his girlfriend Gemma Collins called emergency services after his family feared he was dead. Arg says he is now in recovery after spending ten weeks at a Thailand boot camp, after calling his best friend and former TOWIE co-star Mark Wright for help when he reached rock bottom over Christmas 2019. Admission: Arg admits that his cheery character is merely a front, and that the abuse he seemed to laugh off on social media was actually lead him to take more drugs and eat more food Speaking about his first overdose in October which triggered paranoia and psychosis, Arg said: 'I locked myself in my house and took drugs for three days straight on my own in the pitch black.' Adding that he regularly spent 500 a week on his cocaine habit, Arg said of his first overdose: 'I was at rock bottom. My heart was beating out of my chest, my nose was bleeding, I was shaking and my breathing was terrible. 'My family were banging on the door screaming, 'Open up' but I wasn't answering the door to anyone. They feared I'd overdosed and was dead in the house.' Fears: The reality TV star, 32, admitted he suffered two near-fatal overdoses at his home last year, and his girlfriend Gemma Collins called emergency services after his family feared he was dead (pictured together in 2018) Lean on me: It was after he found himself alone on Christmas Day 2019 and using cocaine that he decided things had to change, calling his best friend and former TOWIE co-star Mark Wright for help It was Gemma who called the emergency services who forced the door. After tests it was agreed Arg did not need to go to hospital and could stay with his parents, but just two months later he overdosed again on the night before his 32nd birthday, as he admitted 'my addiction was so bad I couldn't stop myself.' The second time he was hospitalised over fears for his heart, with Arg revealing that his worried friends took his phone away while he was in hospital in case he called his dealers. It was after he found himself alone on Christmas Day 2019 and using cocaine that he decided things had to change, calling his best friend and former TOWIE co-star Mark Wright for help. 'Spirit animal': Arg recently posted a throwback snap of his ten-week stint in rehab at a boot camp in Thailand Fame: Arg also explained during the interview that he first dabbled in drugs when he first shot to fame with Mark in TOWIE in 2010 Mark got his friend in touch with the owners of a Thailand boot camp, with Arg travelling there on New Year's Eve, staying for ten weeks and losing five stone in weight. He now attends an out patient facility near his Essex home regularly. Arg also explained during the interview that he first dabbled in drugs when he first shot to fame with Mark in TOWIE, but his loved ones only found out he had a problem when he was declared missing in 2014, after failing to turn up for a flight to Majorca for a paid appearance. Determined: The TV star started his fitness journey by taking part in swimming the English Channel in Sink Or Swim for Stand Up To Cancer in 2019 (pictured) Revelation: Arg recently addressed his staggering weight loss as he shared a before and after photo on Instagram earlier this month. Arg recently showcased his staggering weight loss as he shared a before and after photo on Instagram earlier this month. He Arg posted a picture from a recent run, alongside a photo of himself at pal Elliott Wright's son's christening in April last year. The reality star captioned the post: 'I'm making progress, Inside & Outside One day at a time'. Dozens of the Arg's celebrity pals applauded him for his efforts, while also encouraging him to stay motivated. Support: Dozens of the Arg's celebrity pals applauded him for his efforts, while also encouraging him to stay motivated Arg is currently in lockdown without Gemma as the couple, who have had an eight-year on-off relationship, continue to isolate separately. Last month, the TV personality took to Instagram to lament how much he was missing the self-proclaimed diva with a romantic throwback snap of the pair in Paris. In the image, the on-off couple locked lips against the dazzling backdrop of the Eiffel tower at night. Sharing how much he's missing being without his reality star girlfriend, James penned: 'Lockdown absolutely sucks without you GC but I understand you have to entertain the nation & put a smile on peoples faces at this difficult time! #imissyou #wellmeetagain.' Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray hit out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying labourers will have to seek permission from his party, Maharashtra government and the state police if they wish to work there. Raj Thackeray's statement came a day after the Uttar Pradesh CM asserted that states will have to take permission from his government if they want Uttar Pradesh's migrant back at work. Upset that migrant labourers were "not properly taken care of" by various states in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown, Adityanath on Sunday said any state that wants migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh back has to seek permission from the UP government and need to ensure their socio-legal- monetary rights. Reacting to it, Raj Thackeray said, If Yogi Adityanath is stressing on seeking permission to employ UP residents, they will have to take permission of Maharashtra government to work here." "The Maharashtra government needs to take such things seriously. Any worker coming here to work should get duly registered with the government as well as local police. These workers should submit their documents and photographs as well, he said in a statement. The government needs to undertake such an exercise diligently, he added. Although Memorial Day is celebrated by most with cookouts, a flag flying, a day off work, and maybe a vacation, there is a deep meaning behind this federal holiday. The "Memorial" in Memorial Day is due to its being a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice. No one knows the true meaning of Memorial Day more than those who have lost friends and loved ones to a war, and veterans who were wounded, disabled or not. There are several things that you can do to observe Memorial Day: Visit cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes, visit memorials, fly the U.S. Flag and POW/MIA flag at half-staff until noon, participate in a National Moment ofTaps to be played, renew a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen and to aid the disabled veterans.Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three-day-weekend for federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:We cherish too, the Poppy redThat grows on fields where valor led,It seems to signal to the skiesThat blood of heroes never dies.She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms. Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war-orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of the first set of 12 TETFund centres of excellence, two in each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The first set of the institutions, which will focus on research in science-based disciplines, will be hosted by federal universities. The Director, Physical Infrastructure Development, TETfund, Buhari Mikailu, said in a statement that those in state universities, polytechnics and colleges of education will follow in subsequent years. The focus areas of the Centres of Excellence, in line with contemporary practice in the more competitive economies and technologies, are mainly in science-based disciplines, he said. The approval, which came upon the recommendation of TETFund Board of Trustees (BOT) and endorsement of the Honourable Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, is to signify a major paradigm shift in favour of Research and Excellence in our Universities, but also demonstrate that Federal Government has decided to directly establish and fund Centres of Excellence besides the ones funded by the World Bank, being the African Centres of Excellence (ACE), he said He said details of the operations and guidelines for the inaugural TETFund Centres of Excellence will be issued by the Fund. In a separate statement, the Director, Public Affairs, TETfund, Ngoba Briggs, said the organisation is also sponsoring simulation, research and training centres in Colleges of Medicine. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has directed, consequent to the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, for the funding of six medical simulations, research and training facilities in Colleges of Medicine (one per geo-political zone) in the country through TETFund. She said the facilities should include the provision of Molecular Science Laboratories with capacity for testing and diagnosis of COVID-19, Lassa Fever, and related viral diseases. The Honourable Minister emphasized that besides ongoing research work in response to COVID-19 and similar diseases through the TETFund National Research Fund (NRF), the research community of the Federal Ministry of Education should undertake any other sundry contributions in support of the commendable efforts of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) in responding to the threat of COVID-19 in Nigeria, she said. According to her, the minister commended the initiatives of TETFund in providing a special research grant window towards treatment or vaccine against COVID-19. READ ALSO: Additionally, he assured the Fund that the Federal government will continue to support relevant research aimed at addressing national challenges and needs, she said. The Tertiary Education Trust fund was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2011 to disburse, manage and monitor education tax to government-owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria. TETFUND was formed as a product of the Education Tax Act of 1993. Prior to the establishment of the scheme in 2011, government-owned tertiary institutions complained of poor funding. The scheme was designed to improve the management of funds disbursed to these institutions. You Complete Blithering Idiot: Ann Coulter Trashes Shallow and Broken Man Trump for Attacking Sessions Ann Coulter, you will recall, was a big Trump supporter once upon a time. She literally wrote the book In Trump We Trust. Since then, Coulter has expressed her dissatisfaction ( to put it lightly) with some of what he has been doing, particularly on immigration - saying at one point, "We put this lunatic in the White House for one reason." This is the most scathing rebuke leveled against the Commander-In-Chief that has been written during his tenure. Even worse, it comes from the same lady who wrote:Whilst Prez Trump has called her aover her previous criticism . . . Recent polling in down ballot races reveals growing anxiety among Republicans who fear losing control of the Senate.Checkit: The Defence Headquarters says the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji has neutralised no fewer than 200 armed bandits in multiple air strikes in Katsina and Zamfara. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, said the operations were in continuation of the offensive to rid the country of bandits and other criminal elements. Mr Enenche said that close to 200 bandits were killed in multiple airstrikes conducted at Ibrahim MaiBais Camp in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina and Kurmin Kura in Zurmi in Zamfara on May 22 and May 23. He said the airstrikes were executed, following confirmation that the two locations were being used as hideouts for some bandit leaders while also serving as collection points for rustled cattle. According to him, the air component, employing Nigerian Air Force ground-attack aircraft and helicopter gunships, engaged the two locations in multiple passes, destroying makeshift structures in the camps as well as killing the bandit leaders and their fighters. Human Intelligence sources later confirmed that close to 200 armed bandits were killed in the air strikes at the target locations. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS) commends the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji for their professionalism and directs them to remain resolute toward eradicating all armed bandits. The CAS has also directed that additional assets be deployed to cover Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi States to frustrate any attempt of the bandits to relocate to adjoining states, he said. (NAN) Memorial Day is a time where we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice over the years. Whether its a family member, a friend, or an acquaintance, many of us know someone serving or who has served. And unfortunately, some of them never came back home. NASCAR always has veterans and the fallen at the forefront of their thoughts but they really step up during Memorial Day weekend. At the Coca-Cola 600, drivers had a midrace moment of silence at halfway which was especially poignant this year without fans. Another program NASCAR does within the Cup Series is their 600 Miles of Remembrance initiative. The driver name, which is usually on the windshield is replaced by a service member who had been killed in action. Usually, people who are honored have some sort of connection with the team who is honoring them. At Chip Ganassi Racing, Coca-Cola 600 pole sitter Kurt Busch honored Construction Electrician Petty Officer Second Class Phil Grieser from the US Navy by having his name on the #1 GearWrench Chevrolet. CE2 Grieser served in the Vietnam War with the father of Doug Newell, an electrician tech at CGR. Within weeks of returning home from Vietnam, CE2 Grieser was killed in a rocket attack in May 1969. While fans were unable to attend the Coca-Cola 600 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ganassis team did the next best thing and invited Griesers family to come to North Carolina a few days before the race to see the car in person. Busch surprised the family as he and Phils brother Mark unveiled CE2 Griesers name on the windshield. Busch told The Comeback, Im happy that theres a connection between an employee and our race car and the program Its nice that were able to honor Phil in this way. Busch added, Well push other things aside and well go above and beyond to make sure that were there to salute and to recognize anybody who has served and [600 Miles of Remembrance] is a perfect opportunity and a genuine one with being Memorial Day. Kurt Busch has been heavily involved in recognizing and honoring veterans for years. Hes visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and has hosted active and retired military and their families at the track. Through a program called Vet Tix, Busch has donated 100 tickets per race to the organization in order to provide active, retired, and military families a nice day at the track. Busch noted that people like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, as well as sponsors, have followed suit and estimates that anywhere between 100 and over 1,000 tickets available for our military at NASCAR races. Whenever fans are able to attend NASCAR races, Busch plans to maintain that initiative. Busch knows how to keep things in perspective. While Busch does something for a living that many people dream of and its something that results in fame and prestige, he realizes that what he does may not be possible without the military doing their job. And due to that, he appreciates any time he can hear the experiences and stories of someone who served for their country. Im in awe of the commitment level, for training, and the time away from home, Busch said. I feel very committed to my craft but its nowhere near a percentage of what they gave to their specialities. And so theres that genuine respect that goes back and forth. [Hearing stories from military members is] a humbling experience. The conversations are deep. The amount of trauma that theyve been through and the experiences but also the intellect of who they are as a person and what they survived and how they learned from it. Theyre great mentors, I believe, in so many different ways to the general population that thats why they always deserve to be honored. Representing CE2 Grieser, Busch qualified on the pole for Sunday nights Coca-Cola 600. He led the first 54 laps and finished seventh in a race won by Brad Keselowski. [Photo: @CGRTeams] By Trend Oil prices will not recover to pre-coronavirus levels as quickly as they fell, Head of Oil Markets at Rystad Energy Bjornar Tonhaugen said, Trend reports. As the crude markets are rebalancing now in June, according to our latest crude supply-demand balances, the focus in the markets now will shift to the speed of the recovery. How quickly demand will return will from now on be the key factor on how prices move, said Tonhaugen. The analyst noted that the new OPEC+ meeting is only two weeks away (9 June) and will be key to understand the pace of the recovery in oil prices in the second half of the year. The demand recovery is ongoing with increased pick-up in daily oil consumption indicators, especially on-road traffic. However, as Memorial Day marks the start of the US driving season, this year the uncertainty around the current travel patterns in the US is so great that the American Automobile Association did not release its Memorial Day travel forecast for the first time in 20 years, said Tonhaugen. The expert believes that the prices have reached a level that they will now keep for a while. Unless there is an unexpected demand indication that will move markets, the next milestone is Junes OPEC+ meeting. Developments there will determine how supply will follow up and everyones eyes are now set on that date. Most of the production that was to be shut is now already shut, and producers count down until the day they will be able to recover some of the output thats put on ice. It is going to be a slow path to recovery though, as oil stocks on onshore and offshore storage also need to find willing buyers. Prices will not recover to pre-coronavirus levels as quickly as they fell, Tonhaugen explained. Last weeks tensions between the US and China have not yet produced any trade action from either side and fears have eased a little among traders, explaining the modest price gains this morning, added the expert. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The following editorial appeared in Monday's Japan News-Yomiuri: - - - With the advancement of globalization, the number of Japanese nationals staying overseas has been increasing. The government needs to strengthen measures to ensure their safety. In the wake of the spread of infections with the novel coronavirus, a succession of countries have closed their borders and suspended flights. In many areas, people have faced difficulties maintaining their daily life due to restrictions on going out. The government has provided Japanese nationals residing abroad with information and dealt with inquiries from them about how to return home. Of those who hope to return, about 10,000 people have come home so far. As nations are working together in this respect, Japan and South Korea have cooperated to evacuate their nationals from such areas as African countries by jointly using flights chartered by each government. The global spread of virus infections remains far from being contained. The government is urged to continue its support in arranging for nationals to come home and providing them with necessary information. The number of Japanese nationals living overseas has doubled in 30 years, reaching 1.39 million as of 2018. Last year, 20 million people traveled abroad for business or leisure. Security levels and legal systems overseas are different from those in Japan, and in many nations the hygienic environment and medical standards are relatively poor. Protecting Japanese nationals abroad and supporting their activities are important tasks for the state. As a response to the novel coronavirus, the Foreign Ministry has appropriated 3.5 billion to strengthen measures for protecting Japanese nationals in a supplementary budget for fiscal 2020. The ministry will expand and improve its teams for contingencies to deal with emergency situations. When Japanese nationals are in imminent danger in areas where there are no overseas diplomatic establishments, staff from nearby embassies or the ministry in Tokyo will be dispatched. These staff members will be signed up in advance, and receive training in such matters as how to secure means of transportation during such a mission. As there is no Japanese Consulate in Hubei Province, China, where the first outbreak of the novel coronavirus emerged, Japanese Embassy staff in Beijing were among those who traveled there overland. Using this case as a lesson, the government should make preparations to flexibly respond to a given situation. An email system will also be enhanced to confirm the safety of Japanese nationals. The system will be revised to make it possible to send emails all at once to Japanese nationals in several countries and regions, upgrading it from the current system where emails are sent separately in each country. It is important to swiftly grasp the circumstances of Japanese nationals so as to take support measures for them. In foreign countries, the idea to "protect yourself" is the basic principle. Every Japanese national abroad needs to pay attention to security information about the country in which they are staying and take actions to avoid danger. The Foreign Ministry has operated since 2014 an email service system for short-term overseas travelers known as Tabireji. The system provides updated information in Japanese about the country the person is in. In emergencies, it becomes an important communication tool between people registered with the system and overseas diplomatic establishments for such actions as confirming their safety. The number of people who have registered with the system has steadily increased and reached 6.5 million as of February. The government should enhance its efforts to make the public aware of the system, persistently encouraging its use. A person working at Delhi health minister Satyendar Jains office tested Covid-19 positive, a government official said on Monday. The official further said the employee had tested positive on Sunday, following which he was quarantined and the ministers office sanitised. The employee is posted at the health ministers office, outside his residence in Civil Lines. He did not visit the ministers office at the Delhi Secretariat since May 4, when all government offices, including the Secretariat reopened with one-third the staff strength, the official added. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Aspiring Member of Parliament in the Asante- Akyem North constituency, Alhaji Sulley Adams Yussif has said the party is resisting the Electoral Commissions attempt to compile a new voters register because it will disenfranchise majority of Ghanaians. According to him, the NDC will win the presidential election and regain majority seats in parliament whether or not the EC puts together a new register which is not the reason they are against the move. Our resistance is not because we fear we will lose. It is evident John Mahama will win this election hands down whether or not the EC compiles its register because Ghanaians are fed up with this NPP government, he said The aspiring MP said if the EC is allowed to go ahead with the compilation of the new register, over 11 million Ghanaians will lose their rights to vote and that is not in the best interest of the country. Alhaji Sulley Adams accused the EC of a plot to deliberately disenfranchise the majority of Ghanaians in the 2020 elections because the reasons for which they are basing their decision to compile a new register is unjustified. He said the new register is part of the ECs plan to rig the elections to favor the NPP in the 2020 polls. According to him, the ECs decision to use the National Identification Card and Passport as the only requirement to register citizens will only prevent many people from registering because existing data shows only five million Ghanaians out of the 30 million have a passport or the NIA card. Looking at the requirement of the EC for citizens to register, we feel it is a way to disenfranchise over 11 million Ghanaians. He added that if the 11 million people decide to protest against the move by the EC, it will cause chaos in the country and that is one thing the NDC wants to prevent hence our decision to speak against the ECs move." Alhaji Sulley Adams Yussif said this when he donated food items to Muslim Communities in the Asante-Akyem North constituency. He stressed that the NDCs attempt to stop the process is in the best interest of the country and to ensure there is a free and fair election. He called on well-meaning Ghanaians and Civil Society groups to join the fight against the ECs move to avoid chaos in the country. Haiti - FLASH : 958 confirmed cases and 3,115 suspected cases The Ministry of Public Health informs that 93 new cases have been confirmed, for a total of 958 in Haiti (39% women and 61% men) since the first case (March 19, 2020) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html The number of active cases (minus deaths and cures) now stands at 958 (+ 11.26%) +92 cases in 24 hours (the day before: +52 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30849-haiti-flash-53-new-cases-and-136-suspected-cases-in-24-hours.html ) 1 new death was recorded bringing the total to 27. Number of suspected cases followed : 3,115 (+ 2.5%) +397 cases (the day before: +136). People hospitalized : 294 people (+ 2.13%) +5 in 24 hours (the day before : +6). Home quarantine : 955 people +255 in 24 hours (the day before : -471). All the details in our daily report of 11:00 am See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30855-haiti-covid-19-daily-report-may-24-2020.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30849-haiti-flash-53-new-cases-and-136-suspected-cases-in-24-hours.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html S/ HaitiLibre Missouri Highway Patrol investigating Raytown officer-involved shooting RAYTOWN, Mo. - Raytown police shot and wounded a suspect Sunday evening in the 6000 block of Kentucky. The Missouri Highway Patrol is investigating the officer-involved shooting and say no officers were hurt during the incident. Raytown officers were originally called to the scene just before 5:30 p.m., for a disturbance with someone who possibly [...] Po-po vs. the plebs in this tough interaction that, yet again, speaks to the growing level of violence throughout the metro . . . Take a look at the 2nd police shooting in 2 weeks: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and discussed the situation emerging out of the coronavirus pandemic. "Conveyed Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to His Highness @MohamedBinZayed and the friendly people of UAE," Modi wrote on Twitter. The prime minister thanked the crown prince, who is also the deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, for the cooperation extended to Indian citizens in the UAE. "India-UAE cooperation has grown even stronger during the COVID-19 challenge," he said. An official statement later said that the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the effective cooperation between both the countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The prime minister thanked the Crown Prince for the support extended to Indian citizens in the UAE," it said. During his conversation with Prime Minister Hasina, Modi wished her and the people of Bangladesh a happy and prosperous Eid-ul-Fitr. "We discussed the impact of cyclone Amphan and the present COVID-19 situation. Reiterated India's continued support to Bangladesh in this challenging time," Modi tweeted. Another statement said the two leaders shared their assessment of the damage caused by cyclone 'Amphan' in India and Bangladesh. "The leaders also discussed the COVID pandemic situation and the ongoing collaboration between the two countries in this regard," it said. Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's support to Bangladesh in addressing these challenges. QUESTIONING POWERS OF ASIO SET TO EXPAND The questioning and detention warrant (QDW) and the questioning warrant (QW) were first introduced into Australias legislation in the early 2000s as a response to the perceived threat of terrorism after 9/11 and the Bali bombings of 2002. In 2017, over ten years after the warrants were introduced, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security was tasked to review the effectiveness of the division of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 that covered questioning and detention warrants. On 13th May 2020, Peter Dutton brought a bill to parliament to amend the ASIO Act based on recommendations from the committee. Arguably the most significant change proposed by the bill is the complete scrapping of QDWs. Only QWs would remain and function similarly to the original legislation introduced in the early 2000s. However, there are some aspects of the current version of the bill and the expansion of powers under QWs that must be questioned. ORIGINAL QUESTIONING POWERS First, let us look at the history of QDWs and QWs. In Issue forty-three of the Australian Marxist Review (2006), Anna Pha wrote about ASIO powers in a piece titled Fighting terrorism or fighting democracy? This piece looks at how anti-terrorism legislation ropes in all kinds of political dissent into the definition of terrorism offences. To receive a warrant under this legislation, you had to have been a suspect of terrorism, connected to terrorism or just have a vague knowledge of a terrorist organisation, even something as seemingly benign as gossip. Under QDWs you could be detained for up to seven days, and like under a QW, questioned for a minimum of eight hours, but up to twenty hours with an extension or forty-eight hours with an extension if an interpreter is present. There is no explanation as to why those who do not speak English or have a disability should be punished with double the amount of allowed questioning time. There is no right to silence under these warrants, and the penalty for not answering a question is five years in jail. The onus on proof is on the subject. There is also no law that prevents further warrants. Another disturbing aspect of these warrants is that you are not allowed to reveal that you have been detained and questioned by ASIO to either your family or the media for up to two years after the warrant loses effect. If a detainee under these warrants broke this condition, the penalty is five years in jail. Your right to a lawyer is maintained under these warrants, however, the legislation waives your right to a choice of lawyer and gives the questioning authority the ability to remove your lawyer if they are seen as too disruptive. The then Attorney-General, Daryl Williams, excused these warrants by stating that These measures are extraordinary, but so too is the evil at which they are directed. Since the legislation passed, there have been no requests for a QDW. However, there were a total of 16 QWs used: three times in 2004, eleven times in 2006, and once in 2006 and 2010. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ASIOS QUESTIONING POWERS The proposed amendments replace the detention abilities with apprehension abilities. Apprehension powers come into effect in a few situations. They can be included in the QW, but they can also be used at the discretion of police, with force if necessary, if the subject is to be immediately brought for questioning; if they attempt to alert another of their QW; if they fail to attend questioning; or if they make attempts to destroy or alter records. Since the proposed amendments now include communication devices as a seizable item, you could be apprehended by force if you tried to destroy information on your phone after receiving a QW. Apprehension is considered a more humane way of ensuring that someone turns up for questioning since freedom of movement is only restricted from the time it takes for you to be brought to the place of questioning. The bill considers that you regain your freedom once you step into the place of questioning. However, this cannot be the case since if you do not comply with questioning, then you are penalised with five years in prison. As stated above, questioning can last up to twenty-four hours or forty hours with an interpreter. This time does not include breaks, changing of recording equipment, time to rest, time waiting for a lawyer, etc. All up you could find yourself spending days in questioning under the threat of five years imprisonment. Another change to QWs that has received some attention from the media is the lowering of the minimum age a child can be to receive a QW. The bill claims that it is necessary to lower the minimum age from sixteen to forteen because of an increased threat of terrorist acts by children. The bill and the recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security both justify lowering the age with the 2015 incident where a 15-year-old boy shot a NSW police officer. The bill claims that it does not violate any rights since apprehension powers only apply to children if they are directly connected to politically motivated violence. To further protect childrens rights, the bill states that minors have no ability to waive their right to a lawyer, that a guardian must be present, and only two hours maximum of continuous questioning time. However, a lawyer chosen by the authority can act as the childs guardian representative and questioning can go for up to forty hours if an interpreter is present, spanning days in which a child is in custody. Another change to the legislation is the addition of oral warrants. This addition allows the Attorney-General to orally approve a request for a QW to save time for the spy agency. TRACKING DEVICES Another major addition that has slipped through is that there is now no requirement under certain situations for a warrant to be able to plant a tracking device. Instead of a warrant, an authority within ASIO can internally authorise the use of tracking devices for up to ninety days, with no limit on additional approvals. This tracking device may not record or listen to any communication (words, sounds, etc.) and it may not be installed by entering the subjects home or vehicle. However, the tracking device may be placed in an object you might use such as a bag or a jacket and used to monitor your location and movements. The logic behind this change is to give ASIO more flexibility in responding to national security threats and to better coordinate with police who already have such powers. EXPANDING OF ASIOS SCOPE Previously, QWs and QDWs were specifically for politically motivated violence or terrorist acts as part of the Wests War on Terror. This bill, however, expands the scope of ASIOs QWs to also include foreign interference and espionage, whether inside or outside Australia. When introducing this bill to parliament, Peter Dutton explained that ASIOs Director-General reported that investigated terrorist leads have doubled since this time last year. The Director-Generals annual report also stated, according to Dutton, that the threat to Australia from foreign interference and espionage is higher now than it was at the height of the Cold War. By expanding the scope of ASIOs questioning powers, the number of investigations are bound to increase even further. This bill is creating more national security threats, which means in the future it may justify a further expansion of ASIO powers. CONCLUSIONS It is likely that the bill will be rushed through since the current questioning powers are set to end on 7th September this year. In the 2000s, the Communist Party of Australia produced a pamphlet titled Are you a terrorist?, which states that the current function of ASIO has moved from being a spy agency to a secret police. While the ability to detain innocent people for seven days is removed in the proposed amendments, there have been additions to the ASIO Act with the clear intention to give ASIO similar powers as the police. Some media outlets have opposed the current version of the bill, because of how it infringes on personal freedoms and human rights. While the bill should be opposed because of these reasons, we also need to criticise the expanded scope of ASIOs questioning powers. These powers are self-justified by a new Cold War mentality that, if the bill is passed, will create more investigated cases and will later become evidence that ASIOs powers are justified. According to the bill, the infringements on human rights are justified by the legitimate objective [] to protect Australias national security interests. These interests will always be, at their core, the interests of the bourgeoisie, and so we must be on alert for how these interests manifest and impact the lives of the rights of people, whether inside or outside Australia. Clinician burnout is a growing public health concern, with the National Academy of Sciences reporting that 35-54% of U.S. nurses and physicians exhibit substantial symptoms of burnout. New research led by the College of Health and Human Services at George Mason University found that health care professionals were more than twice as likely to report burnout with higher levels of anxiety and frustration than those who reported lower levels of anxiety and frustration. Additionally, primary care physicians reported burnout at twice the rate of other health care professionals in primary care practices. Dr. Debora Goldberg, associate professor of health administration and policy, led the new study, published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, one of the few that have examined anxiety as a component of burnout and the rate of burnout among different professionals in a primary care practice. "Burnout is a syndrome characterized by high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment from work," explains Goldberg. "It is important to understand how health care professionals respond to these changes and if certain groups are more likely to experience burnout and why. This is critical due to the tremendous amount of change taking place in the health care industry, projected physician and nurse shortages, and most recently the extraordinary responsibilities placed on them during the COVID-19 pandemic." The research team surveyed 1,273 healthcare professionals from 154 primary care practices in Virginia. They used the Change Diagnostic Index (CDI) to assess the participants' feelings, emotions, and attitudes following organizational and technological change. They found that rates of burnout varied by profession in primary care practices. Physicians reported the highest rates of burnout at 31.6%, nearly twice the rate of other staff in these practices: 17.2% of advanced practice clinicians, 18.9% of clinical support staff, and 17.5% of administrative staff. Physicians who experienced increasing anxiety and withdrawal were more than three times as likely to report burnout compared to those who did not experience high levels of these domains. Anxiety was high across health care professionals and anxiety significantly raised the odds of burnout across health care professionals. "This is not just a physician problem," explains Goldberg. "These findings tell us that we need to prioritize understanding and addressing clinician burnout at a system level and at a local level. The human cost as well as significant physician shortages expected in the future make this a critical public health concern." The researchers suggest that a better understanding of how health care professionals respond to change and burnout can help guide programs and services to support individuals experiencing burnout and build strong work environments to prevent burnout among healthcare professionals in the future. This study was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) under grant number R18HS023913. Former State Duma lawmaker to stay detained in attempted fraud case Fotolia/ VIPDesign 14:24 25/05/2020 MOSCOW, May 25 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Monday upheld detention of ex-lawmaker of the lower house of Russias parliament Denis Volchek charged with attempted serious fraud, the courts press service told RAPSI. The former official will stay detained until June 22, as well as another defendant, entrepreneur Zurab Pliyev, whose detention was also prolonged. Investigators believe Pliyev and Volchek tried to make a Moscow entrepreneur pay them 1.4 million euros alleging they could put an end to his criminal prosecution. ALBANY A 30-year-old city man was shot numerous times on Colonie Street in Arbor Hill on Monday afternoon in a crime police believe is tied to a feud between the victim and his assailant. It was at least the third shooting in the city over the Memorial Day weekend. Officers, who received a call about 12:45 p.m., found the victim in a car near the intersection of Colonie and Lark streets, according to Police Chief Eric Hawkins. He said the victim, who was shot in the stomach, suffered what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries. He was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital. "It looks like it involves a couple of individuals that know each other and have some sort of feud and it escalated to gunfire," Hawkins said. "We're trying to sort all this out at this point." The chief said he did not believe the shooting was gang-related. He said the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident between the victim and his assailant. "I'm fairly confident we are going to find out who is involved in this. We're going to arrest that person and bring that person to justice," Hawkins said. Hawkins said police were still interviewing witnesses and canvassing the neighborhood. He said police were looking to see if any public or private cameras captured the incident. The shooter used a handgun, Hawkins said. On Saturday, a 17-year-old male was found shot in the leg at Thornton and Second streets in West Hill around 9:45 p.m. Police learned an 18-year-old male shot in the arm during the same incident had gone to the emergency room at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Neither injuries were considered not life-threatening. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Last week, the Times Union reported that there had been 17 shooting incidents in Albany with 19 people shot. By comparsion, the figure was seven at this point in 2019, according to department statistics. And calls for gunshots fired during that same time frame is 69 compared to 24 last year. On Monday, Hawkins said despite the recent increase in shootings four people have been shot dead this year overall crime in the city is down year to date. "But still, there is some very unsettling individual incidents that have happened that have us concerned and we're going to deal with those incidents," the chief said. Hawkins said it is important for members of the community to let the police about any concerns they have in their neighborhood. By Noreen Burke Investing.com - Oil prices edged higher on Monday, as more countries continued to gradually ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions, boosting the demand outlook for the fuel, but gains were muted in holiday thinned trade. U.S. markets remained closed on Monday for the Memorial Day holiday, while markets in the U.K. were shut for the spring bank holiday. U.S. crude futures rose by 29 cents or 0.9%, to $33.53 a barrel by 08:30 AM ET (1230 GMT). Brent crude was at $35.23 a barrel, up 0.3%. "Oil markets are focused on the potential for an easing of lockdown measures," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney. Prices continued to be underpinned by supply cuts after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, reached an agreement last month to limit output amid a massive global supply glut. However, they are also in the shadow of doubts over the long-term outlook for demand, raised by the potential of the pandemic to change consumption habits forever. In the absence of strong government policies, a sustained economic recovery and low oil prices are likely to take global oil demand back to where it was, and beyond, International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol told Bloomberg in an interview published on Monday. Energy traders were keeping an eye on mounting tensions between the U.S. and China, the worlds largest oil consumers, over moves by Beijing to impose security legislation on Hong Kong. Ties between Washington and Beijing have soured since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping have traded barbs over the outbreak, including accusations of cover-ups and lack of transparency. --Reuters contributed to this report Related Articles China commerce minister says trade measures on Australia are prudent and restrained Iranian fuel tanker has moored at Venezuela's El Palito refinery: TV Oil gains as coronavirus lockdowns ease, boosting hopes for demand pickup Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 00:12:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China and Africa have stood by each other in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday. Wang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual national legislative session. "China and Africa are good brothers who have shared weal and woe together," said Wang. "Nothing can change or damage this friendship." In the battle against COVID-19, China has subsequently sent medical expert teams to Africa's five subregions and surrounding countries, Wang said. Chinese medical teams based in 45 African countries have acted swiftly to assist in the local response and have held nearly 400 training sessions for tens of thousands of African medical workers, according to Wang. "We look after the African community in China just like we take care of our own families. All of the over 3,000 African students in Hubei and Wuhan have been safe and sound except for just one who got infected but was soon cured," he said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. China's relations with Africa have stood the test of time and continued to flourish, he said. "We will continue to stand by Africa as it fights the virus and will send anti-epidemic assistance to African and other developing countries as a matter of priority," he said. Enditem President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced plans to help businesses and Kenyans survive the economic storm caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The measures will be worth Sh53.7 billion, the President said on Saturday at the State House in Nairobi. Kenya is following countries around the world in pledging stimulus packages as the global economy stares at recession. Mr Kenyatta said the government has allocated Sh6.5 billion to the Ministry of Education for hiring of 10,000 more teachers and 1,000 ICT interns to help in the digital learning programme. The President also announced that the government will buy locally manufactured vehicles worth Sh600 million to promote local car assembly firms. Source: allafrica.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Sebastian Vettel will join "a winning team" for 2021 or quit the sport, according to his former boss Dr Helmut Marko. Speculation about the quadruple world champion's future is rife after Ferrari announced that he will be replaced by Carlos Sainz next year. "I have spoken to Sebastian and of course we went through the options at Red Bull, but unfortunately there are none," Marko, who brought Vettel into the sport via Red Bull's driver program, told Sky Germany. "When I spoke to him, the message was that if he can join a winning team, he continues. Otherwise not." Indeed, after McLaren chiefs revealed that no talks with 32-year-old Vettel took place, it is believed Renault is also not an option for the German. However, there are now rumours that Aston Martin may be a possibility. F1 business journalist Christian Sylt reported in the British publication This Is Money that documents show Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll is paving the way for Aston Martin to invest up to $243m in the re-branded team. "Of course I think it is possible that Vettel goes to an Aston Martin team that will have Mercedes engines," said RTL commentator Florian Konig. Earlier, it was suggested Vettel was eyeing only the works Mercedes team, but Ralf Schumacher thinks there is "a lot under discussion" going on at present. "There is the possibility that Toto Wolff, in combination with Lawrence Stroll, can offer him something," the former F1 driver said. Schumacher thinks it is possible that Wolff and Stroll may even "buy Mercedes". Konig continued: "I think there will be intensive work behind the scenes to ensure that Sebastian will still be in Formula 1 in 2021." Some think Mercedes parent Daimler will be pushing hard to potentially pair Vettel with Lewis Hamilton from 2021. "If I interpret correctly, the decision rests with Mercedes," Marko said. "I think Hamilton against Sebastian would mobilise a very, very large number of spectators." Marko also thinks Vettel could simply retire. "It would be a shame for the sport, but for him it would be the best solution if there is no winning team available," he said. Vettel's friend and mentor, the former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, thinks it really is possible that Mercedes will pair Hamilton and Vettel together. "The two get along. I don't see any ego problems and two outstanding drivers like them would be a super team," he told RTL. "I can't imagine that Hamilton would worry about Sebastian and I know that Vettel would also enjoy the challenge of fighting Lewis in the same car." (GMM) Domestic air operations will not resume in Tripura from Monday as all flights operating to and from Agartala stand cancelled, according to Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airports officials. Services were halted as all the flights are connected to Kolkata and the Kolkata airport is not available till May 27, in view of cyclone Amphan. Union minister for civil aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri, on Sunday announced that domestic flights will recommence across the country from May 25. Director, Biju Patnaik International Airport, VV Rao, in Odishas Bhubaneswar said that at least two flights may be cancelled due to some issues at Kolkata, Mumbai and other places. We have done inspection and trial run with all stakeholders today evening and went off successfully. All stakeholders trying their level best to ensure touch-free and safe passage of air travel for passengers, he said. All scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in India since March 25 when the Narendra Modi government imposed a lockdown to contain the virus. Domestic flight operations resumed across the country from Monday except in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Birthday boy, Karan Johar wears many hats . He's a director, producer, talk show host, judge of reality shows and also an actor. Many would remember seeing him in cameo roles in several films. Ww last saw him in Anurag Kashyap's Bombay Velvet. Few however know that he started his acting career as a child artiste way back in 1989. He featured in a Doordarshan series titled Indradhanush. In a television show hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Sajid Khan, Karan revealed that he made his acting debut when he was just 15. He also stated that though he shot for Indradhanush when he was around 14 or 15, the series was released only a few years later,. By this time, he was already in his second year of college. He recalled being embarrassed when he watched the children's series recently. It dealt with outer space and time travel. aKaran played a young boy named, Shrikant. He let out, I was ragged when I was 18 about something I did when I was 15. It was not fair." And just recently, the birthday boy flaunting his grey hair on social.media joked, I know my acting stint was scarier than the current virus but there is no harm in hoping for a second chance! So to all enterprising casting directors, to all risk taking filmmakers, to critics with a high threshold of pain and to easy to please audiences I have an announcement to make!!!! I AM AVAILABLE FOR FATHER ROLES! (at 48 with a poor track record I promise i cant afford to be choosy)." The filmmaker might be 48 but everyone knows he's still young at heart. OTTAWAThe Canada Food Inspection Agency has issued a warning that a brand of vegan chocolate bars actually contains milk. The agency put out the allergen alert late Sunday, saying that two varieties of iChoc vegan bars contain improperly labelled milk. It says the affected bars are the White Vanilla Vegan bar and the Classic Vegan Bar. The bars are advertised as being made with rice drink and note in the nutrition information that they may contain trace amounts of milk. But the CFIA says that anyone with an allergy to milk should not consume the bars, because it could be dangerous to their health. The agency says the allergen alert was prompted by consumer complaints and has not caused any known illnesses. Afterpay has formally appointed Elana Rubin as its chairman, a role she has filled on an interim basis since last year when the company founders announced they would surrender control of the buy now, pay later provider's board. Ms Rubin also announced that she would step down from the board of Members Equity Bank which has been dogged by revelations in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age this month that it had unilaterally reduced the amount of money thousands of customers could access from their redraw facilities. The policy has since been reversed. "Following an extensive global search ... the board deemed that Elana was best placed to lead the board of Afterpay," company co-founder and chief executive Anthony Eisen said. "Her ongoing stewardship and focus on good corporate governance will continue to deliver value to shareholders." The decision to make the Afterpay board independent was made in July last year following a turbulent month which saw the company receive three inquiries from the ASX, and an audit from AUSTRAC into its compliance with money-laundering laws. The announcement was made Monday morning ahead of the stock reaching a fresh intraday record high of $47.47. Santiago Baten-Oxlag, 34, died from COVID-19 complications at a hospital in the US state of Georgia. A Guatemalan man held in United States immigration detention has died after contracting the novel coronavirus, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed. He is the second known migrant to die of COVID-19 in immigration custody. In a statement on Monday, ICE said Santiago Baten-Oxlag, 34, died early on Sunday at a hospital in Columbus, Georgia, after being transferred there on April 17 from the Stewart Detention Center, a privately operated prison near the states border with Alabama. The preliminary cause of death, which was first reported by BuzzFeed News, was, complications related to COVID-19, according to the ICE statement, which added that the agency would conduct an investigation. ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of this incident, as it does in all such cases, the statement read. There have been 16 confirmed cases of the coronavirus at the Stewart Detention Center, according to ICE. It is unclear if Baten-Oxlag, who had been in custody since early March, had any underlying medical conditions. He had been granted a voluntary departure to Guatemala. US immigration authorities notified the victims family, the Guatemalan government, as well as the offices of inspector general and professional responsibility within the US Department of Homeland Security. Baten-Oxlags death comes less than a month after that of Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia, an immigrant from El Salvador who had lived in the US since the 1980s. He died of COVID-19 complications while in hospital. More than 1,200 immigrants in ICE custody half of the 2,394 detainees ICE has screened for the virus have tested positive, according to the agency. While ICE has dialled back arrest operations and agreed to review cases of some at-risk immigrants in custody, it continues to hold more than 26,600 across the country and is proceeding with deportation flights. Immigrant rights advocates have called for detainees, particularly low-level offenders, to be released from custody given the risks of contracting COVID-19 in detention. The coronavirus pandemic has altered Memorial Day ceremonies across Massachusetts, but it wont prevent celebrations from occurring at a distance. A virtual ceremony is one of two events, Gov. Charlie Baker will participate in on Monday. While Massachusetts residents are asked to celebrate with state officials virtually, the state is encouraging social posts with #MemorialDayMA. Baker participated in the Massachusetts Military Heroes Funds Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Boston Common at 7:30 a.m. Happening now: Governor Baker arrives for a moment of silence, and wreath laying ceremony on the Common this Memorial Day in front of roughly a thousand socially-distant American flags planted overnight @wbz pic.twitter.com/OIEd1dl0P7 Nick Giovanni (@NickGNews) May 25, 2020 At 3 p.m. Baker joined by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Secretary of Veterans Services Francisco Urena, Senate President Karen Spilka, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs Co-Chairs Senator Walter F. Timility and Representative Linda Dean Campbell to participate in a virtual ceremony recognizing Memorial Day Musical performers from across the state will accompany the speakers, along with a special Tribute to the Fallen by the Massachusetts National Guard. Related Content: President Donald Trump, right, participates in a briefing about Hurricane Dorian with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper aboard Air Force One at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, N.C., on Sept. 9, 2019. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Trump Threatens to Move Republican National Convention From North Carolina Republican President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to move his partys national convention from North Carolina unless Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper promises the space where the convention is scheduled to be held can be fully occupied. The Republican National Convention is slated for Aug. 24 to Aug. 27 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Trump said in a social media statement that he loves North Carolina so much that he insisted on having the convention there. But Cooper is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed full attendance in the Arena, the president said. In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space, he continued. Plans are being made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. In a statement to The Epoch Times, a spokesperson for Cooper said: State health officials are working with the RNC and will review its plans as they make decisions about how to hold the convention in Charlotte. North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our states public health and safety, the spokesperson added in the emailed statement. The Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Google Maps) A Republican National Committee (RNC) spokesperson said in an email to The Epoch Times that the committee wants to hold a full in-person convention in Charlotte, but we need the governor to provide assurances that it can occur. We will need some answers sooner rather than later, or we will be forced to consider other options, the spokesperson added. Trump said later Monday that he has zero interest in moving the convention to Trump National Doral Miami in Florida. RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told reporters last week that the party would be holding an in-person convention despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats also expect to hold an in-person convention, Democratic Party chairman Tom Perez said last month. North Carolina on May 22 moved into phase two of Coopers reopening plan. That phase is scheduled to run until at least June 26, according to health officials. Phase two loosened some restrictions, allowing more businesses and buildings to reopen, including personal care businesses like salons, overnight summer camps, and pools. Large venues like arenas and stadiums can start welcoming spectators but some restrictions remain in place for now. Gyms, primary schools, playgrounds, theaters, music venues, bowling alleys, and bars remain shuttered. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Another 45 foreign returnees tested positive for COVID-19 in the State taking the total number of people returned to their native places in Andhra Pradesh from abroad to 62. Of the 45 foreign returnees who tested positive, 41 have returned from Kuwait, three from Qatar and one from Saudi Arabia. Foreign returnees apart, 44 more persons from the State tested positive for the virus taking the State tally to 2,824. According to the media bulletin, 10,240 samples were tested in the 24 hours between Sunday 9 am to Monday 9 am, of them 44 tested positive. Meanwhile, 41 more persons got discharged after their recovery. With a total of 1884 persons discharged, active cases now stand at 884. Seven more persons with travel history to Koyambedu Market in neighbouring Tamil Nadu tested positive for COVID-19. French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. Photo: Ludovic Marin/ AFP via Getty Images The French government has so far spent 450bn (402bn, $490bn) on a raft of fiscal aid measures to help the economy withstand the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire told BFM TV that the cost of the measures were equal to 20% of the countrys GDP. France, like its neighbour Germany, mobilised a package of aid that included state-backed loans for companies, grants for small companies, and state-funded furlough schemes. Le Maire said that the furlough programme wherein the government pays 70% of a workers wages, while they are sent home was the most expensive element of the aid measures for the government and would be gradually reduced from next month. READ MORE: German companies felt a glimmer of hope in May The finance minister noted that the 300bn earmarked for state-guaranteed loans would only affect the national budget if a borrower went bust. The French government will set out its new support measures for the car industry this week but any aid will come with the requirement that carmakers bring some of their production back home to France. Le Maire told French daily newspaper Le Figaro last week that carmaker Renault (RNO.PA) is fighting for its survival and had applied for a state-guaranteed loan of 5bn. French flag carrier Air France (AF.PA) has been offered a 7bn bailout from Paris, as a mixture of guaranteed bank loans and direct loans from the state. However, the airline has been asked to agree to drastically slash its CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 in exchange for the aid. New Delhi: NASA is seeking US citizens for to conduct an eight-month study on social isolation in preparation for missions to Mars and the moon. The international space agency said that it is looking for people who are 30-55 years old and are proficient in both Russian and English languages. "NASA is preparing for its next spaceflight simulation study and is seeking healthy participants to live together with a small crew in isolation for eight months in Moscow, Russia," the NASA Website said. "The analog mission is the next in a series that will help NASA learn about the physiological and psychological effects of isolation and confinement on humans in preparation for Artemis exploration missions to the Moon and future long-duration missions to Mars," it added. NASA said that the people for the study should possess M.S., PhD., M.D. or completion of military officer training. Participants with a Bachelors degree and other certain qualifications like relevant additional education, military, or professional experience may be acceptable candidates as well, it said. They will study the psychological and physiological effects astronauts are likely to face as a result of isolation on long missions. Participants will experience environmental aspects similar to those astronauts are expected to experience on future missions to Mars. A small international crew will live together in isolation for eight months conducting scientific research, using virtual reality and performing robotic operations among a number of other tasks during the lunar mission. The upcoming study, NASA said, builds on a previous four-month study conducted in 2019. The Space agency will also provide compensation for participating in the mission. There are different levels of compensation depending upon whether or not you are associated with NASA or if you are a NASA employee or contractor, it said. A Mexican drug cartel killed and burned the bodies of 12 rival gang members in a shocking revenge attack. Police in the city of Huetamo, Mexico, made the gruesome discovery of the dozen charred bodies Saturday. The victims, alleged members of the feared Jalisco New Generation Cartel, were stacked on top of each other on the vehicle's flatbed and covered with tarps outside the entrance to a ranch in town of El Terreno Prieto. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT On Saturday, authorities in Michoacan, Mexico, discovered 12 burned bodies on a stolen pickup truck The 12 men who were executed by the Familia Michoacana were alleged members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, according to the Michoacan state prosecutor's office The heavily tattooed, charred bodies were located outside the entrance to a ranch in the Michoacan city of Huetamo The Familia Michoacana claimed responsibility for attack by leaving behind a poster board with a Spanish written message for Alejandro 'Chito Cano,' who reportedly is head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel's operations in Michoacan. The sign read: 'Forgive me Chito Cano. I forgot your Mother's Day gift but I send it to you here. ATTN: La Michoacana Familia.' The Michoacan Secretariat of Public Security did not provide information on when the killings took place. The abandoned Nissan NP300 pickup truck had been reported stolen in September 2019 in Mexico City. According to Michoacan Attorney General's office, all of the bodies displayed signs of torture and said the incident could have been a vengeful act carried out by the Michoacana Familia. 'In regards to the event's modus operandi, it is not ruled out that the crime is due to a settling of accounts between members of organized crime due to drug trafficking,' the state attorney general said in a statement. Police in the Michoacan city of Huetamo said the pickup truck has been reported stolen in September 2019 in Mexico City No arrests have been reported since Saturday, when cops in Huetamo, Michoacan, discovered 12 bodies covered with tarps on the the flatbed of a pickup truck Familia Michoacana claimed responsibility for attack by leaving behind a poster board with a Spanish written message for Alejandro 'Chito Cano,' who reportedly is head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel's operations in Michoacan. The sign read: 'Forgive me Chito Cano. I forgot your Mother's Day gift but I send it to you here. ATTN: La Michoacana Familia' Video footage leaked by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel last Thursday showed a purported member of the Familia Michoacana being interrogated by armed men. A second showed the moment the young man, who identified himself as 'El Vago,' was beheaded. Separate video footage distributed across social media in early May captured members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel taunting what appeared to be the bodies of three of the 10 Familia Michoacana members they had allegedly killed. The bodies were dragged on a dirt road and placed atop each other. The Familia Michoacana exacted revenge after one of its members, who identified himself as 'El Vago,' appeared on two videos last week that showed him being interrogated and then beheaded by members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel The feud between the Familia Michoacana and Jalisco New Generation Cartel goes back several years and intensified in February when Chito Cano's henchmen appeared in a video threatening to wipe out the Familia Michoacana from existence in the State of Mexico. Both groups have been locked in a turf war over the state of Michoacan, located off Mexico's Pacific coast. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is led by Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, a former ally of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. The Drug Enforcement Agency is offering a $10million reward for information leading to his arrest. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Vein Finders is accounted for $ 126.90 million in 2017 and is expected to reach $ 571.52 million by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 18.2% during the forecast period. Rise in the geriatric population prone to chronic ailments and need for admittance to hospitals, increase in the need for cosmetic surgeries, increase in obesity due to sedentary lifestyles, and technological breakthroughs including the launching of passive vein finders are the key driving factors for the market growth. Vein finders are essential tools used by health care professionals during venipuncture procedures that enable detection of invisible veins without causing patient discomfort. These are advanced devices used to detect veins under the skin to draw blood and IV access in various patient groups including geriatric, obese, and people of color where it is difficult to find veins. Request For Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11412 Based on technology, Ultrasound segment is estimated to have the highest market during the forecast period. This technology uses soundwaves to help image venous structures and surrounding tissues on a screen for the technician. A strong pulse of sound is sent into the body from the transducer and the reflection of the pulse is detected to map the deeper structures. A new version of the Ultrasound that detects blood flow is called Doppler Ultrasound because it can detect the flow of blood from the shift in frequency of the reflected wave from an object. The use of Ultrasound during vein access is mostly for deeper veins 6 mm or more the skin. By geography, North America is projected to dominate the overall market by contributing a major chunk of revenue during the estimated time span. Apart from this, the increase in the frequency of medical surgeries in countries such as the U.S. has prompted the product demand in the region. Some of the key players profiled in the Vein F8inders include AccuVein Inc, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Becton Dickinson and Company, Christie Medical Holdings Inc, DOSIS MandM, Easy-RN, InfraRed Imaging Systems, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Lotusun, Near Infrared Imaging Inc, Rectus Energy, Rencongzhong, Sharn Anesthesia, Sylvan Corporation, Teleflex Incorporated (VueTek Scientific LLC), TransLite LLC, Venoscope, VINO Optics, Vivolight, Vuetek, ZD Medical and Zhonglin. Request for Report Discount : https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/11412 Products Covered: Benchtop Handheld Technologies Covered: Infra-Red Ultra violet Ultrasound Applications Covered: Blood Draw/Venipuncture IV Access Other Application Types Covered: Active Vein Finders Fixed Type Vein Finder Non-Imaging Type Vein Finder Passive Vein Finders Portable Type Vein Finder Wearable Type Vein Finder End Users Covered: Blood Bank Blood Donation Centers Clinics Home Care Settings Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgical Centers Private Health Care Practices Specialized Clinics Veterinary Clinics Regions Covered: North America o US o Canada o Mexico Europe o Germany o UK o Italy o France o Spain o Rest of Europe Asia Pacific o Japan o China o India o Australia o New Zealand o South Korea o Rest of Asia Pacific South America o Argentina o Brazil o Chile o Rest of South America Middle East & Africa o Saudi Arabia o UAE o Qatar o South Africa o Rest of Middle East & Africa What our report offers: - Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments - Strategic recommendations for the new entrants - Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets - Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) - Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product / Technology Analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc. - Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations - Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends - Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments - Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements Free Customization Offerings: All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options: Company Profiling or Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3) or SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3) Regional Segmentation or Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check) Competitive Benchmarking Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances Covid 19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/11412 Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 06:21:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic (1st L) visits the construction site of Peljesac Bridge in Komarna, Croatia, on May 25, 2020. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Monday that he is glad to see the progress in the construction of the Peljesac Bridge despite the COVID-19 outbreak. (Milan Sabic/Pixsell via Xinhua) ZAGREB, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Monday that he is glad to see the progress in the construction of the Peljesac Bridge despite the COVID-19 outbreak. Plenkovic and government officials visited the construction site in southern Croatia on Monday afternoon. Crossing the Mali Ston Bay over the Adriatic Sea, the 2.4-kilometer-long Peljesac Bridge connects Croatia's southernmost Dubrovnik-Neretva County to the rest of the mainland, giving the southeastern European country a continuous land link that bypasses foreign territory. A Chinese consortium led by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) won the bid for the first phase of the bridge and its access roads in January 2018, with a promise to finish the job in 36 months. Construction officially kicked off in late July 2018 and has been progressing well since then. "This project will connect Croatian territory once and for all. For all of us, and especially for our colleagues and friends from Dubrovnik-Neretva County, it means the equal status of that county in the territorial organization of Croatia," Plenkovic said, noting that the bridge is one of the most important investments in the country. Plenkovic told reporters that due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Croatian experts couldn't travel to China to follow the production of certain parts of the bridge, which could postpone the completion of construction for two or three months. He said that the Chinese company is ready to make a further effort to finish the European Union-funded project on time. Oleg Butkovic, Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, told RTL television on Monday that the construction of the bridge hasn't stopped during the COVID-19 epidemic and that the bridge and the connection roads should be finished by the end of next year at the latest. Lu Shengwei, representative of CRBC in Croatia, told Xinhua that Croatian officials were satisfied with what they saw during the visit. According to Lu, there are currently 500 people working on the project, and the contractor has been taking stringent measures against the possible outbreak of COVID-19 at the construction site. On Saturday, the Chinese contractor successfully installed the first steel box girder, an important bridge part that upholds the road surface on the piers. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 03:38:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Pupils wait to enter an elementary school in Prague, Czech Republic, on May 25, 2020. The Czech Republic on Monday lifted more restrictions, including those on hotels, swimming pools, castles and chateaus, and the indoor sections of restaurants, in a bid to further reopen the economy. Elementary school children are also allowed to return to school in small groups. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) PRAGUE, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic on Monday lifted more restrictions, including those on hotels, swimming pools, castles and chateaus, and the indoor sections of restaurants, in a bid to further reopen the economy. Elementary school children are also allowed to return to school in small groups. Minister of Education Robert Plaga proposed that secondary school, vocational, and conservatory school students be able to return to classes on a voluntary basis beginning June 8. A mandatory requirement for covering the nose and mouth in public has also been lifted. Wearing face mask is only required in enclosed spaces. The Karvina region of the country will still undergo restrictive measures for at least another 14 days following a large outbreak of COVID-19 amongst workers in the Darkov Mine, according to Health Minister Adam Vojtech. A blanket test revealed that 212 miners and their close contacts tested positive for the disease. The country will also begin reopening its borders to neighboring Germany and Austria on Tuesday in a further bid to normalize life amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "From Tuesday, we are opening all railway and road crossings with Germany and Austria, as well as the Hrensko river crossing, and we are abolishing comprehensive border controls. We negotiated with our German and Austrian colleagues so that the conditions would be similar for them as well," said Interior Minister Jan Hamacek in a press release, adding that a proof for a negative COVID-19 test will still be mandatory and border checks will be random. The country is also opening up international flights again at major airports on Tuesday. Crossing borders in non-designated areas will still be prohibited until June 13, and the external borders of the Schengen area will be closed until at least June 15. Dabieshan Mountain, a huge mountain range located where the borders of the three Chinese provinces of Anhui, Henan, and Hubei meet, is a gene bank of bird species taken by many endangered rare birds as a shelter. On the north side of the mountain, crested ibises skim over the water and then land elegantly on the trees after gracefully crossing rice fields, and Reevess pheasants are foraging on the rocks while making beautiful chirps. Numerous rare bird species are living happily in the deep mountain. The bird paradise is not only a generous bestowal from the mother nature, but also a result of meticulous conservation efforts made by generations. Luo Qingsong is a guardian of the birds who has devoted himself to bird protection for over a dozen years. In 2004, he started teaching at a high school in Luoshan county, Xinyang of Henan province where a lush metasequoia forest sits across a river. Every March he would go and observe egrets in local wetlands. However, urban expansion and environmental pollution that go with economic development encroached the habitats of the bird species. Therefore, he called on people to enhance protection of the wetlands and egrets on the internet, and established a volunteer group guarding the egrets. Under the efforts of Luo and his peers, dozens of valuable metasequoias avoided the fate of being cut down. Luo, leading his volunteer group, has also applied for a protected area of egrets to China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Developement Foundation three years ago. During a field investigation of egret habitats, a local villager sent Luo a 1-meter feather of a male Reevess pheasant. It was the first time for him to see such a beautiful feather, which astonished him very much. He learnt from the villager that there were only less than 1,000 Reevess pheasants in Dongzhai, where the villager lives, due to poaching and damages to the birds habitat. It made him realize that apart from egrets, there are still many other bird species that need to be protected. Therefore, he is now organizing multiple field surveys every year together with other volunteers to learn the distribution of rare species in the Dabieshan Mountain. He wrote a large number of reports and published a survey on the egret distribution in Luoshan county. With the gradual improvement of ecology and enhanced efforts of animal protection, community-based conservation areas for egrets, Reevess pheasants, Chinese box turtle and crested ibises are established in mountainous areas from the Dabieshan Mountain to Qinling Mountains. As a teacher, Luo knows the importance of education and publicity, so he goes to the mountains in the south of Luoshan county each year to disseminate bird and forest protection knowledge. Besides, cooperating with local bird guides, doctors, teachers and village cadres, Luo has established multiple liaisons and achieved progress. Luo said he will keep going in the mountains and contribute his power to protecting rare birds. Coronavirus: What you need to read Coronavirus maps: Cases and deaths in the U.S. | Cases and deaths worldwide Vaccines: Tracker by state | Booster shots | For kids 5 to 11 | Guidance for vaccinated people | How long does immunity last? | County-level vaccine data What you need to know: Omicron variant | At-home tests | Breakthrough infections | Symptoms guide | Masks FAQ | Delta variant | Other variants | Follow all of our coverage and sign up for our free newsletter Impact of the pandemic: Supply chain | Education | Housing Got a pandemic question? We answer one every day in our coronavirus newsletter A total of sixteen solar-plus-storage or standalone storage projects have been selected by Hawaiian Electric in its latest quest for renewable energy have been selected by Hawaiian Electric in its ENGIE awarded a 60 MW AC solar plus 240MWh battery storage on Hawai'i Island and will now enter contract negotiations with Hawaiian Electric storage on Hawai'i Island and will now enter contract negotiations with Hawaiian Electric Project will help Hawai'i meet its mandates of 100% renewable energy and net-negative emissions by 2045 Regulatory News: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200524005038/en/ Puako Render (Photo: ENGIE EPS) Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. has selected ENGIE's (Paris:EPS) project as one of sixteen in the Final Award Group for the Stage 2 Variable Renewable Dispatchable Generation and Energy Storage projects. ENGIE and ENGIE EPS's bid was selected after a competitive evaluation that was part of the largest renewable energy procurement ever undertaken in Hawai'i, launched in August 2019. The proposed project awarded to ENGIE is a 60 MW AC solar plus 240 MWh battery storage facility located in Puako near Waikoloa Village, South Kohala, on Hawai'i Island. ENGIE EPS will supply the battery storage system and act as a full storage solution provider and system integrator. "ENGIE EPS has a longstanding track record in deploying hybrid battery storage systems on islands around the globe, and ENGIE has over a decade of experience working in Hawai?i. We look forward to utilizing this expertise to help the Islands meet its target of 100% clean energy and to continuing our engagement with the Hawai'i Island communities as we do so", said Carlalberto Guglielminotti, Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE EPS. The project is expected to be online in 2023 but depending on the length of the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, delays in bringing the projects online are possible. This was the final evaluation phase. ENGIE, as well as the other developers, will now enter into one on one contract negotiations with Hawaiian Electric to reach an acceptable 25-year power purchase agreement. All contracts must then be approved by the Hawai'i Public Utilities Commission. Throughout the entire process, ENGIE will continue to engage with the local communities near the project to discuss and address any input that they may have. About ENGIE EPS ENGIE EPS is an industrial player within the ENGIE group that develops technologies to revolutionize the paradigm shift in the global energy system towards renewable energy sources and electric mobility. Listed on Euronext Paris (EPS:FP), ENGIE EPS is listed in the CAC Mid Small and the CAC All-Tradable financial indices. Its registered office is in Paris and conducts its research, development and manufacturing in Italy. For more information: www.engie-eps.com About ENGIE Our Group is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services. In response to the urgency of climate change, our ambition is to become the world leader in the zero-carbon transition "as a service" for our customers, in particular global companies and local authorities. We rely on our key activities (renewable energy, gas, services) to offer competitive turnkey solutions. With our 170,000 employees, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are a community of Imaginative Builders, committed every day to more harmonious progress. Turnover in 2019: EUR 60.1 billion. The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main financial indices (CAC 40, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe) and non-financial indices (DJSI World, DJSI Europe and Euronext Vigeo Eiris World 120, Eurozone 120, Europe 120, France 20, CAC 40 Governance). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200524005038/en/ Contacts: ENGIE EPS Press and Media: eps@imagebuilding.it Investor Relations: ir@engie-eps.com follow us on LinkedIn An ultra rare white grizzly bear has been spotted near a tourist resort in Banff National Park in Canada. Cara Clarkson, a worker at the nearby Rimrock Resort Hotel, spotted the bear while driving on the Trans-Canada Highway with her husband and two sons. The white bear was with its sibling, a more typically colored brown grizzly as they were searching for food near the edge of the highway. A worker at a resort in Banff, Canada spotted a white grizzly bear while out on a drive with her husband and two sons, something she described as a 'once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity' While Clarkson said she would normally have driven by and not risked disturbing the bears, the sight of the white grizzly was a 'once in a lifetime opportunity.' 'We were like holy smokes! That is full on a white grizzly bear. Clarkson said in an interview with St. Albert Today. Grizzly bears generally come in a broad spectrum of colors, from light blonde to dark black, but a pure white grizzly is 'exceedingly rare,' according to retired Parks Canada researcher Mike Gibeau. 'I have never in all my time working with grizzly bears since the early 1980s seen a white grizzly bear,' Gibeau said. 'Ive seen a really, really blond grizzly, but never a white one.' Some initially speculated that the bear might have been an albino, but according to Gibeau that would also have changed the bear's skin and eye color. Instead, he says the white coat of fur is likely due to a recessive gene in the species that's almost never seen in the wild. 'Its certainly the only one Im aware of thats been seen in our Rocky Mountain National Park,' Parks Canada's Seth Cherry told Global News. Park officials had first identified the pair of grizzlies in 2018, when they were both cubs and the white bear appeared to be more blonde than white. Some initially thought the bear might be an albino, but park researchers say if that was the case it's skin and eyes would also have lacked pigment and appeared pale pink According to Parks Canada workers, the white fur is caused by a recessive gene that's almost never seen in the wild. 'I have never in all my time working with grizzly bears since the early 1980s seen a white grizzly bear,' Parks Canada's Mike Gibeau said At the time, the bears were feeding near a grain spill near train tracks running on next to the Trans-Canada Highway around 40 miles north of Rimrock Resort. Park workers used a variety of hazing techniques to move the bears deeper into the park and away from areas with higher human populations. Park officials believe the bears might have returned to the area in search of food and used tall snow drifts from heavy winter snow to climb over the large fence that runs along either side of the Trans-Canada Highway to protect wildlife from traffic. Park workers believe the bear and its brown-furred sibling came down to the Trans-Canada Highway in search of food 'This is a unique bear, and I certainly have never seen one before, but we ask people can appreciate that its out there and do things to ensure its safety, like not stopping on the highway,' Parks Canada's Jon Stuart-Smith said. Stuart-Smith hopes the sightings will be temporary, and once the bears realize there are no major food sources left in the area they'll relocate. 'We hope they move onto other locations and then eventually move up into higher elevations,' he said. A clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 has been temporarily suspended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Director-General of the UN health agency, Tedros Ghebreyesus, in a virtual press conference on Monday said the decision follows a study in the Lancet indicating that use of the drug on COVID-19 patients could increase their likelihood of dying. The cited study, titled Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19: Why might they be hazardous? published on Friday, highlighted that patients who took chloroquine, which hydroxychloroquine is derived from, were also more likely to develop irregular heart rhythms. Mr Ghebreyesus also said the executive group of the Solidarity Trial, in which hundreds of hospitals across several countries have enrolled patients to test several possible treatments for the virus, had as a precaution, suspended trials using that drug. The executive group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity Trial while the data is reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board. The other arms of the trial are continuing, he said. He also said this decision only applies to the use of the hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in COVID-19 patients. I wish to reiterate that these drugs are accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria, he said. Chloroquine for COVID-19? Chloroquine is a synthetic drug introduced in the 1940s. It is a member of an important series of chemically related agents known as quinoline derivatives. Hydroxychloroquine is a related compound that was introduced in 1955. Both drugs are used in the treatment of tropical diseases such as malaria and amebiasis, a parasitic disease also known as amebic dysentery. They are also useful in the treatment of various skin conditions and diseases of the joints such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. U.S. President Donald Trump had at a press briefing in the White House said he had been using hydroxychloroquine to protect himself against COVID-19. However, Nigerias Presidential Task Force (PTF) on coronavirus at a daily briefing warned Nigerians against using the drug. It said the drug has not been declared a cure for the disease and further warned of the possibility of chloroquine poisoning if one indulges in self-medication with the drug. But Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, who was the index case of COVID-19 in his state, had told journalists early this month that he was administered with chloroquine, zithromax, and Vitamin C during his successful treatment for the disease. The governor said COVID-19 patients in the state would, henceforth, be treated with the drugs. He also said he would rather ask medics managing the states COVID-19 patients to treat them with chloroquine and zithromax than watch them die of the disease. Meanwhile, the National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in an apparent reaction to the governors statement, warned Nigerians not to use any drug for the treatment of COVID-19 that is not approved by the NCDC. The agency is concerned about reports on social and other media of drugs or vaccines to cure COVID 19, NAFDACs Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, had said in a statement. OTTAWA - How Parliament should function in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis remained unresolved Monday as the Conservatives dug in on their demand that the House of Commons resume normal operations with a reduced number of MPs in the chamber. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA - How Parliament should function in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis remained unresolved Monday as the Conservatives dug in on their demand that the House of Commons resume normal operations with a reduced number of MPs in the chamber. For much of the day, MPs debated a government motion to waive "normal" Commons sittings in favour of expanding the special COVID-19 committee that has acted as a stand-in for the chamber over the past month. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh holds a press conference on Parliament Hill amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Monday May 25, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick But Conservatives ran out the clock, including employing a procedural a manoeuvre that forced an hour-long debate and a vote on a report from the Canada-China relations committee. Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez eventually served notice that the government will move to cut off debate on the motion when the Commons resumes on Tuesday. A spokesman for the NDP said New Democrats will support cutting off debate "if it comes to that" because they "don't want to let other parties delay our ability to move forward." Should debate be cut off, the government's motion to expand the COVID-19 committee meetings to four days a week in a hybrid format with a small number of MPs in the chamber and others participating virtually via two large screens set up on either side of the Speaker's chair would be put to a vote late Tuesday night. If it passes, the Speaker's office said the first hybrid committee meeting could then take place Wednesday. The Liberal government holds only a minority of seats so it will need the support of at least one of the main opposition parties to support the motion. With the Conservatives demanding the resumption of Commons sittings and the Bloc Quebecois abstaining from the negotiations, that leaves the NDP. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took steps Monday to secure the backing of the NDP, promising to work with provinces to give workers paid sick leave and to provide more financial support for Canadians with disabilities to help them weather the pandemic. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called that a good start, but said more action is needed before federal New Democrats will agree to suspend full sittings of the House of Commons through the summer. The back and forth came as the Commons resumed "normal" operations Monday, as the previous agreement on the COVID-19 committee format expired. Shortly before debate started on the floor of the House of Commons, Singh laid out his conditions for supporting the Liberal motion by demanding real action on paid sick leave for all Canadians and support for people with disabilities struggling with the COVID-19 crisis. During his daily news conference outside his home in Ottawa, Trudeau said it makes sense to support paid leave for all workers if they're ill, so people who might be infected with the novel coronavirus don't have to choose between going to work sick and not getting paid. "The government will continue discussions with the provinces without delay on ensuring that as we enter the recovery phase of the pandemic, every worker in Canada who needs it has access to 10 days of paid sick leave a year," Trudeau said. "We'll also consider other mechanisms for the longer term to support workers with sick leave." Yet Singh said the promise fell short of the NDP's demands. "We've seen a positive announcement today by the prime minister, but it is not enough," Singh told the House of Commons. "We need to see the action as well. And we are hopeful though that action will be coming." The NDP leader had previously suggested the federal government use the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or employment insurance to deliver paid sick leave immediately and work with the provinces to secure two weeks of leave even after the pandemic is over. The question now is how the two sides might bridge that difference and if not, what other options might exist. The Conservatives have said they want to do away with the special COVID-19 committee and bring back House of Commons sittings, albeit with no more than 50 MPs in the House at any one time. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer underscored the need for Parliament's immediate return in his address to the Commons, while Opposition House leader Candice Bergen laid out some of the key differences between a normal parliamentary session and the special committee, which she referred to as a "fake Parliament." Those include a lack of opposition days, private member's motions and the ability to submit order paper questions, which is one of the key ways opposition parties have to get information from the government. "Although the special committee is one where questions can be asked, we certainly are not seeing questions answered," said Bergen. "And there are many things that the Opposition can do when Parliament is actually sitting in order to try to get answers and to try to hold the government to account. That is not going to be happening if this motion passes." But the Liberals and NDP argue the Conservatives' plan essentially disenfranchises the majority of Canadians, as MPs who live far from Ottawa or with potential health risks will face extreme difficulties attending in-person sessions. However, all sides agree there are technical limitations to establishing a full virtual or hybrid Parliament right now that do not exist for committees in particular on the issue of electronic voting for MPs. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Those limitations were highlighted in a report by a Commons committee earlier this month, including concerns about hacking when it comes to MP votes and procedural questions such as how to handle points of order and privilege. The Liberals say that is why they have proposed expanding the current COVID-19 committee by adding an additional meeting per week and using a hybrid format that will allow all MPs to participate through either in-person or virtual attendance. "Under this motion, with a hybrid Parliament, there would be more time for questions," Rodriguez said. "There would be MPs in the House and there would be MPs via video conference regardless of the party. And this would allow our democracy to function. MPs would be able to ask questions because they were elected and not because they live close to Ottawa." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. With files from Stephanie Levitz "Italians Love the SCOOP Main Event" Says Former Champ Mustapha Kanit May 09, 2020 A mouth-watering $95 million in guarantees is up for grabs among 80 events in this year's 2020 Spring Series of Online Poker (SCOOP) on PokerStars, each featuring their own low, medium, and high buy-in for a total of 240 poker tournaments. This year, PokerNews will be right on top of all the action with live reporting of 30 tournaments. Check out the 2020 SCOOP schedule Last week PokerNews spoke with Charlie Carrel about his SCOOP Main Event victory back in 2017, and we're lucky to be able to speak to another former Main Event champion in the shape of Mustapha Kanit. Known as "lasagnammm" online, Not only is the Winamax Team Pro a former SCOOP Main Event champion, winning $1,304,720 after defeating Emil "Maroonlime" Patel heads-up back in 2015, but earlier this week he added a third SCOOP title to his poker resume. Kanit's 2015 Purple Patch Kanit says that the victory came during a real period of success for him, coming less than a month after shipping the 2015 EPT Grand Final 50,000 Super High Roller for 936,500 "It was just a really great time of my life," Kanit told PokerNews. "Monetarily it didn't change anything, but it was my biggest score definitely." "Everything went to bankroll or investments! It was for sure an achievement because I really cared about winning the tournament. I had a lot of success online, and I was sure I was one of the best!" The final table was "quite a hard one," says Kanit, but he admitted he got lucky with a big flip to stay in contention. "I think I played very well," he said. "I remember that I didn't take too many risks. I played some good poker and it was a really great moment. Just everything felt right." "Italians love the [SCOOP] Main Event; Gianluca [Speranza] won it twice after me so it's definitely one of the tournaments that I love the most" "The day afterwards I went to Italy and took 2-3 weeks off before Vegas like I always do. Italians love the [SCOOP] Main Event; Gianluca [Speranza] won it twice, so it's definitely one of the tournaments that I love the most and Italians love the most!" SCOOP Celebrations Immediately after scooping the largest prize of his poker career, the Italian was heading on holiday to relax and unwind. "April and May is such a busy time; for two months you're playing every single day, especially with the European Poker Tour in Monaco and then SCOOP. It's very energy-consuming. "It's about finding a balance with yourself and being able to deliver in the tournaments that matter." "Afterwards I take a big break before going to Vegas. Otherwise, you burn out in the middle of the Series, something I remember having issues in the past with. "It's about finding a balance with yourself and being able to deliver in the tournaments that matter." "Take Your Time; Ponder Your Decisions" With this year's SCOOP Main Event coming up on May 17, Kanit has some poker tips for anyone jumping into the tournament. "It's a big tournament, but it's also a long tournament," said Kanit. "You're not going to win it on Day 1 or Day 2, so take your time and ponder your decisions. Think about it and weigh the up-side and the down-side. "If you need to deviate from your strategy, sometimes you need to make decisions you're not happy with and that's fine. Just think about the overall picture. "Focus on your experience and on enjoying your tournament because that's important too. Good luck everyone!" Sharelines The 2015 SCOOP Main Event champion reminisces and gives his advice ahead of this year's tournament Wuhan pastor interrogated after Zoom evangelism event: 'I will only live for Christ' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A local pastor in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the origin of the novel coronavirus, was taken away by police for interrogation while he was leading an online meeting of Christians on evangelism and church planting, according to the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness. The Zoom meeting, Proclaim Jesus Gospel Gathering, was underway when the police in Hubei provinces Wuhan city came over, looked for evangelism materials or publications, and took away the pastor, identified only as Luo, from Nanjing Road Church, the U.S.-based Christian persecution watchdog International Christian Concern learned from the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness, which speaks out in public as Christians. Pastor Luo was taken to a police station and interrogated for more than four hours. Not afraid, Luo told the police that Christians served the city during Wuhans most difficult moments, leaving policemen speechless. I rebuke them, calling them out that they are not minding business that they should be minding, Luo was quoted as saying. Christians disregarded their own lives to do good things, yet the police treat them as the bad guys, this is unreasonable. I also told them a few times in all seriousness, I will only live for Christ, I will not argue on other matters. However, I will never change [my persistence] about evangelism. The officials then let the pastor go. Earlier this month, police violently raided a house church in Xiamen city in Chinas Fujian province during Sunday worship, injuring several worshipers in the process. Dozens of security guards and officers from the local Ethnic and Religious Bureau arrived at Xingguang Church, which meets at a residence, calling the gathering illegal. All the churches outside of the government-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement are considered illegal by the Chinese Communist Party. Though male church members attempted to block the door, police stormed into the room, yelling at church members while demanding them to stop recording with their cell phones. When church members refused, police dragged several members out the door and snatched their cell phones. In a video shared by preacher Yang Xibo from Xunsiding Church, the police could be seen pressing church members heads down to the ground while authorities yelled, Stop filming! The church was previously raided by authorities from five different departments on April 19. Additionally, the churchs preacher, Titus Yu, received advance notice of administrative punishment for violating several articles of the religious regulations. Last month, several members of Chinas heavily persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church were arrested for participating in an online Easter worship service on Zoom and ordered to cease all religious activity. The 5,000-member Sichuan house church, led by pastor Wang Yi, had not been able to gather in person since the communist regime shut down the church in 2018 and arrested their pastor and other leaders. Since then, it had opted to gather online. Early Rain Covenant Church was first raided during a Sunday evening service in December 2018 after authorities claimed it violated religious regulations because it was not registered with the government. Wang was detained along with his wife, Jiang Rong, and more than 100 members of his congregation. Pastor Wang was later sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of subversion of power and illegal business operations. According to Gina Goh, ICCs regional manager for Southeast Asia, China has clearly resumed its crackdown on Christianity after the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic has reduced. In recent weeks, we have seen an increased number of church demolitions and cross removals on state-sanctioned churches across China, as house church gatherings continue to face interruption and harassment. It is deplorable that the local authorities not only conducted this raid without proper procedure but deployed excessive use of force against church members and bystanders, she said. ICC calls on the international community and the U.S. government to condemn Chinas constant human rights abuses. Imagine traveling all the way from Meerut to the Delhi airport, and as you near the destination, you get a message that flight has been cancelled. You frantically call the customer care, but no one responds. Scores of passengers went through similar harrowing experience on May 25. The resumption of flights from May 25 has caused a lot of chaos for the passengers. The problem for passengers began with individual states rolling out their guidelines relating to airport operations and post travel quarantine rules that left travellers high and dry. With only a fraction of flights allowed to operate from some of the busiest airports, it resulted in a spike in cancellations with majority travellers left uncertain of their travel. To add to this, the ability of Air India to manage the current situation has added to the angst of passengers. Air India was the last airline to inform passengers regarding cancellation of their flights. Many passengers reached airports as Air India had sent SMS to customers at 1:30 am, but failed to make changes on their website. The flights, which were cancelled, were still showing confirmed on their website. Air India should outsource their operations to a private carrier for three months if they want to avoid such blunders. Air India currently has the most complex and time consuming policy for refunds among all airlines. They ask agents to file a refund application form, which is a manual process. These forms are manually verified by their team after 45-60 days and then are approved or rejected. Earlier it used to be an automated process but now it has been moved to a manual process. With the world moving towards automation, Air India is moving in an opposite direction and because of these manual processes it will be very difficult to promote our national carrier, as we are having a surge in calls/email/chat support in our back office due to state-wise policy to handle domestic passengers. Nishant Pitti is CEO, EaseMyTrip.com TIM GRIERSON, SENIOR US CRITICScreen InternationalMay 21, 2020Yoav Shamir delivers a thoughtful documentary about a guru who believes in UFOsTHE PROPHET AND THE SPACE ALIENSDir/scr: Yoav Shamir. Israel/Austria/South Africa/Canada. 2020. 86mins.A study of religion and true believers, The Prophet And The Space Aliens takes a thoughtful approach to what could potentially be a satiric premise, in which a documentary filmmaker spends time with a self-styled spiritual leader who insists that humanity was created by aliens. Israeli director Yoav Shamir introduces us to Rael, a kindly sexagenarian prophet with a fascinating backstory and some bizarre views. (Hell happily tell you about his travels to another planet.) But rather than poke fun, the film ponders why so many people worship higher powers and how faith can be a way for individuals to find meaning in an otherwise incomprehensible existence.The filmmaker may be a nonbeliever, but you could say he approaches this material in good faith.The Prophet, which recently premiered at CPH:DOX, screens digitally as part of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. This film about Rael and his followers, appropriately called Raelians, has a breezy, accessible tone, making it an appealing programming option. Modest commercial prospects seem possible as well.Serving as our off-screen narrator, Shamir explains that he was invited to receive an award from the Raelians, which brought him into the orbit of Rael, a beatific Frenchman dressed all in white who preaches a gospel of love and tolerance. Intrigued, the filmmaker decides to profile him, traveling from Asia to West Africa to Canada to learn more about this belief system, which includes a desire to clone human beings. Along the way, Shamir will also uncover Raels pre-prophet life before changing his name, Claude Vorilhon aspired to be a race car driver and spent some years as a musician and begin to wonder if he isnt actually an elaborate con artist.Early on, Shamir (Defamation) makes it known that hes not religious, but that doesnt mean he isnt curious about why people seek out spirituality. The Prophet includes occasional interludes from a separate interview Shamir conducted with a religious historian, Daniel Boyarin, who offers his perspective on societys enduring belief in gods. This leads to engaging exchanges about the ways that faith is passed from one generation to the next and why so many religions are built on seemingly outlandish scenarios and supernatural entities. Shamir enters this world with honourable intentions, and whether speaking to Rael or some in his inner circle, the documentarian resists the desire to mock, instead hoping to understand why Raelians (including some scientists) have embraced their beliefs so passionately.At first, its easy to find much thats laudable about a religion that advocates nonviolence, condemns homophobia and bigotry, and argues that blind devotion to an all-powerful deity has caused the majority of wars. (Better, Rael contends, to worship wise aliens, whom he calls the Elohim.) The Prophet is enlivened by Shamirs warm rapport with the gentle, unassuming Rael, who seems relatively level-headed except, of course, for his strange anecdotes about being picked up by extra-terrestrials, who explained to him how humanitys evolution will involve our consciousness being downloaded into a new, identical body.But soon, The Prophet takes a turn as we acquire additional information about this religion and Shamir shifts his attitude toward Rael, who starts to resemble a vain megalomaniac. (For instance, it eventually becomes apparent that the beautiful young women who surround Rael arent just there for decoration.) Meticulously, the filmmaker dissects the prophets early life, convinced that Rael doesnt actually believe his own tall tale of alien abduction. But even here, the documentary subverts expectations, as Shamir talks to Boyarin in order to figure out why hes so committed to getting Rael to confess to the scam. In some ways, nonbelievers are as devout in their worldview as believers.Regrettably, Shamir can be too cutesy in his presentation, shooting for lighthearted, feel-good reactions rather than treating this subject matter with the seriousness it deserves. But his ingratiating style also has its rewards: Because he earns Rael and his followers trust, they open up in ways that allow them to be strikingly honest and vulnerable. Although The Prophet is clear that this religion is ludicrous, Shamir doesnt violate his interviewees trust, letting their enthusiasm articulate the eternal mystery of divine devotion. He may be a nonbeliever, but you could say he approaches this material in good faith.Production companies: Yoav Shamir Films, Big World CinemaSales contact: Yoav Shamir Films, yoavshamir@gmail.comProducers: Tanya Aizikovich, Steven Markovitz, Yoav ShamirEditing: Neta Dvorkis, Roland StottingerCinematography: Tanya AizikovichMusic: Manfred Plessl The Ghaziabad district administration has again decided to seal its borders with Delhi and directions to this effect were issued by the district magistrate on Monday afternoon. There has been an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Ghaziabad and a major share has come from people commuting between Ghaziabad and Delhi. So we have decided to put restrictions on the movement at Ghaziabad-Delhi borders on recommendation of the chief medical officer, district magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said in a statement. The officials said that conditions mentioned in an earlier order of April 26 will now be in force till further orders. The officials said that only people having valid passes and certain category of officials and other persons will be allowed movement to Delhi. The vehicles engaged in essential supplies, says the order, will be allowed to pass through the Ghaziabad border, while doctors, para medical members, police and bank employees will be allowed passage without any passes. The officers of deputy secretary rank or above will be allowed to cross over on showing their identification cards. There are thousands of class III and class IV employees who work with the Central and Delhi governments and 33% of such employees are required to attend offices. So the employees falling under the limit of 33% should be issued separate passes which may be applicable on a daily or weekly basis. Such employees will not be allowed to move to Delhi just on the basis of their identification cards, the order said. Media persons will be exempted from any passes and will be allowed commuting on the basis of their identification cards. The advocates attending the works in different courts in Delhi will also be allowed to commute on the basis of their identification cards. PARAMARIBO, Suriname - Few leaders have the sort of shadows that hang over Surinames President Desi Bouterse, a former coup leader and strongman, convicted of murder and drug smuggling, who is overseeing a dire economy. Yet the charismatic 74-year-old president stands a fair chance of holding onto power as the small South American nation elects a new National Assembly on Monday a body that will choose the next president in August. Voting Monday was extended for two hours until 9 p.m. local time amid poor organization, delays and charges of irregularities. It was unclear when preliminary results would be released. It is chaos, Jennifer van Dijk-Silos, chairman of the Independent Electoral Board, told local media. She said she had to suspend voting at some polling stations because the wrong ballot papers were distributed. Bouterses National Democratic Party has built deep support among the countrys poor, many of them black or mixed race, who feel Bouterse is the first politician ever to pay attention to them. Their economic pain is eased somewhat by food parcels distributed to party supporters, and many credit Bouterse for recent oil discoveries off the Surinamese coast, which give some confidence in their future. Recent polls in the former Dutch colony have shown a swing toward the opposition United Reform Party the VHP by its Dutch initials which has worked for years to broaden its base beyond its original focus on the descendants of East Asian immigrants, who make up just over a quarter of the population. This is the last chance for Suriname. Bouterse cant be president anymore! said a man dressed in the VHPs orange flag who was first in line to vote at the Clevia Public School. But the opposition is divided among more than a dozen parties and there are believed to be a large number of undecided voters. Opposition activists are also worried that the coronavirus pandemic has reduced the number of international election observers, and some believe the virus-prompted ban on mass meetings favours Bouterse, who has continued to make official visits to poor neighbourhoods. Bouterse first came to power in a 1980 coup and ruled for seven years, marked by the December 1982 murders of 15 political opponents. Last November, a Suriname court convicted Bouterse of murder and sentenced him to 20 years in prison though it made no move to arrest him and he is appealing. He also faces an 11-year sentence in the Netherlands for drug smuggling. The presidents son Dino, meanwhile, is serving a 16-year prison sentence in the United States on drug trafficking charges and charges related to helping the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. After leaving office, Bouterse built up his party and won democratic elections in 2010, as well as reelection five years later. In recent years, Suriname has slipped into a deep economic crisis. The aluminum company Alcoa has left. Wood, gold and oil yield too little revenue to cover government expenditures. Critics allege widespread corruption and mismanagement. But China has stepped in to help, lending hundreds of millions of dollars to finance bridges, roads and hospitals and a planned new airport. The 51-seat National Assembly is due to choose a new president in August, though that requires a two-thirds vote and likely the formation of complex coalitions. Bouterses main rival is the VHPs Chandrikapersad Chan Santokhi. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, poll workers are wearing masks and are supposed to keep a distance of 1.5 metre (5 feet) from one another. The country has reported 11 confirmed cases of the disease and one death. Radhe was scheduled to release during Eid 2020 but due to the corona pandemic, Indian cinema theatres are seeing an indefinite shut down. Treating all his fans this Eid, superstar Salman Khan has the best Eidi to offer. After releasing two songs earlier, the actor releases third song, titled Bhai Bhai on this special occasion. Salman Khans films have been regularly releasing on the occasion of EID and have enjoyed a near 100 percent success ratio over a period of more than a decade. Radhe was scheduled to release during Eid 2020 but due to the corona pandemic, Indian cinema theatres are seeing an indefinite shut down. While there is no film releasing this EID, Salman has a surprise release for his fans in the form of a song. Salman Khan shares, First of all, Eid Mubarak to everyone. May all of us be blessed with the strength to deal with the pandemic this year. He further adds, Since we couldnt release our film on this Eid, I have worked on a very special song for all my wonderful fans. It is called Bhai Bhai as it celebrates the spirit of brotherhood and unity. Eid is the best day to release this as it is also the festival that brings people close to each other. I hope people enjoy the song as much as I did while making it for them. Not the one to let down his fans despite the unprecedented crisis, the actor has shot for Bhai Bhai with minimal crew and resources at his farmhouse in Panvel. The actor took to his social media account to release the song. He shared, Maine aap subb ke liye kuch banaya hai, dekh ke batana kaisa laga Aap subb ko eid mubarakh #BhaiBhai The song communicates a significant message and evokes the right emotions of love and compassion towards our fellow beings and other religions, who are all the same in the eyes of God. It spreads the message of brotherhood and unity. This is the third song that the Superstar has released amidst the lockdown after Pyar Karona and Tere Bina. Sung by Salman himself, the song will set the right mood on this auspicious occasion. For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App Though Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has mostly reopened the state restaurants, hair and nail salons and gyms included cases of COVID-19 are increasing here, not declining. And Mobile County, home to a sleepy Gulf Coast port city, has led the state in confirmed cases for weeks now, though it has a smaller population than Jefferson County, which includes Birmingham. Unfortunately, the case count and the death count will likely worsen after the bustling Memorial Day weekend, when throngs will flock to beaches, ignoring guidelines about social distancing. We have not reached our peak. The worst is not over here. According to The Washington Post, epidemiological experts have warned that the South may experience a second wave of coronavirus infections in coming weeks as its governors rush to reopen and its residents embrace the freedom to catch a virus and expose others. Never mind that our best scientists, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, have said that regions need to show a steady decline in confirmed cases of coronavirus before they reopen. The South is led by politicians who belong to the cult of President Donald J. Trump, the very stable genius who has publicly ruminated about giving COVID-19 patients disinfectant internally and who has claimed that he doses himself with hydroxychloroquine to ward off the coronavirus, though physicians have warned that the drug may be deadly and there is no proof it prevents COVID-19. Many Southerners also continue their long traditions of disdain toward experts George Wallace infamously called them pointy-headed intellectuals and of contempt for federal authority. Even Trump, the highest-ranking federal authority, shows this contempt, ignoring his own diplomats, assailing his intelligence experts and disputing his scientists. In addition, the South has a disproportionate share of the nations unemployed and working poor, people less likely to have access to decent medical care. The Souths Republican governors have refused to expand Medicaid even though most of it would be paid by the federal government a tenet of Obamacare. Many rural hospitals have been forced to shut down for lack of funds. As if that were not enough of a miasma to breed a viral stew, the South has another pre-existing condition: a hyper-religiosity that conflates church attendance with Christian morality. The South has a higher rate of church attendance than any other region, and preachers are ready to fill up their pews again, claiming religious intolerance to thwart any regulations that might prevent it. They ignore the many news reports pointing out that church gatherings from choir practices to funerals have been super-spreaders of the virus. Given the Souths history, culture and politics, its no great surprise that Georgias Gov. Brian Kemp led the charge to reopen everything in late April. To prove he was being prudent, the Georgia Department of Health released doctored data claiming that COVID-19 cases were steadily declining. They were not. Ivey at least had the clarity of mind to issue guidelines advising her citizens to continue social distancing, reminding them they are safer at home. In Alabamas Gulf Coast beach towns, local authorities have passed ordinances mandating social distancing and small gatherings. But I fully expect those to be ignored as residents return to their annual celebration of the unofficial opening of summer. According to a team of researchers at the Childrens Hospital in Philadelphia, the entire state of Alabama is likely to see a resurgence of the coronavirus. On Tuesday, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed called a press conference pointing out that the citys hospitals were already overwhelmed and urging residents to practice preventive measures. Researchers have also warned of hotspots in Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky and along southeast Floridas Gold Coast with its dangerous mix of elderly residents and beckoning beaches. Miami already seeded the spread back in March, as heedless spring-breakers insisted on partying. Those beaches remain closed for now, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is among the Trump-ites who insist that its time to fully reopen the economy. The South seems destined for a dangerous summer. Email Cynthia Tucker at cynthia@cynthiatucker.com Theo Hayez's family have not given up hope on finding the missing teenager as the one year anniversary of his disappearance approaches. The Belgian backpacker vanished on May 31 last year after leaving Cheeky Monkey's bar in Byron Bay, northern New South Wales. He hasn't been seen or heard from since. Theo's family, who have set up a new website, released a statement on Monday night begging anyone with information to come forward. 'One year on, we believe that there is much more to Theo's story than has been brought to light,' the statement reads. Theo Hayez was last seen leaving Cheeky Monkey's bar in Byron Bay on May 31 Almost a year later, his family have not given up on finding him. Pictured: Theo's father Lehore Hayez (centre) at a media conference in 2019 'Theo's family and friends, those living in Byron Bay and everyone who is concerned for the safety of young travellers are eager for the full story of that night to be understood. 'We know that many people are struggling at the moment and we are so grateful for all the different ways that people continue to show their support and their love.' Theo's parents, Vinciane Delforge and Laurent Hayez, released their own statement on Monday saying they 'missed their son very much'. 'We have high hopes in the work of the New South Wales Coroner and his team of dedicated lawyers and we continue to believe that someone has information that could provide new evidence,' they said. 'We beg potential witnesses to come forward. 'The support we receive online counts for a lot. We know that we are not alone and every message, drawing or photos with Theos name comforts us and allows us to endure this ordeal.' Search efforts for the 19-year-old have continued into 2020, with police conducting DNA tests on hair found in what is believed to be Theo's grey cap, which was discovered in bushland off Tallows Beach. Theo's family thanked those involved in the search - and gave an insight into the police investigation. 'Since the beginning of the year, we have spoken less publicly about developments,' the post reads. 'Far from us giving up hope or dedication, the main reason is because the ongoing police process means we need to be careful about what we say. Theo (pictured with his girlfriend) was travelling Australia on a gap year after finishing school in Belgium A grey Puma cap was found in bushland at Tallows Beach, with Theo's family confirming the cap belonged to the missing backpacker 'We think about Theo every minute and would like to share any information that may help to find out what happened to him but we have to be careful that we also give the police the best chance of finding this out. 'It breaks our hearts every day and we hope that they will soon have some clarity for us. The police investigation is ongoing and we are grateful for this but we have been asked not to provide details. 'New searches have taken place and police have provided us with the results from the DNA testing conducted on the two hairs found in the cap.' The hat was found by a member of the public in the same area where the last 'ping' from Theo's phone was recorded on June 1 around the Cape Byron Lighthouse. Theo's family is certain the hat is his - but DNA testing on the material was inconclusive. They have maintained Theo was not alone on the night he disappeared. Police officers conduct a search for Theo in bushland near Tallows Beach in Byron Bay The new website has helped the family extend their voice to reach a more broad international audience to find any leads to track down Theo. 'We still believe that someone out there could help us to find out what really happened by providing us with some information about that night,' the post continues. The leading theory in Theo's disappearance is that he fell while trying to climb cliffs near Tallows Beach and his body washed away. Theo was travelling Australia on a gap year after finishing school in Belgium. Police began a land, sea and air search when they were alerted to his disappearance by staff at the Wake Up! Hostel in Byron Bay on June 6. Data fro Theo's phone has traced this route as his last known movements before he vanished on the night of May 31 2019 The hostel staff raise the alarm after finding his belongings, including his passport, left there untouched. Theo's father, Laurent Hayez, flew into Australia that month and made an emotional public appeal to help find his son. 'I promised Theo's little brother that I would bring his brother home. Please, help me keep my promise to him,' he told reporters through tears at Tweed Heads Police Station. Theo's disappearance made headlines around the world and several volunteer groups formed to search for him. The case has been referred to the NSW coroner. A new online platform will help firms from across Northern Ireland return to work and comply with major workplace changes post-coronavirus lockdown. File image posed by model A new online platform will help firms from across Northern Ireland return to work and comply with major workplace changes post-coronavirus lockdown. Obbi Solutions has developed Obbi Lite to deal specifically "with the challenges of restarting business after temporary closure due to Covid-19". The company is giving Obbi Lite free to manufacturers, construction and food firms in a bid to offer "immediate help in getting staff back to work safely and effectively" as lockdown begins to ease across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Chief technical officer John Paul McCorley said: "The original Obbi platform was designed to allow employers to perform a range of essential business tasks, including on-boarding of new staff, training and compliance. "The platform offers practical information on handwashing, PPE use, social distancing, health screening and working practises. "Employees can be continuously tested on those regulations as well as complete daily Covid pre checks, so they understand what is required to work safely." Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, welcomed the platform. "Any initiative which demonstrably assists employers and employees as we navigate the complex and difficult times ahead will be extremely useful and must be welcomed. "I'm particularly pleased to see that a Northern Ireland-based company has come up with such a comprehensive and extremely useful platform." Ambulance workers take a patient to the emergency unit at Lasalle Hospital in Montreal on April 27, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz) Backlog Caused by Cancelled Surgeries Could Take Years to Address: Health Policy Expert Involving the private health sector would help reduce strain on the public system, says Bacchus Barua With provinces beginning to re-open after the pandemic shut-down, one of the most pressing issues is how to improve the health-care system so as to be better prepared for a possible second wave. One health policy expert thinks its time to consider reforms that will allow the private health sector to relieve the strain on the public system caused by cancelling elective surgeries and other treatments to free up services for COVID-19 patients. Rescheduling these procedures will make already long wait times even longersomething that may take years to turn around, says Bacchus Barua, the associate director for health policy studies at the Fraser Institute. Provincial ministers have had to make difficult decisions, including the cancellation of thousands of elective surgeries, Barua said in an interview. While its important to continue to support all those involved in this difficult situation, its becoming increasingly clear that these surgeries are adding to a growing backlog that may take years to address within the confines of our existing health system. In British Columbia, 30,000 cancelled surgeries will be rescheduled starting May 18. The provincial government said it will take up to 17 to 24 months to clear the backlog and add a cost of $250 million to the health-care system. And thats not counting an additional 93,000 people on the wait-list for elective surgeries. Though other countries have taken the same measures as Canada in putting off elective surgeries during the pandemic, Barua said there are three reasons Canadians should be particularly worried about the health-care systems current situation. First, international data shows that despite ranking amongst the top spenders, we have fewer physicians, beds, and diagnostic imaging technology (MRI and CT scanners) than most other universal health care systems, he explains. Second, Canadians already struggled to address remarkably long wait times before the current crisis. Third, most provinces are struggling with deficits and increasing debt; spending more is simply not a realistic solution. A 2018 study by the Fraser Institute that compared the performance of different universal health care systems concluded that, among 28 other OECD countries with universal health care, Canada ranked 26th for physicians, 16th for nurses, and 25th for both acute care beds and psychiatric care beds. The study found that Canada ranked the worst when it came to the number of patients who had to wait two months or more for specialist appointments and four months or more for elective surgeries. Concerns about the health-care system has some saying the re-opening is happening prematurely, one being Dr. Sandy Buchman, the president of the Canadian Medical Association. At a Senate social affairs committee meeting on May 20, Buchman said reopening is a gamble and said Canadas already sick health-care system has been even more derailed by the pandemic. Arguing that Canada desperately needs more capacity to conduct more testing and contact tracing in order to better stabilize the health system, Buchman said the country wont be adequately prepared come a second wave if certain measures arent taken, including dealing with the shortage of personal protective equipment. Barua said the fact that Canada doesnt have a strong accompanying private sector like other universal health systems do in countries like Australia, Germany, and Switzerland, puts it at a disadvantage. These countries have the private sector as an ally, he said, and a similar approach in Canada would help address the issues caused or exacerbated by the pandemic. First, the private sector can help reduce strain on the public system by treating patients who are willing and able to pay, he said. Second, Canadas public system can contract services to private clinics in order to treat more patients without investing in expensive infrastructure, which is an approach that was successfully tested during the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative and is now being considered in British Columbia. Third, the private sector would be able to respond far more dynamically to the needs of patients since it would not be bound by government budgets. As the pandemic continues to put an extra burden on Canadas already unstable health system, considering reform is crucial at this time, Barua said. Our health-care workers are doing an incredible job; however, our health-care system has significant challenges ahead, he said. Now is the time to consider policy reform to help patients whose surgeries have been cancelled, as well as those who routinely face long wait times for treatment every year. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2020) - Debut Diamonds Inc. (CSE: DDI) ("Debut Diamonds" or the "Company") announces that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conditions of the agreement governing its previously announced business combination with Inolife R&D Inc. have not been fulfilled and the parties have mutually agreed to terminate the transaction. The Company will continue to search for new business opportunities and transactions. About Debut Diamonds Inc. Debut Diamonds Inc. is a mineral exploration company with no current activities or operations. For more information, please contact: DEBUT DIAMONDS INC. Michael Lerner, CEO & Director Telephone: 416-710-4906 Email: Mlerner10@gmail.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/56515 The ongoing pandemic has completely upended lives and economies across the planet, restricting movement, shutting schools, forcing people to work from home, and jeopardising employment for millions. The strict measures understandably frustrate many people, but the governments actions have effectively contained the spread of the virus so far. Success is not just about case numbers it is about creating a sense of security so that people feel comfortable that the person serving their food, or working next to them, is not a danger. In Vietnam, that feeling of security is coming back and it is something all of us are grateful for. People certainly understand the inevitable tension between containing the spread of the virus and the need to allow economic activity. Decisions by government leaders on when and how to reopen, what level of movement and activity is safe, and how to reactivate important sectors like travel, tourism and hospitality, are some the most difficult policy decisions people have faced in our lifetimes. We are all looking for the safest way to get back to business but make no mistake, opening the economy involves risk. Right now, we are all navigating this zone of uncertainty as we experience Vietnam reopening after it seems no longer reckless to do so, but before it is perfectly safe to do so. The economic implications of the pandemic for Vietnam are severe and will affect us for quite some time. Millions of jobs have disappeared, many people have seen their salaries cut, and business activity in most sectors remains slow. As we move towards economic recovery, the financial pressure for many companies will be significant. Our members welcome the announcements of stimulus and support packages applying to a list of industries the government says are greatly impacted such as passenger transport, tourism accommodation, restaurants, and some other fields. However, there are some business sectors that were overlooked and we are working with our partners in the government to consider a more comprehensive list of industry sectors eligible for government support. We also encourage the government to look at the effectiveness of different support initiatives. For example, while deferring some taxes and insurances is beneficial to some, many businesses see only limited assistance from these programmes. Small businesses need loans to stay alive. We hear from many businesses that are unable to access low interest loans under the governments loan support package because banks have been rejecting applications over concerns about the borrowers ability to repay and not being able to show positive cash flow. This seems to be a particular problem in the tourism and hospitality sector right now. We hope government decision-makers can address those standards quickly. Many manufacturing businesses here face greatly reduced demand and cancelled orders. It is important to understand that these businesses want to keep their workforce, but right now they are struggling. It is bad for the companies if they have to let employees go, and then try to rehire them back in the future once things return to normal. It is also bad for the workers and for the government. We very much hope that the government will support businesses to keep workers employed, either at reduced compensation, or by reduced contributions and obligations to the government. The pre-pandemic trade war highlighted concerns on concentrating production in a single country, and now the situation has made those concerns clearer to everybody. I expect companies to continue shifting production out of China and into countries like Vietnam. The Vietnamese governments effective response to the pandemic will further boost the countrys status as an attractive market. There are many things the government can do right now to make Vietnam more attractive for foreign direct investment. For example, we need accelerated use of e-government, e-commerce, e-banking, fintech, modern cloud computing, and the overall reduction of paper and cash for all businesses. Accelerated implementation of these digital economy objectives will greatly reduce administrative costs and time burdens for all businesses, and will attract new investors. Another promising area is continuing infrastructure development especially clean projects. Improving waste management and air quality concerns in Vietnam by accelerating the use of clean energy, clean vehicles, clean agriculture, and reducing the inefficiency and waste of energy will help build a stronger circular economy and will spur job creation. Moreover, foreign investment limitations, an overly restrictive legal framework of laws governing businesses, and burdensome administrative procedures should be carefully reviewed and selectively relaxed to encourage increased foreign investment and support economic recovery. American investors remain optimistic about business prospects in Vietnam. However, we live in a competitive world. Almost every country in the region is working to grow a modern economy, which will attract future investment and high-paying jobs for their people. Adam Sitkoff Migrant labourers staged a protest and pelted stones at police personnel in Mandi Gobindgarh after a Bihar-bound train was cancelled on Monday morning. Hundreds of labourers had gathered in the fields of Khalsa Senior Secondary School in Mandi Gobindgarh where they were provided temporary shelter. However, upon learning about the cancellation, the migrant labourers blocked the main Jalandhar-Panipat national highway. The labourers also attacked the police party and pelted stones at him. LATHICHARGE Police had to use mild lathicharge to disperse the protestors. Senior civil and police officials rushed to the spot to control the situation. Sub-divisional magistrate Anand Sagar Sharma said the situation was under control. We are coordinating with railways to arrange another train for the labourers so that they can return at the earliest, he said. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday urged the Jal Shakti Ministry and NITI Aayog to study the feasibility of a drinking water project for Udayagiri in Andhra Pradesh. In a meeting with NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and top officials of the ministry, he discussed various possible ways in which drinking water and irrigation needs of the drought-prone Udayagiri area of Nellore district can be met, a statement said. Naidu was elected an MLA from Udayagiri in 1978. The vice president also spoke with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and shared with him the feedback he had received from many of his acquaintances in Udayagiri about the acute drinking water situation in the area. He apprised him of his meeting with the senior officials and suggested that it would be good if the state government and the Centre could work together to find a sustainable solution to the problem. The chief minister responded positively and promised to work towards a solution, the statement added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Complete list of guidelines for international arrivals into India India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 25: The Centre has issued several guidelines for International arrivals. The Centre has said that before boarding all travellers should give an undertaking that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days. This would be 7 days of institutional quarantine and 7 days home quarantine. Domestic flight rules: From web check in to Aarogya Setu, what you should know Day 62: Guidelines for domestic flight passengers from different states | Oneindia News Full set of guidelines: Only for exceptional and compelling reasons such as cases of human distress, pregnancy, death in family, serious illness and parent(s) accompanied by children below 10 years, as assessed by the receiving states, home quarantine may be permitted for 14 days. Use of Aarogya Setu app shall be mandatory in such cases. Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with ticket to the travellers by the agencies concerned. All passengers shall be advised to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices. At the time of boarding the flight/ ship, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening. Passengers arriving through the land borders will also have to undergo the same protocol as above, and only those who are asymptomatic will be enabled to cross the border into India. Self-declaration form in duplicate shall be filled by the person in the flight/ship and a copy of the same will be given to Health and Immigration officials present at the airport/ seaport/ Iand port. The form may also be made available on Aarogya Setu app. Suitable precautionary measures such as environmental sanitation and disinfection shall be ensured at the airports as well as within the flights. During boarding and at the airports, all possible measures to ensure social distancing to be ensured. Suitable announcement about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports/port and in flights/ships and during transit. While on board the flight/ ship, required precautions such as wearing of masks, environmental hygiene, respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene etc. are to be observed by airline/ ship staff, crew and all passengers. On arrival, thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all the passengers by the Health officials present at the airport/ seaport/ Iandport. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility as per health protocol. The remaining passengers shall be taken to suitable institutional quarantine facilities, to be arranged by the respective State/ UT Governments. These passengers shall be kept under institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 7 days. They shall be tested as per ICMR protocol available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Revisedtestingguidelines.pdf. If they test positive, they shall be assessed clinically. If they are assessed as mild cases, they will be allowed home isolation or isolated in the Covid Care Centre (both public & private facilities) as appropriate. Those having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated COVID Health facilities and managed accordingly. If found negative, they shall be advised to further isolate themselves at home and self-monitor their health for 7 days. In case, any symptoms develop they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call centre (1075). NOTE: States can also develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment. Teachers in South Africa want the planned reopening of schools on 1 June halted, Independent Online news website reports. Educators Union of SA (Eusa) general secretary Siphiwe Mpungose is quoted as saying that they will file a court application on Monday against the Department of Basic Education (DBE). The DBE had announced that Grade 7 and Grade 12 will reopen school on 1 June. School premises are already being cleaned and sanitised ahead of the planned reopening. Teachers say the ministry's position that protective gear will be issued cannot be trusted and the rates of infections are still high. The teachers' union last week sent a letter to the education ministry asking officials to reconsider the plan to reopen schools. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Representative image India will have to play an important role in mass production of medicines and vaccines against COVID-19 once the treatment for the deadly disease is found, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said. Dozens of researchers across the globe are racing against time to come out with a vaccine for coronavirus that has infected over 50 lakh people and has killed over 3.3 lakh globally. "It is very important for states to coordinate if we want the COVID-19 vaccine and/or medicines to be produced and distributed equitably worldwide. India will have an important role to play as a producer of medicines and vaccines," French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain told PTI in an interview. India is a leading manufacturer of vaccines and generic drugs globally. Several research institutes in India are also working on separate programmes to find a vaccine for the coronavirus. The French Ambassador's comments also came in the backdrop of efforts by a large number of countries as well as the 27-nation European Union (EU) to ensure equitable access to any vaccine or medicine for the treatment of coronavirus infection through their mass production under voluntary patenting. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic The issue figured prominently at the recent two-day conference of the World Health Organization (WHO) where many countries pressed for making the vaccine available to all countries and not only to those who have deep pockets. "France and India have supported the European resolution (at the WHO) for universal, timely and equitable access to all necessary products for countering the pandemic, and underscored the role of extensive immunisation against COVID-19 as a global public good," he said. Since the coronavirus crisis broke out, India has been pitching for a coordinated global approach in containing the pandemic. India has already supplied 446 million hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets and 1.54 billion Paracetamol tablets to 133 countries, drawing praise from a number of global leaders. Last week, India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the coronavirus pandemic has reaffirmed India's role as a "pharmacy of the world. In the interview, Lenain also said that the coronavirus crisis has shown that France and India's push for multilateralism is the right option for the current century. "None of the major issues that structure the future of the world like healthcare and environment can be dealt with in an isolated manner," he said. "I am delighted that the reform of the WHO, which France encourages, has found favour in India. India and France have coordinated well and continue to do so. However, we can do much more together," he said. The COVID-19 crisis has shown the importance of international cooperation on humanitarian issues and the two strategic partners have been working together under the G20 as well as in the WHO on finding ways to check the spread of the coronavirus, the ambassador said. He also said that France is "very grateful" to India for allowing the export of certain critical drugs for treating patients in intensive care. Asked whether there was a need for global investigation to find the origin of the coronavirus, Lenain said, "Post-crisis, there will, of course, be a time for analysing the alert mechanism to see how it can be improved. (With inputs from PTI) A Rolls Royce aircraft engine can be seen on a plane at Albrecht Durer Airport Nuremberg. Photo: Daniel Karmann/dpa via Getty Images Rolls-Royce has written to suppliers threatening to withdraw support if they do not agree to price cuts of up to 15%, according to a report in the Financial Times. The move has angered many of its 700 global aerospace suppliers who say they are already struggling amid a drop in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The company, which spends 7bn ($8.54bn) a year with suppliers, has been cutting orders to adjust to reduced demand but is also expecting price cuts between five and 15%. The letter was sent just days before Rolls-Royce announced 9,000 job cuts, which will shrink its workforce by 17% and its civil aerospace business by a third. A cut in pricing could push many companies into bankruptcy, according to Andrew Mair, head of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance. READ MORE: Fiat Chrysler primed to receive Europe's biggest carmaker bailout It seems illogical and damaging to push for reduced prices right now, on top of rapid rate reductions. It will simply aggravate disruption in their supply chains if companies go out of business," he told the Financial Times. But Rolls-Royce said the letters had not been sent to their biggest suppliers or those deemed to be most at risk. Now more than ever we need a competitive supply chain. We will reward those who will work with us to help us take cost down with more business, said Warrick Matthews, Rolls-Royces chief procurement officer for the civil aerospace division. The aerospace manufacturer is not the only company turning to the supply chain for savings as the industry staves off collapse. Many others have stopped taking deliveries even if goods are in the process of being manufactured or are delaying payments and pushing orders into next year. Frustrated suppliers have now presented the government with a list of restrictive actions being taken by big companies which contradict claims that aircraft and equipment makers are supporting the supply chain, says the Financial Times. LOBAMBA - The uncertainty of whether their lives will go back to normal is too much to bear for some hotel employees. Just like hairdressers, bend and pick vendors and bar owners, hotel employees are feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in their daily livelihood. The hotel employees are screaming desperation and hunger as they no longer have an income to put food on the table for their families. This follows that many hotels temporarily closed following the dwindling numbers of people who were making use of their facilities. This was brought about by the coronavirus outbreak, which also resulted in government enforcing a partial lockdown. Prominent Last Friday, two women, who work at one of the prominent lodges in Ezulwini, were caught idling at their homes, nursing their children and harvesting maize so they could at least have a meal for the day. Being idle and trying to make a plan for the next meal has become a norm for these two women. As this journalist sat down with them, they immediately said hunger was killing them. Dudu Groening (56), who has worked at a popular lodge for 30 years as a chef, said life quickly went sour for her after her February leave. Groening has five children aged between 16 and 30. Two of them are still in school and she is the one paying for them. In March, when I got back to work, we were immediately told to stop reporting for work because of the virus and the first thing that came in my mind was my childrens school fees, I had to ask myself how I would manage to pay for their school fees, said Groening. Groening has been at home, without receiving any salary as they were told no-work-no-pay. When asked if she knew when she could go back to work, she said it had not been communicated to them when they could go back to work - something which brought about a lot of uncertainty. It is not our bosses fault that we are in this predicament - we understand that this is a global war and this war has brought us nothing, but hunger and apathy towards life in general, she said. When questioned if she had a retirement fund or savings which she could tap into during these trying times, she said the only savings she had was with Lidlelantfongeni (Eswatini National Provident Fund). Sometimes we sleep without food and when we are lucky, we are able to make soup that day, she said. According to Groening, their superiors at work said they would contact them on May 31 to give them an update regarding their future with the lodge. Renting While we wait for the said date, some of the employees are renting and they defaulted on their rentals. The struggle is not only against hunger for others, but the fear of finding themselves homeless if this pandemic persists, she said. Groening was earning about E2 000 per month and has not been salaried since April. The E2 000 may not be sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle, but I was able to make ends meet. I was able to pay school fees for my two children. Waking up each day and going to work is not really about the money sometimes, it is also about keeping sane. Not only are we financially deprived, but our mental health and self-esteem is slowly being weakened by this unplanned circumstance, she said. Ntombikhona Simelane (39), a mother to four-month-old twins, said life had always been unkind to her and the COVID-19 pandemic only added to her misery. Simelane has a total of four children, the firstborn being 20 years old. She said with the money she earned, she was able to feed her family, including the twins. When we were told to stop coming to work, I just thought of my twins. They were very young then and babies frequently need food, which they are not getting sufficiently at the moment, said Simelane. Simelanes partner also lost his job early this year and this made the financial situation tough for the family. There is no income in my household. None at all and this is very hurting because I get to see my children crying due to hunger, she said. As an adult, I can stomach such situations, but children do not understand the poverty wave that we are faced with. It is not the childrens duty to understand hunger, but with this situation, they are being exposed to it and this makes me feel helpless, she said. Simelane also earned E2 000, which, according to her, made life a bit bearable. There are over 300 people in Groening and Simelanes predicament as many hotels and lodges have shut their doors because of the dormant hospitality industry in the country. Confirmed Lobamba Indvuna Yenkhundla Bhekisisa Bhembe confirmed that there were about 300 people who had been retrenched from the 15 hotels that were closed in Ezulwini. This pandemic is exposing hotels that a lot of their staff were working on a casual basis. Some of the employees of these hotels and lodges had been employed for over three years and were still on contract. They left their jobs with no gratuity. They left with nothing, said Bhembe. He also said some of the employees had been evicted by their landlords from their rented houses. Rent around Ezulwini and Lobamba starts from E500 and they can barely afford it now, he said. He pleaded with government to make amendments in the manner in which hotel staff was hired. Geneva: World Health Organisation officials have renewed praise for China in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, citing its "openness" to the prospect of scientific inquiries involving foreign experts into the origins of the novel coronavirus. Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies program, talks during a press conference at the World Health Organisation headquarters in Geneva. Credit:AP Dr Michael Ryan, the WHO's emergencies chief, pointed to "day-to-day" discussions with colleagues in China. He said the UN health agency and many governments are eager to understand the animal origins of the virus, "and I am very pleased to hear a very consistent message coming from China, which is one of openness to such an approach." US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the WHO leadership, once calling it a "pipe organ" for China in the handling of the outbreak. He has also pointed to unspecified intelligence suggesting the virus originated in a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan, a claim denied by lab officials. The PhD-2020 admission result comprises the first list of selection. The second and third lists are to follow. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow has released the admission result of PhD candidates for the upcoming session. The institute said that those selected for the programme have been informed through email. The result of the PhD-2020 admission process of IIM Lucknow has been declared. Only the selected candidates have been informed by email. The applicants are advised to check their emails to confirm the results. In case of queries, please get in touch with us at the email id: fpmoffice@iiml.ac.in, read the notice. The PhD-2020 admission result comprises the first list of selection. The second and third lists are to follow. Candidates were chosen following a virtual interview that was conducted earlier this year. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, Professor Archana Shukla, the director of IIML, said, Now gradually all IIMs are declaring the list of selected candidates whose results are ready. In the same process we also announced list of selected candidates. As soon as we completed online interviews, we declared our results. The professor added that they had to conduct interviews online for a batch size of approximately 450 students. The doctoral programme at IIM Lucknow focuses on preparing students for careers in the management field such as research, teaching and consulting. IIM Lucknow says the PhD programme builds state of the art research skills and meets with the requirements of enthusiastic executives and teaching professionals. The written aptitude test for 2020-22 session wasnt conducted by the institute in view of the coronavirus lockdown. Mr. Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, did not wear masks, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged all Americans to wear them. A stay-at-home order is still in effect in Baltimore, where the mayor, Bernard C. Young, had urged the president to cancel the visit. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, did wear a mask when he emerged in public on Monday for his first public appearance since mid-March, when he began campaigning from his home. He and his wife, Jill Biden, both in black masks, laid a wreath at a veterans memorial in Delaware in an unannounced visit. Thanks for your service, Mr. Biden said, saluting a small group of veterans and other onlookers from a distance. Mr. Biden, 77, and his campaign advisers have said that they intend to abide by the public safety recommendations that have so far made rallies and other campaign events impossible. They have indicated that they want to serve as role models who respect the science behind the guidance. To some Biden allies, it offers a chance for an implicit contrast with Mr. Trump, 73, who has pushed for quick reopenings of states, businesses and houses of worship and has resisted wearing masks. On Monday evening, Mr. Trump retweeted a post by Brit Hume of Fox News that showed a photograph of Mr. Biden with his face covering and said, This might help explain why Trump doesnt like to wear a mask in public. A pigeon, suspected to be trained in Pakistan for spying, was captured along the International Border (IB) in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Monday. They said the pigeon, carrying a "coded message", was captured by residents of Manyari village in Hiranagar sector soon after it flew into this side from Pakistan. Security agencies concerned are working to decipher the "coded message", the officials said. "The villagers handed over the pigeon (to the local police station) yesterday. A ring was seen attached to one of its legs with some numbers on it and a probe is on," Senior Superintendent of Police of Kathua Shailendra Mishra said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) File picture Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said states who wish to employ workers from UP must seek the state government's permission before doing so. Adityanath also announced that a Migrant Commission will be set up to provide employment to migrants who returned to the state amid coronavirus lockdown, reported The Indian Express. "The Uttar Pradesh government will lay down stringent conditions to ensure social security of workers from UP," the CM said during a webinar. "If other states need manpower, the UP government will give the manpower social security. We will provide insurance and security. However, other states cannot employ people from UP without the state's permission, he added. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic The Migrant Commission will provide jobs to workers according to their skills. Adityanath had earlier asked state officials to do skill mapping of migrant workers so that they can be provided employment once they complete the quarantine period. 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 CM also accused the Shiv Sena-Congress government in Maharashtra of deceiving migrant workers. "Migrant workers who built Maharashtra with their blood and sweat only got deceit from the state government. They were left to fend for themselves, forcing them to leave the state," Adityanath said in a tweet in Hindi. Most Australians are comfortable with the rise of facial recognition software despite concerns about the risks, according to the first national survey on community attitudes to the technology. As the federal government works towards the implementation of a facial recognition database and police and schools increasingly embrace the technology new research by Monash University has found that many people accept it, particularly if it's used for law enforcement. Facial recognition technology is rising rapidly around the world. Credit:Shutterstock.com The study, based on the views of 2291 people, found that 61 per cent of respondents believed facial recognition could be a useful tool for public safety, even though more than a third had concerns about accuracy of the technology and likelihood of bias. Just under half of those surveyed (49 per cent) agreed that use of facial recognition in public spaces constituted an invasion of privacy, while 50 per cent said they would have no concerns about the technology for safety and security purposes as long as they knew how the data was being used and stored. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday where they discussed the latest developments in Libya as well as efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus and ease its medical, economic and social impacts. El-Sisi and Mitsotakis agreed on boosting cooperation in terms of fighting the coronavirus through exchanging know-how and upholding coordination between concerned bodies in the two friendly nations, according to presidency spokesman Bassam Radi. They took up means of boosting cooperation at all levels, whether bilaterally or within the framework of the trilateral cooperation mechanism grouping Egypt, Cyprus and Greece. In this respect, both sides agreed on resuming exchanged visits at the level of senior officials once the international aviation movement, which is disrupted by the pandemic, is back to normal. During the call, El-Sisi and Mitsotakis shared similar views with regards to their countries stances and interests in the Middle East region along with asserting the significance of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), which is considered as one of the key tools towards cementing cooperation among countries taking part in it in the domain of energy and gas, Radi said. The spokesman added that the phone call tackled the latest updates of the Libyan crisis, with both sides affirming their rejection of foreign interference that makes the issue more complicated and serves the interests of the foreign parties at the expense of Libyan people's rights, will and interests. Such interference jeopardises not only the stability and security of Libya's neighbouring countries, but also the European ones, El-Sisi and Mitsotakis said. Meanwhile, they called for unified international efforts to support a settlement to the Libyan crisis through supporting the UN bids in this regard along with putting into effect the outcomes of the Berlin summit on Libya, which took place in January 2020 in Germany. Search Keywords: Short link: President Donald Trumps administration says Chinese tech is based at least in part on stealing foreign knowhow and is used to spy on the US The US Commerce Department said that Qihoo 360 and seven other companies that supplied video and other surveillance technology and two government entities were added to the list for being complicit in human rights violations and abuses in the Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang. Beijing: One of Chinas biggest tech companies has criticised the Trump administration for politicising business after it slapped export sanctions on 33 more Chinese enterprises and government entities. The new measures announced on Friday expanded a US campaign against Chinese companies Washington says might be security threats or involved in human rights abuses. Beijing criticised curbs imposed earlier on tech giant Huawei and other Chinese companies but has yet to say whether it will retaliate. The most prominent name on the latest blacklist is Qihoo 360, a major supplier of anti-virus software and a web browser. The decision to add the companies to the Commerce Departments Entity List limits their access to US components and technology by requiring government permission for exports. Qihoo 360 firmly opposes this irresponsible action and the US Commerce Departments practice of politicising business and scientific and technological research and development, the company said on its social media account. Qihoo 360 and other companies didnt immediately respond to questions Monday about which US technologies they use and how the restrictions might affect their businesses. The Chinese government had no immediate comment. Chinas fledgling tech industries are developing processor chips, software, telecom hardware, electric car batteries and other products. But they still need US, European and Japanese components and other inputs for smartphones and other devices, as well as for manufacturing processes. President Donald Trumps administration complains Chinese tech development is based at least in part on stealing foreign know-how. American officials say that might support spying or weapons development that might threaten the security of the US or Chinas Asian neighbours. Complaints about Beijings technology ambitions prompted Trump to raise duties on Chinese imports in 2018, triggering a tariff war that has weighed on global trade. The two governments signed a truce in January but Trump has threatened to back out if China fails to buy more American exports. Companies including Huawei that were targeted by earlier US sanctions deny they are a threat. Chinese officials accuse Washington of using phony security warnings to block rising competitors to US tech industries. Qihoo 360 was among 24 companies or government-linked entities the Commerce Department said pose a significant risk of supporting procurement of items for military end-use in China. Another blacklisted company, CloudMinds Technology Co, a maker of internet-linked robots in Beijing, said all its products are designed for civilian use. It appealed to the US government in a statement on its social media account to stop this unfair treatment. Qihoo 360, headquartered in Beijing, was traded on the New York Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2015, when the company bought back its US shares. It joined the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2018. The Commerce Department said seven other companies that supplied video and other surveillance technology and two government entities were added to the list for being complicit in human rights violations and abuses in the Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang. An Abuja-based lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, on Friday, filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the suspension of the Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji. Mr Jideobi also wants the court to order a forensic audit of the organisations accounts from inception and to declare the NSIA as an unconstitutional body. The lawyers request is contained in an application for interlocutory injunction made available to PREMIUM TIMES, which he filed on Friday alongside the main suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/628/2020. The defendants in the suit are the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (first); the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (second); the National Assembly (third), and its clerk, Mohammed Sani-Omolori (fourth). Others are the NSIA (fifth), the agencys MD, Mr Orji (sixth); the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (seventh), and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed (eighth). Mr Jideobi is in his suit challenging the legality of the NSIA, which was created by the NSIA (Establishment) Act 2011 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration to receive, manage and invest some of the Federation Account funds to prepare for any eventual depletion of Nigerias oil reserve. The lawyer argued that various provisions of the NSIA Act violated the provisions of sections 80 and 162 of the Nigerian Constitution which created the Federation Account/Consolidated Revenue Fund Account and provided that all revenues accruing to the federal government must be paid into them and shared by the tiers of governments. He also argued that the National Assembly lacks the power to make a law like the NSIA which he contended authorised the violation of the provisions of sections 80 and 162 of the Constitution. Mr Jideobi sought for an order, suspending the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the 5th defendant, NSIA, from office forthwith to pave way for a forensic audit into all the accounts and all the investments made by the 5th defendant commencing from June, 2011 to the date. He also sought an order appointing a reputable auditing firm like Pricewaterhouse Coopers Limited or Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited to undertake a forensic audit of all the accounts and all the investments of the 5th defendant from June, 2011 to the date. The lawyer is also asking the court to order the Minister of Finance to defray the expenses arising from the forensic audit. Mr Jideobi said he sought the court orders to enable the Nigerian nation to understand what has happened to their humongous wealth allocated to the 5th defendant (NSIA) in the midst of massive want, abject poverty and especially in this unfortunate era of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic further impoverishing the Nigerian people. The plaintiff noted that as recent as March 10, 2020, the Senate Committee on Finance was informed by the Accountant-General of the Federation that the National Economic Council agreed to invest $250,000,000 from the Excess Crude Account into the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority. He sought among others, an order striking down 4, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 of the NSIA Act which he argued violated sections 4, 7, 80 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution(as Amended). The lawyer is also seeking a mandatory order commanding the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the 6th defendant (AGF), to immediately dispose of all the assets and investments of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, sweep same into the Federation Account. No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit. The wave of jewellers, flight attendants, and movie theatre ushers who took up second jobs in supermarkets at the height of coronavirus panic buying has subsided with unions reporting casual workers have had their hours cut. Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths together recruited 32,000 casual workers to keep up with surging demand as the coronavirus fuelled a rush on toilet paper, tinned goods and staple grains in March. Many came from other companies that had been forced to stand down staff, such as Qantas and Michael Hill jewellers. Supermarket staff have complained of cuts to their hours as spending returns to normal. Credit:Getty Images The pick-up in demand quickly subsided in April, however, as supermarket sales returned almost to normal and retail sales reported the largest-ever monthly fall, down almost 20 per cent. In response, long-standing casual supermarket employees say their hours have been cut to make way for new employees while some new casuals have said they are not getting the same shifts they were earlier in the year. Russian prosecutor seeks 18 years in prison for alleged foreign spy Whelan Sergey Vedyashkin, Moskva news agency 15:18 25/05/2020 MOSCOW, May 25 (RAPSI) A prosecutor has demanded to sentence a foreign citizen Paul Whelan charged with espionage against Russia to 18 years in high-security prison, according to a statement of the Moscow City Courts press office. In late March, the Moscow City Court extended detention of Whelan until September 13. Earlier, according to his defense, Whelan was found sane. Whelan is a citizen of the U.S., Canada, Ireland and Great Britain. He is the chief safety officer of BorgWarner, an American worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier. The foreigner was arrested in late 2018 during a spying mission, according to the Federal Security Service. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. The Foreign Ministry of Russia reported earlier that papers classified as state secret were seized from Whelan during his arrest on December 28. His lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov confirmed this information. According to Zherebenkov, his client came to Russia in December 2018 to attend the wedding of his acquaintance. He received a flash drive containing culturological information he was interested in, including photos and videos. However, there was no secret data on it, the attorney said. Whelan was not able to use the USB-drive as he was arrested on December 2018, the lawyer added. Lucknow Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said on Monday that measures to set up a migration commission should be expedited to provide jobs to migrant workers coming back to the state due to the Covid-19 lockdown. The chief minister gave the directives at a meeting of his Team-11 convened to review the lockdown situation in the state. Yes, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has asked for making efforts on a war-footing to set up the migration commission. The commission will be set up in the next few days in accordance with the existing provisions of law, said chief secretary RK Tiwari. The announcement came amid a growing controversy over the chief ministers assertion last week that states will need to obtain permission if they wanted to use Uttar Pradeshs manpower. In response on Monday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray demanded that Maharashtra should allow only bonafide migrants and they should submit all details to the authorities.Any migrant entering Maharashtra too, would need to take permissions from us, the Maharashtra government and the state police. The Maharashtra government needs to look into this matter seriously, said Thackeray. Official estimates say about one million migrants have left Maharashtra and gone back to their respective home states since the Covid-19 pandemic began. A majority of these workers belong to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The controversy has alarmed business associations who say any move to curtail the flow of workers would be detrimental to the economy.These statements like registration will only scare away the migrant labour and will impede the growth of an industrialised state like Maharashtra, said Mohan Gurnani, chairman of the Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade. There is also apprehensions of how much migrants will come back as many sectors are dependent on migrant labour, he added. At a webinar on Sunday, the chief minister had said his government would set up the migration commission in the interest of workers. The migration commission will work in the interest of the migrant workers. If any other state wants UPs manpower, they cannot take them away just like that. Those states will have to do it with the consent and permission of the UP government. The way our migrant workers were ill-treated in those states, the UP government will take their insurance, social security in its hands now. The UP government will stand with them wherever they work, whether in Uttar Pradesh, other states or other countries, he had said. Asked if the state government would study the Centres Inter State Migrant Workmen Act or go for enacting a new law to set up the commission, Tiwari said, Our basic objective is to watch the welfare of migrant labourers and ensure that they get their wages. The state governments move about prior permission for jobs in other states may, however, has to stand legal scrutiny with experts saying there cant be any restriction on doing business in any part of the country. The Constitution of India provides a fundamental right allowing every citizen free movement and the right to do business anywhere in India. The state government can enact any law for welfare of migrant labourers. It, however, cannot restrict these rights, said former advisor to governor and legal expert CB Pandey. About 2.5 million migrant labourers have already reached the state. The state government is carrying out an exercise for skill mapping of the migrant labourers. An official spokesman said the skill mapping so far has indicated that 151,492 migrant workers belong to the real estate sector. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chinese state media has threatened Australia with new economic sanctions if it supports the United States as tensions with Beijing escalate. The US said on Friday it would ban trade with 33 Chinese companies in a move that could signal the start of a 'new cold war', according to Chinese media. An article in the state-controlled Global Times said that Australia should keep quiet like India and stay out of the spat to avoid becoming collateral damage. Chinese state media has threatened Australian with new economic sanctions if it supports the US in an escalating trade war with Beijing. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Premier Li Keqiang A haulage truck and an autonomous drilling rig at the Rio Tinto West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of West Australia The article said that China will punish Australia more harshly than the US because it is less economically dependent on Australia. The US is China's number one export market whereas Australia is 14th. The article said: 'China will enjoy more room to fight back against Australia with countermeasures if Canberra supports Washington in a possible "new Cold War". 'It means Australia may feel more pain than the US.' The editorial said President Trump was targeting China to distract from his handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has killed 97,000 Americans. 'The Trump administration is fomenting trouble to deflect its woes over its mishandling of the coronavirus onto China,' it said. 'There is no need for other countries, such as Australia, to involve themselves in this ridiculous political play.' Cattle are readied for auction at the Roma Saleyards in Roma, Queensland. Four major beef supplies have been suspended from exporting to China The Global Times believes Australia is merely a 'lap dog' being used to further American interests and last week claimed the US coerced Canberra into calling for an inquiry into the origins and spread of coronavirus. Last month Beijing became infuriated by Australia's calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus, believing that it was a 'malicious' attempt to blame and 'stigmatize' China. Prime Minster Scott Morrison had demanded a ban on wildlife wet markets, where the virus may have originated, and said inspectors should be able to enter a country suffering from a pandemic without the government's consent. Earlier this month China slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and suspended imports from four Australian beef suppliers in apparent revenge. About one third of Australia's total exports - including iron ore, gas, coal and food - go to China, bringing in around $135billion per year and providing thousands of jobs. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny to an official dinner at the White House September 20, 2019 Last week fears of further retaliation were raised when China relaxed checks on iron-ore imports in a move that could favour Australia's competitors. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US 'stands with Australia'. Mr Morrison has repeatedly insisted the two countries are 'great mates' and their alliance is strong. The 33 companies the US blacklisted have been accused of helping Beijing spy on its minority Uighur population or having ties to weapons of mass destruction and China's military. Seven companies and two institutions were listed for being 'complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs' and others, the Commerce Department said in a statement. Two dozen other companies, government institutions and commercial organizations were added for supporting procurement of items for use by the Chinese military, the department said in another statement. Mr Morrison has called for a ban on wildlife wet markets. Pictured: Xihua Farmers' Market in Guangzhou The blacklisted companies focus on artificial intelligence and facial recognition, markets that US chip companies such as Nvidia Corp and Intel Corp have been heavily investing in. Among the companies named is NetPosa, one of China's most famous AI companies, whose facial recognition subsidiary is linked to the surveillance of Muslims. Mr Pompeo on Friday condemned China's effort to take over national security legislation in Hong Kong, calling it 'a death knell for the high degree of autonomy' that Beijing had promised the territory. The contentious measure, submitted Friday on the opening day of Chinas national legislative session, is strongly opposed by pro-democracy lawmakers in semi-autonomous Hong Kong. Mr Morrison said he could not rule out that the virus spawned in a lab in Wuhan, a theory touted by the US administration. Mr Morrison said he has not seen any evidence for that theory Mr Pompeo called the proposal an effort to 'unilaterally and arbitrarily impose national security legislation on Hong Kong.' 'Hong Kong has flourished as a bastion of liberty. The United States strongly urges Beijing to reconsider its disastrous proposal, abide by its international obligations, and respect Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and civil liberties, which are key to preserving its special status under U.S. law,' Mr Pompeo said in a statement. He said the decision to ignore the will of the people of Hong Kong would be a 'death knell for the high degree of autonomy Beijing promised for Hong Kong' under a decades-old agreement known as the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Trade minister tells wine and cheese exporters not to give China an excuse to ban their products The federal trade minister has told wine and cheese exporters not to give Beijing any excuse to ban their products after beef suppliers were blacklisted over a technicality. The federal government has denied barley tariffs and beef bans are payback for Australia's demands for a coronavirus inquiry - but Trade Minister Simon Birmingham told Australian companies to make sure all their paper work is in order so that more industries cannot be targeted. During an interview on 13 May, the ABC's Patricia Karvelas asked him: 'Australian wine and dairy producers are worried they could be next. What reassurances do you have that that won't happen?' Senator Birmingham replied: 'Everyone at present should be, as they always should, dotting their Is and crossing their Ts and leaving no scope for any grievance to be raised.' He said he could see no reason why wine or cheese industries would fall short of quarantine, health or labelling standards they need to meet to export to China. Advertisement 'A lapdog of the US': Chinese state media claims Donald Trump 'coerced' Scott Morrison into calling for a coronavirus inquiry and says Australia is only harming its own interests Chinese state media has claimed the US coerced Australia into calling for an inquiry into the origins and spread of coronavirus. An article in the Global Times, a state-controlled tabloid newspaper, said Australia is America's 'lapdog' and serving as a US 'pawn to create trouble for China'. It suggested President Donald Trump told Prime Minister Scott Morrison to call for an inquiry into the virus during their phone call on 22 April. 'With the White House promoting the "America First" doctrine and intensifying its competition with China, Washington's allies are increasingly required to help serve those goals,' the article said. 'What the US wants is not equal partners, but loyal followers. Forcing other countries to choose between Washington and Beijing, it is the current US government that is coercing and threatening'. In fact, Australian foreign minister Marise Payne announced Australia's demands for an independent inquiry on 19 April, three days before Mr Morrison spoke to President Trump. The Prime Minister also called German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron on the same day as President Trump to urge them to support Australia's push. President Xi Jinping has agreed to a WHO investigation after more than 100 countries signed a motion demanding one at the World Health Assembly last week. Mr Morrison called Mr Trump on 22 April and later tweeted about the conversation Beijing has a track record of putting pressure on exporters during political disagreements. It includes encouraging a boycott of South Korean cars after the country deployed a US missile shield in 2017 and a ban on Norwegian salmon after Chinese rebel Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo that same year. 'Trade should be independent from politics, but it's hard to completely divide them in reality,' Mr Yu told the Global Times. Australia and China have had a free trade agreement since 2015 but some exporters have still run into difficulties as relations have soured. In 2018 Beijing imposed new customs regulations on Australian wine resulting in shipments being held up in Shanghai. And last year - after Canberra stripped Chinese businessman Xiangmo Huang of his visa - major ports prolonged clearing times for Australian coal to at least 40 days, claiming the delay was due to 'normal' safety checks. Vietnam has some great advantages while competing with regional countries in attracting capital flows moving out of China after the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have said. The Saigon Hi-Tech Park in HCM Citys District 9, which has attracted a lot of foreign investment. A report by SSI Research said foreign projects set up in industrial parks in the country were up 32 per cent year-on-year in the first four months of the year to US$9.8 billion. The pandemic has shown that many large countries supply chains are heavily dependent on China, and they have taken drastic steps to cut this dependency. Many large US, Japanese and European companies are gearing up to shift production away from China. Viet Nam is one of their destinations besides some others in the region such as Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. "Compared to Indonesia, which directly competes with Viet Nam in attracting FDI, Viet Nam has the advantage of proximity to China, the report said. Viet Nam also offers support to businesses, with many incentives for large FDI projects, and has a lot of free trade agreements in which Indonesia does not participate. Recently the Vietnamese dong has been very stable compared to the Indonesian rupiah." Nguyen Van Toan, vice chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Foreign Investment Enterprises, said the opportunity to attract the FDI wave looking to relocate from China is quite clear, but not really big, and whether the opportunity can be grasped depends largely on Viet Nam. "We also need to be aware that investors will not easily pull out all investment from China because that country has great advantages such as a strong work force, good use of technology and products for all market segments, not just the affordable segment." Viet Nam would face difficulties in competing with so many rivals to attract a part of the capital flows moving out of the neighbouring country, he said. Experts agreed that to compete in the race, the country would need to change its way of attracting FDI and quickly. Phan Huu Thang, former director of the Foreign Investment Agency, said, [We] will fail if we try to attract foreign investment in the traditional way. For example, India has immediate policies to allocate land, prepare infrastructure, identify potential investors to approach, announce tax reduction plans ... Investors are gearing up to shift their production. If we continue to act slowly, we will miss an opportunity that comes once in 100 years. Toan said Viet Nam needed to further improve its business and investment environment and administrative procedures. He believes that HCM City, which leads the country in FDI attraction, has all the conditions and capacity required to make good use of this opportunity. VNS Life in the deep sea (>200m). Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute The world's deep oceans are warming at a slower rate than the surface, but it's still not good news for deep-sea creatures according to an international study. The research, led by University of Queensland Ph.D. student Isaac Brito-Morales, looked at how ocean life was responding to climate change. "We used a metric known as climate velocity which defines the likely speed and direction a species shifts as the ocean warms," Mr Brito-Morales said. "We calculated the climate velocity throughout the ocean for the past 50 years and then for the rest of this century using data from 11 climate models. "This allowed us to compare climate velocity in four ocean depth zonesassessing in which zones biodiversity could shift their distribution the most in response to climate change." The researchers found climate velocity is currently twice as fast at the surface because of greater surface warming, and as a result deeper-living species are less likely to be at risk from climate change than those at the surface. "However by the end of the century, assuming we have a high-emissions future, there is not only much greater surface warming, but also this warmth will penetrate deeper," Mr Brito-Morales said. Life in the deep sea (<200m). Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute "In waters between a depth of 200 and 1000 metres, our research showed climate velocities accelerated to 11 times the present rate. "And in an interesting twist, not only is climate velocity moving at different speeds at different depths in the ocean, but also in different directions which poses huge challenges to the ways we design protected areas." Senior researcher UQ's Professor Anthony Richardson said the team believed action must be taken to aggressively manage carbon emissions. "Significantly reducing carbon emissions is vital to control warming and to help take control of climate velocities in the surface layers of the ocean by 2100," he said. "But because of the immense size and depth of the ocean, warming already absorbed at the ocean surface will mix into deeper waters. "This means that marine life in the deep ocean will face escalating threats from ocean warming until the end of the century, no matter what we do now. "This leaves only one optionact urgently to alleviate other human-generated threats to deep-sea life, including seabed mining and deep-sea bottom fishing. "The best way to do this is to declare large, new protected areas in the deep ocean where damage to ocean life is prohibited, or at least strictly managed." The research has been published in Nature Climate Change. Explore further Going against the trend: Cooling in the Southern Ocean More information: Climate velocity reveals increasing exposure of deep-ocean biodiversity to future warming, Nature Climate Change (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-0773-5 Journal information: Nature Climate Change Climate velocity reveals increasing exposure of deep-ocean biodiversity to future warming,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0773-5 The number of people looking for help from one homelessness charity in Dublin city centre has increased by 20 per cent in the last week alone. The Mendicity Institution offers food and daytime provision services to the city's homeless population on a limited staff, and has expanded to opening for fifteen hours a day, seven days a week, compared to five days a week previously. India has entered the list of 10 countries worst hit by the novel coronavirus after record spike in the number of cases for four consecutive days, pushing the tally of infections to over 1.38 lakh, surpassing Iran, according tothe John Hopkins University data. The country registered 154 deaths and a record jump of 6,977 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 1,38,845 and death toll to 4,021 on Monday with some experts attributing the spike in cases to the lockdown relaxations, including partial resumption of rail services and road transport along with the return of the migrant workers, while others say the rise in cases is due to enhanced testing capacity in the country. Domestic passenger flights also resumed operations on Monday after a gap of two months. India is the tenth most affected nation by the pandemic after US, Russia, UK, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Turkey and France, as per the JHU data. The country hasrecorded 6,088, 6,654, 6,767 and 6977 on May 22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively. Also,the number of RT-PCR tests for detection of COVID-19 in the country crossed the 30-lakh mark on Monday. Commenting on the partial resumption of rail and road transport services,Dr Chandrakant SPandav, formerpresidentof Indian Public Health Association and Indian Association of Preventive and social medicine said these relaxations will create an enabling environment for the coronavirus infection to flourish. "Now, the government will have to ensure strong surveillance and monitoring so as to curb the infection which otherwise willoverwhelmthe healthcare system," said Pandav, formerHOD of the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS. However, Professor KSrinath Reddy, president of thePublic HealthFoundation of India said anincrease in the number of cases reflects both an increase in testing rates and an increase in spread. "What we need to see is the number of new tests performed per day and the number of new cases that were identified from them. We also have to see if the testing criteria have remained the same between the two periods of comparison"We may open up gradually but will have to continue case detection, contact tracing and follow personal protection measures as vigorously as possible," he added. Noted lung surgeon Dr Arvind Kumar cautioned that given the COVID-19 situation right now, "India is heading towards a very chaotic situation from here on". "The rate at which the thousands of cases are being reported per day, we will be moving upwards in the top 10 countries bracket which we have entered now," he said. Kumar, who works at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here, said, the first lockdown and to a certain extent second phase of lockdown were "managed well". "However, from third lockdown onwards, a series of disastrous steps have been taken by authorities, from opening of liquor shops and then resuming of flights from today. If the flights were not resumed for another two weeks, what harm would have happened, "he asked. Kumar warned that by end of June, "India is going to see a massive surge in the number of cases". Dr Vikas Maurya, Additional Director and head of pulmonology, at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh here, said, "with the reopening of economy, we will see a surge for sure in the initial period". "Whether that surge will abate or continue to rise, will depend on how the situation is managed by the authorities at all levels, and how people behave in public at large," he said. "This lockdown hopefully has taught people to be more disciplined, practice social distancing, and so, future scenario will also depend on how our demographically diverse population behaves," the doctor said. Maurya cautioned that if the cases do not abate in few weeks, the lockdown should be imposed again, "otherwise things will go out of control" The first two phases of the lockdown led to 14-29 lakh COVID-19 cases being averted while the number of lives saved in that period was between 37,000 and 78,000, the government said on Friday citing various studies, and asserted that the unprecedented shutdown has paid "rich dividends" in the fight against the pandemic. The number of active COVID-19 cases climbed to 77,103 on Monday while 57,720 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said. "Thus, around 41.57 per cent patients have recovered so far," a senior health ministry official said."Through a graded, pre-emptive and proactive approach, the government is taking several steps along with the states and UTs for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19. These are being regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level," the ministry said on Monday. The total 4,021 fatalities include 1,635 deaths from Maharashtra followed by Gujarat with 858 deaths, Madhya Pradesh 290, West Bengal 272, Delhi 261, Rajasthan 63, Uttar Pradesh 161,Tamil Nadu 111 and Andhra Pradesh 56. Mahrashtra has reported 50,231 COVID-19 cases, highest in the country, and is followed by Tamil Nadu (16,277), Gujarat (14,056), Delhi (13,418), Rajasthan (7,028), Madhya Pradesh (6,665) and Uttar Pradesh (6,268), West Bengal (3,667), Andhra Pradesh (2,823) and Bihar (2,587). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A researcher at LG Display inspects the activity of a robot delivering glass sheets using a remote controller at the company's cutting-edge LCD manufacturing facility in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in this file photo. Korea Times file By Kim Yoo-chul Following its decision to exit the "legacy" liquid crystal display (LCD) market, Samsung Display said Monday it has been receiving an increased number of "early retirement" applications from employees. "Since the company's March decision that Samsung Display will stop producing LCD panels, the number of people applying for the firm's early relocation program has increased," Sean Cho, chief spokesman at Samsung Display, said. Cho said large-scale transitional efforts were already underway to minimize the impact of the ongoing changes for those employees affected. "Employees at Samsung's LCD lines will be assigned to new tasks by the end of the year. The necessary procedural steps are now under way," he added. Employees who apply for the company's early relocation program will be eligible to receive extra financial compensation depending upon the number of years they have worked for the company and seniority at the time of application, the company said. Samsung's display affiliate is planning to invest up to 13.1 trillion won in quantum dot display technology, a variant of LCD technology, which Samsung has been marketing as the "next-generation display tech." The unit said the decision will accelerate Samsung Display's move towards quantum dot panels as the conventional LCD market is evaporating for it due to increased production by Chinese firms. In 2019, Samsung Display dropped to 10th position in the global share in LCD displays for TVs from one of the top places in 2014. Its chief cross-town rival, LG Display, is also heavily restructuring its LCD production lines, including a plan to cut the number of executive positions by a quarter. According to an LG business report, it had 26,632 employees as of last year, down from 30,366 in 2018. Concerns were that "surplus" Samsung and LG employees could become targets of Chinese companies as they have been aggressively scouting qualified technicians. The Chinese government central government is subsidizing the LCD industry there, which has caused the price of LCDs to drop below manufacturing cost here. As signs of consolidation between Chinese LCD companies are looming, hiring Samsung and LG technicians would be the "right thing" for market differentiation given their knowledge and expertise in the industry, according to experts contacted by The Korea Times. "You can't stop the moves by Samsung and LG to downsize the number of employees at their LCD factories. But the government will have to come up with well-prepared measures to keep them in Korea as those affected may sign lucrative contracts with Chinese companies. That could cause a brain drain as LCD experts are generally knowledgeable about OLED technology, which the South Korean display duo is pushing hard," one official said in an interview. The Western Naval Command (Sekondi) of the Ghana Navy on Monday (May 25, 2020) benefited from Zoomlion Ghana Limited's voluntary disinfection exercise. The exercise, which formed part of the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR), was targeted at containing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic at the command. As early as 6:00 a.m., Zoomlion had arrived at the command with logistics including mechanised road sweepers, 3 Aptomizer Boom spraying machines, Knapsack spraying machines, among others to undertake the exercise. Over 100 Zoomlion personnel who took part in the exercise sprayed the commands barracks, and its various offices, while the mechanised sweeping machines disinfected open spaces and the entire environment. In addition, about eight of the command's vessels were disinfected. Sharing his observations after the exercise, Flight Officer Commanding (FOC) the Western Naval Command, Commodore E.A. Kwafo, described the exercise as a "thorough" one. He thus commended Zoomlion Ghana Limited for extending its free disinfection exercise to his command. Early on Friday (May 22, 2020), Zoomlion disinfected the barracks, parks, and various offices of the Eastern Naval Command (Tema Naval Base) . Two Navy ships at the Tema Harbour Berth 9 Gns eshworp.37 and Gns Bonsup.31 also benefited from the exercise. Addressing journalists after the exercise, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Samuel Walker, was full of praise for Zoomlion Ghana Limited. This whole exercise started via just a phone call from the general headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forcesjust last weekend. And Zoomlion followed it up with a coordinating conference a couple of days ago, he disclosed. According to him, he was quite impressed when he received the operational instructions for the exercise. They were here on time and carried out the exercise with military precision and professionalism, adding that I have no doubt in my mind that they have some military background, Commodore Walker indicated. He said that personnel at the command were strictly observing all the COVID-19 protocols. So far, to God be the glory, we have not recorded any positive [Covid-19] case in the command, he joyously expressed. He recounted that some of his personnel were deployed during the partial lockdown period. We contributed troops as part of the operations and we supported the Southern Command for these operations, and after [it] our personnel were made to go through mandatory testing. And..all of them came out clean, he revealed. Commodore Walker further noted the navy has deployed personnel along the countrys beaches to help enforce the COVID-19 safety protocols. He gave an assurance that his command will not relent in its efforts to enforce the Covid-19 preventive protocols that have been instituted. We have deployed our personnel along the beaches, adding that for the Eastern Naval Command our area of responsibility stretches from Winneba-Aflao, he said. Thus, he said, his command has had interactions with the fisher-folks as well as the chiefs in these areas, indicating that the cooperation has been cordial so far. However, he explained that because navy officers cannot patrol the beaches 24/7, they have given residents along the beaches special phone numbers to enable them to report any person engaged in activities contrary to any of the safety protocols. We have also been working with the MCEs to enforce the protocols and carrying out patrols within the Tema metropolis. And of course, when you are coming to the base it is mandatory for every person, irrespective of your background, to wear nose mask and go through the protocols before you enter this place, Commodore Walker averred. On her part, the National Coordinator for the Zoomlion Disinfection Exercise, Lola Asiseh Ashitey, disclosed that after the Eastern Naval Command, her outfit will move to the Western Command, Takoradi, and disinfect there too, adding that eight more navy ships will also be disinfected. She assured that Zoomlion Ghana Limited will stop at nothing to render its services to the country. U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested during an interview on the news programme Full Measure that Russian President Vladimir Putin is very fond of him, but is not interested in his further success as U.S. president. "He likes me, but I think he doesnt want me to win the election", Trump said. The U.S. leader went on to suggest that China is also on the list of actors who want to see him lose his re-election bid this autumn, Sputnik reported. Every week the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is compiling a list of the top news articles from across the world in which it is mentioned. Check all the international media coverage of IFJ, divided by language, in the period between 14 and 22 May, 2020 A deceased covid-19 victim's loyal dog who waited for his owner inside the lobby of a Wuhan hospital for over three months has been given to a dog shelter. The seven-year-old male mongrel - given the name Xiao Bao (Little Treasure) - arrived at Wuhan Taikang Hospital in Central China's Hubei Province with his elderly owner at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in February. Sadly the pensioner succumbed to the virus after just five days, but Xiao Bao refused to leave according to hospital cleaner Zhu Youzhen, 65. The dog's owner was one of 3,869 killed by the deadly disease in the city. The seven-year-old male mongrel - given the name 'Xiao Bao' - arrived at Wuhan Taikang Hospital in Central China's Hubei Province with his elderly owner in February Unaware that his owner would not be returning, Xiao Bao, waited in the lobby of Taikang Hospital for more than three months, during which time he was fed by staff. On 13th April, after Wuhan lifted its lockdown restrictions and the hospital supermarket reopened, he was cared for by shopkeeper Wu Cuifen. Ms Wu said: 'I first noticed the little dog when I returned to work in the middle of April. I called him 'Xiao Bao'. That's the name I gave him. 'They told me Xiao Bao's owner, a pensioner, was admitted with the coronavirus. Then he passed away, but Xiao Bao didn't know and just stayed in the hospital looking for him. On 20th May, as Taikang Hospital filled with regular patients, staff received complaints and concerns about Xiao Bao roaming the corridors Staff said Xiao Bao refused to leave. Even when they deliberately dropped him off somewhere far away, he would make his way back to Taikang Hospital and patiently wait for his owner 'It never left the hospital. It was incredibly touching, and so loyal. 'I grew familiar with the dog and later brought him into the shop. 'Every morning when I opened up, Xiao Bao would be there waiting for me. He saw me off at the end of each day.' Ms Wu said Xiao Bao refused to leave. Even when they deliberately dropped him off somewhere far away, he would make his way back to Taikang Hospital and patiently wait for his owner to return. On 13th April, after Wuhan lifted its lockdown restrictions and the hospital supermarket reopened, he was cared for by shopkeeper Wu Cuifen On 20th May, as Taikang Hospital filled with regular patients, staff received complaints and concerns about Xiao Bao roaming the corridors. Nurses contacted the Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association, whose members took Xiao Bao in. Xiao Bao was treated by vets and has also been sterilised as he prepares to be rehomed. The shelter is now vetting animal lovers who have offered to foster Xiao Bao, the association's director Du Fan said yesterday. The BJP will hold "virtual rallies" across the country and organise over 1,000 conferences online as it readies to celebrate the first anniversary of the Modi government's second term whose "historic achievements", the party said, will be written in golden letters. In a communication to state units and other senior office-bearers, BJP general secretary Arun Singh said all big state units will hold at least two virtual rallies and smaller units will hold one, adding that more than 750 people should attend each of these programmes. There will also be 1,000 conferences using internet, he said. The spread of coronavirus, which has resulted in lockdown and ban on political meetings, has prompted the BJP to resort to using technology to mark the first anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's second term. It had taken office on May 30 last year. The party described Modi as the world's "most popular leader" and said his government in the first year has fulfilled people's decades-long aspirations and dreams. The events organised by the party to mark the day will begin on May 30 and may continue for a month, sources said. The year has been full of "historic achievements", the party said in the communication, listing nullification of Article 370, which had given the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir special powers, and the law against triple talaq among its successes. The path to the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya has also been cleared, it said. "All these achievements will be written in golden letters in history," it said. The party has asked its members to inform the masses about Modi government's work to combat COVID-19 and told them to carry a letter penned by the prime minister about his resolve to make 'Atmnirbhar Bharat' to 10 crore families. The letter also carries the prime minister's suggestions about combating the coronavirus infection and what India has done so far. Party members have been asked to share the highlights of the Rs 20-lakh-crore package announced by the government and also told to distribute sanitisers and masks among the masses on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) B ritain could be hit with coronavirus for "a year or more" meaning pupils could be home for "months and months" if they do not return to school next week, the Education Secretary has said. Gavin Williamson doubled down on ministers' plans for a June 1 start for primary pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6. It comes as the Prime Minister insisted schools will reopen in six days time despite teaching unions and a string of councils opposing the move on safety grounds. Boris Johnson also said on Sunday that up to a quarter of Year 10 and Year 12, who face GCSE and A-level exams next year, can expect to have "some contact" from June 15. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson insists June is the right time to begin reopening schools / PA Addressing the ongoing row over the plans, Mr Williamson told BBC Breakfast: "We cannot be in a situation where we go for months and months where children are missing out on education." He added that the Government "realises there will be an initial nervousness about the return of schools" but said he was "very confident a large number of schools will be reopening all the way through next week". He insisted official guidance, which urges teaching pupils in small "bubbles" of no more than 15, ensures a "maximum amount of safety". Schools have been told to implement social distancing when they reopen / PA It comes after the PM acknowledged in Sunday's Downing Street briefing that it may "not be possible" for all schools to restart from the start of June. But some 50 councils in England are reportedly ready to defy the reopening date, the Sunday Telegraph reported. Teaching unions, which have been at loggerheads with ministers, also refused to back down after the announcement, placing the plans in further doubt. Teachers union NASUWT said the decision to push ahead with the June 1 opening was at odds with scientific evidence on transmission. The Government wants several primary school cohorts back in ten days / PA NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: The Government has to recognise that it has not won the trust and confidence of the teaching profession. Notwithstanding the Governments assertions, the bottom line is that no teacher or child should be expected to go into schools until it can be demonstrated that it is safe for them to do so." Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, which has over 450,000 members, said it remained opposed to the June 1 date. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was "worrying" that the test, track and trace strategy is not yet ready. The PM said the Government "will engage" with authorities and unions and said a "final decision" for schools would be announced during the three-weekly lockdown review on Thursday. She was used to wearing a bikini during her stint on Love Island. So it comes as no surprise that Montana Brown looked perfectly at ease as she modelled a selection of swimwear pieces for @swimsociety on Instagram Stories on Sunday. The 24-year-old looked incredible as she posed up a storm before dancing in her kitchen for her at-home shoot to showcase the range, which is sold at Asos. Doing it: Montana Brown modelled an array of flesh-flashing bikinis as she danced around her kitchen for an at-home shoot on Instagram on Sunday She picked her favourite to post on her grid, a cute pink polka dot two-piece which highlighted her incredible shape. Montana teamed it with Adidas socks and chunky trainers. She wrote in the caption: 'This is my cleaning the house outfit wbu?' Dotty: She picked her favourite to post on her grid, a cute pink polka dot two-piece which highlighted her incredible shape Montana also looked sensational in another two-piece, a black bikini set which had a keyhole detail. And there was also a sensational white plunging one-piece which she posed on her bed in, while holding a giant flower. Larking around. she pretended the flower was a phone and said: 'Hello!' I'm on the phone: And there was also a sensational white plunging one-piece which she posed on her bed in, while holding a giant flower Hot: Despite not being able to go out and do a fashion shoot - Montana still managed to make everything look incredible, mixing this bikini with the Nike x Dior collabo trainers Swim Society is designed in collaboration with Montana and Skinnydip and recently Montana said she was worried about how the pandemic would affect business. Taking to Instagram with a short video, the beauty modelled one of her latest designs as she expressed her concerns. 'As a small business owner this is a really uncertain time and I was SO excited to share with you our next drop but we will be having a delay on everything,' she told fans. Suits her: Montana seemed to love this spotty pink bikini the most as she posed in it more than the others Who needs the beach? Montana makes the perfect model for the range as she basked in a ray of sunlight 'Absolutely gutted but I understand everyone is hurting by all of this as its a scary time for everyone. Just sending everyone lots of love and positivity at this hard time.' Montana is currently single following her split from model Elliott Reeder in January. She's sworn off dating for the foreseeable future after admitting she's still close and in regular contact with her ex-boyfriend. 'I'm taking a break from dating for now 100 per cent. I'm a bit nervous to go off into the big wide world now,' she told MailOnline in February. 'I was in a long-term relationship and we're still really close and I know I'm definitely not ready for anything. This time is for focusing on work. 'I am such a grandma, I'm not much of a party animal. My happy place is when I'm at home with my hair up watching a film in the comfort of my own home, so it can be hard to meet someone.' She's got the moves: She partied up a storm from the comfort of her kitchen (Corrects to fix typo in last paragraph) HONG KONG, May 25 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's security chief said "terrorism" was growing in the city, as government departments rallied on Monday behind Beijing's plans to introduce national security laws and after thousands took to the streets to protest against the move. Police said they arrested more than 180 people on Sunday, when authorities fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters as unrest returned to the Chinese-ruled city after months of relative calm. "Terrorism is growing in the city and activities which harm national security, such as 'Hong Kong independence', become more rampant," Secretary for Security John Lee said in a statement. "In just a few months, Hong Kong has changed from one of the safest cities in the world to a city shrouded in the shadow of violence," he said, adding national security laws were needed to safeguard the city's prosperity and stability. In a return of the unrest that roiled Hong Kong last year, crowds thronged the streets of the city on Sunday in defiance of curbs imposed to contain the coronavirus, with chants of "Hong Kong independence, the only way out," echoing through the streets. Calls for independence are anathema to Beijing, which considers Hong Kong an inalienable part of the country. The proposed new national security framework stresses Beijings intent "to prevent, stop and punish" such acts. Agencies issuing statements in support of the legislation included the Commissioner of Correctional Services, and Hong Kong Customs. Financial Secretary Paul Chan wrote on his blog on Sunday the national security law "itself" does not affect investor confidence, only the "misunderstanding" of it does. The central government has already said the law is targeted at the minority of people who are suspected of threatening national security and will not affect the rights of the general public. The United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and others have expressed concerns about the legislation, widely seen as a potential turning point for China's freest city and one of the world's leading financial hubs. Taiwan, which has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong, will provide the people of Hong Kong with "necessary assistance", President Tsai Ing-wen said. (Reporting By Twinnie Siu and Jessie Pang; Editing by Michael Perry) A serious data breach involving victims of historical institutional abuse could potentially result in compensation claims running into millions of pounds, a legal source has said. Concerns were raised after the details of 250 people, including abuse victims, were leaked on Friday in an email error from the office of Brendan McAllister. A victims' group and several political leaders have already called on Mr McAllister, the interim Advocate for Victims and Survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse, to step down immediately. Mr McAllister has issued an apology to those affected and said an investigation into the breach is under way. The leaked communication listed the email addresses of 250 people, with many already instructing their solicitors to launch civil claims. One man, who asked only to be identified as PJ, said he was one of the victims named on the list. Read More He said he had been left "outraged" by the breach and would be seeking compensation. "I have been the victim of a data breach before which caused me to get beaten up. "The consequence of that now is that I have to sneak into Northern Ireland any time I visit my parents. "Some people may think this is a trivial thing but it can have serious consequences and I do think Brendan McAllister needs to go." A legal source said the breach could entitle each person to compensation of at least 10,000 depending on what damage can be shown, potentially bringing the damages bill to 2.5m. Solicitor Claire McKeegan of Phoenix Law represents the group Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (Savia). She did not give a figure on the potential costs of any claims, but said the group's trust in the interim advocate had now been "shattered". "This has had a devastating impact on the victims and survivors who have had their data security seriously breached," she said. "Many of them have underlying psychiatric conditions which have now been exacerbated by the upset and distress caused by the interim advocate unwittingly releasing their information." She added that many had now instructed the firm to issue civil cases for compensation and an acknowledgement of the seriousness of the breach. "Many of them have never shared their childhood experiences with even their families," she said. "These people need help and support, so for something like this to happen obviously discourages victims and survivors from reaching out to the services that they so badly need." Solicitor Owen Beattie from KRW Law said his firm had been instructed to issue proceedings on behalf of dozens of victims. He added that legal precedent pointed to a value of between 5,000-15,000 for each breach of data protection laws. Mr Beattie said it was now crucial to make sure the leaked details were not disseminated any further and that the investigation takes place quickly to restore confidence in the interim advocate's office. Jon McCourt from the group Survivors North West called the breach embarrassing but said he still had full confidence in Mr McAllister. He said: "I know there has been an apology - whether the trauma this has caused is greater than what an apology can fix remains to be seen." TUV leader Jim Allister called the breach "a catastrophic failure" and said Mr McAllister had no option but to resign. "These are people who were shielded from publicity, now exposed by the very person or office which is supposed to be their advocate," he said. "It's totally preposterous and I think that there's no honourable way forward but for the interim commissioner to resign. "Their personal data has been exposed in breach of the Data Protection Act, so I do think they will quite rightly be looking to their remedies." Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie added to calls for McAllister to stand down, saying the breach had been "devastating" for many victims and eroded trust in the office. The SDLP MLA Colin McGrath did not go as far as calling for a resignation, but said it was "very worrying news" and welcomed the apology and that an investigation was taking place. An alliance for the enablement of small-molecule R&D, spanning from Hit finding up to the preparation of the Investigational New Drug filing Regulatory News: ONCODESIGN (ALONC FR0011766229) (Paris:ALONC) and HITGEN (688222.SH) today announced the start of a worldwide strategic alliance in Integrated Drug Discovery Services for the identification and progression of new chemical entities, spanning from Hit finding up to preparation of the Investigational New Drug filing. Facilitating this joint integrated drug discovery service, HitGen will apply its powerful DNA Encoded Library (DEL) technology platform and its large collection of novel, diverse and drug-like DELs. This technology has gained widespread interest in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors in recent years, driven by broad-based success in identifying novel, tractable small-molecule ligands for novel therapeutic targets. Oncodesign will carry on the innovation process through its DRIVE-for small molecules discovery new services offer capitalizing on its innovative technology and solid experience in drug discovery and extensive disease biology expertise in Oncology and Inflammatory diseases to design and deliver leads and preclinical candidates of high quality for progressing them up to the IND submission. Through this strategic partnership in Integrated Drug Discovery Services, Oncodesign strengthens the fully integrated drug discovery support required to develop programs from target identification through to IND submission. These joint capabilities enable clients in the pharma industry to leverage the benefits of HitGen's DEL technology platform with Oncodesign's drug development expertise in major therapeutic areas with the aim to discover and progress new drug candidates towards a clinical proof-of-concept. Fabrice Viviani, Senior Executive Vice-President and Chief of Oncodesign Services said: "We are extremely delighted to engage with HitGen, a highly recognized and world leader in DNA-encoded libraries, into this strategic partnership. We are excited to join our forces and complementary expertise within the DRIVE-for small molecules offer to further gain recognition of our ability to identify and generate together novel pre-clinical candidates ready to progress into the clinic." Philippe Genne, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Oncodesign added: "Through this partnership, we are building an innovative technological continuum aiming to provide clients with a complete service offer in the development of drug candidates. Perfectly complementary with our expertise, HitGen's technology is positioned upstream on the value chain of Drug Discovery process and, thus, enables us now to generate hits, compounds with desired activity related to the new therapeutic targets. This alliance will support our expansion on the IDDS market, which until now has been reserved for larger Contract Research Organizations (CRO). This agreement gives us an international positioning, including Asia, the US and Europe. The co-branding around the DRIVE -SM offer will be an efficient leverage to generate commercial synergies. The marketing of the IDDS offer is a strategic element for the growth of our service revenue and the achievement of our 2023 objectives." Jin Lin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HitGen added: "We are delighted to enter this collaboration with Oncodesign. We believe the collaboration will reinforce the role and reputation of HitGen's platform in the rapidly developing field of DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) and further accelerate the effective translation from DEL hits to clinical candidates for a variety of therapeutic targets." About HitGen Inc.: www.hitgen.com HitGen is a rapidly growing biotech company with headquarters based in Chengdu, China, with a subsidiary in the USA. HitGen has established an industry-leading platform for early-stage drug discovery research centered on DNA encoded chemical libraries (DELs). HitGen's DELs include encoded syntheses for hundreds of billions of novel, diverse, drug-like small molecule and macrocycle compounds. These compounds are members of DELs synthesized from many hundreds of distinct chemical scaffolds, designed and assembled with tractable chemistry based on proven results for identifying drug-like leads against biological targets from known and novel classes. HitGen is working with multiple pharmaceutical and biotech companies, foundations and research institutes in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia to discover and develop novel therapeutics of the future. About ONCODESIGN: www.oncodesign.com Founded 25 years ago by Dr. Philippe Genne, the Company's CEO and Chairman, Oncodesign is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to precision medicine. With its unique experience acquired by working with more than 800 clients, including the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, along with its comprehensive technological platform combining state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, regulated bioanalysis, medical imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Oncodesign is able to predict and identify, at a very early stage, each molecule's therapeutic usefulness and potential to become an effective drug. Applied to kinase inhibitors, which represent a market estimated at over $65 billion by 2027 and accounting for almost 25% of the pharmaceutical industry's R&D expenditure, Oncodesign's technology has already enabled the targeting of several promising molecules with substantial therapeutic potential, in oncology and elsewhere, along with partnerships with pharmaceutical groups such as Bristol-Myers Squibb. Oncodesign is based in Dijon, France, in the heart of the town's university and hospital hub, and within the Paris-Saclay cluster. Oncodesign has 233 employees and subsidiaries in Canada and the USA. Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward looking statements and estimates concerning the Company's financial condition, operating results, strategy, projects and future performance and the markets in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements and estimates may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is designed to," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "objective," "should," or the negative of these and similar expressions. They incorporate all topics that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on management's current assumptions and assessment of risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, which were deemed to be reasonable at the time they were made but which may turn out to be incorrect. Events and outcomes are difficult to predict and depend on factors beyond the Company's control. Consequently, the actual results, financial condition, performances and/or achievements of the Company or of the industry may turn out to differ materially from the future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by these statements, forecasts and estimates. Owing to these uncertainties, no representation is made as to the correctness or fairness of these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005206/en/ Contacts: HitGen For more information, please call +86-28-85197385, +1 508-840-9646 or visit www.hitgen.com. For media inquiries: media@hitgen.com For investor inquiries: investors@hitgen.com For business development: bd@hitgen.com Oncodesign Philippe Genne Chairman and CEO Tel.: +33 (0)3 80 78 82 60 investisseurs@oncodesign.com NewCap Investor Relations Mathilde Bohin Louis-Victor Delouvrier Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95 oncodesign@newcap.eu NewCap Media Relations Arthur Rouille Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15 oncodesign@newcap.eu Scientists are describing it as the equivalent of Covid-19 in bananas. As the coronavirus disease outbreak rages on, fusarium wilt TR4, a novel fungus strain that has devastated plantations across the globe this year, is setting up new hotspots and threatening output in India, the worlds largest producer of bananas. The strain, Tropical Race 4 (TR4), was first identified in Taiwan, and has jumped from Asia to the Middle East and Africa, reaching as far as Latin America. It cripples plantations by first attacking the leaves, which turn yellow from their trailing edges before wilting away. There is no effective remedy yet. One could say it is the Covid-19 of the plant world. Hotspots have been found in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which we are trying to contain, said S. Uma, the director of National Research Centre for Bananas (NRCB), Trichy. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, TR4 is one of the the most destructive of all plant diseases. As with Covid-19, there is no treatment yet. So, scientists recommend biosecurity measures including plant quarantine to slow its spread. The spreading disease has jeopardised the $26 billion global banana trade. A healthy snack, banana is the worlds most globally exported fruit, according to the FAO. Thats a reason for worry as the disease is breaching borders through imports. India produces 27 million tonnes of bananas annually and grows about 100 named cultivars (varieties). TR4 has infected the most commonly sold variety, the one you mostly likely have for breakfast: Grand Nain (musa acuminata), a curvy yellow fruit. Inability to contain TR4 could jolt farm incomes and push up banana prices. One medium banana (126 gms) provides about 110 calories, 0 gram fat, 1 gram protein, 28 grams carbohydrate, 15 grams sugar (naturally occurring), 3 grams fiber and 450 mg potassium and trace quantities of vitamin C and B6, according to the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition. Most of Indias bananas are consumed domestically. Equador, the largest exporter, is currently the epicentre and scientists havent been able to ascertain how TR4 entered India. Fusarium wilt is not new. It entirely wiped out Gros Michel, the dominant export variety of bananas in 1950s. It was in response to this that a new resistant variety, Grand Nain, came up. That has now fallen to TR4. The challenge is to now identify or develop new resistant varieties. Thats the only way to manage it, according to Uma, until an effective agent is found, just as the world is struggling to find a Covid-19 vaccine. This strain entered India may be eight-nine months ago, said KL Chaddha, known as the Father of Indian Horticulture and currently, the president of Indian Academy of Horticulture Sciences. The infestation of Grain Nain is bad news. Grain Nain accounts for 55% of the banana area in the country and accounts for 62% of commerce, including exports, Uma said. Katihar and Purnea in Bihar and Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh are the hotspots in India. In UP, several districts are thought to be affected, according to the NRCB. In hotpsot Katihar, scientists have set up an experimental farm. In it, they are growing several cultivars and 32 have shown potential resistance to TR4, Uma said. Trials are on. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is advocating a set of measures, known as biopriming. It has asked farmers whose plantations have been affected to abandon them. They must grow rice for a year or two before returning to banana. That way the chain is broken, said R Selvarajan, a scientist with the NRCB. In a briefing document, the FAO states: In view of the challenges associated with control of the disease and the risk posed to the global banana supply, it is evident that a concerted effort is required from industry, research institutions, government and international organisations to prevent spread of the disease. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nigerias electoral umpire, INEC, has highlighted precautionary measures it will take in conducting the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. INEC said it will align with the directives of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and ensure voters and electoral officers comply with the protocols established by health authorities. The commission said this via its new policy document on conducting elections amid COVID-19, released on Monday. Specifics INEC said it will adopt electronic platforms for the submission of nomination forms by political parties in the governorship elections, as well as in recruiting its ad-hoc staff for election duty. The commission said it will engage members of the National Assembly on how funds can be provided for conducting frequent bye-elections and also how they can designate election as an essential service to enable the commission function effectively in times of national emergency. The commission will engage with the legislature and other stakeholders to explore ways of responding to the rising cost of conducting frequent bye-elections. Especially in consideration of the Supreme Court position that votes belong primarily to political parties, as well as the Commissions records, which show that only in 10% of all bye-elections since 2015 did the party that won originally lose the election. The commission said it will engage immediately with NYSC and INEC state offices to evolve modalities for corps members to serve as ad-hoc staff in elections during the pandemic. It added that, in compliance with the restriction of interstate movement, the number of ad-hoc staff would be reduced and sourced majorly in the two states. INEC also said the number of passengers per vehicle on election duty would be reduced from 14 to seven for buses, and from 12 to 6 for boats. Motorcycles and tricycles must be used sparingly with one passenger per motorcycle and two per tricycle, it added. D-Day INEC said the elections would kick off at 8:30 a.m. and voting would close by 2:30 p.m. It also said the number of voting points would be increased from 500/750 to 1,000/1,250. Anybody on the outer queue by 2.30 p.m. shall be allowed to vote, in line with the commissions regulations, INEC said. The electoral body added that infrared thermometers and alcohol-based hand sanitisers will be used at the various collation centres, and polling units. It said methylated spirit and cotton wool will be provided for the disinfection of the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) after the fingerprint of each voter is read. It said wearing of face masks shall be made mandatory at polling units and all election locations. Any voter without a face mask shall be turned away from the polling unit. In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the polling unit layout shall be redesigned by the commission to ensure substantial compliance with the protocols established by health authorities. Among other things, social distancing, general hygienic conduct and enforcement of COVID-19 prevention protocols shall be emphasised in the redesign. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other safety materials shall be provided for polling staff and periodic disinfection of chairs, tables and work areas, as well as adequate ventilation at the polling units, it added. Future elections INEC also assured it would commence the use of electronic voting machines at the earliest possible time but not at the coming Edo and Ondo elections. It said it would work towards the full introduction of electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021. The commission had in 2017, inaugurated a 20-member inter-agency committee to assess a possible e-voting system. The house of representatives had in 2018 rejected the use of an electronic voting system for the 2019 general elections. In recent years, compelling funds have been directed to the creation of artistic and socio-cultural projects and institutions in Lebanon from the hands of the government, civil society, NGOs and private international entities. It has been argued that peace monies are more readily available than mere arts monies, and with no doubt, the context of Lebanon serves as a prime example of how artistic initiatives can more accurately serve justice and peace-building efforts than aesthetic ones. Historically, multi-sectarian Lebanon makes for a fascinating post-conflict case study. Not only was the countrys sectarian and confrontational nature one of the main factors to have triggered the 1975-1990 civil war, but also the main reason why this country is yet to transition from negative to positive peace. The complexity of this blood-soaked conflict was only outstripped by the level of complexity of the memory of the conflict. The multifaceted Lebanese civil war allowed for an extremely wide range of experiences. As scholar Sune Haugbolle noted, the physically fractured public sphere of the war years also created an ambiguous foundation for post-war nationalism, where memories of fraternity and sectarian separation blended, competed, and were manipulated by social and political actors. Such ambiguities shaped memories and interactions in post-war Lebanon and added to the sense of being intimate strangers. The neighbourhoods of post-conflict Beirut were left heavily ghettoised, but so were the understandings of war. Hariris new nationalism and historical amnesia Beyond the extreme difficulty posed by these myriad competing narratives is the fact that not everyone agrees on talking about the truth nor their (personal) truths. Moreover, when words do come out, they regularly take on unintended meanings as they are amended by different media outlets. On a more personal level, many Lebanese may have been discouraged from attaining the right to truth because the process of uncovering facts could deconstruct a major part of their beliefs, which for generations would have made up a large part of their identity. Former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri already attempted to ameliorate the on-going tensions posed by the absence of an unanimously agreed, accessible truth, by designing a new nationalism for Lebanon that truly lived up to the words of the national anthem: Kullunalil-watan (We All Belong To The Nation). Essentially, a nostalgic memory culture which focused on turah (heritage). Haugbolle explained the logic of this approach: Whereas they might disagree vehemently on the causes of the civil war, members of all sects and parties eat hummus, listen to Fairuz and dance dabke. However, this prime example of escapism, also present in the architectural plans in downtown Beirut, gave way to yet more historical amnesia, the implications of which continued to be counterproductive. For, put simply, how are societies supposed to reconcile if they struggle to agree on what happened in the past? Has contemporary art deconstruct sectarianism, or the opposite? Opportunistically responding to calls for peace and justice investigation, as well as a reinvention of the process of war-time recollection, contemporary art in Lebanon offered a platform which could make great sense of the complexities so characteristic of inter-ethnic, national conflicts, and was understood as better at bringing together the multi-layered experiences, narratives and understandings of war. The outstanding works of artists like Akram Zaatari, Walid Raad, Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige, Marwan Rechmaoui, and Lamia Joreige are worthy of admiration for their educational and reconciliatory efforts. Nevertheless, the modes of representation which have popularly been employed by contemporary artists deserve deeper scrutiny. After all, it should not come as a surprise that the arts might have something to do with the fact that many Lebanese feel that they are still living the war even though a peace has been declared. Unfortunately, it is very questionable how (if at all) contemporary artistic efforts have crystallised in an authentic restoration of relationships within Lebanese society. For their praised general accessibility, museums and public memorials have been deemed most appropriate when it comes to establishing the collective memory which may invoke the shared emotions and consciousness necessary for reconciliation. It has been said that if public, multi-vocal, open-ended art continues to deconstruct sectarianism, it will be possible to arrive at a true Lebaneseness. However, others have pointed out that even these efforts continue to indoctrinate the population, and that this approach is inexpedient and actually re-entrenches sectarian affiliations on the basis of exclusivity. The problem can be addressed from a more meaningful perspective when we realize that such approaches to art also have another thing in common: they consist on a consideration of post-civil war artistic and sociocultural projects as products. They are socio-economically privatised and artificially constructed. However, some art, mostly in the form of participatory performances, have managed to escape this rubric. Museums: more of what you want, more of what you already knew Though exhibited in public spaces technically open to all white cube art a gallery aesthetic characterised by its square white walls and a light source usually from the ceiling are private and privatised. Museum-visiting is best described as a profit-making leisurely cultural activity, particularly in the Arab world, as mere access to it requires time and, more often than not, money. Lebanon is no different. For instance, Beit Beirut, a museum and urban cultural centre located in the capitals former Green Line, has been described as a place which is used more for commercial hire than pedagogical curation. There have been complaints that it seems to be open only for special events and that exhibitions focused around contesting the one historical event that constitutes the basis of the present regime in Lebanon that is, the civil war have simply not been made available for the general public. Accordingly, those who can afford it become educated and may interiorise an understanding of the past. However, in doing so, the Lebanese appear to have interiorised diverging understandings of the past depending on the institution they have acquired the said knowledge from. For instance, at the Hezbollah-run Mleeta Resistance Tourist Landmark in south Lebanon, Hezbollah assumes the role of Lebanons national defender against Israeli aggression, a so-called consequence of the military failings of the state apparatus. Online reviews attest to the partisan bias which is obviously embedded in the memories of conflict of this museum. Many Lebanese, particularly Christians and Druzes, resist the idea of visiting such a place of propaganda. Ultimately, recipients of Mleeta-made information, constituted of the Lebanese Shiite majority, are being fed more of what they wanted, and more of what they already knew, or, better phrased, thought they knew. It has been argued by scholars that the museum plays an important role in the creation of an Islamic milieu. This epistemological approach makes us see the world not as it is, but as we are. As American philosophy professor Michael Patrick Lynch brilliantly put it, bubble-knowing involves always being right. The danger is that by one-dimensionalising issues and events, and by attempting to gain an understanding of them from a singular perspective, the scope for authentic inter-sectarian comprehension disappears. The Resistances tourist museum, run by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, is criticised as a place of propaganda. Frode Bjorshol The limits of a conservative approach Also problematic is the common conception of museums as temples of knowlege and information which drives people to look right through narrative tools without recognising their power in shaping how the past is represented. These dynamics exert a conservative yet unnoticed force on collective memory, unfortunately making it very resistant to change. From this, it should not come as a surprise that the Lebanese might find themselves in a paradoxical situation of thinking that by visiting these museums they know much more, when in reality they are yet to agree on what it is that they actually know. By distinguishing action (praxis) from fabrication (poiesis), by linking it to freedom and plurality, and by showing its connection to speech and remembrance, Hannah Arendt was able to articulate a conception of political life in which questions of historical meaning and identity could be addressed in a fresh and original manner. Dialogical and social action become reflexive and self-conscious, consensus never forced, and dialogue truly unconstrained. This phenomenon does not seem to have much future in the contemporary arts in Lebanon as we have known them so far. However, there is significant potential for something similar in the performative/participatory arts. Talking about the new Beirut through interactive live art The Dictaphone Group, a Beirut-based collective of live art and urban research, makes for a prime example of how and why these arts can make up for the counterproductive deficiencies of the already examined orthodox contemporary artists in a context such as the Lebanese. As part of one of many performances and throughout 10 consecutive days in 2012, the group performed a site specific performance that explored the concepts of access to the sea and public space in general through an analysis of Beiruts seafront. Twice daily, 5 random audience members were invited to take part in a journey on a fishing boat. In an effort to re-examine the Beiruti understanding of public space and to re-imagine the city, the performance encouraged an organic conversation about land ownership of Beirutis seafront, the laws that govern it, and the practices of its users in a journey from the Ein el-Mreisse port to Ramlet el-Baida beach. This performance tackled the fact that since the end of the Lebanese civil war, and as part of the already mentioned memory-erasing reconstruction project, Beirut has also been witnessing further exclusions through the gradual disappearance of coastal lands accessed by the public. More recently, this could be seen in the case of the sea front extension, Zaytouna Bay in Solidere, a new marina area created over the rubbles of the historic fishermen port of the city now turned into one of the most expensive real-estate projects in the region. Bringing other audiences into the national conversation In an interview, the collective explained that they had for long paid close attention to the differentiation between politics-as-content and the political-as-form: We do not just relate to residents/inhabitants of spaces or to the audiences. Rather, we collaborate with them. Every individuals personality and interests affect how the performance unfolds. We encourage that and do not try to control it says Dictaphone Group co-founder Tania El Khoury. Control, El Khoury argued, imposes discipline on participation, like telling the audience: We are in a conversation, but you cannot talk. This draws significant parallels with Arendts favoring of human action as an innovative way to address issues regarding truth, history and identity, for it facilitates peaceful plurality in several ways. The self-understanding and identities of various groups became free and able to be expressed in the public arena. The methodology followed a bottom-up approach to the memory of conflict(s). Beyond the healthy inclusivity promoted by their bottom-up nature, is the pop-up fashion of these performances. Located in frequented, urban spaces, interactive live art generates an exposure for larger society, including citizens who would not frequent a museum or who would only frequent specific artistic institutions. In fact, similar studies targeting the Balkan region, have concluded that dealing with the past (and its left-overs in the present) behind closed doors does not work anymore and that, statistically, it is after public workshops that people are much more susceptible to accept and include the other in the national/regional narrative of past conflict. As Lynch noted, understanding involves more than just downloading information. It requires, in his words, doing some work for yourself: having a little creative insight, using your [own] imagination, getting out into the field, doing the experiment, working through the proof, talking to someone. Emotions connected to reconciliation and peaceful understanding Including bodily, emotional and spiritual communication, and therefore requiring not complete oral or grammatical compressibility, also allows for information to reach a wider audience, particularly in developing countries. In short, this art only requires societal interaction, instead of societal integration with one (or more) pre-fabricated narratives. Despite accepting the pre-established interests of different peoples, the possibility of them coming together under a yet additional communal identity (for they are all participating in this process of discovery together and that generates another, new sense of general belonging) is promoted. There are no ideas to hold on to in fear that their elimination might delete or de-legitimise a part of ones identity, which also facilitates a readiness to recognize the other and her/his experience. This can achieve feelings of solidarity instead of compassion, and courage instead of fear; emotions which truly connect with ideas of understandings and reconciliation. It now seems natural that the focus of truth-finding ought to be the post-conflict narratives constituent components: People. Socialised people can deconstruct previously egocentric, self-dependent metanarratives of the past. In its natural similitude to social discourse practices, this art consists on getting to know the teller as much (if not more) than the tales. After all, truth is never unanimous nor all-encompassing. Only through breaking it down and understanding its conforming pieces (peoples experiences), can survivors (and the generations that follow them) thrive for genuine understanding. They deserve this, and not an artificial concoction. If anything, this is the closest we can get to the false notion of universal reality which we have liked to fantasize about for too long now. And with this, the closest we can get to kick-starting a process of peaceful comprehension. Yogi Adityanath has said that UP government is taking the full responsibility for labourers' social security, including insurance. A commission will also be set up to ensure employment for them. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that the state government will provide social security and insurance to labourers and no state can take manpower from Uttar Pradesh without his governments permission. If any state wants manpower, they cannot take our people from the state without our permission as there were reports of misbehaviour with them in other states. We are taking full responsibility for labourers social security. We will provide every kind of security to them including insurance. Wherever they will go, we will always stand by them, Yogi said. The Chief Minister said that skill mapping is being done in Uttar Pradesh and a commission will be set up for labourers to ensure employment for them. On Sunday, Adityanath had ordered the formation of a Migration Commission for the purpose of providing the workers, who have returned to the state during the lockdown phase, with employment suited to their skills. This information was shared during a press conference held by the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and Principal Secretary (Health) at the Lok Bhavan. During the course of a meeting, the Chief Minister had ordered the formation of the Commission and asked all officials to ensure suitable employment is provided to all workers, numbering close to 23 lakhs, who have returned to Uttar Pradesh. Also Read: COVID-19 update: Total cases in India reach 1.38 lakh, 6,977 new cases reported in last 24 hours Also Read: PM Modi extends Eid greetings, says may this special occasion further the spirit of compassion, brotherhood and harmony Apart from this, he also ordered all workers to be sent to home quarantine for 14 days, after they are provided with rations and Rs 1,000 in cash, and conduct skill mapping so that they can be accommodated in different sectors. The Chief Minister asked the Health Department to increase the number of samples tested per day to 10,000, which currently stands at over 7,000, according to the officials. Also Read: Domestic flights resume from today across India except for West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh For all the latest National News, download NewsX App - Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has predicted increased economic growth for Ghana after COVID-19 - He explained that the government has put in place measures which would ensure economic growth after the pandemic - Dr. Bawumia was speaking after the Virtual Eid-ul Fitr celebration Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Ghanas Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has predicted a growth in Ghanas economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. He indicated that the country would work hard to ensure self-reliance after in the future. According to him, a number of policies implemented by the government would play key roles in Ghanas economic transformation after COVID-19. READ ALSO: COVID-19: President Akufo-Addo outdoors GHC1 billion business support programme He listed some of them as the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda and the Planting for Food and Jobs project initiated by the government. Per a report by citinewsroom.com, he explained that the president has already placed Ghana on a trajectory that allows us to come out of this crisis relatively quickly. As you know, the post-COVID economic architecture in the world is going to be one of the countries that are going to be more self-reliant. You are going to look at self-reliance in food production, manufacturing and in services, that is really the Ghana Beyond Aid that the president started talking about way before this pandemic came into being. And so that trajectory that we have already embarked upon will allow us to recover from this pandemic much more quickly than probably other pandemics. Dr. Bawumia was speaking in an interview at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation after the Virtual Eid-ul Fitr celebration. YEN.com.gh understands that the Bank of Ghana has indicated that the economy is currently in a contraction phase, which started in March 2020, when the first COVID-19 case was recorded in Ghana. In other news, the General Manager of Kempinski Hotel, Manish Nambiar, has opened up about the challenges the hotel has been facing since the outbreak of the COVID-19. According to him, the hotel has lost between $4.5 million to $5 million since the epidemic broke out about 3 months ago. Nambiar added that the hotel is currently running at a loss because people are not patronizing it out of fears of the coronavirus. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Over 100 businesses in Ghana lose almost GHC40 million - GNCCI Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Playstore now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Ghanaians share their thoughts on the mandatory wearing of face mask | #Yencomgh Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos Source: YEN.com.gh Ahmaud Arbery was shot dead on February 23. He was unarmed and his family say he was out running The Justice Department is officially investigating Ahmaud Arbery's killing as a hate crime, his family's lawyer said on Monday. Arbery was shot dead by Travis McMichael on February 23 while out running after he was seen entering a construction site. Arbery's mother now says he was an aspiring electrician and she thinks he was observing the wiring in the property. Travis and his father, retired cop Gregory McMichael, chased Arbery in their truck after he entered the property. William Roddie Bryan Jr., their neighbor, filmed the shooting and he has now also been charged with murder. Bryan Jr. insists he was just a witness and not an accomplice. Arbery's family have always contested that he was the victim of a racist hate crime. While the Justice Department does not confirm details of ongoing investigations, the Arberys' family lawyer said they had been informed his death was now being formally investigated as a hate crime, according to PBS. Father and son Gregory (left) and Travis (right) McMichael say they were performing a citizen's arrest and that they thought Ahmaud was a burglary suspect A spokeswoman for the department previously said they were weighing whether or not to bring federal hate crime charges. Georgia has no hate crimes as a state but the federal charge carries a maximum prison sentence of life when the hate crime results in death. William Roddie Bryan Jr., who filmed the incident on his cell phone, has also been charged now with murder A federal prosecution would supersede a state case and could negate it if the defendants were found guilty and the need for a state prosecution reduced. The McMichaels' defense has been that they were making a citizen's arrest after suspecting Ahmaud of breaking into and robbing homes in their neighborhood. They said Travis, 34, then exercised his stand your ground right by shooting Ahmaud, claiming the unarmed 25-year-old reached for his gun. In the two months before Ahmaud's killing, there were no reports of suspected burglaries in the area, and the owner of the under-construction property has spoken out to say they have no links to the McMichaels whatsoever. Ahmaud was killed while out jogging on February 23. It is unclear if he had come from his mother's house, which is just under two miles from where the shooting unfolded. The McMichaels said they saw him 'hauling a**' down Satilla Drive and that he'd been seen on surveillance cameras inside homes near them but it's unclear which homes they were referring to. He was shot and killed at an intersection not far from the houses Surveillance footage taken on a construction site less than an hour before he was shot dead also shows Ahmaud walking out empty-handed. He had prior convictions for shoplifting but none for burglary. Less than two weeks before Arbery was killed, 34-year-old Travis McMichael had called 911 to report a possible trespasser inside a house under construction in the subdivision, describing him as 'a black male, red shirt and white shorts' and saying he feared the person was armed. The Arbery familys attorneys have confirmed that Ahmaud was captured on security cameras entering that home on the day he was killed. The property owner said nothing appeared to have been stolen, however, and surveillance footage also shows other people coming in and out of the construction site on other days, some apparently to access a water source on the property. His mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, thinks her son was at the construction site to observe the wiring. 'I think that when he went into the property, he probably was looking to see how they were going to run the wire or how he would do the job if it was one of his assignments,' she said, referring to his plan to become an electrician. It took three months for any arrests to be made and the case bounced between three prosecutors. Georgia's Attorney General is now investigating the handling of the case amid claims that prosecutors passed it off to protect 64-year-old Gregory, a former police detective who recently worked in the local district attorney's office. Ahmaud's family say the McMichaels were protected by local law enforcement. TIMELINE OF BOTCHED HANDLING OF THE CASE Jackie Johnson recused herself because McMichael used to work in her office February 23: Ahmaud Arbery is shot dead in the street in Brunswick, Georgia. Gregory and Travis McMichael had gone out in their car with guns to chase him because they mistook him for a burglar. When they caught up to him, Travis got out of the car. Greg says they told Arbery that they wanted to talk to him and that he attacked Travis. A struggle ensued and Travis fired his gun twice, killing Ahmaud, 25. Late February - First prosecutor recuses herself Jackie Johnson, the Brunswick District Attorney, stepped down from the case because Gregory used to work in her office as an investigator. George Barnhill said Ahmaud initiated the fight Mid-April - Second prosecutor says he won't press charges, then recuses himself George Barnhill was given the case. He at first said he did not think it merited charges because the McMichaels were acting lawfully by trying to carry out a citizen's arrest, which is legal in Georgia. He also said that the video 'shows' Arbery reaching for Travis' gun. The first shot is fired however when the pair are out of frame. When the camera panned back to them, they were struggling again to the side of the vehicle. Barnhill said Travis was standing his ground by firing three shots which hit Arbery. Barnhill recused himself because his son, also called George Barnhill, works in the office where McMichael used to He later had to recuse himself after it emerged that his son works in the Brunswick District Attorney's Office, where Gregory served. May 5 - Third prosecutor passes it on to grand jury Tom Durden is the third prosecutor to have the case come across his desk. He said that his office would approach it without prior prejudice. This week, he announced that he would not make a decision on whether or not to charge, and that he wants to convene a grand jury to take it on. May 7 - Georgia Bureau of Investigation files charges The GBI announced that it was bringing charges of murder and aggravated assault against the Gregory and Travis on May 7. Advertisement Arbery had plans in place to turn the page on his life and overcome his criminal past. Arbery had enrolled at South Georgia Technical College, preparing to become an electrician, just like his uncles. Before Arberys name joined a litany of hashtags bearing young black mens names, he was a skinny kid whose dreams of an NFL career didnt pan out. Those who knew him speak of a seemingly bottomless reservoir of kindness he used to encourage others, of an easy smile and infectious laughter that could lighten just about any situation. They also acknowledge the legal troubles that cropped up after high school - five years of probation for carrying a gun onto the high school campus in 2013, a year after graduation, and shoplifting from a Walmart store in 2017, a charge that extended that probation up until the time of his death. In his final months on Earth, Arbery appeared to be someone who felt on the verge of personal and professional breakthroughs, especially because his probation could have ended this year, many of those close to him told The Associated Press. Wanda Cooper-Jones visits the Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick, Georgia, where her son was shot dead At the time of his death, Arbery was on a sabbatical. College could wait until the fall. To help keep his head clear, he ran, just about every day through his Satilla Shores neighborhood. Cooper-Jones accepted that he was a young adult living at home, like so many of his contemporaries, taking a breather to chart how hed one day support himself. She had one rule: 'If you have the energy to run the roads, you need to be on the job.' So he worked at his fathers car wash and landscaping business, and previously had held a job at McDonalds. Born May 8, 1994, Ahmaud Marquez Arbery was the youngest of three children, answering to the affectionate nicknames 'Maud' and 'Quez.' As a teenager, he stuck to the family home so markedly that his family worried he never wanted to go out with friends. 'And I was like, hell get to the stage eventually,' Cooper-Jones said. He was a mamas boy at first.' As his mother predicted, that reserve was left behind when Arbery entered Brunswick High Schools Class of 2012. He took cues from his brother, Marcus Jr., and tried out for the Brunswick Pirates football team. His slender build certainly didnt make him a shoo-in for linebacker on the junior varsity squad, said Jason Vaughn, his former coach and a US history teacher at the school. Ahmaud Arbery inside the under-construction home on February 23, the day he was killed. He walked into the house then left empty handed and was later shot dead by Travis McMichael who had chased him with his father, Gregory, a former cop 'As soon as practice started and Ahmaud started to really go, oh man, his speed was amazing,' Vaughn recalled with a laugh. 'He was undersized, but his heart was huge.' Off the field, Ahmaud had a talent for raising the spirits of the people around him -and a penchant for imitating his coach, Vaughn said. 'If I was standing in the hallway, kind of looking mean or having a bad day - maybe my lesson plan didnt go right - Maud could kind of sense that about me,' Vaughn said. 'Hed come stand beside me and be like, "Im Coach Vaughn today. Yall keep going to class. Hurry up, hurry up! Dont be tardy! Dont be late!" 'Thats what I loved about him. He was always trying to make people smile.' 'Some students its hard to get mad at,' he said, 'because you love them so much.' At the end of his final football season, no college recruiters tried to woo No. 21. But Arberys high school football career still finished on a high note, his mother remembers. In his final game, he intercepted a pass and ran the ball back to score a touchdown. A referee threw a flag on the play, but his mother insisted that his accomplishment still mattered: 'I said, "Guess what, son? You did it!" 'And he was very, very excited about it. That was a very good moment for us.' A woman holds a sign during a rally to protest the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick Georgia, on May 16 Former teammate Demetrius Frazier grew up just down the street from the Arberys, and his friendship with Ahmaud dated back to their days in a local pee-wee football program. Frazier treasures their quieter moments in high school just two friends playing video games, shooting hoops, wolfing down peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hot dogs and chips. Those were the times his friend seemed happiest, Frazier said, before his legal troubles bogged him down. Frazier went on to play wide receiver for Middle Tennessee State Universitys football team and now holds down an office job and is raising a son in nearby Darien, Georgia. Arberys own football aspirations had been dashed, but he still wanted so much for himself, Frazier said. 'Ahmaud was just ready to put himself in a position to be where he wanted to be in life,' he said. 'That's what they took from him.' A caravan of predominantly black car and motorcycle club members retraced Ahmauds running route to Satilla Shores on May 9. People riding in freshly waxed and polished Corvettes and Dodges laid flowers at the shooting scene. Gazing at the tributes later that night, Cooper-Jones said she does not doubt that she raised her son right. A recently painted mural of Ahmaud Arbery is on display in Brunswick, Georgia, in this May 17 file photo As a mom, she had been a stickler; she knows that. This month, she celebrated her first Mothers Day without her youngest child. Thinking about a greeting card hed given her for the occasion two years ago made her smile. 'We dont see eye to eye, but I love you,' she recalled Ahmaud writing. 'That tells me, I had just got on his butt about something that he did.' Ultimately, she said, nothing her son did in his short life justifies the way he died. 'I will get answers - that was my promise,' she said. 'Thats the last thing that I told him, on the day of his funeral, that Mama will get to the bottom of it.' [May 25, 2020] Bithumb Names Back Young Heo as New CEO On May 19th, Bithumb Korea (Bithumb), a South Korean cryptocurrency exchange, announced Back Young Heo's appointment as CEO. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005021/en/ Bithumb Korea, a South Korean cryptocurrency exchange, appointed Back Young Heo as CEO. Heo joined Bithumb in 2017 as the head of compliance and prior to Bithumb, worked in traditional finance for 14 years at Citibank, CitiCapital, ING Bank and ING Securities. Along with Heo's appointment, Bithumb will continue to enhance its' AML policy and internal controls. In particular, Bithumb is preparing to be fully compliant with the recently passed financial regulation going into effect in March 2021. The company plans on hiring a number of professionals with compliance experience from traditional finance, as well as investing heavily in its Fraud Detection System (FDS) and AML solutions. (Photo: Business Wire) Heo is no stranger to the CEO position at Bithumb. He first took the company helm from April to December 2018. During his brief tenure, Heo focused on upgrading the company's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) system and KYC policy to be in-line with standards found in traditional finance. Heo joined Bithumb in 2017 as the head of compliance and prior to Bithumb, worked in traditional finance for 14 years at Citibank, CitiCapital, ING Bank and ING Securities. Along with Heo's appointment, Bithumb will continue to enhance its' AML policy and internal controls. In particular, Bithumb is preparing to be fully compliant with the recently passed financial regulation going into effect in March 2021. The company plans on hiring a number of professionals with compliance experience from traditional finance, as well as investing heavily in its Fraud Detection System (FDS) and AML solutions. Heo said "With the upcoming regulation coming into effect in 2021, management has been preparing well in advance to be fully compliant. In addition, we are relentless at investing in the security of our customers' assets and ensuring a seamless service." For more information on Bithumb, please visit www.bithumb.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005021/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 06 May 2020, Frankfurt/Main: Decommissioned Lufthansa aircraft stand on the empty runway at Frankfurt Airport. Photo: Boris Roessler/picture alliance via Getty Images German airline Lufthansa (LHA.DE) has reportedly hammered out the final details of its 9bn (8.05bn) state bailout, which it urgently requires to survive after the coronavirus pandemic brought the aviation sector to a standstill. The bailout offer is believed to include a government-backed 3bn loan from Germanys KfW state bank. German news agencies reported earlier that the deal had already been struck. However, according to government spokespeople at a news conference in Berlin this afternoon, the negotiations are in their very final phases. The bailout package also requires approval by Germanys Economic Stabilisation Fund committee and the EU commission. Lufthansa had slashed its flight schedule by 95% by mid-April, grounding 700 planes and putting 87,000 staff on short-time hours. It said it is losing 1m an hour. Chief executive Carsten Spohr has repeatedly warned that the airline industry will not survive the coronavirus crisis without state aid. Negotiations between the government in Berlin and the Frankfurt-based airline have dragged on for weeks, as the governments insistence on a 20% stake in the company proved to be a sticking point. Lufthansa has been fully privatised since 1997 when it sold the last state-owned shares. Now, 23 years on, the government wants to take a 20% stake and a convertible bond that would enable it to take another 5%. German economy minister Peter Altmaier said on Sunday evening that the government would only increase its stake, "only if it comes to preventing takeover attempts." As soon as Lufthansa is back in the profit zone, these funds have to be repaid, Altmaier said. Lufthansa said last week that the bailout conditions may also include the waiver of future dividend payments and restrictions on management pay. It already suspended its 2019 dividend payment. A source told German news agency DPA that a timeframe also needs to be agreed for the German government sell its stake in the airline again. Story continues The Lufthansa Group also owns Swiss Air, Austrian, and Brussels Airlines. Brussels Airlines announced last week that it was cutting its workforce by one-quarter, which equates to around 1,000 jobs. Lufthansa announced at the weekend that it would resume flights from mid-June to 20 destinations. READ MORE: Coronavirus: Lufthansa-owned Brussels Airlines to cut 1,000 jobs Earlier this month, the European Union approved a 7bn state bailout for Air France-KLM (AF.PA). Hilarious footage shows an ostrich curiously lingering behind a Spanish politician who does not notice the bird and keeps delivering his speech. The video shows Miguel Angel Revilla, the President of Cantabria in northern Spain, speaking at a press conference for the reopening of Cabarceno Natural Park zoo when an ostrich appears behind him. The inquisitive bird opens and closes its beak as it looks fascinated at all the people gathered for the press conference. Spanish politician Miguel Angel Revilla spoke at a press conference about the reopening of Cabarceno Natural Park zoo oblivious to the ostrich lingering behind him Oblivious to the ostrich Mr Revilla keeps talking seriously about the reopening of the park being one of the next steps to restoring the economy. He tells Spanish reporters: 'The pandemic is controlled.' The regional president saw the funny side and posted a photo of the ostrich with a picture of Homer Simpson in an uncannily similar situation. He captioned the photo: 'The Simpsons already predicted it.' After the regional president saw the video he posted a picture of with a similar scene from the Simpsons and captioned it: The Simpsons already predicted it The video was shared on social media and trended in Spain with 674,000 views. Becario Tuiter said: 'Am I the only one worried the animal will hit him with its beak?' Jesus Cardiel commented: 'I think the ostrich wants to give her opinion too about the situation she is going through.' Mr Revilla encouraged tourists to go visit the park where some animals roam freely. Spain has 235,772 confirmed coronavirus cases and a death toll of 28,752, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre. In Brazil, doctors struggle to save lives but the country's president Jair Bolsonaro focuses more on the economy and urging businesses to reopen amid the swelling cases and death toll in the country. according to a recently published article. Brazil is Now Next to the United States Latin American region was astound when Brazil became the country with the most infections in the world. As of today, Brazil has recorded more than 363,000 COVID-19 cases and a death toll of more than 22,700 according to worldometers. The spike of new cases in the country is due to the President's rhetoric statement on which he said that this infectious and deadly virus is just "little flu." This urged the businesses to reopen and it led to more infections and deaths as more people are now becoming exposed to the public. For Bolsonaro, it seems that the economy is more important to him than the country's health. Despite the call of many governors calling for social isolation measures, Bolsonaro has urged the businesses to reopen. Doctors Disagree With Jair Bolsonaro Doctors in the Intensive Care Unit of Emilio Ribas Infectious Disease Institute in Sao Paulo struggle to save lives and when asked about the President's comment, doctors would say its "Revolting" then another would say "Irrelevant." Dr. Jacques Sztajnbok opposed the comment of Bolsonaro and said that what the world is experiencing is not just a seasonal or the little flu. He also added that this is the worst thing that they have ever faced in their professional lives. Additionally, he also said that he is worried about his health. In a published article, it was revealed that the number of medical healthcare workers who are infected with the virus has spiked over the past few days. The death toll from their group has increased as well. Hospitals in Brazil are Now Compromised Before the Peak Hits The spike of patients means more hospitalizations. The Emilio Ribas Hospital has now come to the point where there are no beds available and staff is already dying because of the virus. Emilio Ribas is the best-equipped hospital in Sao Paulo City. Sao Paolo is the wealthiest city in the country and despite the call of the governor for a local lockdown and the mandatory use of face masks, businesses reopen because of Bolsonaro's rhetoric comment and call. Now, the richest city in Brazil has recorded more than 6,000 deaths and more than 76,000 COVID-19 cases. The wealthiest city in Brazil but is now facing a big problem because of the infectious and deadly virus. This reflects that other cities may have experienced worst than Sao Paulo. The Contagion is More Rampant in the Country's Favelas There are more cases in the country's favelas or slum areas. It is not a debate anymore. If there are more cases reported in Sao Paolo then the situation in the favelas is more complicated. One thing that they are fighting today, and it is their survival. Renata Alves, a volunteer health worker with the G10 Favela aid group, said in a report: "Mostly the test is done when the person is already in an advanced stage of the disease. Cases can be tough. One obese woman needed eight people to carry her to our ambulance. And a man with Alzheimer's ...we had to ask the family if we could physically remove him from his home. It's hard." She also said that persons like her who volunteered amid the global pandemic is also at risk. She said in an article: "Even yesterday the owner of the pharmacy died. Many are losing their lives due to someone's carelessness. If it's for the good of society, we have to do this." Read related articles: Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 23:51:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces on Monday shot and badly injured a Palestinian who allegedly tried to stab a Border Police officer in East Jerusalem amidst escalating tensions in the region. The incident took place in Jabel Mukaber, a Palestinian neighborhood in southern East Jerusalem. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the suspect, a 30-year-old Palestinian from East Jerusalem, did not injure any police officer before he was shot and "neutralized." The man sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital, he added. It was the second attempted attack on Monday. Earlier in the morning, the military said troops shot towards two Palestinians after they attempted to stab soldiers near the settlement of Amichai, east of the West Bank city of Ramallah. The violence came as tensions were rising over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to annex the Jordan Valley, a portion of the West Bank. The move stirs concerns and anger among the Palestinians, most of the Arab world, and some of Israel's European allies. In response, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said last week that the Palestinian Authority is no longer committed to any signed agreements with Israel or the United States. Israel seized the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip, in 1967 war and kept controlling it ever since despite international criticism. Enditem A security person standing behind a glass shield checks the identity of a passenger at the airport as domestic flights resume operations after nearly two-month lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic in New Delhi. (Image: AP) UPDATE: 1:45 p.m. Many not so happy campers took to social media to voice their frustration Monday morning. Some suggested Discover Camping should be renamed Discover Frustration, and others asking why this volume of web traffic was not anticipated. "Im hearing no Covid update today from Dr Bonnie Henry... ...shes still trying to book a campsite on #discoverCamping #BCproblems," wrote one Twitter user. "Maybe the #DiscoverCamping team is out Discovering Camping and that's why we can't reach them?" wrote another. Kelowna resident Jennifer Buskermolen spent three hours from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. trying to secure a campsite at Mabel Lake Provincial Park after missing out on her first choice of location at Kettle River. "At first I thought ok, I get it, I get it being really busy, I do. I completely understand it being very busy at 7 a.m. and I was willing to accept that, but here we are now 10 oclock in the morning and I havent even made it past the reserve unit. "If they were having some kind of technical issues they should have let people know, like the media. They should have said, "not only are we experiencing high volume but we are also experiencing some technical issues, please bear with us, were resolving the issue," because now theyve got a lot of pissed off people." She says because the Discover Camping portal doesnt hold your spot in the campground during the reservation process, when the system crashes you also lose your camping spot. "I promised my children camping this year because we didn't go last year, and I'm just - three hours, I mean, how long am I willing to sit here? ... I'm in tears right now." The Ministry of Environment said in a statement that the last time the site was busy there were 1,100 reservations in one day, but in the first half hour of opening Monday about 800 reservations were booked. It says 50,000 people were online at opening trying to access the system. While government staff made efforts to be ready for additional demands, it says the 35,000 reservations made before lunch exceeded expectations. The ministry thanks all those who tried to book a site for their patience and apologizes to those who were unable to access the system. with files from the Canadian Press UPDATE 11:30 a.m. The provincial governments Discover Camping reservation system is more stable after a crush of web traffic brought it down Monday morning. Minister of Environment George Heyman says more than 7,000 reservations were made this morning, when the province opened reservations in advance of campgrounds opening on June 1. There is lots of inventory remaining and we are working hard to ensure BC residents can book as quickly as possible, Heyman said. I appreciate people's patience, and am glad to see so many people excited to enjoy BC Parks this summer. Our plan is to safely open as many parks as possible so that BC campers and day visitors can rediscover the wilderness beauty close to home. UPDATE 8:20 a.m. While BC Parks opened its camping reservations site Monday morning, few people have been actually able to book a site. A Castanet reporter has tried, and failed, to book a site for the past 90 minutes, but the Discover Camping portal is crashing repeatedly. Numerous other Castanet readers have reached out to say they have been unable to get through. "Annoying experience and so disappointing that a government website is so useless!" said one reader. Social media is also full of B.C. residents frustrated with the situation, likely caused by heavy web traffic. ORIGINAL 7:20 a.m. There should be some happy campers in B.C. today as many campgrounds across the province are prepared to open June 1, reservations open on the Discover Camping website today at 7 a.m. Bookings can be made on a rolling two-month period, so as of Monday, reservations can be made up to July 25. B.C.'s provincial parks were temporarily closed because of a lack of physical distancing during the pandemic, but many have reopened. BC Parks website says, "to ensure physical distancing, you may notice some changes in campgrounds, including additional spacing between campsites and limitations on the number of guests in campgrounds." Access to campsites is limited to B.C. residents for the entire 2020 season but not all sites will open and some will open with reduced capacity. Non-B.C. residents with a previous reservation can contact the BC Parks call centre for a refund before June 15. Non-B.C. residents who try to make a reservation after May 25 will have their booking cancelled. The Mango Motel and the Blue Diamond Motel welcomed guests Friday night for the start of the Memorial Day weekend, the owner said, even though Wildwood isnt allowing any short-stay rentals until May 26. The citys rules, instituted because of the coronavirus outbreak, say when motels and hotels reopen and start renting rooms, they can only rent up to 60% of capacity. On June 22, they can start renting to full capacity. The order defines a short-term rental as any rental of less than 30 days. Frank Mangini, the owner of the hotels, said he allowed guests into the two motels. I realized I wasnt supposed to. I think I maybe didnt take it seriously enough, Mangini said. I had the best intention for this weekend. I know I made a mistake in hindsight. Now, he says he fears arrest or even losing his license to operate the motels when he comes back to Wildwood after being away for a family function at the start of the weekend. He knows four summonses or tickets were issued, but, he said, he doesnt know what the violations are or what the fines may be. He said the police wont give him the details by phone. He sent his manager to pick up the summonses late Saturday, but police wouldnt give them to anyone but Mangini, he said. Calls and emails to the police were not returned on Saturday. An officer who answered the police departments phone number and Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron said they could not comment on ongoing investigations. HOW IT HAPPENED Mangini said his motels have been empty since the shutdown. Until Friday night. He said it started when a friend was coming to do a painting job at one of the locations, and Mangini wasnt going to charge him rent as part of a bartering swap. Then a family called and wanted to stay, he said, and he said yes. Then a friend of a friend called. Yes again, he said. Next came groups of graduates, mostly from Pennsylvania, he said. They just wanted to get away. Blow off steam, Mangini said. I just started to give in and then word got out and before you knew it, quite a few rooms were rented. Mangini wasnt sure of the exact number of rooms he rented, but he said there were mostly families at the Blue Diamond and maybe 30 to 40 kids, maybe half the motel was occupied at Mango. My intention wasnt to rent as many rooms, but it mushroomed, he said. He noted the pools and hot tubs were closed at both motels and people were congregating at the balcony in front of their rooms, they were six feet away from each other. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage When police got word that guests were at the motel, they first went to the Blue Diamond and then to Mango. Mangini said he was told by telephone by the the police chief to empty both places because the motels were violating Gov. Phil Murphys executive order. Murphys order actually gives towns the authority to control short-term rentals. I felt bad, Mangini said. We asked people to leave and people wanted to stay. Some people said Its my constitutional right to stay, or they had a barbeque to go to the next day. Others, he said, were dropped off at the motels and said they wouldnt have a ride home until Monday. Another guest said her husband had been drinking and they couldnt safely drive home, he said. Still others came by bus, he said, and werent sure how they could leave. Mangini said when he tried to explain the guests situations to the police chief, he didnt care. Police issued one summons for each motel, Mangini said. While some guests did check out and leave Friday night, others were still there on Saturday morning, he said. The Blue Diamond had about 10 rooms still occupied while Mango had about 20 rooms full, Mangini said. When the police chief returned on the scene Saturday morning, each motel was issued another summons, Mangini said. (The police chief) was upset and he said to me Im going to give you a summons for every day you have people here, Mangini said of their phone conversation Saturday morning. He said he was going to recommend to the prosecutor to pull my mercantile license for a year so I wouldnt be able to operate at all. He said he asked the chief what the charges and fines were, but the chief wouldnt tell him. Youll find out in court, Mangini said the chief told him. Mangini said he wasnt trying to prove a point by renting rooms, saying he shouldnt be compared to the Bellmawr gym owner who reopened despite multiple warnings and was eventually shut down. `Screw them was definitely not my intent, Mangini said. Word just got out and people said they heard I had rooms and I said not really, but people said please, we are stir crazy and we need to get out. Mangini said he probably earned $2,000 from rentals at the Blue Diamond and $4,000 from Mango for Friday night. Hes refunding money to anyone who made reservations for Saturday, Sunday and Monday, he said, and to anyone who didnt stay overnight on Friday. Both motels were empty by late Saturday afternoon, he said. I didnt think it was going to be such a big deal, Mangini said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at bamboozled@njadvancemedia.com. Venezuela hails arrival of Iranian fuel as 'landmark in struggle for sovereignty' Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 8:47 AM Venezuela's permanent representative to the UN has welcomed the arrival of Iranian tankers loaded with gasoline to the South American country's waters, urging US President Donald Trump to avoid an act of aggression based on the "wrong advice" of warmongers. In a series of tweets on Sunday, Samuel Moncada cited an open letter to Trump written by a group of 14 retired experts of the US intelligence community, who warned him against a military attack on the Venezuela-bound Iranian fuel tankers. "The Iranian gasoline reaching Venezuela is a landmark in the struggle for sovereignty, independence and peace. Trump and his minions are thinking of a military attack against the tankers amidst the pandemic. His experts advise him otherwise," he wrote. Moncada also enumerated the arguments provided by the experts against any "unnecessary adventure" by the US against Iranian vessels, saying they believe that "the act of war does not serve US interests." Any such attack could trigger "unpredictable responses" and lead to "unprecedented situations" beyond US control, the Venezuelan envoy quoted the experts as saying. "Warmongering Generals & advisers in Washington are playing with fire in a dangerous situation and exploiting Venezuelan extremists. They are seeking a war with Iran in the Middle East contrary to US interest. They've have attempted this many times in the past," Moncada wrote. He further emphasized that Trump's threats will not weaken Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro but rather strengthen him and unify most of the nationals against aggression. "In their long experience in defending the US, they do not understand how could attacking legal trade between two countries that do not pose a national threat serve their own interests. Venezuelans, meanwhile, want no war either, but dialogue," he wrote. Moncada said, "Trump's policy thus far has been a failure and, even with the pandemic, it seems to have no chance of success in the near future. Avoiding a war resulting from the wrong advise of adventurers in Washington and Venezuela is the best option for the US." Also on Sunday, the Iranian embassy in Caracas posted a video of the tanker arriving at Venezuelan waters. "The first Iranian tanker reached the Venezuelan coasts. Grateful to the Bolivarian Armed Forces for escorting them," it tweeted. The first of five Iranian tankers carrying 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate reached Venezuelan waters late Saturday to ease the Latin American nation's fuel crunch. "Iran and Venezuela have always supported each other in times of difficulty," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza tweeted. "Today, the first ship with gasoline arrives for our people." The shipments have infuriated Washington as both Iran and Venezuela are under illegal US sanctions. The US recently beefed up its naval presence in the Caribbean for what it called an expanded anti-drug operation. Washington has also threatened to take measures especially against Iran, according to a senior US official, who did not provide further details. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday warned of retaliatory measures against the United States if it caused problems for tankers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Weatherstripping is one of the measures small businesses can take to realize energy savings. CET Offers Webinar on Weatherization for Small Businesses PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Center for EcoTechnology on Wednesday will host a webinar to help small businesses learn about the benefits of weatherization. "Right now, due to the current COVID-19 and economic situation, utilities have temporarily increased incentives available to small businesses in some cases up to 70-100 percent of installed energy saving measures will be covered," said Katherine Butler, the special projects manager at CET. "This means its a terrific time for businesses to pursue these energy efficiency measures. In general, weatherization is a phenomenal way to stimulate the local economy, save businesses money, and help the environment, and we want to help spread the word." The webinar, which will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., will cover topics including insulation and air sealing, potential costs from energy savings and the new incentives that are available. "Small businesses are a historically underserved sector, and CET is working with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, as well as Berkshire Gas, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, and Eversource on a pilot to develop a model that weatherizes more small businesses," Butler said. "An important component of this is raising awareness of the services and utility incentives available to businesses through the Mass Save program, as well as the benefits for business owners. "Specific measures well be discussing include insulation, air sealing, weatherstripping, pipe insulation, and direct install measures. These measures often provide businesses energy savings, cost savings, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and increased comfort in the building." Attendees at Wednesday's webinar will be able to participate in a live question-and-answer session with experts. Companies will be encouraged to slash their greenhouse gas emissions below a crucial benchmark in the Morrison governments $2 billion climate fund without any pressure for mandatory cuts that could put a price on carbon. Energy Minister Angus Taylor has insisted the carbon cuts must remain voluntary to avoid any shift in the safety net to turn it into a carbon tax, just as 15 industry and community groups call for more ambition on tackling climate change. Energy Minister Angus Taylor: Were not going to use the safeguard to create a carbon tax. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Taylor rejected the idea of using the safeguard mechanism to set reduction targets for companies so they could trade credits with a carbon price. Its a safety net thats what it is now, he said in an interview. In a wide-ranging press conference on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the countrys legislature Sunday in Beijing, Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister and a member of the state council, responded to questions on Chinas foreign policy, external relations and the worlds thorniest issues. Here are some highlights from the nearly two-hour event. Pay for the pandemic? When asked by the Global Times, a nationalist newspaper affiliated with the official Peoples Daily, about several lawsuits filed in the United States demanding that Beijing pay restitution for damages inflicted by the coronavirus, Wang said the lawsuits are ludicrous and anyone who wants China to pay is daydreaming. In the U.S., Republican attorneys general in Missouri and Mississippi have filed lawsuits making such demands, and Republican senators from Missouri, Tennessee and Arizona have proposed legislation in a similar vein. The attempt to file frivolous lawsuits is a shoddy one, as it has zero basis in fact, law or international precedence, Wang said. If anybody thinks they can use ludicrous lawsuits to undermine China's sovereignty and dignity, or deprive the Chinese people of their hard-won gains, theyre daydreaming and are disgracing themselves, he said. According to the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, a foreign state shall be immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States and of the states, though there are a handful of exceptions associated with commercial activities and terrorism carried out in the country. The WHO and the coronavirus At the press conference, Wang defended the World Health Organization, a U.N. health body, over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and offered support to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a former health minister and foreign minister of Ethiopia. Since the start of the outbreak, the WHO, under the leadership of Dr. Tedros, has followed science and given timely and professional advice at every turn, he said. The WHO is an international body made up of 194 sovereign states. It does not serve any particular country, and it should not defer to any country that provides more funding than others. However, Wang also said the WHO needs reform to improve mechanisms and rules so as to remove the interference of political factors, value science and professional views, and preclude politicization and stigmatization. China has pledged to donate $50 million in total to the WHO since the Covid-19 outbreak began. Regarding the inquiry into the source of coronavirus, Wang said that China is open to joint efforts by the international science community to identify the source of the virus. It is important that it is a professional, impartial and constructive process. Last week, the WHO unanimously passed a resolution to conduct an impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation into the global response to the pandemic. Wolf Warrior diplomacy Asked by CNN about Chinas alleged wolf warrior diplomacy, a campaign that appears designed to counter Washingtons attacks on China with aggressive rhetoric, Wang said: We never pick a fight or bully others, but we have principles and guts. "We will push back against any deliberate insult to resolutely defend our national honor and dignity. And we will refute all groundless slander with facts to resolutely uphold fairness, justice and human conscience," he said. The term wolf warrior originated in a blockbuster nationalistic Chinese action movie, released in 2015, in which a special forces soldier battles a group of foreign mercenaries hired by a drug lord. Zhao Lijian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, is well-known for frequently criticizing America officials on Twitter, including U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser Susan Rice. In March, in the face of Washington blaming Beijing for the pandemic which first emerged in Wuhan in central Chinas Hubei province Zhao promoted a conspiracy theory on Twitter that the U.S. military could have brought the novel coronavirus to China. The tweet, later deleted by Zhao, triggered a diplomatic backlash. Russia, EU and Southeast Asia As Chinas relations with the U.S. deteriorate, Beijing has been stepping up efforts to cooperate with Russia, the European Union and countries in Southeast Asia. Wang hailed the strong relationship between China and Russia, two permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. I believe that with China and Russia standing shoulder-to-shoulder and working back-to-back, the world will be a safer and more stable place where justice and fairness are truly upheld. Meanwhile, Wang said that China and the EU are engaging in high-level diplomacy, actively exploring the possibility of holding a special China-EU summit when appropriate. He said the two sides are working to wrap up negotiations on the China-EU investment agreement within the year. Unlike mistrust between China and the U.S., the foreign minister said China and the EU are fully capable of building trust through equal-footed dialogue and of resolving differences through constructive communication. He also said China and Southeast Asian countries aim this year to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a regional free trade deal, to build a more integrated regional economy. Contact reporter Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com) Two people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Georgia increasing the total number of cases to 730 in the country. Meanwhile, 13 infected individuals have recovered bringing the total recoveries to 522, Agenda.ge reported. As of May 24, there are 194 active cases of COVID-19 in Georgia out of the 730, as two Austrian citizens have returned to their country soon after they tested positive for the virus back in March. Unfortunately, twelve individuals, with underlying chronic disease, have passed away from the coronavirus-related complications. Georgia's Foreign Ministry reported yesterday that 12,477 Georgian citizens have been brought back from different coronavirus-hit areas since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 37-year-old man is dead in a Sunday morning shooting in the citys North Collinwood neighborhood, police say. Police have not made any arrests in the shooting that happened about 6 a.m. on East 162nd Street near Trafalgar Avenue, Cleveland police spokeswoman Jennifer Ciaccia said. A 36-year-old woman suffered minor injuries. Police responded to a call about a man shot. When they arrived, they found the man in a home with a gunshot wound to his chest, Ciaccia said. Paramedics performed CPR on the man, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators learned that the man was visiting his son at the womans home. The suspect broke into the womans upstairs bedroom window and started beating her, Ciaccia said. The man tried to get in the middle of them and became involved in the altercation. The man was shot shortly after, Ciaccia said. The shooting remains under investigation. Read more crime stories on cleveland.com: Swimmer found dead in Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, authorities say Jimmy Dimora, serving time at federal prison in Ohio for corruption, tests positive for coronavirus, lawyer says 22-year-old man shot dead in Cleveland early Saturday morning, according to police Three people killed in separate crashes in Euclid, police say Cuyahoga County corruption trials, criminal probes delayed by coronavirus Rapper Kwaw Kese says he is thinking of seeking asylum in the United States of America (USA), where he is currently stuck because of the closure of the countrys borders and airports as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. According to him, he has given himself up to the end of the month to concretise that decision. He made the revelation on Twitter on Friday, indicating he would go ahead to do that if government doesnt come to his aid. I'm gonna seek asylum by end of the month if Ghana government don't (sic) come and take me from here, the rapper tweeted. Kwaw Kese is part of a number of Ghanaian musicians who are stuck abroad. The rest reportedly include Sarkodie, D-Black, Pappy Kojo and others. They left Ghana before President Akufo-Addo announced the closure of the countrys borders and airports. Some of his followers mocked him over his rant, saying he is not even needed in Ghana. Meanwhile, there are rumours that government is working behind the scenes to fly back home some Ghanaians who are stuck outside the country and are willing to return. But it is yet to be confirmed if any search move has happened. By Francis Addo Actor Diljit Dosanjh has been entertaining fans with his culinary skills on social media and recently, he showed fans a new Pasta recipe in a Punjabi way. However, it seemed like fans of the actor were more worried about the non-stick utensils being used, as they advised him not to wash the non-stick utensils too hard. Take a look at the video shared: Also Read | Is Diljit Dosanjh In India, Canada, Or The US? Fans Ask As His Kitchen Looks Different As seen in the video shared, Diljit can be seen sharing the recipe of the pasta dish, using Punjabi names of the ingredients used. As seen in the video, Diljit can be seen donning a black hoodie and knee-high shorts. The actor accessorised his quarantine look with a pair of white shades and a head cap. With the video shared, Diljit Dosanjh wrote: PASTA PASTA DEKHO Aankh MERI LADI HAI. Aj Mitran Ne Ni... Khana Pasta . #diljitdosanjh #pasta #ineedmyspoon #fat #free Also Read | Kylie Jenner-inspired 'Flakey French Toast' Is Diljit Dosanjh's Latest Cooking Experiment Although self-isolation and quarantine are the right precautions to take during the Coronavirus pandemic, it seems like the quarantine practices can get a bit boring. However, Diljit is seemingly spending his quarantine days in a Punjabi way, to which his Instagram handle is proof. The actor took to his Instagram handle to share a recipe of Nutri Kheema, channelling his inner chef. As seen in the series of Instagram stories shared, the actor is seen explaining the recipe of the much-loved dish, step-by-step. Diljit's last outing- Good Newwz Diljit Dosanjh was last seen in the much-acclaimed comedy entertainer, Good Newwz which also stars actors like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani. Helmed by Raj Mehta, Good Newwz chronicles the story of a hilarious swap between two couples at their attempt with surrogacy. Good Newwz hit the theatres on December 27, 2019. Apart from impressing the masses with its unique storyline, the film turned out to be a blockbuster. Also Read | Diljit Dosanjh Spends Quarantine Days The 'Punjabi Way', Flaunts His Culinary Skills What's next for Diljit Dosanjh? Ever since Diljit dipped his toes in Bollywood with Udta Punjab, the actor has managed to carve a niche in the hearts of masses with his stellar performances. The actor is currently gearing up for his next comedy entertainer, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhaari. Starring Fatima Sana Shaikh, Manoj Bajpayee, Diljit Dosanjh in the leading roles, the much-awaited film is helmed by Abhishek Sharma. Also Read | Kylie Jenner-inspired 'Flakey French Toast' Is Diljit Dosanjh's Latest Cooking ExperimentDiljit Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. US President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro - AFP President Donald Trump on Sunday further limited travel from the world's coronavirus hotspots by denying entry to foreigners coming from Brazil, which is second to the US in the number of confirmed cases. Mr Trump had already banned certain travellers from China, Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Iran. He has not moved to ban travel from Russia, which has the world's third-highest caseload. Mr Trump had said last week that he was considering limiting travel from Brazil. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany cast the step announced on Sunday as another "decisive action to protect our country" by Mr Trump, whose management of the crisis has come under sharp scrutiny. The US leads the world with more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases and a death toll that is expected to surpass 100,000 later this week, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Brazil, now Latin America's hardest-hit country, is second, with more than 347,000 cases and more than 22,000 deaths. Third on the list is Russia, with more than 344,000 reported cases and more than 3,500 deaths. The White House did not immediately respond to queries about whether a travel ban would be imposed on Russia. "Today's action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country," Ms McEnany said. Filipe Martins, who advises Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on international affairs, said the US was treating Brazil as it had other populous countries and suggested the news media were overplaying Mr Trump's ban. "By temporarily banning the entry of Brazilians to the US, the American government is following previously established quantitative parameters that naturally reach a country as populous as ours," Mr Martins tweeted. "There isn't anything specifically against Brazil. Ignore the hysteria from the press." Story continues Mr Bolsonaro has downplayed the coronavirus by repeatedly calling it a "little flu" and insisting that closing businesses and issuing stay-at-home recommendations will ultimately cause more hardship by wrecking the economy. Mr Bolsonaro fired his first health minister for going against him and backing restrictions put in place by Brazil's governors. His second minister also resigned after openly breaking with Mr Bolsonaro over widespread prescription of the antimalarial drug chloroquine for coronavirus treatment. Mr Trump said in an interview broadcast in the US on Sunday that he had completed a course of a related drug, hydroxychloroquine, as a line of defense against becoming infected. Mr Bolsonaro's approach has mirrored that of Mr Trump, who in the early days of the outbreak sought to downplay the severity and suggest the few cases that existed in the US would "just disappear." After agreeing to encourage Americans to practice social distancing, Mr Trump began to say the "cure can't be worse than the problem itself". He has been aggressively pushing governors to allow businesses to reopen and travelling more himself. Meanwhile, the number of cases in Brazil has continued to surge, pushing hospitals in multiple states to the brink of collapse and causing the Amazon city of Manaus to bury people in mass graves. The pace of deaths has been accelerating and, with a peak still approaching, the country has only an interim health minister. Brazil has more than 360,000 cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to health ministry data released on Sunday night, meaning it trails only the US in the Johns Hopkins University tally. Experts consider it a vast undercount due to insufficient testing. The ministry reported more than 22,600 deaths. The White House said on Sunday it plans to donate 1,000 ventilators to Brazil. The ban on travel from Brazil takes effect late Thursday. As with the other bans, it does not apply to legal permanent residents. A spouse, parent or child of a US citizen or legal permanent resident also would be allowed to enter the country. The restrictions also do not apply to trade between the US and Brazil. Earlier on Sunday, Robert O'Brien, the US national security adviser, had said an announcement was likely. "We're concerned about the people of the Southern Hemisphere and certainly the people of Brazil. They're having a rough go of it," he said on CBS' Face the Nation. He said the travel ban would likely be temporary. "But because of the situation in Brazil, we're going to take every step necessary to protect the American people." Mr O'Brien said. Data from Brazil's civil aviation agency shows there has already been a sharp reduction in US-bound flights from the South American country. There were more than 700 flights from Brazil to the US in February of this year, with the number dropping to just 140 in April, two months later. There were more than 700 flights to the US from Brazil in April 2019, the data shows. Political fury exploded in Britain over Prime Minister Boris Johnsons senior aide Dominic Cummings, who is facing calls to resign for a journey during the coronavirus lockdown. Johnson has so far defended Cummings action. A British cabinet member told ITV channel that the UK government is bleeding credibility over the issue. The minister, who was not named by the television network, also said that the cabinet members were stunned by Johnsons statement. Another unnamed minister was quoted by the Sun newspaper as saying, This is not a bubble story. Real people are furious, because they have been doing the right thing and isolating. A second unnamed minister cited by the newspaper said that retaining the adviser was increasingly looking as a sign of weakness. Johnson backed Cummings on Sunday, despite calls from within his own Conservative Party for the aide to resign. Ive had extensive face-to-face conversations with Dominic Cummings, Johnson told a news conference, saying his aide had followed the instincts of every father when he travelled with his wife for help with childcare while isolating. I believe that in every respect he has acted responsibly and legally and with integrity. With Johnsons words that he had acted with integrity, Cummings was safe, at least for now. Cummings, architect of the 2016 campaign to leave the EU, came under pressure when newspapers reported he had travelled from London to northern England in March when his wife was ill with Covid-19 symptoms during a nationwide lockdown. Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, described Johnsons decision to take no action against Cummings as an insult to the sacrifices made by the British people. A divisive figure, Cummings is seen by allies and enemies alike as Johnsons most important and influential strategist. Johnsons office said Cummings made the 400 km journey after his wife showed symptoms, to ensure his 4-year-old son could be properly cared for by relatives if he too fell ill. Seven more people succumbed to the coronavirus in Tamil Nadu, which witnessed its highest single day spike of 805 cases, taking the infection count in the state to 17,082, Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar said. With the new fatalities, the death toll in the state has risen to 118 and 84 per cent of them with co-morbidities. Chennai continued to lead in the number of positive cases with 549 recorded on Monday, taking the total to 11,131. Adjoining districts of Chengalpattu and Thiruvallur, where the suburban areas of the metropolis fall, followed the city in higher number of cases with 832 and 764 respectively. The number of recoveries also was significant at 407, constituting more than half of the people who turned positive during the day. Briefing reporters, Baskar said 93 of the new cases were returnees -- 87 from Maharashtra, two from Kerala, three from Gujarat and one individual from Andhra Pradesh -- all of whom came by road and tested positive after screening at border check-posts. Among those who turned positive on Monday were 491 men and 314 women, he said. Baskar said 407 people were discharged on Monday, taking the total recoveries so far to 8,731 while the active cases were 8,230. On the seven latest fatalities, he said five of them died in government hospital and two in private hospitals. Noting that the government had been taking various precautionery measures in containing the spread of virus, he said the strategy of the government focused on aggressive testing, early diagnosis, proper clinical management, treating the patients and later discharging them. "Tamil Nadu ranks top in conducting the number of tests. We have 68 testing facilities," the minister said. He said the Centre and the World Health Organisation have lauded the state government's efforts in conducting testing. Till date 4,21,450 samples were tested, the highest among the states in the country, he said. He said as many as 942 people, including 726 from Maharashtra, who arrived in the state through various modes of transport in the last one week have tested positive for the virus. On resumption of flight operations in the state, he said it was a new challenge to the government and it has issued guidelines which include testing of passengers by thermal screening and checking them for any symptoms by a medical team. "If they are found to be asymptomatic by the medical team at the airport they would stamp those passengers in hand and send them to 14 day quarantine period", he said. Data gathered through tests would be made available and a medical team based on its analysis would be able to make suitable recommendations to the government, he said. Another significant finding from a research conducted by the medical team in the last three months was 88 per cent of the positive cases were 'asymptomatic' while only 12 per cent were 'symptomatic', he said. Among the symptomatic, about 40 per cent of them had fever, 37 per cent cough, 10 per cent sore throat, nine per cent complained of breathlessness and four per cent suffered from 'running nose'. Based on an audit of the deaths caused due to COVID-19, he said 84 per cent of those who lost their lives were 'co- morbidity' cases. The Minister later tweeted that the best practices followed by Tamil Nadu for COVID-19 clinical management has been appreciated by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "We will continue increased testing and fetch data for analysis for future preparedness with reference to infrastructure facilities, drugs stock, manpower. With public cooperation we will overcome", he tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket gets ready to launch the NASA/SpaceX Commercial Crew flight carrying NASA's newest test pilots, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on Wednesday. Photo: SpaceX/Twitter STERLING (AP): President Donald Trump plans to be on the Florida coast Wednesday to watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade. It will be the first time since the space shuttle programme ended in 2011 that US astronauts will launch into space aboard an American rocket from American soil. Also new Wednesday: a private company, not NASA, is running the show. Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The NASA/SpaceX Commercial Crew flight test launch will carry NASA's newest test pilots, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. They're scheduled to blast off from launch pad 39A, the same one the Apollo astronauts used to get to the Moon. The shift to private companies allows NASA to zero in on deep space travel. The space agency is working to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024 under orders from the White House, but that deadline appears increasingly unlikely even as three newly chosen commercial teams rush to develop lunar landers. Mars also beckons. The White House portrayed the launch as an extension of Trump's promise to reassert American dominance in space. He recently oversaw creation of the Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. "Our destiny, beyond the Earth, is not only a matter of national identity, but a matter of national security," Trump said in a statement. Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, also plans to attend Wednesday's launch. Markets regulator SEBI on Monday said shares in depository account, which may be pledged or repledged, can be used as margin for another three months till August 31 in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The markets regulator in February came out with framework on margin obligation to be given by way of pledged or repledged shares in the depository system. Under the framework, trading or clearing member need to accept collateral from clients in the form of securities, only by way of ''margin pledge'', created in the depository system with effect from June 1. Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates Now, the regulator has extended the guidelines by three months for the implementation of the framework, SEBI said in a circular. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show In view of the situation arising due to COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown imposed by the government, representations received from the depositories and the clearing corporations and that the changes to the systems and software development still under progress, it has been decided to extend the implementation of the framework to August, 2020, the regulator added. "Accordingly... the trading member (TM) / clearing member (CM) shall be required to close all existing demat accounts tagged as 'Client Margin / Collateral' by August 31, 2020," the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said. However, the provision regarding holding of Power of Attorney by TM or CM not to be considered as equivalent to the collection of margin by such member in respect of securities held in the demat account of the client will be applicable from June 1. Further, with regard to confirmation from the client or pledgor through one time password on mobile number or registered e-mail id or other verifiable mechanism, SEBI said that such confirmation need to be required only once from the client at the time of initial creation of pledge in favour of trading or clearing member and subsequent repledging by such member need not require any further confirmation from the client. Arjun Mahajan head of Institutional Business at Reliance Securities said, "at the margin, this is positive step by the regulator. They have made it easy for investors in a way that share in DP account, which may be pledged / unpledged can be used as margin for another three month till 31 August 2020. So, this can and may address some near term selling pressure and we may not see that coming". Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday at a Likud Party faction meeting at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, that his July 1 deadline for starting the process of annexation in the West Bank will not change, according to people in attendance. Why it matters: The White House and the State Department have stressed over the last few weeks that the deadline set by Netanyahu is "not sacred" to the Trump administration and that any discussion of annexation needs to be in the context of renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The big picture: The coalition deal that allowed Netanyahu to form his new government says he can bring "the understandings with the Trump administration" on annexation up for a vote in his Cabinet or the Knesset as early as July 1 but only with the full agreement of the White House. Israel's ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, has been lobbying American officials in recent weeks to back annexation, fearing that the plan could be derailed if Joe Biden wins the presidency in November. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said last week that the Palestinian Authority considers itself free of all agreements and understandings with both Israel and the U.S. including on security matters because of Israel's annexation plans. What he's saying: Netanyahu told the meeting that Israel has the biggest opportunity since 1948 to annex the West Bank and stressed he will not let this opportunity pass. Police and the FBI finished searching a residential property where the husband of missing Colorado mother Suzanne Morphew worked. Authorities dug up a concrete slab where Morphew's spouse Barry had laid mud, the property owner told CBS4. But they completed the three-day hunt for evidence connected to her disappearance in multiple areas of the riverfront Salida property around 12 miles from the couple's home. They did not release any further information about the hunt in a collaboration with Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but confirmed they had no fresh leads on Sunday. Police and FBI wrapped up a search for the missing mother-of-two Sunday at a property in Salida, Colorado (pictured) DailyMail.com learned it was her daughters Mallory and Macy (left and right) who first raised the alarm after they were unable to get hold of her on Mother's Day as they made their way back from a camping trip in Idaho. They are pictured with Suzanne's husband Barry 'Someone has that key piece of information in this case that will help us locate Suzanne,' Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze said. 'Im asking our community members to continue to use the tip line to provide any information, no matter how inconsequential the tip may seem.' They had no plans to continue searching on Monday. Mother-of-two Suzanne, 49, vanished while on a Mother's Day bike ride in Maysfield on May 10. Her daughters Mallory and Macy were the ones to raise an alarm when they couldn't get a hold of her as they returned from a camping trip in Idaho. Barry, 52, was not home the day Suzanne disappeared and relatives said he was away on a training course for his job as a volunteer firefighter in Denver. The last report I got from people is that [Barry] is having a difficult time sitting still, and pacing back and forth, constantly looking out the window, hoping he can see her,' Fire Chief Robert Bertram, 40, said to Fox21. 'Hes going out, driving up the road, and trying to remember any suspicious vehicles that hes seen,' he added. Bertam says that there was no training the weekend Suzanne went missing and believes Barry had been in Denver for a landscaping job. Bertam says he recruited Barry to be a volunteer firefighter in 2018 and describes Suzanne as a well-liked woman in the area. 'She was one of the most friendly people Ive ever met. Very genuine, she would come up and talk to you. It definitely hit hard when I heard that she was missing,' Bertam said. There have been no arrests in the investigation. Exclusive photos show cops carrying evidence bags and equipment into her $1.5 million three-bedroom home just outside Salida, Colorado, on Tuesday afternoon Police crime scene investigators and plain clothes detectives searched the home of missing Colorado mom Suzanne Morphew on Tuesday. Pictured: The $1.5 million home Morphew's fire department colleagues have been ordered not to take part in the search by police, although locals said Morphew and his friends have been out looking for Suzanne In Saturdays search officers were seen sifting through buckets of newly laid dirt and ruffle dug up from the site near County Road 105 and Vandaveer Road. A white tent was erected at the property as officers dug through clues of Suzannes whereabouts. A chunk of cement had been removed from the foundation of the property and an evidence response team truck was stationed nearby. The person who owns the property has been cooperative and is not connected to the mother's disappearance, authorities have said. The couple moved from Alexandria, Indiana to Colorado in July 2018. Mrs Morphew has not been heard from since May 9. A bike owned by the mother-of-two was recovered from a bridge close to her home on May 10, according to local sources the same day she was reported missing. On Tuesday, as seen in exclusive photos, cops were seen carrying evidence bags and equipment into Morphew's $1.5million three-bedroom home just outside Salida. A CSI photographer was also seen at the home, which has been taped off. Evidence bags were spotted being brought out and loaded into a van. DailyMail.com revealed that Barry was not allowed to enter the home he shared with Suzanne since he returned from his trip to Denver. Police also have his car and his cell phone leaving the businessman and volunteer firefighter to communicate through his close friend George Davis, 33. Davis declined to comment when approached by DailyMail.com, saying he is too busy 'with stuff' to talk. DailyMail.com has also learned it was her daughters Mallory and Macy who first raised the alarm after they were unable to get hold of their mother on Mother's Day. Friends said they asked neighbor Jeanne Ritter, 70, to check on Suzanne when they couldn't get hold of her and it was Ritter who later called the police to report her missing. Barry Morphew, 52, is having a 'difficult time' with his wife's disappearance as the search for mother-of-two Suzanne Morphew, 49, enters its third week Suzanne's husband Barry Morphew, 52, has said he was away on a training course for his job as a volunteer firefighter in Denver, Colorado, when she vanished. The 52-year-old is currently staying at a property close to the marital home and has been joined by friends who have flown in from his native Indiana. Morphew was pictured leaving the property along with friend George Davis shortly before CSI investigators arrived to search his home on Tuesday Fire Chief Robert Bertram, 40, said Barry is having a hard time in the search for his wife. 'Hes going out, driving up the road, and trying to remember any suspicious vehicles that hes seen,' he said Ritter declined to comment when approached by DailyMail.com. Summer Stehle, 43, the stepmother of 17-year-old Macy's best friend, said: 'The neighbors up there are spread pretty far apart but the only reason they found out [she was missing] is because the girls called the neighbors and said, ''we never heard from Mom can you go check on her?'' 'Nobody actually saw her on her bicycle, sadly.' On Sunday, her husband made an impassioned plea for his wife's safe return in a video released via social media. 'Oh Suzanne, if anyone is out there and can hear this, that has you, please, we'll do whatever it takes to bring you back,' Morphew says in the video. 'We love you, we miss you, your girls need you. No questions asked, however much they want - I will do whatever it takes to get you back. Honey, I love you, I want you back so bad.' Barry Morphew posted a reward of $100,000 for information. That was doubled by a family friend, to $200,000. The Chaffee County Sheriffs Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI are searching for Suzanne Morphew. The investigators created a dedicated tip line for anyone with more information: 719-312-7530 SANTIAGO, Chile, April 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Santander Chile had its Annual Shareholders Meeting today, held remotely to minimize physical contact due to the COVID-19 spread. Among the various topics that were voted on this year included the Board of Director elections. The following directors were finally elected: Claudio Melandri (also President of the Board and Country Head), Alfonso Gomez (independent), Rodrigo Vergara (independent), Felix de Vicente Mingo (independent), Orlando Poblete (independent), Juan Pedro Santa Maria (independent), Ana Dorrego, Rodrigo Echenique, and Lucia Santa Cruz. Additionally, Oscar von Chrismar and Blanca Bustamente were elected as Alternate Directors. Furthermore, the payment of dividend for Ch$0.87891310 per share, equivalent to 30% of 2019 net income attributable to shareholders was also approved. Based on the closing price of the record date, the dividend yield amounted to 2.7%. The Board recognizes Santander Chiles solid capital levels and good credit risk management, but as a measure of prudence decided to temporarily reduce payout until there is greater clarity regarding the evolution of global and local events and as a mechanism to maintain credit growth to clients. Additionally, it was decided to hire Feller Rate instead of ICR Chile for the local ratings, given that the fee proposal of the former company was more convenient than the latter company. About Banco Santander Banco Santander Chile is the largest bank in the Chilean market in terms of loans and assets. As of March 31, 2020, the Bank had total assets of Ch$ 59,310 billion, loans net of provisions of Ch$ 33,435 billion, deposits of Ch$ 25,258 billion, and total equity of Ch$ 3,574 billion. The BIS capital ratio as of March 2019 was 12.7%, with a core capital ratio of 9.7%. Banco Santander Chile is one of the companies with the highest risk classifications in Latin America with an A1 rating from Moody's, A from Fitch, A from Standard and Poor's, and A+ from Japan Credit Rating Agency. CONTACT INFORMATION Robert Moreno Investor Relations Banco Santander Chile Bandera 140, Floor 20 Santiago, Chile Tel: (562) 2320-8284 Email: irelations@santander.cl Website: www.santander.cl Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and discussed the situation emerging out of the coronavirus pandemic. "Conveyed Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to His Highness @MohamedBinZayed and the friendly people of UAE," Modi wrote on Twitter. The prime minister thanked the crown prince, who is also the deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, for the cooperation extended to Indian citizens in the UAE. "India-UAE cooperation has grown even stronger during the COVID-19 challenge," he said. An official statement later said that the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the effective cooperation between both the countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The prime minister thanked the Crown Prince for the support extended to Indian citizens in the UAE," it said. During his conversation with Prime Minister Hasina, Modi wished her and the people of Bangladesh a happy and prosperous Eid-ul-Fitr. "We discussed the impact of cyclone Amphan and the present COVID-19 situation. Reiterated India's continued support to Bangladesh in this challenging time," Modi tweeted. Another statement said the two leaders shared their assessment of the damage caused by cyclone 'Amphan' in India and Bangladesh. "The leaders also discussed the COVID pandemic situation and the ongoing collaboration between the two countries in this regard," it said. Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's support to Bangladesh in addressing these challenges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The new program was developed to offer help to the National Urban League, UnidosUS, and local nonprofit organizations in the country to help address issues of transmission, unemployment, and the shortage of resources that are needed more than ever by Black and Latino U.S. communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Chief Executive Officer Steven Williams of PepsiCo Foods North America stated that the pandemic put a focus once more on the deep-rooted health and economic inequalities that were long faced by people of color. He acknowledged that these disparities were already pre-existing factors in society, but he promised that the major corporation would continue to help the communities in the coming months. Allocation of resources The initiative to help feed families of vulnerable groups will provide $1 million to local philanthropic organizations like the National Urban League and UnidosIS Esperanza/Hope Fund to help increase medical care and attention through testing and treatment, expand access to support from the government, and provide education and employment for relief. What is left would be allotted for recovery after the pandemic. PepsiCo would give the $5 million to nonprofit partners to support the specialized needs of the Black and Latino communities, which included testing and screening, nutritious food, healthcare services, education and employment, economic and child care assistance, and housing. The foundation is also giving a grant worth $100,000 to the Farmworkers Pandemic Relief Fund for assistance to the equally vulnerable farmworkers in the United States who continued to support the food supply even during the pandemic. Majority of the support will go to areas in the nation with the greatest population of Black and Latino residents like Baltimore, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New Orleans, and other cities. Check these out: Higher infection and mortality rates Chief Executive Officer Kirk Tanner of PepsiCo Beverages North America said that Black and Latino communities were being disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The minority groups have both seen higher rates of hospitalization, death, and economic hardships when compared to others. Tanner continued by saying the pandemic required "a collective effort". He said that the initiative would find support in the company and their partners easily. The company's investment was done in response to the surge of unemployment and infection rates found among Black and Latino communities in America. People of color account for a higher percentage of the total confirmed cases than they do the national population. Meanwhile, the mortality rate was twice as much as that of the Caucasian people. This was largely attributed to a combination of social and economic factors, particularly since most of the people who could afford to get themselves treated were whites. On the ground level, it looks worse. In Milwaukee, Black populations account for only 26% of the total population, but they make up for 70% of the deaths by coronavirus in the area. Similarly, in the Bay area, Latino residents comprise 21% of the population, but make up 37% of the COVID-19 cases. Last month, a survey was conducted showing that most essential service workers were people of color, and so plans of reopening the economy might put them at greater risk. The head of state noted that in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, support for bilateral trade is especially important for both countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Israel to complete the ratification of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). "The head of state noted that in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, support for bilateral trade is especially important for both countries. He called on the Israeli party to complete the ratification of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement signed on January 21, 2019, as soon as possible," the president's press service reported following a phone conversation between Zelensky and Prime Minister of the State of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu. The Ukrainian president also congratulated the Israeli prime minister on his accession to office and wished him success in his work. "Congratulations on your appointment as Prime Minister and the formation of your government. I am impressed by your political skills the story of the formation of the unity government is incredible," Zelensky said. Read alsoZelensky: Only one step left before Ukraine signs FTA deal with Turkey The Ukrainian president stressed that Ukraine and Israel have always been and will continue to be reliable friends and partners. As UNIAN reported earlier, on January 21, 2019, the then Ukraine's Minister of Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv and Israel's Minister of the Economy and Industry Eli Cohen signed an agreement on a free trade area between the two countries. On August 6, Zelensky signed the law ratifying the agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Israel on a free trade area. The Israeli side is yet to ratify the deal. A recent proposal of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams that manages Indias richest temple Tirumala in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, to auction as many as 50 immovable properties of the temple located in different states, has triggered protests from opposition parties and Hindu religious groups. On Monday, the TTD clarified that no final decision had been taken yet on this. It was just a proposal which would be discussed at the next trust board meeting after taking into consideration suggestions from all quarters, TTD trust board chairman Y V Subba Reddy told reporters in Tirupati. He said the decision to auction 50 unviable properties was taken by the erstwhile trust board during the Telugu Desam Partys regime in January 2016, based on a recommendation made by a sub-committee appointed for the purpose. At the TTD trust board meeting held in February this year, it was decided to examine the earlier resolution and suggest a plan of action for auctioning of the properties, he clarified. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is mulling the idea of auctioning 50 immovable properties located at different places in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. On April 30, the TTD listed out as many as 23 properties situated in various parts of Tamil Nadu, including Vellore, Kancheepuram and Thiruvalluvar districts, for auctioning, with the total upset price (base price) of these properties being Rs 2 crore. The properties proposed for auction include houses, house sites, vacant lands and agricultural lands. While the house sites measure between one cent to five cents, the agricultural lands measure around 10 cents to less than an acre. The TTD chairman said properties donated by devotees to the hill shrine several decades ago were non-maintainable and non- revenue generating for TTD as they were very petty and unviable. There are another 26 properties in Andhra Pradesh and one piece of land in Rishikesh. The decision triggered a lot of uproar in political circles as well as religious groups and individuals. Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh unit president Kanna Lakshminarayana demanded that the temple withdraw the proposal to sell the properties gifted to the Lord by devotees as it would hurt the sentiments of the community. The BJP called upon all its leaders and cadres to host a SaveLordBalajiLands slogan as DP for their social media accounts. The slogan is trending as BJPs top leaders GVL Narasimha Rao, Sunil Deodhar, state president Kanna Lakshminarayana and all other leaders have changed their DP accordingly. Jana Sena party president Pawan Kalyan lashed out at the temple trust board for the decision that would be likely to hurt the sentiments of devotees. Temples protection movement convenor CS Rangarajan appealed to the government to form a Dharmika Parishad to govern the assets of temples. He expressed the fear that the TTDs decision would set a precedent for all temples for selling properties donated by devotees. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad threatened the YS Jagan Reddy-led government with launching Kar Seva, if the decision to sell Gods properties is not withdrawn. The TTD chairman, however, said as per the rules, the TTD Board was competent to sell, exchange and mortgage immovable properties, if found beneficial to TTD. He said that the practice of selling immovable, non-maintainable and non-useful properties had been in vogue since 1974. Between 1974-2014, about 129 such immovable properties which were not useful to TTD were disposed of in public auction. Subba Reddy also appealed to devotees not to get carried away by false propaganda by vested interests aimed to create confusion. An outbreak of coronavirus cases at a food processing plant in Washington state has put a temporary halt to Clark County's plans to enter phase 2 of the state's reopening plan. According to Clark County Public Health, 38 workers at Firestone Pacific Foods in Vancouver have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. The plant was ordered to temporarily shut down last Tuesday, according to CBS News affiliate KOIN. One worker has been hospitalized. Every employee at the facility will be tested for the coronavirus, a process which began Friday, KOIN reports. The county's petition to enter phase 2 of reopening will be discussed next week. So far, 21 counties in Washington have been approved to begin phase 2, CBS News affiliate KIRO reports. Phase 2 of Governor Jay Inslee's plan for reopening includes restaurants operating at a maximum of 50% capacity with no more than five people at a table. Hair salons, nail salons and barber shops may also operate at 50% capacity. Outdoor activities involving no more than five people are permitted. One of the criteria for counties in Washington applying to move to phase 2 was to record an average of fewer than 10 new cases per 100,000 people for a two-week period, according to KIRO. Counties can be moved back to phase 1 or put back on full lockdown should things get worse during phase 2. Washington has over 19,200 confirmed cases and at least 1,050 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Food processing plants have emerged as hotspots for the coronavirus outbreak in several states. Nearly 600 workers at a Tyson chicken plant in North Carolina tested positive for COVID-19 after the plant reopened following a deep cleaning. In Texas, testing at meatpacking plants in the Panhandle was greatly increased, which contributed to a large spike in confirmed cases last week. At least 2 survivors in Pakistani airliner crash Family brings home newborn surrogate daughter from Ukraine Therapeutic horseback riding program hit from pandemic By Gabriela Mello (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday hailed supporters rallying in the country's capital to back his administration as an unfolding political scandal adds to the public health crisis driven by the coronavirus outbreak. Surrounded by security guards wearing masks, but not wearing one himself, Bolsonaro was shown in a live streaming video on his Facebook page greeting protesters waving Brazilian flags and calling him a "Legend," days after Brazil topped Russia to become the world's No. 2 virus hot spot after the United States. The rally, one of several such demonstrations Bolsonaro has encouraged in recent weeks, came as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, a close ally of the far-right Bolsonaro, mulls a ban on travel from Brazil because of the worsening outbreak there. [nL1N2D605Z] Health Ministry figures released on Saturday evening showed that 16,508 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total above 347,000, while the death toll increased by 965 to 22,013. [nL1N2D5085] Bolsonaro was seen posing for photographs, shaking people's hands and even carrying a young boy on his shoulders, part of a pattern of flouting and discouraging social isolation measures advised by health professionals to curb the pandemic. More pro-Bolsonaro rallies were expected to take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous city and the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. The demonstrations follow a decision by Brazil's Federal Supreme Court late last week to release a video recording of an April 22 ministerial meeting, in which Bolsonaro said he wanted to change security officials, their bosses or even ministers to stop his family and friends from getting "screwed." [nL1N2D4240] The political scandal revolves around an accusation by former Justice Minister Sergio Moro, a popular anti-graft crusader, that Bolsonaro aimed to interfere in police investigations. (Reporting by Gabriela Mello in Sao Paulo; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) Agitated over the governments decision of imposing restriction on the cultivation of paddy, hundreds of paddy growers from Kaithal district on Monday staged a dharna in Kaithal and demanded the government to withdraw its decision. Protesting farmers accused the BJP-JJP government of imposing a ban on paddy cultivation without assessing the ground reality. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the order under which farmers have to diversify at least 50% of their last-year cultivated paddy area by growing alternate crops in eight blocks of the state including Ratia, Siwan, Pipli, Shahbad, Babain, Ismailabad, Guhla and Sirsa. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also extended his support to the protesting farmers. He demanded the withdrawal of curbs imposed on paddy cultivation by Haryanas BJP-JJP government in about 4.5 lakh acres agricultural land of the state. Surjewala accused the government of debarring paddy cultivation in 19 blocks of the state and said that the government cannot deprive the farmers of their right to grow crops and get the benefit of Minimum Support Price. He said that the Congress will continue its support to the farmers in their fight against the governments diktats to punish the farmers. Nigeria has fined British aviation company Flairjet after its plane contravened a ban on commercial flights imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the aviation minister has said. The FlairJet plane was impounded on 17 May for carrying passengers despite only having approval for humanitarian operations. The West African country has banned passenger flights into the country, except those repatriating Nigerian citizens or evacuating foreign nationals. Minister Hadi Sirika said on Twitter the company was fined for violating civil aviation regulations and had been reported to the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Flairjet were found to violate our Civil Aviation Regulations IS 1.3.3(a) Table 2(IV)7(a) and IS 1.3.3 (a) Table 2(VIII)(4). The maximum penalty for each is N500,000:00K. We caused them to pay and reported their callous misdemeanor to UK CAA, MFA and the UK High Commission. Hadi Sirika (@hadisirika) May 24, 2020 Source: bbc Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By PTI MUZAFFARNAGAR: At least 25 people were booked for allegedly gathering at a mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district to offer Eid prayers on Monday, police said. Following information, the police reached the spot in Khatauli town and dispersed the people, Circle Officer Ashish Pratap Singh said. A case was registered against 25 people under Section 188 (disobedience to order) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as the Disaster Management Act, the police said. The wife of a coronavirus patient nicknamed the 'Teflon man' by nurses after surviving weeks in intensive care says it was 'horrendous' she was unable to see him after being told he might die. Grandfather-of-six Brian Harvey, 69, was admitted to Bristol Royal Infirmary in late March with what was thought to be pneumonia, but tests soon revealed he had caught Covid-19. He was put into an induced coma before the diagnosis and wife Mary and daughter Faye Stapleton, 32, feared they would not be able to properly say goodbye to Brian after doctors phoned them predicting he wouldn't make it through. Appearing on Good Morning Britain via video link from his hospital bed, he told how he was unable to have the support of his family after waking up from a five-week coma, but praised the 'amazing' NHS staff who looked after him. Grandfather-of-six Brian Harvey (pictured), 69, was admitted to Bristol Royal Infirmary in late March with what was thought to be pneumonia, but tests soon revealed he had caught Covid-19 Appearing on Good Morning Britain wife Mary and daughter Faye Stapleton (pictured), 32, told how they feared they would not be able to properly say goodbye Mary, who spoke from her home, said: 'Initially the ambulance crew just thought he had pneumonia and then the next day we had a call to say they were going to take him to the ICU and he tested positive. It was horrendous not being with him, horrible. She added: 'A couple of times we had some horrific calls, telling us he wouldnt make it through the night. Faye went on: 'We had a call to say he wouldnt make it, his kidney's had completely failed. 'It was a horrendous phone call, when mum just wanted to be at dad's bedside it was absolutely horrific.' Brian Harvey at Bristol Royal Infirmary with nurses who nicknamed him the Teflon Man after he recovered from Covid-19 and woke up from a six-week coma with no memory of the pandemic They told host Ben Shepard It was horrendous not being able to see Brian after being told he may not survive Brian had to be told about the pandemic after waking from a six-week coma, and told that while it was 'quite an ordeal' the NHS staff who saved his life were 'amazing'. He said: 'It was quite an ordeal and obviously, when you're in that position it would be nice to have family there just to give some sort of support. 'But because of this virus you can't to that, but the team and the staff on the recovery ward were amazing.' Faye told that her eight-year-old daughter had made a wish on her ninth birthday that her granddad would recover, and the next day they were told that his condition was no longer critical. Brian had to be told about the pandemic after waking from a six-week coma, and told that while it was 'quite an ordeal' the NHS staff who saved his life were 'amazing' She told: ' It was just amazing. We had that call on the 12th of April and all she wanted was to make a wish on her ninth birthday for her granddad to come home. 'Then on the 13th of April, we were told he was improving and it was just a miracle.' The grandfather may have to stay in hospital for another five weeks, however, as he has picked up another infection on his heart. Without denying or confirming rumours that some personnel at the Western Naval Command have contracted COVID-19, the Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Emmanuel A. Kwafo, has said his staff cannot be quarantined due to the frontline role they play for the state. Commodore Kwafo told Citi News that the Command prioritizes the COVID-19 safety protocols during its work. He said despite being aware that navy officers are vulnerable to the disease, Commodore Kwafo noted that they have no choice than to sacrifice and work for the state. Commodore Kwafo made the remark when Zoomlion embarked on a disinfection exercise against COVID-19 at the Western Naval Command. We have put in all the various protocols and as you can see, you cannot enter without your temperature being taken and we ensure that unless you wear the face mask, you will not be allowed to enter. So far as you work here, you will be at risk. So if we don't want to record any case then we don't have to workbut we cannot be quarantined. We have to present ourselves, sacrifice ourselves for the interest of the nation. That is the definition of our jobit's a risky one. So it is not out of place whether we test positive or not, we are vulnerable because we are at the frontline. For the sake of prejudice, we don't want to disclose figures. We need everybody's support to enable us to fight this menace since we are the only state agency that goes to sea to board all those vessels at sea to ensure that people don't break the rules. The borders have been closed but at sea, there are no closed borders. Commodore Kwafo who appreciated the Zoomlion disinfection exercise also responded to reports claiming that 20 Western Naval officers had contracted COVID-19 without denying or confirming the report. That report is seeking to establish this command as an irresponsible command. It is extremely unfortunate. We are in close and constant contact with the 37 Military Hospital. Anything that happens here, if it requires a person to be evacuated by aircraft, in the next hour, the aircraft would be here to pick the person there, so that report is unfortunate. Lola Asiseh Ashitey-Project Coordinator, Zoomlion Gh. Ltd. The Zoomlion disinfection exercises at the Western Naval Command follows a similar one that took place at the Eastern Naval Command. The exercise is aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 at the command. The Project Coordinator for Zoomlion, Lola Asiseh Ashitey, who supervised the exercise told Citi News about the extent of the disinfection and the rationale. We are here at the Western Naval Command in Sekondi, honouring our promise to Ghanaians, in furtherance of what we did at the Eastern Naval Command in Tema, to also disinfect all the eight vessels that they have here. We will also disinfect their barracks, infirmaries and their offices, just so that we can be sure that the people who protect us ashore are also safe to do their work well. ---citinewsroom Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rajendra Jadhav and Aditi Shah (Reuters) Mumbai and New Delhi Mon, May 25, 2020 19:06 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bda0a62e 2 News India,Airlines,travel,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free Domestic flights will resume across India on Monday after a day of "hard negotiations", the federal civil aviation minister said on Sunday, after some states sought to limit the number of flights. Flights will restart under an easing of restrictions imposed over the coronavirus, though the number of new cases rose by a record 24-hour amount on Sunday. The 6,767 new cases took the total to over 131,000. Airlines are preparing to resume about a third of their domestic flight operations from Monday, even without clarity over what quarantine rules may apply to passengers. The western state of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu in the south and West Bengal in the east -- business hubs and home to India's busiest airports -- had said they were not prepared to open for flights as coronavirus cases rose, state government officials said. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu agreed to operate limited flights from Monday, while southern state of Andhra Pradesh would allow flights from Tuesday, India's civil aviation minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, said on Twitter late on Sunday. "It has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state government to recommence civil aviation operations in the country.....Domestic flights will recommence across the country from tomorrow," he said. West Bengal urged the central government to postpone the resumption of passenger flights to Kolkata as it focuses on rescue work after Cyclone Amphan hit the city. Limited aviation operations in West Bengal will commence from Thursday, Puri said. India's federal structure gives its 28 states flexibility to set their own rules, complicating government efforts to kickstart the economy. The federal health ministry on Sunday asked states to design quarantine plans based on symptoms of passengers where those with moderate or severe symptoms would be taken to dedicated facilities. Those with mild symptoms must stay at home. Airlines including IndiGo, India's biggest carrier, SpiceJet Ltd and Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines are preparing to restart some operations from Monday. Budget carrier GoAir said it would resume flight operations from June 1 as it awaits clarity on the readiness of states and airports. A devastated son is demanding answers after a care firm transferred two residents with coronavirus to his mother's home which was previously said to be 'clear' of the bug. Gary Williamson's mother Sylvia, 81, died at Kenton Manor care home, Newcastle, on May 17. It was later confirmed she had coronavirus. He claims the home, where his dementia-suffering mother had lived for two years, had been clear of the virus up until 'around a month ago'. Kenton Manor is on the same site as care home Kenton Hall. Both homes are run by care operators Solehawk. Solehawk have admitted moving two patients with Covid-19 symptoms into Kenton Manor - Sylvia's home - from neighbouring Kenton Hall on April 10. On April 27, it was reported by trade union GMB that at least 15 residents died from Covid-19 at Kenton Hall. Gary Williamson's mother Sylvia, 81, (pictured together) died at Kenton Manor care home, Newcastle, on May 17. It was later confirmed she had coronavirus Solehawk has defended the decision, saying the transfer was approved by Public Health England and that the residents were quarantined for 14 days after being moved. But Mr Williamson said he still has unanswered questions following his mother's death. 'I just don't understand how that could get approved, they must have known they were taking a risk,' the 50-year-old said. Sylvia, who leaves behind two sons, three grandchildren and a great-grandson, had been living at Kenton Manor for around two years after suffering with dementia for around three years. Sylvia Williamson died on May 17 at Kenton Manor care home, Newcastle, with test results given to the family after the 81-year-old's death confirming she had coronavirus Mr Williamson said: 'She was doing great there, the staff are fantastic, everything was fine. 'The week before they shut the pubs we were told we couldn't visit anymore. Britain announces 121 Covid-19 daily deaths - taking official number of fatalities to 36,914 Britain today (Monday) announced 121 more deaths across all settings, taking the official death toll to almost 37,000. It marks the lowest Monday death toll since the UK's draconian lockdown was enforced on March 23 (74 deaths). For comparison, 160 fatalities were announced last Monday and 118 were recorded yesterday. But officials warn that death numbers released on Sundays and Mondays are usually significantly smaller due to a delay in processing fatalities over the weekend. Department of Health chiefs also announced 1,625 more Covid-19 cases today, the first time the UK has recorded fewer than 2,000 positive tests in the space of 24 hours in almost nine weeks. The Department of Health's daily death toll means the rolling seven-day average has dropped to just 303 - the lowest since March 31 (274). It takes the overall official number of victims to 36,914 - but the true number is thousands higher because it only takes into account laboratory-confirmed cases, not the suspected deaths in other settings. The figures published today by NHS England show April 8 continues to have the highest number for the most hospital deaths on a single day, with a current total of 891. Of the 59 new deaths recorded in England's hospitals, 47 occurred over the weekend. Five took place on Friday, while the remaining seven victims succumbed to the disease between May 16 and 21. Advertisement 'It was awful but we thought, if it keeps her safe, fair enough.' 'I just feared the worst. We just felt like it was only a matter of time.' Two weeks ago the family were informed that Sylvia had started vomiting and wouldn't take any fluids. Mr Williamson said: 'That went on for a few days, and we got a phone call on Friday saying all her levels had dropped, and we could go and see her because she was going to pass away. She lasted until Sunday.' Mr Williamson said his mother was tested twice for Covid-19 - the first set of results were lost in transit and the second set, which they obtained after she died, confirmed she had the virus. The family are now calling for answers, with Mr Williamson saying, 'I'm not saying it would never have come into the home, but I just can't believe they would have allowed them to move people into a home that was clear of it.' Last month, a union claimed 'at least 15 residents' at Kenton Hall were believed to have died after contracting coronavirus. At the time Solehawk, the company that operates both homes, said they could not confirm whether the deaths were as a result of Covid-19. The firm has now said there have been six confirmed Covid-19 related deaths at Kenton Hall and four at Kenton Manor. Mr Williamson said he was told by a source at Kenton Hall in April that two residents with symptoms were being moved into Kenton Manor, which prior to that had been 'free of' the virus. Solehawk has said the transfer was approved by Public Health England and that the residents were quarantined for 14 days after being moved on April 10. It is not known how Sylvia contracted Covid-19, and there is no evidence that the transfer of residents between homes had anything to do with residents being infected at Kenton Manor. Paying tribute to his mum, Mr Williamson said: 'She was just a character. She was always dead happy, always smiling, she was never any bother. The staff all loved her. 'My dad's devastated, they were together for 65 years and he used to visit her every day.' A spokesperson for Kenton Manor Care Home said: 'We are truly heartbroken by the sad loss of Mrs Williamson and our sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time. 'Our staff, most of whom have worked in the home for many years, work incredibly hard to care for and protect the health of our residents. 'The loss of any resident is hard for our staff to deal with but they are professional and continue to provide the best possible care in line with all Government guidance. This includes isolating any new admissions to the home. 'Prior to the transfer of the two residents from Kenton Hall to Kenton Manor on April, 10, we sought the advice and guidance of Public Health England who confirmed the transfer was safe and could go ahead. 'In line with the Government guidance these residents were in isolation for the required two weeks until April 24. Sylvia Williamson, 81, died at Kenton Manor care home (pictured), Newcastle, on May 17 'Current guidance shows that as long as the isolation is completed, the risk of further infection is minimal. 'As an extra precaution, the home is running a strict policy where staff are allocated to specific floors to minimise the chance of cross infection, which was the case here.' The spokesperson added: 'We have now tested every resident and staff member which commenced prior to the sad loss of Mrs Williamson and prior to the Government's instruction on the availability of testing in all care homes. 'This testing has identified a small number of staff and residents who had no symptoms but have shown a positive result. All of these people have subsequently been isolated. 'However, this shows the great difficulty all care homes have in identifying new cases of the virus. 'We have tested in all residents and in excess of 140 staff in the homes and support staff who provide support to the staff teams.' In this article TRI-CA The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. topped more than 1.6 million as deaths rose to more than 97,000, a tally from Johns Hopkins University shows. President Donald Trump threatened to pull the Republican convention out of North Carolina if the governor's coronavirus restrictions impose a limit on the number of people who can be in attendance in August. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu announced that the agency is temporarily suspending its trial of hydroxycholoroquine, the drug backed by Trump to combat the deadly coronavirus, over safety concerns. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, Singapore slashed its growth forecast for the third time this year. The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. Global cases: More than 5.4 million Global deaths: More than 346,200 U.S. cases: More than 1.6 million U.S. deaths: More than 98,000 The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University. UK junior minister resigns as battle continues over top government aide 11:30 (London time): A junior minister in the British government resigned on Tuesday as a bitter dispute over the actions of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top aide, Dominic Cummings, continues to rock the U.K. government. Cummings, a top adviser to the prime minister is accused of breaking strict lockdown rules by driving 250 miles across the country at the height of the coronavirus crisis to get help with childcare. On Sunday, Cummings, a divisive and influential figure, defended his position and said he had done nothing wrong. Later, Johnson also defended his aide, but there is widespread public and political anger over Cummings' actions. Announcing his resignation on Monday, MP Douglas Ross said in a letter he accepted Cummings' statement defending his actions but added "these were decisions many others felt were not available to them." Holly Ellyatt Russia reports record one-day rise in coronavirus deaths Russia said on Tuesday 174 people with the coronavirus had died in the past 24 hours, a record one-day amount, according to Reuters. The total death toll now stands at 3,807, Russia's crisis response center said. It reported 8,915 new cases on Tuesday, giving a total number of cases of 362,342. Holly Ellyatt Employees of the Republican Clinical Hospital treating patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus infection. Yegor Aleyev Spain calls for EU to set up rules on cross-border movement Spain has urged fellow EU countries to set up common rules to reopen borders as coronavirus lockdowns are lifted. "We have to work with our European partners to define the common rules that will allow us retake freedom of movement on European territory," Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez said on Cadena Ser radio station, Reuters reported. She added that EU countries must have common rules throughout the Schengen Area an area comprising 26 European states that enables citizens to cross internal borders without being subjected to border checks to open internal borders and set up rules for external borders, she said. Holly Ellyatt Australia won't open its borders 'any time soon' 2:58 p.m. (Singapore time) Australia will not open its borders "any time soon," Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters at the National Press Club on Tuesday. He added that his government will continue to have discussions with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government about a trans-Tasman safe travel zone where restrictions between the neighboring countries would be eased once the necessary protocols are in place. Australia has a little over 7,000 reported cases of infection and most of the patients are said to have recovered while 102 of them died from complications. States and territories are slowly easing restrictions that were imposed to tackle the outbreak. Saheli Roy Choudhury Saudi Arabia will end curfew in June, except in Mecca 10:48 a.m. (Singapore time) The Saudi state news agency said the kingdom will lift curfew everywhere starting June 21 except in the holy city of Mecca, Reuters reported. Curfew times are set to be revised starting this week and bans on domestic travel, going to workplaces and holding prayers in mosques will be lifted at the end of the month, according to the news wire. Curfew time in Mecca will be adjusted from 3 p.m. to 6 a.m. and prayers would be allowed to be held in mosques from June 21, Reuters said. Saheli Roy Choudhury Singapore slashes 2020 growth forecast for the third time 8:50 a.m. (Singapore time) In its third official projection downgrade, Singapore now expects its economy to shrink between 4% and 7% this year. The Southeast Asian country saw growth decline by 0.7% in the first three months, which was less severe than expectations. Singapore imposed partial lockdown measures in April as the number of infections climbed rapidly and as of Monday, there were close to 32,000 confirmed cases. To mitigate the economic fallout from the virus outbreak, the country announced three stimulus packages. Yen Nee Lee, Saheli Roy Choudhury Novavax begins clinical trial of coronavirus vaccine 6:30 pm ET Novavax said it has started clinical trial for a novel coronavirus vaccine and is targeting July to announce preliminary results. The Maryland-based biotechnology company said that phase 2 of the trial will be conducted after successful completion of phase 1. "Administering our vaccine in the first participants of this clinical trial is a significant achievement, bringing us one step closer toward addressing the fundamental need for a vaccine in the fight against the global COVID19 pandemic," Novavax CEO said in a statement. "We look forward to sharing the clinical results in July and, if promising, quickly initiating the Phase 2 portion of the trial." The phase 2 portion of the trial is expected to be conducted in several countries, including the U.S. Riya Bhattacharjee, Reuters WHO warns of 'second peak' in areas where coronavirus is declining World Health Organization (WHO) health emergencies programme Michael Ryan speaks during a press conference following an emergency committee meeting over the new SARS-like virus spreading in China and other nations, in Geneva on January 22, 2020. Pierre Albouy | AFP | Getty Images 5:20 pm ET The World Health Organization warned that countries where coronavirus was declining could still see an "immediate second peak" if they didn't stick to following coronavirus restrictions. "When we speak about a second wave classically what we often mean is there will be a first wave of the disease by itself, and then it recurs months later. And that may be a reality for many countries in a number of months' time," WHO emergencies head Dr Mike Ryan said. "But we need also to be cognizant of the fact that the disease can jump up at any time. We cannot make assumptions that just because the disease is on the way down now it is going to keep going down and we are get a number of months to get ready for a second wave. We may get a second peak in this wave." Riya Bhattacharjee, Reuters Trump says he is no longer taking hydroxychloroquine U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to make a statement to reporters about reopening churches in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, May 22, 2020. Leah Millis | Reuters 5:10 pm ET President Donald Trump said he is no longer taking hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that he has touted as a potential cure for the coronavirus, NBC News reported. "Finished, just finished," Trump said in an interview that aired on Sunday. "And by the way, I'm still here." There is no evidence that the drug cures or prevents the coronavirus, but numerous clinical trials are looking to see if it's effective in fighting the disease. Yelena Dzhanova Pro fisherman Casey Scanlon navigating through sport during Covid-19 Courtesy Casey Scanlon. 4: 30 pm ET Like millions of other Americans, pro fisherman Casey Scanlon will take a hit to his income this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Five months into the year, nearly 38.5 million fishing licenses, tags, permits and stamps have been issued across the country, according to figures from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That's just 2.9 million below the total for all of 2019 and months before peak fishing season in most areas. Several states Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Texas already have surpassed the number of licenses issued in 2019. But Covid-19 has hurt the pro bass fishing circuit. Though, tournaments are scheduled to resume in late June, there's still some question about whether these remaining tournaments will occur. And the economic slowdown could put sponsorship deals that supplement winnings of anglers like Scanlon at risk. And a revised schedule means anglers will forgo earning money as a fishing guide. Here's how this professional fisherman is navigating choppy waters in his sport during Covid-19. Jabari Young California opens up in-store retail shopping A framing art gallery is closed in Venice Beach, California' during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images 4 pm ET The California Department of Public Health announced Monday that in-store retail shopping can resume with modifications put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus. "Subject to approval by county public health departments, all retail stores can reopen for in-store shopping under previously issued guidelines," a press release from the CDPH said. Retail stores and shoppers are still expected to follow social distancing guidelines, like maintaining and encouraging physical distance and wearing face coverings. Yelena Dzhanova Family doctors face pay cuts, furloughs and supply shortages Dr Greg Gulbransen performs a medical checkup on a 72-year-old man with Leukemia who is presumed to have the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while at his pediatric practice in Oyster Bay, New York, U.S., April 13, 2020. Lucas Jackson | Reuters 3:30 pm ET Family doctors are struggling to make ends meet and keep their practices open as the coronavirus pandemic squeezes already tight budgets. Primary-care physicians are increasingly concerned that some small, independent practices could close for good, leaving communities unequipped for a second coronavirus outbreak and triggering a wave of other public health crises as chronically ill patients forgo treatment and vaccination levels fall among children. Insurers pay doctors primarily by patient visit when appointments fall revenue dwindles, squeezing already tight profit margins. Many patients have been avoiding the doctor as they shelter in place and telemedicine has not been able to make up for the shortfall. Doctors offices are responding by furloughing staff and slashing pay. Many physicians have applied for the Paycheck Protection Program, while some have received money from a federal relief fund for health-care providers. However, no dedicated federal money has been set aside to support primary care during the pandemic. One recent survey found that 51% of primary-care physicians are uncertain about the financial future of their practice, while 13% may close their doors over the next month. Spencer Kimball California issues new guidance for reopening places of worship Ed and Maxine Czisny of Newport Beach hold up signs directing church-goers what radio station to tune-in and where to park at a drive-in church service lead by the Rev. Robert A. Schuller in Santa Ana on Sunday, March 29, 2020. Southern California churches are considering drive-in ministry as church buildings remain closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Leonard Ortiz | Orange County Register | Getty Images 3 pm ET State officials in California have issued new social distancing guidelines to follow in places of worship to ensure the safety of employees, volunteers and visitors, according to the California Department of Public Health. The guidelines, according to the public health department report, do not require places of worship to do in-person services. Rather, these places are encouraged to continue to offer remote services, the reports indicates. The new guidelines say that places of worship offering in-person services must limit attendance to 25% of the building's total capacity or allow in only up to 100 people, depending on which figure is lower. "This limitation will be in effect for the first 21-days of a county public health department's approval of religious services and cultural ceremonies activities at places of worship within their jurisdictions," the report says. On the 21-day mark, the CDPH will evaluate the outcomes of these limitations and will provide further guidance. Additionally, places of worship in California are encouraged to screen employees and visitors by providing temperature checks and requiring personal protective equipment. Houses of worships can also make sure to wash religious garments and linens after each service and find ways to "introduce" fresh air by opening doors and windows regularly. To continue practicing appropriate social distancing guidelines, places of worship are also encouraged to shorten services to limit the amount of time visitors spend indoors or consider the implementation of a reservation system. Some places of worships may also consider discontinuing singing, group recitation and other activities during which there is "increased likelihood for transmission from contaminated exhaled droplets." Read the full guidelines here. Yelena Dzhanova As summer kicks off, a new way to get your kids off devices and enjoying the outdoors 2:30 pm ET As shelter-in-place guidelines force Americans to stay home to avoid possibly contracting and spreading the coronavirus, many parents are turning to a new app that promises to encourage kids to go outside. Activate Fitness allows a child to earn screen time by completing various activities and challenges. A child can earn five minutes of screen time, for example, if they walk 1,000 steps. Parents have the ability to set activity goals like performing jumping jacks or walking up a flight of stairs, and daily activity levels are tracked by wearable fitness devices like a Fitbit. Yelena Dzhanova Korean baseball is in full swing here's what you need to know Players in action during a baseball game between SK Wyverns and Hanwha Eagles at SK Wyverns club's Happy Dream Ballpark without spectators due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on May 7, 2020 in Incheon, South Korea. Jong Hyun Kim | Anadolu Agency via Getty Images 2 pm ET With Covid-19 fears shutting down live sporting events around the world, baseball-deprived fans have looked to South Korea, where that country's professional baseball league, the Korean Baseball Organization, has resumed its games. ESPN currently airs six live KBO games per week, with one game airing on either ESPN or ESPN2 each day from Tuesday through Sunday. This Tuesday, ESPN will air the game between the KBO's Samsung Lions and the Lotte Giants at 5:30 a.m. ET. Though games have been played without fans in the stands, due to restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic, there are still some elements of KBO baseball that stand out. Here's what you need to know about the league. Jabari Young WHO suspends hydroxycholoroquine trial over safety concerns Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a news conference on the situation of the coronavirus (COVID-2019), in Geneva, Switzerland. Denis Balibouse | Reuters 1 pm ET The World Health Organization announced a temporary suspension of its hydroxycholoroquine trial, citing safety concerns. President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted hydroxychloroquine as a potential cure for the coronavirus, but no evidence has yet emerged suggesting it's a proven treatment. Hydroxycholoroquine is normally regarded as an anti-malarial drug that can also treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Despite the lack of evidence that suggests the drug can be used to treat or prevent the coronavirus, Trump told reporters earlier this month that he has been taking it to avoid contracting the disease. Yelena Dzhanova Here are the top 10 cities for summer staycations Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards 12 pm ET As summer nears, the coronavirus pandemic is forcing many Americans to opt for a "staycation" in lieu of a getaway to protect against the possibility of contracting or spreading the disease. Personal finance website WalletHub compiled a 2020 Best & Worst Cities for Staycations report that ranks which cities offer the best conditions for a staycation. WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities using 15 key metrics like number of parks per capita to average home square footage and type of weather in the summer. The top 10 cities that made the list are: Plano, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Tampa, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Lincoln, Nebraska; Fort Smith, Arkansas; Scottsdale, Arizona; Grand Prairie, Texas; Austin, Texas; and Orlando, Florida. Yelena Dzhanova Lufthansa and German government agree on $9.8 billion rescue package Lufthansa aircraft stand side by side at Munich Airport. Peter Kneffel | picture alliance | Getty Images 11:30 pm ET German airline Lufthansa announced that it has been approved for a $9.8 billion "stabilization package" to ensure that the company can continue operating as the coronavirus outbreak brings on economic devastation. But the European Commission has not yet signed off on the deal. If the deal goes through, the government fund offering the financial support would take a 20% stake in the airline and two seats on Lufthansa's board of directors. The stake is below the level needed to block major decisions. Yelena Dzhanova Why the coronavirus might change dating forever 11 am ET With the coronavirus keeping people indoors, singles aren't just meeting online. They're holding virtual dates over video chat services like Zoom and FaceTime. Five tips to protect yourself from coronavirus fraud 11 am ET More than 50,000 Americans have filed complaints this year with the Federal Trade Commission claiming they have been defrauded of $39.6 million related to Covid-19 scams. Of those submitting complaints through May 21, about 45% reported falling victim to fraudsters, losing about $470 on average. Scammers use methods such as text messaging and robocalls to lure victims. And there's a new, highly sophisticated robotext scam that could trip up a lot of consumers, said Bill Versen, chief product officer at Transaction Network Services, a global provider of data communications that tracks robocalls. It starts with a text purportedly from the IRS asking to confirm information for a stimulus payment through a link. If you click on it, the link takes you to a realistic-looking IRS web page where you're prompted to provide your name, contact information and Social Security number. Beyond those common ways to protect yourself, here are five additional steps you can take to safeguard against common scam tactics. Jabari Young Going to the movies will be a different experience during coronavirus An employee fills a bag of popcorn in the concessions area inside a Cineplex Cinemas movie theater. Bloomberg 10:30 am ET The experience of going out to the movies is certainly going to be a little different and the new strategies that theater owners are implementing in order to be able to reopen safely could change the way movie theaters operate altogether. While a number of smaller movie chains have reopened in some states, the majority of the big players are waiting to reopen their doors in late June or early July. To start, expect to wear a mask. While health guidelines will vary state by state in the U.S., common Covid-19 measures have included the use of face masks by patrons and staff. Some venues may provide a disposable mask at the front door, but it's more likely that you will be expected to bring your own mask. Temperature checks could also be part of the entrance process at theaters. "We really had to change the way that we operate our business," Jason Ostrow, vice president of development at dine-in-theater Star Cinema Grill in Texas, said during a panel hosted by technology solutions company Influx Worldwide in mid-May. Star Cinema Grill was able to reopen locations on May 8 and its decisions offer a blueprint for what consumers can expect once their local theaters are able to reopen. Jabari Young Amazon investors want the company to address worker safety Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive officer of Amazon.com Inc., speaks at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images 10 am ET Amazon shareholders will urge the company's board of directors to release more information on worker protection amid the coronavirus outbreak. They will address these concerns, raised by warehouse workers who have sounded the alarm, during Wednesday's shareholders meeting. The call for action comes as tensions continue to grow between Amazon and its warehouse workers. Confirmed cases and the number of deaths at Amazon facilities have risen as the outbreak spreads. But the company has repeatedly declined to disclose the number of deaths. Warehouse workers have been calling on the company to provide paid sick leave and close down facilities where there are confirmed cases to disinfect the spaces. Yelena Dzhanova Trump threatens to move GOP convention over North Carolina coronavirus restrictions US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as he departs the White House in Washington, DC, on May 21, 2020. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images Hungary opened its southern border for citizens of Serbia and Hungary from Monday morning, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told a news conference. Hungary decided to reciprocate a similar measure taken by Serbia on Friday, Szijjarto said, adding that the novel coronavirus pandemic was under control in both countries, which allowed the easing of restrictions. The move followed a gradual reopening of landlocked Hungarys other borders, which now allow some movement although restrictions have not been fully lifted. Hungary has recorded 3,756 cases of COVID-19, the pulmonary disease caused by the novel coronavirus, with 491 deaths. Szijjarto also reiterated Hungarys long-held stance that Serbia has a place in the European Union. He said Hungary would continue to show closed doors to illegal migrants, which he called a cornerstone of Hungarian-Serbian cooperation. Hungary was forced to close heavily fortified transit zones along its border with Serbia last week after the European Court of Justice found the practice to be illegal. SOURCE: REUTERS Key State bodies left nursing home residents and their carers isolated at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Dails Covid-19 committee will be told. In a blistering opening address, Nursing Homes Ireland CEO Tadhg Daly will tell TDs on Tuesday that the response to Covid-19 that the dismay will live forever with us. We were exasperated. The sector required a specific plan. We knew that Covid-19 disproportionately impacts on older people. "The planning and focus was almost exclusively on our acute hospitals. Multiple clusters initially emerged in our hospitals. But the numbers in nursing homes started to increase, he will say. His statement, obtained by the Irish Examiner, hit out at the failure to properly test hundreds of patients discharged from acute hospitals before entering nursing homes. We were already aware people in our homes would be amongst the most susceptible to the virus and a national strategy and response was required. In the absence of such, the challenges emerged. "These were versed publicly: insufficient testing of residents and staff; mass shortfall of PPE - providers have suppliers they would utilise to source such equipment but they were informed of a global shortage when they sought to source such and the HSE had priority over limited supplies; aggressive recruitment of nursing home staff initially by the HSE and discharges from acute hospitals to nursing homes without testing, Mr Daly will tell TDs. Mr Daly will say the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), the authority responsible for the commissioning of nursing home care, "fell silent" as homes incurred "considerable and responsible costs" to manage the pandemic. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), also appearing before the committee today, will tell TDs that there is "no national clinical oversight of care being delivered to some of our most vulnerable citizens". The State body, charged with improving health and social care and enforcing standards, will also say the the current model of residential care for older people has "no formal governance links with the Health Service Executive". In his opening statement, the Chief Executive of HIQA Phelim Quinn will say that 80% of nursing homes are operated by private providers and the Health Service Executive did not know the sector when the pandemic hit. He will say that the infrastructure required by the HSE to support the private sector was "under resourced" and became "increasingly challenged". Mr Quinn will outline a number of challenges faced by private nursing homes regarding timely testing and results, access to sustainable levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) and base line staff numbers including senior nursing expertise in infection control. He is expected to say that on 18 March, HIQA offered to assist the HSE in liaising with private nursing homes due to the fact that there was no established relationship. Mr Quinn will say from 1 April, the organisation requested a more formal escalation pathway for a more strategic coordinated approach to: the supply of PPE, resident and staff testing results, a longer term approach to staffing and infection control advice. He will add that: "HIQA believes that the quality and safety of our health and social care services would be greatly improved by a review of the current regulatory framework and the introduction of an accountability framework." In relation to the Skellig Star Hotel in Cahirciveen, the HSE will tell members the first suspected cases of Covid-19 among residents in the Centre were identified on March 30th (tested on March 31st- tests went to Germany) with the first positive case confirmed on April 13th. Testing of all residents and staff took place between April 18th and April 21st. When the results of that testing were available, a total of 21 residents and 3 staff were identified as Covid-19 positive, members will be told. The total number of Covid-19 detected cases was 22 residents and 3 staff. TDs will hear all residents who tested positive were facilitated to transfer to an isolation facility in Cork City. Following this self-isolation, the residents from Cahirciveen who were in the isolation facility in Cork were re-accommodated by the Department of Justice in different accommodation centres. All residents and staff recovered and are healthy. The Department of Justice will say it relocated over 600 residents, about 7% of the total population over a period from mid-March to early April, to support social and physical distancing in centres and enable cocooning measures to be out in place for the most vulnerable. This I know has caused some controversy as we moved residents with much less notice than normal and with less of the interactions with local communities that have become part of a better engagement with communities as we work to try and ensure decent accommodation for our residents, Aidan O Driscoll, Secretary General of the Department of Justice will say. At the start of Monday's episode of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, judge Jock Zonfrillo explained that social distancing rules would be going into effect. However, fans were up in arms when the measures being taken to protect the constants and crew from COVID-19 didn't appear to extend to gloves and masks for first aid staff. When chef Poh Ling Yeow badly cut her finger early in the episode - revealing she'd 'lost a small chunk' of her pinkie - she was treated by an on-set nurse. Space: On Monday's episode of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, Poh Ling Yeow (left) was tended by a medic who was not wearing a mask or gloves, despite new social distancing measures going into effect on the set of the show However, viewers were quick to point out that the medic was not wearing gloves or a mask. One person at home Tweeted: 'Hey you guys need a new nurse, where were her gloves???' Another chimed in: 'Nice gloves nurse...' while someone else added: 'That's what I thought! Glove up nurse!' Ouch: Poh Ling Yeow badly cut her finger early in the episode - revealing she'd 'lost a small chunk' of her pinkie A little help: She was quickly treated by a nurse on set who brought in a bandage Details: Viewers pointed out that the medic was not wearing gloves or a mask Someone else wrote: 'Why isn't the nurse wearing gloves?' while another agreed: 'And no mask either..... easy to say in hindsight'. Yet another marvelled: 'Po cuts finger. Attending first aid has no gloves!!' while one more viewer Tweeted: 'Nurse has no mask or gloves on! WTF? First aid 101'. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Ten for comment. At the start of the episode, judge Jock explained the changes being made to the show, telling the cast: 'Welcome to a brand new week and a whole new world. One person at home Tweeted: 'Hey you guys need a new nurse, where were her gloves???' 'A lot has changed in recent days due to the coronavirus. None of us have ever experienced anything like this before. But we are all in this together. 'Therefore, there's a few rules that I wanna speak to you about. In and out of this kitchen. So we're gonna do things a little bit differently from now on in here.' He added: 'You might notice we're standing a little bit further apart. That's the first new rule. You must keep a safe distance from each other at all times. Got it?' At the start of the episode, judge Jock Zonfrillo (pictured) explained the changes being made to the show, telling the cast: 'Welcome to a brand new week and a whole new world' Stand aside: The new measures include no farewell group hugs or high-fives and spacing between contestants The new measures include no farewell group hugs or high-fives and spacing between contestants. An Endemol Shine Australia spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: 'Changes have been made to the spacing of contestant cooking benches and gloves provided for team challenges where equipment may be shared, as well as when handling food in the pantry. 'Additional sinks have been added as dedicated hand washing stations. Judges step up to taste individually portioned meals and no cutlery or plates are shared.' The number of COVID-19 cases in Indore rose to 3,064 after 56 more people tested positive for the disease in the Madhya Pradesh district in last 24 hours, an official said on Monday. The death toll rose to 116 after two more patients succumbed to the disease, Indore's Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Praveen Jadia said. Fearing a big jump in the number of COVID-19 cases in the district in coming days, the district administration has started the process of increasing the bed capacity to 13,000 by July-end for patients. "Right now, 1,472 COVID-19 patients are being treated in the district. In view of the government's estimate of rise in the number of cases, we have been asked to keep 13,000 beds ready by July-end, Jadia said. Currently, around 4,000 beds have been reserved for COVID-19 patients in the district, he said. "Efforts are on to scale up tests and designate more hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients," he said. If required, hostels of the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Management here will also be used for COVID-19 patients. Discussions on this have been held with managements of both the institutes, he said. Dr Jadia said 56 new coronavirus patients have been found in Indore in last 24 hours, taking the tally to 3,064. Besides, the death toll has also gone up to 116 following the death of a 62-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman at different hospitals on Saturday, he said. So far, 1,476 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovery. Indore, which falls in the COVID-19 red zone, reported the disease outbreak on March 24, when four cases were found in the district. The next day, authorities imposed curfew in the urban limits of Indore while lockdown was enforced elsewhere in the district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Local TD John Paul Phelan is encouraging local groups in Kilkenny to apply for the Governments 2020 Clar Programmme, which has a total fund of 5 million and is designed to help rural communities respond to the challenge of COVID-19. Deputy Phelan said, The Clar Programme can be used for small scale infrastructural projects in rural communities where there has been significant levels of population decline. This year it has been tailored to help such communities to respond to COVID-19. Over 115,000 was invested in safety measures and play areas in Kilkenny alone last year. In 2018, Clar investment in the county was 303.000. The details of the 2020 CLAR programme were announced today by the Minister for Rural & Community Development Michael Ring TD, and I encourage local community groups in Kilkenny to apply. All the details they will need, including the application forms, are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/policy- information/91ba52-clar/ The Fine Gael deputy continued, Since Fine Gael reopened the Clar Programme in 2016, it has supported over 1,400 projects nationally with funding of almost 33 million. It has been a significant support to communities in some of the remotest parts of Kilkenny. CLAR is one element of a 30 million package of co-ordinated and complementary supports that is being launched by the Minister this week as part of his Departments Rural Development Investment Programme. The other elements of the programme to be opened later this week will be the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The Rural Development Investment Programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040. Its great to see the Clar Programme being adapted this year to help rural communities respond to new challenges as a result of COVID-19. For example, the Schools and Community Safety Measure, which funds items such as pedestrian crossings and footpaths to provide safe access to schools, has been broadened to allow additional investments to adapt areas around schools and community facilities to help meet new public health requirements arising from COVID-19. Funding will be provided under a new measure for community recreational areas where friends and families can socialise outdoors in safe, accessible, community spaces while respecting public health guidelines. This measure will include support for items such as picnic benches/tables, outdoor covered seating or BBQ areas, public lighting, bicycle stands, bandstand/stage areas, etc. These recreational areas will be particularly important for community social interaction in the coming months, in line with the Governments Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. Community organisations providing meals on wheels and other community services will also be supported to purchase kitchen or food delivery equipment. They can also access funds for any adaptations that may be necessary to their existing vehicles as a result of new public health guidelines. I was also pleased to hear Minister Ring confirm that we will separately continue to fund vehicles for those vital voluntary organisations that provide free transport for people with mobility issues and for those attending cancer treatments. Minister Ring added, I have introduced a standard grant rate of up to 90% of the total cost of projects across all of the CLAR Measures this year. This should ensure that the requirement on communities or Local Authorities to source match funding is kept to a minimum. With the introduction of these new Measures, my Department will play its part in helping rural communities adapt their local spaces and support their interactions with one another in a safe but inclusive way. I will be announcing further complementary supports in the coming days under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme as part of my Departments Rural Development Investment Programme. The deals for summer airline travel this year sound too good to be true: double miles, hefty discounts, flexible change policies, and plenty of inventory. With planes flying nearly empty and the travel industry facing an economic catastrophe, many airlines are offering generous promotions to get people back on board, sometimes against the advice of global health experts. Southwest Airlines last week launched an enticing promotion of double points on all flights booked and flown by August 31, the end of the summer travel season. If that wasnt enough to get people onboard, the airline also rolled out its latest fare sale on many routes with one-way tickets going for as low as $49 on some days. With parts of the U.S. slowly emerging from coronavirus stay-at-home orders, pent-up desire for air travel has never been greater, but so is the hesitation of stepping on an airplane during an on-going pandemic. Some bold and adventurous people are taking risks, said Lorraine Sileo, senior analyst with travel research firm Phocuswright. From what I understand, some of these places that have opened up are packed with tourists. Sileo said the American spirit of being independent plays into many decisions to travel, but theres also something to be said about people wanting to take advantage of a good bargain. Its enticing pricing with low airfares and a very good price on a hotel room, she said. Most people are being very cautious, but there is a segment of the population that wants to be traveling. In an informal survey of 4,200 frequent travelers by the air travel website greenergrass.com, 45 percent of respondents said they were ready to jump on a domestic flight right now, said Jeb Brooks, owner of the Greensboro, N.C. -based company. He said 22 percent were ready to travel internationally. One in five of those surveyed said they had booked travel since March 15, despite regional shelter-in-place orders that were in effect. Even with orders easing, discretionary air travel this summer will likely be non-existent for many families. Disneyland needs to be open, and cafes and museums in Paris need to be open before people are going to go back, Scott Kirby, United Airliness new Chief Executive Officer, said to investors May 1. Conventions need to be open and running. So it's not just about airlines. Then there are government recommendations dissuading unnecessary travel. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against non-essential trips for fear of spreading the virus or becoming infected with it. The U.S. State Department urges Americans not to travel internationally because of the uncertainty of being in another country during a global crisis. In California, residents remain under a stay-at-home order, except for essential circumstances. Getting me to fly this summer would be tough, said Chris Sladky, a frequent traveler from San Francisco. I'm also really nervous about trying to make any plans since it seems like so many countries have their borders closed. Sladky said he will reschedule an upcoming trip in June to Japan. He said theres a 90 percent likelihood his August travels to Australia, Germany and France will be postponed. Should airlines and travel companies woo customers during a these uncertain times? You cant blame the airlines, Sileo said. Their responsibility is to do the best for their employees and shareholders. Is it best for customers? Its up to you. Were smart people. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE weekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Since the beginning of this challenging period with travel bans and quarantine measures, the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) was seeking to continue its support to and the cooperation with the Port and Airport Control Units in the 51 participating countries across the globe. Several options were tested to continue the scheduled training activities. As a first step, an assessment of the situation in all operational countries was made to identify the impact by the COVID-19 lockdown for staff, to verify the percentage of officers working from home, to ensure that social distancing measures are in place and to check the internet possibilities in the respective countries. Based on the feedback provided, a number of pilot countries were identified to pioneer the CCP online training. The first CCP online training was initiated with Bolivia, supported by the UNODC-CCP National Coordinator in Bolivia. The following activities with Colombia and Viet Nam also drew on the assistance of the UNODC-CCP National Coordinators. The first online pilots of the CCP received excellent support from the General Directorate of Viet Nam Customs, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Cambodia Customs, and Bolivia Customs, Police and National Service for the Intellectual Property (SENAPI), as well as from Colombia and Afghanistan. Based on the encouraging experiences gained from these initial online activities, it can be summarized as: Lets do it! The online training even allowed to provide first-hand information about the drug trafficking situation in other continents to the participants in other continents an extremely informative exercise which would be very costly and cumbersome via the physical presence of regional training experts. The CCP will therefore continue to support all countries currently participating in the programme and for the time being reach out via online channels to new countries joining the CCP. At the moment, 150 CCP online training activities for Port and Airport Control Units are scheduled for 2020. Certainly, such virtual training cannot fully replace face-to-face training delivery by the CCP training experts, but will be an additional option for the future to intensify cooperation and collaboration with the countries partnering with the programme. For more information about the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme, please see the latest Annual Report or contact the WCO Compliance and Facilitation Directorate. Advertisement Americans across the country are celebrating a very different Memorial Day this year amid the coronavirus pandemic with soldiers and family members wearing masks as they attend socially distanced ceremonies to pay tribute to the servicemen who lost their lives serving their country. Today solemn graveside ceremonies took place where groups of family and friends were limited to 10 people and small groups of troops performed funeral honors while wearing masks at Arlington National Cemetery. This year the traditional Memorial Day events, where thousands descend upon cemeteries to honor the lives lost while serving in the US military and plant American flags at their gravestones, have been canceled to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. The National Cemetery Administration announced it will not host public events this Memorial Day and families can individually visit graves if they maintain social distancing. A U.S. Army soldier stands guard in front of rows of empty graves at Arlington National Cemetery, which is closed to the public, but hosted a small service for the president and is allowing for loved ones to gather in small groups Americans across the country are celebrating a very different Memorial Day this year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Kim Zachular (third from right) pictured paying tribute to her father, a Korean War veteran, who died of COVID-19, during a ceremony at Glenwood Cemetery in Everett, Massachusetts on Monday Female members of the Manhasset Post 304 American Legion unit stand at social distance wearing protective face masks during a Memorial Day event in Manhasset, New York on Monday Sam Haskins, past state commander of Post 1034, in Brattleboro salutes during a small service in Brattleboro, Vermont on Monday in honor of Kyle Gilbert, who died in August 2003 during an attack in the Al Mansour district of Baghdad United States Marine Corps veteran Ralph Reilly and his wife Kathleen, wearing a protective face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus, reads each of the names etched on the Vietnam War Memorial, in Philadelphia on Monday To honor Memorial Day historic WWII-era planes flew over California in an hourlong aerial tribute called Operation SoCal Strong. Planes pictured over UCLA Medical Center World War II-era aircraft pictured flying over the Los Angeles National Cemetery to honor fallen soldiers and health care workers in Los Angeles on Monday Joe Torre, 75, left, and Kicky Clavell, 67, greet one another as their motorcade stops outside the VA Medical Center before a wreath laying ceremony on Monday in Brooklyn, New York In New York locals participated in the annual Memorial Day parade on Staten Island where dozens of cars and nearly 100 members of the patriotic motorcycle group Rolling Thunder joined the event. This year's parade was scaled back in size and in person contact was avoided A lone resident carrying an American flag attends a Memorial Day ceremony in Glenwood in Everett, Massachusetts United States Marine Corps veteran John Kline wearing a protective face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus, pays his respects at the Korean War Memorial in Philadelphia At a funeral for decorated World War II veteran Command Sgt. Major Robert Belch at Arlington, masked members of the Armys Third Infantry regiment carried his casket but did not hand it over to the next of kin as per custom. Instead the casket was gently laid next to the grave to avoid physical contact. 'It means a lot to me that we can still be there for the families even though, you know, we are dealing with a lot as a country right now and we are able to stay constant and maintain, you know, the level of professionalism and be there for those families as they lay their loved ones to rest, Capt. Doug Rohde, who returned from deployment in Iraq last October and is now the commander of Bravo company with the Old Guard, said to CNN. He said in some cases his unit conducts funerals alone because family members of the fallen cannot travel to Arlington due to coronavirus safety concerns. Arlington National Cemetery is closed to the public completely except for family members with loved ones buried there. 'Our heart goes out to them for not being able to be there with their loved one as they are laid to rest, but I hope they take comfort knowing the Old Guard was there, you know, doing the funeral the exact same way to the same level of professionalism with dignity and honor for their loved one,' Rhode said. Across the country Americans observed the holiday in special ways. In Staten Island the annual Memorial Day parade went on, but was scaled back in numbers. This year attendees participated by driving down streets in a parade line waving flags and photos of their loved ones who served in the military. In Edensburg, Pennsylvania locals also celebrated Memorial Day with a parade where people rode out in their cars and tractors and residents wore masks as they stood on their front lawns and waved to participants. Locals in Boston, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia were seen wearing masks and practicing social distancing as they visited war memorials. Delbert Falter visits his brothers grave site amongst memorial headstones on Memorial Day at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan Kimberly Choate touches her father's memorial headstone on Memorial Day at the Great lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan Aan Gragossian, a volunteer fireman for the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department, who said he survived the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after spending close to two weeks in the hospital, salutes during a Memorial Day event in Manhasset, New York A woman wearing a protective face mask holding a U.S. flag stands at social distance during a ceremony in Manhasset, New York In Edensburg, Pennsylvania locals celebrated Memorial day with a parade. Tim Thomas of St. Augustine pictured in his 1975 farm tractor decked out with American flags Sharon Allison, left, and Marie Piastrelli don protective masks while watching a Memorial Day parade go by their apartment building in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania A motorcade of veterans stops outside the VA Medical Center as wreaths are lain beside memorial stones on the premises in Brooklyn, New York on Monday A bugler plays Taps as a motorcade of veterans stops outside the VA Medical Center for a wreath laying ceremony beside memorial stones on the premises in Brooklyn, New York on Monday A family looks at the U.S. Flags planted six feet apart on Boston Common for Memorial Day amid the pandemic on Monday Members of Guardians USA Vets and the American Legion Riders participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Ashtabula War Memorial in Ashtabula, Ohio In Southern California 18 World War II-era planes were slated to take to the skies in an hourlong aerial tribute called Operation SoCal Strong, flying over cemeteries and hospitals starting at noon. The Commemorative Air Force Inland Empire Wings C-53D named D-Day Doll, which was built in Santa Monica in 1943, will lead the event. Other aircraft involved include Betsys Biscuit Bomber, Flabob Express, The Spirit of Benovia and Whats Up Doc, according to the Commemorative Air Force Inland Empire Wing. Veterans from World War II and the Korea and Vietnam wars were invited to join as special guests for the flight that went through Riverside County, Orange and Los Angeles counties and back to Chino. At Arlington National Cemetery the Armys elite Caisson platoon has had its traditional funeral services halted since mid-March. In the traditional ceremonies horse-drawn wagons carry the caskets out to their graves and have been used to honor the lives of slain soldiers, elderly veterans and US presidents. At the Tomb of Unknown Soldier, soldiers are known for their razor sharp patrol walks in front of the memorial. While visitors are not allowed to visit the tomb due to the virus, the tradition of having 24-hour guards around the tomb still persists today, regardless of weather, war, or in this case, a pandemic. 'They had goals and they had ambitions and they weren't able to fulfill that,' Sgt. First Class Chelsea Porterfield, who is the Sergeant of The Guard said. 'To maintain and make sure that we can provide the living symbol, if you will, for America and everyone to see what we are doing is the best way to pay tribute to all of the unknowns.' Still, 142 Veterans Affairs national cemeteries will remain open to the public. President Donald Trump participated in a ceremony honoring the nation's war dead at Arlington Cemetery Monday. Pictured not wearing a mask alongside Vice President Mike Pence at a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier President Trump, First Lady Melania and servicemen maintained social distancing during Monday's Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Democratic presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden salutes veterans while walking with his wife Jill at the Delaware Memorial Bridge Veteran's Memorial Park in Newcastle, Delaware on Monday President Donald Trump participated in a ceremony honoring the nation's war dead at Arlington Cemetery Monday in a remembrance that carried on its long traditions despite changes for the pandemic then flew to Baltimore where he said the nation would 'vanquish' the coronavirus at the history Fort McHenry. Trump traveled by motorcade across the Potomac River for the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington after wishing the nation a 'HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY' on Twitter. The president stood hands-clasped in front of the wreath, which bore red, white, and blue flowers. He reached out and touched it, then gave a salute. Democratic presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden stopped at the Delaware Memorial Bridge Veteran's Memorial Park in Newcastle, Delaware on Monday where they paid tribute to lost servicemen and women. Rosemary Kennedy visits the gravesite of her husband Dennis on Memorial Day at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan Members of the public and veterans visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. on Monday Flowers are displayed in front of the graves of US soldiers on Memorial Day in the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California Hazleton American Legion Post 76 members lead members of the Hazleton Fire Department into St. Gabriels Cemetery for a Memorial Day ceremony in Pennsylvania Man found with knife after he was reported for stalking Cancun bank area Cancun, Q.R. Elements of the Quintana Roo Police detained an armed man who was reported for stalking the bank area of the first square of the city. In an informative release, police revealed that the agents intercepted the subject in SM 5 of Cancun after he was reported by a radio station DJ for his suspicious attitude in the banking area along Tulum Avenue. Nearby police were quick to respond to the report, arresting 27-year-old Alejandro N. In their report, police said that when they arrived, they identified the now accused who was inside a gold Toyota Corolla. When approaching the unit, officers realized that the subject, upon noticing the police presence, hid a knife among his clothes. An inspection of his person revealed a 15 cm knife. He was arrested and transferred to the Quintana Roo Police facilities. Supporters of Mr. Trump, many of whom had no masks, waved American flags and chanted U.S.A., U.S.A. as he arrived in Baltimore. Protesters urged the president to stay home. On Monday, Mr. Biden, too, spoke about military sacrifice, a matter he often discusses in personal terms. The Bidens elder son, Beau Biden, served in the Iraq war, and Mr. Biden frequently concludes speeches with the phrase, May God protect our troops. Beau Biden, the former attorney general of Delaware, died of brain cancer five years ago this week. Never forget the sacrifices that these men and women made, Mr. Biden said on Monday, according to a pool report from his visit to Veterans Memorial Park at the Delaware Memorial Bridge in New Castle, Del. Never, ever forget. Some Democrats, including some close allies, have grown impatient to see Mr. Biden publicly leave his Wilmington, Del., home and find ways to connect with voters, even in the era of social distancing. Since the pandemic hit, he has held virtual rallies and made news media appearances from his basement and elsewhere in his house, but some Democrats have worried that without public events, it is difficult to drive a proactive message. Mr. Trump has the bully pulpit of the presidency and Mr. Biden has at times struggled to break through. It feels good to be out of my house, Mr. Biden said Monday, according to the pool report. Asked whether his Memorial Day outing signaled the beginning of more public appearances, his campaign released a statement emphasizing the particular significance of Mondays holiday during the crisis its more imperative than ever that we honor and remember the veterans, and their families, who sacrificed everything for this nation without addressing Mr. Bidens future plans. The Queen 'noted that great-grandson Archie has Prince Harry's red hair' during a birthday video call, sources have claimed. The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, moved to actor Tyler Perry's $18 million Hollywood home with their son Archie, one, last month having stepped back from royal duty in March. Now sources have told royal editor Katie Nicholl how the couple spoke with the Queen, 94, on her birthday earlier this month, with Her Majesty commenting on the similarities between Prince Harry and his son. Meanwhile another insider told The Times the couple are having a 'magical time' and 'spending a lot of time together as a family' during lockdown, explaining: 'Archie is a happy and sweet baby, full of love and joy, and its contagious. He is active and pulling himself up on everything with a great determination to walk.' Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, joined the Queen for a video-call on her 94th birthday earlier this month, with the royal noting that 'Archie has his father's hair' Katie explained that the Queen had only seen her great-grandson 'a handful of times' over the last year of his life. However she added that the couple video-called the 94-year-old as she celebrated her birthday at Windsor Castle last month. Meanwhile the couple have been spending more time with Meghan's mother Doria, with hopes that they will find a permanent home in LA with a 'granny flat' or wing in which she can stay. Katie went on to reveal that while Duke and Duchess are currently living in Beverly Hills, they are also keen to be 'out of the Hollywood fray'. Royal editor Katie Nicholl told The Times that the Queen had only seen Archie 'a handful of times' during the first year of his life, but technology was helping them stay in touh Their property search is focusing on properties 'close to nature' and somewhere where they can 'hike' is said to be important to them. Sources went on to explain how they are currently 'just enjoying watching Archie experience milestones' and spending time together as a family. The comments come after a momentous month for the couple, who celebrated Archie's first birthday, as well as their second wedding anniversary in the last few weeks. Royal biographer Omid Scobie previously revealed how Prince Harry and Meghan celebrated their second wedding anniversary with an LA favourite - Mexican food and margaritas. The couple are said to be enjoying spending 'magical time' as a family together during the coronavirus pandemic The Duke and Duchess reportedly enjoyed a quiet day of celebrations together, joining family and friends on Zoom. British journalist Omid, who has co-written their upcoming biography Finding Freedom, revealed the couple 'reminisced about what a beautiful and magical day' their wedding was. Writing in Harper's Bazaar, Omid said the couple chatted with a number of people - including some of the vendors who 'helped bring the ceremony and reception to life' -about exchanging their vows in May 2018 at Windsor Castle. The Duke and Duchess are currently living in Tyler Perry's $18 million Beverly Hills mansion, but are said to be keen to move somewhere more quiet during their search for a permanent home 'They all reminisced about what a beautiful and magical day it was', a source told the publication, adding that they video-called friends and family'. Meanwhile they also spent time video-calling when marking baby Archie's first birthday. Sources told People magazine that the couple crafted a 'really simple but incredibly joyous' celebration for their son, with the trio taking time to video call to chat with his godparents and family. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'red alert', used for a severe heatwave, for parts of Delhi for Monday and Tuesday, with the day temperature likely to touch 46 degrees Celsius by Tuesday. Stifling heat gripped the national capital on Sunday with the maximum temperature hovering close to 45 degrees Celsius in most parts of the city. "Heatwave will prevail in many places and severe heatwave in isolated places. Mainly clear sky with strong surface winds (20-20 kilometres per hour)," the IMD forecast said. The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded a high of 44.4 degrees Celsius, which was five notches above the normal, on Sunday. The minimum temperature was recorded at 28.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above the normal. The weather stations at Palam, Lodhi Road and Ayanagar recorded their respective maximums at 45.4 degrees Celsius, 44.2 degrees Celsius and 45.6 degrees Celsius. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of the IMD, said some respite from the stifling heat is expected in the national capital on May 28 due to a fresh Western Disturbance and easterly winds at lower levels. "Dust storm and thunderstorm with winds gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour is likely over Delhi-NCR on May 29-30," he said. Besides Delhi, the IMD has issued "red warning" in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Rajasthan for the next two days. It has issued "orange" warning for eastern Uttar Pradesh. Weather Update pic.twitter.com/aMmnzeiE7y RWFC New Delhi (@RWFC_ND) May 24, 2020 In large areas, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is 45 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days and severe heatwave when the mercury touches the 47 degrees Celsius mark for two days on the trot. In small areas, like the national capital, a heatwave is declared if the temperature soars to 45 degrees Celsius even for a day, according to the IMD. The warning has been issued to caution people not to step out between 1pm and 5pm, when heat is most intense," Srivastava said. By Liz Hampton May 20 (Reuters) - Continental Resources, one of the largest U.S. shale oil producers, on Wednesday urged North Dakota energy regulators to intervene to help stabilize the state's oil market through steps such as limiting output or restricting flaring of unwanted natural gas. Continental, the state's largest producer, argued at a hearing that operators are hurting even though state production is down more than half a million barrels per day (bpd) since prices crashed in March. "North Dakota can be a leader as far as action is concerned," said Blu Hulsey, Continental's vice president of government relations, adding the state does not need "to take large action to make a difference." Hulsey said that even at reduced levels, the state's production was exceeding "reasonable market demand." However, Dean Foreman, chief economist for trade group American Petroleum Institute, asked regulators to resist the urge to intervene in markets. Supply and demand are responding to current market conditions, he said. North Dakota, the U.S. state that ranks No. 2 in terms of oil production, is the third state to hold a hearing and evaluate options for helping the ailing industry. Oil production in the state has fallen by 510,000 bpd since prices crashed, according to the latest report from its regulator. Texas earlier this month dismissed a motion to implement output limits, while Oklahoma approved an emergency order in April calling some oil production in the state waste, a move that allows some producers to shut wells without losing leases. Oklahoma has not yet decided whether to approve two separate applications requesting regulatory intervention to help stabilize markets, including a mandating output limits. In April, North Dakota regulators weighed financial help for the state's oil industry, including paying operators to restart wells. The commissioners at the time pushed back on the idea of limiting production, calling it "a bridge too far." (Reporting by Liz Hampton) The Delhi government also issued an order on Monday directing district magistrate in all 11 revenue districts in the city to appoint a nodal officer to ensure that essential commodities, services and medicines are supplied at the doorstep of families, who are living in home quarantine. It has been noticed that in many cases all members of a family are under home isolation and therefore might be facing difficulties in managing and receiving supply of essential commodities, services and medicines on time, said the order, which HT has seen. The nodal officer, the government said, should be someone at least of sub-divisional magistrate rank, and shall be given dedicated mobile numbers, which is to be shared with people under home isolation by teams. The teams working on the ground will also make a database of such home quarantine cases, where all family members are in quarantine, in every sub-division which is to be updated in every 3-4 days, said the order that was issued by divisional commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar on Monday. The home isolated families would be allowed to call on the designated numbers and inform the surveillance officials about what essential commodities they need delivered. The nodal officer is supposed to check with each team head in every 3-4 days if the delivery process is in place, the order said. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Sunday celebrated his narrow escape at the Kogi State governorship Election Petitions Tribunal that sat in Abuja where two of the three judges upheld his election for a second tenure while one judge nullified his election and ordered INEC to conduct fresh governorship election in Kogi State within 90 days. A shift of one more judge to the side of the dissenting judgement would have seen Governor Bello out of office on Saturday. Governor Bello after observance of the Eid prayer at the Lokoja Township Stadium to mark the Eid-El-Fitr in Lokoja, Kogi State on Sunday declared that his victory at the Tribunal was an act of God and a testament to the popular votes of the people for him. Governor Bello stated that the voters re-elected him during the November 2019 governorship election so that he will consolidate on the achievements recorded in his first tenure. The governor insisted that his victory which was affirmed on Saturday by the judges of the Tribunal did not come to him as a surprise, as the electorate came out in large numbers to vote for him and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Bello noted that the victory has posed a challenge to him, assuring that he would continue to do his best to ensure that they get good governance in the state. The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Saturday dismissed the petition filed by Musa Wada, PDP candidate and the PDP. In a judgment, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Kashim Kaigama, held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations of over-voting, massive thumbprinting, and voter intimidation, among other electoral malpractices against the governor. He also awarded a cost of N1 million to be paid by the petitioners to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Bello, and the APC who were the respondents. Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele in a dissenting judgment, nullified the election of Governor Bello. Justice Ovbiagele also ordered INEC to conduct fresh elections in seven local government areas where the petitioners proved their allegations of over-voting, thuggery, voter intimidation, massive thumb printing, and other electoral malpractices. It was the call that Lance Hansen, gravely ill with liver disease, had been waiting weeks for, and it came just before midnight in late April. A liver was available for him. He got up to get dressed for the three-hour drive to San Francisco for the transplant surgery. And then he panicked. Within five minutes after hanging up, he started hyperventilating, his wife, Carmen, said. He kept saying: Im going to get COVID, and then Im going to die. And if I die, I want my family there. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. She promised she would wait outside the hospital, as patients families were barred from entering. She warned that he might not get another chance at a new liver before it was too late. She told him he could die if he didnt go. Still, Hansen, 59, refused. In a world seeded with anxiety, fear is gripping not just people who are ill with the coronavirus but also those in urgent need of other medical care. Even as the number of COVID cases declines in many places, patients with cancer, heart disease and strokes, among others, are delaying or forgoing critical procedures that could keep them alive. And as the virus reignites in pockets of the country, people are ignoring symptoms altogether, afraid to set foot in emergency rooms or even doctors offices. Under orders from their states, many hospitals canceled elective surgeries like hip replacements as COVID cases soared. Now most are gradually allowing the resumption of elective surgeries. But for these, as well as for more time-sensitive procedures like cardiac catheterizations, cancer surgery and blood tests or CT scans to monitor serious chronic conditions, doctors now find themselves spending hours on the phone trying to coax terrified patients to come in. In a review of its claim and pre-authorization data for seven acute conditions, including heart attacks, appendicitis and aortic aneurysms, insurance company Cigna Corp. found declines ranging from 11% for acute coronary syndromes to 35% for atrial fibrillation in the rate of hospitalizations over a recent two-month period. In a study published Tuesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, Kaiser Permanente reported a drop of nearly 50% in heart attack admissions in its Northern California hospitals. At the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York, emergency room visits dropped by 50%, and many of the patients who do come have waited too long to seek treatment. They are presenting late with strokes and heart attacks, said Dr. Michael Apostolakos, the systems chief medical officer. Or theyre not showing up until they can barely breathe from heart failure. In Newark, New Jersey, emergency medical services teams made 239 on-scene death pronouncements in April, a fourfold increase from April 2019. Fewer than half of those additional deaths could be attributed directly to COVID-19, said Dr. Shereef Elnahal, president and chief executive of Newarks University Hospital. Declining crucial, potentially lifesaving treatment might seem irrational. Mental health experts explain that anxiety affects the part of the brain involved in thinking and planning for the future. It arises when that part, the prefrontal cortex, doesnt have enough information to accurately predict what lies ahead, causing the brain to spin scenarios of dread. Enter panic. If you have anxiety and then you exacerbate that by watching the news and reading social media, thats where you get panicked, said Dr. Jud Brewer, a psychiatrist and behavioral neuroscientist at Brown University. And the rational, thinking parts of the brain stop functioning well when were panicked. Panic, in turn, can lead to impulsive behavior and dangerous decisions, Brewer and others said. People are saying: So Im having a heart attack. Im going to stay home. Im not going to die in that hospital, said Dr. Marlene Millen, a primary care physician at the University of California, San Diego. Ive actually heard that a few times. Dr. Suzanne George, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, has patients on oral chemotherapy regimens who refuse to come in for lab work. Cancer patients on chemotherapy are at particularly high risk of becoming severely ill if they contract the coronavirus. They dont want to leave their house so we can take tests to ensure that theyre receiving their chemotherapy safely, George said, adding that blood tests are crucial for early detection of potentially severe side effects. George said the fear she was seeing a few weeks ago had abated slightly. Still, she said, we will all need to come together to help people feel safe. Most hospitals and outpatient clinics have made changes designed to keep patients and staff members safe. Many are testing patients and certain workers. In many hospitals, COVID patients are kept in separate units. Masks are usually mandated for both patients and clinicians. Cleaning protocols have been turbocharged. As a result, experts say, the risk of acquiring COVID when going into a hospital is very low. But one of the common safety measures banning visitors, even close family members is a huge reason for patients fear and apprehension. The hospital was an ominous, nerve-racking and scary place for patients even before COVID, said Dr. Lisa VanWagner, a transplant hepatologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. Now you take a stressful situation like a pandemic and you tell people that they cannot have their normal support system while theyre in the hospital, and that really magnifies those fears. Transplant specialists around the country describe patients like Hansen, who turn down organs because they are worried about being exposed to COVID patients or because they cannot have a close relative or friend with them in the hospital. David Rivera, 54, who has liver cancer, declined a liver in late March at Northwestern. In an interview, he said he feared the deceased donor could be infected with the virus. VanWagner, who is on the transplant team at Northwestern, said Rivera had turned down the liver despite being told the donor had tested negative for COVID-19. Still, the hospital could not guarantee that the liver was free of the coronavirus, although VanWagner and others said the chances that a liver donor who had tested negative would transmit the virus to a recipient were exceedingly low. VanWagner said Rivera needed a transplant before his cancer could progress. His window is closing, she said. You can only go so long before you run out of chances. Hansen said he now regretted the decision he made last month and would accept the next liver that became available. I just freaked out, Hansen said by phone recently, his voice weak and faint. I should have gone, but I just freaked out. Health system administrators are redoubling their efforts to convince patients that it is safe to come into hospitals and outpatient clinics, even as testing for hospital personnel and patients remains spotty. Our goal is to spend almost all our marketing dollars over the next year around the safety of our institution, said Dr. Stephen Klasko, chief executive of Jefferson Health, a 14-hospital system based in Philadelphia. Some doctors are helping patients with chronic illnesses rethink aspects of their care. For the past 21 years, Rob Russo, 45, has been living with a rare type of gastrointestinal cancer that has spread to his liver. For years, he made regular trips from his home in New York City to Dana-Farber in Boston. When the pandemic hit, Russos oncologist helped him transfer much of his care to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. At the end of April, Russo needed a procedure at Weill Cornell to unclog a stent that was keeping his biliary duct open. Before the procedure, Russos mind churned with scenarios: The place was teeming with the virus. What if someone with asymptomatic COVID-19 infected him, and he needed to be hospitalized? And what if that meant never seeing his wife again? She could drop me off, and its the last time wed see each other, he said. Like others interviewed for this story, Russo found that once he had arrived at the hospital, he felt safe. Multiple safety precautions were taken. The procedure went well. But before the procedure, he was tested for COVID. The test came back positive. Now hes quarantined on a separate floor in his house. Mary Anne Oldford, 72, who has an advanced form of sarcoma, a rare cancer, runs an online support group called the Sarcoma Sunflower Brigade. Members make a point of not bringing up COVID, but when Oldford asked them recently to weigh in on their anxiety related to the coronavirus, she got responses that illustrated various shades of sheer terror. One woman told the group that every time she has to go in for a scan, or blood work, I have a borderline meltdown. Oldford, who herself has been terrified to go for blood tests, came up with a solution for herself. She found a clinic that agreed to do her blood draws at home. She advises others in the support group to push for effective alternatives. If youre afraid and youre frozen, you have to somehow reach out and just say, Please help me figure out how to do this so that Im not so scared, she said. Bill Sieber, a psychologist at UCSD, said the key for fearful patients was to develop a semblance of control over their predicament. Control is key, Sieber said. If you cant control the fact that your spouse cant come into the recovery room, ask what you can control. Sieber also recommended working through episodes of panic with breathing. We can control our breathing in a major way, he said. Breathing signals the brain to calm down. One step he suggested was taking one extra second to prolong an exhalation. Controlled breathing helped Megan Jennings. Jennings, 36, who lives near Seattle, was determined to save the life of her 7-year-old niece, who has a congenital liver disease, by donating a portion of her own liver. It was a fraught decision not just for Jennings but also for the University of Washington transplant team. This child was getting sicker, and we had to make a decision whether we would move forward with bringing a live donor into our hospital, which had a lot of COVID at what turned out to be the peak of our surge, said Dr. Scott Biggins, chief of hepatology at UW Medicine. Jennings used a variety of breathing techniques to overcome a standing fear of hospitals and surgery, now compounded by a dread of the coronavirus. Being able to slow my breathing, feeling my body, and ground myself, staying mindful of what was happening around me, helped me stop my brain from rattling off craziness, Jennings said. The surgery lasted seven hours. After a five-day hospital stay, with no visitors, she was finally discharged. But a few days after she returned home, her wound became infected, and she had no choice but to return to the hospital to have the incision reopened and cleaned. The doctors in the emergency room recommended that she spend the night in the hospital, but there was a limit to how much anxiety she could tolerate. She insisted that she be shown how to care for the wound at home. There was no way I was going to be admitted, she said, and she left the hospital at 3:30 a.m. Sleep-deprived and foggy from a painkiller, she slept for two hours in her car. Then she drove herself home. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. FELTON, California, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Natural Cosmetics Market is projected to grow with a CAGR of 5.01% over the forecast years to reach USD 48.04 billion by 2025, as per a new report released by Million Insights. The demand for natural cosmetics is gaining traction among millennials. This demand is driven by an increase in awareness about the adverse effect of synthetic cosmetics is driving market growth. Moreover, increasing research & development expenditure is expected to fuel the growth further. The supermarkets/hypermarkets accounted for the largest share among all sales channels with a total value of USD 13.67 billion in 2018. Convenience stores held the second largest market share owing to the increasing number of such stores across the emerging countries. On the other hand, the online segment is expected to show a CAGR of 4.47% during the forecast years. Availability of a wide range of natural cosmetics, easy purchasing options, doorstep delivery and rise in e-commerce platforms are fueling the growth of the market. Moreover, online channels offer verities of natural cosmetics products that are not readily available through convenience stores. The skin care segment held the largest market share with value USD 10.31 billion in 2018. It was followed by hair care. Growing obsession among consumers about fair skin is the primary reason bolstering the demand for this segment. Natural fragrance, on the other hand, is expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.03% from 2019 to 2025. The demand for natural fragrance without petrochemicals and other preservatives is on the rise. Please click here to get the sample pdf and find more details on "Natural Cosmetics Market" Report 2025. Europe held the largest market in 2018 with overall market value stood at USD 13.06 billion in 2018. The region is anticipated to continue its healthy growth over the forecast period. Increasing demand for natural cosmetics products among millennials is the prime factor supplementing the natural cosmetics market growth in this region. The Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is set to grow with a significant CAGR over the forecast duration. Key players in the market are L'Oreal SA, Weleda AG, Coty Inc., Bare Escentuals Beauty Inc. and Burt's Bees among others. These players are focusing on the introduction of new and innovative products to stay competitive in the market. Further key findings from the report suggest: Fragrance products are expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.03% over the forecast duration. Skin care held the largest market share with over 30.22% in 2018. This segment is expected to maintain a healthy growth rate over the forecast period. Europe accounted for the largest share in 2018. The presence of key players in the region and rising demand for natural cosmetics are driving this region. accounted for the largest share in 2018. The presence of key players in the region and rising demand for natural cosmetics are driving this region. The market is fragmented in nature, which makes it competitive. Leading players in the market are AVEENO, Korres S.A, L'Oreal SA and Burt's Bees among others. Browse 110 page research report with TOC on "Global Natural Cosmetics Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/global-natural-cosmetics-market Million Insights has segmented the global natural cosmetics market on the basis of product, distribution channel, and region. Natural Cosmetics Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025) Skin Care Hair Care Fragrances Color Cosmetics Natural Cosmetics Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025) Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Specialty Stores Convenience Stores Online Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025) North America U.S. Europe Germany U.K. Asia Pacific China India Central & South America Middle East and Africa Browse latest market research reports available with Million Insights: About Million Insights: Million Insights, is a distributor of market research reports, published by premium publishers only. We have a comprehensive market place, that will enable you to compare data points, before you make a purchase. Enabling informed buying, is our motto and we strive hard to ensure that our clients get to browse through multiple samples, prior to an investment. Service flexibility & the fastest response time are two pillars, on which our business model is founded. Our market research report store, includes in-depth reports, from across various industry verticals, such as healthcare, technology, chemicals, food & beverages, consumer goods, material science & automotive. Contact: Ryan Manuel Research Support Specialist, USA Million Insights Phone: +1-408-610-2300 Toll Free: 1-866-831-4085 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.millioninsights.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Million Insights Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the state government was not informed by Indian Railways about a train sent to the state from Mumbai. Auto refresh feeds According to John Hopkins University data tracker, India has now surpassed Iran to become the tenth worst-affected country in the world. India is the tenth most-affected nation by the pandemic after US, Russia, UK, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Turkey and France, as per the JHU data. India saw a big jump in COVID-19 cases for the fourth consecutive day on Monday with 6,977 new infections and 154 deaths. With this the total number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 1,38,845, while the death toll rose to 4,021, according to the Union health ministry. He became the second cabinet minister after NCP leader Jitendra Awhad to test positive for coronavirus. The minister had contracted the infection a few days back and is undergoing treatment, a Health official had said on Sunday. A Maharashtra cabinet minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan, who has tested positive for coronavirus, was on Monday admitted in a hospital in Mumbai, a close aide said. Amending the lockdown 4.0 guidelines, the government allowed the use of taxis, including Ola and Uber, and auto-rickshaws within the red zones on a condition that social distancing and sanitisation will be ensured. The Rajasthan government on Monday decided to allow taxis and auto-rickshaws to operate in the red zones of the state. The state government has also lifted the ban on the sale of paan, gutkha and tobacco products while making it clear that spitting in public is still a punishable offence. In its guidelines, the ministry said if a passenger had manually booked his or her ticket for a chartered helicopter flight, the boarding pass will be issued at the helipad or heliport with minimum contact and after following all sanitisation protocols prescribed by local administration. The ministry said "non-scheduled and private operators" of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and micro-light aircraft can resume their domestic flights from 25 May onwards. The Civil Aviation Ministry permitted chartered flights to resume their operations from Monday, the day when the scheduled domestic passenger flights also started. With these fresh cases, the total number of COVID-19 infections has gone up to 539 in the state, of which 470 are active cases, Sarma said. Assam recorded its highest single-day spike of 147 cases on Monday, taking the total past the 500-mark, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. N-95 masks were earlier being sold in the market for Rs 150 to 300 per unit and after the advisory by the the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), prices have been cut. Leading manufacturers and importers of N-95 masks have reduced prices by up to 47 percent after regulator NPPA stepped in to ensure the availability of this respiratory protection device at affordable rates in the country, the government said on Monday. The United States recorded 532 more deaths due to COVID-19 yesterday, taking its total fatalities to 98,218, with 16,62,375 confirmed cases, far more than any other country, according to a tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University CSSE. The curfew imposed in Saudi Arabia will be lifted starting 31 May, except in the holy city of Mecca. The Kingdom has imposed restrictions on domestic travel, holding prayers in mosques, and attending private and public offices. From 21 June, prayers will be allowed in mosques, reports Reuters. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally is nearing the 55 lakh-mark, according to the Johns Hopkins University CSSE. The tally is currently at 5,495,061, including 346,232 deaths. He was on ventilator and succumbed to the infection on Sunday around 7.30 pm. He was a permanent employee of AIIMS and was posted at the premier medical institute's outdoor patient department, they said. A 58-year-old sanitation supervisor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, has died, sources said. Ryan said epidemics often come in waves, which means that outbreaks could come back later this year in places where the first wave has subsided. There was also a chance that infection rates could rise again more quickly if measures to halt the first wave were lifted too soon. The world is still in the middle of the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak, WHO emergencies head Dr Mike Ryan told an online briefing, noting that while cases are declining in many countries they are still increasing in Central and South America, South Asia and Africa. Countries, where coronavirus infections are declining, could still face an immediate second peak if they let up too soon on measures to halt the outbreak, the World Health Organization said on Monday, reports Reuters. The toll in India due to the novel coronavirus pandemic has risen to 4,167 with 80,722 active cases, 60,491 cured/discharged patients so far. Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 1,45,380, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry. With 52,667 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu (17,082) and Gujarat (14,460). India on Tuesday reported a spike of 6,535 new COVID-19 cases and 146 deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the country now at 1,45,380 including 80,722 active cases, 60,490 cured/discharged, and 4167 deaths. There is heavy traffic at the Delhi-Ghaziabad border after authorities sealed it on Monday. Police personnel are checking peoples passes at the border, reports ANI. No deaths due to the COVID-19 were reported on Monday, it said, adding that 403 asymptomatic cases, including 28 from overseas, are currently under medical observation across the country. The country's National Health Commission (NHC) said that seven new imported cases were reported, including five in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and one each in Shanghai and Fujian. China has reported 36 new coronavirus cases, including 29 asymptomatic infections, mostly in the contagion's first epicentre Wuhan where 6.5 million people have been tested so far, health officials said on Monday. The total number of COVID19 patients in Nagpur is 406, out of which 313 patients have recovered, reports ANI. "This means our recovery rate is between 75%-80%. One of the major reasons for this is early identification, tracing, isolation testing&treatment", said Municipal Commissioner, Nagpur, Maharashtra. For the second consecutive day, India tests less than a lakh samples when the capacity is more than 1,50,000. Authorities tested 92,000 samples in the 24 hours and over 31 lakh samples in totality. A storm blew away quarantine centre at Sagolia Check Gate in Dhubri on Assam-Bengal border, injuring 9, reports News18 Assam. The injured have been shifted to medical facility, while restoration work was taken up on a war-footing. "The impact of COVID-19 and the unpredictable nature of the recovery has left Uber India SA with no choice but to reduce the size of its workforce. Around 600 full-time positions across driver and rider support, as well as other functions, are being impacted," said Pradeep Parameswaran, president, Uber India and South Asia. Riding-hailing firm Uber laid off 600 employees in India across teams on 26 May, a few days after domestic rival Ola trimmed its workforce by a fourth, reports moneycontrol. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that 31,26,119 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the country till 9.00 am today. Of these, 92,528 were tested in the last 24 hours. Forex traders said a positive start of domestic stocks supported the local unit, while sustained foreign fund outflows and concerns over coronavirus outbreak weighed on the local unit. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 75 The rupee appreciated 30 paise to 75.65 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday tracking positive opening of domestic equities and weakness in the American currency. The Air India flight from JF K International Airport to Bengaluru flew on May 25 and had 329 passengers, including two infants, according to officials. India's Consul General in New York Sandeep Chakravorty and Deputy Consul General Shatrughna Sinha were at the airport to supervise the process. Over 300 Indian nationals, who were stuck in the US due to the coronavirus-induced global travel restrictions, have flown home on board the fourth special flight from New York under the Vande Bharat Mission. Launching an attack against Adityanath, the Congress general secretary said in a tweet, "Does the chief minister mean to say that over 10 lakh people in UP are infected by corona? However, his government's figures tell that there are 6,228 infection cases. What is the basis of infection statistics." The Congress leader also shared a news clip on the CM's statement on her Twitter handle. In the video uploaded by Priyanka Gandhi, Adityanath is seen stating that 75 percent of the migrant workers who are returning from Mumbai are infected with the virus. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday asked UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to explain the basis of the statement in which he has reportedly claimed that a large number of workers returning from other states are infected with the coronavirus. Students at VHSS Manacaud High School in Thiruvananthapuram were encouraged to follow social distancing norms while they also underwent thermal screening before entering the examination centre. Schools in the state maintained social distancing norms and other precautionary measures amid the examination. Hand sanitisers were also provided at the centres while wearing face masks was made mandatory for all students. There are a total of 1,031 are active cases while 838 personnel have been recovered. Nearly 80 cops in Maharashtra tested COVID-19 positive in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the police force to 1,889 on Tuesday. After two more COVID-19 deaths were reported, the toll rose to 20, ANI quoted Maharashtra Police as saying. After 48 more individuals tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh in the past 24 hours, the total COVID-19 confirmed cases climbed to 2,719 on Tuesday, said the state health department. As many as 145 passengers trains to ply from Maharashtra on Tuesday, reported ANI quoting Railway Ministry sources. The study will look to enroll 158 hospitalized patients suffering from moderate COVID-19 infections in India, the company said. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd said on Tuesday it will begin a new clinical trial in India to test a combination of two anti-viral drugs, favipiravir and umifenovir, as a potential COVID-19 treatment. "76 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in the state today; the total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 7,376," said the state Health Department. There are as many 3,137 active cases in the state. Seventy-six new COVID-19 cases were reported in Rajasthan, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 7,376, said the Rajasthan Health Department on Tuesday. "India is the only country where the virus is exponentially rising and we are removing the nationwide lockdown. The aim and purpose of the lockdown has failed. India is facing the result of a failed lockdown," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday. He also said that the Congress party is running some states and the party is giving cash to people, including labourers. However, he alleged that the party was not getting any support from the Centre. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at the Centre during a video message on social media. He said, "PM Modi had said we will defeat coronavirus in 21 days. Now we are in our fourth phase of lockdown. It is clear that our lockdown has failed. I would like to ask the government and PM Modi with due respect, as to what is the plan going forward? How do you plan to help businesses, migrants and the poor?" Rahul Gandhi is interacting with reporters on the Covid-19 pandemic. He questions the Centre on its action plan as cases across the country increase. "In Congress states, we have a strategy. But we cannot function without the national government," he says. Four more migrant workers, who had returned from Maharashtra recently, have tested positive for coronavirus in Muzaffarpur district, officials said on Tuesday. They were at a quarantine centre in Dadheru village here, the officials said. The district now has 25 COVID-19 patients, DM Selva Kumari told PTI. Without specifying any party or leader, Raut said the opposition should get "quarantined", and that their efforts to destabilise the Maharashtra government could boomerang. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday hit back at BJP MP Narayan Rane's demand for President's rule in Maharashtra, saying Gujarat's performance in handling the COVID-19 crisis is "worse", hence it deserves to be put under the central rule first. A 90-year-old man from Kulgam district, who had tested positive for coronavirus, died on Tuesday, taking the COVID-related death toll in Jammu and Kashmir to 24, an official said. The man was also suffering from hypertension, pneumonia, fever and breathlessness, the official said. Karnataka on Tuesday reported 100 fresh cases of COVID19 from 5 pm on 25 May to 12 pm today, taking the total number of positive cases to 2,282. The total number of active cases rise to 1514 with 44 deaths, according to Karnataka Health Department, reports ANI. Of the 39 patients, four have recovered while 35 are under treatment, it said. The test reports of the three persons, all males hailing from Imphal West district, had returned positive from the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) at the state-run Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here on Monday night, a statement issued by the COVID-19 Common Control Room said. Three more persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Manipur, taking the total number of cases in the state to 39, officials said on Tuesday. Starting with Bhubaneswar, Zomato will soon expand to other cities in Odisha like Rourkela, Balasore, Balangir, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Cuttack, Zomato said in a statement. After Jharkhand, Odisha has become the second state where online restaurant guide and food ordering platform Zomato will be home delivering alcohol starting with the state capital Bhubaneswar. Of the total 198 COVID-19 cases, 165 people have recovered so far while 33 are under treatment, the officials said. Four more persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Tripura, taking the state's total to 198, officials said on Tuesday. All the new cases were of people who have returned from Mumbai recently, they said. 412 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Delhi on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 14,465. The total toll due to the virus now stands at 288, according to the Directorate General of Health Services, Delhi. The first flight to Vijayawada landed from Bengaluru at 6.55 am, carrying 79 passengers. The Spicejet flight returned to Bengaluru with 68 passengers, officials said. At the Vizag airport, the first flight landed from Bengaluru at 7 am. A day after the restart of air travel across India, domestic flight operations resumed in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday amid the state's reluctance due to rising number of COVID-19 cases. State Nodal Officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) and Deputy Director Dr Nyan Kikon said that a 27-year-old man at the quarantine centre in Kohima tested positive and is currently undergoing treatment at COVID-19 hospital. A man, who returned from Chennai recently, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking the total number of active cases in Nagaland to four, officials said. Similarly, another special train carrying 1,484 migrants left Madgaon station for Ballia in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, he said. All passengers had to undergo thermal screening before boarding the trains to their home states, the official added. A Shramik Special train departed from Karmali station to Hatia in Jharkhand on Monday, carrying 1,494 migrant labourers who were stranded in the coastal state due to the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, the official said. A Shramik Special train with 1,494 migrant workers on board has left for Jharkhand from Goa, a senior official said on Tuesday. According to official data, the force reported 20 fresh cases since Monday, with 18 from its unit that guards the Indira Gandhi International Airport, while one case each was detected from its NTPC Koldam unit in Himachal Pradesh and from the Punjab and Haryana secretariat in Chandigarh. The Central Industrial Security Force on Tuesday reported 20 fresh coronavirus cases, with 18 from its unit that guards the Delhi airport, officials said. The over 1.62 lakh personnel strong force has a total of 78 active COVID-19 cases, while 132 personnel have recovered from the disease till now. On Friday, rupee had settled at 75.95 against the US dollar. Forex market was closed on Monday for Id-Ul-Fitr. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 75.69, then gained ground and finally settled for the day at 75.66, registering a rise of 29 paise over its previous close. The rupee appreciated 29 paise to close at 75.66 against the US dollar on Tuesday tracking weakness in the American currency, while easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures fuelled growth optimism. "Now a new commission is being constituted for labourers though the employment exchange already exists. Be it the Niti Aayog, new funds and now this labour issue...Why is this attempt to make something new instead of using what exists? This is the government's way to divert attention from its failures and misuse of Jan-Dhan (manpower and money)," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Questioning the need to form a separate commission for migrant labourers in Uttar Pradesh when the employment exchange already exists, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said it is only a way to divert attention from failures and misuse of "manpower and money". 51 more COVID-19 positive cases were reported in in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 400, out of which 329 are active cases. The state toll is at 4, according to the latest update from the state health department, reports ANI. They have been admitted to the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College Hospital which has been designated as a COVID-19 centre. The total cases discharged so far were 12. Territorial Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao told reporters on Tuesday that the two patients, hailing from the neighbouring Reddiarpalayam, are a woman and her daughter. Two more fresh positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Puducherry, raising the tally of active cases in the Union Territory to 34, reports PTI. "States such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu have shown that it is possible to recruit health personnel for permanent employment rapidly. We urge state government to also opt for this long term approach," the statement said. The United Nurses Association in Maharashtra wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over state governemnt's intention to bring 100 nurses from Kerala to contribute to the government's response to the COVID-19 crisis, stating that "the initiatives of the Maharashtra Govt are temporary in nature". Mr @PiyushGoyal , you said that you have alloted 49 trains for migrants from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai. The DRM at LTT says only 16 trains can be released. You must come clear on this issue, stop playing dirty politics and mind games @PMOIndia @OfficeofUT @PTI_News @ANI pic.twitter.com/uSAPjpnldy "People have gathered there hoping that all 49 trains will leave as promised by you. You must now make sure that all 49 trains take these migrants to their respective destinations," the Maharashtra minister tweeted. "Total 116 samples were taken on Monday, when the domestic flight operation began after two months of coronavirus lockdown. Test reports of 114 people were received out of which one was positive," Ludhiana civil surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga was quoted as saying by NDTV. However, samples of the other passengers came back negative, NDTV reported. A 50-year-old man who is a member of security staff in Air India and is a permanent resident of Delhi has tested positive for coronavirus. He came back from Delhi on 25 May on board a domestic flight, the Ludhiana district public relations office said on Tuesday. Jind district in Haryana reported its first Covid-19-related death on Tuesday as the state recorded its highest single-day jump in the number of cases at 94, 33 of those from Gurgaon. The number of novel coronavirus cases has now gone up to 1,305 in Haryana, according to the daily bulletin issued by the state health department. The Jharkhand health department said that 18 COVID-19 cases were reported in the state on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 426, including 247 active cases. The Spanish government on Tuesday declared a 10-day mourning period to pay tribute to nearly 27,000 confirmed deaths from the novel coronavirus. Starting Wednesday until 5 June, flags will be at half-mast in more than 14,000 public buildings across the nation as well as on the navy's vessels, the government announced. Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that 23 new positive cases of coronavirus were reported in the state. Total cases in thse state are 666 including 597 active cases, 62 recovered, four deaths and three migrated. MHA on Tuesday revised the days of institutional quarantine from 14 to seven days. I think well be substantially under that number, he said April 10. Ten days later: Were going toward 50- or 60,000 people. Ten days after that: Were probably heading to 60,000, 70,000. At every turn Trump has asserted the numbers would be worse without his leadership. Yet the toll keeps climbing. It is well beyond what he told people to expect even as his public-health authorities started bracing the country in early April for at least 100,000 deaths. Impeachment placed one indelible mark on Trumps time in office. Now there is another, a still-growing American casualty list that has exceeded deaths from the Vietnam and Korean wars combined. U.S. fatalities from the most lethal hurricanes and earthquakes pale by comparison. This is the deadliest pandemic in a century. But now, the known U.S. death toll from the coronavirus pandemic is fast approaching 100,000 on the watch of a president whose communication skills, potent in a political brawl, are not made for this moment. As diverse as they were in eloquence and empathy, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama each had his own way of piercing the noise of catastrophe and reaching people. In the rubble of buildings and lives, modern US presidents have met national trauma with words such as these: I can hear you. You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything. We have wept with you; weve pulled our children tight. 23 more people found #COVID19 positive in Tripura today. Among them 18 people have come from Maharashtra by train & 5 others were in contact of positive patients. Positive cases 232, active cases 65, discharged 165, andm igrated 2: Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura "A final decision on the harm, benefit or lack of benefit of hydroxychloroquine will be made once the evidence has been reviewed," the body said. "It is expected by mid-June." The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday promised a swift review of data on hydroxychloroquine, probably by mid-June, after safety concerns prompted the group to suspend the malaria drug's use in a large trial on Covid-19 patients. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the state government was not informed by Indian Railways about a train sent to the state from Mumbai. "Indian Railways decided to send a train from Mumbai to Kerala. No info about it was passed to Kerala government. It was taken up with Railway Minister. We said that this would undermine measures taken by our governemnt to ensure proper monitoring and control spread of COVID-19. "But then there was the issue of deciding to send another train in the same way from Delhi. Therefore, the matter has been brought to the notice of the Prime Minister." The Tamil Nadu health department said that 646 new coronavirus cases have been reported in the state on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 17,728. The toll is at 127 after 9 deaths were reported on Tuesday. There are 8,256 active cases now. Maharashtra chief secretary Ajoy Mehta on Tuesday said currently, there are 35,178 active cases in the state. 80 percent of cases are asymptomatic in the state. The doubling rate in Maharashtra right now is 14 days, earlier it was five days. Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that 58,318 passengers flew to their destinations on 832 flights on the first day of resumption of domestic flights on Monday. "Operations have started in Andhra Pradesh from today. These numbers are all set to soar higher," he added. The Union health ministry said that 4.4 deaths per lakh population have been reported for the world, while India has reported about 0.3 deaths per lakh population, "which is amongst the lowest in the world". "This has been due to lockdown, timely identification and management of COVID-19 cases," the ministry said. ICMR director general Dr Balram Bhargava said that India has scaled up coronavirus testings in the last few months, and now about 1.1 lakh samples are being tested every day. He also said that 612 labs (430 ICMR and 182 private) are functioning across India currently. The United Nurses Association in Maharashtra wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over state governemnt's intention to bring 100 nurses from Kerala to contribute to the government's response to the COVID-19 crisis, stating that "the initiatives of the Maharashtra Govt are temporary in nature". "States such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu have shown that it is possible to recruit health personnel for permanent employment rapidly. We urge state government to also opt for this long term approach," the statement said. The Central Industrial Security Force on Tuesday reported 20 fresh coronavirus cases, with 18 from its unit that guards the Delhi airport, officials told PTI. The over 1.62 lakh personnel strong force has a total of 78 active COVID-19 cases, while 132 personnel have recovered from the disease till now. 412 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Delhi on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 14,465. The total toll due to the virus now stands at 288. After Jharkhand, Odisha has become the second state where online restaurant guide and food ordering platform Zomato will be home delivering alcohol starting with the state capital Bhubaneswar. The West Bengal government on Tuesday issued guidelines for air travel as domestic flight services resume in the state on 28 May. All passengers will have to submit self-declaration forms on arrival in Bengal and monitor their health for 14 days, the Mamata Banerjee-led government stated in guidelines for domestic air travel. Rahul Gandhi is interacting with reporters on the Covid-19 pandemic. He questions the Centre on its action plan as cases across the country increase. 'In Congress states, we have a strategy. But we cannot function without the national government,' he said. India is the only country where the virus is exponentially rising and we are removing the nationwide lockdown. The aim and purpose of the lockdown has failed. India is facing the result of a failed lockdown, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday. Nearly 80 cops in Maharashtra tested COVID-19 positive in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the police force to 1,889 on Tuesday. After two more COVID-19 deaths were reported, the toll rose to 20, ANI quoted Maharashtra Police as saying. There are a total of 1,031 are active cases while 838 personnel have been recovered. The total number of COVID19 patients in Nagpur is 406, out of which 313 patients have recovered, reports ANI. 'This means our recovery rate is between 75%-80%. One of the major reasons for this is early identification, tracing, isolation testing and treatment', said Municipal Commissioner, Nagpur, Maharashtra. For the second consecutive day, India tests less than a lakh samples when the capacity is more than 1,50,000. Authorities tested 92,000 samples in the 24 hours and over 31 lakh samples in totality. Meanwhile, Uber India has laid off 600 employees in India across teams on 26 May, a few days after domestic rival Ola trimmed its workforce by a fourth. India on Tuesday reported a spike of 6,535 new COVID-19 cases and 146 deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the country now at 1,45,380 including 80,722 active cases, 60,490 cured/discharged, and 4167 deaths. Countries, where coronavirus infections are declining, could still face an 'immediate second peak' if they let up too soon on measures to halt the outbreak, the World Health Organization said on Monday, reports Reuters. The Civil Aviation Ministry permitted chartered flights to resume their operations from Monday, the day when the scheduled domestic passenger flights also started. The ministry said 'non-scheduled and private operators' of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and micro-light aircraft can resume their domestic flights from 25 May onwards. Maharashtra PWD Minister Ashok Chavan, who has tested positive for coronavirus, was on Monday admitted in a hospital in Mumbai, a close aide told PTI. India saw a big jump in COVID-19 cases for the fourth consecutive day on Monday with 6,977 new infections and 154 deaths. With this the total number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 1,38,845, while the death toll rose to 4,021, according to the Union health ministry. According to John Hopkins University data tracker, India has now surpassed Iran to become the tenth worst-affected country in the world. India is the tenth most-affected nation by the pandemic after US, Russia, UK, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Turkey and France, as per the JHU data. Also on Monday, domestic flights were resumed in the country after nearly two months, with flights operating from airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, among others. Toll touches 4,021, case count climbs to 1,38,845 In its 8 am update, the health ministry said that the number of coronavirus case count in the country has reached 1,38,845, while the number of deaths due to the viral infection stands at 4, 021. India now has 77,103 active cases while 57,720 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. "Thus, around 41.57 percent patients have recovered so far," a senior health ministry official said. Of the 154 deaths reported since Sunday morning, 58 were from Maharashtra, 30 from Delhi, 29 from Gujarat, nine in Madhya Pradesh, eight from Tamil Nadu, six from Uttar Pradesh, four from Telangana, three each from Rajasthan and West Bengal, two from Bihar and one each from Punjab and Uttarakhand. Of the total 4,021 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 1,635 deaths followed by Gujarat at 858 deaths, Madhya Pradesh at 290, West Bengal at 272, Delhi at 261, Rajasthan at 163, Uttar Pradesh at 161,Tamil Nadu at 111 and Andhra Pradesh at 56. According to the ministry's website, more than 70 percent of the deaths are due to comorbidities. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases (50,231) followed by Tamil Nadu with 16,277 cases, Gujarat with 14,056 cases, Delhi with 13,418 cases and Rajasthan with 7,028 cases. Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu report new cases However, figures released by various state governments during the day put the numbers higher. According to the Delhi government, the number of confirmed cases in the National Capital climbed to 14,053 with 635 new cases recorded on Monday while the death count reached 276. According to a bulletin released by the Maharashtra public health department, 2,436 new patients of coronavirus were recorded in the state while 60 more people succumbed to the disease. 1,186 patients were also discharged. "The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 52,667, including 1,695 deaths and 15,786 discharged," the department said. In Mumbai, 1,430 new COVID-19 cases and 38 deaths were reported on Monday, taking the total number of positive cases to 31,789 and the toll to 1,026 in the city. Tamil Nadu reported a sharp spike with 805 new cases and seven deaths, taking the total to 17,082. Kerala too recorded a rise in cases as 46 more tested positive in the state, taking the cumulative figure to 896. Domestic flights resume after two months The Indian skies opened up for passengers after two months, with the first flight taking off from Delhi for Pune at 4.45 am. The first flight from Mumbai was to Patna at 6.45 am. According to Union Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri, 532 flights with 39,231 passengers were flown and the number would only increase with the resumption of flights in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal on Tuesday and Thursday respectively. From no domestic passenger flights yesterday to 532 flights & 39,231 passengers today, action has returned to Indian skies. With Andhra Pradesh set to resume operations from tomorrow & West Bengal from 28 May, these numbers are all set to increase further.@MoCA_GoI @PIB_India Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 25, 2020 However, according to PTI, as many as 630 flights were also cancelled on Monday, adding to the difficulties faced by air travellers. Many passengers reached the airports only to find out that their flights had been cancelled. Only three services touched down in Goa, while ten others were cancelled, state Health Secretary Nila Mohanan said, adding that the reasons behind 10 cancellations among the 13 scheduled arrivals were not known. Aviation industry sources told PTI that the cancellations were due to Centre's announcement on Sunday night that there would be no flights in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, and limited operations at major airports such as Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. It was decided on Sunday that Kolkata and Bagdogra airports in cyclone-hit West Bengal will not operate any domestic flight between 25 and 27 May but will handle 20 flights each daily from 28 May. Moreover, Vijayawada and Vizag airports in Andhra Pradesh will handle just 20 per cent of their pre-lockdown flights from 26 May. Mumbai airport, which is India's second busiest airport, will handle only 50 flights daily from Monday, the Centre said, adding Chennai airport will see only 25 arrivals per day. There were no limits set on departures from Chennai airport. Moreover, Hyderabad in Telangana will handle just 30 flights every day from Monday, the government said. With inputs from agencies (Natural News) Conditions that cause chronic pain can be difficult to deal with. Severe and persistent pain not only affects a persons ability to perform his daily tasks, it also reduces his quality of life. Often, physicians prescribe strong opioids that can block pain receptors in the brain to help patients get pain relief. However, the use of opioids comes with undesirable side effects, as well as a high risk of developing an addiction to these synthetic drugs. Therefore, scientists have expanded their search for safer and more efficient alternatives to opioids by looking into the potential of medicinal plants. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is a medicinal plant widely used in the U.S. for the management of pain. Although it isnt strong enough to relieve severe pain caused by surgery or a broken bone, the plant is effective enough to treat age-related chronic pain. Many people prefer to use cannabis as it is safer and less addictive than opioids. It is also an excellent substitute for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are not recommended for people with kidney problems, ulcers or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In a recent study, researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada looked into the analgesic properties of cannabis. They focused specifically on its flavonoid content, which is made up of non-psychoactive compounds that are also present in many plant-derived human foods. The researchers reported that some of the compounds in cannabis exhibit strong anti-inflammatory properties. Two flavonoids, in particular, also known as cannflavins, showed promise as natural painkillers with very few side effects. The researchers reported their findings in an article published in the journal Phytochemistry. Cannflavins in cannabis can fight inflammation and provide pain relief First discovered more than three decades ago, when cannabis research was still heavily regulated, cannflavins are now well-known for their strong anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds are among the many specialized metabolites besides psychoactive chemicals produced by cannabis that are believed to contribute to the plants medicinal versatility. In their study, Canadian researchers identified cannflavin A and cannflavin B as promising analgesic compounds exclusively produced by cannabis. They reported that the two flavonoids are synthesized via a branch point from the phenylpropanoid pathway, which is required for the production of polymers used to make plant cell walls. The phenylpropanoid pathway is also known as a rich source of phytonutrients and the starting point of flavonoid production. According to a previous study, cannflavins A and B are 30 times more effective at reducing inflammation than aspirin. Analysis using cultured cells revealed that both compounds can inhibit the production of two pro-inflammatory mediators, namely prostaglandin E2 and leukotrienes. This led the researchers to believe that the two compounds are behind the positive effects shown by cannabis in trials where it was used to treat neuropathy pain in diabetics. These molecules are non-psychoactive and they target the inflammation at the source, making them ideal painkillers, said Tariq Akhtar, a professor at the University of Guelph and senior author of the study. (Related: Cannabis could be an alternative treatment for pain and sleeping troubles.) Being able to offer a new pain relief option is exciting, and we are proud that our work has the potential to become a new tool in the pain relief arsenal, added Professor Steven Rothstein, one of the co-authors of the study, who also shared a huge challenge they are currently facing. The problem with these molecules is they are present in cannabis at such low levels, its not feasible to try to engineer the cannabis plant to create more of these substances. We are now working to develop a biological system to create these molecules, which would give us the opportunity to engineer large quantities. HempScience.news has the latest stories about cannabis and its medicinal uses. Sources include: Health.Harvard.edu Diabetes.co.uk ScienceDirect.com BioOne.org NeuroscienceNews.com Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the organization they represent. 1. A single negative colonoscopy associated with long-lasting and significantly reduced cancer incidence and mortality Study findings suggest that CRC screening interval might safely be extended Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M19-2477 URL goes live when the embargo lifts Having a single negative high-quality screening colonoscopy was associated with reduced colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality (by 84 percent and 90 percent, respectively) for up to 17.4 years. These findings suggest that the currently recommended 10-year screening interval could safely be extended. Findings from an observational study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Current guidelines recommend a 10-year interval between negative screening colonoscopies for average-risk adults. This recommendation is based on estimates of time between adenoma and carcinoma, as well as extrapolations from studies assessing colonoscopy sensitivity. A lack of long-term data makes it challenging to determine the optimal screening interval following a normal colonoscopy. Researchers from The Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland studied a screening registry for 165,887 individuals to assess the long-term risk for CRC and death from CRC after high- and low-quality single negative screening colonoscopy. The researchers found that a single negative screening colonoscopy was associated with a significantly reduced CRC incidence and mortality over more than 17 years of follow-up, but only high-quality colonoscopy provided a profound and stable reduction in both CRC incidence and mortality throughout follow-up period. High quality was key for the profound long-term efficacy of screening colonoscopy in the proximal colon, and among women. The researchers point out that these findings are of paramount importance, because previous reports have questioned the efficacy of colonoscopy in the proximal colon and of screening sigmoidoscopy in women. These findings suggest that the currently recommended 10-year interval for screening colonoscopy is safe and could potentially be extended. Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Nastazja Dagny Pilonis, MD, nastazja@gmail.com. 2. Aldosterone production is a common and unrecognized cause of high blood pressure Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-0065 Editorial: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-1758 URL goes live when the embargo lifts Findings from a cross-sectional study published in Annals of Internal Medicine implicate the hormone aldosterone as a common and unrecognized contributor to hypertension. Hypertension affects more than 1.5 billion people worldwide and is arguably the leading preventable cause of heart disease and stroke. Primary aldosteronism is a condition where the adrenal glands produce too much of the hormone aldosterone, which causes high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Primary aldosteronism has traditionally been considered to be an uncommon cause of hypertension, however, the findings of this study show that it is much more common than previously recognized. Researchers from four academic medical centers (including Brigham and Women's Hospital, University of Alabama, University of Virginia, and University of Utah) studied patients with normotension (n = 289), stage 1 hypertension (n = 115), stage 2 hypertension (n = 203), and resistant hypertension (n = 408) to determine the prevalence of excess aldosterone production and primary aldosteronism. They found that there was a continuum of excess aldosterone production that paralleled the severity of blood pressure. Importantly, most of this excess aldosterone production would have not been recognized by currently recommended diagnostic approaches. According to the authors, this finding supports the need to redefine primary aldosteronism from a rare disease to, instead, a common syndrome that manifests across a broad severity spectrum and may be a primary cause of hypertension. Since generic medications that block the deleterious effects of aldosterone already exist and are easily available, these findings suggest that using these drugs more frequently to treat hypertension may be an effective way to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The author of an accompanying editorial, Professor John Funder, who currently chairs the international guidelines for the diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism, called the study a "game changer" and indicated that these findings should trigger a "radical reconstruction" of current clinical practice and guideline recommendations. Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Anand Vaidya, MD, MMSc, please contact Elaine St. Peter at estpeter@bwh.harvard.edu. 3. Liraglutide provides excellent glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes and cirrhosis, but should we optimize the prevention of variceal bleeding? Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-0041 URL goes live when the embargo lifts The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist drug, liraglutide, seems to provide excellent glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes who are also taking a beta-blocker, specifically propranolol, to prevent bleeding from esophageal varices due to cirrhosis, but it seems to hamper the pharmacological effects of beta-blockers. A case report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. When using beta-blockers to prevent bleeding from esophageal varices, clinicians use the resting heart rate as a guide, as these therapies lower heart rate. GLP-1s are used to treat diabetes because they lower blood glucose levels and are especially useful when the patient is obese and has nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but they are known to increase heart rate, although not significantly. No data are available on the concomitant treatment with GLP-1 analogues and -blockers in patients with cirrhosis and diabetes. Researchers from University of Bologna, Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy studied 18 consecutive patients with cirrhosis who were receiving propranolol to prevent variceal bleeding while also receiving liraglutide for uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide provided optimal control of blood glucose, HbA1c and body weight, but the researchers observed a lack of optimal effect of beta-blockers on heart rate after starting a GLP-1 receptor agonist. However, in this small cohort no increase in bleeding rate was observed. The researchers propose a mechanistic molecular explanation of how a GLP-1 receptor agonist might prevent beta-adrenergic receptor blockade. Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Ranka Vukotic, MD, PhD, please email directly to ranka.vukotic2@unibo.it or ranka81@yahoo.it. ### Dame Joan Collins may not have been able to enjoy one of her lavish dinners out for her birthday on Saturday, but her husband Percy Gibson pulled out all the stops. The glamorous icon turned 87 on Saturday and her husband, 55, made sure she still celebrated in style while in lockdown at their London home. Taking to Instagram Joan shared photos of her besotted husband surprising her with gifts and cake, as she declared she had had 'a sensational' day. Many happy returns: Dame Joan Collins may not have been able to enjoy one of her lavish dinners out for her birthday on Saturday, but her husband Percy Gibson pulled out all the stops First thing in the morning Percy surprised his wife of 18 years with armfuls of gifts and a candle-adorned cupcake. Joan shared a snap of a beaming Percy walking into their bedroom with the presents and the pretty cake on a tray, telling her fans: 'First thing in the morning my loving #ahubby showered me with #flowers #gifts and #surpises more to come.' Later, Joan shared a photo of herself looking typically glam in a white draped top and glittering jewels as she and Percy posed with another cake. 'It wasnt just a #happybirthday it was a #sensational one - Im still reeling from the brilliant surprises!' she captioned the sweet snapshot. Gifts galore: The glamorous icon turned 87 on Saturday and her husband, 55, made sure she still celebrated in style while in lockdown, presenting her with gifts and multiple cakes Messages: Joan's close friend Liz Hurley, her son Damian and actress Poppy Delevingne were among those to wish the star a happy birthday on Instagram Last week Dame Joan criticised the UK government for being 'ageist' to those over the age of 70 amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. In her column for The Spectator on Sunday, the actress claimed government advice saying elderly people needed to stay indoors during the global pandemic was 'utter discrimination'. Holding nothing back, she said: 'I've always thought Western society was terribly ageist, and I don't just mean showbiz folk but across the board. Calling it out: Last week Dame Joan criticised the UK government for being 'ageist' to those over the age of 70 amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. 'Then the UK government insisted the over-70s, horrible expression, were part of the vulnerables, an even more horrible expression, and should remain in lockdown, the most horrible expression of all, until a vaccine is found. 'That was utter discrimination against the hardy individuals who have no health issues. But more harmful was bolstering the existing belief among the general public that the old should keep out of everyone's way.' The Dynasty star added that she declared 'stunningly healthy' by her GP on her most recent visit, and has never limited herself by her age, which was true of others too. Holding nothing back, Joan claimed the government telling those over 70 to stay inside was 'discrimination' and 'harmful' because of how it allowed the public to treat older people Joan said there are 'hundreds of thousands' of people like her that are certain to feel the same way about being told to stay indoors throughout the UK's lockdown. Picking out fellow elderly actors, Joan said it was a shame 88-year-old Coronation Street star William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, was not allowed to return to work because of the government's advice. She also detailed her shock when pal Christopher Biggins, 71, was stopped by members of the public during a run, because they believed he should remain inside. Earlier this month, Joan declared she'd 'settle' at living til she's 100 - and brushed off the age difference between her and husband Percy Gibson. Joan married Percy, 55, in 2002, and said in a new interview that 'people make too much fuss about age, which is just a number.' Speaking to The Mirror, Joan said: 'I think theres a big difference between biological age and the age youre supposed to be. 'As you know, [Percy] is somewhat younger than me. At first people would always say, "What are you going to do about the age difference?" Id say, "Well, if he dies he dies!"' She mused: 'Will I outlive you all? No, I dont want that. Kansas States First and Famous Sextuplets Graduate High School, Go Their Separate Ways The content is not available due to expiration. A care worker was left in tears after an 'aggressive' shopper accused her of 'spreading germs' by wearing her uniform in a shop amid the coronavirus crisis. Kimberley Simpson, from Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire, claimed a fellow customer followed her through the B&M store for ten minutes 'shouting' that she shouldn't be allowed inside. In a clip of the altercation, the shopper tells Ms Simpson she is 'spreading germs' by entering the store in her work clothes - before threatening to report the carer to her manager. Sharing footage of the incident to Facebook, Ms Simpson said she was 'disgusted' by the shopper's behaviour. She added: 'I know I'm an ugly crier, but this lady has just followed me around B&M shouting at me saying I'm not allowed in the shop because I'm in uniform. Kimberley Simpson, from Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire, claimed a fellow customer followed her through the store for ten minutes 'shouting' that she shouldn't be allowed inside In a clip of the altercation (pictured), the shopper tells Ms Simpson she is 'spreading germs' by entering the store in her work clothes - before threatening to report the carer to her manager 'Apparently I'm not allowed to buy non-essential items, how does she know I'm not doing client's shopping? 'Apparently I spread germs before and after Corona, and she's reporting me to my manager who I've just spoken to, and they said I'm not doing anything wrong. 'We have worked so hard, no clients have Covid-19 so we are clearly doing something right. She shouted at me for a good ten minutes before I decided to film her because she was following me. 'No staff in the shop helped me, no one stuck up for me, a Polish couple told me not to cry bless them and said she's stupid. 'I feel really disgusted at this lady's behaviour, I have done nothing wrong.' According to an NHS England document published on April 2, there is 'no evidence that wearing uniforms outside work adds to infection risks.' In footage from the incident, which has been viewed more than two million times, Ms Simpson (pictured) is seen speaking with the woman who stands behind her trolley Sharing footage of the incident on Facebook, Ms Simpson said she was 'disgusted' by the shopper's behaviour It added, however, that 'public attitudes indicate it is good practice for staff to change at work or cover their uniforms as they travel to and from work.' In footage from the incident, which has been viewed more than two million times, Ms Simpson is seen speaking with a woman who stands behind her trolley. 'I am filming you because you are having a go at me for buying stuff,' she said. The woman replies 'I'm not having a go, I'm asking you why' before Ms Simpson claims she is 'absolutely ridiculous' for coming up to her 'aggressively, saying I am spreading germs.' The woman replies 'You are still spreading germs, I'm not talking about Covid' as astonished shoppers watch on. According to an NHS England document published on April 2, there is 'no evidence that wearing uniforms outside work adds to infection risks' Ms Simpson was inundated with thousands of messages of support after she posted the video online, with one woman congratulating her for 'sticking up for yourself' Ms Simpson was inundated with thousands of messages of support after she posted the video online, with one woman congratulating her for 'sticking up for yourself.' 'Silly woman just wanted someone to have a go at and try and bully you,' she said. 'If it wasn't you it would have been someone else. Don't let this sad sack bring you down.' Carole Thorpe added: 'Absolutely disgusting behaviour, she isn't worthy of you and all you and your colleagues do. This has brought me to tears.' Coronavirus has killed at least 131 social care workers in the UK, with dozens more NHS employees having fallen victim to the virus. There has been mixed guidance on whether care workers should wear their uniforms in public amid the pandemic, with Worcestershire County Council stating it 'is best practice to change into and out of uniforms/work wear at work and not wear when travelling to and from work.' The guidance for key workers and medics in Burton-upon-Trent, where it is believed this incident took place, was not immediately clear. B&M has been contacted for comment. Children participate in a ceremony to remember Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu in front of the Du Fu Thatched Cottage in Chengdu, his former residence, on February 25, 2015. [For China Daily] Documentary introduces the work of Tang Dynasty poet, Du Fu, to an appreciative Western audience. The launch last month of the one-hour BBC documentary, Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet, raised heated discussions on the internet amid a greater call for worldwide mutual understanding and support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. British historian Michael Wood, one of the most popular documentary presenters in the United Kingdom, visited China to retrace the life of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet. Wood traveled from Gongyi, Henan Province, Du Fu's birthplace, to Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, the Tang capital where he rose to fame and spent most of his prosperous years, as well as visiting Chengdu, Sichuan Province, where the poet pondered the great suffering of the people incurred by war and turmoil. Despite being revered as the poet sage in China, an immortal figure in the Confucian heritage culture, Du has still remained largely unknown in the Western world. The producer completed an almost impossible task by narrating the life and highlighting creations of the poet in an hour to an audience that does not know him well. The documentary not only provides Western viewers with an opportunity to understand Du's poetry, but also triggered a discussion on traditional Chinese culture. A poster of the BBC documentary, Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet. [For China Daily] "The documentary recognizes a wider acceptance of ancient Chinese literature in the world, and reflects a stronger willingness to communicate between different cultures," says Zhang Tongdao, director of the Documentary Center at Beijing Normal University. In his interview with Xinhua News Agency earlier this month, Wood said that this documentary was broadcast "just in time" to give Western audiences a new perspective of China and to understand the Chinese ideal. He received much positive feedback after the film, and there were also viewers asking him where they could find English translations of Du Fu's poetry for sale. Wood was pleased that his team's effort intrigued the British public during the coronavirus lockdown, and he said the film has had a real impact in helping people from different cultures to understand each other. This is what propelled him to start on the project in the first place. Wood was also quoted by Beijing News as saying that many British viewers felt that the film reflects our common humanity. He said that after making this film, he admired Du Fu even more. A post stamp collection enthusiast shows a stamp featuring the Tang poet, issued by Suzhou Post Office on November 12, 2015. [For China Daily] A user named Holland_tom posted on Twitter: "If anyone's looking to have their minds taken off the COVID-19 horrors by learning about the glories of (the) Chinese civilization, Michael Wood's documentary about the great poet Du Fu looks just the ticket." Another highlight is the sonorous vocal stylings of Ian McKellen, the highly acclaimed British stage and screen actor who famously played the wizard Gandalf in the cinematic adaptation of JRR Tolkien's seminal work, The Lord of the Rings adding gravitas to the recitations of Du's 15 poems, including My Brave Adventures. In the documentary, Sinologist Stephen Owen of Harvard University compares Du with Western literary masters Dante and Shakespeare, and claims that these poets create the very values by which poetry is judged, and poems in the late Tang Dynasty are "the greatest words in the Chinese language". Ian McKellen, British actor, recites the Tang poet's poems in the documentary. [For China Daily] The outbreak of the An Lushan Rebellion marked the important change from idealism to realism in Tang literature, when Du Fu was shattered by the plight of the people. Official records estimate 30 million people died in wars, famine and displacement. In the film, Wood reminds the audience that this is equivalent to the number of people killed during World War I. Du Fu was taken prisoner and separated from his family. He could only send his thoughts through verses, such as the Moon Night: "Her cloud-like hair sweet with mist. Her jade arms cold in the clear moonlight. When shall we lean in the empty window together in brightness. Our tears dried up?" Du channeled his nostalgia for bygone prosperity in his poem Spring Hope: "The state is destroyed, but the country remains. In the city in spring, grass and weeds grow everywhere. Grieving for the times, even the blossom sheds tears. Beacon fires have been burning for three months now. A letter from home would be worth 10,000 in gold." Wood has produced and hosted more than 120 documentary films, including Legacy: The Origins of Civilization, In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great and The Story of India. He wrote and presided over The Story of China, which was broadcast on BBC and other media in 2016 and told of the historical changes in China from ancient times to the reform and opening-up. During his journey through China, he said he felt deeply that the ancient Chinese poetry tradition still continues. He talked to many Chinese people, and everyone he interviewed told him something about Du Fu. He was impressed by a little girl in front of the Du Fu Thatched Cottage in Chengdu, who could easily recite one of the poet's most famous verses, "Grieving for the times, even the blossom sheds tears." At the Hunan Poetry Club, he was touched by the college students who recite and sing Du Fu's poems. In Wood's view, the poet's verses have been passed down through generations because they express the most shining parts of human nature, such as loyalty, friendship, fraternity, tenacity and conscience, which can transcend language, race and time. He says he believes that even if some of the artistic concepts are lost when translated from Chinese to English, it will not affect the understanding of them among Western audiences. In China, poets have always been seen as the trusted chroniclers of the people's hearts and the nation's history. And for the Chinese, "Du Fu is more than a poet. For generations he has been the guardian of the moral conscience of the nation," he says. (Source: China Daily) Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to Stratistics MRC, the Global LED Light Engine Market is accounted for $ 21.88 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $ 84.53 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 16.2% during the forecast period. The increasing consumer demand for energy-efficient lighting systems, reduction in prices of LEDs, and high penetration of LEDs as a light source in the general lighting market are expected to drive the growth of this market. However, development of alternative technologies and lack of awareness regarding installation costs and payback periods are hindering the growth of LED light engine market across the globe. Request For Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11416 LED Light Engine originates from Zhaga consortium. According to Zhaga definition, LED light engine or LLE is the combination of one or more LED modules, together with an LED driver (also known as electronic control gear, or ECG). Some LLEs contain an integrated driver, while some LLEs consist of one or more LED modules together with a separate driver. Therefore, LED Light Engine is a device that between LED fixtures and LED Luminaire. In a more simple definition: make led module and constant current driver printed on one Alu PCB. Based on End User, indoor lighting segment is expected to have a larger market share than outdoor lighting. The reason is increasing infrastructural activities across the globe, mainly focused on residential lighting. By Geography, The increased construction activities in APAC are contributing significantly to the growth of the LED light engine market in the region. There are several new opportunities for energy-efficient lighting in the next few years as about 200 million homes are expected to be constructed in China and 18 million homes in India. Countries, such as China, Japan, and India are also impacting the market significantly in APAC. Request for Report Discount: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/11416 Some of the key players profiled in the LED light engine market include Ab Fagerhult, Acuity Brands Inc., Cree Inc., GE Lighting (GE Lighting + Current), Gerard Lighting, Glamox AS, Halla AS, Hubbell Incorporated, LEDrabrands Inc., Lutron Electronics, OSRAM Licht Ag, Samsung Electronics, Signify Lighting NV, Wipro Enterprises (P) Limited and Zumtobel Group Ag. Covered Forms: Flexible Rigid Products Covered: Lamp Luminaire Installations Covered: New Installation Retrofit Installation End-Users Covered: Indoor Lighting Outdoor Lighting Regions Covered: North America or US or Canada or Mexico Europe or Germany or UK or Italy or France or Spain or Rest of Europe Asia Pacific or Japan or China or India or Australia or New Zealand or South Korea or Rest of Asia Pacific South America or Argentina or Brazil or Chile or Rest of South America Middle East & Africa or Saudi Arabia or UAE or Qatar or South Africa or Rest of Middle East & Africa What our report offers: - Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments - Strategic recommendations for the new entrants - Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets - Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) - Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product / Technology Analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc. - Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations - Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends - Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments - Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements Free Customization Offerings: All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options: Company Profiling or Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3) or SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3) Regional Segmentation or Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check) Competitive Benchmarking Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances Covid 19 Impact Analysis @ According to Stratistics MRC, the Global LED Light Engine Market is accounted for $ 21.88 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $ 84.53 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 16.2% during the forecast period. The increasing consumer demand for energy-efficient lighting systems, reduction in prices of LEDs, and high penetration of LEDs as a light source in the general lighting market are expected to drive the growth of this market. However, development of alternative technologies and lack of awareness regarding installation costs and payback periods are hindering the growth of LED light engine market across the globe. Request For Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11416 LED Light Engine originates from Zhaga consortium. According to Zhaga definition, LED light engine or LLE is the combination of one or more LED modules, together with an LED driver (also known as electronic control gear, or ECG). Some LLEs contain an integrated driver, while some LLEs consist of one or more LED modules together with a separate driver. Therefore, LED Light Engine is a device that between LED fixtures and LED Luminaire. In a more simple definition: make led module and constant current driver printed on one Alu PCB. Based on End User, indoor lighting segment is expected to have a larger market share than outdoor lighting. The reason is increasing infrastructural activities across the globe, mainly focused on residential lighting. By Geography, The increased construction activities in APAC are contributing significantly to the growth of the LED light engine market in the region. There are several new opportunities for energy-efficient lighting in the next few years as about 200 million homes are expected to be constructed in China and 18 million homes in India. Countries, such as China, Japan, and India are also impacting the market significantly in APAC. Request for Report Discount: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/11416 Some of the key players profiled in the LED light engine market include Ab Fagerhult, Acuity Brands Inc., Cree Inc., GE Lighting (GE Lighting + Current), Gerard Lighting, Glamox AS, Halla AS, Hubbell Incorporated, LEDrabrands Inc., Lutron Electronics, OSRAM Licht Ag, Samsung Electronics, Signify Lighting NV, Wipro Enterprises (P) Limited and Zumtobel Group Ag. Covered Forms: Flexible Rigid Products Covered: Lamp Luminaire Installations Covered: New Installation Retrofit Installation End-Users Covered: Indoor Lighting Outdoor Lighting Regions Covered: North America or US or Canada or Mexico Europe or Germany or UK or Italy or France or Spain or Rest of Europe Asia Pacific or Japan or China or India or Australia or New Zealand or South Korea or Rest of Asia Pacific South America or Argentina or Brazil or Chile or Rest of South America Middle East & Africa or Saudi Arabia or UAE or Qatar or South Africa or Rest of Middle East & Africa What our report offers: - Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments - Strategic recommendations for the new entrants - Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets - Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) - Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product / Technology Analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc. - Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations - Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends - Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments - Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements Free Customization Offerings: All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options: Company Profiling or Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3) or SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3) Regional Segmentation or Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check) Competitive Benchmarking Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances Covid 19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/11416 Seven Studios could be sold to Beyond Productions but negotiations are on hold due to COVID-19 impact, according to media reports. Nine-owned Sydney Morning Herald reports Seven West Media was working with Morgan Stanley to sell Seven Studios and was in discussions with productions companies including ITV Studios, Disney and Comcasts NBC Universal. Seven Studios has produced My Kitchen Rules, Home & Away, A Place to Call Home, Secret Bridesmaids Business, Pooch Perfect plus the upcoming Between Two Worlds, Fam Time and Back to the Rafters, amongst others. Beyond, which produces MythBusters, Selling Houses Australia and Netflixs White Rabbit Project, is led by John Luscombe, husband of former Seven Studios CEO Therese Hegarty who stepped down two weeks ago. Both Seven and Beyond run joint venture 7Beyond in the US. There is also speculation Seven is looking to sell Seven Studios UK, Slim TV in London, GSTV in New Zealand and its 50 per cent stake in 7Beyond. Seven has recently sold Pacific Magazines to Bauer Media, Redwave radio and its WA property to Primewest Property Investors. The report also suggests Seven is looking to reduce its rent for Sydney and Melbourne bases. Production head Andrew Backwell will run Seven Studios once Ms Hegarty exits in June. Seven declined to comment. A day after 55 passengers onboard the Mumbai-Haridwar Shramik Special train tested positive for coronavirus, 32 more passengers have been infected. Health officials monitoring the situation stated that there are chances of a rapid spike in the number of cases as reports for over 3,000 tests are still pending. They claimed that on May 20, around 1,500 passengers of the special train de-boarded at the Haridwar Railway Station, Uttarakhand. After initial scanning as per the protocol, the passengers were sent to various districts in around 15 buses. So far, the passengers who tested travelled on buses headed towards Almora, Nainital and Bageshwar. Yugal Kishore Pant, additional secretary health, told The Times of India that 32 more passengers tested positive on Sunday and till now 87 cases have surfaced. "However, we are waiting for more results in the next couple of days," he added. Encumbered with a large number of samples collected, AIIMS, Rishikesh stopped taking samples on Sunday. Rakesh Thapliyal, PRO of AIIMS Rishikesh, confirmed that the institution is working on clearing the pending cases which are over 1,000. Karnataka too witnessed a substantial rise in Covid-19 infections as several returnees from Maharashtra travelling via Shramik special trains in the last few days tested positive. Representative image: Reuters Nobel Laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo have said that India should immediately begin cash transfers of Rs 1,000 per person every month as universal basic income (UBI) to bypass the economic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The duo also said that India should implement the one-nation, one ration card scheme urgently. During an interaction with the virtual version of the Jaipur Literature Fest on May 24, As per Banerjee, India can help in the mass production of the COVID-19 vaccine, whenever it is developed. However, he cautioned that, in the absence of a vaccine, India is likely to see another lockdown as cases are still rising. Rs 1,000 per person per month would make a huge difference, that's probably too much. Even Rs 500, so for a family of five Rs 2,500, I think that makes a big difference. It would pay for all the emergency things, The Economic Times quoted Banerjee as saying. India is going to face a massive demand shock so pumping money in the hands of people might actually be the way to save the economy, Banerjee added. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Duflo expressed that India was already in a position to start UBI quickly as it had the Jan Dhan accounts-Aadhaar-mobile system in place. Banerjee also appreciated the Centres efforts of providing one nation, one ration card. However, he added that the scheme must be implemented urgently. Earlier, in conversation with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan said that India needed Rs 65,000 crore to help the poor during the lockdown. Considering Indias total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it can afford to do that, Rajan said. New Delhi, May 25 : Passengers were seen harried across airports, including the national capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), on Monday as many domestic flights were cancelled due to the limit on arrivals and departures by state governments. On the first day of resumption of domestic passenger flight services after two months' suspension, the IGIA witnessed over 80 flight cancellations. According to industry insiders, the IGIA is slated to handle 118 arrival and 125 departure flights on Monday. Similarly, Mumbai's CSMIA will be handling 24 arrivals and 23 departures. It was scheduled to handle over 100 flights, but the state government on Sunday capped this to 25 each. IANS had on Saturday and Sunday reported that new flight acceptance and quarantine norms could lead to cancellations on the intra-metro routes. "The problem for passengers began with states rolling out their separate guidelines on operationality of airports and post-travel quarantine. With only a fraction of flights allowed to operate from some of the busiest airports, cancellations spiked leaving travellers uncertain about their travel," Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip.com, told IANS. "Some airlines informed passengers at the last moment about the flight cancellation. Many passengers had reached airports as SMSes were received only after midnight. Also, these airlines failed to make changes on their website and even the cancelled flights were being shown as confirmed." There were some initial hiccups due to Sunday's new guidelines by several states, an airline executive at the airport told IANS. "Some passengers of few airlines were confused if their morning flight was on or not. Some had received SMS alerts, while others claimed they didn't. Most had reached the T3 at least 2 hours before to go through the checks," the executive said. Flights were resumed on Monday after many anxious moments as several states moved to limit air operations. Even airline executives were left in lurch as state after state came out with new norms for accepting flights, thereby, distorting their network planning. Consequently, passengers who had booked tickets rushed to cancel them. Most affected was the Delhi-Mumbai trunk route, followed by flights to Bangalore and Kolkata. Another confusion was over the quarantine norms, which many states said they would enforce on air travellers. To calm nervous passengers, the central government had said on Sunday all states but for two (Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal) were open to accepting domestic flights. The Centre has allowed limited passenger flights -- about one-third of the summer schedule -- to operate between Metros and other destinations from May 25. Passenger air services were suspended on March 25 due to the nationwide lockdown to check the Covid-19 spread. Press Release May 25, 2020 De Lima slams gov't protectors, Chinese operators behind illegal medical facilities Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has expressed alarm over the discovery of illegal medical facilities catering only for Chinese nationals amid the COVID-19 pandemic. De Lima said she believes these illegal hospitals aim to circumvent detection of COVID-19 infection among Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers and shield Mr. Duterte from public outrage for allowing the reopening of POGOs. "First in Paranaque; now inside Fontana Leisure Park in Pampanga. How many of these underground hospitals and pharmacies catering only to Chinese nationals -- possibly for COVID-infected POGO workers as was the case in Paranaque -- are operating right under government's very nose?", she asked in her Dispatch from Crame No. 800. "Kataka-taka namang magsulputang animo'y kabute ang mga ito sa mismong bakuran natin nang hindi alam ng gobyerno na sya namang protektor ng POGO. May secret jail na sa tokhang, may secret hospital pa sa mga Chinese. Ano-ano pa kayang mga sikreto mayroon ang gobyernong ito?" she added. Based on media reports, authorities have raided a makeshift medical facility catering to Chinese patients inside the Fontana Leisure Park in Clark Special Economic Zone in Zambales last May 20. Two Chinese nationals were reportedly arrested during the raid. Prior to this, the local government of Paranaque discovered an illegal health facility exclusive for Chinese nationals where unregistered medicines for COVID-19 and sexually transmitted diseases were said to be found last April. "Kaya pala walang napapaulat na kaso ng COVID-19 sa hanay ng POGO, dahil sadyang itinatago at kung saan-saan dinadalang palihim ang mga maysakit. At ang pinagdadalhan ay mga lugar pa na malapit sa komunidad," said the lady Senator. Aside from the attempt to underreport COVID-19 cases and to further compromise the ongoing medical response for COVID-19, De Lima said the operations of illegal hospitals are another instance of the government putting at greater risk the public health and safety just to favor business and political interests of those benefitting from POGO operations. "Para lang mamayagpag ang POGO, kahit ipahamak ang mga Pilipino. Hindi ito katanggap-tanggap!" she said. "All these suggest impunity for these Chinese operators and connivance with some government personalities, if not outright protection from higher office, possibly as high there in Malacanang. Ano bang mayroon sa mga sindikato at sugarol na ito at napaka-inutil ng gobyerno laban sa kanila?" she asked. During the 17th Congress, De Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 751 to investigate the surge of Chinese workers in the Philippines, notably in the POGO industry, which steals the jobs from Filipinos and rakes up the prices of real estate properties in the country. She also asked her Senate colleagues through Senate Resolution No. 1030 to look into the reported failure of POGO firms to comply with government regulations on foreign workers, notably in paying appropriate taxes, a fact admitted by no less than the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) It was a special journey for five-year-old Vihaan Sharma, who returned to Bengaluru on Monday with the resumption of domestic flight services. Not only because he met his mother after three months but also because he made the journey alone. The boy, who stayed with his grandparents in Delhi, was wearing a yellow jacket, blue gloves and a yellow mask. In one hand, he held a mobile phone. In the other, he clenched a placard saying special category passenger. He has come back alone to Bengaluru after three months, said the boys mother, Manjeesh Sharma, who received him at the airport. For thousands of passengers who boarded planes on the day India resumed air services after over 60 days, it was a journey to remember. At airports across India, people rejoiced their homecoming, after being stuck in different parts of the country for months with the government announcing unprecedented travel curbs across the country in March-end. That they have to undergo strict state-specific security protocols did not appear to be a dampener. Others were relieved that they could travel to attend to friends and relatives facing medical emergencies in other states. VK Tewari, a 44-year-old employee of a private company in New Delhi, was elated that he could finally visit his family in Lucknow. He has a rented accommodation in Ghaziabad and used to visit his wife, mother and father in the Uttar Pradesh capital on weekends. On the first practical opportunity to meet the family, I booked myself on a plane and reached here...For two months, we connected over phone and video calls. Its nice to come here again. I never lived away from my family for so long, Tewari said. I have been working from home (during and these few months have been emotionally challenging. Now, I will spend some time here, he said. RK Singh, 55, too, arrived in Lucknow airport on Monday, but he was travelling to the national capital. I am going to Delhi to see my brother who is not keeping well. Its an emotional journey for me as I met him before three months. I was trying to go to Delhi for the last few days but was not able to do so, he said. Amitesh Kumar Nag, a 40-year-old marketing executive with a multinational firm, returned to Patna with his wife and 10-year-old son over four months after undergoing a surgery in Navi Mumbai. I underwent an operation at the Kokilaben Reliance Hospital at Navi Mumbai on February 27, and was discharged from the hospital on March 18. Doctors advised me to come for a review after a week, and then the lockdown was announced and I was stranded in Mumbai, said the cancer patient. Though I was staying with my aunt in Mumbai, I was desperate to return home and even arranged for movement pass by road when the government announced lifting of the embargo on domestic flights, said Nag. Joymati Das, a 68-year retired government employee and a resident for Assam cant wait for her flight back home. I came to Anand in Gujarat in November to spend some time with my daughter who works in a school. The plan was to return towards the end of March, but the lockdown happened and I got stuck, said Das, whose flight is scheduled to leave on Wednesday. Mohammad Ansari was happy that he could reach Allahabad from Mumbai to celebrate Eid. I had enquired about my flight status a day before departure...I reached the airport and took off on time, he said. But then there were others who did not have a pleasant experience. Rishi Goel, for example. The Shimla resident could board his Chandigarh-bound flight, but not before hiccups. My airline first messaged me that my flight was cancelled and then sent an updated message that my flight was on time, said Goel, who works in Mumbai. His wife delivered a baby in the lockdown period. Ashwini Pandey, a banker and a resident of Chennai, purchased tickets with four airlines to reach Mumbai, but all his flights were cancelled. I have to join my work urgently on June 10. Only if I reach Mumbai now, I can join my new office after finishing my quarantine period. Two flights got cancelled today and two flights that were scheduled on Tuesday too have been cancelled, Pandey said. Sudhanshu Pandey, who was on an official trip to Mumbai, has been stranded in the city for two months. I had no idea that my flight was cancelled, and it was only at 6.30 am that I learnt about my flight status while I was entering the check-in area. (With inputs from HTC in states) OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will work with provinces to ensure that all workers get 10 days of paid sick leave a year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is far from inevitable a national sick-leave policy can be worked out or for how long it might be in effect. The pledge by Trudeau was a condition of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singhs support for the Liberals resumption plans for Parliament. Those talks had hit an impasse on Friday, Singh said in an interview. During a Sunday phone call between Trudeau and the NDP leader, Singh said Trudeau accepted that we have the federal powers to immediately use something like (the Canada Emergency Response Benefit) to give people immediate basic leave during the pandemic. Singh said hes confident the government will work toward a longer term goal of making paid sick leave a permanent part of the Canadian safety net. Im not sold that its a done deal but certainly we can do it, and theres an openness to doing it, Singh said. The commitment made publicly today gives me some confidence that weve taken at least one bold step towards realizing paid sick leave for all Canadians. But the Canadian Federation of Independent Business warned against a rush toward permanent changes. Dan Kelly, president of the organization which represents more than 110,000 small and medium-sized employers, said most small business owners do their best to work out formal or informal solutions that work for both the business and its employees and are already bracing for looming hikes in Employment Insurance premiums and previously planned increases in pension premiums. Small business owners just cannot be expected to take on any additional costs at this time, Kelly said. The Canadian Labour Congress and business leaders in British Columbia along with Premier John Horgan have pressed Trudeau to act. The idea is to keep sick people out of the workplace in the hopes of avoiding a new rise in infections or a second shutdown. A number of premiers have agreed that we do need to look at ways of encouraging people who begin to exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 to be able to stay home for a day or two, for the time necessary to be able to get themselves tested and possibly treated, Trudeau said. Trudeau said it will be essential in the countrys economic recovery and its efforts to control the spread of the disease, which has now infected 85,103 Canadians, and caused at least 6,453 deaths. But he acknowledged that the mechanisms are challenging to meet the goal of a national sick-leave policy and thats why we are working with the provinces. Regulating conditions governing workplaces is a shared jurisdiction between the federal and provincial governments. Ottawa is responsible for federally regulated sectors like telecommunications, railways, banking, radio and television broadcasting and the federal public service, whereas provinces regulate others who employ about 90 per cent of Canadas workforce, including medium-sized and small businesses. Right now there is a patchwork of sick-leave provisions across the country. All provinces require workers have access to unpaid sick days, but only Quebec and Prince Edward Island require paid sick leave. Ontario stipulates three days of unpaid sick leave, while paid sick leave is a decision between employers and their employees, companies and unions. David Macdonald, senior economist with the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives, said Ottawa cant impose paid sick leave on provinces or employers, but it can come to the table with money and that would make a difference. The lack of paid sick leave in Canada will particularly come into play after the first week of July when those who have relied on CERB since mid-March can expect to run out of 16 weeks worth of payments, and may face re-entering workplaces where the risk of infection is high. The CERB supports people who lost a job due to COVID-19 and didnt qualify for Employment Insurance. It pays $500 a week for up to 16 weeks, and is not available to those who voluntarily quit a job. Macdonald says workers who have no paid sick leave are vulnerable if they refuse unsafe work and unscrupulous employers threaten to report that they voluntarily quit. If Ottawa wanted to give those workers protection, he said, you could imagine that CERB acts as a temporary paid-sick-leave payment program. The downside is it could be seen as a punishment or disincentive for employers who do offer paid sick leave now, or who would see no need to create proper paid sick leave policies. Hopefully we come out of this with better labour standards for employees, not worse, he said. Trudeau said Monday that changes could be made to the CERB program, but he provided no details. To date, 8.21 million Canadians have applied for CERB, with more than $40 billion being paid out. Read more about: One assailant was described by the Postal Inspection Service as an African American man in his 20s, about 5-foot-10 to six feet tall, who was slim with braids or dreadlocks and a white shirt. Only a vague description was given for a second possible assailant. Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: The five most active investors in US venture capital are pension funds. US venture capital attracts a range of investors, and almost a quarter are located outside of North America, said a study. San Francisco Employees' Retirement System (SFERS) and Retirement Plans of Duke University (RPDU) sit atop the table, each with 69 known commitments to vintage 2010-2019 US-based venture capital funds, said Preqin. Of the most active investors in US-based VC funds by the number of known fund commitments, Texas County & District Retirement System is the only institution with an active mandate. The pension fund is planning to commit $1.8bn across private equity & venture capital funds in the next 12 months. US-based venture capital funds attract capital from a range of investors globally, the report said. Foundations account for the largest proportion (20%) of investors active in US-based venture capital funds, followed by the private sector (13%) and public (12%) pension funds. North America-based institutions represent 76% of all investors active in US-based venture capital funds. That said, with 24% of investors based outside of North America, the demand for US venture capital vehicles extends across the globe. US-based venture capital funds are targeted by investors of all sizes. The majority (67%) of active investors manage at least $1bn in assets, including 12% that manage at least $50bn. But smaller investors still take up ...................... To view our full article Click here The over 200 Ghanaians deported from Kuwait on Saturday tested negative for COVID-19 in that country. This was disclosed to Citi News by the Aviation Minister, Joseph Kofi Adda. According to him, the tests were done in Kuwait prior to their arrival in Ghana. Kofi Adda added that health officials in Ghana have also taken the samples of the deportees for independent testing. Where we have gotten so far, the test is generally negative, [but] our internal medical experts will conduct another round of test to be sure that they are truly negative, he told Citi News. The over 200 deportees arrived in the country on Saturday, May 23, 2020, after the government of Ghana agreed to a request by the Kuwaiti government to deport some Ghanaians living in that country illegally. The deportees came in through a chartered flight. The cost was taken care of by the Kuwaiti government. According to the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the deportees will be tested for COVID-19 in Ghana and will undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine or isolation, depending on the test results. We are quarantining them for two weeks, do an initial test and those who are positive will be sent to an isolation centre or treatment centre and observe the rest for two weeks and do a retesting before they are discharged. I believe that they may have come in here with some test but knowing how this virus is if you have tested negative today doesnt mean you will be negative tomorrow. So we are going through our routine protocol to check to make sure they are healthy, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said in a Citi News interview. Ghanas borders have remained closed since March 22, 2020, as part of measures to stop the importation of the novel Coronavirus into the country. There are reports that a lot of Ghanaians are stranded in other countries due to the border closure. Ablakwa on border closure Ranking Member on Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had earlier questioned governments decision to allow Ghanaians to be deported before they were granted access into the country. Ablakwa in a statement indicated that government ought to have opened the borders earlier to Ghanaians stranded in other parts of the world instead of waiting for them to be deported before allowing them into the country. As we welcome 245 of our compatriots back home from Kuwait; the point must be made that it shouldnt have taken an act of deportation by the Kuwaiti Government at the expense of the Kuwaiti taxpayer to compel our Government to grant access to the Kotoka International Airport to our fellow Ghanaians. Never mind that the Akufo-Addo Administration despite its border closures has continued to open the airport for other nationals to be evacuated out of Ghana by their Governments. Source: citinewsroom.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In a huge relief to her legions of fans around the world, Betty White, 98, is keeping safe and well amid the coronavirus pandemic. 'I'm blessed with incredibly good health. That's something you appreciate a lot,' the Golden Girls icon dished to Closer Weekly. The TV legend has been 'doing very well' while self-isolating at home in California, her representative emailed Today. Hunkering down: In a huge relief to her legions of fans around the world, Betty White, 98, is keeping safe and well amid the coronavirus pandemic; pictured in 2017 She 'Has helpers who are great' with her and 'wild animals visiting' her backyard, said the rep, dishing: 'The virus is afraid of Betty!' 'No one permitted in except those who must,' but she still has multiple phone calls with her publicist within a week during which 'we always have laughs.' Betty lives in Carmel, California where she apparently 'has beautiful backyard with a number of wild animals visiting.' The representative specified: 'Two ducks always come by to say hello. They waddle up to her glass door and look in.' 'Something you appreciate a lot': 'I'm blessed with incredibly good health,' the Golden Girls icon dished to Closer Weekly; she is pictured at the 2018 Emmy Awards A pal of hers told Closer Weekly she will indulge in a 'vodka martini' with 'hot dogs and french fries' while hunkering down. The friend shared: 'Betty loves to joke that vodka keeps her young. She loves the image of her sitting at home in a rocking chair, drinking a martini and watching game shows, but she's not really a big drinker. That's not her. She'll only take a few sips of a cocktail if the occasion calls for it.' Betty has spent eight decades working in television and has racked up the longest career in the history of the medium. Throwback: She has been on a slew of hit programs including The Mary Tyler Moore Show; she is pictured on that series with Mary in 1975 Although she has been on a slew of hit programs including The Mary Tyler Moore Show she is most beloved for The Golden Girls. Betty starred on the show from 1985 to 1992 as Rose Nylund, a kindhearted bottle blonde ditz from St. Olaf, Minnesota. She was part of the main cast with Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, all three of whom were younger than she but have predeceased her. Four more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh, taking the number of cases in the state to 208, while a 72-year-old woman died due to the disease at a hospital here, officials said on Monday. With the latest fatality, the death toll due to COVID-19 has increased to five in the state. The woman had tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Saturday and she died at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla around 10:15 pm on Sunday, the hospital's senior medical superintendent, Janak Raj, said. The woman, who was suffering from multiple ailments, had been referred to the IGMC from Hamirpur, he said. She tested COVID-19 positive on Saturday two days after her husband was found infected by the novel coronavirus, a Hamirpur district official said. The woman had gone to Jalandhar in Punjab for treatment for her ailments. On her return from there, she was admitted to the government medical college in Hamirpur, he said. She was referred to the IGMC after her condition worsened. Her sample was taken there and her report came positive on Saturday, the official said. Prior to this, a 52-year-old patient from Hamirpur district died from COVID-19 at the Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Hospital in Mandi on May 15, while on May 5, a 21-year-old man from Sarkaghat in Mandi died due to the disease in Shimla. On April 2, a 70-year-old woman, who was a resident of Delhi and had been staying at a factory's guest house in Solan since March 15, died due to COVID-19 at the PGIMER in Chandigarh. On March 23, a 69-year-old man who had returned from the US died of COVID-19 at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) in Kangra district. Of the fresh COVID-19 cases in the state, three people are from Shimla district, Raj said, adding that their samples were sent for testing from the district's Matiana area. They had returned from Mumbai on May 18, the officials said. The fourth case was reported from Hamirpur, where a 25-year-old woman tested COVID-19 positive, Deputy Commissioner Harikesh Meena said. She had returned to her in-laws house from Mumbai on May 22, he said. Her 29-year-old husband tested COVID-19 positive a few days ago and was admitted to a COVID care centre in Hamirpur district for treatment, Meena said. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh is 140 and 63 people have recovered so far, according to the officials. Hamirpur has the highest number of active cases in the state at 57 followed by 37 in Kangra, 13 in Una, 11 in Solan, nine in Mandi, four in Bilaspur, three each in Shimla and Chamba, two in Sirmaur and one in Kullu, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump threatened Monday to pull the Republican convention planned for Charlotte this summer if the state's Democratic governor will not ease stay-home restrictions and allow 'full attendance.' Trump leveled the threat which carries a significant economic impact on the battleground state days after threatening to hold up Michigan funding over the governor's proposals for mail-in ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic. But after his threat caused the expected uproar, Trump denied Internet speculation he was hatching a plan to move the convention to the Trump golf property in Doral, Florida where he had previously planned to host the G7 meeting. Donald Trump threatened Monday to withdraw the GOP convention from Charlottee 'I have zero interest in moving the Republican National Convention to Doral in Miami, as falsely reported by the Fake News @nytimes in order to stir up trouble,' Trump wrote. 'Ballroom is not nearly big enough & would like to stay in N.C., whose gov. doesnt even know if he can let people in?.' Trump was referencing a passage in a New York Times article last week about the GOP's plans to carry on with its convention and challenges it might experience. It said Trump 'has mused aloud to several aides about why the convention cant simply be held in a hotel ballroom in Florida, given all of the health concerns and the fact that Florida is further along in reopening portions of the state.' 'I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed ... full attendance in the Arena,' Trump wrote. 'In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space. Plans are being ... made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied,' Trump said, expanding on the threat. 'If not, we will be reluctantly forced ... to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina!' Trump concluded. Donald Trump threatened to withdraw the GOP convention set for August from the state Democrats are planning their own convention in Milwaukee. They delayed it until later in the summer, and are making contingencies for a virtual convention. The GOP convention is set for August 24. Vice President Mike Pence also followed up on the threat, saying the GOP might move to a state 'that is farther along on reopening and can say with confidence that, that we can gather there.' He mentioned progress in Texas, Georgia, and Florida, all states that are run by Republicans. The state is a key electoral prize. Trump holds a single-point lead in the RealClearPolitics average. Conventions are planned more than a year in advance, and moving such a large undertaking, while securing enough hotel space for delegates, global media, and Secret Service, amid a pandemic would be a major logistical challenge. The RNC inked contracts with Charlotte in 2018 that make it exceedingly hard to back out, even in the event Trump decided he wanted to go through with his threat to walk away from a key battleground state. Cooper on Friday moved to 'Phase 2' of its 'Safer at Home' order. It allows gatherings of 10 people in doors and 25 people outdoors. Dine-in restaurants are limited to 50 per cent capacity. Childcare, day camps, and overnight camps are allowed to open with enhanced cleaning in place. An aide to Cooper told the Times: 'State health officials are working with the R.N.C. and will review its plans as they make decisions about how to hold the convention in Charlotte. North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our states public health and safety.' RNC rules state that the convention must be conducted in person, and the convention would have to meet to change the rules. Trump as repeatedly used the Twitter platform to attack Democratic governors for their coronavirus response measures. On Saturday, he teed off on California over its plan for mail-in ballots, which would let voiders avoid polling places. 'The Democrats are trying to Rig the 2020 Election, plain and simple!' he tweeted just after 8:30pm. Earlier Sunday, Trump wrote: 'The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and 'force' people to sign. Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam!' the president wrote, without citing any evidence for his claims. Last week, Trump tweeted: 'Breaking: Michigan sends absentee ballots to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!' In fact, the state's governor, Gretchen Whitmer, had sent absentee ballot applications to voters, a change he made in a second corrected tweet. How many selfies can one couple take? David and Lana attempted to find out on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days. Thrilled she exists, David did his best to woo Lana and get as many photos as possible as evidence for his K-1 visa application. There's just one problem: Lana didn't seem to be on the same page. Despite admitting she liked to get gifts and money from David (and refusing to answer how much he's spent on her), she avoided his advances and declined to go to his hotel room. Earlier in the episode, she was shocked to learn he walked around her neighborhood knocking on doors looking for her. "That is genuinely insane," she said. Things also took a turn when he revealed he hired a private investigator to find her. Despite that hiccup, Lana agreed to spend another day with him. 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? Season 5 Couples Will David get his happy ending and leave Ukraine engaged? Lana said she'd tell him before he departed. Meanwhile Geoffrey and Varya Varya's big romantic surprise didn't exactly go as planned. She got into a screaming match with Mary, Geoffrey's friend-turned-girlfriend. "It hurts to see that he moved on and did not tell me," she said. But last time they saw each other, she had turned out Geoffrey's marriage proposal. Still, he admitted the feelings for her are still there. They talked it out quite a bit and he took her to hang with his friendsand Mary showed up. "I'm not going to surrender," Varya said. "I will try my best to get him back." Stephanie and Erika Stephanie made her way back to the United States and was sad Erika didn't come to the airport to see her off. Now she prepared herself to come out to her family. Lisa and Usman The fighting continued and Lisa stormed off a number of times. First it was because he hadn't officially proposed to her in person and the wedding was supposed to be the next day. Then it was when she brought up their issues in front of his brothers. Story continues Ash and Avery With Avery's trip coming to a close, they wondered what would happen next. In order to see each other, Ash would need to get his Australian passport. Ed and Rosemarie Ed made his way back to the United States where his mom and dog picked him up from the airport. He told her the relationship with Rosemarie was over. "I hate being single again. I had the best chance at love and I screwed it up," he said. Darcey and Tom It's been weeks since she last heard from Tom, and Darcey said it's been hard to move on, but she's determined to do so. She said she's ready for a new future. 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days air Sundays, 8 p.m. on TLC. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 23:58:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the United States adding relevant Chinese enterprises, institutions and individuals to its "entity list" over Xinjiang affairs, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Monday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press conference when asked to comment on the U.S. Department of Commerce saying on Friday that it would sanction relevant Chinese enterprises and institutions for human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The United States, adding relevant Chinese enterprises, institutions and individuals to its "entity list," has overstretched the concept of national security, abused export control measures, violated the basic norms governing international relations, interfered in China's internal affairs and harmed China's interests, Zhao said, adding that China deplores and firmly opposes such actions. Xinjiang affairs are purely China's internal affairs which brook no interference from any other country, Zhao said, noting the measures on countering terrorism and deradicalization in Xinjiang have been taken for the purpose of preventing the extremism and terrorism at their source, and these measures accord with Chinese laws and international practices. "These measures have been proved effective, been widely supported by 25 million people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang and contributed positively to the global anti-terrorism cause," he added. The U.S. accusation against China is nothing but absolute nonsense to confound the public, and only further reveals the U.S. malicious intention to disrupt Xinjiang's counter-terrorism efforts and China's stability and development, said the spokesperson. "We urge the United States to correct its mistakes, rescind the relevant decision and stop interfering in China's internal affairs. China will continue to take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese enterprises and safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests," he said. Enditem Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) The national government should not rely on data from the Department of Health alone when easing quarantine restrictions, as the agency has yet to provide accurate data on coronavirus curve over the past months, a mass testing advocate warned. Project ARK medical team leader Minquita Padilla said the national government should instead collaborate with local government units in fetching real-time data on COVID-19 cases before it declares a general community quarantine (GCQ) by June 1. "We don't even know where we are in the curve," Padilla said during the virtual forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines. "Our DOH statistics are not accurate," she pointed out. "They're reporting cases everyday about 200+ new cases. We have been advocating if they could please report the cases as people are swabbed, diagnosed. That's the only way we'll see the real curve." She also urged the DOH to report deaths and admissions of patients in hospitals as they come in to reach greater accuracy in public data. The agency was also urged to ramp up its procurement and inventory of testing kits and other necessary equipment. "We don't even know where the deaths are," Padilla said. "There's no granularity in the data, that's our problem." Meanwhile, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin added that Metro Manila has to shift to the GCQ even if it is not ready, in order to recuperate from economic losses. "Even if we are not ready [to shift to GCQ], we have to," said Garin, a former health secretary. "However, we were not able to enhance our testing capacity so we are locked in the situation." Garin reiterated her plea to include asymptomatic patients in the government's expanded testing efforts, noting that 40 to 50 percent of them could essentially trigger another wave of infections. "Whether to test or not to test, it's a no-brainer," she said. "We really have to test." "We agree it's not that easy to trace all the asymptomatics but we are not saying we are going to identify all the carriers," she added. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified on Monday that the government's testing capacity is now at 32,000 per day by the end of the month. He mistakenly mentioned during the briefing that this target was already achieved. The Department of Health noted that this estimate was based on existing resources and the maximum capacity of all licenses laboratories in the country. However, the actual capacity of the country still stands at 8,500 to 9,500 a day, the DOH said. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also mistakenly said in a Senate hearing last week that the country is already on the second wave, citing significant decrease in new cases. Following backlash, the agency then backtracked and noted that the country is still in the first wave driven by local community transmission. There are over 14,000 confirmed cases of the viral disease in the Philippines to date, with over 800 deaths and more than 3,000 recoveries. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Accounting the coronavirus pandemic, Private sector lender IDFC First Bank on May 25 said its senior management has voluntarily taken 10 percent pay cut, while the CEO offered to surrender as much as 30 percent of his salary. The senior management has volunteered to take a 10 percent cut in compensation in the current FY21, IDFC First Bank said in a statement. IDFC FIRST Bank MD & CEO V Vaidyanathan has voluntarily offered to take a pay cut of 30 percent in his compensation including fixed compensation as well as all allowances, the bank said. The Bank has honoured all offers that were made to new hires before the pandemic, including all lateral hires as well as 550 management trainees, it added. This is in keeping with the bank's philosophy of honouring its commitments in all circumstances, it said. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The bank also paid 100 percent variable pay to 78.2 percent of employees for the period pertaining to 2019-20 despite the arrival of the pandemic, IDFC First Bank said. Further, the bank said that its staff have voluntarily contributed one day's salary totalling Rs 3.29 crore to the PM-CARES Fund. In addition, it contributed Rs 5 crore to the PM-CARES Fund as also MD and CEO Vaidyanathan personally contributed Rs 47 lakh towards COVID-19 relief work. In total, Rs 10.86 crore has been contributed towards the COVID-19 Relief related activities so far and a large number of these activities are centred in Maharashtra. Besides, the new age mid-sized lender has also launched a number of COVID-19 relief initiatives that involved its customers and employees. Ask-for-Mask, Gaon-Gaon Mask, Shramik-Sahayata Program, Share-a-meal, Jaankari mein Samajhdari, COVID Warrior-on-Wheels, and Give India Foundation programme are among the bank's COVID relief initiatives. Under these programmes, it has selected women customers and is paying them at commercial rates for producing 3.5 lakh masks. The first domestic flight, carrying 150 passengers, since the resumption of air travel after the nationwide lockdown restrictions, which were imposed on March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), landed at Ranchis Birsa Munda Airport at 7.35 am on Monday, airport officials said. The last flight took off from the airport on March 24, a day before the Centre suspended flight operations because of the nationwide lockdown restrictions. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage The first flight to Ranchi operated by Air Asia came from Bengaluru carrying 150 passengers. The same flight took off for Bengaluru at 8.50 am. On Monday, six flights are expected to operate from the airport, said Vinod Sharma, director, Birsa Munda Airport. Frequent fliers described Mondays flight as an unusual experience because of thermal screening and body temperature reading carried out by airport authorities to prevent the spread of the pandemic. It was a new experience. We maintained social distancing throughout the trip. The security check-up mechanism was also a departure from the past, said Ruchi Kumar, a Ranchi resident and a frequent flier. Incoming air passengers have been urged to stay under quarantine at home for the next 14 days, as per the guidelines issued by the Jharkhand government late Sunday evening. Those who are travelling to Jharkhand and planning to exit within 72 hours would be exempted from mandatory quarantine in the state, according to the state disaster management department. Also read: I was nervous: First flyers share experience as domestic air services resume All airlines operating from Birsa Munda Airport have been directed to share the list of incoming passengers with the state government. The passengers have been asked to arrange their own private vehicle or taxi for movement to their destination from the airport. The authorities have ensured touch-free entry, screening, scanning, and security checks at the airport. Web-cams have been installed, which read passengers boarding passes and their faces. Flyers with confirmed web check-in will be allowed to the airport terminal. Boarding pass will not be issued at the airport, said Sharma. The authorities have also made preparations for sanitising passengers luggage in an automatic mode. Passengers have been urged to follow guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation. Earlier, Rai Mahimapat Ray, deputy commissioner, Ranchi, and other senior officials visited the airport on Sunday to review the preparedness ahead of the resumption of domestic flights. The use of masks and hand gloves has been mandatory for all air passengers. They would have to compulsorily under thermal screening, Ray said. Besides, the passengers have to reach the airport two hours ahead of the scheduled departure of the flight. Theyve to maintain social distancing and santisation protocol. All fliers have been asked to install the Aarogya Setu application on their mobile phones. They can only bring two luggage for cabin and hand of a size specified by the airlines. Jharkhand has reported 370 Covid-19 positive cases, including 115 in the state capital Ranchi, so far. There has been an increase in the cases of the viral outbreak in Jharkhand because of the influx of stranded migrant workers from other states amid the easing of lockdown restrictions. The state government officials said that an estimated over 3.2 lakh migrant workers and students have returned to their native places so far. While over seven lakh have registered on the state government portal to return home. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has opposed the Centres move to resume domestic flight operations from Monday and the passenger train service from June 1. JMM general secretary-cum-spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said the Covid-19 crisis would deepen, as the Centre is planning to run over 26,000 Shramik Special trains to ferry over 3.6 million migrant workers across the country over the next 10 days. The states will be in deep trouble because of the influx of passengers by air and train, as many may have contracted SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Palestinian Authority says time for gradual return to normal as it announces reopening of shops and places of worship. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has announced an easing of coronavirus restrictions in the occupied West Bank following a steady drop in the number of new infections. Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on Monday shops and businesses will operate as normal from Tuesday, while government employees will return to work after the Eid al-Fitr holiday on Wednesday. Public transport will also resume and mosques, churches and public parks will reopen, though people will have to obey physical distancing measures. Shtayyeh said cafes and restaurants would be allowed to serve customers again but subject to restrictions to be announced in the coming days. The easing in the measures and gradual return to normal life is being taken with caution, Shtayyeh told reporters, warning that an increase in cases could lead to curbs being reinstated. The Ramallah-based PA declared a state of emergency in March to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. The health crisis has led to a 50 percent fall in commercial revenues in the West Bank, in a blow to an already ailing economy in which unemployment is at 17.6 percent, according to local officials. To date, there have been more than 400 confirmed cases in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with three deaths. In Gaza, which is administered by Hamas, the easing of measures began several weeks ago. By week two I was heartily sick of reading that Shakespeare wrote King Lear while in quarantine. His quill must have been worn down to its last scrappy feather, as he supposedly also used the time to come up with both Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra. His supposed burst of plague-avoiding creativity was referenced repeatedly in articles proclaiming lockdown the 'perfect time' to finally write the novel burning away inside you all these years. People went for it in droves: the Curtis Brown Creative's free writing programme alone received 3,500 sign-ups in just 24 hours. I have no issue at all with people using lockdown to try their hand at writing; constraints can help creativity, but a national lockdown is a very hefty constraint. Skip to week four, and I began to notice comments on social media (full disclosure - some tweets were mine) from writers bemoaning the situation: unable to work from home because home was also now a school and/or office, or simply unable to think clearly, permanently distracted by the disturbing sensation that a piano on a wire was dangling overhead. "Writers are experienced cocooners," says author Susan Stairs, yet even she has found discipline and concentration hard to come by recently. As she worked on her fourth novel, lockdown didn't make much difference to her daily routine, yet she felt the atmosphere had changed. "I'm finding it more difficult to translate the thoughts in my head into words on the screen. I know what I want to say but it seems harder than it previously was to find a way to say it," she says. Anne Griffin whose bestselling debut When All Is Said won Newcomer of the Year at the Irish Book Awards last year, had just begun a total rewrite of her second novel in February. She needs total silence to work. "When the schools were closed all the other occupants of my house, husband and son, teacher and student, brought home their voices and overloaded bags and deposited them in the kitchen and hallway and sitting room and bedroom, I cried inside. As much as I love them, this was going to be the hardest bit of writing I had ever done," she says. So, if those already familiar with the rhythm and process of writing were struggling, how were those new to it getting on? Author Neil Hegarty was scheduled to teach a three-week course on the art of biography in the Irish Writers Centre (IWC) from April 21. 'Writing Lives' went ahead on Zoom with seven participants, one of whom was in the US, which Hegarty says, "underscores the real value of such remote courses: it allows participation from anywhere in the world". Interestingly, at least one participant signed up "in order to direct this otherwise very difficult experience into useful and creative channels". The IWC's agility in moving online made all the difference, Hegarty believes. Hilary Copeland, its acting director, confirmed there has been a definite national and international increase the numbers signing up for courses. "Literature is one of Ireland's greatest cultural exports, so you can see why attending an online writing course with an Irish writer might have an appeal for students around the globe," he says. Finding regular work for artists and freelance practitioners is always challenging, so moving online also meant the IWC could continue to provide vital employment. So what next for anyone emerging from lockdown with a manuscript? Books usually take at least a year from signing the contract to arriving in stores, so agents and publishers are already considering what the new cultural shift might be. Submissions (the 'slush pile' of unsolicited manuscripts) to London-based Pew Literary are up 30-40pc on this time last year, and submissions manager Charlotte Van Wijk has already received her first Covid-themed novel. While the lockdown element gave the story a sense of urgency, it wasn't enough: "We're all living through these experiences, so we don't really need anyone to tell us what they're like, unless they can be particularly profound, funny or remarkable There will be plenty of authors and readers who would prefer to imagine an alternate world, where none of this ever happened," she says. Video of the Day Sallyanne Sweeney, a literary agent at Mulcahy Associates whose clients include Sarah Davis-Goff and Darach O Seaghdha, has also noticed a rise in submissions, and says that quality is more important than ever. She is interested in fiction that explores the positive things the lockdown has shown us, however indirectly; "the importance of family, connection, kindness to ourselves and others, the healing effects of nature, and how we can all take things a little slower". Writing and publishing can be a narrow-focused, trend-driven world, where fresh ideas can easily go unheard, and she finds it exciting that the lockdown might allow repressed writers to find their voice. With such a possibility in mind, Penguin's WriteNow programme has extended its deadline to May 31 and is open to applicants from the Republic for the first time. WriteNow nurtures and publishes under-represented authors, including those from minority groups, the LGBTQ community, writers who have a disability and those from a socioeconomically marginalised background. For everyone who took to writing recently, wouldn't it be amazing if the confines of lockdown succeeded in breaking barriers and opening up a whole new world of opportunity? Henrietta McKervey is the author of 'A Talented Man', published by Hachette, and out now Residents in Spain welcomed relaxed lockdown conditions on Monday, as much of the country moved to a new stage of the governments coronavirus deescalation plan. The regions of Madrid and Castilla y Leon as well as the metropolitan area of Barcelona entered Phase 1, which allows sidewalk cafes to reopen at 50% capacity and social gatherings of up to 10 people, while 14 of Spains 17 regions either partially or completely transitioned to Phase 2, which permits beaches and schools to reopen. Four generations of the same family come together in Alcala de Henares in the Madrid region. FERNANDO VILLAR (EFE) In the city of Barcelona, hundreds of sidewalk cafes received their first patrons since March 14, when the government declared a state of alarm in a bid to slow the coronavirus outbreak. In places such as La Rambla de Poblenou, residents rushed to the outdoor dining areas to order their first cup of coffee in months. However, according to the Barcelona Catering Guild, nearly 3,300 sidewalk cafes will remain closed, despite the eased restrictions, because it is not financially viable for them to open at half capacity. Beach bars, known in Spain as chiringuitos, also reopened in the Catalan capital. Residents in the Madrid region were also quick to take advantage of the relaxed lockdown conditions. Sidewalks cafes in the capitals Plaza de Mayor square welcomed customers early in the morning, while families took the opportunity to come together for the first time in months. Sidewalk cafes reopened in Plaza Mayor square in Madrid. JUAN MEDINA (REUTERS) Some people woke up at dawn to enjoy a run through Madrids famous El Retiro park. As birds chirped and the sun began to rise, Angel Serrano was the first person to make it through the gates. Smaller parks in the city were reopened on May 8, but 19 including Casa del Campo and Madrid Rio had remained off-limits until Monday. In an interview with radio station EsRadio, the mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, said that people would be able to go for a walk in these green spaces, but could not remain there or have a picnic. Security guards open El Retiro park on Monday. Luis De Vega Hernandez The head of Madrids environment department, Borja Carabante, was spotted in El Retiro at dawn, while 22-year-old aeronautical student Carlos welcomed the opportunity to take his dog Aika for a walk in the park. This is an escape from the daily stress of the city, said Carlos. Borja Cebamanos, 29, who was going for a run, agreed: El Retiro is a place in the city where you can disconnect, I do this by running. Carlos, with his dog Aika, by the lake in El Retiro on Monday. Luis De Vega Hernandez Although some restrictions have been eased, the timetables for exercise and walks remain in place, meaning adults can only enter the park during their allotted time slot 6am to 10am, and 8pm to 11pm, although the space closes at 9pm. By 6.30am, the park was filled with runners, cyclists, and people going for a walk. Some, however, were not so pleased by the publics return. Juan Francisco Cozar, 55, who has been working at the park for 15 years, said he was worried the relaxed conditions could lead to a new outbreak in coronavirus cases. It has been very calm, I have not been infected [with the coronavirus]. Lets see what happens now, he said. Lets see if they stop messing things up! On the Balearic island of Mallorca, which moved to Phase 2 on Monday, residents enjoyed a swim at the beach for the first time in months. Local authorities in the municipality of Calvia opened its beaches on Monday, but called for beach-goers to remain four meters apart. Bathers enjoy a swim under Phase 2 in Cala Contesa in Calvia. lucia bohorque Local authorities in the southern city of Cadiz, which also moved to Phase 2 today, opened beaches to the public on Monday with new measures to prevent coronavirus contagion already in place. At La Puntilla beach, for instance, two separate walkways have been installed to access the sand. Meanwhile, in the Basque Country schools began to welcome back some students. In San Sebastian, 132 students at one school returned to class on Monday. The return to school is voluntary, reports Mike Ormazabal. Other regions have taken a different approach to the return to school. In some regions, such as Aragon, students studying for their university entrance exams have been offered private tuition, while in Navarre, pupils at this level will return to school on June 1. Tables and chairs are set up on the basketball court of a school in Bilbao to maintain safe distances. Luis Tejido (EFE) English version by Melissa Kitson. Opinion Article 25 May 2020 The US higher education system is going through a crisis. It is tempting to say that the root of the problem lies with the increasingly high university fees, especially in the most prestigious universities, as suggested by the Financial Times [1]. Advertisements But are fee prices the real problem with education? Upon closer inspection, it's clear that pricing is not the main issue at hand, actually quite the opposite. In reality, the ultimate obstacle has to do with the pedagogical approach used in traditional universities, which is completely theoretical and not adapted to a large majority of students. This last assertion may seem counterintuitive, but it simply implies that problems related to education cannot be considered outside of the pedagogical arena. Vocational schools should not be free A case in point is the mayor of Chicago, Mr. Emmanuel, who decided to address this issue by reshaping the community college system. US community colleges are the equivalent of German vocational schools and aim at providing a more technical education with a higher level of involvement to industry than traditional universities. Mr. Emmanuel underlines that community colleges do not need to be free. Data actually show that when vocational schools are completely free, only one in four students reach the end of the course. As Professor Austan Goolsbee from Chicago's Booth School of Business explains, a price of zero increases demand without changing supply. A better policy for these schools should surely imply a price increase and an improvement in the infrastructure and in the quality of teaching. Another way to understand the problem is to think about the meaning of charging a price. A price reflects the willingness to pay, in other words, the value that the purchaser attaches to the product. At the same time, it reflects the cost of producing the item. A university fee of zero sends the signal that there is no cost in producing the service. Plus, it risks attracting all and sundry, including those who do not have a genuine, deep interest in receiving a specific type of education. Conversely, a positive price suggests that the cost of education is important and that only those who value it should have access to it. Of course, in such an environment, a strong sense of motivation, and not simply the ability to pay, should matter enormously. A meritocratic system should give preference to the best students with the right motivation to have access to education, no matter their financial means. Combining academic excellence and applied arts But, returning to the concept of quality. What do we mean by quality of education within the context of applied schools? In our opinion, quality of teaching is reflected in the ability to use several techniques, more or less applied, to communicate the same deep concepts that are taught in the more traditional universities. Quality for a vocational school means to allow its students to transit to more traditional institutions for their graduate studies. That's how we promote the combination of academic excellence and applied arts. Ecole hoteliere of Lausanne already is, and hopefully will become even more in the near future, a great applied example of this concept. At EHL, the applied experiences of our lecturers and clinical Professors are fusioned with the fully academic approach of our research Professors. Thanks to their practical experiences, our students can easily understand how to apply complex concepts to reality. This allows us to overcome the usual difficulties associated with abstract notions, without losing their deep meaning. As we know, in terms of fees, EHL places itself at the same level as the best US universities. Would it work better if the school were completely free? Probably not. In a world where information is not perfect and we cannot measure exactly the quality of education, the price becomes a sign of quality. Of course, signals must be supported by deep academic content, which is, after all, what really matters for a society that wants to achieve a structural and organic growth in the long run. [1] See Financial Times, US higher education crisis: lessons from the Chicago Schools March 17, 2019. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global Fire Resistant Fabrics Market is anticipated to reach USD 8.5 billion by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2018, the treated Fire Resistant Fabrics segment accounted for the highest market share in terms of revenue. Europe is expected to be the leading contributor to the global Fire Resistant Fabrics market revenue in 2018. The growing need to provide workplace safety has resulted in Fire Resistant Fabrics market growth. The advancements in technologies and introduction of stringent regulations regarding safety of workforce further lead to Fire Resistant Fabrics market growth. Increasing demand for fire resistant fabrics from public spaces such as theatre, school and auditoriums, along with growing use in firefighting uniforms, transport, and law enforcement services supplement the growth of Fire Resistant Fabrics market. Growing demand of Fire Resistant Fabrics from developing nations provide growth opportunities for the market. The increasing use of fire resistant fabrics in construction, oil and gas, and mining sectors among others are propelling the growth of global Fire Resistant Fabrics market. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/fire-resistant-fabrics-market/request-for-sample Europe generated the highest Fire Resistant Fabrics market share in terms of revenue in 2018. The adoption of fire resistant fabrics is expected to increase significantly in this region owing to increasing need to offer safety and security to the workforce. The increasing demand from the defense sector also drives the fire resistant fabrics market across various countries in the region. Market players in the European Fire Resistant Fabrics industry are introducing highly efficient and affordable fire resistant fabrics to cater to the growing consumer needs. Increasing safety concerns, growing military expenditure, and increasing use in the oil and gas and mining sectors are factors encouraging market players to launch efficient fire resistant fabrics across the globe. Leading global players are expanding their presence in developing nations of India, China, and Japan to tap the growth opportunities offered by these countries. They are also introducing new products in the market to cater to the growing consumer demands. For instance, in January 2015, Teijin Limited announced the launch of Teijinconex neo, which is a new type of meta-aramid fiber providing unsurpassed heat resistance along with excellent dyeability. This launch enabled the company to enhance its product offerings in the Fire Resistant Fabrics market and cater to the growing consumer demands. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/fire-resistant-fabrics-market The well-known companies profiled in the Fire Resistant Fabrics market report include Huntsman International LLC, PBI Fibers International, Teijin Limited, E. I. Dupont De Nemours and Company, Royal Tencate N.V., Gun Ei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Solvay S.A., Kaneka Corporation, Lenzing AG, and Newtex Industries, Inc. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers. Fire Resistant Fabrics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Type Inherent Fire Resistant Fabrics Treated Fire Resistant Fabrics Fire Resistant Fabrics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Application Apparel Non-Apparel Fire Resistant Fabrics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by End-User Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing and Construction Mining Oil and Gas Emergency Services Others Fire Resistant Fabrics Market Size and Forecast, 2018-2026 by Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/fire-resistant-fabrics-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com New Delhi, May 25 : After a mess worker at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) here, another staff member died from coronavirus on Monday. The deceased, Hiralal was working as senior sanitation supervisor and was posted at Rajkumari Amrit Kaur OPD in the AIIMS. A source from the hospital said that he was very alert while discharging his duty in the hospital. "He used to follow all norms of hygiene but despite that, the deadly virus entered his body and he lost the battle of life. He did not care about his life while serving people in the hospital. He was loved equally by all including nursing staff and doctors." The source also said: "Hiralal was very active in participating in social causes. He played a key role in establishing SC/ST Employees Welfare Association at the AIIMS." His body has been kept in the AIIMS Trauma centre mortuary and will be handed over to his family after due procedure. On May 22, a mess worker had also died from Covid-19 leading the Resident Doctors Association of the hospital charging the AIIMS administration of not following safety norms and demanding testing of all mess workers and residents after diligent contact tracing and compensation for the family of the deceased worker. A source had then told IANS that AIIMS is allegedly "not taking proper precautions for its residents and staff". "Two months ago, we had demanded regular screening and other safety measures like thermal scanners, sanitisers, masks etc. to ensure mess workers are able to work safely without endangering themselves as well as the staff members. But the administration didn't pay heed to our demands," the source said. The night vision devices market is expected to grow by USD 3.02 billion during 2020-2024. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact can be expected to be significant in the first quarter but gradually lessen in subsequent quarters with a limited impact on the full-year economic growth, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005106/en/ Technavio has announced the latest market research report titled Global Night Vision Devices Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Request challenges and opportunities that influence COVID-19 pandemic Request a free sample report of the night vision devices market Governments across terror-prone countries are continuously upgrading weapons and devices used in the military. This is increasing the demand for navigation, surveillance, and targeting devices to improve the capabilities of armed forces. Night vision devices such as scopes, goggles, and cameras are widely used in military applications to effectively target enemies. The growing applications of night vision devices in the military are encouraging vendors to introduce products with superior navigation and surveillance capabilities. Therefore, the increasing application of night vision devices in the military is expected to fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period. To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=I1335982020 As per Technavio, the increase in military expenditure will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024. Night Vision Devices Market: Increase in Military Expenditure Many governments across the world are increasing their expenditure on the military. For instance, in December 2019, the US government signed a defense bill of over USD 700 billion for the fiscal year 2020. Similarly, African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are increasing their spending on defense services. Such investments are increasing the adoption of devices such as airborne, marine, space guidance control, and electronic warfare in the defense sector. This will have a positive impact on the growth of the global night vision devices market. "Application of sensor fusion technology and the use of night vision devices in paranormal applications will further boost market growth during the forecast period", says a senior analyst at Technavio. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Night Vision Devices Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the night vision devices market by type (goggles, cameras, scopes, and others), application (military and civil), and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). The North America region led the night vision devices market in 2019, followed by APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, North America is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the increased adoption of advanced devices and equipment in the defense sector in the region. Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report Some of the key topics covered in the report include: Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005106/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ The Albuquerque Police Department reported an officer-involved shooting that occurred without injuries. Police say officers were called for a noise complaint regarding a television in Northeast Albuquerque late Sunday night. As officers were leaving, a black vehicle drove toward them and someone fired several shots toward the officers, according to APD. An unknown offender fired several shots toward officers. Officers fired multiple shots in response. The vehicle fled and was not located, the department wrote in a news release. A multi-agency group is investigating. The following Memorial Day remarks were made by Ambassador Fred J. Eckert, representing President Ronald Reagan, at Anzio Beach Battlefield in Nettuno, Italy, one of the great battlefield areas of World War II, on May 20, 1988, before an audience of U.S. military and civilian officials. We gather today to rememberand to reverethose who gave their lives defending America. To them, and to those who stood with them and by them, we owe our freedom. Memorial Day is a day to remember that freedom is not free. The long rows of graves here in the countryside near Anzio, so far from our homeland, like so many other graves around the world, like the wounds and scars so many have suffered, are reminders that others bore heavy burdens and paid painful prices to preserve our freedom. Scott Gauser of Brooklyn, N.Y., pays his respects to former Marine Nielsen Paul, who was his best friend, at Long Island National Cemetery on May 24, 2020 in Farmingdale, N.Y. (Al Bello/Getty Images) Memorial Day is a day to remember death. To remember pain. To remember suffering. To remember the agony of war. To hope and pray that Plato was wrong when he said that only the dead have seen the end of war. And to remember that there are things so precious as to be worth fighting and dying for. Memorial Day is a day to think of peace. We yearn for peace. Yearning is not enough. Peace, like freedom, has a price. The same price: courage. The courage to pay the price and bear the burden of keeping America strong enough to prevail against the evil that confronts us. There is no better way we can honor those who gave us freedom and those who fought to keep us free than to ensure that our heritage of freedom shall not perish. It is fashionable today in some narrow but often influential circles to search for excuses to ridicule those who serve in our military, to belittle their efforts to defend us against our adversaries, to portray our own country as the impediment to a better world and to profess belief in the incredibly absurd notion that there is a moral equivalency between we who are the defenders of freedom and those who have already enslaved millions and still seek to enslave us. Fashionablebut foolish. Dangerously foolish. There are thosesome well-intentioned, some not, some merely naive, some bent on appeasementwho foolishly, often arrogantly, claim monopoly on commitment to achieving peace. Disparaging defense, scorning the soldier, quick to criticize America and just as quick to apologize for our adversaries, they arrogate to themselves the label peace activists. They are wrong. Louise Lombardi of Baldwin, N.Y., visits the gravesite of her father Joseph Lombardi who was a World War II Veteran at Long Island National Cemetery on May 24, 2020, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (Al Bello/Getty Images) The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, said General Douglas MacArthur, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Think about that the next time you see some of these misguided self-proclaimed activists who cannot bear the thought of action in defense of freedom ridiculing our military. Remember that there are no finer activists for peace anywhere in the world than the men and women who serve in the military forces of the United States of America. Nor none more effective. Memorial Day is a day to remember that we remain the land of the free only because we have been the home of the brave. World War II Army Veteran Angelo Salerno points to the gravesite of his brother Peter Salerno who also served in World War II at Long Island National Cemetery on May 24, 2020 in Farmingdale, N.Y. (Al Bello/Getty Images) As we gaze across the long rows of graves and the hundreds of small American flags blowing gently in the breeze we think of the land we love and the freedom we cherish. And we remember those who preserved and protected America and freedom. If those Americans who stood guard and kept us free at Anzio and all the other battlefields throughout our history could ask a question of us it might well be that great question from our national anthem: Does that star spangled banner still wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave? Because of them, and because of those who stood with them and by them, it does. May it always. Fred J. Eckert is a former Member of Congress and twice served as a U.S. Ambassador under President Ronald Reagan who called him a good friend and valued advisor one of a kind a man of great experience and wisdom and declared, He has a quality that is all too rare in the political world, he has political courage; I know, for I have been a personal witness to that courage. 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days star Babygirl Lisa Hamme is dishing on Davids strange relationship with Ukrainian beauty Lana. Amid growing speculation that Lana is scamming David, Lisa claims that he paid Lana hundreds of thousands of dollars before they ever met. Heres an inside look at what Lisa thinks of Davids relationship with Lana, plus what he had to say about the situation. David and Lana of 90 Day Fiance | Instagram @davidjmurphey David and Lana finally meet On this weeks episode of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days, David and Lana finally spent some quality time together. Although they had only gone on two dates, David revealed that he is ready to take things to the next level. The only problem is that David was about to leave Ukraine and head back to Las Vegas. With no time to waste, David brought up getting engaged during their date. Lana and I are going to dinner. I want to do something more romantic because I only have a few days left in Ukraine, he said during the episode. I need to talk to Lana about getting engaged before I leave. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days Season 4 Tell-All: Everything We Know So Far David and Lanas relationship has been a big surprise for many fans. In previous episodes of Before the 90 Days, David flew to Ukraine but failed to meet up with Lana and was forced to return home. Some viewers began to wonder what was really going on between David and Lana. Luckily, his latest trip to Ukraine actually resulted in a face-to-face meeting with the elusive Lana, though doubts still remain about her feelings toward David. Lisa claims David dishes out hundreds of thousands of dollars to Lana During a recent interview on the Domenick Nati Show, Lisa dished on several topics related to the current season of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days. This includes sharing her thoughts on what is really going on between David and Lana. In the interview, Lisa claims that David paid hundreds of thousands of dollars just to speak with Lana, whom he met online. She also suspected that Lana was not a real person and was shocked when she finally appeared on 90 Day Fiance. I really thought okay theres not gonna be a Lana so when she showed up I was like wow she is real. I mean, I was shocked myself. Im like okay Im waiting for the theres no woman and here she is, Lisa shared. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Geoffrey Paschel Weighs In On Lisa and Usman I Question If Hes Totally Into It She went on to say that she cannot wait to see how things work out between David and Lana, especially considering how they have been talking to each other for years. She then noted that David has spent a lot of money on Lana and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for his communication. It is important to note that Lisa has not met David or Lana and is going by what she has watched unfold this season. She admitted that the show likes to exaggerate storylines and that she isnt sure how much David actually paid. David opens up about his storyline on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days After his failed attempts to meet Lana in person, 90 Day Fiance fans were convinced that Lana wasnt real and that someone was scamming David out of his money. After all, he had dished out thousands of dollars and failed to meet Lana when he flew out to Ukraine. Fans expressed their doubts about Lana on social media, which prompted a response from David. One viewer told him that it has been painful to watch his storyline this season and added that he seems lonely and desperate. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days Season 4 Tell All: Things Got Even More Awkward Between Stephanie Matto and Erika Owens In response, David blamed everything on the editing and assured fans that the show is trying to make him look a certain way. I dont control editing, he stated. Nope nope nope. I am still going to say editing. There is no telling where Davids story will go next, but fans can watch it unfold when new episodes of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days air Sunday nights on TLC. Iran's First Tanker Reaches Venezuelan Waters FARS News Agency Sun May 24, 2020 2:38 TEHRAN (FNA)- The first of five Iranian oil tankers has entered the Venezuelan territorial waters to show Iran's determination to carry out exports of goods and oil to everywhere in the world regardless of US threats. According to the online tracking data, the Iranian-flagged tanker, named Fortune, arrived in the Venezuelan exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Saturday evening. Based on media reports, upon entering the Venezuelan waters, the ship was closely followed by a US cargo ship, the Adam Joseph. Four other tankers - the Clavel, the Forest, the Faxon and the Petunia follow the Iranian tanker 'Fortune' all en route to Venezuela's shores. The tankers are carrying a total of 1.53 million barrels of gasoline to Venezuela, according to both governments, sources and calculations by TankerTrackers.com. The hashtag #GraciasIran [Thank you, Iran] has been tweeted to mark the arrival of Iran's tankers, with netizens hailing the cooperation between Tehran and Caracas in defiance of the US fuss to block the flow of oil from Iran to Venezuela. Iranian embassy in the country announced that the tanker has successfully reached the coast of the country. "The first Iranian tanker reached the Venezuelan coasts. Grateful to the Bolivarian Armed Forces for escorting it", the embassy said in its Twitter account. Although Venezuela owns the largest proven oil reserves in the world, it has been trying to cover its domestic supply needs, with its energy industry hit by cruel US sanctions. Earlier on Friday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his country is always entitled to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and warned that if his country's oil tankers in the Caribbean or anywhere in the world get into trouble by the Americans, Tehran will definitely retaliate. "Although some of the US measures have created unacceptable conditions in different parts of the world, we will not be the initiator of tension and clash," Rouhani said in a phone call with the Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Referring to the American moves in the Caribbean, he reiterated, "If our oil tankers face problems in the Caribbean Sea or anywhere in the world by the Americans, they will face problems reciprocally." We see the conditions today more apt for cooperation, especially given the outbreak of this disease; but the US continues its incorrect decisions and inhumane behaviors, the president noted. He made it clear, "As before, we stress that the security of our region, particularly the marine security, is maintained by the regional countries and we have always announced that we are ready for cooperation with the neighboring countries." The Qatari Emir, for his part, underlined that the regional security should be maintained by the countries in the region and they should cooperate with each other to secure waterways in the region. Hamad Al Thani also added that his country will try to deescalate tension. Also, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri on Friday warned Washington of the dire repercussions of any hostile move against Iran's interests, vowing that Tehran would not hesitate to strike back in case it is targeted by the US. Bagheri noted Iran's right to free shipment in the high seas, and stressed that the armed forces are constantly monitoring every small move of the enemies, including the adventurous, terrorist and antihuman American army in the region and faraway lands. "We stand firm and decided to give the US an appropriate response for any miscalculation against the national interests of Iran," the top commander stressed, in a stern warning to the US to avoid any hostile move aganst five Iranian tankers carrying fuel to Venezuela. Venezuela's defense minister said Wednesday that planes and ships from the nation's armed forces will escort Iranian tankers arriving with fuel to the gasoline-starved country to prevent any US aggression. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said Venezuela's navy and air force will welcome the five Iranian tankers, seeing them through the nation's maritime territory and into port. He compared the fuel tankers to humanitarian aid that China and Russia have sent to help Venezuela combat the new coronavirus pandemic. Meantime, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami warned the US against any hostile move or trouble-making for the country's oil tankers in international waters. "Troubling the oil tankers is a violation of international laws and security. Both international organizations and countries which are sensitive to the laws and waterways' security should certainly show reaction to such an act," General Hatami told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday. He described any possible US trouble-making for the Iranian tankers in the free waters as "piracy". "Of course, our policy is fully clear and we have clearly announced that we will not tolerate any disturbance. The Americans and others know that we certainly do not hesitate to react to any such move and if the disturbances increase and continue, they will certainly face a firm response," General Hatami said. Reuters had quoted a senior official in President Donald Trump's administration as saying last Thursday that the United States is considering measures it could take in response to Iran's shipment of fuel to Venezuela. "...we're looking at measures that can be taken," the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity. Informed sources told Nour News website, close to Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), that the US has sent four of its combat warships along with Boeing P-8 Poseidon fighters to the Caribbean. In response to the US threats, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to caution over likely US menace against Iranian oil tankers in the Caribbean, stressing that America would be responsible for ensuing consequences. Zarif described the US' provocative threats as piracy and a big threat to world peace and security, stressing that the US must stop bullying in the world and respect the rule of the international law, especially freedom of shipping in high seas. Calling the US government responsible for the repercussions of any illegal move, the top diplomat underlined Iran's right to take necessary measures to counter these threats. Furthermore, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi summoned the Swiss ambassador, representing US interests in Tehran, to express the country's intensive protest at US provocations. Araqchi called on the Swiss envoy to convey Iran's serious warning to the US officials against any likely threat posed by the US to Iran's oil tankers. He noted that Iran and Venezuela enjoy "completely legitimate and legal commercial ties," adding that the US resorting to bullying measures will be considered as a menace to "free shipping, international trade and the free flow of energy." Such measures, the Iranian diplomat said, are flagrant examples of piracy and explicit violation of international laws and, as such, defy the goals and principles explicated in the UN Charter. He also warned that any threat against the Iranian ships will ensue Iran's prompt and categorical reaction, and the US administration will be responsible for their consequences. The Swiss envoy, for his part, said he will instantly convey Iran's message to the US administration and inform the Iranian government of the results as soon as possible. Also, the Iranian foreign ministry warned on Monday that any hostile act by Washington against the country's oil tankers in the international waters will face a crushing response. "What the Americans have said about our oil tankers is illegal and if they make a move, they will face Iran's reaction," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi told reporters via a video conference. He noted that Iran has given the necessary advice to the Americans via the Swiss embassy, which represents the US interests in Tehran, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has also written a letter to the UN chief in this regard, expressing the hope that Washington does not make any "stupid" move. "Free trade among independent states is a legitimate issue. The US in Trump era is disturbing the global order and is after global anarchism," Mousavi said. Also on Monday, Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabiyee confirmed his country's exports of gasoline to Venezuela, warning against any US hostile act against Iran's tankers in the international waters. "Iran has sent the gasoline tankers at the demand of Venezuelan government. No state is duty-bound to implement the US-desired sanctions," Rabiyee told reporters in Tehran. He called on the international society to show reaction to the US illegal warnings about its imminent action against the Iranian oil tankers in the international waters, and said, "The US has a record of piracy." "It is still soon to speak about the reactions, but we consider all options and hope that the Americans will not make any mistake," Rabiyee said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In this picture taken on May 9, 2020, a family watches a Turkish drama series "Dirilis: Ertugrul" Dubbed the Muslim "Game of Thrones", a drama about the makings of the Ottoman Empire has sent Pakistan wild this Ramadan, smashing television records but exposing the country's lack of original content. The Turkish-made series has earned praise for its focus on historical figures from the Muslim world who have been framed as role models for Pakistani youths, and the Urdu-language version of the show has racked up more than 240 million views on YouTube alone. "I prefer to watch it with kids, so they can have real-life superheroes instead of fictional ones," said Hassam Mustafa as he settled down at his Islamabad home to watch the series with his nieces and nephews after breaking his fast. Resurrection: Ertugrul has gripped audiences with its daring protagonist, cliffhangers and high production values since it began broadcasting on the first day of the Islamic holy month, which is due to end Sunday or Monday. Usually state broadcaster PTV fills its Ramadan programming with live charity fundraisers, quiz shows and religious content. But with the virus stifling television studios, Prime Minister Imran Khan issued special instructions to the broadcaster to air the series in a bid to boost Islamic culture and values among young people. "Over here, we go to Hollywood then Bollywood and back again -- third-hand culture gets promoted this way," Khan told a group of YouTubers recently, referring to the influence of foreign shows. The five-season series tells the story of Ertugrul, the father of Osman I who founded the Ottoman Empire, which ruled parts of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa for more than 600 years. "The response has been incredible, it's really great to see how the show is resonating with Urdu speakers around the world," said Riyaad Minty, digital director of TRT, which produced the series. PTV said viewership has been unprecedented, with the drama fetching ratings five times higher than average. Story continues - 'Cheap re-run' - Featuring heartthrob heroes, westernised heroines and picturesque scenery, dozens of Turkish soap operas have made it onto Pakistani television channels since 2012. But a dependence on imported content is a source of frustration for some Pakistani artists, producers and directors who bemoan prime-time slots being given to a foreign show. PTV once used to produce the subcontinent's best soap operas but has suffered in the face of rising competition from private channels. "It is a good opportunity for PTV management to look at themselves, shake their conscience and wonder how they are unable to produce a prime-time drama," Aehsun Talish, a Pakistani drama producer, told AFP. The channel has profited from advertising breaks during the broadcasts but experts warn it is on shaky ground. "It's a cheap re-run, a temporary filling. If we truly want PTV's revival we will have to bank on local talent," Samina Ahmad, a veteran television actress, told AFP. - Turkish soft power - Turkish television has become a major vehicle of soft power, with viewers in the Muslim world becoming voracious consumers of the country's soaps. Resurrection: Ertugrul is another strategic asset for Turkey, said South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman from the Wilson Center think tank. "There's strong backing among many in Pakistan for pan-Muslim solidarity, which translates in many cases to support for strong Muslim leaders from Malaysia to Turkey and many places in between," he said. Turkey has backed Pakistan on the international stage, particularly in the dispute with New Delhi over Kashmir, and the two nations have enjoyed strong relations. Egypt, however, fearing Turkey holds a desire to revive the Ottoman Empire and rule the Arab Muslim world, quickly issued an Islamic legal ruling against the hit show. Saudi Arabia stopped its state broadcaster from airing all Turkish soap operas in 2018. But Pakistan is set for more Turkish dramas, with the prime minister already lining up another show for screening. At Mustafa's home, his nieces and nephews follow the Turk leader's sword battles with excitement in Resurrection: Ertugrul. "This historical Turkish drama has provided us with a nice escape from stereotypical Pakistani dramas, which always centre on the affairs of 'saas-bahu'," he said, referring to relationships between controlling mothers and their daughters-in-law. The J&K government on Wednesday refuted as "fake news" reports on social media that said 4G Internet services were being restored in the Jammu division from this night. (File Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Jammu, May 25 : With a testing rate of over 10,000 per million, Jammu & Kashmir is now leading all states in the country in testing. Rohit Kansal, J&K government spokesman told a press conference on Monday that J&K is testing 10,000 people per million thereby becoming number one in the country. "The testing capacity in the UT has gone up from just about 100 tests per day in March to 8,000 tests per day today. In the last one month alone it has gone up from 1,800 tests per day to 8,100 per day - an increase of 350 per cent." "Aggressive and sustained testing is the only effective weapon against the disease and the administration shall continue to pursue it effectively. J&K was probably one of the first states or UTs to take note of the emerging situation and initiate action and many of our interventions have not only been been fast but effective too. "It may be recalled that the total number of COVID 19 cases in J&K is 1,668, out of which 1,374 are from Kashmir division and 294 are from Jammu division. The number of active cases are 836 of which 620 are in Kashmir Division and 216 are in Jammu division. "As many as 809 recoveries which include young children and 23 unfortunate deaths have also been reported. A total of over 1.34 lakh persons have been enlisted for surveillance out of which over 72,000 have completed mandatory period of surveillance. 47 new Covid positive cases have been reported today, out of which 33 cases are from Jammu division and 14 cases are from Kashmir". Kansal pointed out that while J&K had been able to achieve a low growth rate and a doubling rate of over 3 weeks, this should not become a cause of complacency. Reminding that effective lockdown, strong containment policy, aggressive testing and cooperation by the people of J&K has played a key role in containment of COVID-19, the spokesperson said that there is no room for any laxity. "What we now need is to understand that there are enough worrying factors in the situation. 15 deaths have been reported in last month alone. There is at least one district which has more than 200 active cases and at least one district with more than 150 active cases. There are at least 2 districts where the number of active cases per million are higher than 150. At least half of the districts have a doubling rate of less than 14 days. "At least 2 districts have seen a considerable increase in cases even when there are no returnees. In fact, there are many areas where the positivity rate of cases is much higher for local population than for returnees", he said and added that a number of local, indigenous cases for which contact chains are not yet fully clear have also been reported which is a cause of concern. He said that over 90,000 stranded persons have already returned to J&K in the last 4 weeks alone, they include 66,024 persons by road, 25,400 by 30 Shramik special and COVID special Rajdhani trains and 652 persons by air. "J&K is the one state/UT which has smoothly completed more than 85 per cent of its evacuation process. The government has consciously adopted a policy of testing 100 per cent of all returnees." "All the returnees are being tested, and as a result of the strategy the administration has been successful in tracing 481 positive cases so far. "By testing people at the entry point we are ensuring that positive cases are traced and isolated at the entry point itself, thereby avoiding any infections getting into the community", he added. Emphasizing on the importance of economy and livelihoods, Kansal said that the UT government has issued SoPs for the reopening of markets, industry and trade. Similarly SOPs have been issued for returnees and passengers. "But as responsible citizens we need to realize that any complacency or letting down of the guard can cost us very dearly. In red zones and containment zones, there is a need to be vigilant otherwise all the efforts of the last 2 months will be wasted," he cautioned. The spokesperson appealed to people to stay at home and go out of their homes only if it is absolutely necessary and follow the advisories, wear a mask, and practice social distancing. "Remember, the virus is alive, it is active and it has given no relaxation. So, our self restraint and discipline must continue", he warned. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) By Nuzulack Dausen DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Barrick's Tanzania subsidiary Twiga Minerals has resumed exports of gold concentrate after receiving clearance for its first shipments since the lifting of a government ban imposed during a tax dispute with the mining company. The dispute originally involved Acacia Mining, which was taken over by Barrick last year. The Tanzanian government imposed a ban on exporting mineral concentrates in 2017 after accusing Acacia of tax evasion. Tanzania said it would lift the ban on Jan. 24 when the two parties signed a deal in which the government took a 16% stake in Twiga Minerals - a new joint venture managing Barrick's three gold mines. "In terms of its framework agreement with the government, the shipping of some 1,600 containers of concentrate stockpiled from Bulyanhulu and Buzwagi resumed in April and the first $100 million received from the sale has gone to the government," Barrick said in a statement on Monday. "This initial payment will be followed by five annual payments of $40 million each." The deal to end the dispute included a settlement of $300 million to be paid by Barrick to the government. Earlier on Monday Simon Msanjila, permanent secretary at Tanzania's ministry of minerals, told Reuters that Twiga has been allowed to export the gold. Barrick CEO Mark Bristow told Reuters on Jan. 27 that the gold to be exported was worth between $260 million and $280 million. The more than three-month wait to export the containers has played in Barrick's favour, given that the price of gold has climbed by about 9% since the end of January, with investors buying the precious metal as a safe-haven asset as the coronavirus pandemic spread. Barrick also said that 90% of outstanding land claims at its North Mara mine have been settled, with payment scheduled to start on Monday. The North Mara mine has been hit by disputes pitting the community against the mining company. (Reporting by Nuzulack Dausen in Dar es Salaam; Writing by Helen Reid in Johannesburg; Editing by Mark Potter, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and David Goodman) By Feng Jiawei US President Donald Trump stated on May 21 that the US would withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies, which has drawn criticisms from multiple parties, including warnings from its European allies. Wang Xiaowei, a researcher at the Center for European Studies of China University of Political Science and Law, said that the US has multiple intentions behind such a move during an interview. Gain the upper hand in the US-Russia confrontation The withdrawal of the US can further highlight its status as the sole superpower. As the only superpower in the world, the annual military expenditures of the US ($732 billion in 2019) are very high. Once it withdraws from the treaty, it means that it will no longer be supervised by the terms of the treaty. Instead, it can develop its military or carry out military deployment without any restrictions. While saying the US will withdraw from the treaty, Trump also proposed that it will not pull out unless Russia abides by this treaty. He said that Russia and the US did not rule out the possibility of a new agreement. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded that the US did not intend to discuss with Russia on the Treaty on Open Skies. Wang pointed out that since Russias military expenditure is much lower than that of the US, once it is not restricted by the treaty, the US military deployment will be easier to change than that of Russia, thus allowing the US to occupy a favorable position in the US-Russian military confrontation. In addition, the USs withdrawal at this time can force Russia to make concessions. The US has repeatedly asked Russia to lift the flight restrictions on its exclave Kaliningrad because the US wants to investigate the military deployment in Kaliningrad more clearly. Kaliningrad is located among NATO countries, and Russia is very sensitive to such a request. Therefore, the US threatens to withdraw from the treaty, and may consider this request as a condition if returning to the treaty. Increase the chips for collection of protection fee from allies After Trumps announcement of the withdrawal, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned that the withdrawal of the US would make the scope of the treaty significantly narrower and that Germany would work closely with like-minded companions in the next six months to persuade the US not to withdraw from the treaty. In addition to Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, and the Czech Republic issued a joint statement on May 22, expressing regret over the US withdrawal and urging Russia to start a dialogue with member states as soon as possible. If the US withdraws from the treaty, it will inevitably reduce the trust of the contracted European countries in security interests and even cause mutual suspicion. In this case, the US is more likely to highlight its military protection status, and can collect higher protection fees from its allies, said Wang. Divert domestic contradictions As of 10 a.m. on May 24, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the US exceeded 1.66 million, and the cumulative deaths were close to 100,000. Trumps weak response to the pandemic has been criticized by the public and has had a great negative impact on his re-election campaign. Wang analyzed that at present, the battles between the factions in the US presidential election have become increasingly fierce. Trumps concept of America first has made the US governments actions more and more extreme. Withdrawing from the Treaty on Open Skies is only one of these reactions. Although the withdrawal has greatly affected the prestige of the US among allies, it has created a relatively tense atmosphere conducive to Trumps escape from the passive situation of re-election and weak response to the pandemic. Disclaimer: This article is originally published on bjrb.bjd.com.cn and translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Additional reporting by Conall O Fatharta Three men have been charged with the murder of an Irish teenager in Australia over the weekend as tributes poured in for him. Cian English, 19, originally from Carlow Town but who was living with his family in the middle-class area of Hawthorne in Brisbane's eastern suburbs, suffered traumatic injuries when he fell from a balcony at the View Pacific resort in Surfers Paradise. Three men have been charged with his murder and two of armed robbery on the Gold Coast, 74km away from Brisbane. The trio charged with the murder had their cases mentioned in court for the first time on Monday. Jason Ryan Knowles, aged 22, Hayden Paul Kratzmann, aged 20, and Lachlan Paul Soper-Lagas, aged 18, were not required to appear in court. Lachlan Soper-Lagas's charges one count of murder, two counts of armed robbery and two of deprivation of liberty were briefly mentioned at Beenleigh Magistrates Court yesterday. His case will be mentioned again on Tuesday. Kratzmann and Knowles's cases were briefly mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court, where they were adjourned for a committal call over in Southport Magistrates Court on August 4. Authorities allege that suspects, from left, Lachlan Soper-Lagas, Jason Knowles, and Hayden Kratzman were attempting to rob Cian English and his friend of a phone when the Irishman tried to escape over the balcony. Police allege that Mr English was trying to escape being robbed by the three men at knifepoint, for his clothes and footwear, when he fell to his death. He had been in the Gold Coast with a friend who was also assaulted. Gold Coast police were called to an apartment complex in Surfers Paradise at around 3.15am on Saturday where Mr Englishs body was found at the base of the building. It was initially thought the young man had died in a tragic fall but later it emerged that he fell trying to escape the men who had been staying in a unit above his room. It is understood that a video of the beating the young man received is being circulated on social media platform Snapchat. The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Senior Operations Supervisor Neil Stead told the Sydney Morning Herald that what paramedics witnessed at the scene was so traumatic that those attempting to save Mr English's life have undergone welfare checks. The teenager moved to Brisbane around eight years ago with his parents. Siobhan Webster originally from the Tullow Road, Carlow Town and Vincent English from Mortarstown, Kilkenny road also in Carlow and older brother Dylan. The young mans late grandfather John English, who was originally from Wexford, and was well-known for his hurling prowess, worked in various departments in the local authority. Cians father Vincent worked as an accountant for several years before the family moved to the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. He worked for Digicel for several years and is now CEO and Executive Director of Megaport - a telecommunications company. Prior to Digicel, Vincent worked in the manufacturing industry for Alcoa and Gillette in financial operations roles. Cians Mum Siobhan works at Brisbane Childrens Hospital and brother Dylan also works at Megaport. Carlow Town Hurling Club paid tribute to teenager and expressed its "sincere and heartfelt sympathy to the English and Webster families on the tragic passing of their beloved Cian". May his gentle soul rest in peace. A local politician, who did not wish to be named said: Both the Webster and English families are the nicest people and absolutely the salt of the earth. The whole town is devastated for them and I know obviously that the families are heartbroken. Sources within the Irish support community in Brisbane, have indicated that the family has not made contact with Irish Embassy representatives there. A spokesman, for one of the support groups said: There is a huge police investigation taking place here at the moment. For a 19-year-old to die at such a young age and in this manner is just horrific. The Department of Foreign Affairs have said they are aware of the case and stand ready to provide assistance if required to do so. Ignoring the rapidly increasing number of coronavirus cases and deaths across South Asia, the regions governments have begun easing lockdown restrictions in a bid to reopen the economy. Collectively, the total number of government-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region to date stands at 229,000more than 3.5 times the number on May 1. Official fatalities, as of yesterday, stood at 5,290. Alarming as are these figures, they are a vast underestimate of the true extent of the pandemic. The absence of health care infrastructure across the region means that huge numbers of cases are going undetected, and many are dying due to a lack of basic medical care. One indication of the desperate state of health care infrastructure is the disastrously low levels of testing for COVID-19. India has carried out just 2,135 tests per 1 million residents, compared to 2,149 in Pakistan, 1,481 in Bangladesh, 44,200 in the United States, and 59,300 in Russia. All of the regions governments have failed miserably in providing assistance to the hundreds of millions of impoverished workers and toilers who have lost their jobs and incomes as the result of government anti-COVID-19 lockdowns. Their harrowing plight has been illustrated most graphically in India, where millions of migrant workers who had been left to fend for themselves walked home or attempted to walk home, until they were herded into cramped, makeshift internal refugee camps. People wearing protective gear, perform the last rituals as they cremate the body of a patient who died of COVID-19 in Jammu, India, Thursday, May 14, 2020. (Image Credit: AP Photo/Channi Anand) Now, the same governments that callously abandoned them are cynically exploiting the masses financial destitution and social distress to justify forcing them to return to work under unsafe conditions that will accelerate the spread of the virus in the weeks and months ahead. The social misery confronting the vast majority of the population underscores the incapacity of all factions of South Asias reactionary and corrupt bourgeoisie to overcome the legacy of colonialism and imperialist oppression. With 1.93 billion inhabitants, almost one-fourth of the worlds population, South Asia is the most densely populated region in the world. This, along with widespread poverty and ramshackle public health systems, makes the region especially vulnerable to pandemics like COVID-19. Ominously, the coronavirus appears to have become entrenched in the slums of some of the regions biggest cities, including Delhi and Mumbai in India, Karachi in Pakistan and Dhaka in Bangladesh. India With over 125,100 COVID-19 cases and more than 3,700 deaths, India accounts for more than half of the official cases and deaths in the region. The Narendra Modi-led, Hindu chauvinist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government facilitated the spread of the disease with its calamitous lockdown introduced with just a few hours notice on March 25. The measures were enforced with no financial assistance for the hundreds of millions employed in the so-called informal sector. As millions of migrant workers sought to return from large urban centres to their home villages, they carried the coronavirus with them. Then, on May 3, Modi responded to the demands of big business by relaxing some of the restrictions in green zones, areas of the country where infections remained low. This has helped fuel the further spread of the virus, with the daily increase in cases currently ranging between 5 and 7 percent. Maharashtrawhere Indias second-largest city, Mumbai, is home to almost 20 million peoplehas emerged as an epicentre of the pandemic with 47,000 cases and 1,577 deaths as of May 23. The surge of cases has already overwhelmed the states health care system, forcing authorities in Mumbai to ask COVID-19 patients to go on a waiting list to get a hospital bed. In an order issued Saturday, the Gujarat High Court described conditions at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat, as pathetic and as good as a dungeon, maybe even worse. The facility, referred to as Asias largest hospital, had recorded 377 coronavirus deaths by Friday. The opening of large factories is accelerating the spread of the virus. At Maruti Suzukis Manesar assembly plant in Haryana on the outskirts of Delhi, one worker tested positive after the first week of operations, and a second potential case was being investigated Saturday. At Hyundais assembly plant in Chennai, which reopened May 8, three workers have tested positive. The Modi government has accompanied the reopening of the economy with the unveiling of a new series of pro-investor reforms, including an accelerated privatization drive and changes to labour and land laws long demanded by domestic and international capital. The reforms are aimed at intensifying the exploitation of the working class, so India can grab a larger share of global investment, including by attracting US-based companies, under pressure from Washington to develop alternate production chain hubs to China. Last week, the Modi government also amended its guidelines on the COVID-19 lockdown measures by allowing domestic air travel in a calibrated manner from today. Pakistan Despite a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan last week lifted the half-hearted lockdown measures his government had implemented. The lifting of the lockdown was all the more irresponsible given that it came on the eve of the Islamic festive period at the end of Ramadan, when families and groups usually gather to celebrate. COVID-19 deaths passed 1,100 on Saturday with over 52,000 confirmed cases. The Khan government ignored the warnings of medical experts and allowed religious gatherings at mosques to continue during Ramadan. According to Waseem Khawaja, a senior doctor in a main Islamabad hospital treating coronavirus patients who spoke to the Washington Post, there was a sharp increase of cases since Ramadan. At the same time, millions of workers and toilers are scrambling to find work and put bread on the table, after being pushed to economic desperation during the lockdown. Workers protesting these appalling conditions face ruthless state violence. The National Trade Union Federation of Pakistan reported that one worker was injured after police officers and factory guards in Karachi opened fire on workers demanding unpaid wages from the Denim Clothing Mills, which supplies international clothing brands. The protest was also called to oppose the sacking of colleagues by management. The main concern of Pakistans ruling class is that the economic fallout caused by the pandemic may affect their investments and wealth. Khan recommitted his government to savage economic reforms dictated by the International Monetary Fund at the beginning of the pandemic, when Islamabad sought and received a $1.4 billion emergency loan to supplement its $6 billion IMF bailout finalized in 2019. A judgment issued last week by the countrys Supreme Court underlined that the ruling elite is concerned more with staying in the good graces of the IMF and global investors than protecting the health and well-being of its citizens. It warned the government not to interfere with business activities of private entrepreneurs, who would move their investments to other countries if they lost faith in the system. The ruling also questioned why so much money is being spent on combating COVID-19 when Pakistan is not seriously affected. Bangladesh The lifting of lockdown measures on May 10 has accelerated the spread of the virus in Bangladesh. Shopping malls and markets were allowed to open and private transport was allowed to operate. Factories opened even earlier, from April 26. By Saturday morning, total infections passed 32,000, with 450 deaths. In a country with a population of 160 million, the authorities are barely managing to conduct 10,000 tests per day. Patients are also reportedly being turned away from medical facilities due to a lack of equipment. The virus is taking a heavy toll on the working class, especially in the garment sector which has been in the forefront of the governments back-to-work drive. At least ten garment workers and one manager have died after showing coronavirus symptoms. The ruling elites criminal disregard for workers lives is due to the fact that the garment industry accounts for some 84 percent of Bangladeshs $40 billion in annual exports. The industry is in ruthless competition with other low-wage locations, including China, Cambodia and Vietnam. Last Wednesday, baton-wielding police clashed with workers protesting over unpaid wages at 50 factories in Ashulia, Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram. The social and health crisis triggered by the coronavirus was aggravated still further by super cyclone Amphan hitting coastal areas of the country on Wednesday night, killing 16. The authorities had to evacuate 2.4 million people to more than 15,000 storm shelters before the cyclone hit without any precautions against the spread of the virus. One of the worlds largest refugee camps, which hosts 1 million Rohingya refugees, has registered three COVID-19 infections. Afghanistan The war-torn country, which has suffered under two decades of direct US imperialist occupation and neocolonial rule, has virtually no health and social infrastructure for its 32 million inhabitants. As of Sunday, there were 9,998 officially recorded infections and 216 deaths. One third of the cases in the country have been reported in the capital, Kabul, which has been under a lockdown of varying intensity since March 8. Like all other countries in the region, the COVID-19 restriction measures have exacerbated unemployment and poverty levels. Despite lockdown, many people have returned to the streetsthis time to beg, reported Al Jazeera on May 8. Sri Lanka Sri Lankan authorities have downplayed the threat of the pandemic and infection figures so as to reopen business activities during May. With total confirmed cases standing at 1089, Sri Lanka will lift its curfew on Tuesday except for six hours during the night. Despite the false claims by the government that it has handled the pandemic exceptionally well, Sri Lanka has averaged less than 600 coronavirus tests per day since February 18. Health workers are not receiving adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). President Gotabhaya Rajapakse is using the pandemic to take definite steps towards autocratic rule. The military has been mobilized in Colombo under the pretext of enforcing social distancing. The government has also seized on the pandemic to move towards far-reaching, regressive labor reforms with the support of the pro-capitalist trade unions. The public health system is crumbling following a decade-long austerity drive and nearly thirty years of civil war. Epidemiologists warn that the crisis could be complicated still further by possible outbreaks of dengue fever and leptospirosis with the start of southeastern monsoon. Nepal Although official figures indicate that there are only 548 confirmed cases in Nepal with three deaths by Saturday evening, this is a gross underestimation. Nepals extremely limited health care system is in no condition to deal with the pandemic. Workers in the informal sector and the poor in the rural areas are facing a calamity at present because of a government-imposed lockdown. There are thousands of migrant workers stranded at the India-Nepal border in appalling conditions desperately trying to enter the country. In addition, hundreds of thousands of highly-exploited Nepalese migrant workers are confined in terrible conditions in the Middle East. To divert the mass anger over poverty and unemployment and their aggravation by the lockdown into reactionary channels, the Kathmandu government is whipping up Nepalese nationalism, reviving a border dispute with India. Seizing on New Delhis recent opening of a road in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, through land claimed by Nepal, to the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, Prime Minister Sharma Oli vowed before Parliament last week that his government will get the disputed areas back. Maldives There are 1,274 confirmed cases and four deaths in the Indian Ocean archipelago, which has a population of around 450,000. The collapse of tourism, which is the main source of its foreign exchange earnings, has plunged the countrys economy into deep crisis. Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation CEO Evan Siddalls recent address to the Standing Committee on Finance contained a plethora of negative projections, from housing prices falling by 18 percent to one-fifth of all Canadian mortgages being in arrears by September. But it was his comments around the advantages of making 10 percent down payments and CMHCs attempts to limit demand that have the industry wondering if an increase in the minimum down payment requirement may be in the cards. As Siddall made his case for the approaching deferral cliff, a scenario where unemployed homeowners who have deferred their mortgage payments are asked to start making them again despite not returning to work, he shared with parliamentarians two key pieces of data that associate five percent down payments with increased risk. The first, a chart that tracks the percentage of loans in deferral by their loan-to-value ratios, showed that 69 percent of the mortgages currently in deferral fall into the 90-95 percent LTV category. The implication seems to be that if there were fewer borrowers putting down five percent, the deferral cliff Siddall described might be less towering. A herd of elephants in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. Credit: World Wide Fund for Nature Today, as we celebrate International Day of Biodiversity, the global community is called to re-examine our relationship to the natural world. We celebrate this day in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that is severely impacting people and organizations around the world, and highlighting the fragility of so much of what we hold dear. We stand in solidarity with all those who are suffering at the hands of this global crisis. Today's theme, "Our solutions are in nature," emphasizes "hope, solidarity and the importance of working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature." This message resonates with particular strength today, as the scope and scale of the devastation of COVID-19 to human health and wellbeing becomes increasingly clear. While most African governments have acted expeditiously to contain the spread of this virus across the continent, the economic impacts of the pandemic are both acute and far-reaching. These impacts threaten the very foundation of Africa's sustainable development agenda. One sector where the impacts of COVID are particularly clear is tourism. Estimates by the African Union suggest that the economic impact of COVID-19 on Africa's tourism and travel sector alone may be as much as $50 billion USDnearly 7 times greater than the 2008 economic crisiswith widespread job losses and the looming threat of food insecurity. These economic impacts reach far beyond the sector itself, however. With the rise of ecotourism over the past three decades, the fate of the industry has become increasingly linked with the wellbeing of rural communities in high biodiversity areas. In many parts of Africa, human health and wellbeing is inextricably linked to sustainable management of their natural resources. The sudden and comprehensive collapse of global tourism has brought to the fore a largely hidden but parallel crisis brewing for Africa's conservation landscapes and the people that protect and depend on this rich natural heritage. In addition to providing alternative livelihoods to vulnerable rural communities, tourism has transformed the very nature of conservation in Africa. It has engendered a revolution in community-based natural resource management through revenue sharing, enabled the expansion of conservation outside of protected areas, and provided a mechanism to fundamentally change the conservation narrative from "exclusion" to "inclusion"from government ownership to community rights. Tourism has also demonstrated the potential for channeling resources from wealthy economies to developing countries and communities in support of conservation. Critically, income from tourism has supported conservation both inside and outside of protected areas and provided an incentive for many communities to protect biodiversity. Furthermore, tourism has created vast multiplier effects across economic sectors. For example, it is estimated that every night that a tourist stays at a high-end wildlife lodge in a remote part of Africa, up to 14 people in the surrounding community benefit indirectly from the income generated. On a macro level, there are numerous examples of countries whose revenue from the tourism sector significantly contributes to the national treasury, with much of this revenue being channeled to other essential sectors such as health and education. Mountain gorilla silverback male playing in habitat in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Credit: World Wide Fund for Nature In countries like Uganda and Rwanda, tourism revenue pays for the construction of schools and health care facilities for communities neighboring protected areas. In Kenya, tourism is the third largest source of foreign exchange; it supports 1.5 million jobs (especially in rural areas), and dominates the service sector. In 2018, the World Travel and Tourism Council reported that South Africa's tourism sector directly contributed to 2.9 percent of the GDP, and the economic contribution from tourism could be multiplied by a factor of four to include its revenue-generating ability across other sectors, ranging from agriculture to manufacturing. Tourism also fueled the transition of nations like Cabo Verde, the Maldives and Samoa from what the U.N. defines as 'least developed countries' to 'middle income countries.' On this International Day of Biodiversity, however, it is equally important that we remember the existential value of nature. Even without tourism, we are completely dependent on nature for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter and energy. The collapse of tourism reminds us to appreciate the other essential services that nature provides, such as reducing vulnerability to climate change; providing food and water security; reducing pollution; ensuring access to important genetic material and traditional medicine; timber production, and carbon storage. All of which are essential to Africa's future economic development. A recent report on Global Futures by WWF suggests that a "business-as-usual" development strategy that fails to protect nature and its essential services could result in an economic loss of nearly $10 trillion USD by 2050. It is therefore imperative that nature is part and parcel of our local and national development plans. We know that tourism has its challenges, and even as we emerge from this crisis, we will need to critically examine issues such as the negative impacts of carbon emissions from international travel, and the environmental degradation resulting from too many tourists, among other things. We also recognize that it is time to explore new models of sustainable finance for nature that go beyond the current tourism model. But we know fundamentally that the ability of this sector (and our economies more generally) to recover will be based on the health of the product it is sellingin this case nature and biodiversity. Africa's tourism industry will be an important launching pad for economic recovery. We call on African leaders and policy makers to consider tourism as one of the key components of stimulus packages and economic recovery plans. Aside from being deeply entrenched in the African continent's development DNA, tourism fosters unparalleled positive ripple effects to other sectors of the economy during this recovery phase. But let's not stop there. Even as we build on the social and environmental benefits that tourism can support, let's ensure that biodiversity, and nature more generally, are recognized as key building blocks for a post COVID -19 recovery. In the spirit of today's theme, "our solutions are in nature," let us seize this opportunity to reflect on the central role of nature in our health, wellbeing, and sustainable development. Happy International Day of Biodiversity! Explore further Global tourism vulnerable to climate change This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu. A spike in reported coronavirus cases in Redmond last week has been tied to family and social gatherings in the area. Last weeks breakdown of coronavirus cases by ZIP code in Oregon reported eight new cases of COVID-19 in the central Oregon town. That brought Redmond up to only 18 reported cases to date, but amounted to an 80% change over the previous week the highest in the state. Public health officials in Deschutes County told KTVZ on Friday that most of the countys new cases can be traced to social gatherings with extended family, like barbecues and celebrations. Morgan Emerson, preparedness coordinator with Deschutes County Health Services, told the TV station that 18 of the countys 25 new cases could be traced back to family or social gatherings, including some of the coronavirus cases in Redmond. Some of this rise is due to multi-household gatherings, Emerson told KTVZ. We have seen similar trends of cases associated with attending family and social gatherings in other areas of Deschutes County as well. Emerson said the new cases predate Deschutes Countys recent approval for Oregons Phase 1 reopening plan. The majority of new cases came from known contacts, not strangers, she said. State officials have urged people to stay close to home for Memorial Day weekend, and to avoid large gatherings with anyone outside of your own household. "Even if you're healthy, going to a large Memorial Day barbecue, a large event, many extended households getting together -- this isn't the year," Emerson said. Top 10 percentage increases in cases by ZIP code, as of May 19: 1. Redmond (97756): 80% increase 2. North Portland (97203): 44.4% 3. Ontario (97914): 36.4% 4. Yamhill County (97128): 33.3% 5. Milwaukie (97222): 30.8% increase (ZIP code includes Prestige Post-Acute and Rehabilitation Center, which had one or two cases.) 6. South Salem (97306): 30.8% 7. Albany (97321): 26.1% 8. East Portland (97230): 25.9% (ZIP code includes Prestige Care and Rehabilitation of Menlo Park, which had one or two cases.) 9. NE Portland (97211): 23.5% (ZIP code includes Marquis Piedmont Assisted Living and Fernhill Estates. Both facilities had one or two cases.) 10. Eugene (97401*): 22.2% increase *97862 is in a tie with 97401, with the exact numbers and increase. 97862 is in the Milton-Freewater area of northeastern Oregon. --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Democratic Rep Ilhan Omar says she believes Tara Reade's sexual assault allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden. 'I do believe Reade,' Omar told Britain's Sunday Times newspaper. 'Justice can be delayed, but should never be denied.' The first-term Minnesota congresswoman, who endorsed and campaigned for Sen Bernie Sanders during his failed presidential bid, said that if it were up to her, Biden would not be the Democratic nominee. She later confirmed on Twitter that she still plans to vote for Biden to get President Donald Trump out of the White House. Reade, 56, claims that Biden pinned her against a wall, reached under her skirt and assaulted her when she worked as an aide in his Senate office in 1993. Biden has strenuously denied the claims that have roiled his presidential campaign over the past several weeks. He addressed the allegations in an interview with MSNBC earlier this month, saying that anyone who believes Reade 'probably shouldn't vote for me'. 'I wouldn't vote for me if I believed Tara Reade,' he added. Democratic Rep Ilhan Omar (left) says she believes the sexual assault allegations levied against Joe Biden by his former Senate aide Tara Reade (right) Biden has strenuously denied the claims that have roiled his presidential campaign over the past several weeks. He addressed the allegations in an interview with MSNBC earlier this month (pictured), saying that anyone who believes Reade 'probably shouldn't vote for me' Omar, who campaigned for Sen Bernie Sanders (pictured together in March) during his presidential bid, said that if it were up to her, Biden would not be the Democratic nominee Omar confirmed that she still plans to vote for Biden in a tweet on Monday morning Reade was dropped by her attorney Douglas Wigdor on Friday as new details emerged about her past - including questions over whether she lied about her education. Wigdor, a leading attorney who represented alleged victims of Harvey Weinstein and Bill O'Reilly, offered no specifics on why he and his firm are no longer representing Reade but said the decision was not a reflection on the veracity of her claims. In a statement Wigdor said he and others at his firm still believe Reade's allegation against Biden, that he digitally penetrated her and groped her in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building when she worked in his Senate office 27 years ago. The attorney said his firm believed that Reade has been 'subjected to a double standard' in the media and that much of the coverage surrounding her biography had little to do with her claims against Biden. Reade released this photo of herself out with friends in Washington, DC, in 1992 or 1993, during the time she worked in Biden's Senate office Wigdor fielded numerous media questions in recent weeks surrounding inconsistencies in Reade's biography and the legal challenges she's faced. This week, The Associated Press and other media outlets published extensive biographies of Reade, revealing she appears to have exaggerated her educational achievements, was mired in endless financial difficulties and faced frequent lawsuits with individuals who said she defrauded them or failed to pay bills. Defense lawyers in Monterey County last week began investigating whether Reade committed perjury when she testified under oath that she had a college degree from Antioch, as first reported Friday by The New York Times. Antioch University told the AP that Reade never obtained a diploma from the school, and Reade herself could not produce evidence of the degree she claims to have earned there. Reade was dropped by her attorney Douglas Wigdor (pictured) on Friday as new details emerged about her past - including questions over whether she lied about her education Lawyer Roland Soltesz peppered her with questions about her background before she qualified as an expert witness on domestic violence in a 2018 attempted murder trial. She also touted her experience in Biden's office, saying she served as a legislative aide and helped work on the Violence Against Women Act, Soltesz said. His client was convicted and is now serving a potential life sentence. 'She was a good witness,' Soltesz said. 'She came across as believable.' Wigdor is well known for his work on prominent cases related to sexual harassment and assault. He represented six women who accused Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood producer, of sexual misconduct. He has also represented a number of Fox News employees in cases alleging gender and racial discrimination at the network. And he's a frequent political donor, giving tens of thousands to Democratic politicians in New York and about $55,000 to Donald Trump in 2016, according to Federal Election Commission records. Wigdor's firm originally said in a statement that they had taken on Reade as a client because they believed 'every survivor has the right to competent counsel'. Wigdor told the AP at the time that he thought Reade had struggled to find a lawyer to represent her because many attorneys in his space 'tend to be Democrats or liberals,' and Reade has accused the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee of sexual assault. A kitten, who was named Biscuits and Gravy, was born last Wednesday with a rare condition of having two faces. (Photo : @biscuits_andgravy on Instagram) A family from Oregon got the biggest surprise and thrill last Wednesday when one of their farm cats gave birth to a litter of six with one that stood out: it had two faces. The kitten, now named Biscuits and Gravy, has two noses, two sets of eyes, and two tiny mouths. The family vet declared the mother cat, named Keenly, and its five other young ones healthy. In an interview, the owner, BJ King, said that he and his wife were shocked to see Biscuits and Gravy. They thought it was odd-looking at first but eventually found that the two-faced kitten had a condition that is extremely rare. Cats with two-faces are called Janus, following after the Roman God who was portrayed as having two faces. Janus was also known to have the ability to look to the past with one head and into the future with the other. Health problems related to deformity often limit the ability of Janus cats to survive long. However, a Janus cat named Frank and Louie was featured in Guinness World Records in 2006 as it defied the odds and lived for 15 years. THIS IS AWESOME: Sweet Dog Guards Sister's Body After Being Hit By a Car, Won't Let Anyone Come Near According to the family veterinarian, Biscuits and Gravy is born with only one brain steam, but both of his mouths are functional. Both mouths can eat, suck, and meow. The family veterinarian billed the little Janus in pink health. The King family gave away the rest of the litter to focus on making sure that Biscuits and Gravy survive. They make sure to feed the kitten every two hours and keep it warm at all times. The family received overwhelming best wishes on their Instagram posts, and numerous wishes for the kittens to survive and live a healthy life. Why do Janus cats have two faces? What is this condition? In an article featured in National Geographic, feline genetics specialist of the University of Missouri Leslie Lyons explained that very little is known why Janus cat conditions happen. Lyons said that a genetic mechanism like the Janus cat having an excess of sonic hedgehog protein, or SHH, might have caused such a condition. SHH is responsible for forming the animal's face during development. Chick embryos that were exposed to a large amount of SHH were found to have two beaks and eyes spaced apart when hatched. Janus cats' condition can also happen in most mammals, vertebrate, or marsupials, as Lyons explained. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS: Coronavirus and Its Effect to Animals' "Landscape of Fear" Despite its two-faced feature, Janus cat only has one brain. This causes brain-function abnormalities. In Frank and Louie's case, having a single organ like the esophagus enabled the cats to survive. Lyons explained that Frank and Louie did not have a lower jaw or esophagus. If both of the cat's faces ate at the same time, it would likely cause complications such as difficulty in breathing and eating. If left on its own, a kitten with such deformities is often abandoned, killed, or even eaten by its mother. Mary Stevens, the owner of Frank and Louie, had to bring the Janus kitten home to avoid being euthanized. Lyons lauded such an act, saying that having individuals in our society with such compassion is very lovely. READ NEXT: Tubeworm Slime Glows for Days, But How? The usual festivity witnessed on Eid-ul-Fitr was missing this time as Muslims in Gujarat kept away from mosques and celebrated the festival on Monday while remaining indoors in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Though lockdown restrictions, imposed to curb the coronavirus spread, had been eased outside COVID-19 hotspots in Gujarat since May 19, the state government has not yet allowed any gathering inside religious places. Ahead of the festival, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan, police had urged Muslim community members to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in the confines of their home in view of the pandemic and curbs in place to stem its spread. In Rajkot, police officials held a foot march in some Muslim-dominated areas and urged people to maintain social distancing while celebrating Eid. In Ahmedabad, the worst coronavirus-hit district in Gujarat, the festival remained a low-key affair due to the COVID-19 scare. "The Muslim community in Ahmedabad followed our instructions and remained indoors while celebrating Eid today. There was no gathering for namaz in open areas or in mosques. "There was not a single incident of any unrest. The festival was celebrated peacefully and by following social distancing norms," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Control, Vijay Patel. Community leader Joher Vohra said Muslims voluntarily decided to keep the festival a subdued affair this time to stop the spread of coronavirus. "Instead of large gathering,s Muslims gathered in smaller groups and offered Eid prayers at their respective places while maintaining distancing. "We understand that government has imposed the lockdown for our own good. All Muslims have extended their support to the government's decision on lockdown," said Vohra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Credit: Yale University As Connecticut tentatively reopens this week after a two-month shutdown, a new report by the Yale School of Public Health warns that if people resume normal activities and contacts too quickly there will be a "sharp resurgence" in hospitalizations and deaths in the coming months. Associate Professor Forrest Crawford and postdocs Olga Morozova and Zehang (Richard) Li created a mathematical model to predict COVID-19 transmission, hospitalization and deaths in the state under "slow" and "fast" reopening scenarios. If the state reopens too quickly, a second wave may be unleashed, the effects of which could be worse than what has already happened. It could result in an estimated total of over 8,100 deaths by September 1 in Connecticut. More than 3,500 state residents have already died from coronavirus. "If contact rates return quickly to levels seen in early March, the number of new cases could rise dramatically over the summer" said Crawford, the report's lead author. "Connecticut decision-makers need to closely monitor data on new cases and hospitalizations, as well as transmission model projections, in order to reopen the state safely." Under a slow reopening scenario (defined as relaxing restrictions so that contact increases at a rate of 10 percent each month) the incidence of the disease will still increase slightly in the coming weeks but will taper off and stay at lower levels. Hospitalizations for the disease will continue to decline, rising slightly in August and the number of coronavirus-related deaths will rise slowly, with an estimated total of 4,600 to 7,100 by September 1. Under the fast scenario (defined as increasing contact at a rate of 10 percent every two weeks), Crawford and colleagues found that the number of new infections is likely to spike throughout the summer, potentially exceeding hospitalization capacity and resulting in anywhere from 5,400 to 13,400 total deaths by September 1. "These projections are based on the latest available data and knowledge from the scientific community," said Li. "As we gather new evidence about transmissibility of the disease and effectiveness of interventions, our model projections will improve." The researchers attributed the recent decline in hospitalizations to the reduction in contacts following distancing measures implemented by the state officials. "It is too early to return to normal. As some businesses reopen, it is even more important for people to continue practicing social distancing and avoid traveling to highly affected areas, most importantly New York City," said Morozova. Yale School of Public Health Professor Albert Ko co-chaired Gov. Ned Lamont's ReOpen Connecticut Advisory Group, which strongly advised a cautious and conservative schedule as the state starts to return to normal. "These model projections of the future risk of COVID-19 resurgence directly informed the recommendations made to mitigate this risk," Ko said. The advisory group, which recently completed its work, was not involved in the preparation of the report. Other key points from the report include: Real-time metrics (such as hospitalizations, case counts and deaths) may not provide adequate warning to avoid a resurgence. Closure of schools and the state's stay-at-home order greatly reduced transmission of the virus. There are substantial gaps in knowledge about critical aspects of the disease, including the proportion of infected individuals who are asymptomatic, infectiousness of children, the effects of testing and contact tracing on isolation of infected individuals and how contact patterns may change following reopening. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak What just happened? Apple has spent years calling the iPad a computer, a claim most people, including Microsoft, like to mock. But the arrival of the powerful iPad Pros saw Cupertino double down on its position. Now, the tablets have been given the seal of approval from none other than a former Windows chief: Steven Sinofsky, the man behind Windows 8. Having joined Microsoft back in 1989 as a software design engineer, Sinofsky worked his way up to President of the Windows division by 2009, finally departing the company at the end of 2012. In a tweet posted earlier today, Sinofsky posted a photo of an iPad Pro along with the message: New desktop PC. The ex-Microsoft boss included a breakdown of all his kit, including the prices. In addition to the 12.9-inch 256GB iPad Pro (Wi-Fi only), which costs $1,099, he uses a $70 Heckler Design iPad Stand, $99 Magic Keyboard, $149 Trackpad 2, $129 Pencil, $5 right angle cable, and $10 7 in 1 dongle. All in all, the setup costs $1,500, which would get you a pretty good PC, monitor, and peripherals. Sinofsky was in charge of producing Windows 8 during his time at Microsoft and used to write about the process in a blog called Building Windows 8. The successor to Windows 7 was designed with touch-screen tablets in mind, though it wasn't very successful. Sinofsky did add a slight caveat, noting that the iPad won't be his main computer. He said the use case I am looking forward to is as a second screen for video meetings. The iPad Pros credentials as a real computer improved with the release of iPad OS, adding the likes of native USB, mouse, and trackpad support. There was also the Magic Keyboard and the powerful new A12X and A12Z (both are virtually identical) SoCs helping its case. In a drugstores race between top electronics retailers Mobile World and FPT Retail that began in 2017, the latter is well ahead. FPT Retail, Vietnams second largest electronics retailer, announced mid-May that it has opened over 100 drugstores in over 30 provinces and cities, each selling prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, functional foods and cosmetic products. Mobile World, the countrys top electronics retailer, only operates 20 drugstores in Ho Chi Minh City. The stores have a total daily traffic of 4,000 visits, according to the companys website. Both retailers had entered the pharmaceutical retail market in late 2017, each acquiring their own chain of drugstores, hoping to cash in on a rapidly growing domestic appetite for healthcare and cosmetics products. Mobile World was initially more aggressive in its approach, taking a 49 percent stake in the Phuc An Khang drugstore chain for an undisclosed sum. The chain was already operating the same 20 stores it has now, except that the name has changed to An Khang. Nguyen Duc Tai, Chairman of Mobile World, had said then that the company planned to invest a further VND500 billion ($21.47 million) to gradually acquire a controlling stake in the pharmaceutical retail chain, and was eyeing an expansion to increase the number of stores to 100 in Ho Chi Minh City. A drugstore of Mobile World in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. "Healthcare is a big market in Vietnam. Apart from Western medicines and vitamins, functional food is a future trend," Tai had said. FPT Retail was more tentative when it invested an unspecified sum for a 75 percent stake in the local Long Chau chain, which only operated four stores. Commenting on the acquisition at the time, Nguyen Bach Diep, Chairman of FPT Retail, had said that the investment was made via contribution of "personal capital" and did not affect the companys core business activities. FPT Retail had wanted to enter a market that was worth "around $5 billion, which had not yet identified a clear leader," she said. Vietnams pharmaceutical market is likely to grow to $7.7 billion by 2021 and $16.1 billion by 2026 from around $4.7 billion in 2017, with an average CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 11 percent per year, according to market research firm IBM Research. After operating Long Chau for a year, FPT Retail established a subsidiary to manage the drugstore chain with a chartered capital of VND100 billion ($4.3 million). The chain had expanded to 26 stores with an average monthly revenue of VND2 billion ($86,000) per store by the end of 2018, according to FPT Retails publications. Big plans get bigger Now, with over 100 outlets in operation, FPT Retail recently announced plans to double the number of drugstores to 200-220 by the end of the year, aiming to acquire 30 percent of the domestic drugs market over the next 2-3 years, earning revenues of around VND5 trillion ($215 million). Diep said the pharmaceutical retail market was of roughly the same size as the mobile phone industry but was not dependent on the national economic situation. Its growth was guaranteed to maintain double figures, particularly with Vietnams spending on these products still at a low level. FPT Retails drugstore chain earned revenues of VND500 billion ($21.47 million) in 2019, but suffered a pre-tax loss of VND40 billion ($1.72 million), according to financial statements. The company said the chain made another VND240 billion ($10.3 million) in the first quarter of this year, but did not say if it made any profit or not. Meanwhile, the An Khang chain is yet to prove profitable for Mobile World. According to the companys first quarter financial statements, the company recorded a VND1.4 billion ($60,100) loss, attributed in proportion to its 49 percent shareholding in the drugstore chain. Cumulatively, Mobile World has lost nearly VND7 billion ($300,000) in An Khang since its 2017 acquisition. However, according to Mobile Worlds management, expansion of the drugstore chain was "put on hold" to assess risks, contrary to their previous expansion plans. Nguyen Duc Tai, Chairman of Mobile World, said in an interview earlier this month that regulations governing the pharmaceutical industry were till vague, so his company was not ready to raise its stake to above 49 percent. For instance, Vietnamese regulations require individual licensed practitioners and not businesses to stand legally responsible for each outlet, which could give rise to a lot of legal risk, he said. "An Khang was not bought as a financial investment for reselling. It is still an interesting field, and Mobile World is ready to step up investment when regulations are clear and appropriate with corporate governance principles," he said, adding that the company was directing investments towards retail groceries instead. Vietnam's pharmaceutical market sales are estimated at $6.5 billion in 2019, with hospitals accounting for 75 percent, according to securities firm Viet Dragon Securities. The Ministry of Health estimates that Vietnam had around 57,000 drugstores last year, most of them small businesses run by families. The nations Covid-19 tally stands at 325 after one was added Sunday morning. Of these 267 have recovered and 58 are active patients. The latest case is a woman who returned on Vietnam Airlines repatriation flight VN0062 from Russia, landing May 13 in Vietnam. So far, 32 passengers on this flight have tested positive. Of the total infections in Vietnam, 185 have been imported and the rest are caused by community transmission. The last community transmission was recorded April 16. There has been no Covid-19 death in Vietnam to date. More than 15,000 people are currently quarantined in the country after coming from abroad or having come into contact with Covid-19 patients. Of these, 58 are quarantined at hospitals, over 8,000 at centralized camps, and the rest at home or other accommodations. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected 213 countries and territories, and its reported death toll has crossed 346,600. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says its appointments always adhere to the principle of transparency and accountabili... The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says its appointments always adhere to the principle of transparency and accountability. Kennie Obateru, NNPC said this in a statement Sunday. The corporation in March disengaged some of its staff and appointed new top management officials. This triggered criticisms from Nigerians, Niger Delta leaders and groups. But the corporation is insisting that federal character was also a factor in the progression of the newly appointees. It said many top management officers of the corporation were moved to new positions, while some were promoted based on their verifiable track records of performance. Obateru said some Chief Operating Officers, Group General Managers and Managing Directors of subsidiaries were affected in what some industry analysts described as the most objective placement exercise in the recent history of the National Oil Company. He noted that the changes saw the re-deployment of the erstwhile COO, Upstream, Roland Ewubare, to the Ventures and Business Development Directorate as COO. NNPC said Ewubares position as COO Upstream was taken over by Adeyemi Adetunji, erstwhile COO in charge of Downstream directorate. It added that Lawrencia Ndupu, redeployed to the Downstream, is a Physicist and renowned explorationist that has held many key positions. Bala Wunti, the erstwhile MD of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company was appointed as the new GGM of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS). The statement added that Lawal Sade, the new MD of the NNPC Trading Company, was the MD of NIDAS, a shipping arm of the company. Then spokesman said the exercise retained Adokiye Tombomieye, from the South-South, as GGM, Crude Oil Marketing. NNPC explained that the new appointments depicted a leadership determined to ensure placement of square pegs in square holes. Arabella Chi has admitted she rebuffed Niall Horan when he sent her flirty messages because he is too short for her. The Love Island star, 29, who is 5ft 10in, revealed Niall, 26, who is 5ft 8in, contacted her when she started dating ex Wes Nelson and again when they split in April. Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'Niall slid into my DMs when I started dating Wes, and immediately after we split. I texted a friend and said, "That didnt take him long." Honest: Arabella Chi, 29, has admitted she rebuffed Niall Horan, 26, when he sent her flirty messages because he is too short for her Although Arabella thought that Niall came across as a gentlemen, she ultimately decided that he was not the guy for her. She said: 'Normally I love an Irish accent but Niall just isnt my type and I am 5ft 10. He came across as a complete gentleman. But when it comes to love hes not for me. 'I wouldnt think, "Oh well I am going to message him because hes Niall from One Direction".' Arabella admitted she has had 'loads' of famous men sliding into her DMs and was surprised by the number of interested suitors she had after her appearance on Love Island. DMs: Arabella, who is 5ft 10in, revealed Niall, who is 5ft 8in, contacted her when she started dating ex Wes Nelson and again when they split in April (pictured in February 2020) The model added that her DMs are currently 'exploding' during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown but being in self-isolation means she can't enjoy it. Arabella and Wes had been dating for nine months but are said to have 'grown apart' and become more aware of their six-year age gap ahead of their split. Wes, 22, moved out of the home he shares with the model so they don't have to isolate together under lockdown rules, and is now living with pal and former Love Island star, Josh Denzel. Arabella said: 'Normally I love an Irish accent but Niall just isnt my type and I am 5ft 10. He came across as a complete gentleman. But when it comes to love hes not for me' A source told The Sun: 'It's all over. They started to grow apart. They want to remain civil with each other and hope to remain friends.' A representative for Wes and Arabella confirmed the news to MailOnline. The news likely came as a shock to their fans, as just a week before they called it quits, the pair revealed that they were enjoying their time in lockdown together. Speaking to OK! Online, Wes said: 'It's been alright. It's hard to get out at the moment, isn't it? We're just trying to do our piece of exercise a day. In demand: Arabella admitted she has had 'loads' of famous men sliding into her DMs and was surprised by the number of interested suitors she had after her appearance on Love Island 'We spend a lot of time with each other anyway so it's been okay to self-isolate because it's pretty much what we have been doing anyway, it's the same as before but we're just not getting out and about.' Wes and Arabella moved into their first flat together back in December, gushing that they were ready to start 'the next chapter' of their life. In 2018, Wes reached the final of Love Island with former exotic dancer Megan Barton-Hanson, before ending their relationship in January 2019. Arabella then appeared on the 2019 series of the ITV2 show and struck up a brief romance with Danny Williams, but was dumped from the island after just seven days. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 13:10:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Shi Xiaomeng BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Even at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is sweeping the world, beef from New Zealand, red wine from Chile, and detergent from Germany remain just a click away to Chinese customers. This offers a glimpse of how globalization has led to the creation of a highly integrated world web of interdependence and altered the way of living in many parts of this closely connected global community. The ravaging pandemic, however, has jolted global supply chains and halted much of cross-border travels. It has also exposed once again some of globalization's deep-seated deficiencies, and prompted many in academia, politics and the press to debate whether this marks the beginning of an end to this historic process. It is not the first time that globalization has been questioned or assaulted in times of turbulence. Between the 2008 global financial crisis and this pandemic, sharp criticism against globalization was heard fueled by rising waves of trade protectionism and economic nationalism. Nevertheless, being a natural process driven by the combined forces of technological breakthroughs, as well as the free flow of people and profit-thirsty capital, globalization has brought down trade and commerce barries, shrunk production costs, stimulated technological cooperation, integrated global markets and financial systems, created inestimable jobs and wealth, and raised living standards throughout the world over the centuries since the Age of Discovery. These upsides of globalization are unmistakable, and will not be wiped out by a single global crisis. Arjun Appadurai, a U.S. globalization studies expert, argued in an opinion piece published by the Time magazine earlier this month that "globalization is here to stay," and de-globalization efforts are no more than "wishful thinking." Thus the international community, instead of trying to turn inward and break away from each other, should come even closer and make globalization work better for everyone. The first task should be for countries worldwide to make global production and supply chains more risk-resilient. This pandemic will not be the last one. Other unknown risks and new challenges are likely to emerge in the future. While some Washington politicians are talking about reshoring the production of critical medical and technological supplies back to the United States, others like Shannon K. O'Neil, a senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations, argued that governments and boardrooms should add redundancies to the global manufacturing processes. Information technologies have also been considered key to rendering future global supply chains more resilient. The World Economic Forum (WEF) suggested in an article published on its website last month that companies should stop recording data like ships' cargo on paper, and start digitizing their supply chain processes so as to make sure critical information can always be available. Whatever the proposals -- reshoring, multi-sourcing or digitizing, China, with its comprehensive industrial advantages, will remain a critical part of any future global supply chains. "I don't think China's role as a major source of manufacturing is going to be eliminated. They will continue to be so," said Morris Cohen, a professor at The Wharton School, told Deutsche Welle last month. Secondly, the international community should jointly enhance global economic governance and further boost global free trade. In mid-April, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that the global economy is on track to contract sharply by 3 percent in 2020 due to COVID-19, probably the worst recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s. To forestall that nightmare scenario, governments should at the moment better coordinate their macro-economic policies so as to maintain market stability, prop up employment, conduct stimuli proportional to the ongoing pandemic, and restore global growth through such multilateral economic platforms as the Group of 20. Also, they should give even stronger support to the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the core. Right now, because of Washington's intentional obstruction, the WTO's Appellate Body, which has arbitrated international trade disputes over the past 25 years to ensure fairness, has been left inquorate. The Financial Times, a British newspaper, argued in a recent editorial that the WTO is needed more than ever so that it can "underpin the open global economy we will all need on the other side of the pandemic." The U.S. administration should curb its protectionist impulses, and actively and fully back the existing global economic governance system. The third front should be strengthening international cooperation so that countries worldwide can better respond to their shared non-conventional security challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Globalization is now far more than just economic integration. As the global village is highly interconnected, the human race needs to ramp up, not to dial down, trans-border cooperation in a bid to jointly tackle common challenges like deadly contagions, climate change, terrorism and cyber attacks, problems no country can solve single-handedly. The most immediate mission should be stepping up global cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic and bolster the backbone-role the World Health Organization has been playing in coordinating global endeavor to beat humanity's common enemy. The fourth task is to make globalization more inclusive for all. The pandemic has further revealed that globalization has not turned out to be a rising tide lifting all boats, and that it could further widen the global gap between the rich and the poor. In a WEF research report earlier this month, which focuses on epidemics like H1N1 in 2009, MERS in 2012, and Zika in 2016, and traces out their distributional effects in the five years following each event, the Gini coefficient, a commonly-used index of inequality, has gone up by nearly 1.5 percent on average. In the United States, the world's largest economy, the outbreak recession has kicked millions of the most economically vulnerable Americans out of their jobs, while many are facing a dire choice between protecting their health or their jobs. Also, several racial minority groups account for a disproportionate number of the COVID-19 infections and deaths in the country largely due to lower living and working conditions as well as a lack of access to health care. In Wisconsin alone, a U.S. state with a 6-percent Black population, African Americans account for about half of its outbreak fatalities, according to a recent report by the Washington Post. The pandemic offers decision-makers worldwide a chance to bridge those wealth and health gaps through refashioning policies like reordering tax codes, introducing universal health care coverage, and promoting common development through international cooperation in regions like Africa and the Middle East so as to make sure that the dividends of globalization can be shared by all global villagers. Following the collapse of the U.S. subprime mortgage markets in 2007, shock waves swept financial sectors in all corners of the world, and the most serious financial tsunami since the Great Depression of the 1930s kicked in. Globalization then encountered a major setback. Yet despite all the second-guessing about it at that time, countries worldwide rose to the occasion and jointly steered the global economy through the uncharted waters and back onto the track of recovery. "Our fractured world needs agile governance and smarter globalization," Klaus Schwab, founder and chief executive of the WEF, once said. The world will never be the same when this pandemic comes to an end, and neither will the process of globalization. The human race has every reason to repeat what they did in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and work together to help this unstoppable trend take a turn for the better. Enditem The coronavirus-related lockdown has made more than 130 million people jobless. Many of them are the migrants returning to their home states. During the last few weeks, some states, particularly the traditional out-migrant states, have issued ordinances to significantly relax or suspend labour laws. These changes are aimed at removing potential impediments to employment generation so as to absorb the unemployed especially the returning migrants and/or attract foreign direct investment. There are several issues related to the constitutionality of these ordinances, but thats for lawyers and legal scholars to debate. As economists, our research, based on the readings of the evidence available, highlights the costs and benefits of these modifications. The adopted changes are a motley set. Madhya Pradesh has, among other measures, limited the role of inspectors and removed many provisions of the Factories Act (the law governing health and safety in manufacturing firms). Gujarat has retained the industrial safety rules and the Minimum Wage Act, but scrapped all other laws for new industrial establishments. Uttar Pradesh has removed all but a few laws for a period of three years (pending approval by the State legislature and the President of India for laws in the Concurrent List). Several states have amended daily work hours from eight to 12 (some with, and others without, overtime payment). Assams focus is different. It has legalised the fixed-term employment (earlier, it needed a licence under the Contract Labour Act) and stipulated equal social security benefits to fixed-term workers as permanent workers in the same unit. These changes can be usefully distinguished into two types. One, those that aims to lower firms labour costs by reducing workers benefits such as minimum wages, health and safety regulations, provident fund payments and bonus payments, and two, those that aim to increase firms flexibility by reducing firing costs such as the employment protection legislation. The conceptual implications and empirical evidence for each type are different. In a basic supply and demand framework, reducing firms labour costs should increase labour demand. But when you consider information asymmetries or market power, this prediction falters. Where workers effort is hard to observe, employers may provide higher than market wages in order to increase the productivity and minimise turnover (the efficiency wage theory). In markets where employers have wage-setting power, the most low-wage labour markets, introducing a minimum wage does not necessarily lead to adverse employment effects as empirically shown by Arindrajit Dube and co-authors, and, in fact, it can even generate employment gains, as shown by Vidhya Soundararajan, the co-author of this article. Further complications arise as the laws on the books are often not enforced. Urmila Chatterjee and Ravi Kanbur find that the Factories Act is characterised by a widespread non-compliance. Despite the non-compliance, these laws still seem to impose costs on some firms: In a recent paper, Amrit Amirapu and Michael Gechter find that the de facto costs imposed by type-1 regulations on firms can be very high (up to 40% of labour costs), but only in states with high levels of corruption or those which have not reformed their inspector rules. This implies that if there are corrupt inspectors, labour laws are sufficiently complex and opaque to provide them with leverage to extract bribes. Yet, they fail to generate full compliance, leaving workers under-protected. This might explain why, according to the 2014 World Bank Enterprise Survey, only 11% of (medium and large) Indian firms reported that labour regulations are a major constraint, while 36% thought corruption to be a major constraint. The solution, then, is not to remove these benefits altogether, but to consolidate and simplify them so that they can be implemented effectively with less room for extortionary practices. Indeed, Parliament has already started deliberating on the issue, and it should be allowed to continue in a careful, if expedited, manner. There is no justification for the wholesale suspension of such laws, leaving workers completely unprotected and firms only marginally better-off. Turning now to the reforms of type-2: These relate to the employment protection legislation (EPL), which restricts hiring and firing. The relevant legislation in India is the Industrial Disputes Act (IDA) 1957. Most aspects of this law are fairly standard. For example, Section V-A of the law stipulates that a retrenched or laid-off worker must be adequately compensated, which is similar to policies in many other countries including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. It is Chapter V-B of the law which prohibits firms with 100 or more permanent workers from firing even a single worker without government consent and this stands out for its stringency (at least on paper). It is possible that this part of the IDA aims to compensate in some way for the lack of social insurance mechanisms (unemployment benefits/public health insurance) in India. The problem with using EPL as social insurance is two-fold. First, Indias EPL is limited to medium and large formal firms, so that only a fraction of the non-agricultural workforce is covered. Second, it might distort the efficient functioning of labour markets by dissuading firms from hiring permanent workers. The empirical evidence for whether Indias EPL has in fact reduced employment or output in India is not conclusive, and the debate started by Timothy Besley and Robin Burgess has been rebutted by Aditya Bhattacharjea (in 2006, 2009 and 2019) and others. However, there is clearer evidence from other countries that strict EPL can reduce employment, firm productivity, and investment (employment and productivity in the US by David Autor and co-authors, and Italy by Federico Cingano and co-authors). There is also evidence from India that EPL incentivised the use of contract work (as shown by Ritam Chaurey), the share of which grew from 15% to 34% in Indian manufacturing between 1999 and 2015. This phenomenon may have reduced incentives to invest in human capital and lowered productivity, in addition to undermining the bargaining power of trade unions, as shown by Nancy Chau and co-authors. Overall, the international evidence suggests that type-2 laws do constrain the employment generation, investment, and productivity. In India, although conclusive evidence is elusive, at least Chapter V-B, the most stringent part of IDA, could be removed and replaced with a more effective and expansive social insurance mechanism (such as unemployment insurance or UBI). These measures will provide firms with greater flexibility without undercutting the welfare of workers. How, then, do we understand these reforms in light of the above evidence and the demands of the moment? Given the tragic situation of migrant workers and general mass unemployment, the first-order concern should be to immediately save lives through a combination of cash and in-kind transfers. The next concern should be to improve livelihoods, by doing the necessary to facilitate re-employment. Given the stark human costs of unemployment on the scale witnessed, it is understandable that states wish to urgently remove impediments to hiring, even if that means tilting the balance of power towards firms. However, our reading of the academic literature suggests that the wholesale suspension of type-1 laws is unlikely to improve the workers welfare or substantially increase employment, and, should, therefore, be restored immediately. Removing type-2 labour laws would improve welfare by increasing employment only if redundant and retrenched workers are provided with adequate social security. Providing the latter should be the urgent task of the moment. Amrit Amirapu is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Kent, and Vidhya Soundararajan is an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore The views expressed are personal President of the Republic of Uganda President Yoweri K Museveni on Saturday commissioned the 'war-game center' at the Uganda Senior Command and Staff College in Kimaka, Jinja District. The Commander-in-Chief revealed that the state-of-the-art facility will contribute to the quality of training for Ugandan forces. The State-of-the-art War-game centre is built in partnership with the Indian Army as Uganda continues to build solid relations with India. READ | Jharkhand Congress MLA Rajendra Prasad Singh dies President Museveni praised the Indian Army and the Indian Association of Uganda for their commitment to development in Uganda. We are very happy to be associated with the Indian Army which has a lot of knowledge, experience, and heroism. The heroic Indians are the ones who stopped the westward expansion of Japan at the famous battle of Kohima, President Musevenis official tweet read. READ | Mayawati holds BJP, Congress equally guilty over migrants' plight, highlights 'blame game' We are very happy to be associated with the Indian army which has a lot of knowledge, experience, and heroism. The heroic Indians are the ones who stopped the westward expansion of Japan at the famous battle of Kohima. pic.twitter.com/FgJQTmM78h Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) May 23, 2020 READ | MP: Congress man arrested for pasting 'missing' posters of Scindia President thanks the Indian Army The president further expressed his gratitude to the Indian army and the training teams for building the centre. I thank the army, the training teams, and the Indian Association of Uganda who mobilized to build this centre. It is a great gesture of the wider cooperation and support we enjoy with the government and the people of India. President Museveni said in another tweet. I thank the army, the training teams, and the Indian Association of Uganda who mobilized to build this center. It is a great gesture of the wider cooperation and support we enjoy with the government and the people of India. pic.twitter.com/tizhwSVULL Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) May 23, 2020 READ | Video: Three-horned cow from Uganda leaves netizens curious Along with nursing homes and prisons, meatpacking facilities have proven to be places where the virus spreads rapidly. But as dozens of plants that closed because of outbreaks begin reopening, meat companies reluctance to disclose detailed case counts makes it difficult to tell whether the contagion is contained or new cases are emerging even with new safety measures in place. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were nearly 5,000 meatpacking workers infected with the virus as of the end of last month. But the nonprofit group Food & Environment Reporting Network estimated last week that the number has climbed to more than 17,000. There have been 66 meatpacking deaths, the group said. And the outbreaks may be even more extensive. For weeks, local officials received conflicting signals from state leaders and meatpacking companies about how much information to release, according to internal emails from government health agencies obtained through public records requests by Columbia Universitys Brown Institute for Media Innovation and provided to The New York Times. The mixed messages left many workers and their communities in the dark about the extent of the spread in parts of Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado. The emails also reveal the deference some county officials have shown toward the giant meatpacking companies and how little power they have in pushing the companies to stem outbreaks. Bad news spreads way faster than the truth, said a county health official in Colorado of an outbreak at a Cargill plant, according to notes from a conference call last month. At this point, we are not doing anything to cast them in a bad light. Will not throw them to the Press. De Raj Group AG / Key word(s): Agreement/Offer De Raj Group AG: Major shareholders sell 65 % of the company Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. De Raj Group: Major shareholders sell 65 % of the company De Raj Group AG, Cologne, ISIN DE000A2GSWR1, Symbol: DRJ: The major shareholders of De Raj Group AG, members of the De Raj family, have just informed the company and announced that they have sold their 65 % shareholding in the company. The share purchase agreement has been signed today. The buyer is Standard Paper & Board Singapore Pte. Ltd, a privately held company based in Singapore. It will acquire the 22.75 m shares previously held by Alexander, Nicholas and Renata De Raj and by Nagendran Nadarajah. The buyer is managed and controlled by Mr. Yennarkay R Chiranjeevi Rathnam from Standard Fire Works Group, a large industrial conglomerate from South India. The purchase of the De Raj family shares triggers a mandatory public offer to the outside shareholders of De Raj Group AG. Details will be announced in the coming days. With this acquisition, Standard Paper & Board Singapore Pte. Ltd is implementing its plans to expand its business activities in the field of renewable energy, which De Raj Group recently expanded in many different countries. The entry of the new shareholder will enable De Raj Group to leverage its resources for further growth. Contact: Vaidyanathan Nateshan Board Member Tel.: +49 221 95937026 25-May-2020 CET/CEST The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de (Natural News) We may need to be less anthropocentric if we are to find evidence of extraterrestrial life, experts say. Speaking at the inaugural TESS Science Conference at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a panel of experts noted that holding on to the assumption that alien life will be similar to what evolved here on Earth could severely limit the potential for big discoveries. As it stands now, at least for me personally, I feel the origin of life itself is too anthropocentric, Sara Walker, an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist at Arizona State University said, adding that most experts have a tendency to design and engineer experiments tailored to finding biosignatures similar to those already found on Earth. According to Walker, it is important to not restrict biosignature research to the kind of chemistry we are accustomed to on Earth, referencing the anticipated space missions Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx) and Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR) which are designed to look for biosignatures and signs of liquid water in the farther regions of space. The two space missions are expected to launch in the late 2030s. In addition, the experts said it would be helpful for researchers to broaden their definition of the habitable zone to identify a more complete range of possibly habitable exoplanets. The so-called circumstellar habitable zone, according to NASA, is the area around a star where it is neither too hot nor too cold, thus allowing liquid water to exist on the surface of surrounding planets. However, as the panelists discussed, liquid water might not be the only basis for life. According to Janusz Petkowski, an interdisciplinary research scientist at MIT, while most researchers tend to stick to the simple definition of the habitable zone as one that allows liquid water to exist on the surface of the planet, it is important for researchers and scientists to explore other possibilities, including one wherein each of the solvents have their own habitable zones. (Related: Life on the ice: Extraterrestrial life on ice worlds could look like Hawaiian underwater creatures.) If you think about it, you can imagine a separate habitable zone for each of the solvents, Petkowski said during the panel discussion. One example of a different solvent that could have its own habitable zone, Petkowski said, is liquid methane, which is present in large quantities on the surface of Saturns huge moon Titan. Petkowski noted that while recreating these alien environments and chemistries in Earth labs is not without its own technical challenges, it will be an important way to expand our understanding of what conditions are necessary for life to evolve. The researchers at the panel wont hold their breath for any immediate discoveries, however, noting that everything still depends on how fast research progresses over the next few decades. According to Rafal Szabla, a chemist and a postdoctoral fellow at the Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of Physics, its more probable that they will get ideas and learn more about the nature of biosignatures within the next two decades, instead of discovering new life in outer space. Detecting life is a more distant question because we need very solid data, Szabla said. Paul Rimmer, an astrochemist at the University of Cambridge in England, agreed, noting that it might still be 100 years until scientists discover evidence of life in the cosmos. Read more articles about the possibility of alien life at Cosmic.news. Sources include: Space.com JPL.NASA.gov Exoplanets.NASA.gov Advances.ScienceMag.org Superstar Salman Khan has launched his own grooming and personal care brand FRSH. The 54-year-old actor, who has been living at his Panvel farmhouse since the lockdown was announced on March 25 to rein in the spread of COVID-19, unveiled his new brand on social media on Sunday. Considering the importance of hygiene and sanitisation during the coronavirus pandemic, Salman said he decided to launch a sanitiser as the first product under the brand. Launching my new grooming & personal care brand FRSH! @FrshGrooming, the actor posted on his Twitter page alongside a video in which he can be seen introducing the brand. The Bharat star said other products will also be launched soon and can be purchased from http://frshworld.com. The products will also be available at various stores across the country once the supply begins. Salman already owns an apparel brand under Being Human - The Salman Khan Foundation, a charitable trust devoted to education and healthcare initiatives for the underprivileged in India. The actor has been utilising his time during the lockdown to create awareness about the pandemic and produce new music. Till now he has released two songs Pyaar Karona and Tere Bina. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There is an inherent danger in allowing politicians to take over a religious movement. It gives someone like Trump, who never has appeared to be particularly religious, to score points with those who are. Trump saw a chance to line up on the side of church people, who likely have not supported him in the past, and win them over. Bomb blast kills five, injures 20 in Somalia Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 5:42 PM A bomb explosion has left at least five people dead and injured more than 20 others during Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Somalia. "The initial information we have received indicates the dead bodies of five people were collected from the scene of the blast," Mohamed Muktar, a police officer said from Baidoa, about 250 kilometres (150 miles) west of the capital Mogadishu. He said the death toll could rise as some of the injured were in critical condition. "The number of wounded people is over 20 including women and children, so that death toll could increase because some of these people are seriously wounded." Local residents and witnesses said the blast was carried out at a site where people had gathered to enjoy the Eid festivities, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. No group has yet claimed responsibility; however, the deadly attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab terrorists. Somalia has faced instability and violence since 1991, when the military government was overthrown. Al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab terrorist group has been wreaking havoc in Somalia for more than a decade. In 2011, the terrorist group was pushed out of Somalia's capital city with the help of African Union forces. However, al-Shabab still carries out deadly terrorist attacks against government, military, and civilian targets in the capital, as well as regional towns. Al-Shabab has fought successive Somali governments as well as governments in neighboring Kenya and Uganda. Earlier this year, the terrorist group launched an attack against a military base used by US and Kenyan forces in neighboring Kenya. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A South Korean cafe has found an innovative way of serving its customers during the coronavirus pandemic, with an efficient robot barista. The new robot barista at the cafe in Daejon is "courteous and swift" as it delivers coffee and tea to its customers, reports Reuters. South Korea was reporting 500 new cases per day in early March before it stabilised its outbreak with aggressive tracking and testing. The country is gradually easing lockdown restrictions as it moves towards what the Government is calling "distancing in daily life". Lee Dong-bae, the director of research at Vision Semicon, a smart factory solution provider which developed the barista robot with a state-run science institute, said robots could help people maintain social distancing measures in public spaces. Mr Dong-bae said: "Our system needs no input from people from order to delivery, and tables were sparsely arranged to ensure smooth movements of the robots, which fits will with the current untact and distancing campaign." The system uses a coffee-making robotic arm and a serving robot to serve drinks to customers at their seats. An employee stands next to a barista robot that takes orders, makes coffee and brings the drinks straight to customers in Daejeon / REUTERS It can also communicate and makes use of self-driving technology to determine the best routes around the cafe. The robot was heard telling one customer, "here is your Rooibos almonds tea latte, please enjoy." "It's even better if you stir it," said the robot as it served the customer a tea from a tray installed inside its capsule-shaped computer. Student Lee Chae-mi, 23, told the Reuters news agency: Robots are fun and it was easy because you dont have to pick up your order South Korea holds election amid coronavirus pandemic - in pictures 1 /10 South Korea holds election amid coronavirus pandemic - in pictures People wearing masks in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVD19) wait in line to cast their ballots at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea REUTERS A voter, right, wearing a face mask to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus has his temperature checked upon his arrival to cast his vote AP A South Korean woman wears plastic gloves amid concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus before casting her ballot for the parliamentary elections at a polling station in Seoul AFP via Getty Images South Koreans wait in line to cast their ballots for the parliamentary elections at a polling station in Seoul YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Lee Nak-yon (R), South Korea's former prime minister and candidate of the ruling Democratic Party, and his wife Kim Suk-hee (L) cast their ballots for the parliamentary elections YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images A South Korean woman (L) casts her ballot for the parliamentary elections at a polling station in Seoul AFP via Getty Images A South Korean man (L) casts his ballot for the parliamentary elections at a polling station in Seoul AFP via Getty Images A woman wearing a face mask to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus casts her vote for the parliamentary election at a polling station in Seoul AP But Im also a bit of worried about the job market as many of my friends are doing part-time jobs at cafes and these robots would replace humans. It comes as South Korea issues new guidance on wearing face masks in public spaces. From Tuesday people will be required to wear masks when using public transport and taxis nationwide. The Health Ministry said masks will also be required on all domestic and international flights from Wednesday. From June, owners of high-risk facilities such as bars, clubs, gyms, karaoke rooms and concert halls will be required to use smartphone QR codes to register customers so they can be tracked down more easily when infections occur. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 14:18:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand reported no new case of COVID-19 on Monday, with the combined total of confirmed and probable cases staying at 1,504, according to the Ministry of Health. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 remains at 1,154, which is the number reported to the World Health Organization, said a statement of the ministry. There is no change to the number of recovered cases which remain at 1,456. This represents 97 percent of all confirmed and probable cases, it said. The death toll has remained at 21 in the country since May 6, the ministry said. There is one person receiving hospital-level care for COVID-19 and this person is not in ICU. The NZ COVID Tracer app has now recorded 380,000 registrations. That's an increase of 17,000 since 5 p.m. on Sunday. "We continue to encourage as many people as possible to download the app - it will help us identify, trace, test and isolate any cases of COVID-19," it said. The ministry is also very supportive of the work done by businesses to get their unique QR codes up and running, with 13,600 posters having been created as of midday on Monday. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:35:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Marking Africa Day, the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Monday underlined the need for Africans to chart their own course that seeks own solutions for problems of varied natures. "In a world in which multilateralism is sorely tested, Africa must stop expecting solutions from others," said the chairperson. Reiterating that the African continent is endowed with enormous resources, the chairperson called for inward-looking and self-reliance approach, which will be a catalyst for the renaissance of African nations. Mahamat said Africa mobilized itself from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, recalling that a continental response strategy was developed and implemented promptly. "We should however redouble efforts, determination and perseverance in strictly implementing the pillars of the strategy. We should go beyond the present situation, by preparing for post-pandemic conditions in the world." Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now AU, on May 25, 1963. Enditem MOSCOW -- Prosecutors in Moscow say they have started an investigation after Current Time reported alleged shortages of medicines and labor violations at a makeshift hospital for coronavirus patients set up by a well-known Azerbaijani-Russian businessman Araz Agalarov. The Moscow region's prosecutor's office said that a legal assessment will be made assessing the actions of officials involved in the operation of the hospital that was set up at Agalarov's Crocus Expo exhibition complex in the town of Krasnogorsk, near Moscow. The statement came after Current Time, along with the investigative Scanner Project, published the results of their joint investigation that shows Agalarov obtained state contracts worth almost 2 billion rubles ($28 million) without a tender to set up the hospital. Current Time is a Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. Several medical personnel at the facility, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two weeks into their work they still had no labor contracts and that there was a lack of medical equipment -- including for personal protection -- and medicine for patients at the hospital. The physicians told Current Time they initially had been promised 250,000 rubles ($3,500) for a 36-hour work week, but later that was changed to 72 work hours. The doctors added that they had been threatened to have their compensation cut further if they complained about the conditions. Nurses at the makeshift hospital started receiving and signing labor contracts on May 22. The hospital currently has about 500 patients. Officials at the Hospital No. 1 in Krasnogorsk, which supervises the makeshift hospitals operations, refused to comment on the situation, telling Current Time reporters to make their enquiries at the regional Health Ministry. However, nobody at the ministry was available for immediate comment, Current Time reported. The next ship to be commissioned and carry the Kansas City name arrived Sunday at its homeport in San Diego, Navy officials said. The future USS Kansas City arrived at Naval Base San Diego, where the Navy will commission the Independence-variant littoral combat ship on June 20. Days after China threatened to unify Taiwan, it is planning to deploy two of its new aircraft carriers off the coast of Taiwan which has further sparked concerns of a potential invasion by the Asian superpower. According to an international media report, for the first time, China has decided to deploy two huge carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong together near Pratas islands. The aircraft carriers are currently being trained for combat readiness at Bohai Bay and it has reportedly sparked fears among the Taiwan authorities that Pratas islands could be used as the staging point for an attack on the mainland. This controversial move comes as Beijing threatened to acquire Taiwan again in response to United States President Donald Trump's statement that he could cut off the whole relationship with China. While tensions between US-China have intensified over the handling of coronavirus outbreak, Beijing has also warned of a new cold war with Washington after rejecting the accusations of the US government as lies. Read - China Has No Legal Authority To Enact Security Law For Hong Kong: HK Bar Association Read - China Slams US Meddling On Its International Flights 'Cover-up' by China is similar to Chernobyl While the US-China relationship is already strained, recently a senior White House official compared the cover-up done by the Chinese government of COVID-19 pandemic with the handling of Chernobyl disaster in 1986 by the Soviet Union. In an interview with an international media outlet, White House National Security adviser Robert OBrien said that China was aware of what was happening with the novel coronavirus as it originated in the country in November, but did not tell the truth to the World Health Organisation (WHO) so that it can formulate the global response to the health crisis. Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had previously unveiled Reality Check of at least 24 preposterous allegations that the United States posed at Asian superpower. In the 11,000-word detailed rebuke from US President Donald Trump calling coronavirus as Chinese Virus, China took each statement point-by-point. Chinese foreign MInistry gave references to the truth and even quoted former US President Abraham Lincolns words, "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time". Read - China Urges US To Abide By Its Commitments In Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Read - Abe Calls For China To Step Up On Global Front Image Source: Representative/Unsplash Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday, May 25 issued a strong condemnation of the attack on a special train ferrying stranded people from Goa to Manipur. He mentioned that a mob had attacked the train when it halted in Bihar on May 24. The video posted by him on Twitter indicates that the migrant workers were subjected to racist and vulgar remarks and even received death threats. The Manipur CM called upon his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar to take legal action against the miscreants. Moreover, he urged the intervention of Railways Minister Piyush Goyal in this incident. Read: Manipur CM Makes Quarantine Mandatory For All Returnees, Says Violators Will Be Jailed I strongly condemn the attack on a special train,ferrying stranded people from Goa to my state.A mob attacked the train on Sunday when it halted in Bihar.I appeal to Bihar CM Sh @NitishKumar to book the miscreants immediately. Requesting Sh @PiyushGoyal to look into this. pic.twitter.com/BWELsDE6IV N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) May 25, 2020 Read: 16 Manipur Residents Who Recently Returned From Outside Test Positive For COVID-19 COVID-19 situation in Manipur With 4 persons testing positive for the novel coronavirus within 24 hours, Manipur's COVID-19 tally increased to 36 out of which 32 are active cases. No COVID-19 related deaths have been reported in the state so far. The testing of samples is being conducted at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. Earlier in the day, Indigo and Air Asia flights brought back Manipur residents from Delhi. Meanwhile, special trains continue to facilitate the return of students and others stuck in other states. While the returnees to Manipur are being lodged in quarantine centres in all the 16 districts of the state, police and Central forces have been permitted to stay in separate centres arranged for them. Furthermore, they can undergo home quarantine if found asymptomatic. Read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Domestic Flight Operations Resume; Covid Cases Rise By 6,977 Currently, there are 1,38,845 novel coronavirus cases in India currently out of which 57,721 patients have been discharged while 4021 casualties have been reported. Domestic flight operations resumed after a period of nearly two months with 532 flights carrying 39,231 passengers to various destinations of the country. Domestic flight operations will resume in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal on May 26 and May 28 respectively. Read: Former Gujarat CM Vaghela Takes To Social Media To Resolve Citizens' COVID-19 Woes PETAH TIKVA, Israel, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Group CEO, Giora Bardea: Strauss Group delivered strong performance in the quarter, growing sales and maintaining profit stability, while, like the rest of the world, having to cope with the effects of COVID-19. The Group has focused its efforts on protecting its people's health, maintaining business continuity and stability and providing a response to demand, supported by financial management that will allow for flexibility and preparation for a new reality that will be accompanying us in coming months. The diversified structure of the Group's business promotes resilience but also creates challenges, including the impact volatile exchange rates and restarting businesses harmed by the pandemic. The Group continues to invest in its employees, to build closer relationships with suppliers and retailers, to invest in developing its brands and to reinforce its partnerships, while reviewing various business opportunities and making advance preparations for the challenges that lie ahead. Strauss Group (TASE: STRS) has wrapped up the first quarter of 2020, which was marked by conflicting effects as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The company's income in the quarter was NIS 2.17 billion, reflecting organic growth excluding foreign currency effects of approximately 8.1% compared to the Group's income in the corresponding period last year and attesting to impressive growth in the demand for its products. However, the effect of changes in exchange rates, notably in the coffee company, eroded income so in shekels, quarterly growth was approximately 3.0%. According to Strauss Group CEO Giora Bardea: "We are today announcing our results for the first quarter, part of which was impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19, impacts which will continue to accompany us at least until the end of the year. As a socially responsible business company, we first and foremost took steps to maintain our production activities, while granting uncompromising priority to the health and safety of our people and the safety of the products we manufacture. "These times have uniquely enhanced the role of food in people's lives. The pandemic reminded everyone how vital it is to cultivate a local food industry that is connected to local agriculture, not only in Israel but everywhere in the world. These times emphasize the advantages of being close to your raw materials, and how crucial it is to maintain transportation and supply capabilities for raw materials and food to supermarkets and homes. "In the first quarter we felt the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in our business in China during most of the period, whereas in other countries of operations the effect was mainly in March, but continued into April and May months in which most of the countries in the world experienced extended lockdowns. Nevertheless, ultimately we are today announcing an excellent quarter that attests to the Group's business and financial robustness. "The Group has assigned dedicated funds as part of its social plan to support those who faced the front line of this crisis, including the company's front line employees, helping suppliers and regularly supplying food packages to senior citizens and medical teams. These activities were implemented across a number of geographies. The key challenge now is to optimally manage the day after the crisis and to prepare for a potential second outbreak of the virus should it occur, in accordance with our strategy for the following years." Revenue growth is primarily the result of growth in Strauss's sales in Israel, as well as growth in Sabra's sales in the US in March; this sharp increase in sales had a significant effect on the entire quarter. However, several activities, such as sales to the institutional market and food services mainly by the coffee company and Strauss Israel and the closure of the Elite Cafe chain, had a negative effect on our results. The income of HSW in China dropped by 31.2% in the first quarter, while the income of the coffee business, notably in Brazil, was materially affected by negative translation differences an effect that has continued, and even intensified, in the second quarter. Exchange rate differences throughout the entire quarter lowered the company's revenues by approximately NIS 100 million (of which approximately NIS 77 million are due to the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the shekel). This currency erosion is the main reason for the difference in sales growth in local currency and in shekels. The Group's non-GAAP gross profit margin in the first quarter of 2020 was NIS 878 million, up 3.9% compared to the corresponding period last year, gross profit margin was 40.5%, an improvement compared to the gross profit margin in the corresponding period, which was 40.1%. The improvement is primarily the result of impressive growth in volumes sold in most of the company's areas of activity. The company's non-GAAP operating profit in the quarter was NIS 268 million, down by 0.5% compared to the corresponding period last year. The currency depreciation eroded NIS 8 million from the company's EBIT of these the BRL eroded NIS 5 million. The main reason for the drop is an increase in marketing and selling expenses and a drop in the profits of HSW in China as a result of COVID-19. Net profit attributable to the shareholders of the company was NIS 171 million a decrease of 0.3% compared to the corresponding period last year due to increased tax expenses. Strauss Israel Strauss Israel's business in the first quarter was split between two periods: January-February, in which company sales grew substantially, and March, when extraordinary growth rates were recorded due to Passover and the coronavirus outbreak in Israel. The company applied significant operational measures to enable it to continue to manufacture enough food and deliver it to retailers before and during the lockdown, while granting top priority to the safety and hygiene of its people at the various sites, during their transportation to and from work and in the offices, as well as to the safety of the food it manufactures. In the first quarter Strauss Israel's sales grew by 12.1% to NIS 983 million. With signs of the decision to impose a lockdown emerging in early March and the ensuing stocking up on food products, in addition to Passover sales, in March the company's sales grew by approximately 22.8% compared to the corresponding period last year. Sales grew across all categories and divisions. The nature of sales and the sales mix changed, such that there was an increase in sales by the food chains, supermarkets and neighborhood grocery stores, while in parallel impulse (on-the-go) consumption, mainly at convenience stores, and the away-from-home (AFH) market, particularly sales to the institutional market restaurants, hotels, etc., decreased significantly. In 2019, total sales to the institutional and AFH markets accounted for less than 10% of the Group's sales turnover. Sales of the Health & Wellness segment (which mainly includes the Dairy division and Fresh Foods) in the quarter amounted to NIS 617 million, reflecting 14.5% growth compared to the corresponding period last year. The Fun & Indulgence segment (which mainly includes the Confectionery and Salty Snacks divisions) grew 8.3% in the quarter, with sales amounting to NIS 366 million. Growth is the result of consumers stocking up in preparation for the lockdown as well as the timing of Passover. Strauss Israel's gross profit in the quarter was NIS 396 million, reflecting 13.1% growth compared to the corresponding period last year, and the operating profit grew by 11.3% to NIS 124 million. Strauss Coffee Strauss Coffee's business in the first quarter was affected by different, opposing effects. Coffee sales in Israel in the first quarter amounted to NIS 235 million, up 6.1% compared to the corresponding period. Sales growth is the result of increased demand due to the impacts of COVID-19; however, this growth was offset by the discontinuation of sales to the institutional market (hotels, restaurants, etc.) and by the discontinuation of the operation of the Elite Cafe chain. In the international coffee business there are opposite effects as well. For example, the company's share of sales in Brazil in local currency rose by 3.0% in the past quarter and amounted to NIS 343 million. The increase in local currency sales is the result of growth in volumes by the company, which is the leader of the coffee market in Brazil with a market share of approximately 28.2%. The company estimates that growth will continue and will intensify if the Mitsui transaction, signed during the first quarter, is approved. However, the economic situation in Brazil and the impacts of the global pandemic have led to significant erosion of the Brazilian Real against the shekel (an average of 18.5% in the quarter). This erosion has reduced the company's revenues by approximately NIS 77 million, meaning that in shekels, income in the quarter was 16.4% lower than in the corresponding period last year, and the company's EBIT by NIS 5 million. The outbreak of COVID-19 in Brazil is expected to mainly affect business in the second quarter, as the pandemic reached the country relatively late compared to Israel and Europe. As at the middle of the second quarter, the devaluation of the real versus the shekel has continued and even intensified, and is presently approximately 31.1% compared to the average exchange rate in the second quarter of 2019, which is expected to have a greater impact on the company's second quarter results. In February 2020 the Tres Coracoes joint venture in Brazil[2] established a joint venture with Positive Brands, that manufactures and sells mainly dairy substitute products (plant-based, mainly cashews), with an investment of approximately BRL 39 million (for 50% participation in the JV). In Russia, Ukraine and Poland sales growth in local currency was recorded, among other things as a result of the impacts of COVID-19, but in Romania and Serbia sales dropped due to intensified competition, which led to a decline in sales prices. Due to the effect of changes in the exchange rate of the shekel against the company's functional currencies in Eastern Europe, with the exception of Russia and Ukraine, in all countries the company recorded a drop in income in shekels compared to the corresponding period last year. Sabra and Obela The company's chilled dips and spreads business delivered 8.8% sales growth in local currency by Sabra, which is active in the US and Canada. The main reason for the increase is the rise in food consumption in the US in general, particularly plant-based products, among other things as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. The company's sales in the first quarter amounted to NIS 355 million (reflecting 100%), but following the depreciation of the US dollar against the shekel by an average of 4.1% during the quarter, growth in shekels was approximately 4.4%. Sabra's operating profit (reflecting 100%) amounted to NIS 39 million in the quarter compared to NIS 54 million in the corresponding period last year, following a sharp increase in one-time marketing expenses following the advertisement in the American Super Bowl, which took place in early February, as opposed to last year, when marketing expenses were mainly spent in the second half of the year. Obela, which is active in Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and Western Germany, recorded sales of NIS 40 million up 0.9% excluding foreign currency effects, compared to a drop of 9.7% in sales in shekels. Strauss Water In the first quarter of 2020 sales by Strauss Water (which mainly include sales by Strauss Water Israel) amounted to NIS 144 million, an increase of 0.4% despite the effects of COVID-19, which led to a drop in sales of new machines, mainly during March. Strauss Water's operating profit was NIS 15 million in the quarter compared to NIS 16 million in the corresponding period last year, mainly as a result of additional costs related to the coronavirus outbreak, as well as a drop in the profits of Strauss Water in China. The company's operation in China through the joint venture with Chinese household appliance giant Haier, Haier Strauss Water (HSW), was materially affected by COVID-19, which shut down a significant part of business operations in China for the entire first quarter. The company's sales in the quarter (reflecting 100%) were NIS 106 million compared to sales of NIS 155 million in the corresponding period a decrease of 31.2%; however, as a result of the impact of the shekel/yuan exchange rate, in local currency the decrease was 26.4%. The company took advantage of the crisis to further strnegthen its online sales operation in China, with ecommerce sales offsetting the negative impact of the shutdown of sales centers in China during most of the first quarter. As a result of these efforts, the company's online market share positioning rose to first place. [1] The data in this document are based on the company's non-GAAP figures, which include the proportionate consolidation of jointly controlled businesses (without implementation of IFRS 11) and do not include share-based payment, mark-to-market as at end-of-period of open positions in the Group in respect of financial derivatives used to hedge commodity prices and all adjustments necessary to delay recognition of gains and losses arising from commodity derivatives until the date when the inventory is sold to outside parties, other income and expenses, net, and the tax effect of excluding those items, unless stated otherwise. [2] Tres Coracoes (3C) The Tres Coracoes joint venture in Brazil a company jointly held by the Group (50%) and by a local holding company, Sao Miguel Holding e Investimentos S.A. (50%). (Data reflect Strauss Coffee's share (50%) unless expressly stated otherwise). Non GAAP Figures (1) First Quarter 2020 2019 Change Total Group Sales (NIS mm) 2,168 2,106 3.0% Organic Sales Growth excluding FX 8.1% Gross Profit (NIS mm) 878 845 3.9% Gross Margins (%) 40.5% 40.1% +40 bps EBITDA (NIS mm) 354 349 1.5% EBITDA Margins (%) 16.3% 16.6% -30 bps EBIT (NIS mm) 268 269 -0.5% EBIT Margins (%) 12.3% 12.8% -50 bps Net Income Attributable to the Company's Shareholders (NIS mm) 171 172 -0.3% Net Income Margin Attributable to the Company's Shareholders (%) 7.9% 8.1% -20 bps EPS (NIS) 1.47 1.49 -0.8% Operating Cash Flow (NIS mm) 77 51 51.0% Capex (NIS mm) (2) -63 -68 -7.4% Net debt (NIS mm) 2,017 2,344 -14.0% Net debt / annual EBITDA 1.6x 1.9x (0.3x) (1) The data in this document are based on the company's non-GAAP figures, which include the proportionate consolidation of jointly controlled businesses and do not include share-based payment, mark-to-market as at end-of-period of open positions in the Group in respect of financial derivatives used to hedge commodity prices and all adjustments necessary to delay recognition of gains and losses arising from commodity derivatives until the date when the inventory is sold to outside parties, other income and expenses, net, and the tax effect of excluding those items, unless stated otherwise. (2) Investments include the acquisition of fixed assets and investment in intangible assets. Note: Financial data were rounded to NIS millions. Percentages changes were calculated on the basis of the exact figures in NIS thousands.(1) The data in this document are based on the company's non-GAAP figures, which include the proportionate consolidation of jointly controlled businesses and do not include share-based payment, mark-to-market as at end-of-period of open positions in the Group in respect of financial derivatives used to hedge commodity prices and all adjustments necessary to delay recognition of gains and losses arising from commodity derivatives until the date when the inventory is sold to outside parties, other income and expenses, net, and the tax effect of excluding those items, unless stated otherwise. Non GAAP Figures (1) First Quarter Sales (NIS mm) Sales Growth vs. Last Year Organic Sales Growth excluding FX EBIT (NIS mm) NIS Change in EBIT % Change in EBIT EBIT margins Change in EBIT margins vs. 2019 Sales and EBIT by Operating Segments and Activities Strauss Israel: Health & Wellness 617 14.5% 14.5% 66 11 19.9% 10.7% +40 bps Fun & Indulgence (2) 366 8.3% 8.3% 58 1 2.8% 15.8% -80 bps Total Strauss Israel 983 12.1% 12.1% 124 12 11.3% 12.6% -10 bps Strauss Coffee: Israel Coffee 235 6.1% 6.1% 61 3 5.4% 25.8% -20 bps International Coffee (2) 609 -9.4% 4.6% 46 -8 -14.1% 7.7% -40 bps Total Strauss Coffee 844 -5.6% 5.0% 107 -5 -4.0% 12.7% +20 bps International Dips & Spreads: Sabra (50%) (2) 177 4.4% 8.8% 20 -8 -28.0% 11.0% -500 bps Obela (50%) (2) 20 -9.7% 0.9% -2 1 35.3% NM NM Total International Dips & Spreads 197 2.8% 7.9% 18 -7 -27.6% 9.1% -390 bps Strauss Water (2) 144 0.4% 0.5% 15 -1 -9.3% 10.3% -110 bps Other 0 NM NM 4 0 -22.5% NM NM Total Group 2,168 3.0% 8.1% 268 -1 -0.5% 12.3% -50 bps (1) The data in this document are based on the company's non-GAAP figures, which include the proportionate consolidation of jointly controlled businesses and do not include share-based payment, mark-to-market as at end-of-period of open positions in the Group in respect of financial derivatives used to hedge commodity prices and all adjustments necessary to delay recognition of gains and losses arising from commodity derivatives until the date when the inventory is sold to outside parties, other income and expenses, net, and the tax effect of excluding those items, unless stated otherwise. (2) Fun & Indulgence figures include Strauss's 50% share in the salty snacks business. International Coffee figures include Strauss's 50% share in the Tres Coracoes joint venture (3C) Brazil a company jointly held by the Group (50%) and by the local Sao Miguel Group (50%). International Dips & Spreads figures reflect Strauss's 50% share in Sabra and Obela. Strauss Water EBIT figures include Strauss's share in Haier Strauss Water (HSW) in China (49%). Note: Financial data were rounded to NIS millions. Percentages changes were calculated on the basis of the exact figures in NIS thousands. Total figures for International Dips & Spreads were calculated on the basis of the exact figures for Sabra and Obela in NIS thousands. Condensed financial accounting (GAAP) First Quarter 2020 2019 Change Sales 1,545 1,430 8.0% Cost of sales excluding impact of commodity hedges 896 830 7.9% Adjustments for commodity hedges 14 13 Cost of sales 910 843 7.9% Gross profit 635 587 8.2% % of sales 41.1% 41.1% Selling and marketing expenses 336 314 7.2% General and administrative expenses 108 99 9.9% Total expenses 444 413 7.8% Share of profit of equity-accounted investees 48 68 -28.9% Operating profit before other expenses 239 242 -1.6% % of sales 15.4% 17.0% Other income (expenses), net -1 -1 Operating profit after other expenses 238 241 -1.3% Financing expenses, net -10 -27 -61.1% Income before taxes on income 228 214 6.0% Taxes on income -57 -46 23.3% Effective tax rate 25.1% 21.6% Income for the period 171 168 1.3% Attributable to the Company's shareholders 156 156 -0.4% Attributable to non-controlling interests 15 12 23.5% Note: Financial data were rounded to NIS millions. Percentages changes were calculated on the basis of the exact figures in NIS thousands. Conference Call Strauss Group will host a conference call in Hebrew on Monday, May 25, 2020 at 14:00 (Israel time) with the participation of company management to review the financial statements of the company for the first quarter of 2020. To participate in the conference call in Hebrew, dial 03-918-0609. Strauss Group will also host a conference call in English on Monday, May 25, 2020 at 16:00 (Israel time) (14:00 UK, 09:00 EST) with the participation of company management to review the financial statements of the company for the first quarter of 2020. To participate in the conference call in English, please call one of the following numbers as appropriate: UK: 0-800-917-9141 US: 1-866-860-9642 Israel: 03-918-0664 A recording of the calls will subsequently be available on the company's website at: https://ir.strauss-group.com/company-presentations/conference-call-recordings/ The financial statements for the first quarter of 2020 and the presentation that will accompany the calls will be available prior to the conference calls on the following websites: https://ir.strauss-group.com/company-presentations/quarterly-presentations/ https://ir.strauss-group.com/earning-releases/ For further information please contact : Osnat Golan VP Communications, Digital & Sustainability Strauss Group Ltd. 972-52-828-8111 972-3-675-2281 [email protected] Daniella Finn Director of Investor Relations Strauss Group Ltd. 972-54-577-2195 972-3-675-2545 [email protected] Or Shlomi Sheffer External Communications Director Strauss Group Ltd. 972-50-620-8000 972-3-675-6713 [email protected] SOURCE Strauss Group Ltd. Related Links https://ir.strauss-group.com/ A number of migrant workers, who have left from Maharashtra's Pune city for their native places after being rendered jobless due to the lockdown, are hopeful that the situation will normalise and they would be able to come back to work. But, they say since right now they have no work and are facing acute financial crunch, they have no option but to return to their hometowns and wait for time to get better. Talking to PTI at Pune railway station before boarding a train to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh over the weekend, Sarajuddin Shah (24), who worked as a tailor at a shop on Laxmi Road here, said since they were not getting any customers, he decided to go back to his native place. Asked if he would return to Pune, he said, "Why would I not come back? I have been working here as a tailor for last three years. The city has given me livelihood. Once the situation normalises, I will come back to the city." Besides Shah, at least 10 other tailors working at different shops on Laxmi Road, one of the biggest business hubs in Pune, were also waiting for the train to go back to Uttar Pradesh. They said even if businesses open up again in Pune now, there was very little possibility that they would get customers anytime soon. Mohan Prasad (30), another tailor from the group, said he was heading to his native place as his family there was concerned about him and asked him to come back. "I was working at a tailoring shop on Laxmi Road for last five to six years. After the lockdown, I was getting ration kits, but survival is becoming difficult day by day, and since 'bimari' (COVID-19) is increasing in the city, my parents and wife back home are concerned and are asking me to return to Gorakhpur," he said. However, Prasad also said he is keen to return to Pune once things become normal. Tailor Karun Shah, who was working in Pune since last 10 years, said since the business activity will take some more time to pick up pace, he decided to go to his native place Gorakhpur and spend some time with his family. Ramaiyya Yadav, a native of Bihar who worked at a catering service, said he was staying in Pune's Shivajinagar area, one of the worst hit by COVID-19. "Since living in the locality is getting difficult, and it is also very difficult to shift to another placeamid the lockdown, I chose to head back home," he said while waiting for a Bihar-bound train. "But, I will come back to Pune once the situation gets normal," he added. The Pune district administration has so far sent over 1.2 lakh migrant workers to their respective states by Shramik Special trains. Till Sunday, Pune district reported 5,694 COVID-19 cases and 272 deaths due to the disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Floyd Mayweather was seen attending a night club on Saturday - The retired boxer was said to have shunned coronavirus guidelines - Money Man arrived the venue without nose mask or gloves a place where social distancing was ignored - Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in There are growing concerns in Scottsdale, Arizona as legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather was seen flouting coronavirus strict guidelines while attending a nightclub, Mirror reports. Mayweather partied hard at the popular International Boutique Nightclub (INTL) on Saturday night, May 23 where it was gathered that social distancing was not applied. INTL posted a clip of the unbeaten star on their Instagram, captioned: "@floydmayweather in the building." READ ALSO: Stan Kroenke owns 500m mega-ranch bigger than New York, Los Angeles combined Although Doug Ducey, the governor of Arizona, has lifted some of the restrictions on May 11, he ordered that social distancing must however be adhered to. He also reiterated that bars and related hangout points must remain closed until further notice as official coronavirus statistics in the state have it that there were 431 new cases that day, while the state's death toll stands at 799. Mayweather was seemingly unfazed by the continuing threat of the virus however, as he joined other party goers by ignoring social distancing advice and failing to wear a face mask or gloves. Meanwhile he has reiterated his commitment not to return into the rings despite calls that he should come out of retirement to fight and also make good money. Mayweather who made close to, even if not more than whopping $1billion during his 21-year professional career has responded to criticisms from UFC star Chael Sonnen and rapper 50 Cent that he is "broke". READ ALSO: N'golo Kante, Chelsea star, drives new Mercedes Benz to training The 43-year-old retired in 2017 right after he defeated Conor McGregor in the 10th round of their fight where he made not less than $200million. YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the former home of the legendary Mike Tyson and his ex-wife Monica Turner has been put up for sale for around 7million. Turner who won the divorce case and was awarded the property which housed the couple in the late 1990s has reportedly put the mansion up for sale. Tyson and his former lover bought the property in 1995 and they lived there together for several years before divorcing after the legends alleged infidelity. Yenkasa: "We have families to feed, we can't stop the Okada business" - Riders lament | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Mike Tyson's 7m mansion he lost in divorce to ex-wife up for sale Source: YEN.com.gh Even as the Pune civic administration has taken control of 80 per cent of beds in private hospitals, there is a severe staff crunch at many of these hospitals as nurses from other states have returned home during the lockdown, and are now unwilling to come back. During a meeting on Saturday with top authorities, including Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram, representatives from many private hospitals flagged the issue. According to these hospitals, a few hundred nurses, especially from Kerala, have resigned and returned home during lockdown as they feared contagion. In Pune, 70 per cent of nursing staff in most hospitals with more than 100 beds are from Kerala. Some of these nurses, according to Ram, have refused to come back to the city due to pressure from family, as reported by hospitals. These hospitals are primarily concerned that even as they handover beds to government, there may not be sufficient nursing staff. As we assured them that we will also appeal these nurses that the government will provide all kinds of for the treatment of Covid patients, said Ram. Ram further said that there is need to build confidence among these staff as there is fear. We will try and convince these nurses, many of them from Kerala, not to leave jobs. If necessary as last resort, we will act against them under MESMA. The state government on Friday decided to take charge of 80 per cent of total operational beds in private hospitals in Pune, Mumbai and other cities. The Pune district administration held a meeting in this regard with private hospitals and they were appraised about the decision. Pune-based Nobel hospital, which has been treating Covid patients, reported at least 100 nurses have resigned during past three months to return home. Most of these nurses, according to hospital authorities, are from Kerala. We have been getting resignations of many nurses even since government have started special trains taking back migrant workers have started. On a daily basis, an average of seven want to leave even as we try and convince them to stay back, said Dr H K Sale, one of the directors at Noble hospital, adding that he hasnt accepted most of the resignations. According to Dr Riya Punjabi, medical superintendent at Inlaks and Budhrani hospital, the hospital is facing a class IV staff-crunch, but is able to manage at present with the strength of nurses working. At Budhrani hospital, around 50 staff out of 260 have returned to their homes in the last two months. Some of them are reluctant to come back due to the Covid scare. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is now helping us with contacts of others where we can call and ask them to work, Dr Punjabi said, adding that some staff living in Tadiwala road and Yerawada, which are red zones. Chief nurse at the Nobel hospital Trupti Nanda said that 80 per cent of the 400+ staff at the hospital hails from Kerala. Of these 400-odd nurses, around 100 have returned to their respective towns in Kerala even as many still come to me with resignations, said Nanda, adding the main concern for them is safety. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Dubai based couple dreamed of an adventurous honeymoon when they rejected the Maldives to buy tickets for Mexico. Little did they know that the coronavirus pandemic, which was yet to spread across the globe, would turn their honeymoon into the worst nightmare of their lives. 36-year-old Khaled and 35-year-old Peri, both Egyptian citizens, got married on March 6 in Cairo. A few days later, they reportedly left for Cancun, Mexico for their honeymoon wearing gloves, avoiding crowds and following proper social distancing measures. However, they were unaware of the surging coronavirus cases and increasing travel restrictions across the globe. According to international media reports, they had plans to return to UAE via Turkey on March 19. But problems started after they were not allowed to board their connecting flight to Istanbul as Turkey had banned people from entering and exiting the nation. As a result, the couple was left stranded at the airport for two days. Without a boarding pass, they were neither allowed to buy toiletries not to collect their luggage, 'Needed a plan' Speaking to International media reporters later, they said that they needed a plan at that moment. Therefore they checked all the countries which allowed Egyptians to enter without a visa. Their quest ended after they found the Maldives, the country they had earlier rejected for honeymoon. Once in the island nation, they got access to hotels, which was a relief as compared to the Airport benches. Read: Palestinian Leaders Reject 16 Tons Of Medical Equipment In Aid From UAE Sent Via Israel Soon, another problem emerged-Work. The couple reportedly weren't carrying a laptop and the threat of underperforming or losing their jobs loomed large on their heads. Another problem that they faced was that they were UAE residents, not citizens. Therefore, they weren't allowed on the flights which carried stranded citizens back home. They reportedly had one option left, that of being evacuated to Egypt but that was of no use as even after spending 14 days in quarantine, there was no way of returning back to Dubai. Read: Egypt Celebrates Eid Under Strict Restrictions According to reports, the couple has spent the last month in special isolation facilities set up by the Maldivian government at a resort on the island of Olhuveli and is looking forward to countries easing restrictions. As of now, Maldives reportedly has around 3,000 stranded tourists and has now banned incoming tourists to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Read: Palestinians Say They Were Not Informed Of UAE-Israel Flight Read: When Is Eid Al Fitr 2020 In UAE? Here Is Everything You Need To Know (Image credits: Peri/Instagram) NATO Chief, US Special Envoy Khalilzad Welcome 3-Day Ceasefire in Afghanistan Sputnik News 02:11 GMT 24.05.2020 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad have both welcomed the three-day ceasefire announced in Afghanistan, saying it should pave the way for lasting peace. "I welcome the statements by the government of Afghanistan & the Taliban on a 3-day ceasefire over Eid. All parties should seize this opportunity for peace, for the benefit of all Afghans. NATO remains committed to Afghanistan's long-term security," Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter on Saturday. Meanwhile, US Special Representative Khalilzad said that this opportunity for peace should not be missed and that the United States will do its part to help. "Other positive steps should immediately follow: the release of remaining prisoners as specified in the US-Taliban agreement by both sides, no returning to high levels of violence, and an agreement on a new date for the start of intra-Afghan negotiations," Khalilzad wrote on Twitter, adding that "this development offers the opportunity to accelerate the peace process." The Taliban militant group declared a three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan on Saturday on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting period. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the ceasefire declaration, saying that the government was extending the offer of peace and that he had ordered the Afghan National Defense Security Forces to comply with the truce that takes effect on Sunday. The United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement at the end of February. The main premises of the deal are the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and the launch of intra-Afghan peace talks, subject to a mutual exchange of prisoners. There has been little progress in the Afghan peace process amid continuing violence in the country. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Australian sharemarket surged in a surprisingly strong start to the week, hitting a new 11-week high and seemingly unburdened by the geopolitical tensions that hobbled its last two sessions. All sectors gained as the benchmark ASX 200 rose 118.6 points, or 2.2 per cent, to 5615.6 on Monday for its best day of the month so far. Volumes were slightly down at 670.6 million trades. About 180 of the top 200 companies finished higher, including 49 of the top 50. The local tech sector was the strongest performer with a collective 3.61 per cent climb. Much of this was because of another record day for buy now, pay later firm Afterpay. The company got as high at $49 in early afternoon trade, representing a more than six-fold increase from the low of $8.01 just two months ago. The heavyweight financials gained 1.85 per cent as the big four banks - Commonwealth, NAB, ANZ and Westpac - added between 0.49 per cent and 2.67 per cent. Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP leapt 1.29 per cent and 1.28 per cent as the materials sector rose 1.31 per cent. CSL rose 2.52 per cent to $298.27 to help health care finish higher. The industrial, consumer discretionaries, telco, property and energy sectors each added more than 2 per cent. The US-China tensions that weighed the index down on Thursday and Friday - and which were expected to bleed into a new week - were not to be seen as investors rode an unexpected wave of positive sentiment. Chief investment officer at Australian Eagle Asset Management, Sean Sequiera, said it was a grand day for companies that struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virus-ravaged travel firms Webjet and Flight Centre each added more than 15 per cent while Southern Cross Media gained about 10 per cent, for example. The market is starting to see the end of the effects of the virus, Mr Sequiera said. It seems a little bit early to me, but seems to be a result of people saying the worst may be behind us. Mr Sequiera said Mondays rise was all the more surprising given a lack of positive news over the weekend. He said the strength in iron ore did not unwind as markedly as expected following the Chinese government withholding its GDP target for 2020, or the nature of its stimulus plan for COVID-19. The lack of a growth target (from China) I think it was more important that the Chinese government showed it wanted to keep their population employed. Even in a democratic society, you keep people employed, they vote you back in. Swissquote Bank senior analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya warned re-escalating tensions could hammer the bullish sentiment across the risk assets and continue driving capital toward safety. Generally speaking, what worried investors before the Covid-19, namely the US-China trade frictions and Hong Kong protests, are back on headlines, but on top of a severely weakened world economy amid weeks of business shutdowns, he said. The US market is closed overnight for its Memorial Day holiday. US futures are indicating Wall Street tick higher when trade resumes. Twelve months ago baby Milo was fighting for his life on a ventilator with his parents by his side. Last week, his father Sean Johnston and mother Karen Doherty were overjoyed to celebrate their sons first birthday at home in Derry. Midway through Karens pregnancy it was discovered that her unborn baby had Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia or CDH for short. It is a rare potentially fatal abnormality which occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 births and accounts for around 8% of all major congenital abnormalities. In these uncommon cases, unborn babies develop a hole in their diaphragm, the thin sheet of muscle separating the chest from the abdomen, which can allow the stomach, liver or bowels to move up through the gap into the chest cavity, squashing the lungs and, in the worst cases, leaving them too underdeveloped to allow breathing after birth. The past year has been challenging, a journey of ups and downs as Milo recovered from a life-saving operation and overcame bronchitis on several occasions. While researching and doing everything to ensure their unborn child had the best possible chance of survival, the couple also had to devote time to care for their other much-loved boys Ethan (8) and Jake (2). Milos condition was first detected at Karens 20-week scan when they were told that his stomach had been pushed up to his chest cavity and his heart was on the wrong side. A consultant was able to diagnose CDH but it still had to be confirmed by a specialist at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. The couple were given news that no expecting parent wants to hear, that their unborn child had a 50% chance of survival. It came as a hammer blow and that day was a complete blur. Sean said: We were in shock, you just dont know what to do. We wanted to know what happens next. Making it to full-term was far from certain. Travelling to Belfast for scans became the norm but they remained positive. At 28 weeks a lung-to-head ratio was measured to determine a prognosis. There hopes were diminished. Karen was admitted to hospital early, May 7. The babys due date was May 24 but leaving it any later would have worsened his chances of survival. Milo would need an intensive care bed immediately after he was born, there were none available at time of admission which raised concerns that Karen may have to be transferred to a hospital in Dublin or even England. Fortunately, a bed was free just in time. Sean explained: Doctors said that when he is born he will be the sickest child in Northern Ireland at that time until we get him stabilised. They dont know what complications are there until hes born, does his heart work, if he can breathe or if he cant or if anything else works. They didnt want Milo to cry when he came out because that allows air into his lungs, which puts more compression on them and is more damaging, but he did. AMAZING STAFF A ventilator was set-up and numerous doctors awaited his arrival. The couple paid tribute to all staff but in particular consultant paediatrician, Dr Sweet, who was amazing. He kept us positive and assured us hed do everything in his power to keep him here, as long as hes willing to help me hell survive, Sean said. He couldnt make any promises but said, as long as hes strong enough Im not going to give up on him no matter how long he stays here with us. As the senior consultant on call that day, Dr Sweet delivered the baby at 4.21pm. The baby was immediately whisked away to be placed in an incubator and ventilator and they didnt see him again until 10pm that night. It was the longest time of our lives, Sean recalled. You keep checking to see if theres any word back. We heard back once in that time that they were still trying to stabilise him. We were taken to see him while he was hooked up to a ventilator with lines in his ankles, in his bellybutton, on his wrists. He was on mountains of medication for his heart, blood pressure, fentanyl for pain relief amongst other things. BAPTISM The babys grandparents got a chance to see him and they were driving home to Derry when Karen and Sean were told that he may not make it through the night. A baptism was quickly arranged and their parents were phoned to come back for the service. Names had been discussed, Milo being shortlisted. But as if it was a sign from God, a Belfast priest called Father Milo performed the service, their minds were made up. A short time later doctors told them Milo wasnt reacting to the treatment and there was nothing more they could do for him. Karen and Sean stayed by his side through the night. When morning came Dr Sweet started his shift and vowed to do all he could. Treatments were adjusted and the couple were told to take short period of respite with the assurance that the baby would be kept alive if anything went wrong. Around 20 minutes later they were greeted with words they longed to hear, good news. Milo was stable, he was off adrenaline and steroids, and his ventilation had been changed. However, a life-saving surgery was still needed to close the hole in his diaphragm during which he lost a lot of blood and required a transfusion. It was discovered that all of his organs except his liver had moved into the chest cavity, if the liver had then Milo wouldve died. He kept fighting post-surgery and showed signs of improvement. SPECIAL Peace of mind was restored on that fateful day. To the astonishment, and delight of his parents, Milo was discharged from hospital at age 3 and a half weeks. A setback came ten days later when he was readmitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital with a potentially fatal bowel obstruction where he spent a further two weeks. Back home in Derry Milo remained susceptible to infection and has been in and out of Altnagelvin with bronchitis. It has not been plain sailing but they have watched their baby make gradual improvements and are filled with hope about the future. Doctors have been stunned at his level of progression. The charity CDH UK has also been a great support to the family throughout. The emergence of Coronavirus means that Milo has to be isolated and protected at home but thankfully there are no concerns at the moment. May 20 was the pinnacle of a tough year, a beautiful moment for all the family as Milo reached his first birthday, a milestone that seemed unreachable just twelve months ago. This was a massive moment for us, Sean said, knowing everything weve been through to get there. We thought back to the same time last year when he was in intensive care and what hes overcome - it made it all the more special. The fear and vulnerability of the central government is evident in the arrest of Pinjra Tod activists Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal and, earlier, of Safoora Zargar (in the second trimester of a pregnancy). That these bright and brilliant women students with a sense of justice have been turned into enemies of the state reflects the nature of that state. As if turning a pogrom against Muslims into a riot was not enough, peaceful protesters against sinister laws have been turned into the cause of the violence. While Zargar is booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), in Kalita and Narwals case, they are scrambling for a foothold and have booked them under Sections 186 and 353 of the IPC, though there is no evidence of them having obstructed or assaulted a public servant. To this government, peaceful protests by women are unlawful. These women become terrorists, working to undermine the integrity and sovereignty of India, which is the rationale of this law. This would be funny were it not so petty and pathetic. In many ways, it illustrates the critique that a group like Pinjra Tod has mounted since its inception. Pinjra Tod began as a women students collective against oppressive and unjust practices within universities. The important word is collective and it functioned, and continues to do so, as a collective, bringing back the autonomous womens movement which had waned in India since the neoliberal moment. Pinjra Tod saw the connections between the various expanding grids of sexual governance that cage women from the family to the school to the community to the state and it demanded a breaking out of these cages. Delhi University was its base and it became a forceful presence on the streets on issues ranging from hostel rules to sexual harassment. Pinjra Tods emerged in campuses across the country. Sooner or later, this was going to threaten a masculinist state fuelled by an ideology of testosterone-inspired hatred, a state Pinjra Tod never flinched from contesting. The creative and brilliant forms of protest it staged, including same-sex marriages in Parliament Street police station, left the heteronormative state flummoxed. The peaceful protests by thousands of women across Delhi and the country late last year were something the state just could not take. Pinjra Tod was part of those protests, making its critique of the national that it has always made We wont Mother India nationalism cages women, one of its early posters read. In these times, when social movements are easily fractured and destroyed, Pinjra Tod has stood strong, reminding us of the power of collective politics. That its ground has been feminist is proof that the autonomous womens movement is far from dead and that collective womens voices can make the phallocentric state quake in its jackboots. From Shaheen Bagh to Bilal Bagh, women have shown us this and if all the state can do is arrest individual women students on fabricated charges, it is a sad and sorry statement on that state. The psychic fragility of this state is not hidden behind its bellicose rhetoric or its pusillanimous arresting of individual women or the hordes of men on the internet cheering the arrests and spewing sexist and misogynist abuse against these women. Indeed, it is only exposed. That the most robust and critical voices must be harassed and incarcerated shows the health of this state and the culture it wants to create. It is a culture in which no analytic voice will be tolerated, no critical dialogue will be entertained, where rational instruments like the law will be used against the rational. It is a culture of unquestioning assent and students who do not assent will be jailed. Feminism is the longest revolution,Juliet Mitchell tells us and, to her, feminism is an unqualified success because as her friend Jacqueline Rose puts it, it is the one you never give up on even in the knowledge that it is unlikely ever to come to an end. The arrests of these brilliant, thinking women masks the hundreds and thousands of women with them in collective forms of thinking. These women show us that the battle is far from over. By arresting Kalita and Narwal, this sad and sick state has only strengthened Pinjra Tod. As gay Greek poet Dinos Christianopolous line which became a proverb used in Mexico for students who were disappeared in Ayotzinapa, goes They tried to bury us but they did not know we were seeds. A million Pinjra Tods have sprouted. [May 25, 2020] AirPay FinTech enables Alice McCall to accept Alipay & WeChat Pay via its Shopify integration Online Chinese payment sales surge 800% during COVID-19 shutdown "New normal" for retailer to go online and sell via Chinese social media MELBOURNE, Australia, May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Through the partnership with AirPay FinTech, Australian womenswear designer brand Alice McCall enabled Alipay & WeChat Pay on its Shopify ecommerce website. The Chinese payment sales surge exponentially during shutdown. Over one million Australian Chinese can now shop with their mobile phone and pay with their preferred Alipay and WeChat Pay on www.alicemccall.com. Alice McCall Head of Digital & eCommerce Alan Thomas said, "Customers are turning to internet shopping, opening up a new opportunity for online retailer. We have moved into a direction to enable Alipay & WeChat Pay to our physical stores, as well as online website, right before the shutdown. On top of payment, we also work with AirPay on marketing initiatives to strengthen our communications with our Chinese customers." AirPay Head of FinTech Simon Tse said, "Alice McCall is one of the most recognised Australian designer brands among Chinese community. Local and overseas Chinese consumers are unable to shop instore owing to city shutdown and travel ban. The COVID-19 has speed up the shift from physical retail to ecommerce. It will be a "new normal" for retailer to embrace ecommerce and sell via Chinese social media and live streaming." "We are aiming to drive one million Chinese consumers to our merchants via everyday usage of our new payment app ToPay which is embedded within the most popular Chinese media platform Today Australia." "Ecommerce is a starting point, the demand of Supply Chain, Logistics, AI and Data Analytics are also key to improve Customer Experience. There are massive cross-border opportunities when infrastructures are in place," said Tse. Other online merchants like Thermomix, Sneakerboy, Pixie's Bows, Canvas Beauty, Urban Pharmacy, HarkHark, Daojia, Feijipiao, Primus Hotel, etc have already been integrated to AirPay's ecommerce platform to accept online Chinese payments. About alice McCALL Established in 2004, alice McCALL is the eponymous label of fashion designer, Alice McCall. The brand's design aesthetic is highly driven by the overriding inspiration and personal style of Alice herself season after season. The resulting product is playful, quirky, uniquely feminie with a twist of chic modernity. About AirPay Financial Technologies AirPay FinTech provides one-stop payment and marketing solution for merchants to better communicate with Chinese consumers. Retail clients include Gucci, Sneakerboy, Victoria's Secret, Champion, Glue Store, Moncler and MaxMara, etc. AirPay is invested by SwiftPass Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of a China listed company. About Today Australia / ToPay Today Australia "Media Today Group" http://mediatodaygroup.com is Australia's largest Chinese internet "new media" platform delivered through an in-App experience, WeChat Official Account and WeChat Moment advertising. ToPay is a market-first bill payment product which is embedded within Today Australia app, allowing Australian Chinese to pay bills via Alipay and WeChat Pay. SOURCE AirPay Financial Technology Pty Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A huge pike that would have been the biggest ever in Britain has been found dead when anglers returned to a lake in North Yorkshire after lockdown. The monster fish, which had recently died of natural causes at a fishery, weighed a mighty 53lb 2oz. That is over 6lb heavier than the coveted British pike record of 46lb 13oz that has stood for 28 years. A huge pike that would have been the biggest ever in Britain has been found dead when anglers returned to a lake in North Yorkshire after lockdown. It was found by fishery owner Brian Morland (above) while walking his dog along the banks of Bellflask Fishery near Ripon The monster fish, which had recently died of natural causes, weighed a mighty 53lb 2oz. That is over 6lb heavier than the coveted British pike record of 46lb 13oz that has stood for 28 years It is thought the specimen was previously unknown to the angling world. The pike was found by fishery owner Brian Morland while he was walking his dog along the banks of his Bellflask Fishery near Ripon. Mr Morland believed the fish had suffered from spawning stress which was the cause of its demise. When spawning, fish move into shallow water and do not seek relief in deeper, cooler water when they become stressed - as their main focus is on spawning - and the result can be fatal. He estimated the 4ft long monster was aged around 11 years old. Mr Morland said: 'The lake has always produced some very large pike because the water quality is excellent and the aquatic life is prolific, providing plenty of food. 'Every year we lose one or two of the big pike in the lake due to spawning stress. It is the end of their natural lifespan. 'However, this fish was far bigger than most so we weighed it very carefully using highly accurate scales suspended from a sturdy tripod. Pike: The apex predator of freshwater lakes... with 700 teeth Pike - Esox lucius in Latin - are at the top of the food chain in freshwater lakes and rivers and their main prey is roach, perch and trout. They have up to 700 teeth, some of which point backwards to stop any prey from escaping once they have clamped their jaws shut. They can grow to 5ft in length and have been known to live for more than 20 years. Advertisement 'We also took a lot of photographs. The fish was over 6lb heavier than the UK rod-caught record pike. From its scale readings, we think the fish was 10 to 11 years old. 'The reason it reached its weight was partly genetics, partly environment and partly a good food supply. It would have been lovely to have caught a pike of this size but I do feel privileged to have clapped eyes on a 53lb pike.' The official British pike record is held by Roy Lewis who caught a 46lb 13oz specimen at the Llandegfedd Reservoir in South Wales in 1992. Last year, Czech angler Lukas Matejka broke the coveted world record that has stood for 33 years after netting the monster that weighed a whopping 58lb 14oz. John Currie from the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain said the discovery will give anglers a boost that a record-breaking fish could be out there. He said: 'It's certainly a massive fish but it had never been caught and wasn't weighed while it was alive and there's a chance it might have taken on some water. 'But for fishermen, it helps cement that thought that you never know what's around the corner. Last year, Czech angler Lukas Matejka (above) broke the coveted world record that has stood for 33 years after netting a monster pike that weighed a whopping 58lb 14oz 'It's a pity it wasn't caught alive so we'll never know its true weight but it gives people confidence that big fish close to the record could be out there. 'Pike fishermen always want to catch the biggest possible but there are very few places you can go with chances you can break the record.' Stuart Watts from the anglers' club added: 'This fish is completely out of left field, which is quite remarkable really, and from a fishery that is off the radar.' Mr Morland said the pike was naturally recycled after he laid it in the vegetation for badgers and foxes to eat. Nigerian International, Odion Ighalo is set to leave Manchester United for his parent club, Shanghai Shenhua next week. According to reports, the Red Devils want to take him on another loan deal but his parent club want a permanent deal for him. As a result of this, his parent club has ordered him to return to full training next week when his current loan deal finally comes to an end. Read Also: Odion Ighalo Names Three Brothers For Helping Him Settle At Man Utd Advertisement Since he moved to Old Trafford in January, the pacy forward has notched four goals in just 8 appearances. In brief: As Europe's infamous General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) turns two, privacy advocates are expressing concerns that it hasn't had the effects that were promised by the European Commission. With investigations progressing too slowly under the supervision of an underfunded Irish agency, some are beginning to question the flaws of this approach. It's been two years since the European Union's General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) went into effect, with sweeping changes to how companies are able to handle customer data. It's also inspired similar rules that were adopted in the US, such as California's Consumer Privacy Act. The idea behind the far-reaching regulation was that companies needed to be held responsible for violating the privacy of their users, failing to protect their personal data, or misusing it in any way. The big promise was that the Irish Data Protection Commission -- the institution tasked with enforcing GDPR -- would otherwise hand out fines of up to 20 million ($21.8 million) or four percent of a company's revenue for the previous financial year, whichever was greater. However, not everyone is happy with how things have been moving since. Industry watchers and privacy advocates like Max Schrems are worried that the pace of probes into big companies like Facebook and Google has been slow, with "highly inefficient and partly Kafkaesque" investigations that did little to move the needle. In an open letter sent to the European Commission, Schrems mentioned unaddressed complaints about the way companies like Facebook and its subsidiaries WhatsApp and Instagram rely on a "consent bypass" to allow themselves free reign over users' personal data. Schrems is also disappointed that after thousands of complaints targeting companies big and small, the Irish privacy regulator took pride in making one or two small steps in what looks like a long legal battle, while hardly slapping any fines on companies that were found to be violating GDPR with their ad tech. For instance, the largest fine for GDPR violations hit Google in France to the tune of $57 million. But even in the case of the search giant, the developers of the Brave browser found that it was using "hidden pages" to circumvent GDPR protections, more than a year after its complaint was dismissed by Google as baseless. CALGARY - Shares in Vermilion Energy Inc. traded lower on Monday after the company announced the unexpected, immediate departure of its president and CEO Anthony Marino and its decision to go forward without a chief executive. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/5/2020 (605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Anthony Marino, CEO of Vermilion Energy, gestures during an interview at the company's offices in Calgary, Alta., Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. Marino has stepped down as president and chief executive and as a director of the company, effective immediately. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY - Shares in Vermilion Energy Inc. traded lower on Monday after the company announced the unexpected, immediate departure of its president and CEO Anthony Marino and its decision to go forward without a chief executive. Company chairman and co-founder Lorenzo Donadeo, who was CEO from 2003 to 2016, has been named executive chairman and will head up an executive committee to operate the oil and gas producer, Vermilion said. Curtis Hicks, who served as Vermilion's chief financial officer from 2003 to 2018, has rejoined the company as president, it said. "In these challenging times, Vermilion will redouble its focus on its core business principles that have served it well over its successful 26-year history," said Donadeo in a press release. "These principles are based on a conservative, long-term focus on balance-sheet strength and capital discipline to generate strong returns." Vermilion has experienced and learned from several previous severe downturns, he said. Donadeo was not available for an interview, the company said. Analysts were supportive of the executive changes given the past experience of Donadeo and Hicks. "We expect that once the dust settles, this will be viewed as a positive decision as Vermilion repositions itself as a relatively low-risk operator, backed by an asset portfolio that can provide shareholder returns through both the quality of the asset base and the dividend," said National Bank analyst Travis Wood in a report. Stifel FirstEnergy analyst Michael Dunn said, "we view the moves as a reflection of the board's desire to re-establish past principles (i.e. conservative balance sheet, key decision making by committee)." Marino earned $4.8 million in 2019, including $933,000 in base salary and $3.5 million in share-based awards, according to a company filing. Last month, Vermilion announced a $1.2-billion writedown in the value of its oil and gas assets due to low global commodity prices. About 60 per cent of its production comes from Canada but it also operates in countries including Australia, Ireland, the United States, Netherlands, Germany and France. It also trimmed $100 million from its 2020 capital spending budget and announced $35 million in other cuts to expenses. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Oil prices have fallen dramatically over the past three months due to demand destruction from measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as lingering effects of a market share battle between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Vermilion's shares traded as low as $6.85, down 4.2 per cent, Monday morning on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In the past year they've varied between $2.21 and $30.04. Vermilion said the company has used the executive committee structure in the past and that it has been re-established formally. The executive committee will include a minimum of five senior executives including the executive chairman, president and chief financial officer. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSX:VET) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) - The search for the most beautiful ladies in the country has been postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. announced that the 2020 pageant will be re-scheduled depending on the guidelines and regulations to be issued by the government. BPCI recognizes the pressing and urgent need to protect the health and safety of the candidates, their families and friends, all the passionate pageant supporters, and the general public. Mindful of the potential and serious risks, BPCI has decided to postpone the Binibining Pilipinas 2020 Pageant indefinitely, the organization said in its statement. The pageant was originally scheduled last April 26, but it was moved to May 31 following the declaration of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. However, there is no decision yet from the government if there will be an extension of modified ECQ or transition to a general community quarantine in Metro Manila after the end of May. Rest assured that BPCI still intends to hold the Pageant with its partners and sponsors as soon as the situation permits, when the threat of transmission and infection is at its minimum, BPCI added. Bb. Pilipinas is the national search for the countrys representatives to the Miss International, Miss Supranational, Miss Intercontinental, Miss Globe, and Miss Grand International. Meanwhile, another local pageant Miss Universe Philippines -- was moved to October due to the current crisis. Indias farms are facing a significant threat from a swarm of millions of locusts that have migrated from Africa and have now been spotted in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. A GENETIC MARVEL The desert locust is one of about a dozen species of short-horned grasshoppers. They are unique in the way that they change their behaviour turning from solitary to gregarious or social insects that coalesce into a swarm and forage for food together. WHERE DID THEY ORIGINATE? This swarm originated in the Horn of Africa, where excess rains triggered a breeding boom. According to Indian experts, the swarm entering India now had another round of breeding in Baluchistan, Iran and Pakistan. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Swarms have moved to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and border areas of Uttar Pradesh. They migrated to Fazilka in Punjab from Pakistan before spreading to other states from there. The worst-affected districts are Barmer, Jaisalmer and Nagaur. WHAT DAMAGE CAN THEY CAUSE? The current upsurge is alarming in the Eastern Africa region. Over 25 million people will face acute food insecurity in the region in the second half of 2020. In Yemen, where locusts have been reproducing in hard-to-access inland areas, 17 million people may be impacted. A swarm of locust spread over a square kilometre can chew through food enough for 35,000 people in a day. CAN THEY HURT HUMANS? Locusts do not attack people or animals. There is no evidence that suggests that locusts carry diseases that could harm humans. CAN THEY BE CONTROLLED? They can fly as far as 150km a day, making them difficult to control. Locust swarms can cover extremely large areas, which can sometimes be extremely remote and difficult to access. FAO monitors locust swarms on a 24-hour basis and provides forecasts and early warning alerts on the timing, scale and location of movement. Traditional chemicals are used to control their numbers. Now nature-based biopesticides are also available as a less harmful alternative for controlling outbreaks. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? If we are not able to control them, the sub adults will come back to their summer breeding area in the Thar desert bordering Pakistan. If there are good rains, they will lay eggs and lead to a new generation of desert locusts migrating to India again in a few months. MEASURES IN INDIA The Locust Warning Organisation under the ministry of agriculture has a ground team of 50 people mainly to monitor and track the swarms; drones are used for aerial spraying of Malathion 96, an organophosphate insecticide and a potentially toxic chemical for non-cropped areas. For areas with agriculture, chlorpyrifos is sprayed by drones, fire brigades and tractor-mounted sprays. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS *40-80 million locusts are estimated in a swarm that spreads over 1 square kilometre *These many locusts can ravage crops equivalent to the feeding need of 35,000 people in a day *Their life span is between 3-5 months. They become hoppers after a month and can start laying eggs when they 60-70 days old Source: Locust Warning Organisation, FAO, National Geographic Labour law changes for three years may not be enough as it takes a couple of years for factories to build and operations at a proper scale start only in the third or fourth year. When Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan went to town about a sea of labour law changes he has to offer to new businesses, he wasnt probably aware that a tsunami was coming his way. Labour law reforms, a forever demand of the industry, has always been a sensitive issue in India and for a chief minister to announce major pro-business changes to the labour laws through a press conference on May 7 was a rare sight in Indias recent political history. Later that evening, the Uttar Pradesh government issued a press statement about a flurry of decisions taken by the Yogi Adityanath-led Cabinet. It was a 13-page press release related to 10 announcements. Though the decision to abolish almost all labour laws in the state for three years was the most significant, it found place in the press release on page number 11. The state government has justified the need for such a radical move to providing jobs to a large influx of migrant workers, who have returned home and would be left jobless due to the ongoing pandemic. While the MP government has already brought about some changes through an executive order, the UP government chose to go for an Ordinance, which is now pending with President Ram Nath Kovind for approval as it requires tweaking of central laws applicable there. Forget policy observers, it took even some of the industrialists by surprise, especially since it came from a non-industrial state, which essentially supplies labourers to industrialised states in large numbers. The announcement caused a chain reaction, with Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani announcing the next day that the state will exempt new companies setting units in one year from almost all labour laws for 1,200 days. It moved quickly and the Ordinance is pending the Presidents approval. Even the Congress-ruled state governments, such as Rajasthan and Punjab, have gone into a huddle to consider some of the changes being made by their BJP-led counterparts. But it is unlikely that these states are going to follow the UP model, that the state's labour department officials termed as drastic". At least officials of the Karnataka government have made public statements, saying labour laws won't be abolished in the state, though some changes are planned. The central government wasnt caught unawares. The Union Labour and Employment secretary Heera Lal Samariya told industry chambers at a meeting on May 8 that the government is working closely with states on labour law changes, referring to the announcements made by UP and MP. In fact, it was none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave a pat on the back of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot during a meeting of chief ministers on April 27 as he hailed the state governments move to increase the daily working hour cap from 8 to 12 hours to compensate for the loss of production. At present, 10 states in India have taken a similar step (unlike Rajasthan and Punjab, not all states are offering overtime wages). US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (UISPF) president and CEO Mukesh Aghi welcomed the initiatives taken by the state governments and stated India needs to move away from the 18th-century guidelines". Giving flexibility to companies to downsize staff during times of stress is on the top of his checklist for labour law reforms as he mentioned that UISPF was in touch with many state governments in India to look at investment avenues, he said in an interview. According to the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947, all companies hiring at least 100 workers need official approval for retrenching workers (though as many as eight states in India have a relaxed regime, compared to the central law with a threshold of 300 workers now). Aghi also demanded the inspection raj be abolished and emphasised governments need to act quickly as investors are moving to countries like Vietnam and Cambodia. He, however, said that businesses would look for a stable policy environment more than anything else. We need a predictable and transparent policy environment based on consultations. "The biggest challenge would be to get a sense of transparency and the government needs to send a strong message in that direction, Aghi said. Even he admitted labour law changes for three years may not be enough as it takes a couple of years for factories to build and operations at a proper scale start only in the third or fourth year. This is an issue of policy predictability. We need permanent changes, which should be conveyed to potential investors to build confidence, he added. Obviously, we need labour market reform, said Bibek Debroy, chairman of Economic Advisory Council. We need to make organised labour market less rigid and extend protection to the unorganised labour market. But we need to start from the first principles. He agreed that the abolition of labour laws for a period of three years would be of little help and will set a time frame for state governments to re-look at the labour laws holistically. Radhicka Kapoor, senior fellow at Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, said the government has to create policies for boosting demand and one of the ways was to give higher wages in the hands of the working class, which has been left vulnerable due to the pandemic. We seem to think that labour regulations are the only binding factor in India for investments but thats not correct. "There are too many bottlenecks. The quality of infrastructure on offer is an important element to attract investors - we have expensive power supply and poor road logistics, she said. Debroy gave the example of Bangladesh, which did a holistic restructuring of its labour laws and came up with a single code in 2006. He said India can begin by looking at the model proposed by the Jammu and Kashmir government in 2018 (before it was dissolved). It had announced a uniform Employment Code encompassing all the labour laws in the erstwhile state. After coming to power in 2014, the NDA government at the Centre had proposed to convert 35-odd labour laws into four codes, one each on: Social security, industrial relations, wages and occupational safety, and health. While one has become a law, the other three have been introduced in the Parliament. But for now, it seems the Centre is not willing to bite the bullet. A gang abducted young women using expensive cars. They sell women's organs for money. Everyone wishes to capture criminals. Director Kang Moo-young is working in a news company, getting the first editorial feature she risks to be one of the victims. She borrowed an expensive car and dressed richly and got abducted. Her friend Tak Won hides nearby to film her and get the scoop. But they failed to protect each other as they also got abducted by criminals. They dig a pit to bury Kang and Tak alive. Rescue came as detective Jing Kang and his friend Teddy Jung arrived to help settle the matter. Jing Kang works as one of the detectives, and as he captures the kidnappers, he gets a media boost. Teddy Jung runs a bar business, and he goes out to help Jing Kang whenever he needs a backup. Jing Kang helps Teddy in his business and pays him off when he gets to fight on the field. Tak Won owns a detective agency. He works on profiling criminal cases and gets paid for people who seek help. He presents a new case for Kang Moo-young, and they discuss matters that would also help her show. A new criminal case where the murderer is on the loose. A teacher died due to multiple stabs. The same victim suffered multiple stabs in 2007, which left unresolved. Kang Moo-young visited the victim's mother and learned about the last contact person he dealt with. She took the address and went to see the place. Detective Jing Kang visited the victims' school and traced his phone calls. They found out the recent calls lead to their suspect. Jang went to the suspect's address and contacted Teddy for another crime case. Teddy brings along his two staff, who are also great in martial arts. Kang Moo-young, Jing Kang, and Teddy are all in the suspect's case now and brawled with the suspect and his men. He runs an illegal cosmetic surgery in a secluded area. They failed to get the fake surgeon to be the suspect base on their interview. Kang Moo-young and Tak Won went to see their friend Lee Ban Seok, a pathologist turned into a mortician. He likes to work on dead people and put puzzle pieces together. Jing Kang, Tak Won, and Kang Moo-young met up again outside the NFS. They end up pestering each other for getting on the same case always. Jing Kang got the files from NFS for the fingerprints of the suspect. Thirteen years ago and the present murder holds one suspect, and Jing Kang is on it. Kang Moo-young rushed to see an IT expert who is a friend of the victim. They discovered that the killer uploaded videos of his victims through his online platform. Kang took the IP address to track the owner. Jing Kang got a tip that the victim went to a famous bar and got into a fight. Jing took the VIP name and pursued him as well. Kang Moo-young and Jing Kang got the same details of the suspect, and they head out to find him. A Denny's employee in a file photograph. Fifteen franchisee locations are closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to a company-owned store. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) 15 Dennys Restaurants Closing Down Amid Pandemic Fifteen Dennys restaurants are permanently closing after hundreds of locations temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are nearly 1,700 Dennys restaurants in the United States. The 15 restaurants are in New York state. According to filings made with the state Department of Labor, 524 workers lost their jobs because of the closings. None of the employees are represented by a union. The reason for the closings is unforeseeable business circumstances prompted by COVID-19. COVID-19 is a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. The addresses are: 2890 W. Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14626 911 Jefferson Road, Rochester, NY 14623 160 Eastern Blvd., Canandaigua, NY 14424 4240 Lakeville Rd, Geneseo, NY 14454 813 Canandaigua Rd, Geneva, NY 14564 6591 Thompson Road, Syracuse, NY 13206 201 Lawrence Road E., Syracuse, NY 13212 103 Elwood Davis Road, Syracuse, NY 13212 3414 Erie Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13214 176 Grant Ave., Auburn, NY 13021 5300 W. Genesee St., Camillus, NY 13031 7873 Brewerton Rd., Cicero, NY 13212 118 Victory Highway, Painted Post, NY 14870 950 Chemung St., Horseheads, NY 14845 1142 Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY 13212 The locations temporarily closed on March 20 because of the pandemic, according to a filing. At that time, there were 683 employees listed. The 15 locations are operated by Feast American Diners, which operates hundreds of Dennys locations in addition to some Jack in the Box and Corner Bakery Cafe locations. A Dennys spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email: Due to the severe financial environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our franchisee in this area has regrettably decided to close these locations. Dennys has been working with its franchise owners to assist in helping them through this crisis, but the final decision to close is in the hands of each franchise business owner and their particular circumstances, the spokesperson said. A human resources employee told CNY Central that disputes over leasing agreements led to some of the closures. Three hundred and twelve locations temporarily ceased operations because of the pandemic, executives said earlier in May. The company said it permanently closed a company-owned store in the first quarter. Eight franchisees opened in the quarter. CEO John Miller told investors in a call on the first quarter that franchisees didnt know whether they could rely on the Payment Protection Program, a federal loan program thats doled out billions in loans that become forgivable if used to pay employees. Approximately 90 percent of franchisees received loans from the federal government or had applied for the loans. Some franchisees have really good balance sheets but may have made investments recently in the restaurants. The liquidity played a role, he said, adding later: And then some are just really sleepy little areas or some are resort areas that went sleepy really fast. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched in order to provide free legal advice to whistleblowers. Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe and Transparency International Ireland are appealing to people to donate, as they aim to raise 50,000 over the next three months. Since the pandemic began, TI Ireland has had an increase in calls from people raising workplace concerns, and says its largest number of clients reporting whistleblowing retaliation, work in health and community services. Sergeant McCabe, who has been appointed Patron of TI Ireland, received free advice and support from the organisation from 2012 to 2015, as he exposed systemic abuse of the Garda traffic database. In a statement, McCabe said: "The support that TI Ireland provided was absolutely essential in helping me get through my ordeal. TI Ireland helped me make informed decisions about how to report my concerns, and they helped me understand what to expect and how to safely blow the whistle on what I had seen. Im lucky that I got through my experience but there are many whistleblowers who will struggle without support. Many need legal advice as soon as possible especially before they report - but often cant afford it. Thats why Im asking the public to support the appeal to provide free legal advice to whistleblowers." For guidance on whistleblowing and ethical issues, contact the Speak Up Helpline on 1800 844 866, Monday to Friday, 10am - 6pm. You can also contact the Helpline at www.speakup.ie. To donate to TI Irelands fundraising appeal, visit the GoFundMe page or transparency.ie. Demi Rose continued her lockdown in London on Monday as she played with her beloved pet dog, Ted, before knocking out a tune on her steel drum. The model, 25, first posted a topless snap, cradling Ted, captioning this: 'Ted and I. A love story in the city!' In the photo Demi wore rainbow stickers over her chest, sporting nothing else by a short white skirt and matching sun hat. Demi Rose continued her lockdown in London on Monday as she played with her beloved pet dog, Ted, as she posed topless with rainbow stickers over her chest Letting her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders, the model completed her look with a light pallet of makeup. She then took to her steel drum to play a tune for her followers. She used a neon filter for this as she bashed out a melody on the drum in a busty bikini. 'Todays song. Day 2. Blessings. Love you all!' came the caption. Play us a tune! She then took to her steel drum to play a tune for her followers. She used a neon filter for this as she bashed out a melody on the drum in a busty bikini Adorable! Demi spent the day doting on Ted, who seemed hot in the balmy bank holiday weather Demi spent the day doting on Ted, who seemed hot in the balmy bank holiday weather. She set pulses racing once again as she shared a racy photo of herself in black lace lingerie on Instagram on Sunday. The social media sensation left almost nothing to the imagination as she showcased her famous curves while lying on the bed. Wow: Demi set pulses racing once again as she shared a racy photo of herself in black lingerie on Instagram Snuggling up next to a large teddy bear, Demi fixed the camera with a sultry stare as she lay on her side and gave her followers a flash of flesh. Alongside the post, Demi playfully wrote: 'Am I too old for bears?' It comes after Demi shared an impassioned post about body shaming after she hit back at a troll who told her she had 'put on weight' during the nationwide lockdown. The beauty put on a defiant display and sported a T-shirt with the words 'over it' emblazoned across the front, as she showcased her phenomenal physique. Demi previously revealed that she suffered from an eating disorder while in her teens and dropped to just 37kgs, but insisted that she 'loves herself now'. The social media star touched on this during her rant and warned that 'people should be careful' what comments they made on other's pages. Over it: Demi recently shared an impassioned post about body shaming after she hit back at a troll who told her she had 'put on weight' during the nationwide lockdown Sharing a snap of herself in a tiny crop top and a matching thong, Demi wrote: 'I'm over people shaming people for how they look, I'm over people that aren't pure and transparent, I'm over lockdown... 'I'm over not being able to connect with all my friends, I'm over a lot. But I'm not over loving as freely and as openly as I can, appreciating all that is, letting go of what doesn't serve me and having faith in all that's to come. What are you over?' Demi continued to make her point on her Instagram Stories, as she shared a selection of skin-baring snaps alongside a clip addressing the issue. She captioned the first picture on her Story: 'When people assume you've gained weight during quarantine cause you wear an oversized shirt. No, I'm just pale.' Demi posted a second Story snap from a higher angle showing off her incredibly pert assets in the same bodysuit with the caption: 'Don't come for me.' The Birmingham native then spoke to her followers to say: 'I want to rant about something. Sizzling: Demi also took to her Instagram Stories to post a fiery shot of her in a blue string bikini that left nothing to the imagination 'People body shaming people during quarantine. We can't go to the gym at this time and to make stupid comments about how people look, people are already feeling a certain way because we can't do the normal things. 'Mind your own f****** business.' She added: 'People should be more careful on their comments. I had an eating disorder when I was younger. I went down to 37kgs and honestly it's not something that I need to hear because I love myself.' Demi said: 'People should be more careful on their comments. I had an eating disorder when I was younger. I went down to 37kgs and honestly it's not something that I need to hear' She captioned the first picture on her Story: 'When people assume you've gained weight during quarantine cause you wear an oversized shirt. No, I'm just pale' 'I just felt like this was important. It's not acceptable.' 'But I'm not over loving as freely and as openly as I can, appreciating all that is, letting go of what doesn't serve me and having faith in all that's to come. 'What are you over?' Just yesterday Demi snapped back at a social media user who told her she looked as though she'd gained weight in lockdown. She had uploaded a shot of herself in a white and pink printed T-shirt dress that accentuated her derriere. Although Demi looked radiant as ever in the photo, one of her followers commented: 'Ok quarantine is making you gain weight'. Comments: Demi recently fired back at a social media user who told her that she has put on weight during Britain's ongoing coronavirus lockdown Not to take the comment lying down, the social media star responded to the jibe in good humour. She wrote back: '@raquy1 I'm a size XS/UK 6. Only cause my a** is fat.' Demi posed with her back to the camera in the snap, arching her back and staring off into the distance. The Birmingham native tied her brunette locks into a ponytail while she completed her look with a light pallet of makeup. Young Roscommon and Longford farmers have three options available to them by which they can complete their Green Cert. All three options lead to the same result and benefits for the Young Trained Farmer. Two of these three options will be available locally in the Roscommon/ Longford Teagasc Unit shortly and the third option can be accessed from our nearest Agricultural Colleges, (Mountbellew, Co Galway and Ballyhaise, Co Cavan). Which Green Cert Option is best for me? The three options are outlined below starting with the choices most suitable to a young school leaver, right up to the choices facing aspiring students in their thirties, forties and beyond. The most important thing to remember is that there is a route for everyone and the Education staff in the Roscommon / Longford Teagasc Unit are always available to guide you in your choices. Green Cert Route 1 This option is offered on a full time basis in Agricultural colleges. Students must be 17 years of age or over on January 1 following entry to the course. This course is most suitable for school leavers and it would be desirable but not essential to have completed the Leaving Cert cycle in secondary school. The course runs over two years with a combination of formal course work and a period of practical learning experience. This course is also suitable for young people seeking employment on farms. Applications can be made directly to the Colleges or by using the online application via www.teagasc.ie. If applying online you can apply for a number of colleges using the preference system. There is a Means Tested Teagasc Grant Scheme associated with this option, for more information on this, check directly with the College in question. Green Cert Route 2 This option is called The Teagasc Part Time Green Cert and will on offer in the Roscommon / Longford Teagasc Unit this autumn 2020. Applicants must be over 23 years of age when starting this course, there is no upper age limit applicable. It is desirable but not essential to have completed the Leaving Cert cycle in secondary school. Students must have access to a working farm including the financial details of the same farm. The course duration will be approximately 2.5 years on a part time basis, generally 1.5 days per week from September to April. The course work is split between practical / skills training and classroom sessions. The course consists of a range of modules such as Farm Business, Principles of Agriculture, Farm Safety, Farm Enterprise Production, Safe Use of Pesticides etc. Students interested in taking Green Cert Route 2 should contact Therese Hilliard in the Longford Teagasc Office (043-3341021) to put their name on the expression of interest list. Green Cert Route 3 This option is called The Teagasc Distance Education Green Cert (for Non-Agricultural Award Holders). This option will also be available in the Roscommon / Longford Teagasc Unit commencing on September 18, 2020. Applicants for this course must have obtained a Level 6 or higher major award in a non agricultural discipline. In recent years, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, nurses and engineers have all been able to avail of this express option. This part time option extends over a period of 15-18 months incorporating at least 28 contact days, roughly 2 per month. The course work covered is the same as that in Route 1 and 2 above, the main difference is that Green Cert Route 3 students will be doing a fast forwardtype of course. The shorter time span for this Route is based on the assumption that students with previous college experience are capable of working on their own initiative to meet the tighter deadlines. Students interested in taking Green Cert Route 3 should contact Caitriona Corcoran or Catherine Divilly in the Roscommon Teagasc Office (090-6626166) for an application pack as soon as possible. What benefit is the Green Cert to Young Farmers? The Teagasc Green Cert is well known as the course many people starting up in farming complete. While young people are not prohibited from entering farming without it, or its equivalent here are a number of attractive benefits that can be obtained by a young trained farmer. So what are these benefits and why is there such a demand for the Teagasc Green Cert? There are Educational Requirements for certain Department of Agriculture and Revenue Schemes; more often than not these Schemes will be of financial benefit to the young trained farmer. Some of these schemes are outlined below. l Revenue Stamp Duty Relief l Revenue Agricultural Stock Relief l DAFM New Entrant in a Registered Farm Partnership. l DAFM TAMS Scheme (60% grant) l DAFM National Reserve l DAFM Young Farmers Scheme (25% top up) The QQI Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farm Administration (Teagasc Green Cert) is the minimum requirement for all of the above schemes. The DAFM trend in recent years requires applicants to have the course completed at the time of application. With a new CAP package presently being negotiated in Brussels for after 2020, it would be a shrewd move for young farmers to start planning their training now so they will be in a position to maximise their benefits under whatever CAP brings in the future. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on May 25, 2020 2020/05/25 CNN: The US Department of Transportation ordered Chinese air carriers to file flight schedules with the US government and said this is because of Chinese restrictions on US air carriers hoping to resume service to China. We have learned that besides asking US airlines to abide by Chinese rules, China also asks that they shall be responsible for any passenger on board who happens to be confirmed of COVID-19 infection after arriving in China. The US side said these demands violate bilateral aviation agreements. What's your response? Zhao Lijian: The Notice on Further Reducing International Passenger Flights during the Epidemic Prevention and Control Period released on March 26 was approved by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council and issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in accordance with relevant laws including the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China. It is a special arrangement for international passenger flights out of the need of preventing and controlling COVID-19 during an unusual period. The measures are open, impartial and transparent. All airlines, Chinese and foreign, are treated equally. In formulating them, Chinese authorities also drew from many other countries' practice. We noted that relevant US department has asked Chinese airlines to file flight schedules. China opposes any possible US disruption of or restriction on Chinese airlines' normal passenger flight operations. Follow-up: Last week you mentioned some Chinese temporary flights forced to be delayed after failing to get approval from the US side. But as we understand, Chinese airlines recently filed a great number of temporary charter flight schedules, but didn't do so in time. The US side also said that it is unfair when Chinese airlines can carry out temporary charter flights while American carriers are excluded. What's your response? Zhao Lijian: Recently Chinese airlines have been arranging temporary flights to bring back overseas Chinese students who are in difficulties and in urgent need of coming home. It is regretful that the temporary flights are compelled to be delayed as the US hasn't approved the flight applications. We hope the US will act out of the humanitarian spirit and complete all procedures for the flights as soon as possible to facilitate the Chinese students' return. As to the specific issue, I will refer you to the competent authorities. The Paper: On May 22, the Washington Post quoted senior US officials as saying that a meeting of senior national security officials on May 15 discussed the possibility of resuming nuclear test. I wonder what's China's comment? Zhao Lijian: We're gravely concerned about the report. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is an important pillar of the international nuclear arms control system. Though it has not yet entered into force, banning nuclear testing has become an international norm. The CTBT is of great significance for nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and world peace and security. All five nuclear weapon states including the US have signed the treaty and committed to a moratorium on nuclear tests. The US has conducted the highest number of nuclear tests. We urge it to assume its due obligation and honor its commitment by upholding the purpose and objective of the treaty and contributing to the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime, instead of further disrupting global strategic stability. AFP: On Friday the US Department of Commerce said it would sanction relevant Chinese companies and government institute for human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Do you have any response to this? Zhao Lijian: The US, adding relevant Chinese enterprises, institutions and individuals to its "entity list", has overstretched the concept of national security, abused export control measures, violated the basic norms governing international relations, interfered in China's internal affairs, and hurt China's interests. China deplores and firmly opposes that. It needs to be highlighted that Xinjiang affairs are purely China's internal affairs which allow no foreign interference. The measures on countering terrorism and deradicalization have been taken to prevent in a fundamental way these two evil forces from taking roots in Xinjiang. They accord with Chinese laws and international practices. They have been proved effective, widely supported by 25 million people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and contributing to the global counter-terrorism cause. The US accusation against China, nothing but absolute nonsense to confound the public, only serves to reveal its vile attempt to disrupt Xinjiang's counter-terrorism efforts and China's stability and development. We urge the US to correct its mistake, rescind the relevant decision, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs. China will continue to take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese enterprises and safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests. China Daily: A team of medical experts on COVID-19 sent by the Chinese government arrived on May 23 in the Republic of the Congo after completing their mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Could you talk about the experts' work in the two countries? Zhao Lijian: At the invitation of the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of the Congo, China sent out a medical team of 12 experts to help them fight COVID-19. From May 12 to 23, the team held about 30 exchange and training activities in the DRC, sharing experience with representatives of the government, medical institutions, WHO, UN Organization Stabilization Mission as well as British and French institutions in the DRC, training health workers, interacting with communities, promoting multilateral cooperation, and providing guidance on prevention and control to the resident Chinese medical teams. The DRC government and people spoke highly of their work. Foreign minister Tumba and Minister for International Cooperation Manjolo met with the experts and thanked them for their assistance at a crucial moment in the DRC's epidemic response, which demonstrated the profound China-DRC and China-Africa friendship. The Chinese experts' exchange and cooperation with international organizations and diplomatic missions is a successful practice of global cooperation against the pandemic and sets a good example for the world. After completing their tasks in the DRC, the Chinese experts went on to the Republic of the Congo on May 23. Going forward, China will continue providing anti-virus assistance to Africa to the best of its capability and send more expert teams to share experience with African brothers and sisters to help them fight the virus. China News Service: On May 23 Taliban spokesman announced a three-day ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr holiday starting Sunday. President Ashraf Ghani welcomed that and instructed the Afghan National Defence Security Force to comply with the three-day truce. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: We noted relevant reports. China welcomes and commends the ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr between the Afghan government and the Taliban. We hope such situation will be sustained so as to create conditions for an early launch of the infra-Afghan talks. China always hopes that all parties to the Afghan issue will take peace as a priority, resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation and jointly discuss the future arrangements of the nation. China stands ready to work with the rest of the international community to continuously provide support and assistance for the Afghan peace and reconciliation process. Shenzhen TV: According to Australian media reports, Australia's Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and other officials said recently that Belt and Road Initiative is a "propaganda exercise" of the Chinese government. Victoria state lacks transparency in signing the BRI agreement with China, and the values of the communist regime are different from those of Australia. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has threatened to "disconnect" with Australia because the deal "could affect the security of US telecommunications". What is China's comment? Zhao Lijian: The Belt and Road Initiative is an economic cooperation initiative. It follows the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and advocates openness, inclusiveness and transparency. It has brought tangible benefits to people along the Belt and Road. The successful cooperation between China and the Australian state of Victoria under the BRI framework was determined and implemented by the two sides through friendly consultation with a view to improve the well-being of the people. It is completely reasonable, lawful and aboveboard. The groundless accusations made by some Australian politicians are totally untenable, which only expose their negligence of the Australian people's interests and their sinister intentions of damaging China-Australia relations. We hope these Australian politicians will bear in mind the interests of their own people, discard ideological prejudices and do more to promote mutual trust and cooperation between China and Australia, rather than the contrary. The threat from American politicians is even more bizarre. What is the relationship between the BRI cooperation between a Australian state government and China and the telecommunications security of the United States? What makes them think that they have the right to disrupt and tarnish China-Australia cooperation? Isn't it blatant coercion and interference in other countries' internal affairs? Even the US ambassador to Australia admitted that the BRI MOU between Victoria state and China has nothing to do with the US. Some politicians in Australia have been saying all day long that they oppose "foreign interference" and "Chinese coercion". Why don't they stand up against the US? This has once again exposed the deep-rooted ideological bias and double standards of some people on the Australian side. NHK: US White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said to the press that the US government will likely impose sanctions on China if Beijing implements the national security law related to Hong Kong. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: China is firmly opposed to the noises made by certain US politicians on the Hong Kong-related agenda of China's National People's Congress and has lodged solemn representations with the US side. Recently, the NPC, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong SAR government have all made explanations or responses. Yesterday, State Councilor Wang Yi also made a response when meeting the press during the Two Sessions. China's attitude and position have been made very clear. I wish to stress three points here: First, no state will allow any activities that endanger its national security on its own territory. The Central Government is responsible for upholding national security in China, as is the case in any other country. The US itself has enacted dozens of laws on national security in an effort to build an impregnable fortress of its own national security. However, it has interfered in China's national security legislation and even attempted to drill a hole in China's national security network. Such double standards fully exposed the sinister intentions of some people in the US. Second, the NPC decision targets a very small number of people who are splitting the country, subverting state power, organizing and carrying out terrorist activities, and foreign and external forces that are interfering in the affairs of the HKSAR. It will protect the law-abiding Hong Kong citizens, who are the overwhelming majority, guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong residents and foreign institutions and personnel in Hong Kong. It has no impact on Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents, and will improve Hong Kong's legal system and bring more stability, stronger rule of law and a better business environment to Hong Kong. It will be more conducive to Hong Kong's long-term stability and tranquility, which is the most representative public opinion in Hong Kong. Third, the legal basis for the Chinese government's administration of Hong Kong is China's Constitution and the Basic Law, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Then again, what on earth does the declaration have to do with the US? With Hong Kong's return to China in 1997, the UK's rights and obligations stipulated in the Sino-British Joint Declaration were all completed. The US side has no legal basis or right to invoke the Joint Statement to make irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs. To sum up, I want to stress that Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong and the Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs. What legislation the HKSAR introduces and how and when it enacts the legislation is entirely within the scope of China's sovereignty. The US has no right to wantonly comment or interfere. If the US is bent on harming China's interests, China will have to take all necessary measures to fight back. RIA Novosti: Robert O'Brien also expressed on Sunday his conviction that the United States will be the first country that can develop a COVID-19 vaccine, but he also said that there's a chance that the Chinese side has been engaged in espionage to try and find the research and technologies that the United States is working on. I wonder if the Chinese side has any comment on this accusation? Zhao Lijian: The US allegations are groundless. In fact, China has made significant progress in developing a novel coronavirus vaccine. China supports further information-sharing on COVID-19 and exchange of useful experience and practices between countries, as well as international cooperation in vaccine and drug research and development. I would like to underline that COVID-19 vaccine development is not a race between China and the US, but a race between mankind and the virus. No matter which country is the first to develop and deploy a vaccine, it will be a great contribution to all mankind in this fight. Mankind is racing against the virus, which claims lives ruthlessly every day. As the vaccine is the key to defeating the virus, we hope to hear more good news in this regard. We also stand ready to work with the international community to contribute our share to the concerted global response to COVID-19 including in vaccine R&D and to forge a global community of health for all. Social distancing. Telemedicine. Self-quarantine. These are all words that at the start of 2020 weren't part of our vocabulary, but several months into the new decade we are all hearing and using them daily. There is no denying that the coronavirus outbreak has dramatically changed just about every facet of just about every persons life around the world. From a business perspective, the stock market saw its largest one day loss and largest one day gain in history. The U.S. saw the largest job-loss report ever. We are in uncharted waters, and how long we will remain in them remains uncertain. However, there is one thing that we all know, and that is that this outbreak will change the lives of everyone for years or decades to come. Nearly 20 years after 9/11, enhanced airport security, no-fly lists and counterterrorism efforts are still the norm. The same will be true of the COVID-19 aftermath. Is your business ready for the five largest macro trends we are about to see? Related: 8 Tips to Coronavirus-Proof Your Business ASAP 1. The rise of enhanced websites and digital tools Many nonessential businesses including things like retail stores, hair salons, warehouses, factories and offices had their brick-and-mortar locations offices closed and did not have the technical tools to survive with their physical locations shut down. Our agency has seen a tremendous increase in businesses reaching out to us ready to make the leap into digital. It's critical for businesses to be able to not just survive but thrive through enhanced websites and digital tools to serve their customers. Things like e-commerce in industries that never utilized e-commerce before, advanced product configurations, chatbots and mobile applications are in greater demand than ever as small- and medium-size businesses join in the new decade's technology revolution. These new tools are helping businesses stay afloat during the virus outbreak and will be a macro-trend that becomes even more important as social distancing becomes commonplace practice not just for this outbreak but for potential future outbreaks as well. 2. Cybersecurity concerns take center stage Cybersecurity is already an important topic to large businesses, and with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, California's Consumer Privacy Act and other privacy laws, as well as countless news stories about the cost and impact of data breaches, it is something smaller businesses are being forced to confront head on. With the surge in employees working remotely during the virus outbreak, we have seen more and more data breaches and cyberattacks. Employees using unsecured infrastructure and third-party tools are two of the leading causes of potential breaches. Combine this with data storage and access practices that violate privacy laws for example, telemedicine on non-HIPAA-compliant platforms and suddenly the need for secure solutions takes center stage. Additionally, during this vulnerable time, we have seen an increase in overseas cyberattacks on many of our clients' websites. Things like brute force attacks, denial of service attacks and other types of attempted hacks have increased, and the need for keeping website and web servers updated and secure is of utmost importance. More businesses will be forced to invest in technology that is secure, scalable, accessibly remotely and follows the onslaught of new data privacy and security regulations. Related: The Coronavirus Pandemic Versus the Digital Economy: The Pitfalls and the Opportunities 3. An increase in virtual meetings The tremendous increase in virtual meetings is a trend we predict will be here to stay. Though there is no substitute for a face-to-face meeting and handshake, for the next few years we anticipate the trend of virtual meetings to continue. And this won't just apply to the traditional business world, it will apply to many other aspects of our lives for example, virtually meeting with your doctor, therapist, banker and even hair stylist for a consultation. This will be a tremendous cost and time savings to all parties involved. This is a trend that already started prior to the virus outbreak and will only become more amplified as we continue in this new decade. Preparing for this trend goes far beyond having a virtual meeting space and software. Things like digital brochures, digital business cards, tutorial videos and enhanced website information will all follow in this trend and become necessities as businesses find it more difficult to physically hand materials to their customers. 4. Increased control in expenses With the unprecedented business shutdown across America, businesses will be increasingly looking at ways to have a greater degree of control over their expenses. These will include businesses requesting shorter contract durations, emergency clauses and provisions in agreements, ways to have a more easily scalable workforce utilizing temporary workers and temporary agencies, and an overall desire to lower expenses, especially recurring expenses. We have witnessed firsthand nearly every client of ours express the need to reduce expenses, not just as a result of the virus but also as a practice they want to continue into the near future. While this is a good business practice regardless, the pain felt during this economic downturn will create scars that will likely last years into the future. Make sure your business has answers when your customers ask for ways they can be saving, reducing contract terms or protecting their business from future disasters and catastrophes. Related: How to Make Every Marketing Dollar Count During a Crisis 5. Even more remote employees Lastly, with the previous four trends is going to come the fifth an even larger shift to remote employees. Many businesses that fought the trend of employees working remote are now realizing that in being forced to shut down their offices, remote employees are still efficient, effective, economical, and something millennials and Generation Z demand. With more remote employees comes the increased need for all of the first four points mentioned. This trend is something that started over a decade ago, but it will continue to be amplified in this new decade and following the COVID-19 outbreak. These trends will be relevant not just in 2020, but likely well beyond. Making decisions and positioning your company now for these changes in the business world will make sure your business is ready and at the forefront of the new remote, digital technology revolution. Related: Most MENA Startups Have Less Than Six Months Of Runway Left, According To Report By Wamda And Arabnet Fight for Your Franchise Challenge, Week 8: No-Nonsense Techniques to Improve Your Cashflow 5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Prepare for the Post-Coronavirus Business World Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday appointed a judge backed by the right-wing ruling party to be the new head of the Supreme Court, marking apparent victory in years of government efforts to take control of the court. The new head, Malgorzata Manowska, 55, is also head of the state school for judges and prosecutors. She is under disciplinary investigation for keeping the school job after being appointed to the Supreme Court in 2018. She also served as deputy justice minister in 2007, when the Law and Justice party was previously in power. The previous court head, Malgorzata Gersdorf, who had resisted government pressure and efforts to make her leave early, retired last month after completing her term. The government's moves to take controls of the Supreme Court have led the European Union to threaten sanctions on the government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bobi Wine 25.05.2020 LISTEN Opposition in Uganda isn't only Bobi and his People Power(PP) movement, and Im not celebrating their problems. Nonetheless, this is why I think things have gone wrong in PP, apart from the obvious stuff I have posted over the years. First, Hon. Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine is People Power- without him, there is no movement called People Power. They may deny it as much as they want but he is the one that appoints and sacks, finances and refinances all activitiesthe rest are just noise. You cannot build a movement without other leaders. You need people to do things, and you need a good team, I think. Certain leadership characteristics or personality traits are innate ineffective leaders. However, Kyagulanyis leadership skills are questionable at this point. There seems to be less promotion of team development and cohesiveness in the movement. He should have sat down with his bloggers and called on them to stop insulting people. Then, PP starts isolating whoever continues to do it. According to Ashraf Katto aka Ashburg Katto, one of the bloggers and former PP, who used to insult people daily, they had a WhatsApp group called ENFORCEMENT with only eight members, where every decision about PP was made. So, you have got to ask yourself, who made the decision to insult people and call them moles? Who made the decision to attack Besigye online and at Bulange? Who made the decision to disorganize Besigye's rally in Arua in 2008?.....There are lot of questions but few answers, you see! Secondly, I believe Bobis influence in Uganda politics was exaggerated, and the international media is partly to blame for this. Yes, he had a fun base as a musician, already, before joining politics, but something did not feel right at the speed he was being sold. At one point, it was one international award after the other for himapparently for fighting for our freedom in a period of less than three years, and thiss something unprecedented anywhere in African politics for someone who has been in politics in such a short time frame. Thirdly, some of the problems in PP rose out of a literary style that is often offensive and an arrogance that has not been seen before in our politicsthey call whoever they disagree with a mole. A lot of their activists, like Fred Lumbuye, Peng-Peng, e.t.c, have been a disservice to the opposition. There are a lot of people that are quitting PP and other opposition parties, simply because they are fed up of being labelled moles. In addition, Peng and few PP bloggers have been verbally attacking, not criticizing, the Katikiro of Buganda, and I wonder how that helps Kyagulanyis campaign for presidency in the long run.I like Peng-he entertains me, but, as the scholar Robert Morgan crisply put it years ago: "If you say what you're doing is authentic, then hey, what are the implications for everyone. Then, there is the money problem. It seems Bobi is not so financially prepared for this. When he stood for MP, he was, admittedly, financed by some big NRMs, as Gen. Tumukunde clarified, and later Bobi admitted it. But it seems he isnt getting much money from his sponsors (whoever they are), contrary to what some PPs are saying. They call him mukodo(stingy) but it seems he does not have much money to give.t To be fair to Bobi, he shouldnt be giving anyone money for supporting him, but money is important in facilitation of activists. Finally, nobody knows what People Power is going to do once in power. Their bloggers focus so much on trivial issues more than policy, on personalities than important subjects, e.t.c. Again, this is where a leader comes in and redirects the organization, but Bobi seems to be riding more on popularism than discussing issues. He had a chance to outline his policies with people in the early days of Corvid-19 lockdown, but he instead blessed them with a free online concert, which wasn't necessarily bad, but was that what he should be doing at that moment? Then, naturally, the media, youths and many PPs spent a lot of time arguing over a concert-how many likes and views. Nobody talks about post-Museveni anymore, nobody talks about the Muhoozi project anymore, nobody talks about opposition unity anymore, Nobody talks about activists in prison, e.t.c. Apart from music, he is struggling to identify himself with anything else, and that is very unfortunate. *Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba* Stalk my blog at: http://semuwemba.wordpress.com Amid rising cases of domestic violence during the lockdown, a man in Mumbai was recently booked for assaulting his wife after she allegedly made "tasteless khichdi". The accused, 39-year-old Abhijeet Sonkule works at a private company and lives with his wife Jyoti in Andheri East. According to a report in Hindustan Times, Sonkule assaulted Jyoti with a rolling pin (used to make chappatis) on Friday after eating the khichdi she had cooked which he did not find to his liking. According to the report, Sonkule stormed into the kitchen after eating the khichdi, picked up the rolling ping, and assaulted Jyoti on the nose, stomach and back. It was only after a profusely bleeding Jyoti screamed for help that he was rescued by neighbours. In her accounts to the police, Jyoti said that while assaulting her, Sonkule asked her not to scream or else he would kill her. She also told the police that this wasn't the first time that Sonkule had fought with her over a trivial issue. Jyoti was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, a case has been registered against Sonkule under sections 324, 323, 504 and 506 (2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Since the beginning of lockdown, cases of domestic violence have been on the rise. In April, the National Commission for Women recorded 315 complaints of domestic violence. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma has said the high numbers can be attributed to the lockdown - imposed since March 25 - which has locked the abuser and the victim together. The NCW has launched a WhatsApp number -- 7217735372 -- to report cases of domestic violence. STEPANAKERT, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan received today Commander of the Defense Army, acting defense minister Jalal Harutyunyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The Defense Army commander introduced the President on the situation in the frontline, the military exercises being carried out by the adversary, their nature and movements, assuring that the respective divisions of the Defense Army carefully follow all the actions of the adversary. President Harutyunyan said the authorities of the Republic, together with the commanding staff of the Armed Forces, will do the utmost to consistently raise the countrys defense and solve the socio-economic problems of the servicemen. He said tangible steps will soon be taken to provide servicemen with apartments ahead of schedule. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), (Frankfurt:IJA2) (the Company) is pleased to provide shareholders with a comprehensive outlook and short term projection concerning management objectives following the 21st May 2020 successful granting of the Central Bank issued PSD2 license to the wholly owned subsidiary RevoluPAY EP S.L. Todays news release is intended to offer shareholders increased specificity at it pertains to the remittance business focused news issued on the 28th April 2020 and underline the recent unlimited payment processing ability that the company now boasts. RevoluPAY Mission RevoluPAY has operated as the centralized closed-loop financial hub for all RevoluGROUP revenue verticals since the beta version debuted on 31st July 2018. The company has subsequently honed the RevoluPAY Apple and Android multinational payment app into a robust, central bank approved payment system, linked to an analogous physical RevoluPAY app-linked Visa Card. It is important for shareholders to note that, beyond the ensuing specific upcoming agreements cited below, the utilization of the aforementioned RevoluPAY Visa Card is operational at ATMs and merchants worldwide and is now able to handle unlimited amounts of cashflow. Previously shackled by transaction volume limitations while awaiting the advent of the now granted PSD2 license the company worked tirelessly, largely behind the scenes, to consolidate the succeeding future economic revenue infrastructure. The company will deploy a two-pronged approach to seek approximately 5% of 1st year market penetration into the remittance flows entering the countries displayed below. Firstly, the pursuit of prominent partners and their current user-bases through bilateral and mutually beneficial client onboarding which may include switching of clients from legacy systems to RevoluPAY and/or white label avenues yet to be divulged. Secondly, shareholders should be mindful of the inherent motivation for remittance senders to evoke the free download of RevoluPAY by family members and friends who are the habitual beneficiaries of their inbound remittance funds. Through preliminary field tests the company has discovered that 1 primary remittance sender/user propagates approximately 5 new app users autonomously, all in the absence of any marketing spend. Subsequently, those remittance receiving users solicit local users and propagate the app further amongst approximately 24 extra retailers or friends through eventual money distribution and daily payments. Another aspect which should not be overlooked is the cross platform use of our proprietary revenue verticals, which is further expected to exponentially expose additional users to the benefits of RevoluPAY, while simultaneously multiplying revenue from what was an initial seed source. Story continues Top 40 World Bank Central & South America, Caribbean Top 40 World Bank. On February 13th 2020 the company received a written communication from the said bank confirming that all compliance and board approvals had been granted. The PSD2 license was essential to sign the final agreement. On the 26th May 2020, RevoluPAY S.L. CEO, Alfredo Manresa, will enact the legal deed modifying the: paid-up share capital, operating license and corporate name to properly reflect the new licensed financial nomenclature - RevoluPAY EP S.L. The EP indicating a Central Bank licensed Entidad de Pago, or in English - Payment Entity. Upon same-day submission of said deed to the Central Bank, the company and said Top 40 World Bank are able to legally sign the impending agreement and initiate processing immediately. As explained to shareholders, the parties have previously completed all of the technology integration into a yet unreleased version of RevoluPAY, all of which has been approved under intensive beta testing by the bank. This agreement will cover remittance deliveries and reciprocal user synergies in: Argentina, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico, Suriname, Brazil, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, Chile, Guyana, Paraguay, Surinam. African Payment Institution African Continent The company has reached a tenable understanding with a large Africa focused payment institution which has been approved by CEO, Steve Marshall, on 18th May 2020. The impending definitive agreement is expected to be signed shortly, upon the mutual conclusion of the AML/KYC compliance process. This agreement will cover remittance deliveries and reciprocal user synergies in: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Congo DRC, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. MIR Card - Russian Federation Mir Card is a national payment system established by the Central Bank of Russia via a law adopted on May 1st, 2017. The system is operated by the Russian National Card Payment System, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Central Bank of Russia. The company has tapped into an existing relationship associated with RevolUTILITY and RevoluCHARGE to foment an agreement concerning the successful load of funds from the RevoluPAY app directly onto any Mir Card in Russia. The company intends to then pursue a self-named RevoluPAY Mir Card using the same design and colors as the current RevoluPAY Visa Card. This agreement will cover remittance deliveries and reciprocal user synergies where the Mir Card is prevalent: Russian Federation, Vietnam, Thailand, United Kingdom, Tajikistan and Turkey. Bilateral App Linking The company has commissioned an existing relationship associated with RevolUTILITY and RevoluCHARGE which will be overseen by Daniel Hernandez to rapidly obtain an agreement concerning the successful transfer of funds via the RevoluPAY app directly to/from the below mentioned financial platforms. MCoinz - mCoinz vouchers operate across the Middle East at over 60,000 point of sale locations. Cashlib - Cashlib is an e-money service originating from France operational in European countries of: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece and Spain. Flexepin Voucher - Redeemable voucher for use worldwide. Qiwi - QIWI Wallet is a leading payment method. It has deployed over 19 million virtual wallets, over 152,000 kiosks and terminals in Russia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Belarus, Romania and the UK. Payeer - Payeer is a multifunctional electronic tool for carrying out multiple financial tasks and payments. Advcash - Advanced Cash (AdvCash) is a payment system that allows electronic payment forwarding to 200+ countries Previous Definitive Agreements No Longer Subject to Processing Restrictions RedCHAPINA - This agreement covers remittance deliveries and reciprocal synergies in: El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico EZPAY - This agreement covers remittance deliveries and reciprocal synergies in: Costa Rica Argenper - This agreement covers remittance deliveries and reciprocal synergies in: Argentina, Peru, Chile and Ecuador Countries for RevoluPAY In-App SEPA Instant Transfers Users of RevoluPAY are now able to send SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) transfers for any amount or, their whole RevoluPAY balance, directly from the mobile App to a bank account in any of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Albania, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, El Salvador, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Macedonia, Montenegro, Palestine, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Andorra, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates. United States MSB Licensing Slightly deferred due to the COVID pandemic, the company expects the licensing paperwork to be submitted within 30 days for the petitioning of 1 MSB license for the state of Florida, the legal domicile state of the wholly owned subsidiary RevoluGROUP USA Inc and, simultaneously, the following 27 individual state MSB license petitions through MMLA accords: California, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming. Management have been advised that the fact the company now holds the analogous PSD2 license and has further met all European Central Banking requirements, the state MSB approval process in the United States may now be expeditiously granted. Further Agreements That Mandated PSD2 Approval Company advisor Emilio Morales has been instructed to immediately conclude each Definitive Agreement and submit these to CEO, Steve Marshall, for final signing: Interbank (Peru), Easy Pagos (Ecuador), Grupo Eficacia (Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua), Banco Bolivariano (Ecuador), Maxicambios (Paraguay), and Banco Guayaquil (Ecuador). Parties Apprised of PSD2 Granting The following entities were informed on Friday 22nd May of the successful granting of the requisite PSD2 License. The absence of said license had rendered the signing of the final agreements impossible. The company expects a rapid turnaround concerning each definitive agreement forthwith: Nasdaq Listed Mobile, Cable, Pay TV Company focused upon the Mobile, Cable Broadband and Paid TV sectors, with over 50 million subscribers and, present in the South American and, African markets. The company is in final stages of an agreement with this entity for user onboarding and bilateral technology deployment. Large Chinese Payment Processor With a final agreement impeded by PSD2 delays, the parties have continued their intent to pursue a mutual relationship for RevoluPAY in Asia and to facilitate these advances now that the PSD2 has been officially granted. Warrants and Options Exercised The Company is delighted to announce that it has received a corporate treasury influx of approximately 1,290,000 $CA through the exercising of incentive employee options and warrants over the previous 30 days. About RevoluPAY The Companys flagship technology is the PSD2 Licensed RevoluPAY, the Apple and Android multinational payment app. Built entirely in-house, RevoluPAY features proprietary, sector specific, technology of which, the resulting source code is the property of the Company. RevoluPAYs built-in features features include: Leisure payments, travel payments, forex, retail and hospitality payments, Remittance payments, Real Estate payments, Healthcare Payments, Egaming, Esports, pay-as-you-go phone top-ups, Utility Bill payments, alternative Lending, etc. RevoluPAY is powered by blockchain protocols, and, is squarely aimed at the worldwide multi-billion dollar leisure sector and, + $595 billion family remittance market. RevoluPAY is operated by the European wholly owned subsidiary RevoluPAY EP S.L located in Barcelona. RevoluPAY EP S.L is a fully self-licensed European PSD2 payment institution under the auspices of EU Directive 2015/2366. RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. controls 5 wholly owned subsidiaries on 4 continents. About RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.: RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. is a multi-asset, multidivisional publicly traded Canadian company deploying advanced technologies in the; Online Travel, Vacation Resort, Mobile Apps, Money Remittance, Mobile Phone Top-Ups, EGaming, Healthcare Payments, Esports, Invoice factoring, Blockchain Systems, and Fintech app sectors. Click here to read more. For further information on RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (REVO.V) visit the Companys website at www.RevoluGROUP.com. The Company has approximately 165,042,105 shares issued and outstanding. RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. Steve Marshall ______________________ STEVE MARSHALL CEO For further information contact: Don Mosher RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. Telephone: (604) 685-6465 Toll Free: 800-567-8181 Facsimile: 604-687-3119 Email: info@revolugroup.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Police rescue kidnapped man from private Cozumel home Cozumel, Q.R, Elements of the Armed Forces along with island police rescued a kidnapped man while arresting one of his captors. Police report the rescue was made shortly after 5:00 p.m. Saturday at a private home on 8th street north in the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood where elements of the National Guard, Secretariat of National Defense, Secretary of the Navy, Ministerial Police and Quintana Roo Police participated. According to information provided, a man of approximately 25 years of age was rescued from the home where he was found chained. Police had become aware of the kidnapping after area residents saw the man, bound at hands and feet, being lead into the house. They reported the incident to police. Upon the arrival of police, they located the chained man inside the home. Firefighters were called to assist with the cutting of the chains to free him, while police searched the area for at least one other male who made an escape over the rooftops. One male captor, who is reported to be of the same age, was taken into custody. Police say in addition to the arrest, they also seized a long gun, drugs and cartridges. The unidentified man is said to be in good health after his rescue. The arrested man was transferred to State Attorney Generals Office in Cozumel. Australia's $7.7 billion training sector is set for a federal overhaul that will rewrite deals with the states and try to unify public subsidies as part of an economic plan to recover from the coronavirus crisis. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will name skills and training as a key target for reform in a "JobMaker" policy plan that will also take a new approach to industrial relations in the hope of gaining support from unions and employers. Mr Morrison will use a major speech on Tuesday to slam the "bewildering" and "unresponsive" training system for failing workers and employers when the nation will need more and better skills in the recovery. He will renegotiate a "fundamentally flawed" national skills and workforce agreement with the states to apply stricter rules on the way it spends $1.5 billion in federal funding every year. Surprised staff at Chatham Primary stepped over a riot of chalk-drawn love hearts and rainbows on their way through the school gates on Monday. The schools steel perimeter fencing was also festooned with fluttering paper hearts bearing messages of thanks from students at the small government school in Surrey Hills. Students at Chatham Primary School in Surrey Hills surprised staff with thank you messages on Monday. Credit:Penny Stephens School council president Kristy McIlvenna said parents had used messaging service WhatsApp on Sunday to organise the children to craft their messages and stick them up the night before teachers arrived for work on Monday morning. We just wanted to send them a message of thanks and show our support in some way for them and the great job theyre doing for us, Ms McIlvenna said. This year too, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) has sent to the Islamic community the traditional message of best wishes on the occasion of the month of Ramadan, which began on 23 April, and of Id al-Fitr (1441 H. / 2020 A.D.), the feast that marks its conclusion. Published on Friday, 1 May, the text was prepared before the surge of the Covid-19 pandemic, and reflects on the theme of respect and of protection of places of worship. Th e re f o re , the Combonian Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ, explained in a note, I would like, as PCID President, to add the wish that Christians and Muslims, united in the spirit of fraternity, may demonstrate solidarity with the humanity so harshly stricken, and address their prayers to Almighty and Merciful God, that he extend his protection over every human being, so that these such difficult moments may be overcome. Moreover, the Cardinal explained in an interview given to Vatican News, the feast is essential, important and meaningful for our Muslim friends, although as Easter also was for us, for them too this year it assumes a particular significance due to the pandemic. In essence it is a Ramadan experienced in a more interior dimension, because the community aspect cannot be celebrated. And in this regard he recalled what Pope Francis, in this difficult situation, has called us to spread, which is the contagion of hope, encouraging the different religious leaders to promote unity, solidarity and brotherhood, so that from this moment on we may all come out better than what we were before and help our societies to be ready to change all that is necessary, not following only the laws of economy and p ro f i t . The following is the English text of the PCID Message, signed by the Cardinal President and the Secretary of the Dicastery, Msgr Indunil Kodithuwakku Janakaratne Kankanamalage. Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, The month of Ramadan is so central in your religion and therefore dear to you at personal, familial and social levels. It is a time for spiritual healing and growth, of sharing with the poor, of strengthening bonds with relatives and friends. For us, your Christian friends, it is a propitious time to further strengthen our relationships with you, by greeting you, meeting you on this occasion and, where possible, by sharing in an iftar with you. Ramadan and Jd al-Fitr thus are special occasions to foster fraternity between Christians and Muslims. It is in this spirit that the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue offers its prayerful best wishes and hearty congratulations to you all. The thoughts we like to share with you this year following our cherished tradition are about the protection of the places of worship. As we all know, the places of worship occupy an important place in Christianity and Islam, and in other religions as well. For both Christians and Muslims, churches and mosques are spaces reserved for prayer, personal and communitarian alike. They are constructed and furnished in a way that favours silence, reflection and meditation. They are spaces where one can go deep in himself/ herself, so favouring for God-experience in silence. A place of worship of any religion therefore is a house of prayer (Isaiah 56, 7). Places of worship are also spaces for spiritual hospitality, where believers of other religions also join for some special ceremonies like weddings, funerals, feasts of the community etc. While they participate in the events in silence and with due respect to the religious observances of the believers of that particular religion, they also savour the hospitality accorded to them. Such practice is a privileged witness to what unites believers, without diminishing or denying what distinguishes them. In this regard, it is worthwhile to recall what Pope Francis said when he made a visit to the Heydar Aliyev Mosque, in Baku (Azerbaijan) on Sunday, 2 October 2016: Meeting one another in fraternal friendship in this place of prayer is a powerful sign, one that shows the harmony which religions can build together, based on personal relations and on the good will of those responsible. In the context of recent attacks on churches, mosques and synagogues by wicked persons who seem to perceive the places of worship as a privileged target for their blind and senseless violence, it is worth noting what the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al- Azhar, Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, in Abu Dhabi, on 4 February 2019, said: The protection of places of worship synagogues, churches and mosques is a duty guaranteed by religions, human values, laws and international agreements. Every attempt to attack places of worship or threaten them by violent assaults, bombings or destruction, is a deviation from the teachings of religions as well as a clear violation of international law. While appreciating the efforts done by the international community at different levels for the protection of the places of worship worldwide, it is our hope that our mutual esteem, respect and cooperation will help strengthen the bonds of sincere friendship, and enable our communities to safeguard the places of worship to assure for coming generations the fundamental freedom to profess ones own beliefs. With renewed esteem and fraternal greetings, in the name of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, we convey friendly wishes for a fruitful month of Ramadan and a joyous Id al-Fitr. From the Vatican, 17 April 2020 Fourteen people have suffered agonising deaths and ten more are fighting for their lives in hospital after drinking home-brew beer made to get around South Africas tough lockdown alcohol ban. Police have revealed that three people died in each of three different villages close to each other in the Eastern Cape after drinking the brew which was mixed with potent additives like methylated spirits. The nine most recent victims suffered excruciating stomach pains and were left doubled over in agony and vomiting with most of them dying before reaching hospital and the rest dying shortly after. Tony Hilliar, 54, and Alida Fouche, 42, died in South Africa after drinking home brewed beer The eight men and a woman all came from Ndanka village near Stutterheim, Bumbane village near Keiskammahoek and Nonibe Village near King Williams Town and died in the last five days from the illegal booze. Police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci confirmed their officers are investigating the 9 deaths which are all linked by the victims having drunk potent home brewed beer shortly before being pronounced dead. She appealed to community members not to experiment with homemade beer or alcoholic mixtures as they could prove to be lethal or cause permanent damage such as organ failure or blindness. Melvin and Winnie Afrikaner died a week later after being rushed to hospital from their home in Ocean View, Cape Town Colonel Soci said: 'I can confirm inquest dockets have been opened for the deaths of three people at Nonibe and three at Bumbane and another three more are currently under investigation at Ndanka.' Nine other local men are being treated in hospital for the effects of alcohol poisoning. Eastern Cape Health Department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo confirmed the nine survivors had also drunk the same brew as some of the victims and were now fighting for their lives in Stutterheim Hospital. Estate agent Tony Hilliar and his bride-to-be Alida Fouche died painfully after making a powerful brew from pineapples after drinking just one bottle of it each Mr Kupelo said: 'Deaths from home-made beer are on the rise and it is extremely dangerous to drink any concoction mixed with methylated spirits. People have to refrain from this habit as it kills.' Laboratory tests are being carried out on the nine latest victims and on blood samples taken from the nine who remain in a critical condition to confirm the exact cause of the poisonings. In Brakpan in Gauteng province last week a man died from organ failure and his father is critical in intensive care at the Far East Rand Hospital after drinking home-made liquor. Drinkers in South Africa have been banned from buying alcohol for over eight weeks with supermarkets and off licences banned from selling it The 34-year-old father-of-two and his dad bought the booze from a local vendor before both collapsed in agony after knocking back the brew and were rushed straight to hospital Three weeks ago estate agent Tony Hilliar, 54, and his bride-to-be Alida Fouche, 42, died painfully after making a powerful brew from pineapples after drinking just one bottle of it each. Secretary Alida collapsed and died at their home in Port Nolloth in Northern Cape Province and her fiance Tony who had called the emergency services died several days later in hospital. Supermarkets display everything you need for the Pineapple Beer home brew craze on one counter It is thought they had added hand sanitiser which contains 70 per cent alcohol to their home-brew to increase the strength but died according to police in extreme pain from the concoction at their home. A week later married Melvin Afrikaner, 54, and wife Winnie, 50, died after being rushed to hospital from their home in Ocean View, Cape Town, after drinking home-made alcoholic ginger beer. A family member said it is believed they had added 97 per cent proof ethanol to brew to make it potent but poisoned themselves instead and despite being taken to intestine care could not be saved by doctors. Both died in False Bay Hospital in Western Province shortly after being admitted. One home-brew drinker Thembise Geniwe interviewed by the Daily Dispatch said: 'We buy the ingredients from the local shops and it tastes like normal alcohol but we know its dangerous but we still drink it. Melvin Afrikaner and wife Winnie died in False Bay Hospital in Western Province shortly after being admitted 'Its cheaper because for R50 (2.40) four people can get very drunk from the brew.' Drinkers in South Africa have been banned from buying alcohol for over eight weeks with supermarkets and off licences banned from selling it by President Cyril Ramaphosa since lockdown began on March 27. But yesterday the President in a national address announced the alcohol ban will be lifted on June 1 for off-licence sales only and it will only be on certain days of the week and during restricted hours. It means the nation will have not been able to buy alcohol for a thirsty 65 days. Since the ban, alcohol loving South Africans have begun making strong home brew beer from traditional recipes which date back to apartheid times, using pineapples or root ginger, sugar and brewers yeast. Google has also reported that 'how to brew homemade alcohol' is one of their highest internet search requests in South Africa since the alcohol ban came into force clocking up millions of hits each week. The loss of tax revenue to the nation from the ban is said to be 'eye watering' and South Africa along with Panama and Sri Lanka are now the only three countries in the world still banning the sale of booze in lockdown. France's first transgender mayor has vowed to wake up her village in northern France after taking office at the weekend in a step hailed by activists as a breakthrough. Marie Cau vowed to develop social and environmental policies in the village of Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes after receiving her honorary sash of office. Cau won a decisive first round victory in France's local elections on March 15, as her "Deciding Together" manifesto garnered the majority of the total votes in the 550-strong village, located close to the Belgian border. The 50-year-old's inauguration took place over two months after the election -- instead of the normal five days -- as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. "I'm not at all surprised by the result," said Cau, who has a steady blue gaze. An engineer, she described herself as first and foremost working like a company boss, with a passion for agriculture and the environment. - 'Not because I'm transgender' - The new mayor says the town's residents voted for her because they identify with her desire to develop sustainable agriculture and the local economy, as well as preserve the environment. "The villagers didn't vote for or against me because I'm transgender. They voted for a programme and values. Social ties have disappeared, people want change," Cau said. "My dream is to build an exemplary village, to demonstrate that normal citizens can do things that the government can't," she said. Cau says the residents of Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes didn't vote for or against her because she's transgender / AFP "Congratulations, we wish you good luck!" said a 50-year-old villager in front of the small brick town hall. The newly-elected mayor will take office in challenging times due to the pandemic. But she will have a dream team by her side, she said, which has a great diversity of age, origin and gender. Cau's gender doesn't matter to villager Herve Fontanel. "She has been living here for 20 years, we know how she works. If she manages to create ties, so much the better for Tilloy!" His neighbour, Marie-Josee Godefroy, agreed. "The village will be revived and spoken of more," she said. - Trans visibility- Marie Cau is known by her third middle name. In the 15 years since her transition, she says she has never been the victim of discrimination. "It's rare. People are considerate, despite a couple of blunders," she said. "She didn't have any taboos, she spoke about herself to people who asked questions to end the conversation there," said her partner and town councillor Nathalie Leconte. Cau said she is impatiently waiting for the day when the election of a transgender person is a non-event / AFP "I'm surprised by the huge media attention given to her election," Leconte added. Cau said "it's surprising that it's surprising". "This situation should be normal, since people vote for a team and a project," the mayor said, adding that she is impatiently waiting for the day when the election of a transgender person is a non-event. But Cau recognises the importance of her election. "It shows that transgender people can have a normal social and political life," she said. France's gender equality minister Marlene Schiappa congratulated the freshly appointed mayor. "The visibility of trans people and the struggle against transphobia also takes place through the exercise of public and political responsibilities. Congratulations to Marie Cau!" Schiappa tweeted Sunday. Co-president of SOS Homophobie Veronique Godet said that Cau's election is a landmark in the history of trans people and French politics. "We can see today that many trans people are in a process of emancipation and are beginning to occupy public spaces from which they were previously excluded," added Giovanna Rincon, the head of the transgender rights' group Acceptess-T. Rincon hopes that these kind of events will increase in frequency, "until the election of a transgender mayor of a big city such as Paris." Palestinian leader Saeb Erakat and Archbishop Gallagher talked on the phone. Benjamin Netanyahu is planning the annexation and is now supported by Benny Gantz. Trump is in favour as well. Christian leaders have long complained about the apathy of the international community. Vatican City (AsiaNews) The Holy See is concerned about the possibility that occupied Palestinian territories will come under Israeli sovereignty, jeopardising the two peoples, two states solution and the peace process in the region. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States, spoke by phone with Saeb Erekat, Chief negotiator and Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, the Holy See Press Office reported. For some time Benjamin Netanyahu, back at the helm of Israels government with his main rival Benny Gantz, has expressed plans to annex Jewish settlements in the occupied territories, illegal under international law. Gantz, who opposed them during the election campaign, has come to accept them in order be part of the government. US President Donald Trump also backs annexation. The Holy See has added its voice to that of the regions Christian leaders who accuse the international community of apathy in the face of a situation that can undermine peace. Here is the communique issued by the Holy See Press Office. Today, H.E. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States, was contacted by telephone by H.E. Saeb Erekat, Chief negotiator and Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization. The latter wished to inform the Holy See about recent developments in the Palestinian territories and of the possibility of Israeli applying its sovereignty unilaterally to part of those territories, further jeopardising the peace process. The Holy See reiterates that respect for international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, is an indispensable element for the two peoples to live side by side in two States, within the borders internationally recognised before 1967. The Holy See is following the situation closely, and expresses concern about any future actions that could further compromise dialogue, while also expressing its hope that Israelis and Palestinians will be soon able to find once again the possibility for directly negotiating an agreement, with the help of the International Community, so that peace may finally reign in the Holy Land, so beloved by Jews and Christians and Muslims. The diplomat was quoted as saying at a recent virtual workshop that eCO will drive two-way trade between the two countries up to the target figure of US$15 billion, particularly in the context of the coronavirus currently disrupting global trade. The Indian government already sent a notice to ASEAN countries on April 27, asking them to approve eCO issued via its digital platform. Immediately after that, Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair in 2020, actively discussed with the regional countries about Indias proposal in the current context of both lockdowns and travel restrictions around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic. Indias proposal is also in line with tariff preferences under the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement. Several countries such as Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Myanmar have agreed on or are revising their regulations in order to accept Indias electronic certificates of origin. The Vietnamese Embassy in India has also reported to the Government Office and relevant ministries to seek early approval of Indias proposal, which is expected to be a significant step forward in trade between India and ASEAN in general and Vietnam in particular. Veterans and Gold Star families are reflecting on the true meaning of Memorial Day. While most Memorial Day events across the country are canceled due to the pandemic, military members and Gold Star family members are sharing the holiday's true meaning. Memorial Day is about getting together but more so about remembering our brothers and sisters in arms who gave the ultimate and gave their lives for our country to have those freedoms that we have today, everywhere and everything we do, said Sean Varela, a 28-year Air Force veteran who lives in Boynton Beach. Varela knew four fellow airmen who died in combat on May 15, 2018. You dont really ever forget it. Its around you every single day. You see pictures of your friends. You see posts that friends have posted about them so its definitely around you. Its a constant reminder. Im very close to a lot of people who are in the military. Its very fresh on everyones mind, especially happening right at our base to our people so its really fresh. Youve just got to reach out and be there for each other and thats the beauty of the military. Youre there for your brothers and sisters, said Varela. Liz Lewis, an Army veteran, is the wife of Army CPT Darrell Lewis. Darrell Lewis was killed by a sniper while in a Humvee in Vashir City, Afghanistan in 2007. Liz Lewis moved to Delray Beach with her family after Darrell Lewis died for a fresh start. We were able to communicate on a regular basis and so that was the awesome part, said Liz Lewis. And I knew he was going on a mission and I just thought, OK, hes been on many of these and hes going to be alright. He was 28 days from coming back home on leave and I just couldnt wait to see him. It was a weird morning; I got up to do some homework. I was in nursing school at the time and somebody knocked on my door and I almost didnt answer the door and finally, I was like, You know what? Ill answer the door, and it was an Army chaplain and a major, and they were here to tell me that he had been killed, and thats when my whole life changed. Liz Lewis says her husband was a charismatic man. She says he was going to continue to do amazing things after the military and he was a great man who always served for others. When he was killed, I just fell apart, said Liz Lewis. I know people mean well and they say, Happy Memorial Day, and internally I might be upset, but I know they mean well, but its not a happy Memorial Day. You should enjoy your day but you should also know what this day is really about. Remember those who served their lives for you, those who cared for you and those who have protected you, said Rashawn Hill, Darrell Lewis son. Michael Greco, an Army and Navy veteran from Broward County, shared what goes through his mind every Memorial Day. "I went to the University of Hawaii; I was in the ROTC there, and several of my classmates died in the line of action in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I often think about them and the sacrifices that they and their families both made and some of the Gold Star families that I have in my network, and it really brings a lot of memories to me," said Greco. Danielle Ciccoli, an Army veteran, served alongside a fellow soldier who was killed in action in 2007, during an incident which severely injured several other soldiers in Ciccolis unit. Even as a member of the military, I never really differentiated between Memorial Day and Veterans Day until I knew someone who was close who died as a result of serving our country, so now when I think about Memorial Day, its really about being thankful for those people who laid down their lives and given up for everyone else to be safe, said Ciccoli. The biggest thing Ive been thinking about is the family who have lost loved ones, so if you can give back, give back to a family who has lost a loved one who has been KIA. She and her husband had been anxiously waiting outside the room as those inside discussed the couples future. The door finally opened and she heard the words that put her where she is today. Gifty, the two churches are pleased to accept you as their pastor. Gifty Roberts Smith, who fled the Liberian Civil War and became an ordained minister in the United States, has been the pastor of both Murrayville and Asbury United Methodist churches since that day 2 years ago when the meeting room door opened. I was excited, and I remember one of the members saying, This was my first time meeting you, but from our conversation I just see Jesus in you, and I cant wait for you to be my pastor, Smith said. The committee put it in the church online newsletter along with my picture so everybody would know who their new pastor was going to be. Smith never could have imagined going from civil war refugee running out of money and food and everything to being the shepherd of a two-church flock in Morgan County. But now, its almost like coming home, she said. Gifty Smith and her husband, Roosevelt, were members, but not clergy, of the United Methodist Church when they left their native Liberia for safe haven with relatives in the United States. They lived with family in New York and Ohio, then relocated to Indiana with some United Methodist missionary friends who were helping Roosevelt Smith get a job. Roosevelt Smith received the call to ministry in Indiana and enrolled in Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston. After the couple moved to Evanston, Gifty Smith decided to enroll in seminary, as well. I always wanted to teach, to facilitate people in small groups where we could learn the Bible together and learn what God was calling us to do or to be, Gifty Smith said. I got a masters in Christian Education from Garrett and, with that, I was content because I could teach and do ministry anywhere if I wasnt called to be a pastor or preacher. Roosevelt Smith received his first pastoral appointment at a Danville church and Gifty Smith was hired by an Urbana church to be its Christian education director. From there, in the mobile tradition of the United Methodist church, the couple moved as Roosevelt accepted pastorships in northern and southern Illinois, the Bloomington area, Ashland and Springfield. Every time you move the pastor is taken care of because the pastor has a job, but the other spouse always has to find a job, Gifty Smith said. That was the situation with me when we moved. I had to find a job in Springfield, and I worked for the State of Illinois for a while, and I was doing retreats and small group studies for the church. I was filling in for pastors who were on vacation or medical leave. But Gifty Smith didnt pursue being an ordained minister until she received some advice from an unexpected source. My bureau chief in Springfield, who was a practicing Muslim, asked me at lunch one day, What are you running from? Gifty Smith said. And I started to laugh because I thought it was funny, and I asked her what she meant. And she said Gifty, you have the gift and the graces, and you could be using them to be more. But instead you are running. So I told her I thought one pastor in my family was enough and joked that the church couldnt pay me enough to buy more shoes and purses, Gifty Smith said. Shortly after that conversation, Gifty Smith talked to her parents and asked them to put aside their parental feelings and be completely honest about what they saw in their daughter. My dad was the first person who started to talk about all of this stuff he saw in me, and my mom said, I always told you I thought God was calling you for something more, Smith said. There was also this older couple in the church who I looked on as my second parents, and I asked them the same question. And both of them told me, almost word for word, what my parents had said. Smith applied through the United Methodist Churchs Board of Ordained Ministry and was accepted as an ordained minister; the churchs district superintendent then began to set up interviews with congregations looking for a pastor. That led her to the interview with the staff-parish relations committees of the Murrayville and Asbury churches. Each local church fills out a form that says what kind of a pastor they are looking for, Gifty Smith said. Some churches indicate whether or not they want a woman pastor, and they can also say they want or dont want a black person, as much as they ask them not to do that. Murrayville and Asbury had no qualms about hiring a black woman to lead their congregations. One of the things my husband and I have always said to each other is not to concern ourselves with questions of race, Gifty Smith said. We come in trusting that God is leading and directing us, and we just pray for the best. If I didnt trust in God who has called me, I couldnt be doing what I am doing. Gifty Smith has been through a challenging time for all churches the enforced separation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the two largely rural congregations have adapted well and she served more than 60 cars during drive-up Communion on Easter Sunday. The Smiths have four sons and Gifty Smith was the only girl among her now deceased parents four children. Thats what inspired her unique name. My mom had three boys before me, and one died from malaria complications, Gifty Smith said. When she got pregnant with me, she really wanted a girl and, when she found out I was a girl, she called me Gifty because she said I was Gods gift to her, Gifty Smith said. So Ive had to live up to that name, but I can tell you I didnt disappoint her in her lifetime. . If you have a suggestion about someone who should be profiled, send their name and any contact information available to communitynews@myjournalcourier.com. The customary exchange of Eid sweets between the Border Security Force and its Pakistani counterpart, Pakistan Rangers, did not not place along the India-Pakistan border on Monday, officials said. IMAGE: The Border Security Force exchanged sweets with the Border Guard Bangladesh at the Indo-Bangladesh border at BOP Fulbari near Siliguri on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Photograph: ANI The event was given a miss as the relations between the two countries are strained at present, they added. Incidents of cross-border terrorism are continuing as usual on the Western front and hence, the exchange of sweets did not take place at any location along the India-Pakistan international border from Jammu to Gujarat, the officials said. The BSF guards this border. The force, the officials said, had attempted to undertake the customary gesture during Diwali last year, on its raising day (December 1) and Republic Day (January 26), but the move was not reciprocated by the Pakistani side. However, the force exchanged sweets with its Bangladeshi counterpart, Border Guard Bangladesh, all along the eastern front. India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km-long international border. "BSF and BGB share a very cordial relationship. Both the countries share a similar culture, traditions and festivals. "The warmth and bonding between the countries and border-guarding forces reflect during several occasions, when they share the joy of festivals, including during Eid," a statement issued by the south Bengal frontier of the BSF said. This frontier guards 903 kms of the India-Bangladesh border and is headquartered in Kolkata. "BSF troops up to the border post level conveyed their best wishes to their companions of Bangladesh. The pleasantries for BGB headquarters were shared at Petrapole (land-border crossing in West Bengal)," the statement said. The BSF, during these events, convey its best wishes and good health to its partner, the BGB, with a hope of a better future ahead, it added. At least three people, including two government officials, were killed in an attack in Pakistan's restive North Waziristan district on May 24, administration and police officials said. An administration official who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to talk to reporters told RFE/RL that gunmen riding two motorcycles opened fire at the men in Hassu Khel village of Mir Ali town. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Attacks on Pakistani security forces in the restive Balochistan Province bordering Afghanistan and Iran and the tribal districts bordering Afghanistan have increased over the past few months. Zubaidullah Dawar, a director at the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation within the Ministry of Housing and Works, and Malik Nematullah, a local tribal elder and officer at Health Department of Khyber Pakhunkhwa Province, died "on the spot," the administration official said. Farman, the third victim, reportedly died on his way to the hospital in Bannu. Nizam, a police official at Mir Ali police station, told RFE/RL that the attack took place at 11 a.m. local time near Eidgah, a place where Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers. A case was filed and sent to the Counterterrorism Department of the police, he added. Both officials were attending an Eid al-Fitr celebration marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan in their hometown, Nizam said. When contacted, Shafiullah Gandapur, police chief of North Waziristan tribal district, declined to comment. Mohsin Dawar, a lawmaker representing North Waziristan in Pakistan's parliament, "strongly" condemned the attack on Twitter. On May 17, a Pakistani soldier was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Mir Ali in North Waziristan. By Trend Iran's exporters are looking to fix the issues with the country's current foreign currency policy, amid the COVID-19 restrictions and the US sanctions, Trend reports via IRNA. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has insisted on export diversity and empowerment of structures in his recent speech, but the Central Bank of Iran's policy of returning foreign currency revenues from exports, has slowed down the process. "The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) should allow the export foreign currency revenues will be sold with high rate through the NIMA system, to encourage exporters bring back more foreign currency, said member of Tehran Chamber of Commerce Hamid Reza Salehi. "Although the CBI has a monitoring role but its policies should not prevent export opportunities. The purchase of foreign currency from NIMA is not profitable for exporters, as in the free market the rate is higher," said Salehi. He said that Iran needs a separate organization that would be managing exports. "The process of decision making is divided, since there are various organizations involved in this field for example the Export Guarantee Fund is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade , while the Export Development Bank is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs," he said. "Exporters also face issues of returning value added tax that is quite heavy for productive units," he added. "Sudden decisions on the process of export also affect the improvement," he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 195 Shares Share Elmhurst 2014 I first arrived at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, NY, in the summer of 2014 as a medical student on my surgery rotation. We would take occasional night shifts as part of the trauma team. It was the first time I held a pager. Code yellow meant hurry; code red meant run. One of our first patients was a code red, a young man, not much older than I am now, who had fallen several stories from a rooftop. I remember a few things from that night: the humid July air; the symphonic chaos of the operating room; running through the halls of the hospital, from the OR to the blood bank and back, as the impromptu courier for the massive transfusion protocol. What remains most vividly in my mind, however, is standing outside his bay in the SICU, after he had briefly been stabilized, and hearing his father thank us, through tears, for doing everything we could. His prognosis was grim, but his family remained appreciative, nonetheless. I have returned to Elmhurst every year since then, for weeks or months at a time, first as a medical student, then as an intern, a resident, and a chief resident. Although only a few miles away, it has always been a world apart from hospital life in Manhattan. The hierarchies less rigid, the class lines less visible, the rhythm entirely its own. And in a city where the patients can be exacting, at Elmhurst they have been, on the whole, gracious and grateful for the care they receive, even under difficult circumstances. Elmhurst 2020 When we first heard about a novel pathogen wreaking havoc on major cities and beginning its inexorable march around the world, our thoughts turned to Elmhurst. The demographics of the neighborhood and the relative paucity of healthcare infrastructure servicing the community all pointed toward a perfect storm. It is easily one of the most diverse square miles in the world; about 70% of the population is foreign-born. Every direction you walk from the hospital finds you immersed in a different outpost of transplanted culture and distant national pride. Its proximity to two major airports makes it the point of first contact for many new arrivals to the U.S. who require healthcare. On a normal day, Elmhurst sees disease processes that are relatively common in the developing world, but generally buried in the footnotes of U.S. medical textbooks. When it came to SARS-COV-2, the neighborhood was not so much a melting pot as a pressure cooker. For a host of reasons including tighter living quarters and holding essential jobs that did not afford the luxury of working from home social distancing was not a simple option for much of this community. Within a couple of weeks of the first confirmed case in New York, Elmhurst was overrun with COVID-19. This was a code red. The latter half of March was a complete blur. Regular wards turned into ICUs overnight. Multiple codes an hour. An incomprehensible daily death count. Overflowing morgues and freezer trucks outside the building. Patients came in, got intubated, and died so quickly that often there was no time to obtain a family contact. They died alone, while their loved ones waited by the phone. Elmhursts future There will be time to count the losses, to recount what took place here. There will be stories of personal sacrifice, of staff stretched to the limit, of fear and fearlessness, of the trauma of uncertainty. There will be a necessary examination of what was missing and how we can better prepare for the next wave or the next pathogen. But we must be careful, too, because anyone who has spent any time around Elmhurst, or similar safety-net hospitals, knows this: There are no heroes and there are no villains. There are only dedicated but overburdened staff, working tirelessly with limited resources, and victims of an indiscriminate virus, and a broken system. There is a nagging, painful question I cant quite get out of my head: If these patients had shown up somewhere else if they had crossed the East River and found a hospital with more ICU beds and more critical care staff might some of them have been saved? But this misses the point entirely. The question we should be asking is why Queens, a borough the size of Houston, has fewer than 200 ICU beds. Why a population larger than that in neighboring Manhattan is serviced by threefold fewer acute care beds, primarily at public hospitals and community affiliates of larger academic medical centers based across the river. The battle here was over before it started. There was no amount of curve-flattening that could bring the peak within range of capacity. Elmhurst has been stabilized. And the community, through tears, is thanking us, showering us with food and gifts and words of encouragement. The staff deserves it. But our city, our system, does not deserve their gratitude. We deserve an outpouring of anger and demands for more resources. This can be a moment of unity while still being an impetus for change. Safety nets are there to catch us when we fall, but they can only bear so much burden. A system designed to chase a certain payer mix will, over time, leave communities with high proportions of the under- and uninsured overly reliant on underfunded public hospitals. Universal health coverage is an imperative step, but we also need a more cohesive system that can allocate resources thoughtfully and equitably, rather than by the guiding principles of the invisible hand. Elmhurst will carry on, even as it fades from the public view. This moment, however, will be defined not only by what we did, but by how we responded to it. Eric Bressman is an internal medicine chief resident who blogs at Insights on Residency Training, a part of NEJM Journal Watch. Image credit: Shutterstock.com British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is "bleeding credibility" over senior aide Dominic Cummings, who is facing calls to resign for a journey during the coronavirus lockdown. "One cabinet member says they were 'stunned' by the PM's statement, with government 'bleeding credibility' to keep Cummings in a job," according to a tweet from ITV political correspondent Paul Brand. Expand Close Police officers knock on his door after Cummings had left. Photo: Reuters/Simon Dawson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police officers knock on his door after Cummings had left. Photo: Reuters/Simon Dawson Mr Johnson put his own authority on the line yesterday evening as he fought to save Mr Cummings in the face of growing demands to fire the adviser. Mr Johnson said he understood why Mr Cummings had travelled 400km to seek care for his four-year-old child when he was supposedly self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms. He said that while he understood public anger and confusion, Mr Cummings's actions were "sensible and defensible". "When he had no alternative, I think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent and I do not mark him down for that," Mr Johnson said at a press conference in 10 Downing Street. "I believe that in every respect he has acted responsibly and legally and with integrity, and with the overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives." Expand Close Cummings was defended by his boss, Boris Johnson. Photo: PA Video/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cummings was defended by his boss, Boris Johnson. Photo: PA Video/PA Wire Further reports yesterday suggested he took a second trip to north-east England in April, having already returned to London following his recovery from coronavirus. NHS guidelines state that those experiencing virus symptoms should "not leave your home for any reason". Mr Cummings's movements have sparked a storm of criticism, with politicians across parties calling for him to lose his job. Conservative MP and Brexiter campaigner Steve Baker led the revolt from within the Tory Party, saying Mr Johnson would lose precious political capital if he failed to fire Mr Cummings. But the prime minister said he had held "extensive, face-to-face conversations" with his aide and concluded his actions were fair. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said Mr Johnson's decision to stand by his man was an insult to the sacrifices made by the British people since the country was put on lockdown in late March. "This was a test of the prime minister and he has failed it," Mr Starmer said. "The prime minister's actions have undermined confidence in his own public health message at this crucial time." The controversy comes at a highly sensitive moment for Mr Johnson, with Britons beginning to chafe after two months of lockdown and as fatalities from the virus have topped 36,000. That gives Britain the worst death toll in Europe and the highest in the world after the US. One top health adviser said Boris Johnson had "trashed" all the advice he had been given on building the public trust need for lockdown to work. Professor Stephen Reicher is on the Independent Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) that feeds analysis and advice to the scientists on the UK Government's emergency panel. Following the prime minister's defiant defence of his chief adviser, Prof Reicher tweeted that he had completely undermined efforts to get the public to stick to lockdown rules. "I can say that in a few short minutes tonight, Boris Johnson has trashed all the advice we have given on how to build trust and secure adherence to the measures necessary to control Covid-19," he wrote. The prime minister faced a barrage of questions from journalists yesterday over his adviser. The central charge against Mr Cummings is one of hypocrisy - with one rule for the governing elite and another for the rest of the country. Mr Johnson took the issue head on: "As far as I can see, he stuck to the rules." Official guidance is "clear" that people with childcare difficulties do not need to observe the same strict lockdown rules, Mr Johnson claimed. "It's absolutely responsible of Dominic Cummings to see the risk to his family and to see the risk to his child and to take steps to avert it." Asked whether he understood why the public may feel angry over a sense of double standards, Mr Johnson said he accepted the point. Mr Johnson also confirmed a plan to partly reopen schools on June 1. Before the press conference, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon encouraged Mr Johnson to dismiss Mr Cummings, citing her own "tough" experience of having to let go of Scotland's chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, after pictures emerged of her twice visiting her holiday home during lockdown. Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched into a since-deleted tweet from the official UK Civil Service twitter account, posted 20 minutes after the news conference finished, stating: "Arrogant and offensive. Can you imagine having to work with these truth twisters?" So much for China spreading good will in the wake of inflicting the coronavirus on the restof us. Foreign policy experts of the Washington swamp consensus have been spreading the typical line that China in its post-coronavirus persona, is going to be magnanimous, showering gifts -- masks, loans, and free stuff -- and stepping up its international presence in global institutions, such as the World Health organization, in the hopes maybe making us all forget where that virus started in the first place. It's all about soft power in the Chinese wheelhouse. Here's a view from a Council on Foreign Relations swamper which ran in the Washington Post just three days ago: Beijing sees the crisis as a chance to acquire more global leadership just as the United States abdicates it, a notion that worries some observers. In some ways, this could be good: Beijing has played a relatively positive role on climate change, for instance. But in many areas, like Internet governance, China is seeking to promote a closed, authoritarian model, one that could help keep repressive regimes in power. And a more powerful Beijing might further dominate its neighbors, making parts of Southeast Asia a potential U.S.-China flash point. Might? That's some expert they have there. Here's what China really had in mind: An Indian patrol party was detained and later released by Chinese forces after a scuffle between the two sides in Ladakh earlier this week, sources have told NDTV amid rising tensions between the two countries along the Line of Actual Control. The situation was finally defused after a border meeting of commanders from both sides. The Indian forces have briefed the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), detailing the entire sequence of events that took place on near the Pangong lake. They not only invaded someone else's country, they took its soldiers hostage? This is the doing of a belligerent. And everyone can see it. There's also this: Chinese plans to impose national security laws on Hong Kong could see mainland intelligence agencies set up bases there, raising fears of direct law enforcement and what the United States branded a "death knell" for the city's autonomy. Communist Party rulers in Beijing on Friday unveiled details of the legislation that critics see as a turning point for the former British colony, which enjoys many freedoms, including an independent legal system and right to protest, not allowed on the mainland. Hong Kongers are calling it the death of Hong Kong, the "final nail" in coffin for Hong Kong's autonomy. China has treaty obligations dating from its 1997 handover from Britain to maintain Hong Kong in its current form for 50 years. Less than halfway into it, they've decided to break the treaty, sending a message to everyone in the region that they don't keep treaties and don't care if Hong Kongers don't like it. They've even gotten mouthy about it to the U.S. today after the U.S. protested China's arrest of 180 peaceful Hong Kong protestors: "Some political forces in the U.S. are hijacking the China-U.S. relations and pushing our two countries toward a 'new Cold War'," said China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. "This dangerous attempt to turn back the wheel of history will undo the fruits of decades of long cooperation between the two peoples." Cold war? These guys sound interested in a hot war, and in that slimy way of theirs are trying to lull us into thinking it will be merely 'cold.' Based on their huge upswing in spying activity, the cold war started years ago. And hot war? Yes, there's something of the prelude already. China claimed it 'expelled' a U.S. Navy vessel from the South China Sea on May 2. Whatever the facts of that, it's remembered that less than a month earlier, a U.S. Navy captain was unwisely telling the press about the presence of coronavirus on his ship, alerting the Chinese to U.S. vulnerabilities. That seems to have excited them. They've continued to cover up their role in the spread of the coronavirus around the world, they've lied about its details, they've attempted to blame it on Europe and on visiting U.S. servicemen, and they've been caught doing some suspicious activities that appear to have been a bid to spread COVID-19 into the White House, as well as steal vaccine development secrets from American pharmaceutical countries. China was supposed to be contrite about the coronavirus, assuming it wanted to rejoin the world economy as before. Instead, it only used the crisis as a means of finding ways to come out ahead, its goal to supplant the U.S. as the world's premier superpower. But instead of holding their heads down in shame for showering the world with the coronavirus, China's communist rulers are showing that their idea of 'contrition' is aggression, abuse, and ugliness. The worse they do, the uglier they get. This is no normal country. This is China with the coronavirus mask off and it's a snarling wild beast, raring to start a war. Image credit: Pixabay public domain Countries on the African continent are celebrating Africa Day, 25 May 2020, with several activities prominent of which is pushing forward the Africa Day theme: Silencing the Guns in the context of the COVID-19. English Africa Service Vatican City The African Union (AU) headquarters is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As a way of celebrating Africa Day, several African nationals; Africans in the diaspora as well as descendants of Africa, have organised commemorative cultural events that highlight the vibrancy of African cultures, foods, and traditions. Most of these will be virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Silencing the Guns in the context of COVID19 A Virtual Conference (webinar), Silencing the Guns Initiative, organised by the AUs Department of Peace and Security is planned for 25 May 2020, at 3.00 p.m. East Africa Time. Organisers said they want to sensitise and generate interest among African Citizens about the nexus between development and peace. The AU further says it is not just about guns, it is about what drives people to resort to firearms. This years Africa Day theme seeks to address those underlying issues. The AU also wants to encourage country-level and sub-regional programmes of action towards silencing guns in Africa. Africa Day Solidarity Concert Also, as part of the celebrations this year, the African Union Commission (AUC) has organised an Africa Day Benefit Concert. The two-hour event will feature some of Africas big names in music. The Virtual Music Concert is slated for Monday 25 May 2020, 18:00 to 20:00 hours East African Time. The concert can be viewed on the MTVBase YouTube channel. Recognising the power of music and the crucial role African artists play in the fight against COVID-19 on the continent, the music concert will advocate for financial contributions from well-wishers to the Africa Unions COVID-19 Response Fund. It is also the aim of the AU to engage African youth, especially young musicians, to join forces and work hand in hand in with governments in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic. What is Africa Day? Africa Day is observed annually on 25 May, to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was created on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The OAU is the precursor of the African Union (AU). The day is observed as an official national holiday in Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Namibia, Zambia, Mali, Mauritania, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. This year marks the 57th anniversary of Africa Day. Besides celebrating Africas decolonisation, it is also a day of sober reflection on how African countries can consolidate peace and democracy on the continent. Africa faces a myriad of daunting challenges that seek solutions. Tunis Tunisia (PANA) - Tunisia on Sunday emphasised the importance of combining efforts and strengthening African solidarity to meet current challenges, including the fight against the new coronavirus (COVID-19) to limit its spread in African countries Highlights Samsung Galaxy A31 has been confirmed for June 4 launch The phone has been confirmed to bring a 6.4-inch display Galaxy A31 will also get a 5000mAh battery Samsung has announced that its latest phone, the Galaxy A31, will be coming to India next month. The smartphone will be launched in the country on June 4, with the device already being listed on the company's website with a "Notify Me" button already live for it. The listing has also revealed all the key specifications about the device, including the fact that it will come with a quad-camera set-up and a massive 6.4-inch display. The entire spec sheet of the phone hasn't been revealed yet, however, the shared information does give us a good idea about what we can expect from the Galaxy A31 once it's launched on June 4. Samsung Galaxy A31: Specifications Talking about the hardware of the phone, Samsung has revealed that the Galaxy A31 will come with a 6.4-inch sAMOLED Infinity-U display capable of churning out FullHD+ resolution. There is no information yet on what it will house under the hood, however, previous reports have stated that the phone will come running a MediaTek Helio P65 SoC octa-core SoC paired with either 4GB or 6GB RAM options. The storage is tipped to be 64GB or 128GB options expandable up to 512GB with a microSD card slot. As for cameras, the company has already revealed the Galaxy A31 will get a quad rear camera setup with a primary 48-megapixel primary sensor, 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, 5-megapixel macro shooter, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. There is no clarity on the front camera, but reports claim this could be a 20-megapixel camera sensor. For connectivity the phone could include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a USB-Type port. Samsung has also teased that the phone will get a 5,000mAh battery with support for 15W fast charging. Samsung Galaxy A31: Price Although the company hasn't officially said anything on the pricing of the phone yet, previous reports have given us a hint on what the price of the phone could be like. The Samsung Galaxy A31 price in India is tipped to be around Rs 23,000. The information was leaked by IANS which citing sources had claimed the phone will launch in the first week of June -- something that has been confirmed by Samsung now. The publication has also claimed that the phone will go on sale through all the company's offline and online channels alongside e-commerce platforms. Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli have agreed to plead guilty and serve jail time for their participation in the college admissions scandal uncovered last year involving a number of other high-profile celebrities in a new plea deal. The Full House star and her fashion designer husband Giannullis new guilty plea is a reversal of their previous claims and comes after both denied any wrongdoing, with Loughlin even declaring she was confident she would not be sentenced last year and pleading not guilty. The actress previously faced up to 3 years in prison if she was found guilty. In the new deal, which is still pending approval from a federal judge via video chat in Boston, the 55-year-old actress has agreed to serve two months in prison, and husband Giannulli has agreed to serve five months. They will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, with Giannulli also agreeing to additional wire and mail fraud charges. Scott Harrison/Getty Images Scott Harrison/Getty Images Additionally, the couple agreed to pay a total fine of $400,000 and perform community service. In what former federal prosecutor Bradey Simon called a clever move by the pairs lawyers due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is a chance that the couple could serve their sentence at home. Felicity Huffman was sentenced to 2 weeks in prison last September for her role in the admissions scandal. [via] Three men accused of murder over a teenager's fatal fall from the fourth floor of a Gold Coast building during an alleged robbery have been remanded in custody. It came as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described the weekend's incident as "absolutely awful". Police at the Gold Coast high-rise on Saturday after the teenager's fatal fall. Credit:Nine News "[It is] tragic very concerning, and there is a family that is grieving," she said. "Its awful, absolutely awful. I just urge everyone, especially young people, to please be safe." The nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases crossed 1.4 lakh on Monday after a record number of nearly 7,000 people tested positive for the deadly virus infection during the day. The count has quadrupled since May 1 when special trains began ferrying migrants back to their native places, followed within a week by special flights to bring back Indians and expatriates from abroad. India's COVID-19 death toll has also crossed the 4,000-mark, marking an over three-fold increase since May 1, while the total number of active cases has more than tripled too in this time period. The number of recovered COVID-19 patients has also grown over six-fold since then to nearly 60,000 now. While badly-hit Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Delhi continued to report large numbers of positive cases, states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand have seen their tallies reaching to the levels up to 10-times of the numbers recorded before return of their people in special trains from states where they had gone as migrant workers. Nagaland also reported its first three cases on Monday, after two men and a woman -- all in their 20s, who recently returned to the state from Chennai in a special train -- were found infected with the novel coronavirus. India's first COVID-19 case was detected in late January, but Nagaland had remained free of it so far. According to official data, the Railways has ferried around 40 lakh migrant workers in 3,060 migrant special trains since May 1. The five states accounting for the maximum number of terminating stations are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, while the top five states or union territories from where these trains originated are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, which incidentally have been among the worst hit by the outbreak. In their COVID-19 updates, many states and union territories have been mentioning for the past few days about people coming from other states or from abroad accounting for a large chunk of the new cases. The Union Health Ministry in its morning 8 AM update said that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached 1,38,845 with a record 24-hour increase of 6,977 cases since Sunday morning, while the death toll has risen to 4,021. It also said that 57721 people have so far recovered from the infection. However, a PTI tally of figures reported by different states and UTs, as of 9.30 PM, put the nationwide tally of confirmed cases higher at 1,41,794 and the death toll at 4,078. It also showed the number of recoveries rising to 59,689, but leaving over 78,000 active cases in the country. In its 8 AM morning update on May 1, the Union Health Ministry had put the number of confirmed cases at about 35,000 -- including nearly 1,150 deaths, close to 8,900 recoveries and little over 25,000 active cases. The cumulative number of confirmed cases has quadrupled since then, while the death toll has risen over three-fold and similar has been the increase in the count of active cases. However, the number of recovered COVID-19 patients has risen six-fold from that level. Indian Railways began operating special migrant trains on May 1 and nearly 40 lakh migrant workers have been ferried in 3,060 such trains since then. Many more such trains are scheduled to be operated over the coming days. The coronavirus-triggered lockdown, which has been in place since March 25, has had a devastating impact on the economy as well as on livelihoods of lakhs of migrant workers. Thousands of them were even seen walking from several urban centres to reach their villages, some of those being hundreds of kilometers away, while some of them hitched hikes in trucks. There have been incidents of many of them getting killed in road accidents, while a group of migrant labourers got killed by a speeding train in Maharashtra after they fell asleep on the railway tracks, ironically a preferred route for those unaware of exact maps. Maharashtra, the worst-hit state, reports 2,436 new cases and 60 deaths on Monday, taking its case count to 52,667 and fatalities to 1,695. At least two ministers have also tested positive in the state, while at least 18 police personnel have succumbed to COVID-19 so far. Gujarat, another badly affected state, reported 405 new cases to take its tally to 14,468, while 30 more patients died to take its death toll to 888. More than 12 lakh migrants have been ferried out of Gujarat by trains so far, most of those being headed for Bihar, Odisha and Jharkahnd, officials said. Bihar reported 180 new cases, pushing the tally to 2,574 in the state. A large number of new cases in Bihar over the last few days are among the people having returned from outside. Odisha registered its biggest spike in COVID-19 cases on Monday with 103 more people testing positive for the disease, taking the total number of infected to 1,438. Ganjam district, which has reported the maximum number of returnees from other states, tops the COVID-19 list with 353 cases, followed by 240 in Jajpur district, an official said. In Tamil Nadu, 805 new cases were reported to take the state's tally to 17,082. Haryana, Puducherry, Kerala, J&K, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan also reported more cases. In Himachal Pradesh, lockdown restrictions have been extended till June in several areas. The cases across the country have also seen a significant spike since May 18, when the fourth phase of the lockdown came into effect with several relaxations. Nearly one-third of the cases across the country have been reported since May 18. The national recorded 635 fresh cases, taking its tally to 14,053. At least 276 deaths have also been recorded so far in the national capital.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, however, said the COVID-19 situation is under control in Delhi even after the easing of lockdown restrictions. A nationwide lockdown has been in place since March 25, which was initially imposed for 21 days but has been extended thrice already and the ongoing fourth phase is scheduled to continue till May 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON Amid a pandemic on the brink of claiming 100,000 American lives, President Donald Trump made Memorial Day visits to a military cemetery and a historic fort on Monday and paid homage to service members responding to the coronavirus. "I stand before you at this noble fortress of American liberty to pay tribute to the immortal souls who fought and died to keep us free," Trump said at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, where he and first lady Melania Trump held their hands over their hearts as a fife and drum corps played the national anthem. "Tens of thousands of service members and national guardsmen are on the front lines of our war against this terrible virus," Trump said. "As one nation, we mourn alongside every single family that has lost loved ones, including the families of our great Veterans." President Donald Trump salutes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, in honor of Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020, in Arlington, Va., with Vice President Mike Pence. A few hundred people gathered outside at the fort, which was decorated with red, white and blue banners. Coronavirus live updates: Trump visits Arlington amid restrictions, Memorial Day crowds ignore warnings, deaths near Earlier, as a military bugler played taps, Trump followed tradition by placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The brief ceremony honored "those who have died for our great Nation while serving in the US Armed Forces," the White House said in a statement. This Memorial Day comes as the United States braces to pass the 100,000 mark in deaths from the coronavirus that has forced the shutdown of state economies and limited public events. More than 1.6 million Americans have tested positive for the virus and nearly 98,000 have died as of midday Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. President Donald Trump speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Monday, May 25, 2020, in Baltimore. During the War of 1812, American soldiers at Fort McHenry defended Baltimore from attack by the British. The raising of a large American flag at the fort inspired the poem that turned into the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Story continues Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. Jack Young criticized Trump's visit to his city amid the pandemic, saying the president is not setting a good example. That President Trump is deciding to pursue nonessential travel sends the wrong message to our residents, the Democratic mayor said in a statement. In response, White House spokesman Judd Deere said: "The brave men and women who have preserved our freedoms for generations did not stay home and the president will not either as he honors their sacrifice by visiting such a historic landmark in our Nations history." More: Biden makes first in-person appearance in more than 2 months for Memorial Day remembrance Former Vice President Joe Biden, who is running against Trump in this year's presidential election, also marked the day, making his first public appearance in more than two months. Wearing a black mask, Biden placed a wreath at a veterans park near his Delaware home. "Never forget the sacrifices that these men and women made," Biden said during a brief exchange with reporters. "Never, ever, forget." Contributing: John Fritze This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump marks coronavirus Memorial Day at Arlington, Fort McHenry From Brick House to Hello, music legend Lionel Richie has penned a slew of sing-along-inspiring hits. Not only do his lyrics resonate with fans from different eras, but they also shatter cultural boundaries. When it comes to the wildly popular 1983 dance anthem, All Night Long, Richie has a particularly interesting story about how he created the memorable hook. Lionel Richie | RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Lionel Richie experienced writers block when composing All Night Long Richie spoke with GQ in 2018 and dished a few little-known details about how he wrote some of his most iconic tunes. When reflecting on the experience of writing All Night Long, he shared his story of how he nailed the verse but became stuck when it came to crafting the hook. Richie said this: Now I have this song, Well, my friends the time has come to raise the roof and have some fun, thats great. Karamu, fiesta, forever come on and sing along. Da-da-da-da I dont have a hook. And so, it took me probably another month of just walking around my house and everywhere trying to find out what is the hook to come on and sing along? Ive got to give you the sing-along. Lionel Richie to GQ Inspiration struck in the middle of the night My hair might be heading back to this look #FlashbackFriday #QuarantineLife pic.twitter.com/B9S4h2uVLq Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie) April 24, 2020 RELATED: Lionel Richie Confessed How His Disgusting Song Drove His Grandmother Away From Church Richie pondered for a while about how to complete the song. The lyricist told GQ that the words came to him unexpectedly while visiting a friends house during a break from working in the studio. He recalled the night when inspiration hit, telling GQ this: So, I went to one of my dear friends houses, Dr. Lloyd Greg, and I went by for dinner. Hes from Jamaica. And Im leaving at now its I took a break from the studio, Im leaving his house now about two oclock in the morning. And as Im leaving the house, Im saying to him (in an accent) Hey man, I got to go back and work all night long, man. All night long. All night long. All night long. All night long. Got it. Lionel Richie to GQ All Night Long became a friendly welcome for U.S. troops in Iraq RELATED: Lionel Richie Explained Why the Clay Sculpture in the Hello Video Doesnt Look Like Him All Night Long became much more than a crowd-pleasing dance record. Richie explained to GQ that while stationed in Iraq, many the United States military troops and Iraqi citizens would take turns playing his songs, All Night Long and Dancing on the Ceiling as messages of warmth and hospitality between the groups. The story was that the people in Iraq wanted to welcome the troops in, and they wanted them to know that they were welcoming them and its friendly. Every shop owner, every store, everything played All Night Long on the speakers as they were coming in, the songwriter told GQ. Richie recalled meeting a military commander who told him the other half of that story. The American troops wanted to show the Iraqi civilians that they were friendly, so they responded with another Lionel Richie song. They played Dancing on the Ceiling on top of the Humvees coming into the city, said Richie, Thats a true story. RELATED: Lionel Richie Was Terrorized at Michael Jacksons Home By His Animals While Writing We Are the World About 100 people, including a Magistrate and some police personnel, have been asked to go into quarantine after an accused, who was produced before a lower court here following his arrest, later testedpositive, officials said on Monday. The accused, who was arrested along with two others in connection with a case relating to illicit liquor transportation two days ago, had been shifted to thePoojapura central jail after he was remanded to judicial custody. With his sample testing positive on Sunday, theman has been sent to a designated COVID-19 hospital. The Nedumangad court magistrate, before whom he was produced, 34 police personnel, including a circle inspector, who were on duty at the Venjaramoodu police station when the accused was broughtafter his arrest, some employees of a government hospital where his swab sample was taken and 12 officials of thePoojapura central jail have gone into quarantine, police sources said. . Meanwhile, Malayalam film actor Suraj Venjaramoodu and Vamanapuram MLA D K Murali (CPI) are under self-imposed quarantineas they had attended a function in which the circle inspector had taken part. Two days ago, a car in which illicit liqour was being transported had hit a policeman and sped away, but people managed to stop the vehicle and the three accused, who were in an inebriated state, were arrested, sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, May 25 : Muslims across the globe are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr as this holy month of Ramadan comes to an end. Ramadan signifies the end of the month of fasting (the first day of the month of Shawwal). There are many Ismalic words related to the festival that hold significance. Here's our version of an A to Z of words, names, concepts which you should know: A- Allah Allah is the Arabic word referring to God in Islam. Muslims across the globe offer prayers to Allah on Eid. B- Bismillah Bismillah is a phrase in Arabic meaning "in the name of God". It is also the first word in the Quran, and refers to the Quran's opening phrase, the 'Basmala'. C-Chaand Raat It is an Urdu word used for the eve of Eid ul-Fitr. It can also mean a night with a new moon for the new Islamic month shawwal. The sighting of the new moon. E- Eidi Gifts or cash that is usually given to children by elder relatives and family friends as part of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. F- Fitrah Fitrah in Ramadan is the charity which is obligatory to give after the sighting of Eid ul Fitr moon. This charity is given by the head of the family on behalf of each family member. G-Ghafara Ghafara means "to cover, hide, conceal, forgive, give protection, set the affairs right, suppress the defect". During Ramadan, amidst the fasting and extra prayers, it's believed that God further instructs the Muslim through the teachings of Prophet Muhammad that humanity should seek God's forgiveness from all past indiscretions, and ask that they be protected against future indiscretions. H-Halal Halal is a notion that applies to both objects and actions, and means permissible according to Islamic law. It may be most often associated with food and the rules of selecting, slaughtering, and cooking animals. I-Idgah Idgah is the open-air enclosure usually in mosques or other areas reserved for Eid prayers offered in the morning of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. K-Khutbah A talk or sermon delivered in mosques before Friday prayers and special occasions. L-La-ilaha-illa-llah La ilah illa Allah in Arabic means no god, except Allah. This implies that there is no deity worthy of worship except the one who created everything, i.e. Allah. Muslims believe that this statement is the purpose of creating humanity. M-Muhammad Muhammad was the prophet and founder of Islam. Muslims consider Muhammad as the most important prophet as they believe he was the chosen recipient and messenger of the word of God through the divine revelations. Muslims from all walks of life strive to follow his example. N-Niyyat A person's intention when fasting, is to bring him/herself closer to God. P-Prophets of Islam Prophets in Islam are individuals who Muslims believe were sent by God to various communities in order to serve as examples of ideal human behaviour and to spread God's message on Earth. R-Ramadan Ramadan or Ramazan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. S-Savaiyan A sweet dish made of vermicelli which is an Eid-ul-Fitr staple among Muslims across India T-Takbir It is a common Islamic Arabic expression, used in various contexts by Muslims; in formal Salah (prayer), in the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer), as an informal expression of faith, in times of distress or joy, or to express resolute determination or defiance and for war cry. U-Ubudiyah Ubudiyah or reliance on Allah is an element in the Islamic management - Islam as a whole, which includes the management of self, family, or organisation... The principle of Ubudiyah comprises the elements of Confident with Allah, Trust in Allah, and Sincere in Allah W-Wudu Wudu is an Islamic procedure for cleansing parts of the body, in preparation for prayer and worship Z-zakat It is the payment made annually under Islamic law on certain kinds of property and used for charitable and religious purposes, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. (Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in) Latest updates on Eid al-Fitr 2020 -- Syndicated from IANS New Delhi, May 25 : Real estate body CREDAI has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate measures from the government to help the real estate sector 'survive'. "In this distressful situation arising out of the COVID-19 calamity, we in the real estate sector seek immediate relief for our survival," it said. The industry body said that it has done its "best possible" to mitigate the plight of over five crore labour force in the sector by providing food and shelter. It said that although the loan moratorium may be helpful for the sector in the long run, the sector requires a one-time loan restructuring scheme as allowed by the Reserve Bank of India in 2008 amid the global financial crisis. "Since real estate was already reeling under a cyclical downturn before COVID-19, such restructuring needs to be allowed for all accounts which were standard as on 31.12.2019," the letter by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) said. CREDAI further said that the Centre should direct all banks, non-banking finance companies (NBFC) and housing finance companies (HFC) to institute a scheme to permit additional credit equal to 20 per cent of the existing real estate project related advances, at the MCLR with no additional security. It also suggested that government guarantees can also be extended for such credit if need be. The letter dated May 24 also requested that the penal interest charged by banks and financial institutions be suspended for a period of one year or until the pandemic abates. Alleging sudden increase in cement and steel prices by the producers, CREDAI said that controlling prices of the raw materials is highly essential for construction activities to start. Across various states, there has been an increase of Rs 100-250 per bag of cement and about Rs 2,000-Rs 2,500 per metric tonne of steel, it said. It further said that actual disbursements from the Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) - Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing of Rs 25,000 crore has been minimal although the fund has achieved its first closing at Rs 10,500 crore very quickly. "The chief constraint in the operationalization of the fund is the rigidity in its mandate, wherein the existing lender (Banks/NBFC's/HFC's/) is not being accommodated at all. Secondly, the AIF expects a return of about 12-15 per cent on its investments in projects, which is very high given the fact that the projects in the ambit of the fund are 'stalled'," it said. This high return on investment leads to an increase in project cost, which eventually passes on to the already aggrieved home buyer. In the current situation among other recommendations, CREDAI has sought quick disbursement of funds to complete the stuck projects at an expected RoI of 8-9 per cent. A shocking photograph shows a fun and energetic 13-year-old girl battling the after-effects of a suspected coronavirus-linked infection. Grace Havens, 13, was rushed to hospital when she developed a rash following days of severe pain. The teenager, from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, was diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP), which causes small blood vessels in the skin, joints, intestines, and kidneys to become inflamed and bleed. This has been likened to the rare but life-threatening Kawasaki disease, with similar symptoms appearing in a handful of children with coronavirus. Graces mother Rachel Havens, 47, is adamant her daughter developed HSP as a result of the virus, however it is unclear if the teenager ever had the infection. Early research suggests coronavirus is mild in four out of five cases, however it can trigger a respiratory disease called COVID-19. Grace Havens was diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP), her mother believes it was a complication of the coronavirus. Source: SWNS I personally believe COVID-19 is responsible for the severity of it, Ms Havens said, speaking of her daughters deterioration. The mother of three and husband Justin, 52, are awaiting the result of a blood test that should reveal if Grace has antibodies against the coronavirus. Antibodies are immune-fighting proteins that circulate in the bloodstream after an individual has overcome an infection. If the person encounters the same virus again, their immune system ramps up production of these memory antibodies, preventing the infection taking hold for a second time. Testing positive for antibodies would indicate Grace has had the coronavirus, however false positives may occur. It wont change anything for Grace. At the end of the day, I believe she had it, but its not going to change anything because we are where we are, Ms Havens said of the blood test. I think whats happening is children are getting coronavirus mildly, but its triggering this extra awful inflammatory syndrome in them. The vast majority of coronavirus complications worldwide are occurring in the elderly or those with health issues. Children tend to have mild symptoms or none at all. Story continues A number of children randomly but severely affected Grace came home from school on February 28, complaining of abdominal pain and a fever. After two visits to the GP, Grace was sent to Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals childrens centre with suspected appendicitis when the appendix becomes inflamed or peritonitis, swelling of the membrane that lines the inner abdominal wall. Finding no cause for concern, doctors sent Grace home. The teenager was rushed back to hospital on March 5 when she developed a rash. She spent the next four weeks on morphine and fentanyl as medics tried to ease her discomfort. After losing 6.35 kilograms, Grace was fed both nasally and intravenously. Blood was later discovered in her faeces, prompting doctors to transfer her to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where she stayed for three weeks. Grace Havens, 13, was 'fun and energetic' before she became ill. Source: SWNS As if she had not endured enough, Grace went on to develop crescentic nephritis. The severe kidney inflammation can cause the organs to lose function in days. Thankfully, the teenager pulled through and is home with her family. Her mother, an event planner, is speaking out to raise awareness of the dangers of the coronavirus in young people. While we are told the majority of children will be unharmed by [the infection], there appear to be a number who are randomly but severely affected, she said. This is why I felt we should share our daughters story, with the aim of raising awareness in the hope that as science progresses, less lives will be affected. Inflammation occurring in some children HSP typically causes a purple rash, particularly on the lower body. Some patients also develop abdominal and joint pain. In rare cases, severe kidney damage can occur. Although unclear, HSP is thought to come about due to an over-reaction of the immune system to an infection. NHS doctors have been told to look out for signs of multi-system inflammation after intensive care units in London saw eight children with unusual symptoms, some of whom tested positive for the coronavirus. Medics likened the mysterious inflammation to Kawasaki disease. This is a rare condition that usually affects children under five and causes blood vessels to become inflamed, leading to heart complications in about a quarter of patients. Left untreated, the complications can be fatal in 2 to 3 per cent of youngsters. Symptoms usually include fever, rash, red eyes, dry or cracked lips, swollen lymph nodes, and redness on the palms and soles of the feet. Experts have warned these symptoms are a sign the body is overwhelmed as it tries to fight an infection. Should parents be concerned by the inflammatory disorder? Overall, children who have caught the coronavirus have been relatively unaffected. People under 18 made up just two per cent of cases reported in a large UK study. Speaking at a recent Science Media Centre briefing, Professor Russell Viner president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health estimated between 75 and 100 youngsters across the country have been admitted to hospital with the Kawasaki-like disease. The total numbers of children who get this syndrome are very small, he said. Around 5,000 children die tragically each year. Some of these are premature babies, but 160 to 170 die in car crashes. Those deaths are tragic but also rare. How do we manage those? We buy child seats, we use seat belts, we sometimes buy better cars; but we dont stop driving. This syndrome is much, much more rare than car accidents involving children. It should not stop parents sending their children back to school when schools are ready to re-open. What parents do need, however, is knowledge and understanding so they know what to look out for. As of April 27, NHS England knew of fewer than 20 cases where an association between the coronavirus and the Kawasaki-like condition had been noted by doctors, the BBC reported. It issued an urgent alert to GPs to be aware of the condition, but stressed no link had been established with the coronavirus. Professor Alastair Sutcliffe, from University College London, previously said: There is apparently a small risk but no grounds for panic. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. The Works and Housing Minister Samuel Atta Akyea has given his commendation to Kumasi Mayor Osei Assibey-Antwi for being on top of his game on sanitation issues. He said he was particularly pleased with the effectiveness of the mayor in managing filth in the boisterous city, urging him to sustain his good works. According to him, Kumasi is now looking beautiful mainly because the mayor was handling the sanitation situation effectively. The minister even urged the mayor of Accra to 'emulate' Osei-Assibey's approach in handling filth because in his opinion, it would rid the capital city of filth to a large extent. Atta Akyea passed the comments after he had witnessed a night clean-up exercise by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to make the city look spick and span. Per the KMA's approach, the entire city, especially the Central Business District (CBD), is cleaned and gutters desilted regularly ahead of the next business day. Atta Akyea, who was accompanied by his deputy, Eugene Boakye Antwi, toured Kumasi on Friday evening to observe the KMA's night clean-up exercise aimed at desilting choked gutters at Adum, Alabar, Kejetia, Pampaso, Asafo and other suburbs of Kumasi. I must commend the mayor of Kumasi. I never knew that what happens in London is also happening in Kumasi, Atta Akyea told journalists, adding a situation where drainages and the streets are cleaned in the night and the next day the city will be cleaned is laudable. I will tell the mayor of Accra to liaise with his counterpart in Kumasi to replicate the kind of arrangement where people work in the night to clean the city, he said. According to him, the meteorological agency had warned that there would be a lot of rains this year, so the need for the country to prepare appropriately, and the exercise would help prevent unnecessary flooding. Assibey-Antwi stated that the KMA started the night cleaning exercise immediately he took office, adding that the strategy was working to perfection. He also saluted the ministers for travelling from Accra to Kumasi to team up with the KMA to clean the city on Friday evening and Saturday morning. ---Daily Guide Balancing tradition and heightened safety measures, all churches within the Diocese of Laredo will open their doors for Mass beginning the weekend of June 6-7. READ MORE: Laredos 19th coronavirus-related death reported However local Catholics are still dispensed of their obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days, Bishop James A. Tamayo announced in a pastoral statement last week. Therefore, those who, at this time, do not choose to attend public Sunday Mass do not commit sin, he said. In particular, people with symptoms associated with COVID-19, people with underlying health conditions, the elderly, pregnant women and those that have been in close proximity with people who have tested positive for COVID-19 should remain at home. He has asked the parishes that have been live-streaming their Masses over the past two months to continue to do so. Services will be different for those who choose to attend. Everyone over the age of 2 must wear a mask upon entering the church and social distancing will be enforced. All hymnals, missals and other worship aids will be removed from the pews and holy water fonts will be empty. Ministers have been instructed to enter the church as simply as possible. There will be no offertory procession or exchange of peace. Communion will be held at the end of Mass. There will be no offering of wine and parishioners may not dip their bread in wine. Ministers will wear a face mask while distributing communion, and distributing bread on the hand, rather than mouth, is highly encouraged. If a minister makes contact with a communicant, they will apply hand sanitizer. Activities such as bible study, in-house catechesis or gatherings like bake sales are still suspended. Laredos Catholic churches have been closed to the public since March 19, after City Council passed its first emergency order limiting social gatherings as the citys first COVID-19 case was confirmed. The Diocese of Laredo is one of the last to resume Mass in South Texas. The Archdiocese of San Antonio resumed Mass on May 19, the Diocese of Corpus Christi on May 9 and the Diocese of Brownsville on May 25. Some Texas dioceses have not announced when in-person services will resume. READ MORE: Despite claim, some property values in Webb have spiked Guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and in dialogue with the pastors of every parish in the Diocese of Laredo, I am ready to announce that on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity ... the public celebration of Mass may resume, Tamayo wrote. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com US Has Absolute Confidence in Australias Handling of National Security: US Ambassador Follows comments made by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Victoria's involvement in Belt and Road The U.S. ambassador to Australia has stressed that the United States is confident that Australia can protect the security of its telecommunications networks and by extension those of its Five Eyes intelligence partners. The assurance comes after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States would not hesitate to simply disconnect or separate from Australia if the Victorian states involvement in Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) threatens telecommunications security. U.S. Ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse Jr. issued a statement on May 24 to set the record straight. The United States has absolute confidence in the Australian governments ability to protect the security of its telecommunications networks and those of its Five Eyes partners, he said. Culvahouse said the United States has made no secret of its concerns about the security risks to 5G networks but commended Australias leadership on the issue. The ambassador clarified that Pompeo was asked by Sky News to address a hypothetical, and Pompeo was careful to note that he wasnt familiar with the state of Victorias BRI discussions with China. We are not aware that Victoria has engaged in any concrete projects under BRI, let alone projects impinging on telecommunications networks, which we understand are a federal matter, said Culvahouse. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (2nd R) and his wife Susan (R) are received by the U.S. Ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse (L) and U.S. Consul General Sharon Hudson-Dean at Sydney airport on Aug. 3, 2019. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images) If there were telecommunications initiatives that we thought put the integrity of our networks at risk, of course we would have to take a close look at that, as the secretary suggested. Victorias Labor Premier Daniel Andrews has signed two agreements with Beijings National Development and Reform Commission, progressing the states involvement in the BRI. A third agreement is due to be signed middle of 2020. One area of co-operation outlined in the second agreement was to increase participation of Chinese infrastructure companies in Victorias infrastructure construction program and promoting co-operation of Victorian firms in China. In an interview with Sky News, Pompeo said that he did not know the exact details of Victorias BRI commitments. But he said that the United States would not take any risks with its telecommunications infrastructure, including through its work with Fives Eyes intelligence partners, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Were going to protect and preserve the security of those institutions, he said during the interview. I dont know the nature of those (Victorias) projects precisely, but to the extent they have an adverse impact on our ability to protect telecommunications from our private citizens, or security networks for our defence, or intelligence communities, we will simply disconnect, we will simply separate, Pompeo said. National security legislation for HKSAR by top legislature has sufficient Constitutional, legal basis PLA Daily Source: Xinhuanet Editor: Chen Zhuo 2020-05-24 11:32:06 HONG KONG, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The deliberation by China's top legislature on national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been welcomed by many law experts in Hong Kong as a critical effort to plug loopholes in the national security system and safeguard the constitutional order established by the Constitution and the Basic Law. A draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security was submitted to the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation on Friday. Legal experts in Hong Kong pointed out that the central authorities bear the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding national security, and the decision by the NPC, China's highest organ of state power, has a sufficient legal basis. Article 31 of the Constitution provides, "The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The systems instituted in special administrative regions shall, in light of specific circumstances, be prescribed by laws enacted by the National People's Congress." The NPC's decision, which is basically the exercising of the NPC's power in accordance with the Constitution to implement relevant systems in the HKSAR, has a solid legal basis, said Chu Kar-kin, a member of a research association on the Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. Wong Ying-ho, a solicitor in Hong Kong and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, pointed out that the Basic Law is based on Article 31 of the Constitution, and the NPC and its Standing Committee have the constitutional responsibility of safeguarding national security in the HKSAR according to Hong Kong's actual situation and needs. Chan Man-ki, a lawyer and an NPC deputy from Hong Kong, noted that national security legislation should not be simply regarded as a matter within the scope of autonomy of the HKSAR. It is constitutional for the central authorities to introduce national security legislation in the HKSAR in accordance with Article 18 of the Basic Law, she said. While Article 23 of the Basic Law authorizes the HKSAR to enact laws on its own to prohibit acts endangering national security, "this authorization does not affect the central government's overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong and its overriding power to establish, improve and supervise the legal system and enforcement mechanisms in the HKSAR for safeguarding national security, as well as to supervise the implementation of the Constitution and the Basic Law in Hong Kong," Chan said. Some legal experts stressed the need and urgency for the NPC to plug loopholes in the legal system for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong. "Hong Kong now has laws against crimes of treason, sedition, espionage, and stealing official secrets, but other crimes such as secession and subversion are not included," said Ip Lau Suk-yee, a member of the HKSAR Legislative Council. "In recent months, some people advocated 'Hong Kong independence,' while some called for disbanding the HKSAR government, which fall under the crimes of secession and subversion, yet Hong Kong doesn't have relevant legislation against such crimes, making such actions hard to handle," she explained. Legal experts stressed that the NPC's introduction of the national security legislation for the HKSAR is the institutional arrangement at the state level, which does not mean it replaces or abolishes Article 23 of the Basic Law. "Article 23 of the Basic Law remains effective," said Leung Mei-fun, a member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the NPC Standing Committee," the HKSAR still has the legislative responsibility of enacting the legislation required by Article 23 of the Basic Law at an early date." Gu Minkang, former deputy dean of the law school of the City University of Hong Kong, said the opposition forces in Hong Kong spared no efforts to demonize the legislation aimed at safeguarding national security and even urged interference from foreign countries such as the United States. Ironically, the United States has the world's most complicated and complete law system for national security and frequently uses its domestic laws to exercise long-arm jurisdiction, Gu said. "It is typical double standard." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As the nation moves towards recovery and reopening, one emerging reality in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak is that the American health care system will see its own new normal in the coming weeks and months, according to experts and doctors. Strapped for cash and some protective equipment, and forced to re-write protocols to better fortify against the contagious spread of COVID-19, doctors offices and hospitals across the country are beginning to rethink their approach to personal care -- from an increase in telemedicine and widespread coronavirus testing for patients, to the complex math about which procedures should go ahead and how. This is an opportunity to ask, what do we really need to do and what do we need to not do, Robert MacLean, former president of the American College of Physicians, told ABC News. The pandemic has gotten us back to doctoring. We need to take advantage of that and critically look at the utilization of lot of things we have done. While virus patients flooded into some hospitals, elective and other non-emergency surgeries came grinding to a halt, causing drastic financial strain on facilities big and small. Now, as with the rest of the country, doctors have cautiously started to resume those procedures. MORE: Some hospitals outside of hot spots prepared for coronavirus war, face financial wounds instead As of this report, at least 30 states have reportedly relaxed mitigation strategies related to surgery, and it appears more are on their way. University of Michigan Health System has reopened its elective surgeries, but officials there said they are unsure how long it will take for the hospital to be ready for the old pace of activity. Dr. Andrew Ibrahim, a general surgeon at University of Michigan, said physicians there are weighing the benefits of each surgical procedure against the risk of COVID-19 and the resources available. The resumption of procedures so far has been gradual. We've brought back surgery slowly based on their time-sensitivity in line with [Michigan] Gov. [Gretchen] Whitmer's orders, he said. Story continues Ibrahim said the hospital created a central committee to prioritize which cases need more urgent attention, relying on specialists to help triage the cases. In Nebraska and Kentucky, hospital administrators and physicians like Dr. Prakash Pandalai, a surgeon at University of Kentucky, said they started by prioritizing cancer operations, surgeries needed to prevent loss of a limb, and procedures needed to prevent further acceleration of disease. "But we need to be careful about ensuring that there is enough protective equipment for providers and patients as we come back online, Pandalai said. 'Watching PPE supplies and flow very carefully' As Pandalai indicated, beyond the urgency of the procedures for patients, one limiting factor is the supply of personal protective equipment, better known as PPE, that became such a focal point as the coronavirus spread. PPE is not necessarily the same for various surgeries as it would be to treat COVID-19 patients, but there is enough of an overlap in basic protective equipment that health care officials told ABC News they're taking careful note when considering the amount of PPE that would be expended for a particular operation and how much PPE they might need if a resurgence of COVID-19 strikes. Jeffrey Tieman, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, said that if hospitals "don't feel confidant in PPE supply, you need to think about whether you can continue to offer those elective procedures." PHOTO: A registered nurse confers with a fellow healthcare worker after they rotated a COVID-19 patient in the third-floor ICU at Bethesda Hospital on May 7, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP) Dr. Kat McGraw, physician and chief medical officer at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Vermont, said that since the state has allowed outpatient surgeries to resume, the hospital has been "tasked with that responsibility of being able to self supply surge PPE if we want to be able to go forward with elective procedures." MORE: Children's hospitals ask feds for more money amid 'catastrophic loss' due to coronavirus McGraw said the hospital has developed its own stockpile of PPE for an emergency, which she compared to a blood bank. "We have been purchasing not through our usual streams, but trying to find creative ways to get augmented amount of PPE, but thats not necessarily sustainable," she said. "The trick to moving forward with surgery is making sure it doesn't impeded with our ability to have everything in place for our ability to manage a surge for COVID-19." Dr. Brandon Mauldin, the Chief Medical Officers of the Tulane Health System in Louisiana, referred to this dilemma as a "balancing act." "Because we have initiated and started back on elective surgeries as [COVID-19] patients have declined, the balancing of it is a lot easier to do," Mauldin told ABC News. "So we feel more comfortable that we have sufficient PPE." Others are not as confident. Dr. Sharmila Makhija, chair of OBYGN at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, said she and other colleagues "across the country" are "worried about whether we have enough personal protective equipment to do elective surgeries." Somewhere in the middle is Providence Health, which serves urban and rural communities from Alaska to Southern California. The chief value officer there, Dr. Joanne Roberts, told ABC News they are "watching PPE supplies and flow very carefully as we resume non-emergent procedures." Remote screenings and coronavirus tests as pre-op One strategy to save on PPE, as well as improve general safety amid the coronavirus spread, is the increasing use of telemedicine -- what one doctor said may become a pre-operation "new normal." Dr. Aleaf Worku, at CareMore Health, said it will be more likely that patient assessment -- the initial practice of seeing what kind of care a patient needs -- could be done remotely, sparing the patient a visit to the hospital and sparing medical professionals from coming in physical contact with the patient. This is why telemedicine may be the way we do pre-op screening in the new normal, Aleaf said. PHOTO: A registered nurse puts on protective gear as he prepares to check on a COVID-19 patient at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kan., May 20, 2020. (Charlie Riedel/AP) Another potential new normal for pre-op? COVID-19 testing. That's the strategy McGraw said her Virginia hospital has adopted. Patients coming in for surgery are tested 72 to 96 hours in advance of the procedure and are required to self-isolate during that time. She said patients should think of this as part of the new standard "pre-op" steps that so many have come to know before going in for any sort of procedure, which often include precautions such as refraining from eating or drinking for 12 hours. "Now, everybody needs their [coronavirus] test," McGraw said. MORE: How doctors are keeping patients safe as elective surgery resumes Doctors at hospitals in California, Texas, and Louisiana said they are doing universal testing for patients scheduled for surgeries. The testing "gives reassurance to both patients and providers, even beyond just doctors nurses, that we are doing all we can to create a COVID-safe environment," said Dr. Loren Robinson, who practices at Christus Health in Texas. But protocols are not the same, even within the states. Dr. Quyen Chu at Oschner LSU Health in Shreveport, La., said the hospital is doing universal testing for patients undergoing elective procedures, but Mauldin at Tulane said his hospital system in Louisiana hasn't quite gone that far. Patients and doctors there are working together to determine if testing is necessary on a case by case bases, Mauldin said. The hospital has taken other precautions, including universal masking and staggered patient appointments. PHOTO: Dr. Drew Miller wears a homemade gown as he prepares to see potential COVID-19 patients May 20, 2020, in an outpatient clinic at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kan. (Charlie Riedel/AP) As hospitals feel financial pinch, COVID-19 sparks larger questions Beyond the staggering human suffering, another casualty of the coronavirus' spread is the financial stability of hospitals and other health care facilities at a time when many are needed most. Some hospitals are in dire trouble, despite billions of financial support to the industry from the federal government. One sad reality is that smaller or stand-alone hospitals may have lost too much revenue the last two months to remain viable, said Ibrahim. Physicians interviewed by ABC News predicted a wave of hospital closures could strike this summer. PHOTO: Dr. Drew Miller wears a homemade gown as he prepares to see potential COVID-19 patients May 20, 2020, in an outpatient clinic at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kan. (Charlie Riedel/AP) "How is it possible for hospitals to be so vital at the same time they're so vulnerable and what is the solution in the new normal?" asked Deb Gordon, a consumer health advocate. For those that survive, like many belonging to larger systems that have multiple hospital locations, health care officials said COVID-19 may be the catalyst for asking and answering bigger, long-term questions related to what's called value-based care, a philosophy that seeks to change how much is spent on health care as a nation and improve outcomes. The approach prioritizes keeping people healthy rather than having to deliver and pay for avoidable and unnecessary care that is inefficient and may not improve health. For example, in the aftermath of the coronavirus, health systems may be more willing to reorganize care so it meets patients where they are at in their health journey and keep them safer, such as ambulatory surgery centers and improved care at home. While the moves can also make sense from a financial perspective, experts warned they will need to be balanced against potential safety concerns. Value-based care also prioritizes chronic disease management, a significant issue that has been exposed during the pandemic. Those with chronic diseases are more likely to have worse outcomes if they contract the coronavirus. Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring could allow for better management of chronic diseases earlier and prevent patients from showing up in a healthcare setting that can potentially expose them to the virus. "It is a fascinating time. The opportunities are huge," Providence Health's Roberts said. But for all the changes hospitals could make, much is going to depend on whether patients feel comfortable enough to come in at all. ABC News has reported that people are foregoing in-person consultations of even potentially serious conditions for fear of COVID-19. "We did just complete a patient sample survey of 12,000 volunteers, and the biggest barrier does seem to be their fear of getting COVID in our facilities. Only 18% say they feel safe going back to clinics, [emergency rooms], or hospitals," Roberts told ABC News. With the new safety measures, hospitals and doctors across the country hope to change that. Jay Bhatt, a practicing internist and Aspen Health Innovators Fellow, is an ABC News contributor. New normal for medicine emerges as hospitals return to elective surgeries, non-COVID work originally appeared on abcnews.go.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Yusif Aghayev Trend: One of the main tasks and functions of the Azerbaijani Compulsory Insurance Bureau is to ensure stability in the compulsory insurance market, Executive Director of the Compulsory Insurance Bureau Rashad Ahmadov said in an interview with Trend. Among the main tasks and functions are also the protection of the interests of the insured people and third parties who have suffered damage and ensuring of the payment of compensations within the compulsory types of insurance during the cases established upon the law. A meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Ali Asadov was held in the Cabinet of Ministers on January 24, 2020, Ahmadov added. The issues of the implementation of the tasks set by the Azerbaijani president in connection with the use of compulsory insurance in the country were discussed at the meeting. Large-scale activity has been carried out in this sphere over the past few years, executive director added. First of all, it is necessary to stress the digitalization of two of five mandatory types of insurance. The Compulsory Insurance Bureau introduced new software for formalizing and registration of insurance contracts on compulsory liability insurance of vehicle owners in March 2020. This platform has been implemented taking into account the changing conditions in the compulsory insurance market and will allow taking into account all client data more efficiently, including information related to the use of raising and lowering coefficients (bonus - malus), the accident-free driving, carry out paperwork in e-format more rapidly, Ahmadov added. As a result of the introduction of the abovementioned innovations, we were able to achieve penetration within this type of insurance by almost 100 percent, Ahmadov said. An increase in the number of insurance certificates allows maintaining loss ratio at a very satisfactory level. As of 2019, the loss ratio on this type of insurance amounted to approximately 67 percent, which is a fairly good indicator, taking into account the European insurance practice, executive director added. In general, the profitability of compulsory types of insurance cannot be high as the activity being carried out within these types of insurance are primarily a tool to ensure social guarantees for people affected as a result of the incidents which were insured," said Ahmadov. Touching upon the issue of revising insurance tariffs as part of compulsory liability insurance of motor vehicle owners, Ahmadov stressed that he does not stand for this and thinks that tariffs may be revised only if there is an adequate change in the insurance amounts. Digitalization of compulsory real estate insurance is expected to be observed in Azerbaijan, executive director said. The process of transferring all processes related to the mandatory property insurance into e-format was tested at the beginning of this year within the working group together with the relevant structures. This was carried out amid the fulfillment of the Azerbaijani presidents instructions on digitalization of the country's economy. It will be possible to carry out this procedure after the implementation of the relevant data on real estate in the e-system of the Compulsory Insurance Bureau, executive director said. For this purpose, it is necessary to change the law "On Compulsory Types of Insurance". "The potential of the compulsory real estate insurance segment is quite big and the growth prospects are considerable, Ahmadov added. In general, according to our estimates, the total potential of the compulsory real estate insurance market in Azerbaijan is approximately 200-250 million manat ($117-147 million). While stressing the growth dynamics on this type of insurance, I can say that 200,848 contracts were concluded from January through April 2020, which is 5.3 times more than in the same period of 2019 while the amount of the collected insurance premiums amounted to 20.2 million manat ($11.9 million), which demonstrates an increase by more than 66 percent, Ahmadov said. Presently, there are 15 insurance companies having the licenses to carry out compulsory types of insurance, four of which are involved in the field of life insurance, eleven - in the field of non-life insurance. Some 21 insurance companies and one reinsurance company operate in Azerbaijan. An Australian father asked to send inspection photos of his rental property to real estate agents did so with a hilarious twist, sharing staged snaps of himself taking a bath, being run over by the lawn mower and massaging his partner's feet. Tim Rousu, 31, was asked to submit to a 'coronavirus-safe' house inspection on May 21, where agents asked him to send two snaps of each room in his house to 'confirm the house was still upright'. 'I knew this was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity,' the Queensland-based diesel fitter captioned the amusing images on Facebook. Tim Rousu (pictured) was asked to submit to a house inspection, where agents asked him to send two snaps of each room in his house to 'confirm the house is still upright' 'These are some of the photos I sent. Note that I did send genuine photos too,' he said (pictured with his daughter) 'These are some of the photos I sent. Note that I did send genuine photos too.' Tim had followed the brief of snapping two pictures in each space but he had staged entertaining scenarios for each photo. One photo he could be seen stuck under the bed, reaching his arm out and in another he was in the bathroom shaving his legs, applying a sheet mask to relax with in the bath and drinking wine. Tim's post has received more than 11,000 likes and 4,000 comments in the wake of his prank In another he was in the bathroom shaving his legs, applying a sheet mask to relax with in the bath and drinking wine In speaking to FEMAIL, Tim said the real estate agents were great about it and passed the images around their office for a laugh 'I was inspired to do it when I had saw someone in the background of a work at home Zoom call,' he said Following this he 'cut his hand' drilling at an arts and craft table, was found searching for food in the fridge, went through some waterboarding torture in the living room, and even massaged his partner's feet while she sat in an armchair. Speaking to FEMAIL, Tim said the real estate agents were great about it and passed the images around their office for a laugh. 'I was inspired to do it when I had saw someone in the background of a work at home Zoom call,' he said. 'When I was working late one night I just thought I could do that with the house inspection. I chuckled, almost dismissing the idea and thought more about it and knew it had to be done. Following this he 'cut his hand' drilling at an arts and craft table (pictured left) 'When I was working late one night I just thought I could do that with the house inspection. I chuckled, almost dismissing the idea and thought more about it and knew it had to be done,' he said People across Australia were enthralled by Tim's creativity and said they 'wish they'd done the same for their own inspections' Tim even pretended to get run over by the lawnmower, which could be seen out the window 'Then I set my every spare moment to thinking of exciting different ways I could pose in as many rooms as possible.' People across Australia were enthralled by Tim's creativity and said they 'wish they'd done the same for their own inspections'. With coronavirus social distancing rules hampering agents abilities to inspect houses in the usual way - by visiting its occupants - taking images has become one of the simpler ways to manage them. 'It's amazing how my trying to make light of the situation and brighten the day of a few real estate agents has been received,' Tim said. China has never been a votary of multilateralism and uses various international fora to further its geo-political interests. It has refused to accept the verdict of the International Court of Justice in the South China sea dispute. The world has largely ignored Chinas lack of democracy and the authoritarian political structure as China has risen to be some sort of an economic ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:43:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAKAR, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Senegal's Ministry of Health and Social Action on Monday reported 83 more confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 3,130 in the country. Of the 83 new cases, 79 are follow-up contact cases and four community-transmission ones, ministry spokesperson Aloyse Waly Diouf told a daily briefing on the pandemic. A total of 1,091 tests were conducted in the previous 24 hours, he said. An additional 59 patients recovered from the disease, bring the total of recoveries to 1,515. The number of patients in intensive care units rose to 15, Diouf said. The death toll remains at 35 across the country. Senegal, which reported the first confirmed case on March 2, now has a total of 3,130 cases, including 2,761 follow-up contact cases, 89 imported ones and 280 community-transmission ones. President Macky Sall on Sunday urged citizens to stay vigilant and observe preventive measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. Although the situation appears to be stabilizing in the country, Senegal faces a possible rise of imported cases from neighboring countries. Its northern neighbor Mauritania reported a surge of confirmed cases last week, while Mali on Monday reported nine new cases in the western region of Kayes, right next to the border with Senegal. Across Senegal's southern border, Guinea-Bissau on Sunday reported 64 positive cases out of 84 samples tested. Senegal's state of emergency over the pandemic, declared on March 24, was extended early May to last through June 2. Residents are subject to a 9 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew and required to wear masks at all public places. Enditem Charged: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (centre) speaks to his lawyer in court before the trial started. Photo by Ronen Zvulun/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a tirade against the nation's justice system as he arrived at court for the start of his corruption trial, accusing police and prosecutors of conspiring to "depose" him. Mr Netanyahu's comments opened what is sure to be a tumultuous period for Israel as he becomes the country's first sitting prime minister ever to go on trial. He faces charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in a series of corruption cases stemming from ties to wealthy friends. He is accused of accepting lavish gifts and offering to grant favours to powerful media moguls in exchange for favourable coverage of him and his family. He denies the charges. Mr Netanyahu entered the Jerusalem courtroom wearing a blue surgical mask. He stood and talked to his lawyer and lawyers for other defendants, refusing to sit until TV cameras left the room. As the trial began, lawyers and judges also wore masks, with the three-judge panel sitting behind a glass divider. His lawyers said they would need two to three months to respond to the arraignment, and that they needed additional funds to add to their defence's legal team. Mr Netanyahu sat silently and did not speak during the one-hour session, rising just once, briefly, to confirm that he understood the charges. He will not be required to attend future hearings during a case that legal analysts expect to stretch over several years. Throughout the proceedings, the loud chants of his supporters could be heard in the courtroom. When he arrived at the courthouse, Mr Netanyahu revived his claims that he is the victim of a deep state-type conspiracy by media, police, prosecutors and judges out to oust him. "The objective is to depose a strong, right-wing prime minister, and thus remove the nationalist camp from the leadership of the country for many years," he said. He said police and prosecutors had conspired to "tailor" a case against him, and said the evidence was "contaminated" and exaggerated. He called for the court proceedings to be broadcast live on TV to ensure "full transparency". "While the media continues to deal with nonsense, with these false, trumped-up cases, I will continue to lead the state of Israel and deal with issues that really matter to you," he said, including to resuscitate the economy and "continue to save the lives of thousands of Israelis ahead of the possibility of a second wave of coronavirus". Critics have said Mr Netanyahu's "deep state" arguments have undermined Israel's court system and risk deeper damage to the country's democratic institutions. Avi Nissenkorn, the country's new justice minister, defended the legal system just before Mr Netanyahu arrived in court. Israel "is blessed with a quality justice system without bias," Mr Nissenkorn wrote on Twitter. "I have no doubt that the judicial process will be managed in a matter-of-fact and fair fashion." Mr Netanyahu was forced to attend yesterday's hearing at the Jerusalem district court, after his request to have his lawyers represent him instead was rejected. The dramatic scene came just days after the long-serving leader swore in his new government, breaking more than a year of political stalemate following three inconclusive elections. Mr Netanyahu held his first cabinet meeting with the new government just hours before heading to court. A lengthy essay, a regurgitated CV and no central point are just three of the mistakes job-seekers make with their cover letters. And while you might spend less time on them than on your CV, a cover letter can be the difference between getting an interview and being passed over. Speaking to job website Seek, the founder and consultant at recruitment company Milkshake Group Sian Havard shared five ways you can improve your cover letters. A lengthy essay, a regurgitated CV and no central point are just three of the mistakes employers see job-seekers make with their cover letters on a daily basis (stock image) 1. Make sure you have a cover letter It might not be the first thing that many employers look at, but not having a cover letter will immediately put you at a disadvantage. 'All employers and recruiters ask for different things in their application processes, but it's generally expected that you include a brief, relevant cover letter,' Sian told the publication. If you fail to do this, your application will probably be ignored, she added. Many companies do their cover letters in different forms, so the recruitment expert recommends you take the time to have a look in the job specifications to see whether it states your letter should be attached as a Word document or merely in the body of your email. Make sure that it's well-written and doesn't possess any spelling or grammatical mistakes. That way, you know you'll be starting off on the right foot. 2. Keep it brief Sian explained that there is nothing worse than an overly long cover letter, which merely shows that the job-seeker didn't know what to include and what to leave out. 'Any email or attachment you send to a company you'd like to work at demonstrates how you might communicate with people inside and outside of the company if you worked there,' she said. Therefore, if you are long-winded, you are instantly showing that you are not an effective communicator. The general rule of thumb is four or five short paragraphs and never more than one page. If you find you are writing more when applying for a job, you simply must cut back. A leading recruiter said the most important thing is that you get to the point of your cover letter, know who you're talking to and address them accordingly (stock image) 3. Get to the point In a similar vein to keeping it brief, it's vital to reach the point of your cover letter sooner rather than later. Sian said that the opening sentence of your cover letter should include both your objective and your 'most recent qualifications' so that the employer knows where they stand with you. Leave the least important filler content to the end, and even with that, question whether it's really necessary to include it at all. 4. Do not regurgitate your CV One of the biggest mistakes many people are guilty of with cover letters is regurgitating their CV - with different words. 'Include things like how you found out about the role, why you're interested in applying for it, and any relevant understanding you have about the position and the company,' Sian said. It should never be repeating content from your CV. 5. Know who you're talking to Finally, the job expert said a cover letter is no good unless you know who you are talking to - and target it accordingly. They should always be addressed to that person, and if you are simply not sure then it's best to keep it formal and write 'To whom it may concern'. Most people do not like being addressed by the company name, so try and tailor your application to make it as personal as possible. Careers and LinkedIn expert Sue Ellson (pictured) said some of the top mistakes to avoid are including a cover letter that talks to the key words of a job, but a CV that features none of them What are the best things to include in your CV? List all forms of education high school, tertiary study, online courses, diplomas, certificates, apprenticeships Display relevant training, the institution and completion year for each course completed Include all past job titles, duties involved and expertise Alter your resume for every job and relate your responsibilities and experiences to the position advertised Share your significant achievements well Write a succinct summary explaining career objectives and value to the organisation Clearly highlight core skills by using bullet points List the most recent and relevant position first to showcase skills and knowledge List your interests and hobbies Provide a good summary to showcase experience Source: Seek Advertisement Speaking previously to FEMAIL, careers specialist and LinkedIn expert Sue Ellson revealed her steps to writing the perfect CV - and the top mistakes to avoid. 'So many times people will write a cover letter that perfectly matches the job description and then not include any of those key words in their CV,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'This means that when a job system scans the contents, it doesn't find any of the key words it is looking for.' Sue said other common mistakes include spelling errors and poor formatting which looks untidy. 'It isn't uncommon for people to exclude their email address and phone number from their resume, which should be avoided,' she added. 'I would also add that a modified LinkedIn URL should also be included so employers can have a look at your job history.' For those looking to use the isolation period during the coronavirus pandemic as a time to update their CV, Sue recommends you be sure to include your previous jobs, experiences, skills, achievements, volunteer work (if any), interests and how the employer can contact you. 'The achievements need to describe your value in terms that the employer understands, so if you are switching careers, you need to focus on your transferable skills as well as document your other skills,' Sue said. You should also take the time to practice writing the perfect cover letter, and also update your LinkedIn profile so that it's relevant with your experience. A good cover letter should predominantly outline and summarise your resume and why you are best suited for the job position available. For more information about Sue Ellson, please click here. "Only PPE registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration is provided to hospitals in Victoria." Loading Face masks are vital protection against respiratory viruses, and are therefore tightly regulated in Australia. Before March 22, companies selling masks to hospitals first had to ensure their products passed independent testing and were registered by the TGA. As Australia faced being overwhelmed by COVID-19, the TGA dropped the testing requirement. However, companies that registered their masks using that loophole were only allowed to sell them to the federal Health Department. But certified occupational hygienist and mask expert Kate Cole said a number of those companies, including many selling products manufactured in China, took advantage of the relaxed rules to register counterfeit masks and then use the government-issued registration certificate to sell them to private hospitals and other companies. Loading "From March 22 we saw a flood of overseas suppliers get their face mask on the government register," Ms Cole said. "The biggest risk is to front line healthcare workers. If they are relying on the government certificate, that's not enough at this point in time." Since March 22, 172 new N95 masks have been registered. Ms Cole said she had received dozens of photographs of suspect masks from doctors and nurses. She has reviewed about 50 different brands of mask. Every single one has been a fake, she said. Proper N95 masks have the manufacturer's name, filter class, model number and approval number printed on them. Generally, N95 masks have thick straps, rather than ear-loops. Many of the fake masks bear no certification mark and are secured with flimsy earloops that can snap off. Emergency doctor Carl Le said he had encountered fake masks at several hospitals he works with. "Working at emergency departments in Melbourne, I have not seen any supply of masks that have the Australian standard stamped on them," Dr Le said. He said the hospitals were investigating the issue. Australian Society of Anaesthetists president Suzi Nou said many of her members had reported receiving fake masks. "That means we're at increased risk of getting infected," Dr Nou said. "That impacts the health system - it takes out a team of doctors and nurses who can't care for patients. And it risks infecting other patients, that we can become transmitters of infection," she said. The N95 masks - also known as P2 masks - are designed to filter out 95 per cent of the tiny airborne droplets that can spread viruses. The Centres for Disease Control in America released testing of more than 100 masks that claim to meet N95 standards. Many failed to meet the standard, with some filtering out as little as 11 per cent of droplets. As Australia's lockdown eases, many companies are planning to supply masks to their workforce. Director of On Site Safety Australia, Chris Bellamy demonstrating testing of a faulty face mask. Australia has been flooded with counterfeit mask since the coronavirus pandemic. Credit:Rhett Wyman Onsite Safety director Chris Bellamy said he had been called in to test many of those masks. So far, all the Chinese-made masks he tested failed basic checks. "A lot of them coming in don't have the correct marking, so you can tell they are fake straight away," he said. "And the [Chinese-made] KN95 mask, it fails in testing as soon as we do it." Professor David Story, chair of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists' quality and safety committee, said it was imperative the standards were lowered when Australia potentially faced a severe shortage of face masks and the prospect of an overwhelming number of patients "These fall backs of cheaper masks that aren't quite as good were necessary when we thought we would be facing something really horrible like Italy or New York," Professor Story said. "They were better than having nothing but we would be very disappointed if there are centres choosing to buy or sell below-standard masks because they're cheaper," he said. David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the permanent loss of capital. So it seems the smart money knows that debt - which is usually involved in bankruptcies - is a very important factor, when you assess how risky a company is. As with many other companies Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp. (HKG:322) makes use of debt. But is this debt a concern to shareholders? What Risk Does Debt Bring? Debt assists a business until the business has trouble paying it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. Ultimately, if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt, shareholders could walk away with nothing. 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, debt can be an important tool in businesses, particularly capital heavy businesses. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together. See our latest analysis for Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding What Is Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding's Debt? The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that at December 2019 Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding had debt of CN12.4b, up from CN10.8b in one year. But on the other hand it also has CN17.5b in cash, leading to a CN5.14b net cash position. SEHK:322 Historical Debt May 25th 2020 How Strong Is Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding's Balance Sheet? Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding had liabilities of CN28.3b due within 12 months and liabilities of CN6.61b due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had CN17.5b in cash and CN2.47b in receivables that were due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling CN14.9b more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined. While this might seem like a lot, it is not so bad since Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding has a market capitalization of CN67.1b, and so it could probably strengthen its balance sheet by raising capital if it needed to. But we definitely want to keep our eyes open to indications that its debt is bringing too much risk. While it does have liabilities worth noting, Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding also has more cash than debt, so we're pretty confident it can manage its debt safely. Story continues On the other hand, Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding saw its EBIT drop by 3.8% in the last twelve months. That sort of decline, if sustained, will obviously make debt harder to handle. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding can strengthen its balance sheet over time. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting. Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding 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. Happily for any shareholders, Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT over the last three years. There's nothing better than incoming cash when it comes to staying in your lenders' good graces. Summing up Although Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding's balance sheet isn't particularly strong, due to the total liabilities, it is clearly positive to see that it has net cash of CN5.14b. And it impressed us with free cash flow of CN6.0b, being 163% of its EBIT. So we are not troubled with Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding's debt use. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. Be aware that Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about... 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. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The Forest department last week granted permission to Karnataka Power Corporation Limited to drill the ground for survey and geo-technical investigation for a power project, inside the Sharavathi Valley Lion-tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary, but with stringent conditions. This, despite opposition to the proposed 2,000-MW Sharavathi pumped storage hydroelectric project inside the Sharavathi Valley between Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada districts. The proposal, accorded approval by the State Board for Wildlife in September 2019, was forwarded to the prime minister-headed National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The NBWL, which met in April, gave its green signal to the study, subject to conditions imposed by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka. The Chief Wildlife Warden granted permission a few days ago, to drill 12 bore holes of 2X2 inch diameter each. According to the order, a copy of which is with DH, The survey has to be carried without any tree cutting or disturbance to wildlife. Drilling equipment has to be carried on the head. Drilling is allowed only between 9 am and 6 pm. No tents or staying arrangements are allowed at the site inside the sanctuary limits during night. The period of the work shall be for one year from the date of issuance of the order. Further, the survey work shall not be taken up during monsoon season. Joseph Hoover, Convener of the United Conservation Movement, said, The state should not have hurried just because NBWL has given clearance for the proposal. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, in its order dated April 6, directed all states to restrict the movement of people to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, besides initiating measures to stop transmission of Covid-19 from humans to animals and vice versa. Despite such an order, the state has given the go-ahead. According to sources in the Forest Department, Sagar, 14 personnel have come from Haryana to carry out the survey and drilling work. They have deployed their machinery at a place near to the worksite. Looking at the machinery, one can understand that no human carry take them inside the forest on the head. Locals have urged the tahsildar to keep these workers under quarantine as they have come from different states, an activist from Sagar said. Activists from Bengaluru and power policy analysts have appealed to the chief minister not to pursue the project, let alone the survey. The project The project is envisaged between the Talakalale and Gerusoppa reservoirs on the downstream of Linganamakki reservoir across Sharavathi river. It aims to use the run-off water by way of pumped storage. Planned to be an underground project, its eight units will generate 250 MW each. The project, worth Rs 4,862.89 crore, requires about 153 hectares of land (of which 150 acres is forest area). BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China's indigenously developed amphibious aircraft AG600, which is the largest in the world, will set out for sea for the first time in the second half of the year, its developer said Monday. Codenamed Kunlong, it is designed to undertake emergency rescue missions. The aircraft will have its maiden sea takeoff in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, said state-owned plane maker Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The development of the vessel also represents a major breakthrough for China in terms of natural disaster prevention and control. The multi-tasking amphibious aircraft is designed for high speeds, accessibility and good maneuverability. It is capable of serving in various missions including forest fire fighting, water rescue and maritime rescue, according to the AVIC. With the capability to rescue up to 50 people on each mission, the AG600 is designed for heavy loads and extensive and high-efficiency searches. The AG600 conducted its maiden flight in December 2017, and completed its first takeoff and landing on water in October 2018. To prepare for the maiden sea takeoff, it has completed multiple test flights over the sea so that crew members can become familiar with the air space and marine environment, according to the AVIC. The development team and test flight team have optimized the aircraft, trained the test flight pilots, and made preparations for the test flights to be undertaken in a maritime environment. The AG600, together with the Y-20 large transporter and C919 single-aisle passenger airplane, is part of China's key project to develop three large airplane models. With long range and long haul capabilities, the AG600 can shuttle between the fire site and water source efficiently, each time carrying as much as 12 tonnes of liquid. The AG600 is designed to work in complex weather conditions. By developing such large amphibious aircraft and testing them, China explores and masters key technologies and airworthiness review systems, gaining independent intellectual property rights in the process, said the AVIC. We saw panic buying in supermarkets at the beginning of the coronavirus in Australia and now with students heading back to school this week and many workers returning to offices or factories, we may be about to experience panic driving. The economy is starting its initial period of thawing and many people are returning to work but while social distancing measures remain in place, commuters' ability to get there using the traditional means of public transport creates a dilemma. Commuters are hopping into their cars rather than taking public transport to get to work. Credit:Darrian Taylor The capacity restrictions on public transport mean those commuters that cannot fit on trains, buses or ferries may have little choice but to drive. And there will be a portion of the community that will be afraid to ride on public transport regardless of social distancing. For a period, private cars will be substituted for public transport. (It was almost jarring last week to hear a traffic report on the radio.) NIGERIA:The Lagos state police command has arrested a young man simply identified as Chima for allegedly setting his pregnant elder sister, Victoria, 20, ablaze at their residence around CAC Bus Stop in Okokomaiko, Ojo, on May 14. According to reports, Chima and Victoria, who was said to be two months pregnant, were on the day of the incident, in the kitchen of the restaurant they operated as a family. Trouble started after their mother scolded Victoria for leaving their residence to cohabit with men. An argument ensued between both women and in the process, Victoria slapped her mother. Infuriated by his sister's action, Chima reportedly grabbed a keg filled with petrol and hit her with it. The content poured out with most of it touching Victoria, which ignited fire leaving her with severe burns. Victoria was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital on Kemberi road, Okokomaiko but the doctors there rejected her. She was then referred to the Alimosho General Hospital, Igando where she was confirmed dead by the doctors. Chima was said to have attempted fleeing the scene after realising the harm he had done to his sister but was restrained by youths in the community who later handed him over to the police. It was learnt that their mother who tried to put out the fire also sustained burn injuries on her legs. Confirming the incident, spokesperson of the state police command, Bala Elkana, said Chima has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Yaba for further investigation. Source: LIB Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus cases in India has reached 1,38,845 with the toll at 4021. India has reported a total of 77,103 active cases with 57,729 people cured and discharged from the hospital. A total of 6,977 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours with 154 deaths as per the latest reports by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Moreover, India is the 10th country among all the worst-hit countries by the pandemic. Maharashtra has again reported 3,041 new coronavirus cases, which is the highest single-day rise taking the total tally to 50,231. Followed by Tamil Nadu which has reported 6000 fresh cases in the last 24 hours with the total cases at 16,277 and Gujarat has reported the most number of deaths after Maharashtra 858 with the total cases at 14056. The total number of coronavirus cases globally has reached 5.4 million-mark with the toll at 345,000 as per the reports. The United States has recorded the highest number of coronavirus cases 1,643,098 and deaths at 97,711. After the US, Brazil has reported the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases at 363,211 followed by Russia with 344,482 coronavirus cases, the UK with 260,916 cases, Spain with 235,772 cases and Italy with 229,858 cases. Also Read: Domestic flights resume from today across India except for West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh Highest ever spike of 6977 #COVID19 cases & 154 deaths in India in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the country now at 1,38,845 including 77103 active cases, 57720 cured/discharged and 4021 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/J0RoSHyulC ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020 Moreover, the government has also resumed airline operations from today. Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted on Sunday that it took a lot of negotiations from all the states to resume the domestic flights across the country after two months. He added that apart from West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, the domestic service will be available in all the states. Moreover, the government has also listed a series of dos and donts for all the passengers and the airport authorities. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App When Manit Parikh's mother tested positive for the new coronavirus, she was rushed by ambulance to Mumbai's private Lilavati Hospital, but officials told the family no critical-care beds were available. Five hours and dozens of phone calls later the family found a bed for her at the private Bombay Hospital. A day later, on May 18, Parikh's 92-year-old diabetic grandfather had breathing difficulties at home and was taken to the city's Breach Candy Hospital, another top private facility, but there were no beds. "My dad was pleading with them," Parikh told Reuters. "They said they didn't have a bed, not even a normal bed." Later that day, they found a bed at Bombay Hospital but his grandfather died hours later. His test results showed he was infected with the virus. Parikh said he believes the delays contributed to his grandfather's death. Officials at Lilavati and Bombay Hospital declined to speak with Reuters. Representatives of Breach Candy hospital did not respond to requests for comment. For years, India's booming private hospitals have taken some of the strain off the country's underfunded and dilapidated public health network, but the ordeal of Parikh's family suggests that as coronavirus cases explode in India, even private facilities are at risk of being overrun. India on Sunday reported 6,767 new coronavirus infections, the country's biggest one-day increase. Government data shows the number of coronavirus cases in the world's second-most populous country are doubling every 13 days or so, even as the government begins easing lockdown restrictions. India has reported more than 131,000 infections, including 3,867 deaths. Also read: Coronavirus update: Kerala continues to see increase in new cases, adds nine more regions to hot spot "The increasing trend has not gone down," said Bhramar Mukherjee, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Michigan, referring to India's cases. "We've not seen a flattening of the curve." Mukherjee's team estimates that between 630,000 and 2.1 million people in India - out of a population of 1.3 billion - will become infected by early July. More than a fifth of the country's coronavirus cases are in Mumbai, India's financial hub and its most populous city, where the Parikhs struggled to find hospital beds for their infected family members. India's health ministry did not respond to a request for comment on how it will cope with the predicted rise in infections, given that most public hospitals are overcrowded at the best of times. The government has said in media briefings that not all patients need hospitalization and it is making rapid efforts to increase the number of hospital beds and procure health gear. The government's data from last year showed there were about 714,000 hospital beds in India, up from about 540,000 in 2009. However, given India's rising population, the number of beds per 1,000 people has grown only slightly in that time. India has 0.5 beds per 1,000 people, according to the latest data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), up from 0.4 beds in 2009, but among lowest of countries surveyed by the OECD. In contrast, China has 4.3 hospital beds per 1,000 people and the United States has 2.8, according to the latest OECD figures. While millions of India's poor rely on the public health system, especially in rural areas, private facilities account for 55% of hospital admissions, according to government data. The private health sector has been growing over the past two decades, especially in India's big cities, where an expanding class of affluent Indians can afford private care. Mumbai's municipal authority said it had ordered public officials to take control of at least 100 private hospital beds in all 24 zones in the city of almost 20 million people to make more beds available for coronavirus patients. Still, there is a waiting list. An official at a helpline run by Mumbai's civic authorities told Reuters that patients would be notified about availability. SHORTAGE OF STAFF It is not just beds that are in short supply. On May 16, Mumbai's municipal authority said that it did not have enough staff to operate beds required for patients critically ill with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. As a result, resident doctors will receive less time off than what is prescribed by the government, the authority said. Some medical professionals told Reuters they already are overburdened and treating patients without adequate protective gear, exposing them to a higher risk of infection. Several hospitals in Mumbai, western Gujarat state, the northern city of Agra and Kolkata in the east have in recent weeks shut partially or fully for days because some medical staff were infected with the virus. The government has not reported any deaths of medical staff from the virus. Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Even after lockdown relaxations, situation under control in Delhi, says Kejriwal "In our country, healthcare has never gotten priority," said Dr Adarsh Pratap Singh, head of the 2,500-strong resident doctors association at New Delhi's top public hospital, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. "The government is now realizing the reality, but it's already too late." The AIIMS group has in recent weeks protested about the lack of health gear and publicly rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for doctors to donate a part of their salaries to his coronavirus fund. Some health experts say India's struggle to treat virus patients is the result of chronic underinvestment in healthcare. The Indian government estimates it spends only about 1.5% of its GDP on public health. That figure is higher than it was - about 1% in the 1980s and 1.3% five years ago - but India still ranks among the world's lowest spenders in terms of percentage of GDP. This year, Modi's government raised its health budget by 6%, but that is still short of the government's own goal of increasing public health spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, according to New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation. 'TOO MANY PATIENTS' Keshav Desiraju, a former Indian health secretary, said more investment in the health system before the virus outbreak might have made the health system more resilient. "At the times of a crisis, all the holes show up," he told Reuters. Dr. Chaitanya Patil, a senior resident doctor at King Edward Memorial government hospital, one of Mumbai's largest, said the facility had a shortage of medical staff and the 12 coronavirus wards catering to about 500 patients were almost full. "There are just too many patients coming in," said Patil, "It is lack of preparedness or a lack of insight of the people planning." Last week Rajesh Tope, health minister of the state of Maharashtra, which contains Mumbai, said the lack of hospital beds for critically ill patients will not last long. Also read: Coronavirus crisis: Uddhav Thackeray snubs BJP, says no need for state economic package "In the next two months, more than 17,000 vacant posts of doctors, nurses, technicians and other health workers will be filled," he said in a public address. India's United Nurses Association, which represents 380,000 medics, took a list of 12 issues they said they are facing - including lack of protective gear and accommodation - to the Supreme Court in April. The court told them they can lodge complaints on a government helpline. Some nurses are leaving the big cities. Earlier this month, about 300 nurses working at hospitals in Kolkata city left for their hometowns 1,500 km (930 miles) away in India's remote northeastern state of Manipur. A group representing them said they had left because of irregular salaries and inadequate safety gear, among other issues. "We love our profession," said 24-year-old Shyamkumar, who quit his nursing job in one of Kolkata's hospitals and is planning to head back to Manipur. "But when we are going to work, please give us proper equipment." Nurse and PhD student Gabrielle McCallum examining a baby at Royal Darwin Hospital with acute bronchiolitis. Credit: CDU Menzies senior research fellow, Dr. Michael Binks' paper, Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in Australia's Northern Territory across three eras of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (2006-15): a population-based cohort study was recently published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. The study examined acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) hospital admissions among Indigenous infants in the Northern Territory from 2006 to 2015, across three periods of different PCV use. It found bacterial-coded pneumonia hospitalizations were reduced by 30 percent during the era of PCV13 immunization supporting its ongoing use in the region. However, despite the reduction, one in five Indigenous infants born in the region continue to be hospitalized with an ALRI in their first year of life, as was the case 15 years earlier. In addition, the study found that rates of maternal smoking, gestational diabetes, anemia, preterm birth, and low birthweight babies remain high with the burden of ALRI hospitalization highest among those living in remote communities and in Central Australia. The study suggests future gains would require multifaceted environmental and biomedical approaches. Explore further First Nations, Inuit babies hospitalized more often in first year of life More information: Michael J Binks et al. Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in Australia's Northern Territory across three eras of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use (200615): a population-based cohort study, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health (2020). Michael J Binks et al. Acute lower respiratory infections in Indigenous infants in Australia's Northern Territory across three eras of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use (200615): a population-based cohort study,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30090-0 Provided by Menzies School of Health Research A Russian-made drug Favipiravir that can eliminate coronavirus infections within four days, is now in the final stages of clinical tri... A Russian-made drug Favipiravir that can eliminate coronavirus infections within four days, is now in the final stages of clinical trials. The drug known as Favipiravir is being tested by Russian pharmaceutical investment firm ChemRar with the support of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). On Thursday, clinical trials moved to the final stage in which it is tested on a randomised sample of COVID-19 patients. The drug has several advantages. One of them is that it significantly reduces patient recovery time. Another advantage is its availability in tablet form. This makes its use easier, according to a statement from the RDIF. We noticed a faster improvement in the general health and clinical condition of the patients taking Favipiravir, said said Elena Yakubova, CEO of ChemRar Pharma in a statement. This may lead to earlier discharge from hospital and reduce the burden on medical facilities by 30-40 percent in the near future, she added. The final stage of trials were approved to begin on May 21, involving 330 patients, the statement said. Earlier results had suggested that the drug has no new or previously unreported side effects and brought down the body temperature of a majority, 68 percent, of patients twice as fast as patients not taking favipiravir. Complete elimination of the coronavirus took on average around four days with the drug, compared to around nine days with standard treatment. Thanks to the administration of Favipiravir, most patients are not infectious as early as the fifth day of treatment, which is critical to stop the epidemic and ensure a swift return to normal life, Yakubova added. After four days of treatment with the drug, 65 percent of a test group of 40 patients were found to test negative for the virus. By day 10, the number of patients testing negative had reached 35. We continue to receive promising data during the clinical trials of Favipiravir. At least 85 percent of patients in the control groups completely recovered from coronavirus within 10 days after the start of the treatment with the drug. We expect a positive final result of the trial, which will enable us to complete the registration procedure for the drug in Russia, RDIFS CEO Kirill Dmitriev said in the statement. Various drugs across the globe are currently undergoing rapid testing to combat the coronavirus pandemic, which as claimed over 300,000 lives worldwide. In the US, drugs including remdesivir and famotidine have shown positive results. A combination of triple antiviral medicine was recently shown to help relieve symptoms of patients in a small clinical trial in Hong Kong. By Kang Han-tae Beyond the ongoing space race between the United States and China, many other nations with advanced defense capabilities have been making concerted national efforts on space development. On the basic premise of the peaceful use of outer space, nations are seeking to secure space assets for various purposes. While in the past, military use of outer space was a sensitive issue, the reality has drastically changed to where many nations are openly displaying their space capabilities. Through its National Security Strategy Guidelines, the Republic of Korea government has proposed the expansion of military capabilities of actively responding to omnidirectional threats. Accordingly, national space defense capabilities suitable for the space age have become essential. This article aims to analyze the reasons behind the importance of space in the defense field and point directions for future development. First, although space is expensive, this cost is worth bearing. In truth, the competition for space hegemony among developed countries has already been inundated with countless investments of budget, manpower, and assets. In such reality, it is not easy for Korea to compete in the space race. It is also true that investing in space requires enormous costs as portrayed by the media as the "wealth race" or the "space buy-out." It may be a grim reality that our space budget hovers around 2 percent of the U.S.', but we still need to expand our space capabilities by securing space assets for security/defense purposes that fit our conditions. This is because space is not only the new battleground of national competency, but also the fifth domain of warfare after land, sea, air and cyber. If we give up on this battleground, the subsequent costs will be much heavier for us to pay. However, this does not necessarily mean that we need to procure expensive space assets like other developed countries. Rather, developments like ultra-small satellites, which will provide similar capabilities at relatively lower costs, will be practical investments under the circumstances. Second, we must confront space threats as genuine threats. Space threats can be classified as natural threats, artificial threats, and military threats. Well-recognized examples of military space threats include ICBM or military satellites, hundreds of which pass over the Korean Peninsula every day. Natural space threats, such as asteroids, meteorites and solar winds, can be fatal as well. For instance, in Russia in 2013, about 1,200 people were injured from a 600 kg meteorite crash. In another case, a solar storm in 2012 caused communications satellites to remain inactive for three weeks. As our lives are increasingly dependent on smartphones, satellites, and other technology, these threats will also become increasingly impactful. Artificial space threats, such as last year's space debris from the Chinese Tiangong-1, should also be taken seriously. Over the past 50 years, 5,400 tons of space debris have crashed to the ground or into the sea, and more than 300 various objects per year fall from over our heads. The scope of such phenomena may be thought of as too large and too broad to be currently perceived as threats, but it is time to properly recognize them as so. Third, we need a designated government department to take responsibility for addressing space threats. It is important to recognize space threats, but then we need to actively identify and respond to space threats, a responsibility we have previously been dependent on other nations to assume. To do this, we must first establish a new department dedicated to space development. Additionally, we need to upgrade the position of the chairman of the National Space Commission, the center tasked with leading space development at the national level, to the president or prime minister level. In this sense, the Space Development Promotion Act and the Government Organization Act amendments, proposed by the National Assembly last year, are very reasonable and in line with what national defense officials and scholars have long requested. Finally, space is undoubtedly not an infinite realm, but a finite domain. In other words, we must recognize space as a finite resource. The highly utilized geostationary orbit is already full, so there is not much room left to enter. Moreover, the frequencies that can be transmitted and received between satellites are very limited and therefore valuable assets. With further delays to our entry, the costs of the assets we need to invest will rise exponentially and thus, we need to determine our approach as soon as possible. From a military standpoint, it is necessary to expand national space capabilities to build up the ability to respond to omnidirectional threats and prepare for the transition of wartime operational control. Space power is the core asset that will allow battles to be won without fighting through knowing the enemy and oneself. Until now, we have relied on developed nations' space assets, but in light of the rapidly changing security environment, we will need independent and proactive capabilities to deal with space threats. With the U.S. having established an independent space force and neighboring countries continuing to expand their space power, the establishment of space capabilities that can lead the future of the Korean military will be a necessity, not an option. Kang Han-tae, Ph.D., is a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA). Two elderly women died of COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh as the number of people testing positive for the infection rose to 218 with 14 fresh cases on Monday. So far, six people have succumbed to COVID-19 in the state. According to officials, while a 65-year-old woman from Mandi's Ratti village died at Nerchowk's Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Hospital (SLBSGH) on Monday, a 72-year-old woman from Hamirpur died at Shimla's Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) on Sunday night. They said both women were suffering from other ailments too. The Mandi woman had suffered renal failure and was undergoing dialysis, Chief Medical Officer Jeevanand Chauhan said. The CMO said she tested positive for the infection on May 20 but it could not be traced from where she contracted the virus. IGMC's Senior Medical Superintendent Janak Raj said the Hamirpur woman was referred to their hospital after her condition condition worsened. Her husband too had tested positive for the virus on Thursday, he said, adding the woman had gone to Jalandhar in Punjab for the treatment of other ailments. Upon her return, she was admitted to the Government Medical College in Hamirpur. Of the fresh 14 COVID-19 patients in the state, eight returned from Maharashtra, four from Tamil Nadu and two from Gujarat's Ahmedabad recently. Six of them had returned to Kangra, four to Chamba, three to Shimla and one to Hamirpur. The four Chamba men, aged between 21-32, had returned from Tamil Nadu recently, a district official said. Two of them had returned on May 18 in a special train from Chennai. The three men from Shimla's Chopal Tehsil had returned from Mumbai in a special train on May 18, Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap said, adding that they were institutionally quarantined at Deha. In Hamirpur, a 25-year-old woman tested COVID-19 positive for the virus, Deputy Commissioner Harikesh Meena said. She had returned to her in-laws' house from Mumbai on May 22, he said, adding that her 29-year-old husband too had tested COVID-19 positive a few days ago. In Kangra, four men who returned from Maharashtra and two from Ahmedabad, tested positive for the infection, a district official said. The four people who returned from Maharashtra were quarantined at Paraur. While two of them from Jaisinghpur, aged 64 and 70, are being shifted to the zonal hospital Dharamshala, the others--a 36-year-old from Daulatpur and a 42-year-old from Pudwa--are being shifted to Dadh, he added. Earlier two men, who returned from Ahmedabad, tested COVID-19 positive in Palampur, Kangra Superintendent of Police Vimukt Ranjan said. Of the total 218 cases reported so far, 67 have recovered, leaving only 145 patients behind, according to officials. Hamirpur has the highest number of active cases in the state at 57 followed by 39 in Kangra, 13 in Una, 11 in Solan, eight in Mandi, seven in Chamba, four in Bilaspur, three in Shimla, two in Sirmaur and one in Kullu, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tables, chairs, counters, doors: reopened US businesses and restaurants will have to focus on thorough disinfecting if they want to lure customers, and cleaning companies are preparing for an explosion in demand. With President Donald Trump pushing for a rapid easing of lockdowns even as the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic continues to climb, managers face new challenges as they rethink their approach to hygiene in public gathering places. "For each building that is open, the demand is materially higher than it was pre-COVID," said Josh Feinberg, president of the Cleaning Coalition of America, comprised of seven commercial cleaning companies that banded together in late April to address the new issues facing the sector. In the post-pandemic world, cleaning is a serious business. Rather than a simple dusting, businesses will need deep cleaning several times a day to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces. "As more and more buildings open, the demand will continue to grow," Feinberg told AFP. "We are cleaning much more frequently... instead of just, you know, cleaning dirt." Hospitals, nursing homes, schools and daycares all want to avoid contamination. Bars, restaurants, shops, hair salons need to reassure customers that it's safe to come in. Robert Albrecht runs a small company in Havre de Grace, Maryland, and was contacted by the owner of a small pizzeria to set up a disinfection protocol prior to reopening, highlighting the need for "building the consumer confidence to come back in and sit down and eat." - Empty offices and airports - The cleaning sector, which employs a million workers, expects to see activity jump by a third compared to the pre-pandemic level. Trump, who is running for a second term in the White House, is anxious to see economic activity recover with less than six months until the presidential election. Some US states have allowed restaurants and shops to open their doors, including Texas and Georgia, but others worry that a premature return to normalcy could lead to a second wave of infections and an even worse hit to the economy. More than 90,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States, and testing still lags many European countries though has surpassed Canada. Like other industries, demand for cleaning services fell drastically amid the nationwide lockdowns. As they tried to stay afloat, and in anticipation of a spike in the need for their services, the companies worked to keep their employees and find new contracts to replace those they lost. To help their new customers, they had to quickly train workers to clean and disinfect hospital rooms, supermarket shelves, and even a logistics warehouse, all places deemed essential that remained open amid the lockdowns and had to be cleaned with much more care than before. However, these new clients only partially compensated for the 40 percent drop in activity. - School buses, retirement homes - "You can imagine if you shift from an office building to an airport or an airport to a hospital, it's very different," Feinberg said. In Boston, for example, where the airport is largely deserted since most flights have been grounded, maintenance workers have shifted gears and are now preparing meals for hospital staff in the region, he said. Albrecht's company, Infection Prevention Systems (IPS), also suffered a big hit due to the lockdowns: training, which represented half of the firm's income, disappeared, in favor of cleaning and disinfecting. "We are extremely busy, obviously, but we are not in the field where we want to be," he said. Its ultraviolet disinfection devices are particularly successful, and new sectors such as retirement homes now make up 45 percent of the company's business, compared to zero a few months ago. IPS is even cleaning iconic yellow school buses, and has provided advice to paramedics to disinfect vehicles used to transport COVID-19 patients. UV rays are used to disinfect the kitchen of the Baltimore Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland, as cleaning companies prepare for an explosion in demand once the US reopens from the coronavirus In the post-pandemic world, cleaning is a serious business: rather than a simple dusting, businesses will need deep cleaning several times a day to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces UV rays are used to disinfect a computer at the Baltimore Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland, as businesses think how they can build trust with customers and make them feel comfortable enough to come back UV rays are used to disinfect the kitchen of the Baltimore Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland, as the cleaning sector -- which employs a million workers -- expects to see activity jump by a third compared to the pre-pandemic level Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili. Dear Madame President, it is on the occasion of the national holiday of friendly Georgia the Independence Day that on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan I offer my best wishes and cordial congratulations to you and your people, President Aliyev added. The present level of the good neighborly relations and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia is gratifying, the Azerbaijani president said. The high-level contacts between our nations and ever-growing mutually beneficial engagement in political, economic and other spheres are the characteristic features of our cooperation. I am confident that this cooperation will continue to develop successfully, through our joint efforts, for the sake of prosperity of our peoples. I wish to note that the people of Azerbaijan are in solidarity with the people of Georgia also throughout these difficult times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that humanity faces, President Aliyev said. I seize this opportunity, to wish strong health and success to you, and everlasting prosperity to the friendly people of Georgia, the Azerbaijani president said. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz This full-service law firm with offices in Albany and Saratoga Springs represents clients across New York state in most areas of law, including banking, bankruptcy, construction, corporate, tax, real estate, environmental, land use, litigation, labor, employment, matrimonial, family, immigration, trusts, estates and elder law. Headquarters: Albany Year founded: 1863 Ownership: Private Sector: Legal services Employees: 50 Years named a Top Workplace: 1 Website: mltw.com Woodland Hill Montessori School This private school a diverse and engaging educational partnership of parents, teachers, children and community nurtures a child's love of learning and sense of social and personal responsibility using the child-centered Montessori philosophy and curriculum to develop the intellectual, spiritual, physical, artistic and academic excellence inherent in each child, from preschool through middle school. Headquarters: Rensselaer Year founded: 1965 Ownership: Nonprofit Sector: Primary/secondary school Employees: 68 Years named a Top Workplace: 1 Website: woodlandhill.org The Chazen Cos. This employee-owned consulting firm, with locations in Troy and Queensbury, is multi-disciplinary in its focus on engineering, land surveying, planning, environmental services and code services. Headquarters: Poughkeepsie Year founded: 1947 Ownership: Private Sector: Engineering Employees: 76 Years named a Top Workplace: 4 Website: hazencompanies.com Don Brown Bus Sales Inc. This bus transportation dealership is one of the largest stocking dealers of new and pre-owned buses and vans in the Northeast, with more than 400 vehicles on site, including pre-owned and new school and commercial buses, limos, shuttle buses, conversion and wheelchair vans, ambulettes, airport shuttles and multi-function school activity buses. Headquarters: Johnstown Year founded: 1973 Ownership: Private Sector: Bus transportation dealership Employees: 65 local, 70 in U.S. Years named a Top Workplace: 5 Website: buscrazy.net Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Creative Materials Corp. The business focuses exclusively on supplying architectural tile, brick, stone and other building materials to the commercial construction industry. It also works with architecture firms, developers and corporate multi-unit brands to assist with specification and supply of tile, brick and stone materials. Headquarters: Albany Year founded: 1993 Ownership: Private Sector: Commercial Employees: 51 local, 58 in U.S. Years named a Top Workplace: 3 Website: creativematerialscorp.com Fred's Studio Tents & Canopies Inc. Potter-turned-tentmaker Fred Tracy began this business when he fashioned a tent to shield himself from the sun at craft fairs. When he began making them for other craftspeople, a new business was born. Today, Fred's Tents designs and manufactures the highest quality tents, portable garages, canopies, tent components and accessories, providing products and services to the rental and event industries worldwide. Headquarters: Waterford Year founded: 1987 Ownership: Private Sector: Manufacturing Employees: 44 Years named a Top Workplace: 1 Website: wemaketents.com The OKC luxury remodeling industry is competitive, with many companies trying to impress clients. Aesthetics are a big part of this industry, so businesses need to ensure their online presence is just as impressive as their design skills. Outdated branding, poorly structured websites, old graphics, and other such elements can have a significant impact on a company's reputation. Recently, Directing Design, inc. started working with Randolph Design + Build to overhaul it's brand. The company offers expert luxury home building and remodeling. Rebranding Bringing New Life to Companys Image As experts in website design in Oklahoma, Directing Design, inc. has worked on hundreds of projects over the last 20 years. 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This step has been very successful as the new image is fresh, appealing, and fits in the luxury remodeling segment perfectly. That, coupled with a great website and top-notch SEO, has taken the business to new heights. A Beautiful Website Few businesses can survive without a website in this modern world, and a luxury remodeling company isn't one of them. Clients in this field conduct comprehensive research before they hire someone. Businesses need a strong foundation for an online presence in the form of an informative, well-designed, and appealing website. As a well-established web design company with ample experience in providing e-commerce solutions in OKC, Directing Design, inc. knows how to create stellar websites. Their experts created an efficient platform that performs well on all kinds of smart devices and has an impact. 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You can learn more at their company websites. directingdesign.com & randolphdb.com Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Monday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Rs 20 lakh crore economic package to tide over the economic slowdown due to the coronavirus outbreak a "jumla" (poll rhetoric) and claimed the Centre would be spending just 1 per cent of GDP and not 10 per cent as the NDA government has stated. Chavan, a former Maharashtra chief minister, spent several years as a minister in the PMO in the Manmohan Singh- led UPA government. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is thumping his chest about the Atmanirbhar campaign and Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package. In fact, only Rs 2 lakh crore is going to be used to increase spending capacity, which will create very less demand in the market. The rest Rs 18 lakh crore is nothing but various schemes of borrowing," he told reporters. Chavan, incidentally, had demanded a Rs 21 lakh crore package in April this year. "Ten world renowned financial institutions have said actual spending in Modi's stimulus package would be around 0.7 per cent to 1.5 per cent. It exposes the hollowness of the stimulus package," Chavan said. He said during the economic crisis in 2008, there was the leadership of Manmohan Singh to guide the nation, while there was no such hope from the Modi government. "Nobody believes Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman can bring the country out of this crisis," Chavan said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Radio host Charlamagne tha God has dismissed Joe Biden's 'lip service' after the former Vice President apologized for saying black people unsure whether to back him or Donald Trump 'ain't black.' Biden, the Democrats' presumptive presidential nominee, was accused of racism and later admitted he 'shouldn't have been such a wise guy' when he made the presumptuous remark about the black vote last week. Charlamagne told MSNBC on Sunday: 'I don't even care about the words and the lip service. The apology is cool but the best apology is actually a black agenda. You know, they got to make some real policy commitments to black people.' The Breakfast Club host added that if Biden were to choose Amy Klobuchar as his running mate he'd be making a mistake and should go for a black woman instead. Charlamagne told MSNBC's Joy Reid on Sunday: 'I don't even care about the words and the lip service. The apology is cool but the best apology is actually a black agenda. You know, they got to make some real policy commitments to black people.' Vice President Joe Biden (right) appeared on 'The Breakfast Club' on Friday with popular host Charlamagne tha God (left) Biden, who has already announced he will choose a woman as his running mate, has several contenders, with Klobuchar, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren all in the running. The bookmakers have Harris priced up the favorite, though Klobuchar has made some recent traction. Charlamagne added: 'I do hear a lot of people say, you know, we also want him to have a black woman running mate, you know, but not just any black woman running mate, one that's going to actually get in office and care that black people benefit from our presence there ... 'We need substance and significance over symbolism, and he's already committed to putting a black woman on the Supreme Court. So, I just want him and the Democratic Party to know that it's time to give back to the black community in a very tangible way.' Biden on Friday distanced himself from the remarks made to Charlamagne in a phone call with black business leader, telling them 'I shouldn't have been so cavalier in responding. I don't take (the black vote) for granted at all.' That was an acknowledgement of the stinging criticism he received in response to his comments, which he made earlier in the day on 'The Breakfast Club,' a radio program that is popular in the black community. At the conclusion of the interview, Joe Biden told Charlamagne tha God 'if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black' The rebukes included allies of Trump's reelection campaign - anxious to go on the offense after weeks of defending the Republican president's response to the coronavirus pandemic - and some activists who warned that Biden must still court black voters, even if African Americans overwhelmingly oppose the president. 'None of us can afford for the party or for this campaign to mess this election up, and comments like these are the kinds that frankly either make black voters feel like we're not really valued and people dont care if we show up or not,' said Alicia Garza, a Black Lives Matter co-founder and principal of Black Futures Lab. Near the end of Biden's appearance on the radio program, Charlamagne pressed him on reports that he is considering Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is white, to be his vice presidential running mate. The host told Biden that black voters 'saved your political life in the primaries' and 'have things they want from you.' Biden said that 'I guarantee you there are multiple black women being considered. Multiple.' A Biden aide then sought to end the interview, prompting the host to say, 'You cant do that to black media.' Biden responded, 'I do that to black media and white media,' and said his wife needed to use the television studio. He then added: 'If you've got a problem figuring out whether you're for me or for Trump, then you ain't black.' Joe Biden defended his record on race in the 18-minute 'Breakfast Club' interview, telling Charlamagne tha God that his record on race 'is second to none' Diddy tweeted a response to Biden's comments Friday using the hashtag #BlackVoteAintFree Donald Trump Jr. and Republican National Committee Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel both complained that CNN wasn't covering the gaffe President Trump also tweeted that 'HARRIS IS A GREAT AMERICAN' sharing a clip of Fox News Channel anchor Harris Faulkner calling what Joe Biden said a 'blind spot for this former vice president' Later Friday afternoon, President Trump retweeted Sen. Tim Scott's segment on Fox Business Network where he criticized the comment Joe Biden made to radio show host Charlamagne tha God Trump's campaign and his allies immediately seized on Biden's comments. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, a Trump supporter and the Senate's sole black Republican, said he was 'shocked and surprised' by Biden's remarks. 'I was struck by the condescension and the arrogance in his comments,' Scott said in a conference call arranged by the Trump campaign. 'I could not believe my ears that he would stoop so low to tell folks what they should do, how they should think and what it means to be black.' Charlamagne later said on CNN, 'A black woman running mate is necessary, especially after today.' He added that the question of 'what makes somebody black' is a discussion for black people, not for 'a white man.' Black voters helped resurrect Biden's campaign in this year's primaries with a second-place finish in the Nevada caucuses and a resounding win in the South Carolina primary after he'd started with embarrassing finishes in overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire. Sixty-one percent of black voters supported Biden during the primary season, according to AP VoteCast surveys across 17 states that voted in February and March. Biden is now seeking to maintain his standing with black voters while building the type of multiracial and multigenerational coalition that twice elected Barack Obama, whom he served as vice president. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, with their arms on each other, walk back to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, in November, 2016 He has already committed to picking a woman as his running mate and is considering several African American contenders who could energize black voters. But Biden is also considering candidates such as Klobuchar, who could appeal to white moderates. There is little chance of a sudden shift in support for Trump among black voters. A recent Fox News poll shows just 14% of African Americans who are registered to vote have a favorable opinion of Trump, compared with 84% who view him unfavorably. Seventy-five percent of African American registered voters say they have a favorable view of Biden; 21% hold an unfavorable opinion. There is a risk, however, of black voters, especially those who are younger, staying home in November, which could complicate Biden's path to victory in a tight election. The Breakfast Club is a particularly notable venue for Bidens comments because the program is popular among younger African Americans. Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPAC, a national organization that works to mobilize black voters, said many black Americans are loyal Biden supporters. But she said his comments make it harder to attract people who are on the fence about voting. 'The first thing I thought about was to what degree did this just turn off those voters and how much more work the rest of us are going to have to do to convince people that it is worth their time and their efforts,' she said. A gathering of Trenton residents across the river in Bucks County, Pennsylvania Saturday night ended in gunfire early Sunday, and left a man wounded multiple times, police said. Falls Township police officers responded to a reported shooting at the Holiday Inn Express on Cabot Boulevard at 1 a.m. Sunday and encountered a large crowd of people from Trenton, Falls police said in a statement. Among them was a male suffering wounds in his face and neck, who was taken to a local hospital. No further information on the victims condition was immediately available Sunday night, as the investigation continued, police said. Trenton had a particularly violent week, with five homicides - all shootings - in the seven days from last Saturday to this past Saturday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. A coronavirus outbreak linked to a slaughterhouse in the Netherlands has spread across the border to Germany. Dutch regional health authorities said Monday that tests showed 147 of the 657 employees at a meat processing plant in Groenlo were positive for COVID-19. They said 79 of those infected live in Germany, while 68 are resident in the Netherlands. There have been several clusters of COVID-19 among slaughterhouse workers in Germany in recent weeks, prompting a government pledge to crack down on conditions in the industry. Many workers in German abattoirs are migrants from Eastern Europe employed by subcontractors. They often live in shared housing and are transported to and from the slaughterhouses by shuttle bus, increasing the likelihood of infection. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [May 25, 2020] Impact of COVID-19 on the Online Payment Methods Market in the Middle East & Africa - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "Middle East & Africa Online Payment Methods 2020 and COVID-19's Impact" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. According to the report, cash on delivery was the leading payment method preferred by online shoppers in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, and other countries in this region, as of 2019. The COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, however, is changing this perspective, with online shopping platforms and regulators encouraging the use of cashless payment means during the pandemic. Their efforts are already showing results, as close to two-thirds of respondents to an April 2020 survey reported having reduced their use of cash since the outbreak. Mobile money, card, and contactless payments are among the payment methods that are benefitting from consumers turning their backs on cash. Fintechs are booming in the region Africa and Middle East's FinTech companies are contributing to the rise of digital payments across the region, with the help of millions of dollars raised during 2019, as the report shows. Some of the stars of the investment rounds include Interswitch and Opay in Nigeria, Tala in Kenya, and Dubai-based Network International which listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange at the beginning of 2019. Furthermore, Kenya's mobile money service M-Pesa is making a major contribution to the development of mobile payment transactions during the COVID-19 outbreak. Report Coverage This report covers the online payment market in the Middle East & Africa. It takes into account a wide definition of online payment, including payment methods used in online shopping and mobile payment, such as remote and proximity payments. In addition, information related to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID19) on digital payments in the Middle East, Africa, and worldwide as included in this report. The report includes data mostly published in the previous 12 months. The exact date of publication of the source is stated on each chart. The time period which the data refers to differs by source. Key Topics Covered: 1. Management Summary 2. Global Developments COVID-19 Impact on Online & Mobile Payment, May 2020 The Impact of COVID-19 on Payments Revenues, incl. Payments Revenues in 2019, Pre-COVID-19 Forecast, and Payments Revenues Forecast Under The Impact of COVID-19, in USD billion, 2020 Post-COVID-19 Forecast for Digital Commerce & Payments Spending, in USD trillion, 2020f & 2021f Compared to 2019 Share of Respondents Who View Contactless as a Cleaner Way to Pay, in %, April 2020 Payment Methods Most Used When Shopping Online During The Pandemic, in % of Online Shoppers, by Selected Countries, April 2020 Payment Methods Used For the First Time When Shopping Online During The Pandemic, in % of Online Shoppers, by Selected Countries, April 2020 Criteria for Choosing a Payment Method in Online Shopping Which Became More Important Since The Pandemic Outbreak, in % of Online Shoppers, by Selected Countries, April 2020 Online & Mobile Payment Platform Revenues, in USD billion, 2019e & 2024f Mobile & Online Remote Payment Value, in USD billion, by Selected Regions, 2024f Mobile & Online Remote Payment Value, in USD billion, by Digital and Physical Goods, 2024f Payment Methods Preferred in E-Commerce, in % of Online Shoppers, by Selected Regions, January 2019 Share of Online Shoppers Who Had Abandoned a Shopping Cart Due to Their Preferred Payment Method Not Being Offered, in %, January 2019 Share of Mobile Shoppers Who Had Abandoned a Shopping Cart Due to Their Preferred Payment Method Not Being Offered, in %, August 2019 Online Payment Fraud Losses, in USD million, by Segment, 2023f Online Payment Fraud Prevention Software Spending, in USD billion, 2020f & 2024f Number of Digital Wallet Users, in billions, 2019e & 2024f Breakdown of Digital Wallets by Provider's Main Industry, in %, 2019 Proximity Mobile Payment Users, in billions, and Penetration, in % of Smartphone Users, 2018 - 2023f Value of Mobile Payment Transactions Authenticated via Biometrics, in USD billion, 2019e & 2024f Overview of Mobile Money Statistics, incl. Number of Live Services, Registered Accounts, in millions, Active Accounts, in millions, Transaction Volume in millions, and Transaction Value, in USD billion, and Year-on-Year Growth, in %, by Region, 2019 3. Middle East & Africa 3.1. Regional 4. Middle East 4.1. UAE 4.2. Saudi Arabia 4.3. Israel 4.4. Jordan 4.5. Oman 5. Africa 5.1. South Africa 5.2. Egypt 5.3. Nigeria 5.4. Morocco 5.5. Kenya 5.6. Tunisia Companies Mentioned Interswitch Ltd Jumia Technologies AG Network International Holdings Plc Noon AD Holdings Opay PalmPay Technology Co Ltd Paytabs Safaricom Plc Visa Inc For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/iquyqq View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005118/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A week before fourth phase of COVID-19 Lockdown ends on May 31, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu reviewed the preparedness of the secretariats of both Houses of Parliament on Monday by holding a meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, officials of both Houses , Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and MoS Arjunram Meghwal. The 37 members who were part of the meeting were recently elected unopposed to the Upper House but their oath-taking remains pending. Naidu spoke to Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, in this regard. Sources in the Rajya Sabha Secratariat told News 18 that post May 31, members may be called in small batches to the chamber of the Vice President and sworn-in. With social distancing now made mandatory and a ban on large gatherings, the MP families will not be allowed to join the new members for the swearing-in ceremony. Naidu also spoke to the the Election Commission of India about polls for 18 more vacancies in seven states which were deferred after the COVID-19 outbreak. A lot of members, especially from the Opposition bench, including Adhir Chowdhury, Manish Tewari and Shashi Tharoor, had requested for Standing Committee meetings to be held via video conference. The matter has also been under consideration of the custodians of both Houses, considering both Rail and Air services have now opened across the country. During the meeting, nine rooms were identified for meetings of 24 Department Related Standing Committee (DRSC) and 6 for other Committee meetings of both Houses. In the meeting, Naidu and Om Birla asked officials to ensure effective measures of social distancing and also said that the number of officials from both Secretariats as well as concerned Ministry who attend these meetings should be bare minimum. A detailed meeting schedule for these meetings will drawn up soon. The Morrison government is planning to use its climate solutions fund to deliver a world-first scheme to financially reward farmers who protect sensitive ecosystems, restore native habitat, store carbon or make other environmental improvements. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud wants to create a "world precedent" with a biodiversity stewardship program under the $2 billion fund, whereby farmers could realise financial rewards for reducing greenhouse emissions while improving biodiversity on their land. The Biodiversity Stewardship Fund could fund landscape improvements like those undertaken in the NT by Lakefield Station pastoralists Gary and Michelle Riggs. Credit:David Hancock / Pew Charitable Trusts. "[The program] can help us address our global responsibility around emissions and pay farmers for improving the environment," Mr Littleproud said. That could mean fencing off wetlands from grazing, managing feral pest populations, planting trees for nature corridors and balancing the need to maximise pasture or crop growth with sustainable practices that promote soil health and enriches land with organic matter and carbon from the atmosphere. Covid-19 has changed nearly everything, from people' lives & lifestyles to their travel experiences post the resumption of travel by air. Tourists have been witnessing the whole travelling affair transformation quite closely. There are tons of norms to be followed now including constantly putting up with wearing masks and gloves, filling a form declaring health issues pertaining for two months. READ | Centre Issues Guidelines For Domestic Air,rail, Bus Travel; States To Decide On Quarantine READ | Vizag Gas Leak: Andhra HC Orders Seizure Of Company Premises, Directors To Not Leave India Yaya, who had come to India in November, a month before the deadly virus become world news, is returning to his home Israel. He started off with Hampi in Karnataka and made it to Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala during the pandemic. The experience is one of its kind, Yaya recounts, adding "I had been travelling till November when this whole thing started, I was in Hampi. Initially, the authorities asked us to leave from Hampi. A lot of people then stuttered to a lot of places. I decided to go to up North in Himachal Pradesh. It was pretty difficult as they had closed the state and we were unaware of this very fact. It took us twice the usual time to get there and we had to argue with a lot of cops since they didn't let us through due to security reasons, but neither did they give us any alternatives to follow. We had find our own way to go.(sic)" Yaya adds, "While the Indians had an option of commuting via buses across the states, we had none. We were not allowed to travel in the same local buses. We had to come back to Delhi only to take buses to the local villages. The local transport was smooth as the buses were running uninterrupted. Only the buses ferrying tourists faced such interruptions at different points. I was roaming in Himachal with only my bags. Because of the Corona scare no-one really let me stay at their places. I have also faced a certain degree of ostracism along the way. I spoke to the health ministry and only after that the guesthouses accepted me. We were 8-9 people in a guesthouse as the owner refused to gather more people there. We stayed there for a month." "The travel experience certainly has changed upside down during this. After the first week at Dharamshala, things started to limp back to normal and we didn't face any problem in getting food. I've been to several countries but here getting food was the smoothest. I had a great time in India despite several odds. I will certainly come back very soon", he says. Yaya said he will be back with his friends and family once the world gets rid of this pandemic. READ | UP To Constitute 'Migration Commission' For welfare Of Migrants: CM Yogi Adityanath READ | Mumbai Crosses 30,000-mark With 1725 New Cases; City's Overall COVID Growth Rate At 6.61% Jammu, May 25 : A bird, suspected to be a spy pigeon of Pakistan, was captured by locals in the Kathua district of J&K, on Monday. According to the police, inhabitants of the Manyari village captured the pigeon as it flew into the Hiranagar sector from across the border. "The pigeon has some numbers written on the ring on its foot. It's being ascertained if this is some sort of a coded message," sources said. By PTI PESHAWAR: A top Pakistani information officer and his two relatives were killed by some unidentified gunmen on Eid in the country's restive northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Zabiadullah Dawar, who was posted as the Director of Pakistan Housing Society, was on his way home in North Waziristan after Eid prayers along with his two cousins when the bike-borne assailants struck, district police officer Shafiullah Gandapur said. The gunmen opened indiscriminate fire at the trio and fled the spot. The officer, who had come to his village from Islamabad for Eid celebrations, died on the spot. His cousins were also killed in the incident. The police launched an enquiry but no arrests were made. Eid was celebrated in the country on Sunday at open places, mosques and Eidgahs in all major cities and towns while following strict standard operating procedures of social distancing and other precautionary measures. Labor politicians have come under fire for backing China as tensions escalate in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Federal Labor's agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon has accused the government of 'demonising' the communist superpower by calling for an inquiry into the origins of the deadly virus which has killed 345,000 people across the world. Labor Senator Kim Carr has also slammed Coalition MPs who have been critical of Beijing, saying their comments are 'irresponsible' and damage Australia's relationship with our largest trading partner. Meanwhile, calls are growing for Victoria's labor premier Daniel Andrews to review his controversial Belt and Road agreement with Beijing which he signed last year to increase Chinese participation in Victorian infrastructure projects. Liberal MP for Canning Andrew Hastie, a former soldier who has consistently warned that China poses a national security threat, told Daily Mail Australia that the Labor Party needs to have a 'long, hard look at itself'. Mr Hastie (left), who served as a soldier when Mr Fitzgibbon (centre) was Defence Minister from 2007 to 2009, said the Labor frontbencher was 'confused'. Pictured: The pair in 2008 Meanwhile calls are growing for Victoria's labor premier Daniel Andrews (pictured in China's Tiananmen Square) to review his controversial Belt and Road agreement with Beijing Mr Hastie said there are 'good people' in the Labor movement who 'defend the Australian national interest and call out bad behaviour from authoritarian states when they see it.' But he said there are also 'confused MPs and Senators, like Carr and Fitzgibbon, who defend bad behaviour rather than the Commonwealth government'. In a scathing assessment of the Victorian Premier, he added: 'And then you've got Daniel Andrews, who has gone off the reservation, conducting his own foreign policy with China. 'The Labor Party - across the country - needs to have a long, hard look at itself.' In an ABC radio interview this morning Mr Fitzgibbon railed against Coalition MPs including the Prime Minister and Andrew Hastie. 'They have all been at it, demonising China, which happens to be our biggest export customer,' he said. Labor needs to take a long, hard look at itself Andrew Hastie, Liberal MP 'This government hasn't maintained a good working relationship indeed in this time of crisis.' Mr Hastie, who served as a soldier when Mr Fitzgibbon was Defence Minister from 2007 to 2009, said the Labor frontbencher was 'confused'. 'Where does he stand on Australian sovereignty? Joel is confused, but it's not his job as a Labor frontbencher to be confused about this question,' he said. 'Labor's Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong needs to straighten him out. I feel sorry for her having to shepherd all these wayward MPs on basic questions around our national interest.' In a Facebook post showing the pair riding in a tank in 2008, Mr Hastie added: 'Joel Fitzgibbon MP was happy to ride with me when he was Minister for Defence. 'Now he's attacking me and my colleagues for standing up for Australian sovereignty. Make up your mind Joel.' Mr Fitzgibbon was also criticised by Nationals Senator Bridget MacKenzie who told Sky News: 'Joel needs to decide whose team he's actually on. 'Joel needs to get on board, team Australia, or is he backing other Labor entities such as Daniel Andrews by putting the Chinese interest above Australia's.' Mr Fitzgibbon is not the only Labor politician who has been sticking up for China recently. In parliament on 14 May, Labor senator Kim Carr defended Chinese scientists after President Trump launched an investigation into whether coronavirus leaked from a lab. He controversially compared supporting the theory to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. He said: 'It recalls the campaigns directed against science by the far-right politicians in Europe in the 1930s, campaigns that also shrugged off any need for evidence, campaigns run by people who assured us that, if you keep repeating a slur, however ill-founded, sooner or later people will believe it.' 'This is a new low, even in the long history of shameful attacks on science by members of this government.' Senator Carr said backbenchers were making 'ill-considered, reckless and irresponsible calls' that harm Australia's national interest. Chinese state media has threatened Australian with new economic sanctions if it supports the US in an escalating trade war with Beijing. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Premier Li Keqiang The comparison to the Holocaust caused outrage. Executive Council of Australian Jewry CEO Peter Wertheim said his organisation 'deplores the inappropriate use of analogies to the Nazi genocide and Nazi tyranny in Australian public debate'. Labor leader Anthony Albanese said comparisons to Nazi regime are 'always inappropriate'. Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong and Mr Albanese have supported the government's demands for a coronavirus inquiry which they say is an 'unremarkable' position to take. But Senator Wong has slammed 'unhelpful' rhetoric by Coalition backbenchers such as Andrew Hastie and George Christensen who have criticised China. She told ABC radio earlier this month: 'I think the relationship [with China] would benefit from less fevered rhetoric and more calm and considered discussion. 'I think the relationship would benefit from a little stridency from Coalition backbenchers and a little more considered diplomacy from the Government.' It's not just at the federal level that Labor is facing accusations of being too close to China. Last week, after Beijing put an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and banned products from four Australian meat suppliers, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas accused the federal government of 'vilifying' China. 'I don't suppose it will come as a surprise to anybody that this was a consequence of the way that the federal government had conducted themselves,' he said. Cattle are readied for auction at the Roma Saleyards in Roma, Queensland. Four major beef supplies have been suspended from exporting to China This infuriated Victorian Liberals including Tim Smith MP who called for him to be sacked. Mr Smith has been a constant critic of Mr Andrews' China policy, often referring to him as 'Chairman Dan'. In October last year, the Victorian Labor government signed an agreement with China under the country's Belt and Road Initiative to develop infrastructure and invest overseas. Premier Andrews wants to increase Chinese participation in Victorian building projects, manufacturing, and trade. In light of recent tensions, that agreement is being called into question. Michael Schoebridge of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said: 'The Victorian government's BRI activities are simply out of step with the new international and economic environment, including the now openly coercive directions that Beijing is taking with Canberra over trade and in government relations.' Victorian Labor senator Kimberley Kitching, chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade References Committee, said: 'The Victorian government should not have entered into an agreement with the Chinese government on the Belt and Road Initiative - it is bad policy and bad optics.' It comes as Chinese state media threatens Australia with new economic sanctions if it supports the United States as tensions with Beijing escalate. The US said on Friday it would ban trade with 33 Chinese companies in a move that could signal the start of a 'new cold war', according to Chinese media. An article in the state-controlled Global Times said that Australia should keep quiet like India and stay out of the spat to avoid becoming collateral damage. A haulage truck and an autonomous drilling rig at the Rio Tinto West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of West Australia The article said that China will punish Australia more harshly than the US because it is less economically dependent on Australia. The US is China's number one export market whereas Australia is 14th. The article said: 'China will enjoy more room to fight back against Australia with countermeasures if Canberra supports Washington in a possible 'new cold war'. 'It means Australia may feel more pain than the US.' The editorial said President Trump was targeting China to distract from his handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has killed 97,000 Americans. 'The Trump administration is fomenting trouble to deflect its woes over its mishandling of the coronavirus onto China,' it said. 'There is no need for other countries, such as Australia, to involve themselves in this ridiculous political play.' The Global Times believes Australia is merely a 'lap dog' being used to further American interests and last week claimed the US coerced Canberra into calling for an inquiry into the origins and spread of coronavirus. Last month Beijing became infuriated by Australia's calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus, believing that it was a 'malicious' attempt to blame and 'stigmatise' China. Prime Minster Scott Morrison had demanded a ban on wildlife wet markets, where the virus may have originated, and said inspectors should be able to enter a country suffering from a pandemic without the government's consent. Earlier this month China slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and suspended imports from four Australian beef suppliers in apparent revenge. About one third of Australia's total exports - including iron ore, gas, coal and food - go to China, bringing in around $135billion per year and providing thousands of jobs. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny to an official dinner at the White House September 20, 2019 Last week fears of further retaliation were raised when China relaxed checks on iron-ore imports in a move that could favour Australia's competitors. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US 'stands with Australia'. Mr Morrison has repeatedly insisted the two countries are 'great mates' and their alliance is strong. Beijing has a track record of putting pressure on exporters during political disagreements. It includes encouraging a boycott of South Korean cars after the country deployed a US missile shield in 2017 and a ban on Norwegian salmon after Chinese rebel Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo that same year. 'Trade should be independent from politics, but it's hard to completely divide them in reality,' Mr Yu told the Global Times. Australia and China have had a free trade agreement since 2015 but some exporters have still run into difficulties as relations have soured. In 2018 Beijing imposed new customs regulations on Australian wine resulting in shipments being held up in Shanghai. And last year - after Canberra stripped Chinese businessman Xiangmo Huang of his visa - major ports prolonged clearing times for Australian coal to at least 40 days, claiming the delay was due to 'normal' safety checks. Image from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorised scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell in red heavily infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus in yellow. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19. (Handout: NIAID via AFP) Wang Yi blasted what he called efforts by US politicians to "fabricate rumours" about the pathogen's origins and "stigmatise China". The United States and Australia have called in recent weeks for an investigation into the origins of the pandemic. Both US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have accused China of a lack of transparency over the issue, and repeatedly pushed the theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese maximum-security laboratory. Most scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, possibly from a market selling exotic animals for meat in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. "China is open to working with the international scientific community to look into the source of the virus," Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of China's annual parliament session. "At the same time, we believe that this should be professional, fair and constructive," he added. "Fairness means the process be free of political interference, respect the sovereignty of all countries, and oppose any presumption of guilt." The World Health Organization has also called on Beijing to invite them in to investigate the source, with China proposing that the "global response" to COVID-19 should only be assessed when the pandemic is over. WHO members on Tuesday adopted a resolution at the UN body's first virtual assembly to review international handling of the pandemic. Multiple reports on Monday, May 25 have stated that the Province of Ontario has issued a $500-million loan to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. to help cover costs and financial obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fiscal measure has been needed after the OLG was forced to close its brick and mortar gaming locations due to the pandemic. The office of Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips has stated that the Ontario Financing Authority is providing OLG with a line of credit to temporarily support OLGs operational costs and help meet its contractual obligations over the short term. An excerpt from the statement also explains that The government is confident that OLG will be able to repay its line of credit once the government loosens emergency measures and it is safe and responsible to reopen gaming sites. OLG will remain in contact with public health authorities to determine when it is safe for its facilities to reopen. (With files from CTV News and The Record) After three stores in Mumbai and Delhi, Zoya, a luxury fine jewellery brand from the House of Tata, made its foray into south India with a 3,300 square feet boutique here. Business Head, Amanpreet Ahluwalia, said, in a statement on Monday: "Having received a wonderful response from the North and West of India, we couldn't have found a location (Vittal Mallya road) for our Bengaluru boutique that resonated more perfectly with the brand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israels flag carrier completed its first cargo flight to Turkey in 10 years, the latest sign of a thaw in ties between the two nations, the Israeli embassy in Turkey said on Twitter. An El-Al plane landed in Istanbul on Sunday, the embassy said, adding that flights between Tel Aviv and Istanbul will help trade volumes between the nations reach record levels. The aircraft was loaded with 24 tonnes of humanitarian coronavirus equipment, The Jerusalem Post reported. El Al has been authorized to operate two flights for humanitarian purposes this week; the company has applied to the Turkish authorities for permission to operate flights on a regular basis. The plane will return to Tel Aviv from Istanbul before continuing on to New York. Israel's national carrier has converted some of its planes to cargo planes for the duration of the coronavirus crisis, but has made moves Sunday morning in an attempt to resume international flights as soon as possible. Flights between Tel Aviv and Istanbul were halted in 2010 after relations between Israel and Turkey soured following the Gaza flotilla incident. Herd immunity at 95% is one of them. Ukraine's Health Ministry explains when the country is able to avoid the second wave of COVID-19. "It is possible to avoid the second wave of coronavirus disease under two circumstances: First, during circulation, the coronavirus will lose its aggressiveness ... [it] will not cause disease in humans and will decline," Deputy Health Minister and Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko said on TV, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Read alsoEight regions not ready for stage 2 of quarantine easing in Ukraine health ministry "The second one is the development of a vaccine, massive vaccinations, the formation of herd immunity at 95%. Then we really will be able to prevent the second wave," he added. According to Liashko, if these two conditions do not occur, then in a certain period of time, the virus will circulate in Ukraine and the rest of the world. "This will lead to outbreaks of coronavirus disease, and epidemics are possible inside countries, or even [they will grow to] a pandemic, which, by the way, is not over globally yet," he said. As UNIAN reported earlier, as of the morning of May 25, there were 21,245 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 259 new ones, in Ukraine. The death toll was 623 cases. Some 7,234 patients have already recovered. New Delhi, May 25 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, here on Monday, took a jibe at UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his statement that people returning to the state from other states were raising the number of coronavirus cases and asked him to share the testing and infection data with full transparency. "Heard the UP Chief Minister's statement. According to him, 75 per cent of returnees from Maharashtra, 50 per cent from Delhi and 25 per cent from other states have tested Covid-19 positive. According to the state government figures, around 25 lakh people have returned to UP," she said in a series of tweets in Hindi. Questioning the Chief Minister, Priyanka said did he mean there were more than 10 lakh people affected by Covid-19 in the state. The state government statistics say total number of Covid-19 affected persons in UP is 6,228. "What's the basis of statistics of infection reported by him? Where did this percentage of returned migrants come from," she remarked. If there was some truth in the Chief Minister's statement then the state government should share the testing and infection data with the public, she said and added, it should also tell us about the preparation to control the infection. The migrant workers have been returning from the Shramik special trains since May 1. UP has received the maximum number of Shramik special trains, ferrying stranded workers, students, tourists and pilgrims. Thousands of people have also returned to the state either on foot or through other modes of travel, like trucks, buses, bicycle and auto-rickshaws. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, UP has recorded 6,268 Covid-19 cases. Of this, 161 people have died and 3,538 recovered. The pilots of doomed Pakistan Airlines Flight 8303 which crashed in Karachi on Friday killing 97 may have forgotten to put the wheels down before landing, analysis of flight data and cockpit recordings has suggested. Captain Sajjad Gull, Pakistan Airline's most-senior pilot, and his co-pilot aborted their initial landing when they realised their mistake - but not before damaging both of the Airbus A320's engines, experts said. While attempting to go around for a second landing both engines failed, causing the plane to plunge into a residential neighbourhood, killing 97 of the 99 people on board. Fortunately, nobody on the ground was killed. Pakistan Airlines flight 8303 crashed in Karachi on Friday, killing 97. New analysis, coupled with this image of the plane moments before disaster showing what appears to be damage to the underside of both engines, suggests the pilot attempted to land with the wheels up Experts said flight data reveals the plane made an unorthodox approach to the runway, which may have distracted the pilots - meaning they forgot to put the wheels down and ignored warning signals. They aborted the landing, but too late, scraping the runway and damaging both engines which then gave out as they attempted to go around for a second landing Captain Amit Singh, an air safety expert, detailed what he believes were a series of fatal errors by Cpt Gull to the Times of India. Analysing recordings of Cpt Gull's final moments during calls he made to air traffic controllers, he said a distinctive warning signal could be heard in the background. The chime is designed to tell the pilot that he is attempting a landing with an incorrect configuration, for example with the wheels up. While Mr Singh was unable to say what caused such an experienced pilot to make such a basic error, he suggested the answer could lie in flight data. Experts said air traffic control recordings indicate Captain Sajjad Gull ignored sirens warning him the wheels were not lowered Information gathered by flightradar24 showed the plane was 2,500ft above the recommended height when it started making its approach into Karachi, he said. That meant the plane's initial descent was made at a rapid rate of 2,000ft per minute, which was lowered to 1,000ft per minute in its final moments. Air traffic control had twice advised the plane to abandon its approach based on the data, but the pilots pressed ahead regardless. Another senior plane examiner, who did not wished to be named, said it is possible that such an 'unstable approach' distracted the pilot and meant he did not hear the warning signal. The fact that Cpt Gull's voice was so calm as he spoke over the warning signal strongly suggests he had not heard it, they added. Testimony from the plane's only two survivors confirms that the aircraft aborted its initial landing and attempted to go around for a second landing. It was during the go-around that the plane fell from the sky. Audio from air traffic control released to Pakistani media confirms that Cpt Gull reported an engine failure and called out 'mayday, mayday, mayday' before crashing. Analysis said photographs of the wreckage - including this image of one of the plane's engines - suggest it was not running at the time of the crash because the fan blades are intact Cpt Gull was killed in the crash along with 97 of the 99 people on board after the plane plunged into a residential neighbourhood. Fortunately nobody on the ground was killed Images taken from the ground during the go-around show the plane's landing gear are up, and what appears to be damage to the underside of one of the engines. It also appears to show a device called a Ram Air Turbine extended from the plane's underside, which typically only happens when the engines have failed. Further evidence comes from the plane wreckage itself. Experts said fan blades inside both jet engines appear intact, strongly suggesting that they were not turning when the crash happened. A senior A320 commander, who also did not want to be named, added: 'Its not confirmed yet whether the engines did make contact with the runway surface during the first attempt at landing. 'But going by the photographs of the PIA aircraft, taken when it was air borne during the go-around, it does seem to be a possibility. 'Marks indicating damage to the lower portion of both the engines is distinctly visible in the photographs.' Airbus has dispatched a team of air crash investigators to the scene and an official probe is still ongoing. CCTV that captured the plane's final moments show it flying nose-up, indicating it had engine problems - backed by a last-second 'mayday' call that Cpt Gull made Video captured the moment the plane hit the ground, spilling jet fuel which ignited - causing a fireball which was visible for miles around There were just two survivors from onboard the aircraft - Zafar Masud, President of the Bank of Punjab, and engineer Mohammad Zubair. No fatalities were reported on the ground in the densely packed neighbourhood of multi-story homes abutting the eastern edge of Jinnah International Airport where the plane came down. More than two dozen homes were damaged as the airliner roared in, leaving a tangle of severed electric cables and exposed rebar - a broken wing rested against the side of a home, an engine on the ground nearby. The jet fuel set the wreckage ablaze, along with homes and vehicles, sending black smoke into the sky, a Reuters witness said. Crowds rushed to the site, relatives searching for loved ones, rescue workers and the curious. Scores of ambulances and fire-engines jammed the narrow, debris-cluttered streets. One rescue worker told Reuters two bodies were found with oxygen masks on. Many bodies pulled from the wreckage were charred beyond recognition. The airline's chief executive said on Friday the last message from the pilot indicated a technical problem. A team from Airbus is due to arrive on Monday to investigate, a PIA spokesman said. 'They'll provide all possible assistance including decoding the black box,' the spokesman Khan, referring to the flight data recorder. Shahid Ahmed, 45, was at the airport waiting for his mother to arrive. When he reached the crash site he saw rescuers retrieving bodies and people taking selfies. Pakistan had only recently restarted domestic flights following coronavirus lockdown, and many passengers were travelling to see family to celebrate the end of Ramadan 'There was no one responsible at the site, people were busy posing for pictures,' said a distraught Ahmed, who lost his mother, Dishad Begum, 75, who was also flying to Karachi for Eid. After scouring the site and failing to find his mother, Ahmed went to look for her in hospitals. 'There was no list of the dead or injured at any of the hospitals, it was all chaos and mismanagement,' said Ahmed, who sobbed as he recounted the ordeal. 'Searching for our mother's body was a nightmare.' One of the survivors, engineer Muhammad Zubair, told Geo News the pilot came down to land, briefly touched down, then pulled up again. He announced he was going to make to make a second try shortly before the plane crashed, Zubair said from hospital. 'I could hear screams from all directions. Kids and adults. All I could see was fire. I couldn't see any people, I could just hear their screams,' he said. The Trump administration sent Congress a national coronavirus testing strategy in time to meet a Sunday deadline, The Washington Post reports, citing a copy of the 80-page "COVID-19 Strategic Testing Plan" it obtained. The report delivered to Congress promises that the federal government will buy 100 million swabs by the end of 2020 and distribute them to states to help them expand testing. The document did not outline federal testing goals for each state; instead it listed testing targets states reported to federal officials for May. Public health officials say broader testing to determine who has been infected with the novel coronavirus and who might have immunity are key to curbing the spread of the outbreak and allowing the economy to fully reopen. The administration plan calls for every state to try to test at least 2 percent of its population in May and June. Read more at The Washington Post. More stories from theweek.com Ohio 15-year-old receives high school diploma and college degree in the same week Trump keeps falsely accusing Joe Scarborough of murder, and it's long past weird White House press secretary says 'it's Joe Scarborough that has to answer' for Trump's false murder allegations The Hunterdon County freeholders have sent a joint letter to Gov. Phil Murphy asking that nonessential retail businesses be allowed to offer appointment-based sales during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. Freeholder Director Shaun C. Van Doren and Deputy Director Susan J. Soloway have seen small businesses in Hunterdon County suffering severe economic hardship and facing the risk of never reopening again. They're asking the state to give those businesses a chance to survive. Allowing small businesses to offer appointment-based, retail shopping represents the next logical step forward in the reopening of New Jerseys economy. Van Doren said. Various business relief programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program are running low on funds, and the United States Congress seems at odds over further economic relief packages. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage Allowing an art gallery to sell a piece of art, or an artisan clothing or jewelry store to make a few sales could literally mean food on the table, or the ability to make a rent or mortgage payment." The state has slowly loosened some COVID-19 restrictions, including the decision earlier this month to allow curbside pickup for nonessential businesses. The freeholders said time is not on the side of a lot of small businesses and downtowns though. Soloway and Van Doren would like to see more reasonable measures to provide some financial relief sooner rather than later. The Hunterdon County freeholder board has heard from numerous small business owners that are rightfully concerned about their long-term economic future," said Soloway, a liaison to the countys Economic Development Office. "As New Jerseys ongoing lockdown continues, those businesses deemed as nonessential face an uncertain future. Appointment-based shopping offers a critical lifeline to many mom-and-pop businesses that are teetering on the edge of fiscal disaster. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Brandon Gould covers Hunterdon County news for NJ.com and may be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Online meetings of the parliamentary panels unlikely Preparations have started in earnest to hold usual in-camera meetings at the Parliament complex, as an earlier plan to hold online meetings of the parliamentary panels appear to have been junked. Read more Supreme Court allows Air India to operate without leaving middle seat vacant for 10 days The Supreme Court on Monday allowed national carrier Air India to operate international flight service with middle seat booking. The court was hearing a petition filed by the Centre and Air India after Bombay high court questioned why the airline was not keeping the middle seats vacant in international flights. Read more Top LeT terrorist, another gunned down in encounter in J-Ks Kulgam A top terrorist of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and another operative were killed by security forces during a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmirs Kulgam district on Monday, sources said. Read more Covid-19 surge pushes Mumbai to the brink On May 10, a 35-year-old bank loan agent in Mumbai suddenly developed a temperature. With the city firmly in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic, his family was alarmed but he dismissed their concern, saying he hadnt come in contact with any confirmed Covid-19 patient. Read more No break for nature? Heres how Covid-19 crisis is harming the worlds forests With most of the planet locked down due to the Covid-19 crisis, experts believe this could be the time when nature finally takes a break amid low human activity and get into a healing mode. Read more China denies using Coronavirus to grow presence in South China Sea Chinas foreign minister is dismissed the claims that the country is exploiting the coronavirus outbreak to expand its footprint in the South China Sea, labelling such accusations as sheer nonsense. Read more Hong Kong security chief warns of growing terrorism as government backs Beijings planned security laws Hong Kongs security chief said terrorism was growing in the city, as government departments rallied on Monday behind Beijings plans to introduce national security laws and after thousands took to the streets to protest against the move. Read more Little worried but work comes first: Flight attendant as domestic air services resume Domestic flight services resume across India after a gap of two months. Passengers were screened before they boarded their flight. Read more Watch Puddin, the cats hilarious reaction to realising it has an ice cube on its paw Many will agree to the fact that cats have a much better sixth sense. Maybe this is why certain cultural icons, such as Catwoman, draw inspiration from these animals who are supposed to be highly aware of their surroundings. Read more Skin care at home: 4 ways to get glowing, healthy skin The stress and exhaustion of daily life is most reflected on ones face and can take a toll on your natural beauty. It manifests itself in the form of wrinkles, dullness, dryness and breakouts on skin, creating a barrier for radiant skin. Read more A simmering crisis in New Zealands opposition National Party came to a head last Friday, when MPs voted to replace Simon Bridges with Todd Muller as leader, just four months before the countrys election. Paula Bennett also lost her job as deputy leader, replaced by Nikki Kaye. Muller is the third National Party leader since Prime Minister John Keys sudden resignation in 2016. Bridges, a former crown prosecutor, took the leadership from Bill English following Nationals 2017 election defeat. Muller entered parliament in 2014 and last year became Nationals agriculture spokesman. He has previously held senior roles in dairy company Fonterra and kiwifruit marketer Zespri, but is relatively unknown to the public. Todd Muller (Wikipedia) Muller told Radio NZ he only decided to contest the leadership following a Newshub poll on May 18 showing the partys support had dropped to 30.8 percent, from 43.3 percent in February. A second poll by TVNZ on Thursday showed National with 29 percent and Labour on 59 percent. The media highlighted Bridges dismally low rating in the preferred Prime Minister categoryjust 4.5 percent in Newshubs poll, compared with Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns 59.5 percent. The government currently enjoys broad support in the ruling elite and has been glorified by the local and international media for its pro-business response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Partys worst poll result in 15 years provided the opportunity to seal Bridges fate. Larger political issues, however, underlie the leadership change. In country after country, politics is being profoundly destabilised by the unprecedented health, economic and social crisis triggered by the pandemic. Whichever party leads the government after the September election will confront an upsurge of working-class anger and opposition over job cuts and attacks on wages and conditions, which are already well underway. New Zealand is also facing intense pressure to support US imperialist threats against China, NZs biggest trading partner. Powerful sections of the ruling class evidently concluded that Bridges was incapable of dealing with these explosive domestic and geopolitical crises. In recent weeks Bridges has been attacked in the media and inside his own party for criticising aspects of the governments response to the pandemic. MPs reportedly questioned Bridges leadership after an April 20 Facebook post which said businesses will suffer from a five-day extension to the countrys lockdown. In reality, the governments decision was calculated to appease businesses; it was less than the two-week lockdown extension recommended by health experts. The Facebook post received thousands of negative comments and media criticism. Pro-National Party commentator Ben Thomas described it as a giant misstep. Muller has promised not to criticise the governments COVID-19 public health measures. More fundamentally, under Bridges leadership sharp divisions erupted within National over New Zealands relations with China. MP Jami-Lee Ross resigned from the party in October 2018 after accusing Bridges of corruption for failing to disclose political donations from Chinese businessman Zhang Yikun. Bridges tried to shut down the scandal, but the National Party was continually attacked as part of the anti-China campaign by sections of the media, Labour and NZ First supporters, and pro-US academics such as Anne-Marie Brady. Vehement denunciations followed Bridges visit to Beijing in September 2019, where he talked up the trade relationship and expressed support for Chinese sovereignty in Hong Kong. The Labour-led government that includes NZ First and the Greens has strengthened military ties with the United States. Its 2018 defence policy statement echoed the Trump administrations denunciation of China and Russia as the main threats to global stability. The government has called for more US forces to be sent to the Pacific to push back against Chinese influence. Foreign Minister and NZ First leader Winston Peters has deliberately stoked tensions with Beijing, most recently with inflammatory claims that the Chinese government tried to dissuade New Zealand from locking down in March. The 20082017 National Party-led government also boosted the alliance with Washington, sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, while simultaneously building strong trade and investment ties with China. This fraught balancing act, however, cannot be sustained. The Trump administration is demanding unwavering loyalty from its allies, including New Zealand, as it seeks to scapegoat China for the COVID-19 pandemic and to ramp up preparations for war. In the lead-up to the National Partys leadership spill, Trump threatened to cut all ties with China and compared the pandemic to an act of war worse than Pearl Harbor. Todd Mullers installation, however, will not resolve the divisions in the political establishment. Mullers former employers Zespri and Fonterra, New Zealands biggest company, both rely heavily on exports to China. Asked by Magic Talk on Sunday whether he had concerns about our reliance on China, Muller replied: I see China as an opportunity. He said China had a massive interest in what we produce and New Zealand needed to build deep relationships with the country. Muller told the Sunday Star Times the government should consider reopening the borders to China. At the same time, Muller represents a further lurch to the right. He has described himself as an American political junkie and defended his prominent display of a pro-Trump Make America Great Again cap, acquired during a 2016 visit to the US, in his parliamentary office. A Catholic, Muller voted against recent legislation which fully decriminalised abortion. As the election approaches, the National Party is cynically using the governments failure to alleviate skyrocketing poverty and inequality to push for more pro-business policies. Muller has taken on his partys small business portfolio, saying that this showed his commitment to keeping people in jobs and helping businesses invest and grow. In a Stuff column on May 24, Paul Goldsmith, Nationals finance spokesman, denounced the recent increase to the minimum wagea meagre $1.20 extra an hourand said the National Party would reduce regulation of businesses. While feigning sympathy for people losing their jobs, National agrees with the Labour-led governments main response to the pandemic: billions of dollars in subsidies primarily for big business. None of the established parties has proposed anything to stop hundreds of thousands of layoffs and the destruction of living standards on a scale unseen since the Great Depression. The next government, whoever leads it, will continue the massive transfer of wealth to the rich, while ramping up the exploitation of the working class. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. With the airline losing one million euros per hour Lufthansa urgently needs a rescue Berlin will climb aboard airline giant Lufthansa as its largest shareholder in a nine-billion-euro ($9.8 billion) rescue if investors and competition authorities agree, as the coronavirus-stricken carrier faces an arduous years-long recovery from the pandemic. Following the broad strokes of a scheme dangled last week, the economy ministry and Lufthansa said Monday the German government would offer a three-billion-euro loan and 5.7 billion of "silent" capital, as well as buying 20 percent of the company for 300 million euros. If Lufthansa faces a hostile takeover, "the economic stabilisation fund (WSF) may also increase its stake to 25 percent plus one share," the company said, which would offer Berlin a blocking minority. The final deal reflects concerns within the group and among conservative members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government about excessive, enduring government influence over the former flag carrier. Berlin "is not bringing state influence into Lufthansa's operational areas, quite the opposite. Lufthansa is a successful company and should be led by businesspeople in future as well," Economy Minister Peter Altmaier told reporters in Berlin. Lufthansa will commit to repay the state's "silent" capital injection, plus interest, in exchange for the WSF selling its stake on the market by December 31 2023. If Lufthansa fails to pay interest on the state's capital, Berlin would also be entitled to claim five percent of its shares. Brussels showdown The economy ministry said the deal included "far-reaching limits on pay for board members at the parent company and subsidiaries as well as for management", while Lufthansa spoke of a possible "waiver of future dividend payments". The group had already suspended its dividend payout for 2019, saying that it needed cash on hand to weather the coronavirus storm. And the state will also claim two seats on the supervisory board. Required approvals from Lufthansa's executive and supervisory boards are widely seen as a formality. That leaves sign-offs from shareholderswho must agree to any plan that would dilute their investmentsand competition regulator the European Commission as the two final hurdles for the rescue. German business daily Handelsblatt reported Monday that Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to resist potential tough conditions from Brussels, which could include Lufthansa giving up prized landing slots at its bases in Munich and Frankfurt. Talks are "ongoing", Altmaier said, adding that it is "essential for Lufthansa to continue its successful work at the same scale in Germany... that's what we would like to achieve in Brussels in the coming days." In a statement, service workers' union Verdi urged the Commission not to impose conditions that "endanger not only Lufthansa's competitiveness, but also the 140,00 employees' jobs". Alongside Germany, Lufthansa's subsidiaries Swiss and Brussels and Austrian Airlines have turned to their respective national capitals for aid. The group headed into May with around four billion euros of liquidity on hand, but chief executive Carsten Spohr said it was haemorrhaging around one million per hour as 90 percent of its fleet has been grounded. In the first quarter alonewhen the full impact of the pandemic was yet to be feltthe group reported an operating loss of 1.2 billion euros, forecasting an even bleaker result in April-June. No clear skies ahead With an effective vaccine and any prospect of snuffing out the pandemic still many monthsor even yearsoff, the airline industry faces a long, slow recovery filled with potential pitfalls. International Air Transport Association (IATA) chief Alexandre de Juniac told AFP last week that the industry faces the loss of around $314 billion in revenues in 2020 alone, expecting air traffic to remain below pre-crisis levels until 2023. Lufthansa boss Spohr has warned that the company likely now has 100 planes too many as a result, putting around 10,000 jobs in danger. A far-reaching restructuring remains on the cards even after Lufthansa at the weekend confirmed reports that it plans to double its active fleet to around 160 aircraft in the coming weeks, adding some of Germans' favourite Mediterranean holiday destinations back onto its much-reduced flight plan. The majority of its roughly 760 planes will remain grounded as coronavirus restrictions are lifted only gradually. Explore further Lufthansa confirms in talks with Berlin on $10 bn rescue 2020 AFP Three Republican groups filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Alex Padilla over an executive order to send mail-in ballots to all registered voters in California in November, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Newsom issued this months order, requiring county elections officials to mail a ballot to everyone registered to vote for the upcoming general election, saying it would keep California residents from crowding polling places. The lawsuit, brought by the Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee and California Republican Party, seeks to bar the state from implementing the order, describing it as a brazen power grab that would violate eligible citizens right to vote. Democrats continue to use this pandemic as a ploy to implement their partisan election agenda, and Governor Newsoms executive order is the latest direct assault on the integrity of our elections, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. Newsoms illegal power grab is a recipe for disaster that would destroy the confidence Californians deserve to have in the security of their vote. Jesse Melgar, Newsoms press secretary, said in a statement that Voters shouldnt have to choose between their health and their right to vote. Padilla said in a statement that expanding vote-by-mail during the pandemic is a moral imperative. ... This lawsuit is just another part of Trumps political smear campaign against voting by mail.. The lawsuit alleges Newsoms order, by automatically mailing ballots to inactive voters such as people who have died or have invalid registration, invites fraud, coercion, theft and otherwise illegitimate voting. 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. Using this pandemic in a unilateral power grab to change our election laws with an executive order will further put the integrity of our elections into question, state GOP chairwoman Jessica Patterson said in a statement. In announcing the order, Newsom said the state would also work to ensure that safe options are available for people who want to vote in person. Matt Kawahara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara Mumbai, May 25 : Amid the ongoing row between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre and the Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi government over the issue of migrants' trains and the Covid-19 pandemic, hectic politicking started in the state on Monday, sparking off speculation. Tongues started wagging as Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar went to meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan, in what was described by both sides as a "courtesy call". Accompanied by NCP MP Praful Patel, this was Pawar's first-ever meeting with the Governor who was appointed in September 2019, crowning a series of recent political developments in the state. Later in the afternoon, it was the turn of BJP leader and former Chief Minister Narayan Rane to meet the Governor and reportedly demand imposing President's rule in the state. Among various things, Rane has claimed the government headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had failed to handle the Covid-19 pandemic crisis in the state. Rane's demand came days after Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis called on Koshyari and complained that the Thackeray government had bungled in handling the coronavirus situation. The Governor followed it up by a review meeting of the crisis in which Thackeray excused himself but sent his close confidante Milind Narvekar. A couple of days later, Koshyari raised strong objections to a letter written by Minister of Higher and Technical Education Uday Samant to the UGC recommending cancellation of final year university examinations, which the Governor pointed out was against the guidelines. This was followed by Sena MP Sanjay Raut calling on the Governor, and a day later, Thackeray announced that the lockdown implemented suddenly was not proper, and lifting it abruptly would be detrimental to the people. Then, Thackeray had ommented on Sunday that though the state wanted 80 trains daily to send migrants home, the Railway Ministry was giving around 30-40. Ostensibly taking umbrage at this, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday night gave a one-hour deadline to Thackeray to provide the list of all the migrants intending to travel and he would provide 125 trains for them. This sparked off a huge verbal brawl between the BJP and the MVA allies Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress. The state also witnessed another fracas with the Civil Aviation Ministry over its reluctance to permit domestic flights, but later relented and allowed 25 incoming and 25 outgoing services, from Monday. Top political sources in the MVA late Monday night said despite the goings-on, there was no threat to the state government which was stable. One Sage & Apple Gin launches in Tesco Following a debut with Craft Gin Club last spring and increasing on-trade interest, this month sees One Gins new Sage & Apple expression launch into grocery retail with a national listing in Tesco. Originally a spin-off of ethical bottled water brand One Water, One Gin donates 10% of its profit to fund life-changing water projects in the worlds poorest communities. In doing this, the brand aims to work towards a world in which everyone has access to clean, safe water. The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the problem (or lack) of universal water access; over 785 million people do not have access to clean water, and are now forced to endure the ongoing pandemic without that basic right. IWSC Gold award-winning One Gin launched One Sage & Apple Gin last spring, which went on to win awards and debut successfully through Craft Gin Club, the UKs largest gin subscription club. Ian Spooner, Co-Founder at One Gin said: From a flying start thanks to Craft Gin Club, this last year has demonstrated a huge appetite for our orchard fresh twist on One Gin. It is a wonderfully crisp, fragrant spirit and a perfect balance of juniper, crisp russet apple and fresh English sage. It responds to the trend towards fruitier gins, but maintains a unique freshness. We are hugely grateful to Tesco for helping us to share this with a wider audience and further support our cause of delivering safe, clean water to the worlds poorest communities. One Sage & Apple Gin goes sale in Tesco with an RSP of 38. One Gin donates a minimum of 10% of their profit to The One Foundation (UK Registered Charity No.1118810), to help fund water utility infrastructures in poor communities. So far, the One brand has raised over 20m for life-changing water projects. And, once youve got your hands on a bottle of One Gin Sage & Apple, why not try mixing up a cocktail or two? Heres one to get you started: Marmalade Cocktail A delightfully tangy cocktail that's perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch. Ingredients - 50ml One Sage & Apple Gin - 25ml Lemon juice - 1 heaped teaspoon of orange marmalade - A twist of orange, to garnish Method Add all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with fresh ice and shake well. Double strain into a Martini or Coupette glass and garnish with the orange twist. 25 May 2020 - "The Government definitely intends, if it is granted the additional powers sought, to promote employment in post-war reconstruction schemes to such an extent that work will be available for many thousands besides those workers who can be supplied from the ranks of our own demobilised Servicemen and women and other war workers. "In the light of investigations which will be made from time to time as to opportunities for absorption and accommodation of new settlers without detriment to our own people, migration of suitable types will be encouraged as soon as transport becomes available. Particular attention will be given to the question of facilitating the settlement of British and other Allied Service men and women who seek to be demobilised here, and who measure up to our standards. "With regard to housing, it is expected that, when the time arrives for resuming British assisted migration, many will be nominated by relatives or friends in Australia who will be prepared to provide their nominees with accommodation until they can establish themselves. It will be possible to give preference to applications of this kind while the housing shortage is being overtaken. "Mr. Chifley meets migrant family - Isidore Garten, his wife and two children - at Australia House migration centre. April 27, 1949." INFUSION OF YOUTH Workers assemble vehicles primarily for the domestic market at a factory operated by Daimler-BAIC Motor's joint venture, Beijing Benz Automotive (BBAC). Evelyn Cheng | CNBC BEIJING For many businesses, adjusting supply chains in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic means expanding from China, not necessarily leaving, some analysts say. Since the disease Covid-19 first emerged late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan, lockdowns on business activity that began in the world's second-largest economy have have highlighted just how significant a role China plays in the production of global goods ranging from children's toys to pharmaceutical drugs. "It's been a wake-up call for pretty much every company, Gerry Mattios, expert vice president at Bain, said in a phone interview last week. "The number one item on the agenda is, 'how do I build resilience in my supply chain?'" A key component of that strategy is building flexibility the ability to switch quickly from different production sources in response to future challenges, Mattios said. "We're not going to see China drying up on manufacturing all of a sudden, he said. "A big (portion) of the exporting manufacturing capacity that China had could potentially be shifting out of China, but a lot of the capacity for internal consumption in China will stay in China." The Asian nation accounts for 35% of global manufacturing output, McKinsey Global Institute pointed out in a report last summer. The country has also become the largest market in the world for many products such as automobiles, luxury goods and mobile phones, accounting for roughly 30% or more of their consumption worldwide, the McKinsey report added. Ultimately where we're heading to is more fragmented manufacturing many small factories of the world. Gerry Mattios expert vice president at Bain Covid-19 has infected more than 5.4 million people and killed at least 345,000 people, including more than 4,600 in China. The pandemic disrupted the global flow of goods, which in some industries was already shifting in light of U.S.-China trade tensions and cheaper labor costs in countries outside China. In an effort to control the virus, more than half of China extended the Lunar New Year holiday by at least a week. Those regions accounted for 90% of the country's exports, according to CNBC calculations of data accessed through Wind Information. From a business perspective, building resilient supply chains in the wake of the coronavirus also means recognizing that a pandemic could happen anywhere, said How Jit Lim, a managing director with consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal. Lim is based in Shanghai and focuses on supply chain management. He pointed out that a decision to move production requires long-term planning and commitment, and is not something that can happen overnight, especially as businesses try to conserve costs as they struggle in an economic downturn. "China is still a very attractive total supply chain solution," Lim said. "There are very few countries in the world where you can find almost everything you need to build something ... The labor force maturity and the talent pool around is still very attractive in China." Still, a key factor that could affect supply chains is politics, Lim said, noting such changes do not necessarily result in greater business efficiency. Political drivers on all sides Just as some countries are pressuring companies to leave China and return to their home countries, Beijing is building its case for why companies should stay. In press conferences this month, Chinese officials have emphasized the attractiveness of their market to businesses. China's economy contracted 6.8% in the first three months of the year, with exports plunging 11.4% in yuan terms. The secondary, or manufacturing, sector accounted for 27.6% of jobs in 2018, at more than 214 million, according to official data. Authorities did not share a growth target for the year at a highly anticipated annual parliamentary meeting on Friday. A day earlier, spokesperson for the congress, Zhang Yesui, said that foreign businesses have not been leaving the country in a major way, and that the U.S. and China should work together for open supply chains and global growth. In April, exports unexpectedly rebounded more than 8% in yuan terms as reopened factories rushed to fulfill orders, particularly for medical supplies. Cross-border financial payments platform Payoneer, which works with e-commerce sellers, saw an "explosion" in business activity in March that has trickled into May, according to James Huang, Payoneer vice president and country manager for Greater China. Huang expects shifts in consumer behavior will drive more online purchases. He said he's still cautious in the short-term, but quite confident about growth for the medium term. Challenges for growth ahead A 31-year-old Maryland man was shot and killed in Vineland early Sunday, authorities said. Travis Douglas, of Randallstown, was found shot multiple times at the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and Northwest Boulevard around 3 a.m., the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office said. Douglas was taken to Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, where he was pronounced dead. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Mike Fransko of the Vineland Police Department at 856-691-4111 ext. 4139 or Det. Ryan Breslin of the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office at 856-207-2738. Anonymous tips can be texted to 847411 with CCPOTIP and your tip in the message line, or by going to the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office Facebook page or webpage (njccpo.org). Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. This illustration made available by SpaceX depicts the company's Crew Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket during the uncrewed In-Flight Abort Test for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. (SpaceX via AP) NASAs Capsule Launch Goes Back to the Future CAPE CANAVERALIts back to the future as NASA astronauts launch again from the United Statesaboard a retro-style Right Stuff capsule. Make no mistake: This is not your fathersor grandfatherscapsule. SpaceXs Dragon crew capsule outshines NASAs old Apollo spacecraft in virtually every way. The Dragons clean lines and minimalist interior, with touchscreens instead of a mess of switches and knobs, make even the space shuttles seem yesteryear. This fresh take on a vintage look will be on full display Wednesday when SpaceX plans to launch NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Stationa first for a private company. It will be the first astronaut launch from Florida since Atlantis closed out the space shuttle program in 2011, and the first American-made capsule to carry people into orbit since the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975. SpaceX astronauts Doug Hurley, foreground, and Bob Behnken work in SpaceXs flight simulator at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on March 19, 2020. (SpaceX via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocketwith the crew capsule atopwill soar from the same pad used for both of those earlier missions. Russias workhorse Soyuz capsules, still in use after a half-century plus, have kept NASA astronauts flying to the space station. While reliable, the Soyuz looks dated compared with the snappy Dragon. We want it to not only be as safe and reliable as youd expect from the most advanced spacecraft in the world we also want it to look amazing and look beautiful, said Benji Reed, a SpaceX mission director. SpaceX and Boeing, NASAs other commercial crew provider, opted for capsules from the start. Another early competitor, Sierra Nevada Corp., proposed a small space plane for astronauts, but did not make the final cut. NASA has since hired the company to haul space station supplies aboard its mini shuttle starting as soon as next year. There was no need for another flying machine like the shuttle, which was built to haul hefty satellites and space station parts, said retired NASA manager Steve Payne. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the companys Crew Dragon spacecraft is rolled out of the horizontal integration facility at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Demo-2 mission at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on May 21, 2020. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) What were trying to do now is just taxi service up and down, and you dont need the huge semi anymore. You can use a sedan, Payne told The Associated Press. Yes, wings are nice. They give you more options as to where to land and a little more control, said Payne, a former Navy fighter pilot. But theyre not absolutely necessary. And since were trying to make this inexpensive and reusable and as simple as we can make it so that its cost effective, capsules work. SpaceX based its crew capsule on its long-running reusable cargo capsule, also named Dragon and ending space station missions with old-fashioned splashdowns. The two astronauts were deeply involved in the new capsules development over the past five years. In true test flight fashion, they offered suggestions and tweaked here and there, to benefit not just themselves but future crews. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (R) with Doug Hurley talk to the media in front of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, about the progress to fly astronauts to and from the International Space Station, from American soil, as part of the agencys commercial crew program at SpaceX headquarters, in Hawthorne, Calif., on Oct. 10, 2019. (Alex Gallardo/AP Photo) Our goal through this entire process is to not turn the spacecraft into Bob and Dougs excellent machine, with a bunch of things that only Doug likes or only Bob likes, Behnken said. Although the full automated Dragon has four seats lined up in a row, only the center two will be occupied for this especially risky test flight. A test dummy soloed on last years Dragon crew capsule debut. This Dragon now has a name, courtesy of its crew. Hurley and Behnken promise to reveal it on launch day, one of many traditions theyre setting into motion as NASAs commercial crew program finally takes wing. The practice hearkens back to NASAs early days: Project Mercurys John Glenn became the first American to circle the Earth aboard Friendship 7; Gemini 3s Gus Grissom and John Young sailed into orbit aboard Molly Brown; and Apollo 11s Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins flew to the moon aboard Columbia. We have to save some suspense for the mission itself, Behnken said. Weve got something for you to look forward to on launch day. By Marcia Dunn Ever since our uso Nate left earlier this year, our comment sections have been filled with the question "Where's Nate?" And now, on his brand new podcast "Run It Straight with Nate Nauer," Nate catched up with Nickson and Jordan to answer that question. 16 years in radio together means that there is a lifetime of yarns to reminisce on and pick apart, which is exaclty what the boys do. They touch on everything from starting together, to Jordan's past beef with Nickson and Nate, to the future of radio in Aotearoa, and the role that we as a station have to undertake for our people. In classic Nate fashion, he makes sure to put both Jordan and Nickson in the hotseat with some difficult questions, like when he grills Jordan on his past as a Cleo Bachelor of the year candidate, but ultimately the boys just had a good catch up. Much love to our brothers Nickson, Jordan and Nate, for putting on an epic first show. Make sure to catch the full video up top, and make sure to subscribe to our uso Nate's brand new podcast 'Run It Straight' right HERE. Rejected by several hospitals, 73-yr-old woman recovers from covid-19 in Mumbai 73-year-old woman from Mumbai returned home after recovering from covid-19. Dr Nehal Khan, Director, DNA Multispecialty Hospital, informed that the woman was rejected by several hospitals. He said, When she came to us, her oxygen level was below 70%. The woman has recovered and is in home quarantine. Khan also said that age is a factor but comorbidities determine the rate of recovery. Watch the full video for more. ...read more Facebook User Who Tried To Steal A Van Forgets Phone At Crime Scene A would-be car thief had a very bad day on Monday when they were caught in the act trying to steal a van and managed to leave their phone and ID behind as they made their escape. The failed felons phone was still logged into Facebook, and one playful friend of the victim decided to have some fun with the hapless villain. It might have been a bad day for the van robber, but the following day turned out to be a pretty hilarious day for everyone else. The Manchester Evening News explains how the owner of the van tagged the alleged thief in a Facebook post, saying: Here is Newton Heaths finest mastermind. Attempted to nick my mates van tonight. They went on: First major fault was being seen, second was leaving all, yes all, of his details behind. Phone, driving license (sic). No words but wow what a thick p***k. If anyone knows this guy please get in touch, he will need his phone back. They then went on to exact an even crueller revenge by posting on the alleged thiefs Facebook account itself. Posing as the miscreant, he wrote a status saying: Bet Im wondering were(sic) my phone is right now? He then wrote another status saying: Fb wont(sic) let me add anyone think hes(sic) useing(sic) his smackhead powers to try and stop me.The victim also updated the work and info status of the alleged thief on Facebook to self-employed, dosser and works for Entrepreneur. One person wrote: Best thing on Fb today knew it would go viral. If u(sic) aint seen it go to his profile. Another social media user wrote: Its literally been the highlight of Tuesday. If you havent been following the story check the profile, its been emotional to say the least. Another wrote: Imagine robbing a car but leaving your drivers licence and phone with Facebook logged in inside the car. S***est burglar on earth. Absolute comedy gold. A spokesman for GMP told the MEN that the incident does not appear to have been reported to them. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Cement exports from Turkey to Kyrgyzstan dropped by 34.5 percent in the first 4 months 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, amounting to $161,000, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on May 18. In April 2020, exports from Turkey to Kyrgyzstan plunged by 71.6 percent compared to April 2019 and amounted to $16,700. Turkeys export of cement to international markets from January through April 2020 made up over $1.1 billion, which equals to the indicator in the same period of 2019. The cement export from Turkey amounted to 2.2 percent of the countrys total export from Jan. through Apr. 2020. "Turkeys export of cement to international markets amounted to $231.7 million in April 2020, which is 25.5 percent less compared to the same month of 2019," the ministry said. In April of this year, Turkeys export of cement to international markets amounted to 2.6 percent of the countrys total export. "During the last twelve months (from April 2019 through April 2020), Turkey exported cement worth $3.5 billion," " said the ministry. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Fianna Fail TD for Longford, Joe Flaherty, has written to Longford County Council urging them to work with their Community Development section to bid for a new centre for climate change in the midlands to be located in Lanesboro. Deputy Flaherty made the call as the Just Transition Commissioner Kieran Mulvey recommended a new centre for climate change to serve as live memory for ESB and Bord na Mona workers in the midlands. Also read: Just Transition report demonstrates Fine Gaels commitment to securing livelihoods in Longford - Carrigy Deputy Flaherty explained, The Community Development section of Longford County Council is always working towards establishing and developing social and cultural experiences in Longford. This is a great opportunity to develop a major tourism attraction in the community and bring people from all over Ireland to the county. Among other shortfalls we need innovative proposals like this to help plug the loss of 600,000 in annual rates which Longford County Council collected from the Lanesboro site Bord na Mona has been a feature in Lanesboro since the early 1950s, it made Lanesboro a viable economic town. Employees, permanent and seasonal, spent their money locally in the shops, pubs, butchers, etc. This kind of microcosm is almost impossible to replicate so we need forward thinking ideas like this, he concluded. Also read: Important that Lanesboro and Longford identifies projects that will support Just Transition Meanwhile, Senator Eugene Murphy says Lanesboro holds the key to huge tourism potential for the region. Senator Murphy commented, "The document produced by Kieran Mulvey which was published last week is seeking to put a plan in place to replace the jobs lost with the demise of both ESB and Bord na Mona. An 11m fund announced by Minister for Climate Change Richard Bruton for suggested projects must be applied for before June 12. The timespan is short, but I would hope that we can all work together to bring forward proposals that would be viable and most of all lead to job creation, said Senator Murphy. The Fianna Fail Senator said that he believed Lanesboro should come forward with a proposal to seek funding for a feasibility study to establish a National Museum in the midlands region. The story of the ESB and Bord na Mona is intrinsic to the history and culture of the midlands region. I have stated this on numerous occasions over many years. This idea is workable in my view and could bring at least 50,000 visitors annually to the region and could be linked into other tourism related attractions such as hill walking on Sliabh Ban or boat trips on the River Shannon. I am conscious of the fact that huge job losses have also been suffered as a result of the closure of the Shannonbridge power plant and the huge fall out in the wider Ballinasloe area and I hope that this plan will also recognise the need to also take the situation of these workers into account. At least we now have an opportunity to work on such projects with the publication of the First Report on Just Transition, said Senator Murphy. Senator Murphy also pointed out that the retraining programme for Bord na Mona workers needs to get underway as quickly as possible. Retraining of former Bord na Mona workers is vital and this needs to happen quickly. I hope we would have clarification on that issue in the programme for Government. We went from a 10 year just transition phase to only 12 months and now possibly an even shorter time frame, so time is really of the essence. Indeed, this is a point which I have raised with the Fianna Fail negotiating team in the discussions for a formation of Government as it is vital for the future of the midlands region, concluded Senator Murphy. Also read: First call for proposals under the 11m Just Transition Fund Crude oil prices continue to inch up but were still under $35 a barrel last week and continue to take a toll on drilling activity in Texas. Some 24 companies filed for 54 drilling permits with the Texas Railroad Commission from May 13 to 19, marking the the lowest number of filings in a single week this year. Oil majors such as Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell have cut back on activity but continue to file for permits. But five companies that were once some of the most active drillers in the state stopped filing for permits. Houston oil company Sanchez Energy was once the third-most-active driller in the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas. Still wrapped up in bankruptcy proceedings, the company has not filed for a new drilling permit since Jan. 29. Murphy Oil was the sixth-most-active driller in the Eagle Ford last year but has not filed for a new permit in Texas since March 11. Citing an industry downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the company is moving its headquarters from Arkansas to Houston. Chinese-owned Surge Energy broke oil industry records last year with the longest lateral for a horizontal well at a site in the Permian Basin of West Texas but has not filed for a new drilling permit since March 18. More Information Top 10 drillers in Texas (May 13 through 19) Diamondback Energy 9 ConocoPhillips 5 Shell 4 Laredo Petroleum 4 PDC Energy 3 Pioneer Natural Resources 3 Oasis Petroleum 2 Flat Creek Resources 2 Ovintiv 2 WPX Energy 2 Source: Railroad Commission of Texas See More Collapse Austin oil company Parsley Energy, the Permian driller that led an unsuccessful movement seeking statewide production cuts, hasnt filed for a new drilling permit since April 1. Houston oil company Apache Corp., which has laid off more than 350 people this year and cut its budget by more than $600 million, hasnt filed for new permits since April 11. Drilling Down: Fort Worth oil company chooses downturn for first projects Permian Basin Midland oil company Diamondback Energy plans to drill nine new horizontal wells. Seven of them target the Spraberry field in Martin and Howard counties, while two target the Wolfcamp geological layer in Pecos County. Eagle Ford Shale Houston oil giant ConocoPhillips is taking a break from hydraulic fracturing but continues to drill new wells. The company plans to drill five horizontal wells targeting the Eagle Ford geological layer in DeWitt County. Fuel Fix: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox Haynesville Shale Oil company EnSight IV Energy Partners of Shreveport, La., plans to drill a natural gas well in East Texas. The company is seeking permission to drill a new horizontal well targeting the Haynesville geological layer in Harrison County. Barnett Shale There were no drilling permits filed in the Barnett Shale of North Texas. Mexican oil company PetroBal had emerged as one of the most active drillers in the region. The company has not filed for a new permit since Aug. 12. More: Read the latest oil and gas news from HoustonChronicle.com Conventionals Wichita Falls exploration and production company S&G Oil plans to drill a vertical well on its Parrish lease in Wichita County. The well targets the Wichita County Regular field down to a vertical depth of 2,000 feet. FBI Joins Hunt for University of Connecticut Senior Suspected in 2 Murders The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it has joined the manhunt for a 23-year-old University of Connecticut senior suspected in two slayings, while state police took to Twitter to dispel the rumor that he had been captured. In a tweet, the agency wrote, The FBI & our law enforcement partners are working to locate Peter Manfredonia, wanted by @CT_STATE_POLICE, whose last known location was in #EastStroudsburg, Monroe County. Manfredonia is considered armed & dangerous. Separately, the Connecticut State Police (CSP) said that Manfredonia was not caught in New Jersey, as some media had apparently misreported, but that the manhunt continued, involving state police and its law enforcement partners. Please call 911, do NOT approach, he is ARMED AND DANGEROUS, CSP said in the tweet. Manfredonia is a suspect in a deadly assault in Willington on Friday and a homicide in Derby, Connecticut, on Sunday morning. Authorities believe him to be armed with several weapons stolen during a home invasion. Police said that Manfredonia left Derby in a vehicle that was later recovered in New Jersey on the Pennsylvania border. He was last seen in East Stroudsburg, wearing a gray shirt and gray pants. Pennsylvania State Police released a picture of Manfredonia walking on train tracks in the area on Sunday. UPDATE SUSPECT was last seen yesterday (Sunday) afternoon in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, PA. Description: White Male, 23 years old, dark colored shorts, white t-shirt & carrying a large duffel bag. If seen, DO NOT APPROACH, ARMED & DANGEROUS CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY! pic.twitter.com/uuj3vTYBIB Trooper Petroski (@PSPTroopNPIO) May 25, 2020 Manfredonia is a suspect in the slaying of 62-year-old Ted DeMers, whose wife told the Hartford Courant that her husband and another man who suffered an assault were attacked after they found Manfredonia walking along a road and offered him a ride back to his motorcycle. It could have been anybody who offered him a ride, she said. It could have been any of my neighbors husbands. It just happened to be mine. The Newtown Police Department, in a post on social media, warned residents to be on the alert. The suspect has very strong ties to Newtown and with the recent sightings of Peter in Derby in the Route 34 area, we want our residents and those around to be aware of this very dangerous individual, the police said. Manfredonia has been described as a 63 white male, with disheveled, black hair, brown eyes, and weighing around 240 pounds. Founder and leader of the Lighthouse Chapel, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, says women who grow past a certain age with their virginity intact are ugly women. Heward-Mills made the very controversial statement in a sermon to his church, a video of which weve sighted online. Heward-Mills said during his sermon: You ladies who are virgins its because you were not beautiful when you were at a certain age. When some members of the congregation started calling out, he said no one should get angry at him or shout at him when he is preaching the word of God. As to which part of the Bible that assumption came from, the Bishop failed to supply it. VIDEO Bishop Dag Heward Mills dropping some serious bars as to why some ladies are fortunate to be virgins. pic.twitter.com/CWHEi4FrQH Alfred Torsu (@alfred_torsu) May 22, 2020 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The youth programmes are designed to help move young people away from crime (Brian Lawless/PA) The majority of young people participating in Garda diversion projects are being compliant with Covid-19 restrictions, research has found. The study found that the cohort of young people tended to be compliant in keeping within the 2km distance, but less so in maintaining social distance and not gathering in groups. The majority reported that a small minority of young people were non-compliant with the Covid-19 public health measures, such as meeting friends in groups. The report does find that a small number of young people were involved in more serious breaches, and these tended to be associated with alcohol or drug misuse. The majority of young people who are linked in with a Garda Youth Diversion Project appeared to be complying with Government restrictions regarding social distancing and travel Dr Sean Redmond, University of Limericks School of Law The study was undertaken by the Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice (REPPP) project, based at the School of Law, University of Limerick. The report is the first in a series looking at how young people participating in the Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDP) throughout Ireland are responding to the Covid-19 public health measures. Surveys were conducted with youth justice workers in Garda Youth Diversion Projects in the context of the Governments Covid-19 public health measures introduced on March 12. The youth programmes are designed to help move young people away from crime. The survey also found that non-compliance by adult family members and communities had a negative influence on some young peoples compliance with Covid-19 public health measures. Dr Sean Redmond, principal investigator at the universitys School of Law, said: The majority of young people who are linked in with a Garda Youth Diversion Project appeared to be complying with Government restrictions regarding social distancing and travel. A minority of young people were not complying, continuing to meet with their friends. Some are reported to have been involved in offending and anti-social behaviour, but overall this activity appears to be reduced since Covid-19. This group of young people represents a very small proportion of the youth population in Ireland, possibly 1/1,000. However, it is an interesting group because they are young people who have been detected for committing crime and referred to a Garda Youth Diversion Project. Almost all projects responded to the survey, so the patterns are very compelling Dr Catherine Naughton, research psychologist The study also looked at lifestyle changes for the youths in the Garda diversion projects and found that a lack of routine and structure had a considerable impact on this cohort of young peoples sleep patterns. Several justice workers reported that young people were connecting with other young people during the night through online gaming and social media for those with access to technology and sleeping during the day. Several of the justice workers expressed concern for young peoples mental health. While there were reports that the young peoples additional caring duties for both younger siblings and grandparents were contributing to strengthening family relationships, there were also concerns raised about increased conflict within some families. Dr Catherine Naughton, research psychologist on the programme, said: We have surveyed 105 Garda Youth Diversion Projects in communities across Ireland. Almost all projects responded to the survey, so the patterns are very compelling. Minister of State with responsibility for Youth Justice David Stanton said he was proud that Irelands young people were involved in a range of activities. A 45-year-old mother from Miami, Florida was arrested by authorities after it was discovered that she was the one who killed her 9-year-old nonverbal and autistic son. Shifting the blame The suspect, Patricia Ripley, initially told the police that her 9-year-old son, Alejandro Ripley, was kidnapped by two black men in Florida, as the said men side-swiped her car while she was driving with her son on May 21, at around 9 p.m. Ripley said that the men demanded drugs and kidnapped her son, who has autism and is nonverbal. However, after witness statements contradicted her story and after video footage surfaced that she was lying, Ripley later admitted in an interrogation that it was her who killed her son. According to the Miami-Dade County Police's affidavit, she stated that her son is going to be in a better place. Ripley was immediately arrested and was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree premeditated attempted murder, as stated in the affidavit. Defense attorney Nelson Rodriguez Varela said in a statement that the contents of the arrest affidavit of Ripley are just allegations and that there is no proof that she's guilty of murder, and any conclusion about the child's murder is premature. Also Read: Woman Tries to Claim Her Husband's Corpse She Kept Frozen for a Year Atty. Varela added that Ripley is a good woman and a good mother who always looked after the best interest of Alejandro. She added that it is not the time to rush judgment in the matter since the case is in its preliminary stage. She also said that Ripley is innocent as any person who is charged with a crime until she is proven guilty. Video Evidence In the affidavit, Ripley told the police that the driver of the car had a knife and that he got out of the vehicle and demanded drugs from her. When she couldn't give them any, the man opened the door of her car and took her cellphone and table, and they abducted the child. Alejandro's body was found just hours after the kidnapping was reported, and he was still wearing a Captain America T-shirt, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez Rundle. When Ripley was taken to the missing person's office, she began giving conflicting statements about the events, the authorities said. Ripley was immediately taken to the homicide bureau where she was read her Miranda rights. The police said in the affidavit that the statements of the suspect contradicted the statements of the witnesses and video footage that surfaced shows the suspect pushing the child into a canal around 7:30 p.m on May 21. The residents that live nearby head screaming and the found the child in the canal and rescued him. The police showed the video footage that they retrieved from the area and when the suspect was confronted, she recanted her first story, including the part where she was robbed. An hour later, Ripley took her son to a different canal and it was where the boy drowned. Ripley was arrested and booked in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on May 23, according to the Miami-Dade County Corrections records. Related Article: Son Used 3 Knives to Brutally Stab 72-Year-Old Father to Death During Zoom Call @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New Delhi, May 25 : The ASHA workers as their name suggests, are living up to it and serving women and infants in the country amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. During this time of disruption in primary health care and OPD services in hospitals due to COVID-19, the ANM and ASHA workers are ensuring continued care to maternal and new-born health in rural areas. They are also spreading awareness among pregnant and lactating mothers regarding use of masks, social distancing and maintaining hygiene etc. The Accredited social health activists and Auxiliary nurse midwife, popularly known as ASHA and ANM workers, they ensure timely registration of pregnant women and facilitate ante and post-natal care. In case of complications in pregnancy, they also facilitate their transportation to nearest health centres. The influx of migrant workers from different parts of the country has however increased the quantum of their work. Speaking to IANS, one of the ANM workers Rani Devi of Sikrodhi Village, in Uttar Pradesh, said, "We are not only working with the pregnant women in our area to ensure safe delivery and proper care but are also gathering information on the arriving migrants. We are facing a lot of challenges in our work these days. Particularly in the case of monitoring of arriving migrants and gathering information on their health and well-being, we have to be very vigilant and cautious. Many people are not very co-operative but we are doing our duty." Another ANM worker Sulekha from Azamgarh, UP, told IANS, "Before the lockdown, we used to conduct four Ante-natal Care (ANC) tests and blood tests. Earlier, it used to be easier but now due to the social distancing measures, we are facing constraints in proper care. However, this has not stopped us from doing our duty. We advise people to use gloves, masks and face covers when they visit the health workers and that if they have any symptoms like fever, cough, flu or breathing problem, then they should immediately inform at the COVID help line numbers. I have given my personal contact number too for emergency. The biggest challenge before us is transport and excessive police checking in the lockdown." As the routine immunisation programme resumed on May 5 in Uttar Pradesh, which was halted due to the lockdown, these workers are now doing it among pregnant women and infants with proper social distancing measures and following health protocols. The vaccination however is not happening in containment zones to avoid the spread of coronavirus. To meet the challenge and avoid mass gathering, the ASHA workers are dealing with five people at a time. An ASHA worker Ranjita, from Farrukhabad told IANS that the lockdown has affected her work to a large extent and she is currently facing many challenges. "We are facing a number of challenges due to the lockdown. People are worried about availability of routine hospital check-up for pregnant women and institutional delivery. Due to the lockdown, there was a disruption in immunization services and health checkups. Therefore we have been reaching out to pregnant and lactating mothers to inform them on precautions like masks and maintaining hygiene etc." These workers go door to door and are preparing lists of pregnant women with symptoms of cough, fever and difficulty in breathing and submitting it to the CMO of their respective districts. An Asha worker Sheela Yadav told IANS "to ensure minimal disruption of health services during lockdown, the government has allowed Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND), door-to-door checkup and follow-ups etc. We are ensuring that proper health services are delivered to beneficiaries. We have 11 pregnant and 7 lactating mothers in our area and we are regularly in touch with them for guidance on health issues and regular checkups." Apart from ensuring maternal care, the ASHA workers have also been raising awareness on Covid-19 in unique ways. Sunaina Devi, a corona warrior, and ASHA worker of Ward 9 in Motipur block in Bihar, found a new way in spreading awareness on Covid-19 and brain fever in her neighbourhood. With a smile on her face and a song on her lips, Sunaina is creating awareness about these diseases and people are listening too. She has created her own lyrics to educate people about the deadly diseases and the caution to be taken. Sunaina says that she leaves home at 6 a.m. and starts singing in front of a few houses. People, including children, enjoy her songs and lyrics. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:14:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Domestic flights resumed in India on Monday after two months since a countrywide lockdown was imposed on March 25, announced the country's Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri through a tweet. "Today, we restart domestic flights. India's civil aviation is always on the forefront," tweeted Puri. Flights resumed taking off and landing in all Indian states except southern state of Andhra Pradesh and eastern state of West Bengal where they will operate from Tuesday. Passengers were seen queuing up in front of airports maintaining social distancing at major airports across the country, even as a large number of flights were inexplicably cancelled. The airlines were allowed to operate one-third of their capacity. Minimum and maximum limits of fares on all flight routes have been fixed and it has also been decided to sell 40 percent of tickets below the mid-point of minimum and maximum prices. Meanwhile, the total COVID-19 cases reached 138,845 and the total deaths stood at 4,021 in the country on Monday. The highest one-day spike of 6,977 new cases was recorded since Sunday, showed the data released by the federal health ministry. Enditem Hedging is a popular trading strategy frequently used by oil and gas producers, airlines, and other heavy consumers of energy commodities to protect themselves against market fluctuations. During times of falling crude prices, oil producers normally use a short hedge to lock in oil prices if they believe prices are likely to go even lower in the future. However, hedging is far from being a silver bullet that is guaranteed to protect oil producers from volatile markets, something U.S. shale producers understand only too well. Indeed, many are now unwilling to use this insurance after being slapped with hefty premiums thanks to hedging strategies that recently went awry. Unfortunately, this also leaves them fully exposed to the risk of ultra-low prices in the future. Market Uncertainty Bloomberg has reported that only 50% of shale producers have hedged 2021 production compared to 60% that had done so at a comparable point last year. Many producers are finding themselves trapped in a Catch 22 situation. The current WTI price of $32/barrel is still way off the ~$50/barrel that many shale producers require to turn a profit. Hedging at this point would effectively mean foregoing any future price gains and guaranteeing yourself a loss. With production cuts so far working nicely, the recent storage crunch now in the back mirror and economies gradually emerging from lockdown, that appears like a rushed decision. On the other hand, this oil price rally appears to be running on fumes, and failing to hedge means risking even lower prices in the future. For instance, whereas the WTI June contract has rallied some 75% this month, WTI swap for 2021 has only climbed 10%. This essentially means that traders are very unsure whether the gains being made in the crude markets are here to stay. Related: Oil Companies Forced To Renegotiate Deals Or Risk Losing It All The fact that half of U.S. shale producers have actually hedged 2021 production means that they consider theres a high likelihood of prices sliding lower than current levels. However, they really dont have much of a choice given that hedging is largely systemic in a bid to satisfy bank requirements coupled with their already high debt levels. That said, U.S. shale producers are partly to blame for their love for an overly ambitious hedging strategy. Three-Way Collars At the heart of the quagmire is a hedging strategy favored by U.S. producers known as three-way collars. These options tend to be a relatively cheap way to hedge against price fluctuations as long as prices remain range-bound. Indeed, collars are essentially costless, a big consideration at a time when expenses are being cut to the bone in a bid to survive. In theory, hedging allows producers to lock-in a certain price for their oil. The simplest way to do this is by buying a floor on the price using a put option then offsetting this cost by selling a ceiling using a call option. To trim costs even further, producers can sell what is commonly referred to as a subfloor, which is essentially a put option much lower than current oil prices. This is the three-way collar hedging strategy. Source: Economic Times Three-way collars tend to work well when oil prices are moving sideways; however, they can leave traders exposed when prices fall too much as they recently did. Indeed, this strategy fell out of favor during the last oil crash of 2014 when prices fell too low, leaving shale producers counting heavy losses. Most producers turned back to the relatively safe fixed-price swaps but have increasingly been returning to three-way collars. Related: Putin To Bail Out Russian Oil Industry Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (NYSE:PXD) is one such company. The company converted 85% of its crude derivatives into fixed-price swaps in the aftermath of the 2014 crash but started loading up on three-ways again in 2019. Over the last two years, Texas-based Denbury Resources Inc.(NYSE:DNR) has also been easing its swap positions in favor of three-way collars. Others that favor this strategy are Parsley Energy Inc. (NYSE:PE) and Occidental Corp. (NYSE:OXY). Huge Liquidity Squeeze Three-ways are a calculated bet that oil will only fall so low but not any further. The last tranche of three-ways mostly employed $45 a barrel was a popular strike level, below which producers became fully exposed. Obviously, this level was breached months ago. As Michael Tran, director of global energy strategy at RBC Capital Market, warned back in March, via Bloomberg: When you look at three-way collars, given the volatile nature of this market, being knocked out of the market is always a viable threat depending on how quickly prices move. This is an insurance policy that isnt always guaranteed. Even more worrying is the fact that 2021 hedges are likely to reflect current market conditions, meaning producers will be lucky to get anywhere near $45/barrel. This means the vast majority of shale producers could start to feel a really huge liquidity squeeze in the coming year unless oil prices stage a strong recovery this year. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Exposure of Ulterior Motives Behind Stigmatization of China with COVID-19 (Part VI) By Jun Sheng A western idiom goes like this, There are none so blind as those who will not see. Weve long known that lying through their teeth is the survival skill for some American politicians, but we never expected it to become their only skill left. Unfortunately, this is exactly the reality now. Their desperate attempt to peddle lies only attests to the exhaustion of their tricks. With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of American politicians has staged one farce after another. If they just told a lie every once in a while, they would have given themselves away occasionally; now that there is basically no truth left, the audience could only take them as a circus. But how clumsy the performance is! By declaring that the virus came from China, or China caused the spread of the virus by covering it up, these American politicians have discarded the basic dignity and decency as humans and public servants. They have spurted baseless accusations without any scruple. In the meantime, some western media have played along and made up accusations in defiance of freedom and democracy that they have been priding themselves on, reducing themselves to the politicians bullhorns by politicizing the pandemic and exercising double standards. The truth will teach these contemptible people a hard lesson. Regarding the origin of the virus, China, WHO, and many others with vision have made solemn statements over and over again. The prestigious academic journal Nature apologized to China for once associating the coronavirus with Wuhan. As to the claim that China caused the spread of the virus by covering it up, a quick look at the epidemic-control timeline would show who has wasted the time. When looking back on the White Houses epidemic containment efforts, the New York Times pointed out that it squandered a whole month from late January to early March. Certain American politicians are asking for disgrace between telling lies and having them belied. During the Iraq War, the weapons of mass destruction that they had once been so certain about were eventually unaccounted for; during the Syrian conflict, the iron-clad evidence of the attacks with chemical weapons that they claimed proved to be schemed by the politicians themselves. Having been slapped in the face by truth so many times, the American politicians, this time around, are simply repeating their vicious rumors about the pandemic again and again, which, infuriating as it is, comes as no surprise. Their creed is that a lie, when repeated a thousand times, may become truth, with which they intend to bring their unspeakable motives into reality - putting a lock on Chinas development and clearing themselves of any responsibility for the epidemic response fiasco. What a pipe dream! As another western idiom goes, Lying is the first step in being a thief. The COVID-19 outbreak, like a mirror, reflects the American politicians heinous true colors of running the country with lips. When the outbreak hit, the first move they took wasnt protecting peoples lives and safety, but babbling to find excuses for themselves and flinging mud at others. They have been trying to deflect peoples attention in an attempt to steal votes from the constituencies and pursue personal gains. Liars begin by imposing upon others but end deceiving themselves. It would not be so absurd if the politicians tell a lie or two now and then, but its truly shameful and pathetic that they would rely on lies for sustaining their political career. Just recently, when China was busy helping other countries battle the outbreak, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was flinging mud at China at the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting and on other international occasions. Even American scholars couldnt bear to see such shameless moves on the US part, commenting that Pompeo was busy slandering China while China was busy helping others. The clownish words and deeds of these American politicians have become a laughing stock in the international community. An ancient fable says that a rabbit used to have a long tail, which becomes short because it is bitten off for telling lies. This fable is both informative and remonstrative for the American politicians - stop lying through your teeth, otherwise your personal credibility, political career, and the America great again you promise the American people will, like the rabbits tail, be cut short for sure. Burma With COVID-19 Tests and Quarantines for MPs, Yangon Parliament Back to Session Soon Yangon regional lawmakers in session in 2018. / Phyo Min Thein / Facebook YANGON Yangon regional lawmakers will be tested for coronavirus and required to attend the next parliamentary session that is due to discuss budget proposals from hotel quarantine. The lawmakers said they will receive COVID-19 tests before the parliament resumes on June 2. They will go travel between the parliament and hotel during the session. U Aung Htoo, a National League for Democracy lawmaker for Botahtaung Township, said MPs will be quarantined from May 29 at a hotel and required to remain there through the session, which is expected to last a week. U Nay Phone Latt, an NLD lawmaker for Thingangyun Township, said it is still unknown whether the regional ministers will also be included in the hotel quarantine. We will follow all preventive guidelines required. But if we stay at a hotel to prevent carrying the virus and infecting others at the parliament, the ministers should do the same. If they are not included and go elsewhere and are still attending the parliament, it will make no difference, he said. Some regional ministers have been widely criticized for attending mass gatherings without observing social distancing. The Irrawaddy contacted the regional parliament speaker who declined to provide details of the arrangements. After months of recess, the parliament is resuming to discuss departmental budgets for the next fiscal year. It may also appoint a new regional planning and finance minister to replace U Myint Thaung, who died of lung cancer in April. The Yangon regional governments spending proposals often attract intense criticism from lawmakers for neglecting public needs and for including controversial expenses. Budgetary proposals have sparked heated debates at the parliament in previous years. Union-level lawmakers were tested for COVID-19 before attending their parliamentary session which is discussing the Union budget and financing for the governments COVID-19 relief and response plans. First Iranian tanker carrying gasoline enters Venezuelan waters Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 1:11 AM The first of five Iranian tankers carrying fuel for gasoline-starved Venezuela has entered the Latin American country's territorial waters despite the US threats. The Iranian-flagged tanker, named Fortune, arrived in Venezuela's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Saturday evening, online tracking data shows. When entering the Venezuelan waters, the tanker was closely followed by a US cargo ship, the Adam Joseph, according to media reports. Earlier in the day, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani warned of retaliatory measures against the United States should Washington make "trouble" for Iranian tankers carrying fuel to Venezuela. "If our tankers in the Caribbean or anywhere in the world face trouble [caused] by the Americans, they (the US) will also be in trouble in kind," Rouhani said in a phone conversation with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Saturday. In Caracas, the defense minister had pledged that the country's Armed Forces would escort the tankers once they reached the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) due to what authorities described as threats from the United States. The Iranian tanker 'Fortune' is followed by other four tankers - the Clavel, the Forest, the Faxon and the Petunia - all en route to Venezuela's shores. The tanker flotilla is carrying a total of 1.53 million barrels of gasoline to Venezuela, according to both governments, sources and calculations by TankerTrackers.com. The hashtag #GraciasIran [Thank you, Iran] has been launched on Twitter to mark the arrival of the Iranian tankers, with netizens hailing the cooperation between Tehran and Caracas in defiance of the US de facto naval blockade. Despite boasting the world's largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela has been struggling to cover its domestic supply needs, with its energy industry ravaged by crippling US sanctions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia's economy could collapse and 'go off a cliff' if government fiscal support programs are withdrawn in four months time, an economist has warned. The federal government's JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments for businesses and workers impacted by the coronavirus crisis are set to expire in September- the same time banks plan to lift loan deferrals. AlphaBeta founder Dr Andrew Charlton predicts the economy to take a further nosedive if private sector and government hardship measures to households end at the same time. AlphaBeta's real-time tracker shows consumer spending is returning to similar levels prior to the pandemic as lockdown restrictions ease. Dr Charlton, who was a government adviser to then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during the global financial crisis, has a dire warning for the economy. While consumer spending levels are returning to normal, there are fears the economy will dive again if private sector and government support to households ends at the same time. Pictured is a busy Pitt Street Mall in Sydney on May 17 'Our economy is currently propped up by government and big business support... without them, the economy would collapse,' Dr Charlton told 2GB morning show host Alan Jones on Monday. He warned the economy would 'go off a cliff' if that support ended simultaneously. 'Come September, banks will require the repayment of those deferred mortgages to recommence, generous payment holidays by utility companies will expire, bills will be due,' Dr Charlton warned. 'All of those things will happen at once and without those supports, the economy could dive again.' 'So we need a plan to ease businesses and workers off government support and create a rebound in growth and jobs.' Economist Dr Andrew Charlton called for the tapered decline of government support programs for businesses and workers. Pictured are jobseekers queuing outside a Melbourne Centrelink in April Alphabeta's tracker showed spending May 11-17 was just three per cent below pre-pandemic levels, fuelled by government payments and private sector hardship assistance to households. The figures have sparked fears the economy could crash again when that support is lifted. 'Businesses will only re-employ workers if the demand is there and can see a pipeline of activity in the community, so that's what we need to create now,' Dr Charlton told 2GB. 'Confidence and activity so businesses want to rehire those workers and put them to productive use come September.' While consumer spending for the weeks of May 11-17 (pictured) was three per cent below than normal levels prior to the pandemic, experts have questioned what will happen in September when the government and banks are due to left hardship provisions Dr Charlton called for the gradual easing of government support programs to give affected businesses and households time to adjust post-coronavirus. 'These programs can't go on forever, but they also can't all stop at the same time,' he said. 'If we pull the rug out from under all of that too quickly then, unfortunately, many of those businesses will be lost and many of those jobs will be lost as well.' 'We need the JobKeeper program to be tapered and more targeted so we wean ourselves off it in a way that doesn't crash the economy.' MBABANE - Bafundisi balambile! If the above vernacular statement made by Apostle Justice Dlamini is anything to go by; local pastors are living on empty stomachs due to the COVID-19 regulations which limit the number of people at gatherings, including churches, to only 20. The statement was the buzzword on social media circles after a video clip, where Apostle Dlamini was addressing issues related to COVID-19 and the church, circulated last Saturday. The apostle made it known that local pastors had been hungry ever since government issued guidelines to limit gatherings as means of controlling the spread of COVID-19. The regulation affecting churches is clear that social gatherings are prohibited and that not more than 20 people are allowed to gather. The video clip shows the outspoken man of God being interviewed by seasoned journalist, Qhawe Mamba on Channel YemaSwati in the show titled People and Places. Issues This was last Thursday when the whole world celebrated Ascension Day and the apostle, who was joined by Prophet Khulani Mamba, responded to a variety of issues which have become a subject of debate, one of which is the regulation on the operation of churches amid the coronavirus. One of the issues that the host raised was the notion that some pastors were demanding the reopening of churches and or increase in the number of attending members, and that their sole intention was the collection of offerings. Apostle Dlamini said it was important to consider that pastors were also human and that most of them resigned from their initial places of employment in order to preach the Word of God. He said pastors operated in such a way that the church was an institution where they worked, which was why they had to be paid through the contributions made by church members. Dlamini, who told this publication that he was speaking in his personal capacity, said even the Bible was clear that pastors were to live on what the church members contributed. The apostle said the situation was a sad one for pastors in that they were hungry and had nowhere to raise their biggest concern - that of being hungry. In jest, the apostle said pastors were unlike members of the public who had registered for the much anticipated food distribution announced by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). They cannot even ask for groceries from the NDMA. Umnikelo wehlile kani umfundisi lo unemkakhe nebantfwana. Nyalo bafundisi abakhoni nekuthandaza ngoba bakwatile. Akuthandazeki nawukwatile, said Dlamini in vernacular, which means: The offerings have gone down yet the pastor has a wife and children to take care of. Now the pastors cannot even pray because they are unhappy. It is not easy to pray when you are unhappy. Also, Dlamini said it was imperative to remember that most local churches operated in rented venues. These days there is not much activity for the churches. It means that some of them will not be able to pay rent. They will not be allowed to operate because of the owed rent, said Dlamini. Again, the apostle said it was money that was needed to pay rent and not the belief in God. Situation Ngeke utjele mastandi kutsi utsembe Nkulunkulu. Akubhadalwa ngelivesi, kubhadalwa ngemali, he said. The gist of what the apostle was saying was that it was not fair to liken the situation of the church and that of drinking spots. He said since the country and the whole world was faced with a crisis, the church should be allowed to play its role of ensuring that the nation had spiritual support. It is not good for government to run around alone. We must be allowed to gather and be spiritually uplifted because what constitutes the church is coming together. People are confused now and they need the church the most. Even the workers themselves who are in the frontline are confused and they need the church in order to regain their strength, he mentioned. He said while government, through the NDMA, was assisting the people, the church also had a huge role to play in feeding those who had been hard hit by COVID-19. Those who stay in the towns or informal settlements and those work in textile firms, are suffering yet they constitute a bigger percentage of the church membership. Allow them to come to church and we will feed them, he said. The apostle also emphasised that it was not true that the church could be a breeding ground for COVID-19. In his view, in churches there was not a lot of movement involved as was the case in supermarkets. People go to the shops, are sanitised upon entry, but once inside the shop they go to different directions as they check on the shelves where the items they want are found. They also meet other customers who are their friends or relatives and there is a high risk there, he said. Prophet Khulani Mamba, speaking in his capacity as a Board member for Iron Sharpens Iron, which is a group of over 200 local pastors, supported Dlamini by saying the churches should be allowed to operate while at the same time controlling them, to ensure that they adhered to all the regulations. Situation Mamba said the country should take a leaf from how Tanzania had handled the situation by not closing churches. We need the church for the healing of our people. The church, is also important as we need to pray for the nurses and our leaders. Let us not treat churches in isolation. People need spiritual healing more than ever, he said. The men of the cloth seemed to have impressed the viewers as those who called in to pose questions or make comments said they were happy that they spoke the truth. One of the callers, who identified herself as Make Nxumalo, thanked the duo, saying they hit the nail on the head by calling for church members to be allowed to come together. The caller said she was aware that some churches offered food to disadvantaged members, which meant that church gatherings were important. Worth noting is that the video clip which was shared on social media was only a fraction of the whole programme as it only focused on Dlaminis statement on the pastors being hungry. The whole video of the show was made available on the television stations Facebook page where again users posted comments on what they thought. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 25, 2020 17:19 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bda06af6 1 National Idul-Fitri,Eid-prayer,Takbiran,COVID-19,coronavirus,large-scale-social-restrictions,PSBB,mudik-ban,aceh,baiturrahman-mosque Free Millions of Indonesians are celebrating the most festive time of the year in the country under partial lockdown. Those praying and celebrating at home say they find solace in solemn and modest virtual festivities, but others infringe physical distancing orders. Private-sector employee Risti Oktavisena, 28, decided to stay at her rooming house and call her relatives for a silahturahmi (friendly meeting) to comply with the governments stay-at-home order. Still, the pandemic has not changed how she interprets the meaning of Idul Fitri. In fact, the pandemic has actually made this years Idul Fitri more solemn, because even though we cannot directly do silahturahmi with family and relatives, we can still feel the warmth of togetherness through our devices when we express our sincere apologies, Risti said. Food galore, big family gatherings and mass prayers used to be the norm for Idul Fitri celebrations in Indonesia, a two-day national holiday that succeeds a monthlong fasting period for Muslims in the Muslim-majority nation. Communities met with each other after Eid al-Fitr prayer at the Jami 'Al-Makmur Mosque, Leuwinanggung - Depok, West Java on Sunday, May 24, 2020. (JP/PJ Leo) This year, however, the Indonesian Ulema Council and major Islamic group Muhammadiyah have advised Muslims in the country to avoid Idul Fitri prayers in large congregations at mosques to steer clear of infections. More than 22,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Indonesia, with 1,391 dead, as of Monday. President Joko Jokowi Widodo performed Idul Fitri prayers on Sunday with his family and a few aides in front of the Bayurini Pavilion of Bogor Palace in West Java. Meanwhile, the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Istiqlal Mosque held a virtual takbiran (chanting of Allahu Akbar) on the eve of Idul Fitri, instead of the usual way of conducting the event at mosques and on the streets involving crowds. President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo (center) performs Eid al-Fitr prayes with his wife, youngest son, and a few aides at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java on Sunday (Courtesy of Presidential Press Bureau/Muchlis) Read also: Istiqlal Mosque to hold virtual takbiran event to welcome Idul Fitri during pandemic Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) deputy chairman Muhyiddin Junaidi told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the pandemic should compel people to be more independent in praying at home, led by the head of the family as the imam of the household. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, we should celebrate Idul Fitri with utmost modesty. Dont show off your wealth. Instead, we should have a sense of solidarity for our brothers and sisters, said Muhyiddin. He urged people to be optimistic as people can obtain hikmah (wisdom) from facing the current pandemic. Don't neglect worship just because there is a disaster. Worship should continue as usual but with regard to health protocols, Muhyiddin said, adding that people have to be able to make changes and follow changes" by using technology. Private-sector employee Aprilian Eka Prananca, 26, said he felt more devoted during his Idul Fitri prayers at home, as it allowed him to lead the prayer alongside his wife instead of following directions in mosques. The Idul Fitri celebration is different, but its essence is the same, Aprilian said. This year, he had only briefly visited some of his relatives to drop off and exchange gifts but avoided any physical contact while keeping his mask on for the festivity. Before, his family would usually gather in one place, have sleepovers and cook together for the big day. However, not all worshippers follow physical distancing restrictions during the celebrations, with some turning to smugglers and fake travel documents to get around bans on the annual end-of-Ramadan travel, AFP reported, which could send infection numbers soaring. The government has restricted passenger travel starting from April 24 to prevent citizens from participating in the annual Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus) to curb the spread of COVID-19. Coordinating Legal, Political and Human Rights Minister Mahfud MD had also reminded the public that mass Idul Fitri prayers in mosques or public squares were prohibited this year by the Health Ministrys regulation on large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) and the 2018 Health Quarantine Law. Read also: MUI issues fatwa, implementing 'social distancing' for Islamic worship Nevertheless, large groups in the conservative province of Aceh still prayed together with few masks and little social distancing as Eid began, and the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in the provincial capital was packed. People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at Islamic Center Mosque in Lhokseumawe, Indonesia's Aceh province on May 24, 2020. (Photo by IPANK / AFP) (AFP/Ipank) "I did feel worried, but as a Muslim, I still had to perform mass Eid prayers as a form of gratitude to Allah," one worshipper, Arsi, told AFP. Rishi Sunak is developing a business bailout package which would see the Government act as lender of 'last resort' to key UK firms to stop them from going under because of the coronavirus crisis, it was claimed today. The Chancellor is said to be working on an initiative known within Whitehall as Project Birch which is designed to protect companies deemed to be crucial to Britain's economy. It is thought tailored support could be made available to sectors like aviation, aerospace and steel production but the Government is under pressure to go even further and to consider the state taking a stake in certain businesses. Support could be offered to 'viable companies which have exhausted all options' and to those whose collapse would 'disproportionately harm the economy'. Rishi Sunak, pictured in Downing Street on May 21, is believed to be developing 'Project Birch' which would save key UK businesses from collapse The support is likely to take the form of Government loans but ministers are not thought to have ruled out part-nationalisation as an option. Some experts believe the latter approach would be preferable for some firms to stop them from drowning in debt. Firms which have reportedly already held talks with ministers include Virgin Atlantic and Jaguar Land Rover. The Treasury told the Financial Times: 'In exceptional circumstances, where a viable company has exhausted all options and its failure would disproportionately harm the economy, we may consider support on a "last resort" basis. 'As the British public would expect, we are putting in place sensible contingency planning and any such support would be on terms that protect the taxpayer. The Government has already made billons of pounds of support available to businesses during the outbreak so far. Some believe the total value of that support could end up being above 100 billion. But there are fears that even that may not be enough with plans being put in place to ensure critical pillars of the UK economy do not collapse. Additional lending is believed to be Mr Sunak's preferred approach rather than the ideologically more difficult equity stake route. The Tories are largely opposed to nationalisation as a concept and any move by the Chancellor to link the state to private businesses in such a manner would be likely to spark an inevitable backlash from Conservative MPs. But Alistair Darling, who served as chancellor in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash, said taking a stake in companies 'might be a good thing for the taxpayer to do' because there could be a benefit when the stake is sold off at a later date. A final decision on medium to long-term financial support for UK business is not expected to be taken until the Autumn. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Aliabbas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, May 26, 2020 The government recently submitted a draft of a presidential regulation (Perpres) on the involvement of military forces in the countrys fight against terrorism to the House of Representatives. The proposal shows the governments intention to continue the militarization of counterterrorism in the country. Controversy about the role of the Indonesian military (TNI) in counterterrorism has been ongoing since mid-2019. When the older draft of the current Perpres (dated April 18, 2019) circulated, it received strong criticism as it potentially endangered democracy and human rights in Indonesia. In addition, the older draft violated Law No. 5/2018 on antiterrorism and Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI. The new draft is still not free of problems. Some of its content may undercut the countrys fight against terrorism. First, it grants deterrence authority to the TNI (Articles 3 to 7). This has no grounds. The Antiterrorism Law only stipulates three functions in counterterrorism: prevention, enforcement and recovery. The function of deterrence proposed in the draft goes beyond the key provisions of antiterrorism legislation. In addition, Article 3 (d) of the draft states the military can conduct other activities and operations without a clear and rigid scope or explanation. Thus, the execution of such operations are open to any interpretation or improvisation and may endanger human rights. Second, overlapping jurisdictions may occur as a consequence of the implementation of the enforcement function. Article 9 (1) of the draft explains the scope of the militarys enforcement function, at home and overseas, such as against terrorist acts against the president and his or her family, against a foreign embassy or against vital and strategic national objects. As Article 9 (2) allows TNI to conduct counterterrorism missions directly, the enforcement function may cause complications. Besides the lack of clear mechanisms and procedures, the execution of the TNI mission also neglects the primary position of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) to develop, coordinate and conduct all policies, strategies and programs related to counterterrorism, as stipulated in the Antiterrorism Law. One of the possible consequences of the unclear division of labor in counterterrorism is the disruption of the criminal justice system, which has so far proven effective at incapacitating terrorist groups. Third, as the counterterrorism policy will incorporate military strategy, tactics and repressive action, the draft neglects the importance of effective oversight. The draft says nothing about the House or auxiliary bodies such as the National Commission on Human Rights overseeing the militarys activities in combating terrorism. Checks and balances are needed to ensure military operations abide by the law. Fourth, the provisions for funding (Article 15) clearly violate the TNI Law. The draft opens opportunities for local budgets and other sources to contribute to military counterterrorist activities. According to the Article 66 of the TNI Law, the state budget is the sole source of military spending. The rationale behind this is to ensure that the armed forces remain centralized. The addition of non-state budgets may elicit questions of transparency and accountability. Furthermore, there is little need to widen the TNIs involvement in counterterrorism. Indonesia has not seen a major terrorist attack since May 2018. According to the Global Terrorism Database, the most frequent terrorist incidents in Indonesia in 2018 were related to Papuan separatism (16 of 43 total cases). In other words, the recent terror incidents cannot justify the governments plan to enhance the TNIs role in counterterrorism. Security expert Mustafa Kirisci (2019) warns that the presence of additional security forces in counterterrorism does not guarantee a decline in terrorist violence. Instead, more repression will only give terrorists opportunities to gather public support and expand their groups. In addition, the drafts submission is untimely because the government should be focusing on the fight against COVID-19. Undeniably, allegations of a hidden government agenda are inevitable. As the draft provides unclear explanations, there are concerns about the potential misuse of military forces to protect investments or economic recovery programs in the aftermath of the pandemic. The House should, therefore, reject the draft or ask the government to reformulate the militarys involvement in counterterrorism. The use of the armed forces in counterterrorism should be the last resort. Although the TNI has excellent capability and capacity in handling armed groups, its main task is to defend the country from external threats. Its role in counterterrorism should not disrupt its primary responsibility. The House should ask the government to limit military counterterrorism missions to those against terrorism abroad, beyond the polices jurisdiction. Due to the rising threat of terrorism in the region, such as the kidnappings of Indonesian nationals in Mindanao, the government may give the TNI a mission to protect citizens from terrorism abroad. At home, the militarys involvement should be limited and should only be in the form of assistance to the police. Indeed, according to Article 7 (2) of the TNI Law, the military can be involved in counterterrorism operations other than war. But the use of the armed forces without clear rules may cause problems of disproportionality, transparency and accountability in military operations. To ensure clear rules, a specific regulation on military assistance is needed. Military operations against terrorism are temporary missions that require state policy. The regulation should cover threat escalation, the duration of operations, the rules of engagement and the chain of command. Hopefully, the regulation will provide a clear guideline and framework for the implementation of assistance. Unfortunately, so far, neither the government nor the House have realized the importance of such a regulation. Terrorism objectives will always exist, even though the government and security forces have effectively weakened the movement. So, improvement in applying a balanced approach to counterterrorism is needed. A mixture of offensive and defensive counterterrorism policy is required. The government will fail to defeat terrorists in the long run if we continue to rely on and prioritize a hardline approach. *** Senior fellow for security sector reform at Imparsial, a human rights watchdog to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. So when it came to doling out the cash, they hesitated, took the liberty of making deductions for time that health workers spent on non-coronavirus patients or perhaps skimmed some money. In the southern region of Krasnodar, a widely respected head doctor at a hospital was fired after his staff staged a small protest. He is now under investigation by Russia's equivalent of the FBI for criminal negligence. A doctor in the nearby town of Abinsk who helped organise public complaints over non-payment of the bonus received a letter from the police warning that he faced prosecution for "carrying out extremist activities". Russian police officers wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus patrol an area of the Ostankino Pond in Moscow. Credit:AP Yulia Volkova, a Krasnodar doctor who leads the local branch of Doctors' Alliance, an independent trade union affiliated with Navalny, said medical workers had rejoiced at Putin's promise of extra cash. Now, though, they were "terrified of being investigated" if they complained about the President's orders' falling on deaf ears, she said. In some cases, however, prosecutors have sided with protesting doctors. The prosecutor's office in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, said last week that it had investigated complaints of non-payment and found them justified. It ordered local authorities to pay up. In Nizhny Novgorod, another region where many medical staff have not received the money promised, the regional health minister, David Melik-Husyenov, accused the opposition of using "dirty tricks" to expose the bureaucracy's failures. Putin remains out of town: A man rides a scooter, with the Russian Government Building, right, in the background, in Moscow, Russia. Credit:AP "Arranging such stories is very immoral," he said. Putin, playing one of his favourite roles as a caring but stern father of the nation undermined by bungling bureaucrats, fumed recently in a teleconference that officials in many places had not acted on his bonus order. "I gave specific figures for these payments for doctors, for nursing staff, for all medical staff, for ambulance crews and so on," Putin said. Instead, he continued: "They made a bureaucratic mess, counting the number of hours worked on some kind of clock. Did I instruct that you count with a watch or something? No!" He said earlier that 29 regions had ignored his order and that less than half of medical workers nationwide had received the money he had promised. Ordering officials to get with his program, Putin thundered, "I ask you to keep in mind that I will personally check the situation on this issue in every region of Russia". Not responsible: Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit:AP That things have gone so awry is a measure of the wide gap between image and reality in a country that revolves around what Putin calls the "power vertical". This is the rigidly top-down and, in theory, stringently efficient system that he has spent 20 years building to replace the decrepit state structure he inherited from his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin. Tatiana Stanovaya, an expert on Russian politics, said the "power vertical" has always been a political project focused on protecting the Kremlin from opponents, not on delivering efficient administration for the public's benefit. "It has never been effective in routine management. This is not something Putin knows how or wants to do," she said. "Nobody deliberately defies Putin or lets him down," she added. ''That is impossible. But nearly everyone does it unintentionally because they are afraid of taking decisions." Loading Much of the blame for unpaid bonuses has now fallen on the staff of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who spent much of this month in the hospital recovering from COVID-19. Mishustin complained in a conference call with officials shown on television that documents needed to turn Putin's promise into action had not been drafted properly and left too much room for regional officials to wriggle out of paying. One of the first signs that Putin's bonus program was going off the rails came in early May when ambulance drivers, paramedics and others gathered outside the main hospital in Armavir, a town in the southern region of Krasnodar. "We have received nothing. Not a rouble, not a kopeck," they chanted. A video of their protest appeared online, stirring copycat actions across the country. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev responded that he was aware of "many complaints" of non-payment and vowed to "investigate the situation in detail" to make sure Putin's promise was fulfilled. An official commission was then sent to investigate the Armavir hospital and quickly found a scapegoat: the head doctor, Sergei Smirnov. Accused of not filling in the necessary paperwork on time, he was branded as the main culprit in media outlets controlled by regional authorities. Reports last week that Smirnov had been fired provoked only more protests by exhausted and irate medical staff. A group of nurses gathered near the Armavir hospital to sing Smirnov's praises, saying that he had worked hard to make sure his staff had proper protective equipment, and to warn, in the words of one angry nurse, that "without him work will stop". Vladimir Lotnik, a resident who signed a petition protesting Smirnov's dismissal, said officials were scrambling to protect themselves up and down the system by blaming the powerless. "A fish rots from the head," he said. Nikolai Petrov, a political scientist, dismissed Putin's public anger and dismay over the bonuses as mostly theatre. "He is trying to show that he is the good guy," Petrov said. "But he is losing popularity and will continue to lose it." An opinion poll by the Levada Centre, an independent polling organisation in Moscow, found that the President's approval rating sank last month to 59 per cent, its lowest level since he came to power in 2000. His highest approval rating, nearly 90 per cent, came after Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. After nearly two months cooped up in his country residence outside Moscow, Putin has become so isolated, in Petrov's view, that he "risks returning to a changed country after the pandemic is over". He likened the situation to what Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, faced when he returned to Moscow after the collapse of a coup attempt in 1991 that had kept him isolated for days in a villa in Crimea. Gorbachev, his authority drained, resigned soon afterwards. Predictions of Putin's imminent eclipse, however, have invariably proved wrong, and many expect the President to bounce back from these travails, albeit in a weakened position. Russia, with more than 350,000 reported coronavirus cases, is the third-most infected country after the United States and Brazil. Kremlin-controlled media outlets, however, have presented Russia's response to the pandemic as a triumph, trumpeting official figures that show a remarkably low death rate of 2 per 100,000 people, compared with 30 in the United States and 55 in Britain. This, they say, is a "Russian miracle." The pandemic has nonetheless disrupted the centrepiece of the Kremlin's political program for the year, forcing the cancellation of an April referendum on constitutional changes that would allow Putin to brush aside term limits and stay in power until 2036. But, with the recent lifting of a nationwide lockdown order despite a steady rise in the number of infections the Kremlin is expected to push ahead with its vote on the constitution as early as June. The referendum's outcome, like nearly all votes in Russia, is in little doubt and would secure Putin's unassailable position for many years to come. Opening the door for him to stay in power indefinitely, Kremlin critics say, would only entrench the dysfunctions of a system that for 20 years has paid lip service to the stated goals of a single man but often confounded them instead. Cinema operators are divided over re-opening on June 22, with some spying an opportunity and others fearing the 50-person-per-theatre restriction and limited supply of new movies makes the prospect marginal at best. Kristian Connelly, chief executive of the independent Cinema Nova, welcomed the announcement, which puts Victoria ahead of other states. Cinema Nova chief executive Kristian Connelly is confident his customers will be ready to start returning on June 22. Credit:Eddie Jim Once we confirmed it was 50 people per auditorium rather than 50 for the whole place, we realised thats very workable for us, he said. The largest of Novas 16 cinemas has 244 seats, but its capacity will be capped at 50. In the smaller cinemas, government restrictions that stipulate people who are not from the same household should be seated at least 1.5 metres from other people in the venue, as well as the four square metre rule per person will apply. Nile Lundgren from Camp Getaway revealed that he went to college with Kyle Cooke from Summer House and the two used to party together. Kyle Cooke | Eugene Gologursky/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Apparently they both attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where Cooke studied Political Science and Architecture. Cooke was also in the fraternity, Psi Upsilon. Lundgren studied English at the school and they both attended between 2003 and 2006. Both Lundgren and Cooke live in New York and share the attitude that summer should be fun. Lundgren dished about knowing Cooke and even joked about how hed swap out senior social coordinator Adam Mizrahi for Cooke. They partied together in 2003 Lundgren revealed to Amir Yassai on Instagram that he knew Cooke. Yassai played a game with Lundgren, asking him if he could replace any of his friends from Camp Getaway from someone from another Bravo show, who would get replaced? RELATED: Bravos Camp Getaway: Nile Lundgren Says Claire Sorrels Overreacted but Shes Not the Crew Member He Doesnt Want to Speak to Again Lundgren told Showbiz Cheat Sheet he really enjoyed getting to know Mizrahi. But he shared with Yassai that hed give Mizrahi the boot. If I was going to replace anybody, I would replace Adam with Kyle Cooke, he explains. The reason is that Kyle and I actually went to college together. So we used to party back in 2003. We were buddies and we used to all hang out. He was at a fraternity that was like a rival fraternity of mine, Lundgren continues. Wed all party together. But I just think Kyles an awesome personality and he brings a lot to the table. Lundgren wants to see other Bravo shows come to camp Lundgren jokes about how he and Cooke are ready to bring it, whereas Mizrahi just wants to chill by the lake with a beer. I think Adam is a great guy like Ive gotten to know him and I think hes a really awesome guy. I was a little skeptical at first. RELATED: Bravos Camp Getaway: Which Cast Members Already Knew Each and Why Was That Super Awkward? But I think hes very much in camp mode, Lundgren continues. Which is like, Lets just chill. Like, Lets just drink beer and go by the lake. So hes not as action-driven. Im like, Wheres the party? Can I push any buttons over here?' Not only does Lundgren think Cooke would be a good addition, he thinks Bravo should feature all the shows at camp. I think what we should do is if we do a next season, we should have all of the Housewives, we should have Summer House come visit us, I think that would be amazing. Andy [Cohen] if youre listening, lets make it happen buddy. Maybe Lundgren should join the next Summer House virtual party Carl Radke from Summer House recently shared with Showbiz Cheat Sheet that the cast creates and implements all the wild parties seen on the show. Even the parties you watch on the show, we put a lot of effort into planning and preparing for those, he said. They dont show it as well as Id like, but a lot of the weight of those plans falls on us. RELATED: Bravos Summer House: Carl Radke Teases More Cast Summer Parties With Fan Access (Exclusive) The cast of Summer House recently led a Zoom party along with cast members from Vanderpump Rules and Southern Charm. The party drew more than 500 participants and a huge response from excited fans. Radke shared that the group may host another virtual party in the coming months. Id love to do another one, but we just dont know what that looks like just yet, he said. 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Groups like Lazada must solve problems with vendors trying to capitalise on the demand for pandemic prevention items During the social distancing period fuelled by the ongoing pandemic, e-commerce platforms in the country recorded significant growth in the number of orders as all physical stores stood closed, and e-commerce applications became the only choice for shopping demand. According to the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM), such platforms have seen a hike of 20 per cent at least since the health crisis broke out. Some have even experienced an increase of 150 per cent against normal days. Lazada Vietnam has witnessed the growing demand for hand sanitiser, toilet paper, and canned and prepackaged foods. These have increased by 160, 60, and 50 per cent respectively, since late February. Meanwhile, under common impacts from the outbreak, Shopee Vietnam also received an extra 5.2 million visitors during the first quarter, the third consecutive quarter of visitor growth. Similar to Lazada, hand sanitiser gels, medical face masks, and prepackaged foods have been the best sellers on Shopee Vietnam for months now. The latest report from iPrice Group, a privately-owned online shopping aggregator based in Malaysia, showed that consumption of grocery goods has grown by 45 per cent for the first three months of 2020. However, along with the impressive growth in online shopping, the prominence of low-quality and fake goods has become more apparent on e-commerce websites, especially Lazada and Shopee. In recent times, a great number of consumers have bought the wrong items from the platforms and failed to get compensation or protection from the service. Most recently, the Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority (VCCA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) said that they are handling a large number of complaints from e-commerce consumers, including 568 complaints from last year. Accordingly, the authority has collaborated with relevant ministries to inspect violations related to fraud on e-commerce platforms, in which Lazada is the most highlighted name. Specifically, consumers have complained of receiving items that are different from the images on Lazadas vendors. Explaining this, Lazada said that the orders are outside of its system, so consumers are not entitled to policies like return of goods or refunds. After receiving some orders, vendors will cancel them, then contact customers to shift stuff that is different from the orders, VCCA reported in its latest document. That is also the reason Lazada cannot check the order on its system and consumers cannot ask for refunds. The VCCA also highlighted concerns that the company seems unable to control vendors that carry out fraud. Lazada has yet to comment on the issue. Similarly, Shopee the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia cannot avoid the shortcomings. In one instance, as soon as the coronavirus hit Vietnam, a package of 100 Japanese medical face masks was offered for VND2.7 million ($120) on Shopee, about 10 times higher than the market price from before the pandemic. After receiving complaints from customers about the unusual pricing, the company removed it from search results. Shopee is also enduring difficulties in keeping tabs on vendors flogging unauthenticated or downright fake goods to profiteer on the sky-high demand for face masks and hand sanitiser due to the coronavirus emergency. Talking to VIR, a representative of Shopee Vietnam said that it has been keeping a close eye on the performance of vendors selling these items and will block the accounts of vendors found in violation. Besides that, thousands of unauthenticated healthcare goods have been traded on e-commerce sites recently. The Vietnam E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency under the MoIT reported that about 5,200 vendors with more than 21,000 pieces of fake and unauthenticated goods were discovered and handled on the two e-commerce platforms. In a survey from Nielsen Vietnam and Infocus Mekong Mobile Panel, 25 per cent of respondents confirmed to strengthen online shopping much more than direct buying. Seizing this chance, e-commerce platforms have rolled out campaigns like touch-free delivery solutions, and delivering fresh foods. However, according to Malaysia-based online shopping aggregator iPrice Group, the average e-commerce platform traffic in the first quarter reduced by 10 per cent on-year. Movement of some items like electronics and fashion, which used to significantly contribute to the growth of websites and online vendors, are low. The traffic of fashion websites decreased by 38 per cent in the quarter, while electronics websites reported a tiny increase by 4-5 per cent. The pandemic has already impacted the purchase of high-value items. Among e-commerce giants, Tiki, which is backed by tech firms and funds like VNG Corporation, Sumitomo, and CyberAgent, reported the best performance with a slight decrease of 500,000 traffic per month compared to the last quarter of 2019, to 24 million. Meanwhile traffic of Lazada Vietnam, which has received $4 billion from Chinese giant Alibaba and FPT Corporations local e-commerce platform Sendo, dropped off 7.3 million and 9.6 million to 19.76 million and 17.6 million, respectively. VIR Hara Anh Big Four in e-commerce keep taking on losses despite firm market presence The "money burning" race in the local e-commerce scene is not over yet, with all Big Four competitors scampering to gain a larger market share. The Centre has released Rs 1,000 crore to the West Bengal government, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a team of the Union government will visit the state soon to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Amphan. The rescue-and-relief operations in West Bengal were discussed at a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, here on Monday. As announced by the prime minister after his aerial survey and review of the relief efforts with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a sum of Rs 1,000 crore has already been released to the state government, an official statement said. The Ministry of Home Affairs will be sending a team to the state soon to assess the damage caused by the cyclone, it added. Continuing with the coordination efforts and restoration measures in the areas of West Bengal affected by "Amphan", the NCMC met for the fifth time in connection with the natural calamity. The chief secretary of West Bengal thanked the Centre for the support provided for relief and restoration. Restoration of the power and telecommunication infrastructure was stated to be a priority in the cyclone-affected areas of the state. While telecom connectivity has been restored in most areas, the damage to the local power distribution network has affected the restoration of complete supply in some areas. Central agencies are deployed in these efforts, along with teams from neighbouring states, the statement said. Meanwhile, the Army has also been pressed into service in Kolkata to help in road clearances, along with teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force. Taking note of the progress made in the restoration work, the cabinet secretary advised that complete power connectivity, telecom service and drinking water supplies need to be restored on a priority basis. The central agencies are ready to provide any further assistance that may be required by the state. Adequate stocks of foodgrains have been kept ready for supply. The cabinet secretary also suggested that the West Bengal government may indicate its additional requirements, if any, and directed officers of central ministries and agencies to work in close coordination with the state government to provide all required assistance expeditiously. The West Bengal chief secretary participated in the NCMC meeting through video-conference. Senior officers from the ministries of Home Affairs, Power, Telecommunications, Food and Public Distribution, Health, Drinking Water and Sanitation, NDMA and NDRF also attended the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON (AP) - When President Donald Trump doesn't like the message, he shoots the messenger. So it was this past week when he took very personally a scientific study that should give pause to anyone thinking of following Trump's lead and ingesting a potentially risky drug for the coronavirus. He branded the study's researchers, financed in part by his own administration, his "enemy." Boastful on the occasion of Memorial Day, Trump exaggerated some of his accomplishments for veterans' health care. Over the weekend, he also repeated a baseless allegation of rampant mail-in voting fraud and resurrected claims of unspecified conspiracies against him in 2016. A look at the rhetoric and reality as the pandemic's death toll approached 100,000 in the U.S.: VOTING FRAUD TRUMP: "The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and `force people to sign. Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam!" - tweet Sunday. President Donald Trump listens to the music before speaking during a "Rolling to Remember Ceremony," to honor the nation's veterans and POW/MIA, from the Blue Room Balcony of the White House, Friday, May 22, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) THE FACTS: Voting fraud is rare. Its true that some election studies have shown a slightly higher incidence of mail-in voting fraud compared with in-person voting, but the overall risk is extremely low. The Brennan Center for Justice said in 2017 the risk of voting fraud is 0.00004% to 0.0009%. "Trump is simply wrong about mail-in balloting raising a `tremendous potential for fraud," Richard L. Hasen, an elections expert at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, recently wrote in an op-ed. "While certain pockets of the country have seen their share of absentee-ballot scandals, problems are extremely rare in the five states that rely primarily on vote-by-mail, including the heavily Republican state of Utah." Trumps push for in-person voting runs counter to the current guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which urge Americans to maintain 6 feet (1.8 meters) of separation and avoid crowds. The CDC guidelines "encourage mail-in methods of voting if allowed in the jurisdiction," given the coronavirus threat. Last week, Trump threatened to "hold up" funding for Michigan and Nevada if they allowed more residents to cast mail-in or absentee ballots out of pandemic safety concerns. He later backed off the threat. Trump cast an absentee ballot by mail in the Florida Republican primary in March. A commission Trump convened after the 2016 election to investigate potential voting fraud disbanded without producing any findings. ___ `DEEP STATE TRUMP, on the 2016 election: "Im fighting the deep state. Im fighting the swamp. ... They never thought I was going to win, and then I won. And then they tried to get me out. That was the `insurance policy. Shes going to win, but just in case she doesnt win we have an insurance policy." - interview aired Sunday on "Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson." THE FACTS: He's repeating a false claim that there was a conspiracy afoot to take him out if he won the 2016 presidential race, based on a text message between two FBI employees. Trump has repeatedly depicted the two as referring to a plot - or insurance policy - to oust him from office if he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton. Its apparent from the text that it wasnt that. Agent Peter Strzok and lawyer Lisa Page, both now gone from the bureau, said the text messages reflected a debate about how aggressively the FBI should investigate Trump and his campaign when expectations at the time were that he would lose anyway. Strzok texted about something Page had said to the FBIs deputy director, to the effect that "theres no way he gets elected." But Strzok argued that the FBI should not assume Clinton would win: "Im afraid we cant take that risk." He likened the situation to "an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40." He has said he was not discussing a post-election plot to drive Trump from office. ___ VIRUS DRUG TRUMP, on why he considers hydroxychloroquine safe for the treatment of COVID-19: "Frankly, Ive heard tremendous reports. Many people think it saved their lives." - interview with Attkisson. TRUMP: "Ive received a lot of positive letters and it seems to have an impact. And maybe it does; maybe it doesnt. But if it doesnt, youre not going to get sick or die. This is a pill thats been used for a long time - for 30, 40 years on the malaria and on lupus too, and even on arthritis." - remarks on May 18. TRUMP: "It doesnt hurt people." - remarks Tuesday after a GOP policy lunch. THE FACTS: Hes wrong to assert there is no risk of harm if people take the malaria drug to try to prevent a coronavirus infection. Trumps own health agencies have cautioned that taking hydroxychloroquine to stave off the virus could be dangerous due to side effects. If the president is to be believed, he's taking the drug himself. Trump repeatedly has pushed hydroxychloroquine, with or without the antibiotic azithromycin. No large, rigorous studies have found them safe or effective for COVID-19, and they can cause heart rhythm problems and other serious side effects. The Food and Drug Administration has warned against the drug combination and said hydroxychloroquine should only be used for the coronavirus in hospitals and research settings. Two large observational studies, each involving about 1,400 patients in New York, recently found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine. Two new ones in the journal BMJ, one by French researchers and the other from China, reached the same conclusion. On Friday, a study published by the journal Lancet suggested that hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, with or without an antibiotic, did not help hospitalized patients and was tied to a greater risk of death or heart rhythm problems. Although it was observational rather than a rigorous test, its by far the largest so far to examine these drugs in real-world settings - nearly 100,000 patients in 671 hospitals on six continents. Researchers estimated that the death rate attributable to use of the drugs, with or without an antibiotic such as azithromycin, is roughly 13% versus 9% for patients not taking them. The drug has been available for decades to treat the mosquito-borne illness malaria; it is also prescribed for some lupus and arthritis patients. Technically, doctors can already prescribe the drug to patients with COVID-19, a practice known as off-label prescribing. But that is not the same as the FDA approving the drug specifically for the pandemic, which would mean it had met the agencys standards for safety and effectiveness. FDA regulators issued a warning alert last month in part based on increased reports of dangerous side effects called in to U.S. poison control centers. ___ TRUMP: "The only negative Ive heard was the study where they gave it - was it the VA? With, you know, people that arent big Trump fans gave it ...they had a report come out." - remarks on May 18. TRUMP: "It was given by, obviously, not friends of the administration." - remarks Tuesday at Cabinet meeting. TRUMP: "And if you look at the one survey, the only bad survey, they were giving it to people that were in very bad shape. They were very old, almost dead. It was a `Trump enemy statement.'" - remarks Tuesday after GOP policy lunch. THE FACTS: Theres no evidence of a political plot at the Department of Veterans Affairs or elsewhere to produce a study pointing to poor outcomes for veterans who took hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 in a bid to make Trump look bad. That study was led by independent researchers - at the University of Virginia and University of South Carolina - and grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Virginia school paid for the work. The study released last month found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine. The analysis, conducted by the researchers with VA approval, was not a rigorous experiment, nor was it peer-reviewed. Still, with 368 patients, it was the largest look at hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 at the time. Researchers stressed a "great and immediate need" to conduct the analysis due to limited scientific evidence on the drug's safety and "increasingly widespread use" both as a way to prevent COVID-19 and to treat it. Researchers analyzed medical records of male veterans hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus infection at VA medical centers who died or were discharged by April 11. About 28% of veterans who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone. "These findings highlight the importance of awaiting the results of ongoing prospective, randomized, controlled studies before widespread adoption of these drugs," the researchers wrote. Its also a point that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious diseases expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, has repeatedly made, urging caution on the drug. "Although there is anecdotal evidence that hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin may benefit people with COVID-19, we need solid data," Fauci said. No drug has been approved for treating the disease, although several have "emergency use" authorization. Most people who get COVID-19 recover. ___ TRUMP, on the study of VA hospital data: "If you look at that phony report that was put in, that report on the hydroxyl -- was given to people that were in extraordinarily bad condition -- extraordinarily bad, people that were dying." - remarks on May 18. TRUMP: "There was a false study done where they gave it to very sick people - extremely sick people, people that were ready to die. ... And the study came out. The people were ready to die. Everybody was old, had bad problems with hearts, diabetes, and everything else you can imagine." - remarks Tuesday at Cabinet meeting. VA SECRETARY ROBERT WILKIE: "They did not even look at what the president just mentioned - the various comorbidities that the patients who were referenced in that study had." - Cabinet meeting Tuesday. WILKIE: "The analysis did not adjust for patients clinical status." - letter on April 29 to veterans groups. THE FACTS: Trump and his VA secretary are incorrect. Researchers did use standard statistical methods to adjust for differences in the groups being compared, including clinical status and the presence of other chronic health conditions. They did not cherry-pick only the oldest or sickest ones who took the drug. Even though the VA hospital patients given the drug tended to be sicker than those in the comparison group, researchers still saw no benefit from the drug after taking that into account. The study included all VA patients treated with the drug. One of the measurements was whether it helped prevent the need for breathing machines. It didn't. Researchers did not track side effects, but noted there were hints hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs. The drug has long been known to have potentially serious side effects such as altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death. The study noted that the median age of the test group was over 65, meaning half the patients were below that and half above it. The NIH and others have more rigorous tests underway. ___ OBESITY HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, D-Calif., on Trump's statement that he's taking hydroxychloroquine: "Hes our president and I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists, especially in his age group and in his, shall we say, weight group - morbidly obese, they say." - interview Tuesday on CNN. THE FACTS: Trump is not "morbidly" obese. Trump is 73. At his last full checkup in February 2019 he passed the official threshold for being considered obese, with a body mass index of 30.4. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an index of 40 or above is considered "severe" obesity, which some also call "morbid" obesity. Pelosi's statement was not purely or even primarily an expression of concern about the president's health. She said later she was giving him "a dose of his own medicine" for his history of putting down women for their weight. ___ VETERANS TRUMP: "You know we got the Veterans Choice." - remarks Friday at veterans event. TRUMP: "Weve done the greatest job maybe of anything in the VA, because I got VA Choice ... approved." - remarks on May 18. THE FACTS: False. He didnt get Veterans Choice approved; President Barack Obama did in 2014. Trump expanded it, under a 2018 law known as the MISSION Act. ___ TRUMP: "Choice is when they wait for two months to see a doctor ... they go outside, they get themselves a good doctor, we pay the bill, and they get taken care of." - remarks Friday at veterans' event. THE FACTS: His suggestion that veterans no longer have waits for care because of the Choice program is also false. Since March, the VA actually has halted the programs key provisions that granted veterans the option to see private doctors if they endured long delays at VA, citing the pandemic. Internal VA emails obtained by The Associated Press reveal that some veterans are being turned away, even when private doctors are available to see them. The program allows veterans to see a private doctor for primary or mental health care if their VA wait is 20 days (28 for specialty care) or their drive to a VA facility is 30 minutes or more. But since the programs expansion in June 2018, the VA has not seen a major increase in veterans seeking private care. Two months ago, after the coronavirus outbreak, the VA also took the step of restricting veterans access to private doctors, citing the added risks of infection and limited capacity at private hospitals. Under the temporary guidelines, the VA is reviewing referrals for nonemergency care "on a case-by-case basis for immediate clinical need and with regard to the safety of the veteran when being seen in-person, regardless of wait time or drive time eligibility," according to VA spokeswoman Christina Noel. The department has boosted telehealth appointments and says VA referrals for private care will be made where it is "deemed safe" and private doctors are available. Veterans organizations and internal VA emails suggest the department is painting an overly rosy picture of health care access. "We have community facilities open and able to see patients; however, our Veterans are being denied community care granted under criteria of the MISSION Act," one VA employee wrote in a May 14 email to Tammy Czarnecki, an assistant deputy undersecretary for health operations at VA. The employee works in a rural region that covers Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Oklahoma, where private doctors are often key to filling gaps in VA care. The person said veterans were being told by their local VAs they may need to wait "well past July, August or September" for private care, according to the email, which was provided to the AP on condition the sender not be identified. Czarneckis office replied by referring the employee to the VA guidance that set forth the restrictions due to a pandemic. The VA on Thursday said referrals had increased in the employees city during the pandemic. It did not provide figures. The VA, which announced this past week it would start returning to more normal operations, hasnt said when it will remove its temporary restrictions on Choice. ___ Marchione, AP's chief medical writer, reported from Milwaukee. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report. ___ EDITOR'S NOTE - A look at the veracity of claims by political figures. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apnews.com/APFactCheck Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck FILE - This Monday, April 6, 2020 file photo shows an arrangement of hydroxychloroquine pills in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) FILE - In this May 19, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump speaks with reporters after meeting with Senate Republicans at their weekly luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) President Donald Trump talks to reporters before departing the White House for a trip to Michigan, Thursday, May 21, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Vice President Joe Biden was interviewed for the Friday morning broadcast of The Breakfast Club, a drive-time program popular with a younger black and Latino audience. In the course of the interview, he bristled when challenged about his record of support for law-and-order legislation that put hundreds of thousands of African American men in prison. He defended his support for the 1994 crime bill, the 1986 crime bill and other repressive laws he helped draft and push through Congress in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee (a position he owed at least in part to his long collaboration with Southern racists, both Democratic and Republican, from James Eastland to Strom Thurmond). When a Biden scheduler intervened to cut off the interview, host Charlamagne Tha God protested, You cant do that to black media. Then he urged Biden to come back on the show before the November 3 election because there were more questions about his record to be answered. You got more questions, Biden retorted. But Ill tell you, if you have a problem figuring out whether youre for me or Trump, then you aint black. This arrogant comeback became a 24-hour sensation in the American media. Suddenly nothing was as important, particularly the ever-mounting death toll from coronavirus which reached 100,000 on the same weekend, as the furor over the Biden gaffe. The Trump reelection campaign branded Bidens remark racist and dehumanizing, apparently not seeing the irony of such words coming from advocates of the most openly racist occupant of the White House in modern history and one who delights in dehumanizing every political opponent. Bidens use of faux dialecthis aint was only the last of a series of such efforts to fake street talk in the course of the 15-minute interviewcame in for denunciations from the usual guardians of racial identity politics, who rapped the knuckles of the former vice president because he, as a white man, presumed to expound on who should be considered legitimately black. Biden himself issued an apology within hours, going out of his way to address the US National Black Chamber of Commerce, an organization of African-American businessmen, rather than delegating the appearance to a surrogate as had been planned. He should not have been such a wise guy, Biden said, calling his remark cavalier and denying that he would ever take for granted black support in the election. I dont take it for granted at all, he said, and no one should have to vote for any party based on their race, religion or background. There are African Americans who think Trump is worth voting for. I dont think so, and Im prepared to put my record against his, that was the bottom line, and it was really unfortunate, I shouldnt have been so cavalier. In both his retort and his apology, Biden was seeking to reduce the political choice in the 2020 election to himself and Trump, the Democrats vs. the Republicans, upholding the two-party monopoly whose destruction is the urgent political task of the working class. And he was seeking use the totally unscientific and reactionary category of race to help him reinforce this monopoly. This is the hallmark of the Democratic Party, which has long ago abandoned reformist appeals to the working class, the staple of its politics in the New Deal period, in favor of appealing to sections of the upper middle class on the basis of identity politics, the politics of race, gender and sexual orientation, not class. Biden conceded, in his remarks to the black businessmen, that some might be Republicans. And indeed, there is a layer of wealthy blacks, personified by the new billionaire, Kanye West, who openly support Trump. But he made no reference to the substance of the questions raised on The Breakfast Club about his own right-wing law-and-order record, which might suggest a left-wing rather than right-wing critique of the Democratic Party. Charlamagne Tha God (born Lenard Larry McKelvey) is no political innocent, having built a lucrative career as a radio and TV talk show host and advocate of black enrichment. His 2017 book, Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It, which he called a self-help guide for the hood, was published by a major New York publisher, Simon & Schuster, and favorably reviewed in the New York Times, a sure sign that the author was not viewed as an opponent by the financial aristocracy. He first pressed Biden on the question of selecting a black female running mate, citing multimillionaire Sean (P. Diddy) Combs on the Democratic Party practice of taking black voters for granted, suggesting that Biden should use the vice presidential pick to offset his own record on issues of concern to African Americans. Despite being framed in racial terms, the questions that followed on Bidens law-and-order record were nonetheless both legitimate and more persistent that those Biden had been accustomed to encounter from the servile pro-Democratic Party corporate media, and the candidates answers became increasingly defensive and irate. Biden openly lied about the impact of the crime bill and other legislation, and was forced to fall back on the argumentrevealing in its own rightthat all of these bills had the overwhelming support of the Congressional Black Caucus and the black mayors of major cities. Biden owes his likely presidential nomination to these same figures in the black Democratic Party establishment, notably Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the number three Democrat in the House, who intervened at the critical point, pushing Biden to victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary after he had begun the presidential contest with three humiliating defeats in a row, trailing Senator Bernie Sanders in the national poll. The media furor which followed had its serious side as well. It became the occasion for stepping up the pressure on Biden to select a running mate who would be acceptable to the Democratic Party establishment, a right-wing black female like Senator Kamala Harris, defeated Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, or Florida Representative Val Demings, one of the House managers for the impeachment of Trump, as opposed to making any gestures towards the Sanders wing of the party, where there is support for Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. And given Bidens age, 77, and his history of ill health, including narrowly surviving a burst aneurysm, the selection of a vice president could well amount to selecting his successor, not merely in 2024 or 2028, but far earlier. This with American capitalism plunging into a crisis of unparalleled dimensions, under the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic, can have explosive implications, not merely before the November 3 election, but before the Democratic National Convention in August. A pro-democracy supporter is detained by riot police during an anti-government rally in Hong Kong - Getty Taiwan will provide the people of Hong Kong with "necessary assistance", President Tsai Ing-wen said, after thousands in the Chinese ruled territory protested against Beijing's plans to impose new national security laws. Taiwan has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong, which has been convulsed since last year by anti-Beijing and anti-Hong Kong government protests. Hong Kong police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of people who rallied on Sunday to protest against Beijing's move to introduce new national security laws. Writing on her Facebook page late on Sunday, Ms Tsai said the proposed legislation was a serious threat to Hong Kong's freedoms and judicial independence. Bullets and repression are not the way to deal with the aspirations of Hong Kong's people for freedom and democracy, she added. "In face of the changing situation, the international community has proactively stretched out a helping hand to Hong Kong's people," Ms Tsai wrote. Pro-democracy supporters take part in an anti-government rally - Getty Taiwan will "even more proactively perfect and forge ahead with relevant support work, and provide Hong Kong's people with necessary assistance", she wrote. Taiwan has no law on refugees that could be applied to Hong Kong protesters who seek asylum on the island. Its laws do promise, though, to help Hong Kong citizens whose safety and liberty are threatened for political reasons. The number of Hong Kong immigrants to Taiwan jumped 150 per cent to 2,383 in the first four months of 2020 from the same period last year, official data shows. Johnny Chiang, chairman of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, said Ms Tsai's government was vocal about support for Hong Kong on the election campaign trail but had failed to provide meaningful help since Ms Tsai was re-elected in January. "Don't let 'supporting Hong Kong' only be a slogan of empty promises ... Bring up your thoughts on legislation. Support Hong Kong with real actions," Mr Chiang said, referring to parliamentary bills to give political asylum for people from Hong Kong. Story continues Riot police officers going through clearance operation during a protest in Causeway Bay - Anadolu The small New Power Party also urged Ms Tsai's cabinet to establish a special task force to give "tangible assistance" to Hong Kong people. The Hong Kong protests have won widespread sympathy in Taiwan, and the support for the protesters by Ms Tsai and her administration have worsened already poor ties between Taipei and Beijing. China has accused supporters of Taiwan independence of colluding with the protesters. China believes Ms Tsai to be a "separatist" bent on declaring the island's formal independence. Ms Tsai says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name. Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - The Palestinian government is ending its two-month coronavirus lockdown in the occupied West Bank, prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh announced Monday after a steady decline in new cases. Shops and businesses will operate as normal from Tuesday, while government employees will return to work after the Eid holiday on Wednesday, Shtayyeh told a press conference. Mosques, churches and public parks will also reopen, though with social distancing measures. Public transport will resume. Cafes and restaurants would be reopened but subject to restrictions to be announced in the coming days, he added. "The easing in the measures and gradual return to normal life is being taken with caution," Shtayyeh said, warning that an increase in cases could lead to restrictions being reinstated. The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority declared a state of emergency in March to try to quell the spread of COVID-19. There have been more than 400 cases in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, with three deaths. In Gaza, which is controlled by a rival Hamas-led government, the easing of measures began several weeks ago. The lockdown in the West Bank had been due to remain in place until June 5 but was ended early with few new cases in recent weeks. Air travel is set to resume from Monday across the country and many of the states have opted to set their own rules instead of following the Centres guidelines for departing and disembarking passengers. States have announced varied quarantine and self-isolation rules for arriving passengers. Several states said passengers will be taken to a facility only if they show symptoms of fever or coughin line with Union government guidelines released on Sundaywhile several have decided to additionally mandate or suggest self-isolation for either 14 or 28 days, even if a traveller is asymptomatic. Also read| Domestic flight services resume: All you need to know Heres what the states have to say: Maharashtra The Mumbai airport will deal with only 50 domestic flights per day from Monday. Even those without symptoms likely to get home quarantine stamp. And, those coming to the city for a short duration are likely to be exempt. Also Watch | Covid-19: India now 10th biggest hotspot, varied quarantine rules as flights resume Tamil Nadu The state government had earlier written to the Centre asking for domestic air travel to be deferred to the lockdowns end on May 31. It has allowed 25 flights and released a standard operating procedure (SOP) on quarantine. Asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic travellers will undergo 14-day quarantine at either home or hotel. Moderately and severely-affected people will be hospitalised. All passengers will be stamped with a quarantine seal with indelible ink and cannot leave the airport without it. Delhi Passengers who land in the national capitals at the Indira Gandhi International airport and are asymptomatic will not require quarantine or isolation. Asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to go with the advice that they shall self-monitor their health for 14 days. In case they develop any symptoms, they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call centre on 1075. Those found symptomatic will be isolated and taken to the nearest health facility. They will be assessed for clinical severity in the health facility. Those having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated Covid-19 health facilities and managed accordingly. Those with mild symptoms will be given the option of home isolation or isolated in a Covid-19 care centre. Karnataka It has said that passengers travelling from high incidence zones, such as Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, will have to stay under institutional or state-run quarantine for seven days and home quarantine for another week. Those flying in from states not considered high incidence zones will be home quarantined for 14 days. Medical professionals, members of the defence services, paramilitary and railway services will also be home quarantined for 14 days. However, businesspersons travelling with a Covid-19 negative test certificate from an Indian Council of Medical Research-approved lab two days before the date of travel will not be quarantined. Punjab The state government has also announced a 14-day home quarantine for those entering the state via flight, train or bus. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said on Saturday that rapid testing teams would check on all who have been home quarantined within a period of 14 days to ensure no violation and strict compliance of rules. Those found symptomatic will be kept in isolation and Covid-19 test will be conducted on them. Goa On arrival passengers will be given an option of getting themselves Rs 2,000 or they may opt for a mandatory 14-day home quarantine if they do not have symptoms. If someone has the symptoms, they will be tested. Chandigarh The Union territory administration will also keep contact details of all passengers, as well as getting them to sign an undertaking. Kerala Entry passes will be a must for all domestic passengers, which can be obtained from a website. Those without the pass will have to undergo a 14-day institutional quarantine. The quarantine will not be necessary for travellers on business and others who will be in the state for a brief time. Chhattisgarh Even those without symptom will have to quarantine themselves for 14 days. However, passengers can choose between home or hotel quarantine. Bihar No provision of quarantining passengers who do not have the symptoms of the coronavirus disease. Assam All incoming passengers will have to undergo a screening and be under 14 days of quarantine in home and institutional facility. Those who test negative will be allowed to go home earlier but will have to be in isolation till the completion of 14 days. Mizoram Only permanent residents of the state and government employees stranded in other parts will be allowed to return. Mizoram will require incoming passengers to undergo 14 days of institutional quarantine. Meghalaya Passengers will be picked up from the Guwahati airport and brought to Shillong or Tura. They will be kept in an institutional quarantine for at least 48 hours and their tests will be conducted. Those found negative will be allowed to go home. Tripura and Manipur Tripura will conduct pool testing and Manipur will test symptomatic people and ask them to undergo home quarantine for 14 days. Jammu and Kashmir All passengers arriving in the Union territory will have to undergo institutional quarantine for a fortnight. Uttar Pradesh The state will send those who intend to stay in the state to 14 days home quarantine. They will be tested after six days and can end isolation if it returns negative. Those without a separate room and toilet for isolation can opt for institutional quarantine. Those in the state for a week need to provide details and a return ticket before leaving the airport. All passengers must register on https://reg.upcovidin. Rajasthan All passengers arriving at the Jaipur airport will have to undergo 14 days of home quarantine. Those coming for business and those with a negative report will be allowed to move around after seven days. Madhya Pradesh Passengers will have to go to a government facility for testing, if they have symptoms. Only passengers testing negative will be kept in institutional quarantine for 10 days. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Telangana wont stop asymptotic passengers. All symptomatic passengers arriving in Andhra Pradesh will have to undergo quarantine when services resume from Tuesday. Asymptotic passengers will have to be in home isolation for 14 days. Odisha Twelve flights will begin operating from the Bhubaneswar airport from Monday and three from Jharsuguda. If someone is coming for three days or 72 hours, no mandatory quarantine is needed. If someone is going out three days or 72 hours, no quarantine is required after coming back. For others, 14-day home or institutional quarantine is necessary. Uttarakhand The state has said a decision will be taken depending on the passengers health examination and travel history. Himachal Pradesh It will allow only residents of the state to fly in and they will have to undergo thermal screening and will be quarantined for 28 daysseven days at an institutional facility and 21 days at home. Non-resident passengers will not be allowed entry and will be sent back from institutional quarantine to their state. New Delhi, May 25 : For New York-based, Delhi-born artist Tara Sabharwal, life in lockdown had been marred with a patch of ill health; but after recovery, painting has remained her way to feel and to process her thoughts. To help her to find meaning, structure and sanity. 'Arriving' at drawings of small sinister organisms, menacingly beautiful cellular creatures in armor, with jelly-like frightened interiors, Tara's art makes one hope that the end of the tunnel is near. "Creatures, who, like us, are battling to survive. And we will survive." The artist is part of #ArtForHope, a digital series by Art Alive Gallery that showcases the artworks that artists are creating during the lockdown, how they are spending time and what they have to say about the times we are living in. The initiative, started by the art gallery's director Sunaina Anand, aims to bring hope and positivity during these unprecedented times. Some of the participating artists are Anjolie Ela Menon, Paresh Maity, Jogen Chowdhury, Sakti Burman, Maite Delteil, Ranbir Kaleka, Jayshri Burman, Krishan Khanna, Jatin Das, Gopi Gajwani, Debashish Mukherjee, Chandro Bhattacharjee, and Tara Sabharwal. While veteran artist Krishen Khanna is happy to be home -- "If I was young the lockdown would have affected me. At my age I don't go out, I'm home and I paint in my studio, I enjoy that. I like to spend the day in my studio where I'm always surrounded by my friends on the wall", he says -- artist Anjolie Ela Menon, has converted her living room into her makeshift studio. A place where she once entertained guests and caught up with friends, Anjolie now spends part of her day painting with whatever material she has. Kolkata-based artist Jogen Chowdhury, whose works document the effect of sociopolitical conditions on mankind in a very sensitive way, is living at present in his home, and his recent drawings depict a fierce fight between the human kind and the virus. The campaign also takes viewers to Sakti Burman, who usually is back in his studio in Anthe, south of France at this time of the year, but is in India due to lockdown. His time is divided between reading and painting. Often his thoughts are reflective of the life spent between India and France and thinking about his children who are in France. He spends most of his time in his studio painting and hoping for love and peace. "50+ days of lockdown have changed our whole world. We have in every true sense become 'One World' where our fears, anxiety, aspirations, hope and prayers are the same. Over the last month, in my conversations with our artist friends, one thing that has stood out is the optimism in their thoughts. A hope for a better tomorrow. Art has the power to heal and in these times, only being hopeful will help us tide over this difficult phase," gallerist Sunaina Anand said. The gallery will continue to add more artist names to the series, which is available to watch on its social media platforms and website. (Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and European countries amounted to $8 billion in 1Q2020 compared to $7.7 billion during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee. The share of European countries in total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover was 38.1 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 37.9 percent during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export to European countries amounted to $6.5 billion over the period from January through March 2020 compared to $6.4 billion during the same period of 2019. European countries share in total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to 47.2 percent during the reporting period of 2020, compared to 48.4 percent during the same period of 2019. In turn, Kazakhstans import from European countries amounted to $1.4 billion over 1Q2020 compared to $1.2 billion during the same period of 2019. European countries total share in Kazakhstans import was 20.2 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 18.1 percent during the same period of 2019. Total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover amounted to $21 billion in 1Q2020 which indicates an increase from $20.4 billion during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export amounted to $13.9 billion during the reporting period of 2020 ($13.3 billion in the same period of 2019), whereas import amounted to $7.09 billion ($7.1 billion). --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Latest research suggests that SARS-2 coronavirus infects the outer layering of tissues in the upper respiratory organs leading to the loss of smell and taste. However, the virus does not cause permanent damage to the infected tissues which explains why patients regain these senses within one month of falling sick. Looking at the nasal tissues we found that the virus was infecting the olfactory epithelium which is involved in the smell, John Nicholls, clinical professor in pathology, said in an interview last week. Nicholls and his team at Hong Kong University conducted experiments on hampsters exposed to the virus to study how COVID-19 affects various organs of the body. Olfactory epithelium are tissues which form the outer lining inside the nasal cavities. And these cells are part of the sensory system and provide the sense of smell to humans and animals. Loss of smell and taste are two recurring symptoms in patients infected by the novel coronavirus. Some countries have used these symptoms as diagnostic criterion for early detection and isolation of suspected carriers. Others like Britain have had to update their quarantine guidelines to recommend self-isolation for people experiencing anosmia -- loss or change of the sense of smell. But the good news from the Hong Kong University study, Prof Nicholls says is that during the infection the nerve itself is not damaged but it is just the cells which sense the smell. It will take a while for the cell to grow back once they are damaged but they seem to regrow themselves. A study published by the University of California in April had indicated the disease is more severe in patients not experiencing anosmia. Only 27 percent of hospitalised patients showed loss of smell and taste as compared to 67 percent of those not hospitalised and showing milder clinical symptoms. So severe disease is not normally associated with loss of smell and taste and mild disease tends to be associated with the loss of these two functions. Nicholls explains. Loss of smell and taste does not necessarily indicate exposure to COVID-19. Anosmia is a symptom associated with many other diseases, including common flu which continues to claim more than 2,50,000 lives world over every year. However, the COVID-19 virus is considerably more contagious than the common influenza and has a relatively higher mortality rate. Chinas border foul play is to divert attention from its internal and international miseries India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 25: The fear of an economic collapse and the increasing resentment is what has led to China's adventurism at the Line of Actual Control. The pandemic has hit China hard and the country has been facing a severe crisis. There are internal problems, apart from growing pressure from the international community which has accused the country of concealing information relating to the spread of the virus. With several companies threatening to shut shop in China and move to other countries, there is this growing concern about economic concerns as well. While Chinese President, Xi Jinping faces no threat to his seat, there are uncomfortable questions that are being asked by the Chinese People's Consultative Conference, which is the country's most powerful political advisory. As tensions rise, India says change in status quo by China at LAC is not acceptable In this backdrop, the National People's Congress was called to discuss on the development plan for the next five years. This would give the Chinese leadership a platform to respond to both the internal and International issues. India-China border dispute: India says China creating hindrance along LAC | Oneindia News Top officials in New Delhi tell OneIndia that, China's adventurism at the border is only aimed at creating a diversion. Their actions are more pre-emptive in nature to sidestep from the uncomfortable questions that the leadership would face. There is mounting pressure on the leadership to explain the handling of the pandemic. What has made matters worse is the pressure from the international community and the businesses moving away, the official also explained. In this context, China has also been pushing Nepal to take an aggressive stance against India. Nepal had last week endorsed a new political map, showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura under its territory, amidst the border dispute with India. Nepal's ruling Nepal Communist Party lawmakers also tabled a special resolution in Parliament demanding the return of Nepal's territory in Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh. Tension mounts in Ladakh as China brings in more troops; India steps up vigil While officials in India do not say it in as many words, it is clear that the change in body language by Nepal is owing to the push made by China. The official cited above explained that the intention is to paint India in bad light and show it as the aggressor. China expects that this would help the leadership in changing the narrative back home as well as internationally. Hence, it is a ploy by China to turn the attention away from it, the officer further explained. In addition to this, China also wants to divert attention from the issues in Hong Kong as well as Taiwan. The other issue for China is that India is leaning towards the United States. India, like several other nations is in favour of a probe to find out about how the virus originated. This does not bode well with China and it badly wants India to change its strategy, where siding with the United States is concerned. Meanwhile, the Chinese military has been fast increasing its troops in areas around Pangong Two Lake and Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. China is trying to send a clear signal that it is not ready to end the confrontation with the Indian Army. The Chinese side has increased its presence in the Galwan Valley and has erected around 100 tents in the past two weeks. It has also been bringing in machinery for possible construction of bunkers, despite the stiff protest by the Indian troops. In this backdrop Indian Army Chief, General M M Naravane paid a visit to the headquarters of the 14 Corps in Leh and reviewed the situation with the top commanders. Published on 2020/05/25 | Source Teachers prepare for the return of their students at a middle school in Seoul on Sunday. /Yonhap The Education Ministry on Sunday announced a student dispersion plan for schools in case of an emergency as most kids return to school this week. Schoolkids will be marshalled so that fewer of them are crowded into classrooms amid fears of coronavirus infection. Advertisement Kindergarteners, elementary schoolchildren in first and second grades, middle schoolchildren in ninth grade, and high school students in 11th grade go back to school on Wednesday. Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae urged schools in areas where there are fears about community infections to keep the number of students at school at any one time to fewer than two-thirds of the total. The ministry earlier asked schools to spread their students out over different classrooms or even teach them alternately one week online, one week off. The ministry cited the Seoul metropolitan area, Daegu, and Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province as high risk regions. Some 420,000 high school seniors already returned to school last Wednesday, and this week some 2.37 million children and youngsters follow. Concerns are growing, with parents of kindergarteners and elementary schoolchildren, who have difficulties adjusting to wearing masks and social distancing, call for further postponements. "We'll discuss with health authorities detailed guidelines on wearing masks at school considering that temperatures are rising", a ministry official said. Under earlier guidelines, schools can turn on air conditioners as long as more than one-third of windows are open. According to a poll of parents by education firm Yoons English School, 71.6 percent said they will plead private learning activities to keep their kids out of school for the permissible number of days. Among parents of children in lower elementary school grades, 38.3 percent said they will allow their kids to return to school only a week later once they see what is going on. Some 28.9 percent said they will keep their kids out of school as long as possible. A 38-year-old mother of a first grader said, "The school has told us that my kid can attend school at least once a week, but I still feel uneasy". Under the ministry guidelines, elementary schoolchildren are allowed home-schooling. In Seoul that means up to 34 days without losing points for attendance, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Teachers have also expressed concerns. A 32-year-old elementary school teacher in Seoul said, "It's not easy for young kids to keep wearing masks, which even adults find uncomfortable, during breaks and before and after school". "Chances of infection grow significantly the moment kids come to school, however hard we may try", the teacher added. Google Messages is reportedly working on end-to-end encryption for RCS messages, according to 9to5Google. This follows investigations into a build of Google Messages version 6.2 which was leaked by APKMirror. While were still actively looking through the many changes found within, one in particular stood out end-to-end encryption for RCS messages, said 9to5Google. In fact, there are a total of twelve new strings in the app that make reference to encryption, it said. RCS messages RCS messaging comprises a range of standards to replace traditional SMS and MMS on Android devices. Improvements over traditional SMS technology include support for group chats, video chats, calls, and the sending of high-quality images. Users can also send read receipts (the equivalent of the blue tick feature in WhatsApp) and see when someone is typing all features that users have come to expect from messaging apps. RCS is currently only available in a few countries, but the goal is to have it replace SMS globally on Android devices. Encrypted RCS Details are limited on what the requirements would be for sending an encrypted message, 9to5Google said. Its possible that both parties will need to be using the Google Messages app, though this could change once more apps gain support, said the report. However, 9to5Google said that both the sender and recipient will definitely need to have a strong Internet connection for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to be transmitted successfully. If either of you has a poor connection, Google Messages will offer to send your message through SMS or MMS as a fallback method, it added. 9to5Google also found that Google Messages plans to implement additional security measures to protect end-to-end encrypted RCS messages including whether other apps can see your encrypted messages. As all of this is only just beginning to appear in a dogfood build of Google Messages; we still have a bit of waiting to do before end-to-end encryption arrives for RCS, said the report. That said, its clear Google wants RCS to be a legitimate competitor to iMessage. Now read: WhatsApp and Twitter in the firing line over privacy Jaymes Jackson, 21, was killed in a shooting in downtown St. Louis, 3.29am Sunday morning Four men have died and more than fifteen others have been injured in sixteen separate shootings throughout St. Louis City, Missouri, Sunday night. The first shooting of the weekend took place at 5pm on Saturday as a man was taken to hospital with wounds after being shot at Union and Thekla Avenue. A second shooting took place just hours later at 7.10 pm, when a 14-year-old girl was shot in the 1400 block of North Market, reports KMOV4. Later that day 36-year-old Robert Cannon was found dead at 5300 block of Cote Brilliante at 9pm, a teen had also been shot in the foot. Just thirty minutes later 15-year-old Malik Valley was shot in the 3900 block of Evans, he later died in hospital from his injuries. He was shot by a friend who had been playing with a gun, said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Another teen, 16, was shot by a man in his 40s from a black truck just hours later at 11pm as the boy stood at the corner of Virginia and Bates, reports KMOV4. Jaymes Jackson, 21, was killed in a shooting on Sunday morning which took place after a large crowd gathered at a gas station on the 900 block of South Broadway in downtown St.Louis One man, in his 50s, was shot several times inside his car, which crashed into a pole, in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood just after midnight. He later died at a hospital, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Jaymes Jackson, 21, was killed in separate shooting downtown at 3.29am on Sunday morning, that also left a 22-year-old man in critical and unstable condition after being shot. The shooting took place as a large crowd gathered at a gas station on the 900 block of South Broadway in downtown St.Louis City. Some of other Sunday morning shootings include a 43-year-old man who was shot when a number of people ran up and fired at him as he was leaving a gas station in the 1300 block of Hodiamont. A man was grazed in the head after having an argument with two people when leaving a motel at 2.15am on 3600 block of Hamilton Avenue in Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood Later at 1.02am on Sunday night four people were shot at Union Boulevard and Cote Brilliante Avenue, they are receiving treatment in hospital. At 1.44am two men, ages 34 and 18, and a woman, age 21, were shot whilst in a car in the 2500 block of Semple Avenue, in the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood - they are receiving treatment in hospital. In the third gas station shooting of the weekend, which took place at around 1.14am, a 22-year-old woman was shot while leaving the 2800 block of North Vandeventer in the Greater Ville neighborhood. Shootings continued into the early morning as another man was grazed in the head by a bullet after having an argument with two people when leaving a motel at 2.15am on the 3600 block of Hamilton Avenue in the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood, reports The St.Louis Post-Dispatch. At 2.59am another man was shot in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood, at North Garrison Avenue and Hebert Street. He was taken to hospital for treatment, said police. At 2.45am another man was dropped off at hospital after being shot in the shoulder, he told police he had been shot by an attacker who had got out of a pickup truck on Romaine Place and Hodiamont Avenue, in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood. Similar violence unfolded in Chicago, Illinois over the weekend. As of Monday morning there were nine people dead, including a 16-year-old boy, and at least 17 wounded in Memorial Day weekend gun violence. As of Monday morning there were nine people dead, including a 16-year-old boy, and at least 17 wounded in Memorial Day weekend gun violence in Chicago Four people were shot, one fatally, on Saturday in Lawndale, scene above The most recent shooting was a man shot and killed inside a vehicle in an ally in the 400 block of East Third Street on Sunday. He was struck once in the facial area and taken the Advocate Christ Medical Center where he died, according to NBC Chicago. Hours earlier another man was shot in the head on the 1000 block of North Drake at 7.44am on Sunday, according to police. On Saturday just after 10pm a 16-year-old boy was waking in the 6100 block of South Indiana when a man walked up to him and fired multiple shots, hitting him in the chest and arm, cops said. The boy was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where he later died. Cops have recovered a weapon near the scene and put a possible suspect into custody following a brief foot pursuit. Also on Saturday shots from an unknown vehicle fired outside a residence on the 3900 block of West Grenshaw. Four people were outside a residence and a 35-year-old man was fatally shot and three others injured. Two other victims, a 23-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, were listed in fair condition the hospital. A 43-year-old man who sustained a graze wound to the arm and refused treatment. No one had been arrested as of Saturday evening in the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 22:18:56|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state have joined lawmakers and political advisors in deliberating and discussing a draft decision on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), at the annual sessions of the national legislature and political advisory body. The draft decision of the National People's Congress on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security is under deliberation at the national legislature. To establish and improve at the state level the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security is a necessary move to plug Hong Kong's legal loopholes in national security, said the leaders. The move will ensure the steady and enduring development of "one country, two systems," the leaders said. It embodies the strong will and firm determination of the central authorities to safeguard national security, they noted. It also shows the central authorities' resolute protection of and their greatest concern about the overall interests of the HKSAR and the fundamental wellbeing of Hong Kong compatriots, they said. The move is of vital significance and will have profound influence, they added. During the deliberations and discussions, the leaders explained the necessity, importance, legitimacy and legality of the move and its significance and general requirements. They said safeguarding national security is fundamentally the same as respecting and protecting human rights. Political advisors and lawmakers vowed to take an active part in resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability to make the "one country, two systems" cause go steadily and far. Enditem Gautam Pingle By The Constitution provides for the distribution of power between the Union and states, granting some subjects to the Union and others to the states. In some subjects, both the Union and states have power. When the Congress party controlled both the Union and states, the political equations overrode the constitutional balance. With coalition governments at the Union and other governments in the states, there was a restoration of the constitutional balance due to political considerations. Union taxes devolved by the Finance Commission, Unions share of national projects and other Union grants-in-aid make up 40% to 70% of total state revenues. Most state revenue comes from sales taxes, taxes on alcohol, and fees on land and property transfers. States are also allowed to borrow money by raising bonds based on the guarantee of the Union government. The BJP-led NDA government enacted the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM) in 2003 to ensure financial discipline in the states. In 2017, to provide a uniform tax regime across different states, the BJP-led Union government implemented a national Goods and Services Tax (GST) that replaced all state sales taxes. The lockdown of the national economy and society has changed this pre-Covid state of affairs. Several factors are responsible for this extraordinary situation. First, the power to impose, vary and lift the lockdown is with the Union government. States cannot dilute the Union guidelines though they are permitted to adopt more severe steps. As a result, the general population as well as the commercial and industrial entities depend on the Union rather than their states for guidance. The Public Health (Prevention, Control, and Management of Epidemics, Bio-terrorism and Disasters) Bill pending since 2017 will probably become law through an ordinance and provide additional powers to the Union government to intervene in the states. Second, elected leaders are not capable of handling a general crisis. Their general competence lies in their desire and ability to dispense state funds and other political favours. When there is a general crisis, the political leadership prefers to hand over its management to the bureaucracy. This will allow them to take credit for the success, if any, and to attribute failure to the bureaucracy, if and when that happens. In this present crisis, it is the bureaucracy dominated by the IAS, IPS and state services that is at the forefront. The bureaucracy will likely rise to the occasion and assert their integrity and independence even after the crisis. Third, with the shutdown of economic activity, state revenues have collapsed. Some states have gone to the extent of cutting salaries, pensions and laying off contract personnel in their governments. The FRBM and the need for approval by the Union government restrict market borrowing by the states. Taking into account these three factors, it seems clear that the post-crisis scenario of Union-state relations will see a reset in favour of the Union. The states need financial assistance as they are now bankrupt. The Reserve Bank of India has already debited state accounts for payments defaulted by some states. In this context, the Union will likely have to assume financial responsibility for the states. Article 360 of the Constitution provides for the declaration of a state of financial emergency by the Union when the financial stability or the credit of the Union or any state is threatened. The Union government can then give directions to states, such as reduction of salaries and allowances of all government employees, including those of judges. During emergency, all state budgets passed by their Assemblies would need the approval of the Union. The Union will take measures towards the bankrupt states, not unlike the steps IMF and the World Bank take to assist member nations that are in financial distress. This financial assistance to the states will be conditional on measures taken to reduce unproductive expenditure, increase taxes and stimulate economic growth and productive investment. The objective will be to produce surplus state budgets to pay off existing liabilities. In this scenario, the entire focus of the country will be on the actions and policies of the Union government, with the state governments playing a very minimal and subordinate role. It is also likely that the bureaucracy, especially the All-India Services, manning the states will be the instruments of the Union government. In case of failure in governance in a state, its administration can be taken over by the Union. An opportunity for radical change within the constitutional framework has arisen due to an extraneous and massive event nobody was expecting. Time will tell how the reset evolves. All one can say is that things will change. (Email: gautam.pingle @gmail.com) Gautam Pingle Head, Centre for Telangana Studies, MCR-HRD Institute of Telangana You can get five-year fixed rates under 3% and 10-year fixed rates under 4%, Trail said. Again, a stress test is important, but why cant it be a five-year fixed rate plus 1%, or why isnt the 10-year fixed simply the test? Ten years seems like a good indication of the confidence the professional economists have in their lending. Market analysts have said that getting more Canadians to participate in homebuying would benefit the economy every step of the way until it regains its footing. For instance, Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart recently said that the city might encounter a major speed bump soon: A budget deficit will likely stem from an estimated 45% of homeowners not being able to pay their mortgages in full this month. Stewart also said that only 68% were able to fully pay their April mortgages. These figures bode poorly for the citys property tax collection. The only way we can stay afloat is with the help of the federal and provincial governments, Stewart told CTV News. Otherwise, local governments will be forced to take drastic measures that will hurt residents and businesses and significantly slow any post-pandemic economic recovery. More than two weeks after Jordans King Abdullah issued what can only be described as the sternest warning to Israel if it goes ahead with its annexation plans, Jordanians and Israelis are still wondering how Amman will react if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does go ahead with his intention to annex parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley as early as July. In his May 15 interview with German magazine Der Spiegel, the king warned of a massive conflict between Jordan and Israel if Israel really annexed the West Bank in July. I dont want to make threats and create an atmosphere of loggerheads, but we are considering all options. We agree with many countries in Europe and the international community that the law of strength should not apply in the Middle East, the king was quoted as saying. In what was seen as doubling down on the kings position, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz told the official Jordanian news agency Petra May 21, [Jordan] will not accept this [annexation], and accordingly, there will be an opportunity for us to reconsider the relationship with Israel in all its dimensions, but we will not rush ahead of things. He added that the Israeli plans come in exceptional circumstances represented by the coronavirus pandemic and the world's preoccupation with it, and that it became clear that there is an intention on the Israeli side to take advantage of the current situation in order to impose unilateral measures on the ground. Razzazs statement came a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared May 20, "The PLO and the state of Palestine are absolved, as of today, of all the agreements and understandings with the American and Israeli governments and of all the commitments based on these understandings and agreements, including the security ones. Jordan has not commented on the Palestinian decision although a source close to the Jordanian government, who requested anonymity, told Al-Monitor that Jordan was in favor of the Palestinians engaging the [Donald] Trump administration in order to delay or foil Israels annexation plans. Netanyahu, who formed a new government May 17 and vowed to extend Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, had not responded to King Abdullahs warning. But newly appointed Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi of the Blue and White party that partnered with Netanyahus Likud was quoted by the Jerusalem Post May 18 as saying that he saw a great importance in strengthening the ties with the countries with which we have peace, Egypt and Jordan. He added that both countries are the most important allies in dealing with regional challenges. Israeli pundits have been divided over the kings remarks. While some, including former security officials, have cautioned Netanyahu over the risk to the peace treaty with Jordan if he goes ahead with annexation, especially of the Jordan Valley; others, particularly those on the far right, have attacked the king with one commentator describing his warning as empty threats, adding that the peace treaty guarantees the survival of his regime. But what would Jordan do if Netanyahu does go ahead with annexation? Al-Monitor has learned that Jordan is considering, among other options, suspending parts of the 1994 peace treaty claiming that the Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley violates the delineation of borders between Israel and Jordan, in addition to being illegal under international law and pertinent United Nations resolutions. Immediate reaction may include expelling the Israeli ambassador in Amman and recalling the Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv. The unilateral annexation of parts of the West Bank is seen as presenting an existential threat to Jordans national security. It not only renders the two-state solution irrelevant, but it resurrects some far-right Israeli claims that Jordan is a de facto Palestinian state. It also raises fears about the fate of over 2 million Palestinian refugees living in Jordan. Jordan had not supported Trumps peace vision, unveiled last January, and rallied Arab and international support for the two-state solution. Writing in Al-Ghad daily May 16, political commentator Fahd al-Khitan said, Jordan will not pull out of the peace treaty with Israel because that option means going back to a state of war that Jordan cannot afford. What is meant by a massive conflict is that bilateral ties will be frozen at all levels because Israels unilateral actions will destroy the elements of a just and lasting peace while toppling Washingtons ambitions of creating a new basis for regional cooperation, he added. Political commentator Oraib al-Rintawi believes that Jordans reaction will be calculated and will gradually escalate. Writing in Ad-Dustour daily May 17, he said that abrogating the peace treaty is not the first option. One wonders about the fate of bilateral security coordination, the gas deal with Israel and two-way trade, he wrote. But he admits that the timing of the impending crisis is sensitive since Jordan is dependent on US aid and is facing tough economic conditions made even worse by the coronavirus outbreak. Our options are not set in stone and we could still use our special ties with the international community and with those in Washington outside the White House to put pressure on Israel short of succumbing to the new reality, Rintawi added. The only official US reaction to Abdullahs warning came from US State Departments chief spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus May 15, made during a phone briefing with Israeli reporters. Asked about her reaction to the kings statement, she said, The United States has a close relationship with the state of Jordan. We know that Jordan plays a special role in the Middle East, especially their relationship with Israel. What we want for both Israel and Jordan is a relationship that is not only strong on the security level, but that is also strong at the diplomatic level and the economic level. We certainly understand that the king has expressed his concerns today and again that is why we think it is important to turn back to Presidents Trumps Vision for Peace, and to bring all parties to the table to work toward this peace plan, she added. But what worries some Jordanians is the US reaction to Jordans tenacious position on Trumps peace plan. There is a growing belief that the Israeli lobby in Washington could be behind a letter that was sent earlier this month by six Republican congressmen to the Jordanian Embassy in Washington demanding the extradition of Jordanian national Ahlam al-Tamimi, who was previously convicted in Israel over the 2001 bombing of a Jerusalem pizzeria. Tamimi was released in a Hamas-Israel prisoner exchange in 2011, and a high court in Jordan rejected a US request for her extradition in 2017. Under a 2019 US law, Jordan could be prevented from receiving US aid for violating an extradition treaty in relation to individuals wanted on charges for which the maximum penalty is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Jordan claims the extradition treaty was never ratified by parliament. There has been no official reaction in Amman to the congressmen's letter. But political columnist Maher Abu Tair wrote in Al-Ghad daily May 22 that while Jordan has enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, it is now receiving conflicting messages. The threat of economic sanctions against Jordan over the Tamimi case is an important sign that should not be missed, he wrote. Could this be tied to Jordans escalation toward Israels threat of annexation and what could affect the peace treaty with Israel? Abu Tair asked. We should keep an eye on the activity of the Israeli lobby in Washington while taking into consideration the possibility that the US administration may not like our latest position in any case neither US interest nor those of Israel will be served by weakening Jordan, he concluded. 447 Shares Share An excerpt from Its All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation. On that night when the desperate call came to pick up the critically ill baby with MAS, I felt very fortunate that Dr. Cunningham was my supervisor. When I arrived at the hospital in New Jersey, it was apparent that the tension in the room was high. At the referring hospital, the baby was receiving 100 percent oxygen delivered by a mechanical ventilator that was performing at its limits. I assessed the situation, spoke to the parents, and obtained the necessary consents for transport and placement on ECMO. This was not a procedure to be taken lightly. It is associated with many possible complications, including stroke, bleeding, and infection, but as I explained to the parents, getting their son to TJUH and on the ECMO machine as fast as possible was his only chance of surviving. I politely informed the father that he would not be allowed to accompany his son in the ambulance and got the necessary signatures. The parents gave their son a quick kiss on the cheek and we wheeled the baby as quickly as possible into the ambulance, lights, and sirens blasting. By everyones estimate, there was not much time. The ventilator was failing to keep the blood oxygenation levels up, and despite epinephrine, IV fluid boluses, and every other treatment we had to offer, the babys heart rate drifted slowly down. I called Dr. Cunningham who could only add assurance that we were doing everything we could do and that the surgeons were ready to place the baby on ECMO as soon as he arrived. As we made our way back over the Ben Franklin Bridge to Philadelphia, the babys heart rate continued to drop the oxygenation of his blood still not adequate. By the time we arrived, we were performing a full resuscitation, including CPR on the baby. Dr. Cunningham took charge of the resuscitation when we arrived. We could not place the baby on ECMO unless we could first get him to first respond to the CPR. The surgeons waited gowned and gloved to see the outcome of our efforts. CPR continued and multiple rounds of adrenaline administered, but the heart rate never returned. Dr. Cunningham instructed the team to stop CPR and pronounced the baby dead. It wasnt long before the charge nurse informed us that the father had followed the ambulance and was anxiously waiting for an update, completely unaware that his son had died. Dr. Cunningham asked the nurse to have the father wait in his office. At the time, I saw this tragedy as an opportunity to learn a life lesson. It was a skill I needed to learn desperately, but one that scared me to death. A skill that, unfortunately, I would need many times during my chosen career: how to tell a parent that his or her newborn baby passed away. This was a perfect time to learn. After all, who better to learn from than Dr. Cunningham, who was one of the kindest and most intelligent doctors I knew? I asked Tim if I could come with him to speak to the father and observe how he broke the bad news. Of course, he said it was fine. Without saying another word, we walked together down the hallway to his office that doubled as the on-call room for the neonatologists. We entered the room to find an extremely anxious father pacing back and forth. What happened next was, and still is, inexplicable to me. This gentle and caring doctor, whom Id come to admire greatly, simply blurted out, I am Dr. Cunningham. Your baby died. I was shocked. Did he just do that? I thought. The father, who was still standing, was totally blindsided by the news. Total shock set in and the father went crazy. He banged the wall with his fist, screamed loudly, and knocked over the table lamp. I didnt know what to do. He spewed out profanity and screamed in a tone that I had never heard before. Dr. Cunningham froze. He wasnt doing anything. He was just standing there as if he knew he had just done something terribly wrong. I took a step forward and tried to say something to the father, but Dr. Cunningham put the back of his hand in front of my chest and said, Let him be. The next minute of screaming seemed like an hour. The father eventually caught his breath and took Tims invitation to sit down. As the two sat together, I stood in the back, still recovering from the shock of what just happened. Tim seemed to gradually get back to his true character as he spoke softly and with compassion as the father cried. That was the Dr. Cunningham I knew. After a brief discussion and some more crying, we escorted the father to the room where his dead son lay. We stayed with him for a minute or so and then left him to be alone with his baby. As I walked out of the room, Tim stopped me in the hallway. Standing in front of me, he put both hands on my shoulders and looked me right in the eye. I could see that his tears were swelling. Then, with deep sincerity in his voice, he said in a firm, deliberate, staccato-like manner, Do you see what I did? Dont ever do that. And without saying another word, he turned and walked away down the hallway toward the fire escape to gather himself, still crying. That day changed me forever. It affected me profoundly, and increased my already deep fear about communicating bad news. If Tim could mess this up so badly, what chance would I have? This was something I had to learn and fast. What did he do that made the father react with such anger, or was it just a random reaction? Is there a right way to break bad news, and if so, how can it be learned and taught? Anthony Orsini is neonatologist and founder, The Orsini Way. He is the author of Its All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) has awarded a contract to Archer for modular drilling unit and associated services in the UK Continental Shelf. We are delighted with the award of this contract which secures the rig work until late 2023. said Dag Skindlo, Chief Executive Officer of Archer. Archer will perform a 21 well plug and abandonment campaign for TAQA's Northern North Sea Cormorant Alpha platform. The integrated P&A service delivery will include services provided by Archers Engineering, Rentals, Oiltools and Wireline divisions, and will also require Archer to manage and deliver cementing, swarf and re-injection services from third-party providers. The Archer Topaz is estimated to mobilise to Cormorant Alpha in H2 2021 following the removal of the existing Cormorant Alpha integral derrick equipment set, and reactivation activities on the platform by Archers Engineering division. --Tradearabia News Service Former Union minister and Jaipur (Rural) MP Rajyavardhan Rathore Monday accused the Congress government in the state of failing to fulfil its responsibility in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Congress government failed to fulfil its responsibility properly in this fight against COVID-19 during lockdown as a result of which the number of coronavirus cases is rising in the state, Rathore told reporters in a video conference. He said that coronavirus has now started affecting rural areas. The government is not prepared to deal with the issues of migrant labourers who are returning to the state in large numbers and a law and order situation is arising. Rathore also alleged that the state government has not made proper quarantine facility and employment arrangements for the migrants coming to the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an April email obtained by the Daily Progress, Charlottesville City Manager Tarron Richardson indicated that he wants to hold meetings with the city council in June to discuss the removal of the statues of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson. 2020 Toyota RAV4 Auto Channel Review by Chicago Car Guy Larry Nutson Five generations and holding strong By Larry Nutson Executive Editor and Bureau Chief Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel It seems like the RAV4 has been around forever. Actually, its been around since 1995. It was the first of the compact crossover SUVs to come onto the U.S. automotive scene. Last year the RAV4 was the best selling compact crossover SUV in the U.S. Toyotas Recreational Activity Vehicle is its best-selling model and the best-selling non-pickup small SUV vehicle in America for the past two years. For 2019 it got a complete redesign. Now for 2020 a new TRD Off-Road model has been added for the adventurous type. Android Auto had been added to Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility across all trims. The RAV4 2020 lineup includes an array of different trims with a choice of a conventional gasoline engine or a hybrid powertrain, as well as both front-wheel or all- wheel drive. Seating is for five. Around 181 inches long with 37.5 cu.ft. of cargo space, the RAV4 is a versatile SUV suitable for urban and, of course, suburban use. RAV4s capabilities can be pushed a bit further with a max. cargo room of 69.8 cu.ft. with the rear set folded, a ground clearance of around 8.5 inches for occasional unpaved road excursions, and a towing capacity of 1,500 lbs., with two trims capable of 3,500 lbs. A 203-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with an 8-speed automatic transmission powers the conventional gasoline engine models. The RAV4 Hybrid uses a 176-horsepower 2.5-L engine paired with an electric motor for a combined system 219-horsepower. The Hybrid is offered in AWD only and a CVT automatic transmission gets the power to the wheels. Of note, the Hybrid is both the better performing and better fuel economy RAV4 and can tow up to 1,750 bs. EPA test cycle ratings for gasoline engine models range from 25 to 28 city mpg and 32 to 35 highway mpg depending on FWD or AWD as well as trim level. The Hybrid is rated at 41 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. Trim levels with the conventional gasoline engine are LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, TRD Off-Road and Limited. Hybrids are offered in LE, XLE, XSE and Limited trims. Base prices start at $25,950 and run up to $36,880 plus a $1,120 destination and handling charge. For my Chicagoland RAV4 experience I drove a Limited AWD model with a base price of $35,780. A Weather package for $1,015 added heated front and rear outboard seats, a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel, and rain sensing wipers with de-ice function. An Advanced Technology package for $1,025 added smart key system, hands free liftgate, wireless smartphone charging, and 360-degree camera. Panoramic glass roof was another $200, plus there were a few more options. Running boards for $549 caught my attention, since even at 8.5 inches of ground clearance the step-in and -out is not that high. Although, for someone with mobility challenges they may help out. The bottom line on this Limited AWD totaled $40,385. Toyotas Safety Sense suite of advanced driver-assist safety (ADAS) features is standard across the board. More information and details can be found at www.toyota.com. I liked the looks of the RAV4 in its latest iteration. The bolder, more distinctive styling is pleasing. The interior is more refined and exudes a bit of elegance in look and feel., especially with the Nutmeg trim of my test car. Theres an abundant use of soft-touch materials on the dash and armrest. I really liked the entire center stack set up. Theres plenty of room inside, both front and rear, along with decent cargo space. The 11- speaker JBL audio in the Limited cranked out some nice sounds. A bit more get-up-and-go than the 203-horsepower engine provides would be nice to have, making the Hybrid a consideration from this point alone. Overall noise level inside the cabin is not objectionable, except the engine does become a bit more noticeable when pushed hard. Im interested to drive the new for 2020 TRD Off-Road model that has specific upgrades to its suspension, wheels and tires designed for off-roading. It also has an enhanced all- wheel drive system with dynamic torque vectoring and driveline disconnect. Coming back to that first model RAV4 from 25 years ago. I remember driving that as part of a strategic analysis program I was a part of doing work for another automaker. Weve come a long way. SUVs have evolved to crossover SUVs (XSUV) with more car like and refined design and features along with lower fuel consumption. The RAV4 of today certainly is a good example of a competent entry in the marketplace. No wonder its a best seller. And, a bit more excitement is coming in the form of the 302-horspeower Toyota RAV4 Prime, a 2021 model that will arrive in summer 2020. Itll be the most powerful and quickest RAV4 ever while also being the most fuel-efficient. 2020 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy A Vancouver fruit processing company on Monday said 65 of its employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, an outbreak large enough to prompt Clark County to halt its reopening plans. Firestone Pacific Foods said its unaware of any workers currently hospitalized. The company said 87 workers have tested negative for the coronavirus, while a few remain to be tested. The company shut its Vancouver frozen fruit processing site a week ago, one day after learning of the first case. Subsequent testing turned up dozens of additional cases the company had 10 positive tests early Friday, but the number ballooned to more than 40 by that evening. It appears to be the largest workplace outbreak in the Portland area, excluding the healthcare sector. On Saturday night, Washington state health officials suspended Clark Countys application to move to Phase 2 of its reopening because of the Firestone outbreak. Clark County Public Health said it is working with the company, the state and the Vancouver Clinic to respond to the outbreak. The county health department said Monday it is tracing the contacts of infected employees to learn whether any of their families or household members are sick. Food-processing facilities have been a nexus for coronavirus outbreaks throughout the country, evidently because employees often work inside and in close quarters. Oregon has had at least two such outbreaks, including facilities in Astoria and Albany. Health authorities have said they dont believe food from such facilities poses a significant risk of infection. On Sunday, Firestone said its processing facility will remain closed until at least Thursday and will only reopen with the approval of the county health department. Affiliated cold storage and farm operations, which have had no coronavirus cases, will continue operating with safety protocols in place. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 When Fono McFarland-Seumanu began her reign, her country was soon plunged into a deadly outbreak of measles which killed 83 Samoans When the reigning Miss Samoa beauty queen was crowned in the Pacific paradise island, she might have expected a year of celebrations and glamour. But when Fono McFarland-Seumanu began her reign, her country was soon plunged into a deadly outbreak of measles which killed 83 Samoans mostly babies and struck almost 6,000 people in a tiny population of 200,000. Samoa was put into lockdown in order to carry out a mass immunisation programme. And as a specialist public health nurse, Fono volunteered to take part in the vaccinations. The dark-haired beauty went from home to home to deliver the vital jabs, while emergency medical teams from all over the world including the UK helped staff in the overwhelmed hospitals. And after the state of emergency ended, Fono - full name Fonoifafo - carried on that work to make sure all the children who needed vaccinating were covered in a catch-up campaign, going out twice a week to rural villages. Now she's fighting to keep residents safe from Covid-19, promoting staying at home and social distancing on her social media and says the country's measles outbreak helped the global response to coronavirus. Samoa, home to around 200,000 people, is one of only a handful of nations to avoid having any confirmed coronavirus cases. It is in lockdown again to fight coronavirus, after enforcing the draconian measures for two days in December to carry out a mass-vaccination drive to protect thousands from measles. Fono, 24, said: 'I think the whole world has learned from this measles epidemic here in Samoa from what we've gone through. That's evident in the way that everyone has responded to the coronavirus.' The measles crisis shook up healthcare in Samoa and caused the government to take a hard look at its public health system. The dark-haired beauty went from home to home to deliver the vital jabs, while emergency medical teams from all over the world including the UK helped staff in the overwhelmed hospitals (pictured holding a baby while they are vaccinated) Fono is pictured with the baby she held while they were vaccinated and the nurse, Koreti HOW HAS SAMOA REACTED TO COVID-19? In January, Samoan health officials introduced a quarantine site at Faleolo hospital next to the country's only international airport. By mid-February anyone travelling via China or Hong Kong was not admitted into Samoa unless they had quarantined for two weeks at their last port of call. Some passengers were turned back on arrival. This list of countries was extended as the virus spread. In March the country went into a state of emergency and banned gatherings of more than five people and later all international travel. Advertisement Take Naseri, the director general of health at the Ministry of Health, told MailOnline: 'After an [measles] outbreak that killed 90 we are not taking the coronavirus threat lightly.' Commentators says it was the vital jolt to strengthen the system which has led to some of the earliest stringent travel restrictions to prevent the virus entering the island. In January they introduced a quarantine site at Faleolo hospital next to the country's only international airport. By mid-February anyone travelling via China or Hong Kong was not admitted into Samoa unless they had quarantined for two weeks at their last port of call. Some passengers were turned back on arrival. This list of countries was extended as the virus spread. In March the country went into a state of emergency and banned gatherings of more than five people and later all international travel. Nicola Hawley assistant professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health, said Samoa's almost 'accidental preparedness' after the measles outbreak came at huge cost to the nation. Samoa, home to around 200,000 people, is one of only a handful of nations to avoid having any confirmed coronavirus cases. It is in lockdown again to fight coronavirus, after enforcing the draconian measures for two days in December to carry out a mass-vaccination drive to protect thousands from measles Fono is now fighting to keep residents in Samoa safe from Covid-19 by promoting staying at home and social distancing messages on her social media Samoa was put into lockdown in order to carry out a mass immunisation programme in December. And as a specialist public health nurse, Fono volunteered to take part in the vaccinations. She is pictured outside a house with baby Jerome Elisapea HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED IN SAMOA'S MEASLES OUTBREAK? Samoa - home to around 200,000 people - was rocked by an outbreak of measles last year, with the first cases occurring at the end of September. The United Nations (UN) blamed anti-vaxxers for the crisis, which killed 83 Samoans mostly babies and struck almost 6,000 people. Only a third of the 200,000 residents on the island had received both their MMR jabs before the outbreak began to spiral out of control. Authorities on the Pacific island made the unprecedented decision to shut the nation down for two days back in December. People were told to stay indoors amid the epidemic, with emergency workers going door-to-door to give all unvaccinated residents the MMR jab. Families were asked to hang red flags from their homes to signal they have not been vaccinated. Shops, schools and roads were all closed. Advertisement But she added: 'Few nations have such recent experience with a crisis like this. 'As they continue to recover from the heartache of the measles outbreak and face this new uncertainty, Samoa should know that in some circles their health leaders have almost as many fans as their national rugby team.' Fono had already been speaking out about why kids should get the MMR jab to Samoans in radio interviews and social media after a measles outbreak in New Zealand in 2019, where she worked as a nurse. She had been born and brought up there by her Samoan parents, her father Lemmy a pastor, her mother Nancy a mental health worker. She said: 'I was urging parents to get their children vaccinated because the numbers were going to continue to rise if we [didn't] take action.' Once she won the Miss Samoa title in September 2019 she moved to Samoa from New Zealand and went on to win Miss Pacific Islands in November in Papua New Guinea, the global regional title where Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands and others battle it out. When she landed back in Samoa when the government appealed for international medical teams to help she learned that they were short of vaccinators. Fono posted a cartoon mock-up of her wearing a face mask with the caption: 'Keep clean and stay safe' Fono told her Facebook followers: 'We must all remain at home and not engage in activities with friends and families that are not part of your isolation bubble' HOW HAVE OTHER NATIONS IN OCEANIA FARED IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC? NATION AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND FRENCH POLYNESIA FIJI NEW CALEDONIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA SOLOMON ISLANDS VANUATU GUAM CASES 7,118 1,504 60 18 18 8 0 0 0 NATION AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND FRENCH POLYNESIA FIJI NEW CALEDONIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA SOLOMON ISLANDS VANUATU GUAM DEATHS 102 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advertisement She said: 'We had a lot of people who were volunteering their time to help with the vaccination programs, but we didn't have enough nurses to actually vaccinate. Luckily, I was certified to be able to vaccinate.' She also redoubled her health messages, making videos and more posts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. When she went out doing house to house emergency vaccinations during the measles lockdown in December in Samoa, she caused a stir. Fono said: 'Every single family that we'd stopped to was excited I guess, to see that the Miss Pacific Islands was at their doorstep. 'At the time, I didn't think of myself as Miss Pacific Islands. I was solely just another team player that was there to help vaccinate.' Sadly, she was approached by some of the families whose babies had died. She said: 'After people lost babies to measles, some of the families reached out and said, "This is what the Miss Samoa girl was talking about on the radio station". And no one had really absorbed those messages at the time.' In other ways, her winning Miss Pacific Islands cheered people up during a challenging time. She said: 'A lot of the families had actually thanked me for bringing back positive news to our country at the time we were looking for something to celebrate.' Now Fono, based at a Samoan Government building in Apia, the capital, is helping spread the word about Covid-19 on Facebook and supporting national immunisation week. Families in Samoa were asked to hang red flags from their homes to signal they had not been immunised as the nation shut down for two days in December for a mass-vaccination drive The island's capital city of Apia was turned to a ghost town with roads, schools and shops closed (pictured, a red flag hangs outside a cafe) And she has asked locals to perform the Samoan traditional dance Siva on TikTok as a challenge to give them something to do, with the hashtag #passthesiva. She said: 'It's a crazy and unprecedented time right now globally with the latest COVID-19 pandemic. It's heart breaking to hear the rising death toll contributed to this virus. 'But it's reassuring to know that countries throughout the world are taking action to minimise the spread of this virus by implementing a lockdown or period of isolation.' She is a passionate advocate of public health. Fono added: 'With public health you're working on the prevention side of things. I've never really been a fan of a working in hospital because I feel like the people are coming to you when they're at the end stages. 'Why would you wait until they get there, when you could be feeding them with the information they need that would stop them from getting there in the beginning?' She said she sees how positive messages about vaccination can work, when she arrives to give a scheduled vaccination to one child. 'When we turn up to the house, the mom is bringing out five other children behind them. 'That slows our program down a bit, but it's good to see that they're now receiving the messages and that parents more comfortable asking questions and just supportive of the whole vaccination programmes.' And she says she is so glad that she has a platform to get her messages across. She said: 'This is my opportunity to really make noise around what's important.' This report was supported by a journalism grant from the European Journalism Centre https://ejc.net/ Open source It looks like China will have problems soon. And the whole world will face problems with it. Starting from a large industrial region of China (Wuhan), where the offices of 500 international companies are located, coronavirus showed the developed countries critical dependence on Chinese production chains. Over the past two decades, China has become the world's largest exporter of intermediate goods used to produce final products. It accounts for 1/3 of this world market, which far exceeds the country's share in most consumer sectors. A report published by the Henry Jackson Society states that the United States, Great Britain, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia are critically dependent on China for 831 separate categories of imports, of which 260 are critical national infrastructure services (!). In particular: - Australia is strategically dependent on China in 595 product categories. 167 of them have links in critical national infrastructure; - New Zealand is strategically dependent on China in 513 product categories, 144 of which have links in critical national infrastructure; - The US is strategically dependent on China in 424 product categories, 114 of which have links in critical national infrastructure; - Canada is strategically dependent on China in 367 categories of products, 83 of which have links in critical national infrastructure; - The UK is strategically dependent on China in 229 product categories, 57 of which have links in critical national infrastructure. The report gives recommendations to each of the 5 countries: 1. To conduct and publish an audit at the national level and at the company level regarding the degree of dependence on China in relation to raw materials, components in complex supply chains. 2. To conduct a national review of strategic industries to identify and prioritize protection against dependence on China. 3. To review the bilateral investment and free trade agreements to assess how much they effectively manage risk from strategic dependence on China. 4. To review the existing trade partnerships to identify ways in which cooperation can reduce strategic dependence on China. Most likely, the audit legalizes a process that has already been triggered by US sanctions against China. - According to the Nikkei Asian Review, more than 50 multinational companies are in a hurry to avoid punitive tariffs set by the United States. - Apple encouraged major suppliers to consider exporting 15-30% of iPhone production from China. - HP and Dell plan to transfer up to 30% of their laptop production from China to Southeast Asia and other countries. - Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Sony and Nintendo also plan to withdraw part of their production from China. However there is no Ukraine in it... And why should we, with the right industrial policy, not create conditions for the transfer of production to Ukraine and not become an inexpensive and fast supplier with good product logistics for the whole world? The question is rhetorical. Read, think, draw conclusions... Every morning at 10 I turn on the computer and my students are there, grinning, waving, holding up their pets, showing their toys, or talking excitedly about an upcoming camping trip. A morning message, a little math, a look at the weather, a few games they love playing Kahoot and then I read to them. Superfudge, by Judy Blume. Next, its Owls in the Family, by Farley Mowat. We share and ask questions and have a few laughs. After about 45 minutes, sometimes an hour, we wave goodbye with wide smiles and its over. After reading yet another letter from a teacher explaining objections to synchronous learning, I feel the Ontario public deserves to hear a different opinion. I am an elementary school teacher at a publicly funded school board in Ontario, and I, with many others, have embraced synchronous learning from the beginning. With all due respect to those who may disagree with me, I wish to state that I find it difficult to understand and justify the objections to synchronous learning, especially at a time in which our students need us more than ever. The initial objections were focused on privacy issues our own, and that of our students. Essentially, this boils down to something along the lines of What if we, or our students, see something were not meant to see? Possible, yes, but lets be honest. How likely is this to happen? The use of a secure platform sanctioned by the school board, combined with a little training, minimizes the risk of something inappropriate reaching our students. With one click I can, if need be, remove any participant from our sessions. So far, I have not had to. More recently, the term equity has been making its appearance as another reason to avoid synchronous learning. This leads us to a definition of equity that I find, frankly, absurd: If everyone cant have it, then no one should have it. While it is a fact that there are students who dont have access to adequate technology, including internet service, school boards are working hard to get tech to those who need it. Many school parking lots have been turned into hot spots for those with no access to internet. The solutions may not be perfect, and concerns about equity are entirely justified, but its our mindset that needs a major adjustment. If it isnt fair, well then, lets work to make it fair. Lets find ways to build and make things better for everyone. Equity should motivate us to action, not inaction. I also have two children of my own 5 and 8 who I take care of alone while my wife is working. They play in another room during our classes. Sometimes they peek in, curious. Sometimes they are having arguments of their own. They do understand, however; this is Daddys work. I dont see it having a negative effect on them. Im not saying that teachers should be obligated to offer synchronous learning options. Not everyone is comfortable with it. I am simply saying that we need to put things into perspective. Go to a supermarket, for example, and look around. These workers have been there since the beginning, taking real risks to support our communities. I owe them a debt of gratitude I can never repay. In that light, the risks involved with synchronous learning seem kind of ... small. Are we going to let those hold us back from serving our students? Can we not look for ways to do more? I feel like I owe the Ontario public more. How many coffees did I receive from parents on the picket line this winter? How many boxes of donuts, cookies, and other treats? How many shop owners offered us a warm place, and open access to the washrooms? I want to give something back, and as I am not a front-line worker, this is all I have. No, not all my students are participating, but we are working hard to ensure that all have the option to if they want. Some have opted not to participate, for different reasons, and I respect that, but it doesnt mean that it should have to stop. All students receive weekly schedules with work to complete. I am available daily for feedback and support, by phone and online. On the other hand, Ive had many kind words from parents who are happy that their children just have the opportunity to see their classmates. Isnt that worth taking a few risks for? These are extraordinary times, hard times, and every little gesture we make goes a long, long way. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations informs that on May 25, as of 09:00, the roads across Armenia are mainly passable. The ministry told Armenpress that only the road leading to the Amberd Fortress is open, and the road to Lake Kari is partly covered with clear ice. The Georgian side reported that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open only for trucks. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Nasrallah: Iran is not pulling back from Syria By Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Dr. Shimon Shapira In a speech marking the fourth anniversary of the death of Mustafa Badreddine, who was commander of the Hizbullah forces in Syria, Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah devoted a large part of his talk to the Syrian arena. Nasrallah asserted that Israels outgoing defense minister, Naftali Bennett, whom he called an idiot, was lying to the Israeli public and portraying a false picture in which Israel is scoring military victories in Syria victories that, Bennett promised, would lead to the withdrawal of Irans military forces from Syria by the end of the year. Nasrallah repeated the claim that Iran does not have military forces in Syria, but only military advisers and trainers who assist the Syrian army and the forces that have come to help the Assad regime, while coordinating between them, and he emphasized that these advisers and trainers are not leaving Syria. Nasrallah also stated that a reduction in Hizbullahs military presence in Syria had come after the achievement of Hizbullahs goals in Aleppo and the removal of the threat to Damascus, in coordination with the Syrian army, and not because of the casualties the organization had absorbed, as Israel claims. Nasrallah noted that Israel is operating in Syria against facilities involved in missile production and warned that if it continues its attacks, Israel could commit an error in Syria that would lead to a regional eruption. It is worth mentioning in this context that on April 17, 2020, in response to an Israeli airstrike on a Hizbullah vehicle in Syria, special Hizbullah forces simultaneously damaged three sites along Lebanons border fence with Israel. That was intended to make clear that Hizbullah will respond from Lebanon to an Israeli strike on it in Syria. Nasrallah hinted about disagreements between Iran and Russia in Syria but denied that there is a conflict between them. He described the claims about a conflict as part of a psychological war being waged against Iran in Syria. Nasrallah lauded Mustafa Badreddines successes as Hizbullahs military commander during the 1990s, and particularly his performance during Israels Operation Grapes of Wrath in April 1996, which imposed the April understandings on Israel and thereby diminished its ability to attack Hizbullah, leading eventually to Israels withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. Badreddine recorded his great achievements, Nasrallah said, while he was commander of the Hizbullah forces in Syria, where he fought shoulder to shoulder with the commander of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani. Nasrallah thereby sought to invalidate the information that Soleimani was responsible for Badreddines assassination near Damascus. In recent days, media commentary and Hizbullahs social network were full of information and videos about the close ties between Sayyed Zulfiqar (the name of Imam Alis double-bladed sword), which was Badreddines operational nickname, and Hajj Bozork (the Great Hajj), which was the honorific name that Badreddine used for Soleimani. Special attention was given to a rare picture in which the leader of Iran, Khamenei, gave his expensive stone ring to Ali, Badreddines son, after Badreddines death. Immediately after the speech, however, the IDF spokesman tweeted in Arabic that Nasrallah kills the victim and goes to his funeral thereby reiterating the information that Nasrallah gave his consent to Badreddines assassination by Soleimani. It must, though, be noted that there are question marks about the veracity of the information linking Soleimani and Nasrallah to Mustafa Badreddines killing. In a heavily attended ceremony in May 2016, Mustafa Badreddine was buried beside the grave of Hizbullah Chief of Staff Imad Mughniyeh and his son Jihad, and he was commemorated in the pantheon of the generation of Hizbullahs founders. Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Dr. Shimon Shapira is a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. He served as Military Secretary to the Prime Minister and as chief of staff to the Foreign Minister. He edited the Jerusalem Center eBook Iran: From Regional Challenge to Global Threat. He is the author of Hizbullah: Between Iran and Lebanon, Dayan Center, Tel Aviv University, 2000, four editions. Home Norways sovereign wealth fund, managed by Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), has excluded five companies, including commodities trader Glencore, from its holdings after putting a hard limit on coal-related emissions. Investors in the Nordic region have been among the vanguard of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, with Norways NBIM grabbing most of the attention due to its size. The $1-trillion-fund this week also evicted four oil firms for unacceptable emissions, putting any laggards in sectors including cement and steel on notice. Although some smaller funds have been more ambitious, NBIM was one of a small group of investors to exclude in 2015 all firms that derived more than 30 percent of revenues from thermal coal. More than 50 investors have since introduced some form of revenue-based limit and, after several years of political debate in Norway, NBIMs rules are expected to bolster such efforts even if they are not uniformly adopted. Youre never going to get a perfect metric for any of this stuff: different asset owners and different asset managers are going to be doing it differently, Mark Lewis at BNP Paribas Asset Management said. Unacceptable emissions Norwegian pension fund KLP has already applied the new volume limits on coal, its head of responsible investments Jeanett Bergan told Reuters News Agency, adding it had been interested to see what criteria were used for unacceptable emissions. I understand it as them trying to say that if you are an outlier, who has way higher emissions than your peers, then we dont want to finance you, she said. DNB Asset Management said it had already moved to reflect the tighter rules. So did Norways Storebrand Asset Management, although irrespective of NBIMs move. It was important for us to implement stricter criteria within climate mitigation as part of the climate strategy and also because NBIM is seen as best practice for many institutional investors in Norway, Janicke Scheele, DNBs head of responsible investments, said. It is seen as the consensus for what the Norwegian peoples expectations are. Finnish pension fund Varma said it had already moved to tighten its climate policy in late 2019, aiming to be carbon neutral by 2035 and fully divested from some sectors such as oil exploration by 2030. Swedens AP, meanwhile, said in March it would exit fossil fuels completely. For NBIM and most other asset managers, including the worlds biggest such as BlackRock, engagement with companies remains preferable to portfolio exclusions. What you can say with 100 percent certainty is all of these targets, thresholds, metrics, methodologies are only going to get tighter over time, said Lewis at BNP Paribas Asset Management. Divestment Yet, as government pressure builds to do more in the shift to a low-carbon economy, divestment remains a funds nuclear option and for Yossi Cadan of campaigning group 350.org, NBIMs new, absolute ceiling represents a game-changer. Up until now, a vast majority of those institutions who divested adopted the criteria of the portion of revenues generated from coal and in most cases 30 percent was the threshold for divestment, he said. Other investors often have their own approaches to measure the risk posed to their investments and not all funds will follow as quickly or in the same way. There are regional differences, Belinda Gan, investment director for global sustainability at Schroders, said. I wouldnt see, necessarily, Asia jumping on board and embracing everything thats going on in Europe, as theyre more advanced over here (on sustainability issues). Criticising Indian Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane's remarks on Kathmandu acting on "behest of someone" over the Lipulekh issue, Nepal Defence Minister Ishwor Pokhrel has said that the statement was an insult to the nation's history and was made ignoring its social characteristics and freedom. "Such a statement is an insulting statement made by ignoring Nepal's history, our social characteristics and freedom. With this, the Indian CoAS has also hurt the sentiments of the Nepali Gurkha army personnel who lay down their lives to protect India. It must now become difficult for them to stand tall in front of the Gurkha forces," Nepal's Defence minister reacted to Indian Army chief's statement during an interview with a local daily, The Rising Nepal, on May 22. On May 15, General Naravane had suggested that Nepal might be raising the issue of road construction via Lipulekh to Mansarovar at "behest of someone else" after Kathmandu protested against India's newly-built road passing through Lipulekh area. During a webinar organised by a think tank, General Naravane, without naming China, said on last Friday, "There is reason to believe that they might have raised this issue at the behest of someone else and that is very much possible." "The road constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is on the west side of Kali river. So, I do not know what exactly they are agitating about," he added. India had made it clear that there is no dispute over the new road built in Uttarakhand, connecting the Lipulekh pass with Kailash Mansarovar route in China. But, Nepal had protested against it and also deployed a security post near the area. "How professional is it for the head of the Army to make a political statement? We don't have anything like that here. Nepali Army does not go vocal on such matter. The army is not there to speak," he said. "They may have been some shortcomings in similar talks held in the past on many occasion and in international treaties and agreements. As a close and friendly state of Nepal, India should give a positive response. We will put forth everything in clear terms in a dialogue. Such a dialogue will be held not based on mind matters but with facts and evidences," the Defence Minister added further. Last week, Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had also responded to Naravane's comments saying it is "inappropriate" to make the Army speak over border issues in between two neighbouring countries. Earlier this month, the Indian envoy was also handed over a diplomatic note by Nepal after a dispute arose over the construction of the road leading to Mansarovar via Lipulek, a territory claimed by Nepal. On May 8, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had inaugurated the link road to Kailash Mansarovar yatra via video conferencing. Nepal said it has "consistently maintained" that as per the Sugauli Treaty (1816), "all the territories east of Kali (Mahakali) river, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and LipuLekh, belong to Nepal." The Indian Defence Ministry had said the new road in Uttarakhand has connected Kailash Mansarovar route to Lipulekh pass, which will provide connectivity to border villages and for security forces. -ANI Also Read: J-K: Two terrorists killed by security forces in Kulgam Normal People star Paul Mescal is raffling off his chain in order to raise money for a suicide prevention charity. The actor, who plays Connell Waldron in the hit BBC Three series, said the chain he wears in the programme had got a following of its own. An Instagram account dedicated to the chain Mescal wears in the series has 163,000 followers. Please support if you can. https://t.co/zl2yYvdkeB Paul Mescal (@mescal_paul) May 25, 2020 The chain is being raffled in aid of Pieta, which is an Irish charity that provides support to people who are suicidal or engaging in self-harm. Mescal said: I am delighted to be able to help out Pieta by raffling off my chain that has taken on a following of its own since Normal People hit television screens. Pieta is a cause very close to my heart, having experienced loss due to suicide in my local town while growing up. He added that the series touches upon depression and suicidal ideation, so it seemed like a very special partnership to want to help those in similar situations. Expand Close (Enda Bowe/BBC/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (Enda Bowe/BBC/PA) I want to play my part in helping sustain these free services across Ireland, Mescal said. The raffle opened on Monday and runs until June 8. More than 13,000 euros (11,600) has been raised by the charity initiative so far. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 15:07:41|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu Monday said he is confident of completing an important legislative task on safeguarding national security for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Li made the remarks when he delivered a report on the work of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee to the third session of the 13th NPC for deliberation. A draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security is under deliberation at the session. Enditem Kildare Gardai have warned road users to be wary of deer crossing motorways such as the M9 in recent days. Officers said there has been at least two collisions with vehicles involving the animals. Experts said that during May, female deer move to thicker forested areas in Wicklow to prepare to give birth to their offspring. An Irish Deer Commission spokesperson told the Leader: This is a time of year when deer are on the move across roads. All three Irish deer species are present in Co Kildare and the most common issue is with Sika which is mainly moving between Wicklow and nearby counties. Since early May, females move to cover to give birth to their offspring and yearling males are pushed away to find their own territories. They tend to find other males to hang out in small bachelor groups. Movement could also be due to habitat loss such as commercial woodland being felled which along with agricultural factors may push deer away to seek new territory. It could also be natural migration to summer grounds. Lawyers for self-styled televangelist and founder of the International Gods Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim are likely to make overtures with Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong in the coming days, Administrator of the Church, Rev. Kwadwo Adu Boahen has told Kasapa FM. The move, is intended to reach a middle-ground with Ken Agyapong and bring lasting peace between Obinim and the outspoken politician, Rev. Adu Boahen, popularly known as Agya Adu said. Speaking on Kasapa FM, the Administrator of the church intimated that well-wishers have constantly asked them to meet with Ken Agyapong to end the feud with their spiritual leader. Its not out of place at all, he noted, saying well do that and ensure we settle this amicably. At least over the past days weve had a lot of people calling and asking us to find ways of settling this with Ken Agyapong and were seriously considering this Ken Agyapong has vowed to deal with all fake pastors who are taking advantage of vulnerable persons in society. Hes as well seeking the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to commence its investigations into the man of Gods activities. Its unclear whether the plan by the handlers of Obinim will change the course of weeks of conflict between the Man of God and the maverick politician. Bishop Daniel Obinim has finally left Police custody three days after he was granted bail by the District Court. His lawyer Ralph Poku-Adusei confirmed, on Friday that he was rushed to his private doctors after leaving the Police Hospital where he was receiving medical care while he was in Police custody. Meanwhile, Bishop Obinim is said to be in good health and taking rest in a private place. Source: kasapafmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The coronavirus pandemic could usher in a 'golden age' of dating where people take the time to make meaningful connections, a top clinical psychologist says. 'The good old days or vintage days of dating are coming back,' New York-based psychologist Scott Lyons told Daily Mail Australia on Monday. The shared experience of living through lockdown is breaking down social barriers, encouraging connection and widening the pool of dating candidates. 'There's the opportunity to bring on a golden age of dating where conversation and deeper connection is at the forefront,' he said. Coronavirus: it's a golden age for singles, says top psychologist Scott Lyons. Pictured: Locky Gilbert shooting The Bachelor before filming was stopped due to pandemic restrictions 'It's an opportunity to recognise the value of human relationships... the fragility of needing communication and connection with other human beings and to give more space and permission for others to not be a perfect person. 'I think we have a lot to be hopeful about.' Dr Lyons, a trauma expert, knows this from experience. He moved to New York City in the days just before the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. 'When the planes flew into the buildings there was a lot of bonding between strangers, which was not typical in a city like that,' he said. 'People have something to connect over.' In the world of dating, this means the shared trauma of the pandemic lockdown is an ice-breaker that can make conversation flow between people who might not normally ever talk to each other. Singles can't mingle with strangers and couples will be unable to cuddle in strict coronavirus social distancing laws for pubs in New South Wales even after June 1 restrictions ease 'After a social trauma people have something in common they can relate about,' he said. 'How did you get by in quarantine? What shows did you watch? We have more in common with each other now.' Dr Lyons, who is also a yogi, was on a teaching tour of Australia when he got stranded in Byron Bay on the New South Wales coast by the pandemic lockdown. FIVE PANDEMIC DATES Try these ideas for post-coronavirus first dates 1) Go on a bushwalk 2) Walk on the beach 3) Picnic in the park 4) Cooking together at home 5) Crafting project, like a painting day Advertisement He insists the crisis has benefited singles, who have found new ways of connecting. 'There's a lot of new patterns not seen in dating for some time,' he said. 'We're going back to a prolonged courting - getting to know someone more before physical contact.' Dr Lyons said this prolonged courtship time would lead to deeper and more meaningful relationships and less one-night stands. 'When people know each other for longer there's more likely to be a longer connection than one sexual encounter.' The pool of interested daters is also set to grow, Dr Lyons said. Those too busy to date before have had time to contemplate loneliness in isolation and may now be looking to connect. Top New York psychologist Scott Lyons was on a teaching tour of Australia when he was stranded in Byron Bay by the coronavirus lockdown Coronavirus breakups may also make the dating pool bigger as relationships that did not survive the intensity of lockdown have created newly-single people back on the market. The pandemic has transformed how people meet each other with people barred from pubs and clubs shifting to online dating. Dr Lyons said more people have gone on first dates online using video components of dating apps or Facetime. Some first dates have included going for walks outdoors, some wearing masks depending on the physical distancing rules of the country. 'Walks and picnics allow people to connect without being directly next to each other as for example in a movie theatre,' he said. 'Rather than go on a dinner date, go for a walk or for in-home dates where physical distancing is easier. 'I think we'll see vintage ideas of dating return, for example reading each other poetry or books.' New etiquette for post-coronavirus dating is evolving with people sussing out what is OK and what is not, and sometimes setting boundaries before their first date. Dr Scott Lyons (pictured left) said the coronavirus pandemic had torn down social barriers, increased the dating pool. People are now seeking deeper meaning and longer courtships 'It can lead to that awkward moment - should I kiss, hug or hold hands,' he said. 'We see an increasing number of people identifying boundaries ahead of time which is really healthy communication, so we might see an increase in communication skills.' For relationships that survived the coronavirus lockdown, Dr Lyons sees a positive future. 'If a relationship prospered during this time, those things enhance the relationship long-term,' he said. 'You can really grow closer long-term when going through something significant together.' During lockdown, those without a partner have also been able to grow by spending time getting to know themselves and developing better self-care, Dr Lyons said. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Pigment Dispersions is accounted for $ 37.21 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $ 65.58 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. Rising demand for paints and coatings, booming construction industry and increasing applications of pigment dispersions in emerging economies are the key driving factors for the market growth. However, stringent environmental regulations and volatility in raw material (pigment) prices are some of the factors hindering the market growth. Request For Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11410 Pigment Dispersions used in liquid coatings, paints or inks to produce a stable suspension. Pigment wetting, grinding stage, & stabilization of pigment suspension are the process of dispersion. The pigment dispersion is the process in which pigment powder is broken down in individual particles by mechanical shear, so the pigment agglomerates are broken after this process the finely distributed pigments come back together to form to larger structures. one of the important steps in the production of pigmented coatings in the homogeneous distribution of solid pigments within the liquid binder solution. The grinding process can be regarded as a deflocculating process. It is used in many color & coating. By Dispersion Type, Water-Based Dispersions is the larger and the faster-growing dispersion type owing to its low VOC, good gloss, high tinting strength, fluidity, and storage stability properties. By geography, Asia Pacific is projected to register the highest growth in the global pigment dispersions market during the forecast period. The demand for pigment dispersions is high in developing economies such as China and India. The growth of the pigment dispersions market in Asia Pacific is mainly driven by high demand in the building & construction industry. Rising population and growing end-use industries have led to innovation and development, making Asia Pacific an important industrial hub, globally. High growth and innovation, along with industry consolidations, are expected to lead to the rapid growth of the market in the region. Request for Report Discount : https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/11410 Some of the key players profiled in the Pigment Dispersions include Archroma Management LLC, BASF, Cabot Corporation, Chromaflo, Chromatech Inc, Clariant, DIC Corporation, Dowdupont Inc, Dystar, Heubach GmbH, Lanxess, Penn Color, Pidilite, Rpm International Inc, Sherwin Williams, Solvay S.A. and Sudarshan Chemical. Dispersion Types Covered: Solvent-Based Dispersions Water-Based Dispersions Other Dispersion Type Pigment Types Covered: Inorganic Pigments Organic Pigments Applications Covered: Inks Plastics Paints & Coatings Other Applications End Users Covered: Aerospace Automotive Building & Construction Furniture Packaging Paper & Printing Printing Textile Other End users Regions Covered: North America o US o Canada o Mexico Europe o Germany o UK o Italy o France o Spain o Rest of Europe Asia Pacific o Japan o China o India o Australia o New Zealand o South Korea o Rest of Asia Pacific South America o Argentina o Brazil o Chile o Rest of South America Middle East & Africa o Saudi Arabia o UAE o Qatar o South Africa o Rest of Middle East & Africa What our report offers: - Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments - Strategic recommendations for the new entrants - Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets - Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) - Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product / Technology Analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc. - Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations - Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends - Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments - Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements Free Customization Offerings: All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options: Company Profiling or Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3) or SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3) Regional Segmentation or Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check) Competitive Benchmarking Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances Covid 19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/11410 Ben Affleck was showing off a gray tinted beard last week. But on Monday the 47-year-old Hollywood veteran looked to have much darker facial hair as he went for a walk around his Pacific Palisades, California neighborhood with his 32-year-old girlfriend Ana de Armas who will be in the next James Bond movie No Time To Die. The two looked very smitten with each other as they walked side by side then stopped to stare into each other's eyes. He looks five years younger! Ben Affleck was showing off a gray tinted beard last week. But on Monday the 47-year-old Hollywood veteran looked to have much darker facial hair as he went for a walk around his Pacific Palisades, California neighborhood with his 32-year-old girlfriend Ana de Armas. The Gone girl actor looked casual for the outing, wearing a grey tee with a black lightning bold emblem. He teamed it with green sneakers, grey sweats and a grey zip-up hoodie with red strips down his sleeves. Though Los Angeles requires face masks anytime in public amid the coronavirus pandemic, the couple went without the face coverings. Keeping his hands full, he held a large Dunkin Donuts coffee and his dog's leash in one hand, and Ana's hand in the other. Loved up outing: The two looked very smitten with each other as they walked side by side The look that says I am in love: The Oscar winner then stopped to stare into her eyes Ben left his face clear, with his silver frame sunglasses hanging on his collar, as he held Ana close. The Knives Out actress looked chic in a white summer dress, that features tie shoulder straps. She teamed it with white sneakers and pink lenses sunglasses, as she kept her brown hair up in an easy bun. The two recently took their relationship to the next level, as they were seen in public for the first time with his kidsViolet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, eight who he shares with ex- Jennifer Garner. Costars: Ana and Ben first connected on the set of the thriller film Deep Water in 2019 where they star as a married couple who have fallen out of love and were spotted on vacation together earlier this year The sighting of the group family came after a report from Us Weekly claiming that Jennifer is 'happy' he is dating again. An insider told Us Weekly: 'Although it's sad in a way to see him move on and be so happy, she is ultimately happy that he is happy and in a good and healthy place with his life. That's what she ultimately wants for the father of her kids,' they added. The Hollywood stars have subsequently worked hard to maintain a good relationship with each other for the sake of their children. Dyed? Ben is typically seen with dark and gray beard hair, but his look on Monday was much more uniform The source added that Jennifer is 'always polite and trusts Ben and lets him do what he wants when he's with the kids'. Ana and Ben first connected on the set of the thriller film Deep Water in 2019 where they star as a married couple who have fallen out of love. They took their relationship public in March when they were seen enjoying a vacation in Costa Rica and Ana's native Cuba. Earlier this month, a insider claimed that Ana has been wowed by Ben and Jennifer's co-parenting skills. The source said that the Cuban starlet is impressed by how the celebrity duo have managed to balance their acting careers with raising their three children. Lovebirds: Ana and Ben recently celebrated her 32nd birthday with a trip to the desert The insider explained: '[Ana] thinks Ben is such a sweet and nice guy. [She] admires how he juggles so much between work, his kids and co-parenting with Jen.' Ben 'splits his time [between Ana and his family] and, as always, the kids are the most important thing in his life'. However, the insider added that the Hollywood actor - who was married to Jennifer between 2005 and 2018 - 'always makes sure he has time for [Ana] and that she is number one'. The new couple is currently hunkering down together while stay-at-home orders are in place in Los Angeles. The virus has taken away peoples freedom in so many ways. Thank God we live in a nation where we can assemble, Stark said. People may reflect a little more and be more appreciative of what we have. Maybe thats a good thing." Russian Supreme Court to hear appeals against 2017 high-speed train terror plot sentence flickr.com/ Alexander Yampolsky 10:59 25/05/2020 MOSCOW, May 25 (RAPSI) The Supreme Court will hear appeals against seven members of the Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIS) banned in Russia, who have been convicted of attempted terrorist attack on Sapsan high-speed train in 2017, RAPSI has learnt from the courts press service. The appeals are scheduled for June 29. In July 2019, the defendants received prison terms ranging from 15 to 21 years for participating in this plot. According to the courts ruling, the men were found guilty of the organized preparing a terrorist attack, participating in a terrorist group and illegal arms trafficking. Investigators and the court found that seven natives of Tajikistan being ISIS members drafted a plan of a terrorist attack to crash a Sapsan high-speed train in 2017. On July 2017, they set up a construction on a railway track designed to trigger the accident. However, the train did not jump the rails, but train carriages cracked up. Damage caused was estimated at 55 million rubles (about $800,000 at the current exchange rate). Ever wondered what the best selling phone of all time was? No, its not an iPhone, or a Samsung Galaxy. Its not even a smartphone. According to Wikipedia, the phone thats found its way into more palms and back pockets than any other is the humble Nokia 1100. Yep, not even one of the cool Nokias. In fact, Nokia's handsets make up eight of the top ten best selling phones of all time. (The iPhone 6 and Samsung E1100 being the other two.). Of course, right now (and in the US) the most popular handsets most certainly are made by Apple and Samsung. Theyre all smartphones, and they have a lot more in common with each other than really any of Nokias phones ever did. Phones got boring, samey and very large. Something that in recent years inspired smaller companies to make more niche phones. But when was the last time you saw someone with something like a Nextbit Robin, a Yotaphone or a Fairphone? Despite these alternative companies struggling to find a place to sell their phones (or an audience to buy them) theres a rising trend of individuals picking up the baton. What if you or I wanted to make a phone? Is it even possible? Maybe, but not without many, many challenges. One of the people trying to save us from corporate boredom is French product designer Pierre-Louis Boyer. Technically, Boyer doesnt make phones. Yet. He has, however, released a few products with some modest success. His company 8Bcraft makes retro gaming handhelds which are popular within that scene (I wrote about one of them here). He also started a company that made thermal plastic. Now, hes setting his sights on the gadget we all use the most, and hes hoping to convince people that small is cool again. OneDevice concept phone. Every time I upgraded my phone I was like, Well, this phone is very big. How can I handle it? So that's actually one reason why I kept my iPhone 4 for a long time. It's because it was small and it was working so I was going to keep it, Boyer told Engadget. Its a sentiment you may have heard before, and one that even pops up at Engadget HQ (some of us are very fond of the original iPhone SE, for example). But take a look at any mobile operators phone selection, and the message is clear: Big phones rule, and Android or iOS are likely your only options. Story continues The phone that Boyer plans to make -- working title: OneDevice -- isnt just a small smartphone. Though at about 4-inches tall, it is also that. In fact, its the same height as his beloved iPhone 4, just a little wider. During our interview, he held up his old Apple handset, with a pencil taped to the side, to illustrate the dimensions of the phone he envisions. The OneDevice would come in two models, one of which would sport a Yotaphone-like e-ink display on the back. The main display would be 4.7-inches across -- incidentally the same as this years, taller, iPhone SE -- but with a 16:9 aspect ratio, which Boyer points out is optimized for video viewing. Then theres Alex Davidson, whose Boring phone is an (ironically) interesting take on the smartphone. Unlike other anti-distraction devices that just offer the basics (usually no browser or social media), the Boring phone is a legit smartphone (a modified Xiaomi A1), just with a limited operating system. Or, theres the security and privacy-focused Volla phone from a German company of the same name. Volla (not to be confused with Jolla) is similar to Boring phone in that it uses a customized handset from an existing manufacturer -- Germanys Gigaset -- but totally changes the experience with bespoke software. Both Boring phone and Volla had successful crowdfunding campaigns, with Boring already shipping, while Volla is on track to be in backers hands this fall. Davidson says his Boring phone has two main audiences: People who want fewer distractions, and parents that want a capable, yet internet-free phone for their kids. As he tells it, having a dumb phone is social suicide for many tweens and teens these days, so a somewhat capable handset, just with a stripped back operating system, could keep parents and overwhelmed professionals happy. While the Boring phones Kickstarter goal was modest -- it only needed around 75 backers to hit its target -- Davidson is confident more people are looking for something like this. It's a little bit of a strange one for people to get, he explained, but once people get it, and they sort of say, Yeah, right. So I have all the useful things and I just don't have an option to have anything that's going to waste my time. Volla is the brainchild of Dr. Jorg Wurzer. His vision was to make a phone that balances privacy with a smart, yet simple, operating system. Like the Boring phone, it too is based on a heavily modified version of Android at its core, but has no Google services and a completely rethought user interface (it will run most Android apps if you want). I realized that it's almost impossible to decide on my own with whom I share which data if I use stock Android or iOS. Wurzer told Engadget. Boring Phone Taking an existing phone and modifying the experience is an obvious route. Making your own handset is fraught with challenges. For one, you need access to reference designs from the chip makers. And according to Boyer, getting those from the market leaders is nigh on impossible as an independent. Plus its costly. For example, the hardware development and software development is around, between 500,000 and one million Euro said Boyer. Even tweaking an existing design requires deep pockets. The minimum order for a phone, for getting one made where they change the chipset at the factory for you, is about 3,000. Which is like $100 a phone for a base model, that's $300,000 upfront according to Davidson. This is even before you consider selling the phone in the US. Boyer is in France, speaking with local operators there. Davidson is in New Zealand, and Wurzer is from Germany. None of them mentioned any plans to sell their phone in America, and theres likely a good reason why. We are focused on Europe because FCC certification costs about $150,000 and this is, for a startup, challenging, Wurzer explained. Then, of course, you need somewhere for people to buy it. Mobile operators have close relationships with the big companies and a limited amount of shelf space in terms of the number of phones they can offer and support at any one given time. I think we will start with online sales channels, then with other commonly known sales channels in Germany: Supermarkets, electric markets and in the end, the operators, Wurzer said. Davidson points out that just getting visibility on crowdfunding platforms can be difficult. We were a little bit disappointed that the algorithms within Kickstarter [...] I guess that they just use an algorithm and whatever is getting the clicks is what gets to the top of the list. Kickstarter, for its part, explains how its Magic filter works here in this blog post. Boyer is exploring crowdfunding as well as traditional investment routes. Hes been speaking with Xavier Niel, a French investor who founded Free, one of the countrys largest carriers. It was Niel who told him that about 15 percent of customers expressed an interest in a smaller phone. But Neil drives a hard bargain and told Boyer that for his phone to be considered for Frees network, it would need to sell for around 200 ($220), which is a very low price for a new company to meet. And its not just how marketable your phone is. There's all of the stuff with the cellular networks between countries, and how they're all just different enough to make that difficult, Davidson added. Having a large network offer your phone to its customers is likely the holy grail for an independent, and while its not easy, its also not impossible. We need to be confident that there will be customer demand for a particular product and that it, therefore, makes commercial sense for us, but the customer is at the heart of our decision making. Magnus McDonald, Director of Product and Category Management at O2 (UK) told Engadget. He admits some brands (Apple and Samsung) make up most of what customers want, but indies arent off the table. We would absolutely consider smaller companies making interesting phones he added. Id encourage any new and emerging brands to contact my Hardware Category Management team on LinkedIn, providing some detail on the product, the marketing strategy, and investment that will enable them to achieve cut-through in the UK handset market. The sad truth is, some of the most interesting phones from the last few years have struggled to gain any traction. Whether thats the curious Yotaphone, Razers gaming phone or even the promising (and relatively thoroughbred) Essential phone. It seems were losing our appetite for (or access to) anything outside of the norm. Of course, thats with regard to the Western market. Chinese manufacturers arent afraid to try out new and bold ideas, but often in a way that doesnt resonate with US buyers either. It turns out, Chinese manufacturers pose something of a challenge for independent phone-makers, too. When I checked Kickstarter for recent projects, quite a few come up, but its not long before you realize that many (if not most) of them are either the same kinds of phone you might find on Wish, likely made by an ODM in Shenzhen or similar. You only have to look at a few Kickstarters, and you'll quite quickly start to realize what's really homegrown and what's kind of pretending to be homegrown, Davidson said. Volla phone. For Wurzer and Volla, using a local manufacturer had other benefits. With Gigaset, because they are able to produce highly customized, small batches through the way they're produced. It's not manufactured by people in Asia, it's a highly automated way to produce them with robots and people and because of that, it's possible to produce high quality and low price and high customization He said. And what you can't underestimate is the legal and the business security you have, if you have a vendor in the same country that is 90 car minutes away. What all three of these projects have in common is the desire to solve a problem. I'm not trying to push a vision, what I'm trying to do is to solve a pain point which is, you have a lot of people, which is 15 percent of the population, which want a small smartphone and there isn't any smartphone available for them, Boyer said. For Davidson, its productivity: I just found that I was just spending more and more time on the phone and not able to control it. And most of the things that I tried to do to stop it, just wouldn't work out. As for Wurzer? It's the usability and privacy for my freedom. Meanwhile, the big companies are trying to create solutions to problems were not sure exist. Take the new wave of foldable phones for example. Samsungs Galaxy Fold didnt exactly make a gracious entrance, but the Galaxy Z Flip has given us a hint at what our bendy future might look like. But that doesnt help much if youre one of Boyers 15 percent or one of the people seeking to get more done, or just wanting to have control over your data. Of course, adding bespoke software to an existing handset isnt exactly the same as the quirky Nokia see what sticks days, but what it does tell us is that whats out there right now, running the same grid-of-apps style software isnt what everybody wants. Both Davidson and Wurzer indicated they would like to get more involved with hardware customization further down the line. With the OneDevice, meanwhile, Boyer is taking that challenge on directly. Whatever the approach, the end goal is ultimately the same, to slowly chip away at the current cadre of companies that dominate the current market. In our independent developers eyes, nothing can change unless action is taken. Or as Wurzer puts it. In five years' time, we want Volla to have developed and serve a third market segment alongside Apple and Google. I deliberately speak of a market segment instead of a market niche. I see a market segment for alternative products to the current duopoly, which will not only enable sustainable economic growth but survival for a single brand. No one expects building your own phone to be as easy as building your own PC, but it also shouldnt be as prohibitively difficult as it currently is. With people like Boyer, Davidson and Wurzer around, though, maybe, just maybe, there is hope that phones from smaller companies with interesting ideas can find a place in the market. But if the challenges our independents have described continue, then we might be waiting a little while longer. Frances debt will likely rise above the governments forecast because of the fallout from the coronavirus crisis, according to Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin. In its latest budget in April, the government forecast debt at 115 per cent of economic output. France has already rewritten its budget twice this year and the government plans a third emergency budget in June to account for the effects of the pandemic, including spending to support workers and businesses. In this crisis, there is a scissor effect as you spend more and there is less tax income with less activity, so it will be more than 115 per cent, certainly, Darmanin said in an interview on French radio RTL on Sunday. Earlier in May, Fitch revised its outlook for Frances credit rating to negative because it expects a sharp increase in indebtedness and borrowing. Harry Potter author JK Rowling has offered to pay the annual salary of the person who tweeted on the Civil Service Twitter account accusing Boris Johnson of being an 'arrogant, offensive truth-twister'. The tweet was posted the press conference during which the Prime Minister defended his chief adviser Dominic Cummings. A tweet from the account read: 'Arrogant and offensive. Can you imagine having to work with these truth-twisters?' The statement remained live for nine minutes, during which time it received 30,000 retweets. JK Rowling (left) has offered a reward to the person who tweeted while the PM defended Dominic Cummings (right) for travelling during lockdown The author has offered a year's pay to whoever tweeted from the Civil Service account calling Johnson 'arrogant' Twitter users were dumbfound after the official account for the UK's Civil Service was seemingly used to take a swipe at the government in a tweet which featured the phrase 'truth twisters' It remains unclear whether the account had been hacked, or whether the message was posted in error, or by a disgruntled member of staff. A spokesman for the Government confirmed that an investigation was under way. But Ms Rowling wrote on Twitter: 'When you find out who it was, let us know. I want to give them a year's salary.' She added: 'I can't remember a clearer demonstration of contempt for the people from a sitting Prime Minister. Johnson might as well have shambled into shot, given us all the finger and walked off again.' Celebrities including Gary Lineker, the Match of the Day presenter have also posted in support of the person behind the tweet. Guardian writer Owen Jones mocked Boris Johnson's claim that Cummings was simply following his instincts, saying the civil servant was doing the same. Comedy writer James Felton and actor Ralf Little tweeted in solidarity with the post. Mr Johnson defended Mr Cummings for travelling to Durham for childcare during the lockdown when his wife developed symptoms of coronavirus. Ms Rowling, who is married to a doctor and suffered coronavirus symptoms, also previously angrily reacted to tweets from Cabinet Ministers supporting Mr Cummings. Mr Cummings (pictured), is said to be one of the key figures behind the government's 'Stay at Home' message, is accused of breaking the coronavirus lockdown by twice travelling 270 miles from London to Durham When Chancellor Rishi Sunak said on Twitter: 'Taking care of your wife and young child is justifiable and reasonable, trying to score political points over it isn't,' the writer hit back. 'People have missed funerals of loved ones because of lockdown. Many have had to look after their own young children while ill. One of the architects of the rules keeping those people housebound drove across the UK, knowing he had the virus. Indefensible hypocrisy and selfishness,' Ms Rowling tweeted. And Ms Rowling was equally furious when when Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote that 'It's reasonable and fair to ask for an explanation on this. And it has been provided: two parents with Coronavirus, were anxiously taking care of their young child. Those now seeking to politicise it should take a long hard look in the mirror.' Ms Rowling said: 'So those who make the rules get to break the rules? Your government explicitly told us not to visit elderly relatives. Look in your own bloody mirror.' She later added: 'Update to lockdown rules: parents who think they might have coronavirus should drive straight to relatives' houses halfway across the UK or risk their children being taken into care. 'The lockdown measures were presented as a great national collective endeavour and they were accepted by the public on those terms too. Now it seems they were optional so long as, that is, you have the correct connections.' And when Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden tweeted: 'Dom Cummings followed the guidelines and looked after his family,' Ms Rowling retorted: 'I know ending stories and this ain't it, chief.' Earlier this month Ms Rowling announced that she is making a 1m donation to help homeless people and those affected by domestic abuse during the coronavirus pandemic. The writer said she was 'torn between pride and anxiety' for frontline health and care workers. Ms Rowling has been married to Dr Neil Murray, a Scottish doctor, since 2001. Ms Rowling said last month that she has 'fully recovered' after suffering 'all symptoms' of coronavirus. The Edinburgh-based author, 54, said she had not been tested for COVID-19. She said she had instead used a breathing technique to get air into the base of her lungs and shared a video of a doctor advising people how to do it. Ms Rowling is now said to be worth 765m. But she has also donated much of her wealth to charity, with some reports saying that she has given away more than $100 million to philanthropic causes. ALBANY For a stretch, our governor was riding an incredible wave of praise. Andrew Cuomo was the model of good governance, the hero with the firm hand during the coronavirus crisis. His leadership made him a media darling and put him on the cover of Rolling Stone "Andrew Cuomo Takes Charge" amid suggestions he replace Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee. He was the pandemic's authoritative voice. But a reassessment is underway. The governor has been taking fire, as regular readers of this newspaper know, for a state directive mandating that nursing homes accept COVID-19 patients. As I wrote for a recent column, that was a tragic mistake, but that's not the only part of Cuomo's coronavirus response that's being questioned. Last week, the respected news outlet ProPublica released an exhaustively reported story asking why New York has suffered 10 times more COVID-19 deaths than California. The piece portrays Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as bumbling egoists who let their longstanding personal rivalry prevent early action that would have saved lives. Another story, in the New Yorker, made similar points as it compared Seattle's virus response to New York's. In Seattle, officials listened to scientists, the article says, while de Blasio and Cuomo impeded an effective virus response with their bickering and their refusal to see the looming crisis as a serious threat. An opinion piece in the liberal Guardian newspaper, out of London, took the argument further too far, actually. It claimed Cuomo "should be one of the most loathed officials in America right now" because "he's to blame for New York's coronavirus catastrophe." What happened? How did the governor go from darling to, perhaps, goat? Well, we should remember that polls suggest New Yorkers overwhelmingly approve of Cuomo's handling of the crisis. Maybe that will change, or maybe it won't. Time will tell. But much of the praise Cuomo received rested on the assumption, as the governor himself told us, that New York was the canary in the coal mine experiencing a pandemic that would arrive with similar force in the rest of the country. As it turned out, New York was the outlier, with nearly a third of the nation's total number of COVID-19 deaths just on its own. That no state has been so deeply devastated raises an obvious question: Why here? Any fair answer has to acknowledge that many factors were beyond Cuomo's control. New York City's density, heavy public transportation use and, perhaps, relative lack of sunlight seemingly make it a welcoming place for coronavirus spread. The governor can't be blamed for that, nor can he be faulted for the federal government's inept early response to the virus. Still, there is plenty for which he and de Blasio can be blamed. A damning report by Columbia University released last week found that if New York enacted stay-at-home orders just one week earlier, the move would have spared more than 17,000 lives in the New York metro area. Then, there's the state's directive, now abandoned, which exposed New York's nursing home residents to harm. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Cuomo had previously earned praise for his expressed willingness to take responsibility for his pandemic decisions. But last week, when pressed by reporters to answer for requiring nursing homes to take COVID-19 patients, he ducked responsibility and said the state was merely following Centers for Disease Control guidelines. "Anyone who wants to ask why did the state do that with COVID patients in nursing homes, its because the state followed President Trumps CDC guidance," Cuomo said during a press briefing in Albany. "So they should ask President Trump." Wait. Our governor, the admitted control freak, left the fate of the most vulnerable New Yorkers up to Donald Trump and the federal government? That's his answer? It was a terrible moment especially since some other governors, including Florida's Ron DeSantis, quickly banned nursing homes from taking COVID-19 patients, as New York has since done and it made clear how unworthy Cuomo is of all the adulation. His halo has lost its shine. But let's be reasonable. Politicians are rarely heroic. At best, they are merely human, like the rest of us. When confronted by a crisis as terrible and unpredictable as the pandemic, they are certain to make mistakes. Perfection is too much to ask of Cuomo or any decision maker. We can ask for accountability, though. We can expect better than ducking responsibility and shifting the blame. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill Tripoli: More than 1000 Russian and Syrian mercenaries in Libya have pulled back from the front lines after a Turkish military intervention helped block an assault on the capital. The intervention halted an attempt to capture Tripoli by the Moscow-backed strongman Khalifa Haftar. The mercenaries with the Wagner company, a Russian military group headed by a confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin, descended on the city of Bani Walid as they and Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army withdrew from Tripoli's suburbs over the past few days, the city's mayor Salem Alaywan said in a phone interview. Western officials had said that more than 1400 Russian mercenaries were deployed last year to assist Haftar, who is also supported by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. His aim is to dislodge the internationally recognised government in Tripoli, which is backed by Turkey. Elon Musk has just tweeted an image of NASA's most recent rocket manufactured by Musk's aerospace transport service company, SpaceX. Redditor "u/why-we-here-though" reposted the tweeted image on Reddit and captioned it with "It's beautiful...". The comment section had a lot of different opinions on the physical appearance of the SpaceX rocket. A Redditor with the username "griddy777" commented that there should have been a SpaceX logo under NASA's logo imprinted on the rocket. The image did, in fact, only show three visible logos imprinted on the rocket: the national flag of the U.S., NASA's official logo and NASA spelled out in its signature bold red writing. Space X Launch Reddit Post The repost's owner "u/why-we-here-though", however, commented back on "griddy777" and stated that SpaceX's logo might have been on the Dragon capsule. However, it is not visible in the angle the image was taken in. Other people like "Sythic_" and "AlienWannabe" mentioned that SpaceX's logo is on the other side of the rocket where the camera was not focused on capturing. Moreover, "BradGroux" commented on the thread section of the matter and attached a link to an image on Twitter of a rocket with SpaceX's logo on the side of the rocket. Some of the Reddit users, like "beanmancum" stated his delight of the minimalistic physical features of the rocket, as there were only three different logos on the SpaceX rocket. He also stated that the American flag and NASA's logos were ample enough for the rocket's design because it shows that the rocket was grounded on its scientific mission and was not commercialized by SpaceX. Read Also: British Company Skyrora Brings UK's First Rocket Test in 50 Years to a Success: Official Launch Set in 2021 Space X News: NASA logo and American flag According to one of the Redditors in the threads section, the launch of this rocket will be on Wednesday and the time of the lift-off will be 16:33 EDT. Moreover, there will be a live stream for the rocket's launching in NASA's and SpaceX's official Youtube channels. Despite the confirmed date and time of the launch, some Redditors expected the launch to be postponed, or even be cancelled, due to weather conditions. Weather conditions may change at the last minute which, in turn, may affect the rocket's launch. One Redditor under the username "Rottenpotato365" stated his opinion on NASA's logos on SpaceX's rocket. He commented that it "kind of sucks that NASA plastered their logo on a SpaceX rocket." Reading this comment, "u/why-we-here-though" started a thread and informed him that NASA did fund SpaceX in the creation of this rocket and for the rocket to make its initial launch. NASA's funding of the SpaceX rocket should give NASA the right to plaster its logos on the rocket. "Rottenpotato365" stated that he understood the matter. However, he still found the matter weird as to why SpaceX's logo was not imprinted on the rocket. The repost's owner then informed him that SpaceX's logo is on the Dragon capsule on the other side of the rocket where the camera angle didn't focus on. Read Also: [Fake News] NASA Did NOT Find Any Concrete Evidence of a Parallel Universe Donald Trump has a pathological fear of the public will being expressed through the right to vote, so he believes he must sabotage the process any way that he can. The re-election strategy he now pursues with alarming gusto is the destruction of the US Postal Service, which Congress must not allow, because an efficient postal system should be regarded as a voting rights issue especially during a year when voting in public could get you killed. The USPS has always been essential to elections. It delivers mail-in ballots to homes in 34 states if the voter requests one, including five states that use exclusive, all-mail models with remarkable success. It delivers ballots to service members and others abroad who couldnt vote otherwise. It is the brick-and-mortar portal where people drop off their ballots to be delivered to the registrar. It even educates voters by sending them sample ballots weeks before Election Day. The connection between the USPS and our most democratic process is fundamental. But never more so than during the Fall of 2020, when medical experts predict a second outbreak of the coronavirus just as 130 million Americans plan to drag their mitts over the same buttons and levers handled by thousands of strangers at polling stations during another public health catastrophe. That would be a good habit to break, which is why a sizable majority of election officials from both parties endorse a universal vote-by-mail system. What New Jersey and the rest of the country can learn from Oregon | Editorial https://t.co/fLAYYLqawT pic.twitter.com/IWGQM7bkko njdotcom (@njdotcom) April 20, 2020 Trump disagrees. He said last month that if the country switched to all-mail voting, youd never have a Republican elected in this country again, and he has since issued a driveling torrent of unsupported claims about fraud. He attacks the USPS relentlessly, which some interpret as a bank-shot vendetta against Amazon billionaire and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos: Trump says the Postal Service is losing massive amounts of money by undercharging Amazon to deliver its packages, a provable lie. The presidents own Treasury Department issued a report in Dec. 2018 that e-commerce deliveries are the biggest source of profit for the Postal Service, and, besides, its rates are capped by law. But Trumps real target is the USPS itself. Congress included a $10 billion emergency fund for the agency in the first stimulus package, but it has been held up by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Without the loan, the outgoing Postmaster General warns that the USPS could face financial ruin by the end of September. That means mail service could be discontinued. Congress also appropriated $400 million to help states prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus during the 2020 election cycle. Michigan said it will use its $11.2 million share to mail absentee ballot applications to voters. Nevada will use its $4.5 million to make a faster to a VBM model: It is sending actual ballots to registered voters. New Jersey also is mailing ballots with prepaid return postage to 6 million registered voters in time for the July 7 primary, but we dont live in a battleground state. So Trump had a recent Twitter fit aimed at Michigan and Nevada, claiming that he would cut off funding for those states (because they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!), which is a Ukraine-level extortion threat that has the comic twist of being empty. Michigan sends absentee ballot applications to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2020 Never mind that many red states (Iowa, Georgia, Nebraska, Montana, et al.) are doing the same thing. Michigan got Trumps attention because he needs to win it in November. Then theres this: The president forced the deputy postmaster general, Ronald Stroman, to resign. The agency will soon be led by Louis DeJoy, who will become the first USPS chief in two decades who did not rise through the agencys ranks. He is a corporate CEO and a prominent Republican donor. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9th Dist.) called Stroman the de facto point person in vote-by-mail and election issues, so he has asked the agencys Inspector General to look into it. Given the job security of IGs under this administration, nobody knows if or when that will happen. We only know that the US Postal Service at a time of corrosive partisanship, bitter distrust, and economic depression has a 91 percent approval rating from all Americans, and it is under attack from the most powerful American. In an election year and a census year, with viral outbreaks expected to persist, it might be the only thing that can save our democracy. This morning donald trump threatened to extort US states that are allowing our citizens to vote by mail during the pandemic. Trump was impeached for extorting a foreign govt to help him rig the election and is now doing the exact same to Americans. We were warned https://t.co/ZfoqyQFeGK Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) May 20, 2020 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. The headaches came first. "Terrible" migraines that would last throughout the day. Osmond Nicholas, then 26, was working as a police officer in his hometown of Oceanside, California, after earning his Bachelor's degree in criminal justice and his Master's in homeland security at San Diego State University. While out on the job in May 2017, the former college football player had what he described as "a little blackout" moment while driving his police car. He said he remembers questioning where he was at the moment, and his partner at the time reminded him, "Oh, you're driving right behind me." The headaches and blackouts persisted. Soon he was sleeping up to 16 hours a day. In July, after multiple doctors told him it was likely fatigue due to his graveyard shift on the police force, he received a diagnosis that would change the course of his life. Nicholas was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma multiforme, a rare disease that experts say is among the deadliest type of brain cancers. The aggressive cancer affects an estimated 13,000 in the United States every year and is not curable. Senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy were both diagnosed with and ultimately died from the disease. Bachelor party plans end up in the emergency room Before receiving his brain cancer diagnosis, Nicholas said he thought the migraines and chronic fatigue were due to his "work schedule or diet." He changed his diet to see if that would make a difference, but the migraines continued. "Finally I said, you know what, maybe I am behind in sleep. I went to a doctor, and he kind of gave me the chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis," he said. But Nicholas didn't understand the diagnosis because he felt like he was getting plenty of sleep. MORE: Family does early father-daughter wedding dance after dad's terminal cancer diagnosis In June, Nicholas was planning to go to Las Vegas for his bachelor party with some friends. He had proposed to his then-fiancee Trinity Daniel in June 2016, and the two were planning to get married in September 2017. At his parents' home the night before his trip, he experienced an extremely painful headache. "That was the worst headache I ever had, which led to nausea and me waking vomiting," he remembered. Story continues His mother, a nurse practitioner, insisted they go to the hospital immediately. Within an hour while at the emergency room at Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center in San Diego, Nicholas was told that a CT scan showed he had a mass in his brain. "I didn't know what mass was, or I didn't put two and two together -- mass, tumor, cancer," he said. PHOTO: A scan of Nicholas' brain, taken in June 2017, displayed a tumor that required emergency surgery. (Osmond Nicholas) "I was actually excited at this point because for half a year I'd been feeling like I was crazy with these headaches," he continued. "Finally they had found something that I wasn't crazy, and everybody was believing me." Grasping the reality of his diagnosis After discovering the mass, Nicholas was told he would have to have emergency surgery that morning. He said the immediacy of the surgery didn't allow him time to digest any of the information. "At that point, I hadn't even really put cancer in any of this," he said. "I just thought, OK, I got a tumor, or a mass. The worst part at that point was them doing a craniotomy and opening my skull." After the surgery, he thought he was "over the largest hill." "I was pretty sure that they were going to call me, say no news is good news ... and that did not happen," he shared. He remembered telling his boss that he could come back to work in a few weeks after the staples were removed from his head. PHOTO: Osmond Nicolas appears in this photo following his emergency brain surgery in June, 2017. (Trinity Daniel) Two weeks post-operation, Nicholas had his first oncology referral appointment in July 2017. There he was told that he had brain cancer, specifically stage 4 glioblastoma, which he described as, "a bunch of words," to him at that point. "I was probably a little naive, even after having brain surgery, I was of the mindset that people always have benign brain tumors all the time, or benign tumors, I always see it on the news," he said. "That's the extent of it. They take something out of my head, I'll have to deal with the ugly scar, and I'll be back to work." His mother asked about his prognosis in the appointment after hearing the diagnosis. "That's when the doctor kind of reluctantly, but truthfully, told me the average can be anywhere from 12 to 18 months, but that I was lucky that I got the tumor out," he said. Although glioblastoma is more common with older adults, the disease affects patients of all ages. "A lot of research is ongoing trying to understand why these tumors develop and so far, with very rare exception, there does not seem to be any link with environmental exposure, nor with any link for an inherited or genetic predisposition to the development of these tumors," Dr. David Reardon, clinical director, Center for Neuro-Oncology, Medical Oncology, at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, told "Good Morning America." "For the vast majority of patients, this is a type of cancer that develops for reasons we don't understand and is not due to anything they did, or were exposed to or inherited," Reardon, who has no connection to Nicholas' case, said. With survival rates varying by several prognostic factors, including age, tumor stage and more, the median survival rate is estimated at 15 months for patients with glioblastoma, according to Reardon. Dr. Michael Vogelbaum, chief of neurosurgery and program leader of the department of neuro-oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center, said for patients who receive "very intensive and highly monitored care" the median survival ranges from around 16 to 20 months. Vogelbaum has no connection to Nicholas' case. Nicholas said the day he received his diagnosis was "probably one of the hardest days" of his life. "I literally thought, I'm young, I have cancer -- that means they could probably give me the most chemotherapy and most radiation and I'll be fine," he said. "Then my oncologist later broke it down that this is not that type of cancer; It's a terminal cancer," he remembered. "Sometime sooner or later it will come back." He remembered crying and not wanting to tell his diagnosis to his fiancee, who had just graduated from law school and was studying for the bar exam. "I just wanted to come back home and report good news ... All I was seeing was that they give you 12 to 15 months ... and they lost their frame of speech ... their sense of way," he said about his research on the disease. Nicholas called up his close friends to tell them he, "probably wouldn't be here much longer" after hearing the news. "When you're so young, just hearing the word 'terminal means you're gonna die ... I couldn't even mask how that was," he said. Daniel, Nicholas' then-fiancee, now-wife, said the time was "extremely hard" as a young couple and changed their perspective on life. "We definitely had our sad days where we would just sit around the house and cry, or one thing we used to do together is, which we still do now, we go on really long walks," she said. "We would just kind of talk about how we were feeling. At first, it was hard, but he is a fighter. He is someone who is committed to living." Moving forward with treatment Nicholas started his treatment with the standard of care for brain cancer patients. Following surgery, he started Temozolomide, or Temodar, a form of chemotherapy, combined with radiation at UCSD's Moores Cancer Center in August 2017. But his body did "not respond well" to the chemotherapy. "During radiation, my blood work, which are all my white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells, took a dive, which happens because that's what chemotherapy does," he said. "Typically they take you off of that for a couple of weeks, it comes back up and then you restart your medication, but mine went so low," he continued. "I remember my platelets were in the single digits, which could cause you to start hemorrhaging and your body basically to die from that." Nicholas had to discontinue chemotherapy after four weeks because of his body's reaction. He was nearly halfway through his 30 radiation treatments when his doctor informed him that he was "extremely anemic" and he had a very weak immune system. He remembered getting short of breath from time to time, and his doctor told him, "You have no immune system ... all your neutrophils are at zero, so be careful. Don't go outside.'" The next day, Nicholas got a fever and went straight to the emergency room at Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center, where the medical staff placed him in isolation on the oncology unit. Nicholas was set to get married the next month, on Sept. 9, 2017, and had to stay quarantined on the oncology floor of the hospital for nearly three weeks. "Up until September, I think third or fourth, they had to wait till my white blood cell neutrophil count got to at least 500 before they could release me out into the public. I remember, at that point, thinking that I was going to cancel my wedding because I was stuck in a hospital," he said. His neutrophil count slowly rose, and he was finally released from the hospital three days before his wedding. PHOTO: Osmond Nicholas and Trinity Daniel got married on September 9, 2017 in San Diego. (Javier Nicholas) He hasn't done chemotherapy since, though he did finish his radiation treatments. The primary treatment he has relied on since September 2017 is Optune, a cap that he said he wears up to 23 hours a day. Optune is a device used to treat glioblastoma that, "uses technology called 'tumor treating fields' to deliver electric fields to the brain, which can help stop the proliferation of cancer cells," according to the Mayo Clinic. Although patients using Optune do not feel any of the electrical impulses from the treatment, Reardon said the treatment takes a "fairly motivated patient" because it should be worn at least 18 hours a day. "We know from laboratory research that cancer cells, they tend to grow and divide in a very dysregulated and rapid way compared to normal cells in our body," Dr. Reardon explained. "When cancer cells are exposed to these oscillating electrical fields, it makes it very hard for the cells to split in two and divide. Eventually, if they can't do that the cancer cells give up and die." When Nicholas first learned about the FDA-approved device, he recalled thinking, "If the cap's going to make me live longer, I'll shave my head and we'll do what we have to do." Along with Optune, Nicholas continues getting platelet transfusions and white blood cell shots to boost his immune system. His blood work is checked every two weeks now and he has scans on his brain every six weeks. "That's really in my life the only time that I really get an active reminder that I have brain cancer," he said on the scans. "Those couple days between getting your MRI ... and your doctor calling you back are probably the more nerve wracking days of your month." He said he is aware of warnings from doctors about the unpredictability of the tumor. "It could go away ... you don't have anything for 10 years, and then 10 years down the road, something pops up and you have a recurrence of all these cancer cells ... or it could be really quick. But what they do know is that right now ... it will come back." Reardon said glioblastoma differs from other aggressive cancers because it does not metastasize throughout other body systems. "Although we don't have to worry about the cancer spreading to the lungs, or bones, or lymph nodes, or the liver -- other organs in the body -- it does microscopically spread outwards," he said. "The main mass that we can see on an MRI scan of the patient when they come in with their deficits or headache procedure, we see a localized mass on the MRI scan, extending outwardly from the mass are microscopic infiltrative cells that are moving outward into the adjacent brain tissues," he continued. "So although it doesn't metastasize and spread out of the brain, it does spread within the brain itself." Life as a father and husband with brain cancer Choosing to have a family, Nicholas says, was one of the biggest decisions he made in prioritizing living over his diagnosis. "I didn't really know if I wanted to go through with getting married and put my wife [through becoming] a widow and have a daughter and let her grow up without dad if things went south or how they said it's supposed to go," he said. "It was kind of my first leap of faith that I'm going to live my life and live without boundaries and not let cancer take me a day before." PHOTO: Osmond Nicholas appears in an undated photo with his daughter Riyah. (Trinity Daniel) "I believe if I would have said, 'Hey, I don't want to have a baby or anything,' just the stuff that me and my wife kind of planned for -- that we knew we both wanted -- then I'd be letting cancer win that battle of me living my life," he added. Daniel said she was hesitant to have a child because of her worries about her husband's illness. "I don't want to do this by myself," she remembered thinking. However, she said she and her husband built an even stronger bond early on through their struggles. "Having such a big test early on in our marriage ... we kind of built the foundation that we're going to stick through this and stick together and whatever comes our way we can figure it out because we've been figuring it out ever since then," she said. The couple welcomed their daughter Riyah in November 2018, and Daniel said their little girl and her father are inseparable. PHOTO: Osmond Nicholas appears in this undated photo with his wife Trinity Daniel and their daughter Riyah, who is 18 months old. (Javier Nicholas) "He was more excited, I think, to be a dad, especially when she was born," she said. "I work usually outside of the home, so he's the one that's here with her during the day. He does everything -- meals, diapers. I credit him with her learning how to walk and talk because I wasn't there and she was home with him." "She's his little roadie, she goes everywhere with him," Daniel added. "They go on hikes, to shopping, to his friends' houses. Anywhere he goes, she goes and he is an amazingly doting father." After retiring from the police force in October 2019, Nicholas said he has time to devote to his daughter. "I just try to even think of it this way -- even if I do go in five years, six years, which I'm hoping I don't ... there are kids out there and little daughters out there that don't have many days with their father -- and he's alive. So I say, hey, now I can give her all my time." PHOTO: In this May 2020, photo, Osmond Nicholas is shown with his 18 month old daughter, Riyah. (Osmond Nicholas) "I'm sure there's going to come a time when she's going to ask about everything, and I think I'm just going to keep it frank and honest because I think that's the best way to go about it," he added. He said he has trouble putting the joys of fatherhood into words and encourages anyone considering having children to do so, with or without illness. "If you're thinking about it, no matter how bad it is ... it'll be all right," he said. "Whether you're here or not -- just don't let don't let cancer dictate the rest of your life before it has to." Nicholas is also fortunate to have parents supporting him at all times, he said. "My mom and dad, they've been to every appointment. They also have been rocks in my life as far as just opening my eyes to just surviving really." His two siblings, Javier Nicholas, 30, and Nadya Hall, 34, have been with him throughout his fight as well. His older brother Javier Nicholas said he's "extremely proud" of Osmond. "He could have given up and nobody would be able to fault him for that, but he never did," he said. "His life changed forever in one day and he has always handled it like a warrior. He's my hero and an inspiration to those fighting their battle with brain cancer. As his brother, I love him and am truly inspired by his determination and grit." Along with relying on the support of his family, Osmond Nicholas also uses music as an outlet to cope with his pain. "Once I got out of the hospital and was able to play, it just took me away from the diagnosis for a moment and got me into a different zone of saying just appreciate the music and appreciate that you're here and you can still do the things you love to do," he said. He said he now shares videos of his guitar playing on Instagram to bring hope to others who might also be fighting glioblastoma. "I put up more videos not because I think I'm the best guitarist, trust me, I know I'm not, but because I know there's somebody else with glioblastoma, or whatever type of cancer ... that can get encouraged. Because I do think your attitude makes up a lot of how you fare because your mental health needs to be right." "I don't like to post too many sad things -- not that they don't happen -- but I think it just could be an inspiration that hey, if this guy with a brain tumor is enjoying life, what do we really have to be upset about?" Raising awareness and living every day to the fullest The month of May is National Brain Cancer Awareness month, and Nicholas said he believes there is a desperate need for more awareness around brain cancer, specifically glioblastoma. "I don't think many people think of, know what a glioblastoma is or really know much about brain cancers in general," he said. Nicholas said living with brain cancer gives him the responsibility to share his story and hopes others battling the disease will do the same. "I'm always going to be an ambassador for it," he said of his illness. "I just think speaking out on it would help out and then being as active as you can, whether it's to your hospitals or down to the senators to get money because funding is where big things actually happen." Vogelbaum said research for glioblastoma treatment is difficult for several reasons. "There's really no other area of cancer drug development where you don't take samples of treated tissue to understand what the treatment is doing," he said. "It's harder for us to do that in glioblastoma patients, but that is still necessary nonetheless." He said "direct delivery of therapeutics to the brain" is also necessary. "There needs to be an understanding that there is no way to establish a timeline to success in any field of medicine, particularly in cancer," he explained. Vogelbaum said that in past decades, melanoma was the other untreatable cancer that produced many "terrible and unpredictable outcomes." "Then along came immunotherapy and targeted therapy, BRAF targeted therapy, and that's completely changed the way that we approach melanoma, to the point where for many patients now it's a very treatable disease," he continued. "That happened in a very short time when there were a lot of other things have been tried and failed. Eventually, the right thing was found. We have to have the same kind of optimistic approach to glioblastoma." He said researchers must continue to keep trying new approaches to further understand the biology of this cancer. PHOTO: In this May 2020, photo, Osmond Nicholas and his wife Trinity Daniel, are shown with their 18 month old daughter, Riyah. (Osmond Nicholas) Nicholas' diagnosis has completely changed his perspective on life. "I've become a little more introspective and just become much more at peace with life in general," he said. "Some people focus on, 'Oh, I just want to live to 100 years' and all that. I feel like being diagnosed with glioblastoma ... I just want to live to have a great day today and live as long as I can. Just to take advantage of that." His illness has also reinforced his understanding of the fragility of life. "The only thing I can guarantee is that we're all going to die, so use what you have," he added. "There's a little thing that we used in the brain tumor group, we call like, 'the best group that we never want to ever be a part of,' and I totally wouldn't want to be a part of this group if I could not, but since I am, it has changed my life." PHOTO: Osmond Nicholas appears in an undated photo with his daughter Riyah. (Trinity Daniel) "I don't think I see things rosier, but I think I see it more as the perspective of it all comes back to -- you can die any day, so live your life for each day, every day." Father outliving his brain cancer prognosis shares his battle and love for life originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Dominic Cummings actions have made a mockery of police enforcement of lockdown measures in the UK, a police and crime commissioner has said. Mr Cummings travelled to County Durham in March to self-isolate with his family apparently because he feared that he and his wife would be left unable to care for their son while official guidelines warned against long-distance journeys. Further reports suggested he took a second trip to the North East of England in April, having already returned to London following his recovery from Covid-19. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has thrown his support behind his aide and said he acted responsibly, legally and with integrity. But Gloucestershires independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl told BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Monday that Mr Cummings actions will make it much harder to enforce lockdown restrictions. He added: I think it makes it much harder for the police going forward this will be quoted back at them time and time again when they try to enforce the new rules. But I think more importantly it makes something of a mockery of the police action going back when the message was very, very clear: stay at home. The police had to deliver a very harsh, very difficult message and now it appears people could act differently, so I think it does undermine the policing going back and their confidence, and going forward it will be more difficult, but they will cope, they always do. Im reluctant to comment on what Cummings did or didnt do, but Im not going to sit on the fence & wait for the outcome. It looks and feels wrong and Im not convinced you or I would have been defended so vigorously. Please stay at home. Martin Surl (@GlosPCC) May 24, 2020 Durhams former chief constable Mike Barton said the people who make the rules cannot break them or there will be chaos. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Barton added: Policing the lockdown has probably been one of the toughest assignments ever given to the British police and they have risen to the challenge. But what the Prime Minister did yesterday has now made it exponentially tougher for all those people on the front line, those PCSOs (police community support officers) and cops on the front line, enforcing the lockdown. We are in the middle of a national emergency and people who make the rules cannot break the rules, otherwise we are going to have chaos. We have got here really selfish acts that are undermining the efforts of the British public and British police to make us all safe, and if an inquiry by Durham Constabulary would assist us with that then I would commend it Asked if officers should go through hours and hours of CCTV footage to find out if the trips were made, he said it was a matter for the force, but added: If I thought that the entire edifice of Durham Constabulary was at risk I would make sure we got to the truth. If youre going to expend hundreds of hours and thats going to put other people at risk then you wouldnt do it. We have got here really selfish acts that are undermining the efforts of the British public and British police to make us all safe, and if an inquiry by Durham Constabulary would assist us with that then I would commend it. A 13-year-old scheduled caste girl is 17-week pregnant after she was gang-raped by three men of her village in Bharatpur four months ago, said police on Monday. Doctors found out about her pregnancy when the girl complained of abdominal pain and was taken to hospital on Saturday. The girls parents registered a case against the three on Monday. According to the FIR, the three men dragged the girl to a mustard field in a village under the Kaman police station about four months ago. They gagged her and gang-raped her there. The girls mother said the girl complained of abdominal pain and was taken to a private hospital in Kaman on May 23, where doctors found through ultrasound examination that she was pregnant for 17 weeks. After this, the girl told her parents about the sexual assault, police said. She said the three have raped her multiple times in the last four months. For Coronavirus Live Updates Kaman police station in-charge Dharmesh Dayma said a case has been registered against the three named accused, who are absconding. Her medical examination was done today; the report will come on Tuesday. We will also take her to a magistrate on Tuesday for her statement under section 164 of the CrPC, said Kaman circle officer Devendra Singh Rajawat, the investigating officer in the case. Canberra, May 25 : Millions of dollars donated to a global fundraiser for Australia's bushfires can only be used by one state fire service, a court ruled on Monda. Earlier this year, Australian comedian Celeste Barber raised A$51 ($33 million) in a Facebook appeal during the nation's catastrophic 2019-20 bushfire season, reports the BBC. Many donors hoped money would go to victims, charities and animal groups. Because the appeal was directed towards a state fire agency, the funds cannot be legally divided, judge Michael Slattery in the Supreme Court of New South Wales ruled on Monday. This was despite the recipient - the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) - intending to split the money in line with Barber and donors' directions, the Court said. In his ruling, Slattery said: "Some donors may have intended or hoped that the money they donated would be used for purposes beyond those which the Court has advised are permissible." But he said that honouring those intentions would breach the law around how trusts operate. The judge said the money could be used to help volunteer firefighters and the families of firefighters killed battling the blazes. Barber launched the fundraiser in January after her family was affected by the fires, which scorched land across the nation, the BBC reported. It went viral after it was shared by celebrities like Natalie Portman and Lizzo, raising A$20 million within 48 hours. Facebook said it was the platform's largest appeal ever. Massive blazes raged across every Australian state during the crisis, killing at least 33 people including 14 firefighters. A royal commission inquiry into the natural disaster commenced on Monday, with testimonies from scientists who linked the extreme blazes to climate change. New Delhi, May 25 : Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army held several meetings to resolve face-off in Eastern Ladakh at Line of Actual Control, however no breakthrough has taken place till Monday, sources said. The last meeting took place on Sunday but many things remain unresolved, said source, adding that more commander level talks are in pipeline to resolve the issues. Sources said, there have been five rounds of talks between military commanders on the ground but there is no breakthrough yet. A top Indian Army officer said, "No breakthrough. Status quo is maintained." He also said that the situation will be resolved but Indian Army will continue with its construction work along the Line of Actual Control. Sources said that there has been a troop build up on both sides and there are three to four places where there is an eye ball to eye ball situation since May 5. Across Line of Actual Control, both sides have deployed over 1000 troops in eyeball to eyeball situation at four places. Indian Army is keeping a close watch in the Pangong Tso sector of Eastern Ladakh and the Galwan Valley region where the Chinese have enhanced deployment. Other than Pangong Tso that is extremely sensitive, the other places that are volatile in the wake of the recent escalation are Trig Heights, Demchok and Chumar in Ladakh which forms western sector of the India-China frontier. While the disengagement took place in Eastern Ladakh after troops came to blows on May 5 and were involved in a face-off till the morning of May 6 when troops from both sides clashed leaving several injured. Sources said that there was a massive troop build up by China on their side not too far away from the point of the stand-off. It was also observed that enhanced patrolling is being carried out by China in Pangong Lake. They have also increased numbers of boats. The face-offs were triggered by Indian road construction and development of infrastructure the Chinese objected to. However, Indian army has maintained that there is no continuing face-off at the Pangong lake and there is no build up of armed troops in the area. On Friday, Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane visited Leh, the headquarters of 14 Corps in Ladakh, and reviewed security deployment of forces along Line of Actual Control with China. He held a meeting with Northern Command (NC) chief Lieutenant General Y.K. Joshi and the 14 Corps commander Lieutenant General Harinder Singh and other officers to know the ground situation at forward locations along the Line of Actual Control. Later, he returned to Delhi. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A union has welcomed an indication from the Government that firms facing a failure during the coronavirus crisis that would disproportionately harm the economy could be given more support on a last resort basis. The Treasury has said support might be considered in exceptional circumstances and where a company had exhausted all other options. It comes after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Parliament last week that work alongside the Treasury on an additional support scheme for the aviation sector which he called the Birch process is very much ongoing. A Treasury spokeswoman said on Monday: We have put in place unprecedented levels of support to help businesses get through this crisis. Beyond that many firms are getting support from established market mechanisms, such as existing shareholders, bank lending and commercial finance. In exceptional circumstances, where a viable company has exhausted all options and its failure would disproportionately harm the economy, we may consider support on a last resort basis. As the British public would expect, we are putting in place sensible contingency planning and any such support would be on terms that protect the taxpayer. It is understood the Treasury would notify Parliament of the spend incurred as a result of any deal. The department has stressed the difference in being approached for support and agreeing to give it. Steve Turner, the Unite unions assistant general secretary for manufacturing, said the Governments indication about a rescue plan was welcome but said the union will need to see details and emphasised that time is of the essence. He said: There is no more time to lose if we are to prevent a tsunami of job losses from sweeping through communities this summer. Mr Turner said it is important any proposed changes to the Governments job retention scheme do not undermine a plan to recover and rebuild and that workers continue to get their wages. He added: But if these moves put a financial floor under major employers and their vast supply chains then we have the beginnings of a plan taking shape. WOOD RIVER The states unemployment rate almost quadrupled between March and April due to the coronavirus pandemic, jumping 12.2 points to 16.4 percent. The national unemployment rate jumped to 14.7 percent from 3.6 percent. Statewide and national figures were released Thursday. Regional and local figures are expected next week. Both state and local officials had anticipated a large increase in the unemployment rate. Theres nothing surprising, said Tony Fuhrmann, director of Madison County Employment and Training. The fact that were above the federal level, I dont know if thats surprising or not. He noted the Illinois unemployment rate usually is slightly higher than the national rate, and also said next weeks figures will be interesting because he doesnt know if the local rate will be as high, or if the states rate is being skewed by the Chicago area, which has been an epicenter for the COVID-19 virus. From March to April the state lost an estimated 762,000 nonfarm jobs. Both the monthly unemployment rate and decline in nonfarm payroll jobs set new records, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The current unemployment records go back to 1976, when new methods of determining rates were set. Fuhrmann said he expects the May figures, which will be out next month, will be worse because current data is not taking the large number of healthcare workers laid off into account. He also said about 40 percent of the current unemployment comes from the hospitality and tourism industry, and about 10 percent from education. Next month those other factors will start to come into play and drive the rate higher. IDES also released data showing that through May 16 it had processed more than 1.2 million claims for unemployment benefits since March 1. That includes 72,780 new initial claims for regular unemployment benefits during the week ending May 16. The total is 12 times the number of claims the department processed over the same period last year, when IDES processed just 93,000 claims for regular unemployment benefits, according to multiple state officials. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on our economy, as has been the case in states across the nation, said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. As we move to safely reopen much of our economy, we are focused on ensuring working families and small business have the resources they need to recover, and we urge the federal government to step up and provide additional relief. The state has also launched a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which targets workers not normally eligible for Illinois regular unemployment programs. In its first week the program processed 74,515 claims. Those on unemployment are also receiving enhanced benefits through the federal CARES Act. However, Fuhrmann said that incentive, which provides an additional $600 weekly, is having an unintended consequence among some workers, who can earn more being unemployed than working. (Employers) call and text them, and the employees are ignoring them, Fuhrmann said. The idea was to keep people whole through this process. But my calculations were someone whos making $10 an hour was getting almost $21 per hour. Generally, someone who refuses to go back to work becomes ineligible for unemployment. One valid reason during the pandemic is the lack of childcare. It should be interesting next week when restaurants and bars try to open with outdoor seating and limited capacity, he said. He also noted that those enhanced benefits end in July, so there is an advantage of coming back to work before then. He also said if someone is looking for a career change this is a good time to call the MCET office and talk to a career specialist. Now is a good time to reach out to us, Fuhrmann said. To plan for their near future and long-term future as well. He noted they have training funds available, and a list of more than 40 local employers who are still hiring. For information call MCET at 618-296-4301 or 618-296-4445. Space is getting crowded. Aging satellites and space debris crowd low-Earth orbit, and launching new satellites adds to the collision risk. The most effective way to solve the space junk problem, according to a new study, is not to capture debris or deorbit old satellites: it's an international agreement to charge operators "orbital-use fees" for every satellite put into orbit. Orbital use fees would also increase the long-run value of the space industry, said economist Matthew Burgess, a CIRES Fellow and co-author of the new paper. By reducing future satellite and debris collision risk, an annual fee rising to about $235,000 per satellite would quadruple the value of the satellite industry by 2040, he and his colleagues concluded in a paper published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Space is a common resource, but companies aren't accounting for the cost their satellites impose on other operators when they decide whether or not to launch," said Burgess, who is also an assistant professor in Environmental Studies and an affiliated faculty member in Economics at the University of Colorado Boulder. "We need a policy that lets satellite operators directly factor in the costs their launches impose on other operators." Currently, an estimated 20,000 objects--including satellites and space debris--are crowding low-Earth orbit. It's the latest Tragedy of the Commons, the researchers said: Each operator launches more and more satellites until their private collision risk equals the value of the orbiting satellite. So far, proposed solutions have been primarily technological or managerial, said Akhil Rao, assistant professor of economics at Middlebury College and the paper's lead author. Technological fixes include removing space debris from orbit with nets, harpoons, or lasers. Deorbiting a satellite at the end of its life is a managerial fix. Ultimately, engineering or managerial solutions like these won't solve the debris problem because they don't change the incentives for operators. For example, removing space debris might motivate operators to launch more satellites--further crowding low-Earth orbit, increasing collision risk, and raising costs. "This is an incentive problem more than an engineering problem. What's key is getting the incentives right," Rao said. A better approach to the space debris problem, Rao and his colleagues found, is to implement an orbital-use fee--a tax on orbiting satellites. "That's not the same as a launch fee," Rao said, "Launch fees by themselves can't induce operators to deorbit their satellites when necessary, and it's not the launch but the orbiting satellite that causes the damage." Orbital-use fees could be straight-up fees or tradeable permits, and they could also be orbit-specific, since satellites in different orbits produce varying collision risks. Most important, the fee for each satellite would be calculated to reflect the cost to the industry of putting another satellite into orbit, including projected current and future costs of additional collision risk and space debris production--costs operators don't currently factor into their launches. "In our model, what matters is that satellite operators are paying the cost of the collision risk imposed on other operators," said Daniel Kaffine, professor of economics and RASEI Fellow at the University of Colorado Boulder and co-author on the paper. And those fees would increase over time, to account for the rising value of cleaner orbits. In the researchers' model, the optimal fee would rise at a rate of 14 percent per year, reaching roughly $235,000 per satellite-year by 2040. For an orbital-use fee approach to work, the researchers found, all countries launching satellites would need to participate--that's about a dozen that launch satellites on their own launch vehicles and more than 30 that own satellites. In addition, each country would need to charge the same fee per unit of collision risk for each satellite that goes into orbit, although each country could collect revenue separately. Countries use similar approaches already in carbon taxes and fisheries management. In this study, Rao and his colleagues compared orbital-use fees to business as usual (that is, open access to space) and to technological fixes such as removing space debris. They found that orbital use fees forced operators to directly weigh the expected lifetime value of their satellites against the cost to industry of putting another satellite into orbit and creating additional risk. In other scenarios, operators still had incentive to race into space, hoping to extract some value before it got too crowded. With orbital-use fees, the long-run value of the satellite industry would increase from around $600 billion under the business-as-usual scenario to around $3 trillion, researchers found. The increase in value comes from reducing collisions and collision-related costs, such as launching replacement satellites. Orbital-use fees could also help satellite operators get ahead of the space junk problem. "In other sectors, addressing the Tragedy of the Commons has often been a game of catch-up with substantial social costs. But the relatively young space industry can avoid these costs before they escalate," Burgess said. ### CIRES is a partnership of NOAA and the University of Colorado Boulder. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form He is a crew member of Tommi Ritscher. The vessel was captured in April A Ukrainian citizen has been released from pirates' captivity; he was taken hostage on a vessel off the coast of Benin last month. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported that on his Twitter account. "Good news. Another citizen of Ukraine, the crew member of MV Tommi Ritscher, captured in the Gulf of Guinea on April 19, is free. Ukraine's embassy in the Federative Republic of Nigeria performed migration and customs procedures. Our sailor is in one of EU countries. Soon, he will be repatriated to his native land", Kuleba wrote. In April, the Ukrainian citizen was captured due to the attack of pirates on the Tommi Ritscher ship. The raid took place off the coast of Benin, in Africa. Serhiy Pohoreltsev, the director of the Department of Consulate Service of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reported that as quoted by Ukrinform news agency. The diplomat said that on April 20, the Embassy Jerusalem: Three electoral challenges by a popular former army chief could not unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A clear majority of Israeli lawmakers could not set aside their differences long enough to oust him. But one thing still threatens to end Netanyahu's career as Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister: his trial on felony corruption charges. On Sunday afternoon, hours after presiding over a meeting of his expanded new Cabinet, Netanyahu travelled a short distance to an East Jerusalem courthouse and settled into a very different government chair: the hard wooden bench reserved for a criminal defendant. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in court for his corruption trial on Sunday. Credit:Pool/AP The long-awaited opening of proceedings in the matter of the State of Israel v Binyamin Netanyahu took the Prime Minister and the country into dangerous territory. Few sitting national leaders since Charles I of England have stood trial on criminal charges. Netanyahu is Israel's first. After Japan, Russia is now also letting us know that it would like to organize a Grand Prix with an audience. Where the first races in Europe are still without an audience, Russia wants to organize a race with an audience. According to a recent interview with the promoter of the Russian Grand Prix, Alexey Titov. The Russian Grand Prix was scheduled for September 27th and according to Titov the race will still take place that weekend. Where the European races have to race without an audience, people in Russia want something different. Read more Russell achieves a dominant victory at the virtual Grand Prix of Monaco Race with public "Our race is the first serious chance for a race with an audience. Of course we don't know yet what the situation will be like in September, but our dates are still unchanged. All those schedules that are now in the round is just speculating. Only one thing is certain and that is that they want to race in Austria at the beginning of July'', says Titov. What will happen after those two races in Austria is still a big question mark. The new regulation in the United Kingdom to keep travellers in quarantine keeps Formula 1 from going to Silverstone and other circuits are not an easy refuge either. So for the time being we stick to Austria and are waiting for the official calendar to be published. Home improvement expert Christina Anstead is looking better than ever after welcoming three children into the world. The blonde beauty showed off her dazzling shape in a black bikini as she posed for the camera with her little dog this weekend. And in her caption, the Orange County, California resident wishes fans a happy Memorial Day. Ruff life: Home improvement expert Christina Anstead is looking better than ever after welcoming three children into the world. The blonde beauty showed off her shape in a black bikini as she posed for the camera with her little dog this weekend 'Taking a much needed digital detox. Going to enjoy the next 3 days being present for the kids and Ant and relaxing by the pool. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend everyone ,' said the TV wonder. The 36-year-old Flip Or Flop vet looked slender in her hot black bikini as she cozied up to her dog. The ex-wife of Tarek El Moussa wore her hair partially up and added sunglasses. Good to slow it down: 'Taking a much needed digital detox. Going to enjoy the next 3 days being present for the kids and Ant and relaxing by the pool. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend everyone ,' said the TV wonder HGTV has renewed one of her shows, Flip or Flop, for a ninth season. Christina - born Christina Meursinge Haack - has starred on the home renovation series since 2012, with ex-husband Tarek, 38. The couple have had their share of public drama, but it appears to have calmed down recently. 'It's definitely gotten a lot easier,' Christina said of co-parenting with the father of two of her three children. No stress here: In April she was enjoying her backyard as she stays home in Orange County, California during self-isolation With her love: For the past two years she has been married to Ant Anstead; seen in December 'The kids love seeing us sit together and that's what's important. Me and Tarek work together still, obviously, so it's not like we don't see each other. And I'm still really close with his family, as well.' Christina married ex-husband Tarek in 2009. The former couple are parents to daughter Taylor, eight, and Brayden, four. The duo separated in May 2016 and officially divorced in January of last year. Christina married British TV host Ant Anstead, 40, last December. They will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on the 22nd. Her third child: The siren with her newborn baby as well as her daughter and son and Ant Like his beauty, Ant has both a son (Archie) and daughter (Amelie) with his ex-wife, Louise Anstead. In December she told Us Weekly that her newborn has 'definitely been [the] hardest' of all of her three children. The reality star said that her little one doesn't take to well with leaving home, something that doesn't mesh well with her family's packed schedule. 'He still really just likes being in the house. He doesn't like going out. As a very busy family, that's been very difficult,' she began. The 36-year-old has noticed though that her little one has improved. 'But since he hit the 3-month mark, he's been doing a lot better. A lot more smiles and coos and sleeping better, so I think we're on the right track.' Coles has announced it will be lifting all product restrictions that were put in place because of coronavirus panic-buying. The supermarket giant said customers will be free to purchase as many products as they please from Tuesday. Antibacterial wipes and liquid soap were the final products to have buying limits removed following the lifting on restrictions on rice and flour last week. Coles has finally announced it will be lifting all product restrictions that were in place because of panic-buying due to the coronavirus pandemic The announcement comes after the coronavirus pandemic led customers to panic buy essential items and left the shelves of many stores empty. Customers can now buy as much as they like of items such as flour, pasta, rice, toilet paper, liquid soap and hand sanitiser. A Coles spokesperson said the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many and hopes that no buying restrictions will make customer's lives easier. 'We would like to thank our customers for their ongoing patience and our team for their incredible work to help us reach a new normal in shopping,' the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'We are also grateful to our suppliers and logistics partners who helped restock our shelves and the state and federal governments who helped us to get deliveries to stores as quickly as possible during the height of the crisis.' 'It's very important that we all continue to work together and follow government guidelines in store to maintain social distancing.' The Australian supermarket giant announced that customers will be free to purchase as many products as they please from Tuesday 'The safety of our team and customers remains our biggest focus as we continue to get through this together as a community.' In early March Coles made the decision to place buying restrictions on products that were flying off shelves. The decision was made to ensure everyone could access essential groceries amid the coronavirus pandemic. During this time customers could only buy two packets or less per transaction and only one packet of toilet paper "History will judge you well," was one of a number of laudatory messages sent through to the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, in response to confirmation last month that he had re-registered as a doctor to help in the battle against Covid-19. A total of 27 people wrote to the Taoiseach in response to the news that he had re-registered with the vast majority offering their support. In records released following a Freedom of Information request, one mother wrote to the Dept of the Taoiseach on April 5 to say: It is a humbling day indeed when the leader of our country offers his services on the ground to help those at the coalface during this pandemic.I have never been prouder than this evening and shared this information with my friends and family across the globe. Another person emailed the Taoiseach with the subject line "Well Done" and added a brief message: "Well done for going back to doctoringNuuff respect", while another wrote "What a great example of citizen goodness and a strong show of humanity in helping with the Coronavirus workload. A true sign of empathy". A frontline nurse emailed to say to tell the Taoiseach: I am very proud of you putting yourself forward for relief GP work. Please continue the good work in both the Government and medical world. One person sent through a gushing tribute on April 5 to say: In the current crisis, you have led us outstandingly. I cannot put into words the sense of pride you would have brought to me. It will be a difficult time for us all, but I have no doubt that you will be remembered for how you led through this. When I see how other world leaders have responded, I feel a sense of relief and pride to be under your leadership. Another person wrote to say on April 6: "Leo, re-registering into the medical profession to help tackle Covid-19 on the front line is very brave and a very honourable thing to do. It shows how much you really care for our citizens. In another email sent through on April 6, a person from overseas wrote: As someone who has a doctor in my family, I want to tell you how impressive and inspiring your willingness to use your knowledge and training from your previous career to ensure all hands are on deck fighting the pandemic in Ireland. You provide an outstanding leadership example to the Irish people and those across the globe for that matter.I want to wish you the best of luck, Godspeed and keep up the hard work and effortsthey do not go un-noticed even in places far from Ireland. Another person living overseas wrote: I hope your country is proud of you, because they should be. I wish with all my heart that my Governments leaders would show as much courage, but any courage at all is completely beyond them. One person on April 7 wrote to tell Mr Varadkar: I hear you are being criticised about registering as a doctor by some in the media. This has greatly angered meI am just a regular citizen whose business has been closed because of the new regulations. I dont know if it will be possible to recover my business but right now that doesnt matter. I want to let you know that you are doing, in my opinion, an outstanding job in both of your areas of expertise - namely politics and medicine. Not all thought it was a good idea. One front line nurse with a vulnerable husband and a son doing the Leaving Cert stated that the stress is unbearable and told the Taoiseach Leo..answering phone calls is a PR exercise. Another writer told the Taoiseachs office: I cannot believe that its necessary for Leo Varadkar to register/sign up for health care duties. We need him as our national leader - full stop! For which hes doing a fine job. Thats where the country needs him - its why we voted for him. To give up time for medical practice suggests panic or a misguided popularity winner - neither of which can be a good idea. Another person said that while admiring the decision by Mr Varadkar, they had reservations, saying: I just want to say that your best place on the front line is in your role as our Taoiseach where you are best placed to assure us that we will be okay under your watch. To Tom of Burbank, if you were concerned about the environment you would know what Obama did during his administration. It is what Trump is trying to tear down. Obama cared about our world, our environment and future generations. Trump only cares about the here and now. Obama dotes on his wife and daughters, Trump referred to Barron as her son, left Melania at the car when he went up the stairs to meet Obama and said he would date Ivanka if she wasnt his daughter. In a two-pronged strategy to secure migrant workers, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to set up a Migration Commission for employment of such labourers in the state and made it clear that any state that wants them from UP has to seek its permission. With over 23 lakh workers and migrants having returned to the state till Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that a Migration Commission be set up, according to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi. Adityanath also directed officials that migrant workers be given insurance so that their life is secured, Awasthi said. The chief minister suggested that a scheme be launched to ensure their job security. About the commission, Adityanath said it has been proposed to look into various factors associated with migrant workers' rights and to prevent exploitation while providing an official framework to ensure socio-economic-legal support for them. "Insurance, social security, re-employment assistance, provision for unemployment allowance are some of the factors that will be looked into by the commission," he said. Upset that migrant labourers were "not properly taken care of" by various states in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown, Adityanath said, "These workers are our biggest resource and we will give them employment in Uttar Pradesh as state government is going to set up a panel for their employment." "They are our people... and if some states want them back, they have to seek permission from the state government," he said. There is a need to ensure their socio-legal-monetary rights, the chief minister said. Adityanath had earlier asked officials to do skill mapping of migrant workers so that they can be provided employment once they complete the quarantine period. During an interaction with the RSS-affiliated publications 'Panchjanya' and 'Organiser' on Sunday, he said that as per feedback received from migrant workers who reached Uttar Pradesh, safeguarding their rights should get utmost attention and importance. "All migrant workers are being registered and their skills mapped. Any state or entity interested in inviting migrant workers will need to assure and provide for their socio-legal-monetary rights," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) They have traditionally been sold only to restaurants. (Getty Images) Home cooking during the coronavirus lockdown has seen a surge in sales of eggs. As a result of the increase in demand for the super-versatile ingredient, one particular type is making a return to supermarket shelves after more than 40 years. White-shelled varieties are being stocked in Tesco for the first time in decades after being used exclusively in the restaurant industry, including McDonalds breakfast McMuffins and in pubs and hotels. According to The Guardian, the move is to help ensure there is enough supply for customers partaking in baking and brunch from their own kitchens, as well as to support suppliers who were left stuck when the pandemic closed many food businesses. Read more: Cadbury's settles debate on where chocolate should be kept: cupboard or fridge? White-shelled eggs fell out of favour in the UK towards the end of the 1970s, with consumers switching to brown varieties which they viewed as larger and healthier. Since the 1980s supermarkets have stocked only the latter, meaning there are now only a very limited number of white egg-laying flocks left in the country. Now Tesco, which has seen a 30% spike in egg sales year-on-year, is selling medium white free range versions for 89p a box the same as their brown counterparts supplied to them by Noble Foods. Their director, Jean-Paul Michalski, told The Guardian: Generally our white eggs are sold to a very large global restaurant chain which unfortunately had to close its doors because of the pandemic. Read more: Bacon butty named Britain's favourite sandwich They are also used within egg processing where the egg is broken into a liquid to be used for food manufacturers, hotel or restaurants. None of our standard retail customers stock white eggs so we are really grateful to Tesco for stepping in as the white eggs would have gone to waste. Megan Kilby, eggs buying manager for Tesco, noted that white hens tend to lay eggs for longer and more reliably. Their introduction comes as many egg-containing sweet treats topped a list of the most searched-for recipes during lockdown. Story continues Read more: Banana bread is most searched-for recipe during coronavirus lockdown Indeed, BBC Good Food noted that 13 out of the leading 20 fell into the cakes, biscuits or desserts category. The top 20 in order...: 1. Brilliant banana loaf recipe 2. Best-ever chocolate brownies 3. Best Yorkshire puddings 4. Classic scones with jam & clotted cream 5. Easy pancakes recipe 6. Classic Victoria sandwich recipe 7. Yummy golden syrup flapjacks recipe 8. Lemon drizzle cake 9. Chilli con carne 10. Vintage chocolate chip cookies 11. Easy white bread 12. The best spaghetti Bolognese 13. Easy chocolate cake 14. Cupcake recipe 15. Cheesecake recipes 16. Strawberry cheesecake in 4 easy steps recipe 17. Ultimate spaghetti carbonara 18. Classic cheese scones 19.The best apple crumble 20. Hot cross buns Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Lifestyle Official wallpapers from the Sony Xperia 1 II are now available to download. You can see all those wallpapers in the gallery down below. Do note that those wallpapers are not in their original resolution. Weve compressed those, as theyre only supposed to offer you a visual representation of what you can get if you download them. If youd like to get them in their full size, hit the link below this article. Sony included all sorts of wallpapers here. There are a couple of nature-themed ones, some solid color ones, and the rest are kind of abstract. Some of them are even difficult to explain, you have to see them for yourself. Advertisement 25 Sony Xperia 1 II wallpapers are available to download, along with live wallpaper APK There are 25 Sony Xperia 1 II wallpapers available here, for your enjoyment. Those have been obtained from the phones firmware, by the way. All wallpapers are in 2192 x 2560 resolution, which is what youll get if you download them. Now, in addition to regular, static wallpapers, there is also a live wallpaper APK. You can download that APK from the link below this paragraph. That APK has been modified by XDAs contributor, so it can work on both Sony and non-Sony phones. Download modified live wallpaper APK Advertisement The Sony Xperia 1 II was announced back in February. Consumers had to wait for quite some time for this phone to become available, and now it finally is, at least to pre-order. The device is now available to pre-order in the US and Europe for $1,200 / 1,200. That is quite a high price tag, but we knew that was coming. Sonys flagships basically always cost premium. There is an option for you to bundle the WF-1000XM3s TWS earphones along with the phone. If youd like to know more about the pre-order period, click here. The phone will become available for purchase starting on June 1 (shipping on July 24). Advertisement The Xperia 1 II includes a 6.5-inch OLED panel, 8GB of RAM and four rear-facing cameras The Sony Xperia 1 II is a powerful phone, no doubt about that. The device is made out of metal and glass, and its quite tall thanks to its 21:9 aspect ratio. The phone features a 6.5-inch QHD+ display, by the way. That is an OLED display, and its flat. The device is fueled by the Snapdragon 865, and it does support 5G connectivity. Sony included 8GB of RAM inside of this phone, along with 256GB of storage. The device is IP65/IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. It comes with a 4,000mAh battery, which supports 21W fast wired charging. It also supports fast wireless charging. Advertisement Three 12-megapixel cameras are located on the back of this phone, along with a 0.3-megapixel ToF 3D camera. Stereo speakers are included, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Download Sony Xperia 1 II wallpapers (static) Meghan Markle reportedly gave Prince Harry the most thoughtful and romantic gift for his 35th birthday back in September. According to People magazine, the Duchess of Sussex re-created the place where the couple first fell in love by transforming their backyard into a camping site just like the one they visited just weeks after they first met in 2016. "Last year, for Harry's birthday, Meghan re-created their Botswana camping adventures in their backyard," a source told the outlet. "It's a place that means so much to themand to Harry in particularso Meghan wanted to bring that happy place to him on his day so she set up a tent, got sleeping bags, cooked dinner, and re-created Botswana where they fell in love." During their first joint interview, in 2017, Harry told the BBC that he and Meghan had gone to Africa together after just two dates in London. I think about three, maybe four weeks later that I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana," he said. "And we camped out with each other under the stars. She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic." A year later Prince Harry took Markle back to Botswana to celebrate her 36th birthday, so the getaway definitely holds a special place in the couple's hearts. This May Meghan Markle and Prince Harrywho recently moved to Los Angelescelebrated their second wedding anniversary by reportedly drinking margaritas, eating Mexican food, and video-calling some of their closest friends to reminisce about "what a beautiful and magical day it was." A source told Harper's Bazaar that the two "enjoyed a low-key anniversary celebration, spending part of the day looking back at their 2018 wedding with a number of people over video callsincluding some of the vendors who helped bring their Windsor Castle ceremony and receptions to life." Story continues The insider also dished about what they gave each other for the relationship milestone, sharing that Markle got her husband a "beautiful, sentimental" card while he gave her a "huge, stunning" bouquet of roses and a ring. The romance is clearly alive and well in this relationship. To many more fairy-tale gifts! Originally Appeared on Glamour New Delhi, May 26 : The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has increased its estimates of cotton export from 42 lakh bales to 47 lakh bales in the current cotton season 2019-20 (October-September) as weakness in the domestic currency may boost export demand. Target of Indian cotton exports is increased by 5 lakh bales from 42 lakh bales to 47 lakh bales looking favourable conditions for exports as Indian rupee is depreciated by 8-10 per cent which is lending a big support, said the CAI in a statement on Monday. The Indian cotton is the cheapest in the world at this time, said the industry body which reduced India's cotton import estimates by 10 lakh bales from 25 lakh bales to 15 lakh bales due to depreciation in rupee. The CAI has also reduced the production estimates of cotton from 354.50 to 330 lakh bales. Mentioning the reasons for lower estimates of cotton production, the industry body said, 'due to the availability of water, many farmers didn't not wait for the last picking of cotton and uprooted cotton plants and gone for rabi crop. Apart from that, ginning factories were completely closed from March 25 to April 30 amid a nationwide lockdown, still they are running with merely 20-30 per cent of their capacities. Labour shortage in ginning factories due to the lockdown is also a reason for reducing production estimates of cotton, said the industry body. According to CAI, the domestic consumption of cotton is also estimated 280 lakh bales, down by 51 lakh bales from previous estimates of 331 lakh bales as mills were closed due to lockdown. S Lalitha By Express News Service BENGALURU: Nearly 200 staffers employed with the luxury cruise liner MSC Grandiosa, mostly from Maharashtra and Goa, have been living a quarantined life for 70 days on board at Civitavachea port in Rome. The cruise ship, which undertakes seven-day luxury trips across Europe, had started from Barcelona in Spain, stopped at Marseilles in France and then at Palermo before docking in Rome on March 15, at a time when Italy dominated world headlines for having the maximum number of COVID-19 deaths. Today, they are in severe depression, having been individually accommodated on the sprawling ship, which can hold up to 6,000 guests at a time. Since March, four attempts to repatriate a good number of them back to India through special repatriation flights have failed, the latest being on May 23. For their safety, each crew member is made to stay alone in a luxury passenger cabin and told to live within the confines of the room. They have access to wi-fi and TV, but no contact with any other human being as the food is placed outside the door. The Captain, Ship Purser and other top management staff are Italians, with an Israeli security force which is always on board. Rahul Shanbag (24), a restaurant attender, is a native of Fatorda, Mormugao, in Goa. SHIPPING COMPANY IN TOUCH WITH INDIAN EMBASSY IN ITALY For Rahul Shanbag, a hotel management graduate, this is his first job. "My contract with the company has already expired. But there is no way I can go home. My parents are desperate that I get back. They will never again let me take up a job like this," he said. Describing the atmosphere on board, Shanbag said, "It is terrible. There is so much depression due to the isolation. I have not seen another individual for one-and-half months. Thankfully, three days ago, our ship was dropped from the Red Code to the Yellow Code, which means we can meet during meals, as a buffet arrangement is being made. We do not mind any quarantining in India, but please allow us to go," he said. There are five women on board from Manipur, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand, he said. His colleague, a waiter with much experience in the industry, insists his name be withheld for fear of getting penalised. The ship owner, Mediterranean Ship Company, is keeping us as comfortable as possible. They booked tickets for us four times, but there seems to be some issues from the Indian side. Every time we pack our bags to leave, we are told at the last minute that there is some problem, he said. The shipping company is in regular touch with the Indian embassy in Italy. Despite the all-round gloom, most of us will return to our jobs as we are well paid, he added. There are 100 people from Maharashtra, 80 from Goa and the remaining crew are from across other parts of India, said Glenn Ebnett, a Mumbaibased activist who is reaching out to Indian authorities to somehow help them. A 50-year-old Indian teacher has died of coronavirus in the UAE, according to a media report. Anil Kumar, a Hindi teacher at Sunrise School in Abu Dhabi, died on Sunday morning, the Gulf reported. Kumar was detected with COVID-19 on May 7. In a statement, the Sunrise School said, "The sad and shocking demise of Mr Anil Kumar, a senior Hindi teacher of Sunrise School on May 24, has left the entire Sunrise family in a pall of gloom. "The bond that he had developed over the years, just as how we have with each faculty, makes the loss unbearable. The entire school is shaken and finds it hard to come to terms with this most saddening news," the daily quoted the statement. Kumar is survived by his wife and two children. His wife Rajini teaches mathematics at the Sunrise School. The coronavirus, which first emerged in China's Wuhan city in December last year, has claimed 245 lives with nearly 30,000 confirmed cases in the UAE. The virus has so far killed over 3,45,000 people across the world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN-recognized government forces have, with Turkish help, made sudden strides in recent weeks, seizing a string of towns, capturing the strategically important airbase, and destroying several Russian-made air defense systems. Russian fighters in Libya were flown out to a town south of Tripoli by their eastern-based allies after retreating from front lines at the capital, Tripoli, according to a local official. The reported departure of the Russians on Sunday was another blow to renegade eastern commander Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) and his foreign allies, who have been trying to take the capital for more than a year from the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), Al Jazeera reports. The Russian fighters allied to the LNA retreated with their heavy equipment from the capital to the airport of Bani Walid, a town some 150km southeast of Tripoli, said Salem Alaywan, Bani Walid's mayor. He told Reuters news agency the Russians were then flown out of western Libya to Jufra, a remote central district and LNA stronghold. "They [the Russians] were flown in three military planes to Jufra, and their military vehicles were driven there," he said. LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari denied any foreigners were fighting with his force. But the presence of the Russian fighters has been widely documented by diplomats and journalists, and photographs purporting to show Russians in Bani Walid have been posted on social media. Read alsoNew evidence published of Russian mercenaries torturing, killing Syrian man media According to a leaked United Nations report, Russian private military contractor Wagner Group deployed about 1,200 mercenaries to Libya to strengthen Haftar's forces. They have been identified by their equipment, typically reserved for Russia's armed forces. UN monitors identified more than two dozen flights between Russia and eastern Libya from August 2018 to August 2019 by civilian aircraft "strongly linked to or owned by" Wagner Group or related companies. Haftar's forces are backed by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The GNA is supported by Syrian fighters allied to Turkey, while Haftar is also using Sudanese fighters. The GNA has, with Turkish help, made sudden strides in recent weeks, seizing a string of towns from the LNA, capturing the strategically important al-Watiya airbase, and destroying several Russian-made air defense systems. "The withdrawal [of the Russians] from the greater Tripoli area is a very meaningful event because it deprives the LNA of its most effective, best-equipped foreign fighting forces on that key front," said Jalel Harchaoui, research fellow at the Clingendael Institute. Read alsoErgodan says 2,000 Russian mercenaries deployed in Libya "Why they pulled out now is a subject of speculation, but you have to take into account that during the past week Turkey has really upgraded its aerial capabilities in Libya and has significantly weakened the strategic advantage that the Russian mercenaries provided," said Emad Badi, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council with a research focus on Libya. Badi said it was "obvious" that there was "some form of backdoor deal between Turkey and Libya in terms of allowing these mercenaries" to pull out. [May 25, 2020] Research Report with COVID-19 Forecasts - Probe Card Market 2020-2024 | Growing Investment in Fabs to Boost Growth | Technavio Technavio has been monitoring the probe card market and it is poised to grow by USD 505.23 million during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005191/en/ Technavio has announced the latest market research report titled Global Probe Card Market 2020-2024 Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. FEINMETALL GmbH, FormFactor (News - Alert) Inc., JAPAN ELECTRONIC MATERIALS Corp., Korea Instrument Co. Ltd., Microfriend Inc., MICRONICS JAPAN Co. Ltd., MPI Corp., Nidec SV Probe Pte. Ltd., Technoprobe Spa, and WILL-Technology Co. Ltd are some of the major market participants. The growing investment in fabs will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Growing investment in fabs has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Probe Card Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Probe Card Market is segmented as below: Product Advanced Probe Card Standard Probe Card End-user Foundry Logic Memory Device Geography APAC North America Europe South America MEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40623 Probe Card Market 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our probe card market report covers the following areas: Probe Card Market size Probe Card Market trends Probe Card Market industry analysis This study identifies increasing wafer size as one of the prime reasons driving the probe card market growth during the next few years. Probe Card Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the probe card market, including some of the vendors such as FEINMETALL GmbH, FormFactor Inc., JAPAN ELECTRONIC MATERIALS Corp., Korea Instrument Co. Ltd., Microfriend Inc., MICRONICS JAPAN Co. Ltd., MPI Corp., Nidec SV Probe Pte. Ltd., Technoprobe Spa, and WILL-Technology Co. Ltd. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the probe card market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Probe Card Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist probe card market growth during the next five years Estimation of the probe card market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the probe card market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of probe card market vendors Table Of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2019 Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 - 2024 Five Forces Analysis Five Forces Summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Product Market segments Comparison by Product placement Advanced probe card - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Standard probe card - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by Product Market Segmentation by End-user Market segments Comparison by End user placement Foundry and logic - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Memory device - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by End user Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 North America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors FEINMETALL GmbH FormFactor Inc. JAPAN ELECTRONIC MATERIALS Corp. Korea Instrument Co. Ltd. Microfriend Inc. MICRONICS JAPAN Co. Ltd. MPI Corp. Nidec SV Probe Pte. Ltd. Technoprobe Spa WILL-Technology Co. Ltd Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005191/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (CNN) - The World Health Organization said the downward trend of coronavirus cases didnt occur naturally, and is warning countries not to become complacent. Many countries have paid a heavy price in doing the measures that have needed to be done to suppress the transmission of this disease, and they deserve credit, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHOs health emergencies program, said during a Monday briefing. My concern right now is that people may be assuming that the current drop of infections represents a natural seasonality, and I think that's a dangerous assumption, he said. Ryan said its worrisome when people assume the downward trend occurred naturally. In reality, Ryan said, that has occurred because of very, very, very tough public health measures that have been tough on the population. Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO infectious disease epidemiologist, said there's a certain predictability of this virus, adding, anytime you become complacent and you think you know, it will surprise you. I understand very well and I am in the same boat as you we all want this to be over, but we have a long way to go," Van Kerkhove said. Ryan said removing pressure on the virus at this point and assuming the real next danger point is sometime in October or November is a dangerous assumption. Van Kerkhove said it could get worse if we have co-infection or co-circulation of influenza and COVID-19. That could complicate our understanding because if we dont have testing in place, we don't know what people are infected with. And so it could potentially flood the system, it could potentially overwhelm the system, she said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "WHO officials warn countries not to become complacent with COVID-19" Kim Burgess unfolds a flag she recovered from the Veterans War memorial dedicated veterans and her son lance corporal Ryan Burgess who was killed in Iraq. The Veterans Memorial stood near Saginaw Rd. in Sanford Michigan on May 21, 2020. The Sanford dam that held the Tittabawassee river failed causing massive flooding destroying homes and businesses. SANFORD, Mich. The road leading to the Sanford Flagpole Monument was closed, washed out by the flood. Kim Burgess heard the monument was underwater after the flood that devastated this small community. Then, she heard a report that was far worse. So she headed toward the monument the one she and her husband, Jon, helped build but she was stopped at a police barricade. Are you Ryan Burgess mother? an officer said. Yes, she said. Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan Burgess was killed on Dec. 21, 2006, when an improvised explosive device blew up his Humvee on a mission in Iraq. He was 21. I'm not supposed to let anybody by, the officer said. But I'm gonna let you go by. U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Burgess was killed in Iraq in December 2006. Kim parked as close as she could get to the monument. Kim and Jon, who are retired from Dow Chemical, thought about making a monument for years. But they didnt want it to honor only Ryan. They wanted it to be for all veterans. Sanford never had a war memorial until Ryan died. More than 100 people from the community played a role in building it, raising money or donating supplies. Last year, the towns Memorial Day parade started and ended at the monument. In some ways, the monument became the heart and soul of Sanford, reflecting civic pride, duty, and honor. The monument made Sanford glow quite literally. It had a lighting system that seemed to make half the town light up at night. Kim got out of her truck and walked toward the monument. Roads were ripped up. Houses washed away. Buildings destroyed. Debris was everywhere. She saw two men leaning against a building and one approached her. I'm not gonna let you go see this alone, said Terry Foley, who works at Fisher Sand & Gravel, one of the major contributors for the memorial. Foley tried to brace Kim for what she was going to see. I know it's gonna be devastating, but I want you to know we're already working to rebuild it, Foley said. Kim reached the memorial and was crushed. The monument was destroyed. Story continues I sat there and cried, Kim said. I just felt like I had let our veterans down. I know it wasnt my fault. I just feel like I worked so hard to give them something, and it was just destroyed. It stirred up all the pain like she had lost a piece of herself again. I dont think I wept because of the monument. I just wept because of the veterans. I just felt like it was a slap in the face to our veterans. We worked so hard to give them something and then it was just taken away. 'A nightmare movie': Tales of Michigan residents escaping the catastrophic Midland flood Monument 'was a healing place' The monument was a thing of beauty, a testament to a small-town determination, community involvement, and pride. More than 10 businesses donated money or supplies and the Sanford American Legion Riders held fundraisers over three years. In total, they raised about $70,000 to build it. The monument featured an underground sprinkler system and a paved walkway. There were seven aluminum flag poles, 35-feet tall, that honored every branch of the military, as well as soldiers who went missing in action or became prisoners of war. An engineer designed the flagpoles to withstand high winds, never thinking they should be concerned with a flood. The flag poles formed a background for a military field cross a symbolic figure that features a fallen soldier's weapon stabbed into the ground, with a boot on either side and a helmet on the stock. But the storm snapped six of the poles, bent another one and knocked the military field cross into a muddy puddle. I can take anything, Kim said. I lost a son in Iraq. Bring it. But I cannot see that laying in the mud. We can't let this lay in the mud. Kim, I promise we will get it out for you, Foley said. A portion of the Veterans War Memorial is seen in floodwaters in Sanford Michigan on May 21, 2020. The Sanford dam that held the Tittabawassee river failed causing massive flooding destroying homes and businesses. Somebody found the giant U.S. flag in the mud. Foley folded it up and handed it to Kim. I know it's not much but I'd like you to have this, Foley said. At the same time, people were walking around Sanford, trying to start the cleanup and shocked at what they were seeing. Some people pulled up behind me and they got out of their car and they said, 'Oh my God! Where's our house? Kim said. And I thought to myself, am I being selfish for feeling so sad about this? And then I got to thinking, you know, we did not lose a building. This is more about PTSD and memories and war. It's a place where veterans can go and sit and think about a friend they lost over there or a relative. They can go to that monument and reflect, so it's more of a mental type thing that we lost or mental-healing type place. Thats what we lost. It wasn't a house. It wasn't a structure, but it was a healing place. So that's why I'm so devastated, just devastated. A new mission: 'We're gonna build this thing again' After a while, the shock and pain were replaced with resolve and determination. We're gonna build this thing again, Kim said. If it takes us 10 years, we're gonna do this for our veterans. We want these veterans to know that we still love them. We still care for them. They have already started plans to rebuild the monument, forming a GoFundMe fundraising campaign. Before and after:: See destruction of Michigan flooding in satellite images We are gonna need help, Kim said. We're going to need help from our community again, but we are going to do this. She plans to put that dirty American flag mud and all in a permanent display case at the new monument, so people will remember the flood of 2020. It's going to show that Old Glory still flew, she said. And we're gonna show people that we can rebound from this. She plans to add another element to the monument, a flag pole to honor the first responders who worked so hard saving lives during this flood. It will be for EMS, firefighters and police officers, she said. We did not have a single loss of life in our community. That's phenomenal the work they did, getting people out of their homes in boats. Firefighters working 48 to 72 hours nonstop. We have to honor them. About an hour after Kim left, somebody from Fisher Sand & Gravel lifted the military field cross out of the mud and moved it to safety. It will go to the new memorial. Thats how our community acts, Kim said, softly. Im so proud of our community. Follow Jeff Seidel on Twitter: @seideljeff This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan war memorial in Sanford ruined in flood: 'Slap in the face' Eun-sup is on his recovery after he got injured as he protected King Gon during their encounter with Lee Rim. He met Myung-Ah, who he called Na Ri - he slipped his words thinking of Na Ri from Korea. King Gon headed to the security agency to put on alert as he was trying to look for Luna. To his surprise, he found Tae Eul in danger. He instructed all men to prepare to rescue her. He also confirmed that the woman in the video is Tae Eul, the way she ponytails her hair. Lady Ok-Nam found the culprit who took Tae Eul's ID in her room. However, the lady servant took her own life after Lady Ok-Nam confronted her. She advised the royal guard to keep the woman alive for interrogation. The Republic of Korea Minister Koo bought a milk tea in Na Ri's shop. Jo Yeong arrived and saw her. He is convinced that it's the minister from Corea. He went after her using Na Ri's car. He drove his car in front of Koo's car and faced her again. He questions her about her presence in the republic. Koo pretended to be someone else. A car appears behind Yeong and shoots him, and Koo found a way to escape from him. Shin Jae arrived just in time to rescue her. In the hotel, Shin Jae managed to ask Yeong how he holds great loyalty to King Gon. Yeong shared his story about growing up with King Gon and becoming his protector since he was four. The Kingdom of Corea King Gon arrived and saved Tae Eul from Lee Rim's men. She cried as King Gon embraced her, signaling his protection from danger. She fainted afterward. King Gon brought Tae Eul to the palace and placed her in his room as treated by the palace doctor. Lady Ok-Nam felt nervous thinking of King Gon's safety. Tae Eul woke up after being treated. She felt embarrassed about how she looks so messed up with all the bandage. King Gon assured her that she looks beautiful, as always. The Republic of Korea Luna is roaming around the city and using Tae Eul's phone. She is calm and checks any references of Tae Eul's pictures and messages to use. Her hair is similar to Tae Eul, but she still wears all black clothes with a black leather jacket. She went to Lee Rim's office and took a lot of money to use while starting life in Korea. Shin Jae looks for Tae Eul, but she never answers his call. Team leader Park informed them that Tae Eul took a leave of absence for 21 days. Everyone was surprised about it. The Kingdom of Corea King Gon wore his naval uniform while cooking a meal for Tae Eul. The kitchen staff stayed outside the kitchen, anxious seeing their King cooking without their help. After their meal, they visited Eun-sup in the hospital. Eun-sup was ecstatic to see Tae Eul after a long time. King Gon and Tae Eul visited the warehouse, where she was held captive. They searched for any clues that they will get to find Lee Rim. Later that night, King Gon brought Tae Eul to the church where his parents got married. They both share their parents' stories and the life they have now. King Gon asked the priest to take a picture of him and Tae Eul. Time stopped again. King Gon shed tears, knowing how dangerous Tae Eul's life is and their love to endure all the trials. King Gon felt the burning scars in his right shoulder. Tae Eul saw it, and they assumed that it's the effect of crossing the parallel worlds during lightning and thunder. The Republic of Korea Lee Rim returned to Korea and bumped into Shin Jae on his way to his house. He saw a cigarette stick on his floor. As he checked the video, Luna took money from him. Song Jung Hye is the counterpart of King Gon's mother in Korea. Lee Rim held her captive to use against him in the future. She tried to escape and made several attempts to take her own life, but Lee Rim ensured to keep her alive. The Kingdom of Corea Minister Koo returned to the Corea and learned about the king as he announced a future queen to his guards. She rushed to see him at the palace. As they discuss their matters, the thunder strikes and a burning scar appear on Minister Koo's lower neck. King Gon was shocked to see the scar on Koo's body. Lady Ok-Nam invited Tae Eul for tea, and she asked her questions about the history of the 1950s. Tae Eul was hesitant to answer, which would expose her identity. Highlights Realme TV comes in 32-inch and 43-inch sizes. It is powered by a MediaTek processor and runs Android TV. Realme TV starts at Rs 12,999 in India. Realme TV is finally official in India months after its confirmation and days after its teasers began cropping up. The first smart television from Realme goes big on features - it has a bright display with up to 400 nits, it comes with Dolby Audio for stereo speakers, and is powered by Android TV. The Realme TV will enter the crowded market of televisions in India years after its archnemesis Xiaomi dived into space. In 2019, the TV shipments hit a record 15 million units, reflecting the growing demand of Indian consumers and a shift in tech dynamism. The Realme TV, although late to the club, promises on par features that most of its rivals already provide in the affordable segment. Realme TV Price in India The Realme TV comes in two sizes - the 32-inch version is priced at Rs 12,999 while the 43-inch variant costs Rs 21,999. It will be available via Flipkart and realme.com starting 12 noon, June 2. There is a free six-month YouTube Premium membership on the purchase. Realme is giving a one-year warranty on the television and one-year additional warranty on the panel. There is 48-hour home installation available free of charge, as well. Realme TV Features The Realme TV has two sizes, both flaunting an LED display panel. The 32-inch panel has a resolution of 1366x768 while the 43-inch version has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Although it was earlier rumoured that there will be a 55-inch version, it is not on the cards right now. The screen ratio of the display is 16:9 and the refresh rate is maxed out at 60Hz. The Realme TV is powered by Android TV without any customisations, which means there is a stock Android experience on the television along with the ability to download supported apps from the Google Play Store. Google Assistant is also supported on Realme TV. The smart TV comes preloaded with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video apps, as well. The Realme TV is powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor that has an integrated multi-core Mali-470MP3 GPU. There is 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage on both models, along with support for thumb drives via two USB ports. The other connectivity options on the Realme TV include three HDMI ports, one AV port, one TV Tuner port, a SPDIF port, and a single LAN port. Realme TV also supports Wi-Fi 2.4G and Bluetooth 5.0. There is also an infrared sensor for remote control. However, the remote control provided with the television supports Bluetooth, as well. The remote control has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Google Assistant, in addition to the regular power and volume control buttons. Powered by Dolby Audio, Realme TV has four stereo speakers emitting sound at a maximum of 24 watts. Realme TV also has Hi-Red Audio that can be chosen with the right connectivity mode. The 32-inch version consumes 45W while the 43-inch variant consumes 74W of power. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said that he has no interest in being Taoiseach as part of a rotating position in government. That would become the whole story and that is not what the Green party wants. We should be fixating on delivering change he told RTE radios Today with Sarah McInerney show. However, he did not rule out being Tanaiste at some stage. Mr Ryan also refused to be drawn on the exact numbers of Cabinet positions the Green party would want as part of an agreement to form a government. Cabinet posts have not yet been discussed and will only come into play when there is a sense of getting people working. He also said he was not concerned about his partys leadership. It was part of their rules that the issue would be discussed within six months of a general election. Thats how we do things, last week Catherine said she was focused on the talks for government formation. Thats the first task. Mr Ryan said he and Ms Martin talk every day and had in the past discussed the leadership issue. If she were to become leader of the party, he would work with her, he said. He had not been aware of the letter circulated by some Green party councillors last week. But thats not something that threw me. Catherine Murphy with Eaomn Ryan However, Mr Ryan admitted that he was not certain he would run in the next election as his younger daughter in particular did not want him to do so. It was something he would have to evaluate. No one person in the party was indispensable, it was a team game. Thirty years is a long time in politics. The decision of who will be Attorney General had not been discussed at all within the party, he said, responding to media reports. Some of the stuff put out there is not factually correct. Whoever will be Attorney General needs to be a really good lawyer for the government, he said. Mr Ryan pointed out that there had been some very political Attorneys General in the past who had been very good in the role. When asked about Fine Gael having discussions with Independent TD for Wexford Verona Murphy who was previously a nominee for the party, Mr Ryan said that he was prepared to talk to everyone if were going to win over the country to turn green. He disagreed with the comments of Ms Murphy on refugees and thought that using refuges as an election issue had not been right. On the issue of the Pandemic Payment, Mr Ryan said that the Green Party wanted to see the introduction of a basic income payment which offered better social protection and allowed people to work at the same time. The Pandemic Payment had not been well thought out and it had its flaws, but it was an emergency measure. The current plans will taper off, it will be adjusted. There will have to be changes. Mr Ryan said he would like to see lessons learned from the approach taken during the current crisis. 50 trafficked Nigerian girls and 19 stranded Nigerians have been evacuated from Lebanon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, disclosed this on his verified Twitter handle Sunday night. He said the evacuees arrived in Nigeria on Sunday May 24. With the financial and logistic support of the Lebanese Government and Lebanese community in Nigeria, 50 trafficked Nigerian girls and 19 stranded Nigerians were successfully evacuated from #Lebanon and arrived Nigeria today. The evacuees are to proceed for the mandatory 14 day-Isolation, he said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Korea Times file By Kang Seung-woo President Moon Jae-in's proposal to deal with inter-Korean projects separately from the North's denuclearization negotiations with the United States seems to be losing steam, with Pyongyang still shunning Seoul while seeking dialog with Washington. According to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Sunday, leader Kim Jong-un presided over an undated key defense meeting of the ruling Workers' Party and laid out "new policies for further increasing" its nuclear war deterrence and putting its "strategic armed forces on high alert operation." However, there was no reference to Seoul's suggestion for cooperation on inter-Korean quarantine measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim's remarks are seen as part of his efforts to get the U.S. to return to their nuclear disarmament dialogue, hinting that the North may try to affect the U.S. presidential election in November as the matter has been put on the back burner by President Donald Trump who is seeking reelection. More importantly, it is also giving the cold shoulder to President Moon's proposal for independent inter-Korean cooperation. "President Moon's drive may lose momentum as the meeting showed that the North only intends to talk with the U.S. and this stance may continue until November," said An Chan-il, head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies. "In that respect, the South Korean government would find it difficult to get a window of opportunity for inter-Korean talks." Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Sejong Institute's Center for North Korean Studies, echoed An's view. "Given that Kim promoted Ri Pyong-chol, who is in charge of building nuclear weapons and missiles, to vice chairman of the ruling party's Central Military Commission, he made it clear that his regime will be committed to strengthening its nuclear war deterrence and boosting its military capabilities," Cheong said. "In that respect, there is little chance of inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation," Cheong added. Since the Hanoi summit between Kim and Trump in February 2019 failed to produce an agreement, nuclear diplomacy between the two countries has seen little progress. As a result, inter-Korean ties that proceeded in lockstep with progress in the North-U.S. relations have remained at a standstill. Frustrated by unproductive results from the North Korea-U.S. denuclearization talks, earlier this month Moon proposed that the two Koreas do what they can do regardless of the deadlock. According to his administration, inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation could take place in the areas of healthcare, railways and tourism. However, the North Korean regime has yet to respond to the proposal, raising speculation that getting inter-Korean relations back on track have been subordinated to normalization of ties between the North and the U.S. "Since last year, the North has prioritized talks with the U.S. to ease or lift sanctions as it knows there are few things that the South can do independently with regard to these," said Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University. "Unless the South Korean government takes drastic moves such as resuming tours to Mount Geumgang or reopening the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, the North will not have any interest in any proposal from the South." Handling pictures of children and grandchildren is usually a private affair. Not in the case of one Dutch grandmother. A womans refusal to remove photos of her grandchild on Facebook and Pinterest boiled over into court in the Netherlands this month, turning what started as a family dispute into a broader test of the limits of internet privacy laws. A judge in the province of Gelderland, in the eastern part of the country, decided that a grandmother was prohibited from posting photos on social media of her three grandchildren without the permission of her daughter, the childrens mother. The District Court judge said the grandmother had violated Europes sweeping internet privacy law, called the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. In the Netherlands, the GDPR dictates that posting pictures of minors under the age of 16 requires permission from their legal guardians, according to the courts website. The women, whose names were not provided in the court documents, fell out about a year ago and hadnt been in regular contact, according to filings in the court case. After the childrens mother asked for the pictures to be deleted without the desired effect, she took the case to court. The case has drawn attention because of its novel application of the internet privacy law. Enacted two years ago, the GDPR is viewed as a way for governments to crack down on the data collection practices of large companies such as Facebook and Google. But the law also gives individuals new ways to limit how their personal data is collected, shared and stored online. This is to my knowledge the first case ever in which the GDPR is used to adjudicate a family dispute, said Arnoud Engelfriet, a lawyer specialising in internet law at ICTRecht, a law firm in the Netherlands. This law gives private individuals cause of action against both companies, governments and individuals that violate their privacy. We rarely see this in action due to the costs involved, but it is certainly possible. Engelfriet said he fully expects others to use data protection laws in similar disputes in the future, though he cautioned that freedom of expression rules could limit some attempts. The GDPR has been viewed as a model for data protection laws but has faced criticism for how it has been applied. European policymakers have promoted it as a way to crack down on large Silicon Valley companies, but many say the law has been weakly enforced. In two years, critics say there has been little action taken against companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter that have been accused of violating the law. Tijmen Wisman, a data privacy lawyer and lecturer at Vrije University in Amsterdam, said the decision raised many questions about how data protection laws are applied and the power individuals have to force information to be removed. There will always be conflicting interests in applying these sorts of rights, he said. In the Netherlands, the judge ordered the grandmother to delete all photos of her three grandchildren from Facebook and Pinterest within 10 days. For every day after that, the woman could incur a fine of at least 50 euro (about $54) per day. The oldest of the three children, a 14-year-old boy, lived with his grandmother from 2012 till 2019, according to the court case, and during and after that time she posted pictures of all three on Facebook and Pinterest without asking her daughters permission. The daughter has sole custody of the two younger children; she and her ex-partner have custody of the oldest child. Neither parent approved the posting of the pictures, according to the judges decision. The grandmother told the judge that she had already taken down most of the pictures but asked if she could keep one picture of her oldest grandchild on her page because, she said, she had a special relationship with the boy. The judge said no. c.2020 The New York Times Company Bars, restaurants and cafes are returning to full service in the Czech Republic as the government takes further steps to ease coronavirus restrictions. As of Monday, those establishments can serve customers in interior spaces. Hotels are also reopening together with public swimming pools, wellness centres and saunas. Sports, cultural and other public events for up to 300 people will be allowed, up from the previous 100. Restrictions have been only partially lifted for schools. Students up to fifth grade can attend on a voluntary basis under strict conditions starting Monday. There must be no more than 15 students in a class and they must stay together the whole day. Remaining elementary school students and all high school students won't return to their schools until the start of the new school year on September 1. Face masks are now mandatory only on public transport, in enclosed spaces and inside buildings. Outside, masks must be used if two unrelated people are less than two metres (6.5 feet) apart. The Czech Republic has reported 8,597 cases, including 315 deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has restored Pakistan's budgetary support after four years and approved a policy loan of USD 500 million to help the cash-strapped country mitigate adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media report. The World Bank's board of executive directors on Friday approved a USD 500-million programme to help Pakistan improve access to quality healthcare and education, support economic opportunities for women and strengthen social safety nets as the country braces to limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Express Tribune reported, citing a statement by the local office of the Washington-based lending agency. "Political risks are high because COVID-19 response adds uncertainty to the relations among the federating units," said the World Bank documents. The lender warned that elite capture would continue to be challenging with more demand placed for concessions that could erode fiscal space. However, it delayed the approval of another USD 500-million loan due to a lack of consensus on the conditions regarding restructuring of Pakistan's Debt Policy Coordination Office, reforms in state-owned enterprises and enforcement of a new national fiscal framework. The World Bank country office did not send the second USD 500-million loan request for the Resilient Institutions for Sustainable Economy (RISE) programme for board approval. The Securing Human Investments to Foster Transformation (SHIFT) programme worth USD 500 million is the first budget support since February 2016. The World Bank had suspended Pakistan's budget support loans due to the deterioration in macroeconomic indicators in 2017. Initially, the size of SHIFT was USD 250 million, which the World Bank decided to double after the COVID-19 outbreak. Pakistan will repay the USD 500-million loan in 30 years and it is financed by the World Bank's concessionary arm the International Development Association. Historically, project loans have remained more effective than policy loans as successive governments have failed to fully implement reforms after the disbursement of policy loans, the daily said. SHIFT would improve the targeted safety net programmes that would benefit 12 million people impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, both at the federal and provincial levels, said the World Bank. "The global COVID-19 pandemic is impacting day-to-day life in Pakistan not solely from economic disruptions but also additional stress on public services that jeopardise human capital accumulation," said World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Illango Patchamuthu. This programme underscored the criticality of universal healthcare and social protection services that were durable to exogenous shocks such as that Pakistan was facing now, he added. The World Bank said the SHIFT programme would support three policy reforms aimed at building Pakistan's workforce and improving social safety net programmes. "Pakistan's ability to mitigate the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 depends on how quickly and efficiently social safety net programmes can reach those most in need," said Cristina Panasco Santos, Task Team Leader for the SHIFT programme. Owing to the disagreement over certain policy actions, the World Bank once again delayed the approval of RISE loan. The USD 500-million RISE programme is expected to go to the World Bank board next month, subject to certain amendments to various laws in the budget. The USD 500-million RISE loan will be aimed at enhancing the policy and institutional framework to improve fiscal management and improve the regulatory framework to foster growth and competitiveness. As part of the conditions, the World Bank has asked Pakistan to restructure the existing Debt Policy Coordination Office into a single Debt Management Office. The proposed structure will not just be a coordinating entity like the Debt Policy Coordination Office that only advises the finance minister. Pakistan's public debt-to-GDP ratio, which stood at 85 per cent at the end of last fiscal year, is now projected to deteriorate further to 90 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) due to poor performance of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and adverse implications of COVID-19. The existing Debt Office had been set up under the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation (FRDL) Act 2005, but its role was largely restricted to coordination and advising the government. "Macroeconomic risk is high, as the impact of Covid-19 will weaken ongoing stabilisation efforts and medium-term structural reforms and add additional Covid-19-related shocks," said the SHIFT programme documents. The World Bank documents underlined that the government had committed to staying the course and would be supported by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to ensure that. California Church Asks Supreme Court to Block Lockdown Measure Barring In-Person Services A Southern Californian churchs fight to hold in-person church services amid the pandemic has reached the U.S. Supreme Court after the church filed an emergency appeal asking the justices for relief from Gov. Gavin Newsoms lockdown measures. Attorneys for South Bay United Pentecostal Church and Bishop Arthur Hodges requested on Sunday the top court to intervene in the case by granting an injunction against Newsoms order that bans in-person church services. Although the state is at stage two of its re-opening plan, in-person religious services will only be allowed during the third phase of the plan, along with other higher risk workplaces. On Monday, California issued guidance in which county health departments can approve the reopening of churches, mosques, synagogues, and other houses of worship. Under the guidance (pdf), in-person services must be limited to attendance to 25 percent of building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower. The request for an injunction comes after a federal appeals court rejected a similar emergency motion for injunctive relief on May 22. The judges in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2-1 to uphold the states ban, finding that the order did not contravene the First Amendments free exercise clause. Were dealing here with a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure, Judges Barry Silverman, a Clinton appointee, and Jacqueline Nguyen, an Obama appointee, wrote (pdf). In the words of Justice Robert Jackson, if a [c]ourt does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact.' A third judge, Daniel Collins, a Trump appointee, wrote a dissent in the case arguing that the states ban likely violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. I do not doubt the importance of the public health objectives that the State puts forth, but the State can accomplish those objectives without resorting to its current inflexible and overbroad ban on religious services, Collins wrote. Collins also argued that a 1905 Supreme Court precedent, Jacobson v. Massachusetts, which upheld the states authority to enforce compulsory vaccination for smallpox, did not apply to free exercise claims. That case raised important questions about the states power to take action to protect public health and the Constitutions protection of individual freedoms. The States motion cites no authority that can justify its extraordinary claim that the current emergency gives the Governor the power to restrict any and all constitutional rights, as long as he has acted in good faith and has some factual basis for his edicts, he wrote. Nothing in Jacobson supports the view that an emergency displaces normal constitutional standards. Rather, Jacobson provides that an emergency may justify temporary constraints within those standards. The 9th Circuit courts decision came on the same day President Donald Trump urged governors across the nation to let churches and other houses of worship reopen. He described places of worship as very important and essential. In their emergency application, the lawyers argued that Newsoms orders arbitrarily discriminate against places of worship and violate the First Amendments free exercise clause. The lawyers argued that the states four-stage reopening plan allows manufacturing, warehousing, retail, offices, seated dining at restaurants, and schools to reopen in stage two but singles out places of worship by deeming in-person services as a higher-risk workplace for stage three reopening, along with movie theaters, salons, and gyms. This plan is a blatant violation of the Free Exercise Clause of our First Amendment, Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel for the Thomas More Society, said in a statement. Thomas More Society is representing the church along with other lawyers. California has previously been warned by the Justice Department that Newsoms public health orders may be discriminatory against churches. In a letter on May 19, the department expressed several concerns over the states health orders, which were enacted to slow the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Attorney General William Barr had previously urged U.S. attorneys general across the country to be on the lookout for state and local restrictions that could be running afoul of constitutional rights and civil liberties of individual citizens. He has been vocal in calling out state and local restrictions that single out religion for special burdens. Barr also indicated that governors lockdown restrictions should only apply for the limited purpose of slowing down the spread of the virus, as they were never meant to be permanent measures. When there is some progress in mitigating the spread, states need to begin developing more targeted approaches, he said. Katabella Roberts contributed to this report. Fine Gael councillor, John Clendennen, is encouraging local groups in Offaly to apply for the Governments 2020 Clar Programmme, which has a total fund of 5 million and is designed to help rural communities respond to the challenge of Covid-19. Cllr Clendennen said: The Clar Programme can be used for small scale infrastructural projects in rural communities where there has been significant levels of population decline. This year it has been tailored to help such communities to respond to COVID-19 and the areas in Offaly include Dunkerrin, Templeharry, Barna, Cangort, Ballincor, Ettagh, Gorteen, Aghancon, Roscomroe, Tulla, Killyon, Eglish, Mounterin, Derryad, Broughal, Clonmacnoise Hinds, Kilclonfert, Croghan and Knockdrin. The details of the 2020 Clar programme were announced today by the Minister for Rural & Community Development Michael Ring TD, and I encourage local community groups in Offaly to apply. All the details they will need, including the application forms, are available at www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/91ba52-clar/ Cllr Clendennen continued: Since Fine Gael reopened the Clar Programme in 2016, it has been a significant support to communities in some of the remotest parts of Offaly. Clar is one element of a 30 million package of co-ordinated and complementary supports that is being launched by the Minister this week as part of his Departments Rural Development Investment Programme. The other elements of the programme to be opened later this week will be the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The Rural Development Investment Programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040. Its great to see the Clar Programme being adapted this year to help rural communities respond to new challenges as a result of Covid-19. For example, the Schools and Community Safety Measure, which funds items such as pedestrian crossings and footpaths to provide safe access to schools, has been broadened to allow additional investments to adapt areas around schools and community facilities to help meet new public health requirements arising from Covid-19. Funding will be provided under a new measure for community recreational areas where friends and families can socialise outdoors in safe, accessible, community spaces while respecting public health guidelines. This measure will include support for items such as picnic benches/tables, outdoor covered seating or BBQ areas, public lighting, bicycle stands, bandstand/stage areas, etc. These recreational areas will be particularly important for community social interaction in the coming months, in line with the Governments Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. Community organisations providing meals on wheels and other community services will also be supported to purchase kitchen or food delivery equipment. They can also access funds for any adaptations that may be necessary to their existing vehicles as a result of new public health guidelines. I was also pleased to hear Minister Ring confirm that we will separately continue to fund vehicles for those vital voluntary organisations that provide free transport for people with mobility issues and for those attending cancer treatments. Minister Ring added: I have introduced a standard grant rate of up to 90% of the total cost of projects across all of the Clar Measures this year. This should ensure that the requirement on communities or Local Authorities to source match funding is kept to a minimum. With the introduction of these new Measures, my Department will play its part in helping rural communities adapt their local spaces and support their interactions with one another in a safe but inclusive way. I will be announcing further complementary supports in the coming days under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme as part of my Departments Rural Development Investment Programme." The boss of Sky has pledged 150,000 for the Mail Force campaign to supply healthcare workers with protective gear after several of his colleagues became seriously ill with coronavirus. Jeremy Darroch has donated 50,000 of his own cash while 100,000 has come from the broadcaster. The generous contribution means Mail Force has raised 8.9million since the charity was launched four weeks ago. Mr Darroch, 57, who has run Sky since 2007, said the campaign to make sure NHS and care staff have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to treat patients safely is of critical importance. He added: People at Sky have got Covid-19 and some of them are really very poorly so Ive seen what can happen when it goes from an unpleasant illness to a very serious illness. Jeremy Darroch (middle) has donated 50,000 of his own cash while 100,000 has come from the broadcaster. Pictured with Sky presenters Sarah-Jane Mee and Natalie Pinkham And when that happens you are reminded about how brilliant the NHS are and what doctors do what sacrifices they make and literally how they fight for peoples lives. Mr Darroch said it is easy to take front line healthcare workers for granted because everyone has grown up with the NHS. He believes that the pandemic has reminded the country of their great work. Last month Mr Darroch, who earns more than 1million a year in basic pay, announced he would donate at least six months of his salary to charities helping people affected by the pandemic. This now includes Mail Force, which was created by the Mail and its partners to help tackle the PPE shortage. He stressed: Mail Force is a great initiative and one that is very much needed. We were keen to support it, both at a corporate level and a personal one. I think its great that Mail Force has taken the lead and it means others can just plug in and help do their bit to make this successful. This is pretty significant. Its getting money to an organisation which has the scale to make sure it gets to the right places. Mr Darroch added: This caught my eye because of its focus PPE has been so critically important, and thats why I wanted to do it. This is a brilliant way to be able to add a bit from me as well. Im really happy about it. I think, with these things, if everybody can do their bit then we can get through this. His first charitable donation during the crisis was 100,000 to the National Emergencies Trust. PPE is delivered to Bank House Residential Care home in Newport, Shropshire. Pictured from left to right: Kirsten Buck, Nikki Rose, Jane Broom, Kate Brennan, Callum Wapstra, Shirley Richards and Dep. Manager Helen Millinder It was founded in 2017 after the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people, and terror attacks in London and Manchester. It works with charities to raise and distribute funds. Northumberland-born Mr Darroch, who has three children with his wife Rachel, has also donated to the Community Foundation For Surrey, where he lives. It is part of a network of 46 community foundations which help disadvantaged people. Almost 50,000 Daily Mail readers have now given more than 2.5million to Mail Force. Your continuing support, along with pledges from philanthropists and corporate partners, helped the fund soar to the 8.9million mark last night. Supporters include the Duchess of Cornwall, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Michael Caine and Dame Vera Lynn while former prime ministers Sir John Major and Gordon Brown have also backed the initiative. Last week lorries carrying 100,000 gowns arrived from Turkey after the charity sourced PPE from a factory near Istanbul. The gowns were quality checked by the Health and Safety Executive and delivered to the NHS. The charity previously chartered a jumbo jet packed with 20 tons of PPE from Shanghai to London. The 1million cargo included 50,000 medical coveralls and 100,000 masks. And Mail Force has placed an initial order for 1.5million aprons from British firm Issa Group, which had them made in a former cotton mill in Blackburn. These are being channelled into the main NHS distribution network over the next two weeks. Jeremy Meeks has paid tribute to his beloved nephew Vincent Naples following his death. The model, 36, took to Instagram on Monday to share a sweet throwback image of his late relative with his surviving daughter. Many of the grieving star's followers expressed their condolences to him, one of which included his long-term fiancee Chloe Green - marking their first social media interaction in months. Tragic: Jeremy Meeks has paid tribute to his beloved nephew Vincent Naples following his death (pictured together last year) 'Rest in paradise Nephew', the media personality captioned the photo, with Topshop heiress Chloe, 29, commenting: ''. [sic] The former reality star later shared a touching tribute of her own, writing: 'No words The most incredible Dad and loving person cant believe you are gone we will miss you Rest in peace.' The socialite took a trip down memory lane as she also uploaded a flashback image of the pair having fun in Monaco. Jeremy's ex-wife Melissa also posted a heartfelt message in honour of Vincent, penning: 'Im at a loss for words. 'You had so much life ahead of you. Such an amazing soul. Gone to soon. Rest easy Nephew.' [sic] Rare public interaction: The model, 36, took to Instagram on Monday to share a throwback image of his late relative, with his fiancee Chloe Green commenting with heart emojis 'Gone too soon': The former reality star later shared a touching tribute of her own onto her platform Old times: The socialite took a trip down memory lane as she also uploaded a flashback image of the pair having fun in Monaco The catwalk star has not disclosed how his family member died. MailOnline has contacted Jeremy's representatives for further comment. The statuesque model has turned his life around since being described as 'one of the most violent criminals in the Stockton area'. He was released from prison in 2016 saying that he had found God, before quickly securing a six-figure modelling job and ditching his wife and family when he met Chloe. 'I'm at a loss for words': Jeremy's ex-wife Melissa also posted a heartfelt message in honour of Vincent Last year, the hunk hit out at rumours about his romance with the former Made In Chelsea star being 'strained', confirming they are still on. The couple, who raise 23-month-old son Jayden together, were said to have ended their relationship in June 2019. They first set their eyes on each other at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2017, where the Hot Felon was modelling for Phillip Plein. He has a child, Jeremy Jr., 11, with his former wife Melissa, who he was married to from 2008 to 2018. Mysterious: The catwalk star has not disclosed how his family member died OTTAWAThe Liberals upcoming gun control legislation will allow municipalities to effectively ban handguns within their boundaries while setting national standards on how the weapons can be stored and used. While stopping short of a national handgun ban, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair told the Star that new rules will allow municipalities to rule that handguns cannot be legally stored in their jurisdictions. And Blair made clear that the federal government is willing to work directly with cities like Toronto who have called for tougher handgun regulation, potentially doing an end-run around premiers who oppose the new rules. My first goal is to work collaboratively with the provinces and territories But we also recognize that the third order of government, municipalities, have a very significant role to play in this, Blair said in a recent interview. I understand in some parts of the country they may decide not to do anything. But that is unfair to a municipality that really feels strongly that (they) need to do more. And so we will work with them to find ways in which we can support them to do more. The Liberals campaigned in 2019 on a promise to allow municipalities the ability to further restrict or ban handguns. That legislation has been delayed as COVID-19 put other federal priorities on the back burner. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that as a first step the government would move to ban assault-style weapons such as the AR-15 rifle. While that could be done via regulation, the Liberals said further gun control measures requires legislative changes something that cant be done while this minority Parliament isnt meeting due to the pandemic. Gun control advocates and some big city mayors including Torontos John Tory have called for a national handgun ban, arguing that leaving the matter up to individual municipalities would create an ineffective patchwork of policies that would do little to address the problem. When asked how effective a Toronto handgun ban would be if criminals could find a gun in neighbouring municipalities, Blair said the scenario was an oversimplification. We are going to impose very strong restrictions on the possession, the storage and the use of handguns everywhere in Canada, Blair, Torontos former police chief, said. But we recognize there are some jurisdictions with greater vulnerabilities, and we want to empower those jurisdictions to impose additional restrictions. For example, they may say they dont want a firearm to be stored within their boundaries. They may say that (handguns) can only be stored at a range. They may say where ranges can be located in their municipality. And they can impose additional restrictions than the regime we impose that will respond to specific vulnerabilities in their community. While Tory supports a national ban, he told CBC last year a citywide ban might be enough to make a difference. Even while the city largely remains on lockdown due to COVID-19, Toronto has already seen 167 shootings so far in 2020, including 17 deaths. Ontario Premier Doug Ford bashed the Liberals gun-control plans earlier this month, saying the federal government is going after law-abiding gun owners rather than cracking down on gun running along the Canada-U.S. border. The problem is not the legal gun owners. We need to target the smugglers and we need to throw the book at these gangsters out there terrorizing our streets and the federal government has set aside hundreds of millions of dollars to buy back legally-purchased guns I cant help but think that money could be put to much better use hunting down the violent criminals and stopping illegal guns at our borders, Ford told reporters on May 2. Blair told the Star that the new regulations will include additional tools for police and border security officers to crack down on gun smuggling, as well as stricter penalties for those caught bringing illegal guns into the country. The law will also crack down on diverted guns legally-purchased guns that are then resold to criminals with more significant penalties. Blair said there will also be new restrictions on importing ammunition, including large capacity magazines, which he called a significant factor in gun crimes. Read more about: New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said that coronavirus cases will increase in different parts of the country till the migrant influx continues. However, he assured that the situation is being closely monitored and the country's health infrastructure is ready to handle the situation. The Minister said this in a social media 'interview' with BJP leader G.V.L. Narasimha Rao, who asked about the "strategic and gradual exit from the lockdown". "Many restrictions in this lockdown were lifted as per the strategic and gradual exit of the country from it. Number of (active) cases in the country is nearly 70,000 now. As per my knowledge, now we can treat even 10 lakh Covid patients at one time. What message would you give to the people of this country when the lockdown is about to be lifted and there are chances of rise in the number of cases?" asked Rao. In response, Harsh Vardhan said: "If we have relaxed the lockdown and are sending lakhs of migrant workers to their destinations with confidence, that clearly indicates that we know our situation and are closely monitoring it. Our strategies are ready. We are testing migrant workers and quarantining them. "I think for one to two weeks, the cases will increase till all of them reach their states. "However I want to say to people of this country that if the relaxations are used optimally with discipline, by following social distancing and hygiene, using masks etc, we will be able to restore normal life." He also said that many experts including one from the US had predicted that there will be millions of cases and deaths in India between May and June. "Fortunately, nothing like that happened. The PM had given instructions and guidance to handle the worst scenario even as there were only a few cases in the country," he said. Harsh Vardhan also said that learning "from the experience of countries like Italy etc where numbers spiked due to common hospitals, we earmarked dedicated Covid hospitals, separate Covid Health and Covid Care centres. There are 2.5 lakh beds of isolation plus ICU and oxygen, 1.7 lakh beds in 2,065 Covid Health Centres. We created 7,063 Covid care centres in the country which have 6.5 lakh beds. "All combined, it goes to over 10 lakh. We have also reserved beds in private hospitals but I don't think that there will be a requirement. There are more than 10,000 quarantine centres in the country." The Minister said that now the country has the capacity of doing 1.10 lakh tests per day. "From one lab in February in the country, we now have 599 labs including 422 government labs. We have prophylactic medicine hydroxychloroquine for our people as well as other countries too. We are fully prepared to handle even the worst scenario. I want to assure the country that they need not to worry about it." Noting that India successfully handled the situation during dangerous diseases like Nipah and Ebola, Harsh Vardhan said: "We know the location of our Covid cases due to our surveillance mechanism and are doing everything required as per the strategy to stop it from spreading." --IANS sfm/vd In a financial environment riddled with unprecedented levels of uncertainty, investors are at wits end. When it comes to finding an investment strategy that will yield returns, traditional methods might not be as dependable. So, how should investors get out of the rut? In times like these, a more comprehensive stock analysis can steer investors in the direction of returns. Rather than looking solely at more conventional factors like fundamental or technical analyses, other metrics can play a key role in determining whether or not a particular stock is on a clear path forward. TipRanks offers a tool that does exactly that. Its Smart Score measures eight key metrics including fundamentals and technicals while also taking into account analyst, blogger and news sentiment as well as hedge fund and corporate insider activity. After analyzing each metric, a single numerical score is generated, with 10 being the best possible result. Using the Best Stocks to Buy tool, we were able to pour through TipRanks database, filtering the results to show only the names that have earned a Perfect 10 Smart Score. We found seven that managed to tick all of the boxes. Lets jump right in. Limelight Networks, Inc. (LLNW) Limelight Networks is best known for being a content delivery network (CDN) service provider, with its solutions enabling organizations to deliver digital assets that are fast, reliable and secure. With the growth story set to get even better, its no wonder LLNW has scored fans out on the Street. Among the bulls is Northland Capital analyst Michael Latimore. After hosting a call with the companys management team, he told clients that he walked away even more positive on the stock. LLNW is a company with improving growth rates, expanding margins, and top tier customers; and getting a little help via work-from-home. We believe management remains confident in growth patterns, especially given new customers coming on board, and a healthy additional tailwind via work-from-home, the analyst commented. Story continues To support his bullish thesis, Latimore highlights the fact that going forward into Q2 and Q3, new customer launches should drive significant sequential growth, more so in full year 2021 than full year 2020. Online gaming updates as well as new sports content could also help propel the stock forward. Latimore added, Traffic related to work-from-home peaked at the end of March, but LLNW is managing more traffic than ever on a daily basis... LLNW has perfected its platform for OTT video and is in every conversation among new meaningful OTT video and live event providers. As its top 20 customers, which account for 77% of revenue, are financially sound, the deal is sealed for Latimore. To this end, the five-star analyst left an Outperform rating and $8 price target on LLNW, implying 51% upside potential. (To watch Latimores track record, click here) Do other analysts agree with Latimore? As it turns out, they do. With 100% Street support, or 4 Buy ratings to be exact, the message is clear: LLNW is a Strong Buy. At $7.50, the average price target is less aggressive than Latimores, but still suggests 41% upside potential. See the LLNW stock analysis. Krystal Biotech, Inc. (KRYS) Using its STAR-D platform, Krystal Biotech develops and commercializes innovative therapies that target various dermatologic conditions. On the heels of its recent data release, some Wall Street pros believe that now is the time to snap up shares. During the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) virtual meeting, the company presented positive in vitro preclinical data for replication-defective HSV-1-based gene therapy (GT), KB407, in cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common inherited genetic disorder in the U.S. Based on the update, the asset was able to infect small airway epithelial cells (SAECs) and generate a robust expression of functional, full-length human CFTR protein that properly traffics to the cell membrane. Commenting on this result for Chardon Capital, five-star analyst Gbola Amusa stated, This result suggests KB407 has overcome the issues of limited-capacity GT vectors not infecting the appropriate cells of the lungs. He also pointed out that KB407 went head-to-head with Orkambi (G418) in relevant mutations, but also worked broadly on functional correction of the cystic phenotype of organoids. Amusa added, We thus see the KB407 in vitro data as a good start en route to Krystal testing KB407 for other issues that have held back GTs for CF, namely: (1) redosing (B-VEC data suggest Krystal's vectors can be re-dosed), and (2) delivery (upcoming mouse nebulizer data will shed light). It should be noted that Vertex Pharmaceuticals is already well positioned within the space, but Amusa argues that a therapy for the 10% of CF patients with class I mutations, which cause the most severe phenotypes, still isnt available, leaving the door wide open for KRYS. Based on all of the above, Amusa calls the stock a Top Pick for 2020. Along with a Buy rating, the $100 price target remains unchanged. This target puts the upside potential at 89%. (To watch Amusas track record, click here) What does the rest of the Street think about Krystal Biotechs long-term growth prospects? It turns out that other analysts also have high hopes. Only Buy ratings, 6, in fact, have been received in the last three months, so the consensus rating is a Strong Buy. In addition, the $81 average price target indicates 53% upside potential. See the KRYS stock analysis. Celsius Holdings, Inc. (CELH) Celsius Holdings offers a portfolio of fitness drinks under the flagship CELSIUS brand that provide healthy energy while accelerating the metabolism and burning body fat. Following its Q1 2020 earnings release, the analyst community is singing its praises. On May 12, CELH reported revenue of $28.2 million, which flew past the Streets $13.4 million call and reflected a whopping 94.6% year-over-year gain. Up 660 basis points year-over-year, gross margin also surpassed the consensus estimate. The driver of this impressive quarterly performance? Maxim Groups Anthony Vendetti believes it was the continued momentum and traction CELH is gaining as its products expand both nationally and abroad. Even though he acknowledges that consumer purchasing behaviors have changed, the analyst highlights the fact that functional beverage demand is holding up strong. In addition, COVID-19 played a role during the first quarter. CELH has seen a surge in grocery deliveries and online orders and, in response, has stockpiled inventory and secured additional distribution and co-packer agreements. Additionally, the company has pivoted its marketing resources to digital programs, better reflecting the current macro environment. Although we believe that CELH has received a short-term sales bump from COVID-19, we remain positive in the long-term as the company continues to expand its distribution network and highlight itself as a 'lifestyle brand,' where active, routine customers continue to drive growth, Vendetti explained. All of the above combined with a compelling valuation prompted Vendetti to maintain a Buy recommendation. On top of this, the four-star analyst bumped up the price target from $8 to $12, bringing the upside potential to 33%. (To watch Vendettis track record, click here) Looking at the consensus breakdown, 4 Buys and no Holds or Sells give CELH a unanimous Strong Buy analyst consensus. Not to mention the $11.31 average price target suggests 26% upside potential. See the CELH stock analysis. NeoPhotonics Corporation (NPTN) NeoPhotonics is one of the top manufacturers of ultra-pure light lasers and optoelectronic products that transmit, receive and switch the highest speed over distance digital optical signals for cloud and hyper-scale data center internet content provider and telecom networks. After tuning in to the companys recent webinar, one analyst thinks its future is bright. Needhams Alex Henderson cites a few key takeaways from the webinar discussing Optical Technology Trends and Capacity in IP over DWDM. The primary points of the presentation is the shift to higher speeds and the emergence of standardization enabling Pluggables strengthens Neo's competitive position should drive increased market share and improve margins, he commented. Part of what makes NPTN a stand-out, in Hendersons opinion, is that it has a diverse product lineup thats ready to accelerate in new arenas. It has also already been seeing traction with its more advanced capabilities. This translates to a significant competitive advantage for NPTN. Additionally, the company believes that its speeds will reach 400G and above, which will give it the chance to capture even more market share. On top of this, the expansion into the C++ extended spectrum bands is producing design wins. Henderson explained, Neo's ability to use the same components and to take advantages of the ultra-clean signal enables Neo to offer as much as a 50% increase in spectral capacity using C++. This is an important advantage. Neo is already seeing considerable traction particularly in China for this technology. Taking all of this into consideration, Henderson stayed with the bulls. Along with a Buy rating, he reiterated a $12 price target. This target conveys the five-star analysts confidence in NPTNs ability to surge 45% in the next twelve months. (To watch Hendersons track record, click here) In general, other analysts echo Hendersonss sentiment. 7 Buys and 1 Hold add up to a Strong Buy consensus rating. A twelve-month rise of 45% could be in store if the $12.07 average price target is met. See the NPTN stock analysis. Bunge Limited (BG) Counting itself as the worlds largest soybean processor, Bunge Limited operates as an agribusiness and food company. Connecting farmers and consumers, the company is also involved in food processing, grain trading and fertilizer. Sure, 2020 has not been kind to this stock, with shares down 38% year-to-date, but several analysts see a turnaround on the horizon. The recent negative sentiment surrounding BG can be attributed to its most recent quarterly performance. Looking at revenue, the figure came in at $9.2 billion, missing the consensus estimate by 8.6%. It also didnt help that a loss of $1.46 per share was reported. That being said, Baird analyst Ben Kallo is looking at the glass half full. Speaking to its recent portfolio optimization, the five-star analyst believes the company has unlocked substantial value. Additionally, the stock is trading at levels that are less than book value. As a result, he argues that now is the time for investors to get more constructive on the longer-term earnings power story, enabled by BG's leading (and underappreciated) asset footprint. It should also be noted that last week, BG declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per common share as well as a $1.22 per share quarterly dividend on its 4.9% cumulative convertible perpetual preference shares. With everything that Bunge has going for it, its clear why Kallo is optimistic. Giving the stock a thumbs up, the analyst upgraded his rating from Neutral to Outperform. At $46, his price target suggests shares could climb 30% higher in the twelve months ahead. (To watch Kallos track record, click here) Turning now to the rest of the Street, most other analysts are on the same page. Out of 4 analysts that have thrown an opinion into the mix, 3 were bullish, making the consensus rating a Strong Buy. To top it all off, the $57.50 average price target speeds past Kallos and brings the upside potential to 63%. See the BG stock analysis. PetIQ, Inc. (PETQ) Through retail channels across the U.S., PetIQ offers affordable pet health and wellness products as well as veterinary services. While the company, like the broader market, has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, some analysts believe gains are in store post-virus. Writing for Oppenheimer, five-star analyst Brian Nagel tells clients that PETQ is well-positioned to stage a post-COVID-19 rebound. We are increasingly optimistic that the products and services businesses of PETQ should prove situated well to capitalize upon improved underlying consumer demand, given a recent surge in pet adoptions and rescues amid broad-based shelter in place orders across the U.S., he said. Adding to the good news, PETQ just unveiled its telehealth platform. As part of the collaboration with whiskerDocs, prior PetIQ service customers will have access to various telehealth services, with a more comprehensive digital experience for new and existing customers coming later down the road. To conclude, Nagel opined, In our view, PETQ represents one of the most compelling, early stage small-cap growth stories to emerge in the consumer sector in a long while. A few key factors underpin our initial positive stance on the shares: 1) Potential for sustained, outsized topline expansion, owing to a still small market share, a unique consumer proposition, and favorable industry dynamics; 2) Already compelling free cash flow generation and the opportunity for rapidly expanding sales to leverage largely fixed operating expenses; and 3) An attractive valuation. It should come as no surprise, then, that Nagel kept an Outperform call and $50 price target on the stock. Given this target, shares could jump 73% in the next year. (To watch Nagels track record, click here) Like Nagel, other analysts also like what theyre seeing. With 3 Buys and no Holds or Sells, the word on the Street is that the stock is a Strong Buy. In addition, the $39 average price target implies 35% upside potential. See the PETQ stock analysis. Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (OCUL) Last but not least on our list of Perfect 10s we have Ocular Therapeutix, which leverages its formulation expertise to develop cutting-edge treatments. With the company dosing the first patient in the Phase 1 open-label trial of OTX-CSI, its bioresorbable insert designed to release drug to the ocular surface for up to three months as a treatment of dry eye disease (DED), its clear why Wall Street focus has locked in on this healthcare name. Looking more closely at the trial, its being conducted in a single center in the U.S., with it slated to enroll five patients and follow them for four months. As for why OCUL is garnering so much attention, it comes down to the design of the therapy. OTX-CSI enables preservative-free delivery of a constant dose of cyclosporine, which could be less irritating than eye drop formulations. In addition, blocking the punctum may provide immediate relief for dry eye symptoms. H.C. Wainwright analyst Yi Chen acknowledges that theres already a treatment available for DED called RESTASIS, which generated sales of $1.1 billion in 2019. However, the analyst points out that the irritating side effects and slow onset of efficacy have led to high patient dropout rates. Expounding on this, Chen stated, In our view, an intracanalicular insert approach could be a better route of administration for chronic DED treatment; OTX-CSI could be less irritating and faster-acting compared to RESTASIS, in addition to eliminating the burden of twice-daily eye drop instillation required for RESTASIS. It should be noted that OCUL also faces competition from Oyester Point Pharma and its OC-01 candidate, but its recent data readout revealed lackluster levels of efficacy. OC-01s efficacy on DED symptom is a mixed bag at best, in our view, and neither dose met the symptom endpoint twice in the two studies. In addition, neither dose met the secondary symptom endpoint, Chen mentioned. All in all, Chen believes OCULs long-term growth prospects are strong. As a result, the five-star analyst reiterated a Buy rating and $10 price target, suggesting 39% upside potential. (To watch Chens track record, click here) When it comes to other analysts, they take a similar approach. Two other analysts have published a review in the last three months, and both rated the stock a Buy, so the consensus rating is a Strong Buy. Based on the $9.67 average price target, the upside potential lands at 34%. See the OCUL stock analysis. FedEx is helping the Vietnam Red Cross Society transport thousands of donated medical masks to the American Red Cross in the United States. The donation was mobilised by the Vietnam Red Cross Society to help US communities cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes masks donated by the Vietnam Red Cross and by the Hanoi branch of the Vietnam-US Alumni Club (VUSAC). FedEx is donating its shipping services to the Vietnam Red Cross Society to deliver medical and protective equipment to the American Red Cross in fighting COVID-19 The American Red Cross maintains a limited inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to maintain readiness to respond to disasters across the country and to support the collection of about 40 per cent of the United States blood supply. President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu said, The donation is a small contribution compared to what is needed in the US, but there is so much love behind every one of those masks. The gifts show the solidarity and friendship between the people of Vietnam and the US. During these extraordinary times, the actions of everyone and every part of society matters greatly, said Hardy Diec, managing director of FedEx Indochina. At FedEx Express, we are proud to contribute by donating essential shipping services and proactively supporting relief efforts to get important, lifesaving equipment to those who need it the most. We will continue to work with our nonprofit partners and stakeholders in fighting this public health challenge. Earlier in April, FedEx, in co-ordination with DuPont and the US Embassy in Vietnam transported shipments from Vietnam to Texas carrying more than 450,000 Tyvek protective suits. FedEx Express aircraft are being used to transport critical PPE supplies to the locations where they are needed around the world. FedEx Express is the worlds largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air and ground network to speed up the delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money-back guarantee. Astronomers have captured an image of a super-rare type of galaxy that is 11 billion light-years away from Earth. The star formation, named R5519, has been described by scientists as a 'cosmic ring of fire' that looks like a 'titanic doughnut'. It has a hole in the centre that is two billion times longer than the distance between Earth and the Sun, and is said to be making stars 50 times faster than the Milky Way. The discovery was announced today in the journal Nature Astronomy and identified as a 'collisional ring galaxy', making it one of the earliest known in the universe. Galaxy named R5519 has been described as a 'cosmic ring of fire' by scientists. It is 11 billion light-years away from Earth 'It is a very curious object that we've never seen before,' said lead researcher Dr Tiantian Yuan, from Australia's ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in Three-Dimensions. 'It looks strange and familiar at the same time'. It was imaged through data gathered by the WM Keck Observatory in Hawaii and recorded in the NASA Hubble Space Telescope. Professor Kenneth Freeman, who also worked on the project, said: 'The collisional formation of ring galaxies requires a thin disk to be present in the "victim" galaxy before the collision occurs. 'The thin disk is the defining component of spiral galaxies - before it assembled, the galaxies were in a disorderly state, not yet recognisable as spiral galaxies. The galaxy was imaged using pictures taken by NASA's Hubble Telescope 'In the case of this ring galaxy, we are looking back into the early universe by 11 billion years, into a time when thin disks were only just assembling. 'For comparison, the thin disk of our Milky Way began to come together only about nine billion years ago. 'The discovery is an indication that disk assembly in spiral galaxies occurred over a more extended period than previously thought.' Millions of children in Australia have returned to schools in the states of New South Wales and Queensland as numbers of COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the country fall. The two states on Monday joined the less populous Western Australia and South Australia states and the Northern Territory in resuming face-to-face learning, instead of studying from home online. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Monday students and teachers had to observe one key message: Stay home if sick. We're not out of the woods yet. We have to take each day as it comes, each week as it comes and we keep our fingers crossed that Queenslanders will continue to flatten that curve, Palaszczuk said. The remaining jurisdictions -- Victoria and Tasmania states and the Australian Capital Territory -- plan to send students back to school in stages through early June. While New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, and Queensland, the third-most populous state, agree on reopening schools, they differ on reopening their common border. New South Wales has recorded 50 of Australia's 102 COVID-19 deaths and wants all state borders reopened. Queensland has recorded only six deaths and has no plans to open its borders. South Australia and the Northern Territory also have no active cases and have closed borders. The Australian Capital Territory has not had a case in three weeks and has left its borders open like the worst-effected states, New South Wales and Victoria. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 17:19:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government announced the third stage of mental health funding to COVID-19 on Monday. Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Monday that the government is providing more than 20 million Australian dollars (about 13 million U.S. dollars) additional funding for research to improve mental health care and reduce suicide rates in Australia. "It includes funding for coronavirus research in terms of the mental health impacts and it has a particular emphasis on what we're doing with regards to men's and boys' mental health and pharmacogenomics or the tailoring of medicines," said Hunt. "Anxiety and depression, other clinical conditions, are associated with the fear that comes with health concerns, the loneliness of isolation, and the deep concern that people have with regards to their employment, or their business," said Hunt in a press conference in Canberra. "So the economic consequences of coronavirus can have a huge impact on the mental health, safety, stability and concerns of individuals." Hunt also said there are over five consecutive weeks of days in which the growth rate of new cases in Australia has been less than half a percent. "As of this morning, we are at 7,112 cases and sadly, 102 lives lost," he said. "Importantly, 6,509 people have recovered, which means there are 501 active cases in Australia." According to Hunt, the first stage of mental health package was 74 million Australian dollars (about 48 million U.S. dollars), which addressed in particular outreach services. The second was 48 million Australian dollars (about 31 million U.S. dollars), which supported the National Mental Health Pandemic Plan. Enditem Predictions of Mr. Putins imminent eclipse, however, have invariably proved wrong, and many expect the president to bounce back from these travails, albeit in a weakened position. Russia, with more than 350,000 reported coronavirus cases, is the third most infected country after the United States and Brazil. Kremlin-controlled media outlets, however, have presented Russias response to the pandemic as a triumph, trumpeting official figures that show a remarkably low death rate of 2 per 100,000 people, compared with 30 in the U.S. and 55 in Britain. This, they say, is a Russian miracle. The pandemic has nonetheless disrupted the centerpiece of the Kremlins political program for the year, forcing the cancellation of an April referendum on constitutional changes that would allow Mr. Putin to brush aside term limits and stay in power until 2036. But, with the recent lifting of a nationwide lockdown order despite a steady rise in the number of infections the Kremlin is expected to push ahead with its vote on the Constitution as early as June. The referendums outcome, like nearly all votes in Russia, is in little doubt, and it would secure Mr. Putins unassailable position for many years to come. Opening the door for him to stay in power indefinitely, Kremlin critics say, would only entrench the dysfunctions of a system that for 20 years has paid lip service to the stated goals of a single man but often confounded them instead. From the role of a constitutional court, to why increasing indebtedness is not the wisest solution, and the chances of catching Covid-19 on a plane read these and more in todays India dispatch. Expert Speak Govts stimulus package would increase indebtedness, not the wisest solution: The increased allocation to Indias rural jobs programme may help to some extent, but some of it will fund the increased wage-rate announced earlier, and only a fraction may be available to ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor A 53-year-old New Jersey man coughed on police, screamed he had the coronavirus and attacked officers while being arrested following a dispute at his home last week, authorities said. Randall Rivers, of the Sicklerville section of Gloucester Township, repeatedly kicked officers while coughing on them, cursing and claiming he was infected with COVID-19, police said in a statement. Rivers blood also got on police, officials said. Officers were called to the Girard Avenue home around 8 p.m. Thursday after being notified of a fight between family members. Rivers was irate and uncooperative and refused to let officers handcuff him after resisting their attempts to calm him, police said. Gloucester Township police charged Rivers with two counts of two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and one count apiece of harassment, making terroristic threats, resisting arrest and failure to submit to identification procedures/fingerprinting. He was briefly hospitalized for evaluation before being taken to the Camden County jail. Both officers were treated for minor injuries . Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. In 2005, Joe Carlucci was appointed CEO of American Renal Associates Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ARA). This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. Check out our latest analysis for American Renal Associates Holdings How Does Joe Carlucci's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? Our data indicates that American Renal Associates Holdings, Inc. is worth US$209m, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as US$1.1m for the year to December 2019. That's actually a decrease on the year before. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at US$892k. When we examined a selection of companies with market caps ranging from US$100m to US$400m, we found the median CEO total compensation was US$1.4m. Now let's take a look at the pay mix on an industry and company level to gain a better understanding of where American Renal Associates Holdings stands. On a sector level, around 17% of total compensation represents salary and 83% is other remuneration. It's interesting to note that American Renal Associates Holdings pays out a greater portion of remuneration through salary, in comparison to the wider industry. So Joe Carlucci is paid around the average of the companies we looked at. Although this fact alone doesn't tell us a great deal, it becomes more relevant when considered against the business performance. You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at American Renal Associates Holdings, below. NYSE:ARA CEO Compensation May 25th 2020 Is American Renal Associates Holdings, Inc. Growing? American Renal Associates Holdings, Inc. has reduced its earnings per share by an average of 14% a year, over the last three years (measured with a line of best fit). It achieved revenue growth of 1.6% over the last year. Story continues Few shareholders would be pleased to read that earnings per share are lower over three years. The fairly low revenue growth fails to impress given that the earnings per share is down. So given this relatively weak performance, shareholders would probably not want to see high compensation for the CEO. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts. Has American Renal Associates Holdings, Inc. Been A Good Investment? Given the total loss of 62% over three years, many shareholders in American Renal Associates Holdings, Inc. are probably rather dissatisfied, to say the least. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously. In Summary... Remuneration for Joe Carlucci is close enough to the median pay for a CEO of a similar sized company . Returns have been disappointing and the company is not growing its earnings per share. Most would consider it prudent for the company to hold off any CEO pay rise until performance improves. On another note, we've spotted 3 warning signs for American Renal Associates Holdings that investors should look into moving forward. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Hon Osei Assibey Antwi has commended the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye for his continuous contribution to and support for the development of his locality. He made this known at an event on Saturday where Mr. Asenso-Boakye made a donation of an ambulance and various medical equipment to the Suntreso Government Hospital in Kumasi, Ashanti region. The items comprised of a fully-equipped ambulance, hospital beds, infrared thermometers, metallic sterilizers, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other items. The Kumasi Mayor commended the Deputy Chief of Staff for his kind gesture, and urged all public officials to emulate the example of Mr. Asenso-Boakye. He recounted the various development interventions initiated by the Deputy Chief of Staff within the Bantama constituency and Kumasi in general. These include donation of medical equipment to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Suntreso Government Hospital; construction of the first basic school for Ohwim-Hwidiem community; ongoing construction of a modern AstroTurf pitch in the constituency; distribution of computers and other educational materials to various schools and the institution of an annual Inter School Quiz Competition, and other development projects and diverse assistance to constituents. On his part, Mr. Asenso-Boakye, who is a native of the Bantama constituency remarked that, the provision of quality health care was of grave concern to him as it is one of the surest ways to better the lives of the people. He therefore sees his modest contribution as an opportunity to help improve the lives of the people. Todays donation of an ambulance and various hospital items forms part of my modest contribution to support efforts of the hospital in dealing effectively with emergency cases especially in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. I believe it will go a long way to save lives and bring relief to hospital staff and patients, Mr. Asenso-Boakye said. The Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Thomas Agyarko-Poku thanked the Deputy Chief of Staff for his generous intervention. He assured that the items will be put to good use. This is the sixth time you have come to the aid of the Suntreso hospital. You have been approachable, magnanimous and proactive in honouring our requests anytime we contact you for assistance. I assure you that the ambulance and all other equipment received from you will be put to effective use to improve the health service delivery within Bantama and its environs, he asserted. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ayman Saleh, executive director of Ain Shams University hospitals, held a meeting with a high-level medical team from Nanjing University, the third largest university in China, to discuss cooperation to curb the novel coronavirus outbreak. The videoconference meeting, held on Monday, was part of ongoing cooperation between Ain Shams University and several Chinese institutions to consider the latest developments on how to counter COVID-19. The meeting touched upon efforts exerted and research and scientific experiments made to curb the pandemic and have a treatment for the disease. Both sides voiced their willingness and readiness to share experience to control the coronavirus. Search Keywords: Short link: Subdued celebrations marked Eid-ul-Fitr in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow on Monday with people keeping away from mosques and celebrating the day in the confines of their home. Noted clerics had urged people to follow social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic. A prominent Muslim cleric of Lucknow, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, said, "We had asked people to offer prayers at their home." Those who offered namaz at the Idgah wore masks and maintained social distancing as police personnel in large numbers were deployed there and traffic movement was restricted. Unlike past years, even the pre-Eid activities on Sunday were different as the otherwise busy markets of Aminabad, Nazirabad, Fatehganj, La Touche Road and Kaisarbagh wore a deserted look. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shemeill Guidry remembers the day she watched as her sister, one year younger, graduate from West Brook High School. Having been held back a year in seventh grade, they could have celebrated the day together, in the same class. I knew when her name was called, my name should have been next, Guidry said recently. People were probably expecting to hear it. But I wasnt there. I was just in the crowd watching. She wasnt crossing the stage alphabetically on her sisters heels. She was no longer in school, and there would be no diploma for her that day. She was simply sitting in the crowd, with her family and the son she had had while in ninth grade. Next month Guidry, now 22, will finally cross a stage of her own as part of the Evolution Academy charter school graduation ceremony. Due to coronavirus-related restrictions, a handful of family members will watch from a car parked nearby. Its OK, Richard said. Its perfect for me. I was just gonna cry the whole time anyway. For Guidry and others like her, whose high school journey took years longer than most, the achievement itself is the true glory moment. Recovery schools like Evolution Academy, which opened a Beaumont campus in 2013, aim to get students who have dropped out or are in danger of doing so, on track to obtain their degree. On average, Evolution enrolls 150 to 250 students. This year, it will graduate 74. Among them is Joezetia Richard, 20. Every day, Richard walked from her home on Magnolia Street to Central High School. Her home life, she said, was difficult and she was often homeless. She was working at 15, as a freshman, to pay for clothes and school necessities. Her junior year, she dropped out. Im just gonna go to Job Corps, she remembers saying, because Ill have a room and three meals a day and I can get an education while getting job training. She stayed in the program for about three months. Its a very rewarding program, she said, but it wasnt affordable. I wanted to come back to school and be closer to loved ones, too, she said. Richard enrolled at Evolution Academy last October. I was going through so much personally, but Id gotten into a more stable position to work and do this, she said. I was focused. Shed tried the charter school before. The staff asked why she was returning. My reason is this time, I have the time to be dedicated to work it, Richard said. And because Im 20, this is my only option to get a degree. Then there were her dreams of college. She plans to apply to Louisiana State or Sam Houston State. When Richard dropped out of Central in 2016, it was her grandmother, Brenda Griffin, who challenged her. She sat her down and said, You have all these dreams, but no diploma or GED, what are you going to do? It took me two years to talk her into going back to school, Griffin recalled. I told her, I didnt want her to have a hard life like I did, because I dropped out and nobody talked me into going back. Now Richard is on the cusp of graduation. Im very proud and very glad she listened to me, Griffin said, adding that she remains dedicated to helping her granddaughter along the way. Whatever, she needs, Im here to help. Anything you need, I got you. The COVID-19 restrictions that shut down schools shocked Richard. She worried about what would happen and whether she would get the diploma. The next Monday (after schools closed) I came here, and I was the only one, she said. Tears are hardly uncommon at Evolution Academy. So many make poor decisions, and it leads to homelessness, children and bad relationships, principal Veronica Durden said. With Guidry, she and other teachers stressed, You have no idea how many tears we shed over you two. We just knew your potential. Jennifer Irvin, whose mother is a teacher here, joined the staff two years ago, after volunteering for years to help students in math. I came from a traditional school with high-performing students, and when I started here, there was a 13% pass rate on tests, Irvin said. I had to change my mindset and my goals. And I feel like Ive done more here in my profession than in four years of traditional school. Shemeill Guidry recalls her seventh-grade report card was filled with Cs and Ds. Being held back to repeat the grade put her in class with her younger sister, which led to teasing by classmates. The comparison would haunt her for years. I always felt like she was smarter, she said of her younger sister. She felt not just less smart but also less pretty. Her sense of self and worth became increasingly dependent on the reactions of others, especially boys. She got pregnant her freshman year. Guidry struggled into her junior year. I had my son, I was stressing, she said. I didnt know what to do, where to turn. I didnt feel smart enough. I stopped caring, because once again I was failing. I made it to 11th grade, and I was like, I cant do it no more. In 2016, she dropped out. She came to Evolution Academy, but the personal evolution she was seeking was not immediate. She would attend school for a couple of weeks, then stop. Principal Durden recalled that she wasnt putting in the work required. I was playing around, worrying about what other people thought about me, getting into fights. I wasnt focused at all, Guidry said, before correcting herself. She wasnt focused on her education, but on a boyfriend. When school got in the way of that, she left. In 2017, Guidry got pregnant, this time with a girl. She had a sudden realization: She didnt like the way she was being treated in her relationship. And I realized school is more important than him, she said. I learned that lesson. You let this man hold you up all this time. Guidry came back to Evolution, ready to start over. Teacher Patty Ernst remembers seeing her pushing her sons stroller, pregnant with her second child, every day. But the hardships of motherhood became overwhelming, and she dropped out again. Ultimately it was Guidrys father, whom she hadnt seen or spoken to in two years, who set her back on course. One day he came to see me, and he said, What are you going to do? Youre 21 with three kids. What are you gonna do? she recalled. I walked away. I couldnt take it, she said. To hear my daddy say that Youre not gonna be nothing I was shocked to hear that. And I felt unloved. Later, she realized he was pushing her. I always thought I had no support, but I did. It just wasnt what I expected. But I needed that tough love. Swallowing the embarrassment she felt, she returned to Evolution for a third time. Every time I came back, I wondered what theyd think, Guidry said. But they kept taking me back. Every time I came back, I felt something. I felt a little different. A layer of skin came off, and I was a little different. Guidrys is a literal Evolution story, Durden and staff say. On June 15, she and fellow graduates will get their diplomas and move on to the next phase of their lives. Guidry, whose youngest sister is graduating from West Brook, and her closest sister, who took a break from school to work, will be entering college in the fall. They hope to attend the same school together. Guidry plans to pursue a degree in nursing. kbrent@beaumontenteprise.com twitter.com/kimbpix HALIFAX - Nova Scotia reported one new case of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the provincial total to 1,050. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/5/2020 (606 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. HALIFAX - Nova Scotia reported one new case of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the provincial total to 1,050. 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. Twelve residents and four staff at the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax had active cases of the illness as of Sunday according to the province, as well as one resident at another care facility. Of the province's 58 COVID-19 deaths, 52 have occurred at Northwood. Six people in Nova Scotia are in the hospital due to the virus, including three in intensive care. The province says 973 people have recovered. Premier Stephen McNeil thanked residents for their efforts and patience in a statement on Sunday. McNeil said the province is making progress towards reopening safely. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2020. When researchers analyzed the immune cells in the tumors and grouped them by type, they found more cancer-fighting cells in mice with ApoE4. Credit: Elizabeth and Vincent Meyer Laboratory of Systems Cancer Biology at The Rockefeller University Sometimes cancer stays put, but often it metastasizes, spreading to new locations in the body. It has long been suspected that genetic mutations arising inside tumor cells drive this potentially devastating turn of events. Now researchers have shown for the first time that our own pre-existing genetics can promote metastasis. A new study, published May 25 in Nature Medicine, suggests that differences in a single gene, carried within someone's genome from birth, can alter progression of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. The researchers suspect these inherited variations may have the same effect on other types of cancer as well. "Patients often ask 'Why am I so unlucky? Why did my cancer spread?' As doctors, we never had an answer," says lead investigator Sohail Tavazoie, Leon Hess Professor and senior attending physician. "This research provides an explanation." The discovery may transform how scientists think about cancer metastasis, and lead to a better understanding patients' risks in order to inform treatment decisions, Tavazoie says. The mystery of metastasis Metastasis occurs when cancer cells escape the original tissue to establish new tumors elsewhere, a phenomenon that leads to the majority of cancer deaths. Scientists have suspected that cancer cells, which initially emerge due to mutations inside normal cells, gain their travelling ability following further mutations. But after decades of searching, they have yet to find such a genetic change that could be proven to encourage metastasis. Previous research in Tavazoie's lab had identified a gene called APOE, present in the DNA of all of the body's cells before any cancer arises, that can impact the spread of melanoma. The gene produces a protein that appears to interfere with a number of processes used by cancer cells to metastasize, such as forming blood vessels, growing deeper into healthy tissue, and withstanding assault from tumor-fighting immune cells. Humans, however, carry one of three different versions of ApoE: ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4. Benjamin Ostendorf, a physician scientist in the lab, hypothesized that these variants could explain why melanoma progresses differently in different people. In experiments with mice possessing one of each of the versions of the gene, he and colleagues found tumors in those with ApoE4 grew the smallest and spread the least. A closer look revealed that ApoE4 is the most effective version of ApoE in terms of enhancing the immune response to tumor cells. Compared to animals with other variants, the mice carrying ApoE4 showed a greater abundance of tumor-fighting T cells recruited into the melanoma tumor, as well as reduced blood vessels. "We think that a major impact of the variations in ApoE arises from differences in how they modulate the immune system's attack," Ostendorf says. Toward better treatment Genetic data from more than 300 human melanoma patients echoed the mouse experiments: On average, people with ApoE4 survived the longest, while those with ApoE2 lived the shortest. This connection to outcomes suggests that doctors could look at patients' genetics to assess the risk of their cancer progressing. It could also influence the course of treatment. Melanoma patients are sometimes given therapy that encourages their own immune systems to better fight the cancer. The team's analysis of information from such patients, as well as experiments with mice, showed that those with ApoE4 respond best to immune-boosting therapies. Likewise, the researchers showed that an experimental compound that increases production of ApoE, RGX-104, was effective at helping mice with ApoE4 fight off tumors. RGX-104 is currently in clinical trials. (Tavazoie is a scientific cofounder of Rgenix, the company that developed RGX-104.) Further research is needed to determine how to optimize treatments for patients with other ApoE variants, Tavazoie says. ApoE2, for instance, was associated with an increased risk of metastasis. The researchers evidence so far suggests that ApoE3's metastasis-suppressing ability falls between that of the other two. "We need to find those patients whose genetics put them at risk for poor survival and determine what therapies work best for them," Tavazoie says. The implications may extend beyond cancer. Other studies have shown that variations in ApoE contribute to Alzheimer's disease: ApoE4 aggravates risk of this neurodegenerative disorder, in contrast to its suppression of cancer progression. "It's not quite clear what ApoE does in Alzheimer's, but we believe our work in cancer can inform our understanding of this disease as well," Tavazoie says. His lab, normally focused on cancer, has begun investigating the connection to the neurodegenerative disorder. Explore further New immunotherapy approach boosts body's ability to destroy cancer cells More information: Common germline variants of the human APOE gene modulate melanoma progression and survival, Nature Medicine (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0879-3 Journal information: Nature Medicine Common germline variants of the human APOE gene modulate melanoma progression and survival,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-020-0879-3 For as long as most of us can remember, air travel hasn't been a whole lot of fun. As airlines crawl out of virus-lockdown mode, passengers can expect it to be even more of a bummer, with new temperature check points, lines of distancing people stretching into the parking lot, and plexiglass barriers isolating baggage clerks, baristas, and other staffers. Face masks and gloves will be de rigueur, disinfectants will be everywhere, and even though many processes will be automated to minimise human interaction, industry officials predict travel times will have to increase to accommodate the hygiene-inspired precautions. "Going through an airport, the whole travel experience, will be as enjoyable as open-heart surgery," says Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer of Dubai Airports, whose workers wear disposable gowns and safety visors that wouldn't look out of place in a Covid-19 ward. As governments draw up plans to get the world flying again, proposals aimed at keeping passengers safe are often confusing and contradictory-for instance keeping people from sitting next to each other at the departure gate but cramming them six or eight abreast for hours during a flight. And if implemented long-term, executives say they could do almost as much damage to airline and airport profits as remaining closed altogether. Keeping 400 people-the capacity of many jumbo-jets-two meters from one another "means a queue of close to a kilometre, which fills up the departure hall and out into the car park," says John Holland-Kaye, CEO of London's Heathrow airport. Enforcing a two-meter rule could reduce the airport's capacity to 20pc of its usual level, he says. "That's not something we can keep doing until a vaccine comes along." Expand Close Red Cross employees measuring body temperature at Vienna Airport Vienna this February. Photo by Martin Juen/SEPA.Media /Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Red Cross employees measuring body temperature at Vienna Airport Vienna this February. Photo by Martin Juen/SEPA.Media /Getty Images Instead, Holland-Kaye says, airports would do better to screen passengers for Covid-19 at the terminal entrance. Heathrow, Europe's busiest hub, is testing a thermal detection system intended to identify people with the virus, technology that's been used in Asia for years. The U.K. government, though, has yet to endorse it. At Frankfurt airport, Europe's fourth-busiest, check-in counters, baggage-claim areas, and boarding-pass and security checkpoints have been redesigned to ensure people stay at least 1.5 meters apart, with markings on the floor indicating the required distance. Hundreds of posters and digital displays promote distancing, the PA system lights up every five minutes in multiple languages with announcements on distancing rules, and trained agents walk the halls to enforce them. Disinfectant dispensers are ubiquitous, and plastic shields have been installed anywhere staff interact with customers. Read More "We've put in place a good package of measures to reduce the risk of getting infected," Matthias Zieschang, chief financial officer of Fraport AG, the operator of the Frankfurt airport, said on a call with analysts. At Amsterdam Schiphol, Europe's No. 3 hub, every second check-in desk and departure gate is closed to minimise mixing, and at baggage claim each flight gets its own belt. Munich has installed a vending machine dispensing masks, sanitary wipes, and disposable gloves. Helsinki airport, a major crossroads for travel between Europe and Asia, provides masks for anyone who doesn't have one and requires people meeting arriving passengers to stay in their cars or wait in a deserted terminal building that has been idled. At Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, alternating seats are blocked off. Cleaning staff spray the terminals with disinfectants every night, and the elevator floors are marked to ensure distancing-allowing just three people in a spacious cabin. At a pharmacy, there's a mannequin wearing a mask and visor in addition to an inflatable neck pillow. And the airport is testing new Chinese-made machines that can check the temperatures of 16 people per second as they leave baggage claim. Passengers with a fever will be pulled aside and given the option of seeing the airport's medical personnel and a rapid Covid-19 diagnostic test. "If they refuse, that's their choice," says Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO of Aeroports de Paris. "We're counting on individual freedom and a sense of responsibility. The aim is to put in place measures that will instil confidence so everyone feels they can travel safely." What's not feasible, airlines say, is blocking off rows of seats aboard aircraft to maintain distancing at 38,000 feet. Such a move would do little to contain the virus while hammering profits at airlines, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says. With middle rows removed, single-aisle jets would fly no more than two-thirds full, whereas 70pc is needed just to break even, according to the trade group. De facto distancing will happen anyway, says Jozsef Varadi, CEO of low-cost carrier Wizz Air, because few people are likely to book seats once airlines start to expand their schedules again. He says he has no plans to limit the number of passengers. Some travellers, though, are already complaining that carriers are letting planes get too full. "Airlines are in the business of delivering passenger health and safety, but also economic efficiency," Varadi says. "We are not structurally looking to get rid of physical seats." Instead, carriers expect protective equipment, disinfectants, and restrictions on movement to keep the virus from spreading. Varadi says his customers will need to cover their faces throughout the journey. Crew will don masks and gloves, meal service will be minimal, and contactless cards will be needed for any purchases. There will be no in-flight magazines or catalogues, and planes will be disinfected with an antiviral fog between trips. Ryanair says it will require passengers to make a special request to use the toilet to prevent queuing in the aisles. Some airports are placing their hopes on a system that combines screening with certificates showing that the holder is either free of the disease or has had it and is immune, as well as contract-tracing that will allow cases to be tracked should a flare-up occur. Vienna airport lets arriving passengers avoid a 14-day government quarantine by undergoing a molecular-biological test in a facility near the airport. Departing passengers who are tested can get a document proving they're virus-free to present to officials upon landing. But the test must be booked days in advance, takes about three hours for results, and at 190 costs more than many flights. For Dubai Airports chief Griffiths, it all adds up to a pressing need for a vaccine. While the emergency measures being introduced may help boost passenger confidence, he says they're not sustainable either for companies or the traveling public. "This crisis is unlike anything we've ever seen in the aviation business," he says. "We're dealing with a monster." Sign up for our free travel newsletter! Like what you're reading? Subscribe to 'Travel Insider', our free travel newsletter written by award-winning Travel Editor, Pol O Conghaile. Washington Post There have, though, been many millions of others who gave portions of their lives to warfare but survived. This day is theirs too. Most, like a former Chicagoan named Red Madsen, have come home from wars to lead ordinary lives. Not that their lives are the same as they would have been if they hadnt seen the bloodshed, the shattered lives, the lonely deaths. Many carry to the grave more unspoken memories than they would like. Those memories help shape, often profoundly, who they are and what they believe. New Zealands world-first plan to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis is on track the latest technical data shows, says Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien OConnor. Two years ago the Government, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand and industry partners made a bold decision to go hard and commit to a 10-year, $880 million programme to eradicate M. bovis to protect our most important sector and the economy. Recent events have shown what an important moment this decision was for our economy. Had we thrown up our hands and said its too hard and left this disease to run rampant, Im not sure our dairy and beef sectors would have been able to weather the economic storm of COVID-19 and the challenges of drought conditions as well as they have. Beef and dairy export prices have held up. In fact, there was record demand for our meat. In March total red meat monthly exports topped $1 billion for the first time. This shows that these sectors are well-placed to lead us out of this economic crisis. As we have with our response to COVID-19, this Government showed leadership, made a tough decision and have managed this eradication effort with discipline and focus, because we knew we were doing it for the economic and social good of the country. Weve also shown, again, that were able to do what others countries have not in terms of disease eradication efforts. Thats something our farming community should be really proud of. Im certainly very proud of them. One key measure of success, the Estimated Dissemination Rate (EDR), shows strongly that we have M. bovis firmly in our sights. If the EDR is greater than one, then the disease is growing. If its below one, were shrinking the disease. The EDR is now at 0.4, which is down from over two at the start of the outbreak, so we are looking harder to find fewer infected animals. This tells us that M. bovis is not endemic in our national herd. We currently have 17 active properties and 232 that have been cleared of the disease. Weve culled 154,788 cattle. Damien says other key measures showed the programme was working: Genetic testing shows only one strain has been identified, which links all infected farms. Bulk milk testing is timelier and research is under way to improve testing further. A beef surveillance programme is up and running. Compensation processes have improved for affected farmers. Use of NAIT, the national animal tracing system, is improving. DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says theres no question M. bovis has had a huge impact on the sector, particularly those affected farmers and their families. While theres still work to do, farmer feedback has been heard and processes improved. We are seeing more farmer-focused processes and shorter turnaround times for farms under movement restrictions. From here, we want to continue speeding up the process so farmers are moving through the programme as quickly as possible. M. bovis has been one of our biggest biosecurity incursions and it has highlighted how crucial biosecurity is for New Zealand. Andrew Morrison, chairman of Beef + Lamb New Zealand, says farmers deserve a lot of credit for their efforts in helping to free New Zealand of this disease. Although there is still a long way to go, the sector can be proud of its contribution. We are encouraged by the increasing number of farmers meeting their NAIT obligations but we are still short of where we need to be. It is vital we continue to lift this compliance, otherwise we will remain vulnerable to diseases. As the response to Mycoplasma bovis has found, there is a significant cost to the sector if farmers do not comply with NAIT. Its also vital farmers maintain complete and accurate NAIT records for the speedy tracing of animals and ultimately to protect the industry. Damien says the priority over the next 12-18 months continues to be finding and eliminating the disease. This delimiting phase is expected to end in 2021. After that, background surveillance testing will continue for around seven years. We will get another technical advisory group report in the coming months, but two years into a 10-year effort, Im pleased by the progress made. To view the most recent M. bovis facts and figures visit https://www.mbovis.govt.nz TORRINGTON City Council members have approved a request from the Board of Education to pursue funding for a new high school, and to establish a building committee to oversee the project. The Torrington High School project, which has been in the planning stages for more than three years, was first presented in April by Superintendent of Schools Susan Lubomski and her administration along with the Board of Education. At that time, a PowerPoint presentation by the school board showed areas of the aging Torrington High School building, illustrating how the school hasnt been upgraded for quite some time. Aging floors, out-of-date restrooms, deteriorating ceilings and other areas of infrastructure were discussed during the April presentation. The architectural firm Kaestle Boos, which was hired to study the circa-1960s building, determined what areas needed renovation or repair, and whether building a new high school was a better option. At that time, the firm presented several building options, including renovating the school or building a new one. Thursday nights presentation was focused on building a new school. If the school district wants to apply and be considered for funding in the fall, it must set up a building committee and hold a referendum by June 30. At Thursday nights meeting, attended by the City Council and school board, the presentation was focused on funding. According to the presentation, building a new high school would cost $156 million. With reimbursement from the state at 62.5 percent, the estimated cost to the taxpayers is $71.6 million. With interest over a 20-year period, the cost is $106 million, which would be repaid by property taxes. Estimates on the fiscal impact showed that the citys tax rate would increase, at the highest, about 5 mills during that 20-year repayment period. Mayor Elinor Carbone recently discussed the upcoming presentation with the City Council. Councilman Paul Cavagnero reiterated his objection to building a new high school without taking into account the coronavirus pandemics impact on how education is delivered. We should put together a long-term analysis of what education in Torrington in the future will look like, not the same-old, same-old, Cavagnero said. Its an opportunity for Torrington to take a leadership role to redefine educations future, and find substantial cost savings and improvements to education. If we get a curriculum thats forward-thinking, were not talking about just building a shell for education, that continues to be a seccond-rate educational facility, he said. We have to rethink this. The City Council read a number of letters into the record from residents and officials, speaking for and against the new high school proposal. Council member Sharon Waagner read from a prepared statement, expressing her opinion on the project. She said she had spoken to THS students who were proud of their teachers and programs, but were concerned about the condition of the building. I think referring to this project as a shiny, new building sends the misperception that we only want something to show off, Waagner said. This distorts an important message to the public. ... I have been in the school and the school gym on many occasions. Each year, as a volunteer with the Financial Reality Fair, I always hear comments about the sorry state of our gym and bathrooms by visitors, and students from other districts have said the same. Waagner also addressed Cavagneros comments on distance learning, saying that while many students can continue to learn easily using this method, our schools must provide for all students, and the pandemic has shown that not all students benefit from distance learning for a variety of reasons. ... I am in full support of the construction project and want to see the application filed. Waagner also pointed to the schools being an Alliance District. The lowest-performing school districts in the state are classified as such by the state and receive additional funding. Torrington was named such a district as part of the state budget in 2017. Each district is required to submit a plan to improve district achievement, developed with the aid of a state representative, and the plan is monitored on a yearly basis. We have been designated an Alliance District because we are not up to acceptable standards, she said. We have been recognized as a distressed community. We need investment of new home buyers and business but when the condition of our schools is noted, families are turned off. Other residents also weighed in on the proposal. Some asked the council to hold off on a decision while others expressed staunch support for the school system; still others expressed outrage over the idea of increasing taxes. At this time proceeding with the THS Building Project would be a too hasty and irresponsible action mainly because the response to the pandemic has thoroughly scrambled the parameters of what public education should look like, said resident Tom Kandefer. Even after a year or so of stringent COVID adjustments, we are unlikely to go back to the pre-COVID learning model in a predominately brick-and-mortar setting. Listen to the presentation and you will realize that delaying the start of this renovation will be more costly. Not creating a 7-12 campus will be more costly, said resident McClure Whiting. Not supporting the current renovation schedule and plan is to not be fiscally responsible. School board member Jessica Richardson spoke as a parent. As the parent of two student athletes, over the last few years I have had many opportunities to visit other high schools in our area and view their facilities while attending my childrens games. I can say with confidence that the Torrington High School lacks many of the amenities common to other schools in our conference and region, she said. Additionally, in attending events at THS, I have seen firsthand many of the needs of this aging facility. I would strongly urge the respective boards to take any proposal to renovate this school very seriously. THS should be our flagship school, and while the teachers, staff and students do a tremendous job of stoking Raider Pride, the building should be something that would induce pride in our city, as well. THS special education teacher Jason LaFreniere, who served on an ad-hoc committee to develop the high school project, also wrote in favor of the plan. The proposal before you is not simply a shell of a building. It is a system of preparing 21st century learners and incorporates innovative areas of curriculum, differentiated means of delivering education, and a focus on all children, he said. Resident Jonathan Draper was opposed. I do not support this project going forward because of our current events going on. Many people have lost their jobs due to the virus and no additional income coming in to support themselves and their families, he said. The possibility is there in that schools may not be opening in the fall. If they do, considerations must be given as to how to address the protocols to protect the children from the virus. As a taxpayer of Torrington, I cannot support the renovation with all this uncertainty going on. Another resident, Vincenza Carey, was worried about the citys tax rate. Trim the budget and do not allow the mill rate to increase, she said. Put any and all renovation projects on hold. Continuing on this path every year will continue to drive out residents and homes left unsold. I do not believe the city wants this to happen. This story has been corrected: Building a new high school, according to the Board of Educations May 21 presentation, would cost $156 million. With reimbursement from the state at 62.5 percent, the estimated cost to the taxpayers is $71.6 million. Over a 20-year period, including interest, the total cost would be $106 million, which would be repaid by property taxes. Estimates on the fiscal impact showed that the citys tax rate would increase, at the highest, about 5 mills during that 20-year repayment period Starting this week, state-run correctional facilities in Pennsylvania will ease lockdowns and increase testing of inmates transferring to or leaving prisons. The changes, detailed on Friday, come as prisoner rights groups warn that continuing to confine inmates to their cells for 23 hours a day is causing long-term negative health effects. The lockdown strategy implemented at all state prisons on March 29 was meant to be short term, said Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel. Wetzel said in a media-only call on Friday that the chorus of voices urging the end to coronavirus restrictions is being echoed by inmates, their family members and advocacy groups. But he warned that it will be a slow return to business-as-usual for people who work and live in prisons. The DOC strategy for lifting restrictions envisions five-stages: two stages in the red phase, one in yellow and two in green. The stages in the red phase are most restrictive, with limited time and people out of cells, while the two stages in the green phase allow for time out of cell and social interaction, but still adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions social distancing guidelines. On May 26, 11 facilities will move from the DOCs stage 5 to stage 4 of the red phase (Camp Hill, Chester, Coal Township, Dallas, Frackville, Huntingdon, Mahanoy, Phoenix, Retreat, Smithfield and Waymart). Inmates in this phase will not be allowed to eat outside of their cells or play recreational sports, but will be allowed to spend more time outside of their cells and in larger groups. Fourteen more prisons will move into stage 3 of the yellow phase (Albion, Benner Township, Cambridge Springs, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Houtzdale, Laurel Highlands, Mercer, Muncy, Pine Grove, Quehanna, Rockview and Somerset.) Inmates in those prisons will be allowed to eat in cafeterias and can spend time outdoors in larger numbers. Prisons are exploring the use of plexiglass table dividers in cafeterias, Wetzel said. State Correctional Institution Muncy is piloting a four-way divider that would be placed on tables to keep inmates apart while they eat. Barbershops, gyms and other activities requiring contact will remain suspended and could return only when DOC decides a prison can move into the least restrictive stages. In-person visits wont resume until the states 67 counties move fully into the governors green phase. Wetzel said that decision was to protect the health and privacy of visitors, who would otherwise have to be tested before entering a facility. Prisoner rights groups continue to argue that releasing more inmates is the best option for preventing the spread of the virus. Without releasing more inmates, they say, prisons are forced to continue confining inmates to their cells for as long as possible. Releasing more prisoners, they say, will make it possible to allow remaining inmates to spend more time outside of their cells. The population is too high, said Bret Grote with the Abolitionist Law Center in Philadelphia. If the DOC and Wolf administration are not pushing for further decarceration, then that will inevitably result in constitutional violations as people are kept in prolonged solitary confinement in response to the pandemic. State Correctional Institution Muncy will pilot using plexiglass dividers similar to the ones pictured here in this photo provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Sean Damon with The Amistad Law Project said his group is concerned about incarcerated peoples mental and physical health in the state correctional institutions as they experience a partial lockdown longer than anyone has ever seen in Pennsylvania. Part of the challenge with reopening even gradually is assessing risk. As of Friday, DOC says there are 231 inmates who tested positive for coronavirus along with 166 staff members; five inmates and one staff member died from COVID-19 complications. But its still unclear just how widespread the virus is within the states prisons. As of Friday, the department said it had conducted 1,432 tests on inmates, out of a total prison population of more than 45,600. The DOC policy of not conducting mass testing of inmates runs counter to the recommendations of public health officials. Scientists and epidemiologists say that testing along with segmenting people who test positive for coronavirus antibodies needs to be ramped up before regular prison life can resume. There has to be a stricter, more vigorous bar set to ease social restrictions, said Joseph Amon, director for the Office of Global Health at Drexel University in Philadelphia and a prison health researcher. When county jails conducted facility-wide testing, they found higher numbers of inmates and staff had tested positive for coronavirus and were asymptomatic. Just recently, George Washington Hill Correctional Facility in Delaware County tested 1,300 inmates and found that 110 tested positive for having the coronavirus, and another 385 tested positive for antibodies. But Wetzel on Friday countered the criticism of not doing mass testing, saying the tests have such high error rates. He referenced a Mayo Clinic article that cites a handful of studies documenting high false-negatives (between 10 and 30 percent) for some coronavirus tests. The article he references does not counsel against testing. Rather, it highlights the need to increase access to personal protective equipment, adhere to social distancing and properly segment populations based on risk and infection along with testing populations. Wetzel said the DOC is going to focus its testing on any inmate who is being released, and any inmates transferred from or into a facility. This is a departure from the former policy of only conducting temperature checks and questionnaires, with tests only conducted on symptomatic inmates. Wetzel added that there are ways to get around mass testing more efficiently through surveillance testing, by randomly selecting inmates for tests in cell blocks where another inmate tests positive. He said that in SCI Chester, after an inmate scheduled for release tested positive, they randomly selected more than 40 inmates to test in the same cell block. Only one other test came back positive. DGAP-News: Grand City Properties S.A. / Key word(s): AGM/EGM/Real Estate The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS GRAND CITY PROPERTIES S.A. ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF CONVENING NOTICE FOR THE 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Luxembourg, May 25, 2020 - Grand City Properties S.A. ("GCP" or the "Company") announces today the publication of the convening notice and related materials for the annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company ("AGM") to be held on 24 June 2020. In connection with the AGM, the board of directors of the Company has proposed the distribution of a dividend in the amount of EUR 0.8238 (gross) per share, subject to the approval of the dividend by the AGM. The board of directors has also proposed offering a scrip dividend for those shareholders who wish to receive their dividend in the form of GCP shares instead of cash. Furthermore, the board of directors proposes a share buy-back programme, to be authorized by the AGM. Further information regarding the AGM and the proposed dividend is available at https://www.grandcityproperties.com/investor-relations/general-meeting/agm-2020/. About the Company The Company is a specialist in residential real estate, value-add opportunities in densely populated areas primarily in Germany. The Company's strategy is to improve its properties by repositioning and intensive tenant management, and then create value by subsequently raising occupancy and rental levels. Further information: www.grandcityproperties.com Grand City Properties S.A. (ISIN: LU0775917882) is a public limited liability company (societe anonyme) incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 1, Avenue du Bois, L-1251 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and being registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes Luxembourg) under number B 165 560. The shares of the Company are listed on the Prime Standard segment of Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Contact: Grand City Properties S.A. 1, Avenue du Bois L-1251 Luxemburg T: +352 28 77 87 86 E: info@grandcity.lu www.grandcityproperties.com Press Contact: Katrin Petersen Grand City Properties S.A. T: +49 (30) 374-381 5218 E: katrin.petersen@grandcity.lu DISCLAIMER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES. THE SECURITIES MENTIONED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DIRECTED AT AND IS ONLY BEING DISTRIBUTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO (I) PERSONS WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE ORDER), (II) HIGH NET WORTH ENTITIES, AND OTHER PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49 OF THE ORDER, AND (III) PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS RELEVANT PERSONS). THIS COMMUNICATION MUST NOT BE READ, ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (EEA), THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY OFFER IF MADE SUBSEQUENTLY IS DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC, AS AMENDED (THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE) (QUALIFIED INVESTORS). ANY PERSON IN THE EEA WHO ACQUIRES THE SECURITIES IN ANY OFFER (AN INVESTOR) OR TO WHOM ANY OFFER OF THE SECURITIES IS MADE WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT IT IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR. ANY INVESTOR WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT ANY SECURITIES ACQUIRED BY IT IN THE OFFER HAVE NOT BEEN ACQUIRED ON BEHALF OF PERSONS IN THE EEA OTHER THAN QUALIFIED INVESTORS, NOR HAVE THE SECURITIES BEEN ACQUIRED WITH A VIEW TO THEIR OFFER OR RESALE IN THE EEA TO PERSONS WHERE THIS WOULD RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLICATION BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE MANAGERS OF A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY CONTAIN PROJECTIONS OR ESTIMATES RELATING TO PLANS AND OBJECTIVES RELATING TO OUR FUTURE OPERATIONS, PRODUCTS, OR SERVICES, FUTURE FINANCIAL RESULTS, OR ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING OR RELATING TO ANY SUCH STATEMENTS, EACH OF WHICH CONSTITUTES A FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE COMPANY. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY, DEPENDING ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS. 25.05.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de Several of Vietnam's largest SOEs were put under special financial supervision by the State Auditor General A report submitted by the State Auditor General to the National Assembly has pointed out shortcomings in the management and utilisation of state capital at 235 companies under 36 groups and corporations last year. These 235 companies showed signs of financial insecurity. Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Ltd. (TKV) was named first in the report, with 24 subsidiaries on alert, including Vinacomin Environment Co., Ltd., Vinacomin Machinery JSC, Vinacomin-Mong Duong Coal JSC, Vinacomin Halam Coal JSC, and Vinacomin-Vangdanh Coal JSC. The list contained other big names, including Jetstar Pacific Airlines and Angkor Air under Vietnam Airlines; Ninh Binh Nitrogenous Fertilizer Co., Ltd., Habac Nitrogenous Fertilizer and Chemical Co., Ltd., DAP Vinachem under Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem); or Petrolimex Laos One-member Co., Ltd. under Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex). Additionally, some companies have yet to build internal policies on money management and reported poor performance. Parent companies Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (VICEM) and Saigon Industry Corporation (CNS) reported VND331.7 billion ($14.4 million) and VND230 billion ($10 million), respectively, in average monthly deposit balance. Overlapping ownership in enterprises within the same group also remains a persistent issue. The report highlighted that six companies in TKV contributed capital into Vinacomin-Campha Thermal Power JSC, two groups poured money into Vinacomin-Nong Son Coal and Power JSC, and the same status in Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUD), raising the risk of collusion. Besides, groups and corporations are too slow to divest from non-core businesses. These include Vietnam National Tobacco Corporation (Vinataba) which has not gotten rid of its real estate and Petrolimex which has not divested its banking arm PGBank. The State Auditor General also highlighted a lot of violations in investment usage, which caused increasing capital expenses and extending construction times, while some projects cannot even operate. Ethanol Binh Phuoc factory owes VND1.623 trillion ($70.56 million) in principal and interest to various banks (as of the end of 2018). Some projects have been approved without environmental impact assessment reports or raised total investment by a huge margin, like Bung River 2 hydroelectric project which increased capital by VND2.867 trillion ($124.65 million), while Ban Chat hydroelectric project raised it by VND7.334 trillion ($318.87 million) and Trung Son hydroelectric project by VND1.324 trillion ($57.57 million). Hollywood romances are often subject to scrutiny. But Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas relationship seems particularly tailor-made for the tabloids. So much so that some fans are jumping to the conclusion that its all staged. Together, the two big-screen stars are a match made in gossip heaven. But have they actually appeared on screen together? Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas in Los Angeles | BG004/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Things seem pretty serious between Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck Affleck, of course, is no stranger to high-profile relationships. In fact, his romantic past includes several famous loves, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, and Jennifer Garner. Meanwhile, de Armas earned a Golden Globe nomination for 2019s breakout hit Knives Out. Throughout late 2019, de Armas and Affleck were spotted out and about together. And such sightings have only increased in 2020. In fact, reports have indicated that Affleck and de Armas relationship is actually getting fairly serious. Both actors have been married previously. de Armas was wed to Spanish actor Marc Clotet from 2011 to 2013. And in 2018, Affleck divorced Garner, with whom he shares three children. Affleck and de Armas own relationship is still very new, though things seem to be going very well so far. RELATED: Ana de Armas Says Boyfriend Ben Afflecks Talent Is Infinite The couple met on the set of an erotic thriller titled Deep Water The pair met on the set of upcoming thriller Deep Water. The movie is the latest project from director Adrian Lyne. Lyne has made several erotic dramas and thrillers, such as Fatal Attraction, Unfaithful, and 9 Weeks. de Armas and Affleck began dating when filming began in late 2019 in New Orleans. In the movie, the real-life item plays a married couple who begins playing mind games with each other. But things get all too serious when their machinations have deadly consequences. Deep Water which co-stars Tracy Letts, Rachel Blanchard, and Lil Rel Howrey will release on Nov. 13, 2020. RELATED: Why Jennifer Garner Is Happy for Ben Afflecks New Relationship With Ana de Armas Both de Armas and Affleck have big projects on the way In addition to Deep Water, Affleck and de Armas both have been keeping very busy. Affleck just starred in 2020 drama The Way Back. And he is midway through production on The Last Duel, in which he shares the screen with Matt Damon. He and Damon, of course, are also real-life friends and won an Academy Award in 1998 for co-writing Good Will Hunting. In addition, Affleck recently showed his support for Warner Bros. decision to green-light Zack Snyders Justice League. The 2017 movie marked Afflecks final appearance as Batman in the DC Extended Universe. HBO Max will debut the Snyder cut in 2021. But it doesnt sound like Affleck will need to shoot any additional scenes for that release. Meanwhile, de Armas will appear in the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die. The film will be Daniel Craigs final role as 007. The studio originally scheduled the movies release for April 2020 before pushing it until November, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Summer isn't even here yet, but Toronto is getting a heatwave this week. The city is under a heat warning with temperatures expected to hit a high of 31 C on both Tuesday and Wednesday. "Extreme heat affects everyone," Environment Canada says. "Drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty and stay in a cool place. Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle." There will be some relief near Lake Ontario. The heat will stick around until Wednesday, cooling slightly on Thursday. Environment Canada issues heat warnings when "very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion." If a global pandemic, frequent earthquakes, and a devastating cyclone weren't enough, several swarms of locusts have wreaked havoc in several states of India. After a sudden movement of a swarm of locusts were spotted on the outskirts of Jhansi district on Saturday evening, and millions of locusts were seen on trees and in Rana Heda village near Panbihar in Ujjain district, locusts made their way to the city of Jaipur on Monday. According to a report in TOI, locusts had entered Rajasthan in April and have covered 50,000 hectares of land thus far. Residents of Jaipur woke up to the terrifying sight of thousands of locusts resting on their terraces and swarming around and shared the apocalyptic-like photos of the Pink city's skies. 2020 is the last year of mankind? Wondered many. Many others expressed their concern for farmers and their crops who were in the direct path of hungry locusts. Locust attack in Jaipur... That's it, 2020 is the last year for humankind...!!! pic.twitter.com/JsQxRANsA6 Ridhi (@Not_A_Sister) May 25, 2020 Locust Ataack in Jaipur pic.twitter.com/QWHfOXasvf Akanksha (@art_lover_09) May 25, 2020 Locust Swarms in Jaipur today They will be hitting across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and flying east. Very bad for farmers as they destroy the crops. pic.twitter.com/95QiLBu0D7 Dr.Sunil Kumar Meena (@Drsunil0198) May 25, 2020 Locust swarm spotted over the walled city and other parts of Jaipur. Brace yourself for the tiddi dal. My heart goes out to the farmers :( Video via WA pic.twitter.com/A1JpeKyBiE RJ Purkhaa (@RJ_Purkhaa) May 25, 2020 Locust attack in Jaipur. God know what more is left this year pic.twitter.com/NRhEa55jJ4 #PrayForPoorsOfWB (@iHRumii_B) May 25, 2020 Locust swarms ...#Jaipur Is it time for Kaalki Avtar now? Or should we start building our own gigantic boats. #locust #swarms pic.twitter.com/bbMVUAndzf Manik (@Manik0226) May 25, 2020 Locust storm over Jaipur city is it truesomeone forwarded pic.twitter.com/ganpnodFEL Dr. Kumar Suresh (suresa) (@suresh_kumr) May 25, 2020 Locust attack in #Jaipur now! Video sent by my cousin in Janta Colony. The pests ate up plants and trees in Vidyadhar Nagar this morning pic.twitter.com/Zoes7Ib9qc Priyanka (@priyankacmsk) May 25, 2020 Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 00:08:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joins a deliberation with deputies from Hubei Province at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China will step up efforts in building a stronger protection network in the public health domain to better protect people's lives and health as the country is shifting to COVID-19 regular prevention and control. On Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed fortifying the public health protection network as he was participating in a deliberation at the annual national legislative session with lawmakers from central China's Hubei Province, recently hard-hit by the epidemic. China's public health and medical service systems have played their key roles in dealing with the epidemic, but some weak links and inadequacies were also exposed, Xi said, urging prompt efforts to fix them. Xi stressed reforming disease prevention and control system; boosting the epidemic monitoring, early warning and emergency response capacity; perfecting the treatment system for major epidemics; and improving public health emergency laws and regulations. At the ongoing "two sessions" that also include the annual session of the country's top political advisory body, issues concerning public health security have become some of the most discussed topics, with national lawmakers and political advisors putting forward bills and suggestions to improve the country's public health system. In its annual work report, the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, or the top legislature, said it will prioritize legislation on public health this year. The committee said it will revise a slew of laws this year, including the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law, and the Emergency Response Law. Chinese lawmakers and political advisors proposed improving the emergency response mechanism for major epidemics in a comprehensive way. Ge Minghua, an NPC deputy, suggested establishing of and improving on a unified and efficient leadership and command system, and a direct and automatically-triggered reporting mechanism for public health emergencies with unknown causes. His remarks were echoed by Ling Yun, another NPC deputy, who proposed that under the command system, command centers should be set up at different levels across the country. The lawmakers and political advisors also suggested enhancing the treatment system for major epidemics and strengthening the building of qualified public health teams. According to the government work report submitted to the national legislature for deliberation, China will increase inputs on the research and development of vaccines, medicines and rapid testing technologies. The country will also build more medical facilities for epidemic control and treatment, set up more mobile laboratories, ensure emergency supplies and strengthen public health and epidemic prevention at the primary level, the report said. Wang Chen, a political advisor and a renowned respiratory specialist, said China should enhance medical education by establishing a sound mechanism to attract talent to study medicine and foster more health care practitioners. He also suggested building a higher-level national institute of medical science, which can lead and coordinate overall medical research and innovation for the development of health and life sciences. Yue Xihuan, an NPC deputy and a community-level official, stressed the need to enhance the construction of public health teams at the primary level. "In the battle against the COVID-19 epidemic, community-level medical facilities have taken huge responsibilities for epidemic prevention and control, but these facilities are short on medical staff," said Yue. "We should increase the flow of medical professionals to the community levels and rural areas." Enditem STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The coronavirus wasnt going to stop this Staten Island family from celebrating Jennifer Buneos graduation from St. Pauls School of Nursing Staten Island, Bloomfield. Her mother, Lisa Lazarus, told the Advance/SILive.com in an email that the school canceled its pinning ceremony and commencement due to COVID-19, but the family marked the occasion Saturday with a drive-by parade of cars. Family and friends gathered in the South Beach parking lot before driving to Buneos home in Dongan Hills and waving special posters to congratulate her. Those who participated were given favors -- cups filled with candy-like nurse lollipops, Smarties, bone candy and Lifesavers. Lazarus said that while it was rainy, everyone still participated in the drive-by parade. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** 30 Photos of the pandemic in NYC: The gradual return to normalcy The family was expecting to have friends and relatives from as far away as Florida, California and England come to Staten Island for the commencement, but those plans were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, Lazarus said the family set up a computer and used Zoom to video conference during the parade. Strangers joined in on the festivities, honking their car horns in response to a sign placed in front of the home that read, Beep if you love nurses. Buneo -- who graduated with a 3.5 grade point average -- was inspired to become a nurse because of her grandfather, Vincent DiTizio, who died four years ago. When he became ill, Buneo would shop for him and look after him. Lazarus added that her daughter worked extremely hard and that her family is very proud of her. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Lockdown protestors. CC-by-2.0 Becker1999 from Grove City, OH Experts say voluntary physical distancing in the United States was essential to slowing the spread of COVID-19 in the early days and weeks of the pandemic, even before such measures were mandatory. A group of researchers across four schools at Penn was interested in learning whether people's political beliefs influenced their decisions to stay home during that time. "People were being asked to comply with things that were very costly to them," says political scientist Guy Grossman. "The question for us was, 'Why would they do that?'" A new study co-authored by Grossman of the School of Arts & Sciences, Harsha Thirumurthy of the Perelman School of Medicine, Soojong Kim of the Annenberg School for Communication, and Jonah M. Rexer of the Wharton School found that political partisanship did in fact influence American citizens' decisions to voluntarily engage in physical distancing, particularly in response to communications by state governors. Among the study's findings is that Republican governors who communicated the seriousness of COVID-19 in early March, a period during which the right-leaning media and President Trump were skeptical of the risk posted by virus, had a much stronger effect on behavior of people in Democratic-leaning counties within their states than on the behavior of people in Republican-leaning counties. "This was the point in time when the national Republican consensus was to downplay the severity of the virus, so a Republican who's willing break ranks sends a very strong message that this is something that we need to get serious about, and in particular Democrats are very receptive to that kind of message," Grossman says. The study also found the role local leaders play in shaping citizens' behavior is critical during these times. "We're in an era in which everything is nationalized, with the outsized influence of Trump it can seem like local leaders don't matter. But this shows the role of local leaders, even amid a global pandemic, is also quite important," he says. In the early days of the pandemic, Republican governors, on average, were slower to introduce prevention measures such as stay-at-home orders than were Democratic governors, and people who identified as Republicans were less likely to engage in physical distancing than those who identified as Democrats. But Republican governors in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Maryland took an early and aggressive approach to preventive measures. And the study found Democrats in those states were particularly responsive. "We found that communication by the governor produces basically the same-sized effect in terms of social distancing behavior as the eventual lockdown policy itself," says Rexer. "It was surprising that these early voluntary behavior changes based on communication from local leaders were actually extremely important." The study built on some publicly available data sets, but one of the innovative aspects was its look at the communication by governors on Twitter. Co-author Kim, a social media expert, downloaded the tweets of all governors' personal accounts and formal accounts between March 15 and April 1. A group of political science undergraduates and Wharton School students helped manually code the nearly 10,000 tweets, noting if they were COVID-related and whether they encouraged social distancing or sheltering in place, to capture the communication of governors. Citizens' daily mobility during March 2020 was measured for the study using location information from a sample of mobile phones in 3,100 U.S. counties across 49 states. "The study brings together a pretty wide array of data sources to look at this question," says Thirumurthy. "And all of the co-authors had expertise that was invaluable for carrying out the study: expertise in communications, people with expertise in empirical strategies to look at the effects of these lockdown recommendations and policies. It is a good demonstration of different disciplinary backgrounds and prior research experience being used to study an important topic." The entire study took about three weeks of working long days and weekends, the co-authors say. "This was easily the fastest any study has moved for me," Thirumurthy says. They were motivated by a desire to get the results out quickly because the message has a timely relevance for how policymakers should think about communications regarding COVID-19 going forward, he says. "There's still a very strong need for political leaders to send the right signals on these types of behaviors," he says. More information: Guy Grossman et al. Political Partisanship Influences Behavioral Responses to Governors' Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in the United States, SSRN Electronic Journal (2020). Guy Grossman et al. Political Partisanship Influences Behavioral Responses to Governors' Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in the United States,(2020). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3578695 Sir David Attenborough confesses the debate on climate change is a matter for the distant future due to coronavirus. The renowned natural historian, 94, believes the global pandemic has rightly struck the safeguarding of the planet off the front pages off the front pages. With November's COP26 international climate talks in Glasgow also pushed back due to the virus, Sir David admits he is focusing on COVID-19 for the time being - but says the climate change debate must still remain in people's minds. Sir David Attenborough (pictured) admits the fight against climate change will have to make way amid the coronavirus pandemic The debate on climate change and global warming (pictured) has taken a backseat due to the coronavirus pandemic with November's COP26 climate talks postponed due to COVID-19 He told the So Hot Right Now podcast: The trouble is that right now the climate issue is also seen as being rather in the distant future because weve got the virus to think about. And so what are the papers full of? The virus. Quite right, thats what I want to know about, too. But we have to make sure that this issue, which was coming to the boil with the next COP meeting in Glasgow, has suddenly been swept off the front pages. And weve got to get it back there. The number of worldwide coronavirus cases has already surpassed the 5 million mark, with nearly 350,000 deaths. With countries working together to try and combat the global pandemic, Sir David believes that the world could benefit from the changes the virus will bring in the long-term. The British natural historian also believes the way countries are co-operating together against the virus could act as a precedent for future crises, including climate change He adds: What the result of coronavirus is going to be I dont know. But Im beginning to get a feeling that for the first time the nations of the world are beginning to see that survival depends on co-operation. If that happens, thats going to be a first in human history. When climate change does come back to the forefronts on people's minds, Sir David will be turning to fellow climate activists to promote the importance of protecting the planet against global warming. One of those vital figures is Greta Thunberg, 17, with the British broadcaster praising the Swedish teenager for breathing fresh air into youth interest in climate change. Sir David was also full of praise for Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, 17, (pictured) over the way she has galvanised the youth in the battle against climate change On Thunberg's influence, Sir David said: I think shes very remarkable. And what is more she is, with all that power, she is nonetheless extremely modest. 'She is extremely well informed. But shes also very modest. And she keeps saying: Look, the only guide has to be the science, we must follow what the science says. And while Thunberg has been subject to critics, Sir David responded: Thats the way life is, thats the way society is. And in fact if you arent particularly well informed about the natural world because somebody has stopped you because they are talking about an issue you dont know about, it shouldnt come as a surprise that there will be some people as a consequence of that who will act in an outraged way. Li stresses stabilizing fundamentals for growth People's Daily Online (China Daily) 11:58, May 24, 2020 Premier Li Keqiang reiterated on Saturday the importance of stabilizing China's economic fundamentals with stronger measures to create jobs, safeguard people's livelihoods and protect market players as the country faces unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking during a panel discussion with deputies to the 13th National People's Congress from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the premier pledged more steps to help small, micro and medium-sized businesses and self-employed individuals cope with the challenging period. More support will be extended to those on flexible payrolls such as small traders, said Li, who is also a member of the NPC delegation from Guangxi. In the face of unprecedented challenges to its development, China must coordinate epidemic containment and socioeconomic development and blaze a new path that allows for an effective response to shocks and sustains positive growth. He explained that fiscal funding increased from last year, due to an expanded budget deficit and the issuance of special central government bonds worth 1 trillion yuan ($140 billion), and this will be transferred to governments at county and city levels to support job creation and safeguard people's livelihoods. To ensure that the people's basic needs are met, the country can also shore up consumer spending, which is now a key driver of China's economic growth, he said. More work must be done to guarantee the well-being of those experiencing difficulties and win the battle against extreme poverty, the premier said, adding that weak links in rural infrastructure, healthcare, ecology and the environment must be tackled as soon as possible. He called for greater steps forward in reform and opening-up to overcome obstacles, promote fair competition and roll out more concrete steps to help businesses and create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment. Li called on officials from Guangxi to give play to the region's geographical advantages, expand opening-up and build the region into a platform for high-level opening-up. While working to fulfill its main targets and tasks for this year, the regional authorities must rely on Guangxi's various ethnic groups in seeking further development and taking measures to ensure the people's well-being, he said. Li also joined panel discussions with some members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on Saturday afternoon. Political advisers taking part in the discussion were from the China Association for Science and Technology and from the science and technology sector. Li called for greater research and development of more convenient and efficient testing technologies and effective pharmaceuticals and vaccines, a key pillar of winning the battle against the pandemic. The level of fundamental research must be further enhanced, and businesses must be encouraged to step up research and development, he said. The premier highlighted the need to transfer outcomes in scientific and technological research to production more quickly, bolster the level of security for industry and supply chains and enhance the momentum of new growth engines. Reforms to streamline administration and improve compliance oversight and services must be further deepened to reduce the burden on researchers so that they can focus more on their work, he added. Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, who are also members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also joined panel discussions with political advisers on Saturday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi supports Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings As pressure continued to mount on the Conservative Party to oust Dominic Cummings for flouting lockdown rules, Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi added his support to Boris Johnson's defence of his political advisor. In a Twitter post yesterday, Mr Zahawi declared: I am not a friend of DC. Big difference in the story today about Dominic Cummings. The man got infected with Covid19, he was isolating. Attacks are coming from those who want to derail @BorisJohnson important manifesto or those who are not in the centre of the action & blame DC. There were over a thousand replies to the tweet, the vast majority of them were angry at what is being seen as the contradictory and hypocritical stance of the government. Dr David Nicholl, a neurologist and Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Health in the West Midlands, responded: Feel free to come to the centre of the action and explain to people why it is very difficult to see their next of kin. Solicitor Jonathan Chamberlain replied: I am one of your constituents. As a solicitor, if I had done this I would be facing professional sanction from the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. I could lose both job and career. It doesnt matter where attacks are coming from. He must resign or be sacked. LibDem Stratford councillor Richard Vos asked Mr Zahawi: Are you saying anyone (infected with #COVID19) with a family could/should travel the length of the country rather than #StayHomeSaveLives #confused. Meanwhile Stratford-based film-maker Chris McGill simply said: I am utterly ashamed to live in Stratford whilst you represent the town. In response to the negative feedback, Mr Nadhim tweeted on Sunday night: Twitter tonight is certainly not overflowing with the milk of human kindness. His post again prompted a deluge of criticism. Stratford resident Ingrid Stevens asked: Is it about human kindness to a party line, or about human kindness to a country's population and their welfare you lot were elected to protect? While Vernon Briscoe responded: Why do you think there is this outpouring of anger, Nadhim? I don't think the British public are unreasonable. We have adhered to #lockdown very solicitously. But you back an unelected bureaucrat who breaks the rules he himself has helped to set and our blood boils. Oil prices have surged more than 75% in the U.S. this month. But dont expect a quick rebound in supply from shale explorers. The quick turnaround in oil markets is exposing the shale industrys big weak spot: Lightning-fast production declines. Shale gushers turn to trickles so quickly that explorers must constantly drill new locations to sustain output. And they havent been doing that. Drilling activity touched an all-time U.S. low after Covid-19 lockdowns crushed global energy demand and explorers slashed spending to survive a crash that has erased tens of thousands of jobs and pushed some companies into bankruptcy. Its a phenomenon thats ultimately attributable to the very geology of shale. Just like a shaken bottle of champagne explodes when its cork is popped, a fracked shale-oil well erupts with an initial burst of supply. The froth is short-lived, however, unlike old-fashioned wells in conventional rocks that are characterized by steadier long-term production rates. To offset the decline curve, shale explorers used to keep drilling. And drilling. And drilling. We just have no new drilling and these decline curves are going to catch up, said Mark Rossano, founder and chief executive officer of private-equity firm C6 Capital Holdings LLC. That hits really fast when youre not looking at new production. Shale explorers have been turning off rigs at a record pace because the oil rout has gutted cash flow needed to lease the machines and pay wages to crews. Going forward, management teams may be hesitant to rev the rigs back up again despite higher crude prices because of fears of flooding markets with oil once again and triggering yet another crash. Left unchecked by new drilling, oil production from U.S. shale fields probably would plummet by more than one-third this year to less than 5 million barrels a day, according to data firm ShaleProfile Analytics. That would drastically undercut U.S. influence in world energy markets and deal a major blow to President Donald Trumps ability to wield crude as a geopolitical weapon. Such is Americas reliance on new drilling that 55% of the countrys shale production is from wells drilled in the past 14 months, according to ShaleProfile. These are much bigger wells than your small onshore conventional wells. Were in a whole other ball park here, said Tom Loughrey, founder of shale-data firm Friezo Loughrey Oil Well Partners LLC. We have these relatively large and numerous shale wells, but they decline fast. To get an idea of how dramatically shale wells peter out, consider this: less than 20% of this years expected drop in overall U.S. crude output will come from shuttering existing wells, according to IHS Markit Ltd. Rather, the vast majority of the supply drop will be the direct result of canceled drilling projects. If you want to be a highflier and a fast grower, you do that by adding lots of new wells, said Raoul LeBlanc, an IHS analyst. But when the drilling stops, slumping output produces a hangover effect. Some explorers are taking more drastic action than others. While Parsley Energy Inc. and Centennial Resource Development Inc. have said theyre halting all drilling and fracking, companies such as EOG Resources Inc. and Diamondback Energy Inc. plan to continue adding new wells, albeit at a severely reduced pace. Much of the shuttered production probably will be turned back on by the end of this year, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan said during a Bloomberg Television interview. Entrapment question Companies often dont disclose their decline rates until asked, and even then, not everyone is happy about it. Shale pioneer Mark Papa, who founded EOG and until recently led Centennial, once reprimanded an inquisitive analyst. Subash, we dont disclose decline rates, he said during a February 2019 conference call in response to a question from then-Guggenheim Securities analyst Subash Chandra. Thats kind of one of those things kind of an entrapment question, so thats just something that we really dont want to talk about. Asked about his companys decline rates earlier this month, Cimarex Energy Co. CEO Tom Jorden responded, I hate it. Well, so much for the judge as umpire, calling balls and strikes and protecting the rule of law without fear or favor. That's how John Roberts, chief justice of the United States since he was confirmed on Sept. 29, 2005, described the role of a judge during his Senate confirmation hearing earlier that month. Last week, though, with the high courts refusal to allow House Democrats to view materials that had been redacted from special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs report, the Roberts court, rather than serving as umpire, balked. House Democrats had requested the information as part of their impeachment inquiry. As such, some might argue, since that's all in the past now, with President Donald Trump having been impeached by the House, but acquitted in his show trial in the Senate, the redacted material is no longer needed. This is fallacious reasoning in the extreme. The Supreme Court's brief order, issued last Wednesday, is not necessarily the end of the line. But, depending on what happens next, it may well mean that the requested material -- grand jury testimony -- will remain under wraps until well after Election Day. If not until the current Congress has left the stage on Jan. 3, 2021. Because the Trump administration, aided by Attorney General Bill Barr, has effectively been trying to run out the clock on so many fronts, such an outcome would be a win for this president's efforts to thwart Congress' oversight role. Lower courts have twice upheld the House's right to see the grand jury material in the Mueller report. So too does precedent. As such, the high court has no good reason to deny Democrats' request. Mueller's investigation focused on Russian interference in our nation's 2016 presidential election, possible coordination between the Trump campaign and those efforts, and whether the former reality TV star, or those working for him, sought to impede the probe. The report, though exhaustive, left many questions unanswered. Which didn't keep Trump from claiming total vindication, especially when looking only at Barr's whitewashed summary. Though what's in Mueller's report should not be forgotten, it's neither here nor there when it comes to House Democrats' desire to see the redacted material. Our federal government has three branches: legislative, executive, judicial. The first two have long struggled for primacy. The third must keep one of the others from winning by cheating. A petition posted on the presidential website, May 22, calls for Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nak-young to step down for offering supplies of personal protective equipment to two Japanese cities. / Captured from the Cheong Wa Dae website By Jun Ji-hye Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nak-young is facing growing calls from some citizens to step down after the Gyeongju City Government sent personal protective equipment, such as clothing, to two Japanese cities to assist in the COVID-19 global pandemic. The criticism of Joo is related to the anti-Japan sentiment stemming from the country's disputes with Tokyo over historical issues, including the unresolved issue of compensating Korean forced labor victims. Korea was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910-45. A Gyeongju resident posted a petition on the website run by the presidential office, May 22, calling on Joo to step down. The petitioner claimed that the mayor unilaterally decided to send the personal protective equipment, bought with taxpayers' money, to Japan, at a time when Korean people are also facing many difficulties due to the pandemic. "Due to Joo's unilateral decision, all Gyeongju residents have become the target of criticism," the petitioner said. "This has led the people to boycott travel to our city. Joo should step down." Gyeongju, located in North Gyeongsang Province, is known for its numerous historical landmarks. The petition had been signed by more than 69,000 citizens as of 2 p.m., Monday. Cheong Wa Dae is required to give an official response to a petition that generates more than 200,000 signatures in a month. The Gyeongju City Government said May 21 that it had offered 1,200 protective suits and 1,000 pairs of protective glasses to Nara and Kyoto, cities that have a close relationship with Gyeongju. But the measure provoked criticism, with some even claiming on the city government's website that "Joo betrayed his country." In response to the public outcry, the mayor wrote on Facebook, "It was humanitarian aid. I still do believe that promoting the normalization of Korea-Japan relations is necessary for future of the two countries." The city government was originally planning to send 500 protective suits and 500 pairs of protective glasses to three other Japanese cities including Nikko by the end of the month, but the plan was cancelled due to the criticism. On a spring day earlier this year Carson Lei held the hand of his 16-month-old son as the toddler learned to navigate a sandy beach in southern China. The child was faltering as he tried to walk but helping him along was not only Lei but also the businessmans seven-year-old son. The two children have different biological parents but they have enabled Lei, who lives in Dongguan in Guangdong province, to create a family that has eased the years of pain he felt about being misunderstood and not accepted by mainstream society. Lei, 40, is gay and had already unofficially adopted his first child, a biological nephew, when he turned to surrogacy for a second child. For many in the LGBT community in mainland China, surrogacy overseas is the only way to become a parent. Adoption is extremely difficult, reproductive technologies are limited to married couples and there is no legal framework for surrogacy in China. Carson Lei and his two sons. Photo: Carson Lei China decriminalised homosexuality in 1997 but does not recognise same-sex marriage. Aside from sham marriages between gay men and lesbians, commercial surrogacy was the only option, said Ah Qiang, director of the Guangzhou-based organisation PFLAG, an organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, their families and allies. The existing adoption law is heterocentric and unfriendly to gay people. Generally, there is no way for gay people to adopt children domestically, Ah Qiang said. For those who can afford it, the United States is a popular choice. George Luo, who runs a surrogacy agency based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said it cost 1.4 million yuan (US$196,000) to have a surrogate child in the US. Luo agencys mostly finds mothers from Southeast Asia for his clients but competition from elsewhere has become fierce, with agencies offering services in countries such as Ukraine and Georgia. The number of surrogacy agencies has been growing sharply and there is no way to count the specific figures given that its underground, Luo said, describing Guangzhou as the surrogacy hub of China. There have been many instances where money was lost because of a bad intermediary. Story continues Lei, too, chose Southeast Asia, going to Thailand in the autumn of 2017 for what he hoped would be a final time to have a child through a surrogate service. Several previous attempts to find a surrogate and to have embryos successfully implanted had failed. This time, before heading to the agency, he stopped in the heat of Bangkok at the Erawan Shrine in the centre of the city, knelt and prayed for the Buddha to bless him with a healthy child. His prayers were answered. The surrogate mother flew to Guangzhou in her last month of pregnancy and was admitted to a private hospital for the birth, using the ID card of one of Leis friends. I think I am a lucky man, compared to gay men who have had to marry heterosexual women, causing pain on both sides, Lei said, adding that he spent 550,000 yuan in all on the attempts. Agency owner Luo said surrogates from other countries gave birth in China because medical care was often more advanced than in their home countries. It also ensured the child had a Chinese birth certificate, making it easier to register for a hukou, a residence permit that gives holders access to health care, education and other social security benefits. Legally, surrogacy is a grey area in China, as it is neither permitted by law nor is it explicitly prohibited. The biggest hurdle in the past has been that children born out of wedlock were not granted a hukou. This changed when authorities relaxed laws in 2016, the same year that China under the pressure of declining fertility rates and an ageing population revised regulations to allow families to have two children. There have been calls for legislation to regulate non-commercial surrogacy, which is a positive response to the high demand, according to Ke Qianting, an associate professor studying gender equality from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou. The legislation is not about encouraging surrogacy, but punishing those who violate the law and protecting those who do it legally, she said. In fact, the countries where surrogacy is legal follow the principle of mutual assistance in childbirth and outlaw purely commercial surrogacy, which treats the mothers body as instrumental and commercial, and thats inhumane. However, Ke does not agree with views that surrogacy is nothing but the exploitation of a womans body. Considering women as only victims, and not being able to distinguish between specific situations, is a failure to see the autonomy they have over their own bodies, she said. Rainbow Cruise in 2019 was an opportunity for gay couples, such as Xiaozhu and Weiliang, to be with family and gain acceptance. Photo: PFLAG Despite the challenges faced by LGBT people trying to have a baby, activist Ah Qiang said societal attitudes towards the community had improved. More people are coming out from the closet now than there used to be, as society has become more accepting of gay people, but same-sex marriage is not yet approved in China, he said. Living with homosexuality as a social identity is a reflection of the progress of society. A new generation of sexual minorities are less repressed and abnormal, less secretive, more open and upright, speaking out with family, friends and colleagues. Its a change of times, quite different from 20 years ago. LGBT people also have the right to pursue a happy life. Wei Wei is a professor of sociology at East China Normal University and has studied LGBT issues for more than 20 years. Wei said that 10 years ago no one in the LGBT community talked about having children but now, working hard to save money to have surrogate babies is a hot topic in the community and the demand is very high, especially for gay men. Because Chinese parents have the idea of passing on the family line, bearing offspring through surrogacy has also become a catalyst for the gay community to come out to their parents and be accepted. Lei is an example of that. My two children and I are living with my parents. They are busy taking care of kids and are very happy every day. They dont care much about my sexual orientation any more, Lei said. Sign up now and get a 10% discount (original price US$400) off the China AI Report 2020 by SCMP Research. Learn about the AI ambitions of Alibaba, Baidu & JD.com through our in-depth case studies, and explore new applications of AI across industries. The report also includes exclusive access to webinars to interact with C-level executives from leading China AI companies (via live Q&A sessions). Offer valid until 31 May 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Chinas LGBT parents find family and joy through surrogacy first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. (Newser) The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil has quadrupled this month, to 363,000, making it No. 2 in the world. The nation's COVID-19 death toll neared 23,000 on Monday. President Jair Bolsonaro has had to answer for a travel ban on noncitizens arriving from Brazil this weekend announced by his political hero, President Trump. And the mayor of a city of 2 million demanded Bolsonaro resign, saying the president wants to be a dictator, though "he's too stupid." As the health crisis deepens, the AP reports, Bolsonaro blames everyone else: mayors, governors, a departing health minister and the news media. It's not working. A poll conducted this month found 58% of Brazilians consider Bolsonaros handling of the pandemic bad or terrible, while 21% rated it good or excellent. Approval ratings for governors were much higher. story continues below The travel ban hurts Bolsonaro's argument that his ties to Trumphe's worn a Trump 2020 hatshow he's succeeding, per the Guardian. "Is Bolsonaro going to keep marching around with the American flag now?" an opposition lawmaker asked. The president appeared to play down the humiliating announcement by retweeting an aide's thread saying the ban is like those being enacted all over the world, per Newsweek. One analyst said the message from the US to Brazil is that "even this friendship cannot protect you from being banned if you are passing the 20,000 deaths mark." Adding insult was the mayor of Manaus, who told CNN he can't explain "how a man of such low qualifications came to be president of a country of 210 million." Arthur Virgilio Neto said Bolsonaro, who joins in anti-lockdown rallies, "has complicity in the deaths of corona in Brazil. He is co-responsible." (Read more Jair Bolsonaro stories.) A man has been charged with murder after a four-year-old girl was found dead inside a suburban Brisbane home on Monday. The man, 43, was arrested following lengthy investigations that began after police responded to a property on Bent Street in Cannon Hill shortly after 9am. Police established a crime scene at the home, closing off the street and door knocking in the area as they tried to determine the cause of the death. The girl's family was assisting with the investigation, police said on Monday afternoon. Investigators at the address on Monday. Source: Nine Police respond to the address on Bent Street yesterday. Source: ABC While a Queensland Police spokesperson could not confirm the relation of the girl and man to Yahoo News Australia on Tuesday, police sources have informed Nine News the man is the girls father. The spokesperson could also not confirm whether the property was the address of both the girl and man. A local tradesman working on the street told The Courier Mail five people, including another young child, exited the property when police arrived. The man has been denied bail and is set to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Detectives are appealing for anyone with information to contact police. 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. Ratan Tata is an Indian businessman, entrepreneur, TATA chairperson, and philanthropist from Mumbai city. He is a humble Indian business tycoon who has soared to great entrepreneurial heights over the years thanks to the success of his family business. Image: instagram.com @ratantata Source: UGC Other than being one of the most successful business people in the Philippines, what else do you know about Ratan? Here is the information about his family, education, and much more. Ratan Tata profile summary Full name: Ratan Naval Tata Ratan Naval Tata Celebrated name: Ratan Tata Ratan Tata Date of birth: 23rd December 1937 23rd December 1937 Place of birth: Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India Age: 82 years 82 years Nationality : Indian : Indian Religion : Hinduism : Hinduism Height: 5 feet 10 inches 5 feet 10 inches Weight : 80 kg : 80 kg Marital status: Single Single Profession : Investor, industrialist, philanthropist : Investor, industrialist, philanthropist Net worth: $ 1billion Biography Ratan was born on 23rd December 1937 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, in British India now known as Mumbai. His full name is Ratan Naval Tata. He is the son of Naval Tata (father) and Soonoo Commissariat (mother). He has one younger brother named Jimmy Tata. Later on, his father married Simone Dunoyer after divorcing Soonoo. Ratan Tata education Tata began schooling at the Campion School Mumbai till his eighth grade. He later transferred to several other schools such as Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai and Bishop Cotton School in Manila. He graduated from Riverdale Country School in New York City in 1955. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Architecture from Cornell University in the United States of America. He also pursued an Advanced Management Program from the Harvard Business School in the United States. Ratan Tata wife Ratan Tata marriage is one of the issues that puzzle many people to date. During an interview, the philanthropist revealed that he had decided to get married on four different occasions but opted to drop the idea after all. I have decided to get married four times, but I got afraid due to some reason and dropped the idea, remarked Ratan. The businessman is focused on his career and taking his business to greater heights. Similarly, the philanthropist has no children this far. READ ALSO: Willis Raburu bio: Wife, family, weight loss, and career Parents and family Ratans biological father goes by the name Hormusji Tata and belongs to the larger Tata family. Ratan carries the surname Tata by birthright even though he is an adopted son. His biological maternal grandmother is the sister to Hirabai Tata, who is the wife of the group founder Mr Jamshedji Tata. Here is the breakdown of Ratan Tata family tree: Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata - The fathers of Indian industry - The fathers of Indian industry Sir Dorabji Tata - The eldest son of Jamshedji, the husband to Meherbai Tata who is an Indian industrialist, philanthropist, and 2nd Chairman of Tata Group. - The eldest son of Jamshedji, the husband to Meherbai Tata who is an Indian industrialist, philanthropist, and 2nd Chairman of Tata Group. Ratanji Tata - The younger son of Jamshedji who serves as a philanthropist and pioneer of poverty studies. He was the husband of Navajbai Tata who passed away later on. Ratanji adopted Ratan Naval, an orphan who was the grand-nephew of her mother-in-law. Naval was brought up as if he was Ratanjis son. - The younger son of Jamshedji who serves as a philanthropist and pioneer of poverty studies. He was the husband of Navajbai Tata who passed away later on. Ratanji adopted Ratan Naval, an orphan who was the grand-nephew of her mother-in-law. Naval was brought up as if he was Ratanjis son. Naval Tata - Adopted son of Navajbai Tata. He is the Director in several Tata companies, ILO member, and recipient of Padma Bhushan. - Adopted son of Navajbai Tata. He is the Director in several Tata companies, ILO member, and recipient of Padma Bhushan. Simone Naval Tata - She is the second wife of Naval Tata who served as the chairperson of Trent. - She is the second wife of Naval Tata who served as the chairperson of Trent. Ratan Tata - 5th Chairman of the Tata Group, son of Naval Tata by his first wife, Sooni Commissariat. - 5th Chairman of the Tata Group, son of Naval Tata by his first wife, Sooni Commissariat. Jimmy Tata - The son of Naval Tata by his first wife, Sooni Commissariat. - The son of Naval Tata by his first wife, Sooni Commissariat. Noel Tata - The son of Naval Tata by his second wife Simone and the chairperson of Trent. - The son of Naval Tata by his second wife Simone and the chairperson of Trent. Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata - One of the early stalwarts to serve the Tata Group. - One of the early stalwarts to serve the Tata Group. J.R.D Tata - Son of Ratanji Tata by his wife Suzanne and the 4th Chairman of Tata Group. Son of Ratanji Tata by his wife Suzanne and the 4th Chairman of Tata Group. Sylla Tata - The daughter of Ratanji Dadabhoy and elder sister of J. R. D. Career Ratan returned to India after completing his higher studies. Although he was offered a job at IMB, he was advised by JRD Tata to decline it and in turn join the Tata Group Company. On joining the company in 1962, he was sent to work on the shop floor of Tata Steel in 1962. In 1971, he was appointed as the Director of the National Radio and Electronics. In 1981, he was appointed as the successor of JRD Ratan and served as the Chairman of the Tata Group. While in this position, he managed to raise the company to greater heights and enter into different entrepreneurial ventures. Achievements He serves the Indian organizations in senior business capacities such as being a member of the Prime Ministers Council on Trade and Industry Advisory board of the RAND's centre for Asia Pacific Policy. An active participant in India's AIDS Initiative Program. A member of several foreign affiliations such as a member of the international advisory board of the Mitsubishi Cooperation, Booze Allen Hamilton, the American International Group, and JP Morgan Chase. Honorary awards Here is a list of some of the honorary awards in his name: Businessman of the Decade Award by the Federation of Indo-Israeli Chambers of Commerce in 2010. Honorary Citizenship of Singapore. Legend in Leadership Award from the Yale. Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, on behalf of the Tata Family. The 2nd highest civilian award, The Padma Vibhooshan, in 2008 by the Indian government. Ratan Tata net worth He became a part of his family business in 1962, and he has been working there to date. He has accumulated quite a huge sum of money from his career and other businesses. As of 2020, Ratan Tata net worth stands at roughly $1 billion. Ratan Tata is not only a name but a force to reckon with in the chronicles of Tata Groups business. He is one of the most influential business people in India recognized for his simplicity. READ ALSO: Hasan Minhaj wife, Beena Patel, bio: daughter, ethnicity, family, and photos Source: TUKO.co.ke Premier Doug Ford has installed temporary management to take over two long-term-care homes swamped by COVID-19 outbreaks. But the parent company of the Downsview Long Term Care Centre, which will be run by Humber River Hospital, is accusing Queens Park of inaction, claiming its repeated cries for help to the premier and cabinet ministers were ignored. James Balcom, chief operating officer of GEM Health Care Group, on Monday threatened legal action against the Ontario government for the takeover. It has been heartbreaking to have residents and a staff member die of COVID-19 at Downsview, despite all of the steps we were taking to ensure the health and safety of our residents and employees, said Balcom, noting the firm appealed to Ford by email on April 24. We asked for help and said things were getting desperate and nobody seemed to be providing the boots on the ground support promised by Premier Ford, he said. Despite Downsviews pleas for help from April 24 through May 2, the Canadian (Armed) Forces were never dispatched to Downsview, as was done with other facilities in Ontario, added Balcom. Because of the government of Ontarios inaction in the face of our desperate pleas for help, GEM Health Care Group is reviewing with legal counsel an appropriate response to the mandatory order announced today. The legal salvo comes after the Ministry of Long-Term Care issued mandatory management orders installing temporary management of Downsview and Suttons River Glen Haven Nursing Home, which is being run by the Southlake Regional Health Centre for at least the next 90 days. Those two facilities account for 72 of the 1,531 deaths from COVID-19 in Ontarios more than 600 long-term-care homes, where 1,926 residents and 1,395 still have active cases of the highly contagious virus. River Glen Haven has 119 beds, with 54 residents and 29 staff infected along with 20 residents dead to date. At the 252-bed Downsview home, 52 of 66 residents who contracted COVID-19 have died and 70 staff have been ill with the virus. They are among the 159 nursing homes still experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19, which can spread rapidly with residents living in close quarters. Another 133 nursing homes have managed to contain their outbreaks. The orders may be extended beyond the 90 days, if necessary. Despite receiving hospital support for weeks, these homes have been unable to contain the spread of COVID-19. By taking these steps the government is enabling a rigorous management structure to help contain the spread of the disease and assist in returning these homes to normal operations, the government said in a news release.. Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton, a medical doctor, said our government is using every tool available to keep Ontarians safe, especially our most vulnerable people during this unprecedented time. I am confident that the talented staff at these hospitals and long-term-care homes will work together to contain COVID-19 and move beyond the crisis, said Fullerton. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the takeover of the two homes is too little too late. For weeks, we have all heard horror stories about long-term-care homes leaving residents with COVID-19 in the same room as healthy residents, denying proper personal protective equipment to everyone in the facility, and leaving families in the dark about their loved ones with poor communication practices, said Horwath. Taking over two homes suggests that the government believes only two long-term care homes are failing to protect precious lives, and thats far from true, she said, noting her party has long urging the government to take over long-term care homes. Two weeks ago, Fords Progressive Conservative government invoked an emergency provision allowing the province to issue a mandatory management order for nursing homes swamped by coronavirus. That allows Queens Park to anoint a temporary manager a person, corporation or hospital to oversee any long-term-care facility. But it does not mean the province is seizing control of homes, many of which are privately owned and operated. Under Ontarios state of emergency in place since March 17 and in place until at least June 2 the government has sweeping authority. In April, the government restricted the movement of staff working in multiple facilities to curb the spread of the virus and, with Ottawa, ensure pay raises for staff. As well, hospital SWAT teams of nurses have been helping some homes with staff shortages and 250 Canadian Armed Forces medical personnel have been deployed at five Ontario hard-hit long-term-care homes. Green Leader Mike Schreiner said the grim situation in the North York and Sutton facilities underscores the need for a full public inquiry into long-term care not the Tories independent commission. Todays move confirms that taking the time to conduct an independent public inquiry does not prevent the government from taking immediate action when needed, said Schreiner. We need to find out exactly why these two facilities were unable to keep their residents and staff safe, he said. A tragedy of this magnitude needs full transparency so that families get justice and so we can overhaul the conditions that caused it. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: A 34-year-old man is now the sixth person charged by police for the murder of 19-year-old law student Aya Hachem. Lancashire Police charged Ayaz Hussain, 34, on Sunday. Four men and a woman have already been charged with the murder of Aya Hachem, who was gunned down as she walked to a supermarket near her home in Blackburn on Sunday May 17, and the attempted murder of Pashar Khan, who police believe was their intended target. Mr Hussain will appear before magistrates in Preston on May 25. Blackburn residents Feroz Suleman, 39, Kashif Manzoor, 24, Uthman Satia, 28, Abubakir Satia, 31, and Judy Chapman, 26, appeared at Preston Magistrates' Court, sitting at Sessions House Crown Court, in separate hearings on Saturday May 24. A 34-year-old man has become the sixth person charged with the murder of 19-year-old law student Aya Hachem in Blackburn The five were remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday. Detective Superindent Andy Cribbin said: 'Aya died a week ago today and a lot has happened in that time. 'Our investigation has moved at a fast pace, which has seen us arrest 14 people and charge six, with one person being released no charge and the others either bailed or released under investigation. 'But our inquiry is far from over. Our resolve and determination to get to the bottom of what happened and who was responsible for Aya's needless and senseless death remains as strong as ever. Police say they are still investigating what happened and urge anyone with more information or video footage to come forward 'I would like to thank Aya's family and the public for their support, as well as the people who have been in touch with information and the many officers and detectives who are working extremely hard on this investigation.' Aya's father has also told how the family fled war-torn Lebanon in the hopes of finding safety in Britain ten years ago. Innocent passer-by Aya Hachem was walking to Lidl supermarket near her family home in Blackburn when she was hit by a bullet fired from a passing Toyota car last Sunday. The first of two shots struck a building but the second fatally pierced her chest. Her father Ismail Hachem - a former soldier - arrived in England ten years ago as an asylum seeker. He was granted British citizenship last year. Ismail Hachem - father of a 19-year-old law student gunned down in an alleged drive-by shooting - told how the family fled war-torn Lebanon in the hopes of finding safety in Britain ten years ago Innocent passer-by Aya Hachem was walking to Lidl supermarket near her family home in Blackburn when she was hit by a bullet fired from a passing Toyota car last Sunday He said his family sought 'to find safety' after he was shot in the back. He now questions how his family will ever feel safe again after the broad-daylight attack. He told The Sun on Sunday: 'Aya and her mother used to discuss her graduation dress. Instead her mother dressed her in her funeral dress.' The family returned to Lebanon for the teenager's funeral which was held in Qlaileh on Saturday. Ms Hachem was a second year student at the University of Salford and the eldest of four siblings. Ms Hachem, wearing a white top, stands a few yards from the Toyota which slowed beside her before several shots were fired on Sunday Ms Hachem's mother is comforted during her daughter's funeral in Qlaileh in south Lebanon Paramedics battled to save the Children's Society charity volunteer, but she died a short while after she was taken to hospital. Pictured: Her funeral on Saturday The teenager's funeral was held in Qlaileh in south Lebanon on Saturday. Pictured: Her coffin is carried by relatives Paramedics battled to save the Children's Society charity volunteer, but she died a short while after she was taken to hospital. It comes as four men and a woman appeared in court charged with her murder. The defendants, from Blackburn and Great Harwood, spoke only to confirm their name and address when they appeared at Preston Magistrates' Court. The court was told that the allegations were so serious they could only be heard at the crown court and no applications for bail could be made. The five defendants will appear for a bail application hearing at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday. Police are continuing to appeal for information and anyone who can help or has video footage can send it to police at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020120E05-PO1. Anyone with other information can contact the force on 101, quoting log number 0412 of May 18, or anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. Relatives of Miss Hachem threw flower petals during her funeral at a cemetery in her family's hometown a This post is in partnership with HBO. As always, thoughts and opinions are my own. The Run Molly is at the Ethiopian restaurant being indecisive about her gluttony when she sees Issa come out the car. She hits that look forward as if I see nothing move we all know about but is then stunned when she sees her friend get back in the car and leave. Stunned! Andrews talking to his brother when Molly walks in, all puffed up and irritated. She tells him she saw Issa, who basically ran away from her. Its cool, doe. They have Mexico to look forward to, after she does a last-minute meeting at work. She packs for this trip, putting all types of bikinis in the suitcase since all she wants to do is chill and frolic. The next day, Mollys at work pissed about a last-minute assignment she had. Her assistant, Karen, dropped the ball and didnt let her know til the night before. This meeting is why she almost misses the flight to Mexico. She has to run through LAX, in her Olivia Pope white, to catch the flight, as Andrew stands at the gate and begs them to hold the door for her. Handsy She makes it by the skin of her teeth, and they settle into their seats on the flight. Economy Plus is their balling status, and they order champagne and whiskey. Before takeoff, a new divorcee drops her problems on them, also using Mexico to escape. Molly wants them to chill for the evening when they get to Mexico because shes TAHD, but Andrews brother has a whole schedule of events for them. Its cool. As they take off, the airplane blanket becomes the camouflage to their handsiness. OWWWW! Not fully the mile-high club, but itll have to do. The couple gets to Mexico and the resort is beautiful! Theyre met by Andrews brother, Victor, and his wife, Leah, who is immediately obsessed with Molly. Victor gives them a tight schedule for the evening, with plans of a cabana, massages and a restaurant. They tell him theyll meet him up with him in an hour. The Frolic In their room, Molly pulls out what she brought, that she thought would excite Asian Bae, and its lingerie. When he doesnt give the reaction she was expecting, she realizes he thought shed be bringing more. Why? Cuz he brought a bunch of sex toys, like a vibrator, anal play balls, etc. When he tells her that he likes when she takes charge, well, she picks the balcony as the place they want to use to kick off this vacation. Long story short, they aint make it to the scheduled activities. In the morning, they meet up with Victor and Leah for the hike thats on the agenda. Mabel from the plane shows up, on day four of her post-marriage breakup. Shes all peppy. The hike up the hill is more like a job and Andrew and Molly struggle all the way to the top. When they get there and see the beauty, it is momentary joy. What comes next? Ziplining! Molly screams her way through it, but she loved it. After a fun couples dinner, Molly and Andrew make it back to their room. Bae sees he has 3 missed calls from Nathan, so he Facetimes his roomie. Whats happening? He cant get out the garage, so Andrew tells him where to get the clicker. As hes hanging up, they hear Issas voice in the background. Molly looks up and gets really snarky. She comments about how her friend is back to her messy ways, but Andrew stops her. After him and Issa broke up, apparently, he had some sort of mental health struggle, and maybe this is helping him. Also, no more Issa talk on vacay. Them the rules. Besides, vacay sex should be going down. Molly changes into her lingerie, ties up Andrew and lets him feast on her. Literally. Throwing in the Towel The next day, theyre in the pool with Leah, who gets splashed with water. Molly gets out to grab her a towel and the lady doesnt want to give her one, since she doesnt have a key card. Molly gets mad because the couple before her were white, and they werent asked to see their key card. The resort employee refuses to hear it, and our girl starts getting loud, when Victor shows up and shows his card so she can get the towel. Molly is pissed when she gets back in the pool. Andrew asks her what happened, and she explains what she saw as a racist encounter. Victor, being witness to it, decides to play devils advocate, even though Satan never said he needed a public defender. He says that maybe the lady is doing her job, rejecting Mollys lived experience, in order to sanitize what happened. Shes getting agitated and Asian Bae tells his brother to chill, in their language. This only makes Molly madder, because shes like Speak English. Whew. When Victor does a bit more victim blaming by hitting her with a I too face racism, but I react differently justification, Molly flips. F*ck you. Andrew get your f*cking brother, and storms out the pool. Whoops. Andrew follows her. Meetup Later that night, she cant sleep as Andrew is knocked out. The next day, she wakes up to an empty bed. Right on cue, Andrew walks in with drinks. He suggests they hit the spa and she asks, Arent they meeting his bro? Nah, theyre doing their own thing that day, because his brother can be an asshole. Im glad he knows, but Molly feels bad. She goes on a walk on the beach and calls her therapist, Dr. Rhonda. She leaves a voicemail about needing a session, because its been a minute and shes struggling a bit. They land back in LA and Mabel is met by a man who better be that husband, because shes tonguing him down at baggage claim. They run into Lawrence, and Andrew meets him for the first time. The encounter is awkward, and they end it quickly. Lawrence walks out the airport, making a call to someone who must be a woman hes interested in, asking them to grab a drink with him. Whew, lawd. Ok, so Molly seeing Issa go the opposite direction on her had to hurt like hell. Yes, she seems angry about it, but the real feeling is hurt. It has to be jarring to know that your (former) best friend would rather go without her fav food than deal with you. It should also jolt her into recognizing that the point of no return is here. She keeps having snarky things to say, but I think its her way of trying to defend her heart from this platonic heartbreak thats happening. We like to use anger since its easier to show pain, than to be vulnerable, and she aint good at it. Now this Mexico vacay did not go the way it was supposed to. Molly and Andrew have had issues, but none were based on their ethnic dynamics since they live in a progressive city. But meeting family can often remove some of the rose tint. The showdown with Victor was some real tea on the dynamics of the hierarchy that society places on minorities. Victor talmbout he has experienced racism, as an Asian man, is tone deaf. He has no way of understanding Mollys experience as a Black woman, because the model minority status that Asians are given comes with certain privileges. There is also the angle of Leah fetishizing Molly but being completely useless when it was time to stand up for her. What I did like was Andrew not making excuses for his brother, and for going after Molly. He for real likes her, because he chose sides in that battle, and chose her. Hes not playing about her, and I hope she realizes it, instead of taking her feelings out on him. You know shes good for that. But, theres already tension and I hope it doesnt fester. Oh Molly. Call your friend. Stop being so bullish. And also, start directing your energy more productively, instead of constantly self-sabotaging. I hope her therapist calls her post-haste because she needs the kind of help a good therapist gives you. You know the kind where they sit there asking you questions that lead to you snatching your own edges? Its amazing. And healing. And necessary. Mexicos government has repeatedly said it has the outbreak under control but then posted record numbers of infections. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says the novel coronavirus could cost up to one million jobs, as many industries considered not essential remain shut. The Mexican economy was already in recession before the pandemic struck and some investment banks have forecast an economic contraction as large as 9 percent this year, with only a gradual recovery in 2021. My prediction is that with coronavirus, a million jobs will be lost, Lopez Obrador said in a televised speech on Sunday. But we will create two million new jobs. The job loss number matches the estimate by the countrys business coordinating council, CCE. Lopez Obradors government has repeatedly said it has the outbreak under control but has since posted record numbers for new cases and deaths. Earlier this month, his government issued guidelines for restarting operations in carmaking, mining and construction in Latin Americas second-largest economy that is linked to the United States and Canada through a free trade agreement. Lopez Obrador said on May 14 that the reopening of economic, social and educational activities would be cautious and gradual, beginning with regions of the country least affected by the disease. The plan includes a traffic light coding system that will inform the public in different states which businesses and activities are safe to resume. In April, the finance ministry said in an annual economic report used to guide the budget that the economy could contract by as much as 3.9 percent this year, adding that the numbers incorporated a drastic impact from coronavirus. Burma Myanmar Facebook User Sued for Accusing Mandalay Chief Minister of Corruption Mandalays chief minister, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, in March 2019. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy Mandalay A Mandalay regional government employee has filed a complaint under the infamous Telecommunications Act against a Facebook user who accused the Mandalay chief minister of corruption. The Shwe Thu Thu Khin Facebook account posted on March 26 that Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, the chief minister, asked Ma Thu Thu Khin for 100 million kyats (US$71,000) if she wanted to resolve a legal case within a day. Referring to the land ownership case she faces in Pyin Oo Lwin Township, Ma Thu Thu Khin posted: I met the chief minister five times. He asked me to give him 100 million kyats if I wanted the case resolved that day. Ma Thu Thu Khin said she refused to pay bribes, adding that the chief minister did not fulfill his duty or follow the law. A police duty officer in Mandalay confirmed the complaint to The Irrawaddy but refused to provide further information, saying the case is under investigation. The complaint was filed by assistant director U Sithu Lin of Mandalay regional government under the Telecommunications Acts Article 66(d). The case was registered and it is still under investigation, said the duty officer. According to a regional government source, the ailing chief minister, who just returned from a Bangkok hospital, ordered the assistant director to file the complaint on his behalf. In September 2019, the National League for Democracy office in Mandalay used Article 66(d) to sue two administrators of the We Love Dauk Zaw Facebook page, in reference to Dr. Zaw Myint Maung. The page posted numerous satirical memes about Dr. Zaw Myint Maung and the two page administrators are still at large. According to freedom of expression activist organization Athan, more than 1,000 citizens were sued in 539 lawsuits from April 2016 to March 2020 for alleged criticism of the authorities. Of these cases, 34 were filed under the Telecommunications Act in which government staff or party members or supporters were the plaintiffs. Any citizen can use Article 66(d) to sue for alleged online abuse, regardless of whether they were the subject of the remarks. It carries a threat of three years in prison and is deeply controversial for alleged defamation. The law has come to be interpreted as any use of the internet, so sharing a Facebook post that casts someone in a negative light can be grounds for prosecution. You may also like these stories: Ethnic Kuki Man Killed in Northern Myanmar, Locals Blame Ethnic Shanni Army Myanmar to Relocate Rohingya IDP Camp, Build Houses and Infrastructure KIA Says Myanmar Military Offers Supplies, but No Planning, to Fight COVID-19 A three-year-old girl has died after falling into a swimming pool while her family was reportedly distracted with another child during a party at an Airbnb. On Sunday, the Glendale Fire Department rushed to a home near Pontiac Drive after a young girl was discovered unconscious and without a pulse. The incident unfolded during a family backyard party attended by 12 people at a local Airbnb home. The victim's family is from out of town and rented the property for Memorial Day Weekend. Authorities in Glendale, Arizona, said a three-year-old girl died on Sunday after slipping into a swimming pool during a party Several people were in the backyard when the girl slipped in to the pool but did not notice, officials said. 'Approximately twelve family members including multiple children under the age of 10 were in the back yard when the little girl went underwater,' the Glendale Fire Department told Fox 10. 'The family members were reportedly distracted by another child when the toddler slipped into the pool unnoticed.' Authorities said there was no fencing around the pool. Several family members were in the backyard when the child drowned in the swimming pool Authorities who arrived at the scene said the little girl could not breath on her own and had no pulse After an unknown amount of time, the child was pulled from the pool and a family member performed CPR. A neighbor, who happened to be a nurse, heard the commotion and took over CPR until medics arrived. The toddler was not breathing on her own and was unresponsive when authorities arrived. She was transported to the hospital in critical condition and died hours later. Crisis response teams were present at the scene to assist family members who were distressed by the incident. The girl, who was visiting with her family from out of town, was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and died hours later 'This is a good time to remind people to designate a water watcher when having a gathering,' authorities said. 'Someone whose entire responsibility is to watch the water. It only takes a few seconds for a child to go under the water undetected.' Authorities have concluded the investigation and said there will not seek any criminal charges against the family. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Glendale Fire Department for further comment. When Haverford College students took their final exams online this spring, they did what they always do: They signed a statement, agreeing to adhere to the schools honor code. No online proctors or outside monitoring was needed. At the small, selective liberal arts college, exams arent supervised even when they are given on campus and students self-schedule them. Theres a long-standing atmosphere of mutual trust, professors and students say, that helped during the coronavirus. Haverford was better prepared for the crisis than most schools, said Soha Saghir, a rising senior who cochairs Haverfords honor council. Taking tests on our own or doing tests on our own is a practice that is very much ingrained in our culture already. READ MORE: Drexel will conduct all final exams remotely because of coronavirus Moving final exams online, while maintaining their integrity and yet not putting undue pressure on students already struggling to survive a pandemic, was just the latest historical first for the nations colleges. At some schools, professors gave more take-home exams and assigned final papers, projects, and presentations as alternatives to tests. Other schools relied on more technology to police exam-taking, including locked-down browsers and online proctors who monitored test-takers. At West Chester University, for instance, so many professors wanted electronically monitored exams that the university employed a second company to help, said deputy provost Jeffery Osgood. Interviews with students, professors, and administrators at a half-dozen schools suggest that the lessons they learned during the pandemic could reshape the college experience. Some schools may rethink how they evaluate students. And although many have adapted to remote learning, the experience also has reinforced how critical in-person instruction is and the importance of having a level playing field, like a college campus, for students from varying backgrounds. READ MORE: Colleges holding on-campus classes in the fall? Maybe. We are working with students who are in environments that we have very, very little control over, said Casey Londergan, a Haverford chemistry professor and department chair. Having constant, clear, and open lines of communication is really super, super important in this kind of environment. Most relaxed finals week In the end, most schools allowed students to choose a credit or no-credit option for their final course grades, realizing it wasnt fair to hold students to the same standard as before the coronavirus. At Lehigh University in Bethlehem, nearly a third of undergraduates took the no-credit option, the school said, with time still to elect it. About 600 Drexel students have asked to go that route, but the term is still ongoing and more could opt for it next month. At West Chester, it was 21% of undergraduates. Students, for their part, found that exam time this year was much less stressful. It was the most relaxed finals week Ive had thus far, said Emma Glasser, a rising junior at the University of Pennsylvania. She said she had several take-home exams that probably would have been in-person and timed if students were on campus. One class gave several midterms instead of one pressure-filled final. Her exams also were more spread out than they would have been on campus. Saghir, 22, the Haverford political science major, said that for this springs finals she wrote 20 pages and took one test down from the typical 60 pages and multiple exams and completed an annotated bibliography and a podcast. She appreciated professors flexibility, given the stress of being separated from her family in Pakistan, unable to get a flight home, and largely isolated in her residence hall room. Its been very hard to focus, she said. Faculty and administrators knew that students who did make it home went to drastically different learning environments. Some had to get jobs to help support the family. Some were in crowded residences that made concentrating a struggle. Others lacked internet. Mark Rimple, a music professor at West Chester and faculty union president, saw a student from Philadelphia struggling with internet access and had the university provide her with a hotspot. If you had a connection that was really bad, it made school unbearable," he said. Although professors say theres no replacement for the in-person classroom experience, universities will need to improve their connection to students if online learning continues. At Haverford, the trust environment created by the honor code helped. Londergan said students self-reported issues: One said his brother entered the room to talk during his exam and he didnt stop the clock. I let them retake the exam, or gave them back a little time, he said. That is the kind of open and honest conversation that is facilitated by the honor code. There were unexpected surprises. At West Chester, Osgood said the number of students taking and passing their final exams reached an all-time high, while course withdrawals were down. For undergraduates, there was a 7% increase in As this semester, he said, maintaining that exams were as rigorous as ever. Kathryne Corbin, an assistant professor of French at Haverford, said her students grades also trended higher, as did the quality of work in some cases. Haverford also allowed a pass/fail option; the whole process may cause the college to rethink the importance of grading, she said. Not all colleges use traditional grades. For months to come, universities are likely to assess what they learned and apply it moving forward. If we go back to doing business the way we did business before COVID, then we actually failed to learn anything from this, said Osgood. The West Chester administrator said one of those lessons emerged from outside the classroom: Students seemed to enjoy accessing support services remotely. While students want to receive instruction in person, they dont want to have to go to the financial aid office, he said. They dont want to go to the library. They want to be able to access those things wherever they want to be, and we actually demonstrated that we can deliver those services in a high-quality fashion. Were going to continue doing that moving forward. A 57-year-old constable of the Mumbai Police has died of COVID-19, taking the total number of the deceased police personnel from the metropolis to 12 so far, a senior official said on Monday. With the latest death, the number of police personnel who have succumbed to COVID-19 rose to 18 in Maharashtra, he said. The constable, who was admitted in civic-run Nair hospital here on May 23, tested positive for coronavirus on May 24 and died on the same day. He was posted at the training branch at the city traffic police, the official said. "The constable was not attending duty for the last one month or so as he was above 55-year-old," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Madhukar Pandey. The Mumbai Police had last month asked their personnel who are above 55 years of age with pre-existing ailments to go on leave as a precautionary measure amidst the COVID-19 crisis. The deceased constable was living in the Worli Police camp with his family members. So far, 1,809police personnel, including 194 officers, had tested positive for coronavirus. The total number of active cases in the state police stands at 1,113 with 678 personnel recovering from the infection. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha on Monday reported its highest-ever single-day spike in Covid-19 cases with 103 new infections including a BJP leader in Deogarh district testing positive for the coronavirus disease. It was the third time this month that the state reported more than 100 positive cases in a day. With this, Odishas tally of Covid-19 infections has gone up to 1,438 with around half these cases in hospitals. Ganjam district, the Covid epicentre leads with 353 positive cases followed by Jajpur with 240 and Balasore with 133 cases. The virus has so far claimed seven lives in the state. Of the 103 fresh coronavirus cases reported on Monday, Deogarh district registered the highest number of 22 cases, including a 54-year-old BJP leader, a 38-year-old school teacher and a 46 year-old ASHA worker who was working in a quarantine centre. The BJP leaders son had returned from Maharashtra this month and was in home quarantine. Though the son tested negative, the BJP leader tested positive. The steady rise comes amid increasing incidence of violation of quarantine norms by those people coming back home from other states as well as those in home quarantine. In Koraput district, a mans swab samples was found Covid-19 positive soon after he fled home quarantine. The businessman from Visakhapatnam was under home quarantine in Jeypore town but after a few days, he left for Visakhapatnam without informing anyone. Our team had visited his place yesterday and again today and as per enquiry conducted by our team from his contacts, he has left for West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh to attend his sisters death rituals, said Koraput district collector Madhusudan Mishra. Congress MLA of Jeypore, Tara Bahinipati, later asked the Vishakhapatnam district collector to get the Covid-19 positive businessman admitted in a local hospital there. Meanwhile,in two separate incidents, around 500 migrant workers on-board Shramik Special trains from Maharashtra and Gujarat, pulled emergency chains and got down at some places in Odisha. Around 200 migrants travelling on a Shramik Special train that was on its way to Bokaro (Jharkhand) from Kolhapur (Maharashtra) pulled the emergency chain near Nuagaon station on the Odisha-Jharkhand border and alighted the train. In another incident, around 300 migrants of Bargarh and Naupada got down at Kantabanji railway station in Bolangir district reportedly after pulling the emergency chain. The train was on its way from Gandhidham in Gujarat to Cuttack. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Stock photo of a young couple walking in the sand on the beach at Praia da Luz, Portugal (PA) Sunseekers across Europe soaked up the sun where they could yesterday, while governments grappled with how and when to safely let in foreign travellers to salvage the summer tourist season. Germany, France and other countries aim to open their borders for European travel in mid-June, but it isn't clear when intercontinental travel will resume. Spain says it won't reopen for foreign tourists until July. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "We will guarantee that tourists aren't at risk and that they don't represent a risk [to Spain]." For now, travel between the country's provinces isn't allowed and many other restrictions remain - although today, residents in worst-hit Madrid and Barcelona will be able to join the rest of the country in dining outdoors at bars and restaurants, which can offer only 50pc of their usual tables. Local sunbathers and swimmers will be permitted in some coastal provinces from today. The number of beach-goers will be limited and umbrellas must be at least four metres apart. In Germany, domestic tourists will be allowed to return today to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the north-east and Berlin hotels. France is relaxing its border restrictions, allowing in migrant workers and family visitors from other European countries. But it is calling for a voluntary 14-day quarantine for people arriving from Britain and Spain. Italy, which plans to open regional and international borders on June 3 in a bid to boost tourism, is only now allowing residents back to beaches in their own regions - with restrictions. In Liguria, people were allowed a dip in the sea and a walk along the shore but no sunbathing. In Savona, a dozen people were fined for violating sunbathing bans. And for the first time in months, well-spaced faithful yesterday gathered in the Vatican's St Peter's Square for the traditional Sunday papal blessing. Rags to riches: Edinburgh Woollen Mill group billionaire Philip Day The Bangladeshi factories that supply retail billionaire Philip Day with clothes have threatened to halt deliveries until he stumps up 27million he allegedly owes. Around 30 suppliers to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill group, which also includes Peacocks and Jaeger, have accused the tycoon of taking 'undue advantage of the Covid-19 situation'. In March the group put a hold on all orders as it shut around 1,000 stores, just days after it announced over 100 redundancies. The factories, supported by the Bangladesh Garments and Manufacturing Association trade body, said in a letter the retailer withheld payment for items that were already on their way to Britain and demanded large discounts. They want payment for clothes delivered by May 29 and have put the firm on notice of legal action if they demand 'financially catastrophic' discounts. An EWM spokesman said: 'We have engaged with all our individual suppliers with openness, honesty, and the best of intentions, even when the circumstances are difficult.' FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who was detained and accused of espionage, attends a court hearing in Moscow By Tom Balmforth and Alexander Marrow MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian prosecutors asked a court on Monday to sentence former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who is on trial accused of spying for the United States, to 18 years in a maximum security prison, his lawyer said. Whelan, a U.S. national who also holds British, Canadian and Irish passports, has been in custody since he was detained in a Moscow hotel room in December 2018. He says he was set up in a sting and has pleaded not guilty to the charge. "The prosecution has made a very harsh demand, it's absolutely unjustified and groundless. To be honest, we're in shock," Whelan's lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told reporters after Monday's hearing. The court will announce its verdict on June 15, he said. The trial, which began on March 23, has been closed to the public as its content broaches classified information. Many of the case's details have emerged through his lawyer. U.S. Ambassador in Moscow John Sullivan said the proceedings amounted to a "secret trial" and a "mockery of justice". "There is no legitimacy to a procedure that is hidden behind closed doors. It is not transparent, it is not fair, and it is not impartial," he said. The prosecution accuses Whelan of being at least a ranking U.S. military intelligence colonel and that he was caught red-handed trying to obtain secrets, his lawyer said. The defence said Whelan had only believed he was receiving photographs of a trip that he and an acquaintance had been on, not classified material, and that he had been tricked, Zherebenkov said. "This was a game by Russia's Federal Security Service...," he said. U.S. authorities have called the charges against Whelan spurious and have called on Russia to release him, describing the case as a "significant obstacle" to improving bilateral ties. Whelan, 50, has used his appearances at hearings to allege he has been ill-treated by prison guards and been denied medical attention. Russian authorities have accused him of faking health problems to draw attention to his case. (Additional reporting by Polina Ivanova; Editing by John Stonestreet) Photograph: Usa Today Network/Reuters Ethnic minorities have been the hardest-hit by the coronavirus in the US, and now Latino workers are facing fresh difficulty, as they and their communities suffer discrimination after contracting coronavirus in meat processing plants and warehouses. More than 10,000 meatpacking workers, many of them Latino, have contracted coronavirus in the US, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers union, and dozens have died. Latino advocates say workers are also now experiencing racism due to fears they have contracted the virus in the workplace. Related: 'The virus doesn't discriminate but governments do': Latinos disproportionately hit by coronavirus Weve received reports that some workers at a plant were turned away from grocery stores and not allowed in, because they were presumed to have the coronavirus because they worked at the local meatpacking plant, said Domingo Garcia, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (Lulac). Weve also heard in Marshalltown [Iowa] people were being refused service because they thought they were positive for Covid-19 just because they were Latino, Garcia added. Latino workers have been particularly hard-hit in some areas by their reliance on jobs in meat processing plants or large warehouses which have been kept open during the pandemic, despite reports of poor health and safety standards and a lack of protective equipment. Four out of every five Latinos are considered essential workers, Garcia said. Theyre in construction, food processing, grocery stores, theyre farm workers. So they dont have the luxury of being able to work from home, and therefore theyre being exposed to Covid-19 in ways that many American workers are not. Compounding that, Garcia said, is the lack of health insurance among some Latino workers. Garcia said Lulac is investigating multiple cases of Latino employees complaining about workplace conditions and then being fired. Story continues Related: US coronavirus hotspots linked to meat processing plants The outbreaks in meat plants have been shocking. In April an outbreak at the JBS meat processing plant in Colorado killed three workers, while many of Iowas more than 8,000 coronavirus cases have been linked to plants including Tyson Foods, in Waterloo. Tyson Foods was forced to suspend operations at the end of April after 180 coronavirus infections were linked to the plant. There was a similar story in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, which became one of the worst-hit areas early on in the crisis. Health officials identified Cargill, a meat-processing plant, as one of the sources of the virus. The Cargill plant is upwards of 90% Latinx, said Jamie Longazel, an associate professor at John Jay College and author of Undocumented Fears: Immigration and the Politics of Divide and Conquer in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. With the Latino meat plant workers, some of whom are undocumented, frequently living paycheck to paycheck, they could not afford to not go to work particularly as large plants tend not to offer sick pay. They were demonized because the workers were then spreading it to their family members, so it became that the Latinx community was more affected, Longazel said. Elsewhere in the US anti-Latino sentiment has come from officials. In Wisconsin, the supreme court chief justice, Patience Roggensack, was criticized in early May after she seemed to downplay a coronavirus outbreak among workers at a meatpacking facility in Brown county, where a large proportion of the workers are minorities and immigrants. [The surge in coronavirus cases] was due to the meatpacking thats where Brown county got the flare, Roggensack said. It wasnt just the regular folks in Brown county. Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of the Wisconsin-based Voces de la Frontera immigrant-rights group, criticized Roggensacks remarks as elitist and racist, and told the Guardian that Latinos had been subjected to legalized discrimination through their work. Without a question they have been discriminated against, because they are disproportionately more vulnerable to exposure and to having them or their families or their community impacted by the Covid-19, Neumann-Ortiz said. If there is one positive, Neumann-Ortiz said, its that the backlash could trigger a greater effort to change workplace conditions. Its forcing workplace organizing to happen, in a way that wasnt there before because the stakes are so high, Neumann-Ortiz said. In some cases workers have refused to go to work due to unsafe conditions, which has forced companies to temporarily close down facilities to deep-clean plants, or provide better PPE. There is a new struggle on the frontline and its going to be here for a while to come, she said. A sweltering heat wave continued to sweep Delhi on Monday, with the maximum temperature breaching the 46 degrees Celsius-mark in some areas. The Safdarjung Observatory recorded a high of 44 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal. The stations at Palam, Lodhi Road and Aya Nagar recorded their respective maximums at 46.2 degrees, 44 degrees and 45.6 degrees Celsius respectively. The India Meteorological Department has issued an 'orange' warning for parts of Delhi on Tuesday. An 'orange' warning is issued for a heat wave, while a 'red' warning is issued for a severe heat wave. "Mainly clear sky. Strong surface winds (20-30 kilometers per hour) during the day. Heat wave at a few places," an IMD forecast said. In large areas, a heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature is 45 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days and a severe heat wave is when the mercury touches the 47 degrees-mark for two days on the trot. In small areas like Delhi, heat wave is declared if the temperature soars to 45 degrees Celsius even for a day, according to the IMD. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of the IMD, said some respite from the stifling heat was expected on Thursday due to a fresh western disturbance and easterly winds at lower levels. Dust storm and thunderstorm with winds gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour is likely over the National Capital Region on Friday and Saturday, Srivastava said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hans Van Bylen elected as an Independent Director; to become Chairman of the Board Regulatory News: Ontex Group NV (Euronext: ONTEX, "Ontex") (BSE:ONTEX) held its Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM and EGM) today, and has published the results of all of the proposals submitted to it by the Board of Directors, including approval of the annual accounts for the year ended December 31 2019. Following Luc Missorten's decision to step down as an independent director of Ontex and Chairman of the Board effective at the end of today's meeting, shareholders approved the proposal to appoint Hans Van Bylen as an independent director of Ontex, in view of naming him Chairman of the Board. The Board would like to extend its gratitude to Luc Missorten for his commitment and valuable contribution to the development of the Company since its IPO. Under his stewardship, Ontex has made significant progress, increasing its geographic reach and achieving a more balanced portfolio of retailer brands and own local brands, while remaining focused on three attractive categories in personal hygiene. Also during his tenure, the Board was strengthened with new directors with highly relevant experience, took steps to enhance the Company's remuneration policy, and committed to continuing these efforts by making remuneration simpler and even more closely correlated with performance. Luc Missorten will continue to provide his support until the completion of the ongoing transformation program (Transform to Grow or "T2G"), as a senior advisor to the Board. Hans Van Bylen, formerly CEO of Henkel, will bring to Ontex his deep knowledge of the industrial and consumer goods sector and breadth of experience spanning the FMCG industry, retail brand space, manufacturing and supply chain, digitalization, sustainability and leadership development. Hans Van Bylen declared: "I am honored and delighted to succeed Luc and build on his achievements as Chairman of Ontex's Board. Notwithstanding the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the T2G transformation plan is delivering results and Ontex is gaining momentum. Ontex has many opportunities ahead of it, and I look forward to working together with the Board and Management to continue refining and executing the Group's strategy and creating value for all stakeholders." Minutes of the AGM and EGM as well as answers to questions submitted by shareholders prior to the meeting can be found on the company's website at: http://www.ontexglobal.com/shareholder-information About Ontex Ontex is a leading international provider of personal hygiene solutions, with expertise in baby care, feminine care and adult care. Ontex's innovative products are distributed in more than 110 countries through Ontex brands such as BBTips, BioBaby, Pompom, Bigfral, Canbebe, Canped, ID and Serenity, as well as leading retailer brands. Employing some 10,000 passionate people all over the world, Ontex has a presence in 21 countries, with its headquarters in Aalst, Belgium. Ontex is listed on Euronext Brussels and is part of the Bel Mid. To keep up with the latest news, visit www.ontex.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200525005221/en/ Contacts: INVESTOR ENQUIRIES Philip Ludwig +32 53 333 730 investorrelations@ontexglobal.com PRESS ENQUIRIES Gaelle Vilatte +32 53 333 708 gaelle.vilatte@ontexglobal.com Olson did say hes learned something about appreciating the things life offers people. Dont take anything for granted, because you dont know when its going to be taken from you, he said. Thats the mentality parent Deb Kiedrowski thinks will ultimately benefit the class of 2020. Something the students took away from this is to appreciate the small daily things that they missed out on and going forward I think this will affect them in a good way, she said. Her daughter Ella laughed afterward at the misspelling of her middle name on the envelope holding her diploma. That just about sums it up, she said. Ella Kiedrowski echoed something that Olson also mentioned how the masks muted the event. It was really weird and it kind of made it lose the emotion of it, for sure, she said. And didnt make me feel very submersed in the event of it. If I was able to look around and see peoples faces, I probably would have been more moved by the event. Still, she said she was happy to have graduation, even if it was different. Tossing her graduation cap into the air was a highlight. BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A major Argentina creditor group said on Saturday it was committed to its own restructuring proposal, and it had been invited to sign a non-disclosure agreement by Argentina's government, which defaulted on about $500 million in bond payments a day earlier. The Exchange Bondholder Group, which comprises 18 investment institutions and represents 15% of Argentina's exchange bonds, said in a statement that its counter-proposal submitted on May 15 provides 'significant debt relief to Argentina and beyond doubt provides a sustainable debt structure for Argentina in respect of Exchange Bonds.' Argentine officials are currently weighing counter-offers from its major creditor groups after their original proposal to restructure about $65 billion in foreign debt was stiffly rejected. The South American country failed to reach an agreement by a May 22 deadline, prompting it to miss about $500 million in already delayed bond coupons, marking its ninth sovereign default BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A major Argentina creditor group said on Saturday it was committed to its own restructuring proposal, and it had been invited to sign a non-disclosure agreement by Argentina's government, which defaulted on about $500 million in bond payments a day earlier. The Exchange Bondholder Group, which comprises 18 investment institutions and represents 15% of Argentina's exchange bonds, said in a statement that its counter-proposal submitted on May 15 provides "significant debt relief to Argentina and beyond doubt provides a sustainable debt structure for Argentina in respect of Exchange Bonds." Argentine officials are currently weighing counter-offers from its major creditor groups after their original proposal to restructure about $65 billion in foreign debt was stiffly rejected. The South American country failed to reach an agreement by a May 22 deadline, prompting it to miss about $500 million in already delayed bond coupons, marking its ninth sovereign default. Despite missing the deadline on Friday, a source close to the negotiations and familiar with the government's thinking told Reuters on Friday that talks could reach a breakthrough "in a matter of days." The Exchange Bondholder Group said Argentina approached its representatives and other creditor groups about signing a non-disclosure agreement "in contemplation of engaging in negotiations with the Ministry of Economy." At least one other main creditor group has signed the non-disclosure agreement, a source from that committee said. It is common during debt restructurings for creditor committees to agree to limit the flow of information near the end of talks, as some of it may be material and non-public, a source from one of the groups said. In some cases when multiple creditor groups are involved, as is the case with Argentina, a non-disclosure agreement is introduced, the source said. A spokesman from the Ministry of Economy did not immediately respond to request for comment. Economy Minister Martin Guzman has said talks were on a positive course despite an "important distance" left to reach a deal with creditors. Todd Martinez, director of Latin America sovereigns at Fitch Ratings in New York, cautioned that progress could be more challenging the longer the talks drag on. "Should it be a default without signs of progress toward a resolution, it could heighten uncertainties and have some destabilizing effects, but these could be minimal if recent progress towards a deal continues," Martinez said. (Reporting by Cassandra Garrison; additional reporting by Rodrigo Campos and Marc Jones; Editing by Ros Russell and Andrea Ricci) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Jammu, May 25 : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday modified its earlier announced procedure for quarantine of travellers arriving into the union territory from outside by declaring exemptions to compulsory administrative quarantine for some categories. In an order issued by B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, chief secretary in his capacity as the chairperson of state executive committee for disaster management, exemption from administrative quarantine has been extended to pregnant women in the last trimester, cancer patients on chemotherapy, chronically ill patients discharged from a hospital after a surgical procedure, dialysis patients, mothers with infants below one year, children below 10 years travelling alone without a family member. The same exemption has been granted to government of India personnel on bona fide duty and to passengers with a COVID negative certificate issued from an ICMR approved lab not older than 48 hours before the arrival date. Such categories of travellers will be directly sent for 14 home quarantine after taking their samples on arrival. The order said if the test results are positive, such persons shall be shifted to a COVID hospital for treatment. All other categories of travellers by air, road or railways will be kept in administrative quarantine till their test results arrive after which those testing negative will go for 14 days home quarantine and those positive will be admitted to a COVID hospital for treatment. Few days after the demise of Pastor Emmanuel Apraku, a video clip which captures a prophecy about his departure has emerged. It is unclear who the prophet is, the time the prophecy was made and the church auditorium where the revelations were made. During the church service, the prophet, clad in suit, invited Pastor Apraku to the sanctuary. As Apraku approached the prophet and stood to attention, the prophet told him he has had a revelation that he [Apraku] will be a drunkard. Apraku My Daughter as he was affectionately known was in the footage told that God had given him a second chance, unlike his colleagues who had passed on. Youre here like a man but alcohol will destroy your life. Youll be a drunkard to the extent that it will affect your intestines, kidney and liver, the prophet said in the local dialect Twi. God gave you the first chance; friends perpetrated your downfall. God is giving you another chance. Be careful of friends. He further mentioned to Apraku that the spirit of death was hovering around him and stressed on the need for him to be vigilant to avoid a fall. The spirit of death is standing very close to you. Do you know why all the pastors who were following you have died but youre still alive? God says I should tell you, he is giving you a second chance, he proclaimed. 'Apraku My Daughter' who had been flanked by some junior pastors corroborated the prophecy. According to him, two other pastors had told him about Gods decision to grant him a second chance. He said: It is true. A friend of mine in America told me this three days ago during a phone conversation. Another one in Lagos has told me the same. Apraku departed to eternity on Wednesday, May 20. According to a source close to the family, he was found dead in his room. The caretaker and some neighbours were said to have broken into the room after they noticed he had not stepped out, neither had he responded to their resounding calls. After gaining access, they found his lifeless body in the room. Before his demise, social media had been awash with reactions after a video of him in a bad state went viral. The video clip in question captured some women insulting and ridiculing the once-popular preacher amidst threats to publish the video and disgrace him. Apraku My Daughter, is that your end? See how drunk you are... God says if you refuse to be righteous, he will punish you like he did to Nebuchadnezzar, the lady whose face was not shown in the video was heard taunting. It is unclear what caused Apraku's death. View this post on Instagram Prophecy about Apraku's death before his demise A post shared by whatstrendingh (@whats_trendingh) on May 24, 2020 at 6:15am PDT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As countries are racing to develop COVID-19 vaccine in record time, a top Russian politician has come up with a bizarre suggestion of using prisoners as guinea pigs for the clinical trial of a potential vaccine. Speaking to a state-owned channel, Vladimir Zhirinovsky highlighted the need to test faster on volunteers and exuded confidence that the inmates would jump at the opportunity if their jail term is halved. Elaborating on his suggestion, Zhirinovsky said that if a prisoner serving a 10-year jail term is offered with a medical which will be tested for 2-3 months and, in return, his prison term will be reduced to five years, the prisoners will gladly take the offer. The comments of the 74-year-old leader of Russias Liberal Democratic Party triggered anger, especially among prisoners rights groups. According to a Daily Mail report, a prisoners rights foundation Rossiya Sidyashchaya compared the suggestion to the way the former Soviet Union exposed its own people to nuclear tests during the Cold War. The foundation's lawyer Alexei Fedyarov reportedly said that using convicts as cattle is normal practice in Russia some convicts may agree to the offer to just reduce jail term. Russia has reported over 353,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, third-highest in the world, and more than 3,600 deaths related to it so far. President Vladimir Putins approval rating has taken a hit after an exponential rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, overwhelming hospitals and health care workers. Read: Russia Reports Its Highest Single-day Death Toll But Fewer Infections Putin highlights the hidden danger On May 22, Putin held a meeting, via conference, on the situation of coronavirus in the country where he claimed that the rate of cases has declined over the week. He said that the volume of testing increased by nearly 3 million over the past week with an average of 240,000 tests every day. The hidden danger lies in the fact that the disease may not be detected promptly and an asymptomatic person will not be warned about the threat to their own health and to that of their loved ones, said the Russian President. Read: Putin Reveals Russian Education Minister Tested Positive For COVID-19 Le secretaire general de l'ONU, Antonio Guterres, le 4 fevrier 2020 a New York AFP/Archives/Angela Weiss African countries have demonstrated commendable leadership battling the COVID-19 pandemic, but more nations across the continent where conflict prevails, should heed the UN call for a global ceasefire to push back the deadly virus, said the Secretary-General on Monday. Marking Africa Day, Antonio Guterres said in his message that the pandemic threatens to derail progress which would enable countries to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and development targets set out in the African Unions (AU) Agenda 2063. The UN Chief told RFI last week that he is disappointed that a ceasefire he called for has not held in Cameroon. When COVID-19 crept into Cameroon, Guterres called on armed groups and state forces in the countrys North West and South West Regions to heed to a ceasefire in a bid to push back the deadly virus. Though disappointed that violence rather soared in the restive area after his earlier call of a ceasefire, the UN Secretary-General says he has hopes. He said President Paul Biya of Cameroon has been positive on the possibility of a ceasefire, noting that there should be dialogue with armed (Anglophone separatist) movements. In his Africa Day message this Monday, May 25, 2020, Guterres welcomed the AUs support for his global ceasefire call, an imperative that also reflects the AUs 2020 theme: Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africas Development. Armed groups in Cameroon, Sudan and South Sudan have responded to the call and declared unilateral ceasefires. I implore other armed movements and governments in Africa to do likewise. I also welcome the support of African countries for my call for peace in the home, and an end to all forms of violence, including against women and girls, he continued. The AU has established a task force to develop a continent-wide strategy and appointed special envoys to mobilize international support, said the UN chief. Its Peace and Security Council has also taken steps to counter the negative impact of COVID-19 on the implementation of critical peace agreements and reconciliation efforts. He noted that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention established a response fund, while African Member States have undertaken robust measures to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the socio-economic impacts. While some politicians in Cameroon are using the COVID-19 pandemic to score political points, the UN Secretary-General notes that it is not an isolated situation given that no fewer than 20 African countries are scheduled to hold elections this year, some of which are likely to be postponed due to the pandemic, with potential consequences for stability and peace. I urge African political actors to engage in inclusive and sustained political dialogue to ease tensions around elections and uphold democratic practices, said Guterres, only falling short of calling out Maurice Kamto and his Suivie Cameroon Survival Initiative that has been in a tug of war with Cameroons authorities. Last week, the UN issued a policy brief outlining the impacts of the pandemic on the continent: We are calling for debt relief and action to maintain food supplies, protect jobs and cushion the continent against lost income and export earnings. African countries, like everyone, everywhere, should also have quick, equal and affordable access to any eventual vaccine and treatment. An opportunity now exists, for African governments to use this moment to shape new policies that bolster health systems, improve social protection and pursue climate-friendly pathways. Targeting measures to those employed in the informal sector, the vast majority of whom are women, will be an important step to recovery, said Mr. Guterres, as will empowering women to ensure their full participation and leadership. The inclusion and leadership of young people will also be crucial every step of the way. It was on May 25, 1963 that Africa made history with the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) from whose ashes the African Union (AU) was born. May 25, 2020 therefore marks 57 years of what has now become known as the Africa Day. Indeed, Africa Day is intended to celebrate and acknowledge the successes of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU now the AU) from its creation on May 25, 1963, in the fight against colonialism and apartheid, as well as the progress that Africa has made while reflecting upon the common challenges that the continent faces in a global environment. It offers an opportunity for the continent to promote its unity, deepen regional integration and recommit itself to a common destiny. The annual commemoration of Africa Day marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. We have all learned a lot since then. What would have been a reckless and scientifically unjustified decision in late March is now plainly the best option from both a scientific and a stewardship standpoint, at least for our particular institution. The Post asked me to explain here what has gone into our thinking. (Were not alone: Two-thirds of the more than 700 colleges surveyed by the Chronicle of Higher Education have now come to the same conclusion and will reopen with in-person instruction in the fall.) Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Iran has reopened major Shiite shrines across the country. According to reports, the shrines were reopened after being closed nearly two months ago due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic. Iran was the worst-hit country in the middle east. Iran has reported 135,701 positive coronavirus cases and a death toll of 7,451. Worshippers must take precautions As per reports from Irans state news agency, the Imam Reza shrine located in northeast Iran and Fatima shrine and Jamkaran mosque which is located in the holy city of Qom was also reopened. The religious sites are allowed to open an hour after dawn and remain open until an hour before dusk. Even though these sites have reopened, worshippers must follow strict health protocols. According to reports, at Tehrans Shah Abdol-Azim shrine, it is mandatory for worshippers to wear masks as well as go through a disinfection tunnel as well as get their temperature checked before they are allowed to enter the site. Read: Iran To Partially Reopen Cultural, Religious Sites As Coronavirus Cases Drop Read: Iran: Athletes Arrested Over Photographs That Showed Them Kissing On Rooftop The Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (as) in the city of Mashhad, Iran has finally reopened today after almost 2 months due to the Coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/DcMfB1Yd1Z Zaynabi Resistance (@zainab_mirza28) May 25, 2020 The courtyards of the holy shrine of Imam Reza(as) have been reopened since this morning, following the outbreak of the coronavirus virus. #Iran pic.twitter.com/ukzIT9AC9W Ovain Ali (@AliiOvain) May 25, 2020 As per reports, Irans state TV, as well as several Tweets, showed overjoyed worshippers running towards the Imam Reza shrine, guided by attendants wearing masks. According to the shrines website, all worshippers are required to take critical precautions such as wearing masks and also maintaining appropriate social distance while inside the shrine. The worshippers have been told to bring their own prayer mats, book and other items so as to minimize contact with contaminated surfaces. The major religious sites in Iran were closed back in March along with schools, universities and all non-vital businesses. Read: Rohit Shetty To Rajkumar Hirani: Filmmakers Aishwarya Rai Is Yet To Work With Read: Five Iranian Tankers Carrying Fuel Enter Venezuela Despite US' Warning The children of migrant workers have undergone unimaginable physical and mental distress in the lockdown. Separated from their friends, hungry, thirsty and exhausted, walking in the heat for days with their tiny feet blistered, sometimes being dragged on suitcases, sometimes falling asleep on their mothers shoulder, they are on an arduous journey to reach their native towns or villages, unaware of the terrible crisis that has suddenly snatched all avenues of livelihood from their family. But if you hand them a toy, their eyes with light up with joy and excitement, even in these grim circumstances! Jhansi Police distributed toys among the children of migrant workers at the Uttar Pradesh Madhya Pradesh border, on their way to their hometowns with parents, and succeeded in cheering them up. We wanted to bring a smile on their faces, add some love and warmth in this cruel heat. It was such a joy to see them happy, says Jhansi SP Rahul Srivastava. Jhansi Police has set up tents for the families of migrants departing to various destinations in North India. We have made these tents hospitable. We have set up heat proof and water proof tents for migrant workers and their families. We want the children and women to feel comfortable before leaving for their destination. The scorching heat has compounded their misery. They have to wait for long hours at every border to proceed ahead. We serve them food and water, but we realise that small children dont feel like eating much. They cry persistently, so we thought toys might cheer them up, says Srivastava. And the tiny tots did stop crying after they got toys to play with! Their mothers are already drained out by carrying them in this unbearable heat. Engaging kids could lessen the burden of these women, says the SP. Srivastava wants the migrant workers to carry back happy memories of the border. The idea is to show our hospitality. They have been through a lot of hardships. We want them to take with them good memories of the police and the administration. Its a happy feeling to win their confidence, says the cop. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Instead of sitting exams this year, Leaving Cert students will register with an online grading system The online registration of Leaving Cert candidates for the new calculated grade process will run for three days, starting tomorrow. All Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied students are being asked to register, even if, ultimately, they decide that they dont want to receive the calculated grades. Importantly, signing up to provides an opportunity for candidates to confirm the level at which they want to be assessed in a subject. Students can stick with the same level higher, ordinary, foundation - at which they entered for the traditional exams or they can drop down a level. While students generally stick with the level at which they originally entered, it is not unusual for candidates to drop down a level, in the run up to, or on the day of the exams itself. This is particularly a feature in maths. Teachers need confirmation of subject level information so they can provide an estimated mark/class ranking for students at the appropriate level. Expand Close Minister for Education Joe McHugh cancelled the Leaving Certificate exam in June (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Minister for Education Joe McHugh cancelled the Leaving Certificate exam in June (PA) The gov.ie/leavingcertificate portal will remain open until 10pm on Thursday. Read More Schools are contacting students about the registration process and, when they log, they will be asked for their exam number, public service number (PPS), which they will use to create a personal identification number (PIN) , email address and mobile phone number Education Minister Joe McHugh said schools had been asked to assist their students as much as possible but if anyone had trouble getting access online, there would be helpline support from midday on Tuesday. He urged students: Please dont leave it until the last minute. This is a tight timeframe. We need every student to register so that the new system can operate smoothly. The calculated grades system is replacing traditional summer Leaving Cert exams, which were deemed not possible because of the logistical difficulties associated with Covid-19 If students are not happy with their grades under this process, there will be an opportunity to sit exams at a later date November is the earliest mentioned- but it will be too late for college entry this year. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Commissioner of Police (CP) Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao said the process of disposing of seized vehicles has begun. While inspecting City Armed Reserve (CAR) grounds on Sunday, where the seized vehicles were kept, Tirumala Rao said a total of 8,427 vehicles were seized so far since the imposition of lockdown from March 21 and 5,000 of them were handed over to the respective owners by collecting self-declaration and vehicle documents from them. Rao stated that fine was imposed on vehicles which were booked under the Motor Vehicles Act. "Though we tried to dispose of the vehicles through court, we aborted that idea in view of summer vacation for the local courts. However, we took self-declaration from the vehicle owners who were booked under IPC sections and the Epidemic and Diseases Act for violating lockdown restrictions," the Commisioner explained. He further said the entire process of disposing of vehicles will be completed in a couple of days. The government is being urged by representatives of the restaurant sector to follow the example of other European countries, and reduce the 2-metre social distancing requirement to 1 metre. The Restaurant Association of Ireland maintains that such a move would adhere to the guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and also help restart the economy after the closure of business in the sector earlier this year. Ministers will consider easing Covid 19 restrictions if the number of cases continues to decline, with the possibility some aspects of later phases being brought forward. Speaking to Newstalk radio, CEO of the RAI Adrian Cummins has said that the issue needs to be investigated further. "The VAT returns are up to 7bn behind, and somebody's going to have to pay for the health service in this country, somebody's going to have to pay to keep the country going. "Small businesses, like our sector, across the country, are trying to start back up, and operate, and take people back on." Many representative organisations of business and trades around the country are gearing up for a return to trading amid the State's phased transition away from Covid-19 restrictions. Among them are The Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF), representing 400 owners and 5,000 stylists, who want hairdressers to be able come back to work earlier than planned, on July 20, as part of phase four of the process. Speaking on RTE Radio's Morning Ireland, incoming IHF president, Danielle Kennedy says the sector is ready to open more quickly. Saloons are already very sanitary environments, she said. We already are very well equipped to take that level of hygiene and those hygiene standards just up to the next level. Were already well equipped for contact tracing as well. So were one of the industries that can adapt very, very easily to the Governments protocols in order to reopen earlier. Advertisement Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has been asked to recall with immediate effect Mrs. Vivian Otti , for demanding three months salary from the State Government. The Human Rights Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIDE), in a statement yesterday threatened to declare Governor Uzodinma a dictator if after seven days Mrs Otti has not been recalled. In the statement signed by the Chairman Board of Trustees ( BoT), HURIDE, Dede Uzor A Uzor, Mrs Otti should not only be recalled but a public apology should be tendered to her by the State Government. Advertisement The rights group frowned at the docility and culture of silence exhibited by such human rights prone groups in Imo State like Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and human rights and pro-democracy groups in the State. HURIDE said these groups ought to have stood up for Mrs. Otti in the midst of her persecution by the Imo State Government. They vowed that Civil Society Organisations will formally pronounce Governor Hope Uzodinma a dictator if within seven days the State Government has not recalled Mrs. Otti and a public apology tendered to her. A senior member of Frances ruling party, En Marche!, has criticised Boris Johnsons approach to the coronavirus pandemic and, in particular, the UKs new quarantine policy. From 8 June, almost all arrivals at British airports, ferry ports and international rail terminals will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Bruno Bonnell, a close ally of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, told the BBCs Today programme: Europe should be as open as possible even though we have Brexit happening. Its a disappointment that the UK is excluding itself from Europe with this decision. Ive been discussing Mr Johnsons policy for a long time now and Ive discovered that its always a blame it on someone else attitude. On 10 May, just after the prime minister announced quarantine would be introduced, Downing Street indicated that France might be exempt from the self-isolation policy a suggestion later retracted. On 22 May, the home secretary, Priti Patel, announced an unprecedented 14-day quarantine for all arrivals. The French embassy in London quickly tweeted: France will reciprocally ask travellers arriving from the UK to go into #quarantine. The embassy said: All those travelling from the UK, whatever their nationality, will be asked to place themselves in quarantine on their arrival in France, as soon as the quarantine system in the UK comes into force. Mr Bonnell criticised the British response to the health crisis, saying: The problem with the UK is that the treatment of coronavirus has been a swing from Oh, its not a big deal to a full panic. I understand that Mr Johnson underestimated at first the difficulty of this virus. By excluding yourself, by closing your territory and imposing this, I dont think thats the right way to address this economic crisis. Announcing the quarantine on Friday, the home secretary said: Now we are past the peak of this virus, we must take steps to guard against imported cases, triggering a resurgence of this deadly disease. We will be guided by the science, and the health of the public and the country will always come first, which is why we are implementing these restrictions at the border now. Labour supported Ms Patels announcement. Lisa Nandy, the shadow foreign secretary, described quarantine as overdue but welcome, saying on Friday: I welcome the fact that theyre actually doing something about this today. The policy can be easily circumvented with the so-called Dublin dodge, exploiting the exemption for travellers inbound from the Republic of Ireland. However, touching Irish soil at Dublin airport en route to the UK involves taking either one or two extra flights, increasing the number of interactions with passengers making essential journeys. UPDATE: See how communities across the state remembered our fallen veterans. People across New Jersey are gearing up to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice by singing or playing the national anthem at 10 a.m. Monday. The idea came from NJ.com reader Gail Van Prooien, who wanted to do something to remember fallen veterans after the coronavirus shutdown caused Memorial Day parades to be cancelled. Van Prooien came to NJ Advance Media looking for a way to make it happen. To support her idea, we created a Facebook Live event, calling for everyone to come out and sing or play The Star Spangled Banner at the same time in a socially distant manner from your front porches, driveways and balconies. Veterans groups and some mayors have signed on. Hundreds of people on our Facebook page said they would be joining in. Weve heard from people as far away as Alabama and Oregon who said theyre on board. We will be in some N.J. neighborhoods, but we also need your help to capture tributes. Show us what you did to participate by adding your videos and photos to the event on Facebook. Tune in a few minutes before 10 a.m. Well see you then. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at bamboozled@njadvancemedia.com. Regarding Michael A. Wolffs guest column Should Missouri kill Walter Barton? (May 18): In the case of Walter Barton, there were two mistrials, a trial and conviction, a reversal and remand by the Missouri Supreme Court. The second trial ended in conviction and was upheld by the Supreme Court but later thrown out by a lower court. At the fifth trial, Barton was found guilty, and the death penalty was recommended. During final appeal, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled 4 to 3 to uphold his death sentence. On Feb. 19, the state of Missouri set the execution for May 19. A petition, which was signed by more than 5,800 people, asked Gov. Mike Parson to grant clemency. The clemency appeal was based on an innocence claim and lack of competence. Michael A. Wolff, retired Missouri Supreme Court justice who voted against the conviction and death sentence, wrote: Even if the evidence were strong enough to support a conviction, it may not have been enough to warrant the death penalty. In the end it was up to Parson. He was asked to stay the execution and appoint a board of inquiry to investigate. He chose to take no action, seeing no reason to intervene. Barton was executed last week by a lethal drug. I am horrified, angered and saddened to live in a state and a country that condones and promotes the killing of a human being who may not have been guilty. This is indeed cruel and unusual punishment. Lucy Freeman St. Louis A doctor has said that he will quit his job if Dominic Cummings does not go and another medic has hit out at the Downing Street aide for travelling to Durham during lockdown. Dominic Pimenta said the Government aide 'spits in the face' of the NHS in a furious tweet then told Good Morning Britain that he's ready to resign if Cummings stays in his position as the top Government aide. It comes as the senior advisor faces allegations of travelling three times during lockdown despite Boris Johnson instructing the public to stay at home. Dr Pimenta said on today's show: 'It's incredibly insulting to myself to the NHS staff and frankly to everyone in this country who's lost loved ones,' adding: 'It's unacceptable and I will not accept it.' It came after he tweeted a picture of himself wearing personal protective equipment, saying: 'This stuff is hot and hard work. Haven't seen my parents since January. Frankly, Cummings spits in the face of all our efforts, the whole NHS. If he doesn't resign, I will.' Another medic, Dr Claire Redmond, said that she wouldn't have even considered travelling the lengths that Cummings did. She told BBC Radio 4 that her husband and she both suffered through Covid-19 and made it their priority to isolate despite having children. It comes as the Prime Minister last night claimed that Cummings had acted responsibly and as any father would by driving up to his parents' home while he and his wife were symptomatic to guarantee that they would have childcare. Mr Cummings (pictured today in London) has been accused of repeatedly travelling 270 miles from London to Durham (above) to see his parents, while the public were told to stay at home Dr Redmond said: 'I think that our main concern at the time when we both knew we had to self-isolate with our three children and what we thought our responsibilities were at the time was very much that we must absolutely isolate ourselves and not spread this virus to anyone else as far as possible. 'We went to great lengths to do that and I don't think I would have dreamed of travelling the length of the country to sort out some child care.' She added: 'We looked at all the possible alternatives and in the current scenario I haven't felt reassured that the MPs and the PM have explained that Dominic Cummings and his wife did consider every alternative.' Boris Johnson was facing a furious Tory backlash at all levels of his party last night after he attempted to mount an extraordinary defence of Dominic Cummings. Mr Cummings' wife Mary Wakefield (pictured outside their home today) was ill with coronavirus when they travelled north At a dramatic press conference in Downing Street, the Prime Minister claimed his chief aide had acted 'responsibly, legally and with integrity' while making a controversial 260-mile trip from London to Durham during lockdown. Mr Johnson insisted Mr Cummings had 'followed the instincts of every father' by driving to his parents' farm after his wife developed symptoms of coronavirus. But he refused to deny that while in the North East, Mr Cummings had also driven 30 miles to go for a walk in the countryside in an apparent second lockdown breach. And he failed to say whether he had given Mr Cummings permission for the Durham trip or offer any apology for his most senior aide's behaviour. The PM decided to throw a protective arm around Mr Cummings after crisis talks with his mercurial adviser, in Number. Attempting to draw a line under the affair, the PM said Mr Cummings had acted 'with the overwhelming aim of stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives'. Mr Johnson said his adviser had 'followed the instincts of every father and every parent' in travelling to a place where he could get help caring for his four-year-old son if he and wife came down with the virus at the same time. Before Dominic Cummings took his first trip to Durham, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries acknowledged that parents who become symptomatic may face 'exceptional' circumstances in terms of childcare. Kabul: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday strongly condemned the Kabul attack which left at least two people dead. An attack at the American University in Kabul ended after two attackers were killed, police said early today, nearly 10hours after militants stormed the complex. "We have ended our clean-up operation. Two attackers were gunned down," Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of Kabul police's Criminal Investigation Department, told AFP without offering any details on the casualties. Explosions and gunfire rocked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday, leaving at least two people dead and five injured, media reports said. The attack which started right after a bomb blast on Wednesday evening went on for almost an hour, during which hundreds of students and faculty remained trapped inside, an official said. I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... our class is filled with smoke and dust, a desperate student told AFP by telephone.We are stuck inside and very afraid. Many other trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help. Among them was Associated Press photojournalist Massoud Hossaini. Also Read: Explosion, gunfire rock American University in Kabul; Pulitzer Prize winner trapped inside - As it happened Hossaini later successfully escaped along with nine students. Soon after, almost 100 students followed them to safety. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as the Taliban step up their summer fighting season against the Western-backed Kabul government. #AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of my friends and professors trapped inside, Kabul-based journalist Ahmad Mukhtar tweeted. The Italian-run Emergency Hospital in Kabul tweeted that at least five wounded people had been brought to the facility for treatment. The management of the elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, was not immediately reachable for comment. The private university is usually packed with students in the evening, many of them working professionals doing part-time courses at the facility. The assault comes after two professors at the university - an American and Australian - were kidnapped in the heart of Kabul earlier this month, the latest in a series of abductions of foreigners in the conflict-torn country. No group has publicly claimed the abductions so far. The Afghan capital is infested with organised criminal gangs who stage kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreigners and wealthy Afghans, and sometimes handing them over to insurgent groups. It appeared to be the first reported abduction related to a private university in Afghanistan. The Taliban have stepped up nationwide attacks. Afghan forces backed by US troops are seeking to head off a potential Taliban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand as fighting intensifies. A roadside bomb killed an American soldier yesterday near the city, and left another American and six Afghan soldiers wounded, the US-led NATO coalition said. The turmoil convulsing Helmand, blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency, underscores a rapidly unravelling security situation in Afghanistan. Fighting has left thousands of people displaced in Helmand in recent weeks, sparking a humanitarian crisis as officials report food and water shortages. (With PTI Inputs) #WATCH Visuals from the site of attack at American University in Kabul, security forces keep watch at the site.https://t.co/mtMhDLFlg9 ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016 We strongly condemn the attack on American University in Kabul. Condolences to the bereaved families & prayers with the injured. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 25, 2016 For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. If Dominic Cummings had done this on Saturday, after the story of his trip to Durham was first reported, he would have saved the prime minister a lot of trouble. It is one of Alastair Campbells rules of communication: get all the facts out as early as possible. By delaying, Cummings has allowed the view to become fixed in the public mind that he broke the lockdown rules that most people thought they had been following, often at great cost to themselves. His account of his drive to an isolated cottage on my fathers farm was coherent, with many of the weak points in the narrative successfully barricaded. He did not stop at all on the drive from London to Durham. He kept his distance from his parents, his sister and his nieces on the farm, and he, his wife and son kept their distance from people when he went to collect his son from hospital and when he went on a test drive, after the quarantine period was over, to see if he was well enough to drive back to London. But however compelling the individual episodes, the story arc is that one of the ruling elite took it upon himself to decide how to apply the rules to his own particular case. Many people who might otherwise have been sympathetic have already returned their verdict to the jury foreman: guilty of double standards. And he opened up new holes in the story that will feed the media frenzy for many more days. When his wife was ill, he dashed home, running in view of the cameras, but then came back to work that evening, when the advice is to begin self-isolating immediately. He said she did not have the classic coronavirus symptoms, but in the same breath that he was worried he would go down with it: what was he doing going back into the office? Why did he test his eyesight on a 30-minute drive with his child and wife in the car? Still, he did what he had to do to stem the tide of opinion that was running strongly against him. He gave supporters of the prime minister whose numbers have dwindled over the past few days enough material to mount a defence of his conduct that will be enough to allow him to stay in Downing Street. In this it is worth comparing his performance with that of Alastair Campbell, who appeared on Channel 4 News in 2003 in order to defend himself against the BBCs allegations that he had sexed up the intelligence on Iraq. The parallel is striking: two political advisers, very close to the prime minister, both under siege, and each deciding to break with convention to make their case on camera. Dominic Cummings, senior aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking on Monday (AP) Cummings had longer to set out his case, and did better than Campbell in controlling his temper. Perhaps he has some method like Campbells practice of stabbing himself with a paperclip to keep his anger in check. In both cases, they felt traduced by the media. Cummings on Monday repeatedly accused journalists of publishing untrue stories about him, and complained that he couldnt correct them because that led only to further confusion. Campbell did himself no good by going on TV, which he did at short notice in the heat of the moment. Cummings did himself more good, but was unable to explain why he hadnt done it before. He even started by admitting: In retrospect I should have made this statement earlier. In Campbells case, the public had already decided that there was something wrong with the case for joining the invasion of Iraq, and there was little he could do to convince people that the government had been honest. So it is with Cummings. The public has already decided that he and Boris Johnson think that the rules for the little people dont apply to them. Cummings has done enough to save his job. But that may be the worst outcome for the government and the country. It may be unfair, but he needs to go if the prime minister is to rebuild trust with the people trust that will be needed more than ever as he tries to lead the nation out of lockdown. Andy Weiner, of Haddonfield, N.J., owner of Splash Zone Water Park, orders a chocolate frozen custard from Kiera OMallui, 17, of Northeast Philadelphia, at Kohr Bros Frozen Custard along the Wildwood boardwalk at Wildwood, N.J., on Saturday, May 23, 2020. Food businesses have employees wearing masks and a plastic screen to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Read more It has been a chilly unofficial start to summer at the Jersey Shore this Memorial Day weekend, with rain and clouds helping to keep beaches less crowded than they otherwise might have been, even with social-distancing guidelines in place. Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) This weekend signaled the unofficial opening of the summer season at the Jersey Shore. But it was unlike Memorial Day weekends past. Its a whole new world, one Ventnor ice cream seller said. But the rain and clouds that came through the region might have done a better job than health authorities at holding down crowds and maintaining social-distancing guidelines. The water, itself, was chilly, too. Heres what the Shore looked like this weekend. The coronavirus pandemic has driven millions of white-collar office employees back home for work. And it could be that way for a while. But the new setup has come with positives and downsides, according to interviews with more than two dozen people who are adjusting to their at-home work lives. Some coronavirus-related restrictions will start to loosen in the Philadelphia region June 5. Heres what is allowed to be open in that yellow phase. What about for kids? Will camps be open? Can your kids play with others? How about playing team sports? Heres what we know. What you need to know today Through your eyes | #OurPhilly Surfs up. Thanks for sharing this video, @elevated.angles. Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and well pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out! Thats interesting Opinions Today, we are engaged in a time of struggle and sacrifice against a microscopic invader that has cornered much of our great nation and afflicted almost every community, forcing us to set aside many of our usual leisurely pursuits. write Daniel M. DiLella, the president and CEO of Equus Partners and chairman of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, and Ronald S. Coleman, a retired lieutenant general of the U.S. Marine Corps about how we can honor Memorial Day in the face of COVID-19. The Inquirer Editorial Board has endorsed two candidates for the Pennsylvania Senate: one suburban candidate and one in Philadelphia. Columnist Helen Ubinas offers a little Oppression 101, a crash course for those who think their rights are being denied. Inside The Inquirer Every day this week, were taking you behind the scenes of The Inquirer newsroom to learn more about what we do and how we do it. If you missed yesterdays edition, you can find it here. Today, were looking at something we call service journalism, which includes Curious Philly. This is a project that has us answering your questions directly. Heres how service features editor Megan Griffith-Greene described it: The stories we do are all about you: What the news means for the choices you make every day. In the middle of a pandemic, that means how to avoid getting sick and how to make sense of all the rules we have for everything now. We cover everything from how to wear a face mask with glasses, to whether you can hang out with a friend outside to what you need to think about before you go to the beach. The questions come from readers, and in the end, our stories are about how to live better in this strange time, make smarter decisions, and stay healthy. Take a look at our Coronavirus FAQ page to find more than 100 questions weve answered. Check this out: You can submit a question right now. Are we missing anything? Tell us. You can find a place to submit a question at the bottom of our FAQ page. Also, you can sign up for our Things To Do (at home) newsletter. Tomorrow, well show you how we cover breaking news with the Now Team. Your Daily Dose of | Star Trek helmets The oxygen hoods, like the one you see in the picture above, are kind of like mini-hyperbaric chambers that pump oxygen into disease-compromised lungs and filter out contaminants. They dont leak, theyre inexpensive, and they can be reused to protect hospital staff from the breath of patients. A group calling itself the Akwatia Development Association is appealing to government to reconsider its decision to appoint Enoch Baah as the new Managing Director (MD) of the Great Consolidated Diamonds Ghana Limited (GCDGL). According to the group, Enoch Baah, who once headed the mining firm allegedly ruined it. It will be recalled that, following the takeover of GCDGL, President Akufo-Addo assured the Chiefs and people of Akwatia that government will do all within its power to revive the erstwhile diamonds company and that all bottlenecks will be cleared to get the mine to function again by finding the right investors. In an interview with Citi Business News, Vice President of the group, Kwadwo Obeng Darko, said the appointment of Enoch Baah is inappropriate. We cannot accept the reappointment of Mr. Enoch Baah, not his personality but the principle behind it. He was appointed as the General Manager, of the erstwhile JOSPONG Reconsolidated Diamonds Limited and he supervised a lot. It was during his time that people had to mine the houses, the roads and all that and that caused the Akwatia Development Association to raise the alarm. Our belief is that there are more youth in the system. We believe government can appoint any other person but not the same person. I mean how can you. It's unacceptable, he said. The group in an earlier statement also said they will not accept any new appointments by government, which suggests that government wants to take over the complete operations of the company without looking for a new investor. They are asking government to put up the mine for tender to enable competent investor(s) take over the affairs of the company. Notwithstanding the posture and resolve of Government to revive the mines again, the appointment of new management teams after the work of the IMC only seems to suggest that government intends to take over the operations of the mines. This could not be true, because we have come to believe that the existing challenges of the mines which have been created by successive unsuccessful takeovers will be better resolved by a more competent investor with sufficient track record and proven expertise in mining, to enable a turnaround of the company and revive the mines again. The Akwatia Development Association would like to draw governments attention to promises made to revive the mines. The Association strongly recommends that Government puts up the mine for tender to enable competent investor(s) to take over the affairs of the company, they noted. Background Last year, the Akwatia Development Association petitioned government to speedily halt the operations of the Great Consolidated Diamonds Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Jospong Group in the area. According to them, the new management of GCDGL, had not fulfilled its promise of making the company commercially viable by creating both direct and indirect jobs for residents. GCDGL, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies, took over the operations of GCDGL on August 23, 2011, with the promise to invest $100 million in a five-year period and produce one million carats of diamonds every year within the period. The company also reportedly promised to create 2,500 direct jobs and 50,000 indirect jobs for support services. Government takeover On September 20, 2019, government announced the abrogation of the contract awarded to GCDGL in 2011 to mine diamonds at Akwatia for breach of contract. The company, the government said, failed to fulfil its core mandate of paying $17 million to the Divestiture Implementation Committee, DIC, as well as rehabilitating and refurbishing facilities at the mines to enhance production. In response, the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) which took ownership of the GCDGL from the government's Divestiture Implementation Committee in 2011 said the government, through the DIC, had acted without following due process. The company said government was wrong in taking over the company while they were challenging the legality of the contract aggregation in court. The company also said the action by the State Interest and Governance Authority was illegal, unconstitutional and regrettable in a nation that is governed by the tenets of democracy. A 55-year-old man has been jailed for three years for carrying out a barbaric circumcision without anaesthetic on a 10-month old boy. The baby needed emergency urgent medical attention and was hospitalised for two weeks. Father-of-six, Philip Ogbewe, from Nigeria but living in Ireland 20 years and residing at Green Lanes, Drogheda, Co. Louth, used a blade on the infant during a crude cultural circumcision. The baby was bleeding heavily afterwards and was rushed to the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar before he was transferred to Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. He has made a full recovery. His mother, who had sought the circumcision, had thought Ogbewe, a grocer and fridge technician, was a doctor, Longford Circuit Criminal Court was told. It is a barbaric act of cruelty, there is no question about it, on a 10-month old, even allowing for cultural norms, Judge Keenan Johnson had said after hearing the evidence. He said the defendant had masqueraded as a doctor, albeit a quack doctor and he was well aware of the cultural norms in Ireland. Ogbewe, who called himself Doctor Philip, had been known in his community for carrying out circumcisions since he was in his mid-teens, the court was told. It was a tradition in his family going back a number of generations to his great grandfather. Ogbewe had continued performing them while on bail which was revoked in November, the judge noted. The accused had lived in Ireland long enough to know it was not allowed, Judge Johnson said. He noted from the evidence that Ogbewe already had made enquiries about the legitimacy of his circumcisions here, and he had been left in no uncertain doubt. The case arose out of cultural norms and what was acceptable, he had said adding, The old adage, when in Rome do as the Romans, has to apply. He described the offence at the higher end of recklessness and the procedure, on a 10-month-old child without anaesthetic or proper sterilisation, was obviously reckless in the extreme. A hospital report also described it as botched but Ogbewe thought it was a fantastic job, the court heard. Ogbewe pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment of life by performing the circumcision on the baby which led to serious haemorrhaging which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm, at the infants home in a midlands town on December 4, 2015. The offence carries a maximum seven-year sentence. A second charge under the Section 41.b of the Medical Practitioners Act for falsely representing himself as a medical practitioner was struck out. Sentencing was adjourned until today, when Judge Johnson imposed a four-year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on condition he does not re-offend within the next 10 years. He has to remain on probation supervision to address his offending behaviour for 12 months after release. Judge Johnson also ordered him to refrain from carrying out any medical procedure of any kind, or from holding himself out as a medical practitioner. The investigation commenced after gardai were contacted by staff from the hospital in Mullingar who had been treating the baby for heavy bleeding to the genital area. Garda Sergeant Paul Carney said the circumcision was carried out in a crude manner. He said the childs mother had sought a traditional ritual circumcision and had been given Ogbewes number. She paid him 200 when he travelled to her home and performed the circumcision with a small knife. He arrived wearing a stethoscope and the mother told Garda Sergeant Carney she thought he was a doctor. After he left, the infant began bleeding heavily and when the mother rang him said it was to be expected and to give him Calpol or Neurofen. Garda Sergeant Carney interviewed him and he claimed the woman had pressured him into the performing the circumcision. When his car was searched, gardai found his canvas bag contained a surgical blade, a razor blade, thread, cotton wool, Vaseline, and a disinfectant liquid. A hospital report stated the skin had appeared to have been removed from the babys penile shaft, the court heard. A victim impact statement was furnished to the court in which the mother was described as traumatised. Mr Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, defending, said his client had regarded himself as an expert, conscientious and qualified but he was now remorseful and ashamed. A probation report said he was at a medium risk of reoffending. His legal team obtained an expert medical report and emphatically explained to him that he must not perform circumcisions again which he has now accepted. His client was loved by his family and he had brought a letter of apology to court. He also had health problems and has spent 10 months in custody, Mr O Lideadha had said in pleas for leniency. He had four prior convictions but they related to traffic offences which the judge said were not relevant to the case. His guilty plea was noted, however, the judge said that Ogbewe had continued to ply his trade while on bail, and that was an aggravating factor. New Delhi, May 25 : Spreading across the national capital, coronavirus has also touched the office of Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's office, where a staffer has tested positive. According to official sources, the man was unwell from past few days and was not coming to the office. "He tested positive on Sunday. The office has been sanitised," an official source told IANS. The coronavirus cases count in the national capital has gone up to 14,053 and the death tally has reached 276, the Delhi Health Department said on Monday. Out of the total cases, 7,006 were active, it said. An English woman who was told by police her family could not lounge on a beach in Wales said she did not know Wales was not in England, and criticised officers in a foul-mouthed rant on social media. The woman drove 100 miles from the west midlands to Gwynedd beach in Barmouth last Wednesday, but was angered after police told her she had to leave, reported Welsh newspaper The Daily Post. Under new coronavirus lockdown rules in England, people can drive unlimited distances to beauty spots in the country for exercise and sunbathing as long as they adhere to social distancing guidelines and return home on the same day. However, the same rules do not apply in Wales, where people have been told to stick to the stay home guidance and not to make non-essential trips. In a video she posted on social media, the unnamed woman can be heard accusing officers of upsetting her child and asking: Youre telling me its illegal to be at this beach when Boris Johnson said that you can? The officer replies: Were telling you its different in Wales than it is in England. Right, so what beach can I go to then today? she asks. She is then informed she cannot go to any beaches in Wales. Later that day, the woman reportedly admitted on social media that she didnt realise Wales wasnt in England, but still took issue with the countrys lockdown rules. Fully understand I was in the wrong. See I admit when I f*** up, she wrote. But tomorrow we going to an English beach. F*** you Wales you bunch of b*******. No f***** was even there locals lined up waiting. Come on its me I dont do rules, she added. Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Show all 7 1 /7 Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the hot weather at Bournemouth beach in Dorset on 20 May PA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the hot weather at Bournemouth beach in Dorset on 20 May PA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Beachgoers bask in the sun on Brighton Beach in Brighton on 20 May EPA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the sunshine on Birling Gap beach on 20 May near Eastbourne Getty Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Seagulls are perched on a street lamp as beachgoers bask in the sun on Brighton Beach EPA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People head to the beach as England basks in sunshine in Blackpool Getty Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Parts of the country were expected to reach 29 degrees celsius, luring sunbathers and testing the capacity of parks and beaches to accommodate social distanced crowds. Getty North Wales Police reminded the public of the lockdown rules in Wales on bank holiday Monday, tweeting: Restrictions remain more stringent in Wales. Our tourist attractions, parts of the national park, pubs, cafes and holiday parks all remain closed. Our focus continues to be to reassure, inform and engage and once again we are out and about today. Please stay home. The Independent has contacted North Wales Police for comment. The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday thanked Prince William for helping him pull through his recent battle with depression. Justin Welby said that the prince encouraged him to seek help. It came as William took part in the Churchs weekly online service. He has also spoken on mental health for a BBC documentary to be broadcast this week. Josh Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured), revealed that Prince William helped him pull through a recent battle with depression The Archbishop said the Duke of Cambridge (pictured) convinced him to seek help for his issues and hopes that others can be encouraged to do the same The Archbishop told the Sunday Times: I am deeply grateful to His Royal Highness for speaking publicly about mental health and hope it might encourage others who are suffering alone to seek help and support. It encouraged me to seek help when I was struggling, help that was effective. Archbishop Welby, who is the son of two alcoholics, and who suffered the loss of his seven-month-old daughter in a car crash, has acknowledged his own struggles with mental health in the past. Last week, he told the BBC that he had experienced an overwhelming sense the world is getting more and more difficult and gloomy. The Archbishop said last week that he felt the world was becoming more gloomy and was becoming more narcissistic He added: 'You turn inwards on yourself a lot. You become, frankly, narcissistic. 'And when you have good friends or family who spot it, they can say "might it not be an idea to talk to someone." Which I did. There is nothing pathetic about it. It is no more pathetic than being ill in any other way. And we just need to get over that.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 20:53:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Zambia has received more COVID-19 medical materials from the Jack Ma Foundation, a government official said Monday. Emmanuel Mwamba, Zambia's permanent representative to the African Union and Ambassador to Ethiopia said the consignment was dispatched to Zambia last Friday. In this consignment, Zambia has received 71 detection kits, 2,713 personal protective clothing sets, 2,587 face shields and 27 infrared thermometers. Others are 13,615 gloves, 68 swabs, 142 extraction kits, 4 pap ventilators, 6,807 civilian N95 masks, 54,459 surgical masks, 126 goggles and one infrared thermal detection machine. Zambia is among 54 African countries benefited from the Jack Ma Foundation. The foundation has partnered with the African Union in fighting the disease on the continent. Enditem Long lines of travelers were seen waiting to get through airport security at Charlotte Douglas International on Monday, with around half of the passengers wearing face coverings and very few practicing social distancing. The travelers who were among a relatively small number nationwide who ventured out to the countrys airports on Memorial Day were angry about the long lines, which reportedly caused some of them to miss flights. The line is wrapped and looping around the lobby for TSA, tweeted a reporter for WCNC-TV. Im told people are growing frustrated/missing flights. Heres another picture showing how bad the lines are backed up @CLTAirport. @wcnc pic.twitter.com/6UgZ2zr90s Hunter Saenz (@Hunt_Saenz) May 25, 2020 Many of those in line to be screened by airport security were not wearing face coverings or observing social distancing guidelines And I dont see much social distancing at all. So far this Memorial Day weekend, some 600,000 Americans have flown by air as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA measures checkpoint travel numbers and compares them to the same figures at this time last year. That number is way down from the same period last year, when nearly 5 million Americans travel by air through the first two days of the three-day weekend. While the numbers appear stark, this weekend is a pandemic-era record in terms of screened travelers. On April 14, the TSA recorded its lowest number of screened travelers just shy of 88,000. The TSA reported that in April, it screened just 6 per cent of the total number of passengers that went through security in the same month last year. The COVID-19 pandemic has hampered nationwide travel this holiday weekend so much so that the American Automobile Association declined to release its annual travel forecast. In the 20 years that AAA has published its reports, this is the first time ever that no such study will be released for Memorial Day weekend. Long lines were seen at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Monday as passengers waited in line to be screened by TSA. A sign at the airport in Charlotte urges travelers to maintain social distancing The image above from inside an American Airlines flight that departed Charlotte on Monday shows a packed plane Last year, 43 million Americans traveled for Memorial Day Weekend the second-highest travel volume on record since AAA began tracking holiday travel volumes in 2000, said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. With social distancing guidelines still in practice, this holiday weekends travel volume is likely to set a record low. Memorial Day 2009 currently holds the record for the lowest travel volume at nearly 31 million travelers, according to AAA. That holiday weekend, which came toward the end of the Great Recession, 26.4 million Americans traveled by car, 2.1 million by plane and nearly 2 million by other forms of transportation, including trains, cruises, and other modes. AAA expects to make travel projections for the late summer and fall, assuming states ease travel restrictions and businesses reopen. Last week, a social media user posted this image of a flight that nearly full as it departed Charlotte Some airlines are preparing to ramp up activity as we head into the summer and states accelerate the easing of lockdown restrictions. Delta Air Lines is likely to increase capacity this summer by adding flights in June and July as US domestic travel slowly picks up amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, its chief executive officer said on Wednesday. CEO Edward Bastian told Fox Business Network the airlines 60 per cent cap on passenger load would help it maintain social distancing, while it also undertakes other efforts such as cleaning to boost customer confidence. Today our load factor on Delta is somewhere about 35-40 per cent full, he said in an interview. Once we get close to 60 per cent on an individual route thatll be the trigger for us to add more planes into the system. Bastian said he expected to add about 200 flights in June, and probably another 200 or 300 flights in July. Overall, US travel continues to be slow, he said, adding that he expects it to recover in the next 12 to 18 months, although international travel may not restart more fully until 2021. He said he expects the companys costs to be down more than 50 per cent in the second quarter on year-over-year basis, and that with the help of US government assistance he sees ending June with a $14billion cash balance to help the airline ride out the pandemic. Sources familiar with the airlines strategy had told Reuters Deltas plan to limit passengers to 60 per cent of its seats was key to its efforts to manage fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. Southwest Airlines will continue to limit bookings on its flights through at least July to give passengers space between seats, CEO Gary Kelly told shareholders on Thursday, mirroring a plan by competitor Delta. Airlines have been operating about 90 per cent fewer flights than normal but are gradually adding flights back to their schedules as demand begins picking up. JetBlue and United Airlines also announced fresh safety measures on Wednesday aimed at restoring confidence in air travel. JetBlue will continue blocking some seats on its aircraft through at least July 6 while checking crew members temperatures and stepping up aircraft cleaning with electrostatic aircraft fogging. United will roll out Cloroxs electrostatic sprayers and disinfecting wipes at its Chicago and Denver hub airports, followed by other locations. It will set up touchless kiosks and implement temperature checks for staff as well. US and China on 'Brink of New Cold War', Chinese Foreign Minister Warns Sputnik News 07:26 GMT 24.05.2020(updated 18:05 GMT 24.05.2020) Relations between Washington and Beijing recently deteriorated as the US accused China of misinformation about the coronavirus crisis. The countries have also clashed over the situation in Hong Kong, as well as territorial disputes in the South China Sea, economic issues, and US dependency on Chinese resources. "It has come to our attention that some political forces in the US are taking China-US relations hostage and pushing our two countries to the brink of a new Cold War", Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on Sunday. He noted that the two nations have to find a way for peaceful coexistence, adding, however, that the issue of Hong Kong is an internal Chinese affair, and foreign meddling is unacceptable. The minister also slammed lawsuits filed by the US states of Missouri and Mississippi against Beijing over its coronavirus response, stating they have no legal basis. "The Chinese side has an open position regarding the scientific cooperation with the international scientific community to study the origin of the coronavirus. At the same time, we believe that this process should be professional, fair and constructive. By fair we mean that in the study of the [COVID-19] origin, political interference should be avoided", Wang Yi said. "Aside from the devastation caused by the novel coronavirus, there is also a political virus spreading through the US", Wang added. "This political virus is the use of every opportunity to attack and smear China. Some politicians completely disregard basic facts and have fabricated too many lies targeting China, and plotted too many conspiracies". According to him, a new security law for Hong Kong should be imposed "without the slightest delay". The news comes after Beijing proposed national security legislation to ban secession and foreign interference in Hong Kong, resulting in a massive backlash in the Western media. Apart from the coronavirus inquiry and tensions around Hong Kong, China and the US clashed on economic issues, as the American authorities criticised numerous countries for joining China's Belt and Road Initiative. The US Senate has also recently passed a bill demanding companies confirm that they are not owned or controlled by foreign governments, which could prevent many Chinese companies from listing their shares on American exchanges. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington may completely cut off diplomatic relations with Beijing over the ongoing coronavirus crisis. He also accused the Chinese side of attempting to conceal coronavirus-related information, and claimed that he had seen evidence that COVID-19 originated at a Wuhan virology laboratory. Beijing has vehemently dismissedd the accusations, urging the US to "handle its domestic affairs properly first", and adding that World Health Organisation officials have "repeatedly stated that there is no evidence showing the virus was made in a lab". US officials are "hyping up the issue of origins, insinuating that the virus had something to do with the Wuhan Institute of Virology; it's not difficult to see through their tricks which intend to muddy the waters, deflect attention and shift the blame to others", ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian underscored. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address California Governor Gavin Newsom seal View Photo Sacramento, CA California Governor Gavin Newsom says churches will be allowed to reopen in the state, but attendance should be limited to 25-percent of total capacity, or a maximum of 100 attendees. The guidance was released by the California Department of Public Health this afternoon. The same rules will also apply for in-person political protests (25-percent of an areas maximum capacity or up to 100 attendees). The changes are effective immediately across California, upon approval by local county public health departments. In addition, to reopen for religious services and funerals, places of worship must: -Establish and implement a COVID-19 prevention plan for every location, train staff on the plan, and regularly evaluate workplaces for compliance. -Train employees and volunteers on COVID-19, including how to prevent it from spreading and which underlying health conditions may make individuals more susceptible to contracting the virus. -Implement cleaning and disinfecting protocols. -Set physical distancing guidelines. -Recommend that staff and guests wear cloth face coverings, and screen staff for temperature and symptoms at the beginning of their shifts. -Set parameters around or consider eliminating singing and group recitations. These activities dramatically increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission. For this reason, congregants engaging in singing, particularly in the choir, and group recitation should wear face coverings at all times and when possible, these activities should be conducted outside with greater than 6-foot distancing. On Friday, President Donald had called on Governors across the country to allow places of worship to reopen. C Shivakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI: The confusion over whether flights will resume or not from the State's airports on Monday was put to an end with the government releasing official standard operating procedure late on Sunday night by permitting 25 incoming flights to Chennai airport while not putting any cap on departure of flights. However, the State has also urged the Airports Authority of India to keep bare minimum the flights from Gujarat and Maharastra. Meanwhile, the State has also given the green signal to operate flights to Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy. Permitting arrival and departure of flights from Chennai was allowed after the State appointed Hans Raj Verma, additional chief secretary Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department on Sunday to coordinate the strategy to handle incoming passengers for domestic air services in the State. This comes after the initial draft standard operating procedure which was leaked and doing the rounds on the Whatsapp group was denied to be a official one. The revised SOP was announced after the Chief Minister returned to Chennai from Salem in the evening. For the incoming passengers flying into Tamil Nadu, it is mandatory to register their details online and obtain a TN e-pass through the government portal. All the passengers will be stamped with 'Quarantine' seal with date with edible ink before they are allowed to move out of airport. Entry to Tamil Nadu Passengers on arrival at any airport shall show TN e-pass at the airport exit. Passengers without the e-pass will not be allowed to exit but it has been relaxed initially for few days and arrangements will be made at the airport for TN e-pass as a transitional arrangement, sources said. Meanwhile, all asymptomatic passengers will have to undergo quarantine for 14 days and those who don't belong to the State will have to pay for institutional quarantine. Similarly, those showing symptoms will be moved to the health facility for undergoing PCR tests. Those showing mild symptoms will be home quarantined while those with severe symptoms will be taken to hospital. Difficulties Meanwhile, Chennai Airport sources said the operation of aircraft would be stressful as many States have put forward restrictions on flights from Chennai. With Kolkata operations resuming from May 28 and Telengana likely to permit air operations from May 26, there has been a restriction on operation of flights from Chennai. It is learnt that Hyderabad has permitted not more than 15 incoming flights and 15 departures per day while Mumbai has agreed for not more that 25 incoming flights and 25 departures a day. All other airports in Maharashtra will be handling 33 per cent of their capacity. Spicejet has opened bookings fron Chennai to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Coimbatore, Madurai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Indigo airlines has opened bookings from Chennai to Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru. Similarly, Vistara has opened booking from Chennai to Mumbai and Delhi. Air India has not opened any booking on May 25. It is learnt that the booking will resume after May 31. To support an economy on track for its deepest slump in postwar history, the government is considering fresh stimulus worth 100 trillion yen ($930 billion), mostly comprising financial aid for companies, the Nikkei newspaper said. Tokyo: Japan will lift a state of emergency for Tokyo and remaining areas still facing restrictions on Monday, while the Nikkei reported a plan for new stimulus worth almost $1 trillion to help companies ride out the coronavirus pandemic. Social distancing curbs were loosened for most of the country on 14 May as new infections fell, but the government had kept Tokyo and four other prefectures under watch. Japans economy minister told reporters on Monday the government had received approval from key advisers to remove the state of emergency for all remaining regions. It would be the first time the country has been completely free from the state of emergency since it was first declared a month and a half ago. While the emergency state will be lifted, it is important to expand economic activity in stages as we establish a new way of living, Yasutoshi Nishimura said. He added that the head of the advisory panel had recommended close monitoring of Tokyo, Kanagawa and Hokkaido prefectures, where cases had fluctuated. The worlds third-largest economy has escaped an explosive outbreak with some 17,000 infections and 825 deaths so far; however, the epidemic has tipped it into a recession and plunged Prime Minister Shinzo Abes popularity to multi-year lows. An Asahi newspaper poll conducted at the weekend showed Abes support rate at 29 percent - the lowest since he returned to power in late 2012 - and disapproval at 52 percent. The results mirrored a Mainichi newspaper survey published on Saturday. Abe will hold a news conference at 6 pm (0900 GMT), followed by a government task force meeting. The lifting of the state of emergency takes effect after the meeting. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has previously said the capital would move into stage one of loosening restrictions, once the state of emergency was removed. That would allow libraries and museums to reopen, and restaurants to stay open until later in the evening. Subsequent stages would see theatres, cinemas and fairgrounds reopen. Two-fifths of GDP To support an economy on track for its deepest slump in postwar history, the government is considering fresh stimulus worth 100 trillion yen ($930 billion), mostly comprising financial aid for companies, the Nikkei newspaper said. The package, to be funded by a second supplementary budget, would follow a record 117 trillion yen spending plan deployed last month. The combined stimulus would bring the total spending in response to the pandemic to about 40 percent of Japans gross domestic product (GDP). The new package would include 60 trillion yen to expand loan programmes that state-affiliated and private financial institutions offer to firms hit by virus, the Nikkei said. Another 27 trillion yen would be set aside for other aid including capital injections for ailing firms, the paper said. The government is expected to approve the budget, which will also include subsidies to help companies pay rent and wages, at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Japans economy slipped into recession in the last quarter, and analysts expect another 22 percent contraction in April-June. The deepening pain from the pandemic is forcing the government to add to Japans huge debt pile, which is already twice the size of its economy, to pay for big spending plans. The Bank of Japan expanded monetary stimulus for the second straight month in April and pledged to buy as many bonds as needed to keep borrowing costs at zero. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 23 times, Trend reports on May 25 referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. 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. COVID-19 Patients No Longer Infectious After 11 Days, Study Claims Most COVID-19 patients are no longer infectious 11 days after developing symptoms of the deadly disease, according to a new study by infectious disease experts in Singapore, findings that may affect patient discharge policies. After examining the viral load in 73 COVID-19 patients, experts from Singapores National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and the Academy of Medicine found that the virus could not be isolated or cultured after day 11 of illness, they said in a joint statement (pdf). Patients who continue to test positive for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, on day 12 and beyond, are likely doing so because of virus fragments that are no longer infectious, the study found. Active viral replication drops quickly after the first week, and viable virus was not found after the second week of illness, the researchers wrote. Patients with weakened immune systems are exceptions, and in such cases, the virus could be viable longer, they noted. Based on the accumulated data since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the infectious period of SARS-CoV-2 in symptomatic individuals may begin around two days before the onset of symptoms, and persists for about 7-10 days after the onset of symptoms, the researchers stated. NCID Executive Director Leo Yee-Sin told the Singapore newspaper The Straits Times that while the patient sample size in the study was small, she believes the conclusions of the study are sound. Scientifically, Im very confident that there is enough evidence that the person is no longer infectious after 11 days, she said. COVID-19 patients in Singapore are currently discharged based on two negative tests, similar to de-isolation guidelines in the United States released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which call for two negative tests in a row, at least 24 hours apart. Singapores Ministry of Health told The Straits Times it would examine the study carefully to see if it merits a change in policy related to discharging COVID-19 patients. The Singapore study follows a similar one in South Korea, which found that patients who recovered from COVID-19 but later tested positive didnt pass the virus to others while they were re-positive. Scientists from the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 790 people, including 351 family members, who came into contact with nearly 300 of around 450 patients who recovered from the virus, but later tested positive. Researchers didnt find a single case of anyone becoming infected after coming into contact with the recovered patients who again tested positive. As of now, no case has been found that was newly confirmed from exposure during re-positive period alone, researchers wrote in a May 19 report (pdf). Researchers in South Korea put forward a theory similar to the Singaporean experts, which is that non-viable virus fragments remain in patients after recovery. Were putting more weight on the theory that dead virus fragments remain in a recovered patients body, since we havent seen evidence of infectivity, Ki Moran, a professor at the National Cancer Center whos advising the South Korean government, told The Wall Street Journal. More research is required to determine why patients are re-testing positive for the virus, officials cited in the report said. The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Africas economy has shown that the continent can ill-afford a further delay in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), panelists in a web conference on Africas economic recovery, post-COVID-19, said on Monday. The panelists consisted of the Senegalese President, Macky Sall, and his Liberian counterpart, George Weah; President, AFREXIMBANK, Benedict Oramah; U.S. Senator and member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Africa, Chris Coons; President, International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, and President, Africa CEO Forum, Amir Yahmed. The high-level panel conference moderated by Group Chairman, UBA, Tony Elumelu, was on the theme: UBA Africa Day Conversations 2020: Growth, Jobs, and Sustainable Development Amidst a Global Pandemic. In his presentation, Mr Oramah said despite not having too much health problems or deaths as a result of the pandemic, Africa has become the epicentre of the economic devastation COVID-19 has unleashed upon the global economy. He blamed the situation on excessive dependence on commodity export without any effort to build infrastructure to promote intra-regional integration and trade as well as avoid bailouts from outsiders. The COVID-19 crisis is a reminder to all Africans about the collective need for togetherness and reaffirmation of our faith in ourselves and Africa. With the COVID-19 crisis, Africa must see the positive message that there comes a time when every groups of people should begin to fend for themselves and be independent and integrate the continent better in terms of trade and investment among ourselves as well as promote growth and development as a people, without always looking out for bailouts from outsiders, he said. ACFTA as the way Mr Oramah said the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed so many weaknesses across Africa, ranging from lack of basic infrastructure to appropriate economic policies to help drive growth and manage the crisis of current magnitude. With COVID-19, he said most governments in Africa were ill-prepared, either with the resources, or the soft and hard infrastructure necessary to deal with crisis. The priority before the 55 governments in Africa, he said, must be to ensure the AfCFTA, reached almost two year ago by the African Union Heads of Government to facilitate intra-regional integration and trade, was implemented without further delay. If there was any doubt about the importance of the agreement reached about two years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic has showed this is the way to go. We have to put away all reservations we have and build supply chains across Africa. This is the only way we can begin to foster dynamic growth in the African continent. If we do not do that, we will remain perpetual commodity exporters. And we have seen what commodity exporters suffer in times of global crisis like this. Not only did crude oil prices crash, but there was also no market for it, as nobody was ready to buy them. At the same time, companies and individuals looking for medical or pharmaceutical supplies, Africa did not have the infrastructure or the capacity to produce them. Africa was waiting to be supplied from outside. But, the supply chains were all disrupted by the crisis. So, AfCFTA is the answer. We must waste no time. Africa must use this opportunity to overcome all the challenges we may have at country levels and collectively as a continent, he said. With the implementation of the ACFTA, Mr Oramah said Africa can begin to gradually build the health infrastructure, build the manufacturing base and the physical infrastructure to connect the continent, so that when the continent is confronted with crisis like this, we will be able to handle them. Unless Africa creates the market and ensure all the things necessary to build bigger banks capable of financing the development and growth the continent needs, he said, Africa would remain vulnerable to this kind of crisis in future. Hunger worse than coronavirus Mr Orama said Africas debt has grown from about $200 billion in 2006 to about $1trilion today. He said the continents continued dependence on commodity import/trade could be blamed for this adding that the continent would continue to experience fiscal problems as prices of commodities crash. To get around it, Africa must find a way to no longer depend solely on commodities. We have to build a dynamic economy that is less dependent on commodities, but on the kinds of goods and services not vulnerable to episodic shocks experience in Africa. We should build a domestic capital market that will bring the fragment stock exchanges in Africa together to build a strong financial system and diversified sources of funding growth and development and depend less on borrowing internationally, he said. Besides, he said although COVID-19 is posing a health challenge, in Africa the crisis is deeper in many other areas, including food supply and agriculture. He said massive hunger is looming if nothing is done before the end of the pandemic, adding that if governments in Africa allow hunger to take over from COVID-19, the continent would likely see political problems, since hungry people would start agitating. Hunger virus will be more devastating that coronavirus, because if people do not have what to eat, they are likely to begin to go to the streets in protest. If that comes after the COVID 19 pandemic, it will take a very long time for Africa to come out of the crisis, he warned. Advertisements Government-private sector collaboration The Liberian President, George Weah, spoke of how his government was working to support private sector overcome the crisis in his country. He said since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, his government has been relating with commercial banks, businesses and other partners to manage the loan repayment schedules as well as provide other stimulus packages to alleviate some of the financial and social burdens on its citizens. U.S. must do more to support Africa Meanwhile, the Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Africa, Chris Coons, expressed confidence in the swift manner African leaders have responded to the COVID-19 crisis. The lawmaker said he would continue to support a strong and significant investment in the African economy to unlock its potentials and to provide for more robust growth and sustainable partnership. He said the U.S. should do more to support Africa, pointing out that to recover from the impact of the pandemic, Africa must partner to develop a vaccine to be made widely available, free, affordable and easily distributable to the people. Mr Coons, who said he championed the extension of the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) introduced by the Obama government. The Act was to give Africa the opportunity to trade with the U.S. without the trade barriers in other places. He said he was encouraged by the progress made so far on the AfCFTA. He said he was also part of new Development Finance Corporation created to help provide about $60 billion investment funding in partnership with the African private sector and government to address growth opportunities. Expressing concern over the Trump administrations relationship with multilateral organizations, like the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said despite the issues, this was not time to look backwards, but to pull together and build collective effort and move forward as partners. Checking extreme poverty On developing opportunities for more global support against COVID-19, Mr Maurer said the current crisis has provided an excellent opportunity to address the high incidence of extreme poverty in Africa, which has constrained investment. He said the health system in Africa was currently very uneven and would be difficult for the government to fund alone from public purse. We need to look into micro-health schemes that allow insurance sector to work with the government to expand coverage for people. Also, we need to look at the education sector and training of the youth in entrepreneurial skills development to create job opportunities, he said Lyme disease can have unusual presentations. Physicians and the public should be aware of its different manifestations, as people spend more time outside in the warmer weather and as the areas in Canada where the black legged tick is found expand. Three articles in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), whichdescribe a fatal case in a 37-year-old man, atypical skin lesions and heart abnormalities in a 56-year-old woman and severe neurological symptoms in a 4-year-old boy, illustrate the diversity in clinical presentations of Lyme disease. Lyme disease can affect the heart (known as Lyme carditis), which can result in serious heart rhythm abnormalities in a small group of people. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of Lyme carditis in people presenting with atrioventricular heart block, especially in areas where Lyme disease is endemic. Patients may have had a rash. Early treatment with antibiotics is recommended to avoid complications, even before a diagnosis is confirmed. A fatal case of Lyme disease in a previously healthy 37-year-old man illustrates the challenges of diagnosing Lyme disease in the absence of classic symptoms. http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.191194 The patient originally presented to his family doctor with flu-like symptoms, including fever, sore throat, nasal congestion and migratory joint pain. Several weeks earlier, he had been in contact with ticks but didn't recall removing one. His physician suspected a viral infection, and the patient's symptoms resolved. Weeks later, he developed heart palpitations, shortness of breath and chest discomfort for which he was sent to the emergency department. Lyme disease was suspected as electrocardiography (ECG) showed complete heart block. He was admitted to hospital and started on treatment for Lyme carditis, but his condition worsened quickly. Clinicians were unable to reverse the course of illness and he died. Serology results confirmed Lyme disease, and an autopsy showed signs of Lyme carditis. "The diagnosis of Lyme carditis is based on clinical suspicion and serology consistent with acute Lyme disease," writes Dr. Milena Semproni, Infectious Diseases fellow at the University of Manitoba and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Manitoba, with coauthors. "Unfortunately, diagnosis can be delayed while serology is being processed, and clinical suspicion should guide empiric treatment. Given that the early diagnosis is clinical, cases may be overlooked by clinicians, especially as Lyme disease moves into new geographic areas." In suspected cases of Lyme carditis, patients should have an urgent ECG performed and be started on antibiotics without waiting for serologic confirmation. The authors note that serious heart rhythm abnormalities and sudden cardiac death can occur in a small group of patients, although it is uncommon. In the 10 other North American cases of sudden cardiac death attributed to Lyme carditis described in the literature, 8 patients were male, and the cases occurred between June and November, when ticks are active. A reflection written by the man's sister, with a video testimonial, https://youtu.be/lz7e29CewE8, describes the family's initial concern that this was Lyme disease, the heartbreak caused by his death and their hope for increased awareness and understanding of the disease. Read a related article about a patient with a large red rash (erythema migrans), aches and chills who, after a second visit for heart palpitations, was found to have Lyme carditis. The patient recovered with antibiotic treatment. http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.191660 "Given that most conduction abnormalities caused by Lyme carditis resolve with appropriate antibiotic therapy, recognition of atypical dermatologic presentations in the context of Lyme carditis prevents unnecessary permanent pacemaker implantation in these young and otherwise healthy individuals," writes Dr. Adrian Baranchuk, Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, with coauthors. While the bull's eye rash is usually considered a feature of Lyme disease, in some cases, the rash doesn't follow the usual pattern. A third article describes a 4-year-old boy who presented to hospital with fever, vomiting, malaise, ataxia and aphasia. The article describes the differential diagnosis and investigations, which eventually led to a diagnosis of Lyme disease (neuroborreliosis). The boy recovered fully with antibiotic treatment. http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.191279 ### The novel cornonavirus has a higher rate of transmission among close contacts and thus, public health measures such as physical distancing, personal hygiene and infection control are necessary to prevent its spread, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has reconfirmed. Sharing the findings of the first cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infection among Italian tourists in a study, the ICMR also said testing of close contacts identified infection in presymptomatic and asymptomatic cases, and stressed that the strategy to trace and test close contacts is crucial for early identification and isolation of positive patients to prevent community transmission. A detailed investigation of the cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infection among 16 Italian tourists and an Indian was conducted in March-April, an ICMR study published online in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR) said. Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates A group of 23 Italian tourists reached New Delhi on February 21 and along with three Indians, visited several tourist places in Rajasthan. 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 One of the members from the group, a 69-year-old Italian male (index case), was hospitalised at the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College in Jaipur, with symptoms of fever, cough and difficulty in breathing on February 29, and tested positive for the infection. His 70-year-old wife, who did not have any symptoms, also tested positive for COVID-19 and was isolated, along with him. The remaining 24 members of the group (21 Italians, three Indians) returned to Delhi on March 2 travelling in the same train compartment and were quarantined. All them were initially asymptomatic. Their throat and nasal swabs were collected on March 3 and 15 of them (14 Italians and an Indian) tested positive and were isolated. So by March 3, 17 of the 26 were COVID-19 positive with an attack rate of 65.4 percent. Of these 17 patients, nine were symptomatic, while eight did not show any symptoms. Of the nine who developed symptoms, six had a mild fever, one was severely and two were critically ill. "The median duration between the day of confirmation for COVID-19 and RT-PCR negativity was 18 days (range: 12-23 days). Two patients died with a case fatality of 11.8 percent. "This study reconfirms higher rates of transmission among close contacts and therefore, public health measures such as physical distancing, personal hygiene and infection control are necessary to prevent transmission," the apex health research body said. "Our study cluster showed a higher attack rate than that reported in existing literature such as in Diamond Princess Cruise ship (19.2 percent) and Grand Princess Cruise ship (16.6 percent)," which the ICMR said was may be due to the closed environment, high and persistent exposure to the index case during their travel (average of six hours daily for eight days). Except for the index case, all other cases were asymptomatic at the time of testing and nearly half of the positive cases remained asymptomatic throughout the illness, the study highlighted. Proactive COVID-19 testing of close contacts led to the identification and isolation of the asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases, thus preventing further transmission. Older patients with chronic comorbidities progressed to severe or critical illness, as reported in other studies. The proportion of symptomatic patients progressing to severe or critical illness in the cluster was high (3/9, 33.3 percent). The case fatality ratio (CFR) in the affected cluster was 11.5 percent. "The possible reasons for the CFR being on the higher side could be the higher median age group of the patients and presence of comorbidities," the study said. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here The Maharashtra Cyber department has registered 419 offences across the state so far for fake news, rumours and disinformation on social media amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown, police said on Monday. An official said 175 cases pertained to WhatsApp, 165 to Facebook, 20 to Tiktok, eight to Twitter, four to Instagram and 47 for misusing audio and Youtube video clips. "We have arrested 223 people so far. It includes a case in Lonikand in Pune where a Facebook post was circulated mocking political leaders," he added. The official said police have also come across instances of cyber blackmail where fraudsters are demanding money online from people who had earlier visited porn sites. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ON THE 72ND NAKBA PALESTINE FACES ITS BIGGEST THREAT It is the 72nd anniversary of the Nakba, or catastrophe in Arabic, which is commemorated every year on 15th May, just a day after Israel celebrates its own founding. THE NAKBA Seventy-two years ago, the 1948-1949 Israeli-Arab war was started, and by its end, the newly established Jewish state had expanded its control over almost eighty per cent of historical Palestine. Of the 900,000 Palestinians who had been living on their lands for centuries, an estimated 156,000 remained in Israel, while the rest became refugees. Entire villages were dismantled, scattered into separate communities with no self-determination. Palestine was wiped off the map, replaced by new terms such as the West Bank and the Gaza Strip while the displaced people lost homes, lands, and properties; many enduring until today miserable conditions in refugee camps in neighbouring Arab countries, including Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. For the people in Palestine, the Nakba was and remains mostly about despair, helplessness, traumatic uprooting, and humiliation. It symbolises the sudden and still ongoing destruction that plunged them in chaos at all levels, political and economic, psychological, and identity. In one single blow, the Nakba destroyed all the worlds which constituted Palestinian realities. For many, there was a dynamic, thriving society oriented toward the future. But that society was nipped in the bud by a catastrophe that marked a new era dominated by estrangement and often poverty for the Palestinian refugees and their descendants. This is, in short, the meaning of the Nakba. Though the Nakba is commemorated on 15th May of each year, it was, in fact, the result of several intense moves intending to clear the Palestinian land of its indigenous inhabitants in order to create a homogenous Jewish society. This is why, for the Palestinians, the Nakba is not a historical event but an ongoing process. A GRIM FUTURE After decades of conflict, and crimes of all kinds committed against the people of Palestine, this years 72nd commemoration comes amid what looks like a grim future for the Palestinian cause and its project of a sovereign and united state. Since far-right United States President Donald Trump came to office three years ago, his administration has been overtly and passionately promoting the interests of Israel. In December 2017, the US president recognised Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, going against the international communitys position of maintaining that the status of the disputed city has to be settled by the Israelis and the Palestinians themselves. East Jerusalem has been under illegal Israeli occupation since the 1967 war, and the Palestinians seek it as their capital for any future state. Yet, on the seventieth anniversary of the founding of Israel on 14th May 2018 the US officially moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In early 2019, the US cut all funding to the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) using its fiscal practices as an excuse. Since Palestinians were forced to flee their homeland and became refugees, the UN agency has been providing essential services including health and education to millions in the camps. As the US was its major funder, it is not clear how long the agency will be able to maintain its activities and services. The US took another unilateral decision in March 2019 and announced that it recognised Israels sovereignty over the highly strategic and resource-rich Golan Heights, captured from Syria in 1967. In the same vein, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo broke international consensus in November 2019 when he said his country no longer considered Israeli settlements on Palestinian land as illegal. The tumultuous month of January 2020 was above all marked by Trumps unveiling of his so-called Deal of the century to address the conflict in the Middle East. The plan was flatly rejected by Palestinians as fulfilling a wish list of Israels demands. The deal would let the Jewish state impose sovereignty all the way to Jordan while Palestinians would be granted a disjointed and demilitarised entity along with promises of investment. The Palestinian states capital would be on the outskirts of Jerusalem, with the disputed city fully under Israels sovereignty. Trumps proposal led some political commentators to say the intent was not to find a way out to the conflict but to legitimise Israeli occupation. Finally, last month, the US announced it would recognise the annexation of occupied Palestinian land, giving its green-light to right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move ahead with the de facto annexation. On the other hand, the Arab political context has been changing over the years at the disadvantage of the Palestinian struggle and the question of normalising relations with Israel is not as taboo anymore, as it used to be. In fact, the pace of normalisation has considerably gained momentum on several fronts, including politically, economically, militarily, and even culturally. Main developments since the start of 2020 include for instance the participation of United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman ambassadors in the White House unveiling ceremony for the Deal of the Century; the meeting between Netanyahu and General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan, the chairman of Sudans ruling Sovereign Council, in Uganda, where both agreed to start cooperation; or the reported talks to hold a historic meeting in Egypt between Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, among many other steps. THE ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY If the Trump administration is able to act so freely, to go against international laws as it sees fit in order to facilitate and to give legitimacy to Israels colonial projects, it is due to the long tradition of impunity for colonial violence granted to that country, with the tacit approval of the whole international community. Had it not been for the protected status accorded to Israel by Western states that has shielded it from sanction no matter what it did, the course of Palestines modern history would have been wholly different, former research fellow at the University of Exeter, Ghada Karmi, told the Middle East Eye. If Israel had been a normal state, accountable for its conduct and subject to punishment and sanction, it would not have been allowed to expel the natives of Palestine, or refuse their return, or acquire their territory by force, or subjugate and besiege them, or the myriad other crimes it has committed against them. There would have been no Nakba to commemorate on 15th May and no refugees, and Gaza would be free. In July, Netanyahu is expected to start putting forth legislation for annexing the occupied West Bank. If the international community once again refuses to take a firm and inflexible stance against the US-Israeli annexation plans, if it refuses to connect the great displacement which took place during the Nakba, all those who have taken place since, and the one to come, with a clear aversion on Israels part to conceive and accept the very idea of a sovereign and free Palestine, then another blow will be dealt to the cause and the status quo situation will continue with its share of dispossessions and deaths. Telesur An NHS hospital in a Somerset seaside hotspot has today been forced to stop taking new patients due to 'a high number' of coronavirus cases. Weston General Hospital, Weston-super-Mare, dramatically announced this morning that it could not take any more admissions, including into A&E. Health chiefs do not know why the hospital has had an influx of Covid-19 cases, with bosses warning all hospitals have 'frequent' changes in admissions. But questions were today asked over whether the blame may lie on crowds who have flocked to the town to enjoy the sun since lockdown was slightly eased. Thousands of people travelled to the South West and other coastal areas as soon as the government allowed nationwide travel again on May 13. Weston-super-Mare's mayor even admitted 'you can't rule it out', when questioned if scores of Britons on the beach were to blame for the surge in cases. Furious Brits warned VE day celebrations on the beach on May 8 were 'coming home to roost', and one warned a second wave 'rolling' into the South West. It is not the first time hospitals have been overwhelmed amid the coronavirus crisis, which began to spiral out of control in mid-March. One NHS hospital in London was forced to declare a 'critical incident' early on in the crisis, after running out of intensive care beds. Other hospitals in the capital have allegedly had to turn away coronavirus patients because they were running out of beds, according to staff. Weston General Hospital in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, has stopped taking new patients due to 'a high number' already there with coronavirus Social media users were quick to speculate the South West will see a surge in cases as a result of the Government loosening lockdown. Pictured: Weston-super-Mare promenade on May 20 Day-trippers headed to Somerset beaches after Prime Minister Boris Johnson allowed the public to travel to other parts of the country for unlimited exercise and sunbathing. Pictured: Sunbathers on Weston-super-Mare beach A family are pictured walking down Marine Parade together in Weston-super-Mare on May 9, the day after VE day Weston General Hospital said today it could not take any more admission including into A&E The trust said patients will not be accepted from 8am today (Twitter) Sun-worshippers carried on descending on parks and beaches today, amid an expected 79F heatwave, in rebellion against the Government defending the actions of a senior aide breaking lockdown rules. The Prime Minister last night said Dominic Cummings would not be sacked over 260-mile trip he took from London to his parents' home in Durham while he and his wife were self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms, prompting a furious reaction from Britons who have been making huge sacrifices to abide by the restrictions. NHS figures show the number of patients in hospitals with Covid-19 has reduced as a result of Britain's lockdown - admissions have dropped 11 per cent in a week. WHY DOES THE SOUTH WEST HAVE SO FEW DEATHS? The South West, which includes Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, has had the fewest COVID-19 deaths in England (1,157). This will be for a number of reasons including those based on the region's geographical demographics, such as the fact it is largely rural - with the second-highest proportion of rural population in the UK - and less densely populated than other parts of England. Population density plays a significant role in infection rate, and therefore deaths. London has had 26,780 confirmed COVID-19 cases compared to the South West's 7,524. Data released by the Office for National Statistics on 1 May found the fatality rate of COVID-19 is six times higher among those living in major cities than in rural areas. No rural area of England and Wales had a death rate higher than 21.9 at the time of the study. The ethnicity, and income of wealthy and predominantly white South West citizens may partially explain the lower infections and deaths. The region has some of the lowest unemployment rates and highest rates of house ownership without debt, 2011 figures show. The ONS study shows that once you take the age of population into account, the rate of deaths involving COVID-19 is roughly twice as high in the most deprived areas of England and Wales as in the least deprived. London - the epicentre of Britain's outbreak - had the highest mortality rate, with 85.7 deaths per 100,000 people. In comparison, Weston-super-Mare has 11 deaths per 100,000 people. Those living in poverty smoke and drink alcohol more and are more likely to be obese - all of which increase the likelihood of chronic health conditions. They are more likely to have key worker jobs such as in a supermarket, public transport, or in hospitals, which means they are more at risk of exposure to the virus than someone who is able to work from home. A report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) released in May found black and Asian Britons are two-and-a-half times more likely to die from COVID-19 than whites, while an ONS report said black people were four times more likely to die when taking only age into account. This affects how different locations are impacted by COVID-19. For example, in Newham and Brent, London boroughs with high mortality rates, ethnic minority groups make up the majority of residents in - 71 per cent 64 per cent respectively. Members of ethnic minority communities are twice as likely to be affected by poverty, and are often hit the hardest by chronic diseases. At the 2011 ONS census, the proportion of white people in the South West region was 95.4 per cent, meaning less than five per cent of people there are from an ethnic background. Advertisement The South West - which also covers the tourist-hotspots of Devon and Cornwall - has suffered the fewest deaths (1,157) and cases (7,524) during the pandemic. There have been 114 deaths at University Hospitals Bristol and three at Weston NHS Foundation Trust - which run Weston General Hospital. The trust said patients will not be accepted from 8am today. It said there are arrangements in place for new patients to access treatment and care 'in other appropriate healthcare settings in the area should they need it'. Dr William Oldfield, medical director at the trust, said: 'As with any hospital, the number of patients with Covid-19 will frequently change as people are admitted and discharged. 'We currently have a high number of patients with Covid-19 in Weston General Hospital. 'Whilst the vast majority will have come into the hospital with Covid-19, as an extra precaution we have taken the proactive step to temporarily stop accepting new patients to maintain patient and staff safety.' Weston General Hospital is in North Somerset, which has so far had 406 positive COVID-19 test results, according to Public Health England. It's fewer than next door Bristol City, with 694 cases, Wiltshire with 523 and the rest of Somerset with 669. Suspicion of a surge of coronavirus patients in the South West region due to the recent easing in lockdown measures was rife on social media today. The public are skeptical that VE day street parties three weeks ago may have driven cases up. Typically it would take around 20 days between a person being infected and them needing hospital care. Others speculate Prime Minister Boris Johnson's recent loosening of the lockdown, allowing unlimited exercise and sunbathing from May 11, may have led to a wave of new infections in the South West - or could do in the future. Thousands of people in England flocked to the South West and other coastal areas as soon as they were told they could travel to other parts of the country. Day-trippers headed to Somerset beaches, including Weston-super-Mare. There was no evidence anyone broke lockdown rules. But numerous local authorities across the South West urged people not to drive to beaches and beauty spots in fear that large crowds would increase the risk of spreading coronavirus. Mark Canniford, Lib Dem mayor of Weston and member of North Somerset Council, criticised the 'total disregard' for the town's residents from day-trippers. Speaking to The Independent today, Mr Canniford said he did not think there was a link between the crowds on the beach and the closure of Weston General Hospital today. He said it was 'unlikely' and 'too soon' for any cases to have shown up. But he admitted 'you can't rule it out'. 'We have been behind the curve on the virus so we could just be catching up,' he said. Numerous local authorities across the South West urged people not to drive to beaches and beauty spots after the lockdown was eased by the PM Suspicion of a surge of coronavirus patients in Somerset due to the recent easing in lockdown measures was rife on social media today 'The people you see roaming about don't tend to live here. People should not be roaming around. It's not fair to the communities they are roaming to. People seem to think they don't have symptoms so they're ok but it's not.' There are currently 8,951 people in hospital with COVID-19 across UK hospitals, with admissions slowing in the past few weeks after the peak of the crisis in mid-April. Some areas have recovered quicker than others, graphs show. London has seen a more drastic decline in hospital patients than the South West and East of England. Dr Oldfield suggested it was normal for hospitals to see changes in the number of COVID-19 admissions. But only one other hospital has had to respond to the crisis with drastic measures - and that was in London back in March. Sunbathers enjoy the hot weather at Weston-super-Mare and groups gather for fish and chips, May 20 Weston General Hospital is in North Somerset, which has so far had 406 positive COVID-19 test results. Pictured: People on Weston-super-Mare beach on May 20 Mark Canniford, Lib Dem mayor of Weston and member of North Somerset Council, said he thought it was 'too soon' for the loosening of lockdown to be showing new cases of coronavirus, but admitted it couldn't be ruled out Sun-worshippers carried on descending on parks and beaches today, amid an expected 79F heatwave, in rebellion against the Government defending the actions of a senior aide breaking lockdown rules. Pictured: Thousands of people rushed to Bournemouth beach in Dorset today Sunbathers enjoy the hot weather today on the beach by Boscombe Pier in Dorset, following the Government defending senior aide Dominic Cummings over breaking lockdown rules Northwick Park Hospital, in Harrow, north-west London, declared a 'Critical Incident status' because there was not enough space for patients requiring critical care. Queen Elizabeth Hospital and University Hospital Lewisham, which are run by the same trust on the south-east side of the city, were also unable to admit all critically ill patients to intensive care at the time, the HSJ journal reported. Dr Oldfield said the situation at Weston General Hospital was 'under constant review'. He said: 'This is a clinically led decision and we are being supported by our system partners to ensure that new patients receive the care and treatment they need in the appropriate setting, and we are continuing to provide high-quality care to existing patients who are being treated in the hospital. 'We have a robust coronavirus testing programme in place for patients and staff to identify cases quickly, with appropriate measures taken by clinical teams as required.' HIGHLIGHTS: Near term plans to confirm funding partner(s) and proceed with a Change of Business; Positive development of sales channels in Latin America; and Progress continues with Uruguayan extraction lab design, engineering and vendor selection. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2020) - CENTURION MINERALS LTD. (TSXV: CTN) ("Centurion" or the "Company") is pleased to report that, further to our News Release dated February 7, 2020, the Company has made significant progress both on a business operations front and a capital financing front related to our South American cannabis business strategy. FINANCING Following the Company's announcement February 7, 2020, management received a positive reception to its business plan and overall Change of Business to become a Latin American focused cannabis extraction Company. However, with the ensuing challenges related to COVID-19, and the capital constraints faced by investors, management has focused on funding partners with access to capital and a strategic interest in near-term South American cannabis extraction capacity. The Company is currently in detailed discussions with several parties, and management believes it will be able to announce funding commitments in the very near term. Following funding confirmation, the Company would immediately proceed with the Change of Business applications to the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). In the interim, the Company's activities in Canada are being funded by management, on an interest-free loan basis, and the operations for the CannaEden group of companies ("CannaEden") in Uruguay, are being funded by CannaEden's Principal (per our Agreement as disclosed in the February 7th news release). SALES STRATEGY UPDATE The Company has placed a large focus on developing sales channels for both pharma grade ("API") and consumer packaged goods ("CPG") full spectrum and distillate oils, and isolates, as initial products available for sale to customers in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Peru. We have identified and initiated discussions with several groups seeking R&D and formulation batch quantities commencing in Q4-2020 and we are confident that South American trade-block (Mercosur)-based supply will be preferred to API and CPG inputs being imported from other non-Mercosur countries. Story continues URUGUAY UPDATE The Company reports that operationally the CannaEden team in Uruguay has made significant progress over the past 3 months. Design-engineering of the extraction lab is nearing completion and extraction equipment vendor selection is currently at the final stages. The Company anticipates that CannaEden will commence construction of the extraction and lab facility in the short term, with scheduled completion in Q4-2020. David Tafel, CEO of Centurion, comments: "We are very pleased with investor support we've received to continue this process, and despite the challenges faced by COVID-19, the teams in Canada and South America have made exceptional progress under difficult circumstances. I am very thankful for our team's commitment and input during this unprecedented time and look forward to announcing the funding commitments, our extraction equipment vendor, and the progress of our Uruguayan extraction lab with investors in the near term." NAME CHANGE Subject to receipt of any necessary shareholder, Board of Director and/or regulatory approvals, and coincidental with closing of the Transaction, Centurion management proposes to change the name of the Company to Kadima Growth Ltd. ABOUT CENTURION Centurion Minerals Ltd. is a Canadian-based company with a focus on South American asset development. The Company's lead investment is its interest in the Ana Sofia Agri-Gypsum Fertilizer Project. The Company has been actively pursuing business opportunities in the South American cannabis and related products industry. "David G. Tafel" President and CEO For Further Information Contact: David Tafel 604-484-2161 Completion of the transaction, discussed in the February 7, 2020 News Release is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable, shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information release or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward looking statements concerning future operations of Centurion Minerals Ltd. (the "Company"). All forward-looking statements concerning the Company's future plans and operations, including management's assessment of the Company's project expectations or beliefs may be subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual performance and exploration and financial results may differ materially from any estimates or projections. Such statements include, among others: possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; actual results of reclamation activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents and other risks of the mining industry; delays and other risks related to construction activities and operations; timing and receipt of regulatory approvals of operations; the ability of the Company and other relevant parties to satisfy regulatory requirements; the availability of financing for proposed transactions, programs and working capital requirements on reasonable terms; the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/56498 A shareholder plan to oust a chunk of Aryztas board will be a key focus for investors tomorrow as the embattled Swiss-Irish baked goods company releases third quarter figures. The Cuisine de France owners performance during the three months to the end of April is likely to make for stark reading. It could also fuel activist shareholders calls for an extraordinary general meeting requested last week by Switzerland-based Veraison and Spanish firm Cobas at which they want to remove four members of the Aryzta board including chairman and veteran businessman Gary McGann. Chief executive Kevin Toland would remain in his role but would not be a board member under the activists proposals. Aryzta must convene the EGM within two months under its company rules. Between them, Veraison and Cobas control 17.8pc of Aryzta. Another shareholder, London-based J O Hambro Capital Management, has said it will back them. It owns just over 4pc. Expand Close Aryzta chairman Gary McGann / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aryzta chairman Gary McGann Even before the coronavirus crisis, Aryzta was trying to claw its way out of a hole. And that was in a buoyant economic environment. The outbreak and its expected legacy now make Aryztas prognosis distinctly more unsavoury. Last year, the company reported revenue of 3.3bn and underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 308m. Read More Quick service restaurants accounted for 29pc of revenue, large retailers 33pc and other food service customers 28pc. Convenience stores contributed just 10pc. Its top 20 customers contributed 53pc of revenue. Up to the end of January, Aryzta had insisted that its business was performing reasonably well, with margin and EBITDA growth in Europe. While its operations in North America were behind in EBITDA terms, Mr Toland said that Aryzta expected a better performance there in the second-half of the financial year. He also pointed out that Aryztas net debt was at its lowest level since 2013. Mr Toland, a former Glanbia executive who was CEO at airport operator DAA before being parachuted into Aryzta in late 2017 to help turn around the troubled company, had an unenviable task ahead of him when he landed. The group has made some tangible progress under his leadership, but steering an oil tanker away from the rocks doesnt happen quickly. The results for the six months to the end of January underscored Aryztas continuing difficulties. Organic revenue in Europe in the period fell 2pc, while it declined 5.3pc in North America. It also recorded total impairment, disposal and restructuring-related costs of 902m in the period. And then the world changed. Aryztas big customers, such as McDonalds and Subway, pulled down the shutters as the pandemic broke out, depriving the company of a big chunk of its revenue. Last month, Aryzta hired investment bank Rothschild to review options for the food group. Its due to report back to the board by the end of July, but every avenue including a sale and radical restricting is certain to be evaluated. The activist shareholders claim the Aryzta board has overseen significant and consistent value destruction for shareholders in recent years. Four of the current eleven members of the board of directors have been in office since 2016 or longer and share responsibility for the problems that have remained unresolved for years (and also after the capital increase in 2018), they claimed last week. The activists plan to replace Mr McGann with Urs KJordi, a former head of Aryzta Europe and ex-CEO of Hiestand, the Swiss company that Irish firm IAWS merged with in 2008 to form Aryzta. Aryzta raised 800m in late 2018, using 500m of it to repay a term loan and earmarking 150m to pay for its Project Renew plan designed to generate cost savings and introduce efficiencies. Cobas opposed that capital raising exercise and insisted that it was doomed to fail. But Aryzta managed to persuade shareholders to stump up the cash. Two years on, it might be tougher to convince those shareholders who opened their chequebooks to give the current board their unqualified support. But just how deep the dissatisfaction with the board runs among investors wont be clear until that EGM is held. Meanwhile, not only have the Russian-controlled forces refused to release her as part of swap efforts, they have not even confirmed the fact they are holding her. A 40-year-old environmental chemist Marina Yurchak has been held hostage in the Russian proxy "Donetsk people's republic" [DPR] for two and a half years, Kharkiv Human Rights Protections Group reports. Her ordeal began with almost a year spent in "Izoliatsia", the Donetsk-based secret prison which former inmates refer to as a concentration camp. While officially "sentenced" to 15 years for "espionage", it seems she was also accused of "insulting" top warlords as she referred to their vehicles as "orc-mobiles", rights watchdog says. Yurchak's parents left as soon as Donetsk was seized by the Russian-led militants, and tried to get their daughter to leave with them. She refused, saying she wants to be there when the city once again becomes Ukrainian. Since 2014, she had been an active Twitter user, making no secret of her pro-Ukrainian stance and writing honestly about what she saw. She would openly write, including, about where the shelling was coming from and where military hardware was being deployed. Read alsoHead of Donetsk art hub Liubov Mikhailova: On Donbas issue, Ukraine seems to be walking the path of "let go and forgive", imposed by Russia In the Russian-controlled "republics", that's more than enough to have someone detained, tortured, and sentenced by a sham court to 12 years and over, according to the report. Yurchak was apprehended on November 9, 2017, by the so-called "DPR ministry of state security" as she returned from work. It remains unclear whether she was taken to "Izoliatsia" immediately. After their daughter went missing, her parents went through hell, scouring hospitals and even the morgue, in search of her daughter. Olena Lazareva, a Donetsk doctor, was detained shortly afterward, along with her husband, Andriy Kochmuradov. Lazareva, who was released in December 2019, has confirmed she had seen Yurchak held at "Izoliatsia". They would take her "for interrogation" to the so-called ministry of state security, from where she would return, barely able to walk, with her legs black from the beatings inflicted. Yurchak was taken away in April 2018, so Lazareva says she thought the woman had been released. However after Lazareva in the autumn was transferred to the Donetsk SIZO [remand prison], she saw Yurchak being held there. Such encounters are of enormous importance to her family, as not only have the Russian-controlled forces refused, thus far, to release her as part of swap efforts, they have not even confirmed the fact they are holding her. It is known, however, that on March 26, 2020, a "court" in the unrecognized "DPR" sentenced Yurchak to 15 years' imprisonment on "espionage" charges. According to her mother, Yurchak is now awaiting transfer to a women's prison in Snizhne, together with Olena Pyekh, a researcher from Horlivka, who was sentenced to 13 years for "treason" against a fictitious "republic". Derry representatives have denounced the British governments continued and deliberate obstruction of the Devenny familys pursuit of justice and again called on it to release case files. Sammy Devennys file should have been released on completion in 1970. Then, under the thirty year rule his files were to be made accessible from the national archive in 2000 but they werent. The Pat Finucane Centre requested a number of files relating to Mr Devennys death in 2014 but were told they had been reclassified by the Met Police and would not be considered for release until 2022. Father of nine Samuel Devenny died on July 17, 1969, at the age of 42. It came three months after members of the RUC entered his home in William Street and assaulted him and his family on April 19, 1969. He was the second victim of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the first in Derry City. The family of Mr Devenny say that the British governments handling of their fathers case in many ways set the blueprint for all subsequent cases in terms of denial and obfuscation. Gary Donnelly who reignited calls for the files to be released on Mr Devennys 50th anniversary described it as a cover up by the British government Speaking to the Derry News, he said: Continued obstruction from successive British governments has been going on now for over half a century. There is no doubt that this is done to protect and cover up the activities of the British police in Northern Ireland. It is deliberate obstruction of the Devenny familys quest for truth regarding the death of their father, an entirely innocent man who was attacked in his own home. The family are entitled to know the truth of what happened to their father. Their position is that they dont want prosecutions, they want to know the truth behind what happened to their father. I commend the family in their dignified position and again pay tribute to them. LEGACY CASES In March the British Government and Secretary of State for NI Brandon Lewis set out a new approach to dealing with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. It said a new independent body will only consider those cases where there is new compelling evidence and a realistic prospect of a prosecution. Once cases have been considered there will be a legal bar on any future investigation occurring. This will end the cycle of reinvestigations for the families of victims and veterans alike, the British government stated. It went on to defend army veterans by saying that the new proposals would put an end to repeated reinvestigations where there is no new compelling evidence and deliver on our promise to protect veterans from vexatious claims. The Devenny family has questioned how their fathers case can meet the British governments test when the British government itself has kept his files secret for over 50 years. When that argument was put to the Northern Ireland Office, a UKG spokesperson said: The Government is committed to reforming the current legacy system in Northern Ireland in a way which is balanced and proportionate - and delivers for all communities in Northern Ireland. This new approach seeks to put victims first with information recovery and reconciliation as the overarching goal - with a way forward that delivers for all those affected by the legacy of the Troubles and enables all sides of the community to continue to reconcile and prosper." Details of these proposals are under consultation and nothing has been published. TREATY Foyle MP and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the Devenny family have been put through the mill for decades with no truth, no answers and no proper investigation. It is a case, along with others, that has been raised with successive British governments, he said. The Devenny family were first faced by the Stormont government and now the Met Police who dont seem to have any interest in allowing the family to have the truth and justice they require and deserve. He said in the Devenny case, and countless others, the British government has inexplicably closed the files. The fact the British government has gone to such lengths demonstrates that it doesnt want the truth to come out which is a fundamental mistake for a society that is trying to move on. The British governments approach to legacy has been disgraceful, they signed up to the Stormont House Agreement, which is an international agreement with the Irish government and parties in NI. We have some issues with it but it was agreed and is an international treaty, yet the British government has a consultation out which sets about unpicking that, the Foyle MP explained. That whole approach is about satisfying some people on the back benches of the Tory party - it has nothing to do with the needs of victims and survivors. The whole point of dealing with the past is that it allows us to look to the future where we have dealt with that legacy and it isnt constantly dragging us back. Where justice is achievable, it should be seen to happen, but where it isnt achievable people should be entitled to the truth and that has all been previously agreed. He added that people dont expect any different from the British government but now it thinks it can go off on its own without the consent of the Irish government nor political parties in the North. In his role as an MP, Colum Eastwood said he will continue to make the case very strongly and loudly for the files to be released. SYSTEMATIC LIARS Meanwhile, People Before Profit councillor and civil rights activist Eamonn McCann said there is no way of knowing whether Mr Devennys case meets the British governments criteria for legacy cases because of its own secrecy. The truth turns into a puff of air when we begin to investigate the Troubles and look for the truth about the security forces role, he said. At the time Mr Devenny was viciously assaulted there had been civil rights marches and rioting in the city but Cllr McCann said the attack marked a significant escalation in violence, not only because it led to his death, but because a totally innocent man was beaten with batons in his own home. That is what shocked and distressed people, it was common to have riots and people had a sense of safety in their own home but that was violated. The location of it was as bad as the perpetration of it, he added. The idea that the Met Police wrote unsolved murder in error, he said, fits into an entire pattern over years by the British government of avoidance, denial and systematically sewing confusion. Im convinced they know the truth about Sammy Devenny just as they knew the truth about the Birmingham Six, they knew the truth about Judith Theresa Ward and they knew the truth about the Guildford Four. They knew it, they have all the papers filed away and they still wont admit it. These people are systematic liars. They just wont admit their activities here in the North. This year, as Ukraine fights to remain resilient in the face of the unprecedented pandemic, investment in inland waterways infrastructure - as a potent economic stimulus tool - is generating renewed interest as policy makers begin to consider the path to reform. Over the next weeks, inland waterway transport (IWT) professionals and EU experts will share lessons learned from past reform efforts and other insights to help decision-makers make the most impactful decisions about what to build. Well also be talking about other topics driving the future of IWT in Ukraine, from improved legal and regulative framework, to securing resources and tackling market access. Thank you for being part of this important dialogue. As we navigate this crisis together, we wish each of you and your families to stay safe and healthy. EU Technical Assistance Project for Dnipro Transport Development Interview with Edwin Lock, Team Leader, EU Technical Assistance Project for Dnipro Transport Development Why does Ukraine need a reform of the Inland Waterway Transport (IWT)? Ukraine has a very extended inland waterway network. The Dnipro is the biggest and the most important river and should be considered a national treasure of Ukraine. The river is used for transportation of goods and people but also has a variety of other functions. Via the hydropower stations, energy is generated, it is also a water source for people and the agricultural sector and of course, the river is used for leisure activities like swimming, fishing and sailing. Given the multiple users of the river, the most important aspects of the reforms in IWT are to organize the public management of the river system (who is responsible for what) and to secure finance for the maintenance of and investments in public inland waterway transport infrastructure, like fairways and ship locks. Another important objective of the reforms is that it should promote river transport and enable a shift of freight transport from road to inland waterway transport, being a cost-efficient and environmental-friendly mode of transport. These reforms are to be materialized in first instance with a dedicated law for inland waterway transport, which is already over 10 years under discussion in the Verkhovna Rada. It needs to be pointed out that the adoption of the new IWT Law is only the first step for revitalizing the inland waterway transport sector in Ukraine. After the adoption of the law, the capacity of many different governmental entities involved in the management, operations and maintenance of the inland waterway transport sector needs to be modernized and strengthened. Moreover, also the private sector has to do its share by developing the inland waterway transport product and unlock new markets. It is also strongly recommended to establish an IWT Platform, under which the public and private sector can have a regular and structured dialogue aiming to improve inland waterway transport conditions, and to set up a market observation system where the development of river transport is monitored. This is a well-established successful experience from the EU Member States. The beginning of this century has been a turning point in the development of inland water transport in Europe. National barriers on market access and tariff systems hampering competition were lifted, regulatory frameworks for vessels and crew members were harmonized and brought to a technological and societal state of the art standard. The establishment of the unique European platform CESNI may be considered a milestone for the development of inland navigation in Europe. All countries engaged in this transport mode participate actively, enabling CESNI to ensure sustainable development, providing access to new technology and keeping inland navigation a performing, viable carrier, henceforth fully integrated in the European transport system. The step-wise process towards recognition on European level as a modern carrier, was accompanied and even driven by a close cooperation between authorities and national and European representative industrial organizations, at all levels of decision taking: European Commission and Parliament, river commissions, working groups and the great number of projects for research, development and implementation in the area of IWT. Ukraine is challenged to join this sustainability driven development of the traditional transport mode of inland navigation. Another suggestion is to develop an IWT Promotion Plan, aimed to market the whole chain of river transport services in general and to gain support from the Ukrainian society for inland waterways transport. Our project will assist the Ukrainian authorities in drafting the IWT Promotion Plan - to consolidate EU best practices - and further support its adoption in Ukraine. Ukraine needs reforms in the inland waterway transport also in order to be able to integrate its economy and transportation links with the European Union, based on the EU-UA Association Agreement, and therefore needs to align to EU legislation. What would the strengthening of Inland Waterways mean for the overall transport sector in Ukraine and what are the main barriers for inland waterway transport in Ukraine? Strengthening river transport gives Ukraine the opportunity to unlock the potential of freight transport by inland waterways and will offer a cost-effective alternative for road and rail. This will result in lower overall transportation costs. As transportation costs are included in the selling price of goods, it is obvious that transport should be organized as efficient as possible and thus minimizing those costs. In Ukraine only a few commodities are presently transported by rivers. These commodities include grain, metals, some oil products and construction materials (sand and gravel). There are opportunities for other types of cargoes like containers and rolling equipment (cars, trucks, agricultural machineries) to be transported by IWT, as is the case on the rivers in the EU. The present barriers for the development of IWT are the uncertainties in the legal and regulatory system, and the lack of investments in third party transport systems. Will IWT have a negative impact on the environment? Compared with rail and road, river transport is the most environmental-friendly mode of transport with regard to Green House Gasses (GHG) emissions. However, river transport generates some waste (household waste and bilge water), and part of this waste ends up in the rivers. The main polluters are industries that discharge uncleaned cooling water and waste in the rivers and the agricultural sector, while also one-third of the household sewage is discharged in rivers without going through a water treatment plant. In addition, one is to realize that not many vessels are presently using Ukrainian rivers, and therefore the enforcement of waste collection will hardly see the quality of river water improved. On the other side, when demanding the private sector to deliver its waste ashore or to have a water treatment plant onboard, will increase operator costs and make IWT again more expensive. And besides, also the Government has to ensure the availability of waste reception facilities at river ports, which requires substantial investments. Of course, in due time, when river transport is again a much used mode of transport for freight and passengers, ship waste reception should be managed both from a legal point of view, e.g. make it compulsory and ensure enforcement, and operationally, by providing sufficient waste reception capacities at the river ports and terminals. Who we are: The principal objective of the EU Assistance for Dnipro Transport Development Project is to assist the Ministry of Infrastructure to revitalize the IWT sector in Ukraine in line with the EU legislation and best practices. Assistance is given with drafting the new Law on IWT, drafting of secondary legislation and upgrading the capacity and capability of the different public IWT functions of various governmental entities, required for a good functioning of the IWT sector. The EU project team is also assisting the Ministry of Infrastructure with the preparation of an Inland Waterways (IWW) Transport Strategy for Ukraine and the Dnipro IWW Transport Development Plan, a long-term development plan for the Dnipro to indicate among others, the required public investments. What we do. Watch us in action: The Telangana police on Monday said it has solved the mystery behind the death of nine migrant workers, including six of the same family, whose bodies were recovered from an abandoned well on the outskirts of Warangal town on Friday last. Warangal city police commissioner V Ravinder announced that all the nine persons were murdered by another migrant worker to cover up another murder he had committed in March. The killer was identified as Sanjay Kumar Yadav, 24, from Bihar. The police had recovered nine bodies, said the commissioner, from a well at Gorrekunta village of Geesugonda block on the outskirts of Warangal. The deceased were identified as Md Maqsood (55), his wife Nisha (48), sons Shahabad Alam (21) and Sohail Alam (18), daughter Bushra (20) and her three years old son Shoaib (all from the same family from West Bengal), Sriram (21) and Shyam (22) from Bihar, besides Shakil (30) from Tripura. All the elders were working in a gunny bags manufacturing unit at Geesugonda and staying in the same company premises since the enforcement of lockdown in March. The police initially thought they all had committed mass suicide owing to financial constraints or some other family reasons, including a suspected illicit affair between the Bihari youth and Bushra, who had divorced her husband a year ago. After going through the evidence available at the spot, examining the footage from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and post-mortem report, we came to the conclusion that it was a cold-blooded murder by Sanjay Kumar Yadav, who came from Bihar six years ago and was working in the same factory, Ravinder said. According to the police commissioner, Yadav had an illicit relationship with Rafiqa (37), a divorcee sister-in-law of Maqsood, who came from West Bengal to see his brother and stayed with them till recently. Rafiqa, along with her three children, started living with Yadav separately. But she later realised that Yadav was also trapping her teenaged daughter. Unable to bear it, she threatened to expose him, Ravinder said. Soon after Yadav hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Rafiqa. He promised to marry her and left for West Bengal with her on March 6. During their journey, the police said, he gave her buttermilk laced with sedatives and then strangulated her with her dupatta and threw her body out from the train at Nidubrolu in West Godavari district. He got down at Rajahmundry and quietly returned to Warangal, the police added. After a few days, when Maqsood enquired about Rafiqa, Yadav told him that she stayed back with her family in West Bengal. When nothing was heard from her family members even after two months, Maqsood grew suspicious and started questioning Yadav. He even threatened to complain to the police. Fearing trouble, Yadav then decided to kill all the family members of Maqsood, said police. He is alleged to have bought sleeping pills from a medical shop and on May 20 attended the birthday party hosted by Maqsood for his son. He is reported to have mixed the pills in the food. After ensuring that all of them were unconscious, Yadav dragged all the nine to the well one after the other and threw them into it between 12.30 am to 5 am on Thursday, Ravinder said. Based on the evidence, the police were able to track Yadav and arrest him. During interrogation, he confessed to committing the crime, the Commissioner said. The resumption on Monday, of domestic commercial air services after a gap of nearly two months witnessed chaos and confusion at airports across the country. But why did this happen? For starters, some states restricted the number of flights just hours before departure, causing last-minute cancellations and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. New restrictions at major airports, including Mumbai and Chennai, forced airlines to scramble late on Sunday to revise schedules. Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi had as many as 80 flight cancellations, infuriating passengers. It would interest you to know that Delhi airport was supposed to handle around 380 on Monday -- 190 departures and as many 190 arrivals. In Tripura, all flights at Agartala's Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport were cancelled on Monday. Airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and had been preparing to resume operations on Monday with about a third of their capacity amid strict rules. had planned to start about 430 daily flights, while its low-cost rival said it would operate 204 flights a day and India would start with 77. However, the final number could be much lower as some states, especially those in which coronavirus cases are rising rapidly, have curtailed air travel. said on Monday it plans to fly just over 200 daily flights until May 31. Passengers bound for Hyderabad from Bengaluru said their flight had been cancelled, without prior notice from Air India. Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have sought more time to restart Maharashtra has only allowed a few planes to take off and land every day at Indias second busiest airport in Mumbai. Andhra Pradesh will start resume flights on May 26, and West Bengal on May 28. This confusion will make it even harder for airlines to recoup revenue losses running into tens of millions of dollars. Potential travellers are also likely to be deterred by the lack of clarity on quarantine rules in different states. The resumption of on Monday has also paved the way for holding parliamentary committee meetings once 4.0 ends on May 31, apart from raising the prospect of Parliament holding the monsoon session as per schedule, by the third week of July. Meanwhile, India has had its biggest single-day spike today, with 6,977 positive coronavirus cases being added and 156 more deaths being reported in the past 24 hours. India has entered the list of the 10 most affected countries globally, overtaking Iran in total count. Maharashtra, the most affected state, has added more than 3,000 cases in a single day, taking its tally past the 50,00-mark. Ive been thinking lately about mixtapes after finding one I made 30 years ago. I made dozens, if not 100s of mixtapes, in my youth. And Im talking about old school, real mixtapes. I thought I had lost this one and in a minute Ill tell you why it was so special and why I was excited to find it. First a word about mixtapes. Currently, in the Hip Hop culture, a mixtape is music produced, mixed or otherwise presented on a CD by musicians and rappers who want to get their music out there. They range from polished ready-for-radio discs to boundary-pushing expressions of violence or explicit sexual content. But as strange as this seems to say given the sound and songs and cuts on my 30-year-old tape, it is old school. For one thig, I made it on a cassette. Thats like cutting a half-acre of ankle-deep grass on a motorless push mower. And the grass is wet. But making such a cassette-based mixtape was a labor of love, a creation made by you and almost impossible to replicate especially the one Im fixing to talk about. A true mixtape is a cassette back in say the 1970s -- was made up of a compilation of songs on a theme. The theme can be broad like Songs I Like -- though thats kid of lame. Ive lost or tossed many tapes but I still have some; Mixtapes with such titles as Cajun Music, and Party Tape 3 and Mellow II. Mixtapes were a labor of love but took time and a little expertise to do it right. I have one called Say What? Or Party VI, misc. but thats the special one that Ill get to later. I even have a comedy mixtape. I think I had something like Beach Tape or Summer Fun Tape or Eclectic Mix. Some can be a Valentine of sorts. I have one labeled For Catherine featuring sweet songs I put together just for my wife. To make a good mixtape back in the day you had to have some time and ingenuity. You had to map out what you were doing; choose albums; pick the songs off those albums. And, are you still with me, read the label to find out where the song is. If its song No. 4 on side two, you count from the top of the album to the fourth song and gently set the tonearm with stylus (needle) precisely on the dead wax which separates each song. Then unlike mixtapes from CDs (or homemade CD mixes) -- you would have to let the song play all the way through in real time as it records. Repeat all of that about a dozen times or so depending on how many songs you picked to cram into the 90-minute cassette. As I mentioned, the digital age brought the pushbutton programming of mixed tapes onto CDs which could be done in minutes, not hours. Again another realm where I became a compete expert on something that became obsolete. But, alas, Im feeling nostalgic when I say this: There was something lost, soul maybe, when a mixtape can be tossed off so quickly. Thoughtfulness might be a better word. Its like the Norm MacDonald joke about the olden days. Families had one picture made of themselves and it would take the whole day as family members lied up. Then poof and a blinding light.The resultant picture shows Grandpa scowling and eager get out of his fancy clothes and back into his overalls. As MacDonald puts it, now you just pull out your phone and say Hey do you want to see 193 pictures of my grandpa? So, I found a mixtape the other day. It was in a box in the closet. I was excited because this was a tape I had been searching for years. I thought I dumped it in one of the half dozen moves or more we have made since I created this masterpiece back around 1985. I remember this tape because I debuted it while I was driving to Tuscaloosa (on some assignment I cant remember.) My Birmingham News colleague and passenger on that trip was Tom Gordon, and we were always talking music so I was excited to put this one on, knowing he would have a reaction. We had long ago bonded over the fact that nether of us cared much for the rock band Bubble Puppy. I put on my new 'Say What mix tape, popping it into the slot on the dashboard. So, in the vein of silliness on this Sony UCX90 tape, I had listed some of the artists but not all of them. For an example, for Side 1: George Thorogood, Pink Floyd, Dixie Dregs, Steven Wright, Robbie Shakespeare, UB40, Jed Clampent, and Spud Webb. Obviously the last two are jokes, and the songs listed are on the tape but there are some not listed and some in different order. Side 2: Dizzy Gillespie, Jimi Hendrix, Kitaro, Ronnie Lane, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Reagan. No, I did not have the president, singing or otherwise. The mixtape is kind of a loop into itself. Steven Wright, the comedian known for his deadpan one-liners, drops a line as the music of the Dixie Dregs screeches to a halt. Wright: I bought some powdered water but I dont know what to add." The Dregs song immediately resurfaces. And this goes on throughout the mixtape. Theres some Jimi Hendrix guitar soloing I think it maybe off of Midnight Lightning. Theres Captain Beefheart. Theres the Monkees getting about 25 seconds of air time for each of their top hit six (or seven?) hit songs. Theres the Insect Trust and Sly and Robbie, the great reggae rhythm section making all sorts of strange noises. Frank Zappa and his Mothers. I used little tricks like fade-ins and fade-outs. I inserted techniques to bring live radio in at certain junctures, borrowing from Firesign Theaters. It sounded like someone was turning the radio channel, and I was, only this was being recorded on the mixtape which I would stop on several real radio things (I think a Braves baseball game was one, listen for a few seconds and back to twisting the knobs until Id push another button return to the turntable stopping briefly on "Ill Fly Away which I let play for 20 seconds or so before moving to another song. It was improvisational, it was funny, kinda, and there was some actual good music listening in several 4 to 8 minute runs. So whats it all mean? Tom whom I havent shared this recent find with yetasked me at the time. What is it all about? I thought for a second, and said, I want this played at my funeral. We laughed. I was 26. I was kind of half-serious, though, and continued to think about the idea of . And some years back, set out to find the then-missing tape. I decided I probably threw it away on the way out of Orlando to California. Maybe Ill digitize it and pass around to anyone brave enough to sit though this crunchadelic, homemade, bizarro mixtape. The few times I tried to get family members to listen, I ended up with an empty room, usually about the time Capt. Beefheart coughs and scratches up part of song. So every now and then Ill put it on to listen for a subliminal message. If Ive heard one, it went right over my head. The subliminal message, that is. Subliminal? Shouldnt that be under my head. Well, as Steven Wright once said: I saw a subliminal advertising executive, but only for a second. Oliver writes about music, basketball and living with Lewy body dementia. Read his column daily at www.myvinylcountdown.com A Clinical Psychologist at the University of Ghana School of Public Health, Dr. Emmanuel Asampong is urging government to provide an avenue for the reintegration of the Ghanaian returnees from Kuwait. The over 200 Ghanaians returned over the weekend after they were deported by the Kuwaiti government. Dr. Asampong says the government must first provide an avenue for them to share their stories and for their families to provide them with the needed social support. He said, Normally when we have people who come to their own country under the circumstances that we are looking at, its always important that they are taken through debriefing. Debriefing in terms of what their experiences were and how they dealt with it to give them the opportunity to vent out so that by the time they are done, they would have had some kind of relief. Beyond that, these people belong to families. These families can be referred to as significant others in the lives of those people. They also would have to be given all the information with respect to the coming of their relatives. When that has been done, then we can let them provide that kind of social support for them. ---citinewsroom Bowing to pressure from the sheikhs and oligarchs who rule the Arabian Peninsulas Gulf States, India and other South Asian countries are being forced to repatriate millions of impoverished migrant workers whose labour is no longer needed. All six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) membersBahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)have moved to dramatically slash expenditures and overhead after the COVID-19 pandemic triggered global economic distress, including a Saudi-initiated oil-price war. The consequent collapse in oil prices has left gaping holes in their state budgets, even as tourism and other sources of revenue dry up. The result has been the mass layoff of millions of migrant workers. Those fortunate enough not to have lost their jobs have often been forced to accept huge wage cuts. A migrant worker in Saudi Arabia working as a chef for one of the countrys many princes told the WSWS that his wage was cut in half after the COVID-19 crisis erupted. Construction is among the many industries in the Gulf States dependent on the labour of migrant workers. Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic there were 23 million or more migrant workers in the Gulf States, from South Asia, the Philippines, Egypt, Palestine, elsewhere in the Middle East, and East Africa. Constituting more than half of the Gulf States total workforce, the migrant workers have long filled construction and numerous other menial and low-paid jobs. Millions of women serve as domestics and health care workers. The migrant workers are ensnared in the kafala system, which ties a workers employment contract to their right to be in the country. This has created a super-exploited workforce comprised of people who lack any citizenship rights in countries ruled by absolute monarchs, and who are under constant threaten of being ordered to go home should they be fired or laid off or when their contract expires. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, the imposition of international travel bans and state-lockdowns, and the sudden loss of their employment mean that the newly jobless migrant workers facing expulsion have lacked the means or right to return home. As the Gulf States oligarchs have refused to provide the disposable migrant workers with financial support, they have become increasingly desperate. This has made the ruling elite, ever fearful of social opposition, all the more determined to expel them. Scapegoating the migrant workers also serves as a mean of deflecting mounting discontent among the officially-recognized native population of the Gulf States. The mass layoffs of migrant workers destroyed their ability to pay rent or basic living expenses, leading many to become homeless. Pradeep Kumar and his diabetic and pregnant wife, Premaltha, are examples of such workers. Mr. Kumar, who lost his job as a hotel worker in February, has been unable to support his family and was forced to spend a few nights sleeping in a basement car park. He told the BBC, I have no money to pay for my wifes delivery, nor do I have the funds to buy a flight ticketThe doctors say that if she travels after she enters her 33rd week of pregnancy then that will be a huge risk for the baby and her health. I just want to save my child." The Gulf States have responded to the rise in homelessness by arresting workers and sending them to cramped jails and detention centers. Amnesty International exposed that Qatar was lying to migrant workers, telling them they would get tested for COVID-19, so it could round them up and throw them in jail. One of the workers, a Nepalese man, said, The jail was full of people. We were given one piece of bread each day, which was not enough. All the people were fed in a group, with food lying on plastic on the floor. Some were not able to snatch the food because of the crowd. Facing immense abuse, workers began to resist. On May 3, Egyptian workers, using furniture as weapons, led a riot in a Kuwait detention center. By then, Gulf State governments, well aware of the rising social tensions but unwilling to meet the migrant workers basic needs of food, proper housing and health care, had been pressuring countries in South Asia to take back their citizens. Initially India balked at the repatriation demands, citing its own anti-COVID-19 lockdown and concerns about the mounting number of coronavirus cases among the migrant workers. However, with the UAE publicly and other states no doubt privately threatening long-term damage to their bilateral relations, India relented and agreed to speedily organize the repatriation of hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of its citizens. India is massively dependent on oil imports from the Gulf, and that dependence has increased over the past year-and-a-half because New Delhi has acquiesced to Washingtons demand it abide by the US illegal, punitive sanctions against Iran. Indias far-right BJP government is also eagerly courting investment from the Gulf States and views them as a potential source of lucrative contracts for Indias burgeoning arms-manufacturing sector. On May 4, India announced a mass repatriation plan, and other South Asian states, similarly eager to curry the favour of the Gulf States rulers, are now also scrambling to organize the migrant workers transit home and to establish testing and quarantine centers to receive them. India has already used its navy and a fleet of planes to bring back over 1 million Indian workers from around the world and over the next two to three weeks plans to evacuate 200,000 more. Nepali officials said they expected to bring back 400,000 workers, of which 100,000 would be shipped back immediately after the expiration of the countrys lockdown on June 2. According to the Pakistani embassy, more than 60,000 Pakistani nationals have registered for repatriation. The repatriation of the migrant workers constitutes a huge crisis for the states of South Asia. The majority, and more likely the vast majority, of the 160,000 COVID-19 infections in the Gulf States have been among migrant workers. The workers live in cramped and unhygienic conditions in normal times. Now many have lost their housing, either because it was tied to their employment or they could no longer pay rent, and the Gulf States governments have responded by herding the homeless into even more cramped prisons and detention centers. The mass repatriation plans threaten to produce a wave of new infections and deaths in their home countries, where COVID-19 cases are already surging and health care systems are dilapidated and in rural areas largely non-existent. Last week Pakistan complained to the UAE that half of those returning from that country had tested positive for COVID-19. Pakistans Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security, Moeed Yusf, told reporters, Weve raised this diplomatically, adding that God willing the problem is being solved. The loss of tens of billion in dollars in remittances from the migrant workers in the Gulf also constitutes a serious blow to the economies of South Asias states, especially smaller states such as Nepal and Sri Lanka, and an even bigger blow to the millions of family members who have depended on the sums they regularly sent home. The migrant laborers, many of them landless peasants, took on predatory loans and worked dangerous jobs in order to get the opportunity to support and create a better life for their families back home. Now they face, to say the least, a very uncertain future. They are being repatriated under conditions where the countries they left are being ravaged by the global economic crisis triggered by the pandemic. In India more than 100 million day-labourers, many of them internal migrant workers, have lost their jobs and income since mid-March. For decades, migrant workers have performed the backbreaking labour needed to keep the Gulf State oligarchs living in luxury akin to that of the Pharaohs, and to pursue their vision of transforming their desert states into global financial, commercial and tourist hubs with city oases boasting ultra-modern skyscrapers and conveniences. According to a Guardian investigation, hundreds of construction workers die each year in Qatar from heat exhaustion. The oligarchs of the Gulf State and their hangers-on have responded to the plight of migrant workers with venomous rhetoric and demonization, blaming them for the growth of COVID-19 infections. Kuwaiti actress Hayat al-Fahad told a broadcaster, Arent people supposed to leave during crises? I swear by God, put them in the desert. I am not against humane treatment, but we have gotten to a point where were fed up already. These sentiments were repeated by Kuwaiti MP Safaa Al-Hashem, who called for the deportation of migrants to purify the country. China points direction for post-pandemic world Global Times By Yang Sheng and Liu Xin Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/24 23:48:40 FM lambasts US politicians for spreading 'political virus' China is pointing out the correct direction - improving and reforming globalization; upholding multilateralism - for the world to create a brighter future after the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese analysts said after the Chinese foreign minister's press conference on the sidelines of the annual national legislative session on Sunday. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi elaborated at the press conference on Chinese foreign policy and strategy on the sidelines of the third session of the 13rd National People's Congress in Beijing. He also fired back at provocations and stigmatization from the US. Although the session had a shorter agenda due to the epidemic, the foreign minister's conference lasted two hours. Questions on the China-US relationship predominated at the press conference, prompting Jin Canrong, associate dean of Renmin University of China's school of international studies in Beijing to say that it proved the China-US relationship was "significant to the world, and the status quo of this bilateral ties makes the world concerned, and there are a lot of problems between the two sides." 'Political virus' A "political virus" was spreading in the US, Wang said at the press conference. That virus was of losing no chance to attack and smear China, he said. "Some politicians ignored the basic facts and made up countless lies and conspiracy theories concerning China," Wang said. Such lies were recently compiled into a list and posted on the internet, he noted. "The longer the list, the more it says about how low the rumormongers are willing to go and the more stains they will leave in history," Wang said. This was the first time a top diplomat and state councilor of China formally responded to senior US officials and politicians' provocative and stigmatizing words and acts, said Chinese analysts. This kind of "political virus" was more difficult to eliminate than COVID-19 because it was determined by a deep-rooted Cold War and Sinophobic mentality in the brains of those US politicians, they noted. "Some political forces in the US are taking China-US relations hostage and pushing us two countries to the brink of a new Cold War. This is a dangerous attempt to turn back the wheel of history," Wang said. The two sides "should and must find a way of peaceful co-existence and mutually beneficial cooperation," he said. The COVID-19 epidemic was the common enemy of China and the US, and it is a shared wish of both peoples to support and help each other, Wang noted. China's policy toward the US had not significantly changed, according to Wang's remarks, Jin said. "China still insists on a cooperative attitude and remains calm even as the US showed extreme hostility," Jin said. "The priority for China, the US and the rest of the world at this moment is to end the pandemic as soon as possible and so China will not launch a confrontational approach against the US even if the US is in a worsening situation." Diao Daming, an associate professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times that if the White House prioritized the benefits of the American people and humanity, "it should listen to the good will and advise to stop its hostile moves. But this is not something that China can decide." If the US refused to stop its wrongdoings, China would "uphold the bottom-line mentality and fight till the end, with no compromise on sovereignty, security, dignity and interests and rights for development," Diao said. Bottom-line mentality Answering the question of the Global Times at the conference, Wang said that the abuse of litigation by the US against China for the COVID-19 outbreak was "groundless, has no factual basis and no international precedence and attempts to blackmail China over the epidemic are daydreaming and won't work." Wang said, "the attempt to file frivolous lawsuits is a shoddy one, as it has zero basis in fact, law or international precedence." Lu Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, said policymakers at the White House and senior US politicians are getting increasingly panicky and nervous as they believe this is a most fragile moment for the US. Once the US showed "many weaknesses" during its poor handling on the domestic outbreak, Lu said, US politicians would like to exaggerate and hype threats from outside and that was why they were "very aggressive to China even though China is helping and providing medical supplies to American people." Today's China is not what it used to be a hundred years ago, nor is the world anything like the one from a century ago. If anybody thought they could use some ludicrous lawsuits to undermine China's sovereignty and dignity or to deprive the Chinese people of their hard-won gains, they'd be daydreaming and bring disgrace to themselves," Wang said. Lu said the US was unable to afford an all-out confrontation with China as COVID-19 has already caused a great loss of its strength. The Trump administration would likely talk more and do less to harm China's interests, Lu guessed. "Huawei and Hong Kong could be the conflict points in the next stage, but China's retaliation would make the Trump administration suffer more economic pressures," he said. Although Wang did not directly respond to the Global Times' question about concerns that Washington may confiscate Chinese assets in the US as compensation, some experts saw this as unfeasible: The US would risk losing its own financial status if it resorts to this tactic, they said. Correct direction Wang urged the world to embrace a brighter future after the pandemic: improving and reforming globalization, and upholding multilateralism. "The world will never be the same again, and China will never stop moving forward," he said. Chinese experts noted this is an idea most members of the international community share and the opposite direction to the unilateralism of "America first" which the Trump administration is pushing. In the post-pandemic international order, the US will be increasingly isolated and less influential, they said. Li Haidong, a professor at the institute of international relations of the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, told the Global Times that if the US continued its "unilateral, arrogant and selfish policies" to harm not only China but also its allies, its credibility would plummet. Aside from the US, all Wang's other remarks at the press conference sent much more friendly and cooperative signals, such as China-Russia, China-Europe, China-Japan-South Korea and China-ASEAN relations. In response to a question about whether China and Russia will join forces to challenge US predominance, Wang said the two countries have supported and defended each other against slander and attacks coming from certain countries. "Together, China and Russia have forged an impregnable fortress against the 'political virus' and demonstrated the strength of bilateral strategic coordination," he said. As to Europe, China and the European Union (EU) should not be "systemic rivals," but "comprehensive strategic partners," Wang noted. The China-EU diplomatic agenda has been hit by the pandemic, but leaders from both sides "will keep in close contact in preparation for the 22nd China-EU leadership conference," he said. The pandemic response efforts of China, Japan and South Korea have set an example for the world, and the three countries will try to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement by the end of 2020 to speed up economic recovery for the region, Wang noted. Jin noted that China holds different attitudes toward the US and the rest of the world and he said, "We do have reason to believe that China will win more cooperation from other countries than the US as it is confident with its successful control over the COVID-19 outbreak and economic recovery." Li said the US is now unilaterally "decoupling" with China, but in the post-pandemic world, "it might find it is decoupling with the rest of the world." Belt & Road recovery The Chinese foreign minister said that "The impact of COVID-19 on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation is temporary and limited. COVID-19 will only strengthen and re-energize Belt and Road cooperation and open up new possibilities." Major projects like "China-Laos railways, Hungary-Serbia railways, dual-fired station in Cambodia, and the new administrative capital project of Egypt" are forging ahead steadily, Wang said. Some temporarily suspended projects are restarting, he noted, and these projects would also be significant to any world economic recovery after the pandemic. Wang Yiwei, director of the institute of international affairs at Renmin University of China in Beijing, said the COVID-19 global pandemic had struck a blow to global supply chains and might influence the international community's understanding of globalization. "Some Western countries, including the US and EU criticized the BRI, saying that connectivity would smooth the spreading of the virus," said Wang Yiwei, "but the fact is the BRI is helping with the economic development of countries along the route. "Some groundless slandering will not affect these countries' confidence in the initiative." There would be more public health projects emerging under the BRI and more work would be done to accomplish regional supply chains and structures, he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign tourists visit HCMC - PHOTO: DAO LOAN Effective infection prevention A few days ago, Australia-based 7News channel praised Vietnams efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, noting that Vietnam has led the way in protecting its citizens. Thanks to the Governments adoption of several drastic measures and citizens compliance, Vietnam, despite its large population of nearly 100 million and geographic proximity to China, has recorded only 300 infections and zero deaths. Many international magazines and news agencies such as FAZ (Germany), The Nation (the United States), Lenta.ru (Russia), Liberation, Ouest-France and Le Point (France) have also written about Vietnams response to Covid-19. According to many firms, these positive reports are a major advantage for Vietnam in reopening to tourists as it helps the country become better known and lets tourists feel more secure when visiting Vietnam. Tran Thi Thanh Tam, operator of Chez Mimosa hotels in HCMC, stated that pictures of Vietnam viewed abroad are positive. In online expat forums, questions are being raised on when they can return to Vietnam as the country has lifted social distancing restrictions. Vietnam, which is already known for beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures, is now known for its effective response to Covid-19. Thus, the tourism industry might recover quickly, according to Tam. Echoing this view, Nguyen Son Thuy, director of Indochina Unique Tourist, remarked that Vietnams effective fight against the virus has left a good impression, which will help in promoting the national brand and the countrys tourism sector. Meanwhile, prices and improved services in the aftermath of the pandemic are two other advantages offered by Vietnams tourism sector. Many businesses and localities are partnering to stimulate domestic travel and might continue to do so when international tourists return. The experience gained in safely serving domestic tourists before the pandemic is over will help service providers offer better service to international tourists. American magazine Travel + Leisure recently listed 17 destinations to visit after Covid-19, featuring Vietnam and the Philippines as the two Asian representatives due to their landscapes, prices and beaches. Preparations should begin now Vietnams tourism authority is considering plans to reopen, hoping to welcome tourists gradually by September. Many firms believe that recovery plans should be prepared now, so everything will run smoothly when the time comes to execute these plans. Nearby markets such as China and South Korea might recover sooner, but other markets might need more time, possibly even extending into next year, before they see considerable recovery. According to Thuy of Indochina Unique Tourist, in the Southeast Asian market, many partners are waiting for the Governments permission to send tourists to the country this July or August. When travel conditions are loosened, tourists will come, Thuy stated. Thuy added that consumption trends and tourist behavior will definitely change after the pandemic. Therefore, service suppliers should take into account hygiene issues when welcoming guests to prevent the transmission of the virus and give tourists a sense of safety. According to a firm that wishes to remain anonymous, though it might take longer for European and Australian markets to recover, preparations should start now. Tourists might not be able to travel right now, but if attractive promotions for late 2020 or next year are presented, they will still make plans. The firm is working with its partners in Australia to prepare for the influx of tourists. There might be room rate discounts of 20%-30% and several free services on offer. Nguyen Van Khoa, general director of Mui Ne Bay Resort in Phan Thiet City, noted that specific preparations for travel recovery programs should be in hand soon. While preparations for health and safety could draw tourists attention, attractive services and prices will get them to make decisions. Our partner in Europe has yet to determine when they will be able to send guests, but they are working on programs preparing for tourist arrivals, Khoa said. He added that prices are of special importance. According to the Tourism Advisory Board, once countries are able to control the pandemic, the tourism industry should gradually open to tourists. The Government should use the visa-waiver program, which has been suspended since the start of the outbreak. In addition, visa exemption for potential and stable markets such as Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada should be lengthened from 15 to 30 days.SGT The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has said he reserves the right to contest for Senate or presidency in 2023. ... The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has said he reserves the right to contest for Senate or presidency in 2023. Ngige made the remark while dismissing reports that he was interested in contesting for the Anambra governorship election billed for next year. He spoke in his hometown of Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday. Ngige, who was a former one term governor of the state, however, declared that he has no interest in becoming governor because hes on a national assignment as Minister. Ngige said: Yes, there have been speculations that I am eyeing the governorship of Anambra State. They have written about it in a lot of media. I am a politician. They have the right to speculate on my next move. My next move is very vast. Elections will come in 2023, I have a right to vie for any position. I can vie for Senate. I can vie for president if I so wish. Election will be coming in Anambra State, latest November 2021 to elect a successor to Obiano. I am not disqualified. I have a right to say I can run. I dont have interest for now in Anambra governorship because I am on a national assignment. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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The health segur video conference, named after the avenue where the Ministry of Health is located, is in line with a promise made by President Emmanuel Macron at the end of March for a massive investment and upgrading plan" for hospitals. Wage increases, working hours and hospital governance will all be addressed in what's been described as vast negotiations that will determine the future of the French healthcare system. Some 300 representatives of unions and advocacy groups representing medical personnel will be involved in the talks, due to be completed by mid-July. Outlining his plans for reform to France's lauded healthcare system, whose weaknesses have been exposed by the Covid-19 crisis, Health Minister Olivier Veran said: We'll go fast and we'll go strong. To oversee the negotiations, the government has appointed Nicole Notat, a former head of the moderate CFDT labour union and a supporter of Macron during his 2017 presidential campaign. She has promised to seek the widest possible consensus in negotiations and not to let her personal position interfere. Some health workers already doubt that the reforms will live up to the massive investment promise, with unions warning the government that exhausted, lowly paid frontline healthcare workers will abandon the talks if challenges are not met. Before the coronavirus crisis, nurses, doctors and emergency staff spent most of the past year striking and protesting over their pay and working conditions. In this undated photo provided on Sunday, May 24, 2020, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea in North Korea. AP U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien renewed calls Sunday for North Korea to give up its nuclear program if it wants to have a "great economy," after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a key party meeting to discuss bolstering nuclear deterrence. In his first public appearance in about three weeks, Kim presided over a session of the Workers' Party's Central Military Commission to discuss "new policies for further increasing the nuclear war deterrence," the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday. The North's first mention of "nuclear war deterrence" since early 2018 came amid an impasse in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang, and its struggle to improve its economy crippled by global sanctions and a pandemic-driven plunge in trade with China. "We've managed to avoid a conflict with North Korea over the last 3 1/2 years. The president has engaged in some excellent personal diplomacy with Kim Jong-un," O'Brien said in an interview with CBS News' "Face the Nation." "But ultimately, the North Koreans, if they want to reenter the world, if they want to have a great economy, we hope they do, they are going to have to give up their nuclear program," the official added. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex could very well be living her best life right now. She and her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex are currently sheltering in place with their 1-year-old son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The family of threes reportedly staying in a Beverly Hills mansion belonging to media mogul Tyler Perry. That is, until they find a more permanent home in Meghans hometown of Los Angeles. Meghan Markle | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Hunkering down at home as a result of COVID-19 with everything else thats been happening in Meghan and Harrys lives may be working in the Duchess of Sussexs favor. Remember, the couple secretly relocated from Canada after officially stepping down as senior members of the British royal family at the end of March 2020. Ahead, discover reasons why the 38-year-old duchess might be living her best life right now. 1. She can spend quality time with Prince Harry and Archie Having to stay at home frees up a lot of time for Meghan. On her now-defunct blog, The Tig, she once said she likes to keep busy. But now COVID-19 has forced her to slow down a bit. As a result, she has more time to hang out with Harry and Archie. In honor of Archies first birthday on May 6, 2020, the couple shared an adorable video of Meghan and Archie reading a book. Wed venture to guess the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been spending a lot of their time at home bonding with Archie. RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Made Sure Archies Best Friends Celebrated His First Birthday With Him 2. Meghan Markle doesnt have to deal with the press An added bonus of being holed up at home is that Meghan doesnt have the paparazzi following her every move. Ever since she started dating Harry, shes had ups and downs and faced intense scrutiny. And shes been vocal about the toll it has taken on her. The Duchess of Sussex may be happy to stay at home during COVID-19 simply because it means some time without the press. RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Prince Harry and Meghan Markles Lawsuit Against the British Press 3. She can focus on giving back to the community Meghan has a long history of giving back. Years before she started dating Harry shed been involved with various charities. While at home, the Duchess of Sussex has helped her local community she and Harry have been seen delivering meals to LA residents and other non-profit organizations. Its likely been great for Meghan to focus on whats important to her. After all, wanting to give back and change the world is what she and Harry bonded over on their first date. 4. Meghan Markle has more time to cook The Duchess of Sussex has long been a foodie. She gushed about restaurants and various dishes on The Tig and as a royal she helped launch a charity cookbook. Staying at home, Meghan and Harry have reportedly been stocking their fridge with groceries from Trader Joes and Whole Foods. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Morocco | Tim P. Whitby Pool/Getty Images RELATED: Meghan Markle Always Keeps Her Fridge Stocked with These 5 Things Without the services of a chef, the Duchess of Sussex has supposedly been whipping up a lot of their meals. And judging by her longtime love of food and cooking, Meghan could very well be loving the extra time in the kitchen. While COVID-19 has been devastating, for Meghan it looks as if it may have given her the opportunity to focus on what she loves to do; spend time with Harry and Archie, cook, and give back. People socialise in Campo de Fiori, a popular piazza in Rome's historic centre - LaPresse Italy wants to recruit an army of 60,000 volunteers to help enforce social distancing rules, amid fears that a second wave of infections could be looming. The volunteers would not have any policing powers but would patrol piazzas, parks, playgrounds, markets, bar areas and beaches, asking people not to congregate in large groups. They would be drawn from the ranks of the unemployed, those on income support and those who have been furloughed as a result of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. The civic assistants, as they would be known, would monitor gatherings and pass on information to the police and the Civil Protection Agency. They would not be able to force people to disperse. They would work up to three days a week for a maximum of 16 hours. The scheme will be voluntary they will not be paid but will be able to continue claiming unemployment and other benefits. Bars and restaurants along the Naviglio Grande canal in Milan - AP A decree to recruit the volunteers has been signed by Francesco Boccia, Italys minister for the regions. Italy allowed bars and restaurants to open up last week and since then tens of thousands of young people have taken to the streets at night, drinking and socialising. There is acute alarm among politicians and scientists that the large gatherings could lead to a second wave of coronavirus infections, reversing the positive trend of recent weeks. Italy is the third worst-affected country in the world, with 32,785 deaths. Since the pandemic erupted in February, 230,000 people have been infected. In Naples at the weekend, a seaside promenade was jammed with traffic until 4am while in Rome, young people drank and smoked on bridges that span the Tiber. There were similar scenes in cities and towns across the country, from Milan in the north to Palermo in Sicily. The aerobatic demonstration team of the Italian Air Force, flies in formation above Milan, 25 May 2020. Starting from 25 May, the Frecce Tricolori will perform every day throughout Italy as part of the 74th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Italian Republic and to pay homage to the areas most affected by the coronavirus pandemic - Shutterstock Italians are currently not allowed to travel between the countrys 20 regions. That ban is due to be lifted on June 3, but ministers said if the flouting of social distancing and mask-wearing continued, it might have to remain. Story continues It is understandable and human, after two months, to want to leave one's house, but we must not forget that we are still facing the Covid-19 threat, said Mr Boccia, the minister. Young people who are partying en masse are betraying the sacrifices made by millions of Italians. He said the majority of Italians were respecting the regulations and are indignant about the behaviour of a minority. SAN FRANCISCO and MUMBAI, India, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The market leader in mobile app security AppSealing has announced the introduction of a new feature to its suite of security services. Now, it protects hybrid apps as well. It's new and existing clients, which include industry bigwigs in the fields of fintech, gaming, OTT, ecommerce, etc., can add an AppSealing security layer between the native shell and the web app to secure their hybrid apps and protect their network infrastructure and their users' devices and data. Following DevOps logic, hybrid apps are essentially web applications wrapped in a native shell of a mobile operating system. Their popularity rests on the promise of reduced development time and cost. Developers focus on delivering updated apps to clients in the shortest possible time and, hence, do not bother enough about its security features or are not equipped to address security concerns. It makes hybrid apps vulnerable to security attacks. Noticing this gap, AppSealing now offers its cutting-edge technology to protect both the JavaScript source code and the Android native code in hybrid apps, just as it protects native apps. James Sungmin Ahn, CEO of INKA Entworks, the company that owns AppSealing, says, "There is pressure on developers to release feature-heavy apps quickly. The developer community has responded by adopting DevOps and rolling out hybrid apps. AppSealing equips developers to fill the security gap that emerges out of adopting this approach. AppSealing's trademark features, like real-time threat monitoring, ability to stop reverse engineering, and code protection, are available for hybrid apps now." An important proposition in the security set-up of native and hybrid apps is the use of a secure web browser, since attackers tend to exploit security holes in browsing habits of users. AppSealing's secure WebView for android is the only unique solution that plugs this gap and delivers Chromium-based WebView security, which is compatible with android WebView API, integrated with NAVER XWhale (WebView) used for NAVER apps. Hyo Kim, Whale Leader of NAVER Corporation, says, "AppSealing is the preferred choice of mobile app developers for securing apps in real-time. Our Whale browser has made a name for itself in protecting susceptible users against phishing and malware attacks. Hybrid app developers can benefit from this partnership by using the secure browsing promise of NAVER X Whale (Webview) and real-time threat monitoring mechanism of AppSealing." This association shows to the developer community how even hybrid apps can be made safer without compromising on the ease of development and cost adjustments they offer. AppSealing Hybrid App Security v1.0 offers hybrid apps with JavaScript and native code protection that prevents code theft, information leakage, malware insertion, reverse engineering, and stealing of premium features, while its RASP feature pre-empts hacking attempts at runtime. All these multi-layered security is uniquely available to AppSealing clients through an SDK, which adds a WebView protection layer to their hybrid apps and encrypts their JavaScript and native code. AppSealing is constantly adding new features which developers use for fast and secure delivery of apps and creating beautiful and user-friendly interfaces. Its next cycle of protection will involve apps created through React Native, Ionic, and Flutter frameworks. About AppSealing A trusted player in the world of application security, AppSealing, as part of INKA Entworks , utilizes RASP and In-app protection to build scalable security solutions in Android and iOS mobile apps without requiring any coding. Its powerful security suite ensures real-time source code protection against reverse engineering and hacking. It protects 800M+ devices and 800+ mobile apps. It is headquartered in South Korea, with regional offices in the USA and India. For more information, visit https://www.appsealing.com. Contact: Rupesh Shinde +91-8082752416 [email protected] SOURCE AppSealing A Belfast primary school principal is calling on the Education Minister to clearly state that teachers will not be asked to project transfer test grades if a second coronavirus wave makes the exam impossible. St John the Baptist headmaster Chris Donnelly said it would be "unacceptable to ask a teacher to make a call as to whether a child gets into a grammar school or not". This year's post-primary transfer tests are being held two weeks later than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic. The AQE and GL exams are set to run over four Saturdays from November 21 to December 12. But a second wave of Covid-19 in the autumn could disrupt these plans. Mr Donnelly said: "If we ended up in a second lockdown, I don't see how grammar schools could use academic selection to choose pupils for the following year. "Teachers have been asked to predict grades for cancelled GCSE and A-level exams but it would be disastrous to do this for the transfer test. So much rests on the grade awarded. "It would be unacceptable to ask a teacher to make a call as to whether a child gets into a grammar school or not. It would put immense pressure on teachers. It would poison our relationships with pupils and parents, and it would open the door to litigation. "Peter Weir needs to make a clear statement reassuring primary school teachers that we will not be asked to project grades." Last year more than 8,000 pupils sat transfer tests which are used by the vast majority of grammar schools here to select pupils. Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People Koulla Yiasouma and head of the Catholic Church in Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin have called for the exams not to go ahead this year. But their appeals are likely to be ignored despite P6 pupils having missed so much of the school year due to the coronavirus crisis. The Education Minister last week announced a phased return to school here from late August. He said the reopening would be subject to safety and medical guidance. But Mr Donnelly urged the minister to detail the social distancing measures that would apply so that schools could start making preparations now. "We need to know if we will be adhering to the existing social distancing rule of two metres in Northern Ireland, or whether it will be reduced to the World Health Organisation's one metre guideline," he said. "That's crucial so we can make plans as to how to divide classes. Without that knowledge, we won't know how many kids we can actually have in each classroom. "In England there has been talk of around 15 children in a classroom. I don't know how you adhere to social distancing with so many in a class." The west Belfast principal added: "We need clear guidance from the minister as soon as possible so we can decide if it's necessary to split our classes of up to 30 children into three, four or even five groups. We must be told this by next month at the latest so we can map out the way ahead." Mr Donnelly said that as smaller classes were necessary, children would not be returning to school full-time. He added: "We need to know if the department will allow schools themselves flexibility in drawing up timetables or if the minister will direct the approach taken. And what approach will that be? "Will Peter Weir propose splitting groups into morning and afternoon sessions or will he want children to be in school for a full day but perhaps only two days a week?" Mr Donnelly also urged the Education Minister to send unemployed substitute teachers into our most deprived areas to help children during the pandemic. The Executive last week announced a 12m fund to assist substitute teachers during the Covid-19 crisis. They are now being paid without being required to work. Mr Donnelly suggested that they could be deployed in deprived areas. "There is widespread concern that our poorest and most vulnerable kids are destined to be the most disadvantaged as a consequence of the pandemic," he said. "It would be an innovative step for Peter Weir to use this pool of teachers to help counter the adverse impact of the enforced school closures by allocating them to schools in communities with the greatest social and economic deprivation. "It would be a way of targeting work on numeracy and literacy and also offering pastoral support to those kids who need it most." In response to the issues raised by Mr Donnelly, the Department of Education said that a "very wide range of issues" were under consideration. The department would be "working closely with the whole education sector, including school principals, to develop appropriate guidance to assist schools with planning provision", it said. Police are searching for an SUV that was stolen near the eastern Pennsylvania vicinity where a University of Connecticut senior who is wanted for the murder of two people was last seen. Pennsylvania state police said they are looking for a 2012 Black Hyundai Santa Fe with the Pennsylvania license plate KYW-1650 that was taken Monday around 9 p.m. The car was near East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, the last known location of Peter Manfredonia, 23, who is on the lam after he allegedly killed two people in Connecticut over the weekend, invaded a home, stole guns and two cars and abducted a person, according to police. Pennsylvania State Trooper Anthony Petroski said police didn't immediately know if Manfredonia stole the Santa Fe, but he urged the public to be on the lookout for the vehicle and the suspect. PHOTO: The Pennsylvania State Police released this image of a suspect to their Twitter account with the caption, 'SUSPECT was last seen yesterday (Sunday) afternoon in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, PA.' (@PSPTroopNPIO/Twitter) "Anyone with information should call 911 immediately and DO NOT APPROACH!" Petroski tweeted Tuesday. MORE: Urgent manhunt underway for Connecticut murder suspect Police say Manfredonia was seen wearing dark-colored shorts and a white T-shirt and was carrying a large duffel bag. PHOTO: The Pennsylvania State Police released this image of Peter Manfredonia. (@PSPTroopNPIO/Twitter) The hunt for Manfredonia, which is being aided by the FBI, has already crossed three state lines. On Friday, Manfredonia allegedly attacked two men in Willington, Connecticut, with an edged weapon, killing Theodore Demers, 62, and wounding the unidentified second suspect, according to police. On Sunday, officers responded to a 911 call of a home invasion in Willington where Manfredonia allegedly stole pistols and long guns and a truck, police said. The homeowner was not injured, according to police. PHOTO: The Pennsylvania State Police released this image of Peter Manfredonia. (@PSPTroopNPIO/Twitter) The suspect allegedly drove to Derby, Connecticut, where he allegedly killed an acquaintance, Nicholas J. Eisele, 23, inside his home, abducted another resident, stole a car and fled, according to police. The kidnapped victim was found later Sunday unharmed in Paterson, New Jersey, and identified Manfredonia as her captor, police said. MORE: Florida man allegedly kidnapped teen to drive him through coronavirus checkpoint Story continues The car was found in New Jersey, police said. On Tuesday, investigators said an Uber cab dropped Manfredonia off at an East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Walmart. Officers interviewed the Uber driver who said the suspect walked behind the store and on the train tracks. Manfredonia has no connections in the area or a vehicle, according to investigators. Pennsylvania state police released a surveillance photo Sunday that they say shows Manfredonia walking on train tracks near East Stroudsburg. PHOTO: The Connecticut State Police released this poster of suspect Peter Manfredonia to their Twitter account. (@CT_STATE_POLICE/Twitter) On Monday, Michael Dolan, the Manfredonia family's lawyer, held a press conference to address the incident, according to ABC affiliate WTNH-TV in New Haven. Dolan described Manfredonia as an honor student and athlete who has long struggled with mental health issues and sought help from therapists. "Peter, if you are listening you are loved," Dolan said, calling out to his client. "Nobody wants any harm to come to you. It is time to let the healing process begin, it is time to surrender. Please turn yourself in." Dolan expressed his condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. He said he's had no contact with Manfredonia. A UConn representative said Manfredonia was a student at the joint School of Engineering / School of Business MEM (Management and Engineering for Management), and he was not attending summer classes or living on campus. "The university expresses its deepest, most heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their families in this horrible, incomprehensible tragedy. They are all in our thoughts," school spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said in a statement. Police search for stolen car near UConn suspect's last known location originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has asked the students who are stranded and still living in Hostels to return back to their hometown and come back after the varsity re-opens. It may be recalled that many students had stayed back in the hostel though the university had been closed as the lockdown was imposed. A number students had stayed back in hostels at that time due to non-availability of public transport. In a circular iisued on Monday by Dean of Students Sudheer Pratap Singh, Students have been asked to return to their hometown in view of the resumption of transport facility and increasing number of coronavirus infection cases in Delhi. As is widely reported the Indian Railways has begun to run special trains and around 200 more trains are going to be started from 1st June 2020. The intra-state bus and taxi services have also started by the state governments. Transport arrangements are, moreover, being made by some state Governments for the return of students of their respective states. Further, as per the MHA, Govt. of India and Delhi Government guidelines, issued from time to time, the University has announced that students can return to campus on or after 25 June 2020 and till then all academic activities are closed. This is to underline that the Government of India updates daily about the COVID-19 pandemic situation in India. At present, the number of cases in Delhi is increasing swiftly day by day. Keeping in view the above facts, all students who are stranded and residing in the hostels are, hereby, strongly advised to return to their hometown and come back after the opening of the University, reads the notification. Punjab Ekta Party (PEP) president Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Sunday appealed to Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president Bhagwant Mann, Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLA Simarjit Singh Bains and other like-minded leaders to unite to rescue Punjab. Khaira made the appeal through posts on Twitter after eminent agriculture economist Dr Sardara Singh Johl, while praising these leaders in an interview, ruled out the possibility of their coming together to provide a third alternative. I am willing to unconditionally unite with like-minded leaders of Punjab without any position...I urge @sherryontopp @BhatwantMann @simarjeet_bains to listen to this eminent farm scientist to rescue Punjab, he tweeted. The PEP chief further suggested that all well-meaning and like-minded leaders such as (former AAP MP) Dharamvira Gandhi, Sucha Singh Chhotepur and (suspended AAP MLA) Kanwar Sandhu should unite to rid Punjab of corrupt traditional parties. The Parish Priest of the Christ the King Catholic Church, Rev. Father Andrew Campbell has urged government to consider putting all Leprosariums across the country on the LEAP Programme. According to him, lepers are one of the most marginalized in society who hardly receives donations from individuals and companies because of the stigma that comes with the disease. He said it is difficult to run such facilities when little support comes from government and the public. Rev. Father Andrew Campbell told Tishdaily, when a team from Kasapa FM led by Osomafo Kingsley Agyenim Boateng visited the Christ the King Leprosarium in Accra yesterday, to donate a cash amount of GHS31,980.00. Presenting the money, Osomafo Kingsley Agyenim Boateng said the money was raised through his Anidaso show. He explained further that he and his team received the direction from God to raise the money together with their listeners and donate to the Leprosarium after they have embarked on a one-week fasting and prayer. "We were directed by God to make a thanksgiving donation here so that Father Campbell would pray for everyone who contributed to raising the money. Receiving the donation, Father Campbell said if all Leprosariums are put on the LEAP Program lepers will be catered for. The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme provides cash and health insurance to the extremely poor households across Ghana to alleviate short-term poverty and encourage long term human capital development. I am commending government for putting the Weija Leprosarium on the LEAP programme. I am further appealing to government to expedite the process to put the remaining Leprosariums across the country on the programme. The LEAP programme is there to help the poor and needy in society and we are grateful that those at the Weija and Ho Leprosariums have been put on the Programme. Those at the Kokofu, Cape Coast and Upper East Leprosariums have not been put on the programme, Father Campbell said. According to Father Campbell, he has had an interaction with the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Cynthia Mamle Morrison and has humbly requested that government put the remaining leprosariums across the country on the LEAP Programme. We have written twice to the Minister of Gender to please put them on the LEAP programme so we get some help for them. I met her last week and she said she is following through, he indicated. He said the facility has never received such support, especially during this Covid-19 period. This is wonderful. To all your listeners, staff and donors we say thank you and God bless you. The money received will be used to buy food items, toiletries and other essential items to cater for not only Christ the King Leprosarium but all Leprosariums across the country that my office supports, Father Campbell said. The Catholic Priest encouraged government, individuals and institutions to support them in running the various facilities. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On Friday, Dr. Deborah Birx, the top coordinator of the White Houses coronavirus task force, cited the Washington, D.C. area as one of the current centers for the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. There is still significant virus circulating here, Birx stated at a press conference Friday. Even though Washington has remained closed, [Los Angeles] has remained closed, Chicago has remained closed, we still see these ongoing cases. Birx stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would be looking into where these cases are coming from and what do we need to do to prevent them in the future. On Sunday, jurisdictions in Maryland, Virginia and the District reported a total number of cases as surpassing 89,000, with an overnight increase of 1,943 COVID-19 infections from Friday to Saturday. Maryland, which reported the first case of COVID-19 among the three jurisdictions in March, has recorded over 46,000 infections; Virginia has reported 36,244 and Washington D.C. has reported over 8,000 cases. Over 3,800 people in the region have died from the infection as of Sunday. Donald Trump and Deborah Birx at a press conference in April. (Image credit: Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) On Thursday, the day before Birx spoke, the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia recorded a sum total of 2,674 new cases, the third highest daily amount the region has seen in the 3 months since the virus was detected in the area. Birxs latest announcement comes as the Mid-Atlantic region has reported a constant increase of COVID-19 cases. Despite this, public officials have announced plans for and, in Maryland and Virginias case, begun re-opening their economies. The statement came a week after regional governments began enacting stage one of their reopening plans. Last week, the governments of Virginia and Maryland allowed for the partial reopening of nonessential business and dining. At the time, the states allowed highly infected centers to remain closed, citing the high concentration of COVID-19 in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, in particular. Despite the growing number of infections, this week officials in Marylands Prince Georges and Montgomery counties, two of the states epicenters for COVID-19, announced they would begin reopening within days. On Wednesday, the office of Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, a Democrat, announced that the county could begin easing restrictions within a week, noting that the county had begun seeing a decline in new cases. As of Sunday, Montgomery County had 9,699 cases, nearly a quarter of the states total amount. On Friday, Prince Georges County Executive, Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, announced a June 1 reopening. Prince Georges County, lying to the east of the District, has seen some of the most catastrophic infection rates in the country. In April, the county recorded a 41 percent positive infection rate among residents who had been tested. Last week, the numbers were slightly less, standing at 28 percent. Baltimore County, which borders the city of Baltimore, announced Thursday evening that it would allow beauty parlors and some retail businesses to begin reopening on Friday morning. The literal overnight decision even took small business owners by surprise. We thought Baltimore County was going to stick to its word and not have us open for a few more weeks We just cannot open our doors tomorrow morning, business owner Teresa Blatchley told the Washington Post. Baltimore County has seen over 5,000 infections and was included in the areas allowed to remain closed during the initial stages of Republican Governor Larry Hogans decision to begin reopening the state. The decision to reopen comes after numerous medical experts have advised caution. Prior to the initial reopening of businesses, Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Medicine director Dr. Gabe Kelen told the Post that he was predicting a new spike three to six weeks after everything opens up. These and other warnings have been willfully ignored. Throughout the Memorial Day weekend, news media reported seeing crowds of sightseers and tourists at popular destinations. A CBS news reporter showed footage of crowds along Ocean Citys downtown boardwalk, with little social distancing or face coverings seen. In Virginia, which also began reopening March 15, the Democratic Governor Ralph Northam has sought to require local municipalities still sheltering in place to coordinate their reopening. Such symbolic gestures have little substance as the majority of the state has already begun reopening. Last week, Levar Stoney, the Democratic mayor of the state capital Richmond, sent a letter to the governor pleading that he make a requirement of the wearing of facial masks in public. Were asking the governor to mandate the wearing of face masks consistent with CDC recommendations, said Stoneys spokesperson of the letter. The Richmond official noted that local businesses were seeing far fewer people with masks on, despite the city still having a shelter-in-place order. Leaders of several local unions have also separately urged Northam to make the same designation for wearing masks. For its part, the Washington, D.C. government of Democratic mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced plans this week to begin allowing nonessential bookstores and education retailers to begin reopening with restrictions and for curbside service. Bowser issued these permissions despite having recently announced plans to extend the citys stay-at-home order until June 8. The District has closed its schools for the remainder of the academic year, with the possibility of courses starting in August if the city has completed its phase one of reopening. State officials and media commentators have consistently seized upon the decline of hospitalization throughout the region as a key metric for reopening, despite the clear inaccuracies of such a standard. Related to this push is the effort to frame the rising number of COVID-19 cases in a positive light. News reports of record numbers of infections are routinely accompanied by comments noting such findings are due to increased diagnostic testing in the region. The implication of these statements is that it is not the disease that is spreading, just the authorities ability to track it. Even if such an argument were true, the jurisdictions of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia have not come anywhere near the required number of daily tests to make reopening a possibility. Virginia previously set the daily goal for adequate testing at 10,000 but has routinely hovered at around half of that throughout the month of May. Maryland, which has set a similar goal for itself, has also failed to deliver on an adequate number of tests and a system for tracing contacts. The lag in testing is not due to a lack of demand. Throughout the week, numerous free testing sites, set up only days earlier, reported having to close their doors earlier than expected due to the overwhelming demand for a diagnosis. While people who have symptoms are a priority, everyone is welcome at testing events as long as there are tests available, Governor Northam stated last week. Page Content Holland hasnt subscribed to the bond sent in 2019 The Country of Sint Maarten has made preparations in the past year to finance part of its capital expenditure by issuing a public bond for an amount of NA 40 million. The Kingdom Act Financial Supervision Curacao and Sint Maarten (Kingdom Act) regulates the supervision of the public finances of the Country Sint Maarten and the Country Curacao. As usual, prior advice was obtained from the Board of Financial Support (Cft). In its letter dated 2 September 2019, the Cft advised positively on this bond to cover capital expenditure. According to the Kingdom Act, Sint Maarten can finance its expenditure on the kapitaaldienst by issuing a bond, once the relevant conditions are met. Sint Maarten sent their issuance of a bond to be subscribed to by The Netherlands in October 2019. When all of the conditions are met, it is not a matter of The Netherlands agreeing or not but subscribing. The Netherlands Ministry of Finance has no discretionary or decisive role in the current subscription process, they are only obligated to subscribe. The issuing of the bond has been made public. Although the Cft has advised positively on the issuance of the bond, The Netherlands has not yet subscribed to this bond. It is clear that the actions of The Netherlands are not in accordance with the Kingdom Act and violate the agreements found in the Kingdom Act agrees upon by all Kingdom partners. St. Maartens Ministry of Finance has sent another letter reminding The Netherlands to subscribe. Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov in conversation with Speaker of the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) Andreas Norlen expressed hope for expanding cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries. The communication took place in a video conferencing format today, the press service of the Verkhovna Rada reported. "Ukraine and Sweden share a high respect for democratic values. Together we can achieve more. I hope to expand cooperation between the legislative bodies of our states," Razumkov said. The speaker noted that the deputy group on interparliamentary relations with the Kingdom of Sweden, established in the Ukrainian parliament, was an effective mechanism for developing relations between the countries. In addition, Razumkov thanked Sweden for its firm position in supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty that Ukraine has had in the international arena for a long time. The speaker also said that decentralization reform in Ukraine was nearing completion. This reform is very important now, as local elections will be held in Ukraine in the autumn. Legislation for these elections is being finalized, Razumkov noted. In addition, the speaker stressed that the international community should join forces to overcome the negative consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Dmytro Razumkov invited Andreas Norlen to visit Ukraine after quarantine is over. ish New Delhi, May 25 : The Jama Masjid on Monday wore a deserted look on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr as the gates of the historical mosque remained closed amid the nationwide lockdown to cut the transmission of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Every year visuals of thousands offering namaaz at Delhi's iconic Jama Masjid showcases Eid. But this year the vast expanse of the mosque on Monday remain empty as religious gathering is not allowed amid the lockdown. Earlier on Sunday, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Ahmad Bukhari asked people to offer prayers at their homes. "I appeal to all the faithful to maintain social distancing and stay indoors during the Eid festivities," Bukhari had said. He also urged them to extend a helping hand to the poor, the destitute and the needy in this hour of crisis, as hundreds and thousands were staring at an uncertain future. Eid-ul-Fitr, which is one of the biggest Muslim festival marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan. It's normally celebrated with exchange of greetings, hugs, feasting and bonding. Latest updates on Eid al-Fitr 2020 -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Credit: CC0 Public Domain Hospital officials, anticipating a surge of COVID-19 cases, urged deferring routine, nonemergency care so doctors, nurses, and other personnel could focus on pandemic patients. But a new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center suggests that too many, either to avoid straining medical resources or fearing infection at the hospital, may have put off emergency care for issues like heart attacks and strokes, at a cost of lives. Dhruv Kazi, director of Beth Israel's Cardiac Critical Care Unit and a Harvard Medical School faculty member, and associate director of the hospital's Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology, spoke with the Gazette about the study's findings of a 33 percent drop in heart attack patients and 58 percent drop in stroke patients at the hospital during March and April. Q&A: Dhruv Kazi GAZETTE: What did you find when you looked at hospitalizations for non-COVID conditions at Beth Israel? KAZI: Early on in the pandemic, it became clear to those of us who work in the intensive care unit and more broadly in cardiology that the number of patients seeking care for emergencies such as heart attacks or strokes had dropped precipitously. Patients were simply not showing up. And, as we had conversations with colleagues across the country, we realized that this was a national phenomenon and, in fact, an international phenomenon. Patients are not seeking care for conditions that we would normally think of as emergent and potentially life-threatening. So we compared the rates of patients presenting with heart attacks and stroke during the course of the pandemic with an equivalent period of time earlier in the year, before the start of the pandemic. We used last year's data to adjust for the usual month-to-month variation you would expect over this time period. We expected to find a decline but were still surprised by the magnitude of it: a 33 percent reduction in hospitalizations for heart attacks and a 58 percent reduction in strokes. The reduction in heart attacks my co-investigators and I had seen firsthand as cardiologists, but the stroke numbers were pretty stunning. GAZETTE: Is it possible that people are calmer because they're home, less stressed, so fewer of these things are happening? KAZI: The data can only tell us what's actually happening, not why these numbers have dropped. There's a possibility that we're at home and, hypothetically, we're eating better, working out more often, feeling less stressed about trying to beat Boston traffic. We also know that, to some extent, air quality has gotten better. But none of these factors, individually or collectively, can explain the magnitude of this decline. In fact, recently released census data suggest that concerns about the pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty are increasing levels of anxiety and stress in the population. The decline in heart attack hospitalizations has been seen across the country and the world, including places like Northern California, where the COVID-19 pandemic didn't hit nearly as hard as it did in Boston, and Italy, where they had a public health catastrophe. So it's clear that the messaging that this is a highly infectious disease and that people need to shelter in place, combined with images of hospitals that are overwhelmedeven far awayhas encouraged patients to stay at home. The effect we saw on heart attacks and strokes I think is primarily driven by fear of contagion. And that fear has important public health implications. It means that we, as health systems, have to do a better job convincing patients that hospitals are safe for emergencies. And, as we open up, we've got to do a better job convincing patients that hospitals are safe for routine care. Because if this fear lingers, people are going to continue to put off routine and even urgent care. GAZETTE: Talking specifically about Massachusetts, aren't guidelines for nonemergency care loosening up? KAZI: Good point. It's important to remember that even at the peak of the lockdown, there were no restrictions at all on emergency care. That's why heart attacks and strokes shouldn't, in an ideal world, have seen any drop at all. With regard to nonemergency care, the state is starting to open up slowly, but there are pretty strict requirements in terms of maintaining adequate social distancing and reducing crowding in waiting rooms. Patients should rest assured that hospitals and clinics have developed systems to safeguard their health while they're in the hospital for care. GAZETTE: How dangerous were ERs for people presenting without COVID? Did you have a lot of cases of people who came in for other conditions who wound up getting COVID in the hospital? KAZI: No, all of our hospitals in Bostonand the same is true nationallyhave extensive experience with infection control in emergency room settings. Very quickly, for instance, we split our emergency room into a section that would care for people with respiratory complaints that might be COVID-19 and an entirely separate section that dealt with individuals who clearly did not have complaints resembling COVID-19. In the COVID-19 section of the emergency room, patients were masked immediately, and clinicians took ample precautions to ensure there was no risk of transmission from patients to clinicians or among patients. This went into place even before the first trickle of patients started showing up in our emergency rooms. So, the risk was very, very low from the get-go. GAZETTE: Do you know whether there were any cases of infections in the emergency room? KAZI: I don't know of any transmission in the emergency room, and this is exactly the kind of question patients need answered. I think we did a really effective job communicating the importance of staying at home, and I'm not undervaluing what we achieved. Let's be clear about thisstaying at home and "flattening the curve" in Boston saved lives. We have the luxury in Boston of having numerous world-class hospitals, and each of the big hospitals more than doubled their critical care capacity. In hindsight, the early outbreak in the beginning of March may have pushed us all to prepare well in advance, yet, even with the flattened curve, most hospitals got pretty close to being full during the peak of the pandemic. So, I don't interpret our findings to mean that we shouldn't have locked down or shouldn't have sheltered in place. Far from it. Even our hospitals with all of their spare capacity would have been completely overwhelmed if we had had the same numbers as New York. But I think we could have done a better job communicating about emergencies. And that's a job that's not finished. GAZETTE: Do we know whether there were excess deaths that are attributed to non-COVID conditions and that did not occur in the hospitals? KAZI: Based on the heart attack and stroke data that we just discussed, it's very clear that there are patients who are having heart attacks and strokes and deciding to sit it out. They are either presenting to the hospital lateand not eligible for some of the very effective therapies for cardiovascular conditions that must be administered early onor they may have died at home. We know from data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that Massachusetts has had approximately 5,000 excess deaths since the pandemic started. Many of these are due to the pandemic itself, and some may be undiagnosed COVID-19 cases, but my hunch is that many of those deaths are from undiagnosed cardiovascular conditions, like heart attacks and strokes, where people decided to sit out the symptoms and it didn't work out well. GAZETTE: One of the reasons we've become a healthier society is that people have gotten the message, "Don't wait; come in; get screened; get checked out." How valuable has that "catch it early" message been and is it a potentially unrecognized casualty of COVID, from a public health messaging standpoint? KAZI: Absolutely. That's exactly what is happening here. Over the past two decades, organizations like the American Heart Association have done a really good job of messaging around the "golden hour," the need to respond early, the importance ofparticularly among womenrecognizing that some symptoms might be atypical. When in doubt, call 911, go get checked out because in cardiology we say, "Time is muscle." The longer you wait during a heart attack, the more heart muscle you lose. The neurologists say, "Time is brain." The longer you wait during a stroke, the more brain tissue you lose. We've communicated to the public that time is essential for these conditions and we're going to have to get that message out again. Our data suggests that we've taken a small but real step backward in the time of COVID. GAZETTE: Besides heart ailments and strokes, did the tendency to avoid hospital visits have any other public health effects for non-COVID patients? KAZI: Talking about these unintentional consequences of our response to the pandemic, the second part of our study examines cancer diagnoses. Breast cancer is most frequently diagnosed by a screening mammogram, and blood cancers are diagnosed when a patient with minor symptoms goes to their primary care doctor and has an abnormal routine blood test. Starting in March, all screening tests and most primary care visits were deferred so if you didn't have something urgent, you just rescheduled your primary care visit for later. Screening tests like mammograms and colonoscopies were put off. Again, the intention there was a good one. We didn't want healthy individuals to be coming into the health care system. We wanted to preserve our protective equipment for the surge of COVID-19 patients we anticipated were coming down the pike, and it worked. It's one thing to defer a mammogram by two weeks, but when we start talking about deferring screening tests and primary care visits over a longer period for an entire population, that's a lot of delay in care and a high potential for harm. We saw that, starting April 1, referrals for breast cancer and blood cancers and hematologic cancers went down more than 60 percent. Those findings are important because these findings are a real marker of health care disruption from deferred primary care and screening. And it harks back to my original point that, as a health system, we're going to have to convince patients that, (a), the hospital is a safe place to come for emergencies. And, (b), as we start to open up again, it will be important not to defer routine care, because this is evidence-based care, tried and tested. We know that it works, and it saves lives. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. Amaravati, 25 May : The government of Andhra Pradesh on Monday stepped in to put on hold the proposed sale of unviable assets belonging to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). The state government stepped in to control the damage following the rising resentment in several quarters over the recent move by the Board of Trustees of the TTD. In an order issued by Praveen Prakash, Principal Secretary (Political), on Monday, the state government, keeping in view devotees' sentiments, directed the TTD to re-examine the issue in consultation with the different stakeholders such as religious elders, opinion makers, section of devotees etc., to ascertain whether these properties can be used by TTD for construction of temples, dharma pracharam and other religious activities. The state government headed by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been at the receiving end of opposition parties over the move to dispose of 50 TTD properties located in Tamil Nadu and other places outside Andhra Pradesh. The state government has pointed out that the controversial decision was in fact taken during the previous regime headed by the Telugu Desam Party. "It has been brought to the notice of the government that the Board of Trustees of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which was constituted by the previous government, approved the disposal of 50 properties of TTD through its resolution No. 253 dated 30.01.2016," the order pointed out. The richest religious body in the country, the TTD has been in the news of late with reports of a cash crunch following the Covid-19 induced lockdown and the resultant freeze on contributions from the devotees. The TTD is headed by Y.V. Subba Reddy, who is also Jagan Mohan Reddy's maternal uncle. South Korea plans to send 370,000 face masks to tens of thousands of South Koreans adopted in the West to help them weather the coronavirus. The Foreign Ministry said its diplomatic missions will work with dozens of international adoption groups to distribute the masks in 14 countries. South Korea has been a major source of babies for adoption in the West since the end of 1950-53 Korean War. According to official figures, there are around 167,000 adopted South Koreans living abroad, but experts say the actual number is closer to 200,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Oregonian/OregonLive asked experts about the safety of going out in Oregon today. Heres what they -- and the latest body of scientific studies -- say about nail and hair salons and similar personal services businesses. The Oregon Health Authority has laid out a long list of precautions, including that hair stylists and nail salon employees wear face coverings. But its not always practical for customers to wear masks while getting their hair cut and that could put employees and other patrons at risk. The personal services industry suffered a public relations blow when a barber in New York state -- who had been cutting hair for weeks in defiance of Gov. Andrew Cuomos lockdown order -- tested positive for the virus. The Ulster County Health Department urged anyone who might have patronized the barber to get tested. But health officials didnt say what precautions -- if any -- the barber took. On top of that, working on a customers hair requires the stylist to breath over or right next to the customer. With the exception of medical-grade masks or respirators, many face coverings wont filter out significant amounts of the virus. While some homemade face coverings do a much better job, a common one -- bandanas -- filter only about 20% of particles, according to one study. Among the health authoritys other requirements: Customers must wait in cars before being called in for their appointments, they must be provided a clean cape and must be positioned at least 6 feet away from other clients. Professor Chunhuei Chi, the director of the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University, said if you do decide you just must get a professional cut, dont touch anything you dont have to. Treat it like youre going to a clinic to see the doctor, Chi said. In the latest update to the ill-fated Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) crash in Karachi, the pilot onboard ignored the warnings given by the air traffic control about the plane height and speed as the aircraft approached for landing. Reports by the air traffic control suggest that the two warnings were given to the pilot to lower the plan's altitude, but they were ignored. The plane crash killed 97 passengers. READ | 97 dead, 2 survived in Pakistan plane crash: Officials Pilot ignores warning According to a report from air traffic control, the flight left the Lahore airport at 1:05 pm (local time) and was scheduled to land at the Jinnah International Aiport in Karachi at 2:30 pm (local time). At 2:30 pm, the plane was 15 nautical miles from Karachi at Makli, flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet above the ground instead of 7,000 feet, when the air traffic control issued its first warning to the pilot to lower the plane's altitude. Instead of lowering the plane altitude, the pilot responded by saying that he was satisfied. When only 10 nautical miles were left till the Karachi Airport, the plane was at an altitude of 7,000 feet instead of 3,000 feet. The report stated that air traffic control issued a second warning to the pilot to lower the plane's altitude. However, the pilot responded again by stating that he was satisfied and would handle the situation, saying he was ready for landing. READ | Pakistan PM Imran Khan condoles lives lost in PIA plane crash in Karachi; inquiry ordered Earlier report by PCAA As per the earlier report, prepared by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), the plane's engines had scraped the runway thrice on the pilot's first attempt to land the plane. It caused friction and spark. About the plane crash The A320 Airbus was carrying 91 passengers and eight crew members from Lahore to Karachi on PK 8303 when it crashed in a residential area near Karachi Airport on Saturday. Of the 99 people aboard, 97 were killed and only two passengers survived. The aircraft wings during the crash landing hit the houses in the residential colony before crashing down, damaging at least 25 houses. Meanwhile, eleven people on the ground were injured. READ |Pakistan International airline plane crashes near Karachi airport with over 90 on board READ | 'Mayday, mayday, we've lost engine:' PIA pilot's last words before plane crash in Karachi (with agency inputs) Advertisement A Pan-Nigeria pressure group says the deepening nepotism and lopsidedness in the allocation of resources and appointments by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is a reflection of an organized decapitation of the political influence of Southern Nigeria. What we have seen since the beginning of 2020 is a desperate attempt to consolidate on the pursuit of political annihilation and cleansing of Southern Nigeria, said Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC). A statement made available by the groups convener, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, read: Since 2016, we have been very consistent in telling the people of Nigeria that Gen. Buhari has only come to establish two things in government: to return the ethno-religious dominance of the core North and to entrench the dominance of his Fulani tribe. Advertisement Since May 29, 2019, every initiative of the regime and everything it has done, including the prosecution of crimes, have all revolved around bolstering and cementing sectional interest, for instance, how do you explain a situation where IPOB agitators, Yahoo-boys and petty thieves are kept perpetually in cells, but Boko Haram terrorists are granted amnesty? Every strategic position, influential appointments, and emergency allocation of resources, have been brazenly and sinfully cornered by the President, to the advantage of his ethno-religious group in the North, and to the disadvantaged of the rest of the country. Federal Character principle, fairness and even merit have been jettisoned, while the public service and the federal civil service have been severely altered and bastardized, just because there is a regime that is unconscionably plotting to foist the dominance of one section over the rest. The National Assembly whose responsibility it is to address this grave injustice, has been found to be culpable through its leadership in aiding the President, while it has not also demonstrated any commitment to challenging this unabated erosion of justice and fairness. Strategic components and agencies of Presidency, Finance, Oil, Revenue, Defense, Security, Intelligence, Ports, Anti-graft, Education, Agriculture, Water, Communication, Humanitarian and Emergency and many more, have been cornered by one section of the country, while their internal structures have also been altered to serve same interest. Every move of the Buhari regime, has lend credence to a suspected political decapitation ploy, designed to put the South at the mercy of the North, and with the hope of entrenching the political dominance of the core North to rule for a long time to come. We can only urge the President to have a rethink as an elderly old man whose preoccupation ought to be about planting the seed of unity, entrenching social justice, fanning the air of love and giving the country a purposeful direction. The situation is so grave that even the commissioned agents of the regime from the deprived sections of the country, are also whispering behind, and expressing their frustrations, but because of the perks they are enjoying, they cannot openly condemn this provincial manipulation of the country. We also wish to urge Nigerians not to relent in demanding for restructuring and electoral reforms as these important demands represent new opportunities for the country, if it must survive economically and democratically. India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent COVID-19 fatalities may be much more than what is being reported New AI-based test uses X-rays to detect Covid in a few minutes Coronavirus outbreak: India records biggest surge of COVID-19 cases for fourth day India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, May 25: The Union Health Ministry on Monday said that the number of coronavirus cases has hit a new high in the country as India reported 6,977 new cases in the last 24 hours. The total number of COVID-19 cases in India stands at 1,38,845. This would be the fourth-straight day that India has reported the biggest single-day rise in the number of infections and more than 6,000 COVID-19 cases across the country. Domestic flights resume, but chaos at Delhi airport as some flights cancelled | Oneindia News People more worried about economic crisis than coronavirus: Study According to the Health Ministry, there were 77,103 active cases on Monday morning, nearly four months after the first patient of the coronavirus disease was reported in India. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 rose to 4,021 after 154 people died between Sunday and Monday morning. There were 57,720 patients who have been sent home from hospitals, up from 54,440 patients from Sunday, taking the recovery rate to 41.57 per cent. India now stands at fifth position globally in terms of active COVID-19 cases On Sunday, India overtook Iran to become the 10th biggest hotspot of the pathogen after a surge of more than 6,700 new coronavirus cases. According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra has breached the grim 50,000-mark and reported 1,635 deaths. In Tamil Nadu, more than 16,000 cases have been reported and Delhi has over 13,400 infected people so far. Gujarat, the third worst-affected state, has seen over 14,000 cases and 858 deaths till date. India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent COVID-19 fatalities may be much more than what is being reported New AI-based test uses X-rays to detect Covid in a few minutes Worry about citizens, not airlines: SC pulls up govt on middle seat bookings India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, May 25: The Supreme Court has pulled up DGCA India and Air India for allotting middle seats in international flights. The apex court, however, allowed the bookings till June 16 to exhaust. The order has come on the day when domestic flight operations resumed in the country, after almost 2 months amid lockdown situation which was imposed in order to contain the spread of the virus. "Air India shall be allowed to operate non-scheduled foreign flights with middle seats booking for next 10 days," Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde said. Domestic flights resume, but chaos at Delhi airport as some flights cancelled | Oneindia News "You should be worried about health of citizens more than health of airlines. It was "common sense" that social distancing is important as a precaution against coronavirus." the court observed. Coronavirus outbreak: India records biggest surge of COVID-19 cases for fourth day 'Outside, there should be a social distancing of at least six feet, what about inside aircrafts," Chief Justice S A Bobde told Air India, which has been operating the "Vande Bharat" flights to bring back Indians stranded abroad due to virus shutdowns. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the decision not to have vacant middle seats was taken following a meeting held with experts. "How can you say it will not affect passengers? Will the virus know it's in the aircraft and it's not supposed to infect? The transmission will be there if you are sitting next to each other," the Chief Justice said. When told by the government that bookings were done till June 16, the court said: "For the next dates - exhaust all bookings and fly in centre seats. After that, don't fly anyone in centre seats." The pilot, Deven Kanani, in his plea claimed a circular issued by the Government of India on March 23, 2020, laid some conditions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 while bringing back Indians stranded abroad due to the pandemic. However, the condition pertaining to keeping the middle seat between two passengers empty was not being followed by the Air India, he said in the plea. Kanani submitted photographs of an Air India flight operated between San Francisco and Mumbai where all seats were occupied. Air India counsel Abhinav Chandrachud opposed the plea and told the high court that the circular of March 23 has been now superseded with a new circular issued by the Government of India on May 22, 2020, while permitting domestic flights to operate from May 25. The new circular does not say the middle seat needs to be kept empty, Chandrachud told the court. The bench directed Air India and DGCA to file affidavits clarifying their stand, and posted the petition for further hearing on June 2. Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-25 15:11:55|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature said in a report that it has provided legal support for anti-epidemic efforts and economic and social development. The work report of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) was submitted to the third session of the 13th NPC for deliberation on Monday. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered the report. The top legislature issued the decision to completely ban the illegal trade and consumption of wildlife after the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the report. It has arranged for the enactment and revision of laws to strengthen the system of legal guarantees for public health, according to the report. It has also actively reached out to the public to clarify epidemic prevention and control laws, according to the report. Enditem University of Oxford Oli Scarff/Getty Images Oxford and Cambridge, the oldest universities in Britain and two of the oldest in the world, are keeping a watchful eye on the buzzy field of artificial intelligence (AI), which has been hailed as a technology that will bring about a new industrial revolution and change the world as we know it. Over the last few years, each of the centuries-old institutions have pumped millions of pounds into researching the possible risks associated with machines of the future. Clever algorithms can already outperform humans at certain tasks. For example, they can beat the best human players in the world at incredibly complex games like chess and Go, and they're able to spot cancerous tumors in a mammogram far quicker than a human clinician can. Machines can also tell the difference between a cat and a dog, or determine a random person's identity just by looking at a photo of their face. They can also translate languages, drive cars, and keep your home at the right temperature. But generally speaking, they're still nowhere near as smart as the average 7-year-old. The main issue is that AI can't multitask. For example, a game-playing AI can't yet paint a picture. In other words, AI today is very "narrow" in its intelligence. However, computer scientists at the the likes of Google and Facebook are aiming to make AI more "general" in the years ahead, and that's got some big thinkers deeply concerned. Meet Professor Bostrom Nick Bostrom, a 47-year-old Swedish born philosopher and polymath, founded the Future of Humanity Institute (FHI) at the University of Oxford in 2005 to assess how dangerous AI and other potential threats might be to the human species. In the main foyer of the institute, complex equations beyond most people's comprehension are scribbled on whiteboards next to words like "AI safety" and "AI governance." Pensive students from other departments pop in and out as they go about daily routines. It's rare to get an interview with Bostrom, a transhumanist who believes that we can and should augment our bodies with technology to help eliminate ageing as a cause of death. "I'm quite protective about research and thinking time so I'm kind of semi-allergic to scheduling too many meetings," he says. Tall, skinny and clean shaven, Bostrom has riled some AI researchers with his openness to entertain the idea that one day in the not so distant future, machines will be the top dog on Earth. He doesn't go as far as to say when that day will be, but he thinks that it's potentially close enough for us to be worrying about it. Swedish philosopher Nick Bostrom is a polymath and the author of "Superintelligence." The Future of Humanity Institute If and when machines possess human-level artificial general intelligence, Bostrom thinks they could quickly go on to make themselves even smarter and become superintelligent. At this point, it's anyone's guess what happens next. The optimist says the superintelligent machines will free up humans from work and allow them to live in some sort of utopia where there's an abundance of everything they could ever desire. The pessimist says they'll decide humans are no longer necessary and wipe them all out. Billionare Elon Musk, who has a complex relationship with AI researchers, recommended Bostrom's book "Superintelligence" on Twitter. Bostrom's institute has been backed with roughly $20 million since its inception. Around $14 million of that coming from the Open Philanthropy Project, a San Francisco-headquartered research and grant-making foundation. The rest of the money has come from the likes of Musk and the European Research Council. Located in an unassuming building down a winding road off Oxford's main shopping street, the institute is full of mathematicians, computer scientists, physicians, neuroscientists, philosophers, engineers and political scientists. Eccentric thinkers from all over the world come here to have conversations over cups of tea about what might lie ahead. "A lot of people have some kind of polymath and they are often interested in more than one field," says Bostrom. The FHI team has scaled from four people to about 60 people over the years. "In a year, or a year and a half, we will be approaching 100 (people)," says Bostrom. The culture at the institute is a blend of academia, start-up and NGO, according to Bostrom, who says it results in an "interesting creative space of possibilities" where there is "a sense of mission and urgency." The dangers of A.I. If AI somehow became much more powerful, there are three main ways in which it could end up causing harm, according to Bostrom. They are: AI could do something bad to humans. Humans could do something bad to each other using AI. Humans could do bad things to AI (in this scenario, AI would have some sort of moral status). "Each of these categories is a plausible place where things could go wrong," says Bostrom. With regards to machines turning against humans, Bostrom says that if AI becomes really powerful then "there's a potential risk from the AI itself that it does something different than anybody intended that could then be detrimental." In terms of humans doing bad things to other humans with AI, there's already a precedent there as humans have used other technological discoveries for the purpose of war or oppression. Just look at the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for example. Figuring out how to reduce the risk of this happening with AI is worthwhile, Bostrom says, adding that it's easier said than done. I think there is now less need to emphasize primarily the downsides of AI. Nick Bostrom Asked if he is more or less worried about the arrival of superintelligent machines than he was when his book was published in 2014, Bostrom says the timelines have contracted. "I think progress has been faster than expected over the last six years with the whole deep learning revolution and everything," he says. When Bostrom wrote the book, there weren't many people in the world seriously researching the potential dangers of AI. "Now there is this thriving small, but thriving field of AI safety work with a number of groups," he says. While there's potential for things to go wrong, Bostrom says it's important to remember that there are exciting upsides to AI and he doesn't want to be viewed as the person predicting the end of the world. "I think there is now less need to emphasize primarily the downsides of AI," he says, stressing that his views on AI are complex and multifaceted. Applying careful thinking to massive questions Bostrom says the aim of FHI is "to apply careful thinking to big picture questions for humanity." The institute is not just looking at the next year or the next 10 years, it's looking at everything in perpetuity. "AI has been an interest since the beginning and for me, I mean, all the way back to the 90s," says Bostrom. "It is a big focus, you could say obsession almost." The rise of technology is one of several plausible ways that could cause the "human condition" to change in Bostrom's view. AI is one of those technologies but there are groups at the FHI looking at biosecurity (viruses etc), molecular nanotechnology, surveillance tech, genetics, and biotech (human enhancement). A scene from 'Ex Machina.' Source: Universal Pictures | YouTube When it comes to AI, the FHI has two groups; one does technical work on the AI alignment problem and the other looks at governance issues that will arise as machine intelligence becomes increasingly powerful. The AI alignment group is developing algorithms and trying to figure out how to ensure complex intelligent systems behave as we intend them to behave. That involves aligning them with "human preferences," says Bostrom. Existential risks Roughly 66 miles away at the University of Cambridge, academics are also looking at threats to human existence, albeit through a slightly different lens. Researchers at the Center for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) are assessing biological weapons, pandemics, and, of course, AI. We are dedicated to the study and mitigation of risks that could lead to human extinction or civilization collapse. Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) "One of the most active areas of activities has been on AI," said CSER co-founder Lord Martin Rees from his sizable quarters at Trinity College in an earlier interview. Rees, a renowned cosmologist and astrophysicist who was the president of the prestigious Royal Society from 2005 to 2010, is retired so his CSER role is voluntary, but he remains highly involved. It's important that any algorithm deciding the fate of human beings can be explained to human beings, according to Rees. "If you are put in prison or deprived of your credit by some algorithm then you are entitled to have an explanation so you can understand. Of course, that's the problem at the moment because the remarkable thing about these algorithms like AlphaGo (Google DeepMind's Go-playing algorithm) is that the creators of the program don't understand how it actually operates. This is a genuine dilemma and they're aware of this." The idea for CSER was conceived in the summer of 2011 during a conversation in the back of a Copenhagen cab between Cambridge academic Huw Price and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn, whose donations account for 7-8% of the center's overall funding and equate to hundreds of thousands of pounds. "I shared a taxi with a man who thought his chance of dying in an artificial intelligence-related accident was as high as that of heart disease or cancer," Price wrote of his taxi ride with Tallinn. "I'd never met anyone who regarded it as such a pressing cause for concern let alone anyone with their feet so firmly on the ground in the software business." University of Cambridge Geography Photos/UIG via Getty Images CSER is studying how AI could be used in warfare, as well as analyzing some of the longer term concerns that people like Bostrom have written about. It is also looking at how AI can turbocharge climate science and agricultural food supply chains. "We try to look at both the positives and negatives of the technology because our real aim is making the world more secure," says Sean OhEigeartaigh, executive director at CSER and a former colleague of Bostrom's. OhEigeartaigh, who holds a PhD in genomics from Trinity College Dublin, says CSER currently has three joint projects on the go with FHI. External advisors include Bostrom and Musk, as well as other AI experts like Stuart Russell and DeepMind's Murray Shanahan. The late Stephen Hawking was also an advisor when he was alive. The future of intelligence DEQING, China, May 21, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- Shuwen Biotech Co. Ltd., a China-based leader in innovative diagnostics announced today the peer-reviewed publication of data highlighting the potential of its breakthrough point-of-care test in rapidly diagnosing Preeclampsia among women who are admitted to the hospital. The paper, entitled Late pregnancy screening for preeclampsia with a urinary point-of-care test for misfolded proteins, was written by collaborators from China Medical University's Shengjing Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center in New York and demonstrates the ability of the test to detect preeclampsia at a high level of accuracy in women admitted to the hospital for any reason. The findings included over 1,500 women and were published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One. According to the WHO, almost 80,000 women die and half a million pregnancies are lost each year from preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders. Preeclampsia affects 28% of pregnancies worldwide and in places such as Latin America, it represents the number one cause of maternal death. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases, symptoms of preeclampsia are not noticeable until it has progressed, emphasizing the major unmet need for an objective and effective test, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The kit is a highly attractive tool for healthcare professionals, patients, and governments globally to rapidly, cost-effectively, non-invasively and accurately diagnose a condition which otherwise often is misdiagnosed and requires lengthy hospitalizations and monitoring for patients. In the study, researchers collected urine from 1,532 pregnant women hospitalized at 20-41 weeks gestation, regardless of the reason for hospitalization, and prospectively tested misfolded proteins in pregnant women's urine using Shuwens patented point-of-care test device. Results showed a very high screening performance in a first-to-be studied Chinese population. Shuwens Chairman and CEO, Jay Z. Zhang, M.S., J.D said, "We at Shuwen are grateful to our collaborators for their hard and diligent work over the last few years to demonstrate how our Company principles of innovation, patent protection, and international collaboration can lead to tangible and outstanding clinical value for patients and other stakeholders. The data published in this paper reinforce the clinical importance of point-of-care testing in preeclampsia globally. We look forward to continuing to build this important clinical body of evidence." The test kit is already CE marked by Shuwen and available for sales and clinical use in an increasing number of countries as regulatory processes progress across the world. For product distribution, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; for general inquiries please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . About Shuwen Biotech Shuwen Biotech is a China-based diagnostic company founded on the principles of innovation, patent protection, and international collaboration as its strategic platforms for growth. Since 2011, Shuwen established strategic partnerships with numerous outstanding academic and commercial institutions to commercialize first-in-class diagnostic technologies and patents and has developed a range of novel diagnostics in the fields of cancer, womens health, and health screening among others. Shuwen has also developed quality companion diagnostics and provided central lab biomarker testing services to leading pharmaceutical developers. Shuwen houses an in-house development team, CAP-accredited central labs, and ISO13485-certified IVD manufacturing facilities, all in line with global standards in order to continue to deliver transformational products and services to its customers globally and open new possibilities in the advancement of health. Contact Dr. Vafa Amirkia This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Keywords: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Maternal Death; Pre-Eclampsia; Point-of-Care Systems; Maternal Mortality; Hospitals; Hospitalization; Diagnostic Errors; Biotechnology; China Published by B3C newswire and shared through Newronic Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 25, 2020 10:56 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9ee935 1 National #research,research,innovation,#innovation,COVID-19,#COVID19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,rapid-testing,PCR-test Free Indonesia is striving to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak with domestically produced innovations, but researchers say the government may face roadblocks in the mass production of such products because of the absence of pro-innovation policies. The governments research consortium on Wednesday launched nine products, including ventilators, a type of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and rapid antibody testing kits, in an effort to overcome the shortage of critical medical equipment in Indonesias fight against COVID-19. The nine inventions were the result of a consortium formed on March 26 by the Research and Technology Ministry and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to develop innovations to fight the outbreak. The program involves universities, government research agencies and local industries both private and state-owned including defense firms such as state-owned arms manufacturer PT Pindad. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said that the world was competing to address the COVID-19 epidemic and that Indonesia "must answer it with concrete innovations and concrete work". "These products should not remain in the laboratory only or be limited to prototypes; mass production must follow to fulfill domestic needs and to possibly export [the products] to other countries," he said. Domestically produced COVID-19 innovations (JP/Made Anthony Iswara) Researchers, who have long criticized the government for overlooking how important research is for the countrys development, are praising the efforts to include research in the ongoing COVID-19 struggle. But they say the government still needs to overcome obstacles, mainly Indonesias dependence on imported raw materials and bureaucracy, to make innovations quickly and readily available on a large scale. Indonesian Young Academy of Science (ALMI) secretary general Berry Juliandi said that domestically produced products such as PCR test kits and ventilators relied on imported materials for production. Some important chemicals were patented, so Indonesia would need to buy the patents before continuing with production. "Essentially, we welcome this initiative because we are happy that we are involved in it. But we still struggle to be independent in producing raw materials to make such products," said Berry. He recommended that the authorities relax import requirements and taxes to prevent a shortage of raw materials for mass production. Read also: Researchers face uphill battle to help with COVID-19 fight But difficulties in procuring raw materials had existed before COVID-19. In 2018, the Health Ministry noted that about 90 percent of the countrys pharmaceutical production used imported materials. Indonesia Science Academy (AIPI) head Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro said producers could also face difficulties when dealing with bureaucracy as no national standards existed to regulate the new products. He advised the Industry Ministry and the National Standardization Agency (BSN) to avoid using foreign standards as they would halt the mass production process because the products that he had seen so far had not met the international benchmark. Instead, he said, a national consensus on a feasible standard was needed to allow for swift production without sacrificing product safety. "We must see the urgency. We have to start first and perfect the innovations later," Satryo said. The Health Ministry's health testing center has removed its secondary requirements for innovations, such as noise levels for ventilators, after receiving the AIPI's recommendations, Satryo said. Read also: Indonesian defense industry feels COVID-19 pinch Research and Technology Minister and BRIN head Bambang Brodjonegoro told The Jakarta Post that the recently launched products would make extensive use of local components (TKDN) and would be able to replace their imported counterparts. The ministry said it would also push its research and development department to find substitutes for imported materials, such as reagents for PCR tests. It would also focus on using herbal ingredients rather than chemical ones for medicines to make modern Indonesian medicines. Bambang said that some of the nine products had already entered production and would be ready by next month for national use. Indonesia will start producing 100 to 300 ventilators each week starting next week, depending on production capacity. Pindad, hospital equipment maker PT Poly Jaya Medikal, electronics manufacturer PT LEN and automotive holding company Dharma Group were among those involved in the development of the four different types of ventilators. Bambang estimated that the country would have a sufficient supply by next month and would be able to distribute the ventilators to hospitals throughout Indonesia. Read also: Jokowi wants BRIN to take center stage in research efforts At least 10,000 domestically produced rapid testing kits are currently undergoing validity tests at several hospitals in Central Java. Bambang said that authorities planned to produce 40,000 to 50,000 rapid testing kits and PCR testing kits each by next month. He said these innovations would offer affordable alternatives to imported ventilators and rapid testing kits, which are now expensive because of soaring global demand. "[The expense of importing products] is what motivates researchers and innovators in the country to try to produce them on their own," Bambang said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mike Spector (Reuters) New York, United States Mon, May 25, 2020 13:26 605 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd9f94dd 2 Business Hertz,car-rental,bankruptcy,united-states,Carl-Icahn,COVID-19 Free The more than a century old car rental firm Hertz Global Holdings Inc filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday after its business was decimated during the coronavirus pandemic and talks with creditors failed to result in much needed relief. Hertzs board earlier in the day approved the company seeking Chapter 11 protection in a United States bankruptcy court in Delaware, according to court records. Its international operating regions including Europe, Australia and New Zealand were not included in the US proceedings, the company said. The firm, whose largest shareholder is billionaire investor Carl Icahn with a nearly 39 percent ownership stake, is reeling from government orders restricting travel and requiring citizens to remain home. A large portion of Hertzs revenue comes from car rentals at airports, which have all but evaporated as potential customers eschew plane travel. With nearly US$19 billion of debt and roughly 38,000 employees worldwide as of the end of 2019, Hertz is among the largest companies to be undone by the pandemic. The public health crisis has also caused a cascade of bankruptcies or Chapter 11 preparations among companies dependent on consumer demand, including retailers, restaurants and oil and gas firms. US airlines have so far avoided similar fates after receiving billions of dollars in government aid, an avenue Hertz has explored without success. The Estero, Florida-based company, which operates Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty car-rentals, had been in talks with creditors after skipping significant car-lease payments due in April. Forbearance and waiver agreements on the missed payments were set to expire on May 22. Hertz has about $1 billion of cash. The size of Hertzs lease obligations have increased as the value of vehicles declined because of the pandemic. In an attempt to appease creditors holding asset-backed securities that finance its fleet of more than 500,000 vehicles, Hertz has proposed selling more than 30,000 cars a month through the end of the year in an effort to raise around $5 billion, a person familiar with the matter said. On May 16, the board appointed executive Paul Stone to replace Kathryn Marinello as CEO. Hertz earlier laid off about 10,000 employees and said there was substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Hertzs woes are compounded by the complexity of its balance sheet, which includes more than $14 billion of securitized debt. The proceeds from those securities finance purchases of vehicles that are then leased to Hertz in exchange for monthly payments that have risen as the value of cars fall. Hertz also has traditional credit lines, loans and bonds with conditions that can trigger defaults based on missing those lease payments or failing to meet other conditions, such as delivering a timely operating budget and reimbursing funds it has borrowed. Hertz earlier signaled it could avoid bankruptcy if it received relief from creditors or financial aid the company and its competitors have sought from the US government. The US Treasury has started assisting companies as part of an unprecedented $2.3 trillion relief package passed by Congress and signed into law. A trade group representing Hertz, the American Car Rental Association, has asked Congress to do more for the industry by expanding coronavirus relief efforts and advancing new legislation targeting tourism-related businesses. Even before the pandemic, Hertz and its peers were under financial pressure as travelers shifted to ride-hailing services such as Uber. To combat Uber, Hertz had adopted a turnaround plan, aiming to modernize its smartphone apps and improve management of its fleet of rental cars. Hertz traces its roots to 1918, when Walter Jacobs, then a pioneer of renting cars, founded a company allowing customers to temporarily drive one of a dozen Ford Motor Co Model Ts, according to the companys website. VIENNA (Reuters) - Privacy activist Max Schrems called on the European authorities to push the Irish regulator to speed up its handling of cases he has brought against Facebook on the second anniversary of the introduction of rules designed to help protect the data of consumers. Schrems, long a thorn in the side of Facebook, bemoaned the lack of progress since the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regime across Europe in 2018. "After two years, we feel that the time has come to shine light on the shortcomings of the GDPR's current enforcement in Ireland and bring the debate into the public," the letter, published on Monday, says. The procedure adopted by the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) was "highly inefficient and partly Kafkaesque." The letter's recipients are the national data protection authorities, the European Commission, the EU Parliament and the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). The GDPR overhauled data protection laws in the European Union that predated the rise of the internet and, most importantly, gave regulators the power to impose fines of up to 4 percent of global revenues for companies that break the rules. Schrems, who previously won a landmark European ruling on data transfer in 2015, said he would seek a judicial review of the DPC's actions at the Irish High Court as soon as coronavirus-related restrictions are lifted. Ireland's DPC, asked for comment on the letter, said it had currently 23 "big tech" inquiries open and last Friday announced significant developments in a number of these inquiries, including three that were initiated after complaints received from Max Schrems's non-profit organisation noyb. "One of these complaint-based inquiries, which focuses on Facebook Ireland's obligations to establish a lawful basis for personal data processing, has now moved to the decision-making phase," the DPC said. Story continues Schrems filed complaints against Google, Facebook and its affiliates Instagram and WhatsApp immediately after GDPR came into effect in May 2018, arguing that their approach violated the rights of users to choose themselves whether to allow companies to use their data. The Irish Data Protection Commission is the lead regulator in the Facebook cases as the firm has its European headquarters in Dublin. The case against Google was dealt with in France, where the regulator CNIL imposed a 50 million euro fine for breaching the EU privacy rules in January last year. Schrems said the Irish watchdog had requested to keep documents confidential and to not even share them with other national counterparts. "We request the European Commission to act and issue infringement procedures against any member state with legislation that prevents the effective application of the GDPR, with overly complicated and long procedures, or without any effective remedy against delayed procedures," the letter says. Facebook declined comment on the DPC process. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle, additional reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin, Katie Paul in San Francisco; Editing by David Evans) Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has put creating a "zone of stability, steady development and good neighborliness" in Central Asia as priority in his foreign policy. This, according to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Korea, played a significant role for the bilateral negotiations between the United States and the Taliban in February. The following is the first in a series of written Q&As with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov about Uzbekistan's vision of the major aspects of political settlement in Afghanistan and its contribution to ensuring regional security. ED. Q: What has made Uzbekistan actively join the international efforts on resolving the Afghan conflict, since not all of the countries that are interested in this were ready to act consistently, up to organizing such a high-profile conference as the Tashkent one? A: Don't forget that we have a common border with Afghanistan. We have a centuries-old history and destinies of our people are closely intertwined. As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has noted, "for over a span of millennia the people of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan developed in one cultural and civilization space." And how cannot we be interested in the soonest recovery of normal life there? Q: Well, you understand that this conflict the longest in world history has led to the fact that Afghanistan practically lost its statehood. And how without it can all branches of power fully function, the laws be followed and economy be in operation? A: Just imagine we are living in the 21st century and there is still a war going on, which was begun in the last century. The war has already been continuing for almost 40 years. Nearly 2 million people fell victims to it and another 6 million, according to the Ministry for Refugees of Afghanistan, fled the country. Certainly, today there is a need for common regional strategy which will ensure not only a return for refugees to their homeland, but also their active involvement to construction of peaceful life in Afghanistan. Annually there are tens of armed clashes on the borderline territory with the states of Central Asia. There was a time when the hostilities developed next to our borders. All of this raises concerns. Moreover, in the due course of pushing out the ISIS militants from the Middle East, Afghanistan became a shelter for transnational terrorist organizations. This fact started to gravely threaten not only regional, but also global security. We are proceeding from the position that security is indivisible and it can be ensured only by concerted efforts. The leader of Uzbekistan has numerously stated that "the security of Afghanistan is the security of Uzbekistan." In our Afghan policy we are struggling not only for the future of Afghanistan, but rather for our common security, for the world without terrorism, fanaticism and violence. Along with this, assisting peace in Afghanistan is not only addressing the problems of security. In the Afghan issue we are not basing solely on the so-called "defensive approach." We are confident that we understand well what are the developments in our region and not attempting to play any zero-sum games in which if any of the players wins then another loses. We are the pragmatics and want to be good neighbors. Despite the borders, which were formed just 100 years ago, there is a 3,000-year-old history of interactions between our peoples. The current borders, which were put in place along the river of Amudarya, have never been an obstacle for movement of people, engaging in trade and mutual penetration of cultures and religions. A peaceful Afghanistan is capable to provide Central Asia with the shortest route to naval communications, diversify our transport corridors and open up vast markets for exports of domestic goods. It is extremely important to help Afghanistan to integrate into regional economic cooperation, and Tashkent is keenly wishing it to happen. Besides, we need to understand the following: the less the level of threats from Afghanistan will be, the less we will spend to maintain national security. The saved resources can be channeled to tackling the socio-economic issues and raising living conditions of our citizens. Q: How do you understand the nature of the conflict in Afghanistan? As a whole, what is going on in this country? A: You have asked a very important question. Without understanding the nature of the crisis one cannot develop effective strategy of its resolution. The conflict in Afghanistan for over the 40 years saw significant transformation. At present, the situation in the region is completely different from what it has been at the early stage of the armed confrontation. This is unarguable fact. It was important to comprehend what is taking placing there now. Is this a civil war or only a fight on the part of the government against terrorists? Is this an international conflict or a regional one but with powerful involvement of global players? Or does the problem lay with turning Afghanistan into a "grey zone" of unhindered transboundary trafficking of drugs, arms and in persons, into a "comfortable harbor" for international terrorist organizations? Today we don't have a sole simple answer for these questions. The Afghan conflict has incorporated in itself everything that I have enlisted above and transformed into a complex and hard-to-solve tangle of contradictions where domestic, regional and international problems are closely intertwined. Q: When you understood what you have been dealing with in Afghanistan, you decided to conduct the Tashkent Conference by inviting to it the leaders of world diplomacy and high-level politicians? A: Yes. Since, due to the events in the Middle East and North Africa, the situation in Afghanistan has dropped off the grid of world politics. However, the conflict didn't lose its intensity and acuteness. Therefore, the forum became a breakthrough in the quest for ways of the Afghan settlement. This was admitted both by our Afghan colleagues and foreign partners at all levels. The meeting in Tashkent allowed to bring the problem of Afghanistan back into the focus of international agenda. The principle new moment, which was stipulated by the Tashkent Conference, is the fact that the regional and global approaches in the issues of settlement in Afghanistan began acquiring greater significance. Q: What do you mean? A: It was underscored that without efforts on the part of neighbors and leading global powers it will no longer be impossible to settle the conflict. It was at the Tashkent conference that it has been demonstrated the readiness by international community to assist direct dialogue with the Taliban Movement without any preliminary conditions. I will add to it it was here in Uzbekistan that we have been able to truly "push" Taliban to get involved in the negotiation process. As you know, later our partners have also had several rounds of negotiations with the Taliban representatives in order to better understand their position and seek compromise. Besides, the world community has realized that effective development of the peace process is possible only given active participation of the countries neighboring Afghanistan. In this context, it was important to ensure regional consensus on fundamental principles of the Afghan reconciliation. It was needed so that the countries, which are divided, as if to say, by various contradictions could agree to come to terms among themselves: Pakistan and India, Iran and Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and there is a special position of Turkey It was possible to girdle all of this around one understanding of the Afghan problem. After the Tashkent Conference, the positions of Washington, Moscow and Beijing came much closer to one another. As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has underscored, "The main condition of advancement to peace is development and implementation in practice of one comprehensive peace program for Afghanistan endorsed at the regional and global levels." The Declaration adopted at the Conference became a certain "roadmap" of the Afghan reconciliation, counteracting international terrorism and drug trafficking, as well as regional economic cooperation. The document has formulated conditions of Afghanistan's steady development, raising well-being of the Afghan people and its involvement to creative processes in the region and the world as a whole. Q: In order to ensure various countries come to a consensus at the Conference, which you were speaking about, obviously it was necessary to undertake serious preliminary work. Tell me how you prepared for the Tashkent Forum. A: Above all, on the eve of the Conference President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has personally and thoroughly discussed issues of the Afghan settlement with the leaders of world powers: President of Russia Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump, President of China Xi Jinping, the EU leadership, heads of the states of Central Asia, India, Pakistan and Iran. However, the preparation for the Forum began long before these meetings from close cooperation with our Afghan friends. In essence, it was our big joint work. I will remind that the Tashkent Conference was inaugurated by two presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ashraf Ghani. On the instruction of the President, the close contacts have also been put in place with the representatives of major domestic political forces of Afghanistan, including head of the Government A. Abdullah, former Afghan president H. Karzai, leader of the Islamic Union for Liberation of Afghanistan A. Sayyaf, leader of the Islamic Party of Afghanistan G. Khekmatiyar, chairman of the Supreme Council of Peace of Afghanistan K. Khalili, member of the leading Council of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan B. Dostum, leader of the National Islamic Front S. Ghilani, members of the leading Council of the Islamic Society of Afghanistan Yu. Kanuni and M.Ismail-Khan, former Balkh governor A. Noor, heads of the political office of the Taliban Movement in Qatar Mullah A. Barodar, A. Stanikzai and others. I would like to underscore that all of its actions in this direction Tashkent coordinated with official Kabul. We remain committed to a fundamental principle the political process on establishing durable peace must by carried our only by Afghans and under the leadership of the people of Afghanistan. 172pp, Rs. 695; Atlantic Every Bollywood release with gay characters is marketed as the first film of its kind to break the silence around homosexuality in India. While this approach helps to create hype, it obscures the long history of Hindi films that depict same-sex relationships, engage with homophobia, and create visibility for people who are marginalized in society because of their sexual orientation. While activism and litigation were the front-runners in ensuring that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was read down by the Supreme Court, Bollywood films too have played a significant role in widening the discourse around gay rights in India. Himadri Roys new book Reel and the Real: Portrayal of Gay Men in Bollywood Films makes an effort to chronicle a large number of these movies. Eight of them are discussed in detail -- My Brother Nikhil (2005), Yours Emotionally (2006), Dostana (2008) Fashion (2008), Pankh (2010), Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyun (2010), I Am Omar (2011), and Bombay Talkies (2013). The author makes an important contribution to the public record around how popular culture has shaped up alongside developments in grassroots organizing and academic scholarship. He teaches at the Indira Gandhi National Open Universitys School of Gender and Development Studies. Does increasing visibility in Bollywood films ensure that gay men in India are treated with respect? How many of these films use gay men only to provide comic relief in a heteronormative script? Are gay men presented as deviants, or as people who have a right to exist on their own terms? Do filmmakers reduce them to their sexual orientation, or explore multiple aspects of their personalities? How often do they get to experience love, warmth and fulfilment? Is the audience invited to empathize with them, despise them or just feel sorry? Roy pushes readers to think about these questions as they go through the ten chapters in his book. Before delving into how economic liberalization opened up space for greater representation of gay men, Roy looks at the tropes of homoeroticism and bromance in Bollywood films. Some of the examples he offers are Dilip Kumar and Nasir Khan in Ganga Jamuna (1961), Shammi Kapoor and Anoop Kumar in Junglee (1961), Feroz Khan and Rajendra Kumar in Arzoo (1965), Rajesh Khanna and Sujit Kumar in Aradhana (1969), Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in Sholay (1975), and Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994). He also documents various instances of cross-dressing by seemingly heterosexual characters in Half Ticket (1962), Kismat (1968), Rafoo Chakkar (1975), Laawaris (1981), Khalnayak (1993), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Baazi (1995), among others. This context helps readers understand that the heavily publicized Bollywood film Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020) did not emerge out of thin air. It stands on the shoulders of predecessors who have portrayed gay men on screen in more conservative times. Also, the kiss between Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar was not the first ever expression of sexual intimacy between two gay men in a Hindi film. Roys book provides multiple references for readers who would like to catch up on older Bollywood films such as Page 3 (2005), Traffic Signal (2007), Life In A...Metro (2007), Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007). Though Bombay Boys (1998) and Mango Souffle (2002) were made in English, they did feature actors who have worked in Hindi films. This book began to take shape in Roys mind while attending a certificate course in film appreciation at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi. It was taught by Richard Allen, a scholar who writes on film theory and has worked extensively on Indian cinema. Those classes gave Roy the intellectual tools to analyse the movies he was watching, and discussions with his classmates encouraged him to look at queer cinema as a genre in itself. The journey of writing this book started in 2012, and it got completed in 2017. In the preface, Roy writes, The whole politics of survival of the queer community was already at its brim with murders, suicides, raids on NGOs, and several extortion cases getting media attention. Such news disturbed me a lot, and I decided to work on the communitys representation in media, especially cinema. While he devotes several pages to remarks on the precarious legal status of gay mens sexuality, privacy and identity, the book makes only a passing reference to the Supreme Courts 2018 ruling in the Navtej Singh Johar vs Union of India case. This is indeed surprising because the book was published in 2020, and the author had sufficient time to update his research. The great bromance: Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan in Sholay. What Roy deserves appreciation for is his candid acknowledgement about the limited scope of his study. He eventually decided against using an umbrella term such as queer cinema because he does not claim to speak for the entire spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities. I have mainly focused on the gay and bisexual men of the community... In the name of the community, the whole attention is taken by the gay men, he writes. People who identify as lesbian, hijra, kothi, panthi, transgender, queer, intersex, non-binary, asexual or genderfluid face their own unique set of issues, and these merit a more rigorous study. Author Himadri Roy (Pic courtesy https://ignou.academia.edu/HimadriRoy) This would have been a richer book if Roy had used theoretical frameworks rooted in the lived experiences of gay men in India rather than relying so heavily on the work of American scholars such as Vito Russo and Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick. His book would have also benefited from a more meticulous editorial process. The sharpness of his arguments gets blunted at times from repetition and rambling. What makes this book worth reading is Roys frank discussion about the sexual abuse that gay men face in a heteronormative society, particularly from cops who are meant to be protectors of the law. He also addresses topics such as cruising, effeminophobia, mental health issues, promiscuity, parental violence, sex work, and the stigma surrounding AIDS -- all through the world of Bollywood films. Chintan Girish Modi is a writer, educator and researcher. He is @chintan_connect on Twitter. Paul Whelan holds a message as he stands inside a defendants' cage before his latest hearing in Moscow: AFP/Getty A former US Marine accused of spying on Russia may face up to 18 years in a maximum security prison if prosecutors get their way. On Monday, Russian prosecutors asked that Paul Whelan, a former US Marine, be sentenced to 18 years in prison for spying. Mr Whelan claims he was set up in a sting operation, and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Russian prosecutors claim Mr Whelan obtained state secrets. Mr Whelan claims that while he did accept a USB drive, he believed the drive contained holiday photos, not Russian state secrets. At the time of his arrest, Mr Whelan was the director of global security for auto parts supplier BorgWarner. He previously spent 14 years in the US Marine Corps and was discharged for bad conduct in 2008. Mr Whelan claimed he was visiting Russia to attend a wedding at the time of the arrest. Mr Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said the court's decision was expected on 15 June. Another member of his defence team, Olga Karlova, described his closing statements. "In his moving closing remarks, he spoke about how much he loves Russia and Russian people, and he never wished them ill," she said. The trial began on 23 March and was closed to the public due to the discussion of classified information. Reuters reported that US authorities are calling the charges against Mr Whelan "spurious" and have demanded he be released. According to the Moscow Times, there is speculation in Moscow that the US and Russia will participate in a prisoner exchange to arrange the return of Mr Whelan. "This secret trial is a mockery of justice," John Sullivan, the US ambassador to Russia, said. "There is no legitimacy to a procedure that is hidden behind closed doors. It is not transparent, it is not fair, and it is not impartial." Speaking to CBS News, Mr Whelan's twin brother, David, said he believed the charges were without evidence, but nonetheless did not expect an acquittal. His sister, Elizabeth, tweeted "There was no crime. This is political hostage-taking." Story continues "We expect a wrongful conviction and can only hope that the sentence is at the lighter end of the range," he said. Mr Whelan claims he's been mistreated by the Russian guards and denied needed medical attention. His guards, however, claim he's faking his health problems to try to garner sympathy for his case. Read more US marine held on spying charges claims he was injured in Russian jail Canberra, May 25 : Tens of thousands of Australian school students returned to their classrooms on Monday to resume full-time face-to-face classes, as the country plans to normalize its economic activity in July after curbing the spread of COVID-19. Preschool, primary and secondary students in the state of New South Wales, the most populous in Australia, as well as those in Queensland and Tasmania, returned to school under strict hygiene measures, but will not yet be able to participate in excursions or competitions, reports Efe news. Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said Monday morning that it was an "exciting day for lots of parents and teachers and students" and that "by all accounts this morning things are going very well". The state of Victoria will allow the return of its eldest and youngest students on Tuesday, while the others will do so on June 9. The remaining four states and territories, which are responsible for managing education in their regions, have already standardized school classes or will do so progressively until early next month. The return of schoolchildren has put pressure on public transport, which has been restricted in New South Wales. Despite the fact that the government's health ministry has assured that children are not at risk of contracting the coronavirus by returning to school, more than 7,000 parents have signed a petition on Change.org to demand that New South Wales authorities deem that going back to class is not compulsory. Meanwhile, universities were continuing to analyze how to resume face-to-face classes, mainly in laboratories, although the decision will depend on each tertiary institution and each state and territory. International students, many of whom are still outside the country due to the closure of borders, contributed about A$37.6 billion ($24.5 billion) last fiscal year. Australian states and territories have begun to implement Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government plan at different speeds, with a view to resuming all activities in July, although the country's borders will remain closed indefinitely. Australia, which has carried out more than 1.2 million tests to detect the novel coronavirus, has recorded some 7,100 cases of COVID-19, including 102 deaths, and since May 17 has registered fewer than 14 new infections per day. With many salons nationwide forced to shut down in response to the coronavirus, Gisele Bundchen took matters into her own hands and gave her daughter Vivian an at-home haircut. The supermodel, 39, documented her efforts to trim her daughter's hair on her Instagram stories on Sunday. The seven-year-old wore a white smock as she sat before her mother with her hair partially pulled up into a bun. Mother-daughter hair appointment! Gisele Bundchen took matters into her own hands and gave her daughter Vivian an at-home haircut on Sunday Gisele had the hair comb in her mouth as she spoke with her daughter, before gently brushing it through her hair. 'Someone needing a hair cut?' she wrote in Portuguese, with a laughing crying emoji. It seemed as though her daughter was concerned about how much her mother was going to cut off. Gisele chopped a tiny bit off and presented it to her daughter, showing her how much length she was going to take off. 'Someone needing a hair cut?' she wrote in Portuguese, with a laughing crying emoji Just a trim: Vivian appeared concerned with the amount of hair her mother was going to cut off Vivian gave her mother the go-ahead, allowing Gisele to return to the remainder of her long hair. 'Satisfied customer', she concluded, writing in Portuguese. Gisele and her husband Tom Brady have been self-isolating with their family in Florida, where hair salons have been allowed to re-open. Satisfied customer! Vivian gave her mother the go-ahead, allowing Gisele to return to the remainder of her long hair Chop chop: Bundchen carefully snipped away However, perhaps Gisele preferred to cut her own daughter's hair out of an abundance of caution. The catwalk queen and her family are currently renting Derek Jeter's Tampa Bay mansion, after Tom switched over from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gisele has been doing her best to stay positive amid the difficult circumstances. Last month, she urged fans to give back in whatever way they could as she shared a list of organizations she had donated to. 'Everyone can find their own way of doing good. The important thing is to take care of each other the best way we can,' she wrote. President Trump proclaimed today as a day of prayer for permanent peace and urged Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. today. Trump was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Since the first shots fired in the Revolutionary War, Americans have answered the call to duty and given their lives in service to our Nation and its sacred founding ideals. As we pay tribute to the lives and legacies of these patriots on Memorial Day, we also remember that they sacrificed to create a better, more peaceful future for our Nation and the world. We recommit to realizing that vision, honoring the service of so many who have placed love of country above all else. As Americans, we will always defend our freedom and our liberty. When those principles are threatened, we will respond with uncompromising force and unparalleled vigor. Generation after generation, our countrys finest have defended our Republic with honor and distinction. Memorials, monuments, and rows of white crosses and stars in places close to home like Arlington, Virginia and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as well as far-flung battlefields in places like Flanders Field in Belgium and Busan in Korea, will forever memorialize their heroic actions, standing as solemn testaments to the price of freedom. We will never take for granted the blood shed by these gallant men and women, as we are forever indebted to them and their families. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Allied victories over Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in World War II. As we commemorate these seminal events, we also remember the tremendous cost at which these victories came. More than 400,000 souls of the Greatest Generation perished during this titanic struggle to liberate the world from tyranny. In his address to the Nation on Japans surrender, President Trumans words remind us all of our enduring obligation to these patriots for their sacrifice: It is our responsibility ours the living to see to it that this victory shall be a monument worthy of the dead who died to win it. As we pause to recall the lives lost from the ranks of our Armed Forces, we remain eternally grateful for the path they paved toward a world made freer from oppression. Our fallen warriors gave their last breath for our country and our freedom. Today, let us pause in quiet reverence to reflect on the incredible dedication of these valiant men and women and their families, invoking divine Providence as we continue pursuing our noble goal of lasting peace for the world. In honor and recognition of all of our fallen heroes, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 25, 2020, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer. I further ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. I also request the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that, on Memorial Day, the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. The four major US airlines: Delta, Southwest, United Airlines, and American Airlines have seen enormous losses as travel volume has decreased by over 90 percent due the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The other air carriers in the top ten including companies like JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines have seen similar declines this year. The profits extracted by the US airline industry from the labor of workers over the course of the last decade have largely been handed back to large investors in the form of stock buybacks aimed at boosting share values. However, this year the top ten airlines in the US have reported losses, leading to talk of the bankruptcy for at least one major airline. On May 12 Boeing CEO David Calhoun in comments to NBC News said, There might be a major U.S. carrier that just has to go out of business. Yes, most likely. There is speculation that it might be American Airlines, with nearly 129,000 employees. This month, one of worlds richest people, Berkshire Hathaway chief Warren Buffett, indicated his diminished expectation for profits in the airline industry by selling all shares, totaling $4 billion, of the four major airlines. The move impacted the ability of the companies to sell corporate bonds to help fund their day-to-day operations. Buffett had shunned buying shares in the airlines until 2016. He changed his position after the mergers that led to attacks on the wages and benefits of airline workers, enforced by the trade unions. The concessions resulted in greater profits and stock buybacks, producing higher share values. Airlines for America, a passenger and cargo industry lobbyist group that represents the largest aviation firms in North America has stated the industry spurs $1.7 trillion worth of economic activity annually and involves 10 million jobs in the US. A study issued this month by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) points to the possibility that up to 42 percent of US jobs might be lost permanently because of the coronavirus pandemic, which would lead to over 4 million job cuts in the aviation industry. Delta and JetBlue have come under criticism from a number of US Senate Democrats for cutting the hours of their workers in opposition to the rules set for the receiving of aid under the Payroll Protection Plan. The airlines were granted $25 billion, with Delta receiving $5 billion and Jetblue $935 million, money supposedly designated to protect the pay of workers. Instead, the airlines have been angling to gain competitive advantage over rival firms through the cutting of hours and pocketing the rest of the money to fatten profits. United Airlines was the first to attempt cutting hours but backtracked that decision after opposition from US lawmakers. Regarding the attack on pay, benefits, and jobs one veteran aviation worker in social media comments said, Weve seen this show before. They used the same terminology before they laid people off post 9/11 and during bankruptcy. The unions have been complicit in the attacks by the airlines on aviation workers. They have assisted in the vast elimination of jobs, the imposition of miserable working conditions and raids on workers pension. In the face of the present crisis triggered by the pandemic, they can be expected to again work with the airlines to impose massive cuts. Delta has long been a target of unionization efforts and a number of trade unions have been vying to bring workers into the fold, such as the campaign by The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) that merged with the Communications Workers of American (CWA) in 2004. In May 2018, JetBlues pilots, members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), reached their first contract agreement with the airline imposing market competitive pay rates. Earlier in 2018, the JetBlue flight attendants voted to join the Transport Workers Union (TWU). AFA president Sara Nelson has been touted as a possible replacement for AFL-CIO Chief Richard Trumka. Nelson was also mentioned in the International Business Times as a potential Democratic Party Vice Presidential running mate of Joe Biden. Only in late April had Nelson pleaded in a letter to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao to enact rules mandating that masks be worn by passengers. The union has sought to keep workers on the job even under conditions where proper social distancing is impossible on packed airline flights. Currently there is no industry-wide rule from the USDOT mandating that passengers wear masks, putting passengers and crew at significant risk. The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party have advanced a program that calls for no return to work until conditions can be made safe. This can only be achieved through the independent actions of workers, not the pro-company unions. It means that workers must form independent rank-and-file workplace safety committees that will place safety over private profit. We urge workers interested in learning more to contact the World Socialist Web Site . UPDATE: Parents of man accused of killing 2 and fleeing through N.J. into Pa. urge him to surrender Pennsylvania State Police on Monday released a photo of a 23-year-old man on the lam in Monroe County after being accused of killing two people in Connecticut. The photo shows a man with dark hair and wearing a white T-shirt and dark shorts walking along train tracks while carrying a large duffel bag. State police said its Peter Manfredonia, who New Jersey State Police said abandoned a stolen black 2016 Volkswagen Jetta on Sunday along Interstate 80 in Knowlton Township and then found other transportation into East Stroudsburg, on the other side of the border. The University of Connecticut senior, who is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 240 pounds, according to published reports, was seen between the Walmart Plaza and East Stroudsburg University, New Jersey State Police said. Pennsylvania State Police on Monday said they continue to search for Manfredonia. Peter Manfredonia.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Manfredonia kidnapped the girlfriend of one of his victims, according to the Hartford Courant. The victim called 911 about 1:20 p.m. Sunday and said she had been kidnapped and was at the Travel Centers of America rest stop in Knowlton Township near the Pennsylvania border, Trooper Alejandro Goez said Monday afternoon. She was not hurt, Goez said. Manfredonia was gone by the time troopers arrived, but they did recover the car, Goez said. Connecticut State Police said Manfredonia killed 62-year-old Theodore Demers with an edged weapon in Willington, Connecticut. He allegedly assaulted a second man at the Willington home. He was seen leaving the home Friday. Connecticut State Police said Manfredonia committed a home invasion on Turnpike Road Willington on Sunday and made off with pistols and long guns. He stole a truck and took it to the home of Nicholas J. Eisele, an acquaintance of his, police said. Peter Manfredonia.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com He allegedly killed Eisele, 23, on Roosevelt Road in Derby, Connecticut. Police said Eisele was found dead Sunday. Connecticut State Police said a rumor about Manfredonia being arrested on Monday in Elizabeth, New Jersey, was not true. A different person was arrested there on a firearms warrant. WFMZ reported via a tip that Manfredonia got into an Uber in the Stroudsburg area and asked to go to Allentown, but got out and ran instead. Pennsylvania State Police would not confirm this and Allentown police said they have no evidence that he came to the Queen City. Manfredonia is considered armed and dangerous and if anyone sees him, they should not approach him, but call 911, police said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a voluntary subscription. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Thiruvananthapuram: Keralas health minister K.K. Shailaja, popularly known as Teacher, received worldwide acclaim for her handling of the Covid-19 suituation. Under her leadership, Kerala succeeded in flattening the curve and registering perhaps the lowest death rate in the world besides a very high recovery rate. The 63-year-old minister has no time to sit on her laurels as she prepares to meet the fresh challenge posed by the recent spike in Covid-19 cases the lifting of travel restrictions. In this exclusive interview with Gilverter Assary, Dr Shailaja shares her success mantra, how her granddaughters miss her and how her experience of teaching Marxian philosophy, dialectics of materialism and her curiosity to understand medical science terms have helped her tackle difficult situations with ease. Excerpts: Q: How prepared are you to tackle the spike in Covid-19 cases? Our effort is to flatten the curve. We had anticipated this situation. Because of timely measures we could tackle the three cases from Wuhan successfully, by not allowing any spread. Then came a couple from Italy which jumped quarantine norms, resulting in contact cases. Till the second phase we had 70 per cent imported cases and 10 per cent contact cases. Through effective quarantine measures, we succeeded in flattening the curve. Most significantly we succeeded in keeping the death rate very low. Of the 512 cases in the initial two phases, only three deaths have occurred. All others have recovered. Q. What is behind the success of the Kerala model? I think it was comprehensive planning, well in advance. We started planning when Wuhan started reported Coronavirus cases in January. The health department constituted 18 expert groups and training for health care staff began. There was detailed stock-taking of beds, equipment and staff strength in each hospital. All this was completed before Kerala received its first case from Wuhan on January 30. In the initial stage we had just three cases which were tackled successfully. When the cases began to increase, the Chief Minister convened a meeting of all departments and entrusted specific responsibilities. Our effort right from the beginning was to bring all positive cases under government treatment facility and provide free treatment. Even foreigners were given free treatment. We had British citizens, including senior citizens, under treatment at the Ernakulam Medical College. The British High Commissioner contacted the Chief Minister's office saying their nationals could be shifted to private hospitals and they would bear the expenses. We knew this was because of the general feeling that government hospitals lack facilities. The Chief Minister said that if the British nationals want to be treated in private hospitals, they may be permitted. However, when we asked them, they preferred to get treated at the government medical college and lauded the facilities. They even gave in writing that they preferred government hospitals. Before leaving India after full recovery, they thanked us profusely. The Nipah outbreak in 2018 helped us developing good team work, effective coordination between of the medical education directorate and the health department, putting in place standard operating procedures and protocols. Q: Are you worried that situation could now go out of hand? After the withdrawal of travel restrictions, people are coming by the air and sea routes, road and rail. We had created plan A, B and C to deal with different stages of Covid-19, where the cases are low, high and extremely high. In medical colleges in each district, we have set aside 500-600 beds, 200-300 beds in taluk hospitals and hotels have been earmarked as Covid hospitals. The human resources required for the bed strength was mobilised, the private sector roped in and the staff trained. We requested the Centre to allow only people in the priority category pregnant women, children, elderly, chronic patients, those who lost jobs and whose visa had expired to return home. This was to prevent a situation where 7 to 8 lakh people returned all of sudden, throwing everything out of gear. Surveillance teams were deployed at airports, entry passes were made mandatory for people coming by road, help desks were set up at the border checkposts to segregate people district-wise and send them to their respective destinations. At present, the majority of people are coming from Covid-19 hotspots. In the first phase people came at a time when virus had just begun to spread. The cases are high among returnees as they are coming from places like the UAE, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Q: Has community spread started in Kerala? There is no community spread as of now but we cant say that it will not happen tomorrow. Only when a large number of cases is reported from the community, and that too with no travel history, can we suspect community spread. Q: Has your background as science teacher or as leader of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA, a CPM-led womens organisaton) helped in dealing with the situation effectively? I would say a mix of everything. I could ensure teamwork because of my background as a political worker and organiser. As state secretary of AIDWA, I had the experience of coordinating with people of each district. I created a family and we feeling in the department. I have a set of efficient and dedicated officers who have been given freedom and space to work. They came out with brilliant ideas. I trust them and support them. My background as a science teacher has helped to some extent. You know it is not easy to understand technical and medical terms. But I have the curiosity to understand these terms. This curiosity has been there as a politician and as a teacher. I am not a voracious reader, but I try to update myself on the new findings, spread of new viruses and read magazines. I believe in science and its ability. As CPM leader I used to take party classes for my comrades on the subject of Marxian philosophy, and you know that science is an integral part of that philosophy. We discussed topics like evolution of universe, how to interact with nature, how to think scientifically and scientific temper. As lay people we know only basics of science and thats not enough. So whenever I get chance, I interact with experts to enhance my understanding about different subjects. My present secretary health Dr Rajan Khobagade is a medical doctor. The previous secretary, Mr Rajeev Sadanandan, who was there during Nipah, is an expert on medical economy. I always clear my doubts with them. At the district level I have district programme officers who are smart young boys. When I am not able to understand a particular thing I ask them, "son please explain it to me. They are happy to brief me on every issue. But when they seek my advise, I don the role a teacher. The youngsters feel comfortable working with me as their ideas and projects are well received. The entire staff from doctors, nursing staff, lab technicians, administrators to santiation workers, all work as a team. As an administrator I am also a tough taskmaster. In case of any lapse I reprimand them strongly. Even for small reprimand they feel bad. Q. Are you able to time spend time with your family, particularly your grandchildren due to the current tight schedule? For the last two-and-a-half months I could not meet my granddaughter who is two. She lives in Kannur, about 450 km from Thiruvanantharuam. Last week, I went to meet her without informing anyone. She was so happy. All these days she was watching me on TV or on Whatsapp videoes. She was crying profusely when I left her. Its quite hectic. I start getting calls as early as 6 am. By 8.30 am I leave for office. There are meetings, conferences, video conferences, CMs review meetings and discussions with expert groups though the day. I leave office by 11 pm. Q: Opposition leaders have called you a publicity seeker. How do you react? They attacked me personally and tried to corner me. Initially I felt very bad as I had not come across such scathing attacks. As MLA I was not into decision-making. As minister, I often come under criticism. I used to get restless and sad. My party leaders including CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan advised me not to get demoralised and go forward strongly. North Korea should not bolster deterrence capacity North Korea is again raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula by stating it will bolster its nuclear weapons capabilities. This worrisome move was highlighted Sunday in a report from the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that Kim Jong-un presided over a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party to discuss "new policies for further increasing the nuclear war deterrence of the country." It is difficult to figure out what the "new policies" are because Pyongyang gave no further details. Yet some pundits have expressed concerns about the report, raising the possibility of the Kim regime conducting tests of new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) or submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). At the end of last year, the North threatened to develop "new strategic weapons" amid deadlocked denuclearization talks with the U.S. The KCNA report could therefore imply that the North will boost its nuclear war deterrence with new ICBMs or SLBMs having greater ranges. If that is the case, Kim could run the risk of scrapping his moratorium on nuclear tests and ICBM launches. This could further jeopardize the stalled nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. We can hardly understand why the Kim regime is trying to escalate tensions and turn the clock back to nuclear saber-rattling. The latest move comes amid the global spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Pyongyang has yet to report any infections in the reclusive country; but it has been widely reported that the North is not exempt from the attack of the highly contagious disease. Thus the North should come out of its isolation and cooperate with the international community to prevent and contain COVID-19. Yet it is regrettable that the Kim regime is moving in the opposite direction. If it continues to ignore calls to denuclearize and take a path of peace, coexistence and co-prosperity, the North could face a catastrophe. Kim knows better than anyone else that nuclear weapons cannot feed hungry North Koreans. Nor can they bring peace and stability to the peninsula. The nuclear program only destabilizes his regime and increases geopolitical risks in the region. Kim may think that his nuclear blackmail will put more pressure on the Trump administration, forcing it to make concessions and accept the North's demand for sanctions relief in return for the partial not complete scrapping of its nuclear facilities and materials. He may also intend to influence the November U.S. election against Trump. But the North will lose more than it can gain from its outdated brinkmanship policy. Kim could also seek to tighten his grip on power amid deteriorating economic conditions in the North and strengthen discipline in the military. But the more he resorts to the nuclear program, the less chance he stands of prolonging his regime and saving North Koreans from hunger and impoverishment. The only way of ensuring the survival of his regime and his country is to return to talks with the U.S. and start the denuclearization process before it is too late. Sydney, May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Oman outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Oman-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Increased infrastructure-sharing of mobile towers in Oman The launch of a third mobile network operator in the Sultanate of Oman in 2020 will increase competition in the mobile sector, with the current operators of Omantel and Ooredoo having a similar and sizeable market share. The telecommunications regulator agreed that the Vodafone Group, along with a local consortium of investors, could form the third mobile network operator, Oman Future Telecommunications (OFT). In early 2020 the consortium agreed to lease mobile towers from Oman Tower Company (OTC), and this will allow them to enter the mobile market more quickly. OTC plans to build more mobile towers in Oman throughout 2020 and make these available for infrastructure sharing. BuddeComm observes that Oman has established a progressive mobile sector which comprises substantial coverage of both 3G and 4G LTE networks. There have also been trials conducted, networks upgraded, and spectrum allocated, in readiness for 5G. The Regulator has allowed the major mobile operators, Omantel and Ooredoo the right to use a 100MHz 5G spectrum. While Omans fixed broadband infrastructure penetration is considered low, it is being improved upon with the building of fibre-based networks as part of Omans National Broadband Strategy. By 2040 it is hoped that all homes and businesses will be connected to the national broadband infrastructure. Oman has established itself as an important communications hub in the Middle East with access to numerous submarine cables including the recently announced 2Africa submarine cable, which should become available during 2023-2024. BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions. Kylie Wansink Senior Analyst, BuddeComm May 2020 Key developments: MVNOs were introduced over the last decade and have captured a small market share. Omantel launched an initial 5G network in late 2019. The two existing mobile network operators (MNOs) were awarded 15 year licenses in 2019. VoIP subscriptions are on the rise in Oman. Oman is well positioned to be a technology hub in the Middle East as it is well located between Asia, Africa and Europe and has access to several submarine cable systems. This report includes assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector. Companies mentioned in this report include: Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel); Oman Mobile; Ooredoo Oman; Oman Broadband Company (OBC); FRiENDi, Majan Telecom (Renna); Integrated Telecommunications Oman (TeO); Awasr-Oman; Oman Future Telecommunications (OFT) consortium, Vodafone Group, Oman Tower Company (OTC). Key statistics Country overview Historical insights Current insights Regional Middle East Market Comparison Introduction Mobile and mobile broadband penetration Fixed and mobile broadband penetration COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure Impact on Oman Telecommunications market Market overview Market analysis Regulatory environment Historic overview Revision of the telecommunication regulatory law 2011-2015 Regulatory authority Telecom sector liberalisation in Oman ISP licences Second fixed-line licence Third fixed-line licence Privatisation Omantel restructure IPO sale 2005 Further share sales Interconnect Access Universal Service Obligation (USO) Royalty fees Competition issues Market competitiveness report Mobile regulatory issues Second mobile licence Third mobile licence Reseller/MVNO licences Roaming MNP Spectrum allocation Mobile communications Mobile market analysis Omans 5G roadmap Mobile statistics General statistics Mobile voice Mobile data Mobile broadband statistics Mobile infrastructure Towers 5G 4G GSM, 3G Major mobile operators MVNOs Mobile handsets Fixed network operators in Oman Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) Ooredoo Oman (previously Nawras Telecom) Awasr Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network Alternative infrastructure National broadband strategy International infrastructure Submarine cable networks Satellite networks Broadband access market Internet and broadband statistics VoIP Smart infrastructure Smart cities Smart grids Digital economy Data centres Cloud computing Appendix Historic data Glossary of abbreviations Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Oman 2020 Table 2 Oman GDP and inflation 2014 2019 Table 3 Oman GDP real growth rate and inflation 2020 - 2021 Table 4 Growth of M2M mobile subscriptions 2018 Q1 2019 Table 5 Oman - mobile subscribers and penetration 2009 2024 Table 6 Oman - mobile sector total ARPU 2009 Q1 2019 Table 7 Oman - operators mobile market share by subscribers 2012 Q1 2019 Table 8 Oman total prepaid and post-paid subscribers 2009 1H 2019 Table 9 Oman SMS messages 2010 Q1 2019 Table 10 Oman MMS messages 2010 Q1 2019 Table 11 Active mobile broadband subscriptions 2009 2024 Table 12 - Omantel Oman revenue 2018 2019 Table 13 Omantel Mobile- mobile subscribers 2016 Q2 2019 Table 14 Ooredoo Oman revenue, EBITDA, ARPU 2015 2019 Table 15 Ooredoo Oman total fixed and mobile subscribers 2011 2019 Table 16 Oman - fixed line market share by subscribers and revenue 2011 Q2 2018 Table 17 Omantel Group financial data 2009 2019 Table 18 Oman - fixed lines in service and teledensity 2009 Q1 2019 Table 19 Oman - Internet users and penetration 2015 2019 Table 20 Oman fixed broadband subscribers 2009 2024 Table 21 Oman - fixed broadband ARPU 2017 - 2019 Table 22 Oman - International Internet bandwidth 2018 Q1 2019 Table 23 Oman - VoIP subscriptions 2016 1H 2019 Table 24 Historic Oman - fixed lines in service and teledensity 1995 2008 Table 25 Historical - Omantel Group financial data 2003 2008 Table 26 Historic Oman fixed broadband subscribers 2004 2008 Table 27 Historic Oman - mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1995 2008 Table 28 Historic - Oman - mobile sector total ARPU 2005 2008 Table 29 Historic - Oman total prepaid and post-paid subscribers 2005 2008 List of Charts Chart 1 Middle East mobile subscriber and mobile broadband penetration Chart 2 Middle East fixed and mobile broadband subscriber penetration Chart 3 Oman mobile subscriber growth 2009 2024 Chart 4 Oman growth in active mobile broadband subscriptions 2009 2024 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Telecom Services Providers in Oman Q2 2019 Exhibit 2 Awasr at a glance Exhibit 3 2Africa submarine cable Exhibit 4 2Africa landing stations Exhibit 5 Encouraging the start-up sector in Oman Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Oman-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Former congressman and retired Lt. Col. Allen West speaks during Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority event in Washington on June 19, 2014. (Molly Riley/AP file photo) Former Congressman Allen West Released From Hospital Former congressman Allen West was released from the hospital on May 25. The retired lieutenant colonel, who is running for chairmanship of the Texas Republican Party, was injured in a motorcycle crash over the weekend in Texas. According to a statement from the campaign, West was riding his motorcycle when a car cut him off. West then crashed into another motorcyclist. He was taken to Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas. Wests campaign said in a statement before the release that he is in good spirits and is looking forward to returning home for his recovery. The West family is filled with such joy and thankfulness that Allen will be released on this Memorial day. All of the prayers and well wishes have been received and greatly appreciated. However, Allen and his family want the public to focus on remembering and honoring Americas fallen warriors on this day. In an earlier statement released by the campaign, West said, I am alive by the grace of God. Citing local law enforcement, the campaign said the vehicle that caused the crash wasnt identified. Wests injuries were listed as a concussion, fractured bones, and lacerations. The other motorcyclist also suffered injuries that werent life-threatening. West served in the military for more than two decades and went on to represent Florida as a Republican U.S. congressman from 2011 to 2013. West moved to Texas after leaving national office. After hes recovered, West plans to advocate for conservative ideals. George P. Bush, the Texas land commissioner, was among those who sent well-wishes after the accident. Please join me in sending prayers for a quick recovery, he said in a statement. Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) will release GUJCET 2020 admit card 10 days before the exam date. Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) will release GUJCET 2020 admit card 10 days before the exam date. GUJCET 2020 will be held on 31 July. GUJCET 2020 hall ticket will be put out on the official website of GSEB at http://www.gseb.org/. Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GUJCET) 2020 was earlier scheduled to be held on 31 March, but got postponed due to coronavirus outbreak. GUJCET is conducted for admissions to engineering and pharmacy courses. It is held for three groups: Mathematics group, Biology group, and Maths-Biology group. The exam contains multiple choice based questions. GUJCET tests a candidates knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology. There are 40 questions from each subject and each question in the test carries one mark each. The total time allotted for attempting Physics and Chemistry is 120 minutes, while that for completing Mathematics or Biology is one hour. The exam is conducted in three mediums - Hindi, English and Gujarati. Those who have qualified the Class 12 exams are eligible to take GUJCET. More than 1.25 lakh have registered for the exam, of which around 49,800 have applied for pharmacy courses and around 75,500 for engineering courses. GSEB usually declares results for the Science stream and GUJCET together. However, this year, GUJCET has not been conducted yet owing to unprecedented situations in the country. The board has released the result for the Science stream and around 71 percent students have passed the higher secondary exam. The Newspaper LOsservatore Romano began with the daily newspaper. Founded in 1861, it has undergone a series of changes to meet the exigencies and expectations of each pontificate. The universal dimension of the Church, the encounter between faith and reason and the Church's approach to the men and women of today are the editorial lines followed by the Vatican paper. It is both for the purpose of documentation and commentary on all papal texts and documents of the Holy See in Italian as well as in the original languages in which they were spoken or written. Our aim is to provide complete and accurate information on international affairs and the cultural debates and events happening in the Church on every continent. Special attention is also paid to ecumenism and to interreligious dialogue. The daily edition is published six days a week (except for Monday). It can be found at any major kiosk in larger Italian cities or can be ordered by subscription. The weekly edition in French Founded in 1949, the French edition was intended to spread accurate information regarding the papal magisterium and the life of the Church. The weekly publishes the Encyclicals, Exhortations, Messages and Apostolic Letters and the Popes discourses and homilies in full. Further, it presents the documents of dicasteries within the Roman Curia and relevant reflections. Coverage of the Popes Apostolic Journeys are published as special issues. The French edition is printed on Thursday and distributed in 132 countries. It can be acquired by subscription only and is printed at the Vatican. The weekly edition in English Founded in 1968, it offers full coverage of papal discourses, documents of the Roman Curia, and other texts, commentaries and news relating to the Holy See. Coverage of papal trips is published as a special issue. The English edition is published on Friday and distributed by subscription in all the countries in the world. The is printed at the Vatican, in the United States and in India, where, since 2009, it is also translated and printed in Malayalam to serve the six million Catholics who live in the State of Kerala. The weekly edition in Spanish Founded in 1969, it is addressed to those who wish to receive news and documents concerning the Churchs life. It offers the full texts of Pope Francis discourses, documents of the Roman Curia and other texts and commentaries pertaining to the Holy See. It dedicates special issues to papal trips. The Spanish edition is published every Friday and sold by subscription to any country around the world. The Spanish edition is printed at the Vatican as well as in Argentina, Mexico and Peru. The weekly edition in Italian Founded in 1949, the weekly edition in Italian is dedicated mainly to those who wish to draw on sources of the Magisterium. In an easily manageable tabloid format it carries all the Popes discourses, activities of the Holy See in Rome and throughout the world with interviews, commentaries and reflections on relevant subjects, and a commentary on the Sunday liturgy. It devotes special issues to the Popes apostolic journeys. It is published on Thursday and distributed mainly by subscription. The weekly edition in Portuguese Founded in 1970, the Portuguese edition is published for those seeking to be informed about the life of the Church. This weekly covers the discourses of Pope Francis in their entirety, documents of the Roman Curia and other texts and commentaries pertaining to the Holy See. It publishes special editions dedicated to papal trips. This edition is published on Thursday and sold exclusively by subscription around the globe. The Portuguese edition is printed at the Vatican and, since 2006, in Brazil. The weekly edition in German Founded in 1971, it consists of two fascicles: one to provide information and the other for purposes of documentation. The former comprises the publication of news about the Holy See, the universal Church and the local Churches, as well as cultural pages and in-depth doctrinal and historical reflections. The latter is devoted to the activities of the Pontiff, all of whose discourses and interventions are translated and published. Since 1986 it has been printed in Germany by the publishing house Schwabenverlag which also is responsible for distribution and subscriptions. The monthly edition in Polish Founded in 1980 at the request of John Paul II, this monthly edition is dedicated to the latest activities of the Pope in Rome and around the world. It presents to its readers papal documents, discourses, accounts of his journeys, as well interventions of the Holy See and the Roman Curia. It is distributed in all the dioceses of the Church in Poland by the Polish Bishops Conference. Advertisement Eerie aerial photos have shown the once-bustling Dreamworld turned into a ghost town - while the Thunder River Rapids which killed four people remains a pile of rubble. Drone footage taken above the Gold Coast tourist attraction on Sunday showed Australia's largest theme park - which usually welcomes one million visitors each year - completely deserted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The park has been closed since March 23 as businesses across the country shut their doors to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Usually busy with happy families, there are now just 50 members of staff left in the park who are caring for the more than 500 animals who live on site. Eerie drone footage has shown the Gold Coast's Dreamworld theme park on Sunday completely deserted as a result of its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic A patch of grass is all that's left where the Thunder River Rapids ride - which malfunctioned in 2016 leading to the death of four people - once stood - but the area is now being used for preliminary civil works for a new $30 million rollercoaster Parent company Ardent Leisure has said social distancing measures as well as government restrictions on non-essential indoor and mass gatherings were the reasons for the temporary closure. The company has also closed the neighbouring WhiteWater World - keeping only staff behind to maintain equipment. The overhead footage showed where the Thunder River Rapids ride once stood - with the site's foundations barely visible under a large patch of grass. It is now home to preliminary civil works for a $30 million rollercoaster which was announced in September last year. The attraction was decommissioned and dismantled after four people died after being flung into a mechanised conveyor when their raft collided with another and partially flipped in October 2016. In February, it emerged Dreamworld's owners could be fined $3 million if prosecuted over the accident. Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi died in the tragedy. The popular park located in the north-west Gold Coast suburb of Coomera usually welcomes one million visitors each year and is Australia's largest theme park Dreamworld's iconic Tower of Terror ride is pictured looming above the amusement park during the coronavirus crisis - the ride closed in November last year, before the pandemic hit Ms Goodchild's 12-year-old daughter and Ms Low's 10-year-old son survived the incident. Ms Dorsett said in February - responding to a coronial report which found the theme park had failed in all aspects of safety leading to the four deaths - she was yet to receive an apology over the tragedy. 'They have said they're sorry for the circumstances that we find ourselves in. I have never actually had an apology: "Sorry you are now missing three important people out of your lives."' Four people were killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride (pictured) three years ago after being flung into a mechanised conveyor when their raft collided with another and partially flipped Cindy Low (top right), Kate Goodchild (bottom left), her brother Luke Dorsett (bottom right) and his partner Roozi Araghi (top left) tragically lost their lives in the incident 'I have never actually had 'I'm sorry we did this'.' Even before the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Ardent Leisure was struggling financially - with the US company reporting an increased net loss of three per cent for the last six months of 2019. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dreamworld for comment. Seoul, May 25 : US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien renewed calls for North Korea to give up its nuclear program if it wants to have a "great economy", after Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong-un held a key party meeting to discuss bolstering nuclear deterrence. In his first public appearance in about three weeks, Kim presided over a session of the Workers' Party's Central Military Commission to discuss "new policies for further increasing the nuclear war deterrence," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a report on Sunday. The North's first mention of "nuclear war deterrence" since early 2018 came amid an impasse in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang, and its struggle to improve its economy crippled by global sanctions and a pandemic-driven plunge in trade with China. "We've managed to avoid a conflict with North Korea over the last three and a half years. The president has engaged in some excellent personal diplomacy with Kim Jong-un," Yonhap News Agency quoted O'Brien as saying in a CBS News interview on Sunday. "But ultimately, the North Koreans, if they want to re-enter the world, if they want to have a great economy, we hope they do, they are going to have to give up their nuclear program," the official added. O'Brien also said the US will keep an eye on developments in what he calls a "very closed society" in North Korea. Nuclear talks have not been held between Washington and Pyongyang since working-level dialogue in Sweden in October 2019. A visit by Army chief General M.M. Naravane to XIV Corps headquarters in Leh on Friday appears to have helped, but there is still a ways to go. AFP Photo Twenty days after 250 of their troops got into a fist-brawl at the Pangong Tso Lake in Eastern Ladakh, India and China have still not sorted out what presumably were localised irritants on the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries. The Chinese blame the confrontations on Indias building of roads in the Galwan Valley. India says these roads, meant for locals in this sparsely populated region, are well within its side of the LAC. Matters escalated with the fisticuffs on May 5 in Ladakh, and a brawl on May 9 in Sikkim involving 100 soldiers; the visual sighting of each others military helicopters at the LAC; an Indian Sukhoi LAC sortie inside Indian airspace; and the erection of 100 Chinese tents in the Galwan Valley along with the movement of heavy vehicles and monitoring equipment. The Army denied reports that Indian soldiers were briefly detained after the Ladakh brawl, though some Indian injuries were serious enough for evacuation to Leh for treatment. Reports indicate that about 1,000 Chinese troops crossed the LAC at each of three points; as a result, now, at various points spanning 80 km, Indian and Chinese troops are stationed about half a kilometre from each other. India may be moving in more troops. This confrontation comes at an unfortunate moment when the world is combating the coronavirus pandemic. Cases have this weekend surged in two regions according to the World Health Organisation: Latin America and India. New Delhi not only has to reckon with the surge in cases but also the economic crisis caused by its lockdown of the country that is lifting unevenly. Eastern Command had to send three columns of soldiers to Bengal to help the state government in relief and rescue operations in the aftermath of cyclone Amphan. One hopes the government does not get distracted by the events on the LAC from its task of preventing deaths and reviving the economy. The two governments special representatives have spent years evolving mechanisms and protocols to deal with such local flare-ups, but five meetings between local commanders from both sides seemed to have done little to lower temperatures. A visit by Army chief General M.M. Naravane to XIV Corps headquarters in Leh on Friday appears to have helped, but there is still a ways to go. No doubt the Chinese feel irked with India of late: over the construction on our side of the LAC; over Indias move to curb Chinese foreign investment; over Indias splitting of Ladakh, of which Aksai Chin is historically a part, into a separate Union Territory; over the Army chiefs recent pointing to China as being the agent provocateur for the recent border quarrel between India and Nepal; and with Indias open call for companies to shift base from China to India. China might also be looking to distract from its recent imposition of security laws on Hong Kong. We would urge India to hold firm without escalating the skirmishes to a political level. Contracts for their services have to be re-signed, LaGreca said, because costs of supplies, flame-retardant fabric used for decorating and more increase year by year. Many couples are having family gatherings instead of a wedding ceremony in order to avoid paying more for services in the future, LaGreca said. Weddings moved to next year take up available time for new weddings, so it makes it difficult to make a profit, LaGreca said. So if our client had a June 12, 2020, wedding and its moved to June 2021 June 12 is a really popular date to book now we have one wedding that weekend already, LaGreca said. Because some events are shifting to private properties, LaGreca has also had to implement liability waivers stating the company cannot be held liable for virus spread at the event and that decorating an event does not endorse or encourage its occurrence. Scientists have found a new sex hormone in the zebra fish, which they say could lead to the development of better fertility treatment for humans. With a single injection, Canadian researchers partially restore sexual function to genetically mutated zebrafish, enhancing the ability of the female to ovulate and lay her eggs. Key to the process is a small-protein-like molecule produced in fish that is remarkably similar to that found in other animals, including humans. The research team has drawn a seemingly unlikely line between the popular aquarium attraction and upcoming infertility treatments in humans. This is due to around 70 per cent of human genes are found in zebrafish, according to scientists, which makes them well suited as lab models. New hormone that stimulates sexual functions in the zebrafish (pictured) could lead to novel infertility treatments in humans We mutated two related genes and studied the effects on sexual function in zebrafish said senior author Vance Trudeau, professor of neuroendocrinology the study of the interaction between the brain and hormones at the University of Ottawa, Canada. They are freshwater fish belonging to the carp and minnow family that are now a widely used model organism in biomedical research. We can now use our genetically modified fish to look for other factors that could enhance sexual function, be it for increased spawning in cultured fish species, or to help with the search for new human infertility treatments. Professor Trudeau and his co-author Kim Mitchell had uncovered new functions that regulate how males and females interact while mating, when they originally started studying the effects of gene mutations in zebrafish. The team had been using gene technology developed at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Wuhan, China, to mutate two related genes under the name secretogranin-2, which encodes the protein of the same name. Researchers found only one in 10 of the couples with mutated genes could spawn - before the injection of the secretoneurin peptide, which is important for stimulating sexual function The first step of the experiments was to perform the gene editing to reduce the zebrafishs sexual behaviour which had a profound effect, according to Professor Trudeau. We changed the secretogranin-2 genes through specific mutation and found that it affected the ability of females and males to breed it severely reduced their sexual behaviour, he said. The fish look normal, but when both sexes are put together, they almost ignore each other! Normally, within a few minutes after a male and female are introduced for the first time, the male chases the female in a courtship ritual. Shortly after this, the female releases her eggs to the water, and the male instantly fertilises them. But in a sample of gene edited zebrafish couples, the researchers found only one in 10 were able to spawn. The couples carrying the introduced mutations produce eggs and sperm, but they are simply terrible at mating with each other, Professor Trudeau said. 'This is the first evidence that mutation of these genes leads to disruption of sexual behaviour in any animal.' In the second stage of the experiments, the researchers attempted to reverse this apparent inability to mate using one fragment of secretogranin-2. But around 70 per cent of human genes are found in zebrafish, according to scientists, which makes them well suited as lab models Secretogranin-2, a large protein, is important for the normal functioning of brain cells and other cells that secrete hormones to control body functions such as growth and reproduction. However, this protein can get chopped up by special enzymes and we found that one small fragment called the secretoneurin peptide is important for stimulating sexual function, said Professor Trudeau. In the genetically altered fish, the team were able to partially restore sexual function by a single injection of the secretoneurin peptide into the body. This is because the peptide acts on cells in the brain and pituitary gland to increase hormone release thereby enhancing the ability of the female to ovulate and lay her eggs. The researchers have uncovered new genes that can regulate reproduction, while the secretoneurin peptide itself has been classed as a new hormone with possible implications for future fertility research. The large secretogranin-2 genes may produce many other hormone-like peptides with unknown functions, Professor Trudeau said. 'This is just the beginning of the possibilities it will be exciting to explore this in future research projects.' The research has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Srinagar: Curfew was today extended to Pulwama district while it remained in force in some areas of Srinagar and Anantnag town. The restrictions on the assembly of people in the rest of the Valley continued for the 48th consecutive day in the wake of violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Curfew is in force in five police station areas of downtown city and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in uptown, a police official said. In south Kashmir, curfew was imposed in Pulwama district while it continued in Anantnag town as well today to maintain law and order. Curfew was imposed in Pulwama in view of killing of a youth in security forces action in the district yesterday during clashes. The authorities on Tuesday had lifted curfew from most areas of Srinagar - the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir - in view of the improving situation. The lifting of the curbs allowed movement of people in the city as there was increased traffic of private cars and auto-rickshaws in and around Lal Chowk city centre over the past two days. However, the official said, restrictions on the assembly of four or more people under Section 144 Crpc will continue to remain imposed in the rest of the Valley to maintain law and order. Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 48th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist sponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred. The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wanis killing, have extended the strike call in the Valley till September 1. As many as 66 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of south Kashmirs Anantnag district. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. [May 25, 2020] Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems Market Predicted to Reach $12.92 Billion, Globally, by 2027 at 7.2% CAGR: Allied Market Research Surge in demand for ASRS in Aviation industry, rise in need to reduce costs and achieve optimum utilization of space, and increase in implementation of ASRS in distribution supply chain & inventory management fuel the growth of the global automated storage and retrieval systems market PORTLAND, Oregon, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report titled, "Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market by Type (Auto store, Carousel, Mid Load, Mini Load, Unit Load, and Vertical Lift Module), Function (Assembly, Distribution, Kitting, Order Picking, Storage, and Others), Industry Vertical (Aviation, Automotive, Chemicals, Retail & E-Commerce, Food & Beverages, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Metals & Heavy Machinery, Semiconductors & Electronics, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027."According to the report, the global automated storage and retrieval systems industry was estimated at $7.35 billion in 2019, and is expected to hit $12.92 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 7.2% from 2020 to 2027. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities: Surge in demand for ASRS in Aviation industry, rise in need to reduce costs and achieve optimum utilization of space, and increase in implementation of ASRS in distribution supply chain & inventory management fuel the growth of the global automated storage and retrieval systems market. On the other hand, huge initial investment and dearth off skilled labor & technical expertise impede the growth to some extent. However, increase in automation in e-commerce across the globe and growth of the aviation industry in Asia-pacific region are expected to create multiple opportunities in the industry. Download Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6647 Impact of COVID-19 on Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems Market: With the outbreak of COVID-19, a lot of precautionary measures have been taken by the government bodies to prevent further spread of the virus. And, with lockdown coming into the scenario, there have been huge disruptions in the automated storage and retrieval systems. In a nutshell, the overall inventory management system in industries like automotive, food & beverages, chemicals, e-commerce, semiconductors & electronics, and healthcare has been affected with huge economic implications to linger for months to come. Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Automated Storage and Retrieval System Market The storage segment to maintain the lion's share by 2027: Based on function, the storage segment accounted for nearly one-third of the global automated storage and retrieval systems market revenue in 2019, and is expected to rule the roost by th end of 2027. The fact that automated storage systems provides solid inventory storage to maximize the floor space fuels the growth of the segment. The knitting segment, on the other hand, would grow at the fastest CAGR of 11.7% during the study period. Rise in competition between the manufacturers and marketers have propelled the adoption of industrial transformation in the knitting industry. The automotive segment to dominate during the estimated period: Based on industry vertical, the automotive segment contributed to nearly one-fourth of the global automated storage and retrieval systems market share in 2019, and is anticipated to lead the trail by 2027. The automotive sector has become extremely competitive and the players are making efforts to cut down unnecessary costs. This factor propels the growth of the segment. At the same time, the healthcare & pharmaceuticals segment would portray the fastest CAGR of 11.7% till 2027. Healthcare industry is leveraging ASRS technologies to help their inventory be more efficient and reduce labor errors which, in turn, drives the segment growth. For Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/6647 Europe, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America, to dominate in terms of revenue: Based on region, Europe, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America, held the highest share in 2019, garnering nearly two-fifths of the global automated storage and retrieval systems market. This is due to growth in the e-commerce industry and modernization of infrastructure & manufacturing facilities in this province. Simultaneously, Asia-Pacific is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 9.9% throughout the forecast period. Increase in adoption of automated systems in the industrial sectors and improved & safe working conditions in the areas of robotic systems, wireless technologies, and driverless vehicles foster the demand for ASRS in the region. Frontrunners in the industry: Beumer Group Bastian Solutions Inc. Daifuku Co. Ltd. TGW Logistics Group Dematic Honeywell Intelligrated Kardex Group KNAPP AG Murata Machinery Ltd. SSI Schaefer Group Access AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Avenue is a user-based library of global market report database, provides comprehensive reports pertaining to the world's largest emerging markets. It further offers e-access to all the available industry reports just in a jiffy. By offering core business insights on the varied industries, economies, and end users worldwide, Avenue ensures that the registered members get an easy as well as single gateway to their all-inclusive requirements. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Similar Reports: Risk Analytics Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Telecom Analytics Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 20192026 Coherent Optical Equipment Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Customer Journey Analytics Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Data Wrangling Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: 1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on: LinkedIn Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves are delivering face masks to those in need. A photo from the actor said Lincoln Motor Co. donated 110,000 masks, which the couple is helping donate to rural hospitals. In March, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller requested emergency funding for rural Texas hospitals. According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, rural hospitals are often the only critical care option for Texans in these communities. Rural Texans cant afford to lose their hospitals right now, Miller said at the time. Video: Woman, who has blindness, makes masks for Navajo Nation McConaughey has previously spoken up for the need for people to wear masks, saying people shouldn't see them as a limitation of their freedom but as a badge for people to unite and help each other, allowing us to buy time. Through the use of video chat, McConaughey also joined the residents of The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living, an independent and assisted living facility outside of Austin, Texas. McConaughey wasn't the only one getting in on the fun; his family joined in to entertain the residents. "Thank you to Matthew, his wife Camila, and his mom Kay for hosting our residents for a few rounds of virtual bingo!" the facility posted on Facebook on April 5. "Our residents had a great time playing, and they loved talking with Matthew about his family heritage and his favorite drink." CNN contributed to this report. Domestic flights resumed from May 25 after almost two months of a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic. Passengers are being checked before entering the airport. Airport guidelines for passengers travelling are being followed to combat the virus. Many states mandated quarantine for air passenger in a bid to prevent a surge in coronavirus cases. Several passengers found flights cancelled after reaching the airport. Here are some visuals from airports. (Image: News18) Mumbai | Passengers wearing protective face masks wait in a queue to enter Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. (Image: Reuters) Mumbai | Malaysian shipping employees wait in a queue to enter Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport after the government allowed domestic flight services to resume. (Image: Reuters) New Delhi | Passengers' bags are sanitized at the airport as domestic flights resume operations after nearly two-month lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Image: AP) New Delhi | A security person standing behind a glass shield checks the identity of a passenger at the airport as domestic flights resume operations after a nearly two-month lockdown. (Image: AP) Air India Bengalulru-Hyderabad flight been cancelled without any prior notice from the airline. Passengers were informed while their boarding pass were getting scanned at the airport. (Image: ANI) Karnataka | Passengers arrive at Kalaburagi Airport to board their respective flights. (Image: ANI) New Delhi | Taxis are sanitised after every ride. Partitions have been installed between driver and passenger seats for safety against COVID19. Drivers have to wear masks and gloves and carry sanitisers. (Image: ANI) Tamil Nadu | Passengers from different parts of the country arrive at Chennai airport as domestic flight operations resume. (Image: ANI) Guwahati | Eight flights arrive at Guwahati airport with some landing with full passenger capacities. All passengers will be scanned at the airport. People from Assam will be segregated & send to their respective district by buses. (Image: ANI) Karnataka | A five-year-old boy travelled alone from Delhi to Bengaluru was received by his mother at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. (Image: ANI) Karnataka | Thermal screening of passengers being done before their entry into the airport terminal building at Kempegowda International airport, Bengaluru. (Image: ANI) Tamil Nadu | Flight from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport lands at Chennai airport. The number of incoming passenger commercial flights to Chennai is restricted to 25 per day. (Image: ANI) Odisha | Passengers of Vistara's Delhi-Bhubaneswar flight deboard at Biju Patnaik International Airport. (Image: ANI) Mumbai | Maharashtra government has allowed 25 take-offs and 25 landings every day from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport. (Image: ANI) Chhattisgarh | Passengers arrive at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur to board their respective flights. Luggage of passengers being disinfected at the airport. (Image: ANI) Tamil Nadu | Passengers at Chennai international airport observe social distancing. The number of incoming passenger commercial flights to Chennai is restricted to 25 per day. (Image: ANI) New Delhi | Passengers screened using a thermometer gun before boarding Vistara flight from Delhi to Bhubaneswar (Odisha). (Image: ANI) A tax official was arrested for allegedly taking a bribe in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district on Monday, the anti-corruption bureau said. Shayam Sundar Jain, superintendent at central GST office in Udaipur, had demanded the bribe from a transporter to release a truck seized for tax evasion, it said. The transporter had deposited the penalty amount for the truck, but the official demanded Rs 20,000 to release the vehicle in custody, the ACB said. The matter was settled for Rs 15,000, but the transporter informed the bureau which laid a trap to nab the tax official red-handed, it said. When Jain took the bribe from the transporter on Udaipur-Rajsamand road and left in a vehicle, the ACB sleuths arrested him and recovered the bribe amount, the bureau said. A case under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the official, the ACB said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Zillah Byng-Thorne has been the CEO of Future plc (LON:FUTR) since 2014. 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. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. Check out our latest analysis for Future How Does Zillah Byng-Thorne's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? At the time of writing, our data says that Future plc has a market cap of UK1.2b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK5.7m for the year to September 2019. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at UK475k. We further remind readers that the CEO may face performance requirements to receive the non-salary part of the total compensation. As part of our analysis we looked at companies in the same jurisdiction, with market capitalizations of UK821m to UK2.6b. The median total CEO compensation was UK1.6m. Pay mix tells us a lot about how a company functions versus the wider industry, and it's no different in the case of Future. Talking in terms of the sector, salary represented approximately 58% of total compensation out of all the companies we analysed, while other remuneration made up 42% of the pie. Non-salary compensation represents a greater slice of the remuneration pie for Future, in sharp contrast to the overall sector. It would therefore appear that Future plc pays Zillah Byng-Thorne 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. We can better assess whether the pay is overly generous by looking into the underlying business performance. You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Future, below. Story continues LSE:FUTR CEO Compensation May 25th 2020 Is Future plc Growing? On average over the last three years, Future plc has seen earnings per share (EPS) move in a favourable direction by 110% each year (using a line of best fit). It achieved revenue growth of 39% over the last year. This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. The combination of strong revenue growth with medium-term earnings per share improvement certainly points to the kind of growth I like to see. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts. Has Future plc Been A Good Investment? Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Future plc for providing a total return of 467% over three years. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size. In Summary... We examined the amount Future plc pays its CEO, and compared it to the amount paid by similar sized companies. Our data suggests that it pays above the median CEO pay within that group. However, the earnings per share growth over three years is certainly impressive. In addition, shareholders have done well over the same time period. So, considering this good performance, the CEO compensation may be quite appropriate. Looking into other areas, we've picked out 3 warning signs for Future that investors should think about before committing capital to this stock. If you want to buy a stock that is better than Future, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look. Love or hate this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email 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. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. More than 90,000 passengers have made flight bookings between May 25 and May 31, according to travel portal EaseMyTrip. Nearly 13.6 per cent of flight bookings were made on EaseMyTrip between May 21-23 were from Mumbai. Whereas, merely 3 per cent bookings were for travel to Mumbai, CNBCTV18 reported. For Kolkata, 14.45 per cent bookings were made in the last three days, the data added. Delhi-Mumbai route, the busiest in the country, registered 1.86 per cent bookings on EaseMyTrip. Out of the 1.86 per cent, bookings from Delhi to Mumbai were 0.36 per cent, and bookings for air travel from Mumbai to Delhi were 1.76 per cent. Also read: Domestic flights resume: Returning to your hometown? Check out guidelines, quarantine rules Earlier, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu opposed immediate opening up of their airports in view of rising cases of coronavirus. The three states are home to some of the busiest airports in the country in terms of passenger traffic. In Delhi to Bengaluru route, a total of 2.69 per cent bookings were made on EaseMyTrip. 2.06 per cent bookings were made for Bengaluru to Delhi route and 0.63 per cent bookings for Delhi to Bengaluru route. Domestic flights resumed operations after a gap of two months on Monday. Only Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have not re-started flight operations. The resumption of domestic flights comes at a time when coronavirus cases in the country have reached close to 1.40 lakh. Domestic flight operations in Andhra Pradesh will resume on May 26 (Tuesday), and in West Bengal on May 28 (Thursday), Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri wrote on Twitter. A day before the resumption of domestic commercial passenger flights across India, multiple meetings were held at the Civil Aviation Ministry. Also read: India among top 10 worst-affected COVID-19 countries; surpasses Iran as tally rises to 1.38 lakh Also read: Mumbai airport commences operations after two months; first flight departs for Pune Are robots coming to take Vietnamese jobs? Are iPads invading Vietnamese workplaces? Throughout the economic reform era, a key policy challenge for Vietnamese leaders has been to continually provide new employment opportunities for the countrys workforce Edmund Malesky Professor, Duke University and Lead researcher of the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index Rising labour costs and tightening labour markets, combined with pressure from international competitors and demands from international buyers, has led many companies to contemplate enhancing productivity by investing in labour-saving automation. Social distancing within the workplace as a response to COVID-19 may exacerbate interest in these technologies, as companies seek to maximise the productivity of their employees with limited space. Not all forecasts are so gloomy, however; others argue that automation can enhance employment by diversifying businesses activities. This year, the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) research team attempted to shed light on this debate within Vietnam by asking businesses about their current use and plans for automation in their manufacturing and service sector operations. We defined automation broadly as three sets of activities. First, using industrial robots in product assembly, distribution, and/or delivery; digitalisation of production or services, such as the use of iPads or tablets for taking customer orders or for back-office activities to reduce error from human input; and adoption of AI, such as autonomous delivery vehicles. We can use that data to answer three questions: What is the extent of current automation in Vietnam? What factors are driving the adoption of these new technologies? And what is the potential impact on the scale and composition of employment in foreign and domestic businesses? Starting with the first question, the extent of current and planned automation in Vietnam is higher than expected. Within the past three years, 67 per cent of both foreign and domestic investors have automated some operations, while 75 per cent plan to automate new tasks during the next three years over the next three years. Domestic ones claim to have already automated about 10 per cent of their operational tasks over the past three years and plan to automate over 25 per cent of their work in the near future. Automation among foreign firms is only slightly more advanced (10.6 and 28 per cent of current and planned tasks, respectively). We can see the motivations behind businesses automation decisions. They are investing in automation for two reasons. They seek to reduce the costs of labour recruitment and training, and they believe these efforts will assist them with global integration, connecting them to overseas buyers and customers. For domestic businesses, the highest levels of current automation are found among those whose primary customers are foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) based in Vietnam. However, those selling to third-party buyers have the greatest plans for automating technologies. Foreign businesses that are part of multinational corporations or sell to third-party buyers have been the most ambitious automators. In further econometrics analysis of foreign businesses in the PCI report, we also identified an important third correlate of investment in automation - labour unrest. Businesses that have observed labour strikes among competitors in similarly situated provinces and industries are significantly more likely to adopt automation than those where strikes have been less prominent. Automation is affecting businesses employment decisions in surprising ways. The impact of increased automation on current employment and future hiring plans is diverse and dual-edged. Some 12.6 per cent of domestic businesses have increased employment as a result of automation, compared to 35 per cent who plan to maintain employment at current levels and 27 per cent of domestic businesses who intend to reduce employment. Of this latter group, over half (15 per cent) plan to do the same activities but with a smaller number of people. Frequency and depth of automation among Vietnamese businesses Drivers of automation Impact of automation on employment decisions By sharp contrast, 17.8 per cent of FIEs expressed their intention to increase employment. This is positive news. Although 33 per cent do still plan to reduce employment, in contrast to domestic investors, a significant share (8.5 per cent) intend to increase the sophistication of their smaller labour forces. Automation is quite diverse across sectors, revealing the dual-edged nature of automated technologies. In some cases, they will lead to redundancies and decreased employment. In other cases, they will lead to enhanced training and greater opportunities for the next generations workers. - We continue to employ the same number of workers, performing the same tasks. - We employ the same number of workers, but they perform different tasks. - We have both expanded employment and automated production. - We employ fewer workers to perform the same number and type of tasks. - We employ fewer workers, and they perform less sophisticated tasks. - We employ fewer workers, but they perform more sophisticated tasks. The impact of automation on the average skill level of companies labour forces will be diverse. For domestic businesses, the most frequent answer was that automation would have no impact on the average skill level of employees (just under 24 per cent). The second most common answer for domestic businesses was that they would seek more high-skilled labour (19 per cent), illustrating that some businesses are interested in upgrading their workforces. For foreign businesses, these answers are reversed. More than 23 per cent of FIEs plan to hire workers with greater skills and just over 20 per cent do not expect to change. This is illustrative of the dual-edged nature of automated technologies. In some cases, they will lead to redundancies and decreased employment. In other cases, they will lead to enhanced training and greater opportunities for the next generations workers. Given that automation is an unstoppable force that is likely to be undeterred by regulatory changes, what can Vietnamese policymakers do to mitigate the harmful effects of new business technologies while simultaneously aiming to take advantage of the opportunities that automation provides? The first recommendation is simple Vietnamese authorities should double-down on their current legislative achievements in education and labour relations. Make sure these laws are implemented quickly and aggressively, and that, in so doing, bureaucrats adhere to the spirit envisioned by the laws architects. The Law on Education and accompanying national curriculum reforms were aimed at enhancing the quality of general and vocational education with the specific goal of improving the skill sets for Vietnamese workers to succeed in an advanced economy. The Labour Code broke new ground for working conditions and employee-labour relations. Both the Law on Education and the Labour Code were legislative achievements, but the corresponding implementing regulations and decrees at both national and local levels have yet to be written. By augmenting the skillsets of Vietnamese employees and reducing misunderstanding between workers and employers, successful execution of both laws will help mitigate any hurt stemming from firm-level automation decisions. According to the PCI data, only 29 per cent of foreign employers and 27 per cent of domestic employers assess the workforce near where they do business in Vietnam as fully sufficient to meet their needs. The cost of retraining employees in-house is the largest contributor to their automating decisions, as businesses have justifiable concerns about investing in training when those workers can so easily move on to competitors. To date, robots have proved more loyal. Better matching general and vocational educational training to business needs will reduce some of the current demands for automation and will prepare Vietnamese workers for better and higher paying jobs both now and after automation occurs. Because it will be extremely difficult for Vietnamese leaders to anticipate what new jobs will be created due to automation, it is important to focus education on providing sets of fungible skills that allows workers to adapt quickly, learn new skills easily, and take advantage of technological change. At the same time, allowing for more constructive conduits between workers and businesses will provide opportunities for collective decision making about how best to prepare local workforces for automation. VIR Edmund Malesky (Professor, Duke University and Lead researcher of the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index) The House was already facing a deadline crunch this summer, with a slew of must-pass bills threatening to overwhelm lawmakers for months. And that was before the coronavirus pandemic struck. Speaker Nancy Pelosi will summon members back to Washington this week to begin work on an election year to-do list that has grown longer and more urgent amid the nations dual economic and health crises. If Congress falters, the government could shut down, and millions of Americans facing unemployment amid the pandemic could suffer more. We have a full agenda that people have been working on for a long time, so its a continuation of that, but also an intensification, Pelosi told reporters late last week, ticking off looming deadlines for appropriations and a defense policy bill, on top of more pandemic recovery packages. Its the start of a monthslong slog of spending and policy fights, with Republicans and Democrats battling over everything from the border wall to expanding transit lines to transgender troops. The partisan warfare will only ramp up as Democrats fight to keep their House majority, take back the White House and potentially flip the GOP-held Senate all in the uncertain political terrain of a global pandemic. In a typical election year both the House and Senate would hardly be around in the waning weeks leading up to November. Instead, lawmakers would be campaigning for themselves, other candidates and their partys presidential nominee. But much of that schedule has been scrambled this year, as the House and Senate were forced to recess for several weeks this spring to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The Senate returned in early May to focus on nominations and held a handful of coronavirus hearings, but the House has continued to operate on a limited schedule with leaders warning that previously scheduled off days in the coming months will likely be scrapped to make up for lost time. The House has voted only on coronavirus-related bills since the pandemic shuttered much of the U.S. in March a total of $6 trillion in relief bills, though only half that amount has become law. Pelosi has already said she plans to do more but Senate Republicans who have adopted a wait-and-see approach to the next relief package have ignored the most recent $3 trillion House bill. Story continues Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told reporters last week he didnt expect negotiations on more relief bills to start until the third or fourth week of June. We just had a lot of our colleagues lecture us about the fact that the tens of billions of dollars arent even out yet, Grassley said. And we need to know what the need is. You hear about the governors wanting $500 billion for state aid. You got Pelosi putting in $1 trillion. For now, with the next tranche of coronavirus relief in limbo, Democrats will pivot to Congress other major priorities for the year. The first vote, expected to take place Wednesday, will be to restore expired federal spy powers, which lapsed in March amid disagreements about how to balance U.S. privacy and security, even among the two parties. The House will also vote on two bills dealing with the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides coronavirus-relief loans to small businesses. The votes will represent the first time in the chambers history that proxy voting will be used on the floor. But theres far more to do in the coming weeks, with annual chores like crafting spending legislation and the Pentagon policy bill that will become far thornier if not virtually impossible in the middle of a heated presidential campaign. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, walks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, during a break in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) President Donald Trump's last big demand in a funding bill, the border wall, led to the longest-ever government shutdown, and that was nearly two years before his reelection. And this year's defense policy bill is already attracting attention from House progressives, who say they want to cut Pentagon funding to shore up domestic programs amid the pandemic. Then theres the less frequent but equally challenging bills that also come due this year, such as a massive federal highway bill, flood insurance and water infrastructure. Thats on top of the long-delayed reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Whats more, the House and Senate will likely need to revisit key parts of Congress behemoth coronavirus relief programs, which expire in the coming months. A massive expansion in unemployment benefits ends July 31 which top Republicans are already saying they wont renew and loans through the Paycheck Protection Program end June 30. The cries for help from state and local governments facing shortfalls amid the pandemic will only grow more desperate as the start of the next fiscal year approaches on July 1. Clearly, this is a year without precedent. And, of course, many of us know the old adage is You can't get anything done in an election year, said Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who co-authored a small-business loan flexibility bill that is expected to reach the floor for a vote this week with conservative Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas.). But the House will need to negotiate with the Senate, which is nearing a deal on its own version of a loan flexibility bill. The Senate's would give businesses up to 16 weeks to use their loans, while the House bill would provide businesses 24 weeks. Pelosi said on a private caucus call that the House could pass its bill this week. Nobody, I think, amongst the people with whom Ive been working with, believes that we can't get things done, Phillips continued. The question is, do we have the fortitude and the intention and the power in collaboration to do so. The House initially planned to pass all 12 of its appropriations bills on the floor by June. That timeline has slipped as top Democrats raced to draft this months $3 trillion coronavirus relief package, which passed on May 15. And now leaders of the House Appropriations Committee say they wont move to marking up its bills until Congress can agree on another massive infusion of federal coronavirus relief, which may be weeks down the line. Still, many senior lawmakers and aides are already predicting Congress will do what it does best punt. Any decision on the next coronavirus relief measure will require close coordination among House Democrats, Senate Republicans and the White House a relationship thats grown more fraught as Democrats have demanded trillions more in aid for states, localities, workers and businesses from a resistant GOP. And now the House, which was forced to remain largely homebound for the past two months, has some catching up to do on its yearly to-do list. Many of the chambers hearings and markups, which might normally have taken place before Memorial Day, are still in the works. But they will now largely be moved online after lawmakers voted along party lines last week to allow committees to hold them remotely. House leaders have just begun mapping out which bills will come to the floor first, confident that both Appropriations and Armed Services panels can complete their work in the coming weeks. The House will be able to vote remotely for the next 45 days, but some members have privately pushed their leadership to roll together several votes into a single week rather than coming back every week in June. Senior Democrats argue, though, that they can complete their agenda. We cant worry you can get bogged down worrying, said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a senior appropriator, when asked about this year's truncated schedule. Youve got to adjust, step up and do the work. Caitlin Emma contributed to this report. Written by ACM *Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Just After US President Tump revealed that he Personaly takes HCQ+ Treatment, Carefuly, as a Prophylaxis against the Virus, (See Infra), while Various Countries Decided to Stockpile HCQ Provisions, (See Ibid), Suddenly, a Bogus Fake-"Study" Published at the LANCET by some Shady, and, in fact, UnRelated Boston Technocrats, Claimed that HCQ would be Both ...Totaly InEfficient, and Greatly Dangerous, against Human Life (sic !), to the Point that, inter alia, it's also new French Minister of Health, Olivier Veran, who, Urgently seized a Top Experts' body, Asking to Immediately Check that Report, and, Take Measures (which Might, perhaps, include a Total Ban against HCQ, already Heavily Restricted in France, and elsewhere), in only "2 Days"' Time !... (On the Pre-existing, General Debate about HCQ, See also : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/mpsaskhcqagainstvirus.html, etc) However, at least as long as Europe (and soon USA+) is at the EpiCenter of such a Deadly Pandemic Virus, which Still Kills too Many Thousands of innocent People Each Day World-wide, Nobody should be Distracted by such Bogus Fake "Studies", plenty of various Flaws and/or MisLeading or UnSubstantiated Claims, as "Eurofora" Found, after a Thorough Analysis of that Controversial Text (See Infra). => Here are the (Main) FACTS, revealing 11 big FLAWS in that Controversial Text : ----------------- - (1)- First of all, contrary to some False Impressions, this is Not a clinical "Trial" or scientific "Test" at all, Nor a real medical "Study", But Only a clumsy (See Infra) Compilation of automaticaly distributed and stocked "Data" by Computers Networks : Indeed, it's a Mere ..."Registry analysis" (as the Authors admit themselves), of "Data Obtained by Automatic Data Extraction from ... Electronic Health Records, Supply Chain DataBases, and (even) Financial Records" (sic !), which "use a Cloud-based health-care Data analytics Platform, that includes specific Modules for Data Acquisition, Data Warehousing, Data Analytics, and Data Reporting", exploited by "the Surgical Outcomes Collaborative (<>, Chicago, IL, USA)", (a Private Business "Founded" by one of the Authors)... => In Consequence, such a Text has Obvious "Limitations" : F.ex., "Due to (its) Observational ...Design (Comp. Supra), we canNot Exclude the possibility of UnMeasured confounding Factors", and/or "a Cause-and-Effect Relationship between Drug therapy and Survival should Not be inferred", as Even the Authors Warn, in fine... So that real "Clinical Trials will be Required Before Any Conclusion can be reached", particularly "regarding Benefit or Harm of these" HCQ a.o. "agents in COVID-19 patients", they Admit. -------------------------------------- + (2)- In Addition, even if they Blame most Pro-HCQ Publications to be "UnControlled Studies", as they repeatedly Accuse them, However, they Base all their own Claims just on some Automatic Extractions of Data in Registries of ..."671 Hospitals in 6 Continents" of the "World", Totalling More than 96.000 Patients (sic !). => How might all those be really "Controlled", (f.ex. for their Veracity and Accuracy, or an elementary Equality of Conditions for so Many Patients and Tests in each Hospital and Country, etc) ? ------------------------------- - (3)- In Reality, from the point of view of Facts, ...there is NOTHING NEW in that Paper ! >>> Indeed, as its Authors admit, it Only takes into account, Already Known Treatments, which took place Until the ...Middle of April 2020. => If there was anything really Scandalous until then, it would have been Known a Long Time Ago... ------------------------------------- - (4)- The Leading Author, Dr. Mandip Mehra, is Not a Virologist, Neither a Specialist in Infectious Diseases, (Contrary, f.ex., to the pro-HCQ Professor Didier Raoult, etc), but just a ...Cardiologist. And this Controvesial Text is "Funded" by his own "Hospital of Brigham and Women's", ..."Heart and Vascular Center" ! Moreover, that "Brigham and Women's Hospital", does Not have Any Virology Nor Infection "Center", or "Department", at all... +Even the 2nd Co-Author of that Controversial Text, Dr. Frank Ruschitzka from Zurich, is Also a "Heart Center"'s Director, i.e. a Cardiologist too ! => In Consequence, at least Both the 2 Main Authors are blatantly InCompetet in Infectious Diseases and Virology issues... ----------------------------------------------------- - (5)- Surprizingly, the main Treatments, to which refer Both US President Trump and Famous French Professor Didier Raoult, (i.e. composed of HCQ, AZ, and Zinc), stay always ...Invisible, withOut Knowing their Specific Results, Because that Text widely Refers to 4 Groups of Patients using, in one way or another, Chloroquine, among which ...Only 1 Might have Included Also HCQ and AZ with Zinc, WITHOUT Ever Revealing the Numbers for those which, Eventualy, used AZ, since the Author Speaks just, Vaguely, of "Macrolides", which is a much Larger Term, that May Include AZ, But Not Only, given the Fact that there are Also Other Drugs routinely Named like this, (as that Text itself Notes, speaking, f.ex., of "Macrolides, such as Azithromycin and Clarithromycin", etc) ! Obviously, this is a Strange, and Big Failure... _________________________ +(6)- ZINC is Essential in the most World Famous "Z-Package" of Treatment, to which Refer Both US President Trump and French Professor Didier Raoult, as well as Various People at the Internet (Explaining it mainly as a Boost for the Human Immunity protection system), against that Virus, but, Astonishingly, it's Totaly Absent from Mehra's data compilation ! --------------------------------- -(7)- In Addition, that Controversial Text is reportedly Based Only on Data concerning HCQ Treatments which have Started in just ...2 Days After a Virus' Infection was Confirmed : "Patients who received Treatment with these regimens (Chloroquine, etc) Starting More than 48 h. After Diagnosis, were Excluded (sic !)", it says. Mainly in order "to Avoid" reaching "a Critical Phase of Illness, which could Skew the Interpretation of the results, they Claim. >>> But, if it's notoriously True that HCQ main Supporters, as, f.ex., Professor Raoult, former Health Minister Doust-Blazy, etc, indeed, strongly Advise to act Before reaching f.ex. a Mechanical Respirator and/or an Intensive Care Phase, etc., by Starting to give that Treatment Before serious Lesions may be provoked to the Patients, Nevertheless, in general, they present that mostly in a kind of about 10 Days or two Weeks' Period of Time, with a Lighter and an "Advanced" or "Critical" 2nd Phase, Advising to Better Act "at the Beginning", withOut having Ever gone As Far as to LImit everything at a so Extremely Tight and Short Laps of Time as Only 2 Days ! (With the Unique, probably, Exception of a Polish Doctor, according to some reports). => In Consequence, such an Excessively Strict "Exclusion" of a So Big Period of Time for Treatment, (i.e. Everything that may be done "After 2 Days" since Diagnosis), does Not seem Faithul at all to the Real Stance of most HCQ Supporters, (but rather a kind of Caricature of their position)... This inevitably Results, for this Controversial Text, into ...Ignoring a Great Part of HCQ utilisations in Hospitals, which might be very Interesting ! ------------------------------ - (8)- Those Authors Claim that "the FUNDER" of that Text "had No Role (sic !) in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report", had no role (sic !) in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report", While, in Fact, that "Funder" was Mehra's own Hospital of "Brigham and Women's", and Even his Personal Specialisation's Department of "Cardio-Vascular Medicine" ! -------------------------------- - (9)- Despite pompously Claiming to cover Hospitals from "6 Continents" (i.e. accross All the Planet, being "Large, MultiNational" and "Real-World analysis", as they Boast), However, it's just a ...Small Minority of Only about 17% Europeans and 7% Asians patients who were Included, Nonobstant the Notorious Fact that, Initially, China/South Korea and, Afterwards, Europe were the "EpiCenters" of that Virus' "Pandemic", During the Examined Period of "20 December 2019" and "14 April 2020"... _------------------------------------- -(10)- The main "Result" Claimed by that controversial text would be that, while "Mortality" in the "Control Group", receiving Ordinary Drugs, appeared to stand at just 9,3%, (throughout All Continents of the World : Comp. Supra), on the Contrary, that Other Group, which got HCQ and a Macrolide (Comp. Supra), looks as having a Very Much Higher Mortality, Up to : ...23,8% (sic !) + In Addition, while the "Control Group" would have Faced Only a "O,3%" "Risk of de-novo ventricular Arrythmia" as Heart Problem, on the Contrary, the HCQ + Macrolide Group would Jumb as High as Up to ..."8,1%" ! => I.e., Obviously, Both two Excessively Exagerated Claims, Far Away from what Anyone Else has ever Argued in this "Hot" Controversy about HCQ Treatment against the Virus.... ----------------------------------------------------- -(11)- The Latest relevant Scientific Publication by Professor Raoult about a Previous HCQ+ Trial on 1.061 Patients at his Hospital, made it Clear that his Team "Carefully" controlled all Candidates for such a Test, Excluding Many Cases considered more or less Dangerous for Eventual Side-Effects in Various cases, (f.ex., Heart, Taking Other Drugs with Counter-Indications, Certain Pre-Existing Conditions, Allergies, etc). => Did that Bogus, Remote "Study" (rather : hasty Compilation) of many Thousands of Registries' Automatically Collected "Data" in "671 Hospitals" accross "6 Continents" (Comp. Supra) VERIFY Whether such a "Careful" Previous "Control" and selection among All Candidates to a HCQ+AZ+Z Treatment was Really and Fully Made, or Not ? >>> It does Not seem so... This is a Grave Ommission, a Serious Blunder, since, it would be Obviously Inevitable to Find, afterwards, a Lot of various Negative Side Effects, which shouldn't be a surprise, since they would have been Provoked simply by a Lack of the due "Care" in the Selection of Patients.... ------------------------------------------- >>> In Conclusion, given all these Numerous and Big "Weaknesses" or even Blunders in such a Controversial Text, then, after all, ...WHY THIS RUSH ? => I.e., in Other Words, Why did, its Authors, Suddenly Feel, Now, ..."a PRESSING NEED to Provide ...GUIDANCE", (as they Note themselves), on this "Hot" but Long Controversy about the HCQ Treatment against the Virus ? + And Why did the Controversial French New Minister of Health, Olivier Veran, Suddenly ask Top Medical Experts to propose Action against HCQ's alleged "InEfficiency and Risks", (according to the Above-Mentioned Report), so Fast as ..."in 48 Hours" ?... -------------------------------------- A Series of Various, but Converging, Facts, clealy indicate that what is Realy at Stake is Not Only a Purely Medical Issue... - Indeed, among others, US President Trump's Recent Statements revealing that he has Personaly Started to use HCQ (with AZ and Zinc), after initialy provoking an Hysteric Fury from Establishment's Medias, Finaly Calmed Down when his Medical Doctor attested, in a Letter, that this was a Carefully planed move : - Dr Sean Conley, FACEP, Commander US Navy, and Physician to the President, at the White House, in a "Memorandum" written for Kayleigh Mcenany, Assistant to the Presient, White House Press Secretary, Published by AONN Media, clearly Reminded the Fact that it had all Started "2 Weeks Ago", when, Suddenly, "one of the President's support Staff Tested Positive for COVID-19", (including the Press Attache of Vice-President Pence). => This made "Conclude", "After Numerous Discussions", between Trump and his Doctor, "regarding the Evidence For and Against the use of HydroxyChloroQuine" (HCQ), that "the Potential Benefit from Treatment OutWeighed the Relative Risks", as Dr Conley wrote in a Balanced way. + In Addition, Meanwhile, "I continue to Monitor the myriad Studies Investigating (also Various Other) potential COVID-19 Therapies", "in Consultatio with our Inter-Agency Partners and subject matter Experts, around the Country", he added, Vowing to "employ... the same Shared Medical Decision-Making, Based on Evidence at hand", also "in the Future". ------------------------- Meanwhile, Earlier this Week, pro-Trump Brazilian President Bolsonaro has just Legalized HCQ Medicine in his huge Country, while, also, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, reportedly put out to Tender a 35 Million Contract seeking 19 Million HCQ Tablets. Recently, it's even the French Army which made Massive HCQ Acquisitions, added to Russia's examination of that issue, in real Practice, (apparently Helping to keep the Country, Despite Galoping Infections, originated initially from the EU, comparatively, with an even More Limited Death Rate than ...Germany itself, widely considered to be an Exceptional "Miracle" in Human Lives' Saving, inside the EU). Previously, Morocco (which is also Particular into reportedly Producing itself abudant Filter Masks for all its People), was the 1st Country in the World to openly Adopt a HCQ Medical Protocol, and, since then, it apparently holds a particularly Low Rate of Deaths in proportion to its Population, Compared to Other similar Countries. And Currently, French Professor Didier Raoult, Head of a Mediterranean Anti-Infections Institute, is reportedly Preparing also anOther, Bigger than before, 2.000 Patients-Strong, Clinical Trial with HCQ, whose Results are due to be announced asap; (etc)... ---------------------- >>> Why should such Moves make some HCQ Critics so Upset ? => Let's have a Closer Look at the Leading Author of that Controversial Text, (whose Hospital's Center Funded it, Comp. Supra) : Dr Mandip Mehra, from "Brigham and Women's" Hospital : - Mandip, (or, alias, Mandeep), who is, reportedly, Indian and holds a Bachelor's Degree from Gandi Institute at Maharashtra, (Not even Mentioned in his Harvard Medical School "Bio" page, which, on the Contrary, cites 2 UK Diplomas purely "Honorary"...), nevertheless, looks Better Treated by ...Pakistani Medias, Instead of Indian ones ! F.ex., among others, while Indian Medias, Among 3 Articles published on one and same Cardiology Issue at the "NEMJ" Review, mention that of Mehra Only at the ...End, too Briefly, and by mentioning the fact that his paper had been Strongly Criticized, on the Contrary, most Pakistani Medias, dealing with his Opposal to Trump's and Raoult's HCQ+ Medicine, give the Most Important place to Mehra ! Something probably natural, since his Name appears very Familiar and used Also by Many Other People, Both in the Penjab Province, (the Biggest Part of which Belongs to Pakistan, India having Only a Small one), and even at the Adjacent...Kashmir Province, (Notoriously Disputed to India by Pakistani Nationalists, even Terrorists, who Claim that it would be an "Occupied" area), where, f.ex., Even a Popular "Kashmiri" Singer is called "Kailash MEHRA"... Notoriously, indeed, many Pakistani are currently Against Trump, mainly because of Restrictions that he had Imposed on them Earlier, during the Struggle Against Islamist Terrorism, (which had made several innocent Victims inside the USA), while, on the Contrary, several Indians are in Favor of Trump Nowadays, (who had even Appointed, initialy, an Indian-Origin US Ambassador to the UNO). - In Addition to Not being Related at all with Infectious Diseases and/or Virus, (working in a Hospital which, moreover, has Not Any Center or Department for Infections, Neither for Virus : Comp. Supra), Mandip Mehra, is in Charge of "Brigham and Women's" Hospital's Center for Heart Disease, but has apparently Specialized mainly in Transplantations. => Transplantations have incited him to Deal also with "ImmunoSuppressive" Issues, (as well as "Artificial Hearts" and "Genomic Bio-Markers", etc), Obviously Dear even to those who seek to Use Viruses as "Vehicles" able to Penetrate Cells for Genetic Manipulations, (See Infra). On the Contrary, Trump's and Raoult's "Z-Pack" Medicine (with HCQ, AZ, and Zinc) aims to Strengthen the Natural Human Immunity System, Against Viruses... Indeed, his entire Hospital Focuses on Transplantations of Human Parts : Nowadays, its Website's Frontpage boastes, f.ex., for what it calls the "Nations' 1sr Face Transplant for Black patient", picturing a 68 Years Old Bald Man who has taken the Face of a freshly Killed Young Man, with Brown Hair, (so that his Head now remains Half Bald, Half with Brown Hair...), after a "16 Hour Surgery involving ... over 45 physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists, residents and research fellows". But Mehra's Hospital has Already done ... the Majority, i.e. 9 out of 15 other "Face Transplants" in the USA, and "has Long been Recognized as one of the World's Leaders in Transplanation", as it boasts, citting Also "Other Transplant Milestones", including of Kidneys (Since 1954), Hearts (since 1984), Lungs (since 1992), Hands (2014), etc, (Aways Taken from Freshly Killed People, of course). + AnOther Particularity of Mehra's Hospital is that its "International Collaborations" consist (Except from an ...1 Store, Tiny House at Bermuda, ...), Exclusively Four (4) Projects, ... All in China (sic !!!!), with Big Partner Companies, in Huge Sky-Rocketing Buildings at Boao, Jangsu, Chengdu, and Hangzhou. ++ In Parallel, Dr. Mandip Mehra is also Professor at ...Harvard Medical School, whose Current Dean, George Daley, was a Key co-Organizer of that Exceptional "International Summit on Gene Editing" at Hong-Kong on November 2018, which made Big Publicity for a Maverick Young Chinese "Dr. Frankenstein", (Educated, Funded, Directed, and Backed by some USA's Big Technocratic Lobbies related to Former POTUS Barack Hussein Obama's "Liberal" Controversial Policies on Genetic Manipulations of Human Embryos, etc), Notoriously Revealed that he had Secretly made Genetic Manipulations to 3 Human Embryos, Transmissible to All Future Generations, and had pushed them until the Artificial Births in China of 3 Babies, all bearing in them Heritable Gene Editing (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/heritablegenemaniptrumpxihumanity.html, etc). Any such Alteration of Human Germ-Line affecting Generations, Risky for Human Health and Obviously extrmely Dangerous for Humanity's Future, is currently Prohibited, in one way or another, in Many Countries accross the World, (including USA, China, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, etc), But, that Obama era's Harvard Medical School Dean, had Pushed, (at an Interview Published then), for its ..."Acceptance" (sic !), in the foresable Future ! + Dean Daley had Already being Pushing, (even Against former Republican US President GWBush's policies), Back on 2001-2008, for Controversial Federal Funding of Genetic Manipulations on Human Embryos, until former "Liberal" POTUS Barack Hussein Obama Legalizes that, since March 2009, (Immediately Followed, then, by anOther Deadly, Mysterious "Virus"' Pandemic, of H1N1, which Started somewhere around South California's Labs near the Mexican Borders). The Chinese Government had Clearly Denounced, already since November 2018, the Above-Mentioned, Maverick "Dr. Frankenstein-Junior" for such Dangerous, "UnEthical" and "Criminal" Acts, already since 2018. But it's only on 30 December 2019 that Beijing Officially Announced the Condamnation of that Culprit to the Punishment of 5,5 Years in Jail for his Crime, etc., (while Experienced Members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences strongly Criticized, in Parallel, the serious Dangers with which such Maverick Heritable Gene Editing, Affecting all Future Generations, Threatened Humanity's Future, See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/chinacondemnsheritablegeneediting.html). +=> But, as it is well Known, Surprizingly, just 1 Day Later, on 31 December 2019, it was Also Announced that this Strange, Deadly New Virus, suddenly Attacked China, (starting by Wuhan) ! ++ And 6 Months Later, on May 2020, Earlier this Week, Distinguished Members from the Chinese Academy of Science, observed the Fact that, Still, the Open Question of "a Natural Origin of the Virus", Despite Many Scientifics persisting to Search Worldwide, nevertheless, still remains "a Mystery" !... +++ Meanwhile, Notoriously, Various Hypothesis and/or Questions about an Eventual Artificial Fabrication of that New Virus "by a Lab", (for whatever Purpose : f.ex. "Vaccine" and/or "Bio-Weapon" Researches, etc), have Surfaced, Together with Some (InSufficient yet) Facts, by several Sources, including a NOBEL Prize Winner Scientist, a Former, Twice-Elected Head of State, etc, (Comp., f.ex., among others, also : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/nobelprofonlabmadevirus.html, and : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/ahmadinejadonlabomadevirus1.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/ahmadinejadonlabomadevirus2.html, etc). ++++ And it's also Nowadays that People start to Realize the Potential Importance of the Questions Raised, Meanwhile, by the UnPrecedented Arrest of anOther ..."Dean of Harvard" (Comp. Supra), this time in Bio-Chemistry, Shortly Before the Virus becomes really apparent, Towards the End of 2019, by the North American Authorities, 2 or 3 Months Before the Pandemic hits also the USA themselves, on 2020, quite Hard. This "Harvard's Dean" was notoriously Accused for receiving a Lot of UnDeclared Money from Abroad, particularly China, where he reportedly Helped check and choose Scientists for the Top Security Bio-Labo (level 4) at Wuhan, as well as its own and other relevant Bio-Tech Big Projects. ++++ Both Harvard's Medical School and Bio-Chemistry, as well as "Brigham and Women's Hospital" (Comp. Supra), are Located in Boston, Massachusetts, which Notoriously is a "Liberal" Hotspot for Opposition's Dem's Party of former POTUS Barack Hussein Obama and current Candidate to the November 2020 US Presidential Elections Joe Biden, i.e., of Political Adversaries to the Republican US President Don Trump... => Thus, Both current Presidents of China and USA, Xi and Trump, who, Despite some Recurrent Trade and/or Other Issues, (often Provoked by sly interferences), had, in the Past and even Recently, Managed to Seek and Find some Friendly Compromises and Common Points, (f.ex. just after the Latest Phone Conversation between them, on the ways to Tackle the Virus, etc), >>> Nowadays, Could and Should Realize that they have some Common Ennemies, (Hidden Both inside China and the US) : A Fact which Incites them to Decisively Become Friends, cooperating on such Core issues, for the Benefit of Humankind !... And the Real Europeans (in Fact, the Most Hardly Hit by the Deadly Virus) should Play an Active and Important part on that, withOut Falling in Any Sly Trap to eventually distract their Attention from the much Needed Focus on Urgently Saving so Many Threatened Human Lives ! (../..) ("Draft-News") ---------------------------- Commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry in HKSAR urges relevant countries to stop meddling with HK affairs, China's internal affairs as a whole People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:12, May 24, 2020 HONG KONG, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Saturday urged relevant countries to respect China's sovereignty and security, and stop meddling with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs as a whole. After it was announced that establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security would be on the agenda of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), some countries have lashed out with furious accusations and even threats. The spokesperson of the commissioner's office refuted and firmly opposed such unwarranted remarks. The spokesperson said that in recent years, especially since the unrest following the proposed amendment bill last year, "Hong Kong independence" and other radical separatist activities have grown increasingly rampant, and violent terrorism ramped up. Some external forces have colluded with the anti-China troublemakers in Hong Kong, openly meddled with Hong Kong affairs, and used Hong Kong to commit acts undermining China's national security. Such attempts have posed a grave challenge to the red line of the "one country, two systems" principle and an imminent threat to China's national security, and must be prevented, prohibited and punished in accordance with the law. The spokesperson pointed out that the NPC draft decision targets only attempts at secession, subversion, terrorism and external interference in Hong Kong affairs. The legitimate rights and freedoms of the majority of Hong Kong citizens will only be better guaranteed in a safe environment, instead of being prejudiced by the decision. The "one country, two systems" policy and the high degree of autonomy of the HKSAR will remain unchanged, and the interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong will continue to be protected under the law. When national security is safeguarded, both "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong will embrace brighter prospects, which is also in the common interests of the international community. The spokesperson reiterated that a country is simply exercising its sovereignty and legitimate right in safeguarding national security, and that enacting national security legislation falls within the state's legislative power. It is typical double standard and gangster logic when some countries persistently obstruct China's efforts to uphold sovereignty and security even as they make a generalization of the "national security" concept at home. "No matter how many rumors and lies you (the meddling politicians) may churn out, they will not alter the will of the majority of Hong Kong citizens who love China and Hong Kong and want stability and peace. No matter how venomously you smear, provoke, coerce or blackmail us, the Chinese people will remain rock-firm in safeguarding national sovereignty and security. Doomed is your plot to undermine China's sovereignty and security by exploiting the troublemakers in Hong Kong as pawns and the city as a frontier for secession, subversion, infiltration and sabotage activities against China," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson urged relevant countries to respect China's sovereignty, abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs. "We also call on the international community to correctly understand China's just efforts to safeguard national security and bring Hong Kong back to the right track, support China's endeavor to fully and faithfully implement 'one country, two systems,' and work together with the Chinese people, including Hong Kong residents, for a prosperous and stable Hong Kong." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Scott Morrison is set to reveal his plans bring the economy 'out of ICU' and get thousands of Australians back into work after the coronavirus crisis. In a major speech on Tuesday, the Prime Minister will outline a new 'JobMaker plan' made up of five key principles to kickstart the economy after lockdowns left 1.3million Australians without a job. The principles are free trade, caring for country, building on Australia's strengths, giving everyone a fair go and creating a business-friendly environment. Mr Morrison expects it will take 'three to five years' for Australia's economy to recover from the impact of COVID-19. With unemployment at around 10 per cent and global trade and foreign investment plummeting, he will say the country faces the 'most challenging environment ever outside of wartime.' Facing deteriorating relations with China, Mr Morrison (pictured with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang) will insist Australia will continue to be an 'outward-looking', trading nation But in a message of hope to thousands of businesses and workers, he will reference Australia's recovery from previous downturns and say: 'We have done this before and together we can do it again.' Facing deteriorating relations with China, which has taxed Australian barley and banned some Aussie beef, Mr Morrison will insist that the country will continue to be an 'outward-looking', trading nation. Tensions with the communist superpower have increased dramatically since Mr Morrison called for an inquiry into the origins of the virus in April, a move which infuriated Beijing. Although he will not name China, Mr Morrison will say that Australia will continue to champion free trade and search for new markets for its products. In his speech at the National Press Club, Mr Morrison will reference indigenous Australians and say that his plans will involve 'caring for country.' 'We will not retreat into the downward spiral of protectionism. To the contrary, we will continue to be part of global supply chains that can deliver the prosperity we rely on to create jobs, support incomes and build our businesses,' he will say at the National Press Club in Canberra. 'Our economic sovereignty will be achieved by ensuring our industries are highly competitive, resilient and able to succeed in a global market. However, Mr Morrison will warn that national security will be prioritised. 'While a trading nation, we will not trade away our values or our future for short-term gain. 'With trade, alliance and other partners we will work to establish and maintain the balance needed for peace and stability in our region that prosperity depends on.' Secondly, Mr Morrison will reference indigenous Australians and say that his plans will involve 'caring for country.' The third part of the Prime Minister's plan is to 'build on Australia's strengths' including agriculture. Pictured: A farming family in Gunnedah, NSW Mr Morrison wants China to continue to champion free trade. Cattle and beef are among Australians main exports 'We must not borrow from future generations what we cannot return to them,' he will say. 'This is a much true for our environmental, cultural and natural resources as it is for our economic and financial ones.' The third part of the Prime Minister's plan is to 'build on Australia's strengths'. He will highlight the manufacturing, services, resources, agriculture and financial sectors as being crucial to Australia's recovery Mr Morrison will then outline his commitment to provide every Australian with a fair go with access to essential services and a system that rewards hard work. 'We must always ensure that there is the opportunity in Australia for those who have a go, to get a go. This is our Australian way,' he will say. Finally, the Prime Minister will mention plans to support companies after the Jobkeeper programme to pay the wages of three million workers ends in September. 'At some point you've got to get your economy out of ICU,' he will say. 'You've got to get it off the medication before it becomes too accustomed to it.' He will invoke William Green, the leader of the American Federation of Labour during the Great Depression, who said in 1994: 'We cannot indefinitely support one sixth of our population on money borrowed against future taxes'. Mr Morrison will then outline his commitment to provide every Australian with a fair go with access to essential services and a system that rewards hard work. Pictured: Children back to school in Sydney on Monday While weaning businesses off life support, Mr Morrison will look to slash red tape and reduce taxes to help them recover. 'We must enable our businesses to earn our way out of this crisis. That means focussing on the things that can make our businesses go faster,' he will say. Mr Morrison will also outline a shake-up of the vocational education sector, with new courses and a better funding model. 'We need Australians better trained for the jobs businesses are looking to create,' he will say. Mr Morrison wants new courses to be shaped by industry leaders and to reduce the number of programs to make it easier for young people to choose a career path. Scott Morrison will today propose major changes to the vocational education system as part of his 'JobMaker' plan to restore the Australian economy after coronavirus Currently in Australia there are more than 1,400 qualifications on offer and almost 17,000 units of competency. 'For prospective students, the large number of choices that they face for qualifications can be bewildering,' Mr Morrison will say at the National Press Club in Canberra. The fees students pay for courses can also be radically different in each state. For example, subsidies for a Diploma of Nursing in 2017 varied between $19,963 in Western Australia and $8,218 in Queensland. Mr Morrison wants to simplify the funding system for vocational courses and also reduce the number of options to make it easier for young people to choose a course Mr Morrison will say the system is so complex that students who are best suited for vocational courses 'default' to university degrees. To solve the problem, Mr Morrison wants new training programs that are created with direct input from companies and industry leaders. 'We need Australians better trained for the jobs businesses are looking to create,' he will say. The Skills Organisation Pilots program aims to 'give industry the opportunity to shape the training system to be more responsive to their skills needs'. So far the human services, digital technologies and mining sectors have been consulted on how they would like training to look. The human services sector has already developed a skill set that it wants workers to have to boost aged care and disability support. What changes is the PM proposing to vocational education funding? Better link funding to actual forward looking skills needs, based on what businesses need. Simplify the system, and achieve greater consistency between jurisdictions, and between the VET and higher education sectors. Increase funding transparency and performance monitoring. Taxpayers, students and employers should know where the money is going. Better coordinate the subsidies, loans and other sources of funding, based on principles of return on investment, to make the most of the support that is being provided. Advertisement The government has also established a National Skills Commission which will report yearly on what skills Australia needs and create new lists for apprenticeships and skilled migration. Mr Morrison also wants to overhaul the funding system to make state governments - which receive $1.5billion each year - more accountable. 'The Commonwealth has no line of sight on how states use this funding,' he will say. 'Where targets do exist, they are aspirational. If not met, there are no consequences.' Instead, the Prime Minster wants a system similar to the hospital funding model which assigns cash based on activity. 'That is a system my Government would be prepared to invest more in,' he will say. 'You will feel more pain': China's chilling new threat to devastate Australia's economy if it supports the U.S. in a 'new cold war' Chinese state media has threatened Australia with new economic sanctions if it supports the United States as tensions with Beijing escalate. The US said on Friday it would ban trade with 33 Chinese companies in a move that could signal the start of a 'new cold war', according to Chinese media. An article in the state-controlled Global Times said that Australia should keep quiet like India and stay out of the spat to avoid becoming collateral damage. Chinese state media has threatened Australian with new economic sanctions if it supports the US in an escalating trade war with Beijing. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Premier Li Keqiang A haulage truck and an autonomous drilling rig at the Rio Tinto West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of West Australia The article said that China will punish Australia more harshly than the US because it is less economically dependent on Australia. The US is China's number one export market whereas Australia is 14th. The article said: 'China will enjoy more room to fight back against Australia with countermeasures if Canberra supports Washington in a possible "new Cold War". 'It means Australia may feel more pain than the US.' The editorial said President Trump was targeting China to distract from his handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has killed 97,000 Americans. 'The Trump administration is fomenting trouble to deflect its woes over its mishandling of the coronavirus onto China,' it said. 'There is no need for other countries, such as Australia, to involve themselves in this ridiculous political play.' The Global Times believes Australia is merely a 'lap dog' being used to further American interests and last week claimed the US coerced Canberra into calling for an inquiry into the origins and spread of coronavirus. Last month Beijing became infuriated by Australia's calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus, believing that it was a 'malicious' attempt to blame and 'stigmatize' China. Prime Minster Scott Morrison had demanded a ban on wildlife wet markets, where the virus may have originated, and said inspectors should be able to enter a country suffering from a pandemic without the government's consent. Earlier this month China slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and suspended imports from four Australian beef suppliers in apparent revenge. About one third of Australia's total exports - including iron ore, gas, coal and food - go to China, bringing in around $135billion per year and providing thousands of jobs. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny to an official dinner at the White House September 20, 2019 Last week fears of further retaliation were raised when China relaxed checks on iron-ore imports in a move that could favour Australia's competitors. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US 'stands with Australia'. Mr Morrison has repeatedly insisted the two countries are 'great mates' and their alliance is strong. The 33 companies the US blacklisted have been accused of helping Beijing spy on its minority Uighur population or having ties to weapons of mass destruction and China's military. Seven companies and two institutions were listed for being 'complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs' and others, the Commerce Department said in a statement. Two dozen other companies, government institutions and commercial organizations were added for supporting procurement of items for use by the Chinese military, the department said in another statement. Editors note: Urban architectural historian, preservationist and university professor John Gomez presents a special series on the global Spanish influenza pandemic that reached and devastated Hudson County between 1918-1920. Part 2: The Hand of Hague A family of three son, sister, mother sickened and laid low by Spanish influenza in their home high on a plateau at 42 Clifton Place, at the eastern edge of Jersey Citys Bergen Hill neighborhood. Anthony J. Janelli, stationed at the sweeping, newly established cantonment of Camp Dix, in Wrightstown, New Jersey, was only 28 when he brought the ailment along with him to his home ... while on leave of absence, as The Jersey Journal reported on Sept. 17, 1918, roughly a month before Jersey City Mayor Frank Hague, still new at the job, was to take meaningful and decisive action against the terrifying plague that had been routing troops on all sides in Europe and was by the middle of October vividly present in the city he cherished and fought hard to control and rule. The newspapers report of what would come to be recognized as Jersey Citys first victims of the invasive Spanish flu perfectly captured the level of downplay displayed assumedly at Hagues strongman direction by the citys health board superintendent, Dr. Joseph Craven, and other healthcare lieutenants. These three cases are the first that have been brought to my attention, stated the doctor, and in the absence of an epidemic or unusual symptoms we will merely regard the ailment as plain influenza. Mistake No. 1. INCREASE OF DREAD The back-room push-back against Dr. Cravens printed comments on the Clifton Place case must have been intense. Suddenly, over the next few days, he shifted course, taking a leadership stance and ordering all municipal doctors to report at once any additional victims. Citing the devastating epidemics of influenza that struck Hudson County in 1889 and 1892, and how the city conquered them squarely and swiftly, he started laying out sets of preventive rules via bulleted bulletins to the press. Some, if not most, were medically sound and intelligent, such as General Measures The attendant in the case should wear a gauze mask. During epidemics persons should avoid crowded assemblages, street cars and the like. Other prescribed measures were dramatically devoid of sensibility and literally placed the public at dire risk, with Quarantine None; impracticable saying it all. Dr. Craven had to have been cognizant of the dire situation at Camp Dix and other bases including a smaller barracks located in Hoboken and how military men were carrying the contagion with them back to their respective cities and townships. Dix was in the news almost daily, sharing front-page space with news from World War I fronts and local issues of controversy and concern. Still, there was nothing to be anxious about, declared the career city doctor, who soon became the medical voice of the pandemic as well as its pariah and who tried to convince a reading public that their government, led by Mayor Hague, had a firm hold from the first onsets and was always looking out for the publics safety and well being. But with the doctors sanguine declarations came steadily climbing influenza numbers. On Sept. 20, 1918, The Jersey Journal reported that five new cases of the Spanish flu had broken out in Jersey Citys Greenville district, mostly up and down Ocean Avenue and in the vicinity of the citys marginalized African-American district. There should be no concern about this diminutive increase, the thinking went this was not Newark or Boston, where the flu had already been attacking the populace of the poorest areas. The Jersey Journal, along with Dr. Craven, brushed aside concerns, writing in a Sept. 23 editorial that Spanish influenza is among us, but not to any alarming extent. If the newspapers had not printed the news you would not know that disease was in existence. You would have gone your way untroubled. Further chiding the public about the disease that was, to everyones knowledge, communicable by air and compromised surfaces, the editorial stated fatuously that if you begin to fret and fume every time you sit in a subway train or trolley car you are going to weaken your resistance. Worry is the worst disease in the world. ... If you lower your resistance you may get any number of things, of which Spanish influenza is only one. ... Why worry? It has never gained anybody anything except a headache. CLOSE TO HOME It was not until Oct. 1, 1918, that Jersey City first published a special precautions bulletin in the newspapers, signed and stamped by Mayor Hague himself this, after influenza cases in Jersey City had reached triple digits, with the dread unyieldingly infiltrating the citys densely populated tenement districts; this, as Bayonne was under malevolent siege with an estimated 3,500 students and 45 teachers infected by the end of September; this, as more Camp Dix infantry and Red Cross nurses from Jersey City were dying. Dont Crowd, Dont Worry a capped line in the Hague-sanctioned bulletin that was meant to put the public at ease. In the same bulletin: The presence of the so-called Spanish influenza demands the taking of proper precautions to safeguard the health of the city the voice of a mayor seemingly in charge, yet still with an air of refutation. This disease is to be dreaded. It is lightninglike in its onset and lightninglike in its sudden and fatal termination perhaps Hague's most surprising, sincere lines in the bulletin and a strong hint that the mayor, at that point absent from the public pandemic scene, was actually in touch with the terror and turmoil of the novel virus. In fact, the Spanish flu was, for him, close to home. His 11-year-old son, Frank Hague Jr., had contracted the Spanish influenza at school sometime in September. Seriously ill, the boy was consequently hospitalized and promptly received the best medical attention, even as there was no vaccine available. Hague and his doctors knew that Frank Jr.s young life was, like any other flu victim, in the hands of fate, and not even he, the all-powerful politician, could defy the death-dealing disease that lurked at every doorstep even the doorsteps of the mayors many mansions. The father stood bedside and held vigil with his family as Frank Jr. lingered for days before miraculously recovering. Hagues sudden absence from politics was, of course, noticed, and his few foes, sensing an opening, went on the attack, publicly blasting him for blatantly ignoring important issues like the pandemics ongoing, vicious spread; the Great Wars continued egregious effect on the local economy and resources; perceived constant invasions of Bolshevik and communist parties; looming prohibition legislation; proper African-American representation in politics; and womens suffrage. These were the biggest issues of the time, and to them Hague was dropping the ball in dramatic fashion. Hague, however, rose up and reappeared in City Hall, the threat against his son behind him. He countered his critics and described his watch in the hospital to the press, drawing commiserations and lifting him back into the limelight. The mayor, suddenly center stage again, would now give vigil to the entire city and rescue it, as only he knew how, from devastation. TO THE FORT OF DYING SOLDIERS To his credit, Hague, renewed by his personal experience with the Spanish flu, threw Jersey Citys best medical facilities and professionals at the disease the new wing at City Hospital at Baldwin Avenue and Montgomery Street, though planned to be ready in 1919, was instead rushed to completion in October 1918 but when doctors and nurses and other responding staff started getting seriously sick, with some dying mere hours after caring for the stricken, the mayor took more drastic measures measures that would unfold as monumental mistakes now lost in the historical record. While instructing Dr. Craven to de-amplify the Spanish influenzas certain onset back in the early weeks of September which only exasperated lost time and drew fierce criticism Hagues first exacting error during the influenza was in the sending off of a contingent of 45 local African-American men, dispatching them directly from Jersey City to Camp Dix, one of the state military bases being torn apart at that moment by the pandemic. The mayor, touting his adherence to the Selective Service Act, ran large patriotic notices in newspapers prompting the public to join him and city commissioners in a tribute demonstration and patriotic rally at City Hall. Rain fell hard that morning a descendant storm. One of the young rookies of color, Joseph Dasher, fainted to the floor, possibly already afflicted with pneumonia. He was revived by Dr. George E. Cannon, the citys preeminent African-American physician and civil rights leader. Cleared by the doctor, the soldier-to-be and the entire company trekked down Montgomery Street to Exchange Place, saying their goodbyes to gathered family and quickly embarking for training. They did not know it, but the wars end was near, and they caught the tail-end of a federal draft that drew millions into bloody conflict abroad. And perhaps everyone there at that military dispatch including the politicians did not truly grasp that the Class 1-A men were being sent to a fort of dying soldiers. MONUMENTAL MISSTEPS More monumental missteps, all directed by Hague, were to follow. In mid-October, almost a month after the first outbreak on Clifton Place, and with Bayonne under an awful pandemic siege although the peninsular city under Mayor Pierre P. Garven was proactive in closing schools and all places of public gathering long before anyone else in the very first days of October Mayor Hague decided to shutter the citys schools. It finally dawned on him that the infection of students and teachers was real. The wailings of mothers and fathers coming out of the wards were also real. The cries of children cutting into the souls of all who heard that was palpable and too painful to endure. Priests, nurses and doctors dying at the virus-captured front, many young and just starting their careers that, more than anything, was real. Hague then stopped daily and weekend religious services, ordering clergy to seal doors. Public gatherings were banned, including parades, block parties, civic club meetings, and war-bond-buying rallies, the most popular public events of their day. Municipal and county parks were fenced-off; public baths and fountains were barricaded; trolley systems through the streets were taken off line. In Jersey City alone, nearly 1,000 saloons were shut down. But the closures, as sweeping as they seemed, proved to be too little, too late. Afflictions, as reported by the media, continued to skyrocket overnight, day by day, hour by hour, with the poorest districts of Jersey City the Horseshoe, Greenville, Lafayette, the Heights, Little Italy impacted the absolute most. Hague did not see it that way, though, and kept his playbook governorship guise going, visibly involving himself in the arrest-sweeps of saloon keepers violating Hague-enacted laws. And then, despite published news alerts with troubling titles like 1,084 New Cases of Spanish Influenza in 24 Hours and Spanish Influenza Epidemic Shows No Sign of Abatement, Hague removed the closure regulations the lobbying efforts of the liquor, trolley and funeral parlor trades were made clear drawing immediate condemnation from state health officials, including Dr. Jacob Price, the medical director of the State Board of Health, who was already concerned about Hudson Countys crippling medical staff shortage, inadequate equipment supply, and haphazard pandemic protocols. Spanish influenza, he declared, was far from defeated. More would die as a result of the mayors possibly illegal lifting of closure sanctions. Who was this new mayor up in Jersey City, Dr. Price must have wondered, blatantly thumbing his nose at the state and federal medical establishments? Did he have a vaccine, a cure, that no one knew about or did he just think it was time for the virus, at his command, to vanish? It was not certain what was more chaotic and catastrophic in Jersey City the plague taking the lives of an innocent generation or the mayors inept leadership during a time of unprecedented crisis. Hague, it was thought, had the chance to show true leadership leadership of vision, leadership of a father who already knew the pain that could be stirred up by the virus. But by the end of October 1918, it was becoming obvious that the only heroes saving lives were the physicians, the pathologists, the lab technicians, the nurses, the clergy, the teachers, the police, the firefighters. The only heroes. John Gomez, born and raised in Jersey City, is the founder of the non-profit Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy and holds a master of science in historic preservation from Columbia University. He teaches urban architecture at Saint Peters University and serves on the New Jersey State Review Board for Historic Sites in Trenton. He can be reached at preservationtv@gmail.com. NEXT: Part 3: The Names Previously: A century later, parish priests death in 1918 pandemic reverberates Devotees of Lord Venkateshwara, Hindu groups and the political parties in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are united in their opposition to a plan of the Tirupati temple trust to sell some of the properties donated by worshippers. DH was the first newspaper to report the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams contentious decision, on May 15. The TTDs move to earn revenues by liquidating assets like land parcels donated by devotees to one of the most famous Hindu deities has come under severe criticism. The earnings of the richest Hindu temple with an annual budget of over Rs 3000 crore has been hit as the hill shrine is shut for pilgrim darshan for over two months now because of the COVID-19 lockdown. Read: COVID-19: TTD board defends assets sale as nothing new; shifts blame to previous board under TDP regime While a decision was taken earlier to auction 50 immovable properties in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu worth Rs 24 crore; according to the TTD officials, more such properties were being identified to provide revenue for the temple to tide over the crisis this year. However, devotees state the scheme as hurting sentiments. A hashtag #SaveTTD has been trending on social media platforms like Facebook and twitter. Tweeting the DH story, C S Rangarajan, the famous priest of Hyderabads Chilkur aka Visa Balaji temple, said, AP Dharmika Parishad which was dissolved in 2014 should be revived with Peetadhipathis & eminent devotees to find solution for unprecedented financial crisis affecting Hindu temples including Tirumala. Liquidating devotees' donated assets is not the right approach. AP Dharmika Parishad which was dissolved in 2014 should be revived with Peetadhipathis & eminent devotees to find solution for unprecedented financial crisis effecting Hindu temples including Tirumala. Liquidating devotee donated assets not right approach.https://t.co/0VjbfuYVEe Rangarajan chilkur (@csranga) May 23, 2020 The BJP has called TTDs decision anti-Hindu and demanded Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy to direct the trust to withdraw the bid immediately. While questioning the Reddy governments dominion in selling the devotee donated assets, partys AP unit chief Kanna Lakshmi Narayana has called the cadres, Hindu groups and Venkateshwara devotees to sit on one-day hunger strike as a mark of protest, at their respective homes on Tuesday. TDP leader and former TTD Chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav accused YSRCP leaders of hatching the plan to make money. Jana Sena too vehemently opposed the assets sale. If TTD sells away land, this shall set a bad precedent and even other Hindu Religious institutions might imitate it. This shall also hurt the sentiments and beliefs of millions of devotees, film-star turned politician Pawan Kalyan said in a series of tweets. The Jana Sena chief also retweeted Rangarajans tweet with DH story. The African Unions (AU) biggest achievement yet is the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). According to Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Dean of Academic Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces and Staff College, It is the biggest Free Trade Area ever established in the world, since the World Trade Organization (WTO) was established." While acknowledging breakthroughs made by the Union since 1963 ahead of this years African unity day celebration on Monday, he said the Continent was also inundated by several hiccups such as political instability which undermined economic and social integration. The AU Day, also known as Africa Day, is celebrated annually on May 25 to commemorate the formation of the Organisation of Africa (OAU) spearheaded by the likes of Ghanas Dr Kwame Nkrumah on this day in 1963. Analysts hold the view that the establishment of the continental body was a significant milestone in the quest for African unity, which started way back in 1945 at the Pan African Conference in Manchester, United Kingdom. About 54 AU member countries with more than one billion people and counting, the Dr Antwi-Danso noted, put together was a huge economy and a market area comparable to China and the North America. He added, And it is a huge market, if indeed we're able to establish it, its one of the biggest things that the AU has done since its inception. With Africas 1.2 billion population, he said, the creation of the AfCFTA would be comparable to free trade areas like China with about 1.8 billion people and Indias 1.5 population. It would promote and sustain trading among African countries and promote large investments in the continent as well as remove trade barriers. The unfortunate situation is that we trade among ourselves only 14 per cent and we trade vertically with the North [African] countries - It is 86 per cent, he stated. Now that we're talking about boosting each country, the AfCFTA is going to boost trade, we trade among ourselves, it will bring awareness. It will bring infrastructure that is what we want to achieve, he added. A situation where the world looks at Africa before they can also move. The AU had also been commended for introducing common policies on foreign and agriculture among others and establishing the African Parliament. Dr Antwi-Danso lauded the AU for the agenda 2063, where it had set itself to see that the hundredth anniversary of the Union, saying Africa would be strong enough to drive the world by her own destiny. Commenting on this years AU day theme, Silencing the guns, the Dean, said one of the debilitating factors against African unity was instability and neglect of the ordinary African in the integration process. Instability is a virus that does not bode well for integration at all. Everywhere you have integration, the idea is to have the free trade, free infrastructure, he said. With AfCTA, We are close to heaven, but unfortunately, the continent is dotted with myriads of spots of instability, citing, Central Africa Republic, Libya, Algeria and the Sahel region, which he noted, is the biggest part of instability in the world. If you look at all these, you can't build the African continental free trade area in the midst of instability. And instability is the biggest virus when you talk about integration. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A reported sighting of Dominic Cummings during lockdown in the UK has sparked fury among older people living in Barnard Castle, with many saying he should have been sacked. Boris Johnson backed his de facto chief of staff at the coronavirus briefing on Sunday, but the supportive message did not cut through with older voters in the historic County Durham market town. Below the medieval ruined castle that gives the town its name, Richard Mulley, 75, said: He should be gone by now. He has been backed by Boris Johnson and thats disgusting. I think Boris is not fit to run the country, saying he has done nothing wrong. Everyone else has done what they were asked to do, we were locked in for weeks, while he (Mr Cummings) was coming to our town. Talking about the British Prime Ministers briefing, Mr Mulley said: He couldnt even get that right and couldnt speak sensibly. Well, it didnt convince anyone in my house. Bill Jones, 87, from Barnard Castle pronounced locally as Barn-ad, said Mr Cummings should no longer be in post. He should resign, he said. Boris should sack him. Its one law for them and another for the rest of us. In the towns main street, which on a sunny Bank Holiday Monday would normally be thronged with motorcyclists stopping on their way up Teesdale, Margaret Bennett, 89, said: I think it is dreadful and he should go. The main street in Barnard Castle, County Durham (Tom Wilkinson/PA) Judith Phillips, 71, said: Get rid of him, he should have gone, its an absolute disgrace. A lot of people are angry, my family is absolutely livid thinking what would they have done if two parents were ill. A pensioner shopping in the high street, who asked not to be named, agreed, saying: Why should people observe the rules, but he does not? He is a law unto himself. But there was some understanding from an 81-year-old resident who was widowed just before lockdown. The woman, who asked not to be named, said: I can understand him wanting to see his parents, although I am not sure about him coming to Barnard Castle, if thats what he did. In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the constant distraction of work was actually soothing for Jeremy Cohen. Cohen, 25, who works at a tech start-up, remembers the days going a little like this: What do I do all day at home? Work! Done with work, what now? Work more! It was an easy way to pass the time easier, at least, than confronting the question that weighed on him as people across Philadelphia lost their jobs, and others were forced to risk their lives to keep the city running: What could he do to help? Its a little bit of an excuse, he said. Like, I cant be doing more of that because I have to do my work. But as the days wore on, he grew weary of working so much, and specifically, working from home, where there were no physical or, it seemed, mental boundaries between the professional and the personal. That symbolic fusing was especially hard for someone like him, who, before the pandemic hit, already had a tendency to spend long hours working. He started banishing his work laptop to a drawer on the weekends. Still, he said: Theres no one who hides the key for me. The threat of the coronavirus has driven millions of white-collar office employees to work from their homes, some for the foreseeable future. Executives who previously rejected remote work arrangements found themselves pleasantly surprised by the smooth transition and wondered whether theyd renew leases on pricey office space. READ MORE: Will we ever work in the company office again? Fewer than 30% of workers in the United States can do their jobs from home, according to 2017-18 federal data, and black and Latinx workers are less likely to be able to do so. But for those who can work remotely, the new setup comes with ups and downs, according to interviews with more than two dozen people who, until now, had never regularly done so. Many spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared jeopardizing their jobs. Some welcomed the seeming autonomy and flexibility, a feeling that their time is more their own. They found they could get their work done in six hours, not eight, and enjoyed not having to sit at their desk to prove they were working. They saved time not commuting, there were fewer distractions from coworkers, and they could spend more time with their families. Im free to do whatever I want, whenever I want, as long as Im getting my work done, which I am, said software engineer Lori Becker. Becker, 37, said her house is cleaner than its ever been, and her dog is happier, with less time spent waiting for walks while shes at work. But theres also a new kind of work performance the moving of the mouse to make sure your icon on chat software such as Slack is green, and the constant stream of Zoom meetings, punctuated by small talk and emotional check-ins. Without a commute, its rare that the workday comes to a hard stop. Instead, it slowly fades away, with a notification here, an email there. Many are doing double duty with kids at home. And, of course, theres the toll of isolation and the coronavirus itself feeling that you have to work extra hard to prove your worth in case of layoffs, but also feeling paralyzed by the pandemic. "Its clearly a recipe for burnout, said Thea Gallagher, director of the outpatient clinic at Penns Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. On top of that, Cohen and others said, is a fine layer of shame and guilt over the privilege of working from the safety of home, all while doing jobs deemed not essential by the government. Its hard to complain about work when people dont have work, you know? said a 24-year-old woman working at a health education nonprofit who is quarantining with three people, two of whom have been laid off. When her office went remote, she said, her department instituted twice-daily video meetings, at which coworkers are prompted to share updates about their personal lives the phenomenon of the pandemic how are you? Its a well-meaning effort, she said, to make colleagues see each other as people, not just workers. But as the youngest and only black person on the team a dynamic staring her in the face on video conferences its sometimes an uncomfortable reminder about just how different her life is. For example, she recalled a supervisor complaining about the Shore house where she was staying having too much space. Another coworker said the city should reopen right away. It felt tone-deaf amid concerns about how the virus is disproportionately affecting black people. But she didnt believe that she could say anything. The pandemic has driven employers to focus on their workers health and wellness, as well as supervisors emotional intelligence skills, said Bruce Marable, cofounder of Employee Cycle, a human resources software company. Acknowledging the crisis and asking how employees are doing is a way to show that people arent just a cog in the wheel, he said, that they arent just something that exists to help make the company money. But that strategy can feel disingenuous to workers if attention to such issues was nowhere to be seen before the crisis. A 31-year-old editor who works for a medical publishing company recalled a department-wide email from a director featuring photos of the boss kids. Its like its suddenly occurred to them that they need to be personable and reach out in this way that they never did before, he said, but their relationship to us hasnt actually changed. Similarly, calls to take time for yourself can seem like empty words if employers arent setting a standard to make it possible. A 32-year-old content marketer said shes often told to make time to have lunch but doesnt know how shes supposed to do that when her days are full of back-to-back Zoom meetings. Lisa Colosimo, who works in IT at pharmaceutical company Novartis in Princeton, said she thought cutting out her commute 45 minutes one way would mean more time for herself. Instead, the 51-year-old is working even longer hours now that she can get on a conference call as soon as she gets up. And, she said, I have to keep an eye on a fourth grader her son so he gets to his [school] meetings and doesnt spend all day on Fortnite. READ MORE: Phillys essential workers are risking their lives for low pay: I cant not go to work Cohen, the tech start-up employee, said his company has been understanding of peoples new work situations, adjusting expectations of productivity and responsiveness. One higher-up even spoke candidly about burnout on Slack. But hes found himself missing small, seemingly insignificant things that played a role in making work enjoyable, such as mindless banter in the office. Now, everything at work is more intentional. Every interaction, every Zoom meeting is goal-oriented. It feels like the last few traces of humanity were neatly rubbed off, he said, leaving a polished gem of total efficiency. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may be occupied with parenting Archie but they are also happy about welcoming a new baby. The former Duke of Sussex is going to be a godfather again as one of his closest childhood friends has welcomed his first child. Prince Harry's godchildren According to the Daily Mail, Tom Inskip, or Skippy to his friends, and his wife Lara welcomed a baby boy named Albert. Prince Harry and then-girlfriend Meghan attended the wedding of the couple in Montego Bay, Jamaica in 2017. Tom and Lara also attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. The new baby could become one of the playmates of Prince Harry and Meghan's son, Archie. Tom and Lara also live in the United States, since Tom is the Chief Commercial Officer at tech company Afiniti's Washington DC office, while Princess Beatrice is the Vice President of Partnerships and Strategy at Afiniti. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now living in Los Angeles, California, and it would be easy to arrange meetups and playdates for the children whenever they travel to the east coast. Harry told The Telegraph in 2018 that he is a godfather to the kids of his friends, around five or six children. He added that he became a godfather to the second daughter of his cousin Zara Tindall in March 2019. Also Read: Lori Loughlin and Husband Plead Guily Over School Admission Scandal Charlie Van Straubenzee, another one of Prince Harry's closest friends, and his wife Daisy had a baby girl named Clover in March and Prince Harry is also the godfather of the little girl. On May 6, the royal couple celebrated the first birthday of their son, Archie. On May 19, they celebrated their second wedding anniversary. Prince Harry and Meghan are now living in a mansion in the Beverly Ridge Estate in LA, and it is reportedly worth 15 million.The mansion is owned by actor Tyler Perry and the couple will only live in the estate temporarily. Harry and Meghan COVID-19 aid Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are helping those who are affected by COVID-19.According to People, the couple felt helpless as the effects of the pandemic continue to spread around the world. Prince Harry and Meghan do leave their home occasionally to help the people that are in need in their community, but they still see to it that they follow the social distancing orders of the government. Since the royal couple relocated to Los Angeles in March, they have partnered up with Project Angel Food. Project Angel Food is a charity organization that delivers meals to people in the area who are immunocompromised so that they won't have to leave their home during the outbreak. Prince Harry and Meghan only leave their home for charity work. BAZAAR reported that the couple is grateful for the volunteers and they are inspired by the frontline workers, essential workers, and people who are committed to responding to the needs of their communities in this crisis. People reports that Harry and Meghan went on a tour of Project Angel Food to learn more about the organization before their first food delivery. Richard Ayoub, the executive director of the charity, said that the couple was interested in every person that they meet and they asked a lot of questions about the clients, about how the food is done and how much food is made. The royal couple also met with the chefs and they were given all of the social distancing protocols for the delivers and they wore masks and gloves and kept a safe distance of 6 feet. Related Article:Kimye Call It Quits? Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Rumored to Be in a Trial Separation @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. When Doug Ford announced reopening of the economy a couple of weeks ago, many of us in health care felt it was too soon. It was not long before Ford had to rescind some of his optimism and remind people that this is far from over despite entering stage one of reopening. Unfortunately, as the events of this past weekend have revealed, these renewed warnings from Ford and his medical staff did not take effect. This past weekend, police busted a car rally in a parking lot in Mississauga for lack of social distancing and stunt driving. That was bad. But what took place at Trinity Bellwoods was far worse. Some called it a human soup, a human petri dish, while others likened it to a music festival or concert, without any attempt at physical distancing, let alone usage of masks. Heres the thing: summer events were cancelled because events where thousands of people gather in proximity are an exceptional breeding ground for coronavirus. If these gatherings are going to take place anyway, as they did in Trinity Bellwoods this weekend, what is the point of the considerable and exhausting efforts of health care? Then theres the lockdown protests in Queens Park, which are perhaps the most frustrating and difficult to comprehend. People licking poles? That isnt even worth entertaining further, in this article or any. Sadly, even these displays of selfish and irresponsible short-sightedness are gaining members. The public needs to understand they may be carriers of the virus without displaying symptoms, as the young people at Trinity Bellwoods likely didnt consider. This is primarily why epidemiologists are shouting from the rooftops, Testing, testing, testing! It is to detect these asymptomatic carriers who, if were being honest, are not effectively physically distancing. But the testing needs for this province to safely reopen are not even close to being met. Our government is managing a complicated, unprecedented, devastating crisis, and, to its credit, is actually responding and accommodating the public, following scientific advice, and continually trying to remain transparent. It was not in itself a bad idea for some people to return to work, allowing them to modify workplaces and prepare to function safely in the social distancing reality we now live in. Opening parks was even a beneficial, if small, move to combat the inevitable anxiety of these times. The government even went so far as to close off entire streets and parts of high-traffic streets downtown to give pedestrians more space. Yet, somehow, thousands still chose to pile into Trinity Bellwoods. This suggests that we are incapable of following life-saving orders without law enforcement present to remind us that the pandemic is far from over. Either that, or we are voluntarily, knowingly selfish and irresponsible. Granted, the responsibility is both ours and our leaders. Not only was law enforcement oddly not present at the park, as they usually are, but the guest appearance by our mayor didnt help either. In the initial announcement of reopening, it was not emphasized enough that stage one still involves maintenance of every social distancing and gathering rule we have had to abide by thus far, with the added recommendation of wearing masks in public. We must all realize that wearing masks is a practice being adopted globally by countries that are reopening, and our adoption of mask-wearing as a society may be a key necessity of our successful reopening. As a citizen, I am disappointed by Toronto, but as a health-care worker, I am dispirited and frustrated. We were lucky thus far that we did not reach maximum hospital capacity with coronavirus patients. But the public should not, for a moment, think this means were in the clear. What is being asked of us is to wear masks in enclosed public spaces, and to remain physically distanced from each other. In reality, we will always fall short of the perfect isolation measures required to actually eradicate the virus. For this reason, its even more important that we make choices to physically distance whenever reasonable. Choosing not to sit in Trinity Bellwoods when it was obviously crowded? That would definitely have been reasonable. Do better, Toronto. We know we can. The NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner has responded to a Supreme Court decision delivering $51 million worth of donations to the organisations coffers. Comedian Celeste Barber started a Facebook fundraiser in January after Australia suffered a series of catastrophic bushfires and nominated the NSW Rural Fire Service as the beneficiary of the campaign which raised $51.3 million, the largest charity drive in Facebook's history. After far exceeding her $30,000 goal, she stated on social media the money would also be distributed to rural fire services from other states, including Victoria and South Australia, victims of the summer bushfire crisis as well as wildlife funds. The saga of the Celeste Barber fundraiser has come to a conclusion, with the Supreme Court ruling that all the money has to remain with the New South Wales RFS. So, what exactly happened and what does it mean moving forward? We spoke with the NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rodgers. pic.twitter.com/s4Ox5Ygv3d The Project (@theprojecttv) May 25, 2020 But that money will now only go to the NSW Rural Fire Service after Justice Michael Slattery ruled on Monday the trustee, in this case NSW RFS, cant pay the money to other charities or fire services. NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rodgers told Network Tens The Project on Monday the money would go towards equipment to fight fires, including $20 million to volunteer firefighter stations. The trustees of the NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donations Fund sought advice from the NSW Supreme Court as to the proper interpretation of its April 2012 trust deed. When asked why NSW RFS went to court, Comm Rodgers said the service wanted to know what the money could actually be used for as it was obviously the wish of Barber to have it widely distributed. Celeste Barber raised more than $51 million for the NSW Rural Fire Service during the bushfires. Source: David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images The last thing we want to do is alienate a portion of the population that gave so generously, he told the program. Story continues The Project host Waleed Aly asked what the commissioner thought if the state government hypothetically reduced funding next year due to the charity windfall and gave it to other fire-affected communities in Australia. To be quite honest, I don't think there's any state that has been hit harder than NSW in this last fire season, he said. NSW was hit from August through to February. We had the most losses of life, losses of property. So I don't think there's any state that has done it tougher than NSW, Waleed. There are no villains here After the interview with Comm Rodgers, The Project panellist Steve Price said this court ruling raised a number of questions. Its great the money is there, but I can see some real problems. How for a start do they work out which... RFS unit in NSW gets the money, do they divide it up evenly? he said. And then youre going to have interstate rivalries... its going to cause as many problems as it solves by the sounds of it. Carrie Bickmore then read out a viewers suggestion that NSW buy water bombers and then loan them to other states. Aly pointed out it didnt sound like the NSW RFS Commissioner wanted to do that, but he understood the fire chiefs stance. Firies spend New Year's Eve battling an inferno in the wind at Nowra on the south coast. Source: Getty Images They might do that but... if youre running the New South Wales RFS, I can see you would say, I got to do everything I can. Aly then turned to his co-host, Peter Helliar, and asked what he thought about the possibility of the NSW government reducing the RFSs funding and giving it to other states. I cant imagine them doing that, Helliar said. There are no villains in this. People are getting up in arms and I know its frustrating, some people thought the money might have been spread out, but Celeste did an amazing job raising this money, everyone who donated did and the RFS are an amazing group of people. What the judge ruled Justice Slattery said while some donors may have intended or hoped the money they donated would be used for purposes beyond those which the court has advised are permissible. "Despite the trustees' wish to honour those intentions or hopes, the law provides principles that ensure a degree of certainty in the application of trust funds... and the court has applied these principles, he said. He said public and private statements by Barber or the donors didn't bind the trustees and the funds "must be applied only for the purposes set out in the RFS Trust Deed". The judge said the trustees can, however, set up or contribute to a fund to support rural firefighters injured while firefighting or the families of firies who died. Such a fund would encourage people to volunteer to contribute to preventing and fighting fires and was permissible under the deed, he found. The trustees can also use the money to provide physical and mental health training, as well as trauma counselling services, to individual NSW RFS firefighters. They can set up or contribute to a fund to meet the costs for volunteer rural firefighters to undertake courses to improve their skills. Justice Slattery ordered the parties' legal costs be paid out of the RFS fund. You are rock stars Barber on Monday said she'd hoped the money could be distributed to other states and charities because "it was such a big and unprecedented amount". "Turns out that studying acting at university does not make me a lawmaker," she said in a statement. "So the money will be in the very capable, very grateful hands of the NSW RFS. To our volunteer firefighters you are rock stars like no others." with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Shan AS By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police department has decided to geofence repeat offenders in a bid to keep organised crime rackets under control as conventional policing is expected to take a backseat in the post-lockdown period. Geofencing of serial offenders was one of the ideas proposed by state police chief Loknath Behera through the recently launched Standard Operating Procedures for COVID-19 times. Geofencing refers to the setting up of a virtual fence around a location or person. If a person with criminal antecedents breaches the fence, it will trigger an alert in the form of a text message or mail. This will help the law enforcement agencies know that the person under surveillance has shifted his location. The cops can fix the radius of the fence to their liking and keep a real-time watch on the suspects. Behera said they are using technology to fight criminal elements as their acts could create panic and fear among people during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he declined to elaborate on the technology to be used for geo-fencing citing that it could compromise the idea. "All I can say is that we will be using special software to do the job," he said. Meanwhile, sources said apps or software will be installed in the devices used by habitual offenders and those reluctant to do so will be arm-twisted to take part in the exercise. However, the exercise always entails the risk of data breach and human rights violations. A senior official told The New Indian Express that the project is still in its infancy but enough precautions will be taken to ensure that it's used for the purpose for which it is created. Regarding data breaches, the police seem to have learnt a lesson from the leak that occurred in the mobile app used by police in Kannur and Kasaragod. The apps used in those districts were built by private firms. In this context, it has been decided that geofencing software for police will be created by Cyberdome -- the technical research and development wing of the police. By Cassandra Garrison and Rodrigo Campos BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A major Argentina creditor group said on Saturday it had been invited to sign a non-disclosure agreement by Argentina's government, signaling that talks could be moving to the next phase after the South American country defaulted a day earlier. The Exchange Bondholder Group, which comprises 18 investment institutions and represents 15% of Argentina's exchange bonds, said in a statement that Argentina approached its representatives and other creditor groups about signing a non-disclosure agreement 'in contemplation of engaging in negotiations with the Ministry of Economy.' It is common during debt restructurings for creditor committees to agree to limit the flow of information near the end of talks, as some of it may be material and non-public, a source from another creditor committee said. In some cases when multiple creditor groups are involved, as is the case with Argentina, a non-disclosure agreement is introduced, the source said By Cassandra Garrison and Rodrigo Campos BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A major Argentina creditor group said on Saturday it had been invited to sign a non-disclosure agreement by Argentina's government, signaling that talks could be moving to the next phase after the South American country defaulted a day earlier. The Exchange Bondholder Group, which comprises 18 investment institutions and represents 15% of Argentina's exchange bonds, said in a statement that Argentina approached its representatives and other creditor groups about signing a non-disclosure agreement "in contemplation of engaging in negotiations with the Ministry of Economy." It is common during debt restructurings for creditor committees to agree to limit the flow of information near the end of talks, as some of it may be material and non-public, a source from another creditor committee said. In some cases when multiple creditor groups are involved, as is the case with Argentina, a non-disclosure agreement is introduced, the source said. Argentine officials are currently weighing counter-offers from its major creditor groups after their original proposal to restructure about $65 billion in foreign debt was stiffly rejected. The South American country failed to reach an agreement by a May 22 deadline, prompting it to miss about $500 million in already delayed bond coupons, marking its ninth sovereign default. At least one main creditor group has signed the non-disclosure agreement, a source from that committee said. A spokesman from the Ministry of Economy did not immediately respond to request for comment. Despite missing the deadline on Friday, a source close to the negotiations and familiar with the government's thinking told Reuters on Friday that talks could reach a breakthrough "in a matter of days." Executives from major credit agencies were optimistic Argentina would eventually strike a deal, but warned that the country's economic woes were far from over. "Argentina has a history on this issue and many think that it will not be the last," Gabriel Torres, a Moody's vice president, said of Argentina's default while speaking to local station Radio Milenium, adding that the country will eventually "have to pay what it has agreed to." Todd Martinez, director of Latin America sovereigns at Fitch Ratings in New York, cautioned that progress could be more challenging the longer the talks drag on. "Should it be a default without signs of progress toward a resolution, it could heighten uncertainties and have some destabilizing effects, but these could be minimal if recent progress towards a deal continues," Martinez said. (Reporting by Cassandra Garrison; Additional reporting by Rodrigo Campos and Marc Jones; Editing by Ros Russell and Andrea Ricci) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Cozumel authorities detain one after area residents call police Cozumel, Q.R. A strong police mobilization took place in Colonia San Miguel after firearm detonations during an alleged drug sale. Elements of the National Guard along with island police arrested one male subject after he allegedly fired shots at a man on a motorcycle during a drug sale. The incident was recorded on 16th street where witness reported the alleged drug transaction to the emergency number. Area residents reported that the man on the motorcycle fled after the shorts were fired at him. Authorities responding to the call were successful in securing drugs and weapons in a nearby house. Millions of Muslims in the two nations celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan under the shadow of the pandemic. Muslims in India and Bangladesh celebrated a subdued Eid al-Fitr on Monday, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. The three-day holiday that begins with the sighting of the moon is usually a time for travel, family gatherings and feasts after weeks of dawn-to-dusk fasting. But this year, Muslims were praying at home, their celebrations quieter and touched with worry about the virus and the effect of the lockdowns and other restrictions put in place to try and curb the spread of COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. Outside New Delhis iconic Mughal-era Jama Masjid, closed as part of a ban on religious congregations, security officers patrolled the streets and almost all shops were closed barring a sweets shop. An Indian Muslim distributes kheer, a sweet dish, to homeless people on Eid al-Fitr in Ahmedabad, India [Ajit Solanki/AP] Police made rounds on motorbikes and a mini police camp stood just outside a gate. Its been 1,400 years since the Islam religion was founded even our elders could never imagine that we will have to celebrate Eid in such a way, businessman Shehzad Khan told The Associated Press news agency. He said money typically spent buying new clothes to wear for Eid was sent to the poor, who have lost livelihoods due to the virus and the measures taken to contain it. That money we have given them so that they too can celebrate Eid with us, Khan said. We never felt like this In Bangladesh, authorities asked people to avoid mass prayers in open fields, which normally draw tens of thousands. Devotees could join prayers at mosques by maintaining safe distances. On Monday morning, those praying in the countrys more than 300,000 mosques wore masks, and many wore gloves as well. In the capital Dhakas main Baitul Mokarram mosque, thousands joined the prayers in phases as authorities allowed them to enter in groups and prayers were held every hour. Many waited in lines for more than an hour to enter the premises. This is a new experience. We never felt like this, government official Abdul Halim told The AP news agency after attending the prayer. I did not bring my two sons for the prayers, they are staying home. My family could not visit my parents this time, he said. Across the two countries, government and religious leaders appealed to Eid celebrants to follow lockdown norms and maintain a safe physical distance. India has climbed to among the worlds largest coronavirus outbreaks with more than 138,000 cases and 4,000 deaths. It has eased its strict lockdown in recent weeks, including allowing domestic flights to resume starting Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to Muslims. Eid Mubarak! Modi tweeted. May this special occasion further the spirit of compassion, brotherhood and harmony. May everyone be healthy and prosperous. Eid Mubarak! Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this special occasion further the spirit of compassion, brotherhood and harmony. May everyone be healthy and prosperous. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 25, 2020 New cases and deaths from COVID-19 are rising in Bangladesh, which has confirmed 35,585 cases and 501 deaths. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina offered Eid greetings but stressed the need to maintain health guidelines and for individuals to stay safe. Your safety is in your hands. Remember that if you remain safe, you are also keeping your family, neighbours and the country safe, she said in an address to the nation. Donald Trump has implored schools to open as soon as possible, citing that "much very good information" could make it possible as the coronavirus death toll nears 100,000. The president's tweet came the evening before Memorial Day when a majority of schools and colleges would've already ended their academic school year. "Schools in our country should be opened ASAP. Much very good information now available," Mr Trump wrote, tagging Fox News. The network, which is the president's choice for getting much of his news, aired a segment on Sunday claiming students were unlikely to spread the coronavirus and were "more likely to die while crossing the street". Fox News anchor Steve Hilton made the claims, and he was later tagged in the president's tweet after the segment aired. Mr Hilton added it would be "fine" for students to wear masks to school to assist in reopening but thought consistent temperature checks was "unscientific nonsense" and "totally pointless." He also thought social distancing measures within a school were "over-prescriptive" to put in place. The president sharing these thoughts on Twitter comes as no surprise as he puts more pressure on states to reopen in an effort to boost the economy. During a virtual town hall with Fox News last month, Mr Trump was asked about reopening schools and said students would be relatively safe to return. The main concern, the president said, was the older teachers who were more at risk to contract the novel virus, suggesting some should stay home. School officials were working on plans for the fall to allow for in-person classes to return from kindergarten through college. But these decisions largely depended on state officials and where each area stood in coronavirus cases. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines to assist in reopening, which included suggestions like desks being placed six feet apart, students wearing masks, and closing communal spaces like dining halls to prevent clusters. A Politico/Morning Consult poll released last week found 41 per cent of Americans thought reopening school during the pandemic was a bad idea, while one-third of respondents thought reopening should happen. Respondents also said they trusted former Vice President Joe Biden over Mr Trump on decisions relating to education, with 45 per cent of support behind the presumed Democratic candidate and only 34 per cent for the sitting president. Mr Trump could attempt to influence state governors to allow for their schools to reopen this fall, but the power remained largely with the states. The coronavirus death toll reached 97,724 people, as of Monday morning, with health officials estimating it will hit 100,000 in the coming days. Australians could receive $40,000 cash to build their own homes if a plan by construction industry bosses goes ahead. The building and construction stimulus package has been proposed by the Master Builders Association and is worth more than $13billion. Spokesperson for the organisation Will Frogley told Daily Mail Australia the package has been designed to boost struggling economy and save about 635,900 jobs that were lost during the coronavirus crisis. While the group has presented a number of measures to the Federal Government in a report commissioned by consulting firm Ernst & Young, the cash boost is a major component of the plan. The package would generate an estimated $30.9 billion in gross domestic product and create 105,500 construction jobs (pictured: a construction site in Adelaide, SA) 'All the measures are important but the most important one is the $40,000 grant,' he said. 'This is because building new houses provides a massive multiplier effect in the economy that is virtually unmatched.' He explained that more than 100 people work on the average suburban house, including plumbers, electricians, carpenters and materials suppliers. 'If they have money in their pocket they can go out and spend it it's absolutely crucial.' Other proposed measures include repairing cladding on audited buildings, funding the removal of asbestos, cutting charges for developers, and increasing the money learning institutions can spend on infrastructure. According to the report, modelling shows a return of $2.34 for every $1 the government invests in the stimulus package. The package would generate an estimated $30.9 billion in gross domestic product and create 105,500 construction jobs. The MBA wants the national cabinet of federal, state and territory leaders, which will meet this week, to consider its stimulus proposal for the industry. The stimulus package would be for Australians who want to build a new home (pictured: an example of a new home Australians could build with $40,000 on the MBA website) 'Building and construction is shaping up to be one of the industries worst hit in the long term by the COVID-19 economic crisis,' CEO Denita Wawn said in a statement. 'We know from previous downturns that it takes four times longer for our industry to recover than the rest of the economy.' She also explained work for builders and tradespeople in 2020/21 was already evaporating, and the forecast for 2021/22 looks bleak. There are about 400,000 building businesses in Australia employing 1.2million people. Master Builders is also seeking the establishment of a special task force to fast track construction activity. On Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would work with unions and industry leaders with job creation plans. 'The other curve we have to work on is the jobs curve and we need to do things that create jobs. And what I'm interested in doing is working with anyone in this country who wants to work with me to create jobs,' he said. 'Any premier, any chief minister, any union leader, any business leader, anyone who wants to work with me to create jobs, we've got a partnership.' Major brands like Cartier, Louis Vuitton and United Colors of Benetton have taken to social media to express rainbow as a symbol of hope in these trying times when the world is fighting a pandemic. Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier, LVMH group and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Global Artistic Director of United Colors of Benetton initiated a Rainbow Challenge as a creative ray of hope and positive pillar across the globe. Jean-Charles de Castelbajac tells IANSlife: In 1997, I have been committed by the Vatican to dress Pope John Paul II, 500 bishops, 5000 priests and 1 million of kids. I choose to dress them with the colors of the rainbow. At the end of this magic ceremony, the Pope told me you have used colors as cement of faith. For brands all over the world, today, only colours can united people in peace and no other brand can do it better than United Colors of Benetton. The Italian brand, which is known for its colourful outfits, is sending out the message of unity through its posts on Instagram featuring its rainbow-inspired collection. The brand posted pictures of its stores in Italy and other places with a rainbow overhead to celebrate its re-opening after being closed for months due to the lockdown. Our stores are open again, in Italy too. Enjoy shopping and lets all respect the rules we already know, read one of the captions. Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier, posted a picture of the Cartier building with rainbow shade in solidarity of the National Health Service of the UK and the healthcare workers who are at the forefront of the global battle against the pandemic COVID-19. Whether it be by painting, writing, singing, dancing, photography, objects or any multi-media platform of your choice, this colourful show of appreciation will uplift and unite friends of the Maison during this global fight, he captioned the picture. Adding: All Friends of the Maison and their family are invited. Do not hesitate to post your artwork on #CartierOverTheRainbow...This art challenge will accompany our local charitable initiative for NHS Charities Together. Louis Vuitton has also posted several pictures and videos that depict its interpretation of the seven colours. The French fashion house posted an animated video in which it has defined rainbow as a stretch of the imagination. The rainbow, a stretch of the imagination. In 1925, Gaston-Louis Vuitton wrote Lets turn the street into a cheerful space. Today, #LouisVuittons tradition of creative shop windows ensures as a perpetual invitation for the spirit of travel. As select stores begin to re-open around the world, hand-drawn rainbows by children and employees serve as welcoming beacons of hope during this uncertain time. #LV, read the caption. While another video posted by LV features pictures of rainbows painted by the children of Louis Vuittons employees. The caption read: A symbol of hope. Rainbows drawn by the children of #LouisVuitton employees have appeared across store windows worldwide as colourful beacons of joy during these challenging times. It also posted a picture of Maison Louis Vuitton, Milano, Italy with rainbows drawn of its entry to celebrate the opening of its store. Embarking on a new adventure. As select stores begin to re-open around the world, hand-drawn rainbows by children and employees serve as welcoming beacons of hope during this uncertain time. In a collaborative effort, all participants were encouraged to awaken their inner child and draw their own version of a rainbow. #LV #LouisVuitton, the brand captioned the picture. (This story has been published from a wire agency without modifications to the text) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Jeddah: Saudi Arabia and UAE are the other two Islamic nations that backed the Maldives against Pakistan's move to paint India as a country fomenting Islamophobia at the recent Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) meet in UN. The opposition is indicative of the growing diplomatic proximity of India with key Islamic nations. It is also learnt from sources that Oman, an old ally of India, called the discourse an internal issue of India. Several other countries too avoided responding to Pakistan's move orchestrated by its Permanent Representative at the UN, Munir Akram, who wanted to gather a small informal working group to act against India at the United Nations on the issue of alleged Islamophobia in India, it is learnt. UAE had chaired the virtual meeting of the permanent representatives (PR) in UN of OIC member states on May 19. Maldives had gone on to say that it is against singling out India for Islamophobia among the South Asian nations after the Pakistan Ambassador to the UN targeted India over the issue in the recent virtual meeting of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). According to Maldives Voice, the virtual meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ambassadors to the United Nations (UN), the issue of growing Islamophobia in South Asia was discussed. During the meeting, Munir Akram proposed that India is actively promoting Islamophobic agenda, but Maldives in its statement at the virtual meeting said singling out India, the largest democracy in the world and a multicultural society, which is home to over 200 million Muslims, on Islamophobia would be factually incorrect and detrimental to religious harmony in South Asia. It was also asserted during the discussion that disinformation campaigns on social media should not be constructed as representative of the feeling of 1.3 Million people, Maldives Voice reported. India has strengthened its ties with several Islamic countries in recent years though it got some bad press over some communal riots or affirmative steps of the Modi government. Countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Afghanistan, Russia, Palestine, Mauritius etc. have conferred the Indian Prime Minister with their highest civilian awards. Some Democrats have privately grown anxious about his physical absence from the campaign trail, even as many public opinion polls show him leading Trump nationally and in several swing states. Trump has resumed some official travel under narrow circumstances and has indicated he wants to resume holding giant rallies, but none has been scheduled. Federal health officials have asked Americans not to take part in mass gatherings. Oil prices have climbed nearly uninterrupted since late April, but the gains could be coming to an end. On Friday, oil prices fell sharply, hitting the pause button on a rally that saw WTI rebound from -$37 per barrel on April 20, to nearly $34 per barrel on May 21, a more than $70-per-barrel swing in just a few weeks. Of course, the plunge deep into negative territory was likely a unique, one-off phenomenon. Nevertheless, the rally back into (positive) $30 territory has been impressive. Of note, Chinas oil demand has climbed back to about 13 million barrels per day (mb/d), a swift rebound that undergirded improving market sentiment. With Chinas demand back to about 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels, oil traders are clearly holding out hopes of a quick rebound elsewhere. Meanwhile, the rapid shut in of production in North America combined with the OPEC+ production cuts has meant that the supply side of the equation is doing its part. More than 2.2 mb/d of U.S. oil production has been shut in, according to comments from the U.S. Secretary of Energy, a faster curtailment than expected. There has been a raft of investment bank forecasts that have predicted a supply deficit in the second half of 2020. But the optimism surrounding the oil market, such as it is, may be going too far. On Friday, the Chinese government said that it would not offer up a GDP growth target for 2020, highlighting the serious challenges facing the worlds second largest economy. Beijing pointed to great uncertainty because of the coronavirus. The government also declined to undertake massive government stimulus in the same way that it did in the wake of the global financial crisis a decade ago. Related: Covid-19 Crisis Could Crush Brazils Oil Boom Rising tension between the U.S. and China are also weighing on global markets. For political reasons, the leadership in both countries are blaming the other for the coronavirus. The spat could fuel more conflict, perhaps unraveling the phase 1 trade deal or provoking some other trade retaliation. Story continues In the U.S., crude inventories fell by 5.6 million barrels last week, a huge draw, but gasoline stocks actually increased, muddying the outlook. After weeks of rising, US gasoline demand was down again for the first time. Demand (for oil products) also remains very subdued elsewhere, Commerzbank said in a note on Friday. With concerns on the demand side remaining we regard the latest price rally on the oil market to be excessive. At the same time, the run up in oil prices occurred alongside a buildup in speculative bets on oil futures. That helped fuel price gains, but it also exposes the market to a correction back in the other direction. The extremely positive positioning of investors, especially in WTI, makes the oil market susceptible to price corrections in the event of any emerging doubts and uncertainties, Commerzbank said. Related: Saudi Arabia And Kuwait Halt Production At Giant Joint Oil Field Most importantly, despite assurances from Trump administration officials, a V-shaped recovery is extremely unlikely. President Trump has repeated this prediction, saying just days ago: I think youre going to have a V. I think its going to be terrific. His top economic adviser Larry Kudlow has said the same, although he dialed back the optimism on Thursday while trying not to disagree with his boss. Sure, the U.S. will see a V-shaped recovery, Kudlow said, but the V might not look exactly like a V. You can have your own Vs. Theres Vs. There are lesser Vs, Kudlow said. There are combos of Us and Vs. With more than 38 million people applying for unemployment in the past two months, and the pandemic still raging, a fully recovery is a long way off. [F]ew traders are pricing in any significant sustained global recession, Standard Chartered said in a report. All that optimism has, in our view, left prices slightly above the top of their sustainable short-term trading range. At the same time, there is little reason to think that the U.S. or any other country can avoid a second wave of infections after reopening. A second wave is not such a remote possibility and a new round of lockdowns could send [oil] prices back to much lower levels very quickly, and the market knows it, Rystad Energy said on Friday in a statement. Therefore lower prices this morning are not a surprise, and they are not necessarily the result of a market event, they are rather a correction of the consecutive boosts that oil has seen over the last days. Still, the data firm said that it sees oil stabilizing in the $30-$35 range, with potential in the 40s only later in the year when and if demand strengthens and approaches pre-Covid-19 levels. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-26 01:02:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VILNIUS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The nuclear safety authorities of Lithuania and Belarus signed an agreement on early notification of a nuclear accident and on the exchange of important nuclear safety information, Lithuania's State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) announced here on Monday. In order to protect the public by minimizing the potential radiation-related risks and consequences, the two authorities agreed to exchange key information immediately after a nuclear incident or when the monitoring systems indicate a radiation dose-rate level that could be hazardous to the public health, said a VATESI press release. "This agreement is also important, because it applies for information exchange about safety of all nuclear facilities in Belarus and Lithuania and for important decisions to ensure that safety," VATESI said in the statement. The agreement came into force on the date of its signature. Under the 1986 Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, such bilateral agreements between neighboring countries are usual in international practice. Lithuania's authorities have regularly raised questions about the environmental and nuclear safety of the Ostrovets nuclear power plant in Belarus. The newly signed agreement authorizes VATESI to promptly alert other responsible authorities once it receives early emergency notification from Belarus. Enditem (Newser) A man called 911 in the wee hours of Sunday with a horrifying claim: He said he had murdered someone inside his home in Layton, Utah. Officers arrived to find a woman with stab wounds to her torso; she died at the scene. Now the man who called 911 is charged with her murder, the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News report. Ethan Hunsaker, 24, allegedly told police he met the woman on the dating app Tinder and he took her to a bar Saturday night, then back to his home, where he said they were cuddling before he allegedly tried to choke her to death and then stabbed her multiple times. He asked police to shoot him when they arrived on the scene, and said he'd been having suicidal and homicidal thoughts. (Read more Tinder stories.) The Republican National Committee and two other Republican groups have filed a lawsuit against California to stop the state from mailing absentee ballots to all voters ahead of the 2020 general election. Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom decided to encourage mail-in voting, specifically for Novembers presidential election, as part of the states response to the coronavirus pandemic. The RNC is challenging the move by the countrys most populous state, making the suit a significant front in the battle between Republicans and Democrats over the issue of mail-in votes. Similar legal challenges are ongoing in approximately a dozen states. Donald Trump has been particularly vocal in his opposition to mail-in votes, claiming there is widespread fraud when they are used, but without providing evidence. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel accused Democrats of using the pandemic as an excuse to implement a partisan election agenda, describing the governors order as the latest direct assault on the integrity of our elections. Newsom's illegal power grab is a recipe for disaster that would destroy the confidence Californians deserve to have in the security of their vote, she said. On Sunday the president accused Democrats of trying to rig the 2020 election. He tweeted: The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. He continued: People grab them from mailboxes, print thousands of forgeries and 'force' people to sign. Also, forge names. Some absentee OK, when necessary. Trying to use Covid for this Scam! There is no evidence to support the claim that thousands of forgeries are linked to vote-by-mail. Nor is there evidence of voters being coerced into signing absentee ballots. The president and his family have voted by mail in at least three elections since he took office. In an exchange with a reporter in April, Mr Trump described voting by mail as horrible and corrupt. Attempting to reconcile the facts with his position, he said: Sure I can vote by mail ... Because I'm allowed to. Condemning Democrats' efforts to strengthen mail-in voting during discussions over a coronavirus stimulus bill in April, Mr Trump told Fox News that if everyone entitled to vote was allowed to "you'd never have a Republican elected in this country again". Joining the RNC on the California lawsuit are the National Republican Congressional Committee and the California Republican Party. The suit argues that the governors order violates eligible citizens' right to vote and that it will lead to electoral fraud as inactive voters will also be mailed absentee ballots which may be misused. Responding to the suit, Governor Newsoms press secretary Jesse Melgar said in a statement: California will continue to defend Californians' right to vote, including their right to vote by mail, and the right to hold an election that is safe, secure, and accessible. Voters shouldn't have to choose between their health and their right to vote. No evidence of widespread voter fraud has been found in studies of both in-person or mail-in voting. Mr Trumps own advisory commission on election integrity spent eight months, from May 2017 to January 2018, probing claims of voter fraud and did not turn up a single confirmed instance. A Washington Post review of data from after the 2016 election found just four confirmed cases of voter fraud: three people who tried to vote for Mr Trump twice and were caught and an election worker in Miami who was caught trying to fill in a bubble on someone elses ballot for a local mayoral candidate. House Democrats passed a $3trn coronavirus response bill earlier this month that includes $3.6bn for election security, including expanded access to mail-in voting. The bill is expected to languish in the Republican-controlled Senate. Realme X3 SuperZoom that was touted to release on May 25 will now release on May 26, as confirmed by the Realme Europe. The company unraveled the conjectures surrounding the specifications of the phone in a series of teasers. The teasers not only revealed how the Realme X3 looks but also revealed its processors, display and many more. As per the teasers shared by Realme Europe, the phone will be driven by a Snapdragon 855+ chipset and its display would come with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The company has claimed that the phone has scored big on AnTuTu and it has by far been the highest as compared to other phones running SoC. Coming back to the design, it looks a lot like the Realme X2 Pro. It has a dual-punch-hole cutout on the front as opposed to the waterdrop styled notch in X2 series. The main camera sensor has been given a squarish outlook while the other three camera sensors are round in shape and placed vertically. The teaser showed the phone in two different colours including Arctic white and Glacier blue. Earlier, tipster Ishan Agarwal had managed to lay his hands upon the complete specifications of the phone, that first surfaced on a Thai website but was later taken down. As the teaser confirmed, the X3 SuperZoom will have a quad-core camera setup on the rear and dual-selfie camera. Realme X3 SuperZoom is speculated to feature a 64-megapixel Samsung GW1 sensor with an aperture of f/1.8, an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor with f/2.3 aperture and a field of view of 119 degrees, and 8-megapixel telephoto f/3.4 sensor with 5x optical zoom, a 60x digital zoom(which is why the name, SuperZoom), and OIS, a 2-megapixel macro sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. On the front, it might flaunt a 32-megapixel shooter along with another sensor, the details of which are still unknown. Revealing the specifications, the tipster noted that the Realme X3 SuperZoom will feature a 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD display with a refresh rate of 120Hz along with a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. As per the leak, the smartphone will be available in a 12GB RAM and 256 GB storage capacity among the other variants. The Realme X3 will most likely house a 4200mAh battery with support for 30W Dart Flash Charger. The phone could also come with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor along with a facial lock system. Inside the box, there will be a USB-C power adapter, a charging cable, a transparent mobile case, and a SIM card ejector tool, apart from the device. 24/7 virtual access MONTREAL, May 25, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Sollio Cooperative Group, one of the world's largest agricultural cooperatives, has chosen EQ Care to deliver telemedicine services for employees of its parent company and three divisions, Sollio Agriculture, Olymel and BMR Group. Sollio Cooperative Group's workforce across Canada in industries such as agriculture, food production and retail commerce will benefit from on-demand, virtual access to doctors, mental health specialists and other medical and paramedical professionals, 24/7, in English and French. A Healthy Partnership "Sollio Cooperative Group has always been an avant-garde organization, with our cooperative values, of solidarity and responsibility. Among our responsibilities is to support our employees by offering tools that enable them to focus on their primary mission, which is to nourish people by ensuring the prosperity of farm families to help secure a sustainable future. Our capacity to adapt, evolve and modernize assures our success and permits us to better respond most notably to the health needs of our employees," explained Gaetan Desroches, Chief Executive Officer of Sollio Cooperative Group. "We are privileged to be partnering with Sollio Cooperative Group, whose employees are a vital link for retail commerce and in the global food supply chain," said Daniel Martz, CEO, EQ Care. "It is our top priority to ensure Sollio Cooperative Group's essential services workforce is kept healthy and safe. We are on standby 24/7 to provide Sollio Cooperative Group employees and those of its divisions the care they need during this crisis, and look forward to helping them live their healthiest lives." Delivering High Quality Personal Healthcare - Anytime, Anywhere Virtual health care empowers patients to get the help they need more easily with EQ Care's highly accessible and empathetic online and mobile platform. EQ Care offers a personalized and private experience. Users (and members of their families), will be able to describe their symptoms, face-to-face virtually, with an EQ Care Manager, and be referred to a doctor or medical professional for a consultation, in English or French. About EQ Care EQ Care offers patients 24/7 national and bilingual online access to a specialized medical and mental health team providing personalized, comprehensive treatment options from any mobile or internet connected device. On the cutting edge of patient care, our mission is to ensure that our patients receive the highest quality service through our leading proprietary virtual health technology platform. As the market leader in Canadian virtual care with over 30 years of health care experience, an ISO 9001:2015 certification, and over 500,000 virtual medical consultations managed, we are continually innovating to bring cutting edge mobile tools and approaches to our Plan Sponsors and Members. About Sollio Cooperative Group Founded in 1922, Sollio Cooperative Group is one of the largest agri-food enterprises in Quebec, the only pan-Canadian agricultural supply cooperative and the 27th largest agri-food cooperative in the world. It represents more than 122,000 members, agricultural producers and consumers in 50 traditional agricultural and consumer cooperatives across several Canada provinces. It employs more than 15,000 people and has sales of $7.282 billion. Its activities are divided into three divisions: Olymel L.P., Sollio Agriculture and Groupe BMR Inc. For more information about Sollio Cooperative Group, please visit www.sollio.coop. SOURCE EQ Care For further information: and interview opportunities: Hugo Larouche, Senior Communications and Public Affairs Advisor, Sollio Cooperative Group, 514 384 6450, ext. 3604, [email protected]; [email protected] It was around 5:10 pm last Monday. Avwebo Otoide, a senior registrar at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, left home for the isolation centre in Yakubu Gowon Stadium where she was to resume for a night shift. She had no idea what fate awaited her on the short walk to her destination. She had barely hit the Ohiamini-Psychiatric Road, off Rumuola, Port Harcourt, when a Hilux van and a luxury bus, both light blue, of the Nigerian Airforce closed in on her. At the time, Rivers State was under daily curfew only between 8 pm to 6 am. As she turned to look, an officer disembarked from the Hilux van, brandishing his gun, and specifically pointed the barrel at her. Stop there, she recalled the officer saying. I stopped and looked at him. I told him you dont need to point your weapon at me, just ask me who I am.' Who are you? she was asked, to which she said she was a medical doctor, pulling out her ID card. What followed was a heavy slap on her left cheek, Mrs Otiode told PREMIUM TIMES. I was dazed for a moment. I heard him say Are you the first doctor? As the argument ensued, she was quickly surrounded by about six military personnel, one of them female. I looked up in shock. I said to him I told you Im a doctor, and you hit me? she remembered telling her attacker. You did not identify yourself. Why will he hit you if you identified yourself? one of the officers, masked, replied. You must have been rude to him, another officer said. She was infuriated. Not backing down without a fight, as the soldiers made to leave, she took out her Samsung phone to film the scene, but an officer seized it from her. I waited till their backs were turned and brought out my second phone, an infinix phone, the doctor said. This time she resisted attempts to yank her phone. For that, she said, she was shoved into the luxury bus. I looked around, there was no soul in sight to witness the brutal treatment I was receiving. I asked where I was being taken to, no one answered me. I immediately stood up so I could see where I was being taken and started making phone calls. I called my medical director, NMA financial secretary, some of my senior consultants. I tried taking pictures. Just then the bus stopped briefly, and an officer whose name tape bore Bass MO attempted to seize the phone, smashing the screen in the process. The struggle to seize the phone would ensue one more time. The phone screen of Mrs Otoide smashed by an officer of the Nigerian Airforce I refused to let go of the phone, Mrs Otoide said. My colleagues kept calling and I kept talking and giving as many details as I could. I eventually made a short video that I sent out immediately to our association page, just in case. A senior officer came from the Hilux and told them to stop struggling with me and to just drop me at the isolation centre. The vehicles made a U-turn and took me to the isolation centre at the liberation stadium. Upon arrival at the isolation centre, her phone was given to an official at the centre, Mr Orekefe. After this, the officers drove off, with all her attempts to have them filmed being futile. Mr Orekefe claimed I refused to calm down and talk to him, that since I was so unwilling to cooperate, he would ensure I spend nothing less than 24 hrs in detention at the isolation centre. A police officer tried to take my phone from me again. I protested, explaining that it contained evidence, so I couldnt hand it over. He led me to a gated area and locked me in. My phone was taken by a female police officer (Chukwuemeka Gary), I was told you couldnt have your phone in police detention. Advertisements Based on calls and text messages she had made while in the bus, she was later freed after the intervention of the states attorney-general, who had called to speak to her. I took the phone, and for the first time in several minutes I was spoken to with dignity. He (the attorney-general) introduced himself and asked me what happened, I explained. He apologised and said I would not be detained. He asked me to return the phone to Mr Orekefe. After the call, Mr Orekefe apologised on behalf of the Air Force officials who had assaulted me. He promised they would get to the bottom of things but said as the young men had left it would be difficult to trace them. He asked a police vehicle to take me home. I have had a mild but persistent headache since that assault. I am not worried for myself, because as a doctor, I have a voice, Im backed by an association that would fight for me, but what about others not as fortunate? Now, all that Mrs Otiode seeks is justice. She wants the Nigerian Air Force to identify the officer called Bass MO and his colleagues. I am asking for a return to sanity and respect for humanity, she said over the phone. Ongoing investigation Calls and text messages sent to the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force, Ibikunle Daramola, an air commodore, were not acknowledged. Meanwhile, Mr Daramola had in a tweet decried the incident, saying the force had identified the accused airmen, and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken to the extent of their culpability. But, Mrs Otoide believes they really havent done anything yet. They sent an interrogator to me. We had an appointment for Friday morning, but he did not show up. We kept communicating and he said he would get back to me with a new time and date, she said. By 9 am on Saturday she said the interrogator called her, asking her to come to the Air Force base to give testimony before a panel of inquiry that was already sitting. The petition to the Air Force was written by the NMA Rivers State chapter, not by me. So, they should have communicated with the NMA, she noted. I couldnt honour such an impromptu invitation on my own and the NMA wouldnt respond until they are officially invited. One too many The enforcement of lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus, the virus behind COVID-19, across states has been mired by cases of rights abuses by various state actors in the country. Human rights commission said 18 people were killed by security operatives within the first two weeks of the lockdown. A fortnight later, 11 more were killed extrajudicially. Last week, a pregnant woman died due to some delays at a checkpoint in Ogun State. There have also been reports of assaults on citizens. Earlier this month, a policeman was caught on camera assaulting a woman alleged of violating the lockdown protocols. The police have since dismissed him. Meanwhile, the police also reported that 27 police personnel were assaulted by the public during the lockdown. A policeman searches a vendor on a motorbike in Cinkasse, the northern Togo commercial border post with Burkina Faso. (AFP) Abidjan: Soldiers from Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso conducted their first joint operation against jihadists active near their shared border, killing eight suspected militants and arresting 14 others, Ivory Coasts army said on Sunday. Burkina Faso and its neighbours Mali and Niger in West Africas semi-arid Sahel zone are battling Islamist insurgencies with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State. Those groups have been strengthening and expanding their range of operations, leaving coastal countries like Ivory Cost fearful the violence will spill onto their territories. The joint operation was launched on May 11 with about 1,000 Ivorian soldiers participating from their side of the 580-kilometre (360-mile) border with Burkina Faso, Ivory Coasts army said in a statement. The suspected militants were killed in Burkina Faso, the army said, adding that the operation is ongoing. Jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have escalated dramatically over the past year despite significant military support from former colonial ruler France. While Ivory Coast has mostly been spared the violence affecting its neighbours, it was the victim in 2016 of an attack claimed by al Qaeda in which gunmen killed 19 people at a beach resort. A number of Muslim communities arranged socially distant celebrations in the US. More than three million Muslims living in the United States celebrated the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Sunday. And in times of social distancing, mosques went the extra mile to keep worshippers safe. Al Jazeeras Heidi Zhou-Castro reports from Falls Church in the US state of Virginia. Jo Geisler of C.H.A.R.M. said adoptions there were up during pandemic shutdowns. The shelter, which only takes in dogs, is small with only 10 kennels. Our adoptions have been good because people were at home, Geisler said. We went from 14 to four, so weve had about 10 adoptions. Thats pretty big for us. When the Wiregrass Humane Society reopened, it handled visits by appointment and had about a dozen adoptions in the first week higher than average for the shelter, said Jacquelyn Dykes, the Wiregrass Humane Society president and shelter director. The Humane Society is still limiting the number of visitors in the shelter at any one time. The Humane Society relies on donations and proceeds from its thrift store to cover the cost of operations. The thrift store was also closed during the COVID-19 shutdowns. And, Dykes said, the Humane Society had to keep staff at the shelter to care for the dogs and cats. The staff was the main reason the group didnt do adoptions by appointment they simply couldnt afford for staff to get sick. major John McCrae In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. A Belgian poppy field near at or near Flanders. We Shall Keep the Faith Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet - rise anew! We caught the torch you threw And holding high, we keep the Faith With All who died. We cherish, too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Fields. And now the Torch and Poppy Red We wear in honor of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fields In 1920, the American Legion adopted the red poppy as the symbol of remembrance of those who gave their lives in war. Yet many don't know why the flower was chosen.In 1915, Allied and German forces met for the second time near the Belgian city of Ypres, in the northern region (known as the "Flanders" region). This bloody battle would inspire one of the most memorable war poems "In Flanders Fields." Major John McCrea, a surgeon attached to the 1st Canadian Field Artillery Brigade, tended to the wounded for 17 long days. He was overwhelmed by the carnage, the suffering, the screams, the blood, and the broken bodies. There would be 6000 Canadian casualties alone in just the first 48 hours. One death particularly affected McCrae. A young friend and one of his former students, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, had been killed by a shell burst on May 2nd. Helmer was buried later that day in the little cemetery outside McCrae's dressing station and McCrae himself performed the funeral ceremony in the absence of the chaplain. The next day, overcome by anguish, he sat outside his dressing station and looked out over the cemetery. He could see wild red poppies springing up where there were once ditches that were filled with the battle's dead.And so he wrote:In 1918, just before the Armistice of World War I was signed, Moina Michael, a US humanitarian, was working at the YMCA Overseas War Secretaries' Conference and came across John McCrae's poem. She was deeply inspired by the imagery of the poppies. She responded with a poem of her own "We Shall Keep the Faith" and promised to wear a red poppy in remembrance of those who had fallen.It was Ms. Michael who began the tradition of wearing red poppies in remembrance and honor of those who had given their lives for their country.And so, in 1920, the American Legion adopted the red poppy as its official symbol for fallen servicemen, to be handed out and worn on Memorial Day. Will Powell Decouple Gold from the Stock Market? This week, Powell gave a long television interview and a testimony to the Senate. What groundbreaking did he say, and what do his remarks imply for the gold market? Powell Gives Interview and Testifies Powell dominated media news this week. On Sunday, the Fed Chair gave an interview to CBS news magazine 60 Minutes, while on Tuesday, he testified before Congress. What did he say? In an interview, Powell tried to persuade viewers that the Fed has not exhausted its powers to help the economy: were not out of ammunition by a long shot () So theres a lot more we can do to support the economy, and were committed to doing everything we can as long as we need to. But are you really so powerful, if you need convince others that you are powerful? He also reiterated his bearish views from the recent speech to the Peterson Institute for International Economics on the US economic growth in 2020, in which he said that in the second quarter, the GDP could drop by 20-30 percent on an annualized basis, while the unemployment rate could soar to 20-25 percent. Although the GDP will start to recover in the third quarter, it will take some time to pick up steam and the economy wont get back to where it was before the outbreak of pandemic by the end of this year.Powell also said that the Congress should spend more money to prevent mass bankruptcies and that it is not the time to worry about the long-term consequences of the rising Feds balance sheet and federal debt. So, investors could be prepared for even more interventions from the Fed and Treasury. New lending and spending programs should support gold prices, as the precious metals investors contrary to bureaucrats and policymakers really do think about long-term effects. After all, all crises leave scars and the coronavirus crisis will be no exception.In his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, Powell basically reiterated what he said earlier. First of all, he assured that the Fed could do much more. He said: We are committed to using our full range of tools to support the economy in this challenging time even as we recognize that these actions are only a part of a broader public-sector response. Implications for Gold So, Powell does not expect and we neither the V-shaped recovery. Actually, Powell said that some sectors of the economy will recover only after the emergence of the vaccine! This is also what we said several times: only vaccine will fully restore the confidence among households, entrepreneurs and investors and without such confidence the recovery of the US economy will not be vivid. The lack of vigorous rebound creates a downside risk for the global stock markets, but its rather positive for the gold market. So far, we claimed that U-shaped recovery (or even L-shaped in some sectors) is more likely. However, there might be also a W-shaped path, a stop-go economy, where the economy swings between contraction and growth, between lockdowns and re-openings, depending on the number of new infections. Such manic-depressive economy should be positive for the gold prices, perhaps even more than the U-shaped recovery, as there is much more uncertainty in the former scenario. Importantly, Powells cautious remarks and worries about the U-shaped or W-shaped recovery could cool stock markets bulls. Over the last few days, we have seen a possible decoupling of the tandem upside moves in gold and equities, as the chart below shows. Chart 1: Gold prices (yellow line, right axis, London P.M. Fix) and the S&P 500 Index (green line, left axis) from January 2 to May 19, 2020 The price of gold went further up, while the S&P 500 Index came under pressure and seemingly started trading sideways. It is, of course, yet to be seen, whether the real decoupling will actually occur, but there are no doubts that in case it does, it could be a big (positive) change for the gold market. If you enjoyed the above analysis, we invite you to check out our other services. We provide detailed fundamental analyses of the gold market in our monthly Gold Market Overview reports and we provide daily Gold & Silver Trading Alerts with clear buy and sell signals. If youre not ready to subscribe yet and are not on our gold mailing list yet, we urge you to sign up. Its free and if you dont like it, you can easily unsubscribe. Sign up today! Arkadiusz Sieron Sunshine Profits Market Overview Editor Disclaimer All essays, research and information found above represent analyses and opinions of Przemyslaw Radomski, CFA and Sunshine Profits' associates only. As such, it may prove wrong and be a subject to change without notice. Opinions and analyses were based on data available to authors of respective essays at the time of writing. Although the information provided above is based on careful research and sources that are believed to be accurate, Przemyslaw Radomski, CFA and his associates do not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the data or information reported. The opinions published above are neither an offer nor a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Mr. Radomski is not a Registered Securities Advisor. By reading Przemyslaw Radomski's, CFA reports you fully agree that he will not be held responsible or liable for any decisions you make regarding any information provided in these reports. Investing, trading and speculation in any financial markets may involve high risk of loss. Przemyslaw Radomski, CFA, Sunshine Profits' employees and affiliates as well as members of their families may have a short or long position in any securities, including those mentioned in any of the reports or essays, and may make additional purchases and/or sales of those securities without notice. Arkadiusz Sieron Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Researchers have concluded that Puhahonu in Hawaii is the world's largest shield volcano, revising past assessments that had claimed nearby Mauna Loa was the largest. A team from the University of Hawaii at Manoa took a series of new measurements, including a chemical analysis of underwater rocks and a comprehensive survey of the ocean floor to get a true sense of how large Puhahonu is. According to their findings, the undersea volcano is twice the size of Mauna Loa, measuring 171 miles long and 56 miles wide. Researchers from University of Hawaii at Manoa have taken revised measurements of the Puhahonu shield volcano and declared it the largest on Earth, even as only two 170-foot peaks are visible above the ocean surface Hawaiian researchers had suspected the volcano was likely the largest in the region, according to a report in CNet, but getting formal measurements was challenging because so much of it lies underwater. Situated in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, around 620 miles from Honolulu, Puhahonu is almost entirely submerged, with just two 170-foot tall peaks visible above the water. Those two small peaks were sometimes called 'Gardner Pinnacles,' after westerners first recorded them in the logs of an American whaling ship in 1820. 'We are sharing with the science community and the public that we should be calling this volcano by the name the Hawaiians have given to it, rather than the western name for the two rocky small islands that are the only above sea level remnants of this once majestic volcano,' researcher Michael Garcia told CNet. Unlike other types of volcanoes, shield volcanoes have a relatively low height and wide surface area, which gives them a circular shield-life appearance. Puhahonu is situated in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, around 620 miles from Honolulu The team's measurements included a comprehensive underwater survey and chemical analysis of undersea rocks to measure how far the volcano's lava had traveled They tend to emit a much more fluid type of lava that spreads across a wider and flatter area than other types of volcanoes. According to the team, Puhahonu is not only the largest shield volcano on Earth, it's also the hottest, with estimated magma temperatures of around 3,092 degrees Farehenheit. According to Garcia, it's likely that the high temperature of the magma is part of what helped make the volcano so large. Puhahonu is also the hottest shield volcano on the planet with average magma temperatures of 3,092 degrees Fahrenheit, so hot and heavy it is causing the nearby ground to sink Shield volcanoes are much larger and flatter than other kinds of volcanoes and typically emit a much more fluid form of lava that travels farther than denser and more viscous lava "Volume and temperature go hand in hand,' Garcia told CNN. 'Large volume comes from hot magma. It is more likely to erupt if it is hot.' While some might be surprised to see such a major revision made to the world's ranking of shield volcanos, Garcia says it's a testament to how mysterious the Earth's ocean terrain still remains. '[W]e know more about the surface of Mars than what is below the ocean on Earth,' Garcia said. 'We are still discovering things about our physical planet that we did not know. There is still much to learn about planet Earth.' Ghana has made a commitment to safeguard food security when it participated in the recent African Union (AU) virtual dialogue of Ministers of Agriculture to evaluate the implications of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on food security on the continent. This was after an assessment carried out by the AU indicated that the anti-coronavirus pandemic measures such as nationwide lockdowns and border closures compounded food shortages while restrictions on movement and quarantine measures also impeded crop calendars and farmers access to markets. The dialogue which was organized by the AUs Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) proposed that it was imperative to safeguard all input supply chains for small-scale agricultural producers, poultry, and livestock in the context of COVID-19 in Africa. The Department further insisted that there should be in place measures aimed at supporting domestic markets during the COVID-19 outbreak as well as enabling countries to take the needed advantage of the mechanism of the newly created African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has prompted food insecurity on the continent, with some countries already experiencing rising prices, panic-buying and import-export disruptions. Given that Ghana is largely an import-driven economy, the continuous impact of COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have dire consequences on the countrys international trade and reserves. Briefing the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the AU on measures being taken to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on food security, the AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Ambassador Josefa Sacko, noted that the COVID-19 health crisis had brought on an economic crisis that is rapidly aggravating an ongoing food security and nutrition crisis. It is pertinent that Africa must not move from a health crisis to a food crisis as a result of the worsening trend by COVID-19, she added. Source: goldstreetbusiness.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A host of Bollywood celebrities have wished their fans Eid Mubarak on social media. Many of them, such as Sonam Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Panday, shared their traditional looks along with Eid greetings on Instagram. Priyanka Chopra took to her Instagram stories to wish fans on the occasion. She wrote, Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating around the world. I wish for you and your families strength, peace and happiness in these uncertain times. #EidMubarak. Sara shared a collage of her pictures as a child and a grownup, both of which show her in a hijab. She captioned it, Eid Mubarak #staysafe #stayhome #staypositive. Ananya shared a boomerang video in a traditional look, complete with a nose pin, and wrote, Eid Mubarak ...sending everyone lots of love, good energy, peace and a BIG virtual hug #StayHome #StaySafe. Sonam shared a picture of herself from one of her photoshoots and wrote, Eid Mubarak my brothers and sisters, may this years trials and tribulations become foundations of a better tomorrow. Thank you for praying for us this whole holy month of Ramazan . Have a blessed Eid. Shraddha Kapoor also shared a boomerang video of her performing the namaaz in one of her films. She captioned it, Eid Mubarak. Tara Sutaria also shared a picture of herself with her head covered with a dupatta to wish fans on Instagram. Also read: Esha Gupta on dealing with Covid-19 crisis: Im treating this as a war-like situation Others such as Hema Malini, Randeep Hooda, Urmila Matondkar, Anupam Kher, Nushrat Bharucha, Manoj Bajpayee and Adnan Sami had also extended their warm greetings to fans on social media. Randeep put out a picture in which he can be seen wearing a sherwani with a pearl beaded neckpiece and a full beard. Alongside the post, the actor extended Eid wishes and wrote, Re Sabne Eid ki Raam Raam #eidmubarak. Hope everyone is celebrating responsibly with their families and staying safe. We will celebrate together again soon #peace. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Former Nizamabad MP K Kavitha has sought External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars intervention in rescuing a Telangana youth, who is being tortured by his employer in Saudi Arabia. Kavitha, in her tweet, said that she was in touch with the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia and it would be great if Jaishankar could help her bring him home. The employee, named Ravi, went to Saudi a few years ago to support his family back in the State. However, his life turned from bad to worse as the months and years went by. With blood on his face, Ravi posted a video on Sunday explaining the kind of torture he has been going through and wanted the government to help him. The first batch of ELISA tests are being provided to paramedics at the city's medical emergency hospital. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi says the city's laboratories have started to provide the first highly accurate testing to detect coronavirus antibodies. "Lviv has begun to do high accuracy antibody tests for coronavirus. The first ELISA tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) are being provided for paramedics of the medical emergency hospital. This type of testing allows detecting the presence of antibodies in a human body and finding out if a person had already contracted a coronavirus. Devices for such studies are available in laboratories of city hospitals and outpatient clinics. Therefore, this will significantly increase the mass testing in Lviv," he wrote on Facebook on May 25. Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine exceeds 21,000 Sadovyi noted that the testing campaign does not replace tests done with the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This is rather an additional opportunity to identify COVID-19 patients and, most importantly, those who have already been infected with coronavirus. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's Health Ministry on May 20 issued an order to introduce laboratory testing for coronavirus with the use of enzyme immunoassay method. "The first progress report on Just Transition demonstrates Fine Gaels commitment to creating sustainable job opportunities in the Midlands region as we act on climate change," Senator Micheal Carrigy has said. Welcoming the report from Just Transition Commissioner Kieran Mulvey, the Longford-Westmeath representative said he hoped it would provide reassurance to workers in the Midlands affected by the impact of the exit from peat harvesting. Also read: Important that Lanesboro and Longford identifies projects that will support Just Transition Senator Carrigy said, We need to get the balance right in cutting our reliance on fossil fuels and having a more sustainable economy while at the same time protecting workers, families and communities that have relied on the current business model to date. Just Transition has been at the heart of the Governments Climate Action Plan and was a key component of our partys election manifesto, as it identifies the need to plan appropriately to ensure those most affected by our transition to a low-carbon society are supported and equipped to deal with this change. The need for action was once again highlighted in November following ESBs announcement it would be closing its power plants in Shannonbridge and Lanesboro. My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton appointed Kieran Mulvey as Just Transition Commissioner in November to engage with relevant stakeholders in the Midlands region and he has now made recommendations across a number of areas. Also read: Just Transition is not a retreat from peat but the dawn of a new green economy for the Midlands Work is already underway to deal with the challenges facing Bord na Mona, its workers and other businesses due to the phasing-out of peat and coal for electricity generation. Measures already introduced by the Government to achieve a just transition include: 11m Just Transition Fund targeted at the Midlands will support retraining and reskilling workers and assist local communities and businesses in the midlands to adjust to the low carbon transition. 5m for bog restoration and rehabilitation scheme which will restore non- Bord na Mona bogs to their natural habitat. This programme will support the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to restore 1,800 hectares of bog in 7 counties, resulting in 28m tonnes of carbon stored over the next 5 years. A 20m Midlands Retrofitting Scheme to deliver a new model to group housing upgrades together as set out in the Climate Action Plan. Ireland is engaging with the European Union to secure an investment in the midlands under the Just Transition Mechanism as part of the Green New Deal. On foot of Mr Mulveys recommendations, a detailed implementation plan will be completed as soon possible with some urgent actions taken before then, which I strongly welcome. Also read: Creating jobs is cornerstone of Midland Region Transition Team's work Minister Bruton has also launched the first call for proposals under the 11m Just Transition Fund. There are five key priorities for the Fund, including retraining workers and proposals to generate sustainable employment in green enterprise in the region and I would strongly encourage those interested to apply, Senator Carrigy said. Stage 1 of accessing the Just Transition Fund is to register your project with the Midlands Regional Transition Team and START (Secretariat Technical Assistance to Regions in Transition). More information will be available on: www.midlandsireland.ie Also read: Flaherty warns Longford will suffer unless Just Transition report recommendations are implemented quickly The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) will on Tuesday begin the conduct of a Business Tracker Survey to track the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on businesses in the country. The survey, being done in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, will run from Tuesday, May 26 to June 20, 2020. The survey, which involves the use of telephone interview for data collection will identify and measure the impact of the coronavirus disease on small, medium and large scale establishments operating in the country. The survey will also assess measures put in place by businesses to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 as well as efforts to build better recovery for businesses. The outcome of the survey will enable government and development partners come out with measures to alleviate the impact of the disease on businesses. Commenting on the survey, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician, said results from the survey would inform policy directions in protecting jobs and safeguarding progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings will also provide insights into keeping the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) alive as a tool to handle future pandemics and protect jobs snf businesses. "The Ghana Statistical Service wishes to assure owners of establishments that information provided on businesses will not be disclosed to anyone or entity in any form," he said. The data collection does not require payment of money, and under no circumstance should an establishment be required to pay any amount to any person. Ghana Statistical Service called for the cooperation of establishments, media and the public to ensure the success of the exercise. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video THE SITUATION. A University of the Philippines panel, in its latest Covid-19 forecast (#17, dated May 20 and posted May 22), recommends that the national government "continue significant restrictions" in the National Capital Region and Cebu City. Cebu City, along with Mandaue City and Talisay City, are under MECQ or modified enhanced community quarantine until May 31. As to those under general quarantine or GCQ -- such as Cebu Province and Lapu-Lapu City -- and even those not under quarantine, the UP forecast says "vigilance is still needed" to ensure that new Covid-19 cases are "immediately detected and new outbreaks prevented." The UP panel -- composed of Guido David, Ph.D., and Ranjit Singh Rye, MPA, and a research associate, with five other academicians who contributed to the study -- is just one of several think groups that help the Inter-Agency Task Force on Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (AIATF-MEID) craft policy to contain and beat the coronavirus. The UP group's handprint though shows in previous extensions of the life of community quarantines, especially in the high risk areas of NCR, Laguna and Cebu City. In its April 22 and May 22 forecasts (a total of seven reports so far), the UP panel warned of "premature relaxation" of the ECQ, which it said, could lead to a spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases. Spread not yet stopped The UP experts say in its May 20 report: [1] Implementation of the ECQ has been "critical" in reducing transmission and deaths due to Covid-19 in the country; [2] The rate of transmission for the entire Philippines has been decreasing. (The reproduction number R, which measures the rate of spread "has been decreasing since April 1.") In some provinces around the country, the spread of Covid-19 is "either controlled or in a decelerating trend." But transmission of the virus in the entire country is "not yet controlled." Story continues [3] That, despite "limited testing and contact tracing." Does not mean, however that "the positive trend is irreversible." [4] For Metro Manila and Cebu City, the number of new cases is "still very high" and the rate of transmission also "remains high." Thus, their recommendation to go on with the "significant restrictions: in NCR and Cebu City and "expand the same as necessary to other high-risk areas." 'Closely monitor' Cebu City Using data of May 16, the study projects the trend for 30 days. Cebu City (with Zamboanga City), the study says, needs to be "monitored closely" and measures "should be put in place to prevent the spread of the pandemic." Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue also "need to be monitored closely for possible outbreaks in the next few weeks." Cebu Province (excluding Cebu City, Mandaue City and, yes, Lapu-Lapu City) in the P assessment remains at low risk. Lapu-City and Mandaue City are at medium risk. And Cebu City is at high risk. Mass testing results One wonders how the results of the mass testing in the three cities will change the risk assessment and their quarantine ranking in the weeks after May 31. The UP panel used the "calculated values" of R and the number of new cases daily per million of population to determine the level of risk in each LGU. That means Cebu City, a high risk, has R>1 and the number of new cases per day is more than 1 per million of people. And Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, both rank medium risk, has R The Spanish government is working toward a scenario where the state of alarm will be lifted in some regions before others, as part of the current deescalation of the exceptional measures that were first implemented on March 14 in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus. More information What is the state of alarm? Sources from the coalition government, which is headed up by the Socialist Party (PSOE) with junior partner Unidas Podemos, have said that legally it is possible for some territories to exit the conditions of the state of alarm the lowest of the three emergency states under Spanish law. On Monday, the majority of the country will be in Phase 2 of the governments deescalation plan, which runs from Phase 0 to Phase 3. After Phase 3, regions and other territorial units will enter what the government has dubbed the new normality, where social distancing will still be required but full freedom of movement will return. According to Sanchez, the entire country should be out from the state of alarm by late June or early July Without going into detail, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told Spains regional leaders on Sunday that if nothing goes wrong, the state of alarm will be lifted in many regions over the coming days. According to the PSOE chief, who was speaking at a weekly video-conference meeting with the countrys regional premiers, the entire country should be out from the state of alarm by late June or early July. Some regions, such as Madrid, have taken longer to leave Phase 0 due to not meeting the governments requirements for doing so. As such, the deescalation process is being played out asymmetrically across the country. After requests on Sunday from the premiers of Aragon and Castilla y Leon, Sanchez also committed to studying whether some of the deescalation measures included under Phase 3 could be applied to rural areas that are in Phase 2. During a press conference, Sanchez said on Saturday that the government was studying whether or not to request a sixth extension to the state of alarm, which has been given the backing by lawmakers in the Congress of Deputies on a two-weekly basis until now. The prime minister has, however, found it increasingly difficult to secure the support needed among deputies to renew the measures. The coalition is governing in a minority, and as such needs votes in favor or abstentions from other parties in order to pass this legislation. We are studying a sixth extension because it is our duty, he said on Saturday. We will have to look at the epidemiological progression, but we will do so listening to the experts and the regions. Opposition parties such as the conservative Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox have been calling for an end to the exceptional measures since early May, and have either abstained or voted against further extensions, arguing that there are measures under existing laws that could be used during the deescalation process. Legal experts, meanwhile, have claimed that there is no way of confining citizens to their homes without the state of alarm. Political row Also discussed at the video conference meeting on Sunday was the unease among the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) over a deal signed between the PSOE, Unidas Podemos and EH Bildu ahead of the vote in Congress on extending the state of alarm on Wednesday. The deal, which the government said was signed in exchange for EH Bildus abstention, in order to guarantee the extension was successful, committed to a series of measures, including overturning the entirety of a 2012 labor reform law that, among other things, made the cost of firing employees cheaper in Spain. In the end, however, a no vote from EH Bildu would not have scuppered the extension to the state of alarm. News about the agreement, which was not made public until after the vote passed, caused a political firestorm, not least given that EH Bildu, a pro-Basque independence party, is a controversial group given its reluctance to condemn the bloody campaign of the now-disbanded Basque terrorist group ETA. We have been bewildered by the agreements this week, said Basque premier Inigo Urkullu, of the PNV, during todays video call. The government is aware of the upset that the incident has caused among parties such as the PNV, a factor that is also adding to the uncertainty as to whether another extension to the state of alarm is to be requested. Many of the parties that supported Sanchezs investiture as prime minister and the creation of the coalition government, including the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) and leftist Valencian party Compromis, voted against extending the state of alarm this week in Congress. The PNV leader also called on the government to boost co-governance between the central government and the regions during the deescalation process, a regular request that has been made from regions that have traditionally sought independence from Spain. There was particular unease, for example, over the central government assuming powers over the interior departments of regions such as the Basque Country. Under the current state of alarm, however, Madrid only has control of the regions health departments. There were also calls, not for the first time, for Sanchez to change the order in which he does things regional chiefs have complained about hearing the governments plans at the prime ministers press conferences on Saturdays, only for them to be discussed on Sundays with the regions once the decisions have already been made. Catalan stance The Catalan regional premier, Quim Torra, told Prime Minister Sanchez on Sunday that his party, Together for Catalonia, would support the state of alarm if his region regains all the powers that were recentralized under the exceptional circumstances, above all control over healthcare. The party abstained at the first two votes in Congress, and voted against at the following. English version by Simon Hunter. On this weeks episode of Working, Rumaan Alam spoke with Sheena Wagstaff, who leads the Metropolitan Museum of Arts program of modern and contemporary art. They spoke about the job of a museum curator, how a major exhibit comes into being, and why its important to see art in person. This partial transcript of their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Rumaan Alam: One of things that was on my to-do list right before all this unfolded was to go to see Painting After All, the Gerhard Richter exhibition at the Met Breuer. Could you tell me where that idea came from and how long an exhibition like that is in the works before its on the walls? Advertisement Sheena Wagstaff: Ive known Gerhard Richter for a very long time, though not very well until this exhibition. He was in New York briefly for an exhibition at a commercial gallery, Marian Goodman. I had lunch with him, and I asked him whether he would consider working with me on a project at the Met. He was very clear and very straightforward, and he basically said, No, Im not to going do it, because I have reached a certain point in my lifespan, and I dont feel I need to do any more exhibitions. I need to spend the remaining years I have in the studio. And then a couple of years later, he contacted me and said, I think I actually might be interested in doing something at the Met. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So we started talking, and as a result of a conversation that I had with my co-curator Benjamin Buchloh, who is a professor of art history at Harvard and who is a very, very longtime friend and the principal interlocutor of Gerhard Richter, we sat down and started thinking about a different kind of exhibition. Thereve been so many Richter exhibitions in the world. Theres no point in doing another one unless it contributes to thinking anew about the work. So we came up with the idea to take the cue for the show from a series that Gerhard did from 2014, which he called the Birkenau series. They are four large paintings that are based on four photographs that are the only extant photographs taken by prisoners during the time of their imprisonment in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Advertisement The idea being that we didnt want to fetishize this series, but at the same time, we wanted to demonstrate the fact that Richter has, throughout his entire life, borne the knowledge that he had both a personal connection, as well as a responsibility to representas most German artists of that generation doa collective responsibility for what happened in the mid-20th century in Germany. From that point, we grew this exhibition that ended up having two parts to it. One was Birkenau, and one is the so-called Cage Series, which is his homage to John Cage. Advertisement Is it useful to you to have the artist at your disposal? Or is there ever a moment where thats actually disruptive to the work of creating an exhibition? Where your idea is at odds with the artists agenda of preserving his or her own legacy? Advertisement Advertisement It varies of course, from artist to artist. While some artists are very, very good self-filterers and self-editors, others are not. There is usually a propensity to perhaps forsake more of the earlier work in preference for the later work. There is also another propensity of artists to fit as much as they possibly can in an exhibition, at which time you end up as a visitor coming out on your hands and knees barely able to breathe. Advertisement Advertisement When you work with someone like Gerhard Richter, who has over 60 years of work behind him, he is a lot more phlegmatic and practical about the ability of any exhibition to bear testament to his entire career. Hes also remarkable because he has an ongoing, critical doubt about the viability of his artistic practice. Advertisement So at the same time as having this incredible facility and inventor of his medium, he often doubts himself. To have come to a series like Birkenau and deal with that in the only way he knows how to, through painting, and to come to a moment when the possibility of rendering that in a pictorial way, in a recognizable way, as if it was a painting of a photograph, and to decide ultimately that although hed set out to do that, he wasnt able to do it, and therefore he moved to abstraction. That wasnt a failure. That was an alternative route. That was the only route possible for him, he realized. Advertisement Advertisement Is it important for you, for any curator, to love the work that youre putting together? Advertisement Its odd, because once you have gone through the very intense period of working together with an artist and making an exhibition, you never quite know how youre going to end up. A few artists Ive worked with, Ive fallen out of love with the work at the end. Other artists, I feel Ive done the best job that I could do, and that he or she had could do, and it was a good job done, and it went out into the world, and it was good all the way through. And then there were some artistsand Gerhard Richter is one of themwhere I end up having more questions about the practice than I did at the beginning. One spends so much time during the installation process looking at these paintings and working out what Richter was intending to create, how he was responding to photography, what those two very, very shadowy figures mean in the back of a facade of a building that was otherwise unremarkable. Advertisement Advertisement All these questions remain not so much to do with his choice of the subject matter, but how he painted them. When you look at his abstract paintings, you cannot work out how he does them, and yet they have this extraordinary impact on you. And I may not like them all. I certainly would not want to live with many of them, but thats not the point. Advertisement Because of the museums temporary closure, the only way I could see the exhibition is to look at the catalogto look at a PDF of the catalog no less. There a funny intellectual resonance there, because the artist is rendering in paint something he might have seen in a photograph, or rethinking something, like his painting September from 2005, which is a painting of a news service photograph. Or it might even be a video still of a plane striking the World Trade Center. So Im looking at a PDF on my computer screen of an image that a man painted on a canvas from having seen pixels on a screen reproduced in newsprint. Theres something apt about experiencing the work that way. What do you think about the imperative to see art inside of the museum versus in the pages of a book? Advertisement I think you answer your own question in highlighting that moment of 9/11. There was an absolute surge of visitorship to museums in that time. Im not sure I can articulate this very fully, but there is something incredibly consoling about the fact of the object, the direct relationship one has with something that is as physical as your own body and the fact that we are now going through this period of not even being able to touch one another, where our relationship to one another is through a series of screens. Intellectually, that number of removes is an extraordinarily rich one to explore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, it is about painting. It is about the surface. It is about understanding that when youre standing in front of one of those Birkenau paintings, and you see the crevices and extraordinarily distressed surface of layer on layer on layer of paint that he does, that he scratches back, you cannot get any of that experience or any of that sense, that visual tactile sense, by looking at an image on the screen. That is why painting is so vital, not just because it shares that visceral experience, but also because it becomes a metaphor for your own way of thinking, your own way of remembering things. The photographic image is always one that as soon as it is taken, its over, its always in the past. So, Richter is responding to those old photographs from 1945, and yet hes making them fresh through painting. It is present. Its absolutely relevant to now. To listen to the full episode of Working, click the player below or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 'It is not the test, but the symptomatic phase in this disease that really matters.' IMAGE: Medical staff at the open ground quarantine and isolation facility opened for semi-critical coronavirus patients at the Bandra Kurla Complex in north west Mumbai, May 20, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo "Irrespective of whether you are positive or negative, if you start showing symptoms, if you start experiencing difficulty in breathing, that's the time that's the golden moment, when you must approach a doctor. But what I am again and again stressing is that don't get worried if you have tested positive," Dr Sanjay N Oak, who heads the nine-member team set up by the Maharashtra government to help the state combat the coronavirus pandemic tells Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com There has been a slight easing of the lockdown, and that easing will probably continue, I imagine, in a very gradual manner, given the current concerns for Mumbai. What is the kind of planning that is required for the city as it begins to stir itself slowly after the lockdown? Health is only one aspect of the lockdown. I would consider this (comparison): Just as we decelerate a car very gradually, and don't apply brakes suddenly, so that it swerves out of control. It is something similar here, when it comes to how we will have to de-escalate the lockdown. Schools and colleges, well, must now think of alternative modalities of giving education. Can we not give this (education) in a virtual manner? Can we not use our mobile phones, which I think even a toddler uses now, as a medium of learning. IMAGE: Students attend a class in Navi Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo As the vice chancellor of the university (during his tenure at Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Navi Mumbai) I wrote an article in a university journal on how a mobile can be a medium of education in a university. Really the time has come when we can use these electronic devices to our advantage. And you will agree that the younger generation uses them far better than your and my generation. I think the schools and colleges can open a little later. In fact, there is a thought that the entire new scholastic year will begin from the first of September. It is just a thought, but nonetheless it's a thought. Finally, we have to take care of our next generation. I don't want them to fall prey to coronas and other illnesses. So yes, we will think of alternatives. IMAGE: Workers carry out construction work at India's first open ground quarantine and isolation facility having 1,008 beds at the Bandra Kurla complex, north west Mumbai, May, 16 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo But first we will think of essential things. I want the city hospitals to run full steam, which they are not able to run, right now, because people are not able to come to the hospitals to work -- the class 4 people, the nurses. And why are they not able to come? Because there's no effective public transport available. Most of the people who serve in Mumbai, who are required, stay at Kalyan, stay at Badlapur, stay at Vasai, stay at Virar, stay at Nallasopara. They are unable to come in to work because the locals (trains) are not plying. Some type of de-escalation, allowing the essential cadre of people to reach their workplaces, will help others to step in and take the matters further ahead. I think, that should be our strategy. IMAGE: Staff from the Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle, north west Mumbai, board a bus for the Vasai, Virar areas on the distant reaches of Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo What do you think, approximately, is the strength of this kind of essential staff, who need transport? I can answer that by (telling you) how many are actually coming to work. If I can take my hospital as a unit, it represents what is happening outside. I have a regular staff of about 900 people, who are on salary structure with us. And do you know, with how many people I am running my hospital? Forty-five. So that is my problem, that is my problem. I don't want to keep my beds empty. Because an empty bed is a very difficult proposition for the hospital, as well as for the health sector. And not at the time when it is most required. But how would I run the hospital unless and until I have the staff to back them (the beds). It is impossible. That is practically happening at every hospital in the public sector, as well as the private sector. IMAGE: A doctor checks the body temperature of a resident outside a slum in Mumbai. Photograph: Vijay Bate/ANI Photo What about the situation with testing? Is it being stepped up enough in the city? IMAGE: Dr Sanjay N Oak. Photograph: Kind courtesy sanjayoak/Facebook IMAGE: Dr Sanjay N Oak. This is an important message I want to give to your readers. It is not the test, but the symptomatic phase in this disease that really matters. And I'll explain what I'm saying. People can continue to remain positive, without any symptoms being developed. They may not have cough, cold fever, malaise, loss of taste, loss of sensation. Nothing. They're perfectly normal. Just because they came into the contact, they tested themselves, the test came positive. And then they start chasing this test report in their mind. They repeat the test at five days, eight days, nine days. 'Abhi bhi negative nahin aata (test is still not coming negative)'. 'Na aane doh (let it not come negative).' 'Aapka symptoms agar nahi hai (if you have no symptoms)', you should not worry. IMAGE: Workers prepare a quarantinecentre at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, north west Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo Irrespective of whether you are positive or negative, if you start showing symptoms, if you start experiencing difficulty in breathing, that's the time that's the golden moment, when you must approach a doctor. COVID-19 tests have remained positive (for an individual) even after three weeks. Even after four weeks. But that does not mean that you have enough viral load -- it is called viremia -- within your body to pass on this virus to others. In fact, after the first seven days, the viremia, the viral load goes down. So, you can no more communicate the disease to others. But you remain positive within you. You may continue to remain positive for four to six weeks also. But don't worry, don't worry! The virus may continue to even be excreted via the fecal route into the soil. That's why there is (the presence of the virus) when you test soil samples, when you want to screen populace at one particular place. But that does not mean that you are infective. That only means that you were infected and you carried the virus at some stage. And the same can be corroborated by doing an antibody test. IMAGE: A quarantine facility being prepared for COVID-19 patients at the Catholic Gymkhana in south Mumbai, May 13 2020. Photograph: Ashish Raje/ANI So, they should consider later taking an antibody test rather than testing for COVID-19? Yes. Subsequently. There are two antibodies -- IgG (immunoglobulin G, the most common antibody in the body that controls infection) and IgM (immunoglobulin M, the first antibody formed in reaction to a virus antigen). There are antibodies which appear early and there are antibodies which appear later. Appearance of the later antibody proves that the person has had an infection and now has developed some amount of resistance and therefore is unlikely to fall prey again, as compared to someone who does not have antibodies. That is what it means. IMAGE: A worker gives finishing touches to India's first open-ground quarantine facility at the Bandra Kurla Complex, north west Mumbai, May 21, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo And these antibody tests are fairly accessible to anybody in Mumbai. Well, it has limitations. Obviously, the best test is RT-PCR test (real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test), which tells us about the antigen (molecular structure on the surface of the virus) and about the infective agent. Whereas the antibody, as I told you, it demonstrates your resistance that you have developed by now. But are they accessible? Like supposing I need to go out right now and do such a test? The antibody kits have had their early issues and early problems (the kits were found to be unreliable, not just in India), leading to the withdrawal of the entire test kits. But now new kits are being developed and I'm sure that they will find their place in the market and in clinical medicine, in due course of time. IMAGE: Workers build an isolation facility at the Mahalaxmi racecourse in south Mumbai, May 17, 2020. Photograph: Ashish Raje/ANI Photo You are saying that though Mumbai is doing a good job with its testing, one should not be looking at the numbers with regard to testing? If you look at the South Korean example: I think they perhaps did the maximum number of tests. The entire populace was subjected to the test. We have not done in Mumbai that number of tests. Though in Mumbai we have done maximum number of tests, that one could have thought of conducting in India. All that I'm saying is that, yes, you can continue to test. Because once you test then you know the positivity in the community. But what I am again and again stressing is that don't get worried if you have tested positive. Worry, if you develop symptoms. That is important. Production: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Five days since historic flooding struck central Michigans Midland County, there are numerous calls for investigations into the collapsed Edenville dam, the failure of which caused the disaster that destroyed homes, swept away cars and washed out roads and bridges. Flood waters rushed through the city of Midland, population of 42,000, the home of notorious polluter and chemical manufacturer Dow Chemical. Dow reported that flood waters mixed with its containment ponds but insists that no toxic chemicals were released downstream. With thousands now looking for a way to clean up and rebuild, the Michigan Republican Party is asking the states Democratic attorney general to turn over the dam failure investigation to federal authorities. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ordering Boyce Hydro Powers, owner of the Edenville dam, to form an independent team to investigate the conditions of the three other dams it owns, including the Sanford Lake dam, which is still in danger of collapsing after Tuesdays heavy precipitation. Both the Democratic and the Republican party and the media point to Boyce Hydro as the main culprit, revealing its long history of safety violations. However, Boyce is not the only guilty party. The question of all questions is why was nothing done? Why did the dam continue to operate even though it was out of compliance with flood prevention standards? What transpired, who were the persons involved and who and what class interests do they represent? Dan Dionne looks over his former deck outside his home, Wednesday, May 20, 2020, in Edenville, Mich. (Image Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Edenville dam, built in 1924, received multiple warnings from the federal government on its safety violations since as early as 1999. According to reports from the FERC, the dams spillway capacity only reached half of the required Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) value, meaning that the dam could not properly release the pressure from a standard amount of waterflow and was vulnerable under extreme weather conditions. However, no improvements were made. After the operation license was transferred to Boyce in 2004, the companys proposal to build an auxiliary spillway to share some pressure on the major service spillway was never carried out, even though Boyce was granted multiple extensions to finish construction over the next 10 years. Between 2004 and 2017, according to an FERC Compliance Order, operations at the Edenville dam were in violation of many additional safety guidelines, including carrying out unauthorized dam repairs and earth-moving activities, not filing an adequate Public Safety Plan, unduly restricting public access to its facilities, not constructing and maintaining approved recreation facilities, and more. In February 2018, the FERC issued a proposal to revoke Boyce Hydros license on operating the Edenville dam for its long-standing noncompliance with the Dam Safety Guidelines. An exchange in 2011 between Boyce and Sanford lakeshore residents sheds light on why these safety risks were never resolved. The owner of Boyce, Lee Mueller requested the lakeshore property owners pay the $83,000 needed to repair the dam structure and to return the lake to its normal level. Lakeshore residents argued instead that Boyce pay for the repair since the company made revenues from the hydroelectric power generated from the dam. In response, Mueller threatened to drain the lake permanently if the property owners refused to pay up. Boyce was counting on Midland County to intervene since the county would lose millions in property tax revenue if residents were forced to move away after the lake was drained. This episode reveals the utter lack of concern about the imminent danger of flooding caused by Michigans aging dams. Only profits entered into the calculations of Boyce and the local county officials. However, the accomplices in this criminal neglect of dam safety, which has led to the evacuation of thousands of people and loss of their homes, are not only one private company. One has to ask this further question: what happened to the Edenville dam after September 2018 when Boyces license was revoked by the FERC? Why was nothing done to repair and maintain the dam which would have prevented last weeks catastrophe from happening? After the FERC issued a proposal to revoke Boyces license, multiple Michigan state officials and heads of local lake associations wrote to request that the FERC either extend the deadline for revocation to November 1, 2018 or reconsider its decision. Letters sent by Jim Stamas, Republican state senator, and John Moolenaar, Republican congressman, stated, [Sanford and Wixom Lakes] provide significant economic, tax and recreational value to the counties and residents. Because of this, it is important to find a solution that satisfies the FERC requirements while also preserving our local assets. Throughout the letter, no concerns were expressed for the safety risks that the Edenville dam would pose, except for a nominal acknowledgement in passing that there was a long history of disputes between Boyce and the FERC. The only solution they proposed to address the safety issues of the dam is to establish a new ownership structure of the dam, without a single discussion of repairing the dam in accordance with the FERC guidelines. Submitted on the same day was another similar but lengthier letter from heads of local lake associations, including David Kepler, president of the Sanford Lake Preservation Association. Kepler was a major figure at Dow Chemical for 40 years, where he was the Executive Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer and Chief Information Officer, and previously was part of the US National Infrastructure Advisory Council on infrastructure and homeland security under President George W. Bush. Kepler was also the principal donor to the Four Lakes Task Force (FLTF) formed in September 2018 after Boyces license was revoked. The FLTF is the new structure of ownership discussed in the aforementioned letters. It purchased the dams from Boyce and was planning to take full charge of their operations in 2022. Even though the FLTF officially operates as a non-profit, the real purpose of its establishment is made clear in Keplers letter, where he requested the FERC to delay its decision on the ground that an order proposing license revocation can lead to loss of a project license in a matter of weeks and [the revocation] would effectively eliminate any possibility for the Lake Associations to rely on the revenue stream from [the Edenville dam] to fund the on-going expenses required to rehabilitate and operate the dam. In other words, the FLTF was formed to retain the license and preserve the revenues from operating the dam. All their talk about repairing the dams was nothing more than an empty promise, as made clear by their 2019 Annual Report and Operating Plan. It stated that [we] believe that a significant portion of these repairs can be extended over the next 20 years, further reducing initial capital costs and keeping the bond under $32 million. Whats behind the collapse of the Edenville dam and the damage of thousands of homes is the decades-long bipartisan neglect of the safety issues regarding dams on both the state and federal levels. Despite Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmers statement Thursday that dams and other pieces of critical infrastructure shouldnt be owned by private entities, she has done nothing to address dam safety since taking office in 2019. The Edenville dams regulation was transferred from the federal government to the state in 2018. Dam safety is not just a growing problem for Michigan. The number of potentially high hazard dams has been increasing year by year, and according to the National Inventory of Dams in 2019, about 25 percent of dams in the US are classified as such. There are a few natural causes for this number to increase, such as their natural aging, more residents living downstream of dams, and improved understanding of hydro effects on the dams. However, the more fundamental reason is the neglect of the repair and maintenance of these dams at every level of government. Due to a shortfall in funding, there is a lack of personnel for dam inspections. According to a study published by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, on average, each state inspector is responsible for about 200 dams. In Oklahoma and Iowa, there were only three inspectors for their 4621 and 3911 dams respectively. There is also a nationwide lack of emergency responses to the high hazard dams. Alabama does not have a dam safety program, while no emergency action plans exist for 20 percent of the high hazard dams. From the same study, the total estimated cost to repair all the high hazard dams is about $45 billion, and about $71 billion to repair all dams in the countryonly a minor fraction of the trillions of dollars used on military expenses and the bailout of Wall Street during the pandemic. The collapse of the Edenville dam is not a natural disaster, but a man-made one, a result of decades of attacks on critical infrastructure. At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the flooding is yet another catastrophic event that reveals the criminal character of capitalism: the subjugation of human lives to corporate profits. Rioters resume protests against national security law in 'deathbed struggle' Global Times By Chen Qingqing and Leng Shumei Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/25 0:23:39 Looming new law to ensure legitimate rights of Hong Kong majority, targeting rioters engaging in subversion, terrorism and treason Various black-clad protesters descended into the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday, taking part in illegal protests, defying the proposed national security law, claiming it erodes the "one country, two systems" principle and infringes upon their legitimate rights. The Sunday protests have been rapidly dispersed by Hong Kong police. Despite their efforts to resume last year's months-long protests, the violent behaviors, like attacking innocent residents, setting up road barricades and hurling hard objects at passers-by, which endangers the peaceful life in the once-prosperous city, could not disguise their real intentions of instigating hatred, subversion and even terrorism in the special administrative region of China. Once the national security law comes into effect, violent protesters could be held accountable facing severe legal punishment, some observers said. At around 1 pm on Sunday, groups of black-clad protesters gathered at Causeway Bay marching along Hennessy Road and shouting out slogans such as "Hong Kong independence." The tactics to evade police they used in anti-government protests throughout 2019 were adopted again. Protesters' main goal: oppose the looming national security law for Hong Kong after the draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security was submitted to China's top legislature on Friday during the two sessions - the most important annual political event in the country. The draft stipulates that the relevant legislative responsibilities of the NPC Standing Committee are to effectively prevent, stop, and punish any activity occurring in the HKSAR territory that attempts to split the country, subvert state power, organize and perpetrate terrorist activities, including other actions that seriously endanger national security. The months-long anti-extradition bill protest in Hong Kong had escalated into social unrest, which harmed the national security of China and harbored separatist activities. For instance, radical protesters bluntly desecrated the national flag, defaced the national emblem, and instigated anti-mainland sentiment in Hong Kong. "It's more like a deathbed struggle," a Hong Kong resident said in a shared post on social media, referring to Sunday's protests, which have become a repeated scenario from the past as rioters attacked innocent people who disagreed with them. Act of terrorism Some pan-democracy lawmakers and activists such as Yip Kam Lung Sam and Tam Tak-chi, who took part in illegal gatherings, both have been swiftly detained on Sunday by the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), which has enforced the law quickly and effectively. Since the beginning of the year, some former and current public security officials told the Global Times that there has been an apparent shift in the HKPF's approach regarding law enforcement, as it has been showing zero tolerance for lawless culprits who pose a threat to the lives of ordinary Hong Kong residents. As of 4:30 pm Sunday afternoon, at least 120 have been arrested, most for unlawful assembly, according to local media outlet hk01.com. Some even hurled the bricks to police officers. HKPF strongly condemned such violent behavior. The protest, without permission from the police, was fueled by various posts circulating online as part of a plotted anti-government campaign targeting the national security law. Leading activists like Joshua Wong and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai began posting "brainwashing" threads on social media, calling on more Hong Kong people to fight against the national security law, depicting it as an intrusion into their freedom that erodes the "one country, two systems." The national security law is specifically aimed at criminal behavior that harms national security. It would not affect normal Hong Kong citizens' legitimate rights, Tian Feilong, a Hong Kong affairs expert and associate professor at Beihang University in Beijing, told the Global Times on Sunday. "On the contrary, as the law clarifies criminal behavior, normal residents would exercise their legitimate rights more safely without fear of being threatened or attacked by terrorists and violent activists after voicing their differing opinions and political stances," he said. Some observers on the Hong Kong social movement indicated that to arouse new illegal movement indeed reflected the desperation of those rioters, who understand they have been breaking the law and would be punished one day in a society ruled by the law. Rioters may face sentences of at least five years imprisonment, or 10 years after taking reference from China's Criminal Law. "The clauses in the Hong Kong national security law can be formulated via reference to standards in the criminal law of the Chinese mainland and similar regulations in foreign countries," Tian said, noting that the law should also include clauses to accurately define criminal behavior, find evidence and carry out punishments. NPC Standing Committee member Tam Yiu-chung echoed Tian's view by saying that when drafting the law, the top legislators will fully take into consideration both domestic legislature and national security laws in other countries, for example the US, into account. "If foreign countries have national security laws to defend their sovereignty, why can't China do the same?" he asked. In the US, people who are found guilty of treason could face death penalty in the most severe cases. The new national security law for Hong Kong would take effect by being included in Annex III of the Basic Law, as some Hong Kong media outlets have predicted, which needs no approval from Hong Kong's Legislative Council. Foreign interference More than 200 parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries tried to interfere in Hong Kong affairs, criticizing the national security law for Hong Kong, including former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten, former British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind and US Senator Ted Cruz. Hong Kong's national security law will not affect the city's high degree of autonomy, the rights and freedom enjoyed by its residents, or the legitimate rights of foreign investors, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday. "Hong Kong's affairs are the internal affairs of China, and not interfering in a nation's internal affairs is the principle of global relationships," Wang said. He noted that the National Security Law is aimed at a very narrow range of actions that harm national security. It won't affect the majority of Hong Kong residents in terms of freedoms and legitimate rights under the Basic Law, and won't affect the city's business environment. Passing the law will also help maintain the "One country, two systems." Concerning those pan-democracy lawmakers and activists who again smear the legitimacy of the national security law for Hong Kong, misinterpreting it as a violation of a series of local residents' rights including freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of religious association, Tam said pro-establishment groups in addition to the Hong Kong SAR government are committed to explaining the law to local residents. "My team and I will do our utmost to inform and explain the relevance of this law to the public, in countering unreasonable attacks and smear campaigns conducted by anti-China and anti-government forces," Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR government, said in a Facebook post on Sunday, noting that she believes that the vast majority of Hong Kong residents understand the situation and will not be deceived by forces that undermine peace. A growing number of Chinese netizens on social media have been praising the law, calling for charges of treason against activists like Wong and Lai as they have been colluding with foreign forces and are in contact with US agencies like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the CIA, according to open records and transcripts of their interviews. Wong even flied to the US in 2019, persuading US politicians to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which, some observers called, as convincing evidence for their acts of challenging sovereignty and inciting subversion. The law shall not have any retroactive effect, so the previous instigation of rioting by of activists such as Lai and Wong could not be used as evidence for their activities after the national security law takes effect, according to Tian. "But if they continue inciting and organizing violent acts after the law takes effect, they would be convicted according to the law based on evidence at that time," Tian said. Some national lawmakers, top political advisors and lawyers told the Global Times in a recent interview that the work of formulating the national security legislation would be accelerated, which would be enacted into law as early as the coming weeks considering the urgency. Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, a member for the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and solicitor at the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, told the Global Times on Friday that the law would enable national security institutions to establish special agencies in Hong Kong, which are likely to be in charge of intelligence collection, counter-terrorism work and law enforcement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) Following the growing calls for Health secretary Francisco Duque III to leave his post, President Rodrigo Duterte advised the Health chief not to take to heart criticisms made against him. Huwag ka masyadong touchy sa mga issues [Dont be too touchy on issues], because always there will be pros and cons, the President told Duque in an Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases meeting aired online late Monday night. Pakinggan nalang natin [Lets just listen to them] because this is a democracy, he added. Earlier, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. wrote a recommendation to Duterte, asking him to replace Duque on account of delays in the release of the interim reimbursement mechanism, which stands as financial aid to hospitals hit by the COVID-19 crisis. READ: Private hospitals group asks Duterte to replace Duque as health secretary Several senators also signed a resolution in April seeking Duque's resignation for "failure of leadership, negligence, lack of foresight, and inefficiency" in the measures and actions carried out by the department he heads. But amid these calls, the Chief Executive showed no intention to let the Health secretary go. Alam ko ikaw, you are hard-pressed [I know you are hard-pressed]. I know your situation, Duterte told Duque. You just tell us if that is the one thats in your...the gray matter between your ears, e di sabihin mo, Ayaw ninyong maniwala, e di bahala kayo, basta ito yung akin [just tell them, If you dont want to believe me, then thats up to you.] Duque has also received backlash for previously claiming that the country is already experiencing the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. He later on clarified this statement, saying the Philippines is still in the first major wave of sustained community transmission. Duque further explained that the first wave he earlier mentioned is only composed of the three imported cases recorded in January involving Chinese nationals, and was therefore only a very small one. READ: DOH apologizes for confusion over 'second wave' remark Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain donned protective face masks for a think tank meeting about the lasting impact of the ongoing pandemic today. Mother-of-two Letizia, 47, paired a chic grey top with black trousers alongside a dapper Felipe, 52, for the discussion held at the Elcano Royal Institute in Madrid. The royal couple spoke to members of The Scientific Council to share knowledge about how the crisis has been analysed in different countries across the globe. It comes just days after the pair engaged in discussions with the Spanish Trade Confederation via video conference call about how the pandemic has impacted the sector. Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain (pictured) attended a committee meeting with The Scientific Council at Elcano Royal Institute in Madrid The Spanish Royals were joined by experts to discuss the impact of the ongoing pandemic and how it has been analyzed in other countries. Pictured: King Felipe and Queen Letizia with Pedro Duque, Emilio Lamo de Espinosa and Charles Powell Queen Letizia opted for an outfit with striking similarities to the one she wore on her last public outing, however on this occasion she and King Felipe VI stepped out not wearing gloves. The mother-of-two styled her glossy brunette hair into its signature slightly-off centre parting and completed the look with minimal make-up. Meanwhile King Felipe appeared polished in a navy suit with a white shirt and coordinating tie. The European royals have used a combination of social distancing meetings and video conference calls to continue 'business as usual' throughout Spain's lockdown. Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI (pictured) appeared business-like in the discussions, which come just days after they met with the Spanish Trade Confederation Mother-of-two Queen Letizia (pictured), donned a chic grey jacket with black trousers for an effortlessly chic look The Spanish Royals (pictured) also spoke about the pandemic with four members of the Scientific Committee via video conference call Today Letizia and Felipe joined a committee discussion with the Minister of Science and Innovation Pedro Duque, director of the institution Emilio Lamo de Espinosa, and Charles Powell. Four members of the Scientific Committee of the Elcano Royal Institute also joined using video conference call, as the meeting participants analysed how the crisis has been approached in Asia, America, Africa and across Europe. The Scientific Council features experts from across the world who have a proven knowledge of international relations. Meanwhile, The Elcano Royal Institute has previously addressed issues surrounding climate change, international terrorism and migration. King Felipe VI last visited the organisation on June 2014, before his proclamation as King of Spain. He and his wife appeared deeply engaged in the discussions as the nation eagerly awaits the possibility of lockdown restrictions being eased. Major Suman Gawani of Indian Army has been selected for the 2019 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her role in raising awareness about the need to protect women and children from sexual violence during conflict when she was serving as a peacekeeper in South Sudan. She will share the award with Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo of Brazilian Navy. Major Gawani and Commander Araujo will receive the award during an online ceremony, which will mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers next Friday. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will preside over the ceremony. Araujo is currently deployed as a peacekeeper in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Gawani, who is the first Indian Army officer to receive the award, recently completed her assignment as a peacekeeper with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Since her deployment to UNMISS in December 2018, Gawani mentored over 230 UN Military Observers (UNMO) on conflict-related sexual violence and ensured the presence of women military observers in each of the Missions team sites. By providing support, mentoring, guidance and leadership, she helped to create enabling environment for UN Peacekeepers. She also trained the South Sudanese government forces and helped them to launch their action plan on conflict-related sexual violence, according to a UN press-release. Whatever our function, position or rank, it is our duty as peacekeepers to integrate an all genders perspective into our daily work and own it, she noted, in our interactions with colleagues as well as with communities, she said. Araujo has served as the military Gender and Protection Advisor in MINUSCA Force Headquarters since April 2019. During her tour of duty, she established and conducted a comprehensive training curriculum on aspects related to gender and protection. Through her efforts, the Mission significantly increased the number of gender and child protection focal points and their respective locations. She was instrumental in seeing gender-responsive patrols engaging with local communities increase from 574 to nearly 3,000 per month. This award is the recognition of the teamwork involving MINUSCA Force and civilian component, said Commander Monteiro de Castro Araujo upon receiving the news of her award. Guterres commended Araujo and Gawani for being selected for the award. The peacekeepers are powerful role models. Through their work, they have brought new perspectives and have helped to build trust and confidence among the communities we serve, said the UN Secretary General. Through their commitment and innovative approaches, they embrace a standard of excellence that is an inspiration to all blue helmets everywhere. As we confront todays challenges, their work has never been more important or relevant. KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2020 - 21:26 | All, World, Coronavirus, Japan TOKYO - Japan is expanding its entry ban to India and 10 other nations as part of efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday. The move, which takes effect Wednesday and will remain in place "for the time being," means foreign nationals who have been to these areas within the last 14 days will be turned away upon arrival. The other countries are Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, South Africa and Tajikistan. The Foreign Ministry had raised its travel advisory for the 11 nations last week, urging against any trips to the areas. With their addition, the number of countries and regions covered by Japan's entry ban climbs to 111, including the United States, most of Asia including China and South Korea, and all of Europe. Speaking at a meeting of a government task force on the coronavirus response, Abe also said Japan will maintain other border control measures, including visa suspensions and a 14-day quarantine period for all arrivals including Japanese nationals, until the end of June. The number of foreign travelers to Japan has plummeted since the measures were introduced, dealing a heavy blow to the world's third-largest economy. Inbound figures were down 99.9 percent in April from a year earlier to just 2,900, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. By Philip Blenkinsop and Marcin Goclowski BRUSSELS/WARSAW, May 25 (Reuters) - Armed with mass testing and tracing capabilities, a growing number of European countries are expressing confidence that they can avoid a return to economically-devastating coronavirus lockdowns. While most European countries failed to contain the coronavirus outbreak when it reached them in February and March, Belgium and Poland are among those who say they are far better placed to deal with any so-called second wave. After nearly two months of clampdowns, pupils are returning to school and non-food shops or restaurants are re-opening, albeit with warnings that this easing could be stopped or even reversed if coronavirus cases start to spike. "We can rule out that we will have to go back to the tough measures," Belgian Interior Minister Pieter De Crem told broadcaster VTM on Sunday. This was echoed by Polish Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski who told weekly newspaper Sieci that Warsaw was well equipped, after successfully halting the spread of an outbreak in Silesia. "One can't do a second lockdown ... We have infrastructure, over 120 laboratories perform tests. There are tools to control this monster," Szumowski said. 'STAY WITH US' In the Czech Republic, which has had fewer than 9,000 cases, the government expects more targeted than blanket measures, while Serbia sees the possibility of local spikes, but says that reimposing a lockdown is unlikely. Although countries that have lifted lockdowns have experienced local spikes, such views appear to be backed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has said countries such as Germany, with strong public health measures in place, should be able to suppress clusters of cases. "We need people to stay with us, to really understand that this is going to take some time to work through. We may not get this right exactly the first time," WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove told an online news briefing on May 11. Story continues Germany has seen its number of new coronavirus cases continue to fall since easing restrictions in early May, although there have been outbreaks at meat processing plants, old people's homes and at a religious service in Frankfurt in which more than 100 people were infected. For some European states, including those hit hardest by the pandemic, there is greater caution over lifting restrictions. Jean Castex, the official in charge of France's exit plan told lawmakers in early May such a plan had to incorporate a readiness to 're-confine' if necessary. And Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said he would not hesitate to reimpose a full lockdown if infections soared. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Additional reporting by Francois Murphy in Vienna, Belen Carreno in Madrid, Gavin Jones in Rome, Aleksander Vasovic in Belgrade, Emma Farge in Geneva, Andrey Khalip in Lisbon, Radu-Sorin Marinas in Bucharest, Jan Lopotka in Prague, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen, Michel Rose in Paris, Douglas Busvine in Berlin, Kristina Than in Budapest; Editing by Alexander Smith) CORONAVIRUS IN CUBA As was the case in many other countries, infected foreigners entering the country introduced the coronavirus to Cuba, infecting and spreading the virus to people who they came in contact with. The first such infection in Cuba was detected on 11th March. The Cuban government introduced measures to prevent the spread of the virus in Cuba, and also provided medical brigades to assist other countries in their efforts to combat the spread of the virus and to save the lives of the critically ill. Many businesses, shops, restaurants, tourist attractions, and hotels are closed. Public transport is virtually shut down with the exception of a skeleton service for essential services workers who have been issued with a card permitting access to transport. Many are working from home, and measures are in place to avoid large gatherings and non-essential movement of people. A campaign of education and information has been carried out since the virus initial appearance. Health specialists have been advising on various topics such as dealing with isolation, methods of protection, and frequent meetings. Reports have been issued by the government, in conjunction with a daily report from the doctor in charge of the campaign. Wearing a breathing mask is obligatory when leaving home and in the street. The shops that remain open only permit a few people at a time inside, with lines of people waiting to enter, standing at least one metre apart. The government has made the supply of food and essentials goods to the people a top priority. Extra eggs, chicken, beans, soap, and detergent have been issued on the ration booklet. The elderly and vulnerable people who live alone have had food parcels delivered to them. As of 20th May, the Coronavirus figures reported in Grandma were 1,887 infected and seventy-nine fatalities. There has been no death for one week. Of the infected, most have recovered, and at the moment, there are 268 hospitalised in Cuba. The US blockade is affecting many aspects of life in Cuba, and some other countries. Essential medical supplies must be obtained from China or other countries, sometimes at inflated costs, and there have been cases of medication shipments being blocked during this time of crisis. The well-being of the people is the first priority in a socialist society. However, in some capitalist societies where the profit motive is supreme, there are moves toward starting up the economy and doing away with measures of protection against the virus. In Fort Morro, at the entrance to Havana Harbor, a symbolic canon shot was fired at 9 PM. In centuries past, this was the signal that the gates of the old walled city were about to be closed. This act has been suspended because of the virus. Instead, people all over Cuba go out the front of the house, on their balconies or out a window and applaud the medical workers in appreciation of their efforts. In my street, this is carried out with enthusiasm. There have been a lot of comments on social media and other sources that after the epidemiological crisis we are experiencing is over, we will build a different, better world. We should beware of simplistic solutions as this will not happen spontaneously, just because we want it. According to Granma International, neoliberalism has never had more fertile ground to impose its policies to the detriment of the public good. With domestic passenger services resuming from Monday across the country, barring some states, the Dharamshala airport received one flight as a 76-seater aircraft landed with 33 passengers onboard. The passengers, their luggage and gadgets were sanitized at the airport before they left for their destinations. Airport authorities said the flight later returned to Delhi, while two other planes, one from Delhi and another from Chandigarh, were cancelled on technical ground. During normal times, Dharamshala receives two flights from Delhi and one from Chandigarh daily. Meanwhile, the Dharamshala district administration amended its Sunday advisory on allowing further journey of incoming flight passengers. It has withdrawn a clause that made it mandatory for the passengers to obtain an entry pass from the district administration. According to the Sunday advisory, the incoming person was required to show the entry pass from the concerned DMs on de-boarding here. The passes were to be obtained online before boarding the plane. The advisory still says that only those with valid address proof of Himachal Pradesh (HP resident) only should book ticket to Dharamshala. The DC advised the air travellers to "plan your flight booking accordingly". DC Kangra Rakesh Prajapati said, "HP residents coming from Red Zone areas and those with ILI symptoms shall be put in institutional quarantine. And the persons, the non residents of HP/tourist, shall not be allowed entry in to the district. They shall immediately be put in institutional quarantine before being sent back on their own expenses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai reported 1,725 new Covid-19 positive cases on Sunday, and one of its hotspots, the Dharavi slum, recorded 27 of them. With this, Dharavis Covid-19 tally reached 1,541. So far, 59 people have died due to the disease in Dharavi, according to Maharashtra health department. In a new initiative, the civic authorities are experimenting with group laughter therapy for the people of Dharavi in a bid to ease stress and anxiety levels in the crowded slum district, now largely in containment. Meanwhile, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Mumbai reached 30,359. The death toll has risen to 988 after 39 deaths were reported on Sunday in the metropolitan city. The total number of cases recovered and discharged so far in the city is 8,074. The hospitals in Mumbai are stretched to capacity, front-line staff are struggling to deal with physical, emotional and psychological trauma. Doctors are contracting the infection by the dozen, fights are breaking out in hospital queues and bodies of deceased patients are being left behind in wards for hours on end. The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corpoation (BMC) has taken over private hospitals and is looking to turn buses and school vans into ambulances. Mumbai is on the verge of a health crisis, said Dr Deepak Baid, president of Association of Medical Consultants. Interns, resident doctors, senior doctors, and nurses, all working in three shifts of eight hours each with personal protective equipment (PPE) as their only shield, are fighting a steep battle against not just the disease but also mental health concerns. In Mumbai alone, 300 medical staff have contracted the infection. Many woman nurses and doctors complain of urinary tract infection (UTI) due to the dehydration. The problem gets worse during menstruation. All the medical staff on Covid duty are given alternative accommodation in hotels or lodges. Many havent seen their family for over two months. ALBANY Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday said the state and local governments will pay for the death benefits of families of front-line workers in the state who died from COVID-19 and asked the federal government to pay hazard pay to those who cared for the ill. In a Memorial Day news conference at the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in Manhattan, the governor said local or state pension funds will pay the benefits for any public employees who worked in the state at the local, county or state level and lost their lives to the pandemic. Those covered include families of front-line public health care workers, police, fire and emergency service workers and others who "showed up" amid the crisis, Cuomo said. "There's not a transit worker who drove a bus or conducted a train or a nurse who didn't walk into an emergency room who wasn't scared to death. They knew what we were talking about. It was enough to shut down society," Cuomo told reporters. "I have such respect and esteem for what they did and I want to make sure that we repay that." The governor said the workers deserved not just words of thanks but action to show the appreciation. He said the federal government should dedicate money for hazard pay for the same reason. Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage Its a way of showing Americans that when there is a next time and there is a next time that we truly appreciate those people who show up and do their duty, Cuomo told reporters. Cuomo, who was joined at the event by his daughter, Michaela, honored fallen service members, as well as veterans who have died because of the coronavirus. He noted the number of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations has continued to drop in New York. Deaths in recent days have gone from 112 (May 19), 105 (May 20), 109 (May 21), 84 (May 22), 109 (May 23) to the 96 deaths in the state on Sunday, which was still painfully high, Cuomo said. We remember those 96 families today, the governor said. Within the 96 deaths, 75 of the people died in hospitals. The other 21 died in nursing homes. Cuomo said in addition to his requirements that staffs at nursing homes be tested twice a week, the state is asking although it is not requiring residents to be tested as well. "We've known from day one that the nursing homes are the most vulnerable places for this COVID virus," he said noting state officials witnessed the impact of a notorious coronavirus outbreak at a nursing home in Seattle. "I want to be able to make sure that we can all say at the end of the day that we did everything we could. We still lost 96 people yesterday. God and Mother Nature has a hand in this, but did everything we could." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Cuomo's spoke as he faced continued criticism over a since-reversed mandate that nursing homes accept COVID-19 patients. The Capital Region went into Phase 1 of the reopening plan on Wednesday while other regions, such as New York City, have not reached it yet. Cuomo said there was one set of numbers posted on the state's website to signal the criteria for regions of the state to reach the threshold to re0pen from the the state's "pause" policy aimed at slowing the spread of the virus Cuomo said he will not speculate when all areas of the state might reach a threshold because early projections, according to the governor, were "all wrong." "I'm sort of out of the guessing business," he said. "I don't want to guess." Asked for his reaction to people gathering and partying in New York and around the country in defiance of recommendations to socially distance and wear masks, Cuomo implored New Yorkers to wear the face protection. He said front-line workers have a lower infection rate than the general population because they wear the masks. He said opposition to wearing marks is "trivial and nonsensical relative to the risk" of becoming sick or infecting another person. A reporter, citing a slight increase in hospitalizations in Central New York and the Finger Lakes region, asked the governor how much of that rise he attributed to Phase 1 reopening. He said the numbers can bounce and that an uptick is expected. He said it was too quick for the recent reopenings to impact statistics. He said people can increase activity without increasing infections if they are smart about it. Cuomo said COVID-19 numbers will rise if people do not protect themselves and socially distance. He said New York has fared better than other states that did not take the pandemic seriously and reopened too quickly without control and monitoring. Press Release May 25, 2020 Villanueva: DOLE, DOH must ramp up efforts to hire healthcare worker affected by deployment ban The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) should raise its coordination efforts with the Department of Health (DOH) in facilitating the hiring of healthcare workers whose overseas deployment has been suspended indefinitely by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, explained that healthcare workers were caught in a bind when the ban was implemented in April. Aside from their incomes, healthcare workers also spent for other employment requirements such as language proficiency and other relevant certifications that would eventually expire. "While we understand that the intention was clear, the ban impacts the ability of healthcare workers to provide for their families. The government should make good on its commitment to hire healthcare workers, especially those affected by the ban," Villanueva said in a statement. "We must understand that our healthcare workers have spent significantly on their requirements. There is no guarantee that our government would reimburse them for their expenses, so the least it can do is facilitate and expedite their hiring in our healthcare system," the lawmaker continued. "Otherwise, if we cannot follow through our commitment, we might as well just lift the ban altogether." Villanueva also sought clarification from the labor department on the supposed coverage of affected healthcare workers to its Abot Kamay sa Pagtulong (AKAP) financial assistance program for overseas Filipino workers. Under the program guidelines, qualified OFWs must either be displaced due to their host country's imposition of lockdowns or community quarantines; must either be overseas, about to return abroad as balik manggagawa; and must not receive any financial support from employers or their host country. The lawmaker also called on the health department to specify how many healthcare workers does it need for the public health system so labor authorities can also "assess how long this ban could be enforced." In April, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration issued a temporary deployment ban on healthcare workers such as doctors, nurses, and allied health professions "until the national state of emergency is lifted and until COVID-19-related travel restrictions are lifted at the destination countries." POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 9 also suspended bilateral labor agreement for government-to-government deployment of healthcare workers while the state of national emergency remains in effect. The afternoon sun shines through the window of Marissa Mayberrys bedroom as she lies on the bed and lifts up her T-shirt to expose her pregnant belly. Her husband, Matthew Mayberry, kneels next to her. He holds a fetal doppler, a machine used to listen to their babys heartbeat. He presses one hand to her belly to feel for the baby as he grasps the machines probe in the other, inching it across her skin. Thats a little knee, Matthew says quietly. Yeah? Then maybe try right here, Marissa replies, pointing to the lower part of her belly. A rapid pounding thunders through the machines speaker: their babys heartbeat. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer The Mayberrys, both 28, used to hear that sound only during prenatal checkups at their birth center in San Antonio, an 80-mile round trip from their home in Hondo. But in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, Marissas midwife sent her home with the doppler machine, a blood pressure cuff and urine test strips that she could use to track her and her unborn babys health without coming into the office. In the six weeks since then, prenatal care for Marissa has become a blend of at-home virtual visits with her midwife and in-office appointments every couple of weeks to undergo examinations and blood tests. Its a system that Marissa hopes will continue after the pandemic passes one that she says has made health care more accessible for her family and greatly increased her understanding of her own health. For families preparing to bring newborns into the world, the coronavirus has disrupted prenatal care and birthing plans, sometimes leading to canceled appointments and limited visitors in hospital delivery rooms. It also has brought fears that moms and babies could be separated at birth if one tests positive for the virus. But the pandemic has also spurred another change: a shift toward telemedicine, which could remove barriers to care for women and their families. Its one of the silver linings, said Dr. Tony Ogburn, the chair of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valleys obstetrics and gynecology department. It has really facilitated the move to telemedicine, which has been sluggish at best. Over the last three decades, the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. has doubled, forcing physicians and womens health advocates to examine ways to improve care for women before, during and after their pregnancies. Today, women in the U.S. are more likely to die from childbirth or pregnancy-related causes than other women in the developed world, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Texas, women face a number of barriers that can complicate their health care, such as a lack of insurance and shortages of medical professionals in their communities. And, depending on where a mother lives, it might take more than an hour to reach a hospital or birth center. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, less than half of women living in rural areas in the U.S. can drive to a hospital offering OB-GYN services within 30 minutes. The shortage is particularly acute in Texas: More than 150 counties home to more than 2 million Texans have no OB-GYN, a situation largely driven by rural hospital closures. Midwives in those counties are even harder to come by. Josie Norris, The San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer Women and health care providers hope that the shift to telemedicine could help fill those gaps. We really do hope that this breaks down barriers to care for our rural moms, and even some of our urban moms who work and have small children at home and its just really hard for them to get into the office for a visit if they have to sit in traffic for an hour, said Heather Butscher, who works in Houston for the March of Dimes, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of moms and babies. For years, many clinics and medical providers had been reluctant to make the switch, in large part because of fears that virtual health platforms wouldnt comply with health privacy laws. Government-backed insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid also have limited the amount doctors earn from conducting virtual visits. But when the coronavirus began to spread across the U.S. and health clinics were forced to reduce contact with patients, medical providers scrambled to find technological platforms that complied with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. At the same time, the federal and state governments waived reimbursement rules to allow medical providers to earn the same amount for visits over phone or video as those done in person. The result: Within weeks, health providers were providing all sorts of medical care virtually including prenatal visits a shift that couldve taken months to unfold otherwise. People were so reluctant to do it, Butscher said. But now, weve been forced into it. Confronting the digital divide Medical clinics across San Antonio have embraced the move. Dr. Patrick Ramsey, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at UT Health San Antonio, said its clinics ramped up to provide care over the phone or through Zoom when in-person exams arent necessary. He and other physicians are able to write prescriptions for blood pressure monitors and blood sugar test kits so expectant moms can check their levels at home. By measuring themselves, Ramsey said, some of his patients have been more active in taking control of their health, rather than relying solely on their doctors. It has increased health literacy, Ramsey said. The downside is the disparities part. Its a great platform to use to make access better, but were disparately increasing access. And unfortunately, the patients who probably need access the most might not be able to get it. In South Texas, women of color and those who have lower incomes are more likely to live with pre-existing conditions that are driven by poverty such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure and can turn dangerous during pregnancy. At the same time, low-income women may lack access to technology needed to participate in telemedicine. Ramsey said providing telemedicine to everyone will mean finding creative ways to give families access to that technology, even if it means setting up Wi-Fi hubs at community health clinics. It could also mean providing those visits by phone, rather than video calls, he said. Nearly 1 in 4 Bexar County households dont have a desktop or laptop, and nearly 17 percent dont have internet access, according to 2018 census estimates. But for patients who do have access to that technology, its now much easier to get care. Its a big game-changer, Ramsey said. (For example), my patient who lives two hours away from San Antonio with a 2-week old baby she would have to put her in the car, get the car seat and then have to worry about COVID-19 coming into the clinic. She can do it all from home. More empowered In late March, as the number of San Antonians infected with COVID-19 was doubling every three days, Alisa Voss Godfrey, owner of the San Antonio Birth Center, said she realized that the safest way to protect her clients and their newborns was to limit their physical presence in the birth center. They said telehealth, and they said coronavirus, and they said this is happening, Godfrey said. I got out my American Express, and I bought about $6,000 in extra supplies and equipment. At an average cost of $102 per client, Godfrey ordered doppler machines, blood pressure cuffs, urine analysis strips and tape measures to send home with the expectant mothers in her care. In Texas, licensed midwives such as Godfrey care for only women considered low-risk: those who dont have pre-existing or medical conditions that could complicate their pregnancies. Except for the visits that needed to take place in person such as those that include ultrasounds and blood work Godfrey arranged for the others to take place over Zoom. Each visit lasts about an hour, during which midwives walk pregnant mothers and their partners through measuring the growth of the uterus, mapping the position of the baby, taking the mothers blood pressure, analyzing urine and listening to the babys heartbeat. Godfrey has found that by taking their own measurements, women have become more aware of their health and whats normal and not normal for them. They are actually more empowered, so why would we not want people to be more empowered? she said. Thats exactly what we stand for. That has been Mayberrys experience. Prenatal visits over Zoom also meant she didnt have to take off work, find child care for her 3-year-old son and drive an hour each way to the birth center. And, with visitors limited in the center, her husband was able to be by her side at every visit. Last week, it took her and her husband only 49 seconds to find their babys heartbeat with the doppler significantly faster than the first few times they tried. Weve had a lot of fun learning, Mayberry said. Like when my baby is moving, Im like Oh, that makes sense because the back is over here, and its almost like we can catch the heartbeat immediately now because of how well theyve trained us to learn the position. Josie Norris, The San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer She said the last few weeks have allowed her to feel more connected to her husband and their unborn baby, whom she is due to deliver at the San Antonio Birth Center in early June. But because she could go into labor any day now, her time with telemedicine is now on pause. Until the birth, she must head to the birth center for her weekly checkups in person. Marina Starleaf Riker is an investigative reporter for the San Antonio Express-News with extensive experience covering affordable housing, inequality and disaster recovery. To read more from Marina, become a subscriber. marina.riker@express-news.net | Twitter: @MarinaStarleaf This story was produced with support from USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism's Data Fellowship. Editors note: New Mexicos primary election is Tuesday, June 2. The Observer asked candidates for Sandoval County offices and New Mexico Legislature seats representing Sandoval County to complete questionnaires explaining their priorities, qualifications and views on topics in the public eye. Candidates were held to a 450-word limit. If responses surpassed that limit, the answers were cut from the bottom until they were 450 words long. Otherwise, responses were not edited. The only Republican running for 13th Judicial District attorney is Joshua Joe Jimenez. Barbara Romo Residence: Rio Rancho Past and present occupation(s): US Army Officer (1987 1992); graduated from the University of Nebraska law school with honors in 1995; 7th Judicial District DA Office, (1996 2001), final positionChief Deputy District Attorney; 1st Judicial District (2001-2009), Deputy District Attorney; Victims Rights Attorney, DWI Resource Center (2009-2011); 13th Judicial District, (2011 present), currently Chief Deputy District Attorney. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or DWI charge? Charged with DWI January 2009 and pled guilty March 2009; I had reached a burnout point in my career. This was a wakeup call and I reevaluated the way I was handling the pressures of my job. I went to counseling and stopped drinking. I now serve on New Mexicos Walk Like MADD Committee. If elected, what will your top priorities be? The recruitment and retention of highly qualified and committed staff and attorneys. Provide the training and resources needed to allow consistent, effective and fair prosecution of the most violent offenders while working with community partners to develop creative solutions to fighting the revolving door of crime. Why should you be elected to this position? Experience! I have significant experience and skills in all aspects of what is needed to effectively manage a complex 3-county district. I have prosecuted over 100 jury trials and evaluated thousands of cases. I have leadership, personnel management, and budget management experience. I have been in charge of numerous district attorneys offices as Deputy and Chief Deputy. I am actively involved in and committed to this community because I have lived here for 20 years. I raised my children here. I can hit the ground running from Day 1, with the skills and community partnerships I have already developed. What, if anything, would you like to see changed about the district attorneys office, and how would you accomplish that? The turnover rate of prosecutors and support staff has a devastating effect on the Offices efficiency. It is extremely costly to repeatedly train new employees, only to have them leave for greener pastures. I will make the 13th the greener pasture where other quality individuals migrate and want to stay. This can be done by providing adequate supportincluding salaries, training and guidance. What strengths, if any, does the DAs office currently have, and how would you support them? The 13th has one of the best Pre-Prosecution Diversion programs in the State. This is due largely to the skills of the current director. I will work along-side community partner agencies to expand this program in new and creative ways to help non-violent offenders who want to get off a criminal path return to productive members of the community. What is your philosophy on representing the citizens as the top prosecuting attorney in the judicial district? The role of the District Attorney is to do justice. While that is or should be every prosecutors mantra, I will continue to instill and enforce this philosophy with every attorney who works for me. I lead by example to demonstrate the difference between Justice and vengeance and between mercy and accountability. Mandana Shoushtari Residence: Rio Rancho Past and present occupation(s): Assistant District Attorney/Senior Trial Prosecutor for the 13th Judicial District Have you ever been convicted of a felony or DWI charge? No If elected, what will your top priorities be? Fighting to keep our community safe will be my top priority. I will do everything within my power as the District Attorney to ensure that all violent, dangerous and repeat offenders who threaten the safety of our community are held accountable under the law, and that they are prevented from continuing to victimize our community. Why should you be elected to this position? Throughout my tenure as an Assistant District Attorney for the 13th Judicial District, I have achieved a high level of success while maintaining a complex and high caseload, averaging between 150 and 300 cases. Working my way up in a relatively short period of time to the position of Senior Trial Prosecutor, I have a firm grasp on what is needed to successfully and efficiently prosecute every type of criminal case in our community. What, if anything, would you like to see changed about the district attorneys office, and how would you accomplish that? I would like to see the system of training and promotions within the District Attorneys office change. I will work to ensure that all prosecutors, investigators, and staff members are properly trained and evaluated. I will further work to ensure that all positions and promotions within the District Attorneys Office are purely merit-based. What strengths, if any, does the DAs office currently have, and how would you support them? The DAs Office has been strong in recruiting good prosecutors. I will work to ensure that those prosecutors are properly trained, and promoted based on their performance, so that they remain with our office, and do not leave for better positions and/or salaries. What is your philosophy on representing the citizens as the top prosecuting attorney in the judicial district? The District Attorney must be guided by the philosophy that the top priority of the Office is to protect our community by working to ensure that all violent, dangerous and repeat offenders who threaten the safety of our community are aggressively prosecuted and held accountable under the law. Fee caps have been introduced to protect restauranters that use a delivery app as reported by NBC. Coronavirus has hit the hospitality industry hard with the likes of Grubhub and Uber Eats becoming increasingly more popular but the costs associated with these apps are hitting independent restaurants hard. A small number of cities have introduced these fee caps in order to help restaurants stay afloat whilst using a deliver app such as Grubhub. Independent restauranteurs have rebelled against these delivery apps. Many have taken to social media to criticize these apps. Others have taken to deliver notes asking customers to order direct rather than through an app. However, although demand for food delivery has increased, the ability for a delivery app to turn a profit has decreased especially with fee caps coming into force. Coronavirus Explodes Delivery Industry The demand for food delivery has rapidly increased due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many restaurants have turned to delivery in order to continue trading during this time, relying on apps to streamline the process. Advertisement Food Delivery Apps such as Grubhub, who brought their delivery service to Tripadvisor in 2017, offer customer support as well as a pool of insured delivery drivers which many independent restaurants just cannot replicate. However, contracts with these delivery apps come at a cost. One restaurant owner said that Grubhub charges 30-percent on orders as well as $9 on any order made on their website. When using these apps was just a side stream of revenue for restaurants it was less of an issue. Now delivery is the only option, these fees have become untenable. Advertisement Restauranters Hit Back and Cities Intervene As a result of these extortionate fees, many restaurant owners have taken matters into their own hands. John Stamos, who owns a Greek restaurant owner in Brooklyn, has delivered over 1,000 notes asking customers to order direct with him. He says that this ploy has worked well and customers are beginning to change their habits. David Singh, who owns a pizzeria in Santa Barbara, has taken to social media to complain against Grubhub. He and his son have purchased sponsored Instagram posts in order to get their message across. Singh has since ended his contract with Grubhub but as a result, has seen business increase. Cities have also heard the cry from restauranteurs. Chicago has mandated that delivery apps are more transparent with their pay structures. Washington D.C., San Francisco and Seattle have gone one step further by capping feeds at 15% with New York City putting a cap at 20%. Advertisement This is good news for independent restaurants but has hit these apps hard. Although orders have gone up for the likes of Uber Eats and Grubhub their profits have taken a hit. This has led to reports by Second Measure that Uber Eats is in talks to buy Grubhub to take control of almost half of the delivery market. The hospitality industry is struggling at this time and the delivery market is increasing. However, this is causing problems for both restaurants and delivery services. More people are relying on delivery for food but, the costs surrounding it are not decreasing. This is leading to pinch points in the system felt by all. Not all graduate activities will be able to make the transition to being conducted remotely. Credit: Shutterstock Many graduate students across Canada are in limbo with their research after they had to end experiments in progress or abandon field work when coronavirus closures halted years of work in mid-March. These students are facing an uncertain future and huge stressors. Canadian governments, both provincial and federal, have spent years creating incentives for graduate research training by funding enrolment expansions, offering scholarship support and increasing research funding, with an emphasis on the next generation of researchers. They've invested in graduate training because research is the foundation of an innovation economy and informs our understanding of how our collective prospects can advance. Students pursuing questions and developing skills that are fundamental to our future society and economy are the very students whose training was just put on hold. There are over 175,000 graduate students in Canada, 50,000 of whom are Ph.D. students. Graduate students provide critical labour for Canadian research and development. COVID-19 has massively disrupted their work and this system. Research-based graduate education doesn't transition well to social distancing. Graduate training typically requires research laboratories, archives, libraries with specialized physical collections and services, and human or animal subjects. Access to these necessities has collapsed. While some activities can be salvaged, shutdowns make other activities impossible. Financial crunch Adding salt to the wound, graduate students pay tuition fees whether or not they are able to conduct their research, and this does not stop for a pandemic. The pandemic also disrupts graduate funding. Graduate students are often university employees, working as research and teaching assistants and, in some cases, course instructors. University closures led to unemployment for some students. While many graduate students receive scholarships, support is time limited. A fortunate minority of students will benefit from extensions to federal scholarship support but many others may not have their funding extended. In STEM disciplines, many students are funded partially or wholly from their supervisors' grants. Funding for these students has continued in many cases, but this means that grant funds are dwindling even though research is stalled. Funding disruptions are highly problematic as graduate students are even more financially vulnerable than undergraduates, being older, more likely to have families to support and often holding student debt from their undergraduate studies. Here are three critical responses universities and governments should take to protect Canada's public investment in graduate training. Protect current student interests Universities must find creative and flexible options to allow students to complete programs remotely, progress more slowly or take leaves of absence without penalty. Not all graduate programs will be able to make this transition. This is a good time for graduate programs to be more flexible about the Ph.D. thesis and how students can meet the requirements for their degree. Students need financial security, which may include extending clocks on funding, finding work replacements for teaching and research assistant commitments and clarifying eligibility for programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), neither of which fully fit graduate student circumstances. The federal goverment's extension of scholarship funding and additional support for the research labour force are steps in the right direction. Many students enter Ph.D.s to pursue academic careers. Prior to COVID-19, Canadian universities graduated far more Ph.D.s than they hired as faculty. The already competitive academic hiring market is about to get even worse. The economic impacts of COVID-19 will likely result in delayed faculty retirements, and cash-strapped universities will be doing limited hiring. Ph.D. students were already sailing in very choppy waters. Now they face a perfect storm with respect to academic hiring, and many programs have prepared them for little else. Universities will need to ramp up existing professional development supports to address concerns about professional prospects particularly for Ph.D. students. Mental health support, already a concern for graduate students, will also be critically important for students struggling with disruptions. Universities might also consider options to discourage faculty from working well beyond retirement age, as this pattern reduces their fiscal capacity to hire junior faculty. Plan carefully for 2020 entrants Canadian universities are increasingly planning to conduct much of the fall 2020 term remotely. Some universities have tentative plans to allow small graduate classes to meet in person, and are grappling with the issue of access to research labs. It is not yet clear whether enrolments will be lower in some programs because of this uncertainty. If enrolments decline, there will be ripple effects, as graduate students contribute to the core research and teaching missions of the university. Embrace reform Do not waste this crisis. COVID-19 reveals a number of vulnerabilities in our current graduate education model, and gives governments and universities an opportunity to reform their models. The crisis shows that we need the federal and provincial governments and research universities to work together to develop a national research training strategy. They also need to consider the implications of growing reliance on international graduate students as research and teaching assistants as borders become harder to cross. Domestic students may have a new interest in graduate studies as a way to ride out the recession, and universities must ensure programs have a clear return on investment for these studentsand for taxpayers. The post-COVID era will require creativity, innovation and scientific acumen. Graduate students will play a critical role as we face these challenges. Canada needs to ensure that they are able to do so. Explore further Chemistry job seekers face tough outlook during pandemic This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This year for the first time ever, wear blue: run to remember is partnering with Team RWB to hold the event virtually, to ensure the safety of all participants. Participants are encouraged to walk or run wherever they feel comfortable and in accordance with their local guidelines for social distancing. Each participant can either run in honor of a fallen service member they would like to honor or will be given the name of one, which they can then write on a printable bib available on the wear blue website. Participants are asked to speak their hero's name on Memorial Day and take purposeful steps to serve as a living memorial for those fallen heroes. HMC is encouraging residents at all 49 installations throughout the country to participate in this year's event. "We value our partnership with wear blue: run to remember and the opportunity to support its mission on Memorial Day, in light of the difficult times our country is facing," stated John Ehle, President of HHF and HMC. "Our partnership with the military community enables us to spread the wear blue message while encouraging our residents to remember and pay tribute to fallen heroes in this meaningful way." HHF encourages growth and development by funding projects that address community challenges in the areas of health, education, housing, and overall community support. Its focus is to improve the quality of life for military families who sacrifice so much day-in and day-out. "We're so excited to partner this year with Team RWB and once again with the Hunt Heroes Foundation and Hunt Military Communities and happy we could adapt our Memorial Day event despite the current circumstances in our country. This event is so critical in honoring those Service Members who have paid the ultimate price," stated Lisa Hallett, Executive Director and Co-Founder of wear blue: run to remember. "Since the Global War on Terror began 7,030 Military Members have been killed in action, it is our mission to have all of those fallen heroes' names read aloud on Memorial Day. The support from Hunt Heroes Foundation and all those who participate will help us achieve that goal." To find out how you can be more involved in wear blue: run to remember or the Hunt Heroes Foundation, visit www.wearblueruntoremember.org or huntheroesfoundation.org . About Hunt Heroes Foundation Formed in 2018, the Hunt Heroes Foundation proudly serves military families, partners and communities through opportunities and ideas generated by our people and partnerships. Together, the HHF will discover new ways to ensure we help bring a positive change to the communities in which we live and work. www.huntheroesfoundation.org About Hunt Military Communities Hunt Military Communities, the largest military housing owner, offers unsurpassed quality and service to more than 165,000 residents in approximately 52,000 homes on Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army installations across the USA. We do this through our core values: safety, kindness, efficiency, enthusiasm and selflessness and our 5-Star Service commitment. With a 50-year legacy and a partnership with the Department of Defense, HMC strives to ensure the integrity of our military communities and the families who live there. For more information, visit www.huntmilitarycommunities.com . About wear blue: run to remember Our running community unites and supports military and their families, veterans, Gold Star families, and civilians through active remembrance and meaningful relationships. We motivate and empower individuals to healthier, more inspired living. More than 500,000 military members, their families, Gold Star families, veterans, retirees and civilians have participated in a wear blue event since its inception in 2010. www.wearblueruntoremember.org About Team RWB Every year, more than 250,000 active duty service members transition out of the military, joining the 3.5 million post-9/11 veterans already living in communities nationwide. They face many challenges including isolation, weight gain, lack of purpose, and other health issues. Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), a nonprofit organization founded in 2010, is the antidote to the isolation and health challenges they face. www. https://www.teamrwb.org/ SOURCE Hunt Heroes Foundation Related Links https://www.huntheroesfoundation.org Kolkata: In the wake of the devastation left by Cyclone Amphan in West Bengal which left around 80 people dead, the state is working hard to restore its essential services at the earliest. The state has deployed as many as 2.35 lakh police personnel and state officials for their services. In a press release issued on Monday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her gratitude to the state government employees and policemen who have been working continuously to restore services in cyclone-hit areas. Several employees of Irrigation, Agriculture, PWD, PHE departments alongwith the state police, Army, NDRF and SDRF have been working to restore power, to bring water supply back, cut fallen trees, to provide relief measures to needy and help to reconstruct infrastructure. "I congratulate them for restoring 80% of the essential services post Bengal's grimmest disaster ever. Most urban areas have got back important services. Rest will also be revived shortly. All major hospitals, water treatment plants, water supply units, irrigation and drainage pumping, facilities, power sub stations have been made operational. These works will continue till normalcy is restored. Seek cooperation of all in this battle," she said. The press note also lists the agencies and the number of people on duty. Deployed for Cyclone Amphan relief work: 1 Power department 15000 people 2 NDRF 30 teams (1200 people) 3 SDRF/DMG 41 teams (800 people) 4 FIRE 35 teams (700 people) 5 CIVIL DEFENCE 400 teams (3000 people) 6 STATE POLICE 1,25,000 (including Homeguards, NVFS, VPVs, CVs) 7 Members of Calcutta Police 8 IRRIGATION 50 Executive Engineers, 150 Assistant Engineers, 300 Junior Engineers (4000 people) 9 PWD 25 Executive Engineers, 75 Assistant Engineers, 150 Junior Engineers (1500 people) 10 PHE 300 teams (4000 people) [500 Tanks 50 Lakh pouches of drinking water @300 ML distributed] 11 AGRICULTURE 5000 people 12 DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION 50,000 people 13 Miscellaneous and other agencies 25000 people TOTAL: 2,35,200 Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Monday met again for the fourth time to review the ongoing coordination efforts and restoration measures in the cyclone Amphan-hit areas of West Bengal. A sum of Rs 1,000 crores has already been released to the state government after the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ministry of Home Affairs will also be sending a Central team soon to assess the damages. Afterward, shots were fired nearby and a second man was taken into custody, police said. A handgun was recovered. During the incident, two officers were injured and taken to a hospital in good condition. It was not immediately clear how the officers were injured or what their injuries were. The government is unlikely to halve the physical distancing guidelines in the short-term, despite calls from ministers. Friday's cabinet meeting featured what sources called "a proper ding dong" on whether Ireland could move to World Health Organisation advice that one metre distance be kept between people instead of the current two metre guidance. Cabinet members felt that one metre would allow restaurants and schools more latitude to open in the coming months. The Restaurants Association of Ireland said the alteration in guidance would be "a game changer" for their members. It is understood that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar offered ministers a meeting with NPHET to discuss the distance, a meeting which will be held this week. However, the Taoiseach on Saturday poured cold water on the idea of changing the guidelines while Health Minister Simon Harris told RTE 2FM that the rule is "constantly under review but is important to stick to for now". Sources say there is little appetite to stray from public health advice at this time, with new cases of Coronavirus being reported daily. Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said he does not yet believe that the international guidance on the virus has changed to the extent which would mean a halving of the guidelines. I understand the impatience to end this but if we can keep the low level of infection, we can progress through the road map. Dr Holohan said two metres is "not a rule and not a magic thing on its own" but that it is the current strong guidance. He said the issue is under constant review and confirmed that he will be briefing ministers, more than half of whom are believed to be pushing for the guidance to be changed, on the issue. NPHET will meet this Thursday, Dr Holohan said. The assistant secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach Liz Canavan said there has been "much speculation" about whether Ireland can either halve its social distancing requirements or move through the phased road map quicker than anticipated. She said such decisions are a "risk-based approach" and said that two metres physical distancing is NPHET advice and is there to save lives. That advice was echoed by WHO Special Envoy on Covid-19 Dr David Nabarro, who told RTE Radio's Today Show that the two-metre rule "keeps you safe 99% of the time". "The WHO and others have said the best distance to keep away from people if you want to avoid inhaling a droplet is two metres. That's because that will keep you safe 99% of the time but you can greatly reduce risk even at one metre because 70% of the droplets will stick within one metre." Dr Nabarro said that if a person must get closer than that, they should try to remain at least a metre away. He said that ventilation will be a key factor in deciding what to reopen and when, citing South Korea's rise in cases after reopening its nightclubs. Having proven himself a gutsy, crafty, fearless warrior able to engage and stare down the worst the Deep State has to offer as acting DNI, bigger things lie ahead for Ric Grenell than a return to his "mere" ambassadorship to the dominant power in Europe. For almost anyone else, a position like ambassador to Germany could be a career capstone, a high honor, a memory to cherish for one's remaining days. But for Ric Grenell, it is too small a job to return to. Ross Krasny of Bloomberg reports: Ric Grenell, a favorite of President Donald Trump, confirmed in a tweet on Sunday that he plans to step down as U.S. ambassador to Germany. (snip) "True," Grenell, 53, tweeted Sunday in response to a Politico report that he plans to depart the post in Berlin, where he's been stationed since May 2018. The German news agency DPA reported the news earlier. Grenell has also served since October 2019 as special envoy for peace talks between Serbia and Kosovo. His departure from Berlin was anticipated for some time. Grenell's next possible moves within the Trump administration or outside are unclear. Here is a hint as to what lies ahead for Ambassador Grenell, coming from President Trump's interview with another fearless figure, Sharyl Attkisson: When you look at what Richard Grenell has done in eight weeks, these people didn't do anything for two and a half years. They should have been exposing this. So I'm very disappointed in certain people. And some people have done a phenomenal job, but what am I doing? I'm fighting the deep state. I'm fighting the swamp. And I said I was doing it. And I'm exposing the swamp. I think if it keeps going the way I'm going, and Ratcliffe is fantastic. If it keeps going the way it's going, I have a chance to break the deep state. It's a vicious group of people. It's very bad for our country. And that's never happened before. You happen to be a victim of the deep state. I like the sound of a promise to "break the deep state." And Ric Grenell is the kind of guy to play a role in breaking it. YouTube screen grab (cropped). Another hint came from Joe DiGenova, who has proven to be the most insightful and informed commentator on Obamagate. This morning, on his weekly appearance on WMAL radio's Mornings on the Mall, Joe stated that he expects indictments from the Durham investigation will start coming in June. Because he has matchless sources and has been accurate in the past, this is one prediction that I believe. Who will be the targets on the indictments? According to Joe, senior officials in the FBI and DOJ who were involved in the illegal surveillance of the Trump campaign and later transition team and presidency. There may be some very important vacancies coming in these bureaucracies, positions from which sweeping reforms could come if someone as savvy, strong, tireless, and smart as Ric Grenell has proven himself to be inherits a post. Jaipur: It is for the first time that drones and planes will be used to fight the locust attack in Rajasthan, said B.R. Karwa, project director, Agricultural Technology Management Agency, here on Monday. The locusts have changed their attack strategy this season and are flying at great height against their basic nature to fly in the low lying areas. Hence, Union minister for agriculture Kailash Chowdhary has requested the DGCA to help the government with planes which can fight the locust menace from a height by spraying pesticides, he informed. Also, the Rajasthan government is considering tenders so that drones can be used in countering the locust menace, he said. On Monday morning, the residents of Jaipur woke up to a sudden attack by a swarm of locusts which invaded many parts of the city. The attack was not limited to one colony but was seen in many areas of the city which left the residents surprised. Officials said that it is for the first time that locusts have invaded residential areas of the city in the summer months. Karwa said that the locusts entered Jaipur in the winter of 1993 and it is after three decades, that they have attacked the city in summer. When asked if there has been any crop loss with the locusts attacking crops this season, he said "As there are no standing crops in the fields, there is no loss in this season. However, we are adopting newer measures to check any loss in the coming seasons." Meanwhile, officials of the agriculture department have blamed the neighbouring nation Pakistan alleging that it is preferring to sit idly by instead of taking any action to control the locusts as these insects have made the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan their breeding centres. Earlier, the breeding centres of locusts were African nations and hence they used to take time to reach India. However, now with the Pak-Afghan border becoming their breeding centre, they are entering Rajasthan from Pakistan. The UKs largest solar farm, capable of delivering clean power to 91,000 homes, will be built on the north Kent coast if given the go-ahead by ministers this week. The 900-acre Cleve Hill Solar Park, one mile northeast of Faversham and three miles west of Whitstable, would see the erection of 880,000 solar panels and is designed to reach a capacity of 350MW. The plans also indicate that the project could also build one of the worlds largest energy-storage facilities to date three times larger than the lithium-ion battery built by Elon Musk, the Tesla founder, in Australia. The 450m project is expected to receive the green light from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which is headed by Alok Sharma. Although the project promises large amounts of clean energy, the development of this part of the Thames estuary has been divisive for various reasons, including perceived risks to local people, the impact on the immediate environment and the visual impact on the landscape. One of the key concerns has been the materials used to make the energy storage facility, which on its own will use 25 acres of land. The Kent branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) told The Telegraph: The battery storage envisaged has caused fires and explosions around the world and CPRE is concerned that this application could be approved without any safety consideration being taken into account. The size of this storage is five times the current largest similar battery storage in the world and poses unacceptable risks. It is equivalent to 602 tons of TNT, which is a twentieth of the TNT equivalent of the Hiroshima atom bomb. The project has seen a divide between normally united organisations Friends of the Earth, which supports it, and Greenpeace, which has said it is opposed to the industrialising of the countryside, according to The Times. Helen Whately, MP for Faversham, said the scheme would have a devastating impact and would destroy an entire landscape and has urged Mr Sharma to reject the proposal. I want to see us reach net-zero [greenhouse-gas emissions] by 2050, but this should not come at any cost, she said. Speaking about the safety concerns, Professor Sir David Melville, from the Faversham Society, which also is opposed to the farm, told The Telegraph: Its only a mile away from the local primary school and a couple of miles away from Faversham. This is far too big a risk to take at the level that we currently know about these batteries and their safety, and we havent had the reassurances that we need from the government. Recommended Ofgem to encourage electric vehicles and wind power in net zero drive The RSPB has also opposed it. In a consultation document submitted to the government, the organisation said: Considering the perilous state of nature, if we are to deliver on the UK governments goal to be the first generation to leave that environment in a better state than we found it, we will need to make good decisions about land use. The Independent has contacted the developers Wirsol Energy and Hive Energy for comment. They have previously given assurances over the safety of the project and said it could bring 27.25m investment to local authorities over 25 years. Emily Marshall, spokesperson for the developers, told The Telegraph earlier this month: If built, it will be able to generate up to 350MW of clean, renewable electricity able to power over 91,000 homes. The project wont require any government subsidies and aims to be one of the lowest cost generators of electricity in the UK. If built, it would also provide over 1m of revenue to Swale and Kent Councils each year for the lifetime of the project. The solar park will deliver a 65% increase in biodiversity on the intensively farmed site by including open grassland and meadow areas, hedgerows and woodland. A total of 448 people arrived in Imphal on Monday in four flights as domestic air travel resumed in Manipur and other states, after a gap of two months, officials said. The first flight to land was from Delhi via Guwahati which reached Imphal Airport followed by an Air Asia flight. "Upon arrival, the passengers were screened for fever through the newly installed whole body thermal scanner," a statement issued by the COVID-19 Common Control Room said. The passengers will "remain in quarantine centre till they tested negative or till completion of 14 days", the statement said. Security personnel ensured that social distancing norms were maintained by the passengers before they were allowed to board buses which took them to an institutional quarantine centre located a few kilometres away from the airport. Disinfectants were also sprayed at the baggage of the arriving passengers. Meanwhile, the state Home Department on Monday morning reviewed and modified its earlier Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). "No passenger will be allowed to go home without testing negative or till completion of 14 days" quarantine period, it said. Asymptomatic passengers will be stamped for institutional quarantine with indelible ink on their hand and allowed to the baggage area, it added. A new Standard Operating Procedure was issued after several student bodies protested against the earlier SOP which allowed incoming passengers to go for home quarantine. The Kuki Students Organisation, Sadar Hills had issued a statement on Sunday that unless the state government rectifies its order to send all flight passengers to institutional quarantine, no passengers coming by flight shall be allowed entry into Sadar Hills Kangpokpi district. Six other student bodies, including All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) and Manipur Students Federation (MSF), also questioned the earlier SOP and met government representatives this morning to resolve the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The page youre looking for cannot be found. Check the address and spelling are correct. If youre still encountering problems, please Contact Us. Preeja Prasad By Express News Service BENGALURU: Bengaluru-based scooter rental startup Bounce, which is now looking at investing in electric vehicles and revamping its inventory is selling around 1,500 of its bicycles in Bengaluru and Hyderabad at Rs 800. The company is shifting its focus to scooter-sharing business. There was excess an inventory and we are entering the electric vehicle (EV) industry. We realised that bicycles are good for short trips only. So we are shutting that option, though it is still active on the app, a Bounce spokesperson said. This apart, around 500 fuel-run scooters are also being sold. Bounce co-founder Vivekananda Hallekere took to Twitter, saying: I think you can make anything go viral on WhatsApp by posting it in family groups. We started selling a few used scooters and now the message has reached its own interpretation as to if we are shutting down. Again, when it comes to PR there is nothing called as bad news (sic). With the pandemic creating fear among customers on the cleanliness of rental bikes, the company has taken measures by applying a disinfectant coating on its vehicles. The coating will last for over three months. There is a health card pasted on the scooter which shows the last time the vehicle was sanitised, the spokesperson said.The company recently collaborated with the Bengaluru City Police in disinfecting the personnel vehicles with an anti-microbial solution. Its already a heavy task for Xu Ziqiang to work as the director of the emergency department of the Chenzhou No. 1 Peoples Hospital, central Chinas Hunan province, but the man, whos also a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has undertaken an additional position during the COVID-19 epidemic the head of the hospitals expert team for COVID-19 response. Recollecting the war that lasted more than three months, Xu said it was a tough battle for medical workers, but what was really important was to gain experience from the epidemic. He said only by filling the shortages and enhancing medical capability can they cope with similar situations in a calmer manner in the future. This is also something he needs to study as a member of the CPPCC National Committee, he said. Chenzhou locates in the southernmost part of Hunan and borders with south Chinas Guangdong province, where SARS infections in 2003 were first identified. In that year, Xu participated in the battle against the SARS epidemic and was responsible for transferring fevered patients. Though no confirmed case was discovered in the city, Xu saw how dangerous the virus was. This time, when Xus hospital was in urgent demand of emergency doctors, apart from rushing to the frontline himself, he also transferred his son, whos also a doctor, to the department. His family worried about them, but he said that was the duty of doctors. He hopes more doctors can step forward in the face of the emergency. The novel coronavirus is an enemy of mankind. As medical staff, how can we defeat it if we dont get close to it? Its our duty bound to rush to the frontline. Doctors should be brave and think more when major health crisis happens, Xu said, who stressed the importance of medical workers own health conditions after seeing the news reports of doctors contracting COVID-19. He always reminded his colleagues to wear protective masks and suits according to relevant standards, and told them to disinfect their hands especially after seeing the patients. Good health habits and healthy lifestyles are basic for preventing public health emergencies. Xu believes that as a member of the CPPCC National Committee, he should make contribution to improving the societys capability of coping with public health crisis. Through cooperation with other doctors, Xu has applied for a research project to Chenzhous science bureau, aiming to carry out surveys at all public hospitals in the city to enhance prevention and control knowledge of new contagious diseases, upgrade relevant equipment and facilities, and improve conditions of operation rooms. Besides, the research project will also provide data reference and detailed suggestions for epidemic prevention and infrastructure enhancement. Though it was dangerous to work on the frontline of SARS and COVID-19 control, Xu said he would have become a deserter if he ducked the responsibility of a doctor. I am a doctor, and its my due responsibility. As a member of the CPPCC National Committee, I must think further and deeper to prepare for future challenges, he said. The murders by the 'well of death' in Warangal have been a sensation in Telangana. Warangal: Detectives investigating the mysterious deaths of nine guest workers in rural Warangal in Telangana have determined that they were indeed murders, and zeroed in two men who, they believe, plotted and carried out the crime. The bodies of six members of one family and three other workers, were recovered on Wednesday and Thursday. Police investigators said the murders were allegedly plotted by Sanjay Kumar Yadav, a guest worker from Bihar, along with Khatun, son-in-law of Maqsood Alam. Khathun stays in Delhi and ganged up with Yadav, who had a financial dispute with Maqsood Alam. Police sources said Khatun had separated from Maqsoods daughter Bushra three years ago after they had had a child. Investigations revealed that Sanjay saw an opportunity to execute the plan when Maqsood was celebrating his grandsons birthday on May 20. He purchased sleeping pills from three medical shops, went to the party uninvited and mixed the tablets in soft drinks. After all those present at the party fell unconscious, he and an autorickshaw driver Mohan, a resident of Chintal, dragged them to the abandoned well and threw them inside. They took the phones from the victims and disposed them on the outskirts of the city. Footage from CCTV cameras near the well and call data from the phones of the deceased helped the police identify the killer. Sources said Sanjay has confessed to the crime. The police may officially arrest the accused after fully interrogating him. Maqsood Alam, a guest worker from West Bengal, his wife Nisha Alam, their sons Shabaz Alam and Sohail Alam, daughter Bushra Alam, her three-year-old son, guest workers from Bihar Sriram and Shyam and Shakeel, another guest worker from Tripura, were killed. A forensic expert who studied the crime scene said seven of the bodies had bruises on them, and looked like they had been dragged to the well. The forensic reports are expected in 10 days. "We have preserved all organs and the same were sent to forensic science laboratory (FSL) for examination... some two or three persons might have been involved in the crime. There are scratch injuries on the bodies," he said. "It appears that they were thrown into the water... There were no injuries on the child's body. We are awaiting the forensic report (to ascertain) whether they were poisoned. It didn't appear as if they committed suicide," the expert, who performed the post-mortem said. Police sources said at least two people were picked up for questioning. The murders came to light when the bodies of the head of the family, his wife, daughter and three-year old grandson were found floating were and fished out on Thursday. On Friday morning, one more body was seen floating following which police pumped out the well and found four more. The 48-year old Maqsood Alam had migrated from West Bengal over 20 years ago and had settled down here. His family had been staying in two rooms on the premises of the unit, police said. Libya's rebel commander urges forces to rally against Turkey Iran Press TV Sunday, 24 May 2020 7:18 AM The self-styled commander of the rebels in Libya, Khalifa Haftar, has called on his forces to rally against Turkey, which militarily backs the government in the country's capital, Tripoli. Haftar urged his self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) forces in an audio message on Saturday to battle the "colonial" intervention by Turkey, in an allusion to the time Libya was controlled by the former Ottoman Empire. Forces aligned with the Tripoli-based government have made major advances in recent weeks and retaken areas controlled by the rebels, including a key air base on the outskirts of the capital. The rebels, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Jordan, also announced on Saturday that they had withdrawn from some areas, but also claimed to have killed or captured a number of Libyan government forces in attacks on the areas surrounding Tripoli. Haftar has threatened to respond with a massive air campaign to the government's gains, with experts having warned of the risk of a new round of escalation as the warring sides' external backers pour in new weaponry. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in an interview on NTV that Ankara "will not bow to threats by Haftar or anyone else," adding that, "The international community must take a stand against Haftar. We need to go back to the table for a political solution as soon as possible." On Wednesday, the United Nations (UN)'s acting envoy for Libya called on the Security Council to press countries to end their sponsorship of warring sides in the North African country, warning that the influx of arms and mercenaries would aggravate the conflict. Government forces retake more areas near capital In yet another victory against the rebels, Libyan government forces said on Saturday they had advanced into several districts and seized three barracks from Haftar's LNA in the south of Tripoli. Mohamad Gnounou, a spokesman for government forces, said in a statement that they had "regained control of the Yarmouk, Hamza, and al-Sawarikh camps" south of the capital. Gnounou added that Haftar's rebels were fleeing the area but the government forces "continue to pursue" them. Trump, Erdogan discuss Libya in phone call In another development on Saturday, US President Donald Trump called for a "rapid de-escalation" in the Libyan conflict during a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The White House said Trump had expressed concern about the "worsening foreign interference" in Libya. Libya has been in chaos since 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged in Libya, namely the internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by Haftar's rebels. The rebels launched a deadly offensive to capture Tripoli in April last year but have so far failed to advance past the city's outskirts. International attempts to bring about peace between the two warring sides have also failed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Evariste Ndayishimiye has been declared the winner of Burundi's presidential election, marking a new era in the country's politics with the end of incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza's rule. Opposition parties have complained of a vote marred by irregularities on election day and intimidation during the campaign period. Ndayishimiye secured 68 percent of the vote, according to Pierre Kazihise, president of Burundi's electoral commission. The country's main opposition leader, Agathon Rwasa, took just over 24 percent of ballots, and turnout was 87 percent. In the legislative polls, the ruling CNDD-FDD party took 72 seats in Burundi's parliament, and Rwasa's opposition CNL party took 27 seats. The CNDD-FDD said the election of Ndayishimiye would help write a new and brilliant page in the country's development. In a post on social media, the CNDD-FDD congratulated the country's electoral commission for its remarkable work in organising and running presidential, parliamentary and local elections. Foreign election observation missions were largely absent from the polls. Some African envoys monitored polling stations on 20 May, and Kenya's ambassador to Burundi, Ken Vitisia, said voting was very peaceful. Election day itself was characterised by a clampdown on social media, with access to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp restricted across the country's three major internet providers. Opposition allege irregularities Agathon Rwasa had already complained the electoral fraud was planned, in an interview with the Iwacu news website. "These are fabricated results, which are not reliable. The tally sheets that we could gather don't correspond to those that have been announced by the media, according to Rwasa, discussing results that had already been announced ahead of time. He gave one example of an area in which thousands of additional names had allegedly been added to the electoral list, describing the voter roll as a pure and simple fantasy. The CNL candidate said voter ID cards had not been given to certain voters. "I ask the electoral commission, the Burundian people, the authorities and the international community to respect the verdict of the people," Rwasa added. Political repression According to a statement published on Sunday by the CNL the authorities wanted to stop CNL supporters from exercising their civic and political rights on polling day. The CNL said at least 200 of its supporters were arrested on polling day and their polling agents were harassed. In addition, three CNL members were killed, more than a dozen forcibly disappeared, some 50 injured and 300 arrested during the campaign period, according to the opposition. The authorities blamed CNL supporters in the run-up to the election, saying they attacked members of the CNDD-FDD, according to a statement from the ministry for public security. The government said the opposition was responsible for killing one member of the CNDD-FDD and injuring 49 during the three weeks of campaigning. Human rights experts sounded the alarm about increasing political violence during the campaign period. The Burundi Human Rights Initiative told RFI that the majority of violence was perpetrated by the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling party. First new president in 15 years Ndayishimiye will become the country's first new president since 2005 when Nkurunziza was elected following the end of Burundi's civil war. Nkurunziza's controversial third term in 2015 faced protests and demonstrations, resulting in an attempted coup by a breakaway military faction. It led to a violent crackdown by the government, described by a UN investigation as committing gross human rights violations. Ndayishimiye previously studied law and joined the CNDD-FDD when it was a rebel group during the civil war. He rose through the ranks and eventually held several top positions in government, consolidating his position during the 2015 crisis. LONDON, May 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Australian mining giant Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) has withdrawn a legal case against commodity price reporting agency Argus, in which it sought to prevent the publication of information about low grade iron ore prices. This move follows a London High Court decision last Friday, 22 May, in which Justice Robert Miles dismissed an injunction on Argus which aimed to halt publication. Adrian Binks, chairman and chief executive of Argus Media said "we are very glad that the principle of press freedom has been so firmly re-established and accepted. Our job as objective commodity market reporters is to bring transparency to often opaque markets. Companies are able to make better decisions if they have access to high quality and accurate information about the markets in which they operate". More information about last week's High Court judgment may be found here. Contact Information London: Seana Lanigan +44 20 7780 4200 Email Seana Singapore: Tomoko Hashimoto +65 6496 9960 Email Tomoko Moscow: Alexey Komarov +7 495 933 75 71 Email Alexey Houston: Euan Craik +1 713 968 0000 Email Euan About Argus Media Argus is an independent media organisation with more than 1000 staff. It is headquartered in London and has 25 offices in the world's principal commodity trading and production centres. Argus produces price assessments and analysis of international energy and other commodity markets, and offers bespoke consulting services and industry-leading conferences. Companies in 140 countries around the world use Argus data to index physical trade and as benchmarks in financial derivative markets as well as for analysis and planning purposes. Argus was founded in 1970 and is a privately held UK-registered company. It is owned by employee shareholders, global growth equity firm General Atlantic and Hg, the specialist software and technology services investor. ARGUS, the ARGUS logo, ARGUS MEDIA, ARGUS DIRECT, ARGUS OPEN MARKETS, AOM, FMB, DEWITT, JIM JORDAN & ASSOCIATES, JJ&A, FUNDALYTICS, METAL-PAGES, METALPRICES.COM, INTEGER, Argus publication titles and Argus index names are trademarks of Argus Media Limited. SOURCE Argus Media Related Links http://www.argusmedia.com WHERES THE HEART? Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or no affiliation at all, I think we all can agree that President Trump has not shown one ounce of compassion toward the families of those affected by this virus and those who have lost their lives. He has never given thanks to the doctors, nurses, EMTs, policemen, firemen, and many others who put in superhuman efforts in trying to save the lives of others. While it is important to get the economy back on track and start enjoying life as it should be, lets not forget how dangerous this virus is and will be in the future. This pandemic was an opportunity for the president to shine and show his mettle. Instead, he has used it as a political platform, and in reality (which he doesnt understand), has failed miserably. DISGRUNTLED REPUBLICAN GOT THEIR NUMBER Great article in Fridays paper by Jack McCaffery on Eagles linebacker #55 Brandon Graham. I have noticed his outstanding play over the years and it brings back memories of another favorite linebacker of mine, also #55, Maxie Baughn. When Brandon retires the Eagles should retire the number in honor of Maxie and Brandon. ANDY FROM HAVERTOWN NO PITY IN RIDLEY Ridley Township doesnt need anybodys pity. They created a job for a Ridley Republican Party boss who lost his job at the county courthouse. The school district has three deans of students. Look up the title: Its designated for institutes of higher learning! 1) We had no snow removal this past winter and they didnt even keep the streets swept! I have not seen a street sweeper for months, way before the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) No school buses have been in use since the nation shut down. 3) No crossing guards have been on duty since the nation shut down. 4) Upkeep of schools has been at a minimum since the nation shut down. No students, no teachers, and a minimum of essential personnel means a full staff isnt necessary. (Im not concerned about light bulbs or clean parking lots when the buildings are pretty much empty.) Did any of these workers get furloughed or wages reduced? How many taxpayers are suffering from a cut in pay or a job furlough? ABUSED TAXPAYER HAIL TO THE KING So King Trump again subverts the democratic process and declares all houses of worship essential and to open up immediately while defying all governors to intercede. The King, of course, does not hold this power. In Chris Freinds opinion last week he wrote, Clueless religious groups of all faiths are pushing to reopen churches, which isnt the smartest move He goes on to speak of 180 people in quarantine because a California church defied the stay-at-home order and a church-goer tested positive for COVID-19. But Ill bet my stimulus check, Mr. Freind will not elicit the name Trump in any criticism of the presidents latest bungling behavior, if he even mentions it at all. JAY FROM UPPER PROVIDENCE A BUG WITH BRAINS Coronavirus is very smart. As long as youre in a crowded Walmart or pot store or liquor store, it wont bother you. But dont go in the house at worship or it will in kill you in a second. TRUMP 2020 ENOUGH ALREADY If I hear one more grief-stricken commercial, Im going to scream! Why is it that everyone that sells cars to cat food have this need to use COVID-talk in order to sell their product? You dont need to have every commercial prefaced with in these uncharted times and end with we are all in this together accompanied by dead puppy piano music in the background. I know these times are uncharted. Believe me, I think we are all up to speed on that and we are all in this together. Please just present your product the way you have always done. GRATEFUL IN DELCO On this Memorial Day, we need to forget about all the partisan bickering and give thanks to those who gave their all for all of us. I for one am very grateful for your sacrifices, and will never for get you. Always in my heart. Veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Monday condemned the arrest of two Pinjra Tod activists by Delhi Police for anti-CAA protests in the national capital and termed it as "political vendetta". Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita were members of Pinjra Tod, a collective of women students and alumni of colleges across Delhi. They were arrested on Saturday in connection with a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Jaffrabad area in February. Both the women are students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University and Kalita, who is pursuing M.Phil, is from Assam. Gogoi, who is a former chief minister of Assam, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding that the two women be released immediately. "You know yourself that great agitations are going on all over the country against CAA and CAA violets the principle of Indian Constitution and also goes against the Assam Accord," he said in the letter. "We have no doubt this is nothing but political vendetta and attempt to suppress their fundamental right," the letter read. The Constitution has given the right to agitate against the decision of the government and the two women did nothing but exercised their rights, he added. "The arrest of two girl students by Delhi police is most condemnable... They didn't commit any offence... I therefore request you to kindly direct Delhi police to release both the students immediately," Gogoi said. The two indeed took part in a peaceful agitation in Delhi in February against the CAA but they did not indulge in violence and did not incite people to violence, he said. Narwal, a PhD student, and Kalita were granted bail on Sunday, but they were arrested immediately in a separate murder case linked to Delhi communal riots and a court sent the two to two days of police custody. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of hectares in a forest at Co Kildare is at risk as a gorse fire is being battled by bog workers, Coillte and fire services. A helicopter along with about 20 fire service personnel are at the scene of a fire near Donadea, following from another fire, just 24 hours before. Naas Fire Services and Maynooth Fire Servics are battling the fires at Hortland Wood, at Derryvarogue. The latest fires to hit Co Kildare is sparking appeals by a Superintendent for the public to take care as the lives of wildlife, particularly grouse, who are now in nesting season are at risk. Maynooth Fire Services were deployed to a gorse fire at Hortland, near Donadea, on the afternoon of Sunday, May 24, at about 2pm. The fire was quenched but on the afternoon of Monday, May 25, another one began, with both private forest and public forest land involved. Superintendent Martin Walker, says that a recent spate of fires in the county, along with West Wicklow, are of concern. He says that Newbridge Fire Services have been called to a number of fires at The Curragh over the past three months. He said: Somebody is setting the fires, I don't know what is causing them. There are more now than usual in my tenure, over the past five years. Although forest fires are typical for this time of the year, due to the unusually dry weather, there has been more call outs to the fire services. There are concerns that the rain on Saturday will not be adequate to dispel the fires that are worsening due to the particularly recent spate of dry weather. Supt Walker said: It is illegal to burn vegetation under the Wildlife Act. Every year there are forest fires, and it is common enough when there is unusually dry weather, but there are more calls out to fires this year. It is potentially dangerous for people in houses near these fires. He is urging people who are out walking in parks or forests to ensure that they are careful to quench cigarettes and barbeques properly. Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Monday said the government would expand the scope of the COVID-19 testing by at least examining two per cent of the country's population as the country has witnessed a surge in the number of coronavirus cases. Nepal on Monday registered its highest single-day spike in the coronavirus cases with 79 new infections, taking the total COVID-19 tally to 682 in the country. Nepal, which has extended its nationwide lockdown till June 2 to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, is among the nations that has the least number of cases of the deadly COVID-19 with four deaths. In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Oli said that his government is doing its best to prevent and control the spread of the coronavirus. Today we are conducting COVID-19 tests at 20 labs across the country even though we had just one lab facility in the beginning, he said. Oli said his government would expand the scope of the COVID-19 testing and the tests would be done on at least two per cent of the country's population, which stands at 30 million. Oli said the Nepal government is working to increase the number of quarantine facilities by utilising the hotels and public infrastructures which are now not being used. Nepal's status in battling the COVID-19 is satisfactory, Oli said, adding that the government is sensitive toward the problems facing Nepalese in foreign countries and will chalk out a plan to repatriate them. During the address, Oli attributed the very low mortality rate of COVID-19 among the Nepalese people to their strong will power and eating habit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The coronavirus may still be spreading at epidemic rates in 24 states, particularly in the South and Midwest, according to new research that highlights the risk of a second wave of infections in places that reopen too quickly or without sufficient precautions. Researchers at Imperial College London created a model that incorporates cellphone data showing that people sharply reduced their movements after stay-at-home orders were broadly imposed in March. With restrictions now easing and mobility increasing with the approach of Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer, the researchers developed an estimate of viral spread as of May 17. RELATED: Texas man dies of COVID-19 in Iowa It is a snapshot of a transitional moment in the pandemic and captures the patchwork nature across the country of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. Some states have had little viral spread or "crushed the curve" to a great degree and have some wiggle room to reopen their economies without generating a new epidemic-level surge in cases. Others are nowhere near containing the virus. The model, which has not been peer reviewed, shows that in the majority of states, a second wave looms if people abandon efforts to mitigate the viral spread. "There's evidence that the U.S. is not under control, as an entire country," said Samir Bhatt, a senior lecturer in geostatistics at Imperial College. The model shows potentially ominous scenarios if people move around as they did previously and do so without taking precautions. In California and Florida, the death rate could spike to roughly 1,000 deaths a day by July without efforts to mitigate the spread, according to the report. Other models released in recent days captured a similarly mixed picture. The PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia used county-level forecasts that found much of the country was in decent shape for reopening, but worrisome areas remain, including Houston, Dallas, South Florida and Alabama. On this Memorial Day weekend, some people will visit areas that may not have had much exposure to the virus, said David Rubin, director of PolicyLab. "This is the first test of the system," Rubin said. "Those areas that succeed this weekend are going to succeed because they've developed strong regulations on how they're going to do this." RELATED: A hairstylist who worked while showing symptoms exposed 91 to COVID-19 The Imperial College researchers estimated the virus's reproduction number, known as R0, or R naught. This is the average number of infections generated by each infected person in a vulnerable population. The researchers found the reproduction number has dropped below 1 in 26 states and the District. In those places, as of May 17, the epidemic was waning. In 24 states, however, the model shows a reproduction number over 1. Texas tops the list, followed by Arizona, Illinois, Colorado, Ohio, Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa, Alabama and Wisconsin. When the R naught is below 1, it means the virus is hitting a lot of dead ends as it infects people. Someone who is infected but who follows social distancing rules or stays quarantined until recovering has a good chance of not infecting anyone else. The challenge is finding a way to reopen the economy with sufficient care to prevent the reproduction number from going over 1. This has become a geographically complex pandemic, one that will evolve, especially as people increase their movements in coming weeks. Laws and health regulations vary from state to state, county to county and city to city. There are communities where wearing facial coverings is culturally the norm, while in other places it is rejected on grounds of personal liberty or as refutation of the consensus view of the hazards posed by the virus. Political leaders have traded executive orders for appeals to individual responsibility and judgment. Even as they touted reopening water parks and beaches, some governors told their citizens not to enjoy their new freedoms too much. In a hotspot in western Iowa, "families need to make their own decisions," said Matthew Ung, chair of Woodbury County's board of supervisors. "You don't have to act one way or another because of what the government says," he said. "Look out for you and your family." About 250 miles away in Minneapolis, municipal leaders are not counting on individual responsibility alone. The mayor, Jacob Frey, this week signed an emergency regulation requiring people older than 2 to cover their faces while at "indoor spaces of public accommodation," including schools and government buildings. "We are not criminalizing forgetfulness, but we will be cracking down on extreme selfishness and disregard for the health and safety of fellow Minneapolis residents," Frey said in an interview. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, this week said he would allow only alfresco dining when restaurants and bars resume in-person service June 1. That led to an outcry from owners who said they had been preparing for weeks to seat people inside, setting up plexiglass partitions and purchasing special filters to arrest tiny particles. "None of us believed it was going to be patio only, especially in Minnesota when it rains all summer long," said Brian Ingram, the owner of Hope Breakfast Bar in St. Paul, Minnesota, a popular joint known for its mantra, "Believe in Breakfast." In Mississippi, where the Imperial College model predicts infections are on the rise, Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, said he was ready to reopen the last few businesses that remain closed in the state - including racetracks and water parks. "We will be out of the business of closing down anybody, I hope," Reeves said. But he said that in consultation with public health officials, he is keeping restrictions on seven counties with higher case loads. In a news conference Thursday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, defended her decision to reopen concert venues, movie theaters and other businesses despite rising case numbers. "We cannot sustain a delayed way of life as we search for a vaccine," she said. "Having a life means having a livelihood, too." That said, she promised that "if we start going in the wrong direction, we reserve the right to come back in and reverse." The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said the state is preparing for a potential surge by increasing testing and constructing a 401-bed covid-19 care site in Memphis that was finished this week. David Aronoff, director of the Vanderbilt University infectious disease division, said the medical school is working with the state to track hospitalizations and deaths and is monitoring for a second surge. "We're watching for that really closely, but we haven't seen that just yet, which is reassuring," he said. Experts in Tennessee are also concerned about people from other states beginning to flock to Nashville and Memphis on summer vacations. If a surge happens, Aronoff said, "the tricky part will be putting the toothpaste back in the tube" by shutting down again. In Texas, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said he consults with doctors and experts from area hospitals, "and what they tell us is that we're reopening too fast, and we're reopening in the wrong order." Local jurisdictions in Texas do not have the authority to issue more stringent restrictions than the state, which began aggressively reopening this month. So Dallas has focused on messaging. The county has a daily "covid-19 risk level" that is currently red, for "stay home, stay safe." Officials are working on seals that businesses can display to indicate they are meeting local public health guidelines, not just state mandates. The Imperial College estimates for Texas are in line with internal modeling conducted by university experts advising state leaders. Rebecca Fischer, an epidemiologist at Texas A&M University and part of a team partnering with the governor's office, said the daily caseload was fluctuating, but "it looks like we're not cresting a peak and coming down the other side." A week ago, Texas reported a single-day high in new cases as well as deaths - about 14 days after the beginning of the state's phased reopening. The state has now reported more than 52,000 cases and nearly 1,500 deaths. 'Given the nature of our jobs, getting infected is a constant fear we all face.' 'The most we do is follow all the rules strictly and pray that we don't get infected.' IMAGE: Senior Police Inspector Ramesh Nangare, second fro right, supervises policemen and health authorities in Dharavi during screening of residents in India's largest slum. Photographs and video: Kind Courtesy Ramesh Nangare Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com speaks with three senior police inspectors from the Mumbai police force to find out the challenges the city's policemen face, how they deal with them, while maintaining law and order in hotspot zones where COVID-19 positive patients keep increasing Mumbai's tally every day. Ramesh Nangare, Senior Police Inspector, Dharavi police station, north central Mumbai The first challenge is Dharavi's population density and its population which could be around 12 to 15 lakh. Add to this the fact that people don't have washrooms or toilets within their houses. 80 per cent of these people use public toilets for which people have no alternative but to step outside their homes. Many residents here are bachelors, who don't cook food by themselves and many houses are without kitchen facilities. Considering the way these slum clusters are built or designed, it is very rare for people to get exposed to early morning direct sunlight, or fresh air, because of which many people suffer from different ailments. These people have to regularly visit their doctors for which again they have to step out of their homes. Despite these challenges we have been successful in convincing people to stay indoors. While most of the residents here are doing it voluntarily, at times we have to use mild force to make them stay indoors. Keeping in mind the huge population of the size of Dharavi it is to the credit of people here as well as all of us -- the police, the local volunteers, the doctors, other health workers -- that till the other day (May 22, when Nangare spoke with Rediff.com) we had only 750 COVID-19 positive patients. At times we use mild force, but thankfully the majority of the residents here are quite cooperative. We use the public address system regularly to emphasise the benefits of social distancing and locking down selves inside homes. We also had to provide food packets and rations to thousands of people in Dharavi with the help of local civic administration, NGOs, etc. The police here have distributed over one lakh sanitisers, two lakh face masks. We have been regularly running recorded clips at all religious places to stress why social distancing and the lockdown is necessary for containing the spread of COVID-19. We play these clips even while patrolling in the area. We have distributed masks, hand sanitisers and hand gloves to all our policemen working in my jurisdiction. If somebody is not well then that cop is asked to take rest at home and arrangement is made to replace such personnel. It is voluntary for all the cops here to take hydroxychloroquine 200 tablets. If they agree, then they take two tablets on the first day of starting the course and then one tablet each in subsequent weeks for up to next seven-eight weeks. For almost one month now, I have not been going home and working out of a hotel in the area. So, in a way, I am always available when needed for security purposes. It is a good sign that the number of positive patients from Dharavi is gradually decreasing. Till about few days ago, the figure stood at 50 for the whole day, then there were just 9 positive cases on May 19, 20 on May 20, and 31 on May 21. Dinesh Kadam, Senior Police Inspector, Byculla police station, central Mumbai IMAGE: Police personnel sanitise their hands while on duty in a COVID-19 containment zone; Photograph posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo We have to take the lead at two places: One at the police station while on work; the other when we go home after our duties. On duty, the main challenge is to figure out if those stepping outside their homes are doing so out of genuine reasons or if they are lying to us. Many people know that police allow them to let go if they tell them they are going to purchase medicines. We have no choice but to trust what people tell us. Earlier, even people from inside containment zones would step out citing such reasons. In such cases, there is always a chance that they could spread the coronavirus when they come out of their homes. Now, we have local volunteers who handle the situation by providing medical and essential supplies at their doorstep. We have to constantly keep engaging with people who come out of their homes for whatever reasons. Unfortunately, I have seen many people lowering their face masks while talking to the police. They are still not getting used to the idea of covering their mouths and faces while talking to others. That is a big danger that my people have to handle on a daily basis. We now caution people from some distance not to lower their face masks while talking to us or anybody else. They are adjusting and adapting to this new reality. While there are many slums under my jurisdiction, there are quite a few big hospitals here too. Due to which, a large number of positive patients come here for treatment. We also have the city's oldest vegetables market in my jurisdiction where people come to buy vegetables. Every time we meet these people, we keep reminding ourselves that they are out there because of their genuine needs and it is our duty to ensure that they keep safe distance even as we ensure we protect ourselves from getting infected. During our daily parades we check if each of our policemen on duty has a sanitiser bottle; inside the police station they have to mandatorily drink boiled water kept in an electric jar. We ensure we have spare gloves, sanitisers, masks inside our patrolling vans. Every day during the parade we keep repeating the same instructions to make sure everybody understands the environment in which we are working and they take adequate measures to take care of their own selves. When they reach home, there is always the fear that what if we are unknowingly positive and spread it among others at home and among neighbours. We have to be very careful not to do that. They have been instructed to directly go to the bathrooms and take off their uniforms and other belongings there and wash them with hot water and step out only after a hot water bath. They not only maintain social distancing, but keep their face masks on even while talking to family members. They have separate dishes, glasses, for food and drinking water. Many people in my police station have preferred to stay at alternative rooms provided by us and keep away from home till the situation improves. Perhaps, because we follow these safety measures to the tee you will see that while many of our policemen have tested positive, not even one of their family members has tested positive for COVID-19. Fortunately, six out of the nine policemen who tested positive have turned negative now, and resumed their duties. Three are still under institutional quarantine, but very stable and they too will resume work after discharge. While under my jurisdiction we have two red zones, we are fortunate not to have red plus zones. We have trained volunteers in these two zones about their duties and what they must do while at work. Sinc, we have appointed local volunteers in these two zones, we (the police) are not required to be present their all the time. We go there only to make announcements over public address system to create awareness and explain why social distancing and maintaining strict vigil is important. My entire staff should have all the information about how to handle people while on duty, how they should protect themselves, their families and people when they are at home or on duty. Each one of us knows exactly what their duties and responsibilities are. Unless they know what exactly are their duties and responsibilities, only then will they be able to spread the message among the people they meet. Percolation of this message to the cops who work at the ground level was very important and we ensured that it has happened and the results are there for everybody to see. The biggest pressure all of us here face is not to pass on the infection to other people or to someone in the family. That is our biggest challenge till date. Since we work among people we do not know if we are infected or not. Fortunately, we have been successful in not passing on the infection to other people in the family till now. My orderly too had tested positive. What can we do at such times? Given the nature of our jobs, getting infected is a constant fear we all face. But we don't have any control over it. The most we do is follow all the rules and regulations strictly and pray that we don't get infected. Till May 22, 66 people from Byculla have tested positive for coronavirus. Milind Gadankush, Senior Police Inspector, Mahim, north central Mumbai Most of us work 12-hour shifts during which we come into contact with lots of people from within and outside containment zones. There are more than 1,500 police quarters (flats) in my jurisdiction, the biggest such buildings under any Mumbai police station. Because of the nature of our duties we come in contact with many positive patients and in turn we too get infected. 12 of our cops have tested positive, but all of them have recovered. Two-three cops who tested positive a few days ago are still in hospital, but stable. Most of these cops are between 35 and 40 years of age. We have strictly advised cops above 55 to stay at home. Being in charge of the Mahim police station I have to make at least one visit to the containment zones in my area. Recently, both these containment zones have been declared open zones after the 15-day quarantine period was completed. In the containment areas, we would make arrangements for all the essential requirements of the residents. We would have locally trained volunteers perform the job of home delivery of essential goods to the people when they were under containment zone restrictions. We ensure that all public toilets in slums undergo sanitation at least three-four times a day and have told people not to crowd such facilities. It is good to see, even if this is out of fear, people in the slums cooperating with the police and civic authorities. Mahim has registered about 260 positive cases till May 22 from across slums, residential societies, chawls, police quarters. A woman has appeared in court charged with possession of a stolen "Elf On The Shelf". Tracy Nolan (40) is alleged to have had the popular Christmas figurine, along with other stolen goods, when she was stopped by a garda in Dublin city centre. She was granted bail and the case against her was adjourned when she appeared in Dublin District Court. Ms Nolan, with an address at Edenmore Grove in Raheny, is charged with one count of possession of stolen property on November 29 last year. It is alleged she was in possession of an Elf on The Shelf set, as well as candles, scents and a vanity set. The charge states she had the goods "knowing that the property was stolen or being reckless as to whether it was stolen". Separately, Ms Nolan is accused of stealing 16 worth of cosmetics in an incident at Clarehall Shopping Centre in north Dublin on May 19 this year. Serious Asking Judge John Hughes to grant the accused bail, defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said the charges before the court involved an Elf On The Shelf and cosmetics and were "not the most serious". He said Ms Nolan's partner had died recently. The circumstances of the alleged offences were not disclosed, as evidence was not heard and the accused has not yet entered pleas to the charges. The judge granted bail in Ms Nolan's own bond of 500, with no cash lodgement required. Under bail conditions, she is to sign on at a garda station between 9am and 9pm, commit no offences, keep the peace and be of good behaviour. Judge Hughes ordered disclosure of prosecution material to the defence, including any CCTV evidence, and remanded Ms Nolan on bail to appear in court again on a date in September. Ms Nolan was not required to speak during the brief hearing. The charges against her are under Sections 4 and 18 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, which each carry maximum prison terms of 12 months on conviction at district court level, or longer if convicted on indictment at the circuit court. New Delhi: India's relations with neighboring Nepal have not been doing well since the last days. Border disputes like Kalapani and Lipulekh have severely damaged the relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has shown softness in his attitude towards India. The minister has said that India is one such country. Due to which our relationship has been very close. It is worth mentioning that Nepal released its new map a few days ago, regarding Kalapani and Lipulekh. Which had shown its share on both these areas. While this region is a part of Uttarakhand state of India. Ever since the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated. Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Nepal has said that we have always said that the issue will be resolved through dialogue. He says that we want a solution to this issue through dialogue. This will require no impulse and precinct. Let us tell you before that when Nepal became very aggressive. Nepal's opposition to the construction of a road on the Lipuchar border from India was opposed. Along with this, Nepal's PM KP Oli said a few days ago about the coronavirus that corona in Nepal is spreading due to India. He says that the Indian corona is more dangerous than other countries. Also Read: Fame India magazine released list of '50 influential Indians 2020 ', PM Modi in first place Man seeks help from Sonu Sood to go to buy liquor, actor gives funny reply This candidate makes record of losing election, name recorded in Limca Book of Records BJP MP demands to file sedition case against Kejriwal Epiroc, a leading global productivity partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, is adding the CB 4500, to its key CB Concrete Buster range. The new model has been designed for carriers in the 40- to 55-tonne weight class. Due to their comparatively light weight CB Concrete Busters are effective choices for use with high reach or long front carriers. For applications with highly abrasive material and low level of visibility of the product in operation, stated the company based in Stockholm, Sweden. They are also suitable where noise is an issue and they can be used in residential areas where hydraulic breakers are not permitted, it stated. Epiroc said as construction and demolition contractors worldwide have discovered, CB Concrete Busters with their wide jaw openings and high cracking forces, are ideal for demolishing thick foundation walls and they make light work of cracking girders and heavy concrete at extreme heights. CB Concrete Busters are equipped with two powerful hydraulic cylinders which deliver virtually continuous closing force for maximum productivity. The hydraulic cylinders are fully protected by piston rod guards. An integrated speed valve gives faster working cycles, it stated. Offering impressive cracking forces of up to 190 tons depending on the model, CB Concrete Busters are equipped with two independently moving jaws that eliminate displacement force, thus lowering stress levels. Cutting blades are both replaceable and reversible, said the Swedish group. A productive feature on all CB Concrete Busters is 360 endless hydraulic rotation, which allows precise handling and optimal positioning. If the cutter grips the material at an oblique angle a built-in pressure relief valve allows a self acting movement that brings the cutter jaw into the ideal position. This valve effectively protects both the carrier and the cutter from potentially damaging reaction forces, it added. Epiroc said the new CB 4500 model offers a crushing force of 130 tons at the jaw tip. Jaw opening for the model is 1,400 mm. The complete CB range now comprises seven models with service weights from 320 kg to 7,400 kg, for carriers weighing from 2 tons to 85 tons, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Even though the deeper layers of the ocean are warming at a slower pace than the surface, animals living in the deep ocean are more exposed to climate warming and will face increasing challenges to maintain their preferred thermal habitats in the future. Reporting in the journal Nature Climate Change, an international team of scientists, led by the University of Queensland in Australia and involving Hokkaido University, analyzed contemporary and future global patterns of the velocity of climate change across the depths of the ocean. Their metric describes the temporal rate and direction of temperature changes, as a proxy for potential shifts of marine biota in response to climate warming. Despite rapid surface warming, the team found that global mean climate velocities in the deepest layers of the ocean (>1,000 m) have been 2 to nearly 4-fold faster than at surface over the second half of the 20th century. The authors point to the greater thermal homogeneity of the deep ocean environment as responsible for these larger velocities. Moreover, while climate velocities are projected to slow down under scenarios contemplating strong mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions (RCP2.6), they will continue to accelerate in the deep ocean. "Our results suggest that deep sea biodiversity is likely to be at greater risk because they are adapted to much more stable thermal environments," says Jorge Garci?a Molinos, a climate ecologist at Hokkaido University's Arctic Research Center, who contributed to the study. "The acceleration of climate velocity for the deep ocean is consistent through all tested greenhouse gas concentration scenarios. This provides strong motivation to consider the future impacts of ocean warming to deep ocean biodiversity, which remains worryingly understudied." Climate velocities in the mesopelagic layer of the ocean (200-1000 m) are projected to be between 4 to 11 times higher than current velocities at the surface by the end of this century. Marine life in the mesopelagic layer includes great abundance of small fish that are food for larger animals, including tuna and squid. This could present additional challenges for commercial fisheries if predators and their prey further down the water column do not follow similar range shifts. The authors also compared resulting spatial patterns of contemporary climate velocity with those of marine biodiversity for over 20,000 marine species to show potential areas of risk, where high biodiversity and velocity overlap. They found that, while risk areas for surface and intermediate layers dominate in tropical and subtropical latitudes, those of the deepest layers are widespread across all latitudes except for polar regions. The scientists caution that while uncertainty of the results increases with depth, life in the deep ocean is also limited by many factors other than temperature, such as pressure, light or oxygen concentrations. "Without knowing if and how well deep ocean species can adapt to these changes, we recommend to follow a precautionary approach that limits the negative effects from other human activities such as deep-sea mining and fishing, as well as planning for climate-smart networks of large Marine Protected Areas for the deeper ocean," says Garci?a Molinos. ### Berlin U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, is to resign from his post after two years that have seen transatlantic relations strained in a way they haven't been for decades. Grenell, who has also served as acting U.S. Director of National Intelligence since February, implicitly confirmed his pending return to the U.S. in a series of tweets thanking people for their well wishes. The 53-year-old will formally resign his diplomatic post in the next few weeks, according to the German Press Agency. His official duties in Berlin are likely to be taken over temporarily by Robin Quinville, who's been an envoy at the embassy since July 2018, the news agency said. Many in Germany may welcome the departure of a diplomat who espoused Mr. Trump's own blunt style so thoroughly. Thank you, Congresswoman. https://t.co/nXerccf6Il Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) May 24, 2020 In an interview aired Sunday by Sinclair Broadcast Group TV stations in the U.S., Mr. Trump praised Grenell for his work as acting intelligence director. That work included some contentious personnel changes that chaffed many in the American intelligence community, which Grenell had virtually no experience in before being tapped as acting DNI. "Richard Grenell is a superstar. He had guts, he had courage to do what he did. Richard Grenell has done one of the best jobs I've ever seen," said Mr. Trump. There's speculation that Grenell may now be asked to join Mr. Trump's re-election campaign, or possibly be tapped for some other senior role within the administration. Mr. Trump surprised many when he called Grenell to Washington in February to temporarily take over as DNI, while continuing as the top American diplomat in Berlin. But now that job has been filled on a formal basis: Congressman John Ratcliffe, a Texas Republican and another strong supporter of Mr. Trump, will be sworn into the role this week after a strictly partisan Senate confirmation process. Story continues The U.S. Embassy in Berlin has declined to comment on Grenell's future plans. "They will resent instructions." While he remained on good terms with Health Minister Jens Spahn, Grenell made few other friends in Berlin. Among Germany's political establishment, the man from Michigan quickly gained a reputation as a relatively undiplomatic diplomat. There have been sporadic demands from Germany's opposition to declare him persona non grata in the country, and while Chancellor Angela Merkel's government always resisted, it voiced scant support for the ambassador. U.S. Ambassador Grenell At Berlin 4th Of July U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell attends the 4th of July party hosted by the U.S. Embassy at former Tempelhof Airport on July 4, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Sean Gallup/Getty Wolfgang Kubicki, Vice President of the German Parliament, at one point said Grenell was acting, "as if the United States were still an occupying power here." After just one month on the job, Grenell shocked many in Germany, and beyond, by voicing support for Europe's right-wing political movements in an interview with Breitbart. "I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders," Grenell told the website previously run by Steve Bannon. "I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left." He presented himself as a "big fan" of Austria's then-chancellor Sebastian Kurz, a right-wing conservative who gained support with his calls for limits on immigration to Austria and Europe more broadly. In the world of international diplomacy, such public support for one political faction over another is something of a rarity. Grenell dismissed accusations that he was interfering in Germany's internal affairs as "absurd," but his overt pressure on Berlin on a number of contentious topics strained ties between the allies: Iran: Shortly after his appointment as ambassador in May 2018, Grenell warned German companies against working with Iran - as they had long done and as Germany and other EU nations tried to keep the Iran nuclear deal alive - as the Trump administration ratcheted up its "maximum pressure" campaign against the Islamic Republic.Defense: Grenell threatened to have U.S. troops withdrawn from Germany, a major NATO ally, over what the Trump administration said was inadequate spending by the German government on its own military.Nord Stream 2: The ambassador threatened Germany with sanctions over its cooperation with Moscow on a new gas pipeline to deliver Russian natural gas straight to western Germany. "Companies involved in Russian energy exports are taking part in something that could prompt a significant risk of sanctions," he said.Huawei: Grenell repeatedly demanded that Germany exclude Chinese telecom giant Huawei from building the next generation, 5G mobile phone network in the country. His repeated, public forays into Germany's domestic affairs drew some unsolicited advice from a former German Ambassador to the U.S. "Explain your own country's policies, and lobby the host country, but never tell the host country what to do, if you want to stay out of trouble," said Wolfgang Ischinger, a former ambassador who is now chairman of the Munich Security Conference. "Germans are eager to listen, but they will resent instructions." So what might Grenell's departure mean for transatlantic relations? You always wanted me to stop asking you publicly to pay your NATO obligations and calling for an end to Nord Stream 2. But these are US policies. And I work for the American people. https://t.co/AK240eMM3H Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) May 25, 2020 Many in Berlin will breathe a sigh of relief. But there's now the possibility of another long period without a U.S. Ambassador in Berlin. It's unlikely the post will be filled before the U.S. presidential election in November, and even after that it could take some time. Before Grenell was accredited in Berlin two years ago, the post went vacant for 15 months - the longest stretch since the end of World War II. You make a big mistake if you think the American pressure is off. You dont know Americans. https://t.co/QeplKk7lIt Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) May 24, 2020 But as far as Grenell is concerned, one thing is clear: U.S. "pressure" on Germany isn't about to let up with his departure. Taps Across America Firefighters battle massive fire at San Francisco's Fisherman Wharf NASA astronauts conduct trial run before historic launch of SpaceX rocket Good Morning Britain presenter Lorraine Kelly has taken aim at Dominic Cummings in a furious rant. The 60-year-old presenter lashed out at Prime Minister Boris Johnsons aide for his lack of apology after breaking the governments own lockdown rules. Despite advice to stay at home, Cummings drove over 250 miles from London to his parents house in Durham. His wife was showing coronavirus symptoms at the time of the journey. The prime minister has refused to sack Cummings, arguing that he had followed the instincts of every father. Good Morning Britain asked viewers whether they thought Johnson should have fired Cummings and 80 per cent said that he should have. Kelly said she was not at all surprised by the results. She continued: What I think is really shocking about it no apology! The arrogance is breathtaking. Ben Shephard agreed, pointing out: A blanket refusal to accept what has happened here it might not look great. Lorraine responded: Do they not think that when the spin doctor becomes the story that its time to go? Thats always been the case in the past but clearly not now. And I can clearly understand why people are so angry. Commenting on clips of Cummings neighbours shouting shame and resign at him while he stood outside of his home, she remarked: Its like Game of Thrones. According to Reuters, five Iranian fuel tankers have entered Venezuela's economic zone that is exclusively theirs last Saturday, but it comes with a warning sent by the US of a considerable reaction if they do so. The fuel Tanker Fortune was tracked when it reached the borders of Venezuelan waters at approximately 7.40 p.m. local time (1140 GMT), progressing and passing the north most of Trinadad and Tobago. As soon as the ship were able to steam into the controlled economic zone of Venezuela, a tweet was posted by Tareck El Aissami. With the threats issued at Iran oil tankers, the ships were provided with a Venezuelan navy vessel and aircraft to rendezvous with them. The armed escort is to mitigate any attack that might be carried out if the US does attack these tankers and make good their threat. There is a total of 1.53 million barrel of gasoline with alkylate for Venezuela, based on the arrangement of the two countries. All these sources and data calculation were done by this site. Three nations are in strife Venezuela is in a crisis as its national supply of fuel is very scarce, and its oil production is shut down with its old refining network. One of the reasons for the dire situation is the tiff that resulted in US sanction, that includes both Venezuela and Iran in the same boat. The sanctions that were levied against Iran applies as well and cost 1.3 barrels of oils which impacted the nation negatively. How will the Americans react to the situation; accordingly, Washington has not revealed how it will react, commented on an American official who asked not to be identified, who did not give further details. An increased American naval presence is notice in the Caribbean, as reaction to an anti-drug operation. When the Pentagon was asked for comment, on Thursday, their representative was not aware of activities linked to Iran fuel shipments. Also read: US Navy Warns Foreign Ships in Persian Gulf to Keep Distance or Face the Consequences Dissension in Velenzuela This much-needed fuel shipment from Iran is not welcomed in Venezuela. Oppositionists are not comfortable with socialist President Nicolas Maduro and Iran, also an economic crisis that has been for six-years. Tankers coming in are only carrying enough for a whole month of use, the country used to be one of the top fuel exporters, is scrounging for fuel scraps. One of the oppositionists commented that the dominant party is hell-bent, on reversing a terrible let down, to a credible victory for Maduro. The lawmaker is identified with the National Assembly's energy commission Apparent concern for the fuel shipment, prompted the Iranian leader to sound out, possible retaliation should the US makes problems, before they reach Venezuela according to the new outlet Mehr. Mehr reported according to the Iranian leader that stressed any untoward incident to any of the Iranian tankers, will be a source of regret for the Americans, in an interview. Prior this, Iran and Venezuela have been subject of US sanctions in 2010-2011, Venezuela help Iran with fuel supply problems, when it got sanctions for its nuclear weapons program. Related article: Trump Orders Navy to Destroy Iranian Vessels Which Threatens US, Iran Says They'll Crush Them @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A six-year-old girl at a quarantine centre in Nainital districts Betalghat area died after she was allegedly bitten by a snake on Monday morning, said officials. Dr Bharti Rana, chief medical officer (CMO) Nainital district said the six-year-old girl was quarantined at a government primary school in Talli Sethi village, which is located in the remote area of the district. Around 5 am in the morning on Monday, the girl was bitten by a snake. She was brought to the community health centre in Betalghat around 1.15 pm, where doctors gave her two anti-venom injections. But she died within ten minutes, said Dr Rana. Dr Rana said she had been quarantined with her parents at the primary school three days ago after their return from Delhi around 12 days ago. Dr Rana said she was first taken for jhaad phoonk (excorcism) before being brought to the community health centre, which resulted in the delay. She said the girls body has been sent for post mortem. After post mortem results, we will be in a better position to say what exactly happened. Dr Satish Pant, a doctor in Betalghat who treated the girl, said the girl was brought around 1.15 pm. Her parents said she was bitten by a snake on her ear while she was sleeping. We immediately started the treatment protocol for snake bites and administered her two anti-venom injections. But despite our best efforts, she died around 1.25 pm. They should have brought her earlier, he said. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 In the last few days, due to the heavy influx of migrants from other states, Nainital has emerged as the district with the most positive Covid-19 cases in the state. Of Uttarakhands 332 positive Covid-19 cases till Monday afternoon, Nainital has the maximum 117 cases. Around 14,400 migrants from other states have returned to Nainital so far, including 7,921 in rural areas and 6,479 in urban areas of the district, said officials. The Medical Superintendent of Swedru Municipal Government Hospital, Dr. Apetorgbor Dzordzegbe has expressed grave concern about how the youth of Agona West were defying COVID-19 restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of the virus. He said the protocols and restrictions outlined by the Ghana Health Service and the President to fight the dreadful disease were being flouted with impunity and it was worrying. He expressed these sentiments when the Concerned Youth of Agona Swedru presented items 3,000 hand gloves, 140 packs of toilet rolls, 20 gallons of liquid soap, 1,000 nose masks, eight veronica buckets, eight boxes of hand sanitizers, eight cartons of detergent and 55 packs of tissue papers to the Hospital. The donation of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) was to help in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Agona West Municipality. The Medical Superintendent said it was sad to see people fighting frontline workers over wearing of nose masks and washing of hands when they get to the hospital gate to visit relative patients. Dr Dzordzegbe said the story was not different among some Taxi and trotro drivers including passengers adding that it posed a great health threat to all. He advised the public to desist from non-compliance of health protocols which were put in place not only to protect frontline workers but the patients as well as everyone. He said the wearing of masks was a must and hand washing and usage of hand sanitizers must be observed religiously. Dr Dzordzegbe said apart from two confirmed cases of Coronavirus recorded in Agona West all other suspected cases have tested negative. He thanked the Concerned Youth of Agona Swedru for their sense of direction, responsibility, and patriotism to support the frontline workers to help stem the spread of the pandemic. At Alhmadiyya Hospital, the Concerned Youth of Agona Swedru made similar PPEs donation to the Management of the facility to support the fight against the spread of the virus. Dr Ibrahim Mohamed, Medical Officer in charge of the hospital received the items jointly with Mr William Aidoo, the Administrator of the hospital, and thanked the Concerned Youth for their kind gesture. Dr Ibrahim Mohammed described the virus as an enemy and it was incumbent for all to unite as people to fight and defeat it outright. Mr Clifford Esuon, Public Relationship Officer(PRO) of the Association told the Media it was their collective responsibility to join hands together to curb the spread of the virus. He said the members made contributions with their counterparts outside the country to purchase the items to support frontline workers in the Swedru Township. The PRO said the Youth have not only planned to procure PPEs for health facilities, but they have intensified public education about the dangers of the disease. Mr Esuon said they have taken a serious view of the sentiments made by Medical Superintendent and pledged to intensify education on the disease. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass at the tomb On the centenary of the birth of Saint John Paul II, on Monday morning, 18 May, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the tomb of the Pontiff-Saint in the Vatican Basilica. The following is a translation of Francis homily, which was delivered in Italian. The Lord loves his people (cf. Ps 149:4), we sang, was the refrain of the Responsorial Psalm. And also a truth that the people of Israel would repeat; they liked to repeat: The Lord loves his people. And in difficult moments, always the Lord loves; one must wait for how this love will manifest itself. When the Lord sent, out of this love, a prophet, a man of God, the peoples reaction was: The Lord has visited his people (cf. Ex 4:31); because he loves them, he has visited them. And the multitude who followed Jesus, seeing the things that Jesus did, said the same: The Lord has visited his people (cf. Lk 7:16). And today we here can say: 100 years ago the Lord visited his people. He sent a man; he prepared him to be bishop and lead the Church. Remembering Saint John Paul II, let us come back to this: The Lord loves his people; the Lord has visited his people; he sent a pastor. And what are, let us say, the traits of a good pastor that we can find in Saint John Paul II? So many! But we shall only speak of three. Given that persons say Jesuits always say things in threes, we shall say three: prayer, closeness to the people, and love of justice. Saint John Paul II was a man of God because he prayed, and he prayed a lot. But how did a man who had so much to do, so much work to lead the Church..., have so much time to pray? He was well aware that a bishops first task is to pray. And Vatican ii did not say this; Saint Peter said it. When they made deacons they would say: And to us bishops, prayer and the liturgy of the Word (cf. Acts 6:4). A bishops first task is to pray, and he knew this; he did this. The model of a bishop who prays, the first task. An he taught us that when a bishop examines his conscience in the evening he must ask himself: how many hours did I pray today? A man of prayer. The second trait: a man of closeness. He was not a man detached from people, but instead he went to find people; and he travelled the entire world, finding his people, seeking his people, becoming close. And closeness is one of the features of God with his people. Let us recall that the Lord said to the people of Israel: See, what people has its gods so near as I am to you? (cf. Deut 4:7). A closeness of God with his people which is then made firm in Jesus, is made strong in Jesus. A pastor is close to the people. On the contrary, if he is not so, he is not a pastor; he is a hierarch; he is an administrator, perhaps a good one, but he is not a pastor. Closeness to the people. And Saint John Paul II gave us the example of this closeness. Close to those big and small, close to those near and far, always close. He made himself close. The third trait, love of justice. But full justice! A man who wanted justice, social justice, the justice of peoples, the justice that drives away wars. But full justice! For this reason Saint John Paul II was a man of mercy, because justice and mercy come together; they cannot be distinguished [in the sense of being separate], they are together: justice is justice, mercy is mercy, but one is not found without the other. And speaking of the man of justice and mercy, let us consider how much Saint John Paul II did so that people could understand Gods mercy. Let us think about how he promoted devotion to Saint Faustina [Kowalska], whose liturgical memory beginning today will be for the entire Church. He had heard that Gods justice had this face of mercy, this attitude of mercy. And this is a gift that he left us: merciful justice and just mercy. Let us pray to him today, that he give to all of us, especially to the pastors of the Church, but to everyone, the grace of prayer, the grace of closeness and the grace of just mercy, merciful justice. Published on 2020/05/24 | Source Elementary schoolkids will return to school next week as planned, while the annual university entrance exam will also take place on time. Advertisement Vice Education Minister Park Baeg-beom told reporters on Thursday, "Students will return to kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools as scheduled on May 27". High school seniors went back to school on Wednesday, but some tested positive for coronavirus and scores of schools promptly closed again. However, the Ministry of Education insisted there will be no more postponements. Coronavirus infections detected on Wednesday prompted health authorities to stop the reopening of 75 schools in Incheon and Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. According to the ministry, the attendance rate reached 95.2 percent on Wednesday. Only 21,291 out of 442,141 students did not return to classes, with 1,198 claiming they were pursuing their own self-study programs, which are permitted for a certain number of days. Man Kidnaps 17-Year-Old Girl, Forces Her to Drive Him to Highway Checkpoint A 37-year-old man from Florida was arrested on May 21 after kidnapping a 17-year-old girl and forcing her to drive him through a CCP virus highway checkpoint, according to a news release issued by the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. I am relieved this suspect is currently sitting in jail and the young victim in this case was not seriously hurt. I want to thank and commend my staff as well as our partners at the Florida Highway Patrol for quickly putting two and two together that resulted in a quick arrest, said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay. As indicated by the Sheriffs Office, Alexander Michael Sardinas, a 37-year-old man from Tavernier and a 43-year-old woman from Islamorada, were trying to enter the Florida Keys in a rideshare taxi when they were turned away due to a lack of identification or paperwork required at the checkpoint. Shortly thereafter, a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper responded to a domestic argument occurring on the side of U.S. 1 at Mile Marker 113. The Trooper gave Sardinas and the woman a courtesy ride to Florida City, the news release stated. However, the pairSardinas and the womanmade their way to the Publix supermarket on Campbell Road in Homestead, which was where Sardinas approached the 17-year-old girl. The pair made their way over to the 17-year-old girl in the parking lot and then ordered the 17-year-old girl to drive the two of them to Tavernier. The 17-year-old revealed to the detectives that Sardinas threatened to hurt her if she refused, according to the news release. The 17-year-old also said that Sardinas would hurt her if she used her phone, as well. The victim drove south to the checkpoint at Mile Marker 112.5 where she provided her drivers license with a Florida Keys address. The victim told detectives she did not say anything to deputies at the checkpoint about the man in the car threatening to harm her, because she was scared, the news release stated. The 17-year-old then kept on going south towards a gas station located near the Mile Marker 92 where Sardinas got out of the car, the news release stated. The other woman in the car then ordered the 17-year-old to drive her to a pharmacy located in Tavenier, and when they got to the pharmacy, the 43-year-old woman got out of the car and left. The 17-year-old then immediately contacted a relative, who contacted law enforcement, the release stated. The investigation was conducted by the Major Crimes Unit. The FHP Trooper heard the be-on-the-lookout on the radio and recognized the descriptions of Sardinas and the female as the pair he had drove to Florida City earlier that day. He identified both over the radio. Deputies and Detectives searched the area near Mile Marker 92 and soon had Sardinas in custody. The female formerly with Sardinas was found shortly thereafter on Navajo Street in Islamorada, the Sheriffs Office stated. Both Sardinas and the 43-year-old were arrested, and when interviewed, they gave conflicting stories of how the two met the 17-year-old. However, neither of them denied being in the car with the 17-year-old, according to the news release. Sardinas was taken to jail after the 17-year-old identified him in a lineup. More arrests and charges are pending for the case. From NTD News HTC might launch a new flagship smartphone after almost 2 years of silence HTC has been out of the smartphone game for a notable period of time, and given that a big chunk of their smartphone division was acquired by Google back in 2018, there really was no reason to believe that HTC would make smartphones again for the global markets. Despite the last two years of trouble, it appears that HTC is once again gearing up to launch a flagship smartphone. There are no specification leaks as of now, but according to MyDrivers, the Taiwanese smartphone company HTC may be readying a 5G enabled flagship smartphone for release later in July 2020. The speculation is that it would sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor and would pick up right from the HTC U12, the last flagship smartphone the company launched. IT would be interesting to see just how many of the modern trends HTC infuses into their allegedly upcoming flagship. We do know that back in the day, HTC was known for its brilliant displays, with the HTC U12 already ditching the bezels on the size. We could, therefore, see an HTC flagship with a bezel-less display, although it would be interesting to see whether they go with the notch, punch-hole design or a pop-up assembly for the front-facing camera. Besides, the display, HTC was also pioneering on the front of audio and camera. USonic, HTCs Sonar-based ear-mapping technology was first implemented in the HTC U11 and would tailor the sound output based on the listeners ear canal. For its time, the tech was very impressive, not to mention, the audio output itself was lauded by most. Lastly, HTC was also one of the very first companies to implement pixel binning, starting with the HTC One, and then being branded as the companys UltraPixel technology. The report by MyDriver also talks about the launch of the 4G version of the Desire 20 series sometime in June. The report concludes that HTC would launch its devices in Taiwan first. It is not clear whether HTC will bring these devices to international markets, and if so, to which ones. The police have unveiled their first AI officer, with hopes shell soon be smiling and blinking out of screens in stations all around New Zealand. Ella, the artificial intelligence cop at the centre of the polices new digital services, was revealed at the police national headquarters in Wellington this morning. Ella, which stands for Electronic Lifelike Assistant, is part of two new digital kiosks police have designed to help reduce queues in stations and to provide a modern way to connect with the public. Designed as a mix of 26 different people, Ella is the brainchild of project manager Erin Greally, and will primarily be available only at the headquarters building in Molesworth St, where users can ask for information or be connected to whoever theyre visiting. If the three-month pilot goes well, police hope to have Ellas friendly, CGI face spread across kiosks throughout the country. The other kiosk in the pilot is the police connect service, which people can use to ask for information on commonly asked questions, report a crime, or be connected to someone at the call centre. During the pilot, these kiosks can be found at the Wellington, Johnsonville, and Featherston stations, but Commissioner Mike Bush said they hoped to have them in stations across New Zealand, as well as non-police locations. We believe we could put these anywhere. The kiosks will have CCTV monitoring and other alarms built into them. The new services were a continuation of the modernisation of the New Zealand police force, he said. This is to complement our presence in the community. Bush said it was a modern world out there and there were a lot of people who wanted to connect to police in a different way. The kiosks meant less time spent waiting at front counters, and were helpful for people who did not feel comfortable speaking directly to somebody. Only about 25 per cent of crimes are reported we need to increase that, and this is what these channels do. The development of the trial, including the four units, cost police $373,000. A single unit costs between $12,000 and $15,000. Polices digital person proof of concept is part of the AI programme with a budget of $685,000. This includes technology and external services to develop the AI engine and the digital person avatar. Police had developed Ella to add a personal touch. While she may not have all the answers people seek yet, as AI she will continue to learn and grow as her services are used. Bush said AI had been proven to work in other organisations, and said it was a wonderful addition to the service we provide. The kiosks are the newest innovation following the launch of the police 105 number for non-emergency calls, and the new police app, which so far has been downloaded 39,000 times. Source: nzherald.co.nz Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Theyre Iriss lovers, of course a revelation that sends Maggie into a petulant tailspin, as she gets high and drunk with strangers and rants her disapproval at more than one of Iriss paramours. And, what, you were just okay with her cheating on her husband? she screams at one, before calling him a homewrecker. The truth of Iriss life upends Maggies already-tenuous regard for her mom. What shed thought were work trips were often dalliances; what shed thought was a perfect marriage wasnt (certainly not by sitcom standards). But it also brings her clarity perhaps the one welcome side effect of heart-rending loss about the relationship back home that shes forever anxious of sabotaging; and about the mother she never quite saw: a woman more evolved, less judgmental, and more resilient just like her indefatigable daughter than Maggie ever gave her credit for. The United States has offered a $5 million reward for useful information on North Korean hackers and the North Korea hacking program in general. The North Korean hackers have been concentrating on raising cash for the North Korean ballistic missile and nuclear weapons program. Their favorite targets are banks and other financial organizations, including those that handle cryptocurrency. It is estimated that the program has taken about $2 billion so far. In the process North Korean hackers take control of PCs and local networks by infecting individual computers and having the infected machine mine new cryptocurrency when idle. Similar intrusion methods are used to encrypt hard drives and demand ransom to regain access to the data. For users without adequate backups they must either pay or remain unable to use their data. This is not the first time bounties have been offered to catch hackers. In late 2019 the U.S. imposed sanctions on Lazarus, Andariel, and Bluenoroff, three known North Korean hacker groups. The problem with catching these hackers is the lack of information on where these groups operate from and who the key personnel are. Thus the new bounties program. Some individuals are known but these are non-North Koreans who have provided support services for the North Korean. These support individuals were often unable to identify North Korean hackers. To further complicate matters, most of the North Korean hackers operate from locations in China, where the Internet infrastructure is better suited to hacking targets around the world. The North Koreans pay Chinese police for protection and are not bothered by the secret police because the North Koreans supply the Chinese with useful information they have stolen from South Korea, Japan and other Asian and European nations. Sometimes North Korean hackers operate outside of China and information on where and who these hackers are wound be very valuable. North Korea is aware of the danger, and the temptation for some of these hackers to flee. Each hacker group is assigned a security team, whose main job is to keep the hackers from misbehaving or fleeing. The U.S. has experience in successfully using rewards to obtain key information on bad actors. The American rewards program has been in operation since 1984, and after 2001 the rewards for key Islamic terrorists got larger and larger. Since the 1980s the program has paid out nearly $150 million to over a hundred informants. These rewards were often accompanied by the relocation of the informant and family to safer locations, sometimes the United States. The larger rewards created a lot of new problems making the program work. The key problems were getting information about the rewards to potential informers and developing methods for making contact with potential informers, get the information and make arrangements for payment. While it is difficult to reach known North Korean hackers in China, the U.S. has gained experience in this sort of thing while using the rewards program for known Islamic terrorists in Pakistan, or Afghan areas heavily guarded by the Taliban. More Pakistanis and Afghans began taking advantage of the reward program and living to spend the money because the Americans found ways to overcome the obstacles. That made the Taliban leadership, on both sides of the border, very uneasy. For example the U.S. has given Pakistan's main intelligence agency; ISI (Inter Service Intelligence agency), tens of millions of dollars for rewards, since September 11, 2001. The money was a reward for the capture or killing of wanted Islamic terrorists. The live ones were turned over to the United States. Pakistan says it captured over 600 of these terrorists, but the actual number is believed to be greater. The U.S. did not look closely at exactly who got the reward money. By the late 1980s the United States was offering rewards of one to seven million dollars for information leading to the capture of terrorists, and lesser amounts to those who provided evidence against a terrorist or provided good information about a planned terrorist act. By September 11, 2001, five major terrorists had been captured because of this program. Over $6 million was been paid out in over 20 cases. Some 42 percent of the informants requested security protection and another 42 percent sought relocation for themselves and family members to another country or region to avoid retaliation. Since then, the number of high-value people captured with this program has more than tripled and the amount of money paid out has increased even more. However, one problem with the reward program is that it does not pay attention to the realities of international terrorism. Most major terrorists, like Osama bin Laden, are well protected and hidden. Sure, there are people who know where they are and can get in contact with people around the bad guy. But an operation to nab one of these men requires a getting the message out to those who have the information, and providing informants with a realistic way to call in, and then collect. Getting the word out is not as easy as it sounds. The FBI has undertaken several advertising campaigns in Pakistan, using matchbook covers, posters and other media to remind people in the tribal territories that rewards of up to twenty-five million dollars are being offered for prominent al Qaeda members. In addition to the cash rewards, "relocation (to another country, for the tipster and immediate family) is available". Over a dozen al Qaeda big shots have been caught this way, and rewards paid. This time around, an American al Qaeda member (Adam Yahiye Gadahn), who often appears in English language al Qaeda videos, is also sought. The proliferation of cell phone use in the tribal areas (on both sides of the border) is expected to make it easier for tipsters to make contact. Collecting the reward is difficult. The wanted men are surrounded by bodyguards and aides. They hide out in neighborhoods or villages full of people who share their beliefs. There are also cultural problems. Most of the al Qaeda big shots who have not yet been captured or killed are known to be (or believed to be) taking refuge among pro-Taliban Pushtun tribes along the Afghan border. The people there are generally poor, illiterate and not very well informed. Many have never seen anyone outside their village or valley. Most of the people with modern gadgets (like cell phones) are working for the terrorists. The people with some education and wealth, like local tribal leaders, have to worry about their large families. Anyone who turns in a high status Islamic terrorist leader would be marked for murder if they suddenly displayed signs of wealth. The fact is, there are lots of spies in the tribal areas. Selling information to outsiders has long been a recognized (if not entirely approved) way for a poor tribesman to make some money, or earn some valuable favors. But getting stuff out is difficult for these people, who have little privacy in their lives, and are constantly under the control of family and tribal elders. You can't just walk out, either. Wandering through the territory of another tribe or clan, as in the next valley over, can get you killed. Strangers are seen as enemies and treated accordingly. Meanwhile, U.S. troops have learned to forget about the big payoffs, and concentrate on the small ones. As U.S. Army Special Forces operators have long known, and constantly teach the regular army troops they work with, that little favors that won't be noticed by the Taliban enforcers get you little bits of information. These bits add up, and some have led to nailing whales (guys with big prices on their heads). One of the more popular favors in the backcountry is medical care. Out there, not much is to be had. For this reason, the two medics in each Special Forces Alpha Detachment ("A-Team") have been taught to treat common maladies encountered in poor, isolated, areas. An astute diagnosis, and prompt application of some antibiotics, can save the life of someone dear to the heart of somebody else with the information you need. Sometimes the troops will bring a surgeon in, to perform a lifesaving (or life-altering) procedure. This yields much goodwill, and loosens tongues. The big thing about medical care is that it's not as visible as a pile of cash (which usually results in something flashy being bought, and dangerous queries from the local Taliban), but it means a lot more than mere things. Pakistani or Afghan doctors don't like traveling to the tribal territories. Too dangerous. Those who can afford medical care, travel to a town or city that has it. But the U.S. and NATO soldiers have access to drugs and medical care wherever they are. Sharing it is often more valuable, or at least more practical, than a $25 million reward. North Korea hackers and hackers, in general, belong to a different culture, or many different cultures. To make a rewards program work, you must adapt to the culture potential informants live in. YEREVAN, MAY 25, ARMENPRESS. Hearings on reports of 2019 activities of the public administration bodies continue in the government chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the PMs Office told Armenpress. Today, on May 25, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan reported the PM on the 2019 activity of the ministry. In particular, the minister reported the works carried out on the directions of Armenias foreign policy priorities. He touched upon the actions taken for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity, promotion of the agenda for protection of human rights, development of cooperation at bilateral and multilateral platforms. The minister said the Armenian diplomacy with its activity has affirmed that sovereignty is the most important principle of Armenias foreign policy and together with the two other principles pan-Armenianism and mutual cooperation, it ensures the pursuit of the values and interests of the Armenian people at the international arena. The FM introduced the steps taken to further develop the mutual partnership with Russia, the US, the countries of the European Union and the European continent, including with France and Germany, as well as with neighbors Georgia and Iran, the relations with the countries of various regions. PM Pashinyan highlighted the development of relations with all partners and the implementation of consistent works aimed at fully utilizing and strengthening the potential of Armenias diplomatic service. He highlighted the necessity of expanding the economic component in the foreign policy process. The foreign policy in all directions must be accompanied by presentation and involvement of economic projects, he said. Nikol Pashinyan also emphasized the need to develop a new concept for fully utilizing the pan-Armenian potential, taking into account the changes and processes in the Diaspora in the past decades. He gave concrete tasks to the responsible officials over the foreign policy. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. Dear Care and Feeding, Weve been at home together with our three kids (ages 10, 12, and 16) for nine weeks now. Things are actually going really well, except that we cant find any time to be romantic without the minions walking in on us! The younger guys are in the habit of using our bathroom since its closest to their room. They come stumbling through, half-asleep, around 10 to 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.practical lovemaking times for many couples. Advertisement No nooners cause theyre all home all day. It is not legal to park somewhere and do it in the car. And were such old middle-aged people that we cant stay up till the teenager is asleep. The one time we tried just locking the door at 10 p.m. and being quiet, the teen tried the door to just ask about something ordinary, figured out why it was locked, and raged for over a week about how we had no regard for her feelings! Pre-quarantine, wed usually get busy when the teen was out and the younger ones were asleep. Now, somebodys always in our space. I think theyd be horrified if we just said it straight out, leave us alone so we can make out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Options Dear Options, Ah, what a refreshing question. I salute you, horny parents. Horrify them, then lock your door. Theyll live. Help! How can I support Slate so I can keep reading all the advice from Dear Prudence, Care and Feeding, Ask a Teacher, and How to Do It? Answer: Join Slate Plus. Dear Care and Feeding, My college-age daughter went to Europe on spring break. Medical experts that my ex-wife, daughter, and I consulted prior to the trip all gave the okay, considering the countries were ones with much fewer cases of coronavirus. I didnt tell my 80-year-old mother (who lives in another state), as shes a worrier and germaphobe and would have lectured me and my daughter to no end. I never told my daughter to withhold the info from my mother. They just dont talk that often, and my mother leans towards being the mean grandma type. Advertisement Well, my ex-mother-in-law, who hasnt spoken with my mother in years, contacted my mother, worried about the decision my ex and I made. My mother then contacted me, angry that I would withhold the travel info from her, saying it was disrespectful and demanding an apology. To be clear, my mother had previously asked that no one visit her for fear of catching the virus, so she was never in danger. The plan was to tell her after the fact. Do I owe her an apology? Advertisement She Doesnt Even Go Here Dear SDEGH, I answered this question during my live video on Tuesday, but am going to cover it here as well for a larger audience. I think you made a ridiculous choice, as a European spring break is the definition of inessential travel and a country with fewer cases doesnt need a college-age student from the country with the most cases getting on a plane with recirculated air and then wandering around touching surfaces and breathing on people. But that really doesnt matter at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, you do not need to apologize to your mother. This has nothing to do with her. Feel free to not apologize. Should your daughter wish to attend Oktoberfest in Bavaria this year, I encourage you to suggest reading a nice book and drinking at home instead. I did not make up this question, but I did create the sign-off. Want more advice from Nicole? Join her every Tuesday at 11 a.m. EDT for Care and Feeding on Facebook Live. If you missed Sundays Care and Feeding column, read it here. Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group! Dear Care and Feeding, Advertisement Advertisement Although I am still a teenager, I have often contemplated one day having kids or adopting, even if I was not in a relationship (in hindsight that seems a little naive especially since I know raising kids takes a lot of work). However, as someone with three younger siblings, I have found that I have a temper and short patience. Before this whole quarantine thing I would volunteer with kids at my church and would do fine with them, but my siblings tend to get on my nerves. My family is in no way soft, and we all tend to be rough with each from time to time (mainly my siblings and I). Advertisement How do I start addressing my temper now? Does that make me unfit to be a parent in the future? I see my parents parent in a way that I dislike sometimes, especially as I get older, and I worry about parenting just like them (I dont want to spank my kids or anything, but I do sometimes end up physical with my siblings, usually my younger brother who is only 2 years younger than me). How do I address this? Advertisement A Troubled Teen Dear Teen, Advertisement Im so glad you wrote to me! I am always heartened when anyone wants to work on themselves before becoming parents, even if they are a decade away from becoming parents (you have a lot of time to mature and figure out who you are, which is fantastic). Advertisement A great start is to rigorously fight the urge to get physical with your siblings. I know siblings are aggravating, but breaking the reaction loop between irritation and making physical contact is extremely important. I know youre all on top of each other right now, and tensions are high, but the sooner you can practice leaving a tension-filled situation and taking some deep breaths, the better. The more consistently you start working on de-escalating a moment when you feel yourself getting angry, the easier it gets. Leave the room. Dont fight so hard to get the last word in that you wind up shoving your brother. You will almost certainly find that as you get older, youll have an easier time handling your emotions. Youll meet people who parent in a way that makes more sense to you than the way you were parented. Ask them about it! Read parenting books. Download free meditation apps. If you still find you have a hair-trigger temper as an adult, look for a therapist. I think youre perfectly capable of being a great parent one day. That day is a long way off. Use the time wisely, and work on being the best person you can be. Itll pay off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should Parents Force Their Seniors to Celebrate Graduation? Dan Kois, Jamilah Lemieux, and Elizabeth Newcamp host this weeks episode of Slates parenting podcast, Mom and Dad Are Fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Dear Care and Feeding, My in-laws are retired and watch my 2-year-old daughter about once a week, so I can have a little time off or to go to any appointments. We are a close family and visit often, as we do not live far away, and we have always got along really well, even for the many years my husband and I were together dating and later married, but with no children yet. My husband works full-time, and I have been a stay-at-home mother since our daughter was born. She is the only grandchild on my husbands side and is doted over by everyone, especially her Granny and Grandpa. My husbands parents are divorced, and his mother remarried while he was still young, so Bob is his stepfather. Bob has one biological son, but they are estranged. Bob has always wanted a little girl, but never had one until Ada was born. Advertisement The other night my husband and I went to pick her up from her day with them, and as we all sat chatting, we witnessed a rather strange interaction between Ada and Grandpa. Bob (a.k.a. Grandpa) asked for a kiss, which isnt out of the ordinary because we are a very affectionate southern family, and she ran over to him and stuck her tongue out. The strange part is that he proceeded to put his lips around her tongue and then, as she was laughing, he stuck his tongue into her open mouth. Advertisement My husband, myself, and Granny all looked at each other with the same surprised and disturbed look on our faces. Later the same evening, it happened again, and still no one said anything, just looked astonished and possibly waiting for someone else to speak up. To be clear, I dont think Grandpa has sexually abused our daughter, but I just didnt like how seeing that made me feel. It felt wrong. Advertisement Advertisement The next day, I discussed this with my husband, and he confirmed that he too thought it was strange and awkward, and that I wasnt imaging the look of disgust on everyones faces. I asked him if he would speak to his mother and ask her to correct Bob if he ever does this again. I think when he did, my husband tried to frame it as something he wouldnt want our daughter to repeat with someone else in public (as to not embarrass his mother further for having to talk about it at all). His mom did not react well to this at all. She got defensive immediately, and told us never to mention this to Bob or anyone else. Later when we texted her a cute story about how Ada was picking berries, she messaged back that their talk had bothered her more than she anticipated and had written and deleted several messages already. She asked for a few days before we spoke again. Bob does not know any of this took place, and we plan to keep it that way. Ada is unaware anything is wrong either and keeps asking to video chat with her grandparents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, I feel as though I did something wrong by bringing this up with Granny in the first place. I am split between thinking that I shouldnt be ashamed to have brought it up, because this is my daughter, and I have a right to protect her from anything I see as inappropriate. On the other hand, Im worried that I alienated us from my husbands mother. If we are to keep up the charade that nothing is wrong, for Bob and Adas sake, we will have to see them again soon. Ive tried reaching out to Granny myself, but I have to be careful not to text anything that Bob might see as strange. I dont know what to do or feel. Please help. Advertisement Advertisement Dont French My Toddler Dear DFMT, I dont give a shit if you have alienated your husbands mother! How are you the problem? Why is protecting Bobs feelings what were huddling around? To hell with Bob! Bob, in your physical presence, French-kissed your child twice. Bob is out of the band. They do not get to watch your child anymore. This is not normal. This is very bad. I was going to write I am not trying to alarm you but, frankly, I am trying to alarm you. At the very, very minimum, Bob lacks the judgment required to take care of your daughter. I would be interested in knowing why hes estranged from his son. Bob also seems to be a real whiz at getting people to avoid upsetting him. This is how people groom not just minors, but the family as a whole. The fact he did this in front of you does not soften the impact to me. This can be a way to make you question your own basic parental instinct of whats acceptable behavior. Youre already questioning it. Advertisement Advertisement I am sure there are people who will read this letter and think its possible (and it is!) that Bob is just clueless and was mimicking your daughters natural, affectionate behavior. I sat with this letter for a long time, and for me, the worst-case scenario of overreacting (losing this relationship) is a lot more palatable to me than the worst-case scenario of underreacting (unthinkable). I would not be reaching out to anyone. I would not be trying to woo back Granny and Bob. If they texted to ask if you need them to watch Ada this week, I would respond weve made other arrangements. I would also encourage you to pick up a copy of Gavin de Beckers Protecting the Gift. Advertisement Advertisement It felt wrong because it was wrong. You were disgusted because it was disgusting. Every adult in that room shared your initial gut instinct, except for Bob. The intensity of your husbands mothers subsequent reaction to a very mild, carefully-couched request (that Bob not do this again) is worrisome to me as well. Sit down with your husband and get on the same page and figure out your next steps, none of which are placating Bob or Granny. Im not glad this happened, but Im glad that it happened in front of you and that you wrote to me and that I can tell you plainly: I do not believe this man is a safe caregiver for your child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicole More Advice From Slate My daughter has always been an independent soul, from the time she was a tiny baby. In grade school she loved to sneak out and sleep in her treehouse, and shes done every Outward Boundstyle activity she can get her hands on. Now shes in her last year of high school and has just presented me with an extremely detailed plan she has concocted to spend the summer planting trees in the Canadian wilderness, which is apparently a thing you can do? For money? Im worried that this is a terrible idea and shes more likely to fall out of a tree than arrive at university intact. Should I shut this plan down? Wp Request for Reader Submission "Kids Paint Corona" Kids ages 5 to 14 are invited to submit a piece of art about their coronavirus experience for a collaborative project KidsPost has with the International Museum of Children's Art in Norway, Die Zeit newspaper in Germany and several other children's media organizations. We're looking for kids' original artwork showing how they are feeling, what they are doing, how they are having fun, etc. If the child's art is selected for publication, the child's name, age and hometown will be printed in the newspaper and online. A teacher may submit for students if they have received permission from parents. Entries are due by May 31. One submission per child. If you have questions, please email kidspost@washpost.com. New Delhi, May 25 : While the entire nation is 'home-sheltering' and social distancing is the norm, it's but obvious that Eid celebrations during the pandemic will be very different from what it used to be. At the end of a month-long fasting in Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr is generally celebrated by the Muslim community in a rather grand way. What starts with the shopping of new clothes, gifts and sweets, ends with spotting 'Eid ka chand' and greeting people 'Eid Mubarak', feasting upon a wide spread of mouth-watering delicacies with friends and family is the highlight. The pandemic-induced lockdown this year has restricted everyone to their houses and authorities along with the Imams across the country have asked Muslims to follow social distancing norms and offer Eid prayers from home. While there will not be congregations at mosques, no meet and greet with family and friends, no parties, Eid will still be celebrated whole-heartedly. Despite all the hindrances, people across the country are trying to keep up the fervour and positivity. Rokaiya Khanam, 20, a Political Science student of the Delhi University, says: "This is the first time in my life when I will be celebrating Eid on such a small scale. But nevertheless! The Quran says: If there is a situation when the world faces a pandemic, humanity is to be given priority over anything. Today, when the world is in a crisis situation and fighting a battle against the pandemic coronavirus, on Eid, we just pray to Allah to help us overpower this situation." As supply of food items and essentials in Lockdown 4.0 continue without any crunch, there is not much compromise being made as far as feasting is concerned. Shaazia, a resident of Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, says: "These times are really difficult for all of us. Festivals are celebrated with family, relatives and friends. But keeping in mind the importance of social distancing in these times, Eid celebration will not be the same this year. As Eid is celebrated after one month of fasting there definitely will be sweet dishes and other food items. I'm lucky enough to have my parents and my li'l ones beside me, so we all will celebrate it together though not in a grand way. When it comes to meeting and greeting people, individuals are finding technological and virtual alternatives to keep Eid traditions alive. Virtual meetings over Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook and other platforms have become the 'new normal' for people. "Eid is incomplete without the presence of our near and dear ones. But as we cannot invite anybody to our house and can't visit anyone, I have planned a virtual meeting with my friends and relatives. We will be doing the morning prayer together and will have our Iftaar meal while being connected online," says Wasim Khan, 34, from Guwahati, Assam. As long as Eid shopping is concerned, people opted for e-commerce platforms which have started delivering even non-essential items in green, orange and even in red zones. Even 'eidi'- gift or cash that is usually given to children by elder relatives and family friends as part of the celebration - is being sent online in the form of e-vouchers and e-cash. (Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in) Latest updates on Eid al-Fitr 2020